RTHK: China is a global security challenge: Nato

Nato leaders on Monday said China poses a constant security challenge and is working to undermine global order, and they said they're worried about how fast Beijing is developing nuclear missiles.

In a summit statement, the leaders said that Chinas goals and assertive behavior present systemic challenges to the rules-based international order and to areas relevant to alliance security.

While the 30 heads of state and government avoided calling China a rival, they expressed concern about what they said were its coercive policies, the opaque ways it is modernising its armed forces and its use of disinformation.

They called on Beijing to uphold its international commitments and to act responsibly in the international system.

The statement comes as President Joe Biden has stepped up his effort to rally allies to speak in a more unified voice about Chinas human rights record, its trade practices and its militarys increasingly assertive behavior that has unnerved US allies in the Pacific.

Biden, who arrived at the summit after three days of consulting with Group of Seven allies in England, pushed for the G-7 communique there that called out what it said were forced labour practices and other human rights violations impacting Uyghur Muslims and other ethnic minorities in the western Xinjiang province. The president said he was satisfied with the communique, although differences remain among the allies about how forcefully to criticise Beijing.

The new Brussels communique states plainly that the Nato nations will engage China with a view to defending the security interests of the alliance.""

The Chinese Embassy to the United Kingdom on Monday issued a statement saying the G-7 communique deliberately slandered China and arbitrarily interfered in Chinas internal affairs, and exposed the sinister intentions of a few countries, such as the United States. There was no immediate reaction from the Chinese government to the new NATO statement.

Biden arrived at his first Nato summit as president as leading members declared it a pivotal moment for an alliance beleaguered during the presidency of Donald Trump, who questioned the relevance of the multilateral organization.

Shortly after arriving at the alliance's headquarters for the first Nato summit of his presidency, Biden sat down with Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and underscored the US commitment to Article 5 of the alliance charter, which spells out that an attack on one member is an attack on all and is to be met with a collective response.

Article 5 we take as a sacred obligation, Biden said. I want Nato to know America is there.

It was a sharp shift in tone from the past four years, when Trump called the alliance obsolete" and complained that it allowed for global freeloading countries to spend less on military defence at the expense of the US.

Looking forward, Stoltenberg noted myriad challenges still facing the alliance.

We are meeting at the pivotal time for our alliance, the time of growing geopolitical competition, regional instability, terrorism, cyber attacks and climate change," Stoltenberg said at the start of a joint session of the Nato leaders. No nation and no continent can deal with these challenges alone. But Europe and North America are not alone."

Biden, who came to Brussels following three days of consultations with Group of Seven leaders in England, was greeted by fellow leaders with warmth and even a sense of relief.

Belgium Prime Minister Alexander de Croo said Bidens presence emphasizes the renewal of the transatlantic partnership." De Croo said Nato allies were looking to get beyond four stormy years under the Trump administration and infighting among member countries.

I think now we are ready to turn the page," de Croo said.

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi made a not-so-subtle dig at Trump, while welcoming Biden.

This summit is a continuation of yesterdays G-7 and is part of the process of reaffirming, of rebuilding the fundamental alliances of the United States that had been weakened by the previous administration, he said. Think that President Bidens first visit is to Europe and try to remember where President Trumps first visit was?"

Trump's first overseas visit as president was to Saudi Arabia.

Trump routinely berated other Nato countries for not spending enough on defence and even threatened to pull the US out of the worlds biggest security organization and even questioned the mutual defence provision of the Nato charter, a central tenet of the alliance. (AP)

This story has been published on: 2021-06-15. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
South Africa: Aspen to dispatch 300 000 J&J vaccines for teachers

Aspen says it will release 300 000 Johnson & Johnson (J&J) doses earmarked for teachers soon.

In a statement released on Monday, Aspen said it was extremely disappointed to learn that specific batches of the J&J manufactured at its Gqeberha production site have to be destroyed.

This is due to the good manufacturing practice risk of isolated material in the drug substance supplied to Aspen by J&J from their contract-manufacturing partner in the United States.

The batches manufactured had been retained in storage awaiting the outcome of the US FDA assessment, Aspen said.

On Sunday, the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) said it decided not to release the long-awaited Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccines for use in the country.

However, SAHPRA said about 300 000 doses from batches that have been cleared by the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) meet the requirements and will subsequently be released and shipped to South Africa.

According to the pharmaceutical company, this is not only a setback to both the Aspen and J&J teams, who worked tirelessly to produced these shots, but it has the potential to negatively affect vaccine rollout across South Africa and Africa.

However, the company has since come out with ways to mitigate the potential risk to vaccine access.

Within days, Johnson & Johnson will provide 300 000 doses of the vaccine for South African teachers, the company announced.

In the next week, Aspen said it expects to release J&J vaccines manufactured from the drug substance that has not been impacted by the contamination.

Over the next few weeks, Johnson & Johnson will be delivering substantial quantities of compliant, finished vaccines to South Africa to replace the lost stock, thereby ensuring the momentum in the South African vaccine initiative is maintained.

The multinational said further doses of the lifesaving vaccines will become available in July.

These Johnson & Johnson vaccines released by Aspen will support the vaccination programmes in South Africa and elsewhere in Africa.

Aspen has thanked its team and J&J for its exemplary response in managing this setback.

Through their actions, they have not only assisted in capacitating the African continent but at this challenging time, they have stepped up again to ensure that we are able to maintain the momentum needed to give our continent access to lifesaving vaccines.  SAnews.gov.za

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South Africa: KZN unveils database to recruit unemployed graduates

The KwaZulu-Natal provincial government has set up a database aimed at helping unemployed graduates.

Launched on Monday, the Provincial Unemployed Graduates Database aims to help recruit youth for internships and learnerships, as well as establish youth trends which can help to inform policy.

Through the Youth Chief Directorate and the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) unit, the provincial government has devised a template to collect and collate integrated, up-to-date data on unemployed graduates in the province.

The aim of the online database - which will be accessible to government departments, municipalities, government agencies and the private sector - is to help recruit youth for internships and learnerships, as well as establish youth trends which can help to inform policy.

The Provincial Unemployed Graduates Database will also be accessible to national programmes such as Infrastructure Strategic Projects for unemployed youth that seeks job training opportunities in various sectors, the provincial government said.

It said rife unemployment among graduates is a cause for concern for the province.

The unemployment of graduates has also become a thorn in the flesh of the provincial government, which if not addressed properly, can become a raging inferno with devastating effects. The advent of the novel Coronavirus more than a year ago has worsened the unemployment of graduates in South Africa, and particularly in KwaZulu-Natal.

The province wants to eradicate and lessen the triple challenges of unemployment, poverty and inequality, through the establishment of the database. Registration for the database is accessible on the KwaZulu-Natal online website (www.kznonline.gov.za) and will be continuous, without a closing date.

Unemployed graduates can populate the template, which will be easily accessible on various social media platforms.

Even graduates from rural and outlying areas of the province can have access to the template through the mobile vehicle offices which will provide access to information through technology. The Youth Development Chief Directorate will then collate information on the template and update the database on a regular basis, the provincial government explained.

Data released by Statistics South Africa earlier this month showed that the countrys unemployment rate reached 32.6% in the first three months of 2021. According to the data, the official unemployment rate among youth (15-34 years) was 46.3% in quarter 1, 2021.

It is against this background that KwaZulu-Natal is doing its all in its power to address the rising unemployment among youth and graduates. Hopefully this venture will go a long way in alleviating the plight of unemployed graduates, thus relieving the stressful load on their shoulders, said the provincial government.  SAnews.gov.za

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South Africa: TB still SA's leading cause of death

A Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) report has revealed that Tuberculosis remained the main leading cause of death in South Africa between 2016 and 2018.

The report, titled "Mortality and causes of death in South Africa: Findings from death notification, 2018", provides information on levels, trends and patterns in mortality and cause-of-death statistics by socio-demographic and geographic characteristics.

The mortality indicators and cause of death indicators presented in this report are critical indicators on the health status of the South African population, said Stats SA.

The main focus is on 2018 death occurrences; however, information on deaths that occurred during the period 1997 to 2017 is included in order to show trends in mortality. The cause-of-death statistics in this statistical release provide information on the leading underlying natural causes of death, patterns and trends in non-natural underlying causes of deaths, as well as comparison between immediate, contributing and underlying causes of death, said Stats SA on Tuesday.

According to the report, mortality levels are declining in the country as indicated by the downward trend in the number of registered deaths since 2007.

The results showed that the total number of deaths registered at the Department of Home Affairs and processed by Stats SA in 2018 were 454 014.

While the occurrence of deaths in the country continued to decline, it differed by age and sex. The age group 65-69 had the highest proportion of deaths in 2018 at 8.4%, followed closely by age group 60-64 at 8.3%. Conversely, the lowest proportions of deaths were observed in age groups 5-9 years and 10-14 years at 0.6 % and 0.8%, respectively.

With regard to sex, between 1997 and 2018, there were more male than female deaths from age 0 to age group 65-69; whereas female deaths consistently exceeded male deaths for ages 70 years and above.

The results further indicate that in 2018, the highest sex ratio (167 male deaths per 100 female deaths) was observed in the age group 20-24 years. The pattern was observed for four consecutive years, between 2015 and 2018.

For the period 2016-2018, Tuberculosis remained the main leading cause of death in South Africa.

Diabetes mellitus, the report found, remained as the second leading underlying cause of death whose proportions have been increasing over the three years.

According to the global burden of diseases, two of the top five leading underlying causes of death for males were communicable diseases (tuberculosis and HIV) whilst among females, there was only one communicable disease (HIV) with the rest being non-communicable diseases.

Stats SA said the results showed that nine of the ten leading causes of death were the same for both sexes, although with different rankings.

Tuberculosis was the leading underlying cause of death for males, accounting for 7.2% of male deaths while the diabetes mellitus was the leading underlying cause of death amongst females accounting for 7.7% of female deaths.

Human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] disease (4.6%) was the second leading cause of death for the males, followed by other forms of heart disease (4.5%). Cerebrovascular diseases (6.1%) was the second leading underlying cause of death for females.

In 2018, the most significant decline amongst females were deaths due to tuberculosis which declined from 5.2% in 2016 to 4.8% in 2018. Uniform to this, there was a significant decline in tuberculosis deaths from 7.2% in 2015 to 7.6% in 2018 among males.

Non-natural deaths

Stats SA said although the number of deaths due to natural causes were higher than the number of deaths due to non-natural causes, the proportion of deaths due to non-natural cause have been on a slight increase in the recent years.

Between 2010 and 2018, a consistent increase in the proportions of deaths due to non-natural causes was noted from 9.0% in 2010 to 11.9% in 2018. The age groups mostly affected by non-natural causes of death in 2018 were age group 20-24 years and 15-19, accounting for 49.2% and 42.5%, respectively.

Males had higher proportions of deaths due to non-natural causes compared to females, with a wider difference observed at age group 15-29 where as much as 58,1% of male deaths resulted from non-natural causes compared to 19,8% of female deaths in the same age group.

Deaths due to non-natural causes were mainly dominated by those due to other external causes of accidental injury (68.3%) followed by assault (14.0%) whilst there were 11.4% non-natural deaths due to transport accidents.

In total, KwaZulu-Natal had the highest proportion of deaths due to non-natural causes (13.5%), followed closely by Cape Town (13.0%). In terms of proportions, deaths due to transport accidents were the highest in Limpopo (30.1%), whilst assault was highest in Eastern Cape (22.7%).  SAnews.gov.za

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South Africa: Didiza commissions Ebenhaezer Irrigation Scheme

Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Minister, Thoko Didiza, and Western Cape Agriculture MEC, Ivan Meyer, have officially commissioned the Ebenhaezer Irrigation Scheme in the West Coast District.

In 2020, the community of Ebenhaezer, roughly 40 km from Vredendal, successfully concluded a land restitution claim they submitted in 1996.

In terms of the claim, the 2 000 strong community received 23 700 hectares of land, and significant government funding to help locals manage the restored farms.

The revitalisation of the Ebenhaezer Irrigation Scheme consisted of several elements that included upgrading the off-farm irrigation infrastructure to ensure the on-farm viability of farming.

The National Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development took responsibility for upgrading the bulk water infrastructure of this irrigation scheme.

The Western Cape Department of Agriculture, in turn, accepted the responsibility for the on-farm development of the allocated agricultural land.

Speaking at the official commissioning of the scheme on Saturday, Didiza said the project is an excellent example of what can be achieved when the different spheres of government collaborate.

This is a great example of national governments District Development Model, where national, provincial and municipal spheres of government work together towards the development of the community, Didiza said.

Meyer, who switched on the on-farm irrigation system during the visit, said the two spheres of government working together had benefited the farmers and community of Ebenhaeser.

The Ebenhaezer Irrigation Scheme is the result of successful partnership and collaboration. Every farmer requires land and water security, and today we have delivered that, said Meyer.

Meyer said the scheme brings about improved water security, greater sustainability, increased production and enhances market access opportunities.

Ultimately, it will lead to economic growth and more jobs being created in the region, Meyer said.

A total of 153 farmers now have access to irrigation water for their plots.  SAnews.gov.za

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South Africa: Concern over treatment of disabled children

The Portfolio Committee on Social Development has expressed concern over alleged treatment of disabled children and the handling of rape cases involving teachers in Bushbuckridge in Mpumalanga.

During public hearings on the Childrens Amendment Bill in Bushbuckridge, the committee heard that it was common for parents in the area to hide disabled children in backrooms and not let them attend school.

It also heard that perpetrators for rape, who are allegedly teachers, are defended by their labour unions.

Acting committee chairperson, Nkhensani Bilankulu, said teacher unions can never be justified in defending alleged rapists in schools, and if there are such cases, these should be reported to the police.

We also learnt that some educators are protected by management due to the importance of learning areas they teach. As second homes of our children, schools should be the safest places for our children.

In cases where rapes have occurred, the educators code of conduct need to prevail with proper follow up of such incidents by all stakeholders, the South African Police Service, school management, School Governing Bodies and teacher unions, Bilankulu said.

The acting chairperson called on community members and all stakeholders not to wait for Parliament to come in order to raise issues or to seek intervention.

The bill is intended to improve the services for children and ensure that their welfare is taken care of adequately, Bilankulu said.

She also assured residents that all the issues raised with the committee will be referred to the relevant government departments, in order to be attended to urgently.

Meanwhile, the Department of Home Affairs committed to send a mobile truck to Bushbuckridge to assist learners, particularly Grade 12 learners, to apply for smart card IDs.  SAnews.gov.za

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South Africa: Tackling youth unemployment

Ahead of the Youth Day celebrations, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga has reflected on various measures implemented by government to create jobs in the education sector for young people during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As part of a battery of measures to draw young people into the economy, we have, through the Education Employment Initiative (BEEI), employed 320 000 unemployed youth as education and general education assistants, the Minister said on Tuesday.

This initiative was implemented to alleviate joblessness as part of the Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme from December 2020 to April 2021.

These young people were placed in public schools across the country to assist teachers in the classroom as they fought against the new challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. The initiative used the direct public investment to create employment opportunities and provide support to workers negatively impacted by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Minister said.

The BEEI was funded to the tune of R7 billion, of which the most considerable portion was transferred to provinces as part of an equitable share.

A large slice of this, just over R4 billion, was deployed to create job opportunities for unemployed youth in the basic education sector. Just one percent was allocated towards training, and another one percent of the public employment investment was paid to the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) for each youth employed in the Education Employment Initiative.

Some R2.4 billion was used to save exiting posts in the government, subsidised independent schools and school governing bodies' funded positions in public schools, Motshekga said.

The Minister said the success of Phase 1 of the education employment initiative has ignited talks of phase two.

Talks are at an advanced stage with Treasury in this regard.

As a sector, we are also supporting the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention that creates new pathways into employment for our young people. It ensures that the youth gain the right skills, start their own businesses, and get into good jobs, the Minister said.

Other measures to increase youth employment opportunities include the Expanded Public Works Programme, Community Works Programme, and the Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator.

The Minister made these remarks at the Virtual Teacher Appreciation and Support Programme Conversation with key stakeholders.

Third wave of COVID-19

With the country having technically entered the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Minister assured teachers, learners as well as the school community that their health remains of paramount importance and will not be compromised as they are expected to return to daily attendance next month.

We continue to monitor the trajectory of the pandemic and make all necessary regulations and directions in line with the COVID-19 Risk-Adjusted Differentiated Strategy. I realise that there is anxiety about sending all primary school children back to school at once. There is no need to panic. Our decision making is supported by empirical evidence, the Minister said.

The Department of Basic Education has gazetted the regulations for the return of all learners in primary schools (Grades R to 7) to the daily attendance and traditional timetabling model from July 26 2021.

Similarly, schools for learners with special education needs (Grades R to 12) are also expected to return to the daily attendance and traditional timetabling model from July 26 2021.

Research shows that primary school learners benefit more from continuous and unbroken contact time with their teachers. However, the health and safety of learners, teachers and school community remains of paramount importance and will not be compromised, the Minister said.

Motshekga confirmed that the next phase of the vaccine rollout is for teachers and education staff of all levels.

I am happy to reaffirm the President's message that the next frontier in a battle against COVID-19 is the rollout of vaccination. I am confident in the ability of our government to fulfil the ambitious target of vaccinating 67 percent of our population, she said.

The Minister said non-pharmaceutical measures remain the best arsenal against the virus.

These measures include social distancing, wearing cloth masks to cover one's nose, mouth and chin, washing hands with soap, and or 70% alcohol-based sanitiser for 20 seconds. I cannot stress enough the imperative to avoid birthday parties, weddings and funerals unless it is totally unavoidable, she said.

Motshekga acknowledged the role played by teachers in shaping society, yet they are often not recognised or respected.

The truth is that teachers are indispensable in our education system. In fact, committed teachers are critical in our efforts to steer our country back into the inclusive economic growth path after years of policy uncertainty, corruption and state capture.

Once again, my heartfelt appreciation to our teachers and all the education assistants, our unsung heroes and heroines, ensured that the Class of 2020 completed their academic year under highly challenging circumstances, the Minister said. SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2021-06-15. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
URI researchers: New survey method proves Rhode Island's rarest frog may not be so rare

KINGSTON, R.I. - June 14, 2021 - The rarest frog in Rhode Island may not be as rare as scientists once thought after a study by University of Rhode Island researchers using a seldom-used methodology turned up many more of the endangered animals than they expected.

Eastern spadefoots - often called spadefoot toads, though they are actually frogs - have long been considered highly secretive and difficult to find outside of their one- or two-day annual breeding periods on rainy nights. In some years, they don't breed at all. But after scientists reported just 50 sightings of the frogs over the previous 70 years, the Rhode Island researchers observed 42 spadefoots in 10 nights of searching last summer using the new methodology.

"We collected all the myths and misconceptions about spadefoots that have been published or told to us by herpetologists, and we decided to conduct surveys to show that the frogs aren't secretive, that they don't only come out when weather is suitable, and they can be detected easily using a noninvasive censusing method," said Anne Devan-Song, a former URI graduate student who is now a doctoral student at Oregon State University.

While working as a URI research associate in collaboration with Associate Professor Nancy Karraker, Devan-Song led a team that conducted amphibian surveys in Colonial National Historical Park in Virginia from 2015 to 2017 by using a spotlight at night to detect the animals' eyeshine in forests. A previous researcher conducted amphibian surveys at the park 15 years ago and only detected two Eastern spadefoots, but Devan-Song and her team found up to hundreds of them, even on dry nights, and a total of more than 3,000 individuals.

"It completely contradicted everything we'd read about them in the scientific literature, with the exception of recent studies in Massachusetts and Connecticut," said Devan-Song, whose research was published this month in the Journal of Herpetology. "The perception is that they're difficult to detect in large numbers outside of rainy weather conditions, but I was stumbling all over them everywhere I went at this particular site, even in drought years when I was nowhere near a known breeding pond."

To be sure that she could distinguish between the eyeshine of spadefoots and the eyeshine of other creatures active at night - a concern expressed by previous scientists who rejected the spotlighting method - Devan-Song confirmed her ability to accurately identify spadefoot eyeshine by capturing every frog whose eyeshine she detected.

Since the Virginia site may have been home to an uncharacteristically high number of the frogs, Devan-Song collaborated with Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management herpetologist Scott Buchanan to use her spotlighting technique at scattered sites around Rhode Island, where the frogs were believed to be located at only one site and were seldom seen there.

"Spadefoots are at the northern end of their range in Rhode Island and are incredibly rare there," Devan-Song said. "You can't just drive around at night and hear them, and there's little chance of finding them by chance. And yet with just a little bit of spotlighting effort, you can find them."

For sites that were occupied, the frogs were detected on nine out of ten survey nights in Rhode Island, the same rate as they were found in Virginia, and a new breeding population was discovered at a site in Westerly. In both states, the majority of spadefoots observed were sub-adults, an age class seldom detected using traditional survey methods.

"The lack of appropriate methods has hindered the study of this species, which is considered endangered in many states, including Rhode Island," said Devan-Song. "Without appropriate field methods, you can't gather information about certain demographic classes and you can't make accurate population assessments.

"By looking for them only on rainy nights or only near ponds, it has hindered the study of this species for decades," she added. "There is a huge amount of information that can be collected, especially on these overlooked demographic categories."

The research team has at least two additional scientific papers in the works that will shed more light on the life history of Eastern spadefoots, both based on the data collected from Rhode Island and Virginia. One describes the social structure of the species, which had been unknown outside the breeding season.

"The general idea had been that these frogs are solitary and don't interact much except when they go to their ponds to breed," she said. "But the reality is that they're doing lots of interesting things in the uplands. Their social structure is much more complex than we imagined."

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South Africa: Eskom, Maluti-a-Phofung to finalise revenue collection agreement

Deputy President David Mabuza says processes are underway to finalise a service level agreement between Eskom and the Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality in the Free State, on the collection of debt owed to the power utility.

Responding to oral questions in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), the Deputy President said the agreement is expected to be finalised by the end of the month.

While the issue of the reliable provision of water has been one of the pressing issues in the municipalities due to constant interruptions of electricity, we found that the sustainable resolution of this issue will depend on resolving the municipal escalating debt to Eskom.

In this regard, processes are underway to finalise the service level agreement between the municipality and Eskom, including modalities for collection of revenue as directed by the court on the 8th of June this month, he said on Tuesday.

This comes after a protracted process that has seen Eskom initiating judicial processes with an aim of getting into an active partnership concept with Maluti-a-Phofung, where Eskom would act as an agent to collect revenue for the municipalities.

Prior to this, residents had opted to pay for electricity directly to Eskom as per an earlier court order.

As at 31 March this year, Maluti-a-Phofung owed Eskom R5.9 billion in unpaid debt.

Addressing NCOP delegates, the Deputy President said the process that is currently underway would lead to a sustainable resolution.

This will result in the sustainable resolution of the municipal outstanding escalating debt, which impacts on the reliable provision of water, sanitation and other basic services.

The public participation process on the details of this agreement has begun, and we expect this agreement to be signed before the end of the month.

Meanwhile, the Deputy President called on residents to pay for services that they consume.

We are also calling on our communities to pay for services. Pay for the water that we consume and pay for the electricity that we consume so that we are in a position to maintain the infrastructure, he said.  SAnews.gov.za

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ACTG honors the 40th anniversary of HIV/AIDS, convenes virtual annual meeting

Los Angeles, Calif. - The AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG), the largest global HIV research network, commemorates the 40th anniversary of the initial publication of reports of what came to be known as HIV/AIDS in CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) on June 5, 1981. The anniversary coincides with the 2021 Virtual Annual ACTG Network Meeting. ACTG has played a critical role in HIV research for nearly four decades and has done so in close partnership with the HIV community. ACTG research includes landmark studies that have changed the treatment and care of people living with HIV around the world. This year's annual meeting will highlight ACTG research and efforts over the past year, including those to address COVID-19, as well as future research directions.

"What began with a medical report about five men 40 years ago became a worldwide epidemic that has directly and indirectly affected tens of millions of people," said ACTG Chair Judith Currier, M.D., M.Sc., University of California, Los Angeles, who has been part of the ACTG since 1991. "As a group, the ACTG has participated in the evolution of HIV from what was almost always a fatal diagnosis to a chronic and manageable condition. We are truly humbled that our community-engaged research network has significantly contributed to this dramatic progress over the past four decades and to shifting treatment guidelines and paradigms. The annual meeting provides us with an opportunity to reflect on our successes and challenges and plan for the ways that ACTG research can continue to advance the field of HIV."

The ACTG began with 14 AIDS Treatment Evaluation Units which were founded in 1986 and officially became the ACTG a year later. Initial research started with trials of AZT (which became the first treatment approved by the Food and Drug Administration but is rarely used anymore due to toxicity) and therapies for the treatment and prevention of opportunistic infections that caused the deaths of people living with HIV. The ACTG expanded to include international sites in 2002, initially pairing sites in Haiti, Brazil, Peru, and South Africa with mentor sites in the United States. The ACTG now includes 32 international sites among its total 65 sites. Over the years, the ACTG has also expanded its focus to address other diseases, including tuberculosis (TB), hepatitis, and more recently, COVID-19.

"The expansion of the ACTG to include global sites was vital to ensure that our research agenda truly served people living with HIV around the world," said ACTG International Vice Chair Ian Sanne, FCP, FRCP, University of the Witwatersrand Helen Joseph, who has been with the ACTG since 2012. "It has been a remarkable journey of advancements since the ACTG added the initial international sites nearly two decades ago. Particularly impressive is the way that the international sites have informed ACTG's research agenda and the impact of that research on international HIV treatment and care."

The ACTG has partnered with the HIV community from the earliest days of the pandemic, with community members attending ACTG meetings beginning in 1987. By 1990, every ACTG research unit had a community advisory board (CAB) to provide guidance and input into clinical trial protocol development.

"The CABs have always played an important role in the ACTG, including in developing our study protocols," said Estere Mutero, co-chair of the ACTG's Global CAB, who has been part of the ACTG since 2006. "Through its engagement with diverse populations, the ACTG has become a truly global network, facilitating the participation of communities around the world in our studies."

Examples of ACTG studies that have influenced or changed the landscape of HIV, TB, and hepatitis include:

ACTG 019: Treatment with AZT decreases the rate of progression of HIV; published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) in 1990

ACTG 077: Treatment of Toxoplasma Encephalitis with Clindamycin/ Pyrimethamine; in coordination with the French Agency for Research on AIDS and Viral Hepatitis (ANRS); published in NEJM in 1993

ACTG 081: Prevention of Pneumocystis Pneumonia; published in NEJM in 1995

ACTG 159: Treatment of Cryptococcal Meningitis; in coordination with the Mycoses Study Group; published in NEJM in 1997

ACTG 320: Combination antiretroviral therapy decreases morbidity and mortality in people with AIDS; published in NEJM in 1997

ACTG 5221: Rapid initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in people with TB; published in NEJM in 2012

ACTG 5175: Single-dose combination ART is safe and effective in resource-limited settings; published in PLoS Medicine in 2012

ACTG 5208 (OCTANE): Limitations of single-dose NVP and implications for maternal HIV resistance; published in PLoS Medicine in 2012

ACTG 5257: Benefit of integrase inhibitors for first-line ART; published in Annals of Internal Medicine in 2014

ACTG 5241 (OPTIONS): Treatment with two to three active agents for salvage ART; published in Annals of Internal Medicine in 2015

ACTG 5360: Minimal monitoring approach to HCV treatment is safe and successful; presented at AASLD 2020

ACTG 5349: Shortening the length of TB treatment; published in NEJM in 2021

During the 2021 Virtual Annual ACTG Network Meeting, which is being held from Monday, June 14, through Friday, June 18, ACTG committees provide updates on their research and programming over the past year and plans for the future. Each year, the meeting provides the opportunity for ACTG researchers, staff, and community members from around the world to learn about the broad scope of the ACTG's efforts.

"ACTG's efforts have led to treatment regimens that control HIV and allow many people living with HIV to lead healthy long lives," said ACTG Co-Chair, Joseph J. Eron, M.D., University of North Carolina, who has been part of the ACTG since 1993. "We recognize that there is still much to be done to end the HIV epidemic and the ACTG remains dedicated to the task. We are especially committed to research to find a functional cure and reduce the complications associated with lifelong HIV. And we are proud to continue to move forward with the strong involvement and support of people living with HIV."

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About the ACTG

Founded in 1987, the AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) was the world's first HIV research network. It is funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and collaborating NIH Institutes. The ACTG conducts groundbreaking studies to improve the treatment of HIV and its complications, including tuberculosis and viral hepatitis; reduce new infections and HIV-related illness; and advance new approaches to prevent, treat, and ultimately cure HIV in adults and children. ACTG investigators and research units in 15 countries serve as major resources for HIV/AIDS research, treatment, care, and training/education in their communities. ACTG studies have helped establish current paradigms for managing HIV disease, and have informed HIV treatment guidelines, resulting in dramatic decreases in HIV-related mortality worldwide.

This story has been published on: 2021-06-15. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Hong Kong: Webinar promotes trade zones

The Government today held a webinar for Hong Kong enterprises which are interested in expanding their businesses in the Mainlands overseas Economic & Trade Co-operation Zones in Malaysia and Thailand.

The webinar was organised by the Commerce & Economic Development Bureaus Belt & Road Office and the Commercial Office of the Economic Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

It aims to enhance participants understanding of prevailing local investment policies, facilities and supporting services, as well as preferential terms of the zones concerned.

Around 400 people registered to participate in todays webinar which introduced the Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park in Malaysia and the Thai-Chinese Rayong Industrial Zone in Thailand.

Commissioner for Belt & Road Denis Yip spoke at the webinar with Economic Affairs Department Deputy Director-General and Commercial Office of the Liaison Office Head Liu Yajun.

Mr Yip pointed out that many enterprises had been re-examining their modes of operation and production, and creating new business opportunities in the face of external challenges brought by the uncertainties in the global economy and geopolitical changes.

The Mainlands overseas zones provide enterprises with an ideal entry point to the Belt & Road, he added.

Mr Yip noted the five zones identified in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Cambodia could represent a better fit for Hong Kong enterprises.

The bureau has been discussing with the Ministry of Commerce possible facilitation measures for Hong Kong enterprises and ways to help them develop their businesses in the zones on a pilot basis.

Ministry of Commerce Department of Outward Investment & Economic Cooperation Deputy Director General Li Yongjun introduced the overall situation of overseas zones.

The management of the two zones in Malaysia and Thailand briefed the participants on their state of play, while representatives of enterprises from the zones shared their local investment experiences.

The second webinar will be held on June 22 to introduce the three zones in Indonesia and Cambodia.

This story has been published on: 2021-06-15. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Hong Kong: Power plant deemed safe

The Security Bureau today said it learnt from the National Nuclear Safety Administration that Taishan Nuclear Power Station is in a safe condition, and confirmed that there was no radiation leak to or impact on the environment.

Noting that the Government is concerned about reports of a suspected radiation leak at Taishan Nuclear Power Station, the bureau said it liaised with relevant national ministries and commissions on June 14 and 15.

Taishan Nuclear Power Joint Venture Company also indicated that according to its continuous radiation monitoring data, the indicators at the station and in its surroundings are normal.

The bureau pointed out that the Government has maintained close co-operation and communication with Guangdong's Nuclear Emergency Committee Office.

Relevant notification mechanisms on information exchange and notification arrangements during emergencies were established, covering different levels of accidents and incidents at all operating nuclear power stations in Guangdong, including non-emergency operational events.

Two notifications regarding Taishan Nuclear Power Station have been received so far this year on operational events that occurred on February 21 and April 5. Both of them were Level 0 deviations and did not affect the unit's safe operation, workers' health, the nearby communities or the environment.

The current situation at the station does not trigger the relevant notification mechanisms, the bureau added.

It also emphasised that the Government attaches great importance to nuclear safety nad , with standing systems to monitor radiation levels of the environment, water and food for safeguarding public health.

The monitoring systems include the Hong Kong Observatory's (HKO) radiation monitoring network, the Water Supplies Department's water contamination monitoring systems and the Food & Environmental Hygiene Department's food surveillance.

According to the HKO's radiation monitoring results, the environmental radiation levels in Hong Kong remained normal over the past year.

The bureau said it will continue to maintain close contact with the relevant national ministries and commissions, while the HKO will closely monitor the radiation levels in Hong Kong and strengthen its relevant work as necessary.

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RTHK: Myanmar's Suu Kyi goes on trial for sedition

Deposed Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi went on trial for sedition in a junta court on Tuesday, more than four months after her government was ousted in a coup that has thrown her country into turmoil.

Huge pro-democracy protests against the generals' February putsch have been met with a brutal crackdown that a monitoring group says has killed more than 850 people.

Suu Kyi "appeared in good health" at the hearing in the capital Naypyidaw as a witness produced by the junta testified against her on colonial-era sedition charges, her lawyer Min Min Soe said.

"She has good resistance... She listens normally... At some points (during the testimony against her), she smiled."

The court also heard testimony on a separate charge Suu Kyi broke coronavirus restrictions during last year's elections that her National League for Democracy party won in a landslide.

If convicted on all counts, the Nobel laureate and democracy icon, 75, could be jailed for more than a decade.

Journalists were barred from proceedings in the sparse courtroom in the capital built by the previous junta, with only one judge and two clerks present along with a witness and defence and prosecution lawyers.

There was a heavy police presence around the compound.

Under house arrest and invisible bar a handful of court appearances, Suu Kyi has been hit with an eclectic raft of charges, including accepting illegal payments of gold and violating a colonial-era secrecy law.

"Whenever we see her, Amay is always strong with her confidence," Min Min Soe said, using an honorific. "She's always smart."

Former president Win Myint and Dr Myo Aung, a senior NLD leader, are also on trial for sedition and appeared beside Suu Kyi on Tuesday.

Proceedings will resume next week, said Min Mon Soe.

Suu Kyi also faces a separate charge of violating a colonial-era secrecy law - a case that is pending in a court in the commercial hub Yangon.

Her long-delayed trial comes as violence flares in several communities across Myanmar and diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis flounder.

Myanmar's ambassador to the United Nations, who has refused to leave his post despite being fired after the coup, has called for the international community to take "effective collective measures" against the junta.

"The lack of such actions... will further encourage the military to continue committing inhumane and brutal acts against civilians," he wrote in comments published on Monday ahead of expected UN Security Council talks on the Myanmar crisis.

Kyaw Moe Tun has passionately rejected the coup and brushed aside the junta's claims that he no longer represents Myanmar.

The United Nations still considers him as the rightful envoy.

Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing has justified his power grab by citing alleged electoral fraud in the November poll won by the NLD.

The military has cracked down brutally on dissent - shooting protesters, arresting suspected dissidents in night raids, shutting down news outlets and rounding up journalists.

On Tuesday, US State Department spokesman Ned Price said American journalist Nathan Maung - who was detained in March - was on his way home after he was released from prison in Yangon.

Another US citizen, journalist Danny Fenster, was detained while attempting to leave the country on May 24.

Authorities have yet to release any information on his whereabouts and well-being. (AFP)

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South Africa: Positioning the youth for the digital economy

As digital skills are critical for future jobs, government is proactively seeking partnerships that will help young people to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the digital economy.

As government, one of our key objectives is to ensure that young people are well positioned to take advantage of opportunities presented by digital transformation.

For this reason, the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies is proactively seeking partnerships that will help us achieve this objective, Minister of Communication and Digital Technologies, Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, said on Tuesday.

Addressing the Youth Masterclass on Digital Skills Development Opportunities webinar, the Minister said government, the private sector, youth organisations, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and non-profit organisations (NPOs) have an important role in the digital skilling of the youth, as well as to ensure that they have access to the necessary infrastructure.

The youth of today is presented with opportunities brought by the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and requires the youth to be fully equipped with the necessary digital skills. This will empower them to contribute to the digital economy, while addressing other pressing issues that are facing our country.

The 4IR era presents various technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), big data, data science, Blockchain and other technologies that are bringing transformation in all dimensions of life. It provides an opportunity to advance socio-economic development, the Minister said.

With the emergence of 4IR, government entities, private sector firms and other institutions rely on digital technologies to drive economic growth, promote socio-economic development and cultural enrichment.

The speed of change in science and technology demands an equal speed in acquiring the skills that the industry demands. The Department of Communications and Digital Technologies has developed the National Digital and Future Skills strategy, whose objective is to establish an education and skills development ecosystem that provides all South Africans with the required skills to create and participate in the digital economy.

The department is collaborating with both the public and private sector, with the intent to bridge the digital divide.

For this reason, our training programmes will be conducted everywhere in South Africa, including the remote areas.

We are partnering with the Department of Higher Education to establish High Technology classrooms in the TVET [Technical and Vocational Education and Training] colleges countrywide. These classrooms will not only be used by registered students, but unemployed youth will equally benefit.

We want to see innovation from every single corner of this country, the Minister said.

Digital transformation

In 2019, the President combined the Department of Communications with the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services to form the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies.

The department was mandated with leading digital transformation in the country. Since then, the department has managed to unlock plenty of skills development opportunities for young people.

Working with together with the Media, Information and Communication Technologies Sector Education and Training Authority (MICT SETA), 1 000 young people have received training on 3D printing, data science and related programmes.

Our training institute, the National Electronic Media Institute of South Africa (NEMISA) and Coursera, trained more than 50 000 young people on 4IR related programmes. This is to equip them with the relevant skills such as AI, data science, IoT, Blockchain, big-data, cloud computing and cybersecurity, amongst other key 4IR skills.

These skills are critical for the digital era and will enable our young people to be entrepreneurs, and be self-sufficient and create jobs for themselves and for their peers, the Ndabeni-Abrahams said.

The department will also train 3 000 young South Africans and support 150 small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) for the Future of Work. This initiative, which is estimated at R49 million, will be done in partnership with GIZ.

We are also working with the Department of Employment and Labour to train 73 000 unemployed youth. Our model pulls together a given craft, skills and entrepreneurship, such that every leaner that finishes their training, s/he must have an exit strategy plan.

The partnerships that I have outlined above have the prospects of equipping young people with the skills that will give them a foothold in todays fast evolving and competitive labour market, the Minister said.

Digify Africas Xolani Sedibe said young people can people can take advantage of free digital skills courses that are available online.

If you look at the trends, you can see there are a lot of opportunities in video production, and if you look at how podcasts, smart speakers and voice activated devices are growing, there are opportunities in terms audio production as well, Sedibe said.

He said there are opportunities for young people to do user experience design, which is about the front-end of most digital technologies.

A user experience designer maps out how a web platform should be built and how the users should experience the platform, and how that platform can solve the users problem. Young people can also get into e-commerce. E-commerce is all about selling and buying of products and services online, Sedibe said.

Young people who are interested in learning about data science can do so on the IBM Digital Nation Africa Portal.

Google Skills Shop provides data analytics skills and the Facebook Blue Print platform provides learning about digital marketing.

The Hotspots Academy provides skills on marketing automation, while the YouTube Creator Academy provides opportunities for content creation.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2021-06-15. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Hong Kong: Frozen food tainted with virus banned

After a sample taken from the packaging of prepackaged frozen crocodile spare ribs imported from Thailand tested positive for COVID-19, the Centre for Food Safety has requested the vendor to stop selling the product and provide samples for testing.

The positive sample was collected at the residence of a COVID-19 patient.

The centre noted that the source of the virus on the sample is still unknown and it will follow up on the Department of Health's investigation.

To prevent the COVID-19 virus from entering Hong Kong through imported frozen foods, the centre has stepped up precautionary testing measures, including testing of various types of frozen foods and their packaging imported from different countries and regions, which involves taking samples at the Airport Food Inspection Offices and cold stores of importers.

As at the end of May, over 10,000 samples of food and their packaging were collected. All test results were negative, including those for more than 40 related crocodile products imported from Thailand.

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RTHK: Shiny stones spark diamond rush in S African village

Single mother Lihle Magudulela spat out a mouthful of dirt as she sucked on a stone dug up from a hillside in South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal province, convinced she might have found a diamond.

Thousands have flocked to the outskirts of KwaHlathi village, more than 300 kilometres southeast of Johannesburg, after a cattle herder last week unearthed a handful of unidentified crystal-like stones.

News of the finding spread fast, triggering a rush to the site despite messages of caution by the government warning the stones could be worthless.

At dawn, men and women upturned clumps of soil with shovels and picks and frantically rummaged through the earth with their bare hands.

Many found more of the mysterious stones and set them aside in small dirt-encrusted piles.

"They are real," beamed Magudulela, in her 40s and struggling to feed her three children.

"I'm going to buy a car, a house, send my kids to private school," she said.

The prospect of finding a diamond sent glimmering ripples of hope to one of the poorest regions of South Africa as the coronavirus pandemic worsened decades of extremely high unemployment levels.

The country, internationally renowned for its mineral wealth, still holds a record for the world's largest ever rough diamond discovery - the Cullinan - found in 1905 in the small mining town by the same name.

South Africa is also the brith place of the Kimberley Process, an international certification scheme to keep conflict diamonds off the market.

"We are poor, we are unemployed. But this could change everything," said Precious, 38, who did not wish to give her full name.

She had spent the night digging, with her teenage son and baby daughter.

The boy clutched a transparent crystal the size of a ping pong ball.

"They are not tired, we are looking for money," Precious exclaimed.

Rumour has it that the Cullinan, which weighed over 3,000 carats uncut, was lying only a few metres below ground and dug up with a pocketknife.

The rough stone yielded nine major diamonds used to adorn the British crown jewels, as well as almost 100 minor brilliants.

Johannesburg resident Thulani Manyathi, 36, travelled to KwaHlathi from the impoverished township of Alexandra with his four young daughters.

"We are going to live in Dubai. I want a house with double storage, this is going to change our life," Manyathi said, fingering a cluster of stones in his pocket.

"No school today," he added. "We are digging for diamonds."

There is talk of "foreigners" buying the stones for a few hundred rands in the nearby town of Ladysmith.

But experts say it is highly unlikely the stones will turn out to be valuable.

"These are not diamonds, people here are just wasting their time," said 18-year-old Bhekumuzi Luvuno, skeptically inspecting one of the stones he unearthed overnight.

Authorities over the weekend asked diggers to leave the area, citing coronavirus restrictions, but to no avail.

The government on Tuesday sent a team of geological and mining experts to the area, now pckmarked with holes, to collect stones for analysis.

Police cars are monitoring the area to keep the crowds in check. (AFP)

This story has been published on: 2021-06-15. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
South Africa: President Ramaphosa to deliver Youth Day address virtually

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Wednesday deliver virtually the keynote address commemorating Youth Day, and will launch the National Pathway Management Network to provide young work-seekers with a range of support, including training for work readiness.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Presidency said the Youth Day commemoration will be hosted as a hybrid event with a significantly reduced physical audience at the national event in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal.

This follows the countrys move tomorrow, 16 June 2021, to Alert Level 3 of the COVID-19 risk adjusted strategy. This includes, for example, arrangements for the Youth Day commemoration, which was scheduled to be held in Pietermaritzburg tomorrow, the Presidency said.

The President will provide an update on the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention, announced in SONA 2020, and will officially launch SAYouth.mobi, the National Pathway Management Network, to expand opportunities and support available to young people.

The National Pathway Management Network is a partnership between the National Youth Development Agency, Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, Department of Science and Innovation, Department of Employment and Labour, Department of Higher Education and Training, Department of Small Business Development, and the Youth Employment Service.

Young people are encouraged to sign up to join the network and access opportunities through SAYouth.mobi, the Presidency said.

It is 45 years since the uprising by learners against the mandatory use of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction and the violent response of the apartheid government to communities objections.

The shootings provoked protests throughout the country and intensified resistance to apartheid.

Youth Day 2021 is commemorated under the theme, The Year of Charlotte Mannya Maxeke: Growing youth employment for an inclusive and transformed society.

The public is invited to follow the national event on government digital platforms and major news channels at 11am.

The event can also be followed on Facebook: http://facebook.com/GovernmentZA, Twitter: http://twitter.com/GovernmentZA, and YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/GovernmentZA. - SAnews.gov.za

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South Africa: SA moves to lockdown level 3, with tighter curfew and alcohol restrictions

President Cyril Ramaphosa has ordered the country into stricter lockdown regulations, as government gears to tackle the third wave of COVID-19 cases.

The President on Tuesday announced that the new measures will see the whole of South Africa move into alert level 3.

In a bid to stop the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic, the President has since instituted alcohol sales restrictions, tightened the curfew and slashed the number of people who are allowed at gatherings.

This comes after a meeting with the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC), the Presidents Coordinating Council and Cabinet.

In a televised address to the nation, the President said with the third wave of infections upon the nation, every precaution must be taken to contain the spread of infections.

We have to contain this new wave of infections, he warned.

The latest data show that the country finds itself in heightened crisis mode, with hospital admissions soaring and private hospitals almost full.

Meanwhile, South Africa is witnessing an average of 7 500 daily infections, with Gauteng driving the resurgence, accounting for about two-thirds of new cases over the last week.

We have to act decisively and quickly to save lives. And to do this, we need to return to the basics, said President Ramaphosa.

Curfew

South Africas new curfew that now starts from 10pm to 4am.

The President stressed that non-essential establishments like restaurants, bars and fitness centres need to be closed by 9pm to allow employees and patrons to travel home before the start of the curfew.

Gatherings

While gatherings are still allowed, the President said they would now be limited to a maximum of 50 people indoors and 100 outdoors.

Where the venue is too small to accommodate these numbers with appropriate social distancing, then no more than 50% of the capacity of the venue may be used, he explained.

This includes religious services, political events and social gatherings, restaurants, bars, taverns and similar places.

Funerals

The number of mourners who can attend funerals and cremations has been slashed to 50.

The President encouraged people to observe social distancing and health protocols.

However, night vigils, after-funeral gatherings and after-tears gatherings are strictly forbidden.

Alcohol

Government has once again re-imposed alcohol sale limits.

According to the President, alcohol will now be allowed to be sold between Monday and Thursday from 10am to 6pm, while restaurants can only serve alcohol until 9pm. This excludes public holidays.

Alcohol sales for on-site consumption will be permitted, as per licence conditions, up to 9pm, he said.

Meanwhile, drinking alcohol in all public spaces, such as beaches and parks, is not permissible.

Act now

If we act too soon, or impose measures that are too severe, the economy will suffer. At the same time, if we act too late, or if our response is too weak, we risk losing control of the virus, said President Ramaphosa.

Meanwhile, the President said government is focusing on making sure there are enough hospital beds, health workers, ventilators and oxygen to give the best possible care.

He has since called on citizens to continue to practice the basic essential precautions.

It remains mandatory for every person to wear a face mask that always covers their nose and mouth at all times when in public spaces. It is a criminal offence not to do so, he said.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2021-06-15. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
The most ancient ice in the Alps will be preserved in Antarctica

VENICE - The Ice Memory international mission on Monte Rosa has been accomplished. After working for five days at 4,500 metres in the accumulation zone of the Grenzgletscher, the glacier saddle of Colle Gnifetti, scientists extracted three shallow ice cores (15-22 metres) and two deep ice cores reaching down to bedrock at 82 metres depth.

In the section closest to the rock, these ice cores contain information on the climate and environment of ten thousand years ago, meaning that the most ancient ice in the Alps will be stored in Antarctica for decades and centuries to come.

The mission was organised by the Institute of Polar Sciences (ISP) of the Italian National Research Council, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, and the Swiss Paul Scherrer Institute.

Ice Memory is an international programme that aims to provide, now and for decades and centuries to come, the raw material and data necessary for scientific advances and political decisions that contribute to the sustainability and well-being of humanity. It aims to do so by creating, in Antarctica, an archive of ice cores from the Earth's mountain glaciers currently in danger of degradation or disappearance.

"The mission was a success: the team obtained two ice cores over 80 metres deep from a very important site, which contains information on the climate of the last ten thousand years," says Carlo Barbante, director of the CNR-ISP and professor at Ca' Foscari. "The team worked well despite the harsh weather conditions, with strong gusts of wind and snow. Now this precious archive of the climate history of the Alps will be preserved for the future."

"For ice core research in the Alps, the Colle Gnifetti glacier saddle is iconic with the first ice core drilling expedition already in 1976, shortly after initiation of this research field in the 1960s in Greenland, - emphasizes Margit Schwikowski, head of the Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry at Paul Scherrer Institut and professor at the University of Bern. - At that time it was speculated that the saddle consists of cold ice, without any melting, a prerequisite for a reliable preservation of the environmental information, which was shown to be correct. I am therefore extremely pleased that we succeeded in collecting cores from this site for the Ice Memory programme".

"We are extremely happy and proud that we successfully accomplished this mission - adds Theo Jenk, a researcher at the Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry at Paul Scherrer Institut and leader of the expedition. - Considering the extreme location of sampling sites such as the one on Colle Gnifetti, the high altitude of more than 4,500 metres and the often harsh weather conditions, such success can never be guaranteed. In a strong, international collaborative team effort, we managed just that, and most importantly, all team members returned back safely. The Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry (LUC) from the Paul Scherrer Institut has a long tradition of several decades in studying the glacier archive at Colle Gnifetti. A site, which we showed to most likely contain the oldest ice in the Alps. Because of that, helping to secure an ice core from this site - providing access to an extremely valuable climate and environmental archive of past European history but now in danger of being lost forever due to the ongoing warming - is definitely a highlight for us as a group. We are very happy that thanks to our expertise in ice core drilling and high-altitude expeditions we were able to make a significant contribution to the Ice Memory project in this particular case."

"Ice Memory is one of Ca' Foscari's most significant projects, - says Tiziana Lippiello, Rector of Ca' Foscari. - Our university was among the first to engage in the study of climate change and its impact on various areas (economics, science, society, culture). Our climate is in a state of emergency. In order to face this crisis, we need to understand the causes and find possible solutions, so research and teaching are necessary. With the Ice Memory project, Ca' Foscari is committed to making a relevant contribution, together with CNR and the other international partners."

"Ice Memory is a trans-generational project that will involve the children of today who will become the scientists of tomorrow, - says Fabio Trincardi, director of the Department of Earth System Science and Environmental Technologies at CNR. "If we lost archives such as this one, we would lose the memory of how humankind has altered the atmosphere. Let us try to preserve it for the future generations who will study it when we are no longer here".

On 1 June, the Italian team left from Alagna Valsesia (Vercelli, Italy) while the Swiss team approached from Zermatt (Valais, Switzerland) both located at the foot of Monte Rosa. The researchers met at Capanna Gnifetti refuge (3,600 metres) where they spent two days in order to acclimatise. Then they were flown up to Colle Gnifetti to carry out deep ice core sampling.

For the duration of the mission, the scientists stayed at Capanna Margherita - the highest mountain refuge in Europe, built on a rocky peak 128 years ago for the purpose of contributing to scientific research in the field of physiology and, more recently, of climatology and natural science. Thanks to the support of Rifugi Monterosa, Capanna Margherita was opened just to host the scientists. The refuge will open again during the second half of June to welcome mountaineers.

The Colle Gnifetti forms the upper accumulation area of Grenzgletscher, the main tributary of the Gornergletscher, which is the second largest glacier system in the Alps. With an area of about 40 sq. kilometres, the glacier extends from 2,190 metres to 4,600 metres above sea level. In 2017 it was estimated that the volume of the glacier amounted to 4.9 cubic kilometres. Since the mid-1800s, the glacier has lost about 40% of its area, with its front retreating by about 3.3 kilometres. In 2019, the Gornergletscher lost its connection with the Grenzgletscher turning it suddenly into a much smaller glacier.

The team included Margit Schwikowski (PSI), Theo Jenk (team leader, PSI), Francois Burgay (PSI), Jacopo Gabrieli (Cnr/Ca' Foscari), Fabrizio de Blasi (Cnr/Ca' Foscari), Andrea Spolaor (Cnr/Ca' Foscari), Paolo Conz (mountain guide), Sabine Harbeke (ZHdK, PolARTS project), Riccardo Selvatico (videomaker).

The expedition on Monte Rosa was funded by the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (with the special supplementary fund for research, FISR) and by the Paul Scherrer Institute.

The mission was sponsored by AKU and Karpos and featured the collaboration of Comune di Alagna Valsesia, Alagna's Mountain Guides, Rifugi Monterosa, Monterosa 2000 spa, Camp, AVIS, ARPA Piemonte, ARPA Valle d'Aosta, Comitato Glaciologico Italiano, Ente di gestione delle aree protette della Valle Sesia, Fondazione Montagna Sicura, the University of Turin, Einwohnergemeinde Zermatt, Sektion Naturgefahren Kanton Wallis.

Ice Memory

For Ice Memory, the expedition to the Monte Rosa massif is the third mission on Alpine glaciers after the one on Mont Blanc in 2016 and to Grand Combin in 2020. Other international expeditions have allowed securing ice cores of glaciers at Illimani (Bolivia), at Belukha in Siberia and at Elbrus (Russia).

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Ice Memory partners are Paul Scherrer Institute, Grenoble Alpes University, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, the French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD), The French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), the Italian National Research Council (CNR), and the French Polar Institute Paul-Emile Victor (IPEV). Ice Memory is under the patronage of the French and Italian National Commissions for UNESCO.

This story has been published on: 2021-06-15. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Rarest bee genus in North America is not so rare after all

June 15, 2021 - Canadian researchers have discovered that a bee thought to be one of the rarest in the world, as the only representative of its genus, is no more than an unusual specimen of a widespread species.

Scientists with the Canadian Museum of Nature (CMN) and York University have reclassified the mystery bee, collected somewhere in Nevada in the 1870s, as Brachymelecta californica. They note that it's an aberrant individual of a species, the California digger-cuckoo bee, that is part of a group that includes five other species. All are cleptoparasitic bees, with females that lay eggs in the nests of digger bees. Brachymelecta californica itself is known to be widespread from western Canada to southern Mexico.

The paper setting the record straight is published today in the European Journal of Taxonomy. "The unusual specimen has puzzled bee researchers for decades, and deceived some of the world's great experts on bee taxonomy" says Dr. Thomas Onuferko, research associate with the CMN and the study's lead author. "They can now stop searching for more examples of this 'rare' bee."

The bee was first described in 1879 by American entomologist Ezra Townsend Cresson from the Nevada specimen. It was later placed in its own genus, and renamed Brachymelecta mucida in 1939, a name that has only ever been associated with this lone specimen.

It stood apart from other related bees because its abdomen's dorsal surface is unusually covered in pale hairs, these being partly dark in other specimens of what are now understood to be the same species. Another unusual feature is that the fore wings of the specimen each have two submarginal cells (the normal number for the bees in this group is three). These two features had confused everyone, until now.

In 2019, Onuferko was able to examine the rare specimen during a visit to the collections at Philadelphia's Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University. There, he discovered a series of other specimens with the same vague locality labels, but these bees were identified as Xeromelecta californica, a species that was also described by Cresson in the year before the description of the mystery species.

In some of the specimens, the pattern of veins in the wings is the same as in the mystery specimen. "At that point, I made the connection that these specimens might all be the same species," says Onuferko.

This connection was further boosted by the discovery in Dr. Laurence Packer's collection at York University of a bee that also had conspicuously pale hairs on its entire abdomen. DNA barcoding confirmed the specimen to be Xeromelecta californica. Hairs that are normally dark in this species were completely light. Onuferko and Packer, who also collaborated on the study, concluded that the hairs likely lacked pigmentation due to a form of partial albinism.

The finding surprised Packer because some of the best bee biologists had studied the specimen, but he adds, "Rummaging around in old collections is actually an important thing to do. There is a lot to discover within museum collections, and in this case the rummaging revealed that a rare bee is not so rare after all."

The discovery has prompted an unusual name change, which is based on rules of the organization that governs the naming of animal species--the International Commission of Zoological Nomenclature. Due to the chronology of dates in which the bees' various genus and species names were published, Brachymelecta californica takes precedence as the accepted name, and the five related species classified as Xeromelecta are now also part of the genus Brachymelecta. This genus, previously known from a single specimen, is now known from most of the bee collections in North America.

"The reclassification of this bee shows why it's important to describe new taxa from multiple examples and why entomologists collect specimens in series," explains Onuferko. It is impossible to know the range of variation within a species with a single specimen, and describing new species from a lone sample risks mistaking an aberrant specimen for a new species.

New species still occasionally get described from single specimens; however, in such cases the new species should be thoroughly justified (using both molecular and morphological evidence, if possible), to avoid taxonomic problems down the line.

The study's authors explain that many researchers have written about the mystery bee under its earlier classification as Brachymelecta mucida, meaning that intellectual resources were dedicated to a specimen that did not merit them. "Bee collectors were effectively in search of an elusive 'white whale; or more appropriately, a 'whitish bee', a species that evidently only existed in the minds of taxonomists," says Onuferko.

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About the Canadian Museum of Nature

Saving the world through evidence, knowledge and inspiration! The Canadian Museum of Nature is Canada's national museum of natural history and natural sciences. The museum provides evidence-based insights, inspiring experiences and meaningful engagement with nature's past, present and future. It achieves this through scientific research, a 14.6-million specimen collection, education programs, signature and travelling exhibitions, and a dynamic web site, nature.ca.

About York University

York University is a modern, multi-campus, urban university located in Toronto, Ontario. Backed by a diverse group of students, faculty, staff, alumni and partners, we bring a uniquely global perspective to help solve societal challenges, drive positive change and prepare our students for success. York's fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education. York's campuses in Costa Rica and India offer students exceptional transnational learning opportunities and innovative programs.

Information for media:

Dan Smythe

Head, Media Relations

Canadian Museum of Nature

613-698-9253; dsmythe@nature.ca

Sandra McLean

Senior Media Relations Officer

York University

416-272-6317; sandramc@yorku.ca

This story has been published on: 2021-06-15. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Charite accepts new responsibilities at the European level

Currently in the fifth year of its existence, the European University Hospital Alliance (EUHA), whose membership comprises nine leading European institutions including Charite - Universitatsmedizin Berlin, has become a non-profit organization. In addition to the pursuit of new goals, the new status entails the adoption of an advisory role at the European level. Guided by the EUHA's motto 'Leading by Doing', the partner institutions used the eighth Members' Assembly to launch more pioneering initiatives. One of these, a European Nursing Network to be coordinated by Charite, will be dedicated to continued improvements in patient care. In the field of research, the EUHA members agreed a set of common values and signed the Sorbonne Declaration, an undertaking by the international community to promote free access to research data and drive innovation.

The EUHA's decision to register as an intentional non-profit organization was taken at a relatively early stage in its own history. Its new status will enable the organization to enter into legally binding contracts, submit joint bids for EU funding and act as an independent entity. Today's Members' Assembly, which was held online and hosted by the Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm, Sweden, brought together the CEOs of the EUHA's nine founding members. "The partnership which exists between the EUHA university hospitals has proved extremely valuable over the past few years. Particularly in terms of pandemic management efforts, it was incredibly helpful to be able to contact colleagues in other European countries at short notice and in confidence to exchange ideas and share information which was critical in an acute crisis situation," says Prof. Dr. Heyo K. Kroemer, Charite's Chief Executive Officer. The partner institutions were not alone in benefiting from the sharing of information. Even the EU Commission drew on the alliance's expertise for advice during the pandemic.

The alliance of European university hospitals plans to set an example in the field of research and teaching. Emphasizing the EUHA's enormous potential in this field, Prof. Dr. Axel R. Pries, Dean of Charite, says: "We want to work together over the coming years to develop important growth areas. In the field of cell and gene therapy, for instance, this will include the foundation of a European institute dedicated to the development of cell therapies, the design and development of a health data platform - the European Health Data Space - and the promotion of European Reference Networks for rare diseases. Other plans include common curricula and training opportunities offered in conjunction with EUHA partner institutions."

The EUHA's efforts in this regard also extend to the formation of a network of nursing professionals, a development entirely in keeping with the organization's motto of 'Leading by Doing'. In line with the alliance's focus on specific challenges faced within the field of academic medicine, the nine partner institutions have today launched the EUHA Nursing Network. The network, which will be coordinated by Charite, will enable nursing managers from EUHA hospitals to come together on a regular basis in order to share ideas and actively shape the future of the profession. The development of intercultural competence will be given a central role, alongside employer attractiveness and staff retention. "This sharing of ideas is extremely helpful and important. After all, we all face the same challenges. We can learn a great deal from our European partners, including in the area of qualification pathways, the academization of nursing and the development of strategies aimed at making the profession more attractive," says Judith Heepe, Coordinator of the EUHA Nursing Network and Charite's Nursing Director. Demographic change and the resulting shortages of qualified staff are pressing issues all across Europe. "The pandemic has certainly highlighted that, for university hospitals to function, we need staff from all of the professional groups," says Prof. Kroemer. He adds: "At Charite, we strive to implement interprofessional collaborative practice, and nursing staff play a crucial role in this regard." Staff exchange programs and nursing research will continue to support efforts to ensure the European nursing and care sector is built on solid foundations.

The signing of the international Sorbonne Declaration at the EUHA meeting on June 10th was another landmark decision - a commitment to promoting free access to research data in order to create a culture which is supportive of responsible research and innovation. The Sorbonne Declaration was launched approximately a year ago. On the initiative of Charite and the EUHA members' research deans, the alliance has now joined the existing list of signatories to the declaration, nine higher education associations which include the Association of American Universities, the League of European Research Universities and the German U15. Overall, a total of around 200 research-intensive universities are openly committed to optimizing the sharing of research data in the interest of developing new knowledge and ensuring that knowledge derived from research can benefit all of society. "The shared use of research data, which is based on a structured approach to their management, is of major importance in building transparency and trust and has enormous value in terms of data reuse and knowledge generation. This is particularly relevant in medical research, where many questions - such as those pertaining to rare diseases and precision medicine - can only be addressed by pooling data from different institutions," says Prof. Dr. Ulrich Dirnagl, EUHA working group co-lead, founder of the BIH QUEST Center at Charite and Head of Charite's Department of Experimental Neurology.

In most areas of medical research, it is still not common practice to make the data sets underpinning one's publications widely available. By signing the Declaration, the EUHA's members commit to promoting the sharing of data at both the political and institutional levels and making this an integral part of their future institutional development. The institutions are taking this step in order to prepare for an increasingly digitalized, cooperative and transparent research environment, the sort of research environment already apparent in large projects such as the European Open Science Cloud and the 'Kommission fur Open Science' (Open Science Commission). In Germany, this development is also guided by the aims of the federal government's Medical Informatics Initiative (MII) and the National Research Data Infrastructure (NFDI).

The end of today's meeting also marked the end of the current EUHA Presidency by Sweden's Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm. The Presidency, which rotates among the EUHA's members every six months, was handed over to the Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus in Barcelona, Spain.

The Sorbonne Declaration and its principles, January 2020

In this declaration, research university networks commit to supporting their researchers in making their data findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable (FAIR). In addition to promoting data curation and sharing, they also commit to promoting the development of data management plans as a standard part of the research process.

Knowledge derived from research benefits society.

The value of research data lies on its integrity, upon which the public trust in new knowledge is founded.

Providing access to and openly sharing data enable the development of new knowledge, accelerates discoveries for the benefit of society and economic development.

Research data should, as much as possible, be shared openly and reused, without compromising national security, institutional autonomy, privacy, indigenous rights and the protection of intellectual property.

The academic community is integral to identifying the complex conditions for sharing and reuse.

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For more information: Sorbonne Declaration

About the European University Hospital Alliance (EUHA)

The Alliance represents nine leading European university hospitals with proven expertise in health care, education and research: AP-HP, Assistance Publique - Hopitaux de Paris, France; Charite - Universitatsmedizin Berlin, Germany; Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy; Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden; King's Health Partners, London, United Kingdom; UZ Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; AKH Wien & MedUni Wien, Vienna, Austria; Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain. The aim of their collaboration is to improve outcomes for today's - and tomorrow's - patients. As leading university hospitals within their own countries, each of the nine member institutions is a center of excellence in research and serves as a national reference center. Each has a capacity of more than 1,000 beds and covers all of the existing European Reference Networks (ERNs). The alliance's motto 'Leading by doing' summarizes its aim to act as an influential advisor at the European level and lead the development of innovative solutions to the most pressing challenges facing Europe's health and health care sector.

Contact:

Manuela Zingl

Corporate Spokesperson

Charite - Universitatsmedizin Berlin

Tel: +49 30 450 570 400

Email: presse@charite.de

Links:

EUHA

EUHA at Charite

BIH Charite QUEST Center

Press release published by the Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, on the occasion of the alliance's 8th Members' Assembly

This story has been published on: 2021-06-15. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
PSMA-targeted radiotracer pinpoints metastatic prostate cancer across anatomic regions

Reston, VA (Embargoed until 3:00 p.m. EDT, Tuesday, June 15, 2021)--A phase III clinical trial has validated the effectiveness of the prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-targeted radiotracer 18F-DCFPyL in detecting and localizing recurrent prostate cancer. Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration last month, the radiotracer identified metastatic lesions with high positive predictive values regardless of anatomic region, adding to the evidence that PSMA-targeted radiotracers are the most sensitive and accurate agents for imaging prostate cancer. This study was presented at the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) 2021 Annual Meeting.

Prostate cancer patients have high levels of PSMA expression, which makes PSMA an effective target for imaging the disease. In previous studies, the novel positron emission tomography (PET) imaging agent 18F-DCFPyL was found to bind selectively with high affinity to PSMA. To demonstrate the diagnostic performance of 18F-DCFPyL for regulatory approval, a prospective, multicenter study was conducted in 14 sites across the United States and Canada.

The study sought to determine the positive predictive value (the probability that patients with a positive screening test actually have the disease) and detection rate of 18F-DCFPyL PET/computed tomography (CT) by anatomic region, specifically the prostate/prostate bed, pelvic lymph nodes, and regions outside the pelvis. Study participants included men who had rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels after local therapy as well as negative or equivocal conventional imaging results.

Patients were imaged with 18F-DCFPyL PET/CT, then imaged again after 60 days to verify suspected lesions using a composite "standard of truth," which consisted of histopathology, correlative imaging findings and PSA response. Comparing findings between the 18F-DCFPyL imaging and the "standard of truth," the positive predictive value and detection rate were measured.

18F-DCFPyL-PET/CT was found to successfully detect and pinpoint metastatic lesions with high positive predictive value, regardless of their location in the body, in men with biochemically recurrent prostate cancer who had negative or equivocal baseline imaging. Higher positive predictive values were observed in extra-pelvic lymph nodes and bone compared to soft tissue regions.

With the recent approval of 18F-DCFPyL (now referred to as piflufolastat F-18) by the FDA, the impact of this research may be realized in the very near future. As these agents become more widely available, patients with newly diagnosed, recurrent, and metastatic prostate cancer may have new therapeutic approaches available to them. The results of the study will be presented at the SNMMI meeting by Steven Rowe, MD, PhD, associate professor of radiology and radiological science at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.

Abstract 123. "A Phase 3 study of 18F-DCFPyL-PET/CT in Patients with Biochemically Recurrent Prostate Cancer (CONDOR): An Analysis of Disease Detection Rate and Positive Predictive Value (PPV) by Anatomic Region," Steven Rowe and Michael Gorin, Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, Maryland; Lawrence Saperstein, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut; Frederic Pouliot, Departement de Chirurgie, Division d'Urologie, University of Quebec, Quebec, Canada; David Josephson, Tower Urology, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California; Peter Carroll, UCSF, San Francisco, California; Jeffrey Wong, City of Hope, Sierra Madre, California; Austin Pantel, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Morand Piert, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan; Kenneth Gage, Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida; Steve Cho, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin; Andrei Iagaru, Stanford University, Stanford, California; Janet Pollard, University of Iowa Hospital, Iowa City, Iowa; Vivien Wong, Jessica Jensen and Nancy Stambler, Progenics Pharmaceuticals, Inc., New York, New York; Michael Morris, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York; and Barry Siegel, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.

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All 2021 SNMMI Annual Meeting abstracts can be found online at https:/ / jnm. snmjournals. org/ content/ 62/ supplement_1 .

About the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging

The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) is an international scientific and medical organization dedicated to advancing nuclear medicine and molecular imaging, vital elements of precision medicine that allow diagnosis and treatment to be tailored to individual patients in order to achieve the best possible outcomes.

SNMMI's members set the standard for molecular imaging and nuclear medicine practice by creating guidelines, sharing information through journals and meetings and leading advocacy on key issues that affect molecular imaging and therapy research and practice. For more information, visit http://www. snmmi. org .

This story has been published on: 2021-06-15. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Researchers 3D print rotating microfilter for lab-on-a-chip applications

WASHINGTON -- Researchers have fabricated a magnetically driven rotary microfilter that can be used to filter particles inside a microfluidic device. They made the tiny turning filter by creating a magnetic material that could be used with a very precise 3D printing technique known as two-photon polymerization.

Microfluidic devices, also known as lab-on-a-chip devices, can be used to perform multiple laboratory functions inside a chip that usually measures a few square centimeters or less. These devices contain intricate networks of microfluidic channels and are becoming more and more complex. They may be useful for a variety of applications such as screening molecules for therapeutic potential or performing blood tests that detect disease.

"By changing the direction of external magnetic field, the microfilter we made can be remotely manipulated on demand to either filter certain-sized particles or to allow them all to pass," said Dong Wu, a member of the research team from the University of Science and Technology of China. "This functionality could be used for many types of chemical and biological studies performed in lab-on-a-chip devices and, importantly, makes it possible for the chips to be reused."

In The Optical Society (OSA) journal Optics Letters, Wu together with colleagues from the Hefei University of Technology and RIKEN Center for Advanced Photonics in Japan show that their new rotary microfilter filters can sort particles in a microfluidic device with high performance.

"This filter could eventually be used to sort cells of different sizes for applications such as isolating circulating tumor cells for analysis or detecting abnormally large cells that may indicate disease," said Chaowei Wang from University of Science and Technology of China. "With further development it might even be possible to use it in devices placed inside the body for cancer detection."

A more versatile filter

Filters with micrometer-sized holes are often used in microfluidic chips as a passive way to sort particles or cells based on sizes of the holes. However, because the number and shape of holes in the filter cannot be dynamically changed, available devices lack the flexibility to sort different types of particles or cells on demand. To expand the usefulness of microfluidic devices, the researchers developed a filter that can freely switch between modes such as selective filtering and passing.

They created the new filter using two-photon polymerization, which uses a focused femtosecond laser beam to solidify, or polymerize, a liquid light-sensitive material known as photoresist. Thanks to two-photon absorption, the polymerization can be done in a very precise manner, enabling fabrication of complex structures on the micron scale.

To make the microfilter, the researchers synthesized magnetic nanoparticles and mixed them with the photoresist. Fabricating the rotary microfilter required them to optimize the laser power density, number of pulses and scanning intervals used for polymerization. After testing its magnetically driven properties on a glass slide, they integrated the microfilter into a microfluidic device.

Multiple filtering modes

To filter larger particles, a magnetic field perpendicular to the microchannel is applied. After the filtering process is complete, the large particles can be released by applying a magnetic field that is parallel to the microchannel, which will rotate the microfilter by 90. The filtering process can then be repeated as needed.

The researchers verified the filtering performance of the filter using polystyrene particles with diameters of 8.0 and 2.5 microns that were mixed in an alcohol solution. "It was clear that particles smaller than the pore size easily passed through microfilter while bigger ones were filtered out," said Chenchu Zhang from University of Science and Technology of China. "When in passing mode, any larger particles captured by the filter were washed away with the fluid, which prevents filter clogging and allows reuse of the microfilter."

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Paper: C. Wang, Z. Hu, L. Yang, C. Zhang, L. Zhang, S. Ji, L. Xu, J. Li, Y. Hu, D. Wu, J. Chu, K. Sugioka, "Magnetically driven rotary microfilter fabricated by two-photon polymerization for multimode filtering of particles," Opt. Lett., 46, 12, 2968-2971 (2021).

DOI: https:/ / doi. org/ 10. 1364/ OL. 428751 .

About Optics Letters

Optics Letters offers rapid dissemination of new results in all areas of optical science with short, original, peer-reviewed communications. Optics Letters accepts papers that are noteworthy to a substantial part of the optics community. Published by The Optical Society and led by Editor-in-Chief Miguel Alonso, Institut Fresnel, Ecole Centrale de Marseille and Aix-Marseille Universite, France, University of Rochester, USA. Optics Letters is available online at OSA Publishing.

About The Optical Society

Founded in 1916, The Optical Society (OSA) is the leading professional organization for scientists, engineers, students and business leaders who fuel discoveries, shape real-life applications and accelerate achievements in the science of light. Through world-renowned publications, meetings and membership initiatives, OSA provides quality research, inspired interactions and dedicated resources for its extensive global network of optics and photonics experts. For more information, visit osa.org.

Media Contact:

mediarelations@osa.org

This story has been published on: 2021-06-15. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Cleared for takeoff

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- A 30-year program that made flying safer through continued innovations in airplane inspection, maintenance and airworthiness research has ended its tenure at Sandia National Laboratories.

The Federal Aviation Administration Airworthiness Assurance Center, or AANC, operated by Sandia for the FAA, is moving to the National Institute of Aviation Research at Wichita State University to combine with another long-standing FAA center. The planned move supports shifts in structure at both Sandia and the FAA.

At the center, Sandia researchers partnered with staff from aircraft manufacturers, airlines, regulatory agencies, universities and industry to develop inspection and maintenance systems for airplanes. The original focus was on developing nondestructive inspection techniques for aging airplanes and then grew to include airworthiness assurance needs throughout the lifetime of all aircraft systems.

"Our goal was to develop the technology, prove the technology and, just as importantly, transfer the technology to industry so it could be used routinely to ensure flight safety," said Senior Scientist Dennis Roach, Sandia's lead engineer at the center. "The AANC at Sandia became a trusted source of unbiased technology development and validation for an array of programs."

The center supported a wide range of airplane safety and reliability and new technology application concerns, including operations, structural repair, advanced materials, corrosion monitoring and control, human factors, engine and fuel systems, landing gear, mechanical and electrical systems, structural modeling and analysis, sensor and instrument development, crashworthiness, aircraft certification, information processing and analysis, accident investigation, regulatory and advisory oversight requirements, failure analysis and systems safety.

The center also collaborated with other industries and all branches of the military on multiple engineering system and reliability needs.

Roach said the center staff adapted to and created many changes in the aviation industry. For example, the sole focus on metallic structures shifted into research in composite structures as the next generation of aircraft used these materials as their primary structure. Similarly, hand-deployed nondestructive inspection methods gave way to automated Structural Health Monitoring as the center led the way to the introduction of on-board sensors and use of smart structures to improve damage detection on aircraft.

Some projects of note, including spin-off programs for other industries, include:

Accident investigations: The center supported accident investigations for TWA800, Swiss Air111, American Airline587 and several rotorcraft accidents. All programs resulted in the introduction of enhanced inspections methods for critical components.

Space shuttle program: After the space shuttle Columbia accident, the center worked on NASA's Return to Flight program to develop an inspection system to certify each space shuttle before launch.

Syncrude/Exxon oil exploration: Composite expertise gained from aviation programs was used to produce new repair methods for high-cycle oil recovery equipment.

Monitoring bridge health: Expertise from the center's airplane safety research was applied to monitor the health of bridges.

Robotic inspection of wind blades: The center's expertise in nondestructive inspection was applied to develop a robotic inspection system to monitor the integrity of the blades on wind turbines.

Aircraft designs for tomorrow: In its work to deploy advanced aircraft maintenance technology and new materials, the center teamed with over 300 companies and government organizations and conducted Strategic Partnership Projects in 10 countries.

"I never could have imagined back in 1990 that this program would end up spanning 30 years and contribute so much to commercial aviation safety," said Dave Galella, FAA program manager. "It was incredibly comforting to know that whenever a new airworthiness challenge arose, I could pick up the phone and have access to the vast expertise that resided at the Sandia-AANC."

During its time at Sandia, the center has received dozens of patents, won nine "Better Way" awards from the Airlines for America and FAA, produced more than 500 publications and formal procedures and helped develop regulatory measures to advance the aviation, aerospace, oil and gas, renewable energy, automotive and nuclear energy industries. The team worked on multiple international committees to produce worldwide standards for aircraft maintenance.

"The AANC has been a highly successful collaboration offering the opportunity to develop new technologies for aviation assurance that further enabled structural health monitoring for our core NNSA physical security program and other programs," said Sandia director Gary Laughlin. "Dennis Roach has been a central figure and leader both technically and programmatically in the program from its inception."

All of the assets acquired during the program, including nondestructive inspection equipment, test specimens, custom tools, new inventions and an aviation document library were loaded into trucks in late April and transferred to a new hangar at Wichita State University. Most Sandia researchers working at the center have retired or transferred to other projects at Sandia, while Roach said the transition lines up with his planned retirement and movement into aviation consulting.

Roach estimates that more than 100 Sandia researchers contributed to projects at the center. The program brought in $120 million in funding over 30 years and led to an additional $30 million from industry partnerships.

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Sandia National Laboratories is a multimission laboratory operated by National Technology and Engineering Solutions of Sandia LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Honeywell International Inc., for the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration. Sandia Labs has major research and development responsibilities in nuclear deterrence, global security, defense, energy technologies and economic competitiveness, with main facilities in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Livermore, California.

Sandia news media contact: Kristen Meub, klmeub@sandia.gov, 505-239-1671

This story has been published on: 2021-06-15. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
NSF CAREER Award, Department of Energy grant to study atmospheric gases

"The picture we have in our mind of air pollution is black smoke billowing out of a smokestack or tailpipe," said Gabriel Isaacman-VanWertz, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering. "But the truth is that it is much more complicated."

The atmosphere behaves like a giant chemical reactor driven by the sun, Isaacman-VanWertz explained, and major air pollutants like ozone and particulate matter are mostly products of this chemistry. Gases emitted from natural sources mix with emissions from human activities and "cook" in the atmosphere. Precipitation has the potential to wash out these gases before the chemistry produces ozone and particulate matter, but the process is not yet well understood, he said.

Isaacman-VanWertz received a National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award and a Department of Energy Early Career Research Program grant to quantify the removal of those gases from the atmosphere, better understand how quickly this process occurs, and estimate its impacts on concentrations of air pollution around the globe. "We hope this will lead to improved models and better predictions of regional air quality," he said. His research may also provide fundamental insights into the impact of different types of emissions on the chemistry of the atmosphere.

These five-year grants are the top honors from these agencies awarded to early-career faculty to lead advances in education and research.

Isaacman-VanWertz has been studying the way the atmosphere interacts with organic compounds for several years. In 2018, he was the lead scientist on a study published in Nature Chemistry that established a method of tracking reactions between air and carbon-based compounds. This was the first time this had been done by researchers and aimed to study pollution, smog, and haze in a way that was backed by data depicting a compound's behavior over time. However, this project led him to wonder whether processes that couldn't be easily captured in the lab, like rain-out from precipitation, happened fast enough or often enough to interrupt the sun-driven chemistry and reduce the amount of air pollution formed. He found that there was not much data on it so he envisioned a project to fill that gap by measuring the washing-out of gases in real-world and laboratory-generated rain storms. He also realized there was a network of measurements around the globe supported by the Department of Energy that might be useful to understand the global impacts of rain on pollutants.

Isaacman-VanWertz will measure concentrations of the reactive organic gases at an established forested field site and in Blacksburg that account for most of the reactivity of the atmosphere and have the most potential for aerosol formation. He will also build a chamber to simulate rain events and measure how they wash out gases. "As far as I know, this is something that has never been done before, but I have done a lot of modeling and reading to convince myself that it is possible," he said. Using data from the Department of Energy Atmospheric Radiation Measurement network, he will estimate how fast these gases get washed out around the globe and model how this process affects the formation of pollution.

He hopes the research will contribute to scientific understanding across a range of disciplines, from ecology to public health to climatology. Furthermore, the goal is to translate the core scientific issues into a variety of materials to engage with the public. The NSF grant will support collaborations with regional partners to bring his science to the public and provide valuable opportunities for outreach and broad engagement.

"A major focus of my lab is to develop new methods and approaches for state-of-the-art instrumentation and lower-cost tools to make atmospheric measurements more available," he said. Through the NSF grant, online educational materials and hands-on activities will be developed and shared through museum programming and on-campus events. He will be working with the Science Museum of Western Virginia to develop an exhibit for the museum floor about the chemistry of the atmosphere, as well as some virtual teaching materials.

"I hope this project will help the public develop a new picture of air pollution in their mind closer to reality, of gases and particles cooking together in the atmosphere," Isaacman-VanWertz said.

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Shanghai (Gasgoo)- SAIC Motor Passenger Vehicle (SAIC Motor PV) and BOE Varitronix Limited, a HK-listed supplier of automotive display products, entered into a strategic partnership earlier this month to co-boost the innovation of the products related to in-car display and interaction technologies, aiming to build a new smart mobility ecosystem based on intelligent auto cockpit.

SAIC Motor PV, BOE Varitronix signing agreement; photo credit: BOE Varitronix

Under the agreement, both parties will carry out all-around cooperation on the technology R&D, the product design and the in-car application for automotive smart cockpit. To be specific, they will jointly work on the R&D of the innovative products based on such display technologies as centrally-mounted curved display, flexible OLED (organic light-emitting diode), and transparent window display.

In addition, the duo also plan to team up on the product popularization, the research of cutting-edge technologies, the brand promotion, the industrial intelligence, and other businesses. Through building and operating a joint lab, they will co-endeavor to help Chinas automobiles make breakthroughs in intelligence technologies.

As the automotive business unit of BOE, a Chinese leading supplier of display products and solutions, BOE Varitronix provides comprehensive and one-stop solutions and products, including the design, manufacturing and sales of automotive displays, industrial displays, home appliance application displays, and medical product displays. Through its global sales network, the company operates businesses in China, Europe, Korea, Japan, America and etc.

SAIC Motor PV, SAIC Motor's self-owned PV unit owing three brands Roewe, MG, and R Auto, is striving to quicken its development of intelligence products. In February 2021, the company and Chinese chip maker Horizon Robotics inked an agreement under which SAIC Motor PV will develop evolvable smart cars using the latter's intelligent driving solution that integrates the Journey AI chips, visual perception algorithm, closed-loop data, and other technical capabilities.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Chinese largest automaker SAIC Motor announced on June 15 the update of its brand identity and launched an all-new corporate vision with the aim of becoming a user-centric high-technology enterprise.

Photo credit: SAIC Motor

The automaker said via its WeChat account that it adopts the design philosophy of blue planet, rising sun for its all-new logo. The blue background color conveys SAIC Motor's ambition to bring the earth (the blue planet) a more environmentally friendly and intelligent future, and the white circular emblem surrounding the lettering SAIC shows the company's wish to make more contribution to Chinas blooming growth.

To advance the company into a world-class automobile group, SAIC Motor sets a series of goals for the businesses including battery technology, autonomous driving, software technology, software defined vehicle, and mechanism reform.

Specifically, SAIC Motor plans to start production of the new-generation upgradeable power batteries that feature zero thermal runaway and high cost effectiveness, and are available to fast charging and fast battery swap at the end of 2021. In 2025, the automaker will begin manufacturing solid-state batteries.

As for autonomous driving technology, SAIC Motor will deploy its Robotaxi service in Shanghai and Suzhou this year, and in Shenzhen next year. In 2025, the company expects its Robotaxi fleet to have roughly 10,000 autonomous cars, and plans to put Level 4 intelligent driving cars into scale production.

SAIC Motor also said it will lead the industry in setting up technical centers dedicated to software development, big data, AI, cloud computing, and cybersecurity, and making the full-domain core software developed in-house.

Based on the industry's first open-sourced SOA (service-oriented architecture) digital platform, SAIC Motor will make all-out efforts to build the software defined vehicles that leverage a raft of software and offer considerate services.

In addition, SAIC Motor will foster up to 14 technology and innovation companies, particularly SHPT (Shanghai Hydrogen Propulsion Technology), Heading Data Intelligence, and Lianchuang Electronics will go public as independent entities in the next three years.


Update: 08-06-2021 | 18:01:22

Ambassador Pham Hai Anh, deputy head of the Vietnamese mission to the United Nations, highlighted strengthening cooperation and dialogue in solving challenges from armed groups and terrorists, creating development opportunities for countries in Central Africa.

An overview of the UN Security Council's six-month periodical meeting on the situation in Central Africa.

Addressing the UN Security Council's six-month periodical meeting on the situation in Central Africa and operations of the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA), Ambassador Anh said he shared the difficulties that countries and people in the region are facing due to the impact of violence and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Ambassador said that the root causes of instability must be addressed in a pragmatic and comprehensive manner. That means supporting ongoing diplomatic and political efforts, enhancing reconciliation efforts, addressing threats posed by armed groups and terrorists, strengthening the governance of natural resources and providing equitable development opportunities.

He emphasised that regional and subregional cooperation contribute significantly to achieving peace, stability and development. He also welcomed regional efforts to respond to the pandemic and urged international partners and relevant United Nations entities to provide sustained technical and financial assistance to countries in the region.

Francois Lounceny Fall, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Central Africa and head of UNOCA, presented a report on the situation there and activities of UNOCA.

The overall security, economic and social situation in the region remains challenging.

The insecurity in some countries in the region is mainly related to tensions in the election process, activities of armed groups and terrorists. Notably, the violence continued in the northwest and southwest of Cameroon, some areas in the Central African Republic and the Lake Chad Basin.

UN Security Council member countries shared concern about security challenges, socio-economic difficulties and humanitarian issues in the region. They affirmed the necessity of strengthening cooperation among regional countries, promoting the role of regional and sub-regional organisations in supporting the maintenance of peace and security.

Recent developments in the Central African Republic and challenges to the operation of the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission (MINUSCA) were also discussed at the meeting.

Ambassador Anh emphasised that all parties involved must comply with international humanitarian law, protect civilians, and consider ensuring security and safety for MINUSCA employees as a priority. He also underlined the need to facilitate MINUSCA fulfil its mission.

Vietnam currently has seven officers participating in UN peacekeeping operations in the Central African Republic./.

VNA
New Book Helps Christians Who Want to Help the Poor but Don't Know Where to Start





NEWS PROVIDED BY

John Christopher Frame

June 15, 2021



ISTANBUL, Turkey, June 15, 2021 /Christian Newswire/ -- Many Christians want to better live out the teachings of Jesus and care more for the poor, but struggle with how to do that. A book is now available by Christian author, John Christopher Frame, PhD, empowering Christians in their journey of helping the poor.



The book, "7 Attitudes of the Helping Heart: How to Live Out Your Faith and Care for the Poor," takes a down-to-earth, deep dive into Christian living, aimed at supporting Christians who feel like they should do more for the poor but aren't sure where to start.



Through compelling stories, practical teaching, and empowering approaches to serving God, the book shows readers how to keep their faith central in all they do, helping them move into the joy of loving others more.



The book offers a free companion study guide that helps readers go deeper into the seven Attitudes of the Helping Heart (gratitude, humility, empathy, compassion, generosity, holiness, and hope).



Readers will discover:

How to cultivate attitudes that will transform their view of underprivileged people, so they can be inspired to care more about others.



A powerful framework for being more effective instruments of God.



The key to overcoming selfish tendencies, to live a more generous life.



How to care more for those in need and, as a result, experience God's greater presence.



Unforgettable narratives that provide a window into the lives of people who are poor.

The book's foreword is written by Rev. Jim Lyon, General Director of Church of God Ministries (Anderson, IN), and host of the radio program, ViewPoint.



The author has spoken about the book on the TCT (Tri-State Christian Television) Network, WORD-FM (Pittsburgh), and an excerpt of the book has been featured on the Better Samaritan blog.



Website: http://www.johnchristopherframe.com/7-attitudes-of-the-helping-heart/



Bio: John Christopher Frame is an author and a faculty member at an online university. He has lived internationally and holds a PhD from the University of Oxford. John combines his interests in theology and social concerns to help Christians become more aware of global issues so they can better live out their faith. John loves traveling on the cheap, visiting outdoor markets, balcony gardening, and working in quirky cafes in his neighborhood. He also enjoys spending time with his wife, whom he met while buying a carpet at a souvenir shop in Istanbul, Turkey. Connect with him at http://www.johnchristopherframe.com.



SOURCE John Christopher Frame



CONTACT: john@johnchristopherframe.com


News  Headlines

71 more Covid-19 patients confirmred on Tuesday morning
Senior Chinese diplomat holds phone conversation with U.S. secretary of state

Xinhua) 09:10, June 12, 2021

BEIJING, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Yang Jiechi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, on Friday held a phone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the latter's request.

Noting that dialogue and cooperation should be the mainstay of China-U.S. relations, Yang said cooperation must be mutually beneficial and address each other's concerns in a balanced manner.

The Chinese side is committed to working with the United States to achieve a relationship of non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation, and will staunchly safeguard its sovereignty, security and development interests at the same time, Yang said.

China urges the U.S. side to follow the spirit of the telephone conversation between the two heads of state on Feb. 11, and to jointly bring bilateral relations back to the right track of development, Yang added.

The Taiwan question concerns China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and involves China's core interests, said Yang, adding that there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is an inseparable part of China.

Yang said that the Chinese side firmly defends its national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

China urges the United States to adhere to the one-China principle, honor its promise and cherish its credibility, handle issues related to Taiwan in a prudent and proper manner, and take concrete actions to maintain the overall situation of China-U.S. ties as well as peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, Yang said.

Yang pointed out that recent signs indicate that some anti-China forces are trying to stir up one after another sinister waves to smear China under the excuse of the so-called Xinjiang and Hong Kong-related issues, and they are doomed to failure.

Noting that the issues related to Xinjiang and Hong Kong concern China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and involve China's core interests, Yang urged the U.S. side to respect China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, not to interfere in China's internal affairs under any pretext, and not to damage China's core interests in any way.

The issues related to Xinjiang are not so-called human rights or religion issues, Yang stressed.

Seeing violent and terrorist incidents on the rise in Xinjiang, the Chinese government took resolute actions to safeguard public safety, Yang said, adding that the Chinese moves are totally justified.

The U.S. side has fabricated various lies about Xinjiang in an attempt to sabotage the stability and unity in Xinjiang, which confuse right and wrong and are extremely absurd. China is firmly opposed to such actions, Yang said.

Yang said Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China, and Hong Kong affairs are purely China's internal affairs.

The aim of improving the electoral system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) is to safeguard the constitutional order of the HKSAR as defined in the Constitution of the People's Republic of China and the Basic Law of the HKSAR, and ensure that "Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong" with patriots as the mainstay, he said.

It is a common practice in the world to make strict requirements on the patriotic stance and political qualifications of those who govern, Yang said, adding that those clamoring for "Hong Kong independence" are not eligible to participate in the administration of Hong Kong and must be punished by the national security law in Hong Kong.

Yang stressed that there is only one system and one order in the world: the international system with the United Nations (UN) at the core and the international order based on international law, not the so-called system and order advocated by a handful of countries.

He said that there is only one set of rules: the basic norms of international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, not the so-called rules formulated by a small number of countries.

Yang also said that there is only one kind of multilateralism, which is genuine multilateralism based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law, and featuring equal treatment, cooperation and mutual benefits, not pseudo-multilateralism based on interests of small cliques and group politics, letting alone practicing unilateralism in the name of multilateralism.

Peace and development, fairness and justice, democracy and freedom are the common values of all humankind, said Yang.

Respect for sovereignty is a prerequisite for the realization of human rights, which is a principle affirmed by the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Yang said.

The U.S. side should fix the serious human rights violations on its own territory, instead of wilfully interfering in the internal affairs of other countries under the pretext of so-called human rights, said Yang.

Yang pointed out that China has actively participated in and supported international anti-epidemic cooperation, and firmly opposes any despicable acts that use the epidemic as an excuse to slander China and to shift blames.

Some people in the United States have fabricated and peddled absurd stories claiming Wuhan lab leak, which China is gravely concerned about, he said.

China urges the United States to respect facts and science, refrain from politicizing COVID-19 origin tracing and concentrate on international anti-pandemic cooperation, Yang said.

He noted that China is about to celebrate the centenary of the CPC, saying that the Chinese people have made great achievements under the strong leadership of the CPC, and will be more closely united and work harder, unswervingly follow the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, build a more prosperous country and realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

For his part, Blinken said the recent series of contacts between the United States and China is beneficial to bilateral relations, and the U.S. side looks forward to increasing contacts and exchanges with China at all levels.

The United States adheres to the one-China policy and abides by the three Sino-U.S. joint communiques, Blinken said, adding that the United States hopes to maintain communication and coordination with China on important international and regional issues.

The two sides also exchanged views on other issues of common concern.

(Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Bianji)
Chinas newly passed Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law to bring deterrent effect against Western hegemony

(Global Times) 09:49, June 12, 2021

Photo: Xinhua

Top lawmakers in China on Thursday voted to pass the highly expected Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law, providing a comprehensive legal basis for blocking illegal foreign sanctions and preventing Chinese individuals and entities from suffering the damage resulting from such illegal sanctions. The new law will also offer sufficient legal foundation for taking an equal position with the West by imposing necessary countermeasures, Chinese legal experts said.

The Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) convened its 29th session on Monday in Beijing, which was scheduled to conclude on Thursday, and draft version of the anti-foreign sanctions law was put to review for the second time on Monday. According to the rules and procedures of the legislative body, the draft law in the agenda of the NPC Standing Committee meeting should generally be reviewed three times before being put to a vote. However, if there is consensus on all aspects of the draft law, it can be reviewed twice.

The highly expected law, which is considered an effective and strong legal tool to stop the long-arm jurisdiction of foreign countries, includes 16 articles, stipulating principles of punishment for violating the law, and major authorities in enforcing it. Relevant authorities under the State Council - China's cabinet - can directly or indirectly participate in formulating, deciding and enforcing a countermeasure list targeted at individuals and entities that have taken discriminatory measures against Chinese citizens and organizations under the pretext of their domestic laws.

Targeted groups of the countermeasure list can be expanded to their relatives, spouse, the organizations that are led by these targeting individuals or operated by them, according to the law, which lays out a number of measures, including refusing to issue visas or denying entry, deportation, freezing properties and restricting relevant transactions and cooperation.

If any organization or individual assists foreign countries to take discriminatory measures, Chinese citizens and organizations can file a lawsuit with the people's court in line with the law and to stop infringement as well as seek compensation for losses, according to the law.

China also has set up a working mechanism in responding to foreign sanctions, which also coordinates relevant work, including information sharing. And authorities such as the Chinese Foreign Ministry or the State Council or others are responsible for releasing the list of countermeasures, which could be suspended or changed if necessary.

When the Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee gave the example about who would be placed on the target of China's Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law, the spokesperson of the commission said that certain Western countries, under the pretext of Tibet, Hong Kong, Taiwan and the South China Sea, together with the COVID-19 pandemic, interfere in China's internal affairs, which are bullying tactics by imposing the so-called sanctions on Chinese government officials, as well as individuals and entities from those countries with misdeeds, would face countermeasures, which is seen as "having a taste of their own medicine."

"The law precisely and effectively targets those who have taken unilateral sanctions in hurting China's interests, and this targeted group can be expanded to their relatives or organizations, which would have strong deterrent effect," Huo Zhengxin, a law professor at the China University of Political Science and Law, told the Global Times on Thursday.

And besides detailed countermeasures, the law grants authorities flexibility to choose which measures to use to hit back, especially when measures fit their needs, Huo said.

Legal experts believed that the Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law, the first of its kind in China, will provide strong legal support and guarantees for the country against unilateral and discriminatory measures imposed by foreign countries, will also have a deterrent effect in the face of Western-led hegemony and demonstrate the collective determination of Chinese decision-makers in safeguarding China's core interests.

Compared to the previous countermeasures issued by administrative institutions, the law underscores in a more comprehensive and systematic way the Chinese government's attitude on the legal aspect when it confronts US government that has abused sanctions or long-arm jurisdiction to severely damage China's sovereignty, security and development interests, some legal experts who took part in the consultation process for the law told the Global Times. The anti-foreign sanctions law will also enable China to strike a balance between countermeasures and negotiations in fixing divergences.

China's list of sanctions against Western forces over their meddling in China's domestic affairs related to HK, Taiwan and Xinjiang. Graphic: Xu Zihe and Feng Qingyin/GT

Necessary, timely move

The US government has been imposing sanctions on a growing number of Chinese entities such as high-tech firms Huawei and ZTE over the so-called national security risks, and sanctioned a number of senior Chinese officials under the US' so-called Xinjiang and Hong Kong bills last year. In the eyes of legal experts, these have become regular moves for the US government in implementing illegal sanctions and carrying out long-arm jurisdiction against China. The Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law has also become a timely response to those unilateral moves, which may prompt more countries to follow suit.

The latest legislative progress was also in line with the top legislature's annual work schedule, unveiled in March, which indicated that China will enhance legislation in foreign-related fields, when Li Zhanshu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the NPC, vowed to focus on moves against sanctions and interference and countering long-arm jurisdiction, as well as enriching the legal "toolbox" for coping with foreign-related challenges and preventing risks.

The law could have an influence in two fields - blocking illegal sanctions imposed by other countries and the damage brought about by those sanctions; and taking countermeasures against these sanctions, Tian Feilong, a legal expert at Beihang University in Beijing, told the Global Times on Thursday.

In response to the increasing unilateral moves made by the US government, Chinese authorities have also taken corresponding countermeasures since September 2020. For example, China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) unveiled the provisions of China's unreliable entity list, which has been viewed by some as a measure by Beijing to counter the US crackdown on Chinese companies. It also issued a new order on January 9 adopting necessary countermeasures against the unjustified extraterritorial application of foreign legislation.

China's Foreign Ministry also announced 11 rounds of countermeasures over Western countries' interference in China's internal affairs since last December such as Xinjiang and Hong Kong by sanctioning a number of NGOs, anti-China politicians, arms producers and entities, as well as lawmakers who helped spread lies about those matters.

"Previous sanctions are fragmented and without sufficient legal basis, and may incur negative feedback due to lack of sufficient legal basis. Now, we have complete legal basis, offering us the same position as the West in taking countermeasures," Tian said, noting that it will also help integrate previous resources and forms to make China's countermeasures against foreign sanctions more systematic, scientific and powerful.

Common practice

It's also common practice for some Western countries to formulate similar laws in blocking foreign sanctions or opposing foreign interference. For example, the blocking statute, adopted in 1996, is an important achievement of unified EU action to protect EU operators, whether individuals or companies, from the extraterritorial application of third country laws, according to the EU website.

And an updated version of the blocking statute was implemented in 2018 to mitigate their impact on the interests of EU companies doing legitimate business in Iran.

Russia also passed a law in June 2018to counter the unfriendly behavior of the US and other countries to protect the interests, security, sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the rights of its citizens immune to the unfriendly behavior of the US.

When asked whether the law would affect China's relations with foreign countries, Wang Wenbin, spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said at a routine press conference on Thursday that there is no need to worry about that.

"It's necessary for China to formulate the Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law, as the law provides a strong legal basis and support for China to counteract foreign discriminatory measures," Wang said.

The spokesperson of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee also said the law won't have any impact on China's continuous opening-up regarding economic development, as it has come up with a series of measures to facilitate foreign investment.

The main purpose of China's Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law is to authorize Chinese administrative agencies and judicial institutions to implement sanctions, and if there's more demand in the practice, top authorities such as the State Council and the Supreme Court can issue corresponding detailed administrative regulations and judicial interpretations based on the authorization, and gradually refine a more specific legal system, Huo told the Global Times.

Some senior officials, such as Carrie Lam, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, hailed the law. Lam said the law will give the US and other countries "a taste of their own medicine," because a number of central government and HKSAR government officials have been sanctioned by the US for the national security law for Hong Kong implemented in 2020.

"The HKSAR government lacked the resources to fight those sanctions in the past. With the implementation of the Anti-Foreign Sanctions law, they have the top authority's legal support on their backs," Tian said, noting that whether including the law into Annex III of the Basic Law or enabling the HKSAR government to revise or work on relevant anti-sanction local laws are both part of the consideration.

(Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Bianji)
Quotable Quotes: Xi Jinping on patriotism

Xinhua) 08:35, June 15, 2021

Aerial photo taken on June 13, 2021 shows people watching traditional shows during a celebration of the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival in Xuyi County, Huai'an City, east China's Jiangsu Province. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng)

BEIJING, June 14 (Xinhua) -- On Monday, China celebrates the Dragon Boat Festival, a traditional festival observed to commemorate Qu Yuan, a well-known patriotic poet from ancient China.

Qu wrote many poems that expressed his concern for the country and people, which have been cited by President Xi Jinping on multiple occasions.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, has stressed the virtue of patriotism many times. The following are some highlights of his remarks:

-- The love for one's motherland is the deepest and most enduring sentiment in the world.

-- Patriotism is the core of the Chinese national ethos.

-- Patriotism has always been a source of spiritual strength that firmly unites the Chinese nation.

-- Patriotism is not a mere slogan. A patriot is one who closely intertwines his/her own ideals with the future of the country, and his/her life with the fate of the nation.

-- In contemporary China, the essence of patriotism is loving the country, the Party and socialism all at the same time.

-- Patriotism is the foundation on which young Chinese people in the new era can become winners in life.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
NATO wraps up summit on transatlantic ties, new agenda

Xinhua) 08:46, June 15, 2021

Leaders of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) pose for a group photo during a NATO summit at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on June 14, 2021. Leaders of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) held a face-to-face summit on Monday to show their unity and agreed on the "NATO 2030" agenda to address future challenges. (NATO/Handout via Xinhua)

BRUSSELS, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Leaders of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) held a face-to-face summit on Monday to show their unity and agreed on the "NATO 2030" agenda to address future challenges.

The summit of the 30-member NATO was the first for U.S. President Joe Biden after the tumultuous four years seen under his predecessor Donald Trump, who called the military alliance "obsolete."

The summit was part of Biden's first foreign trip since he took office, as he aimed to rebuild the transatlantic relations after the Trump era. He joined the G7 summit on June 11-13 in Britain where his repeated message was "America is back."

However, some observers believe the transatlantic relations cannot go back to the good old days due to the past four years of experience as Trump kept denouncing European partners in almost every aspect.

"A lot of Europeans will be very cautious when it comes to this renewal of transatlantic relations, because they have experienced," Julian Mueller-Kaler, a researcher with the Berlin-based German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP), told Xinhua.

Mueller-Kaler added that the transatlantic cooperation during the Obama era cannot return because this is no longer 2008. Both power relations and dynamics in the world have changed. "It will be important to find answers for the world that we live in, and not necessarily go back to bygone times."

The leaders agreed on the "NATO 2030" agenda, a comprehensive initiative about making sure the alliance remains ready today to face tomorrow's challenges, said the communique of the summit.

According to the agenda, NATO will strengthen political consultation and the resilience of society, reinforce defense and deterrence, sharpen the technological edge, and develop its next Strategic Concept in time for the summit in 2022.

The leaders also took decisions on the newest operational domains: cyber and space. The bloc agreed on a new cyber defense policy, which recognizes that cyberspace is contested at all times and ensures that the bloc has strong technical capabilities, political consultations, and military planning in place to "keep our systems secure."

In terms of Russia, NATO leaders said that they were open to a political dialogue with Russia but remained "clear-eyed" about the challenges it allegedly poses.

The NATO summit has been viewed by some observers as an opportunity for the United States to form a joint front against China.

However, when it comes to China, European allies' opinions and interests are different from Washington's. After the summit, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said NATO's decision to name China as a challenge "shouldn't be overstated" because China, like Russia, is also a partner in some areas.

"From my point of view, one shouldn't overestimate China even now. We have to find the right balance," Merkel told reporters in Brussels.

In an earlier statement, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Britain said: "The days when global decisions were dictated by a small group of countries are long gone. There is only one system and one order in the world, that is, the international system with the United Nations at the core and the international order based on international law, not the so-called system and order advocated by a handful of countries."

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
G7 statement denounced as 'deliberate slandering'

09:04, June 15, 2021 By CUI CHAOQUN in London ( China Daily

(From L to R, Front) Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, US President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, (From L to R, Rear) European Council President Charles Michel, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, stand for a family photo during the Group of Seven (G7) Summit in Carbis Bay, Cornwall, Britain, on June 11, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua]

China's embassy in the United Kingdom denounced on Monday a joint statement released at the conclusion of the G7 summit on Sunday, saying that the mentions of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region and other regions in China in the meeting's communique "distorted facts" and constituted "deliberate slandering" of China.

The G7 communique called for a "timely, transparent, expert-led and science-based" Phase II COVID-19 origins study in China to be convened by the World Health Organization. It said China should "respect human rights and fundamental freedoms, especially in relation to Xinjiang and those rights, freedoms and high degree of autonomy for Hong Kong enshrined in the Sino-British Joint Declaration and the Basic Law".

The G7 also said it remains "seriously concerned about the situation in the East and South China Seas" and opposes any "unilateral attempts to change the status quo and increase tensions".

In a statement, a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in London said the group of Western countries had distorted the facts, and urged them, especially the United States, to stop such moves, and take more steps that are conducive to promoting global cooperation.

"At present, COVID-19 is still raging around the world, the global economy is sluggish, the recovery is weak, and global challenges such as climate change are becoming increasingly prominent. In this context, what the international community needs is the unity and cooperation of all countries," said the statement.

The spokesperson said Xinjiang-related issues are not about human rights, ethnicity or religion at all, but about combating terrorism, separatism and deradicalization. The so-called evidence used to slander China's policies in Xinjiang is "fake reports" by some anti-China scholars that have been reported by some Western media.

Some Western politicians and media outlets have so far largely based their accusations on reports by Adrian Zenz, a so-called scholar, and it has been found that these have used unsourced and wrong statistics and wild speculation, making his accusations dubious.

The embassy spokesperson also said the Chinese government governs Hong Kong on the basis of the Chinese Constitution and the Basic Law of Hong Kong, not the Sino-British Joint Declarationand that no country has the right to use the Sino-British Joint Declaration to interfere in China's internal affairs in Hong Kong.

The spokesperson said there is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, adding that China will not allow any external forces to intervene in its affairs.

China has been proactively opening up to the outside world and creating an equal and fair market environment for domestic and foreign enterprises, and it is some Western countries that have resorted to nonmarket means to block free investment by Chinese enterprises, according to the spokesperson.

Regarding COVID-19 origin tracing, the spokesperson said it is a scientific issue and China has always maintained an open and transparent attitude on it. The embassy condemned the politicization of the issue by the US, saying that political manipulation hinders global cooperation on tracing the origins of the virus.

The G7 summit, attended by leaders from the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States, concluded in Cornwall on Sunday.

Just hours before a NATO summit in Brussels on Monday, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said that "China is not our adversary" and he expects the meeting will demonstrate the importance of Europe and North America standing together.

"We need to engage with China on important issues (such) as climate change, Afghanistan, arms control and other issues," he said at a forum on Monday morning.

Chen Weihua in Brussels contributed to this story.

(Web editor: Liang Jun, Hongyu)
UN releases 135 mln USD for underfunded humanitarian crises

Xinhua) 10:17, June 15, 2021

UNITED NATIONS, June 14 (Xinhua) -- UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock on Monday released 135 million U.S. dollars from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to boost humanitarian operations in 12 countries in Africa, the Americas and the Middle East.

The announcement follows last week's release of data, which show that more than 350,000 people are experiencing famine conditions in Ethiopia's Tigray region, and that the threat of famine looms in Burkina Faso, southern Madagascar, north-east Nigeria, South Sudan and Yemen.

The funding will be distributed among relief organizations in Syria (20 million dollars); the Democratic Republic of the Congo (20 million dollars); and Ethiopia, with a focus on Tigray (13 million dollars). Aid operations in Afghanistan, Nigeria and South Sudan will each receive 11 million dollars.

The remainder of the funding will go to Madagascar (8 million dollars); Venezuela (7 million dollars); Chad (7 million dollars); Burkina Faso (7 million dollars); Cameroon (5 million dollars); and Mozambique (5 million dollars). A further 10 million dollars will be directed to a range of projects that focus on programming for persons with disabilities.

"Famine is rearing its ugly head in several places right now, so there is no time to waste. This CERF allocation could mean the difference between life and death for millions of people who rely on aid to survive. It will provide essentials such as clean water, shelter and food for the people who need it most, at their time of greatest need," said Lowcock.

"Humanitarian needs continue to outpace humanitarian funding, and not all humanitarian crises are given equal attention or money. More than ever, CERF funding is a vital tool in redressing that imbalance and making sure critical aid work can continue, everywhere."

CERF is one of the fastest and smartest ways to help people affected by crises. The fund enables timely, effective and life-saving humanitarian action by UN agencies and others to kick-start or reinforce emergency response anywhere required. Allocation decisions for underfunded emergencies are based on detailed analysis of more than 70 humanitarian indicators and wide consultation with stakeholders.

Since its creation by the UN General Assembly in 2005, and with generous contributions from 129 member states and observers, as well as other donors, CERF has assisted hundreds of millions of people with over 7 billion dollars across more than 100 countries and territories. This includes more than 2.3 billion dollars to underfunded crises.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Chinese language competition held online in Ukraine amid pandemic

Xinhua) 11:07, June 15, 2021

KIEV, June 14 (Xinhua) -- The Ukrainian national qualification contest of the 20th "Chinese Bridge," an annual worldwide Chinese competition for international students, was held online on Sunday amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

A total of 19 students from three Ukrainian universities participated in the contest, which was organized by the Chinese Embassy in Ukraine and consisted of three parts: answering questions about the history and culture of China, a monologue on a chosen topic, and performances.

Vlada Nebenzya, a student from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, won the contest. She will represent Ukraine at the finals in China.

"Over the past year, Confucius Institutes and classes have held many different activities in Ukraine to mitigate the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the study of the Chinese language and to stimulate the interest of Ukrainian students in this subject," said Wang Dajun, cultural-educational counsellor of the embassy.

The "Chinese Bridge" competition aims to strengthen the world's understanding of the Chinese language and culture.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
State Council to oversee probe into central China's gas blast

Xinhua) 11:23, June 15, 2021

BEIJING, June 14 (Xinhua) -- The Work Safety Committee of China's State Council will supervise the investigation into a deadly gas explosion in central China's Hubei Province, the Ministry of Emergency Management said Monday.

The blast occurred on Sunday morning at a two-story building in a residential community in Zhangwan District in the city of Shiyan, killing 12 people and injuring 138 others, according to local authorities.

The building has 19 stores, including drugstores and eateries, on its first floor, while the second floor consists of activity rooms and has no dwellers.

The ministry, together with the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development and other departments, has launched a special campaign to ensure gas safety in wholesale markets and catering businesses, among other workplaces.

Working groups from the central departments have been sent to guide the handling of the accident, while a national medical team has also been dispatched to Shiyan.

Rescue and treatment of the injured are underway.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Ethiopian PM inaugurates Chinese-built project

Xinhua) 11:28, June 15, 2021

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed speaks at the inauguration ceremony of the Chinese-built Meskel Square project in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, June 13, 2021. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed inaugurated a Chinese-contracted mega development project downtown here on Sunday, with former President Mulatu Teshome, senior government officials, and representatives of diplomatic missions witnessing it. (Xinhua/Wang Ping)

ADDIS ABABA, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed inaugurated a Chinese-contracted mega development project downtown here on Sunday, with former President Mulatu Teshome, senior government officials, and representatives of diplomatic missions witnessing it.

"Congratulations as we inaugurated the Meskel Square project, which is an integral part of our life and history," Ahmed said, speaking at the inauguration ceremony for the project in the heart of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital.

"The project was built in a way that fits our country's dream and aspirations," he said at the event, attended by representatives of the Chinese contractor for the project China Communications Construction Company.

Ahmed stressed that Meskel Square could be seen as a model development project for ongoing and upcoming similar mega projects in the capital and throughout the East African country.

The state-of-the-art Meskel Square project incorporates an underground parking lot enough to accommodate about 1,400 vehicles, six LED advertising screens, shops and office centers, among others.

Adanech Abiebie, deputy mayor of Addis Ababa, noting the successful completion of the project within a short period of time, commended the Chinese contractor for its work.

The Meskel Square project signifies the Ethiopian government's commitment to deliver mega projects both in terms of quality and time, she said.

The Meskel Square project is the latest addition to a number of mega-development projects that are underway across the capital, most of which are undertaken by Chinese companies, such as a 56 km riverside rehabilitation project dubbed Beautifying Sheger.

The East African country recently inaugurated a landmark recreational avenue, dubbed Friendship Square, which is also part of Beautifying Sheger.

The Friendship Square project was also built by China Communications Construction Company in under a year.

The Beautifying Sheger project, along with a number of other mega projects, is initiated by Prime Minister Ahmed, who envisions creating a clean and livable environment for more than 5 million residents of Addis Ababa.

Addis Ababa also hosts the headquarters of the African Union, the UN Economic Commission for Africa as well as more than 100 diplomatic missions.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
China dismisses NATO's claim as continuation of Cold War mentality, bloc politics

Xinhua) 11:30, June 15, 2021

Leaders of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) pose for a group photo during a NATO summit at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on June 14, 2021. (NATO/Handout via Xinhua)

"China will not present 'systemic challenges' to anyone, but we will not sit by and do nothing if 'systemic challenges' come closer to us," said a spokesperson for the Chinese Mission to the European Union.

BRUSSELS, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Mission to the European Union (EU) on Monday rejected NATO's claim of presenting "systemic challenges," saying it is a slander on China's peaceful development and represents "a continuation of the Cold War mentality and bloc politics."

In a statement, a spokesperson for the Chinese mission said China is committed to a defense policy "that is defensive in nature," and its pursuit of defense and military modernization is "justified, reasonable, open and transparent."

China's defense budget in 2021, said the spokesperson, is about 209 billion U.S. dollars, or only 1.3 percent of its GDP, even less than NATO's minimum 2 percent criteria.

File photo shows NATO soldiers inspecting the site of a suicide attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sept. 24, 2017. (Xinhua/Rahmat Alizadah)

Meanwhile, the total military expense of 30 NATO members is expected to reach 1.17 trillion dollars this year, more than half of the total global military expenditure and 5.6 times that of China.

"The people of the world can see clearly who has military bases all over the world and who is flexing muscles by sending aircraft carriers all over the world," the spokesperson said.

When it comes to nuclear power, the number of Chinese nuclear weapons is "by no means in the same league" with NATO member states such as the United States, the spokesperson noted, citing reports from Swedish and U.S. think tanks.

China always follows the principle of no-first-use of nuclear weapons at any time and under any circumstance, and is committed itself unconditionally not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states or nuclear-weapon-free zones.

Leaders of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) attend a NATO summit at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on June 14, 2021. (NATO/Handout via Xinhua)

"I would like to ask whether NATO and its member states, which are striving for "peace, security and stability," can make the same commitment as China?" asked the spokesperson.

China will always pursue peaceful development, but it will never give up the right to uphold peace and defend its sovereignty, security and development interests. "China will not present 'systemic challenges' to anyone, but we will not sit by and do nothing if 'systemic challenges' come closer to us," the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson urged the military alliance to view China's development in a rational manner, stop hyping up in any form the so-called "China threat", and make earnest efforts in promoting cooperation and maintaining global and regional peace and stability.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Populations of Han, ethnic minorities in Xinjiang rise markedly over past decade: communique

Global Times) 13:34, June 15, 2021

Children have fun in "Dove Lane" in the old town Tuancheng of Hotan City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, May 27, 2020. Photo: Xinhua

The population of Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region grew more than 18 percent over the past decade, the fourth fastest growth rate among the nation's 31 provincial-level regions, and the populations of the Han and ethnic minorities have increased greatly with the latter accounting for more than 57 percent of the total, regional authorities announced on Monday.

The announcement came after some anti-China forces and media outlets used the population data from the seventh national census, which was released on May 13, as new ingredients to cook up their old lies of "genocide."

As detailed demographic data, including the population of each ethnic group, birth rate and population by age group in the region, had not been released at that time, some media reports claimed that the rapid expansion of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC) had contributed to the region's 18.3 percent population growth in the past decade. Some even suspected that the Xinjiang regional government has falsified data on population.

The regional's statistical bureau on Monday released a communique on the census data of Xinjiang from the seventh census, refuting the hype, rumors and vicious slander with detailed information and facts-based explanations.

As to why the regional population data from this census was inconsistent with that from 2010 to 2018 previously published by relevant research institutes, the official said that in line with international norms and practice, after obtaining the latest census data, relevant data for the years between the two censuses will be revised.

The 2021 China Statistical Abstract published the revised population data of all the provinces, regions and municipalities directly under the central government, which all showed adjustments, compared with the data published previously, the official said.

The population data for the Uygur ethnic group in 2018 published by Xinjiang, which was calculated by some research institutes based on relevant materials and sampling data, had some deviations and therefore needs revising according to the census results, the official explained, stressing that both Xinjiang's total population and Uygur's population have sustained steady growth.

The regional permanent population is 25,852,345, an increase of 18.52 percent compared with the sixth census in 2010. The average annual growth rate was 1.71 percent, which is higher than the national average, the communique shows.

Among the population of permanent residents in the region, 42.24 percent are Han ethnicity, 44.96 percent are Uygur ethnicity, and 12.8 percent are other ethnic minorities.

Specifically, compared with the sixth census, there was an increase of 2,174,000, or 24.86 percent, of Han ethnicity from the seventh census, of which the Han population who had moved from other provinces increased by 1,948,000. The population of ethnic minorities increased by 1,865,000, or 14.27 percent. Among the ethnic minorities, the Uygur population increased by 1,623,000, or 16.2 percent.

"The faster growth rate of the Han population in the region was the result of a large influx of migrant workers. Owing to the sustained social stability and rapid economic development in Xinjiang in recent years, there has been a substantial increase in the number of people who came to Xinjiang to invest and start businesses," an official from the region said at Monday's press conference.

The notorious Australian Strategic Policy Institute, the "right-wing, militaristic" think tank funded by the US and Western governments, mega-corporations and an eye-popping array of weapons manufacturers, also released a report in May, saying that Xinjiang is launching a "coercive campaign to drive down the indigenous birth-rate in Xinjiang."

The ASPI report claimed that an "unprecedented and precipitous drop in official birth-rates" in Xinjiang from 2017 to 2019 was evidence of a campaign to cut "illegal births," and the sharp decline in birth rate only happened in majority-indigenous counties.

Trends in world population development show that the higher the level of economic and social development, the stronger desire people tend to have for realizing their self-worth, healthy births and sound care. As a result, fertility rate and natural growth rate will decline accordingly.

In recent years, as Xinjiang has deepened its poverty alleviation efforts, the production and living conditions in impoverished areas in southern Xinjiang have improved continuously; urbanization has significantly accelerated and the urban population has continued to increase; and the education level and cultural quality of people of all ethnicities improved substantially. Accordingly, people's attitude toward childbearing and upbringing has changed, with more and more people of all ethnicities voluntarily choosing to marry late and to have fewer children, the official said.

"As is shown by the figures, the natural growth rate of the regional permanent resident population, which is in line with the country's changing trends, while starting to decline steadily in 2018, is still higher than the national level," the official pointed out.

The natural growth rates of Xinjiang's permanent resident population from 2010 to 2019 went from 10.71  to 3.69 , while the national natural growth rates were from 4.79 in 2010 to 3.32  2019.

China's family planning policy has undergone an orderly, staggered rollout, which was initially launched in urban areas of eastern and central parts of the country before expanding to rural and border areas, with looser treatment being given to ethnic minorities compared with Han group.

Xinjiang regional regulations on family planning promulgated in 1992 began adopting a looser version of the policy for ethnic minorities: Urban Han couples could have one child, and rural couples could have two children, while their ethnic minority counterparts in urban and rural areas could have two and three children respectively.

In 2017, Xinjiang revised the regulation, stipulating that all ethnic groups had to observe a uniform family planning policy, which meant that urban couples could have two children and rural couples could have three.

"It's clear that the family planning policy was applied to ethnic minorities 17 years later than the Han ethnicity and adopted a more lenient version than other provinces. For the next step, we will earnestly implement the central government's decisions and arrangements on optimizing fertility, and organize and carry out the three-child policy to promote long-term balanced population development," the official said.

(Web editor: Liang Jun, Hongyu)
Newly commissioned PLA destroyer makes exercise debut in South China Sea

Global Times) 13:41, June 15, 2021

Warships attached to a destroyer flotilla with the navy under the PLA Southern Theater Command execute underway replenishment-at-sea during a four-day-long realistic-combat training exercise in waters of the South China Sea recently. Photo:China Military

Another Type 052D guided missile destroyer, the Nanning, has entered service with the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy this year, as it recently made its first public debut in an exercise in the South China Sea, a report shows.

Warships attached to a destroyer flotilla with the Navy under the PLA Southern Theater Command recently held a four-day-long realistic-combat training exercise in the waters in the South China Sea, practicing maneuvers including replenishment-at-sea, eng.chinamil.com.cn, an English-language website of the PLA, reported on Sunday.

In addition to the Type 901 comprehensive supply ship Chaganhu (Hull 967) and Type 071 amphibious dock landing ship Qilianshan (Hull 985), the Type 052D guided missile destroyer Nanning (Hull 162) was also a part of the exercise, a photo released with the report shows.

This is the first time the Nanning has been seen featured in an exercise in an official report, indicating that the warship has been commissioned into the PLA Southern Theater Command Navy, observers said.

Judging from the photo, the Nanning is an upgraded variation of the Type 052D with an extended helicopter flight deck and a new anti-stealth radar. China has built three consignments of Type 052D destroyers. While the first two are only slightly different in appearance, the ships from the third lot have this upgraded variation, media reports said previously.

Taking part in the exercise indicates that the Nanning is gaining combat capabilities at a rapid speed, a Chinese military expert who requested anonymity told the Global Times on Monday.

After gaining combat capabilities, the South China Sea-based Nanning will play an important role in safeguarding China's territorial integrity, national sovereignty and development interests, the expert said.

The Nanning appears to be the third Type 052D that has entered PLA naval service in 2021, following the Suzhou and the Huainan, according to media reports.

The PLA Navy has also commissioned its second and third Type 055 large destroyers in 2021, namely the Lhasa and the Dalian.

Back in August 2020, China launched its 25th Type 052D destroyer and eighth Type 055 large destroyer, media reported. The report said many are still being equipped or are in the sea trial phase and not commissioned yet.

According to the construction pattern of vessels, outfitting work after launch usually takes one to two years, meaning the PLA Navy could still commission more Type 052D and Type 055 destroyers this year, observers said.

(Web editor: Liang Jun, Hongyu)
Inoculation campaign of Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine launched in Timor-Leste

Xinhua) 14:00, June 15, 2021

Chinese Ambassador to Timor-Leste Xiao Jianguo attends the launch ceremony of the inoculation campaign of China's Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine at the National University of Timor-Leste in Dili, Timor-Leste, June 14, 2021. (Xinhua)

JAKARTA, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Timor-Leste launched the inoculation campaign of China's Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine at a university in the country's capital Dili on Monday.

Aniceto Guterres Lopes, speaker of the Timor-Leste National Parliament, Chinese Ambassador to Timor-Leste Xiao Jianguo, and other officials from the Timor-Leste government attended the launch ceremony at the National University of Timor-Leste.

Ambassador Xiao said the vaccination program coincided with the Dragon Boat Festival in China, a traditional event for people to pray for health, safety and well-being. He believed the Sinovac vaccine, a testament to friendship between the two countries, could play an important and constructive role in Timor-Leste's fight against COVID-19.

The target population of this batch of Sinovac vaccines in Timor-Leste are teachers, students and faculty staff aged 18 and above, which will help restore normal operation of the country's education institutions as classes are suspended in all schools due to the pandemic.

Aniceto Guterres Lopes expressed his gratitude to China for offering all kinds of help since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and expected enhancement of further anti-epidemic cooperation between the two countries.

Timor-Leste's Minister of Defense Filomeno da Paix o, Secretary of State for Youth and Sport Abr o Saldanha, and representatives of teachers and students received their first COVID-19 vaccine shot after the ceremony.

The "Spring Sprout" program also began in Timor-Leste on Monday, during which the Chinese nationals in Timor-Leste are prioritized to get vaccinated with China-donated vaccines.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Nationwide shootings could foreshadow violent U.S. summer

14:05, June 15, 2021 By Matthew Rusling ( Xinhua

Police officers investigate at the scene where the gunman was killed in Fullerton shootout in Los Angeles, California, the United States, April 27, 2021. (Xinhua)

- Statistics from the Federal Bureau of Investigation show the murder rate surged by 25 percent in 2020 -- the first time the United States has seen over 20,000 annual murders since 1995 -- up from 16,000 the previous year.

- As of June 12 this year, the U.S. has suffered 272 mass shootings, according to Gun Violence Archive.

- Four major cities saw mass shootings over the weekend, with at least 38 people wounded and six deaths.

WASHINGTON, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Marge Raya, a logistics manager in her 40s working outside of Washington DC, said she no longer ventures into the city at night.

"I avoid it. It's not worth going to areas that have a surge in crime," she told Xinhua.

Her statement reflects a growing reluctance of many Americans to venture into major cities at a time when violent crime is surging to record highs.

A VIOLENT WEEKEND

Indeed, four major cities saw mass shootings over the weekend, with at least 38 people wounded and six deaths.

The cities of Cleveland, Chicago Austin and Savannah saw a string of mass shootings during the weekend, according to news reports.

As of June 12 this year, the U.S. has suffered 272 mass shootings, according to Gun Violence Archive.

Statistics from the Federal Bureau of Investigation show the murder rate surged by 25 percent in 2020 -- the first time the United States has seen over 20,000 annual murders since 1995 -- up from 16,000 the previous year.

As of May 25, Los Angeles saw a 26.5 percent increase in the murder rate, according to the City of Los Angeles.

As of May 21, the city of Philadelphia saw a 38 percent crime increase, according to the city's District Attorney's office.

The New York Police Department reported in early May that shootings were up 166 percent in April, compared to the same period last year.

A police car is seen patrolling in Chinatown of New York, the United States, March 19, 2021. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua)

Portland, a city in the Pacific Northwest, known for its green environment and fresh air, erupted in violence with riots on a nightly basis for months after the police killing of George Floyd, an unarmed black man.

The city is now on track to surpass the all-time record for murders this year. As of last week, Portland has seen 37 murders so far this year, over six times the amount in the same time last year, according to the Associated Press.

Irene Moody, a nurse in her 60s, who moved from the city of Philadelphia to a suburban area of New Jersey, told Xinhua she still goes to nearby Philadelphia to get her hair done, but "I wouldn't go back there to live because of the crime."

Some experts point to the fact that the pandemic has led to a separation between individuals and institutions, which has caused an uptick in crime.

Patrick Sharkey, a sociologist at Princeton University, told the Atlantic Monthly in a recent interview that in areas where institutions break down, people feel like they're on their own, which creates conditions where violence becomes more likely.

John, a police officer in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, told Xinhua he believes major cities like New York are suffering from multiple factors that have coalesced and caused crime to skyrocket.

Police leaving their jobs, cities not hiring enough new officers, and low police morale have contributed to a surge in crime, he said.

A girl protests hate crimes against Asian Americans in Atlanta, Georgia, the United States, March 20, 2021. (Photo by XiaoHeng Wang/Xinhua)

A COMPLEX ISSUE

Conservatives, Republican lawmakers and law enforcement said that the "defund the police movements" - which sprouted up in cities nationwide after Floyd's murder - were to blame.

Others said, however, that violence is also going up in cities where police funding has not been slashed.

In a recent opinion article published in USA Today, Jason Johnson, former deputy police commissioner for the U.S. city of Baltimore and the president of the Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund, said that even the "most dedicated officers, who now face a greater risk of being sued, fired or prosecuted for doing their job, feel pressure to...take a more passive approach."

In a Wall Street Journal OP-ED published last week, Robert L. Woodson, an African American and head of the Woodson Center, said that calls to defund the police have made black neighborhoods more dangerous.

"Over the past few years, the deaths of unarmed black people at police hands-including the murder of George Floyd -have rightly generated national outrage," Woodson said.

Yet, the movement to defund the police, which rose to prominence after Floyd's death, "has actually gotten innocent black people killed," Woodson said.

Photo taken on March 11, 2021 shows the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

The parents, youths, community leaders and law enforcement are strongly opposed to defunding the police, advocating instead for measures that ensure responsible policing, according to the OP-ED.

Despite nationwide protests over police brutality, a Gallup poll published in August found that 61 percent of African Americans said they want police to spend the same amount of time in their neighborhoods, and 20 percent said they want more police.

That totals 81 percent of African Americans who want the police presence to remain unchanged or to increase, according to the poll.

Some experts believe Democrats could be hurt in next year's midterm elections, due to calls from the Party's progressive wing to defund the police.

"Higher crime rates are generally dangerous for incumbent parties," as voters tend to attribute blame to whoever is in power, Christopher Galdieri, assistant professor at Saint Anselm College, told Xinhua.

"And there's some evidence... that the 'defunding' calls from the left hurt congressional candidates more than anyone in the party realized at the time," Galdieri said.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Turning 20, SCO sparks new global inspirations

14:48, June 15, 2021 By Shi Xiaomeng ( Xinhua

BEIJING, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Tuesday marks the 20th birthday of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) that was established to ensure security while promoting prosperity across the vast Eurasian landmass.

In the course of its two decades of development, a Shanghai spirit has gradually taken shape as the organization's bedrock principle featuring mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for cultural diversity and the pursuit of common development.

As today's world has been permanently changed by an unprecedented pandemic, the SCO, galvanized by the Shanghai Spirit, stands as a fine example of how countries can better work with each other in times of global perils and challenges.

First of all, SCO members has demonstrated solidarity in addressing thorny issues like "three evil forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism, and COVID-19 control and prevention. Facing whatever challenges, they can respond with unified actions.

That unity has been reinforced and sustained by the Shanghai Spirit, which has been fundamental to the SCO's growth into an influential bloc in the region and beyond.

Over the past years, the achievements are remarkable. The overall security and stability of the region has been maintained despite a complex regional situation. Social and economic development of various countries has been promoted. More importantly, political trust among SCO members has been largely enhanced, and bonds of friendship have been strengthened among people of SCO member states.

The SCO has promised not to form a small closed-door clique. Under the guidance of the Shanghai Spirit, it has kept its word and stayed open.

The organization was first expanded in 2017 when India and Pakistan joined as full members. With its six founding members -- China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, the bloc currently has eight full members, four observer countries and six dialogue partners.

Besides, the bloc has been carrying out all forms of dialogues, exchanges and cooperation with other countries as well as relevant international or regional organizations. The SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group proves to be an effective mechanism that has been working to help facilitate the peace process of the war-torn country for years.

Last but not least, the SCO has shown its inclusiveness in international cooperation. This bloc covers nearly half of the world's population, spans over 60 percent of the Eurasian landmass and includes diverse cultures. Despite their differences, the SCO members have been carrying out practical cooperation by upholding the principle of mutual respect and mutual benefits, which has yielded tangible results including the China-Russia oil pipeline, the China-Central Asia Gas Pipeline, and New Eurasian Land Bridge.

The SCO is not an equivalent of NATO (the North Atlantic Treaty Organization) in the region. Beyond its own framework, the SCO upholds a principle of non-alignment and no directing against any other country or organization. It does not try to divide the world into different camps or instigate ideological prejudices or hatred against any third party.

Decades of development have made the Eurasian regional bloc irreplaceable in today's world. It has safeguarded peace and stability of the region that is of global strategic significance. It has also promoted the building of a new type of international relations highlighting mutual respect, fairness and justice, win-win cooperation.

Entering the post-pandemic era, the world needs new approaches to cope with profound global changes. The Cold War mentality, the zero-sum game, the small clique politics are too obsolete to fit this modern world. In this regard, the SCO as well as the Shanghai Spirit may offer some inspirations.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
China will remain vigilant against U.S. tricks over virus origin tracing

16:09, June 15, 2021 By Ji Ping ( People's Daily Online

U.S. President Joe Biden on May 26 ordered intelligence agencies to report to him in the next three months on whether there was proof to the so-called allegations that the coronavirus first emerged in China from a laboratory accident and China had covered up the coronavirus outbreak.

Over the past few days, some Western media outlets have been actively touting the old cliche that the coronavirus originated in China in an unbearably unreasonable way. Apparently, the Biden administration has more sinister intentions in dealing with the tracing of COVID-19 origins.

Tracing the origins of the virus is a complex matter of science, and is a process that requires a long period of time. The process, including investigation, testing and trial, has to be carried out in a scrupulous and professional manner, without political interference.

The U.S. intelligence agencies have little knowledge of science, do not respect science and sometimes are against science.

Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, previously the chief of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), said publicly that the organization had lied, cheated and stolen, and the CIA was a spy agent and a political tool of the U.S. government and the monopolistic interest groups behind it.

Its pure political manipulation to let such an anti-science agency investigate science-related issues, and its easy to see that the CIA is set to give the President a satisfactory report ahead of time.

The Biden administration has ignored the results revealed by the scientific mission led by the World Health Organization (WHO) after its investigative field trip in China, and is now trying to fan the lab leak conspiracy theory based on presumption of guilt while turning a deaf ear to the voices of justice calling for the U.S. to work with the WHO on COVID-19 origin tracing in a science-based way.

Chinas anti-epidemic results can be seen by all. The U.S., which tops the world in terms of COVID-19 cases and deaths, refused to cooperate with the WHO by accepting an investigation, but passed the buck to China. This showed that the U.S. administration failed to uphold the values of fairness and transparency it has always been preaching.

After Biden gave the order, American politicians, military, political parties and media outlets all joined the attempt to smear China by hyping the lab leak conspiracy theory. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the nations highest-ranking military officer, said, There seems to have been a fair amount of activity or cover-up or lack of transparency. He also said that the U.S. needs to get to the bottom of it.

Why was the U.S. military so active in this matter? Some media outlets revealed the reasons by bluntly pointing out that the U.S. military was placing the blame on China to divert attention from its hundreds of military biological laboratories, in particular, Fort Detrick.

On May 28, two days after Biden gave the order, 209 House Republicans called for a congressional investigation into the origins of COVID-19, claiming that China should be held responsible for the deaths of almost 600,000 Americans.

To make thing worse, Japan, Australia, the UK and Canada are also ganging up with the U.S. Even India, which has been deeply plagued by the pandemic and is a recipient of Chinese assistance, has also connived with the U.S.

The farce was unbearable even by U.S. media standards. On June 3, Forbes Magazine said, The ultimate lesson from COVID-19, in fact, is that these pandemics are going to continue to emerge naturally, and that we should be encouraging the researchers who are on the front lines of studying these potentially infectious diseases to investigate them to the fullest extent of their abilities. Instead, the tactic were taking  accusing them of fraud without a shred of meaningful, direct evidence  showcases how thoroughly were letting fear and conspiratorial thinking cloud our judgment.

The sinister tricks played by the U.S. reflects the confrontational strategic and competitive framework the Biden administration has taken to deal with China. China will remain highly vigilant against this.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Serge Michel and Claude Greisler have been friends since childhood. They were both born in 1978 in the town of Burgdorf, near Bern, where a certain Armin Strom happened to have set up his first watch shop. Their career choices originally sent them down separate paths. Serge went into advertising and marketing, while Claude trained in watchmaking in Solothurn, then Le Locle, before going to work for Christophe Claret as a designer. In 2006, they both joined Armin Strom, at that time a small, niche brand that nonetheless had an amazingly well-defined identity thanks to the style flair of founder Armin Strom himself, who specialised in the restoration and skeletonisation of movements.

Serge Michel et Claude Greisler  Armin Strom

Serge Michel ended up buying out the brand, by this time based in Bienne, and he and Claude embarked on its metamorphosis. Originally, Armin Strom had focused on the work of skeletonising movements, for his own pieces as well as subcontracting for other brands. In 2008, however, the brand entered a new phase, as it started to develop movements and the manufacturing capabilities to produce them. Mr Strom retired in 2011, leaving Serge Michel and Claude Greisler on their own at the helm; they proceeded to launch a large number of highly technical pieces featuring 8-day movements, skeletons, tourbillons, resonance, and the like, whilst remaining loyal to the Strom ethos: skeletonisation that manages to be both expressive and discreet, designed to display the exclusivity of the movement rather than create a wow effect.

*On the occasion of GMT Magazine and WorldTempus' 20th anniversary, we have embarked on the ambitious project of summarising the last 20 years in watchmaking in The Millennium Watch Book, a big, beautifully laid out coffee table book. This article is an extract. The Millennium Watch Book is available on www.the-watch-book.com, in French and English, with a 10% discount if you use the following code: WT2021.

Order now
China's spending on information technology (IT) will grow 10 percent year on year to reach over 2.21 trillion yuan (about 346.1 billion U.S. dollars) in 2021, according to an industrial report.

The outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic has propelled the upgrade of the internet economy and promoted the development of tele-medicare and tele-education in the country, a report released by global market research firm International Data Corporation (IDC) said.

The Chinese government started implementing its 14th Five-Year Plan this year, which will drive growth in its spending on IT in the coming years, the IDC said.

The Yangtze River Delta region, home to the provinces of Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Anhui as well as Shanghai Municipality, will see their IT spending reach over 518 billion yuan in 2021, the data showed.




Chinese speech intelligence company iFLYTEK and the state-owned carmaker JAC Motors signed a strategic partnership agreement in Hefei, capital of East Chinas Anhui province, on June 9, intending to work together to promote the digital and intelligent transition of the provinces automobile industry.

Under the agreement, the two sides, both based in Hefei, will cooperate in fields including intelligent cockpit, intelligent driving, intelligent sales service and IoV (Internet of Vehicles) solutions.

The move came only two weeks after iFLYTEK agreed to cement strategic cooperation with Chery Automobile, signifying the speech intelligence firm quickened its expansion into autonomous driving.




Photo taken on June 10 shows enjoyable scenery of homestays in Daling village, Sanbing town in Chaohu city. In recent years, authorities in the town have improved the living environment and promoted rural tourism. The village has been honored as a model village for rural tourism in Anhui province and one of 100 outstanding villages who make impressive contribution to the battle against poverty. (Photo by Fan Bowen/Anhui Daily)



(By Yang Zixuan)
BEIJING, June 11 (Xinhua) -- China on Friday pledged unwavering efforts to work with all parties in advancing international arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation processes, to make new contributions to building a world of lasting peace and universal security.

State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the remarks when addressing the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva via video link.

Wang noted Chinese President Xi Jinping has in January called on the world to "let the torch of multilateralism light up humanity's way forward" at the World Economic Forum Virtual Event of the Davos Agenda.

Calling multilateralism the right way of the world, Wang said all countries should stay committed to the path, uphold a new vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, and work to advance the international arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation processes.

To this end, Wang proposed jointly maintaining global strategic stability, abiding by international arms control treaties, addressing the non-proliferation issue via negotiations, and improving global security governance in new frontiers.

Wang said China highly appreciates the disarmament agenda proposed by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and will continue to contribute to its implementation.

As the single multilateral disarmament negotiating forum of the international community, the Conference on Disarmament needs to keep pace with the times and strive to be innovative, Wang added.

Wang urged member states to strengthen coordination, accommodate each other's legitimate concerns, and formulate a comprehensive and balanced program of work to commence the substantive work at an early date.
Editor's Note: Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), China has worked with all other countries to build a community with a shared future for mankind, which has boosted confidence and added impetus for development of Asia and the world. For the celebration of the 100th funding anniversary of the CPC, we are launching the CPC in eyes of foreign military students series, viewing China and CPC from the perspective of foreign soldiers.

By Pakistani Army Lieutenant Colonel Muhammad Zakriya

Nowadays, China has become "the world's second-largest economy", "the largest trading nation in goods", and "the largest foreign exchange reserve holder"... In 2018, I came to China to attend a training program at the PLA Army Logistics University. During this period, I realized more than ever before that China's impressive achievements in economic and social development are by no means accidental, led by the Communist Party of China (CPC), the Chinese people have found a bright development path leading to China's economic prosperity and national vitalization.

I once visited the Pearl River Delta region during my stay in China. Our tour guide introduced the song "The Story of Spring" to us and explained the "Spring" refers to the vitality brought to China by reform and opening up. We gradually realized that it was the CPC's determination to carry out reform and opening up that enabled the Chinese economy to take off. Shenzhen, a city at the forefront of reform and opening up, carried forward the spirit of "taking bold steps in pilot programs, working unswervingly with hard efforts" and opened up a road to prosperity and development.

With its unique geographical location, Shanghai has also achieved outstanding results in opening up to the outside world. During a trip to Shanghai in 2019, my friend and I learned that the Pudong New Area in Shanghai is a free trade zone with the highest international standards. Shanghai has basically built itself to be an international economic, financial, trade, shipping center, and will grow up to be a science and technology innovation canter with global influence.

Chinas experience in reform and opening up and promoting economic and social development can be used for reference to other countries in the world. As a landmark project in the joint building of the Belt and Road Initiative, the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor started in 2013. The two countries have clarified the "1+4" cooperation layout, which takes the development of the corridor as its pillar and focuses on the cooperation in the Gwadar Port, energy, transportation infrastructure and industrial development. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China. The two countries have formed an all-weather partnership of strategic cooperation, and the development of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor has achieved fruitful results. The concept of forging a closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era has won popular support in the two countries, and the multi-faceted friendly cooperation between the two countries will better benefit the two peoples.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CPC. I believe that this far-sighted political party will surely lead China to a brighter future.

(This article is based on an interview by the PLA Daily with Lieutenant Colonel Muhammad Zakriya assigned to Pakistani Armed Forces, who had once studied at China's PLA Army Logistics University.)
By Li Dongdong and Sun Xingwei

BEIJING, June 15 -- Recently, the PLA airborne troops carried out a drill on battlefield first aid in central China's Hubei Province. With several large transport planes roaring in the air, a total of 60 military medics, together with various materials and equipment, parachuted from the cabin one after another.

After landing, the medics freed themselves from parachute gears, collected airdropped materials, and began to set up the functional field rescue center, assembling medical tents and equipment.

Quick and vertical entry into the battlefield is the unique advantage of the airborne medical team, as introduced by Cheng Wenguang, commander of the airborne medical detachment. In the past, medical personnel and equipment landed separately and their reorganization was time-consuming, which restricted the capacity of rapid battlefield first aid.

In recent years, airdrop platforms suitable for carrying medical equipment have been developed in succession in a bid to improve the efficiency of rapid airdrop. In addition, more than 20 types of medical equipment suitable for airlift and airdrop have been innovated. In all, the assembly time for medical members in airborne landing has been shortened step by step.

According to the head of the PLA airborne troops hospital, since its establishment, the airborne medical detachment has been continuously improving its abilities of airborne landing in complex weather conditions, precise positioning and assembly, and mass casualty treatment.
By Yang Danzhi

The Japanese government seems to be going further down the road of curbing China, and its right-wing forces seem to take the Taiwan Island as a Trump card.

Japan has made a series of moves concerning the Taiwan region in the past few months. For instance, it expressed its concern with the Taiwan Strait situation in the Japan-US joint statement, which was actually an implication of its intention to jointly defend Taiwan with the US.

As the pandemic situation got more serious in Taiwan, Japanese foreign minister Toshimitsu Motegi announced at a press conference on June 4 that Japan will ship 1.24 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to the island on that very day.

During the two plus two meeting between Japanese and Australian foreign and defense ministers, both sides expressed their concerns about the Taiwan Strait situationThese jaw-dropping moves by Japan are driven both by international factors, especially from the US, and Japans domestic problems.

Yoshihide Suga knows perfectly well how complicated and sensitive the Taiwan question is, yet his administration has made one provoking move after another to challenge Chinas bottom line, which is nothing short of a wild political bet  a bet on his reelection and the future of the relations across the Taiwan Strait and between China and Japan.

The Japanese prime minister hopes to kill three birds with one stone with his recent unexpected actions on the Taiwan question. First, he wants to keep in step with the US politically and in security. As Washington gets increasingly involved in the Taiwan question, Japan has repeatedly emphasized its concerns with the Taiwan Strait situation and announced its stance of working with the US to jointly maintain the cross-Straits stability. This will further intensify the US-Japan alliance while leveraging Uncle Sams influence to counter the impacts on Japan exerted by Chinas rise.

Second, Suga wants to demonstrate his decisiveness on major regional issues and establish himself as a tough prime minister in the mind of the Japanese, so as to boost his public support rating.

Third, he wants to divert the domestic pressure, even at the risk of causing disputes with China. Asahi Shimbun reported that Suga may hold the election in advance, right after the Tokyo Olympic Games, which is a choice of no choice given internal and external problems.

Sugas actions concerning the Taiwan question will probably send the China-Japan relations, which warmed up a little in the final days of Abes term, back to the freezing point. The Taiwan question concerns Chinas territorial sovereignty and core interests, and China will make no compromise on matters of principle.

Stepping on the red line about the Taiwan question, Suga has underestimated the Chinese peoples confidence and resolve of maintaining and realizing national reunification, and also miscalculated the consequences of a nosediving bilateral relationship caused by his actions. His irrational and wild political bet wont bring him what he dreams of.

(The author is an expert on international studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences)
China has denounced the communique issued Sunday at the end of the G7 summit that criticized Beijing over its human rights record.

The G7 statement called on China to "respect human rights and fundamental freedoms, especially in relation to Xinjiang, and those rights, freedoms and high degree of autonomy for Hong Kong enshrined in the Sino-British Joint Declaration," referring to the 1997 agreement that switched control of the financial hub from Britain to China.

Beijing is accused of committing serious human rights abuses against the minority Muslim Uyghur in Xinjiang, including the detention of more than one million Uyghurs into detention camps, widespread government surveillance and forced birth control.
In Washington, some Republicans had criticized the president for agreeing to meet with Putin with no preconditions. Biden said that there was "a consensus" in Brussels and that leaders appreciated his willingness to speak to them about what he will discuss with the Russian leader.

Biden will meet with Putin in Geneva on Wednesday. In a press conference after the summit, Biden said at least 10 NATO leaders with whom he has spoken thanked him for meeting Putin.

In a recent interview with NBC, Russian President Vladimir Putin called NATO "a Cold War relic." "I'm not sure why it still continues to exist," said Putin.

On the sidelines of the summit, U.S. President Joe Biden met with leaders of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania -- countries that won independence from then-Soviet Union in 1991. While they are now full members of NATO and the European Union, these Baltic countries are wary of Kremlin's regional ambitions.

Moscow denies any wrongdoing, but allies are increasingly concerned given Russia's recent aggression on the eastern flank and its covert and cyberattacks to undermine Western states. In another direct reference to Russia, NATO members agreed on a new cyber defense policy. "It recognizes that cyberspace is contested at all times, and ensures that we have strong technical capabilities, political consultations and military planning in place to keep our system systems secure," said Stoltenberg.

"By agreeing [on] the NATO 2030 agenda, leaders have taken decisions to make our alliance stronger and better fit for the future," said Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg during a press conference at the end of the summit.

The alliance adopted "NATO 2030," a consultation mechanism to prepare for its next Strategic Concept, a document intended to guide the alliance to growing global competition and more unpredictable threats. NATO 2030 included recognition of a "more assertive Russia," "more brutal form of terrorism," ongoing instability, increasing cyber and hybrid threats, new technologies, pandemics, and climate change as its new threats. NATO 2030 also acknowledged that "China's rise fundamentally shifts the balance of power."

Both countries were called out as "challenges to the rules-based international order." In the final communique, leaders agreed to "open a new chapter in transatlantic relations," as they face an "increasingly complex" security environment.

The 30 member states of NATO ended their Monday summit in Brussels, reaffirming the military alliance with a strong statement against Russia and to a lesser degree, China.

 China

Stoltenberg said China's growing military presence from the Baltics to Africa means NATO has to be prepared. China is coming closer to us. We see them in cyberspace, we see China in Africa, but we also see China investing heavily in our own critical infrastructure, the NATO secretary general said.

China is "the new the new kid on the block," said Alice Billon-Galland, a research fellow at London-based Chatham House, and one of the NATO Young Leaders selected to advise the NATO 2030 process. Billon-Galland said European allies need to work with both the U.S. and China but ultimately want to avoid being dragged into a binary Washington versus Beijing confrontation. "European allies are quite careful in terms of how they approach this and a bit reluctant for NATO to get too involved in China-related issues or Indo-Pacific issues," she said.

A day earlier many of the same leaders now meeting in Brussels issued a statement at the conclusion of the G7 Summit in Cornwall, U.K., calling out China's human rights abuses. Beijing has accused the group of slandering its reputation.

 Afghanistan Withdrawal

After 20 years of military operations, NATO and the U.S. had agreed that they will withdraw forces from Afghanistan. Biden had set Sept. 11, 2021, as the pullout deadline.

"NATO leaders reaffirmed their commitment to continue to stand with Afghanistan, with training, international support for Afghan forces and institutions, and funding to ensure the continued functioning of the International Airport," said Stoltenberg. NATO has about 10.000 troops in Afghanistan, from countries including Germany, the U.K., Turkey, Georgia, Romania and Italy.

Allies are concerned about security at their embassies as well as the Kabul airport. Turkey, a NATO member, has offered to secure the airport in a bid to increase its role in the alliance. "The question is whether Turkey's willingness to do this, which is clearly welcomed in Washington, would be sufficient to overcome the other issues in the relationship," said Bulent Aliriza, director of the Turkey Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "There are serious doubts about that," he said.

Guarding and operating the Kabul airport issue is among the many security topics discussed by Biden in his Monday bilateral meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The U.S.-Turkey relationship has been problematic, particularly after Ankara's purchase of Russian S-400 missile defense system, its military offensive in Syria and support for Azerbaijan in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war with Armenia.

 Ukraine

After the summit, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy tweeted that leaders have confirmed his country will become a member of NATO, something that was not confirmed by the alliance.

Asked about Ukrainian membership in NATO, Biden said, "It depends on whether they meet the criteria." Biden cited corruption as one of the issues that Kyiv must deal with in order to be part of the group.

Ukraine applied for membership in 2008 and is seeking more support from Western governments as it tries to deter any new aggression from Moscow. The Ukrainian government earlier criticized the bloc's decision not to invite it to the NATO summit.

 America is Back

Biden took his "America is Back" message to Brussels, reaffirming the United States' commitment to the alliance's collective defense principle. "I just want all of Europe to know that the United States is there. The United States is there," Biden said in his meeting with Stoltenberg. Biden's visit sets a new tone on relations with the military alliance. His predecessor, former President Donald Trump once called NATO obsolete and complained that the U.S. was paying an unfair share in the organization.

Asked by a reporter if he is concerned that the return of Trump or a Trump-like figure might swing U.S. posture back away from the alliance, NATO's Stoltenberg said the past four years had underscored the importance of strong multilateral institutions. There will be different political leaders elected in many allied countries in the years to follow, he said. "I'm confident that as long as we realize that it is in our security interest to stand together, national security interest to stand together, we will maintain NATO as the bedrock for our security."

NATO's last Strategic Concept was in 2010. Allies were reluctant to renew it during the rocky years under Trump.
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday asked President Joe Biden's administration to give its views on whether the justices should hear a challenge to Harvard University's consideration of race in undergraduate student admissions.

The case, should it be taken up by the court, would give the court's conservative majority a chance to end affirmative action policies used to increase the number of Black and Hispanic students on American campuses.

The action by the court signals the interest of at least some of the nine justices in considering an appeal brought by a group called Students for Fair Admissions, founded by anti-affirmative action activist Edward Blum, of a lower court ruling that upheld Harvard's program. The lawsuit accused Harvard of discriminating against Asian American applicants in violation of a landmark 1964 federal civil rights law.

The Supreme Court has a 6-3 conservative majority. Blum said in a statement his group "remains hopeful that, regardless of the views of the (Biden administration's) solicitor general, the justices will grant to hear our case and end race-based affirmative action in college admissions."
The usual symbols for gents and ladies are disappearing too and being replaced by more politically correct ones. An educational facility in southwestern Seoul run by the Seoul Metropolitan Institute for Lifelong Education started the trend.

More and more bathrooms are becoming gender-neutral in Korea. Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital in northeastern Seoul opened unisex bathrooms in February and the student union at Sungkonghoe University decided to open them on campus this summer.

The biggest impetus comes from changing perceptions of gender and increasing awareness of minority rights. In a survey in February by the National Human Rights Commission of Korea, many transgender Koreans said they try to drink less when they are out of the house in order to avoid having to use gender-specific bathrooms or to use no public toilets at all.

Building equal numbers of toilets for men and women creates long lines in front of ones used by ladies, so now "family" bathrooms are being increasingly built in highway rest areas. According to the Korea Expressway Corporation, 182 out of 199 highway rest stops have family bathrooms.

Gender-neutral bathrooms have been a feature of life in the U.S. and Europe since the 1990s, when the sitcom "Ally McBeal" blazed a trail. They reached the White House in 2015 during the Obama administration and are spreading to state government buildings and universities. A majority of public bathrooms in northern Europe are gender neutral, but some feminists warn that they are an open invitation for rapists, peeping Toms and other miscreants.

Chang Young-ho, an industrial art professor at Hongik University, said, "The emergence of gender-neutral bathrooms and family restrooms manifests a public responsibility to treat gender minorities equally."

Choi Chang-shik, a professor of architecture at Hanyang University, said, "I think the time has come to actively design buildings that consider the needs of minorities."
Korean airlines are resuming international flights as the government plans to open a travel bubble for vaccinated people with several countries.

Asiana Airlines said Monday it will resume its service between Incheon and the U.S.-controlled Pacific island of Saipan on July 24, offering one flight a week. The route has been suspended since May last year due to the coronavirus pandemic. The flight will depart every Saturday at 9:00 a.m. and return from Saipan at 4:00 p.m. the same day.

Travelers showing proof of vaccination shots approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or the World Health Organization will be exempt from quarantine in Saipan.

The airline said it plans to resume more international routes in the second half of this year.

Korean Air has applied for authorization to resume regular flights from Incheon to Vladivostok in Russia's Far East, which have been halted since March 2020.

Air Seoul will operate two flights a week between Incheon and Guam starting Aug. 12. T'way Air will resume flights to Guam and Saipan next month, while Air Busan plans to fly to Guam in September.


There have been 105 mistaken coronavirus vaccine injections in hospitals so far, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said on Monday.

Ninety of them involved being given the wrong vaccine, mostly people under 30 who were given the AstraZeneca vaccine, which has been banned for the group due to the risk of blood clots. Ten were given the first and second jab at the wrong interval and five were given the wrong dosage.

Six soldiers in a military hospital in Daegu were injected with mostly saline solution with just a minuscule amount of vaccine after a health worker mixed up the bottles, according to the Defense Ministry.


People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok kicked off his tenure at the helm Monday by visiting the National Cemetery in Daejeon to pay his respects to the country's war dead. The widow of a sailor who was killed in North Korea's 2010 torpedo attack on the Navy corvette Cheonan told him, "Please make sure the bereaved families don't lose their pride." Lee promised to do his best. More than 10 years have passed since the attack, but the bereaved families and survivors are still having to call on the government to honor them properly.

Lee told the ruling Minjoo Party to treat the Cheonan sinking with the same level of importance as its calls for punishment to those who try to distort the 1980 Gwangju massacre. Recently, a spokesman for the MP insulted the survivors by claiming the corvette's captain left all his crew to die at sea and made no reference to the North Korean torpedo. The captain, who survives, demanded that the spokesman be reprimanded, but the party did nothing. A presidential committee even ordered a new investigation into the sinking at the instigation of some conspiracy theorists who claimed the vessel was shipwrecked and the torpedo story was just a cover-up. That of course is North Korea's story.

Meanwhile, the same government that is showering taxpayers' money indiscriminately on all and sundry is unwilling to pay to help war veterans get easier access to subsidized medical treatment. Former soldiers can only visit six designated veterans' hospitals in the country if they want to get subsidized treatments, but most of them are over 80 years old and cannot travel easily, so they have to pay full price at their local clinic from their meager W300,000 in benefits. Just W10 billion a year, a fraction of the money that has been wasted on pork-barrel projects, would ensure that the veterans can travel (US$1=W1,118). But the president and the ruling party is unwilling to spend even that much. Yet at the same time the president and ruling party want to let former democracy activists qualify for specials allowances for meritorious citizens. There are only 260,000 Korean War veterans alive now and 20,000 are dying ever year. Do they really have to end their days without even a little consideration from their government?

All countries reward veterans and the families of the fallen. But this populist government thinks that veterans' affairs are somehow a rightwing concern and must be spat on. The families of the Cheonan victims are weeping, and Korean War veterans do not have enough money to buy medicine. This is a travesty.


Green finance crucial for inclusive and sustainable growth

From:ChinaDaily | 2021-06-15 09:21

Green strides, especially in development finance, will help nations recovering from COVID-19 to achieve inclusive, sustainable economic growth, as a result of the greater global synergy, cooperation on international standards and development finance.

Countries should work more closely to stop the pandemic and prevent damage to the economy. But it is also important for them to transform their development models and pursue growth with less carbon emissions, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in his video address to the International Finance Forum in Beijing last month. Though the global economy is picking up, the world is still faced with a "lost decade for development". There are still grave setbacks in the world's efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, keep the 1.5-degree goal of the Paris Agreement within reach by 2050, he said.

Some experts, however, are of the view that the low-carbon path may not be that easy for developing countries with a relatively slower pace of economic and industrial upgrading, as their efforts are focused largely on dealing with pandemic fallouts.

Efforts are already underway in this regard in China, they said. In the Government Work Report delivered in March, Premier Li Keqiang said that to become carbon-neutral, the country must have policies to foster green and low-carbon development.

According to a study conducted by Tsinghua University last year, to meet the national green goals, China will need to invest about 138 trillion yuan ($21 trillion) by 2060.

This means that "green finance "will become crucial for investment, and development banks must do more to help and contribute in this regard, said Zhou Xuedong, vice-president of the China Development Bank.

Past experiences have shown that development finance institutions are capable of providing long-term, large-scale funds at relatively lower cost, he said.

But what is more crucial is to make sure that the idea of green finance is deeply integrated into each part of the bank's services. He said that the China Development Bank will work more proactively to foster international cooperation in green finance and adopt innovative steps to boost green lending.

While making green financing more comprehensive, it is necessary to have mandatory information disclosure and effective standards for green finance products, such as green bonds.

Though different countries have different responsibilities, the low-carbon emission standards and relative green finance support should be unified, said Jin Liqun, president of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. Jin said that though the international community is making progress, more efforts are needed in coming up with effective problem-solving mechanisms.

Consensus also needs to be reached as early as possible, he said.

Some experts believe that the government also has a critical role to play. Qi Ye, a professor of environmental policy at Tsinghua University School of Public Policy and Management, believes that despite support from development finance, governments of all countries must find ways to innovate their governance capabilities.

"Realizing greener growth and reducing carbon emissions does not mean only changes in industries, but also a lot of technological innovation," he said. "Governments should improve their governance capability in such a manner that the incentive role of the market is brought into full play to generate more technological innovation in green development."
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Woburn, MA (01801)

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Periods of rain. Low 63F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch.
The American technology company Intel says it is working to address a shortage of semiconductor chips affecting the automotive industry. That same day, U.S. President Joe Biden convened CEOs for a virtual summit on the semiconductor supply chain. "We hop...
The Kokomo Family YMCA is offering a new STEM camp at Camp Tycony this summer, thanks to a $24,000 grant from NiSource Charitable Foundation, the charitable foundation supported by NIPSCOs parent company NiSource Inc.

The grant will give 120 area youth ages 6 to 12 the chance to explore science, technology, engineering, and math while also getting a full camp experience out in nature and seeing science in action among Camp Tyconys 52 acres. Trish Severns, CEO of the YMCA, said the camp will address the summer learning slip while spotlighting important STEM fields.

We really want to be able to show how summer learning is important, and summer learning doesnt necessarily have to be just at home reading. Theres so many fun things you can do outdoors, and you can make it a lot of fun, Severns said. We really wanted to have something special that was really focused on STEM, and then STEM is really important for young girls as well because we want to make sure they understand that STEM is not just for boys.

The camp will start June 21 and run in four one-week sessions with 30 spots open each week. While the camp takes place from 9 to 1:30 p.m. daily, wraparound care will be offered for families who are working and cant leave to pick up their kids. The wraparound care will be offered from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The YMCA also has partnered with Kokomo School Corporations Summer Food Program to provide breakfast, lunch, and a snack to campers. Campers also will participate in campfire cooking for a second snack.

They are completely covered from top to bottom, said Severns.

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The camp will be facilitated by YMCA staff along with interns from Indiana University Kokomo. Activities include exploring chemical reactions behind building a volcano and the science behind hurricanes. Campers also will receive take-home STEM kits that they can experiment with at home with their family, a backpack to carry all their fun little treasures in, and a camp shirt.

Severns said she hopes the YMCA will be able to make the STEM camp an annual event families can look forward to.

Were anticipating a great summer, and we just hope that we can pack it with lots of kids and enjoy it and the great outdoors. We are really, really thankful for NiSource and NIPSCOs forethought and generosity to make this program happen, said Severns.

Karen McLean, NIPSCO public affairs and economic development manager, said such camps are vital for students as job growth in STEM fields is projected to continue to increase, while many jobs remain unfilled.

"The opportunity to create a better understanding of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics is vital in developing our future workforce. NIPSCO applauds the Kokomo Family YMCA as they continue to serve our community in innovative ways, said McLean.

To register for the camp, visit camptycony.com If anyone has questions, they can visit the YMCA in downtown Kokomo. Registration packets will be available there as well. While a $10 registration fee is being asked, Severns said it can be waived for families experiencing hardships.

(Correction: The article has been updated to indicate the correct age group that's eligible for the camp, ages 6 to 12, not grades 6 through 12 as the original article stated.)
More than five months after the Kokomo Perspective requested to view bodycam footage from an officer-involved shooting in December, the city of Kokomo allowed access to the footage, but only after the Indiana Public Access Counselor (PAC) sided with the newspaper in a legal opinion issued earlier this month.

Counselor Luke Britt released an opinion on June 4 after the Kokomo Perspective filed a complaint with the PAC office in regard to the citys denial to allow the newspaper to view the footage. The city initially denied the request, which was made via the Access to Public Records Act (APRA), saying the case was still under investigation by the Kokomo Police Department.

When asked for an update months later after the investigation concluded on Feb. 16, the city again denied the request, citing state statute that allows denial based on the fact that, if the footage were to be released, it could affect the defendants right to a fair trial.

The Perspective filed a complaint to the PAC office on March 8.

By law, the respondent of a formal complaint to the PAC, in this case, the city of Kokomo, is required to issue a response to the counselor before a final opinion is released by the office. City Attorney T.J. Rethlake, who informed the Perspective of both denials to view the footage, responded to the PAC.

According to Rethlakes response, Rethlake, Howard County Prosecutor Mark McCann, and KPD Captain Scott Purtee said that releasing the footage to the newspaper could affect the defendants right to a fair trial, citing Indiana statute.

Britt, in his opinion, disagreed with the citys argument for the denial.

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Essentially, Britt argued that because the citys internal investigation had been completed, the denial of the request did not fall under the exemption of APRA.

Britt also disagreed with the justification that the footage may interfere with the defendants right to a fair trial, saying that it was a curious exception for a prosecutor or police to cite and seemingly would require the input of a defense attorney or public defender.

Nevertheless, this case is scheduled for a jury trial on July 9, 2021, Britt wrote in the opinion. Notably, based on the most recent data available, Howard County saw a mere nine jury trials in 2019, only two of which were for Level 6 felonies. Even if this case does end up in front of a jury, the City has not applied the exemption to the facts of the case. This officer requires a little more than the mere citation of a statute to justify a denial. The application of the exemption to the relevant facts is critical for this office to make a determination.

  Based on the foregoing, it is the opinion of this office that the investigatory records exception does not apply to the records requested in this case unless an investigation is actually ongoing. Moreover, the City has not met its burden that any due process right would be compromised by the release of otherwise disclosable public record.

The Kokomo Perspective was allowed to view the footage last week at City Hall, more than five months after the initial request to do so. While the Perspective was allowed to watch the footage, officials would not release it to the newspaper without a $150 payment.

The footage corroborated the KPD press release from the incident. The footage showed a seven-year veteran of the police department responding to a shots fired call on West Markland Avenue, behind Goodwill and Advance Auto Parts, where a suspect, Cody Wright, was seen picking up shell casings.

In the video, Wright turned to face the officer and said dude before reaching for his handgun that was tucked into his waistband and pointing it at the officer. The officer fired at Wright, injuring him. Other KPD officers soon responded to the scene.

Wright was charged with pointing a firearm at another and criminal recklessness committed with a deadly weapon, both level 6 felonies.

Wright is scheduled for a jury trial on Nov. 12. The trial was rescheduled last Thursday from its initial July 9 date.
A local fireworks store and the family of the late Aimee Romero are hoping to keep her spark alive this Fourth of July.

Best Price Fireworks is donating a portion of all fireworks sales to the Romero family to help support her three children. Her sister, Abbee Summers, and mother, Jennifer Smith, said there couldnt be a more fitting fund raiser for Romero.

Aimees birthday is July 6, so for us, a very special time was around the Fourth of July because it was her birthday. My granddad  hes a 94-year-old farmer from Greentown  he would always set off fireworks for her on her birthday, said Summers.

While Romero wont be able to celebrate her 44th birthday this year, her family is hoping others will think of her when they set off fireworks this Fourth of July. Fireworks, her mom and sister said, were Romeros favorite.

Summers said every year Romero would buy fireworks for her three children and their cousins and also light a good show off herself.

It was funny. Weve been laughing all week this week because my kids would say boo, and theyd had it from her, Summers said. [Shed say,] Look at them. How can you tell them no? Look at them. Theyre so cute. Shed spoil them all, and that was with fireworks, too.

Romero was fatally shot in her home on March 18, and since, her family has stepped up to raise her three children, ages 10, 12, and 17. Smith and her husband, Hal Smith, are primary guardians, and the Summerses, who have three children of their own, are co-guardians.

Summers said helping take care of her sisters children is a privilege.

Its absolutely a privilege, and she without a doubt would do the exact same thing for me. Theres no hesitation at all, said Summers.

Having her sisters children around has been helpful during the grieving process. Summers can see her sister in her children, but whats even more special is when Romeros children tell her that they can see their mother in her.

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Theyll be like, Oh my goodness, mom would have done that. And that just feels good, you know? Summers said. She was my sister. She was my best friend, but she was my literal other half. We did life together.

The Romero family was especially close, and Summers said its been extremely difficult to navigate life without her big sister, who was two years older. Summers said they talked constantly, and she knew where Romero was every minute of each day.

Summers, who already knew how much Romero crammed into her days, said shes gotten an even better understanding of all her sister did after her passing. From leading worship at Morning Star Church and leading her team at Ruoff Mortgage to serving on the Eastern School Corp. school board and serving as a member of the Kokomo Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Kokomo, and BLUSH, she was active in the community.

Going through firsts without her has been difficult, and the Fourth of July and summers at the lake wont be the same without her, Smith said.

We were very family-oriented, all the holidays. We spend the summers at the lake on the weekends, and its just all family. Were super close, Smith said.

Last year, Joe Wampler, owner of Best Price Fireworks, donated $4,000 to the family of Taylor Godfrey, who was severely injured in a car accident. This year, Wampler said hes hoping to raise as much as possible for Romeros family to help support her children.

Ive been blessed all my life, and I believe that when youve been blessed, youve been blessed to be a blessing to others. Thats my take, said Wampler.

Best Price Fireworks is located at 413 E. Center Road and on S.R. 931 next to Buffalo Wild Wings.

In addition to this fund raiser, Britni Wolfe of Revive Salon is selling T-shirts that say Her Fight Is My Fight and Domestic Violence Awareness with a purple ribbon, and Hydration Station in Greentown is selling cups with the same logo that come filled with a marshmallow coke, Romeros favorite drink. Proceeds go to benefit Romeros children.

A benefit fund also has been set up at First Farmers Bank and Trust.

The family thanked the community for its support, saying they dont know how anyone could get through such a tragedy without it.
Last week the Kokomo Perspective printed the names of individuals and businesses listed as sole proprietors from 46901 who received PPP loans, and the list is wrapping up this week with recipients in 46902, Greentown, and Russiaville.

This list includes every individual or business that received funds as a sole proprietor in those areas. An asterisk denotes the recipients who were listed as having applied for and being approved for a loan, though they were listed as not having received the funding as of the Perspectives deadline.

PPP funding became available to the public last year through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to help businesses, self-employed workers, and other agencies maintain payroll for their employees.

The Perspective is choosing the print the list of sole proprietors due to the propensity for fraud. If your name is on this list and you didnt apply for the loan, authorities encourage individuals to do the following:

 Make a report with the Department of Workforce Development at www.in.gov/dwd/diana:employmentfraud/fraud/ or by emailing the Indiana State Police directly at iufraud@isp.in.gov.

Support Local Journalism Now, more than ever, the world needs trustworthy reportingbut good journalism isnt free. Please support us by making a contribution. Contribute

 File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, the Internal Revenue Service, or through the lender that an individual was listed as receiving the money from.

Www.report.com also can be used to monitor credit. It is the only free website to do so by law.

Those accused of PPP fraud can face a host of charges, depending on the circumstances. Those include but are not limited to making a false statement to the SBA, conspiracy to defraud the United States, making false statements to the executive branch, making false statements to a bank, major fraud against the United States, wire fraud, bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and conspiracy.

To view businesses and individuals who received PPP loans, visit https://www.federalpay.org/paycheck-protection-program. The Kokomo Perspective is looking into potential fraud cases. If you believe youre a victim of fraud from the PPP loan, email braden@kokomoperspective.com.
Jessica Henwick has joined the cast of 'Knives Out 2'.

According to Deadline, the 'Game of Thrones' star is the latest cast member to board the sequel to Rian Johnson's 2019 whodunnit.

The British actress will star alongside Daniel Craig in an undisclosed role

Jessica's casting comes days after it was revealed Madelyn Cline is also set to appear.

The pair join stars such as Dave Bautista, Kate Hudson, Leslie Odom Jr., Janelle Monae, Kathryn Hahn, and Edward Norton in the upcoming flick.

Daniel will reprise his role as detective Benoit Blanc while Rian has returned to write and direct the movie after the success of the original film.

Support Local Journalism Now, more than ever, the world needs trustworthy reportingbut good journalism isnt free. Please support us by making a contribution. Contribute

Production on the project is set to begin in Greece later this summer but plot details are unknown other than the James Bond star returning to solve another mystery involving a large number of suspects.

Leslie recently suggested that Rian wants to "up the ante" with 'Knives Out 2' and hinted that the movie will be even more "exciting" than its predecessor.

The 39-year-old star said: "I might have said too much already, but suspect everyone is what I can tell you.

"It's going to be fun. I think that the first movie... the success was unexpected, the Oscar nomination certainly, and people really took to it. So we want to up the ante and deliver something exciting and surprising for the fans."

The 'Hamilton' star also revealed that he has read the script "many times" and feels that the director is giving himself a challenge with the new film.

He added: "Rian's trying to challenge himself. It's like a Swiss watch. It's like clockwork. This has to happen, for that to happen, for that to happen."
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Press Release

June 15, 2021 Dispatch from Crame No. 1075:

Sen. Leila M. de Lima on the OTP-ICC Decision to Proceed with the Investigation of the Murders Committed in Duterte's Drug War 6/15/21 I most gladly welcome the decision of the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, the Honorable Fatou Bensouda, to proceed with the investigation of the drug war killings as a possible case of the "Crime Against Humanity of Murder" under the Rome Statute. The days of Rodrigo Roa Duterte are coming to an end. The only question now is whether his own death will come as a boon and save him from the trial and judgment of the ICC for his crimes against humanity. He might actually be entertaining that notion now, better to die first than to suffer the humiliation of being dragged in chains to The Hague as one of the few individuals in history to be tried as hostis humani generis, an enemy of mankind. But that would be unfair to the thousands of poor Filipinos Duterte had ordered to be murdered in his fake drug war. It would be an injustice for him to escape his coming trial and conviction by the grace of an early departure from this world. No, that should not happen. Let us all pray for Duterte's long life and good health, so that he may go through the ICC trial that would follow his arrest after the start of the investigation of the Office of the Prosecutor. All power, no matter how absolute, is always fleeting. Only justice is permanent. Let it be done though the heavens fall. ### (Access the handwritten copy of Dispatch from Crame No. 1075 here: https://issuu.com/senatorleilam.delima/docs/dispatch_1075)
Press Release

June 15, 2021 CNN The Source interview of Senator Win Gatchalian with Pinky Webb on Quarantine restrictions, Covid-19 vaccination program, errors in DepEd modules and VFA ON QUARANTINE RESTRICTIONS Q: Let's start first just probably a quick reaction, the President already announced last night that NCR plus will remain under general community quarantine but also mag-uumpisa na rin po today, June 15 yung shorten curfew hours. SEN. WIN: Definitely, managing the quarantine levels is also managing our economy. And this is the rebalancing act that our government has been for the past few years, and I do support a lesser quarantine restriction in order for businesses to thrive, unemployment remains to be quite tight. It remain to be at around 8% level. So, we still have a big challenge in terms of going back to our normal employment levels during the pre-COVID, and we still have about approximately 3 million who lost their jobs because of COVID so the sooner we can relax quarantine restrictions, the sooner we can wrap our economy back in the sooner we can bring down our unemployment levels. Q: And how are we doing so far you think, especially after the surge? Some, which started sometime in March and then ngayon nga po, the numbers are getting better here in NCR plus but nag-iincrease naman po sa ibang mga lugar. SEN. WIN: Definitely, Mindanao now is the new source of increasing infection. In fact, a lot of areas under MECQ are in Mindanao, and the same formula applies what we have learned here in Metro Manila should apply in Mindanao meaning stricter quarantine measures, stricter health protocols. What's very important to apply there is the testing capabilities as well as contact tracing. We've learned so much, here in Luzon and a lot of the strategies that we use are quite successful, to a larger extent because we have managed that healthy balance between livelihood and lives, and we have to apply the same formula to Mindanao, meaning more testing capacities, and faster contact tracing capabilities. Q: And of course the healthcare system also needs some sort of help or even assistance? SEN. WIN: Correct. I remember we deployed some health professionals from Visayas and Mindanao to NCR. This time, it's Mindanao. I know that we have augmented some of our hospitals with a lot of good experts from VisMin during the surge last March, it's time to bring them back, and probably augment them also we need to make sure that the health system in Mindanao will not be overwhelmed, and to make sure that we help them overcome the increase in COVID cases in the island. ON COVID-19 VACCINATION PROGRAM Q: I want to talk about the vaccination phase before we go to the Senate Committee of the Whole hearing today. So last night, Secretary Galvez had reported to the President that so far 7 million have been vaccinated so far that's about 5 million getting their first dose and 2 million getting their second dose. Secretary Galvez also adds that millions of vaccines should be arriving this month apart from doon sa dumating na. And even in July, he's expecting about more or less, his expectation is about 11 million. What are your thoughts on the phase of the vaccination considering we started this in March? SEN. WIN: My position is to open it up to the general public already. By the end of the month we will have enough vaccines to vaccinate the general public here in NCR plus. And as we all know NCR plus is normally the source of infection because of the density and because of economic activity. So my position, even before was to open it up to the general public here in NCR plus precisely because we have enough inventory of vaccines, and the vaccine hesitation has already been determined. 30% of our constituents are willing to take their vaccines, and the 70% are either they're not for, or they don't want to take their vaccines. So let's give vaccines to those who want to get their vaccines and open it up to the general public as quick as possible but I also want to echo that we need to make sure that when we vaccinate, it has to be in an orderly manner. Meaning, the LGU should be made to come up with a system that will not lead to overcrowding and mass spreader events. I've seen some LGUs that because of the first come, first serve a lot of their constituents rush to the vaccination center and overcrowding happened, and that can be a super spreader event. So the LGU should guide them and should be given some guidelines on how to implement the orderly vaccination through reservation system, through online reservation system. The vaccination center should not be a cause of infection, it has to be a cause of cure. Q: But with regards to that though, the government has opened two weeks ago the vaccination for A4 and A5, there was a hitch at some point, because I remember Secretary Galvez humingi pa siya ng paumanhin because when you say you open up the vaccination to A4 and A5, yung mga gusto pong magpa-vaccine na po, sasabihin nila kung doon sa mga cities nila, bakit kami wala pa. And in fact, it happened to some LGUs that when the government announced that it's open for A4 and A5, hindi po nakakuha ng supply ang ilang mga cities and I think Valenzuela was one of them, that's why they couldn't open it immediately to the A4 and A5, but now you're even saying buksan na natin to the general population. How do you think that could possibly pan out, although, of course, nabigyan na po ng supply eventually yung ilan po sa mga cities. SEN. WIN: Right, the supply is now flowing, in fact here in Valenzuela, we have received our share of our vaccines, and my thoughts on this is vaccine hesitancy is still one of the biggest concerns in terms of the rollout and looking at the SWS statistics, only 30% wants to be vaccinated and this is the hurdle. We're hoping a critical mass will happen, meaning if more people get vaccinated, more people would be willing to get vaccinated. So, in other words, the supply issue has been overcome but the vaccine hesitation is still there, and we need to overcome that over time, it will not happen overnight, and my thoughts on that if we open it up to the general public and if people see that more people and more people are getting vaccinated, then we will reach that critical mass and overcome vaccination hesitancy. My thoughts on this is vaccine hesitancy is the biggest hurdle to reaching herd immunity. Q: and it's not the supply, you're saying it's the vaccine hesitancy? SEN. WIN: Looking at the timetable and looking at the delivery of the doses, it seems to me that supply will constantly arrive this month and next month. I talk to a lot of private sector companies and their share will come end of June to early July. The same with LGU like for example in Valenzuela, the Astra Zeneca that we ordered will come in end of June or early July. So meaning, all of the supplies will come to the Philippines, the national government procurement, the local government procurement, as well as the private sector. So having said that, we have an ample supply of vaccines so it's time to vaccinate all those who are willing. Q: When do you want, your suggestion to open this up to the general population, when do you think government should do this already? SEN. WIN: In my opinion, we should do it now, we should do it today. If the LGUs are ready, like for example this morning I saw in San Juan will open it up to their indigents. That's A5, that's actually beyond A4. So some of LGUs are already willing and ready to open it up to the general public. If you open it to A5 that's already general public, more or less. So those of LGUs who are ready to open it up and have the capacity to do it, then let them open it up, but in my opinion, opening it up to the general public, as soon as possible in NCR plus will help us make sure we will have herd immunity by the end of the year. Q: On a last note on this before we go on a break, malaking tulong Senator yung kapag iba't ibang tao yung nakakatanggap na ng vaccine, nakukuwento nila, nakikita ng kapitbahay nila, nakikita ng mga kapamilya nila, mga pinsan nila na so far so good, syempre ang kinatatakutan nila ang tinatawag na adverse effects. SEN. WIN: Tama ka, Pinky, the best marketing tool is word of everyone. If everyone gets vaccinated or a lot of people gets vaccinated that's our best marketing tool, their own personal experience, getting their vaccines is the best way to convince those who are hesitant. So, meaning, the more we can accommodate the general public, the more marketers, the more people who could spread the good word, in terms of vaccination. Q: What are your thoughts on what government should consider or do with fully vaccinated individuals? SEN. WIN: Yes definitely, in more and more jurisdictions now, I mean, other countries are reaching herd immunity. And in order to stimulate our local economy specially tourism, we should ease up restrictions on tourists, both Filipino tourists, and both foreign tourists. For example, Cebu is tourism industry, allowing fully vaccinated tourists to come in without being quarantined, is the best way to revive the tourism industry in Cebu and also in Visayas. In the same way for the entire country. So, tourism is really a driver of our economy and we need to make the lives of tourists who want to visit the Philippines much easier and less restrictive. Q: So zero quarantine for fully vaccinated individuals? SEN. WIN: The most we can implement is a PCR test, but the quarantine I think, we can do away with that because they're fully vaccinated. Q: Senator, just a quick question from our Facebook account to our Philippine government, I don't know if you would be able to answer this, anong plano ninyo or maybe even the Senate, if they have a sense here, sa mga stranded OFWs mula UAE at Oman na fully vaccinated. I guess the senator just answer that. Eto po, extended na naman po ang travel ban, cancelled na po ang mga Visa namin, would you care to comment on that please. SEN. WIN: That is a very difficult position for our OFWs abroad, even though they're fully vaccinated, there's a lot of uncertainty on let's say, where they will land, they thought they will land in Manila, they will land in Cebu, or some other parts without knowing they will be quarantined for 10 days or for 14 days and where. I've heard some have been quarantined in Tagaytay as far as Tarlac, which is logistically a nightmare for them. So most practical way is, if they are fully vaccinated, they should be allowed to come in the country, at the very most, get the PCR test to raise the comfort level, but not indoor, that 10 to 14 day quarantine especially outside of your family. It is very difficult for them, it's very costly, mentally it's quite strenuous and being quarantined in a place out of your comfort zone is quite mentally a very difficult stream. Q: Do you think you're going to bring this up later during the Senate committee for the whole hearing? SEN. WIN: Definitely and we need to look at the best practices, abroad. For example, I've seen the US Israel and in some European countries, as soon as they vaccinate 30 to 40% of their population, they open up their economy already. And this is under the guidelines of their health experts, again, the sooner they can open the economy, the better for their economy to rev up in the same principle applies. These are all guided by their medical experts. The same principle applies here in our country. As soon as a person gets fully vaccinated, that means the second dose is really over. They should be allowed to come in the country with lesser restrictions. Q: Kahit na po ito pong bansa na pinanggagalingan nila ay ban dahil nga sa surge ng ibang variants of the virus? SEN. WIN: Pinky, if it is ban, in other words, there are no flights, and the ban is not only geared towards our OFW but the general public of that particular country. So of course if there's a ban, then we don't have any flights and there's no way for the OFWs to come in. What I am pointing out is for example in the US, there is a lot of OFWs who wants to visit, who wants to see their families and they're fully vaccinated because in the US they alreaded reached almost 60% of the vaccination programs. Those who got their second dose are already in the 60% level so they should be allowed to come in with lesser restrictions. SEN. WIN: ....we have enough budget for the remaining year until next year. It's important to reconcile all of these numbers. A lot of things have transpired, like for example, LGUs bought their own vaccines, the private sector bought their own vaccines we might be over allocating funds, or we might be under allocating funds for that matter. So it's important to reconcile our numbers because we're not talking about a few 100 million, we're talking about billions. And we also need to program the vaccination of our teenagers. My view is to go back to face to face classes, as soon as possible to also allow our teenagers to be vaccinated and this is already been done in the US and in Europe and in some advanced countries. So we need to also program that amount. Second is to revive our economy through tourism. Tourism is being battered left and right and what is the scientific protocol in allowing fully vaccinated persons to come in and minimizing risk of infection. Q: So that one we discussed earlier, how to revive the economy, and really no quarantine as you're recommending for fully vaccinated tourists, whether they're Filipinos or foreigners. So those are the two things, just a follow up on that, open ho ba kayo doon sa posibleng additional budget of P20 billion for COVID procurement, for COVID vaccine procurement? SEN. WIN: That P20 billion, Pinky was meant to be given to teenagers. The last pronouncement of the DOF is they are allocating P20 Billion to purchase vaccines for teenagers. And I'm supportive of that. Again, if you look at the practices abroad and advices of medical experts abroad, teenagers are already being vaccinated, and this is in line with going back to face-to-face classes, so I'm very happy to that. The sooner we can go back to face to face classes, the better. Distance Learning is putting a lot of stress to our families, especially to our learners. ON ERRORS IN DEPED MODULES Q: And, of course, kasama po diyan lahat ng mga problema sa distance learning. So, because you mentioned that Senator let's talk about that module that came out during the House hearing yesterday. Please explain to us, paano ho ba nakakalusot ang mga salitang katulad ng lumabas po kahapon na alam naman po nating bastos na salita. At sabi mo nga kanina before we went on air, halos lahat naman ng tao alam ang salitang yan. So why does this happen? Q: Pinky, it's a good segue way into this very disappointing event, and I am very dismayed, with what happened. In fact, in my opinion, sinasadya yan. It was intentional, let's not play innocent or ignorant. Everyone knows that word, and whoever did that module knows that word. So, I'm pretty sure almost 100% na sinasadya yan, it was intentional. For whatever reason, I don't know. But there's a process in DepEd, this is what we call the quality assurance process. And every module, every module, every textbook, for every workbook passes through the quality assurance process. Meaning, no module will come up without quality assurance. So my question now is, this type of bad word or this module got the stamp of approval of the quality assurance and were distributed to all of our students. Obviously the system failed. And we also need to investigate this matter and hold the quality assurance mechanism or those people who are implementing the quality assurance to account. But more importantly, look for that person who wrote that. Q: So alam niyo ho ba Senator who composes, who are part of this quality assurance team? Do you even have names, or how are they even appointed? SEN. WIN: I'll just give you a snapshot on how modules are being designed. All the 120 Plus divisions, have their own team and they follow a specific process when they craft modules, textbooks or workbooks. We in Valenzuela, we created our own modules. We have master teachers, we have a team there that creates the modules, but that modules need to follow specific timelines and a specific process, and at the end of the process is a quality assurance process, composed of different teachers and composed of different experts. They read each and every line of the modules. They look for grammatical errors, they look for errors, they look for everything. So, it's impossible for this type of modules to get away from the hands of the quality assurance team. That's why, again, the question here is, how did it get approved and how come it went undetected by the quality assurance team. So those are the things that we will investigate, and we need the answers because we don't want our children, not only to learn but also, not only to learn the right things but we don't want our children to learn all of these bad words and one of the things. Q: When do you plan to look into this sir? SEN. WIN: We will have a hearing on the up and coming school opening this school year 2021-2022. And definitely we will look at the preparedness of DepEd. We will also look at the preparedness of our divisions, but more importantly, the materials being produced by our divisions, in particular, this type of errors and this type of occurrences. ON VFA Q: Quickly na lang po, yung sa VFA there is of course magpapatuloy po ito in other words for another six months just your reaction to this? SEN. WIN: My thoughts on this is the VFA is one of the more important documents that bind our countries together, both the US and the Philippines. And it's a document that can strengthen our relationship, especially in times of pandemic. This is a document that symbolizes our strong relationship with the US, and right now in times of pandemic, we need to strengthen our relationship with all countries particularly countries who can help us with the vaccine. So it's a welcome development to suspend it but admittedly, we need to review, like any other document, any other agreement we need to review it from time to time to make sure that it's still effective to make sure it's fair for both parties.
Press Release

June 15, 2021 FACE-TO-FACE CLASSES DOABLE ONCE 70% OF FILIPINOS ARE FULLY-VACCINATED - GORDON Senator Richard J. Gordon stated that face-to-face classes or blended learning amidst the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic can be implemented when at least 70% of the country's total population have been vaccinated. "It is important that we make sure that everyone is safe and that our people are protected from the virus before we go back to face-to-face classes. It would be best if we achieve a population or herd immunity first. Through an effective vaccination program, we will be able stop the spread of the virus and break the chain of transmission," Gordon pointed out. Gordon cited the experiment conducted by Serrana, a town in the state of Sau Paolo, Brazil, where local cases dropped after a mass vaccination for COVID-19. According to a report, almost every adult resident of Serrana completed the two vaccine shots between February and April. The research team in charge of the experiment, based on the report, claimed that "the results were dramatic. Symptomatic cases of COVID-19 have dropped by 80% since the start of mass vaccination, related hospitalizations fell 86%, and deaths plummeted 95%." "I think we can also do that here. We can try to do mass inoculation first in one province. If we see the efficacy of it, then we can continue doing that to other areas, especially the ones with the highest number of cases, until we got everybody vaccinated. Once we achieve full protection from COVID, that's the time we can send the students back to school. We can all work again, start to rebuild our economy and live normally once more," said Gordon. "We must do every way possible to be able to totally wipe out the virus that have infected more than one million Filipinos and killed thousands of our people," he added. Gordon, being the Chairman and CEO of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), has been consistently promoting vaccination as a protection and efficient solution to various diseases. Last February, the PRC kicked off its nationwide measles-rubella and polio supplemental immunization activity (SIA) in partnership with the Department of Health (DOH). On June 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Philippines as polio-free once again after a successful vaccination campaign.
Lacson, Sotto: We Have Enough Funds to Achieve Herd Immunity for 2021

More at: https://pinglacson.net/2021/06/15/lacson-sotto-we-have-enough-funds-to-achieve-herd-immunity-for-2021/

The government has more than enough funds to achieve herd immunity at least for this year, and should focus more on ensuring the efficient rollout of COVID vaccines, Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson said Tuesday.

Lacson cited figures from Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III indicating the government has P5 billion more than needed for herd immunity for 2021.

"At P446 per dose including logistical costs, we will need P52.3 billion. We have already secured P57.3 billion through borrowings, so we have a surplus of P5 billion for herd immunity," Lacson said during the Senate Committee of the Whole's hearing on the national COVID-19 vaccination program.

"So money is not the problem here. Ang kailangan na lang dito maka-procure ng vaccines at may rollout (We just need to focus more on procuring the vaccines and rolling them out)," he added.

For his part, Senate President Vicente Sotto III agreed: "The bottom line is the rollout."

Lacson said that to achieve herd immunity, the government would need P52.343 billion to procure 117,361,601 target doses at P446 per dose, including logistical costs.

During the hearing, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. had said the Philippines is to get 68 million free doses, including 44 million from the COVAX facility and 24 million from two brands.

As such, Lacson noted the government would need to pay only for 49 million doses to achieve herd immunity, and 99.6 million doses for the target population.

On the other hand, Lacson said the P20 billion to P25 billion being sought for the inoculation of Filipinos aged 12 to 15 will be for 2022.

"So you don't need any money for achieving herd immunity at least in 2021," he said.
Press Release

June 15, 2021 SENATE PRES. VICENTE C. SOTTO III

OPENING STATEMENT FOR THE COW HEARING ON THE NATIONAL COVID 19 VACCINATION PROGRAM UPDATES

June 15, 2021 Good morning Ladies and Gentlemen, this hearing of the Committee of the Whole (COW) is hereby called to order. Let us pause for a minute of silent prayer. May I first acknowledge the presence of my colleagues who are physically and virtually present. Early this year, the Committee of the Whole already conducted a series of hearings to deliberate on the COVID-19 Vaccination Program. One of its products is the enactment of a law which establishes the National COVID-19 Vaccination Program, expediting the procurement of vaccines and administration process, and the establishment of an indemnification fund, among others. From this Committee's last hearing on the subject, a lot has already happened; thus, the Senate Committee of the Whole deems it necessary to reconvene for the following purposes: First, to provide update to the public as to the status of our National COVID-19 Vaccination Program and its budgetary utilization status. Sa nailaan na P82.5 billion, magkano na ang nagastos ng gobyerno? Ilan na ang nabiling vaccines? Ilan na ang nabakunahan? Ang inaasahan nating herd immunity bago matapos ang taon, matutupad ba ito? Second, to discuss the possibility of amending the present IATF quarantine guidelines to be attuned with the direction of the country to open the economy safely. Another reason to update the present quarantine protocols is to ease the burden of our OFWs and returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs) who are directly affected by the ever changing and lengthy travel and quarantine protocols. We are exercising our oversight powers not to criticize the government's response in addressing the pandemic, but to help find progressive solutions to the evolving problems we are facing today. Vaccination is being prioritized to save lives and to open our economy to recover from the damaging effects of the pandemic. In the recent IATF Resolution No. 120, that will be effective tomorrow, June 16, 2021, fully vaccinated senior citizens will be allowed to go out in areas under GCQ and MGCQ. This shows that our guidelines are adjusting based on the developments in our vaccination program. So why are some of us being adamant about adjusting the present quarantine protocols, especially for our OFWs and ROFs? These people are going home not for leisure but to see their sick or dying family members for the last time or due to some other urgent matters that they need to attend to, after almost two years or so of not seeing their spouses, children, and aging parents. Time is a very limited commodity for our OFWs and ROFs. We hope that in today's hearing, DOH will be open and try to consider the proposals and not just outright dismiss the findings of this Committee. Another objective of this hearing is to get an update from our resource persons as to the implementation of the unified vaccine card, which is mandated by the COVID-19 Vaccination Program Act of 2021. Where are we now in the establishment of a vaccine pass? Just like the amendments to the current IATF quarantine guidelines, this unified vaccine passports will facilitate safe mobility of people who have been vaccinated and could ultimately help spur the growth of trade. Hindi lamang nito mapapadali ang pag-travel ng mga Pilipino domestically or internationally, mapapasigla rin nito ang ating ekonomiya dahil kaakibat ng paggalaw ng tao ang pag-angat ng ekonomiya. And lastly, in addition to all our concerted efforts to achieve herd immunity, we hope to discuss also how we can strengthen the information campaign to promote vaccination, para naman mawala ang agam agam at takot ng ating mga kababayan na nagdadalawang isip magpabakuna. Private businesses are doing their part in offering discounts and incentives for those who are already vaccinated. We hope our government will be able to do the same effective campaign to encourage vaccination. For this hearing, your Committee has invited relevant government agencies, representatives from the leagues of different local government units, medical experts, and representative from a non-governmental organization that promotes the rights of OFWs and Filipino migrants to provide answers and solutions to the foregoing concerns that this representation mentioned. Again, our objective is to strengthen and enhance the current approach of our government in our fight against COVID-19 and to fulfill our commitment to alleviate the burden of our kababayans here and abroad. We hope to have a productive and open discussion in today's proceedings to provide solutions to the evolving needs of our people brought about by this pandemic. At this juncture, may I request the Senate Secretary to acknowledge the presence of all our resource persons present physically before us and those attending virtually. After which, the Secretary is hereby directed to administer the oath to the resource persons.
Qatars representative at Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has called Israel to open its nuclear reactors following the recent war between the Jewish state and Palestinian resistance movement Hamas controlling the Gaza Strip, The New Arab reports.

Hamas and Israel fought an 11-day war in May that caused the death of more than 240 Palestinians and more than 10 Israelis.

Israel is accused of disproportionate warfare on the enclave marked by unspeakable destruction.

Sultan bin Salmeen Al Mansouri, Qatars top diplomatic representative in Vienna, the London-based news media notes, Israels actions during its recent conflict should cast questions on whether the country can be trusted with nuclear weapons.

The State of Qatar stressed the importance of Israel cooperating with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) regarding its nuclear capabilities, and to open its atomic reactors to inspectors, read a statement by the Qatari foreign ministry on Saturday.

[The Gaza war] raised fundamental questions about whether Israel behaves as a responsible state and uses its weapons in accordance with the rules of international law, and if there are guarantees that Israel will not use its weapons in an irresponsible way in the future, including the terrifying possibility of using nuclear weapons.

Al Mansouri reportedly made the call at a session with the IAEA Board of Governors in the Austrian capital on Thursday. Israel is believed to be a nuclear power despite Tel Avivs silence over the allegations. The country has repeatedly rejected calls at the Agency questioning its nuclear capabilities.
After deploying two guards to act as CCTVs watching over a road sign with his name on it, COTU secretary general Francis Atwoli is certainly an unhappy man this morning.

On Monday night, unidentified persons lit up the street sign in a car tyre bonfire.

Kenyans have opposed the renaming of the road in Kileleshwa for Atwoli, accusing him of not deserving that privilege, and the county government for not consulting.

Activist Boniface Mwangi even swore to bring it down, but upon visiting the site was met by men camping there to guard it. He opted to avoid confrontation on that day.

That however did not deter Kenyans from seeking its removal. It is unclear who vandalized it this time round.

Atwoli has issued a statement claiming that he is not hurt by its removal. He added that the act will haunt those responsible for life.

My name is all over the world and doesnt require a street signage for them to know who Francis Atwoli is, the statement continued.

Here it is in full.

This is the second time the signage has been vandalized. The first time that happened, Nairobi County officials quickly mobilized staff to bring it back up, this time with a concrete base.

And like clockwork, officials were sent to the scene this morning to put it back up, which raises even more questions on county priorities in a city where even the mere act of getting your garbage collected is a tall order.
The Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) will launch 12 new hospitals in informal settlements in Nairobi in the next two weeks.

NMS Director-General Mohammed Badi said the facilities are ready and awaiting commissioning by President Uhuru Kenyatta.

The 12 facilities, which are also fully equipped, are part of 24 hospitals that NMS is constructing to improve access to affordable healthcare in Nairobis informal settlements.

A total of 12 of the new hospitals are ready for commissioning. We are hoping in the next two weeks His Excellency the President will give us guidance on opening them, Badi told the Senate Health Committee.

The NMS boss had appeared before the committee to answer queries on the use of Covid-19 funds.

So far, Uhuru has opened four Level 2 hospitals: Uthiru-Muthua Level 3 Hospital, Kiamaiko, Kayole-Soweto, and Ushirika in Dandora.

The President also opened the dispensary at the Green Park terminal.

Gatina hospital in Kawangware and Gichagi in Kangemi are also operational although they have not been officially commissioned.

Badi also noted that the remaining eight hospitals were to be operational by the end of June but a delay arose from the process of acquiring land in informal settlements.

He said they are at an advanced stage of construction and will be complete by the first week of July.

We resolved the issues of land and we are now on course to have all the hospitals completed by July, he told the Senate committee.

NMS received Sh2 billion for the construction of the new hospitals, with 19 being built from scratch at a cost of Sh70 million each. The remaining five used a total of Sh300 million to be upgraded.

At the same time, Badi said that through savings, they have built three extra hospitals in addition to the 24.
Police in Kibera, Nairobi are holding a Form 2 student who allegedly killed his friend following a fight over a flash disk in Gatekwera area within Kibra.

As reported by Citizen Digital, the two argued over the ownership of the flash disk on Saturday before the suspect picked a kitchen knife and stabbed his 19-year-old friend.

Confirming the incident, Sarangombe area chief Edwin Otwori said the 15-year-old suspect surrendered to Kibra DC police officers on Sunday evening.

After interrogation, the suspect was transferred to Kilimani Police Station pending arraignment.

Police also rescued the mother of the suspect from mob lynching after irate locals torched their house after the incident.

The 15-year-old suspect is a student at Kibera Secondary school.
A Form Three student attacked and killed his father at Barotion village in Londiani, Kericho County during a row over chicken.

Area chief Sarah Sigey said an argument ensued between the two after the boy arrived home on Sunday and found his father had sold chicken belonging to him without his knowledge.

According to the DCI, the 18-year-old confronted his 50-year-old father Wilson Kipsoi over the whereabouts of six of his chicken. Infuriated by the confrontation, Kipsoi threatened to shoot his son with arrows, forcing the form four student at Kapcheplanga day Secondary school to flee and seek refuge at a neighbours house.

The following day, the suspect returned home armed with a club, vowing to stop at nothing until his father produced his chicken. The teenager clobbered his father repeatedly on the head while demanding compensation for his missing chicken.

Neighbours of the family responded to the commotion and rescued the man from the attack before rushing him to Londiani Sub-county hospital. The victim, however, succumbed to the injuries while undergoing treatment.

Meanwhile, the student went into hiding with police launching a manhunt

The body of the deceased was moved to St. Josephs hospital mortuary in Molo as investigations into the incident continue.
Governors will shut down their county governments next week should the National Treasury fails to disburse Ksh.102.6 billion owed to them.

The county bosses issued the warning on Monday citing a lack of funds to run operations.

Council of Governors (CoG) Chairman Martin Wambora accused Treasury of violating the law and failing to comply with its own cash disbursement schedule.

It is imperative for Kenyans to understand that financing counties by the Treasury is not a favour but a constitutional obligation. The taxpayer at the counties is also entitled to timely service delivery, Mr Wambora said.

Adding: Unfortunately, if the National Treasury fails to release the funds, counties will not be able to offer basic services thereby forcing suspension of services or total shutdown by June 24.

The Council of Governors (CoG) claims they are unable to meet statutory obligations and fiscal responsibilities including timely payment of staff salaries, remittance of employees statutory deductions, payment of suppliers eligible pending bills, implementation of development projects, and derailed response in the fight against COVI D-19 pandemic.
If you still dont believe in the power of manifesting, Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja might just change your mind. The politician recently shared a story of how he manifested his dream car and got it while in Uni.

Speaking on the Journey Series with Churchill, Sakaja recalled that he had stuck a picture of his dream car under his desk at Lenana School.

Under my desk, I had a picture of this car. A Mercedes Benz because that was my dream car and I bought it while on campus. When making noise in class, I would open my desk and look at the car. That motivated me to work hard, Sakaja told Churchill.

The first-time Senator said he finally managed to buy the car for Sh500,000 while in his second year at the University of Nairobi pursuing a degree in Actuarial Science.

He said he later realised that the Merc used to be owned by Bungoma senator Moses Wetangula.

When asked how he managed to afford a Merc, Sakaja responded: I used to run businesses back then. I had a laundry shop, kinyozi, and other businesses.

The Nairobi senator said from his businesses, he would make about Sh5000 per day.

We didnt have money as a family then, so I set up businesses. I used to wash peoples clothes, cook it wasnt much but at the end of the day I would have five or six thousand shillings in a day, Sakaja said.

During his fourth year in campus, Sakaja also set up a financial consultancy firm, Arthur Johnson Consultants, which is still in operation.

Sakaja also said his position as the Chairman of the Student Organisation(SONU) accorded him money to run his business ventures and join politics.

By the time I was in fourth year, I had joined politics during the days of President Mwai Kibaki so I had resources, Sakaja said.

I joined student politics so that I could run businesses and pay my school fees. Those days, when you were a university student leader, you had the opportunity to run a business, he said.

The lawmaker also told Churchill that he owned an apartment around Yaya Centre in Nairobi by the time he was in his fourth year.
President Uhuru Kenyatta has urged leaders across the political divide to unite and work together for Kenya to achieve its goal of becoming a middle-income country by 2030.

The President emphasized that the whole essence of the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) was to bring the country together and consolidate national unity.

He cautioned against endless politics at the expense of development saying political bickering and selfish pursuits by leaders were holding the country back.

Rather than engaging in endless political fights, lets work together. If we do that, we will be able to become a truly middle-income country by 2030, President Kenyatta said.

The Head of State spoke Monday at State House, Nairobi, when he hosted a delegation of political leaders from Lower Eastern counties of Kitui, Machakos and Makueni to discuss the regions development.

The President expressed optimism that BBI will ensure inclusivity and equal distribution of resources across the country.

BBI will ensure inclusivity and equity. It will make every Kenyan feel they belong, President Kenyatta told the leaders who included Wiper Party Leader and Former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu and her Machakos counterpart Dr Alfred Mutua.

The Head of State pointed out that by working with leaders from across the political divide, he has managed to deliver more projects during his second term in office because he was able to focus more on development.

Working in conjunction with my colleagues, I have been able to focus on the development agenda, not the political agenda, the Head of State said.

Former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, who led the delegation, thanked President Kenyatta for the development projects implemented by the National Government in the Ukambani region, citing the recent revival of the Kenya Meat Commission and several other infrastructure projects.

You have really worked for your people and we appreciate that, Mr Kalonzo said.

Governors Alfred Mutua and Charity Ngilu also spoke at the meeting where they affirmed Ukambani regions support for the Presidents Big 4 Agenda.
It is now widely known that President Uhuru Kenyatta will not support his deputy William Ruto in 2022.

Despite promising to do so multiple times during their 2013 and 2017 campaigns, Uhuru has moved away from his deputy and appears to increasingly back former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

Yesterday while speaking to Kamba leaders at State House, Uhuru made it clear for the first time that he would not be supporting his deputy. He promised instead to back the Nasa candidate, who for all intents and purposes will be Raila Odinga.

The president urged the Nasa leaders to unite behind one of their own to increase their chances of forming the next government.

Steve (Kalonzo), listen to your people and what they are saying. Unite in Nasa then we shall see what will happen. Whatever you will agree on is what I will go with, the President said.

The cover story on todays The Star newspaper was that report, with the headline screaming Uhuru: Ill back one Nasa chief for presidency.

It is this cover that Ruto tweeted, wondering what happened to their marriage and the 8 million strong contingent of thurakus that voted for them 3 times.

EUCHO!!NGAI FAFA MWATHANI!! So, what happens to the Thurakus, the kumira kumera contingent, the 8 million of us?? None, no youth, no woman, no man of the 8M who woke up early and voted 3 times for UK/WsR ticket merit support? Sawa tu! Tutajipanga na support ya MUNGU.

Well, while a lot can happen between now and the election, it sure seems like Ruto is readying himself to go it alone.

This will be interesting to watch.
President Uhuru Kenyatta has led Kenyans in mourning former Gem Member of Parliament, the Hon Washington Jakoyo Midiwo who passed away Monday evening.

Hon Midiwo, 54 years, served as Gem MP for three terms between 2002 and 2017 on National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) parties respectively.

In his message of comfort to the family, relatives, friends and supporters of Hon Jakoyo Midiwo, the President mourned the outspoken politician as a forthright, brave and straight forward leader who spoke his mind at all times.

I have received the sad news of the passing away of my friend, the Honorable Jakoyo Midiwo with shock and disbelief. I was with him during my recent working tour of Nyanza Region during which we opened several projects in his former constituency, the President recalled.

The President said the late Jakoyo was a consummate debater on the floor of Parliament where he articulated matters of national importance and defended the wellbeing of Kenyans.

The Honorable Jakoyo was a straight-shooting debater on the floor of Parliament who became famous for witty anecdotes drawn from his interactions with his constituents and Kenyans across the country, the President said.

Away from his political and legislative work, the late Jakoyo was an established television panelist who appeared on many talk shows where he discussed a vast array of public interest subjects.

President Kenyatta prayed to God to grant the family of the Hon Midiwo the grace and fortitude they need at this difficult time of mourning.
Emory Emergency Medical Services, the first licensed collegiate medical first responder service in the state of Georgia, was suspended as a COVID-19 precaution and is now being reinstated.

Emory University is reinstating its student-led Emory Emergency Medical Services (EEMS) program and moving it to the Office of Critical Event Preparedness and Response (CEPAR).

In 2020, EEMS was suspended as a COVID-19 precaution with Dekalb American Medical Response and the Dekalb County Fire Rescue serving as first responders for the Emory community. The medical program, previously positioned under the Emory Police Department, has a 30-year legacy and has made a tremendous impact on Emorys campus community.

EEMS is a volunteer EMS organization that responds to emergency and 911-based calls in the Emory community. In addition, it provides medical standby services for university events. Established in 1992, EEMS began as the vision of a few EMTs who wanted to provide enhanced emergency medical coverage to the Emory community. EEMS became the first licensed collegiate medical first responder service in the state of Georgia.

The CEPAR office is equipped with subject matter experts who will work with students to manage the award-winning EEMS program. Moving EEMS to CEPAR allows this program to be reinstated, focusing on student mentorship, community service and the provision of quality emergency medical care. CEPAR and EEMS have a strong commitment to providing service, outreach and education to the Emory community.

For additional information, please visit the CEPAR website.
This years recipients of the Albert E. Levy Award for Excellence in Scientific Research are neurologist Raul Nogueira (left), recipient of the Senior Award, and psychologist Dorian Lamis, recipient of the Junior Award.

Neurologist Raul Nogueira and psychologist Dorian Lamis are this years recipients of the Albert E. Levy Award for Excellence in Scientific Research, established to recognize the contributions of Emory faculty members to the advancement of scientific knowledge.

The award was created by Edith Levy Elsas, a civic and academic activist, while she was a member of the Emory University Board of Visitors in memory of her father, Albert E. Levy. The award is overseen by the University Research Committee (URC).

Each year the URC accepts nominations from the faculty at large in recognition of two faculty members, one junior and one senior, considered by the nominating faculty to be outstanding in their respective fields of research.

Each awardee receives an honorarium in research funds: $1,000 for the Junior Faculty Award recipient and $2,000 for the Senior Faculty Award recipient. In addition to the honorariums, each awardee receives a trophy.

Originally overseen by Emory University's Sigma Xi, a scientific research honor society that encourages research communication across multiple scientific disciplines, the Levy Award program stopped for a period when the Emory Chapter of the Sigma Xi became inactive. In the year 2000, at the request of the benefactor, the Albert E. Levy Award was reinstated to be administered by the University Research Committee.

2021 award winners

Junior Award: Dorian Lamis

Dorian Lamis, PhD, ABPP, is a board certified licensed clinical psychologist and an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Emory University School of Medicine. He conducts research as well as provides direct clinical and administrative services at the Grady Memorial Hospital Behavioral Health Outpatient Clinic with patients who are diagnosed with serious mental illness and/or are at-risk for suicide.

Lamis is a highly prolific scholar who is internationally recognized in his field of clinical psychology and suicide prevention. Since joining Emory, he has published in numerous peer-reviewed journals and established himself as an independent leader in the field. He is considered a rising star by his peers and has been invited to speak at many international conferences. He has also won many awards and secured substantial external funding. Lamiss innovative research provides key insights into suicidal behavior and identification of specific genetic and epigenetic factors.

Senior Award: Raul Nogueira

Raul Nogueira, MD, is a professor of neurology, neurosurgery and radiology in the Department of Neurology of Emory University School of Medicine and a world-renowned stroke and interventional neurologist who practices at Grady Memorial Hospital. His research has been tremendously impactful, and he has been a leader in developing a new paradigm for the treatment of strokes.

Nogueira has been in the leadership group organizing multi-site clinical trials on applying a technique called mechanical thrombectomy, which removes blood clots from the blocked blood vessels immediately after a stroke. It has become a major new procedure for treatment of severe stroke patients within the first 6-24 hours that greatly increases the chances of survival.

One high profile study led by Nogueira, published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2018, has already resulted in more than 1,500 citations. The study resulted in a total change to the recommended procedures for the treatment of stroke. The study has been hugely impactful and has been recognized by many publications and organizations; it has been touted as the most influential research in the neuroendovascular field in the past 10 years and the clinical trial was named by both the American Heart Association and the Cleveland Clinic Foundation as one of the top research advances of 2018.

Nogueira has also been recognized with numerous named lectureship awards, including the Juan Taveras Lectureship Award from Harvard, the first neurologist to be recognized for this award.
Emory historian examines race and guns in new book on Second Amendment

In The Second: Race and Guns in a Fatally Unequal America, acclaimed historian Carol Anderson asserts that the right to bear arms has been used as a weapon against African Americans since its inception.

Emory College historian Carol Anderson has focused much of her research on how racism and racial inequality affect the creation and unraveling of U.S. policy.

When police killed Philando Castile, a Black man with a license to carry a gun, during a 2016 traffic stop, the Charles Howard Candler Professor of African American Studies realized she had not applied her skills to answering a specific, constitutional question: Do African Americans have gun rights?

Her new book, The Second: Race and Guns in a Fatally Unequal America, answers by arguing that Black Americans have endured a fractured citizenship since James Madison drafted the Second Amendment primarily to ensure white men could suppress potential slave revolts.

For instance, she asserts that the well-regulated militia clause refers to slave patrols, not protection from government overreach. Legal architecture since has limited and outright prohibited Black Americans from owning firearms by perpetuating the narrative that they are a threat.

The evidence shows that the amendment is based on a foundational fear of Black people, Anderson says. We need to document this ongoing fear of Blackness in American society if we are going to have a full discussion about the Second Amendment today.

Andersons argument has drawn attention and critique in national media since it was released June 1. She hopes the conversation will carry into her classroom this fall, when she is teaching about the Civil Rights Movement.

Students already have long played a role in Andersons research, and she acknowledges the Emory students and alumni who helped with The Second.

Among those who worked as research assistants, helping to find and organize historical records as well as talk through the findings with Anderson, are Ayriel Coleman, a rising senior majoring in history, and Timothy Rainey II, who earned his PhD this spring and is now an assistant professor of religion at St. Olaf College in Minnesota.

The anti-Blackness Im describing in this book is to make legible what our students know from casual conversation, and I hope to get a sense from coursework what more conversations they may want to have, Anderson says.

Those not enrolled in Andersons course also may join the conversation when she speaks at the Decatur Book Festival in October.

Reshaping current conversations through history

The book marks Andersons latest effort to reshape current conversations through a more thorough examination of history. She won the 2016 National Book Critics Circle Award for White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide, her groundbreaking examination of white Americans efforts to marginalize and oppress African Americans since the Civil War.

In 2018, she published something of a sequel to that book with One Person, No Vote: How Voter Suppression Is Destroying Our Democracy, which outlines the history of voter suppression to the current era. Anderson also was awarded a 2018 Guggenheim Fellowship for her work.

I would argue we have an amendment put into place the same way the three-fifths clause was, to debase the humanity of African Americans, Anderson says, referring to the section declaring that enslaved people should be tallied as less than full people when counting for congressional representation.

We are not having a full discussion of our history if we do not consider the erasure of Black American history, she adds.
[June 14, 2021] Bambuser to Present at VivaTech 2021 as part of the LVMH Innovation Award Program STOCKHOLM, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Bambuser today announced its participation in VivaTech, Europe's biggest startup and tech event. Hosted by LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH), Bambuser will present Live Video Shopping to event attendees as part of the luxury goods conglomerate's annual Innovation Award program. LVMH, a founding partner of VivaTech, selected Bambuser as one of just 28 companies whose technologies represent the future of customer experiences. The event will take place from June 16 to 19, 2021 at the Expo Porte de Versaille in Paris as well as online. Now in its fifth year, VivaTech brings together startups and major corporations, encouraging collaborations that drive digital transformation and innovation for the common good. The last edition of the event, held in 2019, drew some of the world's brightest entrepreneurs, executives and investors as well as an audience of over 124,000 visitors. Reinforcing the company's commitment to innovation, LVMH will host Bambuser among the finalists for the annual Innovation Awards, a program that celebrates creative and best-in-class solutions to the challenges faced by the industry. For the 2021 edition, the start- and scaleups selected for the LVMH Lab and e-Lab will present their solutions in line with this year's challenge theme of "The Future of Customer Experience is here." Bambuser's Live Video Shopping is among those chosen in the Omnichannel & Retail Experience category, and the company will be providing live and virtual demonstrations from Exhibit Hall 1 booth H22-003. "We are elated to be selected by LVMH for honor, and look forward to sharing our perspective on and solutions for more engaging customer experiences with their team as well as the event's many high-profile attendees," said Bambuser Chief Commercial Officer Sophie Abrahamsson, who will be representing Bambuser at the event. "The past year certainly made it clear that customer expectations have evolved faster than many of the technologies at the heart of today's retail experiences. We look forward to standing side-by-side with the pioneers and innovators who share our commitment to building solutions that offer engaging experiences, today and tomorrow." Representing the diverse array of technologies that intersect with the luxury market, the award categories also include Media & Brand Awareness, Data & AI, Operations & Excellence Manufacturing and Employee Experience & Sustainability. The full list of finalists can be seen here. Contact information Sherry Smith, Corporate Communications, Bambuser AB | +46 8 400 160 00 | press@bambuser.com Certified Adviser Erik Penser Bank AB | +46 8 463 83 00 | certifiedadviser@penser.se ABOUT BAMBUSER Bambuser is a software company specializing in interactive live video streaming. The Company's primary product, Live Video Shopping, is a cloud-based software solution that is used by customers such as global e-commerce and retail businesses to host live shopping experiences on websites, mobile apps and social media. Bambuser was founded in 2007 and has its headquarters in Stockholm. ABOUT VIVA TECHNOLOGY In only 4 years, VivaTech has become Europe's biggest startup and tech event and is recognized worldwide as a powerful catalyst for business transformation, startup growth and innovation for the common good. VivaTech brings together in Paris every year business leaders, startuppers, investors, researchers and thinkers from around the world for a unique experience combining inspiration, networking and innovation discovery. Starting 2021, VivaTech will be enriched with a digital platform that will bring together an even larger community of innovators. In 2019, VivaTech had already reached 231 million people worldwide, bringing together 124,000 visitors including more than 13,000 start-ups, 3,000 venture capital firms and 2,500 journalists from 124 countries. The 5th edition of VivaTech will be held on June 16-19, 2021. For more information, visit vivatechnology.com. This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/bambuser/r/bambuser-to-present-at-vivatech-2021-as-part-of-the-lvmh-innovation-award-program,c3365795 The following files are available for download:



https://mb.cision.com/Main/15749/3365795/1431035.pdf Release https://news.cision.com/bambuser/i/bambuser-x-viva-technology-x-lvmh-innovation-award-2021,c2924433 Bambuser x Viva Technology x LVMH Innovation Award 2021 https://news.cision.com/bambuser/i/sophie-abrahamsson,c2924434 Sophie Abrahamsson SOURCE Bambuser

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Drug maker AstraZeneca's antibody cocktail trial reduced risk of developing symptomatic COVID-19 by only 33 per cent, failing to meet the primary endpoint of Phase III trial.

The 'Storm Chaser' trial assessing the safety and efficacy of a long-acting antibody (LAAB) combination AZD7442 failed to meet the primary endpoint of post-exposure prevention of symptomatic COVID-19 with AZD7442 compared to placebo, the company said in a release.

The Phase III, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-centre trial was conducted in 59 sites in the UK and US with 1,121 participants. The participants were randomised in a 2:1 ratio to receive a single intramuscular (IM) dose of either 300mg of AZD7442 or saline placebo, administered in two separate, sequential IM injections.

"In the overall trial population, AZD7442 reduced the risk of developing symptomatic COVID-19 by 33 per cent compared to placebo, which was not statistically significant," the company said. AstraZeneca said it is conducting other studies of the medicine that could help clarify the findings.

"While this trial did not meet the primary endpoint against symptomatic illness, we are encouraged by the protection seen in the PCR negative participants following treatment with AZD7442. We await results from PROVENT, our pre-exposure prevention trial and TACKLE, our treatment trial in preventing more severe disease, to understand the potential role of AZD7442 in protecting against COVID-19," Mene Pangalos, Executive Vice President, BioPharmaceuticals R&D at AstraZeneca said.

On March 16 this year, AstraZeneca had announced an extended agreement with the US government to supply up to 5,00,000 additional doses of AZD7442 for $205 million, contingent on AZD7442 receiving Food and Drug Administration's emergency use authorisation in post-exposure prophylaxis.

"Discussions regarding next steps with the US government are ongoing," the company said.

Also read: Covaxin production ramp-up may be delayed by 2 months; to reach 100 mn capacity by Nov
HDFC Bank on Tuesday said the technical issue with its mobile banking app has been resolved, and the customers can now use net banking as well as mobile app for transactions.

"Please note the issues around mobile banking app is now resolved. Customers can now use NetBanking and mobile banking app for transactions," the bank said in a tweet.

Please note the issues around mobile banking app is now resolved. Customers can now use NetBanking and mobile banking app for transactions. We regret the inconvenience and thank you for your patience. - HDFC Bank News (@HDFCBankNews) June 15, 2021

Earlier in the day, the bank's mobile app was down, and it had urged customers to use net banking facility until the glitch was fixed.

Spokesperson Rajiv Banerjee said, "We are experiencing some issues on the MobileBanking App. We are looking into this on priority and will update shortly. Customers are requested to please use NetBanking to complete their transaction. Regret the inconvenience caused. Thank you."

App users who tried to use the app complained that it was not working. A message flashed on the screen stating: We are experiencing issue currently with mobile banking app. Kindly use netbanking. We regret the inconvenience caused.

We are experiencing some issues on the MobileBanking App. We are looking into this on priority and will update shortly. Customers are requested to please use NetBanking to complete their transaction. Regret the inconvenience caused. Thank you.@HDFCBank_Cares@HDFCBankNews a Rajiv Banerjee (@RajivBanrjee) June 15, 2021

As per service outage tracker DownDetector.in, there were reports of glitches with the app from around 10:30 am that peaked at around 11:30 am.

The Reserve Bank of India had, late last year, issued an order to HDFC Bank with regards to outages. "RBI has issued an order dated December 2, 2020, to HDFC Bank Ltd with regard to certain incidents of outages in the internet banking/ mobile banking/ payment utilities of the bank over the past two years, including the recent outages in the bank's internet banking and payment system on November 21, 2020, due to a power failure in the primary data centre," the bank had said in a regulatory filing.

In January HDFC Bank had submitted a detailed plan of action to the apex bank to address repeated service disruption issues with an aim to improve its technology.

Also read: RBI fines HDFC Bank Rs 10 crore over regulatory violations

Also read: HDFC Bank's NBFC arm holds IPO plans; to raise over Rs 8,600 crore via debt
European quality pellets with a diameter of 6 mm from coniferous waste. The goods are made of ecological raw materials and comply with European and international standards. The company has a good logistic location as it is close to the border between the Republic of Poland and Belarus (up to 50 km). We are accredited and we can export the goods.

CERTIFICATE EN plus A1
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Ex-head of Togliattikhimbank Popov sentenced to 7.5 years of imprisonment



10:42 15/06/2021

MOSCOW, June 15 (RAPSI) - Former Chairman of the Board of Togliattikhimbank Alexander Popov has been sentenced to 7.5 years in a maximum security colony and a fine of 500 million rubles ($7 million), according to a statement of Russias Investigative Committee.

The defense of Alexander Popov in court was carried out by several law firms, among which the most famous is "Yegorov, Puginsky, Afanasiev and Partners".

As established by court, the evidence collected by investigators was sufficient for sentencing Alexander Popov. He was found guilty of attempt to give a bribe in the amount of at least $ 2 million (Article 30.3 and Article 291.5 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation), the statement reads.

Investigators and the court established that the beneficiary owner and the head of OJSC Togliattiazot (TOAZ) Sergey Makhlai, being defendant in a criminal case over embezzlement of TOAZ products, was also found liable for a tax offense basing on the results of an on-site tax inspection.

According to the Investigative Committee, in order to avoid the obligations on the payment of taxes, as well as to avoid criminal prosecution, Makhlai decided through an intermediary to give a judge of Russias Supreme Court a bribe in the amount of at least $2 million for passing an obviously illegal court decision in favor of OJSC Togliattiazot that would overturn the decision of the tax authority. The same ruling he intended to use for settling problems related to his criminal prosecution.

As reported by the body, he conspired in this crime with Chairman of the Board of Togliattikhimbank Alexander Popov. The latter, acting on the instructions of Makhlai, in 2015 developed a criminal plan. At the same time, using his official position, in violation of the official procedure for registration of documents, he could open a safe deposit box with his bank, where he encased a part of the bribe handed to intermediaries. However, Popov failed to bring to fruition his criminal intent for reasons beyond his control, according to the statement.

In the framework of the investigation, the court seized 293 land plots owned by Popov as an interim measure in order to ensure enforcement of the court decision.

Sergey Makhlai was put on the federal and international wanted lists, even earlier he had been sentenced in absentia for embezzling the products of Togliattiazot, the Investigative Committee reminded. Investigators still continue their work in order to establish the circumstances of other crimes, including those committed by Popov and other persons, the statement reads.

Scheme of criminal activity

Popov was detained at Vnukovo Airport on May 31, 2019 and arrestedon the same day.

The fact of the attempt to give a bribe to the judges of the Supreme Courtof the Russian Federation was revealed during the investigation of the criminal case under Article 210.3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (organization of a criminal community or participation therein), and is to be tried separately. The criminal case under Article 210 was initiated by the Investigative Committee on May 16, 2019. According to the materials of the investigation, it is said that the defendants in this case Popov, Vladimir and Sergey Makhlais, Andreas Zivy, and other persons (altogether more than ten people), acting as participants of a structured organized group, in the period from 2005 to 2013 committed several serious economic crimes against the state, the property of Togliattiazot and other personsand organizations.

Investigators allege that Togliattikhimbank (owned by Vladimir Makhlai until 2011, and then by his son Sergey Makhlai) headed by Popov was used as an illegal financial center within this criminal group.

Investigators could establish that Popov, acting as part of an organized criminal community, headed by the Makhlais, was responsible for illegal takeaway of money from Togliattikhimbank. As a member of the group, he was also responsible for the legalization of criminally obtained funds and distribution thereof across the offshore accounts of other members of the organized criminal community. Popov cashed out some money and allocated it for corruption purposes, what for a long time had allowed the organized group to address issues related to administrative and criminal prosecution of its participants by law enforcement and supervisory bodies, as well as courts.

Investigators believe that Popov played a key role in illegal schemes for siphoning off TOAZ profits to offshore entities (the respective damage is estimated to be at 85 billion rubles ($1.2 billion)), as well as the sale of the most liquid assets of the enterprise together with land plots (the damage to the plant and its shareholders amounted to more than 2 billion rubles ($28 million)). According to the Investigative Committee, Popov involved in these criminal schemes many companies and individuals, primarily dependent on him due to official relations.

Thus, according to investigators, Popov, together with his co-conspirators, in 2005 through 2010 ran an operation aimed at siphoning off TOAZ assets, which were to be transferred to Tomet LLC, which was controlled through offshore companies owned by Vladimir and Sergey Makhlais. An ammonia unit worth at least 10 billion rubles ($140 million) was sold to Tomet at a price 100 times below this value, in a similar way as the total methanol productionunit.

In 2008 through 2013, as a result of the understatement of export prices of TOAZ products, the amount of taxes the enterprise failed to pay made at least 2.5 billion rubles ($35 million); this money, according to investigators, Popov transferred to the offshore companies of the Makhlais.

Moreover, investigators revealed that in 2008 the organized group, a member of which Popov was, carried out a tax evasion scheme. Rodnichok LLC and Kontaz LLC, affiliated with the Makhlais, in 2008 sold at a nominal price of 1 ruble for share their interests in TOAZ to a Cyprus offshore entity. Rodnichok received 1.7 million rubles ($24,000) for its shares, the market value of which is estimated at 1.15 billion rubles ($16 million), whereas Kontaz earned 861,000 rubles ($12,000) instead of 576.8 million rubles ($8 million). In this way, the tax base was understated. Ex-CEO of Kontaz LLC Xenia Balashova was detained in April 2020. She was charged under the same articles of the Russian Criminal Code as Popov. Balashova completely admitted guilt.

In 2019, a court sentenced Vladimir and Sergey Makhlais, as well as Andreas Zivy, to 9 years in a penal colony; their Swiss partner Beat Ruprecht and ex-CEO of the plant Yevgeny Korolevreceived 8.5 years in a penal colony and fines. They were found guilty of especially large embezzlement committed by an organized group (Article 159.4 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).




Prosecutors challenge release of former fishery official from detention in fraud case

 RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov

11:20 15/06/2021

MOSCOW, June 15 (RAPSI)  Prosecution filed an appeal against the Moscow City Courts decision on the replacement of detention of x-advisor of a head of the Federal Fishery Agency Yury Khokhlov charged with attempted fraud in the amounr of $7 milllion with house arrest, attorney Igor Zuber told RAPSI on Tuesday.

A prosecutor demanded reversal of the order and its reconsideration. The hearing will be held on June 22 in the First Appeals Court of General Jurisdiction.

According to investigators, not later than April 2016, Khokhlov conspired with other persons to fraudulently persuade a victim to give him and his accomplices $7 million. He promised the victim employment for a senior position in the Fishery Agency. However, he was not aimed to live up to the commitments.

In April 2018, four defendants in the case were convicted and sentenced to prison. Khokhlov managed to escape abroad. He was put on the international wanted list and later arrested in Cyprus. On December 6, 2020, he was extradited to Russia.




The New Braunfels Fire Department's dive team arrives to assist in the search of a missing swimmer on Monday, June 14, 2021 in the Guadalupe River at the FM 1117 bridge. The man was reported missing on Sunday, June 13, 2021 after he and another woman saved two children from drowning.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian's Regular Press Conference on June 15, 2021

2021/06/15

CRI: Today marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the SCO. How would you assess the progress the SCO has made in the past two decades? Will there be any celebration to mark the occasion?

Zhao Lijian: Today marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the SCO. Over the past two decades, the SCO has navigated the evolving international landscape, successfully blazed a path of cooperation and development under a new type of regional organization, played an important constructive role in promoting regional security, stability, development and prosperity, and made important exploration through practice for the building of a new type of international relations and a community with a shared future for mankind. Its main achievements can be summarized as follows:

First, it came up with an up-to-date vision on cooperation. Following the trend for peace and development, it put forward the innovative Shanghai Spirit featuring mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for cultural diversity and pursuit of common development and fostered a brand new cooperation model of harmonious co-existence of countries with different social systems and development paths.

Second, it strengthened bilateral relations. Member states of the SCO, upholding the principle of no alliance, no confrontation and no targeting any third party, continuously enhanced political mutual trust, good neighborliness and friendship. All sides make full use of venues like the SCO Summit to engage intensively in high-level exchange, conduct close communication and coordination on major international and regional issues, and render each other support on issues concerning respective core interests and major concerns, translating the profound connotation of a shared future through weal and woe into concrete actions.

Third, it safeguarded regional security and stability. Taking security cooperation as a priority, the SCO ratified important legal instruments such as the Convention on Combating Terrorism and the Convention on Combating Extremism, stepped up cooperation in such areas as counter-terrorism, counter-narcotics, border defense and information security, held regular joint counter-terrorism exercises, and promoted the peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan through the SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group, creating a peaceful and stable environment for the development of regional countries.

Fourth, it enhanced the shared development of all countries involved. The SCO established cooperation mechanisms in economy, trade, transportation, finance, agriculture and localities, dovetailed the BRI with national development strategies and regional cooperation initiatives, launched a great number of livelihood cooperation projects in culture, education, tourism, environmental protection, youth and women, giving a strong boost to the development of rejuvenation of relevant countries.

Fifth, it has set the standard for multilateralism. The SCO stands firmly for international equity and justice. It has spoken in a strong voice about defending multilateralism and rejecting unilateralism and protectionism. It has stated its position on enhancing solidarity against the pandemic and rejecting politicization of the virus. It has put forward the SCO solution on the political settlement of regional hotspot issues. It maintains close communication and coordination with observer states and dialogue partners, engages in wide-ranging cooperation with the UN, ASEAN, the Commonwealth of Independent States and other international and regional organizations, and works for a more equitable international order.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the SCO, a year of milestone significance in the history of the organization. The Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the SCO Secretariat will co-host an SCO Day reception this evening. State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will deliver a video address to review the extraordinary journey of the SCO over the past 20 years and envision its bright future.

In addition, SCO member states will hold various forms of activities to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the SCO. Not long ago, China hosted the SCO Forum on People-to-People Friendship. Going forward, we will hold a series of events on the topics of state governance, digital economy, traditional medicine, women, education and poverty reduction. We look forward to the participation by all sides.

CCTV: On June 13, the G7 summit concluded and issued a communique, which made groundless accusations on China with regard to Xinjiang, Hong Kong and other issues. What is your comment?

Zhao Lijian: We have noted that the G7 summit communique mentions China-related issues, deliberately slandering China on issues related to Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Taiwan as well as maritime issues, and interfering in China's internal affairs. Such moves seriously contravenes the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and the trend of the times for peace, development and win-win cooperation. It reveals the bad intentions of the US and a few other countries to create confrontation and estrangement and widen differences and disagreements. China is strongly dissatisfied with and firmly opposed to this.

Issues related to Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Taiwan are purely China's internal affairs that brook no foreign interference. China is firmly resolved in safeguarding its sovereignty, security and development interests.

I want to emphasize that multipolarization and democratic international relations are irresistible trend of the times. The era of one country or a bloc of countries dictating world affairs is over. Under the current situation, the international community need to strengthen solidarity and cooperation and practice true multilateralism more than ever. Countries should not seek bloc politics on the basis of the interests of small cliques, suppress different development models by holding ideology as the yardstick, and still less confuse right with wrong and shift blames onto others. The US is ill, very ill indeed. We'd like to advise the G7 to take its pulse and come up with a prescription for the US.

AFP: CNN reported on the security issues of the Taishan nuclear power plant. The US government spent the past week assessing a report on the security of the nuclear power plant. What are the problems of the facility? Do you have any response?

Zhao Lijian: China attaches great importance to nuclear safety, and has established a nuclear safety regulatory system that is up to international standards and in line with national conditions. Meanwhile, the National Nuclear Safety Administration maintains close cooperation with its foreign counterparts, and engages in communication and exchanges under multilateral mechanisms such as the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Convention on Nuclear Safety. So far, China's nuclear power plants have kept a good operating record with zero occurrence of incidents affecting the environment and public health.

According to the competent authorities, the Taishan nuclear power plant performs to the requirements of the technical specifications with normal level of environmental radiation in the surrounding areas of the nuclear power plant, the safety of which is guaranteed. For specific technical issues, please refer to the competent authorities . As far as I know, China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN) has also issued a statement on this matter.

People's Daily: State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi delivered an address through video link at the Geneva-based Conference on Disarmament (CD) on June 11. The last time a Chinese foreign minister addressed the CD was 12 years ago. I wonder if you could share more about his remarks and China's expectations for the international arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation processes in the future?

Zhao Lijian: Amid the overlapping impact of major changes and a global pandemic unseen in a century and complex and profound evolution in the international security landscape, new problems, challenges and threats keep propping up, crying out for global solutions. Under such circumstances, the stature and role of the CD, the sole negotiating body for multilateral disarmament, has become more prominent.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the restoration of the lawful seat of the People's Republic of China at the UN and the 41st anniversary of China's participation in the work of the CD. Over the past decades, China has taken an active part in the international arms control and disarmament processes and fully participated in the work of the CD, playing a constructive role. In his address, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi shared China's observations on the current international security landscape, further elaborated on the new approach of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, and put forward China's proposals and propositions on how to advance the international arms control and non-proliferation processes.

As a responsible member of the CD family, China stands ready to work with all parties to continuously advance international arms control and non-proliferation processes, uphold win-win cooperation, equity and justice, reject zero-sum game and political manipulation, and make new contribution to building a world that enjoys lasting peace and universal security.

Reuters: NATO summit was held in Brussels and released a communique saying that China poses "systemic challenges" to the international order and to areas relevant to the alliance's security. Do you have any comment?

Zhao Lijian: There is only one system and one order in the world. That is, the international system with the UN at its core and the international order based on international law. It runs counter to the historical trend of peace, development and cooperation to form small cliques, pursue bloc politics and force other countries to choose sides between different ideologies. Such attempt will never be supported by the people, nor will it succeed.

NATO urges its member states to increase their military spending to at least 2% of GDP, while criticizing China's normal defense development and military modernization. This is typical double standards. In fact, China's defense accounts for about 1.3% of its GDP, much lower than the standard of NATO countries. China's per capita military spending is below the global average and less than one-fifth of NATO's.

NATO has a long history of poor records. It is up to its neck in debt morally, and has brought wars and instability to the world for many times. The international community will not forget the 78 days of indiscriminate bombing of Yugoslavia by NATO without the approval of the UN. The US, the UK and other NATO countries used a test tube of laundry powder and staged video as "evidence" to wage wars on sovereign states of Iraq and Syria. The Chinese people will never forget the historical tragedy of the bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Yugoslavia. This is a debt of blood that NATO owes to the Chinese people. China does not pose "systemic challenges" to anyone and will firmly safeguard our sovereignty, security and development interests.

Shenzhen TV: In NBC News' exclusive interview, Russia's President Vladimir Putin said that "we have developed a strategic partnership relationship- between Russia and China that previously had not been achieved in the history of our nations, a high level of trust and cooperation in all areas: in politics, in the economy, in the area of technology..." He expressed support to China on issues related to Xinjiang and Taiwan and refuted attempts to sabotage China-Russia relations. Do you have any comment?

Zhao Lijian: We highly appreciate President Putin's positive remarks on China-Russia relations. Indeed, China and Russia are united like a mountain, and our friendship is unbreakable. Under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and President Putin, bilateral relations have withstood the test of the changing international landscape, setting an example of a new type of major-country relationship. The two countries have firmly supported each other on issues concerning each other's core interests, and the political mutual trust and strategic coordination between the two has been continuously consolidated and enhanced. In the first five months of this year, bilateral economic and trade volume surged by 23.6 percent, injecting strong impetus and confidence into the world economy, which is struggling to recover. Together, we have resisted political viruses, safeguarded the outcome of the victory of World War II and international equity and justice, and firmly defended genuine multilateralism and international equity and justice. Together, we have become an important force for stability in a turbulent world. It is fair to say that the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era is all-dimensional and all-weather. The sky is the limit for down-to-earth China-Russia cooperation, and we are full of confidence in the development of bilateral relations.

In one month's time, we will mark the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation between China and Russia, which is of special significance to bilateral relations. With this as the focus, the two sides will fully implement the consensus reached by the heads of state of the two countries, revisit the original aspiration of signing the treaty for enduring friendship and win-win cooperation, advance China-Russia cooperation at a higher starting point, in a broader scope and at a deeper level, and inject impetus into global strategic stability and world economic recovery.

As a Chinese proverb says, "True gold doesn't fear the test of fire." We have to tell those who try every means to drive a wedge between China and Russia that any attempt to undermine China-Russia relations is doomed to fail. We hope they will not go further down the path of zero-sum game and political confrontation of blocs, but return to the right path of building a community with a shared future for mankind and play a constructive role in safeguarding world peace, stability and development.

AFP: Two questions, the first is regarding US President Joe Biden's visit to the EU headquarters on Tuesday, where he is expected to seek the EU's backing on facing the rise of China. Does the foreign ministry have any comment on this visit? The second question is, according to some news reports, there are some people who believe that Europeans have prevented NATO from coming up with an even stronger statement related to China. How does China view level of unity among Western countries and whether or not there are divisions between the US and the EU?

Zhao Lijian: Both of your questions are about the relationship among the US, the EU and China. Let me take them altogether.

China's policy on the EU has been consistent. China always sees the EU as a comprehensive strategic partner. We firmly support European integration, and support a united and strong EU playing a bigger role in international affairs. China believes that China and Europe are comprehensive strategic partners, not systemic rivals. The two sides have far more cooperation than competition and far more consensus than difference. China-Europe cooperation is complementary and mutually beneficial. It brings tangible benefits to the two peoples. We always hope Europe can work with China toward the same direction in the spirit of mutual respect, equal treatment and win-win results to jointly promote sound and steady development of the bilateral ties.

As for the US attempt to form small cliques against China with ideology as the yardstick, I'd like to say that China and Europe are two important forces in a multipolar world. We believe the EU will continue to enhance strategic autonomy, and won't be hijacked by other country's wrong China policy.

Beijing Youth Daily: June 12 marks the World Day Against Child Labor. We noticed that the US is widely criticized at the 109th Session of the International Labor Conference (ILC) over the issue of child labor. Do you have any comment?

Zhao Lijian: The US is the only country in the world that has not ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). Of the eight fundamental conventions of the International Labor Organization (ILO), the US has ratified only two, making it one of the countries that have ratified the least number of conventions. The problem of child labor in the US is shocking both in history and at present. Recently, American photographer Lewis Hine's photos taken more than 100 years ago featuring child laborers in the US have again come to the fore. Be it dangerous mines or tobacco farms, child laborers in the US have miserable lives. According to statistics of relevant organizations, there are approximately 500,000 child farm-workers in the US and child labor is very common in the tobacco industry. In addition to the issue of child labor, up to 100,000 people are trafficked into the US for forced labor annually. In the past five years, all 50 US states and Washington D.C. all reported cases of forced labor and human trafficking.

Over the years, the ILO has repeatedly expressed concern about child labor in the US and urged the US government to solve the problem of forced labor. The US turns a deaf ear to its own problems and instead slanders other countries. We have noted that the G7 summit communique calls for collective efforts toward eradicating the use of "forced labor" in global supply chains. We hope that the US side can effectively eradicate child labor and "forced labor" in its tobacco industry and other industries and earnestly protect the legitimate rights and interests of children and other vulnerable groups.

Global Times: It is reported that Franz Gayl, a retired US Marine major who is now working at the Pentagon, is under a counterintelligence investigation by the Marine Corps for his two articles published in the Global Times that criticized open confrontation with China by the US regarding Taiwan. Reports say he could face an early exit from the civil service. What is China's comment on this?

Zhao Lijian: I think many people would want to ask: Isn't the US a self-proclaimed champion of the freedom of speech and justice? Franz Gayl is under investigation just because he wrote two articles expressing different position from the US government. Why can't the US allow two articles clearly marked to represent the author's personal opinion?

As a matter of fact, similar cases abound in the US. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, many people in the US have spoken out. Dr. Helen Y. Chu, a whistle-blower, sounded the alarm on the epidemic in the US; Dr. McCarthy entreated US health authorities to test suspected cases; Captain Brett Crozier of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt wrote a letter to Navy leaders asking that most of the crew be taken ashore. These people have been either muzzled, investigated or dismissed from their posts just because they told the truth that the government doesn't like. Is this the way the US champions the freedom of speech? When clamoring for freedom of speech, the US side should really look at itself in the mirror rather than look at others through a magnifying glass.

China Daily: According to reports, the Munich Security Conference released the latest Munich Security Report and Munich Security Index, which described China as an "unperturbed country" after collecting survey data from over 10,000 respondents in 12 countries. The report concluded that the level at which risks are perceived is relatively low in China  possibly a sign of the confidence of the Chinese people in the strength of their country. Where risks are perceived, the Chinese public strongly thinks their country is prepared for them. Do you have any comment?

Zhao Lijian: The relevant report of the Munich Security Conference shows the Chinese people's confidence in the government. The Chinese government is committed to upholding national security, ethnic harmony, peace and tranquility, social fairness and justice, economic development and prosperity and beautiful ecological environment, in order to deliver tangible happiness and security to the Chinese people. After over seven decades of relentless efforts, the 1.4 billion Chinese people are out of absolute poverty and free from war, poverty and hunger. The Chinese people's satisfaction and support rate toward the Chinese government exceeds 90% for many years running.

I also noticed that according to the report, the risk perception indexes of the Chinese people toward "the coronavirus pandemic" and "a future pandemic" are both much lower than that of other countries. This, I believe, is attributable to the fact that in the face of the sudden onslaught of COVID-19, the Chinese government put people and life first, took the most rigorous control measures and was among the first to bring the epidemic under control, making it possible for people to carry on with their life and work as usual. According to a survey done by York University in Canada last year, the Chinese people's trust in the government increased to 98% after COVID-19.

In the meantime, we are soberly aware that in China's journey of progress, many risks and challenges lie ahead. We will remain prepared for potential risks and unexpected developments, forestall and resolve all kinds of risks and challenges, and give the Chinese people more sense of fulfillment, happiness and security.
Should all deaf children learn sign language? This seemingly innocuous question was the theme of a roundtable article published in the influential journal Pediatrics in 2015, which compiled responses from a range of stakeholders, including otolaryngologists, linguists, educators, and parents of deaf children. Understandably, this broad diversity also delivered a range of responses: while educator Nancy Mellon and surgeon John NiParko contended that Reliance on sign language over an extended period of time may negatively affect the childs capacity to learn spoken language after cochlear implantation (2015, 171), linguists Christian Rathmann and Gaurav Mathur argued that a speech-only approach risks linguistic deprivation at a crucial period of development . . . because of the variability in the spoken language development of deaf children who have [cochlear implants] (2015, 172). Despite their differing stances on the issue at hand, however, what these arguments shared was an implicit assumption that sign language and spoken language (aided in perception and articulation through the use of assistive technology) were more or less equivalent options for parents of deaf children, with each communication tool having its own drawbacks and advantages.

In this piece, I critique this framework of equivalence, drawing upon ethnographic data I collected in Jordan in the summer of 2019. Presenting sign language and cochlear implants in such a manner elides the contexts in which they are embedded and that make them efficacious for deaf children. Such representations misrepresent the communicative space (Bishara 2013, 41) between sign language advocates and cochlear implant advocates, especially in Jordan, a context where the cochlear implantation project in particular has the backing of the state and misunderstandings of sign language abound (Hendriks 2008; Al-Fityani 2010).

In recent times, especially in Europe and North America where contentious debates about the best way to educate deaf children have been well-documented (see, for example, Padden and Humphries 1988; Lane 2005), a number of scholars who work in neuroscience, linguistics, and psychology advocating for sign language access for deaf children have moved away from a culturalist critique of the cochlear implant as a technology eradicating Deaf culture. Instead, they have shifted towards a pragmatic critique that deaf children who do not succeed in using cochlear implants and are not exposed to sign language might suffer language deprivation. Breaking down a false binary between signed and spoken languages, they argue that deaf children do not have to choose one or the other, but canand shouldhave both (e.g. Humphries et al. 2014; Hall, Hall, and Caselli 2019). In the Pediatrics article, for instance, educators Donna Jo Napoli and Theresa Handley argue that all deaf children need to learn sign language along with spoken language. They write, Sign and speech facilitate each other, rather than one hindering the other (2015, 173).

While I understand the intent of using this framework of equivalence between cochlear implants and sign language as a strategic move to connect with advocates of spoken language for deaf childrenand I agree that deaf children should have access to multiple language modalitieswhat are the stakes when sign language advocates present cochlear implants and other medical technologies for deaf people just so, as one tool among others, one choice among many? Sherry Turkle ([1985] 2005) writes against the notion that computers are just tools by demonstrating their substantial impact on culture and society in the United Studies in the 1970s and 80s. What results when advocates of sign language, in using this framework, remove technologieshere, cochlear implantsfrom the contexts in which they are embedded?

First, what are cochlear implants? The cochlear implant is a surgically implanted device embedded into the cochlea; by converting sound into digital signals that are sent to the brain, the implant can provide a sense of sound to the implant user. The cochlear implant has spread rapidly around the world and become a standard of care in a number of developed countries, with 80 percent or more of deaf children undergoing implantation (Humphries et al. 2012, 2). In Jordan, cochlear implantation was first performed in 2003 and has rapidly increased; by 2019, more than 1,170 procedures had been performed. Second, there certainly are notable exceptions to this framework of equivalence. In Neil Glickman and Wyatt Halls edited volume on language deprivation and deaf mental health, for instance, they clarify that their book [argues] that it is not strictly the cochlear implantation (which clearly helps some deaf people acquire spoken language skills and others acquire environmental sound awareness), which is problematic but the spoken-language only philosophy that all too often accompanies it (2019, 19, emphasis mine). Laura Mauldins ethnography of cochlear implantation in the US demonstrates how cochlear implantation is often prescribed as the right choice for deaf children through anticipatory structures: persons, practices, and protocols in the clinic that are already in place and are triggered by a particular event and deployed to reduce parents resistance to medical interventions (2016, 28). Michele Friedners forthcoming book will also examine cochlear implantation and in particular Auditory Verbal Therapy (AVT)a speech-only approach to rehabilitating deaf childrenas a battleground of expertise in India.

In summer 2019, I spent six weeks conducting ethnographic fieldworkparticipant observation and informal interviewsin Jordan, spending two weeks at a state-affiliated cochlear implantation initiative and four weeks at the audiology department of the state hospital that the initiative partners with. Spending time at both places allowed me to see the formulation of policies regarding cochlear implantationwho was eligible? What did it cost? Where were the procedures?and their implementation at the hospitalwhat did cochlear implant mapping look like? How old were the children who came to the hospital? Who brought them there? Fieldwork at both places also allowed me to track the harmonies as well as the disjunctures between policy and implementation. An instance of alignment between policy and implementation took place, for example, when I was told during my internship at the initiative that deaf children had to use hearing aids for at least three months before they were eligible for cochlear implants. This was in line with what I observed later at the hospital, when parents who came to the audiology department asking about cochlear implantation for their child were asked if they had tried hearing aids yet, and were told that they would need to do so before their child would be eligible for the cochlear implant. This happened, for example, to Ali, a young child two years and two weeks old, whose parents came into the department for a consultation. Asked by the audiologists if he had tried hearing aids yet, his parents responded, No, the cochlear implant is better (la, al-qawqaa ahsan). The audiologists explained that trying hearing aids is mandatory (jarib al-samaat mafroud) and that he needed to use hearing aids for three months first to see if it was an effective solution.

However, moments of disjuncture between policyin which sign language and cochlear implants were framed as equivalent optionsand implementationhow cochlear implants were provided to deaf children in the hospitalwere perhaps more interesting. While doing fieldwork at the cochlear implant initiative, for example, sign language was occasionally discussed in a more or less neutral fashion in our meetings, as a viable option for deaf children who could benefit from it. Jordan has also signed and ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), which promotes the use of sign language (due to the fact that its formulation involved transnational deaf-led organizations like the World Federation of the Deaf). Article 21, Freedom of expression and opinion, and access to information, for example, mentions recognizing and promoting the use of sign languages, as does Article 24, Education, which mentions facilitating the learning of sign language and the promotion of the linguistic identity of the deaf community (UN General Assembly 2006). The hospital, on the other hand, told a different story. Sign language was scarcely mentioned and, occasionally, the visit of a signing deaf person to the department would leave the audiologists nonplussed. Once, for example, a deaf man came to the audiology department and the audiologists found themselves unable to communicate with him as they did not know sign languagethey tried using gestures but were largely unsuccessful. When one of the audiologists said to the other, marto btehki (literally, his wife speaksmeaning she was hearing), I realized that this was not his first visit to the hospital, and thus likely not the first time there was a communication breakdown between him and the audiologists. They eventually figured out that he wanted hearing aids but they did not have the ones he needed, and so told him to come back later. When he came back with his wife laterwho was indeed hearing, she spoke with the audiologists and it turned out that he actually wanted hearing aids for his daughter instead, not himself. On another occasion, a hearing parent I spoke to also told me, when I asked him if his deaf daughter learned sign language, that it was not allowed by the speech therapists, who presumably do not know sign either.

What accounts for these disjunctures between representations of cochlear implants and sign language in policywhere they are presented as equivalentand their actualization in the hospital in Jordan, where cochlear implants are valorized and sign language devalued? While there are likely a myriad of reasons, I think it is especially important to pay attention to the context in which the cochlear implant is embedded. While policymakers might pay lip service to the value of sign language or even genuinely believe in its value, the cochlear implant is not a neutral device but has values built into it. It is not neutral because it is a medical device whose entire purpose is to fix deafnessor is at least often advertised as such. As Rayna Rapp writes about prenatal genetic diagnostic technologies, It is hard to argue for the neutrality of a technology explicitly developed to identify and hence eliminate fetuses with problem-causing chromosomes (and, increasingly, genes) (2000, 59)cochlear implants, too, were invented to eliminate deafness. They are also not neutral because they are embedded in broader transnational medical imaginaries and discourses that are often not neutral about sign language (Blume 2010).

From the perspective of relational materialismthe idea that if matters act, they never act alone, and that causes and actions should be given up in favor of affordances and responses (Abrahamsson et al. 2015, 11)cochlear implants in Jordan, embedded in discourses like Auditory Verbal Therapy that insist on a spoken language-only approach, afford particular ways of existing in the world that eschew the use of sign language. The biopolitical effects of the cochlear implantation initiative in Jordanby which deaf Jordanians are encouraged to use spoken language and not to use sign languagemight in some ways exceed the intentions of the state, whose adoption of the UN CRPD signals a stance that deaf Jordanians should have access to whichever communication modality would best suit them, whether sign language, spoken language, or both.

The framework of equivalence, which presents sign language and cochlear implantsas a proxy for unhindered access to spoken languageas more or less equivalent tools, is problematic because it elides the broader institutions and networks of power in which these discourses are embedded. In Jordan, the cochlear implantation initiative has the backing of the state and of the medical establishment inside and outside of the country, while sign language does not enjoy the same supportthe right to speak (cf. Bishara 2013, 25) on the part of cochlear implant advocates and of sign language advocates is not the same.[1] The notion that deaf children should speakand should use cochlear implants, which can enable them to do sois therefore generally seen as more legitimate than the claim deaf children should sign, in part due to this discourses connection to the hegemony of biomedicine and, in Jordan, to the support of the state. Using this framework of equivalence that presents sign language and cochlear implants as equivalent communication tools ignores such a power differential. With this piece, I hope to reflect critically with my colleagues, whether in anthropology, neuroscience, linguistics, or psychology, about the ways in which we talk about technologies and communication access for deaf children, towards a shared goal of promoting their flourishing in multiple contexts. For me, a starting point is a continued insistence on the asymmetry between the claim that deaf children should speak and the claim that deaf children should sign.

Timothy Y. Loh is a PhD candidate in History, Anthropology, Science, Technology, and Society (HASTS) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, MA. Drawing upon the tools of medical anthropology, linguistic anthropology, and science and technology studies, his ethnographic research investigates sociality, language, and religion in deaf and signing worlds in Jordan, Singapore, and the United States. https://www.timothyyloh.com/.



Acknowledgments:

I presented an earlier version of this piece on the panel Life, death, and everything in between: Medical Anthropology in/of the contemporary Middle East and North Africa, which was organized by Christine Sargent for the Chronic Living 2021 conference at the University of Copenhagen. I thank my co-panelists and the audience for helpful feedback. I also thank Michele Friedner for encouraging me to submit it to Somatosphere and for subsequent editorial comments, which were also provided by Stefan Helmreich and Eugene Raikhel.

Works Cited:

Abrahamsson, Sebastian, Filippo Bertoni, Annemarie Mol, and Rebeca Ibanez Martin. 2015. Living with Omega-3: New Materialism and Enduring Concerns. Environment and Planning D: Society and Space 33 (1): 419. https://doi.org/10.1068/d14086p.

Al-Fityani, Kinda. 2010. Deaf People, Modernity, and a Contentious Effort to Unify Arab Sign Languages. Ph.D. diss., San Diego, CA: University of California, San Diego.

Bishara, Amahl A. 2013. Back Stories: U.S. News Production and Palestinian Politics. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.

Blume, Stuart S. 2010. The Artificial Ear: Cochlear Implants and the Culture of Deafness. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press.

Glickman, Neil S., and Wyatt C. Hall, eds. 2019. Language Deprivation and Deaf Mental Health. 1st ed. New York, NY: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315166728.

Hall, Matthew L., Wyatte C. Hall, and Naomi K. Caselli. 2019. Deaf Children Need Language, Not (Just) Speech. First Language 39 (4): 36795. https://doi.org/10.1177/0142723719834102.

Hendriks, Bernadet. 2008. Jordanian Sign Language: Aspects of Grammar from a Cross-Linguistic Perspective. Ph.D. diss., Utrecht: LOT  Netherlands Graduate School of Linguistics.

Humphries, Tom, Poorna Kushalnagar, Gaurav Mathur, Donna Jo Napoli, Carol Padden, and Christian Rathmann. 2014. Ensuring Language Acquisition for Deaf Children: What Linguists Can Do. Language 90 (2): e3152. https://doi.org/10.1353/lan.2014.0036.

Humphries, Tom, Poorna Kushalnagar, Gaurav Mathur, Donna Napoli, Carol Padden, Christian Rathmann, and Scott R Smith. 2012. Language Acquisition for Deaf Children: Reducing the Harms of Zero Tolerance to the Use of Alternative Approaches. Harm Reduction Journal 9 (16): 19. https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-7517-9-16.

Lane, Harlan. 2005. Ethnicity, Ethics, and the Deaf-World. Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education 10 (3): 291310. https://doi.org/10.1093/deafed/eni030.

Mauldin, Laura. 2016. Made to Hear: Cochlear Implants and Raising Deaf Children. A Quadrant Book. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota Press.

Mellon, Nancy K., John K. NiParko, Christian Rathmann, Gaurav Mathur, Tom Humphries, Donna Jo Napoli, Theresa Handley, Sasha Scambler, and John D. Lantos. 2015. Should All Deaf Children Learn Sign Language? Pediatrics 136 (1): 17076. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2014-1632.

Mills, Mara. 2011. Do Signals Have Politics? Inscribing Abilities in Cochlear Implants. In The Oxford Handbook of Sound Studies, edited by Trevor Pinch and Karin Bijsterveld, 32046. Oxford: Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780195388947.013.0077.

Padden, Carol, and Tom Humphries. 1988. Deaf in America: Voices from a Culture. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

Rapp, Rayna. 2000. Testing Women, Testing the Fetus: The Social Impact of Amniocentesis in America. New York, NY: Routledge.

Said, Edward. 1984. Permission to Narrate. Journal of Palestine Studies 13 (3): 2748. https://doi.org/10.2307/2536688.

Turkle, Sherry. (1985) 2005. The Second Self: Computers and the Human Spirit. 20th anniversary edition. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press.

UN General Assembly. 2006. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. https://www.refworld.org/docid/4680cd212.html.

Note

[1] In writing about the notion of balanced objectivity that most American journalists aspire to in her ethnography of journalism in the Palestinian West Bank, anthropologist Amahl Bishara argues that such an approach can fundamentally misrepresent the communicative space of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (2013, 41) since the right to speak on either side is rooted in vastly unequal material conditions. The current protests and demonstrations taking place in Palestine-Israel following the attempted expulsion of Palestinians from their homes in Sheikh Jarrah in Jerusalem have starkly demonstrated the vast material and power disparities between the Israeli state and the Palestinian people, and shed light on the historic denial of the permission to narrate (Said 1984) to Palestinians. As of this writing, a ceasefire in Gaza has been declared after 11 days of bombing, which saw the deaths of at least 232 Palestinians and 12 Israelis.

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Astronomers have spotted a giant 'blinking' star towards the centre of the Milky Way, more than 25,000 light years away. An international team of astronomers observed the star, VVV-WIT-08, decreasing in brightness by a factor of 30, so that it nearly disappeared from the sky. While many stars change in brightness because they pulsate or are eclipsed by another star in a binary system, it's exceptionally rare for a star to become fainter over a period of several months and then brighten again. CREDIT Amanda Smith, University of Cambridge

Astronomers have spotted a giant 'blinking' star towards the centre of the Milky Way, more than 25,000 light years away.

An international team of astronomers observed the star, VVV-WIT-08, decreasing in brightness by a factor of 30, so that it nearly disappeared from the sky. While many stars change in brightness because they pulsate or are eclipsed by another star in a binary system, it's exceptionally rare for a star to become fainter over a period of several months and then brighten again.

The researchers believe that VVV-WIT-08 may belong to a new class of 'blinking giant' binary star system, where a giant star ? 100 times larger than the Sun ? is eclipsed once every few decades by an as-yet unseen orbital companion. The companion, which may be another star or a planet, is surrounded by an opaque disc, which covers the giant star, causing it to disappear and reappear in the sky. The study is published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

The discovery was led by Dr Leigh Smith from Cambridge's Institute of Astronomy, working with scientists at the University of Edinburgh, the University of Hertfordshire, the University of Warsaw in Poland and Universidad Andres Bello in Chile.

"It's amazing that we just observed a dark, large and elongated object pass between us and the distant star and we can only speculate what its origin is," said co-author Dr Sergey Koposov from the University of Edinburgh.

Since the star is located in a dense region of the Milky Way, the researchers considered whether some unknown dark object could have simply drifted in front of the giant star by chance. However, simulations showed that there would have to be an implausibly large number of dark bodies floating around the Galaxy for this scenario to be likely.

One other star system of this sort has been known for a long time. The giant star Epsilon Aurigae is partly eclipsed by a huge disc of dust every 27 years, but only dims by about 50%. A second example, TYC 2505-672-1, was found a few years ago, and holds the current record for the eclipsing binary star system with the longest orbital period ? 69 years ? a record for which VVV-WIT-08 is currently a contender.

The UK-based team has also found two more of these peculiar giant stars in addition to VVV-WIT-08, suggesting that these may be a new class of 'blinking giant' stars for astronomers to investigate.

VVV-WIT-08 was found by the VISTA Variables in the Via Lactea survey (VVV), a project using the British-built VISTA telescope in Chile and operated by the European Southern Observatory, that has been observing the same one billion stars for nearly a decade to search for examples with varying brightness in the infrared part of the spectrum.

Project co-leader Professor Philip Lucas from the University of Hertfordshire said, "Occasionally we find variable stars that don't fit into any established category, which we call 'what-is-this?', or 'WIT' objects. We really don't know how these blinking giants came to be. It's exciting to see such discoveries from VVV after so many years planning and gathering the data."

While VVV-WIT-08 was discovered using VVV data, the dimming of the star was also observed by the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE), a long-running observation campaign run by the University of Warsaw. OGLE makes more frequent observations, but closer to the visible part of the spectrum. These frequent observations were key for modelling VVV-WIT-08, and they showed that the giant star dimmed by the same amount in both the visible and infrared light.

There now appear to be around half a dozen potential known star systems of this type, containing giant stars and large opaque discs. "There are certainly more to be found, but the challenge now is in figuring out what the hidden companions are, and how they came to be surrounded by discs, despite orbiting so far from the giant star," said Smith. "In doing so, we might learn something new about how these kinds of systems evolve."

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Artist's impression of the four planets of the HR 8799 system and its star. CREDIT University of Warwick/Mark Garlick

Four planets locked in a perfect rhythm around a nearby star are destined to be pinballed around their solar system when their sun eventually dies, according to a study led by the University of Warwick that peers into its future.

Astronomers have modelled how the change in gravitational forces in the system as a result of the star becoming a white dwarf will cause its planets to fly loose from their orbits and bounce off each other's gravity, like balls bouncing off a bumper in a game of pinball.

In the process, they will knock nearby debris into their dying sun, offering scientists new insight into how the white dwarfs with polluted atmospheres that we see today originally evolved. The conclusions by astronomers from the University of Warwick and the University of Exeter are published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

The HR 8799 system is 135 light years away and comprises a 30-40 million year-old A type star and four unusually massive planets, all over five times the mass of Jupiter, orbiting very close to each other. The system also contains two debris discs, inside the orbit of the innermost planet and another outside the outermost. Recent research has shown that the four planets are locked in a perfect rhythm that sees each one completing double the orbit of its neighbour: so for every orbit the furthest completes, the next closest completes two, the next completes four, while the closest completes eight.

The team from Warwick and Exeter decided to learn the ultimate fate of the system by creating a model that allowed them to play 'planetary pinball' with the planets, investigating what may cause the perfect rhythm to destabilise.

They determined that the resonance that locks the four planets is likely to hold firm for the next 3 billion years, despite the effects of Galactic tides and close flybys of other stars. However, it always breaks once the star enters the phase in which it becomes a red giant, when it will expand to several hundred times its current size and eject nearly half its mass, ending up as a white dwarf.

The planets will then start to pinball and become a highly chaotic system where their movements become very uncertain. Even changing a planet's position by a centimetre at the start of the process can dramatically change the outcome.

Lead author Dr Dimitri Veras from the University of Warwick Department of Physics said: "The planets will gravitationally scatter off of one another. In one case, the innermost planet could be ejected from the system. Or, in another case, the third planet may be ejected. Or the second and fourth planets could switch positions. Any combination is possible just with little tweaks.

"They are so big and so close to each other the only thing that's keeping them in this perfect rhythm right now is the locations of their orbits. All four are connected in this chain. As soon as the star loses mass their locations will deviate, then two of them will scatter off one another, causing a chain reaction amongst all four."

Dr Veras was supported by an Ernest Rutherford Fellowship from the Science and Technology Facilities Council, part of UK Research and Innovation.

Regardless of the precise movements of the planets, one thing that the team is certain of is that the planets will move around enough to dislodge material from the system's debris discs into the atmosphere of the star. It is this type of debris that astronomers are analysing today to discover the histories of other white dwarf systems.

Dr Veras adds: "These planets move around the white dwarf at different locations and can easily kick whatever debris is still there into the white dwarf, polluting it.

"The HR 8799 planetary system represents a foretaste of the polluted white dwarf systems that we see today. It's a demonstration of the value of computing the fates of planetary systems, rather than just looking at their formation."

Co-author Professor Sasha Hinkley of the University of Exeter said: "The HR 8799 system has been so iconic for exoplanetary science since its discovery nearly 13 years ago, and so it is fascinating to see into the future, and watch it evolve from a harmonious collection of planets into a chaotic scene."

###

* 'The post-main-sequence fate of the HR 8799 planetary system' is published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, DOI: 10.1093/mnras/stab1311 Link: https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stab1311



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New York (United Nations) 15 June 2021 (SPS)- Frente Polisario Representative to the UN, Dr. Sidi Omar, called on the UN General Assemblys Committee of 24 (C-24) to implement General Assemblys resolution 1514 in Western Sahara, recalling that sovereignty over the territory is exclusive to the Saharawi people, in his statement before the Committees meeting yesterday.

He further recalled that the failure of the UN to resolve this decolonization conflict so far is due to the inaction and complacency of the international community that have emboldened the Moroccan occupying state to continue, with complete impunity, to violate UN resolutions and every rule of international law and international humanitarian law in the illegally occupied parts of Western Sahara and even violate the ceasefire and ignite a new war in the region. It is as simple as that, unfortunately.

Following is the full text of the Statement:



Statement of the Frente POLISARIO on Western Sahara Ambassador Sidi Omar



C-24 Substantive Session



New York, 14 June 2021

Madam Chair,

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to address the Special Committee on behalf of the Frente POLISARIO, the legitimate representative of the people of the Non-Self-Governing Territory of Western Sahara in line with relevant General Assembly and Security Council resolutions.

Distinguished Members of the Committee and Representatives of Member States,

Your session today takes place at a time when Western Sahara is witnessing serious developments that could have dire consequences for peace, security, and stability in the entire region.

On early 13 November last year, in flagrant violation of the 1991 ceasefire and Security Council resolutions, the Moroccan occupying state moved its armed forces into the Buffer Strip in Guerguerat in the Liberated Territory of Western Sahara and attacked a group of Sahrawi civilians who were protesting peacefully against Moroccos illegal occupation of our land.

Faced with the Moroccan new act of aggression, which continues with complete impunity, the Sahrawi people, under the leadership of the Frente POLISARIO, were left with no option but to exercise our legitimate right to self-defence.

Today, after almost thirty years since the deployment of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) in the Territory, there is no referendum on self-determination and there is no ceasefire. There is only war for which the Moroccan occupying state is fully responsible.

Now, why did we get to where we are today?

The answer is simple. We are where we are today because the Moroccan occupying state has been allowed with impunity to block the holding of the free and fair referendum on self-determination for the Sahrawi people, which was mutually accepted by both parties and approved by the Security Council and the General Assembly, and to which the Moroccan occupying state itself had committed for many years before backtracking for fear of losing the vote.

We are where we are today, Ladies and Gentlemen, because the international community has chosen to turn a blind eye to the unspeakable human rights violations to which Sahrawi civilians are being subjected daily in the occupied Western Sahara at the hands of Moroccan occupying state and to its attempts to impose a fait accompli by force in the Territory.

To sum up, it is the inaction and complacency of the international community that have emboldened the Moroccan occupying state to continue, with complete impunity, to violate UN resolutions and every rule of international law and international humanitarian law in the illegally occupied parts of Western Sahara and even violate the ceasefire and ignite a new war in the region. It is as simple as that, unfortunately. Ladies and Gentlemen,

For three decades, we have been committed to the peaceful solution and we have constructively engaged in the UN peace process demonstrating patience, utmost restraint, and flexibility, despite the provocations and all the injustices that our people continue to endure at the hands of the Moroccan occupying state.

Today, the Sahrawi people, under the leadership of the Frente POLISARIO, are saying loud and clear that enough is enough. Yes, we remain committed to peace, but we will never give up our inalienable and non-negotiable right to self-determination and independence.

Let me also underscore that sovereignty over Western Sahara is not a commodity to be traded in Wall Street Market or elsewhere. It is the exclusive right of the Sahrawi people, and our people, under the leadership of the Frente POLISARIO, will use all legitimate means to defend our sovereignty. The occupying state should make no mistake about this.

The legal nature of Western Sahara as a decolonisation issue on the agenda of this Committee since 1963 is abundantly clear, despite the futile attempts of the occupying power and its apologists to demonstrate otherwise. Therefore, given the gravity of the current situation, efforts should be redoubled to allow the people of Western Sahara the chance to exercise freely and democratically their right to self- determination and independence.

This is not too much to ask from a committee that was established by the United Nations to oversee the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples.

Thank you! (SPS)

090/500/60 (SPS)
The Prince Edward Island Harness Racing Industry Association and Red Shores properties wish to announce the required biosecurity and horse health protocols that will be in effect at Prince Edward Island racetracks starting July 1, 2021, until further notice.

These new protocols have been recommended by the Atlantic Veterinary College and attending veterinarians to ensure the continued health of the Prince Edward Island Standardbred population while safely allowing off-Island horses to compete at Stake, Overnight, and Feature racing events.

Effective July 1, 2021, any horse shipping to Prince Edward Island will require:

For horses who will be shipping in from another Province to PEI to compete at a Red Shores property at Summerside Raceway or Charlottetown Driving Park in a stake, overnight, or feature event, and who will not be stabling overnight at either track, will require an Off Island Trainer Health Form to access the designated ship in area. By completing, signing, and submitting the Off Island Trainer Health Form, the Trainer of record attests that the competing horse has not tested positive for or been exposed to any horse that has Streptococcus equi subs equi, and that the competing horse has been monitored for any signs of such. Forms will be available online at the redshores.ca website and must be completed and submitted to the Race Office before the time of declaration. Forms can be submitted by email to [email protected] or [email protected] or by fax at (902)-892-1052. For those horses who will be shipping in from another Province to PEI to compete at a Red Shores property at either Summerside Raceway or Charlottetown Driving Park in a stake, overnight, or feature event, and who will be requesting stabling for one night or longer at either track, will require either a) proof of vaccination for Streptococcus equi subs equi Or b) proof of two negative culture tests for the Streptococcus equi subs equi bacteria on nasopharyngeal washes which were completed in 2021. This documentation accompanied by the Off Island Trainer Health Form must be submitted to the Race Office before the time of declaration. Forms are available online at the redshores.ca website and can be submitted by email to [email protected] or [email protected] or by fax to (902)-892-1052. The current protocol for horses permanently residing on Prince Edward Island who wish to move to a stable at Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park or Summerside Raceway remain in place, namely the need for proof of two negative culture tests for the Streptococcus equi subs equi bacteria on nasopharyngeal washes which were completed in 2021 and are submitted to [email protected] for approval prior to arrival with horse(s) on the grounds.

All horse owners are strongly encouraged to continue to follow approved Bio-Security protocols as they will continue to be in effect for both Red Shores locations. Further information is available at redshores.ca.

(Red Shores)
Poly announced the Voyager Focus 2 in India, the latest addition to Polys line up of best-selling stereo Bluetooth headsets. The Voyager Focus 2 is a smart, wireless headset with amazing audio thats intuitive and easy to use. Designed to reduce distractions while working from anywhere, the Voyager Focus 2 features Polys next-generation Acoustic Fence technology with Advanced Digital Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation (ANC).

Ankur Goel, Managing Director, Poly India & SAARC, said, Today, remote and hybrid working has become the norm, and good headsets are increasingly becoming the most sought-after equipment, with 84% of the Indian workforce looking for better audio devices. As todays workforce gets more comfortable with the changing workspace, they want technology that is collaborative and allows them to work from anywhere, whether it is the office, dining table, or even balcony. Good audio technology reduces background noise/distractions and helps us focus on what really matters. Poly understands this, and our latest product, the Voyager Focus 2 delivers this experience. It is packed with three levels of hybrid active noise canceling (ANC) to reduce distractions and is the perfect companion for todays hybrid worker.

Voyager Focus 2 key features

No background noise

 Pro-grade noise-canceling microphone with Acoustic Fence technology increases your productivity by keeping noise out.

 The Advanced Digital Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), allows you to have crystal clear conversations with the person on the other end of the call.

 ANC comes with three settings: high, mid, and off and you can choose the level suited for your surroundings.

 Carry the headset anywhere you go with the handy carry case.

Pro-Grade Performance

 The Dynamic Mute Alert feature will light up to let you know if youre speaking on mute.

 An online earcup indicator flashes when youre on a call for a visual cue to others that youre busy.

 Smart sensors will help you answer calls and play or pause music.

 Answer calls by simply putting on the headset, mute by taking the headset off.

 The microphone boom feature will automatically switch left and right audio no matter which side the headset is worn.

 The headset intuitively mutes when the boom is in the upright position to ensure you are always in control of your call.

Longer Talk Time

 Plush ear cushions allow you to work for long hours comfortably.

 The headset has a long battery life with up to 19 hours of talk time at a stretch.

 Headphones can be used as a corded device, with audio over USB mode.

Works the Way You Do



The Voyager Focus 2 headset is available in two different options; the Voyager Focus 2 UC and Voyager Focus 2 Office.

The Voyager Focus 2 UC headset allows you to move around freely as it connects to mobile phones and PC/Mac via Polys new BT700 USB adapter that ensures a more stable audio connection. It also has a convenient desktop charging stand option to ensure one is always charged, plus serves for easy desktop storing.

The Voyager Focus 2 Office headset connects with desk phones, mobile phones, and PC/Mac for those who need to connect to multiple communication devices throughout the workday. The Office version continues to charge in the base when the headset is not in use, so you are always ready to take a call. It can also easily be plugged into your computers USB port.

Microsoft Teams Open Office Certification

The Voyager Focus 2 headset has earned the Microsoft Teams Open Office premium microphone specification. It is Microsoft Teams-certified and comes with a dedicated Teams button for instant access to the app. It is also compatible with Zoom right out of the box to seamlessly support all your collaboration and communications needs.

As employees look for more flexibility in the way they work with a greater need to focus and work from anywhere, the Voyager Focus 2 aims to please, said Mohamed Alaa Saayed, ICT Industry Director & Fellow  Connected Work, Frost & Sullivan.

Polys Acoustic Fence Technology and Advanced Digital Hybrid ANC technologies are premium features that improve not only the users experience, but also the experience on the far-end  providing an all-around amazing pro-grade, audio experience, he added.

Poly+ and Poly Lens Supported

For added convenience, the Voyager Focus 2 supports Poly Lens, a personal device support service, making it easier for IT teams to troubleshoot and manage devices while working remotely. The Voyager Focus 2 comes with a 2-year limited warranty and access to Polys standard support. Also, Poly+ is available, a paid subscription service that offers 24/7 technology support for personal devices worldwide and a third-year warranty.

Availability

The Voyager Focus 2 joins Polys ever popular Voyager Focus UC line, which will continue to be available for purchase worldwide. The Voyager Focus 2 headset is available now from authorised resellers.
Nokia announced it will collaborate with HMD Global using Nokias Worldwide IoT Network Grid (WING) to enable seamless global IoT connectivity for HMDs IoT solution for enterprises. The collaboration will allow enterprise customers of the HMD Connect Pro service to track and manage connected devices around the world.

HMD Connect Pro provides the essential connectivity to any devices allowing businesses to remotely monitor and manage their connected assets. Logistics companies, healthcare distributors, energy providers and any other industries can gain clear visibility of thousands of their mobile assets over a single management platform with the ability to activate or deactivate SIM cards remotely.

Using the Nokia WING technology agnostic IoT Connectivity Enablement as a Service, HMD Global will be able to deliver seamless connectivity across the globe. The pre-integrated infrastructure will enable HMD Global to enter new markets with limited risk and complexity whilst being regulatory compliant. The HMD Connect Pro service will use multi-operator SIMs within enterprise devices to attach to the best available network, and transmit data using the nearest Nokia Core node. This will ensure the lowest latency connectivity for real-time monitoring and a consistent level of service.

Enterprises will benefit from agile and secure operations, allowing them to adjust connectivity to their needs, stay in control of costs with transparent billing and ensure they are aligned with local regulations. The consistent service experience is guaranteed by the Nokia WING IoT Command Center which operates 24 hours, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Janne Lehtosalo, Vice President of Services, HMD Global, said: We are pleased to leverage Nokia WING connectivity for our HMD Connect Pro service. We know that businesses want to simplify the way they manage and connect their mobile assets. Using Nokia WING, we can quickly get our customers up and running by leveraging IoT in the most effective and cost-efficient way.

Ankur Bhan, Head of Network Function as a Service at Nokia, said: Working with HMD Global we will provide a superior worldwide IoT network presence for a consistent level of customer support. The HMD Pro service will leverage an ever-growing connectivity ecosystem. Nokia WING provides a borderless connected world for IoT reducing complexity for enterprises and allowing them the highest level of control over their assets wherever they are.
Forus, a Saudi based financial technology platform for financial services, has assigned Shariyah Review Bureau to supervise its Sharia compliance affairs related to its debt crowd-funding activity.



Forus is a P2P lending marketplace that bridges the gap in SME financing. Through its platform it enables investors to invest in a marketplace of alternative loans targeted towards small and medium businesses.



Nosaibah Alrajhi, Chief Executive Officer of Forus said: Access to finance is one of the biggest obstacles facing the development of SMEs. Platform like Forus are able to conveniently provide financing, bridging the corporate's working capital needs and the investors who are looking for diversification.



At Forus we have successfully augmented technological capabilities by developing faster ways of connecting financier with SMEs whilst complying with the requirements and obligations stipulated under the regulations of Saudi Central Bank and SAMA" he added.



"The platform mechanics is fairly straight-forward bringing investors and SME's together. We do all the due diligence, and once companies meet our benchmarks, they're listed on the platform, giving investors  individual and institutional  the opportunity to lend them money, said Alrajhi.



Bringing Shariyah Review Bureau on board to supervise our Sharia compliance affairs will further strengthen trust in our stakeholders and end-users. We are bound to benefit from their decade of experiences with traditional institutes and providing Sharia assurance to our stakeholders, he added.



Over the years, Shariyah Review Bureau has strongly established itself as one of the leading Sharia Advisory firm in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It currently caters to 52% of the cooperative Insurance firms, 37% of the financing activities and 32% of the investment firms listed on Tadawul exchange. In addition to traditional financial institutions, SRB has been providing Shari'a board, certification and Audit services to numerous Fintechs with diverse consumer offering.



The financial sector in the region is not immune to digital-disruption. We have been helping fintech companies combine the latest digital-delivered financial solutions with Islamic Finance said Yasser S. Dahlawi, Founder and CEO of SRB.



Our team looks forward to working with Forus to ensure all of the platform's processes comply with Sharia guidelines, tightening transactional controls eliminating any possibility of non-compliance. We seek to deliver high-valued service, offering Forus's stake-holders the Shari'a assurance it needs to ensure Sharia compliant transactions."  TradeArabia News Service
Amazon Payment Services, a payment processing service in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region, has launched the Amazon Fintech Lab in the DIFC Innovation Hub.

The initiative is the latest in Amazon Payment Services efforts to support fintech in the region by providing a forum for discussions on digital payments and the future of the fintech industry.

Part of the Dubai Future District announced in January 2020 by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the DIFC Innovation Hub is the regions largest environment aimed at fostering the startup community to shape the future of finance and future economies in the region.

A hub for digital innovation and creativity, the Amazon Fintech Lab is supporting this community through networking, mentorship, roundtables, workshops, keynote speakers and research around the topics of digital services, fintech and the global tech arena.

During the launch of the DIFC Innovation Hub last month, the Amazon Fintech Lab was honoured with an official visit by Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and President of the Dubai International Financial Centre.

The Amazon Fintech Lab has been designed with the specific intention of supporting innovation in fintech through networking and collaborating with DIFCs community of SMEs, financial institutions and start-ups throughout an ongoing program of events during which different stakeholders and teams will be hosted in a variety of forums to discuss the different payment pain-points and come up with collaborative solutions for them.

These efforts will help develop Amazon Payment Services as the next global leader of financial technology and support its mission to reimagine the digital payments experience for both merchants and customers in the region.

As part of the DIFC Innovation Hubs inaugural month of activities, Omar Soudodi, Managing Director of Amazon Payment Services, delivered a talk highlighting the importance of supporting regional start-ups and fintech companies for driving innovation in an advanced knowledge economy.

Through the Amazon Fintech Lab, we work with innovators and visionaries to turn exciting new ideas and concepts into transformational and disruptive forces in fintech, he said. The Lab also brings likeminded entrepreneurs and start-ups together with new and existing business partners to cultivate innovation in the fintech and digital services arena, supported by Amazons global expertise on new products and services, and knowledge sessions on topics related to the payments sector.

Arif Amiri, CEO of DIFC Authority, said: We welcome Amazon Payment Services first Fintech lab in the world at the Innovation Hub in DIFC. By choosing DIFC, Amazon has the ideal platform to grow given they are now part of the Middle East, Africa and South Asia's largest and comprehensive financial, technology and innovation ecosystem. We are looking forward to working together to drive the future of finance.

The Amazon Fintech Lab is another initiative that reflects the values Amazon infuses in its approach to all its ventures, products, and services. Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking.

Amazon strives to be Earths Most Customer-Centric Company, Earths Best Employer, and Earths Safest Place to Work. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Career Choice, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, Alexa, Just Walk Out technology, Amazon Studios, and The Climate Pledge are some of the things pioneered by Amazon. -- TradeArabia News Service
Voltas, a part of leading Indian business conglomerate Tata Group and a leading MEP contractor in the Middle East, said it has successfully commissioned its first solar project in Dubai at the Misterlight Electrical Installation Items Trading warehouse within the National Industries Park.

Misterlight is an ISO-certified cable trading company in the UAE, with more than 30 years of experience in the supply of specialised cables and electrical accessories.

The project was implemented in co-ordination with UAEs leading distributed solar energy provider SirajPower, which is responsible for the financing, operation and maintenance of the facility under a long-term lease agreement.

The newly installed rooftop solar project will generate clean and green electricity, catering to 85% to 90% of the power required by the facility, while reducing 100 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions per year for Misterlight.

Voltas Vice President and Head of the International Operations Business Group AR Suresh Kumar said: "This is an important milestone for our solar projects' division in the Middle East and showcases our capability to deliver projects on time despite the challenges faced during the pandemic."

"Voltas has commissioned 3GW of solar projects in the past with its deep domain knowledge and superior project management and execution capabilities. Our experience and expertise across projects have helped us become a partner of choice for companies looking to go solar," he added.

SirajPower CEO Laurent Longuet said: "Were honoured to have been chosen by Misterlight as their solar energy partner. Our partnership with Misterlight and Voltas is a testament to our position as the leading provider of commercial solar solutions in the Middle East."

"As more and more consumers are becoming aware of climate change and sustainability issues, we are happy to enable businesses to save money and conserve the environment through solar," he noted.

Misterlight's Director Rajan Nambiar said: "We believe businesses need to adapt and shift their strategies and practices to address the imminent threat of climate change."

"We, at Misterlight, are proud to have taken this first step towards a cleaner and more sustainable future  and we urge industries and companies across the UAE to shift to renewable power, which has never been more accessible and economical than the present," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Intertek has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Precise, a leading distributor of corporate products in the Gulf, to test its antimicrobial protective films for high-contact surfaces.

Intertek will exclusively provide independent Covid-19 SWAB testing for MEDG, the nano-copper antimicrobial film solution from Precise.

Interteks Covid-19 testing service is part of Intertek Protek, the worlds first health, safety and wellbeing assurance programme for people, workplaces and public spaces. The Protek programme provides support across all sectors, from manufacturing to retail sites to public places, schools, hospitals, transport, banks, amongst others. As part of the MoU, Intertek will offer Covid-19 surface testing services to Precise customers to independently verify the products performance. Precise has launched its bacteria and virus resisting transparent films in the UAE and Saudi markets. A pre-launch campaign saw the company apply its antimicrobial protective films on high-contact touch surfaces of a public bus. After a month-long trial that included only standard cleaning and maintenance, Intertek conducted surface testing of the film-protected surfaces from high-traffic areas on the public transportation vehicle and verified that the active antimicrobial nano copper films were Covid-19 free after 28 days at the end of the

trial period.

Lother Hohman, President of Precise, explains: We were delighted to work with Intertek, a global industry leader in quality assurance. Active Antimicrobial Nano Copper technology uses active copper nano particles that deactivates pathogens with amazing results. Copper ions quickly inactivate viruses and bacteria by immobilising all life support systems in their cells. Science tells us that applying the protective nano-copper anti-microbial film helps to reduce the risks of cross-contamination. This novel composite film also significantly reduces the direct cost of continuous disinfection protocols through traditional methods.

Samir Ahmed, Regional Director for Products and Marketing for the Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan at Intertek concludes: Intertek has been at the forefront, driving a health, safety, and well-being assurance agenda globally when it launched its Protek solution, the first comprehensive offering in the world for quality assurance services that provide the confidence people need to operate in the post-Covid-19 new normal. Intertek uses cutting-edge technology and solutions to test and verify germicidal devices and products to support manufacturers who wish to assess equipment performance and compliance in the impacted environment. Our collaboration with Precise is aligned with our global and regional strategies and will provide our clients the peace of mind they need to live and work safely in a protected environment. -- TradeArabia News Service
Hub71, Abu Dhabis global tech ecosystem, has joined forces with New York-born Modus Capital, a venture capital and venture builder firm to launch Ventures Lab.

The venture builder will enable early-stage founders from around the world to develop successful and scalable startups from Abu Dhabi. Ventures Lab at Hub71 is the first venture builder programme in the UAE launched by Modus.

Ventures Lab will help founders test and validate ideas and concepts, build Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) and take products to market. The nine-month programme will accept a minimum of 16 founders each year following a selection process conducted by Hub71, Modus and other industry experts.

Modus experienced team of entrepreneurs and operators will partner with participating founders to provide tailored hand-in-hand venture building support, business strategy, fundraising preparedness and product growth management aligned to their business objectives throughout the entire lifecycle of the startup.

Each graduating venture will benefit from up to $450,000 worth of funding and in-kind resources from the Modus Venture Builder throughout the duration of the program, based at Hub71.

Upon graduation from Ventures Lab, founders will gain access to Hub71s Incentive Program and its vibrant community where they will continue to receive operational support, supplementary teams and the incentives, programs and global networks to broaden their market reach. Graduating founders will also gain access to the $80 million Modus Mena Venture Fund (MMVFI) domiciled at Abu Dhabi Global Market, in addition to Hub71s growing capital community of 17 VC funds with assets under management of more than $1.72 billion.

Founders at the early stages of developing a concept or prototype, specialised in any sector, can apply to Ventures Lab. FinTech, Direct-to-Consumer, HealthTech, and EdTech startups will gain preference, as part of Hub71s commitment to supporting national priority sectors in line with Abu Dhabi Vision 2030. Hub71 will also prioritise female entrepreneurs and UAE nationals to help foster the next generation of diverse homegrown founders.

Nader Museitif, Head of Products and Business Development at Hub71, said: We believe that a strong and sustainable business model is just as important as the founder themselves, which is why from ideation to exit, our partnership with Modus will deliver more than access to Hub71, but also the strategic planners, coders, marketing experts and tech developers to help commercialise their products and secure capital.

Through Ventures Lab, we will enable more founders to lead viable tech companies, attract new companies and investment to Abu Dhabi while supporting the nations future generation of entrepreneurs to shape the nations future digital-based economy. Modus international reach in New York and Cairo coupled with its proven experience in venture building is a clear representation of our focus on cementing partnerships that add value and more fundraising opportunities to our founders. We look forward to working closely with Modus and delivering an enabling programme that creates impactful homegrown tech startups in the heart of Abu Dhabi.

With offices in New York, Cairo, and now Abu Dhabi, Modus Capital is supporting the regions entrepreneurial ecosystem development, investing in successful startup ventures in the Mena region. Modus, which was born in the USA and has since expanded to the Mena region, transferring its international know-how and applying it to the regional ecosystem, comprises three facets where each supporting entity provides unique value-added to the other  Venture Builders Venture Capital and Corporate Innovation. Modus is launching regional co-working spaces to house its venture builders and corporate innovation programs and plans to launch an additional three venture builders across the region, beginning with The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) later this year.

Kareem Elsirafy, Managing Partner at Modus Capital, commented: Were excited to be supporting and fostering entrepreneurship through our partnership with Hub71, with not just capital, but also the expertise and hands-on operational and tailored guidance that startups are in need of in the early-stages. Hub71 has built a leading global tech ecosystem and Im proud to partner with them to add value to the ecosystem that theyve built by creating significant opportunities for shared expertise and launching the first collaborative venture builder in the Mena region alongside them.-- TradeArabia News Service
The Maritime Standard (TMS) has announced the composition of the judging panel for this years TMS Awards, which take place in Dubai on November 22.



Chaired by TMS editor, Clive Woodbridge, the panel includes leading lights from the world of shipping, ports, shipyards and logistics across the Middle East and Subcontinent and beyond.



The ports sector is represented by Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Group CEO of Abu Dhabi Ports, who has led the transformation of Khalifa Port into a major regional hub; Abdulla Bin Damithan, recently confirmed as CEO and Managing Director of DP World UAE Region and Jafza, and one of the rising stars of the industry; Roger Clasquin, CEO at RAK Ports, which has seen tremendous bulk cargo growth in recent months, consolidating its regional leadership in this sector; and Rajiv Agarwal, Managing Director and CEO of Essar Ports, one of Indias leading and most successful port operators.



Shipping industry executives on the judging panel include Capt. Abdulkareem Al Masabi, CEO, ADNOC Logistics and Services, which is embarked on a major fleet development programme; Eng. Abdulaziz Sabri, President, Ship Management, Bahri, one of the regions leading tanker owners; Mrs HK Joshi, Chairperson and Managing Director of The Shipping Corporation of India, an operation with a presence in many different shipping segments; Ibrahim Al Nadhairi, CEO of ASYAD Shipping and Drydock Services, bringing a perspective as a leading shipowner and shipyard operator; Nitin Mehta, CEO of Dubais Tomini Shipping, which has recently modernised its bulk carrier fleet; and Chris Peters CEO of Tristars Eships division, another operator that has been through a significant fleet expansion program over the past year.



The panel will also be joined by Sue Terpilowski, President of Wista UK, which champions the cause of women in shipping and who heads up Image Line, one of the longest established specialist shipping PR companies.



Clive Woodbridge said: We are delighted and honoured that so many top industry leaders have agreed to give up their time and provide their expertise in selecting the winners of this years TMS Awards. Every year the standard gets tougher, but the experience of our judges is more than up to the task of ensuring that only the best of the best end up on the podium and give the industry complete confidence in the outcome.  TradeArabia News Service


Moro Hub (Data Hub Integrated Solutions), a subsidiary of Digital Dewa, the digital arm of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa), has signed a Managed Service Provider (MSP) agreement with Trend Micro, a global leader in cybersecurity.



This will enable Moro Hub to provide cloud workload protection services to its customers and accelerate their digital transformation journey.



The agreement was signed between Marwan Bin Haidar, Vice Chairman and Group CEO of Digital Dewa and Majd Sinan, Country Manager, Trend Micro UAE.



"Our cooperation with Trend Micro will enable Moro Hub to provide customers with the best locally hosted, unified security management services that accelerate compliance and secure workloads hosted in hybrid and multi-cloud environments. The alliance will be of particular importance as several organisations have been challenged by the increasingly complex and rapidly changing tactics of savvy cyber adversaries in the last few years due to the digital influx, said Marwan Bin Haidar.



The new service will empower Moro Hub customers with top-of-the-line security and offer them compliance tools to safeguard new and existing cloud resources. This will help us to offer innovative and competitive digital technologies in the region, which is in line with Dubai 10X and UAE Centennial 2071.



Majd Sinan, Country Manager, Trend Micro UAE, said: "We see unprecedented migration to cloud environments, many of them multi-cloud. This partnership ensures organisations can secure workloads and guarantee compliance so that enterprises can grow their business without worrying about security issues. Together with Moro Hub, we shall protect the UAE's enterprises as they build more competitive business operations in the cloud.  TradeArabia News Service
Saudi Arabias Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources said that investment in food products industry in the Kingdom amount to SR87 billion ($23 billion), around 8 percent of the total volume of investments in the industrial sector.



Food products factories constitute 11 percent of the total number of factories in the Kingdom, and contribute to the creation of job opportunities by 82,000 vacancies, reported Saudi Press Agency (SPA), citing a ministry statement.



A report issued by the National Center for Industrial Information showed that the number of food factories in the Kingdom stood at 1,121 by the first quarter of 2021, registering a growth of 61% in the number of industrial licenses issued during the year 2020 with 114 licenses compared to the same period in 2109 and 9% increase during the first quarter of this year 2021 compared to the same period last year.



The report added that local investment in food industry has largely accounted for the majority of investments in this sector by up to 90 percent, while the remaining 10 percent were divided between foreign and joint investments.



The report pointed out that small and medium enterprises operating in the production and industry of foodstuffs constitute the largest part of the total number of factories in the Kingdom by 88 percent.
The Emirates Group posted a loss of AED22.1 billion ($6 billion) for the financial year ended March 31, 2021 compared with an AED1.7 billion ($456 million) profit for the previous year, due to COVID-19 pandemic impact, its first non-profitable year in over three decades.

The Emirates Group said the loss was caused by a significant drop in revenue, fully attributed to the impact of Covid-19 related flight and travel restrictions throughout the entire financial year.

According to its 2020-21 Annual Report, the Groups revenue was AED35.6 billion ($9.7 billion), a decline of 66 per cent over last years results. The Groups cash balance was AED19.8 billion ($5.4 billion), down 23 per cent from last year mainly due to weak demand caused by the various pandemic related business and travel restrictions across all of the Groups core business divisions and markets.

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group, said: "The Covid-19 pandemic continues to take a tremendous toll on human lives, communities, economies, and on the aviation and travel industry. In 2020-21, Emirates and dnata were hit hard by the drop in demand for international air travel as countries closed their borders and imposed stringent travel restrictions."

"Our top priorities throughout the year were: the health and wellbeing of our people and customers, preserving cash and controlling costs, and restoring our operations safely and sustainably. Emirates received a capital injection of AED11.3 billion ($3.1 billion) from our ultimate shareholder, the Government of Dubai, and dnata tapped on various industry support programmes and availed a total relief of nearly AED800 million in 2020-21. These helped us sustain operations and retain the vast majority of our talent pool. Unfortunately, we still had to make the difficult decision to resize our workforce in line with reduced operational requirements."

For the first time in the Groups history, redundancies were implemented across all parts of the business. As a result, the Groups total workforce reduced by 31 per cent to 75,145 employees, representing over 160 different nationalities.

Keeping a tight control on costs, across the Group, financial obligations were restructured, contracts renegotiated, processes examined and operations consolidated. The various cost reduction initiatives returned an estimated saving of AED7.7 billion ($2 billion) during the year.

In 2020-21, the group collectively invested AED4.7 billion ($1.3 billion) in new aircraft and facilities, the acquisition of companies, and the latest technologies to position the business for recovery and future growth. It also continued to invest resources towards environmental initiatives, as well as supporting communities and incubator programmes that nurture talent and innovation to drive future industry growth.

Sheikh Ahmed said: "No one knows when the pandemic will be over, but we know recovery will be patchy. Economies and companies that entered pandemic times in a strong position, will be better placed to bounce back. Until 2020-21, Emirates and dnata have had a track record of growth and profitability, based on solid business models, steady investments in capability and infrastructure, a strong drive for innovation, and a deep talent pool led by a stable leadership team. These fundamental ingredients of our success remain unchanged. Together with Dubais undiminished ambitions to grow economic activity and build a city for the future, I am confident that Emirates and dnata will recover and be stronger than before."

"In the year ahead, we will continue to adopt an agile approach in responding to the dynamic marketplace. We aim to recover to our full operating capacity as quickly as possible to serve our customers, and to continue contributing to the rebuilding of economies and communities impacted by the pandemic," he said.

Emirates performance

Emirates total passenger and cargo capacity declined by 58 per cent to 24.8 billion ATKMs at the end of 2020-21, due to pandemic related flight and travel restrictions including a complete suspension of commercial passenger services for nearly eight weeks as directed by the UAE government from March 25, 2020.

Emirates received three new A380 aircraft during the financial year and phased out 14 older aircraft comprising of 9 Boeing 777-300ERs and 5 A380s, leaving its total fleet count at 259 at the end of March. Emirates average fleet age remains at a youthful 7.3 years.

Emirates order book for 200 aircraft remains unchanged at this time. The airline is firmly committed to its long-standing strategy of operating a modern and efficient fleet, which underscores its "Fly Better" brand promise, as young aircraft are better for the environment, better for operations, and better for customers.

Working closely with aviation stakeholders to design and implement bio-safety measures, Emirates gradually restored its passenger network and hub connectivity from mid-June 2020 as the UAE re-opened for transit travellers and later for international arrivals.

During the year, Emirates reactivated its strategic codeshare partnership with flydubai, and entered into agreements with new partners TAP Air Portugal, FlySafair, and Airlink in South Africa, to expand connectivity for its customers.

From zero scheduled passenger flights at the start of the financial year, to operations in over 120 destinations by March 31, Emirates has shown its ability to adapt and respond to challenges, and the resilience of its people and business model.

With significantly reduced and constrained capacity deployment across most markets, Emirates total revenue for the financial year declined 66 per cent to AED30.9 billion ($8.4 billion). Currency fluctuations this year had no significant impact on airline revenue.

Total operating costs decreased by 46 per cent from last financial year. Cost of ownership (depreciation and amortisation) and employee cost were the two biggest cost components for the airline in 2020-21, followed by fuel, which accounted for 14 per cent of operating costs compared to 31 per cent in 2019-20. The airlines fuel bill declined by 76 per cent to AED6.4 billion ($1.7 billion) compared to the previous year, driven primarily by 69 per cent lower uplift in line with capacity reduction.

Due to ongoing pandemic-related flight and travel restrictions, the airline reported a loss of AED20.3 billion ($5.5 billion) after last years AED 1.1 billion ($288 million) profit, and a negative profit margin of 65.6 per cent. This includes a one-time impairment charge of AED710 million ($193 million) mainly relating to certain aircraft which are currently grounded and are not expected to return to service before their scheduled retirement within the next financial year.

Emirates carried 6.6 million passengers (down 88 per cent) in 2020-21, with seat capacity down by 83 per cent. The airline reports a Passenger Seat Factor of 44.3 per cent, compared with last years passenger seat factor of 78.5 per cent; and a 48 per cent increase in passenger yield to 38.9 fils (10.6 US cents) per Revenue Passenger Kilometre (RPKM), due largely to a favourable route mix, fares and continued healthy demand for premium seats. Seat load factor and yield results cannot be compared against the previous years performance due to the unusual pandemic situation.

In response to the pandemic, Emirates led the industry in developing new service and operating protocols to protect its customers and employees. During the year, it launched numerous customer initiatives such as: providing the industrys first complimentary Covid-19 medical cover for all passengers; waiving fees so customers can rebook their travel without penalty; expediting refunds handling; and fast-tracking biometric processing and other technology projects that enhanced the travel experience while reducing contact at airport touchpoints.

Emirates invested to upgrade its signature A380 experience with new Premium Economy seats and other product enhancements. It also launched new technology platforms Emirates Partners Portal and Emirates Gateway, to better engage and serve travel trade partners.

For frequent flyers, Emirates Skywards offered generous extension on Tier status and Miles validity until 2022, and launched various initiatives to help its members earn and redeem rewards even if they are unable to immediately travel.

Emirates SkyCargo put in a stellar performance by rapidly responding to new demand in a changed global marketplace, contributing to 60 per cent of the airlines total transport revenue.

Emirates SkyCargo quickly scaled up operations and rebuilt its cargo network to meet strong demand from shippers who faced a capacity crunch when the pandemic forced airlines to drastically reduce flights. It supplemented its existing freighter capacity by bringing into service 19 "mini freighters" - modified Boeing 777-300ER passenger aircraft with seats in the economy cabin removed to make room for more cargo. The cargo division also introduced new loading protocols to safely utilise overhead bins and passenger seats to carry cargo.

In addition to supporting global supply chains for food, medical and other trade items, Emirates SkyCargo also tapped on its pharma capabilities and infrastructure to support the worldwide distribution of Covid-19 vaccines and humanitarian relief to Lebanon in the aftermath of the Port of Beirut explosions.

In October, Emirates SkyCargo set up a dedicated GDP-certified airside hub in Dubai for COVID-19 vaccines, and later it partnered with UNICEF to facilitate the rapid transport of Covid-19 vaccines to developing nations through Dubai.

With the strong demand in air freight throughout the year, Emirates cargo division reported a revenue of AED17.1 billion ($4.7 billion), an increase of 53 per cent over last year.

Freight yield per Freight Tonne Kilometre (FTKM) increased strongly by 88 per cent, due to the unique pandemic situation which led to significantly reduced cargo capacity in the market worldwide.

Tonnage carried decreased by 22 per cent to reach 1.9 million tonnes, due to the reduced available bellyhold capacity for the entire year. At the end of 2020-21, Emirates SkyCargos total freighter fleet stood unchanged at 11 Boeing 777Fs.

Emirates hotels portfolio recorded revenue of AED296 million ($81 million), a decline of 49 per cent over last year as the events business dried up and facilities had to shut temporarily due to the pandemic.

During the year, Emirates successfully restructured various aircraft leases and loans. The support from aviation lessors and financing partners during these challenging times reflects the financial communitys confidence in Emirates business model, and its mid to longer term prospects.

In addition to the AED14.5 billion financing that was raised for aircraft and general corporate purposes in 2020-21, Emirates has already received committed offers to finance two aircraft deliveries due in 2021-22 and continues to tap the financial market for further liquidity to provide a cushion for the potential impact of Covid-19 on the business cash flows in the near term.

Emirates closed the financial year with cash assets of AED15.1 billion ($4.1 billion), a position which would have stronger if not for a one-time payout of AED8.5 billion for customer refunds.

dnata performance

The impact of Covid-19 was felt across all dnata businesses, and in 2020-21 dnata recorded a loss of AED1.8 billion ($496 million) for the first time. This includes impairment charges of AED766 million ($209 million) on goodwill and other intangible assets across all its divisions.

With reduced flight and travel activity across the world, dnata's total revenue decreased by 62 per cent to AED5.5 billion ($1.5 billion). dnatas international business accounts for 62 per cent of its revenue.

dnata continued to lay the foundations for future growth with investments in 2020-21 amounting to AED328 million ($89 million). During the year, dnata completed the purchase of Destination Asia, bringing one of Southeast Asias top destination management companies fully under the dnata Travel Group umbrella. It also pressed ahead with key investments to strengthen the business including the opening of a new state-of-the-art cargo facility in Manchester; upgrades to technology across its leisure and corporate travel businesses; the setting up of a dedicated inflight retail centre of excellence in the UK to serve global customers; and the opening of its second catering facility in Dublin.

In 2020-21, dnatas operating costs decreased by 48 per cent to AED7.4 billion ($2.0 billion), in line with reduced operations in its Airport Operations, Catering and Travel divisions across the world.

dnatas cash balance was AED4.7 billion ($1.3 billion), a decline by 12 per cent. Cash used in financing activities, primarily payments for loans and leases, amounted to AED548 million ($149 million), while the business utilised net cash of AED149 million ($41 million) in essential investing activities. The business saw a positive operating cash flow of AED10 million ($3 million) in 2020-21 despite the sharp decline in revenues and the unprecedented volumes of refunds in its travel division.

Revenue from dnatas UAE Airport Operations, including ground and cargo handling declined to AED1.7 billion ($455 million).

The number of aircraft turns handled by dnata in the UAE declined by 59 per cent to 78,000. This reflects the impact of the suspension of scheduled passenger flights at both Dubai airports (DXB and DWC) in March 2020 as part of the UAEs pandemic containment measures. dnatas cargo handling declined by 18 per cent to 575,000 tonnes, reflecting the reduced available flight capacity in the overall air cargo market over the year.

dnatas International Airport Operations division revenue declined by 43 per cent to AED2.3 billion ($617 million), reflecting the broad impact of the global pandemic across markets. International airport operations continue to represent the largest business segment in dnata by revenue contribution.

The number of aircraft turns handled decreased by 57 per cent to 211,000, on account of lower business volumes; whereas there was only a minor 5 per cent decline in cargo handled to 2.1 million tonnes given the strong air freight demand across many markets.

During 2020-21, dnatas Airport Operations division continued to strengthen its international reach and capability. In Singapore and Australia, it introduced new high-tech cool dollies to enhance its pharma and perishables handling capability; in Italy its subsidiary, Airport Handling SpA, partnered with Beta Trans to provide full cargo services to customers at Milan Malpensa Airport; and in Indonesia, dnata entered the market through a partnership with PT UNEX Rajawali Indonesia (UNEX) where both entities will make joint investments in ground handling facilities, equipment, and training.

dnata continued to win new contracts in 2020-21. Notably, in Australia dnata began ground handling for Qantas at most of its major airports and GTA dnata, its joint-venture company in Canada, was awarded a five-year ground handling license for ramp, passenger, and cargo warehousing services at Vancouver International Airport.

In 2020-21, dnata executed the USs first green turnaround of a customer aircraft at New York JFK, an achievement made possible by its previous investments in zero-emission, electric ramp ground support equipment. Its airport services brand, marhaba, opened an expanded and refurbished lounge at Dubai International airport, and expanded its international network with a new lounge in Manilas Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

dnatas Catering business accounted for AED1 billion ($285 million) of dnatas revenue, significantly down by 68 per cent. The inflight catering business uplifted nearly 16.9 million meals to airline customers, a substantial decrease of 82 per cent. This is primarily due to the full year impact of the pandemic situation including a nearly 12-month shut down of the facilities in Australia which dnata had acquired only two years ago.

Through the year, the Catering division adapted its products and services to meet new customer requirements, including the provision of meals for quarantine facilities. It also worked with local organisations in Australia, Ireland, Italy and the UK to support communities in need.

Progressing with key investments for its future growth, dnata Catering inaugurated a second state-of-the-art catering facility in Dublin, introduced new bio-digesters to reduce food waste across its operations, and solar panels at its Singapore facility as part of its commitment to reduce its environmental footprint.

Revenue from dnatas Travel Services division has declined by 96 per cent to AED130 million ($35 million). The reported total transaction value (TTV) of travel services sold declined by 98 per cent to AED229 million ($62 million). Excluding the impact of Covid-19 related cancellation of bookings, revenue from Travel division declined by 89 per cent to AED294 million and the TTV dropped by 83 per cent to AED1.7 billion.

dnatas Travel division saw corporate and leisure travel demand dry up across markets.

Throughout an incredibly tough year with a fast-changing global travel environment, dnatas Travel division focussed on initiatives to support its customers and provide value. Across its travel brands, dnata helped its customers rebuild traveller trust by processing refunds and rebookings, and providing the latest travel information.

dnata Travel Group continued to secure growth opportunities. During the year, it provided online booking capability for London City Airport in the UK, and expanded its reach in Oman through a partnership with OUA Travel that enables Oman-based trade agents to promote and sell Gold Medals wide range of travel products to their customers.

In the UAE and GCC region, dnatas Travel business remained steady. dnata leveraged its established home market presence and the re-opening of Dubai for international travel to promote the UAE, and its UAE-based tour operating division Arabian Adventures started new experiences. - TradeArabia News Service
The H Dubai, a leading hotel in the Emirate, has collaborated with global hygiene and disinfection solutions provider, Diversey, as one of the first properties to be certified with the Shield Program.



Diverseys newly-launched Shield Program aims to amplify the cleaning and disinfection protocols ensuring the welfare and protection of the patrons and personnel of The H Dubai.



The Covid-19 pandemic has emphasized the necessity of maintaining proper hygiene and adapting the highest cleanliness standards. The Clean and Ready Shield of Diversey served as an imperative step for The H Dubai to understand the basic essential hygiene requirements in line with the new normal.



The program has strict compliance and extensive guidelines ensuring complete quality and hygiene in all areas. Some of the programs development includes specifying the locations of the hotel where hand sanitisers, hand wash, and disinfectant chemicals should be.



This is a prime example of how the property guarantees a safe environment, not only for the guests, but also for the staff ensuring that guest rooms, public areas are well disinfected. Rigorous cleaning measures and increased frequency of cleaning and disinfection of all high-touch areas and public areas have been enhanced with Diverseys premium products.



Sophie Blondel, General Manager at The H Dubai said: At The H Dubai, we always aim for the finest and safest experience for our guests and staff. Through Diverseys innovative programs, we are guaranteed the premier solutions as well as the health and safety of our guests and employees. As such we have implemented best-in-class cleaning and hygiene solutions with reinforced protocols in collaboration with Diversey. All colleagues have received specific training on the COVID 19 preventive and responsive protocols.



The cleaning methods now conducted at The H Dubai includes enhanced formulas and methods, specially introduced to disinfect surfaces in less than 30 seconds. Along with physical distancing, interactions are also reduced if unnecessary, to be safe.



The guest rooms are sanitized thoroughly prior to every check-in, ensuring guest and hotel staffs safety. Scheduled cleaning frequency has increased, especially in public areas focusing on common touch points such as door handles, elevator panel and buttons, reception counters, and lounges. Guidelines from the local government include the need for checklist and cleaning records to ensure that all residents and visitors in the establishment are kept safe.



Globally, only 120 properties have been certified with the Shield Qualification of Diversey with The H Dubai being one of the 16 properties certified in the Middle East. The H Dubai has achieved the Shield Qualification at a time where hygiene is a top-priority for the hospitality industry. The hotel along with its guests and staff has gained the guarantee of safety in the property for everyone through Diverseys Shield Program. The partnership assured The H Dubai that the brand strives to implement high-quality cleaning practices for their partners.  TradeArabia News Service
Help India!



Following the abrogation of Article 370 by the Indian government in August, 2019, a total of 165 laws of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir were repealed. Although this paved way for introduction of progressive central laws related to land etc., the same has not been implemented on ground. This has left Kashmiri farmers questioning the governments development claims.

Raja Muzaffar Bhat | TwoCircles.net

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KASHMIR  When the debate was going on over repealing of Article 370 in parliament on August 5 2019, the BJP Government made many commitments with the people of Jammu & Kashmir. Around 113 central laws were extended to J&K under the J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019 (first-order). The laws include the Muslim Women Protection of Rights Act, 1986, Right to Information Act 2005 (RTI), Aadhaar Act, Enemy Property Act, Evidence Act, Special Marriage Act, Delimitation Act, Dissolution of Muslim Marriage Act etc. The total number of laws that were repealed in J&K state is 165. They were exclusively framed for the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The principal among them is the Ranbir Penal Code, 1989, first enacted in 1932. This was replaced with the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Around 160 erstwhile J&K state laws are still protected which includes J&K Public Safety Act, J&K Public Services Guarantee Act (PSGA) and many other laws. Kashmiri people have been critical of the abrogation of Article 370 but few central laws could have been beneficial to them and yet these laws are not implemented on the ground. This exposes the governments claims of ensuring good governance and giving justice to people.

The Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006, was not rolled out until people protested. Instead, forest-dwellers were issued eviction notices and their properties and apple orchards damaged last year around November and December. People had to protest and then only FRA was rolled out, but still, there are lots of issues with its implementation. Similarly, the Prevention of Atrocities Act (SC, ST atrocities act), 1989 is not being rolled out in J&K nor has the government created its awareness in the media. The Right to Fair Compensation Act for land acquisition is also not invoked for the land acquisition of Srinagar Ring road project, Mushtaq Ahmad, a social activist from Budgam told TwoCircles.net.

Instead of the Right to Fair Compensation Act, 2013, the Government is invoking the J&K Land Acquisition Act of 1934, an outdated law that was repealed after the abrogation of article 370. This is depriving farmers of getting fair compensation under the new law that was extended to J&K post-Article-370 (Fair Compensation Act).

The land acquisition notification for the Srinagar Ring Road project was issued in 2017 under J&K Land Acquisition Act 1934 (now repealed). Under the provisions of the act, the process of land acquisition was to be completed within 2 years. There is a similar provision under the central land acquisition act also (both the old one and the existing one ).

By March 2019, the government didnt complete the land acquisition proceedings in district Budgam where 600 acres of farmland had to be acquired. The Government paid some part of the compensation to some farmers but the possession was not taken formally. In addition to it, there is a huge group of farmers who havent been paid any compensation at all to date nor has the possession of land been taken from them. These farmers ask the Govt to issue fresh notification as the old one used in 2017 has lapsed as per section 11-B of J&K Land Acquisition Act 1934 (now repealed) but Govt isnt ready to listen to them. They want to conclude the proceedings under the repealed law.

NHAIs 2017 communication

In 2017, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) had said in a communication to the J&K government that it had no objection to paying compensation according to the central Land Acquisition Act if that law was adopted by the J&K government. But ever since this law was automatically extended to J&K after the abrogation of special status, the NHAI has not uttered a word.

How can NHAI utter a word? There is no political will in the government to come to the aid of these farmers? The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir gave several orders asking the Government to issue fresh notification under central land acquisition law, but the Government is adamant to conclude the land acquisition proceedings in several cases under the old law (JK Land Acquisition Act 1934) which was repealed along with Article 370 on October 31, 2019. Very recently the High Court division bench gave one more order in favour of affected people by staying the land acquisition proceedings, Ghulam Mohammad, an affected landowner from Chadoora, Budgam said.

Farmers in J&K are marginal

The Kashmiri farmers are officially recognized as marginal farmers as they own very small landholdings. As per the 2015-2016 agriculture census, the average landholding was estimated to be around 0.55 hectares in J&K. Unofficially it is much smaller (0.45 hectares) on average. In Kashmir valley, where most farmers own less than one acre of land, any government policy related to land acquisition, especially for development projects, needs to take into account the fragile mountainous environment and climatic conditions as well. Affected farmers protested several times in Srinagar. Their protests went unanswered.

How can the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) give 4 to 5 times more compensation than the market value of land in other states during the land acquisition process and deprive Kashmiri people of even the market value of land? Our land is very fertile and irrigated. In places where there is small landholding, the affected farmers should get more compensation but this is opposite when it comes to Kashmir, Advocate Bashir Ahmad of J&K High Court told TwoCircles.net.

Official communication from DC Budgam

In his official communication dated May 18 2020, the Deputy Commissioner / District Collector, Budgam requested the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir to guide him about the issuance of a fresh notification for Srinagar Ring road land acquisition as the one issued in 2017 had lapsed due to efflux of time. The letter contained a comprehensive village-wise status report about the acquisition of land for the construction of the Srinagar Ring Road. The district collector disclosed in his communication that in several villages, no approval of the award has been received from the competent authority. He admitted that the land acquisition proceedings for these villages had lapsed.

The Deputy Commissioner, Budgam, then sought instructions from the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, to initiate fresh proceedings under the Central Land Acquisition Act also known as Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in land acquisition, rehabilitation and resettlement act (RFCTLARR 2013).

The operative part of the letter reads:

Guide if the land acquisition matters of villages detailed at (a) of the communication are to be initiated afresh as per the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act 2013.

In addition to it the section 24, subsections 1 and 2, of the Right to Fair Compensation, 2013, which is applicable in the Union Territory of J&K with effect from 31 October 2019, also has a similar provision. The relevant section reads, in any case of land acquisition proceedings initiated under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, (a) where no award under section 11 of the said Land Acquisition Act has been made, then, all provisions of this Act relating to the determination of compensation shall apply.

High Court orders

The J&K High Court division bench recently stayed the proceedings of land acquisition for Srinagar Ring Road and its proposed construction. The case titled Ghulam Ahmad Paul v/s Government of J&K was listed for hearing before the division bench of Chief Justice Pankaj Mittal and Justice Vinod Chatterji Koul on June 4, 2021.

The court said that until further orders, the parties are directed to maintain the status quo concerning nature and possession of land in dispute. Last year the High Court in the matter of Abdul Salam Bhat v/s State of J&K said that Govt must issue a fresh notification if it requires the land for a new highway in the villages where no compensation was paid and the land was still in possession of the farmers. That order has also not been implemented. It took the government more than 5 months to file the counter-response.

Government of India is well aware of the fact that Kashmiri farmers have a meagre landholding. Keeping this into consideration the affected farmers in Kashmir should be given more compensation during the land acquisition process. But the affected people are not even paid the compensation that is equivalent to the market rate. This is injustice. PM Modi told us we would get justice after the abrogation of Article 370, but we are even denied the fair compensation under the new law, Ghulam Qadir, an affected landowner from Ganji Bagh Budgam said.

The obsolete outdated and repealed law is invoked to snatch land and property of Kashmiri farmers. This is open loot of their land and property. For apple trees assessment is made at Rs 16 per kilogram of apple fruit. This rate was applicable more than 27 years ago. The farmers whose 500 acres of land were acquired near Srinagar airport by the Defence Estates Department have also not been paid compensation. Their compensation file has been in the Defence Ministry for the last 4 years and land has already been taken into possession. The farmers were paid Rs 38 lakhs per acre in 2012 and were assured to be paid more within a year but to date, nothing has been paid to them?

The market rate in the area is Rs 8 to 9 crores per acre, but the government is forcing us to take Rs 1.20 Crore per acre. How can we agree? questions Nazir Ahmad, an affected landowner whose two acres of land has been already acquired.

Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat is a Srinagar based writer and columnist. He is an Acumen India Fellow. He can be reached at [email protected]
Across Europe, pilots are being encouraged to install ADS-B Out devices in their aircraft. This technology improves their electronic visibility during flight, enhancing safety. One pilot set to appreciate the benefits of ADS-B Out is Captain Peter Kuypers who is the skipper for Sally B  Europes last airworthy Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress.

Peter explained the situation, noting: We are carrying out vital maintenance before we return to display flying. This will include adding ADS-B to the aircraft. It may seem strange to suggest that a 24 ton aircraft, with a 103 foot wing span needs to be more visible. However, adding a Trig TN70 GPS position source to our Trig transponder makes a lot of sense. Visibility from the pilot seat is not the best and most of our flying is at low altitude, in busy VFR airspace. Having ADS-B Out will enhance our visibility and reduce the potential risk of a collision. In fact, I would encourage all aircraft owners to install Mode S and ADS-B Out equipment, as it will enhance safety  no matter what you fly.

Adding ADS-B Out technology to Sally B has another benefit in that vintage aviation enthusiasts will be able to see the WWII-vintage heavy bomber long before they hear her engines on a flight! Popular apps like FlightRadar 24 will display Sally Bs position as soon as her crew switch the transponder on. Seeing her live as she flies to an air show is now an added attraction.

Elly Sallingboe, the B-17s operator and team leader noted: We are grateful to Trig for their continued support. Sally B is also equipped with two Trig radios, these avionics are dependable and really suit the vintage panel. We operate as a charitable trust, and it takes a remarkable group of dedicated volunteers to keep Sally B flying. We are all keen to get Sally B back in the air, display flying whilst honoring the brave veterans, who operated the B-17 in the dark days of World War Two.

Sally B is one of three B-17s in the United Kingdom, albeit the only airworthy example. She is based at the Imperial War Museums airfield in Duxford, England and flies at air shows throughout Europe, serving as an aerial memorial to the US Army Air Forces (USAAF) bomber crews and fighter pilots who lost their lives in Europe during the Second World War. The aircraft served as 44-85784 in the USAAF, who accepted the aircraft on June 19, 1945. While she arrived too late to take part in combat operations during WWII, she did serve post-war for nearly a decade. During this time, she underwent conversion into a TB-17G training variant. She later became an ETB-17G, with the E signifying exemption from all but essential technical orders for the type. The aircraft served under bailment as with General Electric at their Flight Test Center in Schenectady, New York taking part in infra-red tracking trials. After the US military retired her in 1954, Frances Institut Geographique National (IGN) bought the airframe, along with several others, for use in aerial surveys. The aircraft served within the IGN for the next twenty years until they sold her on to a consortium in the UK during 1974. She made the journey to England in 1975, registered as G-BEDF, and gradually she underwent restoration to resemble how she would have been configured on June 19, 1945. The maintenance team installed original gun turrets and other badly-needed additions in Sally B for her role as Ginger Rogers, a fictional B-17 bomber which featured in the 1981 British television series Well Meet Again LWT. Because her operators couldnt hangar Sally B at Duxford, they painted the airframe over the winter of 1983/84 to protect her from the damp British climate. They chose an olive green and neutral gray livery with markings representing the 447th Bombardment Group.

Sally B took part in the 1990 film Memphis Belle as one of five flying B-17s needed for various film scenes. She underwent a few modifications to more closely resemble a B-17F for the movie, and represented several different aircraft in the film (including the Memphis Belle for one scene). She still wears the Memphis Belle paintwork on one side of her fuselage today, although the Sally B Nose-Art and the black and yellow checkerboard pattern on the starboard inner (No.3) engine cowling have returned. While that unique engine cowl artwork is not authentic to a WWII-era B-17, it serves as a special tribute to Ted White, the driving force behind Sally Bs arrival and operation in the UK. White was Ellie Sallingboes long-time partner at the time and nicknamed the B-17 in her honor. Sadly, Ted lost his life in the crash of his Harvard in 1982 while performing in Malta. His Harvard had a yellow and black checkerboard pattern on its nose, and soon after the accident, Ellie Sallingboe had the No.3 engine painted in a similar fashion so he could continue to fly, in spirit, with the aircraft he had fought so hard to preserve.

Since 1985, Elly Sallingboes B-17 Preservation Ltd has operated the Sally B. Chief Engineer Peter Brown and a team of volunteers are responsible for her maintenance and operation. Experienced commercial-rated pilots serve as her aircrew. The B-17 Charitable Trust helps to raise funds to keep the aircraft running (please be sure to contribute if you can!). In 2008 Elly Sallingboe received the Transport Trusts Lifetime Achievement Award for more than 30 years of commitment to the preservation and operation of the UKs only airworthy Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress as a flying monument to the tens of thousands of American crew members who lost their lives in sister aircraft during the Second World War. Indeed, one of the most important events in Sally Bs flight calendar is the overflight of the American Military Cemetery in Madingley, Cambridge following the Memorial Day service each year. During the summer months, flypasts over former 8th Air Force bases are also conducted whenever possible. ( history provided by www.b17museum.ch)

Please be sure to contribute to the continued operation of Sally B if you can (Click HERE) as she provides such a valuable, living tribute and reminder of the 8th Air Force crews who sacrificed all, flying from, or over, the same airfields where they once served.

For more information about Trig Avionics, visit www.trig-avionics.com/
By Stephen Chapis

At first glance one might mistake it for an F-16A of the Venezuelan Air Force, but then it quickly becomes apparent that the Viper seen here hails from the Texas Air National Guards 149th Fighter Group (FG)/182nd Fighter Squadron (FS), which is based at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland. The Southeast Asia (SEA) paint scheme, which was applied to F-16C USAF #86-331, marks the 25th anniversary of the wing being redesignated from the 149th FG and harkens back to the days when the unit for F-4D Phantom IIs.

When U.S. Air Force combat aircraft began arriving in Southeast Asia, they wore their respective peacetime paint schemes. A majority of aircraft, from T-28s and B-57s to F-105s and B-52s, were natural metal with full color markings, with F-4s arriving in-country wearing their glossy gray over white Air Defense schemes, all of which stood out greatly against the jungles of Vietnam, Thailand, and Laos. This quickly led to the development of the unimaginatively named Southeast Asia paint scheme which consisted of dark green (FS 34079), medium green (FS 34102), and dark tan (FS 30219) on the upper side of aircraft and gray (FS 36622) and the undersides. With few exceptions, every USAF aircraft, including obscure Helio Couriers and Lockheed JetStars, that served in the conflict wore this scheme.

Even after the end of the war, the scheme carried on, mostly on F-105s, F-4s, and A-7s, into the 1980s, with the latter pair receiving a wraparound variation where the three upper colors replaced the gray on the underside of the aircraft. By the mid-80s the SEA scheme was replaced by the European One paint scheme. The first time the SEA scheme was applied as a so-called heritage scheme was on QF-4Es of the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron in the years leading up to their retirement in 2017. Given that Phantoms had previously worn this scheme it wasnt especially notable, but when applied to this 149th FW F-16C, the scheme is absolutely striking.

While the 182nd didnt see action in Vietnam, the unit has a stellar combat record in World War II and Korea. Established in 1943 with P-47s, the squadron made its combat debut on March 14, 1944, when it flew a fighter sweep over the Channel. They supported the landings on D-Day and were at the forefront of the action in Cherbourg, St Lo, and the Battle of the Bulge and on across the Rhine. The squadron remained in Europe for a period after the war.

After the war, the wings component 396th FS was inactivated and then reconstituted as the 182nd FS and assigned to the Texas ANG and equipped with F-51D Mustangs. In February 1951, the Mustangs were replaced by the F-84E Thunderjet, and soon thereafter the unit deployed to Japan and by June they were engaged in combat operations in Korea where they flew over 15,000 combat sorties, scored four aerial victories, including the first MiG-15 victory by a guard unit.

Shortly before the 182nd relinquished their F-51Ds, the squadron had their 15 minutes of fame when a dozen Mustangs were repainted in the markings of Republic of Korea Air Force for the Universal motion picture Battle Hymn about Lieutenant Colonel (and Reverend) Dean Hess, who became known Father of the Korean War Orphans. In the six plus decades since that time the 149th has flown the most iconic combat aircraft in the U.S. Air Force, including F-80C Shooting Star, F-86D & L Sabre Dog, Century Series fighters F-100D Super Sabre and F-102A Delta Dagger, F-4C Phantom II, and since 1986, Block 15 F-16A, Block 25 F-16C, and the current Block 30 Fighting Falcon.

This beautiful retro Viper is the fourth aircraft to appear in the SEA scheme. In addition to the previously mentioned QF-4E, four other aircraft have worn the scheme, including a T-38C of the 560th Flying Training Squadron in 2018, UH-1N from the 34th Missile Wing in 2020, and earlier this year the A-10 Demonstration Team, which is part of the 355th FW, unveiled their 2021 demo aircraft in the scheme. Like any heritage paint scheme that has come before it, this new F-16C will no doubt be extremely popular with veterans, photographers, modelers, and warbird enthusiasts, as it is a welcome respite from the subdued paint schemes on todays 4th and 5th generation fighters.
Southside Rise & Shine: Kolb Park Neighborhood

PADUCAH - The ongoing Southside Rise and Shine neighborhood spruce-up event will spotlight the Kolb Park neighborhood this week.During each neighborhoods week, This is Your Week signs will be posted, and the Public Works Department will place yellow garbage rollouts and dumpsters around the neighborhood. Each neighborhood is encouraged to dispose of garbage and beautify their homes and yards.From June 15-20, the City will have dumpers scattered across the neighborhood for disposal of litter or garbage. Bulky items, including tires and appliances, can be placed in front of a home next to the street for free collection by Public Works. Tires taken to dumpsters should be kept separate from other items and placed beside them, not in the dumpster.On Sunday, a neighborhood ice cream social will be held at Kolb Park, 1650 South 6th St. During the celebration, meet your neighbors, talk about your neighborhood, pick up litter, and enjoy some ice cream.Click below to see the neighborhood schedule and other information, including celebration sites and dumpster locations. There is a link to a neighborhood map searchable by address for anyone uncertain of their neighborhood's name.Neighborhood schedule: June 15-20  Kolb Park June 22-27  Uppertown June 29 - July 4  River Park July 6-11  Dolly McNutt July 13-18  Ella Munal July 20-25  Farley PlaceOn the Net:
Biden Maintains Skepticism On Putin

By The Associated Press

BRUSSELS - President Joe Biden frequently talks about what he sees as central in executing effective foreign policy: building personal relationships.But unlike his four most recent White House predecessors, who made an effort to build a measure of rapport with Vladimir Putin, Biden has made clear that the virtue of fusing a personal connection might have its limits when it comes to the Russian leader.The president, who is set to meet with Putin face-to-face on Wednesday in Geneva, has repeated an anecdote about his last meeting with Putin, 10 years ago when he was vice president and Putin was serving as prime minister. Putin had taken a break from the presidency because the Russian constitution at the time prohibited a third consecutive term, but he was still seen as Russia's most powerful leader.Biden recalled to biographer Evan Osnos that during that meeting in 2011, Putin showed him his ornate office in Moscow. Biden recalling poking Putin  a former KGB officer  that its amazing what capitalism will do."Biden said he then turned around and standing inches from Putin said, Mr. Prime Minister, Im looking into your eyes, and I dont think you have a soul." Biden said Putin smiled and responded: We understand one another.Biden's comment was in part a dig at former President George W. Bush, who faced ridicule after his first meeting with Putin when he claimed that he had looked the man in the eye and was able to get a sense of his soul. But in replaying his decade-old exchange with Putin, Biden also has attempted to demonstrate he is clear-eyed about the Russian leader in a way his predecessors werent.Biden and Putin are now meeting again, at a moment when the U.S.-Russia relationship seems to get more complicated by the day. Biden has repeatedly taken Putin to task  and levied sanctions against Russian entities and individuals in Putins orbit  over allegations of Russian interference in the 2020 election and the hacking of federal agencies in what is known as the SolarWinds breach.Despite the sanctions, Putin has been unmoved. Cyber attacks in the U.S. originating from Russian-based hackers in recent weeks have also impacted a major oil pipeline and the largest meat supplier in the world. Putin has denied Kremlin involvement.Michael McFaul, a former U.S. ambassador to Russia who was with Biden for the 2011 meeting with Putin, said in an interview that Biden might have a deeper skepticism and perhaps more informed view of Putin than any of his White House predecessors.Bidens knowledge of the region may be better than anybody thats held the job, McFaul said. Biden has spent time in Georgia. He spent a lot of time in Ukraine. I traveled with him to Moldova, and hes spent a lot of time in the eastern parts of the NATO alliance. He has been in those places and heard firsthand about Russian aggression and Russian threat. ... It has created a unique component of his analysis of Putin that other presidents have not had.Indeed, as president, Biden has said he would take a far different tack in his relationship with Putin than former President Donald Trump and the three other past U.S. presidents, whose political lives overlapped Putin's time in power.During his first visit of his presidency to the State Department, in February, Biden told agency employees that the days of rolling over for Putin were over  a not-so thinly veiled shot at Trump. Later, in an ABC News interview, Biden answered affirmatively that Putin was a killer."The White House said that Biden would not hold a joint news conference with Putin, but would speak to media on his own after Wednesday's meeting. Administration officials say that Biden doesn't want to elevate Putin. Asked Sunday why years of U.S. sanctions haven't changed Putin's behavior, Biden laughed and responded: He's Vladimir Putin.""Barack Obama came into office seeking a reset of the U.S.-Russia relationship, an effort to improve relations with Russian leadership and find areas of common interest.Before his visit to Moscow early in his first term Obama spoke dismissively of Putin, saying the then-prime minister had one foot in the old ways of doing business and one foot in the new. But after meeting face-to-face during the trip, Obama pronounced he was very convinced the prime minister is a man of today and hes got his eyes firmly on the future.But by the time Obama and Putin met on the sidelines of the 2013 Group of Eight summit in Northern Ireland, the reset effort was on life support.Obama and Putin's disdain for each other was palpable. During a photo opportunity before the press in Northern Ireland, they sat grim faced and avoided looking at each other.In 2014, after Russia invaded neighboring Ukraine, any vapor of hope for a reset had evaporated.George W. Bush tried mightily to charm Putin, hosting him at his ranch in Crawford, Texas, and bringing him to his fathers estate in Kennebunkport, Maine, where the 43rd and 41st presidents took the Russian president fishing.But Putin ultimately flummoxed Bush and the relationship was badly damaged after Russia's 2008 invasion of its neighbor Georgia after Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili ordered his troops into the breakaway region of South Ossetia.Bill Clinton was the first U.S. president to deal with Putin, meeting him for the first time in 1999 at the Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation gathering months before Putin would succeed Boris Yeltsin as president and a little over a year before the end of Clintons presidency.
A couple of weeks ago I compared Australia versus New Zealand wine exports . One of the confounding factors in that comparison is, of course, the size of the two different countries. Indeed, Australia is officially a continent, as well as a country and an island, being roughly the same size as the contiguous USA, whereas New Zealand is basically a couple of smaller islands.One obvious way to address this issue of difference in geographical scale is to compare wine-industry measurements per capita (ie. per person), which is my objective in this post.Indeed, if we wish to look at exports, for example, then per capita wine production in each country, along with per capita wine consumption, would tell us about the actual situation regarding those exports  any difference between these figures must translate into either a need for imports or for exports, as the case may be.As usual, the data come from the Annual Database of Global Wine Markets 1835 to 2018 (by Kym Anderson and Vicente Pinilla), tables T8 and T38, with a bit of extra data from NationMaster and Statista The first graph shows the per capita wine production (vertically) through time (horizontally), for both Australia (blue line) and New Zealand (pink line). Obviously, in both cases their population has grown over the years, but wine production has out-stripped that growth. Australia reached its peak wine-production level at the start of this century, and has remained there ever since. New Zealand reached that same level about 10 years later.So, in one sense, the wine production of both countries is remarkably similar these days (although very different in total volume).The next graph shows the per capita wine consumption over the same period of time. Once again, the two countries have arrived at a remarkably similar point over the past 15 years. However, Australia remained ahead before then, but not by much, really. There was, for some reason, a spike in Australian wine drinking during the 1980s (but not in New Zealand). Oddly, this is when I first became interested in wine, although I emphasize that I am in no way personally responsible for the peak  instead, this was when Australians first started to realize the high quality of most of their bottled wines, a mass of cheap bulk wine notwithstanding.So, it seems that the all too obvious rivalry between these two countries has resulted in convergence to a common social situation. It is not just the spoken accents that indicate a connection between the two locations! [They are also often partners vinously; eg. Wine tourism Trans-Tasman project aims to stop viral pathogens in their tracks .]This leads us to the final point, about wine imports versus exports. The final graph shows the calculation of per person production minus consumption through time  the area above the horizontal dashed line indicates excess production available for export, while below the line indicates a need for imports.As you can see, Australia has always produced more wine than it has consumed, although it was a close-run thing until the 1920s. In the 1980s, when consumption had a spike (as noted above), consumption was also close to production.New Zealand, on the other hand, has only had an obvious excess of wine production over consumption since early this century. Until 1970, production was slightly less than consumption, followed by 30 years where things varied quite a lot from year to year. However, things have consolidated since then into a consistent export market, matching or exceeding the Australian situation.As I noted in my previous post, the wine exported is very different between these two countries. Indeed, in the USA, sales of the infamous Yellow Tail seem to be almost as large, by volume, as all New Zealand wine put together. This has not done Australia any good, in terms of the image of its wines, in spite of the diversity actually available (see Why Australias latest wines are making waves We shouldnt be talking about Australian Cabernet anymore ). On the other hand, being perceived as a land of Sauvignon blanc has not done the New Zealanders any good, either ( Is Marlborough really the Sauvignon blanc capital of the world? )  market demand seems to have created this perception, not the actual range of wine types actually available in NZ. (Note that the Yellow Tail comment above is an exaggeration, as New Zealand wine imports to the USA have exceeded those from Australia for the past 5 years .)So, high-tail it down to your local liquor store / bottle shop / off license, and check out the diversity of what is on offer from these two countries. You will not regret it, either in terms of quality or value  there are warm climates and cool climates in both countries, to match any vinous taste that you may have (ie. it is more than just Shiraz and Sauvignon blanc). Much of the beer is not too bad, either.
Yesterday the country launched mass administration. The opposition criticizes the government's choice to rely on a single producer, fearing that the doses will not be sufficient for the entire population. More than 3 thousand new cases of Covid-19 in the last 24 hours. To contain the infections in factories, employees are quarantined in the workplace for 28 days.

Bangkok (AsiaNews / Agencies) - After a series of delays, yesterday Thailand finally launched its mass vaccination campaign, accompanied by criticism of the government and concerns about the doses that will be used, produced by a company owned by the crown.

Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha last month planned to administer 100 million doses by the end of the year. Of these, approximately 61 million are expected to be AstraZeneca doses produced locally by the company Siam BioScience.

Exclusively owned by King Maha Vajiralongkorn, the company was founded in 2009 and has never produced vaccines. However, according to a press release, it will be able to export doses throughout Southeast Asia as early as July.

Opposition leaders have harshly criticized the government for being too dependent on one supplier and voiced their concerns that Siam BioScience will fail to meet the needs of the entire country.

So far only 4% of the population has received the first dose of the vaccine and, according to Reuters, hospitals were forced to postpone their vaccination appointments last week due to lack of doses. Although the mass vaccination campaign began yesterday, the country had begun to administer the first doses to medical personnel and certain categories of workers since the end of February.

Thailand has one of the strictest treason laws in the world  criticism of the king, queen or designated heir can result in up to 15 years in prison.

In January, an opposition politician, Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, was charged with defamation of the monarchy for criticizing the government on social media. A Thai court has dismissed the lawsuit against Thanathorn, but another legal case against him is still pending.

Thailand had managed to keep overall Covid-19 cases low until early April, when what is considered the third wave began. A first outbreak emerged in a well-known neighbourhood of Bangkok and then the infections spread to prisons, factories, migrant workers' dormitories and slums.

According to reports from the Bangkok Post, in the last 24 hours the government has registered 3 thousand new cases, of which 640 among prisoners.

For fear that the country's industrial sector (essential after the collapse of tourism) would be hit hard by the pandemic due to outbreaks in factories, the government has decided to contain the infections with a "bubble and closure" policy: if 10% of workers in a factory test positive, the sick can leave the plant to receive treatment, while the rest, even if not affected by the coronavirus, are quarantined in the workplace for 28 days.
by Vladimir Rozanskij

In the exchange, the Azerbaijanis obtained mas of the minefields in the province of Agdam. At least another 200 soldiers from Yerevan remain in Azerbaijan. Backed by the USA, the European Union and Turkey, the Georgians offer themselves as mediators in the conflicts in the Caucasus.

Moscow (AsiaNews)  Armenian interim Prime Minister Nikol Pasinyan announced yesterday that "15 of our brothers are returning home" after being detained in Azerbaijan following the conflict in Nagorno Karabakh.

Thanks to the mediation of Georgia, the Azeris decided to free the hostages in exchange for the maps of the minefields in the province of Agdam. Georgian Prime Minister Iraklij Garibasvili would have played a leading role in closing the deal.

The United States reportedly inspired Georgia's intervention during President Joe Biden's visit to Europe, and on the eve of his meeting with Vladimir Putin. Philip Reeker, US Deputy Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, is a key figure in the deal. The Caucasus issue has become an edge to international equilibrium, in a very delicate phase for the upcoming elections in Tbilisi and Yerevan.

According to human rights activists, at least 200 other Armenian prisoners remain in Azerbaijan. Hopefully, the success of these days will not remain an isolated event. The restitution took place on the evening of June 12, and the Armenian government handed over the relocation papers for 97,000 anti-tank and anti-personnel mines.

According to Garibasvili himself, the negotiations began a month ago, after a few phone calls with the president of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliev and Pasinyan. I think it is an unprecedented opportunity for Georgia, which can mediate between the strategic partners of the South Caucasus. Garibasvili has promised further efforts from his country to achieve stability in the region.

Political scientist Gelja Vasadze of the Tbilisi Center for Strategic Analysis believes the role of Turkey should not be underestimated against the background of these negotiations: Garibasvili also visited Ankara, not only Baku and Yerevan. As the Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani communicated, after a recent conversation with Erdogan, Georgia has taken a more active role in resolving the Caucasian conflicts. In this case the Turks would have acted in harmony with the US and the European Union.

The returned prisoners had not received any sentences from the Azerbaijani side, but had remained in the hands of the enemy after the most heated phases of the conflict in Nagorno Karabakh. The crisis between Armenia and Azerbaijan remains quite acute on the southern borders of the two countries, and the final outcome is still very uncertain. Georgia will be able to continue to play a leading role, also depending on the interests of the candidates and political groups competing in the upcoming elections, with the support of the great powers.
by Melani Manel Perera

Children drop out of school in search of easy money in the countrys most profitable economic sectors. Although the government has raised the minimum working age to 16, more investment in education is needed. Another nine million children are at risk worldwide due to the pandemic.

Colombo (AsiaNews)  Sri Lanka's two main industries, tea and tourism, continue to employ minors.

According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), some 103,704 children were working in Sri Lanka in 2016; just a decade earlier, the figure was about half a million. Today, 39,007 children are still caught up in dangerous forms of exploitation.

Despite the drop of recent years, young Sri Lankans continue to drop out of school because of poverty, and turn to the countrys most profitable economic sectors to earn a living.

This is what happens, for example, to children in fishing communities. Young people are involved in family activities from an early age due to poor educational prospects, especially for girls, this according to Herman Kumara, coordinator of the National Fisheries Solidarity Movement.

Anthony Jesudasan, president of the Voice of Plantation organization, told AsiaNews that many children also end up working on tea plantations (like in Matara and Galle) while some are brought to homes and stores in Colombo, Mount Lavinia and Beruwela, where they are exploited as domestic workers and labourers for a very low salary.

Sex tourism is even worse. Foreign tourists visit the country in search of paid sex. Many children are recruited during local festivals (like Kataragama) and at major places of worship and pilgrimages like in Anuradhapura,.

Last year Sri Lankan authorities raised the minimum working age from 14 to 16.

Last Saturday, World Day against Child Labour, ILO director-general, Guy Ryder, stressed the need to continue investing in rural development and decent working conditions.

Pope Francis also mentioned the scourge of child labour in his reflection before the Angelus prayer last Sunday.

According to an ILO report, the number of children trapped in labour exploitation now stands at 160 million, up by 8.4 million in the last four years, especially in the 5-11 age group.

This reverses the downward trend of the previous years, which saw the number of child labourers decrease by 94 million between 2000 and 2016.

The report points out that another nine million children worldwide are at risk of ending up under the yoke of exploitation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to other estimates, this number could rise to 46 million in the absence of adequate access to the social welfare systems.
At least 25 corpses already recovered in the waters in front of Ras al-Ara. According to some testimonies on board there were up to 200 people: 150 would have drowned. Some 138,000 people travelled on the Djibouti-Yemen route in 2019. The Covid-19 pandemic has reduced the numbers: 37 thousand in 2020 and just over 5 thousand this year.

Sanaa (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Dozens of African migrants are reported to have died in the capsizing and subsequent sinking of a boat off the coast of Yemen. A group of fishermen from the province of Lahi confirmed to AFP that they had recovered at least 25 bodies in the waters in front of Ras al-Ara, near the Bab el-Mandeb strait.

Provincial officials report that a boat with between 160 and 200 people overturned last weekend. The International Organization for Migration (Iom) is verifying some stories that denounce the sinking of a ship containing a large number of migrants.

The Yemeni news portal Aden al-Ghad, reporting anonymous sources, speaks of at least 150 migrants drowned. The missing includes four citizens of Yemen. At its narrowest point, the Ras al-Ara area is 20 km from the African coast; it is often used by traffickers to transport goods or people to Djibouti. The strait also connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.

Every year, tens of thousands of migrants from Africa try to reach the oil-rich nations of the Middle East in search of work. In 2019, about 138,000 people undertook an adventurous and difficult journey, which involves crossing the African coast to Yemen at sea. The number dropped drastically last year, to 37 thousand, due to the Covid-19 pandemic which halted the migratory flow for some time.

The IOM estimates, in January 2021 more than 2,500 migrants arrived in the Arab country, while in early March the overturning of an overcrowded boat threw 80 migrants into the sea, at least 20 of whom drowned. A few days later in a fire in a migrant centre in Sanaa, run by the Houthis, 30 people died and another 90 were injured. In April, another 44 died in the overturning of a smuggling boat on the Yemen-Djibouti route.

In 2021, about 5,100 migrants reached the shores of the Gulf nation, only to be stranded with little hope of cross-border work in Saudi Arabia. Most live in dire conditions, with no access to food, clean water, medical care and security.
Of course, The Sun is not perfect, no big institution is  and no person, either, for that matter. The relationship with the African American community needs improvement, as does the diversity of people represented within its pages and on its staff. The good thing is leadership wants to make that better. As a member of a diversity committee at The Sun, I was offered the opportunity to play a role, helping to identify new hires of color and work on ways to improve coverage. I have always incorporated some form of race coverage in every beat I covered, even if it meant intentionally interviewing African Americans shoppers for retail stories. Every third Wednesday, I wrote a personal column where I focused mostly on issues of race. This was probably my most challenging job to date. Its not for the faint of heart or thin-skinned putting ones deepest thoughts out there for all to read, with a picture of your smiling face above the words  and especially on a topic as controversial as race. And I heard from many readers, some who agreed with me and many who didnt. No matter the perspective, I appreciated the opportunity to start important conversations.
PV Real Estate



Mexico Retirement: Is Safety a Concern for Expats?



Most expats said that serious crime isn't nearly as rampant as reported by American news outlets and that their actual safety concerns in Mexico were no more (and often less) than they felt when living in the USA. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - Best Places in the World to Retire, the popular website dedicated to providing credible information about living overseas, recently polled over 500 contributors asking "is safety a concern for expats?" to determine how safe areas like Mexico, Belize and Panama (popular destinations for retirees) really are for foreigners living there.



Overall, the response was that while petty crime can be an issue, it isn't much different than in the United States. They also said that serious crime isn't nearly as rampant as reported by American news outlets and that overall, they felt safe in their new communities.



The expat contributors divided the subject into two categories: property crimes and/or petty theft and violent crimes. Most expats reported that they felt that rates for property crimes where somewhat higher in Latin American than in the United States, however they felt that violent crimes were overall less likely to occur.



Most expats feel that these petty crimes (stolen smart phones or snatched purses) could generally be avoided with more vigilance and attention to detail, but that their actual safety concerns in Mexico were no more (and often less) than they reported feeling in the USA.



Of course, living in another country will always have its challenges. Adapting to a new culture, learning a new language, and getting used to the way things work outside of Western culture is always a very demanding task - but it's just as rewarding.



Retiring in Mexico can be a dream come true for anyone who wants to give it a shot, and we're here to help. MEXLend is the most experienced residential mortgage broker in Mexico. We accompany you through the process of buying a home, including



Are you looking to purchase a home, vacation or investment property in Mexico? To discover which one of the many mortgage loan options that MEXLend offers is right for you, visit MexLend.com or MexLend.com.mx, call (322) 222-7377 in Vallarta, toll-free at 1.800.3.Mi.Casa in Mexico or (917) 779-9061 from the US or Canada.



To learn more about MEXLend, click HERE. - Best Places in the World to Retire, the popular website dedicated to providing credible information about living overseas, recently polled over 500 contributors asking "is safety a concern for expats?" to determine how safe areas like Mexico, Belize and Panama (popular destinations for retirees) really are for foreigners living there.Overall, the response was that while petty crime can be an issue, it isn't much different than in the United States. They also said that serious crime isn't nearly as rampant as reported by American news outlets and that overall, they felt safe in their new communities.The expat contributors divided the subject into two categories: property crimes and/or petty theft and violent crimes. Most expats reported that they felt that rates for property crimes where somewhat higher in Latin American than in the United States, however they felt that violent crimes were overall less likely to occur.Most expats feel that these petty crimes (stolen smart phones or snatched purses) could generally be avoided with more vigilance and attention to detail, but that their actual safety concerns in Mexico were no more (and often less) than they reported feeling in the USA.Of course, living in another country will always have its challenges. Adapting to a new culture, learning a new language, and getting used to the way things work outside of Western culture is always a very demanding task - but it's just as rewarding.Retiring in Mexico can be a dream come true for anyone who wants to give it a shot, and we're here to help. MEXLend is the most experienced residential mortgage broker in Mexico. We accompany you through the process of buying a home, including securing home loans, Escrow services , and insurance.



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Maj Gen Akash Kaushik, Officiating GOC Fire and Fury Corps laid a wreath at Leh War Memorial and paid homage to martyrs who laid down their lives at Galwan on 15 Jun 2020 while fighting for the Nation. A PTI Photo

NEW DELHI (PTI): Chief of Army Staff Gen MM Naravane on Tuesday led the force in hailing the valour of the 20 soldiers who laid down their lives while defending the country's territorial integrity in the face of "unprecedented" Chinese aggression at the Galwan Valley in Eastern Ladakh a year ago.



On the first anniversary of the deadly clashes, the Army said the supreme sacrifice of the soldiers while fighting the adversary in the "most difficult" high altitude terrain will be "eternally etched" in the memory of the nation.



"General MM Naravane #COAS & All Ranks of #IndianArmy pay homage to the #Bravehearts who made supreme sacrifice in Galwan Valley #Ladakh while defending the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country. Their valour will be eternally etched in the memory of the #Nation," the Army tweeted.



In the first deadly clash in the border area in nearly five decades, 20 Indian soldiers were killed on June 15 last year in the Galwan Valley in fierce hand-to-hand combat with Chinese troops, triggering a large deployment of troops and heavy weaponry by both armies at the friction points in eastern Ladakh.



In February, China officially acknowledged that five Chinese military officers and soldiers were killed in the clashes with the Indian Army though it is widely believed that the death toll was higher.



The Army's Leh-based 14 Corps, popularly known as Fire and Fury Corps, also paid homage to the "Galwan Bravehearts" on the first anniversary of the violent clashes.



"In the face of unprecedented Chinese aggression, 20 Indian soldiers laid down their lives defending our land and inflicted heavy casualties on the PLA (People's Liberation Army," the Army said.



Major Gen Akash Kaushik, the officiating General Officer Commanding of the Fire and Fury Corps laid a wreath at the iconic Leh war memorial while paying homage to the fallen heroes. The 14 Corps takes care of guarding the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China in the Ladakh region.



"The nation will remain eternally grateful to these gallant soldiers who fought in the most difficult high altitude terrain and made the supreme sacrifice in service of the nation," the Army said in a statement.



Colonel Bikumalla Santosh Babu, the commanding officer of the 16 Bihar regiment, had led from the front against the Chinese aggression near Patrolling Point 14 in Galwan Valley.In January, he was posthumously awarded Mahavir Chakra, the second-highest military award for acts of gallantry in the presence of the enemy.



Four other soldiers, Naib Subedar Nuduram Soren, Havildar (Gunner) K Palani, Naik Deepak Singh and Sepoy Gurtej Singh, were also awarded the Vir Chakra posthumously.



"Colonel Bikumalla Santosh Babu displayed conspicuous #gallantry, exemplary #leadership and firm determination in the face of the enemy in the best traditions of the #IndianArmy," the Army tweeted.



It said Naib Subedar Soren displayed indomitable courage, undaunting leadership and bravery of high order in the face of aggression by the enemy.



In a series of tweets, the Army also hailed the bravery of Naik Deepak Singh, Sepoy Gurtej Singh and Havildar Palani.



The Army last year built a memorial for the 'Gallants of Galwan' at Post 120 in eastern Ladakh.



The memorial mentioned their heroics under operation 'Snow Leopard' and the way they evicted the PLA troops from the area while inflicting "heavy casualties" on them.



The names of the 20 Army personnel were also inscribed on the National War Memorial in Delhi.



Days after the clashes, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had bluntly told his Chinese counterpart that the "unprecedented development will have a serious impact on the bilateral relationship.



India held the neighbouring country accountable for triggering the Ladakh standoff by violating rules of engagement on border management and conveyed that peace and tranquillity along the LAC is the basis for the progress of the rest of the relationship and they cannot be separated.



Months later, Jaishankar and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi agreed on a five-point pact to resolve the row at a meeting in Moscow.



The two sides completed the withdrawal of troops and weapons from the North and South banks of Pangong lake in February following a series of military and diplomatic talks.



They are now engaged in talks to extend the disengagement process to the remaining friction points.



There was no visible forward movement in disengagement of troops in the remaining friction points as the Chinese side did not show flexibility in their approach on it at the 11th round of military talks.



Last month, Army Chief Gen Naravane had said that there can be no de-escalation without complete disengagement at all friction points in eastern Ladakh and that the Indian Army is prepared for all contingencies in the region.



Gen Naravane also said that India is dealing with China in a "firm" and "non-escalatory" manner to ensure the sanctity of its claims in eastern Ladakh, and that it was even open to initiating confidence-building measures.



India has been insisting on complete disengagement in remaining friction points to de-escalate the situation in Eastern Ladakh.


The View

Parking reform could re-energize downtowns

Like most cities across the U.S., Buffalo's zoning ordinances required new development to include a minimum amount of parking. But that's changing, thanks to the adoption of the city's new "Green Code" in 2017.

By DANIEL HESS and JEFFREY REHLER

Department of Urban and Regional Planning

Reprinted from The Conversation

Daniel Hess Jeffrey Rehler

For urban planners, parking rules established decades ago have become a contentious 21st-century challenge. Parking takes up about one-third of land area in U.S. cities; nationwide, there are an estimated eight parking spaces for every car. In 2017 Buffalo, became the first U.S. city to stop requiring development projects to include at least a minimum amount of parking. Other cities followed, including Hartford, Connecticut, and Santa Monica, California. Many cities are now considering reforms, and a bill pending before the California Legislature would remove minimums for new buildings near public transportation across the Golden State. But despite growing support for parking reform, there is little data showing how such changes affect urban development. As part of our work on urban planning, we quantified changes in construction during the first two years after Buffalo adopted its new Green Code, repealing minimum parking requirements citywide. We found that the Green Code is changing Buffalos urban form in ways that had been difficult, if not impossible, under former zoning rules. As local leaders seek to reenergize the urban core and spark a post-industrial renaissance, public transit is now a priority. Inactive storefronts, underutilized historic structures and former industrial buildings are being rehabilitated, and vacant parcels are being developed in fragmented neighborhoods.

Most building codes prioritize cars

With rapid post-World War II development and an explosion in car ownership, cities and towns across the U.S. introduced minimum parking requirements during the 1950s. These zoning ordinances required new buildings to include off-street parking lots. The mandates remain nearly universal across America, raising real estate prices, bringing more cars into cities, increasing air pollution and carbon emissions, and lowering use of public transportation. Parking standards were created arbitrarily, without adequate data. Zoning laws usually require one parking space per apartment, one per 300 square feet of commercial development and one per 100 square feet for restaurants. For context, a parking space measures 160 square feet on average, plus additional area for driveways and driving lanes, so an eaterys parking lot may be three times the size of its dining area. Since the 2005 publication of UCLA urban planning scholar Donald Shoups The High Cost of Free Parking, many people have begun to question the amount of precious urban land currently used for storing cars. Planners, developers, urbanists and nonprofits are now offering market-driven strategies to realign off-street parking supply and demand. Prioritizing cars limits space for housing, businesses, parks and other land uses that benefit citizens and contribute to local tax bases. It also increases construction costs, which are then passed on to tenants and buyers. In Los Angeles, for example, each parking space costs developers at least $50,000  a price tag that has scuttled some development projects. In 2016, Portland, Oregon, waived parking requirements for affordable housing developments, showing how zoning changes could make urban housing more available and affordable.

A Metro Rail train runs down Main Street past Shea's Buffalo theater. David Wilson//Wikimedia, CC BY

Buffalos natural experiment in parking reform

Buffalos long-standing zoning code, established in 1953, reflected the emergence and dominance of the automobile as Americas transportation mode of choice. Inflexible minimums ensured plentiful parking at bowling alleys, dance halls and skating rinks. The code did not ease parking provisions for mixed-use development or offer flexibility to reduce parking at small businesses providing neighborhood necessities. The result: Nearly half of downtown Buffalo was converted to parking lots. Locals joked about parking: If the goal was to destroy downtown, we only halfway succeeded. Our review of the Green Codes initial effects found that from April 2017 to April 2019, the amount of off-street parking included in new building projects varied widely. Developers of 14 sites mixing retail space and residential units incorporated 53% fewer parking spaces than required under previous zoning. Four added no parking, opting instead to share parking with other properties. In contrast, many single-use developers maintained or exceeded former parking requirements. Despite city leaders ambitions for more accessible transportation options, the car remains king in development plans for office buildings and townhomes, hampering reform in a region characterized by suburban sprawl and travel habits based on car ownership. Despite these challenges, we found that developers of 36 major projects  including two large housing complexes targeted to graduate students, with over 200 units apiece  included 47% fewer parking spaces than previous zoning required. One-third of the developments in our study made parking an amenity, charging user fees rather than bundling it into rent or purchase prices. Overall, the Green Code encouraged less parking in transit-rich locations along primary commercial corridors.

Optimizing land use

The COVID-19 pandemic has slowed development projects worldwide. Though personal automobile use dominated COVID-19-era transportation for many, there is broad support now for returning to a pre-pandemic focus on making urban places more dense, with a focus on walkable neighborhoods. Millennials and Generation Zers drive less than previous generations. Growing numbers of people working from home and shopping online are reshaping traditional urban commutes and travel. Without minimum requirements, costly and land-consuming off-street parking becomes an option instead of a mandate, paid for by those who use it. Rethinking car-centric urban planning allows for more green space, transit-oriented development and active living.

Rethinking urban landscapes
Today

Mainly clear. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 62F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph.

Tonight

Mainly clear. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 62F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph.

Tomorrow

Except for a few afternoon clouds, mainly sunny. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High near 90F. SE winds shifting to NW at 10 to 15 mph.
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Dakota graduated from Bret Harte in 2013 and went to Davidson College, NC where she earned a bachelor's degree in Arab studies. After spending time studying in the Middle East and Europe, she is happy to be home, writing about the community she loves.

Comment Policy Calaveras Enterprise does not actively monitor comments. However, staff does read through to assess reader interest. When abusive or foul language is used or directed toward other commenters, those comments will be deleted. If a commenter continues to use such language, that person will be blocked from commenting. We wish to foster a community of communication and a sharing of ideas, and we truly value readers' input.
We want to make participation as convenient as possible for residents, and as the governors moved us beyond the state of emergency, and the City of Annapolis is moving beyond the state of emergency, we dont think its a requirement, she said.
While the end of the state of emergency is an important step in our recovery from COVID-19, it does not mean that this virus and the variants no longer pose any threat. If you have been vaccinated, you are safe, but those who are not vaccinated will continue to be at risk, the Republican governor said, adding theres no excuse to not get vaccinated. Vaccines are available and they are safe, Hogan said.
Shis research on a group of miners in Yunnan province who suffered severe respiratory disease in 2012 has also drawn questions. The miners had worked in the same cave where Shis team later discovered the bat virus that is close to SARS-CoV-2. Shi said that her lab did not detect bat SARS-like coronaviruses in the miners samples and that she would publish more details in a scientific journal soon; her critics say she has withheld information.
If the merger is approved, the mission of Caritas will continue on, and so can financial support from the community. Donors can give to St. Johns directly and specify that they want the money to go to the Caritas current use fund or the Caritas endowment fund.
The man, identified by police as Gejdenson, fled with the child into a nearby marsh and was taken into custody a short time later. Neither Gejdenson nor the child was injured, but they were taken to the hospital for further evaluation.
Donte Barnes, 18, of East Baltimore, was introduced to YouthBuild by his probation officer. In 2019, he and two friends robbed two people by the Patterson High School building in Bayview, he said. He and his friends took money and left the scene, he said, but because a co-defendant was later found with a gun, Barnes, then 16, was also charged with armed robbery. He said he was in jail for about six months.
The second video chronicles an incident June 6. In it, a man is walking on the boardwalk and officers are telling him to get down on the ground. In the clip, the man can be seen holding his arms up and is struck by the Taser. As the officers move in, they tell the bystanders, including the person recording, to back up, as they walk to the man who is now on the ground. Officers turn the man over and appear to handcuff him, as another officer tells the person filming to back up.
Cellphone videos captured the arrest of Day and three other Harrisburg teens Saturday in Ocean City, drawing sharp criticism of the beach police department. Ocean City Police said they approached the teens because they were smoking or vaping outside the designated areas, but the scene escalated with officers pinning the boys to the ground. In one video, a police officer rams his knee repeatedly into the side of one of the teens.
At a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday, Valenti told the Times that veterans in Carroll County usually have to travel outside of the county to access some of the services they need. While free transportation is provided to veterans to help them get to their appointments, a long trip is still necessary.
A listening session already has been held for Eastern Shore counties. The first round of commission meetings will continue with sessions for Southern and Western Maryland counties later this month. A July 7 session will focus on Anne Arundel and Howard counties, and Baltimore City. A meeting focused entirely on Baltimore County will take place July 12, followed by meetings on Montgomery and Prince Georges counties July 21 and 28, respectively.
Its the second technical issue this week for Southwest, which said flights were disrupted Monday due to issues at a third-party weather data provider involving weather information needed to safely operate flights. Southwest said it is still investigating the causes of the technology issues.
What better way to tick off the people who have marginalized him than by going big, as the current slang has it, to sabotage them on the grand scale, and with the whole world watching? Not just that: hell be the greatest of all the transparent phonies, hell infuriate them by playing innocent. He knows that he isnt fooling anyone, and he wants us to know that he knows.
In a gruesome act, an 80-year-old woman was allegedly murdered by her son in Lynn, Massachusetts. The accused has been arrested, they said.

According to metro.co.uk, after murdering the mother, the man left her internal organs on a welcome mat inside her home.

The woman identified as Katherine Paratore (80) and the accused son identified as Alfredo Paratore (49). He was arrested after authorities found Katherines dead body in her house on Friday night.

The woman had multiple injuries including lacerations near her right collarbone and on her right hand, metro.co.uk report said.

Also Read: Shocker: Man Kills burglar, keeps dead body for 15 years

There were bruises on the arms, neck, and head of the elderly woman, including a set of dentures were on the ground near her shoulder. The 80-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene.

As per reports, Alfredo called the police and told them that he found his mother on the floor.

However, police officials told that he sounded nervous and wont able to tell the exact time when he talked or saw his mother for the last time.

Suspicious was raised when police saw dried blood on his left hand and scratch on his ear and cheek.

Katherines body was propped against a wall inside the doorway and her internal organs have been placed on a welcome mat inside the home.

During interrogation, Alfredo allegedly told cops that he took suboxone, an opioid treatment medication, about 15 minutes before the incident. Police reportedly gave him Narcan when they came to know that he overdosed and he was later transported to Salem Hospital.

Meanwhile, Alfredo is facing murder charges, according to the Essex District Attorneys Office. He is also being held without bail.

On the other hand, Alfredos attorney pleaded not guilty on his behalf. Now, the next court hearing will be held on June 30.

However, the motive of Alfredo for committing a horrifying crime was not immediately clear.

Also Read: Honour killing: Man kills wife, 4 children in Pakistan
United States-based Pakistan-linked charity organisations collected funds in name of helping India in the COVID-19 crisis, however, the donated millions of dollars are likely to be used for "fomenting protests and sponsoring outright terror attacks", according to a report.

In an elaborate report, DisInfo Lab uncovered the 'COVID-19 Scam 2021', which it says is "one of the worst scams in human history" in terms of the humanitarian cost as millions of dollars were stolen in the name of 'Helping India Breath'.

As India witnessed a second devastating surge in COVID-19 cases, help came from all around the world. However, some organisations use the crisis to collect funds illegitimately in the name of charity.

The DisInfo Lab exposed several charity organisations, which managed to raise funds by exploiting India's hard-earned goodwill.

These organisations have close ties with radical Islamists and terrorists' organizations and being run in cahoots with the Pakistan army.

One such Islamic organisation is the IMANA-Islamic Medical Association of North America"Funds worth tens of crores donated by well-meaning people world over to help India in crisis - has been stolen. There is no accountability and in the present globalised world, no mechanism to ensure any accountability," said the report.

The Islamic Medical Association of North America (IMANA) is an Illinois-based medical relief organization that was formally established as Islamic Medical Association (IMA) in 1967, and subsequently renamed IMANA.

Unlike several other organizations, IMANA was rather opaque in its recent charity drive during the Covid crisis and has provided "scanty details" about the manner it has spent crores of funds it has collected.

The current chairman of IMANA is Dr Ismail Mehr, who has been the leader of the "Help India Breathe" project.

IMANA created a buzz last month with its fundraiser. It started the #HelpIndiaBreathe campaign on Instagram on April 27, 2021, and set an initial target of 1.8 crores.

It is important to note that IMANA has no office, brand, or representative in India. However, it did not stop them from organising an aggressive fundraiser in the name of providing support to India.

According to the Disinfo Lab's report, IMANA received huge amounts in a short span and frequently revised the target amount as soon as the previous target was met.

According to DisInfo Lab's calculations based on the funds they collected in the specific time period, there was a time they were receiving donations at a speed of USD 100K per hour. The total amount, as per the calculations, can be anywhere between Rs.30 crore to Rs.158 crore. DisInfo Lab said, "Given that IMANA has almost zero transparency about the fund it collected, there is no way to ascertain the actual amount it might have received."

During several interviews, Dr Ismail Mehr of IMANA made several dubious claims. He claimed to have purchased Medical Equipment worth USD 800,000 on May 7 that included 100k Nasal cannulas, 40k non-breather masks, 450 Oxygen concentrators. It never reached India.

They also claimed to have tied up with Air India for free shipment to Delhi. Another claim stated that they had elaborated a network of people and organisations working on the ground that included Hindu and Sikh volunteers. Another claim suggested they have tied up with India's DRDO and the Ministry of Agriculture.

None of these claims could be verified from the information available in open source. Also, it is highly unlikely organisations like DRDO would tie up with a US-based organisation with members from Pakistan-origin for any relief work in India or even help them to coordinate with people on the ground.

IMANA was not the only organisation running fundraisers on the pretext of helping India. DisInfo Lab found at least 66 such campaigns on just one platform, Launch Good. DisInfo Lab said.

The organisations "mopped up" the crucial fund at a critical time which could have saved lives and "exploited" the goodwill that India and Indians have acquired the world over, said the report.

"Some of the major organisations that have collected funds on Launch Good include- ICNA Relief Canada, Human Concern International (Canada), Helping Hand for Relief and Development (HHRD), and Islamic Relief UK," the report said.

Helping Hand for Relief and Development USA (HHRD) is the international front of Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) Relief USA. HHRD and ICNA are self-identified US charities of Jamaat-e-Islami (Jel) based out of Pakistan.

According to DisInfo Lab, In December 2017, HHRD organised a conference in Pakistan. Other organisations sponsoring the event included the Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation, the charitable wing of the Pakistani terrorist organisation, Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Several organisations with questionable background and no FCRA approval ran campaigns and collected funds. There were around 23 such organisations, and they managed to collect over USD 1.2 million with small fundraisers.

Reportedly ISNA and IMANA have links to terror organisations across the world. ISNA has been alleged to provide funds to Hamas. They have provided funds to Al-Khidmat Foundation, which is the 'charity wing' of JeI which has been funding Hamas.

IMANA also provides help to Al-Mustafa Welfare Trust (AMT), which is part of Pakistan's Milbus' military capital'. It issued for the personal benefit of the Pak Army fraternity. It is run by retired Army, Navy and Air Force personnel.

"Funds worth tens of crores donated by well-meaning people the world over to help India in crisis - has been stolen. There is no accountability and in the present globalised world, no mechanism to ensure any accountability," the report read.

"Funds, which in right hands would have saved so many lives. What is most tragic about the whole episode is that several of these organizations had no intention of doing even symbolic help to begin with," it added.

This whole "farce" pulled out by the so-called charity organizations was not merely a financial fraud but was a crime against humanity at multiple levels, said the report.

The Dis Info lab suggested that the governments - from the USA to India - should take note of the terror-funding money-making machinery and provide some mechanism to ensure transparency from these groups.

"It is worth mentioning that FATF has already raised this concern that lot of funding in the name of Covid is likely to go towards terror funding. Given the scale of network of one set of organizations, the scale of total terror funding could only be imagined," the report read.

(ANI)

Also Read: China's three-child policy won't prevent long-term trend toward lower annual births, says top economist
If you are old enough to remember the hit comedy movie of 1980, Caddy Shack, then you will recall that a gopher infestation was threatening a golf course in Nebraska. The somewhat deranged groundskeeper was tasked with getting rid of the pest. His efforts at eradication include shooting, f
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Mostly cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 71F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 71F. Winds light and variable.
None of that was clear to Anthony when she sat down in front of a screen to interview for a seasonal job last year. She dressed for the occasion and settled into a comfortable spot. The only hint of a human presence came in a prerecorded introduction that laid out what to expect  noting, for instance, that she could delete an answer and start over.
The hit to consumer wallets is buoying airlines that have had to rely on billions of dollars in federal aid to weather a collapse in demand caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Coupled with deep cost cuts last year, the fare recovery is making carriers including Delta Air Lines and United Airlines more confident that their run of red ink will end in the third quarter.
The U.S. imposed what could have amounted to $7.5 billion in tariffs on European exports in 2019 after the World Trade Organization ruled that the EU had not complied with its rulings on subsidies for Airbus, which is based in France. The EU retaliated last November with up to $4 billion in punitive duties after the WTO ruled that the U.S. had provided illegal subsidies to Boeing.
McAfee, 75, appeared from prison via videolink at a hearing in Spains National Court. He argued that the charges against him are politically motivated and said he would spend the rest of his life in prison if he was returned to the United States, according to a report by private Spanish news agency Europa Press.
The announcement gave a remarkably sympathetic-sounding description of the overseer  now out of a job  and asked, What will he do now that he has no one to oversee from can see to cant see? an old Southern description of working in the fields from pre-dawn to after dark.
I was blown away when I read the email, Simpson said, after Murff contacted her about the mural. I took it to be an incredible honor, but I also wanted to make sure she was right in choosing me. There are some incredibly important people shes going to be featuring, whove made an impact not just for the Black community, but for medicine as a whole. Im just a simple surgeon.
The second was more specific: In Boeings Jan. 13 statement regarding the suspension of political donations, the company said it wanted to ensure that Boeing supports those who reflect our companys values and ensure that we support those who not only support our company, but also uphold our countrys most fundamental principles. Shall I assume that lying and being OK with 140 police officers getting injured during a violent attack aimed at disrupting the peaceful transfer of power are now part of Boeings values? Again, nothing has changed since Boeing released its Jan. 13 statement.
The 98-year-old business is closed until Thursday, when it will begin the approximate two-month process to sell off its inventory. The building, known for the big red T sign that towers over the store, will be demolished and replaced by apartments, according to siblings and third-generation store owners Steve and Pam Lipshutz.
Biden is also looking to make progress on a new arms control agreement between the two nations, after Russia agreed to a five-year extension of the current agreement in January. And Biden plans to raise issues ranging from cyberattacks to Russias alleged involvement in air piracy, as well as Putins treatment of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who was jailed and poisoned in an act seen as political retribution against him for speaking out against the Russian president.
After capturing east Jerusalem in 1967, Israel annexed the in a move not recognized by most of the international community. It considers the entire city its capital, while the Palestinians want east Jerusalem to be the capital of their future state. The competing claims over east Jerusalem, home to sensitive Jewish, Christian and Muslim holy sites, lie at the heart of the conflict and have sparked many rounds of violence.
There have been ongoing protests in Uptown, about 2 1/2 miles (4 kilometers) south of downtown, since the June 3 shooting of Winston Boogie Smith Jr., a Black man and 32-year-old father of three, by members of a federal U.S. Marshals Service task force. Authorities said they were trying to arrest Smith on a warrant for being a felon in possession of a firearm, when he displayed a handgun from inside a parked vehicle and task force members fired. Authorities also say evidence shows Smith fired his gun from inside the vehicle, but a female passenger has said she never saw him with a gun.
The AP began asking the Army for details on missing weapons in 2011 and filed a formal request a year later for records of guns listed as missing, lost, stolen or recovered in the Department of Defense Small Arms and Light Weapons Registry. Charles Royal, the former Army civilian employee who was in charge of the registry, said that he prepared records for release that higher ups eventually blocked in 2013.
On Monday, she told reporters that when she was 19, she visited the site of the Auschwitz concentration camp in what during World War II was Nazi-occupied Poland. It isnt like I learned about it today, she said of the Holocaust, in which 6 million Jews and huge numbers of other people were killed. I went today because I thought it was important, she said, and wanted to talk about it as she apologized.
The archdiocese asked McCarthy to live away from the parish while the allegations were investigated by the internal Office for the Protection of Children and Youth. McCarthy was also removed from his chaplain posts at Notre Dame College Prep and Resurrection College Prep High School. Information on whether he was reinstated in those posts wasnt available. A spokesperson for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services declined to comment on the investigation, but said that under its policies, the department was unable to make a finding in the case because there was no child involved.
In his news conference, Brown also said a high-capacity magazine had been used in Tuesdays shooting, which meant the shooter was able to do more harm to more people. He made many of the same points as Lightfoot regarding illegal weapons, although no weapons had been recovered Tuesday so it was too soon to know whether the weapon used had been obtained illegally.
According to jail calls, Flanagans brothers girlfriend was attending the party, and Flanagans brother, who is in the Illinois Department of Corrections, told his girlfriend to share her location with Flanagan so he could make sure she was all right, Deboni said. The night of the shooting, the girlfriend shared her location at Perezs apartment, and Flanagan called to check on her, but he had never checked on her in person until Dec. 21, Deboni said.
All employees were able to get out of the plant quickly and no injuries were reported among workers, Wilson said. Two firefighters were hurt, one with a leg injury who was released on scene and another who was evaluated at a hospital for breathing difficulty and later sent home, Wilson said at a news conference Tuesday morning.
For the last two years, we, along with gun safety advocates, have called for raising the FOID card application fee from $10 to $20 so that a portion of that increase could fund a task force that would follow up with gun owners whove had their FOID revoked  but have yet to relinquish their guns. The law requires felons to lose access to firearms, but lax enforcement allows many of those individuals to keep them.
He made a paintbrush out of Styrofoam, which they installed on the roof. They hung fabric in the various rainbow colors  red, orange, yellow, green, blue and violet  down from the brush and over the entrance to their porch. The quote is displayed on the steps of their home, and Vazquez painted a path that goes over the sidewalk and to the street in the same six colors.
After extending her condolences to the families of the four people killed and the four others wounded, Lightfoot said what Chicago needs is a partnership with Washington to stem the flow of illegal guns into the city. Though she didnt elaborate, and while it is not yet clear whether illegal guns were involved in Tuesdays shooting, she revived her demands for stricter gun control laws nationwide and said the type of heightened violence that has plagued the city recently is not unique to Chicago.
Six Flags is a great attraction within our community and families should feel safe when visiting Gurnee and the surrounding amenities, Smith said. During this incident, it was our priority to secure the area and make it a safe environment for all visitors and employees.
A state Department of Natural Resources release identified the victim as Donald Turner. The DNR release said he was swimming about 4:40 p.m. with his girlfriend when she began to struggle in the water. Turner went to her aid and got her to safety before going under water and not resurfacing, officials said.
Kerner was sentenced in December to 179 years in prison after being convicted on seven of eight felony counts against him by a jury in October. Silva, prosecutors contend, was likely aware that Kerner was planning a robbery, while the defense said that Silva was along for the ride.
On June 11, 2021, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Yang Jiechi had a phone conversation with the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the latter's request.

Yang Jiechi said, dialogue and cooperation should be the mainstream of China-U.S. relations. Cooperation should be mutually beneficial, and address the concerns of both sides in a balanced way. China is committed to developing a relationship with the U.S. featuring non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation. At the same time, China will firmly safeguard its sovereignty, security and development interests. We urge the U.S. side to follow the spirit of the phone conversation between the two heads of state on the Chinese New Year's Eve, and to jointly bring bilateral relations back to the right track of development. The Taiwan question concerns China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and involves China's core interests. There is only one China in the world and Taiwan is an inseparable part of China. China resolutely defends its national sovereignty and territorial integrity. We urge the U.S. to abide by the one-China principle, honor its promise and cherish its credibility, prudently and properly handle Taiwan-related issues, and maintain the overall situation of China-U.S. ties and the peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait with concrete actions.

Yang Jiechi stressed, there is only one system and one order in the world: the international system with the United Nations (UN) at the core and the international order based on international law, instead of the so-called system and order advocated by a handful of countries. There is only one set of rules: the basic norms of international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, instead of the so-called rules formulated by a small number of countries. There is only one kind of multilateralism, which is genuine multilateralism based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter as well as international law, and featuring equal treatment, cooperation and mutual benefits, not pseudo-multilateralism based on interests of small cliques and group politics, letting alone practicing unilateralism in the name of multilateralism. Peace and development, fairness and justice, democracy and freedom are the common values of all humankind. Respect for sovereignty is a prerequisite for the realization of human rights, which is a principle affirmed by the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The U.S. should fix its serious human rights violations on its own territory, instead of wilfully interfering in the internal affairs of other countries with the so-called human rights as an excuse.

Yang Jiechi pointed out, China has actively participated in and supported international anti-virus cooperation, and it resolutely opposes any despicable acts that use the pandemic as an excuse to smear China and to shift blames. China is gravely concerned over some U.S. individuals fabricating and peddling the absurd story that Wuhan lab leaked the COVID-19 virus. China urges the U.S. to respect facts and science, restrain from politicizing COVID-19 origin tracing, and remain focused on international anti-pandemic cooperation.

Yang Jiechi said, China will celebrate the CPC's centenary. The Chinese people have scored great achievements under the strong leadership of the CPC, and they will unite more closely and work harder, firmly walk along the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, build China into a more prosperous country and realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Blinken said, the recent series of contacts between the U.S. and China is beneficial to bilateral ties and the U.S. looks forward to increasing contacts and exchanges with China at various levels. The U.S. pursues the one-China policy and remains committed to abiding by the three Sino-U.S. joint communiques. The U.S. hopes to maintain communication and coordination with China on major international and regional issues.

The two sides also exchanged views on other issues of common concern.
Five years ago, a documentary series titled Masters in Forbidden City was released in China and soon became a hot topic on social media, bringing the profession of cultural relic restoration into public spotlight.



Given China's long history and rich collections of ancient artifacts from various dynasties, it takes meticulous hands, years of experience and a thorough understanding of history to become a qualified restorer. As backstage heroes, many of them have dedicated their lives to preserving national treasures.

Located by a massive lake and shaded by trees, the Hubei Provincial Museum occupies a corner of tranquility in the bustling city of Wuhan. Inside, Fang Guorong, 62, and Fang Chen, 32, jointly lift a 12-kilogram bronze object in an attempt to restore a huge and ancient bianzhong, or chime bell.

The Fangs, father and son, both work as relic restorers at the museum. The 150-kg chime bell they are taking care of is the biggest and heaviest one preserved there, having been unearthed from a 2,500-year-old tomb in Hubei's Suizhou in 2009.

Chime bells are a percussion instrument that became prevalent in China from the Western Zhou Dynasty (c. 11th century-771 BC). The country's largest set of chime bells ever unearthed was found in 1978, also in Suizhou, in the tomb of Marquis Yi, a ruler of the ancient Zeng State. The set of 65 chime bells has been a highlight of the various collections of the Hubei Provincial Museum.

Fang Guorong has been engaged in the restoration of bronze ware for more than 40 years. He has participated in chime bell restoration projects and has served as the technical director in duplicate projects.

The process of chime bell restoration-including designing, wax-mold making, investment casting, welding, polishing and antique finishing-demands both skill and patience.

Fang Guorong enjoys it, cherishing every touch of the bells as part a dialogue with artisans from the distant past.

According to Fang Guorong, some of the chime bells found in 2009 were deemed too damaged to be restored, including the heaviest one. Fortunately, in recent years, digital technologies have been applied effectively to the restoration of relics.

"3D scanning and 3D printing are being used to restore the severely damaged and deformed cultural relics. This is something the older generation of relic protection workers couldn't even dream of," he says.

Fang Chen joined the museum in 2014. He has received training from masters like his father and acquired new technologies that his predecessors may have found challenging.

"The restoration work should also keep pace with advances in technology," says the son. "This doesn't mean overturning the traditional methods. It is about combining old and new methods to better protect and restore cultural relics."
Opening a book decorated with simple pictures and written in the Tibetan language, Tatse introduces his latest work to readers.



"This book is called My First Tibetan Alphabet Book, and it teaches children the Tibetan language through pictures," says Tatse, 33.

Though born in a rural area in Southwest China's Tibet autonomous region, Tatse received good compulsory education, went to university and then studied abroad. After returning to Tibet, he chose to promote picture books to create a more colorful world for local children.

He has two more books under his belt and they will be published soon.

Tatse's passion to teach children about the world comes from his own childhood experience.

Tatse was born in the county of Gyantse and he was not a fan of school when he was a child.

"I often broke the classroom's windows," he recalls. "But I remember I was quite interested in painting, and I often wrote or drew on the blackboard."

Tatse's mother died when he was still a child. To give him a better education, his father took him to Tatse's uncle, who was a teacher.

"When I was in sixth grade, my uncle brought me a set of blue picture books. It was a selection of the world's most famous fairytales, and there were eight books."

Containing both pictures and characters, the books were easy to digest, and Tatse finished reading them quickly.

"I was quite excited after reading them," he says.

It was the first time he had seen picture books, and the first time he had experienced the "amazing combination of characters and pictures".

Soon after Tatse began attending high school, his father died. He says it was a big blow, but it also "awakened" him.

"I started studying diligently," he says.

In 2005, he ranked first in his class in the national college exam, and was enrolled at Southwest Jiaotong University in Chengdu, capital of Southwest China's Sichuan province.

Tatse majored in traditional Chinese medicine and international trade, but his chosen fields did not stir his passion.

"I was a little lost in college," he says.

After graduation, he became an English teacher for a training agency in Chengdu. It was there that he developed an interest in education.

In 2013, he returned to Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, and together with three other people, he launched his own training agency. It was then that he officially began his work on picture books.

"An increasing number of people born after 1985 and in the 1990s have become parents," says Tatse. "They know picture books well and many of them want their children to read picture books."

Picture books not only tell stories and spread new knowledge, but also help children to form good reading habits, he says.

In 2014, Tatse and his friends began to create a picture book based on Tibetan legends that advocate mutual respect and love, revering the elderly and caring for the young.

It took a lot of time and effort, but in 2018, the picture book was published.

In the same year, Tatse won a scholarship overseas and left Tibet to continue his education. He majored in early childhood education.

With a broader horizon, Tatse explored the industry further. He launched a public account called "Bedtime Stories for Children "on the instant messaging service WeChat. He also launched a bookshop selling a variety of children's picture books in different languages.

He was able to obtain 3 million yuan ($466,200) in low-interest loans through preferential government policies.

These days, Tatse seizes every opportunity to promote picture books, including via online streaming.

"I hope that more children, and even their parents, will get to enjoy the happiness brought by picture books," he says.
New research center to promote Ming Dynasty tome

Little remains of the original edition of Yongle Dadian, an encyclopedia completed in 1408 after being commissioned by Emperor Yongle during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

However, from what is left of the handwritten tome, which is also known as the Yongle Encyclopedia, it is not difficult to imagine just how impressive it was.

The encyclopedia not only charts the emperor's ambitions, but acts as a reference work for culture and knowledge in China.

It is estimated that some 370 million Chinese characters were included in Yongle Dadian, which comprised 22,937 volumes in 11,095 copies. The catalogs and reading guide alone took up 60 volumes.

Time has taken its toll, and only about 400 copies of a duplicated edition, or just over 3.5 percent of the total, are known to exist.

On May 31, the National Library of China in Beijing announced that the Yongle Encyclopedia Research Center would be established on its premises. The center will promote comprehensive studies of the encyclopedia by teaming up with other institutions in China and overseas.

Zhang Zhiqing, deputy head of the National Center for Preservation and Conservation of Ancient Books, said, "Studies at a deeper level will help us understand the significance of Yongle Dadian in a modern and global context."

The new center will organize academic symposiums for professionals and support the conservation and restoration of the encyclopedia's pages, Zhang said. It will also showcase the work's cultural significance to the public through exhibitions, lectures and other educational programs.

Zhang said that although the work is generally referred to as an "encyclopedia" in the English-speaking world, Yongle Dadian is different from modern encyclopedias that provide summarized introductions of items.

It was known as leishu ("category book").In this type of reference work, lengthy citations or entire works, rather than excerpts, are often included and categorized based on themes and the pronunciation of key words.

More than 600 leishu works were compiled in ancient China, the oldest of them dating to the 3rd century. Some 200 survive either intact or partially. Yongle Dadian is the largest-scale leishu compiled, and is also generally considered one of the biggest paper-based reference books in history.

"It's more like an anthology of knowledge," Zhang said. "When the work was first compiled, it was planned to include everything, from the ancient Confucian classics to poetry, works on history, astrology, geography, medicine and many other topics."

Along with the announcement of the research center, a new gallery featuring Yongle Dadian opened to the public on June 1 at the NLC. Nine copies of the encyclopedia from the library's collection are on display, with a total of more than 40 other related ancient books, maps and cultural relics.

"Looking at the history of Yongle Dadian, we can see one mystery after another," Zhang said. "There are many puzzles for us to solve, so we expect the new center to harness our strengths and achieve breakthroughs."

Good and bad times

In imperial times, Yongle Dadian was meant to be read only by emperors.

In 1403, Zhu Di, or Emperor Yongle, had just won a civil war and seized the throne from his nephew. He commissioned Xie Jin, chief of the cabinet, to compile the encyclopedia in an attempt to appease intellectuals and academics angry with him for starting the war.

"He wanted to show that he ruled the country via culture, not the military," Zhang said.

Leading a team of about 100, Xie handed in a draft the following year, but the emperor was not satisfied, because he thought that it mainly focused on ancient classics and was not inclusive enough.

Yao Guangxiao, a monk and a political adviser to Zhu Di, took over the job as editor-in-chief. More than 2,000 people joined the project to collect books and write the encyclopedia by hand. Over 7,000 kinds of books were eventually referenced in Yongle Dadian.

"It was incredible to finish such a huge project in a relatively short period, because there was no modern library cataloging system in those days," Zhang said.

Starting from just a single word, the editors expanded the subjects they handled. Numerous illustrations on architecture, geography, agriculture, antiques, along with human portraits, can be found in Yongle Dadian.

"In many cases, as long as a certain word appeared in a document, the entire original text would be copied in the encyclopedia, with clear citation for the emperor to refer to," Zhang said.

"Editors kept a word-for-word record of the original documents without paraphrasing or giving their own judgments, ensuring that key historical files throughout Chinese history survived intact."

For Zhu Di, the encyclopedia was a prized work.

As soon as construction of the Forbidden City was completed and the national capital was moved from Nanjing to Beijing in 1421, the emperor took the work, which was kept in the imperial palace, on his travels north.

About 100 years after his death, Yongle Dadian was passed down to Zhu Houcong, or Emperor Jiajing, who took the throne in 1521.

After a fire in the Forbidden City in 1557, the emperor realized there was a serious risk of losing the encyclopedia, so an ambitious project to duplicate Yongle Dadian was launched five years later.

After rigid scrutiny, 109 people were selected nationwide to copy the encyclopedia day and night for years.

Government departments ensured these workers had adequate supplies of writing brushes, paper, food and charcoal for fires to keep them warm.

"Immense resources and a national-level effort went into writing the book, reflecting the country's determination to protect a literary lifeline," Zhang said.

Emperor Jiajing died shortly before completion of the duplication was announced in 1567.

All surviving volumes of Yongle Dadian are from this duplication. No pages of the original work have been found, and it is not mentioned in any historical records after 1567.

"Some people thought the original edition had been buried in Jiajing's mausoleum because the emperor loved it so much," Zhang said. He added that a more commonly accepted theory is that the edition was destroyed in 1644, when the Forbidden City fell into rebels' hands and was set ablaze, marking the end of the Ming Dynasty.

"However, it's still possible that this edition remains intact in an unknown location," Zhang said. "We'll keep looking for it. If we succeed, we can have a direct dialogue to ancient people. After all, Yongle Dadian was a trove of rich files related to literature, history, religion, philosophy and the sciences before the 14th century."

Yongle Dadian was favored by emperors, but when its popularity declined among rulers during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), its destiny inevitably changed.

In the early 18th century, the duplicated work was moved to Hanlinyuan, the imperial academy. According to statistics from 1794, there were 9,881 copies of Yongle Dadian at the academy, indicating that the work was basically still in good condition.

A political crisis emerged in the middle of the 19th century, and the emperors, several of whom succeeded to the throne in childhood, appeared to have little energy and interest in the encyclopedia.

The work's darkest days came after 1860, when Beijing fell to invading Anglo-French forces during the Second Opium War (1856-60). Scholars working at Hanlinyuan had taken copies of the encyclopedia home since then.

According to records from 1875, fewer than 5,000 copies of the work remained. Just one year later, the figure fell to around 3,000, before dropping to 870 in 1892. In 1900, Hanlinyuan became a war zone during the Boxer Rebellion, and hundreds of copies were burned or taken overseas. By 1909, only 64 remained.

"When the country became weak, ancient books were scattered," Zhang said. "While it gained strength, they were reunited. The fate of books reflects a country's destiny."

Retrieval efforts

After the monarchy fell, remnants of Yongle Dadian were included in the first collections at the National Peking Librarynow the NLC. In 1912, the author Lu Xun, an official with the Ministry of Education, led a campaign to bring the former royal collection to the library.

Since then, scholars, collectors and librarians nationwide have devoted their efforts to retrieving lost copies of the work, either through donations or by buying them in China and overseas. The volumes they obtained were brought to the national library.

Lost copies were also returned through diplomatic channels. For example, in 1954, the Soviet Union sent 52 copies to China, while the following year, three were returned from East Germany.

Thanks to these efforts, in recent decades, the national library has housed the biggest collection of Yongle Dadian.

Chen Hongyan, deputy director of the ancient books department at the library, said the institution now has 224 copies of Yongle Dadian, including 62 temporarily stored at the National Palace Museum in Taipei.

During World War II, the copies now in Taipei was secretly taken to the Library of Congress in the United States to avoid them being seized by Japanese invaders. They were brought to Taiwan in 1965.

"The number of copies seems tiny among the 40 million books in our library, but they are a milestone for the lineage of Chinese culture," Chen said.

The 400-odd copies of Yongle Dadian known to exist are in the hands of 30 public institutions or collectors in seven countries, Chen added.

In July, two copies surfaced at an auction in France despite the encyclopedia not being thought to exist in that country. They were bought by a Chinese collector for 65 million yuan ($10 million).

Although the French auction house claimed both copies were bought from a Qing Dynasty official in the 1870s, Zhang doubted this and said they may have found their way overseas through different routes.

He said one copy is a successor to a volume in the British Library, and the other is a predecessor to a volume that is now in Vietnam.

Zhang, from the National Center for Preservation and Conservation of Ancient Books, said, "It's probably no coincidence, because the French School of the Far East (an Asian studies academy) operated in Vietnam during the colonial period."

Another copy, bought for "a relatively low price" by the NLC from a Canadian Chinese collector in 2013, includes a section on the character hu (lake), as do two other copies already housed at the library.

Zhang said: "There are so many clues to clarify. After establishing the new research center, and completing more cross-border joint studies, we expect to get a clearer picture of how copies of the encyclopedia became scattered worldwide."

New discoveries

Xie Dezhi, an associate researcher at the NLC, said, "Thanks to Yongle Dadian, many chapters of ancient works that disappeared in the past were recovered."

For example, during the Qing Dynasty, scholars were able to find a total of 385 books and excerpts from works that were thought to be lost by referring to Yongle Dadian. In the 1930s, even with the encyclopedia in pieces, Zhao Wanli, a librarian, located another 200 works in its pages.

By referring to the character shui (water) in two copies of the encyclopedia on display at the NLC, visitors can learn about the original text for Commentary of the Water Classic, a geography book from the 6th century.

Chen, from the NLC, said: "When a new page of Yongle Dadian is found, it is big news for us. We always have new findings, which allow us to correct previous misunderstandings. These findings can perhaps offer much inspiration for our daily lives today."

For example, in one copy of the work that was found in Shandong province in 1983, and refers to the character men (gate), scholars discovered a detailed record of evolving styles of front doors in ancient China, which was rare in earlier copies.

For the NLC, obtaining just a single copy of Yongle Dadian is no easy task.

Zhao Qian, a researcher from the library, said ancient Chinese books have been in high demand on the auction market in recent years, and prices have risen significantly. As an example, Zhao cited the two copies in France that fetched 65 million yuan.

In other countries, copies of Yongle Dadian have been listed as key cultural relics, making it difficult to repatriate them to China.

Meanwhile, digitization has opened a new door to building a database for the encyclopedia.

The NLC has acquired a total of about 70 copies from the United Kingdom, Germany, the US, Japan and Ireland through photocopied duplicates. Digitized versions of all copies of the encyclopedia collected in public institutions on the Chinese mainland have been published by the national library.

Zhang said, "People in the Ming Dynasty left a huge knowledge graph for us. With new technical approaches, we can manage and analyze digitized information in a scientific way and construct a framework to better understand Chinese civilization."
SF Airlines, China's largest air cargo carrier, has seen its fleet continue to expand, with the latest count at 66 all-cargo freighters, according to the cargo airline on Tuesday.

The airline on Monday welcomed a B767-300BCF all-cargo freighter, the 66th aircraft to join the fleet, said SF Airlines, noting that the addition came amid the summer air logistics peak.

The B767-300BCF long-range widebody freighter will support SF Airlines in expanding its global network, and will enhance the company's express delivery capacity and performance during peak seasons.

It is the fifth all-cargo freighter that SF Airlines has put into operation in 2021.

Headquartered in Shenzhen, SF Airlines is the aviation branch of China's delivery giant SF Express. Committed to optimizing its capacity and improving its fleet composition, the cargo airline has expanded its global network to 81 destinations at home and abroad.

China's international air cargo transport capacity has been sustained by the effective green channel measures adopted during the pandemic. The sector has contributed to the transport of vital supplies and the stability of global supply chains.
You are here: Business

A new freight train route has been launched, linking Hamburg in Germany and the city of Wuwei in northwest China's Gansu Province, local authorities said on Tuesday.

A train carrying 771 tonnes of containers with a total value of approximately 36.3 million yuan (5.67 million U.S. dollars) departed from Wuwei on Sunday, inaugurating the service.

The train is expected to arrive in Hamburg in early July after traveling through China's Alataw Pass, said the Gansu (Wuwei) international inland port administration committee.

It is the land port's first China-Europe freight train to Hamburg, also its second China-Europe freight train to Germany this year.

The goods aboard the new route's first train are mainly auto parts, office supplies, household appliances and intelligent package delivery lockers. The train will travel approximately 8,700 km to reach its final destination in Germany.
The Work Safety Committee of China's State Council will supervise the investigation into a deadly gas explosion in central China's Hubei Province, the Ministry of Emergency Management said Monday.

The blast occurred on Sunday morning at a two-story building in a residential community in Zhangwan District in the city of Shiyan, killing 12 people and injuring 138 others, according to local authorities.

The building has 19 stores, including drugstores and eateries, on its first floor, while the second floor consists of activity rooms and has no dwellers.

The ministry, together with the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development and other departments, has launched a special campaign to ensure gas safety in wholesale markets and catering businesses, among other workplaces.

Working groups from the central departments have been sent to guide the handling of the accident, while a national medical team has also been dispatched to Shiyan.

Rescue and treatment of the injured are underway.
 Flash

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday that he held a "fruitful and sincere" meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden.

In their first face-to-face meeting on the fringes of the NATO summit, the two leaders discussed a variety of issues including the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and the vaccine situation.

"There are no outstanding problems between the United States and Turkey that cannot be solved. On the contrary, there are many areas where we could focus on prospective and fruitful cooperation," Erdogan told journalists at a news conference.

"Our history goes back a long time and we managed to exchange views on a vast area of issues. We also focused on the incidents on which we have different opinions and, in a very constructive fashion, talked about areas where we could further explore cooperation," he said.

"We agreed on the necessity to effectively use dialogue channels between our nations in a regular fashion so, at the end of the day, it was a very fruitful and very sincere meeting. We also underlined the fact that bilateral cooperation should be revitalized," he added.

Describing his relationship with Biden as "long-standing," Erdogan said he invited Biden to visit Turkey, adding that Biden indicated that he might pay a visit once his intense schedule allows it.

Addressing a separate press conference, Biden also mentioned the meeting: "We had a positive and productive meeting, much of it one-on-one. We had detailed discussions about how to proceed on a number of issues ... Our teams are going to continue our discussions and I'm confident we will make real progress with Turkey and the United States."
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Russian President Vladimir Putin has denounced actions aimed at driving a wedge between Moscow and Beijing, stressing that China is a strategic partner, not a threat.

"We can see attempts to destroy the relationship between Russia and China. We can see that those attempts are being made in practical policies," Putin said in an interview with U.S. television network NBC published on Monday.

"We are pleased with the unprecedentedly high level of our relationship as it has evolved over the last few decades. We cherish it just like our Chinese friends do, which we can see," he said.

Putin praised "a high level of trust and cooperation in all areas" between the two countries, from politics and economy to technology and military.

"We do not believe that China is a threat to us. China is a friendly nation. It has not declared us an enemy as the United States has done," he said.

A huge and powerful country, China has been developing with its great economy and a tremendous volume of foreign trade, he added.

"We have been working and will continue to work with China, which applies to all kinds of programs, including exploring deep space," the Russian leader concluded.
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A glider and a small plane crashed in high mountains in eastern Switzerland on Saturday causing five deaths, local police said Monday.

The accidents occurred above Bivio in the eastern Swiss canton of Graubunden, where two pilots and three passengers died in the crashes. It is unclear if the accidents are linked.

The glider took off on Saturday from Amlikon in canton Thurgau north of Graubunden with a single pilot on board. The Robin DR400 light aircraft, meanwhile, left Colombier in canton Neuchatel in western Switzerland on Saturday with a pilot and three passengers -- a man, woman and child, according to the police.

The small light aircraft made a stopover at Samedan in canton Graubunden before continuing at 5:20 p.m. local time on its route towards Locarno in canton Ticino.

The Swiss air rescue service Rega contacted the police at 9:30 p.m. on Saturday to inform them that a glider had crashed above Bivio and that the pilot had died. But it was then impossible to access the crash site located at 2,700 meters above sea level due to poor weather.

Rescue teams were able to reach the crashed glider on Sunday. Then they discovered the small aircraft and the dead pilot and passengers. The plane had crashed approximately one kilometer from the glider.

Local officials of Graubunden have opened an investigation to determine the causes of the two accidents and to find out if they were linked.

Plane crashes with five or more fatalities are rare in Switzerland. In 2018, a vintage Junkers Ju-52 plane crashed near Flims in canton Graubunden, killing all 20 passengers.
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Britain reported another 7,742 COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases in the country to 4,573,419, according to official figures released Monday.

The country also recorded another three coronavirus-related deaths, bringing the total number of coronavirus-related deaths in Britain to 127,907. These figures only include the deaths of people who died within 28 days of their first positive test.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to announce a delay of four weeks in lifting lockdown restrictions in England later Monday, the Sky News reported.

Sky News quoted a government source as saying that the lifting of restrictions will not take place on June 21 and it will instead be postponed until July 19.

Johnson is also expected to say that the delay will allow millions more people to be vaccinated and more to receive a second jab by the end of July, according to the report.

More than 41.6 million people have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine and more than 29.9 million have received their second dose across Britain, according to the latest official figures.

To bring life back to normal, countries such as Britain, China, Russia, the United States as well as the European Union have been racing against time to roll out coronavirus vaccines.
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Britain will face "retaliatory measures" if it refuses to respect engagements made regarding the Brexit deal, French Minister of State for European Affairs Clement Beaune warned on Monday.

"(British Prime Minister) Boris Johnson thinks that you can sign deals with the Europeans, not respect them and Europe will not react. It is a test for Europe," Beaune told Europe 1 radio.

"I am telling the British people that commitments must be respected...and if not, we will take trade retaliatory measures," said Beaune.

"We exclude nothing...we have enough to defend our interests, and we will do," Beaume said when asked whether differences on the Northern Ireland Protocol, part of the Brexit deal, could evolve into a trade war between the European Union (EU) and Britain.

Under the Northern Ireland Protocol, which came into force on Jan. 1, 2021, food products from Britain to the EU will have to enter through new border control posts at Northern Ireland's ports.

Northern Ireland, as part of the United Kingdom, will continue to apply EU customs rules at its ports, to allow goods to flow into the Republic of Ireland, a member of the EU, and the rest of the EU bloc.

Such an arrangement led to the so-called Irish Sea border, an informal term for the new trade border between Northern Ireland and the other parts of Britain.

The British government has threatened to unilaterally extend again the customs "grace period," which was set to end on June 30, to October on Irish Sea border checks, over which the EU has vowed retaliation.

"When you leave the European Union, you necessarily have a number of barriers," said Beaune. "I cannot tell Europeans that the British, via Northern Ireland, could export to us without any control of the products."

"Boris Johnson wants there to be no border between Northern Ireland and Britain, and we want to say 'you made the choice of Brexit, you can't have the butter and the money for butter.'" he said.
Christian leaders in Pakistan called out for a concrete action against forced conversions happening in the country, reports say.

The International Christian Concern (ICC) reported that Pakistan Christian leaders have called out on the need to take action against the forced conversions and the abductions being done on Hindi and Christian minors.

Last March, Christianity Daily reported that a 13-year-old Christian girl from Lahore, Pakistan was kidnapped and forced to convert to Islam so she can also illegally marry a Muslim man. The child's parents filed a case for statutory rape and illegal marriage in the Lahore High Court to recover their daughter, who remains with the Muslim man. Pakistan is said to rank fourth in the world for having the most abduction cases.

The ICC cited a report by Asia News that reveal the lack of support for minority rights.

"In our country, we have laws, commissions and a constitution that supports minority rights, but, unfortunately, some religious and political parties have become an obstacle to implementing them," Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace Activist Mariyam Kashif said during an interview with Asia News.

Asia News said the Archdiocese of Karachi conducted a seminar on the topic last Friday to create awareness among the Korangi district families that the church is beside them on the issue of forced conversions and of the abduction of minors for marital purposes. The outlet pointed out that the lack of support for minors has been going on since 2017 amid penalties indicated in the Pakistan Code on a three-to-seven year imprisonment capped with a fine of $3,200 for forced marriages.

ICC added that Christian leaders have raised the need to enact laws that will combat and criminalize forced conversions and abductions, as well as, to raise the marrying age to 18. The said laws are hoped to preserve Christians and Hindus in Pakistan.

Currently, ICC said Pakistan's laws criminalize abduction, underage sexual intercourse, and forced marriage but its implementation is often dependent on the religion of the plaintiffs.

"However, when the issue of religion is introduced into these cases, courts often side with the abductors, accepting forged marriage and conversion certificates," ICC disclosed.

Persecution for religious minorities such as Christians, Sikhs, and Hindus, continue in Pakistan where blasphemy laws are used to impose "harsh punishments" on them and serves as a means to discriminate them.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan announced last May that he wanted their blasphemy laws to be globally passed. ICC said Khan's call to expand the blasphemy laws come after the radical political party Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan have called for the government to expel a French ambassador who allegedly depicted the Prophet Muhammad as a cartoon. A case on the blasphemy law involved Christian nurses who were charged with it after allegedly scratching post-its that featured verses from the Quran.

Pakistan was recently reported to ally with the Chinese Communist Party's propaganda as it vowed to engage in a crackdown on the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, an alleged "Uyghur terrorist" group that no longer exists.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was recently asked if he is now now a practicing Catholic to which he was reported to quote the Bible to stress his belief in God.

The Christian Post reported that Johnson quoted from the book of Psalms when he was asked by a reporter during the G7 Summit in England if he believes in God in comparison to the British Labour Party's Sir Keir Starmer who professed he doesn't.

"The foolish man has said in his heart there is no God," Johnson quoted Psalm 14:1 in response to the reporter. This can also be found in Psalm 53:1.

The Christian Post pointed out that Johnson previously did not "discuss these deep issues" with the media, citing an incident with ITV Robert Peston. Johnson is known to be a baptized Catholic but was married as an Anglican to his two former wives before his recent marriage, such that he received the criticism of Jesuit Priest Rev. Fr. James Martin, who is popular for his support of the LGBTQ+ community's same-sex union.

"#BorisJohnson, a twice-divorced man, whose girlfriend recently had a baby with him out of wedlock (and who also has another child out of wedlock) was married in a Catholic ceremony in Westminster Cathedral, the seat of English Catholicism. At the same time, a same-sex couple who are both Catholics (unlike Mr. Johnson, who was confirmed as an Anglican) cannot have their civil union blessed even in private by a priest because 'God does not and cannot bless sin...'," Martin said in Twitter during Johnson's wedding at the beginning of this month.

As per Christian Post, Johnson's faith has become controversial recently in Britain being its first Catholic prime minister while in office since he could no longer send Queen Elizabeth the names of bishops that could be appointed to the Church of England.

The Times explained that Johnson can not continue sending the names of new Church of England bishops to Queen Elizabeth for it will endanger him from being removed from his post as prime minister based on the Roman Catholic Relief Act of 1829. The said ancient law states that no "person professing the Roman Catholic religion" can recommend or advise the appointment of a new bishop to the Church of England.

The times said violation of the said law punishes those "guilty of a high misdemeanor, and disabled for ever from holding any office, civil or military, under the Crown." The ancient law was ratified in 2007 to simply provide names for the said post to be done by the prime minister.

As such, Johnson can no longer do that having professed being a Catholic once more. He has delegated Lord Chancellor Robert Buckland to do this for him instead.

The law provides for this delegation in its No. 10 article that says, "The palace can designate another minister to advise the Queen. The lord chancellor looks like the one to be nominated. It's an incredibly anarchronistic thing that a Jew or a Muslim could nominate a bishop but not a Catholic."

Johnson actually did this last year for the appointment of the Bishop of Chelmsford that brought persecution upon himself along with being criticized for his lockdown rules that included a ban on worship services by Christian leaders. His ban on Christmas gatherings also elicited criticism, most notably from former President Donald Trump.
A man from Massachusetts was swallowed by a whale last Friday while lobster diving off the Cape Cod coast that earned him the title of "real-life Jonah."

The Christian Post said 56-year-old Michael Packard from Wellfleet took a second dive to get lobsters 10 feet from the ocean floor when he suddenly found himself in darkness.

"All of a sudden, I felt this huge shove, and the next thing I knew, it was completely black," Packard recounted in an interview with Cape Cod Times.

"I could sense I was moving, and I could feel the whale squeezing with the muscles in his mouth. I was completely inside; it was completely black," he continued. "I thought to myself, 'there's no way I'm getting out of here. I'm done. I'm dead.' All I could think of was my boys--they're 12 and 15 years old."

Cape Cod Times said Packard was a professional and licensed commercial lobster diver who went to Herring Cove Beach in his "Ja'n J" vessel for his usual catch along with a fleet of boats after striped bass.

Packard, who studied Marine Technology and Fisheries at the University of Rhode Island, initially thought he was in a great white shark since it was common in the area. However, he figured he didn't suffer any visible wounds and he couldn't feel any teeth that he deducted he was swallowed by a humpback whale. He struggled inside that pushed the great mammal to shake its head that eventually lead him being brought back outside after 30 to 40 seconds when the whale surfaced again.

"I saw light, and he started throwing his head side to side, and the next thing I knew I was outside (in the water)," he said.

Packard was bought by those in the area when he was released by the whale to Hyannis' Cape Cod Hospital. He did not suffer any broken bones or any major injuries except "a lot of soft tissue damage."

"I was in his closed mouth for about 30 to 40 seconds before he rose to the surface and spit me out. I am very bruised up but have no broken bones. I want to thank the Provincetown rescue squad for there caring and help," Packard announced in Facebook on Saturday.

Josiah Mayo, who was a crewman present at that time, relayed to Packard's sister, Cynthia, what he saw when the whale came to the surface. Mayo narrated that "there was all this action at the top of the water" when the whale burst to the surface. The great mammal then spurted Packard into the sea before it went back into the deep.

Mayo then took Packard before he radioed to shore for emergency assistance. He was met at Princetown pier by personnel from the local fire department who placed Packard in an ambulance and rushed him to the hospital.

Global News explained that Packard managed to live since humpback whales are really gentle giants who have no interest in humans and what happened was a mere accident, according to Marine Biologist Iain Kerr who was asked in an interview.

"The whale does not want a human dessert. (He) just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time," Kerr pointed out.

Kerr said that there were only two incidents similar to Packard's that he's heard in the thirty years of his encounter with whales and both incidents were purely accidental.

Packard's son, Jacob, created a Reddit post for him to answer questions people may have on surviving "being inside of a whale." As of writing time, the thread has already garnered 8,700 comments from people asking various questions on his experience along with other encounters he had in the deep.
Arizona State Senator Wendy Rogers threatened President Joe Biden's Attorney General Merrick Garland with imprisonment for meddling with the election audit.

WND reported that Rogers took to Twitter to threaten Garland from meddling with the Arizona election audit after the latter warned states that they will be coming out with new laws allegedly meant "to curb voter access."

WND explained that Garland was pertaining to the adoption of new rules and regulations by some states for election integrity. This is on top of election audits being undertaken by some of the states he mentioned.

"You will not touch Arizona ballots or machines unless you want to spend time in an Arizona prison. Maybe you should focus on stopping terrorism. The Justice Department is one of the most corrupt institutions in the USA," Rogers said on Saturday.

Rogers actually retweeted a post by Disclose.tv containing a video of Garland that announced the Department of Justice will "scrutinize any post-election audits for evidence of voting law violations."

"The free state of Arizona will not tolerate this federal meddling," Rogers continued in a succeeding post, this time retweeting a post by Michigan lawyer Matthew S. DePerno.

DePerno, who revealed last month that "anyone who has access" to the election tabulators can change the election results, said in his tweet also on Saturday that a source has informed him that Garland is out to "seize" the Arizona audit and prevent its "results to be published."

"A source tells me Merrick Garland and the DOJ are weighing two options: 1) shut down the AZ audit by seizing everything now or 2) allowing the results to be published. They are debating the anger of 72 million voters vs. the potential decertification of multiple states. 1 or 2?" DePerno disclosed.

In a third tweet, Rogers pointed out that Garland has no right to meddle with the Arizona audit because several courts have already approved it to be undertaken. His only recourse, Rogers stressed, would be to file a lawsuit to attempt them from ceasing the audit.

"If Attorney General Merrick Garland thinks he has a right to our ballots and machines he should go to court. If he uses force when multiple courts have already authorized this audit he will be in violation of the law. Lawless thugs is all they will be!" She said.

WND pointed out that only state lawmakers are given by the U.S. Constitution authority to change state laws when it comes to elections, even amid emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic, but various officials broke the law by changing rules to accommodate ballots during the pandemic.

WND added that Arizona is already almost done with its audit for Maricopa County's 2.1 million ballots.

Many officials reacted against Garland including New York City Police Department Commissioner Bernard Kerik who said he wished the Department of Justice would give the same interest in the audits as they did for the clamor on election fraud. However, they did not do their job on it since no investigation was actually initiated for Georgia, Arizona, and Michigan from their end.

While Arizona Representative Mark Finchem called Garland and the Department of Justice "a clown show" since the jurisdiction over the audit is solely the state's. This was seconded by former U.S. House candidate for Arizona Josh Barnett who emphasized that the Arizona Constitution clearly stated the Department of Justice can not "interfere with the people's business" since they have "no jurisdiction" in it.

(Correction: Updated to correct AG Merrick Garland's name. It was previously mispelled as Merlick. We apologize for the confusion this might have caused.)
At her high school graduation, a student in Massachusetts bound for Harvard demonstrated an incredible act of generosity by declining a $40,000 scholarship and requesting that it be donated to someone who was more in need.

According to WBZ News, Verda Tetteh, a recent Fitchburg High School graduate, has been given an extra $40,000 scholarship to help her pay for books, computers, and living expenses.

She described receiving the money as "an honor," but she believes it would be better used to help other students who are struggling with their finances. She advised that the money be distributed to one or more students since she had other scholarships in reserve.

"I'm excited to see who it helps and how that changes their life, so I am so happy that God gave me the strength to do that," Tetteh told the outlet.

After she made the announcement, the audience, which included her fellow students, their families, teachers, and school officials, rose to their feet and clapped and cheered her.

"When she started speaking on the microphone, I was overwhelmed," Principal Jeremy Roche told CNN. "I think a lot of people in the stadium were, honestly."

I was so moved by her generosity," he added.

Her inspiration

Verda Tetteh, according to CBN, was encouraged to do somethings because of her Christian faith as well as by her mother, who finished college at the age of 47 at a community college.

Rosemary Tetteh, Verda's mother, was pleased with her daughter's gesture and she expressed confidence in her daughter's readiness for life.

"Now I'm 100 percent sure she is ready to go into the world on her own," she said.

Rosemary had emigrated from Ghana before settling in the United Kingdom with Tetteh. CNN reports that she is presently employed in two jobs, one of which is an overnight shift at a group home.

"I'm not afraid, and I'm not sad about it that someone's going to get some good help. If I had gotten that help, I would have been thrilled," she told CNN.

"We're blessed to be a blessing," Verda Tetteh said. "I thought that I was in the position where God has blessed me so much, and I thought it was the right thing to do to bless somebody else."

She was well aware that community college had made a significant difference in her mother's life, and she understood how far the money would go toward supporting a college degree, reports USA Today. Consequently, she expressed her desire to give the scholarship to a community college student at the event, asking that the administration accept her request.

A blessing multiplied

School officials said they are in the process of reaching out to the family that had originally established the scholarship to see if they are interested in redistributing the funds.

Fitchburg High School Principal Jeremy Roche stated on Sunday that, due to the magnitude of the prize, more than one student would benefit from Tetteh's generosity.

Every year over the next four years, Roche added, the organization will be able to provide many scholarships to deserving students.

"What she did, it represents the best of humanity, in a sense," Roche said of the selfless 17-year-old.
A California minister explains how the main challenge to American Christianity today is not men who identify as women and vice-versa, but "wolves" who call themselves Christians.

According to Mario Murillo, there are more false teachers and erroneous teaching nowadays than ever before. He defines them as "arrogant and heartless wolves the church has ever seen." Not only that, he said that this season has produced some of the most "gullible Christians" in history.

As proof, he pointed to preachers who claimed that they could visit heaven anytime they wanted, and who said that they saw T-Rexes that the children could mount. He also spoke of false prophets who charged money for daily prophetic words as if they're horoscopes, as well as Christians who divorced their first wives because they had discovered their "soul mate."

"How can Christians be so gullible now?" he asked. "With the evil that is being thrown at us every day-wouldn't you think that believers would be on red alert to spot deception? Wouldn't you imagine they would be digging into the Word of God, instead of chasing questionable emotional experiences?"

It made perfect sense to him, though, when he said that "Satan has sent this herd of wolves just at the right time, to devour and derail the Body of Christ from saving America."

"Transgenderism is dangerous but wolves in the church are even more dangerous," he went on. "That is why I say the chief threat to American Christianity is not men who identify as women, but wolves who identify as sheep."

He noted that when Jesus was questioned about the end of the world, he said, "Take heed that you are not deceived!"

Similarly, the apostle Paul warned the church about these "wolves" for three years with tears.

Spotting wolves in the church

Murillo then enumerated characteristics that would indicate a wolf in sheep's clothing, such as making improper financial demands, probing into people's relationships, and breaching personal privacy.

They're also well-known for warning believers that God will punish them if they leave their church or if they leave the authority of their leader, coming out of their control.

Although they are continually enthralled by the prospect of discussing mystical experiences and messages they have received from God, they will prevent anybody from assessing their claims using God's Word, the Bible.

They also attempt to isolate a believer from crucial relationships in his life, causing him to think that he is incapable of making life choices without the consent and approval of these phony Christian leaders and pastors.

Dealing with wolves in the church

There is, however, a means to deal with these "wolves," Murillo said.

"There is only one way to treat a wolf-run and do not look back," he said.

"Do not even bother to explain why. Then find a church that operates in the freedom of the Holy Spirit and that is based solidly on the Bible. One that builds up its members, rather than tearing them down."

This same minister, who saw a revival in California earlier this year, issued a severe warning to these "wolves" dressed as lambs.

"God hates your works. When you dare to touch the sheep of God, you make yourself His enemy," he said.
Redeemer Presbyterian Church Founding Pastor Tim Keller revealed the positive development on his health following a cancer diagnosis last year.

In a series of tweets, the pastor shared about the findings of his recent scan.

"...I had a scan in May that was extremely encouraging, showing no cancer growth under less aggressive chemotherapy. A surgery at the end of May removed several nodules that had remained unchanged for 9 months," he said.

He added that he still has visible cancer on his pancreas but was hoping that it will disappear by the grace of God.

"At this point the only visible cancer is the primary tumor on the pancreas. We are praying that it will decrease to the point of invisibility or remain unchanged. In any event, we want to glorify God by 'running the race set before us with perseverance,'" the pastor wrote.

He also said that God "is always, loving, wise and good." Keller further stated that he enjoys his time writing and speaking, as well as with his grandchildren. He also expressed his gratitude to the people praying for him.

Last April, the minister told The Christian Post about his realization of death and the relevance of resurrection in the face of an impending demise.

He revealed that he was completing his book, "Hope in Times of Fear: The Resurrection and the Meaning of Easter," when he learned about his cancer the other year. The discovery of his disease has impacted his view on resurrection.

To dig deeper into his topic, the author studied the historical evidence of Jesus' resurrection, prayed and read the Bible, all while undergoing his treatment in 2020.

He said that it took him months to "take [his] abstract belief down into [his] heart" before he could "existentially and experientially know it." Moreover, he declared that by embracing the truth of God's Word and the power of the Holy Spirit, full understanding of death and resurrection is possible.

In addition, Keller revealed that in the face of death, a person's view of the world changes. It also magnifies the essence of resurrection. Earthly things become "less crucial" and not too important anymore, adding that a person needs not to be happy.

"Once I believe that I start to enjoy them more. I don't try to turn them into God; I don't try to turn them into Heaven, which is the only thing that can really satisfy my heart," he continued.

"You find that you have to really have a real spiritual experience of God's reality so that the things of this Earth 'grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace,'" Keller further said.

In his book, the pastor also discussed the connection of resurrection and New Creation to issues that Christians need to address, such as social relationships, race, sexuality and systemic injustice.

Finally, the minister shared that though he is praying to have more years to live, he is "spiritually" ready for whatever decision God has for him.

"I do know that the resurrection of Jesus Christ really happened. And when I die, I will know that resurrection too," Keller concluded.

Readers are urged to please pray for the complete healing of Pastor Keller.
A parent from Illinois who hosts a weekend radio show condemned critical race theory during a crowded district school board meeting. Ty Smith, a father who believes that critical race theory is deeply flawed, criticized schools for teaching the controversial ideology that has gotten parents across the nation upset and frustrated.

Faithwire reported that Smith, a black man, began his speech by sharing a personal experience from childhood, in which he and other children who were on public assistance were forced to be the last to receive lunch in grade school. As a third-grader, he became frustrated that his friends who were not in his group and stopped talking to them. As an adult, he realized that it was not their fault that they were being segregated.

"I'm mad at them for something that wasn't even their fault... they weren't looking down on me. They didn't think they were better than me," Smith argued. "I'm the one that came up with those false perceptions of what my friends were. Not them."

Smith likened this experience to critical race theory, which he believes is going to be "teaching kids to hate each other, how to dislike each other." He then went on to dismantle the critical race theory tenet that white people have it better in life because they are white and that black people are oppressed because of white people and gave his personal experience as proof that none of it was true.

"How do I have two medical degrees if I'm sitting here oppressed?" Smith asked, eliciting cheers from other parents and attendees at the crowded meeting. "No mom, no dad in the house. Worked my way through college, sat there and hustled my butt off to get through college."

Smith blasted the assumption that white people "kept him from" accomplishing his achievements. He said, "Not one white person ever came to me and said 'well, son, you know you'll never be able to get anywhere because the black people.'"

The Illinois parent pointed out how black people today are being taught that they won't be successful because "the white man is going to keep you down." Smith said that his own experience taught him that no white person oppressed him and that critical race theory is a "lie" that is the "complete reverse" of Martin Luther King's teachings to judge people by their character and not their skin color or race.

Parents all over the U.S. are growing increasingly concerned of how critical race theory is being taught to young minds in various educational institutions. So much so that Florida has become the fifth state to prohibit schools from teaching critical race theory to about 2.8 million children in the state's public schools, Forbes reported.

Florida Education Association, the state's teachers union, rallied against the ban on critical race theory, arguing instead on a proposal that would "reflect a more diverse America than are represented in our founding documents." Their proposal was dismissed. Four other states have banned critical race theory in public schools: Arkansas, Tennessee, Oklahoma and Idaho.
A 27 year old North Korean defector and human rights activist is sounding the alarm on woke ideologies being taught in schools, which serve as a threat to the future of America. Yeonmi Park, who fled North Korea as a 13 year old and later went on to transfer to Columbia University from a South Korean university in 2016, has a lot to say about the woke ideology infiltrating American schools today.

"I expected that I was paying this fortune, all this time and energy, to learn how to think. But they are forcing you to think the way they want you to think," Park told FOX News during a recent interview. "I realized, wow, this is insane. I thought America was different but I saw so many similarities to what I saw in North Korea that I started worrying."

Park reported that like North Korea, the U.S. had an "anti-Western sentiment, collective guilt and suffocating political correctness" and immediately saw red flags upon attending university. She recalled how during orientation at Columbia University, she enthusiastically shared how she loved reading classic literature such as Jane Austen.

A university staff member then criticized her reading preferences, saying that writers such as Jane Austen had a "colonial mindset" and were in fact "racists and bigots'' who were "subconsciously brainwashing" their readers. Park also observed that all of her classes at the Ivy League school featured anti-American propaganda much like that of which she experienced in North Korea. She recounted how in North Korea, they would refer to westerners as "American bastards." She was shocked to learn that the very same terms were used in math problems.

Park was even more shocked to know that one person can be referred to as "they" if they choose to identify as non-binary. She said, "It felt like the regression in civilization."

It was not too long before Park got into arguments with students and professors at Columbia University. The human rights activist soon learned that it was better to remain silent to maintain a good GPA and graduate from the school. She observed, "Even North Korea is not this nuts, North Korea was pretty crazy, but not this crazy."

Now, Park worries for the future of America. She told the New York Post that one of the first things taught in Columbia University was that "every problem is because of white men." The racist discussions on white privilege reminded her of the North Korean caste system, where people were categorized based on their ancestors.

According to Park, the future of America will be "as bleak as North Korea" if it goes down the path of teaching woke ideology to the youth. Today, she advocates against it and hopes to raise awareness about what true oppression is like. In her 2015 memoir, "In Order to Live," she details her journey as a North Korea defector who experienced human trafficking as she traveled to China and South Korea before finding refuge in New York in 2016.

Watch the latest video at <a href="https://www.foxnews.com" mce_href="https://www.foxnews.com">foxnews.com</a>
Bethany Christian Services, a Christian adoption agency in the U.S., shocked the Christian community when it announced in March that they will begin to provide adoption services to LGBT parents and same-sex couples nationwide. Now, they are once again breaking ground by campaigning against the Multi-Ethnic Placement Act (MEPA), which was designed to remove barriers to adopting children of color but also prevents the education of parents before deciding to adopt a child of another race.

According to Faithwire, Bethany Christian Services believes that MEPA "limits the proper education of parents before a trans-racial adoption," because under the legislation, all adoptions must be treated the same, which means that no special treatment, seminars, or education should be given to parents who choose to adopt a child of color." The faith-based adoption agency believes otherwise, just as Be the Bridge does.

Be the Bridge is an organization geared towards equipping people with the right tools for racial reconciliation and inter-racial community building. Tiffany Henness, an educator in trans-racial adoption training at Be the Bridge, supports Bethany Christian Services' decision to push for trans-racial adoptions and the education it needs to succeed.

Henness, who is an Asian-American adopted by white parents as a child, argued that "a white parent should have the tools, language, and understanding about how to help a child of color grow into a healthy racial identity; grow into a healthy sense of who God made them to be and all God made them to be."

Heness shared that her white parents, while doing their best to raise an adopted child of color, had a "colorblind" philosophy that was "short-sighted." She added that growing up, there were things in her environment that taught her to "hate the Chinese or Asian part" of her because that was what made her different. Heness believes that if parents like hers had training and relationships with Asian-Americans, they would have been able to be "proactive" in guiding her through her feelings and experiences as a person of color.

Others are criticizing Bethany Christian Services for their ideason trans-racial adoptions, just as they received backlash for letting same-sex couples foster children. Radiance Foundation co-founder Ryan Bomberger, who was raised in a trans-racial home, does not feel the need for extra education for parents on race because these parents "understood that they were called to love, they just set out wanting to adopt those that the world said would be unwanted and unloved."

Despite the "woke" criticism and backlash, Bethany Christian Services stays firm in their commitment to "equip families who are adopting trans-racially to understand their adoptive children and support them as they develop a sense of who they are."

Bethany Christian Services allowed same-sex couples to foster children in Philadelphia after a city ordered the implementation of a non-discrimination rule that was violated by the Catholic Social Services (CSS), which later filed a case arguing that the non-discrimination rule violated their religious freedom. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Supreme Court is set to decide on the Fulton v. City of Philadelphia case this month.
In the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, many scientists, led by EcoHealth Alliance executive Peter Daszak were quick to shun the Wuhan lab leak theory, which posited that the coronavirus had been a result of virus weaponization studies that had been mishandled in China. An investigation by the World Health Organization earlier this month found that it was "highly unlikely" that such a lab leak would occur.

But now, with U.S. intelligence reports hinting at Wuhan researchers getting sick with COVID-like symptoms as early as November 2019, another investigation, under the Biden administration, is underway to uncover the truth about the virus' origins. And China's "bat woman" Dr. Shi Zhengli isn't too happy about it.

According to the New York Times, some scientists believe that Dr. Shi's "risky experiments" with bat coronaviruses that were conducted at Wuhan Institute of Virology may have been the source of COVID-19, which has taken the lives of 3.81 million people worldwide to date. Twenty-four scientists from the U.S., Europe, Australia, and Japan, led by Jamie Metzl, senior fellow at the Atlantic Council think tank, have come together to openly call for an unbiased investigation into the Wuhan lab leak theory, Reuters reported in April. Dr. Shi appears to have felt the pressure to disprove the theory.

"How on earth can I offer up evidence for something where there is no evidence?" Dr. Shi said angrily during what the NYTimes called a "brief, unscheduled conversation." China's "bat woman" added in a text message, "I don't know how the world has come to this, constantly pouring filth on an innocent scientist."

The NYTimes report added that in a "rare interview over email," Dr. Shi called the allegations of the Wuhan lab leak theory and the report that several Wuhan scientists had fallen ill in November as baseless. She insists that the Wuhan lab where she works is not the source of COVID-19. However, China's refusal to allow international investigators beyond the lab's deepest corridors make it difficult to believe Dr. Shi's claims, especially when the Wuhan Institute of Virology lab is known to be working on bat coronaviruses.

As China continues to face mounting pressure from international leaders and governments to open up their doors and support an unbiased investigation into the Wuhan lab leak theory, Dr. Shi appears to have bought them some time with her denial. Red State argues that despite the Chinese Communist Party's affinity for secrecy and control, transparency must still be demanded of them. Especially when people like Dr. Shi are complicit in hiding the truth about the virus that caused a global pandemic.

Most recently, a Chinese defector had provided information to U.S. investigators about the Wuhan lab leak theory, which was confirmed by U.S. intelligence. China may be growing anxious that their cover will soon be blown by Western investigators. The Wuhan lab leak theory regained traction this year for a reason and that reason are the clues that point to how Wuhan scientists are truly engaged in the development of deadly, more dangerous viruses. In fact, it has been reported on by the media in the last decade.

In 2015, Vice ran a story on how scientists have "created a hybrid version of a virus that could be the world's next pandemic, a 'SARS 2.0'" through gain of function research. It has raised ethical questions, with Paris Pasteur Institute virologist Simon Wain-Hobson offering an ominous warning: "If the virus escaped, nobody could predict the trajectory."

Dr. Ralph Baric, an epidemiology professor at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill who worked with China's "bat woman" in studying coronaviruses said that the new "highly pathogenic" virus that they were studying "grew equally well to SARS in human cells. It resisted all vaccines and immunotherapy, too." His statements confirm what Dr. Shi denies: that coronavirus studies were in fact being conducted at the Wuhan lab.

Interestingly, back in 2017, prior to former President Donald Trump's presidency, Dr. Anthony Fauci, whose National Institutes of Health funded the EcoHealth Alliance which in turn granted funding to the Wuhan Institute of Virology for gain of function experiments, predicted that the then-new Head of State will "no doubt" be faced with a "surprise infectious disease outbreak."

All of these details seem to indicate that COVID-19 didn't just accidentally happened., and that the pandemic wasn't a surprise.
Rev. Polycarp Zango, a minister of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), has been freed by his kidnappers after being kept hostage since October 19, 2020, according to reports.

According to a report Our Nigeria, which was also picked up by CBN, the pastor was released by Boko Haram militants with the help of Ambassador Ummu Kalthum Muhammad, chairman and founder of the Kalthum Foundation for Peace.

Mr. Bulama Mohammed, the NGO's Executive Director, said that attempts to free the Reverend and other detainees had been ongoing since January.

He also said that no ransom was paid in exchange for the clergyman's release.

"To the best of my knowledge, no ransom was paid to get the clergyman released. You can confirm this from his family and his church," he said in a statement to Our Nigeria.

Furthermore, according to Mohammed, the John Pofi Foundation supported and even pressed KFP to release the Reverend since he was in serious condition.

The backstory

In November, a video was aired in which Zango begged the Plateau State Government and his church for help.

"On Monday, 19 October 2020, I was traveling to Gombe for a church conference when we encountered the caliphate's armed men who captured me along the way, and right now I'm with them," he explained.

"They too captured two Christian women who are also here with me. I'm appealing that you all do all that is possible to secure our release from captivity."

Members of the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) were responsible for his captivity, as well as the abduction of two other Christians women.

According to the International Christian Concern (ICC), Rev. Polycarp Zango has appealed to Governor Simon Lalong, state Senator I.D. Gyang, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), and COCIN for intervention in securing his release.

On ISWAP, the ICC said that the extremist organization has a history of kidnapping and murdering Christians who do not pay ransoms.

In fact, following Zango's abduction, according to an earlier account on the incident, Boko Haram launched an assault in the northeastern Borno state, killing 12 people and kidnapping three more women and their four children.

Rev. Lawan Andami, district chairman of the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria (EYN), was kidnapped and assassinated early this year in Michika County, Adamawa state. Additionally, they killed 11 Christians on the night of Christmas last year.

Christian communities in West Africa have been subjected to an increase in violence the past months, and the trend seems to be continuing.

Although Nigeria is ranked 9th on Open Doors' 2021 World Watch List of nations where Christians face the greatest persecution, the country is ranked second in terms of the number of Christians slain for their religious beliefs.

Despite being a Muslim, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has pinned the country's seemingly unstoppable bloodshed on an "evil combination of politically-motivated banditry, revenge killings, and mutual violence by criminal gangs acting on ethnic and religious grounds."

Please see "7 Things to Know About: Persecution in Nigeria" to understand the nature of persecution among Nigerian Christians.


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Cosmonaut Vladimir Shatalov, who led 3 Soyuz missions, dies at 93



June 15, 2021  Vladimir Shatalov, a Soviet-era cosmonaut who achieved the first-ever docking between two crewed spacecraft, has died at the age of 93.



Shatalov's death on Tuesday (June 15) was reported by Roscosmos, Russia's federal space corporation.



"The Roscosmos state corporation expresses condolences to the family and friends of Vladimir Shatalov. Everlasting memory!" the space agency wrote on its website.



Shatalov was chosen to train as a cosmonaut with the Soviet Union's second class of Air Force recruits in January 1963. Six years later, he launched alone on his first spaceflight, Soyuz 4, on a mission to rendezvous and manually dock with the Soyuz 5 spacecraft. On Jan. 16, 1969, the two vehicles met in orbit, beating the U.S. to the same feat by two months.



Soyuz 5 crewmates Yevgeny Khrunov and Aleksei Yeliseyev performed a spacewalk to transfer from their spacecraft to Soyuz 4. Despite some difficulties, the two cosmonauts made it safely across and joined Shatalov for the return to Earth. Soyuz 4 landed on Jan. 17, 1969, after being docked to Soyuz 5 for four hours and 35 minutes. (Boris Volynov stayed aboard and landed on Soyuz 5 the next day.)



Shatalov's next two missions were less successful. Lifting off on Soyuz 8 on Oct. 13, 1969, Shatalov and Yeliseyev were intended to repeat the docking and crew transfer that they performed on their first mission together, but equipment failures prevented linking up with Soyuz 7. The mission did mark the first time three crews were in space at the same time, with Soyuz 6 joining Soyuz 7 and 8 in orbit.



Soyuz 8 was the last to test hardware for a Soviet lunar landing, effectively ending the race to the moon with Shatalov and Yeliseyev's safe landing on Oct. 18, 1969.



Shatalov's third and final launch was in command of the first mission to the world's first space station. Soyuz 10 lifted off on April 22, 1971 with Shatalov, Yeliseyev and Nikolai Rukavishnikov on a flight to Salyut 1. The two-day rendezvous went as planned and the two spacecraft were soft docked, but a misalignment prevented the Soyuz from achieving a stable connection with the space station.



Instead of entering Salyut 1 as planned, Shatalov and his crewmates separated and returned to Earth after just two days on April 24, 1971. The landing brought an end to Shatalov's spaceflight career after logging a total of 9 days, 21 hours and 55 minutes in Earth orbit.



Vladimir Aleksandrovich Shatalov was born on Dec. 8, 1927 in Petropavlovsk, Kazakhstan. He graduated from the Kachinskoye Highest Military Aviation School for fighter pilots in 1949 and from the Air Force Academy in Monino near Moscow seven years later.



He was serving as the chief inspector pilot for the 48th Air Force Army when he was selected for the cosmonaut corps.



Before flying in space, Shatalov trained as a backup commander for the Voskhod 3 mission, which was canceled, and the backup for pilot Georgy Beregovoy on Soyuz 3, what became the first fully-successful mission of the then-new Soyuz spacecraft.



From 1987 through 1991, Shatalov served as the director of the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center at Star City. He retired from his military duty in 1992.



In recognition of this service to the Soviet space program, Shatalov was bestowed numerous awards and honors, including three Orders of Lenin and twice Hero of the Soviet Union. A small impact crater on the far side of the moon located to the west-southwest of Mare Moscoviense was named "Shatalov" in the cosmonaut's honor.



Shatalov was married to Musa Andreyevna Ionova, and together they had two children, Igor and Yelena.



Cosmonaut Vladimir Shatalov aboard Soyuz 4 in January 1969, the first mission to dock two crewed spacecraft. (Roscosmos)







Soviet-era cosmonaut Vladimir Shatalov. (Roscosmos)



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According to Stratistics MRC, Global Organic Farming is accounted for $53.16 million in 2017 and is expected to reach $129.97 million by 2026 growing at a CAGR of 10.4% during the forecast period. Increasing demand for organic food, rising awareness of natural, and new food safety standards for health and well-being coupled with consumers to pay for organic farm food are the key driving factors for the market growth. However, high production cost of organic farming is some of the factors hindering the market growth.

Organic farming is a method that involves growing and nurturing crops with the use of biological materials preventing the use of synthetic based fertilizers and pesticides. Also, the use of genetically modified organisms is not permitted. Organic farming systems have a great potential to provide the world with healthy, high-quality food.

Based on the method, Weed management has considerable demand during the forecast period. Organic weed management promotes weed suppression, rather than weed elimination, by enhancing crop competition and phytotoxic effects on weeds. Organic farmers integrate cultural, biological, mechanical, physical and chemical tactics to manage weeds without synthetic herbicides. By geography, Asia Pacific is expected to have a good demand during the forecast period, owing to increasing government initiative in promoting organic farming by providing subsidies on organic fertilizers.

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Some of the key players profiled in the Organic Farming include AkzoNobel N.V., Amalgamated Plantations Pvt Ltd, BASF SE, Bayer AG, Camson Biotechnology Limited, Dow Chemical Company, Indian Organic Farmers Producer Company (IOFPC), Nalco Holding Company, Organic Farmers Co, Picks Organic Farm, Solvay SA and ZUWA Organic Farms Pvt Ltd.

Types Covered:

 Pure Organic Farming

 Integrated Organic Farming

Methods Covered:

 Composting

 Crop Rotation

 Cutting

 Mulching

 Polyculture

 Soil Management

 Weed Management

Regions Covered:

 North America

o US

o Canada

o Mexico

 Europe

o Germany

o UK

o Italy

o France

o Spain

o Rest of Europe

 Asia Pacific

o Japan

o China

o India

o Australia

o New Zealand

o South Korea

o Rest of Asia Pacific

 South America

o Argentina

o Brazil

o Chile

o Rest of South America

 Middle East & Africa

o Saudi Arabia

o UAE

o Qatar

o South Africa

o Rest of Middle East & Africa

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What our report offers:

 Market share assessments for the regional and country level segments

 Market share analysis of the top industry players

 Strategic recommendations for the new entrants

 Market forecasts for a minimum of 9 years of all the mentioned segments, sub segments and the regional markets

 Market Trends (Drivers, Constraints, Opportunities, Threats, Challenges, Investment Opportunities, and recommendations)

 Strategic recommendations in key business segments based on the market estimations

 Competitive landscaping mapping the key common trends

 Company profiling with detailed strategies, financials, and recent developments

 Supply chain trends mapping the latest technological advancements

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All the customers of this report will be entitled to receive one of the following free customization options:

 Company Profiling

o Comprehensive profiling of additional market players (up to 3)

o SWOT Analysis of key players (up to 3)

 Regional Segmentation

o Market estimations, Forecasts and CAGR of any prominent country as per the clients interest (Note: Depends of feasibility check)

 Competitive Benchmarking

o Benchmarking of key players based on product portfolio, geographical presence, and strategic alliance
Market Research Future Published a Half Cooked Research Global Sulfuric Acid Market Research Report - Forecast to 2022 - Market Analysis, Scope, Stake, Progress, Trends and Forecast up to 2022.

Sulfuric Acid Market  Market Overview

Sulfuric acid is a mineral acid and is one of the largest volume industrial chemical produced across the globe. Fertilizer production, especially phosphate fertilizer from wet-process sulphuric acid, is the major end use market fort sulfuric acid. The major application area of sulphuric acid covers fertilizers, chemical manufacturing, refinery, textile, pulp & paper manufacturing, metal processing and others.

Agricultural economies holds the greater importance in this market, as fertilizer production considered as a key focused area for the consumption of sulpfuric acid. Increasing demand for fertilizer to attain the higher agriculture yield had a significant impact on this market over the past few years and set its uplifted usage in the coming years. China, alone acquired almost half of the global market in terms of sulphuric acid production resulting into domination of Asia Pacific over the global market. In addition to this, fertilizer consumption of India represents massive number on account of presence of large agriculture base and is driving the demand for sulphuric acid. Apart from the, automotive industry expected to provide higher gains to key industry players in this market during the forecast period. This is due to use of sulfuric acid in the automotive batteries which has triggered automotive application of sulfuric acid. However, volatility in the raw material prices and growing consumption of phosphate based fertilizer limited the growth scope of this market.

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Sulfuric Acid Market- Competitive Landscape

Global Sulfuric Acid market is highly concentrated as well fairly competitive in nature. The key industry participants operating in this market are Agrium, Akzo Nobel, Bayer, BP, Chevron, Cytec Industries, Dupont, Evonik Industries, Honeywell and Solvay. The major companies in this market are seen adopting collective market strategies to such as mergers, acquisition and joint-ventures in order to consolidate their product portfolio and to strengthen their market presence. Several production capacity expansion has also witnessed across the various developed markets to strengthen market penetration into emerging markets and exploit untapped markets. The overall effect of market competition observed in global sulphuric acid market is observed as high and is expected to get even higher due consistent increase in the production activities.

Industry/ Innovation/ Related News:

May 18, 2017- Yidu Xingfa Chemical and DuPont tied in an agreement for an engineering and technology license for a 3,600 Mtpd MECS MAX3 sulfuric acid plant. The collective effort has taken to build one of the largest sulfuric acid plant in China in order to cater the ongoing demand. Xingfa is expanding its existing site, located in the Hubei province near Yichang city, with the aim of roughly doubling the phosphate fertilizer capacity. The new MECS MAX3 sulfuric acid plant will process 1.2 MMtpy of sulfuric acid, as well as support the production of an additional 400,000 tonnes/yr of phosphoric acid, 400,000 tonnes/yr DAP and 35,000 tonnes/yr of potassium phosphate monobasic. The overall expansion activity expected gain market effectiveness while bridging the demand supply gap of sulfuric acid.

October 10, 2017- Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Ltd and Jordanian Phosphate Mines Company has formed joint venture to build largest sulfuric acid plant in India. The agreement has undertaken by investing overall amount of USD 860 million. The plant will come as a huge relief to Indias agricultural sector requirements in view of meagre availability of phosphates in India. Phosphoric acid produced at the plant will be exported to the Kandla port in Gujarat from Jordans Aqaba port, which is close to the location of the plant.

November, 2017- Leading chemical industry player BASF has launched new sulfuric acid catalyst. BASF has introduced the new sulphuric acid catalyst O4115 Quattro into the market. The new, cesium-based catalyst is unique due to its geometrical shape  a combination of four strands  leading to a 30 percent greater catalytic surface area compared to conventional sulphuric acid catalysts. The newly launched catalyst has 30 % greater catalytic surface area and helps to improve performance during the sulfuric acid production.

August 31, 2016- Jacobs Engineering Group Inc, Acquires BAYQIK Sulfuric Acid Converter Technology from Bayer AG. The company has acquired patented technology from Bayer AG, under the term of agreement the overall technology shift includes transfer of relevant Bayer technical, commercial and market information to Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. BAYQIK technology enables more efficient conversion of process gas with high sulphur dioxide concentrations. Therefore, it altogether expected to provide growth offerings in the Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. growth offering.

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Market Research Future Published a Half-Cooked Research Report on Refractories Market Research Report.

Market Insights

Market Research Future has recently made public its report on the global refractories market which divulges various crucial market figures. The global refractories market is due to grow at a CAGR of 4.02%during the forecast period 2016 to 2022. Used extensively for linings in furnaces, reactors and other processing units due to its heat-resistant composition, the market is expected to move forward with steady and moderate growth.

The demand for refractories material is consistent due to its ability to resist extremely high temperatures without resulting in physical or chemical changes. Refractories have been witnessing rising applications in emerging markets due to its extensive use in manufacturing and in the construction industry. These emerging markets are key in the progress of the market and are also among the largest produces of refractories. Additionally, the growing demand for infrastructure has resulted in high demand for glass, metals, and cement in the construction sector.

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Market Segmentation

MRFR's analysis of the market divides it into various segments in an effort to magnify every relevant market factor. Segmentation has been performed on the basis of type, form, application, and region. By type, the market is segmented into high alumina, magnesite, silica brick, fireclay, and others. Based on form, the market is divided into unshaped and shaped.

By application, the market is categorized into steel, cement, glass, non-ferrous, and others. The steel sector is the largest consumer of refractories. Globally used due to its lightweight, and heat resistant nature, refractories are highly suitable for use in the steel industry.

The global refractories market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and the Rest of the World.

Key Players

The competitive landscape of the global market is covered expensively in MRFRs report, and includes key market players such as Shinagawa Refractories Co. Ltd, Saint-Gobain S.A, RHI AG, Magnesita Refratarios S.A., Harbisonwalker International (HWI) Inc, Coorstek Incorporated, Krosaki Harima Corporation, Corning Incorporated, Vesuvius PLC, and Morgan Advanced Materials PLC

Latest Industry News

RHI Magnesita has announced its decision to merge its Indian operations under Orient Refractories The move comes in recognition of the potential the region represents.

HarbisonWalker International has opened its refractories plant in Ohio, U.S.A after its announcement of the project in 2017. The UD 30 Mn investment has resulted in a technologically advanced refractories plant which will provide the latest in refractories.

Regional Analysis

The Asia Pacific region accounts for the most significant market share and is followed by Europe and North America. The presence of a massive, ever-growing population in the region has driven the construction sector considerably with an increased demand for housing, and infrastructure in rapidly urbanizing countries. The region is one of the largest producers of refractories which is likely to assist in the APAC remaining in its leading position beyond the forecast period.

Led by the US, North America is another significant region in the global refractories market. The U.S is the largest consumer of refractories and the demand for steel and cement in construction activities drive the market in the region.

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The global electric vehicles market is anticipated to reach USD 912 billion by 2026 according to a new study published by Polaris Market Research. Electric vehicles are one of the fastest growing mode of transport which have adopted smart technologies. It constitutes of electric buses, cars, trucks, and electric bikes. The market is maturing at a fast rate due to increasing demand, initiatives to expand electric vehicle charging stations, and diverse vehicle models. Large number of consumers have become more familiar with these technologies and the trend is spreading fast across the world economies.

Government initiatives to accelerate the shift of their nations vehicle fleet from combustion to electric drive has led to rapid growth in the sale of the electric vehicles. Some of the actions undertaken in 2018 by the federal and state regulators in this regard include Evolve NY (an electric vehicle expansion initiative in New York), funding opportunities for advanced electric vehicle projects by the U.S. Department of Energy, and rebate programs for EV charging stations in Ohio, U.S. Oil dependence benefits, climate change, and clean air are the most crucial factors for different governments across the world to promote the electric vehicles among consumers.

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Apart from these factors, one another significant parameter includes economic benefits from manufacturing of the future electric car industry. The automobile manufacturing hubs such as the United States, Germany, and Japan will have much to lose if they do not support the transition to electric vehicles.

Electric vehicle sales & production has witnessed a tremendously rapid growth due to numerous advanced technological developments. The manufacturing companies have undertaken R&D concerning the design, range, and maintenance of these vehicles. In 2017 ten big companies (Tesla, BAIC, BMW, Volkswagen, Toyota, and five others) had more than 50,000 in annual sales as compared to five such companies in 2016.

Asia is the most popular region for the growth of electronic vehicles with China as the most significant global player. Other Asian countries such as South Korea and Japan along with China have been major battery providers. Increase demand from India for the electric vehicles has also contributed towards the growth of this regional market. However, the global industry is also subjected to some restraints such as high product price. Electric vehicles are highly priced and are not affordable by each consumer, especially in the countries with lower economic growth. Moreover, the maintenance of the electric bikes is costly and requires frequent charging and changing of batteries. Some battery related issues also include lead emissions from few batteries and the energy storage systems, are some of the factors restraining the market growth.

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The global electric vehicle industry constitutes of many international and domestics players. Some of the key players include Volkswagen Group, Tesla, BMW, Mercedes, Toyota, BAIC Corporation, General Motors, Ford, and Nissan-Renault-Mitsubishi.
Monosodium Glutamate Market Analysis

The global monosodium glutamate market is predicted to touch USD 6,200 million at a 4.9% CAGR between 2016- 2022, reveals the new Market Research Future (MRFR) report. Monosodium glutamate or MSG is an amino acid that is naturally occurring in various foods. Its use as flavor enhancers and food additives has gained immense recognition over the years. Besides, it is also used in bakery and dairy products globally. In addition, monosodium glutamate is widely used in instant noodles, seasonal blends, cheeses, meat and milk products, and sauces. Apart from the food industry, MSG is also used in pharmaceutical/medical applications. These include hypertension neuroregulators and parenteral nutrition for congenital metabolic disease. It is also used in negligible amounts in animal feeds.

Various factors are adding to the global monosodium glutamate market share. These factors, as per the new MRFR report, include extensive applications including preservatives, acidity regulators, flavor enhancers, additives, and others, growing demand in the food industry, rapidly growing animal feed industry, preference for fast food & processed food due to hectic lifestyle, and increasing use in different medical applications.

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On the contrary, health concerns related to monosodium glutamate consumption such as nausea, chest pain, sweating, headache, and skin rash, coupled with its regulation by regional Food & Drug Administration (FDA) authorities, are factors that may limit the monosodium glutamate market growth over the forecast period.

Key Players

Key players profiled in the global monosodium glutamate market report include Jianyang Wuyi MSG Co. Ltd. (China), Shandong Shenghua Group (China), Shandong Qilu Biotechnology Group (China), Shandong Linghua MSG Co., Ltd (China), KYOWA HAKKO BIO CO.LTD. (Japan), Ningxia Eppen Biotech Co. (China), Vedan International (Holdings) Limited (Hong Kong), AJINOMOTO Co.Inc. (Japan), and Fufeng Group (China), among others.

Monosodium Glutamate Market Segmentation

The Market Research Future Report provides an inclusive segmental analysis of the global monosodium glutamate market based on end use industries and applications.

By application, the monosodium glutamate market is segmented into preservatives, acidity regulators, flavor enhancers, additives, and others. Of these, flavor enhancers and additives will lead the market over the forecast period. This will be followed by acidity regulators and preservatives.

By end use industries, the monosodium glutamate market is segmented into animal feed, pharmaceutical industry, cosmetic industry, food processing industry, and others. Of these, the cosmetic and food processing industry will dominate the market over the forecast period for its burgeoning demand from Chinas growing economies. Besides, the increasing demand of monosodium glutamate from different end use industries is also adding market growth.

Monosodium Glutamate Market Regional Analysis

Based on the region, the global monosodium glutamate market report covers the recent trends and growth opportunities across Europe, the Americas, the Asia Pacific (APAC), Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa (MEA). Of these, the APAC region will spearhead the market over the forecast period. Factors propelling the global monosodium glutamate market growth in the region include use in different applications like flavor enhancers and additives in China and Japan, and burgeoning demand for fast food in South Korea, Taiwan, and India.

The global monosodium glutamate market in North America is predicted to have the second-largest share over the forecast period. The US is the chief contributor in the region for the growing demand for the product from the food manufacturing industry coupled with the rising demand for Asian food.

The global monosodium glutamate market in Europe is predicted to have a healthy growth over the forecast period for the rapidly growing food manufacturing sector.

The global monosodium glutamate market in Latin America and the Middle East & Africa is predicted to have sound growth over the forecast period for the increasing use of monosodium glutamate in different applications like preservatives, acidity regulators, flavor enhancers, additives, to name a few.

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Global Commodity Plastics Industry: Opportunities in 2021





The global commodity plastics market size is anticipated to reach $651.8 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 7% during the forecast period, according to a report published by Polaris Market Research. The report Commodity Plastics Market [By Product Type (PE, PP, PVC, PET, PS) By Application (Automotive, Consumer Goods, Electronics, Packaging, Pharmaceuticals, Textiles), By Regions & Segments Forecast, 2018  2026 provides an extensive analysis of present market dynamics and predicted future trends.

The market is anticipated to significantly witness a considerable growth during the forecast period on account of rapidly rising demand for high performance end-use products such as lightweight packaging materials. In addition, the improving economic parameters and improvised standards of living in emerging counties are likely to be the crucial drivers which have flourished the market growth.

Demand for commodity plastics has also grown on account of increase in the metal prices. The global plastic industry has been forced to focus on innovation concerning biodegradability of plastics as many nations have banned the use of plastics that is non-biodegradable. Also, light-weight electric vehicles have increasingly gained significance which in turn has further strengthened the demand for the electric vehicles.

Commodity plastics indicate higher scope of applications across numerous end-use industries as these are supplied in bulk and have excellent chemical properties. In addition, these can be utilized for numerous applications such as packaging, garbage containers, photography, clothing, and magnetic tapes among many. These are also applied in industries such as consumer goods, automotive, manufacturing, packaging, electronics, construction, textiles, and pharmaceutical.

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Based on product-type the market is bifurcated into Polystyrene (PS), Polypropylene (PP), Polyethylene (PE), Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), and others. Among them, PE is the most extensively used and product-type with highest demand. This is due to its chemical & physical properties such as their simple structure, insensitivity to a majority of solvents, and high electrical resistance. Also, these bulk plastics are readily available and at lower costs.

On the basis of application, the market has been segmented into consumer goods, automotive, electronics, textiles, pharmaceuticals, packaging, and others. Among all the application segments, packaging sector holds highest market share and is anticipated to remain same during the forecast period. The most crucial reason behind such dominance is the rapidly growing demand for such bulk plastics by the manufacturing industry for the production of high-end packaging products and plastic goods.

The Asia Pacific is anticipated to be the largest and fastest-growing regional player for the market This is mainly due to the rapidly increasing living standards of the growing middle-class. The middle-class population in the developing countries of this region are increasingly seeking for even higher standards of living, and are likely to spend heavily on electronic appliances, packaged goods, clothing automobile, other goods that make use of commodity plastics in some or the other way.

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Competitive Landscape and Key Vendors

The global commodity plastics market is characterized by presence of numerous multinational and domestic players. Th industry is fairly concentrated in nature. Some of the established market players in the industry include Exxon Mobil Corporation, The Dow Chemicals, BASF SE, SABIC, China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec), Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, INEOS, LyondellBasell Industries N.V., Formosa Plastics Corporation, and LG Chem Ltd.

The established market players are actively involved in the increasing number of R&D activities in order to manufacture innovative plastic products. In addition, these players are also striving hard to enhance their existing product portfolio to stay equivalent to their level of competitors.
San Francisco, 15 June 2021: The Report Non-destructive Testing Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Test Method (Visual, Magnetic Particle, Liquid Penetrant, Radiographic), By Offering, By Vertical (Manufacturing, Construction, Automotive), And Segment Forecasts, 2021 - 2028

The global non-destructive testing market size is anticipated to reach USD 22.9 billion by 2028, registering a CAGR of 6.7% over the forecast period, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The market is anticipated to witness significant growth over the forecast period. The growth is ascribed to the increasing manufacturing in the developing as well as developed nations.

The use of non-destructive testing (NDT) helps in detecting the faults precisely, reducing the product/component failure probability as well as costs incurred in the repairs of the components. The use of NDT also speeds up the process of manufacturing as the possible faults are eliminated beforehand. The key factor expected to drive the market is the technological advancements in non-destructive testing methods. Improvements in the techniques have ensured deviation-free fault detection and have reduced the complexity involved in the testing procedures considerably.

The ultrasonic testing segment is expected to witness significant growth. This growth is ascribed to the ease of handling the equipment, availability of skilled technicians, and precise fault detection. The manufacturing segment is expected to deploy NDT techniques extensively over the forecast period owing to the increasing awareness regarding their use.

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Non-destructive Testing Market Report Highlights

The market is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 6.7% over the next eight years owing to a rise in manufacturing-related activities, globally

The services segment accounted for the largest revenue share of over 73.0% in 2020. The high upfront cost of non-destructive equipment coupled with technical complexities involved in their deployment/installation is the major reason influencing end-users to outsource their non-destructive testing operations

Rapid industrialization, especially in developing economies has significantly contributed to the growth of the market

The ultrasonic testing segment is expected to witness a significant CAGR of 7.5% over the forecast period owing to the benefits such as ease of handling and precise results

The manufacturing vertical segment was the dominant segment in 2020 and is expected to witness a healthy CAGR of more than 7.6% over the forecast period owing to the increased manufacturing activities primarily in Asia Pacific

North America dominated the market in 2020 and accounted for the largest revenue share of more than 35.0%, owing to the extensive adoption of NDT techniques in the region

List of Key Players of Non-destructive Testing (NDT) Market

Ashtead Technology Ltd.

Eddyfi

Fischer Technologies Inc.

General Electric

Nikon Metrology Inc.

Mistras Group, Inc.

Olympus Corporation

Sonatest

YXLON International GmbH

Zetec Inc.

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Market Highlights

Global Epilepsy Devices Market is expected to register a CAGR of 6.56% during the forecast period and is expected to hit USD 551.2 Million by 2027.

In epilepsy, the brain activity becomes abnormal, resulting in seizures or periods of unusual behavior, sensations, and sometimes loss of awareness. Although it could affect anybody irrespective of age and gender, its prevalence is significant and continuously increasing in the geriatric population.

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Epilepsy Research, UK (ERUK) launched a Doctoral Training Centre (DTC) Grant Scheme with the aim of capacity building of the UK epilepsy research environment. ERUK is currently inviting applications from research institutes to apply for multiple linked Ph.D. studentships to commence 2021-2023. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), a part of the USS National Institutes of Health, had appropriated USD 154 million in 2017 for research on epilepsy. The appropriation rose to USD 188 million in 2019 and is estimated to reach USD 203 million by 2020. The notable studies and research institutes that NINDS has funded include The Epilepsy 4000 (Epi4K), The Center for SUDEP Research (CSR), The Epilepsy Bioinformatics Study for Antiepileptogenic Therapy (EpiBiosS4Rx), The Channelopathy-Associated Epilepsy Research Center (CAERC), and The Epilepsy Multiplatform Variant Prediction (EpiMVP). The Epilepsy Foundation awarded USD 200,000 to two of the finalists who competed in the 9th Annual Shark Tank Competition on August 27 at the 2020 Epilepsy Pipeline Conference, Maryland, US. This included a grant of USD 125,000 to a researcher for a medical-grade smart-mattress device known as Chorus to reposition individuals and stimulate them post-seizure to prevent Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP). Similarly, National Institute for Health Researchs (UK) Research and Innovation for Global Health Transformation (RIGHT) program has awarded USD 6.6 million to fund a project investigating epilepsy in sub-Saharan Africa in February 2020.

Segment Analysis

Global Epilepsy Devices Market has been segmented based on Product Type, Technology, Seizure Detection and Prediction Devices, and End Use.

On the basis of product type, the global epilepsy devices market is segmented into wearable devices, conventional devices, and implantable devices. The wearable devices segment is further segmented into watches, bracelets, camera devices, mattress devices, anti-suffocation pillows, and others.

On the basis of technology, the global epilepsy devices market has been classified as vagus nerve stimulation, responsive neurostimulation, deep brain stimulation and accelerometry.

On the basis of seizure detection and prediction devices, the global epilepsy devices market has been classified as seizure detection and prediction devices, electroencephalogram, intracranial EEG, surface electromyography, electrodermal activity, electrocardiography, video detection systems, implanted advisory systems, and others.

On the basis of end use, the global epilepsy devices market has been classified as hospitals & clinics, neurology centers, home care settings, and others.

Regional Analysis

Global Epilepsy Devices Market, based on region, has been divided into the Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East & Africa. The Americas accounted for a larger share of the global epilepsy devices market. The large share is majorly attributed to the presence of key device manufacturers, increasing adoption of innovative software for detection of seizures, technological advancements, and high disposable income. Boost in the research funding in the European region, rising government initiatives, increasing number of patients suffering from epilepsy, an increasing number of manufacturers, improving economies, high disposable income per individual, and increased healthcare spending are resulting in the high the growth of the market in this region. The Asia Pacific region is anticipated to grow at a lucrative CAGR over the forecast period. A study funded by the Global Health Department of Sanofi and Grand Challenges Canada (grant number 032504) found that epilepsy affects more than 50 million people worldwide, 80% of whom live in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). n Southeast Asia, the prevalence was moderate (6%). Around 1012 million people with epilepsy reside in India. A significant number of patients do not receive appropriate treatment, leading to a large treatment gap. A high prevalence and incidence of epilepsy has been reported in onchocerciasis-endemic regions in Central and East Africa. There is compelling epidemiological evidence suggesting that this high burden is caused by onchocerciasis-associated epilepsy (OAE).

Key Players

MRFR recognizes the following companies as the Key Players in the Global Epilepsy Devices Market Boston Scientific Corporation, Medpage Ltd (Easylink UK), Cerbomed GmbH (TVNS Technologies GmbH), Liva Nova (Cyberonics), Compumedics, Nihon Kohden, MC10, Empatica, Inc, Medtronic Plc, Neuropace, Inc, and Natus Medical Incorporated.

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Market Highlights

According to MRFR analysis, Aortic Valve Market is expected to register a CAGR of 11.1% during the forecast period of 2019 to 2025 and held a value of USD 6,454.91 Million in 2018.

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An aortic valve is surgically implanted in the heart to replace a valve that has damaged due to heart valve diseases such as stenosis, regurgitation, and atresia. The replacement of damaged valves with prosthetic heart valves reduces the morbidity and mortality associated with aortic valve disorders.

The growth of the global aortic valve market is boosted by various factors such as the rising geriatric population, surge in prevalence of cardiac disorders, in conjunction with the introduction of innovative products in the market. According to the Heart Valve Voice, approximately 1.5 million people over the age of 65 years are currently affected by heart valve disease in the UK, and the number is expected to increase up to 19 million by 2050. Moreover, increasing product approvals are likely to provide favorable conditions for the growth of the market. For instance, in June 2017, the US FDA granted market clearance for aortic and mitral valve-in-valve procedures using the Edwards Lifesciences Sapien 3 transcatheter heart valve (THV).

However, product recalls due to safety reasons and changing regulatory landscapes are likely to hamper the growth of the market during the forecast period.

Several market players currently dominate the global aortic valve market. The key players are engaged in product launches and strategic collaborations to strengthen their market positions.

Regional Analysis

The market has been divided, by region, into the Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East & Africa. The Americas held the maximum share in the base year 2018, owing to the presence of established key players in countries such as the US and Canada. The aortic valve market in the Americas has further been branched into North America and Latin America, with the North American market is further divided into the US and Canada. The European aortic valve market has been categorized as Western Europe and Eastern Europe. The Western European market has been classified as Germany, France, the UK, Italy, Spain, and the rest of Western Europe. The aortic valve market in Asia-Pacific has been segmented into Japan, China, India, South Korea, Australia, and the rest of Asia-Pacific. The aortic valve market in this region is anticipated to be the fastest growing during the assessment period due to the booming geriatric population, rising prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, and favorable government initiatives for disease treatment. The aortic valve market in the Middle East & Africa has been divided into the Middle East and Africa.

Aortic Valve Market Segmentation

The Global Aortic Valve Market has been segmented based on Type of Valve, Suture, Surgery, and End User.

The market, based on valve type, has been divided into mechanical and biological. The mechanical valve segment is likely to be the largest due to the high adoption of mechanical valves in replacement procedures. The biological valves segment is predicted to be the fastest-growing due to the increasing awareness about the advantages of biological valves in replacement procedures. Magna Ease (Edwards Lifesciences Corporation), Hancock II (Medtronic), Trifecta (Abbott) are some of the well-known biological valves brands currently present in the market.

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The Global Aortic Valve Market has been segmented, based on the surgery type, into minimally invasive surgery and open surgery. The minimally invasive surgery segment is further divided into transfemoral, transaortic implantation, transapical, and trans-subclavian. It is expected to hold majority share of the market owing to shorter hospital stay, less pain, and faster recovery as compared to open-heart surgery.

The end users of the market are hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers. The hospital segment is likely to hold the maximum share during the forecast period
Laparoscopy Devices Market Overview:

The global market for laparoscopy devices is projected to surpass a valuation of USD 17,206.32 million by 2023, with a CAGR of 8.30% during the forecast period covering 2018 to 2023. Market Research Future (MRFR) discusses the possibilities for the market and reveals that it could do better due to the rising geriatric population who need the support of advanced devices, a surge in demand for minimally-invasive surgeries, improved reimbursement schemes, and need to improve diagnosis methods for better treatment facilities.

also read @ https://www.medgadget.com/2020/12/laparoscopy-devices-market-is-set-to-reach-usd-17206-32-million-to-grow-at-cagr-of-8-30-by-2023-says-market-research-future.html

Laparoscopy Devices Market Segmentation:

The global market for laparoscopy devices has been analyzed by MRFR experts on the basis of segments like product, application, and end user. Data gleaned from these segments are reliable as they are backed by scientific approaches and can be used for developing market strategies.

By product, the global study on the laparoscopy devices market can be segmented into energy devices, insufflation devices, laparoscopes, handheld instruments, access devices, suction/irrigation devices, internal closure devices, trocars, and others. The laparoscope segment has been leading the global market with the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Its valuation can reach up to USD 5091.77 million by 2023. Hike in the inclusion of advanced technologies and integration of these into hospitals is expected to boost the market.

By application, the global laparoscopy devices market includes bariatric surgery, gynecological surgery, general surgery, colorectal surgery, urological surgery, and others. The general surgery segment has a substantial market share and is expected to move forward with 7.79% CAGR during the forecast period. It includes sub-segments like hernia repairs, cholecystectomies, anti-reflux surgeries, appendectomies, and others. The bariatric surgery includes sleeve gastrectomy, gastric banding, gastric bypass, and others.

By end user, the market includes hospitals and clinics, ambulatory centers, and specialty centers. The hospitals & clinics segment had a 38.11% share of the global market in 2017.

Laparoscopy Devices Market Regional Analysis:

Better investment capacity and infrastructural support are expected to support North Americas prominence in the global Laparoscopy Devices Market. The US and Canada are expected to make a positive impact on the market with their substantial budgetary impacts. Asia Pacific would grow fast with India, Japan, China, South Korea, and other nations influencing the market.

Laparoscopy Devices Market Competitive Landscape:

The global market for laparoscopy devices is getting backed by companies like Smith & Nephew PLC (UK), Becton, Dickinson and Company (US), Cook Medical LLC (US), B. Braun Melsungen AG (Germany), Medtronic PLC (US), Olympus Corporation (Japan), Fujifilm Holdings Corporation (Japan), Richard Wolf GmbH (Germany), KARL STORZ SE & Co. KG (Germany), Stryker Corporation (US), and others. This is primarily due to their ability to impact the market with various strategic moves that focus on the expansion of the portfolio and client base. These companies develop their moves around concepts like mergers, innovations, acquisitions, and joint ventures. In fact, these companies are strengthening their prospect by boosting their funding for research and development, which leads to better launching of projects and marketing strategies.

Laparoscopy Devices Industry News:

The impact of COVID-19 on the healthcare sector is unprecedented in several ways. On the one hand, it is asking for a diversion of resources to a specific sector, on the other, it is creating space for innovations that would work with minimum contact and lessen the time of various procedures to free up resources. The laparoscopy devices market is expected to get boosted by such prospects and the increasing influx of financial resources to bolster the latest research and development projects. Countries have already started initiating plans to ease the inclusion of various developments.

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Ari Gejdenson has since built a career as a well-known restaurant owner in the greater Washington, D.C. area and is the former owner of the Mindful Restaurant Group, which operated a variety of bars and restaurants throughout the capital. Last fall Gejdenson reportedly dissolved the restaurant group amid the pandemic, closing several of its locations, and turned the remainder of the operation of his restaurants over to long-tenured employees, according to a report in the Washington City Paper.
We have a chance to be done with [the pandemic]. The vaccines actually do protect you against these variants, it protects you against the the Delta variant, and weve seen time and time again throughout the last 15 or 16 months that what happens somewhere else in the world, very quickly finds its way to our communities, Bronin said at an afternoon press conference. We dont want to wait until whats happening over in England, happens here. We have to act now and what that means is, if youre not vaccinated, get vaccinated.
Four of the five residents suffered smoke inhalation and were taken to Harrington Hospital in Southbridge, Mass. One of them also had minor burns and was transferred to UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester, Makuc said.
Judge Kenneth Case said there was no reason to delay Weinsteins transfer any longer, denying his lawyers request to keep him at a state prison near Buffalo  where he is serving a 23-year sentence for a rape conviction last year  until the start of jury selection in the Los Angeles case.
Merriam has been a U.S. Magistrate Judge in Connecticut since 2015. Previously, she served as an assistant federal public defender. She worked on political campaigns in Connecticut from 2006 to 2007, including that of Murphy, who recommended her to the White House for a judgeship. Merriam was an associate at the Hartford firm Cowdery, Ecker & Murphy from 2003 to 2006 and clerked form Judge Thomas Meskill on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and for Judge Alvin Thompson on the U.S. District Court. She received a masters degree in law from Duke Law School in 2018, a law degree from Yale Law School in 2000, and an undergraduate degree from Georgetown in 1993.
His classmate, Derek Yeboah of Manchester, suggested career programs in schools as a way to combat homelessness, a program for kids to try out different things to do so they can see what they are interested in to lead them in the right direction, he wrote in his letter.
In many schools across America kids are being taught there are over 58 genders. Because of this many start to identify as one of them, she said. This is not teaching love and inclusion, this is causing confusion, depression stress and anxiety. Its causing a new generation to identify as pansexual.
We originally proposed: Why dont we discount tuition by $7 million? Where we are now, with federal, state and institutional support, is Why dont we have a very directed, carefully built program to provide aid to students who need it? he said. We think this is better for the university with regards to addressing the long-term financial needs for the university and better for students as far as directly meeting the need that will exist next year.
Over the years, the contracting standards board has not received much in the way of operating funds or respect from those at the top of state government  who have seemed to treat it as a lingering migraine headache, despite its repeated successes in uncovering irregularities and improprieties in bidding and procurement procedures by executive branch and quasi-public agencies. More than once it has barely survived being cut from the state budget completely.
Newport News Police Chief Steve Drew falls to one knee and touches the hearse carrying officer Katherine Thyne outside of the Newport News Police Department South Precinct during a procession Saturday afternoon January 25, 2020. Officer Thyne died Thursday night after being dragged by the car of a man who she and another officer were questioning. On Saturday, the Newport News Police Department transported officer Katherine Thyne from the Medical Examiners Office in Norfolk to Altmeyer Funeral Home in Newport News. (Jonathon Gruenke/Daily Press)
Telangana State Commission for Protection of Child Rights chairman Srinivasa Rao urged the government to formulate a responsive communication mechanism for tribal, rural, and urban areas to facilitate appropriate referral facilities for needy patients. (Representational image: PTI)

Hyderabad: The Telangana State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has urged the state health department to ensure availability of infrastructure and facilities for pediatric and neo-natal care, amid a speculation that a third wave of Covid-19 would badly affect children.

In a letter to the department, commission chairman Srinivasa Rao said it will be appropriate if the health department issued necessary protocols for prevention of Covid-19 infections among children. The state government is urged to ensure there is adherence to all protocols  in letter and spirit  by the departments of women and child, and juvenile welfare, education, BC, SC, ST & minority, panchayat raj, and municipal administration in protecting children in the state.

He urged the government to formulate a responsive communication mechanism for tribal, rural, and urban areas to facilitate appropriate referral facilities for needy patients.
Hyderabad: Vaccine hesitancy is as high as 74.53 per cent in India and it is the young from lower socio-economic class that are not willing to take the jab.

Dr Randeep Guleria, director of All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, urged all doctors to counsel their patients to take vaccines. Fears of side-effects as also misinformation about vaccines have led to this hesitancy. Those who have seen their friends and family members suffer from the side-effects of fatigue and fever are not willing to give up their productive days at work for the vaccination.

Experts say the vaccines are the only way forward to protect people from the severe disease. It has been noted that those who were vaccinated and infected in the second wave have suffered from mild disease only.

This is the sign that the vaccines are working and these offer protection. The second wave is seeing a gradual decline across India and maximum people must opt for vaccination for protection, they say.

As in the case of Spanish Flu, there could be a third and fourth wave but medical history has shown that these have not been very severe. Despite the emergence of new variants of the C-virus, experts state that vaccines will be tweaked according to the nature of the emerging variants.

Dr Guleria said: "Coronavirus vaccines are expected to be a yearly phenomenon like the influenza vaccine. Studies are on to find out whether there can be a combined dose for both. Real-time data is showing efficacy and all must be encouraged to take the vaccine."

The documented cases of Covid-19 in India are of 2.96 crore but there are undocumented cases ,which means there is a larger spread of the disease and development of antibodies.

Comparing the first and second wave, experts say the caution must not be given up after the vaccination as masks are compulsory till herd immunity is achieved. For a population of 100crore, this will not be possible till December 2021 and there is the need to continue with the safety protocols.
Terming as somewhat vague the definition of a terrorist act under the stringent UAPA law and warning against its use in a cavalier manner, the high court set aside the trial court orders rejecting bail to JNU students Natasha Narwal and Devangana Kalita and Jamias Asif Iqbal Tanha, allowing their appeals and admitting them to regular bail.  DC file photo

New Delhi: In its anxiety to suppress dissent, the State has blurred the line between right to protest and terrorist activity and if such a mindset gains traction, it would be a "sad day for democracy", the Delhi high court observed on Tuesday while granting bail to three students from Jawaharlal Nehru University and Jamia Millia Islamia arrested over a year ago for the riots that followed protests against the controversial citizenship law.

Terming as somewhat vague the definition of a terrorist act under the stringent UAPA law and warning against its use in a cavalier manner, the high court set aside the trial court orders rejecting bail to JNU students Natasha Narwal and Devangana Kalita and Jamias Asif Iqbal Tanha, allowing their appeals and admitting them to regular bail.

We are of the view that the foundations of our nation stand on surer footing than to be likely to be shaken by a protest, however vicious, organised by a tribe of college students or other persons, operating as a coordination committee from the confines of a university situated in the heart of Delhi, a bench of Justices Siddharth Mridul and Anup Jairam Bhambhani said.

Based on the assessment of the facts, the bench said: In our opinion, the court must be careful in employing the definitional words and phrases in Section 15 in the absolute literal sense or use them lightly in a manner that would trivialise the extremely heinous offence of terrorist act, without understanding how terrorism is different even from conventional, heinous crime. The words terrorist act, including conspiracy and act preparatory to the commission of a terrorist act, were brought within the purview of UAPA by the amendment of 2004, on the heels of Parliament repealing POTA in 2004 and TADA having already been repealed in 1995, the court said.

On the right to protest, the court said the government may prohibit public meetings, demonstrations or protests on streets or highways to avoid nuisance or disturbance of traffic, but it cannot close all streets or open areas for public meetings, thereby defeating the fundamental right that flows from Article 19(1)(a) 19 (1)(b) of the Constitution.

Ms Narwal and Ms Kalita, both JNU Ph.D. scholars linked with womens rights group Pinjra Tod Collective, and Mr Tanha were arrested in May 2020. They were accused of being masterminds of the February 2020 violence in northeast Delhi and denied regular bail by the trial court.

Ms Narwal, Ms Kalita and Mr Tanha are accused in four, three and two cases respectively relating to communal riots that broke out on February 24 last year and will now be released from jail as they have already got bail in other matters.

Welcoming the high court order, student activists and bodies demanded that all political prisoners arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act should also be released. JNU Students Union president Aishe Ghosh said on Twitter: Delhi HC grants bail to Asif Iqbal Tanha, Devangana Kalita and Natasha Narwal in UAPA case. Release All Political Prisoners.

The Left-affiliated All India Students Association (AISA) said: Delhi HC frees Asif, Devangana & Natasha! Using UAPA to silence pro-democracy student activists protesting against divisive #CAA_NRC_NPR law by Modi govt stands exposed. They also demanded the release of student activists Sharjeel Imam, Umar Khalid and others arrested under UAPA.

Jamia scholar Safoora Zargar, who herself is a co-accused in the UAPA case, said it was one of the happiest days of her life. Bail to Devangana, Natasha & Asif in UAPA case. One of the happiest days of my life. Let more follow. Let justice prevail. Alhamdulillah, she tweeted. Ms Zargar was granted bail in the case in June last year. The Delhi police did not oppose the high courts decision on humanitarian grounds as she was pregnant at that time.

Delhi University professor Apoorvanand, who was questioned by the police over the northeast Delhi riots in August last year, said the whole exercise was to shield the real perpetrators. He said: None of them should have been charged or arrested in the first place. All others must be freed. This whole exercise is a conspiracy to shield the real conspirators and perpetrators of the violence of Feb 2020 in Delhi. They are out and ruling us. Spreading hate, planning violence.

In three separate judgments of 113, 83 and 72 pages, the high court said though the definition of terrorist act in UAPAs Section 15 is somewhat vague, it must partake the essential character of terrorism and the phrase terrorist act cannot be permitted to be applied in a cavalier manner to criminal acts that squarely fall under the IPC.

We are constrained to express, that it seems, that in its anxiety to suppress dissent, in the mind of the State, the line between the constitutionally guaranteed right to protest and terrorist activity seems to be getting somewhat blurred. If this mindset gains traction, it would be a sad day for democracy, which would be in peril, the bench said, adding there was nothing to show the possible commission of a terrorist act.

The high court directed Ms Narwal, Ms Kalita and Mr Tanha to surrender their passports and not to offer any inducement to prosecution witnesses or tamper with the evidence in the case. It also said the three accused shall not indulge in any unlawful activities and shall reside at the address as mentioned in records.

The bench said there is absolutely nothing in the chargesheet, by way of any specific allegation, to show the possible commission of a terrorist act within Section 15 of UAPA, an act of raising funds to commit a terrorist act under Section 17 and an act of conspiracy to commit or an act preparatory to commit, a terrorist act within Section 18 UAPA.

The court noted the chargesheet was filed on September 16, 2020 and there are 740 prosecution witnesses, but the trial is yet to commence, which is unlikely to begin soon in view of the truncated functioning of courts due to the prevailing second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Regarding Ms Narwal and Ms Kalita, the high court said given their educational background, profile and position in life, it sees no reason to suspect or apprehend that they are either a flight risk or that they will indulge in evidence tampering, or witness intimidation, or will otherwise impede the trial in any way.

The court said no specific act is attributed to Ms Narwal, apart from the admitted fact that she engaged herself in organising anti-CAA and anti-NRC protests around the time when violence and rioting broke out in some parts of northeast Delhi.

On Ms Kalita, the court said as a member of womens rights outfits and other groups, she did participate and help organise protests against the CAA and NRC in Delhi and said the right to protest, a fundamental right to assemble peaceably and without arms, is surely not outlawed and cannot be termed as a terrorist act within the meaning of UAPA, unless the ingredients of offences are clearly discernible from the allegations. It said that inflammatory speeches and organising chakka jams are not uncommon when there is widespread opposition to governmental or parliamentary actions.

The bench said: Even if we assume... inflammatory speeches, chakka jams, instigation of women protesters and other actions, to which Kalita is alleged to have been party, crossed the line of peaceful protests permissible under our constitutional guarantee, that however would not amount to commission of a terrorist act or a conspiracy or an act preparatory to the commission of a terrorist act ... under UAPA.

In an earlier ruling relating to Mr Tanha, the high court said the phrase terrorist act cant be permitted to be casually applied to criminal acts that fall squarely within the definition of conventional offences under the Indian Penal Code.
In what was, so far, the best baseball game of the week, the Jaguars pulled their 33rd win out of the fire and salvaged a gem of a start from their star pitcher.
Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at the Phillis Wheatley Community Center in Greenville, S.C. on Monday, June 14, 2021, about the importance for everyone to get vaccinated for COVID-19.
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FILE - In this April 5, 2021, file photo, New Mexico Education Secretary Ryan Stewart prepares to switch masks outside the state Capitol in Santa Fe, New Mexico. New Mexico education officials accepted a federal decision barring them from taxing millions in federal aid sent to school districts serving tribal areas and military bases. Stewart said Tuesday, June 15 that the state will not appeal the decision because it would likely lose.
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(The Center Square) - President Joe Biden reaffirmed the strong U.S. commitment to NATO at the 2021 NATO Summit in Brussels but departed from the previous administration's aggressive push for member nations to contribute more financially.

Biden spoke of the importance of the U.S. relationship with the NATO with Secretary General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg.

I want to make it clear: NATO is critically important for U.S. interests in and of itself, Biden said.

In recent years, defense spending has been a concern in NATO, with each nation having to the equivalent of at least 2% of its GDP toward joint defense. Only 10 of the 29 member states who contribute to defense spending met the 2% threshold, according to a recent NATO report for 2021.

The number of nations contributing at least 2% of their GDP is up from 3 nations in 2014, after Former President Donald Trump pressured member states of NATO to increase their defense spending and even threatened to withdraw from the group.

The U.S. contributed approximately $811 billion out of the total $1.174 trillion defense expenditure for NATO according to a 2021 estimate.

Biden took a softer approach to the defense contribution issue, applauding the other member states progress while reiterating U.S. support for Europe.

I just want all of Europe to know that the United States is there, Biden said. We are pleased, back in Wales, the decision was made to increase spending. Youre right, its moving up. I guess theres more than 10 countries that have met the goal, and others are on the way.

European nations have seen Bidens easier approach toward NATO as more beneficial than Trumps more forceful tactics toward member states. Critics domestically have been advocating for Biden to be more aggressive with getting other NATO member states to improve their defense spending targets.

In a report issued prior to the 2021 NATO Summit, Luke Coffey and Daniel Kochis of the conservative think-tank The Heritage Foundation advocated for Biden to push for higher defense spending by member states and to not include cybersecurity as part of those defense spending targets.

The U.S. should encourage governments to strongly and consistently make the case for NATO, and the importance of robust defense spending, to their publics, Coffey and Kochis said. "While cybersecurity and infrastructure are important to NATO, including them in spending targets would in turn accelerate the movement of national defense budgets from procuring capabilities to domestic infrastructure projects that are politically expedient to national politicians.

Despite the calls for cybersecurity to be excluded from the defense expenditure, NATO member states indicated at the summit that cyberattacks may be grounds to invoke Article 5 of the NATO charter. Article 5 of the NATO charter makes clear an attack on one member state is an attack on all member states and is treated as such. U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan did reiterate the cyberattacks would be looked on a case-by-case basis for any potential Article 5 invocation.

Other topics discussed at the NATO Summit included climate change initiatives and the rising threats of China. Conversations surrounding China dealt with ways to compete with the communist nation on the world stage and avoid getting out-innovated by the Xi regime.

Domestically the House is considering the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act which looks to fund innovation to compete directly with China. The $250 billion bill passed through the Senate last week.

An additional topic from the Summit was the escalation of tension between NATO states and Russia. Biden is scheduled to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin later this week. At a Press Conference Monday evening, Biden made clear he will not be soft toward Putin in their upcoming meeting.

We should decide where it's in our mutual interest and the interest of the world to cooperate and see if we can do that, Biden said. And the areas where we don't agree, make it clear what the red lines are.
(The Center Square)  Legislation in Lansing aims to dictate whether local governments can ban Michiganders from generating income via short-term rentals (STR).

The Michigan Municipal League (MML) opposes the bill backed by GOP lawmakers, Senate Bill 446 and House Bill 4722, which aim to stop governments from banning STRs. A vote is expected within two weeks.

Each side says the other wants governmental overreach. MML says Lansing outright prohibiting local government from banning STRs statewide is advocating for big government, while the GOP says local government telling residents how they can and cant use their home is also government overreach.

Rep. Sarah Lightner, R-Springport, sponsored HB 4722.

"People's private property rights have been threatened by the blanket bans some communities have taken against short-term rentals, Lightner previously told The Center Square. Some families make ends meet by renting their homes to others for short periods of time. My goal is to create consistency in the way all short-term rentals are treated across our state  so families can invest confidently in a home without the fear that their ability to rent out that home if they so chose would be unreasonably compromised.

MML says they know of no cities banning STRs. However, Jarrett Skorup, director of marketing and communications for The Mackinac Center for Public Policy, told The Center Square differently, citing his research.

Detroit banned STRs in residential areas until residents pushed back. St. Clair Shores bans STRs and even prosecuted one homeowner for renting out his home.

Ann Arbor, Holland, Mackinaw City, Spring Lake and others ban short-term rentals in certain zones, Skorup wrote. Grand Haven and South Haven both issued moratoriums on new short-term rentals. New Buffalo currently has a moratorium.

MML advocates for HB 4985, which they say is a compromise.

Lawmakers have been rushing to pass legislation that would have overturned all of the work local leaders have done to carefully craft policies that balance the needs of long-term residents with those of vacationers and short-term rental owners, MML CEO Dan Gilmartin said.

HB 4985 aims to allow local governments to classify short-term rentals as commercial property and then require special use permits, unless the owner rents out the property for 14 days per year or fewer.

Skorup criticized the bill, saying local governments could ban or essentially restrict STRs out of existence. Much possible income would be lost renting out a property for only 14 days out of a possible 365 days.

That means someone trying to afford to keep the family vacation cottage in their home by renting it out on the weeks they arent there is out of luck  it is unlikely that two weeks or less of renting will help them, Skorup wrote in an email.

Gilmartin raised the following questions to GOP bill backers: Are you concerned about the supply of affordable housing in your community? What percentage of a neighborhoods housing stock should be short term rentals: 50% 75% or 100%?

Grand Rapids City Manager and League Board Member Mark Washington said SB 446 and HB 4722, if passed by both chambers and signed into law, would cause problems for local cities.

Short-term rentals are increasingly operating as commercial enterprises where homes in residential neighborhoods are being converted into year-round mini-hotels, Washington said. In addition to losing dwelling units, the quality of life can be impacted too with less parking, more traffic, more noise and nuisance complaints coming from these properties.

Skorup responded, saying police enforce nuisance laws including against loud music, illegal parking, and more at STRs just as they do in residential areas.

Gilmartin said STRs arent fair for the neighbors. If someone purchases a home next to a fraternity house, that person should know what theyre getting into. But if someone purchases a home next to a STR frequently occupied by partiers, theres no warning.

People buy homes in neighborhoods without knowing who their neighbors will be, Skorup said. I understand the argument that people want certain things in their neighborhood, but on the other hand, you dont get to control other peoples lives and what they do with their property, provided they arent violating other peoples rights.
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From left, the BIFAN Organizing Committee General Manager Eom Yong-hoon, Chairman Jung Ji-young, Festival Director Shin Chul and Head Programmer Ellen Y.D. Kim attend a press conference for the 25th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, scheduled July 8-18. Yonhap





By Kwak Yeon-soo







The Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN), the country's annual film festival devoted to fantasy, horror and sci-fi genres, will screen a total of 258 films from 47 countries this year.







The 25th BIFAN will run from July 8-18, under the theme, "Stay Strange," with special attention to films that tell "scary tales," according to the organizing committee. During the festival, a total of 146 films (61 features, 85 shorts) will be streamed online via the local streaming platform, Waave, as part of social distancing efforts amid the COVID-19 pandemic.







"In the midst of uncertainty, our message to the audience is 'it's okay to be weird.' Weirdness can be a powerful vehicle through which one can find a unique path for oneself and adapt to the new normal," festival director Shin Chul said during a press conference held at Fantastic Cube in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, Tuesday.







"The Feast," "King Car," "Vicious Fun" and seven other films were invited to the "Bucheon Choice competition," BIFAN's international competition section that introduces new genre trends in cinema.







"The Medium," produced by "The Wailing" director Na Hong-jin, will hold its world premiere at the festival. Directed by Thai filmmaker Banjong Pisanthanaku, the film tells a bizarre and uncanny story of a possessed shaman against the backdrop of the mysteriously beautiful nature of Northeast Thailand.







"BIFAN has deep ties with director Na. He has participated in the festival since the early days of his directing career with his short films, such as, 'A Perfect Red Snapper Dish' (2005) and 'Sweat' (2007). We are all looking forward to his new project," said Ellen Y.D. Kim, head programmer of Asian cinema.







In the Bucheon Choice Shorts section, a total of 12 carefully selected films, out of 40 entries, including Oscar-nominated director Erick Oh's new animated short, "Namoo," will be unveiled.







A poster for the 25th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival / Courtesy of the BIFAN organizing committee

Eight films, including "Good Deal" by Cho Kyoung-ho and "Trap" by Lee Moon-young, will vie for a prize in the "Korean Fantastic" section. The lineup includes films that deal with social issues, such as unemployment and hardships faced by women.







Opening the festival will be the world premiere of Taiwanese director Giddens Go's "Till We Meet Again" that revolves around a young man who, after being struck dead by lighting, loses his memory, and then works as a god of love, matchmaking men and women on Earth, tying them together using red strings.







According to the organizing committee, the most significant program of this year's festival is "scary tales campus," which provides focused mentoring sessions, as well as production support for short films about scary tales. This year, director Na, "Kingdom" writer Kim Eun-hee, along with Kim Dong-hyun, head of investment for Korean films at Merry Christmas, will join as mentors.






Son Yeol-eum, pianist and artistic director of "Music in PyeongChang," speaks during a press conference held to promote the biannual classic festival at the Korea Press Center, Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap



By Park Ji-won





The poster for "San, Alive," the summer series of the biannual classic festival, "Music in PyeongChang." Courtesy of Music In PyeongChang
Shinhan Life CEO Sung Dae-kyu speaks during a press conference in Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of Shinhan Life



By Lee Min-hyung



Shinhan Life will expand its foothold in Vietnam and continue to scale up investment in emerging growth areas  such as healthcare  as part of efforts to reduce its reliance on conventional insurance sales in the rapidly saturating domestic market, the company's CEO Sung Dae-kyu said Tuesday.



"We will focus on increasing our market share in the lucrative Vietnamese market for quantity-wise growth," Sung told reporters during a press conference. "Shinhan Life will also keep expanding our healthcare-related businesses for qualitative growth."



The vision was unveiled about two weeks before the official launch of the integrated insurer, formerly Shinhan Life Insurance and Orange Life Insurance. After concluding all legal procedures, the new insurer will start doing business as of July 1, becoming Korea's fourth-largest life insurer with total assets worth 71.5 trillion won ($63.96 billion). The calculation is based on data as of the end of 2020. The integrated entity's annual net profit reached 396.1 billion won during the same period, the second-largest figure in the life insurance industry.



Sung stood at the forefront in pushing for the insurer's expansion into the Southeast Asian market. In February this year, Shinhan Life Vietnam won the license to operate business from local authorities there. The company is expected to start operating its business in 2022.



Shinhan Financial Group is rapidly raising its financial profile in Vietnam, and Shinhan Life aims to generate synergy with the parent group's banking subsidiaries operating there. Shinhan Bank Vietnam is one of Shinhan's biggest overseas subsidiaries, generating stable revenues after achieving success with its localization strategy.



The chief of Shinhan Life also shared his vision to continue enhancing the firm's healthcare business with the focus on HowFIT, a digital healthcare service operated by the insurer.



"The insurance business has close connections with healthcare, so we will make concerted efforts to lead the next healthcare market by possibly launching a healthcare service-dedicated subsidiary," Sung said.



He pledged to run the company under three core management strategies  digitization, value and data.



"The three keywords will be embedded to all the decision-making processes of the company," Sung said. "We will let go of any old-fashioned working style and the key pillars will lay the foundation of Shinhan Life's new management culture."



To achieve successful integration of the two insurers, Shinhan Life also promised to engage in sincere communication with their union members and minimize workforce restructuring.




Expectations are growing that international tourism will resume as an increasing number of people have been vaccinated around the world and travel restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic are being lifted cautiously. gettyimagesbank



By Jun Ji-hye



Travel agencies are moving fast to resume overseas package tours as the nation's vaccination rate is picking up speed and travel restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic are beginning to be lifted cautiously in some countries.



Industry officials expect demand for overseas travel to increase rapidly at some point once more people receive vaccine shots, and once the government establishes "travel bubbles" with other countries.



Travel bubbles refer to a partnership between two or more cities or countries that have managed to curtail COVID-19 infections to allow quarantine-free air travel in both directions. On June 9, the government announced that at least one travel bubble agreement could be signed as early as next month.



In line with this development of situations, travel agencies are rushing to release overseas package tours catering to those who have been fully vaccinated.



Very Good Tour, a local travel agency, said its tours to Paris will begin on July 12 as six people have made their reservations.



The firm noted that another tour package to Guam will leave on Aug. 14 with 44 tourists, Aug. 18 with 55 and Sept. 18 with 38.



Guam is one of the candidates that could potentially sign a travel bubble agreement with Korea. The government earlier said it had sounded out the intentions of several countries and territories, including Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Guam and Saipan, to establish travel bubble agreements.









The company is planning to launch additional tour packages to Taiwan and Singapore by the end of this month.



"Travel bubble agreements will considerably break down barriers to overseas travel," an official from Very Good Tour said. "We expect demand for travel to increase rapidly as many people have been stuck at home amid the pandemic."





Bird Island in northern Saipan / gettyimagesbank
Former Prosecutor-General Yoon Seok-youl's strong showing in public opinion surveys have spurred a publication boom around him. A total of eight books about him have been published this year alone.



Books about the former prosecutor-general give fragmented information about the possible presidential contender



By Kang Hyun-kyung



Former Prosecutor-General Yoon Seok-youl, 61, has yet to declare a bid to run in the 2022 presidential election slated for March 9. Despite rampant rumors about his candidacy, he has played a waiting game about his presidential run.



His every action, word and whereabouts spark speculation about his motives, maybe because he is currently one of the most popular  albeit unofficial  presidential contenders.



A Gallup poll conducted on 1,000 people in May found Yoon and Gyeonggi Governor Lee Jae-myung in a tight two-way race. When asked who they think should become Korea's next president, 25 percent said Lee, while 22 percent opted for Yoon. The poll had a plus or minus 3.1 percentage points margin of error.



Some other surveys showed that Yoon was ahead of Lee.



The former prosecutor's strong showing in public opinion surveys seems to have spurred a publication boom around him.



According to the Kyobo Books website, eight books about him have been, or will be, released this year alone. Since April, seven of them have been on sale in local bookstores, while the remaining one will be released Thursday.



Books about Yoon outnumber those on other presidential candidates. A book about Gyeonggi Governor Lee was published earlier this year, while former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon released a co-authored memoir, "Lee Nak-yeon's Promise: A Country That Protects My Life" published by Book 21.



Interestingly, none of the books about Yoon were authored by him nor were they based on interviews. All eight books are reconstructed stories based on media reports or recollections from acquaintances.



One, titled "Republic of Korea Calls Upon Yoon Seok-youl: The Yoon Syndrome in Korean Politics," tells the story of the former top prosecutor based on an interview with his father, Yoon Ki-joong, a professor emeritus of Yonsei University's Department of Statistics.

Author Kim Chang-young, a retired journalist, sat down with the senior Yoon to discuss his son as presidential material.



"We'll see what will happen. My son will be the last person to do anything unrighteous," the older Yoon was quoted as saying, sharing an anecdote about a mock trial his son attended when he was a student of Seoul National University School of Law.



According to his father, the younger Yoon was courageous enough to volunteer to play a prosecutor in a mock trial for then-President Chun Doo-hwan who rose to power through a military coup. He called for the death penalty for the sitting president for abuse of power and unlawfully organizing military action for personal gain.



Back in the 1980s during the military dictatorship, the older Yoon said, students were scared to take such a risky role, although it was a mock trial, for fear of retribution, but his son dared to do so.



After the mock trial, the younger Yoon hid out for days in a small temple in the eastern Gangwon Province to avoid any possible fallout.



"Later, I met President Chun upon his request. His children attended Yonsei University and that's why he asked to meet me. I told him about what my son did in the mock trial. He didn't take it seriously and said that's what young people do. If people of that age were not courageous enough to do what my son did, he said they won't become big fish," the older Yoon was quoted as saying in the book.





Yoon Seok-youl, center, is surrounded with reporters in the newly-opened urban park Yejang on June 9. Yonhap
Unification Minister Lee In-young, right, and Defense Minister Suh Wook attend a Cabinet meeting at the government complex in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap



By Kang Seung-woo



Unification Minister Lee In-young has postponed his long-prepared trip to the United States as it was not expected his visit would yield desirable results, according to the ministry, Tuesday.



Starting this year, Lee had been planning a trip to Washington, D.C., to meet the newly inaugurated Joe Biden administration's officials to discuss how to revive stalled North Korean nuclear negotiations and resume cross-border exchanges. Lee is a long-time advocate of engagement with the North.



Inter-Korean ties have been deadlocked since the summit between the U.S. and North Korea in Hanoi, Vietnam, in February 2019 ended without a deal.



"Despite having prepared for the minister's U.S. visit in late June, we decided to put it on hold after considering numerous factors," a senior ministry official said.



According to the official, ongoing uncertainties between South and North Korea as well as U.S. government officials' hectic schedules have led the minister to postpone.



"North Korea has yet to respond to calls from South Korea and the U.S. for dialogue, increasing uncertainties over inter-Korean relations," the official added.



"In addition, many of the U.S. officials involved in North Korea issues are currently on overseas diplomatic trips in June, so we have decided to rearrange the schedule."



Diplomatic observers say even if Lee were to travel to the U.S., there would be little he could do with regard to bringing Pyongyang back to the negotiating table.



"Minister Lee has very forward-leaning ideas for engaging North Korea that may not be immediately actionable. The Moon and Biden administrations have coordinated policies toward Pyongyang, including strengthening the alliance for deterrence, offering humanitarian assistance and showing willingness for denuclearization negotiations with staged sanctions relief," said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor of international studies at Ewha Womans University.



"The problem is that the Kim regime is currently not open to engagement because of paranoia over coronavirus contagion and a focus on domestic political housecleaning."



Park Won-gon, a professor of North Korean studies at Ewha Womans University, also said, "Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun visited the U.S. recently, while Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong also met with U.S. Secretary State Antony Blinken on the sidelines of the G7 Summit last week, so there is little room for Lee to do something with the U.S. side about North Korea issues."



Park also said there would be few chances for Lee to hold a "significant" meeting in the U.S.



"While the Biden administration's officials handling North Korea issues are overseas, it would not be easy to meet members of the U.S. Congress. It isn't really desirable for a minister to just end up meeting with experts from think tanks," he said.



In addition, given that Sung Kim, a new U.S. special representative for North Korea, is highly anticipated to visit here, his trip may also have affected Lee's plans as well.






South Korea on Tuesday achieved its vaccination goal of inoculating over 13 million people, or a quarter of the country's 51.3 million population, earlier than scheduled amid its accelerating vaccination drive, boding well for its scheme to create herd immunity by November, the health authorities said.



A total of slightly more than 13 million people had received their first shots of COVID-19 vaccines as of 2:30 p.m., accounting for around 25.4 percent of the country's population, since the country started its vaccination program on Feb. 26, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).



The country earlier announced a goal to vaccinate at least 13 million people by the end of June, and up to 14 million people by the end of this month, and up to 36 million people by September.



The nation aims to achieve herd immunity in November but hopes to reach its goal earlier with the increased vaccine rollout.



The country's inoculations topped the 1-million mark on April 5 and breached the 10-million mark on June 10, with the inoculation drive speeding up recently as the country began inoculating seniors aged 60-64.



Reserve forces, civil defense members, and others in charge of defense and foreign affairs aged between 30 and 60 also began receiving the first batch of Johnson Johnson's Janssen vaccine.













Health authorities said they will also resume administering AstraZeneca vaccines to people aged under 30 that was temporarily stopped for blood clot concerns.



Moderna vaccines will also begin being provided to medical personnel and medical students aged under 30 later this week.



The authorities said they will begin shipping the Moderna vaccine as early as later Tuesday, and the product may be administered this week.



To encourage more citizens to get vaccinated, the country plans to allow people who have received their first jabs to take their masks off outdoors starting in July as its first step to normalize everyday lives.



The government is also looking to offer more incentives to vaccinated people to boost its inoculation campaign, such as giving exemptions from the private gathering ban and outdoor mask wearing.



The government announced it is pushing to allow overseas group tours of fully vaccinated citizens to nations with stable virus response measures as early as next month.



On Tuesday, the country reported 347 more COVID-19 cases, including 347 local infections, raising the total caseload to 148,647, the KDCA said. (Yonhap)
Marhabo Jumaboeva, a citizen of Uzbekistan who lives with her two children after divorcing her Korean husband in 2016, stands behind a curtain in her home in Incheon during an interview with The Korea Times, June 7. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul



This article is the third in a four-part series to highlight and address issues surrounding marginalized residents of foreign nationality who are living in legal blind spots in Korean society.  ED.



By Lee Hyo-jin



Marhabo Jumaboeva, 38, is a citizen of Uzbekistan who lives with her two children as a single mother in Incheon. She divorced her Korean husband in 2016, ending nine years of marriage. The main reason was that her mother-in-law was overly protective of her son and looked down on Jumaboeva because she was a foreigner.



"I don't regret my choice. But the divorce, which was an unexpected event in my life, has brought many difficulties for me and my children," Jumaboeva said during an interview with The Korea Times.



Since her ex-husband refuses to provide child support, even though he was ordered to do so, Jumaboeva is on her own raising her 13-year-old son and 12-year-old daughter.



"I used to work as a multicultural educator at schools, but classes have been cancelled since the COVID-19 outbreak. Now I can barely make ends meet, since the basic livelihood grant from the government provides me with just over 1 million won ($900) a month," she said.



Being a single parent is not easy in Korea, and it is especially tough for residents of foreign nationality.



"Even though I'm the mother of two Korean children, I feel that I'm not being accepted as a member of the society. Due to my nationality, I frequently get denied social welfare benefits."



The fact that she has been denied the basic right to social welfare benefits as a person of foreign nationality is why Jumaboeva has been seeking to obtain Korean citizenship, which she did not get during her nine years of marriage, over the last four years. However, despite her efforts, involving countless consultations with immigration lawyers and experts, she has not succeeded in meeting the difficult application requirements.

Migrants who have become single parents after divorce or the death of their Korean spouse must live in Korea for two years prior to applying for citizenship, according to the Ministry of Justice. They must also complete 70 hours of the Korean Immigration Integration Program (KIIP) course, as well as pass a written test evaluating their knowledge of Korean language and culture.



Another requirement is that they must prove their financial independence by having a stable monthly income and a certain amount of assets. But having such financial independence was impossible for Jumaboeva, whose family fell into the category of a low-income household in need of government support right after the divorce made her into a single parent.



According to civic groups, this requirement  that residents of foreign nationality who divorced their Korean national spouses prove that they have a sustainable income  precludes many from applying for citizenship.



"The vast majority of foreigners who have divorced their Korean spouses are in urgent need of long-term social welfare support, due to their financial difficulties and unstable legal status. But in order to stabilize their situation by obtaining citizenship, they have to prove that they can live without any government aid. This is absurd," said Hwang Sun-young, head of Global Unite, a Seoul-based civic group supporting single parents of foreign nationality.



"This contradiction is highly discouraging for them. Without a stable legal status, they live with the fear that they might have to leave the country when their child grows up," she said, urging the justice ministry to apply more flexible measures to single parents in attaining citizenship.



Lee Jae-ho, a lawyer at Chingune, a public interest law firm for immigrants, said that the government does not seem to understand fully the difficult situation divorced people of foreign nationality are in, judging by the "unrealistic requirements" for the citizenship application.





Local activists demand protection of the rights of women of foreign nationality who are married to Korean men during a rally in front of the Government Complex Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, in this July 15, 2019 file photo. Yonhap
A woman receives a shot of the Pfizer vaccine against COVID-19 at a vaccination center in Gwangju, Tuesday. Yonhap



By Lee Hyo-jin



As Korea's vaccination drive against COVID-19 gathers pace, a number of vaccine-related errors have been reported nationwide, prompting concern among people waiting their turn to be inoculated.



The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said 105 vaccine administration errors have been reported out of the 14.79 million that had been given as of Sunday.



Of these, 90 cases were vaccinating ineligible recipients  the most common error  such as giving the AstraZeneca dose to people under the age of 30. Its use for people under the age 30 has been banned by the government due to possible side effects related to blood clotting.



Ten others involved incorrect intervals between administering the two doses, giving the second one earlier than the recommended time. In the remaining cases, five people were given overdoses of the vaccine.



These five were reported at a hospital in Buan County in North Jeolla Province, where medical workers inadvertently administered five to six times the recommended dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to five men in their 30s. One of them suffered a high fever of over 40 degrees Celsius, while the others did not have any serious side effects.









There also have been errors not included in the KDCA data yet as it is currently conducting further investigations.



Forty people were given only a half dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine at a medical institution in Namdong District, Incheon, the health authority noted.





Elderly citizens aged over 75 receive a coronavirus vaccine from Pfizer at a vaccination center in Gwangju, Monday. Yonhap
Blood samples in tubes are taken for HIV testing. Gettyimagesbank



By Bahk Eun-ji



With public health centers across Seoul focusing their attention on the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing at state-run clinics is taking a backseat to treating coronavirus infections, raising concerns over possible blind spots in the management of HIV infections and transmission.



According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, there are only six public health centers in the capital that can offer anonymous HIV testing for free.



The situation outside Seoul is not much different, with most public health centers there also temporarily suspending HIV testing as COVID-19 has been taking up resources since last year.



"The management of HIV and other infectious diseases other than for COVID-19 has become more difficult due to the lack of human resources at public health centers as they are going all out for coronavirus quarantine work," said an official from the city's infectious disease response department.



The problem is that public health centers play a large role in HIV management, with few medical institutions providing anonymous HIV testing.



Public health centers in Seoul have been conducting free and prompt testing since 2015 for all citizens who wish to be tested for HIV. All processes are conducted anonymously, and the results can be checked in person or by phone 20 minutes after the test.



Due to the nature of HIV/AIDS, anonymous tests are often desired, but when visiting a general hospital, it is inevitable for the patients to expose their personal information.



Jacob Lee, a professor of infectious disease at Hallym University Medical Center, also said anonymous testing at public health centers has been effective in encouraging at-risk people to take the test.



According to statistics from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), 367, or 30 percent of those 1,222 newly diagnosed with HIV (1,005 Koreans and 217 foreigners) in Korea, were tested through public health centers in 2018.



But since the COVID-19 outbreak, the number of HIV tests conducted at public health centers has dropped sharply.



In Seoul, the number of HIV tests conducted at public health centers stood at 4,641 last year, down 83 percent from 27,406 in 2019.



In March this year, 466 HIV tests were conducted at public health centers, a similar number to the same month last year. The number of new cases of HIV infections last year decreased by 21 percent from a year earlier.



This is not because the actual number of patients has decreased, but because most public health centers have suspended their HIV testing services.



The city government said it is difficult to predict when the anonymous HIV testing service can return to normal again.



"The current COVID-19 situation needs to improve before we can consider resuming HIV testing," a city official said. "The shortage of workers at public health centers is so serious that it is difficult to proceed with HIV testing right now."


European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, right, U.S. President Joe Biden, second from right, France's President Emmanuel Macron, center, Italy's Prime Minister Mario Draghi, Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, third from left, Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, second from left, and European Council President Charles Michel, left, walk along the boardwalk during the G7 summit in Carbis Bay, Cornwall, England, June 11. AFP-Yonhap



Japan committed a "discourtesy" by canceling agreed-upon talks between President Moon Jae-in and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga during the recent Group of Seven (G-7) summit in Britain, the head of South Korea's state diplomatic academy said Tuesday.



Kim Joon-hyung, chancellor of the Korea National Diplomatic Academy, also said on a local radio station that it is "diplomatically impolite" for Japan to press the South to accept its demands in a row over wartime forced labor as a precondition for a summit.



Seoul and Tokyo had tentatively agreed to hold a pull-aside meeting between their leaders during the three-day G-7 session that ended Sunday, a foreign ministry official said. But Tokyo unilaterally called it off, taking issue with Seoul's annual drills to defend its easternmost islets of Dokdo.



"That is, after all, Japan's discourtesy. But it's not a surprise," Kim said on the CBS radio station. "Though Japan denies it had canceled the meeting, it, in fact, had continuously put forward preconditions for a summit between the leaders to take place."



The preconditions included South Korea's adherence to the 1965 treaty aimed at normalizing bilateral relations after Japan's 1910-45 colonization of the Korean Peninsula and a 2015 deal to address the issue of Japan's wartime sexual slavery.



Japan argues that Seoul has failed to fully implement the treaty and the deal, as victims continue to call for Japan's reparations and full atonement through civil lawsuits.



Kim criticized preconditions for a summit as a "demand for a complete surrender."



"When the U.S. said South Korea, the U.S. and Japan should get together and get along well, and that Seoul and Tokyo should address their issues, Japan has always rejected it," he said.



Kim also said that Japan's preconditions for a summit appear to reflect its discomfort over South Korea having continued to stand out prominently at the G-7 gathering. (Yonhap)


President Moon Jae-in holds a virtual meeting with Franz-Werner Haas, the head of German biotech group CureVac, on COVID-19 vaccine partnership at a hotel in Vienna, Austria, Tuesday (local time). Yonhap



President seeks vaccine partnership with German drugmaker CureVac



By Nam Hyun-woo, Joint Press Corps



President Moon Jae-in is expediting his bid to turn Korea into a global vaccine manufacturing hub by seeking to form a partnership with CureVac for the production of the German drug maker's next-generation COVID-19 vaccine.



Moon, who is on a trip to Austria, had a videoconference with CureVac CEO Franz-Werner Haas, Tuesday (local time), and asked him to cooperate with Korean firms.



This follows Moon's meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the sidelines of the Group of Seven (G7) Summit in the United Kingdom last week, where the two leaders shared their opinions on potential partnerships between German vaccine companies with messenger RNA (mRNA) technology and Korean vaccine contract manufacturers.



During the videoconference, Moon cited the meeting with Merkel and explained Korea's bid to become a global vaccine production hub. According to Cheong Wa Dae, Haas agreed to look at Korea's prowess in manufacturing vaccines and expressed support for Moon's vaccine hub initiative.



Following the call, attention is on whether CureVac will sign contracts for the manufacture of its vaccine with Korean companies.



CureVac's product, which is anticipated to be the world's third mRNA vaccine, is in Phase 3 clinical trials  the results are expected to be announced this summer.



The company claims its vaccine will be administered in much lower dose, improving cost-efficiency and making it easier to be combined with other vaccines against COVID-19 variants. It also has improved temperature stability for standard cold chain logistics, remaining stable when stored at a refrigerator temperature of five degrees Celsius.



Since the company is a startup, it is expanding its output capacity with manufacturing networks. The company says it will be able to supply up to 300 million doses in 2021. Since it has already signed an advanced purchase agreement for up to 405 million doses with the European Commission and plans to expand its supply further, it needs to expand its manufacturing capacity.



Against this backdrop, a number of Korean manufacturers are competing to win contracts from CureVac, with ST Pharm and Samsung Biologics being mentioned as the top contenders.



ST Pharm is gaining attention as it has lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-based drug substance technology, which involves tiny lipid droplets that effectively deliver and protect the vaccine's components, thus enabling the company to cover wider processes in vaccine manufacturing.



As it is the only Korean company having the technology, ST Pharm is also being mentioned as a contract manufacturing organization (CMO) for Moderna's vaccine, while the company is studying the feasibility of raise its production capacity to 100 million doses.



Samsung Biologics is also interested in becoming a manufacturer for CureVac, as the company has recently added mRNA drug substance manufacturing to its portfolio. The company has already won a CMO order from Moderna.


Mexican veterans of the Korean War, from left in front row Roberto Sierra, Jesus Cantu and Jose Villarreal, pose with Korean and Mexican officials during a ceremony commemorating the establishment of the Korean War Veterans Association in Mexico in this April 24 file photo. Courtesy of Embassy of Mexico in Seoul



By Bruno Figueroa





Bruno Figueroa, Mexican ambassador to Korea

In June 2020, then-Ambassador of Mexico to the United States Martha Barcena and I wrote an article in The Korea Times titled " Mexicans: Forgotten soldiers of 1950-53 Korean War " to recognize the more than 100,000 soldiers of Mexican origin who fought in this conflict as part of the U.S. Armed Forces. In one year, the progress of our research on the topic has been impressive and has brought unexpected results. We did not imagine at the time the positive impact that it would have on some Mexican veterans and their families.



As a mirror of the impact the war had in Mexican society, we discovered that three Mexican movies between 1951 and 1959 referred to the Korean War, from tragic to comic ways. In one of them, "I Like Them Brave!" (1959), Jose, who comes back from the United States married to a strong ranchera from the countryside, is scorned by the men of the village because he does not show courage. In the climax of the film, he opens in front of his wife a small coffer of his property and spills out photographs, press clippings in English and medals. He shouts to her that he was "a poor sergeant of Mexican origin who deserved the Congressional [United States] Medal for ... his cowardice!" Prejudice, indifference and lack of understanding was the sad fate of thousands of veterans of Mexican origin, in Mexico and the United States. Fortunately, that situation has started to change.



The support from the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Mexico has been critical in finding four Mexican veterans alive to recognize their service. This led to the establishment of the first Association of Mexican Veterans of the Korean War on April 24, at the residence of the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea in Mexico, Suh Jeong-in.



I had the opportunity to meet the first president of the Association, Jose Villarreal, at his home near Mexico City, in January. He narrated some personal stories of the war and gave me a copy of his handwritten memoirs. When he arrived in Korea, he kept asking himself: "Did I come here to die?" From the United Nations coalition side, after Korean and American citizens, more Mexicans died than anybody else.



I have also been in close contact with veteran Roberto Sierra, since he is the father of a colleague ambassador of Mexico, and who never talked to his family about the atrocities he encountered during the war. He sheds tears while recounting the excruciating 40 days he spent in a hole behind enemy lines. It is never too late to recognize their trials and heroism.





Logo of Korean War Veterans Association in Mexico
A screenshot of the online Black Lives Matter Korea event held last Sunday ahead of June 19, "Juneteenth" / Courtesy of Black Lives Matter Korea





By Chantal Terblanche







Juneteenth was a word not known to many outside of the U.S.  as well as some inside it either  before this last year. According to Google Trends, searches for the word "Juneteenth" reached their highest level in 2020 since 2004, the earliest data available. According to data, the word didn't only trend in the U.S., but worldwide too.







So what is Juneteenth?







The New York Times described it recently as such, "On June 19, 1865, enslaved African-Americans in Galveston, Texas, were told they were free. A century and a half later, people in cities and towns across the U.S. continue to celebrate the occasion."







The day's name, which first appeared around 1903, is a combination of "June" and "nineteenth" in honor of the date of this announcement to the people of Texas. It is also known as African American Freedom Day or Emancipation Day. The day was celebrated occasionally until it was revived during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s. Juneteenth is recognized as a state holiday or special day of observance in 45 states. There is currently a push towards making it a federal holiday.







In Korea, this history may be even less familiar, but African American foreign residents have been increasingly spreading awareness, in cooperation with Black people from around the world and their allies. Last year, in the wake of the killing of George Floyd by police in the U.S., members of the local Black community decided to start a Black Lives Matter group for Korea, welcoming cooperation with other communities and educating everyone on the importance of Black culture and American history of Black people. The group also organizes various events and initiatives, such as the Black Excellence Festival in February during Black History Month.









On June 13, members of the Facebook group

(BLMK) organized an online event to celebrate this day. African Americans have been celebrating and acknowledging this day in Korea for many years but, as one of the organizers, who wished to be identified only as Terra, told The Korea Times, COVID-19 has presented a new challenge and this year, an online event seemed to be the best.







The free event was held online via Zoom at 3 p.m. for two hours. It had music, a trivia game, panel discussion, a guest speaker and a dance-off at the end. The panel title was, "Finding Balance: Embracing Black Joy Through the Struggle." The topic was described in the event description as covering "how we handle the difficulties of dealing with systemic racism, and seeing news reports on injustice in our communities, while still keeping our peace and joy." The guest speaker, Dr. Lavonna Connell, is a clinical psychologist from Camp Humphreys.







EJ Asare, Haitian American author, English teacher and co-founder of BLMK, said the theme of mental health was chosen for the panel discussion as, "Just like the traumatic history of South Korea, it is important to learn how not only to survive traumatic events, but to thrive despite the trauma." This past year has been a very traumatic and emotionally taxing experience for many, and very often, mental health concerns are overlooked and not acknowledged.







As to why the organizers feel an event like the Juneteenth celebration is important, many gave the same reason: education. Terra mentioned that this holiday wasn't well-known even a few years ago, and just because the history is uncomfortable, it doesn't mean it should not be spoken about.







Fellow organizer EJ added that this type of event is important to have in Korea, since many people believe the Western mainstream media's negative image of African Americans, saying, "Black culture is not just the music and dancing that other cultures imitate without acknowledging the Black roots. It is our pain being recreated as art. It is our very essence. Many people admire, steal and profit from Black culture. They want to imitate the best of what we produce but refuse to acknowledge the suffering that creates the music, dance and art. We have a saying, 'You want our joy but not our pain.'"







They are hoping that this event, and others like it, will raise awareness of the darker sides of American history and the suffering many have endured.









For those who missed this event, a

of the online session has been uploaded to the YouTube channel of

.









There are

on the date of Juneteenth this Saturday. JJ's Diner in Pyeongtaek will hold a more party-like event with music and food. There is also an event being held at U.S. Army Garrison (USAG) Humphreys for military personnel. More information about these events can be found on the Black Lives Matter Korea

and

pages.







"BLMK focuses not only on the importance of Black lives, but also on Black excellence," EJ stated. "We welcome people who want to work and educate to join us to organize events. We are also looking for Korean orgs to work with on future projects. We want to reach as much of the country as possible to show unity (and solidarity)."









The organizers also recommend the website

, which is also

, where people can find a list of Black businesses or people in Korea to support and follow.







For history not to be repeated, it is important to acknowledge it, no matter how upsetting it may be. History should never be forgotten.







Chantal Terblanche, from South Africa, lives here with her dog, Samsung. She runs the blog ClumsyinKorea.com and the Korea Events group on Facebook.




An intensive police crackdown on drug offenses for the past three months resulted in the arrests of over 600 suspects, the National Police Agency (NPA) said Tuesday.







The three-month-long crackdown that began in March led to the detention of 2,626 drug offenders and 614 of them were put under arrest, the NPA said.







Foreign nationals accounted for 16.5 percent, or 432, of the detained suspects, it said.







By age, people in their 20s accounted for 947, or 36.2 percent, of the detained suspects, followed by 644 in their 30s (24.5 percent), 436 in their 40s (16.6 percent), 319 in their 50s (12.2 percent), 104 in their 60s (4 percent) and 102 in their teens (3.9 percent), the agency noted.







It said 1,793 suspects, or 68.3 percent, were caught using or peddling psychotropic drugs, such as methamphetamine, synthetic hemp and ecstasy, followed by 625 suspects related to marijuana (23.8 percent) and 208 suspects related to poppy, cocaine and fentanyl (7.9 percent).







The agency said 1,948 suspects, or 74.2 percent, were caught using drugs and 538 suspects, or 20.5 percent, were detained for peddling the illegal substances. Notably, 892 suspects, or 34 percent, committed drug offenses through the internet, it said. (Yonhap)


gettyimagesbank



By Yoon Ja-young



A high school junior has been found dead after pleading her innocence when a teacher accused her of cheating on an English assessment test.



According to a report by the Hankook Ilbo, sister paper of The Korea Times, the student, who was attending an all-girls high school in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, was found dead by an apartment building near the school on June 10. She was taken to hospital immediately, but did not survive.



She reportedly left the school at 9:40 a.m. when the second period of the day started.



The student had taken an English assessment test during the first period of the day. The test required writing a review of an English pop song in three sentences. Assessment test scores accumulate and go towards students' total grades and overall academic records. While the students were taking the test, the teacher found a note in the girl's desk that had some English sentences on it. The teacher accused the student of cheating, which she denied.



Nevertheless, the student was taken to the teachers' office and told to write a letter of apology instead of attending the second class of the day.



In the letter of apology, she wrote that she had cheated during the test and that she was sorry; she also wrote that she was now useless and she had used up all the chances she was given. She wrote she was sorry that her teacher was disappointed in her.



However, on the other side of the paper, she continued pleading her innocence. She wrote the three English sentences in question and said those sentences were not in her test answer sheet. She also said she would have no choice but to accept it if the teacher gave her a failing grade.



When the teacher stepped out of the office, the girl left the school and headed to the apartment building.



The bereaved family stated that it was only a short and simple test that lasted for 15 minutes while she was an excellent student who had ranked sixth in her year in the mid-term exams. The family said they believe the teacher made false accusations.



The Andong police and the Gyeongsangbuk-do Office of Education are now investigating the case.



*If you need expert help due to depression or other mental health concerns, you can receive 24-hour counseling at the Korean Suicide Prevention Center's hotline at 1393.






A former South Korean top prosecutor plans to officially announce his presidential bid later this month, his spokesman said Tuesday.







Yoon Seok-youl, who has been a front-runner in opinion polls, will publicly "show the result" of his contemplation later in June or early July, Yoon's spokesman Lee Dong-hoon told Yonhap News Agency.







Lee said Yoon will decide whether to join the main opposition People Power Party after meeting various officials.







In the latest poll conducted by the Korea Society Opinion Institute from Friday to Saturday on 1,007 voters nationwide, 35.5 percent picked Yoon as their most favored candidate for next year's presidential election, up 4.4 percentage points from a week earlier.







Gyeonggi Province Gov. Lee Jae-myung of the ruling Democratic Party (DP) came in second with 27.7 percent, followed by former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon with 12.6 percent.







Yoon resigned in March, four months before his two-year tenure was set to end, in an apparent protest against President Moon Jae-in's drive to reform the prosecution service.







Moon once called Yoon "our top prosecutor" but their relationship soured as Yoon pressed ahead with investigations into scandals involving former Justice Minister Cho Kuk, a close confidant of Moon.







Yoon would be the first former top prosecutor to run for president in South Korea. (Yonhap)






Suga hit for renewing hardline stance on Korea



Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga cannot deflect criticism for unilaterally canceling agreed-upon talks with South Korean President Moon Jae-in during the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Britain last week. Seoul and Tokyo had tentatively agreed on an informal meeting between the two leaders; but Suga nixed this, citing Korea's annual military exercises to safeguard its East Sea territory, including the easternmost Dokdo islets.



It is regrettable that the Japanese leader called off the meeting with his South Korean counterpart due to the exercises that usually take place twice a year  in summer and winter. The two countries have long been at loggerheads over Dokdo. By all respects, the volcanic outcroppings are an integral part of South Korea; however, Japan has continued to lay claim to the islets.



Suga apparently has little or no interest in holding talks with Moon, although citing the Dokdo issue seems to be a lame excuse. Korea has many reasons to complain about Japan's irrational stance on the islets. Most recently, Japan again invited the anger of Korea and its people by including Dokdo on the map of the route of the Tokyo Olympics torch relay. Posting such a map online is tantamount to an infringement on Korea's sovereignty and a violation of the Olympic spirit of peace and harmony.



The Japanese side should take full responsibility for scoffing at President Moon's efforts to hold a summit  informal or formal  with Suga to mend ties. Bilateral relations have continued to deteriorate since 2018 when South Korea's Supreme Court ordered Japanese firms to pay compensation to surviving Korean victims of Japan's wartime forced labor. Tokyo took retaliatory trade measures against Seoul  specifically Korean hi-tech firms  over the ruling, heightening tensions further between the two neighbors.



With the cancelation of their meeting, Moon and Suga only exchanged brief greetings twice, Saturday, before an expanded G7 session and during a dinner hosted by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Disappointingly, however, Suga turned down Moon's diplomatic gesture to hold a "pull-aside" meeting with him to discuss pending issues such as wartime forced labor and sexual slavery.



What is more worrisome is that Suga has repeated his rigid position that he has no plans to hold a summit with Moon anytime soon until Korea comes up with a solution to the compensation issue. It is irresponsible for Suga to pass the buck to the Korean side without acknowledging and apologizing for Japan's crimes against humanity during World War II.



Another factor is the domestic political situation Suga faces in Japan. His approval rating is on the decline, particularly amid growing public protests against his push for going ahead with the Summer Olympics despite the raging COVID-19 pandemic. He may fear that a possible summit with Moon might prompt a backlash from his conservative supporters.



We urge Suga to have such a summit with Moon sooner rather than later. There seems to be no other options than diplomacy to solve the disputes over Japan's wartime atrocities. As Moon has proposed, the two countries should try to forge a future-oriented partnership by reaching true reconciliation and rebuilding trust.








Gettyimagesbank



By Yi Whan-woo



Increased cases of insomnia and other sleep disorders among the younger generations in China are bringing new business opportunities for Korean companies.



According to a survey released in May by the Shanghai office of the Korea International Trade Association (KITA), the sleep disorder rate in China reached 38.2 percent in 2019, up from 20.3 percent in 2018.



The 2019 rate is also higher than the international average of 27 percent during that same year.



By age, those who were born in the 1990s and 2000s are the most affected, KITA said. This fact is because they are mostly junior employees in their workplaces, and compared to senior employees, they are more strictly required to observe the so-called "996 work culture."



This moniker refers to working from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week, notably witnessed in the tech and startup sectors, where the employees are predominantly millennials and generation Z.



A separate survey published by the Chinese Sleep Research Society in February showed that people were spending more time at home during the pandemic and this situation was leading to sleep being delayed by up to three hours on average per night.



As a result, the sleep aid market expanded by 11.2 percent per year on average from 2015 to 2019. Its size is expected to reach 457.2 billion yuan ($71.3 billion) by 2022.



"This phenomenon is similar to Korea's culture of overwork, and such stressful working conditions in China are even affecting people's life after work, giving them trouble sleeping," the KITA said.



It also said that young people prefer buying products online, as seen from the 530 percent year-on-year increase of sleep aid products on Alibaba in June 2019.



"The market size of sleep products is expanding rapidly and becoming increasingly high-end," KITA said. "Korean companies will get their chance if they focus on selling sleep aid devices, apps and other related products online."



According to KITA, Korea's sleep aid market already has "grown into a considerable size" and it has a wide range of products.



These products include beds, mattresses, pillows, blankets, sleeping masks, earplugs and medication, as well as electronics-assisted devices.



One of the latest products is a waterbed mattress jointly developed by water heater equipment manufacturer KyungDong Navien and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST).



Using biosensors, the mattress is programmed to keep the best temperature for sleep, according to a timer, after the user turns it on.



Simmons Korea, the local branch of U.S.-based bedding company Simmons, has been running a research center to study the best possible sleep environments for individuals, by analyzing their brain waves as well as environmental factors such as temperature and humidity.



Further, the bedding firm, Evezary, developed a patent for pillows designed exclusively for those who snore heavily and can't sleep well.




Seen above is an empty logistics center in Seoul on June 7, after the local delivery worker union went on strike that same day. Korea Times photo by Koh Young-kwon



By Kim Jae-heun



A recent strike by unionized delivery worker to improve working conditions is putting pressure on eBay Korea and 11st, both of which outsource their deliveries. On the other hand, e-commerce firms like Coupang and SSG.com, which operate their own logistics centers or hire delivery drivers directly, have avoided being affected.



The labor union conducted a walkout June 7 at some of the workplaces where it has the right to strike. At facilities where it doesn't have the right to strike, delivery workers delayed their start times by two hours, starting work at 11 a.m.



Delivery workers are requesting logistics firms to take their parcel-sorting jobs, which they say is the cause of recent driver deaths due to overwork.



Meanwhile, the union walkout delayed delivery services for eBay Korea and 11st from minimum two days to maximum five days.



Unlike Coupang and SSG.com, eBay Korea and 11st only run open market platforms and merchants are responsible for sending their sold products to customers. Most often, sellers use local firms like CJ Logistics, Hanjin Transportation and Logen for their delivery services.



eBay Korea posted a notice last Thursday about the possibility of delivery delays of up to five days. Despite the announcement, customers have been complaining about the delays.



Some customers did not receive their orders for over a week, or got their parcels returned a day after sellers sent them.



11st is in the same situation as eBay Korea, and it made an online announcement asking for customers understanding regarding the delays.



The strike does not affect Coupang, as it hires its delivery drivers directly. Coupang provides car insurance, vehicle and other maintenance expenses to ensure a safe working environment for its delivery workers. As of last July, Coupang had hired over 10,000 drivers.



Shinsegae's online retailer, SSG.com, has employed separate workers to take care of the job of sorting parcels at its logistic centers. At SSG.com's NE.O distribution center, it implemented an automated system to classify customers by their addresses, which reduces delivery drivers' work at other logistic firms.



"The delivery worker union's strike does not affect our overnight delivery service. Our drivers are not members of the labor union," an SSG.com official said.



The current strike is being participated in by only 10 percent of the delivery workers across the country, so it is not likely to have a huge impact.



"Nonetheless, customers are already making complaints, as online shopping has become a huge part of our lives," an industry source said.


In this April 23 file photo, a man holds a child as they watch a dance performance at the International Grand Bazaar in Urumqi in western China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. The Han population in that region grew faster than the ethnic minority Uygur population over the last decade, according to the results of the 2020 national census. AP-Yonhap




Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte gestures as he delivers his speech during the 123rd anniversary of the proclamation of the Philippine independence rites on June 12 at the Provincial Capitol of Bulacan province, Philippines. The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court said Monday that she has sought authorization to open an investigation into the Philippine government's deadly crackdown on drug crime. AP-Yonhap



The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court said Monday that she has sought authorization to open an investigation into the Philippine government's deadly crackdown on drug crime.



Fatou Bensouda said that a preliminary probe she opened in February 2018 ''determined that there is a reasonable basis to believe that the crime against humanity of murder has been committed'' in the Philippines between July 1, 2016 and March 16, 2019, the date the Philippines withdrew from the court.



The suspected crimes happened ''in the context of the government of Philippines 'war on drugs' campaign,'' Bensouda said in a statement.



President Rodrigo Duterte announced in March 2018 that the Philippines was withdrawing its ratification of the treaty that created the ICC. The decision came into force a year later.



But Bensouda stressed that the court still has jurisdiction over crimes that allegedly happened while the country was still a member of the court.



Bensouda, whose nine-year term as the court's chief prosecutor ends this week, said that information gathered in the preliminary probe ''indicates that members of the Philippine National Police, and others acting in concert with them, have unlawfully killed between several thousand and tens of thousands of civilians during that time.''



She said prosecutors also reviewed allegations of ''torture and other inhumane acts, and related events'' dating back to Nov. 1, 2011, ''all of which we believe require investigation.''



When he announced he was going to withdraw from the court, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte defended his drug crackdown, saying in a 15-page statement that it is ''lawfully directed against drug lords and pushers who have for many years destroyed the present generation, specially the youth.''



Judges at the global court have 120 days to issue a decision on the prosecutor's request. (AP)


In this March 13 file photo, a protester holds a poster with an image of detained civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi during a candlelight vigil to honor those who have died during demonstrations against the military coup in Yangon. AFP-Yonhap



The trial of deposed Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi got under way Monday, more than four months after a military coup, with junta witnesses testifying the Nobel laureate flouted coronavirus restrictions and illegally imported walkie-talkies.



Near daily protests have rocked Myanmar since the generals' February 1 putsch.



A mass uprising has been met with a brutal military crackdown that has killed more than 850 civilians, according to a local monitoring group.



The junta has brought an eclectic raft of charges against the Nobel laureate, including claims she accepted illegal payments of gold and violated a colonial-era secrecy law.



On Monday the court heard a police force major testify that Suu Kyi broke coronavirus restrictions during last year's elections that her National League for Democracy (NLD) party won in a landslide, her lawyer Min Min Soe told AFP.



Another police major testified on separate charges accusing her of illegally importing and possessing walkie-talkies, she added.



Suu Kyi "paid keen attention" throughout the hearing, another member of her legal team, Khin Maung Zaw said in a statement.



Journalists were barred from proceedings in the special court in the capital Naypyidaw, but an AFP reporter said there was a heavy police presence outside.



Suu Kyi's lawyers  who have struggled to gain access to their client  have said they expect the trial to wrap up by July 26.



"I'm confident Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will overcome this trial," Khin Maung Zaw told AFP after the hearing.



"And she seems quite determined to assert her rights, whatever the results."



A separate trial is scheduled to start on Tuesday over sedition charges she faces alongside ousted president Win Myint and another senior member of the NLD.



If convicted of all charges, Suu Kyi, 75, faces more than a decade in jail.



"It is a show trial motivated only by political reasons," Debbie Stothard, Coordinator of the Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma, told AFP.



"Min Aung Hlaing is determined to lock up Aung San Suu Kyi for the rest of her life. If he could, he would probably charge her under every law available."





In this June 20, 2015, file photo, opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi attends the National League for Democracy party's Central Committee meeting in Yangon. AFP-Yonhap
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, left, and U.S. President Joe Biden, center, pose with other leaders during a family picture at the NATO headquarters where the 30-nation alliance hopes to reaffirm its unity and discuss increasingly tense relations with China and Russia, June 14. AP-Yonhap



NATO leaders on Monday declared China a constant security challenge and said the Chinese are working to undermine global order, a message in sync with President Joe Biden's efforts to get allies to speak out with a more unified voice against China's trade, military and human rights practices.



In a summit statement, the leaders said that China's goals and ''assertive behavior present systemic challenges to the rules-based international order and to areas relevant to alliance security.''



While the 30 heads of state and government avoided calling China a rival, they expressed concern about what they said were its ''coercive policies,'' the opaque ways it is modernizing its armed forces and its use of disinformation.



They called on Beijing to uphold its international commitments and to act responsibly in the international system.



Biden, who arrived at the summit after three days of consulting with Group of Seven allies in England, pushed for the G-7 communique there that called out what it said were forced labor practices and other human rights violations impacting Uyghur Muslims and other ethnic minorities in the western Xinjiang province. The president said he was satisfied with the communique, although differences remain among the allies about how forcefully to criticize Beijing.



Biden has also used his eight-day trip to Europe to urge allies to work more closely in pressing Russian President Vladimir Putin over his government's treatment of political dissidents and to do more to stem cyberattacks originating from Russia that have targeted private companies and governments around the globe.



The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is an alliance of European and North American countries formed after World War II as a bulwark against Russian aggression.



The new Brussels communique states plainly that the NATO nations ''will engage China with a view to defending the security interests of the alliance.''



But as Biden faced with the G-7 communique, some allies bristled at the NATO effort to speak out on China.



German Chancellor Angela Merkel said NATO's decision to name China as a threat ''shouldn't be overstated'' because Beijing, like Russia, is also a partner in some areas. China is Germany's top trading partner and is heavily dependent on Russia in fulfilling the country's energy needs.



Merkel noted that ''when you look at the cyber threats, the hybrid threats, when you look at the cooperation between Russia and China, you can't just ignore China.''



But she added that it was important to ''find the right balance'' as China is also a partner on many issues.



''I think it's very important, just like we do in Russia, to always make the offer of political discussions, political discourse, in order to come up with solutions,'' Merkel said. ''But where there are threats, and I said they're in the hybrid field too, then as NATO you have to be prepared.''



France's President Emmanuel Macron urged the alliance not to let China distract it from what he saw as more pressing issues facing NATO, including the fight against terrorism and security issues related to Russia.



''I think it is very important not to scatter our efforts and not to have biases in our relation to China,'' Macron said.



The Chinese Embassy to the United Kingdom on Monday issued a statement saying the G-7 communique ''deliberately slandered China and arbitrarily interfered in China's internal affairs,'' and exposed the ''sinister intentions of a few countries, such as the United States.'' There was no immediate reaction from the Chinese government to the new NATO statement.





U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during a media conference at a NATO summit in Brussels, June 14. AP-Yonhap
YouTube channel Doyouram - Everyday K-Culture shared a video, in which they interviewed a fan sign event staff member. There, they asked them to pick the idols who looked amazing in real life.

The interviewee, who remained anonymous throughout the video, has been working with a record company for three years and has been working with idol fan sign events for a year and three months.

When asked about her role, she states that as a fan sign event staff member during the pandemic, she is tasked with setting up the smartphone tripod, fixing the lights, and the signed albums.

For offline fan signs, she manages the information of album winners and the shipping of goods. She also sets the tables and cleans up after the fan sign is over.

1. ASTRO Cha Eun Woo

The first idol mentioned by the fan sign event staff member is none other than ASTRO's face genius, Cha Eun Woo!

She praised the male for having perfect fair skin and compared the idol to a wax figure.

Additionally, she noted that Cha Eun Woo is blessed with a small face and is really tall.

When she first saw the male, he made her think, "Wow... He really is an entertainer!"

2. THE BOYZ's Juyeon

Another memorable male idol that was memorable for the fan sign event staff member is THE BOYZ member Juyeon. According to her, the idol has a small and good-looking face. His proportions are also top-tier, with long arms and legs that make his stage outfit look even more impressive. She stated that Juyeon definitely looks like an idol!

3. AB6IX's Kim Donghyun

This male idol was praised for looking good-looking in a friendly way. She noted that he has a face that you feel like you could see in real life and compares his vibe to a sunbae (senior) in college. The fan sign event staff member also noted that he is very tall and good-looking.

ALSO READ: AB6IX to Host Second Live Call Event with UNIVERSE

4. PENTAGON's Wooseok

Wooseok was memorable for his towering height! Despite being the maknae of the group, the idol towers over his members. According to the fan sign event staff member, Wooseok is the tallest idol she has seen. When she needed to talk with him, she couldn't even see his face due to how tall he is. She complimented the idol for also being extremely good-looking.

5. (G)I-DLE's Miyeon

When asked about female idols, she noted that Miyeon from (G)I-DLE was memorable for her. At the time she worked with the group, Miyeon was rocking the hime cut, and the staff member noted that her hairstyle made her look like a character from a video game.

She noted that the idol looked unbelievably good with the hairstyle and even mentioned that she is "unrealistically pretty." Miyeon was also complimented for her tiny face and her high nose bridge.

For more K-Pop news and updates, always keep your tabs open here on KpopStarz.

KpopStarz owns this

Written by Alexa Lewis
Computer Professionals for NJ based IT Firm

Sr. Software Developer to Plan, design, develop, enhance, customize & co-ordinate activities to implement advance software module components in complex database systems & computing environments. Analyze user requirements & prepare technical & functional specification documents. Sr.Software Engineer to Plan, design, develop, code, test & modify computer software applications & specific utility programs. Analyze & gather business requirements & prepare technical documents & functional specifications. Using tools Cognos etc. Sr. BI Analyst to Analyze, develop, create, test, customize & implement analytical solutions working with Oracle, SQL Server, Big Data, Qlik View, Qlik Sense, Angular JS, JSON etc. Software Engineer to Plan, design, develop, code, test & modify computer software applications & specific utility programs. Analyze & gather business requirements & prepare technical documents & functional specifications. Sr. Storage Engineer to Recommend EMC Storage Solutions, perform migration, design custom disaster recovery process, perform complex maintenance, performance tuning & administration of storage infrastructure using tools EMC Control Center, EMC Navisphere, EMC Performance Manager, Cisco Fabric/Device Manager, Clariions, Vmax, DMX, Vmware, Windows etc. All Positions may require Travel &/or relocation to various unanticipated locations throughout the US.

Apply with 2 copies of resume by clicking within.

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Understanding and supporting business of the Bank through the design, development, and implementation of applications, application enhancements and new capabilities. Provide technical leadership in every stage of development lifecycle, from analysis and design to program coding, testing, release and maintenance while adhering to current SDLC processes. May act as a project manager on small to medium rigor projects. Work closely with immediate project reams, business domain experts and other technical staff members. Act as a technical resource to less experienced developers. REQ: Bachelors Degree in Computer Science or Engineering (Computer, Electrical, Electronics or related field) and 7 years of Test Driven and Java Development experience. 3 years of the 7 required years of experience must include: SDLC methods such as Agile, SCRUM or Waterfall;

Designing/ building technical solutions using Java technologies such as Spring, Struts, Hibernate, Angular, etc.

Using relational databases and writing basic queries (SQL and PL/SQL) Submit resume & salary reqs. to: Flagstar Bank, FSB, Attention: Human Resources Department, 5151 Corporate Drive, Troy, Michigan 48098 or you may upload your resume via our website by visiting www.flagstar.com and clicking on Careers. Flagstar Bank, FSB is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, status as a protected veteran, or status as a qualified individual with a disability.

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VP Latam & Networks  (Miami, FL) Cable & Wireless Communicaions, Inc.: Direct & develop cross-cultural biz opps, driving high-performance results, & positively impact diverse environments & cultures. Req.s: Masters (or foreign equiv) in Biz Admin/Mngmnt or related plus 3 yrs of exp as Exec/VP/Dir. in sales, commercial, marketing or related. Exp. must include: P&L mngmnt for biz in Latam; Lead orgs w/ 5K+ employees & $1.5B+ in revenue; Driving SMB in Latam in multiple countries & industries & growths higher than 40% CAGR on tech sectors; Lead digital transformation in Telecom industry, impl. e-commerce platforms, online demand generation &CRMs; Digital mktg incl. data/analytics, behavior segmentation, content mgngmnt, & agile methodology; Fixed Telco biz, incl. network expansion strategy, CVPs & go to market; Interfacing w/ investors. Will accept a bach deg & 5 yrs of exp incl. the above, in lieu of a masters & 3 yrs. Any suitable combination of edu., training, or exp is acceptable. 25% travel (intl). Mail resumes to: Zayra Fosse, 7600 Corporate Center Drive, Suite 600, Miami, FL 33126

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JOIN OUR TEAM! Merced Irrigation District is currently hiring for a DESKTOP SUPPORT TECHNICIAN For more information about the position, or to apply please visit the Merced Irrigation District website at: http://www.mercedid.com/index.cfm/careers DEFINITION: Under general direction, plan, coordinate, document and implement the daily operational and technical support of the Districts computing platforms. Provide technical support to multiple District departments, user requirements analysis, systems analysis, problem resolution. Evaluate and make recommendations for ongoing system development. Contact equipment and software vendors. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE POSITION: Provide technical support via helpdesk software to District employees.

Installation, maintenance, and repair of workstations, laptops, and all peripherals related to District computers.

Assist all non-technical end users in the District when they encounter operational hardware or software problems on servers, workstations, smart phones, tablets and other electronic devices as needed.

Provide technical information and data to assist in District IT operations

Consult manufacturer representatives and documentation to define hardware and software capabilities, maintenance requirements and trouble shooting.

Maintain asset management of IT equipment, perform imaging of PCs, plan and execute the replacement of district computers.

Mobile device ordering, setup, and management.

On boarding new users, adding, removing, or updating user account information/permissions in Active Directory and other District services.

Documenting processes for end-users and IT staff.

Train and instruct District employees on the use of District computer systems, software and other related peripherals.

Network printer specification, ordering, configuration, and implementation.

Work with outside vendors to plan, test, and implement enterprise grade software/services.

Provide software support for District specific applications, acting as a liaison between software venders and District end users.

Perform other duties as requested, directed or assigned. QUALIFICATIONS: Any combination of experience and education that would prepare the candidate for the duties and responsibilities of the position is acceptable. Education: A typical way of obtaining the knowledge, skills and abilities outlined in this job description would be AA Degree in related field. Bachelors Degree with a major course work in computer science, information systems, business information systems, business administration or a related field is highly desirable.

Professional certifications related to Information Technology. Experience: One (1) to two (2) years of increasingly responsible experience designing, managing and modifying networked workstations and installing/troubleshooting software applications and peripheral equipment preferred. Ability to: Communicate clearly and concisely, orally and in writing.

Coordinate and provide technical training for end users.

Lift and move equipment weighing up to fifty (50) pounds.

Troubleshoot and perform routine maintenance on computer systems.

Reason logically, use a variety of techniques to resolve problems, and manage time and resources.

Handle multiple assignments and work under deadlines.

Configure desktop computers and related peripherals.

Work outside of normal business hours as needed.

Learn and adapt quickly to changes in technology. Knowledge of: Helpdesk ticketing software.

Principles and practices of effective customer service.

Personal computers, including hardware, software, and related peripheral equipment.

Enterprise support of Microsoft Windows desktop and server,

Enterprise support of Microsoft Office applications. Basic Microsoft 365 administration. Basic networking fundamentals. Necessary Special Requirements: A valid California Class C Driver License and the ability to maintain insurability under the Districts vehicle insurance program.

Abide by all District policies, guidelines and rules. ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS: Exposure to the sun: 10% or less work time spent outside a building and exposed to the sun.

Irregular or extended work hours: Occasionally required to change working hours or work overtime.

Work performed in an office environment The mental and physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions: ESSENTIAL MENTAL ABILITIES: Exercise independent judgment.

Self-directing and organized.

Reason objectively.

Assess, project and plan work activities on a daily and weekly basis.

Interpret state/ federal/agency regulations.

Document concisely, accurately and timely.

Handle a variety of duties which may be interrupted or changed by immediate circumstances. TYPICAL PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Communicate orally and in writing with District management, co-workers, outside auditors, customers, and the public in face-to-face and one-on-one settings.

Transport, set-up and removal of promotional equipment and materials at various public functions.

Use of office equipment such as computer, copiers, scanners, and fax machines.

Capable of negotiating stairways and uneven ground from time to time. Sitting: Remains in a seated position for up to eight (8) hours per day Hands/Arms: Operates computer for up to eight (8) hours per day Lifting: Raises and lowers boxes and supplies up to twenty-five (25) pounds. Stooping: Bends body downward and forward by bending at the knees or waist Talking: Expresses ideas and shares information by means of spoken work in person and by telephone. Hearing: Hears well enough to receive communications in person and by telephone. Vision: Reads written and video messages for up to eight (8) hours per day. Operate vehicles and office equipment. SUPERVISION: The position receives general supervision from the Information Technology Manager. Applications/Resumes will only be accepted via the Merced Irrigation District's online application system. New users must set up an account at https://Merced.accessgovernment.net/ApplicantTracking

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Lead Early Childhood Teacher

Andy Taylor Center for Early Childhood Development

Full-time, Administrative & Professional Faculty, Exempt Position #GA027 About Longwood University: A comprehensive university with a strong liberal arts foundation, Longwood has a distinctive mission to develop citizen leaders who are prepared to make positive contributions to the common good of society. Founded in 1839, Longwood is the third-oldest public university in Virginia. Longwood is part of the proud tradition of higher education in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Roughly one hour's drive from Charlottesville, Lynchburg, and Richmond, Longwood is located in the historic two-college community of Farmville. Longwood currently has approximately 4,800 undergraduate and graduate students and 37,000 alumni. It maintains affiliations with the neighboring Robert Russa Moton Museum of civil rights history and the Longwood Center for Visual Arts, a nationally accredited university art museum. A member of the Big South Conference, Longwood competes at the NCAA Division I level. Job Description: The Andy Taylor Center is part of the Early Childhood Development Initiative (ECDI) in the College of Education and Human Services at Longwood University. The Lead Early Childhood Teacher will be responsible for planning, guiding, and assessing instruction. The selected candidate will also be responsible for collaborating with full-time and part-time assistant teachers to ensure smooth transitions, similar expectations throughout the day, and efficient planning. Additionally, the teacher will facilitate open communication with families through online blogs, conferences, and daily updates. The Lead Teacher will report to the site director. Since the Center will function as part of the University, the teacher will also have opportunities to work with undergraduate and graduate students in a variety of capacities. Requirements: The ECDI seeks candidates with experience and/or training in progressive approaches to early childhood education, specifically including Reggio-inspired teaching. Candidates should have undergraduate and/or graduate degree in early childhood education, early childhood special education, or related fields as well as teaching experience with children birth-eight. The successful candidate will also have a current teaching license that includes preschool. Candidates should be able to demonstrate a deep knowledge of the development of young children, an understanding of emergent curriculum, and experience with documentation and assessment. It is also preferred that candidates have experience successfully co-teaching or collaboratively teaching in a school or childcare center. The selected candidates must have excellent oral and written communication skills. Additional Information: This position is a full-time, administrative & professional faculty, exempt position. Hiring range is $40,000 - $45,000. Commonwealth of Virginia benefits accompany this position. A successful finger-print criminal background investigation is required. AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other national service alumni are encouraged to apply. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Longwood University will provide, if requested, reasonable accommodations to applicants in need of accommodations in order to provide access to the application and/or interview process. You are not required to note the presence of a disability on your application. If, however, you require accommodations in the application and/or interview process, please contact the Office of Human Resources at 434-395-2074 or humres@longwood.edu. The Annual Fire and Security Report(s) include campus security information, campus fire statistics, safety procedures, and provides statistics for criminal and disciplinary offenses. The report(s) are provided annually in compliance with the Clery Act and the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA). Longwood University's Annual Safety and Security report and the Annual Fire Safety report is available at: http://www.longwood.edu/media/police/public-site/2019-annual-security-and-fire-report.pdf. A hard copy of the Annual Security and Fire Safety reports and/or a copy of the Fire Log are maintained at the Longwood Police Office and will be provided upon request. A diversified workforce is an important part of our strategic plan. EOE/AA Application Instructions: Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled, position posted 6/10/2021. To apply for this position, qualified applicants must complete the online information section and questions, and attach (under Resume) a letter of interest, resume, and names and contact details of three references.

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Construction Laborer Company Background Sock it Dewatering is a company that has been a leader in the drainage industry in Florida for the past 40 years. We have firsthand knowledge of the needs of our customers and have used this to drive the companys spirit of excellent service and innovative methods. Its an exciting time at Sock It and were looking to bring on new team members who can help us provide the quality service our customers have come to expect. CDL is a plus but not a must! Job Description + Requirements: We are looking for workers to be part of a four person crew laying dewatering pipe/sock. No shoveling involved as trencher does all the digging! The work schedule calls for Monday through Friday work week, a typical day starting at 6:30am at the North Apopka, Florida office. Must have own transportation to and from the office.

Great starting pay at $800 per week dependent upon experience. Benefits include paid vacation with 6 paid holidays a year, medical, dental, vision available after 90 days. We work in a drug free environment.

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Huey White was sentenced to life without parole for the murder of a Stamps grocery store clerk.


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The G7 DFIs, the IFC, the private sector arm of the African Development Bank, EBRD and the European Investment Bank (www.EIB.org) today announced that they were committed to investing $80 billion in the private sector over the next five years to support sustainable economic recovery and growth in Africa.

The Covid-19 pandemic has caused a severe global economic and health crisis. The announcement is a welcome boost to support the long-term development objectives of African economies that have been negatively impacted by the crisis. It is the first time the G7 DFIs have come together to make a collective partnership commitment to the African continent.

The IMF estimates that sub-Saharan Africa needs additional financing of around $425 billion between now and 2025 to help strengthen the pandemic response spending and reduce poverty in the region.

The UK Minister for Africa, James Duddridge, said: The UK is proud to back this commitment by world leaders at the G7 Summit to invest more than $80 billion in Africas private sector over the next 5 years.

This investment will create jobs, boost economic growth, help tackle climate change and fight poverty. It comes at a crucial time as the continent rebuilds its economies, severely impacted by Covid-19.

Nick ODonohoe, the CEO of CDC Group, said: The patient, high quality capital that DFIs provide is urgently needed if African economies are to start to rebuild quickly from the impact of the pandemic. CDC is committed to building long term investment partnerships in Africa that fuel sustainable private sector growth in support of the UNs Sustainable Development Goals.

Werner Hoyer, President of the European Investment Bank, said: The EIB welcomes G7 leadership to enhance support for high-impact investment across Africa during and after the pandemic. Last year the EU Banks engagement in Africa, as part of Team Europe, represented the largest ever support for climate action and investment in fragile states in 55 years of EIB operations on the continent. We stand ready to cooperate further with African and multilateral partners to tackle both COVID-19 and accelerate the green transition in Africa.

Makhtar Diop, IFCs Managing Director, said: Ensuring an inclusive and sustainable recovery for people, businesses and economies across Africa in coordination with our development partners, is at the core of IFCs development mandate today. We know that the private sector will play a major role in financing Africas future by creating millions of jobs that are essential to ensuring sustained economic growth and poverty reduction. We therefore welcome this important partnership and are proud to provide financing and to work with partners to help create the right conditions to bring more private investment to Africa.

David Marchick, Chief Operating Officer of U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), said: Under President Bidens leadership, investing more in Africa is a top priority for DFC in fulfilling our development mandate. DFC is proud to be doubling down on our commitment to Africa alongside our G7 and multilateral partners and will continue to prioritize investments in vaccine manufacturing, COVID-19 response, climate mitigation and adaptation, and gender equity on the African continent.

Dario Scannapieco, Chief Executive Officer of Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP), said: Closer collaboration among Development Finance Institutions and multilateral partners is an essential factor in fostering sustainable economic recovery and growth in Africa. CDP looks forward to contributing to this strategic partnership, supporting the African continent in developing its entrepreneurial and financial private sector, to unlock its vast, untapped potential.

Solomon Quaynor, African Development Bank VP, Private Sector, Infrastructure & Industrialization said: We welcome this global partnership and the opportunity to provide the African voice, as Africa builds back better and boldly. The opportunity to create jobs particularly for youth and women, from a focus on industrializing Africa underpinned by the African Continental Free Trade Area, will be our priority. Given the gap between the IMF estimates and what this partnership is committing to, we will seek to crowd-in African development partners, as well as African savings from SWFs, pensions, and insurance pools, estimated to have US$1.8 trillion AUM.

Heike Harmgart, EBRD Managing Director, Southern & Eastern Mediterranean, said: Harnessing the potential of the private sector is essential to supporting prosperity in Africa and meeting the continents development needs. In the North African countries where we work  Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia  we have invested over 11.5 billion in only 9 years, focused on boosting the private sector, developing green sustainable infrastructure and promoting youth and women participation in the economy. We will pursue our efforts to expand private sector investment opportunities at scale in the region in close cooperation with other development actors.

Monika Beck, member of the DEG-Management Board, said: Many of our African partner countries have been hit hard by the pandemic. We quickly developed new services to support private sector SME and to help protecting jobs and livelihoods. In Africa, DEG has always been specifically committed to creating prospects for the young, growing population. In addition to the continuing massive impact of Covid-19 we expect a further acceleration of the challenges connected to developments such as digitization and climate change. Therefore DEG welcomes and is proud to be part of the G7 DFI Africa initiative.

Each DFI has its own investment criteria which are aligned to an assessment of need to achieve development impact across a range of sectors. DFIs play an important role in helping to build markets, mitigate risk and pave the way for other investors to enter new markets.

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The European Investment Bank (www.EIB.org) today releases its vision for working with Africa and a set of expert ideas about the future of development.

The two new publications were formally launched by EIB President Werner Hoyer and Vice President Thomas Ostros earlier today, ahead of the European Development Days.

The first publication, A Partnership with Africa: How the European Investment Bank delivers on EU policies in Africa and our future plans for development and partnership across the continent, lays out plans by the EU bank for greater impact in its projects in Africa.

The second, Global Solutions, International Partnerships: The European Investment Bank Development Report 2021, is built around expert essays that provide new ideas to answer todays global development challenges. It is the first time the worlds biggest multilateral financial institution has published a vision for its African deals or a comprehensive report on its 10 billion annual development lending.

The European Investment Bank is one of the largest providers of climate finance in the world and has committed to support 1 trillion in climate and environmental investment over the next decade. The EU bank also works with African partners in innovation, small and medium-sized enterprises and infrastructure. Last year, the EIB signed 5 billion in loans in Africa.

The EIB is the only multilateral finance institution exclusively owned by the EU and works closely with other EU institutions (https://bit.ly/2RTwr8r) to support EU policies in over 140 countries around the world. The bank is a key part of the EU toolbox that for decades has helped make the partnership between Africa and Europe stronger. It aims to maximise the impact of every investment, so that it can join its African partners in addressing todays critical challenges together and embrace the opportunities presented by the continents economic transformation.

A Partnership with Africa lays out the EIBs track record in Africa and illustrates how the EIB believes it can deliver better in the years ahead. It is an account of a solid partnership between the European Commission and the EIB, as well as with the full range of European and international development finance institutions and other stakeholders, such as the United Nations Development Programme, to create profound impact on the ground. To understand what that impact will mean for the lives of Africans, read A Partnership with Africa.

The first comprehensive report on the EIBs work outside the European Union, Global Solutions, International Partnerships: The European Investment Bank Development Report 2021, provides insights into the EIBs initiatives in all regions around the world that are of priority to the European Union, as well as data and insights on their impact and ideas for their contribution to an enhanced European architecture for development through a series of expert essays.

The climate crisis and COVID-19 remind us that solutions must be global. From the loss of education to the impact on businesses, jobs, and the flow of finance for development, the EIB Development Report reinforces why development finance backing from the European Union is more important than ever in the light of the pandemic.

The reports expert content addresses key development policy questions, including:

How to calculate climate change risk?

How to fight climate change with gender equality?

How to rehabilitate forests destroyed to produce chocolate?

How to counter the water crisis in developing countries?

How equity can finance innovative business models in Africa?

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Community Utilities in April filed for an increase in annual operating revenues for its water service of just over $757,500, or 36.6%. The proposed changes would increase the annual bill for customers in much of Hanover Township, Northampton County. The balance of Hanover customers receive water from Bethlehem.
The June 2 hearing was residents main shot at getting their concerns incorporated into the development. According to the municipal code, supervisors can attach conditions to a conditional use application like Sheetzs, but only to address concerns placed on the record at the hearing. Since there were none from the residents, they could not arbitrarily attach more conditions related to their concerns.
In a memo supporting the bill, Cox wrote, As more and more Pennsylvanians are vaccinated or have developed natural immunity to COVID-19, there are far fewer restrictions on economic activity, and it is high time to get Pennsylvanians back to work. The message now should be: Go find a job!
An obstetrician treating Caraballo said that besides the heavy vaginal bleeding, she also showed signs that she had recently given birth, including what appeared to be an uncut portion of an umbilical cord still attached to placental tissue. The obstetrician said the placental tissue came from a 30- to 34-week fetus.
The officer was patrolling nearby when he heard gunfire. He headed toward the sounds and encountered the gunman, who fired twice toward the entrance of a business. The gunman pointed his weapon toward officers and a group of people in the parking lot of a bistro, and the officer shot him, according to court records.
Instead, we seek an amendment that would leave the threshold at three months or when the dog is transferred to a new owner, whichever comes first. The stated goal of changing the threshold was to increase the compliance with the licensing requirement, since many new dog owners seem not to be aware of it.
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Regional

Manipur Congress condemns CMs remark

Correspondent IMPHAL, Jun 15 | Publish Date: 6/15/2021 1:27:24 PM IST

Manipur chief minister N Biren Singhs recent statement on hike in the prices of fuels by the Modi government attracted strong criticism from the opposition state Congress on Tuesday.

The opposition party demanded that the chief minister apologise to the people of the state for his distasteful remark while strongly condemning the statement.

Few days ago, chief minister N Biren Singh had related the ever increasing prices of petrol, diesel and cooking gas with the offering of rice, medicines and vaccines free of cost by the Modi government at the Centre. Singh had said in Manipuri how the Prime Minister Narendra Modi would would give free rice, medicines and free vaccines if there were no returns and if the free items would fall from the sky. The chief minister must offer his unconditional public apology to the people of the state for his unforgivable and morally very dehumanising words to the poor and needy people of the state during Covid pandemic, MPCC president Govindas Konthoujam demanded, in a statement.

MPCC strongly condemned the recent remarks of the chief minister on free rice, free medicines and free vaccines being provided to the people.

The Congress party it was not surprised by his public statements as they overfly the thinking of BJPs ideology and political principles towards the poor and the downtrodden, he stated.

The party (Congress) knew that those who have no respect for Mahatma Gandhiji will also have no respect for the poor, he stated.

Had the BJP respected Mahatma Gandhiji, the party chief minister would not have uttered such distasteful words, he added.

The insensitivity of and humiliatingly public mockery by the BJP chief ministers statements towards the poor people of Manipur showed that the BJP government in the state has no regards for the poor people in the state.

His statement is indeed unbecoming of a chief minister of a state, Konthoujam said, in the statement. To another remark of the chief minister N Biren Singh alleging the previous Congress government for doing nothing for the state in its 15 years tenure, the MPCC president asked whether he was not a part of the cabinet under the then Congress chief minister O Ibobi Singh.

The incumbent chief minister was a cabinet minister in the first term of the Ibobi-led Congress government. He (chief minister N Biren Singh) served not only as cabinet minister but also as a Congress government spokesperson.

Does he mean to say that the Congress government, in which he was the minister for a full term in 2007-12, did not do anything for the people of the state, the MPCC president asked.

The recent statement of the chief minister has exposed his hypocrisy and double speak and the people of the state were its witness, he added.

It was the BJP government doing double standard politics in the state during such a hard time of Covid pandemic, the MPCC president alleged.

It is the BJP government which is doing double standard politics by consistently raising heavy taxes on petrol and giving back nothing to the people to fight Covid pandemic, he said.

The BJP chief minister has created an infamous record of publicly humiliating and mocking the helplessness of the ordinary citizens of India in Manipur, the MPCC president alleged, in his statement issued after circulated a video message to the social media on the same subject.
National

Year after Galwan clash: India develops military infra, deploys around 60K troops

NEW DELHI, JUN 14 (IANS) | Publish Date: 6/14/2021 1:20:11 PM IST

A year after the Galwan valley clash in eastern Ladakh, China is still sitting at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) while India has geared up for a long grind.

Indian and Chinese military delegates have had 11 rounds of talks to resolve the border disputes at the friction points. The only thing that has happened is that both the countries have agreed to resolve the dispute peacefully. The Indian Army has focused on being better prepared to face Chinese belligerence in Ladakh over the last year, as a final resolution seems far off.

India has enhanced military infrastructure, increased troop deployment to 50,000 to 60,000 troops, and constructed better roads to improve connectivity for quick force mobilisation.

The force continues to be on high alert with its enhanced troop deployment of over 50,000 men on the ground in Ladakh for the last one year, including during the harsh winter when the temperature dips to minus 40-degree Celsius.

Last month, Indian Army chief General M.M. Naravane had said that the troops are on high alert along the LAC, keeping a watch on the activities of the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army.

Naravane said that India wants the status quo ante of April 2020 to be restored. He also stated that India has made it clear to China that de-escalation will only be considered once disengagement is completed to the mutual satisfaction of both sides.

He said that Indian troops are on high alert and deployments have not thinned after the disengagement in Pangong River. The Army chief maintained that China has deployed around 50,000 to 60,000 troops in eastern Ladakh in immediate depth so India has also made mirror deployment in depth. Even after 11 rounds of military talks at the Corps Commander level to find a resolution, there is still no breakthrough despite the disengagement in Pangong.

Indian and Chinese forces have met to resolve the border disputes at the other friction areas like Hot Springs, Gogra and the 900 sq km Depsang plains.

Naravane also said that Indian is currently concentrating on resolving the outstanding problems at other friction points like Hot Springs, Gogra and Depsang.

He had pointed out that Indias stand during the disengagement agreement in the Pangong Lake area remained the same that the status quo ante of April 2020 must be restored.

The army chief also stated that trust levels between the two countries are low, but pointed out that the trust deficit should not hinder the negotiation process.

In the Galwan valley, where a bloody clash between the forces of the two nations left 20 Indian four Chinese soldiers dead on June 15 last year, including Commanding Officer Col Santosh Babu, the troops had concentrated at just 1.5 km apart.

Following the clash, the Patrol Point 14 became a no patrol zone and both sides pulled back by 1.5 km each and the area turned into a buffer zone.

India had objected to Chinas observation post near Patrol Point 14 that had led to the clash.

The clash had sparked a war-like situation. By the end of August last year, there was a further build up across the broder and the Pangong Lake had turned into a battle zone, as India occupied the key mountain tops at the Kailash Range overlooking the southern bank of the lake.

Currently, no patrolling is being done till Patrol Point 14. It is necessary to maintain strict vigil through various surveillance methods to keep a check on Chinese activities as they continue to be present in big numbers, not too far away from the contentious point.

Further, China has also been enhancing its surveillance capabilities. It has developed an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with plateau operation capabilities and has planned to deploy it along the Line of Actual Control with India in the Kailash mountain range, sources said.

China has also enhanced troops, artillery and armour in three sectors of the LAC -- western (Ladakh), middle (Uttarakhand, Himachal) and eastern (Sikkim, Arunachal).
As far as reptiles go, crocodiles are closely related to dinosaurs. Their fossil remains were in rocks from the early Jurassic period, around 200 million years old. Crocodiles are also one of the closest living things to dinosaurs, but just how big were crocodiles millions of years ago?

A giant prehistoric crocodile nicknamed the 'River Boss' roamed south-east Queensland's waterways up to five million years ago. This particular crocodile grew up to 23 feet long, and may have been the largest to have lived in Australia.

The Size of River Boss

Gunggamarandu maunala, whose name means 'River Boss' was formed from the languages of the First Nations and from the people where the fossil was first discovered. While Gunggamarandu came from the genus name, maunala came from the species name, meaning 'hole head'.

Jorgo Ristevski, a PhD candidate from UQ's school of biological sciences expressed that i was difficult to estimate the exact size of the crocodile, as researchers only found the back of the skull.

The prehistoric crocodile's skull alone is at least 31 inches (80cm) in length, according to researchers. This crocodile could have been even larger than a London bus. This suggests Gunggamarandu was on par with the largest Indo-Pacific crocs ever recorded.

"Since its initial discovery, the skull was kept safe in the collection of the Queensland Museum." Ristevski said.

Gunggamarandu belonged to a group of crocodylians called tomistomines, also known as 'false gharials'. Despite its discovery, the fossil skull of this crocodile remained a scientific mystery for more than a century. Ristevski insisted that the skull fragments are a piece of a much bigger puzzle.

"Today, there's only one living species of tomistomine, Tomistoma schlegelii, which is restricted to the Malay Peninsula and parts of Indonesia. With the exception of Antarctica, Australia was the only other continent without fossil evidence of tomistomines. But with the discovery of Gunggamarandu we can add Australia to the once inhabited by tomistomines - list" he said.

Also read: After 150 Years, Mysterious Extinction of Horned Crocodiles Finally Solved!

Crocodiles then vs Crocodiles Today

Crocodiles today look the same as they did 200 million years ago. Of all the reptiles alive today, crocodiles may be the least changed from their prehistoric forebears. They became their own species 55 million years ago, after evolving so much that it no longer resembled the species it evolved from.

Our crocodiles today evolved from an animal in the prehistoric period called a Phytosaur (plant reptile). They are very similar to the crocodiles we have today, except their nostrils were on the top of their heads, not on their snouts.

Many scientists believe that the reason why crocodiles haven't had to evolve much is because of their brilliant strategy in hunting their prey. Most crocodiles just wait for their prey to come to the water for a drink, and once the prey is caught off guard, snap goes the crocodile's mouth!

One of the largest reptiles existing today is the Saltwater crocodile, reaching lengths of more than 23 feet and weighing over 2,200 pounds. These formidable predators are more territorial and aggressive than freshwater crocodiles.

Also read: Saltwater Crocodiles Impacted By Warmer Waters, Researchers Say
At long last, a native American tribe in Maine had finally taken back ownership of the 140-acre ancestral territory which was illegally taken from them centuries ago.

The Passamaquoddy tribe just recently reacquired an island that is historically significant to Passamaquoddy people. When the Indian Township's Chief William Nicholas saw the land for sale in the fall of 2020, he immediately partnered with The Nature Conservancy and the advocacy group First Light to sought after the return of the land.

The Pine Island, renamed "White's Island" by settlers, and known to the tribe as Kuwesuwi Monihq, was returned to Passamaquoddy community in early 2021.

The Return of the Land





In the mid-19th century, the largest island on Big Lake, Kci Monosakom, Maine, once part of the Passamaquoddy Territory, was illegally taken from them despite it violating the treaty and the Maine Constitution. The colonizers eventually renamed the once called Pine Island to White's Island, no longer matching the 1794 treaty language, and removing the tribe its stewardship towards the property.

For decades, the native tribe had sought after its sacred island which they had inhabited for at least 10,000 years, but did not have the means to afford it.

"For $449,000 you could buy 143 acres of forests with sweeping views of the rugged shoreline of Big Lake in Maine, a unique property steeped in history, with only two owners in the last 95 years," wrote the real estate agent.

The Indian Township chief contacted First Light and The Nature Conservancy in Maine, which immediately responded to support reacquisition of a stolen land and 'historical injustice'. They were able to raise $355,000 and bought the island back in March, 2021.

Also read: Bolivian Tribe With Healthiest Brains May Hold Key to Curing Alzheimer's

Correcting a Longstanding Historical Injustice





"The Passamaquoddy People have dwelled on and cared for Kuwesuwi Monihq for countless generations. The return of the island to the Tribe will allow us to return home and to resume our stewardship of this special place," said Corey Hinton, Esq., Passamaquoddy Citizen and Lead Attorney.

The Passamaquoddy people wish to continue protecting and looking after their land, with hopes that they won't have to leave again. They created a movement called the #LandBack as an initiative to help the island recover from the damage the colonizers had made, and bring back healing to its land and water.

According to a tribe's member, the island was once used as place to store food in root cellars and once used to deliver food to relatives affected by the smallpox epidemic brought by English and French settlers. Despite loss of many of their ancestors brought by the disease, the Passamaquoddy people were never allowed an access to the island.

"There is no doubt that the ancestors are jumping all over the place over there," Chief William Nicholas said. He added that the return of the land is the right way to correct the longstanding historical injustice.

Also read: Uganda's Ik "the Loveless People" Have Been Misunderstood for Four Decades
Multiple wildfires add to the suffering caused by excessive drought and a scorching heat wave that has gripped most of the western United States.

Many portions of the Southwest and the Great Basin and California are predicted to see temperatures well over 100 degrees this week, prompting the National Weather Service to issue heat advisories.

Drought

According to the US Drought Monitor, 89 percent of the West is experiencing drought. More than half of the western United States, or 55 percent, is experiencing severe or exceptional drought.

According to the National Weather Service, the dryness, along with gusty afternoons, has resulted in near-critical to critical fire weather conditions for sections of Utah, Nevada, and southeastern California through Tuesday afternoon.

Wildfires

Several of the flames have prompted people to flee their homes. Here's a look at some of the most serious blazes.

Arizona

The Telegraph Fire has forced homeowners on both sides of State Road 77 in the El Capitan region southeast of Globe to evacuate, according to a Facebook post from the Gila County Sheriff's Office, The Dripping Springs region was likewise told to evacuate a few hours later.

#CornvilleFire - est. 1,000 acres w/winds pushing it to the west. Fire actively burning in grass, brush, & PJ approx. 2 miles E. of #Cornville. Aircraft incl. 2 VLATs supporting ground crews to stop forward progress & provide structure protection. #AZForestry #AZFire @CoconinoNF pic.twitter.com/ccUtQAbEZV  AZ State Forestry (@azstateforestry) June 14, 2021

According to authorities, the fire has devoured more than 142 square kilometers since it started on June 4. It has been limited to 74% of its original size. It's only around a mile away from Top-of-the-World.

Related Article: Arizona Wildfire Considered as 9th Largest in State History, Scorching 138,000 Acres



California

A fire in the Santa Rosa Mountains near Highway 74, roughly 105 miles east-southeast of Los Angeles, wounded a firefighter on Sunday. There were no details on his condition available.

Cal Fire, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, said two more fires broke out in the state on Sunday.

The Flats Fire burned in the towns of Pinyon Crest, Pinyon, and Alpine Village, destroying two homes and damaging three more.

Related Article: California Wildfire Destroyed 10,000 Redwood, Killing Off 10% of World's Sequoia Population



Utah

One of five wildfires raging in Utah is the Pack Creek Fire.

Because of the Pack Creek Fire, the Sheriff's Office of San Juan County, located south of Moab in Utah's southeast corner, ordered all private property east of Geyser Pass on the LaSal Mountains to be evacuated on Sunday.

According to Utah Fire Info, the Pack Fire, which began last Wednesday due to an abandoned campfire, has burnt over 8 square miles. It was just 6% contained.

New Mexico

In New Mexico, at least eight big flames are burning, the largest of which being the Johnson Fire.

It has burnt about 102 square miles in the Gila Wilderness in the Gila National Forest. It's just 11% contained.

The public has been denied access to the Gila National Forest and a huge portion of the Gila Wilderness. Also closed is the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument.

Also Read: Power Price Soar as Heightened California Heat Wave May Worsen Drought

For similar news updates,don't forget to follow Nature World News
Flooded roads and paddocks disturb local spiders which search for higher ground on trees, road signs, and any tall grass they can locate.

The Alien-like Sheets of Spider Webs

Eastern Victoria residents have been taken by surprise after waking up to extensive, alien-like sheets of spider webs laying across roadsides and paddocks. The East Gippsland town of Traralgon was among the hardest-hit regions by recent flooding and unfavorable weather.

While its neighbour Sale steered clear of the brunt of the damage, roads that are flooded and paddocks disturbed the local spider populations, which are now in search of higher ground on trees, road signs, and any tall grass they can locate.

Also Read: Spider Webs React to Electrically Charged Insects, Increasing Capture Chances [VIDEO]

The Semi-regular Occurance

Jena Beatson, who spotted the spiders on her first trip into Sale from Longford after the highways were cut off by flood waters said: "It's just unbelievable, when they blow in the winds they resemble waves." He also said it looks creepy the way it blankets all the signs and everything. And one can't really see it in the pictures but there are spiders everywhere. It's like thousands and thousands of spiders.

Actually, it is millions, according to a senior curator of entomology at the Melbourne Museum, Dr Ken Walker. He said it's a semi-regular happening in Victoria during wintertime when there's intense rain.

Spiders can make a wide range of distinct silks and one of the silks they use for this act - ballooning - it's a very, very thin little silk that they make use of... to fly away with the breeze. They could fly about 100km.

He said what happened is there's been a great flooding event pretty quickly ... so they're making use of the ballooning not to run away for hundreds of kilometres but to nearly throw up a lasso on top of the vegetation. It gets trap on to the tops of the vegetation since it's lighter than air, and then they climb up quickly.

Gossamer Effect

When a large number of spiders all do this at the same time, they end up hooking on to each other and can cover the countryside.This phenomenon, at times referred to as the gossamer effect, is brought about by "vagrant hunter" spider species, which inhabit the ground and do not make a web.

They also do not build webs after ballooning away from a flood. In fact, Walker said, every spider only threw up one thread, meaning every tiny line of silk represented a distinct animal. "I would say millions of spiders [in the pictures online]," he said.

East Gippsland is also going through a degree of mouse plague activity, which for some months has wrecked regional New South Wales and has now crept across the southern border.

Related Article: Giant 1,000-Foot Spider Web Blankets Entire Lagoon In Greece

For more news, updates about spider webs and similar topics don't forget to follow Nature World News!
DENDERA ace Sulumani Chimbetu has courted the ire of a Zanu PF party-linked youth group through his song whose lyrics seem to condemn the November 2017 military coup that ushered in President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

It is considered taboo in the Shona custom to engage in cultural ceremonies in the month of November. Mnangagwa was sworn in in November 2017 after the ouster of the late former President Robert Mugabe via a military coup.

Zimbabwe Revolutionary and Patriotic Youth Network (ZIRAPAYON) wrote to the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) and Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi on June 9 expressing reservations over the lyrics in Sulus song, Chirwere.

Sulu, who is the brand ambassador for the ZPCS, where he is an assistant commissioner, implied in the song that the country was being plagued by problems because it installed a leader in the month of November.

In the letter, the youths are demanding that Sulu should explain what he meant in the song.

ZIRAPAYON Harare province was not pleased by a song released by the ambassador of the ZPCS Assistant Commissioner Sulumani Chimbetu featuring one chanter popularly known as Hwindi President, the letter read in part.

We seek clarity on what he meant. We are sure that your esteemed office would also want to understand what the goodwill ambassador implied. We join hands with you and all patriotic Zimbabweans in demanding an explanation. A proactive response will be highly appreciated.

Last week Sulu, son of the late legendary musician and liberation war hero, Simon, torched a political storm after his pictures clad in Zanu PF regalia went viral.

This came shortly after he was photographed in the company of Harare West MP Joanah Mamombe (MDC Alliance)

Sulu has been under a barrage of criticism from mainly Zanu PF supporters who took him to task over his association with Mamombe and of late, Zimbabwe National Students Union (Zinasu) president Takudzwa Ngadziore. He was the subject of political scrutiny after he was captured on camera welcoming Ngadziore from remand prison and is on record expressing solidarity with the student leader. This upset some Zanu PF members who wanted him to be stripped of his ZPCS ambassadorial role. Newsday
The government has seized a farm jointly owned by the director of the National University of Science and Technologys (Nust) Applied Genetics Testing Centre Zephaniah Dhlamini, Open Society of Southern Africa (OSISA) executive director Siphosami Malunga and Charles Moyo.

It is hereby notified that the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement acquires for and on behalf of the State, the land identified and described in the Schedule for purposes of agriculture settlement under Section 72 (2) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, reads the notice from the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement, Anxious Masuka.

Further take notice that the ownership of the acquired land with full title therein vested in the state with the effect from the date of publication of this notice in the Government Gazette.

The land in question is registered under a deed of transfer 1980/90, under the name of Kershelmar Farms (Private) Limited.

Writing on his Twitter account, Malunga said the Lands office in Bulawayo notified them Monday of the development but vowed they would fight it.

Today we received a call from Mr Dodzi at the Lands Office in Bulawayo to tell us that the Zim Govt has acquired our privately owned farm and tomorrow they are coming to peg it and give it to people they have allocated it to, tweeted Malunga Monday afternoon.

This isnt about land reform and we will fight it in every way. Malunga and his colleagues grow tomatoes, cabbages and other vegetables and employ 45 full time workers. Cite.org.zw
A ZIMBABWEAN student at the University of Namibia who lied to police that his laptop and mobile phone had been stolen in Victoria Falls after he sold the gadgets, has been sentenced to six months in prison.

Allan Nyamuziwa of 1724 Landpark in Marondera was convicted on his own plea to deliberately supplying false information to a public authority by Victoria Falls magistrate Ms Lindiwe Maphosa.

He said he was travelling to his hometown from Namibia when he disembarked from a bus to relieve himself in Victoria Falls.

Nyamuziwa said the bus was gone when returned so he decided to sell his laptop and phone to get transport money.

He reported to the police on Sunday that his gadgets and US$200 cash had been stolen.

Nyamuziwa told police that he was robbed in a bush near Kingdom Hotel prompting police to investigate the issue. Investigations revealed that he had lied about the robbery and he was arrested.

He admitted to police that he cooked up the robbery story so he could be assisted with free travel as a victim and he also did not want his parents to know that he sold the items.

He was sentenced to six months in prison which was wholly suspended for five years on condition he doesnt commit a similar offence within the next five years.

Nyamuziwa is a first-year Engineering student at the University of Namibia. Chronicle
A man was found dead in a maize field in Bulawayos Pumula South suburb with stab wounds all over the body while another died at his home in Njube after being stabbed by unknown assailants.

The two unrelated cases come at a time when murder cases seem to be on the rise in Zimbabwe, particularly in Bulawayo.

In a tweet, national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi appealed for information that may lead to the arrest of the attackers.

Police in Bulawayo are appealing for information that may assist investigations in two separate murder cases. On 12/6/21 a body of an unknown male adult was found in a maize field behind Plot 6 Pumula South Habek with several stab wounds on legs and shoulders, tweeted the police.

In another murder case, Police are investigating circumstances surrounding a case in which a Njube man (44) died after arriving home at night with a stab wound on the chest. Anyone with information should contact any nearest police station.

Chronicle
A 24-year-old woman was scheduled to appear in the Middelburg Magistrates Court, Mpumalanga, on Monday, after she allegedly murdered her three-month-old daughter on Friday evening following an argument with the childs father, police said.

The woman allegedly visited the father at the farm where he works but he refused to let her in, leading her to threaten to kill the infant, according to Mpumalanga police spokesman Brigadier Leonard Hlathi.

The woman then threw the infant on the ground.

The matter was then reported to the police. When they arrived with paramedics, the child was certified dead. Police opened a murder case and immediately arrested the suspect, said Hlathi.

The investigation by the police has since revealed that the woman is originally from Zimbabwe and she is not in possession of legal documents to be in South Africa, hence a charge of contravention of the Immigration Act has been added to the murder charge.

Acting provincial commissioner Major General Thulani Phahla condemned the incident as inhumane and appealed to parents to avoid using children to settle love triangle scores.

In March, a 29-year-old woman was arrested in North West after she allegedly boiled her newborn boy and buried him in a shallow grave in Sunway about 20km outside Brits.

The mother later confided in her friend, who alerted the police about the incident.

 African News Agency (ANA)
Ill go anywhere in the world, cause I love the show and I love the message that it brings, and I love the experience that it brings within an ensemble. Its precious to me. And so, as long as I stayed with that, I felt like I could deal with anything else that showed up, he said.
I got jumped by a group of boys because of my gender, calling me trannie and stuff, she said. All the teachers were like standing there and watching and the kids were standing there and watching, and no one was doing anything.
I felt elated about it, he said. But in subsequent times, Ive felt that the killing of 1,100 men was not warranted. Ive instructed some Japanese lawyers and judges ... and I always have the feeling that those men were unnecessarily sacrificed at the war. I have no feeling of jubilation in killing Japanese men.
The arsons were not intended to damage property, let alone endanger lives. The arsons were, however, quite literally intended to smoke out the vulnerable occupants of the targeted residential properties and more abstractly instill in them that primal fear of awakening in the middle of the night to the threat of fire, Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Wright said.
Jeffers, true to his lively, energetic nature, made the most of the revelry, chatting up a cigar roller at the party, Stewart recalled. Oddly enough he was here for a function I was having at my house, he said. He was a very close friend of mine, we grew up together. We heard the incident, we ran down and tried to help.
Julio Aponte, 63, used the tool to repeatedly bash his 49-year-old wife in the head at about 7 a.m. Monday at the corner of W. 163rd St. and Fort Washington Ave., screaming accusations like How dare you cheat on me! cops said.
The order was placed by a mobile app, meaning no one at the store knew the milkshakes were being prepared for three police officers, and they were already packed up and waiting when the officers picked them up, meaning no one could have dosed them after seeing the cops, the suit contends.
The gunman, holding a plastic bag in his left hand, uses his right hand to pull a black handgun from the pocket of his red jacket and open fire at his target.
While the First Amendment protects the freedom of the press and the right to free speech, reality TV stardom does not supersede the constitutional right to a fair trial by an unbiased, untainted jury of your peers, read the motion to the court, according to the Herald.
Im not really shocked at the news that it was Shawn, Billie Jean Dunn told BigCountryHomepage. Of course you wouldve hoped it wasnt him because I stayed with him after she left, after Hailey went missing, but Im not surprised, and I thank God that that person has been apprehended and is going to pay for what he did here on Earth.
A new report published this week has found that 25 corporations that have declared support for the LGBTQ community during Pride Month have also contributed more than $10 million to anti-LGBTQ politicians over the last two years.
Los Angeles has some of the best medical care in not only this country, but in the world. So any of the medical issues can certainly be addressed elsewhere.
Cops said Cole initially removed all bullets from a handgun before starting the photoshoot, but inadvertently reloaded it, according to the Tribune. He fired a single fatal shot into Brewtons back, according to police, who said they arrived to find him in tears.
Our student and parent feedback has been extremely positive regarding the prom experience, Principal Mike Monahan said in a statement obtained by WBTS-TV. We are aware that some concerns have been expressed that students were singled out or had their privacy violated. We made every effort possible  while adhering to contact tracing guidelines  to ensure that this did not happen. We hope the community will understand that while no model is perfect, this model let the students enjoy a close to normal and highly desired experience to cap off their senior year. Thats the memory we want to leave them with.
That unnamed officer, who has been with the department roughly four years, ordered Brookins to drop his weapon multiple times and upon the order being ignored, shot the man, according to the outlet.
While we cannot provide justice for the Harvey family, we can ensure accountability for the policies we did not follow and the actions we did not take, Savannah Mayor Van Johnson told ABC News. I do not believe that there was malicious intent on the part of the officers involved, but the result was deadly. And for that, I believe the decision to terminate was appropriate.
This isolated occurrence of a homophobic slur does not define who we are as a community, Molder said in a statement. We are a community that is welcoming to all people, and as mayor, I will continue to lead with a focus on greater compassion and inclusiveness for everyone, including the LGBTQ+ community.
It was built by a French aristocrat more than a hundred years ago. When his descendant (Christian de Guigne IV) first tried to sell it several years ago, he came with it. Can you imagine? He wanted to live rent-free until his death. Nobody even made an offer with that requirement, she said.
Officers arrived and located 68-year-old Judi Jones inside the apartment, deceased from apparent trauma, police said in a statement. Criminal Investigation Detectives are currently working this incident as a homicide and are looking for possible suspects.
In addition, Russia has complained for years about its eviction and loss of consulates in San Francisco and Seattle and other facilities in Maryland and New York. The U.S., meanwhile, has been forced to close its consulate in St. Petersburg and is now facing the loss of Russian citizens employed by its embassy in Moscow, which will significantly reduce the consular services it is able to provide.
My administration is committed to addressing the systemic barriers faced by young LGBTQ+ Michiganders so that our state is a place where they are able to reach their full potential. The actions we take today will serve as a starting point in protecting our LGBTQ+ youth from the damaging practice of conversion therapy and in ensuring that Michigan is a reflection of true inclusion.
New Yorkers need a district attorney who can balance safety and fairness. Tali has fought for both her entire career, Clinton said. As an immigrant, a mother and a fearless advocate for justice, she will make history as our next DA. Weve never had a woman in this very storied position, and to have someone with the experience, the determination, the commitment and the understanding of what it will take to run that office with a really effective agenda, I think will be a real game changer.
Among the leading contenders, these are the candidates who have prioritized public safety and rejected the Defund the Police ideology, Lynch wrote in an email. Under the new ranked-choice system, ranking a candidate at ANY position could benefit that candidate. If you do not find a candidate acceptable, do not rank that person. Ranking candidates other than Yang, Adams and Garcia could inadvertently help an anti-police candidate win.
As the mayor rose through the ranks of Brooklyn politics, he had many of the same supporters as Adams. Rumblings from inside City Hall alluded that de Blasio considered endorsing Adams for mayor in exchange for Adamss endorsement of city First Lady Chirlane McCray for Brooklyn BP, though she later decided not to run.
In the following year, Wiley left the non-profit for her City Hall gig in February, but for the months out of the year that she remained at the center she pulled in $66,923  which would have made her annual salary for that year $401,000 if shed stayed  more than double her pay compared to the year before.
Domestic terrorism  driven by hate, bigotry, and other forms of extremism  is a stain on the soul of America, said President Biden, whos currently in Europe for the G-7 summit. It goes against everything our country strives for and it poses a direct challenge to our national security, democracy and unity.
Weve seen illegal leaks from our colleagues on the House Intelligence Committee, Stefanik said at a news conference Tuesday. So I think its important that the Department of Justice determine if there were any illegal leaks, leaks by members of Congress, or their staff members.
According to Vice News, an American woman was struck by a stray bullet at the beach after two men attacked the beach and rode away. The woman, identified only as a Kanya N. from Kentucky, was hospitalized. The two deceased victims were street vendors selling crafts to tourists and died at the scene.
Such capricious and violent encounters in the time of COVID have become an unfortunate side effect of the pandemic that just claimed its 600,000th victim in the United States. For more than a year-and-a-half, weve tried to navigate the treacherous waters not only of the virus itself and keeping our families safe, but of the tumultuous culture wars that have added totally unnecessary insult to considerable injury.
In fact, the major Framers like Alexander Hamilton and James Madison clearly rejected democracy when talking among themselves. The document they formed has all kinds of anti-majoritarian arrangements: the Senate, whose members were originally chosen by state legislatures rather than voters; the federal courts, whose members serve for life and often strike down popular laws; and the Electoral College, which has given us two minority presidents in the last generation. (And, of course, enslaved Americans, women and others were expressly prohibited from voting at the birth of our nation and long thereafter.)
Of course, my own trash would display as much waste and carelessness. I felt guilty for my excessive use of paper towels, plastic bottles and Solo cups. Didnt I accompany my mom down to our cellar as a teenager, where she taught us to stomp on Campbells soup and tuna cans and bundle newspapers? Dixie cups were forbidden in our home. Seeing how much unused produce and leftovers piled up in just a few days in one not-so-big New York apartment house told me it was time to stop smirking at the people who boast about their kitchen composters, or store it up for the greenmarkets.
The hypocrisy is not hard to find. When President Trumps former Attorney General William Barr, a conservative Catholic, played a key role in reviving the federal death penalty, there were no calls from bishops to deny him Communion. Thats despite the fact that the Catholic Church teaches that executions are always unacceptable because, in the words of the Catechism, the death penalty is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person. Instead of public pressure from the hierarchy, Barr was honored with an award for service to the church from the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast, an event in Washington that featured an address from then-President Trump.
New York Citys violent crime spike is hitting low-income and minority neighborhoods the hardest: places like Crown Heights, Bed-Stuy, Harlem and the South Bronx. The number of shooting victims is up 300% in Brownsville over the past two years. According to our survey, New Yorkers are taking note. More than half of New York voters rate public safety and crime rates as poor or very poor; more than half cite public safety and crime rates at the top of their to-do list for the next mayor, including many self-identifying progressives; and nearly half of respondents said theyd prefer a larger police presence in their neighborhood than what currently exists. In addition, more than seven in 10 registered voters, including majorities of both Republicans and Democrats, support empowering cops to be more responsive to quality-of-life issues.
Conservative The View host Meghan McCain, meanwhile, tweeted, One of the reasons Jon Stewart was so talented is that he spoke truth to power no matter who was in office and was beholden to no party. This is how political comedy is done right. No one else on tv does this anymore. No one.
Our commission needs to honor people who have done things that are special and worthy of being honored, Bogen told the paper. I do not believe Mr. Black is worthy of that honor. Based on his past criminal conduct, this is not a man we should be honoring.
It can be difficult to distinguish antibodies that neutralize SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, from antibodies that fight other coronaviruses, including some that cause the common cold. Researchers in both the NIH and CDC studies used multiple types of tests to minimize false positive results, but some experts say it still is possible their 2019 positives were infections by other coronaviruses and not the pandemic strain.
RETURN NO. 1: Can you imagine putting together a play  even a short one  in 24 hours? Beth Marshall Presents does it each year in the companys Play in a Day, which returns June 19. Six teams will learn the theme of this years short shows at 6:30 p.m. June 18, and the designated playwrights will get to work. The shows will be written, lines learned by the actors, with the finished product staged in time to be presented the following evening.
The comedian, who has also written, produced and starred in a number of comedy specials, will bring laughs to Amway Center on Oct. 9. In the poster promoting his upcoming tour, Noah is seen with a half-masked face, suggesting a time when things arent just back to normal.
It has not been easy, life has given me many challenges, but it has also given me the ability to have the strength to face them, said Gonzalez adding she put her treatment on hold to focus on the disease.
My answer to pretty much every food- or drink-related should I try it question is a resounding yes. And though I still prefer my coffee hot, when I do crave it cold, Im craving cold brew, done by a process that uses time, not heat, to extract the flavors from coarsely ground beans, which are steeped  usually between 14 and 24 hours  in water thats either cold or room temperature.
Detectives say Gafford actually met Emery on April 19, two days before he claimed he found her body, at a bus stop. He went into the nearby wooded area and killed her, said OPD spokesperson Autumn Jones.
We are honored by Ms. Scott and Mr. Jewetts trust and confidence in the University of Central Florida, UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright said in a statement issued by the school. Their transformational gift validates the work of our faculty and staff to foster student success and these funds will enable us to further increase our impact for generations of students. This unrestricted investment will accelerate our trajectory toward becoming the worlds leading public metropolitan research university and inspire others to invest in building a better future for our students and society.
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Students enrolled at community colleges and in lower-level university courses are more likely to be taught by adjuncts, according to the organizations website. Heavy reliance on part-time instructors hurts students, according to the organization, because adjunct instructors typically are paid only for the hours they spend in the classroom and not for time spent meeting with students, grading and course planning. Part-time instructors might also be afraid to share unpopular opinions on campus because they generally dont have the same protections that tenured faculty members have.
But Conway shot down those arguments in her ruling saying that there was no evidence presented that minorities would live in the River Cross development. And River Cross could not establish that the removal of the Property from the Rural Area would increase the minority population in the area.
Instead of withdrawing from treaties and the world, we need to recapture Ikes and Bushs imagination for peace and expand Open Skies. First, Biden should announce the U.S. is rejoining the Open Skies Treaty and put into effect the legal remedies necessary to do this. Second, we must encourage Russia to remain in Open Skies and meet to resolve differences over the pact.
I resent politicians that spend more time attacking each others politics than truly working to make life better for all Americans  especially seniors. In Florida, my mom is not eligible for Medicaid because she lives with me and my household income is too high. The irony is if she lived alone, shed be eligible for more paid care services, yet, shed all but have to live at the poverty level or live, you guessed it, in a nursing home. How does that make any sense? Id like to see our Florida legislators looking at ways to fund more in-home care available based not solely on the household income of the family.
Fried said she has gone above and beyond all legal requirements, that she has consulted with the states ethics office to make sure shes following the rules and noted Tuesday that she has pushed to allow more companies, especially smaller ones, get involved with the goal of helping patients.
I dont know what the context of 2018 was, I dont remember people talking about defunding the police, DeSantis said. Its a very live issue in our society unfortunately, and I think folks in Florida should rest assured that at the state level were going to do everything we can to make sure that youre protected and to make sure that we stand behind the men and women of law enforcement.
Endeavour was the first to complete a crewed mission when it splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico with astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley as part of test flight Demo-2 last August after more than two months parked at the station. That flight became the first time since 2011 that NASA had launched astronauts into space from U.S. soil, and paved the way for Crew-1, flying Resilience, that launched in November.
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Libyan Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Najla al-Mangouch, says Libya's stability will depend greatly on the full implementation of its ceasefire agreement and a clear and practical timetable for the exit of mercenaries and foreign forces from the north African country
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - Members of the 5+5 Joint Military Commission Monday stressed during a meeting with the Libyan Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Najla al-Mangouch, the need for the government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in particular, to support the implementation of the ceasefire agreement in full
Welcome back pirates! As you make your return to campus The East Carolinian has created a forum that centers around topics within the community where readers can express their experiences and concerns. With the new guidelines set in place by East Carolina University do you feel as these precautions will keep you safe?

Survey
A round-up of some of London's big risers and fallers on Monday

Shares in Ltd ( ) were back in the red again after a strong finish last week, with the company proving almost as volatile as Bitcoin in its short time as a separate entity.

Thungela is the new name for the thermal coal assets spun off by was included in the FTSE 100 index last week, despite having a market capitalisation is in the millions rather than billions.

But with a primary listing in Johannesberg, its position among the blue chips was merely an administrative quirk and this week it no longer part of the FTSE UK indices, sending its shares tumbling 14% to 136p.

12.50pm: Oracle sees gold in its future

( )(AQSE:ORCP) rose 7% to 0.51p after returning positive geochemical sampling results from its maiden orientation survey at its 100% owned Jundee East gold project in Australia.

"Jundee East represents an exceptionally exciting prospect for Oracle in one of the most prolific gold producing regions globally, said Naheed Memon, chief executive of the AIM-listed firm.

These positive results from the orientation soil geochemistry programme confirm we are on the right path to unlocking the potential of this new unexplored area. The soil sampling programme will now be expanded to better inform a maiden drill programme which we believe will lay the foundations for a JORC Resource."

11.45am: notches new high as drilling at Troulli acquistion impresses

Shares in PLC ( ) hit a new record high of 32p earlier this morning after the company said results of drilling on the recently acquired Troulli project have significantly exceeded expectations.

All eight holes drilled have intersected significant gold and/or copper mineralisation, with results indicating the presence of a potentially significant oxide gold and volcanic massive sulphide copper-gold deposit located on the site of a former small-scale mine.

Boss Martyn Churchouse said: We now have the exciting task of drilling to establish the limits of both the oxide gold and VMS copper-gold mineralisation at both Troulli and the neighbouring Kokkinapetra.

11.06am: Construction firm subsides on refinancing worry

( ) shares are down 7% to 153.75p after the company formerly known as North Midland Construction said it was close to agreeing on a financing deal to help it address a current significant working capital strain.

There was a warning that should the refinancing not be successful, the engineering and construction group will have to consider its remaining options.

NMCN said the bilateral discussions (no doubt inspired by the G7 talks) over the refinancing were well advanced.

9.45am: Tavi-stonking rise

Top riser on Monday morning was ( ), with the shares rocketing 94% to 4.65p, as the company agreed to sell its Tavistock Wealth fund management arm for up to 40mln.

Tavistock said the sale to Titan Wealth was worth an equivalent 6.58p per share and the company will also become Titans strategic partner and distribute its products.

The partnership with Titan endorses our corporate strategy and will enable us to accelerate the growth of our business and deliver maximum value to our shareholders, said Tavistock boss Brian Raven.

Another early riser was ( ), up 9% to 16.38p, after it won a US$6mln contract with the US Department of Defense research agency for development of a biological threat detection system.

Over the next 28 months, Kromek will develop an automated wide spectrum airborne pathogen detection system that is fully mobile and runs autonomously.

This follows the first phase of development, which included creating a vehicle-mounted biological-threat identifier as well as a miniaturised mobile wide-area bio-surveillance system.

Proactive news headlines

( ) agreed to sell its fund management arm (TWL) for up to 40mln to Titan Wealth. The fund group, which will become Titans strategic partner and distribute its products, will receive additional payments over a ten-year period equivalent to 50% of future net income on any increased funds under its ACUMEN brand.

( ) signed a preliminary agreement to provide payment services incorporating bitcoin to online shopping platform , better known as The Hut Group ( ).

PLC ( ) said it has signed a long-term lease for its first international cancer institute in the Jamaican capital of Kingston through its affiliate, Apollon Jamaica.

( ) said it has been awarded a contract by the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) for Phase II of its development of a biological threat detection system.

( ) has released further results from the recently completed 3,118 metre maiden diamond drilling programme at its 51%-owned Bibemi gold project in Cameroon, including best intersections of 2.45 metres grading 2.96 grammes per tonnes, 3.6 metres grading 1.75 grammes and 12.4 metres grading 0.71 grammes.

( ) has announced progress on two separate cancer programmes.

( ) produced 183 tonnes of tin concentrate from its Uis mine in Nambia during the first quarter of the 2022 financial year.

Oy ( ) (First North:FARON) said the US Patent and Trademark Office has granted a new patent protecting the composition of matter of its novel precision cancer immunotherapy drug candidate, bexmarilimab.

( ) has signed a term sheet with binding exclusivity with Nesa Capital (Pty) Ltd and Nesa Engineering (Pty) Ltd detailing the proposed formation of a new joint venture company to create a leading regional Southern African champion in the commercial and industrial renewable energy and storage sector.

( ) said its portfolio company, Nandi Proteins, has appointed David Flower as its new chief executive.

( ) said it has been awarded the London Stock Exchange's Green Economy Mark in recognition of its contribution to the global green economy.

( )(AQSE:ORCP) has returned highly positive geochemical sampling results from its maiden orientation survey at its 100% owned Jundee East gold project in the Eastern Goldfields region of Western Australia.

PLC ( ) is continuing with due diligence drilling on the recently acquired Troulli project in Cyprus, and thus far results have significantly exceeded expectations.

( ) noted that Vietnam was the best performing stock market in the world in May, and the investment company outperformed the national benchmark.

( ) told investors the Greenfield Energy joint venture is now producing around 180 bopd at the Petroteq oil sands plant (POSP) at Asphalt Ridge, in Utah.

( ) is to invest 1.2mln in Energy Acquisitions Group Ltd (EAG), a vehicle in the sustainable energy sector with plans to acquire an anaerobic digestion (AD) biogas energy project in Northern Ireland.

( ) inked a deal with Baker Hughes to support drilling operations in Georgia. The memorandum of understanding (MOU) sets up a partnership enabling progress for its significant oil and gas opportunities, Block said.

Esken Limited ( ) provided an update on trading and on its attempted sale Stobart Air and Carlisle Lake District Airport.

( ) has completed the middle section of the Saffron-2 appraisal well in Trinidad, which has so far confirmed results in line with expectations.

( ) has kicked off its drill programme in Tanzania, with the Tai exploration well. It is the first of three planned wells which aims to confirm a significant helium resource.

Spectra Systems Corp ( ) announced that, having received only 23 ballots, it does not have enough shareholder votes to achieve a quorum to transact business at its scheduled 2021 annual general meeting on 14 June. The presence in person or by proxy, duly authorized, of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote constitutes a quorum.

( ) said its annual general meeting on 23 June is to be moved from Manchester to the Marriott Hotel in Derby as the former city has been identified by the government as an area of concern relating to increasing cases of the COVID-19 Delta variant. Investors can still submit questions and follow the meeting via the Investor Meet Platform.

( ) will make a distribution in specie of the entire issued share capital of its wholly-owned subsidiary Orph Pharma IP Company Limited to Poolbeg Pharma Limited, in return for the issue of new shares by Poolbeg to shareholders of Open Orphan on the register at close of business on 17 June 2021. Relevant shareholders will receive one Poolbeg share for every 2.98 ordinary shares held in the company and will not be permitted to sell, transfer or deal in these shares for a period of nine calendar months.

Zephyr Energy PLC (AIM: ZPHR) announced that it will be participating in the Proactive Investors' One2One Virtual Forum on Thursday 17th June 2021. Chief executive Colin Harrington will make a presentation at 6pm, followed by a Q&A session.

( ), a leading provider of IT solutions to the global life sciences market, announces that it will be hosting a virtual capital markets day for retail investors from 2pm to 4pm BST on Thursday 1 July 2021. Management will provide greater insight into the business, its ongoing acquisition strategy and its growth potential, with opportunities for attendees to ask questions during the webcast. A separate virtual CMD will take place on Wednesday 30 June 2021 for institutional investors.


One has been looking forward to reopening while the other has been unsure what's in store

When ( ) sashays down the City catwalk on Tuesday investors and analysts will be looking the online fast-fashion outfit's first-quarter numbers up and down to see how it has fared as lockdown restrictions have eased and customers can now buy their clothes from high street stores again.

Revenue growth will be examined for any signs of a slowdown, as well as how it is performing in the key US market which is a major source of future growth.

Back at the time of full-year results, revenues for the 12 months to 28 February were up 41% but the company said it expected the positive trend to wind down.

Expansion will also be on the cards as Boohoo looks to acquire more warehouses and expand its existing estate, with capital expenditure for the full year expected to be between 125-175mln.

Meanwhile, there will also be interest in the 'King of AIM's supply chain review, as the retailer is expected to publish a full list of its suppliers by the end of the summer.

Ashtead looks to build up post-pandemic strength

Construction equipment rental firm PLC ( ) will report full-year results on Tuesday, with the numbers likely to reflect the sharp slowdown in construction activity as the pandemic slammed the brakes on building.

However, March's nine-month numbers showed rental revenue down a not-too-bad 3%, with company having taken the opportunity in the past year to replace older equipment and cut down on costs.

Shareholders will be hoping the group is now well set to benefit from a return to normality as lockdown restrictions ease across its markets.

With this in mind, the companys predictions for the coming year will be key, particularly with many countries looking to spend big on infrastructure projects to kick start their economies.

Major announcements expected on Tuesday June 15:

Trading announcements: ( ), Boohoo Group PLC ( ),

Finals: Ashtead Group PLC ( ), ( ), ( ), Iomart Group PLC ( ), ( ), ( ), ( ), PLC ( ), PLC ( ), PLC ( )

Interims: On The Beach Group PLC ( ), Oxford Biodynamics PLC ( ), ( ), ( )

Economic data: UK unemployment, US retail sales, US PPI
A look at the major movers on the London market on Tuesday

Investors are cheering spirits group PLC ( ).

A day after the RedLeg Spiced Rum and Blackwoods Gin business reported a 39% increase in full year gross profits, the company announced an industry veteran was joining its board.

Former Guinness and Suntory executive Michael Keiller is joining as an independent non-executive director with effect from 1 July.

.At Suntory he helped convert its Morrison Bowmore Distillers business from a bulk whisky supplier to a strongly profitable consumer brand marketing-led business with globally acclaimed single malts. He was later a non-executive director at The Last Drop Distillers Ltd which was sold to The Sazerac Corporation in 2017.

Distil executive chairman Don Goulding said: "I am delighted to welcome Mike to the board as we seek to further strengthen our team and take Distil into the next phase of development particularly in the area of premium malt whisky. His breadth of industry experience in Scotland, the UK and internationally, together with a proven track record of driving transformational growth will bring significant value to the business."

Distil shares have bubbled up 14.58% or 0.35p to 2.75p.

2.47pm: Westminster Group shares take off after airport security deal

One of the day's big risers is ( ).

Its shares have soared 35.37% or 1.45p to 5.55p as it unveiled a long term multi-million dollar contract to provide security services to five airports in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The contract is for an initial period of 20 years with a five-year renewal and involves supplying comprehensive ground security operations, initially at 4 international airports and 1 national airport in the DRC.

12.37pm: Video advertising firm heads for Nasdaq listing

( ) is heading for the bright lights of America.

The Aim-listed, Tel Aviv based video advertising firm is joining Nasdaq by issuing 6.8mln American Depositary Shares to raise around US$150mln.

Its shares have climbed 4.86% or 38p to 820p on the news.

11.36am: Kidney specialist falls as R&D costs help push it into hefty loss

( ) has seen its shares fall back after losses surged in the third quarter.

The company, a developer of diagnostic solutions for kidney disease, said the net loss for the three months to the end of March came in at US$8mln, compared to just US$0.7mln for the same period in 2020.

General expenses, including those relating to public listing compliance and consulting fees, rose from US$1.3mln to US$5.5mln.

Research and development expenses increased from US$1.4mln to US $3.1mln, primarily due to increased headcount, consulting, and professional fees to support the ongoing development of its key product KidneyIntelX as well as research studies focused on long-term effects of COVID-19 on kidney health.

Its shares are down 4.93% or 55.45p to 1069.55p.

10.41am: Semiconductor specialist reports record order book

( ) is upbeat about its prospects after what it calls a transformational year.

The company, which develops mixed-signal, RF and microwave semiconductors for global communications markets, sold its storage business for US$49mln in cash and returned more than 10mln to shareholders.

Full year revenues fell from 15mln to 12.5mln reflecting the effect of COVID-19 on its markets. Pretax profits came in at 0.01mln after share-based payments and finance income.

But its order book is at a record level, as is its cash balance of 31.9mln.

It has recommended a final special dividend of 50p a share.

Group managing director Chris Gurry said: "This has clearly been a transformational year for the business. We made the decision to dispose of the storage division to focus on an expanding communications market opportunity and the board believes that the group can now scale without the distraction of conflicting divisional and operational investment needs.

"We start the new trading year in a much stronger position than one year ago. Headwinds remain, including the pandemic, trade uncertainty between China and the USA and the ongoing semiconductor capacity issues that are widely reported. That said, the underlying feeling within the company is one of opportunity and optimism evidenced by our day-to-day activities and the pipeline of opportunity that we see."

Analyst Martin OSullivan at the company's joint broker Shore Capital said: "Despite recent outperformance, we regard the current market value as unduly low relative to earnings and prospects (and the final special dividend). Broadening recognition of CMLs strategy, growth opportunity and financial asset backing should provide scope for a material rerating, in our view."

CML's shares are currently up 6.06% or 22.5p at 393.5p.

9.23am: Digital advisory group in demand

Kin and Carta PLC ( ), which advises companies on how best to exploit digital technology, is seeing growing demand for its services as the economy begins to improve.

The company, formed from the ashes of the St Ives printing business, said it expects revenues for the year to July to grow by 10% to around 150mln, with profits up 35%-40% to 14.5mln.

Both of these are well ahead of current market expectations.

Based on current performance and backlog of orders, it expects accelerating growth in net revenue to around 20% and improving underlying operating margin of 12-13% for the following financial year.

The company recently announced that 3.7mln of the 6.7mln US paycheck protection programme loan it took out to mitigate the effects of the pandemic had been forgiven by the government. Some 0.8mln had already been forgiven, and the balance of 1.8mln after adjusting for foreign exchange movements will be repaid in May 2022.

Kin and Carta's shares have jumped 16.16% or 32p to 230p.

8.46am: Home credit firm to beat expectations

PLC ( ) shares have moved 8% higher to 137.6p in early trading after reporting that business has picked up in recent weeks despite the continuing effects of the pandemic.

The home credit company said in April it expected debt collections to weaken during the first half of this year. But in fact its actual collections performance has continued to be strong, giving a faster than expected improvement in impairment as a percentage of revenue.

Meanwhile credit issued has been broadly in line with management forecasts, so overall it expects a better outcome for the year than it had anticipated.

Analyst Gary Greenwood at Shore Capital said: "Todays positive update sees us nudge our fair value up to 135p [from 130p], which continues to factor in a 25% haircut for regulatory risk (mainly in respect of price capping risk in Poland)."

Elsewhere the transfer of a stake in the Brockham oil field in Surrey has benefited both buyer and seller.

( ) has sold its 5% share to ( ) in a deal which involves Alba paying 38,400 in cash and shares to Angus to settle "certain back costs and a contribution toward eventual abandonment costs."

Angus said the transfer aligned its interests in the Brockam and Lidsey field in West Sussex.

Angus managing director George Lucan said: "It is the company's expectation that moderate oil production and the facility of water injection at Brockham, together with 9.7 million barrels of Oil In Place at Lidsey, will represent a good value proposition for shareholders, and for possible farminees, once seismic re-interpretation is complete and permissions are in place for a side-track at Lidsey."

Alba is up 7.44% at 0.26p while Angus has added 6.67% to 0.8p.

Proactive news headlines

( ) has said that following a leave of absence for health reasons in March, its chief executive Andrew Day has decided to bring forward a longer-term retirement plan and will be leaving his role as CEO and his position as a director with immediate effect.

( ) said it has been awarded a long-term contract to provide security services to five airports in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

( ) announced the completion of data processing from airborne geophysical programmes on its wholly owned projects in Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

BATM Advanced Communications Limited (LON:BVC; TASE:BVC) has landed a US$4.1mln cybersecurity contract from a unnamed long-standing government defence department customer.

( ) said its portfolio company, Pulsiv, has appointed Adam Westcott as its chief financial officer.

( ) believes lasting changes to the working environment, particularly an increase in work-for-home patterns, will drive opportunities and demand for its secure payments and customer contactproducts.

( ) returned to profit in its latest financial year as higher gross margins combined with lower overheads.

( )( ) has commenced a 1,700 metre infill geotechnical drilling programme within the permitted La India open pit in Nicaragua. Two diamond drill rigs have been deployed. The drilling is likely to add significant new resources to the planned open pit.

( ) is proceeding with its plans to create a series of joint venture companies with partner Rosgeo. On 26 March 2021, Eurasia signed a binding agreement to create a joint venture with Rosgeo in which Eurasia will own a 75% equity stake in nine platinum group metal and battery metals assets, four of which are post the Russian feasibility study stage, and which have state approved reserves.

( ) has identified an electro-magnetic anomaly in Target Area C in the Hukuntsi section of the Kalahari Suture Zone project. Designated Target C1, the conductive anomaly is located 11km from Target A2, which was first announced in April last year.

PLC ( ), a buy-and-build construction materials group, signed a joint venture agreement with a major Calais-based high-grade limestone and construction materials company.

( ) has appointed recruitment veteran Peter Searle as executive chairman. He will take up the role immediately after the recruitment and business groups Annual General Meeting on June 25.

( ) is aiming to raise at least 2.15mln of new capital through a share placing plus a share offer to retail investors on the platform. Some 5.37mln new shares are being sold in a placing, priced at 40p per share. Shares sold via will be priced on the same terms.

Teleradiology specialist ( ) has appointed a veteran of the technology sector as its new senior independent director and chair of the audit committee. Barbara Moorhouse will replace Steve Whittern at the companys annual meeting on Wednesday (June 16).

( ), a developer of geospatial productivity and collaboration software for the telecoms and utility industries, is pleased to announce that it has been selected by the US Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) to support their electrical transmission line inspection process.


Searle will take up the role immediately after the groups Annual General Meeting on June 25

( ) said it has appointed recruitment veteran Peter Searle as executive chairman.

Searle will take up the role immediately after the recruitment and business groups Annual General Meeting on June 25 when current non-executive chairman, Alan Howarth, will step down. Howarth, who is retiring, will continue as a non-executive director until August 2021.

Searle has over 30 years' experience in the recruitment sector including a spell at Adecco before he left in 2006 to become chief executive (CEO) of Spring Group. He returned to Adecco in 2009 when it acquired Spring Group and he was appointed to the group executive committee. He was most recently the CEO of Airswift from 2016 to 2018 and executive chairman from 2018 until last month.

Peter has a strong track record within our industry and has enjoyed success both within the private and public markets, said Norman Broadbent CEO Mike Brennan. He brings a wealth of experience to our board and we look forward to working with him as we continue to grow and scale the company.

As Peter joins us, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Alan Howarth for his help and support whilst serving as our non-executive chairman, particularly during the pandemic."

Searle holds a 6.16% stake in Norman Broadbent.
International Personal Finance reported surprisingly strong collections, while Non-Standard Finance said it needs to work things out with the regulator before it can raise cash

PLC ( ) has seen business pick up in recent weeks despite the continuing effects of the pandemic.

The home credit company said in April it expected debt collections to weaken during the first half of this year. But in fact its actual collections performance has continued to be strong, giving a faster than expected improvement in impairment as a percentage of revenue.

Meanwhile, credit issued has been broadly in line with management forecasts, so overall it expects a better outcome for the year than it had anticipated.

It said: "While we remain cautious given the dynamic COVID-19 environment, the faster-than-anticipated improvement in impairment in April and May is expected to result in a further improvement in the full-year impairment charge and a significantly stronger rebound in profitability in 2021 than was expected at the time of our first quarter trading update."

Analyst Gary Greenwood at Shore Capital said: "Todays positive update sees us nudge our fair value up to 135p [from 130p], which continues to factor in a 25% haircut for regulatory risk (mainly in respect of price capping risk in Poland)."

The shares have moved higher than that on the news, adding 10.6p or 8.35% to 137.6p.

Elsewhere, fellow home credit provider, ( ) said it has seen a steady build in month-on-month growth in lending from branches and at homes, while also giving an update on its finances, having said back in February that it needed to strengthen its balance sheet to support future growth as well as addressing material uncertainties that could affect its status as a going concern.

Today NSF said it is working on a share issue expected to be in the region of 80mln that is likely to be in the form of a placing and open offer, supported by major shareholder Alchemy Partners.

However, the fundraise is dependent on reaching an agreement with the regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority, on the proposed redress methodology to certain guarantor loans customers.

NSF also said it is determining whether there is any read-across to other divisions or implications from recent decisions by the Financial Ombudsman Service.

"Until this is complete, there can be no certainty as to the outcome, but the Board is currently planning for the capital raise to take place in the third quarter of 2021," the company said.

The shares were down 7% to 4.84p.
's Alex Fraser talks to Proactive London's Katie Pilbeam about their new deal with Australian technology company OnTracka to launch a free cannabis patient health monitoring app.

The app will be called CALYX and will be launched across the whole of the UK, the Channel Islands and Ireland.

Fraser explains how the data will be used and stored - potentially even leading to access into the NHS once NICE see how widely available these medicines can used and perhaps 'inspire further work with more comprehensive trials'.

Grow Pharma is currently fulfilling around a third of all prescriptions for the UK's medicinal cannabis patients.
A deal reached between Brussels and the Biden administration will see tariffs worth US$11.5bn between the two suspended for five years

( ) and its French rival Airbus are likely to see their business boosted after a 17-year long spat over subsidies to aircraft makers between the US and the European Union finally ended with both sides agreeing to suspend tariffs for five years.

After two days of intensive negotiations between representatives from Brussels and the Biden administration, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday that the agreement was a major step in resolving the long-running dispute.

This shows the new spirit of cooperation between the EU and the US and that we can solve the other issues to our mutual benefit. Together we can deliver for our citizens and businesses, she added.

Going forward, the two sides will now continue to discuss methods to implement the agreement in areas such as financing, research and development funding and specific support of large civil aircraft.

The dispute originally began in 2004, when the US filed a case at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) against the EU, arguing that the bloc was illegally subsidising Airbus. The EU then filed a complaint against the US in May 2005 for what it said was its unlawful support for Boeing.

Following WTO decisions, both the US and the EU imposed punitive tariffs on each other's exports in 2019 and 2020 respectively during the Trump presidency, affecting US$11.5bn in trade between the two sides. As a result of the spat, EU and US businesses have had to pay over US$3.3bn dollars in duties.

Following the news, shares in Boeing rose 0.4% to US$246.11 in pre-market trading in New York.
Westminster Group PLC's ( ) CEO Peter Fowler talks to Proactive Londons Katie Pilbeam about their new long-term contract to provide security services to five airports in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The deal will run for an initial 20 years with a five-year renewal thereafter.

Fowler explains how the deal is based on a model successfully deployed elsewhere in Africa with revenues generated by a per passenger levy on travellers embarking on their journey that will be paid directly to the company by the airlines or via an independent group such as the International Air Transport Association.
The investment manager has longest record of any independent asset manager in the South-East Asian country and is the second biggest investor behind the government

Averaging 7% for the past six years, Vietnam's economic growth is expected to remain strong

Vietnams stock market recently topped the milestone of US$1bn of daily transactions, making it the second most liquid in South-East Asia.

As the South-East Asian country makes its anticipated progress from frontier status to a fully fledged emerging market, the stock market is now at the stage where more and more private investors are getting on board.

With the longest record of any independent asset manager in the country and the second biggest investor behind the government, Dragon Capital is first on the list for most overseas investors in Vietnam.

When we started, says Dragon Capital co-founder and chairman Dominic Scriven, Vietnam's biggest export was scrap metal, and exports were US$2bn. After years in between where it emerged as one of the biggest agricultural exporters  of rice, of cashew nuts, of cinnamon, and several others  this year exports will be close on US$300bn and the biggest chunk of exports will be electronics and smartphones.

And what's guides that is a political system, political philosophy and a social structure that all combined to underlie consistency and stability.

Dragon is perhaps best known to UK investors as manager of the FTSE 250-listed Vietnam Enterprise Investments Ltd ( ) investment trust, but also runs an open-ended UCITS fund, exchange-traded funds and various private mandates for investment managers and sovereign wealth funds around the world.

With assets under management totalling around US$5.5bn, of which the VEIL trust is approximately 40% and the ETFs just under 20%, the firm is one of the biggest players in South-East Asia.

Its number one ETF, the Vietnam Diamond Fund, in May overtook the biggest US-listed ETF, Vectors Vietnam, which is run by VanEck.

Dragons ETFs are currently locally listed but over the past few years Scriven and his team have been working on getting more recognition of their investment vehicles in global markets, firstly by moving the VEIL trust to a London listing in 2016 after almost two decades listed in Dublin.

Since then, the VEIL trust is on course to beat the national VN Index for its fifth year out of the six, with a gain in NAV last year of 22.8% and another 40% so far this year.

Dragon also runs an open-ended fund, the Vietnam Equity (UCITS) Fund which, like the investment trust, focuses on listed equities. The team plan to make it made available on more UK platforms in the coming years. The UCITS funds 12-month performance of 81.1% is way ahead of the FTSE Vietnam Index, likewise its 55.3% over three year and 139.6% over five.

While Vietnams equity market is now turning over a healthy amount per day, Scriven points out that the market remains relatively immature and the Vietnamese economy still offers considerable catch-up opportunities with other local rivals.

Around 95% of the Vietnamese daily stock market volume is private investors not institutions.

There are very few domestic institutions, although we would now form one the biggest of those investing in equities. And the biggest investor above us is the government.

So we're a sizable player in a somewhat disparate, but really quite ebullient frontier market.

Ebullient is putting it modestly, with economic growth averaging 7% for the past six years and expected to remain one of the worlds fastest growing countries.

Foreign investment and the guiding presence of institutions such as Dragon are a key element of the countrys growth, with investors attracted by positive similarities to China.

Vietnam is becoming more of a known quantity and its scope is spreading a bit more, says Scriven.

If you look at the real economy, its not a stretch to say Vietnam is the next manufacturing powerhouse after Southern China and trade is booming.

What's been happening for Vietnam is a mix of factors, some companies have moved for reasons of cost, some people have moved for security and diversification of risk, some have moved for reasons of integrity, some people have moved for fear of tariffs against China, some people have moved because frankly it's quite a nice place to live.

As one of the leading local institutions, Dragon has been a vital source of corporate developments in the country.

We've not done anything super-brilliant, we've rather just been the one-eyed in the land of the blind  knowing what has worked elsewhere and just trying to replicate that.

So many of the initiatives that we've embarked upon are seen here as new  such as last month we launched Vietnam's first pension fund, and with ESG being something that is on everybody's lips around the world, for VEIL our 2020 annual report was the first in the country to have climate-related financial disclosures.

But I would say we're active but not activists - at one stage we used to have 44 board seats on companies, now we only have one. The reason is because companies have grown, they are listed and the stock market is maturing.

The VEIL trust, which is the largest of three Vietnam-focused trusts listed in London, invests entirely on listed shares, unlike its rivals.

We do so because we think it's quite important that investors have some comfort as to the underlying nature of the assets in which we invest, which means avoiding going off-piste into the private investing world.

Since its move to London, VEIL has broadened its investor base hugely but is still mostly the preserve of institutional investors.

And that's possibly appropriate because for much of its past, Vietnam has been a very rarefied proposition. But this is changing.

I went to a reasonably high-level government discussion recently talking about a vision for 2045. Number one is Vietnam wants to catch up with its neighbours  the aspiration is to be pre-eminent in Southeast Asia, to leave behind being a middle-income country  thats the holy grail for Vietnam in the next 15 years.

And the market's maturing, its no longer completely illiquid, there's 1,500 companies listed, its at nearly $250bn of value and turning over a billion a day.

It's sizable and it's touching on becoming an accepted emerging market and over the next five years I believe we will broach the individual investor market as people open their eyes to whats going on here.
The online verification specialist tracked an increase in revenue last month as it continues to integrate Bright People Technologies following a recent acquisition.

CV Check has tabled strong flash financials for the month of May.

CV Check Ltd (ASX:CV1) has tabled its latest round of flash financials, revealing its core business group brought in record revenue over May.

The CV1 Group reported $2.2 million in revenue last month, which the verification company attributes to its Bright People Technologies (BPT) acquisition, announced in February 2021.

Since it completed the buy, CV Check has focused on merging the new company with its existing business and recently relocated the BPT operation to its current premises and appointed an executive team to lead the new entity.

Broadly, CV Check said its latest financials corresponded with economic recovery in Australia and New Zealand, allowing it to solidify its position within the online verification market.

Remarkable levels of growth

CV1 executive chair Ivan Gustavino said: It is exceptionally pleasing to see that whilst progressing with the successful integration of the two businesses, the existing executive team has been able to continue to achieve remarkable levels of growth through a very challenging year.

Along with the CV1s groups overall success, the ASX-lister has also identified financial growth across its online verification platform.

The CVCheck platform tabled a record $1.7 million in revenue, marking a 236% increase on the previous corresponding period.

As of May this year, the platforms annual recurring revenue (ARR) stood at $12.6 million, compared to the $11.1 million recorded at the end of 2021s March quarter.

Graph tracks the CVCheck platforms ARR growth since June last year.

CV Check said it could leverage continued business opportunities from its 3,000-strong corporate client base, which led to the jump in ARR.

Meanwhile, over May, BPTs two platforms generated $479,000 in revenue, 40% of which was software as a service-based licence revenue.

CV Check maintained revenue brought in by its latest acquisition is driven by long-term contracts with blue-chip clients like BHP Group Ltd (ASX:BHP).

Search for CEO

Meanwhile, CV1s hunt for a new CEO is underway after outgoing chief executive Rod Sherwood stepped down in April.

The company has appointed a specialist search firm to help source the best prospective candidates for the key appointment.

Gustavino said: The business is successfully pivoting to achieve the strategic goals set by the board. The recruitment of the right CEO, which is well in hand, will be the key piece CV1 needs to set itself to become a leading player in the global Reg Tech space.
The Minister for Energy for Newfoundland, Andrew Parsons, will talk about the recent interesting developments in Newfoundland.

Ian Murray will focus on the companys fully owned Cape Ray Gold Project.

( ) ( ) (FRA:MA3) CEO Ian Murray will present at the Canadian Gold Seminar on Wednesday, June 16, hosted by .

The presenters also include Andrew Parsons, the Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology, and Attorney General in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Parsons department is responsible for the province's energy, mines, forestry and agrifoods sectors.

Highly prospective project

Ian Murray will focus on the companys fully-owned Cape Ray Gold Project in Newfoundland which hosts an existing resource of 840,000 ounces at 2 g/t gold.

The project covers 120 kilometres of continuous strike along the highly prospective, yet largely underexplored Cape Ray shear.

Matador has commenced a major exploration program with more than 20,000 metres of drilling planned through 2021.

Other Newfoundland explorers participating in the seminar are Corp ( ) and New Found Gold Corp (CVE:NFG).

Registration details

Date: Wednesday  16 June 2021

Time: 8.00 AM (AEST)

Host: Andrew Hines, Head of Research,

Register in advance for the Zoom webinar by clicking this link.
The company is looking to benefit from the input and assistance of new chairman Gregory Bittar in progressing its 100%-owned Menzies Gold Project towards production.

( ) has appointed Gregory Bittar as non-executive chairman effective as of July 1, 2021.

Bittar has extensive experience in public and private markets mergers and acquisitions, capital markets and strategic advisory assignments across a range of sectors including general industries, metals and mining, mining services and energy.

He will replace Adrian Byass as chairman with Byass remaining a non-executive director of the company.

Stephen Brockhurst will resign as a non-executive director but remain as company secretary.

The companys board has thanked Byass and Brockhurst for their valuable input as chairman and non-executive director, respectively.

Menzies Gold Project progresses

Kingwests board is pleased to have Bittars input and assistance as the company progresses its 100%-owned Menzies Gold Project towards production and continues exploration at the Goongarrie Gold Project.

Earlier this year the company announced the results of a positive scoping study and has recently completed a capital raising with the support of corporate advisor Peloton Capital.

Funds raised are already being deployed with extensional RC drilling at Menzies underway.

At Goongarrie recent drilling supports Kingwest belief that this project has the potential to support a major gold discovery.

Experience and qualification

Bittars previous engagement includes working for Bankers Trust, Baring Brothers Burrows and with in London, Melbourne and Sydney.

He is currently a non-executive director of Horizon Oil Limited and previously held the position of chairman for ASX listed mining companies Trek Metals and Millennium Minerals.

Bittar holds a Master of Finance from the London Business School, a Bachelor of Economics and a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from the University of Sydney.
Securities will remain halted until Thursday, June 17, or when an announcement is released to the market.

King River Resources Ltd ( ) has been granted a trading halt by the ASX ahead of the release of a material announcement on the completion of a pre-feasibility study (PFS) on its Kwinana High Purity Alumina project.

The trading halt will remain in place until the beginning of regular trade on Thursday, June 17, or when an announcement is released to the market, whichever occurs earliest.

Engineering studies for PFS

The companys contractors Como Engineers have completed the engineering studies to provide detailed capital and operating cost estimates are for the Kwinana JPA PFS.

Como is finalising the engineering report as well as the layout graphics for inclusion while FTI Consulting completes the economic-financial model.

Search continues for industrial site

The company has continued investigations with government agencies and private owners for an appropriate industrial site in the Kwinana area, around 30-40 kilometres south of Perth in Western Australia.

This location is ideal as it has feedstock and reagent suppliers, infrastructure, port, energy supply, and a skilled workforce.
The companys 13,000-metre resource drilling program originating from the Golden Swan drill drive is expected to deliver a maiden resource and will test for potential extensions beneath and adjacent to the current discovery.

POS expects to reach the final investment decision (FID) for the project by the end of the year.

( ) (OTCMKTS:PSDNF) (FRA:NYG) has big plans for its Black Swan Nickel Project in Western Australia in quarter three of 2021 with the company securing a valuation of A$0.18 in a research report by MST Access analyst Michael Bentley.

This is based on the high-grade Golden Swan discovery where the company is targeting delivery of a maiden resource in the September quarter.

The company also expects to begin metallurgical test-work and to complete detailed mine plans and reserve definition during the quarter.

Bentley said: Our valuation is based on the restart of the Black Swan project.

Exploration success, resource definition and the commencement of Direct Shipping Ore (DSO) from Golden Swan presents the key driver of valuation upside.

With the drill drive completed, POS has set a firm path to first production from Golden Swan in CY2022.

New drill drive delivers

POS recently completed a 465 metres Golden Swan drill drive from the Silver Swan deposit, allowing it to significantly increase the speed and efficiency of exploration and resource definition drilling.

The current round of resource definition drilling (57 holes for 13,000 metres planned) demonstrating the high-grade continuity within the trend.

Key results from drilling to date include:

3.05 metres at 6.75% nickel;

3.80 metres at 5.56% nickel;

7 metres at 3.92% nickel;

1.25 metres at 5.14% nickel;

4.10 metres at 3.95% nickel; and

17.40 metres at 3.16% nickel including 3.4 metres at 8.18% nickel.

Maiden resource set for Q3

The analyst said: These high-grade results are very promising and show the potential of POS maiden resource definition which is expected for Q3 CY21.

Additionally, POS has indicated that with drilling progressing rapidly, the resource definition plan should be completed ahead of schedule, allowing for a switch over to drill testing of the very prospective Southern Terrace.

POS expects to report a maiden resource by Q3 CY2021."

Bentley said the resource definition was a key step towards production.

He said: The size and grade of the Golden Swan deposit will be defined and will allow POS to work towards defining a detailed mine plan and a subsequent reserve for commercial mining.

The company is also setting up for further testing of the Southern Terrace once the Resource drilling is complete, and is also planning to commence infill drilling at Silver Swan in late 2021 or early 2022  with the potential to add more high-grade Ni tonnes to the Black Swan mining inventory.

Metallurgical test-work

POS has conducted preliminary metallurgical testing on Golden Swan Ore, with the following results achieved using a conventional flotation process.

Nickel recovery > 90%;

Nickel grade >13% in concentrate;

Negligible arsenic in concentrate; and

Attractive Fe:MgO ratio (>50:1).

Further extensive metallurgical testing will be conducted on a larger sample of ore to ensure that it can be highly amenable to conventional sulphide flotation techniques, yielding high nickel recoveries and saleable grade nickel concentrate.

Proposed timetable for the Black Swan Project

First production in 2022

The report said the Golden Swan discovery (discovered March 2020) continues to deliver high-grade nickel intersections and is the key to POS restarting ore production in 2022.

POS aims to begin generating revenue through the production of saleable ore by mid-CY2022.

All drilling activities are aimed at building high-grade nickel resource to allow mining to recommence after a 10-year hiatus.

The initial plan is to sell DSO to a third-party processor.

DSO would minimise capital and keep operating costs low as it requires minimal processing. Discussions are underway with potential buyers of the DSO in Western Australia and internationally.

The company has commenced a study into the DSO options, which will be release by the end of the year.

After deciding between the concentrator and DSO options, POS will reach the final investment decision (FID) for the project.

Golden Swan key to further upside

The report said the current valuation is based on POS adopting the concentrator model as there is currently no resource defined.

Upon definition of a resource, and with an understanding of potential volumes and grades, we consider there is potential substantial upside to our valuation if the DSO option proceeds.

We see a number of potential scenarios for share price upside driven primarily by exploration success.

"The current inputs into the Black Swan model are:

Operating costs: Our cost estimates are US$2.80/lb in the first two years of operations and US$2.75/lb from the third year of operation.

Nickel grade: Our overall average Nickel grade for the Black Swan project has been lifted reflecting a greater contribution from Golden Swan.

Nickel price assumptions: We believe that the nickel price will continue to increase over the next decade. We base this assumption on the demand from electric vehicles and the subsequent pull through of demand for Nickel to enhance battery life. Our base price assumption is US$6.00/pound for the first two years, increasing at 5% per annum onwards. Current Nickel prices are US$8.00/pound, substantially higher than our current forecast.

Project timing: Our start time for the project is H1FY2023. We have assumed the majority of the capex in FY2022 and the remainder in FY2023.

Our spot price valuation is A$0.29 per share using an A$/US$ exchange rate of 0.77, a nickel price of US$8.30/pound and a gold price of US$1877/ounce.
Canadian junior with early-stage exploration projects near highly profitable Barrick operation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Flagship Imbo project boasts an inferred resource of 30.7 million tons grading at 2.6 grams per ton gold for just over 2.5 million ounces

Joint ventured with Barrick to explore prospective swath of land along the mineral-rich Ngayu Belt

Major shareholder Resolute Mining owns 26.5% of the company

What Loncor Gold does:

( ) ( ) is sitting on some very valuable land in the mineral-rich Ngayu Belt of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The Ngayu Belt is 220 kilometres southwest of the Kibali gold mine, operated by Barrick Gold, which produced a record 814,000 ounces at an all-in-sustaining-cost of US$693 per ounce.

Loncors flagship project, Imbo, sits on the eastern portion of the belt and contains numerous targets including three resource-bearing gold deposits. A mineral resource released in April 2020 outlined an inferred resource for the Adumbi, Manzako and Kitenge deposits at nearly 30.7 million tons grading at 2.6 grams per ton gold for just over 2.5 million ounces of the yellow metal, most of which comes from the high-priority Adumbi target. Loncor currently owns a nearly 85% interest in the project.

Given the proximity of the belt to Kibali, Barrick has taken an interest in Loncor. The two firms signed a joint venture agreement in 2016 that sees the mining major earn up to 65% of any discovery within a group of 12 exploration permits along the Ngayu Belt. Under the agreement, Barrick manages and funds exploration in the permit areas until the completion of a pre-feasibility study on any gold discovery. If the two companies should decide to move ahead with a full feasibility study, they would then create a special purpose vehicle to hold the specific discovery area where Barrick would retain 65% and Loncor would hold 35%.

Barrick is not the only mining company to hold an interest in Loncor, however: Australias Resolute Mining owns 26.5% of the company, making it Loncors largest shareholder. Through its investment, Resolute gains exposure to Loncors entire project portfolio, which includes Imbo and three other 100%-owned properties that are excluded from the Barrick JV.

In a country with a strong mining industry, and with two major backers, Loncor is on the way to outlining major new precious metal areas.

How is it doing:

In early June 2021, Loncor Resources changed its name to Loncor Gold Inc, to better brand itself as a gold focused explorer. Shares of the company continue to trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the same ticker, LN.

Prior to the rebranding announcement, the precious metals company reported significant assay results from its drilling program at the Imbo Project, at the Ngayu Greenstone Gold Belt in the northeast of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The Canadian gold exploration company revealed that borehole LADD013 drilled at its flagship Adumbi deposit, intersected 20 meters grading 4.21 grams per ton (g/t) gold (including 11 meters grading 6.91 g/t Au), 17.30 meters grading 2.48 g/t gold (including 8.20 meters grading 4.71 g/t Au), and 7.04 meters grading 2.68 g/t gold.

This follows a 44% increase to the open pit inferred resource at its Adumbi deposit. The increase raised the inferred gold ounces from 2.9 million stated in a 2020 report, to 3.15 million.

The double-digit uptick in inferred resource, as well as the positive assays boosts the total inferred resource for the entire Imbo project, which contains the Adumbi, Kitenge and Manzako deposits, to a total of 43 million tons grading 2.51 g/t Au.

Loncor Gold began the preliminary economic assessment (PEA) phase at the Imbo project in 2Q 2021.

On a corporate level, Loncor recently closed a C$5 million financing earmarked for drilling at Adumbi and listed its shares on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in early February.

Inflection points:

Release of preliminary economic assessment for the Imbo Project

Increase resource base at 100%-owned Makapela project

More news from ongoing Barrick drilling in the Nyagu Belt

Delineate potentially significant underground resource at Adumbi

What the boss says:

Commenting on the recent developments at the Adumbi deposit, Arnold Kondrat, CEO of Loncor Gold, said: The company continues to develop its flagship open-pit Adumbi gold deposit. More than 3,450,000 inferred ounces of gold have been identified to date on the Imbo license. Our current drill program, which has had tremendous success in adding to the gold resource at Adumbi, demonstrates Adumbi continues at depth with higher grades and widths.

He added: We believe Adumbi has the potential to continue to grow significantly from the ongoing drill program, into a Tier 1 deposit. In addition, discussions are underway on how best to mix the companys high-grade Makapela deposit located 50 km away into any future mine plan at Adumbi.

Contact Georgia at georgia@proactiveinvestors.com
(CVE: RDG  OTCQB: RDGMF) CEO Chad Peters joined Steve Darling from Proactive to bring news the company has put out their latest assay results from drilling at the Selena Project in Nevada.

Peters sharing the very good results and he also talked about a pleasant surprise they also have noted in the assays.
"It is essential as a scientist that you evolve your opinion and your recommendations based on the data as it evolves. ... And that's the reason why I say people who then criticize me about that are actually criticizing science. That's the way science works. You work with the data you have at the time."

Dr. Anthony Fauci
Expert of Russian Foreign Ministry gets 5 years in jail for $1 mln embezzlement

 Moscow's Presnensky District Court

13:48 15/06/2021

MOSCOW, June 15 (RAPSI)  The Presnensky District Court of Moscow on Tuesday sentenced Natalya Agaltsova, an expert of the Currency and Finance Department of Russias Foreign Ministry to 5 years in penal colony for embezzling about $1 million, the courts press service told RAPSI.

Moreover, the court recovered over 67 million rubles (over $900,000) from the woman, therefore granting the Ministrys civil claim in part.

The court found that Agaltsova embezzled around $1 million from Russias Foreign Ministry. Reportedly, the funds received from Iran for consular services disappeared after encashment. A part of insufficient payment was found in the defendants office room.




No grounds found for release of ex-director of undesirable NGO from detention - court

 submitted by Andrey Pivovarov

15:33 15/06/2021

MOSCOW, June 15 (RAPSI)  The Krasnodar Krai Court on Tuesday upheld detention of Andrey Pivovarov, a former director of Otkrytaya Rossia (OR), an organization registered in Great Britain and recognized in Russia as undesirable, the courts press service reports.

The man stands charged with participation in the activity of a foreign organization declared undesirable in the Russian Federation.

On June 2, the Pervomaisky District Court of Krasnodar ordered detention of Pivovarov until July 31.

According to investigators, in August 2020, Pivovarov being a member of the foreign NGO labeled as undesirable put out in the open agitation information in support of the organization. However, the man has been repeatedly brought to administrative liability for engagement in the activity of the organization declared undesirable in the Russian Federation.

Pivovarov was arrested by law enforcement when attempting to escape from investigators abroad on May 31.




A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
The Indian authorities have described fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi, who is wanted in India in the Rs 13,500 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case as an Indian citizen in its affidavit filed in Dominican High Court, saying that his application for renunciation of citizenship was "rejected".

And noted that he is therefore erroneously claiming renunciation of citizenship under the Citizenship Act, 1955.

The 14-page affidavit filed on June 8 said "the Indian citizenship of Mr MC (Mehul Choksi) has still not ceased as on date and therefore, his claim of renunciation of Indian citizenship is contrary to the laws in India as is completely erroneous", adding, "the claim of Choksi being bogus, this Honourable court may kindly reject the said erroneous claim at the threshold".

It further pointed out that Choksi had submitted his Indian passport to Indian High Commission in Georgetown, Guyana, for renouncing his Indian citizenship on December 14, 2018.

"Under Section 8 of the Indian citizenship act, 1955 the declaration of renunciation should be registered and only then a person shall cease to be a citizen of India. Read with Rule 38 of the act, the declaration of registration has to be made to India's Ministry of Home Affairs through the Indian mission," it said.

The affidavit further stated that while Choksi did submit his passport, the Indian Home Ministry on January 29, 2019 "found deficiencies in the declaration" and also "noted that Choksi was an economic fugitive offender" advising Indian mission in Guyana to "consider the rejection of his declaration of renunciation".

The affidavit also pointed out that the Ministry of External Affairs had also in a letter dated October 15, 2019, confirmed that his application of renunciation stood rejected by the Indian High Commission in Guyana and had communicated him on March 15, 2019.

The affidavit stated, "no entries regarding the application for surrender of Indian nationality were made in the consular register of the mission". This was further confirmed by the MHA in its official memorandum on May 31, 2021.

It said that Choksi's Indian Passport, number--Z3396732 was issued on September 10, 2015 from Mumbai. He acquired his Antigua and Barbuda nationality on November 16, 2017 with passport number B007713.

The affidavit also said that "concerned authorities may be directed to immediately transfer/deport/handover Choksi to the Indian authorities".

It also said that India has already raised the issue of cancellation of citizenship of Choksi granted by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda on the grounds that citizenship was fraudulently obtained by Choksi.

The affidavit was filed by consular officer at the High Commission of India to the Commonwealth of Dominica.

It said Choksi is wanted by Indian law enforcement agencies for investigation of the crime committed by him in India.

The Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) are probing the PNB bank fraud case against Choksi and his nephew Nirav Modi.

Choksi went missing from Antigua and Barbuda on May 23, sparking a massive manhunt. He was captured in Dominica on May 26, and faces charges of illegal entry.

He had taken the citizenship of Antigua in 2017 and left India on January 4, 2018 days before the case came to light.
The trial of the fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi, who is wanted in India in the Rs 13,500 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case has been adjourned to June 25 due to decline in his health condition, local media reported.

The trial was expected to begin in the Roseau Magistrate court on Monday, Dominica News Online, a news outlet in Caribbean island said.

At the hearing, two of Dominica's top criminal attorneys were added to Choksi's legal team for this matter. Zena Moore-Dyer and her daughter Gina Dyer-Munro have joined Julien Prevost, Wayne Norde and Cara Shillingford-Marsh.

The defence attorneys presented to the court a medical document which stated that Choksi is incapacitated and as a result, he was unable to attend the proceeding, it said.

It further said that the prosecution team also saw the addition of Harpreet Singh Giani, an Indian-born lawyer based in London, who said he appears as a consultant to the prosecution on the matter.

The States case is led by the acting Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Sherma Dalrymple, with assistance from attorney-at-law Lennox Lawrence, Jodie Luke and Heather Felix Evans.

On June 2, the 62-year-old diamantaire pleaded not guilty to illegal entry in Dominica.

According to the charges of the police, Choksi entered Dominica illegally on May 24, 2021, at Toucari Beach. However his attorneys alleged that he was kidnapped, beaten and unwillingly brought to Dominica from Antigua.

Choksi is remanded in police custody at the Dominica China Friendship Hospital (DCFH) where he has been a patient since May 29, 2021.

On June 11, a high court judge denied bail to the alleged fugitive on the basis that he is a "flight risk."

Choksi had gone missing on May 23 from Antigua sparking a massive manhunt. He was reportedly captured in Dominica.

On June 8, the Indian authorities described Choksi as an Indian citizen in its affidavit filed in Dominican High Court, saying that his application for renunciation of citizenship was "rejected".

It also noted that he is therefore erroneously claiming renunciation of citizenship under the Citizenship Act, 1955.

He had taken the citizenship of Antigua in 2017 and left India on January 4, 2018 days before the bank loan fraud case came to light.
Though there is no official word on Union Cabinet expansion or reshuffle so far from the Centre, there is speculation as the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has held two continuous meetings with party's top brass and two separate groups of Ministers in a span of four days.

Some in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), requesting anonymity, mentioned that PM's meetings with his Cabinet colleagues are nothing more than routine affairs only to know what is going on in their ministries and the future growth plan amid the Covid-19 crisis.

The Prime Minister is learnt to have taken stock of the work done by the government in the last two years and discussed various other issues, said a source.

Both the brainstorming sessions -- one on Friday last week and the second on Monday --were held at the Prime Minister's 7, Lok Kalyan Marg residence.

The sources said that both interactions of Cabinet Ministers with the Prime Minister lasted for nearly five hours each.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, along with BJP President J.P. Nadda and General Secretary in-charge of the saffron party B.L. Santhosh met Modi in the latest session he has held to gather suggestions on improvements needed in the functioning of the government and how to achieve synergy between the government and the organisation.

Union Ministers Sadananda Gowda, V.K. Singh and V. Muraleedharan were among others who reportedly joined the deliberations.

The Friday meeting featured Home Minister Amit Shah, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, Jitendra Singh, BJP chief Nadda and Santhosh.

Although the party has maintained that such meetings were a regular affair and had attracted attention now only because physical meetings were happening after a long gap, they have been seen as part of an exercise to seek views of top party leaders over crucial issues, including pandemic management and how different departments managed to perform when the country was hit by Covid-19 and restrictions were in place.

Political observers and party insiders feel that this could be an exercise before an expected Cabinet expansion and reshuffle, but there has been no official word yet.
Arappor Iyakkam, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), on Tuesday alleging huge under-reporting of Covid fatalities, urged the Tamil Nadu government to audit and correctly report the death numbers.

The NGO in its report also called for issue/reissue of medical certificates for cause of death as per the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) guidelines.

Arappor Iyakkam came out with its study report based on the data released by six government hospitals - Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai, Coimbatore Medical College Hospital, AMahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College and Hospital, Trichy, Vellore Medical College, Karur Medical College and ATirupur Government Headquarters Hospital-in Tamil Nadu.

These hospitals geographically cover the northern, western, central and southern parts of Tamil Nadu.

Data for the number of death certificates issued for male and female were collected for each day of the months of January to May 2021 for each of these six hospitals for the years 2019, 2020 and 2021. The data collected is as of June 13 from the website.

According to Arappor Iyakkam, an analysis of death data of six hospitals that is available online revealed that the total number of deaths for which death certificates have been issued in the months of April and May together stand at 4,437 and 3,261 for 2019 and 2020 respectively.

The number has shot up to 11,699 in April and May months of the year 2021.

On the other hand, the Arappor Iyakkam's report finds that the total death of patients declared as Covid deaths in the months of April and May 2021 by the media bulletin of the Department of Health and Family Welfare is only 863 in these 6 hospitals, Arappor Iyakkam said.

In its report, the NGO said there is likely underreporting of Covid deaths in these six hospitals is at least 8.4 to 9.8 times more than the declared fatalities in the media bulletin for the months of April and May 2021.

As per the report, the pattern of death data is similar in the six hospitals.

"Approximating the same underreporting factor of 8.4 to 9.8 times for the entire state, the likely number of deaths due to Covid in TN (Tamil Nadu) may be between 108,721 and 126,841 against the reported number of 12,943," the Arappor Iyakkam's report states.

According to the report, the current scenario will greatly affect those who are eligible for compensation as the state government has said that having Covid in cause of death is mandatory for claiming compensation.

"Therefore, unless this massive underreporting is corrected, thousands and thousands of families will stand ineligible even though their family member died due to Covid," the report said.
Ahead of the hearing of Indian fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi's bail plea in Dominica, his lawyer contended on Monday that two new evidences have come to light to show that his "abduction" was pre-planned - alleged "decoy" Barbara Jarabik had asked an AirbnB agent whether the property she was inquiring was booked by a UK travel agency, and video evidence shows the arrival and departure in Jolly Harbour of the boat upon which the bound and gagged diamantaire was taken out to sea to be transferred to the larger ship for the "unlawful journey" to Dominica.

Michael Polak, part of the legal team representing Choksi and an expert in providing legal assistance to foreign nationals around the world, said that while "terrible ordeal" for the diamantaire, and "this attack on the rule of law", took place on May 23, the "planning for what was to happen to Choksi occurred much earlier".

"In April 2021 what may have been a reconnaissance trip or failed kidnap attempt took place,"" Polak said, adding that four individuals travelled to the Caribbean from London in April and one of these was Jarabik, the person who Choksi accuses of luring him to the spot where he was attacked and kidnapped in May.

He alleged that in April, Jarabik flew with one of the men, from London to Antigua and then on to Dominica.

"During this period,and coinciding with the exact point when Jarabik and the man she travelled with were in Dominica, two men attempted to enter Dominica by boat but were barred as being suspected of people trafficking. These men were the same men, who Choksi says kidnapped him on the day after he had been offloaded to the Dominican Police," he claimed.

"The April trip may have been adress rehearsal for the May kidnapping because exactly what happened on that occasion, including Jarabik and her handler leaving Dominica by private jet, took place on May 23 when Choksi was kidnapped."

Choksi, who is wanted in India in RS 13,500 crore Punjab National Bank fraud case went missing from Antigua and Barbuda on May 23, sparking a massive manhunt. He was captured in Dominica on May 26, and faces charges of illegal entry.

Polak further said that on May 8, in what seems to have been in preparation for the kidnapping, Choksi says that an Airbnb villa was rented by Jarabik and that this was the place to which he was lured and kidnapped from. He said that Jarabik in her Airbnb messages in regard to renting Jolly Harbour North Villa F on May 8 asked about being able to dock a small boat at the property."It should be noted that she told the host they might take both Villas F and the apartment next door, and then subsequently Villa E was booked by Skylord Travel Ltd, a UK-based travel agency with offices in London and Birmingham," Polak said.

"It is not suggested that this company was involved in the kidnapping," he, however, added.

"Subsequently, this is confirmed by Jarabik when she states in a message that the agent from London booked Villa E. It is likely that the men who booked Villa E, through the travel agent, were part of the group who attacked and kidnapped Choksi," the lawyer said.

Citing the statement of Choksi that he was kidnapped from the residence of Jarabik on May 23 and taken on a boat forcibly, Polak also shared the two videos of a boat, saying: "As can be seen, this boat was unmarked, carried no flag or name, and was moving much faster than the speed limit in the area of 5mph."

He further said that sources state that the Calliope of Arne was spotted in Jolly Harbour on the afternoon of May 23 having cleared customs to leave Antigua just after 10 a.m. and therefore should have left Antiguan waters at that time but was seen going back and forth just outside Jolly Harbour.

Targeting Jarabik, the lawyer said that at 7.26 p.m. just after the time when the kidnapping took place, she travelled from Antigua to Dominica by private jet with the same man with whom she had made the practice trip in April.

"Two men entered Antigua on the boat the Calliope of Arne on May 25 after Choksi had been renditioned to the Dominican authorities from this boat. These men were the same two who had undertaken the same boat trip during the practice run in April," he alleged.

Polak has also filed a complaint filed with the Metropolitan Police on June 7, alleging that Choksi was allegedly lured by Jarabik and then attacked and taken by force by several men to Dominica in a boat. The complaint has also claimed that Jarabik and three men allegedly involved in the incident - St Kitts and Nevis national Gurdip Bath, Gurmit Singh and Gurjit Singh Bhandal - are all residents of the UK.

IANS was first to report report names of Singh and Bhandal on June 4.

The diamantaire is wanted in India by the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate in Rs 13,500 crore case. He had taken the citizenship of Antigua in 2017 and left India on January 4, 2018 days before the case came to light.
Edison, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/15/2021 -- Latest released the research study on Global AI in Banking Market, offers a detailed overview of the factors influencing the global business scope. AI in Banking Market research report shows the latest market insights, current situation analysis with upcoming trends and breakdown of the products and services. The report provides key statistics on the market status, size, share, growth factors of the AI in Banking. The study covers emerging player's data, including: competitive landscape, sales, revenue and global market share of top manufacturers are Google Inc. (United States),Microsoft Corporation (United States),Intel (United States),NVidia Corporation (United States),AWS (United States),IBM (United States),SAP (Germany),Cognizant (United States),Oracle (United States),Salesforce (United States),Accenture (Ireland),IPsoft Inc. (United States),Micro Strategy Incorporated (United States).



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Definition:

AI in banking refers to the process of operating banking operations by highly automatic techniques. Banking industries especially implementing artificial intelligence to offer personalized banking, customer support services, enhance security and back-end process and others. According to a study conducted by CMR and NASSCOM, 74% top Indian IT decision makers support the need for artificial intelligence in the BFSI sector. Further, emphasizing on technological advancement such as Chatbot enables banking solutions and process automation expected to drive the AI in the banking market.



Analyst at AMA have conducted special survey and have connected with opinion leaders and Industry experts from various region to minutely understand impact on growth as well as local reforms to fight the situation. A special chapter in the study presents Impact Analysis of COVID-19 on Global AI in Banking Market along with tables and graphs related to various country and segments showcasing impact on growth trends.



Market Trend:

Increasing Adoption of Chatbot Enabled Banking Applications



Market Drivers:

Rising Demand of Customized IT Solutions in Banking Sector

Integration of AI and Autonomous Operational Processes



Challenges:

Continuously Changing Technical Landscape

Maintaining Authenticity and Privacy of the Data



Opportunities:

Emphasizing on Intelligent Applications for Banking Operations

Growing Demand of Process Automation



The Global AI in Banking Market segments and Market Data Break Down are illuminated below:

by Application (Back Office/Operation, Customer Service, Compliance & Security, Others), Service (Professional Service, Managed Service), Technology (Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing (NLP), Computer Vision), Solution (Chatbot Customer Behavior Analytics, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Data Analytics & Visualization, Fraud Detection, Others), End User (Public Sector Bank, Government Bank, Others)



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Region Included are: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Oceania, South America, Middle East & Africa

Country Level Break-Up: United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, South Africa, Nigeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Germany, United Kingdom (UK), the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Austria, Turkey, Russia, France, Poland, Israel, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, China, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, India, Australia and New Zealand etc.



What benefits does AMA research study is going to provide?

- Latest industry influencing trends and development scenario

- Open up New Markets

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- Key decision in planning and to further expand market share

- Identify Key Business Segments, Market proposition & Gap Analysis

- Assisting in allocating marketing investments



Strategic Points Covered in Table of Content of Global AI in Banking Market:?

Chapter 1: Introduction, market driving force product Objective of Study and Research Scope the AI in Banking market

Chapter 2: Exclusive Summary  the basic information of the AI in Banking Market.

Chapter 3: Displaying the Market Dynamics- Drivers, Trends and Challenges of the AI in Banking

Chapter 4: Presenting the AI in Banking Market Factor Analysis Porters Five Forces, Supply/Value Chain, PESTEL analysis, Market Entropy, Patent/Trademark Analysis.

Chapter 5: Displaying market size by Type, End User and Region 2015-2020

Chapter 6: Evaluating the leading manufacturers of the AI in Banking market which consists of its Competitive Landscape, Peer Group Analysis, BCG Matrix & Company Profile

Chapter 7: To evaluate the market by segments, by countries and by manufacturers with revenue share and sales by key countries (2021-2026).

Chapter 8 & 9: Displaying the Appendix, Methodology and Data Source



Finally, AI in Banking Market is a valuable source of guidance for individuals and companies in decision framework.



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Key questions answered

- Who are the Leading key players and what are their Key Business plans in the Global AI in Banking market?

- What are the key concerns of the five forces analysis of the Global AI in Banking market?

- What are different prospects and threats faced by the dealers in the Global AI in Banking market?

- What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?



Definitively, this report will give you an unmistakable perspective on every single reality of the market without a need to allude to some other research report or an information source. Our report will give all of you the realities about the past, present, and eventual fate of the concerned Market.



Thanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe or Asia.
Northbrook, IL -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/14/2021 -- According to the new market research report "Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Market by Point of Sale, Systems, Platform (Civil & Commercial, and Defense & Government), Function, End Use, Application, Type, Mode of Operation, MTOW, Range, and Region - Global Forecast to 2026", published by MarketsandMarkets, the market is estimated to be USD 27.4 billion in 2021 and is projected to reach USD 58.4 billion by 2026, at a CAGR of 16.4% from 2021 to 2026. Asia Pacific is projected to account for the largest size of the UAV market from 2021 to 2026. The incorporation of artificial intelligence in UAV has not only enhanced their capabilities but has also enabled them to carry out several activities such as takeoff, navigation, data capture, data transmission, and data analysis without human intervention. As well as rising demand for contactless deliveries of medical supplies and other essentials using drones owing to COVID-19 are some of the factors driving the growth of the UAV market.



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"The commercial segment of the market is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period"



Based on application, the UAV market has been classified into the military, commercial, government & law enforcement, and consumer. For this segment for the UAV Market, the military segment of the UAV market is projected to grow from USD 12,760 million in 2021 to USD 19,641 million by 2026, at a CAGR of 9.0% from 2021 to 2026. The commercial segment of the market is projected to grow at the highest CAGR of 28.0% during the forecast period; the growth of this segment can be attributed to the developments and advancements in drone technology.



"The special purpose drones segment of the UAV market is projected to have the largest market share during the forecast period"



Based on function, the UAV market has been segmented into special purpose drones, passenger drones, inspection & monitoring drones, surveying & mapping drones, spraying & seeding drones, air cargo vehicles, and others. Special purpose drones mainly include decoy drones, swarm drones, combat UAV, etc., that are used in military applications. The special purpose drones segment of the UAV market is projected to grow from USD 9,332 million in 2021 to USD 20,548 million in 2026, at a CAGR of 17.1% from 2021 to 2026 and have the largest market share during the forecast period. It is due to rising usage of Special Purpose Drones in military and Combat Operations.



"The OEM segment of the UAV market is projected to have a higher CAGR as compared to Aftermarket segment"



Based on point of sale, the UAV market has been segmented into original equipment manufacturers (OEM) and aftermarket. The aftermarket segment of the market has been classified into maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO), replacement, and simulation & training. The OEM segment of the UAV market is projected to have a higher CAGR as compared to Aftermarket segment. The OEM segment of the UAV market is projected to grow from USD 22.7 billion in 2021 to USD 49.0 billion by 2026, at a CAGR of 16.7% from 2021 to 2026. This is due to the fact that most of the assembly and modifications required in UAV are carried out at the OEM level. The aftermarket segment of the market is projected to grow from USD 4.7 billion in 2021 to USD 9.2 billion by 2026, at a CAGR of 14.5% during the forecast period.



Browse in-depth TOC on "Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Market"

416  Tables

101  Figures

418  Pages



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"The payload segment of the UAV market is projected to grow at the highest CAGR from 2021 to 2026"



By system, the UAV market has been segmented into platform, payload, data link, ground control station, and launch and recovery system. Each of them performs a different function and ensures UAV's functioning in different applications. There are many different types of payloads that can be attached to UAVs such as cameras, infrared sensors, thermal sensors, weapons, and radars. The payload segment of the UAV market is projected to grow at the highest CAGR of 17.7 % from 2021 to 2026.The report discusses in details about six other segments of UAV market as well.



"The UAV market in Asia Pacific is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period"



The UAV market in Asia Pacific is projected to grow at the highest CAGR of 18.5% during the forecast period from 2021 to 2026. The growth of the market in this region can be attributed to the increasing demand for UAV from emerging economies such as China and India. China is estimated to lead the UAV market in Asia Pacific in 2021. The UAV market in India is also projected to grow at a significant rate during the forecast period owing to the increasing use of drones in the country for commercial applications.



Major players operating in the UAV market include General Atomics (US), Northrop Grumman Corporation (US), EHang (China), Parrot (France), PrecisionHawk (US), Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. (Israel), DJI Technology Co., Ltd. (China), Parrot SA (France), AeroVironment, Inc. (US), Lockheed Martin Corporation (US). These key players offer UAVs applicable for Defense & Government and Civil & Commercial sectors and have well-equipped and strong distribution networks across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa.



Related Reports:



Drone Package Delivery Market by Solution (Platform, Infrastructure, Software, Service), Type (Fixed-Wing, Multirotor, Hybrid) Range (Short <25 km, Long>25 km), Package Size (< 2Kg, 25 Kg, > 5Kg), Duration, End Use, Region- Global Forecast to 2030



Anti-Drone Market with COVID-19 Impact by Technology (Laser, Kinetic, Electronic), Application (Detection, Detection & Disruption), Vertical (Military & Defense, Homeland Security, Commercial), Platform Type, and Geography - Global Forecast to 2025



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Page Content

The Audit Team Sint Maarten (ATS) has started a general compliance control tour within the Business Community. The compliance control tour is an opportunity for ATS to work together with the Business Community to ensure correct processing of calculations and payment of social premiums. The tour consists of inspections on new and existing companies, controls on companies who received SSRP funds, 2021 wage audits and general compliance.





The compliance tour is a great opportunity for the business community to ensure that their administration is up to date and find workable solutions with the ATS team for any SZV outstandings or irregularities. Compliance is a shared responsibility and collaboration is one of the ways we can achieve this.  Minister of VSA, Omar E.C. Ottley





ATS is calling on all companies to cooperate in providing up to date company mutations to SZV through the Employer Portal via www.szv.sx. The portal offers 24/7 online access to submit ZV/OV declarations, download payment confirmations, submit employee mutations and submit employer requests such as payment arrangements for outstanding premiums.





ATS was established in 2016 by Social & Health Insurances SZV with the main objective to increase compliance in payment of the legally indebted social security premiums and to promote that all companies pay their fair share in accordance with the Social Security Ordinances. Companies are always encouraged to make a proactive effort to maintain open channels of communication with SZV and ATS, as their partners in compliance.




Page Content

Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, Omar Ottley hereby informs the public that he has received the final approval from the Netherlands for the food assistance program.





A grant will be provided by the Netherlands to execute the food assistance program for the next two months with the possibility to extend for an additional two months. This program is an extension of the program which was executed by the Red Cross. In an effort to ensure that the smoothest transition can take place, Government has already enlisted the SMDF, who was a coordinating partner in the Red Cross program, to coordinate and execute the program.





Now that the approval was given, Government will finalize the agreement with SMDF. In the meantime, we request them to commence with the operational preparations to execute.
The purpose of this article is to provide preliminary analysis on these three resolutions. This may help readers to understand the implications of the resolution on Sri Lanka from a different and, perhaps, more informed perspective.

by Gomi Senbadhira

The European Parliaments resolution (on 10 June) inviting the European Commission to consider temporarily withdrawing Sri Lankas access to the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) concession has started an interesting discussion on the impact of the resolution on Sri Lanka. But the ongoing discussions overlook two important aspects about this resolution.

Firstly, though, as one of three legislative branches of the European Union, the European Parliament has legislative power, it does not formally possess the right to initiate action on the resolutions. That power lies with the EU Commission. Secondly, the resolution on Sri Lanka was the third of such resolutions adopted by the Parliament, during the last 10 months. The other two resolutions were on the Philippines and Pakistan.

The purpose of this article is to provide preliminary analysis on these three resolutions. This may help readers to understand the implications of the resolution on Sri Lanka from a different and, perhaps, more informed perspective.

The resolution on the Philippines

In September last year, the European Parliament adopted a resolution calling on the Commission to immediately kick the Philippines out of the GSP+ over its human rights violations, particularly over President Rodrigo Dutertes questionable human rights record.

The resolution made specific references to thousands of people, including women and children, reportedly, killed (since 1 July 2016) during President Dutertes war on drugs. threats, harassment, intimidation, and violence against those speaking against the allegations of extra-judicial killings and other human rights abuses, including human rights defenders, journalists, and activists, and the conviction of Maria Ressa, Editor of a news website, for cyber libel by the Manila Regional Trial Court.

The Philippines response

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, when asked about the resolution, had responded: Stop the discussions. They should do what they want to do during this time. If they want to implement it, go ahead. I'm sorry I'm being very undiplomatic in my answer, but what else can I say? At the time of a pandemic, they're threatening us. Oh my God, what else do we lose?"

That kind of response was not unexpected from Malacanang Palace. Earlier President Duterte had referred to EU officials as "stupid European Union guys," and had even threatened to expel all European diplomats within 24 hours after Brussels criticised major human rights abuses committed by his Government.

However, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez was more diplomatic in his approach and had simply stated that the main agency that has a say in the GSP+ was not necessarily the European Parliament but the European Commission, which has a mechanism to verify issues before sanctions are imposed. Filipino officials have been able to explain objectively the Philippines side on issues that are raised and we dont see any reason why our GSP+ privilege will be withdrawn.

Speaking to the Philippine News Agency, Lopez had also underlined So far, weve been faring well in all issues that were raised every year. And I think this is the third, or fourth time, that the EU Parliament has passed the same resolution. And every year, we are able to give our side, give our explanation, give our information and numbers. So, we shall be addressing this again in this process of monitoring,

What he did not mention was that in March 2017, European Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malstrom also delivered a strong message listing human rights concerns which included the killings linked to Dutertes abusive war on drugs, the looming reinstatement of the death penalty, and lawmakers efforts to lower the age of criminal responsibility to nine years of age and indicated that unless the Philippines took action to address the EUs concerns, the Philippines risks losing GSP+ trade concession.

The resolutions on Pakistan

In April this year, the European Parliament adopted a resolution calling for a review of the GSP+ status granted to Pakistan. Pakistan was charged with an "alarming" increase in the use of blasphemy accusations and the increasing number of online and offline attacks on journalists and civil society organisations and called on the Government of Pakistan to "unequivocally condemn" incitement to violence and discrimination against religious minorities in the country. The Parliament expressed "deep concern" at the prevailing anti-French sentiment in Pakistan.

The resolution called on the Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS) to immediately review Pakistans eligibility for GSP+ status in the light of current events and whether there is sufficient reason to initiate a procedure for the temporary withdrawal of this status and the benefits that come with it, and to report to the European Parliament on this matter as soon as possible."

After the debate on the resolution, one of the co-authors of the resolution Member of European Parliament (MEP) Charlie Weimers of Sweden tweeted: "Should Europe reward Pakistans mob justice targeting Christians and its Prime Minister relativising the Holocaust? My answer is no."

Pakistans response

Responding to the resolution, Human Rights Minister Pakistan Shireen Mazari had said it is unfortunate that the co-sponsor of the EU's anti-Pakistan resolution was a member of a party that the Swedish PM Stefan Lofven referred to as 'a neo-fascist single-issue party' with 'Nazi and racist roots', " and asked whether  GSP Plus is getting muddied in Islamophobia?" However, she also tweeted: "We have issues to resolve but there has been more movement now on our Human Rights International Convention commitments than in previous governments. The way forward is dialogue & negotiations, which we have been doing, not extreme public positionings. Unfortunate."

When compared to the resolutions on the Philippines and Pakistan the resolution on Sri Lanka is less harsh. The resolution on Sri Lanka does not call for immediate action to revoke GSP+. It only calls the EEAS to use the GSP+ as a leverage to push for advancement on Sri Lankas human rights obligations and, as a last resort, to initiate a procedure for the temporary withdrawal of Sri Lankas GSP+ status

The Pakistani Foreign Ministry was more diplomatic in the response and the statement said: The discourse in the European Parliament reflects a lack of understanding in the context of blasphemy laws and associated religious sensitivities in Pakistan  and the wider Muslim world. The unwarranted commentary about Pakistans judicial system and domestic laws are regrettablePakistan is a parliamentary democracy with a vibrant civil society, free media, and independent judiciary, which remains fully committed to the promotion and protection of human rights for all its citizens without discrimination.

The FO had said Pakistan is proud of its minorities who enjoy equal rights and complete protection of fundamental freedoms as enshrined in the Constitution. Judicial and administrative mechanisms and remedies are in place to guard against any human rights violations.

Pakistan has played an active role in promoting freedom of religion or belief, tolerance, and interfaith harmony. At a time of rising Islamophobia and populism, the international community must exhibit a common resolve to fight xenophobia, intolerance, and incitement to violence based on religion or belief and work together to strengthen peaceful co-existence."

The resolutions on Sri Lanka

The resolution on Sri Lanka, in most aspects, is similar to the other two resolutions. However, there is one distinct difference in the paragraph in the resolution on Sri Lanka which call the Commission and the European External Action Service to initiate action. The relevant paragraphs in the resolutions on the Philippines and Pakistan are given below;

Given the seriousness of the human rights violations in the country, calls on the European Commission, in the absence of any substantial improvement and willingness to cooperate on the part of the Philippine authorities, to immediately initiate the procedure which could lead to the temporary withdrawal of GSP+ preferences;

Calls on the Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS) to immediately review Pakistans eligibility for GSP+ status in the light of current events and whether there is sufficient reason to initiate a procedure for the temporary withdrawal of this status and the benefits that come with it, and to report to the European Parliament on this matter as soon as possible;

In these resolutions the Commission is called to take immediate action to withdraw the concessions. However in the resolution on Sri Lanka the language is milder.

Calls on the Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS) to take into due account current events when assessing Sri Lankas eligibility for GSP+ status; further calls on the Commission and the EEAS to use the GSP+ as a leverage to push for advancement on Sri Lankas human rights obligations and demand the repeal or replacement of the PTA, to carefully assess whether there is sufficient reason, as a last resort, to initiate a procedure for the temporary withdrawal of Sri Lankas GSP+ status and the benefits that come with it, and to report to Parliament on this matter as soon as possible;

After the Parliament passed the resolution on the Philippines, one of the co-authors of the resolution, EU Parliament Member Hannah Neumann pointed out: We don't have these many tools in the EU to protect human rights and democracy, and maybe our trade policy is the strongest one (the Philippine) still enjoys trade privileges of the EU under the GSP+ scheme that are supposedly linked to improvements in human rights,  We call on the commission to start on the procedure to revoke these privileges immediately. To be frank, by immediately, we mean by Monday."

That was in September 2020. Since then, many Mondays have passed but the Commission had not initiated any action to revoke the GSP+ concessions.

More importantly, after the resolution was adopted by the European Parliament, a European Commission spokeswoman had spoken to a reputed garment industry trade journal Just-Style and had said that the Philippines is "engaging constructively" in the GSP+ monitoring process, which will be followed up in the next joint monitoring mission to the Philippines planned by the Commission and the European External Action Service, when COVID-19 conditions allow.

She had also stated "The EU's current policy focuses on actively pursuing the GSP+ monitoring process, that is, an open dialogue with the Philippines on our areas of concern and how to progress to alleviate these concerns, rather than to initiate a process to withdraw GSP+ preferences."

It is only a few weeks since the resolution on Pakistan. So it is difficult to comment on the action or inaction the commission had initiated. Once again the resolution calls for immediate review. When compared to the resolutions on the Philippines and Pakistan the resolution on Sri Lanka is less harsh. The resolution on Sri Lanka does not call for immediate action to revoke GSP+. It only calls the EEAS to use the GSP+ as a leverage to push for advancement on Sri Lankas human rights obligations and, as a last resort, to initiate a procedure for the temporary withdrawal of Sri Lankas GSP+ status.

So, the question then is, will the action by the Commission on the resolution on Sri Lanka also be less harsh than the actions they had taken on the Philippines?

The writer is an independent consultant on trade policy, trade promotion and trade negotiations. Previously, he served as the Director General of Commerce of Sri Lanka and was also former Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the WTO.
World Milk Day was established in 2001 by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations to recognize the importance of milk as a global food, and to celebrate the dairy sector. Every year since, the benefits of milk and dairy products have been actively promoted around the world, including how dairy supports the livelihoods of one billion people.To commemorate World Milk Day 2021, the All Island Dairy Association (AIDA)in collaboration with the Market-Oriented Dairy (MOD) Project hosted a webinar to celebrate the dairy sectors contribution to the national economy and rural livelihood development showcasing innovations and initiatives carried out to develop the sector. Key industry stakeholders across the value chain including members of the dairy farming community at grassroots levelparticipated in the session sharing valuable insights providing pathways to further improve the sector.

Opening the sessions, Mr. Nishantha Jayasooriya, President of AIDA and CEO of Richlife Dairy Pvt Ltd, stated that the World Milk Day signifies the importance of milk and its contribution to the national economy. Mr. Jayasooriya said, The role dairy plays in society is not only as a nutrition provider but also as a creator of livelihoodsfor generations and uplifting micro economies in the country. Yet, today, the local dairy production fulfils only about 40% of the demand for milk consumption in the island, creating tremendous opportunities in thedevelopment of the dairy sector in Sri Lanka. Highlighting the vital role of the dairy industry, Mr. Jayasooriya added I hope this webinar creates further awareness of the growth opportunities and encourages investors the stakeholdersto concentrate and consolidate actions to develop the industry.

The Chief Guest Dr.(Mrs) Hemali Kothalawela, Director General of the Department of Animal Production and Health (DAPH), stated that milk has traditionally played an important nutritional and cultural role. At present, nearly 85% of the dairy farmersare at a subsistence level of production with about 60% of these farmers having less than five animals. Approximately 10% of the national production is contributed to the large farms. Currently, the dairy industry of Sri Lanka is in a transitional stage. Dr. Kothalawala stated,To work towards the national policy of self-sufficiency with the annual growth in demand, our emphasis is to convert the small-scale livelihood dairy farmers with potential to a more profit oriented medium-scale enterprises as well as further facilitate development of mega farms.In addition, Dr. Kothalawela stated that leveraging digital technology to deliver extension services, providing required incentives and inputs, development of infrastructure, focus on quality assurance and providing required support to the smooth functioning of the value chain are key to the planned strategy.

The distinguished panel consisted of Mr. Binesh Pananwala,Vice President of AIDA,CEO Watawala Dairy Ltd; Mr. D. M. Auward, DGM-Milk Procurement Milco Pvt Ltd; Mr. Akmal Wickramanayke, Managing Director Pelwatte Dairy Pvt Ltd; Dr. Susantha Mallawa Arachchi, Director-Agro Farms, General Manager Animal Health Hayleys Agriculture Holdings Limited; Mr. Gamini Rajapaksha, Managing Director Hypromac Engineering Services; Dr. Keerthi Gunasekara, Director; Quadragen VetHealth Pvt Ltd. The panelists shared new approaches and new technologies introduced to improve quality, milk production.

Facilitated by the Market-Oriented Dairy project, two progressive members of the dairy farming community also joined the discussion providing a unique and insightful message to the potential of the dairy industry.Mr. Paskaran Vakisan, a young, commercial fodder entrepreneur from Nedunkernywho cultivates his own fodder, has helped build the capacity of several outgrowers in the community and supplies the produce to a MOD developed silage entrepreneur in Killinochchi who in turn supplies about 100,000kg of silage a month. Mr. Punchi Bandara, a dairy farmer from Girandurukotte, shared his experienceof implementing the basic best practices using his own resources such as providing 24-hour milk, growing green fodder, feeding according to Total Mixed Ration, adopting transition cow management and practicing better calf management can increase daily yield from 25 liters to 100 liters in less than one year.Both the commercial fodder cultivator and the dairy farmerstated that the success of their enterprise andsecret to increasing milk is gaining knowledge of new techniques and technologies and committing to apply these best practices.

The webinarwas moderated by Mr. Asoka Bandara, Vice President of AIDA, Group Head of Corporate Affairs & Strategy, Maliban Group and concluded by the Mr. Chithral Munaweera, General Manager and Consultant to AIDA.

QUOTABLE QUOTES

Feed matters a lot. For a mega-scale farm, gaining economies of scale on cost of feed which is about 70% of the cost is essential. Mr. Binesh Pananwala, Vice President of AIDA, CEO Watawala Dairy Ltd

Departing from the outdated practices and modernizing the way the farm is managed is the only way to drive productivity. Training the farmers and providing value added services is the way to sustain the farmer base.Mr. Akmal Wickramanayke, Managing Director Pelwatte Dairy Pvt Ltd

We have to address the three key barriers to increasing milk production. MILCO is focusing on addressing the issues related to the under-fed animals, lack of breeding material and adjusting attitudes and management practices of dairy farmers. Mr.D. M. Auward, DGM-Milk Procurement Milco Pvt Ltd

Our focus is to introduce innovative products and services to the dairy industry in three critical areas - to improve milk yield and shorten calving interval; disease free cows with healthy udders; and quality milk for the consumers. Dr.Susantha Mallawa Arachchi, Director-Agro Farms, General Manager Animal Health Hayleys Agriculture Holdings Limited

Local fabrication of some equipment has also helped reduce costs, a breakthrough to Sri Lankan investors. Mr. Gamini Rajapaksha, Managing Director Hypromac Engineering Services

Opportunities exist across the dairy value chain to bridge the gaps as the country aims to reach self-sufficiency. Dr. Keerthi Gunasekara, Director; Quadragen VetHealth Pvt Ltd




ARISS contact with school in La Norville, France

An ARISS educational school contact is planned for Thomas Pesquet KG5FYG with students at College Albert Camus, La Norville, France and Universite Paris-Saclay, Saint Aubin, France

The contact is scheduled on Thursday June 17, 2021 at approximately 11.40.45 UTC, which is 13.40.45 CEST.

The link to the ISS will be operated by the amateur radio telebridge station ON4ISS, located in Belgium.

The contact will be conducted in French.

Downlink signals will be audible in Europe on 145.800 MHz narrow band FM.



School Information:



The college Albert Camus (Middle School) is located in La Norville (Essonne) in a rural area, about 40km South of Paris. Since Thomas Pesquet's Proxima mission in 2016, students have been able to join the space project classes. Thanks to the cooperation of different space partners and all through the year, the teachers of the project weave a common thread which has as its main theme the discovery of scientific knowledge related to Space around many activities including English, French, History, Mathematics and Physics including among other things text studying, meetings with professionals, conferences, 3D modelling and printing, animation in virtual reality, street art In addition to the knowledge related to Space itself, this project aims at developing curiosity, critical thinking, research, thoroughness and imagination through contact with specialists in these fields.



Fourteen middle-school students will ask questions.



Our contact event will take place at the Universite Paris Saclay, one of the top ranked world universities, located near Orsay, Gif sur Yvette and Saclay, near the woody side of Vallee de Chevreuse and agricultural Plateau de Saclay, 20km SW of Paris (Essonne). The University has 275 research laboratories, about 65000 students and 10000 researchers, covering mathematics (ranked 1st in the world), physics (1st in Europe), medicine, space sciences (inc. ESA and NASA space missions), humanities, computer science, engineering etc. The exact location is the CentraleSupelec engineering school, also involved in ESA and nanosat programs.



Five students from first to 4th year enrolled in general physics undergraduate program (Licence), technician school (IUT) and CentraleSupelec engineer school will also ask a few questions, as they are passionate about space sciences and as we wished to mix middle-school and university students as part of our educational program.





Created in 1985, the F5KEE radioclub is in Viry Chatillon (Essonne), which hosted the world's first aerodrome, Port-Aviation, in 1909. Enthusiasm was essential and there were numerous technical and solidarity projects. The association s DNA is to share the passion for radio amateurism with as many people as possible and to offer practical achievements to young and old people alike. From a basic HF station to the creation of the radio club to the installation of satellite tracking and digital transmission, the association has made numerous investments each year. It also organizes courses on Arduino, training in amateur radio license, troubleshooting of TSF, astronomy courses and actively participated in solidarity missions such as the printing of thousands of protective visors during the Covid-19 pandemics. Several members of the radio club participate in ADRASSEC, a structure dedicated to civil security. The radioclub is also invested in the creation of a radio relay for civil security and another, for radio amateurs. Individually, several radio amateurs members have developed personal projects such as the reception of weather satellite images, radiosonde hunting, stratospheric balloon etc ...



The audience will also host about 200 middle-school students (collegiens) from the cities of Dourdan, Grigny and Massy, from either rural areas or dense cities in Essonne, and all passionate about science and space.



Pr Raphael Haumont Thierry Marx - both of them involved in Thomas Pesquet's finest French space food - will also attend the event, together with French ESA astronaut Michel Tognini.



The animator will be Fred Courant, a well known TV host in science education, who will broadcast live the event on the web channels of "L'Esprit Sorcier" and of the Universite Paris-Saclay. We hope to have tens of thousands of live viewers.



With this project, we wish to link middle schools, radio-amateurs and the University, to open the minds, enhance curiosity, promote science, exchange with the public about space sciences, and illustrate that "doing mighty things" is possible for everyone.





Students First Names & Questions:

1. Lois (15): Avez-vous ressenti au second decollage les memes emotions quau premier?

2. Dorian (13): A votre retour dans lISS avez-vous retrouve vos reflexes?

3. Anna (12): Quest-ce que vous trouvez complique en apesanteur?

4. Ines (12): Quelle est linfluence de lapesanteur sur les 5 sens?

5. Sandra (14): Dans lEspace reve-t-on quon est en apesanteur?

6. Sarah (12): Quelles sortes dexperiences realisez-vous dans lISS?

7. Benjamin (14): Quelles responsabilites aurez-vous en tant que commandant de bord?

8. Gabriel (13): Quest ce qui est le plus important pour vous derriere le nom de votre mission ALPHA?

9. Eliot (12): Faites-vous des choses differemment lors de votre 2eme mission?

10. Liam (12): Quand on est en sortie extra vehiculaire, est-ce quon pense a lEspace autour de soi?

11. Alae (14): Appreciez-vous de la meme maniere les plats de Thierry Marx et Raphael Haumont qui ont ete prepares pour vous dans lEspace?

12. Eliot (14): Quest-ce qui vous emerveille le plus dans lEspace?

13. Gabriel (14): Quel principal conseil pouvez-vous donner a la future selection des astronautes?

14. Adrien (15): Quelle influence esperez-vous avoir sur la jeunesse?

15. Julia (19, etudiante L1): Vu de lespace, qu'observez-vous de la presence de lHomme et de ses degats?

16. Apollonie (20, etudiante L2): Pensez-vous que l'on pourra trouver les moyens d'une alimentation durable lors d'un long voyage spatial, par exemple avec des micro-algues?

17. Pauline (19, etudiante IUT): En quoi votre experience sur l'ISS permet de preparer les prochaines missions vers Mars?

18. Pol (20, eleve 2A Centrale-Supelec): Quelles competences de votre formation vous sont utiles aujourdhui pour commander cette mission?

19. Albert (18, etudiant L1): Comment gerez-vous psychologiquement la presence du vide?





AMSAT Belgium annual Statutory Meeting



The meeting is scheduled Tuesday June 22, 2021 at 20.00 UTC.

Due to COVID restrictions, the meeting will proceed per web conference.

Members are invited to join using : https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/190777869

Membership Information : https://www.amsat-on.be/membership-fees/



73,



Gaston Bertels ON4WF

President AMSAT Belgium
Ham radio operator helps watch over community The Roswell Daily Record interviews Jim Tucker KB0QNW who is Skywarn coordinator for amateur radio in Chaves County, New Mexico



The newspaper says:



After learning more about Tucker, however, it is easy to see that his true passion is radio. A love for radio was instilled in me at an early age, he said. I can remember my dad always having CB radios around, long before they ever became popular. We would talk just as soon as he came into range during his weekend trips home from Chicago to our home in western Kentucky. Sometimes, another CBer would relay messages between us before we would even be in direct range.



From there, I went on to acquire my technician and general class amateur radio licenses. That serves him well today because, as Tucker explains, Presently, I use amateur radio to participate in regular exercises getting messages into and out of the area independent of internet and other traditional forms of communications, should the need to arise. This helps others.



Tucker also serves as Chaves County Skywarn coordinator for amateur radio, an ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Services) appointed position. In this capacity, I volunteer with other trained weather spotters in the amateur radio community, as well as with Chaves County Emergency Management, other local agencies, and the National Weather Service to identify and report impending severe weather threats.



The reports assist these agencies in issuing warnings in a timely fashion, helping to mitigate property loss, injury and loss of life. We also assist in initial damage assessments following severe weather events.



Read the full story at

https://www.rdrnews.com/2021/06/12/ham-radio-operator-helps-watch-over-community/
New York, June 15, 2021 (SPS) - Algerian Ambassador to the United Nations Sofiane Mimouni on Monday called for the rapid appointment of a new UNSG personal envoy for Western Sahara, deploring the "unilateral procrastination "and the" consciously raised obstacles "to the organization of the self-determination referendum in the occupied territories.

"The resumption of direct and substantial talks between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Frente POLISARIO is the obvious way to reach a just and lasting solution. In this spirit, we urge the Secretary General to quickly appoint a new personal envoy in the hope that he will help relaunch the dialogue between the two parties, "said Mimouni, speaking at the annual session of the Special Committee on Decolonization, said Committee of 24.SPS

125/090/TRA
Suu Kyi, the daughter of independence hero General Aung San, spent nearly two decades enduring long stretches of house arrest under the former military regime.

by Anwar A. Khan

After a lifetime struggling against Myanmar's military, 75-year-old Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi is back under detention with a junta in power although her international image no longer shines.

She swept national elections last November and was preparing to begin another five-year term as the country's de facto leader.

But an early morning army raid and her detention in the capital Naypyidaw has brought her time at the helm to an apparent halt.

Suu Kyi, the daughter of independence hero General Aung San, spent nearly two decades enduring long stretches of house arrest under the former military regime.

Her legacy abroad has been deeply tarnished since the landslide election victory in 2015 that vaulted her National League for Democracy (NLD) to power.

There was global revulsion at a military crackdown two years later that saw around 1.2 million members of the stateless Rohingya minority flee burning villages to Bangladesh.

Suu Kyi defended the army's conduct and even travelled to The Hague to rebut charges of genocide at the UN's top court. This temerity is irremissible!

But she remains immensely popular in Myanmar and is referred to affectionately as "Mother Suu" by supporters, who see her as the best hope for shaking off the country's turbulent past.

Suu Kyi was born on June 19, 1945 in Japanese-occupied Yangon during the final weeks of World War II.

Her father Aung San fought for and against both the British and the Japanese colonisers as he jostled to give his country the best shot at independence.

That goal was achieved in 1948, but Aung San was not around to see it, he and most of his cabinet had been assassinated just months before.

Suu Kyi spent most of her early years outside of Myanmar, first in India, where her mother was an ambassador, and later at Oxford University, where she met her British husband.

After General Ne Win seized full power in 1962, he forced his own brand of socialism on Myanmar, turning it from Asia's rice bowl into one of the world's poorest and most isolated countries.

Suu Kyi's elevation into a democracy champion happened almost by accident when she returned home in 1988 to nurse her dying mother.

Soon afterwards, at least 3,000 people were killed when the military crushed protests against its authoritarian rule.

The bloodshed was the catalyst for Suu Kyi.

A charismatic orator, she found herself in a leading role in the burgeoning pro-democracy movement, delivering speeches to huge crowds as she led the NLD to a 1990 election victory.

The generals were not prepared to give up power, ignoring the result and confining to her home in Yangon, where she would live for 16 of the next 20 years.

She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize while detained in 1991, for her "non-violent struggle for democracy and human rights."

The junta offered to end her imprisonment at any time if she left the country for good but Suu Kyi refused.

That decision meant not seeing her husband before his death from cancer in 1999, and missing her two sons growing up.

The military eventually granted her freedom in 2010, just days after elections that her party boycotted, but which brought a nominally civilian government to power.

She swept the next poll five years later, prompting jubilant celebrations by massive crowds across the country, and increased her party's majority in 2020.

Suu Kyi's administration has been beset with trouble and marked by an uneasy relationship with the military, which maintains a powerful and outsized political role.

But both the government and the military appeared in lockstep after the 2017 Rohingya crackdown.

Her office denied claims that fleeing refugees had suffered rape, extrajudicial killings and arson attacks on their homes by Myanmar troops.

Some critics have accused her of behaving in an authoritarian manner and political prisoner advocates say her government has prosecuted and jailed dozens of rights activists.

"Myanmar people will remain supportive" of Suu Kyi in the wake of February coup, said Yangon-based political analyst Min Zaw Oo.

But he added that her future and that of the country's fitful transition to democracy was "uncertain".

"This is the reality we are living in," he told AFP. "For us, we have to survive and we have to try again."

The trial of ousted Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi will begin soon, her lawyer told AFP.

Myanmar has been in uproar since Suu Kyi was deposed in a February 1 coup, with near-daily protests and a nationwide civil disobedience movement, and almost 850 civilians killed according to a local monitoring group.

The Nobel laureate has been hit with a string of criminal charges including flouting coronavirus restrictions during last years election campaign and possessing unlicensed walkie-talkies.

We will get testimonies from plaintiff and witnesses starting from next hearing, scheduled for Monday June 14, lawyer Min MinSoe said Monday after meeting the detained Suu Kyi in the capital Naypyidaw.

She asked all (people) to stay in good health, Min MinSoe added.

Suu Kyis lawyers have met with her just twice since the junta placed her under house arrest, with weeks of delays to her legal case and her lawyers struggling to gain access to their client.

Myanmars junta has also threatened to dissolve her political party the National League for Democracy, which swept elections in 2020, over alleged voter fraud.

An AFP reporter said there was a heavy police presence around the Naypyidaw council compound, close to the court, with roadblocks along streets leading to the area.

Protesters gestured with the three-finger salute that has become a symbol of protest against the coup. Drivers honked their horns and passengers held up photos of Suu Kyi.

We dont want a dictatorship for the next generation, said 21-year-old Thaw Zin. We will not finish this revolution until we make history. We will fight to the end.

-The End 

The writer is an independent political analyst based in Dhaka, Bangladesh who writes on politics, political and human-centred figures, current and international affairs
The ADL and other groups documented a surge in antisemitic incidents in the United States during and after the Israel-Gaza fighting. The incidents more than doubled during and after the fighting when compared to the same time last year, the ADL found. (The 2020 period was near the first wave of the pandemic and its associated social distancing restrictions.) The ADLs tally includes physical assaults, as well as antisemitic and some anti-Zionist harassment and vandalism.
A wrongful death lawsuit filed by Torres-Loughans estate in March 2020, alleges Eastes, a disc jockey, worked as a DJ at the Fort Lauderdale bar Elbo Room the night of the crash. The suit states that Eastes had drinks there and at two other Fort Lauderdale bars, Fat Cats and Red Ivy, before the fatal crash. The case is still pending.
Now, McGowans defense lawyers are asking a Miami-Dade judge to stop any evidence in the case from being shared with Jackson  and the public  and to issue a gag order that would stop her from talking to witnesses in the case before trial. The motion was filed days after VH1 broadcast an episode of Cartel Crew that showed Jackson speaking with one eyewitness in depth.
Marlin Brunson, 21, was shot Monday night in the 1900 block of Linton Lake Drive outside of the AXIS Delray Beach Apartments. The shooter drove by and fired at Brunson while he stood outside the residence, Delray Beach Police Department Spokesman Ted White said. Then the vehicle sped off.
She was referring to the only Jewish State among the 22 surrounding Arab nations, and the only Democracy in the Middle East, Israel, the alert said. According to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), demonizing and applying a standard on Israel that is not applied to any other country is a form of antisemitism. During her speech, Ms. Cheng also left Jews out when she listed minorities that have been victims of hate crimes, even though Jews are the most targeted of any religious minorities.
He did not mean anything by it, it was not derogatory, and there was no racial connotation behind it, according to a report from Internal Affairs. Due to this incident, he does not use that word anymore and he now calls everyone sir or maam.
Ayala maintains that she helped her boyfriend buy a house in Delray Beach but that she lives in District 2 in central Palm Beach County and has turned the house over to him. She characterized the complaints as politically motivated, coming from the consultant of her opponent in the 2020 election.
Rosen met with department officials and spoke with Trumps representatives within the last week to discuss these matters, according to a person briefed on the meetings. If the parties cannot come to an agreement, the issue could be thrown into court, where it most likely would languish for months, if not years.
McKinlay, who leaves the County Commission next year because of term limits, may run for agriculture commissioner the job Fried is leaving so she can run for governor. Representing a large agricultural district in western Palm Beach County, she described her interest in the subject as genuine, but declined to discuss a possible candidacy. Im not commenting on my future plans.
They are people who work hard, pay their taxes and send their sons and daughters to war. They love this country and want to be able to support their families with good jobs and enjoy their freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution. They are white, Black and Hispanic, especially those who live by the southern border. These are Americans who need a strong leader to fight for their needs and rights. Despite all his many flaws, although he is not the monster the Left has created, that leader is Donald Trump.
Malaga citys beaches will be out of bounds during the night of San Juan, where large groups traditionally gather around bonfires to celebrate the festival.

The order has been issued by Malagas mayor to contain the spread of Covid-19 and he asked for peoples "maximum understanding and collaboration to guarantee public health."

Francisco de la Torre, signed off the order that indicates that the beaches will be closed from 10pm on 23 June to 8am on 24 June.

The document details that Local Police officers and other municipal officials will make sure that the order is complied with and adopt measures they deem appropriate in accordance with the law.
Coinciding with the start of the tourist season, the multinational ride-hailing service Uber is expanding its coverage along the Costa del Sol.

The expansion of its service area along 200 kilometres of the coast from Nerja to Manilva in Malaga province, and as far as La Linea de la Concepcion (Cadiz) makes it one of the largest zones in Europe where the company provides its service.

Since arriving in Malaga province in June 2018, Uber focused its activity on the strip of the western coast between Malaga city and Marbella. It was not until a year later that it began its expansion towards the eastern coast and a good part of the metropolitan area, encompassing large towns such as Velez-Malaga, Rincon de la Victoria, Alhaurin de la Torre, Alhaurin el Grande and Cartama.

This large expansion of the coverage area in the region, with which we hope to contribute to the economic recovery of the tourism sector, is a reflection of our commitment to Andalucia. This summer, tourists and residents of the Costa del Sol and Cadiz will have a safe and reliable alternative to travel along 200 kilometres of the coast, said the director of Uber in Spain, Juan Galiardo.

To book trips through Uber, the user must download the application, create an account and add a payment method. As it is classed as a VTC (private hire), the services must always be pre-booked, unlike taxis which can pick up customers on public roads.
The Junta de Andalucia announced this Tuesday evening to maintain the current Covid-19 restrictions in force in the region. The decision came after the committee of experts that advises the regional authoriity met to analyse the latest pandemic figures.

The Junta said that, while some of the figures are improving, such as hospitalisation and vaccination, there are still high numbers of daily infections and the 14-day cumulative case rate is starting to fall, but more slowly than desired.

The current restrictions will therefore be in force for at least another two weeks.

After the meeting the regional Health Minister, Jesus Aguirre, sent out a message of caution "because the virus is still among us".

"In Andalucia the vaccination rate is very high, and getting higher, but even so we must not drop our guard," he said.

Two specific changes to the current measures have been introduced, however. Establishments that sell and serve ice cream will be able to stay open until 1am, although from midnight they are not allowed to serve or sell alcoholic drinks.

A specific risk assessment has also been introduced for municipalities with populations of more than 5,000, where the 14-day case rate is more than 1,000 per 100,000 inhabitants. The assesment will be made especially in cases where the rate is falling, to decide whether or not to apply the extra restrictions specified for case rates above that level.
The 2022 summit of NATO leaders will be held in Spain, some 25 years since the last time a summit was hosted in Madrid and four decades after the countrys entry into the North Atlantic Alliance.

This was decided by the partners of North Atlantic Treaty Organization during the meeting held in Brussels this Monday (14 June), where they agreed to open a "new chapter" in the history of the organisation to confront the new and future challenges to global security.

"We hope to meet again in Spain in 2022, which will be followed by the next meeting in Lithuania," announced the president of the latter country, Gitanas Nauseda, although the official announcement had not yet been made.
News

featured

DuBois Firemen's Week is underway

FIle In this file photo from 2019, members of the Third Ward Hose Co. hold on tight and try to Sink the Tub during DuBois Firemens Week. Shown are Donnie Roush (standing) and Leo Brooks.

DuBOIS  The DuBois Volunteer Fire Departments Firemens Week, a tradition since at least the late 1960s, kicked off with Saturdays parade at DuBois Community Days and continues throughout this week, according to fire Chief Tony Roy.

The event is a friendly competition among the five fire departments and it brings them together, said Roy.

Its just a great tradition. We are glad to have it back after COVID-19 canceled last years, said Roy. Its good to see the friendly competition between the Firemens Week games. Companies have been practicing for the event since May.

The five fire companies include Volunteer Hose Co. No. 1, Friendship Hose Co. No. 2, J.E. DuBois Hose Co. No. 3, Fourth Ward No. 4, and Goodwill Hose Co. No. 5. There are approximately 450 firefighters in the entire department.

In 2019, Fourth Ward Hose Co. won the competition.

Tyler Clark, captain of Fourth Ward for the past four years, said he has been participating in Firemens Week since 2007, when he first joined the fire department.

What I like about the contest is the reason behind why we do them, said Clark. I dont know that the general public understands that the reason why the DuBois Fire Department came to be was because of a big fire (1888) that wiped out most of town. I think, at the time, there was 166 businesses and the fire took out all but six of them and left the vast majority of the public homeless and without any businesses. When they started these contests in 1965, it was a way to pay homage to the starting of the fire department and why we came to be.

Tuesday (tonight), the competition will begin with the Battle of the Barrel at 6:30 p.m. at the DuBois Area Senior High School.

Wednesday, the event continues with Sink the Tub at the Tannery Dam on First Street at 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, the firefighters are back at the high school at 6:30 p.m. for the Standing Pump contest.

Clark noted that the contests are also a great way to train new people who have just joined the fire department.

It provides repetition on the breaking of the hoses, applying water and using hydrants and getting drafts out of bodies of water, said Clark. The skills that were using are the ones we use every time we go out to fight a fire.

He also noted that the first, second, third, fourth and fifth place winners usually all run within seconds of each other.

Seconds make you win or lose these contests, said Clark. And thats a pretty cool thing that all five companies in town are competitive at the level where just minimal differences between first and second place.

Clark said his favorite competition is the Standing Pump contest. In general, however, he believes many people enjoy the Sink the Tub competition the best.

Saturday each company will have their own firemens celebration, said Roy.

The public is invited to watch the firefighters compete throughout the week.

We do get a good mixture of people in the audience, said Clark. Many, of course, are the families and friends of the firefighters, but we do get quite a bit of the general public. I feel its a good way to be involved in the public in a positive manner. Most of the time they see us its because something negative happened and were trying to correct that. It gives the public time to come up and talk to firefighters or check out a fire truck, and I think they enjoy coming and watching us to do our thing.
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Clearfield, PA (16830)

Today

Increasing clouds with showers arriving sometime in the afternoon. High 71F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower throughout the evening. Low near 55F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
The National Bank of Bahrain (NBB) said it has entered into a strategic partnership with the Bahrain Institute of Banking & Finance (BIBF), as it joins the corporate sponsorship project of the BIBFs new iconic building at Bahrain Bay.

The agreement will see a floor named after NBB, in addition to the Student Lounge, at the BIBFs new state-of-the-art building, expected to be inaugurated later this year, to serve the training needs of the financial sector in the kingdom.

The construction on the BIBFs new landmark tower began last year with a total structural area of 25,000 sq m that stands as a luxury waterfront development; providing the latest technologies, cutting-edge facilities and digital innovation to ensure the highest standards of efficiency, and a unique learning experience.

This partnership reinforces NBBs commitment to Bahrains training and academic sector and furthers its positioning as one of the pioneers of banking in the kingdom.

CEO Jean Christophe Durand said: "We at the NBB are proud of our fruitful cooperation with the BIBF, which reflects our ongoing support to training and academic institutions which offer career advancement and development opportunities for local talent, and are vital to the kingdoms growth and prosperity."

BIBF Director Dr Ahmed Al Shaikh expressed delight at the support from NBB, as a leading provider of retail and commercial banking in the kingdom, for the launch the new iconic building in Bahrain Bay.

"It marks an important milestone in the development of Bahrains financial services sector, the educational sector and the national economy as a whole," noted Dr Al Shaikh.

"This large-scale project comes in line with the BIBFs expansion plan to further accommodate the growing demand and improve the learning experience, contributing to Bahrains skyline as an iconic symbol of modern architecture and distinguished educational edifice," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Tenants of government properties in Bahrain will receive a three-month waiver on rent as per the directives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, who has ordered the launch of a financial stimulus package to counter the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic.



Bahrain Real Estate Investment Company (Edamah), the real estate arm of Mumtalakat Holding Company, said that eligible tenants of properties owned by Edamah will have their rent payments waived from June to August 2021, effective immediately.



Following instructions by HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, government entities are implementing His Majesty the Kings orders to support sectors most affected by the global pandemic.



Following the announcement, Edamah Chairman, Khalid Al Rumaihi said that the recent directives issued by HM King Hamad will safeguard the economic security of the Kingdom, ensuring Bahrain is well placed to weather the effects of the pandemic.



Al Rumaihi went on to reaffirm the companys support for national efforts to combat the effects of Covid-19, led by HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister.



Edamah CEO, Amin Al Arrayed, noted that the decision to suspend rent collections will be implemented immediately across all eligible properties owned by the company following decisions made by the Cabinet, and in line with national and social responsibilities to help alleviate the pandemics economic impact on tenants.



Edamah manages a large number of properties across several sectors, including tourism and leisure.  TradeArabia News Service
Egypt will soon launch its electrical interconnection project in co-ordination with Saudi Arabia, a major scheme that will increase grid capacity to 2,000 megawatts, said a report.

A global consultant will undertake studies to adjust the paths of the power lines, reported Arab News, citing the Egyptian Minister of Electricity Mohammed Shaker.

Egypt and Saudi Arabia had signed a co-operation agreement in 2012 to establish the electrical interconnection project. The project will be the main axis in the Arab electrical linkage, which aims to create an infrastructure for electricity trade between Arab countries.

The tenders for the implementation of the project have been finalized but the winning company is yet to be announced, stated Shaker, while speaking on the sidelines of the first forum of heads of African investment agencies in Sharm El-Sheikh.

Transmission lines between the two countries will be established under the DC (direct current) system, the latest in Egypt and the Arab region, he added.
Qatar National Tourism Council (QNTC) has appointed Deveekaa Nijhawan to lead the International PR and Communications team, to assist in marketing the destination in key markets as part of the countrys strategy to become a world-leading tourism destination.

Nijhawans remit covers key markets including India, UK, Germany, Australia and UAE with a focus on engaging and penetrating travel trade and consumer media.

Nijhawan is a senior PR professional with over 10 years experience in PR & Communications in the hospitality sector. Nijhawan said: I am very excited to join QNTC and embrace this new challenge. I am looking forward to developing and implementing a holistic integrated PR and Communications strategy to position Qatar as a popular tourist destination, while promoting the countrys rich cultural heritage and diverse offerings."

As part of the national strategy, Qatar National Vision 2030, QNTC is on a journey to welcome six million visitors a year by 2030, by improving and expanding the countrys tourism proposition with visitor experience at its core. Nijhawan will support the international marketing strategy, while Qatar continues to grow and improve tourism assets, enhance the end-to-end customer experience and invest in service excellence across every touchpoint. Nijhawan will execute QNTCs tailored global communications campaigns, with a focus in key markets.

Chief Operating Officer of Qatar National Tourism Council, Berthold Trenkel, said: We are thrilled to welcome Deveekaa to the team. She will play a pivotal role in delivering our ambitious tourism development strategy. Her extensive PR and Communications experience and knowledge of global markets will help us engage with travellers as we prepare to welcome tourists back to Qatar.

QNTCs commitment to developing bespoke relationships in key markets is reinforced by the new appointments of representation agencies, such as BRANDit, Black Diamond and Lobster. They are integrated strategic tourism sales and marketing agencies in India, UK and Germany, which will define and execute Qatars in-market trade engagement, product development and joint marketing campaign strategy. - TradeArabia News Service
flydubai has announced plans to start daily flights to Poland's capital Warsaw from September 30.

Warsaw is famed for its eye-catching architecture, green outdoor spaces and a wide variety of cafes and restaurants. Located on the Vistula River, it is a great option for those looking for a historical city break.

Warsaw will become the Dubai carriers second destination in Poland after Krakow, where it currently operates with a twice-a-week service.

Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer at flydubai, said: We have been flying to Krakow in Poland since 2018 and by adding Warsaw to our network we are providing our passengers with more options for travel to and from Poland. We look forward to creating travel and trade flows with our daily service.

Jeyhun Efendi, Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations and E-commerce at flydubai, said: We are pleased to see our network in Europe grow further with the start of operations to Warsaw. With daily flights to Warsaw, and more countries lifting restrictions on international travel, passengers will have the opportunity to explore more destinations on the flydubai network.

With international travel restrictions gradually easing, flydubai has grown its network to over 90 destinations including several seasonal summer routes such as Batumi in Georgia, Bodrum and Trabzon in Turkey, Mykonos and Santorini in Greece, Naples in Italy, Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt and Tivat in Montenegro.

flydubais network offers passengers the chance to explore a range of cities rich in culture, heritage and activities such as Baku, Bucharest, Budapest, Istanbul, Ljubljana, Tbilisi, Tirana and Yerevan. In addition to the city breaks, flydubai also offers flights to some of the best beaches and tropical hotspots in the world including the Maldives and Zanzibar.

Emirates will codeshare on flights to Warsaw, offering travellers more seamless connections through Dubais international aviation hub to 168 destinations between both the Emirates and flydubai networks including Australia, China, Indian Ocean, Japan, South Asia, and the United States.

flydubais passenger experience has been redesigned to enable travel in a safe environment that minimises crew and passenger contact and offers passengers confidence to travel at every step of their journey. Passengers who book a flight through flydubai.com will receive complimentary global cover for Covid-19 related costs to offer greater peace of mind when travelling.

Passengers are required to make sure that they are up to date with the regulations from the IATA Travel Centre and the IATA destination tracker for their whole journey, and follow the guidance issued by the authorities and the airline.

Flight details

Daily flights to Warsaw Chopin Airport will start from September 30. Flights will operate from Terminal 3, Dubai International.

Return Business Class fares from DXB to WAW start from AED7,000 ($1,905.6) and Economy Class fares start from AED1,730 ($470.9). - TradeArabia News Service
Kazakh low-cost airline FlyArystan has launched its first flight to Sharjah with Airbus A320 aircraft.

The Almaty-Sharjah-Almaty regular flights will operate two times a week on Tuesdays and Sundays. The flight duration is 4 hours and 25 minutes.

Announcing the launch, Madiyar Menilbekov, Kazakh Ambassador, said: "UAE is the fourth country to which FlyArystan flies after Turkey, Georgia and Kyrgyzstan. This Sharjah flight is a true embodiment of the extent of the strength of relations between the two countries."

Stressing upon the significance of the Sharjah operations, Menilbekov said: "With its various airports, UAE is an strategic destination that connects passengers to the different continents of the world. It also boasts high-end and distinguished levels of air and ground services provided by these airports to international airlines that use the airspace and ports of the UAE."

Starting from June 21, FlyArystan is planning to operate its first flight to Uzbekistan, stated the envvoy during a press conference held at Sharjah International Airport, in the presence of Rauan Zhumabek, Consul General of Kazakhstan and officials in charge of managing the new airline and Sharjah Airport.

Inviting the Emiratis, FlyArystan Finance Director Alim Shalbayev said: "We are eagerly waiting for you in Kazakhstan, where you can take shelter from the sweltering heat in the Tien Shan Mountains, pine forests in Borovoye, as well as see many other attractions."

"You can fly from Sharjah to Kazakhstan on 180-seat Airbus A320 aircraft, which will operate regularly twice a week  on Tuesdays and Sundays," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Getting world history right: real African history

By Dr. Kwame Nantambu

June 14, 2021

Years after the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 2011 as "The International Year for People of African Descent", it must be realized that the European enslavement of African people or the "MAAFA" ("great disaster") only represents .01 per cent of the history of African people on this planet. Put another way, for the 99.9 per cent of their history, Africans were a free people.

Furthermore, "there were a thousand years of independent state formation and state management in inner West Africa called the western Sudan before the (European) slave trade."

The purpose of this article, therefore, is to posit in its proper historical perspective, a unique Afri-centric, geo-political linkage analysis of African history.

Thesis

At the outset, it must be stated quite equivocally, categorically and emphatically that contrary to the xenophobic description/label to describe Haiti and countries in Africa in derogatory language only directly resembles and refers to countries in Europe in the 15th century A.D.; it certainly neither resembles nor refers to countries in Africa prior to that period.

Anti-Thesis

In the case of Haiti, the leaders of the successful, violent, Islamic Haitian revolution 1791-1804 were Jean Jacques Dessalines, Henri Christophe, Toussaint L' Ouverture and Dutty Boukman- a Jamaican-born Muslim and also known as a "man of the book". According to Sylvaine Diouf in his treatise titled "The Muslim Factor in the Haitian Revolution" (2013): "the Muslims were essential in the success of the Haitian revolution." During the 1791-1804 period, these Africans defeated the Euro-British and the Euro-French. In fact, these Africans defeated the all-mighty French general Napoleon Bonaparte who at that time commanded the most powerful army in Europe.

According to deceased historian C. L. R. James in The Black Jacobins (1938), the most significant, historical aspect/impact of the Haitian revolution is that it "killed the West Indian slave trade and slavery." Furthermore, it not only served as the catalyst for subsequent slave revolts throughout the Caribbean but also most importantly, it ushered in Haiti as the first independent, sovereign nation-state in the entire Western Hemisphere ruled by Africans. Ipso facto, the stark, historical reality check is that Africans in Haiti won their political independence from Euro-France per armed revolution.

On 1st January 1804, Jean Jacques Dessalines, as Governor-General, proclaimed himself "Emperor of the New State." In essence, then, the ultimate, albeit indisputable, historical legacy of the African- Haitian revolution is: "Europeans are not unbeatable."

In the case of Africa, deceased, erudite, Afri-centric scholar/historian Dr. John Henrik Clarke has specifically pointed out and elucidated the salient historical reality that: Civilization did not start in European countries and the rest of the world did not wait in darkness for the Europeans to bring the light . Most of the history books in the last five hundred years have been written to glorify Europeans at the expense of other peoples . Most Western historians have not been willing to admit that there is an African history to be written about and that this history predates the emergence of Europe by thousands of years. It is not possible for the world to have waited in darkness because Europeans themselves were in darkness. When the light of culture came for the first time to the people who would later call themselves Europeans, it came from Africa and Middle Eastern Asia. It is too often forgotten that, when the Europeans emerged and began to extend themselves into the broader world of Africa and Asia during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, they went on to colonize most of mankind. Later, they would colonize world scholarship, mainly to show or imply that Europeans were the only creators of what could be called a civilization. In order to accomplish this, the Europeans had to forget, or pretend to forget, all they previously knew about Africa.

And this Afri-centric, historical assertion is corroborated by R.R. Plamer and Joel Colton in their book titled A History of the Modern World (1984) to the extent that: Europeans are by no means the pioneers of human civilization. Half of man's recorded history had passed before anyone in Europe could read or write. The (High) priests of Egypt began to keep written records between 4,000 and 3,000 B.C., but more than two thousand years later, the poems of Homer were still being circulated in the Greek city-states by word of mouth. Shortly after 3,000 B.C., while the Pharaohs were building the first pyramids (in Egypt), Europeans were creating nothing more distinguished than huge garbage heaps.

In regard to the aforementioned quotes, it is indeed imperative to distinguish clearly between "History" and "His-story." By way of elucidation, "History is the truth about the past. His-story is the white man's (European's) version of the past, a distorted, racist and often fictitious story."

The stark reality that Western "His-storians have also contended that the Egyptians were tan-Europeans", provides de jure evidence to distinguish between these two conflicting assertions.

However, this historical confusion is aptly clarified by the Euro-French historian Count C. F. Volney in his Ruins of Empires (1980) as follows: "There a people, now forgotten, discovered while others were yet barbarians, the elements of the arts and sciences. A race of men now rejected for their black skin and wooly hair founded on the study of the laws of nature these civil and religious systems which still govern the universe."

And this historical narrative now reaches the vital juncture of the three "Golden Ages" of African civilization. According to Dr. John Henrik Clarke in his article titled "Africa: The Passing of the Golden Age": "The first age coincides with archaeological work during this period, the basic institution of all human societies was formed: the family. The establishment of a family structure forced the development of ways and means to preserve the family as an institution. In this phase too, the purely African communities mastered the smelting of iron and the fashioning of tools and weapons and gave impetus to the high civilization of Egypt in 1600 B.C. The second Age begins in 1700 B.C. when Egypt expels Asian invaders, the Hyksos and the eighteenth Egyptian dynasty was established. The third Golden Age is that which contains the rise of the Western Sudanic kingdoms--- Ghana, Songhay and Mali."

Indeed, "the first of the great empires of the Western Sudan to become known to the outside world was Ghana. It began as a small settlement during the second century of the Christian era. It would later develop into a state and reached the height of its greatness during the reign of Tenkamenin, one of its greatest kings, who came to power in 1062 A.D. The king lived in a palace of stone and wood, which was built to be defended in time of war." Dr. Clarke further elucidates that this "empire was well organized. The political progress and social well-being of its people could be favorably compared to the best kingdoms and empires in Europe at that time. The country had a military force of 200,000 men."

In the final analysis, Ghana was invaded by the Almoravides under Abu Bekr in 1076 A.D. This conquest ended Ghana's age of prosperity and socio-cultural development. In its heyday, Ghana was described as "the greatest kingdom of the Blacks" and "the most commercial of the Black countries."

On the other hand, Timbuctoo, "the queen city of the Western Sudan", was "the great intellectual nucleus of the Songhai Empire." These scholars were known and respected throughout most of Africa and Europe. During this age of African history, "the University of Sankore was the educational capital of the Western Sudan."

Mansa Musa was the emperor of the famous Kingdom of Mali. He epitomized "the whole wealth of Africa." In addition, "he conquered the Songhai Empire and rebuilt the University of Sankore" plus, "he was the most colorful of the Black kings of the 14th century." The empire of Mali experienced a drastic decline after the death of Mansa Musa. Songhai replaced Mali in position of power and importance in Africa under King Askia the Great. According to Dr. Clarke, King Askia the Great's claims to fame are (1) when he came to power in 1498, he "consolidated the territory conquered by the previous ruler Sonni Ali and built Songhai into the most powerful State in the Western Sudan His realm, it is said, was larger than all Europe" (11) he is known as "one of the most brilliant and enlightened administrators of all times" (111) he "reorganized the army of Songhai, improved the system of banking and credit and made the city-states Gao, Walata, Timbuctoo and Jenne into intellectual centres" (1v) he "encouraged scholarship and literature. Students from all over the Moslem world came to Timbuctoo to study grammar, law and surgery at the University of Sankore; scholars came from North Africa and Europe to confer with learned historians and writers of this Black empire " and (v) "Askia has been hailed as one of the wisest monarchs of the Middle Ages."

Ergo, it need occasion no great surprise hat in book titled The Progress and Evolution of Man in Africa (1961), the Euro-British historian Dr. L. S. B. Leaky asks the formidable/logical question: "What has Africa contributed to world progress?" He further suggests that "the critics of Africa forget that men of science today, with few exceptions, are satisfied that Africa was the birthplace of man himself and that for many hundreds of centuries thereafter, Africa was in the forefront of all human progress And this progress is further amplified by John W. Weatherwax in his pamphlet titled The African Contribution (1966) in which he zeroes in on The African Contribution to the early development of humankind as follows:

The early Africans made hooks to catch fish, spears to hunt with, the bola, with which to catch birds and animals, the blow gun, the hammer, the stone axe, canoes and paddles, bags and buckles, poles, bows and arrows. The pre-history of mankind is called the Stone Age. It may have lasted half a million years. Canoes made it possible for man to travel farther from his early home. Over many centuries, canoes went down the Nile (river) and up many smaller rivers and streams. From the blow gun of ancient Africa, there followed, in later ages, many devices based on its principles. Some of them are the bellows, bamboo air pumps, the rifle, the pistol, the revolver, the automatic machine gun and even those industrial guns that puff grain. African hunters many times cut up game. There still exists from the old Stone Age, drawings of animal bones, hearts and other organs.

The early drawings are a part of man's early beginnings in the field of anatomy. 10 The fact of the matter is that until recently, the typical Euro-centric Western historian has always maintained that the origin of all humankind had been in Asia, specifically the Java region of Southern Asia. However, the first modern-day person to suggest that Africa is "the cradle of civilization and humankind" is Charles Darwin in his magnum opus Descent of Man (1871). Of course, Darwin had already shaken up the scientific world with his theories of evolution and natural selection. His prophecy that "Africa would be found to be the origin of the human species was rejected out of hand by the scientific community and considered heresy in the social and political world." Conversely, scholars of the ancient world, uncontaminated by the need and desire to conform to the presumption of European superiority and supremacy, had routinely hypothesizes that indeed "Africa had been the birthplace of man."

The stark historical reality is that Diodorus Siculus, a Euro-Roman scholar writing in the first century B.C. concluded that: The Ethiopians say that they were the first man that ever were in the world and that to prove this they have clear demonstrations. It is most possible that those who inhabit the South were the first living men that sprang out of the earth. It is rational to conclude that those nearest to the sun should have been the first parents of all living creatures.

The salient reality is that for centuries, the Euro-Western world and scholars have bitterly resisted the notion that Africa should be recognized as the birthplace of all humankind. But the evidence is too overwhelming to deny that truism out of existence. In fact, Dr. John Henrik Clarke surmises that "although much remains to be learned and several academic controversies continue to boil concerning specific details of these early ancestors, the broad outline of early human history has become increasingly clear." It includes the following indisputable, historical truths: "As early as 600,000 B.C., there were only Africans. That is, the only ancestors of humans alive, lived on the African Continent. Between 500,000 --- 400,000 B.C., Africans began to migrate to other parts of the world. Isolation and environmental differences worked to produce differing physical characteristics within migrating groups."

Furthermore, in his book titled A Lost Tradition: African Philosophy in World History (1995), Dr. Theophile Obenga quotes the Greek philosopher Aristotle ranking ancient Kemet (Egypt) as "the most ancient archaeological reserve in the world" and "that is how the Egyptians whom we (Greeks) considered the most ancient of the human race." According to Dr. Obenga "the ancient Greeks traced all human inventions to the Egyptians from Calculus, Geometry, Astronomy and to Writing .Since the time of Homer, Egyptian antiquity functioned strictly as a highly memoralized component of Greek history; Herodotus said it, Plato confirmed it and Aristotle never denied it." In fact, Aristotle himself confesses: "Thus, the mathematical sciences first originated in Egypt (Africa), the cradle of mathematics." 14

Indeed, it must be pointed out here that most of the now renowned/revered Greeks (the world's first Europeans) all studied at the Temple of Waset in ancient Kemet (Egypt) Africa. This Temple is the world's first university. It is known as the "royal septer" and was built during the reign of Pharaoh Amenhotep 111 , in the XV111 Dynasty circa 1391 B.C. At its zenith, it educated 80,000 students. This Temple was re-named Thebes by the Greeks, namely, Alexander the so-called "great" when he invaded Kemet (Egypt) in 332 B.C. and Luxor by the Arabs when they invaded Egypt in 641 A.D. For example, Plato studied at the Temple of Waset in ancient Kemet (Egypt) Africa for 11 years; Aristotle for 11-13 years; Socrates was there for 15 years; Euclid studied there for 10-11 years; Pythagoras for 22 years; Hypocrates was there for 20 years; and the other Greeks who matriculated in Africa were Solon, Thales, Archimides and Euripides. Indeed, the Greek, St. Clement of Alexandria once stated that "if you were to write a book of 1,000 pages, you would not be able to put down the names of all the Greeks who went to Kemet (Africa) to be educated and even those who did not surreptitiously claim they went because it was prestigious."

Moreover, contrary to Euro-centric geo-political, historical mis-information, (albeit edjumacation), the world's first Olympics that was held in Olympia, Greece in 776 B.C., was not held to promote and reward sportsmanship, physical brawn or brinkmanship; instead, it was held as a public spiritual ceremony to worship the African deity Amon, "ruler of the Gods."

In fact, historiography proves quite convincingly that the European Gods and Goddesses were actually of African origin but given European names. As prima facie evidence, the African God Amon was re-named Zeus by the Greeks and Jupiter by the Romans; the African God Heru was called Apollo by both the Greeks and Romans; the world's first recorded multi-genius the African Imhotep (builder of the Step pyramid at Saqqara in 2630 B.C.) was re-named Asclepius by the Greeks and Aesclapius by the Romans; the African God Djhuti/Thoth (God of science, writing and knowledge) was called Hermes by the Greeks and Mercury by the Romans; the African God Pluto was re-named Neptune by the Romans and Poseidon by the Greeks ; the African God Ausar (God of resurrection) was re-named Osiris by both the Greeks and Romans; the African Goddess Hathor (Goddess of love and beauty) was called Aphrodite by the Greeks and Venus by the Romans ; the African Goddess Ist/Aset (Goddess of maternity) was re-named Isis and worshipped as "the Black Madonna." More specifically, this African Goddess had such an impact on Europeans that if one were to decipher the capital city of Euro-France, it is Paris which means "Per Isis" plus the Cathedral of Notre Dame is also in honor/worship of this African Goddess Ist/Aset.

Indeed, there is absolutely no field of human endeavor, contribution, achievement in which Africans have originated save the field of medicine. And this unique African medical originality informs the Euro-centric geo-political, historical mis-information about the "Caesarean Section."

The fact of the matter is that the two principal individuals in this scenario are the then Pharaoh of ancient Kemet (Egypt) Cleopatra V11 (Winter 69 B.C.-12 August 30 B.C.) and Euro-Roman Emperor Julius Caesar. In her seminal opus titled Cleopatra: From History to Legend (1997), Edith Flamarion states that when Egyptian Pharaoh Ptolemy X11 died in March 51 B.C., he decreed that his successors should be his two eldest children, namely, Cleopatra V11, who was then eighteen years old and Ptolemy X111, who was just ten years old.

"According to Ptolemaic dynastic law, Cleopatra had to marry Ptolemy X111 " but this was not a sexually consummated marriage. Ergo, Cleopatra V11, then, became "mistress of the two lands", that is, Pharaoh of Upper and Lower Kemet (Egypt). Circa 48 B.C., there was an "internal revolt against Cleopatra V11" and Julius Caesar entered the city of Alexandria "as a conqueror" and was able to pacify the Alexandrians that "as consul, he represented Roman Law."

Julius Caesar then "summoned both Cleopatra and her brother in order to settle the conflict between them." However, before the meeting with Julius Caesar Cleopatra sent several "emissaries " to him in order to ascertain "his good intentions" When she finally agreed to go to Alexandria to meet Caesar, Cleopatra travelled "in the dead of night" and hidden and wrapped "in a coverlet rolled in a carpet" because she feared "her brother's spies and his attempts to impede her."

Legend has it that Cleopatra ("glory of the father") was "smuggled into (Caesar's) apartment." They had sexual intercourse that night, either "for reasons of political convenience" or mere human physical attraction. However, in the Spring of 47 B.C., both Julius Caesar and Egyptian Pharaoh Cleopatra V11 went "on a long voyage up the Nile abroad a luxurious pleasure barge."

Depicted as "a lover's outing", it was a political tour intended to show the people of the country their true master. Nevertheless, when Julius Caesar left Kemet /Egypt in May 47 B.C., Pharaoh Cleopatra V11 was pregnant. This "lighting-hike eastern campaign" has given rise to Julius Caesar's famous or infamous historical quote: "Veni, vidi, vinci"--- "I came, I saw, I conquered." Julius Caesar was circa 52 years of age at the time.

Indeed, the record reveals that on 23 June 47 B.C., Pharaoh Cleopatra V11 gave birth to her first child, a baby boy named Caesarion which means "Little Caesar".

However, what is most significant in this scenario and in terms of real African history is that Pharaoh Cleopatra V11's delivery was not normal. The high priests of ancient Kemet (Egypt) Africa had to perform an original, special medical procedure to deliver Pharaoh Cleopatra V11's baby boy. And this historic, original African medical procedure performed in the B.C. era, is now globalized as the "Caesarean Section" ---- to our African ancestors be the glory!

In terms of real African history in the A.D. era, evidence of this African "human progress" is clearly corroborated in 711 A.D. when the African general Tarikh ben Zaid also known as Gibral Tarik (the "Rock of Gibraltar") and a 10,000 army of African Muslims (Moors) invaded Spain and routed the "savage" Europeans. As J.C. de Graft-Johnson, "a dean of African historians", points out in his master-piece African Glory: "The conquest of Spain was an African conquest. They were Mohammedan Africans who laid low the Gothic Kingdom of Spain.

In terms of prior 15th century world historiography, Baba Zak Kondo validates in his book titled The Black Student's Guide to Positive Education, the historical African linkage analysis that: Tarik and his (African Moors) made Spain the most advanced society in Western Europe for 700 years. These Africans, among other things, introduced the common bath and undergarments to the Europeans and built Europe's first universities. Moreover, (these Africans) made Spain a center for the arts and sciences. Moorish civilization in Spain was most visible in (the) tenth century. Indeed, the historical record reveals that the first university these Africans/Moors established/built in Europe was the University of Salamanca in Spain in 900 A.D. In other words, prior to the 15th century A.D., Africans humanized, educated and civilized European in the B.C. era. During that era, ancient Kemet/Egypt was known as "the land of the Blacks", "the Black land' or "the Light of the world."

Indeed, the 700 plus years the African Moors occupied Spain (711-1485) gave rise to the emergence of Europeans on a global scale during the period 1400-1600. As Dr. John Henrik Clarke explains in his book titled Christopher Columbus & the Afrikan Holocaust:

This was a point in history when Europeans freed themselves from the lethargy of the Middle Ages, the aftermath of the Crusades and the famines and plagues (as in the "bubonic plague") that had taken one-third (20 million) of the population of Europe. It is also the period when Europeans freed themselves from almost a thousand-year fear of Islam and what they referred to as the Infidel Arabs, who had been controlling the Mediterranean and its trade routes since the decline of the Roman Empire in the middle of the 7th century. The renewal of European nationalism, the marriage of (King) Ferdinand and (Queen) Isabella of Spain, the expulsion of the Arabs, Moors and the Jews from Spain in 1492 and the introduction of the slave trade gave Europe a new economic lease on life. Europeans (then) had to create a rationale and a series of myths to justify their new position (in the world) and what they intended to extract from non-European people (from the 15th century onward).

On the one hand, deceased Guyanese African history scholar Dr. Walter Rodney has expounded on the first aspect of European 15th century rise to global power in his book How Europe Underdeveloped Africa). And in this process of Africa's underdevelopment, it must be remembered that for over 400 years disparate Europeans took the "most productive elements" (skilled agricultural artisans) out of Africa, that is, young people between ages 15-25 years, at least two men to one woman. And that is exactly how Europe became developed/industrialized and Africa became underdeveloped and still remains in that status as of this writing. On the other hand, "the greatest achievement of the Europeans was the conquest of the mind of their victims" and in this process, Europeans not only colonized the world but most importantly, they colonized/Europeanized information about the world as "part of the manifestation of the evil genius of Europe."

Through this process of Euro-centric global miseducation, the world was "forced to forget that over half of human history was over before anyone knew that a European was in the world." In addition, Europeans made "every effort to wipe from (the African) memory how they ruled a state and how they related to their spirituality before the coming of the European.

Synthesis

In the final analysis, when the Europeans entered Africa in the 15th century, "the Africans were (too) open-minded and politically naive in their relationship with non- African people, especially the Europeans. They did not know the intentions and the temperament of the Europeans then and they do not know it now" so opines Dr. John Henrik Clarke. As the deceased leader of the 1960s Mau Mau anti-colonial revolution Jomo Kenyatta correctly surmised: "When the (European) missionaries arrived, the African had the land and the missionaries had the Bible. They taught us how to pray with our eyes closed. When we opened them, they had the land and we had the Bible." However, as P. Olisanwuche Esedebe has prognosticated in his Pan-Africanism: The Idea and Movement, 1776-1991: Africa peoples "must live in the hope, that in the process of time, their turn will come, when they will (again) occupy a prominent position in the world's history and when they will command a voice in the (global) council of nations (as their ancestors once did in the B.C. era)".

Indeed, historiography postulates that Africans are the Alpha and the Omega--- the beginning and the end. And in the poignant but immortal words of the millennium African hero Marcus Mosiah Garvey to African peoples all over the world: " Up you mighty race, you can accomplish what you will." And the flip side of this geo-political notion is strongly reinforced in the speech by Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah to the United Nations General assembly on 23 September 1960 in which he warned that "as long as a single foot of African soil remains under foreign domination, the world shall know no peace."

Dr. Kwame Nantambu is Professor Emeritus Kent State University.

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Netcore Clouds Customer Engagement Platform helps Vietnam e-commerce major, Sendo, boost web and mobile app transactions by over 51pc

MUMBAI, India, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Netcore Cloud, the leading global full-stack martech company today announced that Sendo, one of the leading e-commerce brands in Vietnam, has increased sales on their website and mobile app by over 51%, with its AI-led multi-channel customer engagement platform.

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Sendo is the largest home-grown Vietnamese e-commerce retailer and one of the top-10 online commerce platforms in Southeast Asia, connecting over 30 million buyers and 500,000 sellers nationwide.

As an app-first e-commerce brand, Sendo needed a robust multi-channel marketing platform to personalize customer engagement across their website and mobile app. Additionally, since Sendo offered multiple limited time-bound sales promotions, they also needed to craft and deliver personalized communication to relevant customer segments without delay.

This tied right back to Netcore's core competency, having been a formidable player in the 1:1 customer engagement space for over 20 years. In fact, 75% of Asia's unicorns leverage Netcore to effectively engage and retain their customers at scale.

In response to Sendo's challenges, Netcore's advanced customer engagement platform helped them analyze and engage with their customers across email, website, and mobile app. These personalized and contextual onsite notifications were triggered based on specific user events on their website and mobile app - helping them deliver seamless e-shopping experiences while also driving 26% of web traffic to their mobile app.

In addition, Sendo leveraged Netcore Smart Push, an industry-first technology to increase app push notification delivery which resulted in a 21% increase in app launches. Their time-sensitive app push notification campaigns were also delivered at 2X speed; positively impacting engagement and conversions.

Duc Pham, Buyer Engagement Director at Sendo, commented, "Netcore Cloud has helped us increase app engagement by 21% and overall online transactions by 51%. Their team has always ensured excellent service levels and has consulted us to leverage the best solution for all our business leads."

Abithab Bhaskar, CEO - International Business at Netcore Cloud, further elaborated, "The e-commerce industry is witnessing tremendous growth in terms of customer acquisition; especially in Southeast Asia. The pressing need to engage intelligently with customers to magnify CLTV and retention through hyper-personalized experiences is something that Netcore Cloud has excelled in over the years. We are delighted to be playing a vital role in Sendo's incredible growth story and look forward to helping them scale new heights in customer and revenue growth in the future as well."

About Netcore Cloud

Netcore Cloud is a globally recognized martech SaaS company. It offers full-stack martech products that help product and growth marketers deliver AI-powered intelligent customer experiences across all customer touchpoints. The platform is an all-in-one solution for building unified views of customers, orchestrating omnichannel communication journeys, personalizing the apps and websites, optimizing user experience, real-time reporting and actionable analytics. All the products are designed to scale, with a focus on ROI. Netcore Cloud delivers 12+ billion emails, and tracks 100+ billion marketing events every month for world's top marketers.

Netcore Cloud serves 5000+ clients across 18 countries. Industry leading brands like Celcom, TNG Digital, Fave, Standard Chartered Bank, Star Media, AirAsia BIG, PizzaHut Malaysia, McDonalds Malaysia, Malindo Air, Hermo, MPH Online, and FlowerChimp, Thi Truong Si,, YHL, and Hnammobile trust Netcore Cloud to power their customer acquisition, engagement, and retention goals.

Netcore Cloud has been in business for 20+ years, is a leader in Asia and is expanding its presence in the US, EU, and South America. It operates out of India, USA, Germany, Nigeria, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, and UAE.

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1495164/Netcore_Cloud_Logo.jpg

(Disclaimer--Features may vary depending on the regions; subject to change without notice.)


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Paducah Prayer Event Today Over Recent Violence

By West Kentucky Star Staff

PADUCAH - Former city commissioner Richard Abraham is holding an event this afternoon to pray for Paducah.Abraham is inviting the community to gather at the intersection of South 3rd street and Jefferson street at 7 p.m. to "pray against the darkness in our community."Abraham said the prayer meeting is in response to the recent uptick in violence, including six shootings in Paducah and McCracken County in the past two weeks.He encourages anyone that can't make it to stand in prayer every evening at 7 p.m. for Paducah.
Police Identify Vehicle Break-In Suspect

By West Kentucky Star Staff

PADUCAH - Thanks to the publics assistance, McCracken County Sheriffs Office has been able to identify a suspect in a recent string of vehicle break-ins.Detectives said the suspect is 20-year-old Mariah Day of Bloomington, Indiana.Detectives learned that Day has fled out of state since the thefts. They have obtained warrants for her arrest and are working with out of state authorities in an attempt to locate Day.The thefts were reported late last week in the area of Valor Court, Clarkline Road and Champion Lane.Several people said their vehicles had been gone through during the overnight hours. Firearms, cash and other various items were all stolen from the vehicles.Residential security cameras in the area captured the same person going through multiple vehicles.
Paducah Shooting Suspect Turns Himself In

By West Kentucky Star Staff

PADUCAH - A wanted suspect in a shooting from Sunday night in Paducah has been arrested after turning himself in.According to the Paducah Police Department 29-year-old Stanley D. Crume of Cairo, Illinois turned himself in to authorities Wednesday morning and was arrested on a warrant charging him with first-degree wanton endangerment.Sunday night, officers were called to multiple reports of shots fired in the area of Glenwood Drive. No injuries were reported, but one home on Glenwood Drive was struck by gunfire.Officers allege that Crume went to a home on Glenwood Drive looking for someone related to 20-year-old Darrius White, who was killed in the Colony Drive shooting on June 8. Crume reportedly produced a handgun, and an argument ensued. Authorities say that Crume then fled and fired multiple shots as he ran.
Paducah Man's Sex Crime Trial Dismissed

By West Kentucky Star Staff

PADUCAH - The trial of a Paducah man charged with sex offenses ended abruptly on Monday.David Tindell was in McCracken Circuit Court, facing charges of use of electronic communications to procure a minor for sex, and possession of matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor. The charges stem from an arrest in September 2019, when police said they found child porn after investigating conversations on social media between Tindell and a child.Commonwealth's Attorney Dan Boaz told West Kentucky Star the victim in the alleged crime was not physically or emotionally able to testify at the trial, so Judge Tim Kaltenbach issued a directed verdict, dismissing the case.
Benton Police Seek Help Locating Missing Teen

By West Kentucky Star Staff

BENTON - The Benton Police are seeking the public's help in locating a missing 17-year-old.Jeffrey Stokes was said to be last seen on Sunday around 4:30 pm at the entrance to Eastside Village on Benton Birmingham Road.Stokes is 5'7", approximately 150 pounds, and is currently bald. He was last seen wearing jeans, a white T shirt, and white shoes.Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Benton Police Department at 270-527-3126 or any other local law enforcement agency where he may be.
Murray Domestic Dispute Ends in Two Arrests

By West Kentucky Star Staff

MURRAY - A domestic dispute led to the arrest of a Murray pair Monday afternoon.Calloway County deputies responded to Joseph Lane where deputies said 46-year-old Ricky Gleich fled on foot while 49-year-old Suzette Smith reportedly attempted to distract authorities from pursuing Gleich.Deputies said Gleich was found hiding in a nearby home and was arrested on charges of first-degree fleeing or evading police, third-degree assault of a police officer, and resisting arrest.Smith was charged with interfering with a governmental operation and second-degree disorderly conduct.They were both taken to the Calloway County Jail.
Extended Closure of KY 339 In Graves County

By West Kentucky Star Staff

GRAVES COUNTY - The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has begun an extended closure along KY 339 in southern Graves County.KY 339 will be closed just east of Sedalia between KY 564 and KY 97.The road is expected to reopen to traffic on Tuesday, June 22.
Kuttawa Man Charged With Burglary, Theft

By West Kentucky Star Staff

LYON COUNTY - A Kuttawa man was arrested Saturday on several charges related to a theft and burglary investigation.Lyon County deputies located 30-year-old Justin Kingston on Panther Creek Road after they said he sold a jeep to a Lyon County resident that he had stolen in May. The actual owner later contacted the buyer.The buyer reportedly confronted Kingston in person about the allegation. After being confronted, Kingston allegedly drove to the victim's home and stole the jeep back.Deputies say the vehicle has since been returned to the actual owner.Kingston was arrested and charged on a warrant for theft by unlawful taking over $500 but under $10,000, and with second-degree burglary.
Murray Police are trying to find this truck and identify the driver as part of an ongoing investigation. PHOTO:Murray Police Department Facebook page

Murray Police Seek Information on Truck

By West Kentucky Star Staff

MURRAY - The Murray Police Department is asking the public for help identifying a truck that may have been involved in a crime.A pickup truck, possibly a dark colored Dodge, which was pulling a trailer, was seen at a local business where a suspected crime took place. No other details were provided.Anyone with information should contact Murray Police at 270-753-1621.
Rep. Richard Heath's Legislative Update

By Representative Richard Heath

MAYFIELD -By Representative Richard HeathFifteen months after the first case of COVID-19 was diagnosed, Kentuckians are still waiting and watching as the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of state government address the mandates, emergency orders, and emergency regulations issued by Governor Beshear.On Friday, the Governor lifted parts of his statewide mask mandate and finally ended capacity limits for restaurants, bars, and other public venues. Shortly after the Governors press conference, school districts across the state received notice from the Department of Education that students would no longer have to wear masks or socially distance. I am just as pleased as you to see all of these requirements end since many were unnecessary and arbitrary from the beginning, while others outlived their usefulness.However, the Governor also issued a new executive order that extends the mask mandate in specific settings. This new order comes just days after the Administrative Regulation Review Subcommittee rejected a proposed mandate requiring wearing a face covering in some settings and circumstances. The committee voted to find the proposal deficient, meaning it does not comply with state law we passed earlier this year. While the administration told committee members at Tuesdays meeting that the proposed regulation was aimed at ensuring the state is aligned with federal guidelines, members recognized the order as an extension of the existing mandate and flatly refused to endorse it.Of course, all of this comes as the seven elected members of the Kentucky Supreme Court met Thursday to consider the Governors challenge to legislation we passed this session. These measures, HB 1, HJR 77, SB 1, and SB 2 better define emergency powers and are aimed at preventing future governors from using a crisis as an opportunity to unilaterally lead our state with little meaningful oversight. After all, as George Orwell famously wrote in 1984, We know that no one ever seizes power with the intention of relinquishing it.Briefly, SB 1 and SB 2 limit executive orders and emergency regulations issued during a state of emergency to 30 days, unless extended by the legislature. They also require the consent of the states Attorney General before state law can be suspended. HB 1 is specific to this pandemic and provided a common sense approach to reopening our state, addressing unemployment issues, and ensuring our most vulnerable children and adults were able to see their families. These measures provide this and future governors with the authority necessary to lead our state through a state of emergency, but they balance that power with the need for equally balanced branches of government. We proved this with the passage of HJR 77, which ratified eight of the COVID-19 executive orders and a handful of emergency regulations in March.Kentuckians have waited months  HB 1, SB 1, and SB 2 passed in January  for these measures to take effect. While much of the administrations pandemic policies are now history, the bills are still extremely relevant because they set a precedent for future emergencies. If the Supreme Court rules in favor of this legislation, future generations will be better prepared for the next once-in-a century pandemic. If they rule against it, Kentucky could once again fall prey to mandates put forth with little or no consideration of their effectiveness or ultimate impact.For more than a year Kentuckians have heard that we are all in this together. Yet, the fact is that the administrations response has divided our state into the unemployed and employed, the in-person and virtual, and the open for business and shuttered permanently. Kentuckians struggle with exacerbated mental health and addiction issues, our Medicaid program grows exponentially, and we begin to discover how great an impact this past year has had on our most vulnerable. We definitely have our work cut out for us, but we can do this if we remember the motto that has actually seen us through centuries of adversity  United We Stand, Divided We Fall.In the meantime, I hope you will not hesitate to reach out to me to share your thoughts on this or any issues coming before us in Frankfort. If you would like more information about bills or legislative actions, you can visit the Legislative Research Commission website at legislature.ky.gov. I can be reached during the week from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. (EST) through the toll-free message line at 1-800-372-7181. You can also contact me via e-mail at Richard.Heath@lrc.ky.gov.
Two Injured in Hopkinsville Moped-Car Crash

By West Kentucky Star Staff

HOPKINSVILLE - A crash Sunday night in Hopkinsville involving a moped and a car injured two people.According to WKDZ, Hopkinsville Police say an eastbound car driven by 20-year-old Jason Harris of Fort Campbell, was turning onto McLean Avenue from East 9th Street, and pulled into the path of a moped driven by 43-year-old Antonio White.White and his passenger, 15-year-old Lavaras White, were injured in the crash.Police say both were taken to Jennie Stuart Medical Center, and Antonio was later flown to a Nashville hospital.The crash happened just before 9:00 pm.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-14 19:29:50|Editor: huaxia

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Yu Ming (1st L), the Chinese owner of bubble tea shop See You hands out free Zongzi and meals to people in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, June 14, 2021. (Photo by Sovannara/Xinhua)

by Mao Pengfei, Nguon Sovan

PHNOM PENH, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian ride-hailing driver Khin Sopheap unexpectedly enjoyed the taste of Zongzi on Monday while driving past a Chinese eatery when its staffers were offering the snack together with lunch meals to passers-by for free to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival.

Zongzi, a glutinous rice dumpling wrapped up with bamboo or reed leaves, is a traditional delicacy that Chinese people eat on the day of the Dragon Boat Festival, which fell on Monday, June 14 this year.

In China, Zongzi commemorates the death of famous Chinese poet Qu Yuan during the Warring States Period (475-221 B.C.).

Sopheap tasted a few pieces of Zongzi and extolled its flavor.

"It's really delicious and I like it," he told Xinhua after eating the snack. "I'm really pleased to learn about Chinese culture and traditions."

The father of four children said that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, his family has struggled with financial difficulties as his daily revenue has declined remarkably.

"Before the COVID-19, I made 40,000 riels (10 U.S. dollars) to 50,000 riels (12.5 dollars) a day, but now there's no revenue because of no customers and someday, earn only 10,000 riels (2.5 U.S. dollars)," he said.

"The sharing (of food) from Chinese people to needy Cambodians during the COVID-19 is very important and it reflects good relations between our two peoples who always give mutual help during difficult times," he added.

Motor-taxi driver Suon Soklong, 61, offered his gratitude to China for helping Cambodia and its people during this difficult time.

"Thank you China and the Chinese people for supporting our socio-economic development and helping us to fight COVID-19 by providing medical equipment and supplies and medical experts as well as donating and selling COVID-19 vaccines," he said. "Ironclad friendship between Cambodia and China will last forever."

Yu Ming, the Chinese owner of See You, a bubble tea shop that provides Zongzi and meals for free, said he has given out free meals, including fried rice and sweet lemon iced tea, daily to 50 needy people since early May, and as June 14 marked the Dragon Boat Festival in China, he decided to add five pieces of Zongzi to each of the food packages.

"I share Zongzi with them because today marks the Dragon Boat Festival in China, and I want them to experience the taste of Zongzi and to know about Chinese culture and traditions," he told Xinhua. "As poor people have been hit hard by the COVID-19, I hope that my free meals will help relieve their hardship." Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-14 21:00:34|Editor: huaxia

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In Shanghai's Zhujiajiao ancient town, a popular tourist destination, stores including those selling festival delicacy of Zongzi, a pyramid-shaped glutinous rice dumpling wrapped in reed leaves, have put up "Pay with Digital RMB" signs.

A merchant surnamed Pan said that she could sell up to 4,000 Zongzi a day during the Dragon Boat Festival holiday, and many of the orders were paid via the digital yuan that is convenient and free of transaction commissions.

China is aiming to upgrade its domestic retail system by further developing its digital currency. Gradual steps will expand its use via trials, according to the country's monetary authorities and experts.

The country began piloting its digital currency in selected regions across the country at the end of 2019. The currency is expected to be issued by the country's central bank and legally backed by the government as an alternative to paper money.

During the pilot programs in cities including Beijing, Shenzhen, and Suzhou, businesses such as groceries, daily necessities, and catering, among others, already supported payments using the digital yuan.

As the digital RMB pilot program expands its scope in public life, China is expected to enrich its operational experience to pave the way for large-scale adoption in small-scale and high-frequency retail business scenarios, according to experts.

Produced by Xinhua Global Service
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-14 22:38:04|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on June 11, 2021 shows mucilage known as "sea snot" in the Marmara Sea off Istanbul, Turkey. Turkey has been gearing up to combat the mucilage that has been plaguing the Marmara Sea in the country's densely populated industrial region. (Photo by Osman Orsal/Xinhua)

ISTANBUL, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Turkey has been gearing up to combat the mucilage that has been plaguing the Marmara Sea in the country's densely populated industrial region.

Response teams have so far cleaned 1,197 cubic meters of mucilage during "the biggest maritime cleanup in the history of Turkey," Environment and Urbanization Minister Murat Kurum said in a statement on Sunday.

Kurum noted that operations to clear the sea of the mucus-like substance, also known as "sea snot," are going on at 77 locations, adding the collected mucilage had been sent for disposal.

Turkish authorities last week announced an action plan to clear the substance covering a large part of the Marmara Sea, an inland sea located in the northwestern part of Turkey, where over 20 million people reside and many industrial plants are located.

"I want to reassure the public that we will make the Marmara clean again," the minister said.

The mucilage has also infiltrated some parts of the Aegean Sea and the Black Sea.

Scientists blame pollution, such as untreated urban and industrial waste dump, and global warming, as the main reasons for this marine problem of unprecedented proportions, which has also put fishing in the sea to a standstill.

Fishing is the main income for thousands in the Marmara basin. Fish sales have plummeted in Istanbul and neighboring cities as people fear food poisoning, local media reported.

There is uncertainty on how long the cleanup will have to last. Authorities say it may take at least one year, while scientists argue that it will take several years.

The sea snot also threatens domestic tourism as the Marmara Sea region is a hotspot for local holidaymakers. Tour operators are reporting cancellations in bookings for the summer season.

The small coastal town of Erdek, located in Balikesir Province on the southern banks of Marmara, is known to be a popular spot for Turkish travellers, but this year the mood there is grim.

"First, it was the coronavirus pandemic, and now it is the sea snot. There are cancellations in hotels and rental of summer residences because of the problem," Esra Atac, a tour operator from the capital Ankara, told Xinhua.

"How can a hotel take reservations when the shore is filled with a bad-smelling gooey substance. People cannot bathe in these conditions," she said.

"In the past, we had mucilage surges but never this big, and this is a very disturbing phenomenon," Mustafa Sari, dean of Bandirma Onyedi Eylul University Marine Faculty, told Xinhua.

The oceanographer said the mucilage density seen on the sea's surface was just like the tip of the iceberg as the main danger is at the bottom of the sea.

He noted that the sea temperature in the Marmara Sea has warmed by 2.5 Celcius degrees since preindustrial times, causing phytoplankton responsible for the mucilage to grow.

"The iceberg is down there, and there is no visibility. It is like a prison, causing serious damage to the ecosystem," Sari said.

Divers have reported a heavy blanket of mucilage on the bottom, raising concerns about its effects on shellfish, corals, crustaceans, and fish.

Cleaning just the surface will not be enough, Sari warned, urging authorities to act for an urgent waste disposal management program to save the Marmara Sea and its ecosystem. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-14 23:21:32|Editor: huaxia

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BRUSSELS, June 14 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) digital COVID certificate (EUDCC) was officially signed on Monday in Brussels, Belgium, after the three EU institutions worked hand in hand for the health pass to be ready on time for the summer holidays.

President of the European Parliament David Sassoli, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, and Prime Minister of Portugal Antonio Costa representing the Council of the EU, appended their signatures on the document.

"Now we can travel in a safe way. Safe for ourselves, for those who host us, and for our families, neighbors and colleagues when we come back," said Costa.

"With the success of our European vaccination campaign and this new EU certificate, we can all look forward to the summer. To travel safely. And we are bringing back the spirit of an open Europe," said von der Leyen.

The EUDCC will enable EU residents to travel safely during summer within the borders of the bloc, without additional restrictions. Travel restrictions may be applied if deemed necessary, for example in the case of a variant of concern, but must be proportionate.

However, the EUDCC will not be a prerequisite to travel within the Schengen area, and will not be considered a travel document. The health pass will be proof that the holder has either been vaccinated, passed a negative COVID-19 test, or has recovered from the disease. It will be either digital or can be printed on paper.

It will be available to all EU residents as of July 1, although some countries have already started using it. A gateway has been put in place for countries to verify the validity of the EUDCC. Four non-EU countries, namely, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Iceland, and Norway, are also connected to the gateway.

The idea of the European COVID certificate was proposed in March by the European Commission. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-14 23:31:59|Editor: huaxia

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Chinese Ambassador to Timor-Leste Xiao Jianguo attends the launch ceremony of the inoculation campaign of China's Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine at the National University of Timor-Leste in Dili, Timor-Leste, June 14, 2021. (Xinhua)

JAKARTA, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Timor-Leste launched the inoculation campaign of China's Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine at a university in the country's capital Dili on Monday.

Aniceto Guterres Lopes, speaker of the Timor-Leste National Parliament, Chinese Ambassador to Timor-Leste Xiao Jianguo, and other officials from the Timor-Leste government attended the launch ceremony at the National University of Timor-Leste.

Ambassador Xiao said the vaccination program coincided with the Dragon Boat Festival in China, a traditional event for people to pray for health, safety and well-being. He believed the Sinovac vaccine, a testament to friendship between the two countries, could play an important and constructive role in Timor-Leste's fight against COVID-19.

The target population of this batch of Sinovac vaccines in Timor-Leste are teachers, students and faculty staff aged 18 and above, which will help restore normal operation of the country's education institutions as classes are suspended in all schools due to the pandemic.

Aniceto Guterres Lopes expressed his gratitude to China for offering all kinds of help since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and expected enhancement of further anti-epidemic cooperation between the two countries.

Timor-Leste's Minister of Defense Filomeno da Paixao, Secretary of State for Youth and Sport Abrao Saldanha, and representatives of teachers and students received their first COVID-19 vaccine shot after the ceremony.

The "Spring Sprout" program also began in Timor-Leste on Monday, during which the Chinese nationals in Timor-Leste are prioritized to get vaccinated with China-donated vaccines. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-15 02:40:04|Editor: huaxia

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Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi (1st R) meets with Commissioner-General of the UNRWA Philippe Lazzarini (2nd L) in Amman, Jordan, on June 14, 2021. Jordan and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees on Monday discussed preparations for the international conference organized by the kingdom and Sweden to rally financial and political support for UNRWA. (Photo by Mohammad Abu Ghosh/Xinhua)

AMMAN, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Jordan and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) on Monday discussed preparations for the international conference organized by the kingdom and Sweden to rally financial and political support for UNRWA.

Jordan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and Commissioner-General of the UNRWA Philippe Lazzarini stressed the importance of the conference, which is expected to be held by the end of 2022, aiming to adopt effective strategies and plans to ensure the UNRWA's continuous role to provide vital services to Palestinian refugees on health, education and relief, according to a statement by the foreign ministry.

They also highlighted the urgency of the process of reconstruction in the Gaza Strip and meeting its needs.

Lazzarini appreciated Jordan's efforts to rally international support for the UNRWA, emphasizing the role Jordan plays and its cooperation with the international community to help the UNRWA bridge the financial deficit it is facing. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-15 03:16:33|Editor: huaxia

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Volkan Bozkir, president of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly, addresses the General Assembly High-level Dialogue on Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought at the UN headquarters in New York, on June 14, 2021. Volkan Bozkir on Monday called for urgent action to address unsustainable agriculture. (Eskinder Debebe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)

UNITED NATIONS, June 14 (Xinhua) -- The president of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), Volkan Bozkir, on Monday called for urgent action to address unsustainable agriculture.

"We must urgently address unsustainable agriculture, one of the main drivers of desertification, land degradation and drought," the UNGA president, or the PGA, told the General Assembly High-level Dialogue on Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought held at the UN headquarters in New York.

"I call on member states to conduct national dialogues on agricultural reform ahead of the Food Systems Summit this September," he said. "Ensuring food security for 9.7 billion people by 2050, while meeting the other goals of the Paris Agreement, will be possible only if we scale up land restoration and regeneration to transform our food systems."

The PGA warned that half of all agricultural land is degraded -- and unable to sustain any form of life -- threatening the livelihoods and security of over three billion people.

"The loss of healthy land is driving extinction and intensifying climate change, as healthy land is the world's greatest carbon sink," he said.

"Without a change in course, this will only get worse. By 2050, global crop yields are estimated to fall by 10 percent, with some suffering up to a 50 percent reduction. This will lead to a sharp 30 percent rise in world food prices, threatening progress on hunger and nutrition, as well as a myriad of associated development goals," said Bozkir.

The PGA said that over half of global GDP relies on land resources. If more arable land is lost, millions of farmers risk being plunged into poverty, potentially displacing 135 million people by 2045, and increasing the risk of instability and tension.

"Healthy land is the world's most effective water filter. But today, land degradation, and resultant droughts and climate change, are intensifying the incidence of wildfires. From 2018-2020 alone, wildfires have devastated roughly 30 million acres of land in the global north and south," he said.

"We must unite today to elevate the importance of land issues and build momentum ahead of the three upcoming cop-level summits on land, biodiversity and climate," said the PGA, noting that only the UN has the world-wide capacities to address holistically the pressing global issue of land restoration. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-15 05:51:18|Editor: huaxia

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People arrive at a Chicago Cubs' game with no attendance limits in Chicago, the United States, on June 11, 2021. (Photo by Joel Lerner/Xinhua)

The Delta variant is likely to become the dominant source of new infections in the United States and could lead to new outbreaks in the fall, with unvaccinated Americans being most at risk, an expert said.

WASHINGTON, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Experts are concerned that the Delta variant is on track to become the dominant strain of coronavirus in the United States.

The Delta variant, known by the scientific name B.1.617.2, has spread from where it was first discovered in India to over 60 countries, according to the World Health Organization.

Scott Gottlieb, former commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, said Sunday that the Delta variant is likely to become the dominant source of new infections in the United States and could lead to new outbreaks in the fall, with unvaccinated Americans being most at risk.

"Right now, in the United States, it's about 10 percent of infections. It's doubling every two weeks," Gottlieb said in an interview with CBS.

"That doesn't mean that we're going to see a sharp uptick in infections, but it does mean that this is going to take over. And I think the risk is really to the fall that this could spike a new epidemic heading into the fall," he said.

People enjoy themselves during a flower festival in New York, the United States, June 12, 2021. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

U.S. top infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci said recently the variant has become the dominant strain in the United Kingdom, accounting for an estimated 60 percent of new cases, replacing the B.1.1.7 strain.

The Delta variant has been linked to about double the risk of hospitalization compared to the B.1.1.7 strain first found in the UK, according to the preliminary findings of a Scottish study published Monday in The Lancet.

The Delta variant is one of the six variants circulating in the United States that are classified by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as "variants of concern."

Experts are worried about the speed of the growth of the Delta variant. A month ago, the strain accounted for just over 1 percent of sequenced virus samples, and now it accounts for more than 6 percent of sequenced virus samples in the United States, according to CDC data. 
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-15 05:54:52|Editor: huaxia

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BRUSSELS, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said here on Monday that he held a "fruitful and sincere" meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden.

In their first face-to-face meeting on the fringes of the NATO summit, the two leaders discussed a variety of issues including the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and the vaccine situation.

"There are no outstanding problems between the United States and Turkey that cannot be solved. On the contrary, there are many areas where we could focus on prospective and fruitful cooperation," Erdogan told journalists at a news conference.

"Our history goes back a long time and we managed to exchange views on a vast area of issues. We also focused on the incidents on which we have different opinions and, in a very constructive fashion, talked about areas where we could further explore cooperation," he said.

"We agreed on the necessity to effectively use dialogue channels between our nations in a regular fashion so, at the end of the day, it was a very fruitful and very sincere meeting. We also underlined the fact that bilateral cooperation should be revitalized," he added.

Describing his relationship with Biden as "long-standing," Erdogan said he invited Biden to visit Turkey, adding that Biden indicated that he might pay a visit once his intense schedule allows it.

Addressing a separate press conference, Biden also mentioned the meeting: "We had a positive and productive meeting, much of it one-on-one. We had detailed discussions about how to proceed on a number of issues ... Our teams are going to continue our discussions and I'm confident we will make real progress with Turkey and the United States." Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-15 06:54:29|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on June 14, 2021 shows a UN Security Council meeting on the situation in Mali at the UN headquarters in New York. Immediate action is required now to initiate critical reforms and lay the groundwork for credible elections in Mali, where the security situation is as worrying as ever, the head of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) told the Security Council on Monday. (Evan Schneider/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)

UNITED NATIONS, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Immediate action is required now to initiate critical reforms and lay the groundwork for credible elections in Mali, where the security situation is as worrying as ever, the head of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) told the Security Council on Monday.

El-Ghassim Wane briefed the 15-member body via video-conference in the wake of a coup d'etat in the landlocked West African country on May 24, the second in nine months.

An inclusive approach, strong Malian leadership and political compromise are all vital ingredients for reforms to succeed, alongside steadfast support from international partners such as the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Wane said.

"Mali is at a critical juncture and we cannot allow it to slide into further instability, with drastic consequences for the sub-region and beyond," he told council members.

Both the president and the prime minister of the transitional government, Colonel Assimi Goita and Choguel Maiga, have said that they will respect a transitional calendar which calls for elections by February 2022 and that they will not be candidates, he said.

They have also pledged to work with armed movements to speed up implementation of the 2015 Malian peace agreement.

"These commitments now need to translate into urgent and concrete action, which requires the constructive contribution of all Malian stakeholders," the MINUSMA chief said.

"The time has come for Malian leaders to rise above partisan politics and personal interests and work together in earnest to address the crisis in the interest of their country and its future."

In that regard, MINUSMA's support will remain critical, he emphasized.

Turning to the security situation, he said that it remains a big concern in the north and center of the country, with a devastating impact on the everyday lives of civilians.

Already, there are more displaced Malians than during the peak of the crisis in June 2013, he said, with many people living in very difficult conditions.

He drew attention to deeply disturbing reports of human rights violations, adding threats from armed groups have forced nearly half the schools in central Mali to close.

Many people want MINUSMA to do more and that is understandable, he said, saying that in far-flung parts of the country, there is little or no state presence -- leaving the mission as the only provider of security and other basic services.

"But MINUSMA will not be in a position to meet all the expectation of these local populations," he said, adding that the mission is stepping up its efforts to better inform Malians about its work while also fostering a more people-centered and action-oriented approach.

That includes an action plan for central Mali, to be unveiled in Mopti on June 15, called An Ka Baro Ke (Let's Talk Together), that will focus on promoting political engagement; enhancing the protection of civilians; fostering community engagement; social cohesion and reconciliation; and facilitating the return of state administration and services, he said. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-15 07:10:47|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on June 14, 2021 shows a UN Security Council meeting on the situation in Somalia at the UN headquarters in New York. Three members of the Al-Shabaab armed group have been listed for sanctions during the reporting period to further help the federal government of Somalia fight the insurgents, the chair of the Security Council's sanctions regime for the country said on Monday. (Manuel Elias/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)

UNITED NATIONS, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Three members of the Al-Shabaab armed group have been listed for sanctions during the reporting period to further help the federal government of Somalia fight the insurgents, the chair of the Security Council's sanctions regime for the country said on Monday.

"While it is too early to see the impact of these listings, an updated sanctions list can be a significant tool in supporting the federal government of Somalia in its fight against Al-Shabaab," said Geraldine Byrne Nason, permanent representative of Ireland to the United Nations and chair of the Security Council Committee pursuant to Resolution 751 (1992) concerning Somalia, during a briefing on the subsidiary organ's work from Feb. 26 to June 14.

She added that those three individuals hold various positions in the armed group.

Nason also noted that the committee received the comprehensive midterm update of the panel of experts on Somalia on May 14 and discussed the content at a second informal virtual meeting on June 4.

During that meeting, she said, the acting coordinator of the panel, who was appointed following the resignation of the coordinator on April 27, 2021, highlighted four key areas of the panel's midterm update -- the continued threat posed by Al-Shabaab, including the use of improvised explosive devices; violations of international humanitarian law; ongoing investigations into the group's finances; the management of weapons and ammunition by the federal government; and the ban on the export of charcoal from the country.

Nason said committee members welcomed the panel's work on Al-Shabaab's finances, expressed concern over the reported violations of international humanitarian and human rights law, and noted that effective weapons and ammunition management procedures instituted by the federal government were key to preventing military equipment from falling into the hands of Al-Shabaab and a faction of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

The committee is currently considering the six recommendations contained in the panel's midterm update, including the idea of a consultative process with the federal government on the requirements of the arms embargo regime, she reported. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-15 09:15:16|Editor: huaxia

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Yu Ming (1st L), the Chinese owner of bubble tea shop See You hands out free Zongzi and meals to people in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, June 14, 2021. (Photo by Sovannara/Xinhua)

"The sharing (of food) from Chinese people to needy Cambodians during the COVID-19 is very important and it reflects good relations between our two peoples who always give mutual help during difficult times," said Cambodian ride-hailing driver Khin Sopheap.

by Mao Pengfei, Nguon Sovan

PHNOM PENH, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian ride-hailing driver Khin Sopheap unexpectedly enjoyed the taste of Zongzi on Monday while driving past a Chinese eatery when its staffers were offering the snack together with lunch meals to passers-by for free to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival.

Zongzi, a glutinous rice dumpling wrapped up with bamboo or reed leaves, is a traditional delicacy that Chinese people eat on the day of the Dragon Boat Festival, which fell on Monday, June 14 this year.

In China, Zongzi commemorates the death of famous Chinese poet Qu Yuan during the Warring States Period (475-221 B.C.).

An employee at bubble tea shop See You thumps up while showing a bunch of Zongzi in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, June 14, 2021. (Photo by Sovannara/Xinhua)

Sopheap tasted a few pieces of Zongzi and extolled its flavor.

"It's really delicious and I like it," he told Xinhua after eating the snack. "I'm really pleased to learn about Chinese culture and traditions."

The father of four children said that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, his family has struggled with financial difficulties as his daily revenue has declined remarkably.

"Before the COVID-19, I made 40,000 riels (10 U.S. dollars) to 50,000 riels (12.5 dollars) a day, but now there's no revenue because of no customers and someday, earn only 10,000 riels (2.5 U.S. dollars)," he said.

A staff member prepares meals for free distribution at bubble tea shop See You in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, June 14, 2021. (Photo by Sovannara/Xinhua)

"The sharing (of food) from Chinese people to needy Cambodians during the COVID-19 is very important and it reflects good relations between our two peoples who always give mutual help during difficult times," he added.

Motor-taxi driver Suon Soklong, 61, offered his gratitude to China for helping Cambodia and its people during this difficult time.

"Thank you China and the Chinese people for supporting our socio-economic development and helping us to fight COVID-19 by providing medical equipment and supplies and medical experts as well as donating and selling COVID-19 vaccines," he said. "Ironclad friendship between Cambodia and China will last forever."

An employee at bubble tea shop See You shows a bunch of Zongzi in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, June 14, 2021. (Photo by Sovannara/Xinhua)

Yu Ming, the Chinese owner of See You, a bubble tea shop that provides Zongzi and meals for free, said he has given out free meals, including fried rice and sweet lemon iced tea, daily to 50 needy people since early May, and as June 14 marked the Dragon Boat Festival in China, he decided to add five pieces of Zongzi to each of the food packages.

"I share Zongzi with them because today marks the Dragon Boat Festival in China, and I want them to experience the taste of Zongzi and to know about Chinese culture and traditions," he told Xinhua. "As poor people have been hit hard by the COVID-19, I hope that my free meals will help relieve their hardship."
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-15 09:24:08|Editor: huaxia

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SANTIAGO, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Chile has fully vaccinated 59.2 percent of its target population against the COVID-19 pandemic, meaning 9,005,224 people have received both of their vaccine shots, the Health Ministry said Monday.

According to the Health Ministry, some 11,438,522 people have received their first shot, or 76.6 percent of the target population.

When launching its vaccination campaign earlier this year, the government said it would aim to immunize 80 percent of the populace, or 15 million people, by mid-year to achieve herd immunity.

Chile has thus been placed "among the first three countries in the world in range of vaccination per inhabitant," Health Minister Enrique Paris told a press conference.

Urging vaccine skeptics to get inoculated, Paris said that more vaccines would arrive this week to reinforce the country's voluntary inoculation campaign.

More than 400,000 people aged 23-39 have not received their shots, according to official estimates.

On that account, officials have set up mobile vaccination units, extended inoculation calendars, and issued vaccine passports for the fully vaccinated. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-15 09:39:38|Editor: huaxia

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Chen Weiqing (L), China's first representative to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), meets with Yousef Al-Othaimeen, Secretary-General of the OIC, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on June 13, 2021. Yousef Al-Othaimeen on Sunday thanked China for providing assistance and support to Islamic countries, especially the least developed countries, amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The secretariat of the OIC has maintained good communication and close coordination with China in recent years, Al-Othaimeen said when Chen Weiqing delivered the letter of appointment to him. (Chinese Embassy in Saudi Arabia/Handout via Xinhua)

RIYADH, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Yousef Al-Othaimeen on Sunday thanked China for providing assistance and support to Islamic countries, especially the least developed countries, amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The secretariat of the OIC has maintained good communication and close coordination with China in recent years, Al-Othaimeen said when Chen Weiqing, China's first representative to the OIC, delivered the letter of appointment to him.

Al-Othaimeen spoke highly of China's appointment of a representative to the OIC, stressing that it will promote development of their relations.

In recent years, the political mutual trust and cultural exchanges between Islamic states and China have been deepened. After the outbreak of the pandemic, Islamic states and China have joined hands to fight the pandemic and carried out good cooperation in vaccine research and development, said Chen, who is also Chinese ambassador to Saudi Arabia.

Chen added that China is willing to take this appointment as an opportunity to further deepen exchanges and cooperation with the OIC and its member states, so as to bring their ties to a new level. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-15 10:01:55|Editor: huaxia

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Yuan Xinyue (R) of China blocks the net during the Preliminary Round match between China and Italy at the 2021 FIVB Volleyball Nations League in Rimini, Italy, June 14, 2021. (Xinhua)

RIMINI, Italy, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The United States beat Turkey 3-1 here on Monday for their 12th straight win in the women's Volleyball Nations League (VNL) while China claimed their fourth victory in a row with a 3-0 sweep of Italy.

Jordan Thompson scored a game-high 19 points to lead five American women in double-digit scoring in the 25-21, 23-25, 25-15, and 25-14 win over Turkey. Having won all their 12 round-robin matches, the United States secured a top-four place in the 16-team preliminaries and a berth in the semifinals.

"I think that this whole tournament we have really tried to focus on our side of the net and even when things got tougher during the match, we really stuck to what's our DNA, trying to come back and staying patient together," said American captain Jordan Larson, who finished with 13 points. "Turkey was serving pretty tough and for us, it was running fast and starting our middles as well. So our great offense was key."

Earlier on Monday, China eased past Italy 25-19, 25-11, and 25-19 to improve to a 7-5 win-loss record.

With star spiker Zhu Ting watching from the bench, Li Yingying spearheaded the Chinese offense with 19 points, and Zhang Changning and Yuan Xinyue added 11 apiece.

"Italy is a young team, but powerful. Today our serve and defense made us so successful. We are now a complete team, but I think we still need more practice to be even better next week," said Zhang.

Brazil swept Thailand 3-0 for their 10th win in 12 tries while Japan rallied past Belgium 3-1 to share a 9-3 record with Turkey.

Also on Monday, South Korea outlasted Canada 3-2, Germany whitewashed Poland 3-0, the Netherlands lost to Dominican Republic 3-1 and Russia overwhelmed Serbia 3-0.

The sixteen teams will have three days off with the last week of women's round-robin preliminaries to take place from Friday to Sunday. The top four finishers from the preliminaries will qualify for the semifinals. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-15 10:58:06|Editor: huaxia

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BRUSSELS, June 14 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Mission to the European Union (EU) on Monday rejected NATO's claim of presenting "systemic challenges," saying it is a slander on China's peaceful development and represents "a continuation of the Cold War mentality and bloc politics."

In a statement, a spokesperson for the Chinese mission said China is committed to a defense policy "that is defensive in nature," and its pursuit of defense and military modernization is "justified, reasonable, open and transparent."

China's defense budget in 2021, said the spokesperson, is about 209 billion U.S. dollars, or only 1.3 percent of its GDP, even less than NATO's minimum 2 percent criteria.

Meanwhile, the total military expense of 30 NATO members is expected to reach 1.17 trillion dollars this year, more than half of the total global military expenditure and 5.6 times that of China.

"The people of the world can see clearly who has military bases all over the world and who is flexing muscles by sending aircraft carriers all over the world," the spokesperson said.

When it comes to nuclear power, the number of Chinese nuclear weapons is "by no means in the same league" with NATO member states such as the United States, the spokesperson noted, citing reports from Swedish and U.S. think tanks.

China always follows the principle of no-first-use of nuclear weapons at any time and under any circumstance, and is committed itself unconditionally not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states or nuclear-weapon-free zones.

"I would like to ask whether NATO and its member states, which are striving for "peace, security and stability," can make the same commitment as China?" asked the spokesperson.

China will always pursue peaceful development, but it will never give up the right to uphold peace and defend its sovereignty, security and development interests. "China will not present 'systemic challenges' to anyone, but we will not sit by and do nothing if 'systemic challenges' come closer to us," the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson urged the military alliance to view China's development in a rational manner, stop hyping up in any form the so-called "China threat", and make earnest efforts in promoting cooperation and maintaining global and regional peace and stability. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-15 13:50:15|Editor: huaxia

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Police officers investigate at the scene where the gunman was killed in Fullerton shootout in Los Angeles, California, the United States, April 27, 2021. (Xinhua)

- Statistics from the Federal Bureau of Investigation show the murder rate surged by 25 percent in 2020 -- the first time the United States has seen over 20,000 annual murders since 1995 -- up from 16,000 the previous year.

- As of June 12 this year, the U.S. has suffered 272 mass shootings, according to Gun Violence Archive.

- Four major cities saw mass shootings over the weekend, with at least 38 people wounded and six deaths.

by Matthew Rusling

WASHINGTON, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Marge Raya, a logistics manager in her 40s working outside of Washington DC, said she no longer ventures into the city at night.

"I avoid it. It's not worth going to areas that have a surge in crime," she told Xinhua.

Her statement reflects a growing reluctance of many Americans to venture into major cities at a time when violent crime is surging to record highs.

A VIOLENT WEEKEND

Indeed, four major cities saw mass shootings over the weekend, with at least 38 people wounded and six deaths.

The cities of Cleveland, Chicago Austin and Savannah saw a string of mass shootings during the weekend, according to news reports.

As of June 12 this year, the U.S. has suffered 272 mass shootings, according to Gun Violence Archive.

Statistics from the Federal Bureau of Investigation show the murder rate surged by 25 percent in 2020 -- the first time the United States has seen over 20,000 annual murders since 1995 -- up from 16,000 the previous year.

As of May 25, Los Angeles saw a 26.5 percent increase in the murder rate, according to the City of Los Angeles.

As of May 21, the city of Philadelphia saw a 38 percent crime increase, according to the city's District Attorney's office.

The New York Police Department reported in early May that shootings were up 166 percent in April, compared to the same period last year.

A police car is seen patrolling in Chinatown of New York, the United States, March 19, 2021. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua)

Portland, a city in the Pacific Northwest, known for its green environment and fresh air, erupted in violence with riots on a nightly basis for months after the police killing of George Floyd, an unarmed black man.

The city is now on track to surpass the all-time record for murders this year. As of last week, Portland has seen 37 murders so far this year, over six times the amount in the same time last year, according to the Associated Press.

Irene Moody, a nurse in her 60s, who moved from the city of Philadelphia to a suburban area of New Jersey, told Xinhua she still goes to nearby Philadelphia to get her hair done, but "I wouldn't go back there to live because of the crime."

Some experts point to the fact that the pandemic has led to a separation between individuals and institutions, which has caused an uptick in crime.

Patrick Sharkey, a sociologist at Princeton University, told the Atlantic Monthly in a recent interview that in areas where institutions break down, people feel like they're on their own, which creates conditions where violence becomes more likely.

John, a police officer in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, told Xinhua he believes major cities like New York are suffering from multiple factors that have coalesced and caused crime to skyrocket.

Police leaving their jobs, cities not hiring enough new officers, and low police morale have contributed to a surge in crime, he said.

A girl protests hate crimes against Asian Americans in Atlanta, Georgia, the United States, March 20, 2021. (Photo by XiaoHeng Wang/Xinhua)

A COMPLEX ISSUE

Conservatives, Republican lawmakers and law enforcement said that the "defund the police movements" - which sprouted up in cities nationwide after Floyd's murder - were to blame.

Others said, however, that violence is also going up in cities where police funding has not been slashed.

In a recent opinion article published in USA Today, Jason Johnson, former deputy police commissioner for the U.S. city of Baltimore and the president of the Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund, said that even the "most dedicated officers, who now face a greater risk of being sued, fired or prosecuted for doing their job, feel pressure to...take a more passive approach."

In a Wall Street Journal OP-ED published last week, Robert L. Woodson, an African American and head of the Woodson Center, said that calls to defund the police have made black neighborhoods more dangerous.

"Over the past few years, the deaths of unarmed black people at police hands-including the murder of George Floyd -have rightly generated national outrage," Woodson said.

Yet, the movement to defund the police, which rose to prominence after Floyd's death, "has actually gotten innocent black people killed," Woodson said.

Photo taken on March 11, 2021 shows the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

The parents, youths, community leaders and law enforcement are strongly opposed to defunding the police, advocating instead for measures that ensure responsible policing, according to the OP-ED.

Despite nationwide protests over police brutality, a Gallup poll published in August found that 61 percent of African Americans said they want police to spend the same amount of time in their neighborhoods, and 20 percent said they want more police.

That totals 81 percent of African Americans who want the police presence to remain unchanged or to increase, according to the poll.

Some experts believe Democrats could be hurt in next year's midterm elections, due to calls from the Party's progressive wing to defund the police.

"Higher crime rates are generally dangerous for incumbent parties," as voters tend to attribute blame to whoever is in power, Christopher Galdieri, assistant professor at Saint Anselm College, told Xinhua.

"And there's some evidence... that the 'defunding' calls from the left hurt congressional candidates more than anyone in the party realized at the time," Galdieri said. 
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-15 14:43:23|Editor: huaxia

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MANILA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines rejected on Tuesday the request of the International Criminal Court (ICC) chief prosecutor to call for a full investigation into alleged crimes against humanity committed by the government during its anti-drug campaign.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the move of prosecutor Fatou Bensouda to seek judicial authorization from the pre-trial of the ICC to investigate Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte formally is "legally erroneous and politically motivated."

In a televised press conference, Roque said Duterte will not participate in the investigation. "The president already said that we will not cooperate because we are not a member of the ICC anymore," he said.

Roque said the government did not commit crimes against humanity because the law enforcers never targeted civilians in their operations, adding the law enforcers acted in self-defense.

Duterte's single six-year presidential term ends on June 30, 2022. "We do not know what the policy will be after 2022. That will be answered by whoever is the next president of the Philippines," Roque added.

The Philippines' Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it found the "midnight announcement" of Bensouda "deeply regrettable."

The DFA said that Bensouda, whose term ends this week, "undercuts the attractiveness of the Rome Statutes to States" and preempts the prerogative of her successor to make a complete evaluation of the cases.

The DFA said the Philippine government "has taken concrete and progressive steps to address concerns in the conduct of the anti-illegal drugs campaign."

The Philippines officially informed the United Nations in March 2018 about its decision to withdraw from the Rome Statute of the ICC after the body launched a probe into the alleged extrajudicial killings related to Duterte's anti-drug campaign.

Duterte at that time said the ICC accusations are "baseless, unprecedented and outrageous attacks."

According to Philippine government data, more than 6,000 people were killed in the war on drugs that Duterte launched after he took office in 2016. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-15 16:02:18|Editor: huaxia

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SUVA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Businesses in Fiji have been adjusting to the new normal amid the COVID-19 restrictions to facilitate the transition to online platforms.

Suva Retailers Association president Jitesh Patel said this week that the initiative allows members to reach out to the market and embrace Fiji's move towards e-commerce to stimulate economic activity.

Approximately 50 retailers in the capital Suva have undertaken this initiative engaging with their customers online, according to Patel.

Patel said store retailers, including barber shops, have been given approval by the Ministry of Commerce in Fiji to operate through appointments online.

While there is minimal contact under restrictions, Fijians are urged to follow all protocols after Fiji's Ministry of Health recorded another 89 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday.

Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary James Fong said 82 of the new cases are linked to cluster infections.

Fong said businesses shifting to online is useful for containment purposes as it lets the ministry know where to target lockdowns.

On Monday Fiji reported its highest daily caseload of 105.

Fong added the government has ramped up testing capacity as currently 3,000 tests are conducted every day while last year the testing capacity was 120 per day. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-15 16:43:48|Editor: huaxia

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LANZHOU, June 15 (Xinhua) -- A new freight train route has been launched, linking Hamburg in Germany and the city of Wuwei in northwest China's Gansu Province, local authorities said on Tuesday.

A train carrying 771 tonnes of containers with a total value of approximately 36.3 million yuan (5.67 million U.S. dollars) departed from Wuwei on Sunday, inaugurating the service.

The train is expected to arrive in Hamburg in early July after traveling through China's Alataw Pass, said the Gansu (Wuwei) international inland port administration committee.

It is the land port's first China-Europe freight train to Hamburg, also its second China-Europe freight train to Germany this year.

The goods aboard the new route's first train are mainly auto parts, office supplies, household appliances and intelligent package delivery lockers. The train will travel approximately 8,700 km to reach its final destination in Germany. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-15 17:22:01|Editor: huaxia

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The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which marks its 20th founding anniversary on June 15, has grown into a major force in facilitating the realization of lasting peace and common development, said former SCO Secretary-General Bolat Nurgaliyev.

Nurgaliyev served as SCO secretary-general from 2007 to 2009 and now works as chairman of the board of the Foreign Policy Research Institute under the Kazakh Foreign Ministry.

In an exclusive interview with Xinhua, the veteran diplomat said the SCO, though a relatively young bloc, has achieved substantive progress over the past 20 years by strengthening trust between member states in an effective, fruitful and constructive manner.

With eight full members, four observer countries and six dialogue partners, the bloc covers nearly half of the world's population and spans over 60 percent of the Eurasian landmass.

Since the very beginning, the SCO saw itself as a key player in safeguarding international security to jointly address common threats and challenges, said Nurgaliyev.

He explained that SCO members have made notable strides in the fight against the "three evil forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism. Meanwhile, economic and trade cooperation as well as people-to-people and cultural exchanges have also been undergoing smooth development.

Rebuffing that the SCO is the "eastern NATO," Nurgaliyev said the SCO always sticks to collective consultation, openness and is ready to cooperate both in the East and the West.

The diplomat said the SCO is constantly developing, galvanized by the Shanghai Spirit featuring mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for cultural diversity, and pursuit of common development.

He said that China has made concrete contributions to the SCO. "I would like to emphasize that the China-proposed ideas of building a community with (a) shared future for mankind and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) have stood test within the framework of the SCO."

"Turning 20 years old, the SCO has walked a glorious path. There is a very high level of mutual trust and understanding, with member states ready to jointly respond to challenges on the international agenda," said Nurgaliyev.

"We have a common destiny. We are not only neighbors who were destined to be together, but also close friends and partners," said Nurgaliyev.

Produced by Xinhua Global Service
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-15 17:26:06|Editor: huaxia

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DHAKA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The miraculous growth performances and development history of China offer an opportunity of learning for Bangladesh, an expert said.

While most developed economies including the United States, Britain and the European Union experienced falling output due to the COVID-19 pandemic, China showed its resilience by maintaining growth momentum last year, Abdur Razzaque, research director of leading local think-tank Policy Research Institute of Bangladesh, said at a recent virtual discussion.

It has emerged as a major global economic power having achieved remarkable transformations of its economy and in the process of becoming the world's largest exporter and one of the most important sources of foreign investment, he said.

Considering the geographic proximity and strong economic prospects of Bangladesh and China, Razzaque said that China is expected to become an even more important trade and development partner of Bangladesh in the coming years.

Bangladesh's impending graduation from the group of least developed countries (LDCs), set to take place in 2026, testifies to its solid economic development process, he said.

Effectively dealing with COVID-19, revitalizing the export-led growth process, and a renewed dynamism in investment activities are amongst the most important drivers that can put Bangladesh back in its recent track record of high economic growth, poverty alleviation, and making progress on achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), said Razzaque.

As Bangladesh aims to become an Upper Middle-Income Country (UMIC) by the 2031 fiscal year, and a High-Income Country (HIC) status by the 2041 fiscal year, he said China could be an important trade and development partner supporting Bangladesh's growth prospects and economic transformation in a post pandemic world.

As part of its unilateral market access schemes for LDCs, the Chinese government has allowed Bangladesh exports to China Duty-Free Quota Free access for 97 percent of its tariff lines from July 1, 2020.

Under this initiative, 8,256 Bangladeshi products enjoy zero tariff for exports to China, Razzaque said.

The researcher, however, underlined the need for establishing a full-fledged free trade agreement (FTA) with China to retain the available market access to the Chinese market.

Bangladeshi Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi has recently said a memorandum of understanding had been signed between the ministries of commerce of the two countries on Launching a Joint Feasibility Study of China-Bangladesh Free Trade Agreement in October 2016.

He said FTAs help to enhance competitive advantage, increase market access for goods and services, strengthen investors' confidence and to a large extent, build Bangladesh's economic sustainability.

"Although some progress had been made, still we need to put lots of effort to conclude the negotiation and materialize the prospect of the FTA," said the minister. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-15 19:22:58|Editor: huaxia

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MAIMANA, Afghanistan -- Taliban attack on Shirin Tagab district of the northern Faryab province has been repulsed and the militants fled away after leaving 16 bodies behind, army spokesman in the northern region Mohammad Hanif Rezai said.

Taliban militants launched massive offensive early Tuesday to overrun Shirin Tagab district, but the security forces backed by fighting helicopters retaliated, forcing the militants to flee after leaving 16 bodies behind and 22 more injured, Rezai said. (Afghanistan-Taliban-Attack)

- - - -

MOGADISHU -- At least 15 soldiers were killed and dozens more injured in a suicide bombing targeting a military training camp, south of the Somali capital of Mogadishu, Tuesday, police and witnesses said.

A police officer who did not want to be named told Xinhua that a suicide bomber blew himself up at General Dhagobadan military training camp. (Somalia-Suicide Bombing-Casualty)

- - - -

TOKYO -- Japan's lower house of parliament Tuesday voted down a no-confidence motion against Japanese Prime Minster Yoshihide Suga's Cabinet jointly filed by the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and three other opposition parties.

The motion was filed after the ruling coalition turned down the opposition camp's request for the end of the current parliamentary session to be pushed back by three months to allow for more debate on matters related to COVID-19 pandemic and the Tokyo Olympics. (Japan-No Confidence Motion-Suga Cabinet) Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-15 20:08:49|Editor: huaxia

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-- As an important founding member of the SCO, China has been calling for concerted efforts to build a closer SCO community with a shared future, which has offered the organization and the world an inspiring vision to jointly tackle emerging challenges.

-- At the landmark Qingdao summit of the SCO in 2018, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for the building of an SCO community with a shared future, which has enriched the Shanghai Spirit, a core value of the SCO that champions mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diverse civilizations and pursuit of common development.

-- While attending the 20th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO in 2020 via video link, the Chinese president deepened the concept of an SCO community with a shared future by putting forward "a community of health for us all," "a community of security for us all," "a community of development for us all" and "a community of cultural exchanges for us all."





BEIJING, June 15 (Xinhua) -- After 20 years of growth, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has evolved into one of the major mechanisms promoting regional and global stability and prosperity.

As an important founding member of the SCO, China has been calling for concerted efforts to build a closer SCO community with a shared future, which has offered the organization and the world an inspiring vision to jointly tackle emerging challenges.

People visit the 2021 SCO International Investment and Trade Expo in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, April 26, 2021. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)

SCO COMMUNITY WITH SHARED FUTURE

At the landmark Qingdao summit of the SCO in 2018, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for the building of an SCO community with a shared future, which has enriched the Shanghai Spirit, a core value of the SCO that champions mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diverse civilizations and pursuit of common development.

In the Qingdao Declaration, the SCO members made "building a community with a shared future for humanity" a common concept, which has become the member states' most important political consensus and set the goal for their future efforts.

To propel the SCO towards a greater role in promoting regional and global prosperity, the Chinese president has expounded his insightful vision on building a community with a shared future for mankind on various occasions.

From 2014 to 2016, Xi repeatedly mentioned a community of common destiny and a community of common interests in his speeches at the SCO.

"All member states, old and new, should work in close coordination, deepen mutual trust and increase mutual support in their endeavor to build a community of shared future featuring equality, mutual support, solidarity and sharing of weal and woe," Xi said at the 17th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO in 2017.

At the Qingdao summit in 2018, Xi elaborated on his vision on upholding "innovative, coordinated, green, open and inclusive development," pursuing "common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security," promoting "open and inclusive cooperation for win-win outcomes," championing "equality, mutual learning, dialogue and inclusiveness between civilizations," and following "the principle of achieving shared growth through discussion and collaboration in engaging in global governance."

People visit the 2021 SCO International Investment and Trade Expo in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, April 26, 2021. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)

In June 2019, Xi called for efforts to make the SCO an example of solidarity and mutual trust, common security, mutually beneficial cooperation, inclusiveness and mutual learning, which has further specified the goals and tasks of building an SCO community with a shared future.

"I would like to emphasize that the China-proposed ideas of building a community with (a) shared future for mankind and the Belt and Road Initiative have stood test within the framework of the SCO," said former SCO Secretary-General Bolat Nurgaliyev.

EVOLVING VISION

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has compounded the surging problems that have been plaguing human beings, and also provided the SCO members with an opportunity to build a closer community with a shared future.

While attending the 20th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO in 2020 via video link, the Chinese president deepened the concept of an SCO community with a shared future by putting forward "a community of health for us all," "a community of security for us all," "a community of development for us all" and "a community of cultural exchanges for us all."

Guided by the vision of building "a community of health for us all," China has provided COVID-19 vaccines to Uzbekistan, donated anti-epidemic materials to Kyrgyzstan, and sent medical experts to Russia and Kazakhstan.

At the same time, traditional and non-traditional security threats such as terrorism, extremism, drug proliferation and cyber security issues continue to emerge. The vision of building "a community of security for us all" generates a new perspective on solving these problems in a common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable manner.

From signing the anti-extremism convention and conducting joint military drills to cracking down on Internet-based propagation of extremist ideology and pushing forward the peace process in Afghanistan, the SCO has witnessed burgeoning security cooperation among its members on regional and international arenas.

Meanwhile, "a community of development for us all" is taking shape. As Xi pointed out, "True development is development for all and good development is sustainable."

File photo taken on Nov. 9, 2020 shows a train carrying tires, auto parts, electronic components and other goods from Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) preparing to leave the Qingdao multimodal transportation center in the China-SCO local economic and trade cooperation demonstration zone in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)

Major projects such as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, SCO training and demonstration base for agricultural technology exchange and China-SCO local economic and trade cooperation demonstration zone have brought tangible benefits for local people.

In recent years, the world has also encountered turbulence of unilateralism and protectionism, with some voices advocating "clash of civilizations" and inciting prejudice and hatred.

However, each civilization, Xi said, is distinct and none is superior to others. "We need to promote mutual learning between our civilizations and enhance good-neighborliness and friendship between our countries."

GLOBAL CONTRIBUTOR

Covering over 60 percent of the Eurasian landmass and nearly half of the world's population, the SCO is well-known for its growing role in maintaining regional stability and boosting common prosperity.

"One of the main goals and objectives of the SCO is to promote comprehensive and balanced economic growth, social and cultural development in the region through joint actions based on equal partnership of the member states, in order to steadily improve the living conditions of peoples," Kabuljon Sabirov, director of the Tashkent-based SCO's Public Diplomacy Center, told Xinhua.

As an increasingly important cooperation mechanism and platform, the SCO has also won worldwide recognition as it has never accepted the Cold War mentality and zero-sum game thoughts, and has strived for a shared future and a new type of international relations.

File photo taken on July 16, 2018 shows attendees of the third Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Youth Campus taking selfies in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)

The SCO sets a good example for a new type of international relations featuring mutual respect, equity, justice and win-win cooperation, said Li Ziguo, director of the Department for European-Central Asian Studies of the China Institute of International Studies.

Since its founding 20 years ago, the SCO has continuously developed and expanded, and its influence has been continuously improved, Li said, adding that the SCO has successfully explored a new type of cooperation and development path for regional organizations.

The formation of the SCO, with an aim "to create stable mechanisms of interaction, a platform for constant political dialogue and regional economic cooperation," was a turning point in the development of mankind, Sabirov said.

"The SCO was and is a collective response of the peoples of a vast region to the challenges of our time," he said.

The SCO, which marks its 20th founding anniversary on June 15, has grown into a major force in facilitating the realization of lasting peace and common development, said Nurgaliyev.

"China better understands that one's own well-being depends on the successful development of his neighbors. If your neighbor has a more successful economy, you can benefit from it," Nurgaliyev noted.

"Turning 20 years old, the SCO has walked a glorious path. There is a very high level of mutual trust and understanding, with member states ready to jointly respond to challenges on the international agenda," he said.

(Video reporters: Ren Jun and Zhang Jiye; Video editor: Liu Xiaorui)
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-15 20:19:06|Editor: huaxia

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HONG KONG, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's COVID-19 caseload surpassed 200,000 on Tuesday, while Malaysia conditionally approved the CanSino vaccine for use in the latest developments of the COVID-19 in Asia-Pacific countries.

Thailand's COVID-19 caseload topped 200,000 with 3,000 new cases reported, as the country struggles to contain a new surge of infections. The new cases, with five imported and 2,995 locally transmitted, brought the total tally to 202,264, according to the Center for the COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA).

Thailand has begun to conduct a clinical test on its locally developed COVID-19 vaccine with humans, Chulalongkorn University's medical professor Kiat Ruxrungtham said.

Malaysia has conditionally approved emergency use of the single-dose COVID-19 vaccine developed by Chinese company CanSino Biologics, the Health Ministry said.

Health Ministry Director-General Noor Hisham Abdullah said the approval was given by the regulators to the Convidecia Recombinant Novel Coronavirus Vaccine (Adenovirus Type 5 Vector) developed by the CanSino.

Japan's lower house of parliament voted down a no-confidence motion against Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's Cabinet jointly filed by the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ) and three other opposition parties.

The motion was filed after the ruling coalition turned down the opposition camp's request for the end of the current parliamentary session, scheduled to end on Wednesday, to be pushed back by three months to allow for more debate on matters related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Tokyo Olympics.

Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen said 3 million people in the Southeast Asian nation have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine so far.

The Philippines' Department of Health (DOH) reported 5,389 new COVID-19 infections, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the Southeast Asian country to 1,327,431. The death toll climbed to 22,963 after 118 more patients died from the viral disease, the DOH said.

South Korea has administered COVID-19 vaccines to a quarter of its population as of Tuesday afternoon, Yonhap news agency reported citing the health authorities. A total of 13 million people, or about 25.3 percent of the country's 51.35 million population, received the first shots of COVID-19 vaccines as of 2:30 p.m. local time.

South Korea reported 374 more cases of COVID-19 as of midnight Monday compared to 24 hours ago, raising the total number of infections to 148,647.

Pakistan reported 838 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 943,027, the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) said on Tuesday.

According to the NCOC, a department leading Pakistan's fight against the pandemic, the country has recorded 880,316 recoveries.

India's COVID-19 tally rose to 29,570,881, with 60,471 new confirmed cases recorded in the past 24 hours, said the federal health ministry.

Besides, 2,726 new deaths from the coronavirus epidemic were recorded during the cited period in the South Asian country, taking the COVID-19 related death toll to 377,031. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-15 20:35:31|Editor: huaxia

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BANGKOK, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The Thai Restaurant Association on Tuesday called on the government-run Center for the COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) to allow restaurants in Bangkok and neighboring provinces to open until 11:00 p.m. and serve alcohol in spite of the sustained pandemic situation.

Thai Restaurant Association president Thaniwan Kulmongkol submitted a letter of petition to Prime Minister and CCSA Chairman Prayut Chan-o-cha, calling for an extension to the dine-in hours for customers at restaurants in Bangkok, Samut Prakan, Nonthaburi and Pathum Thani from 9:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. and allowing more seating space in the restaurants from 25 percent as currently provided to at least 50 percent.

Bangkok and its neighboring provinces are currently put under maximum control and restrictions due to a large number of daily confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection for the last few months.

The Thai Restaurant Association also petitioned that the CCSA allow those restaurants to serve alcoholic beverages since, she said, most customers would only spend an average of two hours drinking at the restaurants and would not stay on beyond an 11:00 p.m. limit.

Thaniwan said an estimated 50,000 restaurants in Bangkok and the neighboring provinces might eventually go out of business in the next two to six months if such petitions were not met.

The CCSA is expected to consider the association's demands on the upcoming Friday, according to CCSA Operations Center director Nattapon Nakpanich. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-15 21:53:59|Editor: huaxia

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GAZA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Dozens of Palestinians on Tuesday rallied along the border areas between the eastern Gaza Strip and Israel in protest against an Israeli march in East Jerusalem, security sources and eyewitnesses said.

The protests mostly took place near the border fence between the southern town of Khan Younis and the northern town of Beit Hanoun, while Israeli soldiers stationed on the border fired live ammunition and tear gas canisters to disperse the protesters who approached the fence, they said.

No injuries were reported yet.

Meanwhile, members of a Palestinian activist group called the Night Disturbing Unit, announced in a press statement that they will organize protests at night near the border fence with Israel.

According to the statement, the activists will launch incendiary balloons from Gaza toward southern Israel and burn tires in the border area.

Meanwhile, the national corporation of the March of Return, which comprises several Palestinian factions, also called for holding rallies and protests in the Gaza Strip against the Israeli march.

There are deep concerns that the Israeli march scheduled for Tuesday in Jerusalem would renew violent fighting between Israel and militant groups in the Gaza Strip.

From May 10 to May 21, Israel and Hamas, the ruling movement of the Gaza Strip, engaged in a round of the fiercest fighting between them since 2014, killing more than 250 Palestinians and 13 Israelis, and injuring hundreds others. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-15 21:55:21|Editor: huaxia

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LUSAKA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The African Union (AU) on Tuesday wished Zambia's first President Kenneth Kaunda a quick recovery after being hospitalized.

Chairperson of African Union Commission Moussa Faki Muhamat said the organization is joining the Zambian people in wishing the former president a quick recovery, according to a release from the Zambia Embassy in Ethiopia.

The chairperson said Kaunda is the only remaining founding father of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), the forerunner of the AU.

During the commemoration of this year's African Day, the AU honored him with a special award for the role he played and the immense contribution he made to the liberation of Africa and its people.

Kaunda, who is 97 years old, was hospitalized, his office said on Monday.

The office said on Tuesday that his condition has been stable. Rodrick Ngolo, Administrative Assistant in the Office of the First President said that preliminary tests have indicated that he has pneumonia which the medical team is currently treating him for.

"The doctors are currently doing more tests on him. But the initial tests have shown he has a problem in his chest. He has a history of pneumonia and they are currently treating him for that," Ngolo told Xinhua in a telephone interview. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-15 21:59:59|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, June 15 (Xinhua) -- China's electricity consumption, a key barometer of economic activity, expanded 12.5 percent year on year in May as the country's economy continued to recover steadily, official data showed on Tuesday.

Total power use was 672.4 billion kWh last month, according to the National Energy Administration (NEA).

In May, power consumption by primary and secondary industries rose 13.9 percent and 11.5 percent from a year ago, respectively, while that used by tertiary industries surged 23.4 percent year on year.

The secondary industry was the major driver of the growth in the total power consumption during the period, contributing to around 65 percent of the total increase, said the NEA.

Residential power consumption registered a 5.6-percent yearly increase in May.

In the first five months of the year, China's power consumption totaled 3.23 trillion kWh, up 17.7 percent year on year, data from the NEA showed.

China's economy grew 18.3 percent year on year in the first quarter, as strong domestic and foreign demand powered recovery from a low base in early 2020 when COVID-19 stalled the world's second-largest economy. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-15 23:06:03|Editor: huaxia

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BEIRUT, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon and Qatar signed on Tuesday an agreement to offer scholarships for 400 students willing to study at the American University of Beirut (AUB), the National News Agency reported.

The agreement, which was signed between caretaker Lebanese Education Minister Tarek Majzoub and Khalifa al-Kuwari, director general of the Qatar Fund for Development, covers scholarships for Lebanese, Syrian and Palestinian students studying for their bachelor degrees at AUB.

"The Qatari government does not spare any efforts to help others in achieving their developmental goals knowing that meeting people's educational needs is key to political, economic and social stability for every country," al-Kuwari said during the signing ceremony. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-15 23:15:50|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Going over the history of the Communist Party of China (CPC), it is an unassailable fact that the Party always has the support of the people.

International polls have indicated over and again that Chinese people's approval ratings of the CPC and the government rank the highest worldwide.

Last year, a report by Harvard University based on its survey in China spanning 13 years shows that the Chinese people's overall satisfaction toward the central government exceeds 93 percent.

So how does the CPC sustain this widespread support over a century?

EVERYTHING IS FOR THE PEOPLE

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, said the Party has won the people's wholehearted support because it has always served the people with heart and soul and strived for the well-being of all ethnic groups.

It is enshrined in the CPC Constitution that the Party has no special interests of its own. "In its own work, the Party shall follow the mass line, seeing that everything is for the people and everything relies on the people."

Passing down generations of Chinese leaders and CPC members, this people-oriented philosophy has been the underlying dynamic for the CPC to lead the Chinese people fighting for national independence and striving for socialist modernization.

Since the start of the reform and opening-up in the late 1970s, more than 770 million people had been lifted out of poverty in continuous poverty relief efforts led by the CPC. In early 2021, Xi declared that China had eliminated absolute poverty.

"What we have seen is a party that had never let down its guard, a party that has been consistently toiling on behalf of the Chinese people, appreciating its historic role and the choice by the Chinese people and history," said Charles Onanaiju, director of Nigeria's Center for China Studies.

The people-oriented approach of governance also demonstrated its strength in the country's battle against coronavirus last year.

China emerged among the first countries to contain the virus. It made COVID-19 treatment free-of-charge, pledging to treat every patient and leave no one unattended.

"We saved lives at all costs. We never gave up no matter how old a patient was or how serious their condition was," Xi said.

The oldest COVID-19 patient saved in China is 108 years old.

"The leadership of the CPC clearly has the support of the people of China," said Stephen Perry, chairman of Britain's 48 Group Club, who spoke to friends in China about Wuhan's lockdown. "The basic position of the CPC has been, is, and will continue to be all about the people, hear the people, and get the policies right to meet the needs of the people."

ROOTED IN THE PEOPLE

Recalling his meeting with Xi years ago, Perry said, "I looked into his eyes as he was talking. I could see a man who'd experienced poverty, who'd experienced the life of the peasants of China."

Many Chinese leaders started their careers from the grassroots, going through the difficulties ordinary people face and understanding their needs, which laid a solid foundation for their practical and people-oriented approach in formulating national policies.

"Meat would not grace our tables for months at a time," Xi once said, referring to the days when he was sent to Liangjiahe Village in northwest China's Shaanxi Province as a farmer some five decades ago. "How I wished to treat my fellow villagers to meat at least once."

From a junior local official to China's top leader, Xi has always held dear the wish he had made. Ensuring the rural poor improve their lot has been his motivation all along.

Many senior officials share similar experiences. They have worked in remote areas and shouldered grave tasks. They have proved their capability in promoting regional and national development in various positions.

Laurence J. Brahm, a senior international fellow at the Center for China and Globalization, studied this unique characteristic of the CPC leadership and concluded: "They know the entire structure of the economy and the psychology of people in being able to address their needs and respond accordingly."

In just decades, the Party led the country's massive transformation, bringing huge economic and social benefits to the people.

China's per capita disposable income reached 32,189 yuan (about 5,024 U.S. dollars) in 2020, more than double the level in 2010, with 400 million middle-income earners of its total population of over 1.4 billion.

The country has the largest social security system globally, with basic medical insurance covering over 1.3 billion people and basic old-age insurance covering about 1 billion. The average life expectancy of the Chinese has risen to 77.3 years.

British scholar and political commentator Martin Jacques said he believed the reason why the CPC enjoys a lot of support is that it managed to deliver a tremendous transformation for the Chinese people.

RESOLUTELY FIGHTING CORRUPTION

Corruption, a common problem faced by all political parties, is a disease people hate most. And it is precisely what the CPC is determined to address thoroughly.

Since 2012, the Party has investigated and punished corrupt officials -- including some high-ranking officials -- on a scale unseen in decades.

Xi said: "We will strike both the 'tigers' (high-ranking corrupt officials) and swat the 'flies' (low-ranking corrupt officials), and advance the system under which officials don't dare to, are unable to, and have no desire to commit acts of corruption as a whole."

Ahmed Bahaa El-Din Shaaban, secretary-general of the Egyptian Socialist Party, believes that a significant factor behind the CPC's success is its ability to keep itself clean through continuous anti-corruption campaigns.

Moreover, the Party has combined internal supervision with state and public scrutiny, coordinating it with legal, democratic, auditing, and judicial supervision and also scrutiny by public opinion. Together, they create a powerful synergy for conducting oversight.

The resolute fight against corruption has resulted in surging public support. According to a survey conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics, 97.3 percent of the respondents expressed satisfaction with the improvement of Party conduct, the working practices of government officials, and social morality.

"History has provided ample proof that the state is the people, and the people are the state," Xi said. "With the people's trust and support, the Party can overcome all hardships and remain invincible." Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-15 23:16:21|Editor: huaxia

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ABUJA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The Nigerian government on Tuesday said Twitter has written to seek dialogue on possible ways of solving the controversy created by its recent ban in Nigeria.

In a press briefing in Abuja, Information and Culture Minister Lai Mohammed acknowledged the receipt of the letter by the Nigerian government, saying the country's officials were open to a dialogue.

Mohammed, however, said among other conditions for Twitter to resume operation in Nigeria, there must be an agreement on what contents it could broadcast.

"I can confirm that Twitter has written the Federal Government that they are ready to talk. As we have always maintained, the door is not locked, and we are open-minded, but Twitter must work toward it," the minister said.

"They must be guided by the rules of the licensing, as well as pay taxes," the official said.

The regulation of social media platforms is becoming a global practice, he noted.

"Most countries are just waking up to the fact that the platforms are becoming more powerful than even government and must be regulated," he added.

The Nigerian government suspended Twitter on June 4, alleging that "it provided an avenue for unpatriotic elements that were bent on destroying the corporate existence of Nigeria." Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-15 23:36:23|Editor: huaxia

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Airbus A330neo aircraft receives a water cannon salute upon its arrival at Entebbe International Airport in Wakiso District, Central Region of Uganda, Feb. 2, 2021. (Photo by Nicholas Kajoba/Xinhua)

The dispute over subsidies for U.S. planemaker Boeing and its European rival Airbus has seen parallel cases filed at the World Trade Organization (WTO) since 2004.

Von der Leyen said in a statement that the EU-US summit with visiting U.S. President Joe Biden had begun with a breakthrough on the long-standing issue.

BRUSSELS, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) and the United States have agreed on a truce in their long-standing conflict over aircraft subsidies, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said here Tuesday.

"Today we move from litigation to cooperation," she tweeted.

The dispute over subsidies for U.S. planemaker Boeing and its European rival Airbus has seen parallel cases filed at the World Trade Organization (WTO) since 2004.

Von der Leyen said in a statement that the EU-US summit with visiting U.S. President Joe Biden had begun with a breakthrough on the long-standing issue.

Both sides had agreed in March to a four-month suspension of tariffs on 11.5 billion U.S. dollars of goods from EU wine to U.S. tobacco and spirits, which they had imposed during the dispute.

During the EU-US summit, both sides agreed to remove the tariffs for five years until they continue discussions on an overarching deal on the subsidies.

Australia's national airline Qantas's last Boeing 747 passenger jumbo jet prepares to take off in Sydney, Australia, on July 22, 2020. (Xinhua/Bai Xuefei)

"With the agreement on Boeing-Airbus, we have taken a major step in resolving the longest trade dispute in the history of the WTO. I am happy to see that after intensive work between the European Commission and the U.S. administration, our transatlantic partnership is on its way to reaching cruising speed," von der Leyen said in a statement.

This showed the new spirit of cooperation between the EU and the U.S. and that "we can solve the other issues to our mutual benefit," she noted.

The dispute started in 2004 when the United States filed a case at the WTO against the EU, arguing that the bloc was illegally subsidizing the Europe's large civil aircraft manufacturer Airbus. The EU also filed a complaint against the U.S. in May 2005, alleging unlawful support to Boeing.

Following a series of WTO decisions, both the U.S. and the EU imposed punitive tariffs on each other's exports, affecting in total value of 11.5 billion U.S. dollars of trade between the two sides. As a result, EU and U.S. businesses have had to pay over 3.3 billion U.S. dollars in duties. 




Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-16 00:01:13|Editor: huaxia

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TOKYO -- Japan is slated to start inoculating people aged between 18 and 64 at state-run mass COVID-19 vaccination centers on Thursday, the government said Tuesday.

Established last month by the Defense Ministry, the centers in Tokyo and Osaka originally gave shots to people aged 65 and older living in seven prefectures in the metropolitan and Kansai areas.

The ministry expanded the scope last week to accept people from nationwide and also decided Tuesday to remove the age restrictions in an effort to speed up vaccination. (Japan-Vaccination-expansion)

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HONG KONG -- Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX), which is embracing its 21st anniversary of going public, has seen its revenue up by over seven times during the past two decades.

The HKEX raked in 19.19 billion Hong Kong dollars (about 2.47 billion U.S. dollars) last year, up significantly from 2.31 billion Hong Kong dollars in 2000, the bourse said in a statement on Tuesday.

The stock exchange has grown into one of the world's leading stock exchange groups. It is currently home to 2,550 listed companies and stands firm as one of the top international destinations for initial public offerings. (HKEX-Revenue-Jump)

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BANGKOK -- The Thai Restaurant Association on Tuesday called on the government-run Center for the COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) to allow restaurants in Bangkok and neighboring provinces to open until 11:00 p.m. and serve alcohol in spite of the sustained pandemic situation.

Thai Restaurant Association president Thaniwan Kulmongkol submitted a letter of petition to Prime Minister and CCSA Chairman Prayut Chan-o-cha, calling for an extension to the dine-in hours for customers at restaurants in Bangkok, Samut Prakan, Nonthaburi and Pathum Thani from 9:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. and allowing more seating space in the restaurants from 25 percent as currently provided to at least 50 percent. (Thailand-Call-Extension of dine-in Hours)

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KUALA LUMPUR -- Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin unveiled a COVID-19 exit plan on Tuesday, outlining how the country would navigate its way out of the pandemic as it has been in lockdown since June.

In a televised speech, Muhyiddin said the plan would be gradually rolled out in four phases, with the transition to each phase when meeting certain indicators and criteria like daily new cases and vaccination rate, and all sectors of the economy are expected to be open by the end of the year.

Muhyiddin said the government's immediate priorities are to ramp up the national immunization plan, stabilize the healthcare system which is under heavy strain, and roll out economic stimulus packages. (Malaysia-COVID-19 Exit Plan-Unveiling)

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NEW DELHI -- India's top court Tuesday closed all the proceedings against two Italian marines who had been accused of killing two fishermen off the Kerala coast in 2012, officials said.

Considering the tribunal order, India has agreed to the compensation of 10 crores (about 1.36 million U.S. dollars) by Italy.

"We are satisfied with the compensation and the ex-gratia paid over and above earlier. This is a fit case to close all proceedings in India under Article 142 of the Constitution," the court ordered. (Indian Top Court-Proceedings Closure-Italian Marines) Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-16 00:33:05|Editor: huaxia

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SANAA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The Saudi-led coalition launched on Tuesday airstrikes against a group of Houthi officers who were having a meeting in Yemen's central province of Marib, killing at least nine of the rebels, a Yemeni government military source told Xinhua.

"The meeting was in a safe house in the area of al-Ghado in Sirwah district," the source said on condition of anonymity.

Meanwhile, the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV reported four coalition airstrikes on two houses in Sirwah, without providing further details.

The Saudi-led Arab coalition intervened in the Yemeni conflict in March 2015 to support the Yemeni government, nearly six months after the Iran-backed Houthi militia forced it out of the capital Sanaa.

The Houthis began in February a major offensive against the coalition-backed government army to capture the oil-rich province of Marib, which hosts nearly 2 million internally displaced people.

The United Nations has warned that the offensive on Marib could lead to a major humanitarian catastrophe.

On Friday, a high-level Omani delegation wrapped up a week-long visit to Sanaa as part of the international diplomatic efforts to convince the Houthi group to accept a recent UN-proposed cease-fire. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-16 01:00:10|Editor: huaxia

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ACCRA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is considering setting up a platform for national security advisors and early warning centers to enhance conflict prevention in the sub-region, a senior official said here Tuesday.

Jean-Claude Kassi Brou, President of the ECOWAS Commission, said at the opening of the 46th Ordinary Session of the Mediation and Security Council of the sub-regional bloc that these initiatives were critical due to the worsening insecurity situation in West Africa.

"We are living within the difficult context of the COVID-19 pandemic and the persistent terrorist attacks in our region with their humanitarian, health, and economic consequences," said Brou.

Besides the terrorist attacks, the ECOWAS Commission president added that matters relating to maritime security were also formidable insecurity issues facing the sub-region and the Gulf of Guinea in general.

"Your presence here is, therefore, critical as you will engage in discussions, the conclusions of which will be submitted to the Authority of Heads of State and Government to enable them to take decisions to tackle the peace and security challenges facing the region," Brou told members of the Mediation and Security Council.

The one-day session takes place in the face of heightening insecurity in the West African sub-region, which experts fear could undermine the regional integration process.

"Attacks by terrorists and extremist groups are worsening and cascading across the region, leaving no member state spared as a potential target," said Shierly Ayorkor Botchway, Chairperson of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, in her keynote address.

She said the proposed forum of national security advisors and the implementation of early warning centers would, therefore, be critical elements to reinforce the security architecture of West Africa.

The ministers of defense and national security from all 15 member states of ECOWAS attended the session in the Ghanaian capital ahead of the ECOWAS Heads of State Summit scheduled for Saturday. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-16 03:29:45|Editor: huaxia

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BAKU, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Azerbaijan and Turkey signed a declaration of alliance on Tuesday, as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Shusha, a city in Karabakh, after the war between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Erdogan, the first foreign leader to visit Shusha after Azerbaijan regained control of the city last November, was accompanied by his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev. Seated in the same car, Aliyev and Erdogan traveled to Shusha from Fuzuli.

Speaking at a joint press conference, Aliyev described the signing of the declaration as a historic event which "guarantees our future cooperation".

"A new era starts today," said the Azerbaijani leader, adding that the declaration elevates the relations between the two countries to the highest level.

He said the declaration highlights key issues of cooperation between the two countries at the international level, in terms of political, economic and commercial relations, culture, education, sport, energy security, as well as the importance of the South Caucasus.

Aliyev said the declaration particularly focuses on cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkey in the field of defense industry, and mutual military assistance.

"It also provides for the opening of a new transport line between the two countries which became possible after the second Karabakh war," the Azerbaijani leader added.

Erdogan said Azerbaijan will get the opportunity to embark on the manufacture of defense industry products of Turkey.

The Turkish leader also revealed his country's plans to open a consulate general in Shusha.

Erdogan arrived in Azerbaijan on Tuesday for a two-day official visit. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-16 03:49:38|Editor: huaxia

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ANKARA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Turkey and Azerbaijan on Tuesday signed a protocol of alliance, which pledges to support each other in case of threat or attack by a third country, the Anadolu Agency reported.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev signed the deal during a visit to the city of Shusha recaptured by Azerbaijan during last year's war with Armenia in the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

"With the Shusha Protocol, we have determined the road map for our relations in the new term," Erdogan said, adding that it aims to increase bilateral political and military cooperation.

"In case of a threat or attack on the independence or territorial integrity of any of the parties by a third state, the parties will provide the necessary assistance to each other," said the protocol.

The protocol envisages the opening of Zangezur corridor from Nagorno-Karabakh region to a railway line through Nakhchivan and Turkey's eastern Kars province.

Turkey will open a general consulate in Shusha to support Azerbaijan for rebuilding the Nagorno-Karabakh region, Erdogan was quoted as saying. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-16 04:53:50|Editor: huaxia

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CARACAS, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Venezuelan Food Minister Carlos Leal Telleria on Tuesday denounced the United States at the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for violating the Venezuelan people's right to food.

"There is a campaign, promoted by the government of the United States and its allies, to systematically assault the Venezuelan people's right to food," Leal told the 42nd session of the FAO Conference via teleconference.

U.S. sanctions "have led to an 83.7 percent drop in food imports, preventing the international procurement of raw materials, finished products and inputs for agricultural production," said Leal.

Sanctions also target "most of the country's international and national food suppliers," he added.

In 2015, Venezuela succeeded in reducing its undernourished population by 16 percent, to just 5 percent of the population being undernourished, noted Leal.

That achievement was recognized by the FAO, which hailed Venezuela as a country "with high food security, a promoter of the right to food and a successful model," said Leal.

Despite the sanctions, Venezuela remains committed to meeting the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, including "to guarantee food as a human right," he said. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-16 05:28:08|Editor: huaxia

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UN Special Envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths (on the screen) briefs a Security Council meeting on the situation in Yemen at the UN headquarters in New York, on June 15, 2021. Griffiths on Tuesday called for ending the war in Yemen without delay, while highlighting the importance of the UN-facilitated political process. (Eskinder Debebe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)

UNITED NATIONS, June 15 (Xinhua) -- UN Special Envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths on Tuesday called for ending the war in Yemen without delay, while highlighting the importance of the UN-facilitated political process.

"Let us, for the sake of Yemen, end this war without delay so that we can begin the real and final battle, the battle for peace," said Griffiths, the special envoy for Yemen, who gave his final briefing in that post to the Security Council.

"Yemen needs a pluralistic political future, and the UN-facilitated political process must pave the way for them to achieve just that," he added.

"We know very well what the people want. It is precisely what this Council wants: stability based on rights and freedoms. Yemen needs, for its survival and the welfare of its citizens, a government that is accountable to its people and united in support of fundamental rights, and an open and prosperous economy," said the special envoy.

Griffiths stressed that a nationwide ceasefire would have "undeniable humanitarian value" and that the continued closure of Sanaa airport and the port of Hodeidah are "unjustifiable" and must end.

He said that he has learned during his three years on the job that leaders in Yemen have come close to choosing peace over war but, time and time again, when one side is ready to compromise, the other side is not.

Mark Lowcock, whom Griffiths will shortly replace as Emergency Relief Coordinator, said that May was the deadliest month this year for civilians, with 60 civilians killed.

He said the Ansar Allah offensive in Marib continues to threaten millions of people and he called once more for a nationwide ceasefire and for the parties to spare civilians and civilian objects.

Lowcock noted the work humanitarians have done to prevent famine in Yemen but added that two brushes with famine in the last three years are not a success. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-16 06:08:45|Editor: huaxia

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GAZA -- Dozens of Palestinians on Tuesday rallied along the border areas between the eastern Gaza Strip and Israel in protest against an Israeli march in East Jerusalem, security sources and eyewitnesses said.

The protests mostly took place near the border fence between the southern town of Khan Younis and the northern town of Beit Hanoun, while Israeli soldiers stationed on the border fired live ammunition and tear gas canisters to disperse the protesters who approached the fence, they said. (Gaza-Rally-Israeli March)

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ALGIERS -- Algeria on Tuesday announced that the National Liberation Front (FLN) leads the recent parliamentary election, while independent candidates become the second political bloc, in a remarkable change in Algeria's political landscape.

At a press conference held in the capital of Algiers, Mohamed Charfi, head of the National Independent Elections Authority, revealed that the FLN won 105 of the total 407 seats of the National People's Assembly (Lower House of Parliament), while independent candidates collected 78 seats. (Algeria-Parliamentary Election-Independents)

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ANKARA -- Turkey and Azerbaijan on Tuesday signed a protocol of alliance, which pledges to support each other in case of threat or attack by a third country, the Anadolu Agency reported.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev signed the deal during a visit to the city of Shusha recaptured by Azerbaijan during last year's war with Armenia in the Nagorno-Karabakh region. (Turkey-Azerbaijan-Bilateral Protocol)

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BEIRUT -- The Lebanese army received on Tuesday 305 tons of food aid from the Egyptian armed forces, the National News Agency reported.

Egyptian Ambassador to Lebanon Yasser Alawi announced on Monday that the food donation aimed at supporting the Lebanese army amid multiple crises. (Egypt-Lebanon-Food Aid) Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-14 21:53:48|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on May 29, 2021 shows part of a wetland used for farming in Ndola town, Copperbelt Province, Zambia. For the majority of inhabitants of Chipulukusu, an informal settlement area in Ndola town of Zambia's Copperbelt region, a nearby wetland has for many years been their source of livelihood. With water all throughout the year, the wetland, which is located on the edge of the settlement area, makes agricultural activities very viable undertakings for the many vulnerable residents of the region. (Photo by Lillian Banda/Xinhua)

LUSAKA, June 14 (Xinhua) -- For the majority of inhabitants of Chipulukusu, an informal settlement area in Ndola town of Zambia's Copperbelt region, a nearby wetland has for many years been their source of livelihood.

With water all throughout the year, the wetland, which is located on the edge of the settlement area, makes agricultural activities very viable undertakings for the many vulnerable residents of the region.

A recent visit to this low-income community revealed that almost every household in the compound undertakes small-scale, market-oriented urban agriculture as their survival strategy.

"Vegetable farming is a way of life for people in this compound. Every family has a space for their farming activities in the nearby wetland," said Daliso Phiri, a senior resident of Chipulukusu compound.

Phiri, 72, added that many families in Chipulukusu had no option but to venture into agriculture many years ago because of a lack of stable employment opportunities.

And 54-year-old Sara Mbolela from the same compound said the wetland remains the main source of income for many households in the region and families depend on it for both their survival and sustenance.

"If not for the dambo, many families in this compound would have challenges making ends meet. The wetland has really helped to enhance the productivity of households in Chipulukusu," Mbolela asserted.

Many of the leafy vegetables sold in Ndola and other towns nearby are grown in the wetland, according to Mbolela.

Many young people in Chipulukusu have been encouraged to take up vegetable farming in the wetland because the region is fertile and has sufficient water for vegetables to grow well, said 21-year-old David Zulu.

"All we have to do is dig up furrows for water to be used for watering crops. We just need to buy pesticides or fertilizer if need be. Seeds and seedlings are often inexpensive," said Zulu, who manages his family's farming area in the wetland, earning about 500 Zambian Kwacha (about 22 U.S. dollars) from selling vegetables per week.

Income realized from farming activities from the wetland is dependent on the type of crops as well as the sown area. The average weekly income earned by the farmers ranges from 150 Zambian Kwacha to 500 Zambian Kwacha per week.

The most profitable crop is maize, a staple food, which may fetch more money on the market during the dry season. Those that cultivate maize during the dry season earn up to 700 Zambian Kwacha per week from selling fresh cobs of maize, according to locals. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-15 09:30:57|Editor: huaxia

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LUANDA, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Angola's National Fuel Society (Sonangol) announced here Monday the selling of partial stakes held in eight oil blocks to reassess its investment portfolio.

The announcement was made by the chairperson of the executive committee of Sonangol's Exploration and Production Unit (UNEP), Ricardo Van-Deste.

According to him, the partial selling is intended to guarantee the fulfillment and implementation of the company's exploration and production strategy from 2 percent to 10 percent by 2027.

Van-Deste underlined that the company also wants to reduce its financial exposure and participation interests, emphasizing efficient management of Sonangol's crude oil lifting rights.

He added that with "large" reserves remaining, Sonangol wants to ensure the company's commitments in the blocks and to guarantee continuous investment in the concessions in which it operates.

According to Sonangol's executive director Joaquim de Sousa Fernandes, the state oil company has financial needs amounting to 7 billion U. S. dollars until 2027.

De Sousa said these are expenses and commitments related to investments in developing fields, maintenance of equipments, payment of debts with the banks and cash call. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-15 17:21:40|Editor: huaxia

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New air tanks are being unloaded from the truck during the installation of the new oxygen plant at Mulago Referral hospital in Kampala, Uganda, June 18, 2021. Uganda is running short of medical oxygen as the east African country grapples with the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic, an official has said. (Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda/Xinhua)

KAMPALA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Uganda is running short of medical oxygen as the east African country grapples with the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic, an official has said.

Diana Atwine, permanent secretary at the ministry of health, said in an interview with local media on Monday that there was a high demand of oxygen due to the surge in numbers of COVID-19 patients in High Dependency Units and Intensive Care Units (ICU) across the country.

"Yes, it is true we have shortage of oxygen in the country, and that is why we are trying to get more oxygen plants," said Atwine.

Local media reported over the weekend that medical oxygen was running out in several districts across the country amid the second wave of the novel coronavirus in the country.

"We are working on the procurement of more (oxygen) plants, possibly 10 that can give us huge amounts of oxygen at a go. But that is quite a journey," said Atwine.

Meanwhile, Godfrey Baterana, executive director of Mulago National Referral Hospital in the capital, said the demand of oxygen by COVID-19 patients had outpaced oxygen plants manufacturing capacity.

"You find (a COVID-19) patient requiring 70 liters of oxygen per minute and yet a normal patient in a normal ICU requires between one and ten," said Baterana.

As of Monday, Uganda had registered 63,099 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 434 deaths, according to official data. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-15 17:35:19|Editor: huaxia

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Ambulances carrying casualties of a suicide bombing enter the Madina hospital in Mogadishu, Somalia, June 15, 2021. At least 15 soldiers were killed and dozens more injured in a suicide bombing targeting a military training camp, south of the Somali capital of Mogadishu, Tuesday, police and witnesses said. (Photo by Hassan Elmi/Xinhua)

MOGADISHU, June 15 (Xinhua) -- At least 15 soldiers were killed and dozens more injured in a suicide bombing targeting a military training camp, south of the Somali capital of Mogadishu, Tuesday, police and witnesses said.

A police officer who did not want to be named told Xinhua that a suicide bomber blew himself up at General Dhagobadan military training camp.

"So far, we know that 15 soldiers were killed in the attack. The death toll could rise at any moment," the officer said, adding that the casualties were mostly recruits joining the Somali National Army (SNA).

Witnesses said they saw injured people being taken to the hospitals.

"I saw ambulances entering Madina hospital where they rushed the injured ones from the blast scene," said Ibrahim Ahmed, a witness.

No group claimed responsibility yet for the latest attack, but the militant group al-Shabab usually conducted similar attacks in the past.

Somalia and partner forces have intensified military operations into territory formerly controlled by al-Shabab after driving the insurgents out of Mogadishu in 2011.

The al-Shabab group, however, still controls some parts of rural southern and central Somalia and continues to carry out high-profile attacks in Mogadishu and elsewhere. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-15 19:21:57|Editor: huaxia

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KAMPALA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- As Uganda's COVID-19 cases surge, the east African country is grappling with self-medication that claims to be able to cure the viral respiratory disease.

The Council of Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda, an institution that mandates standards in the practice of pharmacy, on Monday urged the public to avoid using prescription drugs to try and treat the virus.

"We urge the public to desist from using prescription medicines such as dexamethasone and azithromycin in the management of COVID-19 without the advice of a health professional," the council said in a statement.

"The ministry of health and the World Health Organization have developed guidelines for self-isolation and self-care of mild and asymptomatic cases of COVID-19 focusing on proper nutrition, frequent hydration and rest," the statement added.

The council urged the public to go for vaccination and follow the proven measures of prevention, including wearing a face mask in public, social distancing and properly washing hands with soap and water.

The state-run National Drug Authority (NDA) also warned in its latest statement against using products on the market that are not approved by it.

"The public is warned against the use of products on the market that are not authorized by NDA purporting to treat COVID-19," the NDA statement said.

"All manufacturers/innovators of herbal medicines are advised to seek guidance from NDA before production and sale of their products," the statement added.

Meanwhile, local authorities announced on Monday that it was sending over 500,000 COVID-19 testing kits to different government-run health facilities across the country. Testing would be free of charge in all government-run facilities.

The country was also stepping up its vaccination campaign. So far, 786,160 people had been vaccinated since March this year.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni recently announced that the country would soon purchase COVID-19 vaccines instead of entirely depending on donations.

The country is in a partial lockdown aimed at reducing the rapid spread of the virus. Schools and places of worship are all closed and public gatherings are banned. There is also a ban on inter-district travels. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-15 19:42:50|Editor: huaxia

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LUSAKA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Zambia's electoral body on Tuesday suspended two major political parties from holding campaigns in some districts due to continued violence by the supporters.

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has suspended the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) and the main opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) after they failed to tame their supporters from engaging in violence.

Chief Electoral Officer Patrick Nshindano said the two parties will not be allowed to conduct any campaigns in four districts namely Lusaka, Mpulungu, Nakonde and Namwala due to escalating violence seen in the districts.

He told reporters during a press briefing that it was unfortunate that the two parties have failed to restrain their supporters from engaging in violence as advised.

The suspension will be reviewed after 14 days, he said.

The electoral chief has since called on the media not to cover the political activities of the two parties in the affected districts while the police have been urged to ensure that the suspension was adhered to.

The electoral body has also suspended the holding of road shows by all political parties ahead of the Aug. 12 elections due to increased cases of COVID-19.

According to the electoral chief, the political parties have started using road shows as mobile rallies following a ban of campaign rallies, a situation that was exposing people to the COVID-19 pandemic. The road shows were also being used to perpetrate violence. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-15 22:45:21|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on June 16, 2021 shows the stone quarry where a collapse took place in Bukasa in Kampala, Uganda. At least four people were killed after a stone quarry collapsed in Uganda's capital Kampala on Tuesday, a police spokesperson said. (Photo by Nicholas Kajoba/Xinhua)

KAMPALA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- At least four people were killed after a stone quarry collapsed in Uganda's capital Kampala on Tuesday, a police spokesperson said.

Luke Owoyesigyire, deputy police spokesperson for Kampala Metropolitan said in a statement that the soil in a stone quarry collapsed in Bukasa, Makindye East, a Kampala suburb, killing four casual laborers on spot.

"The incident happened at around 1:45 p.m. when a group of people were busy breaking stones in the quarry," said Owoyesigyire.

A team of police officers responded to the scene and worked with the community to retrieve the four bodies from the rubble, he said.

The police spokesperson said the bodies have been taken to Kampala Capital City Authority mortuary at Mulago for post-mortem, as investigation into the cause is underway.

"We would like to inform the public that the stone quarry is currently a danger to the public and no one is encouraged to come close to them," said Owoyesigyire. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-15 23:54:44|Editor: huaxia

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JUBA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The peace talks between the Sudan transitional government and opposition Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) were suspended on Tuesday to allow parties to undertake further consultations.

Tut Gatluak Manime, head of South Sudan's mediation team said the parties have not reached agreement on adoption of a secular state as demanded by SPLM-N led by Abdel Aziz Al-Hilu.

The parties are also yet to agree on a security arrangement that includes disbanding Rapid Support Forces (RSF) troops led by deputy chairperson of the Sudan Sovereign Council Mohamed Hamdan Daqlu.

"We have postponed the talks for two weeks, the suspension will allow the parties to do further consultation at the lower levels of leadership of the two parties," Gatluak told journalists in Juba.

The peace talks between the parties being mediated by President Salva Kiir resumed on May 26.

In October 2020, Sudan's transitional government signed a peace deal with several rebel groups to end decades of conflict in the restive Darfur region.

Al-Hilu's group based in the Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile regions participated in negotiations leading up to last year's peace deal but did not sign the final peace agreement.

"The first choice for the SPLM-N is to separate the state from religion and build trust among the Sudanese people. The talks are being delayed by few outstanding issues but the next sitting will lead to a comprehensive peace agreement," said Gatluak.

Meanwhile, Shams-Eddin Kabashi, Sudan government lead negotiator, expressed optimism of reaching a final peace deal with SPLM-N, despite having differences on some sticking issues.

"We have (political) differences but the spirit for negotiating is positive, the exchange between the two sides will help in achieving comprehensive and just peace," said Kabashi.

Hamar Amun, SPLM-N secretary general said that they have agreed on 80 percent of issues, adding that they hope to conclude the remaining tasks when talks resume in July.

"We have to continue negotiating in good spirit, we have to stop war, the past governments have poisoned all generations with war, destruction and displacement. We have to resolve issues once and for all," said Amun. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-16 02:48:37|Editor: huaxia

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ALGIERS, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Algeria on Tuesday announced that the National Liberation Front (FLN) leads the recent parliamentary election, while independent candidates become the second political bloc, in a remarkable change in Algeria's political landscape.

At a press conference held in the capital of Algiers, Mohamed Charfi, head of the National Independent Elections Authority, revealed that the FLN won 105 of the total 407 seats of the National People's Assembly (Lower House of Parliament), while independent candidates collected 78 seats.

This is the first time since the introduction of a multi-party system in Algeria in 1989 that independent candidates have won so many seats.

Charfi said that the Islamist party of the Movement for Society of Peace ranked the third with 64 seats, while the former ruling party, the National Democratic Rally, clinched the fourth spot with 57 seats.

The Front of the Future party collected 48 seats, the Movement of El Bina (Construction) collected 40 seats, while the last 15 seats were shared by eight other political parties.

The parliamentary election in Algeria was held on Saturday to elect the first parliament under the rule of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune.

On Feb. 18, Tebboune dissolved the lower house of the parliament to hold early elections. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-16 04:50:56|Editor: huaxia

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JOHANNESBURG, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The South African government will place the country under level three of lockdown due to rapidly increasing COVID-19 cases, announced President Cyril Ramaphosa in a televised address on Monday night.

"A third wave of infections is upon us. We have to contain this new wave of infections," he said.

South Africa recorded 8,436 new COVID-19 cases over the last 24 hours. Ramaphosa said tighter regulations were required as the "The average number of people who die from COVID-19 each day has increased by 48 percent from 535 two weeks ago to 791 in the past seven days."

"The massive surge in new infections means that we must once again tighten restrictions on the movement of persons and gatherings," he noted.

Under the adjusted level three set to come into effect on Tuesday night, restaurants, fitness centers and other establishments would close at 9:00 p.m., with curfew being imposed from 10:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. Indoor gatherings would be limited to 50 people and outside to 100 people.

As alcohol played a big role in driving the second wave, Ramaphosa said retail outlets would sell alcohol for off-site consumption between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. from Monday to Thursday. Citizens wouldn't be permitted to consume alcohol in public spaces such as beaches and parks.

The president said Gauteng was hardest hit province in the third wave. Private hospitals also said that they were almost full with COVID-19 patients in the province.

According to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases, there have now been 1,761,066 confirmed infections across South Africa. There were 157 in-hospital deaths recorded in the past 24 hours, taking the total number of fatalities to 58,041. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-15 15:33:20|Editor: huaxia

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CANBERRA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- A family of Tamil asylum seekers detained by Australia on Christmas Island in 2019 has been granted permission to live in Perth.

Alex Hawke, the Minister for Immigration, announced on Tuesday that the Murugappan family will be reunited in Perth, where they will live while ongoing legal proceedings continue.

Nadesalingam Murugappan and Priya arrived in Australia in 2012 and 2013 by boat from Sri Lanka. Their children Kopika, 6, and Tharnicaa, 4, were born in Australia but the entire family was moved from the Queensland town of Biloela to detention after their application for asylum was rejected.

Their detention sparked the 'hometobilo' campaign calling for the government to allow the family to return to Biloela.

Hawke's decision under the Migration Act to allow them to live in a "community detention placement" in Perth means the family will be together while Tharnicaa undergoes medical treatment in hospital.

"Today's decision releases the family from held detention and facilitates ongoing treatment, while they pursue ongoing litigation before the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, Federal Court and High Court," he said in a statement.

Hawke said the decision showed "appropriate compassion" but does not "create a pathway to a visa."

"The government's position on border protection has not changed," he said.

"Anyone who arrives in Australia illegally by boat will not be resettled permanently. Anyone who is found not to be owed protection will be expected to leave Australia."

The family has been separated for more than a week after Tharnicaa and her mother were flown from Christmas Island to Perth for medical treatment.

Western Australia (WA) Health requested that the family be reunited while she receives treatment. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-15 15:53:26|Editor: huaxia

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ULAN BATOR, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia registered 2,386 new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours, renewing a record number of daily infections for six consecutive days and bringing the national tally to 80,733, the country's health ministry said Tuesday.

A total of 11,557 samples were tested across the country in the past day.

Meanwhile, 11 deaths and 797 recoveries from the coronavirus were reported in the past day, taking the national totals to 394 and 57,822 respectively, the ministry said.

More than 1,657,700 Mongolians have so far been fully vaccinated since the country launched a national vaccination campaign in late February, it said. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-15 17:47:16|Editor: huaxia

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A health worker receives medical treatment at a local hospital after a shooting attack in Jalalabad, capital of Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, June 15, 2021. Four health workers were killed and three others wounded in separate shooting attacks during a polio vaccination drive in Afghanistan's eastern province of Nangarhar on Tuesday, local police confirmed. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)

JALALABAD, Afghanistan, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Four health workers were killed and three others wounded in separate shooting attacks during a polio vaccination drive in Afghanistan's eastern province of Nangarhar on Tuesday, local police confirmed.

The incidents occurred when gunmen fired on the polio vaccination teams in the provincial capital Jalalabad city and suburban districts of Khogiani and Surkh Rod at midday, provincial police spokesman Farid Khan told Xinhua.

Earlier on Tuesday, Afghan Public Health Ministry launched a nationwide campaign to give polio vaccination doses to millions of Afghan children under the age of 5.

Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan are the only two countries in the world where polio cases are reported every year, according to Afghan public health officials.

No group has claimed responsibility for Tuesday's shooting attacks yet. Taliban militants and militants of the Islamic State (IS) are active in the province.

Earlier this year, three female vaccinators were shot dead in Nangarhar in a similar incident. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-15 20:44:55|Editor: huaxia

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JAKARTA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia recorded the export value of 16.6 billion U.S. dollars and the import value of 14.23 billion U.S. dollars in May 2021, a jump by 58.76 percent and 68.68 percent respectively compared with those in the same month of last year.

Indonesia's exports and imports were showing signs of recovery, Kecuk Suhariyanto, head of Indonesia's Central Agency of Statistics, said on Tuesday.

However, compared with April 2021, the export value was down by 10.25 percent and the import value down by 12.16 percent.

"The largest increase in exports was in mineral fuels by 281.9 million dollars or 13.91 percent, while the largest decline in exports happened in the automotive sector by 272 million dollars or 34.33 percent," Suhariyanto noted.

From January to May 2021, the overall value of Indonesia's exports reached 83.99 billion dollars, up by 30.58 percent compared with the same period of last year. Indonesia's largest exports during this period went to China, the United States and Japan, with a value of 17.12 billion dollars, 9.34 billion dollars and 6.25 billion dollars respectively.

The decrease in monthly imports occurred in machinery and electronic equipment by 422.1 million dollars and the increase was recorded in ore, slag, and metal ash by 140.0 million dollars.

The largest suppliers of oil and gas commodities to Indonesia from January to May 2021 are China, Japan, and South Korea, with a value of 20.56 billion dollars, 5.28 billion dollars and 3.71 billion dollars respectively. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-15 04:19:03|Editor: huaxia

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PRAGUE, June 14 (Xinhua) -- The Czech government has sent a draft proposal to Poland regarding a dispute over a coal mine near the Czech-Polish border, Czech Minister for the Environment Richard Brabec said on Monday.

"We have just sent a draft intergovernmental agreement on Turow to Poland. It contains the conditions that we will want to fulfill in Poland before and after the possible withdrawal of the lawsuit," Brabec said on Twitter.

The minister said the two sides will start negotiations on Thursday and the Czech Republic is "ready to negotiate hard."

Poland and the Czech Republic have been locked in a dispute over the expansion of the Turow Coal Mine, an open-pit brown coal mine in Poland near the Czech border.

In 2019, the Czech Ministry of the Environment issued an opinion, opposing the expansion of Turow over concerns about possible environmental damages.

In February this year, the Czech government filed a lawsuit against Poland at the Court of Justice of the European Union, saying the mine -- to which the Polish government has granted an extension of operations -- was damaging communities.

In May, the court ordered Poland to halt mining at Turow until a final judgement, saying it was taking place without an environmental impact assessment and that it was "sufficiently likely" that continuing exploitation would "have negative effects on the level of groundwater in Czech territory."

Warsaw rejected this order but said it would start talks with the Czech Republic that could lead to the lawsuit's withdrawal. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-15 07:22:51|Editor: huaxia

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A contestant delivers a speech via video link during a contest of the 20th "Chinese Bridge," in Ukraine, June 13, 2021. The Ukrainian national qualification contest of the 20th "Chinese Bridge," an annual worldwide Chinese competition for international students, was held online on Sunday amid the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 19 students from three Ukrainian universities participated in the contest, which was organized by the Chinese Embassy in Ukraine and consisted of three parts: answering questions about the history and culture of China, a monologue on a chosen topic, and performances. Vlada Nebenzya, a student from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, won the contest. She will represent Ukraine at the finals in China. (Photo by Sergey Starostenko/Xinhua)
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-15 17:47:47|Editor: huaxia

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KIEV, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday discussed Ukraine's bid for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) membership and its strategic partnership with Britain during a phone conversation with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Both sides paid much attention to Ukraine's NATO membership, in particular in the context of the NATO summit, while Zelensky stressed the importance of a clear prospect of Ukraine's membership in NATO, according to a statement by the press service of the president's office.

"We have done everything necessary to obtain a Membership Action Plan. It is time for our partners and allies in the Alliance to support Ukraine with concrete actions and decisions," said Zelensky.

The two leaders also discussed the continuation of the high-level dialogue between Ukraine and Britain, said the statement. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-16 06:32:04|Editor: huaxia

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LISBON, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Ministers of agriculture and fisheries from the European Union (EU) member states closed an agreement on Tuesday, vowing to maintain and improve the objectives of the current Common Agricultural Policy and the Common Fisheries Policy.

The agreement was reached at a meeting in Lisbon promoted by the Portuguese presidency of the EU Council.

Ricardo Santos, Portuguese minister of maritime affairs, said that all participants confirmed that the progress achieved in the fisheries policy since 2014 is "unquestionable."

He noted that all his European counterparts agreed that the exploitation of resources should be conducted "in sustainable conditions from an environmental, economic and social point of view."

"The need to strengthen the principle of equity between the European fleet and those from third countries was highlighted," he added.

The ministers also discussed an agreement on the future Common Agricultural Policy for the period of 2023-2027.

The EU must keep the fishing sector sustainable and competitive, which "generates wealth and employment with a horizon of stability and future," said Luis Planas, Spanish minister of agriculture, fisheries and food. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-16 06:16:34|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Experts have warned of the potential risks of emerging highly transmissible COVID-19 variants as the United States reached the grim milestone of 600,000 coronavirus deaths on Tuesday.

The milestone is a sobering reminder that hundreds of Americans are still dying each day even as the nation begins to enter its "new normal", said an ABC report.

With the nationwide case count topping 33.4 million, the death toll across the United States rose to 600,012 as of 12:22 p.m. local time (1622 GMT), according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University.

California topped the national death toll list, standing at 63,191. New York reported the country's second largest deaths of 53,558, followed by Texas with 51,940 deaths and Florida with 37,265 deaths, the CSSE tally showed.

The milestone came as more U.S. states are on their ways to full reopening. New York and California dropped nearly all COVID-19 restrictions on Tuesday.

According to the new health order released by the California Department of Public Health, almost all industry and business sectors may return to usual operations with no capacity limits or physical distancing requirements. Masks are no longer required for fully vaccinated individuals in most public settings.

Along with the vaccination rollout nationwide, the United States has witnessed continuous drops of new infections, deaths and hospitalizations since the peak in January, according to data of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Zhang Zuofeng, professor of epidemiology and associate dean for research with the School of Public Health at the University of California, Los Angeles, told Xinhua that both the incidence and mortality rates of COVID-19 have dropped over 90 percent compared with those in January this year.

As vaccination rates continue to rise, the growth rates of new infections and deaths will continue to decrease, he said.

About 43.9 percent of the U.S. population have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as of Tuesday, and 52.6 percent of the population has received at least one dose, according to data of the CDC.

U.S. President Joe Biden has set a national goal to have 70 percent of the U.S. population get at least one shot by the July 4 holiday.

But the goal is expected to fall short as COVID-19 vaccination rates decrease from spring highs, said a CNN report.

Less than half of adults living in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Wyoming have received one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, according to CDC data.

The loosening of restrictions and decreasing of vaccination rates may leave some areas vulnerable to potential pandemic hotspots and risking the progress the nation has made.

Experts are concerned that the Delta variant, which was first discovered in India, is on track to become a dominant strain of coronavirus in the United States.

The Delta variant, known by the scientific name B.1.617.2, has spread from where it was first discovered in India to over 60 countries, according to the World Health Organization.

This variant is highly transmissible, greater than the Alpha variant which is currently the dominant strain in the United States, Zhang told Xinhua. It may be associated with an increased disease severity, such as hospitalization risk, compared to Alpha, he added.

Scott Gottlieb, former commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, said the Delta variant could lead to new outbreaks in the fall, with unvaccinated Americans being the most at risk.

The CDC has elevated the Delta variant from "variant of interest" to "variants of concern".

Zhang urged more people to get vaccinated as soon as possible to keep the variant from taking hold. He also stressed the importance of keeping social distance, wearing masks and personal hygiene as vaccines could not offer 100 percent protection. Enditem
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Manila: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will not cooperate with an investigation into the countrys bloody war on drugs planned by the International Criminal Court, his spokesperson said on Tuesday while defending the administrations record on human rights.

Rights groups and critics of the drug killings have welcomed the step by the ICC, saying a full-scale investigation would bring justice closer for the families of thousands of people killed.

Despite concerns from the international community about the crackdown on drugs, Duterte remains popular at home and many Filipinos back his tough stance on crime.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. AP

We will not cooperate because we are no longer a member, the Presidents spokesperson Harry Roque told a news conference.

Duterte cancelled the Philippines membership of the ICCs founding treaty in March 2018, although, under its statute, the ICC has jurisdiction for crimes committed while a country was a member until a year after it sought to withdraw.

We do not need foreigners to investigate killings in the drug war because the legal system is working in the Philippines, Roque said, adding he believed launching a formal probe was legally erroneous and politically motivated.

The ICCs chief prosecutor sought authorisation on Monday to open a full investigation into the killings, saying crimes against humanity could have been committed.

I announce that the preliminary examination into the situation in the Republic of the Philippines has concluded and that I have requested judicial authorisation to proceed with an [formal criminal] investigation, Fatou Bensouda said in a statement.

Bensouda had said in December that there were reasonable grounds to believe crimes against humanity had been committed during Dutertes bloody anti-narcotics crackdown.

According to Philippines government data, from the time Duterte took office in 2016 until the end of April this year, security forces killed 6117 drug dealers in sting operations.

Rights groups say authorities have summarily executed drug suspects, but police say drug dealers fought back violently.

In an address recorded before the news of Bensoudas request broke, Duterte called on human rights organisations to take a closer look into his war on drugs.

You would notice that there are really persons who die almost daily because they fought back, he said, warning drug dealers: Do not destroy the country. I will kill you.

The Philippines Justice ministry declined to comment on the announcement from the ICC in The Hague.

Bensouda, in concluding her preliminary inquiry in December last year, said there was a reasonable basis to believe that the crimes against humanity of murder, torture (...) and other inhumane acts were committed between 2016 and 2019.

Many people killed in Dutertes crackdown had been on a drug watch list compiled by authorities or had previously surrendered to police, while a significant number of minors were victims, Bensoudas office said in a report six months ago.

Human rights groups accuse Duterte of inciting deadly violence and say police have murdered unarmed suspects and staged crime scenes on a massive scale. Police deny this and Duterte insists he told police to kill only in self-defence.

Under the ICC statute, the prosecutor must ask judges for permission to open an official investigation into alleged crimes. The tribunals judges have up to four months to issue a decision on such a request.

In March 2018, Duterte cancelled the Philippines membership of the ICCs founding treaty just weeks after Bensouda announced the preliminary examination was under way. He said the ICC was prejudiced against him.

Under the ICCs withdrawal mechanism the court keeps jurisdiction over crimes committed during the membership period of a state, in this case between 2016 and 2019 when the Philippines pullout became official.

ICC enters new era

Bensoudas request forms one of her final acts after nine years as ICC prosecutor  her successor, British lawyer Karim Khan, takes office on Wednesday.

In an interview on Monday, Bensouda said the ICCs relations with the US ad been plunged into the deep freeze under the Trump administration but was undergoing a reset under Joe Biden.

The Trump administration hit Bensouda with sanctions for pressing ahead with investigations into the US and its allies, notably Israel, for alleged war crimes. She was subjected to a travel ban in March 2019 and  18 months later  a freeze on her US-based assets.

I do believe that it was wrong. Really, a red line has been crossed, Bensouda said of the sanctions.

Biden lifted the sanctions in April, but his Secretary of State Antony Blinken stressed that Washington still strongly disagreed with some actions taken by the court.

The court is investigating allegations of possible war crimes and crimes against humanity by US troops and foreign intelligence operatives as part of a wide-ranging investigation into the Afghanistan conflict that also covers alleged crimes by Afghan government forces and the Taliban.

Afghan authorities have asked the court to take over the probe.

Reuters, AP

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The Government specified that so far this new variant has been detected only in southern Arequipa region , where samples have been taken and an epidemiological fence has been carried out in the family and social circle of the detected case.
According to Cesar Munayco, CDC's Executive Director of Public Health Surveillance, all frontline workers were already vaccinated since the last time that this indicator was examined.

However, some individuals from other professional associations and/or those undertaking private practice are still not fully vaccinated.

On the other hand, he mentioned that some members of the country's medical staff refused to be inoculated for personal reasons, which is why it would be difficult to achieve 100% coverage in this group.

Munayco emphasized that a significant decline in COVID-19 cases as well as in hospitalizations and deaths among healthcare workers has been witnessed thanks to immunization.

"As for the health staff, a significant decrease in the number of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths was immediately observed after their vaccination (in February 2021). However, in the case of the elderly, whose vaccination began a little later, an important decline has been recently noted," he added.





According to Minsa, the first priority groups have so far received about 5.5 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in Peruvian territory, of which more than 50% have gotten the second dose and completed the immunization.
YEREVAN, JUNE 15, ARMENPRESS. Caretaker Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who is leading the Civil Contract partys electoral list for the June 20 snap parliamentary elections, states that the Armenia-Azerbaijan border situation must be solved peacefully because its chance really exists.

During the partys election campaign in Syunik province, Pashinyan said the Azerbaijani troops must leave Armenias borders, adding that this position is supported by the entire international community.

Today as well we are in daily touch with our Russian partners, and our vision is the following: representatives of Russian border guards should be deployed along the border points, as well as clarification of border points from Sotk to Khoznavar and border delimitation, demarcation must be carried out under the auspices of the international observers. Before that, we have stated that the troops of both sides should return to their permanent deployment positions in mirrored fashion. And we will move consistently on this path, he said.

Pashinyan also noted that he has suspicions that with border incidents an attempt is made to impact the results of the upcoming elections in Armenia.

But we need to walk clearly with our unity on the path of defending our country, our territorial integrity, and we will definitely do this together, he said.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, JUNE 15, ARMENPRESS. Caretaker Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, who is leading the Civil Contract partys election list for the June 20 snap polls, announced today that the party is going to hold a nationwide rally and march on June 17, at 20:00 in the Republic Square.

During the partys pre-election campaign in Sisian town of Syunik province, he said on June 18 he will have a direct talk and conversation to the people of Armenia, but didnt release the format of the talk.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, JUNE 15, ARMENPRESS/BelTA. Belarus has updated the red list of countries.

Nine states will be removed from the red list on June 16. These are North Macedonia, San Marino, Monaco, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Moldova and Serbia.

The Healthcare Ministry recalled that people coming from the red list countries (that are included in the Healthcare Ministry's list of countries where the largest number of COVID-19 cases is reported), must enter a 10-day self-isolation period on arrival.

Arrivals from the green list countries do not need to observe self-isolation, the ministry said.
YEREVAN, JUNE 15, ARMENPRESS. The factions of the Parliament of Artsakh have issued a statement today over the upcoming visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Shushi.

Armenpress presents the statement:

After the 1915 genocide of Western Armenians and the occupation of the historical cradle of the Armenian people, Turkey has been trying to do the same against the Eastern Armenians over the past one hundred years.

All these anti-Armenian programs have always failed thanks to the organized fight of the Armenian people.

On September 2020, by using the favorable international and regional conditions, Turkey and Azerbaijan, by launching an attack on the Republic of Artsakh with the involvement of international terrorist groups, have again tried to commit genocide against Armenians during the military operations.

As a result of forced deportation of the Armenian people from their historical homeland, thousands of people have been left without homeland, hundreds of national-Christian monuments have been destroyed and desecrated.

We view Erdogans uninvited visit to Artsakhs occupied territories, in particular Shushi, as a threat and a new attempt to display force. This is the continuation of the opening of trophy park in Baku which supposes adoption of new moral and psychological pressures against the Armenian people in the post-war period.

Erdogans provocative action is an attempt to thwart the peacekeeping activity of Russia in the region, a devil plan to attack the fragile stability.

Such step of the Turkish President is a new challenge not only to Armenia and Artsakh, but also to Russia and Iran.

We appeal to the international organizations, the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries, in particular Russia, to curb Turkeys aggressive aspirations which are full of new dangers.

All Armenians need to be united these difficult days and resist the new challenges.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, JUNE 15, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia has revised the economic growth projection for 2021 because the ongoing developments outline faster recovery rates than expected, CBA President Martin Galstyan said during a press conference today.

The economic growth projection has been revised. We forecast 4.6% economic growth for 2021, mainly conditioned by the growth in services, as it has been revised from 1.2% to 6.1%, the industry growth has been revised from 0.7% to 4.5%, he said.

He said the industry growth is mainly connected with the high growth in prices of raw materials, and also with the higher volumes of export and import. As for the services, tourism sector is showing activeness. We receive some signals from the external sector as well that the year is more positive than we predicted. We expect positive change in private consumption during the year, but the private investments continue to remain weak, the CBA President said.

This year in March the CBA again has revised the economic growth projection for 2021, lowering it from 2% to 1.4%.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, 15 JUNE, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 15 June, USD exchange rate down by 1.31 drams to 515.68 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 1.02 drams to 625.16 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.03 drams to 7.18 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 2.57 drams to 725.87 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price down by 335.37 drams to 30930.71 drams. Silver price down by 7.98 drams to 459.75 drams. Platinum price down by 31.98 drams to 19132.74 drams.
YEREVAN, JUNE 15, ARMENPRESS. The Foreign Ministry of Artsakh issued a statement on the occasion of the visit of Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Shushi. As RAMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the MFA Artsakh, the statement runs as follows,

''Accompanied by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and his family, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his family members' visit to the historic capital of Artsakh, Shoushi, which was destroyed by Turkey and Azerbaijan in 1920 and 2020, is a clear manifestation of gross violation of international law, xenophobia, genocidal and terrorist policy.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh strongly condemns such visits to the occupied territories of Artsakh, considering them as a provocation, a clear-cut implementation of expansionist and extremist policy.

Turkey's provocative actions must be condemned by the international community, as such visits, the ideas, statements, agreements reached and glorification of medieval expansionist policy voiced during them are a serious threat to international and regional security, a challenge to the entire civilized humanity, a blow to the reputation of all the organizations and structures, of which Turkey is a member''.
YEREVAN, JUNE 15, ARMENPRESS. The Foreign Ministry of Armenia strongly condemned the joint visit of the Turkish and Azerbaijani presidents to Shushi, which is an Armenian historical and cultural center that is currently under the Azerbaijani occupation. The Foreign Ministry assessed this act as an overt provocation against regional peace and security. As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the MFA Armenia, the statement runs as follows,

''We strongly condemn the joint visit of the Presidents of Turkey and Azerbaijan on June 15 to the Armenian historic and cultural center of Artsakh - Shushi, which is currently under the Azerbaijani occupation, as an outright provocation against regional peace and security.

It is noteworthy that this visit was preceded by the destruction of the religious, historical and cultural heritage of the forcibly displaced indigenous Armenian population, including the desecration of the St. Holy Savior Ghazanchetsots Cathedral - targeted by the Turkish-Azerbaijani forces during and after the war against Artsakh, as well as the complete destruction of the memorial commemorating the victims of the Armenian Genocide.

Such actions of the Turkish and Azerbaijani authorities, aimed at consolidating the consequences of the use of force against the people of Artsakh, significantly undermine the international efforts to establish stability in the region and are utterly unacceptable. Restoration of the rights of the Armenians of Artsakh, which includes de-occupation of the territories of the Republic of Artsakh and safe return of the displaced population, is essential for overcoming the Turkish-Azerbaijani genocidal threat against the Armenian people.

These provocative actions clearly reveal the false and misleading nature of the statements coming from the official Ankara and Baku on their intentions to normalize the relations with Armenia and the Armenian people.

We once again emphasize that the elimination of the consequences of the recent Turkish-Azerbaijani aggression against Artsakh should be undertaken within the frameworks of the comprehensive settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship''.
YEREVAN, JUNE 15, ARMENPRESS. 2nd President of Armenia, Prime Minister's candidate of Armenia Alliance Robert Kocharyan is confident that his team will be able to rapidly develop the country, ARMENPRESS reports he said in a meeting with the citizens in Vedi.

Listening to the citizens and the issues they raised, he talked about their plans in the sphere of agriculture. Particularly, he referred to irrigation issues, announcing that they will change the subsidization amount for a term of 3 years. ''The calculations are not yet final, but I think you will pay symbolic sums for irrigation for 3 years', Kocharyan said, adding that he knows that many of them have loans and it's difficult to pay them back without assistance.

Robert Kocharyan reiterated that they are the only political force that has experience, confidence, knowledge and will. ''If you trust us, we will stop this down-falling tendencies and will move forward in a fast pace. I am confident of that, otherwise, I would never take this responsibility. We will justify your expectations'', Kocharyan said.
YEREVAN, JUNE 15, ARMENPRESS. Armenia is committed to the implementation of all the international obligations assumed by the November 9 declaration, in contrast to Azerbaijan, which so far has not returned all of our hostages, ARMENPRESS reports head of Civil Contract Party, caretaker Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan said in a meeting with the residents of Kapan in Syunik Province.

Recalling that he was publicly named a traitor for signing that declaration, he said, ''No one says that I will come and abolish that declaration. You are a double-traitor if you say that it's a betrayal, but come to continue it (Pashinyan refers to his opponents  edit.)''.

Pashinyan urged not to yield to any manipulations, including from Azerbaijan. ''Neither Meghri, nor Zangezur, nor corridor words exist in the declaration'', Pashinyan announced.

''In general, we support the idea of opening the regional communications, because we need that as much as Azerbaijan needs'', he said, emphasizing that they will be able to ensure the security of the country.
(Adds Scholz, latest poll)

BERLIN, June 14 (Reuters) - Germany's conservatives plan to rule out tax hikes in their election manifesto, a draft obtained by Reuters showed, aligning them with their preferred liberal coalition partners and distinguishing them from their main rivals.

The conservative alliance of the Christian Democrats (CDU) and Bavarian Christian Social Union (CSU) aims to use its presentation of the manifesto next Monday to widen its lead over the ecologist Greens ahead of a Sept. 26 federal election.

"We clearly reject tax increases," read the CDU/CSU bloc's draft manifesto, which top CDU officials discussed at the weekend.

Conservative Chancellor Angela Merkel, in power since 2005, is stepping down after September's election, and senior CDU officials concede privately that it will be tough to retain their party's appeal to voters after 16 years in charge.

The draft showed they also want to abolish a "solidarity tax" - introduced after reunification to support poorer states in eastern Germany - "as soon as possible", and to reduce the number of people who have to pay the top tax rate of 42%.

The opposition Greens as well as the co-governing Social Democrats (SPD) want a moderate rise in the top tax rate, and to ease the burden on small- and medium-income households. Both parties plan a reintroduction of the wealth tax.

SPD Finance Minister Olaf Scholz accused the CDU/CSU of promising tax cuts without explaining how to finance them and blocking steps to facilitate the shift towards renewable energy.

"If the CDU leads the next government, it will cost Germany prosperity," Scholz told ARD broadcaster.

Germany suspended its strict borrowing limits to finance its way through the COVID-19 crisis. While Scholz eyes a return to those limits from 2023, the Greens are in favour of changing the fiscal rules to allow more debt-financed spending.

The conservatives want to mobilise private financing to fund investment, while respecting the limits.

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The CDU/CSU draft is not final and consultations on the manifesto are continuing, CDU sources said. If confirmed, the draft would align the conservative bloc with their preferred coalition partner, the business-friendly Free Democrats (FDP).

Polls show the right-leaning parties lack sufficient support now to form a coalition on their own. However, the CDU/CSU bloc has regained and begun extending its lead over the Greens.

The latest INSA poll for Bild newspaper put support for the CDU/CSU at 27.5%, the Greens fell to 19.5% and the left-leaning Social Democrats (SPD) rose to 16.5%. The FDP stood at 13.5%, the far-right AfD at 11% and the far-left Linke on 6%. (Reporting by Andreas Rinke, Markus Wacket, Michael Nienaber Writing by Paul Carrel Editing by and Mark Heinrich and Alistair Bell)
US, EU strike Airbus-Boeing deal, turn to China 'challenges' Biden says the deal is "a model we can build on for other challenges posed by China's economic model".

US President Joe Biden and the EU agreed a long-term truce in the 17-year-old Airbus-Boeing feud Tuesday, putting aside their own disputes to take on a rising China.

Negotiated in marathon talks by EU and US officials, the truce was formalised in Biden's summit with European leaders Charles Michel and Ursula von der Leyen, who hosted him in Brussels.

Washington and Brussels will "work together to challenge and counter China's non-market practices in this sector that give China's companies an unfair advantage," Biden said in a statement issued after the talks.

"It's a model we can build on for other challenges posed by China's economic model," he added.

Von der Leyen said the summit had "delivered" as she hailed a "breakthrough" in a feud that became one of the longest in World Trade Organization history.

"This really opens a new chapter in our relationship because we move from litigation to cooperation on aircraft," she added.

Earlier this year Biden and Von der Leyen -- the president of the European Commission -- had suspended retaliatory tariffs in the dispute over subsidies for the rival planemakers. The punitive measures targeted European cheese and wine and American wheat and tobacco, among other products.

Officials said the truce would last for at least five years, leaving enough time to resolve the fight -- while still factoring in China's growing capability in the aviation industry.

- 'Sweating' for deal -

Biden's two-hour stopover at EU headquarters, tucked between a NATO summit and his sitdown with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Geneva, is supposed to mark a clear break with the tumultuous four years with Donald Trump as president.

Airbus and Boeing welcomed a deal that the former said would "provide the basis to create a level-playing field which we have advocated for since the start of this dispute".

French President Emmanuel Macron hailed the agreement as "good news" for French wine producers, who see American tariffs lifted as part of it.

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"These are the first results of our new relationship with our American partners. This is effective cooperation," he wrote on Twitter.

Germany's Economy Minister Peter Altmaier said the accord was "a great relief".

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, head of the WTO, said she was "delighted" to see that "even the most seemingly intractable differences can be resolved."

The Europeans are trying to clear the slate of trade disputes to consolidate a more friendly phase and jointly tackle other issues, which also include curbing big tech and handling Russia.

A European official said both sides had been "sweating" to find common ground ahead of the meeting and give a clear sign that Trump-era battles will soon be behind them.

But another, as yet unsolved, row is a tariff of 25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminium that Trump slapped on Europe and other close partners in 2018.

Brussels hit back with counter-tariffs on 2.8 billion euros worth of iconic US products, including bourbon whiskey, jeans, and Harley-Davidson motorbikes.

Von der Leyen said the "first priority" was put on the aircraft dispute and that Washington knew that a solution was needed on steel by the end of the year when Europe could inflict fresh sanctions.

Trump and Brussels also quarrelled over taxing big tech platforms after France led a group of EU states by hitting Google, Facebook and others with a special levy.

Washington fought back with a wave of counter-tariffs that Biden has frozen, as both sides await a worldwide deal on how to better tax big tech companies.

- 'Maximum pressure' -

Biden and the EU chiefs agreed to cooperate in something called a Trade and Technology Council that will attempt to write joint rules for artificial intelligence and other innovations over the coming years.

A senior US administration official described the council as an important initiative that would serve as a platform for cooperation for years ahead.

"The notion here is that the United States and Europe laid the foundation for the world economy after World War II and now have to work together to write the rules of the road for the next generation," the official said.

Though unnamed, China is the important backdrop for the council, which will set rules for "technologies based on our shared democratic values, including respect for human rights", the communique said.

arp/del/tgb
Amanpour is among the most well-known journalists worldwide

CNN's chief international anchor Christiane Amanpour has announced she has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

Amanpour, 63, told viewers she had had "major successful surgery to remove it" and will now undergo several months of chemotherapy.

The veteran reporter made the announcement from her home studio in London after four weeks off air.

Amanpour has spent decades reporting across the globe, covering a wide range of conflicts and crises.

In Monday's announcement, she said she was sharing the news as "a shout out to early diagnosis".

Noting the "millions" of people around the world with ovarian cancer, Amanpour urged women to educate themselves on the disease, get regular screenings and "ensure that your legitimate medical concerns are not dismissed or diminished".

Ovarian cancer is difficult to diagnose because the symptoms - like a bloated, swollen or painful stomach - are easily mistaken for less serious health problems.

It is the seventh most common cancer in women worldwide, according to the World Cancer Research Fund. Ovarian cancer is usually fatal, and is the eighth most common cause of cancer death in women across the globe.

Amanpour said she was "confident" in her prognosis, adding that she was fortunate to have health insurance in her treatment, "underpinned by the brilliant NHS".

The award-winning journalist plans to anchor her CNN programme from Monday to Wednesday weekly as she faces months of chemotherapy treatments, CNN said. She also has three weeks of previously scheduled time off, according to the network.

She hosts CNN's flagship global affairs programme as well as a weeknight programme for PBS.
Our financial system is destroying the planet and must be reimagined, according to Nobel Peace Prize-winning economist Professor Muhammad Yunus.

Locked down in his home in Dhaka, Bangladesh due to the pandemic, the 80-year-old told Yahoo News Australia that the interruption of Covid-19 has handed people an opportunity to reset their way of life.

Professor Yunus is urging us to act now on climate change, saying its urgency has been completely forgotten by successive leaders who are looking to 2050 to meet emissions reduction targets instead.

Our economic system must be challenged to save the planet, Professor Yunus warns.

Its good to have a plan for 2050, but before that we have to ask ourselves, will we be there in 2050? he said.

Human beings today are the most endangered species on the planet, we dont have much time left.

Professor Yunus argues that economic thinking which is only driven by profit maximisation cannot save the planet, and must be redesigned to include environmentalism.

As long as your system says you have to make money, and money is the ultimate in your life, you cant stop, he said.

The system makes you burn down all the forests. Why? Thats where all the money is.

Why do you want to burn the Amazon? Because I want to clean it up and grow soya beans, or grow cattle.

Intergenerational clash possible says Professor Yunus

Feeling robbed of their future due to the predicted impact of climate change, millions of young people have taken to the streets to demand action to reduce emissions.

Professor Yunus's work to combat poverty has been recognised across the globe. Source: Getty

Professor Yunus has appeared on popular television shows to talk about reducing poverty. Source: The Oprah Winfrey Show / OWN, The Simpsons / Fox

The fear that they may lose their future because of the impact on the climate by previous generations could cause a rift and break the cycle of our destruction, Professor Yunus believes.

Despite the protests, he feels that for the time being the fossil fuel industry continues largely untouched because the sector remains profitable.

Former US president Donald Trumps response to global warming, a consequence of fossil fuel burning, was to characterise it as a hoax, later suggesting the concept was invented by China to gain a trade advantage over the US.

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In Australia, despite devastating bushfires two years ago which were intensified by climate change, the federal government has pinned its pandemic recovery on investing in fossil fuels, particularly coal seam gas.

Fossil fuels sit very clearly with their intentions - making money. Because fossil fuels bring money, fossil fuels create jobs, thats what the translation is, Professor Yunus said.

Not only I make money, also you make money. Using the word job means they want to bring you to their side.

Ill get the money, and youll get the job and have an income.

Poverty, racism and environmental destruction linked to financial system

Professor Yunus founded of the Grameen Bank in 1976, which offers small loans to the impoverished when they dont not have collateral, so they can avoid high-interest predatory lenders.

His work to tackle poverty has been recognised with 50 honorary doctorates and he has been awarded several high-profile international honours including the Gandhi Peace Prize, the Nobel Peace Prize and the United States Presidential Medal of Freedom.

While race, poverty and environmental destruction have different names, they are symptoms of the same system, Profesor Yunus says. Source: Reuters / Getty

Fortune magazine named him one of the 12 greatest entrepreneurs of the era, and he has appeared as a guest on high profile television shows including The Simpsons and The Oprah Winfrey Show.

While Professor Yunus is publicly known for his work to tackle poverty, he believes separating income inequality from other societal issues like race and environmental destruction can be done in name only.

He sees them all as symptoms of our flawed financial system.

Professor Yunus started the Grameen Bank to help women out of poverty with small loans. Source: Getty

Unlike software which has been designed to have a function, the financial system which structures our lives evolved over time in a haphazard way, Professor Yunus believes.

It was working in the wrong direction and we never stopped it, he said.

We got so glued into it, mesmerised by it, and continued to extol the virtues of the things that we do.

'House is burning' while 'we are having a party'

Professor Yunus sees current economic practice as having been inherited but not questioned.

A schism between generations is growing due to inaction on climate change. Source: Reuters

Education has entrenched the acceptance of the status quo, which prioritises individual profit maximisation above the collective interest.

(Outside the) house is burning, but inside the house we are having a party, enjoying ourselves, he said.

(Theres) economic growth and fantastic prosperity and all the beautiful technology is making our lives wonderful, but we dont give a second thought that were under a burning house.

Thats how we have been addicted. Our eyes cannot see, our body cannot feel. Soon it will be all burnt into ash. We cant do that.

Despite the mounting environmental challenges our species faces, Professor Yunus said he remains a compulsive optimist.

Professor Yunus believes nothing is impossible if people take action. Source: Getty

While he believes government will provide more speeches than direct action, he is hopeful that change will come as a result of the people.

We are the people who live in this house, he said.

Nothing is impossible for human beings, so never get disappointed

All you have to do is make a decision, if you make a decision it will happen.

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As the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020, Steve Mott knew his mother would get bored.

A resident of Duncaster, a senior community near Hartford, Connecticut, Jackie Mott Brown is very active and social despite her 92 years of age, Steve told The Citizen. So when COVID-19 protocols all but confined her to her room, without visitors or contact with other residents, he looked for another way to keep his mother connected.

He found one in a short story he wrote a decade before. One Monday evening that March, Steve read it to Jackie over the phone. Then he started writing new stories. Set in Rochester, and loosely connected with each other, they were all inspired by the same theme: things left unsaid. He read them to his mother every week for a year.

The stories stopped in March, when Steve and Jackie were both vaccinated. But he's collected them into a new self-published book, "What I Didn't Tell You." Released in May, the book is available at mottbook.com. With some editing over the last few months, Steve said, his first novel came together well even though it didn't begin as one.

"I hadn't been writing the chapters in the proper order," he said. "I was just trying to make sure I had something to share with my mother every Monday night."
Officials with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester will meet later this month to determine the fate of Catholic churches in the area of Auburn and northern Cayuga County.

The diocese, which formed a committee last year to research the area's churches and recommend some for closure, received those recommendations early this month. They will be reviewed June 23 by a council of priests, consultants of the diocese and the deans of its regions, said the Rev. Frank Lioi, dean of the East Region and pastor of St. Mary's Church and SS. Mary & Martha Parish in Auburn and Our Lady of the Snow Parish in northern Cayuga County. Input from that meeting will inform the closure decision, which will be made by Bishop Salvatore Matano at an unknown date.
Casey Park Elementary School students and their families are being asked to report any incidents where strangers approach them before or after school after some recent incidents.

Auburn Enlarged City School District Superintendent Jeff Pirozzolo said in an interview with The Citizen Tuesday that the school received recent reports of men in vehicles coming up to students as they're walking either to or from the Casey Park school. Kelly Garback, the school's principal, sent electronic communications out to families about the incidents Monday. A tan car was reported in one instance while a black car was reported at another.

Pirozzolo said one incident was reported when a student was going to school and another when a student was on their way home from school.

Students are asked to report anything unusual that they see, notifying their parents, their school's principal, an adult they trust or to call 911 or the Auburn Police Department.

"This has happened on two separate occasions and involved the description of different vehicles and different men who approached the students," Garback said in an electronic communication. "Each time, a student was asked questions or the male attempted to engage them in conversation."
"We can do a lot, we can contribute, we work, we go to school," he said.

Lilith, 14, said she was glad she was able to hear Faisel's story.

"It shows that all the stereotypes for all the refugees that everybody talks about (are) not true," she said.

"I think that today the world is a smaller place, because we have the technology and the ability to get to know people in other places," Rielly said about the sessions. "However, kids, lot of times, particularly this age, aren't able to get out and see what life is like for some people that are really going through trauma, or has been through trauma. So to be exposed to the culture and to the language and someone who seems like they're so different but find out that they're really a lot alike, that, I think, is priceless."

Librarian Marcella Didio said before the event that the other work prep that was done included talking to the students about the difference between simple and complex questions and studying the geographical context of where these speakers live.

Didio said she wanted to give the students an opportunity "to see the world through a different lens or to bring awareness and empathy to people."
Cayuga County would cover 50% of the cost of local restaurant gift cards if legislators approve a proposed plan for using a portion of the nearly $15 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds the county is in line to receive.

The local restaurant voucher plan is one of the proposed uses for the funding coming Cayuga County's way from the American Rescue Plan Act. Cayuga is in line for $14,873,990, and the Cayuga County Legislature will hold a special meeting this week to vote on multiple proposals.

The agenda for Wednesday night's meeting includes a presentation on the guidelines for the overall federal funding program, as well as three resolutions for specific uses of the money.

The restaurant voucher program would allocate $100,000 to provide a 50% subsidy toward the purchase of gift cards to "stimulate patronage of restaurants within Cayuga County." The resolution also states that the voucher program may expand to other small businesses in the county.
Cayuga County testing and vaccine clinics

 The Cayuga County Health Department will hold a walk-in COVID-19 vaccination clinic from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Thursday, June 17, at Victory Fire House, 12009 Route 38. The Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer vaccines will be offered at the clinic. Children under age 18 can get vaccinated at the clinic, but they must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

 The Cayuga County Emergency Services Office will hold a walk-in rapid-result clinic for people who are not experiencing symptoms from noon to 3 p.m. Thursday, June 17, at Cayuga Community College, 197 Franklin St., Auburn. The clinic will be held in the Spartan Hall cafeteria, and visitors are asked to park in the lot and follow signs for where to enter. People are asked to prepare to wait at the site for up to 30 minutes for their results. Participants must wear face masks and observe social distancing. Visitors are asked to park in the lot and follow the signs. There is no residency requirement for the clinic.
After what has been an incredibly difficult year, our Auburn graduating seniors deserve to have their family members at the graduation ceremony. This, however, will not be feasible for my family because of the mandate that has been issued for anyone in attendance ... and I fear that our family will not be alone.

So, while the ceremony will be outdoors, there can be social distancing, and masks are permissible, the mandate upon our district is for each attendee to have one of these documents. For my family of eight, who were in this journey together this year, and who want to share in this moment together with our graduate, we would need to pay an inordinate amount of money for COVID tests. We are still dealing with hundreds of dollars of bills from required COVID tests that were mandated during symptomatic quarantines in 2020. At $75 per test that weve been charged, our officials are requiring that we spend hundreds more to violate our HIPAA-protected privacy in order to attend the graduation.
BERLIN/NEW YORKWOW Tech today released an official statement regarding its patents and ongoing efforts to protect them, in response to what it called "confusion and questions" it has received recently concerning such. The company added that its "goal is to keep retailers and industry members informed in order to protect each other from legal and financial repercussions." WOW Tech's full statement follows:

WOW Tech created the market for Pleasure Air Technology stimulation devices with innovative technology that is covered by a worldwide portfolio of patents.

We are aware that some competitors from time to time tout having one or more patents for technology they use in some of their products. We urge retailers and distributors to recognize this does not mean the competitor is not infringing WOW Tech patents. Patents by their nature have different scopes but can also overlap in certain ways, making it possible for a product covered by one patent to also infringe another patent. Indeed, when the Patent Office issues a new patent, it does not consider whether or not existing commercial products covered by that patent also infringe other patents. This means the issuance of a new patent is not any kind of guarantee that a companys product does not infringe another patent.

We take patent infringement seriously and we are committed to holding patent infringers responsible for violating our valuable intellectual property rights. Anyone who makes, uses, sells, offers for sale, or imports products that infringe one or more of WOW Techs patents could be held liable for patent infringement, regardless of whether those infringing products are also covered by other patents.

Retailers and distributors who are told that a product does not infringe one companys patents may therefore be better served by seeking written assurance and maybe even indemnification from the company claiming innocence. The fact that an accused infringer has its own separate patent does not mean that accused infringer (or its retailers or distributors) cannot be found liable for infringing another companys patents.

Additional information about WOW Techs patents and patented products can be found at wowtech.com/patents/.
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.Lovability Inc., the parent company of the bestselling WaterSlyde, is donating 100 percent of the profits from its limited edition Pride tank tops to the popular website Scarleteen.com, which promotes healthy sex education for teens and young adults.

We are excited to donate 100 percent of the profits from the sale of the tanks to Scarleteen, said Maureen Pollack, inventor of the water-diverting WaterSlyde implement. We have always believed that a healthy attitude around sexuality begins at adolescence. Since 1998, Scarleteen has provided inclusive, comprehensive and supportive information, which dovetails beautifully with the mission of Lovability.

The tank tops display the Lovability logo with a rainbow of colors and are available in a variety of sizes. The shirts are a limited edition, and sales will continue throughout the summer.

Pollack continued, We are so looking forward to donating our profits to this beloved online institution.

For more information about ordering shirts in any quantity or further information about the Lovability WaterSlyde, condoms or other products, contact [email protected]. For more information about Scarleteen or to support its mission, visit www.Scarleteen.com.
Many of the verticals associated with ESPN have received less corporate focus in recent years, with the shuttering of Grantland and the eventual transfer of FiveThirtyEight to ABC News. However, The Undefeated, which had the roughest start of any of those verticals, has become a key part of the ESPN portfolio. Its added many notable writers, gained prominence within the company, and put out multimedia documentaries and specials. And while some of that was attributed to Undefeated editor-in-chief Kevin Meridas rise within ESPN, its certainly notable to see the company still emphasizing The Undefeated after Merida left for The Los Angeles Times last month (and was replaced by internal hire Raina Kelley, who had previously been The Undefeateds managing editor). The latest example of that is their announcement Monday that theyve brought on David Dennis Jr., who had previously freelanced for the vertical, as a senior writer covering music:

David Dennis Jr., a freelance journalist, educator and commentator based in Atlanta, Ga., has joined The Undefeated full-time as a senior writer covering music for the culture vertical of the ESPN multimedia content initiative on sports, race and culture. A frequent contributor to The Undefeated, Dennis will also write long- and short-form pieces on other topics at the intersection of race, culture and sports. Dennis will begin his new role with The Undefeated on Monday, June 21. With David officially joining the team, we are fast-tracking the continued expansion of our Culture vertical, said Raina Kelley, Vice President and Editor-in-Chief, The Undefeated. David is at home within The Undefeated brand and will continue to deliver the brilliant and thought-provoking stories hes well known for. That hes starting during Black Music Appreciation Month is an absolute bonus. Dennis joins The Undefeated after ten years as a critically-acclaimed and award-winning writer whose work has appeared in The Atlantic, The Washington Post, Atlanta magazine, HuffPost, Medium, and more. His articles for The Undefeated ranged widely, from a sweeping history of the Black communitys involvement in social media to an assessment of rapper Kanye Wests career and a look at actress Halle Berrys filmography after the debacle of Catwoman.

That release goes on to note that Dennis received the 2021 American Mosaic Journalism Award for his work, including Atlanta piece Ahmaud Arbery Will Not Be Erased. So he certainly has an impressive background, which also includes serving as a visiting professor of Journalism and Social Justice at Morehouse College. Its also notable to see ESPN bringing on someone who had previously freelanced for them as a staffer; that can be a great way to see if someones a fit for a publication, but not all corporations embrace that pathway, so its cool to see ESPN doing that. And its also interesting to see ESPN make a hire specifically with reference to covering music; under president Jimmy Pitaro, they seem to have moved away from a lot of not-sports cultural content elsewhere, so its notable to see that continue at The Undefeated.

Beyond that, the announcement of a senior writer hire at The Undefeated is significant as a continued demonstration of ESPNs commitment to that vertical even after Meridas departure. And thats not to be taken lightly. Yes, The Undefeated seems to be doing well for them, but ESPN has moved away from many things that seemingly were working apparently largely because their internal champions were gone (again, see Grantland). Its possible to envision a world where The Undefeated drew less and less corporate support after Meridas exit, and was eventually shuttered or sold. And yes, one hire of a senior writer isnt necessarily proof that that wont eventually happen, but it does feel like an indication that ESPNs not going away from support for The Undefeated just yet.

[ESPN Press Room]
What will you see along the way? Lots of trees, both standing regally and strewn across the slopes like that old childrens game of pick-up-sticks. It seems the wood chippers didnt hit every spot on the steep slopes, after all.

Whats striking, though, is the arboristic variety. There are stands of oak, alligator juniper (looking sickly here, as in other Arizona locales), spruce, aspen, Douglas fir and the signature ponderosa pines.

Those copses of aspen figure to be a glorious golden hue come fall  assuming Phase 2 of the restoration operation hasnt closed the trail once more  bringing bigger crowds to a trail that, despite its location just west of downtown Williams, doesnt draw the hordes found routinely on Humphreys of Elden. In fact, a prominent Ash Fork hiker told Arizona Highways magazine that she rarely encounters a soul on her Bill Williams Mountain forays.

Indeed, I had the trail to myself on a Sunday morning in May  at least on the trip up. Alone with my thoughts, I let my mind wander to the cursory research I had done about what, if any, relationship the preacher-turned-trapper-turned dictionary editor-turned-mountain man Bill Williams had with the mountain and town bearing his name.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Navy never had to look too hard to fill its elite SEAL force. For years, eager recruits poured in to try out for naval special warfare teams  but they were overwhelmingly white.

Now, Naval Special Warfare Command leaders are trying to turn that around, developing programs to seek out recruits from more diverse regions of the country.

We have been passive in the way that we recruit, Were SEAL Team. Come find us, said Rear Adm. H. Wyman Howard III, top commander for Naval Special Warfare, in an interview with The Associated Press. Now, he said, we have to go where diversity lives."

Army leaders have been doing some of the same things. Lt. Gen. Fran Beaudette, head of Army Special Operations Command, said they have loosened some restrictions on who can try out for special forces units  which included requirements on the amount of time in the service or in rank a soldier had done. And the Army has created new, specialized teams to better reach out to more diverse populations.

The effort comes as the military  and the nation  struggles with racism, extremism and hate crimes. Leaders see greater diversity as a way to combat extremism in the ranks, even as they increase other training and education programs.
Arizona state Rep. Mark Finchem, who was at the Jan. 6 rally outside the Capitol and is a chief supporter of a partisan review of ballots in Maricopa County, is running for secretary of state. Former Nevada lawmaker Jim Marchant, who has clung to the conspiracy theory that the election was stolen from Trump, is campaigning to replace Republican Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske, who has repeatedly denied claims of election fraud. Cegavske can't run again because of term limits.

Sylvia Albert, voting and elections director for Common Cause, which advocates for expanded voter access, said that while the statewide positions come with more power, local officials generally have much discretion over how to solve common Election Day issues such as long lines, voter roll problems or trouble with voting machines.

If you have an elections official who doesnt want to expand access to the ballot, who finds democracy disturbing to them, theyre not going to fix problems and then theyre going to multiply, she said.

Races for county offices receive far less attention than those for statewide positions, and many of those roles arent up for election for another year or more. Still, partisanship has already seeped into the process.
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia plans to be Egypts top trading partner within five years, said Saudi Commerce Minister Majid Al-Qasabi.

He made the pledge at the Egyptian-Saudi Joint Trade Committee on Monday.

The minister highlighted the presence of 6,225 Saudi companies operating in Egypt with investments amounting to some $30 billion.

At the same time, 518 Egyptian are estimated to operate in the Saudi market, with 285 Egyptian brands in the Kingdom.

Saudi investors are especially interested in the water desalination and water treatment sector, Egyptian Trade Minister Nevine Gamea told Asharq Business.

She added that the cooperation between the two countries was reflected in the trade volume, which exceeded $5.5 billion in 2020.

The volume of Egyptian investments in the Kingdom reached $1.4 billion at the end of last year, she added.
Part of what makes the intersection troublesome is a tall stucco and brick privacy wall on the southwest corner that blocks the left-hand view of oncoming traffic from motorists and pedestrians who approach Rimrock from Virginia Lane.

The wall was built sometime between 2007 and 2008, according to city records and was installed in accordance to Billings' clear-vision requirement code at the time. City zoning coordinator Nicole Cromwell described that old code as "rudimentary."

The old code  a one-size-fits-all requirement  was updated in 2009, with various new metrics and requirements that define 10 different types of "clear-vision areas." Under the new code, the homeowners would not have gotten city approval to build the corner wall.

Public safety is a priority for the city. Council voted 10-1 on a first reading to seek a new $7.1 million public safety mill levy from voters in November. Council member Frank Ewalt was the lone no vote. The owner of an average home in Billings would pay an additional $8.33 a month in property taxes if the levy passed.

Last fall, voters overwhelmingly approved a $12 million public safety levy that replaced an $8 million levy that had been in effect since the early 2000s  a net increase of about $4 million.
The judge heard testimony and statements from the victims parents that highlighted the impact Skeltons crimes had had on their daughters.

One parent told the judge, Im horrified that Mr. Skelton preyed on (her daughters) innocence and then stripped it from her. She said her daughter has struggled with depression and anxiety, and social and emotional consequences from the assault.

(She) was violated by someone who was supposed to be a trusted adult, said the mother, and she expects her daughter will face more adversity in the years that come.

She said characterizations that Skeltons actions were a mistake had blown her mind. A mistake is something that is not thought about, she said. A mistake is not something that happens over a year, repeatedly.

One victim's father said, Ive had a lot of time to think about what I would say today. I dont really have as much to say as I thought that I would. But I would like the court to know, and you, your honor, that this has certainly changed my relationship with my daughter.
The former Billings elementary school teacher accused of sexually assaulting students in class has admitted charges.

Brent David Skelton, 32, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to two counts of sexual assault under a plea deal. The agreement does not state what sentence the prosecution or defense will recommend.

Skelton was set for trial next week. In pleading guilty, he admitted to touching two of his fifth-grade students both over and under their clothing, including their genitals, during class hours.

A day before pleading guilty, Skeltons attorneys filed their trial brief, which noted that Skelton was expected to serve as the sole defense witness.

He will also testify to the heartbreak he has experienced from being blamed for assaulting two [fifth-grade] girls, the brief said. He will testify he never harmed them and never touched them inappropriately. He has no explanation as to why they would make these allegations against him.
Police say the victim and the suspect in a fatal stabbing in Butte on Saturday had been in town about two weeks after coming here from Colorado.
Jacob Stops, an information officer for the Crow Tribe, said to his knowledge tribal buffalo weren't currently in the pasture.

"In fact we were busy trying to get them gathered up to put them back in the pasture. We'll just keep them where they're at," he said.

The fire is roughly halfway between Fort Smith and the Wyoming line. Kohn said the fire was not currently threatening the Bighorn Canyon Recreation Area. Tribal Game Wardens have closed the road to the buffalo pasture at Cowboy Camp before Windy Point, according to Kohn.

The fire update also noted that the fire is expected to produce a large amount of smoke. The area where the fire is burning is described by fire officials in the update as a canyon forest carrying 800 to 100 tons per acre of heavy timber "that has not burned in many years."

The fire has burned heavy fuels on either side of the Little Bull Elk Canyon walls and in the 11:30 a.m. flyover was showing rapid spread and flame lengths between 100 to 150 feet. Fire activity appeared to have lessened an hour later in a subsequent flyover.
The tit-for-tat duties victimized companies that have nothing to do with aircraft production, from French winemakers and German cookie bakers in Europe to spirits producers in the United States, among many others. Tuesday's agreement brought a measure of relief to companies on both sides of the Atlantic.

For about 20 years, we have been at each others throat, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai said. We have been too busy fighting each other.

In March, weeks after Biden took office, the two sides agreed to suspend the tariffs. That suspension, which began March 11, was to last for four months. The agreement announced Tuesday will officially take effect July 11 and will put the tariffs on hold for five years.

Its obviously a good sign  they agreed to something, said William Reinsch, a former U.S. trade official who is now an analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

The truce, he said, will add an element of certainty and sanity to trans-Atlantic trade.
Asked if I would reconsider, I flatly refused, said I would not be giving any special treatment to Giuliani or any of his witnesses, and re-affirmed yet again that I will not talk to Giuliani about any of this, Rosen wrote.

On Dec. 14, the day that Electoral College votes were certified and that Barr said he would be resigning later that month, a Trump White House assistant sent a note to Rosen with the subject From POTUS, an acronym for president of the United States. The email to Rosen, a deputy attorney general who became acting attorney general after Barr left, included talking points on alleged voter fraud in Antrim County, in a key battleground state, Michigan, Those included claims like a Cover-up is Happening regarding voting machines in Michigan and Michigan cannot certify for Biden.

Just moments after the Trump assistant sent the documents, Donoghue sent the same documents to the U.S. attorneys in the Eastern and Western districts of Michigan.
The canister began its journey at Blount Island, a U.S. Marine Corps depot in Jacksonville, Florida. Six flatbed rail cars hauled 18 large storage containers known as conex boxes, each with an orange sign warning Explosives on its side. On car DODX48916, inside container USMC007574-6, canisters of the 40 mm rounds were stacked like soldiers in bunks.

The trains circuitous route passed through Atlanta twice before it arrived 17 days later at Letterkenny Army Depot in central Pennsylvania. There, a worker unpacking the container discovered the theft.

Where, when, who, how -- investigators were at a loss.

A series of security failures covered any tracks the thief left.

Armed guards who accompanied the shipment reported nothing. When the train reached Letterkenny, it was shuttled for the night to Rail Yard 1, an unsecured staging area outside the installation with no surveillance.

Upon arrival, workers didnt verify whether anti-theft seals on each container were intact. An inspector didnt check the seals the next day either, later saying it was because he couldnt see them.
Grizzly bear managers have a lot to digest at their summer meeting this week after big political and practical shifts in the past year.

The Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee meets virtually on Wednesday and Thursday, bringing together land and wildlife managers from Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Washington and a constellation of regional and local officials.

They gather as the U.S. Interior Department leadership has switched from President Donald Trumps Secretary David Bernhardt, who focused on grizzly conflict reduction by expanding bear removal, to President Joe Bidens Secretary Deb Haaland, who has voiced more support for grizzly protection under the Endangered Species Act.

Wednesdays session features a status assessment from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recovery coordinator Hilary Cooley. FWS recently completed a five-year review of the grizzlys ESA recovery progress, and concluded it still warranted federal protection.
On Saturday, Holton picked up Rogers-Eldridge from her home and took to her to the Kutting Edge Salon in Stevensville to have her hair styled and nails done for the big day. They both then loaded up in Holtons black pickup and made the drive to the fire hall where family, friends and the Missoula group called Your Fairy Godmothers were waiting with a picnic table loaded with presents.

Every princess needs a chariot driver, Holton said. She sang all the way here  I dont always have a choice on how I spend my Saturdays, but sometimes I get to pick what I get to do.

For the next few hours, Rogers-Eldridge twirled around in her princess dress and tiara as everyone sang, danced, ate pizza and opened presents.

Make-A-Wish has been creating life-changing experiences for children with critical illnesses for 41 years.

Last September, Make-A-Wish South Dakota joined forced with Make-A-Wish Montana to serve even more children in the two states. Research shows that children who have had wishes granted through the program can build the physical and emotional strength they need to fight their illnesses.

Carol Holman of Hamilton has been volunteering with Make-A-Wish for four years.
Its a pretty big jump, and we are expecting extreme fire weather today, Chapman said Tuesday morning of the fire's size.

While burning north through timber, grass and sage, the Robertson Draw fire has caused spot fires, and personnel battling the fire at the beginning of the day included two hand crews and two helicopters. As of Tuesday evening, there was no containment estimate for the fire. A total of 80 personnel were reported to be assigned to the fire Tuesday morning.

Due to the extreme weather today, we are also trying to make it known that this fire has the potential to spark into the Main Fork of Rock Creek, Chapman said Tuesday morning.

Going into the day fire officials were concerned about low relative humidity, hot temperatures and strong gusty winds that could create erratic fire behavior. There were expectations that the fire would grow Tuesday, and the initial goals were to keep the fire north of Line Creek, west of the U.S. Forest Service boundary along the face of the Beartooth Mountains, south of South Grove Creek and east of the Line Creek Plateau. Firefighters had planned to assess and implement structure protection and also implement back burning efforts while continuing to build fire lines.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
It's unclear what accounts for the discrepancy. North Dakota officials say they believe the federal government takes into account estimates in its numbers. Either way, the two states' oil outputs are neck and neck.

"At the rate that they're growing production, they're going to pass us unless our pace picks up," Helms said.

A state's high ranking gives it bragging rights, but its position also holds other implications. Rankings can affect an oil company's ability to find investors to fund a project in a state, Helms said. And North Dakota's ranking matters when the state seeks to "flex its muscle" with federal agencies on issues such as methane emissions rules and oil leasing on public lands, he said.

North Dakota became the nation's second-biggest oil producer early on in the Bakken oil boom as horizontal drilling and fracking technology sent North Dakota's oil production skyrocketing. The state surpassed Alaska to take the spot in 2012.

Latest data

Oil and gas production information tends to lag several months, and North Dakota's Oil and Gas Division released figures for April oil production on Monday. The state's daily oil output grew 1.1% over March to 1.12 million barrels. A record 16,374 oil wells are active in the state.


Childhood FantasySail the Seven Seas

The sail of this childhood fantasy was set when I was in third grade, during a three-day summer trip, organized by Dads office, to Tianjin, a city by the sea.

It happened so long ago all that I can remember about the trip are mostly bits and pieces: our bus driver got lost countless times as streets in Tianjin are not laid out like lines on a chess board but twist and turn as if they are paths in a maze designed by a madman, we all slept on the pleasantly cool marble floor of the lobby of an elegant old building that bore witness to the glory of a bygone era of the Tianjin concessions, we visited a pork processing facility where pigs were humanely rendered unconscious by electric shock before being dispatched

It was on that trip, during a visit to the Tianjin Harbor, when I started to have this fantasy of sailing the seven seas. The harbor visit was nothing short of eye opening. I remember strolling on the pier, dwarfed by towering gantry cranes lined up on shiny rails. They looked like giant soldiers ready to leap into action. I marveled at ships moored along the pier. Everything seeming bigger when you are young, those ships appeared humongous to me that day if they were in fact featherweight among ocean-going vessels. And yes, for the first time in my life, I saw the ocean.

I had read about the ocean. I had heard stories about the seafaring Odysseus. I had seen the ocean in movies. But I had never seen the real thing. Now that I was standing there staring right at it, as book knowledge of its vastness embracing eye-popping reality, I found myself gaping at it longingly, lost for words, totally mesmerized.

It could have been a long time, or it could have been a fleeting moment, before I heard a voice inside my head, growing from a whisper into a deafening crescendo, I want to sail the seven seas

The yearning for the vast and endless sea has been with me ever since, but the fantasy to sail it had to stay just that, a fantasy, for a long, long time. There was once a chance for me to get enrolled in a college that would have trained me for the ocean-going transportation industry. But a different school, with clout, grabbed me. I did travel from Dalian to Tianjin once by ferry, but that would hardly count as sailing the seas, as the voyaging was done almost entirely at night inside the Bohai Gulf.

Ive done more sea travel since then. I have done Caribbean cruises. But the Caribbean Sea is not the seven seas. I have done transatlantic cruises. Then again, the Atlantic Ocean is not the seven seas.

I love traveling by sea, so much so that, I suspect, I would keep on narrowing my definition of "the seven seas to allow me to continue fulfilling that childhood fantasy of mine.

Oh, how I wish all this chaos thrown our way by the pandemic will soon end so that we can all go back to the happy business of turning our childhood (or adulthood :) ) fantasies into reality.
"I don't personally know what the details were, but in my opinion, the wounds were healed," county Legislator David E. Godfrey said in an interview. "It brings it back to where it really belongs: a county facility. That's what it's all about."

NU issued a statement that seemed to indicate the academy had not been asked to leave campus.

"As we looked ahead our goal had been to strengthen our relationship with the academy, and we had identified a number of new initiatives designed to support the academy, and improve the learning experience for the recruits," the statement said.

"However, we understand the opportunities the NCLEA has with our great partners at Niagara County Community College, and we wish the academy great success in its work. We pledge our continued support as a resource to them to strengthen our community as a whole," the statement said.

Godfrey said the Legislature doesn't have to vote on the move.

"This is the sheriff's budget, but as far as moving it, the Legislature would be fully supportive," said Godfrey, R-Wilson, chairman of the Community Safety Committee.
So with most capacity and distancing restrictions being lifted, is it safe for vaccinated individuals to have dinner at packed restaurants and work out in crowded gyms?

For the most part, yes, Russo said. Exceptions would be if you have a compromised immune system, are elderly and frail, or are living with someone who is, he added.

For those who aren't vaccinated, however, now is the time to get your shot, and now is the time for health care providers to maintain the vaccination push, he said. While risks should remain low throughout summer, when most socializing is done outdoors, it'll be a different story as Thanksgiving approaches and everyone starts gathering indoors once again.

Those who have contracted Covid-19 may also be under the false assumption that they are already sufficiently protected, even though their natural immunity may not guard against the many virus variants that have been spreading globally, he said.

"The people who havent been vaccinated are still at risk," he said, "and the virus will find them."

+2 Border restrictions could be eased in late July or August, top Canadian official says Dominic LeBlanc, Canada's intergovernmental affairs minister, said at a virtual news conference that the government is developing a plan that could involve "a phased adjustment of border measures in July or later in August."

Other caveats
The Buffalo Diocese, heavily criticized by State Attorney General Letitia James for not keeping better tabs on priests who molested children, is launching a monitoring program that will include monthly home visits and other restrictions for offending priests.

Bishop Michael W. Fisher confirmed in an interview with The News that the diocese has developed and begun to implement a detailed monitoring plan with a professional monitor who will be in contact with each of these priests who have been relieved of ministry.

Fisher also sent a letter this week to all priests and deacons announcing that diocese lawyers and Sister Mary McCarrick, chief operating officer, met last week with the Attorney Generals Office to outline the monitoring plan.

While this is increasingly standard practice among dioceses nationwide, it is also a key requirement of the New York Attorney General, as outlined in the suit brought against the diocese last year, Fisher said in his letter. To be very clear, implementing an effective and sustainable monitoring program has been one of my priorities, and one which I believe offers a credible demonstration of our efforts to restore trust and ensure an even greater level of accountability for those who have been found to have committed such grave offenses.
Yelder was arrested in July 2019. U.S. marshals found him at a Delaware Avenue hotel in Buffalo where, authorities said, he was renting a room and distributing meth. He was found in possession of 21 baggies containing about 30 grams of 98% to 99% pure meth.

Yelder was previously convicted in 2017 on a methamphetamine trafficking charge, according to Adler. In that case, he was sentenced to serve 20 months in prison and five years post-release supervision. He was released from custody and supervision on May 25, 2018.

But, prosecutors said, Yelder "broke off all contact with probation personnel" in February 2019.

Loder's mother, Bridget, who listened in on Tuesday's hearing from the West Coast, said afterward that her son was a bright, young man with many talents who battled addiction since he was about 14 years old.

She said that in some ways, she has sympathy for Yelder, who she was told also has a substance abuse disorder, like her son. Yet, she said, Yelder sold her son a drug that killed him.

"It's no different to me than someone carrying a loaded gun," Bridget Loder said. "Yes, Kyle made choices in his life. Nobody forced him to do that. But you can't just go out and sell illegal handguns or poison that you know is going to kill somebody."
The 69-year-old Weinstein has been incarcerated at Wende Correctional Facility in Alden since March 2020. He is serving a 23-year prison sentence after being convicted in Manhattan of a criminal sex act and third-degree rape.

Weinstein has appealed that conviction.

At a court appearance in April, Weinstein's attorney said his client suffered from multiple medical ailments, including cardiac, eye, back and dental issues.

Erie County prosecutors received a letter from a local eye doctor who examined Weinstein for the first time last Thursday, said Assistant District Attorney Colleen Curtin Gable, chief of the grand jury bureau. The doctor prescribed a course of treatment, but Weinstein rejected it "saying he wasn't psychologically ready for it," Curtin Gable said.

Prosecutors have reports from two doctors, neither of which state Weinstein can't receive treatment in California, she said.

Because of the time that's passed, Weinstein also is no longer eligible to ask Gov. Andrew Cuomo to intervene and halt any extradition, Curtin Gable said.
The three-way race for a Niagara Falls City Court judgeship has boiled over, with two of the candidates exchanging charges about their personal histories while the third tries to stay above the fray.

Jenelle L. Faso and Dominic H. Saraceno, both assistant Niagara County public defenders, and Corporation Counsel Christopher M. Mazur are the contenders in the Democratic, Republican, Conservative and Working Families primaries.

The winner of the November election will serve for the next 10 years. All three candidates are rated "well qualified" by the Niagara County Bar Association.

Saraceno, 53, and Faso, 47, said they have been personally attacked by the other's supporters, but neither accuses Mazur, 55, of taking part in that aspect of the race.

"We're supposed to be in a judicial race. It's not a place for that," Mazur said. "I've been trying to stay above board the whole time here, and I think that's the whole purpose of the rules of decorum in a judicial race."

Saraceno said the campaign has become "despicable," while Faso, asked if she approved of the tone of the contest, replied, "Absolutely not."

"I think both sides need to concentrate on their qualifications and let the voters decide," Faso said.
At that event, Rep. Brian Higgins envisioned a Canada Day celebration at the Peace Bridge on July 1, where President Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau would meet to reopen the border.

"I think that would be a great demonstration of binational agreement, recognizing the good work of public health officials who guided us through this  and we're just following their recommendations," Higgins, a Buffalo Democrat, said.

He noted that public health officials say it's safe for people fully vaccinated against Covid-19 to go without masks and to socialize without social distancing. That being the case, he said there's no reason why vaccinated people should not be allowed to cross the border.

Higgins' wish for a July 1 opening celebration came in response to a question regarding when panelists think the border will reopen. Every panelist took a dimmer view than the Buffalo congressman, a co-chair of the Canada-U.S. Interparliamentary Group.

Wayne Easter, a member of the Canadian Parliament and also a co-chair of that panel, said: "My heart is where Brian's is as well  opening quickly July 1st or 4th. But I actually think it'll be a phased approach, and I think we'll see quite an expansion of that phased approach as we get into the last of July."
WASHINGTON (AP)  More than half the cosmetics sold in the United States and Canada are awash with a toxic industrial compound associated with serious health conditions, including cancer and reduced birth weight, according to a new study.

Researchers at the University of Notre Dame tested more than 230 commonly used cosmetics and found that 56% of foundations and eye products, 48% of lip products and 47% of mascaras contained fluorine  an indicator of PFAS, so-called forever chemicals that are used in nonstick frying pans, rugs and countless other consumer products.

Some of the highest PFAS levels were found in waterproof mascara (82%) and long-lasting lipstick (62%), according to the study published Tuesday in the journal Environmental Science & Technology Letters. Twenty-nine products with higher fluorine concentrations were tested further and found to contain between four and 13 specific PFAS chemicals, the study found. Only one item listed PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, as an ingredient on the label.
The letter said Kelly would keep only two executive orders in place. One mandated that state-licensed nursing homes test their residents and staff regularly for COVID-19, and another granting temporary permission for medical personnel and students to give COVID-19 vaccinations.

Lawrence said those orders would expire at the end of Tuesday. That shouldn't affect the ability of pharmacies to give the shots, but he said paramedics and medical and nursing students won't be able to do so. The state Department of Health and Environment might have the authority to require nursing home testing. Lawrence said.

He and other Democratic officials said the state will lose $14.5 million a month in extra federal aid for 63,000 households  an average of $230 a month each.

Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes said the extra food aid frees up money that families can use to pay rent and utility bills.

"We're asking them once again to pick and choose on how they will survive, Sykes, a Lenexa Democrat, said during a Statehouse news conference.
Czech national Petr Pavelec said he had long planned to have his chest tattooed with the likeness of Navalny  and moved it up to last weekend to make the protest.

Pavelec said he deeply admired Navalny's courage.

I believe what hes doing is not just for Russia, but the rest of the world. This incredible guy sacrificed himself by returning to Russia after being poisoned, he said. That was a reference to Navalnys poisoning with a nerve agent similar to Soviet-era Novichok, for which he was transported to Germany for medical care before returning home -- only to be arrested.

Andrey Zaitsev, a Russian who was one of the protest organizers, said he and colleagues had traveled from Berlin for the rally, and planned to make a film about Putins trip to Geneva.

We are the fruits of the labor of Vladimir Putin. If Russia had a working civil society, we wouldnt even exist as civil activists. We would have a democracy and we would merely be working for the betterment of our society, he said.

All of us are united in one matter or another, chiefly because of Vladimir Putin, Zaitsev said.
Representative Image

New Delhi [India], June 15 (ANI): Amid the buzz of an imminent reshuffle in the Union Cabinet, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) and Union Cabinet meetings are scheduled to be held on Wednesday.

The buzz that was going on for quite sometime intensified after series of meetings took place between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP National President JP Nadda in the national capital. Sources stated Nadda had been frequently visiting PM's residence for a month now.

Earlier sources in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stated that the party is likely to accommodate a few of its prominent leaders and National Democratic Alliance (NDA) members in the Narendra Modi Cabinet soon. It has been two years since NDA came back to power in 2019.

Several positions in the Cabinet are vacant due to the exit of Shiv Sena and Shiromani Akali Dal and the demise of Ramvilas Paswan of Jan Lokshakti Party.

There are speculations of several senior leaders like former Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and senior leader Jyotiraditya Scindia to be accommodated. Recently, Uttarakhand former CM Trivendra Singh Rawat met the PM as well.

It is also understood that important NDA ally Janta Dal-United is also expected to be provided a berth in the Cabinet.

With UP elections in the offing, Apna Dal, too, is likely to get accommodated. Apna Dal leader Anupriya recently met Shah at his residence.

It is also learnt that Prime Minister Narendra Modi may also rejig the portfolios of several of his ministers. At present, several ministers have been burdened with multiple portfolios, this may change and some of these may be allocated to the newly inducted ministers, sources added.

The much-awaited cabinet reshuffle would be the first such rejig of the Narendra Modi cabinet after it was voted back to power in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Party sources earlier stated that leaders from several key states like Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh are also expected to be accommodated in the expansion as the BJP aims to expand in these states in the future. (ANI)
DUBAI (Reuters) - Iranians have a choice between seven mostly hardline candidates in a president election on Friday, a contest likely to reinforce the authority of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the country's strongly anti-Western Supreme Leader.

Clerical officials who vetted the candidates rejected several prominent moderates and conservatives, resulting in a field of five hardliners and two low-key moderates in the June 18 contest.

President Hassan Rouhani, a pragmatist who orchestrated Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, is legally barred from running for a third four-year term.

In the Islamic Republic's dual system of republican and clerical rule, the president heads the government but reports to the Supreme Leader, the country's top authority.

Following are brief sketches of the candidates:

EBRAHIM RAISI: Iran's hardline judiciary chief lost to Rouhani in 2017 and was sanctioned by the United States the following year for human rights abuses.

Describing him as a member of Khamenei's "inner circle", Washington cited Raisi's participation in "a so-called death commission that ordered the extrajudicial executions of thousands of political prisoners in 1988".

Iran has never acknowledged the mass executions. However, some clerics have praised the trials as fair, praising the "eliminating" of armed opposition in the early years of the 1979 Islamic revolution. Raisi himself has never publicly addressed allegations about his role.

In 2016, the mid-ranking Shi'ite cleric was appointed by Khamenei as the custodian of Astan Qods Razavi, a multi-billion dollar religious conglomerate that owns mines, textile factories, a pharmaceutical plant and even major oil and gas firms.

Raisi is also the deputy head of Iran's Assembly of Experts, a clerical body that supervises, appoints, and in theory can sack the supreme leader.

If he wins the vote, Raisi would boost his chances of eventually succeeding Khamenei, who himself served two terms as president under the late founder of the revolution, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

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Raisi enjoys backing from Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps.

SAEED JALILI: Fiercely loyal to Khamenei, the hardline diplomat lost his right leg in the 1980s when fighting for the elite Revolutionary Guards in the Iran-Iraq war. Holder of a PhD in political science, Jalili is a pious believer in Iran's velayat-e faqih, or rule by supreme jurisprudence, a system of Islamic government that provides the basis for Khamenei's position.

Appointed by Khamenei, Jalili served as secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, for five years from 2007, a position that automatically made him chief negotiator on nuclear affairs.

Jalili, who also served for four years in Khamenei's office, was an unsuccessful candidate in a 2013 presidential election.

A former deputy foreign minister, Jalili was appointed by Khamenei in 2013 as a member to the Expediency Council, which is tasked with resolving disputes between parliament and the Guardian Council, a body that ensures laws conform with Islamic law and the constitution and which vets election candidates.

ABDOLNASER HEMMATI: A former ambassador to China, Hemmati is a pragmatist technocrat who had served as Iran's Central Bank chief since 2018 for three years. He stepped down from that role last month. He formerly served as vice president of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), governor of the Central Insurance of Iran and the chief executive at Bank Melli Iran.

MOHSEN REZAEE : The secretary of Iran's Expediency Council, Rezaee was top commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards who led the elite force during the eight-year Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s. A three-time presidential candidate, who withdrew from the race in 2005 vote, Rezaee holds a PhD in economics.

In 2007, Argentine authorities secured Interpol arrest warrants for Rezaee, along with four other Iranians and a Lebanese, over a 1994 bombing of a Buenos Aires Jewish community centre that killed 85 people.

MOHSEN MEHRALIZADEH: Former governor of Iran's Isfahan province, Mehralizadeh ranked last among seven candidates running in Iran's 2005 presidential election.

The moderate politician was elected as first vice president in 2001 by the reformist then-president Mohammad Khatami.

His name was not included in the reformists' lists, which included nine candidates who were all barred from standing by the Guardian Council.

ALIREZA ZAKANI: A hardline lawmaker, who was disqualified in 2013 and 2017 from running for president, holds a Ph.D. in nuclear medicine. The former veteran of the Iran-Iraq war and a commander of the Guards' affiliated volunteer Basij militia, Zakani has portrayed himself as the most capable candidate at fighting poverty and corruption.

AMIRHOSSEIN GHAZIZADEH-HASHEMI: A member of parliament since 2008, the hardline politician has promised to boost Iran's battered economy. He holds a PhD in medicine.

(Writing by Parisa Hafezi, Editing by William Maclean)
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN  June 15, 2021. Karolinska Development AB (Nasdaq Stockholm: KDEV) announces today that its portfolio company Modus Therapeutics has entered into a collaboration agreement with Imperial College London to evaluate the effect of its drug candidate sevuparin in patients with severe malaria. Sevuparin is currently being developed in the indication sepsis/septic shock, a condition that bears resemblance to the systemic inflammatory reaction that occurs in connection with severe malaria infection. Malaria causes more than 400,000 deaths per year and the need for new and effective drugs is therefore great.



Severe malaria continues to be a medical challenge in several parts of the world. The disease often affects children and the need for effective drugs is great as malaria can induce a systemic inflammatory reaction leading to multi-organ failure, a reaction similar to that seen in sepsis/septic shock.

The purpose of the collaboration announced today is to conduct a clinical study evaluating sevuparin as a potentially groundbreaking treatment for malaria. The project will be led by Professor Kathryn Maitland's research group at Imperial College London and funded through a scientific collaboration grant issued by the Wellcome Trust, one of the world's largest research support foundations. Modus Therapeutics will contribute to the project by supplying the drug candidate sevuparin, which has previously shown promising effects against malaria in tissue samples from patients with a confirmed infection.

"We are delighted with the academic collaboration between Modus Therapeutics and Imperial College London, which we hope will lead to a better treatment of severe malaria. The data generated in the project will contribute to strengthening the scientific basis for sevuparin in upcoming development efforts in sepsis/septic shock", comments Viktor Drvota, CEO, Karolinska Development.

For further information, please contact:

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Viktor Drvota, CEO, Karolinska Development AB

Phone: +46 73 982 52 02, e-mail: viktor.drvota@karolinskadevelopment.com

Johan Dighed, General Counsel and Deputy CEO, Karolinska Development AB

Phone: +46 70 207 48 26, e-mail: johan.dighed@karolinskadevelopment.com

TO THE EDITORS

About Karolinska Development AB



Karolinska Development AB (Nasdaq Stockholm: KDEV) is a Nordic life sciences investment company. The company focuses on identifying breakthrough medical innovations in the Nordic region that are developed by entrepreneurs and leadership teams. The Company invests in the creation and growth of companies that advance these assets into commercial products that are designed to make a difference to patients' lives while providing an attractive return on investment to shareholders.

Karolinska Development has access to world-class medical innovations at the Karolinska Institutet and other leading universities and research institutes in the Nordic region. The Company aims to build companies around scientists who are leaders in their fields, supported by experienced management teams and advisers, and co-funded by specialist international investors, to provide the greatest chance of success.



Karolinska Development has a portfolio of ten companies targeting opportunities in innovative treatment for life-threatening or serious debilitating diseases.



The Company is led by an entrepreneurial team of investment professionals with a proven track record as company builders and with access to a strong global network.

For more information, please visit www.karolinskadevelopment.com.

Attachment




Financing led by founding investor Forbion and a leading global investment firm, and joined by BioGeneration Ventures (BGV) and Eli Lilly and Company

Proceeds to establish pre-clinical proof of concept for vectorized antibodies in ALS and Alzheimers and to further expand the team

Company has also appointed Alexander Vos as its new CEO and Dr. Sander van Deventer as new CTO  see todays separate announcement

AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands, Jun 15, 2021--(BUSINESS WIRE)--VectorY Therapeutics, a biotech company focusing on the development of innovative gene therapy approaches for the treatment of muscular and neurodegenerative disorders through vectorized antibodies, today announces the completion of a 31 million seed financing round.

The oversubscribed round was co-led by founding investor Forbion and a leading global investment firm. BGV and Eli Lilly and Company also joined the syndicate.

The proceeds from this seed financing will be used by the Company to establish pre-clinical proof of concept for vectorized antibodies in target indications of ALS and Alzheimers. The Company will also use the funds to establish proprietary manufacturing capabilities, including a state-of-the-art GMP facility in the Netherlands.

VectorY was launched in October 2020, and has established its laboratories and offices at the Amsterdam Science Park in The Netherlands. The Company is developing a pipeline of vectorized antibodies targeting muscular and CNS diseases, based on a novel AAV platform and innovative antibody-based targeted degradation technologies. These non-immunogenic viral vectors have enhanced properties of cell type specificity, thus improving delivery, durability and accessibility of targeted tissues and cells.

Today, the Company also announced the appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer, Alexander Vos, and Chief Technology Officer Dr. Sander van Deventer, both highly experienced pioneers in the cell and gene therapy field. Further expansion of the team is also planned. See the VectorY website for the full announcement: www.vectorytx.com.

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The Companys Board of Directors will continue to be chaired by Dr. Carlo Incerti, previously Chief Medical Officer of Sanofi Genzyme. Marco Boorsma, General Partner at Forbion, who has acted as interim-CEO since company inception, will become a member of the Board.

Alexander Vos, newly-appointed CEO of VectorY, said:

"We are pleased to have attracted leading investors and knowledgeable industry partners to VectorY so soon after the launch of the Company. We are grateful for the trust placed in the strength of our team, which is testament to the credibility of our technological approach and scientific expertise. These proceeds will enable us to get the Company off to a great start to establish proof-of-concept for our vectorized antibodies and effectively tackle some notoriously challenging disease areas."

Marco Boorsma, Board member of VectorY, commented:

"Coupled with the appointments of seasoned industry experts Alexander as CEO, and Sander as CTO, this seed financing excellently places the Company to progress vectorized antibodies as therapies for serious diseases of unmet medical need, and to establish proprietary manufacturing capabilities. As I move into my new role as a Board member, I hope to be able to provide Alexander and the rest of the management team with the support required to make VectorY a great success."

ENDS

Notes to Editors

About VectorY

VectorY combines the therapeutic potential of antibodies, RNA and gene therapy to develop long-lasting therapeutic solutions for muscular and neurodegenerative diseases with high unmet medical need. Founded in October 2020, and based in the Amsterdam Science Park, VectorY is a fully integrated gene therapy company focused on the development of innovative therapeutics based on a novel AAV gene therapy platform, antibody- and RNA-based targeted degradation technologies, and proprietary manufacturing technology. VectorY develops proprietary & partnered programs and product candidates are based on new technologies that will enable the next generation of highly scalable manufacturing processes within VectorYs own manufacturing facilities. VectorYs manufacturing capabilities will include a state-of-the-art multi-product GMP facility in the Netherlands, with the capability to deliver suspension based AAV viral vector manufacturing of up to 2000L for both clinical and commercial supply.

For more information, see www.vectorytx.com.

About Forbion

Forbion is a dedicated life sciences venture capital firm with offices in The Netherlands, Germany and Singapore. Forbion invests in life sciences companies that are active in the (bio-) pharmaceutical space.

Forbion manages well over EUR 1.7 billion across multiple fund strategies that cover all stages of (bio)pharmaceutical drug development. Forbions current team consists of 20 life sciences investment professionals that have built an impressive performance track record since the late nineties with successful investments in over 70 companies.

The firm is a signatory to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment. Besides financial objectives, Forbion selects investments that will positively affect the health and well-being of patients.

Its investors include the EIF, through its European Recovery Programme (ERP), LfA, Dutch Venture Initiative (DVI), AMUF and EFSI facilities and KfW Capital through the Programme, "ERP  Venture Capital Fonds investments". Forbion operates a joint venture with BGV, the manager of seed and early-stage funds, especially focused on Benelux and Germany.

For more information, please visit: www.forbion.com.

About BioGeneration Ventures (BGV)

BioGeneration Ventures (BGV) is a venture capital company, with a focus on early-stage European biotech companies. With a strong track record of significant financial returns through its investments in healthcare innovations and providing the expertise to build world-class companies, BGV manages over EUR 250 million of funds and invests in areas where true scientific innovations, unmet medical needs, and the potential to demonstrate a significant proof of concept all converge. BGV strives to work with founding teams to progress science and build successful companies and uses its experience to guide progress into clinical trials, leading to successful drug development and value realization for its investors. BGV applies its expertise in a rigorous process to select the most compelling opportunities with the best prospects for exit. The Company is based in Naarden, The Netherlands.

For more information, please visit: www.biogenerationventures.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005107/en/

Contacts

For further information, please contact:

VectorY B.V.

Alexander Vos, CEO

Tel: +31 6 46 736 915

Instinctif Partners (media enquiries)

Melanie Toyne-Sewell / Phil Marriage

E-mail: VectorY@instinctif.com

Tel: +44 20 7457 2020
Wrapping up his first NATO summit since taking office, President Joe Biden said it was an "incredibly productive day" with American allies, which included individual meetings with roughly a dozen other leaders on the margins of the gathering. But the focus continues to be on his next major summit, when he comes face to face with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Geneva on Wednesday.

Biden said there was a consensus among his fellow heads of state at NATO, saying they were "glad" he was meeting with Putin early in his presidency.

"Every world leader here that's a member of NATO that spoke today -- and most of them mentioned it -- thanked me for meeting with Putin now," Biden said in a press conference on Monday from the NATO headquarters in Brussels. "Every single one that spoke, and I think there were probably about 10 or 12 that spoke to it, saying they were happy that I did that, that I was going to do that."

PHOTO: President Joe Biden speaks during a news conference at the NATO summit at NATO headquarters in Brussels, June 14, 2021. (Patrick Semansky/AP)

The president has previously described Putin as a "killer," who has no soul and is a "KGB thug." Asked by ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Cecilia Vega Monday about what he has learned from his previous meeting with him in 2016 and what his mindset is like walking into a summit with Putin, Biden said he is "bright" and "tough."

"I have found that he is a, as they say, when you used to play ball, a worthy adversary," Biden said.

Biden was also asked how he could trust Putin coming out of their summit and the president said it wasn't so much about trusting him, but rather "agreeing."

"I'm hoping that -- that President Putin concludes that there is some interest, in terms of his own interest, in changing the perception that the world has of him," he said.

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Earlier in the day, Biden referenced his upcoming sit down with Putin during his meeting with Baltic leaders at NATO, discussing "the threat that Russia poses," according to a senior administration official and also brought up the recent "air piracy" that occurred when a Ryanair flight bound for Lithuania was forced to divert and land in Belarus.

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"The four leaders committed to further strengthening our political, military, and economic partnerships, including working together through NATO to address challenges posed by Russia and China," the White House said in a written statement following their meeting.

Similar to this press conference, Biden will also go before the press corps alone following his summit with Putin in Geneva on Wednesday. He defended that choice by saying he doesn't want the attention to be on physical details, but rather the substance of their discussions from their own points of view.

"I don't want to get into being diverted by, did they shake hands? How far did they -- who talked the most and the rest," Biden said in England on Sunday. "He can say what he said the meeting was about and I will say what I think the meeting was about. That's how I'm going to handle it."

PHOTO: President Joe Biden speaks during a press conference after the NATO summit at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) headquarters in Brussels, June 14, 2021. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)

Biden's press conference Monday came after a one-on-one meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Monday afternoon, amid strained relations between the two countries.

"We had a positive and productive meeting," Biden said, adding that they reviewed a range of issues.

"Our two countries have big agendas. Our teams are going to continue our discussions, and I'm confident we'll make real progress with Turkey and the United States," he added.

In April, Biden became the first sitting U.S. president to formally recognize the Ottoman Empire's killing and deportation of Armenians over a century ago as genocide, breaking from his predecessors and risking inflaming tensions with Turkey, a key NATO ally, who warned against it.

The U.S. also angered Turkey over the decision to cancel its participation in the F-35 fighter jets program last year after they accepted a Russian-made air defense system.

MORE: White House downplays Biden-Putin summit, not expecting 'huge outcome'

The president also continued to voice strong support for NATO's Article 5 -- which states an attack on one member nation is an attack on all. He said it is "rock solid and unshakeable" after earlier saying that it was "a sacred obligation."

NATO's official communique was released after the summit and now reflects that "a cyberattack would lead to the invocation of Article 5" on a case-by-case basis, showing the increased threat nations are facing in the cyber realm.

"I constantly remind Americans that when America was attacked for the first time on its shores since what happened back at the end of World War II, NATO stepped up," the president said in a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg earlier Monday, referencing the 9/11 terror attacks. Leaving the NATO headquarters Monday night, Biden visited the Sept. 11 memorial, a twisted piece of the World Trade Center.

PHOTO: President Joe Biden touches a piece of steel from the North Tower of the World Trade Center while visiting a memorial to the September 11 terrorist attacks at NATO headquarters in Brussels, June 14, 2021. (Patrick Semansky/AP)

"I just want all of Europe to know that the United States is there," he said earlier Monday. "The United States is there."

Biden's endorsement of NATO stands in stark contrast to his predecessor, former President Donald Trump, who called the alliance "obsolete," which he later backtracked, and once declined to endorse Article 5, which has been a key tenet of the alliance since it was created in 1949.

MORE: Biden to withdraw all US forces from Afghanistan by Sept. 11

Another major area of discussion was the winding down of troops in Afghanistan. While Biden's decision to withdraw all U.S. troops out of the country by Sept. 11 is known to have frustrated some European allies, the president touted what he claimed was "strong consensus in the room."

"Our troops are coming home, but we agreed that our diplomatic, economic and humanitarian commitment to the Afghan people and our support for the Afghan national defense and security forces will endure," Biden said.

Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr., the top U.S. general in the Middle East, said Monday that the U.S. is about halfway through its military drawdown in Afghanistan and is on schedule to meet Biden's deadline.

All eyes on Biden-Putin summit after 'incredibly productive' day at NATO originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP)  Protest leaders in Colombia said on Tuesday that they will stop organizing marches in the countrys largest cities following seven weeks of antigovernment demonstrations that have resulted in at least 50 deaths.

Members of the National Strike Committee  a group made up of unions and student organizations  said at a news conference that they will suspend marches that have been taking place every week in order to prevent more deaths of protesters at the hands of police and also to slow down coronavirus contagion in Colombia, where deaths from the virus are at an all-time high.

The protest leaders said the Colombian government has not met most of their petitions, so they will change their strategy: Now they will focus on meeting with civil society organizations to draft legislation that will be presented to Colombias congress in July, following a large march on the nation's capital.

This does not mean that social mobilization will stop in Colombia said Francisco Maltes, president of the Central Union of Workers. Mobilization will continue because the causes that led to it are still unattended.

Protests broke out on April 28 over a proposal by President Ivan Duque to increase taxes in an effort to control budget deficits and pay for pandemic-related expenditures. The tax proposal was quickly withdrawn, but demonstrations continued over a wide range of demands, as well as frustration over growing poverty and inequality.

The strike committee on Tuesday accused the government of undermining an effort to start negotiations over social and economic policies that include a basic income scheme for 10 million people, free university tuition for most students and the dismantling of a riot police squad that has been involved in violence against protesters.

The government recently made its own proposals to reform the police and Duque said that students from low-income households will have free university tuition through the end of this year while legislation is drafted to increase access to university education.

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Colombias unemployment rate has doubled during the pandemic, while GDP contracted by 7% in 2020 and extreme poverty went up by 50%.

The protests have led to $3billion in loses, according to the Ministry of Finance, as roadblocks have prevented factories from getting raw materials and stopped exports of products like coffee and sugar cane.

While the strike committee has spearheaded many of the protests, it does not represent youth groups or Indigenous groups that have also led protests and formed barricades in cities like Cali and Bogota. These groups are currently holding separate talks with municipal administrations.

Manuel Rueda, The Associated Press
Sampling red-colored snow in the Alps. (Jean-Gabriel/Valaey/Jardin du Lautaret/UGA/CNRS/ALPALGA via The New York Times)

Winter through spring, the French Alps are wrapped in austere white snow. But as spring turns to summer, the stoic slopes start to blush. Parts of the snow take on bright colors: deep red, rusty orange, lemonade pink. Locals call this sang de glacier, or glacier blood. Visitors sometimes go with watermelon snow.

In reality, these blushes come from an embarrassment of algae. In recent years, alpine habitats all over the world have experienced an uptick in snow-algae blooms  dramatic, strangely hued aggregations of these normally invisible creatures.

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While snow-algae blooms are poorly understood, the fact they are happening is probably not a good sign. Researchers have begun surveying the algae of the Alps to better grasp what species live there, how they survive and what might be pushing them over the bleeding edge. Some of their initial findings were published this week in Frontiers in Plant Science.

Tiny yet powerful, the plantlike bacteria we call algae are the basis of all ecosystems, said Adeline Stewart, an author of the study who worked on it as a doctoral student at Grenoble Alpes University in France. Thanks to their photosynthetic prowess, algae produce a large amount of the worlds oxygen and form the foundation of most food webs.

But they sometimes overdo it, multiplying until they throw things out of balance. This can cause toxic red tides, scummy freshwater blooms and unsettling glacier blood.

While its unclear exactly what spurs the blooms, the color  often red, but sometimes green, gray or yellow  comes from pigments and other molecules that the snow algae use to protect themselves from ultraviolet light. These hues absorb more sunlight, causing the underlying snow to melt more quickly. This can change ecosystem dynamics and hasten the shrinking of glaciers.

Inspired by increasing reports of the phenomenon, researchers at several alpine institutes decided to turn their attention from algae species in far-flung habitats to those that grow next door, said Eric Marechal, head of a plant physiology lab at Grenoble Alpes University and a leader of the project.

Story continues

Because so many different types of algae can live and bloom in the mountains, the researchers began with a census in parts of the French Alps to find out what grows where. They took soil samples from five peaks, spread over various altitudes, and searched for algal DNA.

They found that many species tend to prefer particular elevations and have most likely evolved to thrive in the conditions found there. One key genus, fittingly named Sanguina, grows only above 6,500 feet.

The researchers also brought some species back to the lab to investigate their potential bloom triggers. Algae blooms occur naturally  the first written observation of glacier blood came from Aristotle, who guessed that the snow had grown hairy, red worms from lying around too long.

But human-generated factors can worsen such outbursts and make them more frequent. Extreme weather, unseasonably warm temperatures and influxes of nutrients from agricultural and sewage runoff all play a role in freshwater and ocean algae blooms.

To see if the same was true for glacier blood, the researchers subjected the algae to surpluses of nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus. While they have not found anything significant so far, they plan to continue this line of testing, Stewart said.

The limits of DNA sampling mean that even this study gives an incomplete picture of whats living in and under the snow, said Heather Maughan, a microbiologist and research scholar at the Ronin Institute in New Jersey who was not involved in the study. Still, it revealed the incredible diversity of alpine algae  underscoring how little we know about them, as well as their potential to serve as beacons of ecosystem change, she said.

In the coming years, the researchers will keep track of how species distributions shift over time, which may shed light on the overall health of the ecosystem, Stewart said. They will also try to establish whether temperature patterns correlate with blooms, and begin to compare species compositions in white versus colorful snow. Eventually, they hope to decipher the blood-red message.

Theres so little that we know, she said. We need to dig deeper.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.

 2021 The New York Times Company
The Chippewa County Sheriffs Office arrested a woman on drug charges, and later learned she is wanted in Minnesota on charges relating to the death of her 1-year-old daughter, who was left unattended in a running car in November and died from extreme heat.

Nikki J. Potvin, 29, of Milaca, Minn., is facing charges in Chippewa County of possession of meth and drug paraphernalia and misappropriating an ID; she has a return date here set for July 15.

However, she is wanted in Mille Lacs County (Minn.) Court on charges of third-degree murder and two counts of second-degree manslaughter. The third-degree murder charge carries a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison, while the manslaughter charges each carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.

Potvin is currently incarcerated in the Chippewa County Jail. An extradition hearing to Minnesota on the murder case will be held Thursday.

Potvin lives on property with 12 campers and 30 vehicles in Milaca. The police report describes the property as very cluttered and had burnt garbage, waste and abandoned household items scattered throughout.

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Would it have been too hard to do the right thing? Smith asked during the House floor debate in May on the police bill, which Gov. Kim Reynolds will sign into law this week.

Smiths campaign also is likely to call attention to Reynolds handling of the pandemic, including her resistance to mask mandates and insistence on schools meeting in person. She frequently claims that Iowa had one of the fastest economic recoveries in the nation, but the state also has had more than 6,000 COVID-19 deaths.

Reynolds has not formally announced shes running for another term, but she has signaled her intentions to do so and is expected to make an announcement soon.

Smiths announcement comes as House Democrats announced the election of Rep. Jennifer Konfrst as the first woman to lead their caucus.

Konfrst, an associate professor of journalism at Drake University from the Des Moines suburb of Windsor Heights, is serving her second term. She succeeds Todd Prichard who has decided to leave the leadership role.

For too long, Republicans have put the needs of special interests ahead of Iowans needs. Its time for a change in the Iowa House, and Im ready to get to work, she said.

Republicans have controlled the Iowa House and governors office since 2011 and the Iowa Senate since 2017.

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In an interview, WILL president and general counsel Rick Esenberg said officials and others on the political left are increasingly abandoning the traditional liberal view of race relations that promoted equality of opportunity.

Esenberg said he wants to push back against a new leftist view that color blindness and race neutrality are not enough and that society should speak in terms of equity rather than equality and anti-racism rather than nondiscrimination, and that people should be treated differently based on the color of their skin in order to achieve such equity.

Its intrinsically wrong because it treats people not as individuals, but as archetypes, as sort of stand-ins for members of a group who somehow are entitled or guilty based upon their membership in a group, Esenberg said. I also think as a practical matter it simply doesnt work. It always ends in a war of all against all, and racializes society more than it had been in the past.

Looking nationally

Esenberg said hell bring cases on these issues anywhere.
U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson on Tuesday ended his objection to making Juneteenth a federal paid holiday, a year after he put a stop to a bipartisan effort last summer to do so.

While it still seems strange that having taxpayers provide federal employees paid time off is now required to celebrate the end of slavery, it is clear that there is no appetite in Congress to further discuss the matter, Johnson said regarding a proposal to make June 19, the day commemorating the end of slavery in the U.S., a federal holiday. Therefore, I do not intend to object.

Johnson lifting his objection paved the way for the U.S. Senate to pass the measure on Tuesday by unanimous consent after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, requested it, according to a spokesperson for U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, who also supports the measure.

The measure still needs to pass the House and be signed by President Joe Biden.

Last July, Johnson, R-Oshkosh, was the only Republican to object to a bipartisan proposal from U.S. Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Ed Markey, D-Mass., to pass by unanimous consent a measure making Juneteenth a federal paid holiday.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 15)  Overseas Filipinos sent more money home in April, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported.

In a statement Tuesday, the BSP said personal remittances in April were up 13.1% to $2.574 billion from last year. This brought the average for the first four months to $11.028 billion - a 5.1% growth from the same period last year.

Broken down, remittances from land-based workers with work contracts of one year or more rose 15.2% to $1.931 billion in April. On the other hand, money sent by sea-based workers and land-based workers with work contracts of less than a year also grew 4.9% to $574 million from a year ago.

The BSP said the United States has the highest share in terms of total remittances in the first four months at 40.3%, followed by Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Canada, South Korea, Qatar, and Taiwan.

RCBC chief economist Michael Ricafort said the growth in remittances was "largely due to low base/denominator a year ago."

It is also expected to further grow in the following months due to factors like having to send more cash to OFW families to better cope with effects of COVID-19 lockdowns - including higher prices of commodities - and amid faster economic recovery of host countries as they implement massive vaccination programs, he added.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 15) Malacanang on Tuesday denied the national government has been neglecting Mindanao and other parts of the country in its COVID-19 vaccine distribution.

"Hindi po totoo iyan (That's not true)," Roque said in a briefing.

"Bagama't sinasabi natin na binigyan ng prayoridad ang Metro Manila plus (While we are saying NCR Plus was given priority), that's only to the extent of around 38% of the vaccines," he pointed out. "But the remaining balance are still delivered to the rest of the Philippines... So hindi po totoo iyan na ginipit natin ang ibang parte ng Pilipinas (So it's not true that we're neglecting other parts of the Philippines)."

Roque was reacting to an earlier statement of Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, who complained about the supposed unfair vaccine allocations in the country.

Rodriguez has repeatedly appealed to the Inter-Agency Task Force to send more vaccines to Cagayan de Oro  which in May was tagged by the OCTA Research group as an "area of concern" amid the pandemic.

Roque, meanwhile, vowed the government will deploy additional COVID-19 vaccines to areas where infections are rising.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 15)  Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian joined the call of his colleagues in the Senate to remove the mandatory quarantine for Filipino and foreign travelers who are fully vaccinated, saying it would help boost the country's economy.

"Other countries are reaching herd immunity. In order to stimulate our local economy, especially tourism, we should ease up restrictions on tourists  both Filipino tourists and foreign tourists," Gatchalian told CNN Philippines' The Source on Tuesday.

"At the most, we can implement (RT-PCR) tests but the quarantine, I think we can already do away with that because they are fully vaccinated anyway," he added.

Last week, Senate President Vicente Sotto III, as well as Senators Sonny Angara, Ramon Revilla, Joel Villanueva, and Juan Miguel Zubiri, recommended the nationwide implementation of the "swab upon arrival" policy of Cebu province.

In separate statements, most of the senators previously said that adopting the policy would be a practical step, especially for returning OFWs who want to spend more time with their families.

Cebu had been conducting tests on returning nationals immediately upon their arrival. Returning residents of the province are allowed to go home and continue their quarantine after a negative RT-PCR test result, under the supervision of barangay health workers.

However, the current national policy mandates a 14-day quarantine for OFWs and returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs) upon arrival, where the first ten days must be spent in an accredited quarantine facility. An RT-PCR test must also be conducted on the seventh day from arrival.

On Monday, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered Cebu provincial authorities to adhere to the protocols for returning Filipinos.

READ: Duterte orders Cebu to follow IATF protocols on testing inbound travelers

Dr. Mary Jean Loreche, chief pathologist and spokesperson of the Department of Health in Central Visayas, said in an interview in another news channel that they are only implementing a "double safety" measure among returning Filipinos to curb the spread of COVID-19.

CNN Philippines Cebu Correspondent Dale Israel contributed to this report.
(CNN Business)  CNN's chief international anchor Christiane Amanpour told viewers Monday that she has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

"I've had successful major surgery to remove it, and I'm now undergoing several months of chemotherapy for the very best possible long-term prognosis, and I'm confident," Amanpour said at the beginning of her daily television program.

Amanpour, 63, is one of the best-known journalists in the world, in part due to her fearless coverage of international conflicts. She has been off the air for the past four weeks due to the diagnosis.

In her on-air announcement, Amanpour pointed out that ovarian cancer is all too common, affecting "millions of women around the world."

Anchoring from her home base in London, Amanpour said she feels "fortunate to have health insurance through work and incredible doctors who are treating me in a country underpinned by, of course, the brilliant NHS," referencing the National Health Service in the UK.

After speaking about her surgery and chemotherapy, Amanpour said, "I'm telling you this in the interest of transparency but in truth really mostly as a shoutout to early diagnosis." She said she wanted to "urge women to educate themselves on this disease; to get all the regular screenings and scans that you can; to always listen to your bodies; and of course to ensure that your legitimate medical concerns are not dismissed or diminished."

Amanpour also thanked her program's staffers and Bianna Golodryga, CNN's senior global affairs analyst, who filled in on "Amanpour" for the past four weeks.

"You're not only one of the best journalists in the business, you're also one of the toughest," Golodryga wrote on Twitter. "Wishing you a speedy and healthy recovery in the weeks ahead. No doubt you'll end up on top."

With months of chemo treatments ahead, Amanpour anticipates anchoring Mondays through Wednesdays for the time being. She also has three weeks of previously-scheduled time off starting at the end of June.

Channeling the feelings of many staffers across the company, CNN Worldwide president Jeff Zucker wished Amanpour a full recovery.

"I want to applaud Christiane Amanpour for her candor, bravery and always working towards the greater good," he said in a statement. "As a cancer survivor, I too encourage people to listen to their bodies and get all early cancer screenings available to them. From our CNN family, we wish Christiane the very best for a full and speedy recovery."

Some of Amanpour's counterparts also shared well-wishes with her on Monday.

"Thank you for being open" about the diagnosis, NBC's chief foreign affairs correspondent and anchor Andrea Mitchell wrote to Amanpour on Twitter. "It is so important and typical of how strong and brave you've always been. Courage and honesty is your trademark. You will beat this too."
(CNN)  Corporate America must be compelled to fess up about the financial risks posed by the climate crisis, a coalition of state attorneys general told the Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday.

In a comment letter obtained exclusively by CNN Business, California and nearly a dozen other states warn that the SEC's current disclosure rules are inadequate given the gravity of the climate crisis and the transparency investors crave.

"Climate change is not a distant problem to be dealt with in the future," the letter to the SEC reads. "It is here, and it threatens the US economy and its financial system."

The letter, signed by the Democratic attorneys general of Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Vermont, Maryland and Wisconsin, calls for "comparable, specific and mandatory" climate-related disclosures by SEC-regulated firms.

Specifically, the states urged the SEC to require companies to make annual disclosures of their emissions and any plans to address them; analyze and disclose the potential impacts of both climate change and climate regulation; and disclose policies on corporate governance and risk management related to climate change.

The pressure from states comes ahead of Tuesday's deadline set by the SEC for the public to weigh in on the agency's climate change disclosure rules.

The SEC has already received more than 5,000 comments in response to its mid-March request for public input. The agency has also held more than two dozen meetings with companies and business groups, including with the representatives of Apple, JPMorgan Chase, Uber, Walmart, Royal Dutch Shell, ConocoPhillips, the US Chamber of Commerce and Business Roundtable.

The costs of the climate crisis

In its 22-page comment letter, the California-led coalition argues that mandatory climate disclosures are "essential" not only to the SEC's mandate to protect investors but also to "ensure efficient capital formation and allocation."

"Given the demand from investors for such disclosures, the significance of climate change risk to companies, and the importance of efficient capital allocation to climate-resilient companies, such disclosures are squarely in the public interest," the letter reads.

The states note that many US companies do not make climate-related disclosures and have no plans to do so in the future. Others issue "boilerplate" disclosures that "suggest that they are not thoroughly evaluating or disclosure their exposure," the letter said.

States say they have a vested interest here because climate change is causing extreme weather events that damage local communities and sap public resources. California in particular has been rocked by deadly wildfires that could worsen as the climate crisis deepens. Rising sea levels threaten coastal communities and risk severe flooding.

At the same time, climate change and the transition to clean energy poses legal, business and physical risks to companies  including ones that states and their residents invest in directly or through retirement accounts and pension programs.

The comment letter points out that climate-related weather events have imposed more than $600 billion in direct economic damages on US companies since 2016, according to estimates by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

"As the state prepares for the twin crises of drought and wildfires, Californians have a right to know what exposure their investments  including college savings, pensions and retirement accounts  have to climate change," California Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a statement.

Debating the role of the SEC

However, some business groups and Republicans are urging the SEC not to overstep its authority by imposing burdensome climate regulation.

All Republican members of the US Senate Banking Committee wrote a letter to the SEC on Sunday stating that new regulations to specifically address global warming are not necessary or appropriate.

"The SEC is an independent financial regulator, whose political insulation reflects its narrow focus on the financial markets," the GOP letter said. "It does not have a mission of remaking society or our economy as a whole."

And they argued the push for more disclosure is being driven by efforts to appease asset managers and other third-party stakeholders.

"Activists with no fiduciary duty to the company or its shareholders are trying to impose their progressive political views on publicly traded companies, and the country at large," the letter reads

Last month, the US Chamber of Commerce opposed a bill that would require the SEC to establish climate-related risk disclosure metrics and public companies to disclose the financial and business risks they face from climate change.

Investors want more transparency

The SEC last guided companies on how to disclose climate change issues in 2010, when the agency issued guidance indicating information about climate risks and opportunities might be required to be disclosed.

"Since 2010, investor demand for, and company disclosure of information about, climate change impacts and opportunities has grown dramatically," the SEC said in its March request for information.

Indeed, activist investors recently won three board seats at ExxonMobil following a bruising battle with the oil giant. The proxy fight between Exxon and hedge fund Engine No. 1 was the first at a major US company where the case for change was built around the transition away from fossil fuels.

Last week, more than 450 major investors managing over $41 trillion called on world leaders to implement mandatory climate risk disclosure requirements and take other steps to more forcefully confront the climate threat.

"Climate risks could damage and destabilize the United States economy  and with it, the value of investor holdings," the California-led coalition argued Monday, "if companies, regulators and investors cannot effectively manage them."

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Exclusive: Companies face a financial risk from the climate crisis. States want them to reveal just how much."
I was at school, having a laugh with my friends and secretly snacking on siomai rice along the corridors, when my mom called me up to break the bad news: My Lola Conch had suffered a major stroke. My cousin noticed she hadnt gone on one of her early morning walks and pried her door open to see what the matter was. She was found kneeling in front of her bed, unable to speak or raise her hand. Once she was rushed to the emergency room, her condition became so alarming the doctor had actually advised my tito that if worse comes to worst, hed have to decide whether to have her cremated or buried.

Obviously, the familys general consensus was to drop everything and fly to where she was. While she was already resting at home by the time we arrived in Los Angeles, none of us knew what her exact condition was and what to expect. I imagined her walking towards me with an evident limp, half of her face drooping down, a lazy eye flitting from one corner of the room to another. But instead, when I saw her again, she looked normal as ever, except for a tight smile on her face. The silence in the air grew heavy as she spit out a word a minute. Di  ako ... makapagsalita.

**

As a result of losing the genetic lottery, Lola was no stranger to the side effects that came with a stroke. One time, it sent her down a depressive spiral; on another instance, she had a couple of tests and was discharged on the same day. But this time, she was diagnosed with aphasia, an injury to the brain that impairs language. While others with the disorder experience these cruel effects temporarily, her inability to talk, write, and type coherently was here to stay. She can understand whats being said to her but when she replies, what comes out of her mouth is completely different from whats in her head, my tito explained to us. Its total gibberish.

For the entire duration of our trip, I was at a total loss. Prior to our visit, my mom had begged me to suppress any negative feelings that may untowardly affect Lolas disposition. So I tried my hardest to fill in the blanks whenever she spoke without reaching my breaking point. I sought out context clues and interpreted her hand gestures, like an endless game of charades. Sometimes, Id look at where she was pointing and try to conjure a story out of the items in that direction. But its most difficult on my part every time she fixates on a random word and repeats it over and over, even if its totally unrelated to what she wants to talk about.

One day, she sat beside me as I was watching TV in the living room. Nasa kusina, Lola said rather defiantly. Sadly, that was all I had to work with.

Why, Lola? Whats in the kitchen? I asked, searching her eyes for answers.

Nandito... Sa kusina.

Do you want anything to eat? To drink? I scrambled my mind but struggled to find possible alternatives. Do you want to watch TV in the kitchen?

Sa kusina?

Opo?

Mmm mm. She shook her head and looked up at the ceiling, almost desperate. I could tell that while I was overcompensating in an attempt to understand her, I was only rubbing it in that our conversations will never be restored to their former glory. In the end, she gave me a faint smile that broke my heart  a polite sign for me to stop trying  then headed back to her room.

A few hours later, she would find me in the exact same spot and tell me she meant to ask if I wanted to reheat last nights leftovers and have them for breakfast in the kitchen. She just couldnt string the words together.

I sought out context clues and interpreted her hand gestures, like an endless game of charades. Sometimes, Id look at where she was pointing and try to conjure a story out of the items in that direction. But its most difficult on my part every time she fixates on a random word and repeats it over and over, even if its totally unrelated to what she wants to talk about.

**

Aside from the generosity she bestows upon me as the favorite grandchild, Lolas most distinct characteristic has always been her gift of gab. I grew up listening to her animated storytelling, complete with vocal impersonations, minute observations, and the occasional slap on the back that came with a punchline. She could humanize even unfamiliar family members and paint MMK-worthy moments from her past in accurate detail, like how she often stayed up until the wee hours of the morning to sell puto sulot outside her house and ended up blacking out in the middle of a class presentation.

In return, I would talk to her about my latest blog posts or the people who would pick fights with me in school. When shed come to Manila and live with us for a couple of weeks, wed lie down side-by-side on her bed, where she would give me a comprehensive tutorial on the basics of online Solitaire, or dissect the unrealistic plot twists of the latest Kapamilya soap opera. Shes chatty and bubbly, approachable and friendly, with a face no one can say no to  and I admire how these traits have gotten her farther in life than I could have ever imagined.

Lola was the second child and eldest daughter of a poor family living in Navotas in the 50s, an era when the only career opportunities available to young girls were homemaker, wife, and mother. She was married off at the age of 18 to a man whom she didnt expect to be so unprepared and irresponsible. Armed with a thousand pesos she borrowed from a friend, she took matters into her own hands and set up her own small store in the neighborhood palengke to provide for her family. Unsurprisingly, the Malabon Public Market was lined with several other stalls of the sort. But like the true Gemini-Cancer cusp she is, she had no trouble standing out.

Despite not having the formal schooling that would have given her a solid foundation in the fields of sales and marketing, she reeled customers in by going beyond transactional conversations. She was invested in everyone who dropped by and bought from her, to the point where some of her most loyal suki ended up as the godmother of her children, which forged the path for lifelong friendship. This isnt hard to believe: dont we all come with an intrinsic need to be seen, to be remembered?

Without meaning to, this strategy of hers sent her four kids to college, built her two-storey dream house, and got her family a sparkling green station wagon  things she never would have gotten to do if she agreed to spend her days cooped up at home. Sadly, these great feats have become a reminder of what she could no longer achieve after the devastating loss of her speech.

**

After her last stroke, Lola was prescribed a whole new range of maintenance medicines, as well as some speech and language therapy sessions. My tito also bought her a device she had to wear around her neck and press if she was at the onset of another episode. It was a good time to be a citizen, as she was granted access to the comprehensive health benefits afforded to first-world countries. Occasionally, we wonder what would have become of her, had she stayed here in Manila. But after a long and extensive search, there were no Filipino-speaking specialists in her area to help with her condition.

As the entire ordeal grew harder to bear, the dynamic of our relationship had to shift and rely more heavily on actions and gestures. I found comfort in the fact that simply holding her hand in mine or resting my head on her shoulder could instantly convey everything I want to say and then some. But these crucial facets of nonverbal communication have been severely compromised, now that COVID travel restrictions and physical distancing protocols are keen on keeping us apart. Is it possible to break down genuine human emotions into millions of tiny pixels and still feel the same warmth and intensity? Im not entirely sure. But we try anyway.

Over the past few months, Ive tried messaging Lola everything from concise updates of my life to videos of my dogs fighting over a stress ball. My mom exchanges recipes with her in bullet points and sends her photos of the finished product, since cooking is a topic that both of them dont mind rambling on for hours. Experts point to the need for two things to keep connections alive given our current circumstances: clear intention and constant innovation. That means leaving no room for misinterpretation, and keeping things as exciting as the virtual setting permits.

But of course, nothing can fully replicate the feeling of hearing Lolas updates in person and sharing some of my own as well, and giving her a kiss on the cheek without the fear of getting her sick. Sadly, my parents and I are not confident enough to travel overseas unless we are fully vaccinated and even if we are, wed still have to meet the stringent quarantine regulations of the American government before we can get through to her.

Lola already turns 74 this June (which also happens to be Aphasia Awareness Month, like her fate was cruelly written in the stars). If anything happens to her in the period of time that were apart, I would never be able to forgive myself.

I dream of the day I get to spend time with her the way we do best: through teleserye highlights and shared meals and spontaneous trips to discount stores, through attempts at flowing conversations and the reassuring hugs that follow afterwards. But, for now, I guess Messenger bubbles and audio messages can do the trick. While she can no longer respond to texts as fast as she used to, I forever treasure every Ang cute naman niyan!, Ang galing mo talaga!, and Miss na miss na kita! that she sends my way.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 15)  The pandemic-induced quarantine has forced affected businesses to pivot in changing times, and Cinema 76 is no exception.

With the uncertainty of when will the cinema be opened, TBA and Cinema 76 decided to venture to food and beverage, Cinema 76 Film Society manager Tere Villonco told CNN Philippines New Day.

And thus came out Cinema 76 Cafe, which successfully opened last Friday, according to its executive.

Actually, there was a line," said Villonco, who also serves as the cafes manager. "We didnt anticipate that considering, you know, the vaccination process is still...its gonna take a while.

A movie-themed establishment, the cafe has begun featuring posters of TBA Studios movies which include the historical blockbusters Heneral Luna and Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral, the romantic comedy hit Im Drunk, I Love You and other critically-acclaimed films it has produced.

Along with a photobooth-like attraction, Cinema 76 Cafe also prides itself of movie-inspired food items.

Were featuring a mango cake and this is a nod to a scene in Goyo, said Villonco, as the cafe incorporates food shown in films by TBA Studios.

With theaters and moviehouses still closed amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Villonco said the cafe was a way for us to survive. This goes without saying that frequent disinfection and other minimum public health protocols are strictly in place in the food business.

Still, Villonco assured they have no intention to shut down the Anonas and San Juan micro-cinemas, and that they are just waiting for guidelines from the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases and go signal to reopen their doors to the public.

And even if the cinemas open, we actually also intend to continue the cafe until further notice," she said. "So we plan to just keep on keeping on at this point.

The Department of Trade and Industry earlier said reopening moviehouses still needs further study given health risks posed by such venues with dim lighting on ventilation and minimum public health standards.
(CNN)  A third dose of coronavirus vaccine could help boost antibody levels among some organ transplant recipients who have not had robust responses to the standard vaccination schedules, a new study suggests.

Among patients in the study who had no measurable antibodies after receiving two doses of vaccine, one-third of them saw a rise in antibodies after a third dose -- and among those with low antibody levels after two doses, all of them saw an increase after a third dose. The findings were published Monday in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine.

Organ transplant recipients might not have an adequate response to coronavirus vaccines because they take drugs to suppress their immune systems. That helps reduce the risk of the body rejecting new organs but may also limit responses to vaccines.

When it comes to coronavirus vaccines, "we don't really have a good sense of what level you need for protective immunity," Dr. Dorry Segev, an author of the study and founder of the Epidemiology Research Group in Organ Transplantation at Johns Hopkins University, told CNN. "We don't know if you need the same off-the-charts level of antibodies that people with normal immune systems have."

When pharmaceutical companies tested coronavirus vaccines in clinical trials last year, they specifically excluded people who were taking immunosuppressive drugs due to potential risks.

But for transplant patients, after a two-dose full vaccine series, "the overwhelming majority have either no antibodies or low antibodies," Segev said.

Boosting antibody levels

The researchers, from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, examined antibody responses and vaccine reactions in 30 organ transplant patients who received a third dose of coronavirus vaccine between March and May of this year. Fifteen patients received a dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, nine received Moderna's shot and six received Pfizer's around 67 days after completing the second dose of their original vaccination.

The researchers tested the patients for antibodies before they received their third doses of vaccine. They found 24 patients had no detectable antibody levels and six had low levels.

The patients were tested for antibodies again about two weeks after receiving a third dose of vaccine. The researchers found that the six patients who previously had low antibody levels all had high antibody levels after their third dose. Among the patients with no detectable level of antibodies, six had high levels, two had low levels and 16 remained at a undetectable level after a third dose.

About a week later, 23 of the patients who completed a questionnaire about their reactions to the vaccine after receiving a third dose reported typical reactions such as pain at the injection site, fatigue, headache, or muscle pain.

In one heart transplant recipient, there was some evidence of mild organ rejection a week after her third dose, the researchers found. But her heart function remained normal, and the rejection resolved without needing to intensify her immunosuppressive regimen.

The researchers also noted that she did not experience an increase in antibodies and "it is uncertain" whether the one case of mild rejection was related to vaccination.

The new study comes about a month after Segev and his colleague published research in the medical journal JAMA that found among 658 transplant recipients who received two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, close to half had no antibody response after two doses. They found 15% had measurable antibody responses after the first and second dose and 39% had no antibody response after the first dose but subsequent antibody response after the second.

Antibodies aren't everything

Antibodies are just one part of the body's immune response, so experts say future studies on boosters should also measure activities of other parts of the immune system outside of antibodies, such as T cells and B cells.

In April, health officials in France recommended a third dose of vaccine for people who are immunocompromised. In the United States, emergency use authorizations "limit people to only a standard vaccine series," Segev said. "And what's happening is transplant patients are getting the vaccine series, they're getting their antibodies checked, they're realizing that they're low, they're talking to their doctors, and then they're going and getting a third dose to try to boost this."

Various medical societies, such as the American College of Rheumatology, the American Society of Transplantation, and the International Organization for the Study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, essentially say the antibody tests won't fully answer patients' questions about whether their vaccinations worked.

The US Food and Drug Administration and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also advise against checking antibodies.

The National Institutes of Health is setting out to determine what approaches might work best if the vaccine is failing people who are immune compromised. This summer, researchers hope to start recruiting about 200 vaccinated kidney transplant patients to take part in a study on boosters, Dr. Daniel Rotrosen, director of the Division of Allergy, Immunology and Transplantation at NIAID, told CNN earlier this month.

If tests show the Covid-19 vaccine didn't work well, that study participant will be offered an extra dose of vaccine to see if it helps, Rotrosen added. Segev and his colleagues will be involved in that work.

"We are hoping in the next one to two months to launch a clinical trial, an interventional trial, where we are able to give people third doses of the vaccine, and study in a very systematic way the impact that that third dose has on the immune system response," Segev said. He added that the new study provides strong evidence that boosters would be useful in this patient population.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Organ transplant patients may benefit from third Covid-19 vaccine dose to boost antibodies, study suggests."
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) - The future looks bright for global pharmaceutical manufacturer STADA after its acquisition of the Fern-C portfolio in the Philippines, one of the leading brands in the growing local vitamin C market.

The product range consists of FERN-C, a non-acidic vitamin C product that has been in the market for 15 years, and two children's vitamin products: FERN-C Kidz and Kiddimin. This is on top of another brand, Oilatum, a skincare portfolio STADA acquired in 2018.

"Brands like FERN-C and Oilatum were on-spot with regards to the benefits that they offer during the time of the pandemic," said Carsten Cron, STADA's EVP for Emerging Markets. He noted that despite the past year bringing exceptional challenges to the whole pharmaceutical sector, STADA has responded with dedication and resilience to keep supplying medicines.

In the Philippines, STADA - as a newly established pharmaceutical and consumer goods company - made sure to provide medicines and consumer brands on time despite the hurdles brought by the pandemic. The team made its Vitamin C supplies available immediately after the acquisition of FERN-C in February 2020.

Staying true to their advocacy of caring for people's health as a trusted partner, STADA was able to quickly serve vitamins ahead of the competition. And the numbers show STADA Philippines even achieved triple-digit sales growth of 478% in the tumultuous year of 2020.

"These figures were the result of being able to provide not only quality medicines and best possible option in each of the categories that we play but most importantly, in STADA we help uplift the health of Filipino people by providing Vitamin C such as FERN-C that is non-acidic and safe to take on an empty stomach," said Sharmaine Abarientos, General Manager of STADA Philippines.

STADA Philippines' revitalization of the Oilatum brand likewise established the company as a major player in the Philippine skincare market, with Oilatum sales growing 1012% versus the previous year. Acquired from GSK in 2019, Oilatum is a full emollient range that generates significant sales in Europe, as well as helping to build up growth in the Asia Pacific region. With Oilatum, being able to help moms express and show their love to their children by addressing dryness and sensitive skin among their children.

"But even more so, we advocate a healthy lifestyle supported by our celebrity endorser Sarah Geronimo, and we are already discussing line extensions for both FERN-C portfolio and Oilatum," Cron said.

"I'm very passionate about the Philippines. We're here to stay and STADA is here to grow."

With STADA continuing to evaluate further acquisitions, in-licensing, and business-development opportunities and accelerating the growth of existing brands like FERN-C, Oilatum, Zoflora, and Zerochol, the group is confident of delivering further growth this 2021.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 15) -- Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia said Tuesday that she would ask the provincial board to revisit the ordinance on airport testing of returning Filipinos from abroad.

Out of deep respect to the President, I shall be asking our provincial board members to revisit the ordinance and this time to invite the technical advisors or medical experts that Secretary Duque continues to refer to, to invite over to the province of Cebu, so they could present their data, she said during a Senate hearing on the governments vaccine program.

The province tests all Filipinos returning from abroad upon their arrival at the airport. Once they test negative, they can go to their respective homes to undergo home quarantine.

This is contrary to the national Inter-Agency Task Forces protocol that tests should be done seven days after their arrival.

President Rodrigo Duterte has directed the Cebu province on Monday to adhere with the IATFs protocols. He also ordered Health Secretary Francisco Duque III to critique the provinces relaxed protocols on returning residents.

Duque said he will submit his assessment to Garcia within today or on Wednesday.

Certainly, we would love to get our experts to visit Cebu province and to present their own data on why they are of certainty that the protocol that is nationally adopted is the way to go, Duque added.

However, Garcia stood firm that the province would stick to its own protocols unless a proper court declares it as "ultra vires or beyond its powers.

In Cebu, we are not only talking about an executive order but a provincial board ordinance that was passed by our provincial board unanimously, adopting the protocols of my executive order, she said.

As we all know, a provincial ordinance unless declared ultra vires in a proper court is the local law of the land, in accordance with RA 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code.

But Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano pointed out during the hearing that the Presidents order has more power over local ordinances.

The IATF resolutions on health protocols are binding and mandatory. The rules and policies of local government units are expected to conform, he said.

Since local government units are under the executive branch, they are expected to follow the command of the national government, exercised with the executive power of the chief executive.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 15)  Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque on Tuesday asked Congress for an additional 66 billion under the third version of the Bayanihan bill to boost the DOH's war chest against COVID-19.

"This is the gap we need from July to December," Duque told senators as they conducted a hearing on the country's COVID-19 vaccination program.

Duque said the supplemental funds will be mainly used to ensure the continuous grant of special risk allowance and hazard pay to healthcare workers, as well as in hiring 11,000 more medical personnel, 5,517 vaccinators, and 15,266 screeners in COVID-19 inoculation sites.

He added the budget will be spent on the Bureau of Quarantine's requirements, COVID-19 testing, and isolation efforts. It will also be used to pay off the 25-million arrears to the World Trade Center, which was partly converted into a temporary treatment facility for COVID-19 patients.

"Mayroon ho tayong (We have a) gap. That is why we are asking for a supplemental budget under Bayanihan 3, kung magkakaroon po, kung maipapasa po iyan (if that becomes a law, and if that will be passed)," Duque said.

Early this month, the House of Representatives approved its version of the Bayanihan 3, which sets aside over 400 billion to prop up the ailing economy.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III, for his part, earlier said the Senate was in no rush to pass Bayanihan 3 as funds under Bayanihan 2 are not yet fully utilized.

RELATED: 26% of 660.5B Bayanihan funds remain undisbursed -- DBM
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 15)  Senator Sherwin "Win" Gatchalian believes someone deliberately placed a "dirty word" in a self-learning module of the Education Department that has recently gone viral.

"I am very dismayed with what happened. In fact, in my opinion, sinasadya yan (it was deliberately done). It was intentional," Gatchalian said Tuesday on CNN Philippines' The Source.

He added: "Let us not play ignorant or innocent. Everyone knows that word. And whoever made the module knows that word."

Gatchalian was referring to "makakan**t," a vulgar Filipino term for sex, which was found in a module for Grade 10 students in Pampanga. It was used as part of the description of a mythical shape-shifting creature "aswang."

READ: Vulgar word among 155 errors in DepEd modules since October 2020

Education Undersecretary Diosdado San Antonio told a House hearing on Monday that the particular module was recalled in February. He revealed it was among 155 errors found in learning materials nationwide for distance learning since October 2020.

Gatchalian, who chairs the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture, said that the DepEd quality assurance team must also be held accountable apart from the writer of the controversial module.

"There is a process in DepEd called quality assurance process and every module, every textbook, every workbook passes through a quality assurance process. Meaning, no module will come out without being quality assured," Gatchalian said. "So, my question is, how come this bad word in this module got the stamp (of ) approval of the quality assurance and were reprinted and were distributed to all of our students?"

The senator said he intends to cover the issue in a Senate inquiry into DepEd's preparedness for the upcoming school year.

The Philippine government shifted to blended and distance learning classes last year as part of measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 15) -- Outgoing International Criminal Court Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda has requested for an authorization to conduct an investigation into the alleged crime against humanity committed during the Duterte administrations war on drugs.

[T]he Prosecution hereby requests authorization to open an investigation into the situation in the Republic of the Philippines between 1 November 2011 and 16 March 2019, read the request with the pre-trial chamber (PTC).

The Prosecution submits that there is a reasonable basis to believe that the crime against humanity of murder was committed from at least 1 July 2016 to 16 March 2019 in the context of the Philippine governments war on drugs campaign, it added.

Bensouda also said in her request that police and other government officials planned, ordered, and sometimes directly perpetrated extrajudicial killings.

State officials at the highest levels of government also spoke publicly and repeatedly in support of extrajudicial killings and created a culture of impunity for those who committed them, she added.

According to the ICC prosecutor, around 12,000 to 30,000 civilians were killed from July 2016 to March 2019 in connection with the governments anti-illegal drug campaign. Government data showed that 6,117 individuals died during anti-drug operations as of April 30 this year.

Although the Philippines withdrew from the Rome Statute of the ICC in 2019, Bensouda said in another statement that the court retains jurisdiction over crimes that were alleged to have occurred during the period when it was still a state party to the Rome Statute.

The Duterte administration is expected to face a more intense scrutiny from the international community if the PTC approves the request of the ICC Office of Prosecutor.

Moreover, Bensouda said her successor, Karim Khan, will continue the work as her term will end shortly.

CNN Philippines correspondent Anjo Alimario and multi-platform news writer Vince Ferreras contributed to this report
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 15)  The Philippines is among the countries receiving COVID-19 vaccine donations from Japan, a Cabinet official said on Tuesday.

"Japan Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi just announced this morning the donation of Japan-made AstraZeneca vaccines to some countries, including the Philippines," Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said during the inquiry of the Senate Committee of the Whole on vaccine procurement.

He said Philippine officials have yet to be informed of the exact number of doses. Japan also pledged donations to Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand in June and July.

Japanese Ambassador Koshikawa Kazuhiko also confirmed the news.

"We'll make sure to deliver them at the soonest time possible," he said in a tweet.

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez, Jr. said the country will receive a total of 68 million COVID-19 vaccine doses for free.

Meanwhile, he said the country is set to receive 6.4 million doses before the end of June. A total of 2.5 million Sinovac shots will be delivered on June 17 and June 24. The country will also get 250,000 doses of Moderna vaccines, with 50,000 allocated for the private sector. A huge shipment of 2.028 million AstraZeneca shots will arrive in the country in the third week of June, while another 150,000 doses of Sputnik V will be shipped before the month ends.

These shipments would be in addition to the 4.3 million doses received earlier this month.

Based on Dominguez's estimate, the Philippines may receive a total of 204 million vaccine doses this year.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 15)  One-fourth of the country's pandemic stimulus measures remain unspent more than a year into the local coronavirus outbreak.

Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado said during the EJAP Economic Forum on Tuesday that only 487.19 billion out of the 660.5 billion funds set aside for COVID-19 response since March 2020 has been disbursed as of May 31, leaving 173.31 billion still unused.

Broken down, 387.17 billion was allotted under the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act which expired in June 2020, 200.12 billion under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act, and 73.21 billion out of the government's regular funds.

The Department of Budget and Management has yet to release the details of the fund releases, although Assistant Secretary Kim de Leon told senators in a separate hearing that the money is set aside as payments for projects and activities which are "not yet due and demandable."

He added it was likely an "implementation issue" among agencies concerned.

Among the major initiatives funded by the Bayanihan laws are the emergency employment of health workers, purchases of additional face masks and other protective gear, capital for additional retail loans, cash-for-work assistance, cash aid, and additional COVID-19 testing kits and equipment.

President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the agency in May to collate budget data among agencies and identify additional savings to boost this year's interventions, but DBM said it has not finished doing so.

While these funds are yet to be fully utilized, Congress is now working on another stimulus bill dubbed the Bayanihan 3 bill worth over 400 billion. It includes a proposal to hand out a one-time 2,000 cash aid for all Filipinos regardless of financial status.

READ: 'Better' to extend Bayanihan 2 instead of passing Bayanihan 3  Sotto

Some 961.22 billion has been allotted for COVID-19 response measures under the 2021 national budget, which includes the bulk of funding for vaccines. Most of it is supported by foreign loans.

The national budget will rise to 5.024 trillion in 2022, which will provide for the purchase of COVID-19 vaccine booster shots for Filipinos and the creation of the National Virology Institute, among others.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 15) - A dynamite explosion killed the head of Barangay Pajo in Balud, Masbate and three others Tuesday afternoon.

Local police said the blast happened at the house of barangay chairperson Lina Recto.

The other fatalities were identified as Mac-Mac Dela Cruz, Ronelyn Bulala, and Aisa Sese.

Seven others were wounded, including two minors. They were all rushed to the Balud Municipal Hospital.

Authorities say dynamites are usually used in illegal fishing.

The Masbate Provincial Explosive Ordnance and Canine Unit and the Provincial Laboratory Crime Office are conducting an investigation.
(CNN) The head of what may be the world's largest family has died in India, according to the director of the hospital where he was treated.

Ziona, who went only by his first name, died on Sunday at the age of 76.

He had 38 wives and 89 children, according to a tweet from Zoramthanga, the chief minister of Mizoram, the northeastern Indian state where Ziona lived.

The patriarch belonged to a Christian tribal sect that promotes polygamy as God's will.

His father, Chana, founded the sect in Mizoram's Baktwang village, where Ziona's vast family lives across a single property.

Polygamy is illegal in India under the country's penal code. There is an exception under the code for Muslims, though this is not widely used.

It is unclear if Ziona, who wed his first wife at the age of 17, was legally married to all the women he described as his wives. Indian authorities often do not prosecute tribal communities for polygamy.

Lalrintluanga Jahau, a politician and director of the hospital where Ziona died, said he was brought to the hospital's emergency department.

"Our Emergency (Department) Team tried in vain to resuscitate him. He to be declared dead after 45 mins of CPR," Jahau wrote on Twitter.

Zoramthanga said the family's presence had turned Baktwang village into a "major tourist attraction in the state."

He added on Twitter: "Rest in Peace Sir!"

"I believe God has chosen us to be like this (to have big families)," Ziona told CNN in 2011.

"Those who are born into this family don't want to leave this tradition so we just keep growing and growing."

He added: "I never wanted to get married but that's the path God has chosen for me. It's not my wish to keep marrying again and again."

This story was first published on CNN.com, "The head of the 'world's biggest family' has died at age 76."
(CNN)  The Delta variant is on its way to becoming the dominant strain of coronavirus in the US, raising concerns that outbreaks could hit unvaccinated people this fall.

And a new study shows the Delta variant is associated with almost double the risk of hospitalization compared to the Alpha variant.

The Alpha (B.1.1.7) variant, which is "stickier" and more contagious than the original strain of novel coronavirus, became the dominant strain in the US this spring.

But health experts worry the Alpha variant could be trumped by the Delta variant, which appears to be even more transmissible and may cause more severe illness for those not vaccinated.

Right now, about 10% of COVID-19 cases in the US can be attributed to the Delta variant. But that proportion is doubling every two weeks, Scott Gottlieb, a former commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration, said in a CBS interview Sunday.

He said the Delta variant will probably take over as the dominant strain of coronavirus in the US.

"I think in parts of the country where you have less vaccination -- particularly in parts of the South, where you have some cities where vaccination rates are low -- there's a risk that you could see outbreaks with this new variant," Gottlieb said.

While 52.4% of Americans have received at least one dose of vaccine, only 43.4% have been fully vaccinated, according to data Sunday from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Delta variant could pose a serious risk for states lagging in Covid-19 vaccinations, but the good news is Americans can stave off the danger by getting vaccinated.

Studies suggest those who are fully vaccinated have protection against the Delta variant.

"We have the tools to control this and defeat it," Gottlieb said. "We just need to use those tools."

New research shows the Delta variant may lead to more hospitalizations

The Delta variant -- or the B1.617.2 strain first detected in India -- has been linked to about double the risk of hospitalization compared to the Alpha variant first found in the UK, according to the preliminary findings of a Scottish study published Monday in The Lancet.

The Alpha variant used to be the dominant strain in the UK. But last week, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the Delta variant had taken over -- making up 91% of new cases in the UK.

Researchers from the universities of Edinburgh and Strathclyde and Public Health Scotland analyzed data from 5.4 million people in Scotland.

The study found that between April 1 and June 6, there were 19,543 Covid-19 cases and 377 hospitalizations.

Among those, 7,723 cases and 134 hospitalizations were caused by the Delta variant.

The early findings suggest two doses the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine does protect against the Delta variant -- but it may be at a lower level of protection than against the Alpha variant.

The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine was found to provide 79% protection against infection from the Delta variant, compared with 92% against the Alpha variant, in community cases at least two weeks after the second dose.

The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, which is used in the UK but not in the US, offered 60% protection against infection with the Delta variant, compared with 73% protection against the Alpha variant, the study found.

"This lower vaccine effect may reflect that is takes longer to develop immunity with Oxford-AstraZeneca," a news release from the universities said. The research team urged caution when comparing vaccines because of the observational nature of the study.

"It is therefore really important that, when offered second doses, people take these up both to protect themselves and to reduce household and community transmission," said Professor Aziz Sheikh, director of the University of Edinburgh's Usher Institute.

Heart inflammation in young people could be due to behavior, expert says

There's been a higher-than-expected number of cases of a heart ailment among young people, most often males, who've recently received their second doses of the Pfizer and Moderna Covid-19 vaccines, according to the CDC.

Gottlieb said the inflammation could be due to behavior change.

"It could be the case that as young people get vaccinated, they're going out more. They're exchanging other viruses. We're seeing outbreaks of those viruses, and we know those viruses also cause pericarditis," Gottlieb said in his CBS interview.

He said those other viruses include respiratory syncytial virus, enterovirus, echoviruses and coxsackie.

"It's not clear that it's the vaccine or perhaps a change in behavior, but it's certainly something we should be looking closely at because we have to properly inform patients if in fact this is a risk," he said.

Gottlieb said he doesn't think the cases of heart inflammation change the risk-benefit analysis for the Covid-19 vaccine.

CDC advisers are set to meet this week to discuss a possible link between the vaccines and the inflammatory conditions.

The CDC said last week that the inflammatory condition is rare, and most patients who received care responded to treatment.

Airline disturbances connected to mask mandates

With vaccinations on the rise, many Americans have started returning to pre-pandemic activities. But not all of the transitions back have been going smoothly.

The US Travel Association estimates that 77% of Americans will take at least one trip this summer, up from 29% last summer in the midst of Covid-19 lockdowns. And for air travel, there will likely be a 44% increase.

The Federal Aviation Administration has received 2,900 reports of unruly behavior this year, about 2,200 of which were related to mask violations, an FAA spokesperson said.

"People have been wanting to get out. They have been told this mask issue is a political decision rather than a public health necessity," said Sara Nelson, international president of the Association of Flight Attendants.

"It is causing incredible conflict because people have been set up to believe they are at odds with each other."

This story was first published on CNN.com, "A new coronavirus variant is on the rise. Here's why experts are concerned."
Taipei, Taiwan (CNN)  Twenty-eight Chinese military planes flew into Taiwan's Air Defense Identified Zones (ADIZ) Tuesday  the largest incursion since the self-ruled island began regularly reporting such actions last year, according to Taiwan's Ministry of Defense.

Tuesday's flights  which included fighter jets, bombers, and anti-submarine and early warning aircraft  surpassed the previous peak of 25 planes reported on April 12.

Beijing claims full sovereignty over Taiwan, a democracy of almost 24 million people located off the southeastern coast of mainland China, even though the two sides have been governed separately for more than seven decades.

While there was no immediate comment from Beijing on Tuesday's flights, the news comes after the Group of Seven leaders issued a joint statement on Sunday scolding China for a series of issues and underscored the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait  comments China condemned as "slander."

Taiwan has complained in recent months of repeated missions by China's air force near the island, concentrated in the southwestern part of its air defense zone near the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands.

The US Federal Aviation Administration defines an ADIZ as "a designated area of airspace over land or water within which a country requires the immediate and positive identification, location and air traffic control of aircraft in the interest of the country's national security."

An ADIZ is not the same as sovereign airspace, which extends 12 nautical miles from a nation's shore.

The latest Chinese mission involved 14 J-16 and six J-11 fighters, as well as four H-6 bombers, which can carry nuclear weapons, and the anti-submarine, electronic warfare and early warning aircraft, Taiwan's Defense Ministry said.

The ministry added that Taiwanese combat aircraft were dispatched to intercept and warn away the Chinese aircraft, while missile systems were also deployed to monitor them.

Not only did the Chinese aircraft fly in an area close to the Pratas Islands, but the bombers and some of the fighters flew around the southern part of Taiwan close to the bottom tip of the island, according to a map the ministry provided.

China's Defense Ministry did not respond to a request for comment.

China has in the past described such missions as necessary to protect the country's sovereignty and deal with "collusion" between Taipei and Washington, which have no formal diplomatic ties.

China describes Taiwan as its most sensitive territorial issue and a red line the United States should not cross. It has never renounced the possible use of force to ensure eventual unification.
(CNN)  The US reached another sobering milestone in the COVID-19 pandemic, with 600,000 lives lost to the disease as of Tuesday, according to Johns Hopkins University data.

While daily deaths have decreased in recent months, hundreds of Americans are still dying every day from the disease that's largely preventable by vaccines.

Over the past week, the average number of Covid-19 deaths each day was 343, according to data Monday from Johns Hopkins.

That's about five times higher than the average daily number of people killed in car crashes.

As coronavirus keeps spreading across the globe, it has mutated into more transmissible strains -- including the Alpha (B.1.1.7) and Delta (B.1.617.2) variants.

Both strains are now considered "variants of concern" by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

That means there's "evidence of an increase in transmissibility, more severe disease (e.g., increased hospitalizations or deaths), significant reduction in neutralization by antibodies generated during previous infection or vaccination, reduced effectiveness of treatments or vaccines, or diagnostic detection failures," the CDC says.

The Alpha variant has become the dominant strain in the United States. But cases of the Delta variant are rising.

Recent studies suggest the Delta variant isn't just more contagious -- it can also cause more severe illness than the Alpha variant.

A study from Scotland published Monday found the Delta variant was associated with about double the risk of hospitalization compared with the Alpha variant.

Getting vaccinated can stave off those variants. But experts say it's critical to get vaccinated as soon as possible -- before the virus mutates into more concerning strains.

It's 'crunch time' to get vaccinated

"I'm extremely worried because the Delta variant is so aggressive in terms of transmission," said Dr. Peter Hotez, director of the Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development.

"If we remember when we first talked about the UK variant -- the B.1.1.7 variant across the British Isles that started out of southeast England -- we were horrified about how aggressive it was infecting people. It was a much higher level of transmission," Hotez said Tuesday.

"This one, the Delta, is even higher than that. And so essentially what's happening is anyone who's unvaccinated is at very high risk now of getting this Delta variant."

Hotez said now it's "crunch" time for eligible Americans -- those ages 12 and older -- to get vaccinated.

"This is the time for everyone to get vaccinated, because even if you want to get yourself vaccinated tomorrow or your adolescent child tomorrow, it's still going to take five to six weeks to get both of those doses of vaccine and then another week after that," he said.

More contagious variants = more people need to be vaccinated, doctor says

"When a virus is more contagious, you need to have a higher percentage of the population that is protected -- immunized -- if you're going to stop the spread," said Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children's Hospital in Philadelphia.

"This virus is going to be circulating in the world for a long time."

And the longer a virus spreads, the more chances it has of spawning variants that are even more contagious, Offit said.

But most Americans aren't fully vaccinated -- leaving them vulnerable to the Alpha and Delta variants.

As of Tuesday, 52.6% of Americans had received at least one dose of vaccine, and 43.9% were fully vaccinated, according to CDC data.

Offit said by the winter, when the virus is likely to surge again, the US will need to get the number of fully vaccinated people up to 80% or higher to protect the population.

The good news: While the spread of more contagious variants may be less inhibited by vaccines, the level of protection still appears to be high, Offit said.

"I think that vaccines will keep you out of the hospital, will keep you out of the ICU, and will keep you from dying," he said.

Those who've had COVID-19 should get vaccinated to be 'bulletproof,' researcher says

People who have been infected with Covid-19 appear to maintain their immune response for at least a year, according to a study published in the journal Nature.

Researchers reported that the human immune system's memory B-cells continue generating protection against Covid-19 for at least a year.

Studies have shown people who recovered from coronavirus infections may be vulnerable to new variants of the virus. But vaccines, especially mRNA vaccines such as those made by Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna, generate a strong response that protects people against those variants.

An extra boost with a vaccine may expand the protection that recovered patients have, researchers said.

"The data suggest that immunity in convalescent individuals will be very long lasting and that convalescent individuals who receive available mRNA vaccines will produce antibodies and memory B cells that should be protective against circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants," the researchers wrote.

"The antibodies produced by the memory cells evolved increased breadth and potency," said molecular immunologist Michel Nussenzweig of The Rockefeller University, who worked on the study.

Nussenzweig said the research should encourage people who previously had Covid-19 to get vaccinated if they haven't already. "Yes, they should get vaccinated," he said. "And if they do, they should be bulletproof for SARS-CoV-2."

The first state to shut down fully reopens

California was the first state to issue a stay-at-home order during the pandemic. Now, 15 months later, it is fully reopening.

Starting Tuesday, capacity limits and social distancing requirements for all businesses will be lifted.

Large events, such as concerts, conventions and sports, will still have some restrictions -- including vaccine verification requirements for those attending indoor events with 5,000 people or more and recommendations for outdoor events with more than 10,000 attendees.

About 72% of Californians are at least partially vaccinated, and about 47% of the state's residents are fully vaccinated, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday.

There will be no so-called vaccine passport, but Newsom plans to announce an electronic version of state's vaccine cards later this week.

California has invested $116.5 million in incentives for vaccinations, including gift cards and cash prizes. On Tuesday, state officials will hold a drawing in which 10 vaccinated Californians will each win a $1.5 million prize.

Fully vaccinated people can go without a mask in most situations, but those who are unvaccinated will still be required to wear masks in indoor public places.

And masks will be mandated for everyone in certain places, including on public transportation, inside hospitals and inside jails.

Businesses can require masks at their discretion, and the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health is set to adopt new rules for face coverings in the workplace.

Judge rules in favor of Houston hospital requiring employees to be vaccinated

But because that isn't expected until the end of June, Newsom indicated he will sign an executive order later this week "to clear up any ambiguity."

This story was first published on CNN.com, "The US reaches 600,000 Covid-19 deaths as the new, dangerous Delta variant is on the rise."
Unfortunately, that didnt happen in 2020 as last years Hometown Interns were denied the opportunity to meet in-person with the other interns and the rest of the NCF network. It was obvious how much that was missed as we observed this day of connecting for the 2021 interns and supervisors.

Both virtually and in-person, one thing I can assure you is that the Hometown Internship program is connecting these students to their hometowns. In just the first couple years of its existence, we already have evidence that these summertime experiences are opening interns eyes to the possibility and benefits of life in Greater Nebraska. As internships are shifting from a tactic to find cheap labor to a true workforce development strategy, employers are learning they must connect these interns not only to a summer job, but  just as importantly  to a community. Thats part of the magic of the Hometown Internships: the job IS the community!

Two of the NCF Hometown Interns will live and work in this area for the summer:

Emily Erickson is in Albion, where the University of NebraskaOmaha student will manage social media for the Boone County Foundation Fund, as well as help with planning an asset map, newsletters and the Boone County Big Give event. Supervising Emilys work on behalf of the Boone County Fund are Tina Stokes and Mollie Morrow.
Old Glory, The Red, White and Blue or whatever you call it, according to Carroll Mohlman, the American flag is one of the most well-known symbols in the world.

Our flag is respected worldwide, said Mohlman, who is in the American Legion Hartman Post 84 service office. They know what the American flag is and what it stands for. It is the symbol of our country.

When the flags have run their course, the only way to honor them is by retiring them.

The American Legion retired several flags that were either worn down or faded over the years for Flag Day on Monday at the Legions headquarters, 2263 Third Ave. in Columbus. This is a yearly tradition for the organization.

Were properly retiring them as they are supposed to be done, American Legion Second Vice Commander Dave Oppliger said of the event. This is what we call it: A retirement ceremony.

Mohlman, who was previously the American Legion commander, said the event is a respectful way to honor the flag. Before the flags are retired, the vice commanders discussed if they were deemed serviceable.

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Source: Adobe/spyrakot

South Korean crypto exchanges have been given a short extension in their race to get anti-money laundering (AML) protocols in place  although the nations top regulator has promised to place the industry under intense scrutiny in the months ahead.

The nations first piece of crypto-specific legislation  aimed primarily at policing exchanges  promulgated on March 25, and exchanges were given until early July to ensure their AML protocols were in place, and ready to be audited by partner banks and financial regulators.

Trading platforms have also been handed a six-month grace period in which to obtain information security management system (ISMS) certification, demonstrate management structures to the regulatory Financial Services Commission (FSC) and obtain a real-name banking partner from the domestic commercial banking sector.

Thus far, only four exchanges have six-month banking deals in place, although all of these deals are due to expire before the grace period ends. As reported last week, 20 exchanges have obtained ISMS certification, with 10 more expected to follow suit before the deadline.

But so far no exchanges have struck banking deals beyond September, and few have obtained financial sector-level AML capabilities. As well as satisfying the regulator of their AML compliance, they will also need to pass risk assessment checks from banks  who will ultimately be given the power to determine the fate of the South Korean exchange sector. A growing number of banks have ruled out the possibility of working with exchanges, leaving trading platforms to fear for their futures.

However, per Yonhap and Seoul Shinmun, the FSC has now seen it fit to extend the AML adoption window until the end of 2021.

The regulator stated that the move would allow it to minimize the damage to customers that may occur as exchanges that fail to report to the authorities by the end of September subsequently shut down.

Regardless, the FSC is continuing to talk tough  it claimed it would begin its intensive scrutiny of exchanges in late September, and that probes, audits, and document reviews would likely take three months to complete in each case.

One company is already being audited as part of due diligence checks, Cryptonews.com reported last week, and the regulator is particularly keen to bring the exchanges that do not use real-name banking into line.

The FSC was quoted as stating:

We will strengthen our monitoring of the accounts of virtual asset operators that do not use real-name authenticated deposit and withdrawal accounts.

Industry experts and regulators alike are growing increasingly concerned by the risk of planned bankruptcies  from unscrupulous companies that may seek to declare insolvency on the eve of the deadlines in a bid to avoid having to repay their clients.

___

Learn more:

- Korean Exchanges Running out of Options as More Banks Say No to Crypto

- Crypto Market Crash Has Slashed Bithumb Value by Over 50%

- SEC Commissioner Worried Tight Regulation Could Thwart Crypto Innovation

- Basel Committee Offers More Clarity To Banks Seeking Crypto Exposure
Grove said Tuesday his proposal would ensure security around elections and rebuild trust, along with modernizing procedures.

The party line votes was an ominous sign for supporters because whatever the GOP majority General Assembly passes will need support from Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf. Wolfs press secretary has called the bill extremist and a retaliation against voters.

Davidson said some of the election security measures, including a host of post-vote reviews and audits, would encourage every nut job in the world coming out to demand the election be investigated.

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Some of the so-called audit functions that are outlined in this bill will create a circuslike atmosphere similar to Arizona, where a troubled post-election review ordered by legislative Republicans in that state is continuing, Davidson said. It makes it easier for Republicans to cheat and harder for voters to vote.

The registration deadline would change from 15 days to 30 days before to an election, and mail-in ballots would have to be requested 15 days before the vote. Drop boxes for mail-in ballots would be limited to seven days before an election, and have to be monitored by election inspectors from the major political parties.
Two types of food were recalled recently over their potential danger to infants, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Beech-Nut Nutrition is recalling one lot of its Stage 1 single-grain rice cereal because routine sampling found that the product tested above the guidance level for naturally occurring inorganic arsenic. Elevated levels of such arsenic can pose a health hazard to young children.

No illnesses have been reported.

The recalled item has a UPC of 52200034705, expiration date of May 1, 2022, and product codes starting with 103470 and 093470.

In addition to the recall, the company also decided to exit the market for the rice cereal over concerns about the ability to consistently obtain rice flour below FDA guidance.

Consumers who have purchased the product should discard it or contact the company at 1-866-272-9417 for further information on obtaining an exchange or refund.

Designed by Nature is recalling its goats milk powder, cows milk powder and base milk powder formulas with an expiration date between May 1, 2021, and June 11, 2022, because the products are not intended or approved to be used as infant formula.
DETROIT (AP)  General Motors has signed a deal to develop railroad locomotives powered by a hydrogen fuel cell and battery system.

Under a nonbinding agreement with locomotive maker Wabtec Corp., GM batteries and hydrogen technology will be used in locomotives to help railroads cut carbon emissions.

Wabtec already has built a battery-powered locomotive prototype. The Pittsburgh company said it was used with two diesel locomotives in a California test earlier this year that cut emissions by 11%. Fuel cell locomotives will follow full development of the electric version.

The companies say in a joint statement Tuesday that Wabtec's experience in energy management will help the companies develop zero-emissions long-haul locomotives.

Financial details of the venture were not released.

GM has been developing hydrogen fuel cell power systems for years. The systems will be assembled at a factory in Brownstown Township, Michigan, near Detroit that is a joint venture with Honda. GM and Honda have been working to jointly develop fuel cell vehicles.
The green, metal box was stuffed inside a bright pink pillowcase and stashed in the bushes behind Christopher Zacherys house. He hauled it out for a better look.

Stenciled on the box: Cartridges for weapons. Inside were 30 armor-piercing grenades.

I was scared, said Zachery, who runs a construction company. And confused. How did these high-powered explosives end up in his southwest Atlanta backyard? Where did they come from?

Investigators determined the waylaid grenades were last seen eight month prior on an ammunition train that rolled out from Florida. Someone had stolen them somewhere on the rails to Pennsylvania, another example in an Associated Press investigation that shows how the militarys vast supply chain is susceptible to theft.

Marines call the squat, 40 mm rounds that appeared in Zacherys yard on that sunny morning in February 2018 40 mike-mikes. Theyre linked together to feed into an MK 19 launcher, a weapon that is like a machine gun for grenades, able every second to shoot one nearly a mile.

Awaiting the bomb unit, Atlanta police evacuated five houses in both directions, as well as neighbors across the street. The rounds can penetrate three inches of steel and have a kill radius of nearly 50 feet.
Im just listening to the people, Wheeland said. "Thats what the people want.

The nearest opportunity for Republicans to get the election-related proposals on the ballot is 2023. Before that, the proposals must pass the Legislature twice in two consecutive legislative sessions.

History is on Republicans side in a strategy of going to voters: The last time voters rejected a ballot question was in 1993, and they usually pass easily.

The two GOP-sponsored measures on the governor's disaster declarations won by less than 4 percentage points statewide. By comparison, two other bipartisan ballot questions on the ballot won by more than 45 percentage points statewide.

J.J. Abbott, Wolf's former press secretary who now runs a progressive advocacy group called Commonwealth Communications, expects Republicans to prepare ballot questions in 2023 to roll back voting rights and limit state spending, initiatives they know Wolf will veto.

They clearly had a deliberate strategy around the disaster declarations and I think they're teeing these things up to be ready go to on the ballot in 2023, Abbott said. "And I think there is this concern more broadly that its difficult to get people away from voting yes.



Follow Marc Levy on Twitter at https://twitter.com/timelywriter.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
I recently saw an interview with former Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput, who made the interesting observation that the increasing trend of Catholics to opt for cremation instead of burial takes the focus off of the life that passed. The rituals of mourning that are common when we conduct funerals convey a certain measure of gravitas that a collection of ashes in a box on the mantle do not.

Not everyone will agree, of course. But three of my immediate family members are gone, two are buried and one is cremated, and when I visit my two parents in that quiet place under the towering trees at St. Peters, I feel them. It is a destination, and a conscious decision to visit them. With my brother, I do not even know where his ashes are collected. I only have his memory which, precious as it is, has no place or substance or roots in my daily reality.

If you have made it all the way through to the end of this piece, you might still be wondering what my point might be. To be honest, it is as trivial and as important as this:. We are on this earth for a brief moment. Eternity comes afterwards. But while we are here, we should engage in as much ritual as possible to remind us from whence we came, of where we are headed, and how fortunate we are to have had these present moments of beauty. The temporal nature of this life doesnt mean that it needs to be spartan or utilitarian. Quite the opposite.Now excuse me while I head out to the cemetery, with a bouquet of flowers and a heart filled with gratitude.

Christine Flowers is an attorney and a columnist for the Delaware County Daily Times, and can be reached at cflowers1961@gmail.com.

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Gaining not-for-profit status for the proposed center was important for Smith as she researched the kind of center she wanted to bring to Farmington.

We went out and visited other schools like the kind we want to have, she said. A lot of them were for profit.

"The problem with that was that these families already have a tremendous need. Its almost impossible  to quit your job, to travel, to make those appointments. I wanted a school that they could come in-house and have all the therapies done and go to school there without the parents having to leave their job. They would have a place not only for their education, but a place like we already have at our school  home-based and a very nurturing environment.

We believe in providing a natural learning environment. We are a Reggio-inspired classroom here, so I would bring that into Farmington too. Theres so much that goes along with that, in how children learn and making the environment natural and calming. Its the perfect environment for children that are on the spectrum because they are already so overstimulated. Weve seen the effects on children that arent on the spectrum that helps them calm and regulate. The children we have that are on the spectrum or show ADHD, they finally find a home where they can come to school and still have success.
"Men want sex." Gloria Purvis is quite blunt speaking to a group of about 130 young women from around the United States, Canada and Mexico. This is the GIVEN Catholic Young Women's Leadership Forum, being held at the Catholic University of America. The theme of the forum, and the GIVEN Institute that runs it, is: "Discover the gift that only you can give, because of the gift that you are."

Purvis' message to these young women, all under 30, is that we need a civilization of love, and it is only possible if women know their own beauty. It's a message all women -- and men -- need to realize -- that we must treasure one another and our gifts, and not use one another, as the culture often sets young people up to do.

The GIVEN Institute and the gathering in D.C. this month are a corrective to our jaded, cynical, overly medicated and sexualized society. The natural order is amazing, even when there are imperfections. Gloria Purvis is a woman who revels in her femininity, unique as it is in each woman.
Catlin said at the meeting that by the end of this summer, 17 teachers will have earned an endorsement in gifted education through a partnership with the University of Virginia, which was another highlight from the year.

Board member Jennifer McKeever said that as a mother of elementary school kids, she had a positive experience with the push-in model.

They always looked forward to that enrichment time when the teacher came in virtually or now in person, she said. To make school more like that is actually the goal, in my opinion. I just hope that we can keep replicating that and engaging our students no matter where they are.

Next year, Catlin said the gifted education team will continue to work with classroom teachers and provide professional learning about the principles of differentiation, through co-planning and co-teaching.

The gifted education changes largely have been focused on the elementary level. But next school, the program will be implemented at Buford Middle School, Catlin said.
But some, like the Charlottesville Low-Income Housing Coalition, say the affordability requirements should be lower than 60% of area median income.

Given the results of the countys own findings of the demographics and higher need for targeted approaches for very low-income households in the county, we believe that affordable housing should be defined as housing serving 50% AMI or below, with priority given to families at or below 30% of AMI, the organization said in a letter to the board. While affordable housing in general is an issue in the county, this group is most acutely and direly affected.

Both the coalition and members of Interfaith Movement Promoting Action by Congregations Together have advocated for the county to create a housing trust fund, which the policy recommends be created as a priority action item. As part of setting up the fund, the county would identify the target market, target partners, the overall purpose to be accomplished with the fund, funding sources and an application process.

Pethia said that after the board adopts a new policy, her next steps will be to work with the developer community to discuss incentives to have them solidified in the next year, finalizing a housing trust fund application and creating a Housing Advisory Committee.

If we were to adopt an affordable dwelling unit ordinance, and the board adopts the policy with the recommended affordability levels, and affordable rents and sale prices, then finding ways to help support developers in being successful and helping us meet our goals is really important to me, so thatll be one of the first things I do, she said.

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Its about the money, right? said Brig. Gen. Duane Miller, who as deputy provost marshal general is the Armys No. 2 law enforcement official.

Theft or loss happens more than the Army has publicly acknowledged. During an initial interview, Miller significantly understated the extent to which weapons disappear, citing records that report only a few hundred missing rifles and handguns. But an internal analysis AP obtained, done by the Armys Office of the Provost Marshal General, tallied 1,303 firearms.

In a second interview, Miller said he wasnt aware of the memos, which had been distributed throughout the Army, until AP pointed them out following the first interview. If I had the information in front of me, Miller said, I would share it with you. Other Army officials said the internal analysis might overstate some losses.

The APs investigation began a decade ago. From the start, the Army has given conflicting information on a subject with the potential to embarrass -- and thats when it has provided information at all. A former insider described how Army officials resisted releasing details of missing guns when AP first inquired, and indeed that information was never provided.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Supreme Court is leaving in place the convictions of two men who as members of a white supremacist group participated in a white nationalist rally in Virginia in 2017 that turned violent.

The high court said Monday that it would not take the case of Michael Miselis or Benjamin Daley, who participated in the rally as members of the Rise Above Movement, or RAM. Both pleaded guilty to federal rioting charges in connection with the Virginia rally.

As is typical, the high court didn't comment in turning away their cases.

Miselis and Daley admitted they punched and kicked demonstrators who showed up to protest against white nationalists during the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville in August 2017. One person died after a car plowed into a crowd of people peacefully protesting the rally. Shortly after, a Virginia State Police helicopter that officials said was assisting with the rally crashed, killing the pilot and a trooper.
WARSAW, Poland (AP)  The European Union's top court said Tuesday that the Czech Republic is pressing for Poland to be fined 5 million euros ($6 million) for every day it ignores the courts order last month to immediately shut a lignite mine near the two countries' border.

The announcement by the European Court of Justice came as Poland is in talks with the Czech government to settle the years-long spat over the Turow mine out of court. A round of talks is expected Thursday in Prague and the request for the stiff fine will complicate the agenda.

Poland's leaders have been saying that the talks are going in the right direction.

The court said on Twitter that the Czechs have asked it to impose a daily 5 million penalty on Poland for not having immediately ceased lignite mining activities in the Turow mine.

Prague says the operation of the open-cast mine in the south-western tip of Poland, near the Czech and German borders, is draining water from Czech villages in the area and has sued Poland to the EU court.
What are the advantages of renting? Many of the new rental developments provide lawn mowing and other maintenance services that homeowners must provide themselves. Renters who decide they want to move on can move out with minimal fuss.

Life is simpler. Renters dont receive bills for property taxes and plumbing repairs. These costs, of course, get tacked onto the rent, but renters dont have to burn brain cells figuring out what they should be paying to repave the driveway or for home insurance.

And if todays renters eventually decide that homeownership is the preferred course, they will have the luxury of waiting for the right property at the right price. These real estate frenzies never last.

But should former city folk find they miss their urban haunts  and the boss wants them back in the office  renters can just give the landlord notice. Homeowners, by contrast, would have to unload a property they own, which is expensive, stressful and not optimal when others are unloading at the same time.

Of course, demand for rental homes has caused rents to rise as well. In fast-growing Reno, Nevada, for example, a 1,500 square-foot house that would have rented for $1,800 half a year ago now goes for around $2,500 a month, according to a real estate agent there.
Its not just that these education officials feel they have greater and more immediate needs elsewhere.

Its that they may be spending precious dollars on schools that will have to be replaced in a few years anyway. The short-term nature of these improvements makes them relatively expensive. A more efficient and responsible use of funds would be to apply them to new construction that would last for the long term.

These local officials logic is compelling. It is wasteful to apply patches to fraying fabric when full-scale replacements are needed.

But look at it from Washingtons point of view.

COVID relief funds are supposed to be used for exactly that. The spending package was shepherded through Congress on this very premise.

Financially, it is important to spend the funding on COVID-related remediation. With so many COVID-related needs, lawmakers had to be sure the money would be spent as efficiently as possible to meet those needs  and those only. Not spending it to counteract the effects of the pandemic would be the illogical position.
Kerala: Sea surge on Kerala coast: Why experts are calling for nature-based solutions

by K A Shaji

June 15,2021 | Source: Down to Earth

Keralas 590-kilometre-long coastline  one of the most densely populated in India and exposed to rogue waves  has for long been susceptible to large-scale sea erosion. The Pinarayi Vijayan-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) government has adopted traditional measures such as seawalls and breakwaters to brace against the perceptible impacts of climate change. But there are reasons to believe they may not save the state from the rising seas. A recent study has flagged the possibility of coastal areas in the state witnessing an increasing trend of sea surge in the coming years, mainly due to the rise in sea surface temperature. The scientists have advocated for nature-based solutions, in such a case, involving active participation of residents of the coastal communities.



Seawalls are walls or embankments erected to prevent the sea encroaching on or eroding an area of land. The scientists involved in the study termed the present practice of erecting granite seawalls as counter-productive. They emphasised that mineral sand mining  rampant in coastal areas of Kollam, Alappuzha, and Ernakulam districts  be confined to public sector with strict monitoring amid numerous complaints of illegal extraction of mineral sand by private agencies. They urged the state government to focus on protecting and promoting mudflats, coastal wetlands, mangroves and sandy beaches to prevent further escalation of sea erosion, which has gained alarming proportions even before the onset of south-west monsoon. The study flagged the need for participatory seashore management and a coastal erosion map.



The joint study was conducted by:



- A Biju Kumar (Professor and head of department, Aquatic Biology and Fisheries, University of Kerala)

- KV Thomas (retired chief scientist and head of National Centre for Earth Sciences, Thiruvananthapuram)

- Ajayakumar Varma (retired chief scientist and head of Natural Resources and Environmental Management wing of National Centre for Earth Sciences, Thiruvananthapuram)

- E Shaji (associate professor and head, Department of Geology, University of Kerala)

- TV Sajeev (senior principal scientist, Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi)

Restore mangrove forests



The increasing calamities faced by the coastal community has elicited the need to restore coastal vegetation, including mangrove forestation, which could act as a bio-shield to the coastal belt, Sanjeev told Down to Earth.



K V Thomas said: More than 0.6 million people of Kerala are directly dependent on the sea for their livelihood. There is a vast segment that indirectly relies on the sea by way of fisheries, tourism, transport of goods and people, aquaculture, energy, materials for biotechnology, minerals, and metals. The sea and the seashore are the most threatened areas during the Anthropocene. The current and predicted climate change impacts threaten the very existence of seashore communities.



He added that the most impacted communities in Kerala  bordered by the Western Ghats on the east and the Lakshadweep Sea on the west  live at the ecotone of land and the sea. This calls for urgent intervention of the state government. Seashore erosion has worsened coastal ecological balance and we need to evolve better solutions based on nature and in tune with the integrated development of Kerala, he added. The coastline has also been subjected to environmental dynamics of the past several thousand years that eventually led to the formation of a wide range of geomorphological features such as backwaters, bays, lagoons, salt marshes, sand dunes and sandy shores, said Thomas.



The study noted:



Among the 44 rivers originating from Kerala in the Western Ghats, 41 empty into the Lakshadweep sea. The average distance between the seas and the Western Ghats is 55-56 km. The backwaters, formed when the seawater pushes back the river as it reaches from the plains into shallow areas, is a unique characteristic of Kerala. The vagaries of the sea level and beach barrier formed perpendicular to the shore that led to the formation of the backwaters like Vembanad, Indias largest backwater ecosystem. The nutrient richness of the shallow seas in Kerala is due to the nutrients and organic matter brought by the rivers through the estuaries



The ocean currents  in tune with the winds that bring cold, nutrient-rich water, which upwells in the Kerala coast  make the seashore productive, thereby ensuring good fish biomass. Residents thrive by extracting resources from nature around them and are tied to the ecosystems they live in. Any damage to the ecosystem will be at the cost of their livelihood, the study warned.



The seashore degradation started in Kerala in the 1950s, primarily due to unscientific constructions in the seashore, said Biju Kumar. The constructions comprising mostly harbour breakwaters ignored the ecotone landscapes dynamic nature. The beach nourishment systems adopted the world over during the construction of harbours was not implemented.



Hard armouring structures such as the seawall have been presented as the only solution to degradation; but they have only aggravated the issue. The degradation of rivers  that brought sand and sediments to maintain the seashore  also worsened the situation. The life of the lowland people became a rope walk between the sea and the land, and many lost their homes and livelihood, said Kumar. He warned that the tourism industry has shifted to inland backwaters and the Western Ghats from the shoreless seashore. The increasing number of hurricanes in the Arabian sea and the rising sea level may aggravate the situation. The seashore is maintained by the continuous process of accretion and erosion, according to the researchers.



According to them:



The room for seashore must be taken up as an immediate slogan, they said. The decision to leave 50 meters distance from the shoreline for the sea to ensure the stability of beaches must be strictly enforced. The study suggested preparing a list of hotspots based on available studies on seashore erosion and field verification reports reported by local self-governments. Based on the intensity of erosion, the seashore should be classified as:



- Severely eroded seashore (where the erosion is intense and no management method is possible)

- Highly eroded seashore (where erosion is intense but management is possible)

- Moderately eroded seashore

- Slightly eroded seashore

- Seashore prone to erosion

- Erosion-free seashore.



The way ahead



According to Sajeev, the current breakwater and seawall constructions have worsened the sea erosion scenario. Better structural features are needed for seashore maintenance after careful study of the current status. Beach nourishment methods and sand bypassing should be considered wherever possible, after site-specific studies, considering coastal geomorphology and dynamics. India is envisaging an integrated coastal zone management project. Local-level participatory coastal zone management projects should be implemented as part of this. The district-level management committees should lead these projects, observed E Shaji.



Among other suggestions were:



- A coordination committee headed by the chief minister to complete the projects in a time-bound manner.

- Institutions like KILA (Kerala Institute of Local Administration) should conduct training for local self-government representatives using the expertise available at NCESS, KFRI, CWRDM, Universities, and Geology, Marine Sciences, Ecology, etc.

- The green army, civil society organizations, and citizen scientists should also be used to prepare local-specific coastal zone management plans.

- A coastal zone monitoring network should link civil society groups, environmental activists and link all local self-government in the coastal zone to monitor violations of the coastal zone management Act.

- Ecosystem services of the coastal zone should be assessed and sustainable management plans should be developed and implemented through integrative research.

- The researchers said mining of the strategically important mineral sand should be regulated strictly and should be done only by the public sector. Mudflats, coastal wetlands, mangroves, and sandy beaches should be declared as Ecologically Sensitive Zone 1.



Dredging will be necessary at ports. It has to be made sure that the mud and soil excavated are not used to reclamation coastal wetlands. Sand mining should be prohibited at the hotspots. There should be a reliable enforcement mechanism for this. Shores, where the Olive Ridley turtles lay eggs, should be protected. Studies based on predictive models should be started to develop better coastal zone management. Nature-based solutions should be used to prepare green belts at the coastal buffer zone, and the activities should be linked to Rural Employment Guarantee programs and programs schemes, said Thomas.



Meanwhile, a webinar organized by the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) in Kochi also suggested similar steps. The webinar highlighted that the entire Kerala coast recently witnessed a storm surge during the two cyclones  Tauktae and Yaas. Keralas coastal region could be protected from the wrath of the sea to a great extent through the restoration of mangroves and other biodiversity in the region, said CMFRI Director A Gopalakrishnan when contacted by Down to Earth.
India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Maldives: IOTC adopts resolution to rebuild yellowfin tuna stock, but NGOs question its effectiveness

by Bernadette Carreon

June 15,2021 | Source: Seafood Source

The Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) agreed to reduce the total allowable catch for yellowfin tuna after months of pressure from non-governmental organizations and some commercial groups. But according to environmental organizations, the effort has fallen short of ending overfishing, as five members of the commission objected to the rebuilding plan.



The Blue Marine Foundation (BLUE) and the International Pole and Line Foundation (IPNLF) lauded the commission for the adoption of an updated resolution that lays out a rebuilding plan for the Indian Ocean yellowfin tuna stock. However, five IOTC contracting parties  Oman, Iran, India, Madagascar, and Indonesia  objected to the adoption of the resolution. As a result of these objections, a total allowable catch (TAC) has not been agreed for the stock. When historical catch levels for the objecting contracting parties are factored in, their exemption from the new resolution means this interim measure is not expected to support stock rebuilding, the nonprofits said in a statement following the conclusion of the IOTC meeting. BLUE and IPNLF called out the European Union for failing to take a leading role in calling for fishing restrictions during in the meeting, which they said could have helped reach a consensus on the rebuilding plan.



While we are encouraged by the adoption of a new plan for yellowfin tuna and by the dedication that kept IOTC members around the table for six extra hours after a long week, we cannot ignore the shortcomings of this new resolution, nor can we ignore the selfishness of distant-water fishing nations such as the E.U. who had the opportunity to take a leading role in solving this problem they helped create, but chose instead to play hardball with coastal states who depend on Indian Ocean fish stocks for their very survival, BLUE Executive Director Charles Clover said.



WWF also said the adoption of the resolution was a step in the right direction, but the five nations objecting to the plan are not bound by the rules and are not obliged to follow them. WWF is disappointed that many countries are beginning to use the right of objection as a matter of convenience for not agreeing to rules that would allow an end to overfishing of yellowfin tuna, WWF said. WWF said it is joining BLUE and IPNLF in urging the IOTC to call for a special session in 2022 to update the rebuilding plan. The Pew Charitable Trusts agreed the failure to enforce catch limits means overfishing will continue.



The Indian Ocean Tuna Commissions inability to agree on a sufficient reduction in yellowfin tuna catch levels isnt new, but it is particularly disappointing that the commission failed again this year, given its market is now at stake. The commission has delayed taking the necessary steps to rebuild this stock for several years, Glenn Holmes, officer for The Pew Charitable Trusts international fisheries project, said. Now, with five parties objecting to the new measure and fishing essentially allowed to continue at previous levels, the change on the water is likely to be negligible  just a 1 percent difference in total catch compared to 2019.



Holmes said the IOTC also did not focus its attention on other important issues before it, such as overfishing that has continued to occur for skipjack tuna. This catch level, which was determined by an agreed-upon harvest control rule, has been exceeded every year since its inception in 2018, and the failure by commission members to adequately enforce the catch limit suggests overfishing of this limit will continue unabated, he said.



BLUE and IPNLF said the IOTC failed to tackle a proposal to improve the management of drifting fish-aggregating devices (FADs) used by industrial purse-seine fleets in the region. Many coastal states, including Kenya, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Mozambique, Pakistan, Somalia, South Africa, Indonesia, and Tanzania pushed for the adoption  but the E.U., Japan, and South Korea objected. IPNLF Managing Director Martin Purves praised coastal states for their efforts at the IOTC. Although some objections meant watertight outcomes could not be achieved within the updated stock-rebuilding plan, and some distant-water fishing nations did everything in their power to derail efforts to improve the transparency of drifting FAD operations and mitigate the negative environmental impacts of these devices, the resolve of proactive coastal-state delegations was clear for all to see in this, Purves said.



The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF)  a global coalition of seafood companies, fisheries experts, scientific, and environmental organizations, which advocates in favorof science-based initiatives for long-term tuna conservation said if fully implemented, the adopted measure projects a resultant yellowfin tuna catch level of 401,000 tons, which it said meets the recommendation of the IOTC Scientific Committee. But that is unlikely given the objections of the five member-states. In response to the inaction from the IOTC, the ISSF now deterinming whether to enact its yellowfin Tuna rebuilding plan should go into effect, whichwould require participating companies to reduce their sourcing of Indian Ocean yellowfin tuna.



"Further information over the coming weeks will inform the ISSF boards discussion on the sufficiency of the new measure as likely to be implemented," it said. "ISSF remains focused on taking steps forward for the long-term protection of the regions valuable tuna fisheries and their associated ecosystems. We will be working diligently in the weeks and months ahead with all stakeholders towards this goal." ISSF did back an IOTC agreement to create a working group on electronic monitoring, which it said was an important step in the management of in Indian Ocean fisheries.
Andhra Pradesh: Fishing ban ends midnight, fishermen prepare for sea

June 15,2021 | Source: The Times of India

The 61-day annual ban on fishing along the Andhra Pradesh coast will end on June 14 midnight. However, only 50 per cent of the mechanized boats will venture out due to shortage of labour, logistics and funds. Over 700 mechanized boats and fishing trawlers at Vizag fishing harbour are engaged in deep-sea fishing targeting popular varieties of fish such as seer fish, silver pomfret, tuna and tiger prawn. Around 300 to 350 mechanized boat operators are preparing to resume fishing from June 16 from various locations in the district aiming to catch export quality prawn and fish.



Initially, we decided to postpone fishing activity till June 30. But some boat operators are reluctant to postpone. Hence, we decided to resume fishing from June 16. Fishermen community will participate in the annual Gangamam Jatara festival in Vizag city on June 15 before resuming the fishing activity, said Ch Satyanarayana Murthy, president of Dolphin Boat Operators Welfare Association. Due to shortage of ice, crew members and financial problems, the remaining mechanized boat owners will resume fishing after one or two weeks. Each boat owner will spend at least Rs 3 to 4 lakh (diesel, ice, groceries and a few others) for a 10-to-15 day trip, he added. Some boat operators are expecting that the first trip after the ban on trawling will result in a good catch of prawn and fish. But a few others are skeptical as in many times they had failed to get a good catch during the initial trip.



Seafood lovers in Vizag said they will get popular varieties of fish and quality prawn most likely from the last week of June. Due to the annual fishing ban, seafood lovers had no chance to relish silver pomfret, seer fish and tiger Prawn. The fish and prawn from Vizag harbour are sent to various parts of the country as well as foreign destinations. Boat operators fear a decline in transport due to partial lockdown in various parts of the country.
India: Fishermen killing: SC orders closure of court proceedings in India against two Italian marines

by Krishnadas Rajagopal

June 15,2021 | Source: The Hindu

The governments plea sought to stop the criminal trial and other proceedings against them following a United National tribunal decision that the duo would be tried in Italy. The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered the closure of court proceedings in India against two Italian marines detailed on the vessel Enrica Lexie, who allegedly killed two fishermen off the Kerala coast after mistaking them for pirates in 2012.



A Bench of Justices Indira Banerjee and M.R. Shah agreed to the governments plea to stop the criminal trial and other proceedings against the marines, Salvatore Girone and Massimiliano Latorre, following a United Nation tribunal decision that the duo would be tried in Italy. The court recorded that Italy has transferred ?10 crore to India as compensation for the bereaved families of the fishermen. The families have noted their satisfaction with the amount. The money has already been transferred to the Supreme Court Registry by the Ministry of External Affairs. The court said there was a general consensus among the stakeholders in the case, and it too felt, that ?10 crore, over and above the ex gratia amounts the families had received earlier, was a reasonable amount of compensation. Justice Shah, who read out the order, concluded that this was a fit case to close all proceedings in India.



The Bench ordered the amount to be transferred from the Supreme Court Registry to the Kerala High Court. The Supreme Court asked the Chief Justice of Kerala High Court to nominate a judge to hear the families of the two deceased fishermen and disburse ? 4 crore each to their rightful legal heirs. The Bench said care should be taken that the money reached the heirs and was not diverted into wrong hands. The balance ? 2 crore, the court ordered, would be paid to the owner of the fishing boat which came under attack from the marines.



The court urged Italy to resume the criminal proceedings against the marines in compliance with the U.N. tribunal. It asked Italy, India and the State of Kerala to cooperate with each other to bring justice in the case. On April 9, the Supreme Court had told the Centre that it would consider passing an order to quash the criminal proceedings only after Italy deposited ?10 crore as compensation. For Italy, advocate Suhail Dutt, submitted that Indias jurisdiction over the marines had stopped as soon as Italy paid the compensation amount. The court had later on expressed concern about whether the money received as compensation would be frittered away. ?4 crore is not a small amount... It should not be frittered away. How do we protect their (families) interests, Justice Shah had asked in a June 11 hearing.



The victims lawyer had said the legal heirs of the fishermen had attained the age of majority. Kerala government, represented by senior advocate K.N. Balagopal and advocate G. Prakash, said the State had earlier conducted a preliminary verification of the legal heirs and found them responsible. The money the families had earlier received as ex gratia payments had been utilised well. The international tribunals finding that the marines have immunity came seven years after the Supreme Court ordered the Centre to proceed with the investigation and trial of the marines in a decision on January 18, 2013. The Supreme Court had ordered the Centre to set up a Special Court to try the case. Prior to the Supreme Court verdict, the Kerala High Court too had found that the marines enjoyed no immunity.



However, in 2014, the marines had successfully gained a stay order on the investigation by the National Investigation Agency. A year later, the Supreme Court froze its own proceedings when the case reached the International Tribunal on Law of Seas. In September 2015, the Supreme Court deferred the case till further orders.
"I think most people deserve a prom. It's like a regular high school experience," Galvan said.

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"Dances are a huge thing at South Albany," she added. "With the year that we've had, not even being able to go to high school ... dances are something we go to in high school, and I wanted to do that."

Galvan started thinking about how she could put on an event at the beginning of her senior year, but at that point, pretty much everything was still on pandemic lockdown.

That changed, she said, after classmates Stocking and Rena Howard  who are on their way to West Point and Yale this fall, respectively  got personal calls from Mayor Alex Johnson II to congratulate them.

"He said if you ever need anything, call," Galvan said. "Rena called, and said, 'We're trying to plan this thing, what do you feel about it?'"

The phone call led to a meeting to discuss downtown options. Johnson expressed his support and gave the students some other potential contacts.

"Once we told him what we thought was a crazy idea and he loved it, that's when I thought, 'Really, this could happen and become a thing,'" Galvan said.
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 Labor unions want bonuses for front-line workers who stayed on the job during the pandemic.

 Recovery from disasters in 2020 are still going on  wildfire recovery relief for those stuck in the wake of the Labor Day blazes that swept 1 million acres.

 Financial help for businesses that held on during the COVID-19 crisis but are running out of money and time to rebound during the busy summer season.

Neither COVID-19 or the fire crisis is over. Fire officials have predicted the 2021 fire season could cause major damage across the state because of drought conditions. And COVID-19 continues to "rage" through unvaccinated groups, according to OHA. There were just 127 new cases and no new deaths reported in Oregon on Monday. But demand for vaccination has dropped off significantly. Less than half of all Oregon residents have been fully vaccinated and there remains no federally-approved vaccine for those younger than 12.

So many unvaccinated people aid the incubation of new, more virulent variants. The United Kingdom cancelled a major reopening of businesses because of a sharp surge in cases linked to the new Delta variant first found in India.
There were no immediate reports of injuries.

John Kim of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency said the quality of the air near the burning plant is a primary concern for his agency. He said both the state and federal EPA will be monitoring the air quality to make sure it remains safe for nearby residents. Officials recommended people within a three-mile radius wear masks as a precaution.

Dr. Sandra Martell of the Winnebago County Health Department also warned residents not to handle waste from fire with bare hands, noting the possibility it could be contaminated by chemicals used at the plant.

We have confirmed all on site are safe and accounted for. Our concern right now is for the safety of all our employees and the surrounding community," Chemtool said in a statement, adding that it will share more details as they become known.

We do not yet know what caused this incident, but we will be working with local authorities and with our own risk management team to determine what happened and identify any corrective actions, it said.

King, who lives in an apartment less than a mile from the site, said she woke up to what sounded like slamming doors.
A CDC-led study published in December 2020 that analyzed 7,000 samples from American Red Cross blood donations suggested the virus infected some Americans as early as the middle of December 2019.

The latest study, published Tuesday online by the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases, is by a team including researchers at the National Institutes of Health. They analyzed blood samples from more than 24,000 people across the country, collected in the first three months of 2020 as part of a long-term study called "All Of Us" that seeks to track 1 million Americans over years to study health.

Like the CDC study, these researchers looked for antibodies in the blood that are taken as evidence of coronavirus infection, and can be detected as early as two weeks after a person is first infected.

The researchers say nine study participants  five from Illinois, and one each from Massachusetts, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin  were infected earlier than any COVID-19 case was ever reported in those states.

One of the Illinois cases was infected as early as Christmas Eve, said Keri Althoff, an associate professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the study's lead author.
She said her government would ask authorities in Guangdong for information and tell the public about any developments.

China is one of the biggest users of nuclear power and is building more reactors at a time when few other governments have plans for new facilities because the cost of solar, wind and other alternatives is plunging.

Chinese leaders see nuclear power as a way to reduce air pollution and demand for imports of oil and gas, which they deem a security risk. Government plans call for Hong Kong to use more mainland nuclear power to allow the closure of coal-fired power plants.

The Taishan plant, which began commercial operation in December 2018, is owned by China Guangdong Nuclear Power Group and Electricite de France, the majority owner of Framatome. A second reactor began operating in September 2019.

They are the first of a new type called European Pressurized Reactors. Two more are being built in Finland and France.

CNN reported Framatome wrote to the U.S. Department of Energy warning of an imminent radiological threat and accusing Chinese authorities of raising acceptable limits for radiation outside the plant to avoid having to shut it down.

U.S. officials believed there was no severe safety threat, CNN said.
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Philippines third major player in the telecommunications industry DITO Telecommunity Corporation is approaching the one-millionth subscriber mark a few months after its official launch in March.

Local media reports quoted Adel Tamano, chief administrative officer of DITO as saying: "As of today, we are very close to hitting one million subscribers that is a big milestone to DITO." DITOs subscriber base as of June 10 stood at 890,000.

DITO truly is humbled with the reception we have received from the Filipino people and as our way of expressing our gratitude, we will be giving a special gift to all 1M subscribers through the DITO app when we hit this milestone soon, Adel added.

As of now, we cover 100 cities and municipalities  that is commercial service. We will add 23 cities and municipalities more. By the end of June, we will approximate about 150 total cities and municipalities, DITO chief technology officer Rodolfo Santiago said.

The DITO chief technology officer reiterated that the telco is targeting to catch at least 30% of the market. He added that DITO is in more than 37-percent population coverage now and is fast approaching 2nd-year population coverage commitments of 51-percent.

Currently, DITO already has some 3,000 towers across the Philippines as it gears up for its July technical audit when it needs to meet the committed 51% coverage and average internet speed of 55 Mbps for its second year of operations.
The Iranian government has adopted major legislation to enable the government to take back control of physical hardware and transmission equipment used for the delivery of fixed data services.

The Iranian state-owned news agency PressTV said: "The government of Iran is taking full control of the countrys fixed internet infrastructure by hiving off the network assets of incumbent telco Telecommunication Company of Iran (TCI)."

Iran privatized the control and use of infrastructure meant for the provision of fixed fiber internet after divesting its shares in the Telecommunication Company of Iran (TCI) in 2009.

However, regulators and related government agencies have repeatedly accused the TCI of hampering the spread of fixed services in Iran by creating a monopoly over the fiber and physical infrastructure used for the provision of those services.

Experts believe the TCI and its subsidiary companies have failed to provide enough investment for the expansion of fixed internet in Iran, a country where users mostly prefer fast data services provided by mobile operators.

Irans telecoms minister Mohammad Javad Azari said that the bill adopted by the government on Sunday would take back control of major hardware including channels, ducts, and distribution equipment that are currently monopolized by the TCI.

The minister said it took the government some three years to prepare and adopt the bill on renationalization of fixed internet infrastructure in Iran.
Moscow, ID (83843)

Today

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 65F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 65F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.
Watermelon Day at the Farmers Market will be held from 7 a.m. to noon on Saturday, June 26. The annual event features peak-season produce, including cantaloupes, tomatoes, peas, peppers, squash, onions and a variety of other fruit and vegetables. At 8 a.m., Watermelon Day activities kick off, featuring contests like Largest Watermelon, Watermelon Eating, Seed Spitting, and Rolling. Free samples of watermelon on a stick will be available along with door prizes and special awards for the winning contestants. For more information, call Birgit Briggs at 334-348-2668 or email bbriggs@enterpriseal.gov .

Wiregrass Men of Valor will host the first Golf Classic tournament on Monday, June 28 at the Enterprise Country Club. Check in begins at 10:30 a.m. and a shotgun tipoff is scheduled for noon. The event will feature an 18-hole, four-person modified scramble, unlimited non-alcoholic beverages and the opportunity to compete in contests, including a $25,000 hole-in-one competition. Door prizes will be available after the tournament during dinner. All proceeds from this tournament will be utilized to support the not-for profit ministry and will help cover expenses to continue hosting the monthly Armor Up events at the New Brockton Farm Center. These events, held on the second Tuesday of every month at 6:30 p.m., feature a free steak dinner to all attendees as well a guest speaker.
When asked about the amount of time that lapsed from the shooting at 5:30 Sunday morning to the arrest Tuesday afternoon, Moore said they had to make sure they were doing the right thing.

I cant reiterate enough that this has destroyed a lot of lives, a lot of friendships, and a lot of families. We want to make sure that were doing the right thing when we do it, and if it takes us extra time to do so, then so be it, he said. I think yesterday afternoon and certainly this morning when (investigators) came to me, they felt confident of their decision and the DAs office felt confident in his decision, and Im going to support both equally. I think they did the right thing with waiting and getting all the information. Had it taken a month, I would have waited a month, but fortunately it only took a couple of days to come to this conclusion.

Nobody knows what happened, but I know the investigators do their due diligence, and their dedication to the job got the best story possible, and thats the story were going to present to the justice system.

Moore also said he wants the citizens of Enterprise and beyond to understand exactly what constitutes the use of deadly force and what does not.
Five Eufaula High School students are recipients of the 2021 NaphCare Charitable Foundation Scholarships totaling $25,000.

Recipients were chosen based on financial need and their potential to grow into future leaders within their communities and beyond.

Our top priority is to provide students with the resources to help them achieve their academic aspirations and flourish in their future endeavors, said Deanna Newton, executive director of the NaphCare Charitable Foundation. Due to the pandemic, most family finances have been affected and students are in need of financial support more than ever. We look forward to watching them succeed in the coming school year and throughout their education.

Hunter Cochran, a recent graduate of Eufaula High School, expressed his gratitude.

Thank you so much for the generous scholarships funds. I am planning to attend Auburn University in the fall, and this money will help out immensely, he said.

Over the past 10 years, the NaphCare Foundation has awarded 396 scholarships exceeding $2.8M to students in Alabama, Mississippi and Kentucky. The selection committee announced the following Eufaula High School award recipients:

Arianna Reeves
The Jackson County Sheriffs Office has issued the following press release regarding the recent arrests of several local people and the search for another suspect in an ongoing investigation authorities have referred to as Operation Silver Dollar.

The Jackson County Drug Task Force conducted an undercover operation into the ongoing sales of methamphetamine within the Jackson County community, the release states. During the course of the investigation multiple suspects were identified and charged. Investigators were able to gather evidence which led to identifying Douglas Pelham as being a major methamphetamine supplier in the Jackson, Washington and Holmes County area, it continues.

On Tuesday, June 8th, 2021, The Jackson County Drug Task Force conducted a search warrant in Graceville, Florida. While executing the search warrant, a large amount of methamphetamine in excess of three pounds was located. The estimated street value of the methamphetamine recovered is approximately $30,000.00. Douglas Pelham was present during the search warrant and taken into custody as a result of the ensuing search warrant. This seizure is the culmination of a lengthy investigation that led to arrest warrants being issued for Jillian Pennewell, Sarah Sizemore, Marcel Deleon, Christopher Benefield, and William Adams.
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP)  Walt Disney World in Florida is making it easier to see smiles again, but guests still can't hug the characters.

Starting Tuesday, face masks will be optional for visitors to the theme park resort who are vaccinated, though Disney workers won't require proof of vaccination, the company said on its website.

Visitors who aren't fully vaccinated still will need to wear face masks indoors and on all rides and attractions. Because vaccines aren't yet available for children under age 12, they too will have to mask up still.

All visitors, whether vaccinated or not, will still be required to wear face coverings on buses, monorails and Disney Skyliner, the resort's aerial gondola, according to the latest guidelines.

The decision on masks is Disney World's latest tweak to the virus-related safety rules it created when the coronavirus pandemic was declared in March 2020. Disney World closed for two months last year at the start of the outbreak and reopened last summer with strict safety guidelines that involved masking, social distancing and crowd limits.
Terry is in the final months of his prison term. And he apparently is serving his remaining time on home confinement, according to the Biden administration.

The outcome probably affects no more than a couple hundred prison inmates since most people convicted of possessing relatively little crack that long ago already have finished serving their sentences.

The 2018 law, like the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010, was partly aimed at addressing disparities, which fell disproportionately hard on Black people, in the treatment of people convicted of crack and powder cocaine offenses.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor agreed with the outcome but wrote a separate opinion in which she criticized Thomas treatment of the history of the disparity between powder and crack possession, which was as large as 100 to 1. Some prison terms were the same for people who were convicted of possessing 100 times more powder than crack.

Sotomayor called said Thomas provided an unnecessary, incomplete, and sanitized history of the 100-to-1 ratio. The full history is far less benign.

The case only affects people whose crimes took place before August 2010 because the Fair Sentencing Act took effect then and covered crimes committed from that point forward.
A three-story house in the central province of Nghe An went up in flames early on Tuesday morning, leaving six people dead.

A three-story house on Dinh Cong Trang Street of Vinh Town, Nghe An, is burned down, June 15, 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Nguyen Hai.

The house, which hosted a music club, lies on Dinh Cong Trang Street in the province's capital town of Vinh. The club has been shut down following protocols on Covid-19 prevention, which suspend non-essential services.

Nguyen Thanh Ha, 67, a guard at a kindergarten that is five meters from the house, said he heard continuous explosions from the house past midnight as he was sleeping at the schools precinct.

"When I rushed out at around 1 a.m., I saw fire engulfing the house so I called the fire police immediately. Some people in the area came too, but the fire was so big that no one dared to approach," he said.

Firefighters put down the fire on June 15, 2021. Photo by VnExpress.

Fire police dispatched seven ambulances and dozens of officers and soldiers to the scene. They put off the fire at around 2 a.m. but could not save the six people inside the house.

"Four people in a family died on the first floor and two others died in the bathroom on the third floor," a police officer informed.

The house where the fire broke out spreads hundreds of square meters.

Police have cordoned off the area for investigation.
A person holds up a box containing vials of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine in HCMC, June 1, 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Huu Khoa.

Japan has agreed to aid Vietnam with a million Covid-19 vaccine doses produced in Japan with licenses by AstraZeneca to help with the coronavirus fight.

Japanese ambassador in Vietnam Yamada Takio on Tuesday delivered the message from Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide to his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh.

36 Japanese businesses and associations have also agreed to provide $1.71 million for Vietnam's Covid-19 prevention fund, and more would come in the future, Takio said.

In response, Chinh sent his thanks to Suga, the Japanese government and its people for their Covid-19 vaccine aid, adding that Vietnam would try to have the vaccine doses arrive in the country on Wednesday. He also requested the Japanese government and other relevant authorities to support with transferring vaccine production technologies to Vietnam.

Chinh said he hoped the Japanese government would provide around 450,000 Vietnamese living and working in Japan opportunities for safe and stable life amid the pandemic. He also requested Japan to consider receiving Vietnamese apprentices, especially those with eligible visas and waiting for a chance to come to Japan.

Vietnam has received around three million Covid-19 vaccine doses so far. The country's mass Covid-19 vaccination campaign has inoculated around 1.5 million people since early March, mainly frontline workers of the Covid-19 fight.

Vietnam aims to secure 150 million vaccine doses this year to cover 70 percent of its population.
A vial and syringe are seen in front of a displayed Pfizer logo in this illustration taken January 11, 2021. Photo by Reuters/Dado Ruvic.

Vietnam has approved the emergency use of a Covid-19 vaccine developed by U.S.-based firm Pfizer and Germany's BioNTech Inc., the Ministry of Health announced Saturday.

The vaccine called Comirnaty is developed from the messenger RNA or mRNA, which contains the instructions for human cells to construct a harmless piece of the coronavirus called the spike protein.

Pfizer Vietnam suggested for the vaccine to be approved, with the green light given by Deputy Health Minister Tran Van Thuan on Saturday, making it the fourth coronavirus vaccine allowed in Vietnam after the U.K.'s AstraZeneca, Russia's Generium and China's Sinopharm.

Based on evidence from clinical trials among people aged 16 years and older, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was 95 percent effective and requires two doses given 21 days apart, according to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The health ministry said Pfizer Vietnam is responsible for cooperating with vaccine manufacturers to ensure its production, safety and quality.

The company will also cooperate with the Administration of Science, Technology and Training under the health ministry to evaluate the vaccine's safety and effectiveness, and with the National Institute for Control of Vaccines and Biologicals to evaluate the jab by providing samples and other relevant materials, before the vaccine could be put into use.

Earlier, the ministry stated it had secured a deal to get 31 million Pfizer vaccine doses this year.

Vietnam is also among 92 countries and territories the U.S. will donate PfizerBioNTech Covid-19 vaccine shots to by June of next year, the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi said Friday.

Vietnam has been using the AstraZeneca vaccine for its inoculation program, under which over 1.3 million people have gotten shots so far.

It aims to secure 150 million vaccine doses this year to cover 70 percent of its population.
Vietnam will enter the aging population stage in 2040, expected to burden social security.

A survey conducted by Prudential Vietnam on 500 people (30-45 years old) in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi revealed that only 4 out of 10 respondents are confident of being financially independent in their old age.

"The Prudential survey reflects the current social picture. Our goal is to change the perception among the community so anyone can start preparing for independent seniority," said Phuong Tien Minh, CEO of Prudential Vietnam.

Vietnam is amid its demographic window period, the most balanced development stage of a country when the proportion of labor force is double the number of dependents. A total 75 percent of the population is of working age, making a crucial contribution to driving Vietnam's GDP growth, the fastest in Southeast Asia.

From 2040, Vietnam will transition into an undesirable stage: the period of an aging population. One of 10 countries with the fastest aging population in the world, Vietnam has an estimated 30 years within the "demographic window" period, considerably shorter than many of its neighbors. The rapid aging rate and low ratio of independent seniority are expected to entail considerable pressure on social security.

Phuong Tien Minh, CEO of Prudential Vietnam. Photo by Prudential Vietnam.

Senior citizens in the big picture

Expansion of urban areas has attracted a wave of young migrants seeking jobs, leaving behind nearly 30 percent of senior citizens living alone in rural areas.

Nguyen Xuan Truong, director general of Population Structure and Quality Department, said 70 percent of older adults in Vietnam are making their own living with their offsprings support and only only 25.5 percent of them live on pensions and social benefits.

Giang Thanh Long, associate professor at the National Economics University, estimated current government support policies only cover about 8 percent of the senior group. It is forecast that by 2049, the medical needs of this group would increase 2.5 times compared to today.

Consequently, when Vietnam enters the aging population period, it will not only place financial pressure on the younger generation but also burden social security.

Everyone can actively prepare for a personal financial plan. Photo by Prudential Vietnam.

Action for early financial freedom

According to Long, many developed countries have successfully prepared for their aging population period based on three pillars: economy, health, and social preparedness. He said insurance organizations, banks, and the like should be encouraged to actively participate in the provision of life insurance-related services. This diversity not only supports middle-income earners and above but also creates income safety nets and protects the health of low-income people.

Phuong Tien Minh, CEO of Prudential Vietnam, said an aging population is a challenge. While government leaders must resolve the macro problem, everyone can actively participate by preparing a personal financial plan. "People have different perceptions of finance per life stage. The earlier you prepare, the easier it is to achieve financial freedom and independent seniority," said Minh.
The United States has designated two Houthi militia leaders linked to actions that are perpetuating the conflict in Yemen, posing a dire threat to civilians, and exacerbating the horrendous humanitarian crisis there.

The war in Yemen began in 2014 when the Iran-backed Houthis seized the capital, Sanaa, from the internationally-recognized government and drove Yemens president into exile. The ensuing fighting has resulted in one of the worlds worst humanitarian disaster, and the country is once again on the brink of famine. At least 20 million people rely on some form of humanitarian assistance to survive.

The two leaders, designated by the United States on May 20, are both involved in the Houthi offensive against the government-held region of Marib. Muhammad Abd Al-Karim al-Ghamari recently took charge of the offensive; Yusuf al-Madani, who had been commander in four separate governorates in Yemen, is now assigned to the offensive that is targeting Marib.

In a written statement announcing the designations, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, The Marib offensive is exacerbating Yemens humanitarian crisis, as it puts approximately one million vulnerable internally displaced persons at risk of being displaced once again, threatens to overwhelm an already stretched humanitarian response, and is triggering broader escalation.

The designations mean that all property and interests in property within the United States of those designated are blocked; and, in general, all transactions by U.S. persons that involve such designated persons or property are prohibited.

Secretary of State Blinken noted that Houthi actions are having a dire impact on civilians and are occurring despite unprecedented consensus among the international community and regional actors on the need for an immediate ceasefire and the resumption of peace talks.

He said, We call on the Houthis to immediately cease all attacks and military offensives, especially their offensive against Marib, which only causes more suffering for the Yemeni people. We urge them to refrain from destabilizing actions and to engage in UN Special Envoys efforts to achieve peace.

Secretary Blinken added, It is time to end this conflict.
We thought it was really important to establish a local presence, said Begger. We have been very proactive in reaching out to people. We are saying we are in fact-finding mode. We have had 35 different meetings in Cheyenne and talked to over 90 stakeholders.

He said landowners in the project area have a lot of questions, especially about the air quality because of dust.

The executive director of the Wyoming Mining Association, Travis Deti, said that WMA is pleased to welcome U.S. Gold to Wyoming. The Laramie County project outside of Cheyenne will bring needed jobs and revenue to our state, and we are excited to see it moving forward.

Plans for the CK Gold Project call for an open pit mine on the site, which is on state and private land, so permitting would fall to the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, and Begger said receiving approvals from state rather than federal agencies makes the project attractive because DEQ sticks to its timelines.

Wyomings schools would benefit from royalties from mining at the site, which would comprise about 1,120 acres at its full extent by end of mine life, according to U.S. Gold.
In Mississippi, about 835,000 people have been fully vaccinated, or 28% of the population. But despite the lagging vaccination rate, the state's rolling average of daily new cases over the past two weeks has decreased by about 18%, according to Johns Hopkins.

Dr. Albert Ko, who chairs Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases at Yale, said there is no accurate data to show what percentage of the population in high burden states such as Alabama or Texas have been exposed to the virus, but he said estimates have put it as high as 50%.

I think it doesnt deny the importance of vaccination, particularly because the levels of antibodies that you get that are induced by natural infection are lower than that of what we have for our best vaccine, Ko said.

Ko said it is important that even those exposed to the disease get vaccinated because natural immunity does not last as long as vaccine immunity and the levels of antibodies are lower.

Wen said research strongly suggests that vaccinations provide a benefit to those who already have some antibodies due to infection.

"I think it is a fallacy that many people have that recovery means they no longer need to be vaccinated, she said.


Not to worry! The Democrats deal with the possibility of imposters requesting mail-in ballots by ... prohibiting the states from requesting voter I.D.

Huh, thats odd. If you wanted to ensure that only eligible voters are voting, wouldnt you want to  oh wait, I see.

Liberals will not rest until convicted felons  a key Democratic constituency  are fully participating members of our democracy. Or at least have ballots that can be filled out for them.

Unfortunately, some of our more unenlightened states believe that a person who has been convicted of violating societys laws should be denied the right to choose who writes them. The For the People bill fixes that by forcing states to give felons the right to vote.

Speaking of felons, the For the People Act requires states to automatically register people to vote whenever they provide information to state agencies, such as the Department of Motor Vehicles, public universities, and, off the top of my head, state welfare bureaucracies, unemployment offices and prison facilities.

Thats a lot of ballots for Democratic volunteers to mine!
The Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that in June, unemployment claims dropped to their lowest level since the pandemic began. Signs that the economy is heating up are being seen around the country as some states report hundreds of thousands of job openings.

Additionally, four states ended the $300 a week federal topper sent along with state benefits, which may have led to the decrease.

Can you keep receiving payments if you are hired?

In most cases, no. Unemployment insurance is designed to help households sustain themselves while workers find a new job. Policymakers see the benefits as a way to assist individuals temporarily, and only during the pandemic has the number of weeks people can claim benefits been extended.

There is one case where unemployed workers may be able to keep parts of their benefits, and that is if they take a part-time job. This situation would allow a claimant to receive half the benefits from the state while still receiving the $300 a week federal pandemic assistance.

So, for example, say a worker in Kentucky finds part-time work, they would be eligible for an average weekly benefit of around $182, plus the $300 from the federal government. The combined total from these two sources would bring their weekly income to just under $500 a week.

If our Kentucky workers make $9 an hour after taxes, which is above the states minimum wage of $7.25, their weekly take-home would be $180. This weekly income is around what a person could receive on unemployment without the additional $300.

Calls for wage increases grow as those on employment delay their reentry into the workforce.

A new study released by the National Bureau of Economic Research found that nearly 70% of unemployment beneficiaries saw larger incomes than what they took home before the pandemic. To conservative economists, this signifies that the benefits are too generous and keep people from reentering the workforce. For those on the left, this data demonstrates the low wages workers in the US were subjected to before the pandemic. As businesses have reopened, many have had to increase wages and salaries to attract candidates, complaining that they are forced to complete the government benefits.

Businesses are noticing is that to hire workers, they must move wages closer to the living wage in the states they operate. For Kentucky, researchers from MIT have estimated the living wage to be around $13.50 with adults without children. So for a part-time worker making $13.50 an hour, their weekly take-home pay would be about $270. While still lower than what they could make on unemployment, it may be high enough to encourage workers to reenter the labor market.

For full-time workers, the math is similar. The average weekly benefit in the state is $365. With the $300 from the federal government, unemployed workers could expect to receive around $665. To compete with this, businesses would need to offer a wage closer to $17 an hour, which is higher than the living wage for a single worker but about half of what is estimated for an individual supporting two children.

Context is everything in these situations. A working mom with two kids is far more likely to stay unemployed if she lacks access to affordable child care and can make more money staying home with her kids. The narrative that workers are simply loafing around undermines women's vital and disproportionate role in raising children and taking care of the home.

Arizona lawmakers realized that the lack of affordable childcare options was keeping people from finding a job. To support worker reentry, they opted to provide three months of free childcare. This program helps those on unemployment overcome the barriers that keep them from returning to work, rather than removing the safety net and throwing them back into the labor market with little support.

As more states end federal benefits in June and July, more data will be available on how the decision has impacted labor shortages, wages, and the state and national unemployment rates. Very few people are calling for the permanent expansion of enhanced unemployment benefits. Instead, many argue that the decision to take away benefits should account for the forces of friction that keep workers from returning to work.
The American Rescue Plan provided a complete overhaul of the Child Tax Credit when it was signed into law in March 2021. From 15 July, families eligible to receive the federal support will receive the money in the form of a monthly direct payment, rather than as a single annual tax credit.

Families will now be able to receive up to $300 per child on a monthly basis for the rest of 2021 with the White House already hoping to extend the programme to the end of 2025. They claim that this will help to halve the number of American children living in poverty, but they could be some drawbacks with the monthly payments.

You could end up having to repay your Child Tax Credit payments

Much like with the three rounds of stimulus checks, eligibility for the financial relief is largely based on the recipients adjusted gross income (AGI). Individuals with an AGI of less than $75,000, or married couples with a combined AGI of less than $150,000, will be entitled to receive the full amount form the Child Tax Credit.

The new system of monthly payments is essentially just an advance on the tax credits that are typically applied at the end of the tax year. This means that the upcoming monthly payments will replace the annual credit that would otherwise have been claimed at the start of 2022.

Eligibility now is based on last years tax filing but some households will experience an increase in their AGI before they file their 2021 tax returns, meaning that they may be eligible for less than originally thought. In this instance, the deficit would be added onto the recipients tax bill.

Gail Rosen, a certified public accountant, explained this to Oregon Live recently. She gives the example of a family whose 2020 tax return had suggested they could receive the full $3,600 maximum entitlement for a child under six.

Rosen says: But lets assume when you file your 2021 tax return, your adjusted gross income turns out to be higher than 2020 and youre only eligible for a child tax credit of $1,000.

Then you would be required to pay back $2,600 with your 2021 tax return  $3,600 received in advance, less the $1,000 child tax credit, which would equal $2,600 due back to the IRS.

How to opt out of the Child Tax Credit monthly payments

If you would rather not risk having to pay back a proportion of the money you receive in the monthly Child Tax Credit, you can easily opt out of the new programme. The IRS is setting up the online portals through which the new system will be administrated, which are expected to go live from the start of July.

Full details have not yet been announced but IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig has said that the tax authority will make opting out as easy as possible, promising to make forms and instructions available for folks who want to opt out.

Anyone eligible for the Child Tax Credit will automatically be switched to the monthly payments, but anyone who opts out will get a single tax credit instead. Recipients of the annual credit will also benefit from the more generous programme, which will be worth up to $3,600 per year for children under six and $3,000 for those aged between six and 17.
Guests visit the 2021 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) International Investment and Trade Expo in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, April 26, 2021.(Xinhua/Li Ziheng)

- The formation of the SCO, with an aim "to create stable mechanisms of interaction, a platform for constant political dialogue and regional economic cooperation," was a turning point in the development of mankind, said an Uzbek expert.

- "The SCO was and is a collective response of the peoples of a vast region to the challenges of our time."

TASHKENT, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has been steadily moving towards strengthening friendship, good-neighborliness and trust among its member states since its founding 20 years ago, an Uzbek expert has said.

"One of the main goals and objectives of the SCO is to promote comprehensive and balanced economic growth, social and cultural development in the region through joint actions based on equal partnership of the member states, in order to steadily improve the living conditions of peoples," Kabuljon Sabirov, director of the Tashkent-based SCO's Public Diplomacy Center, told Xinhua in a recent interview.

A truck hauling containers passes the freight yard of the multimodal transport center in the China-Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) local economic and trade cooperation demonstration zone in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Nov. 9, 2020. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)

The formation of the SCO, with an aim "to create stable mechanisms of interaction, a platform for constant political dialogue and regional economic cooperation," was a turning point in the development of mankind, Sabirov said.

"The SCO was and is a collective response of the peoples of a vast region to the challenges of our time," he said.

Sabirov said the SCO, galvanized by the Shanghai Spirit featuring mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for cultural diversity, and pursuit of common development, has created conditions for further developing inter-civilizational and interreligious dialogue, which act as the best antidote to such threats as terrorism, extremism, separatism, organized crime and religious intolerance.

Vladimir Norov, secretary-general of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), dances with an actress at the International Grand Bazaar in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 30, 2021. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)

"The development of intercultural dialogue in the interests of the peoples living in the SCO space, the preservation and promotion of cultural diversity, and cooperation in the study of the cultural and natural heritage of the region contribute to further development of contacts between peoples," Sabirov said, adding that civil society and public diplomacy can play a unique role in helping the SCO's development.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, members of the SCO have been helping each other with a spirit of solidarity, which has boosted the SCO's sustainable development and promoted global anti-pandemic cooperation, the expert said, noting that China has made a significant contribution to this.

Chinese President Xi Jinping's remarks in recent years on multiple international occasions, which demonstrate China's view on world civilizations characterized by equality, mutual learning, dialogue and mutual accommodation, are an important driving force for promoting the peaceful development of the SCO, he added.

Noting that Uzbekistan has launched new cooperation platforms within the SCO's framework in recent years, the expert said the country is interested in stepping up practical cooperation in those promising areas that meet the vital interests of all participating countries.

"The development of relations with the SCO will remain an important direction of Uzbekistan's foreign policy," he said.




Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi (1st R) meets with Commissioner-General of the UNRWA Philippe Lazzarini (2nd L) in Amman, Jordan, on June 14, 2021. Jordan and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees on Monday discussed preparations for the international conference organized by the kingdom and Sweden to rally financial and political support for UNRWA. (Photo by Mohammad Abu Ghosh/Xinhua)

AMMAN, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Jordan and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) on Monday discussed preparations for the international conference organized by the kingdom and Sweden to rally financial and political support for UNRWA.

Jordan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and Commissioner-General of the UNRWA Philippe Lazzarini stressed the importance of the conference, which is expected to be held by the end of 2022, aiming to adopt effective strategies and plans to ensure the UNRWA's continuous role to provide vital services to Palestinian refugees on health, education and relief, according to a statement by the foreign ministry.

They also highlighted the urgency of the process of reconstruction in the Gaza Strip and meeting its needs.

Lazzarini appreciated Jordan's efforts to rally international support for the UNRWA, emphasizing the role Jordan plays and its cooperation with the international community to help the UNRWA bridge the financial deficit it is facing. Enditem

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[ Editor: Zhang Zhou ]
Staff members celebrate the drill-through of the Yanjiazhai tunnel of the Guiyang-Nanning high-speed railway in Dushan County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, June 14, 2021. The 1.67-km-long tunnel was drilled through on Monday, enabling further construction work for the Guiyang-Nanning high-speed railway, which will run with a design speed of 350 km per hour. (Xinhua/Liu Xu)

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[ Editor: Zhang Zhou ]
Aerial photo taken on June 14, 2021 shows a herd of wild Asian elephants in Shijie Township of Yimen County, Yuxi City, southwest China's Yunnan Province. China's famous herd of wandering elephants continued to linger in Shijie Township, authorities said. A male elephant that strayed nine days ago was about 17.4 km away from the herd, and all the 15 elephants were safe and sound, according to the headquarters in charge of monitoring their migration. (Xinhua)

KUNMING, June 14 (Xinhua) -- China's famous herd of wandering elephants continued to linger in the Shijie Township in the city of Yuxi, southwest China's Yunnan Province, authorities said.

A male elephant that strayed nine days ago was about 17.4 km away from the herd, and all the 15 elephants were safe and sound, according to the headquarters in charge of monitoring their migration.

The herd traveled about 500 km from their forest home in the Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture before reaching Kunming late on June 2.

For over a month, authorities have sent police to escort the herd, evacuated roads to facilitate their passage, and used food to distract them from entering densely populated areas.

Asian elephants are under A-level state protection in China, where they are mostly found in Yunnan. Thanks to enhanced protection efforts, the wild elephant population in the province has grown to about 300, up from 193 in the 1980s. Enditem

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[ Editor: JYZ ]
If the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline is completed, Ukraine would like to receive guarantees of its security, in particular, by withdrawing Russian troops from its territory, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said.

"If this issue is put the squeeze on, of course, for Ukraine, Nord Stream 2 is, first of all, a security issue. It is not necessary to simplify everything to 3 billion money for transit, although this is also a lot of money. We are the state that exists in a security vacuum, therefore we say: "you remove another lever of restraining the Russian Federation - then give an alternative, give a guarantee of security in one form or another." And the withdrawal of Russian troops from Donbas, for example, de-occupation, is also a kind of security guarantee," the minister said on the air of the Freedom of Speech program on ICTV on Monday.

He said that when Ukraine started this conversation, its partners were not ready for it.

"They saw Nord Stream 2 exclusively in economic terms and issues of some kind of economic compensation to Ukraine. But we talk to them very clearly, sincerely and directly on this topic, and they begin to hear us," Kuleba said.

Regarding the supply of German military technologies by Germany to Ukraine, the Foreign Minister said that Ukraine is working to ensure that the new German government, which will be elected in the fall, changes its position on this issue.

"This government will not change its position, but in the fall, following the results of the elections at the end of September, there will be a new government in Germany, and we are working to ensure that the new government changes its position on this issue," he said.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky returned to the Verkhovna Rada with his proposals the law on amendments to the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses, the Criminal Code of Ukraine regarding the improvement of responsibility for declaring false information and the entity's failure to submit a declaration of a person authorized to perform t functions of government or local government (bill No. 4651), which parliament adopted on June 3, 2021.

According to the presidential press service, Zelensky initiated this bill to restore punishment in the form of imprisonment for inaccurate declaration.

However, when considering this document in the Verkhovna Rada, the MPs made amendments to the procedure for declaring information about movable and immovable property in the possession or use of the declarant's family members. In accordance with the amendments, such objects are indicated in the declaration if the family members of the declarant submitted the relevant information to him.

Thus, the declarant can be prosecuted only for inaccurate declaration of objects about which family members provided information to him. This provides a legislative loophole for unscrupulous declarants not to indicate in their declarations movable and immovable property owned or used by their relatives, explaining this by the fact that their family members allegedly did not provide them with relevant information about this property.

In view of this, the President of Ukraine returned the law to parliament.

"Criminal liability for inaccurate declaration of information should be quite severe and provide for the possibility of imposing a sentence of imprisonment," Zelensky said.

The introduction of an electronic declaration system was a requirement of the European Union to establish a visa-free travel with Ukraine.

The Venice Commission, in its opinion of May 5, 2021, fully supported the changes initiated by the President to establish punishment for offenses related to declarations, and did not make any comments.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has thanked the participants in the NATO summit for their decision that Ukraine will become a member of the Alliance by receiving NATO Membership Action Plan (MAP), the presidential press service said.

"We are grateful to NATO members for such a completely logical decision, which confirmed the decision of the 2008 NATO Bucharest summit," Zelensky said.

"At the same time, in the decision of the summit there are no specific time limits for the next steps in our rapprochement with NATO, which we hope for," he said.

The head of state also confirmed that Ukraine "will continue to pursue reform in the security and defense sectors in order to further meet the standards of interoperability with NATO member states."

"Ukraine, not being NATO member, is already making its significant part in ensuring Euro-Atlantic security. The opposition to Russian aggression in the east, during which, unfortunately, Ukrainian soldiers continue to die, is our invaluable contribution to the security of the entire Euro-Atlantic space," Zelensky said.

According to him, "Ukraine's role in ensuring global security should be properly assessed."
Conflict in Donbas is one of biggest threats to European security system, principles adopted by OSCE member states  Linde

OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde, during her visit to the east of Ukraine, said the conflict in Donbas is one of the biggest threats to the European security system and the principles, which were accepted by all OSCE member states.

"The fact that I am visiting the country [Ukraine] for the second time in the first half of this year displays the importance that Sweden attaches to the situation in and around Ukraine during its chairmanship of the OSCE this year. This conflict is one of the largest threats to European security and the principles that all OSCE member states have accepted," the press service of the Swedish Embassy in Ukraine said, citing Linde.

It is noted the agenda includes issues related to regional tensions due to the increased activity of Russia on the Ukrainian border and in Crimea, as well as issues of a ceasefire in Donbas.

"Since July last year, we have been recording more and more cases of ceasefire violations every month. Accordingly, we receive reports of an increase in the number of victims in eastern Ukraine. These losses, which we see both among the military and among the civilian population, are unacceptable," the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office said.

She also stated the need to improve the difficult humanitarian situation for the civilian population, in particular, to increase the possibility of crossing the contact line between areas controlled and not controlled by the Ukrainian authorities.

OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Sweden Ann Linde is on a working visit to Ukraine on June 13 to June 15.

On June 15, Kuleba and Linde will hold a joint press conference.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine deserves to be an equal member of the North Atlantic Alliance.

"We deserve to be members of the Alliance, if the Alliance sees Ukraine among NATO members of the same level, at the same table. I believe this is the right decision [to admit Ukraine to NATO]. I believe that Ukraine really deserves this to be one of the most powerful countries in NATO," Zelensky said in an interview with journalists at the Ukraine 30. Economy without Oligarchs all-Ukrainian forum in Kyiv on Tuesday.

The president believes that "Ukraine should not ask for an invitation to NATO."

"We need to be invited. I believe that this is honest, because we should not ask. I think that in general, the policy that we have chosen today is the policy of the welcome guest, and not just running around, shouting, passing some laws, hang up posters, communicate with the media, let me take a picture with the U.S. President. I believe that we have a different policy, it is correct," he said.

The president also said "not everyone likes the direct position on Ukraine and its support from the EU."

"I do not know if this is a signal for Russia. Let us see how the important Biden-Putin summit ends. Nevertheless, I am confident in the support of the United States. They have always had bipartisan support for Ukraine," Zelensky said.

He also thanked U.S. President Joe Biden, as well as the leaders of the EU countries for supporting Ukraine.
Incumbent head of the OSCE, Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde has expressed concern over the increase in the number of ceasefire violations in eastern Ukraine and called for immediate and full compliance.

Linde, at a joint press conference with Minister Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba in Kyiv on Tuesday, expressed concern over the increasing number of ceasefire violations and reports of civilian and military casualties, and stressed the need for immediate and full compliance with the ceasefire in eastern Ukraine.

She stressed that resolving the situation in and around Ukraine is a priority for the OSCE and the Swedish chairmanship of the organization.

Linde said they are actively working on a sustainable political settlement of the conflict in accordance with international law and OSCE principles and commitments, adding that the OSCE support the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.

According to her, she discussed with Kuleba the steps that need to be taken to improve the situation and reduce the suffering of citizens who live in areas affected by the conflict.

Linde dwelled on the support from her side of the full implementation of the Minsk agreements in accordance with the efforts being made by the Trilateral Contact Group and in the Normandy format.
U.S. to expand work permits for immigrants who are crime victims

A new citizen holds a U.S. flag at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) naturalization ceremony at the New York Public Library in Manhattan, (Photo : REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton)

A new U.S. immigration policy announced on Monday will expand access to work permits and deportation relief to some immigrants who are crime victims while their visa cases are pending.



U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will create a process that could allow tens of thousands of applicants for U visas to receive work permits if their claims are deemed to be made in good faith and without the intention of defrauding the immigration system, the agency said.



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Reuters first reported the news earlier on Monday.



Democratic President Joe Biden has pledged to make the U.S. immigration system more humane, and has reversed many of the restrictionist policies of Republican former President Donald Trump. Under Trump, U.S. immigration authorities made it easier to deport U visa applicants, drawing opposition from advocates for immigrants.



The United States offers 10,000 U visas annually to immigrants who are victims of certain crimes and who aid law enforcement investigations or prosecutions. The visas provide access to a work permit and the ability to apply for permanent residence after three years, but high demand means applicants currently wait at least five years until they can receive work authorization, according to USCIS.



To qualify for a visa, applicants must be victims of domestic violence, trafficking or other serious crimes. Certain family members of approved applicants also can request visas.



The number of U visa applicants who will qualify for work permits under the new policy remains unclear.



USCIS is currently considering nearly 269,000 U visa applicants, according to agency data current to December. However, not all of those applicants are in the United States, a USCIS spokesperson told Reuters.



In a statement, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said the move would both help victims and promote public safety.



"These are individuals who have come forward to help law enforcement keep us all safe, but who are in need of a measure of protection for themselves, as well," he said.


Huawei Technologies Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou leaves her home to attend a court hearing in Vancouver, British Columbia, (Photo : REUTERS/Jennifer Gauthier)

Huawei Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou on Monday will seek to bar publication of documents her legal team received from HSBC, a request opposed by Canadian prosecutors in her U.S. extradition case who say it violates the principles of open court.



Meng's legal team will present arguments in support of the ban in the British Columbia Supreme Court.



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Meng, 49, was arrested at Vancouver International Airport in December 2018 on a warrant from the United States, where she faces charges of bank fraud for allegedly misleading HSBC about Huawei Technologies Co Ltd's business dealings in Iran and potentially causing the bank to break U.S. sanctions on business in Iran.



She has been under house arrest in Vancouver for more than two years and fighting her extradition to the United States. Meng has said she is innocent.



Lawyers for Huawei and HSBC in Hong Kong agreed to a release of the documents in April to Meng's legal team on the condition that they "use reasonable effort" to keep confidential information concealed from the public, according to submissions filed by the defense on Friday.



Prosecutors representing the Canadian government argued against the ban, saying in submissions filed the same day that "to be consistent with the open court principle, a ban must be tailored" and details should be selectively redacted from the public, rather than the whole documents.



A consortium of media outlets, including Reuters News, also opposes the ban.



The open court principle requires that court proceedings be open and accessible to the public and to the media.



It is unclear what documents Huawei obtained from HSBC, but defense lawyers argue they are relevant to Meng's case.



Meng's hearing was initially set to wrap up in May but Associate Chief Justice Heather Holmes granted an extension to allow the defense to read through the new documents.



Hearings in the extradition case are scheduled to finish in late August.


U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) leaves the Senate floor on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., (Photo : REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein)

U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said on Monday that President Joe Biden would not get a Supreme Court nominee confirmed in 2024 if Republicans regain control of the chamber and a vacancy arises during that presidential election year.



"It's highly unlikely. In fact, no, I don't think either party, if it were different from the president, would confirm a Supreme Court nominee in the middle of an election," McConnell told syndicated conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt.



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McConnell could return as majority leader if Republicans regain control of the Senate in the 2022 midterm elections. While serving as majority leader, McConnell blocked Democratic former President Barack Obama from filling a vacancy left by the death of conservative Justice Antonin Scalia in February 2016, saying it would be improper to confirm a Supreme Court nominee during a presidential election year.



McConnell and his fellow Senate Republicans refused to consider Obama's nominee - Merrick Garland, who now serves as Biden's attorney general - in a move with little precedent in U.S. history. That enabled Donald Trump, the winner of the November 2016 election, to appoint conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch in 2017.



Democrats accused McConnell of hypocrisy last year when he allowed the Senate to confirm Trump's conservative Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett to replace liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died in September about six weeks before the 2020 presidential election. Trump, a Republican, was defeated by Biden, a Democrat, in the election and Democrats also took control of the Senate.



McConnell signaled that a Biden nominee could have problems even outside an election year. When Hewitt asked if a Republican-controlled Senate would give "a normal mainstream liberal" nominee a fair shot at a confirmation hearing if a vacancy opened in 2023, McConnell replied: "Well, we'd have to wait and see what happens."



He described his decision to keep Scalia's seat open until after Trump was elected as "the single most consequential thing I've done in my time as majority leader of the Senate." McConnell made confirmation of Trump's conservative judicial nominees a high priority. Trump appointed three justices, also including Brett Kavanaugh, to the Supreme Court, which now has a 6-3 conservative majority.



Democrats denounced McConnell's comments, with some even using them to solicit campaign donations.



"He would change the rules a third time if he could to make sure they (Republicans) would get the choice for the next Supreme Court justice. He's not much for precedent and tradition when it doesn't serve him politically," said Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin, the chamber's No. 2 Democrat.



Democratic Senator Ed Markey wrote on Twitter: "Mitch McConnell is already foreshadowing that he'll steal a 3rd Supreme Court seat if he gets the chance. He's done it before, and he'll do it again. We need to expand the Supreme Court."



Some Democrats have proposed expanding the number of justices in order to end the Supreme Court's conservative majority.



Some liberal activists have urged liberal Justice Stephen Breyer, at 82 the court's oldest member, to retire now while the Senate remains in Democratic hands. Biden during the election campaign vowed to name a Black woman to the court, which would be a historic first.



The Senate was due later on Monday to vote on the confirmation of Washington-based U.S. District Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to an influential federal appellate court. Jackson, among the most prominent Black women in the federal judiciary, is considered a potential Supreme Court pick for Biden.



The 100-seat Senate is currently split 50-50, with Democrats in control only because Vice President Kamala Harris wields a tie-breaking vote.


Mali announced a new government on Friday in which key roles were retained by army figures, according to a statement read out on the national broadcaster.

The announcement comes after Colonel Assimi Goita, who led a coup last month, was named transitional president on Wednesday and appointed a civilian as his prime minister.

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Egypt is due to receive 1.9 million doses of AstraZenca vaccine within days, a new batch of a wider package comprising 40 million doses agreed upon with the global COVAX facility by the end of last year, the country's Minister of Health Hala Zayed announced on Tuesday.

Egypt has so far received a total of 3.3 million of the British-Swedish AstraZeneca, 2.2 million doses of which have come under the agreement with the COVAX, which aims to secure doses flowing into all countries.

Cairo also has been supplied with a total of 3 million Chinese Sinopharm jabs, over the past six months, along with 500,000 doses of the Sinovac vaccine, another China-made vaccine.

The health minister's remarks were made after a meeting in Geneva with Aurelia Nguyen, the managing director of the Office of the COVAX Facility.

Zayed said, during the meeting, Egypt is well prepared to cooperate with the COVAX and other vaccines manufacturers to help produce the doses via the Egyptian firms to speed up the supply of these vaccines the world over.

Egypt is currently manufacturing 2 million doses of Sinovac coronavirus vaccine through the production lines of the country's drugmaker VACSERA as part of a wider deal with the Chinese company to produce a total of 40 million doses by the end of 2021 in Egypt.

The local production of the Sinovac vaccine, approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for emergency use on 1 June and by the Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA) in April, comes within

Egypt's aim to become a manufacturing vaccine hub for Africa after meeting local needs.

Egypt is also in talks to locally manufacture the British AstraZeneca vaccine, according to previous statements by Health Minister Hala Zayed.

Minister Zayed is on a visit to the Swiss capital to discuss means of enhancing cooperation in the fields of health with a number of international organisations.

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Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi invited Qatars Emir Tamim bin Hamed to visit Cairo in a letter delivered to him in Doha by Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, the Egyptian foreign ministry said.

According to the ministry, the written letter by El-Sisi to Tamim focused on the importance of continuing consultation and working to push Egyptian-Qatari relations forward in the upcoming period after signing the Al-Ula reconciliation agreement on 5 January, the statement added.

During their meeting, the head of Qatar discussed with the Egyptian foreign minister the recent regional and international developments and ways to boost consultation and coordination with the two countries, especially since Qatar is currently heading the session of the Council of the Arab League.

From his side, Emir Tamim sent his greetings to the Egyptian president and expressed his appreciation and praise for the positive developments Egyptian-Qatari relations witnessed recently from the exchange of ministerial visits.

Shoukry stressed in the meeting that Egypt stands with Gulf States against any threats or dangers to their security.

Shoukry arrived in Doha on Sunday to convey the message as well as to participate on Tuesday in the consultative meeting of Arab foreign ministers, which will be held at the invitation of Qatar  the president of the current session of the Council of the Arab League  to continue coordination and consultation on the current Arab situation, and ways to strengthen joint action mechanisms regarding the growing challenges facing Arab countries.

Shoukry will also participate in the extraordinary meeting of the Arab League Council at the ministerial level to discuss developments regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam issue, which will be held at the request of Egypt and Sudan following the consultative meeting of Arab foreign ministers.

He will also attend the first meeting of the Palestine Committee.

On Monday, the Egyptian foreign minister held talks with his Qatari counterpart.

This is considered the first visit for an Egyptian minister to the Qatari capital after the Al-Ula agreement between Qatar and Egypt, along with Gulf states Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates, that ended a rift with Doha which lasted over three years.

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Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry reiterated on Tuesday that Addis Ababa's insistence on going ahead with filling the disputed Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) in the absence of a legally binding agreement with the downstream countries, Egypt and Sudan, violates the rules of international law.

Addressing an extraordinary Ministerial Council of the Arab League (AL) attended by the Arab foreign ministers in Doha, Shoukry reviewed Egypt's "sincere" intentions and efforts to settle the long-running dispute by reaching a legally binding agreement.

The African Union (AU) brokered negotiations between Ethiopia and the two downstream countries stalled in April after Addis Ababa refused the two countries' request to improve the negotiations methodology by including the U.S., the European Union, and the United Nations along with the AU as international mediators.

Tensions further mounted recently over Addis Ababa's plan to go ahead with the second filling of the GERD's reservoir in July with or without a legally binding instrument with Cairo and Khartoum.

The Arab foreign ministers' meeting is held at a request by Egypt and Sudan as part of their efforts to press for international action to help resolve the dispute with Ethiopia.

"Egypt and Sudan have engaged over the past ten years in strenuous negotiations with Ethiopia without reaching any tangible progress, despite Egypt's displaying of goodwill to achieve a legally binding and just agreement that ensures Ethiopia's right to development without violating the rights of both downstream countries and without causing a serious harm to either of them," he added.

"The problem lies in the fact that the Ethiopian side only seeks to forcibly impose its vision on others, deliberately ignoring the conflict of what it calls for with all the charters and agreements that govern international rivers," he explained.

The top diplomat said Addis Ababa seeks to impose a new reality, by which the upstream countries control the downstream. "This matter is unacceptable."

"The Nile River is a common property for the upstream countries as well as for the downstream countries, and that no one, whoever he is, is allowed to change these stable rules," he emphasised.

Shoukry added said Cairo has been engaged in all negotiations paths, which involved the tripartite talks and the U.S. and AU sponsored rounds, but to no avail, adding that the downstream country blames no one but Ethiopia.

He accused Ethiopia of scuttling efforts to solve the crisis and prolonging the negotiations in order to gain time.

Shoukry said Ethiopia's intransigence and insistence on forging ahead with filling its dam without an agreement is a "grave" violation of the 2015 Declaration of Principles (DoPs) signed between the three countries.

The DoPs obliges Ethiopia to cooperate with Egypt and Sudan in filling and operating the dam. It also mandates the use of mediated negotiation in the event of a dispute arising from differences in its interpretation or application.

"In the absence of any political will [by Ethiopia] to reach a legally binding and just agreement Egypt has proven that it is the party that acts responsibly and out of a prior understanding of the consequences of escalating tension on the security and stability of the region," he went on saying.

Shoukry asked the Arab ministers to support the Egyptian-Sudanese demand in the Nile row, noting that this "existential" issue has its impact on the Arab national security.

Egypt fears that the massive $4.8 billion Ethiopian hydropower project will significantly diminish its crucial water supply, which is already below the scarcity level.

Egypts 100 million-plus population depends on the Nile for over 95 percent of its freshwater.

Sudan fears the GERD will put the operation of its Roseires dam and the lives of 20 million Sudanese citizens at a very high risk if an agreement regulating the operation and filling of GERD is not reached before the second filling.

It warned that it will take legal action if Ethiopia moves forward with the second filing of the GERD in July without first signing a legally binding agreement.

Egypt and Sudan have resorted to diplomacy in the past weeks, briefing regional and international counterparts on their stances and developments on the latest deadlock in negotiations.

Egypt sent a 95-page letter to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Friday, detailing all stages of the ten-year-old negotiations and expressing its objection to Addis Ababa's plan to move ahead unilaterally with the second filling of the GERD.

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Former Islamist presidential candidate and opposition figure Abdel-Moneim Abul-Fotouh will remain in custody on charges of joining an outlawed group despite a release order earlier on Tuesday in another case, the prosecution said.

On Tuesday, the prosecution ordered a 15-day detention renewal for Abul-Fotouh on charges of publishing false news and joining an outlawed group pressed against him in 2019.

The renewed detention came despite a release order in another case in which he was charged of incitement against the state in 2018.

Abul-Fotouh was arrested in February 2018 after he returned from London, where he had given interviews critical of the government.

Shortly after his arrest, Abul-Fotouh was placed on the terrorism list for alleged ties with the Muslim Brotherhood before his appeal against the designation decision was accepted in 2020.

However, a criminal court placed him again on the states terror list along with other figures for a five-year period a year later.

Under the anti-terrorism law, which has been in effect since 2015, any person placed on the terror list is subject to a travel ban and having their assets frozen.

Abul-Fotouh, who leads the centrist Strong Egypt party, is a former member of the Muslim Brotherhood.

He defected from the group in 2011 and has for years distanced himself from it. He ran for president in 2012.

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Qatar's foreign minister said Tuesday that relations with Egypt have been moving in a positive direction since a reconciliation deal was signed earlier this year to end a year-long diplomatic rift.

In January, Egypt, along with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, signed an agreement in the Saudi city of Al-Ula that restored ties with Doha and ended a boycott by the Arab quartet that started in mid-2017.

There is a mutual desire by the two countries to upgrade bilateral relations and for the return of brotherly ties, Qatari Foreign Minister Mohamed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani told a press conference following a meeting of Arab foreign ministers in Doha.

"We are looking forward to having firm steps towards improving ties," added.

He said many outstanding issues between Doha and Cairo have been resolved through meetings of follow-up committees formed by the two countries.

He pointed out to recent developments in the bilateral relations, which included exchanged visits by the two countries' top diplomat and letters between Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.

He described his talks with the Egyptian foreign ministers on Monday as 'positive' and 'constructive', and Egypt as a 'pivotal and important state' to all Arab states.

Tuesday's meeting of Arab foreign ministers discussed the crisis of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), amid worries over Addis Ababa's plan for a second filling of the dam without an accord.

Negotiations between Ethiopia and downstream countries Egypt and Sudan stalled in April after Addis Ababa refused the two countries' request to include the U.S., the EU, and the UN in mediation talks.

Tensions are running high over Addis Ababa's plan to go ahead with the second filling of the GERD's reservoir with or without a legally binding instrument with Cairo and Khartoum.

The Qatari foreign minister said the meeting asserted the need of signing a legally binding deal on the dam that preserves the rights of all involved parties.

The Arab foreign ministers called for mediation to ensure that no unilateral steps that could harm Egypt or Sudan are taken, he added.

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit said there was a clear and strong Arab support to Egypt and Sudan given that the security of both countries is a part of Arab national security.

Ethiopia plans to hold 13.5 billion cubic metres of water during the second filling of the GERDs reservoir in July, despite the objections of Egypt and Sudan to the move in the absence of a legally binding agreement.

Egypts 100 million-plus population depends on the Nile for over 95 percent of its fresh water.

Sudan fears the GERD will put the operation of its Roseires dam and the lives of 20 million Sudanese citizens at a very high risk if an agreement regulating the operation and filling of GERD is not reached before the second filling.

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Egypts Public Prosecution said on Tuesday it handed documents to the Italian side that refute alleged involvement of Egyptian officers in the disappearance and murder of Italian researcher Giulio Regeni in Cairo in 2016 amid an ongoing trial in Rome against the suspected security members.

Egypts top prosecutor Hamada Al-Sawy met and handed Italys Ambassador to Cairo Giampaolo Cantini two official copies of the prosecutions dismissal of a criminal case over the killing of the Italian student, a statement by his office said.

In December, the Egyptian prosecution said it will temporarily not pursue a criminal lawsuit in the case due to the lack of knowledge of the perpetrator of the crime.

It also announced it was ruling out from the case the accusations raised by Italy's prosecutor-general against four police officers and a policeman in Egypts national security of involvement in the murder.

Tuesdays statement said the Italian ambassador also received during the meeting Kenyan judicial authorities' response that refutes reports of a Kenyan officer overhearing a story by an Egyptian police officer on Regenis abduction during a security conference in Nairobi.

Al-Sawy asserted the need of presenting all the documents with the Italian court overseeing the case as they refute any alleged involvement of Egyptian officers in the murder.

Tuesday's meeting comes few weeks after an Italian judge ordered four Egyptian officers to stand trial for suspected role in Regenis murder, saying there was sufficient evidence to indict the officers, with their trial set to begin on October 14.

There was no comment by Egyptian authorities at the time.

Egyptian and Italian authorities have been cooperating in the ongoing investigation into the murder of the 28-year-old Italian student, who was conducting research on independent trade unions when he went missing on the fifth anniversary of Egypts 2011 Revolution.

He was found dead 10 days later bearing signs of torture.

However, the cooperation faltered in 2019 after Italy accused Egypt of not taking any steps or overtures following Rome's decision to place five members of Egyptian security forces under official investigation for their alleged involvement in the torture and murder of the slain student.

Regeni's killing also led to a brief diplomatic rift in 2016, when Italy's ambassador to Cairo was recalled in protest of Egypt's handling of the case. The ambassador returned in September 2017.

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Arab foreign ministers on Tuesday backed calls for the United Nations Security Council to intervene in a lingering dispute between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia over a massive dam Addis Ababa is building on Nile River's main tributary.

The move, announced at a meeting in Qatar, was the latest push by Cairo and Khartoum to reach an agreement on the filling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit said the Arab countries will press for the Security Council to hold an urgent session on the decade-long dispute.

Aboul Gheit spoke at a joint news conference with Qatar's Foreign Minister Mohammad bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Doha, following the meeting of Arab ministers.

The three nations had been close to reaching a U.S.-brokered accord last year, but Ethiopia walked out of a signing meeting in Washington, accusing former President Donald Trump's administration of siding with Egypt.

Cairo and Khartoum have repeatedly called for the U.S., the European Union, and the U.N. to join the talks as mediators, along with the African Union. Addis Ababa has rejected the idea.

The agreement would spell out how the dam is operated and filled, based on international law and norms governing cross-border rivers.

The dam is now 80% complete and is expected to reach full generating capacity in 2023, making it Africa's largest hydroelectric power plant and the world's seventh-largest, according to reports in Ethiopia's state media.

The dispute now centers on how quickly Ethiopia should fill and replenish the reservoir and how much water it releases downstream in case of a multi-year drought. The latest round of African Union-brokered negotiations in April failed to make progress.

Tuesday's development came amid diplomatic and political pressure by Egypt and Sudan on Ethiopia ahead its planned second phase of filling the dam. They argue that Ethiopia's plan to add 13.5 billion cubic meters of water in 2021 to the dam's reservoir is a threat to them.

``There is a united Arab position,'' Al Thani, the Qatari foreign minister, said. ``Water security is about survival for mankind, and for the peoples of Sudan and Egypt.''

A final communique of the meeting called on the U.N. Security Council to take ``necessary measures'' to launch an ``active negotiating process'' aiming at reaching a deal within a specific timeframe.

Egypt and Sudan said they had sent letters to the Security Council this month, explaining their positions on the dam. Both warned about dire repercussions to peace and stability of the Horn of Africa without a deal.

They accused Ethiopia of failing to help reach a ``fair, balanced and legally binding'' agreement in previous talks overseen by the African Union.

There was no immediate comment from Addis Ababa. Ethiopia has maintained that the dam, which it has fully financed, will help pull millions of its nearly 110 million citizens out of poverty and make the country a major power exporter.

Doha's hosting of the meeting marks a new beginning for the Egypt-Qatar ties and Qatar's reemergence on the regional diplomatic stage after years of relative isolation. Egypt, along with other Gulf countries, was party to a boycott of Qatar that was based largely on its ties to Turkey and Iran.

A January declaration put an end to the diplomatic crisis that began in 2017 with a rift between Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain on one side and Qatar on the other.

The four countries had jointly boycotted Qatar and hoped an embargo and media blitz would pressure it to end its close relations with Turkey and Iran. Egypt and the UAE have viewed the support by Qatar and Turkey of Islamist groups like the Muslim Brotherhood as a security threat. Saudi Arabia and Bahrain were primarily concerned about Qatar's ties with Iran.

The countries accused Qatar of cozying up to Iran and financing extremist groups in the region, though Doha denied the charges. Qatar-based satellite news network Al Jazeera was at the center of the dispute. The four nations demanded its closure, among other measures, which Qatar rejected.

Al-Thani and Aboul Gheit also said ministers discussed the Israel-Palestinian conflict and discussed steps to stop what Al-Thani described as ``Israeli violations'' in Jerusalem.

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Egypts Defense Minister General Mohamed Zaki discussed on Tuesday with Commander of the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) General Frank McKenzie means of promoting military cooperation between the armed forces of both countries.

The Egyptian Armed Forces said in a statement the two military officials mulled over issues of mutual interest and means to promote military cooperation and joint drills between them.

Zaki expressed appreciation of ties between both countries armed forces and keenness to boost joint cooperation in the military field.

Meanwhile, McKenzie affirmed his country's interest in promoting its strategic partnership with Egypt and continuing cooperation and coordination between the two militaries.

The statement said the Egyptian Armed Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Mohamed Farid also held a meeting with McKenzie. They discussed several issues of mutual interest, in light of the military cooperation and exchange of expertise between two countries armed forces.

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A Minya Criminal Court handed five-year prison terms to ten people and acquitted 14 others over sectarian violence against Copts in Upper Egypts Minya in 2016.

A judicial source said that two of the defendants sentenced to jail on Tuesday have previously stood trial in a separate case involving stripping an elderly Coptic woman off her clothes during the same mob attack.

The sectarian attack in the village of El-Karm in 2016, which included torching and vandalizing Copts homes, followed a rumour that a Muslim woman and a Christian man were involved in an affair.

The violent mob attack saw the stripping and dragging of an elderly Coptic woman through the village in an incident that shocked the country.

74-year-old Soad Thabets home was attacked, along with the homes of other Christians in the village, by an angry mob following a rumor that her son was having an affair with a Muslim woman in the village.

In January 2020, the court sentenced the three defendants in the case in absentia to ten years for assaulting and stripping the old woman of her clothes.

The three defendants  a father and his two sons  were then acquitted in a re-trial later in the same year after they turned themselves to the authorities.

However, Egypts prosecutor-general has ordered earlier this year an appeal against the acquittal of the three men.

No new trial or legal proceedings have been set yet.

Commenting on the sentence, Thabet told Masrawy that nothing would make up for the harm done against her and her children during the mob attack.

She said the incident forced her and her children to leave the village and reside in another town.

I have suffered since the incident. Our house that had my childrens merchandise has been looted and set ablaze. Around 25 people assaulted us, with most of them released. I know that God would not accept injustice, she said.

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Ethiopia slammed on Tuesday a resolution by the Arab League backing Egypt and Sudans water security amid deadlock in negotiations over the disputed Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

In a statement, the Ethiopian foreign ministry said it is dismayed by the resolution of the Arab League following an extraordinary meeting held in Doha, describing the regional organizations positions on the dam as misguided.

As a result of its egregious support to the baseless claims of Egypt and Sudan regarding GERD, the Arab League has already squandered its opportunity to play a constructive role, the Ethiopian ministry said.

It said that the Nile is a shared resource and not an exclusive property of Egypt and Sudan."

That is why it is perplexing that the Arab League places particular emphases on the water security of the downstream countries in complete disregard to the rest of the Nile riparian countries, it added, describing the organizations approach as unhelpful and misguided.

The Ethiopian response comes hours after the Arab League said following a meeting of Arab foreign ministers over the dam crisis in Doha that Egypt and Sudans water security was an integral part of Arab national security.

In a resolution, the Arab League stressed its rejection of any measures that would undermine the water share of Egypt and Sudan, in reference to Ethiopias planned second filling in July despite of the lack of an agreement between the three countries on the filling and operations of the dam.

It has also called for the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to intervene in the crisis which risks aggravated tensions in the region.

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit said in a press conference following the meeting that the Arab countries will press for the UNSC to hold an urgent session on the dispute.

It expressed its deep concern over Ethiopias intention to fill the dams reservoir over the summer, describing the unilateral measure as one that violates the rules of international law and the Declaration of Principles (DoP) signed between the three countries in 2015.

In response, Ethiopia said it categorically rejects the futile attempt by the League of Arab States to dictate terms regarding the filling of GERD.

As a regional organization, it would have been appropriate for the League of Arab States to encourage the three parties to reach a win-win solution instead of its unhelpful, partisan and unreasonable position, it added.

The statement by Ethiopia comes as it remains defiant over a second filling in the coming weeks even without a deal.

Earlier on Tuesday, Ethiopias Water, Irrigation and Energy Minister Sileshi Bekele stressed in statements reported by the Ethiopian News Agency (ENA) that the filling of the second phase of the dam will go as scheduled.

The second round filling will continue and it has nothing to do with any other issue. The level the construction of the dam reaches in the coming rainy season will dictate the filling, he said.

This is very clear to all the three riparian countries. Nothing will change from that and we will proceed accordingly, he added.

Egypt and Sudan have been negotiating for almost a decade now with Ethiopia to reach a legally binding and comprehensive deal on the GERDs construction, which Addis Ababa started to build on the Blue Nile in 2011.

Ethiopias rejection of several proposals by Egypt and Sudan on the negotiation mechanism, which includes international quartet mediation, has led to the collapse of the Kinshasa talks sponsored by the AU in April.

Egypts 100 million-plus population depends on the Nile for over 95 percent of its fresh water.

Sudan fears the GERD will put the operation of its Roseires dam and the lives of 20 million Sudanese citizens at a very high risk if an agreement regulating the operation and filling of GERD is not reached before the second filling.

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Sudan's transitional government and the country's main rebel group failed to reach a peace deal to end a decades-long conflict in the East African country, officials said Tuesday.

The latest round of talks between the Sudanese government and the Sudan Popular Liberation Movement - North, led by Abdel-Aziz al-Hilu, began last month in South Sudan's capital, Juba.

Sudan's transitional government has been engaging in peace talks with rebel groups over the past two years. It's looking to stabilize the country and help its fragile path to democracy survive following the overthrow of Omar al-Bashir in April 2019. It reached a peace deal with another rebel alliance in October.

Sudan and the PLM-N agreed Tuesday to end negotiations and conduct further consultations over their disputed points, said Tut Galuak, a security adviser to South Sudan's president who led mediation efforts.

He said the two sides have reached ``significant understandings of the disputed issues,'' and that ``only four out of 19 points'' remain unsolved. He did not elaborate.

Galuak's comments came in a statement released by Sudan's ruling sovereign council.

Also in the statement, Gen. Shams Eddin Kabashi, a member of the sovereign council and the government's chief negotiator, said the sides would return to the negotiating table ``once conditions are more favorable.''

The rebel group's chief negotiator, Ammar Amount, said they have agreed on between 75% to 80% of the deal and the remaining issues need further consultations with their leaders.

Neither side gave a time frame for a return to the talks.

Al-Hilu's movement is Sudan's single largest rebel group and is active in the Blue Nile and South Kordofan provinces, where it controls significant chunks of territory.

The most recent round of talks came less than two months after the government and the al-Hilu movement signed a declaration of principles detailing a roadmap for the talks.

Al-Hilu's group participated in negotiations leading up to that agreement but did not sign the final deal. It called for a secular state with no role for religion in lawmaking, the disbanding of all of al-Bashir's militias and the re-vamping of the country's military. Al-Hilu's group said if its demands aren't met, it will call for self-determination in areas it controls.

Another major rebel group, the Sudan Liberation Movement-Army, led by Abdel-Wahid Nour, rejects the transitional government and has not taken part in talks.

Sudanese rebels for years fought al-Bashir's loyalists in Darfur but also in the southern provinces of Blue Nile and South Kordofan. The fighting has often fallen along religious and ethnic lines.

*This story was edited by Ahram Online

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South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday tightened restrictions, lengthening a curfew and restricting alcohol sales to control the spread of coronavirus as numbers of infections spiked over the past fortnight.

The country, the worst affected by the pandemic on the continent, has seen the daily figures for new cases double over the past two weeks, while hospital admissions have climbed by nearly 60 percent in the same period.

The spike in cases comes as the country struggles with its inoculation programme.

It announced at the weekend that it would discard two million of doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine following contamination concerns at one of the US drugmaker's sites.

"A third wave of infections is upon us. We have to contain this new wave of infections," Ramaphosa said in an address to the nation.

The curfew has been extended by an hour and will run from 10pm (2000 GMT) to 4am (0200 GMT), while restaurants and bars will have to close an hour before the curfew begins.

Retail alcohol sales will be restricted to daytime from Monday to Thursday.

Public gatherings will be capped at a maximum of 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors.

"The measures we are putting in place now are appropriate to the level of risk and necessary to save lives," Ramaphosa said.

South Africa has recorded more than 1.76 million coronavirus cases since the start of the pandemic, 58,087 of which proved fatal.

Only slightly under two million people have received a vaccine dose, out of the population of 58 million people.

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Israel's fragile new government has shown little interest in addressing the decades-old conflict with the Palestinians, but it may not have a choice.

Israeli ultranationalists are already staging provocations aimed at splitting the coalition and bringing about a return to right-wing rule. In doing so, they risk escalating tensions with the Palestinians weeks after Israel's 11-day campaign on Gaza Strip that was halted by an Egyptian-brokered cease-fire.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's best hope for maintaining his ruling coalition _ which consists of eight parties from across the political spectrum _ will be to manage the conflict, the same approach favored by his predecessor, Benjamin Netanyahu, for most of his 12-year rule. But that method failed to prevent three Israeli offensives on Gaza and crackdown on Palestinians in the West Bank and Jerusalem.

That's because the status quo for Palestinians involves expanding settlements in the occupied West Bank, looming evictions in Jerusalem, home demolitions, deadly shootings and an array of discriminatory measures that two well-known human rights groups say amount to apartheid. In Gaza, which has been under a crippling Israeli blockade since the Hamas militant group seized power in 2007, it's even worse.

``They talk about it being a government of change, but it's just going to entrench the status quo,`` said Waleed Assaf, a Palestinian official who coordinates protests against West Bank settlements. ``Bennett is a copy of Netanyahu, and he might even be more radical.''

Bennett said little about the Palestinians in a speech before being sworn in on Sunday. ``Violence will be met with a firm response,'' he warned, adding that ``security calm will lead to economic moves, which will lead to reducing friction and the conflict.''

Environment Minister Tamar Zandberg, a member of the dovish Meretz party, told Israeli television's Channel 12 that she believes the peace process is important, but that the new government has agreed, ``at least at this stage, not to deal with it.''

The government faces an early challenge on Jabal Sabeeh, a hilltop in the northern West Bank where dozens of Israeli settlers rapidly established an outpost last month, paving roads and setting up living quarters that they say are now home to dozens of families.

The Eviatar settlement was built without the permission of Israeli authorities on land the Palestinians say is privately owned.

Clearing them out again would embarrass Bennett and other right-wing members of the coalition, who already face fierce criticism _ and even death threats _ for allying with centrist and left-wing factions to oust Netanyahu.

The government faces a similar dilemma over a parade through east Jerusalem organized by ultranationalists that is due to be held Tuesday. The march risks setting off the kind of protests and clashes that helped ignite last month's Gaza war.

Meanwhile, Palestinians from the adjacent village of Beita have held regular protests against the settlement outpost. Three protesters have been killed, including 17-year-old Mohammed Hamayel, who was shot dead Friday. Initial reports said he was 15.

``I always taught him you should stand up for your rights without infringing on the rights of others,`` his father, Said, said at a mourning event attended by dozens of villagers. He described his son as a popular teenager who got good grades and was a natural leader.

``Thank God, I'm very proud of my son,`` he said. ``Even in martyrdom he distinguished himself.''

The villagers fear that if the outpost remains, it will eventually swallow up even more of their land, growing and merging with some of the more than 130 authorized settlements across the occupied West Bank, where nearly 500,000 settlers live.

``We're not a political game in the hands of Bennett or Netanyahu,`` said Mohammed Khabeesa, a resident who says he owns land near the settler outpost that he can no longer access without a military permit.

``The settlements are like a cancer,`` he said. ``Everyone knows they begin small, and then they take root and expand at people's expense until they reach our homes.``

A spokeswoman for the settler organization behind the outpost did not respond to a request for comment.

Israel captured the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza in the 1967 Mideast war, territories the Palestinians want for a future state. The settlements are seen by the Palestinians and much of the international community as a major obstacle to peace because they make it nearly impossible to create a contiguous, viable state of Palestine alongside Israel.

Every Israeli government since 1967 has expanded the settlements, and this one is unlikely to be an exception. Bennett briefly served as head of a major settler organization, and his party is one of three in the coalition that strongly support settlements.

Hagit Ofran, an expert on settlements with the Israeli rights group Peace Now, says the settlers have always used illegal outposts to challenge Israeli authorities, a trend she expects to accelerate under the new government.

``Because the settlers feel this government is not their government, challenging it, psychologically, will be much, much easier,'' she said.

She hopes the new government will at least put the brakes on larger settlement projects, including massive infrastructure that will pave the way for future growth.

``I think it's more easy politically to stop big budgets and big projects rather than evicting an outpost,`` she said. ``I would rather see that the government is stopping the big projects rather than fighting over every hilltop. The settlers have the opposite interest.''

*This story was edited by Ahram Online.

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Israel's new government faced an early test Tuesday as Jewish ultranationalists prepared to march into annexed east Jerusalem, stoking tensions the UN has warned threaten a fragile Gaza ceasefire.

Rallies by far-right Jewish groups in Palestinian neighbourhoods have raised tensions in recent months, prompting a police intervention in the flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque compound that triggered the deadliest flare-up of Israeli-Palestinian violence since 2014.

The so-called March of the Flags, which celebrates the anniversary of Israel's 1967 occupation of the city's eastern sector, was originally scheduled for last Thursday but was delayed due to Israeli police opposition to the route and warnings from Hamas, the de facto rulers of Gaza.

The former government of veteran premier Benjamin Netanyahu last week put off the march until Tuesday, a decision confirmed late Monday by the incoming government of Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.

"The right to demonstrate is a right in all democracies," said Internal Security Minister Omer Bar-Lev.

"The police is ready and we will do everything in our power to preserve the delicate thread of coexistence."

Organisers consulted police on the best route for the march -- scheduled to begin at 1430 GMT -- to avoid friction with Palestinian residents, the government said.

But Palestinian prime minister Mohammad Shtayyeh condemned it as a provocation, while an alliance of Palestinian armed groups including Hamas called for a "day of rage" to defend Jerusalem.

"We warn of the dangerous repercussions that may result from the occupying power's intention to allow extremist Israeli settlers to carry out the Flag March in occupied Jerusalem tomorrow," Shtayyeh tweeted in English on Monday.

He said it was "a provocation and aggression against our people, Jerusalem and its sanctities that must end".

The new Israeli premier is himself a Jewish nationalist but the coalition he leads also includes centrist and left-wing parties and, for the first time in the country's history, a Palestinian party.

The support of the four lawmakers of the Islamic conservative Raam party was vital to the wafer-thin majority that the government won in a historic confidence vote that unseated Netanyahu on Sunday.

'Very Fragile'

UN Middle East peace envoy Tor Wennesland urged all sides to behave responsibly to avoid damage to a hard-won May 21 ceasefire that ended 11 days of heavy fighting in and around Gaza.

"Tensions are rising again in Jerusalem at a very fragile & sensitive security & political time, when UN & Egypt are actively engaged in solidifying the ceasefire," Wennesland said.

"Urge all relevant parties to act responsibly & avoid any provocations that could lead to another round of confrontation."

The US embassy called on its staff to avoid entering the walled Old City in the heart of east Jerusalem because of the march and "possible counter-demonstrations".

Israel's annexation of east Jerusalem since the Six-Day War of 1967 is not recognised by most of the international community which says the city's final status should be a matter of negotiation between the two sides.

The Palestinians claim the city's eastern sector as the capital of their future state.

The iconic Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the heart of the Old City is Islam's third holiest site and a national symbol for all Palestinians regardless of religion.

It is also Judaism's holiest site but by longstanding convention Jews are not allowed to pray inside the compound and visits by Israeli Jewish politicians often trigger disturbances.

Hamas Warning

When the march was originally announced for last week, senior Hamas official Khalil Hayya warned it could spark a return to violence like that of May 10-21.

Hamas spokesman Mohammed Hamadeh said Tuesday that mediators had been in contact with Palestinian armed groups in recent days to appeal to them "not to engage in a military escalation on the basis of the march."

"All options remain on the table, however," the spokesman added.

Last month's conflict started after Hamas issued a deadline for Israel to remove its security forces from flashpoint areas of east Jerusalem, and then fired a salvo of rockets at Israel when the ultimatum went unheeded.

Israeli deadly air strikes on the Gaza Strip between May 10 and 21 killed 260 Palestinians including some fighters, the Gaza authorities said.

In Israel, 13 people were killed, including a soldier, by rockets fired from Gaza, the police and army said.

*This story has been edited by Ahram Online

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The leaders of Serbia and Kosovo were in Brussels on Tuesday to resume EU-mediated talks aimed at finding a solution to one of Europe's most intractable territorial disputes.

The Balkan neighbours last met a year ago as part of decade-long negotiations to resolve disputes still poisoning relations more than 20 years after they separated in war.

Serbia has refused to recognise Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence after the province broke away in the bloody 1998-99 conflict that was ended only by a NATO bombing campaign against Serb troops.

The meeting on Tuesday is the first since Kosovo's left-wing reformist prime minister Albin Kurti claimed a landmark win in parliamentary elections in February, pledging to take a new tack in the talks with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.

'This dialogue is not going to be easy,' EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said before kicking off bilateral meetings with the two leaders.

"But this process, and this sincere engagement by both sides is necessary for the benefit of the people of Kosovo and Serbia."

Borrell had earlier said that the aim of the fresh round of talks was to sound out Kurti and discuss a "way forward" for negotiations.

'There is a new momentum in Europe about the discussions on the Western Balkans and it is important for the whole region to seize this opportunity,' Borrell said Tuesday.

The EU and United States have been pushing both sides to resume the talks since the change of leadership in Kosovo.

The resumption of talks comes as US President Joe Biden will be a stone's throw away, visiting European Union chiefs for a summit, but there was no sign that he would meet the two leaders.

The US has an outsized role in Kosovo, sometimes called the most pro-American country in the world, after leading the NATO intervention that forced out Serbia.

Kosovo has been recognised by more than 100 countries but Serbia still considers the territory as its southern province, and is supported by Russia and China.

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An American president won't side with Moscow over his own intelligence agencies. There will be no talk of a ``reset'' in Russian relations. And it is highly doubtful that anyone will gaze into Vladimir Putin's eyes and discuss his soul.

But beyond that, it's not clear what will happen Wednesday in Geneva when President Joe Biden meets Putin for the first time since taking office. Both sides acknowledge that the relationship between the two nations is dismal and neither holds out much hope for meaningful areas of agreement. Still, each man brings his own goals to the summit table.

A look at what each president is hoping to achieve in Switzerland:

WHAT BIDEN WANTS

Biden and his aides have made clear that he will not follow in the footsteps of his recent predecessors by aiming to radically alter the United States' ties to Russia. Instead, the White House is looking for a more modest though still vitally important goal: to move toward a more predictable relationship and attempt to rein in Russia's disruptive behavior.

Biden's first overseas trip was deliberately sequenced so that he will meet with Putin only after spending days meeting with European allies and powerful democracies, including a gathering at NATO, the decades-old alliance formed to serve as a bulwark to Russian aggression. He hoped to project a sense of unity and renewed cooperation after four years of tumult under former President Donald Trump, who often tried to cozy up to the Russian president.

Biden will push Putin to stop meddling in democratic elections, to ease tensions with Ukraine and to stop giving safe harbor to hackers carrying out cyber and ransomware attacks. Aides believe that lowering the temperature with Russia will also reinforce the United States' ties to democracies existing in Moscow's shadow.

National security adviser Jake Sullivan said Biden will look for ``areas where, in our common interest, we can work together to produce outcomes that are _ that work for the United States and for the American people.``

Sullivan, who briefed reporters on Air Force One heading to Brussels for the NATO summit, said that Biden's other message would be more stick than carrot: ``How do we send a clear message about those harmful activities that we will not tolerate and to which we will respond?''

There have been brief moments of common ground. Moscow and Washington have shown a shared interest in restarting talks on strategic stability to work out a follow-up deal to the New START, the last remaining U.S.-Russian arms control pact that was extended for five years in January.

Biden will exhort Putin on human rights, including the poisoning and imprisonment of dissident Alexei Navalny, to not support the regime in Belarus that carried out a recent skyjacking and to stop interfering with other nations' elections. Cyber will also be a focal point, with the Geneva summit coming just days after NATO expanded its Article 5 mutual defense pact to include cyberattacks.

But the president acknowledged that there may be no way to keep Putin in check.

``There's no guarantee you can change a person's behavior or the behavior of his country. Autocrats have enormous power and they don't have to answer to a public,'' said Biden during a news conference Sunday after the Group of Seven summit in England. ``And the fact is that it may very well be, if I respond in kind _ which I will _ that it doesn't dissuade him and he wants to keep going.''

Biden had not minced words when it comes to assessing Putin. He said in an interview earlier this year that he agreed with an assessment that Putin was a ``killer,'' and he once declared that Putin didn't have a soul.

That was far colder rhetoric that his immediate predecessors.

Trump spoke warmly of Putin and was deferential to him during their one summit, held in Helsinki in 2018, in which he turned his back on his own intelligence agencies. President Barack Obama's administration, though wary of Putin, expressed hope in a ``reset'' and improvement of relations with Moscow. And George W. Bush said that he ``looked the man in the eye'' and ``found him very straightforward and trustworthy.''

``I was able to get a sense of his soul,`` Bush said.

Biden won't.

WHAT PUTIN WANTS

Putin also won't be expecting to warm up ties. His main goal would be to draw his red lines to the new U.S. administration and negotiate a tense status quo that would protect Moscow's vital interests.

The Russian leader doesn't hope for a new detente to mend the rift caused by Russia's 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula. Nor does he count on a rollback of the crippling U.S. and EU sanctions that have restricted Moscow's access to global financial markets and top Western technologies.

Putin's task now is more modest _ to spell out Russia's top security concerns and try to restore basic channels of communication that would prevent an even more dangerous destabilization.

The main red line for Moscow is Ukraine's aspirations to join NATO. Fearing its bid for the alliance membership, Putin responded to the 2014 ouster of Ukraine's Russia-friendly president by annexing Crimea and throwing Moscow's weight behind a separatist insurgency in the country's eastern industrial heartland where the seven-year conflict has killed more than 14,000.

When tensions along the line of contact in Ukraine's east rose earlier this year, Russia quickly beefed up its troops near Ukraine and warned Kiev's leaders that it would intervene militarily if they try to reclaim the rebel-controlled regions by force.

Moscow has since pulled back some of its forces from the border areas, but the Ukrainian leadership has said the bulk of them have remained close to the border.

In an interview with state TV last week, Putin described Ukraine's bid to join NATO as an existential challenge to Russia that would allow the alliance's missiles to hit Moscow and other targets in western Russia in just seven minutes. He compared it to Russia deploying its missiles in Canada or Mexico near the U.S. border. ``Isn't it a red line?'' he said.

While taking a tough stance on Ukraine, the Russian leader could show a degree of flexibility on other global hotspots.

Even though Moscow has been critical of the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan, it's interested in a settlement that would prevent the country from plunging into chaos following the U.S. troops' withdrawal later this year, fearing that instability could spill into ex-Soviet Central Asia.

Russia also has been involved in painstaking international talks to help repair a nuclear deal with Iran that was spiked by Trump, and it has expressed a willingness to cooperate with the U.S. in efforts to restart the stalled Mideast peace talks.

And the Kremlin would be interested in working out a deal on Syria, where Moscow's military campaign helped President Bashar Assad's government reclaim control over most of the country after a devastating civil war and the U.S. has maintained a limited military presence.

Russia has said it's ready to include its prospective doomsday weapons _ such as the Poseidon atomic-powered, nuclear-armed underwater drone and the Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile _ to the talks' agenda on condition the U.S. brings its missile defense and possible space-based weapons into the equation.

Putin also has emphasized Russia's readiness to make joint efforts to address climate change and cope with the coronavirus pandemic.

He called for establishing a dialogue on cybercrime, noting that Moscow could agree to extradite cybercrime suspects to the U.S. if Washington takes the same obligation.

The White House has strongly downplayed the idea of a cybercriminal prisoner exchange.

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The Egyptian Junior Businessmen Association (EJB) announced on Tuesday the launch of its African Junior Business Initiative (AJBI), which aims to create partnerships between companies, especially emerging ones, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Africa.

The announcement came on the occasion of holding the first forum of the heads of African investment promotion agencies (IPAs Africa Forum 1), which is organised by the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) from 11 to 14 June.

Gamal Abu Ali, the EJBs Chairman, said that the associations members see good investment opportunities in Africa to be tapped, through which start-ups and SMEs can play a major role.

These opportunities are available in agriculture, food processing, training and education, renewable energy, infrastructure, consultancy, and fintech sectors, according to Abu Ali.

He added that the IPA forums sessions showed that there are many promising investment opportunities in the African continent for Egyptian and African investors alike, explaining the importance of the role of the Investment Authority GAFI and the Egyptian Commercial Services in collecting and analysing the business information and opportunities for different African countries to facilitate Egyptian companies entry into African markets, especially since most investors go to markets they have good knowledge of or if they worked with these markets before, and so providing information on African markets is extremely important.

He also pointed out the benefit and importance of having an electronic platform that contains all relevant information about African countries and investment opportunities to achieve integration and to facilitate and expedite procedures for investors.

Proposing actions to benefit from such opportunities, Abu Ali said that the EJB has an agenda in this regard, which includes coordination between investment agencies to obtain information on the investment environment, financing opportunities by banks and international institutions, providing an effective mechanism to ensure export and import operations, and facilitating communication processes between African investors and local partners.

He added that the collaboration of business associations, investment promotion agencies, and sovereign funds can overcome the challenges the investment scene in Africa faces and implement this agenda.

On these challenges, Abu Ali noted that among the obstacles faced by investors in the African market is infrastructure, explaining that Egypt and the African continent in general have been relentlessly working to overcome this obstacle.

Abu Ali praised the strong efforts made by Egypts government and GAFI to support companies looking to invest in Africa or seeking to attract investments and partners from African countries, noting that a big role is also played by Egyptian Commercial Services, ministries, and sectorial agencies.

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Today; "Soul Water for Water Treatment & Environmental Technology" has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Evoqua Water Technologies LLC as both parties are in discussion to make Soul Water the registered agent of Evoqua in Egypt to sell and market Evoquas Automatic Self-cleaning filters and Centrifugal Sand Separators under its brand VAF in the Egyptian Market.



Soul Water is considered one the leaders in the industrial water treatment market in Egypt, successfully executing strategic projects for the Armed Forces Engineering Authority in the new cities. Soul Water aims to expand the scale of water treatment projects executed with the governmental authorities and organizations benefiting from its vast experience in the Egyptian market for 21 years.

Soul Waters vision is to continue localizing manufacturing of water treatment equipment in Egypt by producing high quality products to facilitate the execution of water treatment plants & industrial projects.



So, one of Soul Waters main priorities is to conclude a successful collaboration with Global leaders such as Evoqua Water Technologies, which is a leading provider of water and wastewater treatment solutions, offering a broad portfolio of products, services and expertise to support industrial, municipal and recreational customers. Evoqua Water Technologies Corp. (NYSE: AQUA) has been recognized on the Forbes list of America's Best Employers for 2021.

The Memorandum of Understanding is signed by Eng. Elkhedr Ibrahim; Soul Water's Chairman and Ms. Yasmin Refaei; Evoqua's Regional Business Development Manager META.

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Iranian voters are about to head to the polls to elect a new president. Once again, the debate in the Arab world is about whether the elections will bring any meaningful change in the Islamic Republics policies towards the region.

There is almost unanimous agreement that in a system in which the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has absolute power over the government, Irans elected officials have negligible political weight when it comes to changing the status quo.

But while democracys fate remains Irans problem when seen from home, there are key reasons to believe that the upcoming elections, which come at a pivotal time for Iran and the region, should also be closely watched abroad.

For Arabs who are weary of Irans belligerent policies in the region, there is much to hope for to help establish some boundaries in the tense relationship with Iran, though they are not holding their breath for a breakthrough.

Iranians will go to the polls on 18 June to choose a new president from a list of just seven men who have been carefully selected by a constitutional watchdog and include five ultraconservatives and two reformists.

At the top of the list is Ebrahim Raisi, a 60-year-old ultraconservative cleric who has headed Irans judiciary since 2019 after a three-decade career in the legal system and having held the key post of guardian of Irans most holy shrine in Mashhad.

Raisi won 38 per cent of the vote in the last presidential elections in 2017. In the current elections, with no powerful candidates in the running after all the leading reformists and centrists were disqualified, he has emerged as the only front-rank candidate.

Irans 13th set of presidential elections since the Islamic Revolution in 1979 comes amid mounting calls for a boycott, however. Many Iranians seem inclined simply to stay away from the polling booths, and several surveys have found that more than 30 per cent of them will not vote.

However, if elected, Raisi is expected to strengthen the extremists grip on power, amid increasing political uncertainty, social unrest and economic problems in Iran caused by crippling US sanctions and the Covid-19 pandemic.

While Fridays presidential elections may not be a tool for positive change in Iran, they could still be one of the most important votes for the country in many years. The timing is ostensibly important, and some say the elections could mark a transition for Iran if Raisi is elected after conservatives garnered 230 seats in the countrys parliament last year.

The results of the two elections would mean that hardline elements would increase their power as the country comes out of crippling economic sanctions after an expected deal to bring the US and Iran back into compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal.

The changeover would also come amidst increasingly chaotic politics in Iran as the country prepares for the succession to Khamenei. Rumours about the supreme leaders health have raised speculation about who might be his successor. Khamenei is 82 years old and is believed to be in failing health.

Raisi, who like the supreme leader was born in Mashhad, is believed to be the most likely candidate to succeed Khamenei. His possible ascent to the highest posts has suggested that he has been groomed for the role to ensure that a hardliner wins.

But Raisis path to the top job of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic will not be easy. Though he studied at the Shia seminary in Qom for his religious education, he is not known as a marji taqlid, a title only given to the highest level of Shia clergy.

In theory, there are many religious figures who meet the requirements for the job, and Raisis succession may be met with discontent by many in Iran who have concerns about his accreditation.

Though he has connections with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), this powerful force in Iran has yet to decide how to respond to Raisi amid increasing signs that the paramilitary force wants to hold a strong hand in Irans politics.

Many in Iran have predicted that the IRGC, which has always touted its role as the countrys saviour, will use the next elections to secure its legacy and will take over the Iranian presidency as it has the parliament.

Parliamentary Speaker Mohamed Bagher Ghalibaf is a former brigadier-general of the IRGC, and two-thirds of the assemblys presiding board are either former members or are still affiliated with the Corps and its auxiliary organisations.

Hardliners also now control the judiciary, the mainly appointed and powerful Guardianship Council, key financial and economic institutions, the state media networks and most of Irans security apparatus.

An audio tape leaked in April in which Irans Foreign Minister Mohamed Javad Zarif bemoaned the fact that the IRGC dominates the countrys foreign policy has caused a political firestorm across Iran and underscored the schism between reformists and hardliners.

The exclusion of moderates from the elections, many of whom would have been expected to push for political reform and make changes in Irans foreign policies, could exacerbate the countrys crisis, paving the way for the IRGC to keep pursuing its agenda.

While Irans main power blocs and political factions have a deep interest in shaping the succession, the question of who will succeed Khamenei remains a matter of great concern to the region and the rest of the world.

Most of the world probably sees little at stake in the results of Fridays elections, and as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made clear last week, the US priority is to get a deal with Iran and see it back in the box.

Yet, the upcoming vote remains consequential to many in the region who want to address Irans interference and fear significant impacts if the Islamic Republic moves further towards extremes.

For Iraqis who have been forced to live under governments built in the shadow of Iran in their country since the 2003 US-led invasion, the signs of hardliners getting further control do not look good, and they should be a flashing warning beacon for what the future holds.

Most of Irans malignant activities in Iraq are run by the secretive Al-Quds Force, a branch of the IRGC and the agency in charge of Irans influence overseas that goes beyond political and security efforts to commercial, business and cultural ties.

The rise of the extremists in Tehran could also shape the fate of Irans relationships with the Sunni powerhouses in the Gulf, which have a range of disagreements with Iran and are directly affected by the direction of Iranian politics.

Tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia, the most powerful Arab nation in the Gulf, have escalated precipitously in recent years over Irans growing influence and because of the two countries support for opposing sides in several regional conflicts.

The two powerful neighbours are locked in a strategic rivalry for regional dominance, and more assertive policies pursued by a new Iranian leadership in the region could be a watershed moment in their relations.

Saudi Arabia is trying to contain rising Iranian influence in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen, where Irans proxies are engaged in extending the influence of the Islamic Republics revolutionary theocracy beyond its borders.

Despite their deep suspicions of Iran, however, the countrys Arab rivals are grudgingly recognising the need to have a working relationship with Tehran to avert a showdown. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have been in secret talks with Iran in an effort to reduce the tensions and revive strained relations with the neighbouring regional power.

But so far there has been no evidence of a major breakthrough in the Saudi-Iran talks, which are sponsored by Iraq, or the UAE de-escalation efforts with Tehran, which many have hoped would usher in a new start in relations between the Arabs and Iran.

The failure to push Iran to negotiate wider regional concerns such as Irans arsenal of missiles, drones and proxies at the nuclear talks and the chance of a diplomatic opening between the US and Iran following an expected deal will certainly embolden Iran.

With a new government in Tehran led by ultraconservatives bent on further expanding in the region, the strategic rivalry between Iran and its Arab neighbours is expected to sharpen. Iran in many ways could yet win the regional struggle.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 17 June, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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A global, pro-rights movement is increasingly questioning how Abiy Ahmed earned a Nobel Peace Prize amid alleged war crimes by Ethiopian troops in the separatist Tigray region.

Ironically, some of the voices hail from Norway. The Guardian opinion piece published on 7 June, entitled The Nobel committee should resign over the atrocities in Tigray, by Kjetil Tronvoll, a professor of peace and conflict studies at Oslos Bjrknes University College who regularly tweets about Ethiopia, was widely shared on social media.

The war on Tigray in Ethiopia has been going on for months. Thousands of people have been killed and wounded, women and girls have been raped by military forces, and more than 2 million citizens have been forced out of their homes. Prime Minister and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Abiy Ahmed stated that a nation on its way to prosperity would experience a few rough patches that would create blisters. This is how he rationalised what is alleged to be a genocide.

Nobel committee members have individual responsibility for awarding the 2019 peace prize to Abiy Ahmed, accused of waging the war in Tigray. The members should thus collectively resign their honourable positions at the Nobel committee in protest and defiance.

The committee gave Ahmed the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019 on multiple grounds, including signing a peace agreement with Eritreas President Isais Afwerki in September 2018 to end a border dispute.

However, contrary to the reputation you would expect, Ahmed admitted last March that reports indicate that atrocities have been committed in Tigray region. He vowed that soldiers who raped women or committed other crimes would be held responsible, avoiding holding himself or his government accountable.

He also confirmed that Eritrean military troops crossed the border and were operating in Ethiopia, an acknowledgement that Addis Ababa had refused to make for a few months. Any damage [Eritrean forces] did to our people is unacceptable, Ahmed said.

In May, Gilles Carbonnier  vice president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)  described conditions in Tigray as a very worrying situation to Al-Ahram Weekly. He added that the ICRC provided a direct response to 72,000 Tigrayan refugees in Sudan, working to restore family links and allow people to connect with their families. We are also engaging with parties to the conflict, underlining the basic rules that should be respected in armed conflicts and trying to persuade them to protect civilians from the impact of hostilities and respond to their needs, Carbonnier added.

The UN childrens agency announced earlier this month that more than 6,000 children, whether unaccompanied or separated, need protection and help. UNICEF underlined that humanitarian workers cannot easily provide healthcare, food and other supplies since the war erupted in November 2020.

The United Nations estimated that more than 350,000 Tigrayans are facing famine, while two million more are approaching the worst conditions they have had in a decade. It compared the situation to that of Somalia. Local officials, farmers and aid workers in Tigray, where six million people live, accuse the Ethiopian forces of preventing civilian access to food aid. Sometimes they steal it, officials revealed.

On 13 June, Pope Francis urged that all food aid and healthcare assistance should be guaranteed for the hungry Tigrayans. At a Sunday noon blessing, he said the people in Tigray have been struck by a grave humanitarian crisis that has exposed the poorest to famine. Today there is famine! There is hunger!

Almost a week earlier, a number of world leaders sent a letter to Ahmed to demand an end to the war. We recall the powerful words of your Nobel Prize acceptance speech two years ago. As you so forcefully said, there are those who have never seen war, but glorify and romanticise it. They have not seen the fear. They have not seen the fatigue. They have not seen the destruction or heartbreak, nor have they felt the mournful emptiness of war after the carnage, they said.

Some of those who signed this letter were also Nobel peace laureates such as Jose Ramos-Hortam, Timor-Lestes ex-premier and president. Others were members of the Nobel Peace Committee itself, such as Emeritus Bishop of Oslo Gunnar Stalsett. The list also included ex-UN chief Ban Ki-Moon, Finlands former president Tarja Halonen and veteran Algerian diplomat Lakhdar Brahimi.

The war in Tigray started in November 2020 between Ethiopian army troops and the separatist Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF). The latter created its own electoral commission and held separate regional polls in response to the decision by Ahmed to postpone nationwide elections due to Covid-19.

The premier believed that the TPLF crossed the line, while parliament declared that Tigrays government was illegal. Ahmeds troops have used ground and aerial means in their war on Tigray. Tens of thousands of refugees fled to Sudan afterwards.

The situation reached a stage in which the United States imposed sanctions on Ethiopia and Eritrea in May. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken tweeted that Washington has repeatedly voiced our grave concerns about human rights violations and abuses in the Tigray region of Ethiopia.

Arguing that US adiministrations  especially Democratic ones  have been historically pro-Ethiopian, Amani Al-Taweel, an Africa expert at the Al-Ahram Centre for Political and Strategic Studies in Cairo, told the Weekly that this counts as a change in US-Ethiopian relations.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 17 June, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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For close to 20 years, Mohamed Ibrahim, a retired general, was Egypts go-to man for managing inter-Palestinian quarrels. He was also very hands-on in managing Palestinian-Israeli relations, especially when it came to relations between Israel and Hamas.

As a prominent Egyptian defence official, the name of Ibrahim is most associated with the details of the 2011 Cairo Agreement, which set out the basis for the end of the deep Palestinian divisions that had dominated since 2007.

His name is also closely associated with the crucial swap deal that allowed for the release of Israeli prisoner Gilad Shalit in the autumn of 2009 in exchange for over 1,000 Palestinians held by Israel.

Today, as deputy chairman of the influential Egyptian Centre for Strategic Studies (ECSS), Ibrahim is certainly well-placed to follow the interrupted path of Palestinian reconciliation that Cairo was hoping to officially kick-start this week and the on-again-off-again negotiations on the widely anticipated prisoner-swap deal that should allow for the release of two Israelis and the bodies of two others in return for what Yehia Al-Senwar, a top political leader of Hamas in Gaza, promised would be 1,111 Palestinians.

According to Ibrahim, since 2011 when the Egyptian authorities managed to get the Palestinian factions to sign the Cairo Agreement, there have been continuous efforts on the part of Egypt to build on it to bring about an end to the overall Palestinian split. However, he explained, there has not been enough political will to move on.

Today, Ibrahim argued, one of the sticking points that mediators are trying to resolve is the structure and role of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO).

Established in 1964 as an umbrella organisation for the liberation of Palestinian territory through means not excluding armed struggle, the PLO has been through quite a metamorphosis over recent decades.

Following the 1973 October War, it effectively abandoned the liberation of all of historic Palestine. In the 1980s, it announced the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the territories that were taken by Israel by military force in 1967.

In the 1990s, Yasser Arafat, leader of Fatah and the Palestinians historic leader, signed the Oslo Accords with Israeli politicians Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres that established a step-by-step approach towards the establishment of a Palestinian state on parts of the territories captured in 1967.

Upon the death of Arafat in 2004, Mahmoud Abbas took over control of both the PLO and the Palestinian Authority (PA) that was established to rule Gaza and parts of the West Bank according to the Palestinian-Israeli agreements.

In 2006, Hamas, founded in 1987, managed to secure a wide legislative electoral victory, and one year later it decided to take over Gaza, allegedly to halt the PA repression of members of the Islamic resistance movements and in protest at PA security cooperation with Israel.

According to Ibrahim, today all this is history. The idea now is to keep the PLO intact, given the fact that it represents the Palestinian people, and to allow factions like Hamas and Islamic Jihad to be included in it, he said.

This should mean that anyone joining the PLO will need to acknowledge and honour all the agreements and commitments taken by the PLO, he explained.

Ibrahim admitted that the conflicting characters of the Palestinian leaders, essentially but not only of Fatah and Hamas, have not always been helpful to the cause of reconciliation. However, he insisted that whatever happens, the path of reconciliation will have to be pursued and that Egypt is fully committed to walking this path with the Palestinian factions, no matter how tough it may be.

Without reconciliation, things cannot move forward. No political path that serves Palestinian rights can be launched effectively without securing Palestinian reconciliation, Ibrahim stated.

Today, he added, the Palestinian leaders need to put aside their differences. They will surely be able to work together. They have often met, and they can certainly work together.

Meanwhile, he said that the path of Palestinian reconciliation was independent from that of the prisoner-swap deal. In 2011, he said, the swap deal that included Shalit had been concluded despite persistent differences among the Palestinian factions. There was no reason, he added, that a similar deal could not be concluded today.

Egypt, Ibrahim said, is very well placed, with its accumulated experience and well-connected and highly skilled intelligence teams, to handle both paths simultaneously.

However, he cautioned that a prisoner-swap deal was in and by itself a tough deal to make. It took five years of negotiations to secure the Shalit deal, he said. The negotiations of such deals are usually very laborious, as they have to cover so many details, including the number of prisoners on the Palestinian side, their political associations, the nature of the sentences they are facing, and so on.

It is never easy, and work is under way, but these things take a lot more time than some people may think, he stated.

Ibrahim would not say whether imprisoned Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti was on the list of Palestinian prisoners that is currently being negotiated. This is a complicated matter. It has to be subject to Israeli agreement. Barghouti is serving several life sentences, he said.

He added that Egypt tried to include Barghouti on the list of Palestinian prisoners exchanged for Shalit, but Israel declined.

Meanwhile, Ibrahim said that Egypt had allocated the required resources to embark on its ambitious participation in Gaza reconstruction. Besides the hard work that Egypt had done to secure a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in May, he added, President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi was committed to contributing to the Gaza reconstruction.

This was a huge political message. It was a message to the Palestinian people about Egypts commitment to the Palestinian cause. It was also a very clear message to the international community that it needs to follow suit on the path of the reconstruction of Gaza, Ibrahim argued.

Egypts work on the reconstruction, he explained, is not about the Palestinian factions or the PA. Egypt has excellent relations with all the Palestinian political factions, and of course it has exceptionally good relations with the Palestinian leadership under Abbas.

Meanwhile, Ibrahim said that Egypt is at the same distance from all the factions. But he added that while Egypt deals with Hamas as a Palestinian faction on the ground, there is inevitably particular coordination in view of the fact that Hamas has been in control of Gaza since 2007, which means that it has joint borders extending over 14km with Egypt. So, there are also security coordination and border security issues to be managed.

Northern Sinai was certainly an issue. Our military and police forces have been remarkably successful in facing up to the terrorist groups that had been using the tunnels between Gaza and Egypt, he said.

Such connections and mediation efforts are meant to allow for the resumption of the political process leading to the two-state solution that should lead to a Palestinian state that lives in peace and security next to the state of Israel.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 17 June, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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Last week Cairo hosted a Hamas delegation headed by Ismail Haniyeh and a Fatah delegation headed by Fatah Secretary-General Jibril Rajoub. This week, it hosted a delegation from the Palestinian Authority (PA) headed by PA Deputy Prime Minister Ziad Abu Amr and including an economic group. Haniyeh and Rajoub discussed a range of issues in separate talks with Egyptian General Intelligence officials. The talks with Hamas covered five points: prisoner exchanges with Israel, securing the ceasefire, reconstruction, the Israeli refusal to transfer Qatari financial aid which is mainly used to cover civil servantssalaries in Gaza, the Palestinian legislative elections and Palestinian reconciliation. The two latter subjects were also discussed between Egyptian officials and Fatah.

Meanwhile, changes in Israels leadership have raised questions concerning the fate of the agreements struck between Cairo and Tel Aviv following the last crisis in Gaza. Observers believe that the new government, headed by ultra-right Naftali Bennett, might cast a shadow over the relative progress Cairo, Tel Aviv and Washington achieved when Benjamin Netanyahu was in power.

While most analysts have pronounced an end to the Netanyahu era, some Egyptian experts on Israeli affairs think the immediate future could easily pack some surprises. Hazem Khairat, Egypts former ambassador to Israel, believes Netanyahu invaded Gaza in the belief it would secure a degree of personal glory ahead of the elections. In the opinion of Said Okasha, an Israeli affairs expert at Al-Ahram Centre for Political and Strategic Studies (ACPSS), Bennet might defy everyones exceptions and show that the extreme right he represents has changed the power equation for good and the coalition that replaced Netanyahu is not as fragile as most analysts think.

The Palestinian factions are factoring the political changes in Israel into their calculations as they manoeuvre to turn the current situation as much to their own advantage as possible. Their success or failure, however, is not solely contingent on Cairo. A source familiar with developments in the Palestinian reconciliation process and the current talks in Cairo stressed that Cairo is a mediator and a sponsor of the process; it cannot force the parties to act against their will.

On the substance of the last round of talks, he said: Hamas came with new demands from Israel and the PA. The meeting was friendly, as it was with Fatah. But Hamas knows that Fatah is not ready for elections. It wants the elections to serve as the portal to a sweeping change, from the summit to the base and from the National Council to parliament to the PLO. Fatah fully understands this would damage it severely, perhaps irreparably.

Hamas behaviour is informed by its awareness that, since the war, its popularity has soared throughout the occupied territories, including Jerusalem. A Palestinian source from Ramallah confirms this and explains that Hamas zero-sum game logic lies behind the current impasse in elections. The elections will not be an avenue to exclusion... it will not be a process in which one political entity shoves aside another.

While Hamas is pushing its hand, Fatah continues to hold an important trump card. It is the official address of the Palestinian government, and the US and Israel are adamant that all material and financial aid, whether for salaries, relief or reconstruction, passes through the PA directly to its intended beneficiaries, bypassing Hamas. The PA appears to have shrugged off Hamas call for a joint national organisation to oversee the handling of aid and reconstruction or, at least, the make-up of the PA delegation to Cairo to study the reconstruction question gives this impression.

On an Israeli-Hamas prisoner exchange deal, the outlook of the new government in Israel and its preoccupation with assuming its duties will naturally have an impact. Sources in Cairo argue that the influence of the political/ideological hue of the new government on this issue should not be overstated. As General Mohamed Ibrahim, an Egyptian negotiator with experience in brokering such deals, put it: Weve negotiated with Sharon before... The context doesnt affect the technical side of negotiations. Of course, the political decision is another matter... Lets wait and see.

Meanwhile, Cairo is proceeding with the steps necessary to set the reconstruction process in motion. It has already delivered much of the heavy machinery needed to remove the vast amounts of rubble left behind by the Israeli assaults and is studying the process in collaboration with world powers and international agencies. It is also working to overcome problems associated with the PAs insistence it be exclusively in charge of the process even though it has been cut off from Gaza for 15 years. Cairo and its partners have also pledged to guarantee full transparency in the financial administration of reconstruction. Hamas frequently accuses the PA of corruption. Naturally, Cairo will have a role in mediating the arrangements with Israel that need to be made to facilitate the rebuilding.

Sources in Cairo say it is too early to determine the prospects for failure or success in any of the above-mentioned issues. Talks on some had to be delayed due to domestic Israeli politics and Cairos crowded foreign policy agenda.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 17 June, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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From June 2007 onwards, the month Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip after staging a coup against the Palestinian Authority (PA), Egypt has been trying to end what is commonly known as the division, or, if you will, the separation between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip with their parallel governments.

Cairo has hosted many rounds of national dialogue between the Palestinian organisations with this end in mind, most importantly between the two main quarrelling factions, Fatah and Hamas. After 14 years, these rounds of dialogue have only achieved results on paper, however, despite the repeated calls on the part of the Palestinians to unify their ranks in the framework of a national partnership.

During this period, Hamas and Israel have also gone to war four times, the last time being last month. In each case, Egypt had to intervene to bring military operations to a close with either a truce or a ceasefire. The longest truce lasted seven years from 2014 until the outbreak of hostilities in Gaza in May, when neither the outgoing government of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu nor Hamas had an interest in prolonging the military showdown for more than 11 days.

Both sides proved once more that they are very good at instigating hostilities and destruction, but that they are incapable or unwilling, or both, to fight for peace and security. Egypt has remained the most-trusted mediator, if you will, not only between the Israelis and Hamas, but also among the Palestinians themselves.

After successfully mediating a ceasefire agreement in Gaza on 22 May, Egypt, with close coordination from the Biden administration, has been working on a more-permanent truce that will pave the way for Palestinian reconciliation on the one hand and the possible resumption of peace negotiations between the Palestinians and the Israelis on the other.

Working initially on the most urgent task of encouraging the Palestinians to speak with one voice, Cairo invited the PA, Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other organisations for a new round of dialogue on 12-13 June. The objective from the Egyptian point of view was to push the Palestinians to carry out the previous reconciliation agreements that they had already reached over the past 14 years. The invitation came on the heels of a tour by director of the Egyptian Intelligence Services Abbas Kamel that included visits to Israel, Ramallah and Gaza.

However, the Egyptian government had to postpone the meetings. According to Palestinian sources, the decision aimed to provide the Palestinians with more time to work out their differences. It is understandable that the Egyptian authorities wanted the talks among the Palestinians in Cairo this month to be successful, but this desire hit the almost impenetrable wall of inter-Palestinian differences.

Representatives of Fatah, Hamas, other Palestinian organisations and spokesmen of the PA, without a single exception, have kept singing the praises of national unity, but they apparently lack the political will to turn this into reality.

The differences among the Palestinians revolve around which comes first, a unity government that would be responsible for the reconstruction of Gaza, with some Palestinian sources calling this the government of reconstruction, or further efforts on restructuring the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) to include Hamas and Islamic Jihad. It is interesting to note that the Palestinians themselves already agreed on such restructuring some years ago in Cairo.

The hairsplitting among the Palestinians that led Cairo to postpone a new round of dialogue probably reflects a lack of the political will necessary to bring an end to the division or separation referred to above, even though all the Palestinian organisations have committed themselves verbally to setting up a unity government that would include representatives of Fatah, Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other smaller Palestinian factions.

The Palestinians are arguing among themselves which of the two processes should come first. Two opposing points of views are waiting to be resolved, and each has foreign interests involved. One proposes concentrating Palestinian efforts on reconstruction, prisoner-swaps with Israel and easing the Israeli siege of Gaza. The other wants to tackle the core questions that have been the subjects of previous agreements.

The representatives of Fatah who came to Cairo to take part in the Egyptian-sponsored dialogue left for Ramallah to discuss the way forward from the standpoint of the PA. Ramallah is in fact exercising a veto power on the whole process of reconciliation so that it can remain the final arbiter of Palestinian destiny. Hamas is playing the same game, feeling that it has come out of the latest military confrontation with Israel more powerful and more representative of the Palestinians after it proved its capabilities in targeting Israeli territory from Gaza despite the existence of the ongoing siege.

In the days ahead, Egypt will be the arbiter, so to speak, between these two opposing approaches. Its success will depend on how far the various Palestinian organisations, particularly Fatah and Hamas, are willing to go in reconciling their differences and reaching a compromise that will serve the Palestinian people and not their vested interests in maintaining the failed Palestinian status quo of division and separation.

*The writer is former assistant foreign minister.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 17 June, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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The day has come, bewildering as it may seem, when I am able to see eye to eye with Michele Dunne of the Carnegie Middle East Programme, even if only in part and to a limited extent. This change of heart occurred after reading her collaborative publication, produced with Fredric Wehrey of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, entitled From Hardware to Holism: Rebalancing American Security Engagement with Arab States.

Dunne and I disagree on many basic issues, mainly her glaring dislike of everything Egyptian. Dunne was barred from entering Egypt in 2014, and since then the original backlash against Egypt that caused her entry to be refused in the first place has flared up repeatedly.

In An Open Letter to Michele Dunne, written in 2018 and published in Al-Ahram Weekly, I denounced her writings and the vendetta she has been carrying out against Egypt, so for me to partly agree with the gist of her views has been a jaw-dropper. This could largely be the influence of her co-writer, Wehrey, or the fact that the core of her publication is not about Egypt at all but is about the Arab states in general.

It concludes that the US approach to the Arab states has been faulty, anchored in conventional arms transfers, brick-and-mortar military basing, and bilateral ties with autocratic Arab states. The US has pumped weapons and military support into the region when it should have been promoting and aiding economic development. Today, it should shift its support from military support to diplomacy and development. I am in total agreement with this, and I would say it is high time, too.

According to Dunne, one of the strongest arguments for change in the status quo is due to its having not delivered on the promise of stabilising the region or advancing US interests. Again, Im in total agreement. The region has not been stabilised, partly due to the intrusive role the US has played. The mass of the people if anything detest US manipulation and coercion, limiting the advancement of US interests further.

Another compelling argument for why the status quo is no longer tenable in the Middle East comes from the immense changes underway within Arab states themselves. I tend to agree here, too. The Middle East has changed considerably since 2011, some countries for the worse, others for the better. Either way, all countries loathe the meddling and prying of powerful states in their own business.

Worse, it has often implicated the United States in those allies abuses at home and made US policymakers reluctant to criticise them for fear of losing access for US forces. Here my agreement with Dunne begins to abate. First, for fear of losing access for US forces illustrates what the US has always done: have its forces access and utilise the Middle East for its own benefit.

Second, Dunnes comment neglects to mention the role the US has played in instigating wars across the region and, hence, the need for further purchases of arms by countries in the region. Dunne does not bring up the US role in destroying the countries it has supplied with weapons or even the countries it has bombarded with such weapons.

Fundamentally, the comment fails to detail the role the US has played in obliterating many Arab countries. Iraq is one example, where the US was the primary cause of its downfall and its inability to recover even 18 years after the US-led invasion. The US destroyed Iraq and then ludicrously stayed on to save the country from its own doing.

Dunnes comment also fails to mention the role the US played in destroying Libya. It supplied former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafis opponents with arms and conducted airstrikes so as to destroy his regime and air defences, ultimately forcing him to step down. Today, Libya remains a hotbed for an ongoing proxy war, after US and coalition forces retreated leaving the Libyans to deal with the shambles.

In Syria, the US failed when it armed and trained the rebel Free Syrian Army, allowing it to gain more steam. According to a US Department of State fact sheet, in northwest Syria, from 2012 to 2018, the United States provided non-humanitarian assistance to bolster the Syrian opposition.

Lets dig deeper. According to Dunnes publication, one of the reasons the US needs to change its approach in the Middle East is the decline in the global demand for oil. This is key. It implies that while oil was lucrative, the US was supportive. Now as the value of and the need for oil subsides, the US should change its ways. Rather a remarkable revelation, isnt it?

The contributors also avoid mentioning the Israeli role in the region. The US is committed to standing by Israel no matter what ills Israel persists on masterminding. The unconditional and undeniable approval of the US for Israels every move leaves neighbouring countries in a bind, having to purchase defencive weapons whether they want to or not.

Security assistance has also not succeeded in building up the militaries of regional Arab partners to levels where they can credibly defend themselves without US help or can participate, in a significant way, in US-led multilateral operations, the publication says.

I wonder why any Middle Eastern countries would want to join a US-led multilateral operation. Besides, Egypt has a powerful security apparatus and ranks 13th out of 140 countries having the most powerful armies in the world. It has also managed to diversify its weapons purchasing, and it has turned to Europe, especially France, and Russia and China for weapons supplies. Yes, Egypt can and will defend itself without US help.

Echoing its predecessors, the Biden administration is arguing that the Middle East has long been consuming a disproportionate share of US attention and resources, the publication says. I beg to differ: the disproportion is due to the USs unequivocal interest in the area.

It was in the interest of the US to remain involved and to take part in effecting change in the Middle East. Today, despite the publications call for a more distant role, it is highly unlikely that the US will let other players get too friendly or partake in cozier ties with the Arab states while it disappears out of the picture.

Though US security policy with the Arab states has long needed a major overhaul, the writers in this collection do not present solutions for how the United States can do just that, and they do not explicitly explain how it can be achieved. In all fairness, the collection is focused on how to advantage US interests; very little has been thought out as to how the change will advantage the Middle East.

I thus cant see myself agreeing with Michele Dunne for long.

*The writer is the author of Cairo Rewind on the First Two Years of Egypts Revolution, 2011-2013.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 17 June, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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In the midst of a highly strained political situation at home and friction with neighbours Sudan and Egypt over the controversial Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) project, Ethiopia will be heading to the polls on 21 June this year.

This is the sixth set of general elections since the current regime in Ethiopia took over more than three decades ago. The elections are clouded by one of the most disastrous and tragic events that this country of 110 million people has experienced in recent years: a fierce and unsettled conflict in the Tigray region of northern Ethiopia that has left thousands killed, injured or displaced and has drawn international attention over the atrocities being committed there.

Above all, the conflict has inflicted deep wounds, probably ones that will not be healed, on a nation that once believed in real change as a result of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed coming to power in 2018.

At that time, the young prime minister, who rose to power against the backdrop of the wide discontent and mass protests engulfing the whole of Ethiopia against the malpractices of the EPRDF, the coalition that had been in charge of the countrys political affairs since 1991, promised to lead the multi-ethnic nation into a real democratic transition.

The early days of his rule showed that Ethiopias quest for democracy could be a reality in the near future, particularly when he embarked on wide-ranging political reforms, ensured the freedom of the press and opened up political space for dissidents, once labelled terrorists, to return to the country and join the political process.

But Ahmed also came up with an idea that would later turn things upside down in a nation highly polarised along ethnic lines, namely his Medemer (synergy) philosophy. For him, and for those who believe in it, this is the best means to rid the country once and for all of narrow-minded ethnic practices and get all its citizens to rally not behind their ethnicities, but rather behind their country.

It has not been all bad, but this new philosophy has nevertheless failed to deduce lessons from the countrys recent history. The Ethiopian ethnicities have only managed to live together in relative peace since the demise of the countrys communist regime (the Derg) that ran Ethiopias affairs with an iron fist through a ruthless centralised government. As a result, the major ethnicities closed ranks and worked together to uproot the Derg regime, ushering in a multi-ethnic system that has survived for three decades.

In a country where peoples allegiance to their ethnicity is far greater than to their nation, there was a need to test the waters first before putting the theory into practice. Those who opposed Medemer, not only among the Tigrayans, but also among the two major regions of Oromia and Amhara, feared that their gains, particularly self-rule, would be washed away and that it might be only a matter of time before the new approach would draw the curtain on their cultural particularities, identities, languages and long-held traditions.

Today, Medemer is apparently seen as a quest for a powerful and centralised form of governance designed to suit the incumbent prime minister. Furthermore, the popular mandate that Ahmed has wanted to secure through the ballot box looks more like a dream than ever. Roughly 32 million voters have registered for the upcoming elections, in other words less than a third of the total population. The elections will also not take place in 40 constituencies spanning six major regions.

A lengthy statement issued by the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) has detailed security concerns and the disruption of voter registration and related irregularities in regions that include Oromia, Amhara, the Somali region, Beni Shangul Gumuz (the seat of the GERD) and the Southern Nations and Nationalities. Unfortunately, the people of Tigray will also not have a say in the elections, as they will not be held in the restive region given the deteriorating security and humanitarian conditions.

Another killer blow was levelled at the elections when the European Union called off the deployment of its observation mission, citing the refusal of the Ethiopian authorities to observe key parameters necessary for the integrity of the mission. As the EU put it, it has not received the assurances necessary to extend to the Ethiopian people one of its most visible signs of support for their quest for democracy.

The EU, one of the biggest financiers of Ethiopia, had built hopes on Ahmeds leading the countrys transition to real democracy and wishing that it could serve as a model for a continent that is yet to take baby steps towards that end.

Regionally speaking, the Ethiopian elections will set the stage for either a relatively stable Horn of Africa region over the next few years or its becoming a disruptive and chaotic region. Ahmeds alliance with Eritrea has alienated Ethiopias economic lifeline of Djibouti, given its old enmity with Asmara.

If Ahmed is to form the next government in Ethiopia, he will have to revisit that infamous alliance with Eritrea or risk a further decline in the relationship with Djibouti. Moreover, the refugees pouring from Tigray into Sudan and South Sudan have exacerbated the already ailing economies of these two impoverished nations. If the Ethiopian elections are marred by violence or rigging, as is widely expected, it will be difficult to avoid a hemorrhage of refugees on the borders with Ethiopias neighbours.

With Ahmeds prominent political opponents, the likes of Jawar Mohamed and Bekele Gerba, standing trial for crimes that could lead to their spending long periods in jail, and with the main dissident figures in Tigray silenced, at least for the near future, Ahmeds Prosperity Party is likely to be the frontrunner in elections that, if won, would allow Ahmed to form the next Ethiopian government.

But this government will not be an inclusive one, and it will have to surf dangerous waters, particularly as there is no looming termination of the Tigray conflict or overall settlement for the inter-ethnic fighting in the country.

*The writer is a former press attache in Ethiopia and an expert on African and international affairs.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 17 June, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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The Tuesday meeting of Arab foreign ministers to affirm solidarity with Egypt and Sudan in their dispute with Ethiopia over the dangerous effects of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) was an important first step in intensive efforts by the two downstream countries to win world support and understanding on this vital issue.

Arab ministers not only expressed verbal support through a routine statement, they also pledged to back Egypt and Sudan in any diplomatic effort they will launch on the regional and international levels to prevent Ethiopia from inflicting harm on the water rights and interests of both countries.

Wealthy Arab Gulf nations that maintain huge investments in Ethiopia, including the host country of the foreign ministers meeting, Qatar, can definitely play a role in persuading Addis Ababa that it cannot turn the River Nile into an exclusively Ethiopian river, and must respect Egypt and Sudans historical rights and water shares as stated in internationally binding agreements.

The fact that the meeting was held in Doha, and not at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo, is in itself a sign that there is genuine change in official Arab stands, and a readiness to provide tangible support. While Egypt has constantly enjoyed the backing of influential Arab nations such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the recent rapprochement between Cairo and Doha has added strength to efforts to convince Ethiopia to interact positively with numerous proposals made by Egypt and Sudan, to ensure that the GERD will not cause drought in Egypt, threatening the lives and agricultural income of millions of people.

With Arab backing for Egypt and Sudan, the two countries will at the same time continue to work on gaining African support. Ethiopia, which houses the headquarters of the African Union, has set an extremely negative example of how to solve its dispute within an African framework.

It is indeed ironic that while Addis Ababa has insisted that it would only accept African mediation in its dispute with Egypt and Sudan over the GERD, it has turned down all initiatives made by influential African leaders, including South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo, both the previous and current chairs of the AU.

Seeking the support of African nations, and especially Nile Basin countries, has been a cornerstone in Egypts diplomatic efforts since the GERD crisis escalated in the past two years. President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi paid visits to several African countries, and regularly receives African leaders in Cairo. Regardless of the GERD dispute, the president and government have promoted cooperation with fellow countries in the continent as a top priority, serving the interests of both sides.

The support and understanding Egypt and Sudan enjoy on both the Arab and African levels should also be a message to the rest of the world that the GERD dispute is a serious and dangerous one that affects regional and international peace and security. Such a message must be clearly conveyed when Egypt and Sudan decide to take their case to the United Nations Security Council again  that is, if Ethiopia continues to disregard the demand by the two countries to reach a binding agreement on all details related to the filling of the GERD prior to the second phase.

In all disagreements Egypt has had with any other country, Cairo has taken a calm and balanced attitude, with the president avoiding verbal exchanges or public statements that can make the situation worse. However, the president has been very firm and clear in marking Egypts red lines. Egypts water interests are certainly among the most important of those  if not the most important.

Close coordination between Egypt and Sudan on all levels, and their diplomatic efforts on the Arab, African, European, and American fronts should send a clear message to the entire world that the two countries have spared no effort to peacefully solve their disagreement with Ethiopia. Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia have been neighbours that shared the same drinking water for thousands of years. This alone should have been a good enough reason to cooperate to solve their differences, rather than Ethiopia taking unilateral actions that clearly threaten its neighbours. Egypt will always remain keen to maintain close and warm ties with Ethiopia as well as other fellow African nations, but it cannot stay put while the lives of its people face a threat of such magnitude.

There are many ways to reach solutions that serve the interests of all three countries, but to declare the River Nile an exclusively Ethiopian waterway not only violates international laws and agreements, but also confirms the suspicion that the present Ethiopian government has no intention to solve its dispute with Egypt and Sudan.

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Due to a range of demographic, economic and political factors, Ethiopia is one of the most influential actors in the Horn of Africa region, which makes Ethiopian policy a key determinant of the regional interplay. Since Abiy Ahmed came to power as Ethiopias prime minister in 2018, the countrys policies have undergone remarkable changes. They have had widely divergent impacts, depending on the issue at hand, from promoting regional peace and economic integration to sowing instability and insecurity.

This article offers an analytical reading of the recent evolution of Ethiopian policy and its repercussions on the security and stability of the Horn of Africa and Red Sea region. For the purposes of this article, the Horn of Africa includes, in addition to Djibouti, Eritrea, Somalia and Ethiopia, Sudan because of its geopolitical relevance to developments in the region and its importance in understanding changes in Ethiopian policy.

Ethiopian policy towards the Horn of Africa can be broken down into two main phases, each shaped by a set of major determinants reflected in the decisions Ahmed has taken on a number of critical issues. His decisions have not only set the mode of relations between Ethiopia and its neighbours, but they have also influenced the upward or downward trajectories of regional peace and security.

In hindsight, when we consider Ethiopian policies as a whole since Ahmed came to power, we can identify a pattern that might best be termed strategic deception. This has involved engaging an assortment of diplomatic, economic and military tools both at home and abroad in order to control the course of developments in the Horn of Africa and strengthen Ethiopias regional position.

PHASE ONE: BREAKING ISOLATION: Ahmed understood that in order to strengthen his countrys regional position to better control the political equations in the Horn of Africa and to attract regional and international investment in bilateral or multilateral economic partnerships with Ethiopia, he had to convince opinion at home and then in Ethiopias immediate neighbourhood that Addis Ababa was embarking on a new political and economic era.

Towards this end, he took a number of steps that generated the impression that Ethiopia was working to change for the better and that Addis Ababa wanted to turn over a new leaf. This applied both abroad, especially with Eritrea with which Ethiopia shared three decades of enmity, and at home where he released many political prisoners, lifted the state of emergency that had been in place since the uprisings that had forced Ahmeds predecessor Hailemariam Desalegn to resign, and revoked the terrorist designation from militant popular fronts paving the way for their integration into the political process.

He also took measures to liberalise the economy, privatising a number of state-owned companies in the communications sector and upgrading manufacturing and service-sector infrastructure in order to attract foreign investment.

In June 2018, Ethiopia announced that it would unconditionally abide by the Algiers Agreement, signed by the governments of Eritrea and Ethiopia in December 2000 to end the two-year Eritrean-Ethiopian border war (1998-2000). In September 2018, the two countries signed a Gulf-sponsored formal peace agreement, ushering in the restoration of diplomatic relations between Addis Ababa and Asmara and the resumption of transport and economic cooperation and the provision of Ethiopian manpower for Eritrean ports.

As a result of the peace agreement, international sanctions were lifted from Eritrea in November 2018. The sanctions had imposed an arms embargo and travel bans on a number of Eritrean officials and political entities in response to Eritreas violation of international law with its invasion of Ethiopia in 1998.

With regard to Somalia, with which Ethiopia has had five military engagements in modern times, Ahmed maintained a neutral stance on the conflict between Somalia and the Republic of Somaliland and between the central government in Mogadishu and the Somalian regional governments. He simultaneously worked to improve relations with Mogadishu by promoting economic and security cooperation and political coordination on various regional issues. In return, landlocked Ethiopia gained access to more maritime ports.

Addis Ababa took further steps to strengthen its role and image as a pillar of peace in the region. It increased its presence in counter-terrorist forces in Somalia, mediated to resolve a maritime border dispute between Somalia and Kenya, and brokered a historic agreement between Eritrea and Somalia that led to the establishment of diplomatic relations between Asmara and Mogadishu in July 2018.

It has tried to cajole Somalia and Somaliland towards national and regional reconciliation, which may explain Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajos apology to the Somali people of Somaliland for the suffering they endured in the period of president Mohamed Siad Barres rule between 1969 and 1991. The surprise apology followed the African Union (AU) summit in February 2020, during which Ahmed reportedly arranged a meeting between the two sides on the fringes of the meeting.

In March 2018, the Emirati multinational Dubai Ports World (DP World) signed an agreement with Somaliland and Ethiopia entitling Addis Ababa to a 19 per cent share in the strategic Port of Berbera. In accordance with an agreement signed with Somaliland in 2016, DP World obtained a 51 per cent share in the port and a 30-year franchise to operate the upcoming trade and logistics hub.

Under the agreement, Ethiopia will also take part in the establishment of a free zone and in developing the infrastructure for the Berbera Corridor linking Ethiopia to the Red Sea Port. In like manner, Ethiopia has obtained usufruct rights to the Port of Garacad in Somalia, 300 km from the Ethiopian border. Ethiopia is currently contributing to the development of this port on the Indian Ocean. This is in the framework of 16 economic cooperation agreements signed between Addis Ababa and Mogadishu in June 2018, which also brought the resumption of direct flights between the two countries in September 2018 after a 41-year hiatus.

Ethiopia has long had generally good relations with Djibouti, characterised by cooperative arrangements in various fields, especially infrastructure projects. The two countries are linked by a railway connecting Addis Ababa with the Doraleh Port north of the capital of Djibouti. The multipurpose port is another cornerstone in Ethiopias plan to acquire shares in maritime outlets, one that also includes the new Lamu Port in Kenya and Port Sudan on the Red Sea. Addis Ababa signed the agreements on these ports with Nairobi and Khartoum in 2018.

Up until this point, the Port of Djibouti had been the sole maritime outlet for approximately 90 per cent of Ethiopias foreign trade. In May 2018, Addis Ababa obtained a 30 to 40 per cent share in the Doraleh Port, while Djibouti obtained comparable shares in a number of Ethiopian state-owned companies.

It drew no small amount of attention to Ethiopia when this landlocked nation chose Djibouti to host the Ethiopian Maritime Centre, with headquarters based in Bahir Dar, the capital of Ethiopias Amhara region. Upon coming to power, Ahmed pledged to build the Ethiopian navy in order to defend the countrys economic interests in the Red Sea and protect Ethiopian commercial vessels based in Djibouti.

He is clearly positioning Ethiopia to become an active player in the protection of the Red Sea corridor. In March 2019, during the first visit by a French president to Addis Ababa since the 1970s, Emmanuel Macron and Ahmed signed a defence cooperation agreement, in accordance with which Paris pledged to help develop the Ethiopian navy and train its personnel in France. In May 2021, Ethiopia laid the cornerstone for a new naval training centre in Bishoftu in the Oromia region.

Finally, as a crowning act of this phase of Ahmeds premiership, Ethiopia brokered the Juba Peace Agreement between Khartoum and a number of militant Sudanese opposition movements in October 2020.

His first year in office was thus a consummately revolutionary phase in Ethiopian policies and in his handling of various crucial regional issues. His actions strengthened his weight as a regional player in the Horn of Africa region who could use his influence to promote regional peace and economic integration  a main reason why he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019.

PHASE TWO: SHIFT TO UNILATERALISM: After such hopeful beginnings, the Ahmed government swung sharply towards a more aggressive tack on a number of issues of vital concern to its neighbours and other regional powers.

The slide into conflict and tension took the international community by surprise and forced it to reassess its opinion of Addis Ababa and the Ethiopian prime minister, especially in view of the repercussions of his policies on the strategic Red Sea corridor.

TIGRAY AND FASHQA CONFLICTS: One of Ahmeds foremost objectives after coming to power in 2018 was to sideline the Tigrayan Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) and to rid Ethiopias central government agencies of members affiliated with the former ruling party.

If the purge seemed to express a long-harboured thirst for revenge against the Tigray people and their representatives, in more practical terms its purpose was to promote two interrelated aims. One was to reshape Ethiopias political identity in favour of the prime ministers political alliances, which relied heavily on the Amhara people, especially after opposition voices gained momentum among the Oromo, his own ethnic affiliation.

The second was to strengthen the central government at the expense of the regional governments. Tensions between Addis Ababa and the regional government of Tigray reached a breaking point last autumn. On 5 November, the federal government declared war against the Tigray regional government, and on 28 November, the Ethiopian National Defence Forces (ENDF) took control of the Tigrayan capital Mekelle.

The fallout from this conflict should not be underestimated. Sudan, in particular, has been harmed economically and its security jeopardised at a very delicate phase in its post-revolutionary transition process. In addition to receiving thousands of refugees from the war, around 75,000 by March 2021, Sudan also faced an influx of Ethiopian militiamen. The Sudanese army and intelligence have reported a spike in arms and explosives smuggling operations, such as that exposed on 22 March this year. The discovery heightened fears of a surge in cross-border organised crime, which thrives on deteriorating economic and humanitarian conditions such as those that exist in the Tigray region or in the refugee camps in Sudan.

The Tigrayan conflict inevitably spilled over into Sudan, whether as a natural product of the unrest or due to the identity of the participants that entered the war alongside the ENDF. In this context, the militias from the Amhara region stand out. Just as the Amhara claim a historic right to portions of the Tigray region, they also believe they have a right to the fertile Fashqa region in eastern Sudan. When siding with the federal government in the war, they undoubtedly believed they would win its support for their territorial claim.

Fighting erupted between Amhara militias and Sudanese forces along the entire Ethiopian-Sudanese border, in contrast to previous border flareups that were limited to specific areas. Sudanese forces repelled the incursions, but their scale fired suspicions that Ahmed planned to impose a de facto occupation of Sudanese land as a means to reward the Amhara militias.

After Ethiopian forces withdrew from the border areas, Ahmeds envoy to Khartoum asked Chairman of the Sudanese Sovereign Council Abdel-Fattah Al-Burhan to deploy Sudanese forces along the border to block the escape of Tigrayan rebels. The Sudanese army seized the opportunity to tighten border security, reassert Sudanese sovereignty over its territory and prevent future incursions by Ethiopian militias.

In addition to averting more costly open warfare with the Amhara and minimising further spillover from the mounting ethnic conflicts in Sudan, these actions bolstered the status of the Sudanese army as the guardian of the countrys security at this critical stage in Sudans history. By 4 April 2021, the Sudanese army had succeeded in taking back 95 per cent of the Fashqa region.

Another consequence of the war in Tigray was that it created a security vacuum along the border with Somalia when the ENDF withdrew 600 troops from the area in order to support the offensive against Mekelle. This came at a time when tensions in Somalia were on the rise against the backdrop of presidential and parliamentary elections, a constitutional crisis, and increased activity of the Shabab terrorist movement.

The Tigrayan war and the Fashqa dispute also increased the likelihood of proxy warfare in the region, especially given the proliferation of militia groups in the volatile economic and political terrain of the Horn of Africa. A case in point is the Ethiopian use of Eritrean forces in Tigray, which enabled the latter to satisfy their thirst for revenge against the TPLF and to win control over the disputed Badme territory on the Ethiopian-Eritrean border.

Another instance was exposed on 8 March 2021 when Khartoum accused Ethiopia of furnishing logistic support and military materiel to Joseph Tuka, deputy head of the Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement (SPLMN) in Sudans Blue Nile state. Ethiopias aim was to divert the attention of Sudanese border patrol forces and to compound pressures on Khartoum during the transitional phase even after the Juba Peace Agreement.

Reports of Somali youth being conscripted into Eritrean forces fighting in Tigray are consistent with such developments that augur ill for mounting militia warfare and are a growing threat to regional security and stability.

THE GERD CRISIS: Addis Ababas war in Tigray and the spike in Ethiopian-Sudanese border skirmishes coincide with the dead end in the tripartite (Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan) negotiations over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

Although negotiations over this mega-project have lasted ten years, the dispute has reached a critical point now that Ethiopia has vowed to proceed unilaterally with the second filling of the GERD reservoir when the Nile flooding season begins in July 2021.

Egypt and Sudan have explored all diplomatic means to persuade Ethiopia to sign a binding agreement on the rules for filling and operating the dam that would ensure Ethiopias right to development and safeguard the vital water rights of the downstream nations. Now that the last in the series of AU-sponsored talks broke down last month due to Ethiopian intransigence, Egypt and Sudan are confronted with a ticking time bomb.

As Sudanese Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Yasser Abbas acknowledged on 2 June, the AU track not only failed to lead the disputants to a just and binding agreement, but it also actually deepened the gap between them. Egypt and Sudan are now coordinating their positions closely as they explore all possible options in their drive to build up regional and international pressure on Addis Ababa.

Cairo has made it clear that it has not ruled out the military option (in coordination with Sudan) in order to defend the Egyptian peoples existential rights. If this option seems to offer an immediate solution to the dispute, it also carries considerable risks, as it would force Ethiopia to consider reciprocating whether by striking vital targets in Egypt and Sudan or by unleashing its proxies to foment strife and discord in Sudan, which falls within the realm of Egyptian national security.

The situation could easily spiral out of control, engulfing other parties and jeopardising the interests of many regional and international stakeholders in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea corridor.

ETHIOPIAN POLICY AND RED SEA SECURITY: Although Ethiopia is a landlocked country, it has managed to break its geographical isolation by forging a network of alliances that have enabled it to expand and diversify its maritime outlets on the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean, as seen above.

Ethiopias entry into the competition to build and utilise ports giving access to the worlds most important maritime trade routes has helped to boost the Ethiopian economy, strengthened Addis Ababas weight as a regional power and increased its opportunities to build bilateral and multilateral partnerships with diverse regional and international powers.

This success also positions Ethiopia in the equations of cooperation and conflict in the Red Sea. Addis Ababa cannot be overlooked as a strategic partner in arrangements to safeguard international shipping lanes in the Red Sea corridor, especially in the light of the establishment of an Ethiopian maritime centre in Djibouti and Ethiopian plans to establish a naval base in a country overlooking the Red Sea.

Such developments have spurred the already intense regional and international rivalry over the Red Sea, as evidenced by Egypts activities in this regard. Egypt, a major player in Red Sea security, has been looking for new partners to add to the list of alliances with which it works to build diverse modes of bilateral and multilateral economic, political, military and security cooperation. The Egyptian presidents visit to Djibouti on 27 May this year was an important development in the light of Cairos regional influence, Djiboutis geostrategic importance and the strategic partnership between it and Ethiopia.

As much as the Red Sea inspires cooperation, it is also a region rife with conflict and tension and, thus, an environment conducive to a resurgence in piracy off the Somali coast. Despite the fact that no incident of piracy had been recorded off the coast of Somalia for the three years up to 2020, the UN Security Council nevertheless renewed the counter-piracy mechanism in December 2020 due to the ongoing threat of resurgent piracy and armed robbery at sea.

There simultaneously remains the persistent threat of organised crime and resurgent terrorism, as epitomised by the Shabab movements call on 28 March this year for attacks on US and French interests in Djibouti. The danger has led regional and international powers to reassess their approaches to security in the Horn of Africa, raising the likelihood of a larger foreign military presence in a region where there are so many vital interests at stake.

However these powers recalibrate their alliances and arrangements, their calculations will need to take into account the many direct and indirect regional impacts of the changes Ethiopian domestic and foreign policy have undergone since Ahmed took office.

*The writer is a researcher at Al-Ahram Centre for Political and Strategic Studies.

*This article appears in the June 2021 issue of Al-Malaf Al-Masry.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 17 June, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

Short link:


10 people sentenced to five years in prison over sectarian violence in Upper Egypts Minya in 2016



Menna Alaa El-Din, , Tuesday 15 Jun 2021





A Minya Criminal Court handed five-year prison terms to ten people and acquitted 14 others over sectarian violence against Copts in Upper Egypts Minya in 2016.



A judicial source said that two of the defendants sentenced to jail on Tuesday have previously stood trial in a separate case involving stripping an elderly Coptic woman off her clothes during the same mob attack.



The sectarian attack in the village of El-Karm in 2016, which included torching and vandalizing Copts homes, followed a rumour that a Muslim woman and a Christian man were involved in an affair.



The violent mob attack saw the stripping and dragging of an elderly Coptic woman through the village in an incident that shocked the country.



74-year-old Soad Thabets home was attacked, along with the homes of other Christians in the village, by an angry mob following a rumor that her son was having an affair with a Muslim woman in the village.



In January 2020, the court sentenced the three defendants in the case in absentia to ten years for assaulting and stripping the old woman of her clothes.



The three defendants  a father and his two sons  were then acquitted in a re-trial later in the same year after they turned themselves to the authorities.



However, Egypts prosecutor-general has ordered earlier this year an appeal against the acquittal of the three men.



No new trial or legal proceedings have been set yet.



Commenting on the sentence, Thabet told Masrawy that nothing would make up for the harm done against her and her children during the mob attack.



She said the incident forced her and her children to leave the village and reside in another town.



I have suffered since the incident. Our house that had my childrens merchandise has been looted and set ablaze. Around 25 people assaulted us, with most of them released. I know that God would not accept injustice, she said.



https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/414337.aspx
Algerian elections bring no change



Amira Howeidy, , Tuesday 15 Jun 2021



Algerian voters snubbed the countrys legislative elections this week, deepening its legitimacy crisis, writes Amira Howeidy



Algeria held its third round of voting in less than two years this week, bringing about little or no change to the political crisis that brought down president Abdelaziz Bouteflika in April 2019.



As Al-Ahram Weekly went to press, the preliminary results of the legislative elections showed the return of the same power dynamics in the 407-seat National Peoples Assembly, despite the participation of 800 independents, most of whom have affiliations with the traditional parties.



Abdelrazzak Makri, leader of the moderate Islamist Movement for the Society of Peace (MPS), claimed an early victory on Sunday and warned against attempts to rig the vote. But few believe there was any need to alter the results of an election that was heavily boycotted by the Hirak popular protest movement and registered voters.



Some have claimed that the rigging was likely limited to the voter turnout figure, which had earlier been seen as too low.



When the polls closed on Saturday, the countrys Independent Election Commission said the voter turnout had been less than 14.5 per cent, a record low in the history of Algerian elections. The figure was later changed to 30.2 per cent in an official statement.



Algerian President Abdelmajid Tebboune dissolved the 2017 parliament earlier this year and called for early elections after he signed constitutional changes into law in January. He said the process was aimed at building a new institution now that parliaments outgoing lower house with its former regime allies had been dissolved.



The elections bookend a process to bring legitimacy to the Algerian regime after Bouteflika was forced to step down after 20 years in power amid mass protests against his bid for a fifth term in office.



Following months of a power vacuum and protests demanding an overhaul of the ruling system, Tebboune, a former premier under Bouteflika, was elected president in December 2019.



The Hirak protest movement boycotted the elections because they were held under the same power dynamics and political system as Bouteflikas regime. Tebboune was elected in a vote marred by disruption and protests, with a voter turnout of less than 40 per cent.



Adamant about delivering change, Tebboune threw his weight behind constitutional amendments that he said would achieve the aspired reforms. While the new constitution limited the presidents tenure to two five-year terms in office, the amendments consolidated his powers.



The changes were put to a public referendum, also boycotted by the Hirak protest movement, which accused Tebboune of wanting to sustain the status quo by claiming a voter turnout of 66.8 per cent after the head of the Election Commission initially announced it at 22.7 per cent.



An escalating security clampdown continued to target figures associated with the Hirak, put on hold for months due to coronavirus restrictions.



The marches organised by the movement resumed earlier this year, albeit in smaller numbers than the original hundreds of thousands of people that had brought Algeria to a halt in 2019, before protest fatigue, its leaderless structure, and Covid-19 largely constrained the movement.



Early results from Saturdays legislative elections gave the ruling National Liberation Front (FLN) a narrow lead with 100 seats and the MSP a close second with 70. The pro-government secular Democratic National Rally (RND) maintained its quota from the outgoing parliament with approximately 50 seats, while independents also clinched 50 seats.



The FLN emerged from the Algerian liberation movement against French colonial rule, and its leaders have clung to power since the countrys independence in 1962.



While it is still too early to say, it seems that the new parliament is mostly composed of the two old ruling parties, the FLN and RND, in addition to the Islamist MSP, Algerian researcher Zine Ghebouli wrote on Twitter.



Once again, the FLN proves itself to be a state apparatus, not a political party.



Observers say a coalition government is likely if the official results support these numbers, which would buy the authorities more time to manage the legitimacy crisis the vote has stoked owing to the low voter turnout.



The government cancelled the operating licence of the France 24 TV channel on Sunday after briefly arresting two independent journalists, Khaled Drareni and Ihsane El-Kadi, on the eve of the election.



A government spokesman described France 24s coverage of the Hirak protest movement as clear and repeated hostility towards our country and its institutions.



Drareni, a well-known television presenter in Algeria and the Algerian correspondent for the pressure group Reporters Without Borders, was released on 19 February this year after nearly a year in custody. He was previously sentenced to two years in prison for inciting unarmed gatherings and undermining national unity.



The Tunis-based Cairo Institute for Human Rights, an NGO, said the elections were held amid a clear uptick in the repression of peaceful protests and dissent, contradicting the foundation of a new Algeria.



If Algeria does not put in place long-term reforms that address the lack of trust in and accountability of its government, the CIHR said, it risks significant instability and a profound economic crisis that will continue to drive inequality and popular anger.



*A version of this article appears in print in the 17 June, 2021 edition ofAl-Ahram Weekly



https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/414358.aspx
KYODO NEWS - Jun 14, 2021 - 22:58 | All, World, Japan

Two American men charged with aiding former Nissan Motor Co. Chairman Carlos Ghosn's escape from Japan in 2019 prior to his trial pleaded guilty at their first court hearing Monday in Tokyo.

In their opening statement at the Tokyo District Court, prosecutors said that Michael Taylor, a 60-year-old former Green Beret, and his son Peter, 28, had been told by Ghosn's wife Carole that the former chairman would be thrown in jail if they did not help him escape.

In January 2020, Japan requested that Interpol put out a wanted notice for Carole, 54, who is in Lebanon with her husband.

According to the indictment, the father and son helped Ghosn, 67, flee from his residence in Tokyo's Minato Ward to a hotel in the capital and then another in Osaka Prefecture on Dec. 29, 2019 before making their way to Kansai International Airport.

They then hid Ghosn in a box, passed through airport security and flew him aboard a private jet to Turkey despite knowing that the former auto titan was prohibited from traveling abroad under his bail conditions.

Ghosn then flew to Lebanon, one of three countries he is a national of and one that does not have an extradition treaty with Japan.

According to prosecutors, after Ghosn came up with the idea of hiding in a box, the senior Taylor obtained a large case used for carrying audio equipment in Lebanon.

On the day of the escape, he also offered 1 million yen ($9,000) in cash to a worker at the private jet facility at Kansai International Airport to ensure there would be no security check and the flight would go ahead as scheduled, but the worker returned the tip, they said.

Around two months prior to his escape, Ghosn transferred around $860,000 to the junior Taylor's company account to fund the escape. After an arrest warrant was issued for the Taylors, Ghosn also moved funds in cryptocurrency to cover their lawyer fees.

The defense revealed that the Taylors are relatives of Ghosn and argued that the son had less involvement in the crime than the father.

The Taylors, arrested in Massachusetts last year by U.S. authorities at Japanese prosecutors' request, had fought extradition in the U.S. courts, but the U.S. Supreme Court turned down their appeal in February. They were arrested when extradited to Japan from the United States in March and indicted the same month.

Ghosn, who was arrested in 2018, faces charges of underreporting his remuneration by millions of yen for years and misusing Nissan funds. He has denied all charges, insisting he is the victim of a coup staged by Nissan executives.

Japan has been seeking the detention of Ghosn via Interpol.

French investigators in May and June questioned Ghosn in Beirut over the alleged misappropriation of funds at Nissan's alliance partner Renault SA, where he also formerly served as CEO.

Related coverage:

Americans suspected of helping Ghosn flee to face trial from June 14

American father, son indicted on charges of aiding Ghosn escape

Japan court OKs detention of Americans accused of aiding Ghosn escape
KYODO NEWS - Jun 15, 2021 - 14:54 | World, All

South Korea's military and maritime police began a joint defense exercise on Tuesday around a group of islets in the Sea of Japan, local media reported, with Japan protesting the move around the outcroppings it claims.

The South Korean-controlled islets are called Takeshima in Japan and Dokdo in South Korea. South Korea conducts the drill twice a year, usually in June and December.

The latest drill mainly involves maritime training, not a landing exercise, according to the media. The military reportedly does not plan to make public footage from the drill, in a bid to avoid raising tensions with Japan.

In Tokyo, Japan's top government spokesman Katsunobu Kato called the drill "unacceptable and extremely regrettable." The chief Cabinet secretary said Japan has protested against the exercise through diplomatic channels and is calling on South Korea to stop it.

South Korean media reported earlier that Japan unilaterally canceled a meeting between Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and President Moon Jae In that had been planned during the Group of Seven summit in Britain, due to Seoul's plan to conduct the drill.

Japan has denied the report, saying that the meeting did not take place because of scheduling issues.

Ties between the two countries have sunk to their lowest level in decades over several historical and diplomatic issues, especially after the South Korean Supreme Court in 2018 ordered Japanese companies to compensate South Korean plaintiffs for wartime forced labor.

Related coverage:

Japan broke agreement to hold Suga-Moon talks at G-7: report

Annual event held in Japan to push claim to S. Korea-held islets
KYODO NEWS - Jun 15, 2021 - 21:29 | All, Japan, Coronavirus

Japan's ruling coalition voted down a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's Cabinet in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, deflecting criticism from opposition parties over the government's COVID-19 response and plans to push ahead with the Tokyo Olympics.

Four opposition parties submitted the motion after the Liberal Democratic Party and its junior coalition partner Komeito rejected their demand to extend the current parliamentary session beyond the closing on Wednesday.

Suga had previously said the motion could be grounds for dissolving the more powerful lower chamber of the Diet before the current four-year terms of its members end on Oct. 21.

But the premier is expected to wait until after the Olympics and Paralympics, set to begin July 23, end in September to dissolve the house for a general election.

The opposition parties -- the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, the Japanese Communist Party, the Democratic Party for the People and the Social Democratic Party -- had called for a three-month extension to continue the debate on ways to contain the coronavirus pandemic and whether Tokyo can safely host the Summer Games.

CDPJ leader Yukio Edano accused Suga of "lacking a sense of responsibility toward protecting the lives and livelihoods of the people," calling him unfit to lead during the "worst crisis since the end of the war."

"If this office is too much for you to bear, relinquish it as soon as possible," Edano said before the vote was held in a lower house plenary session in the afternoon.

Among other opposition parties, the Japan Innovation Party voted against the no-confidence motion, saying it does not support Suga's Cabinet but dismissing the entire process as a "farce."

The no-confidence motion was the first since June 2019 when one was filed against Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's Cabinet, which was also voted down. Suga was serving as chief Cabinet secretary at the time.

LDP Secretary General Toshihiro Nikai said Tuesday he does not expect Suga, who leads the party, to dissolve the house during the current parliamentary session, a view shared by several senior administration officials.

"We need to stay on our guard and make sure the remaining bills are passed," Suga said in a meeting between the government and the ruling coalition.

For Suga, whose public support has fallen amid dissatisfaction with the government's COVID-19 response and who faces an LDP leadership race in September, waiting to hold the general election could be of benefit as a successful Tokyo Olympics would boost positive sentiment.

Japan's vaccination program, which has so far lagged behind other developed nations, would also be further along as the effort expands beyond health care workers and people aged 65 and older.

The ruling coalition currently holds 306 of 465 seats in the House of Representatives. A Kyodo News poll conducted last month showed support for the LDP at 41.9 percent, the CDPJ at 8.6 percent and Komeito at 4.5 percent, while 32.1 percent of respondents said they do not back any party.

Related coverage:

Japan's Cabinet to face no-confidence motion on June 15

Japan PM Suga not ruling out election if no-confidence vote submitted
KYODO NEWS - Jun 15, 2021 - 12:14 | All, World, Japan, Coronavirus

Japan will donate one million coronavirus vaccine doses to Vietnam on Wednesday, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said.

Tokyo is also mulling donating amounts of COVID-19 vaccine to Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand in July, Motegi said in a press conference on Tuesday.

"After considering comprehensively the infection situation (in Vietnam), the shortage of vaccines and relationship with Japan, we have come to that decision," Motegi said.

The provision of the vaccine developed by Britain's AstraZeneca Plc and produced under license in Japan came in response to a request from Vietnam. It follows Japan's donation of 1.24 million shots to Taiwan earlier in the month.

Vietnam has been facing a resurgence of infections since April, with its health authorities reporting a hybrid coronavirus variant that combines characteristics of strains first detected in Britain and India.

While Japan has secured enough AstraZeneca vaccines for 60 million people and approved their use last month, it does not intend to use them immediately in public inoculation programs due to rare cases of blood clots reported overseas.
KYODO NEWS - Jun 14, 2021 - 18:25 | All, Japan, World

Japan unilaterally broke a tentative agreement to hold brief talks between Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae In on the fringes of the Group of Seven summit in Britain, Yonhap News Agency reported Monday, while Japan dismissed the report as not factual.

Citing a South Korean Foreign Ministry official, the South Korean news agency said Japan called off the planned "pull-aside" meeting between the two leaders due to a regular military exercise South Korea is to hold around a group of islets claimed by Tokyo in the Sea of Japan.

South Korea plans to hold the defense drill on and around the islets on Tuesday, Yonhap reported. Japan calls them Takeshima and regards them as "an inherent part" of its territory. South Korea, which controls them, calls them Dokdo.

"We think it is regrettable that the Japanese side did not respond to the pull-aside plan, which the two sides had agreed on at a working level, due to the annual drills to safeguard the East Sea territory," the ministry official was quoted as saying, referring to the sea by the name South Korea uses for it.

The two leaders exchanged greetings while they were at the venue of the summit, according to Suga. They had not met in person since he became prime minister in September, reflecting the soured bilateral relationship over wartime labor compensation and other issues.

"My first encounter with Prime Minister Suga was a precious chance that could be a new start in South Korea-Japan relationship, but I am sorry that it could not develop into a meeting," Moon said in a Facebook post.

However, Japan's top government spokesman Katsunobu Kato denied the report Monday, saying "there is no such fact."

"Such a story that not only goes against the fact but is also one-sided is extremely regrettable, and we immediately lodged a protest," Kato said at a press conference, explaining that a bilateral summit was not held due to schedule issues.

He said Japan has also lodged a protest against South Korea on the scheduled drill on and around Takashima, saying the island is undoubtedly Japan's territory, from a historical perspective and based on international law.
By Siti Rahil, KYODO NEWS - Jun 15, 2021 - 20:05 | All, World

Defense ministers from the United States, China, Japan, Russia, India, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea are expected to jointly welcome ASEAN's invitation to join the group's ministerial-level hotline to help defuse regional tensions, official sources said Tuesday.

"The plus-eight countries are expected to welcome the expansion to them after they had been invited in 2019," an ASEAN official said on the eve of an ASEAN Defense Ministers-Plus meeting to be joined by U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe and Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi.

The annual meeting hosted by the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations will be held via video conferencing due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The hotline, known as the ASEAN Direct Communications Infrastructure, or ADI, aims to enable a dialogue to promote de-escalation of potential conflicts and to defuse misunderstandings and misinterpretations during crisis or emergency situations.

It is hoped that this will help to boost confidence and security-building measures in a region fraught with tensions such as the South China Sea territorial disputes and the contest for influence between the United States and China.

It aims to provide secure communication by voice, fax or email, according to a concept paper that ASEAN defense ministers adopted in 2019 to expand the ADI to the eight so-called "plus countries" outside the group.

According to a draft declaration seen by Kyodo News, the 18 defense ministers on Wednesday will "welcome the expansion of the ASEAN Direct Communications Infrastructure (ADI) in the ADMM Process to the Plus Countries."

The expansion, it says, will "strengthen strategic cooperation" and provide "a platform for engagement in dialogue and enhancing transparency, regional confidence and security building measures especially at the time of pandemic."

Only two of those eight countries have so far agreed to join, an ASEAN defense ministry official told Kyodo News.

"The launching of this expansion, if ready, is expected during the sidelines of the ADMM Retreat later in the year," the official said, referring to an ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting Retreat scheduled for Nov. 10 in Brunei.

ASEAN also includes Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand and Vietnam.

Myanmar will be represented this time by junta-appointed Defense Minister Gen. Mya Tun Oo in the wake of the Feb. 1 coup that ended almost a decade of civilian rule.

Sources said Myanmar's political crisis might be raised by some of the ministers despite ASEAN's policy of noninterference in the domestic politics of other countries.

Related coverage:

ASEAN leaders call for immediate end to violence in Myanmar

ASEAN foreign ministers seek de-escalation of Myanmar crisis

Virtual ASEAN summit puts pandemic high on agenda
By Ami Takahashi, KYODO NEWS - Jun 15, 2021 - 12:07 | Feature, All, Japan

Pufferfish is a luxury winter delicacy in Japan, but a license is required to prepare and serve "fugu," as the fish is known, with any bite potentially containing a lethal toxic surprise.

Fugu is not commonly consumed in many other countries, but Vu Thuy Linh, a Vietnamese researcher at a university near Tokyo, hopes to cultivate the culinary art of the pufferfish in her Southeast Asian nation to create a bridge between the two countries.

In Vietnam, a country with a long north-south coastline, about 60 species of fugu are believed to inhabit local waters, but national law has banned the sale and consumption of them since 2013, as a number of poisoning incidents have been reported due to unfamiliarity with how to handle the fish.

As Japan has an established set of regulations and techniques for dealing with pufferfish, Vu hopes to take such measures to Vietnam to allow its people to enjoy the joys of fugu dishes safely.

"In Vietnam, fishermen throw away fugu, because people are not allowed to eat them by law. But, it could be a great source of protein and could be a lucrative opportunity for the country," she said.

When Vu was studying Japanese at a university in Vietnam, she was surprised to learn that fugu is considered delicious in Japan and fetches a high price, with restaurants often charging over 10,000 yen ($90.00) per dish.

Having graduated university, she worked for about two years at Mitsui Suisan Co., a seafood processing company in Japan's southwestern prefecture of Miyazaki, and practiced cleaning, fileting and serving fugu.

In Japan, any cook who intends to handle fugu is required to undergo exams to obtain a license proving they know how to remove the poisonous parts of the fish such as the liver and intestines. The health ministry strictly states which parts -- meat, skin and milt -- are edible in each fugu species.

Vu obtained a license in March, having passed written and practical exams including eliminating inedible organs containing the toxic tetrodotoxin without damaging them in 20 minutes as required.

According to licensing authorities, it is very rare for non-Japanese people to pass the exams, because applicants are required to meet certain criteria such as having obtained a cookery license in Japan.

Vu, now a researcher at the Asian Nutrition and Food Culture Research Center at Jumonji University, conducted a survey in 2017 in Hanoi and Da Nang to ask a total of 107 participants including the Vietnamese government officials -- who had never eaten the pufferfish before -- to rate fugu dishes prepared by a Japanese chef.

For comparison, Vu also prepared two other kinds of popular fish in Vietnam -- grouper and Spanish mackerel.

In the survey, fugu "sashimi" -- thinly sliced raw fish -- gained the highest score among all the fish dishes, although Vietnamese traditionally do not eat raw fish.

The feedback of fugu dishes, in general, was largely positive, with more than 80 percent of the respondents saying "I would like to eat more fugu."

"I am confident that Vietnamese people will like fugu from my research," she said, adding that they might first be afraid to try the fish due to its poisonous reputation.

"We need to establish rules and techniques like Japan so that people will feel assured to eat it," she said.

Vu continued her research on fugu to focus on the analysis of the fish's toxicity in hopes of creating a list of edible species inhabiting Vietnamese waters.

As part of efforts to educate local people, she also translated a video made by Mitsui Suisan into Vietnamese to share knowledge with Vietnamese people about safety precautions.

Japan currently imports pufferfish from China and South Korea, but not from Vietnam. Vu said, "If Vietnam abolishes the law banning fugu and establishes safety measures and techniques, then maybe Vietnam can export the fish to Japan."

Through her research involving the Vietnamese government officials, the 30-year-old hopes to call on the government to amend the fugu-banning law.

Since finishing her doctoral program, she has worked at Mitsui Suisan in a position in charge of business and trade, while further researching fugu at her university.

With the coronavirus pandemic continuing, she has not yet managed to conduct further research in Vietnam. But she is determined to carry on her studies to reach her goal.

"My dream is to cultivate the culinary art of fugu in my country and help local fishermen who could potentially profit."
KYODO NEWS - Jun 15, 2021 - 10:10 | World, All, Japan

South Korean President Moon Jae In intended to convey to Japan's leader his plan to attend the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics next month but could not do so because talks between them did not happen on the fringes of the Group of Seven summit in Britain, a local newspaper reported Tuesday.

The absence of talks between Moon and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga during the weekend summit has prompted a war of words between the two neighbors, with Seoul reportedly claiming that Tokyo unilaterally canceled an agreed-on meeting, a claim dismissed by Japan as not factual.

The Hankyoreh said the president was seeking an opportunity to start improving bilateral ties that have worsened over wartime labor compensation and other issues through his appearance at the July 23 ceremony in the Japanese capital.

Moon and Suga just exchanged greetings while they were at the venue of the summit. They had not met in person since Suga became prime minister in September.

Later the president said in a Facebook post, "My first encounter with Prime Minister Suga was a precious chance that could have been a new start in the South Korea-Japan relationship, but I am sorry that it was not able to develop into a meeting."

Major South Korean newspapers ran front-page articles on Tuesday on the absence of a Suga-Moon meeting. The JoongAng Ilbo said in a report that both sides lost an opportunity for reconciliation, and that a "crisis" between the two countries is "intensifying."

Yonhap News Agency reported Monday that the two countries had agreed on a "pull-aside" meeting between their leaders but that Japan broke the tentative agreement.

The report said Japan did so because of a regular military exercise planned by South Korea for this week around a group of islets claimed by Tokyo in the Sea of Japan.

Japan's top government spokesman Katsunobu Kato quickly denied the report, saying "there is no such fact." The chief Cabinet secretary told a news conference that a meeting was not held due to scheduling issues.

Related coverage:

Japan broke agreement to hold Suga-Moon talks at G-7: report

Suga, Moon exchange greetings on fringes of G-7 summit
New Delhi:

The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) on Wednesday accused the government of taking "vindictive action" by registering an FIR in connection with a newspaper report on alleged Aadhaar data breach.



"The CITU denounces the Government's move in registering an FIR against the journalist of Tribune, Rachna Khaira, and her sources for exposing the leakage-prone systemic fault in Aadhaar administration," it said in a statement issued here.



The CITU also welcomed rising protests against the "vindictive action" by the Centre.



"Such vindictive action is the reflection of an obnoxious, authoritarian arrogance of the government, as if 'the king can do any wrong'. The CITU welcomes rising protests against such vindictive actions of the government from various organisations and agencies, including the journalists', and the newspaper employees' unions, and urges the government to take a call initiating corrective action," the statement said.



The Tribune correspondent Rachna Khaira and her sources were named in an FIR over her report on the breach of one billion Aadhaar cards data.



The journalist should have been "rewarded" for successfully investigating the faults in the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) system in respect of protecting individual data for preventing intrusion on peoples' right to privacy, which had been upheld by the Supreme Court, the CITU said in the statement.



Even though the issue was raised in Parliament, the government did not recognise the faults in the system and its fallouts which raised doubts, it claimed.



The CITU has demanded that the government should "withdraw the FIR against the journalist in the interest of fairness and propriety".

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Washington:

The US on Wednesday expressed hope that Pakistan would "come to the table" and demonstrate willingness to "aggressively" confront terrorist groups that operate from its territory, amid reports that Islamabad has suspended its military and intelligence cooperation with America.

According to media reports, Pakistan's decision to suspend military and intelligence cooperation with America came after President Donald accused Islamabad of giving nothing to the US but "lies and deceit" and suspended about USD 2 billion in security aid to it.

When asked to comment on Pakistan's reported move, US Under Secretary of State Steve Goldstein said: "We're hopeful for future cooperation from Pakistan."

"We stand ready to work with Pakistan in combating all terrorists without distinction, and we hope to be able to renew and deepen our bilateral security relationship when Pakistan demonstrates its willingness to aggressively confront the Taliban network, the Haqqani Network, and other terrorist and militant groups that operate from its territory," he said.

The US has been clear on this issue to Pakistan, Goldstein said.

"We would like Pakistan to come to the table and assist us in this effort," he said adding that the suspension of security aid is not a cutoff and no funds have been reprogrammed.

The US announced on Thursday that it would not deliver military equipment or transfer security-related funds to Pakistan.

On Monday, a Pentagon spokesman said the US had conveyed to Pakistan to take "concrete steps" against terror groups to earn hundreds of millions of dollars in aid.

Referring to his conversation with the US Ambassador to Pakistan, Goldstein hoped that Pakistan will join the US in its effort with regard to fight against terrorism.

"The Pakistani people have suffered greatly from terrorism, and its security forces have been effective in combating the groups that target Pakistan's interest. So, it's to their benefit to join with us in helping resolve this matter," Goldstein said.

"We always look at that; but again, it's a suspension and not a cutoff. We haven't reprogrammed the funds. We're hopeful that Pakistan will come back to the table and do what they told us that they would do," he said.

The US and others have long complained that Pakistan offered safe haven to the Afghan Taliban and their allies, the Haqqani Network, allowing them to carry out cross-border attacks in Afghanistan.

Pakistan denies allegations but President Trump has escalated the criticism against the country since he took office last January.

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Shimla:

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Tuesday said that "achhe din" (good days) had arrived in the state and that his government would not tolerate corruption at any level.

He also said that there was no scarcity of funds for developmental works.

"Corruption would not be tolerated at any level and my government would make sincere efforts to fulfil the wish of party leaders to break the jinx and retain power in the next assembly polls," he said at a gathering in Dharotdhar in his home constituency Seraj.

The chief minister also announced that the Government Middle School of Dharotdhar in Mandi district would be upgraded to a high school from the next academic session.

Expressing his gratitude to the people for their massive support, Mr Thakur said he had never thought that he would become chief minister and 'achhe din' would come so soon for the area and the entire state.

From 1967 to 1982, it was senior Congress leader Thakur Karam Singh who worked hard to become chief minister. But missed the mark, he said.

Similarly, in 1993 former Union minister Pandit Sukh Ram too could not make it to the post. "This made all of us to ponder, why not a chief minister from Mandi this time," Mr Thakur said.

"I am grateful to the prime minister who posed his confidence in a leader from Mandi," he said.

Mr Thakur also paid obeisance at the Dev Matloda Temple at Shikawari and announced Rs. 15 lakh for maintenance of small roads and paths of Shikawari panchayat.

He directed the officials to prepare the estimate for construction of a building of GSSS Shikawari.

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New Delhi:

Mukul Jain, a 26-year-old student, pursuing PhD at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) went missing from the campus, the police said.

Mukul Jain, enrolled in Life Sciences course, has been missing since January 8, they said. A missing report was registered in the evening of January 8.

It is suspected that he was having some problems in his relationship, said a senior police officer from the South-west District.

Till now, no foul play has been suspected, they added. Najeeb Ahmed, also a JNU student, went missing from the Mahi-Mandvi hostel of the university on October 15, 2016 following a scuffle with some other students, allegedly affiliated to the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the previous night.

Over a month after the incident, his mother moved the Delhi High Court, seeking directions to the police to trace her son. The high court on May 16 last year handed over to the CBI the investigation into the disappearance of Najeeb, a student of M.Sc in Biotechnology.

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New Delhi:

The Supreme Court on Wednesday said it would constitute a fresh three-member SIT, to be headed by a former high court judge, to monitor probe into 186 anti-Sikh riot cases that followed the assassination of the then prime minister Indira Gandhi in 1984, in which investigations were closed.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra asked the Centre to suggest names for its consideration and appointment in the proposed Special Investigation Team (SIT).

The bench, also comprising justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, said the proposed committee will be headed by a former high court judge and consist of one retired and one serving police officer.

It also made it clear the retired police officer shall not be below the rank of DIG at the time of superannuation. The apex court said a supervisory body, appointed by it has found that out of 241 cases, 186 cases were closed without investigation. The apex court perused the report of the supervisory body which was submitted before it in a leather box with number-lock system.

The supervisory body, which had submitted the final report, comprised former apex court judges Justice J M Panchal and Justice K S P Radhakrishnan.

On August 16, last year, the apex court had appointed the supervisory panel to examine the SIT's decision to close 241 cases in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots matter and asked it to submit report in three months.

The Centre had earlier said that out of the 250 cases which were investigated by the SIT, closure reports were filed in 241. It had said that nine cases were still being investigated by the SIT, while two are being probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation.

The apex court had on March 24, 2018, asked the Centre to place before it the files pertaining to the 199 cases of the anti-Sikh riots which the special investigation team (SIT) set up by the Home Ministry had decided to "close".

The SIT is headed by Pramod Asthana, an IPS officer of 1986 batch, and has Rakesh Kapoor, a retired district and sessions judge, and Kumar Gyanesh, an additional deputy commissioner of Delhi Police, as its members.

The anti-Sikh riots after the assassination of the then prime minister Indira Gandhi claimed 2,733 lives in Delhi alone. The government had earlier filed a status report on the probe conducted by the SIT in the cases.

Petitioner S Gurlad Singh Kahlon had earlier told thebench that a total of 293 riot-related cases were taken up for scrutiny by the three-member SIT and it had decided to close 199 of them after scrutiny.

Kahlon, a member of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, had sought the court's direction for setting up an SIT to ensure speedy justice to riots victims.

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Kabul:

Middle-class Afghans turned jihadists have assisted the Islamic State group's expansion from its stronghold in Afghanistan's restive east to Kabul, analysts say, helping to make the capital one of the deadliest places in the country.

IS has claimed nearly 20 attacks across Kabul in 18 months, with cells including students, professors and shopkeepers evading Afghan and US security forces to bring carnage to the highly fortified city.

It is an alarming development for Kabul's war-weary civilians and beleaguered security forces, who are already struggling to beat back the resurgent Taliban, as well as the US counter-terrorism mission in Afghanistan.

"This is not just a group that has a rural bastion in eastern Afghanistan - it is staging high casualty, high visibility attacks in the nation's capital and I think that's something to be worried about," said analyst Michael Kugelman of the Wilson Center in Washington.

Also Read| New York blast terror suspect pledged allegiance to Islamic State: Officials

The Islamic State-Khorasan Province (IS-K), the Middle East group's affiliate in Afghanistan and Pakistan, emerged in the region in 2014, largely made up of disaffected fighters from the Taliban and other jihadist groups in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Central Asia.

It claimed its first attack in Kabul in the summer of 2016. Since then the Sunni group has struck at security forces and Shiites with increasing frequency, helped by its growing network in the capital.

There is no shortage of recruits, analysts say. IS has successfully tapped a rich vein of extremism in Afghanistan that has existed for decades and crosses socio-economic groups, fanned by growing internet access among urban youth.

"We are talking about a generation which has been desensitised to different types of violence and violent extremism," said Borhan Osman, a senior analyst with the International Crisis Group.

"It should not come as a surprise that some of the youth inculcated in the ideology of jihadism embrace the next version of jihadism, the most violent one."

Members and supporters of IS cells in Kabul hide in the open, living with their families and going to classes or work every day, Osman said.

The militants meet at night to discuss jihad, or holy war, and plot attacks on targets in the city they know well - well enough to adapt to changes, such as tightened security in the wake of a massive truck bomb in May that killed around 150 people.

Also Read| 'The world will be watching what you do': US warns Iran at United Nations

"It's an adaptive structure reacting to the counter measures," a Western diplomat told AFP.

"From May to December what we have seen is different types of attacks, smaller attacks that are getting through."

An Afghan security source previously told AFP that "20 or more" IS-K cells were operating in the city.

Osman, an expert on militant networks in Afghanistan, said it was difficult to know how many IS-K fighters were in Kabul but their ranks were constantly being replenished by the group's recruitment efforts on social media as well as in universities, schools and mosques.

"You can't say they are all poor - a number of them come from middle-class Kabuli families. Some are university educated. Some have a high school education," he said, adding that most have some religious education as well.

An Afghan security source agreed. "The new wave of extremists is not an uneducated farmer. It is mainly people with a good level of education," he told AFP on condition of anonymity.

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New Delhi:

Gujarat Anti-terrorist Squad (ATS) on Wednesday claimed to have arrested alleged Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist who was wanted for fidayeen attack at Delhis Red Fort in 2000 from Indira Gandhi International airport.

According to sources in Delhi Police, the arrested alleged LeT terrorist has been identified as Bilal Ahmad Kawa.

A senior officer of Delhi Police said, Bilal was arrested from Delhi airport in a joint operation carried out by Gujarat ATS and Delhi Police's special cell.

The officer added, A large chunk of money to carry out the attack was transferred in Bilals account. The money was transferred to Bilal by Md Arif Ashfaq, the main conspirator of the Red Fort attack.



On 22 December, 2000, six LeT militants sneaked into the Red Fort on the pretext of watching the light-and-sound show with arms hidden under leather jackets. They started firing indiscriminately on the guards of the 7th battalion of Rajputana Rifles. Two soldiers and a civilian guard were killed in the attack. The militants escaped by scaling the Fort's rear wall.

According to reports, the attack was backed by Pakistans intelligence agency ISI and funded by LeT operatives.

Delhi sessions court had earlier convicted 11 persons in connection with the attack. During the course of investigation agencies had learnt that more than Rs 29 lakh were transferred through hawala and various national banks.

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New Delhi :

In a bizarre incident on Jan 9, three jawans of the Indian Army got injured during a practice drill ahead of the Army Day on Jan 15.

The incident occurred due to helicopter boom malfunction. In a video which has come out on the incident, it can be clearly seen that while the Jawans were slithering from a chopper, the rope snapped and the troops came down crashing on the ground

All the three jawans have been reported safe. The army authorities have called for an investigation into the matter.

Army Day is celebrated on 15 January every year in India, in recognition of Lieutenant General K. M. Cariappa's taking over as the first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army from General Sir Francis Butcher, the last British Commander-in-Chief of India, on 15 January 1949.

The day is celebrated in the form of parades and other military shows in the national capital New Delhi as well as in all headquarters.

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Ballia:

Two Dalits were tonsured and paraded in Rasra police station area here allegedly by Hindu Yuva Vahini activists on charges of stealing cows, the police said.



The two men were then arrested following an FIR filed on the complaint of one Pravin Srivastava, under section 379 and 411 (punishment for theft) of IPC for allegedly stealing cows.



One of the two men later filed a police complaint saying the incident took place on Monday when some Hindu Yuva Vahini activists stopped them with two cows.



In a complaint to the police, Uma Ram alleged that his and Sonu's heads were shaved off by Hindu Yuva Vahini activists. They were then paraded around Rasra town with tyres around their neck and placards with "hum gai chor hain" (we are cow thieves) written on those.

Also Read | Gujarat: Rahul Gandhi to accept Indian Flag made by Dalits of 10 states



On Ram's complaint, the FIR was lodged against a named and 15 unknown persons under section 342 (wrongful confinement), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of IPC and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.



SP Anil Kumar said Deputy SP Avdhesh Chaudhary has been asked to investigate the matter.

Also Read | Amreli custodial death: Dalits threaten to convert to Buddhism over unfair police probe

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New Delhi:

The Uttar Pradesh Shia Central Waqf Board chairman Wasim Rizvi on Tuesday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ban Madrasa education in the country saying they have produced terrorists.

In a letter written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Rizvi said, How many Madrasas have produced engineers, doctors, IAS officers? Yes but some Madrasas have produced terrorists.

The Shia Central Waqf Board chairman suggested that religious education should be made optional in Madrasas and the seminaries should also allow non-Muslim students.

Madrasas should be affiliated to CBSE, ICSE, and allow non-Muslim students, religious education should be made optional. It will make our country even stronger, Rizvi said.

Also Read | AMU expels student from Kashmir over suspected terror link, intensifies security checks

However, Rizvis terrorists remark didnt go down well with All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) President Asaduddin Owaisi.

Owaisi termed the Shia Board chairman as a buffoon who has sold his soul to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

Wasim Rizvi is the biggest joker, the most opportunistic person. He has sold his soul to RSS. I challenge this buffoon to show one Shia or Sunni or Madrasa where such teachings are imparted. If he has proof then he should go and show it to the Home Minister, the AIMIM President said.

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Beijing:

Chinese authorities battling to prevent an environmental disaster after a collision between an Iranian tanker and a cargo ship said on Wednesday no major oil spill has been detected, but 31 sailors remained missing.

Cleanup and rescue ships have faced toxic fumes, rain and windy conditions as they scrambled to find survivors and avoid a massive oil slick since Saturday's incident.

The Sanchi, carrying 136,000 tonnes of light crude oil, has been in flames since colliding with the CF Crystal, a Hong Kong-registered bulk freighter, 160 nautical miles east of Shanghai.

Experts had warned that a spill of the Panamanian-flagged 274-metre (899-foot) tanker's cargo could spell environmental catastrophe as authorities said the ship could explode or sink.

But China's transport ministry said in a statement that as of 6:00 pm yesterday, "no large-scale oil spills were found on the sea surface" where the search is being conducted around the stricken vessel, which continued to burn.

The oil from the tanker is condensate oil that is expected to quickly evaporate upon hitting the water, with "very little residue on the water's surface", the ministry said.

A simulation test also found that less than one percent of oil content would remain on the sea surface five hours after a condensate oil leak.

Thirteen search-and-rescue vessels are continuing to look for missing crew members within 900 square nautical miles of the tanker, the ministry said.

But weather conditions are unfavourable, with "overcast and rainy weather", strong winds and waves. Of the 30 Iranians and two Bangladeshis on the Sanchi's crew, only one body has so far been found.

The oil tanker was on its way to South Korea when it collided with the CF Crystal, which was transporting grain to mainland China. The Crystal's 21 Chinese crew members were all rescued.

The Sanchi belongs to the National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC), Iran's petroleum ministry said, and was transporting the oil to South Korea's Hanwha Total. The ship and its cargo were insured, a statement said.

This is the second accident in less than two years involving a tanker owned by the NITC.

In August 2016, an Iranian supertanker and a container ship collided in the Singapore Strait, causing damage to both vessels but no injuries or pollution.

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Lucknow: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati has suffered a major setback ahead of next year's assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, nearly 8 months later. It is reported that nine BSP rebels MLA will meet Samajwadi Party (SP) national president and former UP CM Akhilesh Yadav in Lucknow a short while ago.

In Uttar Pradesh, bsp has 18 MLA in the Assembly, out of which 9 rebels had rebelled before the Rajya Sabha elections last year. He did not leave the party to evade the defection law, but now he has made his tough stand clear by meeting Akhilesh Yadav. The development is said to have a major impact on the state of Uttar Pradesh. Akhilesh Yadav wants to send a message that only the SP can take on the BJP in the state. It will be difficult for the BSP to strengthen itself.

In Uttar Pradesh, assembly elections are scheduled to be held after 8 months. The Congress has already sent Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to the fray. There may be a multifaceted contest this time. On the one hand, there are the BJP and its allies, on the other hand, there are congress, SP and BSP.

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DHAKA: Bangladesh has been re-elected as a deputy member of the governing body of the International Labor Organization (ILO) from the Asia-Pacific region for the 2021-2024 term. The election was held online in Geneva during the ongoing 109th International Labor Conference, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka said in a statement on Monday.

It said Bangladesh secured the first position among the candidates of the Asia-Pacific region by bagging the highest 210 votes..

Since the announcement of the bid, the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh in Geneva was strongly engaged in election campaign in order to seek support from other ILO member states in favour of Dhaka's candidature, it said.

The efforts bore fruit as Bangladesh was re-elected to serve for three more years as a deputy member, the Ministry added. A Bangladesh delegation, led by Begum Monnujan Sufian, state minister for labour and employment, virtually attended the ongoing ILC. The delegation included KM Abdus Salam, labour secretary, and Md Mustafizur Rahman, Bangladesh ambassador and permanent representative in Geneva.

This is the third consecutive victory for Bangladesh in the ILO governing body. Earlier, Bangladesh served as a deputy member for the 2014-2017 and 2017-2021 terms.

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BEIRUT: Lebanese President Michel Aoun said that his country hopeful of continuing indirect US-mediated negotiations with Israel on maritime border demarcation.

Aoun made the remarks during his meeting in Beirut with John Desrocher head of the US delegation mediating in the indirect border talks between Lebanon and Israel. He urged Desrocher to push for fair and impartial talks, noting that the formation of a new Israeli government may cause further delay in the negotiations.

The talks between Lebanon and Israel had been over maritime border demarcation in a disputed area of about 860 square km. Indirect negotiations between Lebanon and Israel to demarcate the maritime borders kicked off on October 14, 2020, but they were later suspended.

The Lebanese government recently signed an agreement that will formally lay claim to an additional 1,430 square km on top of the Exclusive Economic Zone in disputed waters in the Mediterranean.

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Last week, the Ministry of Health and Population started another round of Covid-19 vaccination for senior citizens of the age group of 60-64 years across the country. However, the vaccines sent to the districts and local units for the senior citizens have been reportedly misused by local leaders and they were found distributing them among themselves, their family members, relatives, cadres of political parties and civil servants in different places inside and outside the Kathmandu valley, violating the governments criteria. This has apparently deprived many senior citizens who are at greater risk of getting vaccinated against the coronavirus infection.

Such concerning reports come just days before the world celebrates World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (on Tuesday). But, more concerning are claims of senior citizen right activists and other stakeholders who say different forms of abuse are an everyday affair for the elderly in Nepal.

Further, they state that fear of losing family honour, a lack of proper authority to file a complaint and ignorance about their rights have made many senior citizens reluctant to bring out the incidents.

Hidden reality of society

Prakash Gautam, the director of Ageing Nepal, a not-for-profit non-government organisation working on different concerns of ageing population, informs the elderly people of Nepal are having to face mainly five types of abuse: physical abuse, psychological or emotional abuse, financial abuse, neglect, and sexual abuse.

Gautam says his organisation has recorded 119 cases of elder abuse from January to May this year. Out of them, 100 cases are of neglect only. Similarly, last year as well, 237 elder abuse cases were reported, of which, 176 cases were of neglect (abandonment).

Photo: PickPik

According to the World Health Organization fact sheet released this week, around one in six people aged 60 years and older experienced some form of abuse in community settings during the past year.

Ambika KC, the vice-chairperson of the National Senior Citizen Federation (NASCIF), observes most of the elders are abused in their home itself by their younger family members. Also, elderly people are also mistreated in public places such as public transportation, community and other places.

Nirajan Ghimire, the information officer at the Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens, states the ministry has also been reported some of such cases. But, he also agrees that those reported only cover a small section of the cases that actually take place.

Factors behind underreporting

Both KC and Gautam view that many elders are hesitant or scared to bring up their abusive experience as they fear losing their personal and family honour.

Ghimire also shares similar observations on why they do not complain. Also, there is no such hotline for registering complaints about senior citizens. This also limits senior citizens to speak up about the abuse, according to Ghimire.

Further, Gautam adds, They also fear that they might get double-charged or abused more if they complain against their own family members. Likewise, many elderly people are not aware of their rights and facilities.

Additionally, Ghimire says that the Senior Citizens Act, 2006, needs to be updated as the country has moved to a three-level federal system of government. Gautam and KC also agree.

Elderly people having lunch in Pashupatinath Old Age Home. Photo: Flickr

The issues of senior citizens have rarely become a national issue or received very little priority by the public, media and other stakeholders as well. According to Gautam, there are very few organisations that are working for safeguarding the rights of senior citizens in Nepal. Among those few organisations also, many of them are only concerned about providing shelter for them.

Also, the mindset that one should not speak on the personal issue of others that prevailing in society is not letting the abuse come to the forefront. On the other hand, the competitiveness of contemporary society and the booming practice of living in nuclear families have contributed to the elderly abuse a lot, intentionally or unintentionally, believes Gautam.

Achievements so far

The ministrys spokesperson Ghimire says the government has introduced the Senior Citizens Act, 2006, and the Senior Citizens Regulation 2008, for the protection and respect of the senior citizen and carrying out various activities accordingly.

For the protection of those elderly people, who are helpless (having no one to take care of them or who are compelled to live a discarded life), the ministry has been operating an old-age home at Pashupati of Kathmandu. As of now, 105 elderly people are staying there on the recommendation of the local government.

Also, the ministry has also been providing grants to many organisations working for the rights of senior citizens and elderly homes.

Further, the ministry has been working on preparing a detailed project report for the construction of a well-facilitated senior citizen ashram along with a senior citizen hospital having the capacity of 500 people in Gothatar of Kathmandu.

Likewise, he says, We have also prepared a draft of a 10-year strategy for the respect, protection of senior citizens and intergenerational transmission of skills and knowledge.

The ministry is also planning to provide caregiver training to those running old age homes. Also, the budget for constructing and establishing an outreach centre in each of 211 local units has been allocated.

File Image

Ghimire also admits although most of the senior citizens have got their identity card, they have not got all the facilities as provided to them by the law. He exemplifies, They have not got compensation while travelling via air. We cannot enforce that, however, we are coordinating with other ministries so that senior citizens can access all the facilities.

After a complaint is reported in the ministry, we forward it to the concerned authority such as Nepal Police and the local government and monitor it.

Further, for safeguarding their rights, the local units should play a major role as only a few senior citizens can reach the ministry, Ghimire suggests. Local units can organise orientation programmes where families having senior citizens can be taught about how to take care of them and treat them, according to Ghimire.
Kathmandu, June 15

The then foreign affairs minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali had told journalists on May 28 that the government had expected a breakthrough in the import of the Covid-19 vaccines in the next 15 days. Around the same time, the government made President Bidya Devi Bhandari write letters to heads of the states of global superpowers such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia and India, asking for their support to import the vaccines.

The government had a reason to do this: the presidents conversation with her Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping had resulted in Beijing announcing one million doses of the vaccines as a grant.

However, other efforts have not borne any fruit yet, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. An official there says the government has not received anything except the confirmation of the receipt of the letters.

But, the presidents letters cannot push the purchase process forward; they are just a request, he maintains, Therefore, you dont need to expect more. The government has to act for purchase.
Cybersecurity

TSA preps second pipeline cyber directive

The Transportation Security Administration told lawmakers on Tuesday that the agency is developing a second security directive focused on requirements for pipeline cybersecurity mitigation measures and that the agency has a cadre of inspectors ready to enforce those requirements.

Sonya Proctor, the assistant administrator for surface operations at TSA, told two subcommittees of the House Homeland Security Committee that the new directive will be a "security sensitive information" document and "will be rather prescriptive in terms of the mitigation measures required."

Proctor was testifying before House lawmakers alongside Eric Goldstein, executive assistant director for cybersecurity at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, about the effects of the ransomware attack against Colonial Pipeline.

A representative from the FBI was invited to testify at the hearing but declined to attend, according to Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.).

In the weeks following the May 7 attack, TSA issued a security directive mandating pipeline owners and operators to report "confirmed and potential" cybersecurity incidents to CISA as well as designate cybersecurity coordinators. The directive also requires pipeline owners to conduct self-assessments focused on the extent to which they are complying with existing voluntary standards.

Proctor's remarks on Tuesday were in response to a question from Coleman about how TSA will verify information companies report to the federal government and the consequences for misrepresenting themselves.

During previous hearings with Colonial Pipeline CEO Joseph Blount, lawmakers took issue with the company's lack of cooperation with TSA to conduct voluntary security assessments, both physical and otherwise.

Asked about the delays, Proctor said other companies also postponed assessments due to health concerns related to the pandemic. She also said Colonial had also postponed the assessment because it was making certain software updates.

"We had spoken in March. They had asked for about six weeks to complete some cyber updates and the six weeks was actually the week after the incident with Colonial," Proctor said of the validated architecture design review.

Lawmakers at the hearing also voiced concerns about the White House's choice to designate the Department of Energy as the lead agency for the incident. Since the May 7 attack, lawmakers on the Homeland Security Committee and others overseeing the Energy Department have been laying out their arguments for a coming turf war over whether TSA should keep its regulatory authority over pipeline companies.

When asked about what rationale CISA was given by the White House, Goldstein emphasized the breakdown of roles between agencies and that DOE was deemed the lead agency because of the incident's impact on the supply of gasoline to the East Coast.
Workforce

USDA looks to staff up with funding boost

The Department of Agriculture wants to staff up, Secretary Tom Vilsack told lawmakers during a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing on Tuesday.

The agency's total budget request for fiscal year 2022 includes a request for 99,365 full-time-equivalent employees - an increase of more than 12,500 employees over FY 2020 levels. The Biden administration is seeking $27.8 billion discretionary budget for FY2022 -- up 16% from 2021. The total funding for UDSA is far larger than that because of mandatory spending on nutrition programs.

Vilsack said that staffing is currently a major challenge for the agency.

"We're confronted with a department that has seen significant reductions in staff across the board," he said. "Some folks at USDA are working two and in some cases three jobs because of cuts. We have made an effort to accelerate staffing, and this budget obviously increases and requests additional assistance  so we can do the work that you all want us to do, and in doing so, improve the morale."

Vilsack did not address and lawmakers did not bring up the Trump administration's move of two USDA components -- the Economic Research Service (ERS) and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) -- from Washington, D.C., to the Kansas City region.

That move did much to bring down morale at USDA. ERS ranked 415 out of 420 agency subcomponents in the most recent Best Places to Work rankings. NIFA ranked next to last. Overall, USDA's overall ranking for employee engagement was 56.5  second to last among 17 large agencies. That's compared to recent high of 65.9 in 2017.

Vilsack said that he thinks increasing staff will help with morale, as will careful management of telework and the return to offices as the agency moves off its pandemic footing.

"The challenge is making sure that we are respectful to people that want to get back to work and of the customers we serve, but also respectful of the people that still have hesitancy about going back to work," Vilsack said.

In 2018, the agency restricted telework under the leadership of Secretary Sonny Perdue. Vilsack said he is looking at expanding telework.

"Where we are actually surveying our workforce in terms of telework and in terms of space requirements, we may be able to substantially shrink the space requirements of USDA and save money as a result, and provide greater flexibility and still get the work done," Vilsack said.
FCW Insider: June 15

The Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity Talent Management System has been years in the making, but officials say it will finally come online this fall.

The chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence said he will introduce legislation to mandate that companies notify the government to major cybersecurity breaches, a promise several lawmakers have made this year.

Gen. Paul Nakasone, the director of the National Security Agency and head of U.S. Cyber Command, told lawmakers that infrastructure deficits could prevent the creation of a service modeled on Space Force.

Quick Hits

*** On Monday, a group of organizations led by Demand Progress and the Niskanen Center joined on letters to the leaders of the Senate and the leaders of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration urging the adoption of new rules to permit lawmakers to carry out official responsibilities virtually, including voting on legislation and conducting hearings. Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) are sponsoring a resolution to provide for the Senate to certify and adopt technology to support remote voting and other virtual operations in the event on an emergency. The House of Representatives adopted rules last May as the pandemic ranged to permit remote hearings and other virtual operations.

***The IRS launched a new online tool to support families that don't file income tax returns to register for and obtain advanced child tax credits available under the American Rescue Plan. The new Non-filer Sign Up Tool is aimed at users who didn't file tax returns for 2019 and 2020, and who weren't users of the IRS Non-Filers tool used to register for Economic Impact Payments under the CARES Act.

*** The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee will vote Wednesday on the nominations of Robin Carnahan to be administrator of the General Services Administration; Jen Easterly to lead CISA and Chris Inglis to serve as national cyber director.
Is it time to go back to the office?

I dont think the workforce is psychologically prepared to return to the office.

These words came from a GS-15 participating in a Kennedy School executive education program as we were talking during a break.

A lot of big companies have told their workers they will need to come back to the office by the end of the summer, the individual said. But theres been no discussion or preparation for this in the government. If the word comes down that people need to return to the office, he added, there may be a revolt, including from employee unions.

Many of the feds Ive spoken with over the last few months have said to me they would like to keep working remotely indefinitely, at least most of the week. They say they are doing just fine remotely and can perform their work duties without problems. The White House last week issued guidance that will give agencies substantial flexibility to allow for more telework long term.

What should we think about this?

One view is that it turns out that the pandemic has taught us something we didnt expect before  that, in terms of productivity, we can do as well remotely as in person. And of course if productivity is the same, there are lots of advantages to remote work. For employees, there are savings in time and hassle from commuting (surely a main reason remote work is popular). For agencies, if remote work spreads as a permanent phenomenon, there are big savings from less need for office space.

I think it is almost certainly fair to say that, for now at least, any doomsday scenario about a remote working productivity catastrophe have not come to pass.

But I still have some worries. It has always been a common view that physical proximity promotes productivity  having colleagues nearby promotes informal advice-seeking and learning. I see no reason to abandon that view. I suspect there are very few government workplaces where we can measure productivity so well that we would notice a 10% drop due to lack of physical proximity.

Second, remote work (where productivity cant be measured exactly) relies a lot on some mixture of in-person instructions from bosses and the honor system. Most feds I have spoken with would agree that remote work for conscientious employees works fine, but that it makes it easier for slackers to slack. I worry that, if remote work continues over time, gradually the in-person incentives not to slack will diminish, and performance will deteriorate.

I am not certain about any of the above points, but I would recommend caution with an indefinite continuation of mostly remote work.

What do readers think? Send me emails ([email protected]) or Linkedin posts (Steven Kelman) with your thoughts.
RADNOR, Pa., June 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The law firm of Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP announces that Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP has filed a securities fraud class action against Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (NYSE: EBS) (Emergent) on behalf investors who purchased or acquired Emergent common stock between April 24, 2020, and April 16, 2021, inclusive (the Class Period). This action, captioned Roth v. Emergent BioSolutions Inc., et al., Case No. 1:21-cv-01189-PX (the Roth Action), was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland (Southern Division). To view a copy of the Roth Action complaint, please click here.



There is one related class action case pending against Emergent in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland (Southern Division), and a published notice in that action triggered the deadline of June 18, 2021, for any investors who purchased Emergent common stock to seek to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class. The filing of the Roth Action does not change the June 18, 2021 lead plaintiff deadline.

Deadline Investor Reminder: For additional information or to learn how to participate in this litigation, please contact Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP: James Maro, Esq. (484) 270-1453 or Adrienne Bell, Esq. (484) 270-1435; toll free at (844) 887-9500; via e-mail at info@ktmc.com; or visit: https://www.ktmc.com/emergent-biosolutions-class-action-lawsuit?utm_source=PR&utm_medium=Link&utm_campaign=emergent.

Emergent is a specialty biopharmaceutical company that develops vaccines and antibody therapeutics for infectious diseases. In response to the novel strain of coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) causing COVID-19 disease (COVID-19) pandemic, Emergent signed a series of deals with Johnson & Johnson (J&J) and AstraZeneca worth a combined $876 million to provide contract development and manufacturing organization services to produce the companies COVID-19 vaccine candidates.

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The Class Period begins on April 24, 2020, the day after Emergent announced that it had entered into an agreement with J&J to manufacture J&Js COVID-19 vaccine candidate at Emergents Baltimore facility. Under the deal, Emergent would provide drug substance manufacturing services and reserve large-scale manufacturing capacity for J&J. Then, on June 11, 2020 Emergent announced that it had signed another agreement to provide contract development and manufacturing services and secure large-scale manufacturing capacity to support AstraZenecas COVID-19 vaccine candidate.

The truth about Emergent began to be revealed on March 31, 2021 after the close of markets, when The New York Times published an article reporting on the accidental contamination of COVID-19 vaccines developed by J&J and AstraZeneca at Emergents Baltimore facility. The New York Times article stated that in late February 2021, Emergent employees at the Baltimore facility mixed up ingredients of the two different COVID-19 vaccines, contaminating up to 15 million doses of J&Js vaccine and forcing regulators to delay authorization of the facilitys production lines. Also, [f]urther shipments of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine  expected to total 24 million doses in the next month  were supposed to come from the giant plant in Baltimore but [t]hose deliveries are now in question while the quality control issues are sorted out.

The next morning, April 1, 2021, the Associated Press reported, based on documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had repeatedly . . . cited Emergent for problems such as poorly trained employees, cracked vials and problems managing mold and other contamination around one of its facilities. Following this news, Emergents stock price substantially declined from a close of $92.91 per share on March 31, 2021, to $80.46 per share at the close of trading on April 1, 2021, a drop of $12.45, or over 13%, per share.

Then, on April 19, 2021, Emergent revealed that, at the request of the FDA, Emergent agreed not to initiate the manufacturing of any new material at its Bayview facility and to quarantine existing material manufactured at the Bayview facility pending completion of the [FDAs] inspection and remediation of any resulting findings. Following this news, the price of Emergents common stock declined $9.77 per share, or more than 12%, from a close of $77.64 per share on April 16, 2021, to close at $67.87 per share on April 19, 2021.

The Roth Action alleges that, throughout the Class Period, the defendants failed to disclose that: (1) Emergents Baltimore facility had a history of manufacturing issues increasing the likelihood for massive contaminations; (2) the Baltimore facility had received a series of FDA citations as a result of these contamination risks and quality control issues; (3) Emergent had been forced to discard millions of doses of COVID-19 vaccines after workers at the facility deviated from manufacturing standards; and (4) as a result of the foregoing, the defendants public statements about Emergents ability and capacity to mass manufacture multiple COVID-19 vaccines at its Baltimore facility were materially false and/or misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.

Emergent investors may, no later than June 18, 2021 , seek to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class through Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP or other counsel, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of all class members in directing the litigation. In order to be appointed as a lead plaintiff, the Court must determine that the class members claim is typical of the claims of other class members, and that the class member will adequately represent the class. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision of whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff.

Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP prosecutes class actions in state and federal courts throughout the country involving securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duties and other violations of state and federal law. Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP is a driving force behind corporate governance reform, and has recovered billions of dollars on behalf of institutional and individual investors from the United States and around the world. The firm represents investors, consumers and whistleblowers (private citizens who report fraudulent practices against the government and share in the recovery of government dollars). For more information about Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP, please visit www.ktmc.com.

CONTACT:

Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP

James Maro, Jr., Esq.

Adrienne Bell, Esq.

280 King of Prussia Road

Radnor, PA 19087

(844) 887-9500

info@ktmc.com




FILE PHOTO: The logo of Australia's casino operator Crown Resorts adorns a fence surrounding the Crown Perth hotel and casino complex in Western Australia

(Reuters) -Crown Resorts said on Tuesday Oaktree Capital Group had offered it A$3.1 billion ($2.39 billion) to buyback its founder's holding, in a deal that would give the private-equity giant a 10% stake in Crown.

The latest proposal from Oaktree is for a A$2 billion private loan and a A$1.1 billion loan convertible into new shares to be issued by Crown, the company said in a statement.

Oaktree's offer is slightly higher than the A$3 billion in funding it offered in April to help Crown buy back James Packer's 37% stake.

Australian casino operator Star Entertainment Group had offered an all-stock buyout of the troubled company valued at A$9 billion, while rival buyout giant Blackstone Group upped its all-cash indicative bid to A$8.4 billion.

Billionaire Packer's status as Crown's major shareholder has been under scrutiny ever since an inquiry named his influence as a reason for declaring the company unfit for a Sydney casino licence in February, citing activities including money laundering.

According to the terms for the convertible loan, the number of new Crown shares to be issued to Oaktree on conversion would be capped at a 10% stake in Crown.

Oaktree could convert the A$1.1 billion loan into new Crown shares at A$13 per share under some specified circumstances, including after the first year of the facility, provided shares trade above that amount, the company said. Crown's shares last closed at A$12.220.

Crown said it had yet not decided on the proposal.

($1 = 1.2967 Australian dollars)

(Reporting by Rashmi Ashok in Bengaluru;Editing by Vinay Dwivedi)
Ghent, Belgium, June 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --



NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION, PUBLICATION OR RELEASE TO OR WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, CANADA, SWITZERLAND, JAPAN, SOUTH AFRICA, AUSTRALIA OR ANY OTHER COUNTRY OR JURISDICTION WHERE ITS DISSEMINATION WOULD BE CONTRARY TO LAW OR OTHER RESTRICTIONS APPLY.

This announcement is not an offer to invest in the shares (the Shares) of Biotalys. An investment in the Shares can only be based on the prospectus (the Prospectus) Biotalys intends to issue in connection with the offering of its Shares.

The investment in Shares of Biotalys involves substantial risks and uncertainties, including the following risks: (i) Biotalys has never brought a product to the market. All but one of Biotalys product candidates are still in early stages of discovery. Only one product candidate is in the registration phase, but will, if regulatory approval is obtained, only be introduced as a market test and is not expected to become a profitable product for Biotalys. Biotalys technology platform AGROBODY Foundry and the modes of action of its product candidates are novel, have not been tested on a commercial scale, may not result in a marketable product in the near term, if ever or may not be well understood, may be difficult to apply or may not be accepted by customers, (ii) the current costs of manufacturing Biotalys product candidates are high. Biotalys has also not yet been able to cost-effectively manufacture any products on large scale for use in commercial environments. Biotalys may not be able to manufacture its product candidates in an economically viable manner and/or its product candidates may not be competitive in the target markets, (iii) Biotalys has not yet obtained regulatory approval for any of its product candidates. The crop protection products industry is subject to a stringent regulatory environment including extensive regulations for obtaining product registrations. Biotalys may not be able to obtain or maintain the necessary regulatory approvals for its product candidates, which will restrict its ability to sell the product candidates in some markets. Biotalys inability to obtain regulatory approvals, or to comply with ongoing and changing regulatory requirements, could delay or prevent sales of the product candidates Biotalys is developing and intends to commercialize, (iv) Biotalys has a limited operating history and has not yet generated any revenues. Biotalys has incurred operating losses, negative operating cash flows and an accumulated deficit since inception and may not be able to achieve or subsequently maintain profitability. Biotalys is executing its strategy in accordance with its business model, the viability of which has not been demonstrated, and (v) in Biotalys opinion, it does not currently have sufficient working capital to satisfy its present or anticipated future working capital requirements for at least the next 12 months following the date of the Prospectus Biotalys intends to issue in the framework of offering its Shares. Prospective investors should read this Prospectus and, in particular, should read the section on Risk Factors for a discussion of certain factors which should be considered in connection with an investment in the Shares. All of these factors should be considered before investing in the Shares. Prospective investors must be able to bear the economic risk of an investment in the Shares and should be able to sustain a partial or total loss of their investment.

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Biotalys announces Intention to Launch an Initial Public Offering on Euronext Brussels

Ghent, BELGIUM  15 June 2021  Biotalys NV (Biotalys or the Company) an Agricultural Technology (AgTech) company focused on addressing food protection challenges with protein-based biocontrol solutions for a more sustainable and safer food supply, today announces its intention to raise new funds through an Initial Public Offering (IPO) with admission of all its shares on the regulated market of Euronext Brussels (the "Offering"). Prior to the IPO, Federale Participatie- en Investeringsmaatschappij (FPIM) and BNP Paribas Fortis Private Equity Belgium have, subject to certain conditions precedent, pre-committed to purchase an aggregate amount of 10 million of new shares in the IPO, in exchange for guaranteed allocations.

Company Highlights

Biotalys ambition is to address three core challenges facing global food production today: the 1.6 billion tons of global food lost or wasted every year; the agricultural impact on biodiversity, soil, water and human health; the need for sustainable and safe food production safeguarding our future.

Biotalys aims to address these challenges through the development of its product candidates which are designed to be effective, environmentally safer and cleaner protein-based biocontrol solutions.

These product candidates have multiple applications aimed at helping growers address major food pests and diseases, more safely and sustainably, providing alternatives to conventional chemical pesticides in an integrated pest management framework and reducing chemical residues on food.

The Companys approach is powered by its AGROBODY Foundry platform, a scalable proprietary technology platform offering significant advantages compared to the development of new conventional chemical alternatives, most notably shorter and cheaper product development cycles.

A diversified pipeline of seven product candidates in three different indications  biofungicides, bio-insecticides and biobactericides  targeting critical pests and diseases, with a combined potential addressable market of $4.8 billion.

First product Evoca submitted to the EPA in the U.S. and the EU in December 2020 and March 2021 respectively, is designed to pave both the regulatory and commercial path of future products. A market test launch of Evoca in the US and EU, is expected to start in late 2022 and 2024 respectively.

Portfolio of 15 families of proprietary patents related to the Companys AGROBODY technology and product pipeline.

Actively pursuing selective partnerships with food and agricultural players in search of innovative and differentiated solutions, expanding the potential, scope and value of the AGROBODY Foundry platform.

Experienced management team with strong track record in the AgTech and biotech industries, backed by renowned local and international specialist shareholder base.

Operations in Belgium and the U.S. with future commercialization plans to occur via distribution agreements, partnerships or on its own in certain markets where strategically valuable.





Patrice Selles, Chief Executive Officer of Biotalys, commented: Biotalys is dedicated to transforming conventional farming approaches by creating a new paradigm in food production and protection. Our approach is aligned with the pressing need for a sustainable agriculture and aims to offer a range of protein-based products that are as effective as traditional chemical approaches in an integrated pest management framework, while being safer and more environmentally sustainable. The innovative potential of our platform is highly sought after and with partnerships possible across the full spectrum of the food production industry, Biotalys is strongly positioned to build significant value for its investors, employees and society as a whole.

AGROBODY Foundry platform Highlights

The Company aims to develop products that will help reduce the agricultural environmental footprint, reduce food waste and provide healthier and safer choices for consumers, leveraging the AGROBODY Foundry platform:

A unique and scalable technology platform that allows the development of AGROBODY protein-based biocontrol product candidates to target multiple indications

AGROBODY biocontrols are based on small proteins obtained by fermentation, inspired by fragments of heavy-chain antibodies found in the Camelidae family. Leveraging decades of scientific progress and proof-of-concept of Camelidae antibody inspired protein technology, as already seen in therapeutic molecules across multiple pharmaceutical applications

Offers several distinct advantages over small molecules and microbials, including: targeted approach enhancing specificity broad spectrum of targets and novel modes of action intrinsic safety and biodegradability traceability and quality control scalable industrial manufacturing with flexible fermentation conditions, and ability to combine AGROBODY biocontrols with existing farming practices to reduce overall need for chemical products.







Biotalys intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering to:

Fund the development of its existing pipeline, including discovery, development, fields trials, manufacturing scale up and regulatory costs;

Fund the continued improvement and optimization of its AGROBODY Foundry platform and to fund the extension of Biotalys pipeline (including potentially through partnered programs);

Fund its go-to-market strategy including distribution costs related to setting up a supply chain, warehouse & logistics, costs for distribution via partners, etc. and business development efforts; and

General corporate purposes.

The Offering

Subject to the approval of the prospectus by the Belgian Financial Services and Markets Authority ("FSMA") and market conditions, it is expected that the price range, as well as other details of the Offering will be published when the Offering period is expected to commence. After its approval, which approval should not be understood as an endorsement by the FSMA of the securities offered by Biotalys, the prospectus is expected to be made available at the Company's registered office and on the websites of Biotalys (www.biotalys.com/investors), KBC Securities NV/SA (www.kbc.be/Biotalys, www.bolero.be/nl/Biotalys and www.kbcsecurities.com) and Belfius Bank NV/SA (www.belfius.be/Biotalys2021).

Joh. Berenberg, Gossler & Co. KG and KBC Securities NV are acting as Joint Global Coordinators, and the Joint Global Coordinators and Belfius Bank NV/SA are acting as Joint Bookrunners, whereas Oppenheimer Europe Ltd. acts as Lead Bookrunner US (together the Underwriters).

The Offering is expected to consist of: (i) an initial public offering to retail and institutional investors in Belgium; (ii) a placement in the United States to persons that are reasonably believed to be QIBs as defined in Rule 144A under the US Securities Act, and (iii) a placement to certain qualified and/or institutional investors in the EEA, the United Kingdom and Switzerland (those qualified and/or institutional investors together with the QIBs are collectively being referred to as the Institutional Investors). The Offering outside the US will be made in compliance with Regulation S under the US Securities Act. Private placements may take place in member states of the EEA pursuant to an exemption under the Prospectus Regulation i.e.

To legal entities that are qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Regulation;

To fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Regulation) subject to obtaining the prior consent of the Underwriters for any such offer; or

In any other circumstances falling within Article 1(4) of the Prospectus Regulation, if applicable, provided that no such offer of Offered Shares shall result in a requirement for the publication by the Company or any Underwriter of a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Regulation or supplement a prospectus pursuant to article 23 of the Prospectus Regulation and each person who initially acquires Shares or to whom any offer is made will be deemed to have represented, warranted and agreed to and with the Underwriters and the Company that it is a qualified investor within the meaning of the Prospectus Regulation.

- ENDS -

For further information, please contact:

Biotalys

Toon Musschoot, Strategic Communications Manager

T: +32 (0)9 274 54 00

E: Toon.Musschoot@Biotalys.com

For media enquiries, please contact:

Consilium Strategic Communications

Amber Fennell, Chris Gardner, Chris Welsh

T: +44 (0)203 709 5700

E: Biotalys@consilium-comms.com

About Biotalys

Biotalys is an Agricultural Technology (AgTech) company focused on addressing food protection challenges with protein-based biocontrol solutions for more sustainable and safer food. Based on its novel AGROBODY technology platform, Biotalys aims to develop a strong and diverse pipeline of effective products with a favorable safety profile that aim to address key crop pests and diseases across the whole value chain, from soil to plate. Biotalys was founded in 2013 as a spin-off from the VIB (Flanders Institute for Biotechnology) and has raised 62.8 million (US$74,9 million) to date from Belgian and international investors. The company is based in the biotech cluster in Ghent, Belgium. More information can be found on www.biotalys.com.

Important Notice

This announcement is not for distribution in or to persons resident in the United States of America, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Africa or Switzerland. The information contained herein does not constitute an offer of securities for sale.

This announcement contains statements which are "forward-looking statements" or could be considered as such. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the words aim, 'believe', 'estimate', 'anticipate', 'expect', 'intend', 'may', 'will', 'plan', 'continue', 'ongoing', 'possible', 'predict', 'plans', 'target', 'seek', 'would' or 'should', and contain statements made by the company regarding the intended results of its strategy. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and readers are warned that none of these forward-looking statements offers any guarantee of future performance. The Biotalys actual results may differ materially from those predicted by the forward-looking statements. Biotalys makes no undertaking whatsoever to publish updates or adjustments to these forward-looking statements, unless required to do so by law.

The Companys securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), or under the laws of any state or other jurisdiction in the United States of America, and may not be offered or sold within the United States of America except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state laws. No public offering of securities will be made in the United States of America.

This information does not constitute an offer or invitation to proceed to an acquisition of or subscription for the Companys securities, nor an offer or invitation to proceed to an acquisition of or subscription for the Companys securities in any jurisdiction (including Belgium, member states of the EEA, the United States of America, Switzerland, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Africa or the United Kingdom) where such offer or invitation is not allowed without registration or qualification under the applicable legislation of the relevant jurisdiction, or where such offer or invitation does not meet the required conditions under the applicable legislation of the relevant jurisdiction.

This information and any materials distributed in connection with this information are not directed to, or intended for distribution to or use by, any person or entity that is a citizen or resident of or located in the United States of America, Switzerland, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Africa or any other jurisdiction where such distribution, publication, availability or use would be contrary to law or regulation or which would require any registration or licensing within such jurisdiction. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the laws or regulations of the United States of America, Switzerland, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Africa or any other jurisdiction. The distribution of this information in other jurisdictions than Belgium, may be restricted by laws or regulations applicable in such jurisdictions. All persons in possession of this information must inform themselves about, and comply with, any such restrictions.

An investment in shares entails significant risks. Relevant investors are encouraged to read the Prospectus that the Company expects to publish after approval by the FSMA. This document is not a prospectus and investors should not subscribe for or purchase any shares referred to herein except on the basis of the information contained in the Prospectus. Potential investors must read the Prospectus before making an investment decision in order to fully understand the potential risks and rewards associated with the decision to invest in the securities. This announcement and the approval of the Prospectus, as the case may be, should not be understood as an endorsement of the securities offered or admitted to trading on a regulated market. The value of the Company's shares can decrease as well as increase. Potential investors should consult a professional advisor as to the suitability of the intended offering for the person concerned.

The date of completion of listing on the regulated market of Euronext Brussels may be influenced by things such as market conditions. There is no guarantee that such listing will occur and a potential investor should not base your financial decisions on the Company's intentions in relation to such listing at this stage.

Acquiring investments to which this announcement relates may expose an investor to a significant risk of losing the entire amount invested. Persons considering such investments should consult an authorized person specializing in advising on such investments.

This announcement is only addressed to and directed at persons in the United Kingdom and member states of the European Economic Area (the "EEA") (each a Member State) who are "qualified investors" within the meaning of Article 2(e) of Regulation 2017/1129 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2017 on the prospectus to be published when securities are offered to the public or admitted to trading on a regulated market, and repealing Directive 2003/71/EC, as amended from time to time, to the extent implemented in the relevant Member State of the EEA) and any implementing measure in each relevant Member State of the EEA (the Prospectus Regulation), or such other investors as shall not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of Article 3.1 of the Prospectus Regulation. In addition, in the United Kingdom, this announcement is only addressed to and directed at (i) persons having professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within the definition of "investment professionals" in Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the "Order"), (ii) high net worth entities, etc. falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order, and (iii) any other person to whom it may otherwise lawfully be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as "relevant persons"). The intended offering, as the case may be, will only be available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe for, purchase, or otherwise acquire securities will be engaged in only with relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this announcement or any of its contents.

The Joint Bookrunners are acting for the Company and no one else in relation to the intended offering, and will not be responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the protections offered to their respective clients nor for providing advice in relation to the intended offering.

The Company assumes responsibility for the information contained in this announcement. None of the Joint Bookrunners or any of their respective affiliates or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, advisers or agents accepts any responsibility or liability whatsoever for or makes any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the truth, accuracy or completeness of the information in this announcement (or whether any information has been omitted from the announcement) or any other information relating to the Company, whether written, oral or in a visual or electronic form, and howsoever transmitted or made available or for any loss howsoever arising from any use of this announcement or its contents or otherwise arising in connection therewith. Each of the Underwriters and each of their respective affiliates accordingly disclaim, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, all and any liability whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise which they might otherwise be found to have in respect of this announcement or any such statement or information. No representation or warranty express or implied, is made by any of the Underwriters or any of their respective affiliates as to the accuracy, completeness, verification or sufficiency of the information set out in this announcement, and nothing in this announcement will be relied upon as a promise or representation in this respect, whether or not to the past or future.




OTTAWA , June 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

Thanks to the generosity of Canadians and the Government of Canada, Red Cross and Red Crescent efforts to help mitigate the impact of COVID-19 in India, Nepal and the wider region will be increased through medical equipment and other urgently needed supplies.



High COVID-19 infection rates have been devastating in South Asia. Thousands of Red Cross and Red Crescent personnel are working diligently, providing ambulance services, first aid, medical care, oxygen, and vaccination support to people in some of the most vulnerable areas and situations.

Canadian efforts to assist people impacted by COVID-19 in South Asia will include providing urgent items such as:

oxygen generators and concentrators;

an ambulance;

field hospital tents to help isolate patients;

hygiene kits; and,

personal protective equipment.



As efforts to contain the pandemic continue to evolve, the Red Cross will adapt its response and provide supports as needs are identified.

Canadians wishing to support Red Cross COVID-19 response efforts in Canada or around the world can do so online at www.redcross.ca or by calling 1-800-418-1111.

QUOTES

The humanitarian needs in South Asia are immense as the region faces the devastating effects of COVID-19 and its variants. The medical equipment and supplies being delivered to India, Nepal, and the wider region are desperately needed to help save lives. Thanks to the generosity of Canadians and the Government of Canada, the efforts being made will make a difference in these very challenging times.

 Conrad Sauve, president and CEO, Canadian Red Cross

More than ever before, the world needs to come together to defeat this pandemic. Our government is working closely with the Red Cross in support of the response against COVID-19. The needs are immense, but every donation makes a difference. Thank you to everyone who has generously supported this effort.

 Karina Gould, Minister of International Development



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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

@RedCrossCanada | facebook.com/CanadianRedCross | redcross.ca/blog

Red Cross donor inquiries: WeCare@redcross.ca or 1-800-418-1111

ABOUT THE CANADIAN RED CROSS

Here in Canada and overseas, the Red Cross stands ready to help people before, during and after a disaster. As a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement  which is made up of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Committee of the Red Cross and 192 national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies  the Canadian Red Cross is dedicated to improving the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity in Canada and throughout the world.

MEDIA CONTACTS

English Media: 1-877-599-9602

French Media: 1-888-418-9111




MONTREAL, June 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Computers for Success Canada (CFSC-OPEC) is grateful to Bell, an ongoing supporter of the Computers for Schools Plus (CFS+) program, for having joined the founding Canadian businesses of the recently launched CEO Pledge.



The CEO Pledge, a campaign initiated by Microsoft Canada, is a joint effort from some of Canadas leading businesses to commit their used technology to the Government of Canadas CFS+ program.

By lending its voice to this important initiative and stating its commitment to the CFS+ program, Bell is helping bridge the digital divide in Canada, said Toby Harper-Merrett, Executive Director, CFSC-OPEC. As a long-standing partner of the program, Bell has been an important contributor to its goal of providing at-risk Canadians with the tools and opportunities needed to participate in the digital economy.

Bell is proud of our longstanding support for the CFS+ programs work to provide at-risk Canadians with the tools they need to take full advantage of broadband access to meet their education and personal development goals, said Mirko Bibic, President and CEO of BCE Inc. and Bell Canada. We look forward to building on our partnership with CFS+ as we work to achieve Bells goal of advancing how Canadians connect with each other and the world.

Since 1993, the CFS+ program has refurbished and redistributed over 1.7 million computers to schools, libraries, not-for-profit organizations, Indigenous communities, and eligible low-income families. The program also provides beneficial work experience to Canadian youth through paid internships. Interns help refurbish the used technology while acquiring essential digital skills.

The past year has put an even greater emphasis on the importance of putting technology into the hands of Canadians in need, and we could not achieve this without the support of partners like Bell, added Mr. Harper-Merrett.

About Computers for Schools Plus

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Computers for Schools Plus (CFS+) is a national partnership-based program that refurbishes digital devices from government, private business and individuals for use by schools, libraries, not-for profit organizations, Indigenous communities and eligible low-income individuals. This program is funded by the Government of Canada.

About CFSC-OPEC

Computers for Success Canada Inc.| Ordinateurs pour lexcellence Canada Inc. (CFSC-OPEC) is a not-for-profit organization established in 2005, supporting Government of Canada digital inclusion and economic development programs. CFSC-OPECs services include project management, communications, partnership development, and strategic planning.

Contact

Julie Brouard

Manager, Communications and Partnerships

Computers for Success  Canada Inc.

julie.brouard@cfsc-opec.org

514-793-8073




SINGAPORE, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Embarking on digital transformation projects has driven greater efficiencies and higher productivity for DHL Express. CEO Ken Lee and CIO Jimmy Yeoh from DHL Express Asia Pacific share more:

For the full multimedia release, click here:

https://www.prnasia.com/mnr/DHL_202106.shtml

DHL Logo (PRNewsfoto/DHL)

DHLBot that helps to sort parcels (PRNewsfoto/DHL)

DHL Express Central Asia Hub in Hong Kong (PRNewsfoto/DHL)

DHL Boeing B757 (PRNewsfoto/DHL)

Red warning lights pop up simultaneously on the dashboard of the Advanced Quality Control Center (AQCC) system at DHL Express' operations centers across the network, but the atmosphere at each facility remains calm.

The data analytics prowess of the Artificial Intelligence-powered AQCC system  designed to monitor shipment movements and flag issues in real time  is in full control.

Locations of the shipments stalled in transit, also known as exceptions, are quickly identified and its projected routes mapped. The team's analysts then hunker down to implement corrective actions to ensure these shipments can still arrive at their destinations on time.

The seemingly effortless task was once a laborious responsibility for logistics providers like DHL Express, but digitalization is slowly turning things around.

Logistics has long been known as a traditional industry associated with manual labor and repetitive tasks. Often held back by legacy processes and dated IT systems, logistics companies are increasingly aware of the need to harness technology to stay competitive in a fast-moving industry.

Deutsche Post DHL Group (DPDHL Group)  in line with its Strategy 2025 goal of delivering excellence in a digital world  is investing over EUR2 billion on digital transformation projects from 2021 to 2025 to improve the experience of customers and employees, while also increasing operational excellence.

In its 3,200 facilities across more than 220 countries and territories worldwide, DHL Express relies on best-in-class technology solutions to deliver close to 500 million shipments a year (according to 2020 figures).

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"By constantly listening to our customers' needs, we have implemented technological innovations that are relevant and sensible for our customers, employees and operations," said Ken Lee, CEO, DHL Express Asia Pacific.

"We've introduced solutions to streamline vital processes, automate time-consuming repetitive tasks, and helped our teams become more productive. These include autonomous guided vehicles to enhance our operations, chatbots to complement customer service operations, and shipment sensors with track-and-trace capabilities," he shared.

The Covid-19 pandemic has further proven how essential the company's digital transformation efforts and investments are to addressing the surge in cross-border e-commerce demand and driving greater efficiency and productivity.

"Before the pandemic, we were cognizant that digital transformation was an imperative to maintain and elevate our service levels as a logistics provider. The pandemic accelerated our plans to allow our work force to collaborate and work virtually from any location. We also fast-tracked our adoption and rollout of technologies, such as live chat and digital assistants, which were crucial in helping us cope with an unprecedented demand surge worldwide," explained Jimmy Yeoh, Chief Information Officer, DHL Express Asia Pacific.

To better understand the impact of digitalization on DHL Express, Logistics of Things takes a closer look at the notable digital transformation projects undertaken in recent years:

DHL Express Digitalization in Asia Pacific infographic (PRNewsfoto/DHL)

At a glance: Digital transformation in DHL Express



Advanced Quality Control Center (AQCC) Automatic flyer sorting with DHLBot Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) Autonomous mobile robots Chatbots for 24/7 customer service On-Demand Delivery (ODD) online portal QR code labelers for parcel returns Route optimization for faster deliveries

SOURCE DHL Express
What, exactly, are investors looking for?

Early-stage founders, usually first-timers, often tie themselves in knots as they try to project the qualities they hope investors are seeking. In reality, few entrepreneurs have the acting skills required to convince someone that they're patient, dedicated or hard working.

Johan Brenner, general partner at Creandum, was an early backer of Klarna, Spotify and several other European startups. Over the last two decades, he's identified five key traits shared by people who create billion-dollar companies.

Full Extra Crunch articles are only available to members.

Use discount code ECFriday to save 20% off a one- or two-year subscription.

"A true unicorn founder doesnt need to have all of those capabilities on day one," says Brenner, "but they should already be thinking big while executing small and demonstrating that they understand how to scale a company."

Drawing from observations gleaned from working with founders like Spotify's Daniel Ek, Sebastian Siemiatkowski from Klarna, and iZettle's Jacob de Geer and Magnus Nilsson, Brenner explains where "VC FOMO" comes from and how it drives deal-making.

We're running a series of posts that recap conversations from last week's virtual TC Mobility conference, including an interview with Refraction AI's Matthew Johnson, a look at how autonomous delivery startups are navigating the regulatory and competitive landscape, and much more. There are many more recaps to come; click here to find them all.

Thanks very much for reading Extra Crunch!

Walter Thompson

Senior Editor, TechCrunch

@yourprotagonist

How contrarian hires and a pitch deck started Nubanks $30 billion fintech empire

Image Credits: Nigel Sussman

Founded in 2013 and based in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Nubank serves more than 34 million customers, making it Latin America's largest neobank.

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Reporter Marcella McCarthy spoke to CEO David Velez to learn about his efforts to connect with consumers and overcome entrenched opposition from established players who were friendly with regulators.

In the first of a series of stories for Nubank's EC-1, she interviewed Velez about his early fundraising efforts. For a balanced perspective, she also spoke to early Nubank investors at Sequoia and Kaszek Ventures, Latin America's largest venture fund, to find out why they funded the startup while it was still pre-product.

There are people you come across in life that within the first hour of meeting with them, you know you want to work with them, said Doug Leone, a global managing partner at Sequoia who'd recruited Velez after he graduated from grad school at Stanford.

Marcella also interviewed members of Nubank's founding team to better understand why they decided to take a chance on a startup that faced such long odds of success.

I left banking to make a fifth of my salary, and back then, about $5,000 in equity, said Vitor Olivier, Nubank's VP of operations and platforms.

Financially, it didnt really make sense, so I really had to believe that it was really going to work, and that it would be big.

Despite flat growth, ride-hailing colossus Didis US IPO could reach $70B

Image Credits: Didi

In his last dispatch before a week's vacation, Alex Wilhelm waded through the numbers in Didi's SEC filing. The big takeaways?

"While Didi managed an impressive GTV recovery in China, its aggregate numbers are flatter, and recent quarterly trends are not incredibly attractive," he writes.

However, "Didi is not as unprofitable as we might have anticipated. Thats a nice surprise. But the companys regular business has never made money, and its losing more lately than historically, which is also pretty rough."

Whats driving the rise of robotaxis in China with AutoX, Momenta and WeRide

AutoX, Momenta and WeRide took the stage at TC Sessions: Mobility 2021 to discuss the state of robotaxi startups in China and their relationships with local governments in the country.

They also talked about overseas expansion  a common trajectory for Chinas top autonomous vehicle startups  and shed light on the challenges and opportunities for foreign AV companies eyeing the massive Chinese market.

The air taxi market prepares to take flight

Image Credits: Bryce Durbin

"As in any disruptive industry, the forecast may be cloudier than the rosy picture painted by passionate founders and investors," Aria Alamalhodaei writes. "A quick peek at comments and posts on LinkedIn reveals squabbles among industry insiders and analysts about when this emerging technology will truly take off and which companies will come out ahead."

But while some electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) companies have no revenue yet to speak of  and may not for the foreseeable future  valuations are skyrocketing.

"Electric air mobility is gaining elevation," she writes. "But theres going to be some turbulence ahead."

The demise of browser cookies could create a Golden Age of digital marketing

Illuminated gold code streaming from a cityscape.

Image Credits: Kwanchai Lerttanapunyaporn / EyeEm (opens in a new window)

Though some may say the doomsday clock is ticking toward catastrophe for digital marketing, Apple's iOS 14.5 update, which does away with automatic opt-ins for data collection, and Google's plan to phase out third-party cookies do not signal a death knell for digital advertisers.

"With a few changes to short-term strategy  and a longer-term plan that takes into account the fact that people are awakening to the value of their online data  advertisers can form a new type of relationship with consumers," Permission.io CTO Hunter Jensen writes in a guest column. "It can be built upon trust and open exchange of value."

If offered the right incentives, Jensen predicts, "consumers will happily consent to data collection because advertisers will be offering them something they value in return."

How autonomous delivery startups are navigating policy, partnerships and post-pandemic operations

Nuro second gen R2 delivery vehicle

Image Credits: Nuro

We kicked off this years TC Sessions: Mobility with a talk featuring three leading players in the field of autonomous delivery. Gatik co-founder and chief engineer Apeksha Kumavat, Nuro head of operations Amy Jones Satrom, and Starship Technologies co-founder and CTO Ahti Heinla joined us to discuss their companies unique approaches to the category.

The trio discussed government regulation on autonomous driving, partnerships with big corporations like Walmart and Dominos, and the ongoing impact the pandemic has had on interest in the space.

Waabis Raquel Urtasun explains why it was the right time to launch an AV technology startup

Image Credits: Waabi via Natalia Dola

Raquel Urtasun, the former chief scientist at Uber ATG, is the founder and CEO of Waabi, an autonomous vehicle startup that came out of stealth mode last week. The Toronto-based company, which will focus on trucking, raised an impressive $83.5 million in a Series A round led by Khosla Ventures.

Urtasun joined Mobility 2021 to talk about her new venture, the challenges facing the self-driving vehicle industry and how her approach to AI can be used to advance the commercialization of AVs.
TORONTO, June 14, 2021 /CNW/ - Doug Ford's conservative government proves it will go to any length to silence critics, as it rams though an unconstitutional bill using a power never resorted to in the history of Ontario.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford, with image of protesting workers superimposed. (CNW Group/Unifor)

"The emergency recall of Queen's Park to pass undemocratic legislation in a matter of hours using the Notwithstanding clause clearly illustrates this government's self-serving priorities," said Unifor National President Jerry Dias. "Where were the all-night sessions on COVID health measures, or vaccine rollout, or the crisis in long-term care when seniors were dying? Those issues didn't warrant swift action but instead conservative MPPs are able to pull out all the stops to muzzle those who would point out Ford's failures."

Today the majority Conservatives voted to pass Bill 307, the so-called Protecting Elections and Defending Democracy Act, which utilizes the Notwithstanding clause to circumvent an Ontario Superior Court ruling that struck down its predecessor. In a decision released June 8, 2021, the court found the restrictions on third party political advertising prior to an election period in Bill 254 violated the Charter right to free expression and are not justified under section 1.

"The Ontario government could have appealed the court ruling, or rewritten the legislation that was struck down but instead Doug Ford chose to trample free speech and voter's rights, and abuse his power to put himself above the courts," said Unifor Ontario Regional Director Naureen Rizvi.

Bill 307 severely limits third parties' advertising and activity with a massive expansion of the pre-election period, restricting all political or issue-based advertising for 12 months before an election. The new law comes into immediate effect as Ontario's set election date is less than one year from today, hobbling political advocacy and the ability of voters to critique government policies.

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Unifor had outlined its objectives to this undemocratic legislation, which also prohibits like-minded organizations from joining in support of shared public policy concerns and objectives.

"Suppressing members of the public and organizations that advocate on behalf of workers from free expression is a direct attack on democracy and our free election system," said Dias. "Unifor and its members will not be gagged or censored."

Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector, representing 315,000 workers in every major area of the economy. The union advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad, and strives to create progressive change for a better future.

SOURCE Unifor

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View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/June2021/14/c4343.html
Financing Grows EnfraGens Energy Transition Investment in Latin America

NEW YORK & SANTIAGO, Chile, Jun 15, 2021--(BUSINESS WIRE)--EnfraGen, LLC ("EnfraGen"), a developer, owner, and operator of specialized sustainable and renewable power and grid stability assets in Latin America owned by Glenfarne Group, LLC ("Glenfarne") and leading global private markets firm Partners Group, on behalf of its clients, announced today a USD 200 million non-recourse financing for EnfraGens greenfield solar photovoltaic ("PV") portfolio in Chile, with an option of an additional USD 40 million upsizing via an accordion feature. The transaction was executed through EnfraGens renewables division, Fontus Renewables.

The proceeds from the financing will be used to fund the construction, acquisition, operations and maintenance of projects totaling approximately 237 MWdc / 175 MWac.

Ed Diffendal, Managing Director of Private Infrastructure Americas at Partners Group, commented, "EnfraGen continues to transform the Latin American power sector through its premier renewable power and grid stability platforms providing both power stability and reliable clean solar power to communities across Chile. Partners Group looks forward to further supporting EnfraGen's growth and leadership in the energy transition to a more sustainable future."

"The beneficial terms of this financing reflect the quality of the projects, support of our banking relationships and the markets increasing confidence in EnfraGen as a leading developer and sponsor in the region," said Bryan Murphy, President of EnfraGen and Managing Director at Glenfarne Group. "We continue to see significant growth potential in Chile in 2021 and beyond, as EnfraGen continues to support Chiles energy transition and becomes a pre-eminent power business in Latin America."

Brendan Wolters, Head of Solar for Fontus Renewables said, "Chile provides consistent and reliable regulation that allows for investment in renewable energy, and we are happy to grow our platform in Chile as it continues its energy transition to renewable power."

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Lenders financing the transaction include Banco de Credito e Inversiones ("BCI"), BNP Paribas, DNB Bank ASA and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation ("SMBC"). White and Case and Claro y Cia acted as borrowers counsel and Milbank and Garrigues represented the lenders.

BCI also provided VAT financing for Fontus Prime Solar SpA, with Dentons acting as lenders counsel.

About EnfraGen, LLC

EnfraGen is a developer, owner, and operator of grid stability and value-added renewable energy infrastructure businesses across Latin American investment-grade countries. EnfraGens grid stability assets supply flexible capacity and energy to local and regional grids in support of renewable power plant intermittent energy production. EnfraGens renewable plants are smaller scale, distributed solar photovoltaic and hydroelectric assets that take advantage of unique access points to electrical infrastructure or are located in optimized geographical locations. The business mission is to support the transition to zero-carbon emission electric grids.

EnfraGen is jointly controlled by Glenfarne Group, LLC, and global private markets firm Partners Group, on behalf of its clients, and has operational and in-construction assets across its subsidiaries totaling over 1.7GW of installed capacity in operation. The company, including its affiliates and subsidiaries, is supported by a team of approximately 325 professionals. EnfraGen maintains offices and assets in Chile, Panama, Colombia, and the United States.

About Glenfarne Group, LLC

Glenfarne is a privately held energy and infrastructure development and management firm based in New York City and Houston, Texas with offices in Dallas, Texas, Panama City, Panama; Santiago, Chile, and Bogota, Colombia. Glenfarne's seasoned executives, asset managers, and operators develop, acquire, manage, and operate energy and infrastructure assets throughout North and South America and Asia. For more information, please visit www.glenfarnegroup.com.

About Partners Group

Partners Group is a leading global private markets firm. Since 1996, the firm has invested over USD 145 billion in private equity, private real estate, private debt and private infrastructure on behalf of its clients globally. Partners Group is a committed, responsible investor and aims to create broad stakeholder impact through its active ownership and development of growing businesses, attractive real estate and essential infrastructure. With over USD 109 billion in assets under management as of 31 December 2020, Partners Group serves a broad range of institutional investors, sovereign wealth funds, family offices and private individuals globally. The firm employs more than 1,500 diverse professionals across 20 offices worldwide and has regional headquarters in Baar-Zug, Switzerland; Denver, USA; and Singapore. It has been listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange since 2006 (symbol: PGHN). For more information, please visit www.partnersgroup.com or follow us on LinkedIn or Twitter.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005543/en/

Contacts

Sofie Brewis

Pro-glenfarne@prosek.com

+44 75900 66810
OTTAWA, ON, June 15, 2021 /CNW/ - Across Canada, more and more people are getting vaccinated. As of June 5, more than 70% of people 12 years of age and older in Canada have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and provinces and territories are accelerating eligibility for second doses. To build on this momentum, the Government of Canada is taking steps to reduce barriers to vaccination and close the gap among populations with lower vaccine uptake.

Today, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Health, announced the launch of the Ask the Experts advertising campaign. This campaign features short videos by trusted experts answering some of the most common questions people have about the COVID-19 vaccines. These videos will encourage vaccine uptake by providing people across Canada with credible COVID-19 vaccine information so they can make informed choices.

These experts are answering some common questions that Canadians have. To make sure that Canadians have the information they need to make informed decisions about their health, we've created the Ask the Experts campaign so you can hear directly from healthcare professionals and other experts about what vaccination means and does.

Canadians are excited to get vaccinated and are doing their part to stop the spread of COVID-19. To amplify these stories and voices, the Public Health Agency of Canada wants to hear from you, on your reasons for getting vaccinated, by joining the #MyWhy campaign on social media. Your story matters  and by sharing your experience, you can help motivate those around you to get their first or second dose. Vaccines are safe and highly effective, and will help us get back to the activities, and people, we miss and love.

Quotes

"Vaccines are a very important tool to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Now that more and more Canadians are able to get vaccinated, it is important that everyone does their part. This small action makes a big difference  for you and those in your community. With the Ask the Experts campaign, credible experts will answer questions Canadians may have about these vaccines, to encourage uptake across the country."

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The Honourable Patty Hajdu

Minister of Health

"Having safe and effective vaccines along with informed, confident and motivated people getting vaccinated are key to Canada's success for widespread and long term control of COVID-19. Through the Ask the Experts campaign, trusted Canadian health experts listen and provide answers to your important questions about COVID-19 vaccination that are fundamental to vaccine confidence and informed decision making for you and your loved ones!"

Dr. Theresa Tam

Chief Public Health Officer, Public Health Agency of Canada

Quick Facts

The Ask the Experts campaign will run from June 15, 2021, to July 31, 2021. The ads will appear on TV, web sites, social media and in search engine marketing. Through a series of videos, the campaign answers a variety of questions such as the importance of getting the second dose of the vaccine, why people who are young and healthy need to get vaccinated, and how the vaccines work.

The Ask the Experts campaign complements the Ripple Effect campaign, which runs until July 4, 2021, and is intended to remind Canadians about the collective vaccination effort required to see a reduction in restrictions and public health measures. Since its launch, the Ripple Effect campaign has had more than 105 million impressions.

Associated Links

Ask the Experts video series

#MyWhy video series

COVID-19 vaccines: We can all help by getting vaccinated (canada.ca)

Canada.ca/covid-vaccines

SOURCE Public Health Agency of Canada

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View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/June2021/15/c8258.html
(Refiles to fix typo in para 17)

* Choice limited to five hardliners, two moderates

* Anger over economy, freedoms may keep turnout low

* Hardline judge, ex-nuclear negotiator among hopefuls

* Dissidents call for boycott

* Hardline win would bolster Khamenei's control

By Parisa Hafezi

DUBAI, June 15 (Reuters) - Iranians elect a new president on Friday in a race dominated by hardline candidates close to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with popular anger over economic hardship and curbs on freedoms set to keep many pro-reform Iranians at home.

The front-runner in a carefully vetted field is Ebrahim Raisi, a hardline judge seen by analysts and insiders as representing the security establishment at its most fearsome.

But the authorities' hopes for a high turnout and a boost to their legitimacy may be disappointed, as official polls suggest only about 40% of over 59 million eligible Iranians will vote.

Critics of the government attribute that prospect to anger over an economy devastated by U.S. sanctions and a lack of voter choice, after a hardline election body barred heavyweight moderate and conservative candidates from standing.

The race to succeed President Hassan Rouhani, a pragmatist, will be between five hardliners who embrace Khamenei's strongly anti-Western world view, including Raisi and former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili, and two low-key moderates.

The limited choice of candidates reflects the political demise of Iran's pragmatist politicians, weakened by Washingtons decision to quit a 2015 nuclear deal and reimpose sanctions in a move that stifled rapprochement with the West.

"They have aligned sun, moon and the heavens to make one particular person the president," said moderate candidate Mohsen Mehralizadeh in a televised election debate.

While the establishment's core supporters will vote, hundreds of dissidents, both at home and abroad, have called for a boycott, including opposition leader Mirhossein Mousavi, under house arrest since 2011.

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"I will stand with those who are tired of humiliating and engineered elections and who will not give in to behind-the-scenes, stealthy and secretive decisions," Mousavi said in a statement, according to the opposition Kalameh website.

Mousavi and fellow reformist Mehdi Karoubi ran for election in 2009. They became figureheads for pro-reform Iranians who staged mass protests after the vote was won by a hardliner, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, in a contest they believed was rigged.

EXECUTIONS

If judiciary chief Raisi wins Friday's vote, it could increase the mid-ranking Shi'ite cleric's chances of eventually succeeding Khamenei, who himself served two terms as president before becoming supreme leader.

Rights groups have criticised Raisi, who lost to Rouhani in the 2017 election, for his role as a judge in the executions of thousands of political prisoners in 1988. Raisi was appointed as head of the judiciary in 2019 by Khamenei.

However, Iranians do not rule out the unexpected.

In the 2005 presidential vote, Ahmadinejad, a blacksmiths son and former Revolutionary Guard, was not prominent when he defeated powerful former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, largely seen beforehand as the frontrunner.

"(Saeed) Jalili's chances to surprise us should not be underestimated," said Tehran-based analyst Saeed Leylaz.

Although publicly Khamenei has favoured no candidate, analysts said he would prefer a firm loyalist like Raisi or Jalili as president.

The election is unlikely to bring major change to Iran's foreign and nuclear policies, already set by Khamenei. But a hardline president could strengthen Khamenei's hand at home.

Iran's devastated economy is also an important factor.

To win over voters preoccupied by bread-and-butter issues, candidates have promised to create millions of jobs, tackle inflation and hand cash to lower-income Iranians. However, they have yet to say how these promises would be funded.

All candidates back talks between Iran and world powers to revive the 2015 nuclear deal and remove sanctions.

But moderate candidate Abdolnaser Hemmati said hardliners sought tension with the West, while conglomerates they control rake in large sums by circumventing sanctions.

"What will happen if the hardliners come to power? More sanctions with more world unanimity," Hemmati, who served as central bank chief until May, said in a televised debate.

Please also see

Judge, banker, negotiator among candidates for Iran's presidency

Front-runner for Iran presidency is hardline judge sanctioned by U.S.

Iran's presidential election process

(Writing by Parisa Hafezi, Editing by William Maclean)
The original slipper brand begins evolution into multi-category lifestyle segments

COLUMBUS, Ohio, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Dearfoams today announces Jocelyn Thornton as its new brand president. This pivotal hire solidifies the Columbus-based organization's progression as a lifestyle brand, evolving from its roots as the world's first foam-soled washable slipper.

Dearfoams Logo

Dearfoams announces Jocelyn Thornton as its new brand president, solidifying its progression as a lifestyle brand.

Thornton comes to Dearfoams with extensive experience in Product Development in the footwear industry for brands including Sperry and Clarks, as well as consulting experience at the Doneger Group, where in her role as SVP, she led large players in the fashion and retail industry, helping build and implement successful brand and product strategies. Prior to joining Dearfoams, she was the Executive Vice President of Product and Merchandising at Earth Shoes.

"As Dearfoams evolves into a multi-category comfort brand, we are elated to have Jocelyn lead this transformation," said Bob Mullaney, RG Barry CEO. "Her consumer and product experience, coupled with her leadership style, make for an ideal fit for this next evolution and growth in Dearfoams' 75-year history."

Thornton's deep consumer insights and proven track record of evolving a brand's offering into commercial success will be a welcomed addition to the Dearfoams leadership team. Dearfoams is moving into multi-category segments including home, sleepwear and socks, and is expanding significantly within the comfort shoe segment.

"I admire how Dearfoams has experienced such a successful growth story while being true to the values set by its female founder 75 years ago. This success, highlighted by last year's performance, is a testament to a creative and driven community," said Jocelyn Thornton, president of Dearfoams. "Dearfoams has the opportunity to further realize the promise of comfort beyond the world of slippers, and I am looking forward to leading this transformation by building upon its rich heritage, strengthening our organization and enhancing the consumers' daily life experiences."

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Thornton lives in New York with her husband, Jose Zorrilla, and their two children, Addison and Kyla.

"Jocelyn is modern leadership: confident, honest, transparent, inspiring, humble, committed, balanced," shared Bob Mullaney, RG Barry CEO. "Her style and experience will enable the Dearfoams team to realize the great vision and purpose available to the brand."

About Dearfoams:

Dearfoams, a brand of RG Barry Corporation, was established in 1947 by visionary female entrepreneur Florence Melton who invented the world's first foam-soled, washable slipper. Dearfoams is headquartered in Pickerington, Ohio. To learn more, visit www.dearfoams.com .

Media Contact:

dearfoams@bellecommunication.com

Jocelyn Thornton Headshot

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SOURCE Dearfoams
OTTAWA, ON, June 15, 2021 /CNW/ - The Minister of Transport, the Honourable Omar Alghabra, the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, the Honourable Catherine McKenna, and the Member of Parliament for Ottawa South, the Honourable David McGuinty will hold a news conference to announce funding to support infrastructure at the Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport.

Minister Alghabra, Minister McKenna, and Member of Parliament McGuinty will be available to answer questions from the media following the announcement.

Date: June 16, 2021



Time: 9:30 a.m. ET



Location: Hybrid event



In person: Ottawa MacDonald-Cartier International Airport

1000 Airport Parkway Private

Ottawa, ON K1V 9B4



Note: Event will take place on the third level outside the departure level.



Live stream: Transport Canada Facebook page

Note to media:

For media participation on site:

Media are invited to join the event on site. Please comply with local public health guidelines.

For media participation virtually:

Media are invited to email Transport Canada Media Relations at media@tc.gc.ca no later than 8:00 on Wednesday, June 16, 2021, to receive dial-in information.

SOURCE Transport Canada

Cision

View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/June2021/15/c8824.html
FILE PHOTO: The logo of Exxon Mobil Corp is shown on a monitor above the floor of the New York Stock Exchange in New York

By Liz Hampton and Devika Krishna Kumar

(Reuters) - Traders from Exxon Mobil Corp's natural gas liquids and gasoline units have left, according to three people familiar with the matter, the latest in a stream of departures from its downsized trading operations.

The departures were part of a recent wave of exits as the U.S. oil producer pulled back on trading. Last year's historic losses and need to preserve capital prompted Exxon to limit trading and cut staff.

Corbin Lawton left last month, according to one source and to Lawton's LinkedIn profile. Lawton, who spent more than 2 1/2 years at Exxon, joined Factor Gas Liquids Inc in its Houston office, according to his LinkedIn account.

Tim Adams, who was a vice president of NGL marketing at rival BP Plc before joining Exxon as a trader, has resigned, according to two people familiar with the matter.

Danielle Jamieson, a gasoline trader for Exxon, also left the U.S. team last month, according to another person and to Jamieson's LinkedIn profile. Jamieson, who began trading gasoline for Exxon in July 2019, moved to Exxon's Imperial Oil Ltd as national pricing manager, according to her LinkedIn.

Lawton and Jamieson did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Adams confirmed he resigned but did not provide other comment.

Exxon spokesman Casey Norton declined to comment citing personnel matters, but said the company is "pleased with our progress over the past couple of years to grow our team and capabilities." Its scale and reach "give our trading teams a broad footprint and unique knowledge and insights" to generate value.

Two years ago, Exxon hired a cadre of industry veterans to build up a trading unit and rival profitable operations at BP and Royal Dutch Shell.

Michael Paradise and Adam Buller, who joined Exxon in 2019, resigned from the firm's U.S. trading operations in June, and Paul Butcher, a veteran trader based in Britain, will leave in September, Reuters reported.

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Cory Schloss, a feedstocks trader at Exxon Mobil, will take over as the lead trader for international feedstocks over the coming weeks, one person familiar with the matter said.

(This story corrects last name of Exxon spokesman to Norton instead of North, paragraph 7)

(Reporting by Liz Hampton in Denver and Devika Krishna Kumar in New York; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
U.S. chip manufacturer Qualcomm has offered to invest in U.K. chip designer Arm if the companys $40 billion acquisition by Nvidia fails to go through due to regulatory concerns.

Qualcomm ready to invest in Arm

Nvidia has tabled a $40 billion offer to purchase U.K. chip designer Arm. However, the deal is facing some regulatory uncertainties and could be blocked from happening. If that happens, U.S. chip manufacturing giant Qualcomm has revealed that it would be ready to invest in Arm.

Qualcomms incoming CEO, Cristiano Amon, stated that the company is willing to buy a stake in Arm alongside other major investors. However, the deal depends upon SoftBank, Arms current owners, not selling the company to Nvidia.

NVIDIA stock price. Source: FXEMPIRE

Amon said pointed out that if Arm has an independent future, then there would be a lot of interest from numerous companies within the sector, including Qualcomm, who are ready to invest in Arm. If Arm is no longer under SoftBank and moves to become a publicly traded company, it would have numerous companies investing in it and that would ensure great possibilities for Arm, he added.

The incoming CEO said Qualcomm is open to the idea of investing in Arm, and he has held discussions with certain companies that feel the same way.

An IPO would not be enough for Arm

Although Qualcomm is in support of Arm becoming an independently listed company, Nvidia believes the move would not be enough to support Arms growth. Arms energy-efficient chip architecture is used in 95% of the worlds smartphones. The company also licenses its chip designs to hundreds of companies globally that use the designs to develop their own chips.

Nvidia believes Arm needs more than an IPO to help with its growth. Instead, Nvidia said it would welcome Qualcomms help in creating new products and technologies for Arm.

Qualcomm stock price. Source: FXEMPIRE

Qualcomms stock price is up by less than 1% since the news broke out, while Nvidias stock is also up by less than 1% since the market opened.

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This article was originally posted on FX Empire

More From FXEMPIRE:
Atradius Payment Practices Barometer survey reveals increase in use of credit led to rise in write offs and overdue invoices

SYDNEY, June 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Businesses across Australia are feeling the pinch following a full year of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a report by the leading credit insurance firm, Atradius. The Payment Practices Barometer survey of both large and small businesses looked at B2B customer payment behaviour over the past year. The results are dramatic.

Atradius Logo

5% of all credit sales were written off as uncollectable, more than doubling the 2% averge recorded prior to the pandemic. The same story applies to late payments, 54% of business invoices are overdue (compared to 21% in the pre-pandemic year). In addition to the economic stressors, these significant increases can partly be explained by a large rise in the number of credit sales. More than 4 in 10 of the businesses polled (42%) reported accepting credit requests far more frequently than they did before the pandemic.

On average it took the construction industry one week longer than last year to settle overdue invoices. Construction businesses reported an overall DSO that is twice as long as last year (now averaging 49 days). 40% of industry respondents expect DSO levels to further increase this year. A significant percentage of businesses across all sectors pointed to liquidity as one of their greatest concern alongside the health of the global economy. As much as half of the Agri-Food industry believes the domestic economy will drive improvements in their sales and profits rather than export trade.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, 3 in 5 of the businesses surveyed reported an increase in debt management administrative costs. However, many businesses said that the key to navigating the difficult economic climate was agility. For example, as many as 67% of respondents in the chemicals industry believe the businesses that were most successful in adapting to the pandemic challenges, will more often accept trade credit requests from their customers going forward.

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Mark Hoppe, Managing Director for Atradius Oceania, said: "As the customer credit risk environment becomes more challenging with more businesses selling on credit, the insolvency environment is likely to increase. A write off rate of 5% represents significant loss and businesses can put in place measures to protect themselves against the risk of such losses.

"As businesses look to grow during this time of economic uncertainty, it's important they continue to employ strategic credit management measures such as credit insurance to minimise the risk of payment defaults. This will help protect businesses from the increased risk of customer bankruptcy, help them manage the additional volume of late payments more efficiently and will also facilitate company growth by helping businesses explore new opportunities including extending more credit to existing customers and new customers, and finding new markets to explore."

About Atradius

Atradius is a global provider of credit insurance, surety and collection services, with a strategic presence in over 50 countries. The credit insurance, bond and collection products offered by Atradius protect companies around the world against the default risks associated with selling goods and services on credit. Atradius is a member of Grupo Catalana Occidente (GCO.MC), one of the largest insurers in Spain and one of the largest credit insurers in the world. You can find more information online at https://group.atradius.com

For further information:

Atradius Australia

Gabrielle Weiss

Head of Marketing

Phone.: 02 9201 5769

E-mail: gabrielle.weiss@atradius.com

https://atradius.com.au

Connect with Atradius on Social Media

Twitter

LinkedIn

YouTube

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/712156/Atradius_Logo.jpg

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SOURCE Atradius N.V.
NEW YORK, June 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PT Asia Vision Network (AVN), a wholly owned subsidiary of PT MNC Vision Networks Tbk (IPTV or the Company) has submitted a confidential draft of a Registration Statement on Form F-4 to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission with respect to its proposed business combination with Malacca Straits Acquisition Company (NASDAQ: MLAC) (MLAC). AVN is the holding company for PT MNC OTT Network (trading as Vision+) and PT MNC Kabel Mediacom (trading as MNC Play).



The business combination is subject to customary closing conditions, including the approval of MLACs shareholders, and is expected to be consummated in Q3-2021. Upon the closing of the business combination, AVN is expected to be listed on NASDAQ as a new Indonesian US-listed holding company.

Ade Tjendra, President Director of IPTV said, Today, I am very excited to announce this huge milestone of IPTV. We are pleased to partner with Malacca Straits to create a far greater opportunity for the Companys growth. Together with Malacca Straits, we are determined to bring Indonesians fastest growing OTT and streaming business to be listed on NASDAQ, the deepest capital market in the world. Furthermore, with this significant step forward, we believe it will accelerate the growth of the Company with its unique business model.

Post-Transaction Corporate Structure of PT MNC Vision Networks Tbk (IPTV)

About PT Asia Vision Network

PT Asia Vision Network is the holding company for Vision+, Indonesias fastest growing OTT media business and MNC Play, the 3rd largest fixed broadband and Fiber Optic Pay-TV operator in Indonesia, which is part of MNC Group, Southeast Asias largest integrated media group.

Vision+ dominates the SVOD OTT market with the most extensive Indonesian content proposition through its arrangement with MNC Groups content library and has the exclusive rights to carry all FTA channels in its platform. Moreover, Vision+ offers international and local content in the form of more than 10,000 hours of VODs and up to 120 premium linear channels with time-shift and catch-up features for up to 7 days back. As per December 2020, Vision+ has 32 million Monthly Active Users with more than 1.6 million paid subscribers.

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MNC Play delivers fiber optic based broadband & Pay-TV services and Android OTT Box devices delivered through Playbox. Using FTTH infrastructure, MNC Play offers high speed internet with up to 1000 Mbps and Pay-TV services with 172 HD ready channels. As of FY-2020, MNC Play has rolled out close to 1.5 million home pass with more than 296,000 subscribers.

MNC Play has successfully secured partnerships with various neutral network providers to expedite its network expansion beyond its existing home pass, to add an additional 700,000 home pass in over 14 cities and the first service provider that secured a multi-year deal with ICON+, which has the readiest access and lowest rolling out cost per home pass in Indonesia.

About Malacca Straits Acquisition Company

Malacca Straits is a blank check company incorporated as a Cayman Islands exempted company and formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. Malacca Straits consummated its initial public offering on July 17, 2020. Its units, shares and warrants are listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains, and certain oral statements made by representatives of Malacca Straits and AVN and their respective affiliates, from time to time may contain, forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Malacca Straits and AVNs actual results may differ from their expectations, estimates and projections and consequently, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Words such as expect, estimate, project, budget, forecast, anticipate, intend, plan, may, will, could, should, believes, predicts, potential, might and continues, and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, Malacca Straits and AVNs expectations with respect to future performance of AVN, anticipated financial impacts of the proposed transaction (the Transaction), the anticipated addressable market for AVN, the satisfaction of the closing conditions to the Transaction, the pre-money valuation of AVN (which is subject to certain inputs that may change prior to the closing of the Transaction and is subject to adjustment after the closing of the Transaction), and the timing of the closing of the Transaction. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expected results. Most of these factors are outside the control of Malacca and AVN and are difficult to predict. Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to: (1) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Business Combination Agreement; (2) the inability to consummate the Transaction, including due to failure to obtain approval of the shareholders of Malacca Straits or other conditions to the closing in the Business Combination Agreement; (3) delays in obtaining or the inability to obtain any necessary regulatory approvals required to complete the Transaction; (4) the inability to obtain the listing of AVNs securities on Nasdaq following the Transaction; (5) the risk that the Transaction disrupts current plans and operations as a result of the announcement and consummation of the Transaction; (6) the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the Transaction, which may be affected by, among other things, competition, the ability of AVN to grow and manage growth economically and hire and retain key employees; (7) costs related to the Transaction; (8) changes in applicable laws or regulations; (9) the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on Malacca Straits or AVN and their ability to consummate the Transaction; (10) the possibility that Malacca Straits or AVN may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; and (11) other risks and uncertainties to be identified in the registration/proxy statement (when available) relating to the Transaction, including those under Risk Factors therein, and in other filings with the SEC made by Malacca Straits or AVN. Malacca Straits and AVN caution that the foregoing list of factors is not exclusive, and caution readers not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. None of Malacca Straits or AVN undertakes or accepts any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, subject to applicable law.

No Offer or Solicitation

This press release is for informational purposes only and shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities pursuant to the Transaction or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which the offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

No Assurances

There can be no assurance that the Transaction will be completed, nor can there be any assurance, if the Transaction is completed, that the potential benefits of combining the companies will be realized.

Information Sources; No Representations

This press release has been prepared for use by Malacca Straits and AVN in connection with the Transaction. The information herein does not purport to be all-inclusive. The information herein is derived from various internal and external sources, with all information relating to the business, past performance, results of operations and financial condition of Malacca Straits derived entirely from Malacca Straits and all information relating to the business, past performance, results of operations and financial condition of AVN derived entirely from AVN. No representation is made as to the reasonableness of the assumptions made with respect to the information herein, or to the accuracy or completeness of any projections or modeling or any other information contained herein. Any data on past performance or modeling contained herein is not an indication as to future performance.

No representations or warranties, express or implied, are given in respect of this press release. To the fullest extent permitted by law in no circumstances will Malacca Straits or AVN, or any of their respective subsidiaries, affiliates, shareholders, representatives, partners, directors, officers, employees, advisors or agents, be responsible or liable for any direct, indirect or consequential loss or loss of profit arising from the use of this press release, its contents (including without limitation any projections or models), any omissions, reliance on information contained within it, or on opinions communicated in relation thereto or otherwise arising in connection therewith, which information relating in any way to the operations of AVN has been derived, directly or indirectly, exclusively from AVN and has not been independently verified by Malacca Straits. Neither the independent auditors of Malacca Straits nor the independent auditors of or AVN audited, reviewed, compiled or performed any procedures with respect to any projections or models for the purpose of their inclusion in this press release and, accordingly, neither of them expressed any opinion or provided any other form of assurances with respect thereto for the purposes of this press release.

Important Information about the Transaction and Where to Find It

In connection with the Transaction, Malacca Straits and AVN will file relevant materials with the SEC, including a Form F-4 registration statement to be filed by AVN (the F-4), which will include a prospectus with respect to AVNs securities to be issued in connection with the proposed business combination and a proxy statement (the Proxy Statement) with respect to Malacca Straits shareholder meeting at which Malacca Straits shareholders will be asked to vote on the proposed Business Combination and related matters. MALACCA STRAITS SHAREHOLDERS AND OTHER INTERESTED PERSONS ARE ADVISED TO READ, WHEN AVAILABLE, THE F-4 AND THE AMENDMENTS THERETO AND OTHER INFORMATION FILED WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSACTION, AS THESE MATERIALS WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT MALACCA STRAITS, AVN AND THE TRANSACTION. When available, the Proxy Statement contained in the F-4 and other relevant materials for the Transaction will be mailed to shareholders of Malacca Straits as of a record date to be established for voting on the proposed business combination and related matters. The preliminary F-4 and Proxy Statement, the final F-4 and definitive Proxy Statement and other relevant materials in connection with the Transaction (when they become available), and any other documents filed by Malacca Straits with the SEC, may be obtained free of charge at the SECs website (www.sec.gov) or by writing to Malacca Straits at Unit 601-2, St. Georges Building, 2 Ice House Street, Central, Hong Kong. Information filed with the SEC is also available on the SECs website at www.sec.gov.

Participants in the Solicitation

Malacca Straits and AVN and their respective directors, executive officers and employees and other persons may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the holders of Malacca Straits ordinary shares in respect of the proposed business combination. Malacca Straits shareholders and other interested persons may obtain more detailed information regarding the names and interests in the Transaction of Malacca Straits directors and officers in Malacca Straits and AVNs filings with the SEC, including when filed, the F-4 and the Proxy Statement. These documents can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above.

Investor Contacts:

Ashley DeSimone - Ashley.DeSimone@icrinc.com

Jake Pisano - Jake.Pisano@icrinc.com

Asia:

William Zima - Bill.zima@icrinc.com

Media Contact:

Edmond Lococo - Edmond.lococo@icrinc.com




The government-led construction boom and surging emphasis on green building practices are increasing the demand for facility management in Qatar. - In addition to transport projects, the government aims to rapidly expand tourism, education, and real estate, to maintain its competencies under the Qatar National Vision 2030 (QNV 2030 ).

New York, June 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Qatar Facility Management Market - Growth, Trends, and Forecasts (2020 - 2025)" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05865762/?utm_source=GNW

Further, as the deadline for the 2022 FIFA World Cup is nearing, the region is witnessing a rise in construction activities and is upgrading its infrastructure.

- According to Qatars Ministry of Finance, infrastructure projects have been allocated QAR 33. 0 billion, which is approximately 16. 0 % of the total expenditure was planned in 2019. With this budget allocation, the infrastructure sector covers the road, water, electricity, sewerage networks, and other public facilities. Furthermore, to enhance the capabilities of airports and offer the best aviation and cargo services, the government allocated 7 . 9 % of the total expenditure in 2019, which covers the rail project, Doha Metro, and the Hamad International Airport (expansion). Also, the Qatar Foundation (QF) has been actively promoting the countrys sustainability vision.

- The shift in approach toward building energy -use reductions have led to a change in the roles of FM teams. Although Qatar is ahead in the green building practices than most countries in the region, the scope for FM operators is likely to increase further, as the number of developers and organizations adopting green building practices in the country is increasing significantly.

- Further, the residential, commercial, industrial, and public infrastructure sectors are the most served in Qatar. Oil and gas companies, banks, large waterfront properties, and sports and healthcare facilities are the upcoming sectors. Furthermore, it seems that increased awareness among the buyers in the market is prompting facility management operators to match the pricing accordingly.

- Going forward, FM operators are likely to focus on incorporating technology-based solutions into their everyday operations. By embracing digital disruption, FM operators will be able to collaborate between asset owners, developers, and service providers. Also, to counter the outbreak of COVID-19 in the region, the maintenance solutions that were previously being employed are extended to janitorial and sanitizing operations, such as wiping down flat surfaces, touch panel displays, and door handles.

- Micro and macroeconomic factors restrain the market from growing. While volatile oil prices are likely to impact the levels of spending from end-users, the shortage of skilled labor and increasing labor costs prevent Facility Management companies from reaching their business goals.



Key Market Trends

Governments Investment into Infrastructure Projects Accounts for Significant Growth



- The uncertainty caused by the Arab Quartet boycott, has dampened Qatars economic growth, led by a hefty amount of debt, which has eventually forced the government to maintain its high level of spending. The state-run institutions have launched initiatives that perform diversified and localized operations to broaden the economy over the next few years. For instance, In May 2020, Qatar Qatars sovereign wealth fund was reported seeking European equity investments to raise USD 7.6 billion in loans to help build up returns on their operations.

- The PWD sector is expected to roll out 19 infrastructure projects with Residential Real Estate as a critical focus. This includes plans to build hard infrastructure on more than 5000 plots of land. Eleven other projects that include new health care facilities, schools, and highway and road expansions that were started earlier will be completed.

- Also, the introduction of freehold property has increased the number of property owners from the Western countries that demand high facility management standards. According to Ian Harfield, CEO, CBFM, the Middle Eastern market is more of a dynamic market in comparison to the US, European, and Australian markets. Moreover, service providers may have to be dynamic and agile to keep up with the clients changing needs. Most international companies enter the Qatari market through joint ventures with local companies since the retention of a skilled workforce is a challenge

- Moreover, recently, railways have experienced a demand for facility management. The Qatar Integrated Railways Project covers four metro lines in Doha, tram routes in West Bay, Lusail high-speed line, and dedicated freight airways. The Doha Metro is a rapid transit system that became operational on 8 May 2019.

- Further, the infrastructure push from the government is focused on providing more opportunities to local construction firms, with small-scale businesses expected to be principal beneficiaries of nationwide development projects. This is expected to help create influential local facility management participants in the future. With the availability of stronger local partners, the market is expected to attract foreign partners to continue to invest in large projects in a post-2022 scenario.

- The growth is projected to stall in 2020 despite the increased government constant spending to ease the economic impact of COVID-19 and to rise 3% in the medium term driven by stronger activity in the service sector as FIFA World Cup 2022 is underpinned by a V-shaped recovery. However, under the Qatar National Vision 2030, nearly USD 16.4 billion in infrastructure and real estate investment are planned over the course next year to help offset the falling FIFA investment spending.



Increasing Emphasis on Green Building Practices



- The growing importance of Qatar in the market is the high number of certified green buildings. In the Middle East, only UAE has a higher number of certified green buildings. Qatar has the fifth-highest number of LEED-registered and certified buildings outside the U.S.

- The local regulatory body, Qatar Green Building Council (QGBC), has been actively promoting sustainable practices. By organizing the Qatar Sustainability Week (QSW), the regulatory body is raising awareness among a wider community (the public and private sectors).

- The Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS) system, specially developed by Qatar, is billed as the worlds most comprehensive green building assessment system. It has been developed after a rigorous assessment of 40 green building codes available worldwide. The codes developed have a strong focus on sustainable development and environmental stress mitigation.

- Sustainable Energy Management Services remain one of the key offerings of the vendors in the market. The vendors advisory services include a reduction in water consumption, carbon emissions, and compliance with legislation and energy consumption metrics.

- The city of Lusail, which epitomizes the governments Vision 2030 sustainable development plan, has a range of features that include water-sensitive landscaping plans and a district cooling system designed to save 65m tons of CO2 a year.



Competitive Landscape

The Facility Management Landscape is highly competitive, with several local and international players active in the Qatar Market. International FM participants operate in the country through partnerships with local players. With the market expected to broaden and yield more opportunities, more players are expected to enter the market soon. Key players are Emcor Facilities Services WLL, Al Faisal Holdings (MMG Qatar), etc. The recent developments in the market are -

- Oct 2019 - EFS Facilities Services Group marked accomplishments of flagship projects from large government entities in UAE and Saudi Arabia. The company has maintained superior performance in its global operations with further expansion into Bangladesh for providing FM services to multinational banking projects concluding a total award of over AED 170 million in contracts.

- Feb 2019 - CBFM participated with Al Qassimi Womens and Childrens Hospital in attaining the Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation. To achieve the accreditation, CBFM jointly developed a comprehensive maintenance plan, along with a patient safety first approach to ensure that the highest standards are maintained throughout the hospital. The JCI accreditation is considered a prominent healthcare accreditation and is designed to improve outcomes, enhance efficiency, and reduce costs through standardized care.



Reasons to Purchase this report:

- The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format

- 3 months of analyst support

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05865762/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



__________________________

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CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001




TROIS-RIVIERES, QC, June 14, 2021 /CNW/ - The Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, will announce significant funding in support of science and research in Canada. The Minister will highlight the Government of Canada's unwavering support of big ideas that are helping advance Canada's position as a global innovation powerhouse.

Minister Champagne will be joined by Alejandro Adem, President of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada; Dr. Ted Hewitt, President of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada; and Christian Blanchette, President of the Universite du Quebec a Trois-Rivieres.

A media availability by teleconference and in person will follow the announcement.

Date: Tuesday, June 15, 2021



Time: 9:00 a.m. (ET)



Location: Hybrid event





In person: Universite du Quebec a Trois-Rivieres



Ringuet Pavilion, Atrium (Room 1090b)



3351 Boulevard des Forges, Trois-Rivieres, Quebec







Live stream: Canadian Science Facebook page

Note to media:

For media participation on site:

Media are invited to join the event on site. Please comply with local public health guidelines. Access is through door A-5 of the Ringuet Pavilion. Upon arrival, you will be asked to register with security.

For media participation virtually:

Media are invited to contact ISED Media Relations no later than 5:30 p.m. on Monday, June 14, 2021, to receive dial-in information.

Stay connected

Follow Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada on Twitter: @ISED_CA

SOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

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Full-Service Platform That Provides Access to a Complete Suite of Capital Solutions, Innovative Products, and Advisory Services to Support and Accelerate Scaling Technology Companies

TORONTO, June 15, 2021 /CNW/ - Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) is announcing the launch of RBCx, a full-service platform to accelerate the entrepreneurial journey at every stage of growth  providing access to capital solutions, innovative products and services, and operational expertise to help technology companies scale. RBCx supports entrepreneurs  from startup to scale up  who are disrupting business models, industries and sectors.

RBC (CNW Group/RBC Royal Bank)

A true partner for Canadian entrepreneurs  for capital, commercialization and community

"Now more than ever, entrepreneurs need committed partners to help them navigate the hardest pain points of scaling a technology business," said Sid Paquette, Head, RBCx. "Created by one of Canada's largest banks, RBCx is re-imagining how we can create meaningful value for our technology clients. In addition to a specialized banking platform, RBCx clients will have access to our market partnerships, innovative capital solutions, specialized operational talent and advice, and RBC's multifaceted global footprint at their fingertips. We could not be more excited to embark on this journey and to be a meaningful partner for entrepreneurs."

RBCx is a holistic market-defining platform that will offer differentiated products and solutions for technology clients across their entire journey from inception to IPO and beyond, including:

Innovative financial products, including credit and specialized banking

Deep sector expertise in specialized tech verticals, including clean tech and life sciences

Exclusive offers from industry-leading providers within the RBCx marketplace

Counsel from operational specialists across a number of key disciplines

An inspired network of founders and funders engaged through curated events and content

Proprietary research and guidance

A suite of custom personal banking services, including credit cards, wealth management and personal finance

Launch of RBCx signals Royal Bank of Canada's unwavering commitment to the tech sector

"The advancement of technology is fueling an unprecedented level of change globally, and the speed and magnitude will only continue to accelerate. We want our clients to be equipped with best-in-class products and counsel to ensure their competitive edge," said Greg Grice, Executive Vice-President, Business Financial Services, RBC. "Through our partnerships, products, and expertise across a number of verticals, we feel RBCx will be a strong partner to help our clients start, manage, and grow their businesses."

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Joining Sid Paquette at RBCx are industry experts from the venture capital and technology financing ecosystem. They include Tony Barkett and Tyler Kirk, who join RBCx from a global financial institution specializing in technology and innovation financing where they held senior leadership roles in Canada and the United States. Nicole Kelly and Anthony Mouchantaf join RBCx from a global venture capital fund  Nicole having led marketing and community globally for the fund, and Anthony on the investment team in North America and Europe. The addition of these team members add to the depth and expertise of the full RBCx national team.

About RBC

Royal Bank of Canada is a global financial institution with a purpose-driven, principles-led approach to delivering leading performance. Our success comes from the 86,000+ employees who leverage their imaginations and insights to bring our vision, values and strategy to life so we can help our clients thrive and communities prosper. As Canada's biggest bank, and one of the largest in the world based on market capitalization, we have a diversified business model with a focus on innovation and providing exceptional experiences to our 17 million clients in Canada, the U.S. and 27 other countries. Learn more at rbc.com.



We are proud to support a broad range of community initiatives through donations, community investments and employee volunteer activities. See how at rbc.com/community-social-impact.

About RBCx

RBCx is a full-service, market-leading platform to accelerate the entrepreneurial journey at every stage of growth  providing access to a complete suite of capital solutions, innovative products and services, and operational expertise to help technology companies scale. www.rbcx.com.

SOURCE RBC Royal Bank

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NEW YORK, June 14, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Intrusion Inc. (Intrusion or the Company) (NASDAQ: INTZ). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at rswilloughby@pomlaw.com or 888-476-6529, ext. 7980.



The investigation concerns whether Intrusion and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On April 14, 2021, White Diamond Research published a report alleging, among other things, that Intrusions product, Shield, has no patents, certifications, or insurance, which are all essential for selling cybersecurity products and that Shield is based on open-source data already available to the public. Thus, the report stated that Shield is a repackaging of pre-existing technology rather than an innovative offering. Moreover, the report alleged that the claims that Shield stopp[ed] a total of 77,539,801 cyberthreats from 805,110 uniquely malicious entities . . . in the 90-day beta program were outlandish, leading White Diamond to question [h]ow have these companies been able to function so far, as theyve been attacked many times per minute by ransomware, malware, data theft, phishing and DDoS attacks?

On this news, Intrusions stock price fell $4.50 per share, or 15.93%, to close at $23.75 per share.

The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Paris is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com .

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CONTACT:

Robert S. Willoughby

Pomerantz LLP

rswilloughby@pomlaw.com

888-476-6529 ext. 7980








(Bloomberg) -- Asset sales in a liquidation process at Hyflux Ltd., one of Singapores highest-profile distressed companies, would likely bring in less than S$200 million ($151 million), a person familiar with the matter said, a fraction of the amount creditors are claiming.

Hyfluxs judicial manager Borrelli Walsh Ltd. filed a court application earlier this month to wind up the water-treatment and power company, and said there are six bids involving individual assets.

Theres no specific timeline to sell these assets, but the judicial manager aims to do so as soon as possible, according to the person, who asked not to be identified because the matter is private.

Proceeds of that size from the liquidation would confirm creditors concerns that they may get little back from the company, which began a court-supervised debt restructuring process in 2018 and faced about S$2.8 billion in total investor claims. Investors in the once-highflying firm include about 34,000 individuals who put money in products including perpetual notes and preference shares.

Borrelli Walsh, which has been in charge of Hyflux since November last year, said in its statement earlier this month that the remaining value of the Hyflux Group would be best realized in a liquidation; read more details.

Patrick Bance, a Singapore-based director at Borrelli Walsh, declined to comment when asked about the asset sale forecasts. The judicial manager said last week it previously terminated discussions with Hyfluxs Middle Eastern bidder Utico FZC as it was unable to meet the required conditions. Borrelli Walsh also said Hyflux will hold a virtual townhall meeting for all noteholders on June 18.

One of the bidders for Hyflux assets is Singapores Keppel Infrastructure Trust, according to the person. Its interested in the TuasOne waste-to-energy plant and the remaining 30% stake in the SingSpring desalination plant that it doesnt own already, the person said.

Keppel Infrastructure has contractual rights to acquire the 30% stake in the SingSpring plant and to take over the operations, and thats unaffected by the liquidation proceedings, the firms spokesperson said in an email response to Bloomberg queries. The company is unable to comment further due to ongoing confidential discussions with Hyfluxs judicial manager, the spokesperson said.

Story continues

(Adds judicial managers comments from last week in sixth paragraph.)

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com

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FILE PHOTO: Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 plane is seen at LAX in Los Angeles

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Southwest Airlines said on Tuesday it canceled about 500 flights and delayed hundreds of others after it was forced to temporarily halt operations over a computer issue -- the second time in 24 hours it had been forced to stop flights.

The Federal Aviation Administration said it had issued a temporary nationwide groundstop at the request of Southwest Airlines to resolve a computer reservation issue. The groundstop lasted about 45 minutes, and ended at 2:30 p.m. EDT (1830 GMT), it said.

Southwest said its operations were returning to normal. The issue was the result of "intermittent performance issues with our network connectivity."

Southwest delayed nearly 1,300 flights on Tuesday, or 37% of its flights, according to flight tracker FlightAware.

Southwest Airlines earlier reported a separate issue that required a groundstop Monday evening after its "third-party weather data provider experienced intermittent performance issues ... preventing transmission of weather information that is required to safely operate our aircraft."

The airline said that issue affected several hundred flights and was resolved after 11 p.m. CDT Monday.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Richard Chang and Richard Pullin)
FILE PHOTO: A worker arrives at his office in the Canary Wharf business district in London

By David Milliken and Andy Bruce

LONDON (Reuters) -The number of employees on British company payrolls surged by a record amount in May as COVID restrictions eased and pubs and restaurants resumed indoor service, though it still remains more than half a million below its pre-pandemic peak.

Tax data released on Tuesday showed that British companies increased their number of employees by 197,000 in May, the biggest single-month increase since records began in July 2014, taking the total to 28.5 million.

Tuesday's figures also showed the fastest headline wage growth since 2007 in the year to April, although statisticians warned that this was distorted by comparisons with depressed wages a year ago and greater job losses among low-paid staff.

"The level of employment is still well below its pre-crisis level, suggesting there is still plenty of slack in the labour market," said Thomas Pugh, UK economist at Capital Economics.

The headline unemployment rate fell for a fourth month in a row to 4.7% for the three months to April, in line with forecasts in a Reuters poll of economists.

"The latest forecasts for unemployment are around half of what was previously feared and the number of employees on payroll is at its highest level since April last year," finance minister Rishi Sunak said.

The jobless rate has been kept down by the government's furlough programme. This paid wages on 8.9 million jobs at its peak in May 2020, during the first COVID lockdown, and supported 3.4 million jobs in April 2021.

More recent ONS survey data pointed to a further fall to just over 2 million jobs by mid-May, and Tuesday's data showed the most job vacancies since the pandemic began.

The biggest rise in vacancies was in the accommodation and food service sector. The sector was hit hard hit by the pandemic, and will face an extra challenge in coming weeks as the full lifting of COVID capacity constraints has been delayed until July 19 due to the spread of a new, more infectious, COVID variant.

Story continues

The Bank of England predicted last month that unemployment would only rise modestly when the furlough scheme stops at the end of September 2020, and is keeping a close eye on inflation pressures - though it still sees substantial slack.

The proportion of working-age men classed as inactive rose to a record-high 17.8%. This category includes students and people caring for family, as well as those who have given up looking for work.

Average weekly earnings in the three months to the end of April rose by 5.6% compared with a year earlier, its biggest rise since March 2007 and above forecasts.

The ONS said that although there were some signs of employers offering sign-on bonuses to attract staff, most of the rise reflected base effects and other distortions. It estimated underlying wage growth was around 3%.

(Reporting by David Milliken, editing by Andy Bruce and Andrew Heavens)
Capital One Selected As The Exclusive Long-Term Issuing Partner For The New Williams-Sonoma, Inc. Credit Cards

MCLEAN, Va., June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Capital One Financial (NYSE: COF) today announced it has entered into a program agreement with Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE: WSM), the world's largest digital-first, design-led and sustainable home retailer, becoming the exclusive long-term issuing partner for Williams-Sonoma, Inc.'s new co-brand and private-label credit card program. The partnership will include Williams Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Teen, Pottery Barn Kids, West Elm and Mark & Graham and allow customers to shop and earn rewards across the family of brands. The new credit cards and loyalty enhancements are expected to launch before the end of 2021.

(PRNewsfoto/Capital One Financial Corp.)

In connection with the new Williams-Sonoma, Inc. credit card program, Capital One has entered into a definitive purchase and sale agreement under which it will acquire the existing portfolio of Williams-Sonoma, Inc. credit card accounts subject to the satisfaction or waiver of customary closing conditions. Over the coming months, more details will be provided to existing cardmembers on the transition to the new card program.

"Williams-Sonoma, Inc. and Capital One share a commitment to providing our customers with best-in-class digital innovation to enhance the customer experience," said Laura Alber, President and CEO of Williams-Sonoma, Inc. "Our partnership with Capital One will allow us to also provide enhanced rewards to our cardmembers, enabling them to earn and redeem across our family of brands."

"With its iconic collection of premium home furnishings, decor brands and digital-first approach, Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is an ideal partner for Capital One," said Buck Stinson, Senior Vice President, Head of U.S. Card Partnerships at Capital One. "In addition to strategic alignment, Williams-Sonoma, Inc. and Capital One share a mutual commitment to sustainability that will be reflected in meaningful ways in the refreshed credit card and loyalty program."

Story continues

Visa, the world leader in digital payments, will continue to be the exclusive network for the Williams-Sonoma, Inc. credit card portfolio with the new co-brand credit card issued on its payment network.

Capital One expects this partnership to provide a strong platform for future growth and returns in its Partnerships credit card business.

About Capital One

Capital One Financial Corporation (www.capitalone.com) is a financial holding company whose subsidiaries, which include Capital One, N.A., and Capital One Bank (USA), N.A., had $310.3 billion in deposits and $425.2 billion in total assets as of March 31, 2021. Headquartered in McLean, Virginia, Capital One offers a broad spectrum of financial products and services to consumers, small businesses and commercial clients through a variety of channels. Capital One, N.A. has branches located primarily in New York, Louisiana, Texas, Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey and the District of Columbia. A Fortune 500 company, Capital One trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "COF" and is included in the S&P 100 index.

Visit the Capital One newsroom for more Capital One news.

About Williams-Sonoma, Inc.

Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is the world's largest digital-first, design-led and sustainable home retailer. The company's products, representing distinct merchandise strategies  Williams Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, Pottery Barn Teen, West Elm, Williams Sonoma Home, Rejuvenation, and Mark and Graham  are marketed through e-commerce websites, direct-mail catalogs and retail stores. These brands are also part of The Key Rewards, our free-to-join loyalty program that offers members exclusive benefits across the Williams-Sonoma family of brands. We operate in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom, offer international shipping to customers worldwide, and have unaffiliated franchisees that operate stores in the Middle East, the Philippines, Mexico, South Korea and India, as well as e-commerce websites in certain locations. We are also proud to lead the industry with our ESG efforts. Our company is Good By Design  we've deeply engrained sustainability into our business. From our factories to your home, we're united in a shared purpose to care for our people and our planet.

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/williams-sonoma-inc-introduces-strategic-partnership-with-capital-one-and-expands-cross-brand-loyalty-programs-301313041.html

SOURCE Capital One
Bureau Veritas, UPS, Hershey, Tata Consultancy Services, Edelman, Manulife to share best practices on diversity & inclusion, leadership and success.

BEIJING, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- House of Rose Professional announced today announced the speaker line-up for its 2021 Greater China Edition of Break the ceiling touch the sky - the success and leadership summit for women which would be held as a virtual summit on June 22, 2021. The summit will enable participating leaders and organizations to learn best practices for leadership and success in these VUCA times and exchange best practices on diversity & inclusion by bringing together (virtually) several of the world's best Companies. The summit is especially relevant for women leaders and can help unlock the full potential of China's immense pool of female leaders.

Logo (PRNewsfoto/House of Rose Professional Pte.)

The Greater China summit speaker line-up includes Michelle Ho, President, UPS China District; Girija Pande, Chairman, Apex Avalon Consulting and Author, The Silk Road Rediscovered; Pully Chau, President Greater China, Edelman; Suneet Puri, Country Head at Tata Consultancy Services China Co. Limited; Bob McDonald, former Chairman, President and CEO, The Procter & Gamble Company; Alex von Behr, President, vBA Associates, Sr. Advisor, HORP and former Global Chief Customer Officer, Unilever Plc.; Dina Howell, former Worldwide President & CEO, Saatchi & Saatchi X; Smily Zhao, Senior HR Director, Hershey International; Ranu Gupta, Managing Partner, Performance Leverage; Julie Lewis, Director, Mountain High; Brian Peters, former Mr. Universe and Financial sales guru; Marianne Johnson, Head of Human Resources  Asia Pacific and Middle East, Hogan Lovells; Sudesh Thevasenabathy, Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Asia, Manulife; Shirley Zhu, Former Programme Director and Board Member, IGD Singapore and Anthony A. Rose, Chairman and CEO, HORP and author of "Break the ceiling touch the sky: success secrets of the world's most inspirational women"  the book that inspired the summit.

Story continues

The 2021 Greater China Edition of Break the ceiling touch the sky is a critical pillar of the 2021 World tour of Break the ceiling touch the sky which travels virtually or live through North America, Asia, the Middle East, ANZ, Africa, Greater China and Europe in 2021. It supports House of Rose Professional's MISSION 2029 FOR A BETTER WORLD  the 10 year global initiative to quintuple the number of Female CEOs in the worlds 500 largest Companies by 2029 (from 14 in 2020 to 70 in 2029). China today has the maximum number of Companies (124) in this group of the world's 500 largest Companies, making it a critical leader in this initiative to shape a better world.

Registration for the Greater China Edition is open at www.houseofroseprofessional.com

Commented Catherine Chen, President, Bureau Veritas Consumer Products Services "Bureau Veritas is delighted to partner with the 2021 Greater China Edition of Break the ceiling touch the sky. Gender equality is one of the critical elements of our mission to shape a world based on trust. Break the ceiling touch the sky mirrors our emphasis on gender diversity & inclusion and its positive impact in the workplace."

Added Anthony A. Rose, Chairman and CEO, HORP, "Break the ceiling touch the sky is a unique opportunity for Companies to learn and build sustainable strategies to unlock the full impact of a diverse and inclusive work force. More gender diverse organizations for example deliver better financial performance, innovation and impact. We invite organizations to seize this opportunity to learn alongside the best of the best and contribute towards shaping a better world via better diversity & inclusion, leadership and business."

The Singapore International Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICC), Danish Chamber of Commerce in China, AustCham Shanghai and ENACTUS are the official Industry Partners for the 2021 Greater China Edition of Break the ceiling touch the sky. Bureau is a Silver Sponsor for this edition of the summit.

For details please visit www.houseofroseprofessional.com.

Singapore-headquartered House of Rose Professional Pte. Ltd is a leader in the Talent, Training and Transformation businesses. The Company builds the world's best leaders via its proprietary integrated system for leadership development leveraging its key brands Dream Job International, Break the ceiling touch the sky and CEOSmith.

For sponsorship/news media/participation inquiries contact:

Anthony A. Rose

House of Rose Professional Pte. Ltd.

Email: anthony@houseofroseprofessional.com

SOURCE House of Rose Professional Pte. Ltd.
The Stafford School Board's policy states that "citizen comment which is profane, abusive, or which threatens imminent physical harm shall be ruled out-of-order by the chairman." The Fredericksburg School Board asks that speakers address the board chairman during public comments.

At Monday's meeting, Livingston District representative Kirk Twigg called some of the possible revisions "ridiculous" and "garbage." He also said the revisions would infringe on free speech rights, though Parrish said nothing presented would restrict the content of public comment and other board members said that would never be their intention.

"[Parrish] has already identified that this has nothing to do with stifling anyone's free speech," said Vice Chair Lorita Daniels. "It has to do with clarifying what it means for the public to participate."

Battlefield District representative Baron Braswell, who has been the target of the recent public comments many have found troubling, said he does not want to see any changes made to the policy currently in place.
One opportunity related to COVID-19 is vaccination, which should continue to be the priority for people in rural communities or those with high poverty rates, the report stated.

The findings of the state study match up with whats happened locally with the virus, to a degree.

One measurement that puts urban and rural localities on the same footing is the incidence of cases per 100,000 people. By that measurement, Carolinethe most rural locality in the health districthas the highest rates of cases and deaths. Fredericksburg has the highest rates of hospitalization.

For months, state officials have talked about vaccine hesitancy being more pronounced in rural localities, and Caroline shares the lowest vaccination rate in the district with its other rural counterpart, King George.

As of Tuesday, the rate of the overall population with at least one vaccine dose was 40 percent in King George; 41 percent in Caroline; 43 percent in Fredericksburg; 44 percent in Stafford; and 45 percent in Spotsylvania.
More than 3.5 million gallons of raw sewage diluted by floodwater poured into creeks in Westmoreland and King George counties over the weekend, causing state officials to temporarily shut down the harvest of oysters and clams in the area.

The temporary measure started Monday and will end July 5, according to the Virginia Department of Health. It affects shellfish only, not crabs or fish, in portions of Monroe Bay in Colonial Beach, Mattox Creek in Westmoreland and Rosier Creek in Westmoreland and King George.

An estimated 8 inches of rain fell in the Northern Neck on Friday, and the deluge overwhelmed operations at the Colonial Beach Wastewater Treatment Plant, said Adam Wood, a manager with the state health departments Division of Shellfish Safety. Two different releases of sewage later occurred as the influx of rain flushed out the whole system, Wood said.

The plant that should have deposited treated affluent into Monroe Creek ended up releasing the chemical treatments as well as all the untreated waste into the water. Monroe Creek feeds into Monroe Bay, which then feeds into Mattox and Rosier creeks.
Lisa Sullivans latest attempt to locate her 19-year-old daughter was a bright yellow billboard bearing her image placed at a busy King George County intersection.

She believes her former husband, James Branton, was probably the last person to see her daughter, Katelin Akens, on Dec. 5, 2015. She also believes Branton has additional information he still has not shared with authorities.

I was hoping [the billboard] would put him on a guilt trip, seeing her face every day, said Sullivan. He needs to talk; he needs to come forward. Hes got to know where she is.

For the last three months, the billboard bearing Katelins image was in plain view where State Route 206, or Dahlgren Road, meets U.S. 301. That billboard came down recently, but is going back up nearby. Sullivan believes Branton, who works at Naval Support Facility Dahlgren, will continue to see the billboard every day on his way to work, and so will the people he works with.

His co-workers would know, said Sullivan. I was hoping people in his office would whisper and talk, make him feel uncomfortable.

The free billboard, provided by the Roanoke-based AWARE Foundation, is part of a nationwide effort to track down missing people.
Yet Franklin Templeton Investments, where she had been a head of insurance portfolio management, decided to do just that, joining the pile-on in an epic display of corporate cowardice. We do not tolerate racism of any kind at Franklin Templeton, the company tweeted.

You dont have to approve of Amy Coopers Karen act or consider the nuances of her exchange with Christian to see the danger in allowing employers to become judge, jury and executioner for her conduct, which occurred outside work and was unrelated to her duties for Franklin Templeton.

Executioner is no exaggeration. A certain rabid segment of woke America believes that those who misbehave ought not to be allowed to hold a job and thus not be able to feed themselves or their children. Let them die.

Speech, they sayand behaviorhas consequences. Indeed, they do. And it did for Amy Cooper. Her 911 call resulted in public shaming and a movement to get her banned from Central Park. For several weeks, she worried that she might never see her dog again.

The legal system considered her crime, deemed prosecution unlikely to succeed and settled for reeducation. The appropriate venue for sanctions, if any, is the justice system, not the workplace. Firing her was inappropriate. It ought to be illegal.
The disturbed weather moseyed offshore over the weekend. After spending some time over the warmer waters of the Gulf Stream, thunderstorms erupted and tightened into a defined circulation.

That's not an unprecedented way to get an early-season storm, but the next one might take the most typical route.

***

A more distant and still-undefined system in the southern Gulf of Mexico would be the only one with any shot of eventually bringing us some tropical rainfall, perhaps early next week.

But its such a long way off, its still not even clear how much of its moisture would make it up to Virginia, or even what parts of the Gulf Coast would feel its effects first.

There should be a clearer picture by Thursday or Friday.

Meteorologists have been keeping an eye on this area for longer, as the Bay of Campeche is one of the typical June trouble spots along with the western Caribbean Sea.

Assuming the depression off the Eastern Seaboard becomes Bill first, that Gulf system would then go by the name Claudette, if or when it acquires sustained winds of 39 mph.
Dodge County Board of Supervisors, Dodge County Board of Equalization and Dodge County Board of Corrections meetings, 9 a.m., third floor board room, Dodge County Courthouse, 435 N. Park Ave., Fremont. The meetings are open to the public.

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, noon, Chapter 5 Club, 136 N. Main St., Fremont.

Fremont Eagles Club open, 3 p.m. to 12 a.m., 649 N. Main St. The club may close early depending on business.

Big Red Blitz, 4 p.m., Christensen Field Main Arena, Fremont. The scheduled speakers include Greg Austin, Mike Dawson, Paul Klempa and Matt Davison. The event is free and open to the public. Capacity is limited at the event, and fans will be admitted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 5:15 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont.

Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}}

4th annual Cruise-In to Raising Canes Chicken Fingers, 5:30-8 p.m., Raising Canes, Fremont Mall, 23rd and Bell streets, Fremont. Anyone with an antique, classic, muscle car, street rod or hot rod auto, motorcycle or truck is welcome. The weekly cruise-ins will continue through Sept. 29.

Narcotics Anonymous meeting, 7 p.m., Keene Memorial Library, 1030 N. Broad St., Fremont. The hotline number is 402-459-9511.
JANI KHEL, Pakistan -- In a desperate attempt to force authorities to take action against the Taliban, members of a Pashtun clan in western Pakistan are refusing to bury their dead and threatening to march on Islamabad.

The primary demand of the Jani Khel, a 60,000-member clan of the larger Wazir Pashtun tribe, is for the government to completely rid the area of militants. But while the government had agreed to this in writing, members of the clan say this demand is far from being met.

Their homeland, Jani Khel, a rural town near the western city of Bannu, is named after the clan. The region borders North Waziristan in close proximity to Afghanistan and is rife with rival Taliban groups years after Islamabad claimed victory in its domestic war on terrorism.

Activists and opposition politicians view the Jani Khel protest as a litmus test for whether Islamabad is ready to move against Taliban factions, both pro- and anti-government. Called good and bad Taliban in local parlance, politicians and rights campaigners blame Islamabads murky dealings with such groups for its failure to rout militants out of Pashtun communities. Many of these insurgents exclusively fight for the Afghan Taliban or help Islamabad keep the ultra-radical fugitive Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) at bay. With increasing attacks, the TTP appears to be making a comeback.

Pakistani officials, however, say its complicated. They point to the reluctance of clan members to allow an all-out offensive, which officials say could be the only way to get rid of militants. Past counterterrorism operations in the region caused mass displacement and ruined local businesses and properties.

We will dig up the graves of the four teenagers [whom we buried in March] along with the corpse of Malik Naseeb Khan and march toward Islamabad, Gul Alam, a Wazir tribal leader, told protesters who are refusing to bury Khan two weeks after he was killed by unidentified gunmen on May 30.

Khan, a Jani Khel tribal leader, was a leading member of the committee that had successfully negotiated an agreement with the government in March following a weeklong protest in which the Jani Khel refused to bury the bodies of four teenagers who were found after having disappeared weeks earlier.

We will march toward Islamabad with these five corpses, Alam told a Jani Khel crowd last week. We will keep on marching even if they shoot us or arrest us all.

Working For Peace

Khans son Rafi Ullah says his family has not joined in the blood feuds endemic in Jani Khel and other neighboring Pashtun regions.

My father was working for peace since 2009. He was repeatedly attacked by militants who ultimately killed him on May 30, he told Radio Mashaal. We have now handed over his corpse to the tribe. Now they will decide when to bury him, he added. Muslim traditions require a swift burial, usually within a day of death, but the protesters have refused to bury Khan for more than two weeks.

Latif Waziri, a local political activist, says that in a bid to jumpstart negotiations, the government freed six protesters arrested on May 31. He told Radio Mashaal that despite this goodwill gesture, theres been no progress in talks through tribal intermediaries. The negotiations are ongoing, but there hasnt been a breakthrough, he noted on June 12.

Jani Khel residents want the government to uphold its promises to rout out militants, investigate murders, pay compensation to victims of terrorism, and invest in regional development. But many Jani Khal residents and local leaders are skeptical of the governments willingness to take concrete action. Mohsin Dawar, a lawmaker from neighboring North Waziristan, says the Jani Khel dont trust Islamabad because terrorist violence continued even after they were displaced and lost their businesses and properties in a military operation in 2009.

People here are convinced that the state is not interested in ending terrorism, Dawar told protesters. It just keeps giving weapons to these groups and lets them fight it out, he added. We evacuated Waziristan and Jani Khel, but it didnt end the Taliban sanctuaries. If the government is serious about going after the Taliban, it should begin with going after those sheltering in Bannus suburbs.

Clandestine Support

Dawar is also a leader of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), a civil rights movement that accuses the Pakistani military of clandestine support for various Taliban factions while oppressing civilians in its counterinsurgency operations. The Pakistani military denies the accusations and in turn accuses the PTM of campaigning on behalf of the Afghan government. Kabul and PTM leaders have repeatedly denied such claims.

Dawar is mindful of local divisions. He wants the Taliban factions to rethink their actions, which have only brought suffering to their communities. I want to ask the good and bad Taliban: What have your brought to our people apart from dishonor, insult, injury, and destruction? he said.

Despite repeated efforts, it was not immediately possible to reach the various Taliban factions for comment. But locals named Commander Ishaq as the major figure in the pro-government Taliban, many members of which were previously associated with the TTP and other groups fighting the government. Sadar Hayat and Akhtar Muhammad are believed to be leading figures in the anti-government Taliban. Hayat is seen to be close to Hafiz Gul Bahadur, a renegade militant commander in North Waziristan, while Muhammad is a local TTP leader.

Afrasiab Khattak, a former lawmaker and politician, is one of the few political leaders who visited the protest last week after circumventing government restrictions that included a road blockade of shipping containers. He says that instead of listening to their demands, authorities blocked the roads to Jani Khel to muzzle the voice of protesters.

Malik Naseeb was the third victim of targeted assassinations in the region after the government had pledged to investigate past murders under the agreement in March, he told Radio Mashaal. How can anyone blame the locals for protesting after the government failed to keep its word?

Khattak says Islamabads response shows that its not ready to give up Taliban sanctuaries. During the past two decades, Islamabad has mostly denied hosting the Afghan Taliban or supporting local militants. But senior Pakistani officials have acknowledged hosting the Taliban and have claimed credit for facilitating the groups talks with the United States.

The real issue is that Pakistani authorities insist on using these people as cannon fodder in their wars, he said. But the people are now aware of this and are resisting strongly through peaceful means.

The government, however, counters allegations of neglect or colluding with the militants.

Zubair Ahmad Niazi, a deputy commissioner or senior civilian administration official in Bannu, told Radio Mashaal they have been in contact with the protesters through tribal intermediaries and are committed to implementing the agreement concluded with locals in March. He says they prevented some leaders from reaching the protest site because of possible security threats.

Requesting anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to the media, a senior security official told Radio Mashaal that an all-out offensive would be a last resort. If such protests continue, our only option will be to launch a final offensive against the militants, he said. But we are waiting for an opportune time, he added, alluding to the intense summer heat when daytime temperature frequently surpass 45 degrees Celsius.

Jani Khel residents and political activists, however, want to avoid a military operation. Ishaq, an academic from the region who goes by one name only, says that in unlike other Pashtun regions, the residents of Jani Khel received no compensation or aid after the governments 2009 military operation. Activists in the region point to North Waziristan and South Waziristan, where some militants continue to operate years after a major military operation displaced more than 1.5 million civilians for years. The regions residents now hope their activism will prompt Islamabad to turn its back on all militants and establish the rule of law.

We are begging for peace, Eid Rehman, an organizer of the protest, told Radio Mashaal. We just want the government to be true to its word and implement the agreement that it signed.

Trust is in short supply. On June 14, a government effort to broker an agreement with the Jani Khel protesters through a 50-member delegation of tribal intermediaries and officials failed to reach a conclusion.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country would need support from the United States to protect Kabul's international airport if it were to maintain troops in Afghanistan following the withdrawal of other NATO troops.

Turkey is also seeking Pakistan and Hungary's involvement in a new mission in Afghanistan following the departure of the U.S.-led NATO force, Erdogan said on June 14 at the end of a series of meetings with NATO leaders in Brussels.

If they dont want us to leave Afghanistan, if they want [Turkish] support there, then the diplomatic, logistic, and financial support that the United States will give us will [be] of great importance, Erdogan said.

NATO leaders agreed earlier at their one-day summit to maintain funding for Kabul's civilian airport after the withdrawal of allied troops scheduled to be finished by September 11.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance is working on how to ensure the continued operation of the airport, adding that Turkey of course plays a key role in those efforts.

U.S. President Joe Biden said there was a strong consensus among the NATO leaders on Afghanistan.

Our troops are coming home, but we agreed that our diplomatic, economic, and humanitarian commitment to the Afghan people and our support for the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces will endure, he said.

Meanwhile, a top U.S. commander has clarified the role U.S. aircraft are expected to provide as so-called "over-the-horizon" support for Afghan government forces after the last U.S. troops leave Afghanistan.

General Frank McKenzie, the head of U.S. Central Command, told the Voice Of America on June 14 that the United States is not planning to support Afghan forces with air strikes after the U.S. troop withdrawal is complete.

McKenzie said counterterrorism strikes in Afghanistan would be limited to cases in which plans have been discovered by "someone who wants to attack the homeland of the United States, [or] one of our allies and partners."

The generals comments appear to refute a report by the New York Times that said the Pentagon was considering seeking authorization to carry out air strikes to support Afghan security forces if Kabul or another major city is in danger of falling to the Taliban.

In Brussels, Erdogan criticized what he said was a lack of support from NATO for counterterrorism efforts.

But Erdogan described his meeting with Biden as constructive and said he invited him to visit Turkey.

There is a strong will for the start of a new era in all areas based on mutual respect and interest, Erdogan said.

There is no problem in Turkey-U.S. relations that cannot be solved, he said, while Biden told reporters he was confident well make real progress with Turkey.

Erdogan said the issue of Bidens declaration in April that the Ottoman-era mass killing and deportations of Armenians was genocide was not discussed during his meeting with Biden.

Turkey, which was furious over Biden s declaration, denies the deportations and massacres, which began in 1915 and killed an estimated 1.5 million Armenians, amounted to genocide.

The Turkish leader used the meeting to renew a call for an end to U.S. support for the Kurdish fighters in Syria, who Ankara argues are linked to a Kurdish insurgency in Turkey.

He also signaled no change over Turkeys purchase of the S-400 advanced Russian missile defense system, which Washington says is a threat to NATO.

Our thoughts on the S-400 are the same as before. I relayed our same thoughts to Mr. Biden, Erdogan said, but added efforts to resolve the differences continue through contacts between the two countries foreign and defense ministers.

In Brussels, Erdogan also met with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

After meeting with Erdogan, Macron said on Twitter that he wants to move forward with clarity on Turkey.

Erdogan said Macron told him as "a friend" that it's out of the question for me to be against Islam. He also said that Turkey and France would continue to work together to tackle conflicts in Libya and Syria.

With reporting by VOA, AP, and Anadolu
Colorado Springs, CO (80903)

Today

Scattered showers and thunderstorms, especially during the evening. Low 56F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Scattered showers and thunderstorms, especially during the evening. Low 56F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%. Locally heavy rainfall possible.
Colorado Springs, CO (80903)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms early, then mainly cloudy after midnight. Low near 55F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms early, then mainly cloudy after midnight. Low near 55F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%. Locally heavy rainfall possible.
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Kitty-corner from the site is the first Kwik Star location in town which opened in November 2019 at what used to be Wooz's Car Wash. In addition to the four cars getting gas, there are about a half-dozen more parked and one is going through the car wash.

To the west of them is the Tobacco Outlet Plus store that, for a while, was the only thing going in the Southport strip of businesses. But soon enough, itll have company with the arrival of the storage facility. The same month that Kwik Star opened, Mason City's Driver's License Service Center closed and relocated to Fourth Street Southwest.

19th Street Southwest/19th Street Southeast

That former Sears building is closest to the 19th Street/South Federal intersection where, on either side of it, there are two of the only local dining options on this stretch with Plaza Mexico on one side and Homers Sports Bar and Grill on the other. (Farther north still, one could find Awe'z Sandwich Shop.) From 10th Street on, everything else comes from a chain.

20th Street Southeast through 21st Street Southeast
Individuals in Iowa who make donations towards school tuition organizations, or STOs, will receive an increased tax credit thanks to a recent statewide bill.

The tax credit when donating to STOs went from 65 percent to 75 percent due to the recent signing of the education bill by Gov. Kim Reynolds. This is the same education bill that allowed schools to go mask-free on May 20.

With the new tax credit, if a donor made a $1,000 contribution to an STO, they are eligible for a $750 credit applied to their Iowa income tax liability.

An STO is a charitable organization that helps middle or low income families receive tuition assistance toward non-public education for children. Newman Catholic school system is a large user of STO funds, with 40 percent of their students in 2020-21 receiving assistance from an STO.

Newman Catholic principal Tony Adams said that the updated tax credit will be more appealing to those who want to donate money towards STOs.

The increased tax credit will help provide more funding towards scholarships for families who want to send their children to a non-public school, according to Adams.

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GRAND OPENING: Southside Community Learning Center, 524 Chatham Ave., will hold a grand opening at 5:30 p.m. For more information, contact DRHA Executive Learning Directors, Larissa Deedrich, at ldeedrich@drhava.com

THURSDAY, JUNE 24

THURSDAY PADDLE: Slow-paced kayak trip on the Dan River at Camilla Williams Park from 6 to 8 p.m. for $14 for ages 10 and up. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Register by Monday before the program by calling Danville Parks and Recreation at 434-799-5150.

SATURDAY, JUNE 26

FREE COMMUNITY HOT DOG LUNCH: A free community hot dog lunch will be held from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church, 409 Arnett Blvd. Food can be picked up in the parking lot only.

A HISTORY OF THE MILTON PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH: A history of the Milton Presbyterian Church will be presented at 11 a.m. by Martha Bradsher Spencer in Milton, N.C. A tour of the church will follow the presentation.
Harlow Fastech was to make its first installment to repay the loan on Feb. 1, 2022, but under a forbearance agreement approved by the RIFA board Monday, that first payment does not have to be made until Feb. 1, 2024.

The agreement is among the Danville, Pittsylvania County, Harlow Fastech and the Virginia Tobacco Commission.

RIFA board member Bob Warren, who chairs the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors, voted against the agreement because he does not want to extend the liability to the countys government and its citizens.

I believe that any company that enters into an agreement with RIFA, and thus Pittsylvania County and the City of Danville, should honor those agreements, just as RIFA will follow through with its end of the deal, Warren said in a prepared statement. I do not agree with granting the company an extra two years without reducing the countys financial exposure.

According to the resolution, the forbearance would reduce the value of RIFAs collateral securing the companys performance under the loan.

The collateral is specialized equipment with a limited resale market, the resolution states.

Its depreciation would be about $250,000, according to the resolution.
With the advent of the vaccines, COVID-19 deaths per day in the U.S. have plummeted to an average of 340 from a high of more than 3,400 in mid-January. Cases are running at 14,000 a day on average, down from a quarter-million per day during the winter.

Worldwide, the COVID-19 confirmed death toll stands at 3.8 million. The actual totals in the U.S. and around the globe are thought to be significantly higher, with many cases overlooked or possibly concealed by some countries.



SAN FRANCISCO  California was the first state in America to put in place a coronavirus lockdown, but it is turning a page on the pandemic.

At midnight, California lifted most of its COVID-19 restrictions and ushered whats being called a Grand Reopening. There will be no more state rules on social distancing and no more limits on capacity at restaurants, bars, supermarkets, gyms and stadiums. Masks have been one of the most symbolic and fraught symbols of the pandemic. Now they will no longer be mandated by the state in many situations.

More people tested positive for the virus in California (3.8 million and counting) and more people died (63,000 plus) than anywhere else in the country, although the nations most populous state had a lower per capita death rate than most others.
CDC continues to recommend that those who are unvaccinated wear a mask indoors, which includes the vast majority of K-12 students, DHHS spokeswoman Catie Armstrong said in an email Friday. The CDC currently recommends that masks been worn in school as well.

We will continue to look at the data to guide our decisions, and will reevaluate our guidance if anything changes from the CDC.

DHHS has required face masks to be worn in schools since the start of this school year. The face covering requirement is part of the Strong Schools Toolkit thats been adopted by the State Board of Education for how schools are to operate during the coronavirus pandemic.

During the course of the school year, DHHS has eased the guidelines to not require face masks be worn outdoors at schools. That change was made to comply with how the state lifted the face mask requirement in most settings.

Students at summer school, as of right now, still have to wear masks and teachers in front of those students have to wear masks, Fleming, the Harnett County superintendent, told the board before the vote.
House Bill 64, the Government Transparency Act of 2021, now goes to the House. The bill replaces a previous version of HB 64, so has to be voted on by the House again.

This bill was never intended to do but one thing, and that is to make North Carolina a more transparent state as far as its employees are concerned, bill sponsor Sen. Norman Sanderson said during a committee meeting last week. Those employees in the bill include law enforcement, teachers and UNC system workers.

Sanderson added an amendment Monday night that would make the bill, if it becomes law, effective Dec. 31, 2021.

Berger, an Eden Republican, said the bill strikes a good balance despite some government employees concerns.

Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat who sponsored a similar bill when he was serving in the General Assembly in 1997, stopped short of saying whether or not he supported this bill on Monday.

Im glad to work with the legislature on this legislation. I do believe that transparency is important. Obviously there are issues that need to be protected when it comes to personnel records, Cooper told reporters during an event at the Executive Mansion.
RALEIGH  Civil rights groups and liberal organizations denounced this week a group of bills advancing through the state Senate that would make changes to absentee voting and limit sources of funding for election administration in North Carolina.

Speaking in front of the North Carolina General Assembly, leaders from the ACLU of North Carolina, Democracy NC, and other groups on Monday called on lawmakers to reject the three measures, Senate Bills 326, 724 and 725, ahead of votes on the Senate floor that could come as soon as this week.

Invoking former President Donald Trump, the advocates tied the bills, introduced by Republican legislators last week, to restrictive measures being pursued nationwide in light of Trumps unfounded claims that the 2020 election was rigged or tainted by widespread voter fraud.

As were seeing across the country this year, hundreds of bills that chip away at voting access are being advanced at an alarming rate, said Chantal Stevens, executive director of the ACLU of North Carolina. The bills being considered at our General Assembly come from this national playbook.

Originally parts of a single bill, the Election Integrity Act, that was introduced by Republican lawmakers in March, the three bills were re-packaged as standalone pieces of legislation last week.
Cox told deputies that she, Presley and the children traveled to a location on Saddle Ridge Road, in an unincorporated area of Branchville, S.C. to meet the sellers of a 2019 green Polaris Sportsman 450 four-wheeler the family saw advertised on Facebooks Marketplace.

When they arrived at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, two male teens arrived with the four-wheeler.

Cox told deputies that after Presley paid the older teen and loaded the four-wheeler onto a trailer, the older teen began acting strange.

She told Presley she had a feeling something bad was about to happen, the report states.

Within moments, the older teen allegedly attacked Presley.

Presley told him, Man, just take whatever you want. Dont do it, Cox recalled, saying her husband tried to negotiate with him.

She alleged that the gunman pointed the firearm at her 8-year-old son first and threatened her with it too.

She said the older teen grabbed Presley by the back of the neck and shot him during a struggle.

She said the males then got into her 1997 Ford Expedition and started to drive away.
ALGIERS, Algeria (AP)  Algerias oldest party, previously thought to be on the wane, won the largest number of seats in weekend legislative elections, the country's electoral authority announced Tuesday.

The National Liberation Front, or FLN, secured 105 of 407 parliamentary seats, according to the provisional results. Independent candidates, including young people new to politics and many others who broke away from the FLN, placed second, winning a total 78 seats.

The voting Saturday was meant to open the way to a new Algeria heralded by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune to end an era of corruption and give the North African nation a new, younger face after a two-decade reign of Abdelaziz Bouteflika as chief of state. Bouteflika was forced to resign in 2019 under pressure from the Hirak pro-democracy protest movement.

However, turnout was dismal with Hirak protesters boycotting the elections, as did traditional opposition parties. The electoral chief, Mohamed Charfi, did not provide a turnout figure in his Tuesday rundown of results, but media outlets calculating the number of voters among the 24 million eligible put the figure at 23%  a historic low.
After the plane was on the ground, several unidentified persons boarded the aircraft with video cameras, according to O'Leary.

They repeatedly attempted to get the crew to confirm on video that they had voluntarily diverted to Minsk," the Ryanair executive said. The crew refused to provide such confirmation, he said.

Western countries have called the forced diversion a brazen hijacking by Belarus. Outraged European Union leaders swiftly slapped sanctions on the country, including banning Belarusian airlines from using the airspace and airports of the 27-nation bloc and telling European airlines to skirt Belarus. U.K. authorities took similar actions.

OLeary said he did not support continuing such flight bans in the long term.

We cannot have a situation whereby airlines, air travel, our customers and our citizens run the risk of being hijacked and diverted under false pretenses, he said. But equally, far more U.K. citizens will be disrupted as a result of long-haul flights between the U.K. and Asia, for example, now having to fly around Belarus or avoiding Belarusian airspace.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Southern Baptists and most conservative Christians believe in the characterization of Satan in Genesis 3:1, where he is described as crafty or subtle. How would such personality traits manifest themselves to derail the primary objective of the SBC, which is to share their faith with others? If I were Satan (no letters, please), I would entice people to fight me, instead of obeying their Master. I would especially seduce people to focus on endorsing politicians to the point where it can dilute their more powerful and life-changing message.

Scripture, in which Southern Baptists profess to believe, has much to say about misplaced faith. When David was king of Israel, he wrote, Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings who cannot save. (Psalm 146:3). Jesus said His kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36). That seems definitive.
In about 30 days, after the asphalt has time to cure, crews will begin the pavement grooving process, cutting grooves into the surface to allow for better drainage and traction for aircraft. That work will also occur overnight during nonoperational hours.

Even painting the massive runway was no small feat, with more than 6.8 acres of paint needed. Wadekamper said the weather cooperated nicely to allow the paint crew to do its work.

"They were able to work around those windy periods," he said. "I've already heard several people comment that it looks good."

Funding of the $10.8 million project is coming entirely from the federal government. The lion's share is covered by the Federal Aviation Administration's Airport Improvement Program, which is funded through taxes collected on all airline tickets, air cargo and aviation fuel. Typically with FAA grants, a small portion of the total project cost needs to be paid for by the airport as a local match.

With the airport's revenue nose-diving in 2020, Wadekamper said the airport authority was unsure if it would be able to come up with the matching obligation. Thanks to the American Rescue Plan Act, the Helena Airport Authority received additional federal funds to cover that cost.
DALLAS (AP)  Southwest Airlines said it was working Tuesday to restore normal operations after a technology-related issue interfered with flights for the second straight day.

By midafternoon, the nations fourth-largest airline had canceled about 500 flights and delayed nearly 1,300 others, according to tracking service FlightAware. The combination of cancellations and delays affected about half of Southwests planned flights for the day.

The Federal Aviation Administration held up all Southwest departures for about 45 minutes while the company worked to fix a computer issue, an agency spokeswoman said.

Spokesman for Dallas-based Southwest said a problem with connectivity of the airline's technology systems started around midday Tuesday.

Southwest is in the process of resuming normal operations after a brief pause in our flight activity resulting from intermittent performance issues with our network connectivity Tuesday afternoon, the spokesman, Dan Landson, said in an email.

He said crews were working to limit flight disruptions, and urged customers to check their flight status Southwests website or seek help from the airlines airport agents.
A July 9 trial date was previously set for Moore on a deliberate homicide charge, which is punishable by death or up to 100 years. Prosecutors were not seeking the death penalty and when the trial date was set in March, an evaluation on Moores fitness to proceed was still pending.

In a deal with prosecutors, Moore pleaded guilty Tuesday to mitigated deliberate homicide, meaning it was committed under the influence of extreme mental or emotional stress for which there is a reasonable explanation or excuse. Berger ordered a pre-sentencing investigation and will set sentencing later.

Under Montana law, the mitigating circumstances are not an element of the reduced crime that the state or defense is required to prove but either side can present evidence of mitigation.

A conviction carries a minimum sentence of two years in prison and maximum of 40 years. Prosecutors are recommending that Moore be sentenced to the Montana Womens Prison for 40 years and her defense attorneys are free to argue their own range at sentencing.

But under the plea deal, Moore would be allowed to withdraw her guilty plea if Berger exceeds the states recommendation. The only way he could do that is to impose a parole restriction beyond 10 years.
MOSCOW (AP)  Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Azerbaijan Tuesday for a two-day visit and, with his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev, traveled to Shusha, a city that Azerbaijan recaptured from Armenian forces in last autumns war.

Shusha, a center of Azeri culture for centuries, came under Armenian control in 1992 in fighting over the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh region. Its retaking by Azerbaijans forces in November was important both symbolically and strategically because it sits high above the regions nearby capital, Stepanakert.

In Shusha, Erdogan and Aliyev held talks and signed a declaration on allied relations between the two countries aimed at deepening ties in several areas of cooperation, including security.

Today is a historic day, Aliyev said after the signing. The declaration raises our relations to the highest level."

Turkey actively supported Azerbaijan in the last war over Nagorno-Karabakh. After six weeks of fighting that killed more than 6,000 people, Azerbaijan regained control of much of the region and Armenian-held surrounding territories.
You may know Huma Abedin as Hillary Clinton's longtime close aide and a top advisor of her 2016 presidential campaign. You almost definitely know her as the ex-wife of Anthony Weiner, former congressman and currently registered sex offender, whose habit of sexting with minors may have indirectly sunk said presidential campaign.

Abedin would like to reintroduce herself, in her own words. Scribner, a division of the publisher Simon & Schuster, announced today that her memoir, "Both/And: A Life in Many Words," will be published Nov. 2.

In a statement from Scribner, Abedin explained her motivation to write the book.

"For most of my life, I was viewed through the lens of others, a refraction of someone else's pronoun," she said in the statement. "'They' as in the parents who raised me; 'she' as in the woman I worked for; and 'he' as in the man I married. Writing this book gave me the opportunity to reflect on my own life  from the nurturing family I was privileged to be born into, to working for one of the most compelling leaders of our time. This journey has led me through exhilarating milestones and devastating setbacks. I have walked both with great pride and in overwhelming shame. It is a life I am  more than anything  enormously grateful for and a story I look forward to sharing."

Scribner promised an in-depth coming-of-age story, from Abedin's upbringing as a Muslim American daughter of Indian and Pakistani scholars to her longtime work for Clinton in every office  first lady, senator, secretary of State and presidential candidate  as well as "a candid and moving reckoning of Ms. Abedin's marriage to former Congressman Anthony Weiner."

Abedin's history with Clinton goes back to a college internship with the office of the first lady in 1996. She was an aide to Clinton during her 2000 run for U.S. Senate and became deputy chief of staff during Clinton's time as secretary of State under the the Obama administration. Depite a highly successful career in politics, there were many public hurdles in her married life.

In 2011, Weiner resigned from Congress after a sexually explicit photo he sent to a woman was publicly shared on Twitter. He ran for mayor of New York City anyway, only to be caught doing the same thing again. Weiner pleaded guilty to showing a minor sexual images in 2017 and received a 21-day prison sentence and a $10,000 fine.

For years, Abedin publicly stood by Weiner's side  until Aug. 29, 2016, when she shared her intent to divorce him and file for sole custody of their son. That Oct. 28, then-FBI Director James Comey announced that a search of Weiner's laptop might yield new evidence in an investigation into Clinton's private email server; on Nov. 6 he announced that no new evidence had been found. Donald Trump won the election two days later.

The memoir will be published by Scribner and Simon & Schuster Inc.'s international companies in the U.K., Australia, Canada and India and as an audiobook by Simon & Schuster Audio.

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CHICAGO  An explosion at a northern Illinois chemical plant Monday morning sparked massive fires that sent flames and huge plumes of thick black smoke high into the air and debris raining onto the ground, prompting evacuations.

After 7 a.m., emergency crews rushed to the scene of the fire near Rockton, northwest of Chicago, at Chemtool Inc., a company that manufactures lubricants, grease products and other fluids, and is, according to the company, the largest manufacturer of grease in the Americas.

Rockton Fire Department Chief Kirk Wilson said about 70 employees were evacuated safely from the plant, and that one firefighter suffered a minor injury. Chemtool's parent company, Lubrizol Corp., later said there were closer to 50 employees present when the plant was evacuated.

The plumes became so big they were being picked up on weather radar. Wilson said there was no danger to air quality at ground level.

The Rockton Police Department posted an alert at 8:46 a.m. warning that fire officials had ordered a mandatory evacuation of homes and businesses near the plant. Later in the day, Gov. J.B. Pritzker's office expanded the evacuation zone from a 1- to a 2-mile radius from the plant out of an abundance of caution, and encouraged people within that zone to wear masks to prevent them from inhaling soot.

I am monitoring this situation closely and will make all resources available to the surrounding communities as we work to keep people safe, Pritzker said in a statement.

Wilson said firefighters had stopped using water to extinguish the blaze to prevent an environmental nightmare if the runoff were to enter the nearby Rock River.

It could be several days before the fluids that caught fire burn out, he said.

Crews from the 40 or so fire departments were fanning out to respond to spot fires, grass fires, and burning debris that the wind pushed into the community. Wilson said those fires were caused by burning pieces of cardboard boxes and chunks of wooden pallets, not chemicals falling from the sky.

Trisha Diduch, the planning and development administrator for Rockton, said she estimates about 1,000 people were affected by the evacuation order.

One of those residents was 29-year-old Alyssa King. She said after she walked outside to see black smoke and what appeared to be pieces of cardboard boxes and small chunks of the building falling from the sky, she called a police non-emergency line. You gotta go, she said she was told.

There were no immediate reports of injuries.

We have confirmed all on site are safe and accounted for. Our concern right now is for the safety of all our employees and the surrounding community," Chemtool said in a statement, adding that it will share more details as they become known.

We do not yet know what caused this incident, but we will be working with local authorities and with our own risk management team to determine what happened and identify any corrective actions, it said.

King, who lives in an apartment less than a mile from the site, said she woke up to what sounded like slamming doors.

It woke me up. It was shaking the whole apartment building, said King, who had been at home with her 8-year-old daughter.

They went to her mothers house about 2 miles away. King then returned to the apartment to collect the familys rabbit, Oreo. As she drove near the plant, King saw smoldering embers along the roadway, and there was burned material all over the yard of the apartment building, she said. The air had a chemical smell, she added.

It was awful, she said. Im terrified I wont have a home to go back to.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency staffers have arrived at the site and will conduct air monitoring and sampling, spokeswoman Rachel Bassler said Monday afternoon. They were coordinating with the Illinois EPA, which also was sending a team, according to spokeswoman Kim Biggs.

The governor's office said Pritzker had activated the State Emergency Operation Center to mobilize the emergency response, including the Illinois National Guard, State Fire Marshal, Illinois State Police, American Red Cross, Salvation Army and the state's health and transportation departments.

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President Biden is taking his first trip overseas as President.

After stopping in England hell summit with European leaders in Brussels and then move on to his mano-a-mano meet-up with Vladimir Putin in Geneva.

I pray to God he does a great job, but I worry Putin will eat Joe alive.

Historically, left-wing dictatorships like Russia, China and North Korea have done that to our leaders when they go visiting overseas. When they make deals with us, left-wing countries like to play the geopolitical version of Rodney Kings famous plea Can we just all get along?

But as weve proven time and time again, the answer is always no. We cant get along with leftists overseas  or at home. And now that Joe OBiden and the Democrats are in power, the stage is set for another round of foreign policy blunders.

Weve watched Russia and China test the Biden administrations backbone since Day One. While Biden has been weakening our military, Russia is gearing up to attack Ukraine and harboring cyber criminals whove used ransomware to shut down our gasoline pipelines and meat processors.

But Biden also removed economic sanctions on Russia that allowed the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline to energy-dependent Germany to proceed  which gives Putin a strategic political weapon to bully Europe with that hell be sure to use.

Meanwhile, Biden and left-wingers in Congress are doing their best to weaken our healthy oil and gas industry in the name of saving the planet from the mythical green monster of global climate change.

As for China, its been militarizing islands in the South China Sea for decades and presidents of both parties have done nothing. Now Communist China is continuing to strangle the last breaths of democracy in Hong Kong and making threatening noises about invading Taiwan.

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Irans mullahs, meanwhile, are licking their lips over the prospects of Biden re-signing the Iran nuclear agreement, which the Obama administration signed in 2015 and Trump withdrew the U.S. from in 2018. That bad Obama deal lifted some economic sanctions on Iran in exchange for it dismantling most of its nuclear weapons program and allowing extensive international inspections.

Iran is no longer in compliance. But Biden says if Iran returns to compliance well return to a bad deal that probably will lead to a revival of Irans nuke program and ratchet up Middle East tensions between Iran and Israel and Saudi Arabia.

My father once said to me that you can be elected president of the United States but there comes a point when you become the president of the United States.

Thats so true.

And if you refuse to become the president, and if you still refuse to understand that the rest of the world looks to America to be strong and not weak, then youve emboldened the enemies of America and freedom. Like my father also once said, there were four wars during his lifetime  none of which was started because America was too strong.

Thats why I fear for my kids and grandchildren today.

Are they going to be facing World War III in 20 years because were defunding our military and bent on getting along with brutal dictatorships that hate us and want to do us harm? Are we allowing China and Russia to become buddies because their common enemy is the USA and their common goal is world dominance? If you dont see trouble coming, youre blind to history and geopolitical realities.

President Biden keeps telling us America is back. But back to what?

Allowing Russia, China, North Korea and Iran to gain military and economic strength relative to America?

Its been the traditional mission of the left  whether the left is focused at home or overseas  to weaken America. Biden, consciously or not, is doing just that with his messaging. He keeps saying America is back, but what hes really doing is putting America on its back.

Michael Reagan is a columnist for Cagle Cartoons newspaper syndicate.

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DECATUR  Valerie Smalley was born in Germany, less than a week after Adolf Hitler thrust the country into war with Poland.

Although she was a child, Smalley is filled with stories about her life in war-torn Germany.

Gini Smith often sits at her feet providing pedicures at the Decatur Macon County Senior Center. Her clients, like Smalley, keep her mesmerized with their tales of the past. I have some of the most wonderful clients. I think thats what keeps me going. Its not the toenails, Smith said. Especially World War II. Ive learned more from my clients about World War II than Ive ever learned in a textbook, both sides.

Smalleys stories have especially kept Smith captivated during several sessions.

During the past 60 years living in Central Illinois, Smalley has been asked about her life, but one question often comes up: How could someone like Hitler come to such power?

Her answer comes from her post-war experiences, as well as the stories told by her father and uncles.

It was because they were promised a lot, but didnt know how it was going to turn out, she said about Hitler and his government.

Like most of the world, Germany was living through the Great Depression in the 1930s. Well, they got work, but it was all to get ready for the war, Smalley said.

Throughout her early childhood, Smalley said she could hear the battles coming closer. Caravans of German people travelled past to escape the fighting. They carried what they could, she said.

Her post-World War II stories are often filled with similar struggles and challenges.

She was born Valerie Klein on Sept. 7, 1939, six days after the war began. She lived in the village of Petersdorf on the east side of Germany. After the war, the area was given to Joseph Stalin who in turn gave it to Czechoslovakia. When the Russians came through our town on the fifth of May of 1945, I was five-and-a-half, she said. A 700-year-old German town became a Czechish town.

Czech citizens arrived in her village, also taking what they wanted, including homes. That was part of the agreement, Smalley said.

Smalley wasn't immune to the images of death brought about by the war. Its just horrible what war does, she said.

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The German families had no place to live, their food was rationed and schooling for them was illegal.

Her family, which consisted of her mother, father, both sets of grandparents, an aunt, younger sister and baby brother, were transported to the west side of the country with only 100 pounds of belongings. If you had that much left, she said. When the Russians went through, when they retreated, they took what they wanted.

When the family and 30 others arrived in West Germany after a two-day train ride in a freight car, Smalley was greeted by American soldiers and nurses. She was doused with powders that killed lice and other bugs. However, she was also given hot cocoa and a roll in a warm dining hall.

Although she and her family were German natives, they were not welcomed in the new home. We were treated like we were the arch enemy, Smalley said. It took quite a while before they believed that we didnt lie, we didnt steal, we were quite capable of work.

The Klein family lived in a small room for five years, with an additional baby sister. Smalley and her siblings were able to go to school and her father was able to find work.

Smalley grew into an adult and was visiting a coffee shop with her sister one day when two American soldiers wanted to join them. One of the men, her future husband, Gary Smalley, impressed her with a German-English dictionary. The two were married in Switzerland in 1958.

Smalley was unable to speak English when she arrived in New York, then Chicago, ready to start her new life. Her husband met her at the airport after her long trip from Germany. I had my first American hamburger, she said.

Smalley and her husband raised five children in Decatur, near Argenta.

As a child, the United States was a country she admired. How can you not love a country where you have the freedom, Smalley said. It mattered... how hard you worked, if youre honest. You were free to think for yourself and you could say what you wanted.

Smalley has watched America change through the years. She said trust and respect are not as easy to witness now.

Everybody is out to try to get what they can the easiest way they can get it, she said. Its one thing, like during the Depression, and there is nothing, somebody is out there scrounging around. But when theres everything plentiful, thats not necessary.

16 Photos: Decatur during World War II

Contact Donnette Beckett at (217) 421-6983. Follow her on Twitter: @donnettebHR

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BRISTOL, Tenn.  Area blood supplies remain critically low as Marsh Regional Blood Center hosted drives Monday across the region.

The local blood centers goal is to have a three-day supply  about 540 units -- of blood on hand. But in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Marsh has only been able to maintain about a one-day supply of about 180 units for the past several months, Marsh recruiter Connie Denton said.

Currently right now, Marsh Regional Blood Center is at a critical level with blood. This time of year, June and July, are our low donation months where everyones traveling and going out of town, so we encourage everyone to come out and donate, Denton said. We have mobiles going out throughout the month or they can come to our centers in Bristol, Johnson City or Kingsport.

About 100 units were donated by midday Monday as about a half-dozen donors cycled through the Bristol center during their lunch hour.

Were out there saving lives. If were not here collecting the units of blood we couldnt serve the local hospitals we serve every day, she said. Every blood type is urgently needed. Appointments are preferred, but we can take some walk-ins.
BRISTOL, Tenn.  Tennessee Commissioner of Education Penny Schwinn made a new best friend Monday in rising Bristol, Tennessee first grader MaryJayne Barger during a visit to the districts Summer STREAM Camp.

Fairmount Elementary School was the second stop in a three-week statewide bus tour called Accelerating TN 2021. The purpose of the tour, which will include visits to 50 school districts, is to highlight summer learning opportunities.

The bus tours about celebrating our teachers and our schools and our districts and our students and our families for everything theyve done this year, Schwinn said.

She met MaryJayne in Kim Gassiots classroom, where she gathered the campers on the carpet to learn about letters and sounds.

Schwinn and her new buddy sat next to each other as MaryJayne helped Schwinn with some of the hand gestures Gassiot used to teach.

When Schwinn arrived at the school Monday, she was greeted by campers Farris Lamie, 9, Luciana Dunbar, 9, Kage Ristou, 10, and Jackson Walden, 10. The campers took turns explaining their favorite subjects at camp. Some of the reasons included coding robots, math and reading.

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In the recording, Westfall called it the type of meeting "that leads me getting a new job. Against my will."

The Nixon Peabody report cited several early email communications from Moschetti that "indicate a high probability of bias against Mr. Martin being granted parole."

In one email the report said was sent to an OSIG investigations manager, Moschetti explained why she believed the Vincent Martin parole decision should be investigated:

"This also may be my opinion, but [former Chair Adrianne Bennett] lashing out at [Richmond Police] and other law enforcement organizations in her media statement doesn't sit well with me. To me, they are providing evidence that this person should not be released and it should be reviewed. To me, her lashing out sounded personal that the [law enforcement] community disagreed with her and the Board. VPB is not FOIAble, so the only way to know if policies and procedures and laws were followed would be to investigate/audit. Or do we just have to assume they all were. UGGGHHHH."

"And if he was denied last year due to his history of violence, what in their review this year made it different?" Moschetti added.
Hunter said that before TVA can move forward with the project, it needs an environmental review.

The statement said the corporation also needs to obtain some new easements for the construction, operation and maintenance of the power lines.

TVA will meet with property owners along the proposed right of way to obtain easements for construction, operation and maintenance of the lines, the statement said. Property owners would still own the property and be compensated for easements at fair market value.

The statement said that TVA plans to start surveys this winter and next spring and start obtaining easements in the fall of 2022. Its planning to start the actual construction in summer 2023 and complete the lines in spring 2024.

In the meantime, Hunter said, the areas current power grid is still sufficient: She said TVA and BTES decided to propose the new lines based on projections of where demand will be in a few years.

We dont wait for it to be a problem. We look at what the challenges are coming up and where we need to build to ensure theres continued reliability, Hunter said. This is how you avoid power outages and brownouts and things like that, by ensuring that you always have enough power to meet the demand for that area.

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It simply isnt fair to offer such assistance in hindsight, and, legally, itll likely face reasonable challenges that such government spending isnt an appropriate use of taxpayer funds. Student loans are not gifts. They are loans, and borrowers signed on the dotted line promising to one day repay those loans.

Additionally, a working paper published by the University of Chicagos Becker Friedman Institute for Economics in April points out that those who borrowed the most in student loans tend to have higher incomes later in life: for example, law school and medical school graduates will both rack up more debt, but they will earn more over their lifetimes than graduates who pursued bachelors degrees only. Forgiving loans for those who most likely will have the means to pay them off one day is unreasonable.

Finally, there are currently several repayment options for borrowers who have low incomes to reduce the heavy lift. Generally, an income-based repayment plan caps a borrower's payment at 10% of their discretionary income, calculated as the difference between a borrowers adjusted gross income and 150% of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Poverty Guideline amount for the borrowers family size and state.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP)  The family of a womens rights activist from Uganda sued the National Park Service this month after she was decapitated last year by a gate at Utahs Arches National Park.

The gate had been left unlatched against federal policy for two weeks before it struck Esther Nakajjigo in June 2020, according to the lawsuit filed in Denver.

She and her husband were newlyweds traveling in the well-known park when the wind caught the gate as they drove out, Fox13-KSTU in Salt Lake City reported.

The lawsuit does not specify the amount of damages being sought, but Nakajjigo's family has previously filed a $270 million notice of claim. Notices of claim must be filed ahead of lawsuits against government agencies and the lawsuit was filed June 8 in federal court.

The gate sliced through the side of their rented car, striking Nakajjigo in the head and neck and killing her, the lawsuit said.

Her husband Ludo Michaud witnessed his wife's death, something he has called the worst thing I hope I will ever see.
Let's think this through on how Biden has helped the middle class and our economy. Oh yeah, the price of gas, groceries, food, lumber etc. went up significantly. He caused a loss of thousands of jobs with an executive order he signed so Russia could have a pipeline and have a booming economy and make money from our tax dollars only to shut ours down (Duh  what thinking).

He has yet to put all the children back in schools thanks to his listening ear from the unions. He has caused a border crisis and is sneaking kids into mostly red states in the middle of the night so he can indoctrinate them so they will vote Democratic (socialism). He has paid with our tax dollars illegal immigrants and convicts stimulus money. He promised unity (joke). He will raise the corporate tax rates which will be passed on to consumers who buy the products which will affect the middle class greatly. He has caused many small businesses to close, along with the fact many businesses cannot find enough workers to work because the government pays them more to sit at home. (I don't blame them, I blame the Biden administration.)
Government agencies must only store sensitive information in data centres certified under the new Hosting Certification Framework (HCF), with the first providers now accredited in a scheme designed to marginalise China-owned data centre operators.

Australian Data Centres (ADC), Canberra Data Centres (CDC), and Macquarie Telecom (Canberra Campus) are now the only three companies allowed to host Australian government data, after they were certified under the HCF released in March by the Digital Transformation Agency (DTA).

The move is the latest step in a Whole of Government Hosting Strategy that has amongst its key pillars the goal of protecting Australian government data with robust, risk-based assessments to ensure data sovereignty and supply chain integrity.

The HCF was, the DTA explains, created to operationalise the principles outlined in the Whole of Government Hosting Strategy  and will be administered by a new Digital Infrastructure Service run by the DTA, which manages a range of purchasing panels including the Data Centre Facilities Supplies Panel.

There are two levels of certification  Certified Strategic Hosting Provider (CSHP) and Certified Assured Hosting Provider (CAHP)  with the higher CSHP certification intended to only be available to hosting providers that meet the stringent assessment threshold of suitability and enable the Government to specify and enact ownership and control conditions that are not lowered at any time.

With the certification of the first HCF-accredited providers, Stuart Robert, Minister for Employment, Workforce, Skills, Small and Family Business, said that all relevant government data involved with all future and in-flight projects must be stored in CSHP or CAHP certified facilities.

The Morrison Government is committed to having effective controls in place for the critical systems and data holdings that underpin the operation of government, Robert said. This includes knowing how, where, and when data is stored and transmitted whilst achieving greater assurance over the operation and supply chains of providers.

Macquarie Government managing director Aidan Tudehope welcomed the policy, saying that the new policy will set a strong example for the private sector to invest locally, ensuring Australia works towards enhancing its sovereign digital ecosystem that serves the national economy by providing world-class security for Australias sovereign data.

Home Affairs will this month commence a series of industry consultation sessions to explore co-design of industry-specific rules for the data storage or processing sector

Keeping it onshore

Sovereignty of Australian data-centre facilities has been front of mind since 2016, when a consortium of Chinese companies called Elegant Jubilee Limited bought a 49 per cent stake in UK-based data-centre operator Global Switch.

With Global Switch hosting key government systems, the investment raised the prospect of sensitive data being stored in China-owned facilities where their protection from Chinese government interference could not be guaranteed.

The situation got even more fraught in 2019, when Chinese steel maker Jiangsu Shagang Group paid $3.3b (2.2b) for a 24.01 per cent stake in Global Switch, making it the companys largest single shareholder.

Last year, the Department of Home Affairs designated data storage or processing facilities as a critical infrastructure sector alongside traditional sectors including electricity, gas, water, and ports.

The need to strengthen Australias sovereignty was, the Australian Strategic Policy Institute said in a recent editorial about the policy changes, reinforced by Facebooks decision this year to shut off Australian news feeds.

Imagine if Facebook was a water utility or an energy company, Major General Marcus Thompson (retired) wrote, noting that with near-universal dependence on digital information and electronic devices the first rules of cybersecurity are to know what data is most valuable and where its physically located.

Lauding the US governments buy American mandate for government operations, Thompson said Australia should follow suit.

Buy Australian for government agencies should be a position our government is prepared to adopt, he wrote, and it should include sovereign data storage and sovereign digital technologies as its centrepiece.

A backhander to China

Chinese authorities see data centres as a key part of its global expansion strategy  echoed in statements by Shagang Group chairman Shen Wenrong that the Global Switch buy complies with Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

BRI has been so problematic that in April the Australian government tore up a controversial Victorian Government Belt and Road partnership.

The escalating war of words with China has seen Australian agencies abandoning Global Switch in droves.

Last year, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) signed a deal to begin a $73m migration to move its infrastructure to fully Australian-owned alternative Canberra Data Centres (CDC).

Home Affairs and ASIC have also moved to CDC, but Defence significantly became the outlier in February when it extended its deal with Global Switch to allow for completion of a five-year migration plan.

Growing demand for local capacity is driving strong growth in Australian data-centre operations, with 257 data-centre operations already in the country  and new facilities like Macquaries new $17m IC5 data centre appearing regularly.

A recent Mordor Intelligence analysis predicted a 4.5 per cent annual growth rate, buoyed by the governments data-sovereignty strategy and growing moves by cloud operators like Microsoft and Oracle to open Australia-only operations.

Yet ASPI also recently warned about the dangers of consolidating government data infrastructure into too few facilities, noting in January that 79 per cent of current contracts had been awarded to the dominant industry provider.
BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on Monday asked Pfizer Inc to bring forward planned delivery of COVID-19 vaccines, a government source said, aiming to speed up a slow national inoculation program.

The request is a turnaround for Bolsonaro who last year ignored offers of vaccines from Pfizer, according to testimony to a Senate commission investigating delays in vaccinating the country with the world's second-deadliest outbreak.

Bolsonaro, his chief of staff and ministers of health and foreign affairs, held a conference call with Pfizer Brasil Chief Executive Marta Diez and Pfizer Latin America Chief Executive Carlos Murillo, the president's office said on social media.

Bolsonaro asked the Pfizer executives if deliveries for later this year could be brought forward to June, from the fourth quarter, a government official with knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

Pfizer Brasil declined to comment on the meeting.

Almost half a million Brazilians have died from COVID-19, yet only 10.3% of the country's 210 million people have received a first vaccine dose, and just 25% have been fully vaccinated, mainly with vaccines developed by China's Sinovac Biotech Ltd and AstraZeneca Plc.

Bolsonaro, a vaccine skeptic who opposed lockdown and social distancing, has advocated the use of anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine for treating COVID-19 patients, even though there is no evidence that it is effective.

The far-right leader's government is being investigated by a Senate commission for delays in a vaccination plan that lags behind many other countries. The commission heard testimony that the government never replied to letters from Pfizer last year offering to sell vaccines.

Brazil signed a deal with Pfizer in March to purchase 100 million doses, and the first doses arrived in late April. A second contract in May provided for another 100 million doses to be delivered in the fourth quarter.

(Reporting by Ricardo Britoc, writing by Anthony Boadle; editing by Jane Wardell)
File image: Law enforcement personnel stand guard in the Kutupalong Rohingya refugee camp area where authorities imposed lockdown to contain the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus in Ukhia (Bangladesh) on 21 May, 2021 (AFP via Getty Images)

Global human rights group Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Tuesday accused the United Nations of sharing data of Rohingya refugees with Bangladesh which in turn shared it with Myanmar to verify people for possible repatriation.

In a statement, the HRW accused the UN of not conducting a full data impact assessment, which is a requirement according to its own policies, and in some cases failed to obtain refugees informed consent to share their data with Myanmar, the country they had fled.

The rights group explained that since 2018 UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has registered hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees in Bangladeshi camps.

The Bangladesh government has issued them identity cards, which are needed for essential aid and services. Bangladesh then used the information, including analog photographs, thumbprint images, and other biographic data to submit refugee details to the Myanmar government for possible repatriation, the HRW said.

It claimed that since 2016, over 800,000 Rohingya from Myanmar were either expelled or they fled to Bangladesh fearing persecution.

Lama Fakih, who is the HRWs crisis and conflict director, said: The UN refugee agencys data collection practices with Rohingya in Bangladesh were contrary to the agencys own policies and exposed refugees to further risk.

She said that the UNHCR should only allow data that it collects to be shared with countries of origin when it has properly obtained free and informed consent from participants.

The human rights group asked the UNHCR to investigate the manner in which data collection proceeded in Bangladesh in 2018.

Between September 2020 to March 2021, the HRW interviewed 24 Rohingya refugees about their registration experiences with the UNHCR in Coxs Bazar, Bangladesh and spoke to 20 aid workers, analysts, local activists, journalists, and lawyers who observed or participated in the Rohingya registration.

It shared its research findings with the UNHCR in February and April 2021 and the UN agency replied to the points raised last month.

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According to the HRW, the UN agency, in its reply denied any wrongdoing or policy violations, and said it had explained all purposes of the data gathering exercise and had obtained consent. It also said that the data collection efforts were aimed at finding durable solutions for the refugees and that no Rohingya were put at risk.

The HRW alleged that all but one of the 24 Rohingya refugees they interviewed said that the UNHCR staff informed told them that they had to register to get the smart cards to access aid, and they did not mention anything about sharing data with Myanmar, or linking it to repatriation eligibility assessments.

Of the 24, three said they were told after giving their data that it might be used for repatriation purposes while one said he noticed after leaving the registration centre that the box to share data with Myanmar, on a receipt printed out and given to refugees only in English, had been checked yes, although he was never asked, the HRW alleged.

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The human rights group claimed that they interviewed 21 refugees whose names were included in the list verified by Myanmar for repatriation, and of them, 12 were added to repatriation eligibility assessment lists in 2019 which were drawn up based on the data collected by the UNHCR.

When the 21 refugees learned about them being on the lists of people verified for return, the HRW said they all went into hiding in other camps because they feared being forcibly returned even as, so far, Bangladesh has not forced any Rohingya in the camps to return against their will to Myanmar.

Zara Rahman, a writer, in a series of tweets, said that the question of whether they consented to share data with Myanmar was only sometimes provided, and then only in written English  violating UNHCRs own policy of providing refugees with data collection info in a language and manner they understand.

In summary: thanks to UNHCRs failures, the biometric data of many #Rohingya remains with Myanmar, a country now under military control  ie. the military who carried out the genocide. We desperately need accountability mechanisms to make sure this doesnt happen again, Ms Rahman tweeted.

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Doha, Jun 15 (PTI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday met Qatars foreign and defence ministers and discussed bilateral cooperation with them and exchanged views on global regional issues during his second visit to the key Gulf nation in a week.

Jaishankar met his Qatari counterpart Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, in Doha, a day after he discussed the global and regional issues, including the security situation in the Indo-Pacific region, with Kenyas top leadership.

'Good to meet DPM & FM @MBA_AlThani of Qatar in Doha today. Appreciated Qatar's solidarity during the Covid second wave. Discussed our bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on regional issues,' he tweeted.

Later, he met another Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah and discussed global and regional developments with him.

'Pleasure seeing Qatar DPM & MoS Defence @kbmalattiya again. Valued our discussion on global and regional developments. Committed to strengthening our bilateral partnership,' Jaishankar tweeted.

Interestingly, Jaishankar's visit to Doha comes in the midst of major developments in Afghanistan where the US military is getting ready to exit the war-torn nation before September 11.

The US and the Taliban signed a landmark deal in Doha on February 29, 2020 after multiple rounds of negotiations to bring lasting peace in war-torn Afghanistan and allow US troops to return home from America's longest war.

India, a major stakeholder in the peace and stability of Afghanistan, has been supporting a national peace and reconciliation process which is Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled.

On his way to Kuwait, Jaishankar had a brief stopover in Doha on June 9 during which he met Qatar's National Security Advisor Mohamed Bin Ahmed Al Mesned and thanked him for the Gulf nation's support and solidarity in Indias fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

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India and Qatar have maintained close high-level contacts during the pandemic.

Qatar is home to over seven lakh Indians- the largest expatriate community in the country. The bilateral trade was USD 10.95 billion in 2019-20, according to official data.

Jaishankar arrived here from Kenya where he was on a three-day visit to strengthen India's relations with the major East African country. He called on Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and handed over a letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to him.

Before visiting Kenya, Jaishankar travelled to Kuwait on Thursday on his first bilateral visit to the oil-rich Gulf country.

He held 'productive discussions' with his Kuwaiti counterpart Sheikh Ahmed Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah on Thursday during which the two sides discussed a range of issues including health, food, education, energy, digital, and business cooperation. PTI MRJ/ZH AKJ ZH ZH
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Qatar counterpart Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani

Doha [Qatar], June 15 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, during the meeting with his Qatari counterpart Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani on Tuesday, exchanged views on regional issues and discussed bilateral cooperation.

"Good to meet DPM & FM @MBA_AlThani_ of Qatar in Doha today. Appreciated Qatar's solidarity during the Covid second wave. Discussed our bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on regional issues," Jaishankar tweeted.

Last week, Jaishankar had met Qatari National Security Adviser Mohamed Bin Ahmed Al Mesned during a stopover in Doha while on his way to Kuwait on Wednesday.

"A pleasure to meet Qatari NSA Mohamed Bin Ahmed Al Mesned. Appreciate his insights on developments in the region and beyond. Thanked him for the support and solidarity in India's fight against Covid," he had tweeted. (ANI)
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP)  A coroner has changed the death certificate of a mentally ill Black man who died in a South Carolina jail earlier this year to say he died by homicide, attorneys for the man's relatives said Tuesday.

Although the certificate originally indicated Jamal Sutherland's manner of death was undetermined, Charleston County Coroner Bobbi ONeal amended the document earlier this month, according to a statement from attorneys Mark Peper and Gary Christmas.

Sutherlands death in January gained national attention after county officials released video months later showing deputies attempting to take Sutherland to a bond court appearance the day after he was booked into jail. The footage shows that after Sutherland refused to leave his cell, deputies deployed stun guns and used pepper spray on him. I can't breathe, Sutherland said while handcuffed as one officer knelt on his back for more than two minutes. An hour later, he was pronounced dead, officials reported.

The family reached this same conclusion immediately upon seeing the video of his death, the Tuesday statement reads. Thus they are pleased with the amended finding and remain steadfast in their pursuit of justice for Jamal.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)  Larry Householder has found himself under the cloud of a federal investigation before.

The last time it happened, the once-powerful Ohio state lawmaker was ultimately never charged, bided his time and then returned to the House and eventually to his second stretch as House speaker.

In politics, sometimes what's past is prologue. If he manages to prevent the bipartisan effort to remove him now, it could set the stage for yet another political comeback by the Perry County Republican.

The difference this time is that Householder is under federal indictment. And while he has pleaded not guilty, two co-defendants and an involved nonprofit have all pleaded guilty in the case and FirstEnergy, the energy company at the heart of the latest scandal, has acknowledged in court filings making the bulk of the payments in an alleged $60 million bribery scheme.

Householder made an impassioned case Tuesday for not being expelled as a House member while he awaits the outcome of his criminal case, declaring his innocence and asserting that charges against him do not constitute disorderly conduct warranting removal.
Mountain Gateway Museum & Heritage Center in Old Fort invites visitors to learn about the history of dairy farming in the mountain region by exploring its newest exhibit, Udderly Intriguing: Dairy Farming in Western North Carolina.

The exhibit opened June 12 at the museum, 24 Water St. in Old Fort, and will run through February 2022. Admission is free, according to a news release.

Udderly Intriguing explores how cows came to exist in North Carolina, why dairy farming boomed in western North Carolina during the mid-1900s, and what the prospects are for the regions dairy industry in the 21st century.

Visitors also will be able to view artifacts from the museums collection that show how various equipment and household objects have been used over time to create delicious dairy products.

Agriculture has long been a cornerstone of North Carolinas economy. Row crops, such as cotton and tobacco, dominated the eastern and central areas of the Tar Heel State for much of history. But by the turn of the 20th century, farmers in the mountain and foothills regions had begun turning to a combination of row crops and livestock, according to the news release.
LONDON (AP)  Love it or hate it, tequila conjures up strong feelings in many drinkers.

Forgive us for the old memories of bad quality tequila! jokes Antonio Rodriguez, director of production at Patron Tequila. We cannot hide that we come from a history when usually tequilas were not as premium as they are right now.

Deano Moncrieffe, founder of the London tequila and mezcal bar Hacha, laments, People always blame tequila for a bad hangover when really the fact is that they probably started the night drinking wine and then beer and then champagne and then at some point, maybe 2 or 3 in the morning, someone said, lets have tequila!

And Steffin Oghene, vice president of global marketing and sales for El Tequileno Tequila, agrees tequila used to be seen as the party, smash-it-down, get-wasted kind of spirit.

But, he says, Over the past 10 years, theres been a lot of effort put into educating people and making them understand that tequila isnt just the spirit to shoot. Its a really complex spirit" that takes time and expertise to produce.

These re-education efforts appear to be working. Tequila is one of the fastest-growing alcoholic drinks in the U.S., with consumption up by 40% over the past five years, according to IWSR Drinks Market Analysis.

Hamish Smith, editor of the bartending magazine Class and bars editor of Drinks International, says there's growing understanding of tequila's different qualities, with 100% agave" now the star performer, in the way single malt is for Scotch.

This awareness is set against the craft spirits movement, the appreciation of provenance, celebrity endorsement and a cocktail industry that has been showcasing quality tequila for years," Smith says. "Its not quite a perfect storm, but its carrying the category forward to year-on-year international growth.

Despite its old reputation, experts say tequila is not in fact a great choice for people looking to get drunk. While many spirits contain glucose, which causes a rapid increase in blood sugar followed by a crash, adding to a hangover, tequila contains fructose from the agave plant, which they say is broken down more slowly.

For a premium tequila, don't use a shot glass, says Nitzan Podoswa, founder of Satryna Tequila.

Your nose is too close to the liquid so you cannot really smell the notes right. It just makes it easier to drink. But if you are having a very nice tequila, you need to have a flute cup, she says.

And rather than down it in one, swish the liquid around the mouth to taste, she suggests.

There are three types of tequila, based on the time spent in oak barrels before bottling. Blanco is aged 0-2 months, reposado 2-11 months, anejo 1-3 years and extra anejo 3-plus years.

Moncrieffe starts by asking his customers what they usually drink. If its a white spirit, he directs them to a blanco; for bourbon or whisky drinkers, he recommends a reposado; and for cognac drinkers, something more complex like an anejo or extra anejo.

An agave plant takes around seven years to mature, and once harvested there are many ways to cook the plant and ferment and distil the alcohol.

What you're drinking is actually very, very special. Its very special how many years the plant has been in the earth and its very special how many people and how many agents are involved in the process, Podoswa says.

Rodriguez says current trends center on ageing, experimenting with time, temperature and barrel types.

We are not talking about whiskeys in which the main flavor is coming from the wood," he says. "Tequila by itself in a blanco expression has already a big personality. So when you age tequila, you are not looking to get over that. Youre looking to complement that.

Theres also the cristalino category, which I guess was, for tequila purists, controversial, Oghene adds. Popular in the U.S. and Mexico, a cristalino is an aged tequila that has been filtered to remove the color and tannins, making it crystal-clear.

Growing U.S. sales are creating interest in other countries, Rodriguez says.

Most of the rest of world has had sort of bad, cheap tequila," says Jenna Fagnan, co-founder of Teremana Tequila with Dwayne The Rock Johnson. She says that for Johnson, tequila is about togetherness.

For him, he said, when I was growing up, for our family, if something great was happening, wed get together and people would have tequila. But also if something bad happened, we still get together and have tequila, Fagnan said.

Johnson joins a list of celebrities including George Clooney, Nick Jonas and Kendall Jenner with their own tequila brands. That's been greeted with mixed feelings in the industry.

Almost every week you have a new celebrity tequila brand coming out, Rodriguez says, with only roughly 160 distilleries to produce tequila for thousands of brands.

That means multiple brands might be produced in the same place; while many are doing it right, he says others are just buying the liquid and putting it in a different bottle.

Podoswa advises consumers to research a brand before buying.

Are they making a good product? Are they taking care of their agave? Are they doing it the artisanal, traditional way?

Fagnan says she and Johnson work with one of the few family-owned distilleries left in Mexico. She says Johnson cares about the people, the story, the sustainability.

For new brands, star endorsements bring positive attention and makes consumers question old assumptions about tequila, says Paul Hayes, British founder of Vivir Tequila.

If these people are willing to drink tequila, these major celebrities, theyre not just doing shots of it right in a bar. They must be drinking in a different way. How are they doing and why are they drinking it? he says.

And Rodriguez welcomes the competition: The way I see things, is not that were fighting among tequilas. We are fighting to show the world what tequila is.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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MATTOON  The Mattoon American Legion honored its late commander, Oren Lockhart, on Monday during Flag Day, when the post also held its traditional flag retirement ceremony.

Before the ceremony started, Lockhart's widow, Gina, presented the Legion with a portrait of him on his beloved motorcycle. Mike Weaver, finance officer for the post, said the photo will be placed at a spot where it can be viewed by all those who enter their building at 1903 Maple Ave.

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"Oren was the driving force that kept our doors open," Weaver said. He added that Lockhart helped ensure the post's building was equipped and furnished and that it weathered touch financial times over the years.

Lockhart was an Army veteran of the Vietnam War and he also served in the Army National Guard. He began serving with the Mattoon Fire Department in 1973 and he eventually moved up through the ranks to chief and director of fire safety before retiring in 2002. He also was a founding member of the Coles County Dive Team.

"I often saw him helping without being asked or thanked. He simply saw a need and helped fulfill it," Weaver said.

After the portrait presentation, audience members were invited to head to a fenced area behind the post for a flag retirement ceremony led by Sergeant at Arms Marvin Whitley and conduct by various other Legion member.

They held a final inspection of flags gathered by the Mattoon American Legion and the VFW before committing them to a fiery basin, where they burned to ashes.

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The two men departed their posts earlier this year as part of what both Russia and the United States describe as an all-time low in the two countries' relationship.

In addition, Russia has complained for years about its eviction and loss of consulates in San Francisco and Seattle and other facilities in Maryland and New York. The U.S., meanwhile, has been forced to close its consulate in St. Petersburg and is now facing the loss of Russian citizens employed by its embassy in Moscow, which will significantly reduce the consular services it is able to provide.

Biden also is looking to make progress on a new arms control agreement between the two nations, which agreed to a five-year extension of the remaining current pact in January.

Putin foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov sought to moderate expectations for the summit, but he strongly emphasized its importance given the current tensions.

Its the first such meeting that takes place at a time when the bilateral relations are extremely bad, he said. Both parties realize its time to start dealing with the issues that have piled up.
The state Department of Health and Human Services said Monday that Forsyth County had five additional deaths since noon Friday.

The five deaths increased the Forsyth total to 406. DHHS reported there were six COVID-19 related deaths for Forsyth the previous weekend.

DHHS lists COVID-19 cases and deaths on the day they are confirmed by medical providers and public health officials, so people may have been infected or may have died days before their cases were counted.

Since May 24, there have been 27 COVID-19 related deaths reported in Forsyth, including 18 for June.

Dr. Christopher Ohl, an infectious diseases expert at Wake Forest Baptist Health, said Monday the five deaths were a coincidence of clustering, and not due to a change in severity or variants of the COVID-19 virus. He said the victims varied in ages.

There have been 42 new COVID-19 cases in Forsyth since noon Friday, including three reported Sunday, which is a daily low for the pandemic.

Forsyths case count is at 36,832.

Statewide

There were 1,228 cases reported statewide since noon Friday, broken down to 559 reported for Friday, 385 for Saturday and 284 for Sunday.
For a full list of events at Bailey Park and Biotech Place visit triadculturalarts.org. Events can also be viewed virtually on the Triad Cultural Arts Facebook page and YouTube Channel. Wait times to enter the park at 575 Patterson Avenue, Winston-Salem may vary due to capacity limits and COVID-19 guidelines.

Q: Now that I am retired, I would like to learn more about how to take good care of myself and my mind. Are there any virtual classes to help with this?

 KH

Answer: Wake Forest Baptist Healths Sticht Center for Healthy Aging and Alzheimers Prevention has re-launched its Aging Well series titled, Aging Well Series: Healthy Body  Healthy Brain. All courses are offered virtually for participants convenience. This monthly series of seminars will touch upon topics that affect us as we age. It is a community-wide educational initiative with each series seminar presented by world-class experts who will share their ideas and tips for how everyone can live their best life.

The seminars will be presented via Zoom on the second Tuesday of each month, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., starting June 8. The series is free but registration is required for each event. Visit https://bit.ly/2STphkC to sign up. The series is scheduled to run through April of 2022.

There is also a video library available on the signup webpage where visitors can view past Aging Well series and BestHealth videos and webinars. Past Aging Well presentations include How to Sleep Well, 10 Signs of Alzheimers Disease, How to Keep Your New Years Resolution, and How to Scam Proof Your Life. The BestHealth Seminar Series has a variety of classes from bone health to heart health. There are also easy to follow instructional cooking videos for healthy eating.

AgeWise is a weekly column compiled by staff of Senior Services Inc., a nonprofit organization in Winston-Salem. If you have a question, email agewise@seniorservicesinc.org or mail to Senior Services, 2895 Shorefair Drive, Winston-Salem, NC 27105.
A Kernersville man facing charges in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot will have a hearing on June 23 on whether he will remain in federal custody.

Charles Joseph Donohoe, 33, is the president of the Piedmont chapter of the Proud Boys, a far-right group. Donohoe was among four Proud Boys arrested on a six-count indictment connected to the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, including charges of conspiracy, obstruction of law-enforcement and destruction of federal property.

He is appealing a decision by U.S. Magistrate Judge G. Michael Harvey to keep him in federal custody pending trial.

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A hearing was scheduled for June 9, but that was canceled. U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly, who is presiding over Donohoes case, had been waiting for a court ruling in a separate but similar case before making a ruling, according to an article in the High Point Enterprise.

Federal prosecutors have argued that Donohoe played a significant role in planning and organizing the Proud Boys role in the attack. In court papers, they have said that Donohoe was part of a small group of Proud Boys formed in December to help plan and organize the attack. They also cited messages on Telegram, a messaging app, in which Donohoe participated that provided instructions for members and warned them of National Guard presence in the days before the attack.
More interested

Thanks to Scott Sexton for his June 10 column, Coca-Cola ban fizzles in Surry County. Surry County is beautiful, but it has a lot of problems  perhaps most prominently, opioid addiction. But county commissioner Eddie Harris is more interested in whining about cancel culture on Fox News than addressing the problems.

How many other politicians are like that?

According to The (Raleigh) News & Observer, after Harris was educated about the difference between Big Coke and the local company he was threatening, one that does a lot of good for the community, a lot of charity work, he voted against that local company anyway. He said, I am holding my ground because I feel like thats the right thing for me to do. I was trying to send a message to the flagship Coca-Cola and if there were some casualties beneath, sorry about that.

Sorry about that? Sorry he got it all wrong? Sorry he threatened the livelihoods of county residents? Sorry he's not going to fix the problem he created?

This guy just told every Surry County resident that hes more interested in sending messages than in the welfare of the people hes supposed to represent.
Police are searching for a 2009 Volkswagen Passat that they say was stolen from a 19-year-old woman as she fueled up the car in north Lincoln on Tuesday morning.

Officer Erin Spilker said the woman was filling up her car at the U-Stop near 27th Street and Interstate 80 just before 1 a.m. Tuesday morning when a man approached her with a gun.

The woman told police the man pointed the gun at her and demanded her car before hitting her in the face with the gun, Spilker said. The man then left in the car. The woman was treated at an area hospital for minor injuries.

Spilker said police are waiting for surveillance footage from the U-Stop and do not have a description of the man. Police are still searching for the car.

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Jackson said investigators know how long Schaaf's remains had been in the wooded area where they were discovered but declined to provide details. Wagner has repeatedly declined to describe the state of Schaaf's body when she was found.

As of Monday, investigators had not yet determined the cause of Schaaf's death. Wagner said Tuesday morning that investigators had no additional details. In announcing Wednesday's news conference  to be streamed live on the department's Facebook page at 8:45 a.m.  LPD did not say whether the news conference was about Schaaf.

The announcement comes days after a friend of the Schaaf family launched a GoFundMe to help cover funeral and memorial costs. The crowdsourced effort had raised $3,430 of its $5,000 goal as of Tuesday afternoon.

Services for Schaaf are set for 3 p.m. Friday at Roper & Sons South Lincoln Chapel.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7223 or awegley@journalstar.com. On Twitter @andrewwegley.

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Its been a very stressful time because there were mandates in town, and no one ever suggested it would affect the school, said the former employee, who requested to remain anonymous to protect future employment options. Teachers had signed contracts back in March and April, and it wasnt in the contract to have to do this.

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The tribal council previously passed a mandate in April that only required tribal employees to get vaccinated, but it was changed to all employees within the reservation June 2.

The guideline comes after a history of increased COVID-19 restrictions within the reservation that were put in place to be proactive in curbing virus spread. The Santee Sioux Nation had implemented travel restrictions and road checkpoints in 2020 for anyone entering or leaving the reservation.

Chessmore said that despite staffing concerns, he is confident the district will make sure to provide a quality education.

At this point and time, we are fairly comfortable to meet our staffing needs next year, he said. (The resignations) have affected it some, but we have a very resilient staff here with great people up and down the line  were going to take whatever is handed to us.
But then the pandemic canceled the classes. Bantam continued working with the students, for free, during a Zoom session. She met them for an outdoor art lesson at Antelope Park. In May, she thought about the pledge of the blank canvas at 13th and F, and she asked if they wanted to work with her, independent of Girls Inc.

I said, Would any of you girls like to be a part of a mural project?

40 artists, one wall

The young artists would conceive and create the mural, but Bantam provided prompts. They articulated what community meant to them. They created illustrations. And they stitched it all together in a giant piece.

Before they could paint, though, they had to prepare the wall. And it needed work. They scoured the shop wall with wire brushes. They sprayed it with a power-washer.

The building didnt look too great, Bantam said. It hadnt been painted in a really long time, and there were pieces of paint falling off the cinder block.

She couldnt pay for the project herself, so she launched an online fundraiser seeking $6,500. Donations stalled at about $2,500 for several months, until an anonymous donor gave the remaining $4,000, she said.
Our 2019 violent gun death rate (excluding accident and suicides) is 3.96 per 100,000. This rate puts us in the company of Thailand (3.71 per 100,000), Afghanistan (3.96 per 100,000), Iraq (3.54 per 100,000) and South Africa (4.56 per 100,000) rather than peer nations such as Canada (0.47 deaths per 100,000 people), the UK (0.04 deaths per 100,000), Japan (0.02 deaths per 100,000) and Norway (0.07 per 100,000).

Research by the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation using socioeconomic status found that the expected gun death rate for the U.S. should be 0.46 per 100,000. At 4.43 per 100,000, our actual gun death rate is almost 10 times higher.

At the risk of jumping the shark, several other things set sharks and guns apart. One cannot conceal carry a shark. Small children cannot accidentally shark themselves or a friend or sibling. A shark cannot be used to murder people in a grocery store, concert, school or movie theater. No disgruntled employee or abusive partner has been recorded using a shark to take out their anger.
On June 4, the Nebraska Board of Education met in Kearney. Roughly 96% of those who spoke were opposed to the proposed health education standards. Please visit the Nebraska Department of Education website and review these proposed standards. It will probably be surprising what is proposed under the guise of health education.

For example, proposed Health Education Standard 5.7.3.e states, Explain the significance of the physical changes in puberty and the potential role of hormone blockers on young people who identify as transgender. It is irresponsible to suggest that fifth-grade children should consider taking hormone blockers.

Many children who identify as transgender suffer from anxiety, depression, autism spectrum disorders or ADHD. The use of puberty blockers in children has not been well researched, and there is minimal evidence that puberty blockers have positive effects on mental health.

The High Court in Great Britain decreed that children under age 16 cannot reasonably understand nor consent to the consequences of using puberty blockers. Due to the unknown effects, the Karolinska Hospital in Sweden will not prescribe puberty blockers to children under age 16 except in research trials.
Local

THE MAIN PROJECT

The Main Project is becoming the community space it always wanted to be

Diana Panuncial / DIANA PANUNCIAL, diana.panuncial@journaltimes.com Chalkboard art is posted above tables in The Main Project Cafe. Mayfield says a lot of the furniture and decorations in the coffee shop have been made and refurbished by him, or by youths involved in its programming.

Editors Note: This story was first published on June 14, 2021.

RACINE  The Main Project & Cafe is not your run-of-the-mill coffee shop that gets its customers names wrong on paper cups. Instead, its where customers begin with a smile or saying hello to a stranger and end having a 2-hour conversation with new friends.

Take advantage of this great offer!

When they walk into 1014 State St., residents say theyre walking into their second home, a space to organize and build community.

Its a whole vibe, said Chelsea Powell, 31, a Racine local and daily customer.

Beyond being a coffee shop, the Main Project continues to uphold its mission to uplift and offer after-school programs and services for local youth and families.

Racine businesses, new and established, help each other out Locally run businesses prefer to help each other grow rather than fight each other to the top. Social on Sixth, Joey's Yardarm, The Branch at 1501, Boards by Emmie LLC and the Main Project & Cafe recently proved that.

Forming a nonprofit organization

The Main Project & Cafe, 1014 State St., opened its coffee shop doors back in October to help fund the programs and events the space holds after hours.

Diana Panuncial / DIANA PANUNCIAL, diana.panuncial@journaltimes.com Deontrae Mayfield, the owner and sole employee at the Main Project & Cafe, serves up a coffee.

It makes everything keep the lights on, Deontrae Mayfeld said, owner of the Main Project. Without having the coffee shop open, we wouldnt be able to do anything.

Among the services already offered in the shop are a creative writing and reading program for children on Wednesdays, allowing the Kiwanis Club of Racine and two womens groups from Hope City Church to host meetings, and yoga classes on Sundays and Tuesdays.

Alongside, the Main Project has begun holding pop-up shops for small, local businesses on the last Saturday of every month and private events, such as birthday parties, baby showers and graduation parties on the weekends, being booked up with graduation parties for the next month.

One way Mayfield has been able to build these connections, other than his daily coffee shop customers, is through the power of social media.

Facebook is a big thing. Most people see us on Facebook and see the things we do, he said. We throw something out there and people gravitate to it.

However, the Main Project continues to have bigger ambitions. Mayfield said he has spent the past few months in the process of filing to become a nonprofit organization. In March, it officially became a nonprofit.

Chelsea Powell, managing director of Higher Expectations of Racine County, has been volunteering her free time and knowledge to assist Mayfield on this journey for half a year.

(Mayfield) has been filing to be a nonprofit separate from the coffee shop called Main Project Community, said Powell. We really have the infrastructure to turn all that community work to something that can sustain.

The Main Project has gone through the process of establishing a board, board rules, bylaws and a bank account. The Main Project expects to add more programs, from computer lessons to sewing classes to automotive classes.

Its becoming what it always wanted to be, said Powell.

Michael Izquierdo / MICHAEL IZQUIERDO, michael.izquierdo@journaltimes.com Four students, all family members, attended the Main Project's weekly after-school creative writing and reading program. The students are responding to a prompt about the book they're reading, "Forged by Fire."

Finding their voices

Wanda Minued gives a family of four students a freewriting prompt based on the book they were currently reading, Forged by Fire, a novel focusing on an African American child grappling with the death of his aunt. The prompt was Whos one person whos been a lifeline in their lives, and the students got to writing within the notebooks and pens provided to them.

Dont be scared if you feel like your writing isnt as good as others. Its freewriting, said Minued, Deontraes mother and a former English teacher at Gilmore Middle School.

Minued is one of three volunteers that instructs the after-school creative writing and reading program.

Matinike McMillian, a mother of a first-grader, said her son has been significantly benefited from this program, having her child on track with reading and writing with the older students attending the classes.

To have this quality impact to help him in the future is such a good thing, said McMillian.

Mayfield and Powell find that everyone who walks into the Main Projects doors are being directly impacted by the space. She called it a no judgment, free zone.

Michael Izquierdo / MICHAEL IZQUIERDO, michael.izquierdo@journaltimes.com Elvira Ortega, an initial assessment specialist, is a frequent customer at the Main Project and Cafe. She stands in front of one of the many signs mounted in the space.

In the corner, Mayfield pointed out Elvira Ortega, Leanna Johnson, JoAnn Garnett and Racine Unified School Board Member Auntavia Jackson. He was eavesdropping on them, as they were in the process of forming a small womens support group.

Johnson mentioned: Coming here, its like a mental health break for me.

Project Restoration: inner-city lawn care by teenagers RACINE  In 2013, when Deontrae Mayfield opened his inner-city resale shop called Panhandlers Resale Shop, the store sold all donated items collected by local churches. Mayfield said the shops purpose was to make good clothing easily affordable for children from lower-income families.

Future goals

Mayfield still has some milestones he wants to accomplish, for the short-term and the long-term.

He has worked as the sole employee, with assistance from his mother, since the coffee shop opened. However, Mayfield is in the works of improving the shops kitchen in the next 30 days; after that, he will be on the lookout for employees.

Long-term, he wants this space to be like the Racine County Workforce Solutions building on Taylor Avenue, a place with a surplus of resources and services.

Until then, he will continue being motivated by the everyday work he does and the support he receives from his community.

Once we get to where we need to be, in what were trying to do, said Mayfield. We will make a difference in somebodys life on a regular basis.
Linda Casper's peace sign collection in Burlington Many of the walls in Linda Casper's home in Burlington have some sort of peace signs on them.

BURLINGTON  Linda Casper has no use for politics most of the time. But she is deeply interested in matters of war and peace.

Peace is her thing.

The Burlington woman has amassed a prolific collection of classic, 1960s-era peace symbols, and she is proud to share them with anyone who visits her home  or just walks by.

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The recognizable emblem, popularized during protests against the Vietnam War, adorns both the interior and exterior of Caspers apartment near Burlingtons downtown.

Passersby often stop and remark about the display near the corner of Jefferson Street and Perkins Boulevard.

Casper exhibits peace signs in varied colors and sizes with the hope of conveying a message: The symbol itself might have fallen out of fashion, but the goal of spreading peace and love remains as relevant as ever.

Linda Casper of Burlington with tiny peace sign earring in her ear A tiny peace sign earring, shown on Linda Casper's ear, is among the hundreds of peace signs that she has collected in jewelry, housewares, wo

Truly, I stand by it, she said. There might be peace someday. Well, Im certainly trying.

Friends and acquaintances know Casper as The Peace Lady, because of her unapologetic allegiance to a movement  and symbol  that fueled anti-war passion in her generation back in the 60s.

Bette Bastian, a friend since childhood, cannot remember a time when Casper did not advocate peace to whoever would listen. Whatever the politics or popular trends of the moment, Bastian said, her friends attitude has always been anti-war.

Thats just her, Bastian said. Shes like an old hippie who doesnt want to grow up. She has a wonderful outlook on life.

Born in Edgerton as Linda Brown during the mid-1950s, Casper grew up seeing hippies protest the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. She immersed herself in the times, with long hair, tie-dyed clothing and a love of peace.

She remembers first seeing the peace sign and immediately feeling a connection with the circular-shaped emblem that includes what sort of looks like an upside-down Y.

I just remember what it stood for, she said.

After graduating from high school in 1974  one year before the United States retreated from Vietnam in defeat  Casper and a couple of friends moved to Burlington and took jobs as housekeepers at the Lake Geneva Playboy Club.

War and addiction: There and back again

LInda Casper's peace sign collection in Burlington Here is one of the peace sign collectibles displayed at Linda Casper's home in Burlington.

Casper later married and divorced twice. She battled drug and alcohol abuse problems for many years.

In 1990, the United States was at war again, fighting Iraq in the first Persian Gulf War. Although she generally shuns politics, Casper found herself drawn back into an anti-war movement that sparked renewed public interest in the emblem from her youth.

This time, Casper took up a collection of peace signs wherever she found them  in jewelry, housewares, artwork, clothing and elsewhere.

Thirty years later, her apartment is filled with peace sign images. From the shower curtain in the bathroom to salt and pepper shakers in the kitchen, the symbol is displayed in every room.

It feels good, she said. I walk in here, and I feel peace.

Casper has never counted her peace signs, but she is certain that she owns several hundred. Many of them are in storage.

Friends have encouraged her to find a place to create a museum exhibit.

Now working as a housekeeper at Aurora Medical Center Burlington, Casper, 65, has lived in the Jefferson Street apartment for eight years.

Linda Casper with peace sign collection outside her apartment in Burlington Linda Casper looks over the exterior of her apartment on Jefferson Street in Burlington, where she has displayed a colorful arrangement from h

Linda Casper's peace sign collection in Burlington A piece sign on a cloth of peace signs holding up a piece sign against a cloth of peace signs inside Linda Casper's Burlington home.

Landlord Theresa Orndorf said she welcomes the peace sign display as a positive expression about an important issue. Caspers collection gives the apartment building a little extra personality, Orndorf said.

Whenever the tenant sends a rent payment through the mail, the check always arrives with a peace sign displayed.

She has a thing  thats for sure, Orndorf said. She goes above and beyond, to make it her statement.

For the past 10 years, the peace sign has taken on added personal meaning for Casper.

After a long battle with substance abuse issues, she has been sober since 2011. The peace sign now represents a personal commitment to maintaining her own peace through sobriety.

In her collection of artifacts and in her lifes journey, too, Casper feels like she has accumulated enough peace that she has plenty to share with others.

Im at peace with myself, for sure, she said. Im trying to totally share it.

Offering one more relic from the 60s, she adds: Right on.

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WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says new cases of COVID-19 are declining, but the virus is still outpacing vaccinations globally. Tedros welcomed donations of COVID-19 vaccine doses by G7 countries but says 11 billion doses are needed in the next year. (Credit: Associated Press Photo/Sa

CALEDONIA  A Racine man has been charged with operating while intoxicated, fourth offense, after crashing into a tree and fleeing barefoot.

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Andrew Zachary Kirk, 45, of the 100 block of Woodfield Court, was charged with a felony count of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence, fourth offense, and four felony counts of bail jumping.

According to a criminal complaint:

At 7:59 p.m. Saturday, officers were sent to the 4100 block of Five Mile Road for a car striking a tree. The officers were informed that witnesses saw the driver fleeing eastbound and barefoot.

An officer found the barefoot man, identified as Kirk, who was carrying the keys to the car that crashed into the tree. When asked if he was the driver, he said yes. His eyes were glassy and his speech was slurred. A preliminary breath test was given and it yielded a result of 0.17 BrAC, more than double the legal limit.

On the way to the hospital, Kirk said he wasnt the driver of the car and claimed his friend Juan was the driver. Later he said that he (expletive) up and admitted to drinking.
Sometime in March, cement barriers were placed in front of the Erickson Truck-n-Parts' entrance on Frontage Road, blocking the only way the owners could get in and out. The village is mum about what's going on, even after one of the Ericksons was cited for trespassing on his own property.

An attorney representing the Ericksons wrote in a letter to a Mount Pleasant official: "In Catch-22 fashion, my client has been directed to clean up its property, but its owners and employees are not allowed on the premises."
The federal government has promised an additional $2.3B in education funding to Wisconsin so long as state education funding reaches a certain threshold, which it currently is not expected to under the current GOP plan. Last week, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, told The Journal Times that Wisconsins schools will still be receiving more funding over the coming years because of the massive stimulus packages passed by Congress, even if money coming from the state directly is low.

RUSD staff has been working diligently to develop strategies to address the needs of our students, families and staff following an unprecedented pandemic, Gallien said in a statement Tuesday. We know our students need supports and resources above and beyond that of a normal school year. The ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) money (that is at risk of being lost in Wisconsin) is intended to provide school districts the ability to meet those needs through innovative solutions. For example, many of our youngest learners stayed home this year. We know they will need extra supports when they come to school in person to ensure they are on track and ready to learn. Yet, while we continue to plan, we cannot move forward on this vital work while the JFCs actions have put ESSER dollars in question. Our students and our community need us now more than ever.
Editors Note: This story was first published on June 14, 2021.

RACINE  The Main Project & Cafe is not your run-of-the-mill coffee shop that gets its customers names wrong on paper cups. Instead, its where customers begin with a smile or saying hello to a stranger and end having a 2-hour conversation with new friends.

Take advantage of this great offer! Just $1 gives you full access for 6 months to exclusive content from The Journal Times and journaltimes.com. The incredible deal won't last lo

When they walk into 1014 State St., residents say theyre walking into their second home, a space to organize and build community.

Its a whole vibe, said Chelsea Powell, 31, a Racine local and daily customer.

Beyond being a coffee shop, the Main Project continues to uphold its mission to uplift and offer after-school programs and services for local youth and families.

Forming a nonprofit organization

The Main Project & Cafe, 1014 State St., opened its coffee shop doors back in October to help fund the programs and events the space holds after hours.

Serving a coffee Deontrae Mayfield, the owner and sole employee at the Main Project & Cafe, serves up a coffee.

It makes everything keep the lights on, Deontrae Mayfeld said, owner of the Main Project. Without having the coffee shop open, we wouldnt be able to do anything.

Among the services already offered in the shop are a creative writing and reading program for children on Wednesdays, allowing the Kiwanis Club of Racine and two womens groups from Hope City Church to host meetings, and yoga classes on Sundays and Tuesdays.

Alongside, the Main Project has begun holding pop-up shops for small, local businesses on the last Saturday of every month and private events, such as birthday parties, baby showers and graduation parties on the weekends, being booked up with graduation parties for the next month.

One way Mayfield has been able to build these connections, other than his daily coffee shop customers, is through the power of social media.

Facebook is a big thing. Most people see us on Facebook and see the things we do, he said. We throw something out there and people gravitate to it.

However, the Main Project continues to have bigger ambitions. Mayfield said he has spent the past few months in the process of filing to become a nonprofit organization. In March, it officially became a nonprofit.

Chelsea Powell, managing director of Higher Expectations of Racine County, has been volunteering her free time and knowledge to assist Mayfield on this journey for half a year.

(Mayfield) has been filing to be a nonprofit separate from the coffee shop called Main Project Community, said Powell. We really have the infrastructure to turn all that community work to something that can sustain.

The Main Project has gone through the process of establishing a board, board rules, bylaws and a bank account. The Main Project expects to add more programs, from computer lessons to sewing classes to automotive classes.

Its becoming what it always wanted to be, said Powell.

Group of children writing Four students, all family members, attended the Main Project's weekly after-school creative writing and reading program. The students are resp

Finding their voices

Wanda Minued gives a family of four students a freewriting prompt based on the book they were currently reading, Forged by Fire, a novel focusing on an African American child grappling with the death of his aunt. The prompt was Whos one person whos been a lifeline in their lives, and the students got to writing within the notebooks and pens provided to them.

Dont be scared if you feel like your writing isnt as good as others. Its freewriting, said Minued, Deontraes mother and a former English teacher at Gilmore Middle School.

Minued is one of three volunteers that instructs the after-school creative writing and reading program.

Matinike McMillian, a mother of a first-grader, said her son has been significantly benefited from this program, having her child on track with reading and writing with the older students attending the classes.

To have this quality impact to help him in the future is such a good thing, said McMillian.

Mayfield and Powell find that everyone who walks into the Main Projects doors are being directly impacted by the space. She called it a no judgment, free zone.

Elvira Ortega Elvira Ortega, an initial assessment specialist, is a frequent customer at the Main Project and Cafe. She stands in front of one of the many s

In the corner, Mayfield pointed out Elvira Ortega, Leanna Johnson, JoAnn Garnett and Racine Unified School Board Member Auntavia Jackson. He was eavesdropping on them, as they were in the process of forming a small womens support group.

Johnson mentioned: Coming here, its like a mental health break for me.

Future goals

Mayfield still has some milestones he wants to accomplish, for the short-term and the long-term.

He has worked as the sole employee, with assistance from his mother, since the coffee shop opened. However, Mayfield is in the works of improving the shops kitchen in the next 30 days; after that, he will be on the lookout for employees.

Long-term, he wants this space to be like the Racine County Workforce Solutions building on Taylor Avenue, a place with a surplus of resources and services.

Until then, he will continue being motivated by the everyday work he does and the support he receives from his community.

Once we get to where we need to be, in what were trying to do, said Mayfield. We will make a difference in somebodys life on a regular basis.

UPDATED: The Main Project is now a nonprofit. This story initially misstated its status.

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Garrett Knajdek said his sister, Deona M. Knajdek, of Minneapolis, was the protester who was killed, the Star Tribune reported. She was to have celebrated her 32nd birthday on Wednesday, he said.

"She was using her car as a street blockade, and another vehicle struck her vehicle and her vehicle struck her," said the 29-year-old brother, who learned the details from police and his mother.

He said his sister had 11- and 13-year-old daughters, and was actively involved in issues surrounding justice.

"She constantly (was) sacrificing herself for everyone around her," he said, "no matter the cost, obviously."

The driver and those who were injured have not been identified.

Police said the driver's motive was not immediately known. A statement from police said a preliminary investigation indicated that the use of drugs or alcohol by the driver may be a contributing factor in the crash.

Police said besides the woman who died, three other protesters had been injured. The extent of their injuries was not released.
As Wisconsins midterm elections inch closer, former Gov. Scott Walker said a major key to any GOP success here will likely hinge on the Republican Partys ability to get beyond specific personalities, including former President Donald Trump.

Walker, who lobbed broadsides at Trump during the 2016 Republican presidential primary before later becoming one of the former presidents more prominent supporters in the state, told the Wisconsin State Journal on Monday hes certain Trump will continue to have a lasting impact on politics, but added that conservatives as a whole may need to get back to the fundamentals.

President Trump will obviously continue to have an impact, not just with Republicans but in any politics, but its not as defined as it was back in the end of 2020, Walker said. In the end, conservatives are going to have to make our case based on our ideals, not just based on any one personality.

When discussing the Republican Partys future last month, former House Speaker Paul Ryan, another prominent Wisconsin conservative, urged the GOP to reject Trump and second-rate imitations.
1. Yes. Its a serious public health issue; unvaccinated workers put others at risk.

2. Yes. Some colleges and school districts are mandating it. Its a necessary step.

3. No. Employees should have the option of getting vaccinated or not. Its up to them.

4. No. Some people have serious side-effects. Geting jabbed should be optional.

5. Unsure. Getting people vaccinated is important, but so is having a choice.

Vote

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The National Scenic Byway program began in 1991 and recognizes highways that have at least two of the six intrinsic qualities: scenic, natural, historic, cultural, archaeological and recreational. The program was dormant for seven years until the bipartisan Reviving Americans Scenic Byway Act reinstated the program in January 2019, said Mark Falzone, the CEO of the National Scenic Byway Foundation.

Nebraska has coveted the designation for years, said Muriel Clark, the president of the Nebraska Lincoln Highway and Scenic and Historic Byway. So, when the Federal Highway Administration announced in December 2020 the designation applications would open in February and close in June, her team got to work.

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A major component of the application was a corridor management plan that normally takes years to complete. However, her team created one in a matter of months. COVID-19 did them a favor  they were able to work from home.

Even without the extra distractions, completing the corridor management plan in such a short time was difficult to do, said Sarah Focke, the Nebraska director on the National Lincoln Highway Association Board. The team found 67 historical markers on the byway and researched their stories to make the Lincoln Highways application stand out.
Some of Wisconsins finest young musicians are about to meet up for what could be the most rewarding musical experience of their lifetime  Wisconsin School Music Associations (WSMA) 2021 High School State Honors Music Project, which kicks off with a summer camp in June.

Two Westby High School students  Montana Lindahl and Ethan Pederson  will be participating. Lindahl was selected into the Wisconsin State Honors Choir and Pederson was selected into the Wisconsin State Honors Band Program.

The WSMA High School State Honors Music Project is designed to provide musically accomplished students with the opportunity to rehearse and perform with some of the nations finest conductors in a professional and highly disciplined setting. Students are challenged to perform at their musical best throughout the rehearsal period, beginning with the summer camp and culminating with an inspired performance that celebrates the reach of music education statewide.

When students are challenged beyond what is possible in a classroom, the results are often inspiring and even magical. Honors students learn that hard work, commitment, responsibility and working together for the good of the ensemble are the keys to success in music and in life, said Victoria Donahue, WSMA program director.
But Bidens Wednesday meeting with the Russian president is his most highly anticipated.

Biden plans to confront Putin on everything from Moscows cyberattacks to its election interference efforts and human rights abuses,. He's said he also hopes to look for areas where the United States and Russia can cooperate and to normalize the historically icy relationship between the two nations.



BRUSSELS  The trade association for producers and marketers of distilled spirits sold in the United States said the five-year suspension of tariffs outlined in deal between the U.S. and the European Union to end their 17-year dispute over aircraft subsidies will be critical to helping the industry recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

The dispute over subsidies for Boeing and Airbus saw tit-for-tat duties slapped on a range of companies that have nothing to do with aircraft production. The Distilled Spirits Council said the agreement announced Tuesday will end the EU's 25% tariff on U.S. rum, brandy and vodka, as well as the 25% U.S. tariff on liqueurs and cordials from Germany, Ireland, Italy and Spain, and on certain cognacs and other grape brandies from France and Germany.
According to police, 25-year-old Dre Vian T. Allen was shot and killed June 7 in a dispute over payment for a vehicle.
An Indiana man who traveled to Wisconsin multiple times two years ago for sex with a 12-year-old Cottage Grove girl was sentenced Tuesday to 25 years in federal prison for sexual exploitation of the girl that included taking videos of some of their encounters.

U.S. District Judge William Conley told Adrian C. Gardiner, 42, that he did incredible harm to the girl, whom he met online and convinced he was an 18-year-old man who had foster siblings in order to relate to the girl, who was herself in foster care.

"Seldom has the court seen a defendant engage in a more repeated horrendous conduct at the age of 41," Conley said. "I'm having a great deal of trouble not finding him to be a continuing danger to society."

Gardiner, of Hammond, Indiana, met the girl online and traveled repeatedly to Wisconsin to have sex with her in parks and motels. The girl said he was physically and verbally abusive at times. He took video of some of the encounters and sent one of those videos to the girl's iPad. Gardiner claimed he did not know the girl's age when he first came to Wisconsin, but returned to the area multiple times for sex with the girl despite knowing she was 12.
Twelve-year-old Maya Jadhav of Fitchburg will advance to the Scripps National Spelling Bee semifinals as the only representative from Wisconsin to pass the grueling quarterfinals round.

After successfully spelling two words and defining another, Maya, a seventh-grade student at Fitchburgs Eagle School and the 2021 Badger State Spelling Bee co-champion, will be one of 30 competitors moving on to the national semifinals at the end of June. This is Mayas third year in the national bee and her second time going to the semifinals.

She tied for 42nd place in 2018 and 41st in 2019 at the national bee, though this is the farthest, in national placement, she has made it in the competition. Maya was also the 2019 state bee champion and was a two-time champion of the Madison All-City Spelling Bee.

Maya said she was grateful to make it to the quarterfinals knowing a lot of other strong competitors did not. Looking forward to the semifinals, she said she feels prepared to tackle whatever words come her way.

Im really proud to represent Wisconsin, she said.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP)  Minnesota lawmakers returned to unfinished business at the Capitol on Monday as they convened for a special session to finalize a two-year budget and avert a potential government shutdown at the end of the month.

Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman, of Brooklyn Park, said during a news conference that four of the 13 unresolved budget bills were completely ready to go," including higher education, commerce and energy, and agriculture. Hortman said the public safety budget bill  which she called her number one priority  will likely be the last bill to wrap as lawmakers debate which police accountability provisions to include in the final package.

This work is very hard and it's ongoing and I think both Republicans and Democrats are committed to it, she said. The work will be better done the less that it is politicized.

Hortman said she believes it'll take lawmakers between seven and 10 days to complete the two-year, $52 billion budget, matching Republican Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka's estimate.

Gazelka, of East Gull Lake, said negotiators working on the public safety budget have agreed on at least five police accountability measures, and that he's 95% confident that they can ultimately reach an overall agreement without the top leaders intervening.
As venues across Lancaster continue to open, one of the county's most improbable venues is open for a concert on Wednesday evening.

Cafe Oy Voy, the ad-hoc basement space at the commercial business building at 2173 Embassy Drive, will once again host a night of improvisatory music. Violinist Christopher Brooks, fretless bassist Patrick White and guitarist J. Stephen Davis will perform in honor of the release of Brooks' new book of poetry, "Bemused."

"Free improvisation can be really hard for listeners, and I like to get abstract," Brooks says. "I'll probably set a timer for the music."

In between the music, Brooks, who is also a member of the Allegro Chamber Orchestra, will read several poems from "Bemused."

Tickets are $10, or free with the $14.95 purchase of the book. Light snacks will be served at 6:30 p.m., and music will begin at 7:30 p.m.

The concert will be the first in-person show for Brooks since before the COVID-19 pandemic, though he has kept busy with a thrice weekly improvisational jam that takes place on Zoom, hosted by musician Elisabeth Kelvin who is based in Vienna, Austria.

"[Elisabeth] is very involved with the free improv scene there," Brooks explains. "When COVID hit, she decided to take it online. Sometimes it bombs, because you can't do anything intentionally rhythmic. But rhythm does happen. What I love about it is that she has a free account, so it just ends when the time is up."

At the intersection of the written word and improvised musical notes is where Brooks and Cafe Oy Vey shine. While it is impossible to know exactly what to expect, Brooks is ready for anything.

"One of the things I love about this is how, as a listener, you know that you are very much a part of the process," Brooks says. "If this is music, it's because you're listening and making sense of it."

For more information on the event, reach out to Christopher Brooks at kenorjazz@gmail.com
In 1736, downtown Lancaster was a woodland.

Orange Street was a dirt path, King Street was a wagon path and only 200 people lived in Lancaster city. There were a couple houses that dotted the landscape downtown, and a little log church sat, nestled in the woods.

In 2021, Lancaster is Pennsylvanias eighth biggest city. Orange Street and King Street are lined up and down with buildings, apartments and businesses. And what was once that little log church is now a brick building  First Reformed Church, United Church of Christ, 40 E. Orange St.  which will celebrate its 285th anniversary Sunday, June 20.

This property has been here since the early days of Lancaster, says Bill Groff, First Reformed Churchs congregational president. This church has grown with Lancaster, and its changed as Lancaster has changed.

Despite the major changes Lancaster has seen over the past 285 years, the plot of land that the church is on has solely been used for religious purposes since the log church was built in 1736.

Church historian Jim Chryst says that the land was rented until 1741, when lawyer and future politician James Hamilton executed a deed granting the property to the congregation.

Only large enough to seat 100 people, the log church quickly outgrew its capacity.

In 1747, the Rev. Michael Schlatter administered Communion to 225 people; the overflow gathered outside in the surrounding woodlands.

The log church provided a sanctuary for the congregation until 1752, when growth in membership led to the construction of a larger stone church, dedicated at the same location in 1753.

With a church whose history is older than the country, the congregations past didnt come without some conflicts. Groff says that for various reasons, there were times in the churchs past where parts of the congregation have broken away, and joined to form other churches.

But, there were people who were dedicated to this place, and the work that was being done here, Groff says. Its not all a rosy history. Its not a direct line. There have been turns and bends and theres been conflicts that have existed in our past, but theres always been groups of people who were committed to being in this place.

Revolution and language

During the American Revolution, more than two dozen of First Reformed Churchs congregants fought for the Colonies.

Chryst says that some Hessian soldiers  Germans who fought as auxiliaries on behalf of Britain  came to the church to worship, since they were prisoners of war during the Revolution, and ended up marrying some of the people in the church.

The congregants of this church have volunteered for military service since the Revolution, all the way through Afghanistan, Chryst says.

CELEBRATION EVENTS AT FIRST REFORMED CHURCH On Friday, June 18, at 8 p.m., the church will host an organ-and-piano duo concert featuring church organist Larry Hershey, and Debbie Botham. A historic tour of the church will follow. On Saturday, June 19, the church congregation will enjoy a German dinner. On Sunday, June 20, at 10:30 a.m., the church will celebrate its 285th anniversary with a service, with the theme Remembering our past, rejoicing in our present and preparing for our future, and Vanessa Lovelace will guest preach. The liturgy will include some German hymns and readings.

A little over a hundred years after the churchs inception, there was debate over what language should be used for the service  English, or German. The church was originally founded by German-speaking people, so the services were in German.

Most of the people that were congregants were talking German at home, so they wanted it in the church as well, Chryst says. During that time, from 1849 to 1851, the English-speaking folks had a disagreement with the German-speaking folks. The German speaking folks stayed here; the English-speaking folks moved up the street to St. Pauls Church. It was a huge issue at the time.

But overcoming these conflicts is a testament to the faith of the people that have attended the church over its history.

The people who attend here now are people of deep faith, Groff says.

In 2010, First Reformed Church became an open and affirming church, a movement of over 1,500 churches and ministries in the United Church of Christ that welcome LGBTQ members. A few of the churchs members left because of this decision, but Groff says that the people who supported it then support it now, and are committed to that ideal of being open and accepting of all people.

We always say on Sunday, whether youre Black or white, gay or straight, rich or poor, whoever you are, wherever you are on lifes journey, youre welcomed and youre loved here, says the Rev. Devin B. Jeffers, pastor of First Reformed Church. I think thats what has really kept this church together, is the love and the compassion that they have, not just for one another but for this community and this city.

Jeffers was selected as the church's 43rd minister in 2019  making history as the first Black pastor in the churchs history.

If youre going to be a church for the city, then you need to look like the city, Groff says. One of the things we need to do is become more diverse, racially and ethnically.

Jeffers has also been tasked with leading the church through the COVID-19 pandemic.

I had to find different ways to keep that connectivity with the congregation, he says. Our congregation is an older congregation, so Im excited that I have 90-year-olds on Facebook, and 95-year-olds doing Zoom, and different things like that.

Chryst noted that the virtual services reach beyond Lancaster County, and that people are tuning in from the surrounding area as well.

Additionally, Jeffers has started the Church Adopt a Class Initiative, as part of his vision to invest in the community. The congregation has adopted Fulton Elementary School, and has been able to provide meals for families, a teacher wish list for class items and holiday baskets and toy giveaways, among other things.

Every month we try to do something just to share hope, give some type of encouragement to them, Jeffers says.

Anniversary celebration

To celebrate the 285th anniversary, the church is planning events from June 18-20, including an organ and piano concert, a German meal for the congregation and an anniversary service including German hymns and readings.

The 285th anniversary is in a couple of days, but to make it to 300 years, Groff says that the church needs to continue to reach out and be more connected with our community. The goal for the 300th anniversary is to become more diverse, reconcile the past and grow in the future.

Were still here, Chryst says.

FIRST REFORMED CHURCH: A TIMELINE 1729: German, Swiss and French settlers, gathering in homes, decide to build a house of worship. 1730-1732: The church congregation is organized by French, German and Swiss settlers. June 20, 1736: The log cabin church is built on the site. According to the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, it was the first church building in Lancaster city. The Rev. John Jacob Hock served as the pastor. Oct. 5, 1741: The property is granted to the congregation by James Hamilton, who executed a deed in favoring the application and request of the members of the congregation of the Reformed Church of the High Dutch Protestants in the town of Lancaster. 1745: A steeple is added to the church, and another bell is purchased from the Ephrata Dunkers who, it is said, no longer had use of such Babylonian trash. June 14, 1747: The Rev. Michael Schlatter administers communion to 225 people; but the church can only accommodate 100. The overflow of people gather outside in the surrounding woodlands. 1753: The Stone Church is completed on the same site. 1766: Barbara Hauer Fritchie, the Shoot if you must this old gray head, but spare your countrys flag ... heroine of the John Greenleaf Whittier poem Barbara Frietchie, is baptized in the stone church on this site, by the Rev. William Hendel. 1776-1779: The Rev. John Conrad Helfenstein preaches to the Hessian prisoners. 1846: The church acquires a 10-acre property along the New Holland Turnpike north of the city, and in the following year receives a charter of incorporation from the state legislature that guarantees perpetual occupancy of the dead. This land is now commonly known as the Lancaster Cemetery. 1850: The Rev. Henry Harbaugh, a poet, hymnologist, editor and theologian, becomes pastor of the church. Under his service, the current brick church building is built, he introduces the use of the Order of Worship, and writes the hymn Jesus I Live to Thee. 1853: The present brick church building is erected by architect Jacob Wall of Baltimore. The cost of the building and parsonage is $18,868. 1984-1985: The Memorial Garden is established, and the churchyard redeveloped. 1992: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission erects a historical marker on the site. May 23, 2010: Church is declared an open and affirming church. Sept. 15, 2019: Church elects The Rev. Devin B. Jeffers as the congregation's 43rd pastor. He is the churchs first Black pastor.
Television personality Dr. Mehmet Oz paid a visit to Lancaster County on Monday and made a few stops at some local establishments.

Dr. Oz, as he's known professionally, stopped at The Amish Farm and House and took a tour of both the house and farm to experience Amish country. Tim Talley, a tour guide and bus driver at The Amish Farm and House, thought he recognized the famous TV physician, so he called out his name. Oz, in turn, replied Hey, whats your name? as they shook hands.

I was very impressed with how cordial and nice and how he offered his time to speak with us there, Talley said. Lena Zehr, another tour guide at The Amish Farm and House, led the tour that Oz was in, consisting of about 20 other guests. She said that he asked a lot of questions and was very attentive.

Oz also posted on his Instagram that he visited Central Market Flowers in Lancaster city.

According to Oz's Instagram account, he is currently on a week-long road trip through New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio.

WGAL interviewed him in the studio yesterday to discuss COVID-19, masks and vaccines.
A Lancaster County farmer long at odds with the federal government over food safety inspection laws has continued to sell meat and poultry in violation of an April 2020 consent decree, according to federal prosecutors.

As a result, Millers Organic Farm in Upper Leacock Township has been ordered to appear in court Wednesday to show why it shouldnt be held in contempt of that consent decree.

Owner Amos Miller has shown a singular, historic willingness to flout democratically enacted federal food safety laws   prosecutors said.

According to the prosecutors filings in federal court last week, a U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service investigator said that during a May visit to Millers farm, he learned Miller had stopped taking his meat and poultry to a federally inspected slaughterhouse and was instead slaughtering at the farm, which isnt approved as a slaughterhouse.

The farms attorney, Steven Lafuente of Dallas, Texas, acknowledged Monday that, technically, Miller was in violation of the consent decree, but hopes things can be worked out at the hearing before U.S. District Judge Edward G. Smith in Easton.

The idea isnt to say, he didnt do it, but to say: I did it, but I have a good reason for doing so, he said.

Lafuente said the slaughterhouse Miller had been using didnt have the capacity to accommodate his needs, chalking the issue up to growing pains for the farm.

He was using a federally inspected facility he has no control of, Lafuente said.

Claims of exemption

Millers has previously held itself out as a private club that sells only to members and it claimed it was exempt from federal regulations.

Lafuente said Miller has come around to the reasons for the governments rules, and while he may believe they shouldnt apply to him on First Amendment grounds, now isnt the time to make that case. For now, Lafuente said, Miller wants to work out a suitable arrangement that would allow him to get rid of meat and poultry the government wants to seize from the May visit.

Miller also didnt have records indicating the age of cattle associated with two heads that inspectors took possession of.

In 2004, following outbreaks of mad cow disease, the Food Safety and Inspection Service determined that certain parts from cattle 30 months and older, including the brain, spinal cord and eyes, were unfit for human consumption.

Lafuente said the age of the cattle in question would be a fact issue at the hearing.

How do you prove how old a cow is? he said.

Farmers explanation

Another reason Miller said he stopped going to the approved slaughterhouse was that it used a citric acid rinse to help prevent the growth of harmful organisms, the filing said; Miller said his members disapprove of the chemical rinse.

The investigator, Paul Flanagan, told Miller there are other approved antimicrobial reduction methods.

After Miller asked Flanagan if he should stop slaughtering the chickens his workers were slaughtering that day, Flanagan told him that he didnt have the authority to stop him, but that if Miller continued, hed be in violation of the consent decree and the government would detain the items being slaughtered, the filing said.

Mr. Miller then told me I would not want to be you, and you need to be careful. When I asked him to clarify those comments, he stated I am telling my members to call you, and they are not going to be happy when I tell them you are taking their food away from them, according to the filing.

Miller also told Flanagan, this food is their medicine and you will be responsible if they become sick, the filing said. And Miller told Flanagan he would continue to slaughter if I am allowed or if it is what my members want. It is up to my members.

Feds seek to seize meat

On Monday, the government filed court documents seeking to seize and condemn about 650 pounds of beef carcasses and heads, 600 pounds of hog carcasses and 1,850 pounds of chicken and chicken parts it detained during the May visit  action the government sought in 2020.

As part of the 2020 consent decree, Miller was given rigid guidelines allowing him to sell some of the roughly 34,000 pounds of meat and poultry the government had seized in 2019. The government was authorized to destroy what wasnt sold in the allotted time.

According to the court filing related to the contempt hearing, Miller faces fines of $500 a pound for adulterated or misbranded meat or poultry that has no records or inadequate records and he faces fines of $2,500 for restricting access to inspectors for a first violation and $5,000 for subsequent violations.

Miller was also warned last October that he was in violation of the consent decree based on the Food Safety and Inspection Service findings between June and September, according to the filing.

Millers came to the attention of federal authorities in 2015, when the Food and Drug Administration identified Listeria in samples of Millers raw milk and found it to be genetically similar to the bacteria in two people who developed listeriosis  one of whom died  after consuming raw milk.

The agency subsequently wanted to find out if the bacteria might be contaminating Millers meat and poultry products, the justice department said in a news release announcing its lawsuit against Millers in April 2019, which led to the consent decree.
A Little Britain Township man repeatedly sexually assaulted a woman as she was unconscious, then attempted to injure himself while speaking with investigators, according to state police.

Raymond Barkeley Baylis, 65, was charged with seven counts of aggravated indecent assault without consent, sexual assault and indecent assault on an unconscious person.

Those charges stem from a series of sexual assaults that took place between January and May at a residence in the 100 block of Short Road, according to an affidavit of probable cause.

The first assault took place in early January, when the woman, Baylis tenant since July 2020, agreed to watch a movie with him after he continuously asked her, police said. The woman later awoke to find Baylis assaulting her.

Additional assaults took place over the course of the next several months, mostly inside the womans bedroom, according to the affidavit. The woman pretended she was asleep during the assaults out of fear of Baylis, police said.

The woman later reported the assaults at state police headquarters in East Lampeter Township on May 21. Baylis was then arrested on unrelated charges four days later, after which he was questioned by investigators.

Baylis denied assaulting the woman or entering her bedroom, claiming they had consensual sex several years ago and that he was now unable to obtain an erection, police said. Investigators told Baylis he was seen on camera entering the womans room, which he then claimed was a one-time occurrence to check for drugs.

Baylis began banging his head on the wall of the interview room after speaking with investigators, according to the affidavit. Officers then pulled Baylis off the wall and onto the floor, after which he refused to place his hands behind his back and attempted to hide under a table. Baylis was then placed in a cell where he continued to hit his head on a concrete wall before he was transported to a hospital.

The Lancaster County Public Defenders Office, which is representing Baylis on unrelated charges, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Baylis will face a preliminary arraignment before Judge Stuart Mylin on June 17, court records show.

Baylis is already awaiting a preliminary hearing on July 8 before Judge David Ashworth for charges of simple assault, terroristic threats and harassment, according to court records. Those charges stem from an incident where Baylis threatened to kill a woman, then grabbed her and placed her in a headlock, striking her in the face multiple times, during an argument in the 100 block of Short Road in Little Britain Township at around 11 a.m. on May 21.

Baylis was granted $5,000 unsecured bail on those charges, court records show.

Baylis is also awaiting trial for charges of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse forcible compulsion, possession of a prohibited firearm and a drug charge from 2019, according to court records. He is also awaiting trial for charges of terroristic threats, unlawful restraint, simple assault, indecent assault without consent and harassment, also from 2019.
A Penn Township woman assaulted her three children and their father with household items, pulling their hair and tackling them to the ground following an argument on Friday, according to Northern Lancaster County Regional police.

Tanya Marie McNeil, 37, was charged with three counts of endangering the welfare of children and two counts of simple assault after assaulting the children at her residence in the 400 block of Elm Road at around 9:30 a.m. on June 11, according to an affidavit of probable cause.

McNeil and her three children were planning to leave that morning for a beach trip to Ocean City, Maryland, with another man when she became agitated and began fighting as they were packing their belongings into a vehicle, a witness told police.

Police were alerted to the incident after the childrens father notified them that he had been assaulted by McNeil, who was still at the residence and was destroying property, according to the affidavit. Authorities arrived to find that McNeil had fled the residence, which had numerous broken items and clothes thrown over the floors.

The children told investigators they awoke to find McNeil in an agitated mood, yelling and cursing at them to get ready to leave, police said. A fight began when McNeil grabbed and pushed her 16-year-old daughter, then slapped her 17-year-old daughter.

One of children then called another adult, who instructed them to leave the residence so he could pick them up, according to the affidavit.

McNeil demanded that her 17-year-old daughter remove her shoes, then tackled the girl to the ground and began pulling her hair when she refused, police said. McNeil then struck her 13-year-old son as he attempted to pull her off of his sister.

The girl broke free after she struck McNeil with a teapot, according to the affidavit.

McNeil struck the childrens father in the head with a teapot, then with the teapots handle after it broke off, when he arrived to take them away, police said. McNeil also threw an unknown object and a wooden wall decoration.

McNeil began swinging her fists at a second man who attempted to get in between her and the childrens father as the children were leaving the residence, striking the second man twice in the face, according to the affidavit.

The children and their father sustained cuts, scratches and bruises in the scuffle, police.

McNeil had not been arrested as of press time Wednesday, but has a preliminary hearing scheduled before Judge Edward Tobin on July 8, court documents show.
Solia Matute and her husband, Jeff Eshleman, notice more than a two-year age difference between sons Freddy and Sammy Eshleman. Freddy, 8, speaks, reads and writes his mothers native Spanish. Sammy, 6, sometimes stumbles through the language, even though his parents speak it at home.

The difference can be attributed to School District of Lancasters Dual Language Immersion program, the Lancaster couple says. As part of the program, Freddy has learned lessons at Wharton Elementary in Spanish and English since kindergarten. He starts third grade in the fall. Sammy, who starts first grade in the fall, was not accepted into the program.

If You Go What : School District of Lancaster Board of Directors meeting

: School District of Lancaster Board of Directors meeting When : Tuesday, June 15, 2021, at 6:30 p.m.

: Tuesday, June 15, 2021, at 6:30 p.m. Where : Lincoln Middle School (LGI Room), 1001 Lehigh Ave., Lancaster

: Lincoln Middle School (LGI Room), 1001 Lehigh Ave., Lancaster Watch live

Students participate in the program through a lottery that selects 25 incoming kindergartners each year to attend a bilingual classroom through eighth grade.

The districts school board could provide some clarity on the programs future on Tuesday, June 15, 2021, when it votes on the next steps to be taken after a consultant reported the program is not working and needs significant changes. Hired by the school district, the consultant suggested more money be spent on the 12-year-old program that already costs $1.2 million annually, or about $7,400 per pupil more than the cost of a student who is not part of the program, which currently serves 162 students of a possible 225. The consultant also recommended hiring a dual-language specialist.

In the meantime, administrators have paused the program for incoming kindergarten students next school year while they study what changes could be made. The district recommends that, ultimately, board members should either invest more money in the program or begin gradually phasing it out. The school board makes the final decision and has the ability to reinstate the kindergarten lottery for the 2021-22 year.

How it works

An equal number of Spanish and English speakers compose a dual-language immersion class. The goal is for all students to be bilingual when they leave eighth grade.

Teachers present lessons in Spanish and English. About 70% of lessons occur in Spanish in kindergarten, and the percentage reduces slowly by the time students exit the program.

The district provides bus transportation to children who dont live in the Wharton-Reynolds area. Any incoming kindergartner was automatically entered into the lottery that selects the programs students.

Maribel Perez of Lancaster noted the social value of having children Nate and June Smith study with teachers who present lessons in Spanish and English. Instructors value and acknowledge the (Spanish) language, she said.

One problem, administrators say, is that families leave the program before students finish. For instance, 20 kindergarten students remain of 25 who started at the beginning of this year. The district followed the 25 students who began in the programs first year in 2009. By eighth grade, only 12 remained in the bilingual class, said district spokesman Adam Aurand.

Shannon Smith, who directs the program, said some students want to return to their home schools to stay with friends. Students in the program are required to attend Wharton Elementary and Reynolds Middle schools.

Some parents become uncomfortable with having children on the other side of the district in case of a family emergency, she said.

Support remains

Parents with children in the program, however, remain undeterred.

I think they should keep the program, said Matute, who is from Honduras. Its important not only for my children but for other children in the community to be bilingual.

The program works, said Wileidy Jose, of Lancaster. The Dominican native not only has two sons in the program, but has volunteered in classrooms. I saw kids with non-Spanish backgrounds, and they spoke better Spanish than my own kids.

Superintendent Damaris Rau, who learned Spanish at home, supports bilingual education but wonders if the cost is justified.

I believe in equity, Rau said Tuesday. We serve 11,000 students in this district, and we want to make sure the $1.2 million serves the entire district.

Rau said the money could pay for more kindergarten teachers to lower teacher-student ratio, currently at 25 students per instructor. Or, the money could expand the districts after-school programs to allow more parents access to child care five days a week instead of the two or three days available this past year.

The board is in a difficult position, Rau said. Everybody believes in offering bilingual education. You cant have everything.
Columbia police

CRIMINAL MISCHIEF

COLUMBIA: Kayla Danelle Hess, 18, of Columbia, was charged with criminal mischief after striking a garage door with her vehicle, causing $1,731 in damage, in the 200 block of North 3rd Street at 10:30 a.m. on May 20, police said.

East Hempfield police

ASSAULT

EAST HEMPFIELD: Luz Gonzales, 43, of Millersville, was charged with aggravated assault, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person after driving a vehicle toward a woman, causing her to jump onto the hood to avoid being struck, at Embassy Drive and Running Pump Road at 2:43 p.m. on June 11, police said. Gonzales then drove about an eighth of a mile with the woman on the vehicles hood before stopping, causing injuries to her knees, police said.

Lititz Borough police

DISORDERLY CONDUCT

LITITZ: Brandon Tyler Damico, 25, of Lincoln University, was charged with disorderly conduct after officers found him and a group of people fighting in the middle of the street in the first block of North Broad Street at 12:34 a.m. on June 13, police said. Damico was determined to be the aggressor in the disturbance after he punched and shoved another man, police said. A second 22-year-old man, also of Lincoln University, was charged with public drunkenness after he fled the scene on foot onto private properties along Ranck Lane and East Front Street before he was captured by officers, police said.

RECKLESSLY ENDANGERING ANOTHER PERSON

LITITZ: Darrien Donya Hill, 21, of Allentown, was charged with recklessly endangering another person and driving under the influence of drugs after officers revived him from the effects of a fentanyl and THC overdose inside a vehicle at Warwick Middle School at 401 West Maple Street at 2:55 p.m. on May 6, police said. Hill had become unresponsive with his foot on the vehicles accelerator as students were dismissed from school, police said. Warwick School District officers removed Hills foot from the accelerator and turned off the vehicle before police arrived, police said.

SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY

LITITZ: A large group of teenagers was seen walking through a property in the 100 block of North Locust Street at around 3:31 p.m. on May 31, police said. Officers were unable to located the group of teenagers, police said.

LITITZ: A juvenile posted a photograph of a property in the 200 block of East Main Street that was taken at 1 a.m. on June 3, police said. Officers warned the juvenile against trespass and curfew, police said.

LITITZ: A caller reported that someone was shining lasers at them in the 100 block of South Walnut Street at 1:36 a.m. on June 4, police said. Officers determined that no one was shining lasers, police said.

LITITZ: An anonymous tipster reported that people were seen playing with a portable toilet at Lititz Springs Park at 18 North Broad Street at 11:58 p.m. on June 4, police said. Officers were unable to find anyone in or around the park, police said.

LITITZ: People were seen engaging in sexual activity inside a vehicle parked in the wrong direction in the 200 block of South Spruce Street at 12:13 a.m. on June 9, police said. Officers warned the individuals about their behavior, police said.

Manheim Township police

CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

MANHEIM TWP.: Benjamin Anakin Shiffer, 19, of Manheim Township, was charged with four counts of child pornography and two counts of criminal use of a communication facility after he was found with 81 images and 53 videos of children either nude or engaged in indecent acts on his cellphone at his home in the 600 block of Pleasure Road at 8:25 a.m. on May 28, police said.

Northern Lancaster County Regional police

DISORDERLY CONDUCT

PENN TWP.: Anthony Wilson Jones, 33, of Manheim, was charged with disorderly conduct after he was seen wailing in the center of the road and refusing to move at West Sunhill Road and Parkhill Drive at 7:45 a.m. on June 13, police said.
The leaders of Lancaster Countys school districts and teachers unions last week sent a letter to state Sen. Scott Martin, voicing their opposition to Martins bill that would ease the expansion of charter schools in the state and give businesses the ability to steer more of their tax dollars directly to charters and other private schools.

The superintendents of all 16 school districts serving the county, along with the presidents of the districts respective teachers unions, signed the letter to share our collective disappointment. They faulted Martin for failing to include strict accountability measures for charter school operators, and blasted Martins proposed statewide commission that would have the power to approve new charter schools over the objections of local school districts.

Martins proposal, Senate Bill 1, passed the Senate education committee last week and is scheduled to be considered by the Senate on Wednesday. The states largest charter association, the Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools, supports the bill, as well as other conservative groups, but Gov. Tom Wolf has already vowed to veto it if it passes in its current form.

We know you as someone who seeks solutions and advances balanced public policy that accounts for multiple perspectives, the Lancaster County officials wrote to Martin, saying SB 1 does not include a number of logical charter accountability and transparency provisions that Martin supported in 2017.

Martin. Super and EA Letter (FINAL Formatted) - June 10 2021 by Gillian McGoldrick on Scribd

One measure the superintendents want, as stated in the letter, is for charter operators to be required to provide educational outcomes information when applying to operate new charter schools. They also faulted Martins bill for not imposing conflict of interest protections related to charter administrators and boards of trustees for the awarding of contracts, and other basic transparency requirements, such as posting detailed organizational charts for each charter school and identifying any third-party hired to provide management services at charter schools.

The letter also criticized Martins proposal to double scholarships currently funded by two state tax credit programs -- the education improvement tax credit and the opportunity scholarship tax credit. These credits allow corporations or businesses to redirect a portion of their taxes to religious schools, private schools, public school foundations and other learning institutions.

The group said they oppose the bills proposed annual increase of 25% for each year the EITC and OSTC program. Its hard to reconcile those significant increases, they wrote, when public schools only receive a 2-3% annual increase while facing rising costs for special education and for students who opt to attend charters.

Penn Manor Superintendent Mike Leichliter said hed spoken with Martin several times and found the senator extremely open and willing to discuss his concerns and the concerns of the Penn Manor Education Association. But as this legislation exists now, All of our associations feel strongly there would need to be a lot of compromise for that bill to be something that would be a positive, Leichliter said.

In a statement to LNP | LancasterOnline, Martin said this bill is the beginning of a process and negotiation that will attempt to resolve issues like funding for cyber charter schools, a point he said he told several of the letters signatories.

He also said much of the transparency reforms advocated in the letter are already required by current law. Conflict of interest prohibitions for charter operators, he said, is included in his bill by making charter administrators and trustees public officials and thus required to file statements of financial interest with the state Ethics Commission.

Sen. Martin response to superintendents by Gillian McGoldrick on Scribd

Martin also argued, as he did last week when his bill passed committee, that the tax credits supporting scholarships for charter and private schools do not take money away from public education.

It is my belief that EITC/OSTC are important for meeting the critical needs of students at both public schools and nonpublic schools, Martin said in response to the letter.
When: East Hempfield Township supervisors meeting, June 2, held in person with remote access via Zoom.

What happened: Supervisors unanimously voted to amend the parking regulations ordinance to increase the weight of pickup trucks from 5,000 pounds to 10,000 pounds in all residential areas. The amendment also removes the term motor vehicle and replaces it with vehicles to include nonmotorized licensed vehicles such as boats, trailers and recreational vehicles. The change went into effect June 7.

Why it matters: Township Manager Cindy Schweitzer said from her understanding, a 5,000-pound pickup truck would not be allowed to be parked at someones house under the old parking rules. The law needed to be revised to allow a typical pickup truck for residential use to be parked. Supervisor Ed LeFevre said pickup trucks are, getting bigger and bigger all the time.

Comcast: A public hearing was held to renew a cable franchise for Comcast cable services, as federal law requires, with supervisors voting 5-0 to renew. Chair Scott Russell responded to a question asked by resident Colleen Jacobsen, Chapel Forge Drive, if Comcast pays East Hempfield a fee to operate with Russell confirming. Finance director Joe Robinson said after the meeting Comcast pays a 5% franchise fee to the township, a quarterly payment of $115,000.

Nolt Road: Supervisors voted 3-1, with LeFevre abstaining, about modifications of stormwater and traffic patterns on a preliminary plan for a cluster development. The development will have 16 total units, four single-family detached homes and 12 duplexes at 3072 Nolt Road. The development will connect the existing Lyndana Drive to provide access to the Nolt and Devonshire Road intersection.

Quotable: I know this plan was controversial with the neighbors (on Stonebridge Drive). I do appreciate the effort that went into getting to where we are now. If we can minimize the impact to the neighbors, itll be greatly appreciated, Vice Chair Scott Wiglesworth said.

Traditions of America: Township director of developmental services Jon Beck introduced a final land development and lot consolidation plan for Phase 3 of the Traditions of America 55 and over community. The development is off Miller Road and near Little Conestoga Creek. Phase 3 is near Split Rail Drive and will consist of 52 homes in East Hempfield and 44 in East Petersburg. Supervisors approved the plan unanimously. This is the third development in Lancaster County, in addition to one near Mount Joy in Rapho Township and another near Lititz in Warwick Township.

Whats next: Supervisors will meet at 7 p.m. June 16 at the township building, 1700 Nissley Road, Landisville. The meeting will be held in person with remote access via Zoom. The link can be found on the townships website.
College news

Graduations

Christina Buchmoyer, of Marietta, received a Master of Arts in education from Avila University, Kansas City, Missouri.

Deans list

Abby Weiss, of Lititz, was named to the deans honor roll with a 3.6 GPA or higher for the spring 2021 semester at Abilene Christian University, Abilene, Texas, where she is a sophomore majoring in communication disorders.

Area students were among those named to the deans list for the spring 2021 semester at Olivet Nazarene University, Bourbonnais, Illinois. They are Gabrielle Murphy and Cameo Powell, both of Oxford.

Honors

The Lancaster Chapter Military Officers Association of America has awarded the chapters 2021 Reserve Officer Training Corps Scholarship to Blue Mountain Battalion Cadet Olivia Berardi, of Kennett Square. This $1,000 scholarship is provided for a U.S. Army ROTC cadet in their junior year at Millersville University, and is based on scholastic performance, evaluation of a written essay and personal interview by a board comprising Lancaster Chapter MOAA officers and an Army ROTC cadre leader. Berardi is working toward a degree in international studies, and has demonstrated outstanding military leadership potential.

Area students were among the fall 2020 and spring 2021 graduates who recently received student achievement awards at Pennsylvania College of Technology, Williamsport. They are listed with their hometowns, awards and majors. Brooke Makayla Strubel, of Strasburg, majoring in emergency management and homeland security, received Academic Vice President and Provosts Award, presented for scholastic achievement and service; Rebecca E. High, of Willow Street, majoring in baking and pastry arts, received Hospitality Faculty Award, presented to graduates who demonstrate academic achievement, exemplify professionalism and are committed to excellence in hospitality; Colin M. Carr, of Denver, majoring in engineering design technology, received Engineering Design Technology Faculty Award, presented to graduates who have demonstrated scholastic achievement, interest in the field and potential for success in the future; Macen Lee Meanix, of Parkesburg, majoring in welding and fabrication engineering technology, received Penn College Welding Faculty Award, presented to graduates of a two- or four-year welding major who exemplify the colleges philosophy of excellence; Alexia O. Zelenevskaya, of Ephrata, majoring in dental hygiene, received UPMC Susquehanna Program Award for Dental Hygiene, presented to a graduate of the dental hygiene program who has exhibited strong leadership and teamwork skills; has demonstrated excellence, professionalism and commitment to the health care profession; and has demonstrated academic excellence.

Email college news items to collegenews@lnpnews.com.
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP)  Gunmen on Tuesday targeted an anti-polio drive in eastern Afghanistan, killing at least five members of two vaccination teams in separate attacks, officials said.

No militant group immediately claimed responsibility for the attacks that took place in the city of Jalalabad and the nearby districts of Khoyani and Surkhrud, according to Attaullah Khogyani, spokesman for the governor in Nangarhar province. Jalalabad is the provincial capital.

Along with the five killed, at least four members of the polio vaccination teams were wounded, said Dr. Jan Mohammad, who coordinates the anti-polio drive for the country's east. Khogyani called the attacks cowardly, adding that two of the wounded were in critical condition.

The polio vaccination campaign in Nangarhar province was suspended later Tuesday, said Najibullah Kamawal, operational chief for the eastern provinces. It wasn't clear when or if it would resume.

Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan are the only two remaining countries in the world where polio is endemic, after Nigeria was last year declared free of the virus.

In March, the Islamic State group said it shot and killed three women who were part of a polio vaccination team, also in Jalalabad, the capital of Afghanistan's Nangarhar province.

The IS affiliate is headquartered in eastern Afghanistan and while the Sunni militant group's numbers are believed to have gone down after recent government offensives and clashes with the rival Taliban, IS militants have lately stepped up attacks on minority Shiite Muslims.

IS has also taken responsibility for several targeted killings that have taken aim at the country's nascent civil society, as well as journalists and legal professionals.

Though struggling with a new, third surge in coronavirus cases, the Afghan government has in recent months sought to inoculate 9.6 million children against polio with the help of UNICEF. In 2020, Afghanistan reported 54 new cases of polio.

The latest surge in COVID-19 infections has overwhelmed Afghanistan's war-ravaged health care system, with oxygen supplies running out and well behind on vaccine supplies. As of Monday, Afghanistan has recorded more than 93,000 cases  with more than 3,600 new cases in the past 24 hours. There have also been 3,683 deaths. It's widely accepted that the numbers are massively underreported because Afghanistan conducts barely 8,000 tests a day and often much less.

The increased violence and chaos comes as the U.S. and NATO are completing their military withdrawal from Afghanistan. The estimated 2,500-3,500 U.S. soldiers and 7,000 NATO allied troops are to be gone by Sept. 11 at the latest, though there are projections they may be gone by mid July.

Though not uncommon in Afghanistan, attacks on polio vaccination teams are more frequent in Pakistan, where the Pakistani Taliban and other militants regularly stage attacks on polio teams and security forces escorting them. They also target vaccination centers and health workers, claiming that anti-polio drives are part of an alleged Western conspiracy to sterilize children or collect intelligence.

Last week, two policemen who were providing security to polio vaccinators were shot and killed in northwest Pakistan.

These attacks increased after it was revealed that a fake hepatitis vaccination campaign was used as a ruse by the CIA in the hunt for al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden. Bin Laden was killed by U.S. commandos in 2011 in Pakistan.



Gannon reported from Islamabad. Associated Press television producer Fazel Rehman Faizi in Kabul, Afghanistan, contributed to this report.
HONG KONG (AP)  The French joint operator of a Chinese nuclear plant near Hong Kong said Monday that the plant is dealing with a performance issue but is currently operating within safety limits, following a report of a potential radioactive leak.

The Taishan Nuclear Power Plant is jointly owned by China Guangdong Nuclear Power Group and French multinational electric utility Electricite de France, the main owner of Framotome, which helps operate the plant.

Framatome is supporting resolution of a performance issue with the Taishan Nuclear Power Plant in Guangdong province, China, Framatome said in a short statement Monday.

According to the data available, the plant is operating within the safety parameters, it said. Our team is working with relevant experts to assess the situation and propose solutions to address any potential issue.

Radiation levels in Hong Kong, 135 kilometers (85 miles) from the Taishan plant, were normal on Monday, according to the Hong Kong Observatory, which monitors radiation around the city.

CNN reported Monday that Framotome had written to the U.S. Department of Energy warning of an imminent radiological threat and accusing Chinese authorities of raising acceptable limits for radiation outside the plant to avoid having to shut it down. CNN said U.S. officials believed the current situation at the plant did not present a severe safety threat.

Electricite de France said in a statement Monday that it had been informed of the increase in concentration of certain rare gases in the primary circuit of reactor No. 1 at the Taishan plant.

The presence of certain rare gases in the primary circuit is a known phenomenon, studied and foreseen by the operating procedures of the reactors, it said.

The utility said it is providing its expertise and has requested that the joint venture company that runs the plant hold a meeting of its board of directors so that management presents all the data and the necessary decisions.

Chinese authorities in Beijing and Guangdong did not immediately respond to attempts to seek comment on Monday, a public holiday.

The plant issued a statement on Sunday saying At present, continuous monitoring of environmental data shows that the environmental indicators of Taishan Nuclear Power Plant and its surroundings are normal.

It did not refer to any problems, and said All operating indicators of the two units have met the requirements of nuclear safety regulations and power plant technical specifications.

The United Nations nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, told The Associated Press that it was aware of the media reports and was in contact with its counterpart in China.

At this stage, the agency has no indication that a radiological incident occurred, the Vienna-based IAEA said in a written response to questions.

The agency said it would share more information when it became available.

The two reactors entered commercial operation in December 2018 and September 2019, the local city government said on its website. They are the first of a new type called European Pressurized Reactors to become operational in the world. Construction began earlier on two other EPRs in Finland and France, but they continue to face costly delays.



Associated Press writer Angela Charlton in Paris contributed to this report.
TOKYO (AP)  Until recently, the location of executed wartime Japanese Prime Minister Hideki Tojo's remains was one of World War II's biggest mysteries in the nation he once led.

Now, a Japanese university professor has revealed declassified U.S. military documents that appear to hold the answer.

The documents show the cremated ashes of Tojo, one of the masterminds of the Pearl Harbor attack, were scattered from a U.S. Army aircraft over the Pacific Ocean about 30 miles (50 kilometers) east of Yokohama, Japans second-largest city, south of Tokyo.

It was a tension-filled, highly secretive mission, with American officials apparently taking extreme steps meant to keep Tojo's remains, and those of six others executed with him, away from ultra-nationalists looking to glorify them as martyrs. The seven were hanged for war crimes just before Christmas in 1948, three years after Japans defeat.

The discovery brings partial closure to a painful chapter of Japanese history that still plays out today, as conservative Japanese politicians attempt to whitewash history, leading to friction with wartime victims, especially China and South Korea.

After years spent verifying and checking details and evaluating the significance of what he'd found, Nihon University Professor Hiroaki Takazawa publicly released the clues to the remains' location last week. He came across the declassified documents in 2018 at the U.S. National Archives in Maryland. Its believed to be the first time official documents showing the handling of the seven war criminals remains were made public, according to Japan's National Institute for Defense Studies and the Japan Center for Asian Historical Records.

Hidetoshi Tojo, the leader's great-grandson, told The Associated Press that the absence of the remains has long been a humiliation for the bereaved families, but he's relieved the information has come to light.

If his remains were at least scattered in Japanese territorial waters ... I think he was still somewhat fortunate, Tojo said. I want to invite my friends and lay flowers to pay tribute to him" if further details about the remains' location becomes available.

Hideki Tojo, prime minister during much of World War II, is a complicated figure, revered by some conservatives as a patriot but loathed by many in the West for prolonging the war, which ended only after the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

About a month after Aug. 15, 1945, when then-Emperor Hirohito announced Japans defeat to a stunned nation, Tojo shot himself in a failed suicide attempt as he was about to be arrested at his modest Tokyo home.

Takazawa, the Nihon University professor specializing in war tribunal issues, found the documents during research at the U.S. archives into other war crimes trials. The documents, he said, are valuable because they officially detail previously little-known facts about what happened and provide a rough location of where the ashes were scattered.

He plans to continue research into other executions. More than 4,000 people were convicted of war crimes in other international tribunals, and about 920 of them were executed.

Tojo and the six others who were hanged were among 28 Japanese wartime leaders tried for war crimes at the 1946-1948 International Military Tribunal for the Far East. Twenty-five were convicted, including 16 sentenced to life in prison, with two getting shorter prison terms. Two others died while on trial and one case was dropped.

In one of the newly revealed documents  dated Dec. 23, 1948 and carrying a secret stamp  U.S. Army Maj. Luther Frierson wrote: "I certify that I received the remains, supervised cremation, and personally scattered the ashes of the following executed war criminals at sea from an Eighth Army liaison plane."

The entire operation was tense, with U.S. officials extremely careful about not leaving a single speck of ashes behind, apparently to prevent them from being stolen by admiring ultra-nationalists, Takazawa said.

In addition to their attempt to prevent the remains from being glorified, I think the U.S. military was adamant about not letting the remains return to Japanese territory ... as an ultimate humiliation," Takazawa said.

The documents state that when the cremation was completed, the ovens were "cleared of the remains in their entirety.

Special precaution was taken to preclude overlooking even the smallest particles of remains, Frierson wrote.

Here's how the operation went.

At 2:10 a.m. on Dec. 23, 1948, caskets carrying the bodies of Tojo and the six others were loaded on a 2.5-ton truck and taken out of the prison after fingerprinting for verification, Frierson wrote in a Jan. 4, 1949 document.

About an hour and a half later, the motorcade guarded by truckloads of armed soldiers to protect the bodies arrived at a U.S. military graves registration platoon in Yokohama for a final check.

The truck left the area at 7:25 a.m. and arrived at a Yokohama crematorium 30 minutes later. The caskets were unloaded from the truck and placed directly in the ovens in 10 minutes, while soldiers guarded the area.

The remains were then transported under guard to a nearby airstrip and loaded onto a plane that Frierson boarded. We proceeded to a point approximately 30 miles over the Pacific Ocean east of Yokohama where I personally scattered the cremated remains over a wide area.

Today, even without the ashes, bereaved families and conservative Japanese lawmakers such as former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe regularly pay tribute at Tokyos Yasukuni Shrine, where the executed war criminals are enshrined with 2.5 million war dead considered sacred spirits in the Shinto religion. No remains are enshrined at Yasukuni.

After the seven executed war criminals were enshrined there in 1978, Yasukuni has become a flashpoint between Japan and its neighbors China and South Korea, who see the enshrinement as proof of Japans lack of remorse over its wartime aggression. Yasukuni also enshrines five other convicted wartime leaders and hundreds of other war criminals.

Hidetoshi Tojo said his great-grandfather was consistently made a taboo in postwar Japan, never glorified.

Everything about my great-grandfather was sealed, including his speeches. Taking that into consideration, I think not preserving the remains was part of the occupation policy, he said. I hope to see further revelations about the unknown facts of the past.



This story has been corrected to say the documents were found at the U.S. National Archives in Maryland, not Washington.



Follow Mari Yamaguchi on Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/mariyamaguchi
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Kevin McCoy of Philadelphia is very blessed  and very grateful. His academic achievements are extraordinary, but he says he almost missed his shot at success.

At a state Senate hearing last month, the high school senior revealed his secret: winning a lottery to enroll in the local charter school. Instead of getting stuck in his local district school, one of the lowest-ranked in the state, McCoy discovered his true potential through this educational opportunity.

At TECH Freire Public Charter High School, McCoy made the honor roll 14 times and served as vice president of the National Honor Society. He won the 2019 Young Writers Storytelling Award for his fiction and three STEM awards through the University of Pennsylvanias summer program. Now, hes heading to Temple University as a Provost Scholar to study psychology.

Across the state in Pittsburgh, Maria Leon discovered a different educational lifeline. As immigrants from Mexico, she and her family moved to Pittsburgh, but ran into problems with the assigned district school in her new zip code. The school couldnt meet the educational needs of her children  especially her son with special needs.

Leon decided to homeschool her kids during the pandemic, and then thanks to Pennsylvanias tax credit scholarship program  was able to enroll her son in Cornerstone Christian Preparatory Academy.

Shes grateful for the businesses and individuals who donate to the program, which she says is a great opportunity for young people to achieve their goals for themselves and train to serve the community.

The McCoys and the Leons found educational success despite the struggles of the past year, and for the same reason: school choice options that met their needs in unique ways.

Instead of closed schools, unsafe classrooms or administrative barriers, school choice offered a path to success.

Inspired by stories like these, some lawmakers are now seeking to open doors to educational success to more families by expanding Pennsylvanias school choice programs.

Dubbed the Excellence in Education for All Act, Senate Bill 1 would expand tax credit scholarships, which have been in high demand in recent years.

In fact, more than 40,000 scholarship applications are denied each year due to state-imposed caps on how much can be donated under these tax credit programs.

By removing these limits and allowing tax credit scholarship funding to grow with demand, we believe fewer children would be denied access to a scholarship.

SB 1 also includes an important provision to increase the availability of charter schools. Pennsylvania law currently places school districts in charge of charter school authorization. Unsurprisingly, districts often reject applications for new charter schools, which they seemingly view as competitors to the schools they directly control.

The result is wait lists and lotteries for admission. In Philadelphia alone, 24,000 students applied for around 7,500 charter school seats this year. We believe that allowing independent authorizers would ensure new charter school applications are evaluated fairly.

The point of school choice isnt funding  its giving families freedom and an equal chance at academic excellence. Yet, bureaucrats who benefit from the status quo seem to only find the time to grumble for more tax money. Never mind the fact that many private schools operate on tuitions nearly a third less than what their neighboring district schools receive in per-student funding. According to Pa. Department of Education data, some school districts keep up to 27% of the funding associated with a student who attends a charter school, meaning districts receive money for not teaching a child.

And its not as though school districts dont collect enough. Philadelphia district schools receive more than $19,000 in taxpayer money per student. Pittsburgh district schools receives $27,000. And School District of Lancaster receives $22,000. The national average is $14,000.

Policymakers need to be asking: Is all this money  a 73% statewide increase since 1990  helping kids succeed? Sadly, the answer for too many kids is no.

Instead of seemingly putting all our efforts into a bureaucratic system, SB 1 ensures charter schools and tax credit scholarships are available for students who need them. If enacted, more families like the McCoys and Leons will be able to meet the needs of their children.

Every student should have access to an excellent education. They shouldnt need to win a lottery to get it.

Stephen Bloom, a former state representative, is vice president of the Commonwealth Foundation, Pennsylvanias free-market think tank. Twitter: @StephenLBloom and @Liberty4pa.
Every June, Pennsylvanias educators and parents find themselves in familiar territory  pleading with state lawmakers to increase funding that their public schools desperately need to educate students and keep up with expenses.

Still, many school districts find themselves doing more with less year after year, as they contend with rising mandated costs for things like charter school tuition.

So, it is shocking that some lawmakers in Harrisburg want to essentially hand billions of taxpayer dollars to private and religious schools over the next decade  money that we believe will inevitably come at the expense of the states public schools, which educate nine out of every 10 students.

Its all laid out in Senate Bill 1, a piece of legislation sponsored by state Sen. Scott Martin of Lancaster County.

Among other things, Martins bill would give the states two tax credit programs benefiting private schools, religious schools, pre-K programs and public school foundations a whopping 68% funding increase next year and provide 25% increases each year after. Public schools are lucky to get funding increases on the order of 2% to 3% in any year.

What exactly does that mean in real dollars? Tax breaks for corporations that contribute to the aforementioned schools and programs would grow to nearly $1 billion within five years. In 10 years, the costs would top $3 billion.

Never in all the Junes of past years have public education advocates even asked for a 68% funding increase  let alone gotten one. Never have they had the luxury of automatic 25% funding increases to count on year after year after year.

Yet that is exactly what Martin wants for private and religious schools that educate only a small segment of the states population.

Just as troubling, Senate Bill 1 seemingly does nothing to help school districts address rapidly increasing charter tuition costs. In fact, we believe it would make the problem significantly worse.

Right now, charter school operators must meet certain legal thresholds to open their doors to students. Local school districts are tasked with reviewing their plans and determining if they have checked all the legal boxes.

Senate Bill 1 would bypass local school boards, creating a state-level board of political appointees to make decisions on future charter school proposals.

Keep in mind that public school districts are responsible for funding charter schools. In 2019-20, districts paid out nearly $2.2 billion to existing charter school operators statewide. Certainly, those who pay property taxes are shouldering some of this burden.

Now, Martin and his friends in Harrisburg seemingly want to open the floodgates to who knows how many new charter schools.

Let me be clear: The Pennsylvania State Education Association supports high-quality charter and cybercharter schools. We represent more than 1,000 educators and support professionals who teach and serve students in charter schools statewide.

Thats why we feel so strongly that there needs to be accountability for charter schools and for the boards, administrators and for-profit management companies that operate some of them.

And with charter school tuition costs rapidly becoming one of the largest single expenses for public schools, these decisions must be made by local school boards. Those boards are the ones responsible for safeguarding their taxpayers money not another state board of political appointees who may have little or no association with the community.

Taken together, we believe the tax credit expansion and charter changes in Martins bill could amount to the largest transfer of taxpayer dollars out of public schools in Pennsylvania's history  and just about the worst attack on public education weve ever seen. Ultimately, its our students who will suffer.

Lets do better. Lets focus on the needs of our students as we recover from this pandemic. We must be attentive to their academic, mental, social and emotional needs, and we must do everything we can to bridge learning gaps.

Lets make that the focus of this June, rather than essentially taking away funding desperately needed by our public schools.

Rich Askey is a Harrisburg music teacher and president of the Pennsylvania State Education Association.
THE ISSUE: On June 2, President Joe Biden announced a national month of action to get 70% of U.S. adults at least one COVID-19 vaccination shot by the Fourth of July. American companies and states have offered an array of incentives to encourage people to get vaccinated against COVID-19, which has caused the deaths of about 600,000 Americans.

Whatever works, we guess.

The ongoing efforts to encourage Americans to get vaccinated are laudable, but also a bit hard to understand.

The prospect of being protected from a lethal and capricious infectious disease was incentive enough for us.

And frankly, if it were up to us, wed be inclined to deliver the vaccination version of that perennial parental plea: There are children in parts of the world who would love that broccoli youre refusing to eat  or, in this case, There are people across the globe who would love to have that vaccine were begging you to get.

Because thats true. Countries in Asia, Africa and South America have been lagging far behind the United States in providing sufficient access to COVID-19 vaccines. Bloomberg News reported Monday that elderly Venezuelans are waking up in the middle of the night so they can get in the early morning lines for a vaccination. Many wait for hours and still dont get a shot.

Biden alluded to this reality June 2: All over the world, he said, people are desperate to get a shot that every American can get at their neighborhood drug store at no cost, with no wait.

Yet some of those Americans still require incentives.

As former Baltimore health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen told The Associated Press, Incentives can work, and I think the White Houses focus on making vaccination the easy and convenient choice is important.

But the emergency care physician also said this: Its the height of American exceptionalism that we are having to beg people to get a life-saving vaccine, when health care workers and vulnerable people around the world are dying because they cant get access to it.

We couldnt have put it better ourselves.

We were hoping that appeals to American patriotism would have our fellow citizens lining up to get vaccinated. After all, if were to get past this pandemic, community protection  herd immunity through vaccination  is one likely way. And its the route to which we each can make a direct contribution.

We could hope the novel coronavirus just burns itself out, but so far its many of us who have burned out. The virus has proven to be maddeningly persistent, as has some Americans resistance to vaccination.

So now the Biden administration is trying beer.

The White House announced recently that Anheuser-Busch will give away free beer to all adults over the age of 21 in America when the administration reaches its 70% goal. President Biden has said he doesnt drink alcohol, but hes clearly willing to embrace any incentive that will get the country vaccinated.

Krispy Kreme, of course, has offered free donuts to the vaccinated. As Time magazine has reported, West Virginia is offering $100 savings bonds to 16- to 35-year-olds who get vaccinated. Maryland will pay fully vaccinated state employees $100. And breweries participating in New Jerseys Shot and a Beer program gave out free drinks to legal adults who got vaccinated in May.

The Philadelphia Phillies offered the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at Citizens Bank Park during their series against the Atlanta Braves earlier this month. Those who got vaccinated at the ballpark received two tickets to a future Phillies game, a concession credit for a hot dog and a soda, and a giveaway item.

And June 7, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney announced that citys Philly Vax Sweepstakes, in which 36 vaccinated Philadelphians will win cash prizes up to $50,000, totaling nearly $400,000 in giveaways. According to the City of Philadelphia website, in each of the three drawings on June 21, July 6, and July 19, six individuals will win $1,000; four will win $5,000; and two will win $50,000.

Were incredibly proud of our extensive efforts to vaccinate our residents and that more than two-thirds of Philadelphia adults have received their first dose, Kenney said. The vaccine is critical to protecting us from COVID-19, getting back to the things weve missed, and safely reigniting our economy.

This initiative  in which the city is partnering with the University of Pennsylvania  offers an opportunity to reward Philadelphians who have already been vaccinated while also motivating those who havent yet, Kenney said.

It seems to have worked elsewhere.

In Ohio, the Vax-a-Million lottery offers vaccinated adults a chance to win $1 million and children between the ages of 12 and 17 the chance to win a four-year scholarship to any Ohio state college (room and board included). Republican Gov. Mike DeWine has said the results have exceeded his wildest dreams.

According to Ohio officials, an analysis of vaccination data from the two weeks that followed the Vax-a-Million announcement showed a weekly average increase of 77%, or an average of 68,667 more shots per week, post-announcement, compared with pre-announcement.

So no wonder the White House has embraced incentives as a means of encouraging vaccination. Its website lists some of the corporate incentives being offered:

 CVS has launched a sweepstakes for vaccinated people to win free cruises, tickets to Super Bowl LVI and cash prizes.

 Door Dash is to give $2 million in gift cards to the National Association of Community Health Centers to incentivize vaccinations.

 Microsoft will give away thousands of Xboxes to Boys & Girls Clubs in hard-hit areas.

 United Airlines Your Shot to Fly sweepstakes will offer its Mileage Plus members a chance to win a year of free flights or a round trip for two in any class of service.

Weve cited this analogy before, but were certain that Londoners didnt need free beer or any other incentive to pull down their curtains and turn off their lights during the Blitz. They knew they had to do their part to keep their neighborhoods and city safe.

The passengers of United Airlines Flight 93 on 9/11 didnt need to be asked to do what they could to thwart the hijackers from flying that plane to Washington, D.C., to attack the U.S. Capitol. They loved their country and gave their lives to its defense.

Americans being asked to get vaccinated arent being asked to sacrifice their lives  on the contrary, theyre being asked to protect themselves from a viral enemy so this nation can more quickly vanquish the pandemic.

That should be incentive enough.
Life wasnt easy for Prem Baral when he arrived in Lancaster 11 years ago as a 17-year-old refugee from his native Nepal. His family, including his parents and two older sisters, struggled financially and with the language barrier.

It was very difficult. We didnt have money to pay rent, he recalls. When I came here, I had nothing.

Fast forward to today and life looks much different for Baral. After graduating from McCaskey High School in 2012, he went on to get a degree in business operations from York Technical Institute and established himself as a successful entrepreneur in the community. To say Baral has a passion for business is an understatement. He is currently a multifaceted entrepreneur who has more than seven businesses, including the transportation industry, insurance broker, income tax preparer, notary and owner of Everest International Grocery.

Barals success in business doesnt allow for a lot of sleep, but it has allowed him to follow another passion  helping others, especially those who find themselves in the same shoes he was in just a decade ago, he intentionally opens every business with the hope of empowering young entrepreneurs and the youth.

In 2019 Prem purchased a grocery store at 1621 Columbia Ave. to be a hub for serving the immigrant population. That store is so familiar to all the immigrant people in the city. Its multicultural. Everyone loves it, he says.

The store carries everything from rice and lentils to fresh produce, herbs and spices, catering to a variety of communities and cuisines, including Nepalese, African, Ethiopian, Congolese, Indian, Somalian and American.

Our store is so different from other stores, Baral says. Whenever the customer walks into the store, we greet them very well, we treat them as family. If theyre looking for specific stuff, we try to get it from anywhere. We try to find it and we call them when we have it.

However, Baral is doing more than offering immigrants a taste of home. Remembering his own familys struggles, hes making it easier for them to put that food on their tables and gain meaningful employment. Baral is currently offering a gift card to his store to every new immigrant family in Lancaster, working through Church World Service.

We are in the community, and we serve all different kinds of people in the community, he says. . We want to give back to the community. We want to make peoples lives better.

For Baral, that means more than simply providing them with food. It means helping them succeed. He offers himself as a resource and mentor to anyone, especially younger people, who want to open a business or accomplish something else in life, whether its assisting them with paperwork or helping them apply for an LLC. Every time I meet young people I want to advise them. You have to do something unique. Once youre established, you can help other people. he says. I love helping people. I love being with people. Thats my passion.

Everest International Grocery is open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week. Stop in at 1621 Columbia Avenue, Lancaster, PA 17603, give us a call at (717) 299-2624 or vist our website.
The Plan To Turn Africa into a Breeder of New COVID-19 Mutant Strains

June 14, 2021 (EIRNS)The Africa Region of the World Health Organization (WHO) reports that 47 of their 54 countries will fail to meet the most minimal of COVID-19 vaccination levels10% of the population by the end of September. The original plan was to vaccinate 20%the health workers, the elderly and the health-compromisedby June 30, but that plan was pushed back recently, at the World Health Assembly, to half of that by Sept. 30. Only 32 million doses have been applied of the 500 million dose plan. To get to half of that, 218 million more doses are needed.

For the last four weeks, official new cases have been on the rise, representing the beginning of a third wave in Africa. Egypt, South Africa, Tunisia, Uganda and Zambia have a bulk (72%) of the new cases. Zambia more than doubled their daily new cases last week, going from 700 to 1,600. South Africa has had the most cases and the most deaths (57,000), and only 183,000 jabs for 58.5 million people. (Thats proportional to about 1 million jabs for Americans rather than the 300 million-plus actual). When COVID took off in India in the second week of April, South Africa had about 800 official new cases/day. In the last two weeks, up through yesterday, the 7-day average has gone from 3,400 to 7,200 per day. Neighboring Lesotho, which has been averaging about 1-3 new cases/day for over 3 months, jumped from June 12 to June 13 from 6 to 72 new cases.

WHOs Africa Regional Director Dr. Matshidiso Moeti summed up: As we close in on 5 million cases and a third wave in Africa looms, many of our most vulnerable people remain dangerously exposed to COVID-19. Vaccines have been proven to prevent cases and deaths, so countries that can, must urgently share COVID-19 vaccines. Its do or die on dose sharing for Africa.

Pfizer announced in May that it would provide upwards of 2 billion vaccine doses for low- and middle-income countries, with at cost pricing for the low-income countries. Last week, Biden took them up on 500 million of the 700 million doses they offered to America for this purpose, of which 200 million are to be delivered to COVAX between August and December. Africas share in August and September should amount to around 20% of the 218 million more doses needed for half of their minimum. And it will do nothing in June and July for the threatening third wave.

WHOs Director Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has been clear that Western countriesparticularly Americaare putting themselves in jeopardy by leaving the 20% most infectable people in the world unprotected, choosing to vaccinate their least-endangered groups, such as children. However, the simple reality is that, even after vaccinating every child in the United States that will accept the vaccine, there is presently a glut of almost 100 million unused, and never-to-be used vaccines, with another 200 million scheduled for delivery to the government by Pfizer and Moderna in June and July. Of these 300 million doses, Biden plans to ship out 80 million. (This separately from Bidens 500 million participation in the Pfizer plan.)

That arithmetic says there are 220 doses that can be sent to Africa throughout June and July. To not do so is a plan to turn Africa into a breeder of new COVID-19 mutant strains.
Tuesday, June 15, 2021

The North Carolina Supreme Court has censured a district court judge for stipulated misconduct on Facebook, where he identified himself as a judge and had "thousands" of friends

Although some of Respondents FB messages have been deleted, a review of Respondents existing FB messages during the period from November 2018 to May 2019 shows that Respondent, who is married, knowingly and willfully initiated and engaged in conversations with at least 35 different women that ranged from inappropriate and flirtatious to sexually explicit. In some cases, Respondent and the female also had telephone conversations, exchanged texts and had personal meetings (including in some cases sexual encounters).

Respondent knowingly and willfully engaged in FB conversations of a sexual nature with 12 women during the period from at least November 2018 through July 2019.

The stipulation further sets forth that the judge's social media activities interfered with his judicial duties.

The Judicial Standards Commission had filed other charges not addressed in the stipulation, including

(1) by engaging in sexual misconduct while serving as and exploiting his position as Chief Judge of his judicial district through a pattern of predatory sexual advances towards numerous women in Respondents community, many of whom were involved in matters pending in the district where Respondent served as Chief Judge

The judge

Prior to the incidents described herein that began in or about 2017, Respondent had enjoyed a long and distinguished career as a judge of his district for almost twenty years. As Chief District Court Judge, Respondent made a number of significant contributions to the administration of justice during his 13 years in that position.

On sanction

the Commission also considered the fact that respondent is no longer a sitting judge of the State of North Carolina and has agreed that he will never serve in such capacity again, that he had served for approximately 18 years as a judge, and for over a decade as chief judge of District 29A, without any disciplinary matters before the Commission, that he had contributed to improvements to the administration of justice in his district, and that he is in the early stages of frontotemporal dementia. Based on the conclusions of law and these mitigating factors, the Commission recommended that respondent be censured.

(Mike Frisch)

https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/legal_profession/2021/06/the-north-carolina-supreme-court-has-x-a-district-court-judge-for-online-misconduct-the-judge-prior-to-the-incidents-descr.html


The government of Taiwan reports that 28 Chinese military aircraft entered the islands air defense identification zone on Tuesday. That is the largest number of Chinese aircraft reported to enter Taiwans air space.

The news comes after leaders from the Group of Seven nations issued a joint statement Sunday criticizing China on several points. The leaders of the worlds seven richest democracies also declared the importance of peace across the Taiwan Strait.

China condemned the comments as "slander."

Taiwan says China's air force has repeatedly entered its air space over recent months. Most of the activity has happened in the southwestern part of its air defense area, near the Pratas Islands, which Taiwan controls.

The latest Chinese operation involved 14 J-16 and six J-11 jet fighters and four H-6 bombers. These aircraft can carry nuclear weapons, as well as anti-submarine and electronic warfare devices, Taiwan's Defense Ministry said. Early warning and control, radar aircraft also were reported.

It was the largest daily activity since the ministry began regularly reporting Chinese air force activities in Taiwan's air defense area last year. An earlier record of 25 aircraft was reported on April 12.

The ministry added that Taiwan launched military aircraft to intercept and warn away the Chinese aircraft. Missile systems were also deployed.

A map provided by the ministry showed Chinese bombers and some of the fighter aircraft also flew around the southern part of Taiwan.

China's Defense Ministry did not answer a Reuters request for comment.



In the past, Chinese officials described such activities as necessary to protect the country's sovereignty and deal with, what they called, "collusion" between Taiwan and the U.S.

The United States has no official diplomatic ties with Taiwan. But the U.S. has watched with concern Taiwans increasing tensions with mainland China.

Taiwan has been a self-ruling area since the end of Chinas civil war in 1949.

The Chinese government describes Taiwan as its most sensitive territorial issue. It has warned the U.S. against interference.

And China has never denied the possible use of force to end Taiwans self-rule.

Im Jonathan Evans.

Ben Blanchard reported on this story for the Reuters news service. Jonathan Evans adapted this story for Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor.

______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

slander n. the act of making a false spoken statement that causes people to have a bad opinion of someone

intercept v. to prevent something from going from one place to another

collusion n. secret cooperation for a dishonest or illegal purpose

sensitive adj. needing to be dealt with in a careful or secret way




The United States and the European Union have agreed to end their nearly 17-year trade dispute over government aid to Boeing and Airbus.

The deal permits the two sides to center on a common economic threat: China.

Since 2004, the U.S. and the EU have argued that government aid to the plane makers brought unfair competition. The dispute became more heated under former U.S. President Donald Trump. It led to more taxes on imports, or tariffs, from American and European products, including French wine, German cookies and American alcohol products.

In March, weeks after President Joe Biden took office, the two sides agreed to suspend tariffs on over $11 billion of goods for four months. On Tuesday, they agreed to suspend the tariffs for five years while still working on an overall agreement.

Ursula von der Leyen is the president of the European Commission. She said the deal moved the parties from litigation to cooperation on aircraft  after 17 years of dispute. And Biden said that it is in the interest of the U.S.A. to have a great relationship with NATO and the EU.

U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai added, Instead of fighting with one of our closest allies, we are finally coming together against a common threat. Tai, however, warned that the tariffs could start up again if American companies cannot compete fairly with those in Europe.

As part of the agreement, the U.S. and the EU will set up a working group to discuss issues including financing and research support for plane makers. They want to avoid support that would harm the other side. And they will fight "non-market practices" from China to help its aircraft industry.

Both sides said they were confident the Airbus-Boeing dispute would end within five years. And plane makers Airbus and Boeing cheered the agreement.

The agreement removes one of two major trade conflicts left over from the Trump administration. The other involves tariffs on EU steel and aluminum imports. That move angered EU leaders because Trump claimed the tariffs were for national security reasons.

The conflict hurts European producers and raises the cost of steel for American companies. And the EU retaliated by raising tariffs on products like U.S.-made Harley Davidson motorcycles and Levis blue jeans.

Tuesdays agreement is welcome news for an airline industry that has been hurt by coronavirus travel restrictions.

It also brings international goodwill for Biden as he prepares to meet on Wednesday with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Im Dan Friedell.

Dan Novak adapted this story from reports by The Associated Press and Reuters. Hai Do was the editor.

______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

tariff  n. a tax on goods coming into or leaving a country

litigate  v. to make (something) the subject of a lawsuit : to cause (a case, an issue, etc.) to be decided and settled in a court of law

practice n. something that is done often or regularly

irritant n. something that is unpleasant or annoying

retaliate  v. to do something bad to someone who has hurt you or treated you badly : to get revenge against someone




Jerry Ramos spent his final days in a California hospital, connected to an oxygen machine to help him fight COVID-19. But his 3-year-old daughter was in his thoughts.

Ramos wrote on Facebook, I have to be here to watch my princess grow up. He did not live to see it. He died on Feb. 15 at the age of 32.

The Mexican-American restaurant worker became one of the 600,000 Americans who have died from the virus so far. His death also represented the pandemics effect on the racial and ethnic inequalities in the U.S.

During the first wave of deaths in April 2020, the virus went through cities with large Black populations in the Northeast, as well as Detroit, Michigan and New Orleans in Louisiana. Black Americans were hit the hardest during that time.

During a second increase last summer, high cases of infection in the states of Texas and Florida caused Hispanics to die at the highest rate.

And during the third winter increase, the worst of all, cases were high across the entire country. The weekly death rates narrowed so much that whites were the worst off. And Hispanics closely followed.

Higher death rates for Blacks, Hispanics

Now, the virus has slowed and more people are getting vaccinated. But Blacks and Hispanics continue to die at higher rates than other groups.

An Associated Press study shows that, overall, Black and Hispanic Americans have less access to medical care and are in poorer health. They have higher rates of health conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure.

Blacks and Hispanics are more likely to have jobs that require their physical presence at work. They are less able to work from home. They are also more likely to live in larger households, where family members may spread the virus.

Black Americans account for 15 percent of all COVID-19 deaths where race is known. Hispanics represent 19 percent, whites 61 percent and Asian Americans 4 percent. Those numbers are close to each groups' share of the U.S. population. But a closer look at age shows a clearer picture of inequality.

Blacks and Hispanics are younger on average than whites. So it would make sense that they would die at lower rates from a disease that severely affects older populations. But that is not what is happening.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) looked at the death rates, adjusting for population age differences. The CDC estimates that Native Americans, Hispanics and Blacks are two to three times more likely than whites to die of COVID-19.

The AP research also found that Hispanics, like Ramos, are dying at much younger ages than other groups.

Thirty-seven percent of Hispanic deaths were of those under 65, versus 12 percent for white Americans and 30 percent for Black people. Hispanics between 30 and 39 have died at five times the rate of white people in the same age group.

Public health experts say the nation needs to look at these differences.

Dr. Clyde Yancy is with Northwestern Universitys medical school. If we want to respect the dear price that 600,000 people have paid, dont return to normal. Return to something that is better than what was, he said.

Blacks and Hispanics are also behind whites when it comes to vaccination rates, said Samantha Artiga of the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Experts say this is due to several factors. Many Black Americans distrust the medical profession because of a history of discriminatory treatment. Among Hispanics, there is a fear of deportation and a language barrier for many.

Money could be a problem, Artiga said. Losing a day or two of wages can have real consequences for your family. People are facing tough decisions like that.

With incomplete data, it is less clear who is dying now. But a racial gap appears to be growing again. In the state of Michigan, Black people are 14 percent of the population. But they have accounted for 25 percent of the 1,064 deaths reported in the past four weeks. Similar gaps were seen in Florida and Pennsylvania.

On Monday, U.S. President Joe Biden said that while new cases and deaths are dropping in the U.S., theres still too many lives being lost. He added, now is not the time to let our guard down.

Im Dan Novak.

Carla K. Johnson, Olga R. Rodgriguez and Angeliki Kastanis reported this story for The Associated Press. Dan Novak adapted it for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor.

______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

access n. a way of being able to use or get something

adjust v. to change (something) in a minor way so that it works better

dear adj. loved or valued very much

factor n. something that helps produce or influence a result : one of the things that cause something to happen

deport  v. to force (a person who is not a citizen) to leave a country

consequence  n. something that happens as a result of a particular action or set of conditions

let (one) guard down  idiom. to lower one's level of caution or carefulness
The Lebanon school board is continuing to examine its options for a potential bond measure in 2022.

Lebanon Community Schools has the opportunity to receive between $4 million and $8 million in state matching funds if voters approve a bond to pay for necessary maintenance and improvements. The question is how large a bond  and how high a property tax rate  voters will be willing to approve.

The board members discussed the issue during their public session on Thursday, June 10. The discussion centered on the Lebanon Community Pool, which needs extensive repairs. The price tag for a full remodel of the pool is about $9.5 million.

Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Lebanon Express.

Superintendent Bo Yates asked the board if they support the pool project in that form.

What I need  is some direction on if you feel comfortable with us moving forward in this process at that price point, where that is going to be a total rehab, Yates said.

School board chair Tom Oliver said the decision will ultimately fall to the voters. He is interested in hearing from the community before putting the bond on the ballot. The district is currently working to hire a polling firm which will survey voters later this summer or in the early fall.
DALLAS  The NCAA Board of Directors approved one of the biggest changes in the history of college athletics Wednesday, clearing the way for almost a half-million athletes to start earning money based on their fame and celebrity without fear of endangering their eligibility or putting their 
Lewiston, ID (83501)

Today

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 72F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 72F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.
A change-of-command ceremony was held at Vandenberg Space Force Base parade grounds on Friday, with a new leader taking the reigns of a military unit that's responsible for space launch and missile testing operations along the West Coast.

Col. Robert A. Long relieved Col. Anthony Mastalir as the new unit commander of Space Launch Delta 30, which is the unit that also controls Vandenberg SFB and also supports intercontinental ballistic missile tests for the Air Force.

Change of command ceremonies are a tradition meant to boost morale and preserve military tradition while formally introducing the unit's new leader, according to officials. U.S. Space Force Lt. Gen. Stephen N. Whiting, commander of Space Operations Command, presided over the ceremony.

"It took an extraordinary amount of effort to transition Vandenberg, one of the departments largest installations and 30th Space Wing, into Space Launch Delta 30, but your team made it look easy, said Whiting, who gave credit to Mastalir for the base's renaming to the Space Force. In reality, even at the best of times large-scale organizational transformations are difficult. Add in the unique demands presented by a worldwide pandemic, and I think we can all agree that the accomplishments of Team Vandenberg are truly impressive.

Prior to assuming command of Space Launch Delta 30, Long was the deputy commander of Space Delta 5, a unit that works with allied forces at the Combined Space Operations Center, where objects in space are monitored 24/7, and where data is gathered for the purposes of maintaining global awareness and making command and control decisions over space forces.

Initially joining the Air Force before the creation of the Space Force, Long graduated high school in Nebraska and graduated with a bachelor's of science in electrical engineering from the University of Washington in 1997.

Its been a special place since I first drove through the front gate 23 years ago," Long said. "To the men and women of Space Launch Delta 30, you are experts at generating and delivering combat power from this entral California outpost and you have my commitment to expend every ounce of energy making sure you have the tools to succeed.

As the commander of Space Launch Delta 30, Long has responsibility over Vandenberg installation's 118,000 acres and more than 11,000 military and civilian personnel, including contractors. Additionally, Vandenberg also houses several thousand family members of military personnel stationed at the base.

Mastalir first took command of the unit on July 12, 2019.

In addition to ushering in the Space Force on the Central Coast, Mastalir was at the forefront of the base's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, keeping the community informed of base operations and leading the effort to promote the coronavirus vaccine in "Operation Fight Back."

After leaving Vandenberg, Mastalir will deploy to Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar to begin the process of establishing the U.S. Space Force Central Command, according to base officials.

Mastalir recalled what it was like in the initial months of the coronavirus pandemic.

"I found myself signing a public health emergency declaration and unbelievably signing a directive stating that you cannot shake each others hands," Mastalir said. "I vividly remember the rows of sewing machines lined up staffed by volunteers around the base. Anyone who knew how to sew active duty, civilians and dependents, it didnt matter; and you came together and produced and distributed thousands of masks for our community, our base. When our supply channels were empty, we beat the pandemic because you chose to fight back."
If I made a shoebox diorama of myself in my natural habitat, Id put my cardboard self at a bar in a quiet neighborhood restaurant. Id have a glass of rose and a novel open in front of me. This is my personal native land.

So when I say dining at Fairchild, a not-technically-new-but-still-kind-of-new restaurant on Monroe Street, felt like coming home the first time I went there, thats what I mean. Let the record reflect my personal bias for quiet bars and cold rose, service that feels personal but doesnt hover, and thoughtful plates of food.

In each of these ways, Fairchild is as close to perfect as a restaurant gets.

Fairchild, open a breath before the pandemic in 2020, is the collective dream of former LEtoile chef de cuisine Itaru Nagano and chef Andrew Kroeger, who moved back to Madison after five years in Austin, Texas, with the ELM Restaurant Group. Kroeger is a LEtoile alum, as is their third partner, Patrick Sierra.
Bryce, trying to piece his life back together, somehow gets thrown back in with Kincaid and his equally reckless wife Sonia (Hayek). The threesome end up chasing a Greek billionaire (Banderas) and trying to thwart his scheme to destroy Europes power grid as retaliation against the European Union for imposing economic sanctions against Greece.

Anyway, its enough to get the heroes moving from Capri to Portofino to Florence (or, whenever possible, Croatian filming locations used as substitutes) and get into shootouts and car chases. The gag is that, as cautious as Bryce is, he ends up getting battered and bloodied while his elders sail through the most dangerous of situations without getting so much as a scratch.

Director Patrick Hughes, who also directed the first movie and the third Expendables" movie, doesnt let up on the gas pedal. While the action scenes are usually played for laughs rather than thrills, there are pretty good laughs here and there. Jackson and Reynolds retain their easy, Felix-and-Oscar chemistry from the first movie, and Hayeks live-wire energy is the jolt of electricity thats just what this sort of derivative sequel needs.
On June 26, the Alliant Energy Center will close as a community testing and vaccination site as 60% of Dane Countys population is vaccinated against the coronavirus and the community has largely reopened since public health orders lifted earlier this month.

The site on the citys south side has been an integral part of Dane Countys COVID-19 response and allowed Public Health Madison & Dane County to maintain an accurate picture of the pandemic in the community.

It has been our honor to provide these critical services to the community year-round throughout this pandemic, Public Health Madison & Dane County Director Janel Heinrich said in a statement Monday. Our staff has put in thousands of hours of work, day in and day out to meet the evolving needs of our community and slow the spread of COVID-19.
But his biggest lies have always been about the coronavirus pandemic.

Last fall, after Johnson presided over a series of Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearings that featured testimony from witnesses who critics identified as quacks, The New York Times reported, It is the latest example of how Mr. Johnson, a Wisconsin Republican who has used his powerful investigative panel to amplify groundless accusations pushed by President Trump, has now embraced the role of the Senates leading Covid contrarian.

Even as some of his Republican colleagues have sought to use their platforms to encourage Americans to take precautions against the spread of the virus and persuade the public that vaccines against it will be safe and vital, the Times explained, Mr. Johnson has suggested that the dangers of the coronavirus have been overblown and excessively regulated. And twice in the past three weeks, Mr. Johnson has used his gavel on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee to elevate voices who public health experts say represent fringe beliefs.

Wisconsin state Treasurer Sarah Godlewski, a Democrat who has announced she will challenge Johnson in 2022, was blunter.
Columnist Bill Kaplan, in a WisOpinion posting, says that U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson's comments on President Biden's Tulsa speech was ignorant and racist. Johnson implied that Biden was being divisive, the opposite of what he promised to do when elected, Kaplan notes. Johnson's the one who has been dividing the country for the past several years, the columnist points out, citing his claim that the Jan. 6th insurrection wasn't anything to worry about, but had they been Black Lives Matter protesters, he would have been concerned.
Military weapons are especially vulnerable to corrupt insiders responsible for securing them. They know how to exploit weak points within armories or the militarys enormous supply chains. Often from the lower ranks, they may see a chance to make a buck from a military that can afford it.

Its about the money, right? said Brig. Gen. Duane Miller, the Armys No. 2 law enforcement official.

Theft or loss happens more often than the Army has publicly acknowledged. During an initial interview, Miller significantly understated the extent to which weapons disappear, citing records that report only a few hundred missing rifles and handguns. An internal Army analysis that AP obtained tallied 1,303 firearms.

In a second interview, Miller said he hadnt been aware of the memos, which had been distributed throughout the Army, until AP pointed them out. Army officials later said the total is imperfect because it includes some recovered guns and may include some duplicates.

Like Miller, top officials within the Marines and Secretary of Defenses office said weapon accountability is a high priority  and when the military knows a weapon is missing, it does trigger a concerted response to recover it. The officials also said missing weapons are not a widespread problem.
A northern Illinois chemical plant that was rocked by an explosion and massive fires that prompted evacuations was inspected by a federal agency less than a month before the blast sent debris raining down onto nearby areas.

Inspectors from the U.S. Labor Department's Occupational Health and Safety Administration on May 20 investigated a complaint at Chemtool Inc., a plant near the Wisconsin border, WLS-TV reported. Fires continued to burn Tuesday following Monday's explosion.

A summary record of that inspection does not explain what was being inspected at the Rockton-area plant that manufactures lubricants, grease products and other fluids. That record states only that the complaint involved safety and health, and the case remains open, the station reported.

OSHA officials said they have six months to complete their investigation involving the plant, and no further information will be made public until that work is finished, WLS-TV reported. There are no other outstanding cases or any violations in U.S. records pertaining to the plant.

A company spokesperson said that Chemtool has been safely operating since 2008, employing about 200 employees, and Chemtool said all employees on site "at the onset of the fire got out without anyone getting hurt."
BRUSSELS (AP)  The European Commission said on Tuesday it has raised 20 billion ($24.2 billion) through a 10-year bond as part of its plans to finance the 27-nation bloc's recovery from the coronavirus crisis.

EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said the inaugural transaction of the NextGeneration EU program is the largest ever institutional bond issuance in Europe. The money will help finance the national recovery plans devised by member states to get their economies back on track.

Von der Leyen said the bond was priced at very attractive terms" and that the European Union will pay less than 0.1% interest on it.

Europe is attractive," she said. By the end of this year, we expect to have issued around 100 billion in bonds and bills."

The commissioner in charge of Budget and Administration, Johannes Hahn, said the recovery plans first borrowing operation attracted interest from investors across Europe and the rest of the world, including central banks and pension funds.

To finance the stimulus, the EU's executive arm said it will raise from capital markets up to an estimated 800 billion by the end of 2026. In total, member states have agreed on a 1.8 trillion budget and pandemic recovery package.
An Indiana man who traveled to Wisconsin multiple times two years ago for sex with a 12-year-old Cottage Grove girl was sentenced Tuesday to 25 years in federal prison for sexual exploitation of the girl that included taking videos of some of their encounters.

U.S. District Judge William Conley told Adrian C. Gardiner, 42, that he did incredible harm to the girl, whom he met online and convinced he was an 18-year-old man who had foster siblings in order to relate to the girl, who was herself in foster care.

Seldom has the court seen a defendant engage in a more repeated horrendous conduct at the age of 41, Conley said. Im having a great deal of trouble not finding him to be a continuing danger to society.

Gardiner, of Hammond, Indiana, met the girl online and traveled repeatedly to Wisconsin to have sex with her in parks and motels. The girl said he was physically and verbally abusive at times. He took video of some of the encounters and sent one of those videos to the girls iPad. Gardiner claimed he did not know the girls age when he first came to Wisconsin, but returned to the area multiple times for sex with the girl despite knowing she was 12.
Esenberg said he wants to push back against a new leftist view that color blindness and race neutrality are not enough and that society should speak in terms of equity rather than equality and anti-racism rather than nondiscrimination, and that people should be treated differently based on the color of their skin in order to achieve such equity.

Its intrinsically wrong because it treats people not as individuals, but as archetypes, as sort of stand-ins for members of a group who somehow are entitled or guilty based upon their membership in a group, Esenberg said. I also think as a practical matter it simply doesnt work. It always ends in a war of all against all, and racializes society more than it had been in the past.

Looking nationally

Esenberg said hell bring cases on these issues anywhere.

It may be a next step in the evolution of WILL, Esenberg said, though he added the expansion into filing cases across the country doesnt mean WILL is abandoning Wisconsin. For Esenberg, some of the best cases are simply to be had elsewhere.
The project will be further discussed at a neighborhood meeting scheduled for 6 p.m. June 24 online. Design plans are expected later this summer.

I think the vast majority of the Tenney-Lapham neighborhood is excited by all the development along East Washington Avenue, Heck said. But as the development creeps close to existing residential neighborhoods, there can be some friction. Still, he expects most residents to be in favor of the project, he said.

The WYSO site, former home to the longtime Avenue Bar, in recent years called the Avenue Club and the Bubble Up Bar, is bordered by East Washington Avenue and the residential street Curtis Court. WYSO has partnered with city planners Urban Assets, architecture and engineering company Strang, and builder J.H. Findorff & Son on the project.

Peder Moren, who represents the partnership that owns the property and is director of Food Fight's board, confirmed that it is under contract to WYSO. Selling the parcel was a business decision, he said.
Take all comments about suicide seriously, the Air Force directs its personnel. Be an active listener and let your wingman tell you about their challenges. Although it can be awkward, its important to ask the tough questions about whether or not your wingman is thinking about harming or killing himself.  Care for your wingman by calmly listening and expressing concern.

In line with the directive, The Air Force provides annual training in suicide intervention, so peers can help if a unit commander is unresponsive to someones needs.

More than 70% of Air Force suicides since 2015 have involved personal firearms, according to official figures. To address the issue, the Air Force last year distributed more than 200,000 gun locks.

The Air Force, the same as all service branches, has an obligation to develop more responsive mental health support. And the service needs to make absolutely clear that seeking mental health help will not harm the individuals Air Force career.
The atmosphere is so charged that lawmakers approved extra spending to bring more Idaho State Police troopers to the 100-year-old Statehouse  even when the Legislature isnt in session. A doorway pane shattered last year when Bundy and others pushed their way into the House gallery that had limited seating due to the pandemic.

The schism also played out dramatically in late last month when far-right Republican Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin issued an executive order during a short stint as acting governor while Republican Gov. Brad Little was out of the state. She ordered a statewide ban on mask mandates, which were already in place in some cities and counties, without consulting them or Little.

Her action came about a week after she announced her run to unseat Little in 2022. She and Little were each elected in 2018. In Idaho, the governor and lieutenant governor don't run on a combined ticket.

The next day Little, who has never issued a statewide mask mandate, repealed McGeachin's order. The typically reserved first-term governor called McGeachin's action an irresponsible, self-serving political stunt.

Little touts his own conservative credentials by saying he's made Idaho the least regulated state following a pruning of administrative rules after he took office.

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TWIN FALLS  The citys police department is attempting to secure federal funding to hire four police officers.

On Monday, City Council approved Police Chief Craig Kingsburys request to apply for a grant through the U.S. Department of Justice that would cover most of the costs associated with the new officers for three years.

Kingsbury told the council the additional officers are necessary due to the increase in calls for service the department is experiencing.

Our population has grown, and our daily population that we serve continues to grow as we really are a hub city for the Magic Valley, Kingsbury said.

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The department has relied on this grant in the past to hire new officers. It was awarded $375,000 in 2013 to hire three officers and $500,000 in 2016 to hire four officers, according to DOJ documents.

The DOJ has $140 million in funding available for the Community Oriented Policing Services Hiring Program this fiscal year and anticipates awarding 200 agencies.

The grant covers up to 75% of the costs associated with salaries and benefits for each approved position for three years. The local agency awarded the grant covers the remaining 25% of costs.
Eighteen-year-old Angie Dodge was raped and killed in her Idaho home a quarter-century ago and an innocent man wrongly served 20 years in prison for the crime. On Tuesday, the man authorities have said is the real killer was sentenced to life in prison.
Recognizing the importance of seat belts, the Idaho State Police stepped up patrols during the last two weeks in May. And troopers wrote 233 citations to motorists for not wearing seat belts.

That number is astonishing.

Are we regressing as a society in our use of seat belts? Have we ignored the lessons of how important they are in saving lives?

Seat belts prevent drivers and passengers from being ejected. People not wearing a seat belt are 30 times more likely to be ejected from a vehicle during a crash, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 3 out of 4 people ejected die from their injuries.

Ive been to so many crashes, even low speed or single-vehicle crashes, or crashes in the center of town, where a seat belt would have kept someone secure in the vehicle or otherwise prevented serious injuries, Idaho State Police Sgt. Steve Farley said in a press release.

Weve also noticed that driving habits coming out of the pandemic seem to be much worse. And we recognize that someone who is not already in the habit of wearing a seat belt or driving safely probably is not going to read this and suddenly change their ways.

But perhaps it will convince a few people, and perhaps that will be enough.
Unemployment, after increasing sharply last spring, has stabilized and Marion and McDowell County, like much of the United States, now have a labor shortage.

Over the past year, Marion saw record retail sales in McDowell County. For the first full year of the pandemic (April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021), retail sales in McDowell County increased by 11%, more than double the 5.3% growth statewide. Through the first nine months of 2020-21, retail sales in McDowell County are up by almost 15%, well above the statewide growth rate of just under 10%. The six highest months of retail sales ever in McDowell County have occurred since June, after the pandemic started.

All partner organizations have worked hard over the past year to offer information, programs and resources to businesses. The McDowell Chamber of Commerce and MBA did a fantastic job posting and sending out information on numerous federal, state and local programs, including Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EDIL), N.C. Mortgage, Utility and Rent Relief, the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, Small Business Association programs, Mountain BizWorks programs, Rural Center programs, state and federal tax credits, the American Rescue Plan and others. Many of our local businesses took advantage of these programs, applying for and receiving funding from more than one program, providing needed assistance.
Recognized School Superintendent Mark Garrett, who was recently honored as the Superintendent of the Year for the West District. He beat out 18 other superintendents for this honor.

Formally introduced to Chad Marsh, who is the new parks and recreation director. He has spent his first two weeks getting to know the staff, facilities and programs. He is results-oriented and is doing a great job to take the department to the next level, said Wooten.

Recognized U.S. Forest Service Officer Wade Keener for his years of working in federal law enforcement in McDowell County. Keener, who is retiring, has typically been the only law enforcement officer serving the national forests in McDowell.

Talked about the use of the American Rescue Plan money. McDowell has gotten the first payment $4.4 million from the American Rescue Plan and the second payment will arrive in 12 months. This money can be used for certain purposes such as public health and economic needs. It can be used for improving water, sewer and broadband Internet infrastructure. County officials talked about the need for improved broadband and installing some water lines.

Approved an easement so Duke Energy can provide electrical service to the new EMS headquarters building.
Credit: Pixabay

New AI software developed by researchers at Flinders University shows promise for enabling timely support ahead of relapse in patients with severe mental illness.

The AI2 (Actionable Intime Insights) software, developed by a team of digital health researchers at Flinders University, has undergone an eight-month trial with psychiatric patients from the Inner North Community Health Service, located in Gawler, South Australia.

The digital tool is tipped to revolutionize consumer-centric timely mental health treatment provision outside hospital, with researchers labeling it as readily available and scalable.

In the trial of 304 patients, the AI2 software found that 10% of them were at increased risk of not adhering to treatment plans by failing to take medication or disengaging with health services.

This led to interventions which clinicians believe could have prevented the patient from relapsing and experiencing a deterioration of their mental health.

The web-based tool uses algorithms to automatically flag gaps in care interactions between different parts of the health system.

The project is led by Flinders' Associate Professor Niranjan Bidargaddi who says that the current monitoring, management, and treatment of chronic mental illness across different parts of the health system is poorly coordinated and inadequate.

"In Australia there are about 600,000 people living with a chronic mental illness with multiple morbidities" he says.

"One a patient has sought an initial consultation with a clinician they might be provided with a diagnosis, a mental health care plan and then they are sent off with instructions for treatment such as taking medication or trying therapeutic techniques. Multiple ongoing medical appointments and medications are burdensome for patients to manage on their own.

"The problem is that most clinicians don't have the resources to keep track of every patient manually. This can lead to the patient relapsing and potentially becoming hospitalised."

Some estimates suggest that more than 80% of patients with severe mental illness will relapse several times within the firth five years of their initial treatment.

Patients can relapse for a variety of reasons. They might experience intolerable side effects or little initial benefit from the medication, have a poor understanding of the need for ongoing treatment or suffer circumstances such as forgetfulness or homelessness.

"This puts the patient on a downhill trajectory, can cause a worsening of symptoms and have an increased burden on the public health system," A/P Bidargaddi says.

"AI2 delivers important data in real time, providing clinicians with an effective digital alternative to monitoring patients."

Patients included in the study had diagnoses of schizophrenia, schizo-affective disorder, bipolar or other mood disorders and had been prescribed ongoing psychotropic medications.

If taken properly, antipsychotic, antidepressant and mood stabilizing medications are highly effective in reducing the risk of relapse of severe mental illness.

The AI2 software continuously analyzes a clinician's consented patients' Medicare Benefit Scheme (MBS) and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) data, such as medication prescriptions, from the national My Health Records.

Algorithms running on the cloud monitor the patients' data to detect gaps in continuity of care such as medical appointments attendance, prescription refills, or mental health care plan review.

Once the gaps are detected, it triggers an intervention alert with the monitoring clinician, prompting them to intervene.

A/P Bidargaddi says the study found that monitoring the AI dashboard is not onerous.

"The two clinician monitors spend about two hours per week monitoring the dashboard, reviewing case notes and speaking with case managers," he says.

"Feedback from the clinicians at this stage suggests they actually saved time on routine calls, as they would only contact the GP when necessarysuch as if the software had detected a missed prescription refill."

While the rollout of AI2 is currently limited to SA, A/P Bidargaddi says the next step for AI2 is for a randomized controlled trial to be carried out across multiple sites.

This will determine whether the technology leads to a reduction in hospitalization over time, and whether it's cost effective.

Explore further Technology to monitor mental wellbeing might be right at your fingertips

More information: Niranjan Bidargaddi et al, Demonstration of automated non-adherence and service disengagement risk monitoring with active follow-up for severe mental illness, Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry (2021). Niranjan Bidargaddi et al, Demonstration of automated non-adherence and service disengagement risk monitoring with active follow-up for severe mental illness,(2021). DOI: 10.1177/0004867421998800
SARS-CoV-2 E binding to Pals1, a key protein found in human tissue. Credit: La Trobe University

La Trobe University researchers are the first in the world to characterize precisely how COVID-19 attacks lung tissuesan important step in preventing long-term damage.

Publishing their results today in Communications Biology Journal the researchers produced atomic-level images of the interplay between a protein found in the virus, and those in human tissues, including lungs.

Study co-author, Professor Marc Kvansakul from La Trobe University, said understanding how the virus attacks lung tissue is critical if we are to prevent long-term lung damage in some COVID-19 patientsincluding those with few or no risk factors.

"We've seen many patients around the world recover from the acute phase of the disease, only to discover that they have long-term damage to lungs and other organs," Professor Kvansakul said.

"Pinpointing exactly how this damage occurs brings us an important step closer to developing treatments that can be administered while patients are still in intensive care.

"The ultimate aim is to help people recover faster and more completely, and prevent any lingering respiratory issues," Professor Kvansakul said.

Using powerful beams of light at the Australian Synchrotron, the researchers were able to produce images of how the SARS-CoV-2 E binds to and hijacks Pals1, a key protein found in human tissue.

Animation of SARS-CoV-2 E binding to and hijacking human lung tissue. Credit: La Trobe University

This then creates a gap for the virus to enter the delicate lung tissue, leading to irreversible scarring.

Study co-author, Professor Patrick Humbert from La Trobe University, said although new COVID-19 vaccines are being administered around the world, finding treatments to combat its long-term effects remains critical.

"We've already seen how this virus can mutate into new strains, meaning our current vaccines won't always be effective," Professor Humbert said.

"There are also many countries around the worldincluding Australiathat are unlikely to achieve high vaccination levels for some time.

"The virus is going to be with us for a very long time, so helping people achieve a fast and complete recovery is absolutely vital," Professor Humbert said.

Professor Kvansakul said the next step is to develop drugs to target this virus-host interactiontreatments that could potentially reduce infectivity and viral spread, as well as lung damage.

This would be especially important for people who have not been vaccinated or who have poor responses to the current vaccines.

Explore further Study uncovers two phases of infection in patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia

More information: Airah Javorsky et al, Structural basis of coronavirus E protein interactions with human PALS1 PDZ domain, Communications Biology (2021). Journal information: Communications Biology Airah Javorsky et al, Structural basis of coronavirus E protein interactions with human PALS1 PDZ domain,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02250-7
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Around 10,600 fewer breast cancer patients have started treatment in the last year in England.

Breast cancer deaths reached an all-time low before the pandemic, but experts fear these new stats show that this hard-won progress could slow.

The charity estimates around 38,000 fewer people started treatment for all cancer types in England. And breast cancer represents more than a quarter of these 'missing cancers' during the pandemicalmost double what might be expected.

These are most likely people who have cancer but haven't been diagnosed yet.

Impact on screening

The majority of these 'missing' breast cancers are early stage disease, based on provisional data from Public Health England's Rapid Cancer Registration data. Of the breast cancers with a known stage that are missing, almost 95% (93%) were early stage (stage 1 and 2), which are usually more treatable.

These are likely to be cancers that haven't been picked up in breast screening, which was effectively paused for several months and only started sending out routine invitations again after the first wave.

"We're seeing the impact of effectively pausing breast screening which detects almost a third of breast cancer cases," said Swanton.

"But it's important to remember that cancer screening is for people without symptoms, so it's vital that if people notice anything usual for them, please don't wait for screeningget in touch with your GP. In most cases it won't be cancer, but if it is, catching it early gives the best chance of survival."

Many people also stayed at home, putting off seeking help for symptoms during the peaks of the pandemic, for fear of catching COVID-19 or not wanting to overwhelm the NHS.

Risking vital progress

The charity fears that progress in reducing breast cancer deaths, which had made huge strides in the last decade, could slow.

Since records began in the 70s, death rates for breast cancer have fallen by almost 40%. This progress is thanks to huge developments in understanding breast cancer and its treatment.

From Cancer Research UK scientists laying the groundwork for the drug Herceptin, to the discovery of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, to the development of a new family of targeted drugs known as PARP inhibitors through Cancer Research UK funded studies, research has played a large role.

But this progress is in jeopardy. It's important that women come forward with symptoms, and consider screening when invited, but the NHS also needs the capacity to treat these women when they do finally enter the system.

Michelle Mitchell, Cancer Research UK's chief executive, said: "Science is the route to beating cancer and from cell biology in the lab, to patient trials in hospitals, Cancer Research UK has helped to reduce breast cancer deaths. But these figures are worrying, and we could see progress slow over the coming years as the true effect of the pandemic is revealed.

"The NHS is showing signs of recovery, but a huge effort is still needed to clear the cancer backlog as quickly as possible to help avoid preventable cancer deaths as a consequence of the pandemic."

Mitchell added that Government must make sure there is enough funding for staff, diagnostic equipment and the research needed to improve cancer care across the UK in the long term, so "cancer patients are given the best chance of surviving their disease."

"It was such an emotionally charged time"

Army veteran, Charly McNelis, 37, was diagnosed with breast cancer in March 2020, at the beginning of the pandemic. The mother-of-two scheduled an appointment with her GP after finding a lump, and was referred to the breast clinic. "I was in a state of panic, I was reading about everything."

Her biopsy was in early March. "COVID-19 wasn't really a concern at that point," she says, but things changed rapidly over the next few weeks.

"I went back for the results on the 10th March and it was confirmed as having cancer. They said I would have chemo first, then radiotherapy and surgery." Charly asked if the treatment plan might be affected by COVID-19, but the doctors didn't know enough at that point.

But the situation evolved with the outbreak, with Charly's appointment being followed by a flurry of calls. "By now the pandemic levels were rising and they explained it didn't feel safe to go down the chemotherapy route so I would have surgery first, and it should still be a lumpectomy. But by the time I went to meet the surgeon the week after, this changed to a full mastectomy."



Because of COVID-19, Charly's doctors changed the chemotherapy drugs to minimize infection risk. She started chemotherapy after surgery, at the beginning of May, which lasted 18 weeks in total.

"It's such an emotionally charged time and it's drainingCOVID-19 has been a significant factor."

But while her treatment has been complicated and challenging so far, Charly is positive. "I am lucky in many waysmy cancer is treatable. COVID-19 has impacted my treatment options but has not stopped it, and for that I am grateful. I got my diagnosis, and I got to have treatment, when there's people out there who haven't started treatment and are undiagnosed."
Suffering through a case of COVID-19 unleashed a host of other health problems in hundreds of thousands of Americans participating in the largest study yet of the long-term effects of coronavirus infection.

Tracking the health insurance records of nearly 2 million people who caught the coronavirus last year, researchers found that one month or more after their infection, almost one-quarter of them sought medical treatment for new conditions, The New York Times reported.

The range of both those affected and the symptoms that struck them was wide. The health issues affected all ages, including children. The most common new health problems were pain; breathing difficulties; high cholesterol; malaise and fatigue; and high blood pressure. But symptoms did not stop there: Some suffered intestinal symptoms; migraines; skin problems; heart abnormalities; sleep disorders; and mental health conditions like anxiety and depression.

Post-COVID health problems did not spare those who had not been seriously ill: While nearly half of patients who were hospitalized for COVID-19 experienced subsequent medical issues, so did 27 percent of people who had mild or moderate symptoms and 19 percent of people who said they were asymptomatic.

"One thing that was surprising to us was the large percentage of asymptomatic patients that are in that category of long COVID," Robin Gelburd, president of the nonprofit FAIR Health, told the Times.

Gelburd said that since asymptomatic people can have post-COVID symptoms, patients and doctors alike should consider the possibility that some health issues may actually be aftereffects of coronavirus infection.

In total, the report found that more than 454,000 people consulted health providers for symptoms 30 days or more after their infection. The analysis was evaluated by an independent academic reviewer but was not formally peer-reviewed, according to FAIR Health.

"The strength of this study is really its size and its ability to look across the range of disease severity in a diversity of age groups," Dr. Helen Chu, an associate professor of medicine and infectious diseases at the University of Washington's School of Medicine, told the Times.

The report "drives home the point that long COVID can affect nearly every organ system," Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly, chief of the research and development service at the VA St. Louis Health Care System, told the Times.

"Some of these manifestations are chronic conditions that will last a lifetime and will forever scar some individuals and families," added Al-Aly, who authored a large study published in April on lingering symptoms in COVID-19 patients in the Department of Veterans Affairs health system.

In the latest report, the most common issue for which patients sought medical care was painincluding nerve inflammation and aches and pains associated with nerves and muscles. It was reported by more than a fifth of those who reported post-COVID problems. Breathing difficulties, including shortness of breath, were experienced by 3.5 percent of post-COVID patients.

Nearly 3 percent of patients sought treatment for symptoms that were labeled with diagnostic codes for malaise and fatigue, a far-reaching category that could include issues like brain fog and exhaustion that worsens after physical or mental activity, the Times reported.

The database included only people with private health insurance or Medicare Advantage, not those uninsured or covered by Medicare Parts A, B and D, Medicaid or other government health programs. Chu told the Times that people without insurance or with incomes low enough to qualify for Medicaid are often "more likely to have worse outcomes."

Also, the study did not compare people who had COVID-19 with those who did not, to see if such symptoms were higher than in the general population. The report did exclude patients with certain serious or chronic preexisting conditions like cancer, kidney disease, HIV, liver disease and stroke, to separate their previous health status from post-COVID symptoms.

Novavax COVID Vaccine Shines in Trial

Novavax, a Maryland biotechnology company that has struggled mightily with delays in developing its coronavirus vaccine, announced Monday that its two-shot regimen was over 90% effective overall in a trial that unfolded even as more contagious variants emerged.

Among 30,000 volunteersall of them from either the United States or Mexicovaccinated people were completely protected against severe and even moderate cases of illness. There were no cases of hospitalization or death among people who received the vaccine, the company reported. Side effects were mildfatigue, headaches and muscle painand reactions tended to be less frequent than those triggered by some already authorized vaccines, the company said.

"Today, Novavax is one step closer to addressing the critical and persistent global public health need for additional COVID-19 vaccines," Novavax president and CEO Stanley Erck said in a statement. "These clinical results reinforce that [the vaccine] is extremely effective and offers complete protection against both moderate and severe COVID-19 infection."

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said, "It's really very impressive," noting that the vaccine was as good as the most effective shots developed so far during the pandemic. "It's very important for the world's population to have, yet again, another highly efficacious vaccine that looks in its trial to have a good safety profile," Fauci told the Washington Post.

As heartening as the results were, the vaccine may not become a key player in the pandemic until late summer or fall.

Erck told the Post that Novavax will apply for regulatory clearance from a half-dozen countries in the third quarter, which begins in July. With tens of millions of doses already in hand, the company plans to boost manufacturing to produce 100 million doses a month by the end of September and 150 million doses a month in the last three months of the year.

In the United States, the company still needs to file for emergency authorization. The data, which was presented in a news release, will be examined by regulators at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and by an advisory committee of vaccine advisers. Erck said the vaccine will likely have its biggest initial impact globally, through the World Health Organization's COVAX initiative.

"A lot of our vaccine is going to be targeted in the early stages for COVAX  and so a lot of those doses are going to get into the low- and middle-income countries first, which is a good thing," Erck said. Novavax has pledged 1.1 billion doses to COVAX.

The Novavax vaccine was one of six candidates the U.S. government made a huge bet on, investing $1.6 billion to pay for research and development and preordering 110 million doses, the Post reported.

In January, a large U.K. trial showed it was nearly 90% effective, even once a more transmissible variant had taken hold. Over the past five months, health officials and scientists have waited anxiously for confirming evidence from the U.S. trial. But that second study did not start until the end of December, due in part to manufacturing delays.

Meanwhile, the United States had secured more than enough shots from the three companies with authorized vaccinesPfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnsonto satisfy demand. A fourth, from AstraZeneca, reported results in March.

Recombinant protein vaccines such as Novavax'sthe hepatitis B vaccine is another exampleteach the immune system to recognize a virus by introducing a lab-made version of a viral protein.

Once the production process is in place, the vaccine offers potential advantages.

"The benefit of their formulation  is it's remarkably scalable, so they can scale to a very high number of doses," Matthew Frieman, a coronavirus expert at the University of Maryland's School of Medicine who has worked with the company in the past, told the Post. "It's not a super-strange production platform  you don't need super-specialized facilities. It's stable, so you don't need a severe cold chain" to store the vaccine, he said.

More information: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on COVID-19 vaccinations

Copyright  2021 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Fluorescence microscopy image illustrating morphology of C. auris. Credit: Joao Nobrega Almeida Junior/UNIFESP

Fully occupied intensive care units (ICUs). Physically and mentally exhausted health workers. Chaotically overcrowded hospitals. These and similar problems posed by the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil have created ideal conditions for the emergence of Candida auris, a microorganism some are calling a "superfungus" because of the speed with which it has developed drug resistance.

The first two cases were confirmed in December 2020 at a hospital in Salvador (state of Bahia, Northeast Brazil), and are described in the Journal of Fungi by a group of researchers led by Arnaldo Colombo, head of the Special Mycology Laboratory at the Federal University of Sao Paulo (UNIFESP). The study was supported by Sao Paulo Research FoundationFAPESP.

"Nine other C. auris patients have since been diagnosed at the same hospital, some colonized [with the fungus in their organism but not doing harm] and others infected," Colombo told. "No other cases have been reported in Brazil, but there are grounds for concern. We're monitoring the evolutionary characteristics of C. auris isolates from patients at the hospital in Salvador, and we've already found samples with reduced sensitivity to fluconazole and echinocandins. The latter belong to the main class of drugs used to treat invasive candidiasis."

Except for C. auris, fungi of the genus Candida are part of the human gut microbiota and cause problems only when there are imbalances in the organism, Colombo explained. These include infections such as vaginal yeast infection and thrush (oral candidiasis), often caused by C. albicans.

In some cases, however, the fungus enters the bloodstream and causes a systemic infection known as candidemia, the most common form of invasive candidiasis, similar to bacterial sepsis. Invasion of the bloodstream and the immune system's exacerbated response to the pathogen can cause damage to several organs and even lead to death. According to scientific evidence, mortality among candidemia patients infected by C. auris can reach 60%.

"The species quickly becomes resistant to multiple drugs and isn't very sensitive to the disinfectants used by hospitals and clinics," Colombo said. "As a result, it's able to persist in hospitals, where it colonizes health workers and ends up infecting patients with severe COVID-19 and other long-stay critical patients."

Several factors make patients infected by SARS-CoV-2 ideal targets for C. auris, including long hospital stays, urinary and central venous catheters (allowing invasion of the bloodstream), and steroids and antibiotics (which disrupt the gut microbiota).

"The virus can damage the intestinal mucosa of severe COVID-19 patients [facilitating invasion of the bloodstream by pathogens] so that the patient becomes vulnerable to candidemia," Colombo said.

Several countries have reported the emergence of C. auris during the COVID-19 pandemic, he added, making the need to intensify control of hospital-acquired infections throughout Brazil even more urgent. Rational use of antimicrobial drugs in ICUs is equally important. Since the start of the pandemic, azithromycin and other antibiotics have been more widely prescribed, mostly without a genuine justification.

Monitoring

C. auris was first isolated in Japan in 2009 but the scientific community paid it little attention until some years later when outbreaks of candidemia caused by the superfungus occurred in Asia and Europe. In 2016, an article by the UNIFESP group in the Journal of Infection reported the arrival of the species in the Americas via Venezuela. It was soon detected in Colombia, Panama and Chile.

"In 2017 we participated in a task force convened by the Health Ministry and ANVISA [Brazil's health surveillance authority] and wrote a technical standard [Risk Notice 01/2017] warning health services that precautionary measures should be taken to monitor the possible arrival of C. auris in Brazil, which was confirmed only at the end of last year," Colombo said.

Since then, the UNIFESP team has been monitoring the emergence of novel fungal pathogens in bloodstream infections documented by medical centers across Brazil, without detecting C. auris until now.

Five clades or lineages of C. auris have so far been described in the world. According to Colombo, the clade isolated in Salvador resembles the Asian original more closely than the variant detected in Venezuela and other South American countries, suggesting a second independent arrival of the superfungus on the continent.

"Alternatively, there may be a local environmental source, since none of the Brazilian patients infected by the fungus traveled abroad or had infected relatives," Colombo said.

Every month since December, the researchers have received samples of the clade isolated at the hospital in Salvador for testing of its sensitivity to antifungal drugs in their laboratory.

"In these tests, we expose the cultured microorganism to progressive concentrations of antifungals in order to determine the lowest dose that can inactivate it. In the case of C. auris present in samples recently isolated in Salvador, for example, the dose has to be four to five times larger than the dose used to inactivate the isolate cultured in December 2020," Colombo said.

In partnership with Dutch colleagues, the UNIFESP group is conducting a genetic sequencing study to see if the gene that confers drug resistance on C. auris has mutated during the period.

"The mechanism that enables the species to develop drug resistance isn't enzymatic degradation, as in so many bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics," Colombo said. "The fungus develops structural modifications in the proteins to which the drug binds to inhibit cell wall synthesis [glucan synthase in the case of echinocandins], which is key to its survival. We're seeing this phenomenon happen here in Brazil."

In addition to redoubled care with hygiene, surveillance efforts to detect suspected pathogens should be stepped up, he added. Confirming the presence of C. auris in a sample is no trivial task, requiring specific equipment. The most widely used technique is matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry, fairly commonplace in microbiology laboratories but not always available in hospitals in Brazil.

"If the analysis is conducted using conventional automated methods, C. auris can be confused with other species, such as C. haemulonii or C. lusitaniae. Ideally, any strain of Candida that displays drug resistance should be sent for analysis to a reference laboratory," Colombo said.

Explore further CDC: Superbug fungus has sickened 600 Americans

More information: Joao N. de Almeida et al, Emergence of Candida auris in Brazil in a COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit, Journal of Fungi (2021). Joao N. de Almeida et al, Emergence of Candida auris in Brazil in a COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit,(2021). DOI: 10.3390/jof7030220 Belinda Calvo et al, First report of Candida auris in America: Clinical and microbiological aspects of 18 episodes of candidemia, Journal of Infection (2016). DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2016.07.008
In this Monday, March 29, 2021 file photo South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, right, heads a government delegation on a visit to ASPEN Pharmaceuticals in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. The country's COVID-19 vaccine rollout has been hit by further delays as it will have to discard at least 2 million Johnson & Johnson vaccines produced in the country.. Credit: AP Photo,file

Confronted with a rapid surge of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, South Africa has returned to tighter restrictions on public gatherings and liquor sales, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced Tuesday night.

The new infections threaten the health systems in several parts of the country, said Ramaphosa in a nationally televised address.

Hospital admissions due to COVID-19 have increased by 59% over the past two weeks, according to Ramaphosa. South Africa's 7-day rolling average of daily new cases has nearly doubled over the past two weeks from 6.69 new cases per 100,000 people on May 31 to 12.71 new cases per 100,000 people on June 14, according to Johns Hopkins University.

"Our priority now is to make sure there are enough hospital beds, enough health workers, enough ventilators, and enough oxygen to give the best possible care to every person who needs it," said Ramaphosa.

"The massive surge in new infections means that we must once again tighten restrictions on the movement of persons and gatherings," he said.

The nightly curfew has been extended by an hour from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. while religious gatherings indoors are now limited to 50 people. The number of people allowed to gather for social events has been limited to 50 people for indoor events and 100 people for outdoor events.

The retail sale of alcohol will only be permitted between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. from Monday through Thursday.

South Africa has been the country hardest hit by the pandemic in the entire continent, with a cumulative total of more than 1.7 million infections, including 57,000 deaths, accounting for nearly 40% of Africa's total confirmed cases.

The new restrictions come as South Africa also battles to sustain a vaccination drive that has faced delays from global vaccines shortages and this week the news that it must discard 2 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine due to factory contamination in the United States.

Johnson & Johnson had promised to deliver 2 million of its single-shot doses by the end of June, but that is now viewed as in jeopardy because of the recent ruling by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that a large amount of J&J vaccines were contaminated by a problem at a factory producing a component of the vaccine. About 480,000 of South Africa's health care workers have been vaccinated with J&J doses.

Doses of the Pfizer vaccine are being used to inoculate people aged 60 and over. About 1.4 million people have received their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine. According to Ramaphosa, South Africa is expecting to receive 3.1 million Pfizer doses by the end of June.

Explore further South Africa steps up virus curbs against third wave

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Health care workers often don't adopt new guidelines for best practices in medical care until well after those guidelines are established. A team of researchers led by Eunice E. Santos, the dean of the School of Information Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, has developed a new computational modeling and simulation framework to analyze decision-making and identify effective dissemination strategies for medical guidelines.

The research team examined guidelines for Type 2 diabetes that were established in 2012 and were still not adopted years later. The researchers found that health care workers' specialties, patient volume and experience were among the factors that affected acceptance of individualized glycemic-control guidelines.

The team developed a novel computational framework that incorporates the interactions and influences among health care workers, along with other intricacies of medical decision-making, to simulate and analyze a wide range of real-world scenarios. Researchers introduced the Culturally Infused Agent Based Model (CI-ABM) and reported their findings in the cover article for the June issue of the IEEE Journal of Biomedical and Health Informatics.

Their research highlights that modeling and simulating human behaviors must take into account factors such as sociocultural context and complex social interactions, without which the models can lead to a profound misunderstanding of human decision-making, they said.

"One of the major challenges is capturing the decision-making of the actors and the factors that influence them. This is especially true when the agents are human beings (e.g., health care workers), where their behavior is uncertain and the information about the factors that influence their decision-making is often incomplete and/or contradictory," they wrote.

The modeling system they developed incorporates social networks and cultural influences that guide decision-making, and it captures how beliefs evolve over time due to personal and external factors. It provides that ability to model real-world events that involve incomplete, imprecise and conflicting information, and it provides a way to handle uncertainty in human behavior. These aspects of their computational model led to better analysis and prediction of guideline-dissemination behaviors, the researchers said.

Santos and her colleagues used the model to analyze the dissemination of a Type 2 diabetes guideline that recommends individualizing glycemic goals for patients. Diabetes care guidelines since 2012 have emphasized individualizing glycemic goals based on patient factors such as age, hypoglycemia risk and overall health. But it isn't known how many doctors have adopted this guideline.

The researchers used two 2015 surveys that focused on challenges faced by doctors in individualizing the glycemic goals of their patients. The surveys included doctors from diverse backgrounds and a range of specialtiesincluding endocrinology, family medicine and geriatricsexperience levels and practice types.

In their simulation, some of the doctors received guideline recommendations from the American Diabetes Association. Best practices also spread through word-of-mouth. The team compared the results of the simulations with the answers given on the surveys. The researchers found that including sociocultural factors and information about social interactions of health care workers in their model increased the accuracy of predicting guideline-adoption behaviors of various demographic groups. In addition, by including sociocultural information, the model helps to identify factors that drive guideline-adoption behavior.

The framework also allows policymakers to study the effect of different barriers to disseminating medical guideline information, identify the factors contributing to guideline adoption and create targeted strategies to improve communication about the guidelines, they said.

The modeling system will help policymakers test different strategies and analyze their effects, the researchers said. It provides a way to capture the effect of unique factorsfor example, when modeling guideline dissemination for infectious diseases, it can help analyze the effects of incorporating information about the novelty and mortality of infectious diseases, as well as the impact of changes in social networks due to lockdowns.

Explore further New clinical practice guideline for management of T2DM

More information: Eunice E. Santos et al, Analyzing Medical Guideline Dissemination Behaviors Using Culturally Infused Agent Based Modeling Framework, IEEE Journal of Biomedical and Health Informatics (2021). Eunice E. Santos et al, Analyzing Medical Guideline Dissemination Behaviors Using Culturally Infused Agent Based Modeling Framework,(2021). DOI: 10.1109/JBHI.2021.3052809
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Imperial's latest modeling suggests the Delta variant could lead to a significant third wave of hospitalisations and deaths.

The Imperial College COVID-19 Response Team says that cases are growing rapidly and could lead to a wave of hospitalizations and deaths on a similar scale to the winter wave.

There is still large uncertainty about the scale of a third wave as the transmissibility of the Delta variant (B.1.617.2) and its immune escape from vaccines and natural infection remain unclear.

The latest report, along with work from the University of Warwick and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), is informing the UK government's 'roadmap' out of lockdown for England.

The team estimate that delaying step 4 in the government's roadmap, which would release all restrictions, beyond the 21 June would delay the projected third wave and reduce the estimated number of hospitalization and deaths.

This delay would critically allow more time for alternative control strategies such as boosters doses and vaccination of under 18s to be considered and implemented.

The researchers say that the immune escape properties of the Delta variant would affect the magnitude of the third wave more than assumptions about transmissibility.

Determining how much the Delta variant can escape immunity and how much more transmissible it is compared to the Alpha (B.1.1.7) variant will be key to projecting the trajectory of a third wave.

Roadmap impact

The team says that the emergence of Delta means that more time may be needed to fully assess the impact of Step 3 of the roadmap.

England moved to Step 3 on May 17 which saw indoor hospitality reopen, the return of a limited number of spectators to outdoor events and the resumption of weddings, receptions and funerals for up to 30 people.

Step 4, which would release all restrictions, poses the greatest risk to increased transmission as contact rates would increase.

In this report the team explored four scenarios for the timing of Step 4 occurring on 21 June or delayed until 5 July, 26 July, or until all adults have had both vaccine doses, estimated to occur in mid-December 2021.

Variants of concern

The team estimate that the current level of transmission, the effective reproduction number (R), is approximately 0.8 for the Alpha variant and 1.5 for the Delta variant in England, with an overall R number of around 1.4 across both variants.

The team says that global efforts to control transmission abroad with equitable access to vaccines will be vital in preventing the further emergence and importation of variants of concern (VOC) which could trigger lead subsequent waves.

There will also need to be careful testing and quarantine measures as travel restrictions are lifted.

Delaying roadmap would reduce transmission

Professor Neil Ferguson said: "We're at a critical point in the ongoing race between the virus and our vaccination program. The country is starting to see an uptick in hospitalisations and our understanding of the precise efficacy of vaccines against the Delta variant is still developing. Step 4 will increase virus transmission when it goes ahead, so the delay announced gives more time to boost vaccination coverage and to refine assessments of future risk before we move forwards once more."

Dr. Anne Cori said: "Unfortunately the Delta variant is growing quickly and has become the dominant variant in the UK. Our latest models suggest that this variant has the potential to cause a third wave of hospitalisations and deaths, of a magnitude that is still highly uncertain. In all the scenarios that we looked at, delaying the easing of restrictions by a few weeks would reduce the size of the wave and result in fewer deaths."

Dr. Marc Baguelin said: "The number of infections, hospitalisations, and even deaths could grow rapidly in the next month. There is uncertainty around the size of a third wave and more time is needed to assess the transmissibility of the virus and the efficacy of vaccines against the delta variant in particular for the most severe outcomes. Delaying the easing of restrictions would reduce transmission and enable more people to get protection through vaccination."

Imperial's COVID-19 Response Team are embedded within Imperial's MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis (MRC GIDA) and the Jameel Institute both based in the School of Public Health.

More information: Download Evaluating the Roadmap out of Lockdown  modelling Step 4 of the roadmap in the context of B.1.617.2 (Delta), 9 June 2021: Download Evaluating the Roadmap out of Lockdown  modelling Step 4 of the roadmap in the context of B.1.617.2 (Delta), 9 June 2021: www.gov.uk/government/publicat  72-delta-9-june-2021
Arizona Burn Center Valleywise Health Director Dr. Kevin Foster in a Burn Center hospital room Monday, June 14, 2021, in Phoenix. Emergency rooms like the one at the Arizona Burn Center in Phoenix, where director Foster said 104 people were admitted in June, July and August 2020 with serious burn injuries due to contact with hot surfaces. Credit: AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin

Doctors who work in Arizona and Nevada burn centers are warning of injuries from contact with super-heated roadways and other surfaces as the first extreme heat wave of the year extends across the U.S. West.

A high pressure system is expected to push temperatures above 115 degrees Fahrenheit (46 Celsius) this week in Las Vegas and Phoenix. Health officials advised people to be mindful of hot asphalt, sidewalks and even desert sand.

Elsewhere, heat warnings stretched from California's central and inland valleys to as far north as Montana and Wyoming, where predicted highs of 109 degrees (43 Celsius) on Tuesday are expected to shatter records. In Denver, parents, kids and pets cooled off in a popular creek Monday as the temperature hit 96 degrees (36 Celsius) by mid-afternoon.

Those northern states should see relief by mid-week, but no such respite is expected for Arizona, Utah, Nevada and parts of California. National Weather Service excessive heat warnings last through the weekend for those states. The high temperatures will be made worse by the lack of a break in the weather, according to AccuWeather, whose forecasters called it a "rare, dangerous and deadly" event.

That means burn centers are likely to be busy.

Arizona Burn Center Valleywise Health Director Dr. Kevin Foster in a Burn Center hospital room Monday, June 14, 2021, in Phoenix. Emergency rooms like the one at the Arizona Burn Center in Phoenix, where director Foster said 104 people were admitted in June, July and August 2020 with serious burn injuries due to contact with hot surfaces. Credit: AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin

In the Southwest, the problem of burns from hot surfaces is growing as temperatures rise due to climate change and increasing urbanization.

And it shows up in emergency rooms like the one at the Arizona Burn Center in Phoenix, where director Dr. Kevin Foster said 104 people were admitted in June, July and August 2020 with serious burn injuries due to contact with scorching surfaces. Seven people died.

Many more received outpatient treatment.

"It doesn't take much time to get a full thickness or third degree burn when exposed to hot pavement," Foster said in a press briefing last week. "Because if you look at hot pavement or asphalt at two o'clock in the afternoon in direct sunlight, the temperature is usually somewhere around 170 to 180 degrees Fahrenheit."

At the Lions Burn Care Center at Las Vegas' University Medical Center, injuries from hot pavement are so common that staff call the summer months "pavement burn season," the center's medical director said. In all, 13% of the serious burn injuries seen at the burn care center come from hot pavement.

Arizona Burn Center Valleywise Health entrance shown Monday, June 14, 2021, in Phoenix. Emergency rooms like the one at the Arizona Burn Center in Phoenix, where director Dr. Kevin Foster said 104 people were admitted in June, July and August 2020 with serious burn injuries due to contact with hot surfaces. Credit: AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin

"It is a significant part of our population," said Dr. Syed Saquib, who has co-authored several medical journal reports on burns in desert climates.

According to an April medical journal report co-authored by Saquib, pavement burns are often severe and require longer hospital stays and greater need for surgeries.

That's because the people who are hurt often are unable to get up off the superheated pavement because they collapsed from dehydration, heat stroke or another medical condition or because they are intoxicated.

Cases start spiking once outside temps top 95 degrees (35 Celsius).

Foster's facility, part of the Valleywise Health public hospital system that serves Phoenix and surrounding Maricopa County, said severe burns from contact with hot surfaces rose 49% last year from 2019, reaching their highest number since the burn center began tracking cases in 2000.

People cool off in the water at the confluence of the South Platte River and Cherry Creek in Denver, Colorado on June 14, 2021. By mid-afternoon, the temperature hit 96 degrees as part of the heat wave sweeping across the western U.S. Credit: AP Photo/Brittany Peterson

"Almost all of those patients required surgery, which included for burn excision and skin grafting," he said.

Of those admitted last summer, 30% required ICU care and 20% ended up on ventilators to help them breathe, Foster said.

The elderly are most at risk of falls that lead to serious burns, and so are people with medical conditions such as neuropathy, or loss of feeling in their feet. Falls leading to burns can also be caused by intoxication, and some people are burned after vehicle crashes when they end up on the pavement. Foster noted that only 16% of patients were homeless, and the average age of those admitted last year was 52.

Burns can also happen after touching hot surfaces like metal door handles, seat belt buckles or hot leather car seats, Foster said. And babies and toddlers are especially susceptible, since their skin is easier to burn and they can't move off a hot surface as fast. Poolside concrete can also cause burns, even so-called "cool deck" coatings.

Arizona Burn Center Valleywise Health shown Monday, June 14, 2021, in Phoenix. Emergency rooms like the one at the Arizona Burn Center in Phoenix, where director Dr. Kevin Foster said 104 people were admitted in June, July and August 2020 with serious burn injuries due to contact with hot surfaces. Credit: AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin

Dogs play in the water at the confluence of the South Platte River and Cherry Creek in Denver, Wednesday, June 14, 2021. By mid-afternoon, the temperature hit 96 degrees as part of the heat wave sweeping across the western U.S. Credit: AP Photo/Brittany Peterson

People cool off in the water at the confluence of the South Platte River and Cherry Creek in Denver, Monday, June 14, 2021. By mid-afternoon, the temperature hit 96 degrees as part of the heat wave sweeping across the western U.S. Credit: AP Photo/Brittany Peterson

Children play in the water at the confluence of the South Platte River and Cherry Creek in Denver, Monday, June 14, 2021. By mid-afternoon, the temperature hit 96 degrees Fahrenheit as part of the heat wave sweeping across the Western United States.Credit: AP Photo/Brittany Peterson

People cool off in the water at the confluence of the South Platte River and Cherry Creek in Denver, Monday, June 14, 2021. By mid-afternoon, the temperature hit 96 degrees as part of the heat wave sweeping across the western U.S. Credit: AP Photo/Brittany Peterson

Preventing those injuries is often a matter of awareness, Foster said.

For the elderly and those with medical conditions, avoiding going out in the hottest hours is best. Not going alone is also key.

For parents, ensuring young children wear shoes and doing a "touch-test" before allowing them to climb on hot playground equipment can prevent burns.

At the Lions Burn Care Center, Saquib said staff do frequent outreach to try to prevent burns, using social media and other platforms.

The burn care center has been partnering with community groups to urge people around swimming pools to wear flip-flops and distributing them to vulnerable populations to try to prevent foot burns.

Explore further Sizzling Southwest summers can cause pavement burns in seconds

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Dr. Stephen Salloway has been closely involved with the clinical development of the Alzheimer's drug aducanumab, which was recently approved by the FDA. Credit: Brown University

In a highly anticipated announcement, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday, June 7, approved the first new drug for Alzheimer's disease in nearly two decades.

That approval was not without controversy. Both before and after the FDA's decision, physicians and researchers expressed a wide variety of perspectives on the drug's potential, given a limited evidence base, and multiple stops and starts in its development and approval process.

The drug, called aducanumab during development and clinical trials, will be branded and sold as Aduhelm. Dr. Stephen Salloway, a Brown University professor of neurology and psychiatry, has been closely involved with its clinical development since the beginning.

"I really believe this kicks off a new era in the fight against Alzheimer's disease," said Salloway, who directs the Memory and Aging Program at Butler Hospital and has been researching Alzheimer's disease for 30 years.

alloway was a site principal investigator at Butler for both Phase 1 and Phase 3 trials of aducanumab, co-chair of the investigative steering committee for the Phase 3 program, and has advised the drug's manufacturer, Biogen, on safety protocols and side effect management. He shared his perspective on what the FDA approval means for Alzheimer's patients as well as for future research of this diseaseincluding at the new Center for Alzheimer's Research at Brown, a collaboration between the Carney Institute for Brain Science and Division of Biology and Medicine for which Salloway will serve as associate director.

Q: How is aducanumab different from other Alzheimer's treatments?

It's important to know that this is the first drug that targets a core component of Alzheimer's disease: the amyloid plaques that play a key role in memory loss. Aducanumab is a monoclonal antibody made from the immune cells of older people with no cognitive decline or uncommonly slow cognitive decline. It binds to the amyloid plaques and breaks them up. The other drugs for Alzheimer's focus on neurotransmitters; they alter different chemicals in the brain to help improve functioning, but they don't really address the underlying pathology of the disease. Aducanumab is also different in that it's an immune-based treatment that needs to be administered intravenously on a monthly schedule, ideally in a hospital-based infusion center. The treatment should be overseen by a specialist who is familiar with the patient and their diagnosis, as well as familiar with the medicine and the management of potential side effects.

Q: Why did the FDA review and approval process include so many delays?

The development of this drug started out looking very promising. The Phase 1 trial demonstrated that the drug lowered levels of amyloid in the brain, and there was some evidence of it slowing cognitive decline. Then we enrolled participants in Phase 3 larger trials to confirm that early data, and we found that it was safe to increase the dose for participants carrying the APOE4 gene for Alzheimer's. We made a dose change for two-thirds of the study participants, and that affected how many people got the full dose. The trial sponsor, Biogen, did an interim analysis one year before the end and they were concerned about results and stopped the trial earlywith only half of the participants completing it. They later analyzed all of the available data and found that one trial was positive and the other was not. Biogen then submitted the drug to the FDA for approval. The FDA granted accelerated approval giving patients with this devastating disease access to a drug that lowers amyloid with the requirement for an additional study to confirm the clinical benefit.

Q: There are physicians and scientists who disagree with the FDA's decision to approve the drug at this stage and based on the available evidence. What is your response to the concerns they've raised?

I understand the concerns about the data, but I believe that the totality of the evidenceclear amyloid lowering and two out of three trials with clinical benefitas well as the severity of the condition favor accelerated approval. I support the FDA's requirement for the additional study to confirm the positive results; I think that's the right thing to do. I think they're trying to find a balance between making this treatment available for a devastating illness without having to wait another five years but also requiring more data and careful monitoring of patients. This approval, in my opinion, will accelerate Alzheimer's research. For example, we know the drug isn't for every patient, so we have to figure out why. Also, candidates will be determined through screening, so that means we need to find better, more efficient and accessible ways to screen patients. I see this as an advance that requires researchers to push ahead.

Q: What patients are the best candidates for treatment with aducanumab?

The best candidates for this drug are those in the early stages of Alzheimer's, who show signs of mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia. That means there is objective memory loss but the person is still functioning pretty independently, although they may need a bit of assistance. They also need to show amyloid buildup in the brain: only those people that have amyloid plaques will be eligible to receive the medicine. It's very important to note that this drug is not intended for those with advanced Alzheimer's or dementia, who have advanced memory loss or moderate or severe cognitive or physical impairmentit hasn't been tested on patients in the later stages of Alzheimer's.

Q: What has been your experience in treating patients with the drug?

The memory programs at Butler Hospital and Rhode Island Hospital together probably contributed the largest number of patients to these trials. I've personally been treating over 65 patients with aducanumab, and I am so grateful to them for volunteering to be a part of this research. These people really took a risk by stepping into the unknown. Some have been receiving monthly infusions of this experimental medicine for over five years. They tell us they wanted to do this to hopefully protect their children and grandchildren and other people's children and grandchildren from Alzheimer's. It's incredibly inspiring, and I'm thrilled that this approval means they get to witness some of the results of their participation. The majority of the patients I've treated have done better than expected. It doesn't work for everyone, but for some people, it has seemed to slow their decline and they've had a better quality of life for a longer time, which is really great.

Q: What are the potential side effects?

This drug is generally very well-tolerated. The main concern is something known as "amyloid-related imaging abnormalities" or ARIA, which can be seen on MRI scans as fluid shifts and small areas of microhemorrhage in the brain. What is happening is that as the drug breaks up amyloid plaques, the fragments move into the bloodstream. Also, some plaque is removed from the walls of the blood vessels in the brain, and can lead to some leakiness of fluid. If this occurs at all, it usually happens early in the treatment and without symptoms. The process is typically reversible and we monitor with MRI until it resolves. This side effect is related to dose, so we have learned to build up on the dose slowly. A higher dose, 10 milligrams per kilogram, has been shown to be the most effective, which is why we need to start lower and build up slowly in order to avoid side effects. People who are carriers of the APOE4 gene for Alzheimer's also tend to have a higher risk of developing this side effect.

Q: Because the drug is intended only for those with amyloid buildup, what are the next steps in terms of Alzheimer's screening research?

To treat people with this drug, we need to first screen them for amyloid. And right now the only tools we have to do that are PET scans, which are expensive, and spinal taps, which are invasive. What we need is a blood test that can give us the same information about plaques. That is going to be a key focus of the new Center for Alzheimer's Disease Research at Brown. We're building a new fluid biomarker laboratory, which will focus on Alzheimer's but will also research other neurologic and psychiatric conditions as well. We already have some promising blood tests in the works, and we want to get them ready for clinical use soon as possible. The goal is to be able to do a blood test to see what's going on in the brain and hopefully integrate that into clinical care to improve access and bring down costs.

Q: What are some other ways this drug affects Alzheimer's research?

We don't know for sure, but we're wondering if perhaps this drug can help people who are at risk of developing memory lossif we remove the plaques before they show decline, will that delay or prevent memory loss altogether? That's something we'll be looking into over the next five years through prevention trialsand we'll be looking for volunteers. One of the reasons I'm so positive about this approval isn't just because of this one drug, it's because of the process that it opens up. We now have a new treatment that lowers amyloid, which is a great start, but hopefully we can combine it with other treatments to have an even bigger impact on the disease. Maybe we can pair it with something that lowers inflammation, or that affects some other component of the disease. That's the type of discovery research that we plan to carry out at the Center for Alzheimer's Disease Research, and we're now in a really great position to move forward.

Explore further Three FDA advisers quit over agency approval of aduhelm
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Come rain or shine, the weather did nothing to ease or worsen the mental health consequences of COVID-19according to new research from the University of East Anglia and the University of Essex.

The first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic saw more people suffer mental health problems in the UK.

But a new study published today shows thatcontrary to popular beliefdaily or weekly weather conditions made no impact on people's mental health during this period.

Dr. Apostolos Davillas, from UEA's Norwich Medical School, said: "During the first wave of the COVID-19 outbreak, the first UK lockdown was announced on March 23, 2020, with a final easing of the restrictions a few months later on July 4.

"We know that lockdown restrictions, and the resulting impact on social life and the economy, are linked to at least two major negative public health consequencesa reduction in physical exercise, both indoors due to the closure of gyms and outdoors due to mobility restrictions, and deterioration of mental health.

"Previous research before the pandemic hit revealed links between weather conditions and wellbeing. And our own research has shown that the first wave of the pandemic saw more people suffer mental health problems.

Dr. Ben Etheridge, from the Department of Economics, University of Essex, said: "We wanted to find out if adverse weather conditions during the first lockdown led to worse mental health and less outdoor recreational activitynot least because lockdown restrictions after a certain time designed to permit limited outdoor activity."

The research team studied data from the UK Household Longitudinal Study (UKHLS), which launched a COVID-19 survey to examine the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, and Google COVID-19 Mobility Reports to explore outdoor recreational activity at different stages of the pandemic.

They also studied location-specific weather conditions, including the temperature and amount of rainfall and sunshine, to see how the weather impacted the participants' mental health and park use.

Dr. Apostolos Davillas, from UEA's Norwich Medical School, said: "We found reduced park mobility during the initial period of the first UK lockdown. Just after the first lockdown was announced, park mobility reduced by about 50 percent in London, compared to the pre-lockdown January-February 2020 period.

"But when we looked at weather data, we found thatcontrary to popular beliefdaily or weekly weather conditions did not exacerbate the mental health consequences of the pandemic.

"This surprised us because we expected to see that bad weather might exacerbate poor mental health, and sunny weather might lift people's moodsparticularly as it's easier to get out of the house for exercise or to see other people outside in good weather.

"We did find links between park mobility and weather over the same period. In other words, people were going out to the parks more in good weather," he added.

"Weather, mental health and mobility during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic" is co-authored by Ashley Burdett (University of Essex), Apostolos Davillas (University of East Anglia) and Ben Etheridge (University of Essex) and published in Health Economics on June 15, 2021.

More information: Ashley Burdett et al, Weather, mental health, and mobility during the first wave of the COVID19 pandemic, Health Economics (2021). Journal information: Health Economics Ashley Burdett et al, Weather, mental health, and mobility during the first wave of the COVID19 pandemic,(2021). DOI: 10.1002/hec.4371
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Oman announced Tuesday that its doctors have detected a potentially fatal fungal infection afflicting some coronavirus patients, the first such known cases on the Arabian Peninsula as the sultanate faces a surge in COVID-19 infections that has swamped its hospitals.

The country's Health Ministry reported that three COVID-19 patients in Oman have become infected with mucormycosis, a life-threatening condition commonly known as "black fungus," which has spread quickly among virus patients in hard-hit India. It wasn't immediately clear what condition the three patients were in.

Although the disease remains relatively rare, its sudden increase has stirred fears among doctors and health officials struggling to combat COVID-19 surges around the world.

Omani doctors warned earlier this week that the sultanate faces an acute shortage of beds amid the proliferation of highly transmissible coronavirus variants, a sputtering vaccine rollout and relaxed movement restrictions. That medical workers complained about the dire shortfalls on state TV underscored the extent of the health crisis in Oman, where media is tightly controlled. Omani authorities said the infectious delta variant, first detected in India, is coursing through the Gulf Arab state.

Oman's cases have more than tripled in the past month, with authorities recording over 2,000 new cases and 33 deaths on Tuesday. Severe and critical cases have hit record highs in recent weeks and overwhelmed hospitals have been forced to turn away patients. Meanwhile, just 8.5% of Oman's roughly 5 million people have received at least one dose of the vaccine, with skepticism running deep in many provinces.

The fungal condition first prompted global concern as India battled its devastating second wave of the coronavirus. Other countries, including Egypt, have reported scattered cases in recent months as infections spiked. Black fungus existed in India before the virus wave, but the condition stoked fears as it took hold in thousands of people either infected with COVID-19 or recently recovered from the disease.

Mucormycosis is caused by exposure to mucor mold, which is commonly found in soil, air and even in the nose and mucus of humans. It spreads through the respiratory tract and erodes facial structures. Sometimes, doctors have to surgically remove the eye to stop the infection from reaching the brain.

The fungal infection preys on patients with weakened immune systems and underlying conditions, particularly diabetes. Public health experts also have attributed its spread to the increased use of certain over-the-counter coronavirus medication, like steroids, that impact the response of the immune system. Uncontrolled blood sugar can put immunocompromised people at a higher risk of contracting the disease.

Explore further India battles fatal fungal threat as virus deaths near 300K

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Figure 1. Comparison of most frequently used words in Democrats and Republicans opioid-related social media posts. Credit: Stokes et al., Journal of General Internal Medicine, 2021.

The opioid epidemic has had devastating effects in red states and blue states alike, making it a prime target for bipartisan action. But both federal and state policy have been characterized by sharp partisan differences in response to rising rates of opioid-related overdose deaths. In a study recently published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, we sought to understand how partisanship might affect legislative progress on this seemingly bipartisan issue by analyzing the content of state legislators' opioid-related social media posts over time.

We used natural language processing tools to analyze more than 40,000 state legislators' opioid-related posts from 2014-19 (primarily to Facebook and Twitter), and we tracked partisan differences in attention to key topics over time. We found that while the volume of Democrats' and Republicans' opioid-related posts were equally correlated with state overdose death rates, the content of posts increasingly diverged over the study period.

Much of the growing gap in state legislators' opioid-related social media content could be attributed to unequal attention to three key topics: pharmaceutical company accountability, opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment, and manufacture and trade of illegal drugs. Democrats' posts increasingly spoke to financial penalties for the pharmaceutical companies responsible for manufacturing and advertising commonly prescribed opioids; where these funds would be directed was often unclear. Democrats were also increasingly likely to post about OUD treatment and recovery. Republicans' posts, on the other hand, increasingly spoke to curbing the illegal drug trade, particularly across international borders.

Beyond a topic analysis, we also analyzed word usage in Democrats' and Republicans' posts. The above figure shows a comparison of the most frequently used words, highlighting those words notably different in frequency of use between the two parties.

The extent to which legislators' social media activity reflects their legislative activity is unclear. But our findings suggest fundamental differences in how Democrats' and Republicans' understand and react publicly to persistently climbing rates of overdose deaths. Partisanship in understanding the root causes of the overdose epidemic is likely to beget partisanship in proposing solutions.

The topics increasingly prevalent among Democratic legislatorsholding pharmaceutical companies accountable and OUD treatmentmay both overemphasize the role of prescription opioids and appropriately center OUD as a medical illness with evidence-based treatments. Overdose deaths increasingly and overwhelmingly involve illicitly manufactured synthetic opioids, like fentanyl, rather than purely prescription opioids or heroin. While pharmaceutical companies have been found guilty of misconduct in their advertising of opioids, an overemphasis on prescription opioids may lead to less dialogue regarding the more substantial role that fentanyl and other synthetic opioids play in the overdose epidemic. On the other hand, the increasing prevalence of posts related to treatment and recovery may reflect growing acceptance and normalization of evidence-based medications for OUD treatment, such as buprenorphine and methadone.

Republicans' increasing attention to the topic of the illegal manufacture and trade of opioids may both acknowledge the more prominent role of illicitly manufactured synthetic opioids in the overdose epidemic, and reinforce the harmful criminalization of opioid use. Evidence from New York City points to an association between greater local police activity and higher overdose mortality rates. Furthermore, the criminalization of drug use is experienced dramatically differently by Black and Latinx people in the U.S. For example, in 2014, Black and Latinx men in the U.S. were five times and two times more likely than white men to be imprisoned for drug-related crimes, respectively, despite comparable rates of drug use across all three groups. Prohibition-based drug policies, e.g., "the war on drugs," have led to the growth and militarization of both criminal networks and police forces with devastating implications for communities affected by drug manufacture, transportation, and sales.

Natural language processing of publicly available text can help us to understand the nuances of political disagreement among both legislators and constituents. Hopefully, by better understanding where our thoughts on the overdose crisis diverge, we can move towards a common vision of the problem we face and how best to approach it.

The study, "State Legislators' Divergent Social Media Response to the Opioid Epidemic from 2014 to 2019: Longitudinal Topic Modeling Analysis," was published March 29, 2021 in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.

Explore further More than two-thirds of drug OD deaths in 2017 involved opioids

More information: Daniel C. Stokes et al, State Legislators' Divergent Social Media Response to the Opioid Epidemic from 2014 to 2019: Longitudinal Topic Modeling Analysis, Journal of General Internal Medicine (2021). Journal information: Journal of General Internal Medicine Daniel C. Stokes et al, State Legislators' Divergent Social Media Response to the Opioid Epidemic from 2014 to 2019: Longitudinal Topic Modeling Analysis,(2021). DOI: 10.1007/s11606-021-06678-9
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, serious mental health concerns impacted a significant portion of students in Detroit public schools, a new report shows.

More than half of student respondents in the Detroit Public Schools Community District had experienced symptoms of anxiety or depression, and an alarming 23% had seriously considered attempting suicide within the past year, according to a pre-pandemic assessment conducted by the DPSCD in collaboration with the University of Michigan TRAILS program and Youth Policy Lab.

The large-scale survey of more than 15,000 Detroit students, staff and families showed that against that backdrop, the DPSCD is committed to improving student well-being: all stakeholders voiced a desire to increase resources and training to better equip the district with effective and equitable student mental health services.

The needs assessment was the first step in a multiyear partnership between U-M and DPSCD that supports a pillar of the district's Blueprint 2020the whole-child commitment. The collaboration will focus on student mental health with the goal of providing effective services in all 100-plus DPSCD schools. This aligns with the district's commitment to social and emotional development of its students in addition to physical health and academic readiness.

Surveys completed by more than 11,000 Detroit students (grades 8-12), nearly 3,500 staff and 800 families provided data about risk and protective factors, access and barriers to care, student symptoms of depression and anxiety, satisfaction with available resources and attitudes about mental health. Findings will help to inform and evaluate the impact of future programming for students, staff and families.

"We recognize that the ability of students to take full advantage of educational opportunity requires that we create a foundational culture of health and wellness throughout each and every one of our schools," said DPSCD Superintendent Nikolai Vitti. "This assessment provides an unprecedented view of the well-being of the district and the priority needs identified by our community."

A survey effort of this size and scope is unprecedented and required extensive collaboration among DPSCD, TRAILS and the Youth Policy Lab.

TRAILS (Transforming Research into Action to Improve the Lives of Students) is a school mental health program designed to increase youth access to evidence-based mental health services. It provides professional development, resources and implementation support to school partners in effective practices that are appropriate for the school setting, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness. The program has formally partnered with 350 schools statewide, reaching an estimated 90,000 students.

The U-M Youth Policy Lab is a partnership between the Ford School of Public Policy and the Survey Research Center at the Institute for Social Research and brings significant expertise to the initiative in school-based program evaluation.

Results from the needs assessment indicated that DPSCD students may experience unique mental health vulnerabilities. Many of those surveyed had experienced trauma and significant mental health concerns including suicidal ideationthe act of thinking about, considering or planning suicide.

Reported rates of depression and anxiety symptoms, and suicidal ideation among DPSCD students far exceeded national averages.

23% reported having seriously thought about attempting suicide in the past year.

31% reported thoughts of suicide or self-harm in the past two weeks.

56% reported symptoms of anxiety.

62% reported symptoms of depression.

Depression and anxiety symptoms were found not to impact students equally: Girls had higher rates of depression and anxiety than boys.

Nearly half of sexual and gender minority youth reported suicidal ideation.

Academic stress was the top mental health concern identified by students, followed by anxiety, depression and family stress.

A substantial number of students with symptoms of anxiety and/or depression reported not having ever accessed any school- or community-based mental health support services. The most common barriers to seeking mental health services cited included a preference for coping with difficulties on their own, a belief that available services would not be helpful, and embarrassment/shame/stigma.

Students with depression, anxiety and exposure to trauma were more likely to report chronic absenteeism and difficulties completing schoolwork or studying. Rates of disciplinary involvement were also significantly higher among students with depression, anxiety and exposure to four or more traumatic events.

"The findings made it clear that DPSCD students were experiencing high levels of need around mental health even before COVID-19," said Robin Jacob, co-director of the Youth Policy Lab. "Given the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on communities of color, the need for mental health support for Detroit students is even greater now. The district's focus on mental health is key as students navigate their mental health needs related to the twin pandemics of COVID and systemic racism."

Despite reporting a high level of burnout, DPSCD staff universally reported a strong desire to help their students who are struggling, and they, along with administrators and families, overwhelmingly voiced a need for additional resources and training to ensure they are equipped to provide effective student mental health support. Teachers and administrators were most interested in training in social and emotional learning, while student support staff (e.g., counselors, social workers, nurses) hoped to strengthen best practices to support students affected by anxiety and depression.

Informed by survey findings, TRAILS is now collaborating with the district to implement responsive programming, and already nearly 4,000 DPSCD staff have attended districtwide TRAILS trainings on understanding and supporting student mental health needs and effective self-care strategies. Additional programming will commence this year and next spanning three tiers of student support: universal prevention, targeted intervention and suicide risk management.

One strategy that is central to the TRAILS model and will span all three tiers of programming is to leverage the school and community resources that are already in place, rather than creating solutions that are reliant on external funding or personnel.

"We believe that those best positioned to sustainably support the healthy growth and development of young people in any community are the very individuals living and working alongside those youth, particularly adults working in schools who are trusted by, and committed to, their students," said Elizabeth Koschmann, TRAILS program director.

"By equipping schools to provide evidence-based mental health services, students impacted by mental illness, trauma exposure or environmental stressors will be more likely to develop coping strategies that will lead to better school engagement and performance and improved mental health across the lifespan."

Also core to the TRAILS model is acknowledgement of the role racism plays in driving inequities in mental health and health care access. For many BIPOC, a history of medical racism combined with pervasive social stigma create additional barriers to mental health help-seeking and treatment beyond those that are more logistical, such as difficulty scheduling or high costs.

"Efforts to address mental health needs in DPSCD must include work to eradicate these more systemic barriers," Koschmann said.

Long term, the U-M/DPSCD partnership is anticipated to help students participate more meaningfully in school, improve attendance and academic performance, engage in fewer noncompliant and high-risk behaviors, remain in school longer, and ultimately benefit more fully and equitably from the academic opportunities available to them in their Detroit schools.

Explore further No change in mental health of university students in Stockholm during pandemic

More information: School Mental Health in Detroit Public Schools Community District: A needs assessment from TRAILS and the Youth Policy Lab. School Mental Health in Detroit Public Schools Community District: A needs assessment from TRAILS and the Youth Policy Lab. storage.trailstowellness.org/S  _Health_in_DPSCD.pdf
Case example: A 54-year-old man with a history of RP+LND and a subsequent PSA of 1.25 ng/mL had no evidence of disease by baseline imaging. Piflufolastat F 18 (18F-DCFPyL)- PET/CT accurately detected biochemically recurrent prostate cancer with the PSMA PET/CT scan identifying positive left (left panel) and right peri-rectal lymph nodes (right panel). Credit: Lantheus Holdings, Inc., Billerica, MA.

A phase III clinical trial has validated the effectiveness of the prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-targeted radiotracer 18F-DCFPyL in detecting and localizing recurrent prostate cancer. Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration last month, the radiotracer identified metastatic lesions with high positive predictive values regardless of anatomic region, adding to the evidence that PSMA-targeted radiotracers are the most sensitive and accurate agents for imaging prostate cancer. This study was presented at the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) 2021 Annual Meeting.

Prostate cancer patients have high levels of PSMA expression, which makes PSMA an effective target for imaging the disease. In previous studies, the novel positron emission tomography (PET) imaging agent 18F-DCFPyL was found to bind selectively with high affinity to PSMA. To demonstrate the diagnostic performance of 18F-DCFPyL for regulatory approval, a prospective, multicenter study was conducted in 14 sites across the United States and Canada.

The study sought to determine the positive predictive value (the probability that patients with a positive screening test actually have the disease) and detection rate of 18F-DCFPyL PET/computed tomography (CT) by anatomic region, specifically the prostate/prostate bed, pelvic lymph nodes, and regions outside the pelvis. Study participants included men who had rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels after local therapy as well as negative or equivocal conventional imaging results.

Patients were imaged with 18F-DCFPyL PET/CT, then imaged again after 60 days to verify suspected lesions using a composite "standard of truth," which consisted of histopathology, correlative imaging findings and PSA response. Comparing findings between the 18F-DCFPyL imaging and the "standard of truth," the positive predictive value and detection rate were measured.

18F-DCFPyL-PET/CT was found to successfully detect and pinpoint metastatic lesions with high positive predictive value, regardless of their location in the body, in men with biochemically recurrent prostate cancer who had negative or equivocal baseline imaging. Higher positive predictive values were observed in extra-pelvic lymph nodes and bone compared to soft tissue regions.

With the recent approval of 18F-DCFPyL (now referred to as piflufolastat F-18) by the FDA, the impact of this research may be realized in the very near future. As these agents become more widely available, patients with newly diagnosed, recurrent, and metastatic prostate cancer may have new therapeutic approaches available to them. The results of the study will be presented at the SNMMI meeting by Steven Rowe, MD, Ph.D., associate professor of radiology and radiological science at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.

More information: Abstract 123. "A Phase 3 study of 18F-DCFPyL-PET/CT in Patients with Biochemically Recurrent Prostate Cancer (CONDOR): An Analysis of Disease Detection Rate and Positive Predictive Value (PPV) by Anatomic Region"

Provided by Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
(HealthDay)Nearly four in 10 patients with diabetes who have undergone initial amputations secondary to diabetes will have a reamputation within five years, according to a review published online June 10 in BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care.

Rongqi Liu, from Podimetrics Inc. in Somerville, Massachusetts, and colleagues conducted a systematic literature review to assess trends in reamputation rates in people with diabetes. The meta-analysis included 22 studies.

The researchers found that at one year, the reamputation rate for all contralateral and ipsilateral reamputations was 19 percent, which grew to 37.1 percent at five years. For contralateral reamputation, the rate was 20.5 percent at five years. The investigators observed no evidence of change in the reamputation rates over more than two decades of literature analyzed.

"These alarming reamputation rates have made no progress in two decades, even as innovative health solutions have dominated the market," study coauthor Gary Rothenberg, M.D., of the University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor, said in a statement. "To bring these rates down and ultimately eliminate amputations, we have to be more focused on preventive care."

Several authors disclosed financial ties to Podimetrics.

Copyright  2021 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Aboriginal community researchers Anna Dowling and Sharon Watts on one of the Pedi-Pod project videos. Credit: Flinders University

Aboriginal babies die from sudden unexplained death in infancy (SUDI) and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) three to four times more often than non-Aboriginal babies.

"This never has been and never will be OK," say Professor Julian Grant and Dr. Nina Sivertsen, who are leading the Safely sleeping Aboriginal babies in South Australia program led by Flinders University.

The program, in collaboration with the Aboriginal Health Council of SA, the Women and Children's Health Network and SA Health, was conceived after Aboriginal cultural consultant, Ms Wilhelmine Lieberwirth, approached Child and Family Health Services staff to look for 'culturally safe' solutions to do more for Aboriginal babies to sleep safely.

The Pepi-Pod program prioritizes safe sleep education, while also providing a small bed to create a safe 'pod' or sleep space that can be placed in or next to the family bed.

"We wanted to see if the Pepi-Pod program was experienced as culturally safe and if First Nations families would even use it," says Dr. Sivertsen of the first small initial pilot trial in SA.

"Families told us that one of the best parts of the Pepi-Pod program is that 'you don't have to worry' babies were in their 'own little comfort zone.'"

Credit: Flinders University

"Babies were 'peaceful and safe' and you could 'see him,' 'feel him' 'touch him' and 'hear him,' while baby slept safely in the pod."

Flinders adjunct Professor Grant, now at Charles Sturt University in NSW, explains that many families including First Nations peoples sleep with their babies in the family bed.

"While bed sharing has many benefits, it is also associated with infant death and is not recommended by SA Health," says Professor Grant, the project's Chief Investigator.

Sharon Watts, an Aboriginal researcher on the project, says that it is "really important for First Nations families to feel close to their babies all the time, especially when sleeping."

While some participants thought the Pepi-Pod itself looked a bit too much like a 'breadbox," they found the sense of safety comforting and the education program a great way to share safe sleep knowledge with family, friends and community.

Credit: Flinders University

The first paper, "It looks like a breadbox': a pilot study investigating implementation of the Pepi-Pod program with Aboriginal families in metropolitan South Australia (2021) by J Grant, N Sivertsen, J Deverix and A Steeb has been published in Primary Health Care Research & Development.

The Pepi-Pod research team is now completing a larger Medical Research Future Fund project to deliver a safe sleep education module to about 235 health care professionals, as well as the safe sleep information and Pepi-Pod deliveries to up to 70 families to sleep their baby. sites.flinders.edu.au/ssabsa/

"We are now finding out together if the Pepi-Pod program is culturally safe and if it can be used in mainstream health services," the researchers say.

Explore further An expert's guide to safe sleeping for your baby

More information: Julian Grant et al, 'It looks like a breadbox': a pilot study investigating implementation of the Pepi-Pod program with Aboriginal families in metropolitan South Australia, Primary Health Care Research & Development (2021). Julian Grant et al, 'It looks like a breadbox': a pilot study investigating implementation of the Pepi-Pod program with Aboriginal families in metropolitan South Australia,(2021). DOI: 10.1017/S1463423621000293
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Clinical evaluation of three COVID-19 vaccine candidates in 2020-21 during a worldwide pandemic that killed or sickened millions was unprecedented in terms of urgency and scope. Responsibility for the safety, integrity and scientific validity of the trials in the United States fell to 12 experts of the federally appointed COVID-19 Vaccine Data and Safety Monitoring Board, or COVID-19 DSMB, who in turn report to an oversight group.

This COVID-19 DSMB teamwhich included co-contributing author Richard Whitley, M.D., distinguished professor of pediatrics in the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicinehas now taken the unusual step of publishing details of their review process in The Journal of Infectious Diseases.

Their goal, they say, is to assure the public of the board's independence and lack of interference from external actors, while they operated under exceptional conditions. Challenges the board faced included:

The remarkable scale and pace of the trials.

The frequency of safety events among a combined enrollment of more than 100,000 people, many of whom were older adults or persons with comorbidities that put them at independent risk of serious health events.

The need to monitor a portfolio of related trials rather than a single trial, and the need to harmonize these studies.

The politicized setting in which the trials have taken place, including a United States presidential election.

Despite these challenges, they say that the COVID-19 Vaccine DSMB also "can serve as a model for future situations in which there is an urgent need for coordinated development of multiple therapeutic or preventive interventions to address rapidly evolving public health threats."

The story began in May 2020, as the federal government launched Operation Warp Speed to accelerate COVID-19 vaccine development. The operation included funding for multiple large randomized trials to assess the safety and efficacy of candidate vaccines and agreements to purchase hundreds of millions of doses to assure timely manufacture of ample quantities of vaccine.

To ensure rigorous, independent and unbiased scientific and ethical oversight of the vaccine field trials, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, or NIAID, empaneled the COVID-19 Vaccine DSMB. The board has 11 members from the United States, Brazil, South Africa and the United Kingdom, including experts in infectious disease, vaccinology, immunology, biostatistics, pharmacoepidemiology, public health and bioethics, as well as a biostatistician, who is a full-time NIAID employee and serves as executive secretary.

The DSMB's Journal of Infectious Diseases article details their study review process as they reviewed three formal interim efficacy analyses of trials for vaccine makers Moderna, Janssen and AstraZeneca. The board currently is monitoring the Moderna, Janssen, AstraZeneca and Novavax trials. The trial of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, which was not federally funded, has a separate DSMB.

The DSMB reports that it has met by videoconference more than 25 times, generally for two to three hours at a time. As needed, the board holds ad hoc meetings to address emerging safety concerns. If accrual or event milestones were met between scheduled meetings, the board met to review interim analyses.

The board focused on trial conduct, safety and vaccine efficacy. This included a close look at accrual of trial participants, including the numbers and proportions of people in relevant subgroups like age, sex, race, ethnicity and people with risk factors that predispose them to severe COVID-19.

"The DSMB's role in overseeing a portfolio of multiple trials," the board writes, "has facilitated its ability to perform safety monitoring across all trials. For example, when concerns first surfaced about thromboembolic events associated with AstraZeneca's vaccine in Europe, the DSMB was able to review relevant categories of adverse events across its portfolio of trials to look for broader patterns associated with SARS-CoV-2 vaccines as a class."

Participant safety was a central responsibility for the board, which devoted much attention at each meeting to review interim safety metrics. Given the large number of participants in the trials, the board also received regular reports of individual adverse safety events between meetings and determined what further information or actions in response might be needed.

Among the political challenges the board faced was what Science magazine called its "extraordinary rebuke" last March, when the board said the company had used potentially misleading and outdated data in its initial analysis.

The highly politicized atmosphere also included an August 2020 tweet by then-President Donald Trump that the United States Food and Drug Administration "deep state" was delaying COVID-19 vaccines, and his September suggestion that a vaccine for COVID-19 could be ready by Election Day. Another political challenge came when then-FDA Director Stephen Hahn said he was prepared to authorize a vaccine before Phase 3 trials were complete.

Yet politics did not affect the board's work. In its report, the COVID-19 Vaccine DSMB concluded that "Operation Warp Speed is an unprecedented effort to develop safe and effective vaccines that will help end the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Conducting clinical trials under these circumstances requires the utmost attention to participant safety and to data integrity, so that the public and the medical community will ultimately have trust in the vaccines and the process used to develop them. Although (the board) operates behind the scenes, by virtue of its access to unblinded interim data, its charge to recommend changes to ongoing studies based on these data, and its ability to examine emerging data across multiple parallel trials, the COVID-19 Vaccine DSMB is uniquely positioned to ensure that these goals are met."

More information: Steven Joffe et al, Data and Safety Monitoring of COVID-19 Vaccine Clinical Trials, The Journal of Infectious Diseases (2021). Journal information: Journal of Infectious Diseases , Science Steven Joffe et al, Data and Safety Monitoring of COVID-19 Vaccine Clinical Trials,(2021). DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiab263
"Vaccination greatly reduces transmission and two doses provides a very high level of protection against serious illness and death, but there are still millions of younger adults who have not been vaccinated and sadly a proportion of the elderly and vulnerable may still succumb even if they have had two jabs," Johnson said.

Public Health England (PHE) reported on Monday that the two main vaccines used in the UK are highly effective against the variant.

PHE says that the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine is 92% effective against the variant after two doses, while the Pfizer-BioNTech shot offers 96% protection after two doses. Their research has found that while one dose is 17% less effective at protecting people from the Delta variant compared to the Alpha variant, there is a much smaller difference after two.

This means the UK is in a race against time to get jabs in arms over the next four weeks.

The government believes it will achieve this by reducing the gap between doses from 12 weeks to eight for people over the age of 40. Everyone over the age of 40 who had a dose in mid-May will be offered a second by July 19, while all over 18s will have been offered their first shot by that date.

Public opinion divided
We got halfway across the bridge and I noticed the new little one was faltering, Mergenthaler recalled. "And I didnt know what her problem was so I stopped the bike. And as soon as I stopped, I noticed they all started faltering in the same manner, which was like pre-seizure activity."

"And I knew that wasnt right so I took off my gloves and felt the panels. They were very hot," he said.

Mergenthaler got emotional and started running to get his dogs to the concrete on the south side of the bridge where they could cool off, he said. He dumped water out to cool his pets paws and then notified a worker on the bridge about the problem.

And he was somewhat disbelieving of what I was trying to tell him and I was emotional and wound up," Mergenthaler explained. "And as we talked he realized how passionate I was, and we walked out onto the deck here and he got down to feel it and he got this mortified look on his face. And he pulled his hand off very quickly. And he realized I was telling him the truth.

Mergenthaler started warning other dog owners to carry their dogs across portions of the bridge that arent concrete, he said. It appears that the state transportation department agrees with him that the span is dangerous for paws and bare feet now.
CHICAGO (AP)  Two Chicago educational institutions have received donations from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, the largest gifts from a single person in their histories, officials said Tuesday.

Kennedy-King College, a branch of City Colleges of Chicago, was given $5 million by Scott. The University of Illinois-Chicago received $40 million from the ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

Ms. Scotts extremely generous donation will advance the lives of students who are poised to make great contributions to our city, our state and our world, said UIC Chancellor Michael D. Amiridis. "Her gift is a vote of confidence in the mission of public higher education and in UIC.

City College officials say the money is the largest single private donation ever given Kennedy-King. The donation is part of $2.7 billion given to 286 organizations by Scott.

Forbes Magazine has reported Kennedy-King College, which serves a largely African-American student body, is considered one of the top 10 community colleges in the country as determined by Academic Influence.

We are dedicated to realizing the full potential of each one of our talented students, said Kennedy-King College President Greg A. Thomas, adding college officials are deeply grateful to Ms. Scott for the gift.
MISSOULA, Mont. (AP)  Public review has begun for a proposal to boost radio and cellphone service in Glacier National Park in Montana, park officials said. The deadline to comment is July 11.

The proposal calls for upgrades to communications from the National Park Service, which uses outdated technology or can't reach remote areas of the park, the Missoulian reported.

Currently, cellphone service is only available in the western part of the park at Apgar and the eastern part of the park because of commercial cell towers outside the park borders.

While recognizing that national parks provide disconnected space for many visitors, the plan also proposes a strategy for commercial cellular and/or internet access for public and NPS use in certain developed areas, such as Many Glacier, Rising Sun, Two Medicine and Lake McDonald Lodge, park spokesperson Gina Kerzman said.

The proposal would prohibit large-scale cell towers and commercial telecommunications gear in the backcountry, despite visitors relying more on internet access.
Years ago, these words meant something: from the Declaration of Independence, But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. These words charged a body of not being able to claim the absolute right and/or control of a people without oversight. A la No taxation without representation. The lengthy list of plaintiffs that have joined to file lawsuits against Montana state lawmakers have evinced a similar design.

To claim sole power and authority for the public education of Montanans is blatantly unconstitutional. This unconstitutionality is true even using the poorly written Montana Constitution. See for further clarity the Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue decision that was made by the United States Supreme Court. Or the application that should happen to the Montana Constitution in light of Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia, Inc. v. Comer in Missouri from SCOTUS. The power and authority for the governed comes from the people. Deriving their just power from the consent of the governed are again words that should mean something, as from the U.S. Constitution.
The 67th Montana legislative assembly has been over for six weeks and we continue to hear about its aftereffects. Our legislators took an oath to uphold and defend both the federal and state constitutions, yet numerous bills enacted this session are clearly unconstitutional and/or against the will of the people. Knowing that many of these bills would be challenged in courts, the legislature even set aside our tax money to fight lawsuits.

Examples include House Bill 102, the campus carry bill, which subverts Article X of the Constitution that states the Board of Regents has full authority over the University System; HB 176, the voter suppression bill, which eliminates same-day voter registration even though voters affirmed same-day registration in 2005 and reaffirmed it in 2014; HB 112, save womens sports, which prohibits transgender athletes from developing the full educational potential of each person as outlined in Article X of the Constitution.

Some of these bills will have a serious financial impact to our cities and state. The GOP is not the same party that defended our Constitution in the past. Remember the Copper Kings who ruled Montana? They are back but now they call themselves the conservative Republican Party.

Gerry Browning,

Polson

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Im fully vaccinated, and so is just about everyone I know. We feel mostly protected against COVID-19. And so if others dont want to get the shot for political reasons or out of ignorance, must we care?

We read that many Republicans are refusing to get the coronavirus vaccine, while most Democrats are all in. The reasoning on the right seems to be that President Joe Biden wants us all to get vaccinated, therefore they wont. Do these folks think that they are somehow offending or frustrating the opposition?

Theyre definitely astounding the opposition and also some on their side. Right-wingers rejecting efforts to get them vaccinated are more likely to come down with a virus that could kill or leave them with long-term disabilities.

The partisan divide is real. Of the 39 congressional districts where at least 60% of the residents have received a shot, all but one are represented by Democrats, according to a Harvard University study. Republicans, meanwhile, represent all but two of the 30 congressional districts where fewer than one-third of residents have received a shot.
The rights to hunt, fish, and access our public lands are ingrained in Montanas Constitution, our states heritage, and in the hearts and minds of the people you elect to represent you in Helena.

Republican legislators include landowners, avid hunters, fishermen and women, competitive shooters, hikers, ATV riders, boaters, skiers, and outdoor enthusiasts of all types. Montanas outdoor heritage is our way of life and policies that impact the outdoor experience are near and dear to our hearts. Montana would not be Montana without the ability to live, work, and play outside.

Republicans in the Legislature worked this session to better manage wildlife and predator populations, reduce extreme environmental efforts to shut off access to public lands, and reform our states outdoor management agencies.

We have seen growing pressure in recent years among our game animal populations, public and private lands, recreation, and predators such as wolves and grizzlies.
The Montana Supreme Court has recently been attacked as part of a sustained effort to undermine the judicial branch in Montana so that it cannot perform its constitutional role of acting as a check on the executive and legislative branches. The attack is political, and the attackers can produce no evidence that the court is under-performing, because, in fact, empirical evidence shows the opposite.

Performance of the Montana Supreme Court has, since 2008, been measured every other year by means of a survey that produces data that is valid, reliable and usable in rating the court.

Remarkably, the Montana Supreme Courts overall average approval rating in 2020 was 90%. In the 12 years from 2008 to 2020, the courts performance has consistently improved from an impressive 72% in 2008 to 90% in 2018 and 2020. The survey participants are those who most closely observe the workings of the court: lawyers who argue cases in front of the justices, state court trial judges whose decisions are appealed to the court, and law school faculty who research and study the court and its decisions for purposes of teaching and scholarly writing. Their survey input is anonymous.
Now we have a new administration, committed to public lands for all and Im glad we are at a time of reassessment where land and people are considered over corporations and profits. Im encouraged and believe its not too late to reclaim what weve lost if we act now.

My fellow veterans and I fought for this country and the promises America holds for us. These promises include the safeguarding of our nations public lands for all communities and the preservation of these spaces for future generations to enjoy as we have.

In Montana, Senator Jon Tester has exceeded expectations in his support for veterans during the past year of the pandemic, and I encourage him to continue to support the health and welfare of veterans by prioritizing public lands over private corporate interests. Despite these lands belonging to the taxpayers, the current federal leasing process is skewed in favor of energy corporations with little to no transparency for the American public. Montanans deserve a better and fairer return on these lands.
Party of Trump

PoliticusUSA stated that ... During World War II . . . Americans fought in a mighty bloody war to crush fascism as a means of preserving democracy. Trump was our fascist commander-in-chief in the White House. "America as a representative democracy (was and) is still being savaged by Trump and his far-right, authoritarian, and ultranationalist loyalists dreaming of Trumps uncontested dictatorial power and violent suppression of the opposition  precisely what the nation has witnessed in living color  think of the January 6, 2021 insurrection.

I watch horrified at how the Party of Trump continues to take away our freedoms day by day. Trump salted our institutions before he left office. Like his installation of Louis DeJoy in the US Post Office, there are yet-to-be-known members of the Justice Department, and who knows how many other departments are infiltrated with Trump supporters.

Trumps fascist followers have fanned out to all 50 states. Is it really surprising that Gianforte is behaving exactly as he did in Congress? He was a sycophant of Trumps then and he seeks to continue the same fascist policies now.
ARCHIVED - Corvera airport inaugurates flights to and from Oujda in Morocco this Friday



A new destination in north Africa is added to the flight information boards at Corvera

As activity begins to pick up again following the near standstill over the winter at the Region of Murcia International Airport in Corvera, a new route to and from the city of Oujda in Morocco is set to be added to the scheduling on Friday 18th June as Air Arabia launch their first service in the Costa Calida.

It has been announced that flights are to be operated every Monday and Friday during the summer, serving a population of over half a million in Oujda alone and over 2 million in the eastern region of the country. Many readers might not know much about this city near the border with Algeria, but it is a major conurbation within Morocco and is located in the south of Beni-Znassen mountains, some 55 kilometres from the Mediterranean coast  roughly the same distance as the city of Murcia.

Air Arabia is a low-cost airline based in the UAE which is also reported to be interested in establishing connections with destinations such as Casablanca, but the timing of the new service between Corvera and Oujda is a little unfortunate. At present relations between Spain and Morocco are extremely tense due to the conflict over migrants crossing into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta a month ago, with the Kingdom of Morocco accused of using the migration problem to bring pressure to bear on Spain over the issue of sovereignty in the Western Sahara.

Nonetheless, flights between the two countries are set to resume on Tuesday and the airline has pressed ahead with its plans: the first flight from Oujda is scheduled to land at Corvera on Friday before the return journey takes off at 22.30.

It is expected that not only will there be significant demand among Moroccans hoping to travel to Spain, but that Oujda will prove an interesting destination for the Murcianos, with its walled medieval city and a history stretching back to the 10th century.

Image 2: Air Arabia's promotion for flights to Murcia
The campus of the L-M School District, with a 2020-21 certified enrollment of 707 students, is located on U.S. Highway 61 between Wapello and Muscatine and could be comparable to other communities in the county, Quigley said.

He also indicated the school district has experienced past water problems, which would make it well-suited as a potential water user.

If they water their yards, they dont have enough water for their students, he said, adding he was excited about the prospect being developed with Muscatine.

Its very encouraging to see the community up north wants to come down and partner with us, he said, pointing out that partnership could also extend to the internet.

They would like to look at partnering with possibly Louisa Communications to give the very best for Louisa County. This is the stuff we dream about, he said.

He indicated additional meetings would be held and he would report back on those.

Meanwhile, in his report on meetings attended over the past week, supervisor chair Randy Griffin said a published report on his June 8 county board of health (BOH) meeting had apparently struck a nerve with the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT).
ROCKTON, Ill. (AP)  An industrial firefighting team continued battling a fire Tuesday that has consumed an chemical plant in northern Illinois and forced the evacuation of nearby homes and businesses.

Before pouring fire-fighting foam on the Chemtool plant in Rockton, Louisiana-based U.S. Fire Pumps dug a trench around the facility and installed absorbent booms along the Rock River to prevent residual material from escaping into the village's source of drinking water.

Rockton fire Chief Kirk Wilson said the smoke plume from the fire has dissipated substantially as a result of U.S. Fire Pumps' effort

"This is their forte. This is what they do," Wilson said, adding the company has larger pumps and a larger delivery capability to battle the fire than local fire departments. "At this point in time we have detected no visible runoff into the waterway (that) is just west of Chemtool and to our main waterway.

Despite the fire being under control, Wilson said the fire is not completely out.

This is going to continue to burn. When were in the overhaul stage and were moving debris around, things may flair up, Wilson said. But we want to assure the public that it is under control. It is contained in the area of origin in the building where the fire occurred.
He also said firefighters had stopped using water to extinguish the blaze because they dont want the runoff to enter the nearby Rock River.

We dont want an environmental nightmare to occur, he said.

It could be several days before the fluids that caught fire burn out, he said.

Crews from the 40 or so fire departments that responded to the blaze were fanning out to respond to spot fires, grass fires, and burning debris that the wind pushed into the community. Wilson said those fires were caused by burning pieces of cardboard boxes and chunks of wooden pallets, not chemicals falling from the sky.

Trisha Diduch, the planning and development administrator for Rockton, said she estimates about 1,000 people are affected by the 1-mile radius evacuation order, she said.

One of those residents was 29-year-old Alyssa King. She said after she walked outside to see black smoke and what appeared to be pieces of cardboard boxes and small chunks of the building falling from the sky, she called a police non-emergency line. You gotta go, she said she was told.

There were no immediate reports of injuries.
VIENNA (AP)  Delegations from Russia and the United States involved in nuclear negotiations with Iran held talks in Vienna on Monday, two days ahead of a summit meeting between U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The United States is not directly involved in the Vienna negotiations but has regular contacts with participating diplomats.

Efforts to revive a 2015 nuclear containment deal for Iran are a rare topic of collaboration between the two global adversaries.

Mikhail Ulyanov, a senior diplomat who headed the Russian delegation at the meeting in Vienna, called the talks with U.S. counterparts fruitful.

Our dialogue in Vienna seems to be proof that the two countries can maintain businesslike cooperation on issues of common interest, non-proliferation in this particular case, Ulyanov wrote in a tweet.

The nuclear agreement was scuppered in 2018 when the Trump administration pulled the United States out of the accord, arguing that it handed Iran too many concessions.

Diplomats from China, Germany, France, Russia, and Britain held joint talks with Iran Saturday and multiple bilateral meetings afterward at a hotel in the center of the Austrian capital.
Joe Exotic is launching his own cannabis line.

The Tiger King stars attorney Brad Small explained that Joe came up with the idea last year and a deal has now been sealed for him to team up with Tango Hotel Charlie Group, LLC and Cannaxxs LTD to launch Joe Exotic Cannabis.

Joe  who is currently serving 22-year prison service for plotting to kill rival Carole Baskin  is reportedly directly involved in the business through calls and emails with his attorney.

Small told TMZ that the products include CBD edibles and will be sold in California, Colorado and Oklahoma. Joe is looking to help people who need cannabis to ease their pain for various ailments.

Small explained that the line would launch in the coming weeks, with a share of Joes profits going towards care for captive tigers.

Last month, Joe revealed that he was suffering from prostate cancer that was ravaging his body.

The 58-year-old former zookeeper said: "John Phillips [Joe's lawyer] has received my medical records from FMC Fort Worth and my PSA count came back very high for prostate cancer.
Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, left, met with Tasi Tours & Transportation, Inc. president Hiroari Kamimori on Friday, June 11, to discuss the future of the Marianas tourism industry and plans to re-establish the Commonwealths Japan market.
George Chambers Jr. sits inside the courtroom on Thursday, June 10, during day one of his criminal trial.
U.S. military forces cross a flooded area near the shore during the annual Philippines-U.S. amphibious landing exercise at San Antonio, Zambales province, north of Manila, the Philippines on Oct. 7, 2016.
There was a massive battle in the Western Cape High Court to block the liquidation of get-rich-quick scheme Mirror Trading International (MTI).

This comes after the hearing for the final liquidation of MTI was delayed from 31 May to today  15 June 2021.

MyBroadband has learned that judgement has been reserved in the matter, but the legal team which argued in favour of liquidating MTI is confident that the final liquidation order will be granted.

MTI was a South African network marketing scam that claimed to offer automated trading services  initially in forex and later in cryptocurrency derivatives. It accumulated billions of rand worth of bitcoin during 2019 and 2020.

Chainalysis named MTI the biggest cryptocurrency scam of 2020 in the most recent edition of its Crypto Crime Report.

According to court documents MyBroadband has seen, the battle lines were drawn between Clynton Marks, 50% shareholder and the former Head of Referral Programme and Members at MTI, and the team of five liquidators provisionally appointed to the case.

Among the legal technicalities argued before Acting Judge Alma de Wet was whether these two camps should be allowed to join the liquidation case as intervening parties.

News from inside the court room was that the liquidation hearing went ahead with the intervening parties recognised.

Another technical issue that Marks argued is that he and his partner Cheri Marks, who was the Head of Communications for MTI, were not served with the liquidation notice.

Marks argument, in essence, is that the attorneys who brought the original liquidation application would have known full well that he and his partner were staff and leaders at MTI.

The attorneys would also have known where to reach Marks, as his home had been raided by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) in connection with MTI.

In addition to the technical issues raised, Marks also argued that the recovery of some 1,200 bitcoin belonging to MTI from its previous Belize-based broker, FX Choice, means that the company was far from insolvent.

It is understood that the liquidators have already converted the recovered bitcoin to cash. Moneyweb, quoting Ovex, reported that the sale of the coins for R1.1 billion temporarily pushed down the price of bitcoin on South African exchanges in April.

None of the arguments against liquidation brought before the court appeared to move Judge De Wet.

While the judgement was reserved, sources inside the liquidators legal team told MyBroadband that their opposition was woefully outmatched and that they are confident that a final liquidation order will be granted.

MyBroadband contacted the Marks for comment and they responded saying that they do not believe the liquidators have the members best interests at heart.

This is reflected in their answering affidavit where they clearly state members wishes are irrelevant. We disagree with this. We also do not feel it is just to go after MTI members for something Johann may or may not have done, Cheri Marks said by email.

According to the Marks, the liquidation application was premature.

MTI is a solvent company and any chance of members (however slight) to get any relief would not come from the liquidation process but rather from finding Johann and rightfully encouraging him to rectify whatever wrongs he has allegedly committed. Further to this it is our belief there are other options more suitable to result in possibly achieving relief for MTI members.

Marks said that members would be severely prejudiced through the liquidators endeavors if the liquidation went ahead.

Asked what will happen if the liquidation is halted, Marks said that this is the matter currently before the court and answering the question now would be premature.

Now read: Mirror Trading International CEO hit with provisional sequestration order
Using the right software solutions is a key part of thriving as a modern business.

Software is important for a number of reasons  including optimising resilience, which has become particularly important given the worldwide shift in the way we work.

Software solutions are a powerful tool to mitigate the extensive variety of risks organisation are now faced with and must prepare for.

However, many organisations fall prey to the plug and play fallacy, which erroneously suggests that you can simply get new software, slot it into your existing systems, and achieve full value from this solution.

When it comes to enterprise-level implementations, plug and play is rarely feasible for long term success.

While the software may be easy to insert into your current systems, there are many other considerations that are key to the success of any implementation.

Insight from a CURA client

This was highlighted by Jonathan Le Roux, Chief Risk Officer at Lucara Botswana, in a recent webinar hosted by CURA.

Le Roux stated there are four important aspects that should be considered when adopting new software: technology, data, processes, and people.

While the technology itself may be plug and play, the remaining three aspects are just as important when implementing new software  and are seldom simple to implement in their own right.

In particular, the people aspect is often overlooked by organisations when implementing new software and can result in an extremely inefficient software implementation if not managed correctly.

It is crucial that your entire ecosystem of people is both onboard with new software solutions, and are equipped to use them efficiently.

This ranges from your board and executives to your end-users, as everyone must be on the same page for the solution to receive full buy-in and support.

Le Roux said this is why it is important that organisations take a phased approach to their software implementation journey, as this allows them to build a solid foundation upon which they can continue to grow.

By gradually and continuously introducing new software, you make it far easier for everyone to learn how to use these new technologies  and make these changes far less intimidating for all parties involved.

It is therefore crucial for organisations to see software implementations as a systemic process, rather than a siloed project.

Walk the journey with CURA

Lucara Botswanas relationship with CURA has been key to creating mutual value and ensuring the success of their software implementation.

CURA is a leading provider of governance, risk, compliance, and risk-based audit software solutions, and works with over 250 enterprise customers to understand each organisation and its specific needs.

This, combined with the extensive resources CURA has available, makes any software implementation journey far more successful for these organisations.

Click here to learn more about CURA Software.
While I was enjoying my week off, rumors were flying around about business closures. One was thankfully false and the other was sadly true. The true one was that Vasconis is closing. Hap and Patty are St. Helena treasures, and I wish them all the best in their retirement. If you're looking for a new pharmacy, Smiths next to Safeway is a good local option.

Now about that false rumor: No, local hangout Villa Corona is not closing. Thats straight from owner Daniel Villasenor, who took to NextDoor (even though hes not much of a social media guy, bless his heart) to clarify that because of a labor shortage, the restaurant sometimes has to close for the day when someone doesnt show up to work. He apologizes for that, but he stresses that Villa Corona is not going anywhere. We might take a vacation every once in a while but this is our home and we are staying put, he says. So lets all breathe a sigh of relief and order some killer quesadillas (no, theyre not on the menu, but they do exist and theyre fantastic  )
Despite record dry conditions across the West, PG&E says it has no plans for public safety power shutdowns as temperatures spike into the triple digits this week.

The utility also does not expect any rotating outages as it tries to meet increased power demand as a high-pressure system pushes temperatures over 100 in many parts of the area through the weekend.

PG&E does warn, however, that high temperatures can result in unexpected local power outages. The company says it is monitoring its system and has crews ready to respond in that case.

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The "public safety power shutdowns" were instituted in recent years to prevent electrical equipment from sparking fires during dry and windy conditions. They have been implemented multiple times in Napa County since 2017, particularly around Calistoga and in remote rural parts of the county.

The California Independent Operator, which runs the states grid, issued a heat bulletin on June 11. Although no outages or other power disruptions are anticipated right now, CAISO says, it issued the bulletin to prepare the public for possible stressed grid conditions caused by extreme hot weather. CAISO has told all generators to defer maintenance during the heat spike.
Michael Rogerson, who has an Oakville house and is CEO of Rogerson Kratos digital electronics company, wants to base two water-dropping Black Hawk helicopters in Napa County to fight wildfires.

It's the latest citizen-organized push to bring more firefighting equipment to Napa County. The goal is to get water on wildfires as soon as possible and prevent them from erupting into the next Hennessey or Glass fire.

Rogerson and his company would provide the Black Hawks. Napa County and Cal Fire would have to agree on the deployment and operational details if they decide the offer is a good one.

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Im not doing this because I want to be in the firefighting business, Rogerson said last Wednesday. Im doing this to help Napa County.

Napa County Fire Chief Geoff Belyea on Thursday said he can't yet comment on the offer.

Its just an idea," he said. "Theres really no formal proposal yet on the table."

All of this comes against the backdrop of the Atlas, Tubbs, Nuns, Hennessey, and Glass fires that burned much of the county over three years. Some residents have looked for new ways to extinguish fires quickly.
One other way Weinstein's move could have been blocked was by an objection from New York's governor, but Gable said there was no such action by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Weinstein, appearing via video from the Wende prison, placed his hands on his mask-covered face after Case announced his decision. Earlier in the hearing, Weinstein had the mask drooping from his right ear as he sat in what appeared to be a prison meeting room.

In addition to concerns about Weinstein's health, Effman questioned the legitimacy of extradition paperwork filed by Los Angeles authorities, which he said was defective because it listed only some of the charges.

We are challenging the paperwork because its not right. Its wrong... They just copied the form and changed the date," Effman told Case.

Gable said the paperwork absolutely met the requirements of the extradition agreement.
The union has argued that the 87 employees sought for a bargaining unit have extremely specialized skills for a job that others at the plant cannot do and should be eligible for standalone representation. Meanwhile, the company has contended that the employees are not sufficiently distinct from other plant workers to be eligible for their own small unionized bloc.

Lisa Henderson, acting regional director for the National Labor Relations Board, wrote that although the tool and die workers have unique skills, those are outweighed by other commonalities, including terms and conditions of employment, integration and contact with other types of workers.

Nissans history reflects that we respect the right of employees to determine who should represent their interests in the workplace," said Nissan spokesperson Lloryn Love-Carter. "We are pleased with the boards position that representation should be decided by all employees at the Nissan Smyrna Assembly Plant, not a small subset of the population.
Biden is also facing skepticism from Democrats who want to see robust investments in strategies to fight climate change  for electric vehicle charging stations, money to bolster communities' response to harsh weather conditions and funds for public transit that many rural state Republicans oppose and that have been dramatically reduced in the bipartisan plan.

There has to be a guarantee, an absolute unbreakable guarantee, that climate is going to be at the center of any infrastructure deal that we cut," said Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass.

We cannot let our planet down, said Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore. This has to be part of the deal.

The White House plans to give the bipartisan infrastructure negotiations another week to 10 days before assessing the next steps, but insisted there was no deadline to this latest round of talks.

Deputy press secretary Andrew Bates said that Ricchetti conveyed to the lawmakers that "we are certainly going to know where things stand on infrastructure talks generally in the next week to 10 days, and that we can then take stock overall. But he did not set a deadline or cutoff.
Six women were rescued from several California brothels, including one hidden in a high-end apartment building, after a two-year investigation, police say.

Investigators also seized around $2 million and arrested a married couple accused of running the sex-trafficking operation in the San Francisco Bay Area, Milpitas police said in a statement.

David Davies, 57, and Larong Hu, 38, face charges including pimping and pandering and felony conspiracy, police said. The Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office also took part in the investigation.

Upscale apartments in a Milpitas complex with rents up to $5,000 a month housed one of the brothels, unbeknownst to neighbors, KNTV reported. The couple is accused of advertising online and forcing women from overseas to work in the brothels by seizing their passports.

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Prosecutors say the couple trafficked dozens of women from China, South Korea and Eastern Europe at six brothels, rotating more than 100 women through their operation before sending them to other cities across the United States, KPIX reported.

"These women are forced to have sex with between 10 and 15 men a day," Deputy District Attorney Patrick Vanier told KNTV. Customers arrived in half-hour intervals.
LOS ANGELES (AP)  A judge on Monday ordered that the murder trial of New York real estate heir Robert Durst will continue, despite defense requests for a delay because they say he's in such pain that he can't stand up to dress for trial.

Durst was hospitalized and the trial was put on pause Thursday. On Monday, with the Los Angeles County jail system doctors declaring Durst fit for court, Superior Court Judge Mark E. Windham ordered that testimony in the trial, which resumed last month after a 14-month pandemic delay, would continue.

The 78-year-old Durst, charged with killing his best friend Susan Berman, appeared in court looking frail in a wheelchair and jail garb, with a catheter attached that he held up to show the judge.

Defense attorneys argued adamantly that the trial should be adjourned again because Durst was in pain, and because he couldn't get into the street clothes he is allowed to wear to avoid prejudicing the jury. The lawyers said Durst had a urinary tract infection as a consequence of bladder cancer, and had undiagnosed health problems that they couldn't name because the jail hospital had denied them information and access to him.

I understand hes in a good amount of pain because of the catheter, Windham said.
They spent a day tasting food. When they got to the hotel later, they were told their room only had one bed. "That was when I started freaking out a bit," the line cook said, adding that she didn't have money to get her own. She said Jordan acted surprised, so she gave him the benefit of doubt.

But she said that after she got into bed, fully clothed, Jordan tried to kiss her.

"I was like, 'Absolutely not.' There were four more attempts. I was like, 'No, I'm not interested in you. I don't know how to tell you this more clearly, but this is not why I'm here,'" she said. "I fell asleep. From all my understanding, nothing happened that night."

Jordan said he booked a room with two beds in advance and was surprised that the only room available had one bed. Jordan said he should have slept on the floor or avoided sharing a hotel room with a co-worker.

"I made an advance to kiss her once which I admit was a mistake  and after she said that she was not interested, I stopped and we both fell asleep," he said in an email to The Seattle Times. "There was not repeated attempts, there was nothing forceful that occurred."
The U.S. hasnt authorized extra COVID-19 vaccinations. But around the country, a growing number of immune-compromised patients are seeking third doses on their own  the people Hopkins sought to test.

In San Francisco, Gillian Ladd agreed to blood tests before and after an extra dose. The recipient of a kidney and pancreas transplant, Ladd, 48, was terrified to leave her house after learning she had no measurable antibodies despite two Pfizer shots.

With the additional dose, "I had gotten what I needed in order to survive, Ladd said, but she's still is sticking with masks and other precautions.

I am being as careful as I possibly can while acknowledging that Im coming back into the world of the living, she said.

Further research is needed to tell if a third dose really helps, who's the best candidate and if there are brand differences  plus whether the extra immune stimulation could increase the risk of organ rejection.

But Segev cautions boosters aren't the only possibility. In addition to antibodies, vaccinations normally spur other protections such as T cells that can fend off severe illness. He and several other research groups are testing whether immune-compromised patients get that benefit.
Businesses, which have hammered the Cal-OSHA board over what they considered confusing and hard-to-implement rules, praised the latest version, which was made public late Friday.

"We thank Governor Gavin Newsom for eliminating confusion and working to ensure the state re-opens on June 15th with consistent standards for all based on CDC and (the California Department of Public Health) guidelines," the California Chamber of Commerce said in a statement.

But labor organizations and worker advocates said they are concerned the state's rule will let those not vaccinated not wear masks. Under the CDPH guideline, businesses can let their customers self-attest their vaccination status.

In a statement Monday, the California Nurses Association urged the public to keep wearing masks and practice social distancing, citing the fact that children under 12 are not yet eligible for the vaccine.

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"CNA has long advocated for an approach to controlling COVID-19 that follows the precautionary principle, which says it's best to take the safer route even before we know for sure whether something is harmful or not," the association said in its statement. "These latest moves by the state of California are motivated by politics, not the science about the virus."
Those sentiments are what recall supporters must overcome if theyre to reverse the 2020 tide and oust Newsom, who repeatedly labels their effort a Republican power grab.

For the old truism still holds to a large degree. If Republicans cant do much better in Orange County  one of the few places in the state where party registration is not completely dominated by Democrats  they will have no chance to win the recall, unless one or two major Democrats jump into the recall field and thus remove its currently strong GOP identity.

That identity is one big reason only about 40 percent of Californians surveyed in several recent polls have expressed intent to give Newsom an early exit. The percentage is quite similar to the vote that most Republican candidates have gotten in recent statewide elections.

Its those younger voters  especially the under-30s  who now give the Democrats much of their edge, both in Orange County and elsewhere.

Young voters went for Biden over Trump by a margin of more than 57-43 percent last year, while their elders voted for Trump by about 52-48 percent.

So far, theres no documented reason to believe they will turn against the Democratic incumbent governor this year in numbers anywhere close to the majority needed to kick him out.
Pikeville, KY (41501)

Today

Showers in the morning, then partly cloudy in the afternoon. High around 75F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Clear skies. Low near 55F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
Armenia Ombudsman calls on Artsakh-Armenians to remove or block phone numbers, personal data on social networks

Armenia acting minister: Two new electric trains to transport passengers to and from Yerevan and Gyumri soon

Body of 33-year-old man found hanged in Armenia's Lori Province

Karabakh State Minister: I also have questions regarding loss of Hin Tagher and Khtsaberd villages

Armenia Ambassador to Ukraine hands copies of credentials to Ukrainian MFA leadership

Erdogan defends Turkey's withdrawal from Istanbul Convention

Parliament of Morocco recognizes 'third sex'

11 apprehended during opening ceremony of Tbilisi Pride Week

Armenian analyst: Opposition could have won the elections, if it used the right technologies

Adam Schiff: We have been able to secure more than $52,000,000 in funding for Armenia and Artsakh

Court declares head of Armenia's Odzun village as victim under criminal case, there is no accused

Direct flights to and from Kazakhstan and Armenia restored

Karabakh emergency situations service: Remains of 2 more soldiers found in Hadrut, Varanda and Jrakan

Karabakh Security Council Secretary discusses issues related to water supply and power supply

Armenian analyst: Turkey wants to do everything possible to absorb Azerbaijani army, turn it into subdivision

'Armenia' bloc to apply to Constitutional Court with demand to annul results of elections in coming days

Catholicos Aram I meets with Pope Francis at Vatican

Independent MP sues Armenia Parliament Deputy Speaker Lena Nazaryan for calling her 'an idiot'

Digest: US House calls for at least $50m aid to Armenia, New Jersey recognizes Artsakh independence

Did China's Ambassador to Azerbaijan talk about the "Zangezur corridor"?

Armenia 3rd President sends congratulatory message to China's Jinping

FM: Armenian statehood will become geopolitically disabled without Artsakh

Armenia fuel company owner Barsegh Beglaryan says he won't plead guilty and didn't incite anyone

Armenia 1st Military Unit participants in recent Artsakh war are solemnly demobilized (PHOTOS)

Armenia Environment Ministry: 1,650 structures being dismantled in lakeside zone of Lake Sevan

Armenia acting PM's ex-chief of staff to serve as Member of Parliament

Karabakh President makes new appointment

Karabakh: Searches for remains of servicemen continue in southern direction not under Artsakh's control

Armenia ex-President Sargsyan on criminal charge against him: The accusation is completely false

Google to change rules for finding information on web

Azerbaijan declares impossibility of Armenia lawyers defending Armenian captives in Baku

Armenia Parliament approves several amendments to existing laws

Dollar holding steady in Armenia

Republican Party of Armenia vice-president summoned to Investigative Committee after returning from Brussels

Armenia acting PM attends meeting dedicated to 103rd anniversary of prosecutor's office

Karabakh State Minister: Artsakh is planning to build a few reservoirs

Karabakh State Minister: Artsakh should prepare for elections, but under one condition

Faction of Armenia acting PM's political party votes against the bill that it introduced

Armenia Special Investigation Service ex-chief's son, official Narek Shahinyan stabbed in Yerevan

Kuwait announces launch of its first own satellite on Falcon 9 launch vehicle

Total amount of US assistance to Armenia to increase by $12.94m

Armenia President sends congratulatory message to Canada PM

Armenia acting territorial administration and infrastructure minister on news about being appointed Deputy PM

Judicial farce against Armenian captives continues in Azerbaijan

Oil rises in price

Artsakh state minister believes Russian peacekeepers presence is not limited to 5 years

Additional opportunities created to organize protection of right to self-determination, says Karabakh state minister

Court hearing over case of Armenia 3rd President and company owner taking place

Artsakh state minister: Azerbaijan will no longer use Karmir Shuka-Shushi road soon

Armenia PM staff has new chief

Armenia becomes 2nd country after US to grant patent to computer programs

Armenia provides additional funding to Karabakh

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Artsakh welcomes the recognition of Artsakh by New Jersey

Armenia acting economy minister: Twice as many agricultural products already exported as in 2019, 2020

Three new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Pashinyan: Armenia economic growth forecast for 2021 has risen from 3.2% to 6%

Armenia acting premier makes new appointment

126 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenian acting PM to Chinese President: Armenia is eager to further develop friendly relations with China

Pashinyan to Trudeau: Armenia-Canada cooperation has great potential for furtherance

Job search system within EEU, including Armenia, in operation as of today

House of Representatives members call for at least $50m in US aid to Armenia in fiscal year 2022

China will bash the heads of those who try to enslave it, says Xi Jinping

Newspaper: When will Armenia newly elected parliament convene first session?

Newspaper: Quite interesting developments taking place at departments of Armenia state

Newspaper: Armenia Judicial Department head included in criminal case

Israel asks Washington to put off reopening of US Consulate in Jerusalem

Armenia Health Ministry confirms Siberian ulcer diagnosis of 3 citizens

11-year-old Yerevan boy dies after being electrocuted on June 17

Karabakh President: There is no alternative to international recognition of Artsakh people's right to self-determination

France lifts most COVID-19 restrictions

Turkey's Erdogan wants to control social networks

Armenia MOD Military Police chief undergoes surgery

Germany charges ex-leader of Turkish-Islamic Union for Religious Affairs for offending Jews and Armenians

New Jersey becomes 10th U.S. State to recognize Artsakh

U.S. law enforcement secretly solicits Microsoft customer data thousands of times a year

Armenia ruling party MP: There is still no decision on new foreign minister

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Karabakh Ombudsman: Azerbaijan continues aggression against Artsakh people through informational terrorism

EU governments decide to lift travel restrictions from Armenia and 10 other states

Spanish PM says there will be no referendum on Catalonia independence

Chamber of Deputies of Luxembourg adopts petition condemning operations against Artsakh

Armenia acting deputy MOD on deployment of Russian peacekeepers on country's borders

Baku continues to present demands to Armenia and threaten the country

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Azerbaijan FM informs counterparts of BSEC about construction of "Zangezur corridor"

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The official representative of the "Armenia" blocled by second President Robert Kocharyan, constitutional expert and lawyer Aram Vardevanyan considers absurd the participation of 1,400 policemen in acting PM Nikol Pashinyan's motorcade to Syunik Province as part of his election campaign ahead of the .

"Nikol Pashinyan is not the Prime Minister at the moment, he is on leave, and the responsibilities of the Prime Minister have been assigned to one of the Deputy Prime Ministers. The question arises whether the police force should be involved in the campaign in such a way because the use of such a large force is involving them in the campaign itself.

Second, a question arises from the point of view of symmetry. There are a number of political forces participating in the campaign. How did it happen that there is nothing in terms of ensuring public order at a public rally even with the involvement of more than 50 police officers? How is it that we are always talking about the use of hundreds, already thousands of police forces? After all, there is a principle of proportionality. The police force is a structure that receives remuneration from the state budget; that is, the direction of taxes and duties paid by each of us is chosen simply to satisfy the supposed wishes of one person's campaign; this is absurd, he told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

According to Vardevanyan, this is one of the classic examples of abuse of administrative resources because the police are not only in police uniform, but also in civilian clothes. "And this, we understand is being done to create what impression in front of the cameras. I assure that there will be certain legal processes regarding all this. I regret to state that the law enforcement has not taken any action so far," he added.

And asked why Pashinyan is going to Syunik with a motorcade, Vardevanyan said that this is done to create an atmosphere of fear. "The current and outgoing authorities do not have any trust in Syunik Province. It seems with that they want to sow a certain impression and fear. Such behavior is surprising when we know what alarming situation there is in Syunik Province at the moment in terms of border tension. A question arises: When no action is taken in such a crisis, not even a single statement is made about it, but only demarcation and delimitation are talked about, but they also leave for Syunik on a motorcade. This is a confirmation of the overall lack of sense of responsibility of these outgoing authorities," Aram Vardevanyan concluded.
If we want lasting peace, we must make decisions that will not be too unfair. Robert Kocharyanthe second President, leader of the "Armenia" bloc which will run in Sundays snap parliamentary elections, and its candidate for prime ministersaid this in an interview with Russian media, in connection with the avenues to resolve the Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) conflict with Azerbaijan.

"It seems to me that, nevertheless, it is possible to reach an agreement through negotiations on the former territory, borders of the NKAO. Here we [the Armenian side] have a rather strong argument; it is connected with a nation's right to self-determination. I see certain prospects for negotiations. In what format can the negotiations be? For now, it is the format of the OSCE Minsk Group. Events have led to the fact that Russia's role has become more dominant, and it occupies leading positions within the Minsk Group," said the former president.

To the question whether there was an opportunity to stop the Artsakh war last fall sooner, Kocharyan answered: "Undoubtedly. First, there was an absolute opportunity not to lose it, it had to be stopped. And there were such opportunities. This is just untalented administration [on part of Armenian authorities]. There was an initiative of the President of Russia to stop the warif I am not mistaken, on October 19. The Armenian side rejected that proposal for completely incomprehensible reasons, explaining it by the fact that he [acting PM Nikol Pashinyan] would not be understood correctly and would be called a 'traitor' [by Armenians]. We lost more than if we had agreed at that moment. And they call him a 'traitor' all the same."

The former president does not think that Armenia's possible recognition of Karabakh's independence would have had tangible consequences during the war. "And what would recognition have changed during the war? We had to fight, we had to keep the front, not retreat and hand over everything one by one. I do not think it would have changed anything. We [Armenia] were not recognizing the independence of NKR so as not to provoke a war. But the current authorities moved the issue from the sphere of self-determination to the sphere of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Consciously or because of stupidity, I will not go into details. But it was done, and it legitimized the military campaign of Azerbaijan; allegedly, 'We are restoring our territorial integrity.' And no country condemned the start of hostilities," Robert Kocharyan added.
We strongly condemn the joint visit of the Presidents of Turkey and Azerbaijan on June 15 to the Armenian historic and cultural center of Artsakh - Shushi, which is currently under the Azerbaijani occupation, as an outright provocation against regional peace and security. This is stated in the statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia regarding the visit of the Presidents of Turkey and Azerbaijan to the occupied territories of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh).

It is noteworthy that this visit was preceded by the destruction of the religious, historical and cultural heritage of the forcibly displaced indigenous Armenian population, including the desecration of the St. Holy Savior Ghazanchetsots Cathedral - targeted by the Turkish-Azerbaijani forces during and after the war against Artsakh, as well as the complete destruction of the memorial commemorating the victims of the Armenian Genocide.

Such actions of the Turkish and Azerbaijani authorities, aimed at consolidating the consequences of the use of force against the people of Artsakh, significantly undermine the international efforts to establish stability in the region and are utterly unacceptable. Restoration of the rights of the Armenians of Artsakh, which includes de-occupation of the territories of the Republic of Artsakh and safe return of the displaced population, is essential for overcoming the Turkish-Azerbaijani genocidal threat against the Armenian people.

These provocative actions clearly reveal the false and misleading nature of the statements coming from the official Ankara and Baku on their intentions to normalize the relations with Armenia and the Armenian people.

We once again emphasize that the elimination of the consequences of the recent Turkish-Azerbaijani aggression against Artsakh should be undertaken within the frameworks of the comprehensive settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship, the statement also reads.
Today, at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians hosted Member of the House of Lords, Bishop of Coventry, the Right Reverend Dr. Christopher Cocksworth, who was accompanied by Primate of the Armenian Church in the UK and Ireland, Bishop Hovakim Manukyan, as reported the Information System of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

His Holiness welcomed Bishop Christophers visit to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and expressed his appreciation to him for the support that he has provided to the Armenian people in this difficult period, especially his efforts for the release of Armenian prisoners of war and protection of Armenian shrines.

In his turn, Bishop Christopher said he was glad to have the opportunity to visit Armenia. Touching upon the dire losses that the war caused, he expressed his grief, as well as his support to the Catholicos of All Armenians and informed about the special events and ceremonies that were hosted at the main cathedral of Coventry. He also expressed satisfaction with the close partnership between the Armenian Church in the UK and the Armenian community.

During the conversation, His Holiness Karekin II and the Member of the House of Lords thoroughly discussed the post-war situation, the security of borderline settlements of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) and Armenia and the return of Armenian prisoners of war from Azerbaijan. They particularly touched upon the destruction and appropriation of Armenian spiritual and cultural heritage in the territories of Artsakh that are now under Azerbaijans control and, in this regard, the Catholicos of All Armenians shared his concerns.
Story Highlights 37% of U.S. adults have "a lot" or "some" knowledge about Juneteenth

Support for creating a federal holiday mixed; is high among Black adults

Greater levels of support for teaching Juneteenth in public schools

This study is brought to you by the Gallup Center on Black Voices. Sign up to receive the latest insights.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Most states officially observe June 19 in some way to mark the abolition of slavery in the U.S. As the date approaches this year, a new Gallup poll finds just over a third of Americans report having a lot (12%) or some knowledge (25%) about the "Juneteenth" celebration. Another 34% reporting knowing a little about it, while 28% report knowing nothing at all.

More than two in three Black Americans (69%) say they have a lot or some knowledge about Juneteenth, compared with 40% of Hispanic Americans and 31% of White Americans.

Democrats are more likely to be familiar with Juneteenth than independents and Republicans, with close to half of Republicans, 45%, saying they know nothing at all about the observance. Younger adults are also more likely to be familiar with it than older adults.

U.S. Familiarity With Juneteenth, 2021 How much do you know about the Juneteenth holiday? A lot Some A little bit Nothing at all % % % % National adults 12 25 34 28 Black adults 37 32 27 4 Hispanic adults 13 27 31 29 White adults 7 24 36 32 Democrats 18 29 36 16 Independents 10 27 35 27 Republicans 5 18 32 45 18-34 13 29 36 21 35-54 12 26 34 27 55+ 10 22 33 34 Gallup Panel, May 18-23, 2021

These data are from a web-based Gallup Panel survey conducted May 18-23.

Juneteenth -- also known as "Juneteenth Independence Day," "Freedom Day" or "Emancipation Day" -- commemorates the event on June 19, 1865, when slaves in Texas were informed of their freedom after Confederate general Robert E. Lee's surrender in the U.S. Civil War. The announcement came more than two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which promised freedom upon Union victory in the war to people held as slaves in the rebel states. The state of Texas became the first U.S. state to make Juneteenth a holiday in 1980, and today, 45 states and the District of Columbia have recognized the day in some way -- as a state holiday, a day of observance or a commemoration.

More Favor Than Oppose Making Juneteenth a National Holiday

Attempts at making Juneteenth a national holiday, including efforts in Congress this year, have not been successful.

Thirty-five percent of Americans say Juneteenth should be made a federal holiday, while one in four say it should not be. A plurality (40%) is unsure, including the 28% of U.S. adults who know nothing at all about the holiday.

Black adults (69%) are the subgroup most supportive of making Juneteenth a federal holiday. About four in 10 Hispanic adults (39%) support making it a federal holiday, while 27% of White adults agree.

U.S. Views on Making Juneteenth a Federal Holiday Do you think Juneteenth should be a federal holiday? Yes No Don't know/Unfamiliar with Juneteenth % % % National adults 35 25 40 Black adults 69 14 18 Hispanic adults 39 19 41 White adults 27 29 44 Democrats 57 11 32 Independents 30 28 41 Republicans 7 43 50 18-34 52 15 33 35-54 37 25 38 55+ 18 34 48 Gallup Panel, May 18-23, 2021

Most Democrats (57%) say a new federal holiday should be established to commemorate Juneteenth, while three in 10 independents agree (30%). Among Republicans, 7% are in favor of making Juneteenth a national holiday, 43% are opposed and 50% do not have an opinion.

A slim majority of young adults (52%) support creating a new federal holiday for Juneteenth, though support dwindles with each older age group -- as does familiarity with the holiday.

Greater Support for Adding Juneteenth to Public School Curriculums

Americans are more supportive of teaching the history of Juneteenth in schools than of making it a federal holiday. Nearly half (49%) say it should be added to public schools' history curricula, with most others (35%) unsure or not familiar with the issue. Sixteen percent are opposed.

Among racial groups, the vast majority of Black Americans (84%) say it should be taught in schools, while a small majority of Hispanic adults (54%) agree. Less than half of White Americans (42%) say Juneteenth should be taught in public school history classes, though this figure is more than twice as large as the percentage of those who are opposed.

About three in four Democrats (74%) support making the event part of school curriculums, compared with nearly half of independents (47%). Relatively few Republicans, 17%, support adding Juneteenth to history curriculums, while 31% are opposed.

Majorities of adults aged 18 to 34 (64%) and 35 to 54 (52%) say the event should be taught in schools, while roughly a third of adults aged 55 and older (36%) agree -- though support outweighs opposition among older adults.

Views on Juneteenth Being Taught in Public Schools Should public schools add Juneteenth to their history curriculum? Yes No Don't know/Unfamiliar with Juneteenth % % % National adults 49 16 35 Black adults 84 6 10 Hispanic adults 54 11 36 White adults 42 19 30 Democrats 74 4 22 Independents 47 18 35 Republicans 17 31 52 18-34 64 9 27 35-54 52 16 32 55+ 36 21 44 Gallup Panel, May 18-23, 2021

Bottom Line

Debate about making Juneteenth a federal holiday has been renewed in the racial reckoning that emerged after George Floyd's death at the hands of Minneapolis police last year. While the celebration is recognized in the vast majority of states, attempts to make it a national holiday have so far been unsuccessful. Congress has not established a new national holiday since 1983, when it did so for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

With the heightened media and public attention to issues of racial justice in the past year, it is likely that this poll, conducted in 2021, reflects a higher level of awareness of Juneteenth than existed prior to the national dialogue that began in 2020.

While most Americans currently report having at least a little knowledge of the historical event and its celebration, more than one in four say they know nothing about it. Meanwhile, nearly all Black Americans know about Juneteenth to some extent, including more than two-thirds knowing a lot or some.

Black Americans strongly support creating a new federal holiday for Juneteenth, though support is mixed or low among most other subgroups, largely because other subgroups are less familiar with it. However, national adults who are familiar with Juneteenth are slightly more in support than in opposition to making it a federal holiday.

Teaching about the event as part of U.S. history enjoys greater public support -- and if successful, should increase public awareness of Juneteenth -- and perhaps increase support for making it a public holiday as well.

Learn more about how the Gallup Panel works.
Dr. Emilio G. Volz, a double board-certified physician and a University of Miami alumnus, has been named director of the Student Health Service (SHS).

An emergency and family medicine physician, Volz currently serves as assistant professor of emergency medicine at Florida International University. Before attending Creighton University School of Medicine, he obtained his bachelors degree in microbiology and immunology from the University of Miami.

It definitely feels good to be coming back to the University, said Volz. I know its a time of transition for all of us with the pandemicbut Im someone who has taken care of patients in the worst of the pandemic, someone who has been on the front lines. Hopefully, I will bring reassurance to our students.

Volz said he has been at the bedside during some of the most critical times in a patients life and has dealt with everything from a stubbed toe to moments away from death. He is committed to continuing the SHS mission of supporting a diverse student body and ensuring the health and wellness of all students.

The physician brings to his new role experience in medicine and leadership, including the role of chief resident at Christiana Care Health System in Delaware. He has been in practice for more than a decade and is a member of the American Academy of Emergency Medicine, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the American College of Emergency Physicians.

In his SHS position, Volz will use his skills to oversee clinical operations for the team, provide organizational oversight, and conduct the department strategic planning activities. This includes its transition to UHealththe University of Miami Health System.

Dr. Roy E. Weiss, chair of the Miller School of Medicines Department of Medicine and chief medical officer for COVID-19, chaired the search committee for the selection of Volz. Emilio was the perfect combination of a physician dedicated to the health and diversity of our community who will bring innovations in telemedicine and post-pandemic best practices to cutting edge student health. Weiss said.

He added that UHealth will provide world-class health care that our students and community deserve with access to the most advanced and compassionate medical care in the world.

Patricia A. Whitely, senior vice president for student affairs, looks forward to welcoming Volz back to campus. Students health and well-being touches so many aspects of campus life, said Whitely. I look forward to continuing the valued partnership between Student Health Service and Student Affairs to provide students the very best care possible.

Though the Coral Gables Campus has significantly changed in appearance since he was a commuter student there, Volz said he is glad that the core values of the University have remained the same.

I feel like its really going to be a natural fit, said Volz, who admittingly was nervous about the application process. Im so glad that they took the time to look at my CV, to see my primary care background and training. Everything really clicked, and I am looking forward to working with students.

As Volz steps into the new role on July 1, he wants students at the University to know he is a down to earth kind of guy and that they can come and talk to him about anything health related. I have always enjoyed that component of my job, he added.

Volz succeeds Dr. Howard Anapol, who directed SHS for more than 26 years. Although Anapol is stepping away from SHS, he will remain as the leader of general internal medicine at the Lennar Foundation Medical Center.

Dr. Anapol has been steadfast in his commitment to the students and the University, said Weiss. We cannot thank him enough for caring for the students and I look forward to continuing our work together.






The 2021 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy gets the little things right. Its like a really nice living room on wheels, and the interior has resonated with me during my stint with Autoblogs long-term SUV.

The Calligraphy trim makes the Palisade competitive with premium utes, and accoutrements that Genesis and Lincoln have used to elevate their brands are employed throughout the Hyundai's interior. Thats not to say the Palisade, even in Calligraphy trim, is on par with an Aviator or GV80, but it creates an upscale environment that is aspirational for Hyundai and its buyers.

Its really the details in the Calligraphy trim that create the atmosphere. I immediately noticed the quilted leather door panels with hexagonal shapes and the microfiber headliner. Our Palisade has beige Nappa leather, and assuming it holds up over our year-long test, its impressive. The steering wheel is wrapped in perforated leather, which feels good to grip, and the Harmon Kardon speakers deliver their usual top quality sound (its summer and Ive been listening to a lot of 90s rock on Satellite Radios Lithium and XMU).

The dual sunroofs provide an airy feel, and captains chairs make the cabin more navigable for people and large dogs. Theres also an ultrasonic rear occupant alert in case you forget who all is back there when you get home. Factoring in the puddle and ambient lighting features, it feels like youre driving something more expensive than the $49,255 price of our test model.

The Calligraphy is a $925 step-up from the Palisade's Limited trim, and youre essentially paying for the headliner and leather with hexagons. Its actually worth it. This interior is nicer than many luxury SUVs Ive driven lately because it uses materials and colors smartly. Its busier than Volvo would typically try, but the Palisade has a similar premium vibe. Even when cutting corners -- the grained plastic looks like wood, but its not -- Hyundai gets it right. The accents have the desired effect, but no one expects actual walnut inlays in a Hyundai.

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Hyundai has demonstrated tremendous growth in the last decade, and pulling off an SUV of this size and ambition underscores that progress. For me, that is made manifest in the handsomely trimmed interior space.
President Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin sit for a photo op before the start of their summit Wednesday in Geneva. (Patrick Semansky / Associated Press)

President Biden's first head-of-state sit-down with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, on Wednesday promises to be a test of mettle and wills, each leader confident in his ability to hold the upper hand over the other.

Both have been fixtures in global politics for years, but the relationship between their two countries is at possibly its lowest point since the end of the Cold War.

Biden is not planning a "reset" of relations, which his advisors have described as a trap previous U.S. presidents fell into. Few analysts expect concrete agreements to emerge from Wednesday's summit, but that alone may not be a measure of success or failure.

"We should decide where its in our mutual interest, in the interest of the world, to cooperate, and see if we can do that," Biden said Monday of how he would approach the meeting with Putin. "And the areas where we dont agree, make it clear what the red lines are."

Here are five things to watch for from the tete-a-tete at a lakeside chateau in Geneva:

An un-Trump summit

In contrast to former President Trump's meetings with Putin, Biden is following normal protocol and is accompanied in the closed-door meeting by his secretary of State, Antony J. Blinken, and a translator. Putin has in tow his longtime foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov.

Trump famously refused to allow other officials in the room for some of his talks with the former KGB operative, and confiscated the translator's notes.

Biden also made a point of consulting with NATO allies ahead of the meeting, sharing ideas and positions. Biden's aides made clear the summit would be all-business and that there would be no joint news conference afterward.

There will be four or five hours of nonstop talks, an administration official said, and "no breaking of bread."

Human rights

Biden is expected to raise the issue of human rights with Putin, but he will not likely get very far.

The U.S. president carries with him the cases of several American citizens languishing in Russian prisons. And he can cite the jailing of prominent Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny.

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The Putin foe, who survived poisoning with a Russian nerve agent last year, was jailed when he returned to Russia after being treated in Germany. His health has reportedly faltered in prison. On Monday, Biden was asked at a news conference after meetings in Brussels what Navalny's potential death in prison would mean for U.S.-Russian relations.

"Navalnys death would be another indication that Russia has little or no intention of abiding by basic fundamental human rights. It would be a tragedy," Biden said. "It would do nothing but hurt his relationships with the rest of the world, in my view, and with me."

Cyberattacks and military aggression

At the top of Biden's list of complaints to raise with Putin are a series of cyberattacks targeting vital U.S. infrastructure, sensitive government agencies and American elections.

Although Putin has denied responsibility, U.S. intelligence is convinced Moscow at the very least sanctioned the damaging intrusions, to which Washington has responded in at least one case with an undisclosed "proportional" counter-breach.

The administration has also imposed economic and diplomatic sanctions on Putin and his associates, but without apparently influencing their behavior.

In recent years, Putin's Russia has expanded its military presence, establishing a major army base in the Mediterranean for the first time in nearly half a century and reaching into Turkey and parts of the Middle East.

Biden will attempt to establish a "clear laydown" of U.S. national interests that if the Russians challenge them they will be "met with a response," said an administration official previewing the summit for reporters.

Belarus, Georgia, Ukraine

Putin continues to lust after these three former Soviet republics, but only Belarus remains firmly in his orbit.

The Kremlin continues to lend firm support to Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, a dictator who has detained and tortured thousands of dissidents, according to human rights organizations.

Ukraine and Georgia, meanwhile, yearn to stay free and are seeking protection from, and even membership in, NATO as Putin amasses troops and conducts military operations to threaten them. Russia invaded part of Ukraine in 2014 and continues to occupy the Crimean peninsula.

Arms control

If the two can find an area of common ground, it might be arms control. Both have shown interest in resuming talks that would extend or follow on New START, the last U.S.-Russian arms control treaty.

But the reality is Putin prefers a state of conflict with the West because it distracts his citizenry from domestic problems, elevates his status on the world stage, and arms him for what he sees as a genuine battle  fighting U.S.-led Western liberalism.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A man suffered a gruesome death Sunday when he was tied to the back of his own pick-up truck and dragged down a roadway, Texas cops say.

After 60-year-old Roman Rodriguez was dragged behind the truck, the vehicle was set on fire, the Liberty County Sheriffs Office said. Officials were alerted to the truck fire around 10 p.m. Sunday and found Rodriguez dead body.

That led the sheriffs office to begin an investigation into who caused his death. By Monday afternoon, 37-year-old Robert Eugene Hoffpauir had been charged in the death of Rodriguez.

The sheriffs office said there was a domestic disturbance Sunday between Rodriguez and Tiffany Ann Cole, who is Hoffpauirs mother. During the altercation at Coles home, Hoffpauir began severely beating Rodriguez before putting a tow strap around his waste, the sheriffs office said.

The other end of the strap was attached to the pick-up truck owned by Rodriguez. Hoffpauir drove the truck a lengthy distance down the road before he abandoned it and set it on fire with Rodriguez still attached, according to the sheriffs office.

Officials found a trail of blood from the home to where Rodriguez body was found about a mile down the road, according to BlueBonnet News.

Its unclear if Rodriguez died from being beaten, dragged or from the fire. Officials are conducting an autopsy.

Hoffpauir was jailed in Liberty County with bail set at $1 million, the sheriffs office said. He was also charged with abuse of a corpse, BlueBonnet News reported.

Liberty County is northeast of Houston.
Jun. 14TIFTON  A few college professors will spend the summer taking a break from their regular duties, maybe relaxing with family and friends, or reading books that are not required for their classes. Rob Carpenter is not in that group. He will be in court.

For more than 15 years, Carpenter, an assistant professor of Spanish in the School of Arts and Sciences at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, has worked as an interpreter in the south Georgia court system to assist immigrants from Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador, Cuba and Puerto Rico during their day in court.

Imagine being summoned to appear before a judge in a country where you don't know the language; the process is intimidating enough for citizens who know English and the court system.

"Trial proceedings are stressful for all involved, but this is especially true for the parties to a proceeding," according to Tift County State Court Judge Herbert W. Benson. "These proceedings determine whether a person goes home afterwards or goes to jail.

"Many proceedings involve the well-being of children and what steps are necessary to protect them. Obviously, matters this serious require an interpreter who is equally serious and professional and makes every effort to translate correctly what is being said for the parties and the court and its personnel."

Benson, who has worked with Carpenter for five years, said the ABAC faculty member epitomizes these qualities.

"Rob is always calm, respectful to all, and serves as an outstanding ambassador between the judicial system and our Hispanic community," Benson said.

Carpenter, an ABAC faculty member since 2003, said he realizes the responsibility of his service.

"Helping the courts fulfill their mission of imparting justice and knowing that my role as interpreter is crucial to those who have limited English speaking skills are the most rewarding aspects of my service," Carpenter said.

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Carpenter said he fell in love with Spanish when he went to Costa Rica on a mission trip with his church as a teenager.

"I had such a wonderful experience with the Costa Rican culture and the young people that I went back several times to visit," he said. "I just grew to love the people and the language."

It was in Costa Rica that Carpenter began doing written translation and oral interpretation work. When he returned to the United States in the mid-1990s, he worked as an oral interpreter in the local courts in Detroit, where he worked for interpretation/translation companies that contracted his services. He found himself regularly working on court assignments.

"Once I arrived in Georgia, I naturally gravitated toward this type of work since I had a knack for it," Carpenter said.

He began doing oral interpretation for the State Court of Tift County and the Tift County Superior Court in 2005. Once word spread that he was an experienced interpreter, he began getting additional calls for his services.

Carpenter now serves as the official interpreter on a weekly basis for the State Court of Tift County. He also works regularly on an on-call basis for the Cook County Probate Court, Nashville Municipal Court, Tift County Superior Court, and the Coffee County Superior Court, as well as the South Georgia Judicial District, which includes the counties of Grady, Decatur, Mitchell, Calhoun and Baker.

"Rob is often asked to interpret for people from many different countries, many of whom have different dialects and/or customs from other areas," Benson said. "He manages to work through these problems with patience until these obstacles are overcome."

One of the most challenging parts of interpreting, according to Carpenter, is "training one's mind and memory to retain large chunks of information and then interpret it into the target language correctly."

Learning slang terms in Spanish and taking good notes are additional challenges. Carpenter said Spanish is different from English, in that Spanish is a Romance language while English is a Germanic language. One of the differences between English and Spanish is that to English speakers those speaking Spanish sound as if they are running all of their words together.

"This is called 'linking,' and it makes it difficult for English speakers to understand [Spanish] because English tends to be more like German in that it is more of a choppy language, while Spanish just flows all together," he said.

Carpenter's skills and knowledge as an interpreter continue to earn him the respect of those he serves.

"I cannot say enough good things about Rob and the way he handles himself during court proceedings," Benson said. "He serves as an interpreter in both criminal and civil matters in our court and is always the consummate professional."
Algeria's long-dominant National Liberation Front (FLN) won weekend parliamentary elections, but with a significantly reduced number of seats and with the country's lowest ever turnout at 23 percent, the electoral board said Tuesday.

The vote was boycotted by the long-running Hirak protest movement and followed a string of arrests of opposition figures, with police deploying heavily in the capital Algiers to pre-empt any attempt to hold rallies.

Only 5.6 million of more than 24 million eligible voters lodged a ballot at Saturday's polls -- a record low turnout of just 23.03 percent -- with more than a million invalid votes cast, the ANIE electoral board said in provisional figures.

According to the initial results, the FLN led with 105 out of 407 seats, electoral commission chief Mohamed Chorfi said.

The result is better than expected for the FLN, which emerged from Algeria's long struggle for independence from France in 1962 and was the country's sole party until the first multi-party elections in 1990.

But the party of autocrat Abdelaziz Bouteflika had been considered moribund after the ailing president resigned under pressure from the army following weeks of mass Hirak protests in early 2019.

If the results are confirmed, the FLN will have lost more than 50 seats and will control just a quarter of the new assembly.

Independents came second with 78 seats while the Movement of Society for Peace (MSP), a moderate Islamist party, came third with 64.

The Democratic National Rally (RND), traditional ally of the FLN and also linked to Bouteflika's rule, took 57 seats.

- 'Total freedom' -

Ahead of the official results, the MSP had said its candidates were in the lead in most regions, warning against "numerous efforts to alter the results".

But Chorfi said that "the foundations of this parliament have been built in total freedom and transparency for the people".

Said Salhi, the vice president of the Algerian League for the Defence of Human Rights, said "the results, unsurprisingly, came from a closed election that was held in a climate of repression".

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"It was another missed opportunity for change and democracy," he told AFP.

Louisa Dris-Ait Hamadouche, a political science professor at the University of Algiers, said the record low turnout "shows to what extent this election, like those that preceded it, are not the solution to this crisis".

President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, himself elected on an official turnout of less than 40 percent in late 2019, had put on a brave face regarding the highs rate of abstention and ruined ballots.

"For me, the turnout isn't important. What's important is whether the lawmakers that the people elect have enough legitimacy," Tebboune said Sunday.

The Hirak, which apart from a hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic had held twice-weekly demonstrations for reform until they were effectively banned last month, had already rejected the polls as a "sham".

After a quota system introduced in 2012 was abolished, Algeria's next parliament will now be almost exclusively male, with only 34 women -- out of 8,000 candidates -- elected, compared to 146 women in the previous assembly.

Hirak had boycotted the vote, as with a constitutional referendum in November that gave additional powers to the presidency and the army.

But voting day was mainly calm, except in the region of Kabylie, where ballot boxes were ransacked and security forces detained dozens of people, rights groups said.

Two prominent journalists detained on the eve of the election and released Saturday, Khaled Drareni and Ihsane El Kadi, condemned their "arbitrary" arrests.

bur-cnp/agr/dl/kjl
Last week, Google dropped a set of updates coming to Pixel phones and it's following up that news today with features heading to the broader Android ecosystem. This lot of new features will arrive mostly today or this week, and they span things like Messages, Emoji, Assistant, Android Auto and Voice Access.

Of these, the one that will probably be the most useful in our day-to-day interactions with our phones is the new ability to star content in the Messages app. This is like pinning a message in Slack or Telegram  after you tap and hold a message and star it, you can easily find it later by going to the Starred section in the app. Google said starred messages "will start to roll out more broadly over the coming weeks."

Google is also making it easier to interact with your device using just your voice. More apps are now compatible with Assistant, featuring deeper integration than before. This means you can now ask the Assistant things like "pay my Capital One bill" or "check my miles on Strava" to open the respective apps and finish those tasks or see your stats onscreen. You can also say "Hey Google, shortcuts" to see what else you can do.

Google Android update. An image showing how Starred Messages will work in the updated Messages app.

For people with motor disabilities, Voice Access now has a gaze detection feature in beta that will let you set it to only work when you're looking at the screen. This way, if you're using voice commands to interact with your phone while you're around friends and family, you don't have to worry about Voice Access picking up your voice when you're just chatting with someone. Google also updated the password input tool in Voice Access. Now, when the system detects a password field, it'll let you input letters, numbers and symbols. So you can say "capital P, a, s, s, w, o, r, d" for example, or "dollar sign exclamation point" to input the respective symbols.

Google's emoji-combining tool, called Emoji Kitchen, is getting an update too. Say you've created the perfect sticker by mixing the crying-face with the raised-hands icon. The next time you type something in Gboard that Google believes is relevant to that sticker, it'll show it as a suggested emoji. These contextual Emoji Kitchen suggestions roll out to Gboard beta today, and will arrive this summer to all Gboard users (on Android 6.0 and later) typing in English, Spanish and Portugese.

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Those using Android Auto in their cars will now see more customization options, like manually setting a dark mode for their dashboard and using their phones to personalize a launcher screen. Google added new navigation cues to make it easier to browse content, with new tabs in media apps, a back-to-top shortcut and an A-to-Z button in the scroll bar. It's also simplified the setup process to help new users get started with Android Auto "with a few simple taps."

Google Voice Access password input

Google says it also added new app experiences, with EV charging, parking and navigation apps now available in Android Auto. It also improved the messaging experience by letting you access your favorite messaging apps like WhatsApp or Messages from the launcher screen. You can also directly send new messages from these two apps as well.

Finally, Google is bringing its Android-based earthquake alert system to more countries. The Android Earthquake Alerts System uses the millions of Android devices around the world as mini seismometers to tell if tectonic movements are happening. It launched last August in California, and more recently expanded to Greece and New Zealand. Today, Google is introducing the system in Turkey, the Philippines, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

The company also said it plans to make this feature available in most countries in the first half of 2022, starting with countries "with high earthquake risks that also have a significant number of people using Android phones with Google Play Services." Then, it will launch in countries with moderate earthquake risk and then the rest of the world.
BERLIN (Reuters) - The number of politically motivated crimes in Germany rose last year, as protests opposing government measures to curb the coronavirus pandemic gave a boost to the far-right, Germany's domestic intelligence service said.

More than half of the 44,692 politically motivated crimes registered in 2020 were committed by far-right radicals, the agency said in its annual report published on Tuesday.

"Extremists and terrorists are not going into lockdown," Thomas Haldenwang, head of the BfV domestic security agency, said at a news conference to present the report.

Germany is trying to stem a rise in violent far-right ideology. Far-right violent crimes, such as a shooting that killed nine migrants in the town of Hanau in February last year, rose by 10.6%, the report showed.

Protests against COVID-19 restrictions were influenced by right-wing radicals, the report said. "Right-wing extremists took up the coronavirus debate and almost exclusively addressed the government's protective measures," it added.

In August, protesters stormed the steps of the Reichstag parliament building, some of them waving far-right flags. The images went around the world and were condemned by leading German politicians. 

Membership of a network of far-right groups that claim allegiance to the pre-war German Reich rose last year, through contact with anti-coronavirus restrictions protesters, it said.

The number of left-wing violent crimes also surged in 2020, with the majority targeting the police and security authorities, as well as far-right protesters at anti-coronavirus lockdown demonstrations.

(Reporting by Riham Alkousaa; Editing by Alex Richardson)
FILE: John McAfee AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File

Antivirus software exec John McAfee testified against his extradition to the US on Tuesday.

In a Spanish court, McAfee claimed he'd spend the rest of his life behind bars if he was extradited, the AP reported.

McAfee is wanted in Tennessee for tax-related charges for his alleged failure to disclose income.

See more stories on Insider's business page.

John McAfee, the founder of the antivirus software McAfee, testified in Spain on Tuesday to fight his extradition to the United States on tax-related criminal charges, the Associated Press reported.

The 75-year-old argued that if extradited to the US, he would spend the rest of his life behind bars, according to the report.

His charges carry a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, the AP reported.

Prosecutors in Tennessee say McAfee failed to disclose earnings made from cryptocurrency, speaking fees, and income he made from selling the rights to his life story for a documentary, according to the report.

During the virtual hearing at the Spanish National Court on Tuesday, McAfee also claimed the charges against him were politically motivated. A judge is expected to rule on whether he is to be extradited to the US in the next few days, according to the AP.

McAfee was arrested in October 2020 at an airport in Barcelona, the AP reported. The outspoken exec has continued to praise cryptocurrency and rail against his jailers using posts shared to his Twitter account.

Read the original article on Business Insider
CAIRO (AP)  Arab foreign ministers on Tuesday backed calls for the United Nations Security Council to intervene in a lingering dispute between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia over a massive dam Addis Ababa is building on Nile Rivers main tributary.

The move, announced at a meeting in Qatar, was the latest push by Cairo and Khartoum to reach an agreement on the filling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit said the Arab countries will press for the Security Council to hold an urgent session on the decade-long dispute.

Aboul Gheit spoke at a joint news conference with Qatars Foreign Minister Mohammad bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Doha, following the meeting of Arab ministers.

The three nations had been close to reaching a U.S.-brokered accord last year, but Ethiopia walked out of a signing meeting in Washington, accusing former President Donald Trumps administration of siding with Egypt.

Cairo and Khartoum have repeatedly called for the U.S., the European Union, and the U.N. to join the talks as mediators, along with the African Union. Addis Ababa has rejected the idea.

The agreement would spell out how the dam is operated and filled, based on international law and norms governing cross-border rivers.

The dam is now 80% complete and is expected to reach full generating capacity in 2023, making it Africas largest hydroelectric power plant and the worlds seventh-largest, according to reports in Ethiopias state media.

The dispute now centers on how quickly Ethiopia should fill and replenish the reservoir and how much water it releases downstream in case of a multi-year drought. The latest round of African Union-brokered negotiations in April failed to make progress.

Tuesdays development came amid diplomatic and political pressure by Egypt and Sudan on Ethiopia ahead its planned second phase of filling the dam. They argue that Ethiopias plan to add 13.5 billion cubic meters of water in 2021 to the dams reservoir is a threat to them.

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There is a united Arab position, Al Thani, the Qatari foreign minister, said. Water security is about survival for mankind, and for the peoples of Sudan and Egypt.

A final communique of the meeting called on the U.N. Security Council to take necessary measures to launch an active negotiating process aiming at reaching a deal within a specific timeframe.

Egypt and Sudan said they had sent letters to the Security Council this month, explaining their positions on the dam. Both warned about dire repercussions to peace and stability of the Horn of Africa without a deal.

They accused Ethiopia of failing to help reach a fair, balanced and legally binding agreement in previous talks overseen by the African Union.

Ethiopia's Foreign Ministry issued a statement late Tuesday denouncing the Arab League communique. It said the 22-member bloc's approach unhelpful and misguided on the dispute. Addis Ababa has maintained that the dam will help pull millions of its nearly 110 million citizens out of poverty and make the country a major power exporter.

Dohas hosting of the meeting marks a new beginning for the Egypt-Qatar ties and Qatars reemergence on the regional diplomatic stage after years of relative isolation. Egypt, along with other Gulf countries, was party to a boycott of Qatar that was based largely on its ties to Turkey and Iran.

A January declaration put an end to the diplomatic crisis that began in 2017 with a rift between Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain on one side and Qatar on the other.

The four countries had jointly boycotted Qatar and hoped an embargo and media blitz would pressure it to end its close relations with Turkey and Iran. Egypt and the UAE have viewed the support by Qatar and Turkey of Islamist groups like the Muslim Brotherhood as a security threat. Saudi Arabia and Bahrain were primarily concerned about Qatars ties with Iran.

The countries accused Qatar of cozying up to Iran and financing extremist groups in the region, though Doha denied the charges. Qatar-based satellite news network Al Jazeera was at the center of the dispute. The four nations demanded its closure, among other measures, which Qatar rejected.

Al-Thani and Aboul Gheit also said ministers discussed the Israel-Palestinian conflict and discussed steps to stop what Al-Thani described as Israeli violations in Jerusalem. Egypt and Qatar have played a significant role in the conflict between Israel and Gazas ruler Hamas, because they maintain diplomatic ties with the militant group.
Hunter Biden, son of then-Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, addresses the virtual 2020 Democratic National Convention, on August 20, 2020. Hunter is pursuing a full-time career as an artist. (DNCC via Getty Images)

Art experts say they are impressed by the work President Joe Bidens son, Hunter Biden, has been producing.

Hunter Biden, 51, has said he is pursuing a full-time career as an artist after struggling with substance abuse and creating political headaches for his father. Hunter Biden has plans underway for private showings of his artwork.

Potential buyers will be able to purchase some of his creations in Log Angeles this autumn, with a following exhibition planned in New York, according to artnet.com.

Prices for Hunter Bidens work will range from $75,000 for works on paper to as high as half a million dollars for large-scale paintings, his Soho art dealer, Georges Berges, told artnet. Its unclear whether any buyers have lined up to actually purchase the work.

Those price tags might sound high, but art dealers have praised Hunters artistic ability, saying his work could be worth big bucks.

Speaking to The New York Post, Mark Tribe, chairman of the MFA Fine arts department at New York Citys School of Visual Arts, suggested he was a fan of Hunters work, calling it strong.

The colors and compelling organic forms  its the kind of organic abstraction that I find easy on the eyes and provokes your curiosity, he said of Hunters mixed-media paintings and drawings.

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Meanwhile, Alex Acevedo, 75, the owner of the Alexander Gallery in Midtown Manhattan, said he was floored by Hunter Bidens talent.

Ive been in the art business since 1956...Im not impressed with modern art at all. But I was floored by that guy, he said of Hunter Bidens work. The palette was wonderful. The space was well-organized. I would buy a couple of them.

The art expert said he believed that anybody who buys the presidents sons work would be guaranteed an instant profit.

However, he admitted that is not entirely owing to Hunter Bidens talent, saying: Hes the presidents son. Everybody would want a piece of that. The provenance is impeccable.

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If Hunter Biden were not the presidents son, Mr Acevedo said his work would likely fetch around $25,000 to $100,000.

As a Biden, however, he said he believed the up-and-coming artists work could sell for as much as $1 million.

Speaking with artnet on his own motivations for pursuing an artistic career, Hunter Biden, who has struggled with drug addiction in the past, said he does not necessarily use his work to cope.

It comes from a much deeper place, he said.

If you stand in front of a Rothko, the things that he evokes go far beyond the pain that Rothko was experiencing in his personal life at that moment, he said, referring to the work of American abstract painter Mark Rothko.

I dont paint from emotion or feeling, which I think are both very ephemeral, he said. For me, painting is much more about kind of trying to bring forth what is, I think, the universal truth.

Read More

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Australia's conservative government bowed to public pressure and announced the release of a Tamil asylum-seeking family from island detention Tuesday, after the youngest daughter fell ill.

The Murugappan family of four have been held at the remote Christmas Island immigration detention centre since August 2019, as they fight deportation to Sri Lanka.

The family's neighbours in the small, rural Queensland town of Biloela have been waging a vocal campaign for them to remain in Australia, giving their case national prominence.

Amid growing support for their case, Priya and Nades Murugappan along with their Australian-born daughters Kopika and Tharunicaa will now be allowed to live temporarily in Perth, Western Australia.

It comes after four-year-old Tharunicaa was airlifted to a hospital in Perth last week to receive treatment for a blood infection.

Immigration Minister Alex Hawke announced Monday the family would stay in Perth while they exhaust their legal options, as the government faced a backlash within its own political ranks over its handling of the case.

"In making this determination I am balancing the government's ongoing commitment to strong border protection policies with appropriate compassion in circumstances involving children in detention," he said in a statement.

Australia's hardline immigration stance prohibits anyone who arrives by boat -- as the Murugappans did separately in 2012 and 2013 -- from staying in the country permanently, and the couple have not been accepted as refugees.

Their lawyer, Carina Ford, said the family was "relieved" at being reunited and leaving detention after more than three years, both on Christmas Island and in Melbourne.

The "Home to Bilo" campaign welcomed Monday's decision, saying it was "the first important step in getting them home" to the Biloela community.

Hawke said he had not yet decided whether to grant an exemption allowing the family to apply for alternative visas.

An online petition urging the government not to deport the family to Sri Lanka, where the daughters have never visited, has gathered more than 500,000 signatures.

hr/arb/reb
LONDON (AP)  Britain and Australia announced the broad outlines of a free trade deal Tuesday, eliminating tariffs on a wide range of goods as the U.K. seeks to expand links around the world following its exit from the European Union.

The pact is expected to boost exports of traditional British products such as Scotch whisky, while boosting imports of lamb and wine from Australia. Crucially for Britain, it will also reduce barriers to trade in financial and other services. The U.K. hopes the deal will help it join the trans-Pacific trade partnership, which would open the door to increased trade throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

It is the first trade deal Britain has negotiated from scratch since it left the EU. Earlier deals with countries including Japan and Canada were built on existing agreements struck by the EU.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson appeared outside his Downing Street office with his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison on Tuesday, to highlight the benefits each country would receive from the deal and stress the long ties between the two nations.

This is an ambitious free trade agreement,'' Morrison told reporters. This is not a standard cookie-cutter agreement. This is an agreement with great ambition for both countries.''

While both leaders were effusive in praising the benefits of the deal, details were limited. The U.K. said a final agreement in principle would be published in the coming days."

Australia is the U.K.'s 14th largest trading partner, accounting for 13.9 billion pounds ($19.5 billion) of exports and imports last year, according to British government statistics. The relationship is even more important to Australia, which counts Britain as its 5th largest trading partner.

Australian farmers may be one of the big beneficiaries of the deal as agricultural goods account for about 14% of the country's total exports. That has raised concern among British farmers, who fear they wont be able to compete with cheap imports from Australia, which has different rules on animal welfare and environmental protection than the U.K.

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U.K. farm groups reacted with caution, saying they were waiting to see the details of the agreement.

The ultimate test of this trade deal will be whether it contributes to moving farming across the world onto a more sustainable footing, or whether it instead undermines U.K. farming and merely exports the environmental and animal welfare impact of the food we eat," National Farmers Union President Minette Batters said in a statement.

Johnson defended the deal, saying tariff-free agricultural imports would be capped for 15 years to protect U.K. farmers. The government also said it would seek to increase agricultural exports to Asia and the Pacific.

I want everybody to understand that this is a sensitive sector for both sides and weve got a deal that runs over 15 years and contains the strongest possible provisions for animal welfare,'' Johnson said. But I think it is a good deal, and I think its one that will benefit British farmers and British consumers as well.''

Former Australian trade negotiator Dmitry Grozoubinski, who now runs the Geneva-based consultancy ExplainTrade, said the significance of the deal may be in the benchmark it sets for the future.

British farmers should probably be far more concerned about what comes next in terms of what kind of precedent it sets for future trade deals than Australia specifically,'' he told the BBC.

Johnson's government has been focused on negotiating free trade deals around the world in an effort to boost economic growth following Brexit. The biggest prize would be the United States, which also has a large export-focused agricultural industry.

While the debate over agricultural products has garnered most of the attention during negotiations over the free-trade deal, the provisions governing professional services may have a bigger impact on the British economy.

Australia imported 5.4 billion pounds worth of services from the U.K. last year, making it the 10th largest market for Britain's service industry. Services account for about 80% of the U.K. economy.

It is encouraging to see services recognized in the (Free Trade Agreement,) and going forward we are confident there will be continued momentum to strengthen ties in financial and professional services specifically," said Catherine McGuinness, policy chair for the City of London Corp., which represents the U.K. financial services industry.

__

McGuirk reported from Canberra, Australia.
By Sonali Paul

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Australia's biggest exporting state on Tuesday urged Canberra to stop antagonising China, the country's top trade partner, in remarks that came amid escalating criticism of Beijing led by the United States, Australia's main ally.

"This isn't about kowtowing to other countries and giving in," Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan said at Australia's biggest oil and gas industry conference, being held in Perth. "There needs to be a national reset in that relationship."

Ties with China worsened last year when Australia called for an independent investigation into the origins of the novel coronavirus, which sparked trade reprisals from China, hitting Australian goods ranging from barley and coal to lobster and wine.

Relations had already soured after Australia banned Chinese tech giant Huawei from the country's 5G network in 2018.

Beseeching the federal government to stop talk of conflict and trade retaliation, McGowan asked: "How is it in our interests to be reckless with trading relationships that fund and drive our prosperity and our nation forward?"

McGowan's comments came two days after Group of Seven leaders meeting in Britain chided China over a wide range of issues, sparking an angry response from Beijing. Attending the G7 meeting as a guest, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison met with U.S. President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson to discuss Indo-Pacific security.

Western Australia's top exports, iron ore and liquefied natural gas (LNG), have so far escaped China's trade reprisals, with China heavily dependent on Australia's iron ore for its steel industry and increasingly reliant on gas for power generation as it looks to cut emissions from coal.

Western Australia exported A$104 billion ($80 billion) worth of goods to China in 2020, making up 71% of Australia's goods exports to China.

($1 = 1.2990 Australian dollars)

(Reporting by Sonali Paul; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)
CHICAGO (AP)  Two Chicago educational institutions have received donations from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, the largest gifts from a single person in their histories, officials said Tuesday.

Kennedy-King College, a branch of City Colleges of Chicago, was given $5 million by Scott. The University of Illinois-Chicago received $40 million from the ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

Ms. Scotts extremely generous donation will advance the lives of students who are poised to make great contributions to our city, our state and our world, said UIC Chancellor Michael D. Amiridis. "Her gift is a vote of confidence in the mission of public higher education and in UIC.

City College officials say the money is the largest single private donation ever given Kennedy-King. The donation is part of $2.7 billion given to 286 organizations by Scott.

Forbes Magazine has reported Kennedy-King College, which serves a largely African-American student body, is considered one of the top 10 community colleges in the country as determined by Academic Influence.

We are dedicated to realizing the full potential of each one of our talented students, said Kennedy-King College President Greg A. Thomas, adding college officials are deeply grateful to Ms. Scott for the gift.

Located in Chicagos South Side Englewood neighborhood, Kennedy-King serves nearly 5,000 students, offering culinary and hospitality, construction technology and creative arts classes.

The donations announced Tuesday is the third round of no-strings-attached, major philanthropic gifts Scott has made. Scotts wealth, estimated by Forbes at roughly $60 billion, has only grown since she divorced from Bezos in 2019 and walked away with a 4% stake in Amazon. She has pledged to give away a majority of her wealth during her lifetime.
The Biden administration announced Tuesday that it will "dramatically expand" eligibility for a program that enables young Central Americans to immigrate to the U.S.

Why it matters: The expansion of the Central American Minors (CAM) program is part of a wider effort by the administration to "promote safe, orderly, and humane migration," said the press release from Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

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The state of play: The CAM program was created under the Obama administration to facilitate the legal entry of Central American minors into the U.S., per CNBC.

It was dismantled under the Trump administration before being reinstated by President Joe Biden in March.

The big picture: The expansion could significantly increase the number of Central American minors able to be reunited with family already in the U.S., reports the Los Angeles Times.

The program had previously allowed parents in the U.S. to petition to be reunited with their children still in their home countries, per the LA Times.

Now this eligibility will be expanded to "include include legal guardians (in addition to parents)" so long as they have meet the qualifications, such as having legal permanent residency or temporary protected status, per the press release.

Eligibility will also encompass U.S.-based parents and legal guardians "who have a pending asylum application or a pending U visa petition filed before May 15, 2021."

What they're saying: "We are firmly committed to welcoming people to the United States with humanity and respect, as well as providing a legal alternative to irregular migration," Mayorkas and Blinken said in the press release.

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President Joe Biden on Tuesday announced plans to nominate former Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar to be the U.S. ambassador to Mexico, and Morgan Stanley vice chairman Tom Nides to be ambassador to Israel.

The long-awaited announcement came as Biden made his first trip abroad since taking office. Biden has undertaken a trip to Europe with the aim of demonstrating to global leaders that America is back at the table.

Nidess nomination comes just days after Israeli opposition parties were sworn in as a new governing coalition, formally ousting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after twelve consecutive years in office.

Other nominations included Captain C.B. Sully Sullenberger, a retired airline pilot who successfully landed U.S. Airways flight 1549 on the Hudson River in 2009 after a dual engine failure, to be ambassador to the International Civil Aviation Organization.

The president also tapped Julianne Smith, who served as national security adviser to Biden when he was vice president, as U.S. permanent representative to NATO. Smith is currently an adviser to Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Biden will nominate Julie Chung for ambassador to Sri Lanka; Sharon L. Cromer for ambassador to Gambia; Troy Damian Fitrell as ambassador to Guinea; Marc Ostfield for ambassador to the Republic of Paraguay; and Dr. Cynthia Ann Telles for ambassador to Costa Rica.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki has previously said that the nomination process can be a lengthy one as countries have to agree to these selections, and so sometimes thats part of the timeline.

Some of Bidens nominees who were not formally announced on Tuesday but have been selected are still completing background checks and financial reviews, according to the New York Times.

Those who have been selected but not publicly announced include R. Nicholas Burns, a veteran Foreign Service officer and a former ambassador to NATO, whom Biden has reportedly selected as ambassador to China, as well as Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, who has reportedly been chosen as ambassador to India.

More from National Review
US President Joe Biden and the EU agreed a long-term truce in the 17-year-old Airbus-Boeing feud Tuesday, putting aside their own disputes to take on a rising China.

Negotiated in marathon talks by EU and US officials, the truce was formalised in Biden's summit with European leaders Charles Michel and Ursula von der Leyen, who hosted him in Brussels.

Washington and Brussels will "work together to challenge and counter China's non-market practices in this sector that give China's companies an unfair advantage," Biden said in a statement issued after the talks.

"It's a model we can build on for other challenges posed by China's economic model," he added.

Von der Leyen said the summit had "delivered" as she hailed a "breakthrough" in a feud that became one of the longest in World Trade Organization history.

"This really opens a new chapter in our relationship because we move from litigation to cooperation on aircraft," she added.

Earlier this year Biden and Von der Leyen -- the president of the European Commission -- had suspended retaliatory tariffs in the dispute over subsidies for the rival planemakers. The punitive measures targeted European cheese and wine and American wheat and tobacco, among other products.

Officials said the truce would last for at least five years, leaving enough time to resolve the fight -- while still factoring in China's growing capability in the aviation industry.

- 'Sweating' for deal -

Biden's two-hour stopover at EU headquarters, tucked between a NATO summit and his sitdown with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Geneva, is supposed to mark a clear break with the tumultuous four years with Donald Trump as president.

Airbus and Boeing welcomed a deal that the former said would "provide the basis to create a level-playing field which we have advocated for since the start of this dispute".

French President Emmanuel Macron hailed the agreement as "good news" for French wine producers, who see American tariffs lifted as part of it.

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"These are the first results of our new relationship with our American partners. This is effective cooperation," he wrote on Twitter.

Germany's Economy Minister Peter Altmaier said the accord was "a great relief".

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, head of the WTO, said she was "delighted" to see that "even the most seemingly intractable differences can be resolved."

The Europeans are trying to clear the slate of trade disputes to consolidate a more friendly phase and jointly tackle other issues, which also include curbing big tech and handling Russia.

A European official said both sides had been "sweating" to find common ground ahead of the meeting and give a clear sign that Trump-era battles will soon be behind them.

But another, as yet unsolved, row is a tariff of 25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminium that Trump slapped on Europe and other close partners in 2018.

Brussels hit back with counter-tariffs on 2.8 billion euros worth of iconic US products, including bourbon whiskey, jeans, and Harley-Davidson motorbikes.

Von der Leyen said the "first priority" was put on the aircraft dispute and that Washington knew that a solution was needed on steel by the end of the year when Europe could inflict fresh sanctions.

Trump and Brussels also quarrelled over taxing big tech platforms after France led a group of EU states by hitting Google, Facebook and others with a special levy.

Washington fought back with a wave of counter-tariffs that Biden has frozen, as both sides await a worldwide deal on how to better tax big tech companies.

- 'Maximum pressure' -

Biden and the EU chiefs agreed to cooperate in something called a Trade and Technology Council that will attempt to write joint rules for artificial intelligence and other innovations over the coming years.

A senior US administration official described the council as an important initiative that would serve as a platform for cooperation for years ahead.

"The notion here is that the United States and Europe laid the foundation for the world economy after World War II and now have to work together to write the rules of the road for the next generation," the official said.

Though unnamed, China is the important backdrop for the council, which will set rules for "technologies based on our shared democratic values, including respect for human rights", the communique said.

arp/del/tgb
US President Joe Biden on Tuesday named seasoned politician Ken Salazar as ambassador to Mexico, tasked with cultivating the so far chilly relationship with leader Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

Known for frequently sporting a cowboy hat, the folksy Spanish speaker comes from a political family in Colorado and was elected a US senator before becoming former president Barack Obama's first interior secretary, in charge of federal lands.

Salazar identifies as Mexican-American and co-chaired a committee on the Biden presidential campaign aimed at wooing Latino voters, although he traces his ancestry not to Mexico but to Spanish settlers who founded Santa Fe, now in the US state of New Mexico, in the 16th century.

Biden, who announced Salazar's nomination in a statement alongside other posts, has had cool ties with Lopez Obrador, who despite his leftist ideology formed a warm partnership with former president Donald Trump.

Lopez Obrador, a populist who has presided over one of the world's highest tolls from Covid-19, reached a deal with Trump to detain Central American migrants seeking to enter the United States.

The Mexican leader, whose term ends in 2024, echoed a Republican talking point by saying that Biden's promises of more humane treatment had led to more migrants.

He also told Vice President Kamala Harris on a sometimes tense visit last week that Mexico wants to end military cooperation in fighting drug trafficking, a sore point between the neighbors for years.

Salazar's nomination requires confirmation from the US Senate, which looks likely as he is a former senator. He is also considered a political moderate, having occasionally butted heads with left-leaning politicians on the environment.

sct/ch
By David Brunnstrom and Patricia Zengerle

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The nominee to be the top U.S. diplomat for East Asia said on Tuesday that Washington should develop its relationship with Taiwan in every sector, hours after China's largest reported incursion to date into the island's air defense identification zone.

Daniel Kritenbrink said it was important for Washington to demonstrate its resolve to meet its "rock-solid obligations" toward Taiwan in the face of pressure from China, which claims the self-governing island as its own territory.

"It's ... incumbent upon us to further develop our robust relationship with Taiwan in every sector," Kritenbrink told a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on his nomination to be assistant secretary of state for East Asia.

Earlier, Taiwan said 28 Chinese aircraft, including fighters and nuclear-capable bombers, entered its air defense identification zone.

The Group of Seven leaders issued a statement on Sunday scolding China for a series of issues and underscoring the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, comments that China called "slander."

Kritenbrink, a career foreign service officer who was most recently ambassador to Vietnam and a former deputy head of mission in China, was asked if Washington should switch from a long-standing stance of "strategic ambiguity" to make a clear commitment to defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese attack.

He said the U.S. "one-China" policy that formally recognizes Beijing and not Taipei had ensured cross-strait stability and Taiwan's security for many decades.

He added: "I do think that maintenance of that status quo and of that security is a dynamic situation. As the threat from (China) grows, as Beijing's aggressive and bullying behavior vis-a-vis Taiwan grows, I think that our response has to be calibrated as well."

Responding to a request for comment, Chinese Embassy spokesman Liu Pengyu said Washington should "stop elevating its relationship with the Taiwan region in any substantive way ... so as to avoid serious damage to China-U.S. relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait."

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'FOLLOW THROUGH CRITICAL'

Kritenbrink described China as the "major challenge the United States faces today" and said new guidelines adopted by the Biden administration for Taiwan relations were "significantly liberalized" and "explicitly designed to further develop our relationships and our partnership."He said Washington should continue to take steps to hold to account Chinese leaders responsible for what it calls genocide against Uyghurs and other Muslims in China's Xinjiang region.

"The ongoing genocide in Xinjiang shocks the conscience," he said. "We estimate more than 1 million Uyghurs have been forcibly detained, put into re-education camps, forced to provide labor, and many other disturbing allegations about how they are being treated," he said.

"We need to continue to take steps using all the tools that the U.S. government has at its disposal to hold to account the leaders who are carrying out these atrocities," Kritenbrink said.

Liu repeated Chinese denials of abuses in Xinjiang, saying: "Facts have proved that there has never been any genocide in Xinjiang."

In a tweet, Sophie Richardson, China director for Human Rights Watch, called Kritenbrink's Xinjiang remarks a "strong pledge," while adding: "Follow through critical."

(Reporting by Patricia Zengerle, David Brunnstrom and Michael Martina; Editing by Nick Zieminski and Peter Cooney)
Associated Press

Chip Ganassi sold his NASCAR team to Justin Marks, owner of Trackhouse Racing, and declared Wednesday that he will pull out of the nation's top stock car series at the end of this season. I'm not out of racing, I'm just out of NASCAR, Ganassi said.
By Huw Jones

LONDON (Reuters) - Trialling a digital pound, encouraging driverless cars and building on COVID vaccine success by cutting red tape would boost Britain's growth after Brexit, a report commissioned by Prime Minister Boris Johnson recommended on Tuesday.

The report, produced by a taskforce of Conservative lawmakers, chaired by pro-Brexit lawmaker Iain Duncan Smith, set out a "bold new UK regulatory framework", and reforms for key sectors and how they could be implemented.

Rules should be as simple, agile and proportionate as possible, the 130-page report said, with, for example, financial services needing to be "untangled" from European Union rules to help to rebuild the economy after COVID and also help to meet commitments to cut carbon emissions.

The report's recommendations include allowing pension schemes to invest in companies that cut carbon emissions.

The prime minister welcomed the report's findings, saying Britain must cut back on what he called a "thicket of burdensome and restrictive regulation" that has grown around business in the last half a century.

"Your bold proposals provide a valuable template for this, illustrating the sheer level of ambitious thinking needed to usher in a new golden age of growth and innovation right across the UK," Johnson said.

In financial services, it backs loosening limits on the size of a position that can be held in commodity derivatives to make it easier to develop new products.

Rules for setting margins or cash deposited at a clearing house to support trades should be more flexible, and the burden of anti-money laundering rules on fintechs reduced.

"Onerous" rules inherited from the EU that require market participants to report data on trades to regulators should be softened.

Plans to develop a digital pound and launch a pilot within 12 to 18 months should be accelerated, the report said.

Other recommendations include changes to the energy grid and market to make greater use of low-carbon technology, and an update of agriculture rules.

Britain has been successful in helping to develop and roll out a vaccine against COVID-19 and the report recommends scrapping pharma industry rules inherited from the EU and starting afresh to "restore" global UK leadership in clinical trials.

(Reporting by Huw Jones. Editing by Jane Merriman and Sonya Hepinstall)
Models wearing floral dresses

Rising demand for dresses and going-out wear have boosted sales at online fashion chain Boohoo as shoppers shifted away from athleisure clothing.

Revenues jumped by 32% in the three months to the end of May to 486.1m.

Boohoo, which has faced scrutiny over working conditions at its suppliers, also said it had now signed up to a forensic supply chain initiative to ensure high standards.

It also said it planned to publish a global supplier list in September.

Growth continues

Boohoo, along with other online retailers, saw sales boom last year as shoppers turned to the internet amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Sales have continued to grow strongly this year, helped by the launch of Boohoo's new Debenhams digital department store in April, whose lines include fashion, beauty and homewares.

Boohoo purchased Debenhams' brand and website for 55m in January after the department store chain fell into administration.

Sales were also boosted by the integration of the Dorothy Perkins, Wallis and Burton brands onto the company's platform after it bought them from Arcadia administrators for 25.2m.

Revenues in the UK rose 50% over the period, as the reopening of High Street shops failed to dampen online activity, while US sales increased 43%. However, sales in the rest of Europe fell 14% and in the rest of the world dropped 15%.

"I am delighted with our performance in the first quarter, particularly as it was always going to be challenging to produce strong growth rates on last year, when lockdowns around the globe drove such high traffic to online retailers," said John Lyttle, Boohoo's chief executive.

Supply chain review

In July last year, a report alleged that staff working for a firm in Leicester that supplied Boohoo were earning less than the minimum wage amid unsafe working conditions.

Subsequently, an independent review into the online retailer concluded that there were "many failings" in the way Boohoo managed its supply chain.

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Boohoo models wearing a blue dress

In an attempt to improve its reputation, Boohoo has now agreed to sign up to a forensic supply chain initiative called Fast Forward, which already has members such as online clothing rival Asos and M&S.

Fast Forward, established in 2014, aims to uncover audit evasion and hidden exploitation, including forced labour.

The overhaul of its supply chain is being monitored by advisory firm KPMG, while retired judge Sir Brian Leveson is leading an independent review into Boohoo's supply chain practices.

In a report published on Tuesday, Sir Brian said that Boohoo had taken the recommendations "extremely seriously", and that the company's due diligence may now go further than some of its competitors.

The group has made a number of changes, including introducing stricter criteria for new suppliers. Boohoo executives have confirmed they will publish a global supplier list in September, and continue to review their entire manufacturing supplier base.

Boohoo's co-founders, Mahmud Kamani and Carol Kane, said: "As a group we are on track to meet all of the commitments that we set out last year and we remain committed to setting the bar, to drive measurable and sustainable change."

Sophie Lund-Yates, equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: "It's hard not to be impressed by the work that's been done on the supply chain and compliance issues.

"The general sense is that Boohoo is genuinely committed to sorting itself out. The challenge from here is ensuring this step-change in thinking is embedded everywhere in a new business culture. That's a notoriously difficult ask."
Vishnell Consiglio had multiple wedding looks. Rafal Ostrowski

Vishnell and Benny Consiglio had three weddings to honor their Sikh and Catholic heritages.

Vishnell wore a custom Berta dress that cost $14,000 to the Catholic ceremony.

The fitted gown had a sheer, corset top and was completely covered in intricate lace.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

A mutual love of brunch brought Vishnell and Benny Consiglio together.

The couple met in 2017. Antonetta

Vishnell, 32, and Benny, 33, locked eyes when they were both attending separate brunches at the same restaurant in New York City in 2017.

"I was there for a Halloween party. He was there for a 30th birthday," she said. "We just hit it off."

They became a couple almost immediately.

Vishnell is a teacher and ABA therapist, while Benny works in real estate.

Benny proposed to Vishnell in 2019.

They got engaged in 2019. Ash Fox

The Consiglios intended to get married in 2020, having two ceremonies, as Vishnell is Sikh and Benny is Catholic.

But like many couples, they had to delay their plans because of the pandemic.

Benny and Vishnell ended up having three wedding ceremonies: a small civil ceremony on July 11, 2020; a Sikh ceremony in October 2020; and a Catholic wedding on February 6, 2021.

Ash Fox photographed the engagement.

Vishnell wore a pink lehenga to her Sikh ceremony.

She wore pink. Ravi Singh/Weddings by Jagat

"I always knew I wanted pink," she told Insider of the look. "The traditional color is red, but a lot of brides wear pink nowadays."

A lehenga is typically composed of a top and matching skirt, as well as a coordinating headpiece. All of Vishnell's pieces were a shade of pink.

Ravi Singh of Weddings by Jagat photographed the couple's October wedding, as well as their legal ceremony in the Hamptons.

The garment was adorned with multicolored patterns and intricate detailing.

They both wore traditional clothes. Ravi Singh/Weddings by Jagat

Benny wore traditional Indian garb for the ceremony as well. Their outfits complemented each other.

Vishnell's mom and maid of honor went to India to get her lehenga for her, which made it extra meaningful.

Vishnell started looking for a wedding dress for her Catholic ceremony right after she got engaged.

Story continues

They planned to have a glamorous wedding. Ash Fox

Benny and Vishnell had their Catholic wedding at Oheka Castle in Long Island, because Vishnell had wanted to get married there since she was a little girl, as she told Insider.

And she wanted a dress that fit the grandeur of the venue.

"I definitely knew I wanted something tight and sparkly," Vishnell said of the type of dress she imagined herself in before she went shopping. "Those were my two big priorities."

Berta and Galia Lahav had the types of gowns she was hoping to try on. Vishnell didn't set a budget for her dress.

Vishnell didn't love that this gown was strapless.

She didn't love the top. Vishnell Consiglio

The gown was sparkly and fitted, but Vishnell didn't love that it was strapless. She was hoping to find a dress with more coverage on her arms.

The smaller sparkles also hid the corset bodice, which Vishnell would have preferred to accentuate.

She decided to keep trying on dresses.

Because of her castle venue, Vishnell decided to try on a few ball gowns.

Ball gowns weren't for her. Vishnell Consiglio

She liked the long sleeves and low neckline of this gown, but it just didn't feel like her.

Vishnell started to realize she wanted something more formfitting.

She didn't love this dress either.

The feathers weren't right for Vishnell. Vishnell Consiglio

Again, Vishnell liked the top of this dress, but the tiered skirt wasn't for her.

The gown also didn't have any sparkles, so it didn't have the dramatic effect she had been imagining.

When Vishnell tried on this floral gown, she knew it was perfect.

The dress had a sheer top. Vishnell Consiglio

The formfitting Berta dress was made of lace and adorned with applique flowers.

A sheer, corset bodice brought modernity to the look, while the full skirt added drama.

"It had all the little things that I was looking for," Vishnell said of the gown. "A little sexy, little classy, still not too much. It had the sparkle."

She bought the gown for around $14,000 at L'Fay Bridal.

Vishnell had sleeves added to the gown.

She customized the gown. Rafal Ostrowski

Vishnell feels more confident having her arms covered, so she added lace cap sleeves to the dress.

The straps were adorned with flowers, while the sleeves featured embroidery that matched the rest of the gown.

The back of Vishnell's dress was totally sheer.

The back was transparent. Rafal Ostrowski

The corset structure of the bodice continued on the back of the dress, but unlike the front of the gown, it was entirely transparent before flowing back into a trumpet-style skirt.

Vishnell told Insider she had tried on more revealing gowns, but she felt like her dress struck the balance between glamorous and sultry.

The front of the dress was also sheer.

The front of the dress. Rafal Ostrowski

The corset top was made of sheer fabric, though a built-in bra provided some modesty.

The transparent design drew attention to the intricate sparkle details.

Vishnell wore a crown with the gown to add to the regal look.

The dress had a long train. Rafal Ostrowski

The headpiece was designed by Maria Elena.

Vishnell paired the crown with an affordable floor-length veil for the ceremony, elevating the bridal feel of the look.

Nella was Vishnell's hairstylist for the wedding, and therealqueen.tash did her makeup. Lauren B designed her engagement ring.

Bedazzled shoes completed the look.

Vishnell wore Jimmy Choo shoes. Rafal Ostrowski

Vishnell splurged on $1,895 Jimmy Choo Viola heels for the wedding.

The combination of crystal embellishments and ostrich feathering on the shoes created a decadent vibe, matching the rest of Vishnell's look.

Vishnell told Insider she felt like a princess in her wedding dress.

She loved her wedding looks. Rafal Ostrowski

"I never felt more beautiful than both of those days," Vishnell said of her mindset at both her October and February wedding celebrations.

Vishnell and Benny shared a first look on the day of the Catholic ceremony.

They had a first look. Rafal Ostrowski

Vishnell said Benny was excited about her dress, as he was a fan of the way it hugged her body.

The Consiglios worked out together in the months before the wedding, so Vishnell said they were "proud" of how they looked on their wedding day.

Vishnell advised brides to "go with your heart" when searching for their wedding outfits.

Vishnell advises brides to trust their instincts. Rafal Ostrowski

"Whether it be an Indian look or a Western look, definitely go with your heart and your instinct," she said. "I'm a firm believer in you don't have to be looking around."

"It's just like with my husband," she said. "We both always say that when we saw each other, we knew this was it. That's how I felt about my dress, too."

"I feel like everything that happened, including COVID, the dress, meeting him, everything was just inevitable, and it was just meant to happen," Vishnell added.

Benny and Vishnell still had to downsize their Catholic wedding.

50 people attended the wedding. Rafal Ostrowski

Benny and Vishnell initially planned for 350 people to attend the celebration, but they downsized the guest list to just 50 people.

"I think I was meant to have a more intimate wedding," Vishnell said. "I got to appreciate the little things more, and it was more about my husband and me."

Oheka Castle was everything Vishnell had been hoping for.

The couple on their wedding day. Rafal Ostrowski

Rafal Ostrowski photographed the event, and Knotty Art Studio filmed it.

Vishnell told Insider her favorite part of the wedding was watching Benny share a dance with his sister at their reception.

Benny danced with his sister at the wedding. Rafal Ostrowski

Benny's father died before the wedding, and he has been supporting his mother and sister in the wake of the loss.

The dance between Benny and his sister felt like a way to honor their father, and it highlighted some of the reasons Vishnell loves him.

"My husband is a very stand-up guy. He takes care of his sister. He takes care of his mother," she said. "They lost their father, and the dance was just a testament to him."

"We felt like his dad was there at the moment to see what a great man he is, and now what a great husband," Vishnell went on to say.

Vishnell loves the person Benny is. Rafal Ostrowski

"He raised him to be this amazing person," she added.

"One of the main reasons why I love him is because he's just an overall great man," she said. "Not only to me, but to his mom and sister as well."

Vishnell's love for Benny's caring nature has become even stronger since the couple found out they are expecting their first child.

The couple is expecting their first child. Rafal Ostrowski

"I know what a great father he is going to be," Vishnell said of Benny. "We've always said, even when we were dating, one of the things that we always wanted was to be parents."

"We were so blessed that as soon as we tried we got pregnant, so we're very happy," she added. They recently announced they are having a daughter on Instagram.

"He's definitely my best friend," Vishnell said of her husband.

Benny loves all of Vishnell. Rafal Ostrowski

Vishnell told Insider that Benny loves her for exactly who she is.

"I get really bad anxiety. I was diagnosed with it at a very young age. And prior to meeting Benny, I thought it was something that didn't allow my relationships to work," she told Insider.

"And then we were just dating for a few months, I got really anxious," Vishnell said. "And I said something along the lines of 'I'm crazy.' And he said, 'No, you just have a lot of passion. It's not crazy. I love you because you're very passionate.'"

"He sees my flaws as positives, and he spins them and he sees the good in me," she went on to say. "He lifts me up a lot. I feel like he knows how to make me better."

You can follow Vishnell on Instagram, and you can see more of Ostrowski's work here.

Read the original article on Insider
Marijuana-growing businesses would get help in meeting environmental review requirements for state licenses under a $100-million proposal by Gov. Gavin Newsom that has been supported by legislative leaders. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

The California Legislature on Monday approved a $100-million plan to bolster Californias legal marijuana industry, which continues to struggle to compete with the large illicit pot market nearly five years after voters approved sales for recreational use.

Los Angeles will be the biggest beneficiary of the money, which was proposed by Gov. Gavin Newsom to be provided as grants to cities and counties to help cannabis businesses transition from provisional to regular licenses.

California voters approved Proposition 64 five years ago and entrusted the Legislature with creating a legal, well-regulated cannabis market," said Assemblyman Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), the chairman of the Assembly Budget Committee. "We have yet to reach that goal."

Many cannabis growers, retailers and manufacturers have struggled to make the transition from a provisional, temporary license to a permanent one renewed on an annual basis  a process that requires a costly, complicated and time-consuming review of the negative environmental effects involved in a business and a plan for reducing those harms.

As a result, about 82% of the states cannabis licensees still held provisional licenses as of April, according to the governors office.

The funds, including $22 million earmarked for L.A., would help cities hire experts and staff to assist businesses in completing the environmental studies and transitioning the licenses to "help legitimate businesses succeed," Ting said.

The grant program is endorsed by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, who said in a letter to legislators that the money is essential in supporting a well-regulated, equitable, and sustainable cannabis market."

Separately, the governor wants to give cannabis businesses a six-month extension beyond a Jan. 1 deadline to transition from provisional licenses by complying with mandates of the California Environmental Quality Act. That extension, which faces opposition for delaying promised environmental safeguards, was not included in the state budget bill approved Monday and is still being negotiated with lawmakers.

Story continues

The governors proposal to extend provisional licenses has drawn objections from a coalition of seven environmental groups including Sierra Club California, Defenders of Wildlife and the Nature Conservancy.

They said in a letter to Newsom that the proposal allowing the extension of provisional licenses and interim alternatives to CEQA rules goes against what voters were promised and is wholly inadequate to protect local communities and the environment.

At the same time, industry officials say the governors proposals do not go far enough in helping businesses struggling to stay open with provisional licenses while meeting what they see as burdensome rules under the states environmental regulations.

It is a significant amount of money, but I dont know that it actually answers the problem of provisional licenses making it through CEQA analysis in a timely manner to get an annual license, said Jerred Kiloh, president of the United Cannabis Business Assn.

He said delays in cities adopting rules, their limited staffing and lack of resources by cannabis firms mean some face two to four years to get through the licensing process. Many would face the prospect of shutting down, at least temporarily, if they don't get a regular license by current state deadlines, Kiloh said.

California voters paved the way for state licensing of cannabis stores, farms, distributors and testing when they approved Proposition 64 in 2016. State officials initially expected to license as many as 6,000 cannabis shops in the first few years, but permits have been issued only for 1,086 retail and delivery firms.

In 2019, industry officials estimated there were nearly three times as many unlicensed businesses as ones with state permits. Although some industry leaders believe enforcement has reduced the number of illegal pot shops, a study in September by USC researchers estimated unlicensed retailers still outnumbered those that were licensed.

Supporters of legalization blame the discrepancy on problems that they say include high taxes on licensed businesses, burdensome regulations and the decision of about three-quarters of cities in California not to allow cannabis retailers in their jurisdictions.

The bill approved by the Legislature on Monday includes $100 million and identifies 17 cities and counties earmarked to receive grants, including Los Angeles, which would get the largest grant. Other cities that will get grants include Long Beach, San Francisco, Oakland, Commerce, Adelanto and Desert Hot Springs.

Originally, pot businesses were supposed to transfer from temporary licenses to regular annual licenses by 2019, but many businesses were unable to comply in time, so the state allowed provisional licenses until Jan. 1, 2020, and then extended the deadline again to Jan. 1, 2022.

A key requirement to convert from a provisional license is to conduct a CEQA review to indicate how pot farms and other cannabis businesses will affect the surrounding water, air, plants and wildlife, and to propose ways to mitigate any harms.

However, Kiloh said, some cities are just setting up ordinances and staffing to process licenses, meaning many businesses cannot meet the looming deadline.

Each cannabis grower must provide evidence that they met the requirements for environmental review. If their city and county do not provide the required document, the applicants must prepare one, which often means hiring environmental consultants.

A bill by state Sen. Anna Caballero (D-Salinas) would have allowed the state to extend provisional licenses six years until 2028, but she shelved it after it drew opposition from the coalition of environmental groups.

The groups sent a letter to lawmakers saying that the bill "does not provide adequate environmental protection.

The governors proposal, which is being considered by lawmakers, would allow the extension of existing provisional licenses by six months.

Environmentalists still hope the budget trailer bill can be changed to address their concerns, according to Pamela Flick, California program director of Defenders of Wildlife.

The group opposes the proposed trailer bill language because it needs stronger environmental protections consistent with the original commitments made in Proposition 64, in which the voters intended meaningful and timely compliance" with environmental laws, Flick said.

The Newsom administration is warning of dire consequences if pot businesses are not given more time to get a regular license.

Absent this extension, it is possible that a significant number of these licensees could fall out of the legal cannabis system, significantly curtailing the states efforts to facilitate the transition to a legal and well-regulated market, the administration warned in its budget proposal.

The $100 million would go to local agencies with the most provisional licenses for growing, manufacturing, distribution, testing and retail operations. Some of the money can be used by cities offering equity funding to cannabis businesses owned by people of color.

Lawmakers welcomed the budget proposal from Newsom, who has an interest in seeing the legal market succeed because he was a leading proponent of Proposition 64.

Gov. Newsom is dedicated to the success of the legal cannabis industry in California, said Nicole Elliott, the governors senior advisor on cannabis. The purpose of this one-time $100 million in grant funding is to aid locals and provisional licensees, many of which are small businesses, legacy operators and equity applicants, in more expeditiously migrating to annual licensure.

Garcetti said in his letter that it will help Los Angeles "in creating a robust CEQA compliance program and comprehensive assistance programs to aid licensees in meeting annual licensure requirements."

However, industry officials note the money will go to a small fraction of California cities, and only those that have already decided to allow cannabis businesses.

Its not incentivizing localities who have cannabis bans to get their ordinances up and running, said Kiloh, owner of the Higher Path cannabis store in Sherman Oaks.

The real problem is CEQA analysis is a very arduous process, he added. I think it would be good to have more reform of the licensing system instead of just putting money to it.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
(Bloomberg) -- Moderna Inc. said the U.S. government would buy 200 million more doses of its vaccine in a deal that included the potential for buying other Covid candidates in testing, including booster shots.

European Union government envoys agreed to lift travel restrictions for U.S. residents, a diplomat familiar with the meeting said, the latest step toward a return to normal. Japans government decided to lift the state of emergency for Tokyo and other areas.

The U.K. Parliament will vote on prolonging Englands pandemic restrictions, with members of Prime Minister Boris Johnsons conservative party saying this extension must be the last, 15 months after the country first went into lockdown.

Key Developments:

Global Tracker: Cases exceed 176.7 million; deaths pass 3.8 millionVaccine Tracker: More than 2.42 billion doses administeredJapans Dr. Fauci damps olympic mood with call to ban fansPockets of unvaccinated Americans threaten to prolong pandemicPhuket sandbox offers model for Asia as travel bubbles failSubscribe to a daily update on the virus from Bloombergs Prognosis team here.

CureVac Covid Shot Falls Short (4:45 p.m.)

CureVac NV said its Covid-19 vaccine was 47% effective, falling well short of the high bar set by other messenger RNA shots in a preliminary analysis of a large study muddied by the spread of virus variants.

The interim analysis of data from about 40,000 volunteers included 134 Covid cases, the German company said in a statement. CureVac declined to say how many who got the shot got sick or how many received a placebo. But the results suggest the vaccine works less well for older people than in a younger population, Chief Technology Officer Mariola Fotin-Mleczek said in an interview Wednesday.

Though preliminary, the results throw the future of the vaccine into question as wealthy nations around the world move swiftly to inoculate their populations with shots already available. Still, CureVac will finish its trial and plans to gain approval, Chief Executive Officer Franz-Werner Haas said.

Story continues

South Africa Cases Up Most Since January (4:35 p.m. NY)

South Africa, which is battling a third coronavirus wave, recorded 13,246 new cases over the past 24 hours, according to data released by the Health Ministry. Thats the highest daily increase since January.

N.Y. Positivity Rate Matches Record Low (2:05 p.m. NY)

New York state had a Covid-19 positivity rate of 0.35% on Tuesday, matching the record low set Saturday, according to Governor Andrew Cuomos office.

As we acknowledge how far we have come in our battle with Covid thanks to the courage of our heroic essential workers and the determination of all New Yorkers who helped bend the curve, we must also recognize that our work continues, Cuomo said in a statement.

To date, New York has administered nearly 20.3 million coronavirus vaccines. The state officially hit Cuomos benchmark of 70% of New York adults receiving at least one Covid-19 shot on Tuesday, allowing nearly all coronavirus mandates to be lifted immediately. The only precautions still in place are recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control, such as wearing masks on public transit.

U.K. to Mandate Shots for Care Home Workers (1:15 p.m. NY)

Nursing home workers in England will be required to have a Covid-19 vaccination or risk losing their jobs.

New legislation will require people working in Care Quality Commission-accredited care homes to be fully vaccinated with two doses from October, the Department for Health and Social Care said on Wednesday in a statement. The measure wont apply to those who are medically exempt, and is subject to parliamentary approval, it said. There will also be a 16-week grace period.

U.K. Extends Commercial Eviction Ban (1:10 p.m. NY)

The U.K. extended its ban on evictions of commercial tenants by nine months to protect Covid 19-hit businesses from losing their premises while pandemic restrictions are still in place.

The ban had been due to end on June 30, but Chief Secretary to the Treasury Steve Barclay on Wednesday told the House of Commons the government would extend it until March 25 next year. In the meantime, he said, the government plans to establish a binding arbitration protest for tenants and landlords who are unable to reach agreement on repayment programs.

Germany to Exceed 50% Threshold This Week (10:20 a.m. NY)

Germany will this week pass the threshold of vaccinating 50% of the population against Covid-19 with at least one dose, according to Health Minister Jens Spahn.

This shows that we continue to set a very good pace, especially on second doses, Spahn said at a news conference after talks with regional counterparts. We are seeing with the delta variant in the U.K. that its above all the second dose that provides full protection and its therefore very, very important that it happens at the right time.

Through Tuesday, 48.9% of the German population, or 40.7 million people, had received at least their first shot, and just under 28% were fully vaccinated. Spahn said Germany is aiming to inoculate 75%-80% as not everyone will want to get immunized.

Moderna Says U.S. Buys More Vaccine Doses (8:08 a.m. NY)

Moderna said the U.S. governments deal to purchase of an additional 200 million vaccine doses came with an option to purchase other candidates from the drugmakers pipeline.

The new doses bring the total amount of Moderna vaccine ordered by the U.S. to 500 million doses, of which 217 million doses had already been delivered as of June 14, the company said.

Pandemic to Last Two Years for U.K.s Hopkins (7:10 a.m. NY)

Coronavirus variants will continue to emerge and we will not be through this pandemic until the whole world has the ability to get vaccinated, Susan Hopkins, deputy director of Public Health Englands National Infection Service, said at a House of Commons science committee meeting. And that realistically is two years away.

EU Doesnt See J&J Meeting Deliveries (7:09 a.m. NY)

The European Union doesnt expect Johnson & Johnson to fulfill its commitment for 55 million vaccine deliveries this quarter, a spokesman of the blocs executive arm said. While the European Commission isnt in a position to give a precise estimate of how many vaccines the drugmaker will deliver this quarter, its spokesman told reporters in Brussels that the delay wont derail the blocs plans to vaccinate 70% of its adult population this summer.

Moscow Orders Inoculations as Infections Spike (6:48 a.m. NY)

Moscow ordered service-sector and municipal workers to get vaccinated amid a spike in infections, as the Kremlin denied any reversal in Russian President Vladimir Putins opposition to compulsory inoculation. At least 60% of workers at consumer-facing businesses and city employees, including health professionals and teachers, must receive a dose of one of Russias domestically developed vaccines by July 15.

Japan to Lift Virus State of Emergency (6:56 a.m. NY)

Japan decided to lift the coronavirus state of emergency for Tokyo and other areas, excluding Okinawa prefecture, when it expires June 20, broadcaster NHK reported.

Strong virus measures will be in place for the seven of the nine areas where the emergency is lifted, including the capital and Osaka, the report said.

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Waiter Boris Macquin serves customers outside Figaro Bistro on March 15. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Fully vaccinated workers in California may be able to remove masks at work this week if a state safety board approves a proposal by the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health, or Cal/OSHA.

The California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board is poised on Thursday to approve a plan written by Cal/OSHA that would allow most fully vaccinated workers in many workplaces to stop wearing masks and end physical distancing requirements for all workers. (The relaxed rules would not apply in places such as healthcare settings, which are regulated by tougher criteria.)

Unvaccinated workers would still be required to wear masks in indoor public settings and would be able to take off masks indoors generally only if they're alone or eating and drinking.

Normally, it would take at least 10 days before such a plan would go into effect, pending a review by the state Office of Administrative Law, meaning the earliest that change could occur would be on June 28. But on Monday, Gov. Gavin Newsom said at a news conference that if the board approves the Cal/OSHA proposal, he would enact an executive order to make those changes immediately, effective on the same day the board takes action.

Until recently, Cal/OSHA and the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board have come under criticism for initially passing rules that would still require even vaccinated workers to wear masks at workplaces if even just one unvaccinated person or someone whose vaccination status is unknown enters the room.

Cal/OSHA staff had defended its proposal because, they said, it would be easier to enforce a universal mask-wearing policy if there were some workers in a room who were unvaccinated. They said it would be hard for employers to just make sure unvaccinated people were wearing masks.

That plan was criticized as being at odds with the new mask rules, written by the state Department of Public Health, that go in effect for the general population on Tuesday. Those rules generally allow fully vaccinated people to stop wearing masks in almost all situations in public. (Vaccinated people will still have to wear masks on public transportation, including airports and airplanes, schools, healthcare settings, jails and shelters.)

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Amid an outcry, the state safety standards board rescinded its tougher rules last week and signaled it would back rules that would allow vaccinated workers to stop wearing masks.

Some infectious disease experts have said that at some point, unvaccinated workers need to take responsibility for not being vaccinated, and wear a mask to protect themselves.

Cal/OSHA's latest proposal would also end the requirement to install the cleanable solid partitions designed to reduce viral transmission through the air  like the clear plastic barriers that separate customers and cashiers.

In addition, the proposal calls for employers to maximize the amount of fresh outside air that comes into the building.

Under the proposal, workplaces would be required to provide masks to workers who are not fully vaccinated, and ensure that they wear them when they are indoors or in vehicles. The proposal would require employers to provide respirators  like N95 masks that filter out tiny particles from the air  to employees not yet fully vaccinated if they request them.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A Canadian man accused of a violent anti-Muslim hate crime last week now faces terrorism charges, along with counts of first-degree murder and attempted murder.

20 year old Nathaniel Veltman was arrested in London, Ontario last Sunday, shortly after running over a Muslim family with his truck, killing four of them.

Canadian authorities said Monday Veltman's attack constituted terrorist activity.

Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland reacted to the new charges, saying quote: "it is important for us identify the terrible threat that white supremacism poses to Canada and to Canadians."

A 9-year-old boy, the sole survivor of the attack, was released from the hospital on Monday, according to local media.

Him and his family were out for an evening walk near their home when they were run over on the sidewalk.

It was the worst attack against Canadian Muslims since the Quebec City mosque shooting in 2017.

So far, few details have emerged on why police say the attack was a pre-meditated hate crime.

Due to a publication ban, details from Veltman's hearing on Monday cannot be revealed. He has not yet retained a lawyer.

Veltman is due in court again on June 21.
Richard Barnett, a supporter of US President Donald Trump, sits inside the office of US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi as he protest inside the US Capitol in Washington, DC, 6 January, 2021. (AFP via Getty Images)

The Capitol riot suspect who is accused of storming Senator Nancy Pelosis (D-CA) office during the siege and putting his feet up on the lawmakers desk has reportedly requested court permission to loosen his release conditions so he can attend a car show.

Richard Barnett, 65, has been put on home detention pending trial in the wake of the 6 January insurrection that saw five people killed.

However, according to multiple reports, lawyers for Mr Barnett have asked US District Judge Christopher Cooper to give their client permission to attend a classic car show in Arkansas.

According to The Daily Beast, Mr Barnetts lawyers said the lifelong hobby is their clients primary source of income.

This is the only way that he has the opportunity to make ends meet, provide for his family and pay for his legal defence, defence attorney Joseph McBride reportedly said in the Monday request.

The lawyer also said his client had suffered in the wake of the insurrection after being terminated from his career position as a window salesman.

His motion reportedly says Mr Barnett now has to travel more than 50 miles to sell cars.

Federal prosecutors have opposed the request however, asserting that Barnett has reportedly previously had a civil dispute at a classic car show.

Mr Barnett is facing several charges, including theft, after he was identified in a photo posing in Ms Pelosis office and holding a stun gun during the 6 January insurrection.

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In a tweet, NBC4 reporter Scott MacFarlane said it was gonna take a long time to get thru these Jan 6 cases, as he noted Mr Barnetts request for permission to attend the car show.

Mr MacFarlane said the judge on the case will consider Mr Barnetts request.

Read More

Capitol insurrectionist stars on Russian state TV before Biden-Putin summit

Rep. Greene apologizes for comparing safety masks, Holocaust

After Senate review, questions persist about Jan. 6 attack
Prof Chris Whitty said any decision on the vaccination of children should be made 'with caution' - Jonathan Buckmaster/Daily Express/PA Wire

Children may need to be vaccinated to ensure their education can continue without disruption, the chief medical officer has suggested.

Asked whether Covid jabs would be rolled out to children, Prof Chris Whitty said the "wider question" was about whether this would help limit the disruption the virus was causing to their schooling.

His remarks come as the head of Britain's biggest teaching union said children should be fully vaccinated before returning to school in September.

If the Government decides to vaccinate schoolchildren, this should happen "as quickly as possible", said Kevin Courtney, the joint general secretary of the National Education Union.

Ministers are awaiting advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI)  which insiders expect will recommend the jab for younger teenagers  before they make a final decision.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the UK medicines regulator, has already approved the use of the Pfizer Covid vaccine in 12 to 15-year-olds.

Last month, Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary, announced that Britain had bought enough Pfizer vaccines to inoculate all children over the age of 12.

Mr Courntey told The Telegraph: "If JCVI look at the ethical questions and if they think on the ethical balance  and the MHRA say there is a high degree of safety  then in an ideal world we think it would be better if kids were vaccinated and had three weeks immunity before they come back to school in September."

He described the rising number of cases in schools as a "big problem", adding: "That is where our concern is focused. We do think the disruption to education is a significant factor."

Mr Courtney said he recognised that there are "ethical questions" because children "don't by and large get seriously ill", adding: "So if there is a risk from the vaccine, even if it is an incredibly small risk, an ethical question is raised about whether you give them something with a risk."

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Speaking at a Downing Street press conference on Monday evening, Prof Whitty said the key consideration when it comes to vaccinating children is safety.

"We know that the risks in terms of physical disease to children  other than some children with significant pre-existing problems or physical health  are much much lower than for adults," he said.

"So you wouldn't want to vaccinate unless the vaccine is very safe, and vaccines are now being licenced in some countries and we are accruing safety data on the safety of these vaccines in children."

Prof Whitty said any decision should be made "with caution" and went on to explain that there are two possible reasons to vaccinate children.

"The first is those groups that are actually at high risk of Covid, and I think JCVI will be bringing forward advice on this, and those children specifically should be vaccinated to reduce the risk of them having severe disease and in a very small number of cases  but it does happen  mortality," he said.

"But the wider question is around the effect on children's education and the multiple disruptions that might happen and are going to have a very negative impact on their life chances, including the effect it will have on long-term risk of physical and mental ill-health."

A Department of Health spokesman said: "No decisions have yet been made on whether people aged 12 to 17 should be routinely offered Covid-19 vaccines. We will be guided by our expert advisers, and the Government has asked the JCVI for its formal recommendation. We will update in due course."
China is using artificial intelligence to hone fighter pilots' skills. STR/AFP via Getty Images

China has been pitting pilots against AI-driven aircraft in training simulations.

A commander told the PLA Daily that the AI aircraft were "sharpening the sword" for Chinese pilots.

The AI was also learning, highlighting the potential for AI systems in China's armed forces.

See more stories on Insider's business page.

Chinese fighter pilots have been battling aircraft piloted by artificial intelligence in simulated dogfights to boost pilot combat skills, Chinese media reported this week.

Fang Guoyu, a People's Liberation Army Air Force brigade flight team leader and pilot recognized for his skills, was recently "shot down" by an AI adversary in an air-to-air combat simulation, according to People's Liberation Army Daily, the official newspaper of the Chinese military.

He said that early in the training it was easy to defeat the AI adversary. But with each round of combat, the AI reportedly learned from its human opponent. After one fight that Fang won with a bit of skillful flying, the AI came back and used the same tactics against him, defeating him.

"It's like a digital 'Golden Helmet' pilot that excels at learning, assimilating, reviewing, and researching," Fang said, referring to the elite pilots who emerge victorious in China's Golden Helmet air-combat contests. "The move with which you defeated it today will be in its hands tomorrow."

Du Jianfeng, the brigade commander, told the newspaper that AI was increasingly being incorporated into training.

It "is skilled at handling the aircraft and makes flawless tactical decisions," he said, characterizing the AI adversary as a useful tool for "sharpening the sword" because it forces the Chinese pilots to get creative.

'Sharpening the sword'

Chinese J-15 fighter jets at a military parade. Simon Song/South China Morning Post via Getty Images

China is striving to build a modern military with the ability to fight and win wars by the middle of this century. It has made progress in recent years in its air-combat element, even developing a fifth-generation stealth fighter.

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But far more challenging and time-consuming than closing the technology gap is cultivating the critical knowledge and experience required to effectively operate a modern fighting force.

Chinese media didn't offer specifics on the simulator, which they said was developed by the military in cooperation with research institutes, so there are still questions about whether the AI adversary provides sufficiently realistic training to prepare pilots to dogfight manned aircraft.

"If it does, that's pretty good," retired US Navy Cmdr. Guy Snodgrass, a former TOPGUN instructor and an expert in artificial intelligence, told Insider.

"If it doesn't," he continued, "you're really just training human operators to fight AI, and that is probably not what they are going to be going up against," since there are no autonomous AI-driven fighter aircraft they would need to be prepared to fight.

"There could be a divergence between real capability in a dogfight or aerial battle versus what the AI is presenting," he said. If that's the case, it could be a wasted effort.

If it's a high-fidelity training simulator, though, it could lower the cost of the air-combat training, as "you're able to get that training at a price point that's much lower than actually putting real planes in the air," Snodgrass said. It also lowers the risk.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping has repeatedly stressed the need for realistic combat training, including simulations, to help the Chinese military overcome a lack of combat experience, but it is not clear to what extent his agenda has been implemented with training simulators like what the air force's pilots have been using.

'The AI is learning, and it's getting better'

China's J-20 stealth fighters performing with open weapon bays during the Zhuhai Airshow. REUTERS/Stringer

Regardless of whether the pilots are learning anything valuable, Fang's recollection of his engagements with his AI adversary suggests the AI is, though it is unclear to what extent.

"AI requires feedback," Snodgrass said. "And that's exactly the kind of pathway you'd want to take, to use this to help train your pilots, but because your pilots are fighting against it, the AI is learning, and it's getting better."

He said that a next step, assuming the technology reached that stage of development, could be to say: "This has performed very well in a virtual environment. Let's put this into a manned fighter."

China has invested heavily in AI research, and, like the US, it has been considering ways to incorporate AI - which can process information quickly and gain years of experience in a short time - into its aircraft.

Yang Wei, the chief designer for the J-20, China's first fifth-generation stealth fighter, said last year that the next generation of fighter could feature AI systems able to assist pilots with decisions to increase their overall effectiveness in combat, the state-affiliated Global Times reported.

The US Air Force has expressed similar ideas. Steven Rogers, a senior scientist at the US Air Force Research Laboratory, told Inside Defense in 2018 that ace pilots had thousands of hours of experience - "what happens if I can augment their ability with a system that can have literally millions of hours of training time?"

Snodgrass said there were several ways AI could augment the capabilities of or support human pilots in combat.

For instance, artificial intelligence could be used to monitor aircraft systems to reduce task saturation, especially for single-pilot aircraft; collect battlefield information; and handle target discrimination and prioritization. AI could even chart flight paths to minimize detection through electromagnetic-spectrum analysis.

Later, the military could look at putting AI in an unmanned autonomous fighter aircraft to fight alongside manned aircraft or serve as attritable warfighting platforms in contested environments. That's a more difficult challenge.

The US military is pursuing several efforts exploring the possibilities of AI technology. In an event last summer, for example, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency put an AI algorithm up against an experienced human pilot in what was described as "simulated within-visual-range air combat."

The artificial intelligence, which had already defeated other AI "pilots" in simulated dogfights and collected years of experience in a matter of months, achieved a flawless victory, winning five straight matches without the human, a US Air Force F-16 pilot, ever scoring a hit.

The point of the simulated air-to-air combat scenario was to advance DARPA's Air Combat Evolution program.

The agency has said it envisions "a future in which AI handles the split-second maneuvering during within-visual-range dogfights, keeping pilots safer and more effective as they orchestrate large numbers of unmanned systems into a web of overwhelming combat effects."

It is not clear how long it would take to realize the agency's vision, but Snodgrass previously told Insider that he "would never bet against technological progress," especially considering "all the advancements that have occurred in the last decade, in the last hundred years."

Read the original article on Business Insider
BEIJING (Reuters) -China's mission to the European Union urged NATO on Tuesday to stop exaggerating the "China threat theory" after the group's leaders warned that the country presented "systemic challenges".

NATO leaders on Monday had taken a forceful stance towards Beijing in a communique at United States President Joe Biden's first summit with the alliance.

"China's stated ambitions and assertive behaviour present systemic challenges to the rules-based international order and to areas relevant to alliance security," NATO leaders had said.

The new U.S. president has urged his fellow NATO leaders to stand up to China's authoritarianism and growing military might, a change of focus for an alliance created to defend Europe from the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

The NATO statement "slandered" China's peaceful development, misjudged the international situation, and indicated a "Cold War mentality," China said in a response posted on the mission's website.

China is always committed to peaceful development, it added.

"We will not pose a 'systemic challenge' to anyone, but if anyone wants to pose a 'systemic challenge' to us, we will not remain indifferent."

In Beijing, a spokesman for the foreign ministry, Zhao Lijian, said the United States and Europe had "different interests," and that some European countries "will not tie themselves to the anti-China war chariot of the United States".

G7 nations meeting in Britain over the weekend scolded China over human rights in its Xinjiang region, called for Hong Kong to keep a high degree of autonomy and demanded a full investigation of the origins of the coronavirus in China.

China's embassy in London said it was resolutely opposed to mentions of Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Taiwan, which it said distorted the facts and exposed the "sinister intentions of a few countries such as the United States."

(Reporting by Gabriel Crossley and Beijing newsroom; Writing by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan and Clarence Fernandez)
The Chinese scientist at the center of theories that the coronavirus pandemic originated with a leak from her specialized lab in the city of Wuhan has denied her institution was to blame for the health disaster.

"How on earth can I offer up evidence for something where there is no evidence?" Dr Shi Zhengli told The New York Times in rare comments to the media.

"I don't know how the world has come to this, constantly pouring filth on an innocent scientist," she told the US daily.

US President Joe Biden last month ordered intelligence agencies to investigate the origin of the pandemic, including the lab-leak theory.

The leak hypothesis had been floated earlier during the global outbreak, including by Biden's predecessor Donald Trump, but was widely dismissed as a conspiracy theory.

But it has gained increasing traction recently, fueled by reports that three researchers from the Wuhan Institute of Virology became sick in 2019 after visiting a bat cave in the southwestern Chinese province of Yunnan.

Shi is an expert in bat coronaviruses, and some scientists have said she could have been leading so-called gain-of-function experiments, in which scientists increase the strength of a virus to better study its effects on hosts.

According to The New York Times, in 2017 Shi and her colleagues at the Wuhan laboratory published a report on an experiment "in which they created new hybrid bat coronaviruses by mixing and matching parts of several existing ones  including at least one that was nearly transmissible to humans  in order to study their ability to infect and replicate in human cells."

But in an email to the paper, Shi said her experiments differed from gain-of-function experiments since they did not seek to make a virus more dangerous. Instead they were trying to understand how the virus might jump across species.

"My lab has never conducted or cooperated in conducting GOF experiments that enhance the virulence of viruses," she said.

jh/st/leg
GB News staff watch the channel's opening broadcast on Sunday. (PA)

Kopparberg and Nivea are among brands that have suspended advertising with GB News amid a social media campaign to boycott the new "anti-woke" TV channel.

Companies advertising with GB News are being lobbied on Twitter to drop all ties with the channel over its perceived right-leaning politics.

Kopparberg responded to a number of Twitter users who criticised its appearance on the channel, with the Swedish drinks manufacturer claiming the ad ran on this channel without our knowledge or consent.

It added: Kopparberg is a drink for everyone and we have immediately suspended our ads from this channel pending further review of its content.

Watch: Andrew Neil launches GB News

The Open University said: Weve not planned or purchased advertising with GB News and are investigating why this has happened. This advertising has been paused with immediate effect.

Nivea was another company that said its advert appeared without our knowledge due to media buying algorithms.

The skincare firm told Press Gazette it is pausing its advertising for three months as part of a review to ensure that they reflect the values we hold as a company.

Grolsch, the Dutch beer manufacturer, is also reported to have pulled its adverts.

Andrew Neil, the former BBC political interviewer who is chair of GB News and will present his own show on the channel, has previously said he is unconcerned about boycott campaigns.

He told the Evening Standard: Its all good publicity. For everybody that wants to boycott there are about 10 people who are going to watch.

I am not worried about that. It only becomes a problem if you dont stand up to them and I can assure you we will.

The channel, which has a number of high-profile presenters, launched on Sunday night, and was given a slot at Boris Johnsons coronavirus press conference on Monday.

Presenter Michelle Dewberry broadcasts at the GB News launch event on Sunday. (PA)

It will be opinion-led, and has positioned itself as a rival to traditional rolling news broadcasters such as the BBC and Sky.

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Critics have labelled it a British version of Fox News, the conservative American channel. GB News has rejected this.

Neil, meanwhile, promised in his opening monologue on Sunday: If you want fake news, lies, distortion of the facts, conspiracy theories then GB News is not for you.

He also said it would puncture the pomposity of our elites in politics, business, media and academia and expose the growing promotion of cancel culture for the threat to free speech and democracy that it is.

Read more:

Cressida Dick 'must consider quitting' over cover-up after brutal killing of Daniel Morgan

5 charts that explain how serious England's COVID problem is right now

Neil railed against the "metropolitan mindset" of the media, though like most other news companies, GB News is headquartered in central London.

Stop Funding Hate, one of the leading campaigners against GB News, has said of its drive: "GB News' multi-million pound backers can subsidise them if they want to, but that doesn't mean the rest of us have to.

"Brands are free to choose where they do and don't advertise, and the public are free to speak out and seek to influence that choice."

The group  known for previous boycott campaigns against newspapers such as the Daily Mail  has listed companies on its website that have appeared on GB News.

Watch: Tuesday's daily politics briefing
The effects of a contaminated ethanol plant in Nebraska brewing fuel with discarded seed coated with pesticides and fungicides continue to reverberate in Minnesota.

The widely used seeds are pretreated with neonicotinoids  pesticides that are neurotoxins and that have devastated bee populations and been shown to harm mammals and birds.

The Nebraska contamination prompted a proposed ban in Minnesota on using neonicotinoid-treated seed for food, feed, oil or making ethanol but the legislative effort failed under opposition from Senate Republicans.

Meanwhile, a Land O'Lakes unit that shipped discarded pretreated seed to the Nebraska plant, AltEn LLC, agreed Friday to clean up the site along with five other large seed companies  AgReliant Genetics, Corteva Agriscience, Syngenta Seeds, Bayer U.S. and Beck's Superior Hybrids, all of which operate in Minnesota.

In a statement to the Star Tribune, Arden Hills-based Land O'Lakes said it terminated its relationship with AltEn when it learned of the problems.

"We remain committed to the proper disposal of treated seed and have created an internal team to determine our future disposal practices and identify responsible partners," the statement read.

Researchers are still trying to gauge the extent of the AltEn pollution.

The 24-million-gallon capacity plant is just outside Mead, Neb., a small town near Omaha. The site has leaking lagoons of toxic wastewater and 84,000 tons of contaminated distiller's grain, a byproduct that was being spread on fields, according to Nebraska state documents. AltEn was using manure from a cattle lot next door for methane to fuel the plant.

AltEn closed in February, the same month a frozen pipe burst and spilled about 4 million gallons of manure and pesticide-contaminated wastewater.

Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson has sued AltEn, accusing it of polluting public water and illegally operating a solid waste management facility, among other things. It's one of two ethanol plants using treated seed, according to the complaint. The other is in Kansas. Nebraska lawmakers have banned using treated seeds for ethanol.

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AltEn did not respond to numerous requests for comment.

The plant is owned by Kansas-based AltEn LLC associated with late businessman Dennis M. Langley. State documents show Langley's stepson Tanner Shaw as president.

In its answer to Nebraska's complaint, AltEn denied wronging and said it had a permit for a solid waste compost facility.

Minnesota ag professionals say they don't think it could happen here.

Ashwin Raman, spokesman for the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association, said it's not aware of any ethanol producers in the state using neonicotinoid-treated seeds to make ethanol. Randall Doyal, chief executive of Al-Corn Clean Fuel, one of Minnesota's largest ethanol producers, said no responsible producer would do that.

"No way in hell," Doyal said. "You can't use that stuff. I'm not surprised they created such a tremendous environmental wreck.

"I think the seed manufacturers are going to have to think what to do with it instead of just dumping it off somewhere," Doyal said.

Others say the risks of neonic-treated seeds demand extra caution. Chris Cowen, a local lobbyist for the Pesticide Action Network, called AltEn an ecological disaster that Minnesota should do everything to avoid.

"Why Minnesota would hesitate for a minute in making treated seed feedstock illegal, begs the question: How bad does it have to be?" Cowen said. "Concerned Minnesotans need to look beyond the Legislature to have any chance of fixing this."

The AltEn situation has focused concern about the widespread use of treated seeds and the disposal challenges. Farmers typically hold leftovers for the next year or return it to dealers who typically return it to seed companies.

Seed companies can incinerate the discarded seeds at high temperatures at permitted facilities or send them to power plants or cement kilns or landfill them, according to the American Seed Trade Association. One seed company said it can be donated for "conservation initiatives" and wildlife habitat.

But it seems most companies were shipping it to AltEn. AltEn claimed to have been handling 98% of the country's unused treated seed.

Mac Ehrhardt, owner of Albert Lea Seed, which mainly sells organic and non-GMO seed, said AltEn has triggered a "necessary reckoning."

His company also sells treated seeds and shipped some to AltEn, Ehrhardt said.

"It's really discouraging to find out that their practices led to this contamination problem," Ehrhardt said.

"The big picture thing for me is the seed industry needs to be honest with itself about the dangers of the chemicals that it uses and needs to find safe ways to dispose of these chemicals when they are not used," he said, adding that the seed industry "hasn't been willing to face the music on this."

Treated seed containers have a tag saying "DO NOT USE FOR FEED, FOOD, OR OIL PURPOSES." Some farmers say that's enough and a ban is unnecessary.

Minnesota Department of Agriculture spokeswoman Margaret Hart said the agency ensures the labels have the language, but doesn't enforce how they are followed. The agency does not regulate treated seed, Hart said, although inspectors do check to see that it isn't in grain used for food, feed or making oil.

The agency supported the proposed ban on making ethanol with treated seed, Hart said.

It's estimated that nearly all corn in the U.S. and up to half of soybeans are coated with neonicotinoids, a class of insecticides called neonics that includes thiamethoxam, imidacloprid and clothianidin. All three are banned in Europe for outdoor use.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has recently found neonics in the majority of deer spleens from deer tested across the state. South Dakota deer research has shown neonics harm the animal's reproductive system and can kill fawns.

"We're at the early stages of trying to understand and untangle these relationships," said Dave Olfelt, the DNR's director of fish & wildlife.

The AltEn situation has seed companies scrambling for alternatives.

In its statement, Land O'Lakes said it discarded only "a very minimal amount" of treated seed.

"Once we were made aware of the environmental conditions created by AltEn, we terminated our relationship and, in fact, have not discarded any treated seed since that termination," the statement said.

Bayer AG is also considering options: "In the meantime, we are sending our unused seed to a sustainable packager who transports it to a specially permitted, high-temperature incineration facility," spokeswoman Susan Luke said.

Mead resident Jody Weible, said she is "beyond grateful" the seed companies have stepped up. The stench is unbearable, she said.

"It's between rotten, acidic and sweet, and it will burn your nose," she said.

Bill Bond, executive director of Minnesota Crop Production Retailers, said AltEn was operating "illegally and unethically."

"It's an aberration in the system," he said. "They got caught. We're glad about that."

Jennifer Bjorhus  612-673-4683
A South Carolina sex offender with past child-pornography convictions has been arrested again for sending illegal porn over the Internet, according to police and court records.

Joseph Douglas Stoeckel, 35, of Fort Mill, was charged Tuesday by York County sheriffs deputies with 10 counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of minors, according to arrest warrants obtained by The Herald.

Stoeckel used the Kik messenger service to share illegal child porn videos of children as young as 6 years old, the warrants state.

Stoeckel was charged after an investigation by the sheriffs office cyber crimes unit, which works with the S.C. Attorney Generals Office Internet Crimes Against Children task force.

Records: Suspect convicted of child porn in 2018

Stoeckel pleaded guilty in 2018 to four counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of minors for possession of child porn materials, South Carolina court records show. He was sentenced to three years probation in those 2018 convictions, with a five-year prison sentence suspended upon service of the probation, court records show.

The S.C. Sex Offender Registry website maintained by the State Law Enforcement Division shows Stoeckel is a registered sex offender from the 2018 convictions. The public website lets South Carolina residents search registered and convicted sex offenders by address or name.

All convicted sex offenders in South Carolina must register with the county sheriffs office where they live. The website posts a picture of the sex offender, as well as the persons address and convictions.

Stoeckel could face as much as 100 years in prison for the new arrests, South Carolina law shows.

The new charges against Stoeckel for second-degree sexual exploitation allege illegal videos and photos were shared online, according to the warrants. A conviction for second-degree sexual exploitation of minors carries up to 10 years in the S.C. Department of Corrections for each charge, state law shows.

Stoeckel remains in the York County jail.
Cressida Dick should consider resigning, Alastair Morgan said on Tuesday. (PA)

Daniel Morgan's brother has said Metropolitan Police commissioner Dame Cressida Dick must consider resigning in light of a report about the force's "corrupt" response to his 1987 murder.

The report found the Met was institutionally corrupt in the way it concealed or denied failings over Morgans unsolved murder.

His brother Alastair, who has been campaigning for decades for justice, was asked following the release of the report on Tuesday if Dick should consider resigning.

Absolutely she should, he responded.

Daniel Morgan, a private investigator, was killed with an axe in the car park of the Golden Lion pub in Sydenham, south-east London on 10 March, 1987. (PA)

The familys solicitor Raju Bhatt added: You heard from the panel that the institutionalised corruption that they found is a current problem in the present tense.

The current leadership in the Met has to take responsibility for that continuing.

Private investigator Morgan was killed with an axe in the car park of the Golden Lion pub in Sydenham, south-east London, 34 years ago.

Despite five police inquiries and an inquest, no one has been brought to justice over the father-of-twos death, with the Met admitting corruption had hampered the original murder investigation.

Watch: Met accused of 'institutional corruption' over 1987 unsolved axe murder of private detective

A 1,200-page report by an independent panel said the forces first objective was to protect itself for failing to acknowledge its many failings since Morgans murder.

Dick herself was criticised for her refusal to allow the panel team access to the HOLMES police data system.

The report said: The Metropolitan Polices lack of candour manifested itself in the hurdles placed in the path of the Panel, such as [then assistant commissioner] Cressida Dicks initial refusal to recognise the necessity for the Panel to have access to the HOLMES system.

The report also said the Met owes Morgans family, and the public, an apology for not confronting its systemic failings and those of individual officers.

In a statement responding to the report, the Met accepted corruption was a major factor in the failure of the 1987 investigation. This compounded the pain suffered by Daniels family and for this we apologise.

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Home secretary Priti Patel added to the pressure on Dick as she said: Today I have written to Dame Cressida Dick to ask her to provide me with a detailed response into the panels recommendations for the Metropolitan Police and the wider issues outlined within the report.

Patel labelled the Morgan case one of the most devastating episodes in the history of the Metropolitan Police.

Boris Johnson, however, is backing Dick, according to Downing Street. Asked if the prime minister still had full confidence in her, his official spokesman simply replied: Yes.

Watch: Tuesday's daily politics briefing
A court case in Florida might not only decide the financial fate of Americas cruise industry, in ports from Miami to Anchorage, but also the political fate of a governor (and 2024 presidential contender) who now finds himself caught in its wake.

Beyond the lawsuit, the overriding issue is whether cruise lines can mandate vaccinations and other safety measures if they conflict with state law. Meanwhile, an industry nearly shuttered by COVID-19 is held at anchor while solutions are held at bay.

Florida, home to the worlds largest cruise terminal Port Miami (with 6.8 million annual passengers, 22 cruise lines pre-pandemic), is at the epicenter of this square-off over who gets to make the call  the federal government, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the state or the companies themselves.

Remember, it has been more than a year since images of the Diamond Princess cruise ship signaled a worldwide pandemic.

Diamond Princess makes headlines

Although overwhelmed hospitals and understaffed nursing homes bore the brunt of public attention, the first unshakeable images of sick and quarantined passengers aboard the Diamond Princess dominated the headlines. The cruise industry became COVID-19 enemy No. 1.

Cue the CDC. Charged with protecting the nations health, its officials made a quick (and wise) decision to shut the cruise industry down until medical science would ensure this contagion could be limited and controlled on these floating cities.

The Diamond Princess cruise ship quarantined off Yokohama, Japan, early in February 2020.

Ultimately, the North American passenger shipping industry was banned from operating from any U.S. ports for over a year, causing untold economic pain to these companies, their vendors and the more than 436,000 employees who rely on cruising to feed their families and pay their bills.

As miserable as this has been, it doesnt compare with the pain and suffering many more could have endured if the CDC hadnt taken measures to pause American cruise operations until deemed safe.

The worldwide medical establishment needed time to get a handle on this virus, how it spread so fast, to create a successful protocol for testing and treatment, and a tested vaccine for distribution. Officials have now checked all four boxes. Its time to move Americas cruise industry  like the airlines  back to the forefront of travel.

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COVID-19: new normal calls for new slogan: 'no shirt, no shoes - no vaccination - no service'

More than 50% of all Americans are now partially or fully vaccinated, and the CDC has moved in methodical fashion to allow cruise ships to sail from, and call on, American ports.

The industry also had the support of public champions from both sides of the political aisle who understand that jobs, affordable family vacations and beautiful oceans are neither Republican or Democrat. They belong to all of us.

Yet when partisan politics get in the way of good intentions, policies and people suffer needlessly. Exhibit A: Florida. First, Gov. Ron DeSantis uses a libertarian, free-market approach to keep the state open while others closed shut. Now hes doing an about-face, dictating rules to ailing cruise companies who want to set sail swiftly and safely.

DeSantis: CDC delayed the restart of Florida's cruise sector

DeSantis used to prize the power of the marketplace. Now hes focused on his own. After failing to assist the cruise industry, the governor then took aim at the CDC, claiming that its arbitrary and capricious actions were responsible for delaying the restart of Floridas cruise sector.

Most major cruise line executives were stunned by the governors legal action, fearing it might provoke this crucial federal agency to dig in its heels. In truth, at the time of the suit, the CDC had already begun expediting moves to safely restart cruising routed into one of two pathways.

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One would ensure at least 95% of guests were vaccinated. The other was far more encumbering. It mandated test cruises, multiple and redundant COVID testing, wearing masks full time, major social distancing, reduced occupancies, limited shore excursions and other unachievable  and economically unfeasible  hurdles.

This option would have rendered cruising unenjoyable and the business uneconomical.

Vaccine passports: Our experts discuss life after COVID vaccines

Clearly the CDC had a preference, signaling to the cruise lines in flashing neon lights: Vaccinate your passengers!!!

Yet the governor ignored this message, and the pleas of the cruise lines, passing a new law prohibiting any Florida company from requiring proof of vaccination. It forces the industry into a Catch-22 conundrum: Either violate Florida law and resume cruising successfully, or stay in the good graces of both the governor and CDC by obeying a law that will alienate your guests with an unrecognizable cruise experience and force a debt-laden, Florida-centric industry down a longer road to recovery.

There is a third choice. The governor could go back to his pro-business, pro-Florida, marketplace-driven bearings by advocating an exemption or modification to this law to safeguard the nearly 159,000 cruise-related Florida jobs now in jeopardy, and protect Americas reputation as the worlds best home port.

While the judgment of the federal trial in Tampa may not be known yet, the verdict from the court of public opinion  fueled by millions of cruise line passengers, hundreds of thousands of workers and thousands of businesses  is already in.

As the words from an old Mills Brothers song warns:

You always hurt the one you love,

The one you shouldn't hurt at all.

Anchors aweigh, Governor. Let America  and Americans  cruise. Do that, and youll be remembered for doing right when it counted the most for those who needed it the most.

Philip Levine is the former two-term Democratic mayor of Miami Beach and one-time candidate for Florida governor. Levine is the CEO of Royal Media Partners, a former partner of Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and founder of Miami Cruise Lines Services, which was acquired by LVMH. Follow him on Twitter: @MayorLevine

You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @usatodayopinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter. To respond to a column, submit a comment to letters@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: COVID in Florida: Cruise industry devastated by pandemic
A police brutality protestor has filed a charge of assault with a deadly weapon against Judge John Tyson, alleging Tyson tried to hit her with his SUV last week as she demonstrated outside the Fayetteville Market House.

A criminal court summons that accused a state Appeals Court judge of assault with a deadly weapon in Fayetteville has been dismissed, court record shows.

The summons was issued May 14 after a woman swore before a Cumberland County magistrate that Judge John Tyson nearly hit her with his SUV. Myah Warren said in interviews that she was almost struck by the vehicle driven by Tyson while she was protesting near the Market House on May 7.

Tyson lives in Fayetteville. His lawyer, David Courie Sr., said Monday in a written statement that the dismissal was rightful.

False allegations should be dismissed, Courie said. It is bad enough to be falsely charged and to suffer a rush to judgment by some despite the evidence, but it need not be followed up by a blind prosecution.

Previous coverage: Court summons issued for judge accused of almost hitting protester near Fayetteville Market House with SUV

Courie said in the statement that after the local District Attorneys office recused itself from the case, the matter was turned over to the Conference of District Attorneys. He said the conference represents district attorneys across North Carolina and described it as independent and impartial.

Their office conducted a thorough and objective review of all the evidence and interviewed witnesses and officers involved, he said. Their conclusion finds no evidence or basis to prosecute the case and dismissed the summons. This final action resolves any assertions in favor of Judge Tyson.

A dismissal filed Friday in Cumberland County District Court indicates that the misdemeanor charge against Tyson was being dismissed because of insufficient evidence. The document was filed by Charles Spahos, who is the Conference of District Attorneys financial crimes resource prosecutor, according to its website.

A statement released Monday by Cumberland County District Attorney Billy West said his office asked to be recused from the case May 14 because of a conflict of interest. The statement said Tyson resides in Cumberland County and hears direct appeals of cases prosecuted by the office.

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Wests office asked the N.C. Administrative Office of the Courts to appoint an independent prosecutor to the case. The Administrative Office of the Courts referred the case to the Conference of District Attorneys, which appointed Spahos, the statement said.

Previous: Fayetteville police release more video related to judge accused of almost hitting protester

The document says that Warren had accused Tyson of assault with a deadly weapon by trying to hit her with a vehicle. After state officials reviewed video footage with Warren and her mother on Thursday, the women agreed that there was no evidence to support Warren's claim, according to the document.

Warren said in an interview Monday that she had no recollection of such an admission.

Those words never left my mouth, she said.

Warren said she stands by her claim.

I do strongly feel that this man tried to hit me with his vehicle, she said.

Warren said she reviewed the footage and was told that the summons was going to be dismissed.

Theres nothing I can do, she said.

Couries statement said ethical and objective prosecutors search for truth.

The local, state, and nationwide smear of my clients good name and reputation is shocking in light of the clear and objective videos released to the public, he said. The dismissal confirms his innocence and proved the allegation to be completely false.

The Fayetteville Police Department on May 14 and May 19 released surveillance footage from cameras around the Market House in response to a public records request. A petition to release the video was filed in a Cumberland County court. It was submitted by an attorney on behalf of Police Chief Gina Hawkins, a court document shows.

The video was taken May 7, as a group of protesters gathered near the Market House. It shows an SUV driving on the inside lane of the Market House traffic circle, close to three protesters standing near or on top of the Black Lives Do Matter mural painted in the lane. The lane, which is bordered by a solid yellow line, is not open to traffic, according to police.

More: City of Fayetteville releases video in case of state judge accused of almost hitting protester

Staff writer Steve DeVane can be reached at sdevane@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3572.

Crime Editor F.T. Norton contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Criminal summons dismissed Appeals Court Judge John Tyson Market House
Former Republican California Rep. Dana Rohrabacher acknowledged that he was at the Trump rally that preceded the Capitol riot.

Rohrabacher, who spent three decades in Congress before being ousted in 2018, acknowledged his participation Monday after social media users uncovered photos that appeared to show him standing among the Trump crowd on Jan. 6.

I marched to protest, and I thought the election was fraudulent and it should be investigated, and I wanted to express that and be supportive of that demand, Rohrabacher said. But I was not there to make a scene and do things that were unacceptable for anyone to do.

BIDEN WALKS FOREIGN POLICY TIGHTROPE WITH TURKEY'S ERDOGAN IN NATO MEETING

By going into the building, they gave the Left the ability to direct the discussion of what was going on in a way that was harmful to the things we believe in, he said, adding that he believed leftist provocateurs urged the crowd to breach the Capitol building.

Thousands of Trump supporters nationwide flocked to D.C. to hear Trumps Jan. 6 speech, which coincided with Congresss intent to certify the election results for President Joe Biden.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Trump refused to acknowledge that Biden won the election legitimately and urged supporters to fight like hell and to make their voices heard "peacefully and patriotically."

Four people died at the riot, and three Capitol Police officers died in its aftermath, though only one of their deaths was ruled a homicide. More than 400 people who were at the riot have been arrested, while 65 of them were charged with assaulting officers.

Washington Examiner Videos

Tags: News, U.S. Capitol Building, U.S. Capitol Police, Dana Rohrabacher, Riots

Original Author: Mike Brest

Original Location: Dana Rohrabacher acknowledges being at Trump rally before Capitol riot
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky may need to get better at Twitter. Chiming into the NATO summit Twitter conversation, the Ukrainian leader tweeted this afternoon that Ukraine will become a member of the Alliance  a juicy-sounding claim some interpreted to mean Ukraine would be joining the alliance immediately. If true, that claim would upend Wednesdays Biden-Putin head-to-head summit. Instead, the alliance merely reiterated a 2008 commitment that Ukraine will one day become a member, and President Joe Biden later confirmed  at a press conference held two hours behind schedule  that Ukraine did not yet meet NATO membership criteria.

In the summit communique, NATO members stopped short of labeling China a threat, but did little else to conceal their concerns, referencing systemic competition from assertive and authoritarian powers. The allies criticized Russia directly, saying it has intensified its hybrid actions against NATO Allies and partners, including through proxies.

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi kept up the anti-Trump tone of the European leaders. Draghi stressed that President Biden's first visit is to Europe and asked journalists to try to remember where President Trump's first visit was. The answer: Saudi Arabia.

As NATO finalized its cyber defense plans, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance will ready itself to respond jointly to any attacks against members in space.

Lets decode todays communique and NATOs new draft 10-year strategy



Rym Momtaz, senior correspondent, France: Theres a lot more on China in todays communique compared to 2019  its definitely a shift. Theres also a lot of concern about Turkey and their purchase of Russian military equipment.

Macron was forced to follow Bidens lead on the NATO pivot to China, even while publicly saying, NATO is a North Atlantic organization, China has nothing to do with the North Atlantic. So, theres a lot of personal love between Macron and Biden, but some battles, too.

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Alex Wickham, London Playbook author: Theres split between the European positions and U.S. line on China. Boris Johnson said he doesnt want to start a new Cold War on China, even as he is under huge pressure to take a tougher line from the hawkish wing of his own Conservative party. Itll be fascinating to see if Biden succeeds in getting the U.K. to take a tougher line.

Hans von der Burchard, politics reporters, Brussels: Angela Merkel added her weight to the dove side of the argument. I think it is very important, similar to what we are doing with Russia, to always offer a political discussion, a political discourse, in order to find solutions, when it comes to China, she said.



Has this summit given Biden a boost going into his Putin head-to-head?

Ryan Heath, Global Translations author: Yes. The communique leads with NATOs commitment to unity. NATO allies also rubber-stamped the G-7 communique from the weekend, meaning theres literal alignment between the two groupings as they get more organized in pushing back on autocrats. Thats all Biden could wish for.

Nahal Toosi, foreign affairs correspondenT: Sure. Anytime you can get your allies on board with most of your priorities, even if its rhetoric for now, youve strengthened your relations with an adversary. But I have to wonder a couple things: First, what if Trump (or someone like Trump) runs and wins in 2024? What do these NATO allies falling over to praise Biden do then? Second, Putin intends to stay in office past Biden and these other NATO leaders. How does that affect his calculus?

Momtaz: Absolutely, yes, Biden did get that boost. Its really very interesting the new ways G-7 and NATO are overlapping. Today the NATO allies even agreed to keep their military carbon emissions under control, which is a direct overlap between the G-7 prioritizing climate and todays defense focus.

Lili Bayer, political correspondent, Brussels: Biden has rock solid support from the Baltics, which is no surprise. After leaders from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania met with Biden, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda tweeted: During turbulent times, democracies must stick together, adding that NATO members agreed to strengthen NATO's presence on the alliance's eastern flank, as well as its support for Ukraine and Georgia. U.S. presence in the Baltics is crucial for the security of the whole alliance, he said.

What happened regarding national defense and NATO funding?

Primer on how NATO financing works

David Herszenhorn, chief Brussels correspondent: Today's summit is a giant payday for Stoltenberg and the entire team that works here at NATO headquarters. Leaders are committing to increasing all three strands of the alliance's common funding, i.e. the portion of the budget that goes to central operations, which is roughly $2.5 billion a year today. Thats only 0.3 percent of total allied defense spending, and it was not a given that the budget would be increased. Support from Biden made a critical difference.

Momtaz: France is back in the NATO central command system, but was really unhappy about the NATO common spending proposal by Stoltenberg. France had to concede the point, so Stoltenberg got what he wanted. French Defense Minister Florence Parly told me Frances worry isnt the idea per se, its that NATO isnt able to tell Paris what they will spend the money on.

Annabelle Dickson, political correspondent, London: Tobias Ellwood, chair of the U.K. Parliaments Defense Committee, is proposing the U.K. bump its defense spending up from 2.29 percent to 3 percent of GDP  well beyond the famous 2 percent target most NATO members still fail to reach.

Lara Seligman, defense correspondent, Washington: NATO leaders committed to continue to provide training and financial support to the Afghan security forces. The announcement ends speculation over what will happen to the NATO training mission in Afghanistan once U.S. and NATO forces leave the country by September. Pentagon officials have said the United States will end its own training program after the withdrawal, although Washington will continue funding the Afghan forces.



Anything noteworthy in the side meetings and events?

Heath: Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was at pains to downplay tensions between Ankara and its NATO allies today. He called his talk with Biden fruitful and sincere, despite significant differences of opinion, and invited Biden to Turkey. Important to note here that Turkey hasnt changed its position on buying Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile systems, which had been a major concern for NATO allies. After speaking with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Erdogan said he is looking to calm relations between the two countries and will support a positive agenda following a period of surging tension. Angela Merkel favors rewarding more cooperative behavior from Ankara in the eastern Mediterranean with benefits such as a modernization of the EU-Turkey customs union.

Dickson: Boris Johnson once again couldnt escape Brexit. The protocol for handling the Northern Ireland border was on the agenda for Johnsons meeting with Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez.

Momtaz: Speaking of Brexit, Emmanuel Macron clarified his Brexit comments from the G-7 summit, assuring that he would never question U.K. sovereignty over its territory.

Thanks for joining us for the NATO summit  tomorrow we move onto the EU-U.S. summit.




Devangana Kalita was arrested last year on charges of sedition

A court in India has granted bail to two female activists arrested in May 2020 over an anti-government protest.

Natasha Narwal and Devangana Kalita joined the sit-in last year against a controversial citizenship law a day before deadly riots broke out in Delhi.

They were among several protesting activists who have since been charged under a stringent anti-terrorism law.

The two-judge bench criticised the government for confusing the right to protest with terrorist activity.

In a strongly-worded order, the high court in Delhi said: "We are constrained to express, that it seems, that in its anxiety to suppress dissent, in the mind of the state, the line between the constitutionally guaranteed right to protest and terrorist activity seems to be getting somewhat blurred. If this mindset gains traction, it would be a sad day for democracy."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has been accused of using the pandemic to crack down on dissent. A colonial-era sedition law and an anti-terrorism law that makes it nearly impossible for the accused to get bail (UAPA) have been widely used to jail activists, journalists and protesters.

On Tuesday, the court also granted bail to Asif Iqbl Tanha, a student activist who was arrested in May last year for his participation in protests days before the rioting.

Ms Narwal had been granted interim bail in May for three weeks to perform the last rites of her father. Mahavir Narwal, a senior leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), died from complications after contracting Covid-19.

Natasha Narwal is one of the founding members of the Pinjra Tod movement in India

Ms Narwal and Ms Kalita, both in their early 30s, are founding members of Pinjra Tod (Break the Cage), a popular student movement that enables women to reclaim public spaces.

The movement was first formed to challenge the unreasonable curfew timings imposed by the authorities in women's hostels of Delhi University - male hostel members were allowed to stay out until midnight but female students were required to return to their accommodation by evening.

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Soon this movement gained traction and spread to other universities across India as students spoke for the rights of minorities, Dalits, wage workers and farmers.

Ms Narwal and Ms Kalita were among many students and activists who took part in peaceful protests against India's Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Critics say it discriminates against Muslims, a charge the government denies.

But the law sparked massive protests across India. And one of these protests in north-east Delhi - the sit-in which Ms Narwal and Ms Kalita attended - sparked a political rally in favour of the law the following day.

Later that day, minor clashes were reported between Hindus and Muslims. But the situation escalated and soon turned into deadly riots that killed 53 people, mostly Muslims.
WASHINGTON  Progressive Democrats working on a bipartisan infrastructure deal hardened their position on the legislation after tense talks Monday.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., a member of the Senate Democrats' leadership team, came out against a bipartisan agreement Monday night after meeting with a bipartisan group of 10 senators.

"I wouldn't vote for it," Sanders told reporters. "The bottom line is there are a lot of needs facing this country. Now is the time to address those needs, and it has to be paid for in a progressive way, given the fact that we have massive income and wealth inequality in America."

Last week, the so-called G10 group of five Democrats and five Republicans said it had reached a tentative infrastructure deal, but skepticism from Republicans and impatience from Democrats left its prospects uncertain as lawmakers departed for the weekend.

Democratic Sens. Ed Markey of Massachusetts and Jeff Merkley of Oregon have insisted that any deal must include action on climate change. They plan to hold a news conference Tuesday to call on lawmakers to include substantive climate action in the proposal, such as investments to reduce emissions.

Some Democrats have tried to pressure their leadership to abandon bipartisan talks and push through a partisan bill, instead, but there's no guarantee that there are 50 Democratic votes for that tactic, either. And for every Democratic vote appearing to be in jeopardy, another Republican would need to vote in favor.

That means the bipartisan group will need to secure more than 10 Republicans to get its proposal across the finish line. Many in the Republican conference are still bitter over the breakdown of negotiations between President Joe Biden and their chief negotiator, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., this month.

The group of lawmakers huddled Monday night to flesh out details of their plan. But as they left the half-hour meeting, senators sent mixed signals.

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"There are still conversations on the pay-fors," said Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont. "There is no agreement."

The lawmakers didn't seem to be on the same page about whether a gas tax would help pay for the proposal. Republicans said it was part of the plan; Democrats said it wasn't. The White House opposes the idea, saying it would increase taxes on the middle class.

However, several senators said they plan to release their proposal with details this week  an ambitious goal for a group that seems to disagree on key issues. Both sides plan to present the plan during their respective lunches Tuesday afternoon, said Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah.
The Ministry of Home Affairs last year said Yeo was arrested under the Internal Security Act and will be interviewed to establish if he had engaged in activities prejudicial to Singapores security. (Photo: Getty)

SINGAPORE  Dickson Yeo, the Singaporean man who was jailed in the US for spying for China and was arrested by the Internal Security Department (ISD) upon his return to Singapore last year will be continue to be held in detention under the Internal Security Act.

In a statement on Tuesday (15 June), the department said its investigations have established that Yeo "worked for the intelligence apparatus of a foreign state and had carried out various taskings given to him by his foreign handlers in exchange for monetary gains".

From 2016 until his arrest in the US in 2019, Yeo was asked to source for information and provide reports on issues, including information relating to Singapore, and had approached various people in Singapore to try to get information for his reports, said the ISD.

He also set up a front company in Singapore as a cover, not only for information-gathering activities but also for his foreign handlers to recruit others.

"He had also tried, but failed, to secure employment in the Singapore government sector to further his information-gathering activities," the department added.

The ISD said its investigations are still ongoing and Yeo's continued detention is necessary "to facilitate probes into the full extent of his activities".

"The Singapore Government takes a very serious view of anyone who enters into a clandestine relationship with a foreign government and engages in activities at the behest of the foreign power that is inimical to our national security and interests, including bilateral relations," the department added.

About the case

Yeo was a doctoral candidate at the National University of Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP) when he was recruited by Chinese intelligence officers after a 2015 trip to Beijing to give a presentation on the political situation in Southeast Asia.

He was first arrested by American counterintelligence officers in November 2019. He pleaded guilty in July last year to one charge of operating illegally as a foreign agent, and admitted to working between 2015 and 2019 for Chinese intelligence to spot and assess Americans with access to valuable non-public information, including US military and government employees with high-level security clearances.

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A few days after he entered his plea, LKYSPP said it had terminated Yeos PhD candidature with immediate effect. Yeo had enrolled as a PhD student there in 2015 and was granted a leave of absence in 2019.

In October last year, Yeo was jailed for 14 months in the US for passing to the Chinese government valuable, but unclassified, military and political information that he had duped a number of Americans into giving him.

Prosecutors said that Yeo was motivated by monetary gain and a shared desire with China to weaken the global standing of the US. Among the information Yeo handed over to China were reports on a military aircraft program, US troop withdrawal in Afghanistan and on a US Cabinet member, who was not identified in court documents.

I take full responsibility for what I have done, Yeo reportedly said during sentencing. I am sympathetic to Chinas position, but it was not my intention to harm anyone.

In a statement announcing his arrest upon his return to Singapore in December last year, Singapore's Ministry of Home Affairs said, Singapore will not allow our nationals to be subverted or used by any foreign actors for activities prejudicial to our security and national interests.

"We will deal firmly with such individuals in accordance with our laws, the ministry added.

Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore

Related story:

Dickson Yeo, Singaporean who spied for China, arrested by ISD

Singaporean pleads guilty in US to working for Chinese intelligence

Singapore man sentenced to prison for spying for China in US
Despite the current administration carrying over many of former President Donald Trump's policies on China, Don Trump Jr. thinks President Joe Biden will eventually fold under pressure from the Chinese Communist Party.

"He's not getting lighter on any of these guys," Trump Jr. told the Washington Examiner in an exclusive interview. "He's just outright quitting and folding, and that should be apparent to anyone with a brain."

2024 VISION: CLICK HERE TO WATCH DON TRUMP JR'S FULL INTERVIEW WITH THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Shortly after entering office, Biden ordered a full review of the Trump administration's China portfolio. Though he rescinded a Trump-era order blocking transfers of some technology companies with links to the Chinese military, the bulk of Trump's policies remain on the books.

The Washington Examiner pointed out to Trump Jr. that Biden, similar to Trump, has prioritized supply chain resiliency, pushed manufacturing companies to create jobs in the states rather than in China's cheap labor markets, and called for total transparency and cooperation from Beijing into inquiries of the pandemic's origins. However, the former first son said the "results" will eventually tell a different story.

"I have a feeling China's going to get a really good return on their investment into Hunter Biden," he said, referring to his father's campaign trail claims that Hunter Biden used his father's influence as vice president to line his pockets, something the now-president says was not done.

"I have a feeling none of those things are going anywhere," the Trump Jr. said.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

"All I've seen is job-killing policies," Trump Jr. continued. "So you know, I'm pretty confident that that's what's going to happen. In the end, the media will, again, they will be the marketing arm of the Democratic Party  they'll try to make it seem like it's something other than that. But I don't imagine anything real is going to happen."

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For his part, Biden was asked Monday during a press conference at the end of a NATO summit how allies could expect him to keep his promises. One of those is pushing back harder on China.

"I believe that by us standing up and saying what we believe to be the case, not engaging in the  the overwhelming hyperbole that gets engaged in by so many today, that we," Biden told reporters, pausing, "I guess that old expression: 'The proof of the pudding is in the eating.

Washington Examiner Videos

Tags: News, Joe Biden, China, Donald Trump, White House

Original Author: Christian Datoc

Original Location: Don Trump Jr. says 'anyone with a brain' can guess how Biden will handle China
MEXICALI, Mexico  Lucia Laguna carries her fate tattooed on her face  from the corner of her mouth to her chin, black lines surf across her coppery skin  the tribal art honoring her people will also serve an important function later on.

After my death, it will guide me to my ancestors. With the tattoo, they will recognize me and can take me where they are," she said, as she talks on the banks of the Colorado River.

But under the merciless sun, Laguna, 51, worries about the fate of the river and its impact on the Cucapa, her Indigenous people. A searing drought is exacerbating the deadly heat in a region that long ago saw its river flow diminished, after almost a century of U.S. engineering projects, as well as a focus on water for agriculture.

"Cucapa means people from the river, that's why we are fighting for it," she said, pointing to a decrease in the river's flow she is seeing every year. We cling to the river and fight because it gives us water so that the fish can arrive and we can earn our livelihood. But it is a fight that seems that we will never win," she said, disheartened.

Mexico is experiencing the worst drought in three decades. NASA images from the recently released Landsat 8 satellite showed the extremely low levels of the Villa Victoria dam, one of the capital's main water reservoirs.

According to meteorologists, three quarters of the country suffers from drought; in 16 of the 32 states, it affects their entire territory. Thus, 60 large reservoirs, especially in the north and the center, are below 25 percent of capacity.

"Over the past 70 years, the temperature in Mexico has a clear and conclusive increasing trend. In the last decade, it increased very rapidly and that rise is even higher than the average for the planet," Jorge Zavala Hidalgo, general coordinator of the National Meteorological Service, said.

Rainfall has always fluctuated, he explained, but now the rain is concentrated in fewer days. "And that is bad because we all want it to rain  but nobody wants it to flood, especially the farmers, because that destroys the crops. That is why we are studying everything that is happening."

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Image: Abandoned boats in the areas where the Colorado River used to reach, in Baja California, April 2021. (Alejandro Cegarra)

The increase in temperature especially affects the forests, which go from being a paradise of greenery to time bombs for fire risks. As of May 5, 562 forest fires had been registered, 27 percent more than in 2020. And the burned area grew 69 percent, reaching almost 900,000 acres.

"There is more drought and therefore the vegetation is waiting for someone to arrive, light a leaf and from there, the fire begins," said Cesar Robles, deputy manager of the Fire Management Center of Mexico's National Forestry Commission. "The area affected by fires is directly correlated with the increase in temperature and the decrease in rainfall."

An area resident, Imelda Guerra Hurtado, 43, pointed to the barren lands of El Zanjon, an arid, semi-desert enclave that reaches the banks of the Colorado River delta.

She remembers her grandparents taking her fishing  and points to areas that used to have water.

"Sometimes we feel that we are dying of thirst. Although many deny it, the climate has changed," she said. "We have always lived off the fish in the river, since I can remember. Now we can only fish once a year and it is our main livelihood."

Image: A fisherman from the Cucapa indigenous people, during preparations to sail, in El Zanjon, Baja California, April 2021. (Alejandro Cegarra)

U.S. engineering feats  and their consequences

The Cucapa are one of the five native tribes of Baja California, and they descend from the Yuman people, who emigrated to that area around 1000 BC. According to official data, there are now only between 350 and 400 members of the Cucapa people but, in the 19th century, Western colonizers documented between 5,000 and 6,000 nomads who organized into clans.

"You have to understand that these Indigenous people see the entire region, both the part of Mexico and the United States, as their territory. In their traditions, it is remembered that they received a lot of water and, little by little, they were running out of that flow," said Osvel Hinojosa-Huerta, director of the Coastal Solutions Program at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

The history of the Colorado River, and the problems it suffers today, is an ode to progress and engineering that tried to tame nature. It is the most important water system in northwestern Mexico and the southwestern United States. As with the Nile River in Egypt, it is essential for farming in a semi-desert region.

In the 19th century, the river reached Mexico with a wild power of about 42,000 cubic feet per second. At the beginning of the 20th century, however, the United States began struggling to convert the arid regions of the Southwest to arable land, thus undertaking engineering works to divert water to the Imperial Valley of California.

"From 1922, everything started badly," Hinojosa-Huerta said. The United States did a study to divide the water from the Colorado River and, coincidentally, it was the 10 wettest years in the basin." Thus, a distribution was made on paper that included more water (16 percent) than there actually is. And then the reservoirs began to be built.

Treaties, dams  and then climate change

In 1936, the Hoover Dam was inaugurated, between Nevada and Arizona, which lowered the flow to 164 cubic meters per second for Mexico. In 1944, a bilateral treaty was signed that guaranteed Mexico about 1.8 million cubic meters of water per year, but most of it goes to agriculture.

The agreement did not consider the rights of the Cucapa people and their ancestral relationship with the river. But it affected their traditional ceremonies, causing a shortage of fruits and grains, and the trees and shrubs used to make houses, boats and clothing.

"Nobody asked us anything, at that time it was as if we did not exist," Guerra said. "There are many companies here that never lack water, one sees the fields of green vegetables and the rest, our land, it is desert."

Image: Abandoned jet skis in a vacant lot in the Mexicali Valley, Baja California, in April 2021. (Alejandro Cegarra)

In 1966, the Glen Canyon Dam in Arizona was erected, and the river's flow decreased to 8 cubic meters per second. But what no one seemed to count on, between treaties and dams, was climate change.

"In Mexicali, it has never rained," Hinojosa-Huerta said, "the flow that reaches the region and that supports agriculture comes from snowfall 2,600 kilometers [1,600 miles] in the Rockies."

It all depends on precipitation in Wyoming and Colorado, but since 2002 snowfall has been below average, depleting the river and resulting in a "desolating panorama," he said.

Mexico's Baja California and California share the same geography and climatic conditions. Years of warmer temperatures, a failed rainy season last summer and low snow cover have combined to cause the region's rivers to decline.

Image: The area near a reservoir in Baja California, Mexico, April 2021. (Alejandro Cegarra)

Hell on Earth

But heat also kills. In 2019 there were at least eight deaths in Mexicali associated with high temperatures; in 2020, they were 83.

"People cannot live with those temperatures, that is, people die", Zavala said, "although they are used to the heat, even small increases break the threshold for the human body to survive."

On Aug. 14, 2020, Mexicali registered 122 degrees Fahrenheit, breaking the record of 121 that dated from August 1981.

Froilan Meza Rivera, a veteran journalist and writer from northern Mexico, consulted the archives of the Secretariat of Hydraulic Resources. It appears that in July 1966, in Riito, a Mexicali community, a thermometer reached an unprecedented figure of 140 degrees Fahrenheit. And that was its limit: the mercury rose to the top and could not measure any more.

It would be the highest figure in the world: according to the World Meteorological Organization, the highest recorded temperature is 134 degrees Fahrenheit on July 10, 1913, in California's Death Valley.

The region is exposed to the worst possible scenarios in terms of a climate emergency, according to Roberto Sanchez Rodriguez, an academic from the Colegio de la Frontera Norte. "Governments have mismanaged resources, and that is why there is less water available," he said.

The narcos also fish

Since 1993, the fishing territory of the Cucapa has been included in the Upper Gulf of California and the Colorado River Delta Biosphere Reserve, which has a surface area of 2.3 million acres. This protected area was created to preserve the flora and fauna, such as the vaquita porpoises and the totoaba, which are at the brink of extinction.

"We abide by the rules, we know that species have to be protected because we are an Indigenous people, we use the nets and equipment that the government asks of us and we do not go out when it's not our turn," said Ruben Flores, captain of a panga, a boat used for traditional fishing.

An earthquake in 2010 also affected fishing. "It left us huge cracks that got bigger, and that doesn't allow us to fish like before," said Hilda Hurtado Valenzuela, 68, president of the Sociedad Cooperativa Pueblo Indigena Cucapa, one of the associations that groups together the people who are still fishing.

"Now the ocean currents enter where the old banks of the river used to be, they damage it and we are left without part of our territory," said Hurtado, who said she was born on the banks of the Colorado River.

Image: Hilda Hurtado Valenzuela, 68 years old and president of the Sociedad Cooperativa Pueblo Ind?gena Cucap?, one of the associations that groups together people still engaged in fishing, in Baja California, Mexico, April 2021. (Alejandro Cegarra)

Sitting on a plastic chair near the patio of her home in El Indiviso, a semi-desert piece of land, she said she likes to get away from the sun. For a long time, she has not seen the sun as a source of life but as a tough enemy who takes out her tribe, destroys the river and forces them to forces them to do their chores and work at night during the harshest moments of summer.

"Unbearable"

"The heat here is unbearable, we have never experienced this. There are even people living on the streets who die because they cannot stand the temperatures," Valenzuela said. "And it also affects the animals because less water arrives from the river and the fish breed with the mixture of fresh water and salt, so there are fewer and fewer fish."

The townspeople insist that they do not fish the totoaba, whose swim bladder is considered a delicacy in the Asian market for its supposed medicinal and aphrodisiac properties (a kilo can cost $5,000 in Mexico, and when it reaches China it rises to $55,000 or $60,000).

But the intense demand leads to fishing with professional nets, thus also trapping the vaquitas and leaving them on the brink of extinction.

Various environmental and journalistic investigations have pointed to the Dragon Cartel, a criminal network with Mexican, American, Chinese and other intermediaries who conspire to exploit and fish the totoaba in that region.

Image: Ruben Flores, captain of one of the fishing boats of the Cucapa town, in El Zanjon, Baja California, April 2021. (Alejandro Cegarra)

Flores said that just by looking at the sky, he knows what the weather will be like. That's why he shakes his head disapprovingly every time he sees the relentless sun.

"Something strange is happening here. It is as if the sun lasts longer, so the fish do not like that heat. They are born less and weigh less." It used to take them two days to fish for curvina, now it takes them a whole week, he said, looking at the river.

The intense drought also has affected the fish's reproduction, so they must go further and further out, with poorly prepared boats, with small engines and without much fuel.

"We comply with everything, but the people of the surrounding towns also fish and don't (comply) and many times we're punished for that, said Paco, a veteran fisherman with more than 25 years of experience.

"And we must also be careful because the narco is there, they follow our routes through the area and they fish in order to hide tons of drugs underneath. We tell the police, but nobody does anything," said Paco, whose last name is being withheld for fear of retaliation.

The United States issued a security alert in April for tourists and officials to take great precautions when traveling in and around the city of Mexicali and its rural area due to widespread cartel violence.

"We do not feel safe, we are exposed to everything that is happening because there is a lot of crime. We try to protect ourselves and always be on the lookout for a stranger, because you never know who can attack you," Laguna said, with fear showing on her face.

"I want the river to stay"

Image: A photograph of a Cucapa child, taken in 1900, exhibited at the Cucapa Community Museum, in Baja California, April 2021.

Lucia Laguna considers herself a guardian of the Cucapa, keeping alive their language, customs and traditional clothing to preserve them. Her memory is one of the most important reservoirs of the Cucapa past.

Kneeling on the banks of the Colorado River, she touches the dark water with special devotion while reciting an ancient song. Two little girls are with her.

"My tata [grandfather] fishes because without that we cannot eat. I too would like to be a fisherman, because I really like the river and being here," Marleny Saenz, 10, said.

"I want the river to stay, to have our traditions," she said. "I like to sing because it is part of me, I feel very proud to be part of this town."

Image: Luc?a Laguna with two of her students who learn the traditions and songs of the Cucap? people, in Baja California, Mexico, April 2021. (Alejandro Cegarra)

It is a ritual that they used to celebrate on the banks of the river. From time immemorial they burned the cachanilla, a wild plant with a fresh aroma, while chanting their songs so that the fishermen would be lucky in their long expeditions at sea.

"It is about opening paths, so that everything goes well," Laguna said.

"We are paying the consequences of the pollution of other people. The people of the cities have to understand that we are affected by what they do. They do not live alone in the world," she said sadly, touching the water and singing to the river.

A version of this story was first published in Noticias Telemundo.

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Students walk near Widener Library in Harvard Yard at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., in 2019. (Charles Krupa / Associated Press)

The latest twist on the civil rights lawsuit against Harvard has the U.S. Supreme Court asking the Biden administration its thoughts on the matter. That makes sense, since the Trump administration weighed in heavily on the side of Asian American applicants who claimed that they were stereotyped and had to meet a higher standard than other racial and ethnic groups to be admitted.

The lawsuit raises delicate questions about historical prejudice, meritocracy and affirmative action. People of Asian descent were the subject of discrimination and exclusion dating to the 1850s, and the prevalence of recent violence against Asian Americans lays bare the obstacles many in this heterogeneous community continue to face.

At the same time, the nations Asian population has produced extremely impressive college applicants, which means they would take enormous numbers of seats if these were based solely on grades and standardized test scores. As many have pointed out, if they are held to unfair standards, its similar to the discrimination to which Jews were subjected in the early- to mid-20th century, when prestigious schools had caps on the number of Jewish students admitted.

There is little doubt that Harvard officials wronged Asian applicants in at least some ways. Stereotyping was uncovered by a 1990 federal report, which said officials had referred to Asian Americans as being quiet, shy, science/math-oriented, and hard workers. Its hard to unearth clear evidence that Asian applicants are subjected to more rigorous standards, but in the college-coaching industry there have been programs to help Asian students appear less Asian to admission officials by tweaking their essays or having them sign up for activities or say theyre interested in humanities or social sciences instead of science.

Harvard and many other colleges, prestigious or not, make no bones about their commitment to creating racial diversity on campus. Black, Latino and Native American students have long been underrepresented among the student populations at elite schools; that is true for some Asian Americans but not others. There is a practical and moral obligation to provide an educational pathway for students from the most disadvantaged communities  residents of poor neighborhoods, descendants of enslaved people, children of immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers  to the middle class and beyond. That is not the same as lowering standards; it means acknowledging that grade-point averages and SAT scores should not be the overriding arbiters of how well an applicant will use the opportunity to attend college.

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There are better and fairer ways to open more spots to worthy applicants of all races: Eliminate the admission advantage for athletes and, to a lesser extent, legacy applicants whose relatives attended the school. The advantage for athletes is particularly vexing because numerous studies have shown that many of these applicants have subpar records otherwise; they take up more undergraduate spots than legacy students and are more likely to perform poorly in college, according to a 2016 report by the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. And unlike what most people think, the sports advantage goes overwhelmingly to advantaged white students.

Admissions should be more than a numbers game. To increase the numbers of Black students, some colleges have pulled disproportionately from voluntary immigrant families and students who attended elite prep schools. Those might be terrific students, but these schools also should be thinking about the moral imperative of doing the right thing by students whose ancestors were enslaved.

No one has a right to be admitted to the university of their choice. Harvard's class of 2025 will be nearly 26% Asian though Asians make up about 6% of the population. Harvard must rid itself of stereotypes about Asian students and measure their merit on the same basis as those of all students, but it also should continue to strive for a diverse student population  both racially and economically. The Supreme Court should let the decisions of lower courts, which ruled in Harvards favor, stand.

The ultimate goal should be a change in our attitudes toward elite colleges. It is true that the Harvards and Stanfords of the nation give students a certain leg up. Where the real short shrift occurs is among the many bright, talented and committed students attending Cal State and other schools that dont make the top rankings. They are getting an excellent education and going on to great things. And if employers and graduate schools took that into consideration instead of being overly impressed by names, people would be less worried about who got into Harvard in the first place.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Elon Musk has downsized.

The Tesla and SpaceX CEO has sold or listed all of his $114 million in real estate holdings in the past year and now resides in a small, ranch-style house in Texas near the Boca Chica Starbase, a test site for many of SpaceXs rockets located in Southeast Texas, two miles away from the southern border.

My primary home is literally a ~$50k house in Boca Chica / Starbase that I rent from SpaceX. Its kinda awesome though, Musk tweeted on June 9.

BITCOIN SOARS ABOVE $40,000 AFTER ELON MUSK REMARKS



The billionaires new lifestyle is part of a larger effort to focus on his space ambitions.

I am selling almost all physical possessions. Will own no house, he tweeted in May 2020.

Musks one-floor house has white exterior walls and black trim near the door, and the roof consists of brown shingles, a photo from the Wall Street Journal showed. It has two windows on its front and is flanked by a wooden fence on each side.

It was appraised for $47,000 in 2020 and for just over $154,000 in 2021. Photographs taken by Texas Monthly appear to show significant upgrades being made to the property, including the installation of solar panels.

[Musk] doesnt really make an effort to say hi or get to know us, said Boca Chica resident Jim Workman, who lives across the street from Musks house.

The entrepreneur can be spotted strolling through the neighborhood with two men, presumably part of his security detail, locals said, according to the New York Times.

His partner, the musician Grimes, lives near Musk in Austin, Texas, she said. It is unclear if she lives with him, as Austin is over 350 miles away from Starbase.

SpaceX did not respond to the Washington Examiner's request for comment on the specifications of Musk's house.

The CEOs home is one of many that SpaceX bought for employees of Starbase to make their commute to work easier.

Residents accused Musk of trying to turn the village of Boca Chica into a SpaceX colony.

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The company made offers to buy the houses of the locals. If they refused, SpaceX threatened to try to procure their houses through more aggressive means, said residents like Workman, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The only home still in Musks possession is a nine-bedroom, 9 1/2 bathroom mansion near San Francisco, which he listed for $37.5 million on Monday.

One of the homes Musk sold was the former home of the actor Gene Wilder. That house cannot be torn down or lose any [of] its soul, he tweeted when he first announced his material renunciation.

The house went to Wilders nephew, who bought the house for $7 million using a loan from Musk.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

There is no word on whether Musk will sell his car collection, which includes multiple Teslas, a Porsche, and a Ford Model T.



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Tags: News, Elon Musk, Texas, spaceX, Tesla, Real Estate, Poverty, CEOs, Space

Original Author: Charles Hilu

Original Location: Elon Musk renting $50,000 house in Texas after selling real estate holdings
Grievance politics seems to permeate every aspect of our society these days  and it has a serious cost.

Robin DiAngelo and Ibram X. Kendi have emerged as contemporary televangelists. The deceptively-named concept of anti-racism is the new orthodoxy in our universities, and racial politics have also entered our public schools.

Classics such as To Kill a Mockingbird and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn are banned from some high school curricula, only to be replaced by woke bestsellers.

This month, Fairfax County School Board member Abrar Omeish reminded the graduating class, We struggle with human greed, racism, extreme versions of individualism and capitalism, white supremacy, growing wealth gaps, disease, climate crisis, extreme poverty amidst luxury and waste right next door.

As a Washington Examiner editorial chronicled, K-12 students have been subjected to restorative justice circles and forced to self-identify as privileged or oppressed. The in-vogue focus on equity, not equality, has even led California to dismantle its math program, abandoning the long-standing pathway of advanced courses and any notion of gifted students.

The woke fever in K-12 education has robbed students of financial resources. Equity initiatives are not cheap. In March, the Fairfax County Public Schools agreed to pay the NYC Leadership Academy for Leadership Development Training. And according to documents obtained by Judicial Watch, the Montgomery County School District awarded $450,000 to the Mid-Atlantic Equity Consortium to conduct an anti-racist system audit.

The over-emphasis on racial politics has also allowed administrators to overlook systemic issues in American education. For one thing, students are under-performing in basic reading assessments. American Enterprise Institute fellow Ian Rowe noted in a 2020 piece, Consider that in 2019, only one-third of all 8th-grade students scored Proficient on the National Assessment of Progress in reading.

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Officials have also ignored the educational setbacks caused by the Common Core educational standards. Professors James Milgram and Sandra Stotsky found that the Common Core mathematics curriculum fails to prepare students for college-level STEM education.

Today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates STEM occupations have a median income of $50,000 higher than non-STEM occupations. Rather than equipping students with the necessary skills to secure these high-paying jobs, 41 states have decided to keep Common Core.

Grievance politics is divisive. But more importantly, it distracts the public from systemic problems in our public schools. In todays push for equity, baseline performance has been allowed to decline, and students have been left behind.

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Tags: Pay Equity, Woke culture, Common Core

Original Author: Samuel Kim

Original Location: 'Equity' has left K-12 students behind
Portugal announced Tuesday that tourists from the U.S. would be permitted to enter the country, as long as they provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test. Pictured here: Vila Nova de Gaia.

Portugal is the latest European country to open its borders to U.S. travelers.

The country announced Tuesday that tourists from the U.S. would be permitted to enter the country, as long as they provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test.

Travelers 2 years and older must take a nucleic acid amplification test  such as a PCR test  within the last 72 hours before boarding, or a rapid antigen test within 24 hours of boarding.

Various COVID-19 restrictions are still in various places across Portugal. Masks are required at beaches while entering and moving around, and visitors must keep at least 1.5 meters (around 5 feet) between their towels while lounging. Social distance measures and masks are also enforced in closed public spaces, and masks are mandatory when social distancing is not possible, according to the U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Portugal.

Travel restrictions update: CDC, State Department downgrade travel alerts for dozens of countries

Have COVID vaccine, will travel: These are the countries open to fully vaccinated Americans

United Airlines is the first U.S. carrier to resume flights to Portugal this summer, according to a statement from the company. Daily flights from New York and Newark, New Jersey will begin July 1.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Portugal reopens to Americans, welcoming back nonessential travelers
Jun. 15Significant discrepancies between federal and state data on vaccination rates in Hawaii paint different pictures of how close the state is to achieving the 70 % threshold that Gov. David Ige has set for dropping all COVID-19 restrictions, including constraints on businesses and requirements that people wear masks indoors while in public settings.

Indeed, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention puts Hawaii on the verge of freedom from the complicated county tier systems that govern activities, with 68.4 % of the state population, or 968, 008 people, receiving at least one dose of a vaccine. If the CDC data posted Monday is correct, then it could be just a few more weeks until 70 % of the population is fully vaccinated and life largely returns to normal.

But state officials say the federal data is wrong, and despite inquires with the CDC over the past two weeks, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser wasn't able to get much of an explanation for what is driving the differences. State Department of Health data says that just 61 % of the population, or 860, 369 people, has received at least one shot, suggesting that it could be several more months before the state reaches its goal of fully vaccinating 70 % of the population.

Differences between state and federal data have persisted for months, but with the state integrating vaccination rates into its metrics for reopening, it's all the more important that data be accurate, not just for public health, but also for businesses seeking to recover.

"It's challenging, " said Carl Bonham, executive director of the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization. "Obviously, because our policies are based on it, it would be nice to reconcile things."

UHERO has been using the CDC data to model the state's projected economic recovery.

"There have been some really, really big discrepancies, " he said, noting that if the CDC data was correct, then Hawaii would likely be fully reopening next month.

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Adding to the confusion, the rates for fully vaccinated residents also differ, though in this case Hawaii's data puts the rate higher at 55 % of the population, compared with the CDC rate of 49.5 %. That also matters because Hawaii has set benchmarks for easing restrictions once 60 % of the population is fully vaccinated. At that point all travelers from the mainland, Alaska and U.S. territories can skip the testing and quarantine requirement with proof of vaccination through the state's Safe Travels program. Restrictions on social gatherings and restaurants are also set to further ease.

Health Department spokesman Brooks Baehr said the department has "total confidence " in the state figures. He said state officials had identified incidents where the CDC was perhaps double-counting some vaccination data.

Kate Fowlie, a CDC spokeswoman, said at the beginning of this month that the federal and state data could differ for reasons such as "reporting schedules, data cleaning and lag time." In a follow-up inquiry June 9, she said Hawaii has the most current data and that the "CDC is working with Hawaii to address some technical issues." But there's no indication of when the data might be reconciled.

Ultimately, Ige has made clear that the state's reopening strategy will rest solely on state data.

The discrepancies have also affected Hawaii's national rankings when it comes to vaccination rates, with the CDC data sometimes pushing the state to the top of the pack. For instance, Hawaii is practically tied with Massachusetts for second in the country when it comes to the percentage of the population receiving at least one dose of the vaccine. Hawaii falls to about seventh based on the state data.

While the data has caused confusion among those who track the numbers daily, Bonham said the underlying logic of relying on data to set policy makes sense.

"The announcements that the governor has made makes perfect sense, that you have a planned, complete reopening based on data. Hopefully, it's all accurate, " said Bonham. "That provides an incentive for people to get vaccinated. It provides an incentive to businesses to provide incentives to get people vaccinated."
FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AP)  Attorney General Merrick Garland, in a break from his predecessors in the Trump administration, is allowing federal agents to cooperate with local prosecutors pursuing manslaughter charges against two U.S. Park Police officers who fatally shot a Virginia man after a stop-and-go chase in 2017.

In a June 1 letter to Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring and Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney Steve Descano, Garland said the federal government will share with the Commonwealth all appropriate information and evidence in the investigation into the death of Bijan Ghaisar.

Garland's letter is the latest twist in a nearly four-year legal saga following the shooting death of Ghaisar, 25, of McLean. Federal authorities investigated the shooting for two years and revealed little of what they found; they ultimately decided against filing criminal charges against the two officers who shot Ghaisar, Lucas Vinyard and Alejandro Amaya.

When the feds opted against filing charges, Fairfax County prosecutors launched their own investigation. In October 2020, a Fairfax County grand jury indicted the pair on involuntary manslaughter charges. They obtained the indictment without cooperation from federal agents who possessed key evidence, Descano said.

But lawyers for the officers had the case pulled out of local court and moved to federal court. They argue that the Constitution provides the federal officers immunity from the state charges; their detailed legal arguments were due in court Tuesday.

Garland's letter came in response to a letter sent last month by Herring and Descano asking Garland to reconsider the original decision against prosecuting the officers.

Garland's response makes no mention of pursuing federal charges, but cooperation from federal agents could make it easier for local officers to build their case.

Ghaisar was fatally shot by the officers in November 2017 following a chase on the George Washington Parkway, outside the nations capital in northern Virginia, after a fender bender in which Ghaisar's car was rear-ended.

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Dashcam video released by Fairfax County Police, who played a supporting role in the chase, shows the chase beginning on the parkway before turning into a residential neighborhood. It shows the car driven by Ghaisar stopping twice during the chase, and officers approaching the car with guns drawn. In both cases, Ghaisar drives off.

At the third and final stop, officers with guns drawn approach the car at the driver-side door. When the car starts to move again, gunshots are heard. The car starts to drift into a ditch, and two more sets of two gunshots are heard.

In court documents made public as part of a civil suit filed by Ghaisars family, Vinyard told FBI agents who interviewed him after the shooting that he and Amaya gave Ghaisar chance after chance to surrender peacefully before opening fire.

Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va., who has been critical of federal inaction over Ghaisar's death, praised Garland's decision in a statement Tuesday.

For years under the previous administration the Justice Department shrouded this case in an unacceptable level of opacity, stonewalling every attempt to establish the truth. Now we have reason to hope that a new era of accountability and transparency has arrived. said Beyer, whose district was the scene of Ghaisar's killing.
Former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield said President Joe Biden's chief medical adviser, Dr. Anthony Fauci, is clinging "tightly" to theories other than the hypothesis that the coronavirus escaped from a lab in Wuhan, China.

Redfield, who helmed the CDC during former President Donald Trump's administration, has been one of the most outspoken proponents of the lab leak theory. He insisted Fauci sunk his teeth "into a bone" regarding the possibilities of COVID-19's origin and has refused to let go.

"Other individuals, Tony Fauci, for example, would prefer to support that it evolved from nature," Redfield said in an interview with Fox News, released on Tuesday. "I think Tony is holding on to this hypothesis tightly. Why would that be? Sometimes scientists bite into a bone on a hypothesis. It's hard for them to move on."

FORMER CDC DIRECTOR SAYS HE RECEIVED DEATH THREATS FOR SUPPORTING WUHAN LAB LEAK THEORY

The former health authority noted that bat-to-human transmission is "not consistent" with how similar viruses have been picked up by humans in the past.

"When I said before that I didn't think it was biologically plausible that COVID-19 went from a bat to some unknown animal into man and now had become one of the most infectious viruses," he said, "That's not consistent with how other coronaviruses have come into the human species. And, it does suggest that there's an alternative hypothesis that it went from a bat virus, got into a laboratory, wherein the laboratory it was taught, educated, it evolved so that it became a virus that could efficiently transmit human to human."

"My professional opinion as a virologist ... that's the hypothesis I support," he added.

Redfield also railed against the World Health Organization for its May 30 report after questions about the Chinese government's influence on the proceedings. At the time, the WHO team concluded the virus was possible to likely through a direct animal spillover; likely to very likely through an intermediate animal host; possible through cold/food chain products; and extremely unlikely through a lab escape.

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"Clearly, they were incapable of compelling China to adhere to the treaty agreements that they have on global health because they didn't do that," Redfield said of the controversial investigation. "Clearly, they allowed China to define the group of scientists that could come and investigate. That's not consistent with their role."

Earlier this month, Redfield went public and said he received death threats from the scientific community for supporting the Wuhan lab leak hypothesis.

I was threatened and ostracized because I proposed another hypothesis, he told Vanity Fair. I expected it from politicians. I didnt expect it from science.

On March 26, Redfield made headlines when he revealed he was a proponent of the theory that COVID-19 escaped from the Wuhan lab accidentally and hinted the mishap followed "gain-of-function" research, which intends to bolster the infectious capacity of viruses.

Thats my own view. Its only an opinion. Im allowed to have opinions now, he said during an interview with CNN. You know, I am of the point of view that I still think the most likely etiology of this pathology in Wuhan was from a laboratory. You know, escaped. Other people dont believe that. Thats fine. Science will eventually figure it out. Its not unusual for respiratory pathogens that are being worked on in a laboratory to infect the laboratory worker.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Over the past few weeks, the lab leak hypothesis has gained credibility after the Wall Street Journal reported three researchers from the Wuhan Institute of virology fell ill in November 2019, shortly before the start of the pandemic. Biden has since ordered the intelligence community to "redouble" its efforts in discovering how the virus emerged.

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Tags: News, CDC, Donald Trump, Anthony Fauci, Wuhan Lab, China, Coronavirus, World Health Organization, Health, Joe Biden

Original Author: Jake Dima

Original Location: Former CDC director says Fauci is clinging to theories other than lab leak
The World Health Organization was too compromised in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic to conduct a thorough investigation of the origins of the coronavirus, former CDC director Robert Redfield told Fox News on Tuesday.

I think they were highly compromised, Redfield said. Clearly, they were incapable of compelling China to adhere to the treaty agreements that they have on global health, because they didnt do that. Clearly, they allowed China to define the group of scientists that could come and investigate.

The WHO has been criticized for its early response to the outbreak, including for its apparent deference to China. Health officials in Taiwan, which is blocked by China from joining the WHO, have criticized the organization for allegedly failing to communicate their warning that coronavirus was transmissible between humans.

The CIA reportedly concluded that China tried to prevent the WHO from declaring a world health emergency in January 2020, when reports of the coronavirus first emerged.

In the Fox interview, Redfield reiterated that his professional opinion as a virologist is that coronavirus leaked from a lab in Wuhan.

I didnt think it was biologically plausible that COVID-19 went from a bat to some unknown animal into man and now had become one of the most infectious viruses, Redfield said. Thats not consistent with how other coronaviruses have come into the human species. And, it does suggest that theres an alternative hypothesis that it went from a bat virus, got into a laboratory, where in the laboratory, it was taught, educated, it evolved, so that it became a virus that could efficiently transmit human to human.

A WHO team tasked with investigating the origins of the coronavirus was denied access to records at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, one of the laboratories in Wuhan that research coronaviruses. WHO director-general Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called for further investigation of the lab-leak hypothesis following the probe.

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Although the team has concluded that a laboratory leak is the least likely hypothesis, this requires further investigation, potentially with additional missions involving specialist experts, which I am ready to deploy, Dr. Tedros said in March.

The only American on the WHO team was Peter Daszak, whose research non-profit EcoHealth Alliance funneled millions in NIH grant money to the Wuhan lab.

More from National Review
WASHINGTON  Former Rep. Dana Rohrabacher admitted to participating in pro-Trump rallies on Jan. 6 that preceded the deadly ransacking of the U.S. Capitol.

The longtime GOP congressman and passionate Kremlin apologist confirmed he participated in pro-Trump protests  but did not commit any violent acts  after an anonymous crowdsourced Twitter account published photos of him at the rally.

I marched to protest, and I thought the election was fraudulent and it should be investigated, and I wanted to express that and be supportive of that demand, Rohrabacher told the Portland (Maine) Press Herald. But I was not there to make a scene and do things that were unacceptable for anyone to do.

In Congress, Rohrabacher was a fierce advocate for former President Donald Trump and critic of accusations of Russian meddling in the 2016 election and American politics more broadly.

Rohrabacher represented parts of Orange County, California, for over 30 years and now lives in Maine.

He was also an ardent apologist for Russian President Vladimir Putin throughout his political career, after meeting and arm-wrestling with him during the Russian president's early overtures to Washington in the 1990s.

In 2018, ABC News reported that Rohrabacher had dined with Russian agent Maria Butina in 2015 and 2017. He later also became an ally in Washington for far-right populist leaders including France's Marine Le Pen and Hungary's prime minister, Viktor Orban.

In a private 2016 conversation, now-House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said to colleagues, "there's two people I think Putin pays: Rohrabacher and Trump.

The eccentric congressman was also known as an avid surfer, legal cannabis advocate, former assistant press secretary to Ronald Reagan's 1976 and 1980 presidential campaigns and embedded fighter alongside the Afghan mujahideen against Soviet invasion.

He was unseated by Democrat Harley Rouda in 2018.

Rohrabacher claimed without evidence that "leftist provocateurs" had provoked the violence at the Capitol.

Story continues

By going into the building, they gave the Left the ability to direct the discussion of what was going on in a way that was harmful to the things we believe in, Rohrabacher told the Press Herald.

Follow Matthew Brown online @mrbrownsir.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ex-GOP Rep. Dana Rohrabacher attended Trump protest before Jan. 6 riot
PARIS (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday outlined an ambitious push for Europe to create 10 technology giants worth 100 billion euros ($121.26 billion) each in valuation by 2030, in a bid to rival U.S. companies that dominate the sector.

The goals are part of a Europe-wide initiative France is trying to lead to improve funding for start-ups, especially in their later stages of growth, to propel them into a bigger league where they can attract more investors and top staff.

Macron has pushed to make France into a "start-up nation" since coming to power in 2017, rendering the country more attractive to foreign investors through labour reforms for example.

French efforts to create "unicorns", or companies worth at least $1 billion, are still overshadowed by U.S. equivalents, however. Macron said last year he expected France to have 25 "unicorns" by 2025.

The latest plan to help European start-ups includes ramping up funding schemes, through EU-wide finances and by encouraging more venture capital funds to invest, according to a manifesto signed by some 200 businesses, which includes start-up association and other companies.

They also recommended modernising regulations in Europe as well as creating competitive stock option schemes as part of initiatives to scale up European technology firms.

(Reporting by Sarah White and Matthieu Protard; Editing by Alistair Bell)
Yahoo Entertainment

Former President Donald Trump made an appearance on Hannity Wednesday night, which was broadcasted from the South Texas airport only a few miles from the U.S.-Mexico border. During the interview, Sean Hannity asked the question many people across the country have been wondering. "Let's talk about your future plans," Hannity told Trump, before turning to the crowd at the town hall to ask the audience, "Would you like to see the President run again in 2024?" While Trump has not publicly revealed whether or not he plans to run for president in 2024, on Wednesday, when Hannity asked Trump the question, it sounded like the former president had made progress in his decision. "You are not going to answer, but I have to ask, where are you in the process of," said Hannity. He continued, "Let me ask you this, without giving the answer what the answer is, have you made up your mind?" "Yes," responded Trump firmly. Hannity then happily stated, "I think you got it right, yeah." Hannity later stated, "If you move forward, you know how difficult it is, but you seem ready to re-engage in that battle." "It's not that I want to," Trump pointed out. "The country needs it. We have to take care of this country. I don't want to, is this fun? Fighting constantly? Fighting always? I mean, the country, what we have done is so important." While it may not have been an official announcement, or confirmation, Trump did say he has come to his decision, which means he's definitely not just "beyond seriously" considering it anymore, which he said to Hannity back in April.
The alarm in the Bolivian hospital pierced through the din of beeping life support machines and hissing ventilators -- a patient lay unconscious, oblivious to the warning that his life hung by a thread.

The monitor was flashing red. "Low oxygen pressure" it alerted, showing a reading of 25.

"It should be 75!" doctor Daniel Quispia said as he jumps to the patient's aid, adjusting the controls in a bid to get the oxygen flowing again.

The alarm stops and, relieved, Quispia takes a deep breath. His patient, battling a severe coronavirus infection, does too.

The Covid-19 virus has killed some 15,500 people in Bolivia, population 11.8 million.

The country is in the midst of a third wave of infections: on June 9 officials reported a daily record of 3,839 new virus cases.

Cochabamba, a central Bolivian city in the Andes some 2,600 meters above the sea level, has been averaging about 850 cases per day for several months.

Quispia is the only critical care doctor at the Hospital del Sur in Cochabamba, Bolivia's fourth most populous city.

Six of the hospital's 18 intensive care beds are available to any of the two million people living in the department of Cochabamba.

But only three of the six beds can hold patients due to a severe lack of medical oxygen.

"This is out of control," Quispia, 36, told AFP. He had to raise his voice to be heard over the noise of a small oxygen plant hastily erected outside the ICU -- a helpful but insufficient stopgap measure.

Daily consumption of medical oxygen in Cochabamba has skyrocketed from one ton before the third wave of virus infections to as much as four tons today.

- Waiting days to breathe for hours -

Police had to rush to Arbieto, an hour's drive from Cochabamba, to break up a crowd that had surrounded a Valle Alto oxygen plant employee sent to take down information from people waiting -- some of them for days -- to buy a refill of the life-giving gas.

Patience was running thin.

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"It's an emergency!" a woman insisted as she tried to jump the queue. "We are all here for the same reason!" someone shouted in reply.

"I'm sure you're here for business," another woman yelled at a man. She was referring to people who buy oxygen to sell illegally, and at a premium, to desperate people caring for loved ones at home or in hospitals that does not have enough.

Many have arrived early in the morning to line up, only to leave empty-handed after the long wait.

"You need a heart of stone," said plant manager Amilcar Huanca Mamani.

Others have taken to camping out at the site, sleeping in their cars or in tents -- such as Pedro Huaichu and his daughter Maria.

"My turn is at 1500," said the pensioner, in line to collect oxygen for his ailing wife. It was noon, and appointments were already running two hours behind schedule.

Julio Cesar Padilla had been there for three days. With bleary eyes he stared vacantly into the distance, clinging to an empty oxygen cylinder.

"My father is in intermediate care and my mother is in intensive care. They have been there for a week. And I go from one place to the other to try and find an oxygen cylinder. One cylinder barely lasts my mother between six to seven hours," said Padilla.

- 'Red alert' -

The telephone belonging to Anibal Cruz, Cochabamba's health secretary, rings incessantly.

"Doctor, it is an emergency, we have no more oxygen!" -- not the first time he has heard the appeal that day.

Cruz drove through the city streets, empty due to a dusk to dawn curfew, to the Hospital del Norte.

Along the way he pondered aloud whether the time has come to declare a red alert, which warns hospital officials that it may be hours before oxygen supplies arrive.

This alerts doctors and nurses to be ready to manually ventilate patients to keep them alive.

"Respect for the disease has been lost," Cruz lamented as he contemplated extreme measure.

After the first wave of infections and a strict lockdown, Bolivians went back to their lives almost as if nothing had happened.

As a result, today "the curve continues to rise."

And immunizations are not keeping up: less than 15 percent of the target population have received at least one vaccine dose.

- Cremation is mandatory -

"Here ends the prison that was life," read a sign outside Cochabamba's cemetery, its two crematoria recently so busy that there was a wait of up to four days.

In a bid to prevent contamination, cremation is mandatory for coronavirus victims, even suspected cases.

Only the owners of private crypts and mausoleums are exempt.

"For them, we recommend that the niche never be opened again," said cemetery administrator Lilian Scott.

msr/ltl/ll/mlr/ch
By Paul Carrel

BERLIN (Reuters) - A German business lobby group on Tuesday defended a controversial campaign in which it portrays Greens chancellor candidate Annalena Baerbock dressed as a biblical Moses, holding two tablets under the caption "Annalena and the 10 bans."

In its campaign, lobby group INSM attacks the Greens' policies to steer Germans into electric cars and onto trains instead of domestic flights. But its portrayal of Baerbock as Moses has met criticism and accusations of anti-Semitism.

The Greens, aiming to win the chancellery for the first time at a Sept. 26 federal election, surged ahead of Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives in polls in late April after they picked Baerbock as their candidate to run for chancellor.

Baerbock has since faced repeated attacks online, including a picture supposedly showing her naked that flooded social media. The picture was in fact that of a Russian glamour model.

The June 10 campaign post on INSM's website runs under the banner, "Why we don't need a state religion", and continues: "Green prohibitions don't lead us to the promised land."

INSM, which has financial support from the metal and electrical industry, has kept the post on its website despite criticism in German media about its depiction of Baerbock, a 40-year-old London School of Economics alumni and a mother of two.

"The strongest accusation is that we are serving anti-Semitic conspiracy myths with the motif of the Moses depiction. We firmly reject this," INSM said in a statement published on its website on Tuesday.

"If we have hurt personal or religious feelings with the advertisement, we regret this and assure you that this was in no way intended," it added. "The INSM will continue to stand up for the social market economy in a decisive and clear manner."

At a weekend conference to agree the Greens' election manifesto, Baerbock said the party would seek to support German industry in cutting carbon emissions by ensuring the state helps meet any additional costs companies incur.

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Baerbock lost her thread at one stage during a speech to the conference and, on leaving the stage, muttered a profanity when her microphone was still live.

The stumble followed what the Greens leaders have conceded has been a difficult few weeks, marked by a regional election setback, a bonus payment scandal and a controversial suggestion that Germany should arm Ukraine.

An INSA poll published on Monday showed support for the Greens slipping to 19.5%, behind Merkel's conservative alliance on 27.5%. Merkel is not seeking re-election in September.

(Writing by Paul Carrel; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)
Mask rules have created tension in stores. Nico De Pasquale Photography/Getty Images

A grocery-store worker in Atlanta was shot dead after a face-mask argument with a customer, authorities said.

The authorities did not clarify the store's mask policy.

Experts have said retail workers are being forced to act as "mask police."

See more stories on Insider's business page.

A grocery-store worker in Atlanta was shot dead on Monday after a mask dispute with a customer, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said.

Preliminary information suggested the customer had gotten into an argument with the cashier at a Big Bear supermarket in Decatur, Georgia, about his face mask, left the store without buying anything, and returned and shot the cashier, the GBI said.

The cashier was pronounced dead at Grady Memorial Hospital, the GBI said.

The suspect, identified as 20-year-old Victor Lee Tucker Jr. from Palmetto, Georgia, also shot the store's security guard, a reserve deputy with the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office, the GBI said. Another cashier was also wounded, it said.

In a press conference, DeKalb County Sheriff Melody Maddox said the officer was in stable condition and was being treated at Atlanta Medical Center. He had been wearing a bulletproof vest, she said.

The shooter, who was arrested at the store, was also in stable condition and was being treated at another Atlanta hospital, the GBI said.

Maddox said that she did not know the store's mask policy but that it would be up to the store to decide whether to make masks mandatory.

Maddox said she understood that the topic of face masks was "very sensitive at this time."

"We just want to make sure that everyone is safe," she said.

Critics have said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's recent relaxing of mask guidelines has made it even more difficult for retail workers, who have to act as "mask police" to enforce rules.

Many workers have faced aggressive customers who disagree with mask policies.

"Essential workers are still forced to play mask police for shoppers who are unvaccinated and refuse to follow local COVID safety measures. Are they now supposed to become the vaccination police?" Marc Perrone, the president of the United Food and Commercial Workers International union, said in a statement emailed to Insider last month.

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Business owners are in a "horrible situation," Larry Barton, a professor of crisis management and public safety at the University of Central Florida, told Insider. "The business owner is expected to be referee, pseudo police, and mask enforcer, just as they're trying to rebuild rapport with customers," he said.

If you're a store worker with a story to share please contact this reporter via encrypted messaging app Signal at +1 (646) 768-4716 using a non-work phone, by email to mhanbury@businessinsider.com, or Twitter DM at @MarySHanbury.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Kamala Harris first international trip as vice president started in Guatemala with a blunt message for migrants: Do not come, she said, shaking her head at a news conference with Guatemalas President Alejandro Giammattei. Do not come.

Its possible that the message was meant less for the ears of migrants than for Fox News pundits and Republicans who relentlessly mischaracterize the Biden administrations half-hearted steps toward a humane immigration policy as open borders.

Regardless, with those three words  Do not come  Harris signaled disdain for the rights of asylum seekers under federal and international laws and dashed many peoples hopes that she might reform U.S. foreign policy in the region, which has long involved a contradictory combination of humanitarian aid and support for militaries that attack human rights.

Harris traveled to Guatemala to address the root causes of immigration, such as poverty and violence. But she made no mention of the U.S. role in those conditions, such as training right-wing death squads, financing coups or investing in exploitative industries. She promised to fight corruption but left out the U.S. role in fueling corruption.

Our understanding of corruption in countries south of the U.S.-Mexico border is deeply flawed. It conceives of the problem as endemic to the region, rather than tangled up with American foreign policy, investments, gun smuggling and firearms exports. When U.S. leaders talk of corruption in Latin America, it fuels racist tropes about Latinos by failing to acknowledge U.S. complicity.

Instead of tackling that complicity, Harris announced tens of millions of dollars in more aid, such as a $40-million empowerment initiative for young, primarily Indigenous women, and bragged about convening some of our biggest CEOs to increase investments.

But even a cursory glance at those CEOs reveals disregard for historys lessons. Among the companies is Nespresso, which was found to have Guatemalan child labor in its supply chain last year. Many coffee producers dread the Nestle-owned company.

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Nestle hurts us a lot, Miguel Tejero, a coffee industry leader in Oaxaca, Mexico, told me. He said the company floods markets with cheaper Robusta coffee, decreasing demand for the high-quality Arabica that small-scale producers grow. Studies show that less than 10 percent of the wealth from coffee stays in producing countries.

Rather than encouraging more investment from corporations that guzzle profits, the United States should invest in infrastructure for vulnerable communities to process, package and sell their own value-added products, Tejero said, as well as in the promotion of such products.

But while Harris had meetings with young women entrepreneurs, her primary function was as a human Stop sign, warning that migrants who came to the border would be turned back.

The administration previously enlisted the militaries in Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico to block the flow of migrants. Bidens budget requested $27.5 million in military financing for Central America, even though Congress approved a ban on military financing for Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador because of their recurrent and documented involvement in the massacre of Black and Indigenous people.

After a day in Guatemala, Harris went to Mexico City, where she met with President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, announcing millions to address child and forced labor and more bilateral cooperation to stop migration. After meeting women entrepreneurs there, too, she declared the trip a success. Then she flew home.

Vice President Harris has made clear that the United States is going to itself continue to be a root cause of the crisis in Central America, Dana Frank, a history professor at UC Santa Cruz, told me. Roberto Lovato, a journalist who has written about mass murder backed by the United States in El Salvador, said: Its all lipstick on the same ugly, murderous, greedy pig of U.S. policy.

The Biden administration has left many of Trumps immigration policies in place, including shutting out asylum-seeking adults. Officials know that border optics are a potent weapon for Republicans to fuel whites baseless racial anxieties.

This isnt the first time a Democratic administration has caved to xenophobic Americans. President Obama backed Plan Frontera Sur for border militarization to southern Mexico. And in the 1990s, the Clinton administration built new fencing and boosted Border Patrol resources as deterrence, which led to thousands of deaths.

We must understand that people risk their lives to get here not because of an American presidents inviting or uninviting words, but because of terror at home  often enabled and supported by U.S.-backed armed forces that target Indigenous people.

Near the end of her trip, Harris deflected criticism about her failure to visit the Southwest border, insisting that she was trying to address the root causes of immigration, which cant be fixed in one trip that took two days.

But as long as U.S. officials refuse to acknowledge our historic, continuing and central role in those problems, people will come.

They will come.

Jean Guerrero is an investigative journalist and author of Hatemonger: Stephen Miller, Donald Trump and the White Nationalist Agenda.

2021 Los Angeles Times
Harvey Weinstein Scott Heins/Getty Images

Disgraced movie producer and convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein is headed to California to face more charges.

A New York judge on Tuesday ruled that Weinstein will be extradited to California to stand trial on sexual assault charges, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Weinstein, who has faced allegations of sexual assault and rape from dozens of women, last year was sentenced to 23 years in prison after being convicted in a New York rape trial. In California, he has been indicted on charges stemming from the alleged sexual assaults of five women.

A representative for Weinstein told The Hollywood Reporter they were "disappointed" with the judge's decision Tuesday, as his legal team has been asking the court to "hold off the extradition" until Weinstein "can receive his needed medical care here in New York." Weinstein's attorneys also claimed the L.A. County district attorney's office "filed erroneous paperwork in seeking to claim custody of him," the Times writes.

Prosecutors, though, denied this and said Weinstein's team doesn't "get to pick when and where" he receives treatment, adding that Los Angeles is "not some remote outpost that doesn't have any sort of medical care," per the Reporter. He's currently being held at the Wende Correctional Facility in New York.

No date for Weinstein's California trial has been set, but according to Variety, prosecutors said Tuesday that he's likely to be moved to Los Angeles in July.

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(Independent)

Harvey Weinstein has been ordered to be extradited to California to face additional charges.

The former movie producer appeared via video link at a court hearing on Tuesday afternoon from Erie County, New York.

His legal team had challenged the extradition on the ground that the paperwork was allegedly not done properly. Concerns pertaining to Weinsteins health and need for medical treatment were also raised during the hearing.

Judge Kenneth Case denied Weinsteins teams request, meaning that Weinstein is now expected to be transferred to California. The extradition isnt expected to take place until the end of June or early July.

Weinstein is serving a 23-year prison sentence after being convicted in 2020 of third-degree rape and a criminal sex act. He is due to face rape and sexual assault charges in California, where is extradition has been delayed several times due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Weinstein has maintained his innocence and contended that any sexual activity was consensual.

More follows...
Jailed ex-filmmaker Harvey Weinstein, who is serving a 23-year prison sentence for rape and sexual assault in New York, can be transferred to Los Angeles, a judge ruled Tuesday, paving the way for a new trial on additional charges.

Lawyers for Weinstein, who was found guilty last year in a landmark verdict for the #MeToo movement, had been arguing for weeks against the transfer, most notably on medical grounds.

However, Erie County Court Judge Kenneth Case rejected the arguments, giving a green light for the transfer during a video hearing.

While no date has yet been set, Los Angeles prosecutors expect to remove Weinstein from the Erie County prison sometime between late June and mid-July, a spokeswoman for the county prosecutor said.

At the end of the hearing, Weinstein plunged his head into his hands.

The 69-year-old former Hollywood mogul is accused in Los Angeles of rape and sexual assault against five women, which would make him eligible for up to 140 years in prison.

Weinstein denies all charges, and has always maintained that his interactions with the women who brought the New York and Los Angeles cases against him were consensual.

Weinstein filed an appeal in April in New York against the rape and sexual assault convictions.

In total nearly 90 women have accused Weinstein of sexual harassment or assault.

cat/bfm/dw
Protesters marching against Sen. Joe Manchin. AP Photo/Cuneyt Dil

Hundreds of demonstrators marched through Charleston, West Virginia, on Monday to protest Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) and his opposition to the For the People Act, which would reform U.S. election law.

The Poor People's Campaign organized the "Moral March on Manchin" after he said he opposed passing election reform along party lines, as this could divide the country further. The Senate is evenly split and his vote is necessary for Democrats to change the filibuster, a prerequisite for passing the law in this Congress. Supporters say the law would counteract strict voter restrictions being put in place by Republican-controlled state legislatures in the wake of former President Donald Trump's loss in November. Manchin supports a narrower election-reform law.

Manchin also opposes a $15 minimum wage and was against President Biden's first $2 trillion infrastructure proposal. The Rev. William Barber, co-chair of the Poor People's Campaign, spoke to protesters at a Charleston park on Monday, and urged them to put pressure on Manchin to do more to help working people. "West Virginia needs a real senator," he said.

The demonstrators walked about a mile from the park to Manchin's office, where an aide said the senator was unable to meet them as he was in Washington. They left behind a letter, signed by the protesters. Charleston resident Chuck Overstreet told The Associated Press he attended the march to send a message to Manchin. "With our senator pretty much controlling this thing, we want to be here to say we're not on the same page," he said.

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Joe Biden (right) is seen with his son, Hunter (left), in April 2016. Teresa Kroeger/Getty Images for World Food Program USA

Hunter Biden has become a full-time artist and has an upcoming show in New York, Artnet reported.

Biden has no formal training but has been making artwork since he was a child.

Prices for his artwork range from $75,000 for work on paper to $500,000 for large-scale paintings.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Hunter Biden has embarked on a full-time career as an artist, and some of his paintings can cost six figures.

While speaking with Artnet, the lawyer and surviving son of President Joe Biden got candid about his creative ambitions.

His dealer, Georges Berges, plans to host a private viewing for Biden in Los Angeles, California, this fall before an exhibition in New York, Artnet reported. Prices for the paintings - which are often layered with flashes of photography, geometric abstractions, and patterns - can start at $75,000 for works on paper.

Large-scale paintings can cost up to $500,000, Berges told Artnet.

In a statement, Berges told Insider: "It is an honor that I am able to represent Hunter Biden. He is a wonderfully gifted talent and fine artist. He has garnered a following of collectors who appreciate and see the intrinsic value of his work."

Biden, 51, has been painting since he was a young child, but he told Artnet that he's never had any formal training. In his new Los Angeles home, Biden reportedly converted a three-car garage into an art studio that includes a brick floor and skylight.

When painting, Biden told Artnet that he doesn't "fully envision what it will become. At least, it never turns out to be what I started off in my mind's eye at the outset."

Earlier this year, Biden published "Beautiful Things: A Memoir," in which he got candid about his substance use disorder and decades of addiction. In 2020, Biden told The New York Times that painting was keeping him "sane," adding, "for years, I wouldn't call myself an artist. Now I feel comfortable saying it."

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But Biden, who made art throughout his father's presidential campaign, told Artnet that his art is not a form of therapy or an escape.

"It's not a tool that I use to be able to, in any way, cope," Biden told the outlet. "It comes from a much deeper place. If you stand in front of a Rothko, the things that he evokes go far beyond the pain that Rothko was experiencing in his personal life at that moment."

When asked for the inspiration behind his work, Biden said he didn't "paint from emotion or feeling, which I think are both very ephemeral."

"For me, painting is much more about kind of trying to bring forth what is, I think, the universal truth," he told Artnet.

Biden added: "The universal truth is that everything is connected and that there's something that goes far beyond what is our five senses and that connects us all. The thing that really fascinates me is the connection between the macro and the micro, and how these patterns repeat themselves over and over."

He concluded the interview by confirming that his father did, in fact, love his artwork.

"My dad loves everything that I do, and so I'll leave it at that," Biden said.

Read the original article on Insider
The death threats didnt keep former Venezuelan prosecutor Luis Sanchez from investigating government corruption, nor did a nearly successful assassination attempt against his supervisor working a multibillion-dollar embezzlement case. But these efforts came to a screeching halt when the main suspect was appointed attorney general of Nicolas Maduros regime.

Today, Sanchez, 34, father of a young boy and girl, nears the fourth anniversary of his arrest after the new attorney general accused him, ironically, of corruption. Sanchez has been in prison since then but hasnt been officially charged with anything. Such are the rules of the game in todays Venezuela.

Although lawyers have taken Sanchezs plight to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, the former prosecutor is largely a forgotten man, in the hands of a regime free to do with him what it wants with little consequence.

This has been a nightmare from the start, said Gloria Pinho, Sanchezs mother-in-law, a former judge herself who has taken over his defense. We are all alone in trying to secure his freedom and the whole legal process has been torture: all the obstacles imposed in getting access to the case file, to the police reports, to the evidence, some of which they claimed were held at the Central Banks safe.

Sanchezs chances of getting out of prison look dim. He threatened the interests of powerful people set on proving that fighting government corruption in Venezuela is more quixotic, and way more dangerous, than tilting at windmills.

Luis paid the price for investigating them, said Pedro Lupera, a former prosecutor and Sanchezs former supervisor who was the target of the failed hit attempt and who now lives in exile in the United States. Right before the arrest, I had told him that the situation was now too dangerous because I had information that they plan to eliminate you.

Both men had been investigating a series of contracts awarded without auction by state-run Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) to companies controlled by former governor Tarek William Saab, who was appointed attorney general two weeks before Sanchez was arrested.

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It was surprising that Lupera, and then Sanchez as his assistant, were tasked with looking into PDVSA corruption by former Attorney General Luisa Ortega Diaz. At the time, she was a high-ranking regime official and the investigation was likely to lead to other key officials. She later broke with the regime and fled the country, as did Lupera.

Sanchez is nearing his 46th month of incarceration, said his wife, Mariangela Ramirez.

The trial has not even started. There are a number of motions that they havent decided on yet, so the case is completely at a standstill, Ramirez said.

The former prosecutor charged with upholding the law now lives in a small cell with five other inmates at the Helicoide prison in Caracas, run by the feared Bolivarian National Intelligence Service.

His family has to regularly bring food and water to him at the prison, which Sanchez shares with some of the very people he had prosecuted. But far from protecting him, prison officials seem to have made sure some of the inmates he put behind bars had access to him.

When he arrived, a commissar handcuffed him to a set of stairs so that other inmates could reach him. There were people to whom he had issued their arrest orders, Sanchezs wife said. He denies it and I did not see him until a month had passed, but other inmates later told me that he was beaten when he arrived.

Light in dark places

The corruption investigation also focused on former acting president Diosdado Cabello, often described as the second most powerful man in Venezuela, under the presumption that he was one of the main benefactors of the corruption scheme. Others investigated were current Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez and former vice president Aristobulo Isturiz, who died last April.

The case had to deal with multiple contracts awarded by PDVSA to shell companies. One of them was Constructora Konkor, and when we went out to investigate it, we found out that it was linked to straw men (partners used as proxy to hide the real owner) of Tarek William Saab, and when you added it all up you saw that all these contracts amounted to more than $3 billion, Lupera said.

In some cases, the alleged embezzlers showed a total lack of sophistication, including a comical purchasing contract for two printers for PDVSA.

The printer acquired had a market price of around $1,000, but both were marked up to a value of $153,000 each.

In other cases, contractors were paid for services that were never provided, Lupera said.

Venezuela is considered among the countries with the highest incidence of government corruption by the advocacy group Transparency International. Top government officials, including Cabello and Maduro himself, face charges in the United States of drug trafficking and corruption. In some cases, the alleged ill-gotten proceeds surpass the billion-dollar mark.

In addition, dozens of high ranking government officials have been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Departments Office of Foreign Assets Control on charges that range from corruption and drug trafficking to helping Maduro dismantle the nations democracy.

An improbable probe

Despite its fame as a graft paradise, the country has seen very few corruption cases brought against government officials in the last two decades, particularly those involving those in high office.

Ortega Diaz, the former attorney general, ended up breaking with Maduro in 2017, but right until then she was one of the regimes trusted supporters, ensuring the judicial system could not be turned against the status quo. She even was accused later of using the courts to persecute and jail opposition leaders.

The investigation by Lupera and Sanchez ruffled all sorts of feathers and faced many obstacles from the start, to the point that the prosecutors resorted to tricking judges into authorizing search warrants by not including the name of the shell companies.

They also held their cards very close to the chest, avoiding using regular procedures to obtain the warrants, given that the information would leak to suspects almost immediately once a motion was filed.

And from the very beginning both men began to receive death threats, said Ramirez, who is not only Sanchezs wife but one of his lawyers.

Inform Luis Rangel Sanchez  that we are aware of the Bariven (a PDVSA affiliate) information that he obtained illegally through the damned traitors of R. Tell him that if it touches that we will blow him up with C4, read one email sent anonymously through a hotmail account.

The email warned him stop looking at INCAERO, an oil facility expansion program, or he will have to stick it up his a** because we are going to kill him for being an imbecile. We know that he is receiving orders from another traitor and that he has no idea who he is dealing with. Yesterday, he stayed in the Punta Palma Hotel in room 1301 and he is driving a Silver Runner with the license plate AA947GC.

That was only one of many warnings the men received. In some cases, it came from people close to them who brought messages from third parties advising them to drop the investigation. In others it came in the form of written anonymous messages, saying there were plans to kill them with bombs.

Breaks on a bus

But the assassination attempt, when it came, was not in the form of a bomb.

The threats had made both men cautious. They routinely switched up their transport for protection.

But Lupera said he was intercepted one day while stuck in traffic in Caracas by two men in military uniforms riding a motorcycle.

They came to my vehicle and after checking out the tags, they stopped next to me. I was right behind a bus and when the men pulled out their weapons, the bus started to move, revealing that to the right there were around 10 national policemen standing right there, Lupera said of his lucky break.

Not wanting to start a firefight they would likely lose, the two hitmen pulled away.

The incident, witnessed by another prosecutor close to Ortega Diaz who was also in the car, prompted the prosecutors office to assign two bodyguards to Lupera. The guards, however, were not always around and in another event he was in a car chase with assailants trying to force his vehicle to stop.

The corruption case, however, came to a standstill as soon as Ortega Diaz publicly broke with the regime and Maduro appointed Saab, although illegally, as her replacement.

Ortega Diaz, Sanchez and Lupera, among others, were soon after accused publicly by Cabello of running an extortion racket, and two of them fled. Sanchez was the only one still in the country for Saab to arrest.

And nearly four years later, he languishes in a Venezuelan jail cell. Hes largely forgotten by the outside world and untouchable inside his country, where would-be supporters fear the same fate from the regime.

Until now, the only person that has been advocating publicly for Luis release has been me. Thats it, said Sanchezs mother-in-law. No one else has been willing to aid us.
By Linda Sieg and Antoni Slodkowski

TOKYO (Reuters) -The International Olympic Committee (IOC) expects 70% to 80% of the news media covering the Olympics in Tokyo this summer to be vaccinated, organisers said at the launch of the updated coronavirus guidelines for the Games on Tuesday.

They also said that every sports delegation arriving in Japan would have a COVID-19 liaison officer coordinating with the organisers of the measures to stop the spread of the virus at the event due to start on July 23.

Athletes and members of the media, whose movements will be restricted, will be subject to GPS monitoring for the first 14 days of their stay in Japan.

About 11,000 athletes and 78,000 journalists, officials and staff are expected at the Games, and many Japanese fear the influx could contribute to spreading the virus.

"Between 70% and 80% of broadcasters and accredited press that will be vaccinated, according to the latest feedback received by the IOC," said the organisers in a statement at the news conference in Tokyo announcing the guidelines.

An earlier version of the "playbook", released in February and updated in April, banned singing and chanting during events and required athletes to wear masks at all times except when outdoors, sleeping or eating.

Athletes and close contacts will be tested every day, while all participants must have two negative tests before arrival, officials have said.

Visitors will not be allowed to use public transport for their first 14 days and must eat in specific locations with special hygiene measures.

STATE OF EMERGENCY

The launch of the latest guidelines coincided with arrival in Japan of John Coates, a vice-president of the IOC who is its point-man for the event. Coates sparked a backlash last month when he said the Games - already postponed from last year due to the coronavirus - would go ahead even if Tokyo were under a state of emergency due to the pandemic.

Japan's government is considering ending the state of emergency in Tokyo and several other prefectures as scheduled on June 20, but keeping some curbs such as on restaurant hours until the Olympics start in July, domestic media have said.

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Economics Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura, in charge of Japan's COVID-19 response, said that with hospital occupancy and infection rates still high, it was too soon to talk as if lifting the state of emergency was a done deal.

"Now is a critical time to call on the public, to suppress infections and to take initiatives for a stable supply of hospital beds," he said. A decision on the emergency could come as early as Thursday, media reported.

Japan has not suffered the explosive COVID-19 outbreaks seen elsewhere, but has still recorded more than 772,000 cases and over 14,000 deaths.

A slow vaccination rollout, though recently accelerating, means only 13% of the population has received at least one shot.

SUGA'S SUPPORT SLIDES

A June 1-9 online survey of companies by think-tank Tokyo Shoko Research showed 64% favoured cancelling or postponing the Games. Nearly 60% said doing so would hurt their businesses but just over 40% expected a positive impact.

Olympic Minister Tamayo Marukawa told a news conference that Pfizer Inc would provide doses of its COVID-19 vaccine to an additional 20,000 people involved in the Olympics and Paralympics, Kyodo news agency reported, doubling the amount previously promised by the U.S. pharmaceutical firm.

Some 80% of qualified athletes have already been vaccinated and the IOC is pushing to raise the number.

Japan's often patchy response to the coronavirus has eroded support for Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.

A survey by NHK public TV showed 37% approved of his government against 45% who disapproved, the highest disapproval rating since he took office last September.

More than two-thirds were not persuaded by his explanation of why the Games should be held or how they would be made safe.

Just under one-third wanted the Games cancelled while 61% wanted either a cap on spectators or no spectators at all. Organisers have already decided against allowing spectators from abroad and will make a call on domestic spectators later this month.

Reflecting the role of money in decisions to forge ahead, NBCUniversal Chief Executive Jeff Shell said on Monday the event could be the most profitable Olympics in NBC's history. NBCUniversal, owned by Comcast Corp, paid $7.65 billion to extend its U.S. broadcast rights for the Olympics through 2032.

(Writing by Linda Sieg; Reporting by Antoni Slodkowski and Ju-min Park; Additional reporting by Daniel Leussink and Leika Kihara; Editing by Lincoln Feast, Raju Gopalakrishnan and Alex Richardson)
Promising greater openness at home and outreach abroad when he was elected in 2013, Iran's outgoing moderate President Hassan Rouhani comfortably won a second term but leaves office as a deeply unpopular figure.

Ultraconservative Ebrahim Raisi is widely expected to win the presidency on record-low turnout this coming Friday -- an outcome that would set in stone the disappointment of the Rouhani years, marked by crushing economic woes.

Rouhani "wanted above all to liberalise the Iranian economy and develop the private sector's role... by attracting foreign investment," said Thierry Coville, a researcher at the Institute for International and Strategic Relations (IRIS) in Paris.

But that strategy was "totally trampled" by former US president Donald Trump.

Three years ago, Trump unilaterally withdrew the United States from a landmark 2015 nuclear accord agreed between Iran and world powers, a deal that had promised sanctions relief in exchange for limits on Tehran's nuclear programme and a promise never to acquire the bomb.

Trump then slapped sanctions on Iran that choked the economy to an unprecedented degree, including by seeking to stop all the country's oil exports.

Iran's economy contracted by more than six percent in both 2018 and 2019, according to the IMF, leaving a bitter taste for the crowds who had swelled into the streets in jubilation when the nuclear accord was first agreed.

The economic malaise has since been exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic, leaving many Iranians struggling to get by.

- Limited powers -

Targeted incessantly by criticism from ultraconservatives, who accuse the government of "ineffectiveness", particularly over its handling of the pandemic, Rouhani was left very much on the back foot.

He has sought to defend his policies, attributing failures to Trump's "economic war" against Iran.

Meanwhile, reformists in his coalition criticised him for abandoning many of his election pledges, particularly in the realm of civic and personal freedoms.

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Rouhani has also been criticised for his failure to obtain the release from house arrest of Mir Hossein Moussavi and Mehdi Karoubi, leaders of a protest movement against the re-election of populist president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in 2009.

Some see such criticisms as unfair.

Rouhani's record "must be judged against the... powers" available to the president, noted journalist Ahmad Zeidabadi.

Supreme leader Ali Khamenei is the most powerful figure in Iran, and the influence of the president is strongly limited by institutions including the Revolutionary Guards and the Judicial Authority.

- 'Weakening of middle class' -

One success Rouhani's government can point to is an improvement in reach and quality of internet services in the country.

But he was unable to win an end to a ban on Twitter and Facebook, despite his promise to do so, and most of the web remains accessible in Iran only via VPN.

And while the moral police are nowadays less visible on the streets, a movement opposed to obliging women to wear a veil in public spaces was rapidly crushed in 2018.

And two waves of protests were quashed in bloody fashion during Rouhani's second term -- the first in the winter of 2017-18 and the second in November 2019.

Several human rights activists, and defenders of women's rights in particular, remain behind bars, and some have even seen their sentences increased.

"The educated middle class of the big cities is overall very disappointed in Rouhani," Coville told AFP.

"People understand what has happened but they would have expected that he would put up more resistance against the advance of the radicals," Coville added, referring to the ultraconservative camp.

Conservative Iranian analyst Hossein Kanani Moqadam told AFP that Rouhani had himself contributed to his marginalisation.

The president created something of a vacuum by relying on a very small circle of loyalists, cornering the "government into a political impasse".

For Clement Therme, an associate at the European University Institute in Florence, Italy, the outgoing president's "biggest success" was to negotiate "a diplomatic compromise with Washington without crossing the regime's red lines.

His "biggest failure remains the weakening of the middle class" and the working class "revolts" that marked his second term, Therme said.

ap-mj/dwo/par/qan
Rewaz Faiq is just one of two women serving as parliament speaker in the Middle East, where politics is a man's world, but the Iraqi Kurdish mother of two is unfazed.

Known for her straight talk, Faiq knew she would face challenges when she was elected in 2019 to the post in the autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq.

"In Kurdistan, entering politics is not easy for women," Faiq, 43, told AFP, citing "male domination, discrimination and sexual abuse" as the main hurdles.

"If a woman is not strong and does not shield herself, she will be entrapped by the personal and political gains of male politicians," she said.

Men backed by powerful tribes play an influential role both in public and private life in the region, where more than eight out of 10 women are housewives.

Male politicians are seen as more influential than women in Kurdish society because they have armed bodyguards, plenty of money and the support of the media, said Faiq.

And they are in the public eye, unlike women who are banned from taking part in tribal councils where key decisions affecting the Muslim-majority, conservative society are taken.

Avan Jaff, a women's rights activist, said Faiq reminds her of Pakistan's late Benazir Bhutto, the first woman to head a government in a Muslim-majority country.

Faiq "has self-confidence, charisma and is a true leader. She has changed the perception of politics in Kurdistan and is giving hope to all women," said Jaff.

And she is "strong".

When a legislator threw a shoe at Faiq during a parliamentary session broadcast live on television in March, the speaker "did not get upset or lose control even for a second", said Jaff.

Instead Faiq shot back telling the MP: "If you were throwing this shoe at me, I forgive you but if you were throwing it at parliament, I will not forgive you."

- 'Strong' but isolated -

Faiq, wears the veil and colourful flowing Kurdish dresses, holds a masters degree in international law and a doctorate in civil law.

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She entered politics at the age of 15, joining the communist party after her village was destroyed by the regime of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.

A year later, she switched her allegiance and joined the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), and was first elected to parliament in 2013.

Today there is just one other woman parliament speaker in the Middle East -- Fawzia Zainal who was elected head of Bahrain's national assembly in 2018.

Late Iraqi president Jalal Talabani, founder of the PUK in which his wife Hero has long played a key role, "truly believed in women and their abilities" in politics, Faiq said.

"Unfortunately, there are fewer female politicians now in the PUK than under Talabani, although today's society is more open and tolerant towards the participation of women in politics."

She admitted her non-conformist views have contributed to her isolation within her own party.

"I have felt alone over the past year and a half," said Faiq, adding that she has been lambasted on social media by PUK figures.

"At first this scared me and it was difficult. But now it has made he stronger," she said.

During her term, parliament has passed several laws including ones against oil and drug smuggling -- two of the main scourges facing Kurdistan.

But nurse Murad Abdullah said parliament is not doing enough to improve living conditions in Kurdistan, which is frequently rocked by protests against cost of living rises and corruption.

"Every month the government cuts the salaries of employees and so far we have not seen the speaker or parliament question these measures," he said.

str/sbh/hkb/hc
iRobot (IRBT) closed at $96.25 in the latest trading session, marking a -1.32% move from the prior day. This change lagged the S&P 500's daily loss of 0.2%.

Coming into today, shares of the robotics technology company had gained 0.79% in the past month. In that same time, the Industrial Products sector lost 2.29%, while the S&P 500 gained 2.11%.

Wall Street will be looking for positivity from IRBT as it approaches its next earnings report date. The company is expected to report EPS of $0.30, down 71.7% from the prior-year quarter. Our most recent consensus estimate is calling for quarterly revenue of $355.4 million, up 26.98% from the year-ago period.

Looking at the full year, our Zacks Consensus Estimates suggest analysts are expecting earnings of $3.13 per share and revenue of $1.68 billion. These totals would mark changes of -24.4% and +17.74%, respectively, from last year.

Any recent changes to analyst estimates for IRBT should also be noted by investors. These revisions help to show the ever-changing nature of near-term business trends. As a result, we can interpret positive estimate revisions as a good sign for the company's business outlook.

Based on our research, we believe these estimate revisions are directly related to near-team stock moves. Investors can capitalize on this by using the Zacks Rank. This model considers these estimate changes and provides a simple, actionable rating system.

The Zacks Rank system ranges from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell). It has a remarkable, outside-audited track record of success, with #1 stocks delivering an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the past month, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate remained stagnant. IRBT currently has a Zacks Rank of #4 (Sell).

Investors should also note IRBT's current valuation metrics, including its Forward P/E ratio of 31.2. This valuation marks a premium compared to its industry's average Forward P/E of 30.89.

Meanwhile, IRBT's PEG ratio is currently 2.32. The PEG ratio is similar to the widely-used P/E ratio, but this metric also takes the company's expected earnings growth rate into account. The Industrial Automation and Robotics was holding an average PEG ratio of 2.32 at yesterday's closing price.

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The Industrial Automation and Robotics industry is part of the Industrial Products sector. This group has a Zacks Industry Rank of 215, putting it in the bottom 16% of all 250+ industries.

The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

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TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's lower house of parliament voted down on Tuesday a no-confidence motion brought against the cabinet of Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga by opposition parties angered over its refusal to extend the current parliamentary session.

The parties had sought a three-month extension of the session beyond its scheduled end on Wednesday, to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic as Japan rushes to ramp up vaccinations ahead of the Tokyo Olympics opening on July 23.

"They are refusing our calls to extend parliament in the face of one of the worst crises for decades," Yukio Edano, leader of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, told the lower house before the vote.

Though Japan has not suffered the ravages of other nations over the coronavirus, its slowness in vaccinating citizens and patchy response have dented support for Suga.

A survey by NHK public television showed 37% of respondents approved of Suga's government while 45% disapproved.

That was the highest disapproval rating since the prime minister took office last September, but the majority held by his Liberal Democratic Party and other coalition partners meant the no-confidence motion had always been unlikely to pass.

(Reporting by Elaine Lies; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
The New York Times

Carolyn Kopprasch earns $225,000 a year. Maria Thomas makes $267,890. Then comes Darcy Peters with a salary of $105,143. That information, taken in before I exchange pleasantries with these women, feels almost illicit  like the confessions of a stranger oversharing at a bar. We have never spoken before, and there is a certain intimacy that comes from picking up the phone to call someone knowing nothing but her name and her salary. And there is also, some companies bet, a certain kind of power.
Members of the board overseeing the Kansas City Police Department on Tuesday discussed creating procedures that would reform the way detectives use eyewitnesses in investigations.

The procedures would require identifications be conducted in a fair, objective and nonsuggestive manner when showing witnesses photo arrays and suspects in person shortly after a crime.

Mayor Quinton Lucas, who sits on the board, said the proposed modifications are needed. Information from witnesses cannot be tainted by detectives asking questions too early, he said.

How do we get the witness information without someone kind of pushing or cajoling them into a certain type of answer? he asked following the board meeting. Thats whats important for us and so I think that well be able to lay out a path that does that.

There is currently nothing in department policy governing eyewitness identification, an officer in the policies and procedures department wrote in a memo to the commissioners. Each unit conducts those procedures differently, he said.

The current practices are mostly learned from detective to detective, the officer wrote. The current practices utilized by the Department can potentially contribute to wrongful eyewitness identifications.

The proposed policy states that the department recognizes identification procedures must be aimed at protecting the innocent from misidentification in every way possible, while also working as a tool for detectives in criminal investigations.

Asked if the proposed procedure would apply to in-person lineups, a police spokesman said that has yet to be decided.

Thats what this discussion phase of the policy development and approval process is all about, Sgt. Jake Becchina said.

Across the U.S., faulty eyewitness identifications have contributed to about 70% of the more than 360 wrongful convictions reversed by DNA evidence, according to the Innocence Project.

Deputy Chief Mike Wood said the proposed changes use standards set by case law. Eyewitness testimony is not as reliable as viewers of crime television shows might think it is, he said.

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Its better to have that, Yes its him, or No, its not; I dont see anybody. Anything in the middle just kind of has a tendency to muddle it down the road when it gets to court, said Wood, who leads the departments professional development and research division.

The policy changes were tabled until the next board meeting.

If approved, it would require that all eyewitness identifications be recorded whenever possible in their entirety with audio or video. It would also mean if detectives turned off the camera, they would have to say why and alert a supervisor.

It would require detectives to use a minimum of five fillers when showing a witness a photo array.

The witness or victim would then be told that the person of interest may or may not be present in the images. The witness would then be asked to describe their level of certainty about the identification in their own words.

Under the policy, the detective administering the procedure would not be allowed to comment on the identification or lack thereof.

Lucas said changing the departments procedures would hopefully make sure convictions like that of Kevin Strickland  who Jackson County prosecutors now say is innocent  never happen again.

In Stricklands case, the lone eyewitness to the 1978 triple murder of which he was convicted said she could identify two of the four suspects that night: Kilm Adkins and Vincent Bell. She told detectives she could not identify the other two perpetrators.

But the next day, she identified Strickland, 18, after she described a shotgun-wielding suspect to her sisters boyfriend, who suggested that suspect might be Strickland. Her testimony was the most damning evidence at Stricklands 1979 trial.

Years later, the witness recanted her testimony, saying Strickland had been wrongly charged. Relatives have said she was pressured during a lineup into identifying Strickland.

The eyewitness in Stricklands case was reporting a belief, formed after the fact and as a result of suggestive input, rather than a genuine memory of having seen or recognized Mr. Strickland at the scene, concluded Nancy Franklin, an eyewitness expert.

Lucas called it a travesty that Strickland, now 62, remains in a Missouri prison.

I would hope that we find a way that we get the governor, someone, a court to recognize that this man should be free, he said.
After nearly a century of personalized service to its Lakeview neighbors, including emergency deliveries to Wrigley Field, Tenenbaum True Value Hardware is preparing to shut down and sell its Belmont Avenue store.

The 98-year-old business is closed until Thursday, when it will begin the approximate two-month process to sell off its inventory. The building, known for the big red T sign that towers over the store, will be demolished and replaced by apartments, according to siblings and third-generation store owners Steve and Pam Lipshutz.

It will be the end of an era for North Side residents who looked to the family for materials and advice on home projects.

Its bittersweet because we provided something to the neighborhood, Steve Lipshutz said. The people have become friends.

And family, Pam added. Weve had customers pass away, and its like losing family.

Tenenbaum True Value Hardware was opened in 1923 by Herman Tenenbaum, and his son-in-law Morrie Lipshutz became in involved in the business in 1955.

His kids grew up working in the store and learning about renovation projects from Morries home-flipping business, Steve Lipshutz said. Their hands-on experience has been shared with customers in the decades since, providing a personalized touch that cant be found in big-box stores, he said.

Over the years, there also have been four dogs to roam the store and greet customers, including the current one, a Cavachon named Bentley.

Morrie Lipshutz died in 2019, and his other son Hal  a lawyer who did legal work for the store  died in January.

In his last years, Morrie encouraged his children to sell the business. He felt we spent way too much time here and that we werent able to have a life outside the store, Steve said.

He didnt realize how much work he put in until it until he saw us doing it, Pam said.

Pam, 59, and Steve, 62, each plan to visit Europe for the first time, as they figure out what comes next.

After Morrie Lipshutzs death, his children were inundated with offers from developers to buy the property, the siblings said.

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They have a deal to sell the single-story building at 1138 W. Belmont Ave. to Chicago developer SNS Realty Group. They declined to say how much theyll receive in the sale, which is contingent on SNS securing zoning approval for its plan to erect a five-story apartment building with retail on the site.

The proposal is scheduled for a vote before the City Councils zoning committee June 22. If its approved by the committee, it would move to the full City Council for review.

SNS Realty Group hopes to demolish the hardware store and begin construction by late this year, managing member Michael Schwartz said. It will take about a year to build, he said.

The proposal is for 33 apartments, one ground-floor retail space, 16 parking spaces and 28 bicycle parking stalls, according to documents filed with the city. The project qualifies for zoning as a transit-oriented development, which has lower parking requirements, since its near the Belmont CTA train station that serves Red, Brown and Purple Line trains.

On Tuesday, the siblings became teary-eyed discussing the upcoming store closing as they recounted some of the unusual orders they filled.

Under previous team owners, the Chicago Cubs were longtime customers, ordering everything from rope and clips  used for raising the flags, including the iconic W that flies after Cubs wins  to cleaning supplies.

In 2004, falling concrete chunks at the ballpark raised major safety concerns. Tenenbaum quickly tracked down and delivered 10,000 nylon ties to hold up protective netting above the stands, Steve Lipshutz said.

Another time, when Cubs slugger Andre Dawsons foul ball shattered protective glass used to shield WGN cameras, Steve Lipshutz brought a replacement to the historic ballpark before the next days game. He was invited to stay, rubbing elbows with Cubs players in the dugout as they took batting practice.

As Tenenbaum prepares to close, the fate of the iconic sign is undecided.

If somebody wants to make an offer, wed hate to see it go down with the building, Steve Lipshutz said. Everyone knows the big red T.

rori@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @Ryan_Ori
A bipartisan group of 52 Illinois lawmakers is urging Gov. J.B. Pritzker not to prematurely close not-for-profit coal-fired power plants, warning such a move would raise utility bills and eliminate jobs.

They are asking that the plants operated by City, Water Light and Power in Springfield and the Prairie State Energy Campus in Marissa be excluded from the 2035 closure date proposed in energy legislation being considered this week.

State Rep. Dan Brady, R-Bloomington, said more time is needed to allow for a more responsible transition and would give communities time to put in place new power sources.

I think talking about shutting something down in 2035 should be looked at more thoroughly than an energy bill at this point in time that I have yet to see any details about, Brady said.

Pritzker has said an energy deal at the statehouse to focus on renewable energy would keep nuclear plants open, some of which have threatened to close later this year because of revenue losses.

The letter said the coal-fired plants in Springfield and Washington County combined to employ more than 1,100 workers and an additional 1,000 skilled, union tradesmen and tradeswomen in good, high-paying jobs.

The letter follows a similar request to the governor to exempt plants by organized labor and mayors around the state led by the Illinois Municipal League, the Illinois Retail Merchants Association and the Illinois Manufacturers Association.

In 1997, Illinois deregulated the energy market resulting in billions of dollars in savings for homeowners and businesses. Our low-cost energy prices and reliable grid have been cited by governors time and again as reasons why businesses should stay in or relocate to Illinois. Twenty-four years later, instead of building on this strength, the proposed energy legislation being circulated will be the largest rate hike on consumers and businesses in history, the letter stated.

I believe from what I have been able to research would have a huge rate impact on many of my constituents, not to mention, folks and their jobs that are in some of these plants, Brady said.

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A request for comment from state Rep. LaToya Greenwood, D-East St. Louis, went unanswered.

Pritzker's spokesperson Jordan Abudayyeh said the governor took suggestions from the business community.

"The Governors Office involved the business community in over 30 working group meetings that informed the clean energy package. Transparency and accountability have been nonnegotiable for the Governor, which is why the legislation contains critical ethics reforms, such as restitution, tax repayment, and more robust reporting requirements," she told Capitol Fax. "The latest draft of the energy bill also contains policy proposals that IMA and IRMA voiced support for, such as an option for large commercial and industrial users to opt out of energy efficiency requirements and increased support for combined heat and power. The Governor also heard loud and clear that the business community did not want a new ratemaking structure to compromise reliability. Thats why, under the new system, reliability will be a performance metric. That means that ComEd and Ameren will be rewarded for improved reliability and penalized for decreased reliability."

Washington Examiner Videos

Tags: News, Illinois, State, Coal

Original Author: Kevin Bessler, The Center Square

Original Location: Lawmakers urge governor to reconsider closing power plants
DENVER (AP)  A lawyer for one of the teens accused in a fatal attack at a suburban Denver high school in 2019 suggested Monday that he accidentally shot and killed a student who rushed him after being manipulated into participating by the other gunman.

During closing arguments in the trial of Devon Erickson, David Kaplan told jurors the shooting that killed Kendrick Castillo, 18, unfolded without a plan and happened only after Erickson, sent by a teacher to the nurse's office because he looked pale and sick, was threatened into returning to the targeted classroom by his alleged accomplice, Alec McKinney.

The prosecution disputed that the killing of Castillo and the wounding of two other students who also tackled Erickson and struggled to get his gun was accidental but, even if it was, said that Erickson would still be responsible for Castillo's death.

Prosecutors also stressed that Erickson and McKinney attacked a classroom filled with only Erickson's classmates as they sat in the dark watching a movie at the end of their senior year, entering through separate doors to maximize the number of students they could kill and removing magnetic strips on the doors to prevent anyone from leaving.

They created a kill box. No one was going to get out alive, Chief Deputy District Attorney George Brauchler said.

Eight others in the classroom at STEM School Highlands Ranch were also wounded in the shooting.

Prosecutors allege that Erickson and McKinney planned the shooting together and concocted a victim-hero strategy in which McKinney would either kill himself or be killed by Erickson  a plan they say the gunmen tried to bolster with faked Snapchat videos before the shooting.

Those plans were stymied after Castillo and two other students rushed Erickson and McKinney was apprehended by an armed security guard, prosecutors said.

The defense, meanwhile, described McKinney, who pleaded guilty last year, as schizophrenic and unreliable, saying he was the sole source of the victim-hero plan.

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A defense expert, toxicologist Wanda Guidry, testified that Erickson had become such a chronic drug user that he likely couldnt think, concentrate or understand events around him on the day of the shooting.

Erickson, now 20, was 18 at the time of the shooting. Since he was an adult, he could face life in prison without parole if he is convicted.

McKinney will become eligible for parole because, at 16, he was a juvenile at the time of the attack.
By Feisal Omar and Abdirahman Hussein

MOGADISHU (Reuters) - At least 15 people were killed on Tuesday in a suicide bombing in the Somali capital that targeted recruits who were lined up outside an army camp, a Reuters witness who counted the bodies at Madina Hospital said.

Officials at the hospital confirmed that the bodies were those killed in an attack at a checkpoint outside the General Degaban military training camp in Mogadishu.

Al Shabaab's radio Al Andalus said the Islamist group's fighters carried out the attack.

Al Shabaab, which wants to unseat the government and impose its strict interpretation of Islamic sharia law, frequently carries out such bombings.

Dozens of people crowded outside Madina Hospital searching for their missing relatives.

"My son is dead. I have seen with my eyes. Many boys perished. They were asked to come for recruitment and then bombed. The government is still hiding other casualties," said Amina Farah, sobbing into the arms of family members.

Government officials could not immediately be reached for comment.

Army recruit Ahmed Ali, who was struck in the head by shrapnel, told Reuters at the hospital: "The place was overcrowded with new recruits and soldiers when the blast occurred."

Military officer Odawaa Yusuf Rage had told state media earlier on Tuesday at least 10 new recruits had been killed and 20 others wounded when a suicide bomber detonated explosives.

(Additional reporting by Abdi Sheikh, Writing by Maggie Fick, Editing by Alexandra Hudson and Edmund Blair)
Actual motives?

I have huge concerns about two things happening in Washington, D.C.

1. Partisan politics are destroying our country. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell announced flatly that no Republicans would vote for President Joe Bidens infrastructure plan. This is not how democracy works. Stonewalling the opposition party instead of doing your job and working together in good faith is putting party over country. We do not live in an autocracy.

2. Some Republicans have the sheer audacity to try to spin the Jan. 6 attackers on the Capitol as tourists. This is insulting and a flat-out lie. Republicans were present when those insurrectionists stormed the chambers and called for hanging members of our government. To oppose a commission to investigate that is tacit approval of what happened. The dictionary defines sedition as incitement of resistance to or insurrection against lawful authority. To refuse to investigate those who participated makes one an accessory.

I do not understand this effort to stop a commission to investigate an attack on our democracy  unless those opposed have something to hide.

- Chris Farnsworth, Overland Park

Photo ops?

Will Mayor Quinton Lucas be appearing with the mothers of all murder victims, or just select ones? It almost seems like he has an agenda.

- Bob Berry, Oak Grove, Missouri

Bidens budget

The president recently released his budget for next year, including how much he would like to spend on federal cancer research. As a cancer survivor, I care deeply about research into this terrible disease, which is why I was heartened to see a significant increase for the National Institutes of Health, including the creation of an agency dedicated to trying to speed delivery of promising research to patients with hard-to-treat cancers and other illnesses. This could be a great accelerator for new treatments.

Yet, I remain concerned that the cornerstone of cancer research  the National Cancer Institute  was not given an appropriate increase to meet the demand. NCI-funded research has led to every major advancement in cancer treatment for the last 50 years, and unlike other NIH institutes, the NCIs demand for research grants far exceeds its available funding.

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The National Cancer Institute could save more lives with increased and sustained funding, which is why I urge Sen. Roy Blunt to increase NCI funding in a final 2022 budget. Increasing the investment now would bear improved results later, as more promising research proposals get funded and improved means of cancer prevention, detection and treatment are developed.

- Allison Johnson, St. Louis

Talk about logic

Gov. Mike Parsons statement that Kevin Strickland was convicted by a jury of his peers makes total sense, since virtually all defendants subsequently determined to be innocent were convicted by a jury of their peers. (June 9, 1A, Parson says Strickland pardon not a priority, despite public outcry)

What a novel concept. Furthermore, he suggested that he is dealing with more recent cases, so the Strickland case shouldnt jump to the front of the line  hence it is not one of his priorities.

Let me suggest a different quantitative method for determining where that line starts: If a man has been in prison for 43 years and the perpetrators, the witness and the prosecutors all say that the evidence shows he shouldnt be there, maybe the line should start with him (providing, of course, no one has been incarcerated for 44 or more years for a crime he didnt commit).

Weve got an illogical governor here in Texas. Apparently, Missouri has one, too.

- Robert Smith, Wichita Falls, Texas
Jun. 14Good morning from Augusta.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "When it became clear that we weren't going to be able to use the money for a class trip, it felt really weird to try and use the money to do something else, or keep it for ourselves," said Liefe Temple, an Islesboro Central School senior, on donating the money her class would have used on a senior trip to help fund COVID-19 vaccine clinics on the island. "That's not what the community gave it to us for."

What we're watching today

The Legislature's budget committee still remains apart on hundreds of items as the session barrels toward its end. Both parties were working through the weekend to discuss items in Gov. Janet Mills' adjusted two-year budget at a spending mark of $8.8 billion, but they did not meet with each other. Democrats and Republicans have also not come to terms on the governor's $1.1 billion stimulus spending plan and her pared-down bond package.

The stalemate continues as the Legislature looks poised to blow through its mid-June deadline to finish up. Session days were only originally scheduled through Wednesday. A marathon set of days last week cut through a serious amount of bills, but a quarter of the ones introduced this session still need final action from the Legislature. Another 10 percent need to get funded or are studies that must finally be approved by legislative leaders.

The fights around Mills' financial packages may prove to be contentious as the end of the fiscal year approaches. The budget committee still has a plethora of items to vote on, including hundreds of new positions and increased Medicaid spending. Republicans have been pushing against 200 more state employee positions and a ban on flavored tobacco as well.

Those items strike at the core of the division we have seen between the parties thus far: while there has been agreement on a need for tax relief and upping spending on municipal revenue sharing and education, the size of the package and the use of bonding are still up in the air.

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While the Legislature has tried to set deadlines, they are technically in a special session after Democrats passed an initial budget with a simple majority in March. That is an option for the majority party again, but lawmakers can also drag this out past the typical deadlines in an unconventional year.

The Maine politics top 3

 "Janet Mills' wait-and-see legislative style contributes to chaotic end of pandemic session," Caitlin Andrews, Bangor Daily News: "The governor's style and the COVID-19 pandemic have made for a chaotic finish. Mills' tendency to stay out of legislative fights until the last minute is causing frustration in a session that has led lawmakers to vote on bills in marathon spurts. Remaining work will include thorny discussions on Mills' new $8.8 billion budget and her plan for $1.1 billion in federal aid."

Some of the high-profile bills to come up in the House last week will likely be in the Senate today. In the upper chamber, expect to see legislators tackle some of the biggest issues from last week, including one that passed the House to close Maine's last youth prison by 2023 and another that failed in the lower chamber which would end at-will employment in many cases. The House calendar is mostly rote today as the chambers push through paper, but it is expected to enact a bill that would prohibit companies owned by foreign governments from giving to referendum campaigns. It passed the House and Senate last week.

 "8 fully vaccinated Mainers have died from COVID-19. Vaccines still prevent more deaths," Jessica Piper, BDN: "These so-called breakthrough infections are rare, Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention Director Nirav Shah said last week. The state has identified 426 cases of the virus in fully vaccinated people, accounting for about 1 of every 1,600 vaccinated people in Maine. ... But the deaths are tragedies for families who assumed vaccines would eliminate COVID-19 risk and raise concerns among people with compromised immune systems and their loved ones."

The school mask mandate is going away with the governor set to end Maine's state of emergency on June 30. Mills' move, which was announced Friday, will have relatively few effects because the most sweeping executive orders that she put into effect  including the mask mandate and business capacity limits  have been rolled back. The last major restriction is the school mask mandate, which will now be optional for districts next year. Here's your soundtrack.

 "Susan Collins floats unused aid, electric vehicle fees to fund $1.2T infrastructure bill," Michael Shepherd, BDN: "It is the latest in a series of attempts to bridge an impasse on the issue between the White House and Republicans. Biden cut off negotiations with Senate Republicans last week, but the new bipartisan group quickly emerged from the sidelines of that deal. A group of 58 House members evenly divided between the parties has put forward its own $1.25 trillion proposal."

Today's Daily Brief was written by Caitlin Andrews and Michael Shepherd. If you're reading this on the BDN's website or were forwarded it, you can sign up to have it delivered to your inbox every weekday morning here.

To reach us, do not reply directly to this newsletter, but contact the political team at mshepherd@bangordailynews.com, candrews@bangordailynews.com or jpiper@bangordailynews.com.
Joe Biden on Tuesday met with European Union leaders in Brussels on Tuesday as his first presidential overseas trip continues.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel welcomed Biden. The leaders are expected to address issues that include COVID-19, the climate, trade and investment, technology, and foreign affairs.

The EU and U.S. are eager to move past their tariff battles "so they can move on and tackle some 21st-century challenges, not the least of which is China. suggested Kelly Ann Shaw, a former Trump administration trade official who is now a partner at the law firm, Hogan Lovells.

On Monday, the president took part in his first in-person North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit. He traveled to Brussels for the NATO meeting after he wrapped up a three-day meeting with the Group of Seven nations on Sunday.

On Wednesday, Biden is scheduled to take part in a highly anticipated meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Follow below for more updates. Mobile users click here.
(msnbc)

Donald Trump on Tuesday announced he was appointing a new personal spokesperson, former Republican National Committee official and conservative journalist Elizabeth Harrington, in a sign of his political ambitions in Washington and beyond.

His statements around the new hire, as well Ms Harringtons background, suggest Mr Trump is going to keep spreading the thoroughly discredited idea that the 2020 election was rigged, as well as hitting on new GOP culture war topics like hostility to critical race theory and vaccine skepticism as he ponders a potential comeback campaign in 2024.

Liz Harrington is a fighter, the former president said on Tuesday in a statement. She was an important part of our receiving more votes than any incumbent President in US history, far more than we received the first time we won, he added, referencing the false claim that he won the 2020 presidential election as well.

She also seemed to hint at this claim, saying in a statement on Tuesday she was excited to stand for the truth. (Ms Harrington did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Independent).

Prior to joining the former president, Ms Harrington was editor-in-chief at War Room, an influential far-right website and podcast from former Trump adviser Steve Bannon, where hosts and guests regularly supported conspiracy theories about a rigged 2020 election, skepticism about vaccines, and the idea that Covid came from a lab leak in China. The shows YouTube channel was removed for spreading false claims about the election, but it consistently ranks as a top podcast on the Apple charts.

Jason Miller, who initially hosted the podcast arm with Mr Bannon, was the presidents previous spokesperson before Ms Harrington. He has said that War Room often functioned as a platform to reach an audience of one for those looking to impress Mr Trump.

"We present him with clips," Mr Miller told Yahoo News. "I frequently update him on whos on the show and whos doing what."

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Before joining the War Room venture, Ms Harrington was a top spokesperson at the Republican National Committee, taking over from Kayeigh McEnany when she joined the White House as press secretary, another former conservative media personality who went on to work for Mr Trump.

At the RNC, Ms Harrington defended the former presidents roundly criticised handling of the coronavirus pandemic and claimed without substantive evidence the 2020 election was stolen, telling one news host there were mountains of evidence that the contest was unfair  even though virtually none of the numerous lawsuits, audits, and recounts he pushed for have yielded anything to suggest that Joe Biden wasnt the true winner.

In a recent interview, she continued to hold the line that the contest was unfair, suggesting to a host on the Real Americas Voice network that Donald Trump could be reinstated.

If the truth gets out there, and if we still have a justice system, and if we still have people that believe in our system and our Constitution, who knows what will happen, she said.

Ms Harrington, a Temple University graduate, was a journalist at conservative news sites like CNSnews.com and the Washington Free Beacon before entering politics. At the Beacon, she often wrote pieces with eye-popping, right-wing clickbait headlines, such as Hypnotizing the World: Omar Has Ties to Radical Anti-Israel, Anti-American Group, about US representative Ilhan Omar, a popular conservative bogeywoman, and Libs: Sex Change at 9, Vote at 16, No Smoking Until 21.

LGBT+ groups have criticised her as homophobic and anti-trans. She once called the push for trans kids to use bathrooms matching their gender literally insane and trendy.

Read More

GOP threatens to boycott future presidential debates

Biden announces first slate of political ambassadors, including a position for Sully Sullenberger

Marjorie Taylor Greene refuses to reveal whether shes had Covid vaccine as she launches bid to fire Fauci
The festival, created by legendary actor/director Robert De Niro is back in-person in New York City

The 2021 Tribeca Film Festival is in full effect in NYC and the star-studded event is bringing people back together now that theyve returned to an in-person festival.

During a recent episode of theGrios podcast, Acting Up, Tribecas VP of Immersive Programming, Loren Hammonds, revealed all the ways he and his colleagues have curated the impressive list of projects and how they plan to keep people safe amid the ongoing pandemic.

Loren Hammonds attends the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival LA Reception at Nespresso Boutique

We have some great pieces that are outdoor for the first time in immersive and things that people can do from across the globe, Hammonds said. Not to mention our Tribeca At Home selections, where you can actually experience the festival wherever you are in the United States.

He continues, That was important because even though restrictions are lifting, we understand not everyone can travel or not everyone is vaccinated or feels comfortable traveling. We want to make sure that were opening up our program to everybody and really democratizing it by like giving everybody a chance to see what Tribecca is all about.

Regardless of the fact that everyone whos vaccinated can now walk around without a mask, we are asking everyone to keep their masks on. Were not asking for proof of vaccination. We have these socially distant pods where essentially you can sit with four people from your own group or two people from your own group, and theyre all distanced from each other. When youre in the pod, if youre eating or drinking, take off your mask.

The 12-day festival features outdoor screenings, intimate talks, immersive experiences, and thought-provoking discussions with creators, creatives, and some prominent figures like Stacey Abrams, Lena Waithe, and Dave Chappelle, among others.

Indoor events, like the screening of Chappelles latest project at Radio City Music Hall, will require proof of vaccination for all attendees.

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Festival-goers can expect to see films starring Hollywood heavyweights like Don Cheadle, Brian Tyree Henry, and Van Jones, as well as lesser-known talents who are finally getting a chance to shine.

Darien Dorsey, Taura Stinson, AmaYah Harrison, Julia Vahn and Louis Bryant III attend the 19 Seventy Free: Part 1 premiere at the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival

This years festival also offers several films that center on the ongoing pandemic.

People still were submitting films at the same level that they have in the past, even with the production shutdown. I think people were working in post-production and they were ready to to to give us some films to look at, so thats thats been really great, Hammonds said.

We saw tons of films that were pandemic-themed and shot on Zoom. Everything you can imagine. Most of those did not work, but there are a select few that we programed that Im really, really excited for people to see how creators have dealt with with the pandemic.

The Tribeca Film Festival runs from June 9-20. Check back with theGrio for more news and reviews all week long.

Check out the full conversation with Hammonds on Acting Up.

Have you subscribed to theGrios new podcast Dear Culture? Download our newest episodes now!

TheGrio is now on Apple TV, Amazon Fire, and Roku. Download theGrio today!

The post Loren Hammonds takes us Inside the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival on Acting Up appeared first on TheGrio.
LOS ANGELES (AP)  A Los Angeles dentist was charged Monday with sexually abusing nine women while they were undergoing procedures.

Emad Fathy Moawad, 50, was charged with more than a dozen counts of sexual battery by restraint and other acts involving force.

Moawad appeared in court Monday but didn't enter a plea and his arraignment was continued. He was jailed on nearly $2 million bail and it wasn't immediately clear whether he had an attorney to speak on his behalf.

This case is especially concerning because its victims are low-income people and immigrants who are less likely to report crimes due to fear, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon said in a statement.

Prosecutors allege that between 2013 and 2018, Moawad molested women ranging from 27 to 73 years old.

Moawad was sued in 2019 by a woman who alleged that while under anesthesia in 2017, Moawad molested her and that she reported the allegations to police, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The suit alleged that Moawad repeatedly fondled her, in one case holding her down until she managed to run out of the room. The suit also said the attacks ended in December 2018 when a dental assistant shot a video of one assault, the Times said.
(Bloomberg) -- U.S. lumber futures are set to snap an eight-session losing streak as traders who bet on price declines cashed in ahead of Wednesdays U.S. housing starts report.

Traders betting against lumber sold off short positions in futures contracts on expectations that the key housing report will show a steady number of homes were built in the U.S. in May, said Brian Leonard, an analyst with RCM Alternatives in Chicago.

We are $800 from the highs, so a steady report would bring shorts out of the market, Leonard said.

The price of lumber for July delivery rose 2.4% in Tuesday afternoon trading in Chicago, reversing earlier declines that had the contract on pace to record its longest slump since 2016.

Economists surveyed by Bloomberg expect U.S. housing starts to rise 3.9% in May from the previous month to reach 1.63 million on an annualized rate. Demand for homebuilding remains strong, which will likely keep lumber prices historically high.

New homebuilders are still building because demand is high, said Paul Jannke, principal at Forest Economic Advisors, a wood product analysis firm. He sees prices stabilizing at between $500 and $1,000 per 1,000 board feet, well above historical averages.

Lumber futures rose to $1,019.90 per 1,000 board feet on Chicago Mercantile Exchange at 2:27 p.m. local time, after swinging between losses of as much as 5.3% and gains as high as 6.3% through the trading day. Lumber futures hit a record $1,733.50 on May 10.

U.S. builder confidence for single-family homes in June dropped two points to a 10-month low due to rising material prices and supply chain shortage, the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index showed Tuesday. Still, the indexs reading at 81 -- down from 83 in April and May -- signals strong housing demand due to low U.S. inventories.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com

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By Tina Bellon

(Reuters) - Lyft Inc said on Tuesday it will launch an electric vehicle rental pilot program for ride-hail drivers in a part of the San Francisco Bay Area in partnership with a local utility.

The EV rental program in San Mateo County south of San Francisco is scheduled to begin this fall. It initially aims to provide roughly 100 EVs for use on the Lyft platform, the ride-hail company and Peninsula Clean Energy said in a statement.

Peninsula Clean Energy, San Mateo County's official energy provider which aims to provide 100% renewable energy by 2025, will provide $500,000 in incentives to ride-hail drivers to ensure the cost of renting an EV is comparable to a gas-powered car.

Lyft said exact rental prices and models were still being determined.

The program is operated by Lyft's Flexdrive unit, which works with local car dealerships to rent out vehicles on a weekly or long-term basis.

Lyft already offers EV rentals in Seattle, Atlanta and Denver, where drivers are able to rent Kia Niro and Chevy Bolt EVs.

Peninsula Clean Energy CEO Jan Pepper in a statement said the San Mateo program might eventually lead to more drivers switching to EVs.

Utilities across the United States are embracing EV sales growth as both a promising new source of revenue and an opportunity to use excess wind and solar power generated when supply exceeds demand.

Lyft and its larger rival Uber Technologies Inc have promised to convert their U.S. fleets entirely to EVs by 2030. In 2018, less than 1% of all ride-hail miles in California were electric, according to company data provided to the California Air Resources Board.

California regulators last month adopted rules to mandate that nearly all trips on Uber and Lyft's ride-hailing platforms must be in electric vehicles within the next few years.

(Reporting by Tina Bellon in Austin, Texas; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
A stack of surgical masks. (PHOTO: Getty Images)

SINGAPORE  A man who was under investigation for drug offences fled to Thailand while on bail.

Despite being away from Singapore, Jonathan Poh Yu Qin, described by the prosecution as a serial cheater, managed to scam $16,842 in total from victims in Singapore by promising them masks he did not have.

Poh, 24, was jailed for one year and two months on Tuesday (15 June), with an additional jail term of 134 days for reoffending while he was serving a remission order for a previous offence.

The Singaporean pleaded guilty to four out of 12 charges of cheating, with the remaining taken into consideration for sentencing. Poh was on remission from 5 October 2019 to 9 June 2020 for a 2019 offence, also involving cheating, when he reoffended.

On 25 November 2019, Poh fled to Thailand while on bail and under investigation for drug offences. He met his wife, who was waiting for him there.

While in Thailand, Poh began advertising the sale of surgical masks on Telegram and Carousell, and used the proceeds he cheated on his personal expenses.

Using pseudonyms like Kenji, Kenji Wong and Kenk3n, Poh would then solicit pre-orders of surgical masks and ask victims to transfer deposits to him. After he received the monies, however, he would disappear and none of the victims, of which there were at least 12, received their orders.

The largest amount came from a 23-year-old woman who contacted Poh on 28 January last year to buy surgical masks after seeing his advertisement on a Telegram group titled SG Free Marketplace (Buy/ Sell/ Trade/ Advertise).

She placed an order for 30 cartons of surgical masks and transferred $13,925 into Pohs bank account. Although Poh assured her that he would deliver the masks to her on 31 January, the woman never received the masks she bought.

The victim lodged a police report on 1 February 2020.

Another victim made an order for N95 surgical masks for his clinics after friends working at another clinic passed Pohs contact to him. The victim, a 37-year-old man, placed an order for 200 boxes and paid $1,650 to Poh but he never received his order.

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Another victim, a 47-year-old man, contacted Poh after seeing the advertisement on Telegram. To convince the victim of the legitimacy of his business, he sent the victim screenshots of payments allegedly made by other buyers.

He transferred $375 to Poh, who directed him to meet him at Toh Guan ExtraSpace. While the victim followed his instructions, Poh never showed up and stopped returning the victims calls and messages.

Poh was arrested upon his return to Singapore on 25 February this year. No restitution was made to the victims.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Claudia Chen said that Pohs cheating offences date back to 2017, showing the he had a blatant disregard for the law and no regard to reforming himself. The prosecution sought at least 14 months jail for the offences and another 134 days jail for his breach of remission order.

Poh, who represented himself, said that he went to Thailand where his wife was waiting because he really did not do the offences related to drugs.

He told the court that the charges were for having an amount of methamphetamine, which he claimed had belonged to his friend.

I was told by the Central Narcotics Bureau that I was being monitored because I was trafficking, he added. Poh currently does not face any drug-related charges.

I have been holding a job ever since...I ran and when I was in Thailand I was also working, it was paying very low. I resorted to cheating because of my family and my kid. I am a young father and my kid is one this year. I resorted to cheating because I really could not find a way out, he said.

Appearing through videolink, Poh told District Judge Marvin Bay that he surrendered and admitted everything upon returning to Singapore as his parents were old and told him that they did not have much time left.

DJ Bay said he agreed with the prosecution that a hard stance was needed to deal with scams related to COVID-19 given the vulnerability of the public to such hoaxes.

He told Poh, You are still a young man, aged 24 with a child. You really need to find a better way to make a living.

For cheating, Poh could have been jailed up to 10 years and fined.

Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore

More stories:

Landlord who kept exposing himself to female tenant jailed and fined

All 14 new COVID cases in Singapore in community
Police in Tennessee have charged a man accused of trying to sell a car with his girlfriends body in the back seat.

Pamela Paz, 44, was found dead in a small parking area under an overpass in Nashville on May 2 after a passerby reported seeing her lying in the lot, according to a news release from the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department.

A medical examiner later determined she died of strangulation, police said in May.

Robert Johnson, 31, who police say was her boyfriend at the time, was wanted for questioning in the case and arrested May 6, according to police.

When he was interviewed by investigators, police say he provided an alibi, which was later proven to be false.

A witness told investigators that Johnson had tried to sell a Dodge Charger with Pazs body in the back seat the day before her body was found in the parking area.

Police said Monday they swore out an arrest warrant charging Johnson with Pazs murder.

Johnson is presently jailed in Wilson County on unrelated charges and will be booked in Nashville on the criminal homicide warrant in the near future, police said.
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R., Ga.) apologized Monday for her comments last month comparing COVID-19 restrictions to the persecution of Jews by the Nazis.

After a visit to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., Greene said she had made a mistake and that there is nothing comparable to the Holocaust.

I have made a mistake, and its really bothered me for a couple of weeks now, and so I definitely want to own it, she said. This afternoon I visited the Holocaust Museum. The Holocaust is  theres nothing comparable to it. It happened, and over six million Jewish people were murdered.

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The horrors of the Holocaust are something that some people dont even believe happened and some people deny, but there is no comparison to the Holocaust, she said. There are words that I have said and remarks that I have made that I know are offensive, and for that I want to apologize.

Last month, Greene likened a Tennessee grocery stores rule requiring employees to display their vaccination status to the Third Reichs star-wearing requirement for Jews.

Greenes tweet sparked widespread backlash, including from the Auschwitz Memorial, which called her comments a sad symptom of moral and intellectual decline.

Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell called Greenes remarks outrageous and reprehensible. McConnells spokesman wrote on Twitter that the Kentucky Republican had recently called out Greenes loony lies and conspiracy theories as a cancer for the Republican Party and our country.

Additionally, House minority leader Kevin McCarthy (R., Calif.) called Greene wrong and said her intentional decision to compare the horrors of the Holocaust with wearing masks is appalling.

The Holocaust is the greatest atrocity committed in history. The fact that this needs to be stated today is deeply troubling, McCarthy said.

Minority whip Steve Scalise (R., La.) and House Republican Conference chairwoman Elise Stefanik (N.Y.) both released statements criticizing Greenes remarks as well.

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At the time, Greene defended her comments on Twitter, writing that she never compared it to the Holocaust, only the discrimination against Jews in early Nazi years.

Stop feeding into the left wing media attacks on me, she wrote. Everyone should be concerned about the squads support for terrorists and discrimination against unvaxxed people.

Greenes apology comes as Representative Brad Schneider (D., Ill.) is expected to introduce a resolution on Wednesday that would censure Greene over similar remarks last month comparing House mask rules to Nazi persecution of Jews, according to NBC News.

More from National Review
Maya Millete went missing in January after making an appointment with a divorce lawyer. (Fox 5 San Diego)

The sister of missing California mom Maya Millete is outraged that police are now asking the family for helps five months after Ms Millete went missing amid marriage issues.

The 39-year-old was last seen on 7 January at her home in Chula Vista, south of San Diego in southern California. She was reported missing three days later.

Maricris Drouaillet, the sister of Ms Millete, and her husband Richard Drouaillet have left their home in Riverside, east of Los Angeles, to try to find Ms Millete, Fox 5 reported.

Detectives contacted the family of Ms Millete, who has three children, last week. Ms Drouaillet said they were angered by the delay.

It does feel frustrating to the family that they are just now starting to do that after five or six months of her missing. They could have done that at the beginning, the sister told Fox 5. Now they want to go search these areas that we told them to go search back in January, that those are important areas to search.

Ms Millete is 5 foot 2, about 105lbs [48kg], has brown hair, and has tattoos of musical notes on her clavicle and a hummingbird on her back.

Investigators have served more than 30 search warrants and interviewed more than 60 people.

Her husband, Larry Millete, was scrutinized after it came out that his wife was set to meet with a divorce lawyer on the last day she was seen.

I think she was ready in December, and then she finally decided to file that divorce that day, Ms Drouaillet told Fox, adding that her sister had been thinking about filing for a divorce over the last year.

Police performed the first search warrant at Ms Milletes home on 23 January, 13 days after the home was visited by her family who spoke to her husband and then reported her missing.

While all of her vehicles were outside the home, she hadnt answered a text since 7 January.

Larry Millete was served with a temporary gun violence restraining order on 5 May after police found his stash of 22 weapons, including seven assault rifles and three shotguns. Only eight of them were legally registered to Mr Millete. Police searched the home again two days later.

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When police searched the home in January, Mr Millete told police that he knew they were coming for his guns and that he had given several of the weapons to friends and then refused to name them.

Since she disappeared, family members have spoken publically several times about how her marriage was not going well and a divorce could be imminent.

Ms Drouaillet told NBC7 she was surprised when she learned that Mr Millete had hired a lawyer and wasnt cooperating with the investigation.

Its tough because he is our family, she said. We cant imagine him doing anything to our sister.

Read More

Sarm Heslop: Police on US Virgin Islands still searching for missing woman

Bodies recovered by police searching for missing woman and two-year-old daughter

Gillian Flynn sickened by lawyers Gone Girl defence in missing woman case
Mayor Quinton Lucas, who serves as a member of the Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners, on Monday asked for changes in the monthly meetings to focus on violent crime with detailed reports on homicides and non-fatal shootings.

In a letter to police board president Mark Tolbert, Lucas said his goal is have the meeting agenda focus more directly on the epidemic of gun violence faced by Kansas City.

This would include updated and detailed statistics on homicides and non-fatal shootings and a discussion on specific plans the department is undertaking to address gun violence. Lucas also asked for a monthly update on the how the department has implemented a violence reduction plan that was developed with the U.S. Department of Justices Public Safety Partnership.

The letter will likely be among the discussion items during the police boards monthly meeting Tuesday morning.

Lucas noted that as of Monday, there were 68 reported homicides so far this year, according to data maintained by the Kansas City Star. The increase in the number of killings has put the city on pace to approach to the 182 homicides recorded in 2020.

Despite these alarming statistics, there have not been any recent changes in Board proceedings or agendas to prioritize discussion of these items, Lucas wrote.

Other discussion items should include a report of staffing levels in all units that would be presented alongside crime trends and criminal cases referred to county prosecutors offices.

The police board should also discuss any staffing cuts and the number of sworn officers assigned to administrative duties.

Each month, department leaders will be asked to report on victim and witness support. Specifically, the percentage of shooting victims and witnesses who cooperate with investigators.

Neighborhood leaders who experience the highest rates of gun violence will be asked to provide testimony on crime trends each month, Lucas proposed.

Lucas acknowledged the lawsuit the police board filed against himself, the City Council, the city manager and citys finance director after an ordinance was approved that gives the city some control over a portion of police spending.

Story continues

Despite any differences we may have on pending legal issues, I know we remain resolved in our efforts to stop the epidemic of gun violence in our city, Lucas said.

Other discussion topics will include ways the police department is working with groups such as Getting to the Heart of the Matter to improve community trust.

Community groups and faith leaders have pointed to rising violent crime and low arrest rates as a primary reason why they have demanded the removal of Rick Smith as police chief.
China repeatedly lied about the coronavirus, letting it spread across the world, kill millions, and crash the global economy. Then, China tried to capitalize on the issue it had started by shipping out faulty medical equipment and ineffective vaccines to other countries.

Many in the media covered for China and its communist government the entire time. It's time for some accountability.

The latest development in this saga can be seen in Chile, which has issued lockdowns in its capital of Santiago. Santiago is seeing some of its worst case numbers since the pandemic started, and yet the country has one of the highest vaccination rates in the world.

Unfortunately, Chiles vaccination numbers were achieved mostly with Chinas ineffective Sinovac vaccine, which even Chinas top health official was forced to acknowledge doesnt have a high protection rate.

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We also know that China shipped defective masks and testing kits earlier in the pandemic to several countries, including Spain, Turkey, and the Netherlands. And now, it seems the world has finally come around to what some people have recognized the entire time: The pandemic most likely started because of a lab leak at the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

You can quibble with how much of this should be chalked up to hindsight, but it was always clear that China is an authoritarian regime that would do anything to make itself look good. Why did our media help it?

No sensible person should have taken China at its word about anything related to the pandemic, and yet many in our media did exactly that.

Consider those ineffective vaccines. CNN painted a friendly picture of Chinas vaccine diplomacy last December, highlighting a stark contrast between China promising to share vaccines with the developing world while the United States took an America first approach to vaccines developed thanks to the policies of former President Donald Trump. Yet our vaccines, the Trump vaccines, are the ones that actually make the world safe. Go figure.

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The faulty medical equipment and coronavirus tests? China was praised for these in March 2020 at the Intercept, under the headline, As the U.S. blames China for the coronavirus pandemic, the rest of the world asks China for help. Ken Dilanian, Dan De Luce, and Carol Lee at NBC News took the same tone. How embarrassing for them.

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And then, there is the lab leak. Outlet after outlet deemed it a conspiracy theory and dismissed it out of hand for no reason with no evidence. Vox called it a distraction. The Washington Post falsely stated that the theory was debunked. PolitiFact issued a pants on fire ruling to the claim that COVID-19 was a man-made virus created in the lab. All three have had to issue corrections.

Big Tech companies also decided to prove all of their detractors correct, as Facebook censored claims about the origins of the virus and Twitter was unwilling to rule censorship out. Facebook has since reversed its policy but, as with the media outlets who propped up Chinas coronavirus response, the damage has been done.

Chinas coronavirus aid to the world was nothing more than a propaganda ploy, and many in our media fell for it. China covered up the origins of the coronavirus, and many in our media went along with it. All for a political advantage in 2020, during which China could serve as a foil on the world stage for Trump.

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Tags: Beltway Confidential, China, Coronavirus, Wuhan Lab, Vox, NBC, Washington Post, Politifact, CNN, Facebook, Twitter, Media

Original Author: Zachary Faria

Original Location: Media promoted China's phony coronavirus aid while also dismissing the lab leak theory
JOHANNESBURG (AP)  A Rwandan opposition leader apparently arrested in Mozambique last month should be immediately charged in court or released, Human Rights Watch said Tuesday.

Cassien Ntamuhanga, a radio journalist in Rwanda who was jailed after being convicted of conspiring against the government, escaped from prison in Rwanda in 2018 and sought asylum in Mozambique. His application was still being processed at the time he was taken into custody on May 23, according to the human rights organization.

Ntamuhanga was taken by seven men who showed identification cards for Mozambique's National Criminal Investigation Service and taken to the local police station, said the rights group, citing four witnesses. Police officers told neighbors who accompanied Ntamuhanga to the station to leave, the group said.

Ntamuhanga was arrested on the island of Inhaca in Maputo bay and was later taken by boat to the mainland, chained and handcuffed, said Human Rights Watch.

Mozambiques police force has since denied knowledge of Nhamutanga's arrest and said he is not being held by them.

One of the men who took Ntamuhanga into custody spoke in a Rwandan language, according to a statement issued by the Association of Rwandan Refugees in Mozambique.

A longtime critic of Rwandan President Paul Kagame, Ntamuhanga was sentenced to 25 years in prison in 2015 for allegedly conspiring against the Rwandan government. Press freedom group Reporters Without Borders said at the time that the harsh and disproportionate sentence reflects the authoritarian nature of President Kagames government and its growing desire to gag all dissent in the run-up to the 2017 presidential elections.

Ntamahunga was convicted alongside the singer and activist Kizito Mihigo, who was pardoned in 2018 but re-arrested while trying to flee the country in February 2020 and died in police custody four days later.

Ntamuhangas prior conviction, the fate of Mihigo, and Rwandas track record of ruthlessly targeting critics and dissidents across the globe are reasons to be gravely concerned for Ntamuhangas safety, Human Rights Watch said Tuesday.

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The Mozambican authorities should publicly disclose his whereabouts, allow him access to a lawyer and visits by relatives, and, if he is to be charged, promptly bring him before a court," said Lewis Mudge, Central Africa director at Human Rights Watch.

Ntamuhanga is not the first Rwandan exile to have trouble in Maputo, according to Mozambiques National Network of Human Rights Defenders. In October 2012, Theogene Turatsinze, former director of the Development Bank of Rwanda, was found dead there, and his death has not yet been solved. His body was found floating in the bay of the capital with his hands tied behind his back after he had been reported missing for two days, according to a report this month by the human rights network.

In a separate incident, Rwandas former head of intelligence, Patrick Karegeya, was found dead in a hotel in South Africa in 2014.

Following that death, South Africa expelled two diplomats, including Claude Nikobisanzwe, who is now Rwandas High Commissioner in Mozambique, the first person to hold that position since the diplomatic offices were opened in Maputo in 2019.

Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi paid a surprise visit to Kagame in Kigali at the end of April, and the two both attended a summit of African leaders in Paris in May earlier this month. Recently French President Emmanuel Macron visited Kigali.

Rwandan media have suggested that Rwanda could send a military contingent to help protect a massive liquified natural gas project in northern Mozambique by the French oil and gas company Total. All work on the $20 billion gas project has been suspended following attacks by Mozambique's Islamic extremist rebels on the nearby town of Palma.

___

Bowker contributed from Belgrade, Serbia
Deposed Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi went on trial for sedition in a junta court Tuesday, more than four months after her government was ousted in a coup that has thrown her country into turmoil.

Huge pro-democracy protests against the generals' February putsch have been met with a brutal crackdown that a monitoring group says has killed more than 850 people.

Suu Kyi "appeared in good health" at the hearing in the capital Naypyidaw as a witness produced by the junta testified against her on colonial-era sedition charges, her lawyer Min Min Soe told AFP.

"She has good resistance... She listens normally... At some points (during the testimony against her), she smiled."

The court also heard testimony on a separate charge Suu Kyi broke coronavirus restrictions during last year's elections that her National League for Democracy party won in a landslide.

If convicted on all counts, the Nobel laureate and democracy icon, 75, could be jailed for more than a decade.

Journalists were barred from proceedings in the sparse courtroom in the capital built by the previous junta, with only one judge and two clerks present along with a witness and defence and prosecution lawyers.

There was a heavy police presence around the compound, an AFP reporter said.

Under house arrest and invisible bar a handful of court appearances, Suu Kyi has been hit with an eclectic raft of charges, including accepting illegal payments of gold and violating a colonial-era secrecy law.

"Whenever we see her, Amay is always strong with her confidence," Min Min Soe said, using an honorific. "She's always smart."

Former president Win Myint and Dr Myo Aung, a senior NLD leader, are also on trial for sedition and appeared beside Suu Kyi on Tuesday.

Proceedings will resume next week, Min Mon Soe told AFP.

Suu Kyi also faces a separate charge of violating a colonial-era secrecy law -- a case that is pending in a court in the commercial hub Yangon.

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- 'Inhumane and brutal acts' -

Her long-delayed trial comes as violence flares in several communities across Myanmar and diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis flounder.

Myanmar's ambassador to the United Nations, who has refused to leave his post despite being fired after the coup, has called for the international community to take "effective collective measures" against the junta.

"The lack of such actions... will further encourage the military to continue committing inhumane and brutal acts against civilians," he wrote in comments published Monday ahead of expected UN Security Council talks on the Myanmar crisis.

Kyaw Moe Tun has passionately rejected the coup and brushed aside the junta's claims that he no longer represents Myanmar.

The United Nations still considers him as the rightful envoy.

Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing has justified his power grab by citing alleged electoral fraud in the November poll won by the NLD.

The military has cracked down brutally on dissent -- shooting protesters, arresting suspected dissidents in night raids, shutting down news outlets and rounding up journalists.

On Tuesday, US State Department spokesman Ned Price said American journalist Nathan Maung -- who was detained in March -- was on his way home after he was released from prison in Yangon.

Another US citizen, journalist Danny Fenster, was detained while attempting to leave the country on May 24.

Authorities have yet to release any information on his whereabouts and well-being.

bur-rma/oho
File Ashley Henley was found dead with a gunshot wound in her lawn (AP)

A former Mississippi lawmakers body was discovered in the same spot where her sister-in-law was found dead last year, days after the politician vowed to seek justice in the case of her relative.

Ashley Henley, 40, a former Republican, was found dead from a gunshot wound on Sunday night in Yalobusha County, the North Mississippi Herald reported.

Assistant District Attorney Steven Jubera said in a statement that the gunshot was non-accidental and they are investigating the case as a homicide.

Henley appeared to have been mowing grass in her lawn near the trailer where the burned body of her sister-in-law, Kristina Michelle Jones, was found on 26 December.

Her sister-in-law died in a trailer fire, according to reports. But police said they are looking at the case with fresh eyes.

We are going back to square one (in Joness case) after receiving an initial Fire Marshals report and lab reports, Mr Jubera was quoted as saying by Mississippi Today.

The attorney added that the family has gone through a lot in the last six month and they would thoroughly investigate the matter.

Henley is survived by her husband Brandon Henley, and a son.

Yes it was my wife Ashley Henley that was found murdered in the same place my sister was. She was running a weed eater and was shot in the back of the head according to local authorities, Henleys husband wrote on Facebook. Thats all they have told us at the moment, he said.

Henley recently expressed her frustrations about her sister-in-laws case on social media and said she will continue to push for justice in the case.

Representative Dan Eubanks of DeSoto County said he was heartbroken with her death and organised a GoFundMe account to assist her family financially as they have suffered several financial difficulties over the last few years.

What an absolute loss to our state, county, me personally, and most importantly her dear family, he said on Facebook. Please pray for her husband and son and their extended family.and that Gods justice will be served on those responsible.

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House Speaker Philip Gunns office also released a statement: We are all shocked and saddened by this news. Our thoughts and prayers are with Ashleys family and friends.

Henley, a former teacher, served a four-year term from 2016-2020 in the state House of Representatives but lost her re-election bid in 2019 by 14 votes.

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Its been a good spring for Russian President Vladimir Putin. First, the White House announced that they were waiving sanctions on the company behind Russias Nord Stream II gas pipeline to Germany, and then days later it was announced that U.S. President Joe Biden and Putin would meet for a day-long summit in Geneva on June 16. These overtures towards Moscow stand in stark contrast to the most recent round of sanctions against Russia that the Biden administration imposed just a few weeks ago. This appears to be a carrot and stick approach. But it will take more than one round of sanctions to recalibrate our relationship with Moscow.

Everywhere we turn today we find examples of Russias aggressive intelligence operations directed against the U.S. and its allies. The Russian intelligence assault against the West has not only been sweeping and systematic but also brazen and unrelenting with the goal of weakening our political system.

Russian interference in the 2016, 2018, and 2020 U.S. elections has been well documented. But whats less appreciated is that since 2016, Russias actions have continued largely unconstrained, whether it be its attempts at two very high-profile assassinations of Sergei Skripal and Alexei Navalny using Novichok or continuing to conduct election interference and disinformation campaigns across nearly the whole of Europe. Only recently have we learned of the disruption of a Bulgarian Spy Ring of Russian agents, a Russian espionage scandal in Italy, and the designation of Russian culpability in the sabotage of a weapons facility in the Czech Republic in 2014.

Likewise, the Russians recently targeted several of our agencies that make up our critical national infrastructure with a wide-sweeping cyberespionage operation in the SolarWinds hack. Most recently, Russia reportedly has conducted cyberespionage targeting vaccine development in Canada, the U.K., and the U.S., and spreading disinformation about Pfizer and other Western-developed vaccines. These actions add to the mounting body of evidence that Russia is engaged in a full-on intelligence assault of the West.

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Why Russias Overseas Spies Keep Getting Caught

Within this maelstrom, it may be hard to appreciate just how much of a seismic change this interference in our internal political process has been in the context of the longstanding Moscow Rules. These rules are a set of unwritten norms meant to limit operational activity that could lead to a serious confrontation. Since the height of the Cold War, Russian and American intelligence services have refrained from assassinations, terrorism, or strong-arm tactics directed against each others officers as well as from engaging in counterfeiting operations. And, most importantly today, direct interference in each others internal political processes. This understanding held firm with a few minor exceptions from the post-Stalin era up to the 2016 election. The significance and high risk of this departure in political action has been largely underplayed, especially in the age of cyberwarfare.

These most recent sanctions were appropriate because they clearly laid a broad list of grievances at Russias feet and have some sharp edges like circumscribing Russias sovereign debt capacity and calling out key perpetrators of Russias active measures. However, it would be overly hopeful to think that these sanctions will be sufficient and moving immediately toward engagement might be underestimating our adversary, Russias Spymaster President Vladimir Putin. Trained by the KGB, former head of the FSB, and now commander in chief of the GRU and SVR with no meaningful check on his power domestically, Putins instincts are those of a Cold War spymaster who is entrenched in his adversarial position against Western democratic ideals and the West generally.

It would be naive to believe that Putin will now cease in his engagement of disinformation and active measures against the West. Rather, Putin will not back off and will test Bidens resolve to remain strong against Russia. But he wont shy away from the opportunity to appear on equal footing with a new American president in front of the world! Putin is a hardline realist with a deep appreciation of power dynamics.

Seen through an intelligence prism, now is the time to engage in unseen efforts to compel Moscow back to a contained and constrained level of behaviormost likely in the cyber arena but also through intense and consistent sub rosa negotiations on a new set of Moscow Rules. Coordinated and high-level discussions between national security counterparts could help draw out of bounds lines and perhaps most importantly project a credible countermeasure stance to what would happen should Russia seek to conduct another cyber-attack or election interference campaign. Sanctions and summits are just a start. The unseen is what will determine if we are ultimately successful.

Jack Devine is the former Acting CIA Director of Operations and is currently the president of The Arkin Group, a New York City based international intelligence and investigative company. His is the author of the recently released book Spymasters Prism.

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Former presidential candidate-turned-New York City mayoral candidate Andrew Yang nabbed an endorsement from the New York City Police Department (NYPD) captains union over a leading primary opponent who is represented by that union.

New York City Democratic mayoral candidate frontrunner Eric Adams was dealt a heavy blow in the race for his partys nomination to replace outgoing Mayor Bill de Blasio when Yang was endorsed by the NYPD Captains Endowment Association.

The Captains Endowment Association (CEA) is the union representing past and current NYPD commanders. Adams, who was a captain in three different precincts  two in Brooklyn, one in Manhattan  is a member of the association.

In a Monday statement to Fox News, a spokesman for Adams campaign, Evan Thies, said that the Democratic mayoral frontrunner was sticking by his pledge to not take endorsements from any police unions.

ANDREW YANGS NYC CAMPAIGN EVEN SHUT DOWN BY PROTESTERS

"Eric stated quite clearly he would not accept any PD union endorsements  and he even returned their contributions," Thies said. "So an endorsement by this union wasnt an option."

Yang took home the NYPD captains unions endorsement on Monday , with CEA President Chris Monahan saying in a press conference he respected the former presidential candidate for being willing to talk with law enforcement as police popularity plummets in the "City That Never Sleeps."

"Andrew and myself have had many conversations, talking about a lot of interests that particularly affect the city. Some of the conversations we agree on totally. Others we do not," Monahan said. "However, I do respect Andrew for a person who is willing to have a difficult conversation with, right now, a very unpopular profession."

Yang highlighted "public safety" as the "most important" issue facing the city at the moment and the division New Yorkers are seeing between civilians and the police "is threatening to destroy us."

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"If you have a mayor and a police force that are not on the same page, we are seeing the results right now," Yang said. "This is something we can change."
CAIRO (AP)  Sudans transitional government and the country's main rebel group failed to reach a peace deal to end a decades-long conflict in the East African country, officials said Tuesday.

The latest round of talks between the Sudanese government and the Sudan Popular Liberation Movement  North, led by Abdel-Aziz al-Hilu, began last month in South Sudans capital, Juba.

Sudans transitional government has been engaging in peace talks with rebel groups over the past two years. Its looking to stabilize the country and help its fragile path to democracy survive following the militarys overthrow of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir in April 2019. It reached a peace deal with another rebel alliance in October.

Sudan and the PLM-N agreed Tuesday to end negotiations and conduct further consultations over their disputed points, said Tut Galuak, a security adviser to South Sudans president who led mediation efforts.

He said the two sides have reached significant understandings of the disputed issues, and that only four out of 19 points remain unsolved. He did not elaborate.

Galuak's comments came in a statement released by Sudan's ruling sovereign council.

Also in the statement, Gen. Shams Eddin Kabashi, a member of the sovereign council and the government's chief negotiator, said the sides would return to the negotiating table once conditions are more favorable.

The rebel groups chief negotiator, Ammar Amount, said they have agreed on between 75% to 80% of the deal and the remaining issues need further consultations with their leaders.

Neither side gave a time frame for a return to the talks.

Al-Hilus movement is Sudans single largest rebel group and is active in the Blue Nile and South Kordofan provinces, where it controls significant chunks of territory.

The most recent round of talks came less than two months after the government and the al-Hilu movement signed a declaration of principles detailing a roadmap for the talks.

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Al-Hilus group participated in negotiations leading up to that agreement but did not sign the final deal. It called for a secular state with no role for religion in lawmaking, the disbanding of all of al-Bashirs militias and the re-vamping of the countrys military. Al-Hilus group said if its demands arent met, it will call for self-determination in areas it controls.

Another major rebel group, the Sudan Liberation Movement-Army, led by Abdel-Wahid Nour, rejects the transitional government and has not taken part in talks.

Sudanese rebels for years fought al-Bashirs loyalists in Darfur but also in the southern provinces of Blue Nile and South Kordofan. The fighting has often fallen along religious and ethnic lines.
(Bloomberg) --

Iron ore magnate Andrew Forrest is looking to help revive a long-delayed multi-billion dollar hydroelectric project in Africa as part of his strategy to move into green energy.

His Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. has held talks with the Democratic Republic of Congo for exclusive rights to develop the Grand Inga suite of projects, the Perth-based company said in a statement Tuesday, although no formal binding agreement had been yet concluded.

Forrest has set his sights on turning Fortescue, the worlds no. 4 iron ore shipper, into a major clean energy producer over the next decade and has been scouring the globe in search of investment opportunities. The company has said it will set aside as much as 10% of annual profit to invest in green initiatives.

The discussions with Fortescue may mark a further change in direction from the Congo government. Chinese and Spanish groups were appointed by former President Joseph Kabila in 2018 as co-developers of a project thats eventually intended to harness as much as 40,000 megawatts of power from the Congo River.

However, Kabilas successor Felix Tshisekedi, who came to power in 2019, has not approved their proposal and has said he would prefer a smaller-scale project. Spanish building firm ACS pulled out of the hydropower project last year.

Read: China Dominates Bid for Africas Largest Dam in New Pact

For decades, plans have been made and discarded to construct a series of hydroelectric power stations on the Congo River that would generate almost twice the power of the Three Gorges Dam in China, the worlds largest. If completed, a Grand Inga dam could go a long way to addressing one of the most debilitating obstacles to development across Africa from Nigeria to South Africa -- electricity shortages.

Yet Congo consistently ranks as one of the most corrupt countries in the world to do business and management of the project was criticized under Kabila for its lack of transparency. In July 2016, the World Bank halted a $73 million grant for environmental and social studies after Kabila put the Inga agency under his direct control.

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Tshisekedi has vowed to connect half of the population to the grid over the next decade, and developing Grand Inga is one of his priorities, according to his advisers. Last year, he met officials from German turbine makers and natural gas companies looking to produce green hydrogen in his nation.

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The parents of a former U.S. Marine languishing in a Russian prison are hopeful that President Biden and Vladimir Putin can reach an agreement to secure his freedom after nearly two years in detention.

Both leaders will meet Wednesday at a summit in Geneva in a closely watched geopolitical affair following a steep decline in American-Russian relations. The case of Trevor Reed is expected to come up.

"We're hoping that they can come to some kind of agreement whether it be an early release for Trevor or a prisoner swap. We really don't know what the options that are going to be put on the table," Paula Reed, Trevor's mother, told Fox News. "We don't care how it happens. We just want him home."

PUTIN CALLS TRUMP AN EXTRAORDINARY INDIVIDUAL, BIDEN, A CAREER MAN

"There's a lot of Russians here in American prisons that are not here for major crimes," his father, Joey Reed, said. "Do you realize how many foreign citizens are in Americans prisons and we're paying literally millions of dollars to house them and keep them instead of just deporting them?"

Reed, 29, a student at the University of North Texas and a Fort Worth native, was in Russia to learn the language and visit his Russian girlfriend when he was detained in August 2019 after a private party in Moscow following a drunken incident.

He was taken to a police station to sober up. Things seemed fine until authorities learned of his military background, his father said. That piqued the attention of Russia's Federal Security Service, known as the FSB, which then conducted its own interrogation.

Russian authorities eventually accused Reed of grabbing a police officer as he was driving, causing the car to swerve dangerously and elbowing another. Reed and his family deny the charges. He was sentenced last year to nine years in prison.

John Sullivan, the U.S. ambassador to Moscow, called Reed's conviction "ridiculous" and an example of the "theater of the absurd."

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"This conviction, and a sentence of nine years, for an alleged crime that so obviously did not occur, is ridiculous," Sullivan said in a statement at the time. "I cannot even say miscarriage of justice because clearly justice was not even considered."

Trevor Reed was diagnosed with COVID-19 last month. In a June 7 letter to his family, written in Russian as per the conditions of the Russian prison system, he complained of pain in the lungs and weight loss, according to a translation of the letter by Reed's girlfriend, Lina Tsybulnik, his parents said.

"I've got mediocre pain in my lungs. Also, I suffer from [a] cough from time to time," the letter reads, according to the translation. "We aren't allowed to have walks."

Reed's parents have accused Russian authorities of denying them access to see and communicate with their son and failing to properly treat him. The Russian Embassy in Washington, D.C., did not immediately respond to a Fox News inquiry.

In an interview with NBC News that aired Friday, Putin called Reed a "drunk" and "troublemaker" who "got himself s---faced and started a fight."

"To us, it's unbecoming of a world leader to speak like that about  a private citizen but especially about a foreign citizen who we know is innocent," Joey Reed said.

During the same interview, Putin said he was open to a prisoner swap and said he would be prepared to enter into an extradition agreement with the U.S. in an effort to repatriate other prisoners.

Reed's parents believe he was jailed possibly because of his military service during the Obama administration. He enlisted in the Marines to serve in the infantry when he was later assigned to the Marine Security Company Camp David. Part of his duties included standing guard at Camp David, and at times, near Obama and then-Vice President Biden.

The couple initially held off on publicly disclosing their son's military positions over concerns the Russian government was not aware of his service, Joey Reed said.

"It's become obvious that they knew because it made him a bigger bargaining chip," he said.

Reed's family, as well as the loved ones of another former Marine detained in Russia, Paul Whelan, have spoken with Secretary of State Antony Blinken. They said the Biden administrative has been receptive to their concerns.

Whelan was sentenced last year to 16 years in prison on espionage charges. He denies the charges and said he was in Russia to attend the wedding of a friend from his time in the Marines.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

He was arrested in December 2018 and said he was set up by someone he considered a friend who handed him a USB drive allegedly containing vacation photos. Minutes later, Russian authorities stormed his hotel room.

The drive contained a list of names of those working at a classified security agency, Russian authorities said. Whelan claims he is being used as a pawn for a potential prisoner swap between the U.S. and Russia.

Russian officials have indicated they would trade Whelan for two Russian prisoners in the U.S.  arms dealer Viktor Bout, nicknamed the "Merchant of Death," and convicted drug smuggler Konstantin Yaroshenko.

Fox News' Hollie McKay contributed to this report.
By Neil Jerome Morales and Karen Lema

MANILA (Reuters) -Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will not cooperate with an investigation into the country's bloody war on drugs planned by the International Criminal Court (ICC), his spokesperson said on Tuesday, while families of the victims cheered the move.

Normita Lopez, whose son was a victim of the anti-drugs campaign, said she could not contain her happiness when she learned about the ICC prosecutor's request to open a full investigation into the killings.

"I am happy because I realised that justice never sleeps," said Lopez, 56, who is among the many complainants to the ICC calling for Duterte's international indictment over thousands of alleged extra-judicial killings.

"God is not sleeping, he always finds a way," she said. Her 23-year-old son was killed in May 2017 for allegedly resisting arrest during a sting operation.

In what human rights groups described as a landmark step towards justice, the ICC prosecutor asked the court on Monday to allow a full investigation into the killings in the brutal war on drugs, which Duterte unleashed when he took office in 2016.

Since then, Philippine security forces say they have killed 6,117 suspected drug dealers because they fought back violently, but rights groups say authorities have summarily executed drug suspects.

Duterte, who in March 2018 cancelled the Philippines' membership of the ICC's founding treaty, will not cooperate with the probe, his spokesperson said, while rejecting the ICC prosecutor's findings.

"We will not cooperate because we are no longer a member," spokesperson Harry Roque told a news conference on Tuesday.

Under the ICC's statute, it has jurisdiction for crimes committed while a country was a member until a year after it sought to withdraw, in this case between 2016 and 2019, when the Philippines' pullout became official.

ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said on Monday that she had concluded a preliminary examination into the killings and had sought permission from the court for a full inquiry.

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She had said last December there were reasonable grounds to believe crimes against humanity had been committed during Duterte's bloody anti-narcotics crackdown, whose death toll has stirred international outrage.

A series of Reuters stories in 2016 and 2017 exposed the brutal killings being carried out in the Philippines as part of the war on drugs. Many of these stories were referred to in the ICC report on its preliminary examination.

2016 series: https://www.reuters.com/investigates/section/philippines-duterte

2017 series: https://www.reuters.com/investigates/section/philippines-drugs

POPULAR AT HOME

Despite concerns from the international community about the crackdown on drugs, Duterte remains popular at home and many Filipinos back his tough stance on crime.

His single six-year term as president will end in June next year, and political analysts say he would want an ally to win the presidency to protect him from potential legal challenges and political vendettas once he loses immunity out of office.

"We do not need foreigners to investigate killings in the drug war because the legal system is working in the Philippines," Roque said, adding he believed launching a formal probe was "legally erroneous and politically motivated."

Roque said police used appropriate force and there was "no intention to target and kill civilians."

A government anti-drugs agency said in a statement that cases filed against erring officers were being dealt with and denied there were "policies that permit, tolerate, and condone killings and other human rights violations."

But Randy delos Santos, uncle of high school student Kian delos Santos who was killed by police officers in August 2017, said he refused to believe government claims that the victims had fought back. He said he hoped reports on his nephew's death, which form part of the ICC report, will pave the way for other families of drug war victims to secure justice.

((See the Reuters report on the 17-year-old's killing here https://www.reuters.com/article/us-philippines-drugs-student-idUSKCN1B51U2))

"I welcome the ICC (prosecutor's move). There are many who died (in the drugs war). I feel the pain of other families," delos Santos told Reuters.

(Reporting by Neil Jerome Morales; Additional reporting by Eloisa Lopez; Editing by Ed Davies and Raju Gopalakrishnan)
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will "never cooperate" with an International Criminal Court probe into the country's deadly drug war, his spokesman said Tuesday, branding the process "legally erroneous".

Outgoing ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda on Monday asked judges at the world's only permanent war crimes court to authorise an investigation into allegations that Philippine police unlawfully killed as many as tens of thousands of civilians between 2016 and 2019.

Duterte was elected in 2016 on a campaign promise to get rid of the country's drug problem, and he openly ordered police to kill drug suspects if their lives were in danger.

"The president will never cooperate until the end of his term on June 30, 2022," Harry Roque told reporters, repeating a previous assertion that the ICC has no jurisdiction in the Philippines because it pulled out of the tribunal.

The Philippines left the ICC in 2019 after the court launched a preliminary examination into the war on drugs. Bensouda said it could still investigate crimes committed while the country was a member.

"The available information indicates that members of the Philippine National Police, and others acting in concert with them, have unlawfully killed between several thousand and tens of thousands of civilians" during the period under investigation, said Bensouda, in one of her last acts before stepping down this week.

But Roque rejected her findings and said it was "an insult to all Filipinos" to suggest the country's justice system was not working.

"We will be compared to countries like Darfur, areas where there is no functioning government. It's not right," he said.

"If killings occurred, appropriate force and violence were observed."

The crackdown is Duterte's signature policy initiative and he defends it fiercely, especially from critics such as Western leaders and institutions which he says do not care about the Philippines.

Story continues

More than 6,000 people have been killed in over 200,000 anti-drug operations conducted since July 2016, according to official data.

Human rights groups estimate the number of dead could be several times higher.

Many suspects have been put on "drug watch lists" by local officials and then visited by police at their homes -- a situation which often ends in a deadly shooting that officers claim was self-defence.

Rights groups welcomed Bensouda's request, with Amnesty International describing the ICC investigation as a "landmark step".

bur-amj/qan
A glider pilot captured a uniquely intimidating view of a tornado Sunday in Oklahoma.

David Evans was flying his glider near the town of Tuttle when he spotted the spinning formation, outlets report, but instead of getting clear, he flew in closer.

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Since gliders rely on wind resistance to stay aloft, unlike airplanes, Evans was trying to use the tornado to give himself a boost, his wife said in a Twitter post sharing the video.

He was out looking for lift for gliding, and found it, she said.

The funnel formation wasnt a tornado in the traditional sense, according to local meteorologists, but a landspout, which is essentially a waterspout on the ground.

While the twister looked ominous from up in the sky, it was less impressive on ground level, producing ground circulation similar in strength to a strong dust devil, meteorologist Michael Armstrong said in a Facebook post, along with video of the event shared by a homeowner. She said her horses and her property are just fine thankfully!

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Tornado whips through soccer field, sending dozens of kids running for cover in Texas

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CHICAGO (AP)  An argument in a house on Chicago's South Side erupted into gunfire early Tuesday, leaving four people dead and four more injured, police said.

The shooting happened at about 5:45 a.m. in the Englewood neighborhood, police said. No one has been arrested and police provided few details about the shooting. None of the victims appeared to be juveniles.

At a news conference Tuesday morning, Police Superintendent David Brown said three of the victims who died were female and one was male. The department earlier reported that all four were female.

Detectives were trying to determine if there was more than one shooter, police spokesman Tom Ahern said. A 2-year-old child was removed safely from the house and placed in protective custody, he said.

The Cook County Medical Examiner's office identified one of the fatal victims late Monday as Ratanya Aryiel Rogers, 28. The other victims were identified by police as a 35-year-old man, a 32-year-old woman and a 19-year-old female.

The injured included two men who were shot in the back of the head. Police were unable to provide information on their conditions. A 23-year-old man who was shot in the back and a woman who suffered an unspecified gunshot wound were both in critical condition, police said.

Brown said detectives haven't been able to interview the four surviving victims, who were being treated at hospitals. But he said a witness told police there were gunshots at about 2 a.m. and that the department's ShotSpotter gunfire detection system picked up the sound of gunfire at that time. Brown did not provide any details about whether that gunfire was related to the shooting at the house. The witness told police more gunshots rang out at about 5:45 a.m.

Brown also said the police received several calls about disturbances at the residence, but did not elaborate. He said a high-capacity magazine and shell casings were recovered from the scene and that there was no apparent forced entry.

Story continues

The shooting comes a few days after a woman was killed and nine other people were injured when two men opened fire on a group standing on a sidewalk in Chatham, also on the city's South Side. Police said no one has been arrested in that shooting. Several mass shootings over the weekend have stoked concerns about a spike in U.S. gun violence heading into the summer, as coronavirus restrictions ease and more people are free to socialize.

A database compiled by The Associated Press, USA Today and Northeastern University that tracks mass killings  defined as four or more dead, not including the perpetrator  shows Tuesday's shooting in Chicago is the 18th mass killing, of which 17 were shootings, so far this year in the U.S.

Englewood has long been one of the most violent communities in Chicago, and the city has experienced more homicides this year compared with the same period last year. There were 282 homicides in Chicago as of June 13, compared with 269 during the same period last year.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot told reporters that the city needs federal help to combat violence and said the White House had reached out to offer assistance.

We must acknowledge this for what it is  a tragedy thats ripped apart families and inflicted intense trauma, Lightfoot said.

Lightfoot was one of 27 mayors to sign a letter to President Joe Biden from the United States Conference of Mayors urging immediate action to combat gun violence and the flood of illegal guns pouring into their cities.

There are too many guns on our streets and we need a federal and nationalized strategy in order to deal with this, just like the Biden administration dealt with COVID-19, said Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner during a video news conference.

They asked the White House to take a leadership role in enacting meaningful and common-sense gun control legislation, push for universal background checks and a ban on assault weapons.

Perhaps recognizing there is little chance that Congress will pass much of the legislation they support, the mayors also asked Biden to take as many steps as he can that dont require Congressional approval.

The administration has to fully empower the (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) to go after federally licensed gun dealers who we know are selling to straw purchasers, Lightfoot said, referring to the practice of buying guns legally and selling them to those who cannot legally own firearms.
Police identified the 45-year-old man found shot to death inside a vehicle Monday morning in a Kansas City, Kansas, as Kyle E. Slater of Kansas City.

Officers responding to a shooting call found Slaters body inside a vehicle shortly after 7 a.m. Monday in the 3100 block of Kimball Avenue, said Officer Tom Tomasic, a spokesman for the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department.

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No suspect information was available.

The fatal shooting remains under investigation by the departments Major Case Unit. Anyone with information about Slaters death is asked to call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477).

The homicide marked the 12th this year in Kansas City, Kansas, according to data maintained by The Star. There were 23 homicides by this time last year in the city.
A 50-year-old man found last week with a teenage girl inside a Lake Worth hotel room was sex trafficking her and sexually assaulted her himself, police said Tuesday.

Police discovered the 14-year-old girl and man, Jesse Manuel Jr., on June 9 at the Great Western Inn in the 5900 block of Lake Worth Boulevard. In Dallas, the girl was reported missing on June 5.

Once separated from Manuel, the girl said she had been trafficked, drugged with methamphetamine and sexually assaulted, Lake Worth police said.

The girl was reunited with her relatives and received medical treatment at a hospital.

Manual was taken to a Lake Worth police office for questioning while police sought a search warrant for the hotel room.

Manuel was booked at the Tarrant County Jail on suspicion of trafficking a child to engage in sexual conduct, delivery of a controlled substance to a minor and sexual assault of a child. He was being held on $90,000 bond.
Something "unprecedented and remarkable" would have to happen to delay the new roadmap date of July 19 further, Michael Gove has said.

The Cabinet Office minister reiterated Boris Johnson's phrase from last night's press conference, saying July 19 would be "the terminus date", but appeared to go further in his insistence that this was the last gasp for lockdown.

He told Sky News: "It is regrettable that we have this pause, but  the worst thing for any of us would be to open up and then find we have to quickly reimpose restrictions."

Asked what would have to happen in order for restrictions to be rolled over again, he said: "It would require an unprecedented and remarkable alteration in the progress of the disease."

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster also rejected Labour's argument that the Government delayed adding India to the red list so he could meet President Narendra Modi as "total rubbish", adding: "The idea the Prime Minister would put the health of the nation at risk for a photo opportunity is for the birds."

But Jon Ashworth, shadow health secretary, told Radio 4's Today programme concerns about the Indian variant had been raised as early as March 25, but instead of "red listing this variant, we gave it the red carpet" for another month.

"That essentially seeded this variant across the country," he added.

Follow the latest updates below.

09:21 AM

All adults to get Covid vaccine this week, says NHS boss

All adults in England should be able to book their Covid-19 jab "by the end of this week", the chief executive of the NHS in England has said.

Story continues

Sir Simon Stevens told the NHS Confederation annual conference that the NHS would "finish the job" of the Covid-19 vaccination programme to the "greatest extent possible" over the next four weeks.

"I expect that by the end of this week, we'll be able to open up the National Booking Service to all adults age 18 and above," he said, noting that it had opened up to over-23-year olds this morning (see 9:45am).

"Of course, vaccine supply continues to be constrained, so we're pacing ourselves at precisely the rate of which we're getting that extra vaccine supply between now and July 19."

09:19 AM

Ryanair boss: Belarus plane diversion was 'state-sponsored hijacking'

Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary has said the diversion of a flight carrying opposition critic Roman Protasevich and his girlfriend Sofia Sapega was "state-sponsored hijacking".

Flight FR4978 was travelling from Athens, to Vilnius in Lithuania on May 23 when Minsk air traffic control said they had a "credible threat" of a bomb that would be detonated if it entered Lithuanian airspace.

Mr O'Leary said: "In my personal opinion, this was a state-sponsored hijacking, there's no other way to explain it."

He told the transport select committee the captain of the aircraft "repeatedly" asked Minsk to be connected with Ryanair's operations control centre in Warsaw but "various excuses" were made including that "Ryanair weren't answering the phone, all of which was completely untrue".

"The pilot was put under, I would say, considerable pressure, not overtly but covertly, with the suggestion that he really should divert and land in Minsk. He wasn't instructed to do so, but he wasn't left with any great alternatives."

09:04 AM

Pub chiefs warn staff cannot control customers after reopening delay

Beleaguered pub workers cannot be expected to force customers to obey lockdown rules after Boris Johnson delayed the final step of reopening, bosses have said.

Patrick Dardis, chief executive of Young's, said: "People have got used to the idea of having some of their liberty back, and they want the rest of it back now. We have the Euros and people are getting very excited about a summer of sport, so it will be extremely difficult for the Government to keep putting a lid on it."

Clive Watson, executive chairman of the City Pub Group which has sites across Wales and the south of England, said: "The British public have been amazingly compliant, but during the football tournament, it will be very difficult. If England, or Scotland or Wales progresses through the Euros, then it's inevitable that people will want to celebrate standing up or in big groups."

Rob Pitcher, chief executive of Revolution Bars, added: "It is becoming increasingly more difficult to police it. People are behaving themselves but it's about a personal choice. If you're young and have your life ahead of you, you're largely not at risk of the virus and therefore people will feel like they've done their bit.

09:01 AM

Children may need to get Covid jabs to avoid disruption to education

This morning Michael Gove gave nothing away about the prospect of giving the Covid vaccine to children, telling Sky News only that it was "ultimately a matter for the JCVI to advise us on".

Last night Professor Chris Whitty suggested it may be necessary to ensure their education can continue without disruption.

Speaking at a Downing Street press conference on Monday evening, Prof Whitty said the key consideration when it comes to vaccinating children is safety, stressing that Covid risks are "much, much lower" than for adults.

"But the wider question is around the effect on children's education and the multiple disruptions that might happen and are going to have a very negative impact on their life chances, including the effect it will have on long-term risk of physical and mental ill-health," he added.

You can read more about that story here.

08:57 AM

Belarusian ambassador tells MPs to be 'careful and impartial' on flight diversion report

Belarusian ambassador to the UK Maxim Yermalovich has urged the Commons' transport select committee to give "careful and impartial consideration" to information released by Belarus in relation to the diversion of a Ryanair flight which allowed a prominent critic to be arrested.

In a letter read by Tory MP Huw Merriman at an evidence session, Mr Yermalovich insisted that "the authorities of Belarus took all necessary measures to ensure the safety of the passengers of flight FR4978 in full compliance with the international aviation law".

He added: "The Belarusian side is concerned about the unfortunate decision of the British authorities to suspend Belavia's permit to operate commercial services from and to the UK. Sanctions against the air company go far beyond the spirit of co-operation and mutual assistance."

Mr Yermalovich was invited to attend the session, but wrote that "all relevant information regarding the emergency landing" was provided to the UK Government and aviation authorities "right after the incident".

08:47 AM

Watch live: Former BBC bosses called to answer MPs over Martin Bashir's Diana interview

Former BBC director-generals Lord Tony Hall and Lord John Birt will be questioned by MPs today about events leading up to Martin Bashir's Panorama interview with Diana, Princess of Wales.

They will also face questions on the broadcaster's handling of investigations into how Bashir obtained the world exclusive.

A recent report by Lord Dyson criticised the methods the journalist used to secure his bombshell interview in 1995, including using fake bank statements.

See more here.

08:45 AM

Covid vaccine opened up to over-23 year olds

The age band to receive a Covid vaccine has dropped further, enabling 23 and 24-year olds to secure an appointment, Matt Hancock has announced.

Only last week he opened up the process to over-25 year-olds.

Yesterday it was announced that the gap between appointments was being cut to eight weeks for over-40s, as the Government kicks its race against the virus up a gear.

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08:40 AM

'Part Jeremy Corbyn': New DUP leader creating 'toxic legacy', says former adviser

The election of the DUP's new leader is creating a "toxic legacy" with voters, a former special adviser to Arlene Foster has warned.

Former Belfast councillor Lee Reynolds, who is among those to quit his role in the wake of Ms Foster's ousting by Edwin Poots, said the party's brand had been "damaged" by the events of the past two months.

Writing in the Irish News, Mr Reynolds said: "Arlene Foster's popularity had dropped but not as much as the DUP's. The events of the past two months will have harmed the brand further.

"The 'Poots putsch' of Foster will have a toxic legacy, especially amongst women voters."

Referring to new party leader Mr Poots, Mr Reynolds said: "In the public mind, he is part Jeremy Corbyn, part Tom Elliott (former Ulster Unionist leader). This is not a recipe to keep voters, attract new first preferences nor transfers in an Assembly election."

08:35 AM

Sketch: Boris Johnson studiously ignored the Indian elephant in the room

The four-week delay to the end of restrictions, aka Freedom Day, was officially confirmed by Boris Johnson at a Downing Street press conference last night, writes Michael Deacon.

The reason, he explained, was the alarming spread of the Indian variant. Of course, he didnt actually call it the Indian variant  in line with recent advice from the World Health Organisation, he instead called it the Delta variant.

And very sensible of him, too, because if you call it the Indian variant, it reminds people where it came from, which in turn reminds them that ministers knew at the start of April that it had arrived in this country, and yet didnt stop people arriving from India until three weeks later.

And it wouldnt do to remind people of that, because, again, they might get angry about it. Best to draw a veil and move on. Which the Prime Minister wisely did. Indeed, he made no mention of that unfortunate episode at all.

Read the rest of Michael's sketch here.

08:26 AM

More roadmap delays? Michael Gove admits 'none of us can predict future'

Michael Gove said the Government is "as confident as confident can be" about July 19 being the date for the end of England's coronavirus restrictions, as he appeared to row back from his more explicit position earlier this morning.

The Cabinet Office minister told ITV's Good Morning Britain: "The data shows that we should be in a position to have vaccinated so many people by that date in July that we will be able to lift restrictions.

"Now, you know, none of us can predict the future with 100 per cent certainty - there could be something bizarre and unprecedented that occurs.

"But, on the basis of all the information that we have, then we will have successfully protected such a large section of population, and of course children will be facing summer holidays and that brings the infection rate down. So we're as confident as confident can be about that date."

That appears to be slightly different to what he told Sky News, when he said a further delay would "require an unprecedented and remarkable alteration in the progress of the disease."

08:17 AM

British farmers get 15 year import cover in UK-Australia trade deal

British farmers will be protected from cheap produce entering the country from Australia with a cap on tariff-free imports lasting 15 years, Downing Street has confirmed.

The first full-blown post-Brexit trade deal covers British products like cars, Scotch whisky, biscuits and ceramics.

People under the age of 35 will be able to live and work in Australia "more freely". Both sides have also agreed to "intensify cooperation" on security, climate change and science and tech.

The UK-Australia trade relationship was worth 13.9 billion last year. The new deal will boost GDP by 500m over 15 years.

Boris Johnson said: "Today marks a new dawn in the UKs relationship with Australia, underpinned by our shared history and common values. Our new free-trade agreement opens fantastic opportunities for British businesses and consumers, as well as young people wanting the chance to work and live on the other side of the world.

"This is global Britain at its best."

08:08 AM

DUP warns against UK Government 'interfering' in Irish language laws

The DUP has warned the Government against intervening in Stormont affairs to pass Irish language laws at Westminster.

The laws are an unfulfilled commitment within the 2020 deal that restored powersharing at Stormont, and have come to the fore following the formal resignation of Arlene Foster as First Minister yesterday.

The joint nature of the office Mrs Foster shared with Sinn Fein deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill, meant Ms O'Neill was automatically removed from her post. Both must be nominated with seven days to maintain the Executive, but Sinn Fein has said it will only engage if Irish language protections are brought forward.

Mary Lou McDonald, president of Sinn Fein, called on Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis to take on responsibility for passing the legislation at Parliament.

That prompted Sammy Wilson to respond, saying: "The Government must not interfere in devolved issues at the behest of Sinn Fein."

07:58 AM

Boris Johnson welcomes Australian Prime Minister to Downing Street

Boris Johnson greets Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison outside 10 Downing Street - AP

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has arrived in Downing Street ahead of a meeting with Boris Johnson to formally announce a trade deal with the UK.

It will be the UK's first trade deal negotiated fully since leaving the European Union.

The Prime Minister greeted his Australian counterpart just before 9am before the pair entered Number 10.

07:57 AM

Government may have to backtrack on irreversible pledge, says Sage scientist

The Government might have to go back on its promise that the roadmap is irreversible, a Sage scientist has warned.

Asked about whether there could be a need for future measures, Professor Graham Medley told the Today programme it hinged on the vaccine effect, noting that "uncertainty" was changing to become "solidified in terms of being good news."

But he warned that ministers "may well have to make decisions that are against what they would much prefer... which is to make the changes that we've got irreversible".

Prof Medley added: "It is possible we could end up with a situation whereby the numbers of people going to hospital, really mean that the Government have to take some kind of action that they don't want to."

07:49 AM

Working from home likely to remain after restrictions lift, says Michael Gove

Some workplaces could see a continued working from home pattern into the future, Michael Gove has indicated.

Asked if restrictions could continue in some form until spring next year, he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We want to make sure that we get rid of every possible restriction. We particularly want to get rid of the restriction on social distancing, the one-metre rule, so that people can lead their lives as normally as possible.

"Now, I suspect - and I'm not advocating this, I'm just thinking of the future - I suspect it may be the case that we may see different workplaces allowing people to work from home at certain points as well as coming into the office. I think there may be changes to the way that we live."

07:41 AM

Delay to final reopening 'bitterly disappointing', says Culture Secretary

The Culture Secretary has said the delay to reopening theatres, nightclubs and mass events is "bitterly disappointing".

Oliver Dowden said: "We face very difficult headwinds with the Delta variant and want a reopening to be permanent."

He highlighted support on offer for affected businesses.

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07:37 AM

Tory MPs fear delay to July 19, says Mark Harper

The chairman of the Covid Recovery Group has said several Tory MPs are "a bit worried that we're not going to actually move forward" on the new unlock date of July 19.

Mark Harper, Forest of Dean MP and former chief whip, told LBC radio that "we don't know anything today that we didn't know when the Prime Minister was telling us he was happy to move ahead on June 21."

He went on: "Ultimately we've reduced the risk of this disease hugely by our fantastic vaccination programme, and, as the Government says, we've got to learn to live with it, but the problem is every time we get to that point, ministers seem to not actually want to live with it and keep restrictions in place."

Mr Harper added: "The public needs to understand there's risk involved, you can't get zero risk - we know that because every time we do anything in our lives, we take a calculated risk based on the benefits we get. That's how we've got to now deal with Covid, now that we've vaccinated people. That's what we want to see from the Government."

07:31 AM

Liz Truss won't 'roll over' in other trade deals, says Michael Gove

Michael Gove has stressed that "the bulk of Australian produce will still go to Asia", despite the new trade deal the UK is signing today.

The Cabinet Office minister said it was "also the case" that the UK would be able to sell more into the country as a result of the deal.

He told Radio 4's Today programme: "Each trade deal is bespoke... Australia is a country with so many aligned interests between ourselves, that a trade deal with Australia would be different to one we might do with other jurisdictions."

Asked about the risk of having set a precedent that other countries will demand, he said Liz Truss would not "roll over" and do whatever was asked.

"She is a tough, principled and shrewd negotiator. I don't think anyone would mistake Liz for a patsy."

07:27 AM

Michael Gove side-steps question about winter restrictions

Michael Gove has side-stepped questions about the prospects of restrictions lasting into next spring, if they cannot be fully lifted in the middle of summer.

During an interview with BBC Radio 4's Today programme that prospect was put to him, and he responded: "I agree with you.

"I agree with the proposition you put... that as we go into summer, as schools break up, as we get to the maximum level of vaccination, that is the moment when we can restore people's freedom.

"Even though we were making fantastistic progress in the vaccine programme.. the Delta variant was, as we say in Scotland, a right scunner.

"We are now making sure we can get to level of vaccination which will provide appropriate protection."

07:22 AM

Michael Gove: This is not coercion or imprisonment

Michael Gove has said the world will "have to learn to live with Covid", as he likened it to flu.

"What we can do is use the time we have to improve the quality of protection", the Cabinet Office minister said.

Stressing he was not an epidemiologist, and could not forecast the number of deaths the Indian variant would cause, a sniffing Mr Gove said: "The key thought is how we provide the maximum level of protection to all.

"None of us can predict with perfect foresight the circulation rate or potential new variations. What we can do is be confident, on the basis of everything we know, that the vaccination programme, the whole of the adult population being vaccinated, will provide us with the highest level of protection come what may."

Asked if some restrictions could be reimposed in order to dampen the spread of cases further, he stressed it was "not the imposition of further restrictions - it is the maintenance of where we are now, with some additional flexibility."

It was not "coercion or imprisonment", he added.

07:17 AM

Michael Gove: July 19 date picked to coincide with school holidays

Michael Gove has said he is "confident" that July 19 will be the terminus date, as promised by Boris Johnson yesterday.

He told Radio 4's Today programme he was "confident we will be able to move to stage four on that date, on the basis of everything we know. we can be pretty certain."

The Cabinet Office minister stressed that the original roadmap date had always been "no earlier than June 21", and that the extra month would ensure the vaccine programme could protect many more people.

"As well as the increased protection that vaccination will provide, it is also the case that greater opening up will coincide with the beginning of school holidays, which we are assured will bring down the R-rate anyway."

07:14 AM

Michael Gove hints at mask-wearing this winter

Hopefully he will have mastered it by then - Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire

Michael Gove has said he wants "as few restrictions as possible" this winter, but did not rule out mask-wearing and other measures.

The Cabinet Office minister told BBC Breakfast: "I'm not an epidemiologist, so I can't predict with confidence what the likely level of the circulation of the virus will be and what the public health impact will be. But what I do know is that the best way of minimising the number of people who go into hospital, and who face terrible consequences as a result, the best way of reducing that number is by increasing vaccination.

"So I don't think we're at all blase or shoulder-shrugging about anyone dying, but the best way that we can ensure that we protect everyone, including the vulnerable is by all of us getting the jab."

Asked if mask-wearing will be used over winter, Mr Gove said: "I want as few restrictions as possible, but I'm not an epidemiologist or a virologist and I will listen to those who are and weigh their advice in the balance."

07:09 AM

Chancellor has 'gone long' on Covid support, says Michael Gove

Michael Gove has defended the decision not to extend financial support for individuals and businesses, despite the month-long delay in lifting the final set of restrictions.

Asked about the fact that furlough would begin tapering off at the end of this month, the Cabinet Office minister told Sky News: "We are asking employers to pay a bigger role... the system we have is more generous than most similar countries.

"Furlough support will last until end of September, but we are asking employers to pay a little bit of that support," Mr Gove said.

"The Chancellor decided deliberately to go long that is why furlough and other support is there until autumn.

"He has calculated will help support the economy.

07:07 AM

UK farmers should be 'more concerned about what comes next', says trade expert

UK farmers should be "far more concerned about what comes next", rather than the deal being signed off today, a former trade negotiator for the Australian government has said.

Dmitry Grozoubinski said he thought there would be "champagne being popped" in Canberra, but noted the UK has been "very close-lipped indeed" about what the upsides were.

"It's getting a little bit worrying that the Government won't tell us," he told Radio 4's Today programme.

However, in terms of food welfare Mr Grozoubinski said the two countries were so different it was hard to compare standards, noting that there were "farms the size of Belgium" for cows to graze "because it's a really dry place with not a lot of grass".

But he added: "Your Scottish farming guest should probably be far more concerned about what comes next, in terms of precedent this establishes for future trade deals, instead of Australia specifically."

06:59 AM

Indian variant 'would have ended up in UK' even with closed borders, claims Sage scientist

The Delta/Indian variant "would have ended up in the UK at some point" even if the borders had been closed sooner, a Sage scientist has said.

Asked whether it would have made a difference if Britain had stopped people coming from India in early April, Professor Graham Medley, from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, told the Today programme: "Potentially, I mean it's speculation.

"The newer Delta variant is now quite common around the globe so it would have ended up in the United Kingdom at some point but perhaps it would have been delayed.

"It's really the competition between the virus and the vaccine so had the variant arrived in the country when we'd had more people vaccinated, then it may well not have grown in the same way that it has."

06:54 AM

UK-Australia deal will lead to 'investment in countryside', claims Michael Gove

The UK-Australia trade deal will give "our farmers the opportunity to show on the world stage their amazing produce", and will lead to "investment in the countryside", Michael Gove has said.

Boris Johnson and his counterpart Scott Morrison last night agreed the "broad terms" of a free-trade agreement -the first negotiated from scratch since Brexit. The details will be formally announced this morning following a bilateral between the two.

The Cabinet Office minister this morning claimed there had been "one or two points made about Australia that mischaracterises how Australian farmers operate".

One of the chief critics of the deal is George Eustice, the Environment Secretary.

Mr Gove added: "We support farmers and do so not just by providing them direct financial support but also giving them the opportunity to export their produce on the world stage."

06:39 AM

Its definitely a July 19 unlocking ... unless its not

Boris Johnson called his new July 19 reopening date "a terminus" on Monday  but did not rule out further delays as he pushed back the full end of lockdown by four weeks.

The Prime Minister said pausing the final step of reopening in England, originally due to happen on June 21, would avoid thousands of deaths from Covid, with cases surging.

Attempting to provide reassurance of no further slippage in the schedule, Mr Johnson repeatedly said at a Downing Street press conference that he was confident full reopening would happen on July 19.

But he acknowledged that the emergence of a new Covid variant could throw the plan off course as his top scientific advisers stressed the danger would not fully disappear after the delay.
JERUSALEM (AP)  A new poll released Tuesday finds a dramatic surge in Palestinian support for Hamas following last month's Gaza war, with around three quarters viewing the Islamic militants as victors in a battle against Israel to defend Jerusalem and its holy sites.

The scientific poll by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research also found plummeting support for President Mahmoud Abbas, who was sidelined by the war but is seen internationally as a partner for reviving the long-defunct peace process.

The poll found that 53% of Palestinians believe Hamas is most deserving of representing and leading the Palestinian people, while only 14% prefer Abbas' secular Fatah party.

Head pollster Khalil Shikaki, who has been surveying Palestinian public opinion for more than two decades, called it a "dramatic" shift, but said it also resembles previous swings toward Hamas during times of confrontation. Those all dissipated within three to six months as Hamas failed to deliver on promises of change.

The march to war began in April, when Palestinian protesters clashed with Israeli police on a nightly basis in east Jerusalem over restrictions on public gatherings during the holy month of Ramadan. The clashes eventually spread to the Al-Aqsa mosque compound, a flashpoint holy site, and were also fueled by Jewish settlers' attempts to evict dozens of Palestinian families.

Israel captured east Jerusalem, along with the West Bank and Gaza, in the 1967 war and annexed it in a move not recognized internationally. The Palestinians want a state in all three territories, with east Jerusalem as its capital. Hamas, which is seen as a terrorist organization by Israel and Western countries, does not recognize Israel.

After warning Israel to halt the evictions and withdraw security forces from Al-Aqsa, Hamas launched a barrage of long-range rockets at Jerusalem on May 10, disrupting an annual parade by Jewish ultranationalists celebrating Israel's conquest of east Jerusalem. That sparked an 11-day war in which more than 250 Palestinians were killed, as well as 13 people in Israel.

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The poll found that 77% of Palestinians believe Hamas emerged as a winner, with nearly as many saying that it fought the war to defend Jerusalem and its holy sites, rather than as part of an internal struggle with Abbas' Fatah party.

The pollsters held face-to-face surveys with 1,200 Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza last week, with a 3 percentage point margin of error.

Clearly, in the eyes of the public, Hamas came out as a winner," Shikaki said, adding that it may struggle to maintain those gains as it has little control over events in Jerusalem.

An early test loomed Tuesday, when Jewish ultranationalists planned to march through east Jerusalem again. Hamas has called on Palestinians to resist" but may be reluctant to risk another war just weeks after the last one was halted by an informal cease-fire.

The Biden administration and the international community are meanwhile looking to bolster Abbas. Hamas drove his forces out of Gaza in 2007, confining his Palestinian Authority to parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Abbas faces a major crisis of legitimacy among Palestinians after calling off the first elections in 15 years in April.

At the time, it appeared Fatah would suffer another humiliating defeat to Hamas, which won a landslide victory in 2006 parliamentary elections. But his decision, citing Israel's refusal to grant permission for voting in east Jerusalem, also helped clear the way for Hamas to draw attention to Abbas' weakness in the holy city.

Around two-thirds of Palestinians opposed his decision to call off the vote, the poll found. A similar number believe Abbas did so because he was worried about the results and not because Israel refused to explicitly allow voting in east Jerusalem, as he claimed.

Shikaki said Abbas could potentially regain support, but only if he shows initiative, either by reforming the PA, which is seen as increasingly corrupt and authoritarian, or by taking part in some kind of diplomatic push after a 12-year hiatus in the peace process.

Unfortunately, so far, we are not seeing Abbas take the initiative," Shikaki said. We dont see him talking to the public, he does not have a strategy, he does not have a plan. He is instead waiting... I dont think that alone is going to work unless Hamas really fails miserably."
Jun. 15Portland officials are preparing to declare an end to the city's state of emergency  a move that could lead local businesses to stop paying hazard wages to some employees.

Officials also plan to find another way to keep certain streets closed for outdoor restaurant dining even after the pandemic emergency is officially over.

Gov. Janet Mills announced last week that she would lift the statewide state of emergency on June 30. The emergency declaration allowed the governor to take executive actions and restrict private and public activities to protect public health and safety during the coronavirus pandemic.

Portland's emergency declaration, originally adopted in March 2020, allowed the city manager to impose curfews on bars and issue broad stay-at-home orders, among other things, intended to protect public health. Recent actions have been used primarily to close streets to allow restaurants to expand outdoor dining options, deemed to be safer during the pandemic than indoor dining.

Portland's City Council recently extended its emergency order to November to allow for extended street closings through the summer and into the fall.

But with the state's order set to be lifted, Portland's emergency declaration is potentially keeping some city employers from eliminating so-called hazard wages.

Those employers have been paying minimum wage workers more than $18 an hour since late last year because of a citizen initiative passed by voters in November. The initiative effectively raises the minimum wage by 50 percent for employees required to report to workplaces in the city during declared state or city emergencies.

The hazard pay minimum is currently $18.23 an hour, compared to the statewide $12.15 minimum wage. Some of the businesses that have paid the higher wages have added surcharges to their regular prices to cover the costs.

Other employers have not paid the higher wage, however, citing a legal dispute over whether the requirement has actually taken effect.

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The city believes the requirement does not take effect until 2022 because of the way the initiative was written, while proponents said they intended for the provision to take effect immediately. The city's position was upheld in Superior Court, but an appeal is pending before the Maine Supreme Judicial Court.

City Manager Jon Jennings said staff is preparing an order for the City Council to consider in July to end the city's state of emergency. He said staff is preparing some separate ordinance amendments that would maintain the street closures and outdoor dining, while ending the emergency.

"The plan is to keep the Portland emergency order in place for now in order to continue outdoor dining options for businesses, but staff will be bringing forward ordinance amendment recommendations to the council that will allow outdoor dining and street closures to continue while ending the city emergency order," Jennings said.

It's unclear how businesses will react to the lifting of the emergency, and whether minimum wages will return to lower rate and how soon.

Hannaford is an example of an employer that has paid the hazard wage. A spokesman for Hannaford said the company had no additional information about the company's plans.

"We really don't have any additional information to provide to you," spokesman Eric Blom said. "With the payroll week beginning November 29, Hannaford began a temporary pay increase for any associate at our two Portland stores whose base rate of pay is less than $18 an hour. That temporary increase continues to be in place, and we don't have any announcements to make around that."

The end of the emergency orders also means other potential changes for government business. The statewide order, for example, allowed remote participation in public meetings. A legislative proposal that would allow communities to continue allowing the public to participate in public meetings remotely was voted on by the Judiciary Committee on June 7 with a recommendation of ought to pass as amended. It had not been reported out of committee as of Monday.

Municipal officials say they have an additional 30 days to transition from pandemic-related precautious, such as remote city meetings. And city officials in Portland say they are making plans to resume in-person meetings for elected officials and staff, though the public may be required to observe and participate remotely, at least for July. And they're also looking to expand in-person services at City Hall in August.

"City Hall is currently open for limited services, some by appointment and some for walk-in," Portland spokesperson Jessica Grondin said. "We are working on a plan now that would open up the building for more services starting August 2. That plan will be finalized soon and communicated to the public. We are also working on a plan to have the July 19 council meeting in-person for councilors and some staff, but the public would attend via zoom. We are still working out all of the technical requirements to make this happen."

It's unclear when Portland will fully return to in-person meetings, especially if the state law is changed to allow them. City officials offered their support to the state legislation that would continue allowing remote participation at public meetings.

Several other communities are making plans to repeal their emergency orders in response to the state's announcement, if they hadn't already.

Lewiston announced last Thursday that it was lifting its emergency order, while Auburn already had lifted its emergency declaration, according to the Sun Journal.

South Portland currently has an active emergency declaration, but City Manager Scott Morelli said he will speak with the mayor about rescinding the local emergency order in accordance with the state's. He said the council could consider that request next week.

Morelli said the council will likely continue meeting remotely through July, since municipalities have 30 days to wind down pandemic measures.

Biddeford still has an emergency declaration in effect, but City Manager James Bennett said staff is planning on recommending lifting it "to be in harmony with the state."

The town has offered in-person services at City Hall since May 24 and began hosting hybrid meetings, with in-person attendance, at the beginning of June, according to the town website.

Bangor's emergency declaration will sunset seven days after the statewide emergency ends June 30, according to City Manager Cathy Conlow. City officials there are also working on a way to extend rules allowing restaurants to use parking spaces as outdoor seating and allowing residents to attend city meetings remotely.

"Staff had already been working on ordinance language to address outdoor seating in the public right of way, for next year and beyond," she said. "As for use of on-line technology for 'hybrid or on-line' meetings, I am not entirely sure how we will resolve that. The council has been happy with the use of 'hybrid' technology for meetings but we don't think it was addressed by the Legislature this year."

Conlow said members of the public have the option of attending meetings in-person or online.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP)  A Multnomah County grand jury has returned an indictment against a Portland police officer accusing him of hitting an Oregon protester in the head with a baton in 2020.

The indictment marks the first time in the county an officer has been prosecuted stemming from force used during a protest, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported. Months of demonstrations over racial injustice last year led to accusations that officers were heavy-handed in their response.

Corey Budworth is charged with misdemeanor fourth-degree assault. He's accused of unlawfully, knowingly and recklessly causing physical injury to Teri Jacobs on Aug. 18.

Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt called Budworths use of force excessive and lacking any legal justification, and said in a statement that the integrity of our criminal justice system requires that we, as prosecutors, act as a mechanism for accountability."

Budworth, 40, joined the Police Bureau six years ago. He has been on desk duty during the investigation.

Budworths lawyer, Nicole L. Robbins, did not immediately return an email from the Associated Press seeking comment. The police union called the prosecution politically-driven, and said Budworths baton push to a womans head was accidental."

U.S. Department of Justice lawyers and the city-hired compliance officer had highlighted the incident in their reports critical of the bureaus review of officers use of force during the nightly demonstrations.

A video shared on Twitter caught an officer running and striking the back of a protesters head with his baton shortly after 11 p.m. on Aug. 18. The officer knocked the woman down and then hit her with the baton a second time while she was down, the video appears to show.

The Police Bureau found the baton strike was not intentional and therefore not considered lethal force while the Independent Police Review office viewed the strike as a push, compliance officer Dennis Rosenbaum noted in his report.

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However, Rosenbaum said the video did not support either stance and that police should have started a deadly force investigation. Police started an inquiry as a result  several weeks later, a federal Justice Department report noted.

At the time of the incident, Budworth was assigned to the Police Bureaus Rapid Response Team, which does crowd control.

Jacobs filed the civil rights and battery lawsuit in September, saying she was working as a photojournalist when she was pushed by the officer.

Ms. Jacobs posed no threat to the officer at any time, and she had not committed any crime nor was she being lawfully arrested or detained," her attorney Juan Chavez wrote in the lawsuit. "When the officer noticed he had been caught committing this vile act on camera, he quickly composed himself and walked away as if nothing happened. An entire squad of Portland Police Officers witnessed this act, failed to intervene, and allowed this officer to walk away after committing a violent crime against Ms. Jacobs.

The city and Jacobs reached a settlement of the civil lawsuit this spring, with the city agreeing to pay her $50,000, plus $11,000 in attorney fees, court records show.

Unfortunately, this decorated public servant has been caught in the crossfire of agenda-driven city leaders and a politicized criminal justice system, the Portland Police Association said Tuesday in a statement.

Budworth used his baton to move Jacobs out of the area, the union argued.

He faced a violent and chaotic, rapidly evolving situation, and he used the lowest level of baton force  a push; not a strike or a jab  to remove Ms. Jacobs from the area, the union argues.

Portland Police Chief Chuck Lovell, in a Tuesday statement, said, Law enforcement is held to a higher standard and must constantly strive to live up to that standard.

He said he couldnt comment about the case as he will play a role in the Police Bureaus internal review of Budworths actions.

"I ask for the community's patience as we follow the guidelines of the established internal accountability process, he said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin was questioned on NBC News about his crackdown on domestic dissent ahead of his summit with US President Joe Biden on June 16.. NBC News

Russia's Vladimir Putin deflected criticism of his crackdown on dissent in an NBC interview.

Putin highlighted the US prosecution of Trump supporters who attacked the Capitol on January 6.

The interview set the stage for a tense upcoming summit between Putin and Joe Biden.

See more stories on Insider's business page.

Russian President Vladimir Putin compared his crackdown on domestic dissent with the US prosecution of rioters who attacked the Capitol on January 6, attempting to use American unrest to deflect criticism of his actions.

The comments came in a provocative interview with NBC ahead of his summit with President Joe Biden on Wednesday.

In the exchange broadcast Monday night, Putin was asked by international correspondent Keir Simmons if he ordered the assassination of Russian dissident Alexander Navalny. Thousands of people who've protested in support of Navalny have been arrested.

Navalny survived an assassination attempt last year and left Russia which he blamed on Putin, but returned and was imprisoned in a penal colony.

Putin deflected the question by raising the death of Ashli Babbitt, a Trump supporter killed by a police officer as she attempted to break into the House chamber during the Capitol riot on January 6.

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"Did you order the assassination of the woman who walked into the Congress and who was shot and killed by a policeman? Do you know that 450 individuals were arrested after entering the Congress? And they didn't go there to steal a laptop. They came with political demands. 450 people," said Putin.

"They're facing - they're looking- they're- they're looking at jail time, between 15 and 25 years. And they came to the Congress with political demands," Putin continued.

"Isn't that persecution for political opinions? Some have been accused of plotting to topple- to take over government power. Some are accused of robbery. They didn't go there to rob."

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The 521 protesters charged in connection with the attack on the Capitol have been accused of offences including assaulting police officers, and unlawful entry to the Capitol. They have not been prosecuted for their political views, the expression of which is protected under the First Amendment.

The Russian president went on to say that protesters arrested in Russia had violated the law.

"The people who you have mentioned, yes, they were convicted for violating their status, having been previously convicted... given suspended sentences, which were essentially warning to not violate the Russian laws."

Putin was repeatedly accused by Simmons of using a rhetorical fallacy called "whataboutism" to deflect criticism. The technique involves responding to a difficult question with variations on the form "what about [bad thing somebody else did]?"

Russia has sought to exploit the domestic divisions in the US highlighted by the Capitol riot ahead of the Wednesday summit between Biden and Putin in Geneva.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov claimed at a Moscow press conference in June that Capitol rioters were being "persecuted." On Monday Russian state TV broadcast an interview with a protester filmed with his feet up on a desk in Nancy Pelosi's office during the riot.

Read the original article on Business Insider
NEW YORK (AP)  Rita Moreno emigrated with her mother from Puerto Rico at age five. By six, she was dancing at Greenwich Village nightclubs. By 16, she was working full time. By 20, she was in Singin in the Rain.

In the documentary Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It, Norman Lear says: I cant think of anyone Ive ever met in the business who lived the American dream more than Rita Moreno."

In the decades that followed, Moreno won a Tony, a Grammy, an Emmy and and Oscar, for West Side Story. (Her entire acceptance speech: I can't believe it. ) With seemingly infinite spiritedness, she has epitomized the best of show business while also being a victim to its cruelties. That has made Moreno, who co-stars in Steven Spielberg's upcoming "West Side Story remake, a heroic figure to Latinos, and to others. I have never given up, she said in a recent interview by Zoom from her home in Berkeley, California.

The reason for the conversation was Mariem Perez Riera's intimate and invigorating documentary, which opens in theaters Friday after playing virtually at the Sundance Film Festival and in an outdoor premiere at the Tribeca Festival. The film opens with Moreno preparing a Cuban themed party for her 87th birthday. And I demand costumes, the screen legend says with a smile.

But as upbeat as Moreno remains, Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It also deals frankly with the many turbulences of Moreno's life: being positioned as the Spanish Elizabeth Taylor and the stereotyped casting that followed; a long and painful relationship with Marlon Brando; the abuse of her agent; a confining marriage.

Moreno was likewise forthright in an interview with The Associated Press while occasionally reaching for a tissue for springtime allergies. All that cocaine, the 89-year-old joked. Remarks have been lightly edited for clarity and brevity.

AP: What struck me most watching the film is that despite going through what would defeat or embitter most, you seem to have emerged with such joy and appreciation for life.

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MORENO: I have a very strong constitution. Maybe you inherit it. Maybe its due to learning how to cope with my tumultuous life through psychotherapy. I really credit that for helping me through some really, really bad times. My mom was like that, too. And you know what? I have a feeling that a lot of people who are outliers have strong constitutions because its either sink or swim, right? And I think you learn early on in life that swimming is preferable to sinking.

AP: How early did you learn that?

MORENO: The first test, I think, was learning English in kindergarten when I didnt know a word, not a word. Thats the first thing that happened to me literally when I came to this country. Children are impressively resilient. And then, in a way, theyre also extremely tender and fragile. I think the reason I ending up having such a hard time in life is that I ran into a racial bias very early on. When youre young  I mean 5, 6, 7  and people call you bad names like spic or garlic mouth or gold tooth, like in West Side Story, youre tender, youre a child. You believe these things. You believe that youre not worthy. You dont know why, but you know that theres something wrong with you.

AP: Do you remember the first time you performed?

MORENO: Oh, yeah. It was for my grandpa in Puerto Rico to a rhumba record. Shaking my little booty. And he loved it. He was clapping in time to the music. And I was thinking: Wow, this is fun. And hes loving this. I like this a lot. I mean, I was born to be a performer. I think some people are just wired that way. I was just born to perform and please people  and that got out of hand, too.

AP: You said you wanted to be completely honest in the film but were there some things that were difficult to be candid about? You speak about being raped by your agent.

MORENO: Oh, yeah. That was difficult. And talking about my husband (cardiologist Lenny Gordon, who died in 2010) was difficult in a different way. In so many ways he was a remarkable man. He was loving. Ive never seen a more devoted grandfather and father and husband. But what happened with us is that he was a controlling person. I have a theory that when some people have relationships, they make a contract with each other that is never spoken or verbalized. In our case, it was Ill be the little girl and Ill be charming and I will please you. But you have to be my daddy and take care of me and protect me. That was our agreement. It was never spoken. But thats what it was. I didnt realize it until one day I wanted to start growing up and the marriage was not working. Its so much not a part of who I am. Plus, I was brought up that way. You have to please the man. But I suffered a lot. I remember times when Id say I was going to go to the grocery store and Id go somewhere to park the car and cry.

AP: Your life seems to be this long process of unlearning the wrong things you were told about yourself.

MORENO: What a wonderful way to put it. Youre absolutely on the money. I had to learn that I was a person of value like all other people. But its very difficult when you learn something from childhood. Its not as though I came to this country when I was 20 and learned something different. I was a little girl and youre very impressionable. You believe that you dont have value. You dont know why you dont have it, but you believe it. And, man, that is so hard to get rid of. You know, theres still a little girl with me, but the difference is that I can now send her to her room. Theres still a nasty little girl in me who says, I told you that couldnt happen. And Im now able to say: Go to your room!

AP: Your central therapy session followed years with Marlon Brando. In your memoir, you spoke about him as your greatest lover but your time with him was torturous.

MORENO: Heres whats hilarious to me. It was he who said to me: You need help. You need therapy. So the lunatic is telling the crazy woman that she needs help! (Laughs). But he was right! He was right. I remember the day he said that to me, I thought: Yeah, but hes crazy as a loon!

AP: Its not everyone that dates Elvis just to make Brando jealous, as you did. Are you sometimes amazed by the life youve led?

MORENO: Yes. But I have to say that after I saw the documentary for the very first time  my daughter and I saw it together  I left the screening room saying, Wow, thats quite a life Ive led! (Laughs) But you dont think that way about yourself. Very likely, if you had something like this done about you, you would also say the same thing about yourself.

AP: In watching what has and hasn't changed in that time, what stands out to you? You were there when Martin Luther King Jr. gave his I Have a Dream speech.

MORENO: I feel extremely fortunate that Im still around to see the sea changes that are taking place. Ill be 90 in December and I dont think Im going to see the womens movement really progress more because I wont be around. But Ive seen it change. Ive seen a change in such meaningful ways and Im grateful for that. What still concerns me mightily and profoundly is that Hispanics havent gotten their hold on our profession, I dont know what the hell is wrong. I dont know what is not working right. The Black community has done incredibly and I have nothing but the deepest admiration for the Black professional community. Theyve done it and I think we can take some lessons from them. But where is our Moonlight? Why are we not advancing?

AP: Do you have any answers?

MORENO: We tend in this country to silo ourselves. We are Puerto Rican and then we are also Mexican. We are also Argentinian. We are Spanish Spain. And somehow those twains havent really met and coalesced the way we need to. That may be the answer. But its very complicated. People forget that were not just Hispanic. We are from other countries. Maybe the answer, or the beginning of the answer, lies in a summit, some kind of summit. Im not going to see that. My age forbids it. But I sure as hell hope something happens. I cant believe were still struggling the way we are. And when we do something thats Latino, it doesnt do as well. One Day at a Time (a Netflix sitcom begun in 2017) was hilarious. It was marvelous. It was no accident because it had Norman Lear who chose the writers. And we lasted three and a half seasons. You wonder: Why didnt that happen?

AP: Many would attribute it to the entrenched biases in Hollywood.

MORENO: Its one of the very few things about my career that really makes me sad. A lot of the reviews for this documentary were fabulous. A number of the critics said something to the effect of: Its sad to think that this woman might have had a real career in films had she not had this career when she had it. And I think thats true. I think its very, very true. I want to say Ive been robbed. But you know, what good does that do?

AP: After West Side Story, youve said you were offered only similar, stereotypical roles for years.

MORENO: Those were brutal. Brutal! When I got the Oscar and the Golden Globe, I thought: OK, finally. And thats not what happened at all. In fact, it was the opposite. I was offered more Anita-type roles when I was offered something, which was not that frequent. I made a decision not to accept any more of those kinds of roles. It was a lot of coffee pourers, housewives and stuff. I said Im not going to do them anymore. Ha-ha, I showed them. I didnt make a movie for seven years. I mean, how stubborn can you get?

AP: You recently revisited West Side Story with Spielberg. How was that?

MORENO: It was just grand. Ive been a fan of Stevens work for years. When he called, he offered me a part in West Side Story. I nearly peed my pants because this is Steven Spielberg, one of my idols. I said to him that I would love to do a cameo, but I said, You dont really want me to do that, do you? And he said, Oh, no, no. Its a part. Its a real part. Tony Kushner wrote it for you. First of all, Tony Kushners writing the script? What! I was thrilled. I was excited the way a child would be excited. Tony kept adding to the part. Its a wonderful part. It was one of the best experiences of my life.

AP: I dont imagine you do, but do you have any regrets?

MORENO: If I cant have all the movies I always wanted to be in  which are all the Meryl Streep movies, I wanted to be her  but if I cant do that, Ive done pretty well, considering. And I think Ive left an important legacy in a very, very meaningful sense and that is: That I have never gave up. I have never given up. I just cling and hang on to what is important to me. A great deal of that has to do with self-respect and earning respect.

AP: I know its early, but have you picked out a theme for your 90th birthday in December?

MORENO: I think its going to be Puerto Rico. (Laughs.) It means the food. It means people have to dress a certain way. Im probably going to say Puerto Rico in the 30s. Ill make them wear Panama hats.

___

Follow AP Film Writer Jake Coyle on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/jakecoyleAP.
Rand Paul and Tucker Carlson. Illustrated | Getty Images, iStock

Conservatives have expressed some odd thoughts on Jim Crow of late. Sen. Rand Paul recently told The New York Times that "The Jim Crow laws came out of democracy. That's what you get when a majority ignores the rights of others." Fox News host Tucker Carlson recently said that the idea of a coronvirus vaccine requirement was akin to "Medical Jim Crow  If we still had water fountains, the unvaccinated would have separate ones."

This is a hideous butchery of history  but also a good opportunity to clear up some common misunderstandings. In the first instance, Jim Crow was not a meaningful expression of majority preference. As historian Eric Foner writes in his book Reconstruction, after the Civil War, Congress set up multiracial democratic systems in the defeated southern states. These generally elected Republican governments based on the votes of freed slaves (a majority of the population in South Carolina and Mississippi) and moderate whites.

But as historian Richard White shows in his book The Republic for Which It Stands, democratic, majoritarian governments were eventually overthrown by minority terrorist violence. After Republicans abandoned their Black voters in the corrupt bargain of 1876, removing federal troops from the South in exchange for making Rutherford B. Hayes president, so-called "Redeemers" used threats, beatings, arson, kidnapping, and murder to prevent the Black population from voting. Then once the racists had seized control, they cemented their power by rigging the electoral rules such that it was near-impossible for Blacks to vote  and in the process disenfranchised a good proportion of the working-class white population as well.

Carlson's whining over the idea of being required to not spread a deadly virus is of course offensive, but also reflects a common misunderstanding of how the resulting Jim Crow system worked. As Hamden Rice, a Black man who grew up under the system, explains at Daily Kos, the primary problem "wasn't that black people had to use a separate drinking fountain or couldn't sit at lunch counters, or had to sit in the back of the bus  It was that white people, mostly white men, occasionally went berserk, and grabbed random black people, usually men, and lynched them."

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Despite the veneer of elections and legality in the Jim Crow South from the 1890s to 1965, it was the "constant low level dread of atavistic violence [that] kept the system running," he writes. It was a nakedly racist tyranny whose political foundation was a general terror of lawless torture and murder. It turns out a wealthy, celebrity scion of a frozen food empire has no idea what real oppression is like.

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Shelby Houlihan, the American record holder in the 1,500 and 5,000 meters, was banned for four years after failing to prove that tainted pork caused her positive test for an anabolic steroid, sport's highest court said Tuesday.

Houlihan blamed a pork burrito bought at a Mexican street food truck when she revealed her doping case in an announcement on her Instagram account Monday.

A case that went ahead in secret for five months was published days before the start of U.S. Olympic track and field trials in Eugene, Oregon, where the top three in each event earn a spot to the postponed Tokyo Games. Houlihan finished 11th at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics in the 5,000 meters.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport confirmed Tuesday its panel of judges unanimously determined that Shelby Houlihan had failed to prove how the anabolic steroid nandrolone got into her system.

The case was fast-tracked with the consent of all parties to be heard on June 4 by video link with the court in Lausanne, Switzerland. The verdict was announced without a detailed verdict.

It stayed confidential until Houlihan's own announcement of the positive doping test and ban that runs to January 2025. It also rules her out of the 2024 Paris Olympics and the first track worlds to be held in the United States, next year in Eugene.

The 28-year-old Houlihan said she received an email from the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) on Jan. 14, notifying her that a drug testing sample returned a finding for nandrolone.

She said she's since learned it has long been understood by WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) that eating pork can lead to a false positive for nandrolone, since certain types of pigs produce it naturally in high amounts. Pig organ meat (offal) has the highest levels of nandrolone.

Houlihan made a list of all the food she ate leading up to a Dec. 15 test that detected the anabolic steroid.

We concluded that the most likely explanation was a burrito purchased and consumed approximately 10 hours before that drug test from an authentic Mexican food truck that serves pig offal near my house in Beaverton, Oregon, Houlihan wrote. I notified the AIU that I believed this was the source."

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An email and text were left with her agent.

Houlihan added that although my levels were consistent with those of subjects in studies who were tested 10 hours after eating this source and WADA technical guidelines require the lab to consider it when analyzing nandrolone, the lab never accounted for this possibility. They could have reported this as an atypical finding and followed up with further testing. The anti-doping experts I have reached out to say they should have. I did everything I could to prove my innocence.

She said she passed a polygraph and had a hair sample analyzed by toxicologists.

WADA agreed that test proved that there was no build up of this substance in my body, which there would have been if I were taking it regularly, Houlihan wrote. Nothing moved the lab from their initial snap decision. Instead, they simply concluded that I was a cheater and that a steroid was ingested orally, but not regularly. I believe my explanation fits the facts much better  because its true. I also believe it was dismissed without proper due process.

Houlihan said she was informed last Friday that CAS did not accept my explanation of what had occurred and has subsequently banned me from the sport for four years.

The court said in a statement its judges decided by a 2-1 majority the athlete had not proven her claim that her case and sample were improperly managed.

I feel completely devastated, lost, broken, angry, confused and betrayed by the very sport that Ive loved and poured myself into just to see how good I was, Houlihan wrote.

She set the American 1,500-meter record of 3 minutes, 54.99 seconds at the world championships in Doha, Qatar, on Oct. 5, 2019.

Last July, Houlihan broke the U.S. 5,000-meter mark with her time of 14:23.92 in Portland, Oregon.

I want to be very clear. I have never taken any performance enhancing substances, Houlihan wrote. "Im not interested in cheating. I dont do this for the accolades, money, or for people to know my name. I do this because I love it.

___

More AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/olympic-games and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
LONDON (AP)  The pilot of a Ryanair flight that was diverted to Belarus last month, leading to the arrest of a dissident Belarusian journalist, had no alternative but to land the plane in Minsk, the head of the budget airline said Tuesday.

Ryanair CEO Michael OLeary appeared before a British Parliament committee to give evidence on the May 23 diversion. The scheduled flight from Greece to Lithuania changed course and landed in Belarus' capital. Opposition journalist Raman Pratasevich, who had been a passenger on the plane, was arrested.

O'Leary told British lawmakers that Minsk air traffic control warned the flight crew of a credible threat that if the plane entered Lithuanian airspace, a bomb on board would be detonated.

The captain repeatedly asked to communicate with Ryanairs operations control center, but Minsk air traffic officials told him  falsely  that Ryanair werent answering the phone," O'Leary said.

This was clearly a premeditated breach of all the international aviation rules, regulations, safety, he said.

OLeary said the pilot was put under considerable pressure to land in Belarus instead of the more standard options of Poland or other Baltic countries.

He wasnt instructed to do so, but he wasnt left with any great alternatives, he told embers of the Parliament committee.

After the plane was on the ground, several unidentified persons boarded the aircraft with video cameras, according to O'Leary.

They repeatedly attempted to get the crew to confirm on video that they had voluntarily diverted to Minsk," the Ryanair executive said. The crew refused to provide such confirmation, he said.

Western countries have called the forced diversion a brazen hijacking by Belarus. Outraged European Union leaders swiftly slapped sanctions on the country, including banning Belarusian airlines from using the airspace and airports of the 27-nation bloc and telling European airlines to skirt Belarus. U.K. authorities took similar actions.

OLeary said he did not support continuing such flight bans in the long term.

We cannot have a situation whereby airlines, air travel, our customers and our citizens run the risk of being hijacked and diverted under false pretenses, he said. But equally, far more U.K. citizens will be disrupted as a result of long-haul flights between the U.K. and Asia, for example, now having to fly around Belarus or avoiding Belarusian airspace.
LONDON (Reuters) -Ryanair does not support a ban on Belarusian airspace in the long term, its chief executive said on Tuesday and called on international authorities to secure assurances from the country that there would be no repeat of last month's forced landing.

Belarus scrambled a warplane to force a Ryanair flight to land in Minsk on May 23. The plane was carrying an opposition journalist who was then arrested, prompting punitive measures against Belarus in response.

Belarusian carriers are now banned from flying over European Union and UK territory, while EU and British authorities issued a safety directive saying their aircraft should avoid Belarusian air space unless in an emergency.

Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary told a British parliamentary committee that while he supported those measures, the aviation industry depended in the long term on unrestricted access to all airspace and that this must be restored.

"We need to have an outcome where the European and the UK authorities, hopefully assisted by international partners, receive appropriate assurances from the Belarusian, and or Russian authorities, that this will never happen again," he said.

Short-term sanctions were necessary to deter other states from copycat behaviour, he added, but in the long term the politicisation of airspace was not the answer as it would hurt the aviation industry and international connectivity.

"The freedom to overfly states is something that we have perhaps taken for granted for the last 70-80 years," O'Leary told the lawmakers. "We must restore it as quickly as possible."

The United Nations' International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is investigating the forced-landing incident and due to report back in two weeks.

(Reporting by Sarah Young; Editing by James Davey and Pravin Char)
Seventeen

Rihanna's Savage x Fenty has released their first-ever Pride collection and, as with all thing Riri does, it goes above and beyond. In addition, SXF is making a donation of $250,000 from the sales of the capsule collection. The donation will be split between The Audre Lorde Project, The Caribbean Equality Project, INC., GLAAD, Trans Latin@ Coalition & Trans Wellness Center.
Mustafa al-Darwish. Reprieve

Saudi Arabia executed a 26-year-old for protesting against the government, Reprieve said.

Mustafa al-Darwish was arrested in May 2015.

Al-Darwish's family received no advance notice of his execution, according to human rights groups.

See more stories on Insider's business page.

Saudi Arabia has executed a young man over his reported involvement in anti-government protests when he was a teenager, human rights groups said Tuesday.

The Saudi Ministry of the Interior announced that Mustafa al-Darwish, 26, had been executed, according to Reprieve.

Al-Darwish's family received no advance notice of his death and only learned that he had been executed by reading the news online, the UK-based non-profit organization said.

Al-Darwish was arrested in May 2015 and charged with offenses related to his participation in protests - many of which occurred when he was 17 years old, according to Reprieve.

According to Reprieve, al-Darwish was placed in solitary confinement and "beaten so badly that he lost consciousness several times."

"To make the torture stop, he confessed to the charges against him," Reprieve said.

Amnesty International, which had called for the execution to be halted last week, said al-Darwish was "the latest victim of Saudi Arabia's deeply flawed justice system which regularly sees people sentenced to death after grossly unfair trials based on confessions extracted through torture."

Al-Darwish recanted his confession at his trial, explaining to the court that he had been tortured, but he was still sentenced to death, Reprieve said.

Al-Darwish's family called his arrest and execution a "living death" for relatives.

"How can they execute a boy because of a photograph on his phone?" the family said in a statement through Reprieve. "Since his arrest, we have known nothing but pain."

The man's family said al-Darwish was arrested with two friends in Tarout six years ago. He was released without charge, but police kept his phone, the family said.

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"We later found out that there was a photograph on the phone that offended them," the family added. "Later they called us and told Mustafa to come and collect his phone, but instead of giving it back they detained him and our suffering began."

Ali al-Dubaisy, the director of the European Saudi Organization for Human Rights, said the sudden execution for crimes as a teen exposed Saudi leader Mohammed Bin Salman's "endless empty promises of reform."

"Once again the Saudi authorities have shown that their claims to abolished the death penalty for children are worthless," al-Dubaisy added.

Read the original article on Business Insider

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A school resource officer is accused of committing sex crimes against a South Carolina teenager, officials said.

Zedrick Maurice Smalls, 50, was working at Berkeley High School when he engaged in inappropriate behavior with a student, according to the S.C. Law Enforcement Division.

The incidents happened while Smalls was on duty in May and June, state officials said Monday in a news release.

SLED started investigating the case at the request of the Moncks Corner Police Department, where Smalls used to work, according to the release. The department, which is roughly 35 miles north of Charleston, told WCSC it fired Smalls after it looked into inappropriate communication with a student.

The Moncks Corner Police Department and Berkeley County School District didnt immediately respond to McClatchy News requests for comment on Tuesday.

Smalls was arrested Monday and charged with second- and third-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor. No attorney information was listed for him.

Smalls was taken to the Berkeley County jail and denied bond, WCSC reported.

School psychologist charged with sexual exploitation of a child, NC cops say

Former day care worker accused of making child porn at NC church gets prison time
Scotland is unlikely to move to Level 0 from June 28, Nicola Sturgeon has said. Speaking in Holyrood, the First Minister did not rule out the further easing of restrictions but said the Scottish Government needed to buy ourselves sufficient time to allow the vaccination programme to continue its work.
Jun. 15Video footage from a surveillance camera at the home where a 29-year-old South African man was shot and killed by police following a fight with officers captures him entering the home and then quickly leaving while apologizing to the couple who called police.

The footage was reviewed by Honolulu police on the evening of the shooting, according to Lindani Myeni's family 's attorney, James J. Bickerton.

Lindani Myeni died of multiple gunshot wounds April 14 after he was shot during a fight with police officers responding to a 911 call from a woman who said an unarmed Myeni walked into then out of the home she was staying in.

Footage from a Ring Home Security Camera packaged with previously unreleased body worn camera footage from responding Honolulu police officers was sent to media this morning by Bickerton, who is representing the family of Lindani Myeni in a wrongful death lawsuit against the officers, HPD and the city.

Bickerton has said Myeni believed the home he entered was the ISKCON Hawaii temple at nearby 51 Coelho Way.

In the video, Myeni, a husband, father and former professional rugby player is seen jogging to catch up with a couple entering the home at 91 Coelho Way in Nuuanu on the evening of April 14.

The video is captured from the door facing the semi circular driveway fronting the home.

It begins with the lights of two cars driving in, and then Da Ju "Dexter " Wang is seen walking into the home with his wife, Shiying "Sabine " Wang following shortly after.

Myeni is wearing a long-sleeved shirt, a face mask, and his umqhele, a Zulu warrior headband, and takes his shoes before entering the home.

Sabine Wang stops and looks at Myeni as he bends down to remove his shoes.

Myeni enters the home for a brief moment, prompting Sabine Wang to pretend to make a phone call to 911 operators, and Myeni is seen exiting the home and standing in front of the door as Sabine says, "Hello, someone just break in, breaking into my house ... he's in front of our door, " she says, as Myeni stands outside.

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Dexter can be heard saying, "we have no temple."

Sabine Wang then calls 911 for real and says "Lindon from South Africa " is at at their home. The operator asks if Myeni is armed, shouting at the couple or seems confused. Wang says no.

Myeni, looking confused, walks toward the door and asks the couple, "what's wrong "

"Who are you ?, shouts Sabine Wang.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, " says Myeni. "I know you guys though. May I see your phone ?"

Sabine Wang tells the 911 operator that Myeni tried to go outside.

Dexter Wang can be heard talking to the home's owner, James H. Hall, saying he doesn't know "what is going " on and that "he says his name is Lindon."

Myeni is then seen walking out of the home. He puts his shoes on and walks toward his car.

He turns one final time toward the doorway and raises his hand while saying, "sorry."

Dexter Wang, in a calm voice, tells Hall, "he apologized and he just left."

Sabine Wang, sounding frightened, tells the 911 operator she is afraid to go outside.

"Yes I see, car is here. He's still in the community. I think the police officer can stop him, " she says to the 911 operator.

The 911 operator asks Sabine Wang if she remembers what the car looks like. Sabine can be seen yelling to the driving police officers, "that's him."

The footage shows an officer engaging Myeni.

"Get on the ground, get on the ground, get on the ground now, get on the ground, , get on the ground now, " says one of the police officers, before Myeni punches him in the face.

"Who are you, " shouts Myeni, as he attacks. "Who are you ?"

An officer is heard yelling, "taser, taser taser, taser."

There is a struggle as the taser does not stop Myeni.

"Shoot him, " says an officer, before a single gunshot is fired.

"F---you, " says another officer, before shooting "drop it."

The final sound is three shots being fired as you see Myeni, who had sat on one of the officer's chests, fall to the ground. After the shots, an officer yells "police " for the first time.
The Senate voted via unanimous consent on Tuesday to pass a bill making Juneteenth a federal holiday.

The big picture: Juneteenth is already commemorated in 49 states and the District of Columbia. The day memorializes when the last enslaved African Americans in Texas learned about their freedom on June 19, 1865, more than 2.5 years after Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation and months after the Civil War ended.

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In 2020, a group of Democratic senators, including then-Sen. Kamala Harris, introduced legislation to make the day a federal holiday.

There was an attempt to pass the bill via unanimous consent in June 2020, but Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) blocked it, per ABC News.

Earlier Tuesday, Johnson indicated he would not do the same this year though his support for the bill hasn't changed. He still expressed his concern over the measure's cost, but noted that Congress didn't have the "appetite" to debate it further, reports Forbes.

Of note: The legislation has 60 cosponsors, including 18 Republicans.

What's next: The resolution is expected to quickly move through the House.

Go deeper: States and corporations move to recognize Juneteenth

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Texas U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz is supporting Susan Wright, the wife of late Rep. Ron Wright, in her bid for Texas 6th Congressional District.

Wright is in a July 27 runoff with fellow Republican Jake Ellzey, a state representative in the Texas legislature. The two were the top vote-getters in a May 1 special election to fill the seat of Ron Wright, who died in February after battling lung cancer and COVID-19.

Texans in the 6th Congressional District deserve a strong voice in Washington, which is why Im proud to endorse Susan Wright for Congress, Cruz said in a video shared on Twitter Monday. Susan is a lifelong Republican who spent her life serving others. Im confident that Susan will work with me and strong conservatives to secure the border, to rebuild our economy and to bring our Texas values to the Washington swamp.

Wright  who has served as district director for former state Rep. Bill Zedler and his successor Rep. David Cook  is also supported by former President Donald Trump. Trump endorsed Wright in the days leading up to the May 1 election.

Thank you, Senator Ted Cruz  Im honored to have your support and look forward to fighting alongside you in DC! Wright said in a Monday tweet.

Wright in May received 19.2% of the votes in the field of 23 candidates, and Ellzey received 13.9%. There were 11 Republicans running for the seat, 10 Democrats, a Libertarian and an independent.

While Ted Cruz didnt formally endorse earlier in the race, he had expressed opposition to Ellzey.

Texans in CD-6 deserve a strong conservative voice in Congress, Cruz told The Texas Tribune in an April statement. Jake Ellzeys financial support from never-Trumpers, openness to amnesty, and opposition to school choice should concern Texans looking for a conservative leader.

Ellzey has the support of former Texas Governor Rick Perry, who pushed back against criticisms Ellzey wasnt a strong enough Republican. Perry also served as Secretary of Energy under Trump.

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Ted doesnt know Jake Ellzey, is all I can say, Perry said in April, campaigning with Ellzey in Waxahachie. Hes got some bad information.

Congressional District 6 covers most of Arlington and Mansfield and all of Ellis and Navarro counties.

In-person early voting for the runoff is from July 19-23.
By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A group of 10 Republican U.S. senators on Tuesday urged Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo to direct her department to work faster to identify new American technologies that China's government could misuse if exported to that country.

The letter led by Senator Tom Cotton and seen by Reuters urged the department to identify "emerging and foundational technologies" as required under a 2018 law.

"We remain concerned that U.S. businesses export sensitive technologies to ostensibly civilian Chinese firms or accept investment from them only for these Chinese firms to promptly hand over this technology to the Chinese military or intelligence services," said the letter that was also signed by Marco Rubio, John Cornyn, Ben Sasse, Rick Scott and Todd Young.

The letter from the senators said Commerce has only produced "a limited set of controlled emerging technologies ...So long as these lists remain incomplete and underutilized, the federal government will lack a properly functioning export control system and foreign investment screening process."

The letter added that "leaves the United States unacceptably vulnerable to China's economic predation."

A U.S. congressional advisory report this month said Commerce was failing to do its part to protect national security and keep sensitive technology out of the hands of China's military.

The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission report said Commerce had been slow to create a list of sensitive technology that should be scrutinized before export to China.

The Commerce Department said Tuesday in response because "innovation is not static and technology triggering national security concerns can evolve over time, the goal to identify these technologies will be a continuous effort and will not be an objective that is 'finished' or 'complete'".

Commerce noted it has issued four rules on controls on emerging technologies and more are pending. It noted it expanded the military end user rule and added companies to its entity list restricting U.S. suppliers from selling to companies like Huawei Technologies and Hangzhou Hikvision.

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In November 2018, Commerce published 45 examples of emerging technologies, including face and voice recognition, but no list was ever finalized. It has not yet proposed a list of so-called "foundational" technologies as required that year when Congress tightened export policies and the process for screening foreign investment.

At that time, Chinese entities were trying to obtain sensitive U.S. technology and use civilian innovation for the military. The law directed Commerce to work with other agencies to identify emerging, or cutting edge, technologies and so-called foundational technologies essential to making vital items like semiconductors.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Michael Perry)
Shamima Begum remains in a prison camp in Syria. (MetFilm/Sky)

Shamima Begum has said she was a dumb kid when she fled to Syria to become an Isis bride.

In her latest interview, the 21-year-old former jihadi bride insisted she did not need to be rehabilitated and said she wants to return to the UK after she was stripped of her British citizenship.

Speaking from the al-Roj prison camp in Syria, wearing a leather baseball cap and skinny jeans, she spoke of how she left Bethnal Green in east London six years ago at the age of 15 with two other schoolgirls.

Mail Online reported that she told journalist Andrew Drury for his film Danger Zone: I don't think I was a terrorist.

I think I was just a dumb kid who made one mistake.

Watch: Shamima Begum learns she can't return to the UK

I personally don't think that I need to be rehabilitated, but I would want to help other people be rehabilitated. I would love to help.

When asked why she had stopped wearing her traditional Islamic dress, she said: I wear these clothes, and I don't wear a hijab, because it makes me happy.

Shamima Begum was stripped of her British citizenship two years ago. (PA)

And anything in this camp that makes me happy is like a lifesaver.'

Begum also revealed she liked the music of rapper Kanye West and had been following the news of his divorce from reality TV star Kim Kardashian, and that she had watched old episodes of Friends in the camp.

She fled to Syria in 2015 and married a Dutch jihadi. She had three children, all of whom died of disease or malnutrition, before she arrived at the al-Roj camp. Her husband is believed to be in a Syrian prison.

In 2019, then home secretary Sajid Javid stripped Begum of her British citizenship after she said in an interview that the Manchester Arena bombing was justified.

She has fought a long legal battle against the ruling, but in February the Supreme Court backed the move to strip her of her citizenship.

Shamima Begum, far right, fled the UK with two other schoolgirls in 2015 when she was 15. (PA)

Former Isis bride Shamima Begum wants to return to the UK. (BBC)

In a recent interview, she said she fled to Syria to avoid being the friend left behind.

Begum previously said she was being punished by the British government because I am famous.

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She also claimed she was brainwashed by Isis and wanted to return to the UK for a second chance.

Begum said her world fell apart when she lost her British citizenship.

A number of high-profile figures, including London mayor Sadiq Khan, have said she should return to the UK to face justice.

Watch: Shamima Begum 'should be allowed to challenge citizenship case'
Authorities in Californias agricultural heartland werent looking for a military assault rifle when they went to investigate the domestic assault case, but they found one.

It was in the garage of a Spanish-tiled home in Fresno that police stumbled upon the AK-74. Its distinctively banana-shaped magazine -- loaded with 20 rounds -- was in a nearby storage container.

AK-74s are similar to their more famous cousin, the AK-47. As a fully automatic weapon, the gun recovered by chance in 2019 is federally regulated, and difficult to obtain legally as a civilian in the United States.

This one was stolen eight years before from Fort Irwin, a base in Californias Mojave Desert where many soldiers trained before tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The three thieves had base access because they were military police -- the soldiers whod get the call when there was a break-in. To get into the supply warehouse known as Building 934 they cut through a fence, forced open one door and cut through another to enter the arms storage room.

One of them was affiliated with the Fresno Bulldogs street gang. Sgt. John Rodriguez said in an internal interview that he had joined the gang as a fifth grader but was no longer active. That was March 2011 -- four months before the heist of 26 AK-74s and a sniper rifle.

After the theft, Rodriguez and Pfc. Harvey DelValle II took off nearly 300 miles to Fresno to unload their haul. At the home of an associate, the two soldiers began calling potential buyers.

This was how the weapons of war made their way onto the streets of Fresno. The guns were among at least 1,900 U.S. military firearms that an Associated Press investigation found were lost or stolen over the last decade.

Authorities around Fresno recovered some of them quickly.

Less than two weeks after the theft, agents tracked one down in the detached garage where a Bulldogs member, Moses Zapien, lived with his girlfriend.

The gun was on a shelf above their bed. Someone had tried to scratch off the serial number. The magazine, with bullets, was inserted.

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Zapien told authorities hed bought it to protect his home for what he considered the bargain price of $200. The garage was in a neighborhood that a century ago housed a railroad depot boom town, but was now gang territory.

Zapien said that he understood the source of the weapon was a Bulldogs member who worked at a military base and was putting one back on the street for work for the gang. The gang started in prison and its members have been accused of running guns and drugs, and operating networks of human trafficking and prostitution.

Another six AK-74s reached gang hands through an extended negotiation, according to what Rodriguezs associate, Nathan Granados, told federal investigators.

About a week after the theft, Rodriguez and Granados met in the back room of a tattoo shop with three gang members whod arrived in a white BMW SUV. Rodriguez brought one of the AK-74s inside for show and tell.

The discussion was promising enough that the two groups reconnected later and continued to negotiate. Around midnight, they drove to a home for the exchange. Rodriguez went to the backyard cellar and retrieved six guns. The Bulldogs handed over $1,400 and the deal was done.

How many remain in gang hands is unclear. Some of the 26 stolen guns have surfaced by happenstance. In June 2012, an insurance adjuster found one inside a vehicle that had been repossessed from a felon.

The three soldiers were convicted in military courts and sentenced to between six and 20 years in prison. At least 14 civilians were charged.

Though the case is now closed, nearly a decade after the theft at least nine AK-74s remain missing.

___

Ohm reported from Washington; Hall reported from Nashville, Tennessee.

___

Contact Hall at https://twitter.com/kmhall.

___

Email APs Global Investigations Team at investigative@ap.org. See other work at https://apnews.com/hub/ap-investigations.
Associated Press

Honolulu police officers' use of deadly force was justified and no charges will be filed against them in a shooting that killed a Black man because an investigation found that he entered a home uninvited and physically attacked the officers, the city's prosecuting attorney said Wednesday. The April 14 shooting death of Lindani Myeni, 29, has drawn international attention, including from civil rights activist the Rev. Al Sharpton, at a time when police violence in other parts of the U.S. have prompted protests over racial injustice. Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Steve Alm said his office's investigation refutes those who said the shooting shows that despite Hawaii's multicultural diversity, police are racist.
GENEVA (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden voiced support on Tuesday to speed up approval of the financial transfers needed to deliver more food and medicines to Iran through a Swiss humanitarian channel, Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said.

Cassis, speaking to a news conference after the 30-minute talks with Biden in Geneva, said: "The trouble is it hasn't been used enough, and why? Because there are transfers of funds that still require approval, and I think on this the U.S. is willing to accelerate their decisions so that this channel can be used to its full effect."

Only a trickle of deals has gone through so far.

Neutral Switzerland has represented U.S. interests in Iran since the 1979 Islamic revolution, often serving as an intermediary for prisoner exchanges between the two foes.

Biden and Swiss President Guy Parmelin also discussed ongoing negotiations to revive a big power agreement on Iran's nuclear programme that Washington ditched under former President Donald Trump, Cassis said.

"We talked about this nuclear agreement, about the intention of the United States to do everything it can to move things forward," he said.

"The situation is very difficult at the moment, you know that (presidential) elections will be held in Iran very soon and I think one should not have too high expectations.

"However it is clear that the intention of this American administration is to try to find a new path, which won't be easy, because there has been a long history of feuds," he added.

Geneva hosts the first summit between Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, including on nuclear security issues, with expectations low on both sides.

Russia is holding former U.S. marine Paul Whelan on an espionage conviction, and Trevor Reed, another former U.S. marine, for an alleged assault on a police officer. Both deny wrongdoing. Their families have pressed for their release ahead of the summit.

Asked whether Switzerland might use its good offices to facilitate a prisoner handover, Cassis said: "Switzerland is always ready to provide help for prisoner exchanges, especially for countries where it plays the role of a protecting power."

(Reporting by Michael Shields and Stephanie Nebehay; Editing by Chris Reese and Chizu Nomiyama)
Sheriffs deputies clashed with protesters at Tuesdays commissioners court meeting, almost a year after Tarrant County agreed to indefinitely renew a plan to stay in a federal program that lets sheriffs deputies work as ICE agents.

ICE out of Tarrant County, an organization dedicated to eradicating the federal 287(g) program, showed up at the meeting with a handful of members asking the commissioners to consider ending the program because they said it creates fear, mistrust and anxiety among immigrant communities. Fewer than 10 appeared at the meeting. The ICE policy was not on the agenda, so commissioners could not respond.

But, when the last member spoke, they broke out in chant as they made their way to exit.

Judge Glen Whitley, turned your back!

Gary Fickes, turned your back!

J.D. Johnson, turned your back!

Fights not over, well be back!

Immediately, county sheriffs escorted them out. The group claims at least one of its members was shoved. While the chants started and the members were taken out, County Judge Glen Whitley said if it was legal, he wanted to dish out citations to the members for disturbing a public meeting and asked if there was a way to stop them from attending meetings altogether.

Commissioner Devan Allen expressed concerns that members could be wrongfully cited for exercising their First Amendment right.

Deputies could be heard discussing the possibility of jailing the protesters. The ICE policy has been in place since 2017, when Sheriff Bill Waybourn took office. The commissioners have since voted along party lines once a year to renew the program. But on June 16, 2020, officials instead renewed it indefinitely, with the caveat that they would still review the program.

So far, no plans to review the program have been made publicly available.

Under the Texas Penal Code, a person commits a class B misdemeanor if they intentionally prevent or disrupt a lawful meeting, procession, or gathering or they obstruct or interfere with the meeting, procession, or gathering by physical action or verbal utterance.

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Mark Jones, a political science professor at Rice University, said the chant could be seen as disorderly conduct and citations could happen, but it would be extreme and difficult to ban people unless it becomes a common occurrence.

Once outside, about four deputies approached the group, and one of them started to record a video of the protesters. Members recorded back. The deputies then returned to the courthouse.

What happened just now is a continuation of their tactics they have used to try to silence us, said Jonathan Guadian of ICE out of Tarrant.

On Whitleys call for citations, Guadian said it was concerning, but not surprising and expressed that they were video-recorded so the deputies could identify them and come after them after they dispersed.

Kassandra Dobbs, a member of ICE out of Tarrant, said being escorted and then recorded by the deputites was especially scary because it was a small group of mostly women. She added that it would be unjust if they were issued citations when they kept their demonstration peaceful.

We were not being physical. We were not being aggressive. We were chanting, Dobbs said.

She and Guadian dont believe they disrupted the meeting.

Tarrant County officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
A grandson of a 68-year-old Abilene, Texas woman was in custody Tuesday and accused of killing her, according to Abilene police.

The body of Judi Jones was found just after 8 a.m. Monday in her Abilene apartment.

Abilene police had gone to the scene after a family member found Jones in the apartment in the 5200 block of Alamo Drive in Abilene, the Camelot Apartments.

Detectives determined that Jones had died from apparent trauma, according to an Abilene police news release.

Shortly after an investigation began, detectives arrested her grandson, Joel Rakesh Laundre Thomas, 31, of Abilene.

Detectives did not release any details on how Jones was killed or a motive for the homicide.

Thomas was in the Taylor County Jail in Abilene on Tuesday and faces a charge of murder.
Senior Trump administration officials decided in the spring of 2020 to strongly imply that Covid-19 came from a Chinese lab, even though intelligence officials investigating the pandemics origins did not have conclusive evidence supporting that hypothesis.

The messaging campaign began as a concerted effort to push back against China, which was attempting to blame the United States for the spread of the virus. In documents and cables newly obtained by POLITICO, officials shared talking points emphasizing that even Beijings own communications acknowledged the outbreak began in Chinas Wuhan Province.

But some officials at the White House, the National Security Council and the State Department urged the U.S. to go further. They wanted to blame China for covering up the pandemics origins and to allege that it came from a research facility in Wuhan that specialized in the study of dangerous bat pathogens  a move they described as going on the diplomatic offensive. The goal, officials said, was in part to pressure China to allow the U.S. and the international community access to Wuhan to investigate.

On several occasions, former President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo embraced the controversial lab-leak theory in public remarks, going well beyond the official talking points hashed out between agencies.

At a press conference on April 30, 2020, Trump said the administration had evidence showing Covid-19 came from a lab at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, although he declined to provide specifics. I cant tell you that. Im not allowed to tell you that, Trump said.

Days later, on May 3, Pompeo told ABCs This Week that there was enormous evidence that Covid-19 came from the lab.

Five former Trump administration officials  including three who were directly involved in the administrations origins probe  said the evidence the government had gathered did not conclusively support those claims. At that point, the officials had reviewed and obtained documents, reports, and other intelligence that suggested the virus might have originated in the Wuhan lab but they could not prove it. Those officials also said they were still considering evidence supporting a natural origin at the time Trump and Pompeo made their statements claiming a lab leak, and that ultimately they never found a smoking gun for either a lab or natural origin.

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I really wasnt sure exactly what [evidence] they were talking about, one former senior national security official said of Trump and Pompeo. We were just trying to keep our heads down and do the work and look at the evidence as it came.

The descriptions of the Trump administrations internal conversations about the virus' origin in spring 2020, including the NSC-led campaign described in the cables and documents, highlight the extent to which top officials pushed the lab-leak theory despite a lack of consensus among those charged with investigating the issue. Senior officials disagreed on the weight and meaning of the evidence they reviewed, particularly the circumstantial evidence for the lab-leak theory.

Yet the group of officials inside the White House, National Security Council and State Department determined at the time that the U.S. had gathered enough circumstantial evidence to point to the lab as the origin of the virus in public statements, regardless of the inconclusive state of the investigation.

The prevailing assumption was that [the virus] accidentally escaped a lab in Wuhan, a former Trump official with knowledge of the messaging campaign said. Part of it too is testing your theory, especially if youre confident in it ... to see how China reacts to it.

Two senior State Department officials who worked under the Trump administration said Pompeos remarks went beyond the normal administration talking points and prompted questions from allied countries about what led the secretary to conclude the virus originated in the lab.

Pompeos comments stoked confusion elsewhere in the administration among some officials investigating Covid-19s origins. Multiple NSC and State Department officials said they did not review what they viewed as compelling  albeit not conclusive  reports and evidence supporting the lab leak theory until after Pompeos ABC comments.

In response to inquiries for this story, Pompeo told POLITICO in a statement: We werent cherry picking the evidence. We were reading all of the intelligence. And the world now knows that our judgments were supported by an enormous amount of evidence that continues to grow.

The search for evidence

During the early days of Covid-19, the Trump administration focused on implementing prevention measures to ensure the U.S. was prepared to contain the virus from spreading inside the countrys borders. Officials at the Department of Homeland Security, in coordination with the White House, worked to implement travel restrictions and banned all flights originating from China. A White House task force, then led by Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, in coordination with acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney, worked with senior adviser Jared Kushner and other top officials to lay the groundwork for procuring life-saving medical supplies and personal protective equipment.

Our focus was on saving American lives, one former senior health official involved in the federal governments Covid-19 response said. Nothing else mattered. While we looked to China for information about their cases and their treatments, we didnt look into the origin question, at least not intensively, right out of the gate.

But for multiple senior White House and national security officials, the question of where the virus originated was equally important, particularly because it could give the U.S. an edge over Beijing on the world stage. Those officials began to raise questions internally within the administration in January and February about how the virus came to be and pressed for the administration to pursue an intensive investigation into the matter.

The pressure to investigate increased as China hawks on Capitol Hill, including Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), began to speak publicly about Chinas handling of Covid-19 and the possibility that the virus originated at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. At the time, Cotton speculated that the virus had come from a lab in Wuhan that works with the worlds most deadly pathogens. To include, yes, coronavirus, Cotton said in a January 30, 2020 tweet.

Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., waves to supporters after speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Feb. 26, 2021, in Orlando, Fla.

Cotton was so enamored of the lab-leak theory that on Jan. 31, 2020, during the first impeachment trial of President Trump, he stepped away from his seat on the Senate floor to call then-Deputy National Security Adviser Matt Pottinger to urge him to push the administration to look into the possibility more vigorously, according to a former White House official familiar with the call.

Cotton felt like he was getting stonewalled by the intelligence community, said the former official.

Other senior White House and national security officials, including Peter Navarro, Pompeo, Pottinger and Miles Yu, the principal China policy adviser to Pompeo, pointed to the Wuhan Institute of Virology as a likely possibility for where the virus originated.

As soon as I saw the smoke coming out of the crematorium in Wuhan my radar went up, said Navarro, an economist by training who did not work directly on the administrations investigations into the origins question. I predicted China would create a global pandemic. I was dead on. I was able to do that because of my expertise and by just looking at the chessboard. Of course it came from the lab.

But at the time, top scientists and health officials such as CDC Director Robert Redfield and Anthony Fauci, both of whom were advising the White House coronavirus task force, said the evidence they viewed suggested the virus originated in nature before being passed on to humans. At least two other coronaviruses  those that cause SARS and MERS  have jumped from animals to humans over the past two decades.

For many many weeks we heard from the top docs about wet markets and we had lots of discussions about wet markets and they, at least in this setting, would not talk about the lab leak even though others had brought it up, it was completely dismissed, said a former Trump White House official.

In February 2020, 27 scientists penned an open letter in The Lancet saying scientists from multiple countries have published and analyzed genomes of the causative agent  SARS-CoV-2, and they overwhelmingly conclude that this coronavirus originated in wildlife. We stand together to strongly condemn conspiracy theories suggesting that Covid-19 does not have a natural origin, the scientists wrote.

We were all in agreement that the virology lab bore consideration, and we were shocked  when supposed experts offhand in February in the Lancet article just completely dismissed that this could have in any way come from a lab, recalled David Stilwell, who was assistant secretary of state for East Asia and Pacific affairs. That was ludicrous, so thats when we began to worry that the science world was not playing above board.

As the domestic response ramped up and the administration began to focus more heavily on Covid-19 testing and lockdowns, various offices inside the State Department, NSC and intelligence agencies took on the origins investigation. While they often met to brief senior officials on their progress, their investigations stayed separate.

Several former national security and White House officials said they felt the circumstantial evidence they gathered in the spring of 2020 pushed them to believe the virus had originated in the lab.

Just as a matter of common sense, the CCP destroyed virus samples, they only let the WHO investigation into the laboratory for three and a half hours, they bleached the site of the wet market, they didnt let Taiwan into the World Health Assembly, not to mention that this lab was so close to the center of the outbreak, one former senior State Department official said. To me, I just thought right away, this came from the lab.

Other former senior officials told POLITICO the evidence they reviewed that purported to support the lab leak theory only indicated a leak was plausible but not a certainty. Another group of officials, including national security and top health officials, said those reports relied too heavily on open source material.

We said, Lets just start thinking about how this impacts the next [pandemic]. Were just going to see where the evidence leads us, said Anthony Ruggiero, the former senior director for counterproliferation and biodefense at the NSC. Part of the challenge for us was keeping as much of an open mind as possible. We didnt give weight to one piece of information over another. Ruggieros team at the NSC led one of the administrations investigations into where the virus originated. The State Department and intelligence agencies carried out their own, separate probes.

Its entirely plausible this came from a lab, and its also entirely plausible it came from nature. As an intel analyst, you look at a whole set of coincidences and you start to wonder if theyre really coincidences. A lab working on this very issue as a locus for an outbreak  thats a heck of a coincidence, said Emily Harding, a former CIA analyst who was deputy staff director for the Senate intelligence committee last year.

The messaging campaign

As officials deliberated about the veracity and completeness of the evidence, there was general agreement across the interagency group that the origin question needed further evaluation before the administration made a public determination. Two former national security officials involved in the origins probe said they were particularly concerned about speaking publicly about the issue in the spring of 2020 because the U.S. was still trying to convince China to work with the international community on an investigation.

That spring, the NSC, in coordination with State, crafted a messaging campaign that pushed top U.S. officials to allege publicly that Beijing was responsible for the virus spreading across the globe and that the Chinese withheld vital Covid-19 data that prevented the world from preparing for the virus spread.

In cables and documents obtained by POLITICO, U.S. talking points noted the virus originated in Wuhan but did not specifically mention the lab or the potential that the virus leaked from the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

The State Department pulled on the NSC messaging in multiple cables from March, April and May 2020, saying repeatedly that the the coronavirus outbreak began in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, in December 2019, or earlier and attributed it to the PRC governments own accounts.

The CCP must take responsibility for its actions, or the Chinese people and the world wont be safe the next time a virus starts in China, a March 18, 2020 State Department cable said. Saving lives is more important than saving face.

Officials also flagged Chinese officials comments about Covid-19 origins. In one cable from April 17, 2020, officials noted Beijing representatives claiming there was no evidence to suggest the virus originated in China and that imported cases were responsible for the proliferation of infections.

This is a period when China was beginning to propagate conspiracy theories about Fort Detrick and you had the Wolf Warrior diplomats going on about how some U.S. athlete to the Paralympic Games had spread it and it was cooked up at Fort Detrick, said a former Trump administration official. We were seeing partners, particularly developing [country] partners, actually were being swayed by the Chinese propaganda and outright lies so it was important to have a pushback.

The U.S. countered Beijings propaganda by calling it a disinformation campaign effort that tried to shift the responsibility of this pandemic to others, one Pentagon briefing document from April 2020 said.

But a small group inside the White House, State Department and NSC pushed Pompeo and Trump to go even further than the pointers laid out in the messaging campaign. Officials believed, even without conclusive evidence, that the virus originated in the lab and that the U.S. should go on the offensive, attacking Beijing for its handling of Covid-19 by talking about the lab and the evidence that supported the leak hypothesis, according to two individuals with direct knowledge of those conversations.

The U.S. messaging campaign coincided with a series of anti-China speeches that National Security Adviser Robert OBrien, Pompeo, Attorney General Bill Barr and FBI director Chris Wray gave in the summer.

The lab-leak hypothesis gained more steam on April 14 when Washington Posts Josh Rogin reported that State Department cables two years before had warned about safety issues at the Wuhan lab. Rogin called up officials at the State Department as he was working on the story to ask for the cables.

I even went to Pompeos senior staff directly to try to convince them to hand them over, Rogin wrote in his recent book, Chaos Under Heaven. Pompeo thought about it but refused. He needed to keep up the veneer of good relations with China, and these revelations would make that job more difficult. A former State Department official said that Pompeo, being a former CIA director, was unwilling to give them to him directly because he was careful about safeguarding classified information.

Asked about Rogins assertion, a Pompeo spokesperson said in a statement: Your story is fundamentally incorrect. The secretary was working every day to get out information to the American public so they knew what he knew about Chinas malfeasant behavior. Rogin said he stood by the reporting in his column and book.

That same month, Yu told POLITICO, he sent Pompeo a report based on open-sourced information he began gathering in January of 2020 that pointed to the lab as the likely origin of Covid-19.

Besides Pottinger, Yu said he was the only senior Trump official on the China policy front who could read Chinese documents fluently and saw the robust discussion by Chinese citizens debating the cause of coronavirus online until the Chinese government shut it down.

I was able to catch that wave of basically an information explosion and basically summarize the very damning circumstantial evidence among Chinese bloggers, scientists and journalists themselves, he said.

Later in April, in response to a question from a reporter about whether he had seen any evidence that gave him a high degree of confidence the virus originated in the Wuhan lab, Trump said: Yes, I have. He declined to say what evidence pointed to the lab as the origin, however.

Days later, Pompeo, drawing on the administrations China Covid-19 messaging talking points and Yus report, blamed Beijing for covering up information about the virus and said there was enormous evidence that pointed to the fact that the virus came from the lab. His statement came at a time when officials investigating the origins question were reviewing evidence, including scientific reports, that the virus could have originated in nature.

It wasnt until later that national security officials said they reviewed new evidence that compelled them to believe that the lab leak theory was plausible and even likely.

One of those reports, circulated internally in May 2020 by the Department of Energys Lawrence Livermore National Laboratorys intelligence unit, said it pulled on genomic analyses of the SARS-CoV-2 virus to determine that it was plausible that Covid-19 originated in the Wuhan lab, according to two individuals familiar with the classified report.

Another report, published in the scientific journal Cell by Chinese and American researchers made its way to Ruggieros NSC directorate. The authors had studied mice with humanized lungs and tracked how they responded to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Although the special mice were created years before the virus emerged, the study led officials on Ruggieros team to determine that the virus could have originated in the lab in 2019.

Over the course of 2020, the Trump administration gathered evidence that showed researchers from the Wuhan Institute of Virology became sick in November 2019 with symptoms consistent with both Covid-19 and common seasonal illness, according to a State Department fact sheet published in January 2020 just before the inauguration of President Joe Biden. Months later, on May 23, 2021, the Wall Street Journal reported more details about that incident, including that there were three researchers  all of whom sought medical care from a hospital.

But those reports described the researchers symptoms as consistent with Covid-19 and other well-known viruses such as the flu. Nor is it clear whether the scientists worked with bat coronaviruses at the Wuhan institute, a large research facility in a city bigger than New York. Many studies have suggested that Covid was already circulating in Wuhan by November 2019, so its possible the scientists could have been infected outside of work.

The Biden probe

Former Trump officials have highlighted and elevated some of the information pointing to the leak theory in recent weeks as they press the Biden administration to launch a deeper investigation into the pandemics beginnings.

Last month, Biden ordered the intelligence community to redouble its efforts in studying the origins questions. Its unclear whether the Biden administration has obtained new intelligence from China or elsewhere that will help officials come to a clearer determination than the Trump administration did.

Harding, the former CIA analyst, said she found it concerning that the intelligence probe was announced publicly because it could put sources and methods at risk.

The IC really likes to operate in the shadows and if the president announces that hes tasked a paper then the next thing that happens is the IC goes back out and pings all of its sources and you generally dont want to alert the fact that youre doing that, she said.

And with China refusing to share vital lab data with the U.S., the Biden officials face a similar challenge as the Trump officials who kick-started the probe in 2020. They will have to rely in part on circumstantial evidence that could prevent them from reaching a conclusion on whether the virus originated in the Wuhan lab.

It seems unlikely that we will get a definitive answer on Covids origins in 90 days, or maybe ever. My guess is that if a lab leak did occur, the likelihood of gaining access to definitive evidence would be near zero. This would be among the most closely protected secrets in the history of the Communist Party, said Zack Cooper, a research fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. That doesnt mean that we shouldnt continue to press to get answers, but we should be realistic about the likelihood that well have definitive proof in 90 days.



CORRECTION: This story originally including an incorrect title for David Stilwell and misspelled his surname.
Trump revenge tour to start with rally against lawmaker who voted to impeach him (Getty)

Donald Trumps revenge tour is set to begin with a rally against a Republican lawmaker who voted to impeach him.

The former president has vowed to support primary challengers to any member of his party who did not support his attempt to overturn his 2020 defeat to Joe Biden.

Now Mr Trump has said he will host a campaign-style rally in Cleveland, Ohio, on 26 June in support of Max Millers challenge to incumbent GOP congressman Anthony Gonzalez, according to CNN.

It will be Mr Trumps first appearance on behalf of an insurgent Republican candidate trying to unseat a sitting member of the party.

Mr Gonzalez, who is trying to win reelection for a second time, is one of 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Mr Trump for inciting the 6 January US Capitol riot.

In February Mr Trump threw his weight behind Mr Miller, who is a former Trump administration official, and claimed Mr Gonzalez was not representing Ohios 16th District.

Max Miller is a wonderful person who did a great job at the White House and will be a fantastic Congressman, Mr Trump said in a statement.

He is a Marine veteran, a son of Ohio, and a true PATRIOT.

Since leaving the White House in January, Mr Trump has spoken at the Conservative Political Action Conference in February, and at the North Carolina GOP convention earlier this month.

Aides say that Mr Trump has also scheduled a second rally in Tampa, Florida, on the eve of the 4 July national holiday.

As for his own political future, Mr Trump has hinted that he is considering another White House run in 2024, but has so far not committed to taking on Mr Biden again.

During his North Carolina appearance Mr Trump gave his endorsement to congressman Ted Budd in the states GOP primary for its 2022 senate race.

Mr Trump backed the lawmaker after his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, announced that she would not be running for elected office in her home state.

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Two women shop inside South Coast Plaza on May 13 in Costa Mesa. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

With an intense heat wave baking Southern California, John Sullivan made his way to the air-conditioned South Coast Plaza on Tuesday. He still needed to complete three more miles of his daily five-mile walk.

The 71-year-old wasnt wearing a mask as he approached the Costa Mesa mall but kept his black one stored in his shirt pocket just in case.

Sullivan was among the millions of Californians welcoming a new day of freedom as the state lifted nearly all its coronavirus-related capacity restrictions and physical distancing requirements at businesses and other institutions, and allowed residents who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to go without face coverings in most nonwork situations.

He decided it was a good sign when a greeter at the malls entrance didnt stop him. Dressed in a light-blue checkered button-up and white trainers, he shoved his hands into his pants pockets and started his walk.

He quickly realized the mall was no longer a ghost town for a weekday. The only thing missing was the busload of tourists who buy jewelry, he said. Even the carousel near Bristol Street was turned on, though it remained closed to riders.

Sullivan said he expected people to remain concerned about wearing masks but said he was surprised to see it was mainly young people still donning face coverings. He also noticed that many stores had removed their signs requiring masks; he'd seen only a few during his first lap around the mall.

Indoor shopping malls were hit hard by COVID-19 restrictions, even titans like the upscale Orange County center that is both a shopping hot spot for locals and a destination for tourists.

There are some questions about how quickly malls will bounce back. But there were promising signs Tuesday, when California fully reopened its economy after more than a year of pandemic restrictions.

Sullivan said he had been waiting for this day because it meant he could put on his dancing shoes  and mingle with women. For the past year, his communitys association had canceled all of its dances and events. When Gov. Gavin Newsoms announced in April that the state would reopen June 15, the association set a date for a dance with rock n roll bands in July.

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Thats what we like, he said.

When Sabra Schlepphorst, 59, arrived at South Coast Plaza, she didnt expect it to be so crowded.

She wore her black-and-white-striped mask and cautiously navigated her way through the crowded Bath & Body Works store. The shop was having its semiannual sale, and it was packed with people buying lotions, body sprays and hand sanitizer.

After browsing, Schlepphorst walked out with two bags filled with beach-themed candles to gift to a friend.

I decided to brave the crowds, the Fountain Valley resident said as she sat on a bench outside the store to rest.

Because she is immunocompromised and only recently received approval from her doctor to sign up for a COVID-19 vaccine, Schlepphorst said she is hesitant to ditch her mask and other safety precautions.

Schlepphorst said she hopes people will avoid Karen situations and remain respectful  whether they wear a mask or not.

If its hot, the first thing you want to do is rip off it off, she said. Be aware. Be respectful.

When Caroline Nazaryfar came inside, she was surprised to see the majority of shoppers at the Orange County mall wearing face coverings. Only a few strolled the halls without one, though some held them in hand.

The Mission Viejo resident admitted it gave her some anxiety, but she believed she could lead by example, opting out of wearing a mask because she knew it was no longer a state mandate.

I dont need to wear a face mask anymore," the registered nurse said. "I feel like were making progress.

She said itll take a few days until people realize such COVID-19 protocols are no longer necessary.

Nazaryfar visited 10 stores on her day off from work. Zara was the only one that stopped her. As she walked inside, a sales associate approached, asking her to wear a mask.

Nazaryfar said she didnt like that, so she left and visited other businesses.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
It's impossible to not tap your feet to the infectious beats of "In the Heights." Macall Polay/Warner Bros.

"In The Heights" has received criticism for a lack of dark-skinned Afro-Latino leads.

Lin-Manuel Miranda apologized for the colorism and said he would work for better representation.

"In trying to paint a mosaic of this community, we fell short," Miranda said.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Lin-Manuel Miranda apologized for the lack of dark-skinned Afro-Latinos featured in "In The Heights" after criticism that the film primarily features light-skinned Latinx leads.

"In trying to paint a mosaic of this community, we fell short," Miranda said in a statement. "I'm truly sorry."

The musical about a Latinx community in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Upper Manhattan was released last week and has faced criticism that dark-skinned Afro-Latinos were mainly featured in background and dance scenes.

In response to the criticism, director Jon M. Chu said they tried to cast "the people who were best for those roles."

Carmen Phillips, editor-in-chief of Autostraddle, a news and entertainment website for LGBTQ women, said there was "a CLEAR casting choice not to cast any dark skinned Afro-Latinxs that should be discussed," in a tweet.

In his statement, Miranda said he understood how the casting choice could have undermined the representation of the community.

"I can hear the hurt and frustration over colorism, of feeling still unseen in the feedback," he said. "I hear that without sufficient dark-skinned Afro-Latino representation, the work feels extractive of the community we wanted to represent with pride and joy."

Miranda said he promised to do better in the future.

"I'm learning from the feedback, I thank you for raising it, and I am listening," he said.

Read the original article on Insider
TUNIS (Reuters) - Tunisian President Kais Saied called on Tuesday for a dialogue with political parties on creating a new political system and amending the 2014 constitution, which he described as with locks everywhere, in an effort to ease the ongoing political crisis.

Saied's comments could pave the way for an end to a months-long political standoff with Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi, who is backed by parliament Speaker Rached Ghannouchi, leader of the moderate Islamist Ennahda party, over powers and political alliances.

The Tunisian constitution, approved following the 2011 revolution, has been widely praised as a modernist constitution. But many politicians admit that it includes many controversial chapters and needs amendment.

"Let us enter into a credible dialogue... to a new political system and a real constitution, because this constitution is based on putting locks everywhere and institutions cannot proceed with locks or deals", Saied said during a meeting with Mechichi and three former prime ministers.

In April, Saied said that his powers as commander of the armed forces also cover the internal security forces, not only the army, escalating his dispute with Mechichi. He relied also on a controversy over the interpretation of a constitutional chapters.

While Ennahda, the biggest party in parliament, supports a full parliamentary system, Saied wants a presidential system. The current system is mixed, in which the president is elected directly, while most of the powers are in the hands of the prime minister, who is appointed by the ruling coalition.

Tunisia is the only Arab country to have managed a peaceful transition to democracy after the Arab Spring uprisings that swept through the region in 2011.

But the North African nations economy has been crippled by high debt and deteriorating public services, made worse by the global coronavirus pandemic.

(Reporting By Tarek Amara; Editing by Dan Grebler)
By Richard Cowan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene publicly apologized on Monday for her remarks last month comparing COVID-19 mask requirements and vaccinations to the Nazi Holocaust that killed 6 million Jews.

"I have made a mistake and it's really bothered me for a couple weeks now," Greene told a news conference. She added that "there's nothing comparable" to the Holocaust and "I know the words I stated were hurtful and for that I am very sorry."

The news conference came amid calls from some Democrats to censure Greene for her Holocaust remarks. Her comments had also been denounced by Republican congressional leaders.

She said she had visited the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum earlier on Monday. She also mentioned that when she was 19 years old, she visited the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland where more than 1 million Jews were murdered by the Nazis.

It was not the first time the 47-year-old congresswoman from Georgia, who arrived in Congress in January, had roiled the waters in Washington.

In February, the Democratic-led House of Representatives stripped her of two high-profile committee assignments after her remarks that included support for violence against Democrats. Then, too, Greene distanced herself from such statements, saying: "These were words of the past and these things do not represent me."

In response to reporters' questions on Monday, Greene, an ardent supporter of former President Donald Trump, refused to distance herself from a comment he made in 2017, following violent protests involving white supremacists in Charlottesville, Virginia, in which he said there "were very fine people on both sides."

Before arriving in Congress, Greene voiced support for unfounded conspiracy theories, including the QAnon claim that elite Democrats are part of a cabal of Satan-worshipping pedophiles and cannibals, as well as an anti-Semitic claim suggesting a space laser was used to deliberately start a California wildfire.

Greene opened her news conference saying: "I just always want to remind everyone I'm very much a normal person."

(Reporting by Richard Cowan; Editing by Peter Cooney)
A COVID-19 temporary restrictions sign in Old Compton Street, Soho, London. Photo: Vuk Valcic/SOPA/LightRocket via Getty Images

UK businesses have said they are bitterly disappointed by prime minister Boris Johnsons announcement that "freedom day" will be delayed by four weeks as the government continues to try to curb the spread of the Delta variant, first identified in India.

Boris Johnson's announcement on Monday of a four-week delay to the final phase of lockdown restrictions lifting in England also coincides with the end of government support for many, including furlough support and business rates relief. Businesses have urged that this help be extended.

Johnson told the nation the UK must learn to live with COVID and that the final lockdown restrictions will now be lifted on 19 July, instead of 21 June.

Scientists estimate the new Delta variant is between 40% and 80% more transmissible than the previous dominant strain in the UK and is spreading fast.

I think it is sensible to wait just a little longer, said Johnson, adding that by being cautious now we have the chance in the next four weeks to save many thousands of lives by vaccinating millions more people.

The Institute of Directors pointed out that at the end of June, the ban on commercial rent evictions will end. On 1 July, employers must start contributing 10% towards furlough costs and 100% business rates relief will taper off to 67%.

Businesses already struggling to survive due to being closed or opening with restrictions will be bitterly disappointed with Johnson's announcement, said Federation of Small Businesses national chair Mike Cherry.

Read more: European markets rise as investors digest lockdown extension and positive jobs numbers

He said some small businesses like nightclubs have remained closed throughout the entirety of the pandemic, which means they have gone 15 months without income, all the while doing their best to support their staff.

Many small firms who have been hanging onto the edge will be left wondering if they can survive further periods of restrictions without additional support.

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He said the business rates 100% relief for the retail, hospitality and leisure sector must be extended and the government should consider writing off spent COVID loans, such as the Bounce Back Loans, for the most restricted businesses.

Watch: What UK government COVID-19 support is available?

Claire Walker, co-executive director of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said the delay to the removal of restrictions will come as a hammer blow" to businesses.

She said the pandemic had wrought damage to their cashflow and revenue and it would be extraordinary if we saw government retracting support to businesses now.

She believes the government must provide further cash grants, at least equivalent to levels provided during the first lockdown, and delay the tapering of government payments into the furlough scheme.

The government should also consider extending the trade credit reinsurance scheme beyond the end of June and work with lenders to ensure that appropriate forbearance is in place for those who have used government lending schemes and already started to repay their loan without being able to open fully," said Walker.

The BCC has also called for an extension of the VAT deferral scheme.

Meanwhile, Tony Danker, Confederation of British Industry's director-general, said: Public health comes first, so while a delay is regrettable, its understandable.

Richard Burge, CEO of London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said businesses should not have to pay increased furlough contribution, "especially those in quiet city centre areas like the City of London that were banking on a return of commuters."

Watch: Lockdown restrictions: What is changing, what is staying the same and why?
The UKs Competition and Markets Authority has announced that it will take a closer look at the effective duopoly held by Google and Apple in the mobile world. It said that the pairs control of operating systems, app stores and web browsers may result in consumers losing out. The CMA added that it is concerned that this control could lead to reduced innovation or see customers paying higher prices for devices and apps.

Unlike the formal work that the CMA has been doing with Google and Apple in recent months, this is for now just a study. In a statement, chief Executive Andrea Coscelli said that while the countrys new tech regulator  the Digital Markets Unit  is still being set up, investigations like this will help inform future plans. It added that this study will cover some of the same ground as those other projects to help build a joined-up approach across all these related cases.

Documents published at the same time explain that the work has the ultimate aim of assessing if the markets within its scope are working well and in the interests of consumers. This will include creating a rulebook for the Digital Markets Unit when it begins operations and promoting global regulatory alignment. It will also investigate network effects, consumer behavior and the power of default apps in informing consumer choice when buying phones.

The study has an initial period of 12 months and the CMA is accepting submissions from interested parties for the next month. It added that it is particularly interested in the opinions of app developers and their experience of developing for one or both of the systems in question.
Mandatory Credit: Photo by ANDY RAIN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock (12042620k) Travellers at Heathrow airport in London, Britain, 08 June 2021. Extra flights to Britain have been departing Portugal as holidaymakers scrambled to leave on the last day before the country moved to the amber travel list. Many travellers missed the deadline and will have to quarantine for up to ten days. UK travellers return to UK after Portugal put on amber list, London, United Kingdom - 08 Jun 2021

Britain is unlikely to reopen overseas travel to the major European holiday destinations until the beginning of August, UK ambassadors have warned.

With domestic unlocking delayed for four weeks, Toni Mayor, the head of the Hosbec association of Valencia region hoteliers, said he did not expect to see UK tourism take off until August, following a meeting with Hugh Elliott, the UK ambassador.

Turkish tourist chiefs are also understood to have received a similar message after meeting with UK Foreign Office officials, and are not expecting any lifting of overseas travel restrictions out of the UK until the beginning of August.

It comes as airlines have also started shrinking their schedules until late July in face of the Governments decision to push back freedom day by a month and the anticipated further delay in expanding the green list for quarantine-free travel.

British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and easyJet are cancelling flights until after the new July 19 date as demand plummets. Virgin Atlantic pushed back journeys from Heathrow to Cuba and Trinidad and Tobago until October as well as transatlantic flights until mid-July.

Budget airline easyJet has started dropping trips to Greece and France up until July 17 as Britons face a second summer trapped at home.

Paul Charles, the chief executive of travel consultancy The PC Agency, said the uncertainty over any prospective restarting of foreign travel was strangling the industry. He urged ministers to set a date, even if it was the beginning of August.

Why doesnt the Government give an opening up date for the travel sector in the same way as it is doing for the domestic sector, so that both can benefit from the vaccination rollout, said Mr Charles.

British people gather at Faro Airport as they interrupt their holidays in the Algarve to return home due to the British government's new quarantine rules about the COVID-19 pandemic, in Faro, Portugal, 07 June 2021. Portugal will be removed from Britain's green travel list from 08 June amid rising coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases and concern over new virus variants. British tourists interrupt holidays in the Algarve, Portugal, Faro - 07 Jun 2021 - LUIS FORRA/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Only 11 countries are currently on the Governments green list where quarantine-free travel is allowed, with Gibraltar and Iceland being the only two viable holiday destinations. Portugal was axed from the list earlier this month, forcing thousands to race home to avoid quarantine.

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It will be reviewed next week to decide if any countries could be added but ministers believe Europe is at least two months behind the UK in bringing infection rates under control and rolling out the vaccine. This would take any possible major lifting of restrictions to at least the end of July.

Mr Mayor said: The overall infection levels in Spain are still high in places and the picture is uneven, so I think we will have to wait, possibly until July 20.

He said that this would effectively mean that UK tourism would not get into full swing until August, with tour operators needing at least a fortnight to normalise operations.

It came as Mario Draghi, the Italian prime minister, warned that British tourists coming to Italy could be made to quarantine amid alarm over the growing number of delta variant cases in the UK.

British and other European visitors currently just have to show a negative Covid-19 test or proof they have been vaccinated. But that could change if the number of delta variant infections continues to rise in Britain, said Mr Draghi.

If the number of cases increases, we will have to reimpose quarantine for those who arrive from England. But we are not there yet, he said at the end of the G7 summit in Cornwall.
Sec. Lloyd Austin talking to a group of Samoans in Arlington Cemetary on Memorial Day. (YouTube/Sapa Taamu)

The emotional moment secretary of defence Lloyd Austin thanked a group remembering casualties of war at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day has been shared online.

The first video was posted on TikTok on 1 June and was shared by Puna Tamau. It showed the group Toa O Samoas commemorations getting a visit from Mr Austin as he silently walked up to them.

In the video, a man who Ms Tamau names as Mareko is speaking about what they are going to do to honour the fallen soldiers.

We are going to sing a quick Samoan song of thank you for his service to our country. he said. The entire song is sung in Samoan.

As he speaks, Mr Austin gets closer to him, and as he finishes talking, Mr Austin touches him on his shoulder, interrupting him to pay his respects.

Later, Mr Austin thanking the group is captured in a video that was posted on to YouTube on 3 June.

I want to thank you guys for your sacrifices and your loss, and tell you how much the country appreciates what you do each and every day, Mr Austin told them.

He continued, I know its a special day, I know youre here for a special reason, and I just want to add my voice and gratitude to all of you.

Mr Austins retirement from the military followed more than 40 years of service in 2016. He worked his way up to the rank of general and was involved in the campaign to defeat Islamic State.

When asked about why he joined in, the Pentagon, according to Task & Purpose, said Memorial Day is personal to Secretary Austin. And he knows all too well how personal it is to our Gold Star families.

In another TikTok, Ms Taamu explained what their group was doing on Memorial Day. She said that they were paying their respects to any soldier in the cemetery of Samoan heritage, especially those whose families cannot be there. She said they a woman mourning her brother, and decided to join her before Mr Austin came along.

We noticed another young lady, because she had been watching us, she said in a follow up TikTok. You could see she was very happy to see us there and she was clapping along with us.

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According to Task & Purpose, she said that she recognised Mr Austin from a previous encounter she had with him in 2014 while stationed in Kuwait. She said that everyone found it touching he had spoken to them during their wreath-laying ceremony.

It wasnt until he left that we actually sat back, talking about and like how cool it was for us that are in the service and that have served, she said. We actually got to meet the head guy.

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The United States has arrived at the grim milestone of 600,000 deaths attributed to COVID-19.

The U.S. reached the 600,000 figure on Tuesday, according to Johns Hopkins University. In the last week, reported deaths have averaged about 362 per day.

It was unimaginable a year and a half ago that we would reach this number, said Dr. Manoj Jain, an infectious disease physician at the Rollins School of Public Health. We initially thought it was going to be just like the flu.

NURSES UNION PLANS TOUGH NEGOTIATIONS FOR REVAMPED SAFETY MEASURES

Since the first death from COVID-19 in the U.S. on Feb. 6, 2020, deaths have averaged over 1,200 daily. Daily deaths reached a high of 4,409 on Jan. 20 during the winter surge.

The winter surge was potent. It took barely a month to reach each new 100,000 mark. Deaths increased from 300,000 in late December to 400,000 in late January, reaching 500,000 in late February.

But in a sign that the coronavirus vaccine campaign is working, it has taken almost four months to go from 500,000 to 600,000.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Yet it is likely that the official number undercounts the true number of COVID-19 deaths. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that there have been 650,589 excess deaths due to the disease. In May, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington estimated based on a similar analysis of excess deaths that there were 905,298 deaths from COVID-19 in the U.S.

Washington Examiner Videos

Tags: Healthcare, Coronavirus, death, Vaccination, Washington, Johns Hopkins, Videos

Original Author: David Hogberg

Original Location: US passes 600,000 COVID-19 deaths
Vice President Kamala Harris visited Greenville Monday to encourage South Carolina residents to get themselves and their families vaccinated.

"Vaccination gives protection," she said. "This act, in a way, is a projection of love thy neighbor," she said to a crowd of over 150 volunteers and local Democratic officials at Greenville's Phillis Whitley Community Center.

The volunteers, many of whom where associated with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, had been canvassing and mobilizing communities to get their shots.

Harris' stop in the state is part of a national effort by the Biden administration to vaccinate 70% of American adults by July 4.

Besides Harris, First Lady Jill Biden, Second Gentleman Dough Emhoff and cabinet members will be making their way to North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama and Louisiana-- states with some of the lowest vaccination rates. South Carolina, which has fully vaccinated only 39% of its residents as of Monday morning, is also one of them.

Until now, over 143 million Americans have been fully vaccinated, according to CDC data as of Monday morning. That's about 43.4% of Americans, and about 52.4% have received at least one shot.

But as cases decline nationally, so has the pace of vaccinations.

"These vaccines are built over decades of research, Harris said, zeroing in on fears caused by misinformation surrounding the vaccines. I know it seems like it happened overnight.

Part of the reason why people are hesitating to take their vaccines is because there are barriers that make it harder for people to access them, she said.

There are transportation barriers, she said, and barriers that come from the lack of childcare and support experienced by parents, both before and after getting their shots.

Meanwhile, at Clemson's Memorial Stadium, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, who was not in attendance in Greenville on Monday, commented on Harris' pro-vaccination message while at a ceremonial bill signing that will allow college athletes to benefit financially from the use of their name, image and likeness.

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South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster shakes hands with Athletic Director Dan Radakovic after he signed s. 685, Compensation of Intercollegiate Athletes, a ceremonial bill-signing at Memorial Stadium in Clemson Monday, June 14, 2021.

The vaccine is plentiful, McMaster said. At our high point, we had over 1,000, maybe 1,200 locations, counting pharmacies, as well as doctors offices and hospitals," McMaster said.

I think now there are over 900 available, and a website to tell you where they are, when theyre open and which vaccines they have. So anyone that wants a vaccination, now is a good time to get it.

Close to 200 people protest Harris' visit

Away from the indoor stage set at the Phillis Wheatley Community Center, American flags, banners featuring a machine gun wielding Donald Trump, and signs decrying Harris lack of action at the U.S.-Mexico border lined the sidewalks across the street.

A handful of Democrats countered the protesters with Biden-Harris flags and a quiet presence. But the majority of the throng were Republicans who came out to protest the vaccine clinic Harris would tour next .

My body, my choice. I feel that if people want to get the vaccination, they're more than welcome to, said Nicole Morgan. I don't think vaccines should be mandated or forced. I think everybody has the right to do what they want to with their bodies.

Trump supporters with the MYSCGOP group, including Nicole Morgan, right, and her daughter McKenna Morgan, left, protest as Vice President Kamala Harris visits Greenville Monday morning.

The protesters lined up well before Harris' arrival in Greenville. Nearly three hours had passed, and they started dispersing just after Harris moved to the next site, a clinic set up at the Caine Halter Family YMCA.

Organizer Pressley Stutts said about 200 people came out to the three-hour rally, which was aimed at letting the current administration know their thoughts on vaccine mandates.

If we don't stop it, there are going to be some mandates coming, and we want to make sure that there's no mandates. People should be free to get the vaccines they want. Free not to get it. But what's happening now is that there's a discrimination starting to take place, said Stutts, who chairs the Greenville County Tea Party and is a member of the pro-Trump coalition of political groups, mySCGOP.

Harris said her visit was a way to "step over the fence"

Inside the Caine Halter Family YMCA, the second stop of the tour, five vaccination stations were set. Lawanda Curry, a student from Greenville, sat beside Angela Godfrey, a pharmacy manager, readying herself to get her shot.

Harris, who was accompanied by Walgreens CEO Rosalind Brewer and tour guide Niki Pappos-Elledge, spoke to Curry and clapped when the shot had been administered.

In her speech to the audience, Harris used the love thy neighbor analogy again. Youre doing this for people who you may never meet, she said. Her reason of coming to Greenville was to "step over the fence" and have a conversation.

Vice President Kamala Harris speaks with Kaitlyn Ward, as Angela Godfrey administers a vaccine shot at Caine Halter Family YMCA in Greenville on Monday, June 14, 2021.

Outside the vaccine clinic, a smaller crowd, compared to the one outside the community center, gathered.

One woman from North Carolina drove hours to show her support. Renee Taylor held postcards of President Joe Biden and Vice President Harris in her hands. Her t-shirt read, Women werent given the right to vote, they won it.

Im here to see our vice president, for all that she does for the females in our country, she said.

Next door, children from a YMCA summer camp stood outside, and alongside them was a family from Pickens County.

More: Will Vice President Kamala Harris' visit increase vaccine rates in South Carolina?

Doretha Johnson was with her daughter, Rebecca, and her two grandchildren. Doretha wanted to show her grandchildren history being made.

We want them to learn and understand what the future holds for them [her grandchildren], Doretha Johnson said. Im hoping this is something not only my grandchildren will remember but other kids, she said pointing to the children from the YMCA summer camp. I want them to do right and move forward and continue educating each other.

Greenville News reporters Zoe Nicholson, Tamia Boyd and Scott Keepfer contributed to this story.

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: VP Harris urges people to get vaccinated during visit to Greenville
(AFP via Getty Images)

The amount of violent speech against Arabs and Palestinians on social media rose by 15 times during the recent conflicts in the Middle East compared to last year, a new report shared exclusively with The Independent has found.

It came after the massive assaults by the Israeli government, which displaced 52,000 Palestinians through air strikes between 6 May and 21 May 2021. At least 213 Palestinians were killed in airstrikes, including 61 children, with more than 1,400 people wounded, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Ten people were killed in Israel, including two children, Israeli authorities said at the time.

Following the assault, a ceasefire was declared between Israel and Hamas, but attacks still continued and Israel thanked the United States for blocking an earlier demand by the United Nations to end the violence.

On the internet and social media, rhetoric had continually escalated over the period. Out of 1,090,000 conversations recorded by The Arab Center for Social Media Advancement (7amleh) - which included posts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, blogs, forums, and talkbacks - approximately 183,000 of them (16.8 per cent) included racism, slurs, or incitement against Arabs, it said.

A good Arab is a dead Arab, one tweet read. Many of the other tweets shared with The Independent have similar sentiments, with some specifying boycotts to Arab businesses, or likening Arab peoples to terrorists. Twitter declined to comment.

The number of posts that referenced military and security concerns made up 76 per cent of the inciting speech  many of which came from reactions to incidents in mixed cities in Israel - with one third making violent claims and another third included specific slurs against the Arab population, in comparison to only two per cent of content in 2020.

Watch: Challenges impede war-ravaged Gazas reconstruction

The vast majority of violent speech (58 per cent) took place on Twitter over the period, as it did in 2020, compared to only eight per cent on Facebook and one per cent on the companys subsidiary, Instagram - although all social media companies have been the subject to scandals during the bombings. 7amleh did not share how many posts from the social media companies they had examined specifically.

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Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, as documented in a previous report, took a heavy-handed approach to content moderation on their respective platforms that experts categorised as de facto censorship.

Twitters automated systems, the company said, took enforcement action on a number of accounts in error. It also temporarily restricted the account of Palestinian-American writer Mariam Barghouti, who was reporting on Palestinians being evicted from Sheikh Jarrah, without a clear explanation of why  despite such explanation being necessary, per their own policies

Instagram also removed or blocked posts with hashtags for the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third-holiest site in the Islamic faith, as its moderation system mistakenly deemed the religious building a terrorist organisation. The company claimed the issue was due to a technical bug that should never have happened in the first place.

Social media remains crucial to civilians in the region spreading messages about the destruction of their homes and the effects of violence.

Were the weak ones. Social media  our cameras and our videos  is one of the only means that we have. They have the weapons and the laws and the infrastructure, Ines Abdel Razek, advocacy director for the Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy, has said. Palestinians just want to explain why this is happening and contextualize.

The amount of misinformation shared on social media, even from official channels, means such context is vital. Ofir Gendelman, a spokesperson for Benjamin Netanyahu, shared on Twitter a video that appeared to show Palestinian militants in the Gaza strip launching rockets at Israelis from civilian areas. The video, in fact, was from 2018, and was recorded in Syria or Libya, the New York Times reported.

In the wake of the recent conflicts, Israels parliament voted in favour of a new coalition government, ending prime minister Benjamin Netanyahus historic 12-year rule.

The coalition includes right-wing supporters of Jewish settlements in the West Bank to left-wing parties who support a Palestinian State. It also includes, for the first time, an Arab Islamist party, Raam.

Watch: Helpline soothes fears of traumatized Gazans

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On May 23, Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko ordered one of his fighter jets to force a civilian commercial aircraft to divert from its flight path and land in Minsk so he could arrest a journalist he did not like  risking the lives of the 132 other people on the plane. We also have reason to suspect that Russian President Vladimir Putin might have given the OK needed to carry out this dangerous and reckless act.

A swift response from the international community followed, including my visit to the Lithuanian capital earlier this month on behalf of the United States, accompanied by Sens. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, and Chris Murphy, D-Conn., to meet with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who leads in exile the democratic opposition to Lukashenkos dictatorship.

Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen in June 2021.

Her story is inspiring and tragic. Trained as a school teacher, she was thrust into the limelight when her husband was arrested for having the audacity to challenge Lukashenko for the presidency.

Tsikhanouskaya then ran for president herself in 2020. The U.S. government said it was concerned about the conduct of the election being neither free nor fair. But Lukashenko and his cronies cracked down and declared victory for themselves. They then put Tsikhanouskaya and her children under immense pressure, forcing her across the border into Lithuania.

Putins expanding influence

Despite real democratic opposition, Lukashenko survived  due in large part to the material support of his fellow kleptocrat, Vladimir Putin. Why would a dictator as wily as Putin choose to support an old-school strongman like Lukashenko? Because reestablishing the Kremlins control over Minsk is part of Putins plans to establish outposts on Russias periphery to sow chaos and subvert democracies in the region.

This must be a wake-up call for the West.

OPINIONS IN YOUR INBOX: Get our takes on current events every morning.

Putins ambition to unite Belarus and Russia into a single state and expand his authoritarian reach cannot be ignored. Beyond the dismissal of the democratic aspirations of the Belarusian people, it would also give Putin another regional tool in order to ratchet up his intimidation of Kyiv, Ukraine.

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When I visited Ukraine this month, government officials voiced concerns of Russian incursions and gray-zone warfare tactics, which would only worsen if Putin could intimidate and  in the worst case scenario  attack from the Belarusian border. Russia already leases two military bases in Belarus and is eyeing a third, and it continues to support Russia-friendly separatists and occupy large swathes of Ukraine with Russian soldiers.

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, front, in Kyiv, Ukraine, in June 2021.

Russian activity in the Black Sea is particularly worrying and could suggest more Russian action against Ukraine this fall, when Europe is on vacation and Germany is distracted by its own elections.

Belarus is on the forefront of our minds, and Ukraine still retains broad bipartisan support in Washington. But its worth noting that Russias first play to subvert democracy in Eastern Europe started with the Republic of Georgia, where I also visited. I saw the administrative boundary line demarcating part of the 20% of Georgia occupied by Russia and its local proxies. Here, Russian forces try to intimidate Georgians by occasionally moving the fence marking the line and hindering movement of Georgian citizens across the line, preventing access to essential services.

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen's group visits the administrative boundary line in Georgia in June 2021.

The Russians also hinder the activities of the European Unions monitoring mission, and engage in disinformation campaigns designed to disrupt Georgias democracy in ways Americans know all too well from our elections.

Rein in Russia

Russias malign behavior extends beyond Eastern Europe. Putins Nord Stream 2 pipeline would link Russia directly with Germany via the Baltic Sea. This project would allow Russia to end the transit of gas through Ukraine, depriving Kyiv of crucial revenue. The Ukrainians, along with the Poles and Baltic countries, have protested loudly to their fellow Europeans to try to stop the pipeline, but construction continues.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Sochi, Russia, in February 2021.

So, while recent actions in Belarus are concerning in their own right, the broader pattern of Putins behavior must be confronted before Belarus is swallowed into his orbit.

First, we need to seriously consider NATO membership for Ukraine and Georgia, or at least provide a clear path for entry. Both want to join, which would be devastating for Putins plans. Since its inception, NATO has been open to countries who make the sovereign decision to join, and approved unanimously, and it should not be any different now. Reforms are required to ensure the alliance would be gaining strong allies, but failure to act would deliver a victory for Putin.

Moscow's most meddlesome man: Biden needs to get tough with Putin and inflict a higher cost on Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow in December 2020.

Second, we need to stop Nord Stream 2. This is a purely geopolitical project, and it will serve nobodys interests but Putins. The Biden administration needs to work with our Western European partners to protect our equally important Eastern European allies. Using the sanctions tools that Congress has provided, both the completion and operationalization of the project can be averted.

Third, we need to enhance our military and diplomatic presence in the region. We need a qualified ambassador in Kyiv as soon as possible. Promoting business and investment ties with Ukraine and Georgia would benefit both our countries, as well.

Finally, we need to ensure that the transatlantic community remains united. We cannot allow Putins attempts to divide us succeed. President Joe Bidens trip to Europe, preceded by Secretary of State Antony Blinkens previous trips, have reignited the energy of our bilateral relationship. And Putins plans cannot succeed against a West that stands together.

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen is a Democrat representing New Hampshire in the U.S. Senate and is co-chair of the Senate NATO Observer Group. She is also the only woman and a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Follow her on Twitter: @SenatorShaheen

You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @usatodayopinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter. To respond to a column, submit a comment to letters@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden-Putin meeting: Russia's expanding influence must be checked
Disney+ has given the green light to a musical, limited-series prequel to its live-action movie "Beauty and the Beast." It's slated to begin production next year.

The show, starring the 2017 film's Gaston (Luke Evans) and LeFou (Josh Gad), will follow the duo "as they set off with LeFou's stepsister, Tilly (Briana Middleton of George Clooney's upcoming "The Tender Bar"), after a surprising revelation from her past comes to light, sending the unlikely trio off on an unexpected journey filled with romance, comedy and adventure," according to a Tuesday press release.

Apart from Gad and Evans, the show will also boast new tunes from EGOT-winning songwriter Alan Menken ("Be Our Guest," "Beauty and the Beast"). Tony-nominated director Liesl Tommy ("Eclipsed") helms the pilot.

The limited series' announced working title, "Beauty and the Beast," will likely have to change: As the show takes place "years before the Beast and Belle's epic romance," it apparently features neither that Beauty nor that Beast (neither Emma Watson nor Dan Stevens from the 2017 film is in the initial casting announcement). The series, however, promises to reveal how the Prince became the Beast, as well as answering other burning questions.

Gary Marsh, president and chief creative officer of Disney Branded Television, said in the release, "For anyone whos ever wondered how a brute like Gaston and a goof like LeFou could have ever become friends and partners, or how a mystical enchantress came to cast that fateful spell on the prince-turned-beast, this series will finally provide those answers  and provoke a whole new set of questions."

Gad co-developed the show and is credited as an executive producer and writer along with Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz (both of ABC's "Once Upon a Time"). Gad also co-created, executive produced and starred in the animated musical series "Central Park" on Apple TV+.

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LeFou made headlines at the time of the 2017 film's release for being part of what director Bill Condon called a "nice, exclusively gay moment in a Disney movie" as the character sorted through his feelings for the preening, abusive Gaston.

Though the announcement comes during the year fans mark as the 30th anniversary of the 1991 animated film's release, not everyone was enchanted by the promise of Disney mining one of its previous hits for new material yet again. The Times' film critic Justin Chang tweeted lyrics to the tune of the Oscar-winning song, "Beauty and the Beast": "Tale as old as time / True as it can be / Stories never end / Studios depend / On the same IP."

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
(Bloomberg) -- With a week until the New York City primary election, progressive favorite Maya Wiley said many voters wont be persuaded by moderate candidates promising old ideas and that polls reflecting Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and former city Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia as frontrunners didnt tell the full story.

The citys election board said around 50,000 people have gone to the polls since early voting began over the weekend, but many voters remain puzzled over a ranked-choice voting system that asks residents to select their top five candidates rather than choose just one. Mayoral candidates will meet Wednesday for the final televised Democratic debate before the June 22 primary.

Key Stories:

Mets Owner Cohen Gives $1.5 Million for Adamss NYC Mayoral BidNYC Mayor Race Becomes Progressives 2021 Shot to Show CloutIs Bill de Blasio Secretly Backing Eric Adams for Mayor?NYCs Leading Candidates for Mayor Include Ex-Cop, Trash Chief

Absentee Votes

Tuesday is the last day to request an absentee ballot ahead of the primary. Nearly 211,000 absentee ballots have been sent out and more than 52,000 had been returned as of 10 a.m. on Tuesday, according to officials at a city board of elections commissioners meeting held Tuesday.

That is equivalent to about 30% of all votes cast in the 2013 Democratic primary won by Mayor Bill de Blasio, when nearly 692,000 New Yorkers voted. Around 18,000 votes were cast through absentee or military ballots in the 2013 Democratic primary, the last competitive mayoral primary, according to the election board.

Early Voters Puzzled By Ranked-Choice Voting

Early voters making their way to the polls are providing a preliminary look at how residents are responding to a flurry of changes in how people vote in the city. This is the first time the city has allowed early voting for a mayors race, following a 2019 state voting law change, and around 50,000 people have cast their ballot in the first few days, according to the citys election board.

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New Yorkers are also being hit with a new kind of ballot where voters are asked to rank their top five choices, rather than picking just one candidate. The system is meant for voters to get more of a say in deciding the ultimate winner, but some voters on Tuesday said they found it confusing.

Jerome Narramore, 50, who voted in lower Manhattan Tuesday, only voted for one candidate and said that if he had been better educated he may have ranked the candidates. I think its very confusing, they didnt get the messaging out as to how it actually works for everybody to understand what the impact is to a number two candidate versus a number one candidate, he said.

Other voters embraced the change but werent sure how the ranked system would impact the winner of the race. I dont know actually if it gives me more of a choice, said Naomi Daniels, 48, who voted in Lower Manhattan on Tuesday. I dont fully understand how that all plays out.

Daniels, who ranked Kathryn Garcia and Eric Adams first and second, said I definitely was a bit apprehensive because it seemed so different from the past but the ballots were clear and I did some reading before and heard some stuff on the radio, so I felt prepared, she said.

The city spent $15 million on an education campaign around ranked-choice voting.

Read More: Ranked-Choice Voting Gets Its New York City Audition: QuickTake

Wiley Pushes Back On Need for Moderate Leader

Civil rights lawyer and progressive favorite Maya Wiley said that desegregating schools would be one of her top priorities as mayor during a campaign stop on Tuesday.

She pledged to end the controversial Specialized High School Admissions Test, increase class sizes, hire 2,500 more public-school teachers, and expand on trauma-informed care for kids returning to school in September after a year plagued by pandemic restrictions. Our kids were traumatized, she said, noting her own traumatic experience as a 9-year-old watching her father die in a boating accident.

Wiley said she didnt think Adams and Garcia were leading in the polls because they offered a more moderate vision to address quality-of-life issues important to voters.

What I am hearing from voters is frankly very different, its one the reasons why Im definitely gaining in polls and why progressives have coalesced around this historic run, she said, noting recent endorsements from progressive lawmakers like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Rather than going back to the same old ideas that didnt fix the problem, were going to lean hard into the courage to stand up to developers, the courage to confront the bureaucracy and courage, frankly, to confront the NYPD.

Garcia Talks Government Experience

Garcia appealed to voters to choose her as their next mayor, saying the election was about who can best use his or her government experience to spur the citys economic comeback from the Covid-19 pandemic.

People want government to work for them, Garcia, 51, said during a Bloomberg Television interview. Theres nothing more progressive than having government work for them, she said. How are you just going to make it work? Thats going to be the key to winning this election.

Garcia also said she had no second choice among her Democratic competitors in the June 22 primary: I would not be in this race if I had a strong second choice. Im running because New York City is in a state of crisis and needs someone whos ready to roll up their sleeves and just do the work, and thats what Ive been doing for the last 14 years.

De Blasio Rebuts Report of Adams Support

Mayor Bill de Blasio rebutted a report in the New York Times that said he was quietly supporting Adams for mayor. I havent made up my mind about who I am voting for, let alone who I am supporting, de Blasio, who is term-limited, said in a Tuesday briefing.De Blasio said hes had conversations with union bosses and clergy leaders who have reached out for advice, but hasnt made a decision. He called on the candidates to make their platforms more clear to voters. He said hed be closely watching Wednesdays debate for more discussion on education, income inequality, transportation and how these leaders intend to move us forward.At a televised debate earlier this month, the top candidates said that they didnt want de Blasios backing, save for Yang, who said hed accept it. And in a recent Emerson College poll, few voters said a de Blasio endorsement would make them more likely to support a candidate.

Garcia, Wiley Tempt History

The rise of Garcia and civil-rights activist Maya Wiley means there is a fighting chance New York City may get its first female mayor. Garcia and Wiley ranked second and third, respectively, in the latest poll on the crowded race. Garcia has won the endorsement of the New York Times and Daily News, while Wiley is backed by national progressives, including Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Elizabeth Warren.

The city is among the most diverse in the nation, and yet nearly all of its more than 100 mayors have been White men. David Dinkins, who served from 1990 to 1993, was the only Black person to hold the office.

Yang Disputes Poll Numbers

Yang disputed a Marist poll released Monday that showed him slipping to fourth place, with 13% of respondents ranking him as their first choice for mayor after Adams, Garcia and Wiley.

Our internal polls show its essentially a tossup, he said Monday night during a virtual interview with the Economic Club of New York moderated by Bloomberg News. There are a bunch of other numbers that seem very positive for us, including the fact that over 30% of the people who voted so far are first-time voters, which bodes very well for us.

The city doesnt release data on first-time voters so Yang is relying on internal campaign figures.

Yang said a Monday endorsement by the Captains Endowment Association, the union Adams belonged to when he served as a captain in the NYPD, helped make the case that Yang would improve public safety in the city. Yang pledged to speak up for police officers who believe they were villianized by politicians, he said. My first order of business will be to go to the police officers and say to them, We need you.

Unlike rivals who said they would cut the size of the NYPD, the largest police department in the U.S., Yang said he would double the number of officers in the gun violence suppression division and require two detectives assigned to every shooting. He said he would build a new anti-violence and community-safety unit of plainclothes officers to focus on guns.

Wall Street Doubles Down on Adams

Adamss campaign has received a multimillion dollar financial boost from hedge fund and real estate executives in the last weeks of the race.

Total contributions to the Strong Leadership NYC PAC, which was created to support Adams, rose to $6.2 million from $2 million in the last month, according to the New York City Campaign Finance Board. The money haul includes $1.5 million from hedge fund manager and New York Mets owner Steve Cohen and $250,000 apiece from real estate developer Gary Barnett and Napster co-founder and former Facebook executive Sean Parker.

Citadel chief executive Ken Griffin gave $250,000 and Third Point CEO Dan Loeb gave $500,000 on June 3, adding to previous donations of $500,000 a piece. In the last month, the political action committee supporting Adamss campaign added 25 donors, up from just four a month ago.

The Democratic mayoral candidates have doled out $55 million on the race, and independent groups supporting them have reported another $25 million in expenditures, according to campaign-finance reports filed June 11. The candidates have more than $13 million left to spend, according to the latest campaign-finance filings.

Former Citigroup banker Ray McGuire has spent the most campaigning among the top eight Democrats, with little movement in the polls to show for his $10.5 million outlay. Adams is second in spending, with $9.4 million; followed by city Comptroller Scott Stringer with $8.4 million and Yang with $8.1 million.

(Adds absentee votes)

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Watch: Mike Tindall loves looking after his son!

Zara and Mike Tindall have joined her uncle, Prince Charles, and her mother, Princess Anne, at day one of Royal Ascot in Berkshire.

The Queen is not expected to attend the annual race gathering until later in the week, but she has horses in races on many days and will likely be watching avidly from home.

Zara is an Olympian equestrian and shares a love of horses with her grandmother, the Queen, as well as Princess Anne.

She and husband Tindall welcomed their third child, a boy, earlier this year, and this is one of their first happy public events since baby Lucas's arrival.

They were both in attendance at the funeral of Prince Philip in April.

Zara Tindall arrives with husband Mike on day one of the Royal Ascot meeting at Ascot Racecourse. (Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)

Charles and Camilla presented the winner's trophy in the St James's Palace stakes. (Samir Hussein/WireImage)

Tindall revealed details of the birth of their son on his podcast, The Good, the Bad, and the Rugby, telling his co-hosts that Zara gave birth on their bathroom floor.

The royal was spotted out in May at the Cirencester Park International Horse Trials with baby Lucas in a pram.

But she has kept a low-profile since the birth of her first son.

The sport-loving couple celebrated Cheltenham Races back in March at home, as the event had to take place behind closed doors.

Zara and Mike are sports lovers and regularly attend racing events. (Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)

Zara and Mike are two of 12,000 racegoers made up of owners and the public who are permitted to attend the meeting due to it being an Events Research Programme (ERP) set up by the Government due to the Coronavirus pandemic. (Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)

Read more: Duchess of Cambridge reveals they're keeping chickens as pets  which they hatched from eggs

But former rugby player Tindall looked pleased to be back at an in-person event on Tuesday, as he and Zara made up some of the 12,000 racegoers allowed at the Ascot racecourse in Berkshire.

Also there from the royal contingent were Prince Charles and Camilla, Zara's mother Princess Anne and the Countess of Wessex.

The royals would usually arrive by horse drawn carriage, but this year, the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall were driven in by car.

The duchess wore a cream shift dress with a blue ribbon effect coat by Bruce Oldfield, with a matching face covering.

Her hat is by Philip Treacy, a milliner used regularly by members of the Royal Family.

Prince Charles at Royal Ascot 2021 at Ascot Racecourse. (Samir Hussein/WireImage)

Camilla donned a matching face covering with her blue and white ensemble. (Samir Hussein/WireImage)

Read more: Duchess of Cambridge says COVID made her value family connections even more

Story continues

The Queen has stayed away for day one of Ascot, usually a favourite event in her annual calendar, but is believed to be keen to attend later in the week.

John Warren, her racing manager, told Radio 4: "Its remarkable.

"The Queens energy levels are incredible.

"Shes 95.

"She went down to the G7 this week, and trundled back on the train in the middle of the night and the energy will be raised higher again for a week like Ascot."

Zara Tindall (left), Dolly Maude and Anna Lisa Balding (right) react as they watch the King's Stand Stakes, which the Queen had a runner in. (PA images)

The Princess Royal (right) speaks to Zara Tindall ahead of the King's Stand Stakes during day one of Royal Ascot. (PA image)

The Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Earl of Wessex ahead of the St James's Palace Stakes. (PA Images)

He added: "Obviously the Queen would love to attend, as you know shes fanatic about racing, watching racing and breeding horses, and has been going to Ascot all of her adult life.

"So, its a shame to miss an event.

"The plan at the moment is to see how it goes towards the latter part of the week and if the Queens able to come because shes got runners, then, fingers crossed, it will happen."

She had a runner, Kings Lynn, in the 15.40 Kings Stand Stakes. He came seventh.

Princess Anne, Princess Royal in blue on the first day of Royal Ascot. (Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

The Duchess of Cornwall alongside the Prince of Wales in the Royal Box on day one of Royal Ascot. (PA Images)

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall in the Royal Box. (PA images)

Read more: Royal Ascot style guide encourages second-hand clothing: We'd love to see the royals re-wear these outfits

But instead of a day at the races, she carried out her first in-person audience for more than a year as she hosted Australian prime minister Scott Morrison in the Oak Room of Windsor Castle.

She has been holding them virtually, with ambassadors and attendees appearing via video link from Buckingham Palace.

However following her tea with Joe Biden at Windsor on Sunday, Morrison became the first head of state to attend an in-person audience since March 2020.

The Queen's daughter-in-law, Camilla, also revealed the monarch's love of the sport in more depth in an interview with ITV.

She said: "Well I think this is her passion in life and she loves it, and you can tell how much she loves it.

"She could tell you every horse shes bred and owned from the very beginning  she doesnt forget anything. I can hardly remember what I bred a year ago but shes encyclopaedic about her knowledge."

Royal Ascot takes place over five days, beginning on Tuesday.
Amherst County and Lynchburg area emergency workers rescued a person from the James River early Monday, according to a news release and Facebook post from responding agencies.

At about 8:08 p.m. Monday the Amherst County Dispatch Center received a call in reference to a missing female, the release from the Amherst County Sheriffs Office said. Deputies responded to the area of Monacan Park, located the females vehicle and requested assistance in the search.

After an extensive air, water and ground search, the missing female was recovered from the water by a fire department boat at 4 a.m., the release said.

She was taken to Lynchburg General Hospital where she is being treated and is in stable condition, the release said.

A Facebook post from a responding department, the Amherst Fire Department, said the Amherst County Swiftwater Rescue Team was dispatched on the James River in the area of Salt Creek to assist in the search. The female was holding on to a log in the river when she was pulled to safety, the post said.
He moved to Radford in his early 20s and spent time in Alabama before moving back to Northern Virginia in 2003.

Well, the first thing I would say is, it wasnt my decision, it was Gods decision, Rhodes said of pursuing priesthood. It wasnt ever something that had you asked me 15 years ago  I probably would have laughed because it was nowhere on my radar, but God had different plans for me than I had for myself.

Prior to beginning seminary in 2014, Rhodes said there was a period of time he could only describe as receiving taps on his shoulder for a calling which he ignored.

Those taps became more and more noticeable, until one Sunday when he and his wife returned from church and he suddenly felt like I was being grabbed by the lapels of my jacket and being shaken.

Its been a process of tearing myself down for a period of time in Radford, and so many other people helping build me back up and rediscover who I was, and ultimately me paying attention to the nudges and taps and everything else, finally coming back to realize not just who I was but what it was I being led to do, Rhodes said.
AMHERST  The second defendant facing shooting charges in relation to an incident that left a teenager dead in Amherst County was denied bond Tuesday.

Micheal Jerrod Boone, 30, of Whiteville, North Carolina, is being held at the Amherst County Adult Detention Center on charges of shooting into an occupied dwelling, shooting from a vehicle, obstruction of justice, giving a false identity to law enforcement and forging public records.

Law enforcement found Boone and his co-defendant, Steve Anderson Burrell, with a 17-year-old who was suffering from a gunshot wound in a car at the intersection of U.S. 29 and Virginia 130 the night of May 31, Deputy Commonwealths Attorney Amber Drumheller said at Boones hearing in Amherst General District Court on Tuesday.

The three had driven up from North Carolina to purchase a car from two people on Sprouse Drive, Drumheller said. After being in the neighborhood for about 20 to 30 minutes, she said they heard shots fired.

The teen, identified by family as Malachi Zechariah Mullins in the Whiteville-based newspaper The News Reporter, yelled hed been hit, according to Drumheller. Burrell was in a car when the shots rang out and Boone was behind it. After they heard the shots, Drumheller said Burrell climbed into the car theyd just bought and the three left the scene.
We work together and we bond together. Were here as much as we are at home, he said. He added that the shooting made him nervous about going back to work for fear that somebody is going to walk in the door and shoot you."

Ann Walters told Al.com that Dobbins was her grandson, and that he had been working at the factory for nearly a year, saving up to buy a home and a car. He was a perfect gentleman, everybody will tell you. He was good to everybody and put his family first, she said.

Mueller Co., based in Cleveland, Tennessee, is a subsidiary of Atlanta-based Mueller Water Products Inc., which calls itself a leading maker of water distribution and measurement products in North America. More than 400 people work at the plant in Albertville, giving the city in northwest Alabama its nickname of Fire Hydrant Capital of the World.

In a statement read aloud by the police chief, company officials said they were shocked and deeply saddened by the horrific tragedy, and committed to providing help and support to the victims families.
Convinced there had to be an easier way, she consulted her arts and crafts kit and built the first prototype. She showed it to her parents, and, for a while, that was the end of it.

She graduated from Washington and Lee University and enrolled in dental school at VCU, where she began learning about floss. Shocked, she discovered a better product still hadnt been invented.

To find out if her idea was marketable, she met with Spark Product Development, a Richmond-based firm that helps turn abstractions into sellable products. With VCUs funding, Spark is helping her figure out various aspects of the business, including whether her invention can be manufactured at scale.

To determine whether her idea contains defendable intellectual property, the university consulted lawyers. They decided that, yes, there was space in the market for her nascent product.

After a prototype is developed, Gordon can go back to VCU and ask the Innovation Gateway, a unit of the university that helps its faculty and students commercialize their innovations, to fund the next steps.

Gordon was one of 10 applicants to pitch her product to the board. Two were chosen for full funding, and three others were granted partial funding.
Following a long pandemic break, the P.E.O Council Bluffs/Treynor Reciprocity Sisterhood held its spring meeting on Monday, May 17, at St. Johns Lutheran Church in Council Bluffs.

Hosted by Chapter GQ, chapter members were invited to take home pastries prepared by the creative hands of Nancy File and Mary Thomsen.

Following an informal get acquainted gathering, the meeting came together in due form and was conducted by retiring president Jan Stroy of Chapter IQ who recapped finished and unfinished business for the year, entertained committee reports and presided over the installation of new officers for 2021-2022 to include: President Joanne Becker, representing Chapter LP. Newly appointed Vice President Kathleen Pyper of Chapter LR and and Julie Funkhouser, Chapter OZ of Treynor, was appointed treasurer.

Former president Amy Krasne of Chapter IQ will serve in an advisory capacity. Other officers and committee appointees will be drawn from eight area chapters: LP; LR; MF; MQ; OZ; FK; GQ; and IQ to round out the leadership.
Police have located and arrested a woman accused of setting another woman on fire.

Lindsy Maves, 28, was taken into custody without further incident on Monday, the Council Bluffs Police Department said. She was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, first-degree arson and willful injury. Maves is being held at the Pottawattamie County Jail. The jail booking website did not list a bond amount on Monday evening.

Officers were called to New Visions Homeless Services in the 1400 block of North 15th Street just after 4:30 a.m. on Monday after an altercation between Maves and another woman. The altercation had occurred in the area, but not at the shelter, according to New Visions Director Brandy Wallar.

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During the fight, Maves allegedly sprayed a flammable substance on the woman and lit her on fire, police said. As a third person at the scene tried to put out the fire, Maves allegedly continued to attack the victim, hitting her in the face with an unknown object, police said.

The woman that was injured walked to our shelter, she came to our facility to get help, Wallar said. We contacted police. She was in pretty bad shape. Im glad we were able to help.
The internet has been a great unifier, enabling people to join others around the globe in pursuit of common interests. And now, the internets largest platform operators  Facebook, Amazon, Apple and Google  are uniting Democrats and Republicans on the House antitrust subcommittee in pursuit of their common interest: reining in Big Techs power.

Members of the subcommittee on Friday introduced five bills, each with bipartisan co-sponsors, that aim to bar platform operators from using those platforms to benefit their other businesses and to increase competition in their markets. They zero in on some of the biggest problems these companies pose, but their proposed fixes are partial at best  not surprising, given that they look at the companies through the lens of antitrust policy.

For example, nothing in the bills would address the thorny speech-related issues raised by lawmakers on both sides of the aisle  the complaints by Republicans that the platforms are censoring conservatives (a bias that some researchers have refuted) and by Democrats that the platforms arent doing enough to stop the spread of misinformation and hate speech. Nor would any of the bills provide the kind of privacy protections that California provides and that internet users throughout the country need.
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City approval will drive more economic resources to the community by adding jobs, supply and service needs to maintain and operate the facility and the customer needs generated from the operation of their businesses, the application adds.

If the council approves the conditional use permit, no further city approval would be required for a casino outside of routine permits related to construction, Clark said.

The Racing and Gaming Commission would have to approve the projects racetrack license and the types of racing allowed, such as races of Thoroughbreds, quarter horses or other types such as harness racing.

Should the tracks owners want to also offer gaming and horse-race simulcasting, they would need separate licenses for those from the state commission.

Clark and Erickson referred further comment on specific project details to Breann Becker of Hastings, a director of Hastings Exposition & Racing Inc. and general manager of quarter horse racing at FairPlay Park at the Adams County Fairgrounds.
North Platte school leaders dont think much of the draft health curriculum standards drawing fire statewide, Superintendent Ron Hanson said during Monday nights monthly school board meeting.

As they currently are written, we dont want anything to do with them, Hanson said after two women used the meetings public comment period to denounce the first draft the Nebraska Department of Education released earlier this spring.

He said the school board has the authority to reject part or all of whatever standards the State Board of Education might adopt after revisions are presented and comments are taken on them later this year.

Regardless of what version they come out with, this board still has the (final) decision, Hanson said after separate comments by Jennifer Thomas and Katie Pinkerton, both of North Platte.

We have a pretty darn good (health) curriculum right now, Hanson said. If the school board doesnt like the states revised standards, well obviously reject it again.

The draft standards, which were released in March, called for Nebraskas children to start learning about gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation and gender stereotypes as early as first grade.
Pendergast told the story of how her confidence grew because of her mother and the struggle she had to face when her mother was sent to the ICU.

Jessica Lange of Crofton also told a story about life struggles, making it easy to see that winning isnt everything.

Once youre on top, someone or something is trying to take you down, Lange said while explaining how her familys dairy farm came crashing down when milk prices dropped drastically.

While life stories were some contestants focus, Bailey Lehr of Columbus told stories of rodeo stars who sacrificed a win for something bigger and said cowboys and cowgirls from all over are always willing to put themselves second for another rodeo competitor.

Danielle Forster of Smithfield spoke about day-to-day life and work of a cowboy before and how it evolved into the sport of rodeo, which had a very humble beginning. She added, Many events were created by ranchers just trying to get the job done.

Sierra Peterson, Miss Rodeo Nebraska 2012, emceed the speech competition with the assistance of Miss Rodeo Nebraska 2020-21 Joeli Walrath and Miss Teen Rodeo Nebraska 2019-20 Brylee Thompson. It was stressed several times throughout the event how important the speech portion of the contest is.

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Its traditional location, near the South Platte northeast of North Platte Community Colleges North Campus, is believed to be near where the expedition of Don Pedro de Villasur celebrated the first Mass in present-day Nebraska.

Villasur and about half of his party of more than 100 people later were killed by a band of French-allied Pawnee on Aug. 13, 1720, near present-day Columbus.

Seiker, whose departure came before next Sundays first Field Mass since 2019, said its important for Catholics to model the faith of Villasur and his companions.

All of us now alive now need to remember that and live that for ourselves, he said.

Seikers faith was tested in a most personal way on May 30, 2016, when he was seriously injured in a wreck on Interstate 80 halfway between the Brady and Gothenburg exits.

A westbound semitrailer truck overcorrected and rolled, causing Seikers trailing van to strike it. He suffered a concussion, facial lacerations and several bone fractures.

As he recovered in a Kearney hospital, Catholics from all three North Platte parishes  and even some non-Catholics  gathered at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton the next day to pray for Seiker.
Farmers and ranchers depend on conservation programs to benefit their operations. The Nebraska Farm Bureau has joined forces with conservation groups as part of the Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance, because carbon markets mentioned in the report can be a tremendous opportunity for their members. Further, Sen. Deb Fischer and Congressman Don Bacon are original co-sponsors of the Growing Climate Solutions Act, which would make it easier for Nebraskas farmers and ranchers to tap into emerging carbon markets.

Conservation in Nebraska is supported by an innovative partnership of state, local, federal and NGO budgets. If we remove federal dollars from the equation, Nebraska loses. The citizens of Nebraska need voluntary federal conservation programs administered by the U.S. Department of Agricultures Farm Service Agency and Natural Resources Conservation Service. The demand by farmers and ranchers for programs like the Conservation Reserve Program, Environmental Quality Incentives Program and Conservation Stewardship Program has outpaced funding each year for decades. The 30x30 report will honor private land ownership and individual rights in the same manner as these programs, because the local landowners are the ones who know their land best.
A dog waits in the Frankfurt airport, one of Europes largest transit stations for live cargo. Photo: Andreas Arnold/picture alliance via Getty Image

Public health isnt just for people. On Monday, the Centers for Disease Control announced that the United States would ban the importation of dogs from 113 countries for at least one year, following a spike in puppies coming in with falsified rabies certificates.

Like many concerns surrounding transmissible diseases these days, the surge in fake rabies documents can be traced back to the pandemic. With pet adoptions skyrocketing in the wake of coronavirus lockdowns, dog importations shot up in an apparent response to meet the demand  including some pups with bad paperwork. According to CDC rabies expert Emily Pieracci, over 450 dogs arrived in the U.S. with fraudulent rabies certificates in 2020, which marked a 52 percent increase over the previous two years. Most of these examples involved records claiming the puppy was over four months old; dogs under that age are not allowed into the U.S. because rabies shots arent yet fully effective in such young dogs. The majority of these animals came from Russia, Ukraine, and Colombia, though the U.S. will ban dog imports, adoptions, and travel from another 110 countries with high rabies risks. The banned countries make up around 6 percent of the dogs brought to the United States each year.

Were doing this to make sure that we protect the health and safety of dogs that are imported into the United States as well as protect the publics health, Pieracci told NPR. As the Associated Press notes, the goal of the measure is to ensure that canine rabies remains eradicated within U.S. borders: Dogs were once common carriers of the virus in the U.S., but the type that normally circulates in dogs was eliminated in the U.S. through vaccinations in the 1970s. In 1988, a new type of dog rabies was brought in from Mexico. It spread to wild coyotes, and it took 19 years to eliminate.

As for the potential that a puppy adopted during the pandemic was not properly vaccinated against rabies, veterinarians claim the risk is low.

This post has been updated to reflect that the ban is for one year, not two years.
Lauren Bradford, a recent Auburn University graduate and former Miss Auburn University, is the 2021 Miss Alabama.

Bradford beat out a field of 39 competitors on June 12 to win the Miss Alabama crown at the historic Alabama Theatre in Birmingham. Bradford, who won the 2019 Miss Auburn University title as a freshman, represented Jefferson County in this years competition, which was held June 10-12.

The Gulf Shores native graduated from Auburn University in May 2021, earning a bachelors degree in finance in three years. She is currently obtaining a masters degree in finance at Vanderbilt University.

The newly crowned state titleholder took to social media over the weekend, thanking friends and family for the support throughout the competition.

Alabama is my home, a post on her Facebook account reads. It has forever impacted and molded me. I treasure immensely the opportunity to steward my gifts and time in order to give back to the people of Alabama for a year. I am excited to get to work, and to represent Alabama at Miss America.
Its to highlight our history and heritage, and its not just for black people to come out and celebrate  its for everyone, Holmes said. It also helps our young people to understand their history. I work for the Boys & Girls Club, and I run into a lot of our youth who dont have any idea about what Juneteenth really is.

After the Opelika City Council approved street closures for the event in April, Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller stressed the importance of freedom.

It is an important holiday, he said of Juneteenth, and its an important reminder for all of us about freedom and the things we cherish in this great country  things that each of us hold near and dear.

I place a great deal of value on my freedom and all of our freedoms, so I look forward to participating in the Juneteenth celebration.

Auburn

On May 15, a group of eight Auburn residents, including Hall and Fitch-Taylor, the Ward 1 Auburn City Councilperson, met to discuss how to best organize the event.
After a prayer, members of the community came to the podium to tell the stories of the four men the marker memorializes.

In 1886, cousins John Moss and George Hart were a part of a search party to find the body of a missing white man in Waverly, and upon finding him, a white lynch mob formed and accused them of murder. On Nov. 3 of that year, despite his pleas of innocence, Moss was tortured before he was hanged and his body burned.

In 1887, Hart was taken to the Montgomery jail for protection before being returned to Opelika to stand trial, but on Nov. 5 of that year, an armed mob kidnapped him from the county jail after hearing there was insufficient evidence for a conviction and hanged him on the same tree as his cousin. The mob also placed a placard on his body that read, This negro was hung by 100 determined men; whoever cuts him down will suffer his fate.

On March 17, 1900, a white teenager reported being startled after seeing Charles Humphries, a Black employee of her father, in her room. The next morning a mob of white men went to his home in Phenix City and shot him over 40 times.
Washington, PA (15301)

Today

Partly cloudy skies. Slight chance of a rain shower. High around 70F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

A few clouds. Slight chance of a shower throughout the evening. Low 54F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
After a devastating 2020 strife-torn Colombia has been rocked by widespread anti-government protests which were sparked at the end of April 2021 by President Duques proposed tax reform. Authorities heavy-handed repression of the protests which sees 77 dead, with 40 of those at the hands of police and security agencies according to think tank Indepaz, sparked a series of road blockades across Colombia. Those have prevented onshore oil companies from resupplying their operations and transporting petroleum by road, forcing many to shutter production. The regions among the worst affected are the Putumayo and Middle Magdalena Valley Basins, forcing Colombias fifth-largest oil producer Gran Tierra Energy to shut-in 5,250 barrels of oil production. This is because most of the drillers developed oil reserves and producing fields are in those two basins. The overall impact of the protests and related blockades on Colombias economically vital oil industry has been severe. Colombias energy minister Diego Mesa released data showing that national oil production fell below 700,000 barrels per day during May 2021, the first time since 2009 when national oil output averaged 670,526 barrels per day. Mesa went on to claim the blockades had forced up to 48,000 barrels of daily oil production offline and cost the combined energy and mining sectors over $69 million. Regardless of those events, Mesa believes that Colombia will still pump on average 780,000 to 800,000 barrels per day during 2021, although that is dependent on the blockades being lifted. It is worth noting that the forecast is well above the daily average of 745,305 barrels pumped for the first four months of the year, meaning it likely will not be achieved unless there is a significant lift in production during the second half of 2021.

Despite signs that the anti-government protests are easing, boding well for Colombias economically vital energy sector, there is still considerable uncertainty. The national strike committee, which is composed of 27 different organizations including unions, student and civil society groups has failed to reach a concrete agreement with the national government. This is in part due to the Duque administrations unwillingness to negotiate unless the roadblocks are lifted but also because of the different agendas of the groups comprising the coalition, which lacks the ability to compel protestors to lift blockades. In many regions, notably the departments of Meta, Cauca, and Putumayo, the blockades are being driven by long-standing local grievances concerning violence and lack of access to vital economic resources. The petroleum industry in many of those areas is also facing a crisis with its social license deteriorating because of the push to introduce hydraulic fracturing and local environmental damage caused by oil extraction. That is particularly notable in Puerto Gaitan where oilfields were subject to violent invasions before Colombias national protests commenced. Nonetheless, according to Colombias defense ministry, there were only 18 active blockades (Spanish) as of Friday last week compared to well over 2,000 at the peak. That bodes well for the ongoing reactivation of the crucial energy sector.

Related: How An Oil Pipeline Hack Sent Bitcoin Prices Tumbling

Regardless of the protests and failure to reach a negotiated outcome with the strike committee, which would bring them to an end, Colombias energy ministry is pressing ahead with reactivating the energy sector. This saw the ministry announce, last week, (Spanish) the launch of Colombias hydrocarbon round 2021. Colombias hydrocarbon regulator the National Hydrocarbon Agency (ANH  Spanish initials) is offering 32 blocks to energy investors with four nominated by energy companies and the remaining 28 offered by the agency. The ANHs 28 blocks are composed of five onshore blocks in the Lower, Middle and Upper Magdalena Valley as well as the Llanos Basins and 23 offshore blocks in the Uraba, Sinu - San Jacinto, Choco Continental, Choco Offshore and Tumaco Basins.

Source: ANH.

Public hearings for offers and counteroffers for the blocks being offered will be held in November and December with contracts to be signed during the last month of 2021.

This is an important development for Colombia because the reactivation of the hydrocarbon sector is key to rebuilding an economy shattered by the pandemic, which shrank nearly 7% during 2020. Bogota is focused on expanding investment in the oil industry with higher foreign direct investment and oil production important drivers of fiscal revenue as well as GDP. This is particularly important because Colombias economy is dependent on hydrocarbon production to grow yet possesses very meager oil and natural gas reserves. For 2020, which was an abnormal year due to the pandemic and oil price crash, petroleum was still responsible for 17% of government income, 3% of GDP, and 28% of exports by value. Prior to the August 2014, oil price crash petroleum generated more than a fifth of Colombias fiscal revenue, 55% of exports by value, and nearly 5% of GDP. During 2013, the Andean countrys GDP grew by an impressive 5.1%, which was primarily due to growing oil production, which for the first time ever broke through the million barrels per day mark to average 1,008,178 barrels daily. Those numbers underscore just how important the exploitation of hydrocarbons has become for Colombias economy.

Despite being a major oil producer in Latin America, the regions third-largest, Colombia does not possess significant crude oil reserves. The oil-dependent countrys energy ministry stated earlier this month that by the end of 2020 Colombia had proved oil reserves totaling 1.8 billion barrels, an 11% decrease compared to a year earlier, and 2.9 trillion cubic feet of natural gas an almost 7% year over year decline. Those proved oil reserves will only last for just over six years at current production levels, which are 16% lower than 2019 and nearly eight years for natural gas despite current output is 1% less than 2019. These numbers demonstrate that Colombia urgently needs to make major hydrocarbon discoveries and rapidly expand its proved reserves if it is to avert an economic crisis. Unless that occurs, or Colombia rapidly reduces its economic dependence on oil production, it is facing a near-term economic crisis when those limited hydrocarbon reserves are drained. That would be a catastrophic event for a country riven by political turmoil, poverty, and corruption, which was once regarded as one of the best-performing economies in Latin America.

By Matthew Smith for Oilprice.com

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With power demand recovering from the pandemic, European utilities are using more coal as natural gas inventories are unusually low for this time of the year due to a cold snap in late winter and early spring.

This year, despite the record-high carbon price in Europe, the use of coal for power generation has jumped by up to 15 percent, Andy Sommer, team leader of fundamental analysis and modeling at Swiss trader Axpo Solutions, told Bloomberg in an interview published on Tuesday.

Gas storage is so low now that Europe cannot afford to run extra power generation with the fuel, Sommer told Bloomberg.

Natural gas stockpiles are some 25 percent below the five-year average, and with such a right gas market, utilities run more coal-fired power generation, analysts say.

Europe had already started to restock with natural gas following a harsh winter that drained inventories when a cold snap in April caused unusual additional withdrawals from storage.

A cold snap in April caused a counter-seasonal net withdrawal of inventory, worsening the storage situation which for several months has been running below seasonal averages, Wood Mackenzie said in its Q2 LNG short-term trade and price outlook at the end of May. Related: The Worst Setback For The Solar Boom In A Decade

As a result of the low levels of natural gas in storage, the price of the Dutch TTF gas, the European benchmark, has rallied by over 50 percent so far in 2021. Prices are close to the highest level for late spring since 2008, according to Bloomberg estimates.

With the ultra-tight gas market, power generation from coal is rising in Europe, despite the record-high EU carbon price, which exceeded US$60.50 (50 euro) per ton in early May.

The current situation with the power mix in Europe is indicative of the challenges the continent and the European Union face in their push to make the grids greener.

Coal use in power generation is also on the rise in the United States, where the price rally in natural gas is discouraging parts of gas-fired electricity generation and is set to give coal a short-term boost this summer.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
While thousands of retail investors crowd the bitcoin space, many are missing out on some substantial gains from oil, investment celebrity Richard Bernstein has warned, as quoted by CNBC.

Bitcoin has been in a bear market, and everybody loves the asset. And, oil has been in a bull market, and its basically, you never hear anything about it. People dont care, Bernstein told CNBCs Trading Nation this week.

Weve got this major bull market going on in commodities, and all people are saying is that it doesnt matter, he added.

Oil has indeed been on the rise for several weeks now, spurred by reopening economies that have pushed up demand considerably. Benchmarks hit the highest in three years this week as the prospect of Iranian oil returning to markets and changing the supply and demand dynamics became a little more distant than it was last week.

However, even last week, when the chances of additional supply from Iran seemed greater, oil was trending higher as the strength of demand recovery more than offset any possible worry of excessive supply. If anything, there have been warnings of supply tightness and even higher prices. The near-term outlook is also very bullish. Related: How An Oil Pipeline Hack Sent Bitcoin Prices Tumbling

Global oil demand will rise by 6 million barrels per day (bpd) this year from the lows of 2020, led by strong consumption in China and the United States, especially in the second half of 2021 with growing economies and border reopenings, OPEC said last week in its monthly report.

The International Energy Agency, which was recently calling on the oil industry to suspend all new exploration, chimed in with its latest monthly oil report.

Our first detailed look at 2022 balances confirms earlier expectations that OPEC+ needs to open the taps to keep the world oil markets adequately supplied. Global oil demand will continue to recover and, in the absence of further policy changes, by end-2022 reach 100.6 mb/d, the agency said.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Saudi Arabia is expected to hike its crude oil production to 10 million barrels per day (bpd) by the end of 2021, up by 1.5 million bpd from May, due to rising global oil demand, Goldman Sachs said on Tuesday.

Farouk Soussa, Middle East and North Africa (MENA) economist at Goldman, raised his forecasts for Saudi Arabias oil production by 500,000 bpd from previous estimates, according to a note carried by Bloomberg.

We see risks to the oil sector as being significantly skewed to the upside, Soussa wrote in the note.

Goldman Sachs continues to believe that Brent Crude will hit $80 per barrel this summer as global demand quickly recovers.

In May, Saudi Arabia pumped just below 8.5 million bpd, having boosted its production by 345,000 bpd from April, as per the OPEC+ deal to gradually ease the cuts, OPECs secondary sources showed in the cartels monthly report last week.

Production in Saudi Arabia is set to rise to 9.5 million bpd by the end of July. Oil output is set to reach 10 million bpd by the end of this year, and 10.5 million bpd next year, according to Goldman Sachs. Related: Could Energy Ties Bring Saudi Arabia's Conflict With Iran To An End?

The global demand rebound and the strong domestic recovery in oil demand also prompted Goldman to raise its economic growth projections of Saudi Arabia. The U.S. investment bank now sees the Saudi economy rising by 4.5 percent in 2021, compared to an earlier forecast of 2.5 percent growth.

To compare, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) expects the Saudi economy to grow by 2.9 percent in 2021.

The IMF also said in its latest MENA regional forecast in April that higher oil prices and a rebound in the global economy and oil demand are set to lower the fiscal breakeven oil price of the major Middle Eastern oil producers, with the breakeven oil price for Saudi Arabia dropping to $65.70 in 2022 from $77.90 in 2020.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabias non-oil sector grew by 2.9 percent in the first quarter of 2021, official data from the Kingdom showed on Monday. Overall GDP, however, declined by 3.0 percent year over year due to an 11.7 percent contraction in the oil sector in Q1 2021.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Ohio may soon join a dozen U.S. states to have enacted legislation to preemptively block cities and counties from banning natural gas as a source of heating or cooking in new homes.

A committee at the Ohio Senate is expected to vote on Tuesday on such legislation, Ohio Capital-Journal reported. The so-called House Bill 201, if it makes the committee vote on Tuesday, could be headed for a full vote at the Senate as early as this week.

Ohio House passed the bill last month with 65 votes in favor and 32 against, with all Republicans and two Democrats supporting it.

If the bill becomes law, it would preemptively block cities and counties in the state of Ohio from enacting a zoning or other law that limits, prohibits, or prevents customers, including households and businesses, from having a natural gas or propane service.

Proponents and supporters of the Ohio bill say that it keeps the right of the people and businesses to choose their choices of energy, while bans on natural gas would force them to choose more costly appliances.

Opponents of the bill, for their part, argue that such preemptive legislation cares for the need of the fossil fuel industry.

It's clearly not a piece of legislation about what's best for Ohio, Dan Sawmiller, Ohio energy policy director at the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC), told Ohio Capital Journal in an interview.

It's about what's best for the fossil fuel industry, Sawmiller added.

Since the city of Berkeley in California enacted in 2019 the first city-wide ban on new natural gas hookups in residential buildings, other major cities have followed. Some states, however, are not having it and have either introduced or already enacted into law preemption bills to prevent cities from natural gas bans.

According to NRDC, as of June 1, preemption bills were introduced in 19 states this year, 14 of which have been enacted into law or awaiting final signature from the state's governor. The 19 states are Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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The OPEC+ alliance has taken decisive actions to help reduce oil market volatility, OPEC Secretary-General Mohammad Barkindo said on Tuesday at the opening of the meeting of OPECs economic and technical think-tank.

DoC Participating Countries have taken proactive and pre-emptive actions to help reduce volatility, stabilize the oil market and provide a flexible platform for recovery with potentially broader participation in the coming years, Barkindo said, opening the meeting of the Economic Commission Board.

The two-day meetingheld twice a yeartakes stock of the situation on the global oil market and the global economy. The board will review topics such as investment, expectations about recovery, and short- and long-term prospects of crude oil production, OPEC said today.

The meetings of the Economic Commission Board of OPEC usually precede the biannual ordinary meetings of the OPEC Conference, which are held in June and December.

This June, the meeting of OPECs economic and technical think-tank will precede the meeting of the Joint Technical Committee (JTC) and of the Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC) planned for 17, 29, and 30 June, respectively, as well as the OPEC+ meeting planned for July 1.

The meetings packed from this week to the end of the month will be closely watched by the market for clues about the OPEC+ production policy after July 1, OPECs take on the oil market, and the long-term opportunities and challenges for the oil industry. Additional insights into OPECs expectations of global economic growth and oil demand could also transpire.

Global oil demand will rise by 6 million barrels per day (bpd) this year from the lows of 2020, led by strong consumption in China and the United States, especially in the second half of 2021 with growing economies and border reopenings, OPEC said last week in its Monthly Oil Market Report (MOMR) for June.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) has asked Texans to reduce power consumption through Friday of this week, according to an ERCOT press release issued on Monday.

ERCOT cited potential record power consumption for June and forced generation outages as the reason for the request. Todays peak load forecast is 73,000MW, compared to the highest ever peak demand in the month of June of 69,123MW.

In Texas, generator owners have reported 11,000 MW of generation currently on forced outages due to repairs, ERCOT said, adding that typical outages on hot summer days is around 3,600 MW.

ERCOT said it would conduct an analysis to figure out why so many units are out of service.

Wind output is expected to be between 70%and 80% of typical wind output.

ERCOT is asking residents to refrain from unnecessary power, and it is also asking businesses to shut down or reduce non-essential production.

If demand exceeds supply, ERCOT will begin emergency operations to protect the grid from uncontrolled outages.

Twitter was awash with a flurry of angry Tweets as ERCOT announced its request, as for many, the power outages due to the triple-digit heat comes a bit too soon after the power outages during Februarys Texas Freeze.

The announcement also comes just as another state is preparing for blackouts, with Californias worst drought in 90+ years is threatening its ability to produce power from hydroelectric dams.

In early May, ERCOT said that it anticipated there will be enough generation to meet the summer 2021 peak demand of 77,144 MW. Based on this forecast, the ERCOT region will have a 15.7% reserve margin this summer season.

The catastrophic power failures in Texas during the February freeze resulted in ERCOT resignations, firings, and a state investigation into the matter.

By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com

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The Health Committee heard testimony Tuesday from opponents of the bill.

Not being able to require employees to receive a flu vaccination, or even inquire if they received it, would be like Russian roulette, Dr. John Crow of Akron's Children Hospital told lawmakers.

"If the armor we wear as health care providers is our vaccination, and we as an administration cant really even know if youre wearing that armor or not, we would either have to have everybody in the hospital in all circumstances wear protective equipment, or we would have to put the patients lives at risk," Crow said in Tuesday morning testimony.

Similar bills have been introduced nationwide, though the Ohio legislation appears to go farther in covering more vaccines than just the one for COVID-19.

In Louisiana, a pending bill would give employers broad exemption from lawsuits if they dont require workers or customers to get the coronavirus vaccine and someone contracts COVID-19.
DECATUR, Ga. (AP)  A grocery store cashier in the Atlanta area was killed and three other people were wounded Monday in a shooting that followed an argument over wearing face masks in the supermarket, authorities said.

DeKalb County Sheriff Melody Maddox said the shooting occurred inside the Big Bear Supermarket in Decatur while several people were inside the business. She said a female cashier was killed when a man opened fire.

"There was some confrontation, argument  I'm not sure exactly what  in reference to the wearing of masks, at which time the subject pulled out a weapon and shot the cashier," Maddox said at a news conference. Maddox said she did not know the details of the argument.

The customer was identified as Victor Lee Tucker, Jr., 30, of Palmetto, Georgia, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The agency said preliminary information indicates that Tucker got into an argument with the cashier and left the store without making his purchase, but he immediately returned inside.

Tucker walked directly back to the cashier, pulled out a handgun and shot her, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation wrote in the news release.
Wedged between a large medical campus and a lake, the center was just isolated enough. A barbed-wire fence shredded his clothing, but didnt keep Morales out. The buildings alarm never rang.

No one would realize anything was wrong until the first staff arrived Sunday morning.



Morales used his head start.

The morning after the break-in, he was at the Boston home of a convicted marijuana dealer and gave the man one of the M4 assault rifles and five handguns to sell. Cellphone photos from the exchange show Property of U.S. Government stamped on the side of the M4, as well as a selector switch that lets the rifle fire three-round bursts with each trigger pull.

The dealer, Tyrone James, later told investigators that he unloaded the five handguns in two separate sales to people he didnt know.

Due to the rape charge, Morales wore an electronic monitoring bracelet.

With the break-in all over the news, two days later he cut the bracelet off his ankle and fled down the East Coast. Investigators soon arrested him outside a movie theater in Westbury, New York.
Additionally, energy producers that store their carbon dioxide will lower their carbon dioxide intensity score, which affects their ability to sell their ethanol. A lower score could allow a producer to sell to states such as California, which has stringent carbon dioxide regulations.

If youre an ethanol plant that has a very low carbon score, youre going to be a lot more attractive to the California market and their regulators than any other seller of ethanol, Flood said. Reducing your carbon score means better prices and better returns for Nebraska farmers.

The climate incentives are also significant. At full capacity, Navigator claims that its pipeline and underground storage would be the annual equivalent of removing 2.6 million cars from the roads or planting 550 million trees.

Joeckel cautioned that carbon sequestration is just one of the tools that is needed to fight climate change.

It is one of several strategies that we will have to take if we really want to reduce the input of anthropogenic CO2 into the atmosphere, he said.

Company officials contend that risks resulting from a potential pipeline leak are minimal. At worst, they say, any leaks would be released into the atmosphere as the carbon dioxide is now.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has set a July 23 deadline for agricultural producers and landowners to apply for the Conservation Reserve Program. In addition, the USDAs Farm Service Agency will accept applications for CRP grasslands from July 12 to Aug. 20.

This year, USDA updated both signup options to provide greater incentives for producers and to increase its conservation benefits, including reducing the effects of climate change, according to a press release from the Farm Service Agency. Both signups provide for annual rental payments for land devoted to conservation purposes.

USDAs goal is to enroll up to 4 million new acres in CRP by raising rental payment rates and expanding the number of incentivized environmental practices allowed under the program. About 20.8 million acres are now enrolled in CRP.
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Ghana will from Tuesday 15th June to Saturday 19th June 2021, hosts the mid-year statutory meetings of the Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS).



Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchway who announced this at a press conference in Accra on Monday, June 14, 2021, said the meetings will be held for 5 days continuously.



Providing details on the schedule for the meetings, the Minister said the 46th Ordinary Meeting of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council at the Ministerial Level will be held on Tuesday, 15th June 2021 followed by the 86th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers on 16th to 17th June 2021 then the 59th Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government will take place on Saturday 19th June 2021,



She said: the sessions being held this week following the 29th Ordinary Session of the Administration and Finance Committee, whose outcomes will inform the work of the Council of Ministers. The Administration and Finance Committee is made up of experts from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Finance of the ECOWAS Member States, who met at the Alisa Hotel from 8th to 12th June 2021.



In line with the practice of ECOWAS, the Sessions this week will deliberate on important regional matters germane to our community, including recent political and security developments that have threatened the peace and stability in our region, she added.



The agenda for the sessions she said will focus on the progress of ECOWAS Institutional Reforms; ECOWAS Vision 2050; the Status of Tasks assigned by the 85th Ordinary Session of the Council of Ministers; the ECOWAS African Research and Innovation Forum (FARI); as well as the Humanitarian situation in our region, among others.



It is expected that all Heads of State and the Government of ECOWAS, with the exception of Mali, will participate in the summit with the President, Vice President and support staff of the Commission already in Accra ahead of the meetings.



Other guests include the former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and ECOWAS Special Envoy and Mediator for Mali, H.E. Goodluck Jonathan.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Passengers travelling from Accra to London using British Airways (BA) will land at the Heathrow Airport despite an earlier decision to re-route the service to Gatwick Airport from October, this year.]



This is after months of protest, led by the government through the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), to force the airline operator to rescind a decision to redirect the Accra-London route from Heathrow to Gatwick.



The airline has thus abandoned the move and will continue the Accra-London service to Heathrow from IATA Winter 2021 Season, which starts on the last Sunday of October and ends on the last Saturday of March.



Management of the airline explained that the new move was informed by favourable slot conditions and changes to network plans due to the continued travel restrictions resulting from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.



As a result, the airline said it would from today effect the service continuation changes to its commercial system.



Positive news



The Director General (DG) of the GCAA, Mr Charles Kraikue, confirmed the development to the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday and observed that the service continuation was positive news to the travelling public.



That, he said, was because re-routing to the Gatwick Airport would have been an inconvenience for customers using the Accra-London route to connect to other countries.



The decision would inconvenience passengers using the Accra route because with that when a traveller is connecting to the United States of America (USA) through London, the person will have to land at Gatwick before finding another means to get to Heathrow to continue the journey, he said.



How it started



Mr Kraikue stated that the decision came to the notice of the authority as a surprise, having been written to a few months earlier by the management of the United Kingdom national carrier.



We are the regulators of the airspace in Ghana, and so when the airline wrote to us on its decision to change the service to Gatwick Airport, we wrote back to them expressing our displeasure and disagreement with the decision.

And so we began negotiating with them, and about a month ago, we had our final meeting and BA agreed to rescind the decision to keep the Accra-London route at Heathrow, he said.



Asked what informed the earlier decision to re-route the Accra service to Gatwick, Mr Kraikue said when the GCAA enquired, BA said it was a commercial decision influenced by COVID-19.



When we started discussions, we realised it was only Ghana in Africa that the decision affected, and that was why we mounted a strong protest for it to be reversed, he added.

A letter dated June 10, 2021, signed by the Senior Vice President in-charge of Middle East and Africa, Mr Sohail Ali, and addressed to Mr Kraikue confirmed the continuation of service at Heathrow.



The letter, sighted by the Daily Graphic stated, among other things, that we are pleased to announce that British Airways services between London and Accra will continue to operate from London Heathrow from the IATA Winter 2021 Season.



This has been possible due to favourable slot conditions and changes to network plans due to the continued travel restrictions resulting from the pandemic.



British Airways, recognised as an independent commercial, private limited liability company in Ghana, also commits to continuation of regular consultations with the GCAA.









Source: graphiconline.com









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The Sunyani High Court 2 chaired by, Justice Douglas Seidu has fined Kwaku Ameyaw of Faaman in Jaman south of the Bono region GhC 22,000 for infringement of the fundamental human rights of persons with HIV/AIDs in the person of Sakyiwaa Cynthia also from Faaman.



The legal team leader of the plaintiff, Anita Delight Danquah speaking to Nkyeremu News team says, the defendant, Kwaku Ameyaw may lose most of his properties when he fails to pay GhC 22,000 fined to compensate Sakyiwaa Cynthia.



The lawyer said it is unpardonable mistake by law to use abusive word, words or any form of ill statement to address Owusu Sarpong who is an HIV/AIDs activist in the Bono East region and advocating for their rights led to the success story of Sakyiwaa Cynthia.



He said the stigmatization of the HIV/AIDs patients is their major challenge denying many of them to go for drugs in their catchment area.



Owusu Sarpong praised Sunyani High Court for their judgement which will serves as a deterrent to others. or any physically challenged persons with their deformities. She said the culprit could be fined, jailed or both.



Sakyiwaa Cynthia, a mother of four who has lost her husband says due the bitter insults ruined on her by Kwaku Ameyaw as poor Hiv patient her store at Faaman has now collapsed due to stigma.



Sakyiwaa Cynthia is pleading with the public for financial support to relocate herself.



Owusu Sarpong who is an Hiv/Aids activist in the Bono east region and advocating for their rights led to the success story of Sakyiwaa Cynthia.



He said the stigmatization of the Hiv/Aids patients is their major challenged denying many of them to go for drugs in their catchment area.



Owusu Sarpong praised Sunyani High Court for their judgement which will serves as a deterrent to others.

Source: nkyeremunews.com









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Chief Executive Officer of the State Transport Corporation (STC), Nana Akomea has called on the Ghana Police Service to strengthen security in the nation.



Nana Akomea expressed worry over the porosity in the country's security where, in recent times, armed robbery operations have become rampant.



On Monday, June 14, 2021, a Policeman and a trader were shot dead by some unidentified assailants after attacking a bullion van at Jamestown.



The driver of the van also sustained gunshot wounds while two other women on the van escaped unhurt.



Preliminary investigation shows that unidentified armed men on a number of motorbikes crossed the bullion van which was on a pay/collection errand at about 1100 hours and shot at the police officer who was on escort duty on the van, killing him instantly. The armed men also fired sporadically in the air and on the driver, who sustained gunshot wounds and is responding to treatment.



"A hawker was also killed by the armed men when one of two ladies on the bullion van stepped out of the van and run towards the deceased seller's direction. Both ladies on the van, tellers of Mon-tran escaped unhurt but were sent to the hospital to be treated for trauma. Crime scene experts have already visited the scene of crime and are going through the necessary procedures, an account by the Police read.



Speaking on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo', Nana Akomea noted that the stability and peace of a nation is primarily dependent on its security.



Hence, he stated, the Police should up their job to protect their officers as well as Ghanaians.



"Security is very important that, if we can invest in it for people to have peace and safety, this country will make a headway . . . so whatever we can do to strengthen our security, we have to do it," he advised.







Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Founder of Danquah Institute, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko has eulogized former Minister for Information, Dr Mustapha Hamid describing him as one of the principled and honest human beings hes ever known in his life.



In a post to wish Dr Hamid a happy 50th birthday, Mr Otchere-Darko noted that the Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority(NPA) is the kind of person when he takes campaign money, based on a budget, and he ends up spending less than that to do the same job, brings back the change.



Highlighting Dr Hamids traits, Gabby emphasized: Ive known Hamid for over two decades now. He is admirably religious, disciplined but liberal. It is this personality quirk that allows him to get on well with people. But, he resents cheats and those he considers disloyal.



He is protectively Ghanaian. Jealously Danquah-Dombo-Busiast. Simply put, Hamid is a proud, humble and decent man.



Below is the full post



Yesterday was the birthday of one of my best friends, Mustapha Hamid. To put it mildly, he is one of the most principled and honest human beings I have ever known in my life. A sacred trait I pray will guide and guard him for the rest of his life.



Hamid is the kind of person when he takes campaign money, based on a budget, and he ends up spending less than that to do the same job, he brings back the change!



Abotsi, sorry I was not around to join you yesterday. Welcome to the Club of where real life begins. Forget the hype at 40. This is it! From this time on, you start becoming even more philosophical about things you took for granted. It is not that after 50 ones performance slows down. It only matures! One becomes more efficient in how to use time and energy resources that become more and more precious as the years go by.



Ive known Hamid for over two decades now. He is admirably religious, disciplined but liberal. It is this personality quirk that allows him to get on well with people. But, he resents cheats and those he considers disloyal.



He is protectively Ghanaian. Jealously Danquah-Dombo-Busiast. Simply put, Hamid is a proud, humble and decent man.



He is one of the very few Ghanaians I know who genuinely enjoy reading as a devout hobby! An intellectual of the highest order; loyal to his friends, his beliefs and philosophy and emotionally and intellectually defensive of the things he cherishes and holds in high devotion.



Hamid was an editor of a reputable business newspaper, the High Street Journal, when we first became friends. He also became news editor at Choice FM. A couple of years later, I invited him to be the editor of The Statesman. He moved on to become the National Youth Organiser of the NPP, an acknowledgment of his years of service to the party, beginning as a foundation member of the Danquah-Busia Clubs branch at UCC in 1991.



As strong an Akufo-Addo loyalist as they come, Hamid later contested and lost the general secretary position of the NPP in 2005, moving on in 2007 to become spokesperson to presidential candidate Nana Akufo-Addo and remained so throughout the opposition years.



He, at the same time, went on to teach at Cape Coast University; became Executive Director of the Danquah Institute; achieved a PhD while teaching at Cape Coast; became a cabinet minister in 2017 and now looking forward to a new challenging chapter after attaining the ripe age of 50. His has been half a century of service with integrity and achievements, with much more to come.



I consider myself lucky to be worthy of your friendship, Abotsi. Stay honest, stay true, stay loyal to family, party and country.

Source: Kasapafmonline.com









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Rwanda's health ministry is reporting a sharp rise in Covid-19 cases and deaths despite ongoing vaccination efforts days after President Paul Kagame warned there could be a "new lockdown".



Over the weekend, the president urged people to be more cautious, saying there were signs that a third wave could come from the border - a reference to Uganda where cases are also rising.



New infections in Rwanda have risen to 1,307 in the last seven days from 334 in the previous week, while deaths rose to 12 from seven in the same period, the health ministry reports.



Nearly 390,000 people have so far been vaccinated - and most of those have had their second jabs.



Health Minister Daniel Ngamije says nearly five million more vaccines are expected and more have been ordered.



Our target is to reach 7.8 million people vaccinated early next year, he told the state broadcaster.



People should observe the measures so that in the next six months we may resume normal life because at 60% vaccination the virus cant be a threat anymore."



Rwanda has reported a total of more than 28,000 cases and 372 deaths.

Source: BBC









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Mozambique's health ministry is on high alert as Covid-19 cases in the country increase.



Cases had gone down from March till May but in the last 14 days, the country has recorded 773 new cases against 442 cases in the same period last month.



Deputy National Director of Public Health Benigna Matsinhe said the increase was of "great concern" as it could "destroy all the effort made so far".



"Our appeal is that people must remain firm in complying with the general measures to prevent and combat Covid-19 and avoid taking negligent attitudes, considering that the slowdown in the pandemic means the end of the disease among us," she stressed.



Tighter restrictions were imposed earlier this year after a second coronavirus wave followed the Christmas break.



They were gradually eased from March with the reopening of schools - and last month churches, nurseries and some gyms were allowed to reopen - and some sporting events restarted.



A night-time curfew in metropolitan areas has remained, but its hours were shortened at end of May and it now runs from 23:00 and 04:00.



Meanwhile, the second phase of the countrys vaccination campaign has started with the aim of vaccinating 23,000 people, including teachers, over the next two weeks.



In this second phase, the second dose will be administered to those who have already taken the first dose and the first dose to the new groups, Dr Matsinhe said.



So far, Mozambique, which has a population of 29.5 million, has received a total of 744,000 doses:



284,000 from the vaccine-sharing scheme Covax

100,000 from India

260,000 from China.

The health ministry has already immunised around 350,000 people - and intends to eventually vaccinate a total of 16 million people.

Source: BBC









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The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. James Oppong-Boanuh has reminded the Association of Bankers to provide fortified armoured vehicles for carting currencies by the close of June, 2021, or the police will withdraw its officers from escort duties.



The Police Service says the provision of fortified armoured vans has been agreed with the Association of Bankers.



The call followers Monday mornings armed attack on a bullion van at Adedenkpo, a suburb of James Town in Accra that cost the life of a police man and a trader.



Armed men on motorbikes crossed the van and shot at the policeman and the driver, but the latter survived, while two other ladies on the van escaped unhurt.



A statement issued by the Police Service Monday evening said the IGP has directed the Director-General of the Police CID to take over investigation into the attack.



The police have classified the killing of the policeman as murder, and are asking anyone with information on the incident contact the nearest Police Station or call the investigative team on 0262122086, 0244994564 or 0244280001 or on Toll Free Police Emergency Numbers 191 or 18555.



Police account



Preliminary investigation shows that unidentified armed men on a number of motorbikes crossed the bullion van which was on a pay/collection errand at about 1100 hours and shot at the police officer who was on escort duty on the van, killing him instantly. The armed men also fired sporadically in the air and on the driver, who sustained gunshot wounds and is responding to treatment.



A hawker was also killed by the armed men when one of two ladies on the bullion van stepped out of the van and run towards the deceased seller's direction. Both ladies on the van, tellers of Mon-tran escaped unhurt but were sent to the hospital to be treated for trauma. Crime scene experts have already visited the scene of crime and are going through the necessary procedures.









Source: graphiconline.com









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The Police in Kumasi are on a manhunt for six persons who allegedly shot and killed one Benedicta Pokua Sarpong at the Airport Roundabout in the early hours of Sunday, June 13, 2021.

The incident happened at around 1am when the six, armed and aboard a grey Toyota Camry, attacked the deceased who was on board a white Range Rover with a customised number plate Prempeh-1-21.



They allegedly shot her through the right window of her vehicle and sped off towards Aboabo.



The deceased was the wife of Nana Osei Agyemang Prempeh, aide to the Ghana National Petroleum Commission boss Dr K K Sarpong.



Police



The Ashanti Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mr Godwin Ahianyo, who confirmed the incident to the Graphic Online, said the deceased was first sent to the Manhyia District Hospital where she was referred to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital where she died.



He said when the police visited the crime scene; they found only one live 9mm long ammunition but could not find the spent shell of the bullet that hit her.



According to police, while the incident looked like a robbery gone wrong, it was not ruling out contract killing as the motive behind the act.



Interview



This suspicion was further corroborated by the husband of the deceased, Nana Premepeh, in a radio interview that on the night of the incident, he and his wife were returning home from an outing and he made the wife to drive his Ranger Rover while he was in another car following her.



Speaking on Kumasi-based radio station, Akoma FM, Nana Prempeh said all what I saw was that someone opened gun fire at her. They shot her multiple times and sped off.



He strongly believed that the assailants were after him but did not know that he had swapped cars.









Source: graphiconline.com









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Leader of the #FixTheCountry campaign, Oliver Mawuse Barker-Vormawor has been heavily condemned by the Bono Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwame Baffoe ( a.k.a Abronye) for using his platform to champion the agenda of former President John Mahama.



Kwame Baffoe, in an address on Asempa FM show, revealed that the leader of the group, Oliver Mawuse Barker-Vormawor is against the government of President Akufo-Addo because he was once a Presidential staffer under the administration of Mr. Mahama and has stronger ties with the National Democratic Congress (NDC).



The NDC, according to the NPP Regional Chairman, was paying the leader of the #FixTheCountry campaign GHC20,000 as monthly salary under the Mahama regime.



For this reason, Oliver Mawuse Barker-Vormawor, according to Kwame Baffoe, has made it an agenda to hide behind the #FixTheCountry campaign and confuse Ghanaians who dont know his political background.



Today that you are not working in government, you are calling for 'fix the country'. Did you ever think about the masses when you were in the position to help them?, Kwame Baffoe quizzed.



He advised Ghanaians to come to the realization that Oliver Mawuse Barker-Vormawor is crying for his f**king stomach.













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Former Deputy General Secretary of the largest opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Baba Jamal says the National Chairman of his party, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo did not err when he said that former President John Dramani Mahama offers direction in the party.



According to The Informer Newspaper's Monday, June 14, 2021 edition, recent utterances by the National Chairman of the NDC, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo have strongly pointed to the fact that he is not really in charge of the party as demanded by the partys Constitution.



Mr Ofosu Ampofo is reported to have said that he and the party look up to former President John Dramani Mahama for instructions and direction regarding the activities of the party.



Reacting to The Informer publication on Okay FMs 'Ade Akye Abia' Morning Show, the former Member of Parliament(MP) for Akwatia Constituency said that the National Chairman of the NDC at all times is the leader of the party until a Presidential Candidate is elected to lead the party into a general election.



If you come to the NDC, at all times, the Chairman of the party is the leader of the party until we vote for a Flagbearer. The moment we vote for a Flagbearer, he or she becomes the leader of the party. If he wins an election to become the President, he continues to be the leader of the party, but if he or she does not win the election, the leadership of the party revert to the National Chairman of the party," he explained.



He reiterated that since former President John Dramani Mahama was not successful in the 2020 general election, the National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Samuel Ofosu Ampofo per the partys Constitution is the leader of the party.



He, however, pointed out that the reporter of The Informer Newspaper was not wise enough to understand the statement of the NDC National Chairman when he said that the party looks up to John Mahama for inspiration and directions as the only surviving former President of the NDC and also in terms of experience.



What Ofosu Ampofo said is simple logic. He premised what he said on the fact that John Mahama is the only surviving President of our party and for that matter, we look up to him for inspiration and direction. In terms of experience, John Mahama has it.



It only means that as the only surviving President of our party, he has a lot to offer the party and so he respects his opinion and he takes inspiration from him. All of us, we will continue to revere him and it does not mean that he [Ofosu Ampofo] takes instructions from him [John Mahama], he said.



Watch video below





Source: Daniel Adu Darko/Peacefmonline.com









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The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) held its 31st summit in Brussels on Monday. The following are some of the highlights. NATO countries issue communique on China and Russia: The NATO members issued a communique highlighting the threat presented by Russia and the challenges posed by China, following a meeting on Monday. Russias aggressive actions constitute a threat to Euro-Atlantic security," the communique read. On China, the statement said: Chinas growing influence and international policies can present challenges that we need to address together as an Alliance. The statement added that the NATO members "will engage China with a view to defending the security interests of the Alliance.



NATO agrees cyberattacks could lead to the invocation of mutual self-defense clause: The leaders of the 30 NATO countries agreed that the impact of significant malicious cumulative cyber activities might, in certain circumstances, be considered as amounting to an armed attack, an assessment that could lead to the invocation of the organizations mutual self-defense clause, Article 5. The countries (reaffirmed) that a decision as to when a cyber attack would lead to the invocation of Article 5 would be taken by the North Atlantic Council on a case-by-case basis, according to a joint statement released during the NATO leaders summit on Monday.



Biden says he'll make "red lines" clear to Putin: US President Biden was asked about his upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He refused to give details about what he expected the meeting to look like or what topics it might include, but said he will make clear where the "red lines" are. "I'm going to make clear to President Putin that there are areas where we can cooperate, if he chooses, and if he chooses not to cooperate and acts in a way that he has in the past relative to cybersecurity and some other activities, then we will respond. We will respond in kind," Biden said.



NATO backs US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan: NATO leaders largely backed the US decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan. Some American allies had griped ahead of the summit that they werent properly consulted before Biden announced he would withdraw US troops from Afghanistan by Sept. 11. Others have questioned how security can be maintained in the country when US troops leave, particularly at Kabul International Airport and at other diplomatic facilities. NATO leaders have also agreed to provide transitional funding to ensure that the international airport in Kabul continues to operate.



Biden calls for NATO members to stand up to autocrats and "phony populism": President Biden repeated a call Monday to prove to the world and to our own people that democracy can still prevail against the challenges of our time and deliver the needs of our people. Biden said it was up to Democratic nations to prove to the world that autocracies cannot deliver for their people. He said NATO members must root out corruption, guard against hatred and phony populism, and invest in strengthening institutions that underpin and safeguard our cherished democratic values.















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A private citizen, Prince Kamal-Gumah has sued the Member of Parliament for North-Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa for alleged defamation.



Mr. Kamal-Gumah is a brother of the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mavis Hawa Koomson.



In a letter addressed to the Chairman of the Appointments Committee, the lawyers for Mr. Kamal-Gumah said Mr. Ablakwa made defamatory comments and actions against their client when Ms. Koomson appeared before the Committee on February 18, 2021.



According to the letter, Mr. Ablakwa procured Mr. Kamal-Gumahs picture from social media and displayed it during the vetting of Ms. Koomson, which was captured by various television stations and on Parliaments Facebook page.



Our instructions are that sometime on the 18th day of February 2021, his sister, Hon. Mavis Hawa Koomson, a Member of Parliament and the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture appeared before the Vetting Committee of Parliament, for vetting. He intimates to us that on the said day, the Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, being a Member of the Vetting Committee displayed his picture, procured from one of his social media handles (which was captured by the cameras of the various television stations which covered the event), and also published live on the Facebook page of Parliament House, for the entire world to watch.



They added that Mr. Ablakwa portrayed him as an uncivilised, violent and barbaric person.



Accordingly, having been instructed, we implore you to take steps to urge Hon. Okudzeto Ablakwa to redeem the sinking reputation and business fortunes of our Client, by rendering an apology and retracting the false and dangerous information circulated around the world about him.



Our Client wishes to emphasise that he takes cognizance of parliamentary immunities and privileges and as a result, accepts that his legal options are limited, however, he believes that steps can be taken by the Committee and or by the Hon. Member to prevent and or curtail the continuous damage to his reputation.

Source: modernghana.com









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A political analyst, Dr Bonsu Osei-Owusu, has urged young appointees in President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addos government to discharge their duties with dignity and honesty.

That, he said, would encourage the appointment of more youth into positions of trust.



Young appointees



Sharing his views with the Daily Graphic on the appointment of young people to serve in President Akufo-Addos second term, Dr Osei-Owusu said their inclusion in governance was an indication of bringing new blood and energy into the political arena to run the affairs of the nation.



He explained that those appointments would also pave the way for the transfer of ideas from the old to the young ones.



He was of the view that the young appointees were from different generations, so they would bring diverse views and ideas to bear on their duties as ministers.



The opportunity to serve the nation will also enable them to learn from the experienced ministers, especially when an older person is the substantive minister and they are to serve under him or her. We grow into political position and we do not just walk into it.



Former President John Agyekum Kufour had the opportunity to grow into politics when he was appointed Kumasi City Council (KCC) Boss in 1965 at a very young age. He became a Member of Parliament for the Atwima Constituency in 1969 and later served as a junior minister of Foreign Affairs in Dr Kofi Abrefa Busias regime, he stated.



Biblical evidence



Supporting his views with a Bible quotation from Numbers 27:15-23, Dr Osei-Owusu said Joshua was appointed by Moses to serve the Israelites while he was still holding some political powers so that he could gradually shift the position to Joshua.



So, Joshua did not just come into the scene, he understudied Moses before he finally became a leader, he added.



Abuse of power



Dr Osei-Owusu cautioned the young appointees to be careful so they did not abuse the power given to them.



He said misusing their position would be a disadvantage to the younger generation as they would be deprived of any political positions in future.









Source: graphiconline.com









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Stakeholders at a roundtable on the need for Ghana to consider non-custodial sentences in cases of misdemeanour have urged Parliament to pass the Community Service Bill (non-custodial law) to help decongest the prisons and make them more effective and efficient.



In furtherance of this, they also appealed to the Ministry for the Interior to exert pressure on Parliament for the passage since the Judiciary is empowered with the law.



Organised by the Centre for Democratic Development-Ghana (CDD-Ghana) which referred to the Judicial System, the stakeholders said it was empowered with custodial sentences such as probation, parole and restricted non-custodial sentence including a fine, thus needed for the law to be passed and stressed on the need to also implement the Tokyo Rules it was signatory to, which had broad non-custodial sentences it could choose from.



Jonathan Owusu, the facilitator for Justice For All, said the nation should not wait any longer but try the system, learn and perfect it since the justice system should be retributive whereby offender would reform and victims would forgive, citing restitution, among others, which were found in the Tokyo Rules under non-custodial sentences.



There should be enough public education and sensitisation to avoid stigmatisation where citizens will be encouraged to get on board to help reintegrate ex-convicts, keeping inmates whereby the place is already congested is a drain on the countrys budget, I propose noncustodial sentences should be considered in terms of misdemeanour, offences which attract sentences less than three years.



Assistant Superintendent of Prisons (ASP) Stephen Aboagye, at the Legal Unit, Ghana Prisons Service, disclosed that prisons had an excess of 3,247 inmates, thus the need to decongest them since convicts with different crime magnitudes were put together making less hardened more hardened after serving their terms.



Apostle Lawrence Nyarko, the Director of Finance and Administration, Church of Pentecost, said when an offence was committed, the community should benefit from the punishment given and suggested community service, including sweeping and planting of trees, while convicts reported to the police till the term ended.



Ameley Agyeman, Office of the Attorney General, indicated that judges must be encouraged to consider non-custodial sentences.



Gifty Quaye, Assistant Director, Ministry for the Interior, attributed the delay in the passage of the Non-Custodial Bill, related to the Criminal Offence Act to governments financial constrain.

Source: The Ghanaian Times









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Virus Outbreak State Aid Indiana Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Ryan Mishler, center speaks with a fellow senator during an April 1, 2021, Senate session at the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis. Mishler's committee dedicated $75 million from the state's federal COVID-19 relief funding toward a new program helping workers obtain short-term training certifications despite the concept receiving little public discussion and few details on the money would be spent. (AP Photo/Tom Davies)

INDIANAPOLIS (AP)  Indiana legislators scrambled in the final days of their session to make decisions on spending the states $3 billion share of the $350 billion in federal coronavirus relief money approved this year for state and local governments.

Like many states, they directed aid to schools, businesses, highway construction and bailing out depleted unemployment insurance accounts. But with much of the money unallocated, budget writers also grabbed onto an idea floated by a local tech millionaire for a revolving loan program aimed at helping workers obtain short-term training certifications to advance their careers.

In an example of how states are casting for ways to spend the federal influx, Indianas budget negotiators wrote in $75 million for the Career Accelerator Program  nearly triple the $27 million going to a 2% increase for the state's higher education system.

It's also more than three times what the Legislature appropriated to Republican Gov. Eric Holcombs Next Level Jobs program two years ago, and nearly double what lawmakers re-injected into his jobs program for the next biennium.

The concept is outlined in just 80 lines of legal text in the 233-page state budget bill and will be overseen by a little-known state agency that hasnt operated such programs before and whose leaders were only approached by legislative staff a week before the final budget vote about taking on the task.

Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Ryan Mishler said the funding figure seemed to be a good number to start with, but admitted that he and other Republican budget writers didnt have much time to develop operating specifics for the program.

If it was general fund money, you know, maybe I would have put more thought into the dollar amount, but it seemed like it was a good use of the federal funds, Mishler said. The funds were available for it, so lets do it. Had it not been for the federal funds, I probably would have rethought the dollar amount.

Story continues

About two-thirds of states have passed budgets for next year, with others expected to do so soon. Some, such as Indiana, have been directing pandemic relief aid to new job-training programs.

In California, Gov. Gavin Newsoms latest budget proposal includes 35 workforce development proposals. More than $3 billion planned for the programs is slated to come from $26 billion in fiscal relief money.

The states nonpartisan Legislative Analyst Office criticized Newsom's proposals as having notable resources and no overarching plan or clear set of goals, noting that many programs are also new and so large that agencies likely lack the capacity to administer them in a timely way.

Legislators in New Mexico put coronavirus relief money into programs that they had refused to fund at the same levels with regular state revenue, including $100 million to fully fund tuition for in-state college students and $10 million toward tourism advertising. The state's governor, Michelle Lujan Grisham, vetoed the appropriations and has not come forward yet with her own detailed proposal.

Indiana's hefty spending on the Career Accelerator Fund is another example of states unexpectedly finding themselves flush with cash despite predictions last year of budget deficits caused by the coronavirus shutdown. With the $75 million expenditure not needed to keep an existing program afloat, legislators had the luxury of creating a program with little thought given to specifics.

Democratic state Rep. Ed DeLaney, a member of the budget-writing House Ways and Means Committee, said Republicans werent open in deciding how the federal money should be spent and the career accelerator program had no public discussions.

DeLaney said it didnt make sense to put so much money toward a new program when Republicans pushed for Gov. Eric Holcomb to pull Indiana from federal programs that provided an extra $300 in weekly payments to unemployed workers and expanded jobless benefits during the pandemic.

This program gets $75 million for having done nothing, DeLaney said. Based upon its lack of existence, let alone success, they get $75 million. ... The governors talking practically in crisis terms that we dont have workers, and this program isnt even set up and its funded."

Indianas INvestEd, an agency focused on college financial aid literacy and administering student loans, will oversee the Career Accelerator Fund. Mishler said lawmakers tapped the state-created nonprofit because it already manages millions of dollars in loans.

Bill Wozniak, INvestEds vice president of marketing, said House Republicans chose the organization to run the program a week before the legislative session ended. He said planning remains preliminary, with the agency still working out how it will select qualified degree programs and how many staffers it will need to coordinate it before funds become available July 1.

Tech entrepreneur Scott Jones, who made millions from selling an early voicemail system and has started several companies, launched the Career Accelerator Fund in 2019 as a nonprofit pilot program intending eventually to turn it over to the state. He said the program could help thousands of Indiana residents obtain short-term vocational certificates in the state's high-demand career fields.

Jones pointed to his Eleven Fifty Academy, a separate organization that trains students for tech-oriented careers, which he said is setting the bar for educational providers that stand to benefit from the fund. The Indianapolis-based academy offers courses in coding, software development and cybersecurity. It boasts a 91% graduation rate, with 80% of students finding jobs within two months of completing the program.

Jones has given more than $900,000 in political contributions to state Republican campaigns and committees since 1999, but no significant donations in the last decade.

The new fund is intended to become self-sustaining with fewer anticipated defaults compared to federal loan programs, and by capturing for up to 10 years the growth in income tax revenue expected to be generated by those who complete the training and get a better job.

The text establishing the fund sketches out a program under which participants would enroll in credentialed courses such as computer programing, manufacturing, health care, logistics and aviation that take up to six months to complete and result in graduates finding jobs that pay at least 20% more than what they had earned. Recipients would be expected to repay the interest-free loans in installments based on their new monthly income.

Chris Watts, president of the nonpartisan Indiana Fiscal Policy Institute, said the $75 million decision was a little eyebrow-raising."

This certainly didnt get as much discussion as some other (federal stimulus) spending in the budget hearings, which of course we would have liked to see, Watts said. But what were going to be looking for now is if these short-term programs are able to get folks out there and earning a higher wage. If they can, I think well look back on this as a good investment of those dollars.

___

AP writers Morgan Lee in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Adam Beam in Sacramento, California, contributed to this report.

___

Casey Smith is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
Researchers fabricated tiny magnetically driven rotating filters for use in microfluidic channels. The filters are just 70 microns wide and 60 microns tall with square openings that measure 6.5 microns on each side. Scale bar: 10 microns. Credit: Dong Wu, University of Science and Technology of China

Researchers have fabricated a magnetically driven rotary microfilter that can be used to filter particles inside a microfluidic device. They made the tiny turning filter by creating a magnetic material that could be used with a very precise 3D printing technique known as two-photon polymerization.

Microfluidic devices, also known as lab-on-a-chip devices, can be used to perform multiple laboratory functions inside a chip that usually measures a few square centimeters or less. These devices contain intricate networks of microfluidic channels and are becoming more and more complex. They may be useful for a variety of applications such as screening molecules for therapeutic potential or performing blood tests that detect disease.

"By changing the direction of external magnetic field, the microfilter we made can be remotely manipulated on demand to either filter certain-sized particles or to allow them all to pass," said Dong Wu, a member of the research team from the University of Science and Technology of China. "This functionality could be used for many types of chemical and biological studies performed in lab-on-a-chip devices, and importantly, makes it possible for the chips to be reused."

In The Optical Society (OSA) journal Optics Letters, Wu, together with colleagues from the Hefei University of Technology and RIKEN Center for Advanced Photonics in Japan, show that their new rotary microfilter filters can sort particles in a microfluidic device with high performance.

"This filter could eventually be used to sort cells of different sizes for applications such as isolating circulating tumor cells for analysis or detecting abnormally large cells that may indicate disease," said Chaowei Wang from University of Science and Technology of China. "With further development it might even be possible to use it in devices placed inside the body for cancer detection."

A schematic diagram of the magnetic rotary microfilter on a flat surface is shown in (a). The rotary microfilter is magnetically turned in a liquid environment on the flat surface by applying a uniform magnetic field with different orientations (b). A schematic diagram of manipulating magnetically rotary microfilter in channel is shown in (c) and demonstrated in an alcohol solution (d). Credit: Dong Wu, University of Science and Technology of China

A more versatile filter

Filters with micrometer-sized holes are often used in microfluidic chips as a passive way to sort particles or cells based on sizes of the holes. However, because the number and shape of holes in the filter cannot be dynamically changed, available devices lack the flexibility to sort different types of particles or cells on demand. To expand the usefulness of microfluidic devices, the researchers developed a filter that can freely switch between modes such as selective filtering and passing.

They created the new filter using two-photon polymerization, which uses a focused femtosecond laser beam to solidify, or polymerize, a liquid light-sensitive material known as photoresist. Thanks to two-photon absorption, the polymerization can be done in a very precise manner, enabling fabrication of complex structures on the micron scale.

To make the microfilter, the researchers synthesized magnetic nanoparticles and mixed them with the photoresist. Fabricating the rotary microfilter required them to optimize the laser power density, number of pulses and scanning intervals used for polymerization. After testing its magnetically driven properties on a glass slide, they integrated the microfilter into a microfluidic device.

Multiple filtering modes

To filter larger particles, a magnetic field perpendicular to the microchannel is applied. After the filtering process is complete, the large particles can be released by applying a magnetic field that is parallel to the microchannel, which will rotate the microfilter by 90. The filtering process can then be repeated as needed.

The researchers verified the filtering performance of the filter using polystyrene particles with diameters of 8.0 and 2.5 microns that were mixed in an alcohol solution. "It was clear that particles smaller than the pore size easily passed through microfilter while bigger ones were filtered out," said Chenchu Zhang from University of Science and Technology of China. "When in passing mode, any larger particles captured by the filter were washed away with the fluid, which prevents filter clogging and allows reuse of the microfilter."

Explore further Magnetically propelled cilia power climbing soft robots and microfluidic pumps

More information: Chaowei Wang et al, Magnetically driven rotary microfilter fabricated by two-photon polymerization for multimode filtering of particles, Optics Letters (2021). Journal information: Optics Letters Chaowei Wang et al, Magnetically driven rotary microfilter fabricated by two-photon polymerization for multimode filtering of particles,(2021). DOI: 10.1364/OL.428751
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

A new article analyzes Chile's transition in 1990 from dictatorship to democracy, the nature of democracy between 1990 and 2019, and the appearance of several social movements geared to expanding this democracy. The article, by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), appears in The Latin Americanist, a publication of the Southeastern Council of Latin American Studies.

"Our goal is to locate the October 2019 protest movement in the context of Chile's very slow and incomplete transition to democracy, as well as amid social movements that have consistently challenged the economic system and the democracy of elites that emerged after the end of the dictatorship in 1989," explains Silvia Borzutzky, teaching professor of political science and international relations at CMU's Heinz College, who cowrote the article.

The article presents a range of expert viewpoints on Chilean history, as well as the authors' analysis of how Chile's political and economic system and previous social movements culminated in what they call "a social explosion" in October 2019.

In its origins and performance, Chile's political system became illegitimate and provided the space for the emergence of several social movements, the authors argue. These included the movement of the Mapuche people to maintain autonomy and ownership of ancestral lands; the feminist movement, which focused on advancing women's rights, reducing poverty and maternal mortality, and strengthening laws on gendered violence; three different student movements; and a movement that sought changes in pension systems.

About 15 years after the end of the dictatorship, a new generation of Chileans began to see the government's inability to address educational issues, pensions, public transportation, and indigenous and women's rights. They took to the streets to demand change, and their movements became an almost permanent fixture of Chile's political landscape, the authors argue.

Although then-President Bachelet tried in 2006 to move from an elitist democracy to a democracy by commissions to expand participation, her failure created more dissatisfaction over lack of representation, dissatisfaction with politics, and persistent inequality, the authors suggest. Despite a stable economy, the political system fractured and remained largely incapable of meeting socioeconomic demands.

The authors cite these grievances and government-initiated violence to explain the massive protests in October 2019, known as the October 18 movement, but point out that other factors were also at play. By December 28, 2019, 27 people had died, nearly 2,500 were injured, and 2,840 were arrested, according to a United Nations investigation.

The article concludes by analyzing the demands made by the protesters and the government's responses to the October 18 movement. The authors also address the role of the COVID-19 pandemic, which delayed a referendum on a new constitution. Although the cycle of protests appears to have been tamed by the promise of a new constitution, the authors note that dissatisfaction could spur new protests at any time.

"The October 18 movement is both a continuation of and the culmination of many previous protests and actions," says Sarah Perry, a 2021 Master of Public Policy and Management graduate from CMU's Heinz College, who coauthored the article. "Because the country experienced a deficit of democratic values, these social movements were able to find their place, and to demand specific rights and benefits; they highlight the illegitimate nature of the political and economic systems in Chile."

More information: S. Borzutzky et al. "It Is Not About the 30 Pesos, It Is About the 30 Years": Chile's Elitist Democracy, Social Movements, and the October 18 Protests. The Latin Americanist , (2021).
The tent on Colle Gnifetti and the refuge Capanna Margherita. Credit: Riccardo Selvatico (CNR/Ca' Foscari University of Venice)

The Ice Memory international mission on Monte Rosa has been accomplished. After working for five days at 4,500 meters in the accumulation zone of the Grenzgletscher, the glacier saddle of Colle Gnifetti, scientists extracted three shallow ice cores (15-22 meters) and two deep ice cores reaching down to bedrock at 82 meters depth.

In the section closest to the rock, these ice cores contain information on the climate and environment of ten thousand years ago, meaning that the most ancient ice in the Alps will be stored in Antarctica for decades and centuries to come.

The mission was organized by the Institute of Polar Sciences (ISP) of the Italian National Research Council, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, and the Swiss Paul Scherrer Institute.

Ice Memory is an international program that aims to provide, now and for decades and centuries to come, the raw material and data necessary for scientific advances and political decisions that contribute to the sustainability and well-being of humanity. It aims to do so by creating, in Antarctica, an archive of ice cores from the Earth's mountain glaciers currently in danger of degradation or disappearance.

"The mission was a success: the team obtained two ice cores over 80 meters deep from a very important site, which contains information on the climate of the last ten thousand years," says Carlo Barbante, director of the CNR-ISP and professor at Ca' Foscari. "The team worked well despite the harsh weather conditions, with strong gusts of wind and snow. Now this precious archive of the climate history of the Alps will be preserved for the future."

"For ice core research in the Alps, the Colle Gnifetti glacier saddle is iconic with the first ice core drilling expedition already in 1976, shortly after initiation of this research field in the 1960s in Greenland," emphasizes Margit Schwikowski, head of the Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry at Paul Scherrer Institut and professor at the University of Bern. "At that time it was speculated that the saddle consists of cold ice, without any melting, a prerequisite for a reliable preservation of the environmental information, which was shown to be correct. I am therefore extremely pleased that we succeeded in collecting cores from this site for the Ice Memory program".

Inside the tent, scientists at work. Credit: Riccardo Selvatico (CNR/Ca' Foscari University of Venice)

"We are extremely happy and proud that we successfully accomplished this mission," adds Theo Jenk, a researcher at the Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry at Paul Scherrer Institut and leader of the expedition. "Considering the extreme location of sampling sites such as the one on Colle Gnifetti, the high altitude of more than 4,500 meters and the often harsh weather conditions, such success can never be guaranteed. In a strong, international collaborative team effort, we managed just that, and most importantly, all team members returned back safely. The Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry (LUC) from the Paul Scherrer Institut has a long tradition of several decades in studying the glacier archive at Colle Gnifetti. A site, which we showed to most likely contain the oldest ice in the Alps. Because of that, helping to secure an ice core from this siteproviding access to an extremely valuable climate and environmental archive of past European history but now in danger of being lost forever due to the ongoing warmingis definitely a highlight for us as a group. We are very happy that thanks to our expertise in ice core drilling and high-altitude expeditions we were able to make a significant contribution to the Ice Memory project in this particular case."

"Ice Memory is one of Ca' Foscari's most significant projects," says Tiziana Lippiello, Rector of Ca' Foscari. "Our university was among the first to engage in the study of climate change and its impact on various areas (economics, science, society, culture). Our climate is in a state of emergency. In order to face this crisis, we need to understand the causes and find possible solutions, so research and teaching are necessary. With the Ice Memory project, Ca' Foscari is committed to making a relevant contribution, together with CNR and the other international partners."

"Ice Memory is a trans-generational project that will involve the children of today who will become the scientists of tomorrow," says Fabio Trincardi, director of the Department of Earth System Science and Environmental Technologies at CNR. "If we lost archives such as this one, we would lose the memory of how humankind has altered the atmosphere. Let us try to preserve it for the future generations who will study it when we are no longer here".

On 1 June, the Italian team left from Alagna Valsesia (Vercelli, Italy) while the Swiss team approached from Zermatt (Valais, Switzerland) both located at the foot of Monte Rosa. The researchers met at Capanna Gnifetti refuge (3,600 meters) where they spent two days in order to acclimatize. Then they were flown up to Colle Gnifetti to carry out deep ice core sampling.

For the duration of the mission, the scientists stayed at Capanna Margheritathe highest mountain refuge in Europe, built on a rocky peak 128 years ago for the purpose of contributing to scientific research in the field of physiology and, more recently, of climatology and natural science. Thanks to the support of Rifugi Monterosa, Capanna Margherita was opened just to host the scientists. The refuge will open again during the second half of June to welcome mountaineers.

The Colle Gnifetti forms the upper accumulation area of Grenzgletscher, the main tributary of the Gornergletscher, which is the second largest glacier system in the Alps. With an area of about 40 sq. kilometers, the glacier extends from 2,190 meters to 4,600 meters above sea level. In 2017 it was estimated that the volume of the glacier amounted to 4.9 cubic kilometers. Since the mid-1800s, the glacier has lost about 40% of its area, with its front retreating by about 3.3 kilometers. In 2019, the Gornergletscher lost its connection with the Grenzgletscher turning it suddenly into a much smaller glacier.

One of the deepest ice core sections. Credit: Riccardo Selvatico (CNR/Ca' Foscari University of Venice)

The team included Margit Schwikowski (PSI), Theo Jenk (team leader, PSI), Francois Burgay (PSI), Jacopo Gabrieli (Cnr/Ca' Foscari), Fabrizio de Blasi (Cnr/Ca' Foscari), Andrea Spolaor (Cnr/Ca' Foscari), Paolo Conz (mountain guide), Sabine Harbeke (ZHdK, PolARTS project), Riccardo Selvatico (videomaker).

The expedition on Monte Rosa was funded by the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (with the special supplementary fund for research, FISR) and by the Paul Scherrer Institute.

The mission was sponsored by AKU and Karpos and featured the collaboration of Comune di Alagna Valsesia, Alagna's Mountain Guides, Rifugi Monterosa, Monterosa 2000 spa, Camp, AVIS, ARPA Piemonte, ARPA Valle d'Aosta, Comitato Glaciologico Italiano, Ente di gestione delle aree protette della Valle Sesia, Fondazione Montagna Sicura, the University of Turin, Einwohnergemeinde Zermatt, Sektion Naturgefahren Kanton Wallis.

Ice Memory

For Ice Memory, the expedition to the Monte Rosa massif is the third mission on Alpine glaciers after the one on Mont Blanc in 2016 and to Grand Combin in 2020. Other international expeditions have allowed securing ice cores of glaciers at Illimani (Bolivia), at Belukha in Siberia and at Elbrus (Russia).

Explore further Bolivian glacier samples ready for global ice archives

More information: Ice Memory organization: Ice Memory organization: www.ice-memory.org/

Provided by Universita Ca' Foscari Venezia
Radial velocity of TOI1278 from SPIRou monitoring with an over plot of the best-fit orbital solution. Credit: Artigau et al., 2021.

An international team of astronomers reports the discovery of a companion to the M dwarf star known as TOI1278. The newly found object turns out to be a brown dwarf nearly 20 times as massive as Jupiter. The finding is detailed in a paper published June 8 on the arXiv pre-print server.

Brown dwarfs are intermediate objects between planets and stars, occupying the mass range between 13 and 80 Jupiter masses. Although many brown dwarfs have been detected to date, such objects orbiting other stars are a rare find.

Now, a group of astronomers led by Etienne Artigau of the University of Montreal, has detected a new rare brown dwarf in a binary system. Using the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT), they found that the star TOI1278 of spectral type M0V is orbited by a massive object.

"The system was rst identied through a percent-deep transit in TESS photometry; further analysis showed it to be a grazing transit of a Jupiter-sized object. Radial velocity (RV) follow-up with the SPIRou near-infrared high-resolution velocimeter and spectropolarimeter in the framework of the 300-night SPIRou Legacy Survey (SLS) carried out at the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT) led to the detection of a Keplerian RV signal with a semi-amplitude of 2,306  10 m/s in phase with the 14.5-day transit period," the astronomers explained.

The newly found brown dwarf received designation TOI1278 B; therefore, the star was designated TOI-1278 A. The brown dwarf orbits the star every 14.5 days and its orbit has a slight but non-zero eccentricity.

According to the paper, TOI1278 B has a radius of about 0.97 Jupiter radii and is 18.5 times more massive than our solar system's biggest planet. Thus, its density is at a level of approximately 18 g/cm3.

The observations show that TOI1278 B is separated from TOI-1278 A by about 0.095 AU. Given that TOI-1278 A is about 31 times more massive that its companion, such short separation makes TOI-1278 unique among known M-dwarf systems. The astronomers noted that systems with similar mass ratios exist with separations of tens to thousands of AUs.

"The number of known brown dwarf companions in close-in orbit around main-sequence stars is relatively small although they are easier to find in general than planetary companions. This is expected from a formation point of view, with close-in binaries having mass ratios tending toward unity. While most such companions orbit sun-like stars, TOI1278 combines relatively rare properties; there are few close-in (<0.1 AU) companions to M dwarfs that are more massive than Saturn," the researchers explained.

The authors of the paper estimate that TOI1278 is located around 244 light years away from the Earth. They also assume that the system is between 1.4 and 7.6 billion years old.

Explore further Astronomers detect substellar companion of HD 47127

More information: TOI1278 B: SPIRou unveils a rare Brown Dwarf Companion in Close-In Orbit around an M dwarf, arXiv:2106.04536 [astro-ph.SR] TOI1278 B: SPIRou unveils a rare Brown Dwarf Companion in Close-In Orbit around an M dwarf, arXiv:2106.04536 [astro-ph.SR] arxiv.org/abs/2106.04536

 2021 Science X Network
Credit: Piotr Siedlecki/public domain

Most sensible air travelers dread turbulence. A little atmospheric hiccup can shake airplanes, rattle nerves and spill beverages. A Cornell University-led study found that birds don't mind at all.

By combining wind speed data with the measured accelerations of a golden eagle outfitted with GPS tracking instruments, the researchers suggest that, rather than hindering flight, turbulence is a source of energy that birds may use to their advantage.

This counterintuitive discovery could revise what we know about avian flight, and help the aerospace industry develop faster, more efficient ways to fly in turbulent environments.

The paper, "Turbulence Explains the Accelerations of an Eagle in Natural Flight," published in PNAS. The lead author was doctoral student Kasey Laurent.

While the flight of birds may appear easy and graceful to earthbound spectators, winged animals are actually navigating air flow that is structured, textured and constantly in flux, according to Gregory Bewley, assistant professor in the Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, who led the team.

In order to take his experiments out of the lab and into the sky, Bewley's team partnered with two groupsConservation Science Global and Cellular Tracking Technologies. Scientists from these companies captured a female golden eagle in Alabama, rigged it with a solar GPS telemetry unit with an accelerometer weighing less than 3 ounces, then released the bird.

Over the course of 17 days, as the eagle migrated north along the Appalachian Mountains toward Canada, the GPS "backpack" transmitted more than 200 hours of dataincluding location coordinates, altitude, ground speed and tri-axial accelerationvia cellular networks.

Bewley's lab then obtained wind speed data from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction's weather history databases and mapped it onto the eagle's flight measurements, identifying the bird's various flying and nonflying behaviors.

They found a "highly irregular, fluctuating pattern" in the eagle's accelerations, which resembles the typical trajectories of particles in turbulent airflows. At timescales ranging from 0.5 to 10 secondswhich translates to approximately 1 to 25 wingbeatsthe eagle's accelerations and atmospheric turbulence were completely in synch.

And just how intense are these accelerations? As a point of comparison, people riding in a car or aboard a commercial flight experience less than 0.1 g, or one factor of earth's gravitational acceleration. Meanwhile, the accelerations of birds exceed 1 gwhich would throw those human passengers out of their seats.

Of course, aeronautical engineers strive to reduce turbulence as much as possible, and no airline passenger or pilot wants a bumpy ride. But Bewley believes there are opportunities to harness the energy of turbulence, particularly for person-less transport and small reconnaissance aircraft.

"If you could find a path in which every vortex is pushing you the right way, then obviously you get there a little faster with a little less energy," Bewley said. "We're still working hard to understand turbulence by itself. I think it's fascinating that there might be some practical empirical knowledge embodied in wildlife that we don't appreciate yet."

Explore further Novel modeling tool seeks insight into eagle flight at wind plants

More information: Kasey M. Laurent et al, Turbulence explains the accelerations of an eagle in natural flight, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2021). Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Kasey M. Laurent et al, Turbulence explains the accelerations of an eagle in natural flight,(2021). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2102588118
Credit: William Terry, Author provided

As a result of logging and severe bushfires, Australian wildlife is facing a severe shortage of tree hollowsholes in the trunks and branches of large old trees. More than 300 species of birds and mammals, including possums, bats, cockatoos, owls and kookaburras, rely on tree hollows for shelter or breeding.

In Australia, hollows are usually formed through the decay of a tree scar, and it can take hundreds of years for tree hollows big enough for medium-sized animals to form naturally.

This includes phascogalesthe rat-sized, carnivorous marsupials that live in open woodlands across Australia and are the focus of my research and photography. But like many of Australia's forest-dwelling mammals, phascogales are vulnerable to extinction.

So with hollows becoming harder to find, I venture into forests and study how well artificial hollows, made with chainsaws, can replace them. And, incredibly, it's working: my research shows phascogales and other native animals are enthusiastically moving into the new real estate.

Meet the mysterious brush-tailed phascogale

Phascogales are an important species to Australia but, unfortunately, their cryptic behavior and nocturnal habits mean people rarely see them.

Phascogales feed on insects after stripping bark from eucalypts. But through my close interactions and radio tracking, I've documented phascogales eating other more unusual foods, including bird eggs and sometimes even small birds, such as gray-shrike thrush.

A sacred kingfisher using a natural tree hollow for nesting. Credit: William Terry

I've also recorded them taking dead birds, such as the rosella pictured below. They even have a reputation among farmers as being a fierce chicken killer, but this may be exaggerated.

Phascogales have an unusual life. Shortly after mating between April and May, all males die at about 11 months of age from stomach ulcers. This frees up resources for the next generation of young joeys that will emerge from the nest in early summer.

But will they survive in the future?

Tragically, at least one species, the brush-tailed phascogale, is threatened with extinction, primarily due to habitat loss, climate change, and feral predators such as foxes and cats.

The brush-tailed phascogale (Phascogale tapoatafa tapoatafa) occurs across the eastern side of Australia, from southern Queensland to Victoria. It's now extinct in South Australia.

Brush-tailed phascogales live in trees, but will come to the ground to forage for food among leaf litter and fallen timber. Credit: William Terry

Likewise, the much smaller red-tailed phascogale (Phascogale calura) once survived across a vast swathe of land from Western Australia to Victoria. Today, it survives only in small pockets in the Western Australia wheatbelt.

Household cats are a particularly major issue for phascogales, and many cat owners in central Victoria have a story about their cat bringing home a phascogale (so please keep your pet cat inside at all times).

Last year, research confirmed climate change would reduce the available areas phascogales could survive. This research found areas with a phascogale-friendly climate would decline by up to 79% in Queensland, 67% in Victoria and 17% in NSW, by 2070.

Climate change also threatens to bring longer, more frequent and severe heatwaves. For phascogales and many other mammals, this could be a death sentence.

Phascogales belong to the same family as the Tasmanian devil, quoll (pictured) and the tiny antechinus. Credit: William Terry, Author provided

Tree hollows with thick walls can protect the animals sheltering inside from the high temperatures outside.

But these are getting increasingly rarer, and this is where my research on chainsaw hollows comes in. Thick-walled hollows may be very important for the long-term survival of phascogales and other species in a warming climate.

Carving them a home

A chainsaw hollow is a cavity constructed inside a tree. A faceplate is then attached over the top, with a hole drilled into it for the animal to enter. They offer refuge for Australia's endangered mammals and birds.

For our project, we carved 45 chainsaw hollows in dry forests and woodland where phascogales are known to occur. We also installed similar-sized nest boxeswhich are more commonly used to offset the loss of hollowson nearby trees. We monitored these for two and a half years.

A phascogale inspects a dead crimson rosella it found at the base of a tree. Moments later, this phascogale dragged the bird away. It was unclear what happened next. Credit: William Terry

The red-tailed phascogale has been lost from much of its former range and now only exists in the Western Australian wheatbelt. Credit: William Terry, Author provided

A relative to the phascogale, the tiny agile antechinus commonly uses tree hollows on the ground. Credit: William Terry, Author provided

Research from 2018 shows nest boxes offer little protection from outside temperatures. I've collected data, which is not yet published, that confirms this.

My research shows chainsaw hollows provide 27% more protection from extreme temperatures during heatwaves compared to nest boxes, which provided almost no protection.

So it's no wonder we observed and recorded phascogales and the more common sugar glider (Petaurus notatus) more frequently sheltering in chainsaw hollows than in nearby nest boxes.

Other animals used the chainsaw hollows, too. This includes the feather-tailed glider, yellow-footed antechinus, and the white-throated treecreeper.

But like nest boxes, the chainsaw hollows showed signs they would be only an interim measure, requiring maintenance with bark growing over entrance holes and issues with a buildup of moisture.

In any case, further research into this species is needed, as it will aid land managers to conserve this enigmatic species as more challenges are thrown their way into the future.

Explore further Climbing trees reveals a housing shortage for tree-rats and other endangered animals

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
A Long March-2F rocket will carry the first crew to China's new space station.

The first crew for China's new space station prepared to blast off this week for the latest step in Beijing's ambitious programme to establish itself as a space power.

The mission is China's first crewed spaceflight in nearly five years, and a matter of prestige for the government as it prepares to mark the 100th birthday of the ruling Communist Party on July 1 with a propaganda blitz.

A Long March-2F rocket carrying three astronauts in the Shenzhou-12 spacecraft is slated to lift off from a base in northwest China's Gobi desert on Thursday, according to experts with knowledge of the matter.

They plan to spend three months on the Tiangong station, China's longest crewed space mission to date, with spacewalks among their tasks.

The astronauts will aim to "get their new home in space kitted out and ready to use," said Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer at the Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.

"It's a practical goal rather than a groundbreaking one."

The Long March rocket, with the Shenzhou craft attached, was moved to the launch pad at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center last week, according to the Chinese space agency.

Shenzhou-12 will dock with the main section of the Tiangong station, named Tianhe, which was placed in orbit on April 29. A cargo craft last month transported fuel, food and equipment for the crewed mission.

Factfile on China's planned space station, scheduled to be operational by 2022.

Another 11 missions are planned over the next year and a half to complete the construction of Tiangong in orbit, including the attachment of solar panels and two laboratory modules.

Three of those missions will carry astronauts for crew rotation.

"Keeping the station up and running smoothly involves much detailed and complicated work, as we saw on the International Space Station during its early days," said Chen Lan, an analyst at GoTaikonauts, which specialises in China's space programme.

"In fact, ISS construction was much slower" than the Chinese station.

Once completed, Tiangong will have a mass of around 90 tonnes and is expected to have at least a 10-year lifespan, according to the Chinese space agency.

It will be much smaller than the ISS, and similar to the Soviet space station Mir, which was launched in 1986 and decommissioned in 2001.

China launched the core module of its new space station in April.

'Building a great nation'

China has invested billions of dollars over decades to catch up with established space powers such as the United States and Russia.

It has so far sent humans into space, probes to the Moon, and last month landed a rover on Marsa rare and prestigious space-faring achievement.

China's desire for a human outpost of its own in Earth orbit was fuelled by a US ban on its astronauts on the International Space Station, and it is now days away from placing the first crew on Tiangong.

State media reported in October last year that astronauts have been selected for all four crewed missions, but officials have been tight-lipped about their identities.

All 11 Chinese astronauts to date have been military pilots.

A long-term human presence in space would be a significant leap in China's space programme.

China successfully landed a rover on Mars this year, the major achievement in its ambitious space programme.

President Xi Jinping called China's space station a key step in "building a great nation of science and technology" after the launch of the Tianhe core module in April.

The International Space Stationa collaboration between the United States, Russia, Canada, Europe and Japanis due for retirement after 2024, although NASA has said it could potentially remain functional beyond 2028.

It sets up a scenario where Tiangong could be the only operational space station.

While China does not have specific plans to use it for international cooperation, its space authorities have said they are open to foreign collaboration.

Explore further Rocket on pad, China ready to send 1st crew to space station

 2021 AFP
Specimen from the South African National Collection of Fungi in Pretoria. Credit: Benjamin Schantz-Conlon

The biological and historical diversity in museum collections is staggering, with specimens collected across centuries by some of the most famous scientists in history. In a new study, researchers from the University of Copenhagen successfully revived museal fungal specimens that were more than 250 years old and used the live cultures for whole genome sequencing and physiological experiments.

Echoing through history by reviving fungal specimens originally preserved and described a flabbergasting quarter of a millenium ago by the "Father of Modern Taxonomy" Carl Linnaeus, this study highlights the untapped potential of museum collections in modern research programs. The results have just been published in the renowned Cell Press journal iScience.

The "desert coprinus" fungus Podaxis has fascinated scientists and explorers for centuries, still the genus has been subjected to relatively little research. These large mushrooms thrive in hostile and mostly species-free environments and while they occur seasonally and unpredictably in deserts and on termite mounds, researchers are faced with a problem common to many biologists: Where do we find it? The researchers from the Department of Biology turned to an unconventional sampling location: Museum collections. By requesting fungal spores from various collections, including the Linnaean Society of London and the Natural History Museum of Denmark, they were able to collect more than 200 specimens from every continent aside from Antarctica. The specimens varied in age from 2 to 250 years old.

Given the finding that fungal spores can grow after 2-5 years in a museum, the limit for their revival was tested. Eventually the researchers succeeded in germinating and growing two Podaxis specimens collected in the 1770s and classified by Linnaeus in Uppsala. These results reveal an extraordinary capacity for Podaxis spores to remain viable through extended periods of drought and suggests that they can remain dormant in the environment for centuries before germinating once conditions allow.

"It was really incredible to have these fungi growing in our lab, which we knew had been handled by a scientist as important as Linnaeus, who founded the system of naming species. It allowed us to perform experiments and produce genomes of a quality that would have been impossible with dried specimens," explains postdoc and first author Benjamin Schantz-Conlon of the Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen. Schantz-Conlon continues: "It was very interesting to examine the adaptations allowing Podaxis to survive under extreme conditions, hereunder also in herbarium collections where the samples traditionally has been treated with mercury as a pesticide".

The researchers used the specimens to ask whether free-living Podaxis species growing in deserts were genomically and physiologically different from species growing on termite mounds. The results indicated that the association with termites gave rise to smaller genome sizes and a reduced tolerance to stressful conditions.

"These findings suggest that Podaxis living in association with termites are experiencing a relaxed selection pressure and a potential protection from competition and exposure to stressors in the environment", says corresponding author Michael Poulsen, professor at the Department of Biology.

Previous research has shown there is an overlap between tolerance to extreme conditions such as deserts and pathogenicity. By comparing the transition from a free-living state in a desert to a symbiotic state within a termite mound, the researchers hoped to learn more about the evolution of fungi that shift to associate with hosts, including pathogens.

"While Podaxis living in an obligate association with termites exhibited relaxed selection, we also found some Podaxis which could survive both on termite mounds and free-living in deserts. In this case, we saw little genomic or physiological difference between them and the fully free-living Podaxis, suggesting the adaptations for life in the desert may facilitate the initial colonization of termite mounds; something which is also seen in opportunistic pathogens."

An immense resource of knowledge is stored in museum collections and we should work to ensure that these specimens can be used to answer important questions in science in the future.

Explore further Plant specimens provide powerful data about life in the Anthropocene

More information: Benjamin H. Conlon et al, Genome reduction and relaxed selection is associated with the transition to symbiosis in the basidiomycete genus Podaxis, iScience (2021). Journal information: iScience Benjamin H. Conlon et al, Genome reduction and relaxed selection is associated with the transition to symbiosis in the basidiomycete genus Podaxis,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.102680
Credit: University of Cambridge

The period preceding the emergence of behaviourally modern humans was characterized by dramatic climatic and environmental variabilityit is these pressures, occurring over hundreds of thousands of years that shaped human evolution.

New research published today in the Cambridge Archaeological Journal proposes a new theory of human cognitive evolution entitled 'Complementary Cognition' which suggests that in adapting to dramatic environmental and climactic variabilities our ancestors evolved to specialize in different, but complementary, ways of thinking.

Lead author Dr. Helen Taylor, Research Associate at the University of Strathclyde and Affiliated Scholar at the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, University of Cambridge, explained: "This system of complementary cognition functions in a way that is similar to evolution at the genetic level but instead of underlying physical adaptation, may underlay our species' immense ability to create behavioral, cultural and technological adaptations. It provides insights into the evolution of uniquely human adaptations like language suggesting that this evolved in concert with specialization in human cognition."

The theory of complementary cognition proposes that our species cooperatively adapt and evolve culturally through a system of collective cognitive search alongside genetic search which enables phenotypic adaptation (Darwin's theory of evolution through natural selection can be interpreted as a 'search' process) and cognitive search which enables behavioral adaptation.

Dr. Taylor continued, "Each of these search systems is essentially a way of adapting using a mixture of building on and exploiting past solutions and exploring to update them; as a consequence, we see evolution in those solutions over time. This is the first study to explore the notion that individual members of our species are neurocognitively specialized in complementary cognitive search strategies."

Complementary cognition could lie at the core of explaining the exceptional level of cultural adaptation in our species and provides an explanatory framework for the emergence of language. Language can be viewed as evolving both as a means of facilitating cooperative search and as an inheritance mechanism for sharing the more complex results of complementary cognitive search. Language is viewed as an integral part of the system of complementary cognition.

The theory of complementary cognition brings together observations from disparate disciplines, showing that they can be viewed as various faces of the same underlying phenomenon.

Dr. Taylor continued: "For example, a form of cognition currently viewed as a disorder, dyslexia, is shown to be a neurocognitive specialization whose nature in turn predicts that our species evolved in a highly variable environment. This concurs with the conclusions of many other disciplines including palaeoarchaeological evidence confirming that the crucible of our species' evolution was highly variable."

Nick Posford, CEO, British Dyslexia Association said, "As the leading charity for dyslexia, we welcome Dr. Helen Taylor's ground-breaking research on the evolution of complementary cognition. Whilst our current education and work environments are often not designed to make the most of dyslexia-associated thinking, we hope this research provides a starting point for further exploration of the economic, cultural and social benefits the whole of society can gain from the unique abilities of people with dyslexia."

At the same time, this may also provide insights into understanding the kind of cumulative cultural evolution seen in our species. Specialization in complementary search strategies and cooperatively adapting would have vastly increased the ability of human groups to produce adaptive knowledge, enabling us to continually adapt to highly variable conditions. But in periods of greater stability and abundance when adaptive knowledge did not become obsolete at such a rate, it would have instead accumulated, and as such Complementary Cognition may also be a key factor in explaining cumulative cultural evolution.

Complementary cognition has enabled us to adapt to different environments, and may be at the heart of our species' success, enabling us to adapt much faster and more effectively than any other highly complex organism. However, this may also be our species' greatest vulnerability.

Dr. Taylor concluded: "The impact of human activity on the environment is the most pressing and stark example of this. The challenge of collaborating and cooperatively adapting at scale creates many difficulties and we may have unwittingly put in place a number of cultural systems and practices, particularly in education, which are undermining our ability to adapt. These self-imposed limitations disrupt our complementary cognitive search capability and may restrict our capacity to find and act upon innovative and creative solutions."

"Complementary cognition should be seen as a starting point in exploring a rich area of human evolution and as a valuable tool in helping to create an adaptive and sustainable society. Our species may owe our spectacular technological and cultural achievements to neurocognitive specialization and cooperative cognitive search, but our adaptive success so far may belie the importance of attaining an equilibrium of approaches. If this system becomes maladjusted, it can quickly lead to equally spectacular failures to adaptand to survive, it is critical that this system be explored and understood further."

Explore further Researchers: Culture drives human evolution more than genetics

More information: The Evolution of Complementary Cognition: Humans Cooperatively Adapt and Evolve through a System of Collective Cognitive Search, Cambridge Archaeological Journal, DOI: 10.1017/S0959774321000329 The Evolution of Complementary Cognition: Humans Cooperatively Adapt and Evolve through a System of Collective Cognitive Search,
A bloat of hippos takes refuge in a remaining pool along the Great Ruaha River during the dry season. Credit: Keenan Stears

Hippopotamus aren't the first thing that come to mind when considering epidemiology and disease ecology. And yet these amphibious megafauna offered UC Santa Barbara ecologist Keenan Stears a window into the progression of an anthrax outbreak that struck Ruaha National Park, Tanzania, in the dry season of 2017.

Through surveys and GPS monitoring, Stears and his colleagues, Wendy Turner, Doug McCauley and Melissa Schmitt, revealed that reduced dry-season flows in the Great Ruaha River indirectly spread the disease by affecting hippo movement. The results, which appear in the journal Ecosphere, present a unique perspective on disease ecology and illustrate how anthropogenic changes can impact wildlife and human health.

The ecology of wildlife disease was far out of mind during the dry season in 2016, when Stears and his team outfitted 10 male hippos with GPS collars. The researchers sought to track the animals' movements to better understand their behavior and ecology, especially in light of reduced flows along many of Africa's major rivers. The resulting study was the first to track hippo movement and land use, and finally uncovered some of the basic facts about hippos' spatial ecology.

Then the anthrax came.

"This wasn't something I actually set out to study," said Stears, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology. "You can't plan for an outbreak to occur; it just happens."

Stears was in the field from 2016 to 2017 conducting hippo counts and maintaining equipment. The GPS tracking collars had been on the animals for about a year, roughly as long as they're supposed to last before dropping off. Noticing one of the collars hadn't moved for a couple of days, he figured it had fallen off. It appeared to be in a nearby pool, so Stears hiked out to retrieve it. "I turned around a bend in the river, and there was a hippo pool with about six or so hippo carcasses," he recalled. Stears had stumbled upon an anthrax outbreak.

Anthrax is an infection caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis, which can manifest in a variety of ways depending on how it's contracted. The bacterium is notable for its ability to produce spores that can lie dormant in the soil for years. Notably, in outbreaks like the one in this study, animals can only spread the disease once they die.

Although he isn't a disease ecologist, Stears quickly realized his GPS data could illuminate aspects of the outbreak. There didn't seem to be any existing studies that combined a spatio-temporal account of an active anthrax outbreak with wildlife movement, he explained. "So this was really a unique opportunity to answer some questions that hadn't really been answered before."

"We can't predict when an anthrax outbreak will occur, so it's impossible to plan such a study," added co-author Wendy Turner of the U.S. Geological Survey and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. "This project is in part a fantastic bit of luck (for understanding disease transmission, not for the hippos), and in part very clever and quick thinking by Keenan and Melissa at UCSB, to capitalize on such a unique opportunity.

"I have been studying anthrax for years in Namibia, with many more GPS-collared hosts monitored than the 10 in this study," she continued, "and I still haven't had any of our individuals succumb to the disease."

The team first had to determine how many hippos in this population had interacted with potentially infected pools. That meant identifying which of the many disconnected pools along this stretch of the Great Ruaha River were infected. Stears' colleagues at Ruaha National Park conducted sampling for the pathology to confirm the anthrax outbreak.

Stears and his team conducted daily counts of both live and dead hippos in these pools. The surveys enabled them to track the disease's spread, its rate and direction. The scientists were also curious where the hippos were coming from, where they were going and whether the outbreak was influencing their behavior.

The researchers linked this information with the hippo movement data they had from the GPS collars. Four of the 10 hippos they had tracked could have caught the disease, Stears said, and of those, three died.

The team found that infection had no noticeable effect on a hippo's movement. Infected individuals roamed just as much as healthy hippos. "This has important implications for how far a single individual could potentially vector the disease before its death and create new infectious reservoirs," Stears said. Under certain conditions, wildlife can succumb to infection within a few days. Even if this is the case, a hippo can walk about seven kilometers over the course of a night in search of water. Thus, hippos can quickly move the disease over large distances.

What's more, the animals didn't appear to actively avoid carcasses. Why? Well, dry times are not good times to be a hippo. Normally, species avoid the bodies of their own kind. But with suitable ponds so scarce, the amphibious animals were forced to remain in pools alongside the dead.

"The drying of rivers is one of the major reasons why these outbreaks have gotten so bad over the years," Stears explained. "As the river dries, hippos are forced to congregate in the remaining river pools. Now this paper's showing that their movements spread the disease as well."

Anthrax outbreaks are a natural occurrence, but drying rivers are making them worse. As pools dry up, hippos either pack into those that remain or move to find new ones. Increased crowding and social interactions can drive up physiological stress, which scientists have linked to a greater susceptibility to infection.

Additionally, altered hippo movements as they search for new pools raise the risk of exposure to anthrax reservoirs as well as the duration that they interact with these reservoirs. Aggressive interactions around the remaining pools mean that hippos frequently visit several in a given night. All these factors have exacerbated anthrax outbreaks in hippo populations.

Stears noted that hippos also appear particularly susceptible to these outbreaks, aggregating as they do in small, dirty pools during the dry season. Other animals avoid drinking from hippo pools during these times because of all the dung that has accumulated due to the lack of river flow. Instead, they seek out shallower puddles that are cleaner, which potentially protects them from contracting lethal doses of the disease.

"Understanding disease outbreaks in hippos is especially important," said co-author Doug McCauley, an associate professor of ecology, evolution, and marine biology (EEMB) at UC Santa Barbara. "People don't often realize that hippos are a vulnerable species that has declined in many areas. There are far less hippos, for example, than African elephants. Their outlook is further complicated by potential impacts that climate change may have on rivers and how this change might amplify disease outbreak risk."

Stears plans to start looking at historical records of river flow across Africa and linking changes in hydrology to past anthrax outbreak timing and severity. There hasn't been much research on anthrax and river flow, he said; most of the work has been terrestrial. The historical records could be a treasure chest of information.

Shedding light on the factors that influence disease dynamics helps scientists predict how disturbances might affect future outbreaks. With this information, they can begin to assess how future circumstances could affect the extent and severity of an anthrax outbreak, as well as the probability that it jumps to other species of wildlife, livestock and even humans.

"Hippos can be considered the canary in the coal mine," added co-author Melissa Schmitt, an EEMB postdoctoral researcher. "Their sensitivity to adverse conditions makes them a good indicator of how global change may influence disease dynamics and overall wildlife health.

In all, the paper represents a confluence of events that offered an unparalleled opportunity to explore novel disease dynamics. "You can only get this kind of information from having an animal that is collared and actually infected," Stears said. "So this unique situation allowed us to answer questions that you just can't normally answer without having everything lined up."

Explore further Global change may alter the way that hippos shape the environment around them: study

More information: Keenan Stears et al, Hippopotamus movements structure the spatiotemporal dynamics of an active anthrax outbreak, Ecosphere (2021). Journal information: Ecosphere Keenan Stears et al, Hippopotamus movements structure the spatiotemporal dynamics of an active anthrax outbreak,(2021). DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3540
The Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer, Juice, in the cleanroom at ESTEC, in May 2021. Juice will make detailed observations of Jupiter and its three large ocean-bearing moons  Ganymede, Callisto and Europa  with a suite of remote sensing, geophysical and in situ instruments. The mission will investigate the emergence of habitable worlds around gas giants and the Jupiter system as an archetype for the numerous giant exoplanets now known to orbit other stars. Credit: ESA

The Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer has moved into the "Large Space Simulator" at ESA's test center, ready for grueling environmental tests at a range of temperatures.

Since arriving at ESA's European Space Research and Technology Center (ESTEC) in April, a number of activities have taken place ahead of the environmental testing. This included the application of multi-layered insulation, a deployment test of the medium-gain antenna, and other preparatory activitiescaptured in the image gallery below.

Once the door of the Large Space Simulator (LSS) is sealed, Juice will spend several weeks being subjected to extreme heating and cooling cycles under vacuum, to confirm the spacecraft is ready for its long journey through the Solar System to Jupiter. Juice will experience highs of 250C close to Venus, and lows of around -180C in the Jovian system.

The LSS is Europe's single largest vacuum chamber standing 15 m high and 10 m wide.

Juice will remain at ESTEC until July, before being transported to Toulouse for its final round of tests. From there it will travel to Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana, to be launched on an Ariane 5 rocket next year.

Credit: Lightcurve Films; GoPro footage by ESA; Original music by Ilse de Ziah and Ian Date

Once in the Jovian system the mission will make detailed observations of the giant gas planet and its three large ocean-bearing moonsGanymede, Callisto and Europawith a suite of remote sensing, geophysical and in situ instruments. The mission will investigate the emergence of habitable worlds around gas giants and the Jupiter system as an archetype for the numerous giant exoplanets, now known to orbit other stars.

Juice in the Large Space Simulator. Credit: ESA/Lightcurve Films

Explore further Image: Jupiter antenna that came in from the cold
Artists impression of cosmic filaments: huge bridges of galaxies and dark matter connect clusters of galaxies to each other. Galaxies are funnelled on corkscrew like orbits towards and into large clusters that sit at their ends. Their light appears blue-shifted when they move towards us, and red-shifted when they move away. Credit: AIP/ A. Khalatyan/ J. Fohlmeister

By mapping the motion of galaxies in huge filaments that connect the cosmic web, astronomers at the Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam (AIP), in collaboration with scientists in China and Estonia, have found that these long tendrils of galaxies spin on the scale of hundreds of millions of light years. A rotation on such enormous scales has never been seen before. The results published in Nature Astronomy signify that angular momentum can be generated on unprecedented scales.

Cosmic filaments are huge bridges of galaxies and dark matter that connect clusters of galaxies to each other. They funnel galaxies toward and into large clusters that sit at their ends. "By mapping the motion of galaxies in these huge cosmic superhighways using the Sloan Digital Sky surveya survey of hundreds of thousands of galaxieswe found a remarkable property of these filaments: they spin," says Peng Wang, first author of the now published study and astronomer at the AIP.

Noam Libeskind, initiator of the project at the AIP, says, "Despite being thin cylinderssimilar in dimension to pencilshundreds of millions of light years long, but just a few million light years in diameter, these fantastic tendrils of matter rotate. On these scales, the galaxies within them are themselves just specks of dust. They move on helixes, or corkscrew-like orbits, circling around the middle of the filament while traveling along it. Such a spin has never been seen before on such enormous scales, and the implication is that there must be an as-yet unknown physical mechanism responsible for torquing these objects."

How the angular momentum responsible for the rotation is generated in a cosmological context is one of the key unsolved problems of cosmology. In the standard model of structure formation, small overdensities present in the early universe grow via gravitational instability as matter flows from under to overdense regions. Such a potential flow is irrotational or curl-free; there is no primordial rotation in the early universe. As such, any rotation must be generated as structures form. The cosmic web in general, and filaments in particular, are intimately connected with galaxy formation and evolution. They also have a strong effect on galaxy spin, often regulating the direction of how galaxies and their dark matter halos rotate. However, it is not known whether the current understanding of structure formation predicts that filaments themselves, being uncollapsed quasi-linear objects, should spin.

"Motivated by the suggestion from the theorist Dr. Mark Neyrinck that filaments may spin, we examined the observed galaxy distribution, looking for filament rotation," says Noam Libeskind. "It's fantastic to see this confirmation that intergalactic filaments rotate in the real universe, as well as in computer simulation."

By using a sophisticated mapping method, the observed galaxy distribution was segmented into filaments. Each filament was approximated by a cylinder. Galaxies within it were divided into two regions on either side of the filament spine (in projection) and the mean redshift difference between the two regions was carefully measured. The mean redshift difference is a proxy for the velocity difference (the Doppler shift) between galaxies on the receding and approaching side of the filament tube. It can thus measure the filament's rotation. The study implies that depending on the viewing angle and end point mass, filaments in the universe show a clear signal consistent with rotation.

Explore further Astrophysicists find when galaxies rotate, size matters

More information: Peng Wang et al, Possible observational evidence for cosmic filament spin, Nature Astronomy (2021). Journal information: Nature Astronomy Peng Wang et al, Possible observational evidence for cosmic filament spin,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41550-021-01380-6

Provided by Leibniz-Institut fur Astrophysik Potsdam (AIP)
The Governor of Baden-Wuerttemberg, Winfried Kretschmann, front left, and Martin Jetter, front right, CEO of IBM Europe, attend the official inauguration of the first commercially used quantum computer in Europe in Ehningen, Germany, Tuesday, June 15, 2021 . IBM on Tuesday unveiled one of Europe's most powerful quantum computers in Germany, boosting the country's effort to stay in the race for what's considered a key technology of the future. Credit: Bernd Weissbrod/dpa/dpa via AP

IBM on Tuesday unveiled one of Europe's most powerful quantum computers in Germany, boosting the country's efforts to stay in the race for what's considered a key technology of the future.

Quantum computers use subatomic particles to get around the limitations of traditional physics and perform calculations at far higher speeds than even the fastest existing supercomputers. While this was long seen as the preserve of arcane research, companies are increasingly hoping to harness quantum computers to develop new materials, drugs or artificial intelligence applications.

The new IBM system is the company's first quantum computer outside of the United States, where it already has more than 30 such computers. It is located at a facility in Ehningen operated by Germany's Fraunhofer Society research organization.

Speaking by video link at the official launch, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said quantum computing would play a key role in the country's efforts to retain "technological and digital sovereignty" while also providing a motor for economic growth.

"Of course, we're not alone in the world with such ideas," she said. " The United States and China in particular are investing large sums."

Merkel said her government had recently decided to increase its funding for quantum computing research by 2 billion euros ($2.4 billion) over the coming five years.

"The rest of the world isn't sleeping in this field," said the 66-year-old, who was a quantum chemist in East Germany before entering politics.

IBM said the system in Ehningen can handle 27 quantum bits, or qubits, simultaneously. But Martin Jetter, the company's chairman for Europe, Middle East and Africa, said IBM aims to have a stable quantum computer capable of handling more than 1,000 qubits by 2023.

Explore further IBM says it's reached milestone in quantum computing

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Lateral and and dorsal views of the "mystery" bee. This is the holotype specimen of Brachymelecta mucida, presumed to have been collected in Nevada in the 1870s. It is now understood to be an aberrant specimen of Brachymelecta californica, the California digger-cuckoo bee. Credit: Thomas Onuferko, Canadian Museum of Nature

Canadian researchers have discovered that a bee thought to be one of the rarest in the world, as the only representative of its genus, is no more than an unusual specimen of a widespread species.

Scientists with the Canadian Museum of Nature (CMN) and York University have reclassified the mystery bee, collected somewhere in Nevada in the 1870s, as Brachymelecta californica. They note that it's an aberrant individual of a species, the California digger-cuckoo bee, that is part of a group that includes five other species. All are cleptoparasitic bees, with females that lay eggs in the nests of digger bees. Brachymelecta californica itself is known to be widespread from western Canada to southern Mexico.

The paper setting the record straight published today in the European Journal of Taxonomy. "The unusual specimen has puzzled bee researchers for decades, and deceived some of the world's great experts on bee taxonomy" says Dr. Thomas Onuferko, research associate with the CMN and the study's lead author. "They can now stop searching for more examples of this 'rare' bee."

The bee was first described in 1879 by American entomologist Ezra Townsend Cresson from the Nevada specimen. It was later placed in its own genus, and renamed Brachymelecta mucida in 1939, a name that has only ever been associated with this lone specimen.

It stood apart from other related bees because its abdomen's dorsal surface is unusually covered in pale hairs, these being partly dark in other specimens of what are now understood to be the same species. Another unusual feature is that the fore wings of the specimen each have two submarginal cells (the normal number for the bees in this group is three). These two features had confused everyone, until now.

In 2019, Onuferko was able to examine the rare specimen during a visit to the collections at Philadelphia's Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University. There, he discovered a series of other specimens with the same vague locality labels, but these bees were identified as Xeromelecta californica, a species that was also described by Cresson in the year before the description of the mystery species.

Collection and identification labels associated with the holotype of the "mystery" bee, including the original label (top right) by Ezra Townsend Cresson. Credit: Thomas Onuferko, Canadian Museum of Nature

In some of the specimens, the pattern of veins in the wings is the same as in the mystery specimen. "At that point, I made the connection that these specimens might all be the same species," says Onuferko.

This connection was further boosted by the discovery in Dr. Laurence Packer's collection at York University of a bee that also had conspicuously pale hairs on its entire abdomen. DNA barcoding confirmed the specimen to be Xeromelecta californica. Hairs that are normally dark in this species were completely light. Onuferko and Packer, who also collaborated on the study, concluded that the hairs likely lacked pigmentation due to a form of partial albinism.

The finding surprised Packer because some of the best bee biologists had studied the specimen, but he adds, "Rummaging around in old collections is actually an important thing to do. There is a lot to discover within museum collections, and in this case the rummaging revealed that a rare bee is not so rare after all."

The discovery has prompted an unusual name change, which is based on rules of the organization that governs the naming of animal speciesthe International Commission of Zoological Nomenclature. Due to the chronology of dates in which the bees' various genus and species names were published, Brachymelecta californica takes precedence as the accepted name, and the five related species classified as Xeromelecta are now also part of the genus Brachymelecta. This genus, previously known from a single specimen, is now known from most of the bee collections in North America.

"The reclassification of this bee shows why it's important to describe new taxa from multiple examples and why entomologists collect specimens in series," explains Onuferko. It is impossible to know the range of variation within a species with a single specimen, and describing new species from a lone sample risks mistaking an aberrant specimen for a new species.

New species still occasionally get described from single specimens; however, in such cases the new species should be thoroughly justified (using both molecular and morphological evidence, if possible), to avoid taxonomic problems down the line.

The study's authors explain that many researchers have written about the mystery bee under its earlier classification as Brachymelecta mucida, meaning that intellectual resources were dedicated to a specimen that did not merit them. "Bee collectors were effectively in search of an elusive 'white whale; or more appropriately, a 'whitish bee', a species that evidently only existed in the minds of taxonomists," says Onuferko.

Explore further Researchers identify 15 new species of stealthy cuckoo bees

More information: Thomas M. Onuferko et al, Brachymelecta Linsley, 1939, previously the rarest North American bee genus, was described from an aberrant specimen and is the senior synonym for Xeromelecta Linsley, 1939, European Journal of Taxonomy (2021). Thomas M. Onuferko et al, Brachymelecta Linsley, 1939, previously the rarest North American bee genus, was described from an aberrant specimen and is the senior synonym for Xeromelecta Linsley, 1939,(2021). DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2021.754.1393

Provided by Canadian Museum of Nature
Global risk assessment of toothed whale by-catch in small-scale fisheries by Large Marine Ecoregion (LME) Realms. (a) Relative risk scores by LME Realm, calculated as the Euclidean distance with fisheries pressure risk and species susceptibility risk as axes. (b) Fisheries pressure relative risk score by LME Realm. (c) Species susceptibility relative risk score by LME Realm. (d) Relative risk scores by LME Realm with associated weighted mean standard errors displayed. LME Realms = Arctic, Central Indo-Pacific (CIP), Eastern Indo-Pacific (EIP), Temperate Australasia (TA), Temperate Northern Atlantic (TNA), Temperate Northern Pacific (TNP), Temperate South America (TSA), Temperate Southern Africa (TSAf), Tropical Atlantic (TAt), Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP) and Western Indo-Pacific (WIP). Credit: The authors

A new study by Newcastle University shows that the risk of dolphins and porpoises being caught in small-scale (artisanal) fisheries is highest in low- and middle-income regions around the tropics and sub-tropics.

Marine scientists assessed the risk posed by small-scale fisheries to all 72 species of toothed whales found throughout the world's oceans. They found that this risk was highest in the Central Indo-Pacific, Temperate Northern Pacific, Temperate South America and the Western Indo-Pacific.

Publishing their findings in the journal Fish and Fisheries, the authors argue that addressing the bycatch risks posed by small-scale fisheries in the high-risk regions is especially challenging and must be considered a global priority for toothed whale conservation.

They warn that immediate management and conservation actions are required to reduce and ideally eliminate small-scale fisheries bycatch to prevent species extinctions.

Dr. Andrew Temple, Research Associate at the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences and Senior Consultant at MRAG Ltd said that "fisheries are the greatest threat to the survival of dolphins, porpoises and other toothed whales worldwide. This is the first study to take a global perspective on the threat to these species from small-scale fisheries."

The bycatch threat of global small-scale fisheries. Credit: ProDelphius, Peru

Professor Per Berggren, of Newcastle University's School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, continued by sayong that "small-scale fisheries are a particular threat to species found in coastal shallow waters where dolphin and porpoise distribution overlaps with gillnets use. Our results suggest that some of the most at-risk species are the four species of humpback dolphins, Irrawaddy dolphin, Australian snubfin dolphin, Franciscana dolphin, Guiana dolphin, Indo-Pacific finless porpoise, and the likely soon to be extinct vaquita."

Dr. Andrew Temple added that their "results highlight a "wicked problem" for toothed whale bycatch in small-scale fisheries. Small-scale fisheries are vital to the food, nutritional, and economic security of many communities in low- and middle-income nations. Managers of these fisheries therefore have to carefully balance the actions required to save these species against the risks that these actions might result in unintentional harm to fishing communities that rely on the oceans for their livelihoods. Solving this "wicked problem" is made even more challenging because funds available to fisheries managers are generally more limited in these high-risk regions, making effective fisheries management extremely difficult."

The study authors recognize that conservation actions need to be realistic and will certainly require international collaboration and cooperation. They call for mitigation actions that are tailored to the specific local economic and social contexts, and balance species and human needs.

Explore further Urgent action needed to protect dolphins and porpoises from bycatch in European waters

More information: Andrew J. Temple et al, Bycatch risk for toothed whales in global smallscale fisheries, Fish and Fisheries (2021). Journal information: Fish and Fisheries Andrew J. Temple et al, Bycatch risk for toothed whales in global smallscale fisheries,(2021). DOI: 10.1111/faf.12581
Credit: Shutterstock

The South Australian government in recent months announced it was relaxing its catchment zone policy for secondary schools. This means families can apply for their year 6 or 7 child to attend any public high school in the state in 2022.

The change is designed to enhance choice for families, who will no longer be stuck with just the option of their local school.

So, what are school catchment zones and why were they established? Would it be better to get rid of them altogether?

A history of school zones

Australian governments created the school catchment zone policy to manage the growth of mass secondary education in the 20th century. They wanted to ensure students were offered a place at the school closest to where they lived, and regulate enrolment numbers in schools. The government established high schools from the 1950s to the 1970s to be "neighborhood schools."

Parents at the time were not given the option of choosing a school outside their local area.

But in the name of "choice," all Australian states now allow students to apply to any public school. Although schools first need to ensure they offer a place to any student living within their catchment zone before accepting students from outside the zone.

Education is not a marketplace

We all like to have choice. But what might be ideal for the individual does not always create fair outcomes for all.

Policies to enhance school choice reflect a neoliberal ideology, dominant since the 1980s. It assumes schools and families, or "consumers," can compete in a free and fair marketplace.

Families go "school shopping," comparing different schools' educational programs, facilities, NAPLAN results or student cohorts.

Easing school zoning is one policy shift that aims to increase school choice. This process arguably improves the quality of education. As with the market, schools are compelled to do better to attract more students, or "customers."

However, schools are not a marketplace but a social service. Not all schools are equally equipped to compete, and not all families are equally equipped to choose. Australian and international research has shown policies to boost school choice exacerbate inequality and social segregation in school systems.

Well-educated, middle-class parents have the knowledge and resources to target the best schools for their children. This includes paying for private tutoring and other extra-curricular activities, so their kids are competitive applicants in a sought-after school.

These families are more able to bypass a "less desirable" local school.

Meanwhile, the "less desirable" schools start losing their better educated and well-resourced families. They may suffer declining enrolments and subsequent staffing cuts, making them even less appealing for future families.

This downward spiral makes it virtually impossible for them to compete effectively with other schools.

Australia has the fourth most segregated schooling system in the OECD. Disadvantaged students are heavily concentrated in disadvantaged and poorly performing schools, and the opposite is true of students from wealthy backgrounds.

How some parents avoid schools

In my Sydney-based research, a principal lamented that middle-class Anglo-Australian parents had expressed reluctance to send their children to her school. Because many kids from migrant and refugee families went to the school, these parents thought the academic standard would be inadequate.

Because these families repeatedly bypassed her school for other schools, schools in this area became increasingly segregated by ethnicity and socioeconomic status.

One of my parent participants recounted her observation of other parents standing outside the school gates, assessing whether the school would be too "rough" for their kids. The parent said: "They would stand outside the school, look at the kids coming out, and say, "I don't see anyone that I want my kids to be friends with.'"

Other policies around school choice

The idea of school choice isn't just seen in school catchment zone policies. It's also seen in governments spending more money on private schools. Or governments providing more public selective and specialist schools, such as performing arts or sports-focused schools.

For example, in NSW between 1988 and 2010, the number of public non-comprehensive secondary schools (selective and specialist schools) increased by 955% while the number of traditional comprehensive secondary schools fell by 24%.

Under the Howard government, federal funding for non-government schools tripled . According to Howard-era education minister Brendan Nelson, one of the greatest achievements of that administration was having the courage to "bring choice to education."

With strict school zones in place, schools are more likely to reflect the full diversity of the local community. The policy allows students to mix and learn with others from different backgrounds. And it ensures more schools can benefit from the contributions of better-resourced familiesfrom fundraising events to lobbying efforts. It is a means of putting schools on a more equal footing.

Explore further Reinforced by policies, charters segregate schools

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Proper chromosome segregation into two future daughter cells requires the mitotic spindle to elongate in anaphase. However, although some candidate proteins are implicated in this process, the molecular mechanism that drives spindle elongation in human cells has been unknown until now. Researchers at the Croatian Ruer Boskovic Institute (RBI) have discovered the exact molecular mechanism of bridging microtubules sliding and its role in proper distribution of genetic material during cell division. These latest results were published in the scientific journal Developmental Cell.

Cell division is a fundamental process required for stable transmission of genetic information from a parent cell to two daughter cells. Sister chromatids segregate into future daughter cells during anaphase by kinetochore fiber shortening (anaphase A) and spindle elongation (anaphase B).

Moreover, the importance of spindle elongation in human cells is evident from the fact that in addition to being the main driver of chromosome movement, it promotes correct segregation of lagging chromosomes, and its defects correlate with cancer.

Since this is one of the key steps in cell division, which occurs in almost all organisms, the molecular mechanism that drives spindle elongation has been in the spotlight of intensive research for many decades now. Although there have been some important breakthroughs made in the last twenty years that shed light on the molecular mechanisms behind the elongation process, the researchers did not manage to identify the exact proteins involved in the self-elongation of the spindle in human cells.

However, the team of molecular biologists at the Croatian Ruer Boskovic InstituteDr. Kruno Vukusic, doctoral students Ivana Ponjavic, Patrik Risteski and Dr. Renata Bua, led by Prof. Iva Tolic, discovered that two mechanistically distinct sliding modules, one based on a self-sustained kinesin and the other on a crosslinker-assisted kinesin motor, power the mechanism of spindle elongation in human cells.

"We hope these results will encourage new research into the role of spindle elongation in the final steps of cell division, when the cell completes the division between the newly formed daughter cells. I believe these results are just the first step on a path of elucidating the complex control mechanisms acting behind these motor proteins, which operate under strict control of many other factors in the cell. Moreover, the principle of co-operation between these motor proteins, that we have described, could help other scientists in determining molecular mechanisms in other crucial cell processes," said Professor Iva Tolic, research leader.

What molecular mechanisms are responsible for spindle elongation?

The mitotic spindle is crucial to the process of cell division. It is a dynamic and complex cellular structure made of microtubules and associated proteins. In addition to providing structural support within cells, among many other roles, these microtubules provide tracks for motor proteins, which transport chromosomes with our genetic material and position them in the centre of the mitotic spindle. They are assisted by special motor and microtubule-binding proteins.

After all the chromosomes have been successfully connected to the microtubules on either side of the mitotic spindle, the bond between sister chromatids, which make up the chromosome, breaks down and the chromatids begin their journey toward the two distant halves of the mitotic spindle. At the same time, the mitotic spindle begins to elongate to further contribute to the physical removal of chromatids, which is the final goal of any division process.

"We wanted to understand which motor proteins are responsible for elongation of the mitotic spindle in anaphase, so we developed a set of tools to remove individual proteins and groups of proteins at a specific time, just before the spindle elongation. We also used various other methods, some of which we adapted for the first time to the study of the mitotic spindle, which allowed us to study the organization of microtubules in the central part of the mitotic spindle. We used methods that enable very rapid monitoring of dynamic changes in bridging microtubules, structures we have previously shown to be crucial for proper chromosome segregation in human cells." explains Dr. Kruno Vukusic, postdoctoral fellow in the Tolic Lab, who is one of the first authors on this paper together with his colleague Ivana Ponjavic.

The key role of motor proteins KIF11 and KIF4A

"By applying the approach of simultaneous silencing of the function of multiple motor proteins, we wanted to discover a potential network of independent motor protein systems involved in the process of the mitotic spindle elongation. By using this approach, we observed that after simultaneous removal of the activity of KIF11 protein and KIF4A protein, spindle elongation does not occur at all, unlike their individual perturbations, which means that combined work of these proteins is crucial for elongation. This is the first case of stopping the elongation of the mitotic spindle by removal of specific motor proteins in human cells. In addition, we have seen that the KIF4A protein depends on the PRC1 protein to localize bridging fibers, so the same effect can be obtained by silencing the PRC1 protein combined with inhibition of the KIF11 motor protein." says Patrik Risteski, a doctoral student and one of the authors of the paper.

Further experiments demonstrated that independent motor proteins KIF11 and KIF4A participate specifically in the sliding of bridging microtubules, which then push the poles of the mitotic spindle from each other. This confirms that their role in the sliding of antiparallel microtubule bundles also occurs in anaphase cells, since the same has been shown in previous works only in vitro.

"These results have led us to conclude that anaphase B is a process driven by independent motor protein systems that have quite different mechanisms of action and probably different control mechanisms. This means that the cell ensures by the use of independent modules very high success of this process, which is not surprising, since it is one of the riskiest processes for the fate of future daughter cells that arise as a result of the division of the mother cell.

"This work has shown that the consequences of unsuccessful elongation of the mitotic spindle are devastating for the division of human cells and the properly balanced inheritance of genetic material." concludes Professor Iva Tolic.

Explore further New link seen between gene fusion and bladder cancer

More information: Kruno Vukusic et al, Microtubule-sliding modules based on kinesins EG5 and PRC1-dependent KIF4A drive human spindle elongation, Developmental Cell (2021). Journal information: Developmental Cell Kruno Vukusic et al, Microtubule-sliding modules based on kinesins EG5 and PRC1-dependent KIF4A drive human spindle elongation,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2021.04.005

Provided by Ruer Boskovic Institute
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Discussions of a broken value system are ubiquitous in science, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic served to expose inequality globally. However, according to the authors of an article publishing 15th June 2021 in the open access journal PLOS Biology, science itself is not "broken," but it was built on deeply-entrenched, systemic sexist and racist values, which perpetuate biases through the continued focus on citation rates and impact factors.

The author maintain that while equity within science has advanced thanks to the tireless efforts of generations of systemically marginalized groups, the system remains outdated, colonialist, and patriarchal. It overemphasizes contributions of males, and downplays the breadth of an individuals' meaningful scientific impacts outside of scientific literatureespecially the contributions of women and other marginalized groups.

To write this article, a group of 24 women from across the world came together to explore long-standing problems associated with narrow definitions of success and impact in science. Co-lead author Dr. Sarah Davies, an Assistant Professor of Biology, says "As scientists, we should let the data speak for themselvescitations and impact metrics have been repeatedly shown to be sexist and racist, yet we still use them. It is high time we shift to a system that appreciates the varied avenues of impact in science and valuing mentorship and advocating for diversity will be key components of this change".

The paper calls for the global scientific communityespecially those in positions of power and privilegeto reject all forms of implicit and systematic biases, especially when they have been thoroughly studied and documentedas is the case with citation and publication biases.

The authors advocate for dismantling the current biased value system by expanding measures of success beyond citations, in order to appreciate the multifaceted nature of scientific impact. Specifically, they call for a paradigm shift to scientific values based on multidimensional mentorship that incorporate diverse measures of success and impact and promote mentee wellbeing.

Dr. Sangeeta Mangubhai, a Fijian scientist with the Wildlife Conservation Society explains: "We propose building a new academic model that values the recruitment and retention of diverse scientists through fostering safe and healthy work environments. This new model calls for the rebuilding of the outdated value system to advance science through principles of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion."

These authors join the call to action of all members of the scientific communityparticularly those in positions of powerto re-evaluate how we define impact, and invest resources to accelerate change toward a more equitable, inclusive, and just system.

Explore further How more inclusive lab meetings lead to better science

More information: Davies SW, Putnam HM, Ainsworth T, Baum JK, Bove CB, Crosby SC, et al. (2021) Promoting inclusive metrics of success and impact to dismantle a discriminatory reward system in science. PLoS Biol 19(6): e3001282. Journal information: PLoS Biology Davies SW, Putnam HM, Ainsworth T, Baum JK, Bove CB, Crosby SC, et al. (2021) Promoting inclusive metrics of success and impact to dismantle a discriminatory reward system in science.19(6): e3001282. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3001282
Partula (Partula) hyalina Broderip, 1832. Credit: CC0

More than 50 species of tree snail in the South Pacific Society Islands were wiped out following the introduction of an alien predatory snail in the 1970s, but the white-shelled Partula hyalina survived.

Now, thanks to a collaboration between University of Michigan biologists and engineers with the world's smallest computer, scientists understand why: P. hyalina can tolerate more sunlight than its predator, so it was able to persist in sunlit forest edge habitats.

"We were able to get data that nobody had been able to obtain," said David Blaauw, the Kensall D. Wise Collegiate Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. "And that's because we had a tiny computing system that was small enough to stick on a snail."

The Michigan Micro Mote (M3), considered the world's smallest complete computer, was announced in 2014 by a team Blaauw co-led. This was its first field application.

"The sensing computers are helping us understand how to protect endemic species on islands," said Cindy Bick, who received a Ph.D. in ecology and evolutionary biology from U-M in 2018. "If we are able to map and protect these habitats through appropriate conservation measures, we can figure out ways to ensure the survival of the species."

P. hyalina is important culturally for Polynesians because of its unique color, making it attractive for use in shell leis and jewelry. Tree snails also play a vital role in island forest ecosystems, as the dominant group of native grazers.

How Society Island snails were wiped out

The giant African land snail was introduced to the Society Islands, including Tahiti, to cultivate as a food source, but it became a major pest. To control its population, agricultural scientists introduced the rosy wolf snail in 1974. But unfortunately, most of the 61 known species of native Society Islands tree snails were easy prey for the rosy wolf. P. hyalina is one of only five survivors in the wild. Called the "Darwin finches of the snail world" for their island-bound diversity, the loss of so many Partula species is a blow to biologists studying evolution.

"The endemic tree snails had never encountered a predator like the alien rosy wolf snail before it's deliberate introduction. It can climb trees and very quickly drove most of the valley populations to local extinction," said Diarmaid O Foighil, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology and curator of the U-M Museum of Zoology.

In 2015, O Foighil and Bick hypothesized that P. hyalina's distinctive white shell might give it an important advantage in forest edge habitats, by reflecting rather than absorbing light radiation levels that would be deadly to its darker-shelled predator. To test their idea, they needed to be able to track the light exposure levels P. hyalina and rosy wolf snails experienced in a typical day.

Field work in Tahiti shows P. hyalina can take 10x more light

Bick and O Foighil wanted to attach light sensors to the snails, but a system made using commercially available chips would have been too big. Bick found news of a smart sensor system that was just 2x5x2 mm, and the developers were at her own institution. But could it be altered to sense light?

"It was important to understand what the biologists were thinking and what they needed," said Inhee Lee, an assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Pittsburgh who received a Ph.D. from U-M electrical and computer engineering in 2014. Lee adapted the M3 for the study.

The first step was to figure out how to measure the light intensity of the snails' habitats. At the time, the team had just added an energy harvester to the M3 system to recharge the battery using tiny solar cells. Lee realized he could measure the light level continuously by measuring the speed at which the battery was charging.

After testing enabled by local Michigan snails, 50 M3s made it to Tahiti in 2017. Bick and Lee joined forces with Trevor Coote, a well-known conservation field biologist and specialist on the French Polynesian snails.

The team glued the sensors directly to the rosy wolf snails, but P. hyalina is a protected species and required an indirect approach. They are nocturnal, typically sleeping during the day while attached underneath leaves. Using magnets, the team placed M3s both on the tops and undersides of leaves harboring the resting P. hyalina. At the end of each day, Lee wirelessly downloaded the data from each of the M3s.

During the noon hour, the P. hyalina habitat received on average 10 times more sunlight than the rosy wolf snails. The researchers suspect that the rosy wolf doesn't venture far enough into the forest edge to catch P. hyalina, even under cover of darkness, because they wouldn't be able to escape to shade before the sun became too hot.

"The M3 really opens up the window of what we can do with invertebrate behavioral ecology and we're just at the foothills of those possibilities," O Foighil said.

The article in the journal Communications Biology is titled, "Millimeter-sized smart sensors reveal that a solar refuge protects tree snail Partula hyalina from extirpation."

Explore further 99-million-year-old snail fossilized in amber while giving birth
The Eastern spadefoot toad, actually a primitive frog, may not be so rare after all according to a study by University of Rhode Island researchers who used a seldom-used methodology that turned up many more of the endangered animals than expected. Credit: Anne Devan-Song

The rarest frog in Rhode Island may not be as rare as scientists once thought after a study by University of Rhode Island researchers using a seldom-used methodology turned up many more of the endangered animals than they expected.

Eastern spadefootsoften called spadefoot toads, though they are actually frogshave long been considered highly secretive and difficult to find outside of their one- or two-day annual breeding periods on rainy nights. In some years, they don't breed at all. But after scientists reported just 50 sightings of the frogs over the previous 70 years, the Rhode Island researchers observed 42 spadefoots in 10 nights of searching last summer using the new methodology.

"We collected all the myths and misconceptions about spadefoots that have been published or told to us by herpetologists, and we decided to conduct surveys to show that the frogs aren't secretive, that they don't only come out when weather is suitable, and they can be detected easily using a noninvasive censusing method," said Anne Devan-Song, a former URI graduate student who is now a doctoral student at Oregon State University.

While working as a URI research associate in collaboration with Associate Professor Nancy Karraker, Devan-Song led a team that conducted amphibian surveys in Colonial National Historical Park in Virginia from 2015 to 2017 by using a spotlight at night to detect the animals' eyeshine in forests. A previous researcher conducted amphibian surveys at the park 15 years ago and only detected two Eastern spadefoots, but Devan-Song and her team found up to hundreds of them, even on dry nights, and a total of more than 3,000 individuals."It completely contradicted everything we'd read about them in the scientific literature, with the exception of recent studies in Massachusetts and Connecticut," said Devan-Song, whose research was published this month in the Journal of Herpetology. "The perception is that they're difficult to detect in large numbers outside of rainy weather conditions, but I was stumbling all over them everywhere I went at this particular site, even in drought years when I was nowhere near a known breeding pond."

To be sure that she could distinguish between the eyeshine of spadefoots and the eyeshine of other creatures active at nighta concern expressed by previous scientists who rejected the spotlighting methodDevan-Song confirmed her ability to accurately identify spadefoot eyeshine by capturing every frog whose eyeshine she detected.

Since the Virginia site may have been home to an uncharacteristically high number of the frogs, Devan-Song collaborated with Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management herpetologist Scott Buchanan to use her spotlighting technique at scattered sites around Rhode Island, where the frogs were believed to be located at only one site and were seldom seen there.

"Spadefoots are at the northern end of their range in Rhode Island and are incredibly rare there," Devan-Song said. "You can't just drive around at night and hear them, and there's little chance of finding them by chance. And yet with just a little bit of spotlighting effort, you can find them."For sites that were occupied, the frogs were detected on nine out of ten survey nights in Rhode Island, the same rate as they were found in Virginia, and a new breeding population was discovered at a site in Westerly. In both states, the majority of spadefoots observed were sub-adults, an age class seldom detected using traditional survey methods.

"The lack of appropriate methods has hindered the study of this species, which is considered endangered in many states, including Rhode Island," said Devan-Song. "Without appropriate field methods, you can't gather information about certain demographic classes and you can't make accurate population assessments.

"By looking for them only on rainy nights or only near ponds, it has hindered the study of this species for decades," she added. "There is a huge amount of information that can be collected, especially on these overlooked demographic categories."

The research team has at least two additional scientific papers in the works that will shed more light on the life history of Eastern spadefoots, both based on the data collected from Rhode Island and Virginia. One describes the social structure of the species, which had been unknown outside the breeding season.

"The general idea had been that these frogs are solitary and don't interact much except when they go to their ponds to breed," she said. "But the reality is that they're doing lots of interesting things in the uplands. Their social structure is much more complex than we imagined."

Explore further Student creates model to predict hotspots of reptile, amphibian road mortality

More information: Anne Devan-Song et al, Confirmation Bias Perpetuates Century-Old Ecological Misconception: Evidence Against 'Secretive' Behavior of Eastern Spadefoots, Journal of Herpetology (2021). Journal information: Journal of Herpetology Anne Devan-Song et al, Confirmation Bias Perpetuates Century-Old Ecological Misconception: Evidence Against 'Secretive' Behavior of Eastern Spadefoots,(2021). DOI: 10.1670/20-044
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

UK and European policymakers operating in West Africa should focus on the opportunities that young people and migration create for the region instead of simply trying to stop migrants traveling to Europe, a new study recommends.

Led by researchers at the University of Birmingham and Loughborough University, the MIGCHOICE project set out to ask how development interventions affect people's life choicesof which migration is one option. The research relied on data collection in Senegal, Guinea and The Gambia.

The authors say that making employment, entrepreneurship and vocational training programs work on their own terms, rather than using them to manage migration, would help to address entrenched inequalities and benefit young West Africans.

An estimated 7.6 million people are mobile within the sub-region of ECOWAS. Of the total stock of migrants 64% live within the region according to the data published mid-2020. Other destinations are mainly within Africa with only a small share moving to other continents. As most of the population in West Africa is aged between 18 and 35 the question of available ways to make a living is crucial.

Funded by the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and co-ordinated by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), over a 22-month period the international research team examined locations with numerous external development interventions on addressing migration more specifically rather than facilitate development.

Project Principal Investigator Professor Richard Black, from the University of Birmingham, commented: "Intra-regional migration in West Africa is more significant than inter-continental migration, yet European policy often focuses disproportionately on the latter. By engaging with people for whom mobility is a way to tackle extreme risk and uncertainty, we might deliver more balanced policies. These need to recognize the benefits of mobility, rather than simply seeking to deter and criminalize migration to Europe."

The researchers suggest that national and regional youth groups and activists might use the UN Global Compact for Migration (GCM) as a strategic guiding document to strengthen regional partnerships and facilitate migration through actions such as widening recognition of qualifications or making social security provision more accessible.

They discovered a number of issues relating to migration from the three countries over the course of the research, including:

Inability to continue with education, rather than its absence, is more commonly associated with people's need to migrate.

Vocational training does not target the sources of many challenges as perceived by many young people.

Further entrenched inequalities relate to genderalthough interventions seek to balance participation of men and women, a widespread stereotype of the 'migrant' as a young, potentially dangerous, man exclude not only many women, but also most men. It feeds European narratives that criminalize male migrants.

Policies and programs often target individuals, yet focusing them on communities would have no enhanced benefits unless existing entrenched inequalities are taken into accountpointing to the need for a whole-of-society approach

"There is a risk that we misunderstand the challenges faced by young people, who do not perceive that they have choices, but face uncertainty," commented Professor Black. Indeed, immobility rather than mobility is seen as the norm. But a lack of choice is not the same as a lack of agency; and many young people remain ready to seize whatever opportunities they can."

Explore further World migration down 30 percent due to pandemic: UN

More information: The report is available online: The report is available online: www.birmingham.ac.uk/documents  rt-aw-accessible.pdf
There is always a glass-half-full aspect to grantmaking: While we are proud of what our grants have helped accomplish, we recognize that we can always do better. Looking back on the past decade of grantmaking by the Open Society Foundations' Human Rights Initiative in support of criminal justice reform, we can draw critical lessons from both our successes and our failures.

We would like to share some lessons learned from our work funding communities affected by over-policing, mass incarceration, and state violence in Latin America.

A bedrock principle for us is that affected communities are the most capable drivers of long-term, sustainable change, and funders need to prioritize providing them with direct support.

There are four fundamental reasons why donors funding criminal justice reform should support leaders of the movement who are directly impacted by the system:

1. Investing in collective organizing and leadership provides affected communities with resources to build their power. It enables them to shape a narrative on public safety that highlights the stories of the victims and exposes the root causes of violence and harm such as social, economic, and racial injustices  and the way the criminal justice system is designed to criminalize and discriminate against marginalized communities. Funding their leaders also empowers affected communities to develop solutions to problems that directly impact them, and funding is critical to effectively challenging structural inequality and injustice through a bottom-up, rather than top-down, approach.

2. Investing in affected communities contributes to a more representative, diverse, and inclusive criminal justice movement that nurtures new and emerging leaders. In Brazil, for example, white  and often elite  legal and policy advocacy groups tend to dominate the criminal justice field  but this is changing. More Black activists and Black-led organizations such as the newly formed Black Coalition for Rights, are leading advocacy on criminal justice reform and placing racial justice squarely on the agenda of the broader movement, and more donors are funding racial justice work in the country. In Mexico, the trans-led NGO Casa de las Munecas is introducing new perspectives in the criminal justice debate regarding discrimination against trans women, which other organizations in this space have not prioritized. Building the leadership of affected communities has a knock-on effect on mainstream organizations as well, motivating them to recruit staff and board members from these communities, diversifying their membership.

3. The strong connection between directly impacted people and their families, neighbors, and/or people with similar experiences gives those leaders and organizations legitimacy in the eyes of their communities and the public. They therefore have a greater capacity to mobilize and galvanize people around their demands. In the United States, as a result of the shift in the profile of its leadership to include more people from impacted communities, the criminal justice movement has pushed new and more radical ideas to the fore, such as "prison abolition" and "defunding the police," and is placing greater emphasis on initiatives dealing with violence prevention, community reinvestments, and reentry. In Latin America, a nascent network of formerly incarcerated women (including Red de Acciones por la Justicia in Mexico, Mujeres Libres in Colombia, and Amparar in Brazil), is developing an advocacy platform to promote transformative justice across the region, a topic that traditional criminal justice organizations, which have been more focused on technical legislative reforms, have not prioritized.

4. While directly impacted individuals are arguably the most capable and effective leaders of the criminal justice movement, they are also the most in need of and the least able to access resources. Groups and movements led by affected communities are typically under-funded and conduct most of their work on a volunteer basis. They lack the vital resources required for organizational and professional development (e.g., fundraising, advocacy) and end up giving their time and energy free of charge, despite precarious living conditions, such as insecure housing, lack of access to basic services (health care, education, etc.), and the stigma that comes with having spent time behind bars or the trauma of having lost a family member to state violence.

Donors have an important role to play in supporting affected communities' efforts to organize, strategize, and develop their own solutions to problems of which they have an intimate knowledge.

Here are four lessons we'd like to share from our experience in Latin America:

1. Funding affected communities requires grantmaking that is flexible, long-term, and premised on trust. Keep in mind that while grantees will choose the path that works best for them, it may take time to figure this out, and results may not be immediately tangible. There may be an advocacy win down the road, but the organizing, strategizing, and mobilizing necessary to make it happen could take years. Results need to be measured against movement-building milestones such as agenda setting, increased visibility of advocates and positions, stronger networks/development of new organizations, and law and policy reform).

2. Affected communities should make their own decisions, but they need allies and assistance from well-established organizations that can offer respectful accompaniment and technical support. Allies (including donors) must perform a delicate balancing act: committing to nurturing the leadership of affected communities while knowing when to step back to let them make their own decisions.

3. We need to navigate movement dynamics carefully. Funding one set of affected leaders or organizations but not another may pit groups against each other. Donors need to understand alliances and rivalries and asses how best to support the movement as a whole. It is also important to recognize the tensions between movements. For instance, in Colombia, we cannot assume that solidarity is automatic between female coca growers in rural areas and women who use or sell drugs in urban settings, but they could rally around common goals such as the need for economic opportunities.

4. Some communities self-organize to defend their rights and interests but do not focus on criminal justice reform. For instance, while associations of sex workers, people who use drugs, or LGBTQI communities are victims of violence and criminalization, they tend not to operate in the criminal justice field. They could, however, be allies and help break silos between movements.

It's too early to demonstrate, in a quantifiable way, the impact of this strategic shift on policy and practice and people's lives. Yet, after a few years of funding affected communities in Latin America, we already see changes in the types of organizations and activists present in the criminal justice field across the region: They are more diverse, they have brought new voices and perspectives to the table, and they have given a sense of empowerment to disenfranchised communities. We hope the donor community embraces this approach and understands that systemic change requires a sustained and collaborative effort and a commitment to invest in building the infrastructure for movements that have historically lacked access to resources.

(Photo credit: Casa de las Munecas)

Soheila Comninos and Nina Madsen are program officers in the Open Society Foundations' Human Rights Initiative.
DEAR A LOT WRONG: I'll try. It's time you recognized that Damien is NOT your "partner." Partners HELP each other when they are in trouble. The sooner you lose this person, the sooner you will start to feel better. Damien is all about Damien. His character is fully formed. You can't change him, and neither can I. Leaving Damien may help you become more independent  and that's a good thing. Trust me on that.

DEAR ABBY: I love my wife dearly. We've been married for 21 years. I'm frustrated with how she dresses for work and when we go out. Her idea of fashion is wearing clothes that are too large in size for her. I don't like going out in public with her when she dresses that way. Granted, she put on some weight after our third child, but she still has a nice, shapely figure. I have seen women with similar body shapes who wear closer-fitting clothes, and they look great. How can I convey that her style is unflattering without upsetting her?

 FRUSTRATED WITH FRUMPY

DEAR FRUSTRATED: Your wife may dress the way she does because she's self-conscious about her weight or simply because she thinks loose-fitting clothes are more comfortable. Because you feel they don't flatter her, start by asking why she's dressing the way she does. Tell her you think she is beautiful and that the items she is choosing don't do justice to her "nice, shapely figure." You might even volunteer to go with her to help her choose some things, if she's interested. But if she isn't, let the subject drop because, ultimately, she's going to wear whatever she wants.

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

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WATER VALLEY, Miss. (AP)  A former Mississippi lawmaker was found shot to death during the weekend in a rural area outside the burned home where her sister-in-law was found dead after Christmas.

Ashley Henley, 40, was a Republican who served in the state House from January 2016 to January 2020 from a district in DeSoto County.

The North Mississippi Herald was first to report that Henley's body was found Sunday night in rural Yalobusha County, about 70 miles (115 kilometers) south of DeSoto County.

Her body was outside the home where the body of her sister-in-law Kristina Michelle Jones was found Dec. 26. The Herald published a photo of a homemade sign at the site with photos of Jones under the phrase, I was murdered.

Yalobusha County coroner Ronnie Stark told the Commercial Appeal on Monday that the time of Henley's death had not yet been determined. Stark told WMC-TV that Henley had been mowing grass at the home before she was killed.
IRONDEQUOIT  Reports of a stolen ambulance from a Utica-based company turned into a lengthy pursuit on the New York State Thruway for state troopers Sunday morning into the afternoon.

WHAM-TV reports that police say they caught the vehicle on the Thruway and later on I-490 and into the city of Rochester. The chase lasted about 100 miles.

Police said they later located the ambulance off of the Culver Road exit, and were led down Seneca Road when the vehicle crashed into Irondequoit Bay near Newport Yacht Club.

It was surreal to see somebody come flying through, crashing through our gate and go into the water, Bob Henry, who serves on the board of directors for the club, told the TV station.

David Drushler was making a delivery at the yacht club and witnessed the incident. He said the woman rolled the window down to get out and was trying to get on top of the ambulance to hold something. People on the power boats around were yelling, Shes drowning. She cant swim. Thats when the power boats came down and fished her out, Drushler said.

Members of the Monroe County Sheriffs scuba team helped locate the vehicle sunken below, not far from the docks. Crews spent more than an hour pulling the ambulance out of the water.
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This action demonstrated the townships ongoing commitment to compliance and good faith negotiation, the press release reads.

According to the township release, an ordinance could require any future development with five or more residential units to set aside either 15% or 20% of the project for affordable housing. This would only apply to projects within the townships sewer service area.

The release also describes the ongoing negotiations as complicated.

Anthony Campisi, a spokesperson for the housing advocacy group based in Cherry Hill, accused the township of using delay tactics rather than working toward providing affordable housing opportunities. In an interview earlier this month, he said multiple other towns in Cape May County and throughout the state have reached agreements on affordable housing with the center, which have been approved by the courts.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  Minneapolis police on Tuesday identified the man suspected of driving into a crowd of demonstrators, killing one and injuring three others as a 35-year-old from St. Paul with multiple convictions for driving while impaired.

Police say Nicholas Kraus was booked into the Hennepin County jail on suspicion of criminal vehicular homicide. Online jail records show he was arrested early Monday and was being held without bail. He's also being held on suspicion of driving after a license was canceled and providing false information to police, records show.

The Hennepin County jail does not accept messages for people in custody and a phone message could not be left for Kraus. Prosecutors have asked for an extension until noon Wednesday to file charges. It was not immediately clear if Kraus had an attorney to speak on his behalf.

A woman, who family members identified as 31-year-old Deona Knajdek, was killed Sunday night and three other people were injured when Kraus allegedly drove into demonstrators during a rally in Minneapolis' Uptown neighborhood.
In a second interview, Miller said he wasn't aware of the memos, which had been distributed throughout the Army, until AP pointed them out following the first interview. "If I had the information in front of me," Miller said, "I would share it with you." Other Army officials said the internal analysis might overstate some losses.

The AP's investigation began a decade ago. From the start, the Army has given conflicting information on a subject with the potential to embarrass -- and that's when it has provided information at all. A former insider described how Army officials resisted releasing details of missing guns when AP first inquired, and indeed that information was never provided.

Top officials within the Army, Marines and Secretary of Defense's office said that weapon accountability is a high priority, and when the military knows a weapon is missing it does trigger a concerted response to recover it. The officials also said missing weapons are not a widespread problem and noted that the number is a tiny fraction of the military's stockpile.

"We have a very large inventory of several million of these weapons," Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said in an interview. "We take this very seriously and we think we do a very good job. That doesn't mean that there aren't losses. It doesn't mean that there aren't mistakes made."
Australia is the U.K.'s 14th largest trading partner, accounting for 13.9 billion pounds ($19.5 billion) of exports and imports last year, according to British government statistics. The relationship is even more important to Australia, which counts Britain as its 5th largest trading partner.

Australian farmers may be one of the big beneficiaries of the deal as agricultural goods account for about 14% of the country's total exports. That has raised concern among British farmers, who fear they wont be able to compete with cheap imports from Australia, which has different rules on animal welfare and environmental protection than the U.K.

U.K. farm groups reacted with caution, saying they were waiting to see the details of the agreement.

The ultimate test of this trade deal will be whether it contributes to moving farming across the world onto a more sustainable footing, or whether it instead undermines U.K. farming and merely exports the environmental and animal welfare impact of the food we eat," National Farmers Union President Minette Batters said in a statement.

Johnson defended the deal, saying tariff-free agricultural imports would be capped for 15 years to protect U.K. farmers. The government also said it would seek to increase agricultural exports to Asia and the Pacific.
The company looking at East Moline for a 10,000-job, 2,000-acre site is no longer considering the Midwest region.

East Moline was one of four sites in Illinois offered to the site selector. Other regions of the U.S. were also under consideration by the unnamed company.

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity said the Midwest region was no longer under consideration for the project," City Administrator Doug Maxeiner said in an email Tuesday. The state commerce office said the company was looking at other regions because of supply chain logistics, he said.

While we are disappointed, we are not discouraged, and will continue our joint efforts with the Quad Cities Chamber to actively engage potential site selectors and businesses to locate in East Moline, Maxeiner wrote.

Quad-Citians involved in the effort signed nondisclosure agreements and could not reveal the company's name or other details. With 10,000 workers proposed, it would have been the largest employer in the Quad Cities, surpassing the Rock Island Arsenal and Deere & Co, both of which have more than 6,000 employees in the Quad-City area.
NEW ORLEANS (AP)  The Biden administrations suspension of new oil and gas leases on federal land and water was blocked Tuesday by a federal judge in Louisiana who ordered that plans continue for lease sales that were delayed for the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska waters and all eligible onshore properties.

The decision is a blow to Democratic President Joe Biden's efforts to rapidly transition the nation away from fossil fuels and thereby stave off the worst effects of climate change, including catastrophic droughts, floods and wildfires.

U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty's ruling came in a lawsuit filed in March by Louisiana Republican Attorney General Jeff Landry and officials in 12 other states. Doughty said his ruling applies nationwide. It grants a preliminary injunction  technically a halt to the suspension pending further arguments on the merits of the case.

The omission of any rational explanation in cancelling the lease sales, and in enacting the Pause, results in this Court ruling that Plaintiff States also have a substantial likelihood of success on the merits of this claim, he wrote.
They talk about it being a government of change, but its just going to entrench the status quo," said Waleed Assaf, a Palestinian official who coordinates protests against West Bank settlements. Bennett is a copy of Netanyahu, and he might even be more radical.

Bennett said little about the Palestinians in a speech before being sworn in on Sunday. Violence will be met with a firm response, he warned, adding that security calm will lead to economic moves, which will lead to reducing friction and the conflict.

Environment Minister Tamar Zandberg, a member of the dovish Meretz party, told Israeli television's Channel 12 that she believes the peace process is important, but that the new government has agreed, "at least at this stage, not to deal with it.

The government faces an early challenge on Jabal Sabeeh, a hilltop in the northern West Bank where dozens of Jewish settlers rapidly established an outpost last month, paving roads and setting up living quarters that they say are now home to dozens of families.
A frequent contributor to this page wrote a letter thanking President Joe Biden and other national Democrats for helping advance conservatism. I guess I am curious as to what that even is today. Is conservatism supporting the belief that denying the right to vote to those opposed to you is better than democracy? Is it the full-throated support of right-wing zealots attacking police officers at our nation's capitol and attempting to overthrow the government? Maybe its the way a couple of our local Republican legislators do absolutely nothing to contribute to legislative talks, but instead sit outside of the chambers holding inflammatory Facebook Live events. Nope, I got it, its using the United States Senate to write, rewrite and rewrite again their rules to benefit only the the Republican Party, whether or not the people would prefer they be in the majority or the minority.
"The children can take the apples and the pears and I have no problem with that," she said. "But I do have problems when people come and take it all; I was highly upset."

During Monday's council meeting, Alderman Dylan Parker, Ward 5, asked if Cunningham-Walls would keep the orchard open to the public.

"All last pandemic I rode my bike down there and had a lot of fruit. And it was nice," Parker said. "If she's going to put up a fence, I don't like this."

Cunningham-Walls said the guilty party is actually a local church that has been bringing "van loads of people to pick the fruit," leaving very little for residents of the neighborhood.

"If I have to, I'll fence it off and open it up during the daytime to the children and the older people. If I have to, I'll pack it up and deliver it to (the neighbors)," she said.

"That community down there was vibrant. You've got to have food. We don't use any chemicals. I have a lot of Native American (heritage) in me, so I try to adhere to their ways of doing things."

Cunningham-Walls, who is a master gardener, also established the community garden at Franklin Field, the site of the former Franklin Junior High School on 11th Avenue and 9th Street.

"I'm more in tune with the Lord," she said. "He didn't have a church; He went all over. I try to be like Him and spread the Word and feed people. This is what we do. We feed them."

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Regardless, Meatball's Sandwich Company of Bettendorf has seen a sizable community response. The shop sold out of bread and had to close early over the weekend.

On Monday, it sold out of pickle wraps.

"I never thought pickle wraps could get so huge," Meatball's Sandwich Company owner Kyle Yohe said.

Local Davenport restaurant Cavort partnered with Meatball's Sandwich Company over the weekend, selling pickle wraps for $5 and donating all the proceeds to the River Bend Food Bank. When they ran out of wraps, they sold pickle-wrap dip instead.

Cavort co-owner Alex Nagel said they'd raised $315 total, and expected a couple of more donations to come in the next days. People who bought wraps and dip were entered into a drawing to receive one of two $25 gift cards to Meatball's Sandwich Company.

"We just thought it was something lighthearted to change the narrative from what it was when it started off," Nagel said.

Other businesses have hopped in the pickle jar, sharing memes and offering their own takes on the recipe. LoPiez, for example, decided to change up its cheese pizza by adding sliced pickle wraps on top.
Williams said she at one point told Brown the team was restless and asked if he could send a replacement team to give them a break. He said no, she said.

She also sent him texts about how kind and supportive the neighbors were and saying she was happy to help. The texts, which she showed to the Tribune, do not suggest any outward concern on her part with the assignment at that point.

At one point in the texts, she called it the best detail ever. She also told Brown, if you need anything, anytime, Im here Boss!

When asked about this, Williams said the departments culture is one that demands lower ranks ingratiate themselves with bosses. And it does not support criticizing them, for fear of being tagged as a rat, she said.

If I had said, No, I dont want to do that, what happens to me then? she said. Im going to be ostracized. ... Ive heard it. Ive seen it. I was afraid.

Williams and her attorney said Williams also has grown increasingly uncomfortable over time with the assignment from Brown, who is white, as the civil unrest in Chicago and across the country continued alongside a national reckoning on race and the profession of policing.
Americans are routinely skipping this step in their self-care routines. Buz60s Keri Lumm shares the results of a new study conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Pronamel.

DES MOINES  A former state agency director is seeking his day in court, alleging he was wrongly terminated by Gov. Kim Reynolds and her staff in June 2019 for questioning the legality of using federal Medicaid funds in a salary dispute he sought to disclose to the Attorney Generals Office.

Jerry Foxhoven, who served as Reynolds director of the Iowa Department of Human Services for two years, has filed a lawsuit in Polk County District Court seeking financial damages for his wrongful discharge in violation of public policy that he claims occurred because he refused to engage in illegal activity that amounted to committing Medicaid fraud and misuse of federal monies.

The lawsuit filed against Reynolds, her chief of staff Sara Craig Gongol and former legal counsel Sam Langholz contends a dispute arose over the continued DHS funding of a staff position within the governor's office that Foxhoven felt no longer fit the purpose under which the arrangement was originally made.

Foxhoven said he questioned the legality of the ongoing agreement, and stated he wanted an opinion from the Iowa Attorney General's Office. Reynolds' staff requested his resignation before he could ask for that legal advice.
However, environmentalists say the plan would lead to reduced pollution and back the commitment to renewable energy.

Dozens of legislators supporting the plan issued a May statement saying utilities have dictated energy policy and that they wouldn't support a bill that was simply a handout for utilities.

Pritzker's office said his plan helps consumers and the environment.

Illinois can and must lead on clean energy, and it must lead in the light of day  ethically, honestly, and toward the collective goal of empowering Illinoisans to lead the U.S. in transitioning to a clean energy economy, his office said.

ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD

The House planned to consider a proposal to create a 21-member elected school board in Chicago starting in 2027. The Senate has already approved it. Pritzker supports the idea.

The plan calls for phasing out current practice where Chicago's mayor appoints board members. Starting in 2025, there would be 10 appointed members with others elected in November 2024. Two years later, all 21 members  20 from specific districts plus one board president elected at large  would be chosen by voters and sworn in by January 2027.
Hill adds: The Russians dont want to provoke a U.S. response. They worry about going too far.

Further, she adds, they want to use deniability (as when they deny Russian involvement in election meddling or cyberattacks). We have to hit them back so they respect the limits.

Of course, Putin will try to shift the conversation from Russian aggression.

Putins vision of security in Europe is Yalta II, says Alexander Vershbow, former U.S. ambassador to Russia and deputy secretary-general of NATO. Vershbow is referring to the post-World War II carve-up of Europe into spheres of influence by Soviet leader Joseph Stalin and President Franklin Delano Roosevelt at Yalta.

And Putins idea of strategic stability, the former diplomat adds, is based on the U.S. giving a free hand to repress [Russian dissidents such as Alexei] Navalny and pressure on Ukraine. We have to show we dont want stability more than he does.

Michal Baranowski, director of the German Marshall Funds office in Warsaw, offers the same caution. I hope Ukraine and Belarus wont be forgotten and it is critical to talk about Navalny. Whatever Biden doesnt say will be noted by Putin and will be seen as acquiescing.
Scott County is faced with a very simple decision. It can choose to invest its scarce resources by expanding diversion and other community-based interventions, or it can choose to start incarcerating more kids at an exorbitant human and financial cost.

Local officials who support expanding the detention of youth claim that a requirement created by federal law to remove youth charged as adults who are under age 18 to be removed from adult jails and placed in more appropriate juvenile justice settings justifies their expensive gamble with the lives of kids. But Scott County is already accommodating some of these children in the detention center. It is also true that all of the children currently facing adult charges do not need to be held in detention. In fact 30% of youth in Iowa facing adult charges have misdemeanor charges; and another quarter are waived back to and remain in juvenile court. Sound management by Scott County would mean very few additional beds would be necessary to accommodate youth with pending adult charges whose numbers cannot justify the building of a new detention facility.
A campaign staffer for former gubernatorial candidate and South Dakota lawmaker Billie Sutton will lead the state Democratic Party.

The South Dakota Democratic Party (SDDP) announced in a news release late Monday that Berk Ehrmantraut, a Beresford native, has been tapped as the next executive director of the party. He succeeds Pam Cole, who resigned from the position earlier this year to take a more active role in a campaign to expand Medicaid in South Dakota.

"Its always great to bring a young person back to South Dakota. It is even better to bring back someone who is committed to advancing policies that help working families and building the Democratic party across the state," said Randy Seiler, chairman of the state Democratic Party.

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Ehrmantraut comes back to South Dakota after most recently working as a senior digital communications manager at Friends of the Global Fight Against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

In 2018, he worked for the Billie Sutton for South Dakota Governor campaign, which raised more than $3.6 million and led to one of the closest gubernatorial races in decades.
The crowd applauded and the rodeo continued shortly after with Dean Thompson, the last bareback competitor of the section.

All I can do is try to hit a reset trigger because a lot of guys, it sets a negative trend if someone gets in an accident a lot of the times, the Western Texas College sophomore said. And you have to be the breakup right there, so its just a reset on my brain. I have to say, All right, and kind of put myself in a state that its time to ride.

Thompson recorded an 80.5, the best score of either section of bareback bronc riding Monday.

I did notice after the 8 seconds I think subconsciously a little bit my brain was like, All right, time to just step off, he said. Because I did get tossing in my hand a little bit and a lot of times you can end up getting bucked down after the whistle right there. But for the 8 seconds, it was just game time.

Added McBride, the Panola College rider: Everybody is going to think about stuff like that, but youve got to think that all I can do is what Im in control of. Things like that, I have no control over it.

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Kristin Mitzel had concerns about taking a substantial leap with the contract, which the District has proposed using ESSER funds to pay for, right before new Board members are elected.

Its concerning that we are spending that amount of money to formulate a new set of rules when we seem to struggle to follow the rules that we currently have, she said.

Area 6 representative Amy Policky explained that the work of a school district does not stop and start with elections.

Just because theres an election doesnt mean that the school board stops and waits for that board to be set. This work has been going on for three years, and what we determined as a board was that consultants were needed to help us to implement the work that we had been doing, so it was an ongoing process, Policky said.

Jodi Frye requested full copies of the Aspen contract. RCAS Business and Support Services Director Coy Sasse said he would consult with the Districts legal counsel on whether he could provide that.

Other members of the public such as Florence Thompson had concerns about the perceived excess of funds spent on administrative salaries. Salaries for District employees make up 85% of the Districts budget.
Donors, sponsors and supporters came together on June 11 for Monument Health's Mediathon, to benefit Monument's youngest patients.

This years event raised $96,312, surpassing last years total and the Monument Health Foundation's goals for the event. Mediathon is a yearly campaign that benefits the Childrens Miracle Network program at Monument Health.

Throughout the day, local broadcast outlets presented miracle stories featuring children from the area. Along with these stories, Monument Health caregivers spoke about how families in our region benefit from donations to Monument's Childrens Miracle Network.

We are very grateful for the support of every individual and organization who chose to give to this years Mediathon campaign. These are trying times, and we appreciate that our donors understand that kids cant wait. They need our help now more than ever, Shawn Powers, program manager of Childrens Miracle Network, said in a news release.

Every dollar raised through Mediathon and Monument Health Foundations fundraising efforts stays local, helping our Black Hills communities. Visit monument.health/cmn to donate to the Childrens Miracle Network program at Monument Health.
Native cartoonists are a small minority, but Two Bulls is not the first. He acknowledged those who came before him, saying he is standing on the shoulders of the people who came before me.

Two Bulls is constantly making art, but cartooning started as a hobby and expanded into something he does every week. He said he never thought he would be a professional artist, it was just something that happened.

After high school, Two Bulls studied commercial art at the Colorado Institute of Art in Denver. He came back to Rapid City and applied everywhere he could  economic recession in the early 1980s had made finding work for an artist difficult  before being hired as an assistant art director at KOTA. After that, he went on to be an in-house designer at the University of South Dakota, then a graphics editor at both the Rapid City Journal and the Argus Leader. Two Bulls worked at the Journal from 1993 to 2000.

After his children grew up, he decided to finish his Bachelors of Fine Arts degree at the Institute of American Indian Art in Santa Fe. He still goes back and forth from New Mexico to South Dakota.

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The hub of Native American art is here [in New Mexico]; I have to have some kind of presence here. I still have a lot of family in Rapid, he said.
South Dakota Sen. Mike Rounds said he is in favor of an independent review of what happened at the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021  but not the one presented to the Senate on May 28.

In an exclusive interview with the Rapid City Journal, Rounds said he is convinced that the truth about what happened and who bears the responsibility for it will come to light. He didn't support the proposal before the Senate because he says more than 400 criminal cases are being processed and all of the evidence an independent investigation will need is tied up in those cases and not available to a panel seeking broader answers.

"I was there January 6," Rounds said. "These individuals were clearly insurrectionists. Their intent was obviously to stop the vote count and keep us from doing our constitutional duty."

Rounds said "the rest of the story will come out" even though that may be after the 2022 election cycle due to judicial timing of criminal cases.

"We need all of the information about who supported this and planned it," Sen. Rounds said. "We can't get that right now. Part of the information isn't good enough."
The idea for the crosswalk came after Carrasco saw one painted in Bozeman.

I thought it was a beautiful idea, she said. I wanted to incorporate it into our town.

After a group of students and adults offered to support the idea of an inclusive sidewalk, Carrasco and others have made presentations and listened to public debate about the issue before the Hamilton City Councils Committee of the Whole on two occasions.

While the idea received support from some in the community, others spoke in opposition.

The council meetings have been good and bad, Carrasco said. Theres been a lot of support, but theres also been a lot of negativity. I didnt expect to hear how terrible some of the comments were  Its not what we wanted. Our project is about inclusion and love for all.

Hamilton High School junior McKenzie Rogers agreed.

Were not bringing this up for hate, just for love, Rogers said. Its been pretty difficult.

Carrasco said she appreciated the support the group has received from Chapter One Bookstore.
At the height of the tensions, on May 10, Israeli ultranationalists held their annual flag parade. While it was diverted from the Damascus Gate at the last minute, it was seen by Palestinians as an unwelcome celebration of Israeli control over what they view as their capital.

In the name of defending the holy city, Hamas fired long-range rockets at Jerusalem, disrupting the march and sparking the Gaza war, which claimed more than 250 Palestinian lives and killed 13 people in Israel.

After capturing east Jerusalem in 1967, Israel annexed the in a move not recognized by most of the international community. It considers the entire city its capital, while the Palestinians want east Jerusalem to be the capital of their future state. The competing claims over east Jerusalem, home to Jewish, Christian and Muslim holy sites, lie at the heart of the conflict and have sparked many rounds of violence.

Hamas had called on Palestinians to show valiant resistance to the march. It urged people to gather in the Old City and at the Al-Aqsa Mosque to rise up in the face of the occupier and resist it by all means to stop its crimes and arrogance.
I appreciate JetBlue, Breeze and our other aviation partners for including us as they invest in and test the waters of destinations like Richmond, Anderson said. Given our rising notoriety, I am confident we will continue to see flights added over the long-haul.

Air travel at Richmond International Airport is bouncing back from the pandemic. The number of passengers using the airport increased in April from March, but passenger traffic for April is still nearly half of what it was before the pandemic. Traffic had plunged 96.4% in April 2020 compared with April 2019.

Over the last few months, RIC has taken note of the impressive resiliency and growth of leisure and VFR [visiting friends and relatives] passenger traffic through the facility, Perry J. Miller, president and CEO of Richmond International Airport, said in a statement. Moreover, one of markets core strengths has been a very strong corporate travel component and once this segment is fully re-engaged, the Richmond region will be in a very good position to sustain transcontinental airline service.

With demand for travel returning, JetBlue said it expects to see a 3% increase in October compared with October 2019. The airline is adding around 40 new routes in the coming months.

Our capacity growth comes as we increase utilization of our current aircraft and continue to welcome new arrivals to the fleet  including a total of eight Airbus A220s and three Airbus A321LRs by the end of the year, the airline said.
You may know Huma Abedin as Hillary Clinton's longtime close aide and a top advisor of her 2016 presidential campaign. You almost definitely know her as the ex-wife of Anthony Weiner, former congressman and currently registered sex offender, whose habit of sexting with minors may have indirectly sunk said presidential campaign.

"For most of my life, I was viewed through the lens of others, a refraction of someone else's pronoun," she said in the statement. "'They' as in the parents who raised me; 'she' as in the woman I worked for; and 'he' as in the man I married. Writing this book gave me the opportunity to reflect on my own life  from the nurturing family I was privileged to be born into, to working for one of the most compelling leaders of our time. This journey has led me through exhilarating milestones and devastating setbacks. I have walked both with great pride and in overwhelming shame. It is a life I am  more than anything  enormously grateful for and a story I look forward to sharing."
After reviewing the plan in a committee meeting last week, the City Council delayed voting on whether to adopt it to late next month.

The indecision over the larger spending plan has frustrated several council members, including Newbille, who said the council had reached consensus last month on using federal aid for the items instead of taking money elsewhere from the citys budget.

It is disconcerting to have reached consensus ... on a balanced budget on the basis of including these items on our list of considerations, Newbille said last week. Its pretty disappointing.

After the council postponed voting on the resolution last week, Mayor Levar Stoney said his administration is not yet ready to peg specific amounts to any line items or projects.

Im looking forward to hearing some of the priorities back from the City Council, but my team has also been working together, working out some priorities as well, Stoney said. I still believe its a tad bit premature for us to slate these dollars for different uses, but its never too early to plan.

In an interview last week, Councilwoman Kristen Larson said she feels it would be premature to adopt a plan without knowing whether any federal rules may prohibit certain uses of the money.
In the recording, Westfall called it the type of meeting that might lead to me getting a new job against my will.

The Nixon Peabody report cited several early email communications from Moschetti that indicate a high probability of bias against Mr. Martin being granted parole.

In one email the report said was sent to an OSIG investigations manager, Moschetti explained why she believed the Martin parole decision should be investigated:

This also may be my opinion, but [former Chair Adrianne Bennett] lashing out at [Richmond police] and other law enforcement organizations in her media statement doesnt sit well with me. To me, they are providing evidence that this person should not be released and it should be reviewed. To me, her lashing out sounded personal that the [law enforcement] community disagreed with her and the Board. VPB is not FOIAble, so the only way to know if policies and procedures and laws were followed would be to investigate/audit. Or do we just have to assume they all were. UGGGHHHH.

And if he was denied last year due to his history of violence, what in their review this year made it different? Moschetti added.
The head of the Richmond Bar Association is pushing back against the citys tentative plans to relocate courts now housed in the John Marshall Courts Building downtown to a location near the citys jail.

In a letter to the City Councils Public Safety Committee, bar association President T. OConnor Johnson said the citys circuit court judges oppose the proposed location for a new courthouse.

Having discussed this with the Chief Judge of the Richmond Circuit Court, W. Reilly Marchant, I can tell you that all seven of the Circuit Court Judges oppose that location for myriad reasons, Johnson said in the letter. The jail is on Fairfield Way in the citys East End.

Alleging that the administration has not consulted the courts judges, the bar association or any acting lawyers, Johnson said the committee should investigate the current state of the John Marshall Courts Building and the citys plans.

While the location of the courts building may or may not be germane to the Public Safety Committee, the safety of any courthouse or public building owned by the city should be of paramount concern to this committee, the letter states. It is unknown whether or not the citys plans for a new courthouse address the safety concerns with the current building.
Unlike those projects, the Urban One project saw relatively meager support from neighborhood groups near its project site. Several officials also noted that the project would not include any incentives, tax abatement or subsidies from the city.

Jordan said she has seen opposition to a casino waver in her district after the city eliminated the project on Arthur Ashe Boulevard from consideration, but that she still felt unsure about it.

I just feel very conflicted at this moment because my guiding principles were ... vote with your constituents and your conscience, she said. I dont support gaming.

Jordans vote drew an immediate rebuke from Councilwoman Reva Trammell, who represents the area where the Urban One project would be located.

I gave you my word  because I know so many people in the 2nd [District]  that I would not go against you, she said. You told me you would support me.

Councilman Andreas Addison, one of the two council members who was on the citys project evaluation panel, said he thinks the Urban One project could be a catalyst for redevelopment and growth in an area of the city that needs it.

This is a key anchor to get things moving in that direction, the 1st District representative said. We need something to get us moving forward.
Affirmations are sustenance, I replied. So right now, it feels like an affirmation not just for me, but for the RTD and for the city of Richmond, during this period of much-needed transformation.

Of course, winning a Pulitzer is no guarantee that your life becomes a gravy train with biscuit wheels. Take my immediate predecessor in the commentary category, Nikole Hannah-Jones.

Hannah-Jones was the creator of The New York Times Magazines 1619 Project, and won for an introductory essay asserting what should be an uncontroversial point of fact: that the nations founding ideals, when written, were not intended for Black people. Yet the project has been vilified by right-wing critics. And Hannah-Jones  not only a Pulitzer winner, but the recipient of a MacArthur Foundation genius grant  was denied tenure as a professor at her alma mater, the University of North Carolina, on clearly political grounds.

The challenges that myself and other Black journalists face  particularly Black opinion writers  do not magically vanish once an award is draped around our necks. And the removal of Confederate monuments will not vanquish structural racism in Richmond and the poverty, inequities and injustices that have built up over the centuries from that white supremacist base.
NORFOLK  Military weapons including pistols and a medium machine gun have been lost or stolen from bases in Virginia.

An Associated Press investigation into firearms missing from the U.S. armed services shows at least 19 guns disappeared or were recovered in Virginia between 2010 and 2019.

Locations included two Navy destroyers in Norfolk and an installation in Arlington.

A former Navy sonar technician was a suspect when the USS Laboon reported a missing machine gun in 2011, according to Naval Criminal Investigative Service files obtained by AP, but investigators lacked evidence. NCIS reopened the case in 2013 after a tip, searching the former technicians home and finding four Navy computers -- but no weapons. The case was closed without prosecution.

In a 2013 case, a Navy member said he took two shotguns associated with the USS Ramage and pawned them for $400, according to NCIS investigative files. They were recovered.
Miyares focused on his support for requiring able-bodied people receiving Medicaid services to search for jobs. Miyares said he supports protections for people with pre-existing conditions. Herring replied: Hes always been opposed to the Affordable Care Act and protections for pre-existing conditions are part of it.

Herring touted his efforts to win legislation he said would reduce gun violence, while Miyares said his focus would be on arresting violent criminals, especially repeat offenders.

If you want somebody whos going to go after gun violence, that will be me going after the criminals using the guns, Miyares said.

He said Herring turned down federal money to combat gun violence because he did not want to obey the federal rule that said if you picked up an illegal immigrant ... using a gun in the commission of a felony, you have to report them to ICE.

Miyares dodged a question asking for his position on universal background checks, limits on magazine capacity, and a ban on assault weapons. Herring said he supported all of those.

Miyares brought up cases of inmates who had been freed from prison on parole. Who signed off on that? Who was the parole boards lawyer? Mark Herring was, he said.
In a summit statement, the leaders said that Chinas goals and assertive behavior present systemic challenges to the rules-based international order and to areas relevant to alliance security.

The leaders expressed concern about what they said were Chinas coercive policies, the opaque ways it is modernizing its armed forces and its use of disinformation.

In response, the Chines mission said Beijings military was purely for defensive purposes and its military modernization was reasonable, rational, open and transparent.

Chinas defense budget is the second largest after the U.S., but the mission said the figure of approximately $209 billion was still more than a fifth less than what NATO countries spent combined. Observers say China spends more than it says on its military by not declaring costs for new weapons and other programs.

NATO countries also maintain bases around the world and send their aircraft carriers all over the place to display their military might, the Chinese mission said.

It also referenced the bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Serbia in 1999, which killed three state media journalists. NATO has said that was the result of faulty targeting but most Chinese believe it was a deliberate attack.
Little says the farm has about 80 cows now. The pig population varies from as few as 30 to as many as 75 at any given time. They also have chickens and turkeys.

The fourth-generation farmer says people started rethinking meats during the pandemic. In the past two weeks since JBS systems were compromised and people worried about price and availability, both the interest and the demand have increased.

We see from other farmers just how volatile it is, and that concern is shared by the consumer, he says. At JBS, everything is automated. Their slaughter lines do 3,000 to 4,000 beef a day versus my butcher that might do 10 or 12. Its a huge difference. If my butcher has a power outage, they can default to a generator.

There is no generator that can make up for such a hack, however. Their computers go down, and all of a sudden, the nations meat supply is cut off, Little says. Now, it was only for a day, but that vulnerability makes people think about how they want to purchase their food supply.

Ransomware allows hackers to encrypt their victims files, then force them to pay a ransom to restore them. The threat isnt just that they steal the files and make them useless; they also can threaten to publish them if the ransom is not paid.
Side-by-side images: Hatred, heroic sacrific

e

My breath caught at the layout of two columns, particularly their continuations beside each other in the op-ed pages of Sundays Richmond Times-Dispatch. Pulitzer prize winner Michael Paul Williams column focuses on the new director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia and her vision for upholding the First Amendment, defending the right of people to speak freely, which includes groups such as the white supremacists in Charlottesville back in 2017, while drawing the line at conduct that is threatening or promotes violence.

The other column, by Bill Mims, relayed the story of Jonathan Daniels, who was the 1961 valedictorian at Virginia Military Institute (VMI). Four years after graduating, Daniels, who entered the seminary to become an Episcopalian priest, responded to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.s call for white religious leaders to join civil rights workers in their historic march from Selma to Montgomery, Ala., advocating for voting rights. Opting to remain in Alabama, Daniels was arrested along with other protesters for picketing at a whites-only store. The group was released from jail only to be confronted by a white deputy sheriff who leveled a shotgun at Ruby Sales, a 17-year-old Black girl, and fired. Daniels dove in front of Ruby and took the fatal hit himself.
Despite past history,

protect right to vote

Editor, Times-Dispatch:

When my children were babies, I could drop a toy in front of them and they'd start playing with it without looking up to see where it had come from. It is much the same with white privilege. Critical race theory (CRT), or more simply, history, attempts to explain how we got here.

Shortly after the Civil War, laws were enacted that kept Black people from voting, working for decent wages, and enjoying the same rights and privileges as whites. Separate but equal was used to gloss over a heavily segregated South that was all about separate and nothing about equal. These commonly were known as Jim Crow laws, including poll taxes and literacy tests, which were used to circumvent the voting rights protections afforded by the 15th Amendment, ratified in 1870.

We now are entering Jim Crow 2.0. Laws are being enacted by Republican-led legislatures to allegedly protect the integrity of our electoral process. The only problem is the electoral process now in place is just fine. Multiple recounts and court cases have confirmed that.
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Tuesday morning update

Tropical Storm Bill formed off the Eastern Seaboard late Monday, but it's unlikely to stick around for long.

As of 11 a.m., the center of the storm was 420 miles east of Nantucket, Mass., speeding off to the northeast at 38 mph. Bill had sustained winds of 60 mph.

There's still a high chance that a new storm will develop in the Gulf of Mexico by the end of the week, according to the National Hurricane Center. But for now, there's still no clarity on whether it will eventually bring any significant rain to Virginia.

***

Monday evening update

Despite its proximity to the Outer Banks, the average beachgoer wouldn't have known about the latest tropical system without a satellite picture.

On Monday morning, the National Hurricane Center designated Tropical Depression Two 105 miles east of Cape Hatteras. It had maximum sustained winds of 35 mph and was moving toward the northeast at a brisk 21 mph.

Mostly sunny and pleasant conditions prevailed at the beaches of North Carolina and Virginia, but the National Weather Service cautioned that there was a moderate risk of rip currents.
A former Radford police officer mishandled money that was seized as evidence and pleaded guilty Friday to malfeasance, the city police department announced Tuesday.

Lt. Robert Andrew Wilburn, 52, of Ripplemead, a veteran officer who retired in 2019, pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor charge during a hearing in Radford Circuit Court. He was fined $2,500, with $2,000 of the amount suspended, and also repaid $2,418.25 to the city.

Wilburns attorney, Jimmy Turk of Radford, said Tuesday that the money that went missing was cash that was forfeited during criminal cases over several years. Turk said that Wilburns position was that poor record-keeping, not theft or other misappropriation, led to some of the cash not being able to be accounted for.

It was Wilburns responsibility to see that the money was kept track of, Turk said.

Roy Evans, the Smyth County commonwealths attorney who served as a special prosecutor in Wilburns case, could not be immediately contacted Tuesday.
Radford University will require students who live and learn on campus this fall to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

The university made the decision as it develops plans to return to normal operations this upcoming semester. The vaccination order will apply to about 10,000 students.

Radford students will have to submit documentation showing they are vaccinated by Aug. 2. They can seek an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Students fully enrolled online with no physical presence on campus will not be required to be vaccinated.

Faculty and staff will not be required to be vaccinated, and those who are not may be required to undergo regular testing for the virus.

As Radford University faculty and staff model responsible behavior for all Highlanders, especially students, every employee is strongly encouraged to be fully vaccinated as it represents our best individual and collective defense to the pandemic, Radford President Brian Hemphill wrote in a message to the university community.
CHICAGO (AP)  An argument in a house on Chicago's South Side erupted into gunfire early Tuesday, leaving four people dead and four more injured, police said.

The shooting happened at about 5:45 a.m. in the Englewood neighborhood, police said. No one has been arrested and police provided few details about the shooting. None of the victims appeared to be juveniles.

At a news conference Tuesday morning, Police Superintendent David Brown said three of the victims who died were female and one was male. The department earlier reported that all four were female.

Detectives were trying to determine if there was more than one shooter, police spokesman Tom Ahern said. A 2-year-old child was removed safely from the house and placed in protective custody, he said.

Authorities have not released the identities and ages of the four who died.

The injured included two men who were shot in the back of the head. Police were unable to provide information on their conditions. A 23-year-old man who was shot in the back and a woman who suffered an unspecified gunshot wound were both in critical condition, police said.
Lane also sketched out the history of state funding for school construction, which is highly instructive. Nearly three decades ago, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission researched this and found that the state was active in school construction in the early 1900s.

That changed in the 1930s when Harry Byrd was governor. He was a transportation governor who instituted state funding for roads. The trade-off: The state would get out of the school construction business.

Historical irony: Today affluent and ethnically diverse Northern Virginia benefits from the roads-over-schools policies of the segregationist Byrd.

One difference between then and now: Then there was lots of federal money available for school construction. In 1938, the federal government paid 45% of the costs of local school construction  a byproduct of the New Deal's Works Progress Administration.

Today federal funding for construction amounts to less than 1%. Instead, the burden is almost entirely on local governments  i.e., local taxpayers, but the cost of building a new school is often beyond the means of many localities that might gently be described as economically distressed.
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Everybody knows dont play with matches and all that good stuff. Are you well versed in cooking safety? Are you well versed in home electrical safety? Things of that nature.

We try to use the data we collect from running calls, or from citizens themselves and their general concerns. Obviously we know when we have a retirement community or a nursing home area were going to focus on different stuff than you would if you had an area that had primarily young families and kids.

The department gets a couple of calls a week where a resident is requesting a smoke detector be installed, and that gets firefighters into homes where they can work with a resident about fire hazards and fire safety, he said.

Some departments will team up with the state and with the Red Cross and do a neighborhood smoke detector blitz where firefighters go door-to-door to talk with residents about fire safety and install detectors at the same time, he said.

The great thing is the program were participating in is expanding. Theyre getting more and more departments involved, Page said. Its really a way for the state and local agencies to work together to do more to prevent fires than be reactive.
 National Registry of Exonerations reports on "25,000 Years Lost to Wrongful Convictions" | Main | Massive new RAND report provides "Statistical Analysis of Presidential Pardons" 

June 15, 2021

In memoriam: mourning the passing of Judge Jack Weinstein

US District Judge Jack Weinstein was nominated to be a federal judge a year before I was born, but twenty-six years later, the very first case I worked on during my first judicial clerkship involved an appeal of Judge Weinstein's remarkable (and yet-still-run-of-the-mill) sentencing opinion in US v. Ekwunoh, 813 F. Supp. 168 (EDNY 1993). I am certain that the fortuity of my first real case during my first real job involving the intricacies and injustices of federal sentencing played no small role in how my career thereafter went forward.

This personal story is my preamble to a post meant to honor Judge Weinstein for his contributions to all areas of the law upon news today of his passing at age 99. I am pleased to see that this New York Times article about his life includes an extended discussion of his sentencing practices:

Judge Weinstein often said that the individual before the courts was their highest responsibility, a concern he made obvious in criminal cases. As a senior judge concerned about wrongful detentions and other abuses of defendants rights, he took on nearly 500 backlogged habeas corpus cases, and read them all. When sentencing criminal defendants, he sat at a table with them instead of looking down from a bench. In court, he almost always wore a business suit instead of robes. Judge Weinstein viewed federal sentencing guidelines as a betrayal of the moral imperative that the punishment should fit the crime. When he took senior status and could refuse cases, he stopped hearing minor drug cases. I have become increasingly despondent over the cruelties and self-defeating character of our war on drugs, he wrote in a Times opinion essay in 1993, noting that 60 percent of federal prison inmates were drug offenders. In a 2004 law review article, speaking of grotesque over-sentencing required by drug laws, Judge Weinstein wrote that if judges left the bench to avoid enforcing unjust laws, they risked being replaced by government puppets. The legal system, he said, could and should accommodate judicial protest. He later resisted the federal five-year mandatory minimum sentence for downloading child pornography, throwing out several convictions to avert what he called an unnecessarily harsh and cruel sentence.

There is, of course, so much more to be said about Judge Weinstein's contribution to the law and practice of sentencing. Fortunately, as noted in this prior post, the Federal Sentencing Reporter was able to produce earlier this year an issue entirely devoted to "Weinstein on Sentencing" to celebrate his many contributions to federal sentencing law, policy and practice.

FSR was fortunate to get two of Judge Weinstein's former clerks, Carolin Guentert and Ryan Gerber, to organize this great issue. They did an extraordinary job gathering an array of perspectives in an issue that includes a considerable number of original articles under the heading "Celebrating Judge Weinstein" as well as excerpts from Judge Weinstein's past opinions and articles under the heading "Weinstein In His Own Words."

On a day in which tradition dictates saying "May his memory be a blessing," I highly encourage everyone to check out this full FSR issue in order to help burnish great memories of the great sentencing work of this great man.

June 15, 2021 at 05:13 PM | Permalink

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I have a favorite opinion of Judge Jack Weinstein's that made quite an impression on me. A New York police officer had stopped and frisked (pat searched) a black man because he had a construction utility knife clipped to his pants pocket. The cop said that was his probable cause to stop and frisk the man. During the pat search, the officer located a pistol, and the man was facing a Federal charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Judge Weinstein suppressed the evidence and dismissed the charge. He found that the protruding utility knife was not an illegal "gravity knife", but was a type of utility knife commonly used in the construction trades. He and his law clerk had contacted Home Depot in New York and learned that there stores alone had sold like 24,000 such utility knives in the past year. Judge Weinstein's analogy in his opinion was to a cell phone being used by a drug dealer, as probable cause to search the drug dealer. Sure, drug dealers use cell phones, but so does everyone else in America, so the police cannot just stop and pat search everyone carrying a cell phone, in hopes of finding some drugs. He held that the presence of the utility knife clipped to a pocket was only evidence that the man might work in the construction trades, and could not form probable cause to stop and pat him down, in hopes of finding the illegal gun that turned up. In Judge Weinstein's courtroom, the law was the law, and it shielded the guilty as well as the innocent, when the police violated the law too.

Posted by: Jim Gormley | Jun 17, 2021 12:11:30 AM

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As reported in this Politico piece, headlined "Virginia couple pleads guilty in Capitol riot," the first set of pleas for low-level participating in the January 6 riots were entered in federal court yesterday. Here are the details:

A Virginia couple on Monday became the third and fourth defendants to plead guilty in the sprawling investigation stemming from the Capitol riot in January. However, Jessica and Joshua Bustle of Bristow, Va., became the first to plead guilty in federal court who faced only misdemeanor charges as a result of their actions at the Capitol as lawmakers were attempting to certify President Joe Bidens electoral college victory.

Under a deal with prosecutors, the Bustles each pleaded guilty to one of the four misdemeanor charges they faced: parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. They could get up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $5,000, but will be spared the potential of back-to-back sentences on multiple counts.

The arrangement could serve as a template for hundreds of other misdemeanor-only cases filed related to the Jan. 6 events. Defense attorneys say it also suggests that prosecutors will not readily agree to more lenient resolutions in Capitol riot cases, such as deferring the case and dismissing it following a period of good behavior.

Theres no guarantee what the sentence will be in this case, Judge Thomas Hogan told the Bustles during the afternoon hearing, conducted by videoconference. I can give a sentence thats legal up to the maximum in the statute: six months.

According to a complaint filed by an FBI agent in March, Jessica Bustle posted on her Facebook page on Jan. 6: Pence is a traitor. We stormed the capital. An unarmed peaceful woman down the hall from us was shot in the neck by cops. Its insane here.Pray for America!!!! In another post, Jessica Bustle  who said shes opposed to taking the coronavirus vaccine  indicated she and her husband were attending a health freedom rally separate from then-President Donald Trumps rally. They later decided to check out what was happening at the Capitol, she wrote. My husband and I just WALKED right in with tons of other people. Bustle also wrote: We need a Revolution....

The Bustles have also agreed to pay $500 apiece in restitution, Hogan said. Both the Bustles' attorneys and a prosecutor said they were prepared to proceed with sentencing Monday, but the judge declined, saying he would set a sentencing date in 4 to 6 weeks. Im not prepared to do sentencing today. I think we have to look at the case a little bit, said Hogan, an appointee of former President Ronald Reagan. The judge said he wanted to ensure consistency and comparability of sentences among the Capitol riot defendants, none of whom have been sentenced thus far.

Many Capitol riot defendants face the four typical misdemeanor charges the Bustles faced plus a felony charge of obstruction of an official proceeding. The latter charge carries a potential 20-year prison term. It is not clear how prosecutors have distinguished between nonviolent defendants who face only the misdemeanors and those who had the felony charge added on.

The first guilty pleas in the Capitol riot came in April from Jon Schaffer, a heavy-metal guitarist and self-described lifetime member of the Oath Keepers. He admitted to two felonies: obstruction and entering a Secret Service-restricted area while carrying a dangerous weapon. Schaffer agreed to cooperate in the governments ongoing conspiracy case against fellow Oath Keepers. A total of 16 people are now charged in that case.

The second guilty plea was from a Florida man who went onto the Senate floor during the Jan. 6 unrest, Paul Hodgkins. At a hearing earlier this month, he pleaded guilty to a felony obstruction charge. Prosecutors agreed to drop the misdemeanor charges against him, but there was no cooperation element to the deal. He is tentatively set for sentencing on July 19.
TOKYO, Jun 15, 2021--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Accenture (NYSE: ACN) has entered into an agreement with DI Square to acquire the companys consulting capabilities for product lifecycle management (PLM) and application lifecycle management (ALM) systems integration. The acquisition will expand Accentures engineering expertise for automotive and other manufacturing clients in Japan and other markets. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210614005826/en/

Accenture will acquire DI Squares consulting capabilities for PLM and ALM systems integration  strengthening the engineering expertise of its Industry X group for automotive and other manufacturing clients. (Graphic: Business Wire)

Accenture will acquire DI Squares PLM and ALM-related know-how and client contracts as well as take on approximately 70 DI Square professionals. They will join Accentures Industry X group in Japan, which helps clients digitize their core operations including the design, development, manufacturing and servicing of smart connected products.

DI Squares capabilities will enable Accenture to build systems and solutions that can optimize and integrate clients engineering processes end-to-end, from conceptual design through to integration, operation and maintenance. The combination with Accentures artificial intelligence and Digital Twin expertise will help manufacturing clients become more productive and competitive. For example, many automotive companies are facing efficiency challenges in product development as intelligent vehicle functionality adds more and increasingly sophisticated software to cars, dramatically driving complexity in engineering.

"Manufacturing companies must digitize not just the enterprise but their entire operating value chains," said Shinichiro Kohno, managing director and lead for Accenture Industry X in Japan. "The capabilities we will acquire from DI Square will expand our expertise for PLM and ALM, which are at the intersection of engineering and manufacturing. Manufacturers have a growing need for help in these areas and we want to be their partner of choice for a comprehensive digital transformation of core operations that applies the power of data and digital to support sustainability, productivity and growth."

Story continues

DI Squares capabilities for PLM and ALM solutions and advanced engineering include 3D computer-aided design (CAD), computer-aided manufacturing (CAM), modular design and model-based systems engineering (MBSE). The company is a well-known implementation partner for PLM solutions from Dassault Systemes, one of Accentures strategic alliance partners. Dassault Systemes solutions are widely adopted among Japanese manufacturers including automotive companies, which set particularly strict QCD (quality, cost and delivery) standards.

Accenture and DI Square will also look to establish an ongoing alliance to streamline clients' acquisition of software licenses and hardware as part of implementing their PLM and ALM solutions.

The acquisition of DI Squares PLM capabilities is the latest in a number of investments Accenture has made to strengthen its Industry X capabilities globally. Most recently, Accenture announced its agreement to acquire umlaut, an engineering and consulting services firm, headquartered in Germany. Other examples include operations technology provider Electro 80 (Australia), industrial robotics and automation service provider Pollux (Brazil), operations consultancy Myrtle (US) and technology consultancy SALT Solutions (Germany).

Completion of the acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions.

About Accenture

Accenture is a global professional services company with leading capabilities in digital, cloud and security. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries, we offer Strategy and Consulting, Interactive, Technology and Operations services  all powered by the worlds largest network of Advanced Technology and Intelligent Operations centers. Our 537,000 people deliver on the promise of technology and human ingenuity every day, serving clients in more than 120 countries. We embrace the power of change to create value and shared success for our clients, people, shareholders, partners and communities. Visit us at www.accenture.com.

Accenture Industry X embeds intelligence in how clients run factories and plants, as well as design and engineer connected products and servicesmaking manufacturing and operations more efficient, effective and safe; enabling companies to transform how they make things, and the things they make, for sustainable growth.

Forward-Looking Statements

Except for the historical information and discussions contained herein, statements in this news release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "may," "will," "should," "likely," "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "projects," "believes," "estimates," "positioned," "outlook" and similar expressions are used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. Many of the following risks, uncertainties and other factors identified below are, and will be, amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic. These risks include, without limitation, risks that: Accenture and DISquare will not be able to close the transaction in the time period anticipated, or at all, which is dependent on the parties ability to satisfy certain closing conditions; the transaction might not achieve the anticipated benefits for Accenture; Accentures results of operations have been significantly adversely affected and could in the future be materially adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic; Accentures results of operations have been, and may in the future be, adversely affected by volatile, negative or uncertain economic and political conditions and the effects of these conditions on the companys clients businesses and levels of business activity; Accentures business depends on generating and maintaining ongoing, profitable client demand for the companys services and solutions including through the adaptation and expansion of its services and solutions in response to ongoing changes in technology and offerings, and a significant reduction in such demand or an inability to respond to the evolving technological environment could materially affect the companys results of operations; if Accenture is unable to keep its supply of skills and resources in balance with client demand around the world and attract and retain professionals with strong leadership skills, the companys business, the utilization rate of the companys professionals and the companys results of operations may be materially adversely affected; Accenture could face legal, reputational and financial risks if the company fails to protect client and/or company data from security incidents or cyberattacks; the markets in which Accenture operates are highly competitive, and Accenture might not be able to compete effectively; Accentures profitability could materially suffer if the company is unable to obtain favorable pricing for its services and solutions, if the company is unable to remain competitive, if its cost-management strategies are unsuccessful or if it experiences delivery inefficiencies or fail to satisfy certain agreed-upon targets or specific service levels; changes in Accentures level of taxes, as well as audits, investigations and tax proceedings, or changes in tax laws or in their interpretation or enforcement, could have a material adverse effect on the companys effective tax rate, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition; Accentures ability to attract and retain business and employees may depend on its reputation in the marketplace; as a result of Accentures geographically diverse operations and its growth strategy to continue to expand in its key markets around the world, the company is more susceptible to certain risks; Accentures business could be materially adversely affected if the company incurs legal liability; Accentures work with government clients exposes the company to additional risks inherent in the government contracting environment; Accentures results of operations could be materially adversely affected by fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; if Accenture is unable to manage the organizational challenges associated with its size, the company might be unable to achieve its business objectives; if Accenture does not successfully manage and develop its relationships with key alliance partners or fails to anticipate and establish new alliances in new technologies, the companys results of operations could be adversely affected; Accenture might not be successful at acquiring, investing in or integrating businesses, entering into joint ventures or divesting businesses; if Accenture is unable to protect or enforce its intellectual property rights or if Accentures services or solutions infringe upon the intellectual property rights of others or the company loses its ability to utilize the intellectual property of others, its business could be adversely affected; Accentures results of operations and share price could be adversely affected if it is unable to maintain effective internal controls; changes to accounting standards or in the estimates and assumptions Accenture makes in connection with the preparation of its consolidated financial statements could adversely affect its financial results; Accenture might be unable to access additional capital on favorable terms or at all and if the company raises equity capital, it may dilute its shareholders ownership interest in the company; Accenture may be subject to criticism and negative publicity related to its incorporation in Ireland; as well as the risks, uncertainties and other factors discussed under the "Risk Factors" heading in Accenture plcs most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and other documents filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Statements in this news release speak only as of the date they were made, and Accenture undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statements made in this news release or to conform such statements to actual results or changes in Accentures expectations.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210614005826/en/

Contacts

Kentaro Kanda

Accenture

+81 45 330 7157

kentaro.kanda@accenture.com

Jens R. Derksen

Accenture Industry X

+49 175 5761393

jens.derksen@accenture.com
Good morning,

Please find below the press release issued today.

Best regards,

____________________________________________________________________

Marishka Martins

Group Press Office

Capgemini India | Mumbai

www.capgemini.com

Tel.: +91 9930835325

Email: marishka.martins@capgemini.com

_____________________________

Despite high sustainability ambitions, only half of manufacturers worldwide are on track to reach Paris Agreement goals

Paris, June 15, 2021  Manufacturing organizations are setting ambitious sustainability targets for the coming decade with 20% aiming for carbon-neutral operations and two in five (40%) setting their sights on 100% renewable operations by 2030. This is according to a new report from the Capgemini Research Institute entitled, Sustainable operations: A comprehensive guide for manufacturers, which reveals that only 51% of manufacturing organizations globally are aiming to align with the temperature contribution target of the Paris Agreement. Within this cohort, Germany (68%) and France (67%) are leading the pack with respect to their manufacturers being on track to achieve the targets.



The report also reveals that manufacturers are boosting their sustainability agenda with technology, as more than half (56%) of organizations are currently prioritizing the deployment of digital technologies for sustainability.

According to the report, strong progress in sustainable manufacturing is helping organizations realize the benefits of sustainability initiatives. 89% of organizations implementing sustainability initiatives see an enhanced brand reputation and 81% noted an improved environmental, social and governance (ESG) rating of their company. 79% achieved improved efficiency and productivity and more than half reduced packaging costs and boosted employee motivation levels. The report also finds that 9 in 10 organizations have seen a reduction in waste (98%) and greenhouse gas emissions (94%) as a result of implementing sustainability practices  both of which are top priorities for manufacturers.

Story continues

However, despite high ambitions, only a few are on track to becoming sustainable manufacturers1. According to the report, the manufacturing sector lacks a comprehensive focus on sustainability, and the maturity of sustainability practices remains low: only 10% of organizations employ a holistic approach to sustainable manufacturing. Across industries, consumer products is the most sustainable sector (15%), followed by industrial and capital goods (11%) and automotive (10%). Furthermore, only 11% of sustainability initiatives are actively being scaled across organizations and just one in five agree that sustainability is fully integrated into their manufacturing strategy. While 38% of organizations are prioritizing Scope 1 emissions (direct emissions that the organization owns or controls), even fewer are focusing on Scope 2 (indirect emissions such as generating the electricity used by the organization) and Scope 3 (all other indirect emissions that occur in a companys value chain), neglecting other carbon drivers beyond internal processes.



There is a paradox in the fact that only 11% of green sustainability initiatives are actively being scaled across organizations, while the benefits realized by companies adopting sustainability initiatives are huge, comments Corinne Jouanny, Chief Innovation Scaling Officer at Capgemini Engineering. Technologies and data are critical to accelerating the sustainability agenda. Were seeing growing investments in digital technologies by manufacturers who are forming partnerships with established technology firms and startups to further develop their sustainable solutions. This is leading organizations to a full range of opportunities to reconcile profitable growth and sustainability.

Addressing the barriers to success

Less than one in three manufacturing organizations have alignment between sustainability executives and business executives on their sustainability priorities.

According to the report, manufacturers need to go beyond existing lean and green practices  reduce, reuse, recycle - to a more comprehensive approach, one that incorporates recover, redesign and remanufacture. While most organizations focus on direct emissions to achieve their carbon-neutrality goal, much of the carbon footprint for manufacturers lies within the indirect emissions of their organization, and that of their value chain.

The report concludes with the top sustainability practices or applications within each of the six R areas and outlines the critical success factors for organizations to reach their sustainability goals:

Align business teams and sustainability executives to explain synergies between performance and sustainability, and anchor the joint agenda Work with customers and suppliers to reduce indirect emissions Build transparency through effective reporting and ensure accountability Incorporate sustainable ways-of-working and operating culture Invest in technology and data-driven innovation to ensure sustainability goes hand in hand with profitable growth.

Research methodology

The Capgemini Research Institute surveyed 1,000 executives among large manufacturers across business functions and regions. Out of these, 480 organizations surveyed were represented by an executive from the business-facing side and one from sustainability functions. In addition, the researchers conducted one-on-one interviews with 15 senior sustainability executives from the industrys major players.

The full report can be downloaded here.

About Capgemini

Capgemini is a global leader in partnering with companies to transform and manage their business by harnessing the power of technology. The Group is guided everyday by its purpose of unleashing human energy through technology for an inclusive and sustainable future. It is a responsible and diverse organization of 270,000 team members in nearly 50 countries. With its strong 50-year heritage and deep industry expertise, Capgemini is trusted by its clients to address the entire breadth of their business needs, from strategy and design to operations, fueled by the fast evolving and innovative world of cloud, data, AI, connectivity, software, digital engineering, and platforms. The Group reported in 2020 global revenues of 16 billion.

Get The Future You Want | www.capgemini.com

About the Capgemini Research Institute

The Capgemini Research Institute is Capgeminis in-house think-tank on all things digital. The Institute publishes research on the impact of digital technologies on large traditional businesses. The team draws on the worldwide network of Capgemini experts and works closely with academic and technology partners. The Institute has dedicated research centers in India, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States. It was recently ranked #1 in the world for the quality of its research by independent analysts.

Visit us at https://www.capgemini.com/researchinstitute/







1 This research defines sustainable manufacturers as those organizations that have a comprehensive focus on all

6Rs  Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover, Redesign and Remanufacture and are incorporating sustainability into their entire value chain.





Attachments




SIOUX CITY -- A second person charged in connection with a fatal shooting at a Morningside home might now enter a plea rather than go to trial on first-degree murder and other charges.

A status and plea-taking hearing has been scheduled for June 22 in Woodbury County District Court for Christopher Morales.

Morales, 20, of Sioux City, previously pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, going armed with intent and three counts of reckless use of a firearm for the shooting death of Mia Kritis. He also is charged in a separate but related case with being an adjudicated delinquent in possession of a firearm, interference with official acts and carrying a dangerous weapon. Those charges stem from his Jan. 5 arrest in which he was found in possession of a firearm that has been linked to the shooting.

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His trial on all charges is currently scheduled for July 20.
SIOUX CITY -- The Sioux City Council rejected a construction company's bid Monday for a controversial new welcome sign near the Sergeant Floyd Monument because it was $125,000 above the engineer's estimate.

HCI Construction Company of South Sioux City submitted a base bid of $375,000. It was the lone bid received for the project, which the city's engineer estimated at $250,000.

While Councilman Alex Watters said he thinks a welcome sign is something that is "much needed," he suggested that the council rebid the project next spring.

"I would really ask and urge council to think what direction we would like to go -- if this is something we want to make an investment in," he said. "As far as a welcome sign in our community, we have the water tower and the sign that's in front of Chili's, which until recently wasn't even visible. The MidAmerican one, I do think, is going to be going away soon, as well. So I think we just need to think about this."

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Eric Coleman, an architect for CMBA Architects, wrote in a letter to Sioux City Parks and Recreation Manager Angel Wallace that "current market factors and costs of materials" led to a much higher bid than was expected and recommended that the council reject the sole bid and consider rebidding the project after the market has stabilized.
The city was awarded a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration to assist with the construction of the hangar facility, offices and other site improvements. The project will also be funded through approximately $6 million in general obligation bonds.

As part of the proposed development agreement and lease agreement, Oracle will commit to leasing the new structure on a triple-net basis for an initial 20-year period, with two 10-year renewal options. Lease payments will be on a graduated scale, increasing from $15,000 to $33,000 per month. Oracle will also lease the existing alert hangar for an initial seven-year term for $1,500 per month; complete all interior finishes within the facility; lease approximately 100,000 square feet of land for the project for $20,000 per year; invest $1 million in furniture, fixtures and equipment; and use its best efforts to create 42 new jobs, including instructors in the new flight school.
Architects earlier estimated the general contract phase of the project at $43 million. County officials have blamed the increase on rising cost of construction materials tied to the disruption of supply chains during the pandemic.

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In addition to the general contract awarded Tuesday, the Authority previously had approved contracts totaling over $20 million for site work and soil settlement monitoring, pre-fabricated jail cells, and the project manager and architect.

A number of citizens, including local contractors and union leaders, had urged the Authority to reject the two general contractor bids and put the project on hold in hopes the costs would fall by the time it was rebid.

But the Authority board and top law enforcement officials voiced support to move ahead with the project, fearing a further delay would result in even higher construction costs while also increasing the price of maintaining the current jail, which has been plagued by overcrowding and physical deficiencies, particularly in the heating and cooling systems.

Officials had warned that a sudden failure of one of the 34-year-old jail's mechanical systems could be catastrophic, leading to an evacuation and a costly process of moving the inmates elsewhere. Repairs were estimated at more than $22 million.
Big Ox previously settled a federal class action lawsuit filed by two South Sioux City homeowners who said that plant odors had interfered with local residents' ability to enjoy their life and property and had damaged property values. Terms of the settlement were confidential.

Judges also have entered at least three judgments against the Wisconsin-based company for nonpayment of claims to suppliers and other service providers.

Two legal disputes between the city, Big Ox and lenders remain.

Wells Fargo has filed a complaint against South Sioux City in federal court seeking more than $3.3 million in past-due monthly installments it says were due as part of a 2014 tipping agreement between Big Ox and the city. The agreement was an inducement for Wells Fargo to provide financing for construction of the approximately $30 million Big Ox plant.

The city council has denied the bank's claim, saying it was not filed in time and that Big Ox was in default of the agreement because it shut down the plant.

The city sued Big Ox, Wells Fargo and other lenders in December for negligent misrepresentation and breach of contract and is seeking a judge's order rescinding the city's tipping agreement with Big Ox and declaring that the city does not owe the unpaid monthly fees that lenders are seeking.
SIOUX CITY -- The city of Sioux City is launching a campaign this summer to encourage people to donate to agencies that work directly with those experiencing homelessness, rather than giving money to panhandlers.

Blue and white signs printed with the words "IT'S OKAY TO SAY NO TO PANHANDLERS" will be installed at 12 locations around the city.

"Many of us are familiar with this experience. You pull up to an intersection and you lock eyes with someone asking for money on the corner," caseworker Clara Macfarlane Coly said during a news conference outside the Neighborhood Services Division's Nebraska Street office. "You want to do something, but you're not sure exactly what to do. No matter what you decide, you drive away feeling you wish you could have done more."

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Macfarlane Coly said residents are asked to visit siouxcityassist.org, where they can donate directly to agencies that provide services and/or shelter.

Over the past year, she said more than 200 people have been served by the city's Homeless Street Outreach and Rapid Rehousing programs, with 89 people in 59 households being placed in permanent housing.
DETROIT (AP)  The president of General Motors says his company plans to announce more U.S. battery factories later this week.

Mark Reuss gave no details of where the factories would be located or exactly what they would manufacture. He spoke in a weekend interview with The Associated Press at an IndyCar race on an island park near downtown Detroit.

Company spokesman Jim Cain wouldn't comment Monday on the announcements, but noted GM previously stated it would build more factories to add battery capacity as electric vehicles grow in sales. GM has set a goal to stop selling internal-combustion passenger vehicles by 2035.

In the next week we'll announce some more, and it will be here in the U.S., Reuss said of the new battery factories.

The factories would be in addition to two battery cell plants that the company announced in the past two years, both geared to ramp up production as GM rolls out 30 new electric vehicles globally by 2025, with more than two-thirds sold in North America.
CLEVELAND (AP)  Dubbed the boy mayor of Cleveland as a 31-year-old, Dennis Kucinich announced Monday that he will make another bid for the office more than 40 years later.

During an afternoon news conference from a bluff overlooking downtown, Kucinich vowed to make the city safe again by hiring 400 additional police officers, increasing police pay and creating a Cabinet-level civic peace department. As head of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, he said would create a new peace curriculum.

Fair, impartial and even-handed law enforcement is a top priority, Kucinich said.

Kucinich, 74, filed paperwork in December to allow him to begin fundraising. He will face a field of candidates in September's non-partisan primary in this heavily Democratic city that includes City Council President Kevin Kelley, State Sen. Sandra Williams, former Councilman Zack Reed and nonprofit executive Justin Bibb.

The top two vote-getters advance to the November general election. Current Mayor Frank Jackson announced in early May he would not seek a fifth four-year term.
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, which provides water to 19 million people and operates some of the largest treatment plants in the world, said it found a compromised Pulse Secure appliance after CISA issued its alert in April. Spokeswoman Rebecca Kimitch said the appliance was immediately removed from service and no Metropolitan systems or processes were known to have been affected. She said there was no known data exfiltration.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York also said theyve not found evidence of valuable data or customer information was stolen. The breach was first reported by The New York Times.

Nish, the BAE security expert, said the hackers could have broken into networks but not stolen data right away for any number of operational reasons. He compared it to a criminal breaking into a house but stopping in the hallway.

Its still pretty bad, Nish said.

Mandiant said it found signs of data extraction from some of the targets. The company and BAE have identified targets of the hacking campaign in several fields, including financial, technology and defense firms, as well as municipal governments. Some targets were in Europe, but most in the U.S.
Now the House Intelligence Committee Chair, Schiff said Monday that he had spoken with Garland, who had given his commitment to an independent investigation by the inspector general. Schiff said he had every confidence that Garland will also do the kind of top-to-bottom review of the degree to which the department was politicized during the previous administration and take corrective steps.

The intelligence panel initially said 12 people connected to the committee  including aides, former aides and family members  had been swept up, but more have since been uncovered, according to a person familiar with the matter who also was not authorized to discuss it publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.

Some people might not know they were targeted because the Apple notification was by email and showed up in the spam filters of some of those who were contacted, the person said.

House Judiciary Committee Chair Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., announced an investigation into the subpoenas on members of Congress and journalists. Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., demanded a copy of the subpoena and other records about the decision to obtain the order.
GOP leaders have often been reluctant to castigate Greene, a close ally of former President Donald Trump. After social media posts were unearthed in which Greene suggested support for executing some Democratic leaders, McCarthy and most Republicans stood by her when the House took the unusual step of stripping her of her committee assignments in February.

But as House members returned to the Capitol on Monday after a three-week break, Greene was contrite.

Anti-Semitism is true hate," she said. And I saw that today at the Holocaust Museum."

In 2018, two years before her election to Congress, she speculated on Facebook that California wildfires may have been caused by lasers or blue beams of light controlled by a left-wing cabal tied to a powerful Jewish family.

On Monday, she told reporters that when she was 19, she visited the site of the Auschwitz concentration camp in what during World War II was Nazi-occupied Poland. It isn't like I learned about it today," she said of the Holocaust, in which 6 million Jews and huge numbers of other people were killed. I went today because I thought it was important," she said, and wanted to talk about it as she apologized.
Eighteen states have a goal to generate all their power from renewable or clean sources by 2050, as do utilities such as Arizona Public Service and Duke Energy, according to Advanced Energy Economy.

Evergy would shut down nearly three-quarters of its coal-fired generating capacity by 2039, starting with a plant in Lawrence by 2023. Its capacity to generate power from wind farms would increase by 23% by 2026.

Evergy has almost no solar power now, but solar farms would provide 13% of its generating capacity within a decade. Its first would go online in 2023.

Every year, the technology gets better and better," said Chuck Caisley, an Evergy senior vice president and its chief customer officer. "You're just going to see that march continue.

However, under Evergy's plan, only 20% of its coal-fired generating capacity would go offline by 2030. Also, for now it plans to add natural-gas fired plants after 2030 to back up solar and wind farms. Gas is cleaner but not emissions-free.

Evergy's move toward clean energy is "not fast enough to align with the urgency of climate change," said Jeff Deyette of the Union Concerned Scientists.
As a key senator in a divided chamber, Manchin has frustrated progressive Democrats with his reluctance to support several key agenda items.

Many people from neighboring states, including Kentucky and Maryland, drove and rode on buses to make it to the protest. They held signs and charged Manchin with enabling voter suppression.

He supports a narrower piece of legislation known as HR4 that updates the Voting Rights Act to reinstate a requirement that new voting laws and legislative districts in certain states be subject to federal approval.

Crucially, Manchin opposes eliminating the 60-vote requirement to break a filibuster in the Senate, a step that would allow Democrats to pass top agenda items without Republican votes. That has turned the West Virginia Democrat into a kingmaker in the evenly divided chamber.

With our senator pretty much controlling this thing, we want to be here to say we're not on the same page, said Chuck Overstreet, a Charleston resident who joined the march.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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"Milo's Doodle, titled 'Finding Hope,' speaks to the resilience and hope that lives in all of us," Google officials said. "The Doodle is inspired by his father's advice to find hope in all circumstances as a source of strength. It was inspired by Milo's journey to find hope after the loss of his father."

"Regardless of life's hardships and uncertainties, hope is always there," said Milo. "It's our job to find that hope in order to move forward.

After the Google winner was announced on NBC's "Today Show" Monday, Milo explained to the anchors the symbolism he used in his artwork.

 The uppercase blue and green letter G represents the world, and inside the letter, a young child opens the door in a symbol of hope for the future. A balloon is yellow, the color of hope.

 The middle characters represent Milo's father giving comfort and hope to little Milo, who is wrapped in a scarf and mittens, the last Christmas gifts received from his father.

 The letter l is a side view of a bookshelf, and a child climbs to the top to represent using education and new experiences to find hope.

 The letter E is a dying tree sprouting buds also to symbolize hope.
MICHIGAN CITY  A man drowned Sunday after saving his girlfriend from drowning in Lake Michigan at a Michigan City beach.

Donald Turner, a 28-year-old Portage resident, was out swimming in Lake Michigan with his girlfriend Sunday afternoon at the Washington Park beach at the lakefront city in LaPorte County. She started to struggle in the water.

Turner swam over to help her. He was able to bring her back to safety before going under the water, according to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division.

He did not resurface.

First responders were dispatched to the beach at about 4:38 p.m. Sunday after a person was reported missing in the water.

"A nearby swimmer located Turner's body a short distance away from where he was last seen," the Indiana Department of Natural Resources said in a news release. "Michigan City Fire Department immediately rendered life-saving measures."

Paramedics were not able to revive Turner.

He was taken by ambulance to Franciscan Health Hospital in Michigan City, where he was pronounced dead.
JACKSON, Miss. (AP)  A man who worked as an employee services contractor at a Mississippi poultry processing plant pleaded guilty Monday to a federal charge connected to one of the largest workplace immigration raids in the U.S. in the past decade.

Salvador Delgado-Nieves, 58, of Pelahatchie, pleaded guilty to harboring a person who was in the U.S. illegally, according to court records.

In August 2019, authorities arrested 680 mostly Latino workers at multiple poultry processing plants in central Mississippi.

Just before the one-year anniversary of the raids, federal authorities announced the indictment of Delgado-Nieves and three other people who had worked as executives at two poultry plants.

Delgado-Nieves was indicted in February 2020 on multiple charges, but court documents initially were sealed. He pleaded guilty Monday to a single charge. Sentencing is set for Sept. 15. Delgado-Nieves faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
ISLANDTON, S.C. (AP)  A longtime prosecutor in South Carolina has died just days after his grandson and daughter-in-law were found dead on the family's land in Colleton County in a shooting investigators have said little about.
ORLANDO, Fla.  Disney plans to restart fireworks shows at its theme parks in Florida and California in the latest move by the company to ease up on pandemic restrictions implemented last year.
HOUSTON (AP)  Jennifer Bridges, a registered nurse in Houston, is steadfast in her belief that it's wrong for her employer to force hospital workers like her to get vaccinated against COVID-19 or say goodbye to their jobs. But that's a losing legal argument so far.

In a stinging defeat, a federal judge bluntly ruled over the weekend that if employees of the Houston Methodist hospital system don't like it, they can go work elsewhere.

Methodist is trying to do their business of saving lives without giving them the COVID-19 virus. It is a choice made to keep staff, patients and their families safer. Bridges can freely choose to accept or refuse a COVID-19 vaccine; however, if she refuses, she will simply need to work somewhere else," U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes wrote in dismissing a lawsuit filed by 117 Houston Methodist workers, including Bridges, over the vaccine requirement.

The ruling Saturday in the closely watched legal case over how far health care institutions can go to protect patients and others against the coronavirus is believed to be the first of its kind in the U.S. But it won't be the end of the debate.

Bridges said she and the others will take their case to the U.S. Supreme Court if they have to: This is only the beginning. We are going to be fighting for quite a while."
DES MOINES  A former state agency director is seeking his day in court, alleging he was wrongly terminated by Gov. Kim Reynolds and her staff in June 2019 for questioning the legality of using federal Medicaid funds in a salary dispute he sought to disclose to the Attorney Generals Office.

Jerry Foxhoven, who served as Reynolds director of the Iowa Department of Human Services for two years, has filed a lawsuit in Polk County District Court seeking financial damages for his wrongful discharge in violation of public policy that he claims occurred because he refused to engage in illegal activity that amounted to committing Medicaid fraud and misuse of federal monies.

The lawsuit filed against Reynolds, her chief of staff Sara Craig Gongol and former legal counsel Sam Langholz contends a dispute arose over the continued DHS funding of a staff position within the governor's office that Foxhoven felt no longer fit the purpose under which the arrangement was originally made.

Foxhoven said he questioned the legality of the ongoing agreement, and stated he wanted an opinion from the Iowa Attorney General's Office. Reynolds' staff requested his resignation before he could ask for that legal advice.
DES MOINES  Iowa House Democrats on Monday elected state Rep. Jennifer Konfrst of Windsor Heights to be their new caucus leader  making her the first woman to serve in that capacity.

Konfrst, who served as House minority whip during the 2021 legislative session, was selected to fill the top leadership post after Rep. Todd Prichard of Charles City announced last month he was stepping down.

Republicans currently hold a 59-41 edge in the Iowa House.

Im honored to earn the trust of my colleagues to lead our fight to ensure Iowans voices are heard and truly represented in Des Moines, Konfrst said in a statement. I love my home state, and I believe the Legislature must do better for all Iowans.

For too long, Republicans have put the needs of special interests ahead of Iowans' needs. It's time for a change in the Iowa House, and Im ready to get to work, added Konfrst, who leads the only majority-female caucus at the State Capitol.
I have not finalized my plans for the future, he said in his statement. This has certainly been a time for reflection about what's important in life. But I do know I will not be running for reelection in my current Senate district so I am making this announcement today.

I also know there are other highly qualified people who are interested in running, and I believe it is important to allow candidates to get started, he added. I look forward to seeing what new Democratic candidates can do to compete and win across Iowa.

In an interview Monday, Hogg noted it was 16 years ago this month that he decided to seek the Iowa Senate seat he currently holds.

He declined to comment beyond what was in his written statement, other than to note its kind of sad we dont have maps yet, referring to Iowas legislative and congressional redistricting process that has been delayed due to COVID-19 issues affecting the 2020 population estimates to be issued by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Iowas two Eastern Iowa congressional districts currently are held by Republicans and Grassleys U.S. Senate seat also will be contested in 2022.
A new industry is set to take off in Nebraska.

If it works out as backers hope, it would create jobs in the state and offer financial advantages for the states ethanol producers. In addition, the industry could have significant implications in the effort to combat climate change.

The groundwork was laid by state Sen. Mike Floods LB650, which all but one legislator voted to pass last month. Since then, multiple companies have announced plans to contract with ethanol producers in Nebraska to filter carbon dioxide and permanently store that element in the ground  either in the state or piped elsewhere.

Other production facilities, such as power and fertilizer plants, are also eligible to participate.

Heres how it works: Instead of allowing carbon dioxide to emit from a producers stacks, those stacks would be capped and route the carbon dioxide to a series of compressors. The carbon dioxide is then converted into a transportable form such as liquid and stored well below the surface  at least 2,600 feet below.
With the still-raging virus halting campaign rallies and big gatherings, Hemmati spoke Tuesday at a modest press conference at the University of Tehran. Addressing some hundred reporters and supporters, he expressed hope that Iranian and American negotiators, now engaged in indirect talks in Vienna, would agree on a plan for Iran to curb its nuclear program and the U.S. to lift heavy sanctions, re-imposed when then-President Donald Trump withdrew America from the accord in 2018.

Trump's decision to pull out of the deal has, over time, seen Iran abandon almost every limitation of the agreement, enriching more uranium than allowed and to a greater purity than permitted, among other things.

Cabinet spokesman Ali Rabiei announced Tuesday that the country's low-enriched uranium stockpile had climbed to 108 kilograms (238 pounds) of 20% enriched uranium from 90 kilograms (198 pounds) in May. The stockpile of 60% enriched uranium, a short technical step to weapons-grade levels, had reached 6.5 kilograms (14.3 pounds), up from last month's 2.5 kilograms (5.5 pounds).

Rouhani's eight years in office brought steep economic decline, particularly after the collapse of the nuclear deal. Hemmati sought Tuesday to promote his successes as a top banker, although his Central Bank tenure was defined by the crash of the Iranian riyal amid America's economic pressure campaign.
Amnesty means forgetting and forgiving. As a Christian, I dont think that amnesty is inherently a bad word. Its a synonym for grace and the unearned forgiveness of sins that we receive through faith in Christ, not by our own works. But while Jesus commands his followers to forgive others as we have been forgiven, I dont necessarily think that command to forgive extends to governments.

The Apostle Paul makes clear that God has established government to maintain order, which a government cannot do if it simply ignores or dismisses every violation of the law in the name of mercy or amnesty. Breaking the law is a crime, and governments are right to enforce the laws against criminals.

But if governments arent obligated to offer amnesty, that doesnt mean undocumented immigrants should be barred from seeking citizenship at all. A restitution requirement attached to a legal pathway to citizenship provides an excellent compromise.

Most undocumented immigrants I know would be more than willing to pay a restitution fine in order to legalize their status. Many would not only support such a proposal as a pragmatic concession, but they would also be happy for the chance to make things right. Restitution-based citizenship involves acknowledging that a law was broken and making amends in a way that works for everyone.
Jessica Henwick has joined the cast of 'Knives Out 2'.

According to Deadline, the 'Game of Thrones' star is the latest cast member to board the sequel to Rian Johnson's 2019 whodunnit.

The British actress will star alongside Daniel Craig in an undisclosed role

Jessica's casting comes days after it was revealed Madelyn Cline is also set to appear.

The pair join stars such as Dave Bautista, Kate Hudson, Leslie Odom Jr., Janelle Monae, Kathryn Hahn, and Edward Norton in the upcoming flick.

Daniel will reprise his role as detective Benoit Blanc while Rian has returned to write and direct the movie after the success of the original film.

Production on the project is set to begin in Greece later this summer but plot details are unknown other than the James Bond star returning to solve another mystery involving a large number of suspects.

Leslie recently suggested that Rian wants to "up the ante" with 'Knives Out 2' and hinted that the movie will be even more "exciting" than its predecessor.

The 39-year-old star said: "I might have said too much already, but suspect everyone is what I can tell you.
President Joe Biden meets on Wednesday with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, and its been decades since the leaders of the two countries approached a summit so rife with tension, dread, and possibilities.

The wild card this time is the possibilities. Both leaders agree that relations between Washington and Moscow are at their lowest point since the Cold War. Contrary to hopes a mere decade ago that a democratic Russia might enter the fold of the European Union and the Western-led global economy, Putins posture as a strong world leader seems to pivot on his refusal to appear remotely conciliatory. His assertive actions in the second term of Barack Obamas presidencyhis annexation of Crimea, armed incursions of eastern Ukraine, and aid to Bashar al-Assads murderousness in Syria, which, together, crushed all plans for continuing the reset in U.S.-Russian relationshave since been intensified by relentless cyberattacks, including an attempt to tilt the 2016 election; the killing of Russian dissidents or former spies on foreign territory; and other steps to foment Western disunity and delegitimize democracy, sometimes with startling success.

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So how could the summit hold any possibilities for Russian-American diplomacy, comity, or peace?

A bit of history is worth recalling. In 1963, President John F. Kennedy and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev signed a limited nuclear test ban treaty and hooked up the hot line, allowing the two leaders to communicate directly with each other for the first timeboth just months after they nearly blew each other to smithereens in the Cuban missile crisis.

In 196768, U.S. and Soviet officials co-authored the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and, over the next several years, worked together to nudge nearly every other country to sign it, even as their own nuclear arms race took off and the Vietnam Warpitting American soldiers against a Soviet-armed allyescalated.

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Even Putin values stability and predictability in realms related to his survival.

Around that time, American and Soviet scientists jointly developed a smallpox vaccine under the auspices of the World Health Organization.

In those same years, U.S. and Russian diplomats undertook the first nuclear arms control talks and kept them going for nearly the next half-century, through various phases of the Cold War and beyond, with almost no interruption, signing a long string of documents known as the Interim Agreement on Strategic Offensive Arms, the ABM Treaty, the Vladivostok Accords, SALT II, the INF Treaty, START, and New STARTeach one increasingly restrictive and intrusive. Along with various unilateral arms cuts made by both sides, those agreements resulted in a 90 percent reduction in their nuclear arsenals.

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The pattern persists, to some degree, even now. Just two weeks after Bidens inauguration, he and Putin agreed to extend for another five years the Obama-era New STARTwhich was about to expireeven as the two presidents called each other killers, and even as their mutual hostility on other fronts seemed implacable.

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Why? Because it was in their mutual interests to extend the treaty and thus keep a verifiable clamp on the size of each others nuclear arsenals. For all his (quite sincere) talk about human rights and democratic values, Bidenwhose front-row dealings in foreign policy date back nearly 50 yearsis a pragmatist. For all his nostalgic bluster about restoring the Soviet empire, Putinwhose career as a KGB officer straddled the Cold War and afteris a pragmatist, too, and though his growl may be louder than that of the Americans right now, his teeth are less sharp, and he probably knows this.

In the run-up to the summit, Biden has taken care to express his pragmatic side more openly. In a recent press conference, he described Putin as bright, tough, and a worthy adversary, adding, Im going to make clear to President Putin that there are areas where we can cooperate, if he chooses. And if he chooses not to cooperate [] then we will respond [] in kind.

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Asked whether he still thinks Putin is a killer, as hed said only a few months earlier, Biden replied, Look, when I was asked that question on air, I answered it honestly. I dont think it matters a whole lot in terms of this next meeting were about to have. He also said, Its not about trusting; its about agreeing. When you write treaties with adversaries, you dont say, I trust you. You say, This is what I expect. 

Biden will meet Putin in Geneva after several days of summits with U.S. allies in the G-7 and NATO. The communique issued after the NATO meeting, which dealt with military matters, noted that China posed challenges but labeled Russia, more harshly, as a threat. Nonetheless, Biden stressed that every NATO member thanked me for meeting with Putin now and thought it was thoroughly appropriate that I do. He made this point mainly to preempt right-wing criticism at home that even meeting with Putin amounted to appeasement and that striking any kind of deal with him would be worse.

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It is doubtful that Biden and Putin will emerge from their meeting all smiles, hand in hand, to announce a re-reset in Russian-American relations. But there is reason to believe that even Putinprone though he is to destabilize the foundations of Western alliances and democracyvalues stability and predictability in realms related to his survival.

Arms control can be a useful device for enhancing that sort of stability. During much of the Cold War, arms control talks served as a token for diplomacy when tensions were too fierce to allow talks about anything else. As the talks progressed, tensions relaxed, relations were built, modes of trust and assurance were tested and confirmedeventually (and, yes, this oversimplifies matters greatly), the Cold War ended.

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There are some signs that Biden may try restarting arms control talks, just to get some civil discussion going, while still leveling criticism and demands on the issues that divide the two countries. It is at least intriguing that Biden recently assembled a group of Russian expertsformer officials in the Obama and Trump administrationsto discuss how to approach, and what might come out of, his upcoming meeting with Putin. These officials included Fiona Hill, a former top Russia specialist in Trumps National Security Council who often disagreed with Trump; Michael McFaul, who served as Obamas ambassador to Russia; and Rose Gottemoeller, Obamas chief negotiator of New START.

All of these experts, and others who attended, sport no illusions about Putin or his aims; but they see value in serious diplomacy, especially in arms control diplomacy.

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Biden and Putin have common or converging interests on a number of issuesnuclear nonproliferation (including keeping Iran from building atomic bombs), counterterrorism, climate change, combating pandemics, and cybersecurity (though thats a particularly tough one, as neither side wants to give up its ability to hack other countries in the name of national security).

No great progress will likely be made on any of these issues in Geneva this week. Even if Biden or Putin were personally inclined to make great progress (which they dont seem to be), political interests, at home and abroad, would inhibit them from moving too quickly to paper up their differences. But if they were to announce the beginning of talks about something, anything, that would be progress enough.
Former National Security Agency contractor Reality Winner, who pleaded guilty to leaking a classified National Security Agency report, was released from a Texas prison, her lawyer announced Monday. Winners lawyer said the 29-year-old was transferred to a halfway house before being transitioned to supervised release. Winner initially faced a 10-year sentence for leaking to the Intercept in 2017 the classified document outlining Russian cyberattacks on local election officials and the company responsible for voter registration software. As part of a plea deal, in 2018 Winner was sentenced to just over five years, a sentence prosecutors said was the longest ever handed down for a government leak to a news outlet.

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Winners early release was scheduled and on account of good behavior, her lawyer said, not because of any commutation of her sentence. Winner petitioned then-President Donald Trump for clemency, but Trump did not intervene in her case, as he launched public screeds against government leaks and the Trump Department of Justice pursued journalists and sitting members of Congress in leak investigations. Winner is still restricted by law from discussing the specifics of her case and the document it was based on and had begun the process of petitioning for a pardon or commutation before her release.

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The former Air Force linguist was working for the private intelligence firm Pluribus International at Fort Gordon in Georgia when she leaked the top-secret document to the online publication. Winner printed out the NSA report, sneaking it out of the complex in her pantyhose, before mailing it to the Intercept, which then published a news story on the contents of the document. The Intercept, which made a name for itself publishing national security stories, often relying on sensitive leaked documents, faced criticism for the handling of the document, which led federal investigators directly to Winner, who was charged within an hour of the publication of the story.
A Russian cybercrime group was behind the hack of JBS, the worlds largest meat supplier, the FBI said in early Juneless than two weeks ahead of President Joe Bidens Wednesday summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin. It was just the most recent Russia-linked cybersecurity story. The Biden White Houses sanctions over Russias influence operations in the 2020 election included six technology companies supporting Russian intelligence operationsplus multiple front organizations for Russian propaganda. Now, there is much speculation on the Kremlins involvement in a ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline, the largest refined oil pipeline in the U.S., and the more recent attack on JBS. Biden said the administration does not believe the Russian government was involved in the first incident, but that the criminals are likely based in Russiaand the government should clamp down on such ransomware groups.

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Biden will undoubtedly confront Putin about some of these activities to try and hold the Russian government to greater account for cyber activity emanating from within Russia. But for any progress on cybersecurity to come out of the summit, the White House must situate its policy toward Russian cyber operations in the context of the Putin regimes growing pursuit of cyber sovereignty, which to Russia has historically represented the states desire to control the internet within its borders. A comprehensive treatment of Russian state cyber behavior means directly facing the entanglement between the Kremlins internet policy domestically and its cyber activity at home and abroad.

Internet control in Russia has a long history. In the early 1990s, the Russian security services implemented SORM-1, a telephone monitoring system; that was soon expanded to SORM-2 and SORM-3, used to monitor emails and many other kinds of internet data. The Russian Federations 2000 Information Security Doctrine, signed by Putin himself, laid out the Kremlins view of the internet and goals for managing perceived threats  with a focus on the idea of social and political stability (e.g., regime security).

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As the internet picked up steam in Russia, though, authorities paid more attention to the internet as a security issue and took on new powers to address it.

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The Kremlins growing alarm with color revolutions taking place in former Soviet republicsGeorgia in 2003, Ukraine in 2004, Kyrgyzstan in 2005fused with concern about the way internet users could spread information. Online coverage of the 2008 Russo-Georgian War, social medias role in the Arab Spring, and the Snowden leaks in 2013, among other events, accelerated this Kremlin fear of internet openness. It also fed a conspiratorial view of Western online interference. When citizens used social media to mobilize protests against Putin in 2011 and 2012, authorities told Russian platform VKontakte to censor posts. Its CEO refused and was later ousted. Putin famously called the internet a CIA project in 2014; when the Panama Papers were published online in 2016, Putin blamed the provocation on American officials and called the documents an informational product meant to destabilize Russia.

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Alongside these developments, the Kremlin used cyber operations to achieve strategic objectives: leveraging patriotic hackers who launched distributed denial of service attacks on Georgia in 2008; turning off power grids in Ukraine in 2015 and 2016; directing the GRU, Russian military intelligence, to hack and leak documents from the Democratic National Committee while the state-backed Internet Research Agency conducted information operations on American social media platforms. All the while, the state imposed internet website blacklists, data localization rules, and other restrictions that have seriously harmed human rights in Russia and undermined citizens ability to freely engage with the web.

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You cant separate the Putin regimes view of domestic internet control from its view of cyber behavior abroad. Increased control over the online space within Russia has only enabled the regime to further use technology companies to achieve strategic objectivesincluding through spying, disinformation, and cyberattacksand to censor, harass, and otherwise coerce firms that are uncooperative. Moreover, the Kremlins view of the open internet as a security vulnerability feeds into both chaos-sowing in countries abroad and control-cementation at home.

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Any U.S. attempts to have the Putin regime place greater limits on cyber actors operating within Russia must take this broader pursuit of cyber sovereignty and information security into account.

Putin does not coordinate all cyberattacks emanating from within Russian borders. Gleb Pavlovsky, a political technologist (propagandist) and former Kremlin adviser, has spoken of creating the illusion that Putin controls everything in Russia. Putin is a delegator, not a micromanager, often stepping back from decisions and only getting involved when there are problems to be addressed. Others yet have described this as the Kremlin setting broad strategic objectives and then allowing adhocrats across the elite to become policy entrepreneurs, seeking and seizing opportunities to develop and even implement ideas they think will further the Kremlins goal. Putin doesnt always exercise control, even if he could.

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The Russian government orders some cyber and information operations conducted by state actors, but it also leverages networks of state-sponsored groups to do so, as with the Internet Research Agency in 2016 or the multiple disinformation front groups recently exposed by the Treasury Department. Russian authorities reportedly tap nonstate hacker groups on the shoulder to launch operations on their behalfsometimes a voluntary recruitment, other times under threat. Not to mention that the Kremlin frequently looks the other way on domestic cybercrime activity so long as offenders focus on targets beyond Russia and dont contradict or undermine the Kremlins interests. Domestic control of the internet sphere enables the cooption of a range of domestic actors for a range of regime objectives.

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In confronting Putin on cyber operations, then, the Biden administration must communicate very clearly what kinds of cyber activities it wants to shape. There are degrees of responsibility for cyberattacks, which means addressing state-sponsored election interference is different from something like the Colonial Pipeline incident, where the White House said the Kremlin may not have been involved at all. This is further complicated by the importance of deniability to the Kremlins political warfare strategy. If the administration can separate out some of these cyber and information operations from others, that may increase the slim odds for U.S.-Russian cyber engagement.

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The Biden administration must also watch the creation of a domestic Russian internet alongside more assertive weaponization of cyber operations abroad. In the Kremlins ideal scenario, this domestic internet could be isolated from the rest of the world at will. For a regime where internet control frequently hits technical roadblocksand relies on a far less technical system of internet control and coercion than in Chinathis may very well be a pipe dream. But the more the Russian government alters the internet in Russia to meet these objectives, it may shift the technical ways in which cyber operations must be conducted from within Russia. Limited connectivity to the global internet could shift the Kremlins cyber calculusfor instance, with leveraging more hacker groups based geographically outside Russia, or needing to uniquely architect some systems to enable attackers to launch operations from within the country.

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The Kremlin is visibly committed to greater domestic internet control and continues to use cyber and information operations at home and abroad to promote strategic objectives. Further, Kremlin perceptions of information onslaught from the Westthrough U.S. social media platforms and internet openness itselfcontinue driving top-level attention to internet isolation. But Putins hold on power is not guaranteed, and the states political willingness to impose high costs on companies and citizens to achieve a domestic internet is uncertain. For Biden to confront everything from years of election interference to the recent Colonial Pipeline hack, the White House cant just focus on a few select incidents. Rather, the U.S. must push for narrow objectives while navigating these relationships between internet control priorities at home and Russian cyber actors increasingly damaging operations abroad.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
In April, the European Commission released a wide-ranging proposed regulation to govern the design, development, and deployment of A.I. systems. The regulation stipulates that high-risk A.I. systems (such as facial recognition and algorithms that determine eligibility for public benefits) should be designed to allow for oversight by humans who will be tasked with preventing or minimizing risks. Often expressed as the human-in-the-loop solution, this approach of human oversight over A.I. is rapidly becoming a staple in A.I. policy proposals globally. And although placing humans back in the loop of A.I. seems reassuring, this approach is instead loopy in a different sense: It rests on circular logic that offers false comfort and distracts from inherently harmful uses of automated systems.

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A.I. is celebrated for its superior accuracy, efficiency, and objectivity in comparison to humans. Yet as increasing evidence demonstrates the dangers of A.I., policymakers and developers are turning back to humans to mitigate harm. In other words, humans are being tasked with overseeing algorithms that were put in place with the promise of augmenting human deficiencies. The 2020 Washington State facial recognition law, for example, includes requirements for meaningful human review, defined in terms of review or oversight by one or more individuals  who have the authority to alter the decision under review. Several hiring A.I. companies advertise human intervention in the candidate screening process as a way to prevent the errors and discriminatory outcomes associated with these tools. And the backlash to lives lost in accidents involving self-driving cars has prompted growing calls for reasserting human control.

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But human oversight falls short as a solution for the risks of algorithmic decision-making for three key reasons. First, calling for human oversight alone creates shallow protection that companies and governments can easily avoid in superficial ways. The European General Data Protection Regulation, for instance, mandates that people shall have the right not to be subject to a decision based solely on automated processing. Although on first glance this would seem to prevent the harms of high-stakes decisions being made by opaque machines, setting up the binary of solely automated decisions versus those made by humans obscures the reality that most A.I. systems lie on some continuum between the two. Although headlines often emphasize the injustice of decisions being made by machines, in practice it is uncommon for algorithmsparticularly in high-stakes settings such as criminal justice and child welfareto operate without human involvement and without a human making the final decision.

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Furthermore, the mere presence of a human operator provides little protection against forms of automated decision-making that are intrusive, opaque, or faultyand instead may serve only to legitimize them. At least by the letter of laws that prevent solely automated decisions, any nominal form of human involvement is sufficient to avoid restrictions and protections. Provisions like the GDPR thus may create an incentive to introduce superficial human oversight of automated decisions (e.g., rubber stamping automated decisions) as a way to bypass scrutiny.

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Second, even calls for more meaningful forms of human oversightwhich are gaining traction as a way to account for the first issue just describedare incredibly difficult to accomplish in practice. A significant challenge is that this principle suffers from inherent imprecision: While a human operator rubber stamping algorithmic decisions is clearly not meaningful, there is no clear definition regarding what actually constitutes meaningful oversight. Furthermore, mounting research demonstrates that even when humans are granted meaningful discretion regarding how to use A.I., they are either unwilling or unable to intervene to appropriately balance human and algorithmic insights. People presented with the advice of automated tools are prone to automation bias (through which they defer to the automated system without proper scrutiny), struggle to evaluate the quality of algorithmic advice, often discount accurate algorithmic recommendations, and exhibit racial biases in their responses to algorithms.

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These effects mean, for instance, that police in London overwhelmingly overestimated the credibility of a live facial recognition system, often deferring to incorrect computer-generated matches despite the algorithms low rate of accuracy. As another example, studies have found that the implementation of pretrial risk assessments exacerbated rather than diminished racial disparities in pretrial detention, in part because judges tend to make more punitive decisions regarding Black defendants than white defendants with the same risk score.

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Third, presenting human oversight as a key remedy for A.I. harms can lead to a blurring of responsibility, where frontline human operators of A.I. systems are blamed for broader system failures over which they have little or no control. This allows developers and companies to have it both ways: They can promote how their A.I. has capabilities that vastly exceed those of humans, but when concerns get raised, they can point to human oversight as the proper corrective. In this way, powerful institutional actors like companies and governments are able to shift accountability (and liability) to individuals operating these systems, typically workers who themselves have severely limited bargaining power and control over how these systems are designed or used.

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For instance, the developers of controversial algorithms such as the Alleghany Family Screening Tool (which predicts the likelihood of child abuse or neglect), COMPAS (a risk assessment that predicts the likelihood of recidivism), and hiring software attempt to reassure critics by asserting that human decision-makers retain full discretion over decisions. Another notable instance of this convenient finger-pointing occurred in 2018 when a self-driving Uber vehicle struck and killed a woman in Arizona. Even as Uber boasted about its autonomous vehicle development (since sold off to another company), blame for the crash fell primarily on the human operator tasked with monitoring the vehicleeven though investigations found that the vehicle failed to stop because Uber engineers had tuned it to be less responsive to unidentified objects.

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Policymakers and companies eager to find a regulatory fix to harmful uses of technology must acknowledge and engage with the limits of human oversight rather than presenting human involvementeven meaningful human involvementas an antidote to algorithmic harms. This requires moving away from abstract understandings of both the machine and the human in isolation, and instead considering the precise nature of human-algorithm interactions. Who is the specific human engaging with the algorithm? What misaligned incentives or gaps in knowledge and power could limit their ability to assess and anticipate concerns? To what extent might the algorithm curb human discretion that is essential to the decision? Who are the other human actors responsible for shaping the system?

We also need to subject human oversight to greater research and scrutiny, further studying what human oversight does and does not accomplish and how to structure human-algorithm interactions to facilitate better collaborations. This requires preliminary testing of human oversight mechanisms before they are enshrined in policy and monitoring human oversight behaviors as a standard feature of algorithmic impact assessments and A.I. audits, which are becoming popular policy mechanisms to evaluate A.I. systems.

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Yet the limits of human oversight of A.I. do not simply require facilitating better human-algorithm collaborationsinstead, they expose fundamental tensions around whether algorithms should be involved in certain decisions at all. In many contexts, algorithms are introduced as a mechanism to improve upon the cognitive limits and biases of humansyet now those same humans are presented in policy as the essential backstop overseeing algorithmic limits and biases. This circular logic exposes our recognition that A.I. often cannot be trusted to adjudicate high-stakes decisions, despite common proclamations about its benefits.

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Discriminatory outcomes at the hands of A.I. systems are not problems confined to technical code, biased datasets, or flawed human oversight. From facial recognition to predictive policing, welfare benefit automation to worker surveillance, A.I. systems often work to disguise historical discrimination, amplify power imbalances, and obscure political decisions under the veneer of technical neutrality. For these systems, harmful outcomes might be a feature, not a bug. Rather than prompt a superficial human-in-the-loop policy fix, the material harms caused by A.I. must trigger a re-evaluation of whether many of these systems should be used at all and greater accountability for the real human (and institutional) decision-makers behind these harms.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
Slovak construction company Vahostav taken over by Czech counterpart

Geosan Construction signed a contract for the purchase of 100 percent of the company's shares.

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Slovak construction company Vahostav will change hands. Geosan Construction SK signed a contract for the purchase of 100 percent of Vahostav's shares, according to Geosan's website.

Company Geosan Construction SK is part of the Czech construction holding Geosan. The contract was finalised after weeks of intense negotiations connected to an audit of Vahostav and its daughter companies included in the transaction.

The whole acquisition process will be complete following an agreement between the respective authorities of the Slovak Antimonopoly Office and Czech Office for the Protection of Competition.

"As part of its deliberations, the construction holding Geosan has long considered a strategic entry into the Slovak construction market while strengthening the holding's competence in the field of infrastructure construction. The acquisition of Vahostav is a logical outcome of our long-term efforts for further development of the group, strengthening its position on the Czechoslovak construction market, explained Ludek Kostka, as quoted by the TASR newswire, the sole shareholder and member of the Board of Directors of Geosan Investicni, the controlling entity of the Geosan Group.

Geosan Investicni owns 100 percent of Geosan Construction SK.

15. Jun 2021 at 11:25 | Compiled by Spectator staff
The Supreme Court overturned the original verdict. The first-instance court will deal with the case again and consider newly-proposed evidence.

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The Supreme Court decided to accept the prosecutors appeal in the case of the February 2018 murder of investigative journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancee Martina Kusnirova.

The parents of Jan Kuciak said they feel relieved. It is certainly a satisfaction, said Jozef Kuciak, as quoted by the Sme daily. We are well on our way to justice, he added.

I am glad that justice won, Zlatica Kusnirova commented on the decision of the Supreme Court in the case regarding the murder of her daughter. What pleases me is that the appellate court has made it clear that the Threema reports can serve as evidence, added Kusnirovas lawyer Roman Kvasnica.

The case will be returned to the Specialised Criminal Court, which decided in September 2020 to acquit Marian Kocner and Alena Zsuzsova, who were both charged with ordering and arranging the murder. Tomas Szabo, who acted as the driver for gunman Miroslav Marcek during the murder, was sentenced to 25 years in prison.

With new evidence on the table, Kuciak murder trial may see a turnaround Read more

Marcek and middle-man Zoltan Adrusko were sentenced to 23 and 15 years respectively in individual trials.

The Senate 2T decided on behalf of the Supreme Court, consisting of judges Peter Paluda, Dana Wankeova and Ivetta Macejkova.

Only Marian Kocner and Tomas Szabo were present in the courtroom. Zsuszova apologised in advance for her absence. She is currently in custody facing charges in another murder case.

Prosecutor wants another senate to try the case

15. Jun 2021 at 17:28 | Compiled by Spectator staff
See some of the remarks by participants on the first day of the GLOBSEC Bratislava Forum 2021.

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The call to rebuild the world for better after the pandemic is the right one, but recovery is not enough. Talks about deep and structural changes are also important, President Zuzana Caputova said in her speech that opened the GLOBSEC Bratislava Forum 2021, held on June 15-17.

As she reminded everyone, there have been several debates on various platforms, pondering the future of several organisations, like EU or NATO.

The pandemic has shown our strengths and exposed our weaknesses, Caputova said. But it has also offered lessons.

These lessons include the need for a shared perception and goals to handle any type of crisis, the importance and respect of rules to guide us through hard times, and the importance of prevention to make countries more resilient towards future struggles.

We need share goals, rules and action to prevent a future crisis, Caputova said, stressing the importance of political leadership that is responsible, consensus-building and future-oriented as well.

Assessment of our actions important

Pope Francis, who addressed the participants virtually, stressed that the pandemic has forced us to confront a number of serious and interrelated social, economic, ecological and political issues.

In this respect, he proposed a serious and honest assessment of the past, including the acknowledgement of systemic failures, past errors and the lack of responsibility with regard to the Creator, our neighbour and all creation, as it is essential to develop a recovery model aimed not only at rebuilding what was, but to correct the things that were not working before the pandemic outbreak.

The Pope called for an evaluation of what we have seen and experienced, in order to come out of the crisis better.

The crisis reminded us that no one is saved alone, Pope Francis stressed.

He also highlighted the need to act in order not to squander the opportunities created by the crisis.

Solidarity needed

People around the world should show greater solidarity, for example in the sharing of Covid vaccines, said Polish President Andzej Duda in his speech.

He hopes the pandemic will soon be over, adding that room for dialogue on new challenges is gradually opening. He stressed the need to learn from what has impacted us, what we have failed to prevent and what we can prevent thanks to solidarity.

Duda went on to appreciate the enormous effort of medical workers and numerous pandemic restrictions, which made it possible to organise the conference in Bratislava.

Today we are hopeful that humanity has returned to the path of the normality, Duda said.

In his speech Croatian President Zoran Milanovic reflected on events from 9/11 and compared his feeling from 20 years ago to the current pandemic fear.

Liberties, human rights; all those things we took for granted were tested, he said.

15. Jun 2021 at 18:11 | Compiled by Spectator staff
Bereaved families, journalists and society in general hope for a well-reasoned and just verdict.

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The Supreme Court has returned the case of the 2018 murder of investigative reporter Jan Kuciak and his fiancee Martina Kusnirova to the first instance court.

The senate of the Supreme Court, chaired by Judge Peter Paluda, overturned the verdict of the Specialised Criminal Court from September last year that proclaimed the suspected masterminds of the murder, Alena Zsuzsova and Marian Kocner, not guilty in the case.

The court of appeals stated that the lower instance court did not take into account all the evidence in context and failed to provide sufficient reasoning for its verdict.

Here are some reactions to the latest verdict:

For a Decent Slovakia initiative

The initiative that organised mass protests following the murder, leading to the fall of the then government of Robert Fico, believes that those who ordered the murder will be proven guilty beyond doubt and convicted of the crime.

"Thanks to this decision, and even though this process will last for more months, we believe that those who ordered the murder will, in the end, be unambiguously proven guilty and convicted," the initiative wrote.

Journalists react

Sme daily Editor-in-Chief Beata Balogova, who is also a member of the board of the International Press Institute, wrote that justice for Jan Kuciak and Martina Kusnirova needed another chance, and the Supreme Court has granted it today.

"Thanks to the decision we heard today, judges of the Specialised Criminal Court will have the possibility to consider further evidence that the prosecutor and the investigators used to build the story of the murder," Balogova wrote. It will be important that the court explains why it had previously rejected some evidence.

"This society owes Jan and Martina justice without doubts and errors, without calculations," she wrote.

The editor-in-chief of the Aktuality.sk news website, which Kuciak worked for before he was killed, Peter Bardy, wrote on his Facebook page that the process is not over. "Justice and our hope have not lost today!"

International Press Institute (IPI) Deputy Director Scott Griffen welcomed the ruling as bringin new hope.

The Specialised Criminal Court now has a clear task: it must exhaustively consider all evidence and the full circumstances of this case. The deficiences in the ruling identifed by the Supreme Court must be addressed and the logic of the original ruling scrutinised, Griffen stated.

IPI and its partners "will not rest until rest until justice has been secured and all those involved in the murder of Jan and Martina are convicted and sentenced", he added.

Politicians react

The suffering of the parents and relatives of Jan and Martina after the decision of the Supreme Court is not over yet, but they are a step closer to justice, commented President Zuzana Caputova.

Jan Kuciak pointed to the cynicism of powerful people, and he and his girlfriend Martina Kusnirova paid with their lives, Caputova wrote on Facebook. Therefore, the publics trust in the state and its institutions will depend on the investigation of their murder and the punishment of all its perpetrators. The Supreme Court has taken a very important step in restoring trust in the judiciary.

Juraj Seliga, who stood behind the For a Decent Slovakia initiative in 2018 and has since joined the Za Ludi party and serves as its MP, noted that the Specialised Criminal Court will now need to provide better and more understandable reasoning behind its decision and come to terms with the shortcomings pointed out by the Supreme Court.

"We must call for justice for Jan and Martina until the end!" Seliga wrote.

The ruling OLaNO party sees the Supreme Court's decision as a fundamental step towards a just ending of the case.

"Today's decision of the Supreme Court brings hope that the supposed masterminds of the murder will not escape justice," said OLaNO MP and head of the parliamentary committee for culture and media, Kristian Cekovsky.

"This decision is all the more important seeing as we are currently witnessing attempts to overturn the arrival of justice through questioning the work of the police, the prosecution service, and the judiciary," Cekovsky stated, as quoted by the Sme daily. "Today will thus help to return the citizens' trust in justice and rule of law."

The opposition Hlas party acknowledged how the legal opinion of the Supreme Court differs compared to the Specialised Criminal Court.

"We will closely observe the development of this case until its very end," Hlas stated. "It is necessary that this particularly sensitive case does not leave any doubt after the definitive verdict of the court."

The non-parliamentary party Spolu welcomed the decision of the Supreme Court.

"It is immensely important for the families of the innocent victims, as well as for the whole country and our joint trust in the judiciary and the rule of law, to make sure that justice is delivered in this case, not just to those who committed the murder but mainly those who ordered it," Spolu Chair Juraj Hips stated.

The party's MEP Vladimir Bilcik noted that the entire European Union has been following the case. The European Parliament's Democracy, Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights Monitoring Group has been observing the situation with the rule of law and justice in Slovakia, and its permanent mission will visit Slovakia this autumn to ask questions about the ongoing reforms in the judiciary and the investigation of the double murder.

"Our democratic partners realise how damaging the fear for their own safety and life is for the free work of journalists," the MEP stated.

More on Kuciak murder trial:

15. Jun 2021 at 19:04 (modified at 16. Jun 2021 at 11:11) | Compiled by Spectator staff
The original verdict had been surrounded by questions since before it was delivered.

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The prosecutors and lawyers of the bereaved families have convinced the Supreme Court senate that it was premature to acquit Marian Kocner in the case of the murder of Jan Kuciak and Martina Kusnirova and that the case needs to be tried some more.

The defendants in the case are Marian Kocner, the suspected mastermind behind the murder, and his decoy Alena Zsuzsova, who was to be the one to order it, according to the prosecutors. The Specialised Criminal Court acquitted them of charges in September 2020, citing the lack of evidence for a guilty verdict.

"The Specialised Criminal Court is ordered to try the issue again and decide," the head of the Supreme Court senate, Judge Peter Paluda, stated and offered vast criticism of the work of the first-instance court in the case.

Tomas Szabo, whom the prosecution believes to have participated in the murder as a driver, was, on the other hand, sentenced to 25 years in prison. The punishment also involves the case of the murder of businessman Peter Molnar. The Supreme Court confirmed that sentence.

Middleman Zoltan Andrusko and hitman Miroslav Marcek have confessed to having committed the crime and they have both received prison sentences in separate trials.

"The verdict as such is internally controversial, issued prematurely based on an insufficiently investigated situation. The court did not admit or rejected admitting certain proof as proposed by the procedural sides," Prosecutor Vladimir Turan wrote in his appeal to the Specialised Criminal Court verdict.

The Supreme Court, which acts as the court of appeals in this case, has upheld its opinion. The judges on the senate decided unanimously.

The case will now go back to the Specialised Criminal Court, where it will be tried by the original senate of Judge Ruzena Sabova. The court does not need to deal with all the evidence again, but it will be required to admit the evidence that the Supreme Court will bind it to look at in its written decision.

Doubts about the verdict

15. Jun 2021 at 20:01 | Roman Cuprik
Horsepeople wishing to race at Batavia Downs for the upcoming 2021 summer / fall meet should note that stall applications are now available on the tracks website.

Stall applications, available at this link, are also available at the Western New York Harness Horsemens Association office located on-site at Buffalo Raceway.

Batavia Downs will conduct a 59-day meet in 2021, up from 42 days during the pandemic last year and the complete racing schedule can also be found at the track's website. Purse levels were raised at the end of the 2020 season and this year, they are expected to exceed those values.

We are looking forward to getting back to normal and welcoming our fans back to the track, said Todd Haight, Director/General Manager of Live Racing. As the vaccination rate in New York has hit the 70 percent mark, we anticipate that most COVID restrictions will be lifted by our opening day and everyone here is excited to see a full in-house crowd enjoying live harness racing at our track once again.

Racing Secretary Joe Zambito has stated that stall applications must be received by the track no later than Tuesday (July 6). For more information please contact the race office at 585-344-6161 starting Thursday (July 8).

The backstretch will open for tack on Thursday (July 15) at 8 a.m. and for horses on Saturday (July 17) at 8 a.m.

The first condition sheet of the year will be out the week of July 12. The opening night card will feature the New York Sire Stakes two-year-old trotting fillies who will vie for $90,000 (est.) in purses.

Batavia Downs offers a text messaging service for notices about draws, entries and changes to the racing schedule. Horsemen are strongly encouraged to text the word HORSEMAN to 51660. You will then need to reply YES and you will be opted in for race office text message updates.

The 74th season of live harness racing at Americas oldest lighted harness kicks off on Wednesday (July 21) and runs through Saturday (Dec. 11).

(Batavia)
Hanover Raceway has now implemented an online pre-screening form for the COVID protocols that are required prior to entry into the backstretch or for any officials and staff at the Raceway.

The online registration, available here, will begin for the card of harness racing slated for Saturday, June 19

Horsepeople will still be required to undergo a temperature check for entry at the gate.

Hanover appreciates your assistance in this matter.

(Hanover)
The American Battlefield Trust will launch its members-only Twilight Tours this week in Spotsylvania County as a summerlong series exploring sites across Virginia, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Mississippi and Kentucky.

The walking history tours will be held evenings, including at Mine Run battlefield in Locust Grove in Orange County for members of the battlefield preservation nonprofit based in Washington, D.C.

The program will kick off Friday, June 18, at Slaughter Pen Farm in Spotsylvania, part of the Fredericksburg battlefield.

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Theres nothing quite like studying history on the battlefieldsit truly is an immersive, outdoor classroom fit for all ages, Trust President David Duncan said. Now, with the long-awaited chance to gather, we are taking full advantage of warm summer nights and our long list of brilliant experts.

It is my hope that this summer tour series sets an encouraging tone, as the organization strives to safely return to the battlefields for even more in-person activities.
We are so excited. We do not know of another facility outside of Omaha that is this type of facility, Richter said. There are group homes, but this is a facility where each individual has a full apartment  a bedroom, living room, kitchen  but then there are also common areas where there will be a bigger kitchen, a dining area, a commons area where they can have a pool table and a movie room so they have the social aspects.

Residents of the facility will be like Richters son, able to live independently, but also needing some extra support. A residential manager will be hired and onsite, there in case of an emergency or other need. They also hope to have an activities director and purchase a van, helping make trips to the movies, bowling or other activities possible for the adults.

They will live independently, but with an atmosphere of friends who live around them, Richter said.

The Northfield Haven nonprofit board is made up of parents, like the Richters and the Krafts, but also local education professionals who work with the developmentally disabled, like Wendy Kemling-Horner, director of student services at Scottsbluff Public Schools, and worked with officials at ESU #13 to determine the need for if such a community did exist in the community. TCD also conducted a home study, which determined that need.
After Chen was crowned, Engelhaupt found her. Despite being newly crowned, Chens personality still shown through as she complimented Engelhaupt on her attire, rather than focusing on herself.

The first night of competition, I told Jamie, You are outstanding, and then I told her, I told you, you are outstanding.

Engelhaupt said Chen will put everything she has into representing the state over the next year and she is excited for Chen to have this experience.

Its a lifetime experience to get to that point and have that experience this next year, she said.

Chen will represent Nebraska at the Miss America Outstanding Teen competition in Orlando Florida, July 15.

As the Miss Nebraska Outstanding Teen, she will go compete against 50 other gals, Engelhaupt said. Ill tell you what she has to be everything theyre looking for.

Chen will receive a $2,000 cash scholarship as Miss Outstanding Teen as well as funds to represent Nebraska at the national competition in Florida.
As Nebraskans, we understand both of these things well. Our pioneer ancestors loved liberty so much they were willing to risk everything to make better lives for themselves on the untamed, and sometimes harsh, prairie. And like all of the states who have joined the union since the Revolutionary War, we chose unity with the rest of the country because we know we are stronger when we are united.

Many of the American flags that fly on Flag Day were made right here in Nebraska. MSA Brand Products in Fairbury uses only American-made materials in their flags, and individual employees proudly sew the stars and stripes together in-house. I was honored to see them in action when I had the opportunity to visit their headquarters.

Not coincidentally, Fairbury is also home to an annual Flag Day celebration that is hosted by the local Elks Lodge. Each year, they recall the history of our flag and honor the first responders, members of law enforcement, and active duty soldiers and veterans who put their lives on the line to protect all that the flag stands for.
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There are more than 1,800 children taking part in Iredell-Statesville Schools summer school, and that number is growing, according to the school system.

I-SS planned on roughly 1,300 attendees as it reached out to students and parents in May, but the realities of trying to graduate on time have hit a number of students and their families, Boen Nutting, director of communications and development, said.

We had a lot of families showing up for open house for summer school that had not previously indicated that they wanted to come, so we were pleasantly surprised about that, Nutting said. I guess kids are realizing, Hey, you know Im going to be in trouble if I dont go to summer school.

Now, summer school has expanded to more than 1,800 students.

Were very happy that these kids want to come to school and (while) were going to do the very best we can to accommodate, and we do have a limited number of teachers, so were not sure yet can accommodate everybody that wants to come, Nutting said.

Now the school system is working to make sure the logistics are in place for students, whether they signed up beforehand or showed interest at open-house events last week, to get them back on track academically this summer.
The victim lived at Hacienda for 26 years, until the birth of her son, who is now being cared for by her parents.

The woman has been in a vegetative state since she was a young child. Campagnolo wrote the cause of her condition is unclear. When she was around 2 years old, she suffered a near drowning that deprived her brain of oxygen, though there also was testimony that she had congenital issues, such as seizure disorders, from shortly after her birth, the judge wrote.

Lawyers for the family have said Hacienda missed signs that the woman was carrying a baby, such as her weight gain and swollen belly, and that she delivered the boy without pain medications. Their lawsuit also alleged the state did a poor job of monitoring Haciendas operations.

Campagnolo said medical records showed Gear didnt conduct regular examinations of the woman for at least three years before he was transferred in September 2018.

Even though the womans mother had requested that her daughter be cared for by only women, evidence shows Sutherland and other men had cared for her over the years, Campagnolo wrote. The judge said the womans mother made the requests after she was told her daughter may have been the victim of a sexual assault in 2002.
Caribbean

A police officer who was the chauffer of Barbados' Commissioner of Police was fatally shot while responding to a robbery in his neighbourhood last Saturday.



The Nation newspaper reported that Station Sergeant Newton Lewis, the driver assigned to Commissioner of Police Tyrone Griffith, encountered a group of armed men who were attempting a robbery at a shop in Rose Hill in the northern parish of St. Peter.



According to the newspaper, the owner of the shop went to Lewis' nearby home for assistance when several armed men were about to rob his shop. The off-duty officer left home, got assistance from a neighbour and went towards the shop.



"On nearing the establishment, he was confronted by the said armed men who opened a hail of gunfire at him. He was struck and fell to the ground and died on the said spot," a statement from the Barbados police force said.



The assailants took his police issued service firearm which fell on the ground next to him and made good their escape.



Personnel from the Barbados Ambulance Service responded to the scene. After an examination, they found no signs of life from the body. He was pronounced dead by a medical doctor who visited the scene.



The Nation newspaper also reported that retired police inspector Lionel Ward, the neighbour who Lewis called to help him, said they were blind-sided when they were approaching the crime scene.



I went there and saw him, we spoke. He told me there were three people in the house but I told him I couldnt see anyone. But then quick so, we heard explosions and I looked for cover because no cover was there, Ward recalled. After taking cover, the former inspector said when he got up, he noticed his friend had been shot, but there was nothing he could do to help him.



In looking for cover, I turned and fell. I got up while the explosions were still going on and I ran to my mothers gallery. While running I looked back and I saw him stumbling and falling.



He fell to the ground and I saw his head and I know he was dead.

I dont know if anything could have been done at that stage. We were approached from a blind side, we were expecting the persons would have exited from where we believed they entered, but they exited from another side of the house which was our blind side. So when we were running away, we ran into fire, its sad, he added.






The couples love affair with bees began nearly a decade ago when Brett, an engineering professor, took a beekeeping class and became enchanted with the honey-makers. Soon, they had two hives in the yard.

It was a hobby for a while, but the bees kept multiplying, Tina said. They had to find something to do with the honey, so Gather Ye Honey was born.

Hes kind of the brains behind the beekeeping, and I do everything else, harvesting, bottling, selling  the business side of things, said Tina, who soon shared her husbands fascination with bees.

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I could talk for hours about this, she said. Its endlessly fascinating  how they operate as a colony, no individual bee can do anything on its own; it has to have the rest of the colony to survive as a unit. And they have so many little quirks. They communicate through pheromones; you know if youve made them mad. They hive will start to smell like bananas. You know you need to close up and walk away. And the noise (from the hive) changes if you do something they dont like. Its an efficient organization, thats for sure.

The business buzzed into Ceres after 2014 when the Tempests purchased property on the Bland/Smyth County line after Tina walked the Appalachian Trail.
Accused in the Nov. 5, 2020, slaying of a Georgia woman, a West Virginia man will now face trial in Bland County Circuit Court.

Gilbert Lee Riggs Jr., 58, of Princeton, was indicted Monday on charges of second-degree murder, and felony hit and run in the death of 56-year-old Janice McBerry Poole, whose body was discovered in the lower parking lot of a Bastian gas station.

According to a search warrant, police suspect Poole, who knew Riggs, was struck or run over twice by a pickup truck, which was eventually located in West Virginia.

No trial date has been in the case, and Riggs is being held without bond in the New River Valley Regional Jail in Dublin.

In other indictments handed down on Monday:

Ronnie Gale Brown Jr., 48, of Bristol was indicted on an Oct. 1, 2019, prisoner-deliver drugs charge. He was slated to enter a plea on Tuesday.

Joseph Kenneth Lambert, 43, of Narrows was indicted on a Jan. 4 felony drug possession charge. He was scheduled to enter a plea on Tuesday.

Steven Oscar Champ, 26, of Princeton, West Virginia, was indicted on a March 7, 2019, felony drug possession charge. His plea was set for Tuesday.
Hamish Smith, editor of the bartending magazine Class and bars editor of Drinks International, says there's growing understanding of tequila's different qualities, with 100% agave" now the star performer, in the way single malt is for Scotch.

This awareness is set against the craft spirits movement, the appreciation of provenance, celebrity endorsement and a cocktail industry that has been showcasing quality tequila for years," Smith says. "Its not quite a perfect storm, but its carrying the category forward to year-on-year international growth.

Despite its old reputation, experts say tequila is not in fact a great choice for people looking to get drunk. While many spirits contain glucose, which causes a rapid increase in blood sugar followed by a crash, adding to a hangover, tequila contains fructose from the agave plant, which they say is broken down more slowly.

For a premium tequila, don't use a shot glass, says Nitzan Podoswa, founder of Satryna Tequila.

Your nose is too close to the liquid so you cannot really smell the notes right. It just makes it easier to drink. But if you are having a very nice tequila, you need to have a flute cup, she says.

And rather than down it in one, swish the liquid around the mouth to taste, she suggests.
Officials from both counties were among those celebrating the occasion.

Randall Blevins, who serves as SWIFAs vice chair, reflected on the large number of people needed to collaborate to bring the stave mill and cooperage to fruition.

Blevins also took a moment to pitch for future development, saying, SWIFA is very motivated to develop the rest of the lots in the park. He went on to ask anyone in the audience representing an industry that might want to expand to see him.

Del. Israel OQuinn spoke of the rarity of one company impacting two counties so much with one connected project. He pointed to the 160 individuals employed in Atkins and Glade Spring combined.

Im grateful Speyside had the foresight to locate here, the legislator said.

One of those employees, Anthony Denton, of Abingdon, sat in the breakroom on a meal break after the ceremony. This month, he celebrated his first anniversary with the mill.

Denton, who was looking for work, was grateful for the opportunity when he put in an application. He acknowledged that work is fast-paced and challenging, but he smiled and said, You never get bored.
To me, thats very, very problematic, Peters said. We need to have a better understanding of that and ask questions as to why did you think that the statements you were seeing on social media about individuals intent to come to the Capitol to engage in violence, why didnt you think that was credible? Was it something about who the people were that made it not credible?

HOW DID EXTREMIST GROUPS PLAY A PART?

Democrats have also said they want to know more about the organization and motivation of some of the far-right groups that mobilized at the Capitol in support of Trump. While the Justice Department has made more than 400 arrests in their own criminal investigation, their probes may be limited to what can be prosecuted and proved as a crime.

More than three dozen members and associates of the far-right groups the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers have been charged. Beyond the criminal charges, though, a commission could look at the broader influences of those groups, how they were formed and what they might have planned next. Lawmakers have also asked questions about their financing and about whether anyone helped pay for their actions in Washington.

WHAT WAS TRUMPS ROLE?
Federal government agrees to fund Cowlitz River sediment survey Cowlitz County will no longer have to foot the bill to monitor sediment on the Lower Cowlitz River after the Army Corps of Engineers received 

The delegation earlier this year sent letters to the Office of Management and Budget and the U.S. Department of the Army urging them to include funding in the 2022 fiscal year budget for sediment monitoring.

Local funds

Cowlitz County doesnt want to have to pay for the survey again but offered the option to the Corps if there is no other money available this year, Swanson said.

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In 2019, Cowlitz County; the city of Castle Rock; and the Longview, Kelso and Lexington diking districts paid the Corps $110,000 to survey the river. The survey, which was the first since 2015, found that while flood protection levels along the lower Cowlitz River have remained stable, the dike in the Lexington area was no longer at the federally mandated level of protection.

The Corps of Engineers in November conducted a hydro survey, calculated the level of protection and resumed water level gauge monitoring with the help of U.S. Geological Survey.

Survey results showed the same flood protection levels in Longview and Kelso and improved levels for Castle Rock and Lexington, according to the Corps. Swanson said he and other local officials are skeptical the improvement shows a lasting trend because its only one of two data points.

Cowlitz River survey shows increased flood risk in Lexington This story has been updated to include a comparison of flood odds to the great flood of February 1996.
McKinney, who was 16 at the time of the shooting, could become eligible for parole after about 20 years in prison under a program for juvenile offenders.

Despite the pending mandatory life term, prosecutors asked that a report be prepared that recommends a sentence and summarizes the evidence presented at trial. That information could help deter a future governor who might possibly consider clemency for Erickson, District Attorney John Kellner said. The judge granted the request.

John Castillo, Kendrick Castillos father, projected a quiet, calm satisfaction after the verdict, saying he felt his slain sons presence throughout the day.

Im sure he was looking down today, Castillo said. I believe, I feel, he was with us. He was probably with those jurors making their decision. ... This day was justice for him.

During closing arguments, Erickson's defense lawyer, David Kaplan, told jurors that the shooting unfolded without a true plan and happened only after Erickson, who was sent to the nurses office after he looked sick, got a threatening message from McKinney to help with the attack.

The defense also raised the possibility that Castillo was accidentally shot as he pushed Erickson against a wall.
The Justice Department announced earlier this month that it would no longer secretly obtain reporters records during leak investigations, marking a drastic shift in policy shift that abandons a practice decried for years by news organizations and press freedom groups. That announcement came after a pledge by President Joe Biden that he would not permit the Justice Department to continue the practice, which he called simply, simply wrong.

But while the Biden administration has ordered a halt to such efforts, news organizations worry that without laws to prevent it, a different administration could take a different approach.

This is about the flow of information to the public, Brown said. It is about keeping government accountable. And these news organizations can't effectively do their job in that way unless they can protect confidential sources, and that was made very, very clear by this group today in the meeting.

Prosecutors told the executives that reporters were never the target of the investigations, the department said. Officials said Garland had agreed with news executives that there was a need for strong, durable rules.
Google on Monday announced that it was changing its Workspace services to accommodate more users  every single user with a Google account, to be precise. This essentially means that all of the companys three billion-plus user base will soon be able to access all of Googles powerful Workspace collaboration tools, which were formerly known as G Suite.

Read more: Chromebooks might soon come with Google Meet and Google Chat preinstalled

The company detailed the new changes on its blog on Monday, detailing how Google's new, updated Chat service  which is set to replace Hangouts, along with updated Docs, Sheets, Slides, Meet, Gmail and other features will soon receive better integration for all users  just like it currently works for existing paying Workspace users, the company explains.

Google says that with the free Workspace upgrade, users will be able to share and keep track of content like videos and images of events and trips, documents including Google Sheets. Meanwhile, the company will also bring powerful @-mentions to Gmail, Calendar and other Google services for every user. Smart canvas support is also coming to Google Docs for any user with a Google Account  these will be directly compatible with Google Meet for quick presentations.

By bringing Google Workspace to everyone, were making it easy for people to stay connected, get organized and achieve more together, whether its advancing a cause, planning your family reunion, assigning next steps for the PTA or discussing this months book club pick, Kelly Waldher, VP Marketing for Google Workspace and Aparna Pappu, VP Engineering for Google Workspace explained on the companys blog.

Coming later this month, is a Workspace Individual feature that will give users the ability to pay for upgraded Workspace features like smart booking services, professional video meetings, and personalized email marketing, with more features on the way.

However, Workspace Individual will only be rolling out to six markets, to begin with  the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Australia and Japan. Theres no word from the company at this point, on whether the Workspace Individual plans will come to India, or how much they will cost when they do.

An example of how Google thinks families will be able to use Workspace integration to plan and schedule a family reunion. (Google Blog)

For now, users can head over to their Gmail inbox to turn on the first Google Workspace feature for free. This will give them access to Google Chat features for free, including the useful Rooms collaboration feature  these have only been available to its existing (paying) Workspace users until now.

The company says that the Rooms feature will become the Spaces (not the recently released Twitter audio feature) which will feature in-line topic threading, presence indicators, custom statuses, expressive reactions, and a collapsible view. These updates are expected to arrive over the next couple of months, the company explained on its blog.
German authorities have launched proceedings against Telegram that could see the messenger app's operators fined for failing to abide by laws requiring social media sites to police their users' actions.

A Justice Ministry spokeswoman confirmed Monday that authorities have written to Telegram's operators in the United Arab Emirates over its failure to provide a channel for raising complaints and a contact person in Germany.

The company now has the opportunity to respond, the spokeswoman, Rabea Boennighausen, told reporters in Berlin.

Der Spiegel reported that the company could face fines of up to 5.5 million euros ($6.7 million) if it doesn't comply with the requirements.

Telegram couldn't immediately be reached for comment.

Read more: Google Chrome security flaw: Heres why you need to update Chrome on your computer and Android smartphone right away

Telegram, which was founded by Russian brothers Nikolai and Pavel Durov, has grown in popularity in Germany in recent years, including among right-wing groups and those opposed to the government's response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The German parliament passed the Network Enforcement Act in 2017 with the stated goal of ensuring that the countrys existing limits on speech, including the long-standing ban on Holocaust denial, can be enforced online.

Opponents have argued that the law risks stifling free speech.
Soldiers evaluate the US Army's Tactical Computing Environment and other mission command technologies during the Expeditionary Command Post Science and Technology Field-Based Risk Reduction Exercise. Credit: Kathryn Bailey, CERDEC CP&I Directorate

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Communications Society recognized an Army researcher and collaborators their work on artificially intelligent techniques that will enhance Soldiers' situational awareness in the multi-domain operating environment.

Dr. Kevin Chan, researcher for the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, known as DEVCOM, Army Research Laboratory, and collaborators from the IBM T. J. Watson Research Center, Imperial College London and Pennsylvania State University earned the IEEE's Leonard G. Abraham prize for for their paper, Adaptive Federated Learning in Resource Constrained Edge Computing Systems. The researchers published their findings in the IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications.

According to the researchers, the collaborative effort was possible because of the lab's Distributed Analytics and Information Science International Technology Alliance. The program seeks to develop the fundamental underpinning research required to enable secure, dynamic and semantically-aware distributed analytics for deriving situational understanding in coalition operations.

This research further extends the capability and applicability of federated learning, a term initially coined by Google.

"A critical use case of federated learning is in coalition operations, where data sharing may be proscribed by policy constraints, but model sharing may be allowed," said Dr. Ananthram Swami, DEVCOM ARL fellow and senior research scientist. "Further, paucity of data in Army-relevant scenarios makes such model sharing important to improve prediction accuracy."

The paper and research address several important problems in federated learning, or FL, for the first time, including training optimization under resource constraints, convergence of FL with non-identically-distributed data distribution, and technique validation by implementation using real-world edge devices. According to the society, the researchers paper demonstrated high quality, originality, utility, timeliness and clarity of presentation.

"The fact that this paper is able to propose a solution that jointly addresses all these issues in a coherent manner makes it a very valuable scientific contribution," said Dr. Shiqiang Wang, researcher at the IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center.

Federated learning enables mobile devices to collaboratively learn a shared prediction model while keeping all the training data on the device, decoupling the ability to do machine learning from the need to store the data in the cloud, Chan said.

"The contribution of our research was to understand how we could perform federated learning at the tactical edge," Chan said. "This work studies how we can best learn on large sets of low-powered devices connected over resource constrained networks".

The Army is moving toward using artificial intelligence and machine learning in all aspects of operations, particularly in tactical network settings, where large amounts of data are generated at the edge and must be understood, and despite limitations of computing and network resources, must be used to support a broad range of operations, Chan said.

Future outcomes of this research will enable the Soldier to establish and maintain situational awareness more rapidly leveraging information from many devices, he said

"Analytic services such as image classification and pattern recognition are very important for supporting military operations," Wang said.

These services require the use of a large volume of data, often owned by different entities and available at dispersed locations, to train the analytic models for various tasks, he said. Such model training encounters the following major constraints in tactical environments:

Data owners may prefer to preserve data privacy by not sharing their data with others

Limited availability of communications, computational and other resources often prohibit transfer of all data to a central server for the training process

The team tackled the technical challenge of distributed learning subject to the data privacy and limited resource constraints. Specifically, they developed resource-efficient federated learning to train analytic models where the private data remains local on the network-edge nodes and only model parameters are shared between different nodes.

According to the researchers, the new method includes local model updates at the edge nodes and global parameter aggregations by a central server. The technique aims to coordinate these different FL operations to achieve the most efficient model training subject to the constraints.

"In terms of implications for defense applications, this new technology enables distributed training or adaptation of analytics models in resource-constrained environments, to allow coalition partners (or military units) to help each other learn similar tasks without the need of sharing their sensitive data due to privacy considerations or lack of communication resources," said Professor Kin Leung, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, and Computing Departments at Imperial College London. "The new approach provides the cutting-edge capability over our adversaries."

Federated learning is a must-have if coalition forces want to combine the insights from their independent data to build better AI models, said Dr. Dinesh Verma, IBM fellow leading the team working in the area of Distributed AI.

"Such types of sharing can be very difficult at the tactical edge due to limited bandwidth," Verma said. "The innovations proposed by this research address many of these difficulties, making such sharing feasible in coalition tactical networks. The technology has applicability beyond tactical networksin any environment where multiple organizations share insights in a bandwidth limited environment including automotive, manufacturing, forestry and mining industries."

The team will accept the award at a virtual presentation at the IEEE International Conference on Communications June 15.

"It is an honor to be recognized by the IEEE Communications Society for our successful research and its contribution to the communications and networks research community," Chan said. "It is a greater honor to be awarded this prize with several institutions with whom ARL has extensively collaborated. The collaborators are also researchers with whom I have personally worked with for many years, so it is great to be recognized as a team."

This paper has established an important foundation of FL for the resource-constrained edge, Wang said.

"The proposed technique is critical for future Internet of Things, edge computing, and cellular (5G, 6G and beyond) systems, where many applications will be AI-driven, devices will be equipped with computational and storage capabilities, and data privacy will be increasingly important," Wang said. "In fact, the paper has influenced many other researchers, as reflected by over 400 Google Scholar citations since its publication in 2019.

More information: Shiqiang Wang et al, Adaptive Federated Learning in Resource Constrained Edge Computing Systems, IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications (2019). Shiqiang Wang et al, Adaptive Federated Learning in Resource Constrained Edge Computing Systems,(2019). DOI: 10.1109/JSAC.2019.2904348
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

The recent ransomware attack on a major oil refinery in the United States, followed weeks later by another hack that affected a large meat supplier, have again brought the issue of cyberattacks to the forefront of people's minds, followed closely by a renewed push toward building better cyber defenses to help prevent critical data from being stolen and held hostage by cybercriminals. Furthermore, these attacks have caused a ripple effect in the nation's economy, most notably with sudden rises in gasoline and food prices, gasoline shortages and delays with shipping and logistics of goods and services.

Cybersecurity expert Prasad Calyam is the director of the Cyber Education and Research Center (Mizzou CERI), and an associate professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Here, he explains what ransomware attacks are, and shares some ways people and businesses can protect their digital information from being stolen online.

What does it mean when a company or business is a victim of a ransomware attack?

It means that the victim experiencing a ransomware attack has had its internal computer and network systems compromised by an intruder, and the intruder has taken control of a valuable asset, such as a database, software program, hardware device or network element. If the victim has been notified by the hacker about the compromise, then the victim is making a difficult decision to either pay the ransom or not pay the ransom and reset the compromised system to a safe state.

Most common ransomware attacks target business-critical data, and the hackers will encrypt the data. A ransom payment is demanded to avoid permanent data lossdestruction of the encryption keyor to avoid undesired data exposure by making protected intellectual property or confidential information public.

What can businesses do to protect their information from being held ransom by hackers, especially as more data is being moved into cloud-based data storage systems?

If critical data is moved to cloud-based platforms versus hosting them in-house, the businesses will have access to highly diverse and capable tools to secure the data; however, necessary expertise needs to be present in the business to suitably leverage data security capabilities of cloud-based platforms.

What are some basic actions people can take to protect their information from being stolen by hackers, even if they aren't personally targeted but are involved in an organization-level data breach?

Any business is always at a risk of being impacted by a ransomware attack, and it's just a matter of 'when' and not an 'if." Therefore, every business should prepare a plan involving three scenariosyou are a victim, you will soon be a victim, and you will eventually be a victim. The plan is critical because the time to react or make difficult decisions will be short as the hacker will put pressure to have the victim pay up. In order to defend against ransomware or any other modern cyberattacks, the plan should focus on training employees on not falling victim to social engineering attacks, such as disclosing passwords. The plan should also feature policies to backup datasets that can be recovered quickly, and setup strict access control for critical assets to deter an intruder to easily gain control of the valuable assets. Furthermore, the business should invest in an on-going monitoring strategy to ensure that the risk of falling victim or recovering from a ransomware attack is minimized to the extent possible.

To learn more about how to prepare a cybersecurity plan to defend against ransomware and other modern cyberattacks, businesses, especially small businesses, please see a five-part webinar series that Calyam recently created with funding from the Small Business Administration in collaboration with the Missouri Small Business Development Center.

Why do you feel there has been a recent increase in the number of reported cyberattacks, such as the major gas pipeline and a large meat-production company? Do you feel this trend will continue?

Ransomware attacks have been used by hackers for many years. Early on, ransomware attacks were "commodity" attacks that indiscriminately tried to infect computer systems in the hope of finding vulnerable organizations. If a victim was found, many times either the victim would not agree to pay a ransom or was not technically adept to make a bitcoin transaction as demanded by the hackers. More recently, hackers have started launching "targeted" attacks using sophisticated methods to find organizations that can be victimized for getting big ransom bitcoin payments in market segments such as healthcare, finance and utilities. The trend of these attacks will continue and is highly dependent on how the bitcoin value fluctuates. However, we are seeing government agencies finding ways to recover bitcoin ransom payments, which will hopefully add to deterrence along with organizations becoming more aware as well as prepared to defend against ransomware attacks.

Explore further Meat company JBS confirms it paid $11M ransom in cyberattack
Dana Anthony works at her desk at The Daily Tar Heel newspaper in Chapel Hill, N.C., Tuesday, April 13, 2021. Anthony was rejected after two speparate HireVue interviews for other jobs recently. The pandemic has heightened demand for online services that interview job applicants remotely and use artificial intelligence to assess their skills. But the technology also raises questions about whether computers can accurately judge a person's character traits and emotional cues. Credit: AP Photo/Gerry Broome

A day after her interview for a part-time job at Target last year, Dana Anthony got an email informing her she didn't make the cut.

Anthony didn't know whya situation common to most job seekers at one point or another. But she also had no sense at all of how the interview had gone, because her interviewer was a computer.

More job-seekers, including some professionals, may soon have to accept impersonal online interviews where they never talk to another human being, or know if behind-the-scenes artificial-intelligence systems are influencing hiring decisions. Demand for online hiring services, which interview job applicants remotely via laptop or phone, mushroomed during the COVID-19 pandemic and remains high amid a perceived worker shortage as the economy opens back up.

These systems claim to save employers money, sidestep hidden biases that can influence human recruiters and expand the range of potential candidates. Many now also use AI to assess candidate skills by analyzing what they say.

Anthony likes to look an interviewer in the eyes, but all she could see was her own face reflected in the screen. "I interview better in person because I'm able to develop a connection with the person," she said.

But experts question whether machines can accurately and fairly judge a person's character traits and emotional signals. Algorithms tasked to learn who's the best fit for a job can entrench bias if they're taking cues from industries where racial and gender disparities are already prevalent.

And when a computer screens out some candidates and elevates others without explanation, it's harder to know if it's making fair assessments. Anthony, for instance, couldn't help wondering if her identity as a Black woman affected the decision.

"If you apply for a job and are rejected because of a biased algorithm, you certainly won't know," said Oxford University researcher Aislinn Kelly-Lyth. In a face-to-face interview, by contrast, a job seeker might pick up discriminatory cues from the interviewer, she said.

New rules proposed by the European Union would subject such AI hiring systems to tighter regulation. Advocates have pushed for similar measures in the U.S.

One of the leading companies in the field, Utah-based HireVue, gained notoriety in recent years by using AI technology to assess personality and job skills from an applicant's facial expressions during the interview. After heated criticism centered on the scientific validity of those claims and the potential for bias, the company announced earlier this year it would end the practice.

But its AI-based assessments, which rank the skills and personalities of applicants to flag the most promising for further review, still consider speech and word choices in its decisions.

The privately owned company helped create a market for "on-demand" video interviews. Its known customers have included retailers like Target and Ikea, major tech companies like Amazon, banks like JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs, oil giants, restaurant chains, supermarkets, airlines, cruise lines and school districts. The Associated Press reached out to numerous brand-name employers that use the technology; most declined to discuss it.

HireVue CEO Kevin Parker says the company has worked hard to ensure its technology won't discriminate based on factors such as race, gender or regional accents. Its systems, which translate speech to text and sift for clues about team orientation, adaptability, dependability and other job skills, can outperform human interviewers, he said.

"What we're trying to replace is people's gut instinct," he said innaturallya video interview.

HireVue says it interviewed more than 5.6 million people around the world in 2020. Supermarket chains used it to screen thousands of applicants a day amid a pandemic-fueled hiring surge for cashiers, stockers and delivery crews, Parker said.

Providers of broader hiring-focused software such as Modern Hire and Outmatch have started offering their own video interviews and AI assessment tools. On its website, Outmatch touts its ability to measure "the must-have soft skills your candidates and employees need to succeed."

HireVue notes that most customers don't actually use the company's AI-based assessments. Atlanta's school district, for instance, has used HireVue since 2014, but says it relies on 50 human recruiters to score recorded interviews. Target said the pandemic led it to replace in-person interviews with HireVue interviews, but the retail giant told the AP it relies on its own employeesnot HireVue's algorithmsto watch and evaluate prerecorded videos.

None of that was clear to Anthony when she sat down in front of a screen to interview for a seasonal job last year. She dressed for the occasion and settled into a comfortable spot. The only hint of a human presence came in a prerecorded introduction that laid out what to expectnoting, for instance, that she could delete an answer and start over.

But she had no way to know what sort of impression she was creating. "We're unable to provide specific feedback regarding your candidacy," Target's rejection email said. She was rejected again after completing a HireVue interview for a different job in December.

"I understand companies or organizations trying to be more mindful of the time and the finances they spend when it comes to recruitment," said Anthony, who obtained a master's degree in strategic communications last year at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Still, the one-way interviews left her uneasy about who, or what, was evaluating her.

That inscrutability poses one of the biggest concerns about the rapid growth of complex algorithms in recruitment and hiring, Kelly-Lyth said.

In one infamous example, Amazon developed a resume-scanning tool to recruit top talent, but abandoned it after finding it favored men for technical rolesin part because it was comparing job candidates against the company's own male-dominated tech workforce. A study released in April found that Facebook shows different job ads to women and men in a way that might violate anti-discrimination laws.

Governments across the U.S. and Europe are looking at possible checks on these hiring tools, including requirements for outside audits to ensure they don't discriminate against women, minorities or people with disabilities. The proposed EU rules, unveiled in April, would force providers of AI systems that screen or evaluate job candidates to meet new requirements for accuracy, transparency and accountability.

HireVue has begun phasing out its face-scanning tool, which analyzed expressions and eye movements and faced derision by academics as "pseudoscience" reminiscent of the discredited and racist 19th century theory of phrenology. The Electronic Privacy Information Center filed a complaint in 2019 with the Federal Trade Commission, citing a HireVue executive who had said 10% to 30% of a candidate's score was based on facial expressions.

"The value it was adding related to the controversy it was creating wasn't very much," Parker told the AP.

HireVue also released portions of a third-party audit that examined fairness and bias issues around its automated tools. A published summary recommended minor changes such as modifying the weight given to the especially short answers disproportionately provided by minority candidates.

Critics welcomed the audit but said it was merely a start.

"I don't think the science really supports the idea that speech patterns would be a meaningful assessment of someone's personality," said Sarah Myers West of New York University's AI Now Institute, which studies the social implications of AI. For instance, she said, such systems have historically had trouble understanding women's voices.

Kian Betancourt, a 26-year-old who is pursuing a doctorate in organizational psychology at Hofstra University, also failed a remote HireVue interview for a consulting position earlier this year. He acknowledged that he might have tried too hard to predict how the system would evaluate him for a consultancy job, tailoring his diction to include keywords he thought might boost his score.

While Betancourt is supportive of "structured interviews" involving a standard set of questions, he's bothered by the opacity of automated systems.

"Tell people exactly how we're being evaluated, even if it's something as simple as, 'This is an AI interview'," he said. That basic information can affect how people present themselves, he said.

Explore further Researchers say job candidates are rated lower in virtual interviews

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
A study indicates that retrofitting dams by installing turbines at their base could generate plenty of new renewable energy around the world. Credit: yu_photo / Shutterstock / NTB

Almost all the dams in Norway are built for hydropower. This is not the case around the world.

A good part of Africa's and Asia's water supply dams are used for soil irrigation, drinking water and flood controlbut not often to produce electricity.

"An international survey of the 60 000 largest dams in the world shows that only a third of the dams are used for hydropower production. In Africa and Asia, the proportion of dams used for hydropower is as low as 10 to 15 percent," says Tor Haakon Bakken, a professor at NTNU.

New power available for extraction

Last year, one of Bakken's students conducted a study suggesting that a lot of power could be extracted from the dams. Dam conversions would be economically profitable, have no new environmental consequences, nor would they affect current water use.

"One possible solution is to install turbines at the base of these dams, which would provide large amounts of new renewable energy," he says. "This potential solution is 'low-hanging fruit' that could increase the production of renewable energy around the world."

Theoretical study brings surprises

In 2020, Bakken supervised Nora Rydland Fjsne who investigated the topic as part of her master's degree.

In her theoretical study, Fjsnes' looked at existing dams without hydropower in the area of Guadalquivir in southern Spain, where many dams are used for soil irrigation and drinking water supply.

In the simulation, turbines were "installed" in thirteen of the dams in this area that are not currently used to produce hydropower.

The study looked at existing dams without hydropowerhere in the area of Guadalquivir in southern Spain. Credit: Norwegian University of Science and Technology

The study was done using a numerical model that described the hydrology and current water use in the catchment area and the size of the dams.

"We used international costs for turbines in the calculations. We looked at future power prices and at the projected power prices in Spain," Fjsne said.

She assumed for the simulation that current water use would not change. In other words, the new hydropower production should not affect the current drinking water supply or the current use of water for soil irrigation in Guadalquivir. Only "surplus water," the water used from the reservoirs to supply existing demand, was to be used for hydropower production.

Retrofitting provides new power

Fjsne found that from a purely economic business assessment, installing hydropower technology in five of the thirteen dams in Guadalquivir in Spain would prove to be profitable.

The assessment compared the estimated costs to retrofit these dams with future income from power production. These five plants would be able to produce 47 GWh per year, corresponding to the consumption of about 4000 to 5000 households.

"In terms of cost, several of the thirteen dams with reservoirs fell into the ballpark of other renewable projects when we compared them with cost calculations published by IRENA (International Renewable Energy Agency). These dams would also be profitable with a certain amount of subsidy," says Fjsne.

Achievable in many places in the world

"This is the first study to be done on this, so we have to look at it as a study that tests a completely new concept for renewable power production," says Bakken.

"We can conclude from the study that there are untapped and economically profitable hydropower resources in existing dams and reservoirs. These can be used without creating new environmental effects, social consequences or conflicts over water resources," he says.

"We believe the opportunities are there to achieve this in many places in the worldwhere a number of dams and reservoirs have been built for soil irrigation, drinking water supply, flood control or other purposes.

Before Christmas, Fjsne received the Innovation Award 2020 for her work in analyzing hydrological, technical, economic and environmental conditions regarding the retrofitting of existing water supply dams for hydropower production.

Explore further Calculating the albedo-climate penalty of hydropower dammed reservoirs
In this Monday, Sept. 14, 2020 file photo, technicians lower the Mayflower Autonomous Ship into the water at its launch site for it's first outing on water since being built in Turnchapel, Plymouth south west England. Four centuries and one year after the Mayflower departed from Plymouth, England on a historic sea journey to America, another trailblazing vessel with the same name has set off to retrace the voyage. It's being piloted by sophisticated artificial intelligence technology for a trans-Atlantic crossing that could take up to three weeks, in a project aimed at revolutionizing marine research. IBM, which built the ship with nonprofit marine research organization ProMare, confirmed the Mayflower Autonomous Ship began its trip early Tuesday June 15, 2021. Credit: AP Photo/Alastair Grant, file

Four centuries and one year after the Mayflower departed from Plymouth, England, on a historic sea journey to America, another trailblazing vessel with the same name has set off to retrace the voyage.

This Mayflower, though, is a sleek, modern robotic ship that is carrying no human crew or passengers. It's being piloted by sophisticated artificial intelligence technology for a trans-Atlantic crossing that could take up to three weeks, in a project aimed at revolutionizing marine research.

IBM, which built the ship with nonprofit marine research organization ProMare, confirmed the Mayflower Autonomous Ship began its trip early Tuesday.

Charting the path of its 1620 namesake, the Mayflower is set to land at Provincetown on Cape Cod before making its way to Plymouth, Massachusetts. If successful, it would be the largest autonomous vessel to cross the Atlantic.

The new Mayflower's journey was originally scheduled for last year, part of 400th anniversary commemorations of the original ship's voyage carrying Pilgrim settlers to New England. Those commemorations were set to involve the British, Americans, Dutchand the Wampanoag people on whose territory the settlers landed, and who had been marginalized on past anniversaries.

The Mayflower project aims to usher in a new age for automated research ships. Its designers hope it will be the first in a new generation of high-tech vessels that can explore ocean regions that are too difficult or dangerous for people to go to.

The 50-foot (15-meter) trimaran, propelled by a solar-powered hybrid electric motor, bristles with artificial intelligence-powered cameras and dozens of onboard sensors that will collect data on ocean acidification, microplastics and marine mammal conservation.

Its launch has been delayed by the coronavirus pandemic, and more recently, bad weather throughout May, IBM spokesman Jonathan Batty said.

But Batty said the delay allowed for the fitting of a unique feature on the ship: an electric "tongue" that can provide instant analysis of the ocean's chemistry, called Hypertaste.

"It's a brand new piece of equipment that's never been created before," Batty said.

The cutting-edge, 1 million pound ($1.3 million) ship could take up to three weeks to voyage across the North Atlantic, if forecasts for good weather hold up.

The ship is also carrying mementos from people at either end of the journey, such as rocks, personal photos, and books.

Explore further 400 years later, a new Mayflower will sail without humans

 2021 The Associated Press.
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

To advance the goal of achieving environmentally sustainable aviation, the jet engine giants of the U.S. and France on Monday unveiled a joint vision that would significantly change both the look of airplane engines and how they work. Their timeline suits Airbus but may be problematic for Boeing.

For the next big advance in future aircraft propulsion, CFM Internationalthe 50/50 joint venture between GE and Safranproposes to deliver in the mid-2030s a dramatically new gas-turbine engine design.

It will be open rotor, which dispenses with the conventional pod around the rotating fan blades. This allows a larger fan, sweeping backward a greater volume of air.

Additional technologies inside CFM's proposed engine will make it compatible with sustainable biofuels or hydrogen and allow it to be adapted to hybrid-electric operation, the companies said.

GE Aviation CEO John Slattery said the planned engine will reduce fuel burn by at least 20% and enable aviation to "rise to the challenge of decarbonization."

However, the announced timeline for entry into service means a finalized new CFM engine won't be launched until perhaps a decade from now.

That has big implications for Boeing and for Airbus, which in the past have relied upon significant improvements in engine efficiency to launch any all-new airplane design. CFM's latest enginethe LEAP, launched in 2008powers Boeing's 737 MAX and about 60% of the rival A320 family of jets built by Airbus.

The prospect of CFM's hydrogen-compatible replacement for the LEAP coming in the mid-2030s fits neatly with Airbus' planned timeline for a successor to the A320neo jet family.

The European jet maker has declared it will try to develop a zero-emission commercial jet by 2035 powered by hydrogen combustion through modified gas turbine engines.

The CFM timeline is more problematic for Boeing.

After two fatal crashes grounded the MAX and then the pandemic downturn halted planned development of a plane that could match Airbus' long-range A321neo, Boeing lost substantial market share in the single-aisle jet market.

To make up that lost ground, Boeing needs to launch a new airplane in the mid-2020s, not the mid-2030s.

But it will be hard to justify the billions of dollars needed to develop a new airplane if Boeing cannot guarantee airlines at least 15% better fuel efficiency than the planes they are already flying. Typically, new engines provide most of that improvement.

Slattery said that if Boeing does launch a new airplane this decade, "we will compete strongly" to provide its engine. However, that would be a more conventional jet engine with a far lower improvement in fuel efficiency.

CFM's timeline for its future engine means that if Boeing goes forward with a new airplane launch sooner, it will have to rely on new airframe design and manufacturing methods to produce a sales breakthrough.

Stretching for sustainability

CFM surely would have hoped to announce its future vision at the 2021 Paris Air Show, which should have been this month but was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Instead, GE's Slattery and Safran CEO Olivier Andries laid out their program to mature, demonstrate and test the proposed new engine technologies from Safran's research and development center in Paristhe city where in 2015 the international treaty on climate change was adopted.

Andries noted that through advancing technology CFM has cut the fuel consumption and therefore the carbon emissions of its engines by 40 percent over the past 40 years.

However, he said that given the expected steep rise in air traffic over the next decades, much more drastic progress is necessary if the world's airlines are to meet their target of cutting total carbon emissions in half by 2050.

To achieve that even as the number of aircraft grows, "the next generation of airplanes must reduce emissions by 90% as compared with the current fleet," Andries said.

He added that 40% is expected to come from new engine and airframe technologies, 40% from the use of sustainable fuels and 10% from streamlining air traffic flow.

CFM has dubbed its new engine project RISE, for Revolutionary Innovation for Sustainable Engines.

Andries and Slattery said work on RISE began in 2019, and by the end of this year the CFM research team will swell to more than 1,000 engineers.

Ground tests of demonstrator engines are expected by the middle of this decade, with flight tests of the engines mounted on current aircraft to follow afterward.

New technology

The most substantial change in the new engine design is an open rotor fan, also called an unducted fan, which provides the greater part of the expected fuel efficiency improvement.

CFM proposes an open fansimilar in look to a propellerwith scimitar-shaped rotating blades, and behind that a circle of fixed blades, or stators, that straighten the air flow. The fan blades will be made from woven carbon composites.

In contrast, the large fans at the front of today's jet engines are entirely encased in a protective pod called a nacelle, which is armored to contain any fan blade that breaks off.

There have been repeated instances recently of engine fan blades breaking off during commercial flights and causing serious damage to aircraft. It happened on an older United 777 climbing out of Denver in February. However, these incidents have all involved metal blades, cracked by metal fatigue.

The GE carbon composite blades on its GE-90 and GEnx engines that respectively power Boeing's 777-300ER and 787 airplanes have never had an incident of a fan blade breaking during their more than 140 million flight hours in service.

GE previously tested an open rotor engine in the 1980s. It was never adopted, in part because of concerns about much greater noise from the unsheathed fan.

More recently, Safran conducted open rotor research funded by Europe's Clean Sky government-funded aeronautics program.

Slattery said the open rotor technology has now advanced to a level that ensures the RISE engine will be no noisier than the current LEAP engine on Boeing's MAX.

In addition to the open fan, the engine includes a suite of cutting-edge technologies.

An intricately manufactured high-temperature engine core will feature advanced metal alloys and ceramics. An electric generator embedded within the engine will enable hybrid electrification. And the engine will be designed to potentially run on alternative energy sources such as biofuels or hydrogen.

Mohamed Ali, vice president and general manager of engineering at GE Aviation, said during the Paris presentation that because each of these technologies is very challenging, "we are stretching ourselves."

"There will be learnings, and maybe setbacks," he said. "But we are resolute."

"I'll talk as an engineer here," Ali added. "This is nirvana."

Delphine Dijoud, Safran's executive manager of the RISE program systems engineering, said the project commands "the full financial and intellectual strength" of both multinational companies.

The technology research will be partially funded by the French government. Andries said he also expects financial support from the European Commission.

The project builds upon research funded by the U.S. government a decade ago, when GE conducted wind tunnel tests on open rotors with NASA and the Federal Aviation Administration.

Slattery, an Irishman and former head of commercial aviation at Brazilian jet maker Embraer, was appointed head of GE Aviation in September. Andries, a former French government official and a vice president at Airbus before joining Safran, took the top job there in January.

Monday's announcement was the first physical meeting between the two since that appointment.

The two kept socially distant during most of the presentation. However, when they signed documents extending the CFM joint venture through 2050, they made a flourish of pumping hand sanitizer before sealing the deal with a handshake.

Explore further Ground testing the fuel-efficient Open Rotor engine

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Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
This Thursday, June 25, 2020, file photo shows the electric Endurance pickup at Lordstown Motors Corp., in Lordstown, Ohio. Startup electric truck maker Lordstown Motors says it's still on track to begin production this fall despite a bumpy past week. Company executives in Ohio said Tuesday, June 15, 2021, that they have enough orders and cash on hand to keep operating through next May. Credit: AP Photo/Tony Dejak, File

Startup electric truck maker Lordstown Motors said Tuesday that it's still on track to begin production this fall despite a management shakeup this week and a warning just days earlier that it may not be in business a year from now.

Angela Strand, the company's new chairwoman, said the upheaval from the past week won't interrupt the company's day-to-day operations or its plans to start making its full-size pickup, called the Endurance.

Lordstown, which is actively seeking investors, has enough cash on hand to get through next May and enough binding orders to keep production going through 2022, said company President Rich Schmidt.

Shares of the company, which have been on a sharp decline, perked up following those announcements, rising 11% to close Tuesday at $10.31. They are still down 49% so far this year.

On Monday, Lordstown CEO Steve Burns and Chief Financial Officer Julio Rodriguez stepped down, the same day the company responded to a report from the short-selling firm Hindenburg Research that questioned the number of preorders the company claimed to have for the Endurance.

Lordstown acknowledged one potential buyer that had committed to a large number of preorders doesn't appear to have the resources, and other preorders appear too vague or weak to be relied on for purchases.

Last week, the company warned it might not be in business next year because of difficulty with securing funding to begin full production at its former General Motors plant in Ohio near Youngstown. In a quarterly regulatory filing, the company said the $587 million it had on hand as of March 31 wasn't enough to begin full commercial production.

In January, an Endurance pickup truck prototype caught fire 10 minutes into its initial test drive in Michigan. Then the company failed to pay $570,000 in real estate taxes due in early March.

But company executives said Tuesday during a meeting of the Automotive Press Association of Detroit that they expect to produce about 15,000 trucks by next May and that morale remains high.

Schmidt said he expects more investors to come on board when production starts.

"Once the trucks start coming off the line, it makes it a very robust investment," he said.

Explore further Startup Lordstown Motors warns it may not stay in business

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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"Its because of you  it's because of how you make it so easy for us to support veterans," Ellie Knauss told leaders in attendance. "We jumped on that as fast as we could. Thank you for this opportunity to support these young, brave men and women who have served us."

Of the couple's donation, $1 million was retained as a facility endowment for maintenance, $1 million is being directed to an excellence fund to provide money for on-campus veteran programs, and $500,000 will be used as matching funds for new veteran scholarships.

The remainder of the funds, $2.5 million, was set aside for construction of the new center. Retired Marine Col. Jerry Smith, director of the Veteran Resource & Support Center, said that the project was completed on time and under budget.

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Prior to donating, the Knausses had given more than $2 million for 28 endowed student veteran scholarships.
FABENS, Texas (AP)  A 21-year-old man was killed and seven other people were injured when a vehicle crashed through a guardrail and plowed into a crowd at a mud racing event in Texas, officials said Monday.

The crash happened at about 6:30 p.m. Sunday at a racetrack in Fabens, Texas, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) southeast of El Paso and less than a mile from the Mexican border, the El Paso County Sheriff's Department said.

Eight people were taken to a hospital, including three spectators in critical condition, the sheriff's department said in a statement. Willie Valadez Ramirez was pronounced dead at the hospital and two people remained in critical but stable condition Monday, according to the department.

Today what happened was what we all hoped doesnt happen ... a wreck while racing," said Scott Smith, owner of Rock Solid Protection, an El Paso-based security firm. Smith, speaking at a news conference, said that the mud can tell the car where to go, at times" and that is what he said happened in this crash.

Karla Huerta, who was watching the race when it turned tragic, described the scene as pretty ugly.

Well, they started the race. And when they started, one of the trucks lost control and slammed into a pile of cars and people," Huerta said.
County grant program will help those behind on payments because of pandemic, freeze

Millions of dollars available for county residents' rental assistance
In addition, the boys loved the craft project they did after the show. Youngsters who stuck around had a chance to make wands.

Julia Jakubowski of Wood River just plain liked the singing. Her mother, Tracy, brought the 5-year-old to the show.

A dozen performers from Crane River Theater Co. presented an abbreviated version of Cinderella. About 200 people attended the show, which was part of Crane Rivers Page to Stage program. The visit was sponsored by the Grand Island Public Library Foundation.

Crane River is a regular summertime visitor to Grand Island. But the troupe normally performs inside the library. After the long pandemic, it was refreshing to see a performance outdoors.

The visits obviously are meant to draw attention to the full-sized production of Cinderella and the other shows Crane River is presenting this summer in Kearney.

But the energetic Joe Knispel, who led the show, said publicity is not the main point of Page to Stage.

Primarily we use this as an education program, Knispel said.
I wanted to see it for myself, how things were going, he said. What a sense of security I felt when I visited. There was not a chaotic situation  everything was under control.

Grand Island was hit particularly hard by the pandemic, which was not lost on Anthone.

It was really the beginning of our surge, he said.

Officials  including Anthone  had a surge expectation for months before it actually occurred.

Until there was a surge here in Grand Island, we didnt think we were going to have a surge, he said.

Teresa Anderson, health director for CDHD, said peoples view of health departments like CDHD helped the district not only through the surge, but the pandemic as a whole.

We have been blessed with a community who sees public health as a real value, Anderson said. We havent faced some of those issues that you see further west, where people arent as sold or bought-in to public health.

Public health districts like CDHD and hospitals similar to St. Francis make up the bulk of the stops on Anthones tour, which was next headed for Hastings. He will be in Kearney today.
When the ductwork was exposed, it was obvious the uninsulated metal ducts have been sweating in the dead air space above the ceilings since day one, the report continues. When this building was built in 1963, central air conditioning was still relatively new and we think the lack of insulation was an oversight by the original architect that designed the building. The original design only air conditioned the west side of the building including the lower level, lobby and museum areas. The pool and sport court areas were not originally air conditioning as they were heating only with just exhaust fans for ventilation.

Because the ceilings are constructed of masonry cement plaster infused to a steel mesh, the condensation from the ductwork was contained above the ceilings with little staining showing through to the underside, the contractors said further. If the ceilings would have been made from todays standard gypsum wall board they would have indicated the water damage decades ago. The prolonged humid conditions above the ceilings have rusted the steel mesh and support wires holding up the plaster ceilings making for a possible safety concern. A support failure could drop heavy plaster from overhead.
Paris, TX (75460)

Today

Isolated thunderstorms early, then mostly cloudy overnight with heavy thunderstorms becoming likely. Low 72F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Isolated thunderstorms early, then mostly cloudy overnight with heavy thunderstorms becoming likely. Low 72F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
MURPHYSBORO  Asia Woolridge noticed on Saturday morning that her infant son  just two weeks old  was hot to the touch.

Three electric fans placed around her apartment were not circulating enough air to keep her Jackson County Housing Authority rental unit cool.

It was just too hot in the house, Woolridge said about the apartment, which lacks air conditioning, as the thermometer was climbing into the low 90s.

Unable to get her sons temperature down and noticing he was having difficulty breathing, she called 911. Jackson County Ambulance Service paramedics Rebekah Erwin, Amber Skinner and Capt. Jeff Dawley responded, providing treatment and transporting Woolridge and her son to a local hospital.

But they didn't stop there.

Dawley knew the fans would not be sufficient, especially with the summer just beginning. He quickly set about a way to keep the Woolridge family cool. He began by talking with Jackson County Ambulance Service Chief Kenton Schafer.

He contacted me and told me, We had this call and I feel really bad. It was super hot in there, then he started asking me if I knew of any charities that would donate an air conditioner to the family, Shafer said.
That includes, but is not limited to, $694 million in subsidies to three nuclear plants owned by energy giant Exelon at a cost of about 80 cents on the average monthly ratepayer bill; an added $1.22 to an average bill to fund new renewable development; 86 cents for an expanded low-income weatherization program; about 18 cents per month to incentivize the transition of closed or closing coal plants to solar facilities; and another 9 cents per month for the conversion of coal sites to battery storage.

The average ratepayer bill for the purposes of the estimates is based on 650 kilowatt hours of usage monthly, which would equal a bill of about $90, depending on the area of the state.

Members of the working group believe the level of subsidies, as well as the vast majority of the provisions in the two nearly 900-page draft bills, have been worked out.

But negotiations continue on a number of measures, including the planned 2035 closure date for coal plants, equity measures for the renewable energy industry and language mandating that prevailing wages be paid for labor on renewable projects.

The closure date for coal plants is the issue that derailed the bill ahead of the May 31 adjournment date of the regular legislative session.
VIENNA (AP)  A top European diplomat said Tuesday he believes international negotiations with Iran will ultimately succeed in re-imposing limits on its nuclear program, but indicated that more time may be needed.

Enrique Mora, who is coordinating the talks in Vienna, said progress had been made on overcoming key obstacles at the talks.

The obstacles (are)...something that I think can be bridged, Mora told reporters outside the hotel where Iranian officials have been meeting with envoys from Russia, China, France, Germany, and Britain.

This is why we are here: to negotiate these different approaches, and I think we will succeed.

A landmark agreement in 2015 imposed strict curbs on Irans nuclear activities in exchange for easing U.S. sanctions but the deal was largely abandoned by the former Trump administration three years later.

U.S. President Joe Biden, along with European allies, is keen to revive the accord due to concerns that Iran has made significant advances since it stopped abiding by the 2015 commitments.
GREENVILLE  Vice President Kamala Harris visited South Carolina on Monday to kick off a nationwide push to vaccinate millions more Americans against the coronavirus as July 4 holiday celebrations loom.

Harris spoke at the Phillis Wheatley Community Center at a vaccine mobilization event, reminding an audience of more than 150 that the coronavirus vaccines available are safe, free and effective in an effort to debunk misinformation and dislodge vaccine skepticism experts say have slowed down the administration of the shots across the country.

"They are safe, and they are free," Harris said of the vaccines. "They are inspected, and it is that simple."

Monday's visit kicks off the launch of a national tour that's part of the White House's "month of action," announced by President Joe Biden earlier this month urging more Americans to get their shots before the July 4 holiday. Harris will next head to Atlanta on Friday, and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan plans to make Tuesday stops in Raleigh and Charlotte, North Carolina.
GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP)  Vice President Kamala Harris visited South Carolina on Monday to kick off a nationwide push to vaccinate millions more Americans against the coronavirus as July 4 holiday celebrations loom.

Harris spoke at the Phillis Wheatley Community Center at a vaccine mobilization event, reminding an audience of more than 150 that the coronavirus vaccines available are safe, free and effective in an effort to debunk misinformation and dislodge vaccine skepticism experts say have slowed down the administration of the shots across the country.

They are safe, and they are free, Harris said of the vaccines. They are inspected, and it is that simple.

Monday's visit kicks off the launch of a national tour thats part of the White Houses month of action, announced by President Joe Biden earlier this month urging more Americans to get their shots before the July 4 holiday. Harris will next head to Atlanta on Friday, and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan plans to make Tuesday stops in Raleigh and Charlotte, North Carolina.
(Concord, NH) -- In a new op-ed published in the Sea Coast Online, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan, highlight how Granite Staters can and are already saving up on health care costs and premiums after the historic passage of the American Rescue Plan, making the biggest expansion of the Affordable Care Act in more than a decade. As a result of this law, and after continued long-standing advocacy by Senators Hassan and Shaheen, more Granite Staters than ever qualify for assistance to help pay for health insurance, and people already enrolled in a Marketplace plan may be eligible for new savings.

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, in New Hampshire, a family of four making $85,000 per year could save $228 per month on premiums thanks to the American Rescue Plans tax credit enhancements. A retired couple in New Hampshire, both age 60, with $70,000 in annual income could save $918 per month on premiums.

While this is great progress, there is much more work to be done and progress to be made, as Senators Shaheen and Hassan explain:

One way to [make continued progress] is for more people who do not have insurance coverage to take advantage of these new savings provided by the American Rescue Plan. For those who are not covered, enrolling will provide the peace of mind that comes with high-quality health insurance. And for existing enrollees, it pays to shop around  by doing so, you may be able to find a plan that is lower cost than what you are currently paying.

President Biden has proposed to make these ACA marketplace subsidies permanent through his proposed American Families Plan. if passed and signed into law. It will provide dramatic improvements for Granite Staters in higher education, universal preschool, child care, nutrition, and more, all of which will complement the health and well being of folks, including communities of color, throughout New Hampshire.

Sens. Hassan and Shaheen discuss in their piece how we must continue to fight for the kind of progress achieved through the American Rescue Plan by passing President Bidens American Jobs and Families Plans. They write:

The American Rescue Plan is connecting more Americans with affordable, quality health care, and it is helping improve our health care system. We will continue working with our colleagues in Congress to strengthen these efforts and expand affordable health care coverage to more Granite Staters. Our health, and our economy, depend on it.

You can read the full op-ed here.






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Today

Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Low 69F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.

Tonight

Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Low 69F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.

Tomorrow

Thunderstorms likely. High 81F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
The Casper Humane Society will be holding the Summer Super Garage Sale June 25 to 27 at 2401 E. Yellowstone Highway (the former Wyoming Rents building).

Donated items will be accepted Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sundays from noon to 3 p.m., and weekdays 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., through Wednesday, June 23 at 2401 E. Yellowstone Highway (across the street from the Whites Mountain Kia). For more information, or to arrange a drop off outside of these hours, please call the shelter at 265-5439.

No computers and/or monitors, keyboards, televisions, house paint, desks, video tapes, or adult clothes, please. All other items will be gratefully accepted.

Sale hours will be Friday, June 25 from 5 to 8 p.m., ($5/person admission); Saturday, June 26 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (free admission); and Sunday, June 27 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., (free admission), with the final box sale (everything you can fit in one box for $5/box) from 2 to 4 p.m.

The building will be loaded with treasures and special finds. You wont want to miss it.

All proceeds will benefit the Casper Humane Society, a no-kill shelter supported entirely by local contributions and charitable donations.

June at t

he planetarium
International

AP

Biden rallies NATO support

FRANCOIS MORI, ASSOCIATED PRESS French President Emmanuel Macron, center, and French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian greet Poland's President Andrej Duda during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of a NATO summit Monday at NATO headquarters in Brussels. PATRICK SEMANSKY, ASSOCIATED PRESS President Joe Biden holds a news conference at the NATO summit Monday at NATO headquarters in Brussels.

BRUSSELS  President Joe Biden used his first appearance at a NATO summit since taking office to call on Russian President Vladimir Putin to step back from provocative actions targeting the U.S. and its allies on Monday. NATO leaders joined the United States in formally accusing Moscow and Beijing of malign actions.

Bidens sharp words for Russia and his friendly interactions with NATO allies marked a sharp shift in tone from the past four years and highlighted the renewed U.S. commitment to the 30-country alliance that was frequently maligned by predecessor Donald Trump.

Biden, wearing a NATO lapel pin, said that in his extensive talks with NATO leaders about his planned meeting with Putin on Wednesday, all were supportive of his plans to press the Russian leader to halt Russian-originated cyber attacks against the West, end the violent stifling of political dissidents and stop interfering in elections outside its borders.

Im going to make clear to President Putin that there are areas where we can cooperate, if he chooses, Biden told reporters as he ended his day at NATO headquarters. And if he chooses not to cooperate and acts in a way that he has in the past relative to cybersecurity and other activities, then we will respond, we will respond in kind.

Biden is on an eight-day visit to Europe in which he is seeking to rally allies to speak with a single voice on countering Russia and China.

To that end, NATO leaders on Monday declared China a constant security challenge and said the Chinese are working to undermine global order, a message in sync with Bidens pleas to confront Beijing on Chinas trade, military and human rights practices.

In a summit statement, the leaders said that Chinas goals and assertive behavior present systemic challenges to the rules-based international order and to areas relevant to alliance security.

The heads of state and government expressed concern about what they said were Chinas coercive policies, the opaque ways it is modernizing its armed forces and its use of disinformation.

The NATO leaders also took a big swipe at Russia in their communique, deploring what they consider its aggressive military activities and its snap wargames near the borders of NATO countries as well as repeated violations of their airspace by Russian planes.

They said that Russia had ramped up hybrid actions against member countries by attempts to interfere in elections, by political and economic intimidation, by disinformation campaigns and malicious cyber activities.

Until Russia demonstrates compliance with international law and its international obligations and responsibilities, there can be no return to business as usual, they said.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is an alliance of European and North American countries formed after World War II as a bulwark against Russian aggression. The new Brussels communique states plainly that the NATO nations will engage China with a view to defending the security interests of the alliance.

Biden arrived at the NATO summit after three days of consulting with Group of Seven allies in England, where he successfully pushed for a G-7 communique that called out forced labor practices and other human rights violations impacting Uyghur Muslims and other ethnic minorities in Chinas western Xinjiang province.

However, differences remain among the allies about how forcefully to criticize Beijing.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said NATOs decision to name China as a threat shouldnt be overstated because Beijing, like Russia, is also a partner in some areas. China is Germanys top trading partner, and she said it is important to find the right balance.

Frances President Emmanuel Macron urged the alliance not to let China distract it from what he saw as more pressing issues facing NATO, including the fight against terrorism and security issues related to Russia.

I think it is very important not to scatter our efforts and not to have biases in our relation to China, Macron said.

The Chinese Embassy to the United Kingdom on Monday issued a statement saying the G-7 communique deliberately slandered China and arbitrarily interfered in Chinas internal affairs. There was no immediate reaction from the Chinese government to the new NATO statement.

Biden arrived at his first NATO summit as president as leading members declared it a pivotal moment for an alliance beleaguered during the presidency of Trump, who questioned the relevance of the multilateral organization.

Biden sat down with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and underscored the U.S. commitment to Article 5 of the alliance charter, which spells out that an attack on any member is an attack on all and is to be met with a collective response.

Article 5 we take as a sacred obligation, said Biden. I want NATO to know America is there.

It was a marked contrast to the days when Trump called the alliance obsolete and complained that it allowed for global freeloading countries to spend less on military defense at the expense of the U.S.

Biden was greeted by fellow leaders with warmth and even a bit of relief.

Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo said Bidens presence emphasizes the renewal of the transatlantic partnership. De Croo said NATO allies were looking to get beyond four stormy years with Trump and infighting among member countries.

I think now we are ready to turn the page, de Croo said.
We are very intentional about that responsibility and we think that the more and more that we continue to provide these platforms, the more Black studies in rural areas ... it shows its worth, he said.

The event will begin at 9 a.m.July 2 with a discussion on Deconstruction of the Neoconservative Movement to Erase Critical Race Theory from Public Education, followed by a conversation about Strategies to Teach the Harsh Realities of American History.

Panelists for each of those discussions include law and history professors, higher education equity and inclusion experts and social researchers from across the U.S.

The program comes as lawmakers nationwide, including one of Wyomings own, are attempting to block the use of federal dollars to teach a history curriculum derived from the New York Times 1619 Project.

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The Pulitzer Prize-winning work reports on how slavery shaped American history. Named for the year African enslaved people first arrived in North America, The 1619 Project received both acclaim and criticism, and its accuracy has been debated by conservatives and some historians since it was published in 2019.
AT 32 years old, Zwede Hewitt is building out an app that he is confident is going to take the world by storm.

The name of the app is LUHU, which stands for Let Us Help U and Hewitt describes it as social marketplace.

It is a place where people can do social networking, but it combines that with the ability to shop. So the concept is essentially social networking meets e-commerce, says Hewitt.
The Prime Minister has an open mind on the selection of a police commissioner.

Asked yesterday whether as head of the Cabinet, his Government was prepared to approve a nomination coming to the Parliament for the continuation of Gary Griffith as Commissioner of Police, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley said: We in the Cabinet keep an open mind on matters of national interest like that. The Cabinet has a duty to keep an open mind. The authority (Police Service Commission) advises us and we will look at the advice with an open mind as you would have seen us doing before.
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The planned opening of T&Ts borders is the most welcome news for people stranded outside for many months.

The rationale for keeping the airports closed since March last year is curious given that the number of active cases and deaths fluctuated between single and low double digits. However, the numbers over the past two months have been in triple digits for active cases and mostly double digits for deaths,
Because of my previous association with the Tobago House of Assembly (THA), several persons have been asking why am I not commenting on the two self-government bills for Tobago.
Certain statements included in this news release constitute forward-looking statements or forward-looking information under applicable securities legislation. Such forward-looking statements or information are provided for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Forward-looking statements or information typically contain statements with words such as "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "plan", "intend", "estimate", "propose", "project" or similar words suggesting future outcomes or statements regarding an outlook. Forward-looking statements or information in this news release include, but are not limited to, managements targets for the Companys growth, as well as the size, scope, and timing of the implementation of projects currently in the pilot phase.

Forward-looking statements or information is based on several factors and assumptions which have been used to develop such statements and information, but which may prove to be incorrect. Although VIQ believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements or information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements because VIQ can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. In addition to other factors and assumptions which may be identified in this news release, assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, the Companys recent initiatives, and that sales and prospects may provide incremental value for shareholders. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive of all factors and assumptions that have been used.
If you are reading this and you happen to know my dad, Gerald C. Gay ...

Shhhhh.

Lets keep this conversation to ourselves.

As far as fathers go, I think I lucked out.

Thanks to his love and support over the years  along with equal amounts of love from my mom  my sister and I have done all right in this world.

So, its only natural that I want to give him the best Fathers Day possible, which, in the grand scheme of things, will never be nearly enough.

Every dad is different. Below are the blueprints to what I hope will be a successful Fathers Day weekend with mine, with a mix of ideas that you can use for yours in the process.

Giving my dad plenty of space

Some dads enjoy cars. If that sounds like the patriarch in your family, consider the free fourth annual Fathers Day car show, running from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. this Sunday at Pantano Christian Church, 1755 S. Houghton Road.

My dad is more of a space shuttle type of guy.
State Attorney General Mark Brnovich is warning his federal counterpart to stay out of the way of the audit of 2020 election returns.

In a letter Monday to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, Brnovich said he is displaying an alarming disdain for state sovereignty by suggesting there may be a need for federal oversight of the state Senates audit of Maricopa Countys votes. Brnovich hinted that any intrusion will result in a lawsuit.

Arizona will not sit back and let the Biden administration abuse its authority, refuse to uphold laws, or attempt to commandeer our states sovereignty, wrote Brnovich, who recently announced his bid to become the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate.

Garland made a speech Friday suggesting that ballot reviews like the one in Arizona are based on disinformation. He said his agency is watching  and may take action.

The Justice Department will do everything in its power to prevent election fraud and to vigorously prosecute it, he said. But many of the justifications proffered in support of these post-election audits and restrictions on voting have relied on assertions of material vote fraud in the 2020 election that have been refuted by law enforcement and intelligence agencies.
Shope told Capitol Media Services he realizes that nothing in this policy  or the ones at the other two universities  mandates that people get vaccinated. But he said the additional requirements imposed on those not vaccinated is improper.

The twice-weekly testing, I feel thats a bit onerous for folks that are going to school, Shope said. We need to get to a point here where we recognize, especially the student population thats there, is probably the least susceptible to succumbing to this.

Shope brushed aside questions of whether young people, even though theyre less likely to get seriously ill, can still be carriers who can spread the disease to those who are more vulnerable.

I think the science is still out, he said.

But ASU spokeswoman Katie Paquet said the idea of halting the spread  and not just among other students and staffers  was precisely one of the reasons the university adopted the policy. She said there is a belief that the school needs to protect the community at large.

We are living in a state where, what, about half the population is vaccinated, maybe not quite there yet? Paquet said.
Coming up with an accurate cost of protecting against such flooding could prove a challenge, Karamargin acknowledged.

Were going to rely on what experts say might be needed based on what has happened so far, he said.

The call for the special session came despite the fact that lawmakers already are at the Capitol, still struggling to reach a deal on a state budget for the new fiscal year that begins in less than two weeks. But the Republican governor and the leaders of both political parties say it makes sense to have some sort of separation between those controversial issues and what should be a fairly popular plan to finance fire and flood relief.

Its just focus, said Bowers. Get it done. It should be quick and get out.

House Minority Leader Reginald Bolding, D-Laveen, who has been involved in the bipartisan talks, said he believes the priority has to be the state budget.

That will have profound impacts on our state agencies for the year, he said.

But Bolding said he concurs with creating a separate and discrete path for the issues of fire and flooding.
When in doubt, wait it out or find another route, he said, and always heed posted signs and other official warnings.

Its both illegal and dangerous to go around a barrier that says road closed due to flooding, Allerton said.

Excessive heat

Right now, though, rain is the least of our worries. Much of Arizona, Southern California and Southern Nevada remain under an excessive heat warning that is scheduled to last until 9 p.m. Saturday.

Tucson is in the midst of what could turn out to be six straight days of record-breaking heat. The highs of 110 on Saturday, 112 on Sunday and 112 on Monday were all records for those dates, and the forecast calls for more daily records to fall Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Though Tucsons all-time record high of 117 is not at risk, Tuesdays predicted high of 114 would erase the previous daily record of 110, set clear back on June 15, 1896.

So far this year, overheating is believed to have played a role in the deaths of 15 migrants in Arizona, said Dr. Greg Hess, the Pima County medical examiner. Hess said six of those deaths occurred since June 1.
Even in the U.S., as infection rates continue to slip, the vaccination campaign is far from over. Fewer than 370,000 Americans are now getting their first dose on average each day, down from a high of nearly 2 million per day two months ago.

White House officials acknowledge the deep geographic disparities in vaccination rates and said the administration will continue to issue reminders that unvaccinated Americans remain at risk of serious illness and death from the virus.

Yet cases are trending downward even in the Southern and Midwestern states that remain markedly behind the rest of the country in vaccinations.

Elsewhere, California began its grand reopening Tuesday, lifting nearly all its remaining virus restrictions. In New York, which Gov. Andrew Cuomo said had hit a benchmark of 70% of adults receiving at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, rules were being lifted that had limited the size of gatherings and required some types of businesses to follow social distancing or cleaning protocols.

It means that we can now return to life as we know it, Cuomo said, announcing that the state would also launch fireworks Tuesday to mark the occasion, in addition to New York Citys already announced plans to resume its July Fourth fireworks display on the East River.
BRUSSELS (AP)  President Joe Biden used his first appearance at a NATO summit since taking office to call on Russian President Vladimir Putin to step back from provocative actions targeting the U.S. and its allies on Monday. NATO leaders joined the United States in formally accusing Moscow and Beijing of malign actions.

Biden's sharp words for Russia and his friendly interactions with NATO allies marked a sharp shift in tone from the past four years and highlighted the renewed U.S. commitment to the 30-country alliance that was frequently maligned by predecessor Donald Trump.

Biden, wearing a NATO lapel pin, said that in his extensive talks with NATO leaders about his planned meeting with Putin on Wednesday, all were supportive of his plans to press the Russian leader to halt Russian-originated cyber attacks against the West, end the violent stifling of political dissidents and stop interfering in elections outside its borders.

Im going to make clear to President Putin that there are areas where we can cooperate, if he chooses," Biden told reporters as he ended his day at NATO headquarters. And if he chooses not to cooperate and acts in a way that he has in the past relative to cybersecurity and other activities, then we will respond, we will respond in kind."
The conditions raise concerns about why it is taking more than a month on average to release the children when most have family in the United States. More staffing has been added since the emergency shelters were opened this spring amid an unprecedented arrival of migrant children, and the flows have subsided.

I think there is a general consensus that no child should be in these emergency shelters for more than two weeks, said Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, policy counsel for the advocacy group American Immigration Council.

Lawyers and advocates question why most of the children are at unlicensed shelters.

As of May 31, nearly 9,000 children were kept at unlicensed sites, compared with 7,200 at licensed shelters, court filings by the U.S. government said. While the unlicensed facilities were running at near capacity in May, the licensed facilities were only about half full, according to a report filed by the agency tasked with the children's care.

Advocates say the government should be pouring more resources into the safe release of children, and those without relatives or a family friend, known as a sponsor, should be immediately going to licensed facilities that are required to have a care worker for every eight children during the day and a mental health clinician per every 12 children.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP)  Jurors have begun weighing the fate of a University of Tennessee professor charged with hiding his relationship with a Chinese university while receiving research grants from the federal government.

Anming Hu, an associate professor in the department of mechanical, aerospace and biomedical engineering at the universitys flagship Knoxville campus, was charged in February 2020 with three counts of wire fraud and three counts of making false statements.

Defense lawyer Philip Lomonaco has argued that the Department of Justice wanted a feather in its cap with an economic espionage case, so they ignored the facts and the law, destroyed the career of a professor with three Ph.D.s in nanotechnology and now expects the court to follow their narrative.

Testimony in the federal trial wrapped up Monday and lawyers gave their closing statements, the Knoxville News Sentinel reported. Jurors deliberated for five hours without reaching a verdict Monday. They are supposed to return Wednesday to deliberate further.
Winston-Salem Police Chief Catrina Thompson said Scott had fired more than a dozen shots Monday at the substation just before a shift change with more than 50 police employees inside. Police officers stationed outside saw Scott fire the shots and he led them on a four-mile (6.5-kilometer) chase that ended at a park, Thompson said.

Scott got out of his car and started firing his rifle at officers before dropping the weapon and running through the park, according to Thompson. Officers chased him, and Scott fired a handgun at the officers and they fired back and hit Scott, the chief said.

Thompson did not say how many times Scott was struck and where. She said officers gave Scott emergency first aid until EMS personnel arrived and took him to a hospital.

At the park, children were taking part in summer camp and high schoolers were practicing for football. Some children were whisked into apartments near the park and some people sought cover inside an orthodontist's office, the newspaper reported.

Thompson said three officers are now on administrative duty pending an investigation by the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation. She also said an internal investigation will be conducted.

For copyright information, check with the distributor of this item, Winston-Salem Journal.
It is hard to imagine that a body of believers of the Lord Jesus would vote to limit in any way an investigation to find the truth when there are serious allegations related to sexual abuse, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary president Danny Akin tweeted after Mondays committee meeting. Praying our Convention charts the right course tomorrow.

The Executive Committee takes care of SBC business between annual meetings, but during the gatherings themselves it is voting delegates from the denominations churches that are in charge. Several people have promised to make motions similar to the one rejected by the committee, and a group of abuse survivors released a joint statement in support of the effort.

Also looming over the meeting is an effort by a group of ultraconservatives to wrest control of the denomination, calling some of its leaders too liberal on issues such as race and the role of women in ministry. Formed last year, the Conservative Baptist Network is backing one of it own as a candidate for SBC president at this year's meeting: Mike Stone, a white pastor from Georgia.

At least one prominent Black pastor has announced that he will leave the denomination if Stone is elected. Several other Black pastors have already left the SBC over what they said was racial insensitivity from the denomination's overwhelmingly white leadership.
In the first public accounting of its kind in decades, an Associated Press investigation has found that at least 1,900 U.S. military firearms were lost or stolen during the 2010s, with some resurfacing in violent crimes.

The armed services and the Pentagon are not eager for the public to know the full extent of those losses -- one reason APs investigation took a decade to complete. Military officials say that missing firearms are a tiny fraction of their total stockpile of several million guns, and note that some weapons are recovered.

A few key takeaways from APs investigation:

CRIME GUNS

Stolen military guns dont just vanish. Some have been sold to street gang members, recovered on felons and used in crimes.

The AP identified eight instances in which five different stolen military firearms were used in a civilian shooting or other violent crime from 2010 through 2019. In other incidents, felons were busted possessing military pistols or assault rifles.
Freeland, who represents various chapters on the Eastern Agency, said he has been hearing from ranchers who are struggling as a result of the drought. He cited the loss of forage on the range, feral horses competing with cattle and the lack of rain.

We need rain, he said. We are on a very severe drought. How are we going to battle that? We need to be proactive with livestock reduction.

Freeland added that the pandemic also contributed to the ranchers struggles. Several slaughter facilities in the United States were closed for a few months throughout the pandemic, resulting in an excess of cattle that has caused market prices to go down.

They are not getting their fair market value. Cow prices are down. The demand outweighs the supply, he said.

Reduce livestock

Navajo Nation Agriculture Department Director Leo Watchman said Tuesday that ranchers are being advised to keep track of their losses and expenses and reduce the number of livestock under a plan to restock or defer operations.
BRUSSELS (AP)  The leaders of Serbia and Kosovo on Tuesday resumed EU-brokered negotiations aimed at resolving a long-lasting dispute that remains a source of tensions in the volatile Balkans.

But the meeting in Brussels between Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovo's new Prime Minister Albin Kurti appeared to produce little progress in the negotiations that first started in 2011 and have been stalled since last year.

It was not an easy meeting, but it was important that it happened, said the EU's special envoy for the talks, Miroslav Lajcak. What is important for the European Union is that both leaders confirmed that there is no other way forward but to normalize relations between Kosovo and Serbia.

Both countries have been told that they cannot hope to move forward in their efforts to join the EU before resolving the decades-old rift that exploded in a conflict in 1998-99, leaving more than 10,000 people dead and triggering a NATO intervention.

Kosovo, formerly a province of Serbia, declared independence in 2008 but Belgrade has refused to accept that. While Kosovo has been recognized by the United States and most EU nations, Belgrade has relied on support from Russia and China in its bid to retain claim on the territory.
BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP)  Protesters and human rights officials urged lawmakers in Hungary on Monday to reject legislation banning any content portraying or promoting homosexuality or sex reassignment to anyone under 18.

Thousands of LGBT activists and others demonstrated in front of the Parliament in Budapest in the evening, chanting we are here! as they urged lawmakers to abandon plans for the bills.

We have a lot to do before tomorrows vote: We have to tell, we have to write to every member of Parliament, why this bill is anti-child, anti-family and anti-human, David Vig, director of Hungarys branch of Amnesty International, told those gathered.

Fidesz, Prime Minister Viktor Orban's conservative ruling party, presented the legislation last week and plans to vote on the bills Tuesday. They include a measure aimed at fighting pedophilia along with other amendments prohibiting transmitting information about LGBT people or same-sex relationships to youth.

Fidesz describes the legislation as an effort to protect children from pedophilia.
BRUSSELS (AP)  Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Monday his country would need diplomatic, logistic and financial assistance from the United States if it were to maintain troops in Afghanistan to protect and run Kabul's international airport, following the withdrawal of other NATO troops.

Speaking to reporters at the end of a series of meetings with NATO leaders on the sidelines of the alliance summit, Erdogan also said Turkey was seeking Pakistan and Hungary's involvement in a new mission in Afghanistan following the departure of the U.S.-led NATO force.

Turkey is reported to have offered to guard the airport as questions remain on how security will be assured along major transport routes and at the airport, which is the main gateway to Kabul.

If they dont want us to leave Afghanistan, if they want a (Turkish) support there, then the diplomatic, logistic and financial support that the United States will give us will of great importance, Erdogan said. Turkey, a majority Muslim nation which has close historic ties to Afghanistan, currently has some 500 soldiers in the war-torn country.
But the president acknowledged that there may be no way to keep Putin in check.

Theres no guarantee you can change a persons behavior or the behavior of his country. Autocrats have enormous power and they dont have to answer to a public, said Biden during a news conference Sunday after the Group of Seven summit in England. And the fact is that it may very well be, if I respond in kind  which I will  that it doesnt dissuade him and he wants to keep going.

Biden had not minced words when it comes to assessing Putin. He said in an interview earlier this year that he agreed with an assessment that Putin was a killer, and he once declared that Putin didnt have a soul.

That was far colder rhetoric than that of his immediate predecessors.

Trump spoke warmly of Putin and was deferential to him during their one summit, held in Helsinki in 2018, in which he turned his back on his own intelligence agencies. President Barack Obamas administration, though wary of Putin, expressed hope in a reset and improvement of relations with Moscow. And George W. Bush said that he looked the man in the eye and found him very straightforward and trustworthy.

I was able to get a sense of his soul," Bush said.
Perhaps this interconnected fate will diminish one of the worst aspects of our national character: a chilling indifference to the rest of the world. Americans tend to focus on ourselves, on our families, on our communities, on those in our own political, socioeconomic or religious tribes. Our problems tend to be local problems. We fixate on up-close concerns.

Indeed, a more accurate slogan than America First would be America First, Last and Only. We are selfish when it comes to international aid; our contribution is less than one percent of the federal budget. Our politics are dominated by domestic concerns; we are currently haggling over how many trillions to spend on ourselves. And millions of Americans want to build ever-larger barriers at the southern border; many even want to rescind DACA and ship talented American-born kids out of the country.

Part of why Americans have been so self-absorbed is because we could always get away with it. But not now. Not with a still-rampaging virus that respects no national boundary.
Dear Dr. Fox: I just have to comment on the recent letter in your column (from T.V.H. in Tulsa) that said spending money on animals is immoral! Having a pet is a great joy, and also a responsibility. Feeding a pet and taking care of its veterinary and dental needs is a responsibility, while buying it toys and treats is a joy for both owner and pet.

Yes, people spend a lot on our pets; we love them and they make us happy. This spending also helps drive the economy, providing income for many.

How about telling all these billionaires with money stashed in tax-free accounts to open their wallets and help their fellow humans? Does anyone really need $100 billion dollars sitting in the bank? We only live for a certain amount of time. Set aside the money you need for the lifestyle you want, and donate the rest. Like they say, you cant take it with you.

I am relocating back home to Pennsylvania, and part of the reason is the rampant destruction of Floridas natural resources. Manatees are dying by the hundreds, and endangered Kemps ridley turtles are turning up dead. We are also experiencing massive illnesses and die-offs of sea birds and fish. Red tide, blue-green algae  all can be traced back to humans lack of responsibility.
An alleged drug dealer and three postal carriers have been charged in federal court for allegedly using the U.S. Postal Service to carry out a meth drug conspiracy, federal authorities announced Tuesday.

Kamau Jahi Williams, 42; Erick Scott, 49; Christine Conner, 54, all of Tulsa; and Shawn Boike, 46, of Skiatook, were charged in the federal Northern District of Oklahoma with drug conspiracy. Authorities said the group allegedly conspired as early as December 2019 to distribute 500 grams or more of meth.

Methamphetamine remains one of the most abused and dangerous drugs in Oklahoma, Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson said. Those who participate in the distribution of methamphetamine in our communities, including federal employees, will be held accountable under the law.

Williams allegedly ran the operation with the support of Scott, Conner and Boike, postal workers from the Apache Street Post Office, according to the news release.

Williams supply source in California would mail meth shipments to an abandoned building in Tulsa, and Scott, Conner and Boike would intercept those shipments at the post office, according to the news release. The postal workers would mark the meth packages as delivered, then deliver them to Williams.
State prosecutors initially had charged Ahaisse with first-degree murder, first-degree burglary, endangering others while eluding police and possession of a firearm after a former felony conviction.

The McGirt ruling found that since Congress had never disestablished the 1860s-era Muscogee Nation reservation, the state did not have jurisdiction to try American Indians for major crimes occurring within the reservation.

The federal indictment charged Ahaisse with three counts: first-degree murder in Indian Country, using a firearm during a crime of violence, and possessing a firearm and ammunition while a felon in connection with the shooting of Collins.

But federal prosecutors filed a felony information on Monday charging him with second-degree murder in Indian Country, a move that usually accompanies a plea agreement and the later dismissal of the original charges.

Collins girlfriend, who was with Collins at the time, told police that Ahaisse forced open the door to Collins residence and shot him several times before fleeing.

Before shooting Collins, Ahaisse had served time in prison for his part in the 2009 shooting death of a 14-year-old boy.
The University of Oklahoma has been awarded up to $208 million over five years for a new institute for severe and high-impact weather research.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced Tuesday it selected OU to host NOAAs new Cooperative Institute for Severe and High-Impact Weather Research and Operations.

The program could be renewed for another five years based on successful performance.

It is an extraordinary honor for the university to be selected to lead the new Cooperative Institute for Severe and High-Impact Weather Research and Operations, OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. said in a statement.

As Oklahomas flagship institution, our mission is to harness innovation and pathbreaking discoveries to advance society. Through the new cooperative institute and the work of hundreds of researchers, we will see profound advancements in the study of weather, leading to improved warning systems that will ultimately save lives.

The mission of the institute is to conduct severe and high-impact weather research to improve understanding of severe and high-impact weather in collaboration with NOAA.
The American Red Cross is calling on Tulsans to help stave off an emerging shortage of blood affecting the organization nationwide.

Hospitals in the U.S. are responding to an atypically high number of trauma cases and emergency room visits, according to data released by the American Red Cross. Demand from trauma centers has climbed by 10% in 2021 compared to 2019.

In addition to trauma needs, there is a great hospital demand for blood as people who deferred care during the height of the pandemic present with more advanced disease progression, requiring blood transfusions, the Red Cross said in a news release. Over the last three months, the Red Cross has distributed about 75,000 more blood products than expected to meet these needs.

Dr. Sean Smith, medical director of the Hillcrest Medical Center laboratory, said Hillcrest is seeing the impact of the blood shortage firsthand and is in special need of red blood cells and platelets.
The city of Tulsas recent passage of the Greenwood resolution has revived talk of reparations and brought with it the go-to cries of genocides beneficiaries the world over: I didnt have anything to do with that, why should I pay for it? Ive never oppressed anyone, how is this my fault? Its time to move on.

Of course, all this flows from the simple impulse to deny responsibility for anything that might make oneself uncomfortable. But that we are so quick to decry the notion of community responsibility for something as profound and far reaching as the attempted eradication of part of our community rings hollow; especially given how quickly calls for justice against China for COVID come from the same mouths.

With all the excitement surrounding the centennial remembrance, it was easy to miss the news that President Joe Biden had ordered a reopening of the investigation into the origins of SARS-CoV-2. The goal of the investigation is to determine whether the virus initially migrated into humans from natural sources, or if it somehow escaped from a laboratory in China.

A result showing that this epoch-defining disease entered human populations after escaping from a lab would certainly be an historic bit of news. But one cant help ask so what? What difference would it make?
It's Nina Simone and Langston Hughes' "Backlash Blues" all over again.

Many voices have rumbled and thundered about our country's history of inequality and oppression.

President Joe Biden, apparently unfazed over his political consequences four years hence, came to Tulsa's doorstep to add his refrain; a joy to behold.

The dominant caste, from the past, fighting to maintain their grip, represented by the 91% white Oklahoma Legislature has a response  House Bill 1775.

Journalist Isabel Wilkerson, author of "Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents," would not be surprised by this backlash bill by legislators.

The script requires no sullied memories from the past to challenge the dominant caste's station.

The social hierarchy demands purity for the apex. Children should never learn of tar and feathers.

In a world with justice, mean old Mr. Backlash should be the one left to sing the blues.

Andy Tomlinson, Tulsa

Letters to the editor are encouraged. Send letters to tulsaworld.com/opinion/submitletter.
Local medtech platform AiHealth, a startup that helps find personal doctors, book appointments, and buy medication online has announced its successful call for investment from investors at home and abroad.

AiHealth on June 10 said it had managed to raise funds, details of which have yet to be publicized, from TNBA Vietnam Scout and some other investors in Southeast Asia.

Established in 2020, AiHealth is a medical technology solution that applies artificial intelligence to building a full lifetime health database for each user, connecting every person with their own doctors as well as supporting alerts.

AiHealth helps its users monitor their general health, proactively detect diseases, make diagnosis, and take care of themselves.

To date, the Aihealth platform has established its connection with 48 provinces and cities with a network of 1,437 doctors, 438 nurses and 672 hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, and testing centers.

Through such connections, AiHealth helps people find their own doctors by exchanging text messages, phone calls, and video calls.

AiHealth users may buy medicine online and receive pills at home from Ahamove delivery services, while making payment through e-wallets, such as Payme and Momo, and Payoo payment gateways.

AiHealth databases, designed with HL7 standards, can connect through Application Programming Interface (API) with all management applications at hospitals, testing facilities, and diagnostic imaging centers.

The platform ensures the security for personal records of every user with its three-layer data security system.

Charles Wong, founding member and CEO of Singapore-based TNB Aura, the parent company of TNBA Vietnam Scout, said he sees a wide market for AiHealth and highly appreciates the difference it makes in Vietnam's healthcare sector while the world is looking for solutions to mitigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wong said he will support AiHealth to connect with leading medical technology solutions in Southeast Asia to improve its services in Vietnam.

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It is not a surprise for an artist to hold a personal exhibition at the age of 75, but such a exhibit is really inspirational to both the public and other artists in Vietnam because of the woman behind it: Hoang Minh Hang.

She is one of the most well-known artists of silk painting in the country still working now despite old age.

A new path of creativity

On March 23, Hang held her second solo exhibition in Ho Chi Minh City, which was also her fourth in her art career.

In Vietnam, Hangs number of solo exhibitions can be modest in comparison with some of the other renowned artists.

The quality, however, cannot always be judged from the quantity. This is true for artist Hang.

Hang said she could work as a full-time silk painter for just two more years after moving into a new apartment in Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province, about 120km from Ho Chi Minh City.

Living there alone, she can spend all day drawing without having to take care of her children and grandchildren as usual.

It will be extremely difficult for me to paint silk when I am short of time," Hang told Tuoi Tre News.

"Sometimes, it would take me a few months to paint such a drawing."

That is why the artist made a lot of drawings of pastel and tempera on 'do,' a special kind of paper. Because of a dearth of time, she had no options of material other than using these materials.

After devoting many years to caring for children and grandchildren, the female artist feels happy to be able to live for herself and for the arts to the fullest.

At the age of 75, Hang returns to painting in silk, which has been her ambition for decades.

In her paintings, she does not try to convey any lofty ideas, but records whispering sounds from nature and transform them into pieces of silk in a sincere way.

Grass flowers, a silk painting by artist Hoang Minh Hang

An expert in silk painting

In her most recent exhibition in Ho Chi Minh City, Hang displayed 15 big silk paintings with large dimensions of 70 centimeters to one meter in height and one to two meters in width.

To many in public, the paintings big dimensions may not be something special. To artists, however, this fact reflects a certain skill level of the painter.

When you draw in a big painting, it will be easier for your faults and limitations to be revealed, explained Hang.

Artist Hoang Minh Hang talks with her two friends, artist Le Dan (left) and sculptor Tran Luan Tin at Eight Gallery in Ho Chi Minh City during her second solo exhibition on March 24, 2021. Photo: Kim Thoa / Tuoi Tre

Many other artists agree with the female painter on this.

In many peoples opinions, an artists capability to brush on a big frame of material such as a large piece of silk can be considered a premier test of their level.

Many artists acknowledge they can paint comfortably small paintings but find a challenging obstacle to express themselves on a bigger-size work of art. So, they will need confidence to create an artwork in big dimensions.

It is extremely difficult for the artist to fix when they have any fault while drawing in silk material, which is also one of the most difficult characteristics of this kind of art, according to many people in the circle.

Hang has discovered a unique technique after decades of pursuing the art of painting.

Many generations of students from the Ho Chi Minh City University of Fine Arts have learned from the 'master of silk painting,' including some of the most famous silk drawing artists to date in Vietnam.

The technique of drawing without the need to wash silk can be called one of the biggest discoveries made by Hang.

She tried to look for an alternative after finding that a piece of silk gradually loses its natural luster after being washed with water many times as per traditional guidelines.

After many trials of various methods, she figured out the way of using a big wet brush to 'wash' in her way that helps the silk paintings maintain the natural luster while preserving their smoothness and transparency.

Although it took her many hours of work to find out the technique, Hang has always been willing to share it with anyone who wants to learn.

Technical skills are things that anyone can learn, she said.

The technique cant replace the artists creativity and characteristic style even if it is extremely skillful.

To me, the artist who wants to touch peoples souls and emotions with their works must have an open mind.

"You need to be sincere and simple to be able to make artworks that touch others souls."

With all her achievements, Hang can be proud of her remarkable contributions to a successful generation of silk painting artists such as Nguyen Phan Chanh, To Ngoc Van, Nguyen Tien Chung, Luu Dinh Khai, Le Pho, Mai Thu, Le Thi Luu, and others.

Confederate Rose, a painting on 'do' paper by artist Hoang Minh Hang

Paphiopedilum, a silk painting by artist Hoang Minh Hang

Landscape of Ninh Binh, a silk painting by artist Hoang Minh Hang

Wooden rafts in Sam Son Beach, a silk painting by artist Hoang Minh Hang

Dugout canoes, a silk painting by artist Hoang Minh Hang

Nervilis plicata, a silk painting by artist Hoang Minh Hang

Sea at night, a silk painting by artist Hoang Minh Hang

Nha Trang Sea, a silk painting by artist Hoang Minh Hang

Vung Tau Sea, a silk painting by artist Hoang Minh Hang

Born in 1946, Hoang Minh Hang is a member of the Vietnam Fine Arts Association and a member of the Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Association. Hang graduated from the Vietnam Fine Arts University in Hanoi in 1972. She held her first solo exhibition in Ho Chi Minh City in 1989, her second in Ho Chi Minh City in 1994, her third in Hanoi in 2002, and her fourth in Ho Chi Minh City in March-April 2021.

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After surviving years of crippling drought, farmers in eastern Australia are locked in a months-long battle with hordes of mice that are pouring through fields and devouring hard-earned crops.

Farmer Col Tink uses a broom to skittle hundreds of roving mice toward a makeshift industrial trap -- essentially a large tub of water where they drown.

It is a brutally simple attempt to slow the plague that has engulfed his farm -- near the rural town of Dubbo -- and thousands of other farms like it across eastern Australia.

But Tink's efforts have barely made a dent. Mice continue to chew through grain and hay stocks while anything remotely edible remains under constant attack.

Skin-crawling videos of writhing rodent masses have been shared around the world along with reports of bitten hospital patients, destroyed machinery and swarms running across roads en masse.

The plague is the latest in a string of disasters to strike farmers in Australia. A years-long drought was followed by months of devastating bushfires from late 2019, before welcome rains became damaging floods in several regions.

"My dad's still alive; he's 93, and it's the worst three years he'd ever seen in his lifetime, and I think it's probably the worst mouse plague he's seen too," said Tink, who mainly farms Brahman cattle.

But the prospect of this plague continuing through the southern hemisphere's winter makes him fearful for preparations ahead of the next dry spell -- which is always on the horizon.

"If we don't get a real cold and fairly wet winter, I'm just a little bit worried what's going to happen in the spring," the 65-year-old told AFP.

'Chronic' infestations

The outlook is not good, according to Steve Henry, a research officer at Australia's national science agency, the CSIRO.

"When a mouse plague ends, they just disappear overnight," said Henry, who has been studying pest animals in Australia for nearly three decades.

"We're certainly not seeing that at the moment."

Mice are a feral pest in Australia, arriving alongside the first British colonists.

The tiny rodent is almost perfectly adapted to exploit the natural boom and bust of agriculture in the Australian climate, meaning plagues are not uncommon.

But numbers this year have been "just astronomical", according to 74-year-old Terry Fishpool, a grain producer from nearby Tottenham.

Large numbers of rodents were reported as early as October, their population fuelled by a bumper crop after the worst drought in living memory.

Bill Bateman, an associate professor from Curtin University in Western Australia, said giant mouse plagues seemed to occur once a decade, but climate change could make them more regular.

"If we no longer get those cold winters, such that we are providing resources for mice all year round, then this is going to become a chronic thing rather than an acute thing," Bateman said.

'Napalming mice'

With the rodents scurrying on, the government has announced millions of dollars in support and reached for a more potent poison, which one minister likened to "napalming mice".

Yet to be approved, bromadiolone works faster than the widely used zinc phosphide bait but also stays in the system of dead or dying mice longer.

Experts worry that it will potentially kill native wildlife who eat the poisoned mice.

"The use of second-generation rodenticides is an extremely worrying step," Bateman, who works in the school of molecular and life sciences, said.

"It's a very slippery slope."

Extended use could create "a bank of this toxin" in the environment, killing natural predators and even risk poisoning humans through the food chain, Bateman said.

"We are really going to be setting up trouble for ourselves in future, not just in terms of destroying our biodiversity but destroying our frontline defences against any future mouse plagues."

Henry said correct use of double-strength zinc phosphide, baiting while planting and removing alternative food sources could help curb the numbers if they did spike after winter.

But the focus on "quick fixes" also needed to shift to long-term solutions including more research into what triggers "monumental plagues", he said.

Fishpool said farmers had little choice in the meantime but to plant crops and hope the damage wrought by mice wasn't too severe -- comparing it to one of the nation's favourite pastimes.

"You could put it on horses and gamble it, but if you plant the crop, you can worry about it all year and gamble it."
Operators of a nuclear power plant in southern China are fixing a "performance issue" at the facility, but the gas emissions carried out to do that are within acceptable limits, its French part-owner said Monday following a US media report of a potential leak.

CNN said the US government has spent the past week assessing a report of a leak at the Taishan Nuclear Power Plant in populous Guangdong province after Framatome, a French firm that partly owns it, warned of an "imminent radiological threat".

But one of the unnamed US officials cited by CNN said the administration of President Joe Biden believes the facility is not yet at "crisis level".

EDF, the majority owner of Framatome, said the plant's number one reactor experienced a build-up of noble gases in its primary circuit, which is part of the cooling system.

But an EDF spokesman, who asked not to be named, insisted the issue was being handled.

"We are not in a scenario of an accident with a melting core," he said.

"We are not talking about contamination, we are talking about controlled emissions."

Noble gases are elements which have low chemical reactivity -- in this case it was xenon and krypton.

The gas leaked after the coating on some fuel rods had deteriorated, the spokesman said.

The gases were collected and treated as part of a process to remove any radioactivity before their release, which was normal and "in accordance with regulations", he added.

Framatome said in a statement that the plant was operating "within the safety parameters" despite the "performance issue". EDF called an extraordinary meeting of the plant's board over the matter.

David Fishman, manager at energy-focused consulting group The Lantau Group, said a cracked fuel rod can potentially cause a small release of fission materials into the cooling loop, "where it wouldn't normally be".

"Failed fuel or cracked fuel is a fairly normal and common -- undesirable, certainly -- but not uncommon phenomenon in the nuclear fuel industry," Fishman told AFP.

'Normal'

Citing a letter from Framatome to the US energy department, CNN said the warning included an accusation that the Chinese safety authority was raising the acceptable limits for radiation outside the facility in order to avoid having to shut it down.

US officials have conferred with both French and Chinese officials about the matter, CNN said.

The Department of Energy did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment on the report.

The operator of the station, state-owned China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN), said in a statement late Sunday that "the environmental indicators of Taishan Nuclear Power Plant and its surroundings are normal".

It did not refer to any leak or incident at the power station, which it said meets "the requirements of nuclear safety regulations and power plant technical specifications".

The International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN's nuclear watchdog, said it had contacted its counterpart in China regarding the issue.

"At this stage, the Agency has no indication that a radiological incident occurred," the IAEA said in a statement.

AFP did not get an immediate response to a request for comment from either the Chinese foreign ministry or the Chinese nuclear power group.

A problem with a cracked fuel rod would have to be logged by the Chinese nuclear safety administration with a mitigation report to fix the problem, Fishman said.

Fishman said Framatome possibly reached out to the United States to seek approval for their work at Taishan because CGN has been blacklisted by Washington.

"If (Framatome) were going to transfer over any information that they have gotten from working in the US, they would have to apply for an exemption... because CGN is on the US entity list," he said.

"It is a no-fly zone for any US information, any information or data or technology or IP to go to China."

EPR reactors

Powered up in 2018, the Taishan plant was the first worldwide to operate a next-generation EPR nuclear reactor, a pressurised water design that has been subject to years of delays in similar European projects in Britain, France and Finland.

EPR reactors have been touted as promising advances in safety and efficiency over conventional reactors while producing less waste.

Nuclear plants supplied less than five percent of China's annual electricity needs in 2019, according to the National Energy Administration, but this share is expected to grow as Beijing attempts to become carbon neutral by 2060.

China has 47 nuclear plants with a total generation capacity of 48.75 gigawatts -- the world's third highest after the United States and France -- and has invested billions of dollars to develop its nuclear energy sector.
Social distancing rules have been applied in a town in the southern Vietnamese province of Binh Duong after 12 suspected COVID-19 cases were detected there.

The provincial Center for Disease Control confirmed on Tuesday that the suspected cases had been recorded in Tan Uyen Town, Binh Duong Province a day earlier.

They came into direct contact with two patients who had been confirmed earlier.

As many of the 12 cases are factory workers in Binh Duong, which accommodates many industrial zones developed by both domestic and foreign investors, local authorities have decided to reinstate social distancing measures in Tan Uyen Town from 0:00 on Tuesday.

Local residents will have to follow regulations under the prime ministers Directive No.16.

Under this directive, all residents are required to stay home and can only go outside when very necessary, such as buying food, supplies, medicine, and other essential goods, seeking medical examinations and treatment, or working in essential sectors.

People must keep a two-meter distance from one another, while the gathering of more than two people outside public offices, schools, and hospitals is forbidden.

Vietnam has documented 10,999 COVID-19 cases as of Tuesday afternoon, with 4,236 recoveries and 61 deaths, according to the Ministry of Health.

The country has logged 7,787 local infections in 40 provinces and cities since April 27, including 13 patients in Binh Duong.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Officers in Vietnam's Quang Tri Province have launched an investigation into the drowning of a six-year-old boy that happened in a water pit at a street construction site on Sunday.

The investigation is carried out by the police force of the provincial capital city of Dong Ha in collaboration with the local procuracy agency, Senior Colonel Nguyen Viet Anh, a high-ranking police official, said on Monday afternoon.

H.T.Q.A., 6, slipped and fell into a large hole filled with rainwater while playing at the construction site on the extended Le Thanh Tong Street near his house on Sunday afternoon.

When his family members found out his whereabouts, A. was already dead.

At the scene, there were no warning signs or barriers around the water pit.

The construction project in question is operated by Thanh An Joint Stock Company.

According to the company, its staff had discovered a dry hole about 1.5 meters deep, likely an old well, when undergoing site clearance on June 11.

The construction unit planned to fill up the hole with sand, but consecutive rains in recent times prevented it from doing so until the accident happened.

After the incident, representatives of Thanh An came to offer condolences and support to the victims family for organizing his funeral.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
A total of 105 businesses and organizations had donated VND2,293 billion (US$100 million) in aggregate by Monday to support Ho Chi Minh City's purchase of coronavirus vaccines, according to the local chapter of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, which takes care of vaccine fundraising and jab distribution in the southern metropolis.

This is part of Vietnam's crowdfunding to buy COVID-19 vaccine to immunize about 75 million of its population of nearly 98 million people at an estimated cost of VND25.2 trillion ($1.1 billion).

With an aim to reach herd immunity, the Ministry of Health expects to obtain 150 million vaccine doses this year.

The country set up a fund to raise money for this cause under a decision of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on May 26.

The find was officially debuted at a ceremony held in Hanoi on June 5.

Vietnam has been combating a fourth virus wave since April 27, with 7,787 recorded in 40 of its 63 provinces and cities.

Ho Chi Minh City has recorded 923 patients in this round, making it the locality with the third-highest number of infections, after Bac Giang with 4,263 patients and Bac Ninh with 1,394.

Hanoi follows in fourth position with 464 infections.

The nation has documented an accumulation of 10,999 patients, including 9,356 domestic and 1,643 imported cases, since the pathogen first hit the country on January 23, 2020..

Recoveries have reached 4,236 while 61 patients have died, mostly with critical underlying medical conditions like cancer and chronic renal failure.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Police in Ho Chi Minh City on Monday expelled 13 foreigners who had been caught entering Vietnam illegally after they completed their quarantine period in the metropolis.

This is the third deportation in the southern city since the beginning of 2021.

Police officers did not reveal their nationality.

Like the two previous cases, the 13 border jumpers said that they were either looking for employment in Ho Chi Minh City or waiting to be transported to Cambodia to find jobs.

All of them had been medically checked and completed the required quarantine period in Nha Be District prior to their deportation.

Given the complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic, police units and grassroots authorities in Ho Chi Minh City have implemented preventive measures and beefed up patrols and administrative inspections in order to promptly detect foreigners unlawfully migrating to Vietnam.

They also strictly punish those organizing the illegal entry of foreigners.

Ho Chi Minh City authorities decided on Monday to extend the enhanced social distancing measures implemented since May 31 by another two weeks given an escalation in transmissions.

From April 27 to Tuesday afternoon, the city has recorded 923 local cases of COVID-19, making it the locality with the third-highest number of infections in Vietnam, after Bac Giang with 4,263 patients and Bac Ninh with 1,394.

Hanoi follows in fourth position with 464 infections.

These infections are among the total caseload of 7,787 recorded in 40 of Vietnams 63 provinces and cities in this ongoing virus wave -- the fourth and the worst since the pathogen first hit the country on January 23, 2020.

The nation has documented an accumulation of 10,999 patients, including 9,356 domestic and 1,643 imported cases ever since.

Recoveries have reached 4,236 while 61 patients have died, mostly with critical underlying medical conditions like cancer and chronic renal failure.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
A medical center in Ho Chi Minh City has been closed for the second time in less than a month after two COVID-19 patients were detected at the facility.

The Medic Medical Center at 254 Hoa Hao Street in District 10 has stopped receiving patients from Monday, Dr. Phan Thanh Hai, director of the facility, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper.

The center detected two suspicious COVID-19 cases on Saturday, Hai continued.

Although their rapid test result came back negative, the two individuals were brought to the quarantine zone to undergo reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests.

Their results later came back positive for the novel coronavirus.

After being informed of the cases, the Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control transferred the patients to local COVID-19 treatment facilities.

All health workers who had contact with the patients have been tested, Dr. Hai said, adding that the fumigation of the entire center began on Monday.

The Medic Medical Center was previously shut down on May 19 as 58-year-old D.T.T., a noodle soup vendor, had tested positive for COVID-19 after visiting the venue.

It resumed normal operations on June 3.

The center often receives thousands of patients on a daily basis.

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Many residents barricaded the entrance of a steel plant in the central Vietnamese province of Quang Ngai last week to show their objection to serious environmental pollution.

The entrance of the Hoa Phat Dung Quat steel plant had been blocked for over a week before chairman of the provincial administration Dang Van Minh convened a meeting with residents in Binh Thuan Commune, Binh Son District on Saturday to listen to their complaints.

Chairman Minh and his delegation also examined the pollution at the houses of affected residents.

Locals stated they could no longer stand the noise and dust coming from the operation of the steel plant, as well as the construction of the projects second phase.

Chairman of the Quang Ngai Peoples Committee Dang Van Minh meets with local residents on June 12, 2021. Photo: Tran Mai / Tuoi Tre

The Hoa Phat Dung Quat steel plant project was initiated in late 2017 and was put into trial operation over a year ago.

The construction of the projects second phase recently began on a 115-hectare area.

Approximately 340 households are directly affected by the project, of which 70 have already been relocated to other areas.

The others were supposed to move to the local Van Truong resettlement zone three years ago, but the construction of the area has yet to begin.

Chairman of the Quang Ngai Peoples Committee Dang Van Minh meets with local residents on June 12, 2021. Photo: Tran Mai / Tuoi Tre

At the meeting, chairman Minh extended his apologies to affected residents and promised that the construction of the resettlement project will start by October and finish a year later.

In the meantime, the chairman required the developer of the Hoa Phat Dung Quat steel plant to provide monetary support for affected residents so that they can find a temporary place to stay.

The construction of the projects second phase must also be halted until all residents are relocated.

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A Singaporean-owned company in an industrial park in Vietnam has been closed temporarily after its sales head tested positive for the coronavirus once, a local disease control agency has reported.

N.T.D., 38, head of sales at Map Pacific Singapore Co. Ltd., situated in Amata Industrial Park in southern Dong Nai Province, has tested positive for the virus for the first time, the provincial Center for Disease Control said on Tuesday.

On June 11, after being identified as a direct contact of his cousin who had contracted the virus, D., hailing from Ho Chi Minh City, and his 10-member family were sent to a centralized quarantine facility in the provincial capital city of Bien Hoa, where he tested positive for COVID-19 a day later.

D. had had his samples taken for the second test and the result was pending, said Diep Thai Binh, director of the center.

Authorities have temporarily suspended the companys operations for epidemiological investigation and disinfected its premises.

All direct contacts of the man have been sent to a centralized quarantine center and they have tested negative for the first time, while his indirect contacts have been placed in home quarantine, Binh said.

The temporary lockdown may be lifted when all the direct and indirect contacts of the case have been traced and when the company has taken measures to ensure safe operations, said the official.

Map Pacific Singapore Co. Ltd. has a workforce of 160 employees, including workers who live at different rented houses, Bien Hoa City authorities reported.

This suspected infection, which has not been confirmed by the Ministry of Health, was detected amid the increasing COVID-19 spread in Vietnam, affecting 40 cities and provinces since late April.

The Ministry of Health on Tuesday noon confirmed 118 new cases nationwide, all domestically detected, of which 69 were logged in Bac Giang Province.

Vietnam has so far documented 10,999 patients, including 4,236 recoveries and 61 deaths, since the COVID-19 hit the country in early 2020.

Since April 27, when the pandemics fourth wave started in Vietnam, 7,787 infections have been recorded across the country.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
The Ministry of Health confirmed on Tuesday nearly 400 domestic coronavirus infections in Vietnam, the majority in a hotbed in the northern region and 90 in Ho Chi Minh City.

A total of 398 local cases were reported across the country, including 204 in isolated areas, the health ministry said in a report the same day.

Northern Bac Giang Province, which is the nations largest cluster, recorded 235 of the infections, while its neighbor Bac Ninh Province detected 55 patients.

Ho Chi Minh City recorded 90 cases, Binh Duong logged 12, Ha Tinh Province reported three, Lang Son Province announced two, and Hanoi registered one.

Vietnam has detected 7,997 community cases in 40 out of its 63 provinces and cities since the ongoing fourth virus wave broke out on April 27.

Bac Giang is ahead with 4,401 patients, followed by Bac Ninh with 1,415, Ho Chi Minh City with 961, and Hanoi with 464.

Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City on Monday decided to extend the enhanced social distancing measures having put in place since May 31 by two weeks to stall escalating community spread, as over 80 patients have been confirmed on a daily basis since the weekend.

The Southeast Asian nation has reported 11,212 cumulative infections as of Tuesday evening, including 9,566 domestic and 1,646 imported cases, according to the health ministrys data.

The number of recovered patients has reached 4,543, including 303 announced on Tuesday, while 61 have died, most with severe pre-existing conditions.

More than 4.8 million people have been tested in this fourth wave, the worst so far.

Vietnam confirmed 106 community cases in the first wave from January 23 to April 16, 2020, 554 in the second from July 25 to December 1, 2020, and 910 in the third from January 28 to March 25, 2021.

The country administered 54,328 AstraZeneca vaccine shots to medical staff and other frontline workers on Monday, taking the total to 1,552,651 doses since inoculation was rolled out on March 8.

A total of 59,608 have been given two shots of the vaccine.

The government has set a target of securing 150 jabs, as it expects to immunize at least two-thirds of a population of almost 98 million people this year.

It has received about 2.9 million AstraZeneca shots so far.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Peter Stefanovic will report on Australias Cocaine Crisis, this Sunday on SKY News.

I was shocked at the amount of cocaine thats coming into our shores and equally amazed at the work our police are doing to stop it. But clearly, much of it still gets through, which is why Australia is such a prized market for South American cartels, he said.

The report is part of a major joint investigation with News Corps Senior Correspondent Charles Miranda, National Health Correspondent Sue Dunlevy and Daily Telegraphs Crime Editor Mark Morri.

Following last weeks Australian Federal Police-led sting of the century Operation Ironside, charging more than one hundred organised crime members, Sky News anchor Peter Stefanovic examines the extraordinary extent of the international cocaine trade as quantities of the drug now reaching Australian shores hit unprecedented levels.

The half-hour special focuses on why Australias cocaine consumption per capita leads the world and how the so-called party drug impacts every level of society.

Peter speaks with senior law enforcement agencies in Australia and the United States about their determination to rein in the trade.

The special also examines the kingpins of the Australian cocaine trade and reveals the extraordinary lengths they go to smuggle huge quantities of drugs into the country.

7:30pm Sunday on SKY News.
US chat show The Talk has been renewed for a 12th season, but there is no replacement as yet for Sharon Osbourne.

Deadline reports the show now features Carrie Ann Inaba (who also serves as the shows moderator), Sheryl Underwood, Amanda Kloots, and Elaine Welteroth.

Osbourne ultimately decided to leave the show after her comments defending UK friend Piers Morgan led to new allegations by former co-hosts. Osbourne denied those claims, publicly accusing CBS executives of being behind the segment, which she called a setup.

The network also found hosts were not well prepared by producers for the discussion which led to the fallout.

The Talk airs in Australia on 10.
Tyler, TX (75702)

Today

Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms mainly during the evening. Low 76F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms mainly during the evening. Low 76F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
Today, a memory palace in an odd place and the wrong time. The University of Houston's College of Engineering presents this series about the machines that make our civilization run, and the people whose ingenuity created them.

H istorian Jonathan Spence picks a strange perspective from which to tell the story of Jesuit missionary Matteo Ricci. Ricci went to China in 1582 and spent the remaining 32 years of his life there. The Jesuits were only a generation old when Ricci joined them. They'd been formed in answer to the Protestant Reformation, and they offered an energetic and intellectual response to everything that'd gone bad in the late medieval church.

Ricci brought blazing intelligence to the task of learning who the Chinese were and how to bring Christianity to them. He learned their language, technology, and culture.

Then, in 1596, Ricci wrote A Treatise on Mnemonics , in Chinese, for the governor of Jiangxi Province. In it he recreated the medieval European idea of a memory palace -- an edifice you build in your mind and furnish with mnemonic devices. Recollection is a process of walking through the rooms and associating information with their contents. Those contents must be distinct and dramatic.

Suppose a modern medical student were to build a memory palace. In one room he might put a Mountie on his horse, leading a manacled prisoner. That triggers the phrase, Some Criminals Have Underestimated Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The first letters of each word, S, C, H, U, R, C, M, and P, identify the shoulder and arm bones -- S for scapula, C for clavicle, Humerus, Ulna, Radius, and so on. He can fill his whole building with bizarre people and things to aid his memory of bones, muscles, and nerves.

The memory palace idea was important before we had millions of the new printed books -- when most knowledge had to be carried by rote. But printed books were driving out the art of memory and they were bringing in the Reformation. Now we could write it down, forget it, and look it up when we needed it.

Ricci may've been bringing modern reform to the Catholic Church, but he was also leading the Chinese back to the interior life of the medieval church, a world where the mind was supposed to operate with minimal instruction from outside influence. By now, Ricci's flamboyant tricks of memory were falling from favor. Europe was condemning them as magic and showmanship. But this was China.

So Ricci did something we might take to heart today as we buy into our computers -- our second selves, our replacement brains. For they too take us further and further from the old discipline of memory. Why memorize what we can look up? And so our inner life is gradually impoverished for lack of grist.

Ricci left his mark on China. He didn't accomplish widespread conversions, of course. But his mission did forge the first solid intellectual link between Europe and this very different culture. Part of it was a matter of calling forth an old ability that waned during the Renaissance -- and which we are absolutely fleeing from today.

I'm John Lienhard, at the University of Houston, where we're interested in the way inventive minds work.

(Theme music)
The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court asked it on Monday for authorisation to open a full investigation into drug war killings in the Philippines, saying crimes against humanity could have been committed.

According to Philippines government data, from the time President Rodrigo Duterte took office in 2016 until the end of April this year, security forces killed 6,117 drug dealers in sting operations.

Rights groups say authorities have summarily executed drug suspects, but police say drug dealers fought back violently.

"I announce that the preliminary examination into the situation in the Republic of the Philippines has concluded and that I have requested judicial authorisation to proceed with an (formal criminal) investigation," ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said in a statement.

Bensouda had said last December that there were reasonable grounds to believe crimes against humanity had been committed during Duterte's bloody anti-narcotics crackdown, whose death toll has stirred international outrage.

In an address recorded this week before the news of Bensouda's request broke, Duterte called on human rights organisations to take a closer look into his war on drugs.

"You would notice that there are really persons who die almost daily because they fought back," he said, warning drug dealers: "Do not destroy the country. I will kill you."

The Philippines Justice ministry declined to comment on the announcement from the ICC in The Hague.

Bensouda, in concluding her preliminary inquiry in December last year, said there was a "reasonable basis to believe that the crimes against humanity of murder, torture (...) and other inhumane acts were committed between 2016 and 2019.

Many people killed in Duterte's crackdown had been on a drug watch list compiled by authorities or had previously surrendered to police, while a significant number of minors were victims, Bensouda's office said in a report six months ago.

Story continues

Human rights groups accuse Duterte of inciting deadly violence and say police have murdered unarmed suspects and staged crime scenes on a massive scale. Police deny this and Duterte insists he told police to kill only in self-defence.

Under the ICC statute, the prosecutor must ask judges for permission to open an official investigation into alleged crimes. The tribunal's judges have up to four months to issue a decision on such a request.

In March 2018, Duterte cancelled the Philippines' membership of the ICC's founding treaty just weeks after Bensouda announced the preliminary examination was under way. He said the ICC was prejudiced against him.

Under the ICC's withdrawal mechanism the court keeps jurisdiction over crimes committed during the membership period of a state, in this case between 2016 and 2019 when the Philippines' pullout became official.

(REUTERS)
DUBLIN, Jun 15, 2021--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The "Site Remediation Consulting Services Global Market Report 2021: COVID-19 Impact and Recovery to 2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global site remediation consulting services market is expected to grow from $9.85 billion in 2020 to $10.59 billion in 2021 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.5%.

Site Remediation Consulting Services Global Market Report 2021: COVID-19 Impact and Recovery to 2030 provides the strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the global site remediation consulting services market as it emerges from the COVID-19 shut down.

Major players in the site remediation consulting services market are Tetra Tech Inc, Environmental Resources Management, AECOM, CH2M Hill, Arcadis, Clean Harbors, and Veolia Environmental Services.

The growth is mainly due to the companies rearranging their operations and recovering from the COVID-19 impact, which had earlier led to restrictive containment measures involving social distancing, remote working, and the closure of commercial activities that resulted in operational challenges.

The market is expected to reach $12.76 billion in 2025 at a CAGR of 4.8%.

Transformation from traditional consulting to cloud based consulting is one of the key trends shaping the market growth of the site remediation consulting services market during the forecast period. Most of the remediation services companies will use mobile devices to handle work orders and is expected to transform from traditional consulting to software-as-a-service based consulting.

The software-as-a-service platforms are delivered in the form of EHS compliance, industrial environmental compliance management, carbon reporting, water quality management, and QHSE (quality, environmental, health & safety) management. Cloud based consulting provides an easy approach for consulting services and needs renewal after a certain period of time.

Story continues

The site remediation consulting services market covered in the report is segmented by type into bioremediation; pump & treat; in situ vitrification; thermal treatment; chemical treatment; excavation; soil washing; others and by application into waste disposal sites; oil & gas; mining; chemical & petrochemical; manufacturing; agriculture; construction; others.

In 2019, Tetra Tech Inc., a US-based, global provider of high-end consulting and engineering services for concerns associated with water, environment, infrastructure, resource management, energy, and international development acquired WYG plc for 43 million. The acquisition of WYG plc will place Tetra Tech Inc., as one of the leading global consulting, engineering, and program management firm focused on water, environment, and infrastructure. WYG plc is a UK-based, provider of technical expertise and commercial insight to property, asset, and infrastructure projects.

The rapid rise in air and water pollution levels over the last decade and the increase in natural calamities such as floods, earthquakes, and landslides globally is driving the demand for site remediation consulting services. There has been an increase in the scope for ecological restoration and site remediation consulting services due to the rise in natural calamities such as Tsunamis, hurricanes, and earthquakes.

For instance, 19 floods stuck in the USA in 2016, and the Louisiana floods disaster cost was estimated at around $10 billion. In 2018, nearly 1808 earthquakes were recorded globally of magnitudes ranging from 5-8 and a significant amount was invested in site remediation services.

Key Topics Covered:

1. Executive Summary

2. Site Remediation Consulting Services Market Characteristics

3. Site Remediation Consulting Services Market Trends and Strategies

4. Impact of COVID-19 on Site Remediation Consulting Services

5. Site Remediation Consulting Services Market Size and Growth

5.1. Global Site Remediation Consulting Services Historic Market, 2015-2020, $ Billion

5.1.1. Drivers of the Market

5.1.2. Restraints on the Market

5.2. Global Site Remediation Consulting Services Forecast Market, 2020-2025F, 2030F, $ Billion

5.2.1. Drivers of the Market

5.2.2. Restraints on the Market

6. Site Remediation Consulting Services Market Segmentation

6.1. Global Site Remediation Consulting Services Market, Segmentation by Type, Historic and Forecast, 2015-2020, 2020-2025F, 2030F, $ Billion

Bioremediation

Pump & treat

in situ vitrification

Thermal treatment

Chemical treatment

Excavation

Soil washing

Others

6.2. Global Site Remediation Consulting Services Market, Segmentation by Application, Historic and Forecast, 2015-2020, 2020-2025F, 2030F, $ Billion

Waste disposal sites

Oil & gas

Mining

Chemical & Petrochemical

Manufacturing

Agriculture

Construction

Others

6.3. Global Site Remediation Consulting Services Market, Segmentation by Service, Historic and Forecast, 2015-2020, 2020-2025F, 2030F, $ Billion

Remediation Services

Soil Remediation Services

Water Remediation Services

7. Site Remediation Consulting Services Market Regional and Country Analysis

7.1. Global Site Remediation Consulting Services Market, Split by Region, Historic and Forecast, 2015-2020, 2020-2025F, 2030F, $ Billion

7.2. Global Site Remediation Consulting Services Market, Split by Country, Historic and Forecast, 2015-2020, 2020-2025F, 2030F, $ Billion

Companies Mentioned

Tetra Tech Inc

Environmental Resources Management

AECOM

CH2M Hill

Arcadis

Clean Harbors

Veolia Environmental Services

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/yde0uh

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005664/en/

Contacts

ResearchAndMarkets.com

Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager

press@researchandmarkets.com

For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630

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Few American presidents come into office with as much international travel under their belts as Joe Biden. During his tenure as vice president alone, Biden logged more than 1 million miles on trips to 57 countries. Adding the hundreds of trips he made as U.S. senator on the foreign relations committee beginning in the 1970s, one could make a good case that Biden has the largest carbon footprint of anyone whos ever lived in the White House.

Many of those trips were to Europe, which has always had a special place in Bidens heart. Thats why its no accident that he made his first foreign trip to the Continent. The official purpose of Bidens trip might be to show European allies some love after the beating they suffered under his predecessor  but Biden also just really likes Europe. That enthusiasm has been palpable over the years, whether he was visiting his ancestral home in Ireland, the Munich Security Conference or the farthest reaches of the Balkans, all places that he has returned to time and again. Its been the joy of my life, Biden said a few years ago about his travels, expressing boyish awe at how similar we are. Politico presents five places that helped turn Biden into a closet European.

Ireland

A lot of American politicians have Irish heritage, but few seem to really get the place like Biden, both of whose parents were of Irish stock. That might be because his ancestors passed down tales of the plight of fleeing Irelands 19th-century famine. Or, it could be that, unlike John F. Kennedy, another Irish Catholic president, Biden grew up in a working-class family that struggled to make ends meet. He attributes his parents lessons about resilience and never bending to their Irish roots. During a presidential debate with Donald Trump last year, Biden, who accused his opponent of being a racist, said people like him look down their nose on people like Irish Catholics and like me and people who dont have money. Just how personal Bidens Irish connection is to him became clear during a visit he took with his family to County Mayo in western Ireland in 2016. It was from there in the mid-1800s that one of his great grandfathers set out for America. Thousands of locals lined the streets to catch a glimpse of the then-vice president, who spent much of his time there meeting extended relatives. It sounds bizarre, but we sat down and it was like wed known each other forever, he said.

The Balkans

The other corner of Europe where the professional and political have melded for Biden is the former Yugoslavia, a region rife with historical divisions not dissimilar to those of Ireland. He reflected on those parallels in a 1999 speech following the NATO air campaign against Yugoslavia, which forced Belgrade to withdraw from Kosovo. Bosnia and Kosovo have been freed from Belgrade, but, as was the case in  Ireland, the people are often using their freedom to kill each other, he lamented. In the early 1990s, he was a staunch advocate for U.S. engagement in the region to prevent the killing of innocents in Bosnia and Kosovo. In a prescient 1993 New York Times op-ed, he warned that a U.N. arms embargo forbidding weapons sales to Bosnia was effectively codifying Serb aggression and leading the people there to slaughter. The West has dithered so pathetically, and Bosnia has suffered so terribly, that Bosnian leaders are justifiably suspicious, he began.

The embargo was never lifted, mainly due to European resistance, but as the Srebrenica genocide and other horrors of the war would later illustrate, Biden and other critics were right. Biden never gave up on the Balkans, returning time and again, long after most western politicians had lost interest. The Balkans are not a strategic sideshow, he told his Senate colleagues after he visited the region in 2001. Southeastern Europe remains central to security for the entire continent and, hence, for the United States. After becoming vice president in 2009, Biden visited the region again, in part because he worried that Washington had all but forgotten about it after 9/11. In 2016, Biden visited Kosovo for the opening of a new highway named after his late son, Beau, a lawyer who had worked to help establish a new justice system in the country in the early 2000s. Beau loved this country like I do, Biden said of his son, who died of brain cancer in 2015.

Brussels

As a convinced transatlanticist, Biden is nowhere more at home than in the wheelhouse of the western alliance  NATO headquarters. Hes due to visit there again for the NATO summit on Monday. Unlike his predecessor, who complained about the cost of NATOs new modern complex and declared the alliance obsolete, Biden will celebrate the partnership as one of the greatest achievements of modern history. Biden has been a fixture at NATO ever since he entered public service. He was co-chairman of the NATO Observer Group in the Senate, set up in 1997 to prepare for the alliances expansion, which he championed. When the Senate approved NATO enlargement in 1998, Biden called it the beginning of another 50 years of peace. For Biden, NATO is more than just an alliance; it represents the power of American ideals and what many of his generation still regard as the U.S.s historic mission to spread freedom and democracy across the world. Inviting former Warsaw Pact countries into the club wasnt just about ensuring their future security, he said back in 1998: Well be righting an historical injustice forced upon the Poles, Czechs and Hungarians by Joseph Stalin.

Munich

Bidens connection to the Bavarian capital has less to do with its famous beer halls than with the annual security conference there, which some lovingly call Davos with guns. Biden became a regular at the annual meeting during the Cold War when it was still known by its German name: Wehrkunde. Though unpronounceable to most American officials, Wehrkunde became a fixture on the calendar of Americas foreign policy and security establishment stretching back to the 1960s. During the Cold War, Biden would join other leading lights of the western alliance in the basement Stube of the five-star hotel that hosts the meeting to talk shop over beers and plot against the Soviets. The personal relationships built in Munich over the years helped create the glue that kept the West together through the challenges of that period and beyond. Biden never stopped coming. In a speech at the meeting in 2019, now known as the Munich Security Conference, Biden upstaged then-Vice President Mike Pence, who was also there, exclaiming, I promise you  Well be back. Bidens message to Europe: Trump wont be around much longer. Earlier this year, he returned to Munich  at least virtually  to deliver his now-famous call to arms: America is back.

Hungary

Bidens decision to spend his honeymoon on Hungarys famous Lake Balaton wouldnt be that notable if it werent for the year he did so: 1977. Though the Cold War was thawing a bit that year, Hungary wouldnt have topped many newlyweds dream honeymoon destinations. That didnt dissuade Biden, then still in his first term as a senator, from taking his bride behind the Iron Curtain. It was Bidens first trip to the region, and in addition to taking in the beauty of Balaton, he also spent time in Budapest, meeting with communist officials, journalists and dissidents. The trip, which was organized by Tom Lantos, a Hungarian-born Holocaust survivor who worked as an adviser to Biden before becoming a U.S. congressman, left a strong impression on the future president.

Until that, I had no idea that the only place in the world where it is worth [it] to eat fish is Balaton, he said years later. The trip also shaped his view of what was really at stake in the Cold War. Biden won a place in Hungarys heart that year by promising that the U.S. would return the Hungarian crown, which the country had discovered in Austria in 1945. Those good memories notwithstanding, Biden is unlikely to return to Hungary anytime soon. He has made no secret of his displeasure over the countrys authoritarian turn under Prime Minister Viktor Orban in recent years. In 2020, he mentioned the country in the same breath as autocrat-run Belarus, lamenting the rise of totalitarian regimes around the world.
Covid-19 vaccination centres will be set up in shopping malls starting July, Deputy Health Minister Tamar Gabunia announced today.

According to her, mass Covid-19 immunisation will start throughout Georgia in July, when the country will receive additional doses of various vaccines.

"Mass Covid vaccination sites will be set up and additional brigades will be added to the existing 200 brigades in the future. The Health Ministry has already started negotiations with shopping malls, where large-scale immunization sites will be set up starting July," Gabunia said.

She also said that the ministry is going to offer incentives to fully vaccinated citizens, though she didnt mention details about the package.

"Corporate responsibility and encouraging employees to get involved in the vaccination process are very important. The Georgian government is also going to gradually replace the mandatory testing regimen with the vaccination process, which means that fully vaccinated individuals will no longer need to undergo mandatory PCR testing," Agenda.ge cited the minister as saying.

Georgia will start importing different types of Covid-19 vaccines in July. By the end of 2021, there will be over 3.6 million doses of vaccines in the country.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived on an official visit to Azerbaijan on June 15.

A guard of honor was lined up in honor of the distinguished guest at the Heydar Aliyev International Airport, where the state flags of the two countries were flying.

The Turkish leader and his wife Emine Erdogan were welcomed at the airport by the First Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Yagub Eyyubov, Deputy Foreign Minister Khalaf Khalafov, and other officials.

The Turkish President will first visit the city of Fizuli. As part of his official visit, Erdogan will travel to Shusha, which was liberated from Armenian occupation, where he will be welcomed with an official ceremony by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. After a private meeting, Erdogan and Aliyev will attend a signing ceremony, hold a joint press conference and take a tour of the city.
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has viewed the work done on the Ahmadbayli-Fuzuli-Shusha highway and Victory road during the visit to Fuzuli district.

The head of state was informed of the construction progress on the highways.

He has also viewed the work done on the bridge constructed over the Victory road. Ilham Aliyev was informed of the technical indicators of the bridge.

The head of state has laid a foundation stone for a tunnel to be constructed on Ahmadbayli-Fuzuli-Shusha highway passing through a part of the territory of Dashalti village.

Ilham Aliyev and the First Lady viewed construction progress at Fuzuli International Airport.
President Hassan Rouhani said on Monday that Iran has mastered a level of knowledge that it is enriching uranium up to 63%, and that it can enrich uranium at any percentage it desires, Tehran Times reports.

Rouhani made the remarks while speaking at an inauguration ceremony unveiling the Defense Ministry plans.

The president reiterated Tehrans long held position that Irans nuclear program is purely for civilian purposes, saying production of nuclear weapons is unacceptable.

"In the issue of defense in our country, we neither need weapons of mass destruction, nor we seek to acquire this weapon, nor do we consider it permissible; this is an explicit fatwa of the Supreme Leader.

Rouhani said Iran is developing new technologies for domestic use.

He added, Our nuclear power is not for developing nuclear weapons. The United States and Europe should know this and understand that Irans nuclear activity is completely peaceful and our enrichment is for the needs of the country in medical and energy sectors.
Following the official welcome ceremony in Shusha, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan have held a one-on-one meeting.

Following the one-on-one meeting, a Shusha Declaration on allied relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Turkey has been signed.

Ilham Aliyev and Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed the Shusha Declaration and made press statements.

The Azerbaijani leader said that the signed Shusha Declaration on Allied Relations shows the directions of their further cooperation. "Today we are setting a unique example of alliance in the world," he stressed, noting that all provisions of the Shusha Declaration are the guarantors of our future cooperation. Ilham Aliyev added that the Shusha Declaration on Allied Relations reflected the issue of opening the Zangezur Corridor and the issues of joint defense and mutual military assistance between Azerbaijan and Turkey.

Erdogan said that as a result of the 44-day Nagorno-Karabakh war, the Nagorno-Karabakh region was returned to its owners and was liberated from the Armenian occupation.
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas believes that it is early to dismiss the possibility of new U.S. sanctions against the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, Bloomberg reported.

According to the report, Maas underlined that neither American Democrats nor Republicans have been positive about the project, but the foreign minister was still optimistic that a decision to the ongoing tensions could be found in the coming months over ongoing negotiations with partners on the subject.

Maas also said he was hopeful that the Nord Stream 2 would not remain a source of conflict in U.S.-German relations.

The United States has been actively trying to disrupt the project, which is set to transport up to 55 billion cubic metres of Russian gas to Germany each year. Washington maintains that Nord Stream would leave Europe too dependent on Russia, and has so far introduced several rounds on sanctions against those vessels and companies engaged in the pipeline's construction.

Most recently, it blacklisted 13 Russian ships and three firms linked to the project but decided to waive sanctions against Nord Stream 2 AG, the Switzerland-registered firm behind the pipeline's construction, and its CEO Matthias Warnig. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that it was in the US "national interest" to keep Warnig and Nord Stream 2 AG unaffected by sanctions.
Authorities are allowing a massive chemical plant fire in Rockton, Illinois, burn itself out, which could take several days, rather than risk chemical runoff spilling into the nearby Rock River.

Fire department officials said the air near the plant is safe at ground level, and no workers were injured in the explosion and fire at the Chemtool factory in Rockton. The fire prompted a mandatory evacuation order near the plant.

The fire began around 7 a.m. at the Chemtool plant. Some neighbors in the area reported hearing small explosions as the fire started burning. The company manufactures fluids, lubricants, and grease products for machinery.

More than 40 fire departments were called in to help contain the fire, fighting falling debris and grass fires in nearby yards, CBS reported.

Rockton Police said the Rockton Fire Protection District has ordered a mandatory evacuation for all homes and businesses within one mile of the factory. As of late Monday night, a total of 1,500 people living within five blocks of the plant had been evacuated from their homes.

Wilson said all 70 employees who were working at the plant at the time were also safely evacuated. No workers were hurt, but one firefighter suffered a minor injury.
Azerbaijan is celebrating National Salvation Day today, on June 15.

In October of 1991, Azerbaijan gained independence. However, in the first years of independence, an internal crisis and a crisis of power emerged in the country. Chaos and confusion were reigning in all spheres of public life. The situation in the army was also worsening, and cases of desertion were increasing. The Armenian aggression was intensifying day by day. A crisis of power was being observed in Azerbaijan. There was also a struggle for power between individuals and groups.

After coming to power on May 14, 1992, the Popular Front party immediately demonstrated its complete inability to govern the country. In the summer of 1993, a real threat of civil war arose in Azerbaijan. On June 9, Heydar Aliyev, arrived in Baku in difficult days accepting the insistent invitations of the people. Thank to his efforts, the civil war in the country was prevented.

On June 15, 1993, Heydar Aliyev was elected Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan.Thus, this day went down in the history of the country as the Day of National Salvation. By the request of the people, the Parliament of Azerbaijan declared this day a holiday in June 1997.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has made a post on the occasion of June 15-the National Salvation Day on his official Twitter account. In a post, President Ilham Aliyev quoted national leader Heydar Aliyev as saying: "Our main task is to preserve, maintain, strengthen, develop and perpetuate the state independence of Azerbaijan.
Russia has cooperation plans with Iran, Russian President Vladimir Putin told the U.S. television network NBC.

"We have cooperation plans with Iran, including the military and technical cooperation. And all of this fits the framework of the decisions that were agreed upon in our program in regard to Irans nuclear program in the context of U.N. decisions together with our partners in the preparation of the JCPOA whereby some point sanctions, including in the area of military and technical cooperation, should be lifted from Iran," the head of state stressed.

The two countries "have certain programs which - concern conventional weapons, if it gets that far. However, we haven't even gone to that stage yet. We don't even have any kind of real cooperation even in the conventional weapons area. So if - if anybody is - inventing something regarding - modern space-based technology, this is just - plain fiction. This is just - fake news," Putin added.
Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold a separate meeting with Swiss President Guy Parmelin following the summit with his American counterpart Joe Biden in Geneva on June 16, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov reported.

"After [Putins] press conference concludes, there will be a bilateral meeting with the Swiss president," the Kremlin representative said. According to him, the agenda for the conversation of Putin and Parmelin was not coordinated, "there was simply an agreement to meet," and, apparently, the development of bilateral cooperation will be discussed.

The presidential aide emphasized that Russia highly esteems the neutral role of Switzerland and is grateful to the Swiss side for organizing the summit in Geneva.

"Several capitals were considered. While we proposed several capitals, the Americans agreed to one of our suggested variants," he explained when talking about the details of choosing the location for the summit.
Russia has registered 14,185 new confirmed COVID-19 infections over the past 24 hours, bringing the total count to 5,236,593 cases, the anti-coronavirus crisis center told journalists on Tuesday.

According to the crisis center, the relative increase of new infections is at the level of 0.27%.

In the past 24-hour period, 205 new cases were uncovered in Buryatia (the highest since December 22 of last year), along with 192 new infections in the Nizhny Novgorod Region (the highest since April 25, 2021). Also, during this timeframe, 174 new cases were discovered in the Voronezh Region, 155 new infections in the Rostov Region, and 146 cases were detected in the Sverdlovsk Region.

The number of the so-called active cases, that is, patients who are currently undergoing treatment, has increased to 291,169. This is the highest since March 22, 2021.

Coronavirus cases in Moscow grew by 6,805 in the past 24 hours compared to 6,590 a day before to 1,248,112.

The coronavirus growth rate equaled 0.55%, the latest data show.

Seventy-one coronavirus patients died at Moscow hospitals in the past 24 hours (72 a day before), bringing fatalities in the Russian capital to 21,050, the figures suggest.

A total of 3,045 patients were discharged from Moscow hospitals upon their recovery from the novel coronavirus in the past day, bringing recoveries in the Russian capital to 1,099,598. Currently, 127,464 people are undergoing medical treatment from the infection in the Russian capital, the latest data show.

Confirmed coronavirus cases in the Moscow Region grew by 1,135 in the past 24 hours, registering the highest level since January 25.

Overall, 283,799 people have been infected with the novel coronavirus in the Moscow Region since the start of the pandemic (slightly less than 3.7% of the population), the latest data show.

A total of 885 people recovered from the novel coronavirus in the past 24 hours, bringing recoveries in the Moscow Region to 234,242 (82.5% of all infections). Currently, 43,272 people continue their medical treatment from the novel coronavirus in the Moscow Region, the latest figures indicate.

Eight coronavirus patients died in the Moscow Region in the past day, bringing fatalities to 6,285, the federal anti-coronavirus crisis center reported.

Russia recorded 379 coronavirus deaths in the past 24 hours, up from 371 the day before. The total death toll has reached 127,180.

According to data from the crisis center, 2.43% of coronavirus patients have died in Russia.

In particular, 20 fatalities were reported in the Nizhny Novgorod region in the past day, 15 in the Ulyanovsk region, 14 in the Voronezh region, 13 in the Sverdlovsk region and 12 in the Krasnodar region.

Russias coronavirus recoveries rose by 8,597 to 4,818,244 in the past 24 hours. According to data from the crisis center, 92% of coronavirus patients have recovered in Russia.

In particular, 279 recoveries were reported in the Buryatia region in the past day, 222 in the Rostov region, 171 in the Voronezh region, 127 in the Sverdlovsk region and 115 in the Nizhny Novgorod region.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday he held a fruitful and sincere meeting with his US counterpart Joe Biden on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Brussels, Al Jazeera reports.

We believe there is no problem that cannot be resolved in Turkey-US relations, Erdogan added after holding his first meeting with Biden since his election.

At a press conference on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Brussels, Erdogan said the extensive talks with Biden covered cooperation on regional issues and he emphasized his long years of friendship with the US leader.

In a brief exchange with reporters, Biden described it as a very good meeting. He and Erdogan met privately before being joined by other officials. They spent in total more than an hour together.

The US president later told reporters that the discussion was positive and productive. He said the leaders had detailed discussions about how to proceed on a number of issues, but did not go into much further detail.
The groups will be charge of handling outstanding projects with an aim to help solve longstanding problems at ministries and branches, and in localities.

The special task force will cover the progress of public investment projects, including ones using ODA (official development assistance) and preferential loans; and business investment projects, including those that are foreign invested and Private Public Partnerships (PPP).

The Ministry of Investment and Planning (MPI) found that many projects have investment certificates but have not been implemented, or have been implemented slowly for tens of years, thus causing waste of land resources, and leading to disputes and appeals.

The bottleneck to socio-economic development adversely affects the business and investment environment as well as investment attraction.

It is necessary to review and identify ineffective projects, find the causes and propose solutions to settle the obstacles, and create favorable conditions for these projects to be implemented effectively. If this can be done, it will help unleash the resources for development in localities.

MPI asked the Prime Minister to assign Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh to work as the head of the taskforce. The deputy heads would include Minister of MPI and Deputy Minister of MPI.

The members of the taskforce would be the leaders of ministries and branches that have tasks related to investment projects, including the Ministry of Justice (MOJ), Ministry of Finance (MOF), Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment (MONRE), Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT), Ministry of Transport (MOT), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV), Government Office and Commission for Management of State Capital in Enterprises (CMSC).

The taskforce may include some leaders of central and local agencies, and experts, if necessary.

The investment projects to be covered by the taskforce include public investment projects, including ones using ODA and preferential loans; and business investment projects, including foreign invested and PPP.

In Resolution No 19 released on February 10, 2021 in the January Government regular meeting, the Government asked to set up a special task force with MPI as the standing agency to solve such problems.

In the Government Offices Notice No 88 dated April 30, 2021 that included PM Pham Minh Chinhs conclusion after the working session with MPI, the PM assigned the ministry to join forces with relevant ministries to propose the establishment of the Government taskforce.

Luong Bang

Public investment: thousands of projects cut, but total capital up by quadrillion VND The total public investment capital has increased sharply in the 2021-2025 period compared with 2016-2020, but the number of projects has fallen significantly.
Vegetable and fruit prices have plummeted recently because they cannot be exported to China. In fruit centers, farmers are incurring big losses despite bountiful crops.

Vietnam is in high fruit harvesting season with the output expected to reach hundreds of thousands of tons. But, exports to China have got stuck because of Covid-19.

Prices have decreased dramatically.

At purple sweet potato centers in Vinh Long and Dong Thap, the price has dropped by 20 times since late April to VND500-600 per kilogram.

Le Van Tan, who grows sweet potatoes on 3 hectares in Chau Thanh district in Dong Thap, said farmers have never witnessed such a tragic crop before as the prices have dropped to the deepest low. Tan estimates that with the cultivation cost of VND15-20 million per hectare, he will incur a loss of VND500 million this year.

The biggest problem is that if sweet potatoes cannot be sold, all the products will have to be thrown away as they will rot.

In the dragon fruit metropolis of Binh Thuan, merchants have not turned up to collect the fruit.

The director of a dragon fruit export company said that demand from China has become weaker, which has led to a sharp price fall to VND2,000-3,000.

The output of dragonfruit grown with artificial lighting is not high, but the production cost is high. Binh Thuan farmers have incurred big losses at this price, he said.

Jackfruit prices in Tien Giang, Dong Nai and Dak Lak have also dropped. The sharpest price decrease is seen in Tien Giang, where high-quality jackfruit is sold at VND5,000-10,000 per kilogram only.

In Central Highlands, avocado is sold at just VND5,000 per kilogram, red flesh dragon fruit at VND1,500 per kilogram, while mango is VND3,000-5,000.

Bien Tan Tai, Deputy Director of Binh Thuan Industry and Trade Department, said the provincial authorities will call on businesses, cooperatives and exporters to buy dragon fruit to store in cold warehouses.

The province has asked for help to organize an online conference between Binh Thuan enterprises and Indian enterprises to promote the sale of Binh Thuan dragon fruit.

As for Dong Thap, with an estimated sweet potatoes of 8,494 tons still on the fields, the province has called on enterprises to join forces to buy farm produce.

Nguyen Van Tap, chair of Binh Tan District in Vinh Long province, said the district has called institutions and individuals to rescue sweet potatoes.

We have agreed that sweet potatoes will be collected at VND5,000 per kilogram. This will help farmers ease difficulties, finish the harvesting early, and prepare for the next crop, he said.

Vegetable and fruit prices have plummeted recently because they cannot be exported to China. In fruit centers, farmers are incurring big losses despite bountiful crops.

Dak Lak agriculture department, after hearing that the avocado price this year was lower than previous years, has assigned local sub-departments to report the exact output and prices before it builds a plan to help farmers.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) has confirmed that the consumption and transport of some kinds of farm produce are facing difficulties because of Covid-19.

The ministry has sent a dispatch to relevant ministries and branches, asking to create favorable conditions for farm produce carrying trucks to travel among localities, and cut toll and storage fees to boost trade. It has also suggested a vaccine passport mechanism for drivers that carry farm produce.

However, the Ministry stressed that these are just temporary solutions. In the long term, it is necessary to establish a two-way information channel. Local departments need to take the initiative in sending information to the ministry 15-20 days before harvesting.

Itll be too late if we only begin thinking of distribution and call for rescue when rice and fruit ripen, said MARD Minister Le Minh Hoan.

He went on to say that its necessary to set up a digital transformation system. The ministry will build a database with updated information which allows distributors to get information about cultivation and harvesting plans so as to prepare storage houses and transport facilities.

T. An

Selling farm produce online: e-commerce sites compete to attract farmers For years, farmers had to rely on the wholesale distribution method and could not sell products directly to consumers. But that has changed in recent years.
Nang Xo Vi, the first Brau ethnic minority female teacher elected to the NA, said she is grateful to the people of Dak Me hamlet, who contributed packages of seasoning powder and shampoo as well as emotional support so that Vi could go to school.

Nang Xo Vi, teacher at the Ethnic Minority Boarding School

Born in February 1996, Nang Xo Vi, teacher at the Ethnic Minority Boarding School Ia HDrai branch in Kon Tum province, is the youngest person of the educational sector elected to the 15th NA. She is also the first Brau ethnic minority woman elected.

Vi was born in Dak Me hamlet of Po Y commune, Ngoc Hoi district, which has only households. She said she was lucky because she received a lot of love and great support from people in the hamlet, from the day she began studying at the provincial boarding school, 70 kilometers from her home, to the day she was a student at Hue City University of Education.

At the age of 15-16, when her peers were getting married and having babies, the Brau girl decided that she needed to continue studying.

The strong determination stemmed from the feeling of pain she had when witnessing family violence in the village, and seeing children looking after each other because of the high fertility rate. Vi wanted to step out of the village gate to see the world outside.

When Vi talked about her dream with her father, he advised her to give up the intention because of the difficult conditions of the family. He said finishing secondary school was enough and she needed to think of getting married.

But Vi replied that she really wanted to continue going to school. If you force me to stop studying, I wont stay at home for sure, she said.

She visited the head of the hamlet and expressed her wish to go to high school. It was mid-July, and the Kon Tum provincial Ethnic Minority Boarding School stopped enrolling students. However, the heat of the hamlet still led her to the education department to apply for the school.

Can you promise that you wont give up studying? an official of the education department asked her.

The 15-year-old girl could not speak national language well, but still nodded her head. Luckily, Vis application was accepted.

The first two months at the school were a very difficult time for her. As she could not speak Vietnamese well and usually made spelling mistakes, the Brau girl became shy and was afraid of communicating with friends.

But after great efforts, she made great progress after the first semester with the support of her literature teacher, the head teacher, and the schools board of management.

Moved by the teachers kindness and support, Vi wanted to become a teacher and give lessons to students. In summer 2014, she returned home and told her mother that she wanted to study at university.

What does university mean? Will this study cost a lot of money? her mother asked when hearing Vis decision. But she did not have the heart to refuse the daughter, so she borrowed 0.2 taels of gold and gave them to her daughter to prepare for the exam to university.

Vi became the only student at her school to be admitted to the Hue University of Education.

Before Vi left the village for Hue to study, the head of the hamlet convened all villagers and said: One of our members now can go to university. She will be the first person to bring light to our homeland."

Nang Xo Vi, the first Brau ethnic minority female teacher elected to the NA, said she is grateful to the people of Dak Me hamlet, who contributed packages of seasoning powder and shampoo as well as emotional support so that Vi could go to school.

Responding to the call, some villagers contributed rice and fish sauce, others bowls and seasoning powder. All of the items were put into two large bags for her.

The dream of changing education in mountainous areas

Because of the villagers love, Vi decided to return to her homeland after graduation, though she had an opportunity to work as a visiting lecturer at the HCM City Food Industry University.

She became a teacher at the boarding school where she studied some years ago. The school has been rebuilt, but the facilities are still poor. There are six classes with more than 180 students.

As the school is 150 kilometers from home, Vi has to live in a rented room, where rain can cause roofs to leak. But she still feels happy.

She could not hide her emotions when hearing on June 10 that she had been elected to the NA. Vi said she was grateful to the locals who had entrusted her, but understands that heavy responsibility has been put on her shoulders.

The young NA Deputy said she will pay attention to educating and giving career guidance to ethnic minority people and promote gender equality.

In the district where she was born, many students stop going to school after they finish the fifth or sixth grades, and get married at the age of 15-16. She wants to change peoples perception of education.

Thuy Nga
At the first meeting of the 2021-2026 term, the Hanoi People's Council will elect the Chairs and Vice Chairs of the Hanoi People's Council and the Hanoi People's Committee.

The Hanoi People's Council has announced that it will hold the first meeting of the 16th Hanoi People's Council of the 2021-2026 term on June 23.

On September 25, 2020, the Hanoi People's Council elected Mr. Chu Ngoc Anh as Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee for the 2016-2021 term.

At the first meeting of the 2021-2026 term, the Hanoi Peoples Council will elect people under its authority, including for positions the Hanoi People's Council of the 16th term such as the Chair, Vice Chairs, the heads and vice heads of departments of the Hanoi Peoples Council and positions of the Hanoi People's Committee of the 16th term, such as the Chair, Vice Chairs and members of the Hanoi People's Committee.

Currently, the Chairman of the Hanoi People's Council is Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Tuan and the Vice Chair is Ms. Phung Thi Hong Ha.

The current leaders of the Hanoi People's Committee include: Chairman Chu Ngoc Anh and six Vice Chairs - Mr. Le Hong Son, Mr. Nguyen Trong Dong, Mr. Duong Duc Tuan, Mr. Ha Minh Hai, Mr. Nguyen Manh Quyen, and Mr. Chu Xuan Dung.

Also at this meeting, the Hanoi Peoples Council will elect jurors of the Hanoi People's Court of the new term and consider and approve the resolution on the number of members of the Hanoi Peoples Council.

The Hanoi People's Committee will submit to the Hanoi Peoples Council for approval a resolution on adjusting the decentralization of revenue sources, budget expenditures, and revenue distribution among state budgets of districts, towns and wards when piloting the urban government model, and a resolution on a number of specific spending mechanisms in Covid-19 prevention and control.

Huong Quynh
The National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee proposed four issues under supervision in 2022 to the legislature during its 57th meeting in Hanoi on June 14.

Chairwoman of the National Assembly (NA)'s Committee of Judicial Affairs, Le Thi Nga, speaks at the meeting. (Photo: VNA)

They are the implementation of legal regulations on planning work during the 2021-2030, the realisation of policies and laws on thrift practice and wastefulness combat, the implementation of the NA Standing Committee's resolutions on arrangement of administrative units at communal and district levels in 2019-2021, and the realisation of policies and laws regarding the citizen reception and the settlement of complaints and denunciations from July 1, 2012 to July 1, 2021. The legislature will select two of the four for supreme supervision.

In his closing remarks, NA Vice Chairman Do Ba Ty highlighted achievements in the supervision work of the NA and its Standing Committee over the past time, especially during the 14th tenure, which, he said, have helped to affirm the role and position of the legislative body to people and voters nationwide.

The committee reached consensus on the supervision programme for 2022, under which the NA will conduct supreme supervision over two issues, while the Standing Committee will be in charge of supervising the two others.

Land issues will not be included in the supervision programme.

NA Standing Committee mulls over law, ordinance building programme

The National Assembly Standing Committee looked at the proposed law and ordinance building programme for 2022 and adjustments to the 2021 programme during its 57th meeting in Hanoi on June 14.

After discussions, the committee agreed on supplements to the law and ordinance building programme for 2021.

Accordingly, during its first session, the 15th NA is scheduled to approve two resolutions on the law and ordinance building programme for 2022, and adjustments to the 2021 programme, along with a resolution on the financial mechanism for the Nghi Son Oil Refinery and Petrochemical LLC in the central province of Thanh Hoa.

During its second session, the 15th legislature will debate six draft laws in accordance to the 2021 law and ordinance building programme approved by the 14th NA, and added another draft law to the agenda.

The committee also agreed with the proposed law and ordinance building programme for 2022.

Accordingly, during its third session, the legislature will approve six draft laws, a resolution on the law and ordinance building programme for 2023, and adjustments to the 2022 programme, while mulling over three draft laws.

The draft laws that are deliberated at the third session are expected to sail through the legislature in the fourth session. Another draft law will be put on the table for discussion at the fourth session.

Regarding preparations for the first session, NA Secretary General and Chairman of the NA Office Bui Van Cuong said the meeting is set to open on July 20 and close on August 3.

Source: VNA
On June 15, 2021, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 942/QD-TTg approving the e-government development strategy towards the digital government in the 2021-2025 period, with a vision to 2030.

This is the very first time that Vietnam has issued a strategy on developing e-government and moving towards the digital government.

The strategy sets out a vision to 2030 that Vietnam would be ranked among the top 30 countries in the world in terms of e-government and digital government according to the United Nations ranking. (Illustrative photo).

The e-government development strategy towards the digital government in the 2021-2025 period, with an orientation to 2030, is consistent with the directions and orientations of the Party and State for socio-economic growth in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Resolution No. 52-NQ/TW dated September 27, 2019, by the Politburo; Resolution No. 50/NQ-CP dated April 17, 2020, by the Government); consistent with the National Digital Transformation Program approved in Decision No. 749/QD-TTg dated June 3, 2020, by the Prime Minister; consistent with the National Strategy on the Fourth Industrial Revolution to 2030, issued in Decision No. 2289/QD-TTg dated December 31, 2020, by the Prime Minister. Furthermore, the strategy is also in line with the Government's Resolution No. 136/NQ-CP dated September 25, 2020, on sustainable development; in line with the new trend of digital government development mentioned in the 2020 United Nations E-Government Survey with the theme of "Digital Government in the Decade of Action for Sustainable Development".

Six major viewpoints have been highlighted in the strategy, which serves as directions and orientations for the development of the digital government, as well as the digital economy and society in the new period. The first and most important among them is: Developing a Digital Government with all safe operations in the digital environment, a redesigned operating model, and operations based on data and digital technology, in order to deliver better quality services, make more timely decisions, formulate better policies, use resources more optimally, facilitate development, lead the country's digital transformation, effectively address major problems in socio-economic development and management.

The strategy sets out a vision to 2030 that Vietnam would be ranked among the top 30 countries in the world in terms of e-government and digital government according to the United Nations ranking.

It also identifies five key target groups, including: Providing high-quality services to society; Broadening public engagement; Improving state agency operations; Effectively addressing important issues in socioeconomic growth; Having a breakthrough change in the national ranking for e-government, digital government, e-participation and open data as assessed by the United Nations.

To realize these targets, the strategy has identified 06 groups of national key tasks (improving the legal environment; developing digital infrastructure (cloud-first); developing digital platforms and national-scale systems; developing national digital data; developing national applications and services; ensuring the safety and security of the national network); 06 groups of corresponding tasks within the scope of ministries and local industries, which emphasizes: Developing online public services based on people's needs and life events, in which people only need to provide information once. Some of the core tasks include:

- Amending the Law on Electronic Transactions and the Law on Archives; Formulating the Law on Digital Government; Promulgating the Government's Decree on electronic identification and authentication and completing the legal corridor to popularize digital identities; Ensuring a regulatory environment that allows experimentation, acceptance of innovation and change;

- Developing and operating specialized network infrastructure stably, safely, and smoothly, connecting 04 administrative levels from central to commune level; Building a Government cloud computing platform; Developing the National Data Sharing and Integration Platform; Developing the National Electronic Authentication and Identity Exchange Platform; Developing Application Platforms on mobile devices for all e-government and digital government services;

- Developing national databases, in which prioritizing national databases on population, land, and enterprises; developing specialized data on finance, insurance, agriculture, education, health, employment, and social security...

- Developing and completing the National Public Service Portal; building the National Data Portal; building an online meeting platform, a platform for working and collaborating on the digital environment, a virtual assistant platform; developing and completing the government reporting information system; developing the National Document Communication Axis; developing the national bidding network system; Building the State Budget and Accounting Information System.

- Building a support system for monitoring and operating safety and network security in service of e-government; Building a system for analyzing and processing big data to serve the task of ensuring national cybersecurity; Building a support system for coordination and response to cybersecurity incidents; Developing and perfecting the Government's specialized digital signature authentication system.

The strategy also outlines the roles and responsibilities of ministries, industries, and local governments in leveraging new digital technologies such as Cloud Computing, Big Data, Mobility, Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blockchain, social media, ... to save time and costs of building and operating information systems and automating, intelligentizing, and optimizing work processes.

Vietnam's e-government development strategy towards the digital government in the 2021-2025 period, with a vision to 2030 shall undoubtedly create a breakthrough in the development of e-government and digital government in the new period, contributing to the successful implementation of Vietnam's digital transformation goals, which are based on three pillars of Digital Government, Digital Economy, and Digital Society; in line with the development trend of the world.

Van Anh
Although tourist sites in Quang Ninh Province have been allowed to open from June 8, Ha Long City, the home to Ha Long Bay  a world natural heritage site - has not had visitors because of the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak.

According to the Ha Long Bay Management Board, since the ban was lifted on June 8, no cruise ships have departed. Many cruise ships have been anchored for many days at the Hon Gai International Cruise Port and Tuan Chau International Passenger Port.

The manager of a cruise ship at the Hon Gai International Cruise Port told VietNamNet that although tourism activities have resumed in Quang Ninh, Ha Long City is still quiet owing to the impact from the ongoing Covid-19 wave in Vietnam.

Meanwhile, some restaurants are preparing to open again. The owner of Hai Quan restaurant in Bai Chay Ward, Ha Long City, said that he bought fresh seafood worth thousands of USD to serve tourists and hoped to have customers. He said that it was a gamble because he used to incur heavy losses in a similar circumstance several months ago. His fresh seafood worth tens of millions of VND died because the restaurant did not have customers.

"This is gambling because the last time I imported seafood, I couldn't sell it. Now I have just spent tens of millions of dong to import it, so I hope there are customers at the weekend," Mr. Nguyen Hai, owner of Hai Quan restaurant, said.

According to the Quang Ninh Department of Tourism, by the end of May, the province had received 2.3 million visitors, accounting for 56.5% of the number of visitors in 2020. The revenue from the tourism industry was VND5 trillion (about $217 million), accounting for 61% of 2020's figure.

Tourism activities had resumed only for a short time between the two Covid-19 outbreaks in Vietnam.

The deserted Hon Gai international cruise ship port

This cruise ship has been anchored at the wharf for more than a year.

To be anchored at this wharf, ship owners have to pay over VND5 million/vessel per month.

Some restaurants in Bai Chay Ward, Ha Long City are preparing to open again.

Many restaurants still close.

Pham Cong
During the offense, McKee hit the victim with a shovel and disposed of the shovel in a ditch, Mark wrote in his report. The shovel had come from the victims truck, as well as a pole that also came from the truck that McKee used to prod the victim.

Sometime later, McKee tried to retrieve the shovel from the ditch, but it was no longer there. McKee also took the victims wallet and $60 and tossed the wallet in a trash can down the alley from the scene. These actions can speak to motive and trying to conceal objects involved in the crime.

McKee did not know Cleveland, who worked for AT&T 43 years, Mark wrote. His decision to burn Clevelands clothes, which initially led Waco police to think Cleveland had been electrocuted, may have been an attempt to destroy evidence as well, Mark reported.

In a report filed in July 2018 by Dr. Lee Carter, the Waco psychologist concludes McKee was legally insane at the time of the offense. Johnson later appointed Austin psychiatrist Dr. Maureen Burrows to evaluate McKee. She agreed with Carter.

Carter wrote in his report that McKee spoke freely about Clevelands murder and did not deny his involvement in his death.
She said tenants who were behind on rent were notified by phone, email and mail that help would be available, then sent follow-up messages on the day of the events. Tenants in Section 8 housing who gave contact information to the housing authority also received phone calls, as did Section 8 landlords.

We do have a bunch of other appointments set up, or they did, for next week, Hopping said.

In an interview following the meeting, Hopping said the housing authority has no way of knowing who in Section 8 housing is falling behind on rent until evictions resume and the housing authority gets notified by the court.

Its a whole different ballgame with Section 8, she said.

More than 1 million Texan households, or 16% of renters, were behind on their rent as of May, according to a report from the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities.

The housing authority has held three sessions at public housing complexes and plans to hold two sessions a week until June 30.

Hopping said there is one other avenue for assistance. Allied Orion, the property management group involved with the renovation and eventual conversion of South Terrace Apartments from public housing to Section 8 housing, could step in and apply on tenants behalf, she said.

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GOP senators say moving up the date to accept ballots will build voter confidence in election outcomes and likely speed up the time in which the news media can call races for a candidate. But Senate Democrats and the critics at Monday's event said it will only result in frustration because voters won't know exactly when they must mail their ballot envelope for the U.S. Postal Service to deliver it on time.

More than 11,600 ballots received during the first three days after the 2020 Election Day were lawfully counted, according to State Board of Elections data. Results still won't get finalized by county and state officials until later in the month of each election.

Throwing away thousands upon thousands of legitimate votes wont provide election finality any sooner, said Allison Riggs with the Southern Coalition for Social Justice and the lead attorney in a pending voter ID lawsuit. She calls the bills just another attempt by the GOP-controlled General Assembly over the past decade to impede free and fair elections. Republicans disagree and say North Carolina voting rules offer lots of time to vote early in person or by mail, and that voters would make adjustments to ensure their votes get turned in earlier.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)  Ohioans receiving food stamps would have to undergo a new asset test that measures total worth, including the value of cars owned by anyone in a household, under a provision in the Senate's version of the state's upcoming two-year budget.

The goal of the test is to be sure needy recipients of food stamps, or SNAP benefits as they're now known, get what they deserve, said Senate President Matt Huffman, a Republican from Lima.

There are a lot of folks who can afford to pay for a variety of things who are still receiving these benefits, Huffman said earlier this month.

The measure incorporates elements of stand-alone legislation introduced earlier this year in the GOP-controlled Senate. Dozens of people representing food banks, legal aid groups and health care advocacy groups have testified against it. The legislation is pending in the Senate Government Oversight and Reform Committee.

Opponents of that bill and its reappearance in the budget say it comes at the worst possible time, as emergency federal benefits enacted during the coronavirus pandemic expire. Those include maximum allotments for food stamp recipients, the $300 weekly unemployment payment, and a moratorium on evictions.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP)  Abortion rights supporters asked a federal judge on Monday to prevent Arkansas near-total ban on the procedure from taking effect while the groups challenge its constitutionality.

The American Civil Liberties Union and Planned Parenthood asked the judge to issue a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction against the ban, which is set to take effect July 28. The groups filed a lawsuit last month challenging the ban, which prohibits abortions except those to save the life of the mother.

The groups filed the lawsuit on behalf of Little Rock Family Planning Services, a Little Rock abortion clinic, and Planned Parenthoods Little Rock health center. The groups are also representing a doctor who works at the Planned Parenthood clinic.

Absent an order from this Court, (the ban) will inflict on plaintiffs patients significant and irreparable harm for which there is no adequate remedy at law," the filing Monday said.

Amanda Priest, a spokeswoman for Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, said the groups' motion should not come as a surprise to anyone."
ATLANTA  Congressmen from Georgia and Texas have filed a federal lawsuit claiming that using metal detectors to screen members of Congress is unconstitutional and that the security measure is being used unfairly against Republicans.

Reps. Andrew Clyde of Georgia and Louie Gohmert of Texas filed the lawsuit Sunday in federal court in Washington D.C., against House Sergeant at Arms William Walker and House Chief Administrative Officer Catherine Szpindor.

Clyde, a gun dealer and first-term member from northeast Georgia, has been fined twice for going around the metal detector, including $5,000 after a Feb. 3 violation and $10,000 after a Feb. 5 violation. On that second occasion, Clyde said he went around the metal detector because he was running out of time to vote on the floor. Clyde said he missed another vote on April 14 because he was stuck in line for the metal detector.

Gohmert, R-Tyler, said he was fined following a Feb. 4 incident during which he left the floor to use the bathroom and refused to be screened a second time, saying that on previous occasions he was not required to be screened. Gohmert is in his ninth term representing an east Texas district.
HOUSTON  Jennifer Bridges, a registered nurse in Houston, is steadfast in her belief that its wrong for her employer to force hospital workers like her to get vaccinated against COVID-19 or say goodbye to their jobs. But thats a losing legal argument so far.

In a stinging defeat, a federal judge bluntly ruled over the weekend that if employees of the Houston Methodist hospital system dont like it, they can go work elsewhere.

Methodist is trying to do their business of saving lives without giving them the COVID-19 virus. It is a choice made to keep staff, patients and their families safer. Bridges can freely choose to accept or refuse a COVID-19 vaccine; however, if she refuses, she will simply need to work somewhere else, U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes wrote in dismissing a lawsuit filed by 117 Houston Methodist workers, including Bridges, over the vaccine requirement.

The ruling Saturday in the closely watched legal case over how far health care institutions can go to protect patients and others against the coronavirus is believed to be the first of its kind in the U.S. But it wont be the end of the debate.

Bridges said she and the others will take their case to the U.S. Supreme Court if they have to: This is only the beginning. We are going to be fighting for quite a while.
SECURITY

Warner previews cyber breach notification bill

Bill would mandate companies notify the federal government when they've been hacked

NOTE: This article first appeared on FCW.com.

Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, on Monday reiterated calls for a bipartisan breach notification law and discussions about whether ransom payments should be legal.

At a live interview hosted by the Washington Post, Warner promised legislation that would require companies to notify the federal government whenever they suffer a major cybersecurity breach. The lawmaker also called for serious discussions about whether ransomware payments should be legal. That debate has been reignited after several high-profile companies admitted to making multi-million dollar payments to criminal groups.

During hearings with Colonial Pipeline CEO Joseph Blount, most lawmakers signaled they would favor stricter statutes outright prohibiting companies from paying, or at least penalizing those that do. But others, including Anne Neuberger, the deputy national security advisor, and Blount himself have argued the choice to pay is sometimes a necessary evil.

Chris Inglis, Biden's pick to be the first national cyber director, during his nomination hearing suggested companies should not be punished for paying a ransom, but for putting themselves in a position where it was necessary.

During the event on Monday, Warner was also asked about a proposal by Russian President Vladimir Putin made during the G7 summit in London over the weekend for the U.S. to effectively agree to an extradition treaty where the two countries would swap cyber criminals their nations may be harboring.

Warner expressed skepticism about Putin's intentions but the lawmaker also said he was open to any level of international collaboration that can be made. Biden is scheduled to meet directly with Putin on Wednesday in Vienna.

Cybersecurity experts in the U.S. took Putin's proposal as less than genuine.

"This is not a serious proposal. It is unconstitutional in Russia to extradite their citizens. And Biden would do well not to take it seriously," Dmitri Alperovitch, the former Crowdstrike executive, tweeted on Sunday. "But it is a good launching pad for a serious conversation about ransomware criminals and what should be done about them."

Following the weekend's events, the White House published the G7's statement on ransomware declaring it a "longstanding global challenge."

"The international community -- both governments and private sector actors -- must work together to ensure that critical infrastructure is resilient against this threat, that malicious cyber activity is investigated and prosecuted, that we bolster our collective cyber defenses, and that States address the criminal activity taking place within their borders," according to the statement.

A White House fact sheet on the summit also said the world leaders will endorse a new "Cyber Defense Policy" for NATO that provides political, military and technical guidance to counter cybersecurity threats.
GENEVA (AP)  Fresh from supportive summits with allies, Joe Biden declared himself ready Tuesday to take on Russias Vladimir Putin in far more confrontational talks  a climactic finish to the most important week of meetings in his young presidency.
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Military veterans, community invited to new, larger county vets affairs center

Amie Rivers / AMIE RIVERS, amie.rivers@wcfcourier.com From left: Black Hawk County Veterans Affairs director Yolando Loveless, volunteer Brian Corwin and office specialist and veterans service officer Mary Corwin stand next to a bench outside of the new, larger home of the county veterans affairs office in the Pinecrest building, 1407 Independence Ave., Waterloo, on Thursday. Amie Rivers / AMIE RIVERS amie.rivers@wcfcourier.com Black Hawk County Veterans Affairs director Yolando Loveless, left, stands with county supervisor Chris Schwartz inside a new relaxation room during a tour of the new veterans affairs offices in the Pinecrest building at 1407 Independence Ave. in Waterloo on Thursday.

WATERLOO  The old county veterans affairs office was four rooms  three of them offices  in around 500 square feet. That was room to meet a counselor, sign up for benefits and be sent on their way, Yolando Loveless said.

The veteran could not do anything, said Loveless, the director of Black Hawk County Veterans Affairs. It was very restrictive.

But those who have fought in the nations wars, who have been deployed overseas and who might be suffering from mental illness or just loneliness needed something more than that, Loveless said. Now, thanks to Loveless, his predecessor Kevin Dill and the county board of supervisors, they do.

Departing VA director makes plea for vets center WATERLOO  Kevin Dill may have racked up a long list of achievements during his three years serving as executive director of the Black Hawk County Veteran Affairs Office.

Loveless and his staff officially welcomed visitors last week to the grand opening of their new, 5,000-square-foot location inside the Pinecrest building at 1407 Independence Ave. in Waterloo.

The space, which previously housed a daycare center, was one Dill had fought for even as he retired in 2019 due to a terminal diagnosis. He envisioned it at that time as just a place to go to get some peace and quiet, a place to get some hope.

Thats exactly what the new center represents, Loveless said last week, likening it to a USO feeling, or the place that deployed military personnel can unwind after being on the battlefield.

Supervisors support new Black Hawk County veterans center Black Hawk County leaders are getting behind plans for a new veterans center in the Pinecrest Building.

We have a lot of single veterans that just sit at home, Loveless said. Were just trying to get veterans out: Come on out, interact with us, share your story. ... Thats what really brings the camaraderie out.

Besides the offices that greet you at the front of the building, the new digs feature an on-site food pantry, a game room featuring a pool table, a commission meeting room that doubles as a community meeting space that Loveless said also might host veteran movie nights, a larger waiting room with a TV, books and memorabilia, and a full kitchen.

Theres also a relax room, as Loveless called it, where vets can meet with everyone from a counselor to a hairdresser, or have a private chat with a doctor over the computer.

Thats become a very positive thing for our veterans, especially our elderly veterans, Loveless said.

Navy vet, Waterloo native named VA director for Black Hawk County WATERLOO  A Waterloo native and U.S. Navy veteran has been chosen to lead the Black Hawk County Veteran Affairs Commission.

Theres also the use of Pinecrests entire fenced-in yard, where volunteers can put the full kitchen to use for cook-outs. Loveless said building out the yard will be his phase two, and hopes to convince the board of supervisors to let him put in a permanent shelter, maybe even a volleyball court, to better host the summer grill-outs the organization used to have in Lincoln Park.

This is our very first event in almost two years, Loveless said as people ate and chatted at picnic tables outside. It feels good to at least get back out there and do that.

The new center will honor Dills foresight with a bench out front dedicated to the former director, said Loveless, noting he plans a dedication ceremony and plaque soon.

This was his three-year vision, Loveless said.

Above all, he hopes the new, larger center is more welcoming to the countys military veterans, particularly those that may be owed benefits from their service, but also just as a community space.

Come in and enjoy the facility  this is not our facility, this is the veterans facility, Loveless said.

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EVANSDALE  An Evansdale man has admitted he was involved in a March 2020 armored truck hold-up that ended with his accomplice being shot dead.

Kevin Cruz Soliveras, 30, also admitted to having a role in the February 2020 fire that gutted Maples Lanes Bowling Center and a similar fire a month later that destroyed the Wishbone Restaurant.

Cruz sat quietly Monday, pleading guilty to those crimes as well as assorted other business and home break-ins, weapon charges and assaulting a fellow jail inmate  15 different cases in all with charges ranging from first-degree robbery and second-degree burglary to arson and theft.

Sentencing will be at a later date, and Cruz will likely be given up to 60 years in prison under a plea agreement with prosecutors. A separate case involving trafficking stolen guns will be taken up by federal authorities, according to the agreement.

In the Maple Lanes fire, authorities said he and others entered the University Avenue business after hours on Feb. 4, 2020, and attacked a maintenance worker who was inside.

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ATF has done several criminal investigations to get as many of these off the streets as we can, Ham said.

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In 2002, agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms began investigating an Argentinian man who was selling conversion kits and silencers over the internet to residents in the United States and other countries. The case resulted in the seller being charged with violating Argentinian laws.

More recently, the switches have shown up online, offered for sale by a company in Shenzhen, Gaundong Province, China, court records state.

The devices were advertised on an English-language site for as little as $19 and came in two different colors. Easily installed and removed with no permanent modifications, the ad boasted. The Glock logo and words Made in Austria were printed on the switches.

The company could be contacted through Facebook and accepted PayPal. The devices were mailed to the United States using false paperwork and packing labels to deceive U.S. authorities, court records state.
I have not finalized my plans for the future, he said in his statement. This has certainly been a time for reflection about whats important in life. But I do know I will not be running for reelection in my current Senate district so I am making this announcement today.

I also know there are other highly qualified people who are interested in running, and I believe it is important to allow candidates to get started, he added. I look forward to seeing what new Democratic candidates can do to compete and win across Iowa.

In an interview Monday, Hogg noted it was 16 years ago this month that he decided to seek the Iowa Senate seat he currently holds.

He declined to comment beyond what was in his written statement, other than to note its kind of sad we dont have maps yet, referring to Iowas legislative and congressional redistricting process that has been delayed due to COVID-19 issues affecting the 2020 population estimates to be issued by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Iowas two Eastern Iowa congressional districts currently are held by Republicans and Grassleys U.S. Senate seat also will be contested in 2022.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP)  Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis visited a South Florida Jewish temple to denounce anti-Semitism and stand with Israel, as the Republican governor cloaked himself in religion Monday while signing a bill into law that would require public schools in his state to set aside at least one minute of silence for children to meditate or pray.

His visit to the Shul of Bal Harbour, a Jewish community center in Surfside, Florida, had the air of a campaign event.

DeSantis seemed to blush when the Rabbi Sholom Lipskar introduced him as a "great governor and future world leader. It has been speculated that the governor, who is running for reelection next year, might run for president in 2024.

DeSantis visited the temple to sign two bills into law. One would expand the role of volunteer ambulance services, while the other makes Florida one of at least 15 states, a legislative analysis said, that would compel schools to hold moments of silence at public schools. The state had already been among roughly 18 other states that gave schools the option to do so.
It is not uncommon to see someone at that seven-year mark say, Enough is enough, and they move onto something else less stressful, less challenging, and certainly in some ways a little more rewarding, Thompson said.

But neither Thompson nor Bradshaw shied away from discussing police practices that are being challenged and in some cases changed. Both applauded legislation passed in 2020 in Iowa  shortly after George Floyd was killed while being detained by a Minneapolis police officer. That new law, among other provisions, banned the use of police chokeholds in most cases, barred the hiring of officers who have been disciplined by other agencies for using excessive force, and allows the state attorney general to investigate when an individual dies while in police custody.

It didnt change our methodology one way or the other, Thompson said. In my agency or statewide, I didnt hear any sheriffs standing up and saying, Oh my gosh, this is a crisis, because 90% of what was contained in that bill was already being implemented and was already standard practice across the board.
Today I will clean my mess up at Moms Home, since I am done with the wood stove and done painting the home. Svetochka has been showing her mom the pictures I send and I hope that stirs her interest in coming to the Tiny Russian Village

I also have been working on Nikolais Home front porch and except for a screen door, it is bug proof. A nice place to sit and enjoy life, when it rains and or snows even

I have to gather resources and decide what kind of door I want on the porch? Maybe, just a screen door or a solid door to make the home safer. I will think about that for a few days

Keeping up with the mowing? Has been horrendous. It has rained almost everyday, Being lazy like I am? Trying to get other important stuff done and worrying about my baby birds and baby sunflowers.takes its toll on me. Got to mow Moms Home again for the third time.plus the field needs mowed also

Side thought:

Sveta is again dealing with her Uncle.when you are 90 years old, things start falling apart and in my case earlier than 90 years old

So we will see if she gets to come at the end of the month? I stay busy anyway, yet I do miss my sweetpea, but family first and with the King Covid-19 slaughtering Russia right now, maybe it is for the better. Russia has record cases right now and people are dropping like flies

I tell Sveta, Dont worry about me, I wont be too bad of a bear! 

Seriously though, I have to sooner or later get back to Moscow and get some parts fixed on me. It is time to have my intestines checked out by a specialist and try to solve why I am nauseated and in pain 24 hours a day.pain sucks and it is one of those things that I live with constantly. Pain here and pain there. Another pain added to the list is becoming too much to bear

Two very nice Tiny Russian Village homes. But a lot of work to keep it all together

Gotta go and clean Moms home

WtR
Lubbock, TX (79423)

Today

Partly cloudy. Low around 70F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy. Low around 70F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph.
A competitive special election for a vacant Georgia State House district near Atlanta is the highlight among three elections on Tuesday.

State House Special General Elections

Georgia Districts 34 and 156

There are 180 State House districts in Georgia. Currently, the chamber has 101 Republicans and 77 Democrats. The next regularly scheduled elections are in 2022.

Tuesday's elections are for the two vacancies. Under Georgia special election law, all candidates from all parties appear on a single ballot. If a candidate gets a majority of the vote, they are elected. Otherwise, the top two finishers advance to a runoff.

The suburban Atlanta District 34 vacancy was created by the resignation of Republican Bert Reeves on April 30. Reeves was in his fourth term, and had most recently been reelected by a 56%-44% margin in 2020. There are five candidates on the ballot. This is the much more interesting of Tuesday's Georgia elections.

The race for a Marietta-based legislative seat today is no fresh litmus test of suburbia in the post-Donald Trump era. But it is a chance for both parties + their allies to test tactics & strategies ahead of 2022. #gapol https://t.co/LjTaXmGhR7  Greg Bluestein (@bluestein) June 15, 2021

District 156 is in the southeastern part of the state, including Vidalia. The vacancy was created by the resignation of Republican Greg Morris on April 13. Morris was first elected to the legislature in 1999. He had represented District 156 since 2012, running unopposed in the general election each time. There are two Republicans and a Democrat on the ballot.

If needed, runoff election(s) will be July 13. Polls close at 7:00 PM Eastern Time.

State Assembly Special Primary Election

Wisconsin District 37

There are 99 Assembly districts in Wisconsin. Currently, the chamber has 60 Republicans and 38 Democrats. The next regularly scheduled elections are in 2022.

Located northeast of Madison, the District 37 vacancy was created with the resignation of Republican John Jagler in April. He had won a special election for a vacant State Senate seat earlier that month. Jagler had represented the district since first being elected in 2012, most recently being reelected by a 56% to 41% margin in 2020.

There is only one contested primary. Democrat Pete Adams is running unopposed and will be the nominee. Eight Republicans are vying for their party's nomination.

Polls close at 9:00 PM Eastern Time. The general election is July 13.

Upcoming June 22
bp has agreed to join Statkraft and Aker Offshore Wind in a consortium bidding to develop offshore wind energy in Norway.



The partnership  in which bp, Statkraft and Aker Offshore Wind will each hold a 33.3% share  will pursue a bid to develop offshore wind power in the

Srlige Nordsj II

licence area.







The

Srlige Nordsj II

location provides power export access to local and adjacent markets. The consortium also intends to explore opportunities to provide clean power to electrify offshore oil and gas facilities. The partnership outlined that it would work with local suppliers, building industrial competencies for Norways offshore wind market, and contribute toward value creation in the Nordic and European energy market.



Dev Sanyal, bps executive vice president of gas and low carbon energy, said: bp aims to grow our renewables business at scale and we see great opportunities in offshore wind energy. We have decades of offshore experience in the North Sea and will also bring our extensive trading capabilities and strong relationships in Europe. Coming together with Aker and Statkraft, we believe this consortium will be ideally positioned to effectively and efficiently grow and deliver clean power for European markets, as well as strengthen the supply to Norway when needed.



Christian Rynning-Tnnesen, chief executive of Statkraft, said: We have extensive capability from the development and operation of onshore wind around the world and experience in significant offshore wind projects in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Strong growth, decreasing technology costs and the involvement of industrial and financial players all indicate the rising role that offshore wind will play in Europe. Our partnership with Aker and bp will create significant value and contribute towards Europes energy transition.





Kristian Rkke, Chairman of Aker Offshore Wind and CEO of Aker Horizons, added: Our partnership has the potential to redefine Norways position as an energy nation, and the consortiums joint capabilities are building blocks to lead the energy transition. Together with Statkraft and bp we will work to develop the Norwegian offshore wind industry, reduce emissions and create new jobs.







Srlige Nordsj II

lies far from land and borders on the Danish Economic Zone, south-east in the North Sea. According to a recent announcement from Norway's Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Tina Bru, it can be developed on a commercial basis  with no state aid. Bru revealed that the auction for Srlige Nordsj II is slated for Q1 2022.





It is anticipated that the Norwegian government will award 2 or 3 project areas in Srlige Nordsj II for development. The award will be based on a two-stage process. The first step is a qualification-process. The second step will be an auction where the qualified companies/consortias can participate.

For more information on offshore wind farms worldwide,

click here

.
California is open! And you know what this means...drumroll, please. Summer festivals are so on.

While some of our favorite fests are sadly not happening this yearwe'll miss the Pride Parade and Clusterfestand others have new dates (hi, BottleRock and Outside Lands), there are still plenty of ways to enjoy chill and thrilling vibes all summer long and well into the fall. Mark your calendars and get tickets to these summer festivals around the Bay Area.

Summer Festivals Around the Bay Area (Courtesy of @sterngrovefestival) 37th Annual San Francisco Jazz Festival June 3-25 Virtual Started as a two-day event nearly 40 years ago, the San Francisco Jazz Festival now features both big names and fresh faces of jazz. This year, the fest is going virtual with 18 concerts, including past performances and new world premieres. Look out for Music in Monk Time, a showing of the first U.S. broadcast of a documentary film about jazz pianist Thelonious Monk, and music by Brian Blade, Marcus Shelby and his orchestra, and more. // Shows are available to members only, sfjazz.org.

Stern Grove Festival June 20 through August 29 Stern Grove, 19th Ave. at Sloat Blvd. (Parkside) We couldn't be more excited that Stern Grove Festival is back for its 84th season, albeit with some pandemic-era changes like mandatory reservations.The just-announced lineup includes Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, Thundercat, and Fitz & the Tantrumsplus the SF Symphony as always. // Reserve free tickets (available 12 days before each concert at 2pm) on sterngrove.org.

San Francisco Pride June This year's theme: All in this together. Though the usual parade and Civic Center festivities are off for this year, celebrations are going strong all month long with official events like Oracle Park movie nights and a Black Liberation Event with AAACC the evening before Juneteenthplus several cultural happenings around the city. Come October, SF Pride will host the inaugural National Coming Out Day Festival, with registration releasing in late July. // For more information go to sfpride.org.

Festival Napa Valley July 16-25 Various venues in Napa Valley This year, the classical musicfocused Festival Napa Valley is an all-outdoor function. Splurge on special concerts like A Tribute to Tony Bennett or The Four Seasons of Napa Valley featuring Grammy-nominated cellist Matt Haimovitz and young violinist Chad Hoopes, both held at Charles Krug. Or, attend the free Festival Live! Chamber Series at the Culinary Institute of America at Copia. The festival will even include the Arts for All Gala with Jennifer Hudson herself, at Nickel & Nickel. Events are starting to book up, so get on it. // For the schedule and tickets, go to festivalnapavalley.org.

Oxbow RiverStage August 14 through October 9 Oxbow Commons Park, 1268 McKinstry St. (Napa) This concert series in downtown Napa will host a variety of musical acts each weekend for nearly two months. Snag tickets to an evening show with Mt. Joy, Trampled by Turtles, Death Cab for Cutie, and Billy Idol. In true Napa fashion, there will be plenty of wine. // Tickets are now on sale (prices vary by show) on oxbowriverstage.com.

Silicon Valley Comic Con August 28-29 San Jose Convention Center, 150 West Carlos St. (San Jose) The annual SiliCon with Adam Savage combines technology and pop culture. This year's festival is two days instead of three and will include celebrity meet-and-greets, live panels, and maker workshops. Guests include Star Trek's William Shatner, Claire Blackwelder and Davi Santos of Power Rangers: Dino Charge; New York Times Bestselling Author Andy Weir; and many more. // Tickets ($50 and up for adults) are available at svcomiccon.com.
This community provides everything you could ever want in a living space.

There is nothing that Lumina hasn't thought of for its luxurious Embarcadero residences. Designed by Bernardo Fort-Brescia of Arquitectonica, Lumina offers residents an unrivaled selection of amenities in addition to beautiful places to call home. For those in the market, the upper tower residences on the 32nd floor have sweeping views of the city skyline and the Bay from every room.

The interiors hold their own against the dramatic scenery with nearly $50,000 in designer flourishesthink Du Chateau Vernal Collection European oak hardwood floors with a micro-bevel edge and an all-natural oil finish; sophisticated dining areas and chef-grade kitchens with Gaggenau cooking appliances and Bosch dishwashers (perfect for all those dinner parties you'll be having); and even grand walk-in closets with separate dressing rooms.

And then there are the jaw-dropping amenities. Residents have unique access to the newly opened Woodland Market, a rock-climbing gym, a spa with a private treatment room, a theater-style screening room, and a pro-quality, fully-equipped music room. Of course there is also concierge service, 24-hour valet parking, secure bicycle storage, and a business center with conference and board rooms.

Lumina is quite the after-work haven, but homeowners here also have stylish means of getting around with private Audi car share service. Resident pets will heart proximity to the public park at nearby Rincon Place. After you're done taking your fur baby for a walk, let Fido revel in the comforts of home at the in-house pet grooming station while you go for a swim in the 70-foot saline lap pool.

Location: 201 Folsom Street (Embarcadero)

Size: 2,692 sq. ft.



Bedrooms: 4

Bathrooms: 3



Asking price: $5,485,000

// For more information, visit luminasf.com.



This article is presented by our sponsors at Lumina.
Bastiaan Slabbers/NurPhoto/Getty Images

Juneteenth is now a federal holiday, after President Biden signed legislation that recognizes June 19 as the day that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States.



Though you may have heard of Juneteenth, do you know the true meaning behind it?

This historical event dates back to June 19, 1865, when enslaved African Americans in Texas learned that they were free. Although the Emancipation Proclamation declared that as of Jan. 1, 1863, all slaves in rebellious Southern states were free, it took more than two years for the news to spread to Texas and for officials there to announce slavery had been abolished. The holiday commemorating that day is now known as Juneteenth, Freedom Day and/or Emancipation Day, as it marks the day all Black people in the South were finally free. Slavery was outlawed nationwide with the ratification of the 15th Amendment six months later.

"For African Americans in the United States, [Juneteenth] truly is that independence day because prior to that, even though slaves had been freed in many of the other Confederate states, Texas remained a state where they continued to enslave folks, says Greg Francis, 53, an attorney who focuses on civil rights. It's important to understand the history and its impact because there's a direct link to problems with systemic racism today, he says.

Texas was the first state to make Juneteenth a state holiday, in 1980. Since then, more than 45 other states have followed suit. On June 17, the federal legislation making Juneteenth a national holiday was signed into law after passing unanimously in the U.S. Senate and by a vote of 415-14 in the House.

Two-thirds of Americans support the idea, according to a 2020 Harris Poll taken in the wake of national protests following George Floyd's death last year.

Whether you've known about Juneteenth your entire life or you're just learning about this important day, it's one everyone can commemorate. Here are six ways to do so.



1. Learn the full history

Although June 19, 1865, marks Juneteenth, the end of slavery was not so clear-cut. That's why it's valuable to start by educating yourself and others about the full history of Juneteenth and the events leading up to it. The many resources available include the book Juneteenth by Ralph Ellison and the film Miss Juneteenth, this list of books to read with grandchildren about the holiday and this video tour through the Slavery and Freedom exhibition at the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Stand-out Simon's Find metallurgical test results further enhance the Yangibana Project



Stand-Out Simon's Find Metallurgical Test Results

Perth, June 15, 2021 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Australia's next rare earths producer Hastings Technology Metals Ltd ( ASX:HAS ) is pleased to announce stand-out results from metallurgical test work carried out on drilling samples from Simon's Find, one of the key deposits that make up the Yangibana Rare Earths Project (Yangibana) in Western Australia's Gascoyne region.The test work carried out at Simon's Find is a key milestone in the Company's finalisation of its updated Ore Reserves and mine scheduling that will underpin Yangibana's development.The Simon's Find deposit is part of the 8km-long Bald Hill - Simon's Find - Frasers mineralised trend and is strategically located close to the site of Yangibana's proposed process plant and infrastructure.The mineralisation at Simon's Find contains the highest level of Nd2O3 + Pr6O11 to total rare earth oxides (TREO) across all deposits at Yangibana - in fact, they are the highest NdPr levels of any known rare earths project in the world. The average of samples tested reported Nd2O3 + Pr6O11 oxide accounting for 54% of TREO. Values as high as 57% were recorded in individual samples.Simon's Find has, on average, a much lower TREO head grade than the other Yangibana deposits. However, its industry high NdPr levels and an amenability to producing a clean monazite concentrate mean Simon's Find is able to deliver the same outstanding final results as the other deposits at Yangibana.Test work completed to date has investigated the flotation performance of a representative composite sample from the Simon's Find drilling program in 2020 and earlier as well as 22 individual variability samples. The flotation performance on the composite sample resulted in an Nd2O3 recovery of 86.3% at 8.9% Nd2O3 grade, which is comparable to the 2017 Definitive Feasibility Study baseline of a recovery of 86.4% recovery at 9.0% Nd2O3 grade.Variability test work within the Simon's Find deposit aimed to test some of the different parameters of the mineralisation and develop an understanding of ore blending requirements. Two blends of a composite sample concentrate were tested through acid bake and water leach hydrometallurgical tests. The acid bake and water leach tests achieved an Nd2O3 recovery of 98%, which is 4% higher than at other Yangibana deposits. The final water leach liquor chemistry was consistent with that of other deposits across Yangibana and suitable for further downstream impurity removal and mixed rare earths concentrate (MREC) precipitation steps designed for the project.Simon's Find also contains a relatively high level of niobium, mostly in the mineral columbite. Deportment of niobium throughout the process flowsheet is still being assessed.Ore sorting variability test work indicated that the average grade at Simon's Find could be upgraded during ore sorting from 0.58% to 0.84% TREO. Early flotation test work on sorted and unsorted ore indicated that the addition of ore sorting into the circuit could improve the flotation performance.The test work results from this recent program will be used for ongoing Ore Reserves calculations.Commenting on the results of the Simon's Find test work, Hastings Technology Metals' Chief Operating Officer Andrew Reid said: "The metallurgical test work carried out at Simon Find's underscores the potential that we have at Yangibana. These latest results continue to give us confidence in the multiple pathways we have to achieving high process recoveries and concentrate grades from the Yangibana project. "Simon's Find is delivering stand-out results that are remarkable given the low head grade of the deposit. Further test work will enable us to optimise the various aspects of our metallurgical program in terms of capital, operating costs, recoveries and operability. "Simon's Find further highlights Yangibana's potential to become a source rich in NdPr."To view images, please visit:About Hastings Technology Metals Ltd

Hastings Technology Metals Ltd (ASX:HAS) (FRA:5AM) is advancing its Yangibana Rare Earths Project in the Upper Gascoyne Region of Western Australia towards production. The proposed beneficiation and hydro metallurgy processing plant will treat rare earths deposits, predominantly monazite, hosting high neodymium and praseodymium contents to produce a mixed rare earths carbonate that will be further refined into individual rare earth oxides at processing plants overseas.

Neodymium and praseodymium are vital components in the manufacture of permanent magnets which is used in a wide and expanding range of advanced and high-tech products including electric vehicles, wind turbines, robotics, medical applications and others. Hastings aims to become the next significant producer of neodymium and praseodymium outside of China.

Hastings holds 100% interest in the most significant deposits within the overall project, and 70% interest in additional deposits that will be developed at a later date, all held under Mining Leases. Numerous prospects have been identified warranting detailed exploration to further extend the life of the project.

Brockman Project

The Brockman deposit, near Halls Creek in Western Australia, contains JORC Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resources, estimated using the guidelines of JORC Code (2012 Edition).

The Company is also progressing a Mining Lease application over the Brockman Rare Earths and Rare Metals Project.

Hastings aims to capitalise on the strong demand for critical rare earths created by the expanding demand for new technology products.
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GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz.  Rangers at Grand Canyon National Park are searching for a missing Texas man whose abandoned vehicle was found at the South Rim.

Park officials said Monday that 49-year-old Charles Lyon of Tyler was last seen at a hotel in Tusayan last Thursday.

They said Lyons vehicle was located Friday along Desert View Drive near Lipan Point and its believed he was traveling alone.

Park rangers are asking anyone who may have seen or talked to Lyon recently to notify the National Park Services investigative branch.

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WICKENBURG, Ariz.  Four people were killed and another serious injured after a passenger car collided head-on with a big rig near Wickenburg early Monday, authorities said.

Arizona Department of Public Safety officials said the crash occurred about 12:30 a.m. after the car reportedly swerved into the path of the semi-truck on U.S. 93 northwest of Wickenburg.

They said the driver and three passengers in the car died at the scene and a fourth passenger was hospitalized while the semi-truck driver suffered minor injuries.

The names, ages and hometowns of the four people killed werent immediately released.

DPS officials said the crash closed U.S. 93 between Interstate 40 and State Route 71 for about six hours.

Wickenburg is about 54 miles (87 kilometers) northwest of Phoenix.

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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  New Mexico lawmakers can expect a clean fuel standard on their 2022 agenda  a priority Gov. Michelle Lujan Grishams administration pitched Monday as a matter of economic development.

The proposal would require a 10% reduction in the carbon intensity of fuel used for transportation by 2030 and 28% by 2040.

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But companies that make, produce or refine fuels would also have the option of buying credits from producers of hydrogen or other low-carbon fuels or from businesses that reduce their emissions  creating a market, supporters say, that would spur investment in clean energy.

Economic Development Secretary Alicia J. Keyes said Monday that Lujan Grisham intends to add the legislation to the agenda of next years 30-day session.

In New Mexico, lawmakers face limits on what bills they can take up during even-numbered years, with the governor empowered to help set the agenda.

This is something that could really help those communities that have traditionally been reliant on coal to transition into something like hydrogen, Keyes said. This will be a priority for us.

She said she didnt necessarily understand the gravity of the clean fuel legislation at first, but after its introduction in January, state agencies heard from national energy companies expressing interest in launching projects in New Mexico.

Keyes highlighted the legislation Monday in a presentation to lawmakers on the Economic Development and Policy Committee. The 2022 session starts Jan. 18.

A clean fuel proposal, Senate Bill 11, won approval in the Senate earlier this year but died in the House without a final vote. It had passed the Senate on a 25-14 vote along party lines, with Democrats in support and Republicans opposed.

Democrats hold majorities in both legislative chambers, and Lujan Grisham is a Democrat.

In an interview Monday, Sen. Steven Neville, R-Aztec, said he opposed the legislation because it could add to the costs of consumers and fuel producers.

It would conceivably hurt our oil patch, which is our revenue generator, he said.

One way to meet the proposed standard, Neville said, would be to blend more ethanol into gasoline, which could have the effect of reducing a vehicles fuel economy.

I dont think its the best thing for New Mexico overall, Neville said.

Senate Bill 11 was co-sponsored by Senate President Pro Tem Mimi Stewart of Albuquerque and Rep. Nathan Small of Las Cruces, both Democrats.

Stewart said the proposal would improve air quality in New Mexico and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to climate change.

Its backers included private companies and the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce.

Its good for the air. Its good for business, Stewart said of the bill.

The state Environmental Improvement Board would establish a fair market for credit transactions, allowing companies to offset their high-carbon fuel by purchasing credits from other companies that reduce their emissions or generate low-carbon fuels.

Keyes, secretary of the Economic Development Department, told lawmakers that the bill would lead to a market-based approach to reducing carbon emissions. A similar law in California, she said, boosted employment in biomass, wind and solar.

We really want to get it over the finish line next session, Keyes said.

California and Oregon also have clean fuel standards.

In New Mexico, the state Environment Department describes the transportation sector as the second-largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, following the oil and gas industry.

Maddy Hayden, a spokeswoman for the Environment Department, said New Mexico is well-positioned to become an international hub for clean fuels given its proximity to California and other Western markets, in addition to the states geology and climate.
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

Extreme, record-setting heat across New Mexico  including breaking an 82-year-old record high in Albuquerque on Monday  is unlikely to let up this week, said Todd Shoemake, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Albuquerque.

One of the main hazards associated with the monsoon is that we often see those really high temperatures and the heat before the moisture arrives, before the thunderstorms become more widespread, Shoemake said.

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The Albuquerque Sunport recorded a high temperature of 103 degrees Monday, breaking the 1939 record of 101 degrees. And Albuquerques Sunday high temperature of 100 degrees tied the previous record for June 13, set in 1956.

The high temperatures and low humidity levels prompted Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to issue an executive order Monday urging New Mexico municipalities and counties to implement local fireworks bans.

Specifically, the governors order said about 88% of New Mexico is experiencing severe drought conditions and about half the state is experiencing exceptional drought conditions. It also pointed out that several wildfires have already been burning around New Mexico.

Previous governors have pushed for more authority to restrict fireworks sales, but such efforts have been largely unsuccessful, and state law does not currently allow the governor to enact a statewide fireworks ban.

In addition, Lujan Grishams executive order does not affect municipal or county fireworks displays planned for the Fourth of July.

Meanwhile, drifting smoke from Arizona wildfires may linger in the Albuquerque area Tuesday morning and cause hazy skies throughout the city.

Tuesdays high in Albuquerque is expected to be 98 degrees.

Farmingtons high is forecast at 103 degrees.

The forecast shows a high temperature of 98 degrees Wednesday in Albuquerque and 97 Thursday and Friday.

Isolated afternoon and early evening storms are possible every day this week for western and northern New Mexico.

Unfortunately, a lot of these thunderstorms are not really beneficial rainmakers, Shoemake said. There will be a lot of dry air, and so as the rain falls from these fairly weak thunderstorms it will tend to evaporate. I think a lot of places will be lucky to get just a few hundredths of an inch from any one storm.

Slightly lower temperatures are expected for the weekend as the high-pressure system exits New Mexico.

Journal Capitol Bureau chief Dan Boyd contributed to this report. Theresa Davis is a Report for America corps member covering water and the environment for the Albuquerque Journal.
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

Rep. Melanie Stansbury, D-N.M., pledged Monday on the House floor to help build a more just, equitable and resilient world after she was sworn in as the newest member of the 117th Congress.

The 42-year-old New Mexico lawmaker, who won a special election earlier this month, gives House Democrats a bit more breathing room in the narrowly divided chamber. There are now 220 Democrats and 211 Republicans in the House.

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During a brief speech on the floor, Stansbury quoted her predecessor, Deb Haaland, who resigned from the post when she was confirmed as secretary of the interior.

I ran for Congress because I believe deeply in our communities and our ability to bring meaningful change, she said.

Rep. Yvette Herrell, R-N.M., introduced Stansbury, saying that her upbringing in a hardworking family was relatable to many in the state. And while Stansburys official certificate of election hasnt been formally processed, Herrell said there was no contest and no question about Stansburys landslide victory early this month.

Stansbury took her oath of office on a copy of the U.S. Constitution and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which were held by her father, James Stansbury.

How proud your parents must be, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said to Stansbury as the ceremony concluded.

Stansbury spent Monday taking official congressional photos, getting her office and staff ready and talking with the House speaker and different caucus leaders. By the end of the day, she planned to cast her first votes on two procedural matters before the House.

Theres a lot of work to be done, Stansbury said in an interview. But Im coming into office having served in the Legislature, and (I) have a good sense of what the major priorities are in our state.

It wasnt clear Monday to which committees Stansbury will be assigned, according to her spokeswoman.

Stansbury is entering a deeply divided Congress that has been at work for more than five months, and some major issues are already being debated. For example, lawmakers for weeks have been negotiating an infrastructure package that is a goal for the president.

Stansbury said she will participate in those negotiations with plans for New Mexico. Those include expanding broadband in the state, getting clean drinking water to Tohajiilee, a Navajo community on the western edge of Bernalillo County, and improving the states clean-energy infrastructure.

Other priorities she has in Congress will be pandemic recovery efforts and the protection of voting rights. She said she will support the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, which are bills that have been proposed in Congress that Democrats say will protect voting rights.

They are both critical to protecting our democracy, and we need to get them done this year, Stansbury said of the voting-rights bills.

Stansbury now represents New Mexicos 1st Congressional District, which covers most of Bernalillo County, all of Torrance County and parts of Sandoval, Santa Fe and Valencia counties. She won a special election for the seat June 1, defeating Republican state Sen. Mark Moores by 24 percentage points.

Stansbury has submitted her resignation from her seat in the New Mexico House of Representatives, where she had represented a seat based in Albuquerques Northeast Heights since 2018.

The Bernalillo County Commission will pick her replacement.
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  A former elementary school teacher who already faces allegations that he sexually abused three students has been charged with abusing a fourth.

Danny Aldaz, 45, was arrested Monday on two counts of sexual penetration of a minor and two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor.

He most recently worked at Valle Vista Elementary School until he was put on leave when the Albuquerque Public Schools district found out about the investigation into him in January 2020. He started as a substitute teacher in 2004, worked at Edward Gonzales Elementary School and Helen Cordero Elementary School, and taught children at Blissful Spirits yoga studio since 2015.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court, the latest allegation came about when a girl told her mother she had been touched inappropriately by her second-grade teacher at Valle Vista in the 2018-2019 school year. The mother said she did not know anything about the previous charges against Aldaz until she confided in a friend, who told her he had already been accused on sexual abuse.

The little girl had been having trouble at the school and had to withdraw from it and repeat the grade at another school. In a forensic interview she disclosed that her teacher touched both her and her friend.

The previous case against him is pending.

BCSO asks anyone with any information to contact the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office at 505-798-7000.

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  A New Mexico State Police officer shot at a man who they say pointed a firearm at officers in Espanola on Monday.

Jerome Naranjo, 37, fled the scene and has not been found.

Officer Ray Wilson, a NMSP spokesman, said investigators dont believe he was injured but they wont know until they find him.

Wilson said the incident occurred when State Police officers and Espanola Police Department officers were attempting to arrest Naranjo in connection with a stabbing. They found him at a house in a vehicle that was being driven by a woman.

The driver attempted to flee by ramming the suspect vehicle into an EPD officers patrol unit, Wilson wrote in a news release. The State Police officer broke the vehicles side window and attempted to use his Taser to stop the driver and take Naranjo into custody.

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He said the Taser was unsuccessful and the vehicle fled until around the house until an EPD unit rammed the suspect vehicle, pinning it against a tree and debris.

Naranjo exited the vehicle and fled on foot, Wilson wrote. At this point in the encounter, Naranjo pointed a firearm at the State Police officer and the officer fired one or more shots at Naranjo.

The officer who fired at Naranjo has been put on standard administrative leave. Wilson did not identify him.

It is the second shooting by police in Espanola in a week. On June 8, two Espanola Police Department officers fatally shot a man who they said was dragging one of the officers with his vehicle.

State Police ask anyone with information on the whereabouts of Jerome Naranjo to call (505) 753-2277 or dial 911.
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The Selective Service Act of 1917 was written more than a hundred years ago. Men upon their 18th birthday are required to register with Selective Service or face criminal prosecution, denial of student loans and disqualification from citizenship. Registration would be used to fill the ranks of the military should the draft ever be reinstated.

Women are not required to register.

But women today serve in all military branches and are no longer precluded from combat roles. Warfare has also evolved considerably since the trench warfare days of World War I, reducing the need to enlist the biggest, fastest and strongest men. Technological skills and the ability to learn them are in high demand today.

The ACLU has urged Congress to update the 1917 act, but Congress has failed to. So the ACLU and National Coalition for Men petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court, which last week declined to hear the case. So were back to square one. The petitioners are right: Congress should either require everyone, or no one, to register.

So much has changed that the 1917 law really serves little purpose today except to reinforce stereotypes women cant or wont fight for their nation and are better utilized in support roles in times of war, like iconic Rosie the Riveter of World War II.

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With an all-female delegation in the U.S. House of Representatives, New Mexico has the chops for change. Our three congresswomen, all first-term members of Congress with a zeal for real change, should pick up the mantle and lead a bipartisan effort to update the 1917 law.

Perhaps we should do away with the Selective Service. The draft hasnt been invoked since the Vietnam War. Maybe we should require young adults to instead register for civil service. But if were going to continue asking men between 18 and 26 to register, we should also ask women.

This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers.
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Bobby Unser Jr. never found the level of success in a race car so famously achieved by his father, his uncle Al Sr., cousin Al Jr. and brother Robby.

But, says Cody Unser, Al Jr.s daughter and Bobby Jr.s second cousin, He found passion in other things in life.  He was a life enthusiast.

Unser Jr. died on Sunday, six weeks after the death his father, Bobby Unser Sr., a three-time Indianapolis 500 winner. The younger Unser had undergone surgery for a broken hip, then developed blood clots, leading to his death at age 65.

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Were his last name not Unser, Bobby Jr.s auto racing resume would be impressive enough. As a youth, he found success at Speedway Park in Albuquerque, winning three races in seven starts in 1979.

Two years earlier, at age 21, he won a sprint-car main event at Manzanita Speedway in Phoenix. His dad, who was part of his sons race crew that day, called it The happiest moment of my life.

Bobby Jr. never won the Pikes Peak International Hill climb, which other members of the family won a remarkable 24 times. But he twice finished second, and as of 1986 held the open-wheel qualifying record of 5 minutes, 8.16 seconds.

In 1978, he survived a harrowing crash in Pikes Peak qualifying. Two days later, he climbed back in his car and finished as runner-up.

Still, Bobby Jr. never drove at Indy, where Bobby Sr., Al Sr. and Al Jr. won a total of nine times. He acknowledged the burden that the Unser name carried.

He did not, however, forsake fast cars, becoming a stunt-car driver and coordinator for movies and television.

He found his niche, Cody Unser said, his talent in the car-commercial industry. He was still able to do something with an engine.

Bobby Jr. had his struggles in life. In 1991, he filed for bankruptcy. In 2008, he was jailed briefly for delinquent child support and failure to appear in court.

He never, though, Cody Unser said, lost his optimism or his love for his family.

He just had a big personality and a magnetic presence in every room he was in, she said.  He never made people feel small. He made you feel big and important and loved, and (that) you mattered.

In 1999, at age 12, Cody Unser was stricken with transverse myelitis, a nerve disorder that has confined her to a wheelchair. Bobby Jr., her second cousin  he has always been Uncle Bobby to her  was then and remained among her strongest supporters.

For me in particular, he was a big motivator, she said. Definitely someone in the family that helped motivate me to keep the foundation (her First Step Foundation) that my mom (Shelley) and I started.

Especially after I lost my mom in 2018, he was definitely there. If we needed anything, he called frequently to check in. He really cared about all of us, everybody in the family. And he loved his kids (daughter Jesse, son Bobby III, daughter Ruby).

Jesse Unser recently gave birth to a daughter. Bobby Jr. was able, Cody Unser said, to meet his granddaughter before his death.

Bobby Unser Jr. is the son of Bobby Unser Sr. and Barbara Schumaker, the famed drivers first wife. They also had a daughter, Cindy, before divorcing in 1966. Unser Sr. had a son Robby and daughter Jeri from his second marriage to Norma Davis.
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

CIUDAD JUAREZ  There is a theme in the stories told by immigrants.

Its captured in the phrase that ends their recollection of that long trek across Mexico, into the interrogation rooms of the U.S. Border Patrol, and back onto Mexican land for the perpetual wait for the reprieve, the asylum, that may or may not come.

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Its in Gods hands, that phrase of wistful resignation, was said again by Iris Johana Banegas, a 33-year-old mother from Central America. She traveled for five months with her husband and 5-year-old daughter, hoping to obtain asylum in the United States, find a home and reunite with her two daughters, ages 11 and 16, whom she left behind in Honduras.

The decision to leave, it was so hard, to leave my girls. I cried all the way, she said while standing on a narrow sidewalk outside the one-room living space she has shared with a group of fellow immigrants for three months.

She is one of about 400 immigrants living in the Pan de Vida  the bread of life  shelter, a compound of small, but well-kept, apartment rooms on an acre of land in the Anapra neighborhood of a dusty subdivision in far west Juarez. Its one of the larger shelters in the city and has been a sanctuary for many of the people seeking asylum in the U.S. who were pushed back into Mexico by the controversial policy known as Title 42.

Title 42, a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention initiative implemented in March 2020 that prohibits entry into the U.S. of anyone who might spread COVID-19, is defined in different ways by different people. Its considered by some to be an invaluable tool in better managing the U.S. cases of COVID-19 by keeping out unvaccinated immigrants who may have traveled through areas with high infection rates.

If we remove Title 42, were not going to be able to handle the influx of people, said Ricardo Samaniego, county judge in El Paso, the city of nearly a million people that sits across the border from Juarez. The number of people that would qualify to stay here and the number of people who would cross and not be sent back, we would not be able to handle that, he said.

But to others, it is a government ruse implemented by the Trump administration to deny immigrants from Central America and Mexico the right to apply for asylum in the U.S.

I believe COVID was originally weaponized against immigrants through Title 42, and was used to shut the border down to asylum-seekers, said Linda Rivas, executive director of Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center, which works with immigrant rights organizations in Texas, Chihuahua and New Mexico.

Started under the Trump administration and continued by President Biden, Title 42 is responsible for sending back into Mexico 867,673 immigrants  most of them asylum-seekers  from its inception to May this year, according to U.S. Border Patrol statistics.

Immigrants filtering back into Mexico face the decision of returning to the countries they left, or finding a way to sustain themselves while awaiting the possible end of Title 42. Many in Juarez are opting to wait.

Only we know what we have been through, as people, said Jose Luis Alvarado, a 28-year-old Nicaraguan who sat with four friends he made at the Anapra shelter. All of them left Central America and endured a grueling journey, one they say was defined by harsh treatment from some U.S. officials they encountered when they tried appealing for asylum at the border between Texas and Tamaulipas, Mexico.

Just because we have our problem of having to leave our country does not mean we have lost our dignity, Alvarado said. I hope they never have a point in their lives where they are treated how we have been treated. Just like they have a family, we have a family. Just how they have a mother, we have a mother. Just how their mothers worry about them, our mothers worry about us, even more because we have left our country, Alvarado said.

He sat next to Jose Olvan Villanueva Rodriguez, a 49-year-old man from Honduras; next to him was Douglas Ezeqiel Ruiz, 38, from El Salvador; and Javier Mateo, 15, the youngest of the group, whom they all affectionately called Chapin  a nickname reserved for likable young men from Guatemala.

Its been hard, but its good to have friends, Mateo said.

Ismael Martinez, director of the Pan de Vida shelter, is familiar with the hardships that go along with poverty on the border. Thirty years ago, a horrific fire in a cardboard house in his neighborhood killed six children. That compelled him to transform his property into a day care where children could be safe.

Martinez since then has made his land a refuge that evolves with the changing needs of people. Now, he offers it to immigrants and estimates that about 6,000 of them have used the shelter since 2019.

The heated politics in the U.S. around immigration and immigrant communities is often discussed at his shelter among the immigrants, and their volunteer lawyers and advisers, who visit often, he said.

There is talk here warning people about going to Texas because that is one of the states that is more racist than others, he said.

The dynamic between Texas and New Mexico  one led by a Republican governor and the other by a Democratic governor  has grown more distinct, and the political distance between the two states is becoming increasingly evident, according to political scientists along the border.

Texas and New Mexico offer a world of policy difference on immigration and the border, especially with Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, and the extremely conservative Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, said Dr. Kathleen Staudt, professor emerita of political science at the University of Texas at El Paso. And the Texas Legislature  is trying to undermine local city and county authority  i.e. local democracy  in multiple ways, she said in an emailed statement. I doubt that this is happening in New Mexico.

The hard line the Texas governor is drawing against immigrants and immigration is evident in a proclamation he made last month, which declared the Texas border a disaster and labeled undocumented border crossers as being responsible for an ongoing and imminent threat of widespread and severe damage, injury, and loss of life and property, including property damage, property crime, human trafficking, violent crime, threat to public health, and a violation of sovereignty and territorial integrity.

In this proclamation, Abbott also called for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to discontinue licensing any child care facility under a contract with the federal government that shelters or detains unlawful immigrants. This action prompted the Biden administration to threaten the state of Texas with a lawsuit seeking to keep those facilities open.

In addition, Abbot joined Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey  a Republican who declared his state to be in a state of emergency because of illegal border crossings  in releasing a letter that asked all U.S. governors to send all available law enforcement resources to the border in defense of our sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The Republican Party of New Mexico, in a June 11 news release, called on Lujan Grisham to take action to deal with the Southern border crisis, and to listen to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey.

Tripp Stelnicki, Lujan Grishams communications director, did not respond to requests for comment on the Republican Party statement.

They just want to be safe

Some advocates for migrant and immigrant communities say they are concerned that Title 42 pushes undocumented border crossers away from secure ports of entry and out to illegal pathways  the desolate trails of the summer Chihuahuan Desert and the risky heights of the border wall.

The ACLU of New Mexico said two women from Ecuador were hospitalized after being found near the Santa Teresa port of entry on June 9; the next day, U.S. Border Patrol officials confirmed that a 20-year-old man died in Sunland Park of heat-related illness. Twenty miles away, on June 11, El Paso police said, a 24-year-old Mexican national fell to his death while trying to scale the 35-foot border wall.

Jessica Corley, coordinator for nonprofit agencies in the Albuquerque region that provide help to asylum-seekers, said Title 42 puts unnecessary strain on people driven to the U.S. by the belief that the only way to keep themselves and their families safe is to petition for U.S. asylum.

No one wants to flee their country. They just want to be safe, she said. They want to protect their kids. There is not one parent who would not do what they are doing to protect their kids.

Banegas said she is aware of the dangers and the divisive politics in the U.S. and hopes Biden will lift Title 42 and allow her a chance to petition for asylum safely at a port of entry. She says that despite how much she misses her two daughters in Honduras, and the hardships now, shell continue to wait.

The thought of what words she would like to send to her young daughter and the two girls she left behind made her silent for a long moment, her eyes welling with tears.

You are my life, she said. I love you all so much. I am struggling for you. Through all of this, you are my motivation.
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WASHINGTON  Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene apologized Monday for affronting people with recent comments comparing the required wearing of safety masks in the House to the horrors of the Holocaust.

Im truly sorry for offending people with remarks about the Holocaust, the Georgia Republican told reporters outside the Capitol, saying she had visited Washingtons U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum earlier in the day. Theres no comparison and there never ever will be.

Greenes comments were a rare expression of regret by the conservative agitator, a freshman whose career has included the embrace of violent and offensive conspiracy theories and angry confrontations with progressive colleagues.

Her apology came more than three weeks after appearing on a conservative podcast and comparing COVID-19 safety requirements adopted by Democrats controlling the House to a time and history where people were told to wear a gold star. She said they were put in trains and taken to gas chambers in Nazi Germany. This is exactly the type of abuse that Nancy Pelosi is talking about. Pelosi, D-Calif., is House speaker.

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Greenes comments were condemned by Republican leaders, including House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., who called the comparison appalling.

GOP leaders have often been reluctant to castigate Greene, a close ally of former President Donald Trump. After social media posts were unearthed in which Greene suggested support for executing some Democratic leaders, McCarthy and most Republicans stood by her when the House took the unusual step of stripping her of her committee assignments in February.

But as House members returned to the Capitol on Monday after a three-week break, Greene was contrite.

Anti-Semitism is true hate, she said. And I saw that today at the Holocaust Museum.

In 2018, two years before her election to Congress, she speculated on Facebook that California wildfires may have been caused by lasers or blue beams of light controlled by a left-wing cabal tied to a powerful Jewish family.

On Monday, she told reporters that when she was 19, she visited the site of the Auschwitz concentration camp in what during World War II was Nazi-occupied Poland. It isnt like I learned about it today, she said of the Holocaust, in which 6 million Jews and huge numbers of other people were killed. I went today because I thought it was important, she said, and wanted to talk about it as she apologized.

House leaders have recently said vaccinated people no longer must wear masks in the chamber.

Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Ill., said he would introduce a resolution in the House this week to censure Greene.

In addition, Republicans may try forcing a vote to punish Rep. Ilhan Omar. The Minnesota Democrat recently made remarks criticized by top House Democrats and Jewish lawmakers for seeming to compare the U.S. and Israel to Hamas and the Taliban. Omar said she didnt mean to draw that parallel.
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BRUSSELS  The deal the United States and the European Union reached Tuesday to end their long-running rift over subsidies to Boeing and Airbus will suspend billions in punitive tariffs. It will ease trans-Atlantic tensions. And it will let the two sides focus on a common economic threat: China.

But the breakthrough still leaves some trade friction between the U.S. and the EU unresolved. Most prominently, President Biden kept in place import taxes that President Donald Trump imposed on European steel and aluminum, a move that infuriated some of Americas closet allies three years ago.

For now, Tuesdays truce in the Boeing-Airbus dispute goes a long way toward repairing a huge commercial relationship  $933 billion in two-way trade last year despite the pandemic  that came under enormous strain during the Trump years. Among other things, the former president angrily charged the Europeans with using unfair trade practices to sell more products to the United States than they bought and of shirking their responsibility to pay for their own national defense.

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No trade dispute between the two sides has raged longer than their aviation conflict. Since 2004, the U.S. and the EU have accused each other of unfairly subsidizing their aircraft-building giants  Americas Boeing and Europes Airbus. Over the past two years, the World Trade Organization, which adjudicates such disputes, declared both sides guilty. It allowed the United States to impose up to $7.5 billion in tariffs and the EU up to $4 billion worth.

The tit-for-tat duties victimized companies that have nothing to do with aircraft production, from French winemakers and German cookie bakers in Europe to spirits producers in the United States, among many others. Tuesdays agreement brought a measure of relief to companies on both sides of the Atlantic.

For about 20 years, we have been at each others throat, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai said. We have been too busy fighting each other.

In March, weeks after Biden took office, the two sides agreed to suspend the tariffs. That suspension, which began March 11, was to last for four months. The agreement announced Tuesday will officially take effect July 11 and will put the tariffs on hold for five years.

Its obviously a good sign  they agreed to something, said William Reinsch, a former U.S. trade official who is now an analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

The truce, he said, will add an element of certainty and sanity to trans-Atlantic trade.

But Reinsch notes that the two sides kind of kicked the can down the road, by leaving unsettled some issues in the aircraft dispute, such as whether Airbus must repay the government subsidies it received over the years. Instead, the U.S. said in a fact sheet, the two sides had agreed to establish a group to analyze and overcome any disagreements that may arise.

The deal might help solidify the duopoly of Airbus and Boeing, which together dominate the global market for airline jets. Both companies have struggled recently with declining orders and deliveries at a time when the pandemic devastated air travel and led airlines to cancel or delay purchases.

Tuesdays agreement made clear that the United States and the EU recognize that Boeing and Airbus face an external threat far bigger than each other: As part of its aggressive drive to become the worlds dominant industrial power, China is intent on developing its own plane-making industry with heavy government support.

It will be a classic Chinese game plan, Reinsch said. The government in Beijing will force all the Chinese airlines to buy theirs. Theyll create a market. Their planes will get better, and once theyve gotten better and cheaper, theyll start flooding the global market.

The U.S. and EU have agreed to work together to counter Beijings efforts to obtain foreign aviation technology. They plan to take joint action against unfair trade practices that appear intended to give Chinese plane manufacturers unfair advantages.

Richard Aboulafia, an aerospace analyst with Teal Group, suggested that the agreement will help the U.S. and Europe pivot to present a united front against China. He noted that Chinese airlines delayed deliveries from Boeing and Airbus during the pandemic but continued to take deliveries from Chinas own aircraft manufacturer, COMAC.

The Chinese want to close their market and go their own way, and the biggest export market on the planet for Airbus and Boeing just goes away, Aboulafia said.

The U.S.-EU agreement wont stop China from doing that, he predicted, but at least they can prevent a scenario where China divides the West and plays the U.S. and its allies off against each other.

In another sign of a trans-Atlantic reconciliation, the Group of Seven wealthy countries, including France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom, agreed this month to a Biden administration proposal for a 15% global minimum tax on the earnings of multinational corporations.

The idea is still a long way from taking effect. But a global corporate tax could potentially resolve another dispute between Washington and Europe: Several European countries, frustrated that big tech companies are so deft at avoiding taxes, have imposed digital services taxes aimed at American companies such as Google and Apple.

Calling the taxes unfair, the U.S. has prepared tariffs in retaliation. But a global tax rate that hits a broader range of multinationals could defuse the issue by raising tax revenue without discriminating against U.S. companies.

Washington and its European trading partners remain sharply at odds over Trumps 2018 steel and aluminum tariffs. What the Europeans found especially galling was the justification for the import taxes: Trump declared the foreign metals a threat to U.S. national security, even though many of the countries hit hardest by the levies were Americas NATO allies.

Whats more, the tariffs did not directly address the biggest problem that steel and aluminum manufacturers face: Vast overproduction from China keeps global metals prices lower than they would otherwise be.

Despite pledging to mend relations with Europe, Biden has so far kept the Trump tariffs in place. They are popular with American trade unions and metals manufacturers in the U.S. Midwest, a region politically crucial to Biden and his Democratic Party.

Still, in a goodwill gesture last month, the EU agreed to suspend plans to escalate tariffs against U.S. products in the metals dispute. And in a joint statement, the two sides said they would address overproduction of steel and aluminum and hold countries like China that support trade-distorting policies to account.

The answer is a global arrangement in which everybody else forces the Chinese to eat their surplus steel and aluminum, Reinsch said.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed cautious optimism that a deal on the metals tariffs could be reached by years end.

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Wiseman reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Samuel Petrequin in Brussels, Jamey Keaten in Geneva and David Koenig in Dallas contributed to this report.
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New Mexicos tax on Social Security income yields approximately $85 million annually, which is almost entirely paid by upper- and middle-income taxpayers, primarily the former. Arguments for repeal of this tax based on purported concern for lower-income senior citizens are misplaced.

Because of existing provisions favoring Social Security recipients with lower incomes, about 90% of this tax is paid by taxpayers with incomes exceeding $50,000, a majority of which is paid by taxpayers with incomes exceeding $100,000. In fact, taxpayers reporting incomes of less than $32,000 on a joint return pay no tax on Social Security income. Importantly, in computing whether the $32,000 threshold is reached, only one-half of the Social Security income itself is counted. This means that a couple filing a joint return with only Social Security benefits pays no tax unless those benefits exceed $64,000. A couple with $10,000 of other income pays no tax on Social Security unless their benefits exceed $44,000. For a single filer, the stated threshold for taxation of social security is $25,000, but since only one-half of the Social Security income is counted, a taxpayer with only Social Security income pays no tax unless the benefits exceed $50,000.

Even when the threshold for taxation is reached, only 50% of the Social Security income is taxed. At higher incomes this percentage increases to 85%. These provisions, graduating the percentage of income taxed based on taxpayers income level, within an income tax with rates also graduated based on income, are among the most progressive provisions in our tax code. Of course, the principal beneficiaries of exempting Social Security income would be recipients in high tax brackets, 85% of whose benefits are currently taxable. Exempting Social Security income from taxation would make our tax system more regressive. It might also foreclose more meritorious tax cuts or cause underfunding of significant programs.

There are good reasons for concern about lower-income senior citizens and lowerincome taxpayers generally, but this proposal would have little or no effect on them. Assistance targeted specifically through the low-income comprehensive tax rebate or the working families tax credit would actually benefit them. Alternatively, the reductions of some business taxes or fees might encourage financial recovery with economic and employment growth. Small businesses have suffered during the pandemic, while Social Security recipients have received their payments consistently.

Further, the Legislature is seeking voter approval of an increase in distributions from the state permanent fund, starting around $212 million per year: $127 million for early childhood education and $85 million for primary and secondary education. The Legislature apparently has concluded the state has insufficient revenues to fund these programs adequately. It would seem anomalous for the same Legislature at the same time to choose to reduce state revenue by $85 million.

Many states do not tax Social Security income, but comparisons among states are of limited value. New Mexico has fewer large corporations and fewer high-income taxpayers than other states. We also have fewer privately-funded educational institutions and more lowincome families. In addition, New Mexico has chosen to keep its property taxes comparatively low. In many states, but not New Mexico, property taxes are a principal source of funding for public education. Therefore, it is not surprising that New Mexico imposes some taxes that other states do not.

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  Mister Car Washs new Westgate location is the Arizona-based companys 12th site in the state, a news release said.

The car wash opened May 29 at 209 98th NW, and will employ 10 people. According to the release, the new hires will bring Mister Car Washs Albuquerque employees up to 250 people.

To celebrate the opening, the company is offering free car washes at the new location on during business hours June 26 and 27.

The store will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. For more information, visit https://mistercarwash.com/location/volcano/. Anyone interested in applying for a job at Mister Car Wash can apply online at careers.mistercarwash.com. Benefits include paid time off starting the first day of work, as well as free car washes, the release said.

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PHOENIX  Gov. Doug Ducey on Tuesday blocked a new Arizona State University policy that would have required unvaccinated students to submit to twice-weekly COVID-19 testing and wear a mask, calling the decision bad policy.

The Republican governor issued an executive order saying students at the states public universities and community colleges cant be required to get the vaccine, submit vaccination documents, be tested or forced to wear masks.

ASU and the Board of Regents, which oversees the states three public universities, said they would comply with Duceys order. An ASU statement noted that it never issued a vaccine mandate but was following guidelines for universities from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by ensuring that unvaccinated people continue to follow protocols like masking.

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The CDC recognizes the unique environments of institutions of higher learning; the ASU student population includes people from all 50 states and more than 130 countries, the statement said.

Duceys order came after he criticized the ASU policy in a series of tweets Monday night. He said the rules for students attending class in person this fall has no basis in public health and that even the Biden administration has been more reasonable.

But the governor also included a screenshot of a quote from the CDCs director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, that appeared to contradict his own position.

The science demonstrates that if you are fully vaccinated, you are protected, Walensky is quoted as saying. It is the people who are not fully vaccinated in those settings, who might not be wearing a mask, who are not protected.

In an interview with KTAR radio before Duceys executive order was issued, ASU President Michael Crow said he believes the governor and other critics of the policy may have misinterpreted it, calling it essentially an extension of current rules that say vaccinated people dont need to wear masks in most cases.

I think what happened here was some people thought that we were requiring vaccinations, initially, which we werent, Crow said. I think thats just gotten some people very upset, and hopefully theyll take a closer look at it.

Crow said the university has been consistently pushing for a full return to in-person learning and is not requiring COVID-19 vaccines as many universities are doing.

Were allowing freedom of choice, Crow said. So we expect vaccinations, but if you dont get vaccinated, then youve got to follow CDC guidelines for institutions of higher education, which are quite clear.

The ASU policy, sent to students last week by Vice President of Student Services Joanne Vogel and posted online Monday, said the university expected students to get a vaccine since they are now widely available and are highly effective at preventing COVID-19 infection and reducing the spread of the virus.

It had said students who do not provide proof of vaccination would have had to wear a mask indoors and outdoors, submit to twice-weekly virus testing and do a daily online health check.

Ducey reacted by saying the vaccine works but is a choice and calling public education a right that taxpayers are paying for.

This policy is social engineering at its worst, Ducey tweeted. Health policy should be based on science, not virtue signaling. In America, freedom wins.

He announced that Republican state Sen. T.J. Shope will introduce legislation to make his executive order a law. Shope and other GOP lawmakers had tweeted that they opposed the ASU rules.

GOP Rep. Travis Grantham called the policy  discriminatory and onerous and called on the university to immediately rescind it. He said he would propose withholding funding from ASU if the policy remained.
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The town of Bernalillo is getting its own Dutch Bros coffee shop.

Company spokeswoman Rilynn Davis confirmed the 800-square-foot shop is under construction with hopes to open by the end of the year. Its on a large lot at 340 U.S. 550, east of Camino Don Tomas.

Were so excited to join the Bernalillo community, said Casey Olson, operator of Dutch Bros Bernalillo and both Rio Rancho shops in the chain. The community has been so welcoming, and were stoked to serve up their favorite drinks.

The shop will have a single-lane drive-thru and a walk-up window, Davis said. She expects 40-50 employees to work there.

Davis said the Bernalillo location will be much like the two Rio Rancho shops.

Bernalillo is a great community, business-friendly and just a short distance from our Rio Rancho shops, she said of the reasons for choosing the town for the next Dutch Bros location.

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SANTA FE  With a new campaign season on the horizon, a national Republican governors group is ratcheting it up its criticism of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.

In a new digital ad scheduled to run over the next two weeks, a state political committee affiliated with the Republican Governors Association spotlights Lujan Grishams handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and several episodes that drew scrutiny.

The five-figure ad campaign features television news footage about Governors Office staff raises, a remote jewelry purchase from an Albuquerque store and a settlement with a former campaign staffer who had accused Lujan Grisham of sexual mistreatment during a staff meeting.

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Lujan Grisham, who is seeking re-election next year and is the chairwoman of the Democratic Governors Association, has staunchly defended her handling of the pandemic, including New Mexicos efforts to provide widespread COVID-19 testing and vaccines.

State health officials had reported 4,302 deaths related to the virus since March 2020 as of Monday, making New Mexicos death rate the nations 12th highest, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

But Lujan Grisham and state health officials have argued New Mexico was at higher risk than many other states due to prevalent underlying health conditions, an elderly population and limited health care access in many parts of the state.

I think its going to be really hard to attack this administration, but that doesnt mean it wont happen, the governor said in response to a question about political criticism during a news conference last week.

RGA spokesman Will Reinert described the Lujan Grisham administration as a dumpster fire that has embarrassed New Mexico.

Sadly, the only thing voters can count on from Michelle Lujan Grisham is an unfathomable arrogance being put on full display with every denied request to explain the scandal of the week to her constituents, Reinert said in a statement.

In response, a Lujan Grisham campaign spokeswoman touted the governors record on public health and economic issues, citing specifically her efforts to pass pandemic relief measures and a bill legalizing recreational cannabis for adult users.

The Republican candidates for governor are far-right extremists who spread dangerous misinformation, are at odds with New Mexican values, and have no plan to lead this state, Lujan Grisham campaign spokeswoman Kendall Witmer said in a statement. Republicans radical views are bad for business and would destroy New Mexicos economy.

Three Republicans have so far announced campaigns for the 2022 gubernatorial race  Greg Zanetti of Albuquerque, Jay Block of Rio Rancho and Karen Bedonie of Farmington.

Lujan Grisham, who was elected governor in 2018 and is seeking a new four-year term, is the only Democrat currently running.
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DENVER  A former high school student accused of teaming up with a classmate to kill teens in a suburban Denver classroom in 2019 was convicted Tuesday of all 46 charges against him, including murder for the death of a student who tried to stop the attack.

The verdict against Devon Erickson came less than 24 hours after lawyers delivered closing arguments in his trial. Prosecutors said Erickson, now 20, was a full partner with Alec McKinney in the shooting that killed Kendrick Castillo, 18, and wounded eight others at STEM School Highlands Ranch in an unincorporated suburban community south of Denver.

The shots were fired in a darkened classroom of high school seniors, who were watching The Princess Bride in the days leading up to graduation. Castillo and two other students, Joshua Jones and Brendan Bialy, charged at Erickson after he pulled out a gun, which jammed after he fired four times.

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Defense attorneys argued that Erickson, who was 18 at the time, was manipulated and pressured into participating by his younger friend. McKinney testified against Erickson after pleading guilty last year.

Since he was an adult at the time of the shooting, Erickson faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole for his murder conviction plus many more years for the other charges. A sentencing hearing was set for Sept. 17.

McKinney, who was 16 at the time of the shooting, could become eligible for parole after about 20 years in prison under a program for juvenile offenders.

Despite the pending mandatory life term, prosecutors asked that a report be prepared that recommends a sentence and summarizes the evidence presented at trial. That information could help deter a future governor who might possibly consider clemency for Erickson, District Attorney John Kellner said. The judge granted the request.

John Castillo, Kendrick Castillos father, projected a quiet, calm satisfaction after the verdict, saying he felt his slain sons presence throughout the day.

Im sure he was looking down today, Castillo said. I believe, I feel, he was with us. He was probably with those jurors making their decision.  This day was justice for him.

During closing arguments, Ericksons defense lawyer, David Kaplan, told jurors that the shooting unfolded without a true plan and happened only after Erickson, who was sent to the nurses office after he looked sick, got a threatening message from McKinney to help with the attack.

The defense also raised the possibility that Castillo was accidentally shot as he pushed Erickson against a wall.

The prosecution disputed the theory, saying an accidental shooting was not likely given the positioning of the two. Jones and Bialy struggled to get Erickson to give up his gun after Castillo was shot, prosecutors said.

As the verdict for each count was read, Erickson stood nearly motionless, hands clasped in front of him, staring straight ahead and blinking as his parents sat in the courtroom. He was wearing a gray suit and tie and had short, neat brown hair in contrast to the longer, purple hair he had at the time of the shooting.

Former STEM school student Mitchell Kraus, who was wounded in the shooting, had walked Erickson to the nurses office just minutes before the attack. Erickson never gave any indication that something was about to happen, Kraus said Tuesday.

Kraus, now a college student, said he had struggled to put the shooting behind him but recently has started to believe he can.

Now that I can be sure that this monster, to be honest, is never going to see the light of day again, its just a weight off my back, he said.

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Associated Press writer Thomas Peipert contributed to this report.
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

Sean Lannon, who is suspected of killing his ex-wife, her lover and a friend and leaving their bodies stuffed into storage bins in a truck parked in the Sunport parking lot, has now also been charged in the death of a fourth person, Randall Todd Apostalon, who was also found dead in that truck.

The truck belonged to 60-year-old Apostalon and police say Lannon had paid him to help move and store the bins. Police say Apostalon did not know what was inside the bins.

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On March 26, the Grants Police Department charged Lannon in the deaths of Jennifer Lannon, 39; Matthew Miller, 21; and Jesten Mata, 40.

Lannon is also charged in the death of 66-year-old Michael Dabkowski, a friend who authorities say he killed in East Greenwich, New Jersey.

He was taken into custody in St. Louis, Missouri on March 10 in Dabkowskis SUV.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court on Tuesday, detectives went to St. Louis to interview Lannon on March 11 and he told them he had met Apostalon through an acquaintance and paid him to move and store some boxes for him.

Lannon said the two drove around with the storage bins containing the bodies looking for a storage place but they couldnt find one. When they returned to the Pearl Apartment Complex, where Lannon and his children were staying with a friend, Apostalon told him to get the bins out of his truck.

(Lannon) realized that he did not have anywhere he could store the bodies any longer, so Sean struck Randall several times in the face, knocking him unconscious, and pulled the key out of the ignition so that Randall could not put the truck into gear, a detective wrote in the complaint.

Lannon said he struck Apostalon several times in the face and head with a hammer until he was dead. He said he cleaned up the inside of the truck and then moved it next to a dumpster in an effort to mask the smell.

Later that day he was arrested for an outstanding warrant from Cibola County and taken back to Grants.

Lannon was released about a week later and on March 2 returned to Albuquerque to find the truck, according to the complaint. He told detectives his mother got plane tickets for him and his two children to fly to New Jersey.

He said on March 3, he drove the truck to the Sunport and left it on the second story of the parking structure. Jennifer Lannon, Miller and Matas bodies were in the bins and Apostalons body was positioned, intact, in the front passenger seat covered by a tarp, according to the complaint.

Lannon said he took a taxi back to the apartment complex and the next day he and his children returned to the airport to fly to Philadelphia, the closest airport to where his mother lives.
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SANTA FE  The pace of COVID-19 vaccinations accelerated this week as New Mexico reported Tuesday that about 9,000 more people got their shots, pulling the state within 1.5 percentage points of its goal.

The Department of Health is aiming to have 60% of state residents 16 and older complete their vaccination shots by Thursday  a threshold that would trigger the lifting of business capacity restrictions two weeks later.

The state reported on Tuesday that another 8,965 residents had completed their vaccination shots  a daily pace that, if kept up through Thursday, would allow New Mexico to reach the 60% goal.

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The uptick in daily vaccinations comes as Gov. Michelle Lujan Grishams administration ramps up incentives  including free child care, $100 in cash for individuals and $1 million for county governments that improve their vaccination rates.

About 58.5% of residents 16 and over are now vaccinated against COVID-19, or about 25,773 people short of the goal. The percentage jumped 0.6 percentage points over the last day, well above the usual rate.

The incentives now offered included:

 $100 to anyone who either gets the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine or the second of the two shots required for the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines by Thursday.

 $1 million to any county that boosts the number of vaccinated residents by 10% from Sunday to Thursday this week. The money can be used for infrastructure or other projects that meet guidelines for the use of federal stimulus funds.

 Free drop-in appointments for child care are available at 18 KinderCare and La Petite Academy locations in Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, Bernalillo, and Santa Fe. Call KinderCare at (866) 337-3105 or La Petite at (833) 459-3557 to learn more.

 People who are vaccinated can also opt in to a lottery that will award $250,000 cash prizes and one $5 million prize.

New Mexico is counting on the incentives to help boost vaccination rates now that the supply exceeds demand.

Health officials confirmed to The Associated Press that New Mexicos inventory includes nearly 493,000 doses that are being stored in freezers around the state. Expiration dates range from this week through September. The state also has donated 372,600 doses of its undelivered allocation back to the federal government.

The state on Tuesday reported 122 new cases of COVID-19 but not additional virus-related deaths.
Instagram Celebrity

Months after Tiffany filed for divorce to officially end their 21-year marriage, Rob claims to have uncovered what appeared to be a spy camera hidden in a smoke detector.

Jun 15, 2021

AceShowbiz - Comedy star Rob Riggle has been granted a restraining order against his estranged wife Tiffany after accusing her of spying on him.

The couple split last year (2020) and Tiffany filed for divorce to officially end the 21-year marriage in October.

Riggle moved into a smaller pad they owned so Tiffany and their two children could remain in the family property in California, but the actor claims relations between the pair soured after he noticed $28,000 (20,000) in emergency cash was taken from his home office, to which she still has access.

She was quizzed about the missing money and denied having anything to do with it, but Riggle alleges his Apple account was soon hacked into, and he started noticing Tiffany had knowledge of private chats he had had with, or about, his new girlfriend and his assistant in his home office - which would then be referenced in text messages and emails received from his ex and other anonymous sources.

Fearing there was a hidden camera planted in his office, he decided to test out the theory by spreading misinformation, which ended up confirming his suspicions.

Riggle subsequently uncovered what appeared to be a spy camera hidden in a smoke detector in April, with a memory card containing more than 10,000 videos with sound on it.

According to court papers obtained by TMZ, among the recordings were two of Tiffany, the first in which she is shown allegedly climbing up a ladder to install the device last summer, and another of her sitting in the office counting out some cash, which Riggle believes is the emergency bundle that was stolen.

He immediately requested a temporary restraining order against Tiffany, which has since been granted, while the judge overseeing the case has set a hearing for next month (July 2021) to determine whether "The Hangover" star can have a forensic expert look through the spy camera footage.
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The journalist, who serves as CNN's chief international anchor, notes that she is 'undergoing several months of chemotherapy' and thanks her colleagues for 'holding down the fort' for her.

Jun 15, 2021

AceShowbiz - Revered news anchor Christiane Amanpour is battling ovarian cancer.

The top broadcaster, who serves as CNN's chief international anchor, went public with her health crisis on Monday, June 14 as she thanked her colleagues for "holding down the fort" during her previous four-week absence.

Breaking the personal news to viewers of her daily show, Amanpour said, "During that time, like millions of women around the world, I've been diagnosed with ovarian cancer."

"I've had successful major surgery to remove it and I'm now undergoing several months of chemotherapy for the very best possible long-term prognosis and I'm confident."

Speaking from her home base in London, the British-Iranian journalist went on to express her gratitude for her medical team, stating, "I'm also fortunate to have health insurance through work and incredible doctors who are treating me in a country underpinned by, of course, the brilliant NHS [National Health Service]."

Amanpour, 63, concluded her message by encouraging others to stay up-to-date on all health checks, adding, "I'm telling you this in the interest of transparency, but in truth really mostly as a shout-out to early diagnoses."

"To urge women to educate themselves on this disease, to get all the regular screenings and scans that you can. To always listen to your bodies. And of course, to ensure that your legitimate medical concerns are not dismissed or diminished."

Wishing Amanpour a full recovery was CNN Worldwide president Jeff Zucker. In a released statement, he said, "I want to applaud Christiane Amanpour for her candor, bravery and always working towards the greater good. As a cancer survivor, I too encourage people to listen to their bodies and get all early cancer screenings available to them. From our CNN family, we wish Christiane the very best for a full and speedy recovery."
WENN/John Rainford Celebrity

According to a palace source, the Duchess of Cambridge has always been responsible for keeping things between the Duke of Cambridge and the Duke of Sussex civil.

Jun 15, 2021

AceShowbiz - Kate Middleton indeed serves as the bridge for warring royal brothers Prince Harry and Prince William. According to a new report, the Duke of Sussex texted his sister-in-law to let Prince William know about the arrival of his and Meghan Markle's daughter earlier this month.

The Mail on Sunday stated on Monday, June 14 that Kate has always been responsible for keeping things between the brothers civil. A palace source claimed to the outlet that Harry delivering the news to Duchess of Cambridge instead of telling his own brother directly is Harry's way of "cementing her role as a bridge between him and his brother."

Despite the drama, the Cambridges issued a joint statement to congratulate Harry and Meghan on Lilibet's arrival. "We are all delighted by the happy news of the arrival of baby Lili," William and Kate wrote on their official Instagram account alongside a picture of the Sussexes' pregnancy announcement. "Congratulations to Harry, Meghan and Archie."

It was also reported that Prince William and Kate sent Lili a gift. However, details about the sweet gesture remain to be seen.

Back in May, the Duke of Cambridge gushed about sharing "plenty of [parenting] advice" with his brother. "I wish him all the best and hope the next few days they can settle down and enjoy having a newborn in their family and all the joys that come with that," William said at the time. "We're absolutely thrilled and looking forward to seeing them in the next few days as things quiet down. I'm very pleased and glad to welcome my brother to the sleep deprivation society that is parenting."

Meghan gave birth to Lili at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in California on Friday morning, June 5. Harry and Meghan paid tribute to Harry's late mother Princess Diana and his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II by naming their baby girl Lilibet Diana.
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Clara McGregor reveals that she was rushed to an emergency room just 30 minutes before she went to a premiere of the film 'The Birthday Cake', which stars her famous father.

Jun 15, 2021

AceShowbiz - Ewan McGregor's daughter has stolen attention with her bravery. Having managed to hit a red carpet after a dog bit her in the face, Clara McGregor earned praises from her fans and friends on social media.

Making use of Instagram, the 25-year-old let out a series of pictures from the June 11 premiere of the film "The Birthday Cake" at The Mob Museum in Las Vegas. The snaps showed her posing in front of cameras as her bite wounds were on full display. One snap, meanwhile, saw her in a hospital room.

In the caption, Clara wrote, "When a dog bite lands you in the ER 30 mins before the red carpet." She further noted, "Thank you @themobmuseum for having us, @thebirthdaycakemovie comes out in theaters and on VOD June 18th! @pgdm @swindled717 @sienaoberman congratulations!! thank you @fendi for the suit."

Clara's post has since been flooded with compliments from many of her famous pals. One in particular was Kaia Gerber who exclaimed, "You're so bada**." Liz Jenkins added, "Oh nooo! still a stunner. But I'm so sorry that happened." Jeremy Allen White then chimed in, "Looks tough."

Dog bite aside, Clara served as co-producer of "The Birthday Cake". The crime drama film itself stars her famous father Ewan, David Mazouz, Val Kilmer, Ashley Benson, Shiloh Fernandez, Lorraine Bracco and Penn Badgley.

Clara is the oldest child of Ewan and ex-wife Eve Mavrakis, whom he divorced in 2018 after 22 years of marriage. The former couple also shares three other daughters including 20-year-old Jamyan, 19-year-old Esther and 10-year-old Anouk.

Back in 2019, Clara slammed her father publicly for leaving her mother to date his "Fargo" co-star, Mary Elizabeth Winstead. Taking to Twitter, she shared a picture of her mum during a family trip and captioned it, "my mother, ladies & gentlemen * 50 is the new 30 apparently."

A fan later jokingly suggested that Clara keep her mum away from any of the former's future boyfriends. In response to the comment, she replied, "Nah I keep her away from a**hole men who leave my goddess of a mother."
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As the country's prime minister joins a chorus of disapproval against the Cannes virtual market package 'They Are Us', veteran producer Philippa Campbell apologizes for her involvement.

Jun 15, 2021

AceShowbiz - New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has criticized a new movie based on her response to the 2019 Christchurch mosques massacre.

The politician has joined a chorus of disapproval against the Cannes virtual market package "They Are Us", in which she will be portrayed by Rose Byrne.

"In my view, which is a personal view, it feels very soon and very raw for New Zealand," Ardern told local media station TVNZ. "And while there are so many stories that should be told at some point, I don't consider mine to be one of them."

The Mayor of Christchurch, Lianne Dalziel, has echoed the Prime Minister's remarks, insisting movie crews will not be welcome in the city. "I'm just so outraged that they even think that this is an appropriate thing to do," she told news outlet RNZ.

And the National Islamic Youth Association has called for the movie to be scrapped, arguing the film would marginalize "the victims and survivors."

The backlash has prompted veteran producer Philippa Campbell to apologize for her involvement in the film, stating, "I have listened to the concerns raised over recent days and I have heard the strength of people's views. I now agree that the events of March 15, 2019 are too raw for film at this time and do not wish to be involved with a project that is causing such distress."

"When I was approached to work on the film I was moved by the filmmakers' vision to pay respect to the victims, their families, and those who assisted them. This was reinforced by research interviews undertaken by producer Ayman Jamal with members of the Muslim community in Christchurch. I also hoped that telling the story of swift gun control action might resonate in America and other countries that have struggled to create political consensus to control guns. I deeply regret the shock and hurt the announcement of the film has caused throughout Aotearoa New Zealand."

Over 50 people lost their lives during the massacre when white supremacist Brenton Tarrant opened fire on worshippers inside the Al Noor mosque and Linwood Islamic Center, making it the deadliest shooting in New Zealand's modern history.
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When opening up for the first time about her second-time being a mother, 'The Sinner' actress gushes over her 11-month-old son Phineas who is 'cute as hell.'

Jun 15, 2021

AceShowbiz - Jessica Biel has broken her silence on the arrival of her youngest son Phineas, whom she shares with husband Justin Timberlake. In a new interview, "The Sinner" actress admitted to experiencing "a big change" while parenting her "secret COVID baby."

In the Monday, June 14 episode of Dax Shepard's podcast "Armchair Expert", the 38-year-old mom revealed that parenting a newborn again six years after having her first child has been a "big change." The 39-year-old actress confessed, "Someone said to me, 'Two is like having a thousand,' and that's exactly what it feels like." She pointed out, "The balance of everything is very different and super hard."

"But I agree. I mean, it's amazing. It's so interesting. It's so funny. The conversations I'm having now with my 6-year-old is so cool," Jessica elaborated further. "The Illusionist" star went on gushing over her kids, "Like, he's a real person saying the funniest stuff and he's so sensitive and tender. It's just so interesting to see that part of it happen and the little one is just cute as hell."

Elsewhere in the interview, Jessica addressed her secret pregnancy. "I had, like, a secret COVID baby," the former "7th Heaven" star admitted. But that wasn't her intention as she explained, "It wasn't like it was supposed to be a secret. It was just COVID happened, and then I went to Montana with my family and never left."

Jessica then opened up that she gave birth to her second child during the summer of 2020. At the time, both she and Justin didn't publicly announce the news until January though reports already spread in July that she had secretly welcomed her second child. As her due date approached, she wasn't sure if her husband would be permitted into the hospital because COVID-19 had imposed limitations on visitors.

Luckily, Jessica said the hospital "had just changed" its restrictions of not allowing anybody "at all" before she gave birth. "I was really getting nervous about that situation," the "Cruel Summer" executive producer told host Dax. "But yes, he was allowed. I think if I had to be there alone, that would have been horrible. I would have been really scared."
WENN/Ivan Nikolov Celebrity

Australia Zoo owner Terri Irwin reveals that the Gladiator star has given officials means to purchase an endoscope needed to save the injured bird after it swallowed a fishing hook.

Jun 15, 2021

AceShowbiz - Russell Crowe has helped save an injured kookaburra. The "Gladiator" star donated an unknown sum of money to Australia Zoo over the weekend (June 12 to 13) to help officials purchase an endoscope, which was needed to save the injured bird after it swallowed a fishing hook.

News of the kookaburra's plight was first revealed via the Twitter account for Wildlife Warriors, the charity set up in 2002 by the late Steve Irwin and his wife Terri as a way of encouraging others to support the protection of injured and endangered animals.

In the tweet, the charity bosses wrote, "Archie the kookaburra had swallowed a fishing hook when he arrived at the #AustraliaZoo Wildlife Hospital. An endoscope was used to locate the hook, following which it was safely removed using a protective sleeve. Thankfully, Archie recovered and he has returned back to the wild [sic]."

In a follow-up tweet from Terri Irwin herself, it was revealed Russell had donated the funds needed to purchase the life-saving equipment. She wrote, "Thank you @russellcrowe for donating the funds to purchase this life-saving endoscope. Archie really appreciated it!"

Terry Irwin thanked Russell Crowe for donating.

Russell is a long-time friend of the Irwin family and previously gifted Terri and Steve's daughter Bindi Irwin and her husband, Chandler Powell, a fig tree as a wedding gift ahead of their marriage last year (2020).

Alongside the present was a note which read, "Presented to Bindi and Chandler to commemorate their wedding. Love from Russell Crowe and family."

In return, Bindi wished Russell a happy birthday. "You'll always be part of our family. Even though we can't see you right now, we're giving the beautiful fig you gifted us a hug and thinking of you," the conservationist wrote in a post showing off the fig tree gift. "Hope your day is extraordinary."
Instagram Celebrity

The pregnant reality TV star claims in court documents that the drama her estranged husband is causing plays a part in her recent hospitalization during her current pregnancy.

Jun 15, 2021

AceShowbiz - Erica Mena has blamed Safaree Samuels for her pregnancy complication amid their ongoing divorce process. The former model/video vixen claims that the drama her estranged is causing in their divorce is at least part of the reason why she's recently landed in the hospital for medical issue related to her pregnancy.

In court documents obtained by TMZ, the "Love & Hip Hop: New York" star says Safaree has "failed to be involved in her care or to visit her at the hospital during her most recent stay, where she remained overnight for many days related to her pregnancy."

As for his request for a joint custody of their children, she believes that it is only being done "in hopes of obtaining 'good publicity' and painting [Erica] as the instigator, while in actuality, [Erica's] the only parent ensuring the parties' children's safety and acting in their best interest."

Erica asks that Safaree should worry more about her and their unborn baby's health instead of trying to paint himself as a devoted father in legal docs. The 33-year-old also says that the decision about whether or not her ex is allowed to be present in the room when she gives birth to their second child together should only be made by herself and her doctor.

Erica filed for divorce from Safaree in late May, just weeks after they announced that they're expecting their second child together. In her filing, she stated that she has "no hope of reconciliation" with her now-estranged husband because their marriage is "irretrievably broken."

Amid their divorce, it was reported that Safaree got another woman pregnant. While no further details were provided, it was said that the out-of-wedlock pregnancy was the reason why Erica didn't want him to be in the same room when she delivers their baby.

Safaree, however, has denied the rumors. Taking to his Instagram Story on Sunday, June 13, he wrote, "I have 1 baby about to be born. Stop spreading [cap emoji]." He then added, "Only addressing [because] of a dumba** family member who I just blocked."
Instagram Celebrity

For the 'Circle' hitmaker's sparkling teeth, his dentist Dr. Thomas Connelly reveals that he uses '40 carats of diamonds sourced from Belgium and cut in Israel.'

Jun 15, 2021

AceShowbiz - Post Malone has a literally $1 million smile. Spending $1.6 million for his new diamond vampire fangs, the "Circle" rapper is said to have set a "new precedent in the music world" as the person who has the "most drip."

On Monday, June 14, the rapper's Beverly Hills dentist Dr. Thomas Connelly showed off the finished look of the 25-year-old musician's new teeth. "Post Malone completed his $1,600,000 smile reconstruction last weekend !!" the dentist captioned an Instagram post featuring a black-and-white portrait of the "Rock Star" spitter clenching a cigarette between his brand new pearly whites.

"With a smile that shows off natural Porcelain Veneer work framed with 2 Diamond Fangs with a total weight of 12 Carats, Post Malone literally has $1 million smile!!!" Dr. Connelly continued. Adding more details, the dentist, who has also done cosmetic dental work on DaBaby and Travis Barker, explained, "A collaborative between Dr. Connelly, @_naoki_hayashi_ , along with Isaac Bokhoor and his team of Diamond Cutters @bichachi_diamonds_la and Setters @angelcityjewelers , Post Malone's epic ICE smile has set a new precedent in the music world of who has the most 'Drip'."

During a conversation with Rolling Stones, Dr. Connelly revealed that the project took about a year-and-a-half of trial and error to figure out how to create the diamond teeth, then a few more months to place them. "It's very difficult to cut holes in diamonds without destroying them," the dentist explained. He also spilled that he used "40 carats of diamonds sourced from Belgium and cut in Israel, coming in at $1.6 million."

"In order to make a diamond in the shape of a tooth, for example, if you get a six-carat canine tooth, you need a 12-carat raw cube. So there's a lot of waste," Dr. Connelly elaborated further. "That diamond, they could have got three or four other diamonds out of it, so we had to waste it in order to get it into shape."

When it comes to cleaning Malone's new teeth, the dentist claimed there is no special method. He could simply clean his teeth as he normally would. "He's now got two functional, full diamond teeth," he said. "They light up the room. They sparkle, they shine, they're amazing."

Connelly thinks Malone is set to start a trend with his new chompers, with Odell Beckham Jr. apparently among other celebrities on the waiting list. "I've been talking to a few other people who were waiting to see how this turned out before they dropped their million. So we'll see," the dentist spilled.
TV

The six-part limited series, which is based on the book 'Spotify Untold' by Sven Carlsson and Jonas Leijonhufvud, will tell a story about a 'fictionalized account' of Spotify's co-founders including chief Daniel Ek.

Jun 15, 2021

AceShowbiz - Netflix is reportedly producing an original series chronicling Spotify, one of the music industry's successful startups. According to a new report, the planned project will tell a story about a "fictionalized account" of Spotify's co-founders including chief Daniel Ek.

Variety states that the series will be about "the young Swedish tech entrepreneur Daniel Ek and his key partners who shook up the music industry by offering free and legal streamed music around the world." Based on the book "Spotify Untold" by Sven Carlsson and Jonas Leijonhufvud, it will document the rise of Spotify under Ek and his business partner Martin Lorentzon.

The book also covers Steve Jobs' personal war on Spotifys U.S. launch, the challenge to get record labels to sign up the contract as well as widely publicized conflicts with the likes of Taylor Swift and Bob Dylan. It was also said that Carlsson and Leijonhufvud conducted over 70 interviews to write the book about "David vs Goliath story about how strong convictions, unrelenting willpower, and big dreams can help small players take on the titans of tech."

Netflix has also tapped actors to play on the limited series, which is set to have six episodes. Edvin Endre ("Vikings") is set to play Daniel Ek, while Ulf Stenberg ("Beartown") joins as Per Sundin. The cast also includes Gizem Erdogan ("Caliphate") as Petra Hansson, Joel Lutzow ("Gasmamman") as Andreas Ehn, and Christian Hillborg ("The Last Kingdom") as Martin Lorentzon. It remains to be seen if Steve Jobs-like figure will be making an appearance on the series.

Back in 2019, Carlsson told Variety about detailing the conflict between Apple and Spotify on his book, "[I and Leijonhufvud] both felt a rush of adrenaline when we unraveled the details about the conflict between Apple and Spotify. After several months of research, we could finally account for how Jobs actively worked to oppose Spotify's establishment in the U.S., and what he may have been thinking. It gave the story an edge."

The planned project is scheduled to arrive on Netflix sometime in 2022.
Facebook Celebrity

A security guard who was allegedly shot by the 'Back in Blood' spitter at a Miami club in late May now says that he doesn't remember giving his original statement to cops.

Jun 16, 2021

AceShowbiz - Pooh Shiesty may soon be freed of charge for alleged shooting at a Miami club. The rapper's alleged victim has recanted his statement to cops, saying he wasn't aware of what he was saying to the police when he first spoke to them.

A club security guard, who was reported to have been shot when the rapper opened fire at King of Diamonds nightclub on May 30, now claims he was on a powerful painkiller and unaware what he initially told police. In a new motion filed by Pooh's attorneys Bradford Cohen and Saam Zangeneh, they state that the security guard spoke to the legal team in sworn testimony.

According to the docs obtained by TMZ, Frivin Dor told the legal team that he was given Dilaudid, a powerful opioid painkiller, when he first arrived at the hospital that night. He believes that the painkiller caused him to not remember a thing he said that night.

Frivin also said that he thinks the commotion in the club might be caused by a fan that fell in a parking lot nearby. He additionally testified that he doesn't recall Pooh aiming at him or even shooting at him.

The security guard also said he doesn't want to press charges against Pooh and doesn't want officials in Florida to contact him about this matter either. The rapper's lawyers argue that this is enough reason for prosecutor to at least reconsider the decision not to release the 22-year-old star on bond.

Frivin's latest testimony contradicts details in the affidavit used to arrest Pooh last week.

Earlier reports said Pooh, whose real name is Lontrell Dennell Williams, Jr., shot one of security guards at the King of Diamonds nightclub at 4 A.M on May 30. On what led to the incident, he was allegedly caught in an altercation after he got robbed for $40,000 while he was taking the stage.
WENN/Phil Lewis Celebrity

In a new interview, the 56-year-old rap mogul, who was born Andre Young, details his health scare that required him to be hospitalized in January, admitting that he didn't see that coming.

Jun 16, 2021

AceShowbiz - Dr. Dre is offering more insights into his serious health scare which required him to be hospitalized due to a brain aneurysm. The rapper, who was born Andre Young, detailed the matter in an interview with the Los Angeles Times, admitting that he didn't see that coming.

"It's a really weird thing. I've never had high blood pressure," said Dr. Dre. "And I've always been a person that has always taken care of my health. But there's something that happens for some reason with black men and high blood pressure, and I never saw that coming."

The 56-year-old rap mogul also urged fellow black men to do regular health check-up. "And I think every black man should just check that out and make sure things are OK with the blood pressure," he said. Despite the health scare, Dr. Dre is determined "to move on and, hopefully, live a long and healthy life. I'm feeling fantastic."

Dr. Dre made headlines in January when he was rushed in an ambulance to the intensive care unit at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. It was said that his family and friends suspected that his brain aneurysm might be the result of foul play.

According to a report by MTO News, one family member believed that "people were jealous" of Dre and she wanted an investigation of everyone around him. The family member went on to claim, "Something is definitely off about this [incident]" because "[Dre] is very healthy, he works out multiple times a week, goes to the doctor, and stays on top of everything. "

Another person allegedly close to the former member of gangsta rap group N.W.A. also demanded an investigation into the matter as well. When notified about the effects of rat poison on humans, the second insider responded, "someone needs to look into that."

After regaining his conscious, Dre assured fans that he was okay in an Instagram post. "Thanks to my family, friends and fans for their interest and well wishes," he wrote along with a black-and-white picture of him in a recording studio. "I'm doing great and getting excellent care from my medical team. I will be out of the hospital and back home soon. Shout out to all the great medical professionals at Cedars. One Love!!"
The fire at the Chemtool Inc. plant in Rockton, Illinois, has been contained, the Rockton fire chief announced Wednesday morning in a news conference.

The fire broke out Monday morning and prompted the city fire department to order a mandatory evacuation for all residents and businesses in a 1-mile radius of the plant, police said in a message on Twitter.

Despite the containment, the evacuation order remains in effect, Rockton Fire Chief Kirk Wilson said.

The mandatory 1-mile evacuation area around the site, as well as a mask wearing request, is due to concerns about 'particulate matter that can become pulmonary irritants,' especially to those with compromised immune systems, said Dr. Sandra Martell, public health administrator for Winnebago County.

'Please do not pick up waste that falls from the sky and is related to the fire,' Martell advised at a news conference Monday evening. 'We do not know what that waste contains. Please do not handle it with bare hands. Use a shovel, use gloves and sequester it -- meaning keep it separate from your household waste -- so that we know how to properly dispose of it. It's very important. We are reliant on our groundwater in this community and keeping that safe is of utmost importance to us.'

Wilson said that fire operations and suppression at the facility are still underway and ongoing.

'This is going to be a long process of getting deep inside of this building that has been destroyed by fire -- moving materials around so the firefighting crews can do proper extinguishment and proper containment,' he said.

'Right now, the fire suppression is continuing; you're still going to see smoke,' the fire chief said during Wednesday's news conference.

In addition to the fire being contained, Wilson noted 'the hazardous materials are contained at this point.'

There has not been any release of toxins in the waterways and water system in Rockton, the fire chief highlighted.

Speaking at a news conference earlier Monday, Wilson said the department's water-based firefighting suppression has stopped inside the building, and they're now letting the product 'burn off.'

About 150 homes are in the evacuation zone, he said.

The burn-off at the plant is expected to take several days. More than 40 agencies and 150-175 fire personnel are on the scene. The cause of the 'catastrophic incident' has not been determined, Wilson said.

The 70 employees at the factory were able to get out safely, Wilson said. When fire crews arrived, the flames were through the roof and clouds of smoke filled the sky, CNN affiliate WREX reported.

Wilson said Monday night one firefighter was hospitalized with breathing difficulties.

'He's been evaluated and been sent home. So he's doing fine,' Wilson said.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker has activated the State Emergency Operations Center to mobilize emergency response personnel and facilities that will monitor the fire.

According to a release from the governor's office, the Illinois National Guard has been deployed, as well as crews from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA), the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and others.

Explosion sounded like 'a decent-sized firework'

Residents of Rockton, located about 15 miles north of Rockford near the state line with Wisconsin, reported hearing a series of explosions.

'My family and I live in the evacuation zone,' Thomas Rollette told CNN. 'We heard the explosions this morning and decided to check outside maybe five minutes afterwards when our dogs wouldn't calm down. By that point the smoke was already filling the sky.'

He said the first explosion sounded 'like somebody lit off a decent-sized firework.'

'It wasn't until more and louder explosions came that I even thought something was going on. Seeing the wall of smoke outside just confirmed it for me, and pretty soon after they were telling the nearby residents to evacuate.'

Company thanks first responders

According to the company's website, 'Chemtool Incorporated offers a wide variety of lubricating greases to meet your needs.'

The Lubrizol Corporation, which owns the facility, released a statement about the incident.

'At approximately 7 a.m. today, local emergency personnel responded to a fire at the Lubrizol Corporation's Chemtool Facility in Rockton, Ill. We have confirmed all on site are safe and accounted for. Our concern right now is for the safety of all our employees and the surrounding community,' the statement said.

'As a precaution, authorities have evacuated residents in a one-mile radius of the site. We do not yet know what caused this incident, but we will be working with local authorities and with our own risk management team to determine what happened and identify any corrective actions.

'We will share more details as they are known. We are grateful to our employees, first responders and safety forces responding to this incident.'

Salvation Army staff and volunteers set up a mobile unit to provide food to first responders, the Salvation Army of Rockford & Winnebago County said, according to WIFR.
REDDING, Calif. - Alaska Airlines will begin flying from the Redding Airport to Seattle Tacoma International Airport starting Thursday, according to the City of Redding.

The first flight will be landing in Redding on Thursday and the first flight out will take off on Friday.

Not only will this give residents the opportunity to travel to Seattle but it will make it easier for domestic and international travel.

Last month, Avelo Airlines began departures to and from Burbank.

The City of Redding is asking passengers to arrive two hours before their flight to prevent delays and missed flights.

To book flights to Seattle, click here.
CHICO, Calif. - The Butte Strong fund approved more than $1 million in grants to provide beds for Camp Fire survivors in the Renewal Center.

The Renewal Center is a multimillion-dollar project in Chico and is the second phase of the Jesus Centers expansion on Fair St.

A $765,000 grant will help provide beds for 16 people affected by the Camp Fire and are unable to find housing.

"While we realize the homelessness crisis in our community is large and complex, there's no denying a number of people are in that situation because they lost a home in the Camp Fire and have had trouble securing housing since then," said Kim DuFour, NVCF program officer.

To learn more about the Renewal Center and to donate, click here.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP)  California will offer six "dream vacation" incentives to spur more people to get coronavirus vaccinations.

Gov. Gavin Newsom made the offer Monday on the eve of the state's awarding of $15 million in cash prizes.

It's designed to boost the state's vaccination rate as California lifts most pandemic restrictions this week.

The latest promotion is also aimed at jump-starting the Golden State's travel and tourism industry after more than a year in virtual hibernation because of stay-at-home orders and travel restrictions.

Newsom also said he expects California's workplace regulators this week will allow employees to "self-attest" that they have been vaccinated.
CHICO, Calif. - On Tuesday, California will reopen its economy and a local business is excited to lose some of its restrictions.

D Nguyen has owned Meriam Nails for almost seven months.

He has required customers to wear a mask since the very beginning. He said will continue to do so even after the restrictions lift tomorrow following g guidance from the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology.

"Before I get the letter, I will still require everyone who comes into my salon to wear a mask, said Nguyen.

But he said with proof of vaccination cards, if you have been fully vaccinated, you won't have to wear a mask in his salon.

Nguyen said he has four dividers to ensure social distancing when customers come into the salon but tomorrow he will get to get to move them aside and store them away.

"Everything we spent up until now is about $10,000, said Nguyen. I hope that we will get more customers to come in so we can make money after that."

Though Nguyen is ready to get rid of some of the restrictions, he still fears this could lead to another spike in cases and setting him back.

"I am still worried, said Nguyen. That is why I am like requiring those who haven't been fully vaccinated to still have to wear a mask."

Nguyen said all of his employees are fully vaccinated but for now, will still be required to wear a mask.

Butte County Public Health announced last week, they also fear, with all restrictions being lifted, the county could see a setback due to an increase in coronavirus cases.
SHASTA LAKE, Calif. - California is in the middle of a drought emergency and it's hitting our local lakes hard.

At last check, Shasta Lake is at 41% capacity. At this time last year, the lakes capacity was at 74%. Lake levels are so low that people can see the old head towers popping out of the lake.

Some people said they're worried the low lake levels could hurt tourism.

I worry about the economy in the area, said Lynne Jones of Redding. Shasta Lake brings out tons of people for recreation. I think that people will take a second look when they see the low level in the lake and it doesn't look like much fun and will go someplace else.

Data from the Bureau of Reclamation shows Shasta Lake got just 24 inches of rain since Oct. 1.

The Bureau said 90% of Shasta Lake's water comes from rainfall.

Low lake levels could impact boaters who head out to Shasta Lake but David Lee told Action News Now he doesnt mind the low levels.

Lee likes to fish and usually comes out to the lake early. Lee said he's not too worried about the low lake levels because its easier to catch fish when the lake is low.

I like it for fishing but you have to come early to get a spot because a lot of people are using all the same boat ramps, explained Lee. Later in the day, the boat ramps are crowded, especially in the weekends. But us fisherman come early and leave early before all the recreational people come out. But I know the people that are recreational boating are upset about the low lake levels.

The Bureau of Reclamation said it met with marina managers last week and gave them projected lake levels for both summer and fall. But it's up to the marinas to make adjustments based on the lake levels.
OLX is Indias leading consumer-to-consumer marketplace for pre-owned cars and motorbikes, mobile phones, household items and also for jobs and real estate. In India, it already has 85% market share of the C2C online trade, 80% of the omni channel pre-owned cars market share via OLX Autos, while OLX People and Waah Jobs has emerged as the leading blue & grey collar jobs recruitment marketplace in India. According to Google Play Store, OLX is the #1 buying + selling mobile App in India and is currently trending at 7 billion page-views a month.

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The pandemic has brought in a considerable shift in the behaviour of the customers as everything has moved towards digital. Digital has become the new way of transacting business as many people continue to work from home. Even the not-so-tech-savvy population has also started figuring out their way around apps to adopt better digital experiences, so the fear factor associated with online transactions has reduced considerably. People have started spending online very consciously and there has been a surge in traffic, especially for pre-owned goods.

Speaking to Adgully for the marketing column  MARKETING MINDS  Sapna Arora, CMO, OLX India, speaks at length about the companys strategy during the pandemic times, how brands need to remain relevant to users at all times, adapting to the rapidly changing consumer behaviours and much more.

How is the role of the CMO undergoing a transformation amid the pandemic and an increasingly digital-first focus?

Times are changing fast. As consumers accelerate their digital journey, brands are honing the phygital experience, offering hybrid routes of engagement to people, and moving to digitised work operations. There has been a shift in consumer behaviour. People are consuming consciously now. New customer touch points are being added even as we move ahead with sensitivity and caution.

We are making changes to align with consumer needs. For instance, in February 2021, OLX Autos launched a web and mobile platform, designed to bring a new level of innovation and convenience to pre-owned car trading, for dealers and for consumers. The interface provides buyers entire information related to a pre-owned car, as well as direct access to financing for the same within the app. Thus, buyers may purchase pre-owned cars from the OLX app directly, in a contact-less, cybersafe environment, with no need to visit the OLX Autos stores.

However, ever since India became the epicentre of the epidemic, with a positivity rate among the highest in the world, we have rolled out a slew of supportive measures. CMOs are pitching in with support, holding out assurances to customers and to in-house staff. At OLX, we have modified our plans and opened up our social media handles to people seeking help, allowing users to leverage our reach and ensure wider sharing of messages. We have started donation drives and have partnered with GiveIndia to provide food to COVID-affected families. Our brand messages offer hope, address vaccine hesitancy, match plasma donors with seekers and warn about fraudsters defrauding specifically on COVID-19 related essentials.

What do CMOs need to do to ensure clarity of their brand message in a cluttered market in these challenging times?

Brands that connect with customers deeply, perform better, even if the market is oversupplied. It helps to think, why does this business matter in your customers life? Find the technical, functional and emotional touch-points of your business, and work to hone those. A customised approach sends positive signals. Also, a brand has to remain relevant to users at all times, and show evidence of trustworthiness. Responsible brands pitch in during moments of crisis. So, the focus is to stick to the core values of offering quality products, while also aligning with causes that matter, showing purpose in brand messaging.

In the COVID-induced pause, people have been spending time on social media, either bonding, or catching up with friends and family, or just scrolling through Twitter or news platforms, to figure out what shape the virus is taking next. Brands should stay connected on the social media universe of their customers. Given the scale and ferocity of the second wave, it makes no sense to get into brand launches. It will simply annoy customers.

The lockdown has taught marketers too many lessons that cant be unlearnt. The focus has shifted from growth to that of showing purpose.

What kind of categories or verticals have shown more engagement and traction? Did you revisit your marketing strategy to leverage the opportunity due to the pandemic?

As people have been confined to homes, either working from home or taking online classes, the need for laptops and smartphones has gone up. With time in hand, people have utilised the same to sell their products on OLX. We have seen a surge in traffic on our platforms. People are spending consciously, and theres a lot of potential for pre-owned goods.

Right now, we are battling the worlds highest number of cases and mortality rate. We cannot look at figures plainly. We have changed the axis of our engagement. Brand messaging now shows our side of care. Its no more just a transactional relationship. We have to be real, and share the purpose to ensure lasting engagement.

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There are a lot of trust elements that one has to factor in the online buying and selling business. As a brand, how have you built the trust part with your customers, so both buyers and sellers are assured when they transact on your platform?

We believe in complete transparency and have a culture of strong ethics across all our verticals on OLX. Our new user interface for the classifieds marketplace provides customers with a simple way to to buy millions of products at a tap with the requisite information available to them for their consideration. For example, in the automobile category, consumers can view the entire history of the cars usage and filter out if a particular model or brand is best suited for them even before they decide to purchase it. Buyers and sellers are both assured of quality of service and our principles of fairness, so that both sides strike a good deal.

With more transactions moving online, we are aware of frauds and take cyber frauds seriously. Our role in connection with cyber-crimes is three-fold. One, we prevent fraudsters from entering the platform through technology filters and site auditors. Second, we educate users on how to transact safely on the platform. We do this through chat boxes, offline workshops and through social media channels. And finally, OLX reacts swiftly to frauds that take place. Our Trust and Safety Helpline provides users with an effective means to report fraud, and our network partners expedite and solve cases on a priority.

Over the years, how have you embraced technology and how has that influenced your approach to marketing?

We have digitised our operations, and buying and selling is more seamless and hassle-free now. With the onslaught of COVID-19, we have offered remote work options to our staff, as well as contactless access points to our customers.

The universal move to digital operations has led to a different paradigm of work, and there has been a reassessment of our workflows. Omni-channel retailing, answering queries in real-time and addressing consumer pain points is at the heart of the new change. We continue to delight, engage and connect with customers on social media platforms. Technology has made the entire process more customised. Surveying the range thats on offer digitally, people can directly visit the verticals they want to.

Given the constant flux in consumer behaviour, especially in pandemic times, what is your go-to strategy to understand your customers unique wants and needs?

One of the main changes in consumer expectations is the desire to have a contactless experience. For example, in the auto industry, almost 90% of buying decisions are being taken online as per a study by Kantar TNS. Consumers are relying on trustworthy digital platforms to drive their purchase decisions.

To control the spread of the disease, various measures were taken, including localised lockdowns. Since all elements of the economy are related to the public health emergency, this has resulted in economic instabilities. Our social media is full of helpful suggestions to people, advocating COVID-19 appropriate behaviour and encouraging people to vaccinate. We are reaching out to people to show our support.

In order to provide enhanced customer experience, we recently announced the launch of our franchise-led pre-owned car retail stores, called OLX Autos. Marketing is evolving with the times. It has to be more people-centric, and right now thats what we are focussing on.
In this day and age, effective content is absolutely mission critical and a key differentiator for agencies to run their businesses. The pandemic has only multiplied its importance, with digital strategies becoming a key cog in the wheel for brand marketing. Content is said to be the king of the industry, because it is that one thing that will help brands communicate the right message to their audiences. Today, when media has become so dynamic, the importance of fresh, interesting and relevant content is what keeps brands engagement strategy with their audiences going.

With the increase in adoption of digital technology, content consumption behaviour is also undergoing seismic shifts and that is where PR agencies had to rework on their strategies and bring in a lot of innovative approaches for continuous engagement with the audience.

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Most of the content is watched live on the go by the Gen Next audience. Therefore, the attention span of this audience is very short and hence, it is important to keep the content crisp and catchy to draw their attention. The COVID-19 pandemic has led PR to adopt a more holistic and integrated communications approach, and not remain restricted to traditional media. Content for mediums like social media and digital media also varies as each type of content has a different purpose and outcome.

Fake news is a growing menace in the digital era. In such a scenario, the value of communication lies in balancing the act. Speaking about how the pandemic has thrown up many challenges in generating content, Rachna Baruah, Founder, Madchatter Brand Solutions, said, One of the biggest challenges that the PR industry today faces is the lack of good content. In an ever dynamic industry like public relations/ communications, content is the core of everything we do. But the talent in content has been dwindling in the last few years. However, the pandemic also brought an opportune space for teams and agencies to get more creative. In this scenario, it is important to hone team members and professionals on the basis of their individual skills and interest areas. That is where good content is developed in the most unassuming ways. We have been able to create some amazing and effective brand launches and market entries in the last one year, where some of our clients today are industry leaders in their share of voice and mind in their respective segments. That only takes place through novel and effective content brainstorming.

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Today, every brand has a digital presence, but only a few gain the momentum to be relevant and loved by their audience and this is no rocket science for any brand, but it can be done by brainstorming on the content which can attract the audience and can be of their interest.

According to Dr Samir Kapur, Director, Adfactors PR, While the pandemic accelerated the pace of digital transformation, digital media and social media attained pivotal positions. Since social media is a dynamic space and information gets amplified in minutes, we also have a social media listening mechanism in place that alerts brands on all conversations that are happening on social media, so that requisite actions can be taken on a real-time basis. Our teams are adept in producing all forms of compelling content for social media, with quick turnaround time.

He further said, With the new communications normal, with digital at its very heart, Adfactors PR has been quick to adopt a Digital-first strategy, woven around this new existential tenet that had emerged. We had invested in several in-house proprietary technologies. The two turn-key solutions our firm provides in this segment are STORRM (Strategic Online Risk and Reputation Mitigation) and COMMNEXT (Communications Next).

Speaking about the kind of content strategies that PR agencies follow to keep the engagement going with their audience, Nitin Mantri, Group CEO, AvianWe, President, ICCO, said, To create good content, insights from research and experiences are key, but since both became limited in the lockdown phase, the situation presented a bit of a struggle. Further, with businesses massively hit by the pandemic, clients across agencies have reduced scope due to budget constraints or man hour issues.

Adding to this, he said, We follow the Help, Hub and Hero content model, where Help looks at creating content addressing customer queries, Hub aims at creating repeat customers, and Hero creates tent-pole moments. It is important to participate in trending discussions, significant days and events, relevant memes, and pop culture  conversations that are of interest among the audience.

Since social media is a dynamic space and information gets amplified in minutes, clients are more focused on the same. Keeping in mind the vast digital ecosystem containing numerous platforms and aggregators and a plethora of content, the fight for attention is fierce. Hence, utilising all available channels to create tune-ins and drive call-to-action has also been crucial for the PR agencies.

Talking about the digital shift with major tools of technologies, Shipra Singh, Technology Practice Lead, Ruder Finn said, Technology has proliferated in every aspect of our lives, and content creation is no different. While data and analytics have been used to determine what works best for our clients, we have actively deployed artificial intelligence and machine learning models to design differentiated and highly personalised content. Content personalisation is a vital tool for creating unique experiences between a brand and its customers. Done right, it can considerably increase audience engagement levels and lead to better brand recall.

Jaideep Shergill, CEO and Co-founder of Pitchfork Partners, remarked, The dynamism of social media has defined the content game for a while now. The key to effective social media engagement is robust listening and monitoring. Awareness of where your audiences are and what theyre talking about informs the content. It informs the tonality, choice of platform and frequency. Contextuality is the key.

He further elaborated, We use technology extensively to drive strategy and customise content. Remember, data by itself is not a panacea. Its the insights that you can draw from it that can make or break content strategy. Lets take a very simple example. At the start of any client engagement, if the account is heavy on media relations, we do an audit with journalists covering the sector. Depending on the perception and the insights from that audit, a comprehensive media and content strategy is drawn up.

Watch out for Adgullys #TwitterChat this Friday, June 18, 2021, on Value Vs Volume Game in PR, as leading industry experts delve deep to chart the communications course for the PR industry in the new normal.

(Additional inputs by Ganapathy Viswanathan)
While the global pandemic has bought economies to a halt and massively disrupted businesses, it has also fuelled start-up dreams and we even saw several Indian start-ups achieve Unicorn status during the pandemic period. The times have never been better for the budding entrepreneurs to give wings to their start-up dreams.

The Government, too, has come up with various schemes to support its Vocal for Local drive. A case in point is the recent Rs 1,000 crore Start-up India Seed Fund announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Start-up India International Summit 2021 held earlier this year.

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Adgully is turning the spotlight on the entrepreneurs who fought against all odds to bring their dreams to fruition in our special series  START-UP STARS. We at Adgully wholeheartedly support the Vocal for Local movement and over the next few months will be featuring all local/ homegrown businesses, brands and Apps.

Palash Agrawal comes from an entrepreneurial family and business acumen is an integral part of it. Before he launched Vedas, he worked in London for a couple of years. However, Agrawal felt the desire to return home and do something on his own. He explored with things like carpets, paintings, etc., before starting with home decor. He spent a year travelling across India to understand design, art, and handicraft before zeroing in on the idea of reviving ancient art in a contemporary manner.

Vedas Exports started the journey with wooden crafts and paintings and moved on to utility decor, hooks and candlelight decor. Today, Vedas is a name to reckon with in wall decor, mirror, vintage decor, figurines, table decor, showpieces, office decor, vases, wall jaali and wall shelves, etc. Vedas products have received great market response and are well-known for the style, utility and customisation. From just one product sold in the first month, today they are selling over 10,000 pieces a month and are present in over 700 stores in India as well as more than 500 overseas. They have a footprint in more than 300 Indian cities and 15 countries globally. Vedas market share is about 8% to 10% and rapidly growing.

In conversation with Adgully, Palash Agrawal, Founder, Director, Vedas Exports, speaks about starting and sustaining a new business in challenging times, leveraging digital technology, especially for a retail brand and much more.

What need gap did you want to fulfil with your start-up? What is the core business proposition?

Indian handicraft has incredible potential and finesse, and my aim is to revive the ancient Indian art and craft. That is the inspiration behind the brand being named as Vedas. We are bringing to the fore the 18th and 19th century Indian metal decor style and merging it with contemporary sensibilities to create unique designs which appeal to all buyers, domestically as well as globally. Our business model has four elements: B2B, B2C, e-commerce retail and customized orders. In B2B, we sell to various stores, whereas in B2C, we sell directly through our own website, e-commerce platforms and social media.

How did you identify your TG? Did you carry out any feasibility study prior to starting your business?

I spent a year travelling across India for product research and market understanding before launching the business. We target organised stores, single brand outlets, e-commerce platforms, architects, buying agencies and international importers. We participate in exhibitions, online promotions, B2B meetings and we have been regularly showcasing our products in events, exhibitions and shows in countries such as Germany, South Korea, China, Dubai and the UK.

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What were the challenges that you faced in your start-up journey and how did you overcome them?

Starting any new business requires a lot of patience; perseverance and challenges are a part of entrepreneurial journey. I had to develop the market understanding and I spent a year looking at different products and travelling across India to understand design and handicraft across India. Understanding the customers is a major challenge and I overcame it through my focus on customer satisfaction and ensuring a smooth, hassle-free and supportive customer care channel. We also faced challenges related to the marketing of the products and adding a contemporary appeal. Once everything was put in place, the logistics and safe delivery of products was another challenge. We barely sold a single piece in the first month of operations, but I didnt lose heart and steadily the awareness was built and we started witnessing demand. Since then, there has been no looking back.

What were the clearances that you required for your venture from various authorities?

We needed the usual clearances like Company registration, Import and Export License, Factory License, Tax Registration, Brand registration, etc.

Funds/ finance is the prime issue of almost all start-ups. What can the industry and the Government do to address this issue and ease the capital requirements of start-ups?

The Government has been quite supportive of start-ups and the time is ideal to make available easy seed funding for start-ups and overall bank financing has to be made easier for the start-ups. A large number of high potential start-ups fail to survive because they are not able to meet the stringent and time-consuming processes for business loans. There should be easier access for collateral free loans as well.

Prime Minister Modi has announced a Start-up India Seed Fund earlier this year. How do you see start-ups benefiting from it?

The Start-up India Seed Fund is a well-meaning endeavour and it is undoubtedly going to help a number of high potential start-ups. However, I believe that the scope and the fund allocation for such a high impact scheme needs to be increased. Every year, thousands of new start-ups are launched and in the absence of seed funding, they fail to survive beyond the initial year of operation. The support in the form of easy seed funding will not only help such companies survive and grow, but will also lead to great contribution towards the Aatmnirbhar Bharat goal. There is also the additional benefit of generating a large number of employment opportunities.

How is digital helping you further your business?

As a retail brand, digital technology is very important for us and it has been helpful in building brand awareness as well as generating sales for our products. We leverage the digital marketing platforms to create brand recognition and have partnered with leading ecommerce portals such as Amazon, Flipkart and Pepperfry for product sales. Apart from that, we also sell products through our own website.

What were your key learnings from 2020? How do you see the start-up ecosystem progressing in 2021?

The year 2020 brought on a pandemic which is not only unprecedented, but, extremely impactful on the social psyche. The recurring waves of the pandemic and the lockdowns are forcing people to spend most of their time indoors. Therefore, while our sales operations got temporarily affected by the lockdowns, the demand for home decor products is on the rise. Once the business operations resume normally, there will be greater market traction. The post-pandemic operational scenarios also mean that people will make most of the purchases online and thats why we have been focusing on e-commerce channels alongside offline retail wherever stores are open. The time is right to plan, undertake creative work and market research and perform tasks that can be carried out in a contact-less manner. The start-up ecosystem has responded splendidly to the overall situation and there is a lot of growth potential ahead.

What would be your message for the budding entrepreneurs?

Never give up! The world of business is highly competitive and challenging, but persistence is the key to success. A successful business leader also needs to foster teamwork and a healthy work environment within the organisation. I am proud to say that despite the pandemic and the lockdown, we have been able to retain our talent. Another important thing is to see the competition as a source of motivation and not envy. Work harder, get better and grow bigger!
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

Bern, 15.06.2021 - A delegation led by the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) travelled to Sudan for political consultations from 13 to 14 June. The talks focused on the priorities of the Federal Council's Sub-Saharan Africa Strategy 202124, strengthening peacebuilding efforts and development cooperation, closer cooperation in the area of migration and aspects of economic development and debt relief.

Ambassador Siri Walt, head of the Africa Division of the FDFA, led a delegation to Khartoum for political consultations and bilateral meetings from 13 to 14 June 2021. Rrepresentatives of the State Secretariat of the FDFA, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the State Secretariat for Migration and the Swiss embassy in Khartoum attended the meetings. This was the second round of political talks with Sudan. The first round took place in Bern in 2018, following the signing of a memorandum of understanding in 2017.

The strengthening of bilateral cooperation is an expression of the new dynamic in relations between the two countries since the long-time President Omar al-Bashir was ousted. The purpose of the political talks was to explore ways in which Switzerland can effectively support the democratic transition in Sudan.

Strengthening of international cooperation

Switzerland has a great interest in ensuring that the political transition to a democratic and stable Sudan involves all stakeholders and opens up new prospects for young people in particular. Accordingly, it will support Sudan with various foreign policy instruments and with a Whole of Government approach. During the political talks, the Swiss delegation announced that Switzerland would be increasing its peacebuilding-related funding and staff presence. This is also in keeping with the Federal Council's Sub-Saharan Africa Strategy 202124.

Switzerland will also step up its multilateral engagement. It made an early contribution to the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) to promote the political transition process and security sector reform, as well as to the country programme of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

And, as announced by the SDC's Director General, Ambassador Patricia Danzi, Switzerland will also strengthen its commitment to development cooperation in Sudan, a country that hosts a great number of internally displaced persons (1.1 million) and refugees (2.5 million) whose needs must be met.

Sudan  a major country of transit and of destination for migrants

Sudan is a major country of transit and of destination along the Horn of Africa migration route and is itself subject to high migratory pressure. This is why Switzerland is committed to protecting displaced persons and migrants in Sudan and to promoting migration governance. According to Ambassador Vincenzo Mascioli, Assistant Director of the State Secretariat for Migration, Switzerland and Sudan agreed during the political consultations to further reinforce migration cooperation.

Economic challenges

Despite its difficult economic situation  worsened by the global COVID-19 pandemic  Sudan has taken steps towards economic and financial reforms. The Swiss delegation announced in Khartoum that Switzerland would continue to leverage its influence within the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund to support economic reforms in Sudan, including the debt relief process.

Long-standing diplomatic relations between Switzerland and Sudan

Bilateral diplomatic relations have been in place since 1960, and Switzerland has had a representation in Sudan for 60 years. Relations with Sudan are characterised by long-standing humanitarian and peacebuilding work. Switzerland has played a key role in the conclusion of the 2002 Nuba Mountains Ceasefire Agreement. This agreement forms the basis for the comprehensive peace agreement of 2005 between the Sudanese government and southern rebel group the Sudan People's Liberation Movement.

Address for enquiries

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STARBUCK, Minn.  After years of acceptable rainfall, dry conditions in 2021 expanded across eastern South Dakota and western Minnesota.

Farmers are trying to stay positive because rain will return eventually; but temperatures in the mid-90s make it more challenging.

Things are looking better than they should be looking, says Paul Freeman, giving his report on June 7. You just have to have faith.

The corn is 8-16 inches tall in early June. The height varies by soil type.

Right now Im spraying corn  trying to get out there at first light and quit by noon because of the heat. (When it gets too hot) the plant wont take in the chemical. It shuts down its respiration in reaction to the heat, he says.

Corn spray applications are low and slow because there is Roundup in the mix  and that ties up with dust. With strong winds, heat, and dry conditions, there is a tendency toward blowing soil. Normally running about 8 miles per hour, Paul is driving the tractor and sprayer at a speed of 5-6 miles per hour.

One-third of the corn acres had pre-emerge and were sprayed with Callisto and Roundup. The other two-thirds did not have pre-emerge spraying and have the same spray mix plus TripleFlex.

Corn color is variable with some yellowing. He thinks the corn roots are not chasing the nitrogen/nutrients.

That leads me to my concern about what will be the next step, he says. If I dont get a rain in a couple of days, I want to be out there saving what nitrogen I can work in.
The use of aerial imagery in production agriculture has continued to grow and evolve over the last several years since its debut on the market. With significant changes in how imagery is captured and processed and the quality of images available, there are now many applications for this technology on farms.
In the first World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report, ag economists found a few surprising numbers.

May is the first month that the USDA begins providing the WASDE, the forecast for the next marketing year for the crop that is currently being planted, said Frayne Olson, NDSU Extension crop economist and marketing specialist, during the latest NDSU Ag markets and Situation Outlook webinar series. The market is watching two columns of numbers, the old crop and the new crop numbers.

Pre-report industry estimates

Large news agencies like the Wall Street Journal and Reuters will sometimes survey private forecasting firms on what they expect the USDA numbers to be.

This is really about expectations  an estimate of what they expected the USDA information to look like versus what we actually get, Olson said.

The estimates show the average trade estimate versus the highest and lowest estimates, along with the actual USDA numbers.

Wheat and corn come in within range

Wheat and corn numbers came in slightly higher than expected for carryover crops. As it gets closer to the end of the marketing year, the range in trade expectations narrow.

The pre-report industry estimates for ending stocks for the U.S. 2021-22 crop: for wheat, the average trade estimate was .730 billion bushels (BB), and the actual numbers from the USDA were .774 BB.

For corn, the estimate was 1.34 BB, with the actual numbers from the USDA coming in at 1.51 BB.
Shante and Sheri Saulsberry of Ahwatukee are opening a boutique in Ahwatukee to help their ongoing fundraising efforts to build a shelter complex for abused and homeless women and children.
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Dougherty coroner disputes charge of consistently exceeding budget

Alan Mauldin / Staff Photo: Alan Mauldin Dougherty County Coroner Michael Fowler responded on Monday to accusations that his office has consistently exceeded its budget.

ALBANY  Dougherty County Coroner Michael Fowler got an apology on Monday after he defended himself from an accusation that he overspent his budget over the previous four years.

The coroner presented budget figures he said showed that the office was in the black for the 2017-2018, 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 fiscal years and had money left over at the end of each year during that time.

Fowlers remarks came during a meeting of the Dougherty County Commissions Finance Committee, which is putting finishing touches on the countys 2021-2022 spending plan.

During a June meeting, the coroners office was accused of exceeding its budget over the previous four years.

Commissioner (Clinton) Johnson apologized for that statement, Fowler said.

During a telephone interview following the meeting, Johnson said the Finance Committee has not had a chance to compare its figures to those presented by the coroner.

He did say he felt like the information wasnt true, so I did apologize, Johnson said. It was a very humble and frank discussion.

Other than 2020, when the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic led to increased costs for the office, Fowler had been operating on about $185,000 per year, so the Finance Committee felt that that amount was sufficient for the 2021-2022 budget year, Johnson said.

We felt like that would suffice, Johnson said. He can always come back and ask for more if he needs it.

Fowler also has the option of prioritizing the budget to spend funds where most needed, he said.

The coroner presented budget figures for three fiscal years. For 2017-2018, he said, former County Administrator Richard Crowdis requested an additional $13,570 for the coroners office due to the moving of the morgue from Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospitals main campus to the hospitals north campus, Fowler told commissioners. The funds were earmarked for the purchase of supplies and preparation for the move.

The commission that year granted a total of $14,771 in additional funding to the original $175,425 budget, of which a total of $188,861 was spent for the year, leaving a balance of $1,335 unspent, he said.

Fowler also requested additional funding the following two years, but said his office had a remaining balance of unspent funds of $6,110 for 2018-2019 and $15,119 for the following year.

Fowler also defended his practice of using two local companies to transport bodies to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation crime laboratory in Atlanta when autopsies are required. One company charges $450 per trip and an additional $100 if it has to make a return trip to pick up a body, while the other charges $450 for each trip in cases where a body is not returned on the same day.

Other companies charge a per-mile rate of $2.25 or $2, which would in most instances be more than that paid under the per-trip arrangement, he said.
Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter and six of the seven City Council members were sworn in for their new terms in office Thursday. Hunter, who is starting his second term as mayor, called on the community and local elected leaders to work together so that the city can rebound from a string of nat
SEOUL, South Korea -- South Korea has reported 826 new cases of the coronavirus, its biggest daily jump in about six months, as fears grow about another huge wave of the virus in the greater capital area.
Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter and six of the seven City Council members were sworn in for their new terms in office Thursday. Hunter, who is s Read more
It came to light during the past couple of months that Black Lives Matter Global Network's co-founder Patrisse Cullors called for the destruction of Israel in 2015  an agenda shared by the terrorist group Hamas. The Daily Mail is not a particularly reliable source, but Cullors speaks for herself in the linked YouTube video.

Palestine is our generation's South Africa and, if we don't step up boldly and courageously to end the imperialist project that's called Israel, we're doomed.

This sentence should be enough to end, from a public relations standpoint, the race-hustling project that's called Black Lives Matter. No decent person or organization can continue to associate with an entity that advocates the actual destruction of the world's only Jewish-majority nation, and this includes (1) the Democratic Party, (2) corporations that support BLM and/or allow their workers to wear BLM attire on the job, and (3) universities such as Hardin-Simmons. In fairness to Starbucks, however, the company probably did not know about Cullors's reprehensible statements. Neither did I until recently.

While BLM has not gone so far as to voice support for the terrorist organization Hamas, it has nonetheless shilled for Hamas by referring to Israel as "settler colonialism." It also said it stood in solidarity with the Palestinians, which can be construed as support for Hamas just as standing in solidarity with Germany in 1943 would have constituted implicit support for Nazism. The Nazis controlled Germany then just as terrorists control Gaza today, regardless of the positions and behavior of individual Germans and Palestinians, respectively.

BLM and the Judenrein Middle East

Cullors is not talking about a two-state solution that, while controversial, does not involve the destruction of Israel. She is not talking about ending the occupation of the lands that Israel seized in self-defense during the 1967 war caused by Egypt, Syria, and Jordan. She says to "end the imperialistic project that's called Israel."

Hamas's useful idiots state repeatedly that opposition to the policies of Israel is not anti-Semitic. This is true, just as disagreement with policies and actions of the United States is not anti-American. Had more of us disagreed with the Spanish-American and First World Wars, a lot of innocent lives would have been saved all around. On the other hand, those who call for the destruction of the United States are at least morally if not legally domestic enemies of the United States, and those who call for the destruction of Israel  as attempted by its enemies in 1948, 1967, and 1973  are anti-Semitic.

A pro-Palestinian march with alleged BLM connections in Brooklyn featured the chant, "Genocide since '48, we don't want your Jew state." These Hamas shills must have followed the purported advice of Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels to accuse the other side of what yours is guilty of because the only genocide in 1948 was the one attempted by Israeli's enemies.

Yet another speaker made it clear that he also wanted to make the region Judenrein: "We don't want a fake Palestinian state that they give us while Israel still exists. The land that Israel exists on is still stolen. '48 lands are still stolen." I cannot ascertain the degree to which Black Lives Matter was involved in this, but the Times of Israel reported, "At a pro-Palestinian, pro-Black Lives Matters demonstration in Brooklyn this week, participants called to eliminate the Jewish state as well as the United States, amid chants of 'Death to Israel,' 'Death to America' and 'From Gaza to Minnesota, globalize the Intifada!'"

While the degree of BLM's involvement in the Brooklyn anti-Semitic, anti-police, and anti-American hate speech is not known, an op-ed in the Forward adds that BLM demonstrators in Washington, D.C. proclaimed, "Israel, we know you, you murder children, too."

The Republican Jewish Coalition added of the D.C. protest, "We are horrified by this vicious hatemongering by Black Lives Matter protesters. The Black Lives Matter charter is filled with anti-Israel and anti-Semitic lies. It is deeply disturbing, but not surprising, to hear those sentiments chanted in the streets of Washington, DC."

This Should Cost the Democrats the 2022 Elections

Now that BLM's co-founder is on record as advocating the actual dismantling of Israel, and there are video and audio of BLM demonstrators in Washington, D.C. slandering Israel with a false accusation of murdering children, we must return to BLM's influence on the 2020 election. BLM claims that it helped elect the Biden/Harris ticket, and it did this while under the 501(c)(3) tax-exempt fiscal sponsorship of Thousand Currents and then the Tides Foundation. Had the Republican Party pressed this issue last year instead of waiting until after the election to pursue questionable allegations of voter fraud, it might now control the White House and both houses of Congress.

Now Biden, Harris, and the entire Democratic Party must come to terms with the revelation that the huge movement that helped put them where they are has called for the destruction of the only nation in that part of the Middle East that is a safe place for people of all races and religions, women, and LGBT people. The Democratic Party is also on record as promoting Al Sharpton's National Action Network, the same organization that engaged in racist and anti-Semitic hate speech at Freddy's Fashion Mart in Harlem.

The Cat Is Now Out of the Bag

Perhaps BLM did the civilized world a favor through its role in exposing the true agenda of Hamas and its shills, including those who infest America's streets and college campuses. Their objective was never just a two-state solution or Palestinian autonomy, just as Czechoslovakia was not Hitler's last demand. When you chant, "We don't want your Jew state," your problem is with Jews and not the policies of Israel. When you say "end the imperialist project that's called Israel," you support the goal of driving the Jews into the sea, as the terrorists tried to do in 1948 to make the region Judenrein.

The ultimate goal of Hamas is clearly a Final Solution to Hamas's Jewish Problem in the Middle East. This problem includes a high standard of living for all, as well as equal rights for all people. Israel should have therefore applied a Final Solution to the Hamas Problem long ago the same way the Allies applied a Final Solution to the Nazi Problem in 1945.

Note that I said "Hamas problem" and "Nazi Problem" and not "Palestinian Problem" or "German Problem." Most Germans probably wanted to be rid of Hitler by 1944, and most Palestinian Arabs would be better off without Hamas the same way healthy tissue is better off without cancer.

Civis Americanus is the pen name of a contributor who remembers the lessons of history and wants to ensure that our country never needs to learn those lessons again the hard way. The author is remaining anonymous due to the likely prospect of being subjected to "cancel culture" for exposing the Big Lie behind Black Lives Matter.

Image: Johnny Silvercloud via Flickr (cropped), CC BY-SA 2.0.

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If a thing goes without saying it goes even better when being said. First, it should be said that the main, indeed usually the only real, target of the woke brigade is the democratic western world, primarily the U.S., the UK, and Israel. The woke brigade claim to be attacking past and present manifestations of colonialism and slavery, but their accusations never extend to the slave trade of the Ottoman Empire, or to the oppression of the Rohingya by Burma, or Chinese crimes against humanity involving the Uyghur.

The woke attack is not only a diminution of the positive contributions of the West but has also affected the self-confidence of the West. For example, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. ambassador to the UN since February 2021, has stated she had seen for herself how the original sin of slavery weaved [sic] white supremacy into our founding documents and principles. The U.S., she holds, is an imperfect union and has been since the beginning.

Britain has its dissenters. About 100 people who received honors, such as the OBE (Order of the British Empire) have campaigned in June 2021 to replace Empire with Excellence. The very latest target of the woke followers is the engineer James Watt, a key figure in the industrial revolution, the man who developed the idea of steam engines and horsepower. Watt and his partner Matthew Boulton are held responsible for selling steam trains for slave plantations in the Caribbean. He is being reevaluated by the Birmingham City Council, but Glasgow University in 2019 condemned Watt for links to the slave trade. In contrast, Kings College, London in June 2021 has endorsed Teresa Cheng, a former graduate and Justice Minister in Hong Kong as a university fellow, though she has been sanctioned in the U.S. for her role in suppressing democratic rights in Hong Kong.

The pandemic of wokery and aggressions in the culture wars has infected British universities, especially Oxford. The Russell Group of 41 top British universities are acting to decolonize history courses, tackling diversity by anti-colonial curriculum and workshops in unconscious bias. History there will be taught from a variety of perspectives. The University of Brighton staff has training in equality and diversity.

At Cambridge, dons can be reported for raising an eyebrow when a black member of staff or student is speaking. It cautions against microaggressions, slights, indignities, putdowns, changes in body language when responding to a particular act, asking a minority person where are you really from, giving backhanded compliments, or referring to a woman as a girl. This is tantamount to thought control.

The nadir of wokery in British universities is being exhibited at Oxford, largely but not wholly because of the decision of Oriel College not to remove the statue of Rhodes. As a result of a petition led by Professor Kate Tunstall, over a hundred dons have therefore decided to withdraw all discretionary work and goodwill collaborations with Oriel.

This means refusing to give tutorials to Oriel undergraduates, refusing to interview prospective students, and refusing to attend or speak at talks and conferences sponsored by Oriel.

Dons in academia are supposed to be trained and intelligent people, and some doubtless are, but they have increasingly shown themselves to be offensive and ignorant. It is not enough for them that people are nonracists; they must also be active anti-racists.

First, Oriel students may be fortunate they are not being taught by biased, opinionated, dogmatic, persons. It is difficult for undergraduates and others to see how refusal to teach is relevant to any perceived ongoing effects of colonialism today. Secondly, the woke refusal is likely to be counterproductive: it is likely to lead to fewer individuals from deprived and minority backgrounds applying to Oxford. Thirdly, the woke actions in removing the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II can be seen as a gratuitous insult to the Queen in the context of changing perceptions of Britain as well as the monarchy.

What needs to be said is that academics at universities have benefited from the institutional order and wealth of the West. What is most striking is both the lack of relation between the actions and the supposed concerns of the dons but also their fundamental hypocrisy. One can ask two questions. One is to ask if the nonteachers opposed to Rhodes plan to give back to descendants of Rhodes and other condemned colonialists the funding on which these dons live, or will they persist in keeping the money for themselves. The second is to discern the view of the woke brigade of the function of universities. Is it to teach in the best possible and objective way, or is it to indoctrinate ideological conformity?

Most important for understanding academic wokery is an examination of some of the leading individuals among the dons who feel they have no choice but to withdraw from teaching Oriel, and who are sickened by seeing Rhodes standing and are pleased by the removal of the picture of the Queen from a college room.

Kate Tunstall, interim provost at Worcester College, is a member of the Labour Party and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign. Her anti-Rhodes petition means Oriel students would not have discussions in small groups or one on one sessions until Rhodes is toppled. We feel we have no other choice but to withdraw all discretionary work and goodwill collaboration with Oriel. But she will not withdraw her own profitable Clarendon professorship.

Danny Dorling is Halford Mackinder Professor of human geography at Oxford. Halford Mackinder, the first director of the school, was one of the founders of geopolitics and was a campaigner for the British Empire after both world wars.

Agnieszka Koscianska, born in Poland, associate professor in the department of ethnology and cultural anthropology at the University of Warsaw, is a visiting professor funded at 150,000 pounds by the Leverhulme Trust. Lord Leverhulme set up plantations in the Belgium Congo in the 1910s using forced labor, and many Africans died because of working conditions.

Dan Hodgkinson has a three-year fellowship at Oxford financed by the Leverhulme trust. Zoe Cormack, a member of the African Studies Center at Oxford, is also a completely financed Leverhulme fellow.

Wale Adebanwi is the Rhodes professor of race relations and a fellow of St. Anthonys College. The professorship was created in the early 1950s following a donation from the Rhodes selection trust.

Kathrin Bachleitner is the IKEA Foundation research fellow in international relations at Lady Margaret Hall. She is funded by IKEA which in 2012 admitted it had used East German political prisoners to manufacture goods during the Cold War.

Are any of the above members of the woke brigade ashamed of taking money derived from the colonialists they despise or are they self-denying hypocrites?

Image: Paulann Egelhoff

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Why do Palestinians, who present themselves as victims of land-grabbing Israeli oppressors, extol and find inspiration in the land-grabbing oppressors of history?

On April 16, 2021, Al Jazeera published an article by Adnan Abu Amar, head of the Political Science Department at the University of the Ummah in Gaza, on the topic of jihad during the month of Ramadan. In it, he explains how Palestinians find inspiration in various jihads throughout Islamic history, prominent among them the raid of Badr, the opening of Mecca, the opening of al-Andalus, and the battle of the pavement of martyrs [the Battle of Tours].

Interestingly, in all these battles, the Muslims were the aggressors. They invaded non-Muslim territory, butchered and enslaved its inhabitants, and appropriated their lands -- and for no other reason than that they were infidels, non-Muslims.

The battle of Badr was occasioned by Muhammads raids on non-Muslim caravans; the opening of Mecca -- in Muslim historiography, the euphemistic word opening [to the light of Islam] is always used in place of conquest -- was simply that, the conquest of a non-Muslim city; the opening/conquest of al-Andalus is a reference to the years 711-716 when Muslims invaded and slaughtered countless thousands of Christians in Spain and torched their churches; and the battle of Tours is, of course, where the Muslim invasions into the heart of Europe were finally halted in 732.

In fact, Palestinian elements are constantly praising the unjustified conquests of others. On May 29, Hizb al-Tahrir -- the Liberation Party -- often holds large outdoor events near al-Aqsa mosque to commemorate the anniversary of the Islamic conquest of Constantinople (May 29, 1453). During one of these, after all the takbirs (chants of Allahu Akbar) had subsided, Palestinian cleric Nidhal Siam spoke:

Oh Muslims, the anniversary of the opening [that is, conquest] of Constantinople brings tidings of things to come. It brings tidings that Rome will be conquered in the near future, Allah willing. [Moreover,] Islam will throw its neighbors to the ground, and its reach will span across the east and the west of this Earth. This is Allahs promise, and Allah does not renege on his promises.

He and the assembled throng then repeatedly chanted, By means of the Caliphate and the consolidation of power, Mehmed the Conqueror vanquished Constantinople! and Your conquest, oh Rome, is a matter of certainty!

Again, the question must be emphasized: why are the Palestinians -- who, when speaking to and seeking sympathy from the international community, present themselves as an oppressed people whose land is unjustly occupied -- finding inspiration in and seeking to emulate those who oppress and steal the lands of others?

If anything, should the Palestinians not sympathize with, say, the Christians of Spain, whose land was occupied, and they themselves brutalized by the occupiers, namely, the Muslim invaders from North Africa?

Similarly, if, as they claim, the Palestinians are an oppressed people whose land was stolen, should they not sympathize with the Christians of Constantinople, rather than Mehmet the Conqueror, an unsavory pedophile who invaded and conquered the ancient Christian city, while subjecting its indigenous inhabitants to all sorts of unspeakable atrocities?

As for Rome, what does it have to do with the Arab-Israeli conflict that it too deserves to be conquered? Absolutely nothing -- except that, since the conquest of Constantinople, Islam has seen Rome as the symbolic head of the Christian world, and therefore in urgent need of subjugating; or, to quote the Islamic State, We will conquer your Rome, break your crosses, and enslave your women, by the permission of Allah [We will cast] fear into the hearts of the cross-worshipers.

Perhaps most telling is Palestinian cleric Siams claim (delivered to thundering applause) that Islam will throw its neighbors to the ground, and that its reach will span across the east and the west of this Earth. In other words, no non-Muslim is safe from the sword of jihad -- including those who live countless leagues away from and have nothing to do with the Arab-Israeli conflict.

Surely all this must seem surreal when placed in context? How can Palestinians present themselves as a conquered and oppressed people whose land was stolen -- while, in the very same breath, praising former and hoping for future conquests, replete with oppression and land grabbing from other peoples, only because they were/are non-Muslim?

And that is the grand lesson: when all is said and done, Islamic notions of justice are based on a simple dichotomy: whenever Muslims conquer, slaughter, subjugate, and steal land, that is just; whenever they have to live under infidel authority, that is intolerably unjust. Hence the virulent hatred for Israel.

Raymond Ibrahim, author most recently of Sword and Scimitar, is a Shillman Fellow at the David Horowitz Freedom Center, a Judith Rosen Friedman Fellow at the Middle East Forum, and a Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Gatestone Institute.

Image: IDF

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Inequality is the worst thing in the world. Even my racist neighbor at the top of the hill with his BLM Equality Hurts No one yard sign knows that. And we have gubmint programs to the tune of 36 percent of GDP per annum working like mad to un-hurt people from the horrors of inequality.

Only, writes Gregory Clark in The Son Also Rises: Surnames and the History of Social Mobility, all that lovely lucre hasnt made much difference to social inequality. The scions of the elite pretty much stay in the elite. Almost everywhere in the world, from way back.

He starts with Sweden: we all know that Sweden is the most un-unequal nation in the world. Fuggedaboutit. In Sweden, Swedes with formerly titled noble surnames are overrepresented six times in the lists of attorneys. But dont worry, these titled nobles are only overrepresented 2.2 times in the ranks of physicians. Just to give you the flavor of things, Clarks Figure 2.1 is a photo of the Riddarhuset, headquarters of the Swedish nobility, in downtown Stockholm.

Dont worry, the Swedish titled nobles are regressing towards the egalitarian norm. Only it will take centuries until they get there.

What about the U.S.? Well, in the U.S. we have the Ashkenazi Jews, who vaulted from four times overrepresentation among physicians in the 1940s to eight times in the 1970s. But now Jews are regressing towards the mean. At current rates, it will take them three hundred years till they cease to be overrepresented among physicians. Other overrepresented groups among physicians, such as the 1923-24 rich and Ivy League graduates, are also regressing towards the mean. Slowly.

I know. What about China? It should show a stunning success in the elimination of the old elite, thanks to the vigorous efforts of Chairman Maos Red Guard pals. Alas! The sons of the Qing dynasty elite are still overrepresented 2 to 4 times among professors, corporate board chairs, and government officials.

In Japan, folks with samurai surnames are still doin fine.

But there is one country that is even worse than all these laggards and cheaters in the equality stakes. In this country, there is almost no regression to the mean with respect to high-status professions. Wanna guess which country it is? Heres a clue: systemic caste-ism.

Yep, that country is India, specifically Bengal. The absolute tippety-top of the caste stakes in Bengal, the Kulin Brahmins, are overrepresented by 4 to 5 times among doctors and judges; other elite Hindu groups are overrepresented about 2 times. Poor Hindus are at 0.03 and Muslims are at 0.1 in the representation stakes. At least here in the systemic racist U.S. our blacks are at a lofty 0.5 representation in the physician stakes.

I wonder what the representation of Poor Hindus and Muslims is at Brahmin Sundar Pichais ongoing megahit Springtime for Brahmins at Google. Pichai? Bueller? Anyone?

But why? Why, despite all the egalitarian politics of the last 200 years, has inequality persisted? Clark has two main reasons. One is endogamy -- inbreeding for you yokels. The other is social competence, the transmission of successful cultural skills from one generation to the next.

But heres an interesting factoid. The Coptic Christians in Muslim Egypt are an elite minority. Thats because, according to Clark, under the pressure of the jizya [the head tax on non-Muslims], the poorest Copts converted to Islam[.]

Does this apply to the Jews? Clark quotes Maristella Botticini and Zvi Eckstein to the effect that Jews were taught to become literate starting in 70 AD. And, apparently, most Jewish converts to Christianity in the early days were illiterate and poor.

Anyway, Clark proposes the notion that

a group retains its elite status over the long run either by practicing endogamy or by selectively losing its lower-status members.

Or both.

Okay. Now Clark looks at the other side of the coin, the persistent underclass, specifically the major English underclass for the last four hundred years, the Gypsy or Traveller community. The Traveller narrative is that they are Roma (Romany), with origins in India. But the evidence is that the Gypsies are in fact a native British underclass, from way back. You could say that the Travellers were the homeless centuries before our glorious educated elite invented them as a club to beat President Reagan.

Wow. Suppose that any failing underclass ends up as homeless, as the vagabonds wandering around after the end of the feudal system, as the waste population that the Brits sent to Virginia and Australia starting in 1584, as the Skid Row bums of the Great Depression, as the homeless of the Reagan years, the Great Recession, the COVID crisis. And more to the point: what do we do about it?

Honestly, I dont have a clue, although I did come up with some ideas in my book The Road to the Middle Class a few years back.

Christopher Chantrill @chrischantrill runs the go-to site on US government finances, usgovernmentspending.com. Also, get his American Manifesto and his Road to the Middle Class.

Image: Picryl

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Caitlyn (Bruce) Jenner, candidate for the governorship of California, is throwing a hissy fit. It's because the left-wing late-night TV host Jimmy Kimmel referred to Caitlyn as "Trump in a wig." Jenner fired back by saying, "Last night [Jimmy Kimmel] called me Donald Trump in a wig. He obviously believes that trans women are simply men with wigs on."

Kimmel is both right and wrong. He's wrong to think Jenner is a man merely in a wig. To come across as a woman, here's what Bruce Jenner had to do.

He underwent what's called a complete facial-feminization surgery. This was not an in-and-out deal, but a five-year process. It included a hairline correction, forehead contouring, and jaw and chin contouring. And there's more  a nose job, tracheal shave, and beard removal. And this sculpting was not done in some cheesy walk-up clinic or down in Honduras. Quite the contrary. Jenner went to high-priced surgeons in Beverly Hills, America's epicenter for plastic surgery.

Breasts were initially a problem. Jenner writes in his book, The Secrets of My Life: "I started on hormones. I was a good 36B. I loved them. I thought this was fabulous. My mission at that point was to transition before I was 40. Got to 39 ... I just couldn't go any further." No problem. Jenner got breast augmentation surgery.

The big question in the minds of many is, did Jenner get the downstairs plumbing "fixed"? Yes, he did. That was the finishing touch. From Jenner's book:

The surgery was a success, and I feel not only wonderful but liberated. So why even consider it? Because it's just a penis. It has no special gifts or use for me other than what I have said before, the ability to take a whiz in the woods. I just want to have the right parts.

So with all that time and money and with the help of professional make-up and photography, Jenner can come across as an attractive woman. This is evidenced by Caitlyn being on the cover of Vanity Fair and other photoshoots. Caitlyn Jenner is a creature of Hollywood, and this is what Hollywood excels at  creating illusions.

But does any of this make Caitlyn Jenner a woman? Biological science says no. So Kimmel, whether he understands the science or not, and he probably doesn't, is right on this fundamental issue. For all the time and money Bruce Jenner spent on his "transition," he's still a male. As are the other transgenders like Rachel (Richard) Levine, the now-assistant secretary of health in the Biden administration.

Jenner can change his name, and I'll call him Caitlyn. No problem. But I'll consider admitting that Caitlyn is a woman only when he gets the chromosomes throughout his body changed from XY (male) to XX (female). Until then, the wisdom of Abraham Lincoln applies: "You can call a dog's tail a leg and say the dog has five legs, but the dog still only has four legs." What's so hard to understand about that?

Image: Web Summit.

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If you're paying any attention to what's going on in America's colleges and universities, you know that these places work hard to indoctrinate students into American Marxism, which substitutes race, sex, and climate change for Karl Marx's original ideas about capitalists and workers. Naturally, Democrats and other leftists have pushed back, saying conservatives are exaggerating for effect so they can take over those institutions, kick out all the minorities and gays, and institute a "Handmaid's Tale" regime. But what if it's not a conservative saying academia has gone off the leftist deep end? What if it's someone who escaped from North Korea who says this?

Well, that's just who's saying it. In 2016, Yeonmi Park, who escaped from North Korea at great cost to herself, transferred from a South Korean university to Columbia University. Columbia, as you know, is the institution from which Obama graduated, and that still protects his undergraduate grades by keeping them sealed in a deep vault to which no one may ever have access.

Park was shocked by what she found at Columbia. According to what she told Fox News, the indoctrination is more aggressive and unending than what takes place in North Korea itself:

"I expected that I was paying this fortune, all this time and energy, to learn how to think. But they are forcing you to think the way they want you to think," Park said in an interview with Fox News. "I realized, wow, this is insane. I thought America was different but I saw so many similarities to what I saw in North Korea that I started worrying." Those similarities include anti-Western sentiment, collective guilt and suffocating political correctness. Yeonmi saw red flags immediately upon arriving at the school. During orientation, she was scolded by a university staff member for admitting she enjoyed classic literature such as Jane Austen. "I said 'I love those books.' I thought it was a good thing," recalled Park. "Then she said, 'Did you know those writers had a colonial mindset? They were racists and bigots and are subconsciously brainwashing you.'" [snip] "It was chaos," said Yeonmi. "It felt like the regression in civilization." "Even North Korea is not this nuts," she admitted. "North Korea was pretty crazy, but not this crazy." After getting into a number of arguments with professors and students, eventually Yeonmi "learned how to just shut up" in order to maintain a good GPA and graduate. In North Korea, Yeonmi Park did not know of concepts like love or liberty. "Because I have seen oppression, I know what it looks like," said Yeonmi, who by the age of 13 had witnessed people drop dead of starvation right before her eyes. "These kids keep saying how they're oppressed, how much injustice they've experienced. They don't know how hard it is to be free," she admonished.

Read the whole article here or watch the interview:

Americas future is as bleak as North Korea says defector after attending Columbia | https://t.co/HPTKZf3S2U  Bookwormroom (@Bookwormroom) June 15, 2021

If you've been wondering why American corporations have swung so hard to the left, it's because, for thirty years, they've been staffing themselves at all levels with college graduates. Today's graduates, despite their leftism, are not hostile to capitalism. Instead, they're hostile to America and to liberty  and they've learned that by undermining America's racial equality and sexual normalcy, they can destroy the country and its liberty while keeping the money rolling, just as China does. In other words, they are fascists, who allow a marketplace to operate provided that it  along with everything else in the country  is under complete government control.

I've been saying for years that America's leftists want fascism, but I always pulled back from likening them to Nazi Germany. After all, Nazism would have been just another form of socialism if it hadn't allied its socialism with ferocious racism.

What's worrisome is that with Critical Race Theory, the new faith on the left, complete with its relentless attacks on White people (and, increasingly, Jews), I'm not sure I can continue to make the distinction between the American left and the 20th-century fascists. This is especially true given Park's point that leftists are more fanatical here than in her natal country, which has long been considered the most oppressive place on Earth.

As a bonus, here's another Park interview about Columbia, this one on Hannity:

Image: Yeonmi Park. Fox News screen grab.

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The president of Guatemala has politely said that Biden administration officials are offering "mixed messages," and, well, here we go.

According to USA Today:

WASHINGTON  Vice President Kamala Harris will host a roundtable Tuesday with a group of female immigrants [sic] who have temporary protection from deportation as the administration looks to revive a bipartisan push to grant them legal status through a pair of bills that have languished in the Senate. The meeting marks the nine-year anniversary of the creation of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, an Obama-era policy that shielded undocumented immigrants [sic] brought to the U.S. as children from deportation. The roundtable will come hours after the Senate Judiciary holds a hearing on a bill that would provide permanent legal status for an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants [sic]. Harris will meet with six women who work as care professionals. The group includes DACA recipients, or "Dreamers," women with temporary protected status and women with green cards. Sens. Richard Durbin, D-IL., and Bob Menendez, D-N.J., will also attend the meeting.

"Do not come, do not come," as she said on her recent vice presidential trip to Guatemala. But if you do, she's got some goodies for you.

That is a whale of a mixed message, one that's likely to reduce her credibility even further than it already has gone. It's likely to encourage more would-be illegal border-crossers to come on in.

Seriously, is offering full legalization to DACA recipients likely to discourage illegal border-crossers to stop sending their kids in? They've already gotten Joe Biden's word that unaccompanied minors won't be sent back; that's where the soaring child migrant surge, with all the crying kids dumped by smugglers in the desert, is coming from.

Why would anyone heed her "do not come, do not come" exhortation, when now she's showing them that if they do come, they'll get the golden goose?

It's of a piece with her earlier plan to incentivize illegal immigration through a slew of corporations and NGOs, focusing on job and English-language training and remittance services, all of which should make life as an illegal alien more lucrative in the States as well as easier for the relatives left back home. I wrote about that here.

Here's the other thing: as Kamala failed at basic diplomacy on her recent trip, it seems she's shifting focus, to Congress, supposedly to cut a deal with Republicans to get the DREAMers amnesty and U.S. citizenship.

She's using illegal migrants who are health care workers as her foil and shield, as if to suggest that all DACA DREAMeres are health care workers, instead of the low-achieving bunch with three free misdemeanors per recipient that so many of them are. We're back to valedictorians again, instead of the more accurate picture of a low-achieving category of migrants demanding first dibs on legalization because they can cry for the cameras.

It's a coming failure.

The softest of these bipartisan senators on immigration  Sens. Marco Rubio, Lindsey Graham, and others  have all said a deal is dead in the water until the border surge is controlled. Politico has that story dating from March here.

Anyone see Kamala Harris at the border to halt the border surge, which would seem to be her job as border czar as well as a boon to help win Republicans in Congress over to her side? I haven't. The surge hasn't even peaked yet, as I wrote about here, and some 180,000 or so rolled in from countries well beyond Central America just last month. More are expected in June.

Harris was presumably chosen by Joe to be his vice president because of all her congressional ties and capacities to cut compromises across party lines. Yet right now, her failure to go to the border, or more importantly even halt the border surge, is precisely what's keeping her from hammering out a deal with Republicans.

What we see now is the tiny light at the end of a tunnel...of an oncoming train. She's going to be defeated on this, too, same as she was in her pathetic bid for diplomacy. But as for illegal border surgers, they're hearing her message loud and clear, to keep coming.

Her lips say "no, no," but her hands say "yes, yes." No wonder Willie Brown found her irresistible.

Image: Gage Skidmore via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0.
Julie Kelly at American Greatness has been doing yeoman work exposing the crimes of the D.C. leftists who have targeted, arrested, and imprisoned hundreds of people who attended President Trump's speech and may have wandered toward or even into the Capitol on January 6. While there were some bad actors there that day, most likely Antifa/BLM interlopers or genuine lunatics, most of those present were actually invited into the Capitol building, as some of the video has shown.

Who ordered the Capitol police to stand down? Probably Pelosi, who very much wanted an "incident" with which to tar and feather Trump and his supporters. It was possibly a calculated set-up. Who else was involved remains to be seen, but as everyone knows by now, that event has been blown so far out of proportion as to no longer resemble at all what actually took place.

Unlike the Antifa/BLM riots that occurred across the country over the summer of 2020, the incident that day was like a schoolyard scuffle compared to the violent, destructive, and even murderous conflagrations that did hundreds of millions of dollars in damage to numerous cities. People need to be reminded that the left, most especially Kamala Harris, Biden, and the leftmedia in its entirety, either supported those "protests" or called them "mostly peaceful"  which they certainly were not.

As for those caught up in the January 6 melee, not one of those who have been locked up, some in solitary confinement was armed. Not one. The only person killed was Ashli Babbitt, shot to death by a Capitol Police officer. She was not armed. The officer who shot her has yet to be named; Babbitt's family is suing to learn his identity. Curious, since when a criminal is killed by police in the commission of a crime, the officer involved is usually identified and suspended immediately, even if the shooting was righteous. Something is very rotten in Denmark.

Tucker Carlson has addressed this ongoing crime. On Sunday night, Mark Levin's always spectacular program, Life, Liberty & Levin, addressed this untenable situation with Julie Kelly. To listen to them discuss the facts is to realize that, as Dorothy of The Wizard of Oz remarked, "I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore."

Indeed, the weaponization of all our federal institutions under the Obama administration transformed this nation in ways few of us could imagine. Those alphabet agencies, by then viciously anti-Trump, kicked into high gear the minute Trump won the 2016 election. Over the next four years, from the Russia collusion hoax to two phony impeachments to January 6, America became something like Putin's Russia.

Biden has a lot of nerve bringing up political prisoner Alexey Navalny at the G7 when his own administration continues to imprison hundreds of people for the crime of being Trump-supporters. Putin critic Navalny was poisoned and is still imprisoned in one of Russia's notorious labor camps. Those jailed American patriots, many of them veterans, have not yet been poisoned but are being badly mistreated and fed food unfit for consumption.

What is happening there is not only indefensible but depraved. Julie Kelly has heard from some of those imprisoned that they are being punished for what was revealed on Mark Levin's Sunday program. Can this be happening in America? It is happening.

Given the bare outline of facts above, one has to wonder: where the hell are McConnell, McCarthy, and the rest of the Republicans in Congress? Only Ron Johnson has addressed this ongoing criminal enterprise. Why on Earth are the rest of them sitting still for this? Surely they know what a travesty the entire "insurrection" accusation is. Why has none of them, let alone all of them, held a press conference demanding these people be released on bail? Most of them have not been given trial dates. Most cannot afford lawyers willing to confront the D.C. toxic swamp, which chews up and spits out anyone possessing a code of ethics.

But then why are we surprised? Why are Julie Kelly, Mark Levin, and Ron Johnson the only voices shouting out for justice? McConnell and McCarthy are apparently frightened to death of addressing any election chicanery, so why would a few hundred patriots in jail rattle their cages? They've not commented on the ballot audits, which may produce some uncomfortable results. What if the Arizona audit proves that Trump won that state? Will the GOP leadership stand up then and demand further investigation? Doubtful. Cowards  all but for the heroes who are not, those with a spine; we all know who they are. Sadly, they are too few in number, but their ranks are growing among those gearing up to challenge the RINO milquetoasts.

The challengers will win and join our lonely heroes now raging against the D.C. wind. Biden may think the Republican Party is "diminished" and "fractured," but his plan to give away the store to the G7 member nations and surrender America to the drug cartels and China is energizing millions of Americans who are not ready to be citizens of a Maoist communist nation, some facsimile of Arthur Koestler's Darkness at Noon. Many of these Americans were Democrats.

Given Biden's pathetic performance at the G7, this quote by H.L. Mencken seems appropriate: "On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron." That day has arrived but was very likely not by the people's hearts' desire. Biden is a mere tool of the radical left. He is the witting or unwitting architect of the invasion occurring on the southern border; he has handed complete control of it to the cartels that are raking in millions of dollars in drug and human trafficking money. And he is allowing hundreds of law-abiding Americans to rot in jail for supporting his opponent. Mencken again: "The kind of man who wants the government to adopt and enforce his ideas is always the kind of man whose ideas are idiotic."

Please, complacent GOP, go to bat for those people in the D.C. version of a Soviet labor camp. Rescue them. Stand and deliver. Now is the time.

Photo credit: Ryan McGrady, CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here.
When news came out about crackhead Hunter Biden suddenly taking up yet another career as a full-time "artist," all I could think of at the time was that this was a cleverly disguised means of taking bribes. Sell a painting at an inflated price, pocket the cash from the special interest, then return the political favor through the Big Guy. No one would be able to prove a thing.

Now that some of the prices of Biden's pieces are coming out, let's just say the suspicion grows.

According to Breitbart News:

President Joe Biden's scandal-plagued son Hunter Biden is reportedly now engaged as a "full-time artist" and is working with Soho art dealer Georges Berges to hold an exhibition in New York in the coming months, with prices for Hunter's artwork ranging from $75,000 to $500,000, according to Artnet. Amid years of scandal, the 51-year-old Hunter Biden is apparently now "laying low" in his Los Angeles home while working on his artwork. Berges, his dealer, plans to host a "private viewing for Biden in Los Angeles this fall, followed by an exhibition in New York." Berges told Artnet that prices for Hunter's work will "range from $75,000 for works on paper to $500,000 for large-scale paintings."

Seriously, $500,000 for a Hunter Biden painting? That he does with a blowpipe? Something he taught himself? Something he's been working at for around one or two years, following his various careers in the military, finance, writing, and serving as old dad's bagboy on his travels? Following his wasted life of drugs, hookers, strippers, cocaine, and sleazy Hollywood hotel parties and flophouses, as described in his $2-million-advance memoirs, which brought in around $10,000 in sales?

How many other artists have that kind of success straight out the gate after a crackhead life with prices like those?

Beginning artists, without Biden's political connections, in fact, sell artwork for maybe $1,000 a pop, $2,000 tops, according to ArtBusiness, a leading website about the industry.

In a piece titled "How any artist can price their art for sale," the way it's done is like this:

For those of you who have little or no sales experience, who haven't sold much art, a good starting point for you is to price your work based on time, labor, and cost of materials. Pay yourself a reasonable hourly wage, add the cost of materials and make that your asking price. For example, if materials cost $50, you take 20 hours to make the art, and you pay yourself $20 an hour to make it, then you price the art at $450 ($20 X 20 hours + $50 cost of materials). Don't forget the comparables, though. If you use this formula and your art turns out to be more expensive than what other artists in your area charge for similar art, you may have to rethink your pricing, pay yourself a little less per hour perhaps.

This is how normal people do it. There's more about that:

To begin with, be objective about your art and your experience. In order for your prices to make sense, you have to fairly, honestly and objectively evaluate how your art measures up to other art that's out there. In order to make valid comparisons, you need a good ballpark idea how the quality of your art and the extent of your accomplishments stack up against those of other artists, particularly the ones who you'll be comparing yourself to. In other words, don't exaggerate your stature. If you've been making art for three years, for example, don't compare yourself to artists who've been making it for twenty. Being honest like this is not necessarily easy and it's not necessarily pleasant, but it's essential if you want to make it as an artist. Base your pricing on facts, not feelings. Don't confuse your own personal opinion of your art, or what you think the art world should be like, or how you think it should respond to your art, with how things actually are. If you find yourself saying stuff like "People don't understand my work" or "People don't appreciate me" or "I'm just as good as Vincent Picasso even though he's famous and I'm not" or "Sooner or later I'll find the perfect dealer or collector or whatever and live happily ever after," you may be making some errors in judgment. If you're not quite sure where you stand, invite a few people to look at your art and tell you what they think  preferably professionals who know something about art  not your best friends or biggest fans, but ones who'll be honest and direct. Encourage them to be truthful because that's what you need. And don't get defensive; doing this will help you. When you're objective about your art, you maximize your chances of succeeding as an artist.

Does Hunter's art merit that $500,000 selling price over what his competitors are selling, or is something funny going on?

Even among his political competitors, such as former President George W. Bush, there's no evidence that he's money-laundering. I couldn't find a single price for one of his mediocre yet obviously worked-on paintings. Bush himself seems to monetize his hobby by selling spinoffs for $29.95 a pop, in picture books and prints, an obviously more transparent and less lucrative game.

Breitbart points out that the Berges gallery has some pretty rich Chinese clients, citing the New York Post:

According to the New York Post, Berges has some ties to China. The art dealer reportedly "regularly features works by Chinese artists and told a Chinese network that he was keen to open other art galleries in Beijing and Shanghai in 2015." Berges has lavished praise on China's role in the art world. In 2014, Berges told the Chinese state-owned media outlet China Daily, "The questions that I always had was how's China changing the world in terms of art and culture."

What's more, the art industry is probably the most unregulated industry in America (which, as an aside, is likely why paintings and sculpture are among New York City's top exports):

Money laundering in the art world has been identified as an issue, as detailed by a bipartisan Senate investigation last year: The Senate report details how a pair of Russian oligarchs with ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin allegedly seized on the secrecy of the art industry to evade sanctions by making more than $18 million in high-value art purchases. "This is just the tip of the iceberg," investigators for the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations told reporters on a call. The art world is considered to be the largest legal unregulated industry in the United States, according to the Senate investigation. ... The Rotenberg example and many other investigation details highlight the fact that, unlike selling stock or making routine bank transfers, art sales through auction houses are not subject to anti-money laundering provisions in the Bank Secrecy Act. When art is sold, according to the report, sellers are not required to confirm the identity of the buyer nor to make sure the artwork isn't being used to launder dirty money.

Peter Schweizer, a veteran corruption-hunter, who has written numerous books on Washington's power elites, smells a rat:

"Hunter Biden was repeatedly hired and given deals by foreign entities that he was clearly not qualified for in the hopes of getting favors from his father," Schweizer told Breitbart News. "It is not a stretch to believe that foreign entities will pay for or commission his works of art at inflated prices to do the same."

Everyone else should, too. How could someone with that little talent be raking in $500,000 for his art pieces at his first gallery show, while everyone else with real art training gets just pennies? With a guy who's got China buyers? For those who know real working artists, the Hunter bonanza sticks out.

And a lot of the art-world praise has been faint, according to the New York Post:

Art consultant Martin Galindo told The Post that while he's "not a fan" of the work by Hunter that he's seen, "I'm very positive that he's gonna do well in the market because this industry is very much about, what's a simple way to put this  it's like clout." Referring to a psychedelic blue and pinkish ink work by Hunter that resembles bacteria under a microscope, Galindo said, "Oh, my God, that looks like COVID. "Honestly, I mean, from an aesthetic perspective, I don't like it. But I'm sure he's gonna do really well," the art consultant said. Meanwhile, a 67-year-old art collector on the Upper East Side called Hunter's work "nice." "They're different,'' she said of some of his pieces. Still, the woman, who only gave her first name, Jill, said, "I think a lot of people can do that.

Where's Joe Biden to rein his inson in this obvious racket? It's reasonable to suspect that Joe's doing the political favors, laundered through art sales, on Hunter's behalf, given old Joe's past actions on behalf of son Hunter. These include Biden's call to fire a Ukraine prosecutor who was investigating Hunter's cash cow, Ukrainian energy company Burisma, where the sudden "energy expert" somehow found himself with a board seat.

Is Hunter now laundering cash for House Biden through the unregulated art market? One wonders who's buying those overpriced paintings. The public certainly has a right to know.

Photo illustration by Monica Showalter with use of cropped images by Gage Skidmore, via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0, Acaben, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0, PxFuel public domain, and SKopp via Wikimedia Commons, public domain.

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Thanks to Don Surber, I learned of a proposal from the Nevada Family Alliance to require teachers at government schools to wear body cameras. If this does not strike you immediately as absolutely necessary, take a look at this recording made by a student recently of a teacher badly abusing a student who objected to her LGBTQ+ indoctrination scheme:

WATCH: LGBTQXYZ-pimping 6th grade teacher in Springfield MO bullies boy who asked why straight kids weren't allowed to have her "unicorn cupcakes." Teacher screams that student is an "ignorant," "straight jerk," "weasel," "dip" & "butthead." #GenderUnicorn #AlphabetSoupTyranny pic.twitter.com/MVMdT6i5wJ  Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) June 11, 2021

The UK Daily Mail explains the body cam initiative coming out of Washoe County (Reno area), Nevada:

A Nevada advocacy group is pushing for teachers to wear body cameras in the classroom to make sure they aren't teaching critical race theory in schools and indoctrinating students. The proposal came from the Nevada Family Alliance - a group that describes itself as a 'watchdog organization - at a Washoe County school board meeting this week. It is in response to a plan from the school district, which includes the cities of Reno and Sparks, to expand the K-5 curriculum and teach more about equity, diversity and racism. The alliance's suggestion for teachers to wear body cameras followed frustration from parents about the 'lack of transparency by teachers promoting a social justice narrative'. 'Every day we are told of another incident where a teacher is violating the privacy of a student or contradicting the lessons taught by parents at home,' Karen England, founder of the group, said. 'Creating a record that could be viewed by appropriate parties, if necessary, might be the best way to urge teachers to stick to traditional teaching.' The group believes the body cameras are a 'necessity'. 'We expect that the teachers' unions will reject this proposal immediately. But we should ask, what do they have to hide?' England said. 'If police do a better job interacting with the public when they are wearing body cameras, how much more important is it for teachers to do the same?'

Karen Englands move to Reno from California, which is where I first met her years ago, is a definite plus for Nevada and a loss for the Golden State. She is a first-rate mind and is dedicated to the cause of properly educating children, and so I should not be surprised that she is the spark for this idea that should spread like a prairie fire. She has a much better chance of success in Northern Nevada than she would have had back in Northern California.

Cost is not an issue. This camera is available for $35 at Amazon.com:

Don Surber makes an essential point about why we need body cams:

There are nearly 3 million teachers in America. We should not have to rely on kids taking videos in class to hold millions of teachers accountable.

You can expect the teachers unions to howl like banshees and throw around ridiculous objections, such as academic freedom. There is no such right for government employees teaching primary and secondary school children. They are not scholars pursuing new knowledge of value to humanity, they are instructors following curricula imposed on them by school boards. They may claim a right to privacy, but a government-funded schoolroom is not a private situation. It is a public event funded by taxpayers, who have a right to know what is taking place on their dime.

As Don notes, 

When it comes to teachers, trust but verify. Bodycams would protect them from false accusations, while protecting our children from abuse.

Just so. Many cops and their unions were skeptical at first about their bodycam requirements, but they have proven of great value in exonerating cops from false accusations.

So, does this idea have any chance? A couple of years ago, it wouldnt have. But two events have changed that calculus. One is the advent of critical race theory, which has now poked the hornets nest. Miranda Devine:

The sleeping giant of the American Mom has been awakened and is filled with a terrible resolve, as Japanese Adm. Isoroku Yamamoto once said of the United States after his countrys attack on Pearl Harbor. These mothers watershed moment is the hateful cult of critical race theory which is being shoved down their childrens throats under the guise of equity and anti-racism. In reality, CRT is simply another version of a deadly old ideology that is Marxist and utopian in nature  only this time it seeks to divide people by race, rather than by class. What the mothers instinctively know, in school board meetings across the country where they stand up courageously to fight for their children, is that a poisonous form of brainwashing has crept into the classroom and it hurts everyone equally, regardless of race. They see their children divided into an oppressor class and an oppressed class based on the color of their skin. The white kids are the oppressors who are taught to hate themselves, and the nonwhite kids are the oppressed who are taught to hate the white kids. Those Asian, black and Hispanic kids who dont agree that they are oppressed, who dont want to be robbed of their agency and looked upon as victims, and dont want to hate their white friends, are judged also to be suffering from the dreadful scourge of whiteness.

Note that school board elections normally have just about the lowest turnout of any elections, which is why teachers unions have been able to elect school boards that will slavishly follow their desires. Get teachers to motivate their friends and family to vote, and they can win a low turnout election. But poke the Mama Bears (to switch animal metaphors) to defend their cubs, and you will see people turn out to the polls the way they are turnout out for school board meetings now.

The second watershed event has been to totally unnecessary shutdown of schools in most states, which has cost the teachers unions whatever credibility they had with the public. Many working moms and dads have had their lives disrupted by the necessity of staying home with their kids. Theyve also seen via zoom what kind of crap is going on in the classrooms that were invisible to them before.

Conservatives need to start organizing and donating to the cause of requiring body cams for teachers. Its an idea whose time has come. This might be the single most effective way to combat classroom indoctrination into CRT and other leftist manias.

To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here.
Real Clear Investigations published an excellent article on Wednesday, reviewing circumstances around the pending vote audit in Fulton County, Georgia. In it, they quote poll workers who suspect batches of counterfeit, machine-bubbled ballots were counted in the 2020 presidential election.

In particular, one batch appeared to be printed on different card stock and bubbled in with toner ink rather than pen or paper, claims Suzi Voyles, a longtime poll manager. It was part of a bundle labeled "State Farm Arena," the site where county officials were filmed scanning ballots by themselves in the middle of the night on Nov. 3, after telling observers to leave.

One hundred seven of the 110 ballots in that batch went for Biden and each of the 107 had identical down-ticket votes, Voyles told Real America's Voice in a late May interview. The box they came in was wrapped in packing tape bearing the Georgia secretary of state's seal, but the tape was unsigned, and there was no indication of who had sealed it.

Voyles thinks the ballots came from drop boxes, and it's a matter of public record that those boxes were subsidized by Mark Zuckerberg with a $6.3-million grant to Fulton County through a shell organization under the guise of COVID relief. Zuckerberg's boxes were unattended, outdoors, and open to receive votes 24/7 through the evening of Nov. 3.

But Fulton County still has not provided chain of custody documents for the drop boxes, which means that the ballots could have come from somewhere else. Voyles told RCI she thinks absentee votes were added for Biden "in a fraudulent manner" on election night, and she estimates there were 20,000 fraudulent ballots in Fulton County. That would be more than enough to swing Georgia.

Voyles told RCI that the ovals of the batch in question appeared to be identical: all 107 Biden votes were bubbled in perfectly but for a small, crescent-shaped gap in the ink on the same spot in every oval. The ballots were "pristine," with no oil marks or other signs of wear; they were mail-ins, and they had no creases; "there was a difference in the texture of the paper" that she could feel.

As Jovan Pulitzer has explained, these allegations are simple to test for:

-you can identify the cardstock and where it came from by its composition; -folding a ballot leaves kinetic marks that can be identified by machine, and conversely the machine can tell you with certainty if the ballot has never been folded; -a machine can determine whether a bubble was filled in by hand or machine, and so can a person, if you magnify the marks.

The problem is that Fulton County, ground zero for the Georgia audit, is furiously resisting it  further underscoring the need for such an audit.

The sequence of events thus far and their close proximity to one another has been quite remarkable, and I don't believe it's been fully appreciated, even after many of the events have been publicized.

So let's look at what's happened.

On May 21, superior court judge Brian Amero ordered 147,000 Fulton County ballots to be audited, declaring further that both sides would meet on May 28 at the warehouse where the ballots are being held to set procedure for their inspection.

But on May 27, Fulton County filed a series of last-minute motions to dismiss the case on grounds that they weren't served by the petitioner and some other procedures weren't met. The immediate effect of these motions was to delay the May 28 warehouse meeting.

On May 29, the warehouse was found unattended, with the front door wide open and the alarm going off. Judge Amero in the May 21 hearing had ordered Fulton County to keep the warehouse under 24-hour watch, so this was a clear violation of that court order.

The plaintiff attorney, Bob Cheeley, has said he will file two motions of contempt against Fulton County for this. He asserts the door was left open to encourage a break-in and is attempting to obtain footage from the building security cameras.

Cheeley had contracted off-duty police officers as private security to watch the warehouse after the May 21 hearing because he didn't trust Fulton County to follow the judge's orders. It was his security detail who responded to the warehouse alarm  the police did not. Four hours later, a Fulton County official arrived to lock the door.

The police on duty (sheriff's deputies) had abandoned their post for hours, driving off at around 4 P.M.  which was 20 minutes before the alarm went off. It would be generous to look at the timing of their departure and the alarm's sounding and not assume a connection.

Preceding this, Fulton County had threatened to arrest Cheeley's security guards if they kept using the warehouse parking lot, and then they pressured Judge Amero (successfully) to make the off-duty officers park on the street.

Allegedly, the reason given was that Fulton County workers felt "threatened" by Cheeley's security parking there. This was in the aftermath of the George Floyd riots, and the implication was that the workers, being black, feared for their safety because Cheeley's security comes from cops, and cops are racist.

The court is set to reconvene on June 21 to resolve Fulton County's motions to dismiss. The county says the room containing the ballots was not "breached or compromised," which is to be expected from them and means little.

Presumably, these are the same Fulton County election officials who ran the ballots after telling observers to leave. They have since claimed that the reporters and poll-watchers left on their own without being told to, which conflicts with Nov. 3 news reports.

As they scanned the ballots, these officials were recorded running single stacks of ballots multiple times through the scanner. One of them, Ruby Freeman, was filmed afterward admitting she did that as though it meant nothing, and describing how she did it. President Trump has claimed that 18,000 scanned fraudulent ballots were counted on the security footage, which is 5,000 more than Biden's margin of victory in Georgia.

Freeman and the three other workers who manned the scanners were subpoenaed last week. That leaves the man in the red shirt, Fulton County registrations chief Ralph Jones, Sr., unaccounted for. Jones did not scan ballots, but he did help pull ballot boxes out from under the table. These boxes, whether or not they were actual ballot bins, were dragged to the tabulators immediately after the last observer exited.

Hopefully, phone records will be subpoenaed from the sheriff's deputies who left their post with the warehouse open, and the sheriff.

I've read speculation that leaving it open was a deliberate interruption of the chain of custody meant to nullify future proceedings, but I'm more concerned about evidence being removed. The most likely scenario I can picture is Fulton County workers removing counterfeit ballots or other evidence and triggering the alarm afterward, to create the appearance that it could have been anyone.

At taxpayer expense, Fulton County has hired two of the best criminal defense attorneys in Georgia. They will fight vigorously to prevent their work from being audited, a sign of guilt if I've ever seen one.

Image: Warren LeMay via Wikimedia Commons, CC0 1.0, public domain.

To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here.
Democrats are making a big deal about a case of phone surveillance in the case of locating leakers in Washington from the Trump administration.

They forget, or just don't care, that it was they who pioneered the surveillance state.

The Obama/Biden administration used the Justice Department to protect career criminal Hillary Clinton from prosecution and to target Trump and associates. When that happened, there was no outrage from Rep. Adam Schiff of the House Intelligence Committee, or from most of the media.

FBI honchos James Comey, Andrew McCabe, and others used a fake dossier from a foreign national, paid for by the DNC and Hillary campaign when they lied to the FISA court in order to spy on and listen in to people who were working with Trump. Schiff and Congress didn't demand hearings with the attorney general, and there was little outrage by the media, which spent most of their time campaigning for Hillary and seeking to destroy Trump.

Not once did I hear House speaker Nancy Pelosi say anything about Richard Nixon, nor did I hear Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer say this is what dictators would do.

People throughout the Obama/Biden administration's national security apparatus unmasked phone calls of people surrounding Trump, and there was little to no outrage or hearings.

The Obama Justice Department entrapped Michael Flynn and others, and there was no outrage.

The Obama/Biden intelligence agencies even illegally listened in or spied on thousands of Americans for years, and there was little to no outrage.

Report: Obama era NSA admits to years of illegal searches on Americans A bombshell report claims that the NSA, under then President Obama, conducted years of illegal searches of American's private data. The report appears in the online publication Circa and details how once-classified documents show how the spy agency failed to disclose the abuses. According to a previously classified report reviewed by Circa, one in 20 electronic communications by Americans were scooped up and kept by the NSA. The NSA admitted that the actions of the so-called 702 database potentially violated the fourth amendment protections of millions of Americans

I do not recall daily coverage of this massive corruption.

Image: Pixabay, Pixabay License.

To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here.
Here is a COVID death that should be blamed on the lockdown that caused it. Russ Niles reports for Avweb.com:

The death of a new Air Force F-16 pilot in a 2020 landing accident at Shaw Air Force Base has prompted major changes in operational flight training. Lt. David Schmitz died when his ejection seat malfunctioned as his Viper slid along the runway on partially collapsed landing gear after he hit the localizer antenna while landing last June 30. It was the culmination of a night training flight for which he was utterly unprepared, according to the final investigation report. (snip) Schmitz was about two-thirds of his way to becoming a fully operational combat pilot at the time of the accident. The mission that night was to refuel from a tanker and do a simulated attack on enemy air defenses. He was supposed to have learned aerial refueling  in daylight  during his basic F-16 training but COVID-19 measures meant there were major gaps in his training. The night mission was his first attempt at the complex operation and investigators cited the lack of training in their report. [emphasis added]



Lt. David Schmitz, may he rest in peace (photo source).

As David Paulin, himself a pilot, emailed me:

Who or what prompted the Air Force to respond to Covid measures as it did with its pilot training? Was it politicians? Fauci? The CDC? Somebody here has blood on their hands.

How badly was pilot training curtailed? Presumably, trainees were not the only pilots who trained and practiced less during whatever lockdowns were imposed by the Air Force.

And what about training in other branches and other functions of the military? Our service members deal with some of the most sophisticated machines and systems that exist on the face of the Earth. Many of them require constant training and practice to keep skills at an acceptable level.

How badly has our military readiness been impaired by lockdowns?

We now know that these general populace lockdowns were not effective. Until 2020, only the sick were quarantined to slow epidemics. With COVID-19, people were urged to stay home, where it turns out the virus spread more virulently than outdoors, where people were sometimes arrested (for example, for surfing alone). Exercise was curtailed, aggravating obesity and other serious, widespread health problems.



Photos by author.

Medical procedures and examinations were delayed. How many cases of cancer went undetected and became unstoppable? How about heart disease and other progressive conditions that went undetected or untreated?

Then there is the rise in suicides, and the long-term psychological damage, especially to our children. The lockdowns will exact a large price for an entire generation,

Sweden, which didn't lock down its healthy populace, has had an overall death rate in the middle range of the worlds countries, and better than most of Western Europe. It was all unnecessary.



Source.

Notice that Africa, where the anti-parasite drug ivermectin is widely taken, and where hydroxychloroquine is also widely used, has fared far better than the rest of the world's richer countries.

Why did public health authorities and power-mad governors so quickly seize on the idea of societal lockdowns? Why did the military follow suit?

These are important questions that demand answers, and they are issues that our agitprop media will never seek to investigate.

Hat tip: David Paulin.

To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here.
When the Waterloo Bridge over River Thames opened in the December 1945, Deputy Prime Minister, Herbert Morrison spoke on its inauguration:

The men who built Waterloo Bridge are fortunate men. They know that although their names may be forgotten, their work will be a pride and use to London for many generations to come.

Although well-meaning, what Morrison failed to acknowledge was that a substantial number of workers who built the bridge were actually women.

Waterloo Bridge in London. Photo: Maurie Hill | Dreamstime.com

The Waterloo Bridge is regarded as one of the finest bridges in London. Strategically located on a bend in the river, the bridge allows great views of the Westminster, the South Bank and the London Eye to the west, and of the City of London and Canary Wharf to the east. Although its name commemorates the victory of the British over the French in the Battle of Waterloo, to this day the bridge is colloquially referred to as the ladies bridge.

The original Waterloo Bridge, initially known as the Strand Bridge, was built between 1811 and 1817. It was a granite bridge with nine arches separated by double Doric stone columns, and was nearly 2,500 feet long. The bridge served well for over a hundred years, but probably due to increased volume of traffic crossing the bridge, one of the piers settled into the riverbed causing the bridge to dip at the Strand end. In the 1930s, the London County Council decided to demolish the bridge and replace it with a new structure designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott.

Photo: Daily Herald Archive/national Museum Of Science And Media/science And Society Picture Library

By the time war broke out in 1939, a large portion of the bridge was already completed. But then, the men were called away to the fight the war and the positions they vacated were filled in by women. From 500 men that were known to have been working on the bridge in the 1939, their numbers reduced to just 50 by 1941. It is hard to estimate what proportion of the workforce was female, but according to the UK-based Womens Engineering Society, some 350 women might have worked on the Waterloo Bridge.

There is little written record about these women who helped build the bridge. Since the building contractor Peter Lind & Company liquidated its assets in the 1980s, the firms employment records have vanished. But thanks to the investigative efforts of historian Christine Wall, we now have some photographs.

Wall also teamed up with filmmaker Karen Livesey and created a documentary called The Ladies Bridge, which explores the stories of the women working on Waterloo Bridge and records first-hand the experiences of a variety of female wartime workers.

Photo: Daily Herald Archive/national Museum Of Science And Media/science And Society Picture Library

Photo: Daily Herald Archive/national Museum Of Science And Media/science And Society Picture Library

Photo: Daily Herald Archive/national Museum Of Science And Media/science And Society Picture Library

References:

# Waterloo Bridge, Historic England

# Anika Burgess, Women Built London's Waterloo Bridge, But It Took These Photos to Prove It, Atlas Obscura




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Twitter receives summons from the Parliamentary Committee:- There has been an ongoing tussle between the Centre and the social media platforms. The Parliamentary Standing Committee for Information and Technology issued summons for Twitter. The social media giant has been asked to attend before the panel located in the Parliament Complex on June 18th at 4 PM. The Parliamentary Committee wants Twitter to give a representation about how to prevent the misuse of social media and online news. "To hear the views of representatives of Twitter followed by evidence of representatives Electronics Technology 'Safeguarding citizens' rights and prevention of misuse of social/online news media platforms including special emphasis on women security in the digital space" told Parliamentary Panel in a statement.

The Centre recently gave the final notices to Twitter for compliance with the new IT rules. Twitter did not provide adequate clarifications despite of the repeated letters. Rakesh Maheshwari, Group Coordinator for Cyberlaw at the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) penned a letter to Twitter about the same. Twitter assured to comply with the new rules after a series of letters. A panel will listen to the version of Twitter and they will find out the reason behind stopping Twitter to agree to the new IT rules. The Parliamentary Committee summoned Twitter several times in the recent times. When other social media giants like Facebook responded and agreed to the new laws, Twitter is hesitant.
We all know that a Galaxy Note-branded smartphone wont be coming this year. Samsung decided not to release it for whatever reason. Well, we may not be getting a real Galaxy Note handset this year, but a concept designer decided to create an imaginary one, the Galaxy Note 21 Ultra.

The Galaxy Note 21 Ultra concept has an under-display camera, two displays

This device is a bit different from what youd expect out of Samsung. It actually looks like an odd hybrid between the Galaxy S21 Ultra and the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra. This thing has two displays, razor-thin bezels, and plenty of cameras.

You will notice that the phone has no bezels basically. Its display seems to be curved towards the sides, while all of its physical buttons sit on the right. A display camera hole is also not included here, this phone is imagined to have an under-display camera.

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There are five cameras on its back

There are five cameras included on the back, and next to them youll notice a secondary display. That display is not large, of course, but its there. What seems odd when it comes to this design is the back side.

Based on the provided image, it actually seems like the bottom part of the phones back is protruding more than the top. Thats kind of odd, as the phones rear cameras are usually protruding.

This is a concept design after all, so something like this is possible, as its all up to the imagination. Bringing this to life is another thing entirely. Perhaps the designer envisioned a large battery here or something of the sort.

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Samsung is expected to release several high-end devices soon

Samsung may bring back the Galaxy Note series next year, well have to wait and see. One thing is for sure, this year were not getting a Note phone. Samsung will release several phones in its place, though, the Galaxy Z Fold 3, Z Flip 3, and S21 FE. None of them are a direct replacement, though.
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Anniston, AL (36206)

Today

Mostly cloudy this evening with thunderstorms developing after midnight. Low 71F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy this evening with thunderstorms developing after midnight. Low 71F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%.
(ANSA) - ROME, JUN 14 - Marco Zennaro, an Italian businessman detained in Sudan for around two months over commercial disputes, was released from prison to house arrest in a hotel on Monday.

The Italian ambassador in Sudan and Director-General Luigi Vignali have been working to secure Zennaro's release from jail.

Vignali visited Sudan recently at the behest of Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio.

Zennaro is to stay in Sudan to address the various business cases in which he is involved. (ANSA).


(ANSA) - BRUXELLES, 15 GIU - The film L'Auberge Espagnole (The Spanish Apartment), which sealed Barcelona's status as an Erasmus icon, was not far off from reality.

Spain is not only one of the most popular destinations for Erasmus students, it is also the country with the highest number of university students who decide to go abroad, in absolute terms at least, according to the preliminary results of the IRiE research project, conducted under the aegis of the ESPON programme specialising in the analysis of regional policies.

Spain is top along with the other three big EU States, France, Germany and Italy and, in part, Great Britain, which, even before Brexit, was an anomaly with regards to Erasmus, with few British students taking part in the programme but lots of Europeans going to the UK to study.

Part of the IRiE study looked at the incoming and outgoing flows of Erasmus students in the academic years of 2009-2010 and 2013-2014.

In this period of time, the most visible changes in the flows took place in countries that were in the middle or at the bottom of the table.

In just four years the number of students that went from Croatia, Turkey, Malta and Cyprus to have an Erasmus stay abroad increased by over 50%.

The researchers explained that this is a sign of the "growing integration of these more peripheral areas within the Erasmus network". Peripheral areas are also increasingly in vogue among the students, with the popularity of the Balkan countries, central and Eastern Europe, and Cyprus and Turkey rising. Here the number of students received has risen by over 50%, with students coming from Spain, France, Germany and Italy in particular.

If the same numbers are analysed in relation to the population, the picture changes radically.

Luxembourg, the Baltic countries, Finland and Iceland leap to the top of the table of the States of origin of Erasmus students.

At the opposite end of the table is the United Kingdom, along with Turkey, Croatia, Romania and Bulgaria, despite the significant increases registered by these latter countries in the period analysed.

In the same way, we find the Nordic countries among the most popular destinations, while Malta and Portugal stand out in southern Europe.

Turkey and the countries of central and Eastern Europe drop down, in part because they are new to the Erasmus programme, and in part because their languages are less well known abroad, with Greece and Bulgaria even using different alphabets.

By cross-analysing the incoming and outgoing flows, the researchers observed that some countries 'specialise' in welcoming foreign students: in other words the number of students who come to study from abroad is much higher that the number who pack their bags. This is the case with the Nordic countries, which are among the most popular for the quality of their higher education, and with the two English-speaking countries, the United Kingdom and Ireland.

In other states, such as Greece, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Turkey and Romania, it is the opposite.

This trend is also seen in Italy, France and Germany, which could indicate a greater propensity to study abroad or be a sign of a gradual 'brain drain'. (ANSA).


NAPLES - The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) Third Ministerial Meeting on Energy, held in Lisbon on Monday, culminated in a joint ministerial declaration in which all 42 UfM Member States agreed to join efforts to address the region's energy challenges and to promote a sustainable and inclusive recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.



Discussions focused on regional cooperation towards energy security and a low-carbon transition.



With a population of over 500 million inhabitants and growing, it is estimated that energy demand in the region will increase by more than 50% by 2040.



The ministerial declaration will be developed into concrete action plans bringing together relevant Mediterranean-area stakeholders.



The meeting was co-chaired by Hala Zawati, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan; and Kadri Simson, Commissioner for Energy for the European Union; in the presence of Nasser Kamel, Secretary General of the UfM Secretariat; and hosted by Joao Pedro Matos Fernandes, Portuguese Minister of Environment and Climate Action.



"We are at a pivotal moment in our fight against the climate crisis," Simson said.



"Without policy change, the Mediterranean region will be 2.2 degrees warmer than pre-industrial times by 2040. To limit global warming, we urgently need to be more energy efficient, while increasing the use of clean energy in all sectors, including transport, industry and heating and cooling. The declaration adopted today sends a powerful signal and shows the willingness of the region to work together towards a clean energy transition," she said.



Zawati also highlighted the benefits of the joint commitment.



"The UfM ministerial declaration on energy will be a key catalyst in enhancing cooperation between our member states. It will help us realize our collective vision of expanding the reach of renewable energy and energy efficiency. It will also enhance cooperation of electricity exchange and stable supply of natural gas throughout the North and South Mediterranean Basin region. We are hopeful that the declaration will help promote equitable and sustainable growth that would directly spill over into post-pandemic recovery," he said.



The priorities in the declaration include: the gradual integration of energy systems and markets while ensuring the security of energy demand and supply; the reinforcement of electricity interconnections and smart grids; an ambitious promotion of energy efficiency; the need to take appropriate actions to attract private investments in sustainable renewables; the role of research and development, innovation and digitalization in supporting an inclusive, economically efficient, low-emission transition.



"The UfM is acutely aware of the urgent energy challenges facing the Mediterranean today, and of the pressing need to step up regional cooperation and collaboration in order to address them," Kamel said.



"Today, UfM countries have reaffirmed their common goal and shared commitment to pushing forwards a fair, sustainable transition towards circular, low-emission, inclusive, efficient and resilient economies and societies."


Jerusalem: clashes at Gaza border ahead of march Between protesters and army. Fires from balloons from Gaza

(ANSAmed) - TEL AVIV, JUNE 15 - Clashes broke out Tuesday between Palestinian demonstrators and the Israeli army along the Gaza defensive barrier, just hours before the start of the controversial Jerusalem Flag March taking place amidst severe security restrictions, media sources said.



Fires were reported in Israeli areas near the Gaza Strip, which fire fighters said were caused by incendiary balloons launched from Gaza.



In recent days, Hamas announced it would take action, not excluding rocket launches, against the march called by national Jewish movements.



Police deployed 2,000 officers along the route to block traffic and put up barriers to prevent incidents between demonstrators and the Palestinian population in East Jerusalem opposing them.



Several hundred youth were present at the start of the march, which was called to celebrate Israeli unification of the two sectors of Jerusalem that took place after the Six-Day War in 1967.



Organisers said it was likely over 5,000 people would participate.



The event will conclude on Tuesday evening with a mass prayer at the Wailing Wall.(ANSAmed).




AGRIGENTO - Eight boats arrived on the island of Lampedusa beginning at midnight Tuesday with 634 people, including a five-month-old baby.



A total of 384 migrants of various nationalities were crowded onto one fishing boat alone.



The Italian finance police and coast guard intercepted a boat with 85 people aboard.



A small boat with 13 Tunisians aboard landed autonomously, followed by another small boat with 12 men from Morocco and Sudan.



Four other boats arrived in quick succession, disembarking 20, 53, 54 (including the baby) and 13 Tunisians, respectively.



These groups were in addition to the 442 people who landed on Monday.



At the Imbriacola migrant hotspot reception centre there are now 1,367 people staying in a facility designed for a maximum capacity of 250.



The prefecture of Agrigento has arranged for 100 migrants who have already been identified and tested for Covid to be transferred on Tuesday evening by ferry to Porto Empedocle.



The prefecture is currently working on organising other transfers with quarantine ships and patrol boats.
Migrants: S. Egidio to hold vigil in memory of 43,000 dead Organised with other associations working in migrant reception

(ANSAmed) - ROME, JUNE 15 - The Community of Sant'Egidio has organised a prayer vigil, "Dying of Hope", to take place on June 15 at 6:30 pm in the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere in Rome, ahead of World Refugee Day on June 20.



The vigil, which is open to the public on site and via streaming, was organised with other associations working in reception and integration for those who have fled wars or unbearable situations in their home countries (Astalli Center Association, Caritas Italy, Fondazione Migrantes, Federation of Evangelical Churches in Italy, Scalabrini Migration International Network, ACLI, Pope John XXIII Community Association, ACSE).



The vigil will remember the 43,390 people who have died - not counting those who have gone missing - since 1990 in the Mediterranean Sea or on other immigration routes to Europe.



This dramatic figure has worsened over the last year, with a total of 4,071 people who have died since June 2020 in the Mediterranean and along land routes in an attempt to reach Europe, especially from Libya through the central Mediterranean route.



During the vigil, which will be presided by Card. Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of His Holiness, some of the names of those who disappeared will be remembered and candles will be lit in their memory.



Numerous migrants of various origins will participate and family and friends of those who lost their lives at sea will also be present.(ANSAmed).




GAZA - Hamas announced that one of its leaders, Issam al-Da'alis, will take office Tuesday as president of the "Governing Committee for the Management of Gaza Issues".



Press reports said the committee is tasked with coordinating the activities of the ministries in the Gaza Strip.



The announcement of the naming of al-Da'alis came after the failure in Cairo of talks between the two Palestinian political factions, al-Fatah and Hamas, to establish a national unity government.



According to the Jerusalem Post, on Monday the Palestinian National Authority accused Hamas of not wanting a unity government and of instead aiming to build a separate political entity in the Gaza Strip.



Press reports in Gaza said these developments could have negative effects on international efforts to rebuild Gaza following heavy fighting with Israel last month.
The brother of a private investigator whose murder became one of Scotland Yards longest-running cold cases hopes a long-awaited report into his death will find institutionalised corruption within the police.

Alastair Morgan has campaigned for decades for justice for his brother Daniel, who was killed with an axe in the car park of the Golden Lion pub in Sydenham, south-east London, on March 10 1987.

Despite five police inquiries and an inquest, no-one has been brought to justice over the father-of-twos death, with the Metropolitan Police admitting corruption had hampered the original murder investigation.

In 2013, then-home secretary Theresa May announced that an independent panel was being set up to examine the case. It is due to report its findings on Tuesday.

Mr Morgan has said he expects the report to contain a sizeable chapter on corruption.

Alastair Morgan outside the Old Bailey in 2011 (John Stillwell/PA)

The publication follows a furious row between the Home Office, Independent Panel and Mr Morgans family over its release, which was originally due to take place in May.

After eight years in the making, the Home Office said that it may need to redact parts of the document on national security or human rights grounds.

But the panel said it had already worked with lawyers and security experts from the Metropolitan Police, calling the last-minute intervention unnecessary and not consistent with the panels independence.

Mr Morgans family said the move was a kick in the teeth, and called on Home Secretary Priti Patel to consider the distress the delay caused them.

An agreement was eventually reached that a small Home Office team could read the report in advance, and last week it was confirmed that the full, unredacted report would be published.

The panels remit was to address questions relating to the murder including police handling of the case, the role corruption played in protecting Mr Morgans killer, and the links between private investigators, police and journalists connected to the case.

Speaking in May, Alastair Morgan told the PA news agency: Im hoping to see a conclusion of institutionalised corruption.

Theres been some very bad policing going on there. And not just at the beginning  it went on and on and on in one way or another.

In the current situation I think its extraordinarily unlikely that anyone will ever be convicted of the murder because of the mess that has been made en route.

Nor do I believe that any of the police officers who were involved in discreditable activity or activity that is criticised by the panel will face any disciplinary or criminal action.

But I just hope that this situation, this kind of injustice, will be highlighted by the panel.

A series of police investigations have been held into the murder in the last three-and-a-half decades.

In February 1989 Mr Morgans business partner Jonathan Rees and his associate Paul Goodridge were charged with murder, and Mr Goodridges girlfriend Jean Wisden was charged with perverting the course of justice.

Daniel Morgans former business partner Jonathan Rees (John Stillwell/PA)

But three months later the case was dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service, and Mr Goodridge went on to sue Hampshire Constabulary over the charge.

Later, in 2008, five people were charged in relation to the case  Mr Rees, his brothers-in-law Glenn and Gary Vian, and an associate James Cook, were charged with Mr Morgans murder, while former police officer Sid Fillery was charged with perverting the course of justice.

But police failures in disclosing evidence and handling of key witnesses led to the prosecution collapsing by March 2011.

Eight years later in 2019, Mr Rees and the Vian brothers were each awarded six-figure sums in damages after suing the Metropolitan Police for malicious prosecution.

It is estimated that the five police inquiries cost around 30 million, while according to statements posted on its website, the panel itself  chaired by former Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman, Baroness Nuala OLoan  cost just over 14.1 million up to the end of 2019/20.
Gaps in support for grieving families will be addressed, bereavement minister Nadine Dorries pledged as she addressed the launch of the UK Commission on Bereavement.

We are aware that there are gaps, both in the provision of bereavement services and support, and research into it, she said.

And we are committed to addressing this and fully understanding how important and useful this national commission will be in helping us to achieve this.

Nadine Dorries, minister for bereavement (Chris McAndrew/UK Parliament/PA)

Ms Dorries was speaking at a panel event sharing early research that found the majority of people seeking help with their grief have struggled to access bereavement services during the coronavirus pandemic.

The study by Cardiff Universitys Marie Curie Palliative Care Research Centre and the University of Bristol found many people struggling after a bereavement faced long waiting lists for support or were told they were not eligible.

A lot of the suffering is being faced across the nation, in every village, in every town across the nation, Ms Dorries said.

Its been something that we are acutely aware of, and its important moving forward that we realise and acknowledge that bereaved people have their voices heard.

She added: One of my highest priorities remains that people who are experiencing the pain and grief of bereavement are not left to suffer alone.

We must ensure that those who are bereaved have access to support, should they need it, when they need it.

Ms Dorries said she recognised that bereavement support services were not equally accessible across the country and condemned the fact that someones geographical location could impact their level of support.

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The survey, of 711 adults bereaved between March and December 2020, is believed to be the first to highlight the experiences of those trying to get support after the death of a loved one during the pandemic.

Most participants had not tried to access support, but more than half (56%) of those who did experienced difficulties.

And four in 10 respondents (39%) reported difficulties in getting support from friends and family.

Led by Dr Emily Harrop and Dr Lucy Selman, it was published as a pre-print on the MedRxiv website and funded by the Economic and Social Research Council as part of UK Research and Innovations rapid response to Covid-19.

The authors are calling for information on grief and bereavement services to be proactively provided after a death, and for GPs to be better resourced so they can direct people to support.

They also want to see more help to combat isolation, including flexible support bubbles for the recently bereaved if restrictions on social contact are in place.

The panel acknowledged the disproportionate impact on people from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds during the pandemic and ensured it will be an essential task of the commission to consider the perspectives of people from those communities.

The independent commission, made up of 15 commissioners and supported by charities including Marie Curie, will explore issues faced by people bereaved during the pandemic and make recommendations on how better to support them.

The commission will also include the secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, Zara Mohammed, and Patrick Vernon OBE, who is a social commentator and Windrush campaigner.
The UK and Australia have agreed in principle to a post-Brexit free trade deal amid concerns from British industry and farmers.

Details remain sketchy, with officials keen to point out that it should be seen as a stepping stone to broader global agreements.

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But what is the agreement and why has it attracted criticism?

Here the PA news agency considers the key questions around the deal:

 What is a free trade deal?

It refers to an official policy allowing the unhindered trade of goods and services across borders and at a price set by the producer, without state support.

It aims to boost the flow of trade and prevent governments from discriminating against imports with tariffs or against exports by offering subsidies.

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 What is the agreement with Australia?

The agreement is short on details at the moment, with ministers promising to publish the full text in the coming days.

What we do know is that Prime Minister Boris Johnson has offered his Australian counterpart, Scott Morrison, a zero-tariff, zero-quota trade pact.

It will save British consumers 34 million a year on Australian products.

We do not yet know when it will be implemented and over what time period, but it is thought to be on a sector-by-sector basis.

The only timescale included is a 15-year cap on tariff-free imports to the UK.

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The Government has not given an up-to-date estimate on how much the UK economy will benefit from the deal.

But, in its position paper ahead of negotiations, it said an agreement could increase British exports to Australia by 900 million, with trade with the EU in 2019 worth some 668 million.

The same position paper also said a deal would see the UKs gross domestic product (GDP)  a measure of economic growth  rise between 0.01% and 0.02%, and Australias by between 0.01% and 0.06%.

However, a Government review is under way into better ways of calculating financial estimates, so the figures are subject to change.

The announcement also said Britons under the age of 35 will be able to travel and work in Australia more freely  although details remain unclear.

 Why is the deal so light on details?

Trade negotiations went on long into the night on Monday and typically some of the points need to be ironed out in such complex discussions.

But the speed has been noted by some, with International Trade Committee chairman Angus Brendan MacNeil warning: In its rush to reach an initial agreement, I fear the Government could sign up to something which brings significant harms as well as benefits.

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 Why is there a 15-year transition for farmers?

International Trade Secretary Liz Truss has said previously the very long transition is intended to give UK farmers time to adjust to competition from Down Under.

The Government wants to avoid UK farmers being priced out of the market by cheaper imports from Australia  particularly meat.

The caps will ensure the country avoids pushing farmers into insolvency if they can no longer compete with excessive amounts of imports.

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 What has the Government said?

The Prime Minister has sought to reassure British farmers.

Speaking to broadcasters in Portsmouth on May 21, Mr Johnson said: I do think that free trade deals present a fantastic opportunity for our farmers, for businesses of all kinds, and for manufacturers.

I think it is vital that, as a great historic free-trading nation that grew to prosperity thanks to free trade, and thanks indeed to the Royal Navy, that we see these new openings not as threats but as opportunities.

He reiterated on Tuesday that farmers will benefit from the deal.

Liz Truss has led the Governments efforts to secure a deal with Canberra (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

 What have critics said?

UK farmers fear the deal will see them undercut by Australian rivals.

In particular, there are fears that smaller beef and lamb producers in Scotland and Wales will be unable to compete with the typically much larger Australian farms.

The Scottish Government has repeatedly raised concerns over the deal, which First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said will be a betrayal of Scottish farmers if import standards do not match those on domestic production.

In Northern Ireland, DUP leader Edwin Poots, who is also Stormonts agriculture minister, said in a letter to Environment Secretary George Eustice last month that the agreement poses a high level of risk to farmers across the UK.

Mr Eustice, who was engaged in a Cabinet row with Ms Truss over the matter, has suggested quotas could be used to protect British farmers.

DUP leader Edwin Poots, who is also Stormonts agriculture minister, said the agreement poses a high level of risk to farmers across the UK (Brian Lawless/PA)

 Why is this deal important?

The deal is the first the UK has drawn up from scratch, rather than tweaking existing deals between the EU and other countries that had been agreed while the UK was still a member of the trading bloc.

Ministers consider it a necessary step en route to joining a larger free trade pact called the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Ms Truss said: Membership will create unheralded opportunities for our farmers, makers, innovators and investors to do business in the future engine room of the global economy.

On Australia, she pointed out that the UK exports 5.4 billion in services, including 1.4 billion in the insurance and pensions sector and 780 million in financial services.

 Will it lead to other deals?

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That is the Governments hope, with planned agreements sought with South Africa, Brazil and the US.

But the deal could also set a precedent for more complicated pacts in future, according to one expert.

Associate professor Mark Melatos, from the University of Sydneys School of Economics, said any concessions the UK has granted in its agreement with Canberra are likely to create negotiating difficulties down the track when the UK is negotiating agreements with more substantial trade partners.

Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove, meanwhile, has expressed concern that one result of the deal could be the fuelling of demands for Scottish and Welsh independence.

 What other trade agreements has the UK struck?

The most recent deal announced by the UK was an agreement struck with Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, while others with Turkey, Mexico and Japan have also been revealed since Brexit.
Charlie Brooks is returning to EastEnders as Janine Butcher, the BBC has confirmed.

The character last appeared on Albert Square in March 2014, when she left for Paris to pick up daughter Scarlett, who is also making a comeback.

Janine was involved in a number of high-profile storylines, perhaps most famously the death of her husband, Barry Evans.

Charlie Brooks is returning to EastEnders as Janine Butcher, it has been announced (BBC/PA)

She pushed him down a cliff in Scotland in a 2004 episode.

Confirming her return, Brooks, 40, said: I am beyond excited to be slipping back into Janines shoes and returning to the square. The time feels right and I cant wait to find out what shes been up to for the last seven years!

She is and always has been SO much fun to play. Feels a bit like coming home. Its good to be back.

Jon Sen, executive producer on EastEnders, said: Janine is one of EastEnders most iconic characters who is loved, and often despised, in equal measure by viewers and all those in Walford.

Charlies portrayal of Janine over the years has created some of EastEnders most memorable moments and we are all really excited to see Charlie bring her incredible portrayal of Janine back again.

We have lots of drama in store for Janine, in fact it may be wise for some of the residents of Walford to invest in some slip on shoes

Brooks first left EastEnders in 2004, before returning four years later. Her most recent spell ended in 2014.

She was crowned queen of the jungle following an appearance Im A Celebrity  Get Me Out Of Here! in 2012.
Sinn Fein has called on the British Government to intervene and legislate for Irish language protections at Westminster.

The clock is ticking on the future of Stormonts powersharing Executive following the resignation of Arlene Foster as first minister.

An ongoing stand-off between Sinn Fein and the DUP over Irish language legislation could topple the institutions unless resolution is found in the coming days.

DUP leader Edwin Poots (left) with party colleague First Minister designate Paul Givan (Liam McBurney/PA)

Following a meeting with Secretary of State Brandon Lewis, Sinn Fein said the introduction of long awaited Irish language legislation is the only way to resolve this issue.

Speaking late on Monday, party leader Mary Lou McDonald said: This evening we met with the British government and told them that they need to move the Irish language legislation through Westminster.

A number of weeks ago the British government offered to legislate for Acht Gaeilge (Irish Language Act) in this way.

At that time we said our preference was that Irish language legislation would be delivered through the Assembly and Executive as was agreed in New Decade New Approach.

We have pursued that option vigorously over the last number of weeks.

We have engaged intensively with the DUP and with party leader Edwin Poots. He has told us that they will not be delivering Acht in this mandate.

This legislation was negotiated a year and a half ago and it is now incumbent on the British and Irish governments to act.

This is the only way forward to finally resolve this issue.

Mrs Fosters formal resignation on Monday as joint head of the devolved Executive begins a seven-day timeframe within which the DUP must renominate its chosen successor, Lagan Valley MLA Paul Givan.

However, the joint nature of the office Mrs Foster shared with Sinn Feins Stormont leader Michelle ONeill, means Ms ONeill must also be renominated to her role within those seven days.

Arlene Foster (right) with Michelle ONeill, arriving at the Stormont Assembly at Parliament Buildings in Belfast to deliver her resignation speech (Liam McBurney/PA)

If one of the parties fails to renominate within the time period, a properly functioning executive cannot be formed and the UK Government assumes a legal responsibility to call a snap Assembly election.

Earlier, DUP leader Mr Poots and First Minister designate Mr Givan were pictured entering Stormont House.

Making her resignation speech to the Assembly chamber, the ousted DUP leader addressed the row over the Irish language that threatens to destabilise the institutions.

Let us realise in every corner of this House, that people live here who have an Irish identity, a British identity, some have a British and Irish identity, some are British and Northern Irish and there are new emerging identities, but for all of us this place is called home, Mrs Foster told MLAs.

We can poke each other in the eye and have a competition of my identity is better than yours but it is only by respecting each others identity that we will move forward.

Screengrab taken from the Northern Ireland Assembly of DUP leader Edwin Poots speaking after Arlene Foster formally announced her resignation as First Minister (PA)

The beauty of the Union is that we can all have our identities and live here side by side.

On Sunday, a simmering row escalated when Sinn Fein made clear it would only engage in the renomination process if it was accompanied by the commencement of legislating for protections for Irish language speakers.

On Monday, DUP leader Edwin Poots said there could be no preconditions attached to the nomination process.

He reiterated that he was committed to implementing all outstanding aspects of the 2020 deal to restore powersharing, including Irish language legislation.

However, he declined to indicate whether he would move on the language laws in the current Assembly mandate, a Sinn Fein demand, and insisted there were other priorities the Executive should be focusing on, including the health service and economy.

He said: Setting pre-conditions is not appropriate, its not respecting someones mandate, and we cannot be in a circumstance where we have pre-conditions set for the selection of our first minister.

Screengrab taken from the Northern Ireland Assembly of Arlene Foster (left)formally announcing her resignation as First Minister in the chamber of the NI Assembly (PA)

And Im not setting pre-conditions to the selection of Sinn Feins deputy first minister.

But Ms ONeill fired a warning shot to the new leadership of the DUP, stating that powersharing cannot be built on broken promises.

Ms ONeill, who stood opposite new DUP leader Edwin Poots in the chamber as she made her remarks, said there is a need to work on the basis of openness, transparency, accountability and in good faith.

Thats the only way in which we can share power together, Ms ONeill added.

All of us in this chamber are called upon to lead. That means leading and delivering for everybody.

That means delivering a powersharing thats grounded in fairness and inclusion.

Thats certainly what Im here to do. I hope that we have willing partners in which to do so also because you cant build powersharing on broken promises.

You must deliver upon agreements that are made. Im committed to do that. I hope others are also committed likewise to doing that.
MacKenzie Scott, philanthropist and former wife of billionaire and Amazon (AMZN) CEO Jeff Bezos, announced on Tuesday that she donated another $2.74 billion to charity.

Scott has donated a total of $8.5 billion since July 2020.

Me, Dan [Jewett, Scotts new husband], a constellation of researchers and administrators and advisors  we are all attempting to give away a fortune that was enabled by systems in need of change, Scott wrote in a Medium post titled Seeding by Ceding. In this effort, we are governed by a humbling belief that it would be better if disproportionate wealth were not concentrated in a small number of hands, and that the solutions are best designed and implemented by others.

According to Scotts post, she and her husband chose 286 high-impact organizations in areas and communities that have been historically underfunded and overlooked. These included institutions educating children in underserved areas, organizations promoting interfaith community, and arts and cultural institutions

Scott, one of the world's richest women, noted that they prioritized organizations with local teams, leaders of color, and a specific focus on empowering women and girls, along with organizations supporting community engagement.

Mackenzie Scott. (Getty Images)

Scott earned most of her fortune through her July 2019 divorce from Bezos, currently the richest man in the world with an estimated net worth of $196 billion. As part of their divorce agreement, Scott gave Bezos 75% of her Amazon stock, along with voting control of her shares. Her net worth is now roughly $59 billion, according to Forbes.

This isnt the first time Scott has given away billions of dollars to charity  last December, it was revealed she had donated more than $4 billion in the span of four months.

Scott is among a group of the richest Americans who have signed the Giving Pledge, which encourages the worlds wealthiest people to donate more than half of their wealth to charitable causes. Others who have taken the pledge include Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett, Microsoft Founder Bill Gates, hedge fund manager Bill Ackman, and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

In addition to whatever assets life has nurtured in me, I have a disproportionate amount of money to share, Scott said when she revealed she signed the pledge. My approach to philanthropy will continue to be thoughtful. It will take time and effort and care. But I wont wait. And I will keep at it until the safe is empty.

Adriana Belmonte is a reporter and editor covering politics and health care policy for Yahoo Finance. You can follow her on Twitter @adrianambells and reach her at adriana@yahoofinance.com.

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WASHINGTON (AP)  Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene apologized Monday for affronting people with recent comments comparing the required wearing of safety masks in the House to the horrors of the Holocaust.

I'm truly sorry for offending people with remarks about the Holocaust," the Georgia Republican told reporters outside the Capitol, saying she had visited Washington's U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum earlier in the day. There's no comparison and there never ever will be."

Greene's comments were a rare expression of regret by the conservative agitator, a freshman whose career has included the embrace of violent and offensive conspiracy theories and angry confrontations with progressive colleagues.

Her apology came more than three weeks after appearing on a conservative podcast and comparing COVID-19 safety requirements adopted by Democrats controlling the House to a time and history where people were told to wear a gold star." She said they were put in trains and taken to gas chambers in Nazi Germany. This is exactly the type of abuse that Nancy Pelosi is talking about. Pelosi, D-Calif., is House speaker.

Greene's comments were condemned by Republican leaders, including House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., who called the comparison appalling."

GOP leaders have often been reluctant to castigate Greene, a close ally of former President Donald Trump. After social media posts were unearthed in which Greene suggested support for executing some Democratic leaders, McCarthy and most Republicans stood by her when the House took the unusual step of stripping her of her committee assignments in February.

But as House members returned to the Capitol on Monday after a three-week break, Greene was contrite.

Anti-Semitism is true hate," she said. And I saw that today at the Holocaust Museum."

In 2018, two years before her election to Congress, she speculated on Facebook that California wildfires may have been caused by lasers or blue beams of light controlled by a left-wing cabal tied to a powerful Jewish family.

On Monday, she told reporters that when she was 19, she visited the site of the Auschwitz concentration camp in what during World War II was Nazi-occupied Poland. It isn't like I learned about it today," she said of the Holocaust, in which 6 million Jews and huge numbers of other people were killed. I went today because I thought it was important," she said, and wanted to talk about it as she apologized.

House leaders have recently said vaccinated people no longer must wear masks in the chamber.

Greene's remarks came at the start of a week in which Republicans may try forcing a vote to punish Rep. Ilhan Omar. The Minnesota Democrat recently made remarks criticized by top House Democrats and Jewish lawmakers for seeming to compare the U.S. and Israel to Hamas and the Taliban. Omar said she didn't mean to draw that parallel.
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Teams of U.S. logisticians keep the Georgia Army National Guard supplied and equipped to sustain operations at exercise African Lion 21 in Morocco. Capt. Bryant Wine, Georgia National Guard, reports.

Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

U.S. Army Master Sgt. Joshua S. Heaton, assigned to 1-214th Field Artillery Battalion, ground guides an M109A6 Paladin howitzer onto a Royal Moroccan Armed Forces M1070 heavy equipment transport system for transport to Tantan, Morocco from Tifnit Morocco in preparation for African Lion 2021 June 2, 2021. (Picture source: CWO 3 Benjamin R. Philpott)

Army sustainment begins at the brigade and battalion level where staffs have logistic sections. Led by a logistics officer, called the S4, the sections coordinate acquisition of the supplies, equipment, transportation and maintenance needed to sustain operations. Logistics are the lifeblood of every military operation, said U.S. Army Master Sgt. Julian Tucker, the brigade S4 non-commissioned officer in charge of the Fort Benning-based 648th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade. We focus on planning and execution of sustainment programs to accomplish the mission.

African Lion 2021 is U.S. Africa Command's largest, premier, joint, annual exercise hosted by Morocco, Tunisia and Senegal, 7-18 June. More than 7,000 participants from nine nations and NATO train together with a focus on enhancing readiness for U.S. and partner nation forces. AL21 is a multi-domain, multi-component, and multi-national exercise, which employs a full array of mission capabilities with the goal to strengthen interoperability among participants.

The 648th MEB headquarters deployed to exercise African Lion 21 to operate the tactical command post to oversee training in the Tan Tan area. The headquarters is crucially important to facilitate logistical support between the two battalions and support organizations outside the training area.

Georgias two battalions participating in exercise African Lion are the Elberton-based 1st Battalion, 214th Field Artillery, 648th MEB and the Forsyth-based 2nd Battalion, 121st Infantry Regiment, 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. Each battalion possesses its own forward support company. Supporting the 1-214th FA is the Washington-based 1214th Forward Support Company while the Albany-based Hotel Company, 148th Brigade Support Battalion, sustains 2-121 IN.

These forward support companies have a distribution platoon to transport supplies to sister companies, a maintenance platoon to service vehicles and equipment in the battalion, and a field feeding section to cook or attain meals on behalf of the battalion. Every company in 1-214 FA and 2-121 IN also has an executive officer. Typically a first lieutenant, one key task of these officers is to monitor supply and maintenance for the company. Executive officers work closely with company first sergeants and supply sergeants to understand unit logistical needs and coordinate with battalion S4s and forward support companies.

Working closely with the GAARNG in African Lion 21 is the U.S. Army Reserves 646th Regional Support Group. The 646th RSG operates the major cell that manages support of the Tan Tan living areas so that the GAARNG can focus on training. The 646th RSG accomplishes this with close coordination with Moroccan partners who bring supplies to the base.

U.S. Army Spc. Michael Brannon of the 148th Brigade Support Battalion performs maintenance on a Humvee for African Lion in Tantan, Morocco on June 8, 2021. (Picture source: Spc. Nathan R Smith)
'Sadly, land degradation affects over two-thirds of the world today,' Modi said

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday evening told the United Nations that India is on track to achieve its national commitment of land degradation neutrality and ... working towards restoring 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030. This, he said, would contribute to India's commitment to achieve an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. The PM was delivering his keynote address in virtual format at the UN High-Level Dialogue on Desertification, Land degradation and Drought.

Land is the fundamental building block for supporting all lives and livelihoods. All of us understand the web of life functions as an inter-connected system. Sadly, land degradation affects over two-thirds of the world today, Mr Modi said, adding: If left unchecked, it will erode the very foundations of our societies, economies, food security, health, safety and quality of life. Therefore, we have to reduce the tremendous pressure on land and its resources. Clearly, a lot of work lies ahead of us. But we can do it. We can do it together.

Said Mr Modi: It is mankind's collective responsibility to reverse the damage to land caused by human activity. It is our sacred duty to leave a healthy planet for our future generations.

The Prime Minister added: Land degradation poses a special challenge to the developing world. In the spirit of South-South cooperation, India is assisting fellow developing countries to develop land restoration strategies. A centre of excellence is being set up in India to promote a scientific approach towards land degradation issues.

He further said: In India, we have always given importance to land and considered the sacred Earth as our mother. India has taken the lead to highlight land degradation issues at international forums. The Delhi Declaration of 2019 called for better access and stewardship over land, and emphasised gender-sensitive transformative projects. In India, over the last 10 years, around three million hectares of forest cover has been added. This has enhanced the combined forest cover to almost one-fourth of the countrys total area.

In many parts of India, we have taken up some novel approaches. To give just one example, the Banni region in the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat suffers from highly degraded land and receives very little rainfall. In that region, land restoration is done by developing grasslands, which helps in achieving land degradation neutrality. It also supports pastoral activities and livelihood by promoting animal husbandry. In the same spirit, we need to devise effective strategies for land restoration while promoting indigenous techniques, Mr Modi pointed out.
The BJP is planning to target him legally over his defection to the TMC as a legislator

Roy is expected to be appointed national vice-president of the TMC due to his nationwide contacts and the TMCs ambition to expand in other states and become a formidable player in national politics ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.  DC Image

Kolkata: Close on the heels of his return to the Trinamul Congress from the BJP, Krishnanagar North MLA Mukul Roy is set to get a double promotion --one in the party and another in Parliament -- from TMC supremo and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee for his political acumen.

Sources said Mr Roy is expected to be appointed national vice-president of the TMC, the same post that he held in the BJP till four days ago, in next few days, due to his nationwide contacts and the TMCs ambition to expand in other states and become a formidable player in national politics ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

On June 11, when Mr Roy returned to the TMC, Ms Banerjee indicated that he would be given an equivalent post to what he had in the BJP. In November 2017, when he quit the TMC, his post was national general secretary in the party.

TMC insiders revealed Mr Roy, who held a one-to-one meeting with the CMs MP nephew and the new national general secretary, Abhishek Banerjee, on Sunday, would start working at the national level once his appointment to the new post is done.

Later, the former railway minister is likely to be fielded by the TMC as its candidate for one of the two Rajya Sabha seats which fell vacant after Dinesh Trivedis resignation as a Rajya Sabha member in February this year and switch to the BJP, and the election of Manas Bhuniya as an MLA in the West Bengal Assembly polls.

In that case, Mr Roy, who had earlier too served as a Rajya Sabha MP, will have to resign as an MLA, which he has become for the first time in his life. The BJP is planning to target him legally over his defection to the TMC as a legislator, so his resignation will make any action unnecessary. Mr Roy said his party would decide on making him a candidate for the Rajya Sabha shortly.

A senior TMC leader who sought anonymity said the double promotion for Mr Roy would also send a signal to the BJP on how much importance the TMC gives to an efficient leader like him. When Mr Roy was in the BJP, he had apparently sought a Rajya Sabha member as well as a Union Cabinet berth, besides holding a party post. However, his wishes were ignored. The TMC also has plans to nominate Yashwant Sinha for the second Rajya Sabha seat, sources claimed.
Adivasi resistance to the Indian State is not understood and it is not very widely covered in the media

We have entered the third year of the Narendra Modi government and in the months to come the discussion will inevitably turn to the general election of 2024. Some of the recent political activity around Uttar Pradesh is being seen in this light. In India what the government does is left generally to the political parties, especially by the middle class which, once it has voted, does not engage with the State. But there is a part of our country which does engage and does not remain aloof.

The term civil society refers, according to the World Health Organisation, to a wide array of organisations: community groups, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), labour unions, indigenous groups, charitable organisations, faith-based organisations, professional associations, and foundations.

In India we usually use the term civil society almost exclusively for the NGOs and activists, because professional associations are quite afraid of confronting the government. There are some exceptions, but these are very few. It is the NGOs, activists and indigenous groups who represent the people and their interests outside the framework of politics. In India, when we say indigenous groups, we mean adivasis. The model of development that India has adopted is to extract from adivasi lands the resources that are used for the rest of the country. You and I do not get displaced by the government from our homes. It is the adivasis who must leave the homes and settlements that their ancestors have lived on for thousands of years because we need to build a dam or because we have found coal underneath.

The adivasis have protested against Indias government and its policies for over a century. The rebellion of Birsa Munda, the man whose statue Amit Shah once wanted to garland (but he wrongly garlanded someone elses) forced the British to introduce the Chotanagpur Tenancy Act, which banned the transfer of adivasi land to non-adivasis. The BJP wanted to garland Birsa Mundas statue but it also passed a law to undo the Chotanagpur Tenancy Act in 2016. This produced such a backlash from the adivasis that the BJP retreated from the law and was defeated in the next state election. This is why Mr Shah was garlanding what he thought was Birsa Mundas statue in 2020.

Adivasi resistance to the Indian State is not understood and it is not very widely covered in the media. This month has seen at least two places where adivasis have been holding protests. In Gujarat 11 adivasis were arrested for protesting against proposed parking lot near the Statue of Unity. They said the land acquired by the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam for the development project belonged to them and had been taken illegally.

The strength of the emotion can be understood by knowing that the women among them removed their clothes in public. An FIR was filed against 20 of them under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 143 (unlawful assembly) and 294 (singing obscene song, ballad or words near a public place). In Chhattisgarh, which has a Congress government, thousands of adivasis have been on protest against a Central Reserve Police Force camp erected on their land without their permission. The government opened fire on them, killing three, but the adivasis are still there in the open in Bastar, demanding their rights and insisting that the camp be removed.

On the outskirts of Delhi, tens of thousands of farmers are continuing their protest, having gathered in November and spent the entire winter and now the summer in the open along the highways. The laws that they are protesting against were passed without a division vote in the Rajya Sabha. The laws have been suspended indefinitely by the Supreme Court and the Narendra Modi government itself has offered to suspend them for 18 months. There is extreme disaffection against the laws, including by groups supporting the BJP in Uttar Pradesh, and it is unlikely that the laws will ever be implemented. The Modi government itself has lost interest in them and does not speak about their implementation. But it has allowed the protests to continue because it does not want to be seen as retreating, though it appears to have already retreated. Similarly, though the Citizenship Amendment Act was passed by Parliament more than a year and a half ago, it has not been implemented. One reason is the widespread protests against it in India, the other is the widespread condemnation against it globally, including in the European Parliament.

Civil society action in Gujarat has resulted in the setting up of fasttrack courts to hear atrocities against dalits and adivasis. This came after the protest against the assault on dalits in Una over a cows carcass. The civil society action was led by a former journalist, Jignesh Mewani, who was then elected to the Gujarat Assembly.

A lot of action has taken place in civil society since 2014. A weakening of the government, meaning a Central government with no party having an absolute majority, or a change in government, will give civil society groups additional leverage. Laws that are unacceptable to civil society groups will not be easy to pass and implement. And laws that are in outright violation of international human rights standards will come under pressure to be repealed. It is a most interesting time that is leading up to 2024.
Yet a Galwan could always happen as a spinoff from other circumstances, given the unpredictability of the LAC

What happened in the Galwan Valley on June 15 last year cannot be easily forgotten. Twenty Indian soldiers led by the valiant Col. Santosh Babu, MVC (Posthumous), commanding officer of 16 Bihar, were killed in action. A deceptive enemy who hid behind the veil of 45 years of trust turned upon these unsuspecting soldiers who were on a mission to verify what had been agreed by their senior commanders just 10 days ago.

Perhaps nowhere in the world has occurred an incident in such bad taste and against all ethics of soldiering. You can take counteraction against adversary soldiers who threaten you or deceive you but targeting those on a verification mission after an agreement was something new in the world of military ethics. The PLA had transgressed to ostensibly dominate the Shyok-DBO Road. Not known to be followers of any rule-based order, the PLA took its time in disengaging from the transgression. When pressured to do so, it chose to get aggressive and turned upon those who were verifying the vacation, with weapons which were straight from the Stone Age, to pulverise, shred and tear human flesh. The PLA came prepared with these weapons and perceived that their employment could be projected as non-lethal in todays age.

What was clear from the incident was the fact that the Indian Army worked on a principle of trust. Forty-five years without loss of life at the Sino-Indian border, 22 meetings to resolve the border through a civilised format, dignified campaign at the highest political level to progress economic and people-to-people relations and regular delegation visits to each others military establishments, should count for a justified level of trust. Professional armies do not work on assumptions,but yet an element of human compulsion exists, forcing all implausible contingencies out of the consideration and settling for those within the realm of perceptual reason. Even more important, Galwan exemplified camaraderie and team spirit of an extreme kind when soldiers of different units, arms and services all joined the fight for the sake of their comrades, their countrymen and the honour of their nation.

Much water has already flown down the Shyok River through 2020-21, since Galwan, with a lothappening at the Line of Actual Control. From partial mobilisation to staying put in freezing winter conditions with rustic habitats, lifting and transporting stocks of an unimaginable quantum and the virtual conversion of the LAC to a LoC, we have also witnessed the professional Indian riposte via the quid pro quo operation at the seven heights of the Kailash Range in south Pangong Tso. Through negotiations stretching into the eleventh round, a partial de-escalation and disengagement has been executed but restricted to north and south Pangong Tso. It can safely be assumed that the occupation of the Kailash Range heights caused much consternation in PLA ranks as its major war centre in Ladakh was under direct threat. We could force the PLA vacation of north Pangong Tso transgression because of this. However, some other key transgressions, including the one at Depsang, continue and await the outcome of further talks which could be indefinitely delayed.

So is a Galwan likely to be repeated, and for that matter should one expect a deterioration of the situation in Ladakh anytime soon. It is easy to dismiss Galwan as a one-off event brought on by cascading out of control circumstances. Situations in an environment with troops at close quarters to each other (although a separation exists here larger than at the LoC) can always be unpredictable and response to awkward situations may find escalation. The feasibility of China deliberately triggering tension appears less likely as it should be viewing its actions in Ladakh as a misadventure which failed to deliver. China had reasonable clarity in the politico-strategic domain of aiming to make India realise that it was alone in the high Himalayas even as it may be among future partners in strategic arrangements that it is seeking under the American umbrella in the Indo-Pacific region. The misadventure in Ladakh, effectively thwarted by India, had a flawed military strategy. The occupation of some pressure points, transgressions across some of them and the refusal to vacate, awaiting more negotiations, are being perceived by some as a victory for China. Victories are measured against the attainment of the politico-strategic aim and not bits and pieces of occupation of territory which was vacant. What we in India have failed to capitalise upon is the ethical aspects of functioning between nations. China may have aspirations for superpower status, but it lacks the ability to build a larger perception of itself beyond that ambition; powerful nations show better ethics in international functioning. President Xi Jinpings recent directions to remove wolf warrior diplomacy from Chinas ways of international dealings and build a more positive external perception about China is proof enough of its failure in pursuance of effective international relations. Notwithstanding what success it may perceive for itself through the Belt and Road Initiative outreach and attempts at cultivating influence in Indias near abroad, the worlds image of China remains one of a predatory nation which refuses to be bound by rules and agreements and therefore untrustworthy. The total outlay of Chinas external aid remains at a quarter of what the United States dishes out although the Chinese economy is just over half the US economy and growing at a much faster speed.

Given all these circumstances and the ongoing transition in the global order, what one should reasonably expect is some change in Chinas approach. How much this will impact Sino-Indian relations and the Ladakh standoff is difficult to say, being already a theatre of recent and ongoing tension. The fact that China couldnt attain its aims in coercing India even under pandemic conditions and its decision to negotiate at the field level are pointers to a possible change in strategy. The PLA will play hard to get, it will display reluctance to negotiate and for the foreseeable future will effect no change in the LACs status. A campaign-like operation appears remote but even coercion operations which China experienced as having potential to go out of control may not take place. However, cyber threats should be expected to escalate,also campaigns in the information domain. Yet a Galwan could always happen as a spinoff from other circumstances, given the unpredictability of the LAC. It is something we should be prepared for even as the tone and tenor of the relationship at the highest levels improves to far greater levels.
Share This: Last month, the Rhode Island House Corporations Committee heard from collision repairers advocating for House Bill 6234 and House Bill 6235, both introduced by Reps. William O'Brien, Scott Slater, Jacquelyn Baginski, Raymond Hull, Camille Vella-Wilkinson and Gregg Amore.

House Bill 6234 seeks to update Rhode Island General Laws 27-9.1-4, the states Unfair Claims Settlement Practices Act, by addressing issues related to paint and materials charges, vehicle abandonment and sublets.

House Bill 6235 would require insurers using recycled parts to choose parts that are at least equal in kind and quality to the OEM parts in terms of fit, quality, performance and warranty, and be from a vehicle of the same year or newer and have the same or less mileage than the vehicle receiving the used part.

House Bills 6234 and 6235 were reviewed simultaneously during the Rhode Island House Corporations Committee hearing. OBrien, the House Corporations Committee vice chairman, said the main reason he sponsored the bill was related to a constituents experience where their insurer abandoned a total loss, accumulating $1,000 in storage fees, which, he said, the insurer was responsible for.

The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies Northeast has no objection to the total loss notification provisions, according to Rory Whelan, northeast regional vice president, though the group opposes the other two amendments proposed by the bill.

Rep. Robert Craven Sr. supports House Bill 6234 because of the general frustration that the auto body shops are having dealing with the insurers, but most importantly, the consumer who pays for this insurance policy and doesnt get what he or she expects to get.

Craven indicated insurers object to paying for items as simple as taping windows before painting, though it is part of the process required. Policyholders pay for the insurance company to return their vehicle to its original state after an accident, according to Craven, who also specified...
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With this option, future owners of the electric sedan will enjoy charging speeds of up to 270, at the Electrify America network, which will expand to include 800 locations with around 3,500 chargers by the end of the year.At full pace, the battery can be juiced up from 5 to 80% in just 22 minutes, adding 180 miles (290 km) of range. This will come in handy to those who want to drive their cars on the racetrack too, as the vehicles are up to the task lap after lap, the auto firm says, reminding that the Nurburgring Nordschleife served as one of its many development sites.The four-ring brand has also thought of those who do not have a home charger yet, so they have teamed up with Qmerit. Two turn-key solutions will be available for customers of the 2022 E-Tron GT, a power outlet upgrade or a HomeStation from Electrify America.With a full battery, the 2022 E-Tron GT offers an EPA-estimated range of 238 miles (383 km), whereas the 2022 RS E-Tron GT can travel for 232 miles (373 km).The non-RS model has 469and 464 lb-ft (629 Nm) available on tap, and 522 HP and 472 lb-ft (640 Nm) on overboost, for 2.5 seconds. The nought to 60 mph (0-96 kph) acceleration is dealt with in 3.9 seconds, and top speed stands at 152 mph (245 kph).The RS E-Tron GT comes with 590 HP, and 637 HP on overboost, and a total system thrust of 612 lb-ft (830 Nm). The more aggressive set-up allows it to hit the 60 mph (96 kph) mark in just 3.1 seconds, and max out at 155 mph (250 kph).
In theory, this is something that should come in very handy if youve used Google Maps before shutting down Android Auto, but on the other hand, it looks like not everybody is a big fan of this implementation.And the living proof is a series of posts on Googles forums where users call for the Mountain View-based search giant to disable this approach, claiming the company just wants to force Google Maps on them when, in fact, they dont want to use the navigation app.Some of those who dont want Google Maps to automatically launch on Android Auto turned to rather extreme workarounds, eventually disabling the navigation app completely on their smartphones. Needless to say, this means they can no longer use Google Maps on the phone either, but most are ready to make this compromise in exchange for a cleaner Android Auto launch.A member of the Android Auto team revealed on Googles forums that this is the intended behavior of Android Auto, but the company is aware of the feature request anyway. Well make an announcement when the requested feature is implemented, they added, suggesting that sooner or later, Google could end up disabling the automatic launch of Google Maps if thats what users really want.While there are ways to prevent Google Maps from automatically launching on Android Auto, several users claim this should be blocked by default because the navigation app has an impact on the battery life of their phones, sometimes affects the overall performance, and last but not least, makes no sense if they dont use the app in the first place.It remains to be seen if Google plans to change anything about the way Google Maps launches on Android Auto, but for now, the good news is the company is already aware of the feedback.
Nearly sixty years later, on July 10, 2011, Fernando Alonso won an F1 race, and the Prancing Horse decided to celebrate six decades of Formula 1 with a limited edition supercar: the 599 GTB 60F1 Better known as the 599 GTB Alonso Edition, it was limited to 40 units, each one boasting mods that were part of the Italian companys Tailor-Made program. Special colors, 20-inch forged alloy wheels, satin-finish aluminum fuel caps and interior upgrades, as well as the signatures of Gonzalez and Alonso, made this exotic model even more appealing to collectors, who bought them all in no time.Now, while some 60F1s are enjoying retirement in climate-controlled garages, in the company of other rare beasts, one of them met its maker the other week in Germany. According to the previous owner, who shared a single picture of the car on social media, the accident happened south of Munich, on a wet road.The exotic has significant damages to its front end, which is where the magnificent 6.0-liter V12 engine lies. Nonetheless, the battle scars are deeper, apparently, because the previous owner of the rare Ferrari has suggested that it is a total write-off.With the greatest sadness, I had to learn last night that my ex-599 Alonso Edition had a total damage south of Munich, while driving in the rain, the caption says. This is really a shock for me, because even if I sell a car, I still try to track it if possible. It is the 2nd 599 I owned that has a total damage crash, the other was a Silver 599 GTO , which really was a beast.
Nuro has been testing its technologies for almost five years, hoping to implement autonomous vehicles in different sectors Nuro has been developing and testing its self-driving technology for nearly five years.The company has established partnerships with industry giants in grocery, restaurant, and pharmacy sectors. Back in 2017, it experimented with delivering Kroger groceries, and recently, in April, it partnered with Dominos to offer its services in Houston.Now, Nuro is testing for the first time its R2 vehicles in logistics. While there's no information about how many bots will be used or how the process will be, trials have already started in Houston. Nuro will be able to learn about FedEx 's operations and receive feedback during the tests. The strategy, according to the tech business, includes increasing the usage of its robots to a large-scale deployment in the future.This might be fantastic news for some. There will be no more going to the store, sitting in traffic, or standing in line to ship a parcel. Plus, they won't have to wait for the carrier to arrive with the package. It's a more intelligent and safe delivery system.Nuro's R2s are electric vehicles that are about half the size of a compact car. To get around the neighborhoods and avoid traffic, they feature 360-degree cameras, as well as Lidar, short and long-range radar, and ultrasonic sensors. They also integrate cutting-edge technology with an autonomy stack that includes mapping and localization, ensuring that parcels arrive at the correct address.Who knows, maybe next time you open the door, there's a robot waiting for you to pick up your package
Alone a sea, in one of the most remote areas of the world, HMS Protector should first be able to save herself, which means she needs to be ready for damage-control in case of breakdowns, fires, floods and even for fending off potential attacks from other vessels. But, as her name suggests, she must also be ready to rescue ship crew members or stranded vessels Although a scientific and survey ship, HMS Protector is living up to her name and ready to save lives, if needed. Before returning to the Arctic area, she has recently completed a five-week operational sea training , the first one since 2015. And, even though its been a while, the ship and the crew showed that they are ready for the toughest challenges.To simulate potential disaster scenarios as realistically as possible, a disaster village was set up at Bull Point, in Devonport. This is where the ships ability to provide help to research station ashore, in case of a disaster, was tested. Crew members of the Protector had to practice helping locals restore power and water supplies, as well as clearing debris and providing food.At sea, the crew had to demonstrate its damage-control and fire-fighting abilities, as well as providing first aid, dealing with casualties and towing broken down vessels  all of which are important for safe operations in the polar region.After a long-term deployment to the southern polar region, HMS Protector returned to the UK in 2019 and is now almost ready to get back in icy waters, by the end of this year. Following the intensive training that solidified its rescuer status, she will have to familiarize herself again with sub-zero conditions, and will do so in Norway, before her deployment.
These so-called flying cars are being developed not just by Hyundai and GM, but quite a few startups, plus aircraft manufacturers and other carmakers. The goal is to have these aircraft take off and land vertically, just like helicopters, carrying both passengers and cargo.During an interview at the Reuters Events Car of the Future conference, Hyundai COO Jose Munoz said that his company is already ahead of its previously stated timetable for the roll out of air-mobility vehicles.Munoz is also CEO of Hyundai North America and while he previously told the media that urban air taxis could be operational at major U.S. airports by 2028, he now believes that it could happen a lot sooner, even before 2025.We see this market as a significant growth opportunity, he said, adding that hes very confident of the technologys development.Now, dont think youre about to see a flying Tucson anytime soon, because the air taxis that Hyundai is developing will feature a functional design and will be able to transport five to six people using electric battery power  see the S-A1 PAV concept unveiled during the 2020 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.Other carmakers developing flying cars include Toyota, Daimler, Geely and of course GM, who earlier this year unveiled a so-called eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) aircraft, using Cadillac branding.Going forward, this new industry could be looking at a very bright future, at least thats what Morgan Stanley believes. The investment banking firm is estimating that the total addressable market for urban air mobility could hit the $1 trillion mark by 2040 and $9 trillion by 2050.
Known as one of the last front-engined Ferraris with a naturally aspirated V12, the 812 GTS is the drop-top version of the Superfast. It's just as powerful and quick and it looks just as dramatic, but it comes with infinite headroom thanks to a folding hard-top.The first thing that Leno notices is that the metallic grey paint works well with the 812's muscular and sometimes even angular design cues. I find red Ferraris to be a bit overwhelming, so this grey drop-top is a nice change of pace, especially with that brown leather interior.Leno seems to be impressed by what this supercar can do. He calls it "very seductive" as soon as he gets inside the cabin and praises how comfortable it is. He even goes as far as to say that the 812 offers "Bentley and Rolls-Royce levels of comfort."He also enjoys the fact that it's an overstated car in an understated color, as unassuming as a "guy in a tuxedo suddenly bursting into song and dance." Leno praises the transmission and likes how the V12 is loud enough to make you aware but without being too annoying.Of course, he can't refrain from comparing it to a car from the company's past. In this case, he thinks that the 812 is a nice tribute to the Daytona. The latter term is used to describe a series of front-engined, V12-powered Ferrari produced from 1968 to 1973, including the 365 GTB/4.Introduced as a replacement for the 275 GTB, it was superseded by the mid-engined 365 GT4 Berlinetta Boxer. The Daytona was Ferrari's last front-engined, V12 two-seater until the 550 Maranello debuted in 1996.The 812 Superfast itself has been around for four years as of 2021. Ferrari recently unveiled the more track-oriented Competizione model with 819 horsepower (30 horses more than the GTS), which may be the last Prancing Horse with a naturally aspirated V12. But until it becomes official, let's have a look at Jay Leno enjoying the Italian drop-top.
NEWS: @TroyTeslike shared some info on his Patreon from his sources:



1: Tesla will start exporting Model Y from China to Europe in early Q3 2021. The reason that was mentioned was that there is a big MY order backlog in Europe and there are some delays with Giga Berlin



1/5  Sawyer Merritt ???????? (@SawyerMerritt) June 14, 2021

The news was shared on Twitter by Sawyer Merritt. According to the thread, Tesla would have decided that due to the significant backlog for the vehicle in Europe. Giga Shanghai would have a high production target for Q3 and Q4 exactly to help supply the European market. That is a convenient way for Tesla.The truth is that the Chinese government went after the company after multiple accusations against it. There have been accidents with Tesla vehicles that the owners claim to have been caused by braking defects. China also ordered Tesla to recall allegedly defective suspension arms in the Model S and Model X that the company refuses to acknowledge in the US. With that going on, Chinese demand would have fallen. Exporting more cars to Europe would be a way to seize Giga Shanghais output.Although that may seem to be a good development, it will bring up intriguing developments. Many of the European customers who made pre-orders for a Model Y were expecting to get it from Giga Grunheide, where it would be supposedly revolutionary. The Model Y made there would have a structural battery pack and 4680 cells, which would present a higher energy density and be more robust than the 2170 batteries Tesla uses in its more modern cars. Some may decide to refuse the MIC Model Y and wait a bit longer for the future German Model Y.The thread also states that Europe will receive the Model S Plaid in October and that Tesla will shut down the Model Y production line when Giga Austin starts manufacturing vehicles. Musk announced it would begin making the Cybertruck by the end of 2021. On April 26, 2021, he also said that the 4680 batteries this vehicle needs would only be production-ready in 12 to 18 months, which implies the first Cybertrucks and Model Y units with these cells will only appear by May 2022 in the best-case scenario or by November 2022 in the worst.Merritt also said that Giga Shanghai has a Build Rate Failure target of less than 3% of the production and that Giga Grunheides would be even lower: 2%. That quality metric counts how many vehicles needed to be fixed after being manufactured. Sadly, Tesla delivers many cars that its customers refuse, which puts some doubts about the criteria for failure. They may be too flexible to properly make that low Build Rate Failure something to be proud of.
Encouraged by Ferruccio Lamborghini and one of the fathers of the Miura, the Italian entrepreneur set up a factory in Italy for the EB 110 . The precursor of the Veyron and Chiron is pretty rarefied even by hypercar standards because only 139 examples of the breed were produced between 1991 and 1995.Doug DeMuro had the opportunity of driving one, and its full of quirks as you would expect from a mid-engined land missile with a quad-turbocharged V12 lump, six-speed manual transmission, all-wheel drive, and scissor doors. What boggles the mind about the EB 110 is the driving experience, which is assuredly civilized although the cabin is a little tight for a guy like Doug.From the feedback of the power steering system to how the clutch and transmission feel, the oily bits are nicely calibrated according to DeMuro. The pedal box, however, is tight just like the seating position. Whats more, the 3.5-liter engine sounds good and feels torquey from low in the rev range.Named after Ettore Bugatti, the EB 110 also celebrates the founders 110th birthday if you were curious what the number stands for. The stalks and gauges may seem familiar, and thats no coincidence because Lamborghini used the same OE supplier. The same applies to a few buttons and switches, but the interior still feels very special for a supercar from the early 1990s.At the end of the day, its outright impossible to imagine the Veyron and Chiron without the EB 110. Even though Romano Artioli had to liquidate Bugatti over financial difficulties, this chapter in the French marques history inspired Volkswagen to shoot for the sky with the Veyron 16.4 in 2005.
Ladies and gents, and future newlyweds, welcome to a new era in marital enjoyment. Dubbed Horny Moon Airways , this conceptual space installation is exploring the possibility of a honeymoon in space. The one responsible is none other than aircraft and interior designer, Yelken Octuri.Now, that sounds all wonderful and stuff, but the reality is a bit different than what you might expect. To get a clear understanding of what it is you see before you, I must give you a few clues as to how this system would work.The inspiration for the project began years ago, but a quick study of airline regulations made Octuri realize that the project couldnt unfurl as he would have wished. Sometime later, the designer was contacted by Maxime Vaeli, responsible for the Vestal brand, which now includes a record label and retail networks. Because Maxime wanted to explore space tourism, the project was once again underway.Octuris concept explores a 48-hour honeymoon in space , but to get there, the system relies on a plane to take newlyweds to an altitude of 200 kilometers (124 miles). Once the target elevation is achieved, the plane/shuttle releases the capsules into Earths orbit and the next 48 hours remain in the hands of each couple.The shuttle can accommodate five capsules, in total, only ten lucky newlyweds. Six thrusters at the rear are used for propulsion, while a very elongated cargo bay will house the capsules while traveling to the required destination. Once at altitude, the capsules release and the countdown begins.Each capsule is dome-shaped in order to offer as much of a field of view as possible, because God-willing, youll be blessed with only one honeymoon for the rest of your life (divorce rates are up).Once capsules are released into orbit, the roof of each one opens to reveal nine petal-like panels, covered in photovoltaic cells. My guess is that this is where the capsules main source of power will be coming from, but the designer doesnt mention this feature in detail.Each capsule includes a padded floor which also houses a bed and a couple of retractable love seats. Also in the mix , two hatches, one of which allows guests access to the toilet, while the other is for entry into the capsule.Now, the designer makes a specific mention that frolicking in space is no easy task and even informs would-be guests that they should be highly attentive when embarking upon zero-gravity intercourse. To help minimize the risk of injury in case things get out of control, several solutions are presented.The first is that of lining the capsule with a high wall which is then covered with more padding, or, the idea of a strap system that allows guests to hold on while exploring newfound ways to practice an otherwise simple and innate activity.Once the 48 hours have elapsed, each capsule is to return to Earth without the initial shuttle. To do this, the designer explored a system like those used by NASA during moon missions, via splashdown. Twelve thrusters are spread throughout the edges of the capsule in order to adjust course, a heat shield to protect against the roaring flames of re-entry, and seven parachutes to slow everything down for a smooth landing.Just wait for your superyacht to come pick you up, because if you have the cash for a honeymoon in space, you probably own a yacht too, and then off you go, back to the classic bedframe.Sure, it may sound like a stretch on the reality of things, but space tourism is an upcoming idea, so you can probably expect something like this in the future.
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But what if I was to tell you that while everybody is focused on what Tesla, the VW Group or various Chinese brands are doing, the real threat lies dormant within Daimlers smart division. Oh yes, they wont know what hit them and by the time they realize it, it may already be too late.Now, rest assured that smart is no Skynet, and no real harm will result from them attempting to make a name for themselves in terms of electric mobility. Whats important to realize though is that smart is about to tick every single box there is when it comes to what people are looking for primarily in an electric vehicle.Unlike with Tesla back when they first burst onto the scene, everyone already knows smart and their ultra-popular products, the fortwo and the forfour. Its the former that most people think about whenever they hear talk of the smart brand, and you can make a case for the fortwo being the most instantly recognizable vehicle ever built in the microcar segment.This brings us to whats about to happen later this year at IAA Mobility 2021 in September. smart will unveil its first-ever compactin concept form and yes, it will be fully electric . Look at it this way: SUV? Check. EV? Check. Trendy badge? Check. Affordable? Technically, we dont know, but its a smart so its very unlikely that it wont undercut the Tesla Model Y or the Mustang Mach-E in terms of price.We even have a bunch of real teaser images depicting the upcoming smart EV SUV, but this is about more than just one model. This vehicle should open the floodgates, and the real punch will probably come from a series of sibling models and eventual successors. smart going into the EV SUV business might just be the no-brainer of the century.Check out how enthusiastic Daimler Group design boss Gorden Wagener is about a future smart SUV: We took this great opportunity to restart the brand, and our eSUV concept embodies all of the new DNA of smart. Its a visionary approach that creates a new identity for the brand. More beautiful, sportier and of course, much cooler than before. Icons like this concept have all the potential to turn smart into a leading design brand.The carmaker will target young families with its first-ever SUV, as well as all buyers looking for sustainable electric transportation but want to remain urban avant-garde trendsetters. The vehicle will utilize Geelys modular SEA platform and will feature a recognizable exterior design (albeit with fresh new styling), as well as a unique UI (user interface) and UX (user experience).Weve been told to expect concealed door handles, illuminated elements and a large panoramic roof, to go with an overall modern interior, premium materials and the likes of voice control and a seamless digital key standard on each vehicle.Going forward though, we can imagine even more such products, which is exactly what Bernhard Reichel did when coming up with this rendering. It shows a more conventional yet extremely modern take on a small crossover, and for those reasons, the smart branding certainly fits well. It even has pop-up door handles, and cameras instead of mirrors, which is a neat touch.Visually, it shares very little with the upcoming smart EV Concept, but then again, were not sure how many characteristics the concept itself will share with the final car once it becomes production ready. Lets just think small, trendy and eco-friendly.Looking at the rendering and the teaser images side by side, its obvious that the German carmaker is looking to build something cool and youthful, which means theyre probably not thinking about having it blend in with all the other small crossovers out there  which the unofficial rendering does kind of do.Either way, expect smart to really knock this one out the park and dont be surprised if their EV SUV undercuts the Tesla Model Y Standard Range by more than $10,000. As for size, it can't afford to be too small, which is why it could potentially be as "big" as a MINI Countryman.
The family was born in the 1970s, but the F-15E Strike Eagle variants like the ones we see in the main photo of this piece trace their roots to about a decade later. The E is the airplanes version meant to be used in long-range operations, and it is one of the most battle-proven aircraft in the American arsenal, having been deployed in pretty much all recent wars, from Iraq and Afghanistan to Syria and Libya.Like all others in its family, the airplane is capable of reaching speeds of more than Mach 2.5. It can fly for up to 1,381 miles (2,222 km) at altitudes as high as 60,000 feet (18.2 km), while carrying 29,500 lbs (13.3 tons) of weapons.These weapons include precision guided munitions, all sorts of missiles and bombs, and of course cannons, for both air-to-ground and air-to-air missions.Some of these weapons, in both their inert and live states, got to be used earlier this month during the Poseidons Rage exercise over the Aegean Sea. The two F-15E Strike Eagles in the main pic of this piece (click photo to enlarge), deployed with the 48th Fighter Wing, were part of the said exercise, and were captured in flight by Staff Sgt. Rachel Maxwell.The 48th Fighter Wing is the only F-15-armed one deployed in Europe by USAF, and it is stationed at the RAF Lakenheath base in the UK.Aside from the U.S., the F-15 is presently deployed by the air forces of Japan, Israel, and South Korea, among others.
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Chinese smartphone giant Xiaomi is one of the firms ready to invest billions of dollars in their automotive expansions, with the companys CEO himself confirmed to lead the project just to make sure everything is going exactly as planned.And as it turns out, Xiaomi wants to make its self-drivinghappen as often as possible, with the company now reportedly looking for engineers to fill a number of critical roles related to the development of the car.For example, Xiaomi is looking for engineers for the development of embedded software, high-precision maps, simulation software, front-end development, millimeter-wave algorithms, and vehicle-mounted infrastructure.These job ads, including the one for high-precision maps, seem to suggest Xiaomi is indeed planning to build a self-driving car, and more importantly, the company wants it to run on as many in-house components as possible.Xiaomi is very likely to follow in the footsteps of Apple, as it is expected to release its EV slightly ahead of the Cupertino-based rival.Apple is also working on a self-driving electric car, and people familiar with the matter said on several occasions the debut is likely to take place in 2024 or 2025 at the earliest. But unlike Xiaomi, which can rely on domestic carmakers for the manufacturing of its EV, Apple has been struggling for many months to find a partner to take care of the Apple Car production.After failed talks with Hyundai and Nissan, Apple is likely to turn to a joint venture formed by Magna and LG , with a final decision in this regard expected to be made by the summer. Apples backup plan could be an EV manufacturing deal with Foxconn, the companys number one iPhone maker.
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The Biden administration on Tuesday released the first-ever "National Strategy for Countering Domestic Terrorism," following a 100-day comprehensive review ordered by President Biden on his first day in office.

Why it matters: It's the first national plan for countering what the White House is calling "the most urgent terrorism threat the United States faces today," echoing previous assessments by Attorney General Merrick Garland, FBI Director Christopher Wray and the intelligence community.

The strategy calls for more information-sharing between the government and tech sector, other nations and among domestic law enforcement agencies.

An unclassified threat assessment released by the intelligence community in March identified white supremacists and anti-government extremists as "the two most lethal elements of todays domestic terrorism threat."

Details ...The strategy is organized around four main pillars:

1. Understand and share domestic terrorism-related information

The FBI and Justice Department "have implemented a robust system to methodically track domestic terrorism cases nationwide," according to the White House.

The State Department will continue to assess whether foreign entities linked to domestic terrorism can be designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations.

The Treasury Department is seeking to enhance the identification of terrorist financing, while the Department of Homeland Security is creating a stronger mechanism for receiving and analyzing open-source information.

2. Prevent domestic terrorism recruitment and mobilization to violence

The government will address online terrorist recruitment and mobilization by increasing information-sharing efforts with tech and creating "innovative ways to foster digital literacy."

The U.S. recently joined a global coalition with tech companies that will work to develop new solutions "while safeguarding the freedom of online expression."

DHS will allocate over $77 million to state, local, tribal, and territorial partners to address to the threat.

3. Disrupt and deter domestic terrorism activity

FBI field offices and U.S. attorneys have made the threat of domestic terrorism their top priority. President Biden's FY 2022 budget proposal includes over $100 million in additional resources for the DOJ, FBI, and DHS to increase personnel and access to intelligence-sharing and training.

The Justice Department is considering whether new legislative authorities "that balance safety and the protection of civil liberties" are needed.

The Office of Personnel Management will increase screening efforts and consider updating application forms to work for the federal government to ensure it does not employ potential domestic terrorists.

4. Confront long-term contributors to domestic terrorism

The administration will work to protect Americans from "racial, ethnic, and religious hatred," stem the flow of firearms to potential domestic terrorists, and reduce bias within law enforcement  each identified as potential "long-term contributors" to domestic terrorism.

The strategy also calls for finding new ways to "counter the polarization often fueled by disinformation, misinformation, and dangerous conspiracy theories online."

What they're saying:

This is a project that should unite all Americans. Together we must affirm that domestic terrorism has no place in our society. We must work to root out the hatreds that can too often drive violence. And we must recommit to defending and protecting our basic freedoms, which belong to all Americans in equal measure, and which are not only the foundation of our democracy  they are our enduring advantage in the world.

 President Biden

Go deeper:
The Israeli foreign ministry effectively boycotted Sven Koopmans, the new EU envoy for the Middle East peace process, during his first visit to Jerusalem last week, Israeli officials tell Axios.

Why it matters: Israeli officials said the boycott was to protest against EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrells handling of the recent Gaza fighting. They claim Borrell didn't condemn Hamas' attacks strongly enough or give sufficient support to Israels right to defend itself.

Driving the news: Two weeks ago, Koopmans told the Israeli government he wanted to come to Jerusalem for meetings.

The Israel Foreign Ministry told Koopmans the timing for the visit wasnt good and he should postpone.

When Koopmans came anyway, all his requests for meetings with representatives of the Israeli government were denied except for one meeting with a Ministry of Defense official, Israeli officials say.

What they're saying: EU diplomats rejected the Israeli criticism and told me: Koopmans, who has been mandated by the 27 EU foreign ministers as their collective envoy to travel to the region, looks forward to engaging further with Israeli authorities."
Chinese government-backed disinformation flooded Taiwan in 2020, amplifying discord prior to Taiwan's elections and spreading COVID-19-related disinformation aimed at delegitimizing Taiwan's democratic government and improving Beijing's image, a new report finds.

Why it matters: The Chinese government has developed a sophisticated set of disinformation tools that it is deploying inside liberal democracies. Beijing's information operations in Taiwan follow a set pattern also deployed elsewhere, suggesting other governments might emulate Taiwan's largely successful response.

What's happening: In a report published on May 24 called "Deafening Whispers," researchers with the DoubleThink Lab in Taipei found that posts containing false or misleading information about the coronavirus and Taiwan's 2020 elections were widespread and could be traced back to coordinated activity by the Chinese party-state.

Broadly speaking, the messaging promoted by Beijing-linked actors suggested that democracy had failed in Taiwan, while using false coronavirus claims in an attempt to disrupt political processes and degrade social trust.

Details: The researchers analyzed thousands of posts to determine their origin, purpose, effect, audience, and how the disinformation was disseminated. They categorized Beijing's efforts into four types of "attack modes:"

Propaganda mode: Distorted information broadcasted by news outlets, either Chinese state media or news outlets that have received hidden financial or other incentives to repackage China's propaganda as legitimate news

Distorted information broadcasted by news outlets, either Chinese state media or news outlets that have received hidden financial or other incentives to repackage China's propaganda as legitimate news Pink mode: Mobilizing Chinese nationalists online to post and amplify disinformation

Mobilizing Chinese nationalists online to post and amplify disinformation Content farm mode: Using websites that aggregate low-quality, high-engagement articles to amplify and spread disinformation, often through Facebook, YouTube, and other social media platforms

Using websites that aggregate low-quality, high-engagement articles to amplify and spread disinformation, often through Facebook, YouTube, and other social media platforms Collaboration mode: Working closely with real online influencers in the target country to get them to share the desired messages through their platforms

What they're saying: "Taiwan has been flagged as a testing ground for the PRC's worldwide propaganda and information warfare," the report authors write.

"China's information operations are profoundly effective in the wars over culture, values, and governance" in Taiwan, the authors wrote, "sowing division in Taiwanese society, pushing groups into echo chambers, and attacking fundamental democratic values."

What's next: The DoubleThink Lab researchers propose several regulatory actions that governments can take to counter Chinese government disinformation.

Source control regulations which limit financial transactions between businesses and media, ensuring less financial incentive to promote disinformation at the behest of certain actors

which limit financial transactions between businesses and media, ensuring less financial incentive to promote disinformation at the behest of certain actors Platform regulations that require removal of certain kinds of harmful content or posting notices providing transparency about certain content

that require removal of certain kinds of harmful content or posting notices providing transparency about certain content Regulations of core political processes, such as donation disclosures and forbidding foreign participation in elections

such as donation disclosures and forbidding foreign participation in elections Content-based speech regulations to criminalize the dissemination of disinformation that directly affects public health

to criminalize the dissemination of disinformation that directly affects public health Media laws, including restrictions on foreign ownership of media outlets and strengthened ethics requirements

including restrictions on foreign ownership of media outlets and strengthened ethics requirements Transparency legislation, such as mandatory lobbying disclosures like those required by the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act

The bottom line: "Methods to study information operations need to evolve with their increasing sophistication," Puma Shen, one of the report's authors, told Axios.

Go deeper: China adopts Russia's disinformation playbook
Tatoyan described as extremely concerning the fact that Pashinian repeatedly brandished a hammer during his campaign rallies held in recent days. He also deplored Pashinians threats to throw on the ground and bang against the wall opposition supporters who would try to illegally influence the outcome of Sundays general elections.

The use of phrases such as make them lie on asphalt and bang against the wall, which are addressed to a circle of unknown individuals and are extremely dangerous in terms of human rights, must be stopped, the ombudsman said in a statement. This unacceptable rhetoric is associated with mass violations of human rights.

The hammer demonstrated by Pashinian on the campaign trail is meant to symbolize a popular steel mandate which he says he needs to continue ruling Armenia with a more firm hand.

With the steel mandate we will take out all rusty nails, including in here Ararat [province,] the premier told on Monday supporters rallying in Masis, a small town just south of Yerevan.

Pashinian doubled down on his rhetoric on Tuesday as he held campaign rallies in southeastern Syunik province where most town and village mayors have been openly defying him since Armenias defeat in last years war in Nagorno-Karabakh. He described them as rusty nails that will be taken out by his hammer after the elections.

With this mandate we will break their [bank] accounts, destroy their firms and shove each of these criminal upstarts into holes on your behalf, he said, brandishing the hammer.

In Tatoyans words, Pashinians recourse to this analogy has triggered dangerous discussions on social media, with hardcore supporters and opponents of the current Armenian government openly threatening violent reprisals.

Politicians regarded as candidates for the post of Armenias prime minister must be especially careful about words used by them and take into account all their figurative meanings, the ombudsman stressed.

Former President Robert Kocharian and his political allies leading the opposition Hayastan alliance commented scathingly on Pashinians hammer when they campaigned in Masis on Tuesday.

We are coming not to smash the hammer on their heads but to make the country prosperous, Kocharian said at an indoor meeting held there.

One of his associates, Ishkhan Saghatelian, sounded less conciliatory. On June 20 we will wrest the hammer from his hands and you know what we will do, he told local Hayastan supporters.

Tatoyan already denounced Pashinian and his rivals last week for resorting to inflammatory campaign rhetoric. He singled out the prime ministers pledges to purge the state bureaucracy and wage political vendettas against local government officials supporting the Armenian opposition.
Campaigning in the northern Armenia city of Vanadzor on Monday, Sarkisian also accused Pashinian of being ready to provoke a civil war in order to stay in power.

Pashinian has brandished a hammer during his campaign rallies held in recent days, saying that it symbolizes a steel mandate which he hopes to receive from voters on election day.

Right after the elections we will go after you with this mandate. Dont tell us later that we didnt warn you, he said at one of those rallies, appealing to Armenias former leaders and other opposition forces challenging him in the elections.

You see what he is holding in his hand, dont you? a visibly furious Sarkisian told supporters of the Pativ Unem bloc in Vanadzor. I guess he wants someone to take it from his hand and bang it on his head so that he understands what it is.

I have said at one of our meetings that we must counter his steel revolution with a shield made of a firmer substance and hold a truncheon in another hand so that we bang it on the head of anyone approaching us with a hammer, he said. There is no other option. What else can we do?

Pashinian kept demonstrating his hammer and doubled down on his threats during a campaign trip to Armenias southeastern Syunik province on Tuesday. He specifically attacked the elected mayors of most Syunik towns and villages who demanded his resignation following Armenias defeat in the autumn war with Azerbaijan.

With this thing we will be taking out those rusty nails, upstarts huddling in various municipalities from many places, including this place, he told supporters rallying in the town of Sisian, also run by an anti-Pashinian mayor.

Many of the local community heads defying the prime minister are affiliated with another opposition alliance led by former President Robert Kocharian. Pashinian was insulted and jeered by their protesting supporters when he toured Syunik in April.

The premier travelled to the region this time around in a motorcade of hundreds of cars carrying his own supporters from other parts of the country.

The blocs led by the two former presidents are among the main opposition election contenders trying to unseat Pashinian.

Sarkisians Pativ Unem consists of his Republican Party and the Fatherland Party of former National Security Service Director Artur Vanetsian. The latter tops the list of its election candidates.

The ex-president, who was toppled in the Pashinian-led velvet revolution in 2018, is not among those candidates. Nevertheless, he has taken the center stage in Pativ Unems election campaign.

Unlike other major contenders, the bloc holds only indoor meetings with activists and supporters which are not announced beforehand. Journalists are not allowed to attend them and have to content themselves with video clips of those gatherings released by Pativ Unem.

Some of those videos have showed Sarkisian, Vanetsian and their political allies walking in the streets in and outside Yerevan and talking to local residents.
Erdogan's visit strongly condemned by Armenia came a day after he met with U.S. President Joe Biden on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Brussels.

Upon his arrival in Baku Erdogan traveled to the decimated town of Fizuli to the southeast of Nagorno-Karabakh which Azerbaijani forces recaptured last autumn from ethnic Armenian forces that had controlled it since the early 1990s.

RFE/RLs Azerbaijani Service reported that Erdogan was met in Fizuli by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and his wife. They then traveled into Azerbaijani-controlled territory within Nagorno-Karabakh to visit the strategic town of Shushi (Shusha).

Azerbaijani forces seized the mountain fortress town overlooking the Karabakh capital Stepanakert in early November just days before Russia brokered a ceasefire that stopped the fighting.

Erdogan was honored there with an official greeting ceremony. Afterward, he and Aliyev signed a document called the Shusha Declaration on Allied Relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey.

Turkey provided Azerbaijan with both diplomatic and military support during the recent conflict. Aliyev was reported to again thank Ankara for that support at a joint news briefing in Shushi. He described Erdogans visit as historic.

According to the Turkish daily Sabah, Erdogan said, for his part, that Karabakh has returned to its owners and announced plans to open a Turkish consulate in Shushi.

The Armenian Foreign Ministry condemned Aliyevs and Erdogans visit to Shushi as a provocation against regional peace and security.

It is noteworthy that this visit was preceded by the destruction of the religious, historical and cultural heritage of the forcibly displaced indigenous Armenian population, including the desecration of [Shushis] St. Holy Savior Ghazanchetsots Cathedral targeted by the Turkish-Azerbaijani forces during and after the war against Artsakh, the ministry said in a statement.

Restoration of the rights of the Armenians of Artsakh (Karabakh), which includes de-occupation of the territories of the Republic of Artsakh and safe return of the displaced population, is essential for overcoming the Turkish-Azerbaijani genocidal threat against the Armenian people, it said.
WICKENBURG, AZ (3TV/CBS 5) -- Four people are dead following a crash involving a semi-truck on US 93 near Wickenburg Monday morning.

Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) says the crash involved two vehicles, a semi-truck and a passenger car. The car, DPS says, reportedly crossed the center line and hit the semi. The driver and three other people in that car died at the scene. One person in the front passenger seat was airlifted for medical treatment.

US 93 was closed in both directions between Interstate 40 and State Route 71, but has since reopened. No further information has been provided. The investigation is ongoing.

In a little over a month, there have been other deadly crashes on the same stretch of US 93 near Wickenburg. On April 30, a DPS trooper was helping a woman, Catherine Winegar, who was low on gas coming from Tucson. As the two cars began heading south on US 93, DPS says a northbound 2011 Honda Accord, driven by 23-year-old Alexis Wilson from Chandler, was speeding and passing in no-pass zones. Wilson struck Winegar's vehicle head-on, causing the vehicle to roll over and block the northbound lane. Wilson's car spun out of control and hit the trooper's vehicle. The trooper was trapped inside but was pulled out by two people who stopped after the crash. After the trooper was pulled out, the trooper's vehicle became fully engulfed in flames. Wilson and Winegar died at the scene. The trooper was seriously injured.

A second crash happened on Thursday, May 20, when a van collided with a semi-truck that was heading south. The driver of the van died at the scene. The driver of the semi-truck was not injured.

The most recent on Tuesday, June 1, was a head-on crash between a tractor-trailer and a truck. DPS says a truck was heading south when it drifted into northbound traffic, crashing head-on with a tractor-trailer. The crash caused both cars to erupt in flames. The driver of the truck died on the scene. The driver of the tractor-trailer was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) - It appears a deal has been reached for the money to combat wildfires in Arizona. Gov. Doug Ducey tweeted out on Monday that he and the state Legislature have agreed to spend $100 million to battle and prevent wildfires. That includes giving firefighters the latest equipment and giving communities the resources they need. The cash will also be used to counteract the after-effects of wildfires, like flooding and mudslides. Ducey said the special session will start on Tuesday and a vote is expected sometime this week.

"While Arizona has strong wildfire suppression and prevention efforts in place, we need to do more. Our brave firefighters must have all the necessary tools, resources and support to fight the blazes and stay safe," Ducey said in his tweet. He added that hard-hit communities and nonprofits need financial support to help those impacted.

Gov. Ducey tours Arizona fires, calls for special session Now it's clear that weve got a lot more work to do and the response will not end even when these fires are out, Ducey said.

Last week, Ducey called for a special session after he toured the damage left behind by the Telegraph and Mescal fires, which are burning about 45 miles to the east of Phoenix. He talked to House Speaker Rusty Bowers, who lost his getaway home in Globe, who said the state's wildfire funds were depleted.

Bowers said Sunday that he thought between $10 million and $20 million would be needed for the state Fire Suppression Fund and possibly $50 million for flood prevention and other recovery efforts.

It could be more, and Im willing to do more, Bowers said. We have the funds now, and we need to make sure that we are ready.

The number turned out to be quite a bit more  $25 million to pay for state prisoners to clear brush under direction of state forestry officials and $75 million for the fire fund, to help affected people and property owners recover and to prepare for the fallout from multiple large fires that have burned across the state so far this fire season.

Bowers, Senate President Karen Fann, Senate Minority Leader Rebecca Rios and House Minority Leader Reginald Bolding met with the state forester and other Ducey administration officials Monday afternoon to discuss the scope of needed funding.

This wildfire season has already given us an idea of whats to come, and we need resources to protect Arizonas communities and first responders, Rios said in a statement. This investment is necessary to support those in need and help safety officials fight wildfires in the state, while also providing aid for communities afterward.

However, it's unclear if a special session is needed since the Legislature is still in session. It's in its 155th day as lawmakers try to pass a budget bill that includes massive tax cuts. That measure has stalled since two GOP members and all the Democrats oppose it. But Ducey said on Thursday a special session is needed since it'll help focus legislators on one subject that has bipartisan support. The Legislature faces a June 30 deadline to pass a budget for the 2022 fiscal year that begins July 1.

FIRE UPDATE:State Legislative Leaders and I have agreed to invest $100 million to combat and prevent wildfires, equip firefighters and communities with the resources they need, and prepare for after effects such as flooding and mudslides. 1/  Doug Ducey (@dougducey) June 15, 2021

The governors January budget proposal noted that state firefighting costs exceeded $39 million in the last five years while appropriations were only about $20 million. He sought a boost in that spending.

The governor also sought to increase the amount of cash put into an emergency fund he controls and often uses to make up the difference in actual firefighting expenses.

Firefighting efforts may be paid for with either state or federal funding, depending on the fires location on public or private land, among other factors.
Bluefield, WV (24701)

Today

Showers in the morning, then partly cloudy in the afternoon. High 71F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Clear skies with a few passing clouds. Low 53F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
Residents with burning questions about how a proposed mammoth subdivision along the western edge of Lumberton will impact their community will have a chance to hear from the developer as the project edges closer to the first phase.

The Hardin County Commissioners Court has called for a special meeting at 6 tonight at the Lumberton ISD Performing Arts Center in order to accommodate everyone that may have questions about the coming development.

Representatives from Brampton Essential LP will be on hand for about an hour and a half to answer questions and review the multi-phased plan for new neighborhoods in what Hardin County Judge Wayne McDaniel believes could be the first of multiple meetings.

I know there might be some people that think this isnt enough time to answer everything, but I imagine there will be more meetings like this, McDaniel told the Enterprise. It will be up to the developer if they want to participate, but I know we plan to do our due diligence to learn as much as we can.

Related: Development plans suggest more growth for Lumberton

News of the possible 3,200-acre development running along both sides of Farm Road 421 on the west edge of Lumbertons city park has circulated since initial agreements were penned in 2019, but the developer could share more of its vision as it prepares to ask local municipalities to approve the first phase.

Arlington-based Brampton Essential purchased the land in 2016 from Forestar Group, a real estate group that also focuses on oil and gas and other natural resources. The land last was valued at around $2.9 million, according to the Hardin County Appraisal District.

The subdivision would partially be in Lumberton city limits, as well as under Hardin County jurisdiction and the Lumberton Municipal Utility District.

The MUD announced in June 2019 that it had reached an agreement with the company to sign off on future bond measures that would fund roads, sewer and drainage infrastructure for the proposed development.

The development would be the largest ever taken on by the MUD and possibly could take multiple decades to be completed, according to early estimates.

But, however long it takes for Brampton Essential to completely build out its project, residents have questions about what will happen next.

McDaniel said most of those concerns seem to focus around drainage and what hundreds of new homes and cleared green space could mean for already-existing neighborhoods.

The drainage comment is the most important one to address, McDaniel said. I just need to see proof that there will be no added risk of flooding from the project.

Developers that propose projects in Hardin County are required to conduct and present their own drainage reviews that are analyzed by the county engineers office and considered before the county gives final approval to a development phase.

Since news about the new development cropped up in mid-2019, regional housing sales have continued to boom  even through a pandemic  and the median home price has almost doubled.

In April, the last reported month of data from the Texas A&M University Real Estate Center, the median home price in Southeast Texas had risen more than 22% over the last 12 months to $203,500.

Home inventory dropped from a 3.8 months supply to 2.4 months, and homes that were listed only stayed on the market an average of 90 days before being sold.

jacob.dick@beaumontenterprise.com

twitter.com/jd_journalism
Dreaming that you've shown up in public buck-naked reveals a deep-seated fear of having your vulnerabilities unmasked.

At least, that's what the dream decoders say. Less clear is what it means to have that same totally exposed feeling in mixed company while wide-awake. But we seem poised to find out.

Americans are beginning to stir from their pandemic bunkers, drawn by the promise of safe socializing and - for those lucky enough to have worked remotely - the obligation to return to the office in person. There's just one problem: We've forgotten how to get dressed.

Oh, sure. Pants on one leg at a time and all that. But what if, when you pull those pants up to your waist, there is no soft ribbon of elastic to hold them in place? The muscles required to fasten buttons and other complicated garment closures atrophied many moons ago, along with our ability to make polite conversation and shower on the reg.

MORE LIFESTYLE: HOW TO DECORATE YOUR HOME BASED ON WHAT YOU WEAR

Not that those pants actually fit - ha! We've aged approximately 20 years in the last 15 months, all the while expanding and contracting according to our stress levels and snack stockpiles. And we hate pants now, anyway. (Who thought slim-fit khaki capri pants were a good idea in the first place? And God knows we have no idea what jeans we're supposed to be wearing these days.)

Which leads to our present conundrum. What happens when we have to go someplace where our current second skin - sweats and stretched-out T-shirts - might not be considered appropriate?

Panic happens. That's what.

"I think it's an excitement that is plagued with anxiety and fatigue," says Lauren A. Rothman, a personal stylist who runs the Washington firm Styleauteur. She says her clients are greeting her with an assortment of concerns: "I just don't know if that still fits. What am I going to do? Does that style still work? Is this dated? I'm a year and a half older now."

Rothman's phone went dead for the first couple months of the pandemic, but lately she's as busy as ever, helping confused clients navigate their way back out into a world that seems as changed as they are.

"I'm hearing about a lot of bar and bas mitzvahes held in parking lots. What do people wear to that? There's no precedent," she says. And even for less formal settings, Rothman is facing questions about whether the old fashion rules have been rewritten. " 'Is business casual dead?' 'Are sweatpants now acceptable?' People want information. They want clarity."

But clarity might not come easily. And certainly not quickly.

Last month Melissa Burton, a 38-year-old manager of a state government program in North Carolina, started going back in the office three days a week. And it has been a bumpy adjustment. For more than a year she wore what she calls her mullet uniform - "business up top, yoga pants on the bottom" - so she'd appear professional on Zoom meetings.

But Burton has now overhauled her schedule, not just for the commute but for the prep work involved in leaving the house. "I have to get dressed. Do hair, makeup, accessories. Find all the matching pieces," she says.

And she's not sure what she should be wearing. There are fewer people around, so it doesn't seem like the attire should be as button-downed as before, but it is still an office. "I've tried out different things. Like a T-shirt with a cardigan - in the past I wouldn't do that," she says. "I'm trying to be not too fancy. Just trying to see if I can get away with some things."

Once Burton tried to get away with sweatpants and a hoodie. It was late and she didn't expect anyone to be around. But she encountered a crowd of co-workers. Thankfully they barely recognized her with her mask up and hood on, covering undone hair. Burton had planned to stay a few hours to check some tasks off her to-do list. "But then I was like, 'Nope, that's my cue - it can be done later,' " she says.

Burton's biggest complaint has been physical. Her back began hurting every day she spent in the office. At first she wondered if she needed a more ergonomic chair. Then she realized the pain persisted as she drove home. "And it hit me: 'Oh! It's this bra. I'm not used to this.' " Burton doesn't make a lot of pit stops on the way home these days; she races there as fast as possible to pull the bra off and the sweats on.

Everett Sotelo's moment of panic came just two weeks ago. The 26-year-old software engineer from Phoenix was packing for a wedding in Pennsylvania. He'd thought through all of his outfits and then, 30 hours before his plane was scheduled to take off, he actually tried them on.

"The shirt felt really tight. I was like, 'Wait a minute, this doesn't feel right.' I went through a couple more. All my dress shirts felt really tight. And my pants - it was a struggle to put them on, which was something I hadn't experienced before," he says. "That put me in a bit of a stressful situation."

Sotelo's been ordering takeout a lot during the pandemic. And he learned how to bake, which has been fun, except it's really only him and his brother around to consume all the treats. And the gym shorts he wears day-to-day didn't signal his altered dimensions.

HOUSTON EATS: THIS HOUSTON CHAIN WAS JUST NAMED BEST BURGER IN THE NATION

Sotelo raced to shop that night to find something to wear. He doesn't love the new ensemble, but at least it fits.

And finding something that fits is half the battle right now. In a February Axios-Ipsos poll, 32 percent of Americans said they'd gained weight over the past few weeks. The number was even higher in August.

Musa Tariq is among those who've added a few pounds - though unlike Sotelo he realized it a little too late. Tariq started a new job in January as head of marketing for GoFundMe. Last month the 38-year-old traveled from San Francisco to San Diego to meet members of his team in person for the first time.

"So you start thinking about, 'What are you going to wear on your first day of school?' " says Tariq. But he didn't begin to pack until the hour before he needed to leave for the airport, and discovered that not only were his old shirts too tight, he didn't have anything in the bright colors that reflect his renewed optimism.

En route to San Diego he tweeted out a word of warning: "Just spent 45 mins looking at my clothes screaming 'I have nothing to wear.' This coming back to work thing is more stressful than I thought. Brace yourself."

Tariq's followers replied in solidarity. "Am so confused if I should wear sweatpants or a dress," one tweeted. "I have no in-between clothes for this new in-between world."

Rothman, the stylist, says this is a sentiment she's hearing frequently. Some clients aren't sure if or when they'll return to the office. Should they invest in more casual wear or aim for pieces that would also work in professional settings? Should they buy clothes to fit their new shape or assume they'll eventually return to their pre-pandemic size? And if they can't ever envision going back to three-piece suits or four-inch heels, what are the appropriate alternatives?

"One of the things I tell my clients now is, 'Tell me what the next six weeks look like on your calendar. I don't want you worrying yet about fall.' We have to have grace with ourselves and say, 'This is a transition period,' " she says.

It feels more like limbo to Diana Rohini LaVigne, a government communications executive in Fremont, Calif. At the start of the pandemic she was working 14-hour days, seven days a week, while also overseeing her two daughters' online education. There was no time to cook healthy meals or exercise.

Since January she's taken a six-month sabbatical to focus on her family. It's given her the time to start taking long walks, and reflect. When she looks in her closet, it's not just the sizes of clothes that don't feel right, but also the styles and fabrics.

Freed from the requirement to dress in business attire, Rohini LaVigne, who is in her mid-50s, began to wear mostly organic fabrics, like cottons and linens, and realized how much less agitating they were to her skin than synthetics. And as with Tariq, the muted colors of her old wardrobe don't feel like they embody her spirit, at least not anymore.

"Now I feel a pull toward being authentic, being taken as truthful and legitimate," she says. "I want to wear colors that represent who I truly am - yellows and oranges and bright canary reds."

SWIMSUIT SEASON: ROYAL CARIBBEAN SETS 2021 CRUISES

There is still the small matter of shopping. With two unvaccinated kids at home, she's not comfortable yet wandering into stores to try on options. So she's bought "a ton" of things online. And then sent the vast majority of them right back.

She made one recent purchase that she did find satisfying. A member of her local "Buy Nothing" group on Facebook, where people offer up items they no longer need, asked if anyone had a pair of used Torrid jeans to give away - her teenage daughter was returning to school and facing her own wardrobe challenges. Rohini LaVigne privately sent the woman a Torrid gift card so the girl could pick out a new pair of jeans.

"I just felt so connected to her daughter's need," says Rohini LaVigne. "And her daughter is in high school. The pressure must be so intense."

Even for adults the pressure can feel intense. And we certainly don't have our old shopping stamina. A typical session with Rothman generally clocks in around three hours. Now, she says, people are fatigued after two. "They're tired, they're thirsty, they're out of practice."

Out of practice - precisely. Out of practice with zippers and buttons and the specter of being seen by others in our full, three-dimensional forms.

It's enough to make you want to crawl back in bed. Where our vulnerabilities can only be unmasked in our dreams.
Aaron Martinez/AP

AUSTIN, Texas (AP)  Police made a second arrest Monday in a weekend shooting that killed a man and left more than a dozen more people wounded after gunfire rang out on in a busy, downtown Austin entertainment district.

Officers arrested a 17-year-old boy at Harker Heights High School in Harker Heights, according to statements from Austin police and the Killeen Independent School District. He is facing a charge of aggravated assault.
A Tuesday morning walkout led by about 50 Kirbyville High School students over the uncertain future of their principal has left more questions than answers

The demonstration came amid swirling rumors regarding Kirbyville High School Principal Holly Farias future in her position. To voice their discontent regarding the potential that she would not return to that role, a group of students walked 1 mile from their campus to the district office.

But a couple hours after the demonstration ended, Kirbyville Consolidated Independent School District Superintendent Georgia Sayers assured students across three lunch periods that the district did not terminate Farias, who was absent from campus on Tuesday. Sayers also later told The Enterprise that the principal would remain in the same capacity  even though the duration of her absence was undetermined as of Tuesday afternoon.

However, thats been called into question by at least one Kirbyville High School parent who said she spoke with Sayers in-person just before students arrived at the districts administrative building,

Daisy Mordente said Sayers told her that the district demoted Farias, and the Kirbyville High School principals future had all been decided.

(Sayers) was very clear that (Farias) would not be coming back as the principal, Mordente told The Enterprise. It was from my understanding when I left the (district office), it was a decision that was made by the school board not the superintendent(Sayers) put her arms up and said But I didnt say that

When The Enterprise reached out to Sayers to clarify whether Farias would remain on campus as principal she said, I am not at liberty to discuss personnel issues.

Kirbyville CISD Board President Chad George confirmed to The Enterprise late Tuesday evening that Farias has been placed on administrative leave. He referred further questions to Sayers.

Mordente said she drove to see Sayers after running into the start of the walkout. She was on campus dropping off paperwork for her two children. When front office personnell couldnt give her a clear answer as to why the students were walking out, she went to speak with Sayers in person.

Kirbyville High School students marched all the way down to Main Street, where the district office is located, and spent about 30 minutes chanting their support of Farias outside of the district building. Sayers eventually came outside, and told students she would address Farias future during lunch before telling the students to return to campus.

Kirbyville Police Chief Paul Brister said the Kirbyville High School resource officer initially notified him Tuesday morning that students were walking off campus. Brister and other officers blocked off streets to ensure the students would be safe walking to and from the district building.

Mordente, whose kids participated in the walkout, said the walkout was caused by an 8 a.m. assembly involving the entire high school student body. During that assembly, she said, students were told that Farias would no longer be on campus and the time limit is uncertain.

Students were told that (Farias) was not going to be there and many of them were upset. They went outside and ended up trying to come down to the central office to speak their peace, Sayers said.A lot of the kids assumed it meant (Farias) was terminated. She is not terminated. I think this is where all the passion came from.

Sayers, however, declined to comment whether the district put Farias on administrative leave and said, I cannot comment on personnel issues.

When asked if Farias would be back next school year, Sayers said, (Farias) has a contract with the district until next year and fully expects Farias to see out the end of the contract.

The Enterprise reached out to Farias, but she declined to comment on the situation.

The Kirbyville CISD board will hold a special meeting at 5:30 p.m. May 28 at Kirbyville High School.

jorge.ramos@beaumontenterprise.com

twitter.com/byjorgeramos
BEITA, West Bank (AP)  Israel's fragile new government has shown little interest in addressing the decades-old conflict with the Palestinians, but it may not have a choice.

Jewish ultranationalists are already staging provocations aimed at splitting the coalition and bringing about a return to right-wing rule. In doing so, they risk escalating tensions with the Palestinians weeks after an 11-day Gaza war was halted by an informal cease-fire.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's best hope for maintaining his ruling coalition  which consists of eight parties from across the political spectrum  will be to manage the conflict, the same approach favored by his predecessor, Benjamin Netanyahu, for most of his 12-year rule. But that method failed to prevent three Gaza wars and countless smaller eruptions.

That's because the status quo for Palestinians involves expanding settlements in the occupied West Bank, looming evictions in Jerusalem, home demolitions, deadly shootings and an array of discriminatory measures that two well-known human rights groups say amount to apartheid. In Gaza, which has been under a crippling blockade since the Hamas militant group seized power in 2007, it's even worse.

They talk about it being a government of change, but its just going to entrench the status quo," said Waleed Assaf, a Palestinian official who coordinates protests against West Bank settlements. Bennett is a copy of Netanyahu, and he might even be more radical.

Bennett said little about the Palestinians in a speech before being sworn in on Sunday. Violence will be met with a firm response, he warned, adding that security calm will lead to economic moves, which will lead to reducing friction and the conflict.

Environment Minister Tamar Zandberg, a member of the dovish Meretz party, told Israeli television's Channel 12 that she believes the peace process is important, but that the new government has agreed, "at least at this stage, not to deal with it.

The government faces an early challenge on Jabal Sabeeh, a hilltop in the northern West Bank where dozens of Jewish settlers rapidly established an outpost last month, paving roads and setting up living quarters that they say are now home to dozens of families.

The settlement, named Eviatar after an Israeli who was killed in an attack in 2013, was built without the permission of Israeli authorities on land the Palestinians say is privately owned. Israeli troops have evacuated settlers from the site three times before, but they returned after an Israeli was killed in a shooting attack nearby early last month.

Clearing them out again would embarrass Bennett and other right-wing members of the coalition, who already face fierce criticism  and even death threats  for allying with centrist and left-wing factions to oust Netanyahu.

The government faces a similar dilemma over a parade through east Jerusalem organized by ultranationalists that is due to be held Tuesday. The march risks setting off the kind of protests and clashes that helped ignite last month's Gaza war.

Meanwhile, Palestinians from the adjacent village of Beita have held regular protests against the settlement outpost. Demonstrators have thrown stones, and Israeli troops have fired tear gas and live ammunition. Three protesters have been killed, including 17-year-old Mohammed Hamayel, who was shot dead Friday. Initial reports said he was 15.

I always taught him you should stand up for your rights without infringing on the rights of others," his father, Said, said at a mourning event attended by dozens of villagers. He described his son as a popular teenager who got good grades and was a natural leader.

Thank God, Im very proud of my son," he said. "Even in martyrdom he distinguished himself.

The villagers fear that if the outpost remains, it will eventually swallow up even more of their land, growing and merging with some of the more than 130 authorized settlements across the occupied West Bank, where nearly 500,000 settlers live.

Were not a political game in the hands of Bennett or Netanyahu," said Mohammed Khabeesa, a resident who says he owns land near the settler outpost that he can no longer access without a military permit.

The settlements are like a cancer," he said. "Everyone knows they begin small, and then they take root and expand at peoples expense until they reach our homes."

A spokeswoman for the settler organization behind the outpost did not respond to a request for comment.

Israel captured the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza in the 1967 Mideast war, territories the Palestinians want for a future state. The settlements are seen by the Palestinians and much of the international community as a major obstacle to peace because they make it nearly impossible to create a contiguous, viable state of Palestine alongside Israel.

Every Israeli government since 1967 has expanded the settlements, and this one is unlikely to be an exception. Bennett briefly served as head of a major settler organization, and his party is one of three in the coalition that strongly support settlements.

Hagit Ofran, an expert on settlements with the Israeli rights group Peace Now, says the settlers have always used illegal outposts to challenge Israeli authorities, a trend she expects to accelerate under the new government.

Because the settlers feel this government is not their government, challenging it, psychologically, will be much, much easier, she said.

She hopes the new government will at least put the brakes on larger settlement projects, including massive infrastructure that will pave the way for future growth.

I think its more easy politically to stop big budgets and big projects rather than evicting an outpost," she said. "I would rather see that the government is stopping the big projects rather than fighting over every hilltop. The settlers have the opposite interest.

___

Associated Press writers Majdi Mohammed in Beita and Jelal Hassan in Ramallah, West Bank, contributed to this report.
The Latest on the NATO summit taking place in Brussels:

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BRUSSELS  President Joe Biden has paid tribute at NATOs 9/11 memorial as he wraps up his meeting with members of the military alliance.

Biden crossed himself and stood silently Monday in front of the memorial at NATOs headquarters in Brussels, which features a steel beam from the World Trade Center. The installation pays tribute to the support NATO allies gave the United States after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, including the deployment of thousands of troops from NATO countries in Afghanistan.

Biden said earlier Monday that the United States own commitment to NATOs mutual defense pact for member countries is sacred.

Bidens NATO trip is meant to shore up U.S. relations with the alliance. President Donald Trump frequently questioned the value of military partnership, calling it obsolete.

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BRUSSELS  President Joe Biden says U.S. allies were shocked and surprised by the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, but they nevertheless are unconcerned about American leadership on the world stage.

Speaking Monday at the NATO summit in Brussels, Biden was pressed on how former President Donald Trumps baseless electoral challenges and the assault on the Capitol by his supporters were received overseas.

Biden says of American allies, They, like I do, believe the American people are not going to sustain that type of behavior."

He was sharply critical of Trump, blasting his phony populism and saying it was disappointing more Republicans havent permanently distanced themselves from him.

Biden says U.S. partners recognize that The Trump wing of the party is the bulk of the (Republican) party, but it makes up a significant minority of the American people.

The U.S. leader adds, I think this is passing  I dont mean easily passing  thats why its so important for me to succeed in my agenda.

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BRUSSELS __ Two days from his Wednesday meeting with Russia's leader, President Joe Biden has called Vladimir Putin a worthy adversary but declined to say how hell measure the success of the meeting in advance.

Asked during a press conference after Mondays NATO summit about the upcoming meeting, Biden wouldnt offer any specifics on what hes hoping to gain from his time with Putin, saying only that theyll discuss areas where we can cooperate, and a warning that if Russia refuses to cooperate on things like cybersecurity we will respond in kind.

Biden said, however, that Putin is bright and tough and expressed hopes the Russian president would show interest in changing the perception the world has of him.

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BRUSSELS __ President Joe Biden says NATO will stand firm against alleged Russian and Chinese efforts to drive a wedge between members of the alliance.

Biden spoke Monday at the end of a NATO summit in Brussels that focused in part on challenges from those two countries.

Bidens comments at a press conference focused partly on what he called aggressive hacks by Russia, and other malicious cyberactivity.

Biden is calling NATO a strong foundation for continued building of security for the 30 member countries.

The meeting ended with a communique expressing strong concern about China as an alleged security challenge and threat to world order.

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BRUSSELS  Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Turkey would expect diplomatic, logistical and financial assistance from the United States if it's to maintain a presence in Afghanistan following the withdrawal of NATO troops.

Turkey is reported to have offered to operate and protect Kabuls international airport after the departure of the NATO force.

Erdogan did not say if an agreement was reached on the issue but said Turkey wanted Pakistan and Hungary to be involved in a possible new mission.

The Turkish leader also said he had a constructive meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the NATO summit and has invited him to visit to Turkey. Biden said he had a heavy schedule but could pay a visit, according to Erdogan.

Erdogan signaled that the two leaders failed to find a way to overcome differences over Turkeys purchase of the S-400 advanced Russian missile defense systems. The U.S. says the technology is a threat to NATO and has removed Turkey from its F-35 fighter jet program.

Our thoughts on the S-400 are the same as before, I relayed our same thoughts to Mr. Biden, Erdogan said.

Erdogan also called for an end to U.S. support to Syrian Kurdish militia, which Turkey considers to be terrorists affiliated to a Kurdish insurgency.

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BRUSSELS  President Joe Biden says he had a very good meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Brussels.

Bidens brief comment came after he and Erdogan met privately on Monday before being joined by other officials.

The two leaders spent in total more than an hour together.

Biden was expected to raise a range of issues with Erdogan, including Afghanistan, Syria and Turkeys purchase of advanced Russian missile systems which has complicated Washingtons relations with Ankara.

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BRUSSELS  French President Emmanuel Macron has downplayed NATOs wording in declaring China a global security challenge, saying it must not divert us from the heart of NATOs tasks.

In a news conference Monday, Macron said: I think it is very important not to scatter our efforts and not to have biases in our relation to China. Its much broader than the military topic: Its economic, strategic, about values and technological.

Macron called for not diverting NATO from its many other challenges, including the fight against terrorism and security issues related to Russia.

China is both a major power with which we are working on global issues to move forward together and a competitor, he said.

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MOSCOW  The family of Paul Whelan, an American imprisoned in Russia on a disputed espionage conviction, has released a statement from him calling for President Joe Biden to push for his release during the summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In an audio file distributed by Whelans family on Monday, he says: I implore you to bring this appalling case of hostage diplomacy to an end. I remain innocent. No crime of espionage occurred. The secret trial, without evidence, proves those facts.

He made the statement in a May 30 telephone call with his parents, the family said. Whelan was arrested in Moscow in December 2018 and later sentenced to 16 years in prison. He claims he was in Russia only as a visitor.

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BRUSSELS  NATO leaders agree that China poses a constant security challenge and is working to undermine the global rules-based system, and they are worried about how fast its developing nuclear missiles.

In a summit statement Monday, the leaders said that Chinas goals and assertive behavior present systemic challenges to the rules-based international order and to areas relevant to alliance security.

While the 30 heads of state and government avoid calling China a rival, they did express concern about its coercive policies, the opaque ways it is modernizing its armed forces and its use of disinformation.

They called on Beijing to uphold its international commitments and to act responsibly in the international system, including in the space, cyber, and maritime domains, in keeping with its role as a major power.

But the leaders also said they welcome opportunities to engage with China on things like climate change.

The statement, endorsed Monday at their summit in Brussels, lays out the military organizations stance on China for the first time. Diplomats say it was one of the hardest parts of the statement to draft.

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LONDON  Chinas Embassy in the U.K. reacted sharply Monday to the Group of Sevens post-summit statement that called out Chinas nonmarket policies and human rights abuses.

The embassy challenged the leaders of the worlds largest industrial nations for distorted remarks that slandered China and arbitrarily interfered in Chinas internal affairs.

This serious violation of the basic norms of international relations exposed the sinister intentions of a few countries, such as the United States, an unnamed embassy spokesperson said in the statement. We are strongly dissatisfied and firmly opposed to this.

The G-7 leaders agreed to call on Beijing to respect human rights in Xinjiang, the remote western region where Chinese authorities are accused of committing serious rights abuses against the Uyghur minority, and in the semi-autonomous city of Hong Kong.

The statement came after a push by U.S. President Joe Biden, who wanted to persuade fellow democratic leaders to present a more unified front in its relations with Beijing.

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BRUSSELS  Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says the revival of a dialogue between NATO members Turkey and Greece to resolve long-standing disputes will serve stability and prosperity in the region.

Speaking at a German Marshall Fund think tank event held inside the NATO headquarters complex on Monday, Erdogan lamented, however, what he said was a lack of support by Turkeys NATO allies in its fight against terrorism. It was a veiled reference to Turkeys disappointment with U.S. military support for Syrian Kurdish fighters, who Ankara argues are inextricably linked to a decades-long Kurdish insurgency in Turkey.

Turkey is on the front line in the fight against terrorism in all relevant international platforms, especially NATO, Erdogan said, adding that some 4,000 Islamic State group fighters were neutralized in Turkish cross-border operations.

Turkey is the only NATO ally which has fought face-to-face and gave his young sons martyrs for this cause, Erdogan said. Unfortunately, we did not receive the support and solidarity we expected from our allies and partners in our fight against all forms of terrorism.

Last summer, a longstanding dispute between Turkey and Greece over boundaries and rights to natural resources in the eastern Mediterranean flared anew after Ankara sent energy research vessels into waters where Greece asserts jurisdiction.

Diplomats from the two countries have held two rounds of talks in recent months for the first time in five years, while the foreign ministers of Greece and Turkey also held reciprocal visits.

I believe that reviving the channels of dialogue between (Turkey) and our neighbor and ally, Greece, and the resolution of bilateral issues will ... serve the stability and prosperity of our region, Erdogan said.

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BRUSSELS  President Joe Biden has met with the leaders of three Baltic nations at the NATO summit in a move to reassure them of U.S. support before his Wednesday summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Geneva.

The White House says Biden met Monday with Prime Minister Kaja Kallas of Estonia, President Egils Levits of Latvia, and President Gitanas Nauseda of Lithuania and underscored strong U.S. support for their security.

The White House added: The four leaders committed to further strengthening our political, military, and economic partnerships, including working together through NATO to address challenges posed by Russia and China.

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BRUSSELS  French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted that he wants to move forward with Turkey toward a demanding and respectful relationship, after meeting with the countrys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Both men talked Monday on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Brussels. It was their first meeting since the dispute between the two countries reached its peak in October after Erdogan questioned Macrons mental health.

Macron said he wants all NATO allies to make a clear commitment to the military organizations values, principles and rules, according to the French presidency.

Both men discussed Libya and Syria issues, the Elysee said. Macron has notably accused Turkey of flouting its commitments by ramping up its military presence in Libya and bringing in jihadi fighters from Syria.

Macron also highlighted that Frances secularism respects all religions, including Islam. The French presidency said a clarification was needed in response to Erdogans tough criticism of Macrons attitude toward Islam and Muslims, as the French government proposed a law to fight Islamist radicals.

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BRUSSELS  Italian Premier Mario Draghi made a not-so-subtle dig at former U.S. President Donald Trump in welcoming Biden to NATO and back into the European fold.

This summit is a continuation of yesterdays G7 and is part of the process of reaffirming, of rebuilding the fundamental alliances of the United States that had been weakened by the previous administration, he said. Think that President Bidens first visit is to Europe and try to remember where President Trumps first visit was?

"We are here to reaffirm these alliances, but also to reaffirm the importance of the European Union in all of this: a stronger European Union means a stronger NATO, he added.

Trump's first trip was to Saudi Arabia.

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BRUSSELS  British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says NATO leaders do not see China as an adversary in the same way that the military organization views Russia, but that they must come to terms with the Asian giants growing influence.

Johnson told reporters at a NATO summit in Brussels Monday that China is a gigantic fact in our lives and a new strategic consideration for NATO.

He says I dont think anybody around the table today wants to descend into a new Cold War with China.

He says the leaders of the 30-nation alliance see challenges, they see things that we have to manage together, but they also see opportunities, and I think that what we need to do is to do it together.

NATO leaders are set to endorse a communique later laying out their view of China and how its rising influence and the security challenges it poses should be managed.

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BRUSSELS President Joe Biden is reaffirming the U.S. commitment to NATOs mutual-defense pact as he makes his first visit to the alliance since taking office.

After meeting Monday with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg shortly arriving at the alliances headquarters in Brussels, Biden says the U.S. takes Article 5, which guarantees that an attack on one NATO nation is considered an attack against all, as a sacred obligation.

He adds: I just want all of Europe to know that the United States is there. The United States is there.

Biden said the alliance is essential for America and said he looked forward to discussing challenges from Russia and China with other leaders at the daylong summit.

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BRUSSELS  Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo says NATO allies are looking to put the past behind them, after four stormy years under the Trump administration and infighting between member countries.

De Croo said at a NATO summit Monday that were coming out of turbulent times, where we had major disagreements on a lot of things that are really at the basis of this alliance.

He says that I think now we are ready to turn the page.

Trump routinely berated other NATO countries for not spending enough on defense and even threatened to pull the U.S. out of the worlds biggest security organization.

Rows have also simmered between Turkey, France and Greece over aggressive Turkish military actions in the Mediterranean and Ankaras contentious energy exploration work in waters off Cyprus.

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BRUSSELS  German Chancellor Angela Merkel says Russian disinformation is one issue that will be discussed at Mondays NATO summit.

Merkel said as she arrived at the gathering that hybrid challenges are a growing issue -- cyberattacks, and particularly with a view to Russia, of course, disinformation campaigns. She added that many allies in NATO, including Germany, are affected.

Merkel said the summit also will discuss the situation in Ukraine, where we see great challenges, of course, and the situation in Belarus.

U.S. President Joe Biden will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Geneva later this week.
avid_creative, Contributor / Getty Images

The Texas Department of Transportation will close Interstate 10 westbound at Farm Road 365 from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. through Thursday for construction, weather permitting.

Traffic will be diverted to Farm Road 365 and Farm Road 124. Travelers are advised to expect delays.
ATHENS, Texas (AP)  An East Texas mayor has resigned after being arrested for online solicitation of a minor.

Athens Mayor James Montgomery resigned on Friday, a day after his arrest during an undercover sting operation, the Tyler Morning Telegraph reported.

Montgomery and three other suspects were arrested when they arrived at an undisclosed location after soliciting sex online with investigators posing as minors, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

MORE NEWS: TEXANS REEMERGE AFTER PANDEMIC

Montgomery, 63, was arrested by Longview police and released Thursday after posting a $300,000 bond. Court records did not list an attorney for Montgomery who could speak on his behalf.

Athens officials said they will appoint an interim mayor within the month. Montgomerys term was not set to end until 2023.

These are very serious allegations and the City of Athens does not take them lightly, the city said in a statement. We are committed to the protection and safety of our children. The City Council will be considering all possible actions as details become available.

Athens is located about 70 miles (112 kilometers) southeast of Dallas.
One mural  or one more mural  does not make a city. But they can be a visual and historic boost, and almost any downtown can be improved by them. In that spirit, Beaumont residents will no doubt appreciate the new mural being created by local artist Ines Alvidres.

Its big nearly 7 feet by 26 feet, but murals arent like that painting on your living room wall. Size works for them. Its located at the entrance to the Beaumont Convention and Visitors Bureau, which is a good location on its own. But that site choice was also chosen to help kick off the bureaus new Beaucycles kick-off next month.

That would be rentable bicycles at three locations downtown  the CVB, Civic Center and Event Centre  to tour downtown Beaumont or attend events. The price is friendly too  $5 for four hours and $1 for each additional hour.

Small touches like this add up; they make a city more inviting and give it a special personality. Not every attempt will succeed, but this is a case where its OK to try something. As Southeast Texans emerge from more than a year of isolation and deprivation because of the pandemic, enhancements like this will be appreciated more.

Alvidres is already getting positive feedback on her mural, and she knows how her art can brighten someones day.

I want to make you smile, she said. I didnt realize that until I was in an exhibit at The Art Studio, Inc., and I saw a woman look at my painting, and a big smile came to her face. And I realized, thats what I want. If we can bring that smile (with the mural), that happiness to more people in Beaumont, it will be worth (it).

Beaumont will soon have a new mayor and already has some new faces on the City Council. Most of the issues they discuss are serious, such as tax rates or police protection. But they also need to be aware of the need to beautify Beaumont and support various efforts, big or small, to make the city more fun for residents and visitors.

This new mural is part of that effort, and we hope its not the last one for downtown Beaumont. Quality of life matters, and art is a big factor in it in Beaumont, and any other city in Southeast Texas.
The above editorial was published June 14 by the South Florida Sun Sentinel. Its views are its own.
A Rohingya girl shows her new biometric registration card, which identifies her as a Myanmar national, in Coxs Bazar, Bangladesh, Oct. 29, 2017.

Human Rights Watch said Tuesday that the United Nations improperly gathered and shared data about Rohingya refugees with the government of Bangladesh, which in turn gave it to Myanmar, from where members of the persecuted stateless minority group had fled.

In some cases, U.N. refugee agency UNHCR did not obtain informed consent from Rohingya for host-country Bangladesh to share this data with Naypyidaw, Human Rights Watch said.

The United Nations refugee agency improperly collected and shared personal information from ethnic Rohingya refugees with Bangladesh, which shared it with Myanmar to verify people for possible repatriation, New York-based HRW said in a statement.

The agency did not conduct a full data impact assessment, as its policies require, and in some cases failed to obtain refugees informed consent to share their data with Myanmar.

HRW said it based its allegations on interviews with 24 Rohingya and 20 aid workers, analysts, local activists, journalists, and lawyers who observed or participated in the process by UNHCR and Bangladeshs government to register the refugees.

In a statement rebutting the criticism, UNHCR said it had clear policies in place to ensure data was kept safe when the agency registered refugees, and that it had expressly asked the Rohingya for consent to have the Bangladesh government share their data with Myanmars administration.

When UNHCR and the Government of Bangladesh signed their Memorandum of Understanding on data sharing in January 2018, and organized their joint registration exercise of Rohingya refugees, specific measures were taken to mitigate potential risks, the U.N. agency said Tuesday.

[E]ach refugee family was informed of the purpose of the joint registration, which was primarily aimed at providing protection, documentation, and assistance to Rohingya refugees. All were asked to consent to their data being shared with partners on the ground for the purpose of receiving assistance.

According to ReliefWeb, 852,701 refugees who crossed into Bangladesh since the Myanmar militarys brutal crackdown in 2017 are registered under the Bangladesh government-UNHCR registration process. It began in January 2018 in the camps in southeastern Bangladeshs Coxs Bazar district, where most of the refugees live.

Rohingya data for repatriation

HRW said that in 2018, the Bangladesh government aimed to provide an identity card for refugees  called a Smart Card  that would allow them to obtain aid and services.

The government also sought to gather personal data collected by UNHCR to submit to Myanmar for repatriation eligibility assessments. UNHCR said this would help protect the refugees right of return.

UNHCR acknowledged that the process was used to establish Rohingya refugees former residence in Myanmar and right to return, but that its officials had sought consent.

For this purpose, refugees were separately and expressly asked whether they gave their consent to have their data shared with the Government of Myanmar by the Government of Bangladesh, the U.N. agency said.

Rohingya refugee families who did not consent to share their data with the Myanmar administration were still registered and able to access the same services and entitlements, UNHCR said.

According to Human Rights Watch, it interviewed two dozen Rohingya refugees between September 2020 and March 2021 about their registration experience, and 23 of them said UNHCR did not mention sharing data with Myanmar, or linking it to assessments for repatriation eligibility.

Three said they were told after giving their data that it might be used for repatriation purposes.

UNHCR vigorously denied these allegations.

UNHCR wishes to stress that any return to Myanmar must be based on the individual and voluntary choice of refugees, if and when they feel conditions are right for them to do so, the agency said.

BenarNews reported in January 2018 that Rohingya refugees interested in returning to Myanmar would be asked to sign a document stating that their return was voluntary and pledging to abide by the existing laws of that country.

However, attempts to begin repatriation to Myanmar  in November 2018 and August 2019  failed. In January this year, Bangladesh and Myanmar resumed China-brokered talks on Rohingya repatriation for the first time in a year.

In February, a military coup in Myanmar stalled any further progress on repatriation talks.

UNHCR in Malaysia

In a separate development, the UNHCRs office in Malaysia said Tuesday that it was sharing refugee population data with that countrys government so that all refugees and asylum seekers could be vaccinated against COVID-19.

UNHCRs Malaysia officer further said it had not set any preconditions with the government for sharing that data, but advocated that refugees and asylum-seekers not be detained.

The refugee agency issued the statement in response to a news report that it had set conditions on sharing refugee data with the government.

Rights groups in Malaysia had earlier this year said there was a danger that unregistered refugees and asylum seekers would be detained when and if they went to a COVID-19 vaccination center.

But in February, a Malaysian minister had assured them that no arrests would happen if any refugees showed up to be vaccinated.

The government then reneged on its promise in late May, announcing it would arrest those who lacked valid papers in order to vaccinate them as part of measures to contain surging coronavirus cases in the country.
Friends and family members of extrajudicial killings victims in the Philippines participate in a day of mourning in Manila, Aug. 20, 2019.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte refuses to cooperate with a request by the International Criminal Courts top prosecutor to investigate extrajudicial killings in his administrations war on drugs, and has dismissed it as politically driven, his spokesman said Tuesday.

Any ICC investigation would depend on cooperation from the government, but the court in The Hague no longer has the right to pursue such a case because the Philippines has pulled out of an international treaty that created the court, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said.

The president will never, ever cooperate, Roque said, adding that outgoing ICC Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensoudas request on Monday to press ahead with a formal investigation was legally erroneous and politically motivated.

This is now a political issue, Roque said, adding that allegations of mass murder were brought to the ICC by the presidents political opponents, whom he claimed would be seeking higher public office in general elections next year.

The case originated from information filed by Antonio Trillanes IV, a former senator and a staunch critic of Duterte. Without naming Trillanes, Roque noted that the source of the complaint planned to run for president or vice president in elections set for May 2022.

Trillanes welcomed the announcement by the ICC prosecutor.

This is another monumental step toward justice for all the families of victims of EJKs. The long arm of the law will soon catch up with Duterte and his accomplices, Trillanes said, referring to extrajudicial killings.

Duterte, meanwhile, remained defiant about his war on drugs, while addressing the nation on Monday.

My guideline is do not destroy my country, I will kill you. Do not destroy the youth of the land, he said during a broadcast of his weekly address. You destroy their life, I will destroy you. Thats the way it is  I will kill you to end the problem.

He also commented on probes against him.

With the advent of this human rights investigation, I have also been investigated by the Human Rights Commission headed by de Lima. Nothing came of it, no recommendation, no nothing, just aspersions, Duterte said, referring to opposition Sen. Leila de Lima.

Despite being jailed on a pair of drug charges after her acquittal on a third charge earlier this year, de Lima has emerged as one of President Dutertes toughest political foes.

She angered Duterte when, as chairwoman of the Commission on Human Rights, she investigated reports of extrajudicial killings by a death squad allegedly set up by Duterte in Davao City, where he served as mayor before being elected president in 2016.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte delivers a speech to mark the 123rd anniversary of the nations proclamation of independence, in Bulacan province, June 12, 2021. [AP]

Jurisdiction questioned

Roque, a former human rights lawyer, argued that the ICC had no jurisdiction over the Duterte administrations war on drugs because, contrary to Bensoudas allegation, it is not an instance of a crime against humanity.

The ICCs statutes define a crime against humanity as a willful attack on civilians, which, according to Roque, the drug war is not.

Where there are deaths as an incident to a lawful operation in connection with the war against drugs  it was coincidental or collateral damage, either because the policeman had the right to defend himself using reasonable force or they were, in fact, the subject of an attack and therefore justified by the principle of necessity and proportionality, Roque said.

As a court of last resort, the ICC cannot investigate cases in the Philippines because the nation has a functioning legal system, police and judicial institutions, he said. Roque cited the principle of complementarity in which the ICC may not exercise jurisdiction unless a member state is unable or unwilling to prosecute the cases in question.

In fact, the justice department and the national police recently declared that they would investigate all cases of deaths during police operations, Roque said.

The outgoing ICC chief prosecutor from The Gambia, Roque added, has been criticized for filing cases only against her fellow Africans, so she needed to prove otherwise by going after Duterte.

Deeply regrettable

Manilas Department of Foreign Affairs issued a separate statement on Tuesday, saying it found Bensoudas request for judicial authorization to proceed with an investigation deeply regrettable.

The government has taken concrete and progressive steps to address concerns about the anti-drug campaign, including a Joint Program on Human Rights with the United Nations. These affirm the Philippines adherence to human rights norms and its track record of constructive engagement with the international community with regard to human rights, the DFA said.

The Philippine government finds deeply regrettable the announcement of the outgoing prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to seek judicial authorization to proceed with an investigation of the situation in the Philippines, the DFA said.

It criticized Bensoudas midnight announcement on the eve of the end of her term, saying it preempts the prerogative of her successor to make a full evaluation of the cases that he will prosecute.

Bensouda has said she expected her successor, Karim Khan, to carry on with the investigation.

Meanwhile, the spokeswoman for the Philippines Commission on Human Rights (CHR), Jacqueline Ann de Guia, said the ICC did have jurisdiction over cases that occurred before the country pulled out of the treaty.

The Philippines was a party to the ICC accord from Nov. 1, 2011, to March 16, 2019.

Duterte unilaterally withdrew the countrys membership on March 17, 2019, raising questions about his authority to do so because Philippine law requires Senate ratification of international treaties, according to the commission.

In this regard, CHR, as the countrys independent national human rights institution, continues to advise the present Philippine government to participate in this process of seeking truth and justice for the human rights violations committed in the country, de Guia said on Tuesday.
Deliveries of AstraZenecas COVID-19 vaccine to neighboring countries remain on track, the Thai branch of the Anglo-Swedish drug maker said Tuesday, effectively dismissing complaints about delays of shipments to Malaysia and the Philippines.

A statement sent to BenarNews did not, however, respond to questions about deliveries to Taiwan, whose president last week accused Thailand of delaying exports to prioritize vaccinations for its own population.

Distribution to other Southeast Asian countries, including Malaysia and the Philippines, will commence in the coming weeks and we are working closely with each of the relevant governments to supply our COVID-19 vaccine as quickly as possible, the statement said.

The delivery to the Philippines scheduled in July and Malaysia in June remain on track, it said while not releasing the number of vaccines to be delivered, citing confidentiality.

The Philippines had expected 17 million AstraZeneca vaccine doses and Malaysia expected delivery of 610,000 in June and 1.6 million doses later this year, according to reports.

AstraZeneca has engaged Siam Bioscience Co. Ltd., a pharmaceutical company owned by Thailands king with no previous record of producing vaccines, to manufacture its COVID-19 vaccine in Southeast Asia.

Siam Bioscience delivered the first 1.8 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine produced domestically on June 4. The company did not say when the remaining 4.2 million doses promised to the Thai government would arrive.

It is understood that distribution from the same supply chain to other governments in the region, including Taiwan, will commence in the coming weeks, said a source at AZ who was not authorized to speak on the record.

Meanwhile, Nualphan Lamsam, director of communications for Siam Bioscience, did not respond to an email from BenarNews seeking comment. An employee who declined to give her name told BenarNews by phone that the executives have no policy to talk about the business directly to the media.

Thailand has some of the worlds harshest laws against criticizing or questioning members of the royal family.

Nualphan recently told reporters that it was up to AstraZeneca officials to comment on any export delays.

Siam Bioscience produces vaccines for AstraZeneca which holds the rights to also export to eight ASEAN countries, she said.

Millions of doses

In Taiwan, the government has ordered 10 million doses from AstraZeneca, mainly produced in Thailand, President Tsai Ing-wen said in the capital Taipei on Friday.

The problem is that the goods that were supposed to have arrived in June have not, Reuters news service quoted Tsai as telling a Taiwanese radio station.

Now Thailands epidemic situation is serious and they are giving priority for vaccines to be used in Thailand.

On Tuesday, an AstraZeneca spokesperson said the company did not have any specific response to Tsais comments but would share one with the media if it was available in the future.

On June 8, amid a spike in infections, Taiwan Health Minister Chen Shih-chung told lawmakers that production problems at AstraZenecas Thai plant would delay supplies by a month.

The comment about delays echoed similar remarks in Malaysia and the Philippines.

Philippine presidential adviser Joey Concepcion told Reuters news agency he had been informed by AstraZeneca that a planned delivery of 1.3 million doses would be reduced to 1.17 million doses and delayed from the third week of June to mid-July.

Previously, Concepcion posted a tweet on May 3 where he said the AstraZeneca vaccines would be delivered in June.

In Malaysia, Khairy Jamaluddin, federal minister in charge of the National COVID-19 Immunization Program, said the expected delivery of the AstraZeneca vaccines has been delayed, but he did not comment on the expected arrival.

I have been on calls for the last two to three days with AstraZeneca as well as other governments to make sure we can shore up supply for this month, he told reporters during a news conference last week.

Meanwhile, news reports surfaced last week that Japan had donated 1.24 million doses of vaccines to Taiwan, infuriating China whose leaders consider Taiwan a province and have threatened to reclaim the island.

Thai officials, meanwhile, dismissed concerns about AstraZenecas exports to Taiwan.

As Thai Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said, Thailand is a production site for vaccines, but vaccine distribution is managed by AstraZeneca, Tanee Sangrat, the spokesman for Thailands foreign ministry told BenarNews Tuesday.

This [vaccine purchase] has no effect on Sino-Thai relations which remain cordial.
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A newly conducted study of electromagnetic radiation from this Verizon Wireless monopole at the rear of 877 South St. is expected to be given to Pittsfield officials late next week by a New Jersey company.
Reporter

Heather Bellow, a member of the investigations team, joined The Eagle in 2017. She is based in the South Berkshire County bureau in Great Barrington. Her work has appeared in newspapers across the U.S.
Former Stockbridge Fire Chief Ernest J. Chuck Cardillo Jr. was rebuffed in U.S. District Court in his lawsuit claiming that the town and former board members violated his First Amendment and civil rights.
Gov. Charlie Baker announces the VaxMillions campaign Tuesday in the Statehouse. His administration will partner with Treasurer Deborah Goldberg and the Massachusetts Lottery to launch the giveaway in July, offering $1 million prizes to five adults 18 and older and $300,000 college scholarships to five adolescents ages 12 to 17 who have been vaccinated fully against COVID-19.
State police said Monday that an Exeter Township couple was killed when their SUV collided with a dump truck June 7 on Route 23 in Caernarvon Township, Lancaster County.
Wendy Williams ex-husband Kevin Hunter was reportedly seen out with his girlfriend Sharina Hudson and their daughter amid news that the talk show host has been dating comedian Gary Owen.

According to Radar Online, Hunter and Hudson were on a family outing in Florida. Additionally, The Sun obtained photos of the trio walking in their neighborhood earlier this month. The 48-year-old is seen carrying his 2-year-old daughter Journey alongside his girlfriend, 36, as they get into an SUV.

RELATED: Wendy Williams Ex-Husband Kevin Hunter Is Reportedly Getting Into A New Line Of Business

Radar Online reports that Hunter is raising his daughter in Coral Springs, hundreds of miles away from where he once lived with Williams in Livingston, New Jersey.

Gary Owen is fielding his own dose of divorce drama as he was spotted out with Williams having dinner in New York City. It caused an extensive reaction from Owens ex-wife Kenya Duke, who took to her Instagram account with a five page statement.

Kevin Hunter finalized his divorce with Wendy Williams in January, 2020. In August of that year, the former couple sold their home for $1.4 million after it sat on the market for several months. Per their divorce settlement, they agreed to split the profits from the sale 50/50.
Mass shootings swept the country over the weekend, leaving law enforcement officials in several cities concerned over increases in gun incidents and fearful that the summer could turn out to be particularly violent as coronavirus restrictions are rolled back.

In Chicago, a woman was killed and nine others were wounded Saturday (July 12) when two men fired at a group standing on a sidewalk on the citys South Side, the Associated Press reports. No arrests have been made. In a similar incident in Savannah, Ga., a man was killed and seven others wounded including two children, one of them a baby, when a person in a vehicle fired at a group of people. Police believe the shooting may stem from a conflict between two groups.



Its very disturbing what were seeing across the country and the level of gun violence that were seeing across the country, Savannah police chief, Roy Minter, Jr., told reporters on Saturday. Its disturbing and its senseless.



Other cities that experienced mass shootings over the weekend included Austin, Tex., where one person was killed and 13 injured in that early Saturday incident. A juvenile was arrested and another individual is being sought by police, according to the Austin American Statesman; and Cleveland, where three men were killed during a shooting at a gas station. Four others were injured, reports WOIO.

RELATED: Mass Shooting on Chicago South Side Spurred By Petty Fight Kills 2, Wounds 13

Throughout much of the nation, coronavirus pandemic restrictions are being relaxed and public health and law enforcement expert who are watching the rollbacks had hoped that a spike in gun violence from 2020 would subside. However, the rates of shootings have become higher than they were before the onset of the pandemic, the AP reports.



There was a hope this might simply be a statistical blip that would start to come down, Chuck Wexler, executive director of the Police Executive Research Forum told the AP. That hasnt happened. And thats what really makes chiefs worry that we may be entering a new period where we will see a reversal of 20 years of declines in these crimes.



The Gun Violence Archive, a website that takes records of shootings nationwide says there have been 272 mass shootings so far in 2021 and 15 mass murders. More than 8,700 people have been killed in gun incidents. In 2020 there were 600, higher than the previous six years the website recorded. But officials are now worried that the emergence of people out of coronavirus lockdown and the mental breakdowns that came with it could make those numbers even worse.

Its worrisome, said James Alan Fox, Northwestern University criminologist and professor, told the AP. We have a blend of people beginning to get out and about in public. We have lots of divisiveness. And we have more guns and warm weather. Its a potentially deadly mix.
A woman is dead and three others injured after a man plowed his SUV into a crowd of protesters in Minneapolis on Sunday night (June 13).

According to the Minneapolis Police Department, the suspect, who has not yet been identified publicly, was pulled out of his vehicle by protesters after the crash that happened just before midnight. CBS Minneapolis reports the man was held down until law enforcement could arrive to apprehend him.

Hennepin County County Jail roster records reveal that the man was a 35-year-old St. Paul resident and he was arrested early Monday in Minneapolis on suspicion of vehicular homicide, driving after having his license suspended, and giving false information to police. Police suspect the man, who had his license suspended as a result of multiple DUI offenses, was under the influence of a substance during the incident.

RELATED: Demands For Accountability Rise After Another Black Man Killed By Police in Minneapolis

The crash happened in Minneapolis uptown area. Two protesters were brought to Hennepin Healthcare for treatment. Two others sought medical attention for non-life-threatening injuries at area hospitals.

Relatives have identified the dead crash victim as 31-year-old Deona Knajdek, according to CBS Minnesota.

The ongoing protests in Minneapolis were over the death of 32-year-old Winston Boogie Smith Jr, a Black man who was shot and killed by police in Minneapolis.

Authorities say Smith was wanted on a weapons violation and fired a gun before deputies fatally shot him in Minneapolis. That police shooting comes as the city continues to watch to see what happens in the case of Daunte Wright, who was killed in a traffic stop in suburban Brooklyn Park, Minn., and also as it heals from the massive upheaval caused by the death of George Floyd.

Members of the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force were trying to arrest Smith on a warrant for allegedly being a felon in possession of a gun, authorities said. The Marshals Service said in a statement that Smith, who was in a parked vehicle, didnt comply with law enforcement and produced a handgun resulting in task force members firing upon the subject.

A march in Deona Knajdeks honor is slated for this evening in Minneapolis. According to a Facebook event post, organizers say they will advocate for laws to protect protesters and harsh sentences for those who drive into them.



RELATED: Detroit Police Department Sues Black Lives Matter Protesters For Civil Conspiracy
News

Car show returns to Glasgow

Gina Kinslow/Bowling Green Daily News Elijah Gentry, 2, behind the driver's wheel, and his cousin, Grayson Bush, 5, both of Glasgow, pretended to take a ride in their grandfather, Jimmy Moore's 1963 Ford Galaxie during the Glasgow Renaissance Main Street Committee's Cruise Into Spring Car Show on Saturday.

GLASGOW  A sunny day with no COVID-19 restrictions made it possible for the Glasgow Renaissance Main Street Committee to have its Cruise Into Spring Car Show on Glasgows public square.

The event was canceled in 2020 because of the coronavirus.

The events return Saturday was wonderful, said Becky Barrick, committee chairman.

The crowd is loving it, she said.

She said it appeared there were more participants for Saturdays car show than in the past.

Weve registered over 200. A lot of people came, but they dont want to register, so we feel like we have way more than that here, Barrick said.

Vehicles were parked down side streets and around the public square.

Proceeds from the show go to the committee, which plans to use the money to upgrade the sound system used during the car show, to purchase flower baskets that are hung around the public square during the spring and summer and for an annual Christmas lighting event around the square called Light Up Glasgow.

Among those who turned out to take part in the car show was Ray Patterson of Cave City.

Patterson brought a 1985 Mustang that was once used as a patrol car by Kentucky State Police.

The cars were bought by the state. In 1985, they made 10 and they used them as pursuit cars. Basically, all they were were ticket cars, he said. This one was bought by a captain in the state police when it was out of service and then I purchased it from him.

Patterson restored the car.

It has all the things on it that originally came with the car, he said.

He was even able to locate two radar systems for it.

Barren County, they had one that a gentleman was driving around in this local area. Its a famous car because everybody was stopped by one. He was very good at giving tickets, Patterson said.

Wayne Likens of Glasgow, a member of the committee, was directing traffic Saturday for the event.

Likens brought a car to show but did not enter it into the car shows competition. He brought a 1955 Chevy  a car he has owned for 29 years.

Like Pattersons 1985 Mustang, there is a story behind Likens 1955 Chevy. It was owned by two school teachers who were sisters living in Monroe County.

The car was parked in its owners driveway and Likens drove past it often on his way to and from work.

I kept trying to buy it, he said.

But the owners were reluctant to sell it, until one day one of the sisters called him to tell him she was ready to let it go.

She called me and she said, Mr. Likens, weve got to go to the nursing home because they say we dont take our medicine right and Im going to sell you that car. And so I bought the car. It had 29,000 (miles) then. Its got 49,000 (miles) now. Weve driven it quite a bit, he said.

The committee also has a car show in the fall. It is held the second weekend in October. It was also canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19.

Likens was happy the committee got to have the car show on Saturday.

Everybody wants to get out, so we got a large crowd and I think it is because of that. Everyone has been housed up for a year and havent been able to show their cars, so I think that today is the day, he said.
Call ahead to confirm events. Due to COVID-19, many events have been canceled but hosting organizations might not have updated their entries.

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Spearfish, SD (57783)

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A few clouds. Low 66F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

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The first time I heard the term soteriology, I thought it sounded like a boring doctorate thesis or a medical problem. I was watching a video lecture by the late theologian Dr. R.C. Sproul speaking to a group of seminary students who already knew big words that end in -ology. But since I wasnt one of them, I paused the video and looked the word up. Thats when I discovered that my passion for studying the Bibles teaching on salvation has a namesoteriology.

What Is the Meaning of Soteriology?

The term comes from the Greek word soteria, which means salvation. Soteria derives from the root word soter, which means savior. Finally, the suffix -ology comes from the Greek word logia, which means to study. Soteriology, therefore, is a branch of theology that focuses on the study of salvation.

Is Soteriology Biblical?

Soteriology isnt uniquely Christian, but it is biblical. Paul demonstrates the use of soteriology in his letter to the Corinthian church. He wrote the church after theyd fallen away from the truth of the gospel (the proclamation of the message of salvation). Theyd embraced distorted teachings and practices concerning salvation. He addressed their false beliefs, corrected their understanding, and in 1 Corinthians 15:1-5, defined true salvation (soteriology in action).

1. Christ died for our sins (v. 3).

2. Christ was buried (v. 4).

3. Christ was raised on the third day (v. 4).

4. Christ appeared to many after His resurrection (v. 5).

5. These truths happened according to and in fulfillment of Scripture (v. 3-4).

Paul also demonstrated how the Corinthians could know theyre saved.

1. They heard the true gospel (v. 1).

2. They received the gospel as truth (v. 1).

3. They stood (believing, evidenced by their life) upon the gospel as truth (v. 2).

5 Common Questions Soteriology Answers

Soteriology answers many questions, such as the following five commonand all-importantquestions. (Every religion has its own soteriological answers to these questions, but only Christianity offers Gods answersanswers that actually lead to salvation.)

1. Q: Who needs saving?

A: All mankind (John 3:17; Romans 3:9-10, 23)

2. Q: What do they need saving from?

A: Sinimputed sin (the sin born in us originating from Adams sin recorded in Genesis 3) and actual sin (the sin we commit by our own choices.) (Psalm 51:5; Romans 5:12, 6:23; Hebrews 9:27)

3. Q: Who does the saving?

A: Jesus Christ, the Son of God (John 3:16-17, Acts 4:12)

4. Q: How does the Savior save?

A: Christ went to the cross and purchased the salvation of all who will believe in His atoning death (that His death was sufficient payment for their sin) (Galatians 3:3, Philippians 2:5-11; Revelation 5:9; Hebrews 9:12)

5. Q: What is the chief end of salvation?

A: The radiant glory of God and eternal enjoyment of His children (John 17:3, 24; Philippians 2:9-11; Isaiah 60:1-5)

Christian soteriology digs deeply into the doctrine (the Bibles teaching) of salvation and examines the Author of salvationJesus Christ. Hes the beginning and end of all things. Thus, Christian soteriology calls for a clear understanding of another ologyChristology.

What Is the Difference between Christology and Soteriology?

Soteriology is the study of salvation. It guards against false understanding about salvation and helps ensure we know if were truly saved from Gods wrath for our sin. Christology is the study of the Person and work of Jesus Christ, particularly Jesus primary worksalvation. (Luke 19:10; I Timothy 1:15-16).

5 Common Questions Christology Answers

1. Q: Who is Jesus?

A: Jesus is the Son of God, the second person of the Godhead, the uncreated Creator and God Himself (John 1:1, 14, 18; John 5:18, John 10:30, 1 Corinthians 8:6).

2. Q: What makes Him significant and unique?

A: Christ is our Vicar (our substitute). He went to the cross to atone for (pay for) the sin of mankind by taking onto Himself the penalty for sin. He uniquely and perfectly met every demand of Gods law, qualifying Him to be the sinless Savior. Through faith in Christ, the sinner no longer stands guilty or condemned to experience Gods wrath. Instead, Christs grace is poured out onto them. Only Jesus could accomplish all this. (Isaiah 53:6,10; Colossians 1:19-20; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Matthew 5:17)

3. Q: What has He done?

A: Among many things, Jesus accomplished eternal redemption for man (paid the full price for the penalty of mans sin on the cross). He satisfied the Fathers wrath for sin, defeated sin and death, and rose from the dead. Then He established His church and returned to heaven (Acts 20:28; 1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Timothy 1:10; 1 Peter 1:18-19).

4. Q: What is He doing now?

A: Jesus is seated in power at the right hand of the Father where He intercedes for His Bride (Christians), conforms Christians into His likeness, and is preparing a place for her in heaven. When a sinner believes in Him, He imputes His righteousness onto them (accredits His righteousness to them) (John 14:1-3; Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 7:25, 10:12-13).

5. Q: What will He do in the future?

A: Jesus will come again to gather His bride to Himself, pour out judgment upon all who have rejected His salvation, destroy sin, Satan, and death, and reign in glory in His new kingdom forever (Matthew 24:29-31; John 8:24, 14:3; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Hebrews 2:14; Revelation 1:7, 20:10-15, 22:12).

How Does Soteriology Show the Way to Salvation?

People across time have held varying opinions about salvation, ranging from everyone in the world will be saved to only those who do enough good deeds are saved. The Bible holds the truth. Soteriology does the heavy lifting of mining these truths by examining the Bible in context and forming a clear understanding of salvation based on the evidence. Believing in a false gospel leaves sinners condemnedno matter how sincerely they believe the false gospel. Christian soteriology seeks to expose false teaching by illuminating biblical truthtruths such as:

Salvation isnt a reward we receive for properly following a certain formula or ABC steps to salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Good deeds can be evidence of salvation, but they cant earn salvation (Romans 11:6; Ephesians 2:8; Titus 3:5-8; James 2:14-26).

Salvation comes by believing in the heart, not by simply repeating words in a prayer as if they held magic power. A prayer that leads to salvation must be made with true faith in the Gospel (Romans 10:10; 1 Corinthians 15:1-5).

Being born into a Christian home or heritage doesnt save you. Each person must personally believe in Christ for salvation (John 14:6; Galatians 4:4-6).

Knowing who God and Jesus are doesnt save you. The demons know, and theyre not saved (Acts 19:15; James 2:19).

Salvation is a work of God alone by His merciful grace through faith in Christ alone (John 6:37-40; Romans 1:16; 10:9-13; Ephesians 2:8-9).

Mankind is born dead in their sins, and dead people are powerless to seek after God (Romans 3:11, 5:6; Ephesians 2:1).

No one can come to the Son unless the Father draws him and opens his heart and mind to understand and believe in the revealed Christ (Matthew 16:17; John 6:44-45).

Theres salvation in no other name than Jesus (Acts 4:12).

5 Ways to Know that You Are Saved

Nothing matters more than knowing for certain were truly saved because those who never believe will suffer eternally in hell. Fortunately, the Bible shows us how we can know by revealing the marks salvation leaves on the believers life, including the five marks below.

1. A True Christian Confesses Christ

A true Christian affirms the Gospel message is true and confesses Jesus as their Savior (Romans 10:9-13). They also have a desire to confess Christ to others so they may also hear and believe the gospel (1 Thessalonians 1:3-10; Acts 2:41-47). God gives the gift of evangelism to some Christians, but the command to all (Matthew 28:19-20).

2. A True Christian Bears Lasting Fruit

All mankind is born into the world as sinners who love their sin and live for themselves. When Christ saves a person, the Holy Spirit indwells and transforms them. Their lives display the evidence of the Holy Spirit at work in their hearts. A true Christian cannot remain unchanged. Growing into Christlikeness is a life-long journey, but salvation changes a spiritually dead heart into a heart that lives and breathes for God and produces lasting fruitthe fruit (evidence) of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).

3. A True Christian Has a Love for God, His Word, His Church, and Others

Just as a bride longs to be with her husband and can quote from his love letters, the church (Christians) longs for Christ and His Word. A true Christian experiences a growing love for the things God loves, especially time in His Word, prayer, and fellowship with other Christians, as well as showing love to their neighbor (people) (Matthew 22:36-40; Acts 2:42-47).

4. A True Christian Hates Sin

Christians receive Christs nature at salvation, but they dont lose their sinful nature. It remains for now and fights against their new nature. Therefore, all Christians continue to sinsome even fall into serious sinbut theyre not able to remain comfortable in it. A non-Christian can sin all day and feel little to no guilt because their hearts are spiritually dead. To a Christian, sin may taste good going down, but like food poisoning, its rottenness churns their spiritual stomach. Guilt and grief over their sin can even make them physically sick if they refuse to confess and turn away from it (Romans 7:14-25; 1 John 1:6-10).

5. A True Christian Endures to the End

Salvation isnt based on works, and it cant be lost or taken away. Thus, despite all the highs and lows of a Christians spiritual walk, theyll endure to the end. They wont walk away from Christ or deny Him forever. The disciple Peter displayed its possible for a believer to be so set on avoiding pain that theyll lie. But they wont be able to hold onto the lie forever. Theyll return to Christ, like Peter, who shamelessly dove out of his boat and swam to shore to get to Jesus. Or like the prodigal child who couldnt stay away from the love, goodness, and grace of his father forever. A person who has confessed Christ and then walks away forever never truly belonged to the family of Christ (Luke 15:11-32, 22:54-62; John 10:27-29, 21:7-19; 1 John 2:19, Hebrews 3:14).

Why Everyone Should Study Soteriology

Soteriology helps us examine our lives to see if were truly saved before we die, which is vital because after death comes judgment (2 Corinthians 13:5; Acts 4:12; Hebrews 9:27). If your life doesnt display all five of the marks of a true Christian above, seek the Lord while you still have time (Isaiah 55:6). Repent (turn away from your sin) and believe the gospel. Talk with a pastor of a solid Bible-based church.

If youre concerned because you only see seedlings of these marks in your life, remember even the grandest oak tree began as a seed. It grew into a towering oak over much time. The Holy Spirit does the work of shaping our hearts into the image of Christ. You can trust Him to do it (Romans 8:29; Philippians 2:13; Hebrews 13:20-21). Our job is to study the Bible and pray as we trust and obey. (I also recommend joining a solid Bible-based church. Its vital to the life of a Christian).

Soteriology sounds best suited for the halls of academia, but its not a discipline reserved only for seminary classrooms. Every wise Christian will pursue a passion for this study so they can understand and rejoice in the assurance of their salvationand be equipped to share the good news of the Gospel with others.

Photo credit: iStock/Getty Images Plus/arkira

Jean Wilund is a former frustrated Bible reader turned geeky Bible lover. Shes passionate about helping women discover the fun in serious Bible study and a deeper love for God.

Shes a member of the Revive Our Hearts ministry writing team and enjoys answering your questions about the Bible and the Christian life on her YouTube channel and website JeanWilund.com. Connect with her also on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.
BOISE - Nominations for the annual Idaho Philanthropy Day awards are now open. Each year, Idaho volunteers and philanthropists are honored for outstanding contributions to their communities. Three regional virtual events will take place in November to recognize winners from eastern, northern and southwestern Idaho.

Idahos volunteers provide enormous benefits to our people and communities across the state. It is important that we take the time to recognize those individuals who give so much back to our state by volunteering their time and talent to improve the lives of those around them, Idaho Gov. Brad Little said.

The program organizers, Serve Idaho, the Governors Commission on Service and Volunteerism, and the Idaho Nonprofit Center, encourage community members to nominate their neighbors online at IdahoNonprofits.org. Submissions will be accepted through July 19, 2021. Categories include:

Outstanding Philanthropic Company/Foundation

Outstanding Nonprofit

Outstanding Adult Philanthropist

Outstanding Adult Volunteer  Idahos Brightest Star

Outstanding Youth

In addition to these categories, the Gov. Cecil D. Andrus Volunteer of the Year award will be presented to a nominee in each region.

Alina Rahim, who was the 2020 Governor Cecil D. Andrus Volunteer of the Year Award winner for eastern Idaho, said Receiving the Cecil D. Andrus Governors legacy award was such a great honor. It highlighted the importance of working within ones community to initiate change and craft community-based relationships. I am forever grateful to have been nominated and to have received this high recognition. So many wonderful opportunities have come from this recognition, but I have felt so fulfilled knowing my work has sparked initiation in others.

Bill Action Jackson, winner of the 2020 Governor Cecil D. Andrus Volunteer of the Year award for southwestern Idaho stated, "It was an unexpected honor receiving the Idaho Nonprofit Center's award for Outstanding Adult Philanthropist and the Governor Cecil D. Andrus Volunteer of the Year Award. I humbly accepted both awards, because they validated the sacrifices made by Idahoans who supported me in my efforts to improve the lives of Idaho youth."

Partners for the event include the Idaho Association of Fundraising Professionals, Idaho Community Foundation, Idaho Womens Charitable Foundation and the Idaho Nonprofit Center.

The mission of Serve Idaho is To inspire and recognize volunteers and empower communities through service and AmeriCorps to address Idahos unmet needs.
LEWISTON  A pair of Lewiston Republican lawmakers came to the defense of the Idaho Freedom Foundation on Thursday, pushing back against the notion that the organization and its supporters represent a threat to democracy.

Speaking to about 70 people at a Lewis Clark Valley Chamber of Commerce luncheon, 6th Legislative District Sen. Dan Johnson, R-Lewiston, said hes unwilling to give any organization that much credit.

I think indifference is a much bigger threat to democracy than any one of the legislative advisory groups we see in Boise, Johnson said.

Earlier this month, Senate President Pro Tem Chuck Winder, R-Boise, expressed disappointment at the number of lawmakers who are willing to follow the direction of the Idaho Freedom Foundation by voting for bills based on how the conservative organization scores them.

To me, thats one of the biggest threats we have to democracy in our state, Winder said, during a virtual meeting of the Boise City Club.

Given that comment, Johnson, together with 6th District Reps. Mike Kingsley and Lori McCann, were asked Thursday why any lawmaker would care what the Freedom Foundation thinks about a bill.

Kingsley, whose last session voted in accordance with the organizations recommendations about 95 percent of the time, said the Freedom Foundation serves a good purpose by letting people know whether a lawmaker who says he supports small government actually votes that way.

Everyone who runs for office as a conservative says they want to lower taxes and have smaller government, but then they get to Boise and no one knows what they do, Kingsley said. I like the fact that (the Freedom Foundation) looks at every bill and asks if it grows government or increases taxes. I ran as a little-government guy, and voting for something opposite to that isnt keeping my word to you. So I like having that resource.

Johnson said the organization does its homework by reading all the bills and scoring them based on a number of metrics. He may disagree with the conclusions it reaches, but theres a lot of things in there that are helpful to me.

The danger is if you use the Freedom Index as a crutch, he said. If you dont take the time to read a bill and study what it does and really learn what it does, and instead take someone elses word for it, that I think was what (Winder) was trying to get at. That blind allegiance to one view of the world may compromise the way we serve.

McCann was appointed to office last month, following the resignation of former Rep. Aaron von Ehlinger. Although she hasnt had the opportunity to meet with the organization yet, she was concerned it focuses more on dividing Republicans than on bringing them together.

Im a very conservative, strong woman who believes in small government, but there are certain aspects of government we must support, she said. One of those is education. When you look at our rankings (in per-pupil spending), at 48th or 50th, that to me says we arent doing our job to support education the way it needs to be supported to keep kids in Idaho to work.

McCann said shell be a strong advocate for education at all levels, from preschool to higher education.

Without a strong education system, it hurts economic development and hurts the whole state, she said. We need to be working together on that, rather than pulling each other apart.
The food industry may be getting closer to the introduction of lab-grown, or cultured, meats.

Cultured meat is created in a lab by feeding nutrients to animal cells taken from poultry or livestock. Advocates see it as one possible solution to the environmental impacts of raising animals for meat.

I suspect that if the success of other plant-based meat alternatives such as the Impossible Burger and Beyond Meat are any indication, cultured meat would likely be readily adopted here as well, said Sheril Kirshenbaum, a science communicator and host of Our Table.

Her Michigan State University program brings together stakeholders in the East Lansing area to talk about where food comes from and how it impacts health and the environment.

Americans eat a lot of meat  214 pounds per person per year, Kirshenbaum said  and a 2019 MSU Food Literature and Engagement poll showed that many Americans arent yet comfortable with the idea of eating meat from a lab.

Of those who said they would try cell-cultured meats, only 25% were age 40 or older.

Few Americans have had the opportunity to try cultured meat since its not approved for public consumption in the United States.

Singapore was the first government to allow cultured meat to be sold to the public in December 2020. The meat was a product of Eat Just Inc. No other country has yet approved cultured meat for public sale.

Kirshenbaum said she had the opportunity to eat cell-cultured seafood while working on Capitol Hill and is willing to try cultured meat in the future.

Meat isnt going anywhere, so I dont see cultured meat as a threat to the agricultural industry, she said.

I suspect that it will appeal to consumers interested in conserving water and energy and providing fewer greenhouse gas emissions, as well as those concerned about animal welfare or antibiotics and hormones, she said.

One supportive consumer is Ireland Ingram, a masters student studying health and risk communication at MSU.

For me, being vegetarian is truly about the ethical and moral implications the meat industry poses on animal welfare, Ingram said.

From that standpoint, I would support cultured meat being served since it would translate to less animals being killed for the purpose of consumption, she said.

I also believe that this would be a much more sustainable approach to providing meat since it takes almost 1,800 gallons of water to produce one pound of beef, she said.

Ingram said although she supports cell-cultured meat as an alternative to farmed livestock, she doesnt think she would eat it

I know it is unrealistic to ask everyone to be vegetarian to save the planet, but cultured meat could be a new sustainable approach that also improves animal welfare, Ingram said.
First and only minimally invasive, transcatheter treatment specifically approved for premature babies with patent ductus

Abbott, the global healthcare company, has launched its Amplatzer Piccolo Occluder in India, the world's first medical device that can be implanted in the tiniest babies (weighing as little as 700 gms) using a minimally invasive procedure to treat patent ductus arteriosus, or PDA. One of the most common congenital heart defects occurring in premature babies, PDA is a potentially life-threatening opening between two blood vessels leading from the heart.

The Amplatzer Piccolo, a device even smaller than a small pea, now offers hope to premature infants and newborns who need corrective treatment, and who may be non-responsive to medicine and are at high risk to undergo corrective surgery.

"Piccolo is a critical advancement in the standard of care for the most vulnerable of premature babies who may not be able to undergo surgery to repair their hearts," said Payal Agrawal, general manager for Abbott's structural heart business in India and the Subcontinent.

The Amplatzer Piccolo Occluder is a self-expanding, wire mesh device that is inserted through a small incision in the leg and guided through vessels to the heart, where it is placed to seal the opening in the heart. It is designed to allow the physician to insert it through the aortic or pulmonary artery, as well as to retrieve and redeploy the device for optimal placement. Because the device is deployed in a minimally invasive procedure, many of the premature babies who are critically ill in the neonatal intensive care unit are able to be weaned from artificial respirator support soon after the procedure.

"This product is a potentially life-saving advance that will help us treat these delicate infants who might otherwise not be able to survive," said Dr. Edwin Francis, Senior Consultant, Head of Paediatric Cardiology Department, Lisie Hospital, Ernakulum. He further added, This is an excellent pre-loaded device, which means it doesnt need much preparation, and has a softer profile that is easy to deploy. It has more variety in terms of size and is therefore suitable for babies of different ages and weight.
In celebration of Youth Day and Youth Month, the South African State Theatre will host its annual Youth Expressions Festival (YEF) from 16 to 30 June.

The festival is a celebration of the youths creative spirit that remembers the past while reflecting on today and interrogating the hopes of tomorrow. The youth of 1976 had the drive and energy to make a difference and challenge the norms and forced norms, this is what the current youth is still doing, finding ways to overcome their new challenges.

Youth Expressions Festival lineup

Tokologo The Musical Garment

This years instalment will converge under the national governments Youth Day and Youth Month theme: The Year of Charlotte Mannya Maxeke: Growing youth employment for an inclusive and transformed society.This year marks the 45th anniversary of the 16 June 1976 student uprising in Soweto, when young people protested the imposition of Afrikaans by the Apartheid regime as a medium of instruction. The uprising ended tragically with hundreds of young people being brutally killed. Whilst aimed at empowering young creatives, the festival remembers the essence of Youth Month in South Africa.Education Youth Childrens Theatre manager, Thabiso Qwabe, comments:Inaugurated in 2008, the YEF has been an empowering platform of growth for many young artists that developed to be masters in their crafts. It provides funding for productions, shares door sales with artists, and creates multiple employment for young artists using curated productions. The festival is inclusive of dramaturgy for artists productions and workshops in partnership with the South African Revenue Services (Sars) and DALRO, which educate and empower young creatives on how to be tax compliant and on ways to protect their works.The 2020 edition of the festival could not take place last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Amid the current third wave scare, the show goes with limited attendees under strict Covid-19 regulations. New exciting artistic works by young creatives telling their stories in various art forms are in store for festival attendees. In our selection of featured artists and works, we were eyeing creativity, new stories and thought-provoking works across all genres in the arts. We were also looking at creating opportunities nationally and internationally, but the pandemic has put a limit to access to such artists, adds Qwabe.Thought, created and curated by Nancy Ndaba, Abigail Mabeba and Linah Mokoena, 16-19 June. This is a visual art exhibition symbolising free expression. It draws inspiration from various artists in the art industry. Ideas, expression, speech, and creativity is what completes it. The trio makes use of simple traditional media that one can easily find at any art shop.Kgaube, written and directed by Thabang Gabogope, 16-18 June. Kgaube is a drama exploring the journey of a son of a traitor who wants to redeem his name. He joins the kgaubes (politicians) and disguises as one of them to steal water and give it to the people of Ipelegeng Township and becomes a traitor himself. What must happen to corrupt politicians? However, if it is the system then who is part of it?Tokologo The Musical Garment, written and directed by Zinhle Mbokane, 16-18 June. This is a children's theatre piece following two boys on a quest of discovery on music notes and the gift of song that was handed down to them mysteriously by an unknown creature. As they embark on the journey alone without the supervision of an elder, they come across an unexpected friend in the enchanted forest. Their new friend has a mischievous plan of action under his sleeve, landing the boys at an unforeseen destination.The Iron, written by Emmanuel Mashigo, and co-directed by Sphiwe Malusi and Emmanuel Mashigo, 19-21 June. The Iron is a story of a single, humble and loving father Edwin Malunga, who is raising his daughter through fixing irons. This heart-racing drama takes a sharp turn when Edwin remarries a woman named Mantwa, who starts chaos which lands his family in hot waters.Skroplaap, written and directed by Tsietsi Morobi, 21-23 June. Skroplaap is a drama that explores homelessness and displacement as seen through the eyes of Magents and Pops. The two friends find themselves relegated to the hard concrete and are forced to fend for themselves in ways unimaginable. This comedy and drama offering uses elements of poor theatre to drive its narrative.Zazi (Know Yourself), curated by Nombuso Wanda, 21-25 June. In this visual art exhibition, virtual artist Nombuso Wanda is joined by exhibitors Khulekani Mkhize, Kwanda Xaba, Mpilo Mthembu, Nothando Mazibuko to tackle misrepresentations of identity in the Black communities. It delves on issues of substance abuse, challenges of child-headed homes and how these challenges affect the daily lives of the black youth and its purpose in this life.Bapa, directed and choreographed by Phuti Mojela, 23-25 June. Featuring Teresa Phuti Mojela (choreographer), Billy Langa (text writer) and Ntsika Fana Ngxanga (music composer), Bapa is an exciting fusion of music, dance and theatre highlighting the link between us and our forefathers  in our gifts, personal traits and spirituality and, most importantly, in our connection with art and creativity. It begs the compelling question: Are you content with the blueprint you are writing for those not yet born in your clan?Peace is of a Struggle, directed by Phomolo Sekamotho and Lefa Biya, 25 June. This poetry and music showcase inquires into the struggles of the Fees Must Fall movement. The concept itself emanates from Piece is of a Puzzle and speaks to the fragmentation of people, the vastness, the constant overcoming and recollection of history and other struggles- The struggle for free education and the struggle for equity. It features executive producers and writers: Phomolo Sekamotho, Mpotseng Sehume, Sifiso Matsimela, Bongani Sithole, Sakhile Thebethe and Moketso Mahlangu.Mkhukhu Experience Theatre Edition, 26 June. This is a stylistically spoken word poetry saturated in modern indigenous sounds comprising a mix of Afro-jazz and contemporary music suggesting influences from a wide music range of Africa, giving the audience a real experience of South African music and culture. It features Kefiloe Leeka (music producer), Price Mabaso (writer), Lehlogonolo Seodisha (content director).Mowa (Mailakgang), written by Orapeleng Diphoko and Kagiso Shomolekae, directed by Orapeleng Diphoko, 28-30 June. Presented in collaboration with Mmabana Arts and Culture Foundation, Mowa (Mailakgang) is a play based on the story of a young man named Tsholofelo, who finds himself lost in the cave of the third eye and got trapped by a fiendish man called Mosala, who has superstitious powers that he uses to enslave prophets inside a cave. The story divulges the power of witchcraft and ancestors.All YEF shows are priced at R80 per ticket. Entrance for visual art productions is free. Tickets can be obtained at Webtickets, available online, over the counter at Pick n Pay stores nationwide, and at State Theatres box office.
Katlego Letsoalo is a rising talent in the South African mining industry, and he would like to see is more young people playing a role in the future direction of the sector. He is currently the monitoring and evaluation specialist with the Minerals Council South Africa,

Katlego Letsoalo, monitoring and evaluation specialist, Safety and Sustainable Development Department, Minerals Council South Africa. Image: Mining Indaba

Tell us how you landed up in the mining industry?

What transformation would you like to see in the mining industry?

What are the lessons you've learnt from the pandemic and the lockdown?

What are some of your career highlights?

Where do you want to be in five years?

Who inspires you?

What is top of your bucket list and why?

I matriculated at a time when the mining industry was growing and there was a particular focus on Africa. I had the opportunity to either study accounting or engineering but found that the accounting bursaries were mainly aimed at supporting female students. I ended up getting an engineering bursary with a mining company.There is often conversation around creating a new mining industry, but there is limited representation of young people in executive decision-making roles despite the African population being 60% youth. The key transformation I would like to see in the industry is more young people being entrusted with the opportunity to influence the strategic direction of mining companies and the sector.The importance of mental health and creating a healthy work-life balance. One of the disadvantages of technology is how we carry work around with us 24/7.A key highlight is forming part of a team that compiled the International Labour Organization (ILO) plan of action on youth employment 20202030 that was endorsed in November 2020. This action plan is key given the current youth unemployment figures in Africa. Another highlight was being identified as one of 23 future leaders in extractives and African development by the University of Cape Town.I want to be considered as a thought leader within the mining sector.Dr Gordon Smith (Anglo American Platinum) and Billy Mawasha (Kolobe Nala). Dr Smith was instrumental in the turnaround strategy for Anglo American Platinum, while Billy Mawasha is known for breaking age barriers  he is one of the youngest executives in the mining industry.I would like to go on a silverback gorilla tour in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as I feel like the experience would immerse me in nature and the overall cultural offering of the DRC.
After acquiring a Diploma in Public Relations in 2018, Keowin Knowlden immediately started working as an intern at Atmosphere Communications. This opportunity launched his PR career and after a mere two years in the industry he became an account manager at just 24-years-old. Knowlden has been part of a team who has won several awards, including a Loeries in 2018 and Prisms in 2019 and 2021...
Hong Kongs new "national security" law -- thrust on it by the Chinese government thats supposed to stay out of Hong Kongs governmental business until 2047 -- continues to increase the amount of censorship in the supposedly still-independent region.

Once the Chinese government began interfering, Hong Kong residents revolted. This only encouraged the Chinese government to apply a heavier hand. The new law allows prosecutors to seek life sentences for anti-government protesting. It also hands police the power to censor the internet and compel assistance to decrypt communications.

To further ensure its desires go unchallenged, the Chinese government adopted a resolution that forced four pro-democracy legislators out of office in Hong Kong. This led to another dozen sympathetic lawmakers resigning from their positions in protest. Unfortunately, this means there are even fewer Hong Kong politicians willing to stand up to the Chinese governments impositions.

The national security law has already enabled the punishment of dissent, censored the internet, silenced pro-democracy press, and ousted pro-democracy legislators. Now its coming for culture, seeking to limit Hong Kong residents to government-approved creative works.

The updated rules announced Friday require Hong Kong censors considering a film for distribution to look out not only for violent, sexual and vulgar content, but also for how the film portrays acts which may amount to an offense endangering national security. Anything that is objectively and reasonably capable of being perceived as endorsing, supporting, promoting, glorifying, encouraging or inciting such acts is potential grounds for deeming a film unfit for exhibition, the rules now say.

This gives China-approved censors the freedom to forbid anything they perceive as being anti-China. And its not just limited to content. The rules also allow films to be censored if the perceived "effect" of viewers of the work might cross the multiple lines the Chinese government says now threaten the security of the nation.

The new rules have already had their intended impact on theaters and filmmakers, including those participating in an annual Hong Kong film festival.

A local cinema was pressured into scrapping the screening of a documentary on the fierce clashes between police and radical protesters occupying the Hong Kong Polytechnic University at the height of the social unrest, while the M+ Museum in the citys cultural hub came under similar pressure not to show exhibits deemed to be anti-China art. In a separate development on Friday, organisers of the Fresh Wave International Short Film Festival, which nurtures local young film talent, cancelled its screenings for Far From Home, saying the Office for Film, Newspaper and Article Administration had failed to issue either a certificate of approval or notice of refusal to approve in time.

And so it continues. China isnt going to wait until 2047 to take control of Hong Kong. It wants subservience now. The pro-democracy protests that have rocked Hong Kong for the past few years will continue. But it looks as though Chinas national security mandates will ultimately turn Hong Kong into a directly controlled subsidiary of the Chinese government a couple of decades ahead of schedule.
In the wake of sex scandals that have rocked the British charity, an Oxfam staff training document says privileged white women are supporting the root causes of sexual violence by wanting "bad men" imprisoned.

The Telegraph reports that the four-week 'learning journey' states that: Mainstream feminism centres on privileged white women and demands that bad men be fired or imprisoned. Accompanied by a cartoon of a crying white woman, it adds that this legitimises criminal punishment, harming black and other marginalised people.

The PowerPoint recommends staff read Me Not You: The Trouble with Mainstream Feminism, a book by Alison Phipps, a professor of gender studies at Sussex University.

It then links to the academic's Twitter account, including a thread which summarises the main themes of the book, including: "White feminist tears deploy white woundedness, and the sympathy it generates, to hide the harms we perpetuate through white supremacy."

Alison Phipps told MailOnline today:

"I can't comment on the Oxfam training materials as I haven't seen them, but my book is grounded in a long tradition of feminist thought and politics that sees criminal punishment as part of the problem and not the solution... I would never tell a survivor of sexual violence what to do, but I would like us to have better choices than criminal punishment, media exposure, or silence."

Summarising the books central premise, the Oxfam document says white feminists need to ask themselves whether they are causing harm when they fight sexual violence.

However, the charity was warned on Wednesday night that the document, compiled by its LGBT network and seen by The Telegraph, could breach equality laws as it suggests reporting rape is "contemptible".

Naomi Cunningham, a discrimination and employment law barrister, says the document may breach the Equality Act, which bans harassment in the workplace on the basis of sex.

The message seems to be that a woman who reports a rape or sexual assault to the police and presses charges is a contemptible white feminist, said Ms Cunningham. I think any woman could make an arguable case that this has created or contributed to an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment, which is how the Equality Act defines harassment.

The Telegraph concludes with the following (rightly) furious words from feminist writer Julie Blindel:

"Calling women who have been traumatised by male sexual violence or campaign against it "privileged" because they are white is staggeringly offensive. To further claim that white women give more power to the police by reporting their rapists loses sight of the fact that if sexual predators did not face serious consequences, they remain a danger to all women. Does Phipps imagine that when "white, privileged" women demand that sexual harassers be removed from a workplace that they do not care if these men go on to rape impoverished black women? In suggesting white women are "racist" or harm black and marginalised people when they speak out about rape is nothing more than a warning for them to shut up."

Is nothing beyond this CRT-enthused madness?
The U. S. Space Force successfully launched the Tactically Responsive Launch-2 (TacRL-2) mission on a Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base on June 13 at 4:11 a.m. EDT, delivering a technology demonstration satellite to Low Earth Orbit.

The U. S. Space Force successfully launched the Tactically Responsive Launch-2 (TacRL-2) mission on a Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base on June 13 at 4:11 a.m. EDT, delivering a technology demonstration satellite to Low Earth Orbit.

Pegasus, the world's first privately-developed commercial space launch vehicle, is an air-launched three staged rocket carried aloft by Northrop Grumman's specially modified "Stargazer" L-1011 aircraft. Shortly after its release from Stargazer, at approximately 40,000 feet above the Pacific Ocean, Pegasus ignited its first stage, beginning its successful flight carrying TacRL-2 to its intended orbit.

Tactically responsive launch, as a concept, seeks to introduce speed, agility, and flexibility into the launch enterprise in order to respond to dynamic changes in the space domain or an operational theater and insert or replace assets on orbit much faster than standard timelines to meet emerging combatant command requirements.
Hunter Biden's private equity firm invested millions of dollars in a Chinese state-owned nuclear power plant operator whose French partner warned the White House that the Taishan Nuclear Power Plant in Guangdong province was in danger of an "imminent radiological threat" due to a build-up of noble gasses in the cooling system of one of the facility's two reactors, according to the National Pulse.

The incident has been downplayed by the Biden administration, which told CNN that the facility is not yet at a "crisis level," and does not pose a severe safety threat to workers at the plant or Chinese public. But is there more to it?

As the National Pulse's Natalie Winters reported on Monday:

The Biden teams lack of concern comes as the primary operator of the China-based plant  China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN)  counts millions in investment from Hunter Biden. BHR Partners  the private equity firm where Hunter Biden served as a director since 2013  was a $10 million cornerstone investor in CGNs initial public offering. Occurring in 2014, the IPO was the second largest of the entire year, valued at over $3 billion. The company, which Hunter Biden reportedly retains a sizable stake in, still lists GCN as part of its portfolio on its website.

BHR PORTFOLIO (via National Pulse)

What's more, in 2017 a CGN consultant was sentenced to two years in prison by the DOJ for approaching and enlisting "U.S. based nuclear experts to provide integral assistance in developing and producing special nuclear material in China," and "did so without registering with the Department of Justice as an agent of a foreign nation or authorization from the U.S. Department of Energy."

"Theft of our nuclear technology by foreign adversaries is of paramount concern to the FBI. Along with our local, state and federal partners, we will aggressively investigate those who seek to steal our technology for the benefit of foreign governments," said FBI Special Agent Renae McDermott at the time.

As we noted on Monday, the US government is analyzing a reported leak at a China's Taishan Nuclear Power Plant, after a French company that co-owns and helps operate it warned of an "imminent radiological threat," according to CNN, citing US officials and documents reviewed by the outlet.

According to AFP, "EDF reported earlier a build-up of noble gases in one of the two reactors' primary circuits, which is part of the cooling system," adding "Noble gases are elements which have low chemical reactivity -- in this case it was xenon and krypton."
When receiving information about the world its necessary to scrutinize not just the information, but also the means by which the information was brought to your attention and who could benefit from its circulation. Few bother doing all of these things, which is why most people are confused about the world.

The fact that Biden is continuing all of Trumps policies means those who believed Trump was fighting the establishment must now admit that either (A) they were wrong or (B) Biden is also fighting the establishment.

The only people promoting the idea that Joe Biden has dementia are right wingers, left wingers, and Joe Biden.

People tell me I should criticize Bidens policies and not his obvious mental decline, but a very clear sign that the most powerful government on earth is not being run by its elected officials is actually an extremely noteworthy fact that everyone should be talking about.

The only face more suitable for the US empire than a sociopathic billionaire is a decrepit warmongering corporate whore with dementia.

When imperialists say an issue is complicated what they really mean is that a very simple matter has been covered over by a lot of complicated spin and propaganda narratives.

I tried to infiltrate MSNBC and CNN but they wont hire me because I have no CIA experience.

Jimmy Dore lives so rent-free in Cenk Uygurs head that BlackRock is trying to buy it.

The best way to get rich as an intelligence agent is to run media influence operations posing as a former intelligence agent.

The main difficulty with socialism is that when a nation tries to move away from the most toxic aspects of capitalism, the most toxic aspects of capitalism immediately begin arming local proxy militias and working to cut it off from the world economy.

Any evil deeds you suspect the US empire might be perpetrating in secret are probably not as bad as what it is doing openly in Yemen as you read this sentence.

A society which supports the butchery in Yemen is not going to abandon factory farming and animal cruelty. We are very, very far from treating our animal cousins properly if we cant even stop slaughtering our own.

The difference between a centrist Democrat and a progressive Democrat is that one favors slow incremental changes which never actually happen, whereas the other favors slow incremental changes which never actually happen.

The shrinking audiences for The Intercept and TYT shows theres not actually much demand for the area between (A) real criticism of capitalist imperialism and (B) MSNBC. Once your eyes begin to open you tend to move quickly from mainstream to radical without hovering in between.

My whole life is interacting with binary-minded dimwits. You hate Democrats so you must be a Republican. You criticize the US empire so you must think China is perfect. Youre skeptical of the Pentagons UFO narrative so you must think all UFOs are weather balloons and swamp gas.

I know this UFO thing doesnt interest some of my regular readers, or leftists in general, but it is a major news story of a highly suspicious nature which just so happens to fit in nicely with preexisting US cold war objectives. It does need critical coverage and analysis.

Mainstream media: We must stop the spread of crazy conspiracy theories even if we have to censor the entire internet.

Also the mainstream media: The US military says its been lying about UFOs for decades and maybe space aliens are flying around above your house.

Mainstream media pundits now believe UFOs are real because the US war machine told them so, which says very little about UFOs but says a lot about mainstream media pundits.

If youre going to accept that (1) UFOs are being piloted by non-human intelligence, (2) that their focus is on nuclear weapons facilities, and (3) that sightings are becoming more common, youll have to conclude that they ramp up operations whenever we engage in insane cold war escalations.

My point of course is not that these are aliens (I have no idea what any of this stuff is), its that any position that accepts points 1, 2 and 3 should logically want less militarism, not more. Which will be important to keep in mind as Official Narratives unfold going forward.

People bitch when I say landlords shouldnt be a thing like How dare you, Im a landlord and I collect rent to pay for my retirement! Well, nobody should have to build their retirement on the economic premise of a permanent underclass. If they do, something has gone very wrong.

I heard someone say mothers are expected to work like they dont have kids and parent like they dont have a job, and that really says it all. This impossibly high-pressure way of existing is the equality mainstream feminism has given us.

I feel kind of silly about how I used to try and explain why I write about some issues and not others. I write entirely from inspiration; Ive never once felt like Im in control of what dances its way into my head. The honest answer is I write what I write and I dont know why.

_______________________

The best way to get around the internet censors and make sure you see the stuff I publish is to subscribe to the mailing list for at my website or on Substack, which will get you an email notification for everything I publish. My work is entirely reader-supported, so if you enjoyed this piece please consider sharing it around, following me on Facebook, Twitter, Soundcloud or YouTube, or throwing some money into my tip jar on Ko-fi, Patreon or Paypal. If you want to read more you can buy my books. Everyone, racist platforms excluded, has my permission to republish, use or translate any part of this work (or anything else Ive written) in any way they like free of charge. For more info on who I am, where I stand, and what Im trying to do with this platform, click here.

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by Kit Klarenberg

This piece was first published by Covert Action Magazine. It is reproduced here with the author's permission.



Protesters in Minsk - bigger

The at-times fiery protests that raged across Belarus throughout 2020 had largely fizzled out by the time local activist and seeming neo-Nazi Roman Protasevich was dramatically arrested in May this year.

Now, the country has been catapulted back to the top of the mainstream news agenda, with new life breathed into controversial self-appointed President Svetlana Tikhanovskayas hitherto unheeded calls for Western leaders to recognize her as the legitimate Belarusian leader.

True to form though, not a single mainstream outlet has deigned to mention that for many years prior to the unrests eruption, London and Washington had funded, trained, and promoted the very elements that took to the streets in opposition to President Alexander Lukashenko.

Not Worth Peoples Blood

In April 2019, the RAND Corporationa U.S. government think-tankpublished a report, Extending Russia: Competing from Advantageous Ground.

It outlined a range of possible means to extend Russia, defined as measures to bait Russia into overextending itself in order to undermine the regimes stability.

Drawing on quantitative and qualitative data from Western and Russian sources, this report examines Russias economic, political, and military vulnerabilities and anxieties and then analyzes potential policy options to exploit themideologically, economically, geopolitically, and militarily along with the likelihood that [these policy options] could be successfully implemented.

A dedicated section of the 354-page report dealt with promoting regime change in Belarus. It noted that, among other welcome outcomes, denying Russia its one and only true ally would be a clear geopolitical and ideological gain for the West, undermining Moscows proposed Eurasian Economic Union, complicating any attempt to employ military force against the Baltic States, and further isolating Kaliningrad, the Russian exclave situated between Lithuania and Poland.

Fomenting unrest in Belarus was said to present an opportunity to extend Russia by aiding the opposition, removing a long-standing Russian-allied dictator, and supporting liberalization. Aid to Lukashenkos opposition could come in a variety of forms, ranging from public declarations of support by U.S. leaders to more direct financial and organizational assistance helping the opposition parties.

Such a course of action was nonetheless forecast to be extremely risky, and likely to fail. For one, the Belarusian opposition mounting a serious challenge to Lukashenko was considered unlikely, and in any event would likely prompt Russia to employ political and economic pressure to keep the regime in place, if not intervene in the situation militarily, and produce greater local repression from authorities.

Furthermore, there was little tangible public appetite for democratization. RAND cited a 2015 survey conducted by the Independent Institute for Socio-Economic and Political Research, which found that 78% of Belarusians believed regime change was not worth peoples blood and 70% did not want a Ukrainian-style revolution.

People dont want more freedom. They want more government. They want the better life they used to have, a Belarusian expert quoted in the report said in 2017.

Promoting liberalization in Belarus was predicted to require European support, and given the bloc faced a host of other challenges from Ukraine to refugees to Brexit, Brussels [European Union] might not want to add Belarus to the mix and rock the boat.

Still, there was perceived value to attempting to precipitate regime change even if the effort ultimately failed as such a campaign would create apprehensions among Russian leaders, making them worry about the prospect of such a movement in their own country. This would in turn prompt Moscow to reinforce its military presence and political influence within Belarus, burdening Russia with a weak, corrupt dependency and possibly even generating some degree of local resistance, the report approvingly suggested.

Essentially, were Moscow to commit resources to preserve its grasp over Belarus, it would extend Russia, by provoking the U.S. and its European allies to respond with harsher sanctions. In other words, mission accomplished.

Shadow Political Structure

The question of what if any impact this section of RANDs report had on U.S. policymakers subsequently is somewhat moot, given Washington had for some time prior to its publication provably been engaged in precisely the destabilization efforts proposed therein, by way of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED).

Founded in November 1983, then-U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director William Casey was central to its creation. He sought to construct a public mechanism to support groups and individuals overseas to engage in propaganda and political action undermining enemy governments from withinactivities historically organized and paid for clandestinely by the Agencyunder the bogus aegis of democracy and human rights promotion.

In 1991, senior NED official Allen Weinstein acknowledged that a lot of what we do today was done covertly 25 years ago by the CIA, and NEDs work often directly complements Langleys cloak-and-dagger work.

For example, during the Reagan administrations brutal secret war against Nicaraguas progressive Sandinista government during the 1980s, in which tens of thousands died, NED allocated millions of dollars to civic opposition entitiesincluding La Prensa, the countrys primary anti-Sandinista newspaper.

Concurrently, the CIA trained, funded, and armed the Sandinistas fascist opponents, the Contras. In particular, the Agencys Tayacan manual on guerrilla warfare was highly influential, leading the group to incite mob violence, neutralize government officials and civilian leaders, and attack soft targets such as schools and hospitals, among other hideous atrocities.

Publicly available data indicates the NED funded at least 159 civil society initiatives in Belarus, costing $7,690,689, from 2016 to 2020 alone.

While the projects have innocent-sounding titlesstrengthening regional youth initiatives; fostering freedom of the media; promoting civic journalismthe example of Ukraine indicates such endeavors can have highly incendiary results.

As investigative journalist Robert Parry documented after the March 2014 Maidan coup, the NED bankrolled 65 projects in Ukraine in the years prior to that uprising, in the process creating a shadow political structure of media and activist groups that could be deployed to stir up unrest when the Ukrainian government didnt act as desired.

Six months prior, long-time NED chief Carl Gershman wrote a chilling op-ed for The Washington Post in which he documented Moscows growing troubles in its near abroadthe constellation of countries that formerly comprised the Soviet Unionand how his organization was exploiting them to the full. Hailing Ukraine as the biggest prize, he explained that Russian democracy could also benefit from Kiev being absorbed into the Western fold.

Ukraines choice to join Europe will accelerate the demise of the ideology of Russian imperialism that Putin represents, Gershman wrote. Russians, too, face a choice, and Putin may find himself on the losing end not just in the near abroad but within Russia itself.

Further underlying the insidious efficacy of NEDs democracy-promotion activities, in May 2021 a pair of Russian pranksters posing as Belarusian opposition figures successfully duped high-ranking NED representatives into bragging about their involvement in the ongoing unrest in Belarus at the start of 2020.

Among many startlingly frank disclosures, Nina Ognianova, who oversees the NEDs work with opposition groups in the country, revealed that a lot of the people who were trained and educated via the organizations various endeavors in Minsk were pivotal to the events, or the build-up to the events, of last summer.

Gershman added that the organization was working with Svetlana Tikhanovskaya and her team very, very closely.

Malicious Violator

U.S. meddling in Belarus dates much further back than 2016. Five years earlier, an official White House press release on U.S.-Polish efforts to advance democracy worldwide had a dedicated section on the pairs work to pressure the Lukashenko government and support civil society, which stated the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) would work with the Warsaw-based Belsat TV station to develop content and programming on democracy education.

Founded in December 2007 by the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Belsat dubs itself reminiscent of U.S. propaganda outlets Radio Free Europe and Voice of Americaassets of BBG [now U.S. Agency for Global Media]describes its mission as promoting democratization processes in Minsk, and boasts that events in Ukraine have shown Belsat TV has influenced the public opinion not only in Belarus, but elsewhere in the region, too.

Belsat may well have influenced political action and policy too, with lethal consequences. For example, in May 2015 it broadcast a slick documentary about a young man who went to fight in the war in Donbas for Tactical Group Belarus, a Belarusian volunteer group spun out of Ukraines notorious Right Sector, a pro-government neo-Nazi militia.

The film was billed as the stirring tale of a brave protagonist [risking] his life  because he believes that the fate of his homeland depends on it, while every day facing potential extradition back to Minsk and years in prison, as his presence in Ukraine was illegal. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Lukashenko has repeatedly stated there is no place in Belarus for citizens who fight in the Donbas, and hundreds have been prosecuted for taking part in the conflict to date.

The documentarys politically charged subtext could not be more blatant, and six months after transmission, the government of then-President Petro Poroshenko answered its seeming call, amending the law to allow foreigners to legally serve in the Ukrainian armed forces, and instructing police and migration services to assist would-be recruits in joining.

This development was enthusiastically welcomed by Belsatin an article heralding the move, the broadcaster went to the shocking extent of providing the email and phone number of Tactical Group Belarus for any reader who wanted to help the guys.

How many Belarusians answered this call to arms, and went on to kill and/or be killed on the front lines, is an open question, although this obvious consideration clearly did little to dent the stations standing with Western powers.

On an official visit to Warsaw in late 2017, then-UK Prime Minister Theresa May allocated 5 million of UK funding to Polish organizations to detect and counter the spread of Russian information operations, with some of the money specifically earmarked for Belsat.

UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) files leaked by hacktivist collective Anonymous shed some light on the support provided by London to the station via Thomson Reuters Foundation (TRF), the internationally renowned newswires charitable arm.

In all, Belsat received 150 days of intensive consultancy in a three-month periodof which 97 were delivered in-countryfrom consultants, interpreters, and project and finance managers, among them Reuters staff.

If TRF sought to greatly ramp up Belsats propaganda capabilities, then its counsel was certainly successful. A Media IQ monitoring report on the stations compliance with journalistic standards when reporting public-political news September-December 2019 was utterly damning, finding it to be a malicious violator in respect to separating fact from opinion, a staggering 75% of its current affairs output contravening this basic principle during the period assessed.

Countering Malign Kremlin Influence

It seems likely TRFs guidance was informed by the findings of an extensive target audience analysis of Belarusian citizens perceptions and motivations conducted in January 2017, which sought to identify opportunities to appropriately communicate with them. The study was commissioned by the FCDO in January 2017, under the auspices of a 100 million Whitehall effort to weaken Russias influence in its near abroad.

In particular, London was interested in Belarusians existing or potential grievances against their national government that could be leveraged, and channels and messages through which the UK government could appropriately engage with different sub-groups.

The FCDOs target audience analysis was carried out by long-time Whitehall contractor Albany Associates, central to a number of Londons covert information warfare operations aimed at Russia.

In one such connivance, the firm sought to develop greater affinity among the regions Russian-speaking minority for the UK, European Union, and NATO. In another, it collaborated with French NGO IREX Europe to promote media plurality, balance and literacy in Central Asia.

In its submissions to the FCDO, Albany noted IREX had been working in Belarus since 2006 with print, online and radio outlets, to improve the quality of their coverage, and increase their understanding of the EU and EU member states. As part of its youth audience offering in the country, the organization was said to have founded Warsaw-based Euroradio, along with online outlet 34mag.

IREX is closely connected with the NED, and created Euroradio in 2006 with funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), another entity that has frequently been used to insidiously undermine governments in Washingtons crosshairs. Just like the FCDO, USAIDnow under the direction of war hawk Samantha Poweroperates a multi-faceted program targeted at Russias near abroad, Countering Malign Kremlin Influence, in alignment with U.S. national security strategy.

A 2015 report on backing provided by IREX to independent media across Eastern Europe under the terms of its cooperative agreement with USAID details Euroradios exponential rise following its launch. Within four years, it was also receiving sizable funding from the European Union and numerous foreign governments, and running elaborate promotional multimedia campaigns.

By 2008, it was sponsoring 300 events in the region annually, receiving significant free exposure by placing its banners at music and cultural events, including the annual Right to be Free concert in Lviv, Ukraine. Bands from Belarus, Ukraine, and elsewhere played to a 10,000-strong crowd, with many bused in from Belarus.

During the 2010 election, it broadcast live footage of protests following the vote via the web, Skype, and various instant messaging platforms, interviewed leading opposition candidates, reported on the arrests of protesters, reported from the election commission, and provided reports from six regions through regional stringers, tailoring its content and marketing efforts specifically for 17-35-year-olds.

These activities among others cemented Euroradio as Belaruss leading external radio broadcaster and, come 2012, its potential audience for terrestrial broadcasts was two million, more than one-fifth of the countrys population, the website receiving hundreds of thousands of visitors monthly.

Sugar Daddy of Overt Operations

Throughout 2020 and beyond, Euroradio almost endlessly published footage of violent crackdowns on protesters in Minsk, which in turn was routinely aired by the mainstream media. The BBC went to the extent of issuing an open call for activists on the ground to submit pictures and videos for use in its coverage, which Euroradio enthusiastically amplified.

It would be entirely unsurprising if much of the content featured in Western news reporting on the unrest was created by individuals and organizations secretly in receipt of funding and training from Open Information Partnership (OIP), the flagship strand of the FCDOs multi-pronged propaganda assault on Russia.

OIP maintains a network of 44 partners across Central and Eastern Europe, including journalists, charities, think tanks, academics, NGOs, activists, and factcheckers.

Internal Whitehall documents reveal one of its primary objectives is influencing elections taking place in countries of particular interest to the FCDO. It achieves this disruption by helping organizations and individuals produce slick propaganda masquerading as independent citizen journalism, which is then amplified globally via its network.

In Ukraine for example, OIP worked with a dozen online influencers to counter Kremlin-backed messaging through innovative editorial strategies, audience segmentation, and production models that reflected the complex and sensitive political environment, allowing them to reach wider audiences with compelling content that received over four million views.

Similarly, in Russia and Central Asia, OIP established a network of YouTubers, helping them create videos promoting media integrity and democratic values.

Participants were taught to make and receive international payments without being registered as external sources of funding and develop editorial strategies to deliver key messages, while the consortium minimized their risk of prosecution and managed project communications to ensure the existence of the network, and OIPs role, were kept confidential.

Belarus, along with Moldova and Ukraine, is referred to in the leaked files as the most vital space in the entire [OIP] network, and a high-impact priority country for London. This suggests its 2020 election was very much of interestand the shock results of Moldovas November 2020 presidential vote suggest OIPs informational influence can be decisive.

That election pitted upstart pro-Western Maia Sandu against incumbent pro-Russian leader Igor Dodon, with the former emerging victorious in a win widely acknowledged by the Western media to be surprising. Two Moldovan organizations, the Association of Independent Press and Newsmaker, are fellow OIP network members, and could well have served as conduits for FCDO-funded, pro-Sandu, anti-Dodon material.

Slovakian OIP member MEMO 98, coincidentally also funded by NED, published an extensive study of the election campaign, attributing Sandus upset to her social media Nous.

MEMO 98 similarly kept a close eye on the Belarus protests, publishing several analyses of media reporting and social media activity related to the strife, in the process drawing particular attention to the output of none other than Belsat, praising its extensive coverage of protests and related intimidation of activists.

In September 1991, The Washington Post published an article on the subject of spyless coups abroad, in which it referred to the NED as the sugar daddy of overt operations, and noted that throughout the late 1980s, it had dispensed money to anti-communist forces behind the Iron Curtain.

Covert funding for these groups would have been the kiss of death, if discovered. Overt funding, it would seem, has been a kiss of life, the newspaper concluded.

NED funding has very clearly been a kiss of life to a large number of oft-dubious opposition actors within and without Belarus, in turn unleashing all manner of chaosand whats more, its sugar daddy status is now being challenged by a number of other spectral, malign Western actors.

Whether these efforts ultimately fail or succeed in unseating the Lukashenko government is immaterial to the individuals and organizations responsible for instigating themfor merely attempting to do so serves the purpose of extending, and thus internationally isolating, Minsk and Moscow alike.
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Though Manitoba recorded its fewest number of daily cases in two months, the province isnt out of the woods yet.

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Though Manitoba recorded its fewest number of daily cases in two months, the province isnt out of the woods yet.

Just 124 new cases of COVID-19 were announced in Manitoba on Monday, the lowest daily total since April 19, when 109 cases were announced.

Chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin said despite the average number of cases declining, the provinces health-care system is still under a lot of strain. (Winnipeg Free Press)

Speaking at his regularly scheduled Monday afternoon media briefing, chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin said despite the average number of cases declining, the provinces health-care system is still under a lot of strain.

"Despite those decreases in numbers, were still seeing our hospitalization and ICU numbers remain high," Roussin said. "Were likely to see that continue for a couple weeks to come because thats a lagging indicator. In the past several days, weve seen those overall numbers of people in ICUs seem to have stabilized, but its still at that extremely high number.

"Again our data is showing the vast majority of people being admitted to ICUs are unvaccinated. Not trying to cast any blame on people  there are lots of reasons someone might not have gotten vaccinated as of yet  the point being showing that benefit to vaccine, that were not seeing any Manitobans vaccinated and protected being admitted to ICUs."

Mondays COVID-19 bulletin stated that the number of people in Manitobas ICUs because of COVID-19 is 60. A further 26 Manitobans are currently being treated in ICUs in Alberta and Ontario. Another 26 Manitobans have been returned to the province after their condition improved.

The doctor also said that the delta variant of the virus poses a risk to Manitoba, being more severe and more transmissible than other variants.

Seventy-eight cases of the delta variant have been detected in Manitoba so far, but those numbers havent been updated since Saturday.

The danger of the delta variant is even more reason why Manitobans should continue to be vigilant against the virus and get protected from it via vaccination, Roussin said.

"This is exactly why our reopening plans are so cautious," Roussin said. "Because we know if Manitobans continue to get vaccinated as soon as possible, if they continue to follow the fundamentals and the public health orders, were going to be in a position to continue our reopening plans. If we slow our progress with vaccine, if we see a spike in numbers again, its going to put our reopening plans in jeopardy."

Asked how Manitobas experiences with the second and third waves of the pandemic might change its approach to a spike in delta variant cases or a fourth wave, Roussin said there wouldnt be too many changes and that the vaccines have been the biggest factor in what changes public health have made so far.

"If we start seeing numbers rise again, we need to focus on those who have not yet been vaccinated, so were going to have to do that more targeted approach and try to reach those that have for whatever reason been more difficult to get shots in arms," he said.

He said it was still too early to tell if recent vaccination incentives the province has announced, like vaccination cards and a vaccination lottery, have made an impact on vaccination rates. However, Roussin did say that Manitoba should be on track to hit the vaccination milestones it set in order to remove some of the current restrictions in place on Canada Day.

Last week, Roussin and Premier Brian Pallister said that the first phase of Manitobas reopening plan would be implemented if the province reached 70 per cent of people aged 12 and older receiving their first COVID-19 vaccine dose and 25 per cent receiving their second dose by Canada Day.

On Monday, Manitobas online COVID-19 dashboard listed the 12-and-older vaccination rate as being at 69.3 per cent.

As of Wednesday, Ontario will be eliminating its border restrictions with Manitoba. Despite the removal of that barrier, Roussin said the buffer zone where Manitobans could travel as far east as Thunder Bay and back without having to self-isolate has not been reinstated.

The only way to prevent the 14-day quarantine upon return from domestic travel is to apply for a vaccination card, which Manitobans are eligible to do two weeks after they receive their second dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

 cslark@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @ColinSlark
A man who took part in a group beating a judge described as cowardly was sentenced to probation on Monday morning.

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A man who took part in a group beating a judge described as "cowardly" was sentenced to probation on Monday morning.

Robert Rae, 20, pleaded guilty to a group assault Crown attorney Thomas Boult said happened on June 9, 2020.

At approximately 6:45 p.m. that day, the victim was with a friend in a vehicle behind Brandons Staples, Boult told the court.

Rae and four other people arrived and one of the co-accused opened the passenger door and punched the victim in the face. He was then pulled out, Boult said, and surrounded by the attackers.

"He was struck a number of times by Mr. Rae," the Crown told the court.

Rae shoved the victim before punching him in the face and body, Boult said.

The victim was able to eventually escape and the accused all left the area. He arrived at Brandon police headquarters with a swollen right eye and a small cut under his eye, Boult said, but didnt need medical attention.

Boult, who called the incident a "group attack," said he tried to contact the victim for a victim impact statement before court but never received an answer.

One of Raes co-accused previously pleaded guilty to assault in the same incident and was sentenced to a year of supervised probation.

The Crown recommended a sentence of a conditional discharge by way of probation so Rae can show the court he can follow conditions for a year.

Defence lawyer Andrew Synyshyn said Rae was co-operative with police after he was arrested and it was his first time involved in the criminal justice system.

"(The incident) involves, basically, some vigilante-type style retribution here, which in discussing that with Mr. Rae, he now realizes thats not appropriate," he said.

Rae has also attended programming at the John Howard Society and knows not to take matters into his own hands.

Synyshyn jointly recommended the sentence with Boult.

Speaking to the court, Rae said he realizes what he did was "stupid" and has learned from it. He also apologized to the victim for his role in the attack.

Judge Patrick Sullivan, who also sentenced Raes co-accused, said the incident was "cowardly."

"I think the idea here was  vigilantism, and I think the idea of those participating was they were defending the honour of some third party, that this was some chivalrous act," Sullivan said.

"In my view, it was totally lacking in integrity. A five-on-one assault is not brave, it is not honourable and it is not acceptable."

Sullivan said Raes guilty plea demonstrates remorse for the incident and he said its meaningful he wants to apologize. Sullivan said he was also happy to hear Rae has reflected on the incident.

Sullivan sentenced Rae to a one-year conditional discharge through one-year of unsupervised probation. He also added a condition for Rae to write the victim an apology letter within the next 30 days.

 dmay@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @DrewMay_
Although the Black Lives Matter movement isnt as publicly visible in Brandon now as it was a year ago, social justice causes remain well supported in the community.

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Although the Black Lives Matter movement isnt as publicly visible in Brandon now as it was a year ago, social justice causes remain well supported in the community.

Sparked in part by last years murder of George Floyd, a Black man, by a police officer during an arrest in Minneapolis, the movement hit Brandon via public parades and rallies in June 2020.

On June 11, hundreds of people marched down city streets toward Princess Park, where a rally was held to discuss not only anti-Black racism but also all manner of racism and prejudice.

This was followed by another such rally two days later.

One of the driving forces behind local efforts was Brandonites Engaged Against Repression (BEAR), which although less visible since that time has maintained a social media presence.

"As the pandemic continues we find it increasingly difficult to host community events and achieve community activism through our group," BEAR administrator and activist Alexis Cinq-Mars said via emailed correspondence.

The organizations namesake Facebook page, which had 995 members as of Sunday, "is a place where Brandonites can remain informed on racial issues and find like-minded individuals."

Their goal, she said, is "to create space for our community to celebrate our diversity," and doesnt limit their advocacy to one racial group, but social justice causes in general.

BEARs next big project will be partnering with the Assiniboine Community College Student Association to run a letter campaign to their local MLA to advocate for ground searches on former residential school sites.

Similar to the George Floyd murder, last months discovery of 215 bodies buried at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School site provides another potential watershed moment for social justice.

It has also resulted in the most public social justice advocacy in Brandon since last years Black Lives Matter rallies, including a four-day sacred fire at the Riverbank Discovery Centre grounds and the installation of 215 orange crosses along the medians of the citys busiest streets.

FILE Jordan Wilson and Paul Fowell install the first of 215 orange crosses in Brandon last week at the intersection of First Street and Victoria Avenue.

The crosses were the brainchild of Jordan Wilson, who while not a member of BEAR, shares a similar dedication for social justice causes.

From what she has seen, Wilson said its safe to say theres a lot more local support for social justice causes than there is opposition.

"It was really overwhelming in so many good ways," she said of the experience. "Its coming to that point to me where I dont want to shut my brain off  I want to keep looking and seeing what I can do to help."

The crosses went up for four days beginning June 6, but after a few days it was found someone had knocked down a number of them.

By the time Wilson visited the scene to repair them, someone had already put them back up.

"They were taped together and it was really sweet because they fixed them. They had some bumps and bruises, but isnt that how life is, though?" she said, adding she wishes nothing but the best for those who damaged the crosses.

"Whatevers troubling them, I hope they can overcome it."

Between this, the positive feedback on social media and the group of volunteers who came together to support the cause, she said there appears to be a strong appetite for social justice in Brandon.

A number of people have also opted to take crosses home to put up in their yards in order to help keep the victims of residential schools at the forefront of public discourse.

Judging from the reaction she has received, Wilson said its likely social justice causes will become more amplified in the coming months as the pandemic restrictions lift and public efforts become less stifled by health measures.

"Theyre going to grow," she said. "Theyre going to be heard more  I think their goals are going to actually be implemented."

 tclarke@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @TylerClarkeMB
The approximately 30 thoracic cancer surgeries performed each year in Brandon will now be done in Winnipeg.

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The approximately 30 thoracic cancer surgeries performed each year in Brandon will now be done in Winnipeg.

A reader, frustrated to learn the surgeries were being centralized in Winnipeg, alerted the Sun to the issue on Friday.

A Shared Health spokesperson clarified the situation, noting the shift is "expected to improve patient outcomes by ensuring higher-risk surgeries are performed by more specialized surgical teams."

The new standard of care will "ensure thoracic surgery cancer patients get the most comprehensive cancer care they can in the province."

This change aligns with the Pan-Canadian Standards for Thoracic Surgery, which recommends all thoracic cancer surgeries be performed at a site with at least three thoracic surgeons on staff.

The spokesperson clarified no staff will be lost at the Brandon Regional Health Centre as a result of this change, and that they are considering options to support the efficient transportation of patients to and from Winnipeg.

Responding to the news on Saturday, Manitoba NDP Leader Wab Kinew said the centralization of these surgeries in Winnipeg is a loss for Westman.

"I think that when people are struggling with something as challenging as cancer, we want them to get the best-quality care as close to home as possible," he said.

"When people have to travel for care, it adds a whole other level of complexity, and so I think theres going to be a lot of folks in Brandon and the surrounding area who are wondering why they have to go down the highway now for something previously provided close to home."

Kinew cited this as a continuation of a trend in cancer care that included last years consolidation of CancerCare Manitoba services in Winnipeg from six units to four.

"I think the type of consolidation were seeing in Manitoba now is leading to some of the challenges were seeing in health care during the pandemic," he said.

"Consolidation is not resulting in more services for people being delivered at fewer sites, were just seeing fewer services, or were seeing lower quality of service delivered to Manitobans."

With Brandon a regional hub for Prairie Mountain Health, Kinew said he would have liked to have seen options considered other than shifting services down the highway to Winnipeg.

"I think we do need to look really closely to make sure (Brandon) has as strong services as possible," he said.

"When were talking about something as difficult as cancer, lets try and make that journey as easy as possible for everybody, and getting care closer to home certainly makes it easier during a difficult time."

 tclarke@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @TylerClarkeMB
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Sunkawakhan.

It is the Lakota word meaning "holy dog." And is the word the Dakota First Nations people use to describe a horse.

On Monday, the Unity Riders from Sioux Valley Dakota Nation and support riders from a few surrounding communities, gathered at Grand Valley Provincial Park with their horses and rode the close to nine kilometres in 28 C heat for the 104 Indigenous children whose unmarked graves sit at the site of the former Brandon Indian Residential School just off Grand Valley Road.

Tony Tacan is a councillor with the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation. He teamed up with Travis Mazawasicuna, head of the Unity Riders from Sioux Valley. Together, they managed to organize riders and their horses to make the trek to the site.

"Right now, First Nations everywhere are making this awareness a goal. We need to keep that momentum going so this isnt swept under the rug or hidden or (not get) talked about. Now, every First Nation community across this country should contribute something. And in small ways everything works."

There were more than 12 horses, riders and support teams preparing for the ride. An Elder wore a traditional headdress and clothing to ride his horse.

Another man wove his way around horses and riders while holding a smouldering traditional smudge to bless the area they stood in.

"See," Tacan points out. "Everybodys coming together without being told, they want to contribute. Thats a welcome sight. Were just bringing awareness to the issue. We dont want nobody to forget."

When Tacan hears how some people want to leave the issue of buried Indigenous children in unmarked graves in the past, he bristles.

"Yes, it was in the past, but we cannot allow it to be forgotten. Its a very bad moment in history, and (we need) to create awareness so it never happens again.

"We have to make sure that these children arent forgotten. The descendants of these children need to know where they are," he said.

In the Dakota culture, horses provide a sacred connection to healing.

"The horse really lifts people up," Tacan said." They see the horse come in. And thats what our intentions are to make people feel good. That theyre not alone. We know there are survivors coming in, one at a time, to look at the grounds, and theyre having hard times. Theyre remembering."

Tacan said we are all in this together and that the non-Indigenous community is feeling the effects of what happened and beginning to understand.

The Unity Riders from Sioux Valley Dakota Nation and support riders make their way along Grand Valley Road on Monday. The group rode to the former Brandon Indian Residential School site from the Grand Valley Campground in honour of residential school victims and survivors. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)

"Ive asked our non-native friends and relatives to personalize it. What if that was your child? What would you do?" he asked.

"Look at your granddaughter. What if that was you? And you cant find them? And then you find out theyre in a burial plot somewhere without any ceremony or (didnt) even let the parents know their child passed away?"

"Thats not human. History will always show theres a certain group that will say, Get over it. Or forget about it, that was in the past. But how are we going to learn for the future and learn from the past so that we cant repeat these things?"

Tacan said while the ride is significant, Indigenous childrens unmarked graves need to be kept on the front burner during elections for chiefs and council members.

"Im talking about every community. Every leadership that has an election needs to remember this issue and just keep it going."

Travis Mazawasicuna and his wife Helena own about 28 horses at Sioux Valley Dakota Nation. Mazawasicuna knows how spiritual the horses can be for people and has stepped into the boots his uncle left behind for him to fill after he died, heading Unity Riders.

He encourages spiritual healing through the horses.

"Today, we ride for the survivors. Theres still a lot of living through the historical trauma, and now its been passed onto the children and grandchildren."

Theres a connection with the horse. You become one, he said. Mazawasicuna has travelled hundreds of kilometres on horseback, spreading awareness and healing of his people.

On the hill, just up the road, overlooking a large field, sit 104 orange hearts. Its like a beacon as you drive by. One for every unmarked grave of an Indigenous child.

A herd of deer lope across the lower field. "Look, do you see the deer?" a survivor pointed out.

She stood, with other survivors, in the heat, waiting for the horses to come. The very old sat while the very young played under canopies of shade on the site that was once the Brandon residential school.

There were quiet conversations in their Indigenous language. Soft and melodic, it is difficult to reconcile how something so natural was such a negative experience for a young child in a residential school, so far from home.

The survivor recounted the stories others have told her. It is difficult to open up to a complete stranger. We settled for the stories through her. One Elder remembered other bodies buried, not just the 104. Children as young as three and a half years old were brought to the school. Most importantly, their ways and their language were forced from them so brutally that today they still speak their language in hushed tones.

Mazawasicuna and Tacan both recognize a solution to the problem has to be found.

"The people outside that dont understand, I think the history books have to be re-written. I think when everyone sings the national anthem, is it true? Were not free. This started a long time ago. Its a deep wound for Canada," Mazawasicuna said.

 kkielley@brandonsun.com
OTTAWA - Green Leader Annamie Paul is facing a no-confidence motion from party brass that could ultimately oust her from her perch atop the party.

Annamie Paul, leader of the Green Party of Canada, speaks at a news conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on June 10, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

OTTAWA - Green Leader Annamie Paul is facing a no-confidence motion from party brass that could ultimately oust her from her perch atop the party.

The leader of Quebec's Green party, Alex Tyrrell, said the federal party's governing body is poised to kick off a process Tuesday night that aims to dethrone Paul less than a year after she won the leadership.

The move follows months of internal strife over the party's direction and the leader's stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It also arrives less than a week after Jenica Atwin, one of three Green MPs, defected to the Liberals, citing the "distraction" of party turmoil over the latest Mideast crisis.

Paul said Tuesday, before word broke of the federal council's motion, that Atwin's stated rationale for crossing the floor was a "completely manufactured reason" and noted that the MP said the Green leader was not a key factor in her departure.

Tyrrell said he believes Paul should step aside after she failed, in his view, to unite disparate party factions and disavow comments from her former spokesman, Noah Zatzman, that accused Green MPs of antisemitism.

"I've never seen this level of conflict and discord within the federal Green party," Tyrrell said in an interview.

"I think that its time for Annamie to step back from the leadership for the good of the party. I think that the conflict has reached a point where its difficult for people to work within the party."

Paul rejected calls from the Greens' Quebec wing over the weekend to resign.

"I received a very strong mandate from our membership," she told reporters Tuesday. "I believe that I have been given the instructions to work on behalf of Canadians for green recovery, to work on behalf of Canadians to ensure that we complete our social safety nets and to forge a just society."

Paul won slightly more than half of the leadership vote on the eight ballot in October 2020.

The council vote slated for Tuesday night would need more than half of the body's current 15 members, who include Paul, to support it.

If the motion passes, the leader would have 30 days to prepare a response, after which a meeting would be held in mid-July on whether a leadership vote should go ahead. That second motion requires backing from three-quarters of the council, and would open the door to yet another motion to remove Paul from her post at a general meeting of party members.

A spokesperson for Paul confirmed that the federal council will convene a special session Tuesday evening, but declined to respond further to questions.

Green MPs Paul Manly and Elizabeth May  former party leader  did not comment on the slow-motion coup attempt playing out on their governing body.

In a joint statement hours after Atwin's defection on Thursday, May and Manly said "the attack against Ms. Atwin by the Green Party leader's chief spokesperson on May 14" set the stage for the lawmaker's departure.

Paul has said Atwin first reached out to Liberals before that date, however.

"As much as you try to bring everyone together, there are those that are going to continue to support others, including some of the other candidates who ran. I would just encourage them again to respect the will of the members," Paul said Tuesday.

A leadership review will follow the next federal election, she pointed out, "so the members will be able to pass judgment soon enough."

Tyrrell, who was one of more than a dozen contenders who initially signed on as leadership candidates, said Paul has failed to respect MP independence in a caucus that is not whipped.

But Paul said Monday that she and Atwin never had a conversation about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

"I had never, while she was an MP for our party, ever asked Ms. Atwin to rein in her comments. I have never sanctioned her in any way for her comments," Paul said.

She also noted that Atwin, who said in a Twitter post last month that Israel should "#EndApartheid," joined weeks later a party whose position on the conflict is "at least if not more moderate" than that of the Greens.

Operation Black Vote Canada said in a statement it was "disappointed and dismayed" to learn of the no-confidence motion.

"As the first Black Canadian to ever lead a major political party, the election of Ms. Paul represented a step forward in the mission to diversify our politics, and have more Canadians represented in the institutions that represent them. Today's developments represent a step backward in that endeavour," the group said.

Atwin's defection leaves the Green party with just two lawmakers in the House of Commons, reeling from ongoing fallout over policy disputes, power struggles and bruised egos.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 15, 2021.
OTTAWA - The Assembly of First Nations is chastising the federal government's legal challenge of a ruling to compensate First Nations children who were unnecessarily taken into foster care as "callous" and "heartless."

Tulips bloom in front of the Supreme Court of Canada in Ottawa, Thursday, May 10, 2018. Day two of a full week of scheduled hearings will be heard in Federal Court today on a case involving Indigenous children unnecessarily taken into foster care by what all parties call Canada's "broken child welfare system." THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

OTTAWA - The Assembly of First Nations is chastising the federal government's legal challenge of a ruling to compensate First Nations children who were unnecessarily taken into foster care as "callous" and "heartless."

Lawyers arguing on behalf of the AFN were in Federal Court Tuesday, arguing against Ottawa's attempts to set aside a 2019 Canadian Human Rights Tribunal decision that awarded $40,000 to each Indigenous child who was removed from their families and communities before 2006 by a systemically underfunded child-welfare system.

The ruling also said the payments should also be made to their caregivers, whether it be their parents and grandparents, as long as they were not found to have been abusive.

AFN lawyer David Nahwegahbow, whose focus in the hearings is largely to counter Canada's objection to awarding compensation to parents and caregivers, began his arguments today with a broad swipe at the federal government for forcing the tribunal's compensation ruling to a judicial review.

He pointed to the tribunal's landmark "merits decision" in 2016, which found Canada guilty of systemic discrimination against Indigenous children through the First Nations child welfare program and the government's refusal to implement Jordan's Principle.

This principle is named after young Jordan River Anderson from Norway House Cree Nation in Manitoba who died in hospital while the provincial and federal governments argued for years over which who should pay for his specialized care. After his death, the House of Commons unanimously passed a resolution saying that when different levels of government disagree about whos responsible for providing services to First Nations children, they must help a child in need first and argue over the bills later.

Since the initial human rights complaint on behalf of First Nations kids in care was filed by the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society and the AFN in 2008, and repeatedly since, Canada has tried to block it or seek appeals and has been issued a number of non-compliance orders by the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, all in an attempt to dodge paying damages, Nahwegahbow argued.

"Canada has engaged in a campaign of obstruction, delay, deflection and non-compliance in the legal proceedings alongside ongoing and knowing discriminatory conduct in its operations and utterly inconsistent political messaging to the Canadian and the First Nations public," he told the court Tuesday.

He took the court through order after order issued by the tribunal over the last five years, each spelling out its findings that while Canada may argue child welfare services are carried out by the provinces and territories, these services for Indigenous children and youth were funded by the federal government and its funding mechanisms were highly discriminatory. The rulings spell out ways in which Canada's funding mechanisms actually incentivized removing Indigenous kids from their families, as better services and more funding to help them was only made available by Ottawa once children were taken into care.

"Canada's conduct was devoid of caution, with little to no regard to the consequences of its behaviour toward First Nations children and families," the tribunal's 2019 order states.

"Canada focused on financial considerations rather than on the best interests of First Nations children and respecting their human rights."

Nahwegahbow argues this summary from the tribunal is the "only explanation" the AFN believes can be taken from Ottawa once again trying to appeal a tribunal decision awarding money to children and their families harmed by Canada's policies.

"We have also to remember that all this comes at a time when First Nations people, residential school survivors, Canadians and people all over the world are being reminded about the horrors of Indian Residential School," Nahwegahbow added.

"It is frankly heartless for Canada to be challenging the tribunal's decisions, particularly the compensation decision, on the basis there was insufficient evidence to establish harms resulting from the removal of First Nations children from their families, homes and communities.

"How can they question that removing children from families causes harm?"

The tribunal's 2019 ruling said Ottawa wilfully and recklessly discriminated against Indigenous children living on-reserve by not properly funding child and family services and awarded each child, and their parents or grandparents, $40,000 in compensation.

The federal government's lawyer, Robert Frater, told Federal Court Justice Paul Favel Monday the government contends the tribunal's award was far too broad and sweeping.

Frater argues the tribunal did not have the authority to award individual damages because it did not hear any evidence or testimony from children or their families to justify individual compensation.

"The compensation decision was inconsistent with the nature of the complaint, the particulars to that complaint and the evidence, and thus exceeded the tribunal's limited statutory jurisdiction," he told the court.

"There are many examples of irrationality in the tribunal's reasoning process. Seriously flawed reasoning led to unreasonable outcomes."

He also argues the tribunal's decision to award its maximum amount possible does not take into account that some children may have suffered more harm than others.

Sarah Clarke, representing the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society, who wrapped her arguments today, told the court Monday she believes Canada harmed Indigenous children taken into care, but is "shamefully" trying to avoid paying damages.

She said the discrimination First Nations children experienced from an underfunded and poorly designed system warrants the damages awarded by the tribunal.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 15, 2021.

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. An earlier story misspelled Assembly of First Nations lawyer David Nahwegahbow's last name.
OTTAWA - The Liberal government introduced legislation Tuesday to strengthen the protection of French in Canada as part of the biggest overhaul to the Official Languages Act in more than three decades, just days before the House of Commons is expected to break for the summer.

Economic Development and Official Languages Minister Melanie Joly responds to a question during Question Period in the House of Commons Monday November 23, 2020 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

OTTAWA - The Liberal government introduced legislation Tuesday to strengthen the protection of French in Canada as part of the biggest overhaul to the Official Languages Act in more than three decades, just days before the House of Commons is expected to break for the summer.

"Once it becomes law, more francophones will be able to work and live in French," Official Languages Minister Melanie Joly told a news conference in Ottawa.

"More English-speaking parents will be able to send their kids to French immersion and more official-language minority communities will not only survive, but thrive."

The legislation, known as Bill C-32, aims to guarantee the right to be served and to work in French in businesses under federal jurisdiction in Quebec, as well as in regions, not yet specified, with a strong predominance of francophones.

It would also grant the official languages commissioner more teeth, with the power to compel companies to abide by tighter French-speaking requirements in most large, federally regulated workplaces.

It would also confirm that French is the official language of Quebec and that New Brunswick is officially bilingual. It also recognizes the right of everyone, according to the Constitution, to use English or French in the legislatures and courts of Quebec and Manitoba.

It also affirms the importance of maintaining and promoting Indigenous languages.

The bill proposes reforms across several departments, from ensuring that Global Affairs Canada is promoting French within the framework of Canada's diplomatic relations to enshrining the bilingualism of Supreme Court judges.

Joly said the bill comes as a response to developments that had yet to unfold when it first passed under then-prime minister Pierre Trudeau in 1969.

She cited globalization and the internet, where a "hegemony of English" prevails in North America,including on social media platforms and digital streaming services.

"Both official languages are not (on) equal footing, because first and foremost, there's eight million francophones in a sea of English-speaking North Americans of 360 million people," Joly said in an interview.

She also said the government stands by its obligations to protect English-speaking minorities within Quebec.

The tabling of the bill, awaited for years, comes as members of Parliament prepare to pack up their bags to return to their respective ridings for the summer.

In the event of an election, the bill would die on the order paper and another government would have to reintroduce a modernization of the Official Languages Act.

"I'm convinced that the passing of this legislation will happen," Joly said.

Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet told reporters he was willing to bet $10 that if the Liberals win a majority in the next election, they would not reintroduce the bill in the same form.

The Quebec Community Groups Network, which serves as an umbrella organization for English-language groups across the province, called Bill C-32 "an attack on the equality" of both English and French as official languages in Canada.

The group said the bill "territorializes language rights and extends language rights into the private sphere only for francophones. Such a significant shift will have profound effects for years to come on the official language rights of English-speaking Quebecers."

In February, Marlene Jennings, a former Liberal MP who heads the network, said she was cautiously optimistic about the promised bill.

Jean Johnson, president of the Federation des communautes francophones et acadienne du Canada, called the legislation a "sizable step forward  tailored to the realities of Canada in the 21st century."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 15, 2021.

 With files from Catherine Levesque
HALIFAX - Officials in Nova Scotia are expected to announce today the province will move into the second phase of its five-step reopening plan on Wednesday.

Dr. Strang, Nova Scotia chief medical officer of health, right, and Premier Iain Rankin field questions after a tour of a COVID-19 vaccination clinic in Halifax on Friday, April 16, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

HALIFAX - Officials in Nova Scotia are expected to announce today the province will move into the second phase of its five-step reopening plan on Wednesday.

In an emailed statement, the Health Department says the province is comfortable moving into Phase 2 because COVID-19 cases are staying low, hospitalizations are down and vaccine coverage has increased.

Under the next phase, restaurants and bars are allowed to have indoor dining with physical distancing between tables.

All retail stores will also be allowed to operate at 50 per cent of the stores capacity, and households can have more than one person designated for shopping.

Hair salons, barbershops, spas, nail salons and body art establishments can offer all services by appointment only, including services that require a client to remove their mask.

Under the changes, the indoor social gathering limit will be increased to 10 people, without physical distancing and masks, while the outdoor limit rises to 25 people, without physical distancing.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 15, 2021.
New coal mines in Alberta's Rocky Mountain foothills would create more environmental problems than economic benefits, a lengthy new study has concluded.

A coal mining operation in Sparwood, B.C., is shown on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016. A lengthy new report commissioned by landowners near proposed new Alberta coal mines concludes mines would create environmental liabilities that exceed their economic benefits. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

New coal mines in Alberta's Rocky Mountain foothills would create more environmental problems than economic benefits, a lengthy new study has concluded.

"The best available information indicates that the magnitude of long-term liabilities to water resources ... are likely to exceed any short-term economic benefits," says the report from the Alces Group, an ecological consulting firm.

Alces, hired by landowners near where coal mines are being explored, says current methods to remove toxins such as selenium from water flowing over mine sites are unproven over long periods of time and large areas. It says new mines would increase stress on water supplies, especially as southern Alberta's population grows and climate change alters rain and snow patterns.

It estimates new mines will only be one-quarter reclaimed within 50 years. Even reclaimed, those sites aren't likely to return to what they were.

And it concludes the government has failed to consider the cascade of environmental effects that coal mining would create, especially in combination with forestry and energy development.

"The relative absence of a meaningful discourse with a broad range of stakeholders left some of those stakeholders with no choice but to reach out to the scientific community outside of government and say, 'Please help us,'" said Brad Stelfox, lead author of the report.

"There is a large number of very good scientists inside the government of Alberta that are deeply concerned about this issue and ... have told a very similar story. I don't think that story is very palatable at senior government levels."

The 175-page Alces report, commissioned by the Livingstone Landowners Group and presented to the province's coal consultation committee, focuses mostly on water impacts such as selenium contamination.

Stelfox and his colleagues question industry suggestions it can remove 95 per cent of selenium, which is toxic to fish in large doses.

"We have been unable to find evidence that companies mining high-selenium coal deposits of this type can consistently achieve these attenuation levels at full operational scale," the report says. Assertions that they can must be subject to "the greatest skepticism."

Mines would also greatly affect water levels in small headwater streams, it says.

If all eight mines under consideration in the Oldman River watershed go ahead, they could account for 40 per cent of the flow of those streams during the summer, when flows are lowest. The report notes water use for agriculture and residences is already forecast to increase 46 per cent between 2006 and 2030, even as climate change shifts the timing and amount of precipitation.

Research on U.S. streams affected by coal mines show biodiversity is cut by a third and abundance in half.

The report says no research has been conducted on Alberta streams to determine what water levels are needed to maintain their ecology.

As well, watersheds in northern Alberta affected by old coal mines remain contaminated by selenium decades after the end of mining and start of remediation, the report says.

"These sorts of major negative downstream impacts are routinely reported where coal mining occurs," the report says, citing the U.S., Australia, China, Europe and British Columbia.

"The persistence of toxic selenium concentrations ... should be of great concern."

Guy Gilron is an environmental consultant who has presented material to the coal consultation committee on behalf of one of the mining companies. He said modern mines use a variety of methods in combination to control selenium, not just those considered in the Alces report.

"Selenium management requires a number of levels to deal with it," he wrote in an email.

Gilron said it's unfair to use old mines to predict the impacts of new ones and suggested the Alces paper "cherry-picked" research painting coal mines negatively.

"A better understanding has developed based on selenium's chemical behaviour, toxicity, mitigation and management," he wrote.

Comment from Alberta Environment was not immediately available.

The report lists other challenges posed by the industry.

Coal mining, for example, releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas. And even though metallurgical coal is not burned for power generation, it's still burned.

If all eight mines go ahead, their emissions  including from using coal  would increase Alberta's total by 14 per cent at a time when Canada is trying to reduce them.

The mines are also proposed for the same locations as critical habitat for native species already threatened, such cutthroat trout and grizzly bears.

And they would likely have an impact on tourism, the report suggests. It quotes a 2011 study on nearby Kananaskis Country that found the similar region produces more than 3,000 jobs and more than $200 million in economic impact.

"It would be logical that the economic contributions of the (Oldman river) headwater landscape is similar to these values described above, or (would) have the potential to generate these economic values," the report says.

Benga Mining's Grassy Mountain mine, currently before a federal-provincial review panel, says it would generate nearly 400 jobs and almost $9 million a year in royalties.

Stelfox said the development proposed is one of the largest land-use changes in Alberta history and needs to be carefully considered.

"This is not a minor decision," he said.

"This is one of those few, massive, intergenerational questions that will maybe confront people once or twice in their lifespan. It is a defining question."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 15, 2021.

 Follow Bob Weber on Twitter at @row1960
The latest news on COVID-19 developments in Canada (all times eastern):

Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, and Belgium's Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, right, sign a banner during a working visit to the Pfizer pharmaceutical company in Puurs, Belgium, Tuesday, June 15, 2021. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau paid a visit to the Belgian Pfizer factory on Tuesday to thank employees making the COVID-19 vaccine. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frederic Sierakowski, Pool via AP

The latest news on COVID-19 developments in Canada (all times eastern):

8:35 p.m.

Yukon health officials are reporting 12 new cases of COVID-19.

Yukons acting chief medical officer of health, Dr. Catherine Elliott, says the people infected are between the ages of 10 and 40.

She says all the cases are linked to a Whitehorse contact and only one among them was recently vaccinated.

The territory now has 33 active cases.

6:20 p.m.

British Columbia is reporting 108 new cases of COVID-19 as it begins the second phase of its restart plan.

The province has 1,496 active cases of COVID-19 and 143,299 people have recovered from the infection.

There were no new deaths reported and the total number of fatalities is 1,734.

More than 76 per cent of those eligible have received a first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine while 657,491 have got their second shot.

5:55 p.m.

Alberta is reporting 126 new cases of COVID-19 and four new deaths.

Dr. Andre Corriveau, the deputy chief medical officer of health, says there are 2,804 active cases provincewide, which is the lowest since mid-October.

The province says of the new cases reported, 85 are COVID-19 variants of concern.

Of the total active cases, 2,116 are the more contagious variants.

Corriveau says there 271 people in hospital, with 68 of those patients in intensive care.

3:35 p.m.

Saskatchewan is reporting 47 new cases of COVID-19 today, and four more people have died.

One person who died was in the 80+ age group in the north central zone, one was in their 70s in the northeast zone, one was in their 60s in Saskatoon and one was in their 50s in the southeast zone.

Ninety-five more people have recovered, leaving the province with 722 active cases.

The province is also reporting 97 people in hospital, including 15 in intensive care.

The seven-day average of new COVID-19 cases in the province is 70.

This is Saskatchewans lowest seven-day average since Nov. 1, 2020.

2:35 p.m.

Premier Blaine Higgs says New Brunswick is moving so quickly towards its vaccination goals that the province's border could be opened to the rest of Atlantic Canada before the end of the week.

Higgs also says the province could lift all of its health protection restrictions, including the wearing of masks, well before the Aug. 2 target date that the government set in May when it unveiled its reopening plan.

Meanwhile, the province reported three new COVID-19 cases today, which means the province has 85 active cases.

Eight New Brunswickers were being treated in hospital, including three in intensive care.

1:35 p.m.

Manitoba is reporting 116 new COVID-19 cases and two deaths.

The five-day test positivity rate is 10.6 per cent provincially and 9.9 per cent in Winnipeg.

12:55 p.m.

Nova Scotia is reporting four new cases of COVID-19 today.

Health officials say three cases are in the Halifax area and are close contacts of previously reported cases, while one case is in the eastern zone, which includes Cape Breton, and is related to travel.

The province has 97 known active cases of novel coronavirus with six people in hospital, including four in intensive care.

As of Monday, 705,565 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered and a total of 54,361 people have received their booster shot.

12:30 p.m.

A Winnipeg church is accused of breaking COVID-19 health orders by holding an indoor graduation ceremony.

The Manitoba government has issued a court summons to Springs Church over the event last month that saw high school graduates gather indoors for a ceremony broadcast to people sitting in cars outside the church.

The church, in a statement last month, said it tried to follow the rules by having 18 students inside for a closed television shoot.

11:45 a.m.

Newfoundland and Labrador says it will once again welcome Maritime visitors as of June 23.

Premier Andrew Furey announced today travellers from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island will be permitted without having to self-isolate or get tested for COVID-19.

He says the move is possible because COVID-19 case numbers have remained low in the province, while vaccination rates are climbing steadily.

As of yesterday afternoon, there were 39 active reported COVID-19 infections in Newfoundland and Labrador, and over 71 per cent of residents aged 12 and over had received their first dose of vaccine.

11:20 a.m.

The Quebec government is reporting 105 new cases of COVID-19 and six additional deaths attributed to the novel coronavirus.

Hospitalizations declined by five to 209, while the number of people in intensive care fell by four to 50.

The province gave 86,880 vaccine doses in the previous 24 hours and added another 4,852 from earlier to its tally, for a total of 6,883,110 doses administered.

Currently, 69.2 per cent of Quebecers have received at least one dose.

11:15 a.m.

Ontario reported 296 cases of COVID-19 today and 13 more deaths from the virus.

Health Minister Christine Elliott says there are 62 new cases in Peel Region, 60 in Toronto and 45 in Waterloo Region.

The numbers are based on 17,162 tests.

The province says 433 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Tuesday morning.

The province says 184,989 COVID-19 vaccine doses were administered yesterday for a total of more than 11.5 million doses.

11:10 a.m.

Nova Scotia Premier Iain Rankin says his province is lifting its border restrictions and opening to the rest of Atlantic Canada on June 23.

The move means residents of New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador can travel to Nova Scotia and will not be required to self-isolate for 14 days on entering the province.

Rankin says discussions are continuing with the other Atlantic premiers on co-ordinating an opening to the rest of Canada.

He says Nova Scotia is currently on track to open to the rest of Canada no later than July 14.

10:30 a.m.

Nunavut is reporting no new cases of COVID-19 today.

There are eight active cases in the territory, all in the capital city of Iqaluit.

Iqaluit, a city of about 8,000 people, has seen 262 cases since April 14.

Chief public health officer Dr. Michael Patterson says two of the eight infections are middle school students, while the rest are adults.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 15, 2021.
OTTAWA - The federal financial intelligence centre warns that violent extremists driven by causes including racial hatred are increasingly turning to virtual currencies for fundraising.

A man uses the Ethereum ATM, beside a Bitcoin ATM, in Hong Kong on May 11, 2018. The federal financial intelligence centre warns that violent extremists driven by racial hatred and other ideologies are increasingly turning to virtual currencies for fundraising. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Kin Cheung

OTTAWA - The federal financial intelligence centre warns that violent extremists driven by causes including racial hatred are increasingly turning to virtual currencies for fundraising.

In a newly published special bulletin, the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada says the move comes as social media and crowdfunding platforms crack down on extremist efforts to promote their ideas and raise money.

The centre, known as Fintrac, tries to pinpoint cash linked to terrorism and money laundering by sifting through millions of pieces of information annually from banks, insurance companies, securities dealers, money service businesses, real estate brokers, casinos and others.

The centre's special bulletin on ideologically motivated violent extremism was originally scheduled for release last week.

However, the centre delayed publication out of respect for the Muslim family assaulted in a deadly vehicle attack in southwestern Ontario.

The bulletin notes that targets of ideologically driven violence such as arson, assault and homicide include people of the Islamic and Jewish faiths, people of colour, women, Indigenous Peoples and members of LGBTQ2 communities.

Individuals and groups use the internet to perpetuate racist and misogynistic tropes on social media that feed into broader narratives associated with conspiracy theories and anti-government movements, it adds.

In recent years, online crowdfunding platforms and social media sites have started to curb fundraising and promotional activities tied to ideologically motivated extremists, prompting them to seek alternative outlets.

These tend to be smaller platforms than the mainstream ones, and they do not always have the resources to monitor and shut down activities, the bulletin warns.

In response to increased restrictions on online platforms, extremists have encouraged followers to send them money via mail, cheque or money order. They have also begun relying on virtual currencies for fundraising.

"Threat actors mainly use virtual currency donations to fund their propaganda and recruitment efforts," the bulletin says.

The centre's analysis of suspicious financial transactions related to ideologically motivated extremism indicated most were concentrated in Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario.

Internationally, ideologically motivated extremists have raised funds through merchandise sales, holding events such as talks and concerts, crowdfunding, charging membership fees and accepting donations, the bulletin says.

They have also resorted to "drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and robberies to fund their operations."

The money is used to recruit new members, engage in day-to-day activities and carry out promotional efforts such as making videos, the bulletin says.

In addition, the funds go toward organizing marches and events, maintaining websites, paying the legal fees of individuals arrested for their involvement in the movement, acquiring weapons and establishing safe houses, the centre says.

Lone extremists raised their own funds, using savings, employment income or money from family and friends. "There was no indication in the reporting that the family members were aware that the funds would be used for violent action."

Many lone actors sent money transfers to unknown third parties and some used their own funds to buy weapons, either through online chain stores or in person.

The centre also found people in Canada might fund international extremist networks while not necessarily being members of organized groups themselves, typically using payment-processing companies and money service businesses to make transfers.

"While these transactions tended to be small, recurring transfers to multiple nodes of the same international network in different countries, they totalled significant amounts."

Some of the beneficiaries forwarded the money to recruiters for far-right militias and similar groups, the bulletin adds.

Personal- and business-account transactions showed connections between organized extremists and individuals and companies charged with crimes such as fraud, robbery, assaulting police officers, drug trafficking and weapons offences.

The bulletin identifies broad characteristics found in the suspicious transaction reports, cautioning they might not necessarily indicate extremist financing.

As a result, reporting entities such as banks must examine them in conjunction with "additional risk indicators" such as transactions with links to groups the government has listed as terrorist entities.

The centre flagged several warning signs related to personal account activity:

 absence of expected personal transactions such as normal debit and credit account activity or paying bills;

 a sudden halt to personal activity; and

 numerous and frequent electronic money transfers followed by the depletion of funds through transfers to third parties.

The centre also singled out signs of suspicious business account activity, including:

 absence of regular salary payments and other expected transactions, except insurance and loan payments;

 funds received from and sent to unrelated businesses that do not align with the client's business profile; and

 an absence of business-related purchases.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 15, 2021.
The Branson Board of Aldermen on Thursday (now postponed to July 28) will consider an ordinance that would require face coverings in public spaces. The aldermen might approve it, disapprove it, or approve an amended version. Would you be in favor of some form of mandatory face covering ordinance in the city of Branson?

You voted:
The head of the committee overseeing the merger of Eftpos, BPay and the NPP is confident the proposed tie-up will get the green light from the competition regulator, despite ongoing concerns about it creating a payments monopoly.

The three-way merger would see Australias main payments railways combined under one entity, covering almost all aspects of payments in Australia, including transfers, point of sale and bill payment. Eftpos, BPAY and the NPP are all owned by the major banks, Coles and Woolworths are investors in Eftpos, and the Reserve Bank is a shareholder in the NPP.

The ACCC has raised preliminary concerns over a proposed merger between eftpos, BPAY and New Payments Platform Australia. Credit:Shutterstock

A range of industry groups and organisations have criticised the merger for creating a monopoly, which could end up pushing up costs for small businesses and retailers.

However, Robert Milliner, the chair of the Australian Payments Council which is overseeing the amalgamation, told The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald it was important to stand back and assess the potential benefits of the merger as a whole.
Throughout her career, Julie Bishop has been honoured in numerous ways. And though she may not yet have an Order of Australia award, Bishop now has something almost no other Australian has: her own Barbie doll.

Toy giant Mattel is honouring Bishop, now chancellor of the Australian National University, as its 2021 Australian role model for being a true trailblazer in politics and the roles she has occupied since, giving her a one-off doll that is, sadly, not for sale.

Julie Bishop with her Barbie doll, whose outfit is modelled on her dress from the day she quit politics. Credit:Russell James

The day Bishop quit politics  August 26, 2018  was so symbolic that she chose her navy Armani dress and coat, and those red Rodo shoes, to be replicated for the dolls outfit. Completing the look are matching diamond earrings and brooch, a diplomatic passport and Bishops silver carry-on suitcase. The hairstyle is also more reflective of Bishops 2018 do than its current shoulder length.

Bishops love of Barbie goes back nearly six decades; she still has the Jackie Kennedy doll her parents gave her as a child. She also has an Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Barbie given to her by the Australian Secret Intelligence Service as a farewell gift in 2018.
The Australian Human Rights Commission says the risk of a COVID-19 outbreak in immigration detention remains so severe that the government should immediately stop using Christmas Island and makeshift facilities at hotels.

But efforts by Home Affairs to put new detainees into 14 days of quarantine in sometimes harsh and prison-like units unnecessarily deprived them of their basic rights, the commission says, with reports of people with no toiletries or a spare change of clothes.

People detained at the Park Hotel in Melbourne wave to protesters in January. Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui

The commission made the findings in its report, Management of COVID-19 risks in immigration detention, released on Wednesday, which also acknowledged that no immigration detainee had tested positive to COVID-19 in Australia though workers have.

The report said the risks were worst in hotel detention, such as the Park Hotel in Melbourne, and on Christmas Island, which does not have ventilators or acute medical care and should be immediately decommissioned.
Mark Kilians father is dying. He might only have hours to live as his body shuts down from pancreatic cancer.

But while Mr Kilian and his wife Anneli have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 for weeks, theyre stuck in Sydney hotel quarantine after Queensland Health refused to grant them travel exemptions to say goodbye.

Mark Kilian and Anneli Gericke, trapped in a bureaucratic nightmare, are desperately hoping to see Marks father before he dies. Credit:Mark Kilian

The couple landed in Sydney from Los Angeles at 6.55am on Tuesday, having received Australian Border Force and NSW Health exemptions to travel.

A private charter plane was idling on the tarmac to take them straight to Coolangatta Airport. But at the last minute, Queensland Health rejected their exemption request, forcing them into 14 days hotel quarantine.
Brisbane lord mayor Adrian Schrinner has confirmed that the popular kerbside collection scheme will return from July  one year earlier than flagged in last years budget  amid improving economic conditions.

The decision last year, which sought to claw back $13 million over two years into the councils pocket, sparked outrage and warnings of an increase in illegal dumping.

Brisbanes kerbside collection was expected to return in 2022. Credit:Ken Irwin

Speaking to ABC Radio Brisbane ahead of the 2021-22 budget delivery on Wednesday, Cr Schrinner said the suburb-by-suburb service would return within weeks.

Kerbside collection is coming back, he said. Were kicking off in July.
People in Kallista, Sherbrooke and The Patch in Melbournes outer east have been instructed not to drink the water at their homes  even after it is boiled  because of contaminants.

The Department of Health issued an urgent warning early Wednesday morning advising people not to drink tap water until further notice if they live, work or are in the three areas. It is expected the warning will stay in place for three days.

The water contamination happened because of an equipment failure at a Yarra Valley Water drinking water tank due to recent severe weather that has felled trees, rendered homes unliveable, forced evacuations and left thousands without electricity.

About 10,000 homes still need power restored in Victoria.
Police are preparing to lay charges over suspected fraud during last years Moreland Council elections, after gathering DNA and fingerprint tests on suspicious ballot papers.

Five candidates for the north-west ward in Octobers election told The Age they had been contacted in recent days by fraud squad detectives, briefed about the ongoing investigation into alleged vote tampering, and were told that police were planning to lay charges over the matter in the coming months.

Police are preparing to lay charges in relation to last years vote-tampering scandal at Moreland City Council. Credit:Jason South

Victoria Polices fraud and extortion squad has been investigating the council election since last year, after receiving information from the Victorian Electoral Commission that the integrity of the October postal ballot had been compromised.

Police have been conducting forensic tests on saliva, fingerprints and handwriting samples from 83 seized ballots. They have also brought in IT experts as part of the investigation.
A generation of young people is at risk of being channelled into low-skilled and low-paying jobs, with disrupted learning through the coronavirus pandemic exacerbating socio-economic fault lines in Australias education system.

Research from the Paris-based OECD released on Tuesday said home-schooling and greater dependence on virtual classrooms during COVID-19 would probably have a long-lasting impact that would disproportionately affect poorer students.

Home-schooling due to COVID could leave a lost generation of young people, the OECD has warned. Credit:Tanya Macheda

Every school system in Australia was forced into periods of home teaching, with students often spending days or weeks communicating with their teachers and school mates via Zoom or similar online systems. Melbourne students and their parents have just emerged from another shutdown.

The OECD, in a report into the skills base of member nations, said even before the pandemic there were deep divisions between students from poor backgrounds and those from middle and high-income families.
Mining giant Rio Tintos push into green aluminium is being backed by the federal government with a $600,000 injection into a trial of technology to help remove emissions from the carbon-intensive production process.

Rio Tinto aluminium Pacific operations managing director Daniel van der Westhuizen said the $1.2 million trial would investigate using green hydrogen, which is produced using renewable energy, in the refining process for alumina.

Alumina is made by refining bauxite. Rio Tinto is investigating how to reduce emissions in the refining process. Credit:Joseph Mayers

Were investing in work that needs to be done, not only to decarbonise one of our sites but also to help provide a lower-emissions pathway for Rio Tinto and the global aluminium industry, Mr van der Westhuizen said.

Conventional refining of bauxite to produce alumina burns natural gas and accounts for about 20 per cent of the global emissions created by aluminium production. Alumina production in Australia generates 14 million tonnes of carbon emissions a year, or 24 per cent of emissions from manufacturing processes.
Todays budget demonstrates that our choice has paid off  our deficits are narrowing because jobs are coming back, he said. Our debt is falling because jobs are coming back. Debt is not a dirty word Mr Dick said the federal, NSW, Victorian and Queensland governments all went into deficit to respond to COVID-19 but claimed only Queensland was returning to surplus. Total debt, which includes that of government-owned corporations, was expected to soar to $116.07 billion by 2022-23.

That is more than $6 billion lower than expected in December. But it is still a whopping $25 billion higher than was forecast for that year in the 2019 budget, well before the pandemic ravaged the worlds health systems and economy. By 2024-25, total debt is expected to hit $127 billion. However, Mr Dick said debt is not a dirty word and Queensland did not have a debt problem, saying he would not apologise for using it to defend peoples health and jobs. In the future, debt may well rise again, to respond to another crisis, to deal with a disaster, or to build the infrastructure of our state, he said.

The state was also able to improve the status of its net debt, which will hit more than $42 billion by 2024-25, through a revaluation of its Titles Registry  previously transferred to the Queensland Future Fund  which has been revised up from $4 billion to $7.8 billion. At $64.2 billion, spending, also known as expenses, was expected to be just slightly lower in 2020-21 than predictions in December. General government sector debt  including departments such as health and education  was $55.08 billion in 2020-21, about $6 billion lower than predicted at the last budget. It was expected to increase to more than $85 billion in 2024-25, at which time the annual interest bill alone will be $2.24 billion. That is the equivalent of more than $6 million in interest each day to service that debt.

Restrictions on coal exports bite Despite Queenslands economy rebounding, several risks remained, budget papers warned, including the global vaccine rollout, ongoing geopolitical and trade tensions  particularly between the US and China  and challenges in Australias trade relationship with China. Chinas restrictions on Queenslands coal exports were assumed to remain significant in 2021, with some relaxation in 2022, but impacts would be felt over the next four years. It was a more pessimistic view than was held in December, when it was believed relations would normalise in 2021-22. There were improvements in revenue, such as state taxes and GST, with government sector revenue expected to be 7 per cent, or $4 billion, higher than predicted in December, meaning Queensland did not need to borrow as much.

However, the global economic downturn and Chinese import restrictions weighed on coal prices and volumes, with royalties to total $1.75 billion in 2020-21, 50.4 per cent lower than the previous year. Treasury officials assumed there would be no prolonged lockdowns, travel bubbles would be established from 2022 onwards and the international border would remain closed to most travellers until mid-2022. Loading Mr Dick said the governments $3 billion savings and debt plan was on track, with $750 million in savings found in 2020-21, including from accommodation, advertising, IT and the departure of 33 senior executives via natural attrition. However, it will be a record health budget, with operating funding increasing by more than 13 per cent over two years, and a $2 billion Hospital Building Fund announced to address growth pressures.

More than $900 million will be spent building 10 new schools, with five in the Ipswich area, three in Logan, one in Redland Bay and another on the Sunshine Coast. Another $52.2 billion will be spent on infrastructure, while Mr Dick has announced $1.9 billion over four years to increase the supply of social housing and upgrade existing properties. Mr Dick revealed the government would abandon its fiscal principle to keep growth in the public service lower than population growth, a move hinted at in Decembers budget. There are now 238,673 full-time public servants and the states wage bill was expected to come in at $27.47 billion in 2021-22  4.5 per cent higher than the previous year. Unemployment is forecast to fall from 7 per cent this year to 5 per cent by June 2025, lower than expected, and Queensland has recovered all jobs lost during the crisis.
He uttered it 27 times in his budget speech, in stark contrast to former treasurer Jackie Trad, who entirely avoided saying debt in her inaugural budget speech in 2018. Debt in Queensland will continue to rise, albeit at a slower rate than forecast in December. Total debt, which includes that of government-owned corporations such as energy companies, was expected to soar to $116 billion by 2022-23, which is more than $6 billion lower than expected in December. In another two years, it will hit $127 billion. If you just look at general government sector debt  which includes departments such as health and education  it will rise to more than $85 billion over the forward estimates.

At that time, the annual interest bill alone will be $2.24 billion. Or $6 million in interest each day. Loading Queensland managed to improve the status of its net debt, which will hit more than $42 billion by 2024-25, through a revaluation of its Titles Registry  previously transferred to the Queensland Future Fund  which has been revised up from $4 billion to $7.8 billion. But Mr Dick disputed this amounted to cooking the books.

The budget recovery itself is not based on the titles office, that really goes to our debt profile, he said. The fiscal recovery of our state is due to a growth in population, increases in revenue but also prudent and sensible expenditure growth. And Mr Dick insists debt is not a dirty word. Queensland does not have a debt problem, he said, arguing NSWs net debt was higher. Mr Dick spruiked his governments ability to reduce debt because of strong growth in the economy but made no apologies for using debt to defend the health, the jobs and the livelihoods of Queenslanders.

And the Palaszczuk government would have no qualms with borrowing more in the future. Debt may well rise again, to respond to another crisis, to deal with a disaster, or to build the infrastructure of our state, Mr Dick said. Loading All this moderately good news about posting a surplus instead of a deficit and debt growing a bit slower was possible after Queensland handled its response to the coronavirus pandemic well. That opinion was backed up by the S&P ratings agency, which has maintained a stable outlook on Queenslands AA+ rating.
Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Paul Guerra told The Age that frustration and negativity among workers was as strong as he had seen during the pandemic, with businesses such as gyms still shut in Melbourne and all restaurants and bars operating with a limit of 50 patrons indoors. Were three weeks into a seven-day lockdown and this circuit breaker is becoming a power failure, he said. Growing frustrated: Paul Guerra, head of Victorias peak business lobby. Credit:Penny Stephens Our fear is: where is the plan to get out of this, and to make sure we dont get back into a lockdown? Why cant we hear about what general criteria or triggers the government are looking for before business can get going again? Why cant we have some kind of road map, like last year? Ahead of school holidays starting for some students this week, Mr Foley insisted restrictions were a day to day proposition and would depend on advice from Professor Suttons public-health team.

We know that family businesses, all sorts of people need certainty ... and when weve got more to say about that, as weve always indicated, well have more to say, Mr Foley said. Mr Guerra said the desperation of employers and workers had been exacerbated over the past three weeks because many businesses had exhausted financial reserves they relied on last year and support mechanisms such as JobKeeper were no longer in place. Of course health advice is the most crucial aspect in this. But we are now so far into this pandemic that livelihoods are increasingly threatened, so why cant we have a more nuanced response? said Mr Guerra, whose organisation works with 30,000 members and customers. Weve always been a can-do state. Our view is rather than just continuing to say how much we should fear the virus, government and employers can work together to find solutions. Were doing QR codes now, tell us what other help is needed from the business community and we can provide it.

Victorias COVID-19 response commander, Jeroen Weimar, on Tuesday assured Victorians who had received their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine that they would be able to receive their second dose within the recommended three to six weeks, including through an online booking system that belatedly launched on Tuesday afternoon. He said bookings had been paused on first Pfizer doses just for this week to calibrate following a boom in demand in the three weeks since Victoria entered lockdown, with 92,000 doses of Pfizer and 35,000 doses of AstraZeneca administered over the past week. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video On Monday 10,602 vaccine doses were given  Victorias lowest single-day total for three weeks. Austin Health confirmed late on Tuesday that despite staff trying to ensure every vaccine was used, some Pfizer shots had been disposed after people did not show up to their appointment.

Approximately 10 doses of the Pfizer vaccine were unable to be used on Monday after people booked their vaccination but did not show up at our clinic, a spokesman said. Were asking the community to help staff by keeping their appointment. However, Australian Council of Trade Union secretary Sally McManus warned that Victorian disability and aged-care workers, who were under 50 and eligible for Pfizer, were struggling to get their first shots as a result of the states government pause. This is a big problem because priority has to be on getting aged-care and disability workers vaccinated, she said. Some of them are calling up and they cant book an appointment, and they havent been able to get into the state-run centres.

ACTU secretary Sally McManus said high-priority workers were struggling to get a vaccine shot. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer Ms McManus said while the state government had set up a fast-track line for aged care and disability workers, many workers had not been able to take time off to get immunised due to insecure employment. She said vaccine teams should travel to immunise workers in their place of employment. Australian Medical Association Victorian president Roderick McRae said the Pfizer rollout had been plagued with uncertainty due to the limited supply of Pfizer doses in Australia and the high number of people wanting the vaccine in Victoria following the latest COVID-19 outbreaks. Loading Im starting to hear more and more that people are a bit disgruntled by the rollout of Pfizer, Dr McRae said.
Loading Morrison and Johnson thrashed out some of the final barriers to the new economic pact during a three-hour dinner at the British Prime Ministers official London residence on Monday evening, where Johnson served Welsh lamb and Scottish salmon, and Morrison presented a hamper of Australian food and a Vegemite-themed surfboard. Details of the in-principle agreement will be fleshed out before it is passed by parliaments in both countries. It will likely take effect from mid-next year. The Australian deal - Britains first since it split from the European Union on January 1 - also gives Johnson a big symbolic victory as he seeks to soften the economic costs of Brexit through new agreements with other trading partners.

The deal will increase the working holiday visa age limit from 30 to 35 and give Australians and Britons a total of three years to live and work in each others countries. The UK government succeeded in removing the rule that obliges Brits on 12-month working visas in Australia to work for 88 days on farms if they wish to stay another year. A new agriculture visa will be created instead. Britains Prime Minister Boris Johnson greets Australias Prime Minister Scott Morrison outside 10 Downing Street, in London. Credit:AP Both Prime Ministers played down any fears of a brain drain either way saying the improved access would instead deliver a brain gain for both countries. Nationals deputy leader David Littleproud, who has claimed scrapping that rule could lead to a loss of up to 10,000 farm workers a year, said on Tuesday his party would fight for a new visa subclass to encourage farm work if the change was made.

Loading The agreement will also mean a raft of professional qualifications gained in one country will be recognised in the other. Fears that the signing might be delayed by a squabble over how much Australian beef and lamb would be allowed into the UK proved unfounded, with the two leaders settling on a scheme that will phase out tariffs over 15 years. Centre for European Reform trade expert Sam Lowe said he was surprised the UK agreed to eventually eliminate agricultural tariffs. When it comes to tariffs, we have a constituency-based electoral system which sees farmers heavily concentrated in Conservative backyards. The fact we are discussing duty-free and quota-free trade is something that will have shocked everyone.

Australian agricultural exports are worth $50 billion annually but only $700 million goes to the UK. Britain is already Australias fifth-largest trading partner, with two-way goods and services valued at $36.6 billion, while Britain is Australias second-largest investment partner. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video As part of the deal, the federal government will scrap tariffs on a range of British goods including whisky, which currently has a tariff of 5 per cent. Tariffs will also be dramatically slashed on pharmaceuticals, cars, machinery and tractors. Britain will also gain greater access to Australian markets for services. Federal Trade Minister Dan Tehan told Federal Parliament that when Britain had turned its attention to the common European market decades ago, Australia felt that a special bond was broken.

Half a century on, Australia stands ready again to be a willing partner with the UK, he said. We want to help the UK achieve their aim of global Britain, like we want them to make sure that they work with us to promote trade liberalisation. To be advocates for free trade right across the globe. Credit:Matt Golding As it stands Australias beef exports are limited to a post-Brexit UK import quota of just 3761 tonnes, while sheep meat is limited to an annual UK import quota of just 13,335 tonnes. Dairy producers are limited to an import quota of just 44 grams of cheese per person every year, when the average Briton consumes 125 grams of cheese per week.

The sensitivities in Britain over Australian agricultural imports point to difficult negotiations ahead with America, one of the worlds largest food producers. Protectionist forces within the Conservative Party have claimed an open-slather deal with Australia would set a precedent for future negotiations with Washington. Prime ministers Scott Morrison and Boris Johnson at their joint press conference in the Downing Street garden. Credit:Getty This deal is a crushing defeat for the self-serving protectionist lobbyists and a resounding victory for the Australian and British people, said Matthew Lesh, head of research at the London-based free-market Adam Smith Institute. The full potential of the deal will only be realised after Australia opens its border to vaccinated travellers.

Loading A trade deal with Australia could lift UK GDP by 0.02 per cent, or 500 million ($914 million), while British forecasts suggest GDP in Australia could grow by up to 700 million ($1.3 billion). While Britain has struck economic deals with other countries since the Brexit referendum, for example with Japan and Canada, these have been carry-over deals securing for Britain the same trading arrangements it enjoyed when in the European Union. Former Australian prime minister Tony Abbott, one of 12 advisers on the new-look UK Board of Trade, cautioned protectionists against trading in fear, not hope. It baffles me a little that so many people in Britain are always running the country down, he told GB News.
Paris: French President Emmanuel Macron has condemned China for using economic coercion to intimidate Australia, labelling the tactics a flagrant breach of international law.

Welcoming Prime Minister Scott Morrison to the Elysee Palace on Tuesday evening local time, Macron offered some of the strongest public backing of any world leader since the disintegration of the relationship between Canberra and the rising superpower.

French President Emmanuel Macron and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison ahead of a working dinner in Paris. Credit:AP

You are at the forefront of the tensions that exist in the region, of the threats, and sometimes of the intimidation, and I want to reiterate here how much we stand by your side, the President said.

I would like to reiterate how committed France remains to defending the balance in the Indo-Pacific region and how much we consider the partnership we have with Australia to be at the heart of this Indo-Pacific strategy.
Paris: Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy - who is facing charges of illegally financing his failed 2012 re-election campaign - told the court he had committed no wrongdoing.

A defiant Sarkozy said in court on Monday he had not been involved in the logistics of his campaign for a second term as president nor in how money was spent during the election run-up.

Did I intend to commit a fraud, to do wrong? Was I careless? Negligent? My answer is the most formal no to all that, Sarkozy told the court. From the moment I was told things were in order, I had no reason to give it more thought.

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, right, arrives at court in Paris. Credit:

Sarkozy, 66, told the judges that he was responsible for the political direction of his campaign but not the organisation of rallies, production of campaign materials and payment of bills.
London: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says he will keep asking Australia to lift its ambition on climate change before a crunch summit in Glasgow later this year.

But he also offered support for Prime Minister Scott Morrison, declaring the Coalitions existing policies a great step forward given Australias economy is heavily reliant on fossil fuels.

Scott Morrison and Boris Johnson in the garden of 10 Downing Street after striking a trade deal. Credit:Getty Images

Speaking at a Downing Street press conference to celebrate a new free trade deal between London and Canberra, Johnson  one of the most progressive world leaders on climate change  was questioned over whether he wanted stronger action from Morrison at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow this November.

Australia has vowed to achieve carbon neutrality but the pledge is not law and the commitment is only to preferably achieve it by 2050.
One of the most challenging experiences in my time in World Vision was the arrest of our Gaza program manager, Mohammed el-Halabi, while crossing the border between Israel and Gaza in June 2016. Nobody was told why he was arrested and for 50 days he was interrogated by Israeli secret services without a lawyer.

This week will mark five years since his arrest and he is still in an Israeli jail, on charges that dont make sense and without any evidence presented to support them. So, we have to ask  why is Israel keeping a humanitarian hero behind bars?

Mohammad el-Halabi enters a hearing at Beersheba district court in southern Israel in 2017. Credit:Reuters

My Australian colleague Conny Lenneberg, who was responsible for all World Vision work in the Middle East, travelled with Mohammed many times in the 10 years he worked with World Vision, visiting development programs across Gaza and the West Bank. An agronomist by training, he worked hard  supporting children traumatised by war and helping fishing and farming families to improve their livelihoods.

Mohammed, a father of five, always wore a smile, was assiduously apolitical, eternally optimistic and usually had a child or two clipping at his heels whenever he was out in the projects  his community obviously loved and respected him. His work was so impressive that in 2014 he was named a humanitarian hero by the United Nations, and became World Visions manager in Gaza.
Washington: The US death toll from COVID-19 topped 600,000 on Wednesday AEST, even as the vaccination drive has drastically brought down daily cases and fatalities and allowed the country to emerge from the gloom and look forward to summer.

The number of lives lost, as recorded by Johns Hopkins University, is greater than the population of Baltimore or Milwaukee. It is about equal to the number of Americans who died of cancer in 2019. Worldwide, the COVID-19 death toll stands at about 3.8 million.

People crowd the Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, California, as the state turns a page on the pandemic. Credit:AP

The milestone came the same day that California and New York lifted most of their remaining restrictions, joining other states in opening the way, step by step, for what could be a fun and close-to-normal summer for many Americans.

Deep down I want to rejoice, said Rita Torres, a retired university administrator in Oakland, California. But she plans to take it slow: Because its kind of like, is it too soon? Will we be sorry?
A gifted student pianist has released his first EP.

The five-song Piano Stories is the debut EP of Rahul Suntah, who is studying for a Masters in Composition of Music for Film and Television (MACMFTV) at the University of Bristol.

The eclectic collection of tunes has been described by Rahul as the soundtrack to a space opera that is yet to be written. Songs include Space Wander and Stardust Lullaby.

Piano Stories is available on Spotify, Apple Music and all other major platforms.

Rahul, from Mauritius, an island nation of 1.3m people in the Indian Ocean, said: I had dozens of songs that I had been working on since I was a child. While back in Mauritius I decided to take the most coherent pieces and put them in an EP with a space theme.

I play a real mix of music  classical, pop, electronic, jazz.

Thats why I want to make music for films  Im very versatile and I like to play a bit of everything, which is what films need.

Rahul started playing piano aged 8 and began composing music at 13.

I had no idea it would turn into a career, but over the years I realised how much I love it, he said.

Rahul has already had his tracks played by BBC Music Introducing and BBC Upload.

In March, Rahul went viral with a video playing Mozart's Turkish March on a piano in the middle of a snowy street. It has now been watched more than 300,000 times.

Neal Farwell, Professor of Composition at the University of Bristol and head of the MACMFTV programme, writes: We welcome composers from all over the world who want to grow as musicians and learn to thrive in the competitive media world.

With this EP, Rahul is not only showcasing his strong musical voice, but also proving that spirit of enterprise!

Rahul has big followings on Instagram and YouTube.
Bryan, OH (43506)

Today

Except for a few afternoon clouds, mainly sunny. High around 75F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

A mostly clear sky. Low around 55F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
Ryan Ramczyk can't really pinpoint whether he's a few blocks away, around the corner or just down the street. But the New Orleans Saints' star right tackle knows he's approaching being the player he wants to be.
The Reserve Bank has revoked the deposit-taking status of Dewan Housing Finance (DHFL), the first financial services firm to go for bankruptcy proceedings, and has reclassified it as a non-deposit taking housing finance company, before approving the Piramal group's bid to take over it towards the end of the resolution process.

The revelation comes in the June 7 NCLT Mumbai order that has approved the Rs 35,250-crore bid for the once second largest mortage lender by Piramal Capital & Housing Finance, forcing over 65 per cent haircut on the creditors and just Re 1 to its NCD holders to whom it owes more than Rs 45,000-crore.

On the 14th page of the 86-page NCLT order by HP Chaturvedi and Ravikumar Duraisamy, it says no longer is a deposit taking NBFC but a non-deposit taking one.

The changes were made in February 2021, after the RBI gave a non-objection to the January 25, 2021 application by R Subramaniakumar, the administrator, citing Rule 5 of its FSP (financial services providers) Rules.

"Pursuant to the FSP Rules, the RBI communicated its 'no objection' on February 16, 2021 for change in control/ownership/management in in terms of Rule 5(d)(iii) of the FSP Rules and also in terms of para 3 of NHB circular housing finance -- approval of acquisition or transfer of control Directions, 2016, subject to (inter alia) the condition that the deposit-taking status of DHFL will be revoked and merged entity of DHFL and Piramal Capital shall function as a non-deposit taking housing finance company," says the NCLT order.

In the concluding part of the order, the bench reiterates that the resolution is subject to the fact that RBI's non-objection, which is based on the condition that "the status of the corporate debtor (DHFL) is changed from a deposit-taking housing finance company to a non-deposit-taking housing finance company.



It can be noted that DHFL became the first financial services entity to be referred to the NCLT for bankruptcy, when the RBI on November 20, 2019 superseded the DHFL board and appointed Subramaniakumar as its administrator.

The company went down under after its promoters allegedly siphoned of public funds and defaulted on its debt repayments worth over Rs 95,000 crore to 21 banks and tens of thousands of depositors.

More than 55,000 retail and institutional investors hold Rs 5,375 crore worth of fixed deposits in DHFL.

The Rs 3,5250-crore bid by the was approved by the committee of creditors on January 15, 2021.

The government had to amend the RBI Act and notify a section of the the bankruptcy code to enable the RBI to send DHFL to the NCLT under Section 45-IE(2) of the RBI Act which deals with governance concerns and defaults.

Two days superseding its board the RBI on November 22, under Section 45-IE 5(a) of the RBI Act, constituted a three-member advisory committee under Rajiv Lall, non-executive chairman of erstwhile IDFC First Bank, NS Kannan, managing director of ICICI Prudential Life, and NS Venkatesh, chief executive of the Mutual fund lobby Amfi to advise the administrator in the operations of DHFL during the resolution process.

The NCLT admitted the case December 3, 2019 and cleared the process on June 7, 2021 as the whole process got delayed by the pandemic driven lockdowns.

However, the DHFL case scored some unsual headlines when the Mumbai NCLT bench headed HP Chaturvedi and Ravikumar Duraisamy on May 26, 2021 had asked the committee of creditors to relook at the ready offer of over Rs 92,000 crore offer made by the Wadhawans, the original promoters of DHFL.

The order was stayed by appellate body NCLAT the very next day and on June 7, the final order approving the bid, which is only a third of its dues, was issued.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
have risen sharply across key trunk routes in the past fortnight as states started unlocking in phases. Helped by an increase in the factory output of most bulk goods and last years low base, freight rates--a proxy for economic activity--rose by an average 12 per cent, according to the Indian Foundation of Research & Training (IFTRT), a New Delhi-based think tank.

After the IFTRT statement on Tuesday that were up 9 to 14 per cent, senior fellow and coordinator SP Singh said, Though on a low base, this is the highest jump in the fortnightly rental we are seeing since March.

But analysts are cautious. Ajay Srinivasan, Director, CRISIL Research, said while the increase in the freight rates looked encouraging, the road to full recovery would be long. While it does reflect the demand recovery to some extent, a lot of it is a natural pass-through due to the hike in

The demand and supply dynamics will define the future trajectory of freight rates, he said.

With more than a third of the trucks still idling, the recovery would not be complete till most of the current fleet is deployed, he added. Western and northern states are leading the demand momentum and an increase in offtake in the agri commodities and bulk goods has also helped.

have gone up by Rs 2.60 per litre, touching Rs 87.50 a litre (excluding Delhi-NCR) from Rs 85.01 a litre during the last fortnight. Truck tyre prices too have hardened in the market by 6-8 per cent. The two constitute 90 per cent of variable operating costs of medium and long haulage heavy multi-axle 18 tonne trucks , which are most used by fleet owners to ferry cargo of all loads and sizes, IFTRT pointed out.





Jasjit Sethi, CEO, TCI Supply Chain, said it could take up to a month for normalcy to be restored. The spate of lock-downs has affected both industries and retail, he said. It has resulted in an imbalance leading to a 5-20 per cent hike in freight rates, according to Sethi. The steep fuel prices and driver shortage have added to the problems, he pointed out.

Following a relaxation of lockdown across the country, factory output of bulk goods, merchandise and witnessed a 25-30 per cent jump on a low base. Fruit, vegetable and other consumables have maintained a steady flow in the last 15 days, said the think-tank.

The jump in rentals has cushioned the impact of the diesel and tyre price hike, while the higher factory output has helped in improving the fleet utilisation. From 45-50 per cent last month, fleet utilisation has reached around 65 per cent.

Close to 30-35 per cent trucks are still idling, said Balmalkit Singh, chairman, core committee, All India Motor Congress. Though its a marked improvement from last month, the pain for the sector will linger on till all the trucks are deployed and rates continue to firm up, according to Singh. Meanwhile, truckers fear rising defaults if no relief is granted.
on Tuesday justified the higher pricing of its vaccine in the private market, saying the supply price of the shot for Government of India is clearly not sustainable in the long run.

"The supply price of Covaxin to Govt of India at Rs 150 a dose, is a non-competitive price and clearly not sustainable in the long run," the Hyderabad-based vaccine maker has said.

"Hence a higher price in private market is required to offset part of the costs," it said. is currently supplying the vaccine for Centre at Rs 150 a dose.

Fundamental business reasons ranging from low procurement volumes, high distribution costs and retail margins among few others contribute to higher pricing of Covaxin, said justifying the higher price when compared to other Covid-19 vaccines available for the private sector in India.

"Unlike most medicines and therapeutics, vaccines are provided free of cost by the Govt of India to all eligible Indian citizens. Thus, the procurement of vaccines by private hospitals is optional and not mandatory, albeit it gives a choice to citizens who are willing to pay for better convenience. In our view, the question of product pricing is only of extraneous interest to all concerned, especially when the same vaccine is made available free of cost."

Bharat Biotech has so far invested over Rs 500 crore at risk from its own resources for product development, clinical trials and setting up of manufacturing facilities for Covaxin, it added.

The government has set the maximum price private hospitals can charge for the Covaxin at Rs 1,410. The Centre has placed advance orders for 190 million Covaxin doses to be supplied between August and December.
Providing interim relief to the two BJP leaders, High Court on Monday stayed the FIR against former Chief Minister and party spokesperson in connection with the alleged fake toolkit case.

The Court has stayed the investigation in the FIR till the next date of hearing.

unit of the Students Union of India (NSUI) had lodged an FIR against Singh and Patra in the fake toolkit in Civil Lines Police station, Raipur in May after BJP had slammed Congress for its "toolkit on COVID-19 pandemic".

Addressing the media on May 18, Patra had alleged that the toolkit contains instructions for social media volunteers of Congress to call the new COVID-19 mutant as "Indian strain" or "Modi strain" against the World Health Organization (WHO)'s instructions.

Congress, however, denied the allegations and wrote to Delhi Police Commissioner seeking registration of FIR against Patra, BJP president JP Nadda, Union Minister Smriti Irani, party leader BL Santhosh, and others alleging that they had shared "forged and fabricated documents with the intent to create communal disharmony and civil unrest" and to "divert attention from Modi government's failure in providing necessary aid to people amidst the current pandemic".

The complaint was made after remarks by BJP leaders on social media with the hashtag #CongressToolkitExposed in which they accused Congress of spreading "false, negative news and stirring up discontent".

After the FIR was lodged, BJP Vice President and had alleged, "Congress leader Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi directed CM to file an FIR against us.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Covaxin maker said on Tuesday that the Indian governments procurement price of Rs 150 a dose for the Covid-19 was non-competitive and not sustainable in the long run. Hence, it said, a higher price in the private market was required to offset part of the costs.

The companys remarks came amid questions over the differential pricing strategy followed by manufacturers for supplies to the government and private sector.

If we keep supplying (Covaxin) at Rs 150 per dose, then we will no longer be a healthy organisation, a senior executive of told Business Standard.

The company has invested Rs 500 crore on Covaxin from internal accruals, the executive said. Much of this investment has gone into setting up new plants and re-purposing the existing plants in the past 12-18 months. We had to also sacrifice some products that we were making at these plants, and that implies a loss of revenues, he said.

The company will also have to pay royalties based on product sales to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Institute of Virology for their support  providing the Sars-CoV-2 strain, helping with animal studies, and partial funding of clinical trial sites. Royalties are to be paid to US firm Virovax, too, for its adjuvant.

He said renegotiations on the pricing had not begun with the government, and that the company was focusing on supplying the doses under the existing contract (Rs 150 a dose). We are telling the government of India that Rs 150 per dose is not sustainable for us, so please help us out. We are not negotiating or anything.

So far, less than 10 per cent of its Covaxin production has been supplied to private hospitals. In such a scenario, the weighted average price of Covaxin for all supplies realised by is less than Rs 250 a dose. Going forward, around 75 per cent of the capacity will be supplied to the central and state governments, with only 25 per cent going to private hospitals, the maker said.





ALSO READ: Govt panel confirms first death in India after Covid-19 vaccination

While Bharat Biotech did not mention what is a viable price point for Covaxin, the company said it sold inactivated virus vaccines like the rabies vaccine to India and other countries at Rs 350 per dose. Similarly, the inactivated polio vaccine is priced at Rs 250 per dose. Covaxin, too, is an inactivated virus technology-based vaccine.



The Centre has placed advance orders for 250 million Covishield and 190 million Covaxin doses to be supplied between August and December. V K Paul, member-health at the NITI Aayog, said earlier this month that the Centre had released 30 per cent advance payment for these doses to and Bharat Biotech.

It is not clear whether the price for this order has been fixed yet. Senior government officials could not be reached for comment.

Bharat Biotech said the cost of production and pricing was determined by several factors  the cost of goods and raw materials, product failures, at-risk product development outlays, product overages, the entire capital expenditure for setting up sufficient manufacturing facilities, sales and distribution expenses, procurement volumes and commitments, besides other regular business expenditures.

There is an asymmetry in the vaccine pricing policy, the company executive explained. How companies like us survive is that we have a differential pricing strategy. For example, for some markets, we will supply at a certain price, based on volumes and procurement commitments, while for others, the price could be different based on the same factors, he said.

For example, the government of India is more likely to give a high-volume order for millions of doses and also do a supply contract and give some payment advances. On the other hand, a private hospital cannot do the same. Therefore, the pricing will be different for the government and the private sector.





ALSO READ: Covid-19 infections in age groups same in second wave as first: Govt

Moreover, the executive added, when supplying to the government, there were no other margins involved. But when supplying to the private sector, trade margins are there.

The company said there were examples of such pricing policies  the Human Papillomavirus vaccine is priced for GAVI supplies at $4.5 a dose (Rs 320), but is also available in the private market at Rs 3,500 a dose. Rotavirus vaccines are supplied to the government of India at Rs 60 a dose, but are also available in the private market at Rs 1,700 a dose. The prices for Covid-19 vaccines internationally have varied between $10 and $37 a dose, (Rs 730-2,700 a dose), it said in a statement.

Bharat Biotech has supplied 40 million doses of Covaxin till date. It has not sought indemnity for its Covid-19 vaccine from the Indian government, it said.

Complex to make Covaxin

The company said it was highly complex to manufacture Covaxin since the critical ingredient was based on live viruses, which require sophisticated, multiple-level containment and purification methods. Such high standards of purification automatically lead to significant process losses and low yields.

Covaxin requires 10,000 square meters of area to make around 200 million doses annually. In comparison, the same quantity of live virus vaccines can be manufactured from mere 1,500 sq meters, Bharat Biotech said. Every batch of manufactured product is subjected to more than 200 quality control tests, prior to its release. It is exactly this complexity that has kept away other companies from developing vaccines, especially whole virion inactivated vaccines, it added.

'US clinical trials to include children'

Bharat Biotech has already submitted a clinical development plan to the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) and is in active discussions with them. The company aims to conduct clinical trials in the US to get full authorisation of Covaxin in the US, which will be a first for any Indian-origin vaccine. A senior company official said the US clinical trials will also include children.

Moreover, Bharat Biotech said it had been engaging with the World Health Organisation (WHO) for the last three months and presenting the data. Once it is ready with a complete analysis of its phase 3 efficacy trials, it will approach the WHO in July. The WHO is listing Covid-19 vaccines for its Emergency Use List (EUL).
The ongoing COVID-19 public health crisis has resulted in the creation of an "ecosystem" of innovation in India, chief Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw has said ahead of the annual India-US bio-pharma summit in Boston next week.

Mazumdar-Shaw, 68, is one of the key speakers at the 15th edition of the annual virtual summit on June 22 hosted by the USA India Chambers of Commerce. The other star-studded speakers include Dr Albert Bourla, Chairman and CEO of Pfizer; Dr Francis Collins, Director, National Institutes of Health; Dr Janet Woodcock, Acting Commissioner, US Food and Drug Administration; and Amitabh Kant, CEO of NITI Aayog.

"The whole intent (of the more than a decade old annual India-US bio pharma summit) is to catalyse an innovation ecosystem in India. I think, COVID has actually created the ecosystem, Mazumdar-Shaw told PTI in an interview.

COVID, she, noted, has actually resulted in innovative vaccines being produced, such as Covaxin, Genova mRNA programme, and many other programmes that the Indian vaccine makers have licensed and developed in the country.

Then, of course, the whole clinical research ecosystem has been created because we've had so many clinical trials in India, whether it is for new repurpose drugs or vaccines...basically bridging trials, a lot of clinical trials have also happened in India, said the executive chairperson and founder of Biocon, a top biotechnology company based in Bangalore, noting that clinical trials were banned in India at one stage.

"And then when the whole environment opened up for clinical trials, there were not enough trials going on. Now suddenly, a whole bunch of clinical trials have gone on. A lot of clinical sites have opened. A lot of investigator-initiated studies have started.

I think the whole understanding that you've just got to get into clinical trials and clinical research, to actually address a large number of unmet needs is now beginning to dawn on the Indian innovation system, Mazumdar-Shaw said.

She noted that India has a large number of incubators, where they are developing some very innovative programmes.

"There is VC funding now getting into those programmes. So slowly, that ecosystem has been created, the billionaire entrepreneur said, adding that companies from India have started US operations to raise funding and are becoming a part of the US' innovation ecosystem.

The COVID-19 crisis, she observed, has also brought the pharma companies from India and the US together.

Citing examples, she said, Novavax has partnered with Serum Institute. The Baylor Institute has partnered with Biological-E, Johnson and Johnson has partnered with Biological-E and contracted manufacturing their vaccine.

Then there are many other programmes that have been licensed from US academic centres, Mazumdar-Shaw said.

The nasal vaccine that Bharat Biotech is developing has been licensed from the University of Wisconsin. A lot of that kind of partnership and collaborations are ongoing, she said, adding, COVID has definitely brought a lot of spotlights on to those kinds of opportunities.

One of the major challenges of the global bio-pharmaceutical industry was the disruption of global supply chains. And one of them was the raw material supply chain required for vaccine production, the head said.

India, she said, was dependent on the US for raw materials for vaccine manufacturing. Recently, the US and India came together and the ban on supply of the raw materials was revoked, paving the way for Indian vaccine manufacturers to produce the jabs required for global markets.

Today, India has been recognised as one of the largest producers of vaccines in the world. They (the Indian pharma companies) were limited in terms of their vaccine capacity because of some of these constraints. But now with the US opening up that kind of supply of products to vaccine manufacturers, they have also enabled the production of vaccines for global markets, Mazumdar-Shaw said.

Responding to a question, she said India and the US need to make sure that there is free sharing of knowledge on technologies and products and any kind of export ban be lifted. That would be a very good policy for both the countries to adopt.

The fact that there's already a natural collaboration happening between Indian companies and the US companies and academic institutions. Ultimately it is really about having access to each other's markets, because India is a huge market and so is the US," she said.

Mazumdar-Shaw said while most Indian genetic companies are dependent on the US market, a lot of American companies are also looking at India as a market that is important in the future.

"From that point of view, it's a symbiotic and win-win kind of an opportunity for both the countries, she said.

Observing that the second wave of COVID-19 is receding and the numbers are coming down very rapidly, Mazumdar-Shaw said India has learned many lessons from this public health crisis.

Every country has learned lessons in COVID-19. One is that you cannot be complacent. Secondly, there are going to be waves of the pandemic. So just because one wave recedes, doesn't mean that another wave won't happen. Thirdly, you got to be in a state of preparedness all the time. You cannot be complacent.

Fourthly, you must have very strong surveillance measures. Because that is something which every country has not done very well, and it has got surprised by an outbreak, which has suddenly led to another wave, she said.

Mazumdar-Shaw said any government needs to make sure that it calibrate the opening up of the economy and adopt COVID appropriate behaviour.

"You must be very vigilant about any outbreaks anywhere. Because small outbreaks can really start becoming very serious if you ignore them. These are some of the learnings. But most importantly, the world has realised that by vaccinating dense populations that have high caseload, they're able to basically bring down and manage the pandemic much better than if you just tried to vaccinate everyone, she said.

Noting that healthcare costs are very challenging right now, Mazumdar-Shaw said products like generics and biosimilars are going to be very helpful and they will also contain the healthcare costs.

Indian pharma companies will continue to basically address these healthcare needs... From that point of view, I see that right now all the focus has been on COVID, but we've also neglected a lot of other disease areas. Now that the economy has opened, hospitals have opened...you're going to see a huge demand for many, many of these products (generics and biosimilars)," she said.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India on Tuesday reported a net reduction of 59,780 in active cases to take its count to 913,378. Indias share of global active cases now stands at 7.63 per cent (one in 13). The country is second among the most affected countries by active cases. On Monday, it added 60,471 cases to take its total caseload to 29,570,881. And, with 2,726 new fatalities, its Covid-19 reached 377,031, or 1.28 per cent of total confirmed infections.

With 3,927,154 more Covid-19 vaccine doses being administered on Monday, Indias total count of vaccine shots so far reached 259,044,072. The count of recovered cases across India, meanwhile, reached 28,280,472  or 95.64 per cent of total caseload  with 117,525 new cured cases being reported on Monday.

With a daily increase of 60,471 in total cases, Indias tally of coronavirus cases has risen from 29,510,410, on Monday to 29,570,881 an increase of 0.2%. has reached 377,031, with 2,726 fatalities, an all-time high in daily spike. Now the second-most-affected country by active cases, total cases and recovery, and third by death, India has added 574,408 cases in the past 7 days.

India now accounts for 7.63% of all active cases globally (one in every 13 active cases), and 9.78% of all deaths (one in every 10 deaths).

India has so far administered 259,044,072 vaccine doses. That is 876.01 per cent of its total caseload, and 18.59 per cent of its population.

Among Indian states, the top 5 in terms of number of vaccine shots administered are Maharashtra (30972130), Uttar Pradesh (28266648), Rajasthan (24651065), Gujarat (24520842), and West Bengal (21978666).

Among states with more than 10 million population, the top 5 in number of vaccine shots per one million population are Kerala (392242), Delhi (383998), Gujarat (383904), Uttarakhand (350556), and J&K (322766).

Backwards from here, the last 1 million cases for India have come in 12 days.

The count of active cases across India on Sunday saw a net reduction of 59,780, compared with 54,531 on Monday. States and UTs hat have seen the biggest daily net increase in active cases are West Bengal (1270), Mizoram (133), and Arunachal Pradesh (4).

With 117,525 new daily recoveries, Indias recovery rate stands at 95.64%, while fatality rate increased to at 1.28%.

The Indian states and UTs with the worst case fatality rates at present are Punjab (2.65%), Uttarakhand (2.06%), and Nagaland (1.92%). The rate in as many as 17 is higher than the national average.

Indias new daily closed cases stand at 120,251  2,726 deaths and 117,525 recoveries. The share of deaths in total closed cases stands at 2.26%.

Indias 5-day moving average of daily rate of addition to total cases stands at 0.3%.

Indias doubling time for total cases stands at 338.6 days, and for deaths at 95.5 days.

Overall, five states with the biggest 24-hour jump in total cases are Tamil Nadu (12772), Kerala (8129), Maharashtra (7719), Karnataka (6835), and Andhra Pradesh (4549).

Among states with more than 100,000 cases, the five with worst recovery rates at present are Karnataka (92.60%), Tamil Nadu (92.96%), Kerala (95.41%), and Maharashtra (95.55%).

India on Monday conducted 1,751,358 to take the total count of tests conducted so far in the country to 381,375,984. The test positivity rate recorded was 3.5%.

Five states with the highest test positivity rate (TPR)  percentage of tested people turning out to be positive for Covid-19 infection (by cumulative data for tests and cases  are Goa (18.71%), Maharashtra (15.48%), Dadra & Nagar Haveli-Daman & Diu (14.45%), Kerala (12.85%), and Sikkim (12.43%).

Five states with the highest TPR by daily numbers for tests and cases added  are Mizoram (28.08%), Meghalaya (21.13%), Goa (14.93 %), Sikkim (11.50 %), and Kerala (11.26 %).

Among states and UTs with more than 10 million population, five that have carried out the highest number of tests (per million population) are Delhi (1085850), J&K (677214), Kerala (596354), Karnataka (470541), and Uttarakhand (457878).

The five most affected states by total cases are Maharashtra (5654003), Kerala (2610368), Karnataka (2566774), Tamil Nadu (2199808), Andhra Pradesh (1722381).

Maharashtra, the most affected state overall, has reported 8129 new cases to take its tally to 5917121. The state has added 111,556 cases in the past 10 days.

Karnataka, the second-most-affected state, has reported 6835 cases to take its tally to 2771969.

Kerala, the third-most-affected state by total tally, has added 7719 cases to take its tally to 2735958.

Tamil Nadu has added 12772 cases to take its tally to 2366493.

Andhra Pradesh has seen its tally going up by 4549 to 1814393.

Uttar Pradesh has added 313 cases to take its tally to 1702937.

Delhi has added 131 cases to take its tally to 1464776.
Student activists and bodies on Tuesday welcomed a Delhi HC order granting bail to women's collective Pinjra Tod members Devanagana Kalita, Natasha Narwal and Jamia Millia Islamia student Asif Iqbal Tanha, who were arrested under the stringent UAPA in connection with a case related to the riots in the national capital last year.

They also demanded that all political prisoners arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) be released.

Kalita and Narwal, who are students of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), and Tanha were arrested in May last year.

A bench of justices Siddharth Mridul and Anup Jairam Bhambhani set aside trial court orders denying bail to the three and allowed their appeals by admitting them to regular bail.

Reacting to the court order, Safoora Zargar, a Jamia Millia Islamia scholar and co-accused in the UAPA case, said it was one of the happiest days of her life.

"Bail to Devangana, Natasha & Asif in UAPA case. One of the happiest days of my life. Let more follow. Let justice prevail. Alhamdulillah," she tweeted.

Zargar was granted bail in the case in June last year. The Delhi Police did not oppose the high court's decision on humanitarian grounds as she was pregnant at that time.

Delhi University professor Apoorvanand, who was questioned by the Delhi Police in connection with the northeast Delhi riots in August last year, said the whole exercise "was to shield the real perpetrators".

"None of them should have been charged or arrested in the first place. All others must be freed. This whole exercise is a conspiracy to shield the real conspirators and perpetrators of the violence of Feb 2020 in Delhi. They are out and ruling us. Spreading hate, planning violence.

"This is something to celebrate. Natasha, Devangana and Asif Tanha have been granted bail. All others implicated falsely under the UAPA must be freed now," he tweeted.

JNU Students' Union (JNUSU) president Aishe Ghosh said all political prisoners should be released.

"Delhi HC grants bail to Asif Iqbal Tanha, Devangana Kalita and Natasha Narwal in UAPA case. Release All Political Prisoners," she said on Twitter.

The Left-affiliated All India Students' Association (AISA) said, "Delhi HC frees Asif, Devangana & Natasha! Using UAPA to silence pro democracy student activists protesting against divisive #CAA_NRC_NPR law by Modi govt stands exposed," it tweeted.

The students' body also demanded the release of student activists Sharjeel Imam, Umar Khalid and others arrested under the UAPA.

Communal violence broke out in northeast Delhi on February 24 last year after violence between supporters of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and those opposing it spiralled out of control, leaving at least 53 people dead and around 200 injured.

Tanha had challenged a trial court order that dismissed his bail application on the grounds that he allegedly played an active role in the entire conspiracy with reasonable grounds for believing that the allegations were prima facie true.

Narwal and Kalita had challenged the trial court order that dismissed their bail pleas saying the allegations against them were prima facie true and provisions of the anti-terror law had been rightly invoked.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India confirmed the first death related to Covid-19 vaccination in the report on causality assessment of adverse events following immunisation (AEFI).

The death of a 68-year old man who received a Covishield shot on March 8 and died due to anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction) was classified as vaccine product-related reaction by the National AEFI Committee.

In a report released on June 4, the said of the 31 causally assessed cases, 18 were classified as having inconsistent causal association to vaccination (coincidental  not linked to vaccination), seven were classified as indeterminate, three cases were found to be vaccine product-related, one was anxiety-related reaction and two cases were found to be unclassifiable.

According to data in the first week of April 2021, the reporting rate is 2.7 deaths per million vaccine doses administered and 4.8 hospitalizations per million vaccine doses administered. Mere reporting of deaths and hospitalisations as serious adverse events does not automatically imply that the events were caused due to vaccines, the report said.

AEFI is defined as any untoward medical occurrence which follows immunization and which does not necessarily have a causal relationship with the usage of the vaccine. It can be any unfavourable or unintended sign, abnormal laboratory finding, symptom or disease.

Of the 31 serious adverse events, 28 were deaths and three cases were hospitalized and recovered.

All 28 deaths were of people who were administered the Covishield vaccine. Two adverse events following Covaxin were of hospitalizations  one 22-year-old man had anaphylaxis and another 26-year-old man had syncope (temporary loss of consciousness). The AEFI Committee concluded that the syncope was an immunisation anxiety related reaction. The ministry said the number of deaths reported following Covid-19 vaccination in the country is only 0.0002 per cent of 23.5 crore doses administered, which is within the expected death rates in a population. The 488 deaths that are accounted for are not due to vaccination. They could be because of many factors or underlying co-morbidity. Our vaccines have performed very well on the safety parameter, Lav Agarwal, joint secretary, said.

Over 260 million vaccines have been administered in the country so far, according to a tweet by the Union health ministry.

80% doses were via walk-ins



Nearly 80 per cent of 248 million doses recorded on CoWIN till June 13 were administered through walk-in registration, the ministry said. Of the total 283 million registered on Co-WIN as on June 13, almost 58 per cent were registered on-site, the government data showed. The ministry also said the vaccination per million population in tribal districts was higher than the national average.




Congress president on Tuesday asked the government to come clean on the Galwan Valley incident in which 20 Indian soldiers lost their lives a year ago and sought to know the progress made in restoring status quo ante at the border.

In a statement, she said no clarity is yet available on the Chinese transgressions at the border, which Prime minister Narendra Modi has denied.

Gandhi said the Congress has patiently waited for the government to come clean and inform the nation about the circumstances in which the unprecedented incident happened and reassure the people that the sacrifice of our brave jawans was not in vain.

"The Congress party reiterates its concern that no clarity is yet available and the prime minister's last word on the subject a year ago was that no transgression had occurred," she said.

"We have repeatedly sought details of the episode in light of the PM's statement, as well as details of what progress has been made towards restoring the status quo ante prior to April 2020," she also said.

The Congress chief said that the disengagement agreement with China "appears to have worked entirely to India's disadvantage so far".

"The Congress party urges the government to take the nation into confidence and ensure that their performance is worthy of the commitment of our soldiers who are standing bravely and resolutely at the borders," she said in her statement.

Gandhi also said "As we approach the first anniversary of the tragic loss of 20 brave soldiers of the Bihar Regiment, including their commanding officer, in the confrontation with PLA troops of China on the night of June 15-16, 2020, the Congress party joins a grateful nation in remembrance of their supreme sacrifice."



The 20 Indian soldiers lost their lives in clashes with PLA troops at the India-China border in the Galwan Valley in eastern on the intervening night of June 15 and 16, 2020.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
An flight from Kannur suffered a tyre burst while landing at Karnataka's Hubli Airport on Monday, informed the airline on Tuesday.

It further stated that all passengers and crew are safe.

The aircraft is currently under maintenance checks at Hubli, the airline said.

" ATR operating 6e-7979 from Kannur to Hubli reported Tyre Burst at Hubli upon arrival yesterday evening. All passengers and crew are safe. Aircraft is currently under maintenance checks at Hubli," said the airline in a press statement issued today.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
has allowed people to go maskless indoors from Tuesday, as the cases in the country are decreasing.

Times of reported that the Health Ministry announced that from today the requirement for masks to be worn indoors will be lifted, marking the end of one of the only major restrictions remaining in

However, the Ministry said that some people have to wear masks to combat COVID spread. These include workers or guests who have not been vaccinated or recovered at welfare institutions, long-term care facilities or homes for the elderly, individuals en route to quarantine, and travelers on a flight. It also did not address schools.

Earlier, the Ministry had said that masks would still be required because the majority of those under 16 have yet to be vaccinated.If the declining trend in morbidity continues and the campaign to vaccinate 12- to-15-year-olds, which began last Sunday, succeeds, there would be another discussion to consider dropping the mask requirement in schools as well, the Ministry said.

On June 13, Israel kicked off its vaccine drive for children aged 12 to 15, with 600,000 eligible for inoculation.

The move came six months after Israel began its vaccination drive for adults, and after the US Food and Drug Administration okayed the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for the age group.

At the peak of the pandemic, there were 88,000 active cases in the country and 1,228 serious cases; as of Monday, there were 212 active infections and 29 people in serious condition, according to the Times of Israel.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Jharkhand government on Tuesday extended COVID-related lockdown-like restrictions till June 24 with some relaxations, including opening of shopping malls and departmental stores till 4 pm,an official said.

Earlier, only shops were allowed till 4 pm and not the shopping malls and departmental stores.

Inter-state and Intra-state bus transport shall remain prohibited except for the buses specifically used by the district administration till June 24 morning, as per a statement from the state government.

E-passes will be mandatory for inter-state and inter- district movement in private vehicles but for movement within the district, no e-passes will be required.

But, religious places will remain closed for the devotees like earlier and so are the educational institutions.

This is the sixth time that the curbs, first imposed in the state on April 22 for a week, were extended.

The ongoing measures were scheduled to end on June 17.

The decision was made at a meeting of the state disaster management authority chaired by Chief Minister Hemant Soren.

The 'Health Safety Week' now stands extended till June 24, a statement from the state government said.

Earlier, in East Singhbhum, having more caseload, shops dealing in shoes, cloths, cosmetics and jewellery were asked to remain closed till June 17.

However, all the shops in the state including shops selling fruits, vegetables, grocery items, sweets and eatables shall remain closed from Saturday 4 pm to Monday 6 am barring medicines shops, hospitals and petrol pumps etc like last week.

The governemnt has allowed opening of all government and private offices till 4 pm with one-third of human resources.

Home delivery of food from restaurants along with take away has been allowed, the order said, adding that the cinema halls, clubs, bars, banquet halls and multiplexes will remain closed.

At the same time stadiums, gymnasiums, swimming pools and parks will remain shut in addition to all educational institutions.

The government said anganwadi centres will remain closed but food items will be provided to the beneficiaries at home.

"There will be a ban on the gathering of more than 5 persons. A maximum of 11 persons can attend a marriage and a maximum of 20 persons can attend a funeral.

"Religious places will remain closed for devotees," according to a statement from the state government.

Prohibition on procession will continue in the state besides the ban on bus transport will continue.

All examinations to be conducted by the state will remain postponed while the ban on fair and exhibition will continue.

The government said e-passes will be mandatory for inter-district movement in private vehicles or going to other states from Jharkhand or coming to Jharkhand.

Barring some exceptions, seven days home quarantine will be mandatory for those coming to Jharkhand from other states, it said.

Wearing of mask in public place and maintaining social distance are mandatory, the statement said, adding in case of violation of order, action will be taken by registering an FIR under the relevant section of the Disaster Management Act.

Jharkhand recorded only one COVID fatality during the last 24 hours, pushing the death toll to 5,085.

The lone virus death in the state Tuesday happened in East Singhbhum district.

The state also reported 151 new cases which took the tally to 3,43,609, the bulletin said.

The new cases were reported from East Singhbhum (27), Dhanbad (23) and Hazaribag (15).

The mortality rate in the state dipped at 1.47 per cent but remained higher than the national average of 1.20 per cent.

The COVID-19 recovery rate in the state has improved to 97.62 per cent, better than the national average of 95.40 per cent.

The state now has 3,062 active COVID-19 cases, while 3,35,462 patients have recovered from the infection including 483 during the last 24 hours.

Altogether, 91,40,410 samples have been tested for COVID-19 in Jharkhand, including 38,711 since Monday.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Senior executive of multi- technology firm Oracle, Pradeep Agarwal and his wife were booked by Police for cheating by collecting huge advance amounts for the projects using the goodwill of the company, reported ANI.

Agarwal, a senior sales director, Cloud ERP, and his wife Meenu Agarwal have been booked under Section 406, 420, 506 IPC, and the police served notices to them on Monday at their residence in Gurugram.

in its statement said: Oracle has zero involvement in this matter. We would also like to state that Pradeep Aggarwal is not the Oracle India Head.

Agarwal, at Oracle, has territorial responsibility of the North and West region. According to Agarwals LinkedIn profile he has been with Oracle for three years and 10 months. His profile also shows that he worked at Google India. His Likedin profile says that he was the founding country head (Indian Subcontinent), Google For Work.

Meenu Agarwal headed MADS Creation, a Gurugram-based interior company. The report said, she duped clients in and around NCR region by taking huge advance project money and executed inferior quality of work and in some cases, she has left the work incomplete and vanished.

The police report also said that the mastermind behind MADs Creation was Pradeep Agarwal. Both Pradeep Agarwal and his wife were exploiting the goodwill and reputation of Oracle India for trapping the customer, said the police, according to ANI report.
As the Covid positivity rate dropped to two per cent in Punjab, the state government on Tuesday eased restrictions, allowing restaurants, cinema halls and gyms to operate at 50 per cent capacity beginning Wednesday.

According to an official statement, 50 people are allowed at weddings and cremations. Earlier, 20 persons were allowed for such gatherings.

Under the fresh guidelines, which will remain in effect till June 25, daily night curfew will be in place from 8 pm to 5 am and weekend curfew will be imposed from 8 pm on Saturday up to 5 am on Monday across the state, the statement said.

Earlier, the night curfew was from 7 pm to 6 am.

Chairing a virtual Covid review meeting, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh ordered the reopening of all restaurants, cafes, coffee shops, fast food outlets, cinema halls, gyms at maximum 50 per cent capacity, subject to all their employees having received at least one dose of vaccination.

Air conditioned buses can also ply with 50 per cent occupation.

Bars, pubs and 'ahatas' (tavern) shall, however, continue to remain closed, the statement said.

All educational institutions will also continue to be closed.

District authorities have been asked to determine opening timings of non-essential shops on the basis of the local situation, while ensuring that crowds are avoided.

The authorities shall also continue to ensure strict implementation of all the extant directives of the government on Covid-appropriate behaviour, the chief minister added.

On Monday, Punjab had recorded 629 fresh cases, taking the infection tally to 5,88,525.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The on Tuesday granted bail to JNU student Natasha Narwal in the 2020 riots 'conspiracy' case, saying terror laws cannot be applied in a "cavalier manner" and the line between the right to protest and terrorist activity is getting blurred as also that it will be a sad day for democracy if this mindset gains traction.

A Bench of Justices Siddharth Mridul and Anup Jairam Bhambhani admitted her on a regular bail on furnishing a personal bond of Rs 50,000 each along with two sureties of the like amount. The court also granted bail to two more student activists in the case.

While granting her relief, the bench opined, It seems, that in its anxiety to suppress dissent, in the mind of the State, the line between the constitutionally guaranteed right to protest and terrorist activity seems to be getting somewhat blurred. If this mindset gains traction, it would be a sad day for democracy."



Furthermore, the court stated that the allegations relating to inflammatory speeches, organising 'chakka jaam', instigating women are evidence that she participated in organising protests, but there is no specific allegation that she incited violence.

We can discern no specific or particularised allegation, much less any material, that the appellant incited violence, what to talk of committing a terrorist act or a conspiracy or act preparatory to the commission of a terrorist act as understood in the UAPA, the judges said in a 72-page judgement.

Narwal, who was arrested in May 2020, has been directed to surrender her passport and not to travel out of the country without permission of the trial court or contact prosecution witnesses or other persons acquainted with the facts of the case or tamper with evidence.

The case pertains to the alleged 'conspiracy' to incite the riots, which had left 53 people dead and hundreds injured in north-east Delhi in February last year.

Narwal, along with 17 others, are accused in the case.

A student pursuing MPhil-PhD Programme from the Jawaharlal Nehru University, Narwal has been accused of various offences under the Indian Penal Code, Unlawful Assembly (Prevention) Act, Indian Penal Code, Arms Act and Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.

The court said no offence under sections 15 (terrorist act), 17 (punishment for raising funds for terrorist act) or 18 (punishment for conspiracy) of the UAPA is prima facie made-out against Narwal in the case based on the charge-sheet and the material collected and cited by the prosecution.

It said that although the definition of 'terrorist act' in section 15 of the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) is wide and somewhat vague, it must partake the essential character of terrorism and the phrase 'terrorist act' cannot be permitted to be applied in a cavalier manner to criminal acts that squarely fall under the IPC.

Keeping in view the background, profile and position of the appellant, there is no reasonably discernible basis to suspect, nor do we entertain any reasonable apprehension, that the appellant will either flee from justice; or that she will tamper with evidence; or that she will intimidate witnesses or otherwise attempt to frustrate trial, the high court said.

It noted that the charge sheet was filed on September 16, 2020 and there are 740 prosecution witnesses and the trial is yet to commence which is unlikely to begin soon in view of the truncated functioning of courts because of the prevailing second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the charge sheet, the police have claimed that the clashes were part of a "pre-planned and premeditated conspiracy".

It showed screenshots of purported WhatsApp messages exchanged by student activists, as well as their Facebook posts, to establish their complicity in the alleged conspiracy.

Narwal is an accused in a total of three cases related to Delhi riots. She has now been granted bail in all the cases. Besides her, the court has granted bail to JNU student Devanagana Kalita and Jamia Millia Islamia student Asif Iqbal Tanha.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
While the number of new Covid-19 infections in India has seen a decline in recent days, the high mortality rate remains a cause of concern.

Most of the deaths, which are happening now, are cases that were admitted to intensive care units in the last week of May, experts said on Tuesday.

India's daily Covid caseload continues to fall with the country recording 60,461 new cases in the last 24 hours, the lowest since March 29.

Yet the number of deaths remains high. The last 24 hours saw 2,726 persons succumbing to the virus, as per the data released by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Tuesday.

"Our Covid-19 peak was in the second week of May 2021. During the peak, admissions to MICU (medical intensive care unit) were the highest. Most of the deaths which are happening now are cases that were admitted to MICU two to three weeks earlier (third week of May)," Aravinda G.M., Consultant Physician (internal medicine) at the Manipal Hospital, Jayanagar, Bengaluru, told IANS.

"This time the severity of the disease was also very high, i.e., lung involvement was very severe. These severe cases were in ICU for a longer period of time. Now even the number of cases is low, but the mortality rate among these cases are very high," said Vikas Maurya, Director and HOD, Pulmonology, Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh.

In terms of infection, India has witnessed a decline in daily Covid cases by up to 85 per cent since the highest daily tally was registered on May 7 at 4,14,188.

The country's overall tally of Covid-19 cases now stands at 2,95,70,871, with 3,77,031 deaths so far.

Presently, Karnataka has the highest number of active cases in the country at 1,80,856, followed by Maharashtra at 1,58,617 and Tamil Nadu at 1,49,927. These three states account for nearly 50 per cent of active cases in the country.

Maharashtra has the highest death rate of 1.90 per cent with a toll of 1,12,696 till date. The state is followed by Karnataka which has reported 33,033 Covid fatalities so far.

"This time the wave came rapidly with a steep rise in the number of cases. Also, the volume of cases with severe disease was very high," Maurya told IANS.

"Probably in the next two weeks, a gradual decline in Covid deaths is expected to be seen in India. Also, more cases were noticed in the Tier-II cities, where hospitals that provide tertiary healthcare are few," Aravinda noted.

Meanwhile, the overall global Covid-19 caseload has topped 176 million, while the deaths have surged to more than 3.80 million, according to Johns Hopkins University's latest update on Tuesday.

The US continues to be the worst-hit country with the world's highest number of cases and deaths at 33,473,180 and 599,928, respectively. In terms of infections, India follows in second place with 29,510,410 cases.

In terms of mortality, Brazil comes second with 488,228 fatalities, followed by India with 374,305 deaths.

--IANS

rvt/arm

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
AstraZenecas antibody cocktail fails to prevent Covid-19 in study

In a setback for AstraZenca, its antibody cocktail fail to produce any promising results in preventing the infection, the company has said in a statement. The cocktail combination showed only 33 per cent efficacy in preventing Covid-19 symptoms in people who had been exposed to the virus. The study looked at about 1,121 unvaccinated adults in the US and UK As many as 23 volunteers who got the drug cocktail developed symptomatic Covid-19 after exposure, compared with 17 cases in the group that got a placebo. Read here

Let's look at the global statistics Global infections: 176,273,244 Global deaths: 3,812,157 Vaccine doses administered: 2,375,851,089 Nations with most cases: US (33,474,758), India (29,570,881), Brazil (17,452,612), France (5,803,012), Turkey (5,336,073). Source: John Hopkins Research Center

Emirates posts first loss in three decades as virus hits travel

Emirates, the long-haul carrier that specialises in specialises in inter-contintenal travel posted a $6 billion loss in the financial year ended March as the pandemic and resultant lockdown decimated travel demand across the world. This is the first loss, the company has posted in three decades. The state-owned company received a capital injection of $3.1 billion from its owner, the government of Dubai. Revenue from operations declined declined as much as 66 per cent as compared to the previous year. Read here

Pfizer, AstraZeneca shots highly effective in preventing hospitalisations

Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines were found to be highly effective in preventing hospitalsations among patients infected with the now dominant Delta variant, first found in India. The Pfizer and BioNTech shot is 96 per cent effective against hospitalisation after two doses, while the AstraZeneca and University of Oxford Covid inoculation is 92 per cent effective, according to a study released by Public Health England. The analysis included more than 14,000 cases of the delta variant  166 of whom were hospitalised  between April 12 and June 4. Read here

Top Chinese virologist speaks out on Wuhan lab leak theory

Amid growing chorus over proper investigation into the Wuhan lab leak theory from across the scientific community and politicians, China's top virologist Shi Zhengli, dismissed the claims that the virus might have leaked from the Wuhan Institute of Virology as baseless. Dr Shi Zhengli and other colleagues of here reprotedly conducted several high risk experiments on coronaviruses before the pandemic first emerged. In a rare interview with the New York Times, Dr Shi said: How on earth can I offer up evidence for something where there is no evidence? Read here
Pity the

The majestic, endangered bird is massive, making it slow to maneuver in flight. It has poor frontal vision, and an unfortunate habit of scanning the earth while flying across the flat grasslands of Indias western borders. That combination too often sets it on a fatal collision course with power lines.

Pity also, if you will, the plight of Indias developers.

The wide-open region thats home to the rare bird has long been an ideal location for wind and solar projects. In an effort to save the from flying into power lines, a Supreme Court order is asking for transmission lines in a large swathe of the region to go underground. The companies say the directive could cost an estimated $4 billion in extra expenses, and jeopardize nearly 20 gigawatts of awarded solar and wind projects.

Before taking sides, though, be aware that the issue is more nuanced than a straightforward clash pitting industry against nature. The effort to save the bustard holds risks for what is arguably an even larger environmental cause: It could set back Indias climate goals, which depend heavily on the availability of wasteland like the bustards domain for putting up solar panels and wind turbines.





ALSO READ: India's wind power sector wants rival solar to help drive growth

The whole renewable industry, especially solar, could come to a standstill, said Parag Sharma, chief executive officer at O2 Power Pvt., a Temasek Holdings-backed developer thats building a 780-megawatt solar project in the western Indian town of Jaisalmer. You wont find land that easily anywhere else in the country.

Other companies that have projects in the region include Adani Green Energy Ltd., ReNew Power Pvt. and Acme Solar Holdings.

Certain extinction

The April ruling was a result of a petition filed in 2019 by M.K. Ranjitsinh Jhala, a former bureaucrat turned wildlife activist. The judges based their order on a report by the state-run Wildlife Institute of India, which said that unless power line mortality is mitigated urgently, extinction of GIBs is certain.

The court ruled that all low-voltage lines, including existing ones, need to be taken below the earth. It formed a three-member committee to examine the feasibility of also putting high-voltage cables underground.

The problem, according to the energy companies, is that the court went well beyond the reports prescription. While the WII advised burying cables in a region where most of the birds live, the court also called for action in potential habitats, expanding the protection area and the cost burden for the companies.

We were taken by surprise, said Subrahmanyam Pulipaka, CEO of industry lobby National Solar Energy Federation of India. We are discussing all options, including filing a review petition before the court, approaching the committee to present our case, or both.

Slow bird

Great Indian bustards -- the name means slow bird in Old French -- are among the heaviest flying creatures on earth. They stand about 1 meter tall (3.3 feet), have a wing span of about 2 meters, and weigh nearly 18 kilograms, more than twice the size of a peacock. The easily frightened, ground-nesting bird used to roam across 11 states in India, but their dwelling ground has shrunk to mostly Rajasthan.

A WII survey covering 80 kilometers of power lines across the Thar desert region of the state found four bustard deaths during a single year due to high-transmission wires, including some connected to wind turbines. The study found that the birds died either because of the impact of the collision or electrocution.

Besides the transmission wires, a rapid conversion of grassland for farming or industrial projects and a slow birth rate -- bustards lay one egg every year or two -- have also led to their depleting numbers.

These birds are on the brink of extinction and are now confined to a very small area. Saving that ecosystem should be as much a part of our climate goals as any other thing, said Sreeja Chakraborty, a Bengaluru-based environment lawyer. If the industry finds it tough to comply with the courts order, they should move their projects to other locations.



ALSO READ: India's capacity for renewable energy rose by over 250% in 6-7 years: PM

Since the ruling, the power companies and government and state officials have scrambled to find a solution for both businesses and birds. In a meeting in early May, the participants discussed the technical difficulties of taking high-voltage lines below ground, the cost implications and even environmental hazards of below-the-earth cabling, according to documents seen by Bloomberg.

Taking lines underground can inflate project costs and power prices by nearly 20% and getting lenders to fund the additional expenditure, estimated at around 300 billion rupees ($4 billion), could be a challenge due to regulatory delays, according to the solar lobby groups Pulipaka.

That means developers will have to put in their own equity money and then run around for years to get that reimbursed, he said.

India, the worlds third-biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, plans to expand its renewable power capacity nearly five-fold to 450 gigawatts by the end of this decade. Solar and wind, which together account for about 90% of the countrys renewable power capacity, are expected to form most of the new installations.

The court, in its ruling, acknowledged the need to weigh sustainable development for humans with the rights of other creatures. While it sought to find a balance between the two sides, the court gave more weighting to the heavy, poor-sighted bustards.

Irrespective of the cost factor, the priority shall be to save the near extinct birds, the two-judge bench ruled.
External Affairs Minister and Finance Minister were on Tuesday confirmed as the headline speakers at a global event that will lay out India's vision for post-pandemic growth.

India Global Forum, organised from London as a hybrid event between June 29 and July 1, will bring together a range of worldwide experts, including World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former CIA Director General David H. Petraeus, to cover India's role in vaccine and medicine manufacturing as well as cooperation in crucial areas of climate change and an equitable global

From India, other senior ministers set to address a host of sessions include Commerce & Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari and Women & Textiles Minister Smriti Irani.

This year's India Global Forum brings with it a sense of urgency and impatience about the radical actions needed now to shape a post-pandemic world, said Manoj Ladwa, CEO of India Inc. Group, organisers of the forum.

It's where the big global issues of climate change, and opportunity, digital transformation, and tackling new age imperialist and fundamentalist threats get debated, he said.

In line with its Future. Now. Radical Actions for the Post Pandemic Era theme, the sessions of the forum will cover Climate Action; Digital Future; Global Business; Economic Recovery; Health & HealthTech; Securing Supply Chains; and Global Leadership.

From views on how the post-pandemic build back of the global economy can be used to accelerate the transition to a better and safer world, to so-called Covidonomics of navigating huge new debts, unemployment and ongoing healthcare risk, the event is being pegged as the first chance for such a high-level worldwide forum as India gradually emerges from a devastating second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Mayank Bhardwaj and Rajendra Jadhav

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India, the world's top importer of vegetable oil, will have to spend billions of extra dollars this year to buy more costly cooking oil from overseas and is mulling cutting taxes on those imports to soften the blow to the economy, industry officials have said.

The government is considering reducing taxes on imports after cooking hit record highs last month as it seeks to make food costs more affordable for its population of over 1.3 billion and keep price pressures at bay.

WHY HAVE GLOBAL PRICES RALLIED SO MUCH?

Problems in the global production of key oilseeds coupled with rising biodiesel use have fuelled the global vegoil rally.

Soyoil futures have jumped more than 70% this year after drought tightened U.S. and Brazilian soybean supplies. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has forecast global soybean stocks will fall to a five-year low of 87.9 million tonnes by September.

Graphic: Global prices scale record highs on supply woes, juiced up biofuel use https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/ce/xklpyalwqpg/GlobalVegoilsJune2021.png

Palm oil prices, the most widely consumed edible oil, also rallied 18% in 2020 after COVID-19 lockdowns curbed output from plantations in Southeast Asia.

Benchmark futures in Malaysia touched 4,142 ringgit ($1,007.30) a tonne in mid-March, their highest since 2008.

Poor rapeseed and sunflower seed harvests in Europe and the Black Sea region further tightened supplies, helping push global food prices to 10-year highs last month.

Mirroring record global prices, domestic palm oil and soyoil rates have more than doubled in the past year.

WHY IS INDIA CONCERNED?

As the top edible oil importer, India spends an average of $8.5-$10 billion annually on imported vegoils and the recent price surge will only inflate its bloated import bill further. is India's third-biggest import item after crude oil and gold.

India's imports have surged to 15 million tonnes from 4 million only two decades ago, according to industry estimates. It could touch 20 million by 2030, trade and industry experts say, boosted by a growing populace with higher incomes and a taste for calorie-laden curry and fried food.

Domestic oilseed production has failed to keep pace with demand, as farmers prefer to grow grains like rice and wheat, the price of which is guaranteed by the government.

Graphic: Global vegetable oil production since 2000 https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/ce/ygdpzxaoxpw/GlobalVegOilOutputJune2021.png

India produced about 10.65 million tonnes of edible oils in 2019-20, less than half of the roughly 24 million tonnes it consumed during that period, according to trade and government estimates.

It imported the rest, buying around 7.2 million tonnes of palm oil from Indonesia and Malaysia, about 3.4 million tonnes of soyoil from Brazil and Argentina, and 2.5 million tonnes of sunflower oil, mainly from Russia and Ukraine.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSE?

Soaring vegetable have further hit people already reeling from record fuel prices and lower incomes due to a devastating second wave of COVID-19 infections.

The government has voiced support for greater domestic production of oil crops in recent years, and had been expected to unveil incentives for farmers willing to expand oilseed output in its latest annual budget plan.

But the government has yet to come up with a viable plan to raise oilseeds production.

India grows several oilseeds - mainly peanuts, soybeans and rapeseed (mustard) - but their prices are not guaranteed by the government like grain prices are. As a result, Indian output of rice and wheat is nearly six times greater than total oilseed output on average.

Graphic: India main grain and oilseed production https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/ce/nmopaeogrpa/IndiaGrainOilseedsProd.png

The local vegetable oil industry has argued that the government, which earns about 350 billion rupees ($4.79 billion) from levies on edible oil imports, should set aside some of that to incentivise farmers to switch to oilseeds.

But the government has not taken any such measure so far in 2021, and is relying on adjusting import tax rates to try to control volumes and prices.

($1 = 4.11 ringgit)

(Reporting by Mayank Bhardwaj and Rajendra Jadhav; additional reporting by Manoj Kumar in New Delhi and Fathin Ungku in Singapore; Editing by Gavin Maguire and Ana Nicolaci da Costa)

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Senior Finance Ministry officials will hold an interactive meeting with on June 22 to discuss technical glitches and grievances in the recently launched e-filing portal. Stakeholders including ICAI members, auditors, consultants and taxpayers will be a part of the meeting.

"Representatives from will be present to answer queries, clarify issues and receive inputs on the working of the protal, to remove glitches and sort out issues faced by taxpayers," the department said in an official statement.

After IT Department's much publicised new e-filing portal went live June 7 night, IT filers continued to face technical glitches ranging from longer than usual logging time, inability to respond to notices and not all features functioning yet.

Many users posted tweets tagging the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

Last week, FM publicly asked and its co-founder and chairman Nandan Nilekani to address the grievances in a tweet and not let taxpayers down.

Nilekani later assured the FM that the company was working to resolve the issue, after she raised concerns on tech glitches and grievances on the newly launched e-filing portal.

Infosys was in 2019 awarded a contract to develop the next-generation filing system to reduce processing time for returns from 63 days to one day and expedite refunds.
Finance Minister on Monday said that the state needs to be given an additional compensation (Goods and Services Tax compensation) of Rs 4,911 crores, adding that he had written to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in this regard but received no response so far.

Speaking to the media yesterday, Mitra said, "Additional compensation (Goods and Services Tax compensation) of Rs 4,911 crores needs to be given to West Bengal, I had written to the Finance Minister but there is no response till now."

On April 5, Finance Minister on Monday wrote to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman urging to release the entire sum of Revenue Deficit Grant provided by the 15th Finance Commission to the state of Rs 5,031 crores in three installments.

Mitra had said the states will continue to face financial stress in a situation where revenue receipts are drying up, while the expenditure to tackle the COVID 19 crisis.

"In order to tide over this critical situation, we had made a request for advance release of the Revenue Deficit Grant provided by the 15th Finance Commission, where we urged you to release the full amount of the grant during the months of April, May and June 2020," Mitra said in the letter.

He had said in the case of West Bengal, this release will amount to Rs 5,013 crores in three installments of Rs 1,671 crores, for each of the three months of April, May and June, respectively.

"But we are dismayed that the Centre has released only an amount of Rs 417 crores for the month of April, in a routine manner without taking into cognizance the unprecedented COVID-19 crisis," he added.

He had also highlighted the proposal sent by the Chief Minister to the Prime Minister of raising the FRBM limit from 3 per cent to 5 per cent for this fiscal year, 2020-21.

Meanwhile, Minister of State in the Finance Ministry, Anurag Thakur, has dismissed the remarks of Finance Minister Amit Mitra, who claimed that he was not allowed to speak at the end of the GST Council meeting held here on Saturday.

Referring to Mitra's letter to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in this regard, Thakur in a series of tweets on Saturday said that in his experience as MoS in the last two years, he had not seen Sitharaman cut off anyone during the GST Council meeting. "She has patiently given each and every speaker as much time as they needed, even if it meant discussions went on for long hours," he said.

This comes after Mitra claimed that he repeatedly tried to voice objections after Sitharaman announced the GST Council's decision, but his "voice was muzzled as the Secretary brought the meeting to a close and the virtual link was cut off".

The MoS said Mitra did not have a stable video conferencing connection throughout the meeting, adding that the Revenue Secretary informed Mitra that his line was breaking and he was not audible. "Further, during the speech made by the Uttar Pradesh Finance Minister, nobody heard Mitra speak up nor did he ask to have his opinion heard. Other members can attest to this," he said.

Thakur clarified that at the end of the discussion, Sitharaman asked the Council whether anyone would like to speak and add their comments but Mitra remained silent.

"Mitra again remained silent and did not speak up. The Finance Minister has never stifled dissent in the GST Council. It is unbecoming of a senior member of the Council to suggest that this has happened. The GST Council embodies the collective spirit of all states towards debate in a healthy manner; it has been and shall continue," he concluded.

On Saturday, Sitharaman said that recommendations of Group of Ministers (GoM) set up to look into tax relief on Covid-19 medical supplies have been accepted by the GST Council.

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) rate has been reduced from 12 per cent earlier to 5 per cent now on Covid testing kits, medical grade oxygen and ventilators.

For ambulances, the GST rate has been reduced from 28 per cent to 12 per cent and for hand sanitsers from 18 per cent to 5 per cent. These rates will be valid till September 30.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
State-owned on Tuesday said it will be the lead sponsor of National Asset Reconstruction Company Limited (NARCL) or bad bank with 12 per cent stake in the entity.

Bad bank refers to a financial institution that takes over bad assets of lenders and undertakes resolution.

"The Indian Banks' Association (IBA), vide their letter dated May 13, 2021 requested to participate in NARCL as sponsor. The board of has given in-principle approval for taking stake in NARCL," Canara Bank said in a regulatory filing.

Following the board nod, it said, the bank has sought the approval from the Reserve Bank of India for participating in NARCL as sponsor contributing 12 per cent stake.

Various public sector (PSBs) have also announced that they have earmarked a signification portion of their NPAs to be transferred to NARCL.

For example, Punjab National Bank (PNB) said that it has identified non-performing assets of Rs 8,000 crore to be transferred to NARCL.

The proposed NARCL would be 51 per cent promoted by PSBs and remaining by private sector lender.

have identified around 22 bad loans worth Rs 89,000 crore to be transferred to the NARCL in the initial phase.

Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Budget 2021-22 announced that the high level of provisioning by public sector of their stressed assets calls for measures to clean up the bank books.

"An Asset Reconstruction Company Limited and Asset Management Company would be set up to consolidate and take over the existing stressed debt," she had said in the Budget speech. It will then manage and dispose of the assets to alternate investment funds and other potential investors for eventual value realisation, she added.

Last year, the IBA had made a proposal for creation of a bad bank for swift resolution of non-performing assets (NPAs). The government accepted the proposal and decided to go for asset reconstruction company (ARC) and asset management company (AMC) model for this.

The IBA was appointed nodal agency to constitute the Asset Reconstruction and Asset Management Companies designated as NARCL and India Debt Management Company Ltd (IDMCL) respectively.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
(NHB) has imposed a penalty of Rs 80,000 on for not complying with loan disbursement norms in 2015.

However, the company has asked the regulator to reconsider the penalty.

In a letter dated June 11, NHB has advised the company to pay a penalty of Rs 80,000 plus GST for non-compliance with policy regarding disbursement of home loans in the year 2015, said in a regulatory filing on Tuesday.

The home loan disbursements were related to Pushpban and Chaitraban projects situated at a village in Pune, promoted and developed by DSK.

"The company has made a representation to NHB on June 14, 2021, to reconsider the penalty as this matter was earlier dealt with by the NHB in October 2019 and a caution advice was then issued," said.

Shares of PNB Housing on Tuesday closed at Rs 738.05 apiece on the BSE, down 4.99 per cent from the previous close.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
China warned the North Atlantic Treaty Organization it wont sit back in the face of any challenges, illustrating the potential for tensions to escalate while the U.S. tries to convince its allies to take a tougher approach to the Asian nation.

Beijing doesnt pose a systemic challenge to any countries, according to a statement posted Tuesday on the website of its mission to the European Union that added should not exaggerate Chinas military power.

The statement also urged to push forward with dialogue and cooperation, and said the bloc should work to safeguard international and regional stability.

The comments from Beijing come after Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters that the alliance is concerned by Chinas coercive policies, which stand in contrast to the fundamental values enshrined in the Washington Treaty on which the bloc rests. He cited the countrys rapidly expanding nuclear arsenal, military cooperation with Russia and its use of disinformation.

The communique released after the NATO meeting mentioned China 10 times, compared to just once after the last summit in 2019. Russia was named more than 60 times this year. The document also said that the bloc maintains a constructive dialogue with China where possible.

Washington has been seeking to build a united front on Beijing, though President Joe Biden settled for a modest condemnation at the Group of Seven meeting over the weekend.

Biden had pushed for the group to confront China on topics such as forced labor and human rights abuses, and on its Belt and Road Initiative infrastructure plan. He said he also raised the issue of China refusing outside access to its laboratories to determine the origin of the Covid-19 outbreak.

The G-7 communique calls for a timely, transparent, expert-led, and science-based study led by the World Health Organization into the diseases origins.

Several leaders, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, pushed back over concern about turning the G-7 into an anti-China group. Suggesting any infrastructure program the nations supported should be framed as a more positive, pro-environment effort.

Merkel said at one point in the summit that this is not about being against something, but for something, a rejection of any call to specifically line up against China.

It is the claim of the G-7 to have a positive agenda for many countries in the world, which still need to catch up, Merkel said.

China was dismissive of the G-7 summit, with its embassy in London issuing a statement saying: The days when global decisions were dictated by a small group of countries are long gone.
The is temporarily freezing out 10 banks from taking part in a series of bond sales under the blocs pandemic debt issuance program as it carries out an assessment of their previous breaches of antitrust rules.

Banks including , Citigroup Inc., Bank of America Corp. and Barclays Plc have been blocked from arranging individual syndicated transactions for the NextGenerationEU program by the European Commission.

There will be a careful assessment of whether the primary dealers found guilty of breaching antitrust rules have taken necessary remedial measures to terminate these practices and are ready to undertake to take steps to avoid their recurrence, the European Commission said in a statement.

The 10 banks barred from the syndications are among a list of 39 so-called primary dealers, which have a responsibility to bid for bonds during regular debt auctions. The EU is expected to begin those in September, with another two syndications due before the end of July.

Upon the completion of this assessment, these institutions will be admitted to the Primary Dealer Network but will not be invited to tender for individual syndicated transactions, the statement said.

The other banks affected are Deutsche Bank AG, Nomura Holdings Inc., UniCredit SpA, NatWest Group Plc, Natixis SA and Credit Agricole SA. Spokespeople for the 10 banks declined or didnt immediately respond to requests for comment. IFR reported the news earlier.

Investor Demand

The first of those sales got underway Tuesday with the bloc set to issue a record 20 billion euros ($24 billion) of 10-year bonds, racking up around 142 billion euros of investor orders. So-called syndications are seen as highly profitable for banks, with orders having surged over the past few years thanks to trillions of euros of support from the European Central Bank.

In April this year, Bank of America was among banks fined about 28.5 million euros by regulators for colluding in chatrooms on trading of U.S. supra-sovereign, sovereign and agency bonds. And in May, Nomura and UniCredit were among those fined for colluding on euro government bond trading during the regions sovereign debt crisis.

Tuesdays 10-year bond sale saw Danske Bank A/S and Banco Santander SA appointed joint lead managers, with BNP Paribas SA, DZ Bank AG, HSBC Holdings Plc, IMI Plc and Morgan Stanley as the bookrunners.
The U.S. and the European Union agreed to end their 17-year dispute over aircraft subsidies to Airbus SE and Co. that saw the allies impose tariffs on $11.5 billion of each others exports, officials said.

The European Commission spent Monday night discussing the accord with member states to get the deal over the line before an EU-U.S. summit in Brussels with President Joe Biden, according to officials familiar with the deliberations.

The landmark accord turns the page on a key conflict in former President Donald Trumps trade war and sets the stage for a new era of transatlantic cooperation over state aid at a time when China is vying to displace the Boeing-Airbus civil aircraft duopoly.

The agreement was driven, in part, by a growing awareness among policy makers in Brussels and Washington that Chinas state-sponsored aerospace manufacturer Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China, or Comac, is on track to become a legitimate rival in global planemaking by the end of the decade.





ALSO READ: Boeing wins approval for 737 Max electrical fix, notifies airlines: Report

Airbus shares rose 1% as of 9:01 a.m. in Paris, bringing the gain this year to 26%. Boeing, which is up 15% year-to-date, was little changed ahead of the U.S. market open.

Steel, Aluminum

In 2019, the World Trade Organization authorized the U.S. to level tariffs against $7.5 billion of exports annually over government support for Airbus, while the won permission to hit back with levies on $4 billion of U.S. goods.

The levies were suspended by both sides in March as negotiators worked toward an agreement. They cover items ranging from airplanes and parts to tractors, wine and cheese. The U.K. unilaterally suspended its tariffs with the U.S. in December as it broke from the EU.

The EU and U.S. will also commit at the summit remove tariffs related to a steel and aluminum dispute, according to a draft of the meetings conclusions. In 2018, the U.S. imposed levies on metals exports from Europe on national-security grounds.

This one is trickier and there has been back and forth over the exact language in the drafts of the joint communique, but both sides seem to agree on pushing for a deadline by the end of the year, said the officials, who asked not to be identified because the talks are private.

The EU retaliated against the U.S. steel and aluminum measures by targeting 2.8 billion euros ($3.4 billion) of American imports with tariffs on a range of big-brand products, including Harley-Davidson Inc. motorcycles, Levi Strauss & Co. jeans and bourbon whiskey.
Former Israeli Prime Minister has vowed to topple the new eight-party diverse coalition government which brought an end to his stint as the longest-serving premier of the country.

Netanyahu made the remark during a meeting on Monday, which he convened for the first time as the new leader of the opposition following his ouster a day earlier, reports Xinhua news agency.

The "deceit government will soon be toppled", Netanyahu said, referring to a government by his opponents, nationalist Naftali Bennett and centrist Yair Lapid, which was sworn in on Sunday.

He urged lawmakers with his allied parties to show cohesion and "iron discipline" to paralyse the coalition in the parliament, saying ending the rule of the new government will "bring redemption to the people and the State of Israel".

Lawmakers with the Likud, Netanyahu's right-wing party, heckled Bennett when he addressed Parliament on Sunday to present his new government.

They shouted insults and interrupted almost every sentence he said.

Bennett, leader of the pro-settler Yamina party and Netanyahu's former chief of staff, and Lapid, leader of the Yesh Atid party and former finance minister, were sworn in after the parliament narrowly approved their new coalition government.

Under a coalition agreement, Bennett, 49, and Lapid, 57, will rotate as Prime Ministers.

Bennett will serve as Prime Minister for a first term of two years while Lapid will serve as alternate premier and Foreign Minister.

They will then rotate for the latter two-year term.

The establishment of the eight-party coalition government ended Netanyahu's record 12-year-long rule.

He is facing a criminal trial over corruption charges.

It also ended a lingering political crisis that has seen four rounds of elections in two years.

--IANS

ksk/

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A panel of judges is to rule Tuesday whether officials of the French subsidiary of Ikea, the home furnishings giant with a family-friendly image, spied on union representatives, employees and some unhappy customers.

France, two former CEOs and a risk management official are among 15 people facing possible fines, prison terms or both for an alleged system of espionage to sift out trouble-makers in the ranks and profile squabbling customers between 2009 and 2012.

Trade unions accuse France of collecting personal data by fraudulent means, notably via illegally obtained police files, and illicitly disclosing personal information.

If convicted, the company, which said it cooperated in the investigation, risks a maximum penalty of 3.75 million euros (USD 4.5 million).

At the close of a two-week trial in Versailles in March, prosecutor Pamela Tabardel asked the court to hand France a 2 million-euro fine, an exemplary sentence and a strong message to all

Lawyers for Ikea France denied that the company had any strategy of generalised espionage."



But the executive then in charge of risk management, Jean-Franois Paris, acknowledged to French judges that 530,000 to 630,000 euros a year were earmarked for such investigations. Paris the only official to have admitted to the alleged illegal sleuthing said his department was responsible for handling the operation on orders from former CEO Jean-Louis Baillot.

Paris is charged with detaining information of a personal nature and complicity in illegally divulging it.

The two former CEOs are charged with complicity in illegally collecting and receiving stolen personal information among other things.

If convicted, they face sentences of up to 10 years in prison and fines of 750,000 euros.

Baillot, chief executive officer from 1996 to 2009, has denied he ordered up a spy operation.

For Ikea France's lawyer, Emmanuel Daoud, the entire case is marked by a lack of hard evidence and holes.

Trade unions alleged that Ikea France paid to gain access to police files that had information about targeted individuals, particularly union activists and customers who were in disputes with Ikea.

Two police officers who furnished information are among those awaiting judgement.

Among accusations was the alleged use of unauthorised data by Ikea France to try to catch an who had claimed unemployment benefits but drove a Porsche.

In another alleged instance of illegal prying, the subsidiary reportedly investigated an employee's criminal record to determine how the was able to own a BMW on a low income.

The company fired four executives and changed internal policy after French prosecutors opened a criminal probe in 2012.

The company also faces potential damages from civil lawsuits filed by unions and 74 employees.

In France, Ikea, a subsidiary of the Swedish furniture store, employs more than 10,000 people in 34 stores, an e-commerce site and a customer support center.

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NATO leaders on Monday expanded the use of their all for one, one for all, mutual defence clause to include a collective response to attacks in space.

Article 5 of NATO's founding treaty states that an attack on any one of the 30 allies will be considered an attack on them all. Until now, it's only applied to more traditional military attacks on land, sea, or in the air, and more recently in cyberspace.

In a summit statement, the leaders said they consider that attacks to, from, or within space" could be a challenge to NATO that threatens "national and Euro-Atlantic prosperity, security, and stability, and could be as harmful to modern societies as a conventional attack.

Such attacks could lead to the invocation of Article 5. A decision as to when such attacks would lead to the invocation of Article 5 would be taken by the North Atlantic Council on a case-by-case basis, they said.

Around 2,000 satellites orbit the earth, over half operated by NATO countries, ensuring everything from mobile phone and banking services to weather forecasts. Military commanders rely on some of them to navigate, communicate, share intelligence and detect missile launches.

In December 2019, NATO leaders declared space to be the alliance's fifth domain of operations, after land, sea, air and cyberspace. Many member countries are concerned about what they say is increasingly aggressive behavior in space by China and Russia.

Around 80 countries have satellites, and private companies are moving in, too. In the 1980s, just a fraction of NATO's communications was via satellite. Today, it's at least 40%. During the Cold War, NATO had more than 20 stations, but new technologies mean the world's biggest security organisation can double its coverage with a fifth of that number.

NATO's collective defence clause has only been activated once, when the members rallied behind the United States following the September 11, 2001, attacks.

Former President Donald Trump raised deep concern among US allies, notably those bordering Russia like Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, when he suggested that he might not rally to their side if they didn't boost their defence budgets.

President Joe Biden has been trying to reassure them since taking office and has used the summit, his first at NATO, as a formal opportunity to underline America's commitment to its European allies and Canada.

Biden said Monday that Article 5 is a sacred obligation among allies. I just want all of Europe to know that the United States is there," he said. "The United States is there.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Stephanie Kelly

NEW YORK (Reuters) - rose nearly 2% to their highest in more than two years on Tuesday, buoyed by expectations demand will recover rapidly in the second half of 2021.

Brent crude rose $1.13, or 1.6%, to settle at $73.99 a barrel. The global benchmark during the session hit $74.07 a barrel, its highest since April 2019.

U.S. oil rose $1.24, or 1.8%, to settle at $72.12 a barrel. It hit a session high of $72.19 a barrel, its highest since October 2018.

Boosting prices, the world's biggest oil traders said on Tuesday they see staying above $70 a barrel with demand expected to return to pre-pandemic levels in the second half of 2022.

Vitol Chief Executive Russell Hardy sees the oil moving between $70 and $80 a barrel for the remainder of 2021 on the expectation that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies (OPEC+) keep supply discipline, even as Iran's exports may resume if the United States rejoins a nuclear agreement with Tehran.

"We have had those stock draws for a couple months, the market is heading in the right direction," Russell Hardy told the FT Commodities Global Summit.

Trafigura Chief Executive Jeremy Weir told the same event there was a good chance prices could reach $100 a barrel because of falling reserves before the world reaches peak oil demand.

OPEC+ producers have been gradually relaxing record output curbs in recent months.

"The decision by OPEC+ to be overly cautious in returning supply to the market, whether this is true caution or they are intentionally stoking higher, has been a main tenant in seeing $73 per barrel Brent," said Louise Dickson, oil analyst at Rystad Energy.

Analysts polled by Reuters expect U.S. crude stocks to have fallen for a fourth week in a row, dropping by about 3.3 million barrels last week. Industry data is due at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, followed by official figures on Wednesday morning.

Investors and traders are also watching the outcome of a two-day U.S. Federal Reserve meeting that starts on Tuesday for signals on when it will start to scale back monetary stimulus.

The Fed is getting ready to debate how and when to start tapering a massive asset-purchase program that helped to support the U.S. economy during the pandemic.

(Reporting by Stephanie Kelly in New York; Additional reporting by Ahmad Ghaddar in London and Aaron Sheldrick in Tokyo. Editing by Marguerita Choy and Barbara Lewis)

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
To a growing chorus of American politicians and scientists, she is the key to whether the world will ever learn if the virus behind the devastating Covid-19 pandemic escaped from a Chinese lab. To the Chinese government and public, she is a hero of the countrys success in curbing the epidemic and a victim of malicious conspiracy theories.

Shi Zhengli, a top Chinese virologist, is once again at the center of clashing narratives about her research on coronaviruses at a state lab in Wuhan, the city where the pandemic first emerged.

The idea that the virus may have escaped from a lab had long been widely dismissed by scientists as implausible and shunned by others for its connection with former President Donald J. Trump. But fresh scrutiny from the Biden administration and calls for greater candor from prominent scientists have brought the theory back to the fore.

Scientists generally agree that there is still no direct evidence to support the lab leak theory. But more of them now say that the hypothesis was dismissed too hastily, without a thorough investigation, and they point to a range of unsettling questions.

Some scientists say Dr. Shi conducted risky experiments with bat coronaviruses in labs that were not safe enough. Others want clarity on reports, citing American intelligence, suggesting that there were early infections of Covid-19 among several employees of the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

Dr. Shi has denied these accusations, and now finds herself defending the reputation of her lab and, by extension, that of her country. Reached on her cellphone two weeks ago, Dr. Shi said at first that she preferred not to speak directly with reporters, citing her institutes policies. Yet she could barely contain her frustration.

How on earth can I offer up evidence for something where there is no evidence? she said, her voice rising in anger during the brief, unscheduled conversation. I dont know how the world has come to this, constantly pouring filth on an innocent scientist, she wrote in a text message.

In a rare interview over email, she denounced the suspicions as baseless, including the allegations that several of her colleagues may have been ill before the outbreak emerged.

The speculation boils down to one central question: Did Dr. Shis lab hold any source of the new before the pandemic erupted? Dr. Shis answer is an emphatic no.

But Chinas refusal to allow an independent investigation into her lab, or to share data on its research, make it difficult to validate Dr. Shis claims and has only fueled nagging suspicions about how the pandemic could have taken hold in the same city that hosts an institute known for its work on bat coronaviruses.

Those in favor of the natural origins hypothesis, though, have pointed to Wuhans role as a major transportation hub as well as a recent study that showed that just before the pandemic hit, the citys markets were selling many animal species capable of harboring dangerous pathogens that could jump to humans.

The Chinese government has given no appearance of holding Dr. Shi under suspicion. Despite the international scrutiny, she seems to have been able to continue her research and give lectures in China.

The stakes in this debate extend into how scientists study infectious diseases. Some scientists have cited the lab leak scenario in pushing for greater scrutiny of gain of function experiments that, broadly defined, are intended to make pathogens more powerful to better understand their behavior and risks.

Many scientists say they want the hunt for the viruss origins to transcend politics, borders and individual scientific achievements.

This has nothing to do with fault or guilt, said David Relman, a microbiologist at Stanford University and co-author of a recent letter in the journal Science, signed by 18 scientists, that called for a transparent investigation into all viable scenarios, including a lab leak. The letter urged labs and health agencies to open their records to the public.

Its just bigger than any one scientist or institute or any one country  anybody anywhere who has data of this sort needs to put it out there, Dr. Relman said.

Transparency matters

Many virologists maintain that the most likely jumped from an animal to a human in a setting outside a lab. But without direct proof of a natural spillover, more scientists and politicians have called for a full investigation into the lab leak theory.

Proponents of a lab investigation say that researchers at Dr. Shis institute could have collected  or contracted  the new from the wild, such as in a bat cave. Or the scientists may have created it, by accident or by design. Either way, the virus could then have leaked from the laboratory, perhaps by infecting a worker.

China has sought to influence investigations into the viruss origin, while promoting its own unproven allegations.

Beijing agreed to allow a team of World Health Organization experts to visit China, but limited their access. When the W.H.O. team said in a report in March that a lab leak was extremely unlikely, its conclusion was seen as hasty. Even the head of the W.H.O., Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said: I do not believe that this assessment was extensive enough.

Last month, President Biden ordered intelligence agencies to investigate the origin question, including the lab theory. On Sunday, the leaders of the worlds wealthiest large democracies, at the Group of 7 summit, urged China to be part of a new investigation into the origins of the coronavirus. Mr. Biden told reporters that he and other leaders had discussed access to labs in China.

Scientists have a motherland

In less polarized times, Dr. Shi was a symbol of Chinas scientific progress, at the forefront of research into emerging viruses.

She led expeditions into caves to collect samples from bats and guano, to learn how viruses jump from animals to humans. In 2019, she was among 109 scientists elected to the American Academy of Microbiology for her contributions to the field.

Shes a stellar scientist  extremely careful, with a rigorous work ethic, said Dr. Robert C. Gallo, director of the Institute of Human Virology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

The Wuhan Institute of Virology employs nearly 300 people and is home to one of only two Chinese labs that have been given the highest security designation, Biosafety Level 4. Dr. Shi leads the institutes work on emerging infectious diseases, and over the years, her group has collected over 10,000 bat samples from around China.

Under Chinas centralized approach to scientific research, the institute answers to the Communist Party, which wants scientists to serve national goals. Science has no borders, but scientists have a motherland, Xi Jinping, the countrys leader, said in a speech to scientists last year.

Dr. Shi herself, though, does not belong to the Communist Party, according to official Chinese media reports, which is unusual for state employees of her status. She built her career at the institute, starting as a research assistant in 1990 and working her way up the ranks.

Dr. Shi, 57, obtained her Ph.D. from the University of Montpellier in France in 2000 and started studying bats in 2004 after the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, which killed more than 700 people around the world. In 2011, she made a breakthrough when she found bats in a cave in southwestern China that carried coronaviruses that were similar to the virus that causes SARS.

In all the work we do, if just once you can prevent the outbreak of an illness, then what weve done will be very meaningful, she told CCTV, Chinas state broadcaster, in 2017.

But some of her most notable findings have since drawn the heaviest scrutiny. In recent years, Dr. Shi began experimenting on bat coronaviruses by genetically modifying them to see how they behave.

In 2017, she and her colleagues at the Wuhan lab published a paper about an experiment in which they created new hybrid bat coronaviruses by mixing and matching parts of several existing ones  including at least one that was nearly transmissible to humans  in order to study their ability to infect and replicate in human cells.

Proponents of this type of research say it helps society prepare for future outbreaks. Critics say the risks of creating dangerous new pathogens may outweigh potential benefits.

The picture has been complicated by new questions about whether American government funding that went to Dr. Shis work supported controversial gain-of-function research. The Wuhan institute received around $600,000 in grant money from the United States government, through an American nonprofit called EcoHealth Alliance. The National Institutes of Health said it had not approved funding for the nonprofit to conduct gain-of-function research on coronaviruses that would have made them more infectious or lethal.

Dr. Shi, in an emailed response to questions, argued that her experiments differed from gain-of-function work because she did not set out to make a virus more dangerous, but to understand how it might jump across species.

My lab has never conducted or cooperated in conducting GOF experiments that enhance the virulence of viruses, she said.

Speculation rooted in utter distrust

Concerns have centered not only on what experiments Dr. Shi conducted, but also on the conditions under which she did them.

Some of Dr. Shis experiments on bat viruses were done in Biosafety Level 2 labs, where security is lower than in other labs at the institute. That has raised questions about whether a dangerous pathogen could have slipped out.

Ralph Baric, a prominent University of North Carolina expert in coronaviruses who signed the open letter in Science, said that although a natural origin of the virus was likely, he supported a review of what level of biosafety precautions were taken in studying bat coronaviruses at the Wuhan institute. Dr. Baric conducted N.I.H.-approved gain-of-function research at his lab at the University of North Carolina using information on viral genetic sequences provided by Dr. Shi.

Dr. Shi said that bat viruses in China could be studied in BSL-2 labs because there was no evidence that they directly infected humans, a view supported by some other scientists.

She also rejected recent reports that three researchers from her institute had sought treatment at a hospital in November 2019 for flulike symptoms, before the first Covid-19 cases were reported.

The Wuhan Institute of Virology has not come across such cases, she wrote. If possible, can you provide the names of the three to help us check?

As for samples that the lab held, Dr. Shi has maintained that the closest bat virus she had in her lab, which she shared publicly, was only 96 percent identical to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19  a vast difference by genomic standards. She rejects speculation that her lab had worked on other viruses in secret.

Dr. Shis research on a group of miners in Yunnan Province who suffered severe respiratory disease in 2012 has also drawn questions. The miners had worked in the same cave where Dr. Shis team later discovered the bat virus that is close to SARS-CoV-2. Dr. Shi said her lab did not detect bat SARS-like coronaviruses in the miners samples and that she would publish more details in a scientific journal soon; her critics say she has withheld information.

This issue is too important not to come forward with everything you have and in a timely and transparent manner, said Alina Chan, a postdoctoral research fellow at the Broad Institute of M.I.T. and Harvard who also signed the Science letter.

Many scientists and officials say China should share employees medical records and the labs logs of its experiments and its viral sequence database to evaluate Dr. Shis claims.

Dr. Shi said she and the institute had been open with the W.H.O. and with the global scientific community.

This is no longer a question of science, she said on the phone. It is speculation rooted in utter distrust.

I have nothing to fear.

The pandemic was a moment that Dr. Shi and her team had long braced for. For years, she had warned of the risks of a coronavirus outbreak, building up a stock of knowledge about these pathogens.

In January of last year, as Dr. Shi and her team worked frantically, they were exhausted, but also excited, said Wang Linfa, a virologist at the Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School who was in Wuhan with Dr. Shi at the time.

All the experiences, reagents and the bat samples in the freezer were finally being used in a significant way globally, said Dr. Wang, Dr. Shis collaborator and friend for 17 years.

Dr. Shi published some of the most important early papers on SARS-CoV-2 and Covid-19, which scientists around the world have relied on.

But soon, the speculation about Dr. Shi and her lab began to swirl. Dr. Shi, who is known among friends for being blunt, was baffled and angry  and sometimes let it show.

In an interview with Science magazine last July, she said that Mr. Trump owed her an apology for claiming the virus came from her lab. On social media, she said people who raised similar questions should shut your stinky mouths.

Dr. Shi said what she saw as the politicization of the question had sapped her of any enthusiasm for investigating the origins of the virus. She has instead focused on Covid vaccines and the features of the new virus, and over time, she said, has calmed down.

Im sure that I did nothing wrong, she wrote. So I have nothing to fear.
The U.K. and struck a new free-trade agreement as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson seeks to expand commercial ties with countries around the world after Brexit.

The main elements of the pact were finalized at a dinner between Johnson and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Monday night, 10 Downing Street said in a statement. A final agreement in principle will be published in the coming days, the U.K. government said.

Today marks a new dawn in the U.K.s relationship with Australia, Johnson said. Our new free-trade agreement opens fantastic opportunities for British businesses and consumers.

The deal is expected to boost the size of the U.K. by 0.02% over 15 years. Its completion is a political boost to Johnsons post-Brexit agenda, although there may be a backlash from farmers concerned over opening up access to the British market.

The agreement marks the first deal with a major ally that goes beyond rolling over a pre-existing EU trade relationship. is the U.K.s 20th-largest trading partner globally, and trade with Australia made up 1.2% of Britains total in 2020.





ALSO READ: UK, EU seek to avert 'sausage war' in post-Brexit trade talks in Ireland

The agreement will cut tariffs on products like Scotch whisky, clothing and cars. It will also reduce levies on agricultural products, a point of controversy that had sparked a backlash from Britains farming sector.

Farmers have raised concerns that they would be undercut by cheap meat imports from Austrialia. Under the terms of the deal, there will be a cap on tariff-free imports for 15 years, using tariff-rate quotas and other safeguards, the U.K. government said.

Progress with Australia is a welcome relief for Johnson amid ongoing tensions with the EU over their post-Brexit settlement, particularly concerning Northern Ireland.

The U.K. has opted not to introduce some checks on goods crossing into Northern Ireland, saying the EUs draconian approach to enforcing the rules is hurting local communities. The EU, which is Britains largest trading partner, says the U.K. is failing to implement the terms of the Brexit deal Johnson signed less than two years ago.

Britains next trade targets are deals with New Zealand and the U.S., though an accord with the latter in the short-term looks unlikely given President Joe Bidens desire to focus on domestic issues. The British government also sees the Australia accord as a stepping stone to joining the CPTPP, an 11-country pact that includes the likes of Singapore, Malaysia and Japan.

For Australia, the agreement would be the latest in a string of bilateral free-trade deals signed in the past decade with nations including Japan, South Korea and Indonesia, as well as with the CPTPP. Its also in negotiations to join a pact with the EU.

Morrison has been encouraging Australian exporters to diversify into more markets after geopolitical tensions with largest-trading partner China spilled into trade reprisals, including tariffs on barley and wine, and coal shipments blocked at Chinese ports.

Reinforcing our trade relationship is a great opportunity, Morrison said in a speech in London on Monday.

As the United Kingdom moves into a completely new generation of their trading relationships with the world, who better to start that journey with than Australia? he said. Who better understands the challenges of moving in that environment, where Australia has blazed quite a trail when it has come to securing positive effective trading relationships with so many countries?
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his Australian counterpart have agreed on a historic free trade agreement (FTA) that will make it cheaper for the to sell its cars and Scotch whisky Down Under and remove barriers for business, Downing Street said on Tuesday.

The main elements of the deal were agreed by the two leaders at a meeting in Downing Street on Monday night, with a final Agreement in Principle to be published in the coming days.

Downing Street said the FTA eliminates tariffs on goods and boosts jobs and businesses, in the first major trade deal negotiated from scratch by the Johnson-led government since Britain left the European Union (EU) last year and was free to negotiate its own agreements.

An FTA with is also dubbed as a gateway into the fast-growing Indo-Pacific region, which covers India.

Today marks a new dawn in the UK's relationship with Australia, underpinned by our shared history and common values, said Johnson.

Our new free-trade agreement opens fantastic opportunities for British businesses and consumers, as well as young people wanting the chance to work and live on the other side of the world. This is global Britain at its best looking outwards and striking deals that deepen our alliances and help ensure every part of the country builds back better from the pandemic, he said.

According to trade officials, the new FTA means iconic British products like cars, Scotch whisky, biscuits and ceramics will be cheaper to sell into Australia, boosting UK industries that employ 3.5 million people across the country.

The UK- trade relationship was worth 13.9 billion pounds last year and is set to grow under the deal, Downing Street said.

With reference to the farming industry that had been concerned about greater Australian imports, the government said that British farmers will be protected by a cap on tariff-free imports for 15 years, using tariff-rate quotas and other safeguards.

Agricultural producers will also be supported to increase their exports overseas, including to new markets in the Indo-Pacific.

And, the FTA also means that Brits under the age of 35 will be able to travel and work in more freely and vice versa.

This deal delivers for Britain and shows what we can achieve as a sovereign trading nation. It is a fundamentally liberalising agreement that removes tariffs on all British goods, opens new opportunities for our services providers and tech firms, and makes it easier for our people to travel and work together, said Liz Truss, UK Trade Secretary.

The agreement paves the way for us to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a 9 trillion pounds free trade area home to some of the biggest consumer markets of the present and future. Membership will create unheralded opportunities for our farmers, makers, innovators and investors to do business in the future engine room of the global economy, she said, in reference to the UK's bid to join the CPTPP alliance of 11 Pacific nations from Australia to Mexico.

According to officials, the free trade deal will eliminate tariffs on Australian favourites like Jacob's Creek crackers and Hardys wines, swimwear and confectionery, boosting choice for British consumers and saving households up to 34 million pounds a year.

The government listed out the benefits of the deal as helping Scotland by removing tariffs of up to 5 per cent on Scotch whisky; tariffs will be removed and customs procedures simplified on machinery and manufacturing goods; and car manufacturers in the midlands and north of England, including Tata Motors owned Jaguar Land Rover, will see tariffs of up to 5 per cent cut, expected to boost the demand for their exports.

According to official statistics, the UK was Australia's fifth largest trading partner in 2019, with total trade between the UK and Australia was worth 13.9 billion pounds last year.

The UK was the third largest direct investor in Australia and the second largest recipient of Australian foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2020.

The UK exported 5.4 billion pounds worth of services, including 1.4 billion pounds of insurance and pension services and 780 million pounds of financial services, to Australia in 2020.

Under the FTA, the UK government hopes red tape and bureaucracy will be torn down for more than 13,000 small and medium sized businesses across the UK who already export goods to Australia, with quicker export times.

"A trade deal with Australia will come as great news for many of our members who have long been exporting there as well as those who are hoping to expand their trade ambitions, said Mike Cherry, National Chair of the Federation of Small Businesses.

In the next steps, the UK Parliament will scrutinise the FTA once the text is published, along with an impact assessment.

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President on Tuesday moved to end a long-running dispute with the over subsidies for aircraft manufacturers, a major breakthrough in the US-EU trade relationship that comes on the eve of his highly anticipated meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The announcement that the two sides reached resolution in a 17-year dispute over how much of a government subsidy each can provide for its aircraft manufacturing giant Boeing in the United States and Airbus in the EU.came as Biden met with European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

With the move, Biden eases a major point of tension in the trans-Atlantic relationship at a moment he's seeking to marshal widespread European support for his efforts to counter Russia prior to his Wednesday meeting in Geneva with Putin.

US Trade Representative Katherine Tai told reporters that the agreement calls for a five-year suspension of the aircraft tariffs, and stressed that it was time to put aside the fight and focus on China's economic assertiveness.

Today's announcement resolves a longstanding trade irritant in the US-Europe relationship.

Instead of fighting with one of our closest allies, we are finally coming together against a common threat,"" Tai said.

We agreed to work together to challenge and counter China's non-market practices in this sector in specific ways that reflect our standards for fair competition.

She added that the tariffs could be reimplemented if the US determines US companies are not able to compete fairly with the EU's.

The tariffs had been temporarily suspended on March 11 for four months, and the new agreement will officially go into effect on July 11.

To be certain, the US-EU relationship faces other trade-related friction.

The continent's leaders are becoming impatient that Biden has not yet addressed Donald Trump's 2018 decision to impose import taxes on foreign steel and aluminum.

Even without resolving all trade disputes, White House officials expressed confidence that they can build more goodwill with Europe ahead of the face-to-face meeting with Putin.

The White House on Tuesday announced the creation of a joint US-EU trade and technology council.

The council will work on coordinating standards for artificial intelligence, quantum computing and bio-technologies, as well as coordinating efforts on bolstering supply chain resilience.

Biden is appointing Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and Tai to co-chair the US side of the effort.

The White House said the two sides will also discuss efforts to stem climate change and launch an expert group to determine how best to reopen travel safely as the coronavirus pandemic ebbs.

Biden started his day by meeting with Belgian King Philippe and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo.

The US-EU summit is also expected to include a communique that will address concerns about China's provocative behaviour.

That statement would follow a NATO summit communique on Monday that declared China a constant security challenge and said the Chinese are working to undermine the global rules-based order.

On Sunday, the Group of Seven nations called out what it said were China's forced labor practices and other human rights violations against Uyghur Muslims and other ethnic minorities in the western Xinjiang province.

Biden is also expected to spend time discussing Russia with Michel and von der Leyen ahead of Wednesday's summit with Putin.

Since taking office in January, Biden has repeatedly pressed Putin to take action to stop Russian-originated cyberattacks on companies and governments in the US and around the globe and decried the imprisonment of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

Biden also has publicly aired intelligence that suggests albeit with low to moderate confidence that Moscow offered bounties to the Taliban to target US troops stationed in Afghanistan.

Both Biden and Putin have described the US-Russia relationship as being at an all-time low.

The Europeans are keen to set up a high-level dialogue on Russia with the United States to counter what they say is Moscow's drift into deeper authoritarianism and anti-Western sentiment.

At the same time, the 27-nation bloc is deeply divided in its approach to Moscow.

Russia is the EU's biggest natural gas supplier, and plays a key role in conflicts and key issues, including the Iran nuclear deal and conflicts in Syria and Libya.

The hope is that Biden's meeting with Putin might pay dividends, and no one in Brussels wants to undermine the show of unity that has been on display at the G-7 and NATO summits, according to EU officials.

In addition to scolding China, NATO leaders in their communique on Monday took a big swipe at Russia, deploring its aggressive military activities and snap wargames near the borders of NATO countries as well as the repeated violation of the 30-nations' airspace by Russian planes.

They said Russia has ramped up hybrid actions against NATO countries by attempting to interfere in elections, political and economic intimidation, disinformation campaigns and malicious cyber activities.

Until Russia demonstrates compliance with law and its international obligations and responsibilities, there can be no return to business as usual,'" the NATO leaders wrote.

We will continue to respond to the deteriorating security environment by enhancing our deterrence and defense posture.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
witnessed a 57 per cent decline in net inflow to Rs 288 crore in May compared to the preceding month, as investors diverted money into equity

Despite the drop in inflow, the assets under management (AUM) of rose by over 6 per cent to Rs 16,625 crore at May-end, against Rs 15,629 crore at April-end, data with Association of Mutual Funds in India (Amfi) showed.

According to the data, a net sum of Rs 288 crore was pumped into gold-linked exchange-traded funds (ETFs) last month, lower than Rs 680 crore in April.

Investors had put in Rs 662 crore in such funds in March, Rs 491 crore in February and Rs 625 crore in January.

"The lower quantum of net inflow in May could be attributed to equity doing well and investors diverting a relatively larger portion of their investments there," said Himanshu Srivastava, Associate Director Manager Research at Morningstar India.

Also, the redemption amount shot up in May compared to April, signifying that few investors would have chosen to book profit given the recent surge in gold prices, he added.

With its safe-haven appeal and being one of the better performing asset classes in the last one and a half year, the Gold ETF category has been gaining significant traction from Indian investors.

From January 2020 till May 2021, the category has received a net inflow of Rs 9,377 crore.

According to Srivastava, gold functions as a strategic asset in an investor's portfolio, given its ability to act as an effective diversifier, and alleviate losses during tough market conditions and economic downturns.

"During the challenging investment environment over the last few years, gold emerged as one of the better performing asset classes, thus proving its effectiveness in investors' portfolio," he said.

Expectedly, this has attracted investor interest, and continues to do so, which is evident from the consistent net inflows into the gold ETF category, he added.

are exchange-traded funds that invest in gold. They are traded on the stock market and make direct investments in gold.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) is keeping an eye on funds based in Mauritius and the Cayman Islands that may not have provided adequate information about their ultimate beneficial owners, said two people familiar with the matter. There are concerns that a number of such funds could have a high non-resident Indian (NRI) holding and be used by Indian promoters for round-tripping and manipulating share prices.

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Shares of soared 12 per cent, hitting a new high of Rs 511.55, on the BSE in intra-day trade on Tuesday after more than 10 per cent of the company's equity changed hands on the counter. The stock of the information technology (IT) consulting & software company surpassed its previous high of Rs 464, touched on Monday.

Till 09:56 am, around 7.5 million shares, representing 10.7 per cent of the total equity of Newgen Software Technologies, had changed hands on the BSE, the exchange data shows. The names of the buyers and sellers were not ascertained immediately.

As of March 31, 2021, the promoters of Newgen Software held 65.73 per cent stake in the company. Among public shareholders, foreign portfolio investors held 14.63 per cent holding, followed by individual shareholders (9.95 per cent), mutual funds (3.74 per cent) and alternative investment funds (3.11 per cent), shareholding pattern data shows.

is a leading provider of digital automation platform. Globally, successful financial institutions, insurance, government, and shared services organizations rely on Newgens industry-recognized products and applicationsto manage their processes (BPM), content (ECM), and communications (CCM)for connected operations.

In the past one month, the stock has surged 56 per cent after the company reported a strong 48.9 per cent sequential growth in consolidated profit after tax at Rs 52.7 crore, on back of strong revenue growth, for the March quarter of FY21. Consolidated revenue from operation grew 7.8 per cent at Rs 200 crore as compared to Rs 185.5 crore in Q3FY21.

In FY21, the company continued to witness business momentum with expanded customer engagements and addition of 67 new logos under companys umbrella. US region is now largest revenue contributor recording a growth of 16 per cent this year, with significant customers on cloud, the management said.

The company accelerated performance in Banking & Financial Services, Government/PSU, and Insurance verticals with increased demand for digital transformation initiatives in these sectors. The company also said that it entered into a large transformation deal for a leading public sector bank in India during the quarter.
Shares of zoomed 20 per cent to Rs 1,032.15, hitting a fresh 52-week high, on the BSE in intra-day trade on Tuesday after the company announced stock split plan. The stock of the cement and cement products company was trading close to its record high level of Rs 1,161 touched on January 4, 2018.

"The board of directors of the Company is scheduled to meet on July 01, 2021, inter-alia, to consider a proposal to sub-divide (split) the face value of the equity shares of the Company from Rs 10 each into an appropriate amount, said in exchange filing.

Generally, a company plans to go for a stock split to make the shares more affordable for small retail investors and increase liquidity. In the past one year, the stock of has zoomed 200 per cent as compared to a 59 per cent rally in the S&P BSE Sensex.

Meanwhile, on June 10, 2021, rating agency India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) had upgraded Sagar Cements (SCL) long-term issuer rating to IND A from IND A- with positive outlook.

"SCL reported a significantly stronger-than-expected performance in financial year 2020-21 (FY21), reporting an EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation) of Rs 400 crore (FY20: Rs 190 crore). While the companys volumes declined by 32 per cent year on year (YoY) in Q1FY21 due to the impact of the Covid-19-led disruptions, it witnessed a swift recovery in the subsequent quarters, growing by 2 per cent YoY, 13 per cent YoY and 22 per cent YoY in Q2FY21, Q3FY21, and Q4FY21, respectively," the agency said.

Ind-Ra now expects SCLs profitability to moderate in FY22 from the high base of FY21, although it would remain at healthy levels.

"SCL's EBITDA/t sequentially moderated to Rs 1,019 in 4QFY21 from Rs 1,450-1,550 levels in 1HFY21 due to a decline in prices along with an increase in input costs. From being primarily a southern India-based player, the company will be able to develop a presence in the faster-growing eastern India market and the more profitable central India market, which bodes well for its future profitability," the rating agency added.

SCL is planning to merge its wholly owned subsidiary Sagar (R) with itself, for which the board approval was received in April 2021. This is likely to lead to a simplified structure, resulting in the optimisation of operational and administrative costs, modest operational synergies, and easing of statutory compliances. The company is also likely to merge Jajpur Cement, in which it holds 100 per cent stake, in the future, Ind-Ra said.

At 10:32 am, SCL was trading 18 per cent higher at Rs 1,017 on the BSE, as compared to a 0.57 per cent rise in the S&P BSE Sensex. Trading volumes on the counter jumped an over five-fold with a combined around 430,000 shares having changed hands on the NSE and BSE till the time of writing of this report.
Nifty futures on the Singapore Exchange traded 2 points up at 15,838, indicating a flat start for the benchmark indices on Tuesday.

Here are the top stocks to track in today's session:

Earnings Today: Jubilant FoodWorks, Power Finance Corporation, LIC Housing Finance, Easy Trip Planners and Whirlpool of India are among 45 companies slated to post their quarterly numbers today.

Coal India: The company reported a marginal 1.1 per cent YoY decline in its consolidated profit at Rs 4,586.78 crore for the quarter ended March 2021 on the back of lower sales.

SBI Card: SBI Cards and Payment Services (SBI Card) on Monday said it has raised Rs 500 crore by issuing bonds.

JB Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals: The drug firm on Monday reported a two-fold jump in consolidated net profit to Rs 100.81 crore for the quarter ended March 2021 on account of robust sales.

Adani Group stocks: National Securities Depository Ltd (NSDL) has clarified that the status of demat accounts of three foreign portfolio investors (FPI) accounts - Albula Investment Fund, Cresta Fund and APMS Investment Fund - are in active status in NSDL system.

Jaiprakash Power Ventures: The company has reported consolidated profit at Rs 215.32 crore in Q4FY21 against loss of Rs 70.91 crore in Q4FY20. Revenue increased to Rs 956.87 crore from Rs 698.47 crore (YoY).

PNB Housing Finance: Reserve Bank of India as well as Sebi will look into various regulatory issues related to the proposed Rs 4,000 crore-investment by US-based private equity firm Carlyle and others in PNB Housing Finance, a PTI report said.

Satin Creditcare: Microfinance institution Satin Creditcare Network Limited (SCNL) on Monday reported a profit after tax of Rs 38 crore in the quarter ended on March 31, 2021, against Rs 13 crore in the year-ago period.

Sagar Cement: The company board will consider stock split on July 1.

JSW Ispat Special Products: Promoter AION Investments Private II Ltd to sell up to 9.94 crore shares, representing 21.18 per cent of the total equity share capital through an offer for sale. The floor price of Rs 27 per share is at a discount of 52.92 per cent to Mondays closing price. The OFS opens for non-retail investors today and for retail investors tomorrow.

Care Rating: Securities Appellate Tribunal has reduced the Rs 1 crore penalty imposed by SEBI in 2020 to Rs 10 lakh. SEBI after conducting adjudication proceedings in relation to credit ratings assigned to one of the customers had imposed a penalty on the company.

Ashiana Housing: The company has entered into development agreement for developing a residential project in Pune on revenue sharing basis.

Ircon International: The company has appointed Mukesh Kumar Singh as CEO and Surajit Dutta as CFO of the Company w.e.f 11th June 2021.

NHPC: The company has signed an MoU with Bihar State Hydro-Electric Power Corporation for execution of 130.1 MW Dagmara HE Project in the state on ownership basis. The state government will provide a grant of Rs 700 crore for the project.

Karur Vysya Bank: The lendr revised its Base Rate to 8.45 per cent from 8.25 per cent earlier. BPLR rate changed from 13.25 per cent to 13.45 per cent.

Zuari Agro Chemicals: The company has resumed production at Ammonia and Urea Plants at Zuarinagar in Goa on June 13.
Shares of Reliance Industrial Infrastructure continued their upward movement, hitting a new high of Rs 736.60 after they rallied 19 per cent, on the BSE in intra-day trade on Tuesday on the back of heavy volumes. The stock of the construction & engineering company was trading higher for the fourth straight day, having zoomed 62 per cent during the period.

At 01:50 pm, the stock was trading 15 per cent higher at Rs 711 on the BSE as compared to a 0.41 per cent rise in the S&P BSE Sensex. Trading volumes on the counter more-than-doubled with a combined 7.03 million shares, representing 46.6 per cent of total equity of the company, changing hands on the NSE and BSE.

Reliance Industrial Infrastructure, a Reliance Group Company, is mainly engaged in the business of setting up/operating industrial infrastructure. Its main activities are providing services of transportation of petroleum products and raw water through its pipelines, construction machinery on hire and other infrastructure support services. The Company has its operations majorly in the Mumbai and the Rasayani regions of Maharashtra, Surat, and Jamnagar belts of Gujarat.

Reliance Industries held 45.43 per cent stake in Reliance Industrial Infrastructure as on March 31, 2021. Among the public shareholders, individuals held 47.14 per cent holding while the remaining 7.43 per cent stake was with bodies corporate (2.13 per cent), HUF (2.45 per cent) and others, the shareholding pattern data shows.

For the financial year 2020-21 (FY21), Reliance Industrial Infrastructure reported consolidated net profit at Rs 9.65 crore as against Rs 9.71 crore in FY20. The company's income from services during the fiscal, however, declined 31.9 per cent year on year to Rs 54.31 crore relative to Rs 79.80 crore in the previous fiscal.

"The company continues to provide infrastructure support services to Reliance Industries Group, with a substantial portion provided to Reliance Industries. The company presently does not have any expansion plans on the anvil," Reliance Industrial Infrastructure said in a post-result statement.
On a consolidated basis, Jubilant Foodworks' net profit soared 223.70% to Rs 105.30 crore on 14.20% jump in revenue from operations to Rs 1,037.85 crore in Q4 March 2021 over Q4 March 2020.

Profit before tax surged 227.87% to Rs 138.07 crore in Q4 FY21 as against Rs 42.11 crore in Q4 FY20.

On a standalone basis, revenue from operations in Q4 FY21 stood at Rs 1,025.90 crore, higher by 14.3% over Q4 FY20. This was driven by Domino's Like-for-Like (LFL) sales growth (adjusted for temporary restaurant closures) of 15.1% and same store growth (SSG) of 11.8%. Domino's witnessed continued momentum in delivery and takeaway channels which grew by 28.7% and 76.9% respectively.

The standalone EBITDA stood at Rs 249.20 crore in Q4 FY21, rising 47% year-on-year (Y-o-Y) while EBITDA margin was at 24.3%, recording an increase of 542 bps Y-o-Y. Profit after tax stood at Rs 104.30 crore, growing 395.5% Y-o-Y.

Domino's Pizza SSG stood at 11.8% in Q4 FY21 as against (3.4)% in Q4 FY20. SSG refers to the year-over-year growth in sales for restaurants opened before previous financial year. Like-for-like (LFL) sales growth stood at 15.1% in Q4 FY21 compared with (2.3)% in Q4 FY20. LFL sales growth refers to the year-over-year growth in sales for non-split restaurants opened before previous financial year.

The company opened 53 new stores including 50 new Domino's stores and 1 new store each for Hong's Kitchen, Ekdum! and Dunkin Donuts.

As on 31 March 2021, there were 1360 Domino's Pizza stores, 24 Dunkin Donuts stores and 12 Hong's Kitchen and Ekdum! stores.

The company announced acquisition of 32.81% equity stake in DP Eurasia N.V., an exclusive master franchisee of Domino's Pizza in Turkey, Russia, Azerbaijan and Georgia and intimated a landmark agreement to bring Popeyes to India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan.

The board of directors of the company has recommended a dividend of Rs 6 per equity share for the financial year ended 31st March 2021.

As on 31 March 2021, Jubilant Foodworks had liquid funds equivalents to Rs 602.40 crore in the form of cash and cash equivalents, bank deposits and investments.

Commenting on the Q4 and FY21 performance, Shyam S. Bhartia, chairman and Hari S. Bhartia, co-chairman of Jubilant Foodworks, said: "We are glad to have transitioned from recovery to growth phase and concluded the fiscal year on a positive note despite unique challenges posed by the global pandemic. Our relentless focus on driving customer experience, customer and employee safety, cost management and productivity, resulted in a strong operating performance in Q4. During the quarter, we acquired the master franchise rights for Popeyes in India; we also announced our investment in DP Eurasia. As we celebrate our silver jubilee in the country, we are excited about the future and ready to seize the opportunities that lie ahead."

Commenting on the same, Pratik Pota, chief executive officer (CEO) and wholetime director of Jubilant Foodworks, stated: "I am pleased with our performance in Q4FY21 and FY21. We returned to growth during the quarter, opened a large number of new stores, improved our operating margins and expanded our portfolio of brands. The quarter rounded off a challenging year where we were tested like never before, and I could not be more proud of the way our teams rallied around to serve our customers and our communities and to deliver an outstanding performance during the year. We are confident that our sustained investments in Digital, Supply Chain, Brand building, Innovation and Portfolio expansion will continue to be a source of competitive advantage for us and help drive hyper-growth."

The board has re-appointed Pratik Rashmikant Pota as the CEO and wholetime director of the company for a period of three years with effect from 1 April 2022 till 31 March 2025, subject to approval of the shareholders of the company.

Jubilant Foodworks is part of Jubilant Bhartia group and is India's largest foodservice company. The company has the exclusive rights to develop and operate Domino's Pizza brand in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal. At present, it operates in India, and through its subsidiary companies in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Jubilant Foodworks also enjoys exclusive rights to develop and operate Dunkin' Donuts restaurants in India.

Jubilant Foodworks (JFL) is India's largest foodservice company. Its Domino's Pizza franchise extends across a network of 1,360 restaurants in 293 cities. The company has the exclusive rights to develop and operate Domino's Pizza brand in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal. The company also enjoys exclusive rights to develop and operate Dunkin' Donuts restaurants in India. JFL has ventured into Chinese cuisine segment with its first owned restaurant brand, 'Hong's Kitchen'. Recently, the company has added Indian cuisine of biryani, kebabs, breads and more to the portfolio by launching Ekdum! which now has 4 restaurants in Gurugram. The company has exclusive rights to develop and operate Popeyes restaurants in India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan. In accordance with shifting consumption habits, the company has forayed into the ready-to-cook segment with 'ChefBoss'.

Shares of Jubilant Foodworks lost 0.41% to Rs 3,185.65 on BSE. The scrip hovered in the range of Rs 3,141.65 to Rs 3,247.55 during the day.

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NHPC has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bihar State Hydro-Electric Power Corporation (BSHPCL) for execution of Dagmara HE Project in Bihar.

A MoU between NHPC and BSHPCL has been signed on 14 June 2021 for implementation of 130.1 MW Dagmara HE Project on the river Kosi in Supaul District in Bihar.

As per agreement, the Project shall be executed by NHPC on ownership basis. The Government of Bihar shall provide a Grant of Rs 700 crore for the Project, as per Capex requirements, proportionate to equity infusion by NHPC.

The Government of Bihar shall purchase the entire power to be generated from the Project for its complete life at the rate as determined by CERC Tariff regulations as applicable at the time of actual Commercial Operation Date (COD) of the Project.

The cost of Project is presently considered as Rs 2435.91 crore to be actualized as appraised by CEA during Detailed Project Report (DPR) clearance.

The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 14 June 2021. Shares of NHPC settled unchanged at Rs 26.85 yesterday.

NHPC is the largest organisation for hydropower development in India. It has also diversified in the field of solar & wind power.

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The issue received bids for 7.69 crore shares as against 2.10 crore shares on offer.

The initial public offer (IPO) of Shyam Metalics and Energy received bids for 7.69 crore shares as against 2.10 crore shares on offer, according to the stock exchange data at 17:00 IST on Tuesday (15 June 2021). The issue was subscribed 3.65 times.

The issue opened for bidding on Monday, 14 June 2021, and it will close on Wednesday, 16 June 2021. The price band for the IPO is set at Rs 303-306 per share. An investor can bid for a minimum of 45 equity shares and in multiples thereof.

The issue comprises of fresh issue of equity shares aggregating up to Rs 909 crore comprising of a fresh issue of up to Rs 657 crore and an offer for sale (OFS) of up to Rs 252 crore (including anchor portion of 88,21,764 equity shares).

The existing shareholders selling shares in the OFS are Subham Capital, SubhamBuildwell, NarantakDealcomm, KalpataruHousefin and DoriteTracon. Total selling shareholders pre-issue shareholding was 88.22%, which shall decrease to 77.56% at the upper price band of Rs 306.

Ahead of the IPO, the company finalized allocation of 88,21,764 equity shares to anchor investors at Rs 306 per share aggregating to Rs 269.94 crore.

The company proposes to utilize the net proceeds of the fresh issue towards repayment and/or pre-payment, in full or part, of debt of the company and SSPL (Shyam SEL and Power), one of the subsidiaries amounting Rs 470 crore and balance towards general corporate purposes. Gross debt was Rs 886.292 crore at the end of 31 December 2020.

On a consolidated basis, Shyam Metalics and Energy reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 456.32 crore and sales of Rs 3,933.08 crore in the nine months ended on 31 December 2020.

ShyamMetalics and Energy is a leading integrated metal producing company based in India with a focus on long steel products and ferro alloys. It is amongst the largest producers of ferro alloys in terms of installed capacity in India, as of February 2021.

The company sells intermediate and final products across the steel value chain. As of March 31, 2020, it is one of the leading players in terms of pellet capacity and the fourth largest player in the sponge iron industry in terms of sponge iron capacity in India. It is also one of the leading integrated steel and ferro alloys producers in the eastern region of India in terms of long steel products, as of March 31, 2020.

The company currently export products to Nepal, China, Bangladesh, Bhutan, United Kingdom, South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, Taiwan and Japan, and is currently exploring newer geographies in North America, South America, Europe and Africa in order to increase exports.

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The issue received bids for 2.91 crore shares as against 10.71 crore shares on offer.

The initial public offer (IPO) of Sona BLW Precision Forgings received bids for 2.91 crore shares as against 10.71 crore shares on offer, according to the stock exchange data at 17:00 IST on Tuesday (15 June 2021). The issue was subscribed 0.27 times.

The issue opened for bidding on Monday, 14 June 2021, and it will close on Wednesday, 16 June 2021. The price band for the IPO is set at Rs 285-291 per share. An investor can bid for a minimum of 51 equity shares and in multiples thereof.

The issue comprises of fresh issue of equity shares aggregating up to Rs 5,550 crore comprising of a fresh issue of up to Rs 300 crore and an offer for sale (OFS) of up to Rs 5,250 crore (including anchor portion of 8,58,24,742 equity shares).

One of the promoters, Singapore VII Topco III, an affiliate of The Blackstone Group Inc is selling part of its stake through offer for sale aggregating upto Rs Rs 5,250 crore. Post OFS, the shareholding of Singapore VII Topco III will decline to 34.18% on expanded post issue equity down from 66.28% pre-IPO.

Ahead of the IPO, the company finalized allocation of 8,58,24,742 equity shares to anchor investors at Rs 291 per share aggregating to Rs 2,497.50 crore.

Proceeds from fresh issue will be used for repayment and pre-payment of identified borrowings in full availed by the company to the extent of Rs 241.117 crore and balance for general corporate purposes.

Total debt of the company as end of 31 March 2021 stood at Rs 366.26 crore including long term loan of Rs 249.748 crore up from Rs 306.782 crore as end of March 2020.

On a consolidated basis, the company reported a net profit of Rs 215.17 crore and sales of Rs 1,566.30 crore in the twelve months ended on 31 March 2021.

Sona BLW Precision Forgings (SBPF) is primarily engaged in designing, manufacturing and supplying highly engineered, mission critical automotive systems and components such as differential assemblies, differential gears, conventional and micro-hybrid starter motors, BSG systems, EV traction motors [Brushless direct current (BLDC) motor and Permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM)] and motor control units to automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) across US, Europe, India and China, for both electrified and non-electrified powertrain segments.

The company is among the top ten players globally in the differential bevel gear market and in the starter motor market on the basis of respective volumes supplied to its end segments in calendar year 2020 and has been gaining global market share across products.

The company is one of a few companies globally, with the ability to design high power density EV systems handling high torque requirements with a lightweight design, while meeting stringent durability, performance and NVH specifications, enabling EV manufacturers to enhance the vehicle range, acceleration and the overall efficiency.

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The Madras High Court ruled in a recent case that a dependent wife did not have any legal claim to the life insurance proceeds from her husbands death if the latter had not paid the policy premiums. In this case, the father-in-law had paid all the policy premiums.

The deceased had not appointed a nominee for the policy, nor declared through a Will that his wife should receive the payout. In the order, the judge wrote: It is no doubt true that wife, mother and children are Class-I heirs of a male deceased, and not the father. But heirship will not be considered for this ...
The on Monday demanded a Supreme Court-monitored probe into the matter of alleged irregularity in the purchase of land at Ayodhya by the Ram temple trust.

Addressing a virtual press conference, general secretary and party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala on Monday called the alleged irregularity in the purchase of land a "big scam" and said because "the trust was established on the direction of the Supreme Court, the court should take cognisance of the issue and investigate the matter."

"The amount received as donations and expenses made by the trust should also be audited under the supervision of the Supreme Court," he added.

However, he added that does not want construction work of the proposed Ram temple to be halted.

Controversy erupted after Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Tej Narayan Pandey on Sunday accused Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust of committing corruption in a land deal and sought a CBI probe into the matter.

Holding a press conference on Sunday, Pandey said, "The piece of land was earlier purchased for Rs 2 crores by Ravi Mohan Tiwari and Sultan Ansari. 10 minutes later, the Trust bought the land for Rs 18.5 crores on March 18."The SP leader also claimed that Rs 17 crore was sent to the bank account of Ravi Mohan Tiwari and Sultan Ansari through RTGS mode of payment and demanded a probe into the RTGS money transfer.

Following SP, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sanjay Singh, also made similar allegations.

Refuting the allegations of fraud in purchasing land worth at an inflated price for the Ram temple premises, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust general secretary Champat Rai termed the charges as "misleading and motivated by political hatred".

In February 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the constitution of 'Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Trust' which would oversee the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya, nearly three months after the ruling in the decades-old case.

In November 2019, a five-judge bench of the had ruled unanimously in favour of Ram Lalla. It said the entire disputed land spread over 2.7-acre will be handed over to a trust formed by the government, which will monitor the construction of the Ram temple at the site. The court had asked the government to give 5 acres of land to Sunni Waqf Board in Ayodhya for the construction of a mosque.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Though there is no official word on Union expansion or reshuffle so far from the Centre, there is speculation as the Prime Minister has held two continuous meetings with party's top brass and two separate groups of Ministers in a span of four days.

Some in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), requesting anonymity, mentioned that PM's meetings with his colleagues are nothing more than routine affairs only to know what is going on in their ministries and the future growth plan amid the Covid-19 crisis.

The Prime Minister is learnt to have taken stock of the work done by the government in the last two years and discussed various other issues, said a source.

Both the brainstorming sessions -- one on Friday last week and the second on Monday --were held at the Prime Minister's 7, Lok Kalyan Marg residence.

The sources said that both interactions of Ministers with the Prime Minister lasted for nearly five hours each.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, along with BJP President J.P. Nadda and General Secretary in-charge of the saffron party B.L. Santhosh met Modi in the latest session he has held to gather suggestions on improvements needed in the functioning of the government and how to achieve synergy between the government and the organisation.

Union Ministers Sadananda Gowda, V.K. Singh and V. Muraleedharan were among others who reportedly joined the deliberations.

The Friday meeting featured Home Minister Amit Shah, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, Jitendra Singh, BJP chief Nadda and Santhosh.

Although the party has maintained that such meetings were a regular affair and had attracted attention now only because physical meetings were happening after a long gap, they have been seen as part of an exercise to seek views of top party leaders over crucial issues, including pandemic management and how different departments managed to perform when the country was hit by Covid-19 and restrictions were in place.

Political observers and party insiders feel that this could be an exercise before an expected Cabinet expansion and reshuffle, but there has been no official word yet.

--IANS

rak/in

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president Sukhbir Badal along with several legislators and leaders were detained by police on Tuesday when they were marching towards the residence of Chief Minister Amarinder Singh near here to lodge their protest.

The Akali Dal-BSP combine was demanding the dismissal of Health Minister Balbir Sidhu and a CBI probe into irregularities in sale of vaccines and medical kits for Covid patients.

"There is a scam in Covid-19 vaccination, there is a scam in Fateh Kit, there is a scam in SC scholarship, there is a scam in SC scholarship. Farmers' land is being acquired," Badal told the media.

During the protest, the police detained several protesters before using water cannons against them when they were on the way to the Chief Minister's farmhouse at Siswan, on the outskirts of Chandigarh, and sent them to the nearby police station.

The Akali workers were joined by BSP activists as the two parties have forged an alliance ahead of the 2022 Assembly elections.

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) state president Jasbir Singh Garhi was also detained from the protest site along with Akali legislators, including Bikram Singh Majithia.

A day earlier, the Aam Aadmi Party staged a protest in front of the residence of Amarinder Singh against the alleged scam in the post-matric scholarship scheme for Dalit students.

--IANS

vg/sdr/

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said the arrest of a Kashmiri political activist over his remarks that he has more expectations from local officials rather than those from outside is the result of "unbridled" bureaucratic powers.

It's unacceptable that a person should be jailed for expressing a "totally harmless" opinion, Abdullah said.

Fifty-year-old Sajad Rashi Sofi of Safapora in Jammu and Kashmir's Ganderbal district was arrested after he told LG advisor Baseer Khan at Mansbal at a 'Janta Darbar' on June 10 that he can understand the issues of people of the area better as compared to officers from outside the union territory because he is a local.

Sofi's remarks did not go down well with Ganderbal Deputy Commissioner Krittika Jyotsna, who is an IAS officer from Uttar Pradesh. According to the police report, she stood up from her seat and "strongly objected" to Sofi's comments.

Sofi was summoned and booked by the police under Section 153 (promoting enmity between different groups) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) on the same night.

In a tweet, Abdullah said, "I haven't come across a worse reason to detain a person & I was detained for encouraging people to vote so that's saying something. It's unacceptable that a person should be jailed for expressing a totally harmless opinion. This is what happens when bureaucratic power is unbridled."



Sofi was granted bail by a local court here on Saturday.

However, even after this, police did not release Sofi and instead booked him under Section 107 of the IPC which entitles them to keep a person under "preventive custody" for being a "threat to peace".

CPI(M) and Peoples Conference have also criticised Sofi's arrest and sought Lt Governor Manoj Sinha's intervention in the matter.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Retail sales in India slipped 79 per cent in May compared to pre-COVID sales in the same month of 2019, as businesses across states were closed due to the second wave of the pandemic, as per a survey by Retailers Association of India (RAI).

The decline in sales was the steepest in West and North India, which witnessed an 83 per cent dip last month as compared to May 2019, RAI said in a statement.

Eastern region saw a decline of 75 per cent, while South was relatively better with degrowth of 73 per cent as compared to the same month in 2019.

On a sequential basis, the decline in May was much steeper compared to the previous month, when overall sales across India were down 49 per cent as compared to April 2019, according to the RAI survey.

In terms of retail categories, beauty, wellness and personal care saw the steepest decline at 87 per cent, followed by footwear with a dip of 86 per cent last month as against May 2019.

Food and grocery, however, was the best among the categories with a decline of 34 per cent as compared to May 2019, while the quick service restaurants witnessed a dip of 70 per cent.

"Retailers are looking forward to some improvement in the month of June with gradual unlocking. However, the retail industry needs the collective support of various government bodies to tide over the present situation," RAI CEO Kumar Rajagopalan said.

The retailers' body is optimistic as many of the states have now slowly begun to open all forms of retail in a calibrated manner.

It, however, said retail businesses continue to face financial pressures on various fronts such as salaries, rentals, electricity charges and various taxes and license fees, among others, due to the pandemic-induced restrictions.

"Easing the burden will require collaborative efforts by various stakeholders," RAI said.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
After a fresh tussle with the Centre over new IT rules, has now been summoned by the Parliamentary Standing Committee for Information and Technology.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information and Technology has called on to appear before the panel in Parliament Complex on June 18 at 4 pm and give representation on how to prevent misuse of and online news.

"To hear the views of representatives of followed by evidence of representatives Electronics Technology 'Safeguarding citizens' rights and prevention of misuse of social/online news media platforms including special emphasis on women security in the digital space'," Parliamentary Panel agenda read.

Recently the Centre gave final notice to Twitter for compliance with new IT rules.

"It is noted that despite repeated letters from the ministry, Twitter had failed to provide adequate clarifications," Rakesh Maheshwari, group coordinator for cyberlaw at the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), in a letter to Twitter.

Meanwhile, after repeated letters and communications from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology on the new IT rules, Twitter has assured to comply with the new rules.

"Twitter has been and remains deeply committed to India, and serving the vital public conversation taking place on the service. We have assured the Government of India that Twitter is making every effort to comply with the new Guidelines, and an overview on our progress has been duly shared. We will continue our constructive dialogue with the Indian Government," Twitter spokesperson said.

Sources in the panel members told ANI that, will try to find out what is the reason behind stopping Twitter to comply with the country's new IT rule.

"We want to know which limitations are preventing Twitter to follow the rules made by the country or Twitter will adopt," a panel member told ANI.

The parliamentary committee has summoned Twitter multiple times in the past on many issues.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], June 15 (ANI/BusinessWire India): FaB National Business Award 2021 is now accepting nominations.

As a way to recognise the contributions of companies that have made a mark in India's economy, FaB is pleased to announce the call for nominations for the first-ever FaB National Business Award 2021.

Pandemic has been bumpy on all of us but one community in particular - India's small and medium businesses, carry the severe impact of it. Most small-scale businesses had to go through bigger impacts owing to the lack of digital infrastructure and working capital. But some ascend to the occasion and came out robust than ever, setting benchmarks and encashing opportunities that paved their way. FaB National Business Award aim to honour the spirit of businesses who have outshined across sectors.

A worldwide judging panel of executives and professionals representing a wide spectrum of industries will determine the winners. "Our worldwide jury members' expansive professional backgrounds in the business field ensures that the subjective qualities, such as innovative business concepts and new age strategies will be a part of award consideration," says SK Sunil Krishna, Founder FaB Global. The jury will consider factors like Digitization, Innovation, Business acumen, impressions, company culture, job creation and exports that will support a self-reliant India. "There will be specific judging panel for each award made up of relevant industry experts, experienced businessmen, and leaders from academia," says Vishnu R Unnithan, CEO, FaB Global.

Here is a quick look of esteemed Jury for FaB National Business Award 2021.

Dr Murty Indrakanti, Chairman, AP Chambers of Commerce and Industry Federation and C.E.O and founder of LAVE Solutions.

Katese Odile Gakire, Director- Woman Cultural Centre (WCC), Rwanda and an actor, playwright, director and cultural entrepreneur.

Pramod Mohan, Managing Director, FinMet Pte Ltd, Dubai and winner of Forbes Top 50 Indian CEO's in the Middle East and North Africa.

Stefano Pelle, Managing Director - FERRERO INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED and awardee of Knight Commander (Commendatore) from The President of Italy.

KG Suresh, Vice Chancellor, Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism and Communication and PRSI Leadership Award winner.

Rajesh Jha, MD & CEO at Adani Vizhinjam Port Pvt Ltd and president of Trivandrum Management Association.

Rasha Sharif Aldhanhani, Founder -PappaRoti Coffeehouse Chain and awardee of Forbes 200 most powerful Arab women.

Rajesh Devadas, Corporate Chef, Whyndam properties and senior member of The World Association of Chef Societies.

Ashok Kumar, Head: Replenishment, Britannia Industries Ltd and leader in supply chain management in India.

Phil Neild, Founder - The International Skills Award, London and world renowned educationalist.

BR Ajit, Chairman of ASADI (Asian School of Architecture and Design Innovations) and McMillan Woods "Global Innovative Personality of the Year" awardee.

Suresh Sivanandam, Group HR Head, TVS Tyres and accomplished HR management think tank.

Kavipriya Anandan, Founder & Chairman of Adding Smiles Media Pvt Ltd and TIMES "Business Person of the Year 2020" awardee.

Dr P Ravindranath, Principal Consultant RK SWAMY BBDO (P) LTD. and "Distinguished Management Teacher Award" Winner.

Ramesh Pullabatla Venkata, CEO, Venram Consultants Pvt. And author of acclaimed poem collection "Misty Mornings"

UMUTONI UWASE Belinda, CEO at IGM Africa Ltd and stakeholder of Ipfundo Arts Gallery.

Ram Kumarr Seshu, Author - Born to Win and A Certified Facilitator of Leadership Management International.

Dr Gopakumar G. Nair, Consultant (IPR), National Chemical Labs (NCL), CSIR and Past-President of Indian Drug Manufacturers' Association.

GAKIRE NTARUGERA, CEO- Select Kalaos Ltd, East Africa Region and Chairman of the printing association in the Rwandan Private Sector Federation.

Kunal Kapoor Founder & Chief Investment Officer at Bluegold Capital Asset Management Limited (DIFC), Dubai and a CFA holder.

Hari Krishnan, Global Head - Hitachi Vantara and veteran technologist in the field of data systems.

Venkatesan Radakrishnan, Senior Vice president and Head of HR at Dalmia-OCL and well known Human resource expert.

Usha Iyyer , Managing Director, The Green School Bangalore and "Top environment-friendly school" Awardee.

Narenn Viswanathan CEO, Putra Intelek International College, Malaysia and founder and chief mentor of "Power my English".

FaB National Business Awards 2021 calls all companies, businesses and enterprises from across India for submission of Nominations. Early Bird Deadline for submission of entries is on 15 July 2021. The awards will be presented on 18th of December 2021 at Bangalore. Nominations can be registered at (https://nationalbusinessaward.com) from 15th June 2021. Submissions will be delivered to a panel of respected industry professionals and business leaders who will assess each submission for each category, offering a blended score and assessment.

This story is provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/BusinessWire India)

DISCLAIMER

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
VIPAero, an executive aviation company offering handling, maintenance and aircraft management services in Luanda, Angola has announced the opening of its new VIP terminal with full customs and immigration services.

Our team has been waiting for this moment a great while and we are all glad to finally be able to offer full FBO services and show our Passengers and Crew our sense of hospitality, said Claire Matondo, managing director of VIPAero.



VIPAero FBO offers its passengers dedicated spaces with all comfort and equipment.

Amenities include a VIP lounge with a living room, a bar and two bathrooms, and a VIP room with bathroom and shower. All decorated with artwork from African contemporary artists, carefully selected by MOVART Gallery.
Bharat Biotech has said the current price at which Covaxin is being supplied to the Centre is not "sustainable". It said Covaxin prices are high due to fundamental business reasons -- low procurement volumes, high distribution costs and retail margins, among few others. Covaxin is supplied to government at Rs 150 per dose, while the price tag for private market is Rs 1,400 per dose.

The company said less than 10 per cent of Covaxin's production to date has been supplied to private hospitals, while the remaining quantity was supplied to the state and the Centre. "In such a scenario, the weighted average price of Covaxin for all supplies realised by Bharat Biotech is less than Rs 250/dose. Going forward, 75 per cent of the capacity will be supplied to the state and the Centre, with only 25 per cent going to private hospitals," the company clarified.

It said the supply price of Covaxin to the government at Rs 150/dose, is a "non-competitive price" and clearly "not sustainable" in the long run. This means a higher price in private markets is required to offset part of the costs, it said. "There are live examples of such pricing policies where Human Papillomavirus vaccine is priced for GAVI supplies at $4.5/dose (Rs 320), but is also available in the private market at Rs 3,500/dose. Rotavirus vaccines are supplied to the Govt of India at Rs 60/ dose, but are also available in the private market at Rs 1700 / dose," the company said.

It said vaccine pricing depends on numerous factors. "The pricing of vaccines and other pharmaceutical products heavily relies on a series of factors; the cost of goods & raw materials, product failures, at-risk product development outlays, product overages, the entire capital expenditure for setting up sufficient manufacturing facilities, sales and distribution expenses, procurement volumes and commitments besides other regular business expenditures," the pharma company stated.

Also read: CISF to secure Bharat Biotech's Hyderabad campus from June 14

It said the whole-virion inactivated vero cell vaccines (Covaxin derives from this technology platform) are "highly complex" to manufacture since the critical ingredient is based on live viruses, which require highly sophisticated, multiple level containment and purification methods.

"Such high standards of purification automatically lead to significant process losses and low yields save the outcome of a highly purified and safe vaccine," it said.

It requires about 10,000 sq meters of the area to manufacture around 200 million doses of Covaxin annually, the company said. "In comparison, the same quantity of live virus vaccines can be manufactured from mere 1,500 sq meters. Due to the highly contagious nature of the live SARS-CoV-2 virus, more stringent Biosafety Level-3 (BSL-3) containment facilities are required for the manufacturing of Covaxin," it said.

Also read: Covaxin production ramp-up may be delayed by 2 months; to reach 100 mn capacity by Nov

The company also said every batch of the manufactured product is subjected to more than 200 "quality-control tests" before it is released. "It is exactly this complexity that has kept away other companies from developing vaccines, especially whole virion inactivated vaccines," it said.

Also read: US FDA rejects emergency use approval for Bharat Biotech's Covaxin
Dutch medical equipment company Philips has recalled some breathing devices and ventilators because of a foam part that might degrade and become toxic, potentially causing cancer, it said on Monday.

Foam used to dampen the machines' sound can degrade and emit small particles that irritate airways, the group said as it announced the recall. Gases released by the degrading foam may also be toxic or carry cancer risks.

Philips Chief Executive Frans van Houten said the company was one of the largest makers of sleep apnea machines and ventilators. Between 3 million and 4 million would be targeted in the recall, he said.

The group took a 250 million euro ($303 million) charge for the issue after announcing an identical provision in its first quarter-earnings report in April, bringing the total cost of the problem to 500 million euros to date.

Shares in the group were down 4.2% to 44.42 euros by 0850 GMT in Amsterdam.

"We're going to put all our capacity to focus entirely on replacing and repairing these units," Van Houten said in a call, a process he said would likely take a year.

That "has a consequence that we will not be able to serve new customers, so there's going to be a shortage in the field".

Company spokesman Steve Klink said about 80% of the affected devices were machines used to help people with sleep apnea, known as Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machines. Users of those machines were advised to halt usage. Around two-thirds of Philips CPAP machine sales are in the United States.

The other 20% of affected devices were ventilators. Doctors and patients using life-sustaining ventilators should first consider whether the potential danger from the foam outweighs other risks, the company said.

"Philips has received reports of possible patient impact due to foam degradation," the company said in a statement. "To date, there have been no reports of death as a result of these issues."

Spokesman Klink said Philips had received some complaints about the devices, representing 0.03% of those sold in 2020.

The company said the matter would cause "revenue headwinds" in the division making the devices but that would be compensated by strength in other businesses.

It left its full-year financial guidance of "low-to-mid-single-digit" comparable sales growth unchanged.

Philips said it was working with health authorities on a safe replacement for the foam, but that it must first clear testing and regulatory hurdles.

In April, Philips said first-quarter core earnings surged 74% to 362 million euros compared with the same period a year earlier, on a 9% rise in comparable sales.

Also Read: Novavax study finds its COVID-19 vaccine 90% effective against virus

Also Read: 1 bn COVID-19 vaccine doses only a start, says IMF chief
YouTube announced on Sunday that it will no longer display advertisements related to gambling, alcohol, politics, or "prescription drug terms" on its masthead ad slot. The masthead is the most prominent ad slot as it appears at the top of the website and the YouTube app. The masthead ad is one of the first things users see when they open the app or the website.

"YouTube masthead ads are the ads that YouTube users see at the top of the YouTube homepage. This type of ad is the most prominent Google advertising placement available to advertisers," notes Google on YouTube's ads support page.

According to YouTube's ad support page, ads placed in the masthead slot can "drive massive reach or awareness".

YouTube updated its masthead content requirements on June 14. Gambling, alcohol, politics, or "prescription drug terms" have been added to the "Prohibited" categories. YouTube has also explained what all falls under these categories.

YouTube has prohibited all "assets that depict reference gambling-related content, including offline gambling, online gambling, online non-casino games and social casino games."

Under the heading of 'Alchohol', YouTube has prohibited "assets that depict or reference alcohol-related content, including ads promoting the sale of alcohol as well as branding or informational ads focusing on alcoholic beverages". However, the inclusion of alcohol in the "prohibited" category will have little impact in India as advertisements for alcohol are already completely banned in the country.

Last year, Google had allowed users to limit the number of ads related to sensitive topics such as alcohol and gambling they see on YouTube. The firm had even added a new feature in Ad Settings that allowed users to restrict the number of targeted ads they see for such sensitive topics.

Also Read: How Amazon, Facebook, Apple, Google are shifting to hybrid work regimes
The Centre is considering conducting a centralised common entrance examination for admission to various universities for the academic year 2021-22. This is expected to be held sometime in the July-August period.

The Education Ministry had advocated for a common entrance test in its National Education Policy (NEP) and is actively pursuing this scheme. The common entrance test will be a single paper similar to the National Eligibility and Entrance Test (NEET) and Joint Entrance Exam (JEE). It will be for admission to undergraduate level non-technical programmes, The Print reported.

The scores obtained in the common entrance test will be used by all central universities such as Delhi University, Aligarh Muslim University, Jawaharlal Nehru University to admit new students.

Earlier, it was reported that the Education Ministry was planning to launch the common entrance test for universities in May 2021. However, the second wave of the pandemic had put these plans in limbo.

Now, with the CBSE Class 12 examinations cancelled and COVID-19 cases dropping, the Education Ministery is "positively considering" holding the common entrance test in the next two months, the website reported citing sources.

"There is a suggestion that students whose Class 12 exams have been cancelled should be allotted grades instead of marks, hence it is imperative that university admissions also happen differently," a ministry official told the news website. "The ministry is considering conducting common entrance tests for students across the country in the July-August period," they added.

Sources have explained that if Class 12 students are given grades instead of marks then admission to universities will be based solely on performance in entrance examinations.

"The proposal for conducting common entrance exams for all universities was put on hold due to the pandemic but it will be discussed again with the universities," said another ministry official.

Also Read: Civil Services Exam 2020: UPSC to resume interview process from August 2, check details
Top bat coronavirus researcher at Wuhan Institute of Virology Shi Zengli has denied the lab leak theory amid calls for probe into the origin of COVID-19. For a while, there has been a theory doing the rounds that the virus was leaked from the WIV lab. Zengli was upset at the "filth" being poured on an "innocent scientist" and said that there is no evidence to prove the theory.

"How on earth can I offer up evidence for something where there is no evidence? I don't know how the world has come to this, constantly pouring filth on an innocent scientist," said Zengli in an interview with the New York Times.

In a March 2020 article in Scientific American, Shi had said that the genetic code of the virus does not match any sample from her lab's samples. She had also told the World Health Organisation (WHO) team, visiting China to probe the origin of the virus, that the staff at the lab had tested negative for COVID-19 antibodies.

While the theory has been widely dismissed, former US President Donald Trump had also floated it earlier. But it had soon gained traction and was also fuelled by reports that three researchers from WIV had fallen sick after visiting a bat cave in Yunnan. US Joe Biden had last month ordered intelligence agencies to investigate the origin, as well as look into the lab theory.

However, Shi had said in a paper that the workers had fallen sick due to a fungal infection. The researcher had added that they had retested 13 serum samples from four of the patients and did not find any sign to indicate that they had contracted COVID-19.

The Wuhan Institute of Virology, opened in 2018, is Asia's first P4 lab. The institute studies some of the world's most dangerous diseases and had earlier conducted several investigations into the links between bats and outbreaks in China.

Also read: IndiGo builds $1 billion war chest for third COVID-19 wave

Also read: COVID-19 vaccine delivery through drones? Centre invites bids
Senior officials of the finance ministry will hold a meeting with Infosys to discuss the glitches in the recently launched e-filing portal of the Income Tax Department on June 22. Other stakeholders, including members from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), auditors, consultants and taxpayers will also be a part of the interaction.

"The new portal has been fraught with several technical glitches/issues leading to taxpayer inconvenience. Written representations on the problems/difficulties faced in the portal have also been invited from the stakeholders," the finance ministry said.

Also read: 'Infosys regrets initial glitches': Nilekani on FM's remarks on glitches in new tax e-filing portal

The representatives from the Infosys team will also be present to answer queries, clarify issues, and receive inputs on the working of the portal, to remove glitches and sort out issues faced by the taxpayers, the statement said.

Infosys co-founder and its chairman Nandan Nilekani last week had said he and his team were working to resolve issues observed on Day 1 of the launch of the new e-filing income tax platform.

Also read: Fix glitches in new income tax e-filing portal: Sitharaman to Infosys, Nilekani

"The new e-filing portal will ease the filing process and enhance end-user experience. @nsitharaman ji, we have observed some technical issues on day one, and are working to resolve them. @Infosys regrets these initial glitches and expects the system to stabilise during the week," he tweeted.

His reaction came after finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman asked Infosys, which is the vendor of the new I-T portal, and Nilekani to fix technical glitches in the new income tax e-filing portal.

The e-filing portal 2.0, the new income tax filing portal, was launched on June 7. The FM said she has been receiving "grievances and glitches" concerning the new income tax e-filing portal, and that ease in compliance for taxpayers is the top priority for the Centre.

Also read: Get tax refunds faster now! I-T department to launch new portal on Jun 7

Some users also complained about social media that certain features were taking longer than usual to load in the new portal. Some, however, praised the new facilities.

After the remake, the new URL http://incometax.gov.in replaced the long-existing http://incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in. The home page of the new website, as per the income tax department, is an "all-new portal with features that make e-filing easier for you!"

"The portal has been developed as a mission mode project under the national e-governance plan. The objective of this portal is to provide a single window to the income tax-related services for taxpayers and other stakeholders," it said.

Also read: New income tax filing portal launched today; all you need to know
The Jharkhand government on Tuesday extended COVID-related lockdown-like restrictions till June 24 with some relaxations, including opening of shopping malls and departmental stores till 4 pm, an official said. Earlier, only shops were allowed till 4 pm and not the shopping malls and departmental stores.

Inter-state and Intra-state bus transport shall remain prohibited except for the buses specifically used by the district administration till June 24 morning, as per a statement from the state government. E-passes will be mandatory for inter-state and inter- district movement in private vehicles but for movement within the district, no e-passes will be required.

But, religious places will remain closed for the devotees like earlier and so are the educational institutions. This is the sixth time that the curbs, first imposed in the state on April 22 for a week, were extended. The ongoing measures were scheduled to end on June 17. The decision was made at a meeting of the state disaster management authority chaired by Chief Minister Hemant Soren.

The 'Health Safety Week' now stands extended till June 24, a statement from the state government said. Earlier, in East Singhbhum, having more caseload, shops dealing in shoes, cloths, cosmetics and jewellery were asked to remain closed till June 17. However, all the shops in the state including shops selling fruits, vegetables, grocery items, sweets and eatables shall remain closed from Saturday 4 pm to Monday 6 am barring medicines shops, hospitals and petrol pumps etc like last week.

The governemnt has allowed opening of all government and private offices till 4 pm with one-third of human resources. Home delivery of food from restaurants along with take away has been allowed, the order said, adding that the cinema halls, clubs, bars, banquet halls and multiplexes will remain closed.

At the same time stadiums, gymnasiums, swimming pools and parks will remain shut in addition to all educational institutions. The government said anganwadi centres will remain closed but food items will be provided to the beneficiaries at home. "There will be a ban on the gathering of more than 5 persons. A maximum of 11 persons can attend a marriage and a maximum of 20 persons can attend a funeral.

"Religious places will remain closed for devotees," according to a statement from the state government. Prohibition on procession will continue in the state besides the ban on bus transport will continue.

All examinations to be conducted by the state will remain postponed while the ban on fair and exhibition will continue. The government said e-passes will be mandatory for inter-district movement in private vehicles or going to other states from Jharkhand or coming to Jharkhand.

Barring some exceptions, seven days home quarantine will be mandatory for those coming to Jharkhand from other states, it said. Wearing of mask in public place and maintaining social distance are mandatory, the statement said, adding in case of violation of order, action will be taken by registering an FIR under the relevant section of the Disaster Management Act.

Jharkhand recorded only one COVID fatality during the last 24 hours, pushing the death toll to 5,085. The lone virus death in the state Tuesday happened in East Singhbhum district. The state also reported 151 new coronavirus cases which took the tally to 3,43,609, the bulletin said. The new cases were reported from East Singhbhum (27), Dhanbad (23) and Hazaribag (15).

The mortality rate in the state dipped at 1.47 per cent but remained higher than the national average of 1.20 per cent. The COVID-19 recovery rate in the state has improved to 97.62 per cent, better than the national average of 95.40 per cent. The state now has 3,062 active COVID-19 cases, while 3,35,462 patients have recovered from the infection including 483 during the last 24 hours.

Altogether, 91,40,410 samples have been tested for COVID-19 in Jharkhand, including 38,711 since Monday.

Also read: COVID-19: Thermo Fisher to introduce point-of-care RT-PCR test in India
Cloudtail India - the online retailing joint venture of Infosys co-founder N R Narayana Murthy's firm and Amazon.com - faced a 5.5 million pounds demand, including interest and penalties, from tax authorities after it paid "meagre" taxes over the past four years, a media report said on Monday.

Amazon reportedly developed independent sellers such as Cloudtail, as 'special merchant' which enjoyed over 35 per cent of total sales on the platform until 2019.

While Murthy's Catamaran Ventures indirectly holds 76 per cent in Cloudtail and Amazon the remaining 24 per cent, the firm's two top posts - chief executive and finance director - were with the US retailer. Cloudtail's holding company, Prione is also run by a former Amazon manager, the report in 'The Guardian' newspaper said. It said that it is not known precisely what the tax dispute is about and the company said that it was contesting the bill, adding that since the "matter is sub judice, we are unable to comment any further".

Following the report, the office of UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak, who is son-in-law of Murthy, was forced to comment.

The revelations come just days after Sunak led the G7 finance ministers' charge to agree to a global deal designed to make tech companies pay more tax.

"Reaching an international agreement on how large digital companies are taxed has been a priority for the chancellor since he took office," said a spokesperson for his UK Treasury office.

"The Chancellor's consistent position has been that it matters where tax is paid, and any agreement must ensure digital businesses pay tax in the UK that reflects their economic activities. That is what our taxpayers would expect and is the right thing," the spokesperson said.

Sunak has been dubbed the UK's richest minister, largely as a result of his wife Akshata Murty's family wealth. The latest 'Guardian' report claims that an analysis of Cloudtail's accounts and activities shows that it is one of the largest sellers on Amazon.in, as part of a 76-24 per cent joint venture with Amazon.

"The company has received a show cause notice in the current year from Directorate General of Goods and Service Tax Intelligence amounting to INR 5,455 lakhs (5.5 million pounds) along with interest and penalties for service tax-related matters," it quotes Cloudtail's most recent accounts as saying.

It claims that the annual report further reveals that Cloudtail - which only sells via the Amazon platform - paid Amazon fees of 95 million pounds last year, almost 10 times more than the Indian business reported in profit.

According to its analysis, Murthy created the venture capital firm Catamaran, a trustee of the Hober Mallow Trust, which ultimately owns the stake in Cloudtail and whose beneficiaries are the Murthy family.

"The whole structure raises questions if Cloudtail is really an asset of Amazon - and if the Murthys are the name lenders. The exact detail of the deal will only be known if the investigation agencies seek details of their shareholder agreements," Rashmi Das, an author specialising in Indian e-commerce, is quoted as saying by the newspaper.

The questions around the control of Cloudtail also recently prompted the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) to ask the Indian minister of commerce, Piyush Goyal, in February to investigate the joint venture to discover why its key personnel have typically joined from Amazon.

In a letter to Goyal, found on CAIT's Twitter account, it notes: "Even though Murthy holds the majority of shares, he has allowed the (so-called) former employees of Amazon on the driver's seat of both Cloudtail and Prione... The role of Murthy requires appropriate investigation."

Amazon maintains that it is operating in full compliance with local laws. However, last week the Indian competition commission got the go-ahead to relaunch an investigation into Amazon's selling practices in India.

After a court ruling, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) will examine complaints by a traders' group that small sellers are being driven out of business because the big US platforms are giving preferential treatment to "preferred sellers".

A spokesperson for Prione - Cloudtail's holding company, Catamaran and the Murthys told the 'Guardian': "Cloudtail has not violated any law and is in full compliance with the law of the land in letter and in spirit. The Murthy family has put in the required equity capital in Prione (parent company of Cloudtail), commensurate with its shareholding. The allegations are baseless and incorrect.

"Cloudtail is an independent company that makes business decisions to protect its interests. Cloudtail is governed by a board of directors. Catamaran has majority of the directors and therefore controls the board. The members on the board from Catamaran are high-quality professionals with extensive business experience. The details of the decisions and deliberations of the board of Cloudtail are minuted and available for inspection by the relevant Indian authorities."

A spokesperson for Amazon said: "Amazon in India has always been fully compliant with all Indian laws.

"Specifically, our joint venture with Catamaran, as well as our marketplace operations, are in compliance with Indian (foreign direct investment) laws, and that includes Cloudtail as a seller."

Also read: 5 of 10 most valued firms add over Rs 1 lakh crore in m-cap; Infosys, TCS lead gainers

Also read: Paytm, Infosys, MakeMyTrip seek approval to conduct online COVID-19 vaccine bookings
Share of Strides Pharma Science Limited rose 3 per cent to hit an intraday high of Rs 842.00 on BSE after the company announced that its step-down wholly owned subsidiary, Strides Pharma Global Pte. Limited, Singapore has entered into an exclusive partnership with Ennaid Therapeutics, a global pharmaceutical company to produce an oral, repurposed medication to treat mild, moderate, and asymptomatic cases of COVID-19.

The stock opened 1.26 per cent higher at Rs 828.20 against the previous close of Rs 817.85 on BSE. Market cap of the firm rose to Rs 7,353.07 crore.

The share has delivered 105 per cent returns in the last 12 months. It stands higher than 5 day, 10 day, 20 day, 50 day, 100 day, and 200-day moving averages.

Ennaid's partnership with discovery scientists at Universidad Catolica de Murcia (UCAM), identified a therapeutic target to treat COVID-19 using artificial intelligence drug discovery platforms.

Initial tests show antiviral activity effective against SARS CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, by inhibiting 90% of the virus' replication in vitro studies.

These results are so compelling that Ennaid is ready to seek emergency authorization from the FDA in the US as well as approval for compassionate use in India.

Ennaid's CEO, Darnisha Harrison, commented on the impact of the epidemic and partnership with Strides: "The magnitude of human loss in India due to COVID-19 compelled Ennaid India Private Limited to partner with Strides Pharma extending critical resources to aid its government. We are honored to join forces with an India-based company to bring hope and healing at a time when it's critically needed.

"Since the drug was previously approved by the FDA for other indication, it has already been proven safe in humans. What we have will not only bring much needed relief to India but to patients around the world. With more than 30 million people infected with COVID-19 in America and over 100 million in the world, a drug that treats mild to moderate symptoms and helps block replication of the virus is a top priority," Harrison added.

"We are pleased to partner with Ennaid as an exclusive manufacturer of its oral repurposed medication to treat mild, moderate, and asymptomatic cases of COVID-19," said Dr. R Ananthanarayanan, Managing Director and Group CEO, Strides.

"At Strides, we are committed in our fight against COVID-19 and are working on creating a portfolio of products to aid COVID treatment and supportive care. Partnership with Ennaid is part of our initiative to provide quality and affordable treatment to the global patient pool impacted by COVID-19," he added.

Strides will be the exclusive manufacturing partner to Ennaid for the product.
15 Jun 2021, 11:05 AM

Oil prices soar as threat of immediate Iran supply fades

Oil prices rose on Tuesday, with Brent gaining for a fourth consecutive session, as the prospect of extra supply coming to the market soon from Iran faded with talks dragging on over the United States rejoining a nuclear agreement with Tehran. A U.S. return to the deal would pave the way for the lifting of sanctions on Iran that would allow the OPEC member to resume exports of crude.

Sebi imposes Rs 15 cr fine on Franklin Templeton, 8 others

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has imposed a Rs 15 crore fine on nine entities, including Franklin Templeton Trustee Services, some senior officials and fund managers. Sebi has fined Rs 3 crore on Franklin Templeton Trustee Services Pvt Ltd and Rs 2 crore on Franklin Asset Management (India) Pvt Ltd President Sanjay Sapre and Chief Investment Officer Santosh Kamat.

Novavax study finds its COVID-19 vaccine 90% effective against virus

Vaccine maker Novavax said Monday its shot was highly effective against COVID-19 and also protected against variants in a large, late-stage study in the US and Mexico. The vaccine was about 90 per cent effective overall and preliminary data showed it was safe, the company said.

Modi govt must practise what it preaches, says Chidambaram on PM's G7 address

The government should practise in India what it preaches to the world, Congress leader P Chidambaram said on Monday, a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed on democracy and freedom of thought at a G7 meet. He added that it was "sad" the prime minister was the only guest not physically present at the outreach meeting.

Apple to relax mask requirements across US stores, offices from next week

Apple Inc. is planning to relax the requisite of wearing masks for vaccinated customers at many of its stores and offices across the United States (US) from next week. The move will mark yet another major retailer moving away from the COVID-related safety protocol as states ease curbs.

WPI inflation hits all-time high of 12.94% in May

The wholesale price-based inflation hit an all-time high of 12.49% in May on the back of a spike in prices of manufactured products, crude petroleum, and mineral oils. It touched the double-digit mark of 10.49% in April (2021). This is the fifth straight month of an uptick in WPI inflation.
Irish HomeCare, the leading provider of home care services in Ireland, has today announced the creation of 750 new jobs as part of a major national recruitment drive to meet the high levels of demand for personalised home care across the country. The new roles, which are being recruited for immediately, will lead to a doubling of Irish HomeCares workforce in Ireland to 1,500 over the next 18 months.

Seven hundred of the jobs available are flexible carer roles, with comprehensive bespoke training provided to successful candidates, and involve the delivery of highly personalised home care solutions including elderly care, reablement, palliative and specialist support. The remaining 50 roles are full time positions which include nurses, tutors, operational managers and supervisors, and other administrative and support staff.

The care roles are being recruited for nationwide with 24 counties in demand. Most of the care roles are being recruited in the east of the country, with 370 available in Leinster where the demand is currently greatest. However, recruitment is also taking place across the country with 130 roles available in Munster, 110 in Connaught and 90 in Ulster.

In addition to the new jobs, Irish HomeCare is also investing in a new South Dublin base in Park West, bringing to 10 the total number of support offices the company has around the country, including its Headquarters in Monaghan.

As a registered training centre with City & Guilds, Irish HomeCare will offer all new employees specialised bespoke training opportunities to support them in their role and professional development. With a highly qualified team of tutors based in regional offices around the country, Irish HomeCare offers unique and individualised training supports tailored to suit each employees learning needs, along with specific requirements of individual care delivery. Irish HomeCare also operates an Earn While You Learn programme designed to help employees gain qualifications while working.

Welcoming the expansion, Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar said, "This is an incredible expansion from Irish HomeCare which will see 750 new care jobs created, doubling the companys workforce. These are jobs doing essential work for those that need it most, in communities all across the country. I wish Irish HomeCare the very best of luck with this expansion, as it continues to provide this vital service."

Chief Executive Officer at Irish HomeCare, John Florence added, "Irish HomeCare has been at the fore of personalised home care services in Ireland since our establishment in 2005. We have experienced a significant surge in demand for our services across the country and are delighted to be adding 750 new roles so that we can continue to provide the highest standards of care to vulnerable people in our society. Through our extensive range of support services, we enable people to maintain their independence in the comfort of their own homes within their communities."

Source: www.businessworld.ie
There is no law against the practice in China, nor is any legislation against it on the table

Jul 01, 2021 08:03 PM
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Do you have an athlete in mind that contributes to the team or sport, holds sportsmanship and team spirit, has epic playmaker moments and/or in general makes the the sports fun? If yes, please make your nominations for our edition of Athlete Spotlight.

CLICK TO NOMINATE
A presentation slide explains the features of the BirdZero electric scooter provided by Bird, a scooter-sharing service looking to expand to Atlantic Beach. (Contributed graphic)
Glen, NH (03838)

Today

Rain likely. High 64F. Winds NNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Cloudy with showers. Low 53F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
(In Arabic)

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, June 14, 2021  As part of its continued focus on the global fight against neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), the Noor Dubai Foundation renews its partnership with The Carter Center to wipe out trachoma, the leading infectious cause of blindness. Since 2013, the two organizations have assisted Ethiopia in the elimination of trachoma as a public health problem in 29% of the Amhara region, known to be the most trachoma-endemic location in the world.

Dr. Manal Taryam, board member and CEO of the Noor Dubai Foundation stated, In these modern times, no one should suffer from trachoma, an excruciating yet entirely preventable disease. Noor Dubai is proud to continue its partnership with The Carter Center, Ethiopia Ministry of Health and the Amhara Regional Health Bureau and remains committed to empowering the communities to wipe out this ancient disease from the Amhara region.

Trachoma is responsible for the visual impairment of an estimated 1.9 million people, of whom 1.2 million are irreversibly blind, with 136.9 million people worldwide living in trachoma-endemic districts. Trachoma can destroy the economic well-being of entire communities, keeping affected families trapped in poverty as the disease passes from one generation to the next.

Noor Dubais newest four-year commitment will contribute to the implementation of annual mass drug administration (MDA) in Amhara, which has safely resumed outreach after the COVID-19 pandemic briefly suspended most global health interventions in 2020. Over the next four years, the Noor Dubai-Carter Center collaboration aims to deliver 43 million doses of the antibiotic Zithromax (donated by Pfizer), projected to impact approximately 14.3 million people. This will contribute to Amharas effort to implement the World Health Organization-endorsed SAFE strategy: S urgery, A ntibiotics, F acial cleanliness, and E nvironmental improvement. Additionally, the partnership is slated to carry out prevalence surveys to assess impact and support training sessions for more than 74,000 local health workers by 2025.

Paige Alexander, CEO of The Carter Center, said: The elimination of trachoma as a public health problem in Amhara is difficult work that will not be completed quickly, and we are so grateful to have Noor Dubais commitment to stay by our side on this long road. We will reach the goal of elimination together, and when we do, we will celebrate together.

The Carter Center began scaling up program activities in the region in 2003 in response to the enormity of the trachoma problem in the region. The newest chapter of the Noor Dubai-Carter Center partnership builds on a collaboration that launched in 2013. Together with the Ethiopia Ministry of Health, Amhara Regional Health Bureau, many other collaborating partners, and thousands upon thousands of frontline health workers, the Noor Dubai Foundation support has contributed to:

The elimination of trachoma as a public health problem in 29% of the Amhara region.

The delivery of 87 million doses of Pfizer-donated Zithromax  .

. The completion of eyelid surgery for about 356,620 people to prevent irreversible blindness.

The trachoma training and capacity development of 49,816 health workers, 37,032 teachers, and 7,209 surgeons and supervisors.



Noor Dubai-Carter Center Partnership

The ongoing Noor Dubai-Carter Center partnership represents a part of the UAEs larger, decades-long commitment toward global health and overcoming some of the worlds most deadly and debilitating diseases, including malaria, polio and NTDs. For more than 30 years, the UAE-Carter Center partnership has made measurable impact to improve lives and eliminate diseases that affect the worlds most vulnerable communities.

As a member of Neglected Tropical Disease NGO Network (NNN) and the International Coalition for Trachoma Control (ICTC), Noor Dubai Foundation plays a role in the decision-making process regarding policies, strategy, funding, and advocacy on NTDs, which afflict over 1 billion individuals around the world. Noor Dubais mission is to contribute to the improvement of the well-being and the socioeconomic status of people through sustainable control of major causes of avoidable vision loss in collaboration with partners.

Guided by the vision and passion of founders Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, The Carter Center is a globally recognized pioneer in the effort to eradicate, eliminate, and better control of five NTDs in more than a dozen countries. The Center assists in the implementation activities associated with each disease as well as operational research and impact monitoring and evaluation. The Center provides technical assistance to a wide array of organizations and coalitions, including the WHO, the NNN, and as chair of the ICTC.

The Center has proudly collaborated with the Noor Dubai Foundation since 2013 and the government of Ethiopia since 1991. Over the last eight years, the foundation has invested $2.8 million with The Carter Center to wipe out trachoma in Amhara.

Translation:

          

Contacts:

Noor Dubai Foundation, Dubai: Noora Elkouka, Noora.Elkouka@noordubai.ae

The Carter Center, Atlanta: Emily Staub, Emily.Staub@cartercenter.org

About Noor Dubai Foundation

Noor Dubai Foundation is a UAE based charity focused on the prevention of blindness and visual impairment globally. Launched as an initiative in 2008 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice president and Prime Minister of the UAE and the ruler of Dubai, it was later established as an NGO by Law in October 2010. Millions of individuals in over 20 countries across Africa and Asia have benefited from the free treatment and preventive programs conducted by Noor Dubai Foundation, which include provision of surgeries, eyeglasses, and medication. As member of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives foundation, Noor Dubai continues to strive towards fulfilling the Vision 2020 initiative of a world free from preventable forms of blindness.

www.noordubai.ae

About The Carter Center

"Waging Peace. Fighting Disease. Building Hope."

A not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization, The Carter Center has helped to improve life for people in over 80 countries by resolving conflicts; advancing democracy, human rights, and economic opportunity; preventing diseases; and improving mental health care. The Carter Center was founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, in partnership with Emory University, to advance peace and health worldwide.

www.cartercenter.org

###
On Saturday, sticky bomb attacks claimed by Islamic State killed seven people in Kabul. Six died in the first attack in the Afghan capital, including two animators, a colleague has said.

According to film director Sahra Karimi, Tayiba Musavi (pictured top, left) and Fatima Mohammadi, who worked for the Afghan Film Organization, were among the dead; their bodies have been identified by their families. Karimi tweeted that the pair were animators working on an animated film for children.

The attacks happened in a mostly Shiite neighborhood of west Kabul. In a statement, Afghanistans IS affiliate said its members used sticky bombs  explosive devices that attach to vehicles  to blow up two minivans transporting disbeliever Shiites.
Photo: Contributed

Im not succinct with words.

I love fat, bulging words that run all over the page. I wallow in words; rich, descriptive words oozing with oodles of meanings, much to the chagrin of my editor.

If you can say it in two words, Sue, why use 14? he thunders at me. There are usually a few expletives in there I wont repeat.

I find comfort in groups of adjectives and exposed, dare I say naked, without them.

When I meet an artist like Wayne Wilson, I am intrigued. He uses lines in a drawing like Ernest Hemingway used words in a story. The drawings are complete, yet paired to the essential elements.

He finds joy in finding How few lines can you use to get the idea across." He then highlights the drawing with watercolour.

He was born in Lillooet and lived in a house his dad built. In the late 1960s, his family moved to Kelowna when his dad got the principals job at Central Elementary School.

His fascination with drawing and painting came from his mom, also a teacher. Today, at 91, she still paints and draws cards for the family.

Wayne always loved art, history, and geography. He graduated from Dr. Knox High School in 1971. He took art from Ben Lee, a former city councillor for whom a Rutland park is named, who he characterizes as a very open-minded teacher.

Wayne received a Bachelor of Arts in 1980 and a Masters of Art in 1989 from the University of British Columbia.

His masters thesis  irrigation of the Okanagan  combined his love of art, history, and geography. The changing from brown to green.

Irrigation is not a dry subject, he assured me.

He worked for Kelowna Museums for 34 years and was executive director for the last 12.

No matter what he was doing or where he was going, he always had a sketchbook. "You have to have a pause when you sketch.

In the 1970s, he added a camera to his drawing-and-painting arsenal to aid him when time was scarce.

He didnt always draw so sparsely. He dabbled with watercolour for 15 years, but a job in a bindery exposed him to old paper. He loved the feel of it and found drawing and painting on it enchanted him. Antiquated paper combined with botanical illustrations inspired him to re-purpose both.

I bought one of his paintings for my husband, Rick, for Fathers Day. It is a picture of a fishing plug  a lure that is buoyant  off a troller out of Prince Rupert in the 60s. For those non-fishermen, a lure is artificial bait colourfully painted to attract fish.

This artwork is unique because he painted on a 1940s spent cheque. These particular cheques are special because of the stamp.

Who knew you needed a stamp for cheques in the 40s.

On the back of this painting he wrote, The combination seemed like a good way to celebrate my love of fishing.

His paintings are a great way of combining the present with the past, and most of them have a personal note on the back explain the subject.

He loves fly-fishing, as does my husband. Me, I flunked out with my one try. I guess you cant talk or sing while casting, evidently fish dont like it.

It is way too quiet for me. But for Wayne and many others, it is a serene hobby, a real escape from their busy world.

His work area at Folls and Ages Art Studio, an artist collective, is full of his work. I especially like the botanical paintings. His collection is a fishermans delight, a Mecca for a savvy wife searching for the perfect Fathers Day gift.

Along with his love for art, he is passionate about nature and preserving it. He regaled me with stories about a canoe trip he took in July 2014, travelling 1,200 miles in some of the most remote parts of Canada.

The trip began at Fort Province, N.W.T., and ended in Inuvik in the McKenzie River delta. There were 12 in a party and they travelled in three 26 voyageur canoes. Voyageur canoes were used to transport supplies and goods a few hundred years ago.

2012 was definitely a pivotal year. He retired from the museum and began work as a part-time executive director of the Central Okanagan Land Trust. He is still working there, helping to ensure lands are preserved and protected.

What will you find him busy with these days?

He is putting the finishing touches on a course about travel journals.

I was privy to seeing one of his journals for the canoe trip. It was informative, yet beautiful.

His course will contain:

Five videos on sketching small

What to put in your journal kit

What to put into your journal

What not to.

He showed me his travel kit, which is tiny, but, oh, so efficient. Watercolour paints are a great take along. They are inexpensive and take no space. They are the perfect addition for a trip into the wilds or carrying on a hike.

I will never canoe down a river for a month. That canoe has shot the rapids. I will definitely travel, and taking such a kit will help keep the memories of that trip alive. I cant wait to enrol in his upcoming class.

Some people paint with huge strokes on big canvases. Waynes paintings are on old, forgotten papers. They speak of history and yet are part of todays world. They are huge in their smallness. A lovely combination. A lovely artist.

If you drop by and see he has gone fishing, persevere, his art is worth it.

www.WayneWilsonArt.com; [email protected]
Photo: The Canadian Press This photo provided by Jesus Maria shows Dwayne Johnson, co-founder of Teremana Tequila at the Teremana tequila distillery in Jalisco, Mexico. Johnson joins a list of celebrities including George Clooney, Nick Jonas and Kendall Jenner with their own tequila brands. (Jesus Maria via AP)

Love it or hate it, tequila conjures up strong feelings in many drinkers.

Forgive us for the old memories of bad quality tequila! jokes Antonio Rodriguez, director of production at Patron Tequila. We cannot hide that we come from a history when usually tequilas were not as premium as they are right now.

Deano Moncrieffe, founder of the London tequila and mezcal bar Hacha, laments, People always blame tequila for a bad hangover when really the fact is that they probably started the night drinking wine and then beer and then champagne and then at some point, maybe 2 or 3 in the morning, someone said, lets have tequila!

And Steffin Oghene, vice president of global marketing and sales for El Tequileno Tequila, agrees tequila used to be seen as the party, smash-it-down, get-wasted kind of spirit.

But, he says, Over the past 10 years, theres been a lot of effort put into educating people and making them understand that tequila isnt just the spirit to shoot. Its a really complex spirit" that takes time and expertise to produce.

These re-education efforts appear to be working. Tequila is one of the fastest-growing alcoholic drinks in the U.S., with consumption up by 40% over the past five years, according to IWSR Drinks Market Analysis.

Hamish Smith, editor of the bartending magazine Class and bars editor of Drinks International, says there's growing understanding of tequila's different qualities, with 100% agave" now the star performer, in the way single malt is for Scotch.

This awareness is set against the craft spirits movement, the appreciation of provenance, celebrity endorsement and a cocktail industry that has been showcasing quality tequila for years," Smith says. "Its not quite a perfect storm, but its carrying the category forward to year-on-year international growth.

Despite its old reputation, experts say tequila is not in fact a great choice for people looking to get drunk. While many spirits contain glucose, which causes a rapid increase in blood sugar followed by a crash, adding to a hangover, tequila contains fructose from the agave plant, which they say is broken down more slowly.

For a premium tequila, don't use a shot glass, says Nitzan Podoswa, founder of Satryna Tequila.

Your nose is too close to the liquid so you cannot really smell the notes right. It just makes it easier to drink. But if you are having a very nice tequila, you need to have a flute cup, she says.

And rather than down it in one, swish the liquid around the mouth to taste, she suggests.

There are three types of tequila, based on the time spent in oak barrels before bottling. Blanco is aged 0-2 months, reposado 2-11 months, anejo 1-3 years and extra anejo 3-plus years.

Moncrieffe starts by asking his customers what they usually drink. If its a white spirit, he directs them to a blanco; for bourbon or whisky drinkers, he recommends a reposado; and for cognac drinkers, something more complex like an anejo or extra anejo.

An agave plant takes around seven years to mature, and once harvested there are many ways to cook the plant and ferment and distil the alcohol.

What you're drinking is actually very, very special. Its very special how many years the plant has been in the earth and its very special how many people and how many agents are involved in the process, Podoswa says.

Rodriguez says current trends center on ageing, experimenting with time, temperature and barrel types.

We are not talking about whiskeys in which the main flavor is coming from the wood," he says. "Tequila by itself in a blanco expression has already a big personality. So when you age tequila, you are not looking to get over that. Youre looking to complement that.

Theres also the cristalino category, which I guess was, for tequila purists, controversial, Oghene adds. Popular in the U.S. and Mexico, a cristalino is an aged tequila that has been filtered to remove the color and tannins, making it crystal-clear.

Growing U.S. sales are creating interest in other countries, Rodriguez says.

Most of the rest of world has had sort of bad, cheap tequila," says Jenna Fagnan, co-founder of Teremana Tequila with Dwayne The Rock Johnson. She says that for Johnson, tequila is about togetherness.

For him, he said, when I was growing up, for our family, if something great was happening, wed get together and people would have tequila. But also if something bad happened, we still get together and have tequila, Fagnan said.

Johnson joins a list of celebrities including George Clooney, Nick Jonas and Kendall Jenner with their own tequila brands. That's been greeted with mixed feelings in the industry.

Almost every week you have a new celebrity tequila brand coming out, Rodriguez says, with only roughly 160 distilleries to produce tequila for thousands of brands.

That means multiple brands might be produced in the same place; while many are doing it right, he says others are just buying the liquid and putting it in a different bottle.

Podoswa advises consumers to research a brand before buying.

Are they making a good product? Are they taking care of their agave? Are they doing it the artisanal, traditional way?

Fagnan says she and Johnson work with one of the few family-owned distilleries left in Mexico. She says Johnson cares about the people, the story, the sustainability.

For new brands, star endorsements bring positive attention and makes consumers question old assumptions about tequila, says Paul Hayes, British founder of Vivir Tequila.

If these people are willing to drink tequila, these major celebrities, theyre not just doing shots of it right in a bar. They must be drinking in a different way. How are they doing and why are they drinking it? he says.

And Rodriguez welcomes the competition: The way I see things, is not that were fighting among tequilas. We are fighting to show the world what tequila is.
Photo: The Canadian Press

The United States and the European Union reached a deal Tuesday to end a damaging dispute over subsidies to rival plane makers Boeing and Airbus and phase out billions of dollars in punitive tariffs, the U.S. trade envoy said.

U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai said the two sides have come to terms on a five-year agreement to suspend the tariffs at the center of the dispute. She said they could be reimplemented if U.S. companies are not able to compete fairly with those in Europe.

Todays announcement resolves a long-standing irritant in the U.S.-EU relationship, Tai said, as President Joe Biden met with EU leaders in Brussels. Instead of fighting with one of our closest allies, we are finally coming together against a common threat.

The deal brings a fresh dose of international goodwill for Biden as he heads into a potentially thorny summit on Wednesday with Russian President Vladimir Putin. It's also good news for an airlines sector that has been ravaged by coronavirus travel restrictions.

The trade dispute skyrocketed under the Trump administration, and saw tit-for-tat duties slapped on a range of companies that have nothing to do with aircraft production, from French winemakers to German cookie bakers in Europe and U.S. spirits producers in the United States, among many others.

The U.S. imposed what could have amounted to $7.5 billion in tariffs on European exports in 2019 after the World Trade Organization ruled that the EU had not complied with its rulings on subsidies for Airbus, which is based in France. The EU retaliated last November with up to $4 billion in punitive duties after the WTO ruled that the U.S. had provided illegal subsidies to Seattle-based Boeing.

In March, weeks after Biden had taken office, the two sides agreed to suspend the tariffs. That suspension started on March 11 for four months. The new agreement will officially go into effect on July 11.

This really opens a new chapter in our relationship because we move from litigation to cooperation on aircraft  after 17 years of dispute, said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. It is the longest trade dispute in the history of the WTO.

Both sides said they would also work together to analyze and address the non-market practices of third parties that may harm our large civil aircraft sectors, according to the EU's executive branch.

Tai said they would cooperate to challenge and counter Chinas non-market practices in this sector in specific ways that reflect our standards for fair competition. 

Airbus, which is headquartered in France but also has centers in Germany and Spain, welcomed the agreement.

This will provide the basis to create a level playing field which we have advocated for since the start of this dispute. It will also avoid lose-lose tariffs that are only adding to the many challenges that our industry faces, an Airbus spokesperson said in a statement.

France's finance and European affairs ministers also hailed the deal.

"We are now going to be able to focus on finally putting these differences behind us, and to define the conditions for fair competition on a global scale to support the aerospace sector, which is strategic for both Europe and the United States," they said in a joint statement.

German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier described it as an important signal for trans-Atlantic cooperation and the new beginning in trans-Atlantic relations.

We need fewer, and not more, tariffs, because tariffs ultimately cause damage on both sides of the Atlantic, Altmaier said in a statement. Todays agreement is above all a great relief for the German exporters that had special tariffs imposed.

Despite the breakthrough, the deal does not end the Trump-era trans-Atlantic trade row. The former U.S. president also slapped duties on EU steel and aluminum. That move enraged European countries, most of them NATO allies, because it was justified as a measure to protect U.S. national security.

The so-called Article 232 proceeding both hurts European producers and raises the cost of steel for American companies. The EU retaliated by raising tariffs on products like U.S.-made motorcycles, bourbon, peanut butter and jeans.

But von der Leyen said that to secure progress on Airbus-Boeing, the EU agreed to hold fire for six months on a set of steel and aluminum-related counter measures it could have imposed just before this summit. She expressed cautious optimism that a deal could be reached here too by year's end.
Photo: Vancouver Firefighter Charities

The hottest Vancouver calendar of the year needs your help selecting its sizzling new lineup.

Every year, Vancouver Firefighter Charities releases a calendar complete with a selection of firefighter models to raise money for at-risk children, adults and families throughout British Columbia.

For the first time ever, VFC is asking the public to help decide who will grace the pages of the 35th annual Hall of Flame calendar by voting online.

While casting for the 2022 calendar, VFC has selected 18 potential candidates: 10 from Vancouver, six from Delta, one from New Westminster, and one from North Vancouver.

Supporters are invited to vote for their favourites until June 28. Following the public voting period, the top 12 earn a place in next years steamy calendar.

Also new for the 2022 edition, firefighters will be making hearts melt even more by posing with adorable four-legged companions. A variety of hot dogs and loveable puppies will appear across the pages of the 12-month wall calendar alongside some of the citys hottest firsts responders.

Proceeds from the calendar sales will be donated to BC Professional Firefighters Burn Fund in addition to VFCs own charitable outreach programs for at-risk communities throughout British Columbia, including Snacks for Kids and Lifelines for Seniors. To date, the fundraiser has raised more than 1,000,000 for communities in need in Vancouver and beyond.

After more than a year of unprecedented hardship within our communities, we're inviting all members of the public to have a little fun this summer and help us choose the firefighters they want to appear in our 2022 Hall of Flame calendar, says co-ordinator Brandon Kaye.
Photo: CTV News

Access to several B.C. provincial parks is about to get a little more complicated.

On Tuesday, the province announced it would be bringing back its free day-pass program rolled out last year to manage access to some of B.C.s busiest destination parks.

The announcement comes less than a month after the province walked back comments it would re-launch the day-pass program.

Five parks will be included in the revised day-pass system, described as a "pilot" and set to begin June 22. They include Berg Lake Trail in Mount Robson Park, Chief Parks Backside Trail in the Stawamus Chief Park, the trailheads at Diamond Head, Rubble Creek and Cheakamus in Garibaldi Park and Golden Ears Park.

Joffre Lakes, another widely popular destination park that closed last year during the pandemic, will also require a day-pass under adjusted booking rules after the province entered into a partnership with Lil'wat and N'Quatqua Nations.

Day passes are not returning to Mount Seymour Park and Cypress Park on Vancouvers North Shore, a decision the province said it made following feedback from outdoor and recreation groups.

In a written statement, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy George Heyman said the system will improve visitor planning and experience while keeping our parks spectacular for years to come.

Last July, the day-pass system required park visitors to book a free online day pass before they entered Mount Seymour, Golden Ears, Garibaldi, Mount Robson and Stawamus Chief provincial parks. The 2,100 passes for Cypress and Seymour were routinely claimed by mid-morning most weekends. Anyone caught by park rangers without a pass could be fined $115.

Unlike last years day-pass system, the ministry said the number of passes available each day will be adjusted to allow as many people to enter as possible. A spokesperson for the ministry has not yet responded to questions over how many passes will be made available at each park.

In the past, outdoor groups criticized the plan over same-day booking, a policy many said discouraged visitors and pushed them on to other trails.

This year, the province is extending the online booking time to 7 a.m. the day before arrival. Vehicles with up to eight individuals must book a morning or afternoon time slot the following day, allowing for arrival before or after 1 p.m.

Joffre Lakes is the exception, where bookings allow for arrivals of groups of up to four people at all times of the day.

Those age 18 or younger do not require a day pass when accompanied by a guardian.

Lower Mainland parks were flooded with visitors at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, a trend that continued through the winter and led to long lines of traffic in places like Golden Ears Provincial Park.

Thats on top of long-term upward pressure on the park system. Park visits in the South Coast spiked to 10.3 million in 2019, up from 6.5 million in 2010. At that rate, the ministry projects visits to hit 16 million per year by 2029.

In announcing the return of the day-pass system, the province said it will introduce more than 30 full-time discover parks ambassadors to welcome visitors. Its not clear how they will be distributed between the provinces parks.

North Shore Search and Rescue manager Doug Pope said he supported BC Parks plan to introduce the 30-plus ambassadors, saying in a written statement, This is a welcome development to the day-pass program.

Others were more critical of the decision to bring the day-pass system back. Blogger and outdoor enthusiast Steve Jones noted pushback from outdoor groups had led to a welcomed scaling down of the day-pass system from 2020. Still, he said on Twitter Tuesday morning, the plan had some blind spots.

While advancing the booking window to the day before is a good direction, Jones wrote that it still makes it impractical for people who are planning road trips or visiting from out of the local area.

Louise Pedersen, executive director of the Outdoor Recreation Council of BC, said that while the new day-pass system shows some flexibility, the province has failed to demonstrate it is effective at managing crowds.

We have seen no documentation that supports this claim, said Pedersen. The day-pass program is like applying a Band-Aid. It does little to address the underlying issues, which is an investment in trails to expand and disperse crowds.

Pedersen said her organization is working with other outdoor groups to push the province to invest $83 million in funding announced earlier this spring into trail expansion and maintenance.

Im a little concerned that BC Parks is not moving towards any solutions, she said. You lock people out of areas with well-established trail systems, there will be spillover into areas not set up to handle them.
Photo: The Canadian Press Minister of National Defence Harjit Sajjan takes part in an interview at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa on December 17, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

The federal Conservatives are demanding Prime Minister Justin Trudeau fire Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan following what they describe as years of mismanagement and coverups.

Opposition Leader Erin O'Toole threw down the gauntlet in the House of Commons Tuesday, saying Sajjan's record as defence minister speaks for itself as he listed past controversies.

Those include Sajjan having overstated his role in Canada's largest battle in Afghanistan, the failed prosecution of former vice-admiral Mark Norman and the military's escalating sexual misconduct scandal.

O'Toole also argued the military is falling apart under Sajjan's leadership.

Sajjan, who has served as Trudeau's only defence minister since 2015, fired back that the Liberals would not take any lessons from the Conservatives when it comes to the military.

He went on to list the Liberal government's investments in the military while insisting that he has handled all allegations of sexual misconduct involving military personnel appropriately.
Yanceyville, NC (27379)

Today

Thunderstorms likely in the morning. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon. High 81F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Some clouds early will give way to generally clear conditions overnight. Low 59F. Winds light and variable.
Now more than ever amid COVID-19, countries rely on the technical expertise of National Public Health Institutes (NPHIs) to lead public health responses. The pandemic has put a spotlight on zoonotic diseases  or diseases that spread between animals and humans  and the importance of human, animal, and environmental health specialists working together across sectors to apply a One Health approach in strengthening global health security.

Africa CDC One Health promotional graphic as part of One Health Framework for NPHIs.

Zoonotic diseases by the numbers 60% of existing human infectious diseases are zoonotic.

75% of emerging infectious diseases of humans (including Ebola, HIV, and influenza) have an animal origin.

80% of agents with potential bioterrorist use are zoonotic pathogens.

80% of agents with potential bioterrorist use are zoonotic pathogens.

Africa CDC Prioritizes a One Health Strategy

Seventy-five percent of emerging infections in humans are zoonotic diseases. Ebola, rabies, COVID-19, and many other diseases are zoonotic. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and concerns over its animal origin have once again propelled zoonotic diseases and the interaction of animal, human, and environmental health to the forefront of public health.

Africa Centres for Disease Control and Preventionexternal icon (Africa CDC), a technical public health institution of the African Union, has prioritized weaving One Healthexternal icon into its work and has increased infectious disease diagnosis capacity in human and animal laboratories. In addition, they developed a One Health frameworkexternal icon for NPHIs focusing on overall coordination, surveillance, laboratory systems, emergency management, and workforce. Developed with specialists from across the Africa Union (AU) Member States, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and Chatham House, the framework officially launched in October 2020. Its goal is to help AU members comply with International Health Regulations and achieve both the AU Agenda 2063: The Africa We Wantexternal icon and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goalsexternal icon.

In 2020, Africa CDC organized virtual workshops advocating for incorporating a One Health approach to COVID-19 response efforts. The workshops shared examples of multisectoral response efforts such as using veterinary laboratories to help detect human COVID-19 infections. The Pan African Veterinary Vaccine Centre of the African Union, South Africa, and Ghana discussed best practices and the important role veterinary laboratories have been playing in the COVID-19 response. This rapid cross-sectoral collaboration increased disease surveillance capacity.

The significant global impact of zoonotic diseases demonstrates the importance of addressing public health challenges through a One Health approach. Leadership, coordination, collaboration, and communication are critical in a countrys efforts to better integrate One Health into health systems, explains Stephanie Salyer, CDC Technical Advisor to Africa CDC. Through its multisectoral approach, One Health provides more efficient and sustainable implementation and resource allocation.
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Sarche plant to reactivate kiln line

15 June 2021

Italys Italcementi (HeidelbergCement) has announced an investment of almost EUR5m (US$6.07m) at its Sarche plant in Madruzzo, Italy.

The works will see the factory, which has been operating as a grinding unit since 2015, reactivate its pyroprocessing line. As a result, production capacity is expected to reach 250,000tpa by January 2022.

The expansion is being made to meet the rising demand of northeast Italy, with the project also set to employ 30 people.

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Radical Rep Omar, Democrat, MN is under fire in Congress for accusing the U.S. military of committing war crimes in the Middle East. She tweeted the U.S., Hamas and the Taliban have all committed unspeakable atrocities. The leftist propaganda machine ramped up to defend her. They hope enough in Congress wont remove her committee assignments like Democrats and a few Republicans did to Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene, Republican, Ga.

This is not Omars first dance into controversy. In 2019, she made her infamous comment about some people did something in reference to the murderous attack by radical Islamists on 9/11. Nancy Pelosi, Democrat, Ca. struggled trying to make excuses for her then. Pelosi said, I do not believe she understood the full weight of her words. What did that mean?

Also on May 19 of this year, on Twitter, the busy Ms. Omar tweeted bombing a hospital is war crime. On Oct. 3, 2015, during the Obama administrations military campaign in Afghanistan, a hospital operated by Doctors Without Borders was attacked by a US gunship. It was reported 42 were killed and 30 were wounded. Interestingly there has been no reference to this by Omar. Could it be because it took place under the Barrack Obama administration?

Ms. Omar has been an outspoken critic of Israel and said, The U.S. has been underwriting crimes against humanity. She added there needed to be accountability for every war crime committed.

Arent there consequences for such behavior? Why hasnt Twitter shut her down? Why hasnt Nancy Pelosi ripped up Omars committee assignments and sent her to the childrens table in the Capitol cafeteria? Shouldnt there be consequences for Democrats when they go off the rails? Or is Omar on the track they want her to be on?

Ralph Miller

* * *

Mr. Miller, in 2019 the last living Nuremberg prosecutor, Nuremberg Prosecutor Ben Ferencz in interview with Lesley Stahl on CBS 60 Minutes, had a message he wanted to share with the world. The interview was about the atrocities committed under Nazis control in Hitler's Germany, and what drives humans to commit atrocious acts against fellow humans. Mr. Ferencz had this to say: "War makes murderers out of otherwise decent people. All wars, and all decent people."

No sides are immune to committing atrocities at war.

Another quote from Prosecutor Ben Ferencz: "If it's naive to want peace instead of war, let 'em make sure they say I'm naive. Because I want peace instead of war."

Anyone interested in reading the entire interview on CBS 60 Minutes can carry out a search using the phrase "what the last living Nuremberg prosecutor wants the world to know."

Brenda Washington
On Thursday, June 24, 15 local restaurants all across Chattanooga will be joining forces with Cempa Community Care to raise money and awareness for HIV programs in the Tennessee Valley through the organizations annual Dining Out For Life event. Proceeds will benefit those within our community who are affected by HIV.

Participating restaurants include 1885, Big Chill & Grill, Brewhaus, Easy Bistro, FEED Co. Table & Tavern, Flying Squirrel, Frothy Monkey, Il Primo Northshore, Il Primo Ooltewah, Main Street Meats, Public House, Sing It or Wing It, Southern Star, Tremont Tavern, and Universal Joint.

To join the cause, simply dine in at a participating restaurant or pick up a meal to eat at home. If you cant make it to a restaurant, you can still give back by texting CEMPA to 423 205-7110.

Im proud to be a part of an event that not only spreads awareness for HIV, but also encourages people to support their local community, said Mike Rice, 2021 Dining Out For Life Restaurant Ambassador.

The past year was challenging for so many in our community, and our local restaurants are no exception, said Shannon Stephenson, Cempa Community Care CEO. Many of those in this list participated last year, even as they navigated challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, and we are so grateful for their continued support of our organization and our community as a whole.

Dining Out For Life 2021 is presented by the Chattanooga CARES Foundation, Subaru of America, and NPS Pharmacy.
Cleveland Associated Industries will host a job fair Thursday, June 24 from 10 a.m.-2:00 p.m. at the Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce, 225 Keith St. Job seekers are encouraged to bring a resume and network with 11 local manufacturers: Cormetech, Duracell, Eaton Electrical, Hardwick Tactical, Jackson Furniture Industries, Mueller, Newly Weds Foods, Resolute Forest Products, Sigura, WACKER and Whirlpool.Manufacturing is such a strong base in Cleveland and Bradley County and whether you are looking to change careers or begin a career in manufacturing, there are companies that are looking to hire and get you started with their organization, said Lisa Pickel, executive director of CAI.These manufacturers are eager and ready to talk to potential employees and share their current job openings. This is a great way to get in front of several manufacturers, network and have instant exposure to potential employers.Cleveland Associated Industries is a manufacturing association in Cleveland/Bradley County with 29 company members representing more than 6,600 employees.For more information about CAI or the job fair, contact Lisa Pickel at 472-6587.
If Tennesseans learned one thing in the past year, its that life can change in a moment. We witnessed devastating tornadoes rip through our communities, tearing apart our families and infrastructure in a matter of minutes. We felt tremendous loss as COVID-19 swept through our state and took thousands of lives. And we watched the opioid epidemic in Tennessee reach tragic new heights, with a 51 percent increase in opioid-related deaths in the first eight months of 2020.

As an emergency physician and former president of the Tennessee chapter of the American Academy of Emergency Medicine, Ive witnessed first-hand the critical importance of our emergency healthcare system  the nation's medical safety net. Our heroic front-line physicians, nurses, paramedics, and others treat patients in every corner of Tennessee when their lives suddenly take a dangerous turn, delivering life-saving care for those in need.

Emergency physicians take care of anyone at any time regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay. We take pride in that, but since the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act became federal law in 1986, we have had a legal obligation to do that on top of our ethical commitment. The federal government made America's emergency departments the nation's medical safety net by law, but has never funded that mission. As a result, according to a 2003 report from the American Medical Association's Center for Health Policy Research (Kane, CK: The Impact of EMTALA on Physician Practices), on average every emergency physician in the United States donates about $140,000/year in uncompensated charity care. Despite that huge contribution to the well-being of the country, patients are often still faced with surprise medical bills so costly that families risk bankruptcy.

Last year, Congress passed the No Surprises Act, protecting patients from surprise medical bills that are no fault of their own. The legislation was built around an independent dispute resolution process that allows insurers and providers (physicians and hospitals) to settle billing disputes without putting patients in the middle. This legislation will ensure that patients arent penalized for seeking emergency medical care and that front-line clinicians are compensated fairly.

Insurance companies spent millions lobbying for alternative legislation that would enhance their profits by cutting the reimbursements that emergency departments and physicians depend on by as much as 20 percent. Their caps and rate-setting approach would protect the insurance industry at the expense of quality medical care and patient access here in Tennessee and across the United States. Over the course of the past year, large health insurers have posted record profits while breaking promises to provide coverage for life-saving medical care such as COVID-19 tests and vaccinations. Now, following passage of the No Surprises Act, these insurers have resumed their lobbying efforts in an attempt to influence the rule-making process that puts the new law into action.

The Department of Health and Human Services will soon begin that rule-making process. This step will be critically important for patients and front-line providers. Congress included the IDR process to level the playing field between insurers and those who take care of patients. But if HHS builds the rules in favor of insurers, it will further damage our medical system at a time when we cannot afford to put more financial pressure on our hospitals and emergency physician practices.

Nationally, 25 percent of rural hospitals are at risk of closure if their financial situations do not improve. But the situation is worse right here at home. Sixty-eight percent of rural Tennessee hospitals will be forced to close their doors if we dont correct the imbalance of power between insurers and emergency care providers. These at-risk rural hospitals employ more than 2,200 healthcare workers, and on average each treats nearly 13,000 patients per year.

Tennesseans have experienced too many hardships over the past year to let our hospitals fall through the cracks. An accident or medical emergency can happen in a moment, and Tennesseans should be able to get the help they need without fear of financial ruin. As insurance companies spend millions on lobbying at the expense of our local communities, I urge Senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty to prioritize the millions of Tennesseans at risk of losing access to medical care and the thousands of healthcare workers who deliver life-saving treatment. To protect Tennesseans, Senators Blackburn and Hagerty must work with HHS to ensure the No Surprises Act is implemented as Congress intended  not in a way that favors the profits of insurance companies, which are already among the richest and biggest corporations in America and don't need any additional help from the federal government.

Dr. Andy Walker

Tennessee-based emergency physician, former member of the board of directors of the American Academy of Emergency Medicine and former president of the Tennessee chapter of AAEM
River Valley AgCredit announces its gift of $15,000 worth of scholarships in Kentucky and Tennessee. Up to three $1,500 scholarships are given to upcoming college freshmen pursuing agricultural programs and two $1,500 awards to students currently enrolled in agricultural programs, with the remainder of awards given in various amounts.

Two of the scholarships honor past members of the Board of Directors: the Eldon Heathcott Scholarship for an awardee attending Murray State University and the David Leonard Memorial Scholarship for one graduating senior from Graves County High School majoring in agriculture.

To be eligible for a scholarship, the applicant must be an immediate family member (son or daughter) of a current member of River Valley AgCredit.



River Valley is proud to offer our scholarship program to give opportunities for our members children to further their education in the agriculture industry," said Jessica Johnson, chief human resource officer of RVA. "Each year, we get to see the children of RVA members grow and excel closer to their career goals in the field of agriculture, and were proud to be a part of that. We look forward to continuing to support our mission and our RVA family with this program.

A total of 13 students received scholarship rewards. They are Mallory Wilson, Jayce Payne, John Wiggins, Jakob Stahr, Alisha Giles, Aaron Lay, Gracelyn Young, Maddie Ashburn, Daisy Major, Hailey Rose Viars, Callie Riley and Bailey Barrett.

The awardees were chosen by a Selection Committee that is passionate about investing in the future of agriculture through RVA.

For more information contact Shea Weaks at (270) 247-5613 or email at Sweaks@rivervalleyagcredit.com.
Leesa Ross, Nuclear Medicine Technology Program director at Chattanooga State Community College, has been named a 2021 Fellow by SNMMI-TS, the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging - Technologist Section. Selection of fellows are evaluated on volunteer service, scholarly and educational activities, and excellence in clinical practice of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging.



Ms. Ross is a co-founder of the Nuclear Medicine Technologists of Tennessee where she has served in numerous leadership roles for both the local and state organization. Her experience at these levels provided her with the skills to be able to serve the profession regionally in the southeastern chapter of SNMMI-TS and later, the national organization of SNMMI-TS where she also served as a guest lecturer during annual meetings.



Officials said, "As a firm believer in lifelong learning, Leesa returned to school to earn her PET (Positron Emission Tomography) and CT (Computed Tomography) certifications to stay current in her field. She and Dusty York, Chattanooga State clinical coordinator, have co-authored three chapters in three publications, one of which was published internationally and presented at the European Association of Nuclear Medicine meeting in Vienna, Austria.



"Her continued affinity with learning inspired her to help create the first study abroad program for nuclear medicine technologist students along with colleagues from Regis University and Indiana University of Medicine."

This successful program has enabled us to take our students to England and Portugal for outstanding learning opportunities, said Ms. Ross.



"SNMMI Fellowship is one of the most prestigious formal recognitions available to long-time SNMMI members and symbolizes distinguished service to SNMMI, as well as exceptional achievement in the field of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging," officials said.



With new procedures and techniques on the horizon, its an exciting time to be in the nuclear medicine field, stated Ms. Ross. I want to be a part of it and support other technologists on their pathways while encouraging my peers and students to get involved and give back to the profession.
The Chattanooga Fire Department is recognizing the first responders who saved a mans life at Harrison Bay State Park Marina, including an off-duty Chattanooga firefighter.

The recognition will be held at Station 10 (910 Wisdom St.) on Thursday at 10:30 a.m. and will include local and state agencies.

Officials said, "On May 31, 2021 during the Memorial Day holiday weekend, there was a citizen at the Harrison Bay State Park Marina who found himself in dire need of help. An elderly gentleman, while walking on the dock, ended up falling into Chickamauga Lake. If not for the quick reactions of Lt. Christopher Newby, who was off-duty at the time, the man could have been in serious danger of drowning. Lt. Newby was able to hold onto the distressed citizen while officers from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and Hamilton County Sheriffs Office Marine Patrol Division responded with proper flotation devices. They were able to pull the citizen out of the water. Once the citizen was out of the water, Rangers with the Tennessee State Parks tended to his wounds until Hamilton County EMS arrived on the scene."

The quick actions of the officers and the off-duty Chattanooga fireman directly contributed to the saving of a citizen in peril, TWRA officials stated.

Lt. Newby said, I was just in the right place at the right time. I noticed him and rushed over to help. He had a bad cut on his hand and he was disoriented. I did what any other off duty firefighter would have done in that situation. Im just glad that hes alright.
Beyond being a well-respected news broadcaster and talk show host, respectively, Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen are well-known for being open about their lives as gay men.

On top of this, the two have become fast friends over the years, regularly appearing on programs with each other and even embarking on a live tour together in 2015. Though both are single as of June 2021, one might assume that the two are or were in a relationship. This is not the case, but nevertheless, there was a fraction of a chance that these two could have become an item. In fact, they almost did start dating! What would have gotten these two television icons together? And what led them to keep things platonic?

Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen are both famous TV figures

Anderson Cooper | Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank

If you watch the news on TV, youve probably seen Anderson Cooper; if youre into talk shows, youve probably seen Andy Cohen; and if you like to watch New Years Eve specials, you just might have seen them together. Cooper is a prominent journalist known just as much for his style and stark white hair as he is for his even handling of breaking news and his reporting from locations in the midst of turmoil such as Iraq during the war and Haiti in the aftermath of the earthquake. Cooper is also notable for being openly gay; he came out to the broader public in 2012 and has been a beloved figure since.

Like Cooper, Andy Cohen got his start in news, but he focused more on talk shows and started working with the Bravo network as a major producer on popular shows like Top Chef and the Real Housewives franchise, as well as his own pop culture talk show. He is the first openly gay man to host a talk show, and over the years has won several awards for his work on television. Both of these men have definitely shaped the television landscape of the twenty-first century.

Cooper and Cohen were set up by mutual friends

As both are and were prominent in television, it makes sense that they would have mutual friends. In an interview with Wired, Cooper discussed his friendship with Cohen  and the fact that it started with straight friends trying to set them up because they were both gay, something relatable to many queer people. However, Cooper was cynical from the start:

You know when you have, like, straight mutual friends, and they know two gay people, so theyre like, Oh! You guys should meet! It never works out. You dont need to do that if youre straight.

Still, he talked with him on the phone  but, within 45 seconds, Cooper apparently knew that [he] would never, ever go on a date with Andy Cohen. Cooper has a cardinal rule about not discussing his celebrity mother early on in a relationship, but Cohen almost immediately brought her up. So what led them to their present friendship and collaboration?

Cooper and Cohen are still close friends today

Luckily, the fact that there wasnt a romantic spark didnt mean there was bad blood. They were friends for years before starting their stage show, AC2, and took it on tour across the US. Since 2017, Cohen has also appeared on the CNN New Years Eve special alongside Cooper, and the interplay between them has charmed viewers since. Were fortunate that the awkward start to the friendship didnt stop them from becoming a platonic media power couple.

RELATED: Why Anderson Cooper Will Never Leave CNN No Matter How Much Money Another Network Offers Him
Anthony Mackies Sam Wilson became the new Captain America in the final episode of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. As the first black man to take up the mantle in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Mackie says he is already seeing the impact his new role is having on young Black people.

He knows all the work hes had to do has been worth it. But like his predecessor Chris Evans, Mackie doesnt plan to stay in the role forever.

Sebastian Stan and the new Catpain America Anthony Mackie speak at the Marvel Studios Panel during 2019 Comic-Con International in San Diego, Calif. | Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images

Anthony Mackie has already seen the impact of becoming the new Captain America

During a recent sit-down with Variety, Mackie shared the story of a friend of his who is a special needs teacher in Homestead, Florida. He says that one day the teacher found one of her students doing pull-ups on the monkey bars. She asked him what he was doing and told him he would hurt himself.

And the kid tells her, Well, Captain America looks like me now, so I need to get in shape, if he needs my help. And I thought that was the coolest thing, Mackie shared. For this kid to see a six-hour series and get enough strength within himself to think that he needs to be prepared and ready, that made all of the work that we had to do to put it together worthwhile for me.

Its important to show soldiers in a respectful human light

During the interview, Mackie and General Charles Q. Brown Jr.  Chief of Staff of the Air Force  talked about the importance of black heroes, both real and fictional. Mackie says hes had family members and friends who have served in the military. Showing soldiers in a respectful human light is something thats important to him.

Sometimes I meet people like General Brown, and Im like, That guys not a human being, hes a rock star, and you forget theyre actual humans and place them in a light where theyre not allowed to be, Mackie explained. So thats something thats always been important to me  bringing humanity to the aspect of being a soldier.

Anthony Mackie doesnt want to be Captain America in his 50s

At the age of 42, Mackie just became Captain America in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier finale. He will reprise the role in the fourth Captain America movie. His predecessor, Chris Evans, played the role in seven different films over 10 years. Including three solo flicks and four Avengers team-ups. Will fans see Mackie as Captain America as much as they saw Evans?

RELATED: The Falcon and the Winter Soldier: Anthony Mackie Tried to Convince Marvel to Give Him a Love Story With [SPOILER] Several Times

Its definitely possible, but not probable. Mackie says that hes got a solid six to eight [years] in him to play the super soldier. He says he definitely doesnt want to be a 55-year-old Captain America.

What does Mackies Captain America stand for?

Now that his character has stepped into a new role, Mackie says that Sams monologue in the finale of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier helped define what his version of Captain America is all about.

In that moment Sam became Captain America, Mackie says it was important to show the characters humanitarian side. Hes not a guy whos going to bust his way through problems.

The humanitarian side of him was something that I feel is his superpower, his ability to have empathy and sympathy for those around him is your superpower, Mackie explained. So that monologue was about him showing that if one of us is mistreated, were all to blame. And thats the overall theme of the new Captain America, not that not Black Cap, or Cap for the people, hes Captain America for all.

That monologue was important to Anthony Mackie

When Sam accepted the shield and assumed his new identity, Mackie wanted to make sure that the scene conveyed the depth of his decision. He says that the monologue definitely helped to do that. However, he had one suggestion for the speech that didnt make the cut.

Everyone, everyone in this country at this time wants to see a change, and that monologue sums that up in a beautiful way, Mackie said. One thing I wanted to put at the end of the monologue  and it got shot down  was if were going to make America great again, it has to be done by Americans. And no matter what your race, creed, color or sexuality is, youre an American. And thats what I think the new Captain America captures.

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is available for streaming on Disney+.
Million Dollar Listing: New York is back. The Bravo show made its long-awaited return in early May, and the show welcomed plenty of old faces  and even one new one: Kirsten Jordan aka KJ. But which MDLNY season 9 star has the highest net worth?

Million Dollar Listing: New York season 9 cast | Kareem Black/Bravo

Tyler Whitman: $3 million

Tyler Whitman is still a fresh face on MDLNY. Whitman joined the show in season 8, and though hes been in real estate for a little while now, he hasnt made the name for himself that some of his co-stars have. He works for Triplemint, and in season 9, he had his biggest sale at more than $13 million. Whitman continues to prove himself throughout the new season, but his net worth remains far behind his other co-stars at about $3 million.

Kirsten Jordan Farsura: $5-$10 million

Known commonly as just Kirsten Jordan or KJ, Farsura is the newest cast member to join the show  and the first female. Up until season 9, MDLNY had only featured male real estate agents. But the East Coast show followed in its West Coast counterparts footsteps (Tracy Tutor is the sole female on Million Dollar Listing: Los Angeles) by bringing Jordan on as a cast member.

Per her LinkedIn, Jordan is an associate broker with Douglas Elliman. She has more than a decade of real estate experience under her belt. Reports suggest her expertise has earned her a net worth somewhere between $5-10 million.

Kirsten Jordan and Tyler Whitman on Million Dollar Listing: New York season 9 | Greg Endries/Bravo

RELATED: The Best Real Estate Shows To Watch That Arent On HGTV

Steve Gold: $10 million

Steve Gold is somewhat of a veteran on MDLNY. Gold joined the cast in season 6, and he was best known as being a high-profile male model before breaking into the real estate industry. Gold is a licensed broker with the Corcoran Group, and he graduated from NYUs Stern School of Business, according to Corcoran.

Golds experience selling luxury homes in Manhattan has helped him amass a $10 million net worth.

Ryan Serhant: $30 million

Ryan Serhant is the most veteran member of the MDLNY cast alongside fellow co-star Fredrik Eklund. Serhant and Eklund both joined the Bravo shows cast in season 1. Theyve watched plenty of others come and go, and Serhant has consistently built his network over the last decade that hes been a reality star.

Serhant is arguably one of the shows most well-known cast members, and his net worth coincides with that. Hes one of the shows wealthiest stars, worth an estimated $30 million.

Million Dollar Listing: New York stars Fredrik Eklund (left), Ryan Serhant (center), and Steve Gold | Theo Wargo/Getty Images

Fredrik Eklund: $30 million

Fredrik Eklund is hard to forget. The Swedish-born real estate broker is now bi-coastal, having moved from New York to Los Angeles with his husband and two children back in 2019. Eklund now appears on both of the Million Dollar Listing series, and hes selling real estate on both coasts.

Eklund is currently tied with Serhant for the MDLNY agent worth the most. However, now that Eklund has substantially expanded his network to include the California real estate market, theres no telling how much more money he might make.
Many fans of the hit series The Last Kingdom have already heard the news, but the series will come to a conclusion after season 5. Its a hard situation for fans to come to terms with, but one good thing is that the series is currently back in production in Hungary. Its an exciting prospect for fans who are eager for season 5 to premiere.

Ruby Hartley, who plays Stiorra, recently shared an image of Mark Rowley, who plays Finan.

Mark Rowley and Alexander Dreymon in The Last Kingdom | Joe Alblas/Netflix

Ruby Hartley (Stiorra) just shared a unique image of Mark Rowley (Finan)

As production is currently happening, fans have recently been treated to media from their favorite actors from the show together and on set. Ruby Hartley, who plays Stiorra, recently shared an image of Mark Rowley, who plays Finan, on her Instagram Story.

On June 14, 2021, Hartley shared an image of Rowley dressed as Finan. Hes wearing sunglasses and a face mask, which is below his chin. He has a thumbs up with one hand while his mouth is slightly open, and his teeth are showing, as he is smiling in the photo. Hes leaning over, and he has a cup in his other hand. He seems to be in front of a device thats placed on a chair, presumably one that makes coffee based on Hartleys text included in the photo.

Well said, Finan. Young Uhtred has some big shoes to fill. #TheLastKingdom pic.twitter.com/MMhpDUaFwE  The Last Kingdom (@TheLastKingdom) May 4, 2020

RELATED: The Last Kingdom: Fans Weigh in on the Death That Changes Everything

Finans doing really well with his barista training, Hartley wrote. Needs to work on his oat milk frothing though. She tagged Rowley in the post as well.

There are also cups in a bag on the chair, and bottles of something underneath. In front of Rowley is what looks like a tarp.

Rowley shared the post on his Instagram Story too. He added the words, Destiny is all cafe bar. He even included an emoji of coffee in a cup, writing: Manager and owner: while tagging Hartleys account.

Stiorra and Finan in The Last Kingdom

It appears Stiorra can handle her ale better than Baby Monk!#TheLastKingdom #ReturnToSeason4 pic.twitter.com/fHpT5dAjfp  The Last Kingdom (@TheLastKingdom) May 19, 2021

Stiorra and Finan are fan-favorite characters in The Last Kingdom. Stiorra is the daughter of the main character, Uhtred (Alexander Dreymon), and his late wife, Lady Gisela (Peri Baumeister). She leaves Winchester with Sigtryggr (Eysteinn Sigurarson), a Dane who took the city, as one of the conditions for him leaving. Stiorra goes willingly to Daneland with him, although at first, shes technically a hostage.

Finan is a warrior originally from Ireland. He and Uhtred were slaves when they first crossed paths, but they are eventually freed. They go through a lot together over the years. Together with Sihtric (Arnas Fedaravicius), Finan and Uhtred are all good friends that always seem to be by each others sides to fight or laugh.

Fans will hopefully get to see even more images of their favorite actors in The Last Kingdom now that production is happening in Hungary. Will it be enough to tide fans over until season 5 drops? Well have to see how things play out from here.
The Office fans know actor Jenna Fischer plays Pam Beesly. But what many fans might not know is that Jenna isnt The Office cast members real first name. Jenna is only a nickname. Find out what name the actors parents gave her when she was born, plus the many ways Fischers personal life influenced her role on The Office.

Jenna Fischer | Chris Haston/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images

Jenna Fischers real name is Regina Fischer

Thanks to a tweet from 2020, The Office fans now know Fischers first name isnt really Jenna. Today I learned @jennafischers real name is Regina, the tweet reads. So now Im wondering how she came up with calling herself Jenna?! [And] no, Jenna is not her middle name  I checked.

My parents just always called me Jenna. From the first day it was my nickname.  Jenna Fischer (@jennafischer) January 21, 2020

RELATED: The Office: Showrunners Used a Candy Bag to Get Ideas for Talking Heads

Fischer saw the tweet and replied with an explanation for why she goes by Jenna. My parents just always called me Jenna, the actor says. From the first day it was my nickname.

Fischers full name is Regina Marie Jenna Fischer. She was born to Anne and James Fischer in Fort Wayne, Indiana, but raised in St. Louis, Missouri.

Pam from The Office was influenced heavily by Jenna Fischers life

As discussed on Office actor Brian Baumgartners podcasts An Oral History of The Office and The Office Deep Dive, Fischer shares a special connection with her role on the show. After she landed the part, Fischer came up with a Book of Pam.

In her character notes, Fischer created Pams backstory, including how she and Roy Anderson (David Denman) met. Fischers input was used in other ways on The Office, too.

One story from Fischers childhood inspired one of Pams saddest talking heads in the series. Dreams are justthat, Pam tells cameras in the Boys and Girls episode of season 2. In the episode, Jan (Melora Hardin) hosts a Women in the Workplace seminar and encourages Pam to take art classes. By the end of Pams talking head discussing her dream house, she breaks down crying.

The house Pam mentioned  the one with the terrace  was inspired by a story Fischer read when she was a little girl. In the choose your own adventure tale, Fischer remembers envying the girl who had a house with a tower. Inspired by her memory, B.J. Novak worked it into the story for that episode.

The Office cast use their first names in the show

Fischer might be one of the only actors on The Office who goes by a nickname instead of her given name. But she isnt the only actor who influenced their role on the show.

Often, the writers relied on the actors for character details. In our defense, we have 18 characters to deal with, writer Brent Forrester explained to Baumgartner on An Oral History of The Office.

In some ways, those influences were as detailed as Fischers Book of Pam. In other ways, those influences were as simple as sharing the same first name.

Most of The Office cast have the same first name as their characters. Meanwhile, Creed Brattons full name is the same as his role in the show. Other Office cast members who have the same name as their characters are:

Phyllis Smith  Phyllis Lapin Vance

Oscar Nunez  Oscar Martinez

Angela Martin  Angela Kinsey

Clark Green  Clark Duke

The cast likely use their first names for their characters because of the connection they share. For example, Phyllis Smith was initially a casting assistant who read with the actors auditioning for The Office.

But when director Greg Daniels heard her reading, he knew she would fit right into the cast. In a way, Smith is playing a version of herself.
According to a June 9 post on its Facebook page, the Cherokee Nation will host a series of drive-thru application assistance events focused primarily on helping elders with applying for the tribes $2,000 COVID-19 assistance payment.
Chickasha, OK (73018)

Today

A few clouds with an isolated thunderstorm possible after midnight. Low near 70F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

A few clouds with an isolated thunderstorm possible after midnight. Low near 70F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.
Matt Friend is a proud native of Charleston, West Virginia. But the lead pastor of Bible Center Church will admit that the city has changed.

Theres definitely a lot less traffic now, he said.

His home city has the dubious distinction of being the fastest-shrinking city in the United States, according to the US Census. In 1960, Charleston had a population of 85,796. The city has gotten smaller every decade since and now has fewer than 50,000 people.

Preliminary census data released in April suggests that other areas across the country are suffering similar declines. While the American population grew over the last decade, the rate of growth is the slowest since the Great Depression: only 7.4 percent. Three statesWest Virginia, Mississippi, and Illinoislost population since the last time the federal government did its official decennial count. Ten more states saw less than 3 percent growth.

The full census report, scheduled for release in August, is expected to show the results of declining birthrates, life expectancy, and immigration. In the places that have been hardest hit, though, local churches have long seen the impact of demographic decline.

Friend says he can remember as a child going to downtown events like the Charleston Sternwheel Regatta and navigating crowds of tens of thousands. It wasnt New York City, but to go downtown Charleston might as well have been New York City for me as a kid. Now its not that way at all, he said.

The nondenominational Bible Center Church began to notice the effects of the change in the community on the church in 2008, after lax regulation of housing mortgages caused a banking crisis and then a financial crisis. Fossil-fuel industry jobs were already in decline in the state, and the recession hit the citys white-collar work too.

Church attendance declined with the population until 2018, when the leadership began to see small but healthy signs of growth. Now, hit again by the pandemic and COVID-19 health restrictions, they are finding new ways to innovate to reach their community.

The churchs leadership believes that population decline is not a reason to despair but encouragement to find new ways to do the work of proclaiming the gospel and inviting people to worship God.

Sometimes people will say, There's just no hope, Friend said. And we have to remind one another that there are still 49,000 people here who need Jesus and need the church. Our mission hasn't changed.

Some of the churchs innovations have been small: they hired an online pastor and broadcast services on their local TV during the pandemic.

Others have been further afield, as the church finds new ways to meet the needs of their city. Michelle Thompson, executive director of outreach, said one of her favorite initiatives is an adult drivers education program done in cooperation with a local car dealership. The church provides both the lessons and the car for practicing.

If you've grown up in generational poverty, there's a good chance your family never owned a car, she said. And if they didn't own a car, you probably never learned to drive.

Even more ambitiously, Bible Center Church has built a community center with a technology lab, a woodshed, and an art studio, designed to teach skills to those who need them. Thompson said the key to outreach is listening to the community and meeting people where they are.

To pastors who are experiencing decline, my encouragement would be to go back and find new ways to connect with people, Friend said. Instead of thinking about the people who are no longer in your community, focus on the people who are there and ask the question If I were a missionary, what would I need to do to connect with those people?

Of course not every area of the country is declining. Despite the slow population growth overall, some regions are seeing rapid increases in population. In those places, though, demographic change brings other pressures.

Buckeye, Arizona, for example, a farming community of about 6,500 people in 2000, has ballooned to a metropolis of more than 79,000. Buckeye claimed the title of fastest-growing US city in both 2017 and 2018 and hasnt slowed down yet.

Summit Community Church, a Missouri Synod Lutheran congregation that started in 2003, has grown with the city. In 2006, the church had about 50 people. In 2019, when the congregation moved into a permanent building on Interstate 10, about 2,000 people called Summit their churcha mix of families, retirees, and young adults, as well as lifelong Missouri Lutherans and people who were new to that tradition.

According to lead pastor Nate Schaus, the church and the city have both had growing pains.

The constant influx of new people and families from the West Coast and Midwest bring with it opportunities for new communities, new schools, new businesses, and new churchesbut it also brings some challenges as people try to find community and connection in a rapidly changing city, he said.

Like Bible Center Church in West Virginia, Summit Community Church has been focusing on outreach: listening to what people need and finding ways to creatively respond.

Recently, the church has focused on finding ways for people who might feel lost in rapidly expanding Buckeye to connect to a community. Sara Fitch, Summits community engagement director, said the new residents are looking for that. And older residents, living through the rapid transformation of their hometown, are too.

Connection and communityeven in a large placehas to happen in small chunks, Fitch said. Thats part of the reason we do our community outreach. We can get smaller groups of people to serve these causes and these organizations, and then you get connected with those people. Then you have people that you have something in common with, and it doesnt feel so big and overwhelming.

The church is also working more to partner with local community organizations. Having a building has allowed Summit to lend meeting space to the local community for events and gatherings, including a recovery group that was displaced during the pandemic.

Fitchs position was also created to help facilitate more partnerships.

We recognize that we have all these great community organizations, and we want to partner with them, she said. We don't want to create those ministries out of our church. We want to be an asset to the community.

The church is also building connections with other churches and community leaders. An established relationship with Mayor Eric Orsborn opened the doors for Summit and another church to cohost a recent prayer gathering on the steps of City Hall.

Whether ones city is shrinking or growing, Schaus says church leaders need to keep an eye on the way their communities are changing.

If you or your church have been there for more than three years, dont assume the needs and opportunities are the same, he said. Pastors love to exegete the Scriptures for understanding. Take time to exegete your community as well, to uncover ways that you can strengthen both faith in Jesus and community life.
ICC complaint says China rounding up Uyghurs who fled to other countries: 'Never heard from again'

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A legal team acting on behalf of exiled Uyghur leaders has submitted new evidence to the International Criminal Court saying that ethnic Muslim minorities who fled China into neighboring countries have been seized, repatriated and have not been seen or heard from since.

The allegations come as part of the ongoing effort to convince the international body to open an investigation into actions taken by the Chinese government against ethnic Muslims in western China amid accusations of "genocide."

They claim that because Muslims who fled human rights abuses in China  which is not a party to ICC  were repatriated from countries that are parties to the ICC, the Hague-based court has jurisdiction to hold perpetrators accountable.

A "hefty dossier" of evidence was submitted to the ICC's Office of the Prosecutor last Thursday on behalf of the East Turkistan Government in Exile and the East Turkistan National Awakening Movement. The dossier outlines that most Muslim minorities who fled to Tajikistan have been repatriated back to China.

East Turkistan National Awakening Movement describes itself as an international movement striving for the restoration of East Turkistans independence as an open, pluralistic, Republic guaranteeing Human Rights and Freedoms for all.

What the East Turkistan National Awakening Movement refers to as East Turkistan is recognized by the rest of the world as the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in western China, home to Muslim religious minorities such as Uyghurs and Kazakhs. In Xinjing, communist authorities have been accused of "genocide" by international actors for detaining over 1 million ethnic minorities in concentration camps under the guise of guiding Muslims away from terrorist ideologies.

Last July, lawyers acting on behalf of the East Turkistan National Awakening Movement and the East Turkistan Government in Exile filed a complaint with the ICC, asking for an investigation into Chinese officials over their treatment of Uyghurs, which they characterized as genocide and crimes against humanity.

The ICC initially declined to take such action, but lawyers for the Uyghur activists are confident that the new evidence will convince the ICC to investigate the Chinese government.

Nikita Bernardi, who leads public outreach to convince the ICC to investigate Chinas actions against Uyghurs, hosted a webinar featuring the legal team and the leadership of the East Turkistan Government in Exile and the East Turkistan National Awakening Movement on Monday.

"This evidence was submitted in order to establish jurisdiction for the International Criminal Court over crimes which are being committed by Chinese authorities against Uyghurs," Bernardi said.

One member of the legal team, Rodney Dixon, alleged that at a minimum, "85% to 90% of the Uyghur population" in neighboring Tajikistan "has been targeted and moved out into China.

He spoke of a very sophisticated and cunning campaign to do this just below the radar, over time and patiently in order to achieve the goal of ensuring that there are no Uyghurs, essentially, left in Tajikistan and that theyre all in China, where they can be targeted, controlled and persecuted.

According to Dixon, there are approximately 100 Uyghurs left in Tajikistan who are heavily controlled by Chinese operatives in a toxic environment. That number is down from a few thousand over a decade ago.

After remarking that Our investigators have been on the ground for some time and still are, Dixon credited them for unearthing a shocking discovery that  we have made, and it simply cant now be overlooked.

The legal team conducted their investigations from January to May.

We were able to get persons on the ground in various countries, conducting interviews, recording interviews, taking photographs of what they were able to see as well, Dixon said. All of that material has been gathered and it is now available and submitted to the prosecutor.

From January to May, we conducted these investigations, and we were able to get a substantial body of evidence, which we have submitted to the prosecutor last week, addressing exactly the issues that she said we needed to, Dixon added. She said there were a number of questions that were not properly addressed because there wasnt sufficient evidence. Weve now given the prosecutor that evidence.

Dixon declined to go into detail about the evidence, citing concerns about confidentiality.

However, a copy of the filing obtained by The U.K. Times indicates that "Chinese Public Security Bureau operatives who are in Tajikistan" have directed raids to be carried out on "bazaars where the Uighurs work." Additionally, Chinese authorities are accused of directing "local Tajik police to detain all the Uighurs who do not have the correct paperwork.

"[A]n entire bazaar was raided and blocked off until all the Uighurs working there had been seized," the filing states. "The Uighurs then get deported by Chinese officials back to China in groups of about ten. The deportation groups are kept small to avoid attention.

The report further claims that Chinas consulate in Tajikistan exerts its complete control over the Uighurs paperwork and purposely delays the granting of visas, work permits and other documentation that the Uighurs need to live in Tajikistan.

Dixon contends that under the ICC procedure, the prosecutor would go to judges to request that an investigation is opened.

Dixon acknowledged that while its process can be slow, the ICC is the only body at the international level that can actually investigate and prosecute Chinese officials for what has happened.

He stressed that the ICC was set up to deal with these kinds of mass human rights violations, describing an investigation into actions taken against Uyghurs as a case like none other for the ICC to address.

Dixon expressed hope that that very important step will be taken very soon.

Dixon recalled that in previous cases, the ICC has determined that even when the main country involved in a complaint is not "signed up to the ICC," "that doesnt mean that the Court doesnt have jurisdiction."

"[T]he court can hear a case if an element of the crime that you are alleging takes place in an ICC state party territory," he explained. "In our case, its Tajikistan and Cambodia, which are both ICC state parties where we say that acts have occurred that are elements of crimes over which the court has jurisdiction.

Because they occur on the territory of the ICC state party, the prosecutor can therefore investigate as long as one element occurs there," he continued. "Then, the court has jurisdiction over that aspect but also the continuation of that crime into China as well."

Dixon said the purpose of the investigation is to decide whether you can bring charges against the actual people who have perpetrated these deeds.

What weve been able to find from our investigations is that Chinese authorities, Chinese operatives have in fact gone onto the territory of an ICC state party, thats Tajikistan in this case  and they have identified, targeted and rounded up Uyghur persons living there in order to deport them back to China," he said.

"And in the cases that weve looked at, those persons who have been  in that way detained and taken back by Chinese officials, they have never been heard from or seen again.

Noting that Chinese officials have exposed themselves to the ICCs jurisdiction by rounding up Uyghurs in the ICC state party of Tajikistan, Dixon stressed that actions taken by Chinese officials against Uyghurs are not just those acts isolated on their own." Instead, he said they are the very first acts within the overall plan of China to commit crimes against humanity and genocide."

The leadership of the East Turkistan Government in Exile also spoke during the webinar, attempting to put the Chinese governments actions in perspective.

President of East Turkistan Government in Exile Ghulam Yaghma argued that the Chinese governments actions constitute the most horrific crimes against  humanity and also genocide in the 21st century.

East Turkistan Government in Exile Prime Minister Salih Hudayar called on all governments around the world, especially governments that adhere to democracy, that adhere to human rights, that adhere to freedom, and especially those that are member states of the International Criminal Court to support our case, to support us in obtaining justice through the international law.

He also urged organizations and individuals who care about the world, who care about human rights, who care about justice, who care about ending atrocities to help us by supporting our case at the ICC both materially and morally and spiritually.
Convicted porn producer calls porn industry evil business, receives 20-year sentence

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A porn actor and producer who lied to and coerced young women to perform sex videos for San Diego-based websites GirlsDoPorn and GirlsDoToys received a 20-year sentence on Monday after pleading guilty to federal sex trafficking and conspiracy charges.

Ruben Andre Garcia admitted in December that he worked with the owners of porn sites GirlsDoPorn and GirlsDoToys to fraudulently coerce young women from the United States and Canada to film explicit videos.

Garcia and his co-defendants promised the girls he coerced that the videos would never be public and only sent to private customers outside the U.S. But the videos were posted to GirlsDoPorn, GirlsDoToys and PornHub, some of which received millions of views on some of the most heavily trafficked porn sites.

As many as 20 victims testified during a sentencing hearing, and some said that Garcia sexually assaulted them, according to The Times of San Diego.

Some victims told Judge Janis Sammartino that the videos continue to plague them by destroying family relationships and job prospects. Some women even attempted suicide after the videos release and still seek therapy.

Ive been doing this a very long time, and I can tell you I havent had a case like this, Sammartino said during the hearing, according to Courthouse News Service.

I spent most of my time this morning listening to people who were victims in this offense. You were treated in the poorest of ways, you were disregarded, treated as disposable commodities in someones quest for money. The only thing I can come up with is a greed motive."

Garcia offered a short apology and acknowledged the porn industry is an evil business. The hearing marked the first time that he addressed the accusations.

I would like to sincerely apologize to you  to the victims and the families  I was deceitful, Garcia was quoted as saying. I accept responsibility for my actions.

Garcia worked for the websites from 2013 to 2019 as a recruiter and adult film performer. The websites generated millions of dollars in revenue, and the films received millions of views.

The victims were forced into video shoots that lasted hours and often led to pain and bleeding. They were sometimes barricaded or trapped in a room and were sometimes threatened to force them to complete the hours-long filming.

Once women discovered their videos were posted, the website owners ignored their requests to remove the videos.

The National Center on Sexual Exploitation, a leading organization that seeks a world free from sexual abuse by exposing the links between all forms of sexual exploitation and the public health harms of pornography, is grateful that survivors have received a measure of justice through Garcias sentencing.

We hope that this sentence brings a measure of justice for those who were sex trafficked by Andre Garcia and GirlsDoPorn and who courageously fought for this legal victory, said NCOSE General Counsel Benjamin Bull in a statement. This reprehensible crime shows the horrible reality of the pornography industry, which is rife with abuse and coercion .

This legal victory also strikes at the heart of the pornography industrys claim that verified content is safe and has the consent of the performers, Bull continued. GirlsDoPorn content was promoted as a verified partner of Pornhub, but the harrowing testimony from these GirlsDoPorn survivors and their mounting legal victories prove that the pornography industry is not and cannot ever be safe. The pornography industry is a predatory and exploitative business.

Garcias co-defendants who worked for GirlsDoPorn have pleaded guilty and await their sentencing, according to The Times of San Diego.

Twenty-two survivors of GirlsDoPorns sexual abuse and exploitation were awarded $12.7 million in January 2020 as part of a civil lawsuit, NCOSE reported.

Over 40 GirlsDoPorn survivors have since filed a lawsuit against Pornhub for refusing to remove their coerced videos.

In a statement shared in December after Garcia admitted his guilt, FBI Special Agent in Charge Suzanne Turner said that the "The FBI is committed to investigating those who prey upon trusting women and girls, causing pain and humiliation for their own personal gain." She called Garcia's guilty plea a "small victory in the ongoing battle with those who commit sex trafficking.
Florida to require daily moment of silence in schools for students to 'reflect, pray as they see fit'

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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill Monday requiring schools in the Sunshine State to require a moment of silence before class each day, allowing students to reflect and be able to pray as they see fit."

The idea that you can just push God out of every institution and be successful, Im sorry, our Founding Fathers did not believe that, DeSantis said before signing the legislation behind a placard that read protect religious liberty, according to News Service of Florida.

H.B. 529 goes into effect July 1 and makes Florida one of 15 states in the United States that require moments of silence at the beginning of each school day, ABC7 News reported.

DeSantis signed the bill at the Shul of Bal Harbour, a Jewish community center in southern Florida. He also signed legislation to allow faith-based volunteer ambulance services to operate, including a Jewish transport service called Hatzalah. The Republican highlighted initiatives to support Israel and Floridas Jewish community.

Every family in our state should be able to send their children to school and know that they will be protected from harm and be able to practice their faith, DeSantis said in a statement. Im proud to sign these bills today to help protect religious freedom in Florida and increase the safety and security of our Jewish communities.

Watch Live: Governor DeSantis speaks about supporting Jewish communities and religious freedom at the Shul in Bal Harbour.https://t.co/ft9m545gIv  Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) June 14, 2021

A moment of silence was already implemented in many Florida schools, but it will become mandatory in the next school year. This new law expands a current statute that only encourages a moment of silent prayer in school.

The new legislation directs the public school principal to require teachers in first-period classrooms to set aside one to two minutes each morning for a moment of silence, and students cannot interfere with another students participation.

The teacher must encourage parents to discuss the moment of silence with their children to suggest how to best use the time. The teacher, however, is not allowed to suggest the nature of reflection the student may engage in during the allotted moment of silence.

Floridas Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran said the moment of silence could have positive implications on children struggling with mental health and will allow parents to have conversations with their children about how best to use the time for reflection.

We know that many children struggle with mental health issues, which impact them, their families, and their schools most of all, Corcoran said in a statement. HB 529 empowers families to begin those ongoing conversations with their child on what they might reflect on during the moment of silence, and help them use this time as an opportunity to prepare for the upcoming day.

Republican Sen. Dennis Baxley said the time of silence will give students a moment to gather themselves in a quiet moment of reflection, which he said is needed in the frantic pace of modern life.

Rep. Randy Fine, the bills sponsor, posted on Facebook that the bill allows prayer back into schools via a moment of silence for all of our schoolchildren."

"I wont stop fighting back against woke radicals who wish to drive the Judeo-Christian values from every aspect of our lives!" Fine added.

In another statement, Fine said that in a "media-driven" world full of "societal turmoil," students "desperately need time for quiet reflection.

Because it is in those fleeting moments that we find our higher purpose," Fine argued. "Thats why I was so proud to sponsor HB 529, to ensure that each child gets a minute at the beginning of the school day  without a TV on or a cellphone blaring  to think about the world and their place in it. It is my hope that these small moments to become emotionally centered will have a big impact on their days  and their lives.

Some lawmakers and secular groups are opposed to the bill.

Devon Graham of American Atheists, an organization that advocates for a strict separation of church and state, told media she is suspicious the bill is a way to mandate prayer in the classroom.

It is a bit of a back door way of getting there, said Graham, arguing that the moment of silence should not be mandatory.

Rep. Omari Hardy, a progressive Democrat from West Palm Beach, also condemned the bill and the Republicans who passed it.

The Republican who sponsored the bill said that it wasn't about prayer in school. (Of course it was!), Hardy tweeted. But when you question their motives, or their honesty, it's called a personal attack & deemed out of order. No. The Republicans lie, and we need to call them on it every time.

Ivan Gluck, an 83-year-old community member, sees the bill putting God back into the school system as a positive for the school system.

If you dont have religion, then I think that society and humanity will come to an end, he said, according to The Tampa Bay Times.
JD Greear urges Southern Baptists not to engage in Pharisee hypocrisy on sexual abuse, racism and CRT

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Outgoing Southern Baptist Convention President J.D. Greear warned the largest Protestant denomination in the United States against being Pharisee-like hypocrites on issues pertaining to sexual abuse, racism and how they handle critical race theory.

More than 15,000 Southern Baptists came to Nashville, Tennessee, for the SBCs annual meeting, held Tuesday and Wednesday at the Music City Center.

The annual meeting has garnered extensive attention from those outside of the SBC due to issues like the debate over critical race theory, traditional gender roles, and complementarian theology taking center stage.

At his final address as president of the SBC, given Tuesday afternoon, Greear focused his remarks on Matthew 23, in which Jesus warned His disciples against the hypocrisy, or leaven, of the Pharisees.

While speaking positively of the SBCs Conservative Resurgence, stating that the curse of liberalism is real, he added that Jesus warned that there is more than one way to lose the Gospel.

There was another, said Greear. A leaven Jesus warned about also, perhaps one even more deceptive than liberalism, He called it the leaven of the Pharisees.

What is most dangerous about this leaven is that it grows in the soil of orthodoxy.

Greear warned that Pharisee tendencies threaten the SBC, such as focusing on the more minute parts of the law while ignoring the weightier parts, and gave examples of how he believed that looked in the modern day.

Might look like any institution that creates unnecessary obstacles for victims of sexual abuse to seek justice by hiding behind legal smokescreens or [non-disclosure agreements], continued Greear.

It looks like a convention that polices itself rigorously on complementarian issues, but allows female abuse victims to be mistreated and maligned. It looks like an SBC that expends more energy decrying things like CRT than they have done lamenting the devastating consequences of years of racial bigotry and discrimination.

While Greear stressed that he is opposed to CRT, saying it stems from a belief system at odds with the Gospel, he added that denouncing it falls on deaf ears when we remain silent on the suffering of our neighbors.

We must make certain that our zeal to clarify what we think about CRT is accompanied by a pledge to fight with them against all forms of discrimination. To make clear that we stand with our brothers and sisters of color in their suffering, he said.

The outgoing president stressed the importance of racial minorities in the growth of SBC, getting a lengthy applause after he told them from the stage that we need you.

Greear went on to express concern that political calculus might be elevated to divine authority, declaring that whenever the church gets in bed with politics, the church gets pregnant. And the offspring does not look like our Father in Heaven.

His remarks were on the first day of the SBC's Annual Meeting, in which over 15,000 messengers attended to determine resolutions and hear reports for the Convention.

CRT proponents trace their origins to the 1970s, as civil rights activists at the time responded to what they viewed as a backlash to the civil rights movement of the 1960s.

According to University of Alabama professor Richard Delgado and his colleague Jean Stefancic, who co-wrote the book Critical Race Theory: An Introduction, CRT is defined as a movement comprised of activists and scholars interested in studying and transforming the relationship among race, racism, and power.

The movement considers many of the same issues that conventional civil rights and ethnic studies discourses take up, but places them in a broader perspective that includes economics, history, context, group- and self-interest, and even feelings and the unconscious, wrote Delgado and Stefancic.

Unlike traditional civil rights, which embraces incrementalism and step-by-step progress, critical race theory questions the very foundations of the liberal order, including equality theory, legal reasoning, Enlightenment rationalism, and neutral principles of constitutional law.

Critics of CRT have long warned of its ties to Marxist critical theory. Opponents have noted that the ideology uses Marxist tactics of class struggle to divide people among race, gender and ethnicity. Some have argued that the CRT wrongfully vilifies the United States and its history, as well as stoking its own racially-charged vitriol.

Last year, The Council of Seminary Presidents of the Southern Baptist Convention released a statement denouncing racism and CRT as both being incompatible with Baptist beliefs.

Albert Mohler of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary said in comments released with the statement that CRT has no rightful place within an SBC seminary.

Instructed by the Bible and motivated by the Gospel, we are called to stand together in opposing the sin of racism. We must make clear that racism has no rightful place within the SBC, our churches, or our entities, stated Mohler at the time.

We are not to be guided by secular ideologies, but by the Word of God alone and in the love of Christ. I believe that Southern Baptists are up to this task.
North Korean defector says indoctrination at Columbia Univ. crazier than Kim regime

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A North Korean defector who Christian missionaries helped escape to freedom said attending Columbia University, an Ivy League institution, was crazier, as far as its forced ideology and conformity, than the brutal Kim regime.

Yeonmi Park recounted how she came to the United States to attend Columbia after transferring from a South Korean university in 2016 and was troubled to find a culture of indoctrination, which she detailed in recent interviews about her frustration while pursuing a humanities degree at the prestigious university.

"I expected that I was paying this fortune, all this time and energy, to learn how to think. But they are forcing you to think the way they want you to think," Park, the author of the bestseller In Order to Live, said in an interview with Fox News.

"I realized, wow, this is insane. I thought America was different, but I saw so many similarities to what I saw in North Korea that I started worrying."

Park explained that a university staff member antagonized her when she said she enjoyed classic literature and authors like Jane Austen. She recounted the person telling her that such writers had a colonial mindset and were bigots and racists, and their messages were subconsciously brainwashing her.

Similarly, gender issues, specifically as they pertained to language, also took the then-North Korean student by surprise. Each course at the Ivy League school began with students declaring the pronouns by which they prefer to be addressed.

"English is my third language. I learned it as an adult. I sometimes still say 'he' or 'she' by mistake, and now they are going to ask me to call them 'they'? How the heck do I incorporate that into my sentences?" she asked.

"It was chaos," she added. "It felt like the regression in civilization."

"Even North Korea is not this nuts. ... North Korea was pretty crazy, but not this crazy," Park said, adding that she eventually learned not to say anything after several arguments with professors and students in order to maintain a good GPA and graduate.

The North Korean woman made a grueling journey through Asia to escape what is arguably the most repressive nation in the world. By the time she was 13 years old, she had watched people fall dead due to starvation. At age 13, in 2007, she crossed into China with her mother over the frozen Yalu River where human traffickers captured them and sold them into slavery. She was sold for less than $300, and her mother was sold for $100.

They managed to flee to Mongolia with the assistance of Christian missionaries, traversing across the Gobi desert. Park later found refuge in South Korea. Her 2015 memoir recounts how she survived North Korean oppression and what it took to escape to freedom, which she also shared in a TedTalk in 2019.

In the United States, people are just dying to give their rights and power to the government. That is what scares me the most," Park, who now advocates for the human rights of North Koreans, told Fox News.



"In North Korea, I literally believed that my Dear Leader [Kim Jong un] was starving," she said.

"He's the fattest guy, how can anyone believe that? And then somebody showed me a photo and said, 'Look at him, he's the fattest guy. Other people are all thin.' And I was like, 'Oh my God, why did I not notice that he was fat?' Because I never learned how to think critically."

"That is what is happening in America," she stressed. "People see things, but they've just completely lost the ability to think critically."
Ronnie Floyd calls on So. Baptists to focus on Great Commission 'Sending missionaries is the heart of the Southern Baptist Convention'

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NASHVILLE, Tenn.  As the Southern Baptist Convention grapples with a slew of hot-button issues, Ronnie Floyd, president of the SBC's Executive Committee, stressed to the thousands gathered at the annual meeting that sending missionaries out into the world is at the heart of the denomination.

Sending missionaries is the heart of the Southern Baptist Convention, Floyd, a past president of the SBC and former senior pastor of Cross Church in Northwest Arkansas told the more than 15,000 SBC messengers gathered on Tuesday.

Oh, that doesnt mean we dont have a heart for other things. But I'm telling you  doesnt matter whether you're a church, whether you're a convention, an association, a state convention, or you're a big ol commission like we are across America with all of these churches, listen, sending missionaries is what we are really about.

So I challenge you, pastors and laypeople today: Go back to your churches and begin to ask God to raise up people to go to the mission fields from your churches. The urgency is now.

The theme of the 2021 SBC Annual Meeting, chosen by SBC President J.D. Greear, is We are Great Commission Baptists.

The denomination is wrestling with issues including sexual abuse, race relations, and a particularly tense presidential election. Floyd himself is facing calls for his resignation. But on Tuesday, he focused his message on the denominations strategic goals ahead of 2025.

Vision 2025 is a call to reach every person for Jesus Christ in every town, every city, every state and every nation. This is the most urgent thing that we must do, he declared.

Floyd said that over the next few years, the denomination plans to: Increase full-time, fully funded missionaries by a net gain of 500; Add 5,000 new congregations, giving the denomination more than 50,000 congregations; increase the number of workers in the field; address the denominations decline in reaching, baptizing and discipling 12- to 17-year-olds, and increase annual giving through the cooperative program.

Oh, there are many things we can do, but what are the right things to do? he asked. What will fire our churches up?

Floyd said the eternal losses of the world fall on the Church, adding: It doesn't matter what our church size is or what our financial capacity is. Together, we can send 500 more missionaries overseas.

He stressed the importance of reaching teens with the Gospel.

If I dont get anything else right the next four, five years  we must get this right, he said.

This is not the church of tomorrow. Don't say that. This is the church of today. This is the church of today and tomorrow, and it all starts with reaching them for Jesus Christ. You cannot baptize those you do not reach. You cannot disciple those you do not reach. The order is clear: We must reach baptize and disciple, teenagers.

Floyd urged attendees to lend their support to Vision 2025 through prayer.

We cannot be content doing ministry without the power of God, he concluded. We need to do ministry with His power and His power. When we pray, God places His power upon our lives.
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On Monday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed HB 529 into law, mandating between one and two minutes of silence to start each day in the states public schools. Said DeSantis, The idea that you can just push God out of every institution and be successful, Im sorry, our Founding Fathers did not believe that.

As for the purpose of the moment of silence, he stated at a news briefing, We think its something thats important to be able to provide each student the ability, every day, to be able to reflect and to be able to pray as they see fit.

As for the involvement of teachers, the bill is explicit: A teacher may not make suggestions as to the nature of any reflection that a student may engage in during the moment of silence.

So, the children will be told to remain silent for the designated period of time, during which time (within obvious parameters) they can do what they like. They can pray in whatever form they desire. They can close their eyes and rest. They can think about whats coming the rest of the day. They can imagine whatever they want to imagine.

There are no guidelines and no restrictions, other than the fact that, for at least one minute but not more than two, they cannot talk. Or interact with each other in other ways. Or use their cell phones. Just silence.

To quote the bill more fully, Legislature finds that in today's hectic society too few persons are able to experience even a moment of quiet reflection before plunging headlong into the activities of daily life. Young persons are particularly affected by the absence of an opportunity for a moment of quiet reflection. The Legislature finds that our youth, and society as a whole, would be well served if students in the public schools were afforded a moment of silence at the beginning of each school day.

As to who can give suggestions to the students as to how they spend the daily moment of silence, the bill presents this radical idea: Each first-period classroom teacher shall encourage parents or guardians to discuss the moment of silence with their children and to make suggestions as to the best use of this time.

Can you imagine that? The schools asking the parents or guardians to give input into their childrens lives while at school? These days, that sounds almost revolutionary. Three cheers for asking for parental influence!

Of course, not everyone is happy with the bill, with one disruptive protester claiming, Youre playing political games with our freedom of speech! Youre playing political games!

But, how, pray tell, does a moment of silence impact a students freedom of speech? And isnt it ironic that, in these days of compelled speech in our classrooms, that this protester is upset about compelled silence?

Before the bill was signed into law, some Democratic legislators raised concerns that HB 529 would violate the separation of church and state. Senate Minority Leader Gary Farmer, said, It would be a good thing if we could all take a moment of silence every day and reflect and meditate a little bit on things that are important to us. However, the framers of our Constitution were very careful to separate church and state.

But not only has Farmer grossly overstated both the letter and the spirit of the framers, who lived in a much more Christian world (especially when it came to childrens education). Even Wikipedia noted that, In the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries, it was common practice for public schools to open with an oral prayer or Bible reading.

Farmer has also mistaken a moment of silence, during which a kid could think about playing video games or asking someone out on a date, for mandated prayer.

Really now, isnt that the whole strategy behind simply having a moment of silence rather than a time of mandatory prayer?

But Farmer was not alone in his concerns. Sen. Lori Berman said, I understand that this is a moment of silence, but I also want us all to think about what could happen in a moment of silence. Could children take out rosaries and start doing the sign of the cross and (make) other children feel uncomfortable? Could a child take out a prayer rug and start using a prayer rug?

On the one hand, the bill does state that students may not interfere with other students' participation in the moment of silence, so it is clear that they could not try to distract each other. As to what liberties the students should have (from making the sign of the cross to taking out rosary beads to taking out a prayer rug), Im not sure how the legislators (or school administrators) will address this question. Perhaps the solution will be that no item of any kind can be used during the moment of silence.

Either way, it is unimaginable to me that a student would be disallowed from making the sign of the cross for fear that it would make other children feel uncomfortable. Seriously? This is now a terrible threat? This is something against which we must be vigilant?

Is this what America has come to? Or should a student not be allowed to make the sign of the cross before engaging in school sports? (Many professional athletes engage in this very public practice to this day.)

Again, this hyper-sensitivity is the more hypocritical when we realize that, on a daily basis, students who practice a conservative religious faith are made to feel uncomfortable by the aggressive, activist curricula and agenda of the school, which is literally shoved down their face. No problem with that! But God forbid a student should make the sign of the cross while uttering a silent prayer to start the day. That would be a real threat to the psychological and emotional wellbeing of other students.

In this light, it will be interesting to watch just how hysterical and irrational the reactions to this bill will be in the coming days. It will also be interesting to see how much of a crisis this period of silence will present to some students for whom two minutes of solitude will feel like an eternity.

Welcome to America, 2021.
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Brendt Hill, my neighbor, is a former resident of the "Black Bottom" community of Detroit. He is quite a character; a man full of confidence and one capable of handling with aplomb whatever life throws at him.

Yet, during the course of our conversations over the years, I still detect at age 80 the sting of racism despite his many accomplishments and those of his family. Maya Angelou said it and it remains true: people never forget how you made them feel.

It is always a privilege to talk with him because I always learn something interesting, since as a migrant from the Bahamas to Miami, I do not share in his experience.

Here is one conclusion I have gleaned from our conversations: power facilitates access to money that maintains said power and influence over a society.

Recently, he gave me a copy of an article in The Atlantic magazine about the Great Land Robbery where hundreds of black families in Mississippi were swindled out of their lands. This followed my reading about the persecution and eviction of blacks in Manhattan Beach, California, and the white restaurant owner who enslaved a functionally illiterate black man, making him work 100 hours a week for little or no pay.

I have learned that the irrational pursuit of money can become so ingrained in one's mindset that it morphs into a divinely appointed right and privilege. Therefore, mankind would do anything  commit any atrocity and turn a blind eye to the suffering  for money.

"For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows"  1 Timothy 6:10.

Recently there have been uproar in white evangelical churches about the teaching of critical race theory as well as the schools about inclusion of the 1619 project in their curriculum. These are man-made solutions to a problem that really requires a spiritual correction. Laws and legislation grow out of circumstances where people have refused to do the correct thing.

While I cannot say I support either one, I do agree that men, especially white men, must acknowledge the wrongdoing that set these grave injustices in motion in this country.

Can we acknowledge that the church, namely Southern Baptists, at one time used the Bible to justify slavery?

Can we acknowledge how supposedly stalwart Christians like Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson fought with all their might to destroy the United States of America?

Can we acknowledge the emotions of poor black students whose ancestors languished in substandard schools under that supposedly just, yet inherently evil, "separate but equal" system?

The hypocrisy is palpable, and with that as the backdrop, I delved into a book that Brendt loaned to me: Black Detroit: A People's History of Self-Determination by Herb Boyd.

Detroit, if you recall, had undergone the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history in 2013. While the city may be on the rebound, development is still uneven. In the afterword in Black Detroit, Ron Lockett, executive director of the Northeast Activities Center, wrote, "but the city still has major hurdles ahead with a large, unskilled and semiliterate population."

Hmmm, I wonder what caused that! I learned from reading Boyds book that what happened in Detroit is a microcosm of the black experience in the Western hemisphere.

Negro troops at the time were paid only $7 a month while the white troops received $10 (page 47). The average rent for white families was $30 a month; for negro families it was closer to $50 and they got worse housing for their money (page 97).

The book includes a story about an 18-year-old youth named Young in 1936 who was working as an electrical apprentice at the Ford Motor Company electrical program. Although he excelled in all the tests, a white man with lower scores but whose father was a foreman at the plant, got the only job that was open (page 130).

Whenever black workers were promoted, the white workers were outraged. In September of 1941, when the Packard Motor company transferred 2 black polishers to defense work, approximately 250 white workers staged a 40 minute sit-down strike, which halted the unit's operations (page 142).

To those who recoil at the notion of systemic racism, you are dismissing or discounting the pain of countless people of color whose careers have been thwarted, whose dreams have been deferred, and whose very lives have been snuffed out because of the monstrous, heinous acts of racism.

For emphasis, please Google: Tulsa, Oklahoma 1921.

To those who so blithely dismiss the mournful complaint of the colored brother, the Bible has a blunt reminder: "He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease"  Job 12:5.

Jobs words are more plainly outlined in The Message version: Its easy for the well-to-do to point their fingers in blame, for the well-fixed to pour scorn on the strugglers. Crooks reside safely in high-security houses, insolent blasphemers live in luxury; theyve bought and paid for a god wholl protect them.

Yes, friends, it is much easier to disregard the painful cry of another when one has not felt any of that pain.

I wonder where we would be if Christ had ignored our circumstances?

Nevertheless, there is a more important question. How do we get out from under?

Here are three simple steps, specifically for the person of color:

1. Pursue spiritual, secular and financial education. Everyone needs a moral compass, an understanding of the dynamics of the world and the inherent nature of money. Don't waste time, resources or money on vehicles or enterprises that do not increase in value. Profit is not a dirty word.

2. Seek and seize opportunity whenever and wherever you encounter it. Do not squander an opportunity, no matter how small or insignificant it appears to be. A mighty oak starts as a small acorn.

3. Establish alliances and cooperatives with any and everyone, even people culturally different from you. A successful business does not require everyone to look alike, only think alike about achieving a particular goal. We must all be part of the same T.E.A.M., where together everyone achieves more. A rising tide must lift all boats.

We take our cue from Martin Luther King, Jr., Booker T. Washington, Herschel Walker and the Delany sisters when we say that the main objective of black Americans is not a hand out or even a hand up, but only recognition and sincere repentance for the wrong that has been done to us. Our desire is a genuine opportunity to succeed or fail based on our own merits, not with someone's thumb on the scale for or against us.

We want to get to that place where Sidney Poitier poignantly reminded his distressed father in the movie "Guess who's coming to dinner: "you think of yourself as a colored man, I think of myself as just a man."

If the great majority of us understand that simple fact, then we will be well on the way to a more perfect country.
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The Middle East has always been a hot spot. But Ive been deeply concerned about what has been happening in Israel recently, as the ongoing conflict with the terrorist group Hamas has reached new levels of intensity. It's been nothing short of heartbreaking to hear about the innocent men, women, and children being caught and killed in the crossfire. Many Christians wonder what they shouldor even cando in the wake of a situation like this unfolding on the other side of the world.

As a pastor, the first thing I would tell believers to do is pray for peace. We are instructed to pray specifically for the peace of Jerusalem (see Psalm 122:6). Pray for wisdom for the national leaders in both Israel and the Palestinian territories. Pray for the governments of the world to weigh in carefully and with long-term strategies. Pray that there would be no more unnecessary loss of life.

Next, be informed. Western Christians need to know why Israel is important. No one can take the Bible seriously without coming to the conclusion that Israel is important. The name Jerusalem shows up 142 times in Scripture, while Israel is mentioned by name over 2,400 times. It was the nation God chose to be not just the backdrop but the receptacle for redemptive history. And Gods plan was not restricted to the past; it was not limited to the coming of Christ to die on the cross outside Jerusalem.

As Paul wrote, "I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew" (Romans 11:1-2). God loves all people, the Jewish people as well as the Palestinian people. Americans, Armenians, and Arabs; Israelis, Saudis, and Emiratis; Canadians, Africans, and Asians; Scots, Finns, and DanesGod desires all people of all times in all cultures to be saved (see 2 Peter 3:9). But Israel as a nation plays a key and central role in Gods plan. Christians should know that and love Israels God enough to support that.

Paul gave his Roman readers some fundamental truths about Israel in general:



1. Blindness is on Israel presently. "I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel" (Romans 11:25; see also vv. 7-10). A spiritual stupor has fallen on God's covenant people (see Luke 19:41-44; 2 Corinthians 3:14-15). To this day, only a fraction of a percent of Jewish people who live in Israel believe in Jesus. Though that number is steadily increasing, the point is that the Jewish nation largely has rejected Jesus as Messiah. Even so, God has preserved Israel throughout its history. And it's all for a reason. God made promises to the Jews in Scripture that He would establish a kingdom centered in Israel with a worldwide reach.

2. Benefits are given simultaneously. In other words, yes, Israel has nationally rejected Jesus as their Messiah, but that tragedy has opened a door to Gentiles. "Blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in" (Romans 11:25). Because Israel rejected Jesus, He is now offered to the whole world, until the present age runs its course. The church age has seen millions of people worldwide flock to worship the Jewish Jesus and reap the eternal benefits of that relationship.

Because of Jesus, we've been brought into the family of God (see Romans 11:17-18). We've been grafted into the blessings of God to the Jewish people (see Matthew 21:42-43; John 10:16). This is why no Christian should ever be anti-Semitic. We owe them way too much. They gave us our heritage. They gave us our Bible. And they gave us our Christ.



3. A blessing will happen ultimately. "And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: 'The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; for this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins'" (Romans 11:26-27). Israel will ultimately be restorednot every Jew who ever lived, but those who at the time of Christ's return see Him and receive Him (see Revelation 7:4-8). The blindness that has been on Israel will be lifted (see Zechariah 12:10-11; 13:1).

The future has a very Jewish ring to it. The Messiah will rule from Zion over a peace-filled world (see Isaiah 2:1-4), the City-of-the-Future will be called New Jerusalem (see Revelation 21:1-3), and the ancient tribal names of the Israelite people will even be on the gates of this futuristic metropolis (see Revelation 21:9-12).

In summary, Israel is God's yardstick. By Israel, He measures time (see Daniel 9:24-27). By Israel, He measures other nations (see Matthew 25:31-46). And one day, these God-elected, God-selected, God-protected people will collectively receive Him as Messiah.

In the meantime, we pray for the peace of Israel and its neighbors. God's not done with them yetand neither should we be.
'High hopes': Evangelical leaders react to Israel's new prime minister Christian Zionists call for prayer, support of new gov't

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Israel's new government that pushed out former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after over a decade in power has received praise and condemnation from prominent pro-Israel evangelicals, with many saying they will continue to support Israel no matter who is in charge.

After serving an unprecedented 12 consecutive years in power and another three years before that, Netanyahu lost his position as prime minister of Israel when new Prime Minister Naftali Bennett was sworn in Sunday.

Netanyahu, the longest-serving leader of modern Israel who dealt with corruption charges in his final years in office, was respected by conservative evangelical Christians but criticized by many across the globe. He promised: well be back.

Bennett assumes Netanyahus old role after Israels Parliament voted for the new government by a slim vote of 60-59, ending a lengthy political gridlock. Some concern has been raised about how the new prime ministers alliance includes a party representing an Arab minority and has close relations with the Palestinians.

However, Bennett, described as a right-wing millionaire, is opposed to Palestinian independence and supports Jewish settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

The following pages contain reactions from Christian religious and political figures to the new Israeli government.
Canadian pastor arrested for holding outdoor service after church was seized by authorities

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A Canadian pastor has been arrested after his church held an outdoor worship service at an undisclosed location after the local government ordered the church building to be closed.

Tim Stephens, who serves as pastor of Fairview Baptist Church in Calgary, Alberta, was arrested Monday after refusing to abide by the order from Alberta Health Services to refrain from holding worship services that don't comply with the provincial COVID-19 rules.

On Monday, Stephens shared on his Twitter account that I just got a tip that the police may be on their way to arrest me.

I just got a tip that the police may be on their way to arrest me. Why? I continue to lead our church to worship Jesus as Lord over every earthly power.



More to come... Pray brothers and sisters. Stand firm, keep the faith.  Tim Stephens (@tim__stephens) June 14, 2021

Shortly after that, police showed up and arrested the pastor in front of his eight children, who tearfully told him goodbye.

Video footage of the arrest was obtained by Rebel News.

A reporter for the Canadian news outlet asked the police if they wanted to comment on why Jason Kenney gets a free pass and youre arresting pastors across the province." The comment was a reference to Alberta Premier Jason Kenneys June 1 dinner with cabinet members that did not comply with the provinces public health restrictions.

Early Tuesday morning, Stephens wife, Raquel, posted an update announcing that Tim was arrested again for holding an outdoor service in violation of Albertas health orders."

"He went before a Justice of the Peace [Monday] evening and refused the bail condition, so hell remain in custody until his next court date June 28," she wrote.

Tim was arrested again for holding an outdoor service in violation of Albertas health orders. He went before a Justice of the Peace this evening and refused the bail condition so hell remain in custody until his next court date June 28.@tim__stephenshttps://t.co/MDAuLCfengpic.twitter.com/UCtPRjNohq  Raquel Stephens (@RaquelAStephens) June 15, 2021

In a statement, Raquel Stephens explained that state authorities want "Tim to tell people what to wear, where to stand, and to forbid some people from being [in] the church."

She noted that when she asked the police officers if they had ever broken the health orders, they answered in the affirmative.

Tim was offered bail conditional upon his agreement to abide by all public health orders, she added. He couldnt agree because doing so would prevent him from faithfully shepherding the flock that has been entrusted to his care. He will remain in custody until his next court date on June 28.

Mrs. Stephens predicted that Tims imprisonment will strengthen us in the faith and embolden us to love and obey Christ, no matter the cost.

She asked for prayers that her husband would stand firm; that he would meditate on the love of Christ and his sacrifice for his sinners; that he would be comforted in his chains.

The Calgary Police Service and Alberta Health Services confirmed Stephens was arrested for violating a court order.

"Stephens acknowledged the injunction, but chose to move forward with an illegal outdoor service, ignoring requirements for social distancing and reduced capacity limits for attendees," the joint statement reads.

The news outlet notes that a large crowd gathered at an undisclosed location to worship and hear Stephens preach on Sunday. The congregation was reportedly discovered by a police helicopter. Police vehicles were seen circling the location and waited until Monday to arrest Stephens.

Stephens is represented by the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms.

On June 5, Pastor Stephens tweeted pictures of notices that were posted on the doors of his church proclaiming that Alberta Health Services Has Ordered This Premises Closed to the Public and Alberta Health Services has secured this building as per section 62.1 of the Public Health Act.

The closure of Fairview Baptist Church will remain in effect until such time that this order is rescinded by an Executive Officer of Alberta Health Services.

AHS seized our building! Fines, injunctions, imprisonment, and seizure of property will only demonstrate the folly of their actions and bring glory to Christ.

Incredible that this happened in the same week our most senior officials were photo'd flouting health orders. pic.twitter.com/JCT8ToWjTP  Tim Stephens (@tim__stephens) June 5, 2021

Stephens attempted to make the best of the situation by vowing that Fines, injunctions, imprisonment, and seizure of property will only demonstrate the folly of their actions and bring glory to Christ.

He remarked that it was incredible that this happened in the same week our most senior officials were photod flouting health orders, referring to Kenney.

Stephens was arrested last month for holding a church service that did not comply with public health orders, including masking, physical distancing and attendance limits.

During his imprisonment, Stephens wrote a letter to his children asserting that I have been arrested because I am convinced by the word of God, reason, and science, that we must gather as a church and live our lives with freedom in Christ.

Raquel Stephens shared an excerpt of that letter in her update Tuesday morning.

According to Rebel News, Alberta authorities were forced to drop other charges against the pastor last month after discovering that Alberta Health Services never served Stephens with the court order he was said to have violated.

Stephens is not the only Canadian pastor to face legal consequences for holding in-person worship services after his church building was ordered to close.

The pastor of a church in Aylmer, Ontario, faces nearly $200,000 in fines for holding outdoor worship services after the local government shut down his church building.

Artur Pawlowski, another pastor based in Calgary, has had multiple encounters with law enforcement over coronavirus worship restrictions.

Pawlowski has angrily confronted local police and public health officials who showed up at his church in two viral videos and was eventually arrested for holding an illegal in-person gathering.
Pro-life group files complaint with SBA over Planned Parenthood clinic obtaining $2.7 million PPP loan

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A pro-life group has filed a complaint with the Small Business Administration, alleging that a Planned Parenthood affiliate improperly obtained Paycheck Protection Program loans designed for small businesses.

In a June 7 complaint addressed to SBA Administrator Isabel Guzman, the New Hampshire Right to Life accuses Planned Parenthood of Northern New England and Planned Parenthood affiliates across the country of obtaining Paycheck Protection Program loans provided to small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Planned Parenthood Federation of America, which requires its affiliates to submit to a rigorous PPFA accreditation review every three years, has well in excess of 500 employees, the limit to qualify as a small business.

As part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Congress provided Paycheck Protection Program loans to small businesses that were forced to close their doors when federal, state and local governments implemented lockdowns in response to the novel coronavirus. As New Hampshire Right to Life President Jason Hennesseey explained in the letter to Guzman, Planned Parenthood of Northern New England applied for a PPP loan and received $2,717,300 in taxpayer dollars.

Big businesses such as Planned Parenthood unlawfully applied to PPP and should not have their loans forgiven, he wrote. Noting that tax returns filed by Planned Parenthood of Northern New England in 2019 showed a total gross revenue of $27,153,085 and net earnings of $1,562,789, while the Planned Parenthood Federation of America claimed $274,186,594 and net earnings of $24,901,341. Hennessey asserted in the letter that these are not the type of revenue streams that are typical of a small business.

Hennessey added: Planned Parenthood of Northern New England did not identify as an affiliate of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. when applying for a PPP loan. Under the rules of the Paycheck Protection Program, In most cases, a borrower will be considered together with its affiliates for determining eligibility for the PPP. The SBA had previously determined that PPFA is known to have and to exercise control over its local affiliates.

Citing a May 2020 SBA notice to another Planned Parenthood affiliate explaining that it was ineligible for a PPP loan because of its affiliation with PPFA and its number of employees, Hennessey concluded that, Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, Inc. also cannot qualify for a PPP loan under this same logic because [as] an affiliate of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. it has more than 500 employees.

Just as SBA properly held Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, Inc. to have misrepresented its qualification and demand[ed] return of the PPP funding a similar letter must be sent to Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, Inc. requesting the $2,717,300 first draw PPP loan award be returned, he added.

Hennessey expressed hope that SBA can recover PPP loans from national conglomerates who fraudulently received relief funds instead of the New Hampshire family-owned restaurants, daycare centers, barbershops, and lawn care/snow removal companies  all successful businesses based solely on the hard work and effort of New Hampshire citizens.

The letter from the New Hampshire Right to Life comes after the Republicans on the Senates Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship wrote to Guzman on April 15, expressing concern about Planned Parenthood affiliates continued receipt of PPP loans.

Led by Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., the senators asserted that, according to data provided to Congress on March 23, not only have most of the PPFA affiliates not returned their PPP funds, as requested by SBA, but two have applied for and been approved for a second draw loan, with full knowledge of their ineligibility.

On May 10, Paul and the other Senate Republicans on the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship wrote another letter to Guzman, reporting that since our April 15 letter to you, SBA approved PPP loans for at least two additional PPFA affiliates according to the most recent data posted to the Agencys website.

Specifically, they said, one Planned Parenthood affiliate received a $10 million loan, the maximum loan amount under the Paycheck Protection Program. The senators described the $10 million loan to Planned Parenthood of Greater New York as unacceptable.

In both letters, the senators asked the Small Business Administration to provide a detailed explanation regarding how two PPFA affiliates were approved for second draw loans despite the SBAs determination that they were ineligible for the PPP and a detailed explanation of the SBAs process for ensuring entities that were determined to be ineligible for first draw loans do not get second draw loans.

Additionally, the senators requested all forgiveness information associated with loans to PPFA entities, and a description of any and all actions the SBA has taken to recover PPP funds unlawfully provided to PPFA affiliates. In the follow-up letter, the senators asked for complete PPP loan-level data for all PPFA affiliates and unredacted copies of any and all agency decisions, determinations, guidance, policies and/or documents related to PPP loans to PPFA affiliates.
Pro-life group calls for Fauci's firing over NIAID funding of barbaric experiments on aborted babies

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A pro-life group held a rally outside the National Institutes of Health Thursday, calling for the firing of Dr. Anthony Fauci over the organizations role in funding experiments that use aborted babies.

Students for Life of America held a #FireFauci rally outside the National Institutes of Health headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland, calling for the firing of Dr. Anthony Fauci, the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, a branch of the NIH. While Fauci has received criticism from conservatives for his directives to combat the novel coronavirus, pro-lifers are seeking to hold him accountable for his role in providing funding to the University of Pittsburgh, which was used to perform experiments on aborted babies.

Attendees at the rally carried pink slips to show their support for Faucis firing. The pink slips contained phrases including Demand Fauci Resigns! Notice of Termination: Fire Fauci, as well as Notice of Termination accompanied by Name: Anthony Fauci and effective immediately, along with the hashtag #FireFauci.

The first speaker at the rally was Stephanie Stone, the Mid-East regional manager of Students for Life of America. We are here on this hot day, outside of the NIH today, to call for President Biden to fire Fauci, she said.

Dr. Fauci, as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, the NIAID, has allowed federal tax dollars to fund what should be considered a criminal act that is currently  taking place at the University of Pittsburgh. Right now, medical researchers at Pitt are undergoing a series of tests, she added.

These tests involve taking the scalp of five-month-old aborted children and grafting them on the backs of lab mice. Researchers then observed as the rats and mice grew human baby hairs.

Stone described the grant used to conduct the research as an insane misuse of not only taxpayer dollars but an absolutely abhorrent waste of precious human lives. According to Stone, Its shameful that this office has seen fit to put their stamp of approval on this project, let alone using taxpayer money to do it. Taking the lives of five-month-old [aborted] babies to graft their scalps onto lab mice is absurd, immoral and disgraceful.

We want to see Dr. Fauci fired for not only being involved but essentially giving his stamp of approval and our taxpayer dollars to something that is unethical, Stone proclaimed. She called on the Biden administration to fire Dr. Fauci and anyone involved in this inhumane scheme.

Herb Geraghty, the executive director of Rehumanize International, which he said exists to promote the protection of every human life from conception to natural death, also addressed the crowd.

Geraghty, a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, recalled how he attended a public hearing of the Pennsylvania House Health Committee on the experiments being done on aborted babies that caused him to feel shame about his alma mater: I learned that my beloved university was committing some of the most barbaric attacks against innocent human life that you could even possibly imagine.

He also lamented that the published report about the experiments involving aborted babies included photographs in which the hair of the poor innocent babies can be seen growing on the backs of rodents. He slammed the universitys experiments on babies up to 22 weeks gestation, noting that at that age, unborn babies have beating hearts and rapidly developing brains, they can respond to external stimuli, and they have all of their internal organs.

Under Pitts protocol for obtaining tissue from aborted babies, Geraghty noted that doctors conduct labor-induction abortions before immediately putting the fetal remains on ice to transport them to the laboratory where the bodies are dissected to harvest the liver. He maintained that it is possible that some of these fetuses dissected over the years were, in fact, infants who were born alive and died shortly after in transport to the research labs.

The final speaker, Alyssa Thoburn, serves as president of the Students for Life chapter in Fairfax, Virginia. Thoburn, a high school student who plans on attending college in the fall, agreed with the previous speakers that we need to fire Dr. Fauci.

Its one thing to accept whats going on. Its another entirely to know whats going on, approve of it and fund it. These taxpayer funds are responsible for the senseless deaths of five-month-old babies and the use of their bodies for nothing more than the grotesque curiosity of medical researchers, she added.

The event concluded as Stone read aloud a statement from Students for Life of America President Kristan Hawkins, who did not attend the event: Abusing anothers body who has given no consent and has no power to object is wrong. This is exactly why we must stand against this injustice and hold accountable those who have perpetuated and funded this inhumane practice. We call on President Biden to fire Anthony Fauci for being involved in this crime against humanity.

After urging pro-lifers to make noise about this unethical research and about Dr. Faucis involvement in it, Stone remarked that this injustice needs to stop.

The crowd chanted We are the pro-life generation while holding the pink slips and other signs expressing support for the pro-life movement and decrying medical research relying on the use of aborted babies.

The #FireFauci rally comes as the Biden administration has repeatedly expressed confidence in Fauci. At a press conference last week, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki was asked if there was any circumstance under which Biden would fire Fauci. She bluntly responded with a No. Meanwhile, the president told a reporter that he was very confident in the head of NIAID.

In an interview with The Christian Post, Hawkins expressed hope that the event would add to the public pressure being put on NIH right now  including the Biden administration to  dramatically re-assess the role of Anthony Fauci in our government and his leadership.

While she acknowledged that the Biden administration is unlikely to fire Fauci, she stressed that the pro-life movement should not discount the effect of the grassroots movement of continuing to beat  the drum of whats happening with our government, making people aware of the ghastly research that were funding with our taxpayer dollars.

In addition to the #FireFauci rally, Students for Life is also circulating a petition asking Fauci to resign, citing the barbaric, taxpayer-funded research that has taken place at the University of Pittsburgh and the fact that Dr. Anthony Faucis office approved grants that funded it. As of Thursday afternoon, the petition had accumulated more than 1,600 signatures.

David Daleiden, the head of the pro-life group Center for Medical Progress, expanded on the research involving aborted babies' tissue conducted by the University of Pittsburgh using taxpayer dollars during his testimony before the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in early May. His organization recorded undercover video of Planned Parenthood officials discussing how they supply the university with the body parts of aborted babies that they use to conduct the experiments.

Daleiden told lawmakers that in addition to the $500,000 grant used to conduct experiments grafting the hair of unborn babies onto mice, Pitt received a $1.4M grant from the NIH to become a distribution hub for aborted fetal kidneys and bladders and other organs in the NIHs genitourinary development mapping atlas program.

In his testimony, Daleiden noted that Pitts grant application for this grant application from the NIH states that the university has unique access to a large number of high-quality aborted fetuses and can ramp up delivery of aborted fetal body parts across the country.

Appearing on Fox News Tucker Carlson Tonight last month, Daleiden suggested that the experiments conducted by the University of Pittsburgh using tissue from aborted babies might have broken the law: The fact that they were using scalps from five-month-old aborted babies, that means the heads of those children probably needed to be intact in order to get the scalps, which is an indication that those are either partial-birth abortion or even infants delivered alive and whole.

As Daleiden indicated, federal law currently prohibits the practice known as partial-birth abortion. The Partial-Birth Abortion Act was passed in 2003 and was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2007.

For its part, the University of Pittsburgh has denied allegations of wrongdoing, with a spokesperson telling The College Fix that the University does not obtain fetal tissue from Planned Parenthood, does not use any of its state appropriation to fund fetal tissue research and follows all laws and regulations governing fetal tissue research.
Texas Supreme Court rejects deacons lawsuit demanding diocese remove name from alleged sex abusers list

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The Texas Supreme Court has ruled against a Catholic deacon suing his diocese for putting him on a list of clergy who had accusations of sexual abuse leveled against them.

Jesus Guerrero, who was ordained as a deacon in 1997, sued the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lubbock after they refused to remove his name from a list released in 2018 of clergy who they deemed as having credible accusations of sexual abuse lodged against them.

In an 8-1 decision released Friday, the states highest court concluded that the Diocese of Lubbock could lawfully include Guerrero's name on the list of accused clergy.

Justice John Devine delivered the majority opinion, writing that having a secular court interfere with the Dioceses list would be a challenge to the Dioceses underlying investigation into its own clergy and application of Canon Law.

The First Amendment prohibits governmentand courtsfrom interfering with a believers ability to observe his faith and from interfering with a churchs management of its internal affairs, wrote Devine.

Churches have a fundamental right under the First Amendment to decide for themselves, free from state interference, matters of church governance as well as those of faith and doctrine.

Justice Jeff Boyd authored a dissent to the opinion, arguing that the First Amendment does not prohibit courts from hearing a defamation claim against a religious organization when the claim involves statements made to the general public and courts can resolve the claim on strictly secular grounds.

By choosing to broadcast the statements beyond the church and involve the general public in the churchs disciplinary procedures, the Diocese altered the nature of the constitutional concerns, wrote Boyd.

Because Guerreros defamation claim is based on statements the Lubbock Diocese published beyond the church to the general public, and because courts can resolve that claim based on neutral principles without becoming entangled in ecclesiastical issues, I agree with all the federal and state courts around the country, which have consistently held that the First Amendment does not bar the courts from hearing such a claim.

William Haun, any attorney for Becket, a religious liberty law firm that helped represent the Diocese, released a statement on Friday celebrating the decision.

We are happy that the court recognized that fundamental truth today, and that the First Amendment does not allow government bodiesincluding courtsto interfere with internal religious decisions, stated Haun.

Religious organizations do not surrender their freedom to govern themselves just because they speak in public on matters affecting their faith, clergy, and moral witness.
Major victory: Wisconsin cant force private, religious schools to shut down

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The Wisconsin Supreme Court has ruled that local health departments cant ban private and religious schools from holding in-person classes during health emergencies like the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

In a 4-3 decision, the court also ruled Friday that Public Health Madison & Dane County infringed on constitutional religious rights, Fox6 reported.

Writing for the majority, Justice Rebecca Bradley said the law that authorizes local health departments to take preventive measuresduring a health emergency cannot be reasonably read as an open-ended grant of authority.

The lawsuit was filed in response to Dane Countys amended health order issued last September that sought to ban in-person, in-classroom education by private and religious schools. The restrictions do not exist any longer and the school year ended this week, but the ruling is significant as it limits the powers of health departments in the future.

The conservative legal group Thomas More Society called it a major victory to the private schools and parents of Dane County, in which the state capital of Madison is located.

This has been an overreach of major proportions by a local health official who ignored the fundamental constitutional right to the free exercise of religion for parents, students, and school personnel by ordering these institutions to shut down and prohibiting in-person education, the groups Special Counsel Erick Kaardal said in a statement. It was a slap in the face to educational choice, an affront to families who believe that children should be in school, and a direct violation of parental rights.

Last September, the Supreme Court had temporarily put the health order on hold.

Schools that educate students in grades three through 12 had been ordered by the county to educate students virtually. But after the court ruled in favor of a coalition of private religious schools that challenged the order, many private schools prepared to restart in-person learning for their students, Wisconsin Public Radio reported at the time.

The courts opinion declared that the petitioners have substantial interests in advancing childhood education and providing students a stable and effective learning environment. It also noted that they went to great lengths  and expended non-negligible sums  to provide students, teachers, and staff the ability to resume in-person instruction with safety precautions in place.

On Friday, the court noted in its ruling that the framers of the (Wisconsin) constitution, backed by Wisconsin residents, chose to describe the religious freedoms that they should be entitled to in greater detail than were given in the federal constitution, stressing that the framers used the strongest possible language to protect those freedoms.

The right of every person to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of conscience shall never be infringednor shall any control of, or interference with, the rights of conscience be permitted.

The legal groups Executive Vice President and General Counsel Andrew Bath said the petition was against an illegal order by a local public health officer, and the court saw that right away, first issuing a preliminary injunction in September 2020 that prohibited the county from enforcing it, and now settling the matter decisively.

Bath added, They have declared it both statutorily and constitutionally unlawful and have additionally affirmed that local health officers do not have the statutory authority to close schools.
UK high court rules in favor of woman fired for saying men cant become women

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A U.K. high court judge has ruled in favor of a British woman who was fired from her job because she stated on social media that men could not become women.

Maya Forstaters contract with the Center for Global Development was not renewed in 2019 due to tweets opposing a government proposal to allow people to identify as the opposite sex.

In a decision released Thursday, High Court Justice Akhlaq Ur-Rahman Choudhury concluded that an earlier tribunal that had ruled against Forstater had erred in law.

Choudhury said in the written judgment that Forstater's beliefs were protected under the Equality Act because they "did not seek to destroy the rights of trans persons."

"Just as the legal recognition of civil partnerships does not negate the right of a person to believe that marriage should only apply to heterosexual couples, becoming the acquired gender 'for all purposes' within the meaning of GRA does not negate a person's right to believe, like the claimant, that as a matter of biology a trans person is still their natal sex," the judgment reads in part.

He added: We do not in any way seek to ignore or downplay the difficulties faced by trans persons seeking merely to live their lives peacefully in the gender with which they identify, irrespective of their natal sex. This case, however, is not about whether greater protection ought to be afforded to trans persons  the potential for offence (sic) cannot be a reason to exclude a belief from protection altogether.

Choudhury also said that while some might find Forstaters views on sex and gender to be offensive and even distressing, they nevertheless must be tolerated in a pluralist society.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission, which intervened in Forstater's defense, said it was right that religious and philosophical beliefs be protected.

Amanda Glassman, executive vice president of the Center for Global Development, released a statement in response to Thursdays ruling, expressing disappointment with the result.

Today's decision is a step backwards for inclusivity and equality for all, stated Glassman, as quoted by the BBC. The decision is disappointing and surprising because we believe Judge Tayler got it right when he found this type of offensive speech causes harm to trans people, and therefore could not be protected under the Equality Act.

In March 2019, Forstater was fired from her job when she posted a series of tweets on her personal account, which, among other things, pointed out that "men cannot change into women.

Forstater was also condemned for referring to a convicted pedophile and rapist as a "man" because despite being a biological male named Stephen Wood, he identifies as female and goes by the name Karen White. Prison officials allowed White to be transferred to a women's prison where he subsequently assaulted female inmates.

Celebrating the judgment, Forstater said: "Being free to hold a belief means the freedom from being harassed, discriminated against, or having your livelihood taken away from you if you express that belief. It doesn't mean the freedom to harass others. That was never what my case was about.

"Gender-critical beliefs and gender identity beliefs are both protected under the Equality Act and so, too, is lack of belief," she emphasized. "No one can be forced to profess a belief that they do not hold, like 'trans women are women, trans men are men,' and [be] punished if they refuse."

In December 2019, Judge James Tayler ruled that Forstater's dismissal was justified and that her beliefs, while grounded in biology, were not worthy of respect.

The decision had many critics, among them being bestselling author J.K. Rowling, who was berated online for expressing support for Forstater on Twitter.

Dress however you please. Call yourself whatever you like. Sleep with any consenting adult wholl have you. Live your best life in peace and security. But force women out of their jobs for stating that sex is real? #IStandWithMaya #ThisIsNotADrill, tweeted Rowling at the time.

In April, Forstater filed an appeal, writing in an essay published on the website Medium that her case had profound ramifications regarding freedom of speech and expression.

What is at stake is the ability to have open debate, and the integrity and effectiveness of organizations that enable democracy and an open society, she wrote.
BOISE, Idaho (AP)  Unemployed Idaho residents could get kicked out of a state benefits program if they don't follow new job-seeking requirements that went into effect this month.

People receiving unemployment benefits now have two business days to apply for a job opening after receiving a referral from the Idaho Department of Labor, the Idaho Statesman reported. If they don't, they could lose their unemployment benefits.

Once a job is referred, the claimant must apply for the job or act on that referral, Idaho Department of Labor director Jani Revier said. In the past, when referrals were made, there were no consequences if they didn't follow up.

State workforce consultants will check with the potential employer to verify that the person applied for the referred job. Previously, the labor department didn't track whether people followed up on referrals.

Idaho has had a tight labor market in recent years. The unemployment rate was consistently either at or below 3% from September 2018 until after the coronavirus emerged in Idaho in March 2020. Revier said economists consider a region to have full employment when the jobless rate is at 4% or lower.

Many of the problems we saw pre-pandemic are back: The really tight labor market is back and, once again, businesses are struggling to find workers, she said.

In March, there were 1.4 available jobs for every unemployed Idaho resident, Revier said. With more openings than available workers, that makes it difficult for employers to fill jobs. That same month, there 1.2 unemployed workers nationally for every job opening, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Property values and housing costs have climbed dramatically across much of the state in recent years, particularly during the pandemic. Idaho's minimum wage of $7.25, meanwhile, hasn't increased since 2009. A full-time minimum wage worker would earn about $1,250 a month before taxes. Online rental agency ApartmentList.com says the median rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Boise is just over $900 a month.

Idaho is ending its participation Saturday in the federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation Program, which provided an extra $300 per week to unemployment recipients. Programs for self-employed workers, low-wage earners and workers with pending or denied issues are also set to end.
Curtis Davis, better known as Big Mello, was truly a cut above when it comes to Houston sound. The late rapper, who passed away June 15, 2002, brought a different sound to Houston's landscape.

A native of Houston's Southside Hiram Clarke neighborhood, Big Mello would become one of the most respected artists and smoothest rappers to come out of the city.

REMEMBERING LEGENDS: Remembering Bushwick Bill on the 2-year anniversary of his death

Big Mello was a uniquely talented emcee who blended H-Town's car culture into his music. Mello graduated from Madison High School, and in the early 1980s, he attended Texas Southern University, studying music and broadcasting. Mello would go on to sign to J. Prince's Rap-A-Lot Records and release "Bone Hard Zaggin" and "Wegonefunkwichamind."

A true pioneer of Houston sound pre-DJ Screw, Mello developed a sound that incorporated funky gangsta rap, elements of R&B and lyricism into his music.

Having built a name for himself in the city, Mello performed with Scarface, Mad Hatter, Tupac Shakur and even opened up for Westside Connection. His son Andrew Davis says that since his passing, he and his younger brother have felt nothing but familial ties with everyone their father encountered.

Courtesy Sheila Bright

"I definitely feel like he's respected," Davis explains. "One thing I can say, I think is pretty cool that Z-Ro shouts him out in the beginning of 'Mo City Don,' which is like one of the most iconic Houston songs. I think it's things like that. Just the notion. A song like that brings the entire city together, and it starts off with a dedication to my father. Things like that speak volumes to what Houston feels in regards to his impact."

Fellow Houston OGs like Bushwick Bill, Bun B and J. Prince have all spoke highly of the fallen emcee and how talented he was, as well as the influence he had while he was here.

Davis recalls speaking to Bill in the studio and Bill saying how much Davis reminded him of his father.

Courtesy Rap-A-Lot Records

"When I first met Bun, he told me 'look, don't feel like you're coat-tailing because you tell people who your dad is. Your dad was an OG and a pioneer to a lot of people in Houston that would love to know that his children are out here, being active.'"

TELLING STORIES: Bun B's new radio show brings Southern rap to the forefront

As an artist himself working under the moniker The Aspiring Me, Davis says that a lot of his skills and musical inclination come from his dad  from his ear, to being able to write and produce, and being able to bring people together. Davis says his dad was very involved in both his and his brother's life when he was alive.

Courtesy Andrew Davis

Davis remembers his dad being actively involved in his education and in their church.

"He started coming to church with us when he turned 30. He was very active in church, but he was still super Southside," Davis says laughingly. "You know how when people agree with what the preacher is saying, they'll say 'go ahead reverend.' My dad would stand up and point and say 'ALREADY!'"

Mello being active in his son's lives also meant taking his sons to the studio with him.

"I used to be around him a lot in the studio. Me and my brother were active in the studio. At an early age I could kind of interpret that we were in a studio setting and he was making music," Davis said. "I definitely feel like I got my ear from him."

Nineteen years after his passing, Davis wants nothing more than for his father's music to be heard.

"He was making this type of music in the early '90s. I want people to know that my father's sampled the same song, and approached it a little bit better than when Nas did it on 'Illmatic.'"

In honor of his life, make sure you play some of Big Mello's biggest hits today.
Ivory Hecker, a reporter for Houstons Fox 26, had a surprise for viewers and her bosses during Mondays 5 p.m. newscast.

Hecker was on-scene for a live shot about the current heat wave when she went off-script.

"I want to let you the viewers know, that Fox Corp. has been muzzling me to keep certain information from you, the viewers," Hecker said on live TV. "And from what I am gathering I am not the only reporter being subjected to this. I am going to be releasing some recordings about what goes on behind the scenes at Fox because it applies to you, the viewers. I found a nonprofit journalism group called Project Veritas thats going to help put that out tomorrow so tune into them.

OPINION: Fired reporter's recordings of Fox 26 bosses are underwhelming

Then, the 32-year-old Hecker went straight into her report about the Houston heat wave.

Project Veritas / YouTube screenshot

Project Veritas, which posted the clip to its YouTube channel on Monday, is a far-right group that targets mainstream news media and left-leaning groups.

On Tuesday afternoon, Project Veritas released audio from a phone call it reports to be between Hecker and Fox 26 assistant news director Lee Meier in which Meier informs Hecker she has been suspended.

Later, Hecker told The Daily Beast, she had been fired.

I have been longing to part ways with this strange, slightly unhinged corporation since last August when I realized what they were, Hecker told The Daily Beast. The piece with Project Veritas doesnt touch what they did. Fox 26 knows Im fearless.

Hecker also took a shot at Fox News, telling The Daily Beast: I would turn down Fox News. They wanted to bring me up to the network. I met a lot of executives there and I dont want to talk to them anymore. It came from one of the top executives there that what I needed to succeed was to get in line with the narrative.

Project Veritas told Insider.com that Hecker will sit down for an interview with the group and she will be blowing the whistle on the journalism industry and discuss her claims of corruption and censorship at Fox 26.

Hecker is a general assignment reporter and fill-in anchor who joined the station in October 2017. Prior to moving to Houston, Hecker had the same job at KARE, the NBC affiliate in Minneapolis. She also worked as a reporter in Lexington, Kentucky and Columbia, South Carolina after graduating from Syracuse University. Hecker also is a songwriter with a separate Instagram account dedicated to that endeavor.

Project Veritas is highly controversial and has been kicked off Twitter for its deceptive practices. The group tried to discredit the Washington Post by having a woman make up a sexual assault story, which the paper investigated and uncovered. The group also tried to expose Planned Parenthood by secretly recording and editing conversations with Planned Parenthood employees.

The group has helped spread misinformation about supposed voter fraud, although one of their secret recordings did lead to the arrest of a San Antonio woman for unlawfully assisting a voter.

In May, the New York Times reported that Project Veritas employed women to go on dates with FBI employees and try to record them criticizing Donald Trump.
One small San Antonio family get-together is making a big splash on Facebook and has thousands drawing up party plans.

Alexis Collins is the co-star of a Facebook post that's racked up more than 12,000 reactions overnight. She and her husband, Jordan Santos, were invited to his cousin's "Dress Like Your Spouse" party on Saturday, June 12, and spared no details in switching roles.

During the quarantine months of the pandemic, the "Flip the Switch Challenge" gained popularity on TikTok for the funny ways couples would trade clothes to the tune of Drake's 2018 song "Nonstop." Given the willingness of guests to dress up for a party hosted by Desiree Alvarez and Melanie Bowser, Santos' cousins, people were ready to show off their looks in person.

READ MORE: Where to take Dad for Father's Day in Houston

No couple seemed to do it better than Collins and Santos. Their renditions of each other proved the two have been paying attention to over the last six years.

Courtesy, Alexis Collins

Collins didn't fit in her husband's clothes and vice versa, so they had to devise a plan. She dressed in an outfit Santos wore to a high school banquet, while he made borrows a dress and purse from his mom's closet, made a shopping trip to Ross for a pair of modest heels and to Walgreens to pick out press-on nails.

"We definitely went all out," Collins says with a laugh.

The portrayal was down to the undergarments, she says. Santos went as far as shaving his legs for his sundress, which he later flounced around while dancing in a video.

Santos' dancing is a fan favorite on Facebook, with ladies noticing his freshly shaven legs.

"Those calf muscles though," one comment reads.

Courtesy, Alexis Collins

The pair posted their photos to humor family and friends Sunday night. They went to bed and woke up with thousands of notifications from strangers Monday morning. Collins says it's hard to keep up with the alerts as they drown her account in droves as she works.

"I woke up this morning to a whole bunch of a notifications I was like what the heck is going on," she says. "It was just crazy, I was not expecting it at all."

Aside from getting acquainted with Facebook fame, Collins is also realizing how much the getting dressed process differs between men and women. For once, she was finished getting ready before her husband and had time to help him strap on his heels since his nails proved to be a a bit of a deterrent. She's hoping he learned something too.

"Now he won't complain when I get ready," she jokes.
Summer is here and Houston has a hot new hotel.

The Heights House was made for the out-of-towner looking for a hip, cozy place to crash or locals in need of a staycation. The boutique hotel recently celebrated its grand opening in style, with an event that included boozy sno cones, a live hula performance, vitamin D infusion shots by iV Bar and more.

The event set the stage for the vision the owners have for their latest real estate venture.

Purchased by partners Jivar Foty and George Giannukos in 2019, the hotel operated as the Astro Inn since the 1970s and received a well-deserved facelift.

Dylan McEwan

We live in the Heights and would drive around the area and think, This is an eyesore, says Foty, co-owner of the hotel. We were building a house a block away from the hotel. When we were listing it, a lot of people were concerned about the surrounding area. Anyone who would come off of 45 would realize this area wasnt there yet.

Courtesy of Heights House Hotel

The three-story hotel resting on the two-acre property underwent a nearly year-long renovation under Fotys Rise Construction. The boutique hotel is painted with vibrant colors, is equipped with a pool and cabanas for lounging in style and houses a bar dubbed Space Cowboy that serves up delicious cocktails and comfort food from acclaimed chef Lyle Bento.

Dylan McEwan

Fotys goal was to make his property unlike any Houston has ever seen.

Houston is very cookie cutter. You go to Austin and you see something very different everywhere you look. You drive through six or seven different parts of Houston and they all look very similar. What makes [Heights House] different is that its just different.

The eclectic design is a haven for people looking to snap that perfect Instagram shot.

Dylan McEwan

It has a mid-century modern feel with a retro vibe and it reflects a time that really speaks to me, Foty says. Making the place feel like a picturesque vintage postcard was the ultimate goal.

The affordable hotel just 10 minutes away from downtown prides itself on quality and quantity.

Heights House is affordable luxury. From the beds to the comforters  everything is five star level furniture and finishes inside the rooms, Foty touts. Youll be hard-pressed to find a hotel this size with that many rooms, aside from those downtown, because of how much it costs to build these types of properties. Our pricing is really reasonable and we encourage people to make it a staycation destination.

Dylan McEwan

With an average room ranging anywhere from $100 to $120 a night, Foty explains that the 133-room hotel comes packed with amenities to make guests stays fun and memorable. Packages like Boys Night Out, Rest and Relaxation and Girls Getaway are all customized to fit the needs of hotel guests. Amenities include bottle service, yoga classes, bike and scooter rentals, a shuttle service and more.

Houstonians looking for a unique bar experience are encouraged to stop by and grab a cocktail and bite to eat before heading poolside.

Dylan McEwan

Our bar is open to the public and those that come by for a drink can also purchase a pool pass. Foty explains. Our website allows guests to purchase tickets to events we host and we encourage people to partner with us. We will work with groups on discounts and room rates.

Folks driving through the historic Brooke Smith neighborhood cant miss the larger than life mural, featuring a rocket, blonde pinup girl and a spaceship, facing Cavalcade Street.

Dylan McEwan

It was the biggest piece that faces the street and we wanted to do something artistic that stood out. The signage and mural were two things that tied this concept together, Foty says. We actually hired guys from Monterrey, Mexico. They were really receptive and knocked it out for us.

Heights House, decked out with wall art and neon signs, is poised to be a new summer destination. The undertaking was a labor of love and the owners are excited to usher in a new era for the space.

Dylan McEwan

The Heights House Hotel is a trendy and quirky hotel that offers an experience like no other in Houston, Foty says. Giannukos adds, Its exciting to create a place that future generations will enjoy and recognize as a landmark in the community. Art and beauty doesn't need to be expensive. We wanted to create a beautiful space full of art and color at an accessible price.
Activist, author and academic Barbara Smith has worked since the 1960s for change through causes as diverse as racial justice, anti-imperialism, opposition to the death penalty, feminism, the LGTBQI+ movement and worker's rights. She was a co-founder of Kitchen Table: Women of Color Press, and was named as a Public Service Professor at the state University at Albany; she served two terms (2006-2013) as a member of the City of Albanys Common Council. Her books include "The Truth That Never Hurts: Writings on Race, Gender, and Freedom" (1998, Rutgers University Press), and her career is the subject of "Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around: Forty Years of Movement Building with Barbara Smith," published by SUNY Press.

Q: How did you get to be the Barbara Smith?

A: (Laughs) I'll try to respond in an appropriate fashion: I grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, and I was born in 1946. And  I always then quickly add  that means that I was born into Jim Crow. And even though I was growing up in the north, it absolutely affected us. We lived an almost absolutely segregated life.

My family came from Dublin, Ga., which is a rural little town between Macon and Savannah. I'm a twin, and my sister and I were the first children in the family to be born in the north. I grew up as the civil rights movement was unfolding. And I guess I just got politicized because of what was happening. My family was very racially conscious  or, as we say, they were "race women" and "race men" as well. The church that we attended in Cleveland had a very socially conscious minister and a kind of socially conscious way of doing things, even more so than other churches in Cleveland, because there were certain churches that would host civil rights rallies and civil rights organizations and ours was one of them.

There was a major school boycott in April of 1964 that my sister and I participated in and our family supported us. They didn't say, "You have to go to school." They understood: This is a day for Black kids to stay out of school, because this board of education was continuing to build and place new school buildings in ways that would maintain segregation.

Q: What does it mean to be an activist?

A: A political activist is somebody who is willing to speak out, and also to do work around the causes and issues that they are committed to, and that they believe in. They don't just sit on the sidelines and comment. Because I have an academic background, I know lots of people who have really insightful thoughts and perspectives about what's going on politically, but they don't ever lift a finger. That's not to cast aspersions on any particular group of people.

Being an activist may mean you only come out for protest, or rallies or onetime things. But if you're an organizer, you're pretty much at it on a consistent basis. I hope that I've reached the organizer stage.

Q: What keeps you energized, doing this over 40 years?

A: The success that I have actually experienced over the decades in the movements  plural  that I've been a part of. I haven't just been a part of anti-racist organizing, or Black liberation organizing. I've been involved in multiple movements, including the movement to end the war in Vietnam. I have been centrally involved in building the Black feminist movement in the United States, and also have been a committed feminist since the 1970s, when it was very, very challenging to even say that because there was so much pushback, and so much hostility toward the politics of the women's movement, feminism, women's liberation.

I'm also a part of our LGBTQI+ community. And I'm also a person who questions the current economic status quo, and define myself as a socialist. I've been involved in a lot of different movements including anti-imperialist struggles, such as supporting the work to end apartheid in South Africa. And I was supportive of the Central America Solidarity Movement, because of things that were happening in Latin America in the 1980s.

Jim Crow  at least legal Jim Crow  was ended by the Black civil rights struggle of the mid- and late 20th Century. But now we have all kinds of new Jim Crows  as Michelle Alexander defined it in relationship to the prison industrial complex and mass incarceration; we also have voter suppression all over the United States to make sure that certain people like me don't get to vote. So it's not like the practices of Jim Crow were eradicated. We still have much work to do.

Q: With so much new energy around social movements today, what do you say to new activists and organizers?

A: How do you keep your spirits up and keep engaged when you're doing really hard work? I talked about how the successes keep me going. But most days, you're not going to have successes. You're just going to keep on doing the work and trying to figure out how to get more justice and more transformative change.

But one of the things that I always advise people about is that you should not be miserable doing your activism and your organizing. If it's making you miserable, you need to move on. And that doesn't mean move out of being in movements. But if the issues that you're working on are not a good fit, or if the group of people with whom you're working just get on your last nerve on a regular basis, then you need to move on  you need to find a place or places where you feel wholly seen and fulfilled, and can actually get really good work done.

If you're miserable, you really do need to change the environment and just find your place  and you absolutely will, if you're committed to everyone having the quality of life and the opportunities, and the things that they need and the things that they desire. If you're committed to that, you'll find your place.

This transcript has been edited.
Since the early days of the pandemic, cryptocurrency has enjoyed a huge boom. Now, the state of Texas is hopping on the bandwagon.

CNBC reported that the value of the cryptocurrency market topped $2 trillion for the first time in April. Citizens and celebrities alike have taken a keen interest in cryptocurrency.

CRYPTO BOOM: Rappers everywhere are getting in on the fun with cryptocurrency

Now, as first reported by Natalie Walters at The Dallas Morning News, Texas banks will be able to provide crypto banking services.

The Texas Department of Banking announced Thursday that state-chartered banks have the authority to provide custody or safekeeping services for virtual currencies.

Marcus Adams, the state banking departments assistant general counsel, said it's good that Texas was able to get in front of the cryptocurrency boom. Adams told the Morning News that "Texas is seeing the rise in the virtual currency industry and trying to get out ahead of it and ensure our regulated banks are prepared to remain competitive."

WHERE TO PURCHASE: 5 Best Places To Buy Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency Online

If someone has shares of Bitcoin or other virtual currencies like Ethereum or Litecoin, they can give that responsibility to a third-party bank in Texas. The bank can store a copy of the key as they do with important documents, or the customer can transfer the cryptocurrency into one of the state-chartered banks.

The Texas Department of Banking announcement comes before Abbott's signing ceremony for the forthcoming "Virtual Currency Bill" that recognizes virtual currencies' legality. Texas would become the second state after Wyoming to recognize blockchain and cryptocurrency.

Abbott is seemingly on board with virtual currency, as he's shared multiple tweets in support of the bill.

"Blockchain is a booming industry that Texas needs to be involved in. I just signed a law for Texas to create a master plan for expanding the blockchain industry in Texas," Abbott tweeted out last week.

Although this new role is available for banks, not all will be capable of taking it on once risk management is assessed.
Firefighters made quick work of a small fire inside a warehouse at a Tesla dealership in west Houston early Tuesday morning.

Workers inside the warehouse at 9633 Westheimer reported smoke "with an electrical smell" around 6:30 a.m., according to Houston Fire spokesperson Alicia Whitehead-Breaux.

BOLD STRATEGY: Houston TV reporter goes off-script, claims to be muzzled on-air

Firefighters quickly arrived and found a piece of equipment, which appears to be a Supercharger cabinet, was smoking but no longer on fire.

Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association

Photos shared by the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association show burn marks on the piece of equipment and a smoke-filled warehouse.

Crews used a fan to clear the smoke out of the building and eventually let workers back inside. No injuries were reported.

A Tesla representative did not immediately respond for comment (although they typically don't respond to media requests, according to Electrek).
GILA BEND, Ariz. (AP)  One person was killed and another seriously injured after a small plane crashed and caught fire after taking off from Gila Bend Municipal Airport on Tuesday morning, authorities said.

A spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration said the plane went down about 8:20 a.m. near the airports runway.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP)  Scottsdale police have arrested two more people in connection with the looting at the city's signature mall more than a year ago.

Authorities on Tuesday said they identified a couple last month who were seen on surveillance video breaking into a Mercedes-Benz dealership at Scottsdale Fashion Square and stealing sunglasses.
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP)  The Alaska House passed a state budget late Tuesday but failed to garner sufficient support for a roughly $1,100 dividend for residents this year, which was the higher of two potential payouts under the package.

Dividends typically have been paid using earnings from the states oil-wealth fund, the Alaska Permanent Fund. But the budget agreement that advanced from a six-member conference committee on Sunday cobbled together money for dividends from various sources, including the constitutional budget reserve fund that requires three-fourths support in each the House and Senate to tap. That so-called three-quarter vote failed Tuesday night in the House, where 30 votes were needed. The vote was 24-15.

The Legislative Finance Division has said a failure to reach the three-quarter vote threshold would mean $525 dividend checks this year. The last time the check was in the $500 range was in 1986.

House Minority Leader Cathy Tilton, a Wasilla Republican, said the conference committee made fund-source choices that were not necessary. The budget proposal tied strings to funding for programs beside the dividend, including oil and gas tax credits and some infrastructure projects, making them subject to the three-quarter vote.

Rep. Ben Carpenter, a Nikiski Republican, called the approach risky and said that was the choice of the crafters of the budget proposal, not his choice.

But Rep. Ivy Spohnholz, an Anchorage Democrat, said House members did have choices, including whether to support an $1,100 dividend and to keep pots of money from being swept into the constitutional budget reserve.

Under the state constitution, funds taken from constitutional budget reserve, which lawmakers have relied on for years to fill budget gaps, are to be repaid. The budget plan included language that has been used in prior budget cycles meant to prevent a long list of accounts used for such things as student scholarships and rural electric costs from being swept into the reserve fund. The three-quarter vote also was needed to do this.

The House convened around 7:30 p.m., 9 1/2 hours after it was originally set to meet, following a day marked by closed-door meetings between lawmakers as they evaluated options for securing votes and completing their work ahead of a Friday special session deadline.

House Majority Leader Chris Tuck told reporters before the floor session that a failed vote would mean lawmakers would need to keep negotiating.

The Senate was expected to take up the budget Wednesday. The House also adjourned until Wednesday.

In 2018, lawmakers began using permanent fund earnings, long used to pay dividends, to help cover government expenses, and sought to limit withdrawal amounts for dividends and government costs. The withdrawal limit for the fiscal year starting July 1 is about $3.1 billion.

One of the big debates surrounding the budget was whether to exceed that limit. The director of the Legislative Finance Division has said the withdrawal limit would be adhered to under the budget plan.

The budget plan also would move $4 billion from spendable permanent fund earnings to the funds constitutionally protected principal. Such transfers arent subject to the withdrawal limit.

There was an estimated $11.3 billion in uncommitted funds in the permanent funds earnings reserve as of April 30, according to the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp.
ALBANY, Ga. (AP)  Military weapons including assault rifles and pistols have been lost or stolen from bases in Georgia.

An Associated Press investigation into firearms missing from the U.S. armed services shows at least 37 guns disappeared or were recovered in Georgia between 2010 and 2019.
PHOENIX (AP)  The Arizona Legislature will convene in special session this week to consider adding $100 million in funding for fighting wildfires and to boost the amount of money available to clear hazardous brush and deal with the damage of flooding from fire-ravaged mountains.

Gov. Doug Ducey formally called for the special session Monday after announcing last week during a tour of two large fires burning in south-central Arizona that he planned the session to focus on the issue.

This wildfire season has already been devastating, and we still have a long, hot summer ahead of us, Ducey said in a statement. While Arizona has strong wildfire suppression and prevention efforts in place, we need to do more.

House Speaker Rusty Bowers said the session is badly needed after firefighting efforts used up funding for the current and coming year. Details of the funding requests were finalized at a meeting Monday afternoon between House and Democratic leaders of both political parties.

Bowers said Sunday that he thought between $10 million and $20 million would be needed for the state Fire Suppression Fund and possibly $50 million for flood prevention and other recovery efforts.

It could be more, and Im willing to do more, Bowers said. We have the funds now, and we need to make sure that we are ready."

The number turned out to be quite a bit more  $25 million to pay for state prisoners to clear brush under direction of state forestry officials and $75 million for the fire fund, to help affected people and property owners recover and to prepare for the fallout from multiple large fires that have burned across the state so far this fire season.

Bowers, Senate President Karen Fann, Senate Minority Leader Rebecca Rios and House Minority Leader Reginald Bolding met with the state forester and other Ducey administration officials Monday afternoon to discuss the scope of needed funding.

This wildfire season has already given us an idea of whats to come, and we need resources to protect Arizonas communities and first responders, Rios said in a statement. This investment is necessary to support those in need and help safety officials fight wildfires in the state, while also providing aid for communities afterward.

The special session will run for three days beginning Tuesday along with the regular session that has been stalled over the inability of lawmakers to reach a deal on the overall state budget.

Bowers sought the session after two fires broke out in the mountains southeast of Phoenix early this month that together blackened 257 square miles ( 666 sq. km.) of brush and forest near Globe. One fire is mainly contained while new evacuations were ordered for the other Monday. Other fires are burning across the state.

The governors January budget proposal noted that state firefighting costs exceeded $39 million in the last five years while appropriations were only about $20 million. He sought a boost in that spending.

The governor also sought to increase the amount of cash put into an emergency fund he controls and often uses to make up the difference in actual firefighting expenses.

Firefighting efforts may be paid for with either state or federal funding, depending on the fire's location on public or private land, among other factors.

Bowers lost his longtime family retreat home last week in one of the fires burning near Globe and Miami. He lives in Mesa, but he said his grandmother was a milkmaid in Globe when she met his grandfather and his family has deep roots in the community.

I know firsthand how devastating the wildfires are this year, Bowers said in a statement. Families have been displaced, nonprofits are working hard to support those in need, and firefighters are working day and night to contain fires."

"We need to make sure they have the financial resources to get through this wildfire season and prepare for the future he said.

The Legislature remains in session as lawmakers try to get enough votes to pass a $12.8 billion budget and massive tax cuts Republican legislative leaders negotiated with Ducey, so there is no pressing need for a special session to get the new funding.

But Ducey said a special session will help focus lawmakers on a single subject that has bipartisan support even as they are deadlocked on the budget.
GENEVA (AP)  President Joe Biden on Tuesday unveiled picks for nine ambassadorial postings, tapping career diplomats steeped in foreign policy experience  as well as political allies and aviation hero Sully Sullenberger.

The picks include former Interior Secretary Ken Salazar as ambassador to Mexico and former Deputy Secretary of State Tom Nides as ambassador to Israel. Retired airline pilot C.B. Sully" Sullenberger, most famous for negotiating the emergency landing of US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River with no fatalities, has been named to serve as U.S. representative on the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization.

The announcement comes as Biden is on the tail end of an eight-day European trip that included stops in the United Kingdom for a meeting of the Group of Seven leaders and Belgium for a gathering of the 27 NATO countries and the U.S.-EU summit. The trip culminates in Geneva on Wednesday with a highly anticipated meeting with Russias Vladimir Putin, where the leaders are to discuss rising tensions between their countries.

As a candidate, Biden declined to rule out appointing political donors to ambassadorships or other posts if he was elected. But he pledged that his nominees, regardless of their contributor status, would be the best people for their posts  suggesting he would move away from former President Donald Trumps heavy reliance on political appointees and rely more on the State Departments well of career foreign service officers.

More than 43% of Trumps ambassadorial appointments were political appointees, compared with 30.5% for Barack Obama and 31.8% for George W. Bush, according to the American Foreign Service Association. Biden hopes to keep political appointments to about 30% of ambassador picks, according to the White House.

Nobody, in fact, will be appointed by me based on anything they contributed, Biden promised last year.

All the nominees must receive Senate confirmation before they can assume their roles.

Biden's other picks include:

Julie Jiyoon Chung, a senior adviser to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, to serve as ambassador to Sri Lanka.

Sharon Cromer, who currently serves as the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director at the U.S. Embassy, Accra, Ghana, to serve as ambassador to Gambia.

Troy Fitrell, currently the director of the Office of West African Affairs at the State Department, to serve as ambassador to Guinea. He has served as deputy chief of mission at the U.S. embassies in Ethiopia and Mauritius, as deputy director of the Departments Office of Southern African Affairs, and as deputy director of the Office of International Security Cooperation in the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs.

Marc Ostfield, a 30-year veteran of the State Department, to serve as ambassador to Paraguay. Ostfield is currently the ombudsman of the State Department.

Julianne Julie Smith, a former Obama administration national security aide currently serving as a senior adviser to the Secretary of State, to serve as permanent representative on the NATO council. She served as deputy national security adviser to Biden when he was vice president.

Cynthia Telles, a clinical professor in the department of psychiatry at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, to serve as ambassador to Costa Rica. Telles also was a prominent fundraiser for the Biden White House campaign.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP)  Short explanations of why a North Carolina state or local government employee was transferred, demoted or suspended would be accessible by the public or media in legislation approved by the Senate on Monday night.

The measure, backed by the North Carolina Press Association and opposed by the State Employees Association of North Carolina, builds upon current law that states the general description of the reasons for a workers promotion is a public record.

The legislation, which now goes to the House for consideration after a 28-19 vote, would require that general description for a number of other employee changes, including dismissals, when requested.

State law already says an agencys final written explanation about why someone has been fired must also be provided when requested.

The proposal was reworked in several committee meetings to make clear health information and unsubstantiated accusations by supervisor can't be made public. And now the measure, which would take effect with work actions starting Dec. 1, would tell government employers to create policies that allow workers to challenge the description wording.

That wasn't enough for some senators  mostly Democrats  who remain worried that employees will be sullied by allegations that will get posted online and lack the resources to fight them. There was little floor debate Monday before three Democrats and all but one Republican cast the yes votes.

The bill, pushed by GOP Sen. Norm Sanderson of Pamlico County, also would apply to workers of the University of North Carolina and community college system, sheriffs deputies and police officers and regional mental health agencies.

The N.C. Press Association has said the access expansion will put North Carolina in line with 35 other states that already provide this level of personnel information to the public. North Carolina law limits what other information from a personnel file is public, to items such a worker's' age, start date and current title and salary.

Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, who sponsored a similar personnel information measure while he was in the Senate in the 1990s, was noncommittal earlier Monday about whether hed back this years legislation, saying he wants to see the final product.

I do believe that transparency is important. Obviously, there are issues that need to be protected when it comes to personnel records, Cooper said at a ceremony to sign unrelated legislation. adding that the personnel bill is changing some as it moves forward.
GENNA MARTIN/SEATTLEPI.COM

SEATTLE (AP)  A body was recovered from Elliott Bay near Piers 55 and 56 on Monday afternoon, according to the Seattle Police Department.

A water rescue response team discovered a person dead in the water near the 1200 block of Alaskan Way, the Seattle Times reported. They found the body after responding to reports of a person in distress around 2:45 p.m., Seattle Fire Department spokesperson Kristin Tinsley said.
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP)  China flew a record 28 fighter jets toward the self-ruled island of Taiwan on Tuesday, the island's defense ministry said, the largest such display of force since Beijing began sending planes on a near daily basis last year.

Taiwan's air force deployed its combat air patrol forces in response and monitored the situation in the southwestern part of the island's air defense identification zone with its air defense systems, the Ministry of National Defense said.

The planes included various types of fighter jets including 14 J-16 and six J-11 planes, as well as bombers, the ministry said.

China's show of force comes after leaders of the Group of Seven industrialized nations issued a statement Sunday calling for a peaceful resolution of cross-Taiwan Strait issues and underscored the importance of peace and stability.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian on Tuesday said the G-7 was deliberately "interfering in Chinas internal affairs.

Chinas determination to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests is unwavering, he said.

Taiwan and China split during a civil war in 1949, but China continues to claim Taiwan as part of its territory. Taiwan has been self-ruled since then.

Since the election of President Tsai Ing-wen in 2016, China has increased diplomatic and military pressure on the government over her refusal to agree to Chinas insistence that the island be considered part of Chinese territory.

The vast majority of Taiwanese reject the prospect of political union with China under the one country, two systems framework used for Hong Kong.

Since last year, China has been flying fighter jets toward the island almost daily in what it calls a demonstration of its seriousness in defending its national sovereignty.

Previously, the largest such maneuver was in March, when China sent 25 fighter planes toward Taiwan.
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP)  Colombias president named a new ambassador to Washington on Monday, as he tries to improve his nations image abroad and maintain bilateral programs with the U.S. that have been jeopardized by recent abuses against protesters.

President Ivan Duque said that Juan Carlos Pinzon  who was defense minister from 2011 to 2015 -- will be Colombias ambassador to the United States, where he is expected to begin his duties in August.

Pinzon, 49, had already been Colombias ambassador to Washington between 2015 and 2017, when Colombias government signed a peace deal with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia that was backed by the U.S. and ended five decades of internal conflict in the South American country.

But after leaving his post as ambassador, Pinzon became a critic of the peace deal, saying its terms were too lenient to rebel commanders who committed war crimes and that it gave strategic advantages to drug trafficking groups still operating in Colombia.

Pinzon ran for vice president unsuccessfully in 2018 with the conservative Radical Change party.

His appointment comes as violence against protesters tarnishes Colombias image in the U.S. and creates frictions with some U.S. members of congress. In May, a group of 55 members of the House of Representatives wrote a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in which they asked him to suspend aid to Colombias police and stop sales of riot gear until progress was made on human rights.

More than 50 people have been killed in antigovernment protests that began on April 28. According to Human Rights Watch, at least 20 of those deaths can be attributed to police officers who have shot at protesters with firearms or delivered fatal injuries with tear gas canisters.

Speaking Monday, Pinzon said he will work across party lines to improve the relationship with the United States.

He said reaching consensus on human rights issues will be on his agenda, but he also mentioned that he will work with the U.S. to fight drug trafficking groups, implement initiatives against climate change and try to find resources for programs that generate employment for Colombian youth.

Colombia received $350 million in U.S. military aid in 2020. Both countries have been working closely in recent years to isolate Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and bring about free elections in that country.

While relations between the U.S. and Colombia are still strong, they were recently blemished by the efforts of politicians from Duque's party to back Donald Trumps re-election in Florida in November, through campaigns that depicted Biden as a supporter of authoritarian regimes in Latin America.
MEXICO CITY (AP)  Mexico received 1.35 million doses of Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccines donated by the United States Tuesday and Mexican officials said that once they are applied, there would be no reason to continue restricting travel over the U.S. border.

The U.S. vaccine shipment will be used to vaccinate anyone over 18 in four cities along the U.S. border: Tijuana, Mexicali, Ciudad Juarez and Reynosa. Mexico has said the goal is to boost vaccination rates there to levels similar to the U.S. cities they adjoin.

Foreign Relations Secretary Marcelo Ebrard, who was meeting with U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in Mexico City, said that after the vaccinations there will be no public health arguments for keeping the border closed.

The U.S. and Mexico have restricted border crossings to essential travel since early in the pandemic.

Assistant Health Secretary Hugo Lopez-Gatell said the expanded vaccinations in border cities could begin Wednesday. Mexico is seeking to acquire more of the vaccine to inoculate all border residents.

Mexico has also donated 100,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine to Belize and 150,000 doses to Bolivia and Paraguay. Those vaccines were produced in Argentina and bottled at a plant in Mexico.

Mexico is running its own vaccination program using a mix of vaccines. That program is currently focusing on people over 40, and and has so far administered about 26 million shots, enough to cover about 30% of people in the country over 18.

Mexico had seen a fairly steady decline in coronavirus cases since an upsurge in December and January. However, this week the national reported case number rose by 8%, something Lopez-Gatell attributed to a recent surge in cases in the state of Yucatan and the Caribbean coast state of Quintana Roo.

There is a significant increase in case numbers in those states and additional social-distancing measures are being implemented, he said.

The beach resorts of Quintana Roo are the country's main tourist attraction. An increase in cases has also been reported in Baja California Sur, home to the twin resorts of Los Cabos.

A popular domestic television reality competition show, Guerreros, announced Tuesday that it is suspending filming because some members of the cast or crew tested positive for COVID-19.

As the government's point man on the pandemic, Lopez-Gatell had been criticized for casting doubt on the usefulness of face masks and for taking a beach vacation and walking in a public park at one point when he himself had been infected.

But Lopez Obrador heaped praise on the assistant health secretary Tuesday, calling him "a model public servant."

Lopez Obrador also returned to his old practice of comparing Mexico's coronavirus death rate to that of other countries, crowing about Mexico supposedly suffering fewer per-capita deaths than many other countries, including the United States, Brazil and Argentina.

However, Lopez Obrador was using test-confirmed death numbers of about 230,000, which his own administration acknowledges is a vast undercount because the country does so little testing. Government reviews of death certificates suggest the real toll is now over 360,000.

The issue is a sensitive one, because Mexico's nearly three-month delay in bottling Argentine vaccines may have delayed vaccinations in the South American country and contributed to its elevated death rate.

The Mexican plant had trouble obtaining materials to complete the process, known as fill and finish.
PHOENIX (AP)  Gov. Doug Ducey on Tuesday blocked a new Arizona State University policy that would have required unvaccinated students to submit to twice-weekly COVID-19 testing and wear a mask, calling the decision bad policy.

The Republican governor issued an executive order saying students at the state's public universities and community colleges cant be required to get the vaccine, submit vaccination documents, be tested or forced to wear masks.

ASU and the Board of Regents, which oversees the states three public universities, said they would comply with Duceys order. An ASU statement noted that it never issued a vaccine mandate but was following guidelines for universities from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by ensuring that unvaccinated people continue to follow protocols like masking.

The CDC recognizes the unique environments of institutions of higher learning; the ASU student population includes people from all 50 states and more than 130 countries, the statement said.

Ducey's order came after he criticized the ASU policy in a series of tweets Monday night. He said the rules for students attending class in person this fall has no basis in public health and that even the Biden administration has been more reasonable.

But the governor also included a screenshot of a quote from the CDC's director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, that appeared to contradict his own position.

The science demonstrates that if you are fully vaccinated, you are protected, Walensky is quoted as saying. It is the people who are not fully vaccinated in those settings, who might not be wearing a mask, who are not protected.

In an interview with KTAR radio before Ducey's executive order was issued, ASU President Michael Crow said he believes the governor and other critics of the policy may have misinterpreted it, calling it essentially an extension of current rules that say vaccinated people don't need to wear masks in most cases.

I think what happened here was some people thought that we were requiring vaccinations, initially, which we werent, Crow said. I think thats just gotten some people very upset, and hopefully theyll take a closer look at it."

Crow said the university has been consistently pushing for a full return to in-person learning and is not requiring COVID-19 vaccines as many universities are doing.

Were allowing freedom of choice," Crow said. So we expect vaccinations, but if you dont get vaccinated, then youve got to follow CDC guidelines for institutions of higher education, which are quite clear."

The ASU policy, sent to students last week by Vice President of Student Services Joanne Vogel and posted online Monday, said the university expected students to get a vaccine since they are now widely available and are highly effective at preventing COVID-19 infection and reducing the spread of the virus.

It had said students who do not provide proof of vaccination would have had to wear a mask indoors and outdoors, submit to twice-weekly virus testing and do a daily online health check.

Ducey reacted by saying the vaccine works but is a choice and calling public education a right that taxpayers are paying for.

This policy is social engineering at its worst, Ducey tweeted. Health policy should be based on science, not virtue signaling. In America, freedom wins.

He announced that Republican state Sen. T.J. Shope will introduce legislation to make his executive order a law. Shope and other GOP lawmakers had tweeted that they opposed the ASU rules.

GOP Rep. Travis Grantham called the policy  discriminatory and onerous and called on the university to immediately rescind it. He said he would propose withholding funding from ASU if the policy remained.
BRUSSELS (AP)  The European Union's top official urged both sides to think about their long-term relationship and put an end to the bloc's spat with the U.K. over post-Brexit trade arrangements.

Lengthy negotiations over Britain's divorce from the EU have already been complicated, and the practical separation between the former partners proves to be a thorny issue, too.

In their latest feud, the EU is angry over the British governments delay in implementing new checks on some goods coming into Northern Ireland from the rest of the U.K., as was agreed upon in the Brexit deal. On the other hand, Britain says those checks are imposing a big burden on U.K. businesses and destabilizing Northern Irelands peace.

Ive always said I want a new beginning with old friends," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Tuesday. We see that at the beginning now there are difficulties, and there are serious issues that have to be solved . Im deeply convinced, with a constructive approach, and with the notion that we know its a long-term relationship we are building here, this issues just can be overcome."

At the heart of their dispute lies the Northern Ireland protocol, a Brexit mechanism that created a trade border in the Irish Sea to avoid creating a hard border between Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland. An open Irish border helped underpin the peace process that ended decades of sectarian violence in Northern Ireland.

We know that the withdrawal agreement and the protocol are the best we could have gotten in a complicated situation," Von der Leyen said. Now its our duty on both sides to make sure that it works and and to implement it."

The bloc is threatening legal action if the U.K. does not fully bring in the checks, which include a ban on chilled meats from England, Scotland and Wales going to Northern Ireland beginning next month.

The post-Brexit dispute has raised political tensions in Northern Ireland, where some people identify as British and some as Irish. U.S. President Joe Biden has even been drawn into the spat, raising concerns about the potential threat to Northern Irelands peace accord.

Relations between the EU and the U.K. have been strained since a Brexit transition period ended on Jan. 1. The two sides have also argued so far this year over issues ranging from COVID-19 vaccine supplies to the full diplomatic recognition of the EU in Britain.
WARSAW, Poland (AP)  The European Union's top court said Tuesday that the Czech Republic is pressing for Poland to be fined 5 million euros ($6 million) for every day it ignores the courts order last month to immediately shut a lignite mine near the two countries' border.

The announcement by the European Court of Justice came as Poland is in talks with the Czech government to settle the years-long spat over the Turow mine out of court. A round of talks is expected Thursday in Prague and the request for the stiff fine will complicate the agenda.

Poland's leaders have been saying that the talks are going in the right direction.

The court said on Twitter that the Czechs have asked it to impose a daily 5 million penalty on Poland for not having immediately ceased lignite mining activities in the Turow mine.

Prague says the operation of the open-cast mine in the south-western tip of Poland, near the Czech and German borders, is draining water from Czech villages in the area and has sued Poland to the EU court.

On May 21, the court issued a temporary injunction telling Poland to close Turow immediately, pending the full verdict which, however, can take many months.

Poland's authorities did not cease the mine's operation, arguing it directly feeds the Turow power plant that produces some 7% of the nations energy, used by millions of households and many industries, and that Poland cannot do without it.

On Monday, Czech Environment Minister Richard Brabec said a draft of an agreement had been sent to Warsaw that includes conditions for withdrawing the case from the EU court, but he revealed no details.

Poland also argues it is not being treated fairly because the Czech Republic and Germany operate a number of lignite mines close to Polands borders without facing conflicts.

Some 48% of Polands energy comes from hard black coal and 17% from softer and more polluting lignite, or brown coal. Another 25% comes from various renewable sources and biofuels, and 10% comes from gas and other sources.
NEW YORK (AP)  A former CIA software engineer accused of leaking secrets to WikiLeaks notified a judge Tuesday that he wants to represent himself at an October retrial on espionage charges.

Joshua Schulte, 32, plans to proceed on his own behalf, defense attorney Sabrina Shroff told U.S. District Judge Paul A. Crotty during a court hearing.

The judge then directed prosecutors to submit legal papers on issues surrounding a hearing that would be conducted to ensure Schultes right to a fair trial is protected.

Shroff said the judge may have to decide if Schulte is fit to represent himself and then could assign his lawyers to assist him as what is known as standby counsel.

Schulte has pleaded not guilty in the 2017 release of secrets by WikiLeaks that resulted from what prosecutors have labeled the largest leak of classified information in CIA history.

The so-called Vault 7 leak revealed how the CIA hacked Apple and Android smartphones in overseas spying operations and efforts to turn internet-connected televisions into listening devices.

After a year-long investigation, authorities arrested Schulte, who had already left the CIA after falling out with colleagues and supervisors and moved to New York City to work at a news agency.

His lawyers argued at his first trial last year that the leak could have been made by many others. A jury then deadlocked on the espionage charges while convicting him of less serious charges of contempt of court and making false statements.

Prior to his arrest, Schulte worked as a coder at the agencys headquarters in Langley, Virginia, where some of the CIAs digital sleuths design computer code to spy on foreign adversaries.

In January, Schulte represented himself in a court filing in which he complained that he was subjected to cruel and unusual punishment by being forced to await trial in solitary confinement in a vermin-infested cell of a jail unit where inmates are treated like caged animals.

After the October trial, Schulte will face child pornography charges in a separate trial.
ROCKTON, Ill. (AP)  An industrial firefighting team continued battling a fire Tuesday that has consumed an chemical plant in northern Illinois and forced the evacuation of nearby homes and businesses.

Before pouring fire-fighting foam on the Chemtool plant in Rockton, Louisiana-based U.S. Fire Pumps dug a trench around the facility and installed absorbent booms along the Rock River to prevent residual material from escaping into the village's source of drinking water.

Rockton fire Chief Kirk Wilson said the smoke plume from the fire has dissipated substantially as a result of U.S. Fire Pumps' effort

"This is their forte. This is what they do," Wilson said, adding the company has larger pumps and a larger delivery capability to battle the fire than local fire departments. "At this point in time we have detected no visible runoff into the waterway (that) is just west of Chemtool and to our main waterway.

Despite the fire being under control, Wilson said the fire is not completely out.

This is going to continue to burn. When were in the overhaul stage and were moving debris around, things may flair up, Wilson said. But we want to assure the public that it is under control. It is contained in the area of origin in the building where the fire occurred.

The explosions and resulting fires Monday prompted officials to evacuate an estimated 1,000 residents who lived within a 1-mile (1.6-kilometer) radius of the plant and to urge anyone within 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) to wear masks due to the threat posed by airborne impurities, Wilson said.

He said it was unclear when the evacuation order would be lifted, but asked residents to stay vigilant."

We are doing this out of extreme caution. We have come this far in suppressing a very difficult fire with myriad chemicals, Winnebago County Health Department Administrator Sandra Martell said. We want to assure our population that they are safe to return to their homes.

Wilson said once the fires are extinguished, investigators will begin looking into what caused them, he said.

The Chemtool plant in Winnebago County was outfitted with a sprinkler system in 2008, but Wilson said he did not know if that system was still active when the explosion and fires happened.

Bill Snyder, vice president of operations at Lubrizol Corp., the parent company of Chemtool, said he had no information on a possible cause, but that the company would cooperate with authorities. He said it was too early to address the question of whether the plants fire suppression may have failed.

Lubrizol Corp. is owned by Warren Buffetts Berkshire Hathaway conglomerate, based in Nebraska.

More than 80 fire departments have been helping battle the fires, working eight-hour shifts at a time, Wilson said.

Snyder apologized to the local community, particularly those who had to evacuate their homes, noting that the fires had a very severe impact" on residents.

Alicia Tate-Nadeau, director of Illinois Emergency Management Agency, said state officials are working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other entities to monitor air quality, as well as making sure no contaminants enter the local water supply.

This is an ongoing event. Were not out of this yet, Tate-Nadeau said.

The Chemtool plant was inspected by a federal agency less than a month before Monday's blast sent debris raining down onto nearby areas, WLS-TV reported. Inspectors from the U.S. Labor Departments Occupational Health and Safety Administration on May 20 investigated a complaint at the plant.

The station reported that a summary record of that inspection does not explain what was being inspected at the plant. That record states only that the complaint involved safety and health, and the case remains open, the station reported.

OSHA officials said they have six months to complete their investigation at the plant, and no further information will be made public until that work is finished, WLS-TV reported. There are no other outstanding cases or any violations in U.S. records pertaining to the plant.

Chemtool has recorded no U.S. Environmental Protection Agency violations during at least the last three years, the station reported.
JOHANNESBURG (AP)  Confronted with a rapid surge of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, South Africa has returned to tighter restrictions on public gatherings and liquor sales, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced Tuesday night.

The new infections threaten the health systems in several parts of the country, said Ramaphosa in a nationally televised address.

Hospital admissions due to COVID-19 have increased by 59% over the past two weeks, according to Ramaphosa. South Africa's 7-day rolling average of daily new cases has nearly doubled over the past two weeks from 6.69 new cases per 100,000 people on May 31 to 12.71 new cases per 100,000 people on June 14, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Our priority now is to make sure there are enough hospital beds, enough health workers, enough ventilators, and enough oxygen to give the best possible care to every person who needs it, said Ramaphosa.

The massive surge in new infections means that we must once again tighten restrictions on the movement of persons and gatherings, he said.

The nightly curfew has been extended by an hour from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. while religious gatherings indoors are now limited to 50 people. The number of people allowed to gather for social events has been limited to 50 people for indoor events and 100 people for outdoor events.

The retail sale of alcohol will only be permitted between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. from Monday through Thursday.

South Africa has been the country hardest hit by the pandemic in the entire continent, with a cumulative total of more than 1.7 million infections, including 57,000 deaths, accounting for nearly 40% of Africa's total confirmed cases.

The new restrictions come as South Africa also battles to sustain a vaccination drive that has faced delays from global vaccines shortages and this week the news that it must discard 2 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine due to factory contamination in the United States.

Johnson & Johnson had promised to deliver 2 million of its single-shot doses by the end of June, but that is now viewed as in jeopardy because of the recent ruling by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that a large amount of J&J vaccines were contaminated by a problem at a factory producing a component of the vaccine. About 480,000 of South Africa's health care workers have been vaccinated with J&J doses.

Doses of the Pfizer vaccine are being used to inoculate people aged 60 and over. About 1.4 million people have received their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine. According to Ramaphosa, South Africa is expecting to receive 3.1 million Pfizer doses by the end of June.
LAS VEGAS (AP)  A group of gun-rights activists has sued to challenge a new Nevada law banning build-your-own firearms.

The lawsuit was filed days after Gov. Steve Sisolak signed the ban on so-called ghost guns without serial numbers, the Reno Gazette Journal reported Monday.

The Delaware-based Firearms Policy Coalition, which has offices in Nevada, said the new law constitutes a broad and unconstitutional violation of the 2nd Amendment right to keep and bear arms.

In order for a law-abiding individual to exercise their Second Amendment rights, they must have the ability to possess firearms, including those they build themselves, Adam Kraut, the senior director of legal operations for the Firearms Policy Coalition said in a statement.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Nevada, names Gov. Steve Sisolak and Attorney General Aaron Ford as defendants. Messages seeking comment from Sisolak's and Ford's offices were not immediately returned Tuesday.

Federal and local law enforcement officials have warned about loopholes in gun laws that allow people who are generally barred from owning firearms to make them at home, using kits that can be purchased online for a few hundred dollars. The weapons have been found more frequently at crime scenes and have been purchased from gang members by undercover officers.

President Joe Biden has promised to crack down on the homemade firearms. The Justice Department last month released a proposed rule that would require gun-making kits to include a serial number and would require retailers to run background checks before selling some of the kits.

Nevada's law was sponsored by Assemblywoman Sandra Jauregui, a Democrat who survived the 2017 mass shooting on the Las Vegas Strip. Jauregui has said she is committed to passing gun laws in every legislative session to try to make the state safer.
Joe Burbank/AP

Disney plans to restart fireworks shows at its theme parks in Florida and California in the latest move by the company to ease up on pandemic restrictions implemented last year.

The company said Tuesday that firework shows will resume at the beginning of July at Walt Disney World in Florida and on the Fourth of July at Disneyland in California. The fireworks shows had been put on hold to discourage people from gathering together after the parks reopened following virus-related closures last year.
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP)  Family members of a former Louisiana State University president want the school to return a collection of his military items thats being displayed on campus, according to a lawsuit. Theyre also seeking monetary damages for extreme humiliation caused by the universitys denouncement of his segregationist views.

Jill Craft, the attorney representing descendants of Troy H. Middleton, told The Advocate that the suit filed Monday aims to get historical papers and memorabilia back, not to punish the universitys Board of Supervisors for deciding in June 2020 to remove Middletons name from the main library on the Baton Rouge campus.

Middleton was LSU president from 1951 until 1962. He died in 1976. In news reports and letters from his time as president, the former military general described his belief in racial segregation. He said he didnt want Black students on campus but was required to allow them under court order.

LSU Interim President Tom Galligan recommended the name removal last year after meetings with Black student leaders, who raised concerns about inequality and the lack of diversity on campus. Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards supported the removal of Middletons name.

Its not as related to that as it is to the whole notion that LSU took a position to vilify General Middleton, said they wanted no reminders of him on campus and they said, Come get your stuff, Craft said. If the family cannot peacefully retrieve their property, then obviously their entitled to (monetary) damages.

The lawsuit says family members went to campus multiple times to retrieve the collection thats on display in the LSU Military Museum, but the university raised several differing excuses about why they couldnt.

In April, LSU told the family that the university would be keeping approximately one-half of the collection in response to a formal request for its return. Middletons descendants arranged for the items to be transferred to the U.S. Army 45th Infantry Museum in Oklahoma City.

LSU, as a state institution, cannot simply give away the parts of the collection that constitute historical government records and documents that may properly belong to the university and/or the federal government, Ernie Ballard III, a university spokesperson, told The Advocate. We have explained this to his heirs.

Ballard said LSU hopes the lawsuit will allow the court a chance to provide guidance on the ownership of the historical records. He said the family can retrieve Middletons personal belongings and memorabilia in the meantime.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)  No employer, either public or private, could require employees to receive vaccinations under GOP legislation pending in the Ohio House. Also, workers could not be fired as a result of refusing.

The measure before the Republican-controlled House Health Committee has attracted multiple opponents of COVID-19 vaccines but goes further in addressing mandatory requirements for all vaccines, such as for the flu.

"I believe in vaccines and scientific research. I also recognize that vaccination is a personal choice and that, for a variety of reasons, not all Ohioans can or want to receive vaccines," said Rep. Jennifer Gross, a Republican from West Chester in southwestern Ohio, in introducing the bill on May 18.

Gross, a nurse practitioner, told fellow lawmakers she has received other vaccinations but not the one for COVID-19.

The legislation does not mention COVID-19. But Gross made multiple references to employers including hospitals requiring proof of the COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of employment.

The legislation also strengthens notices that schools must provide parents about exemptions they can seek against having their children vaccinated. In addition, the bill would repeal a state law requiring college students to disclose whether theyve been vaccinated against hepatitis B and meningococcal meningitis.

The Health Committee heard testimony Tuesday from opponents of the bill.

Not being able to require employees to receive a flu vaccination, or even inquire if they received it, would be like Russian roulette, Dr. John Crow of Akron's Children Hospital told lawmakers.

"If the armor we wear as health care providers is our vaccination, and we as an administration cant really even know if youre wearing that armor or not, we would either have to have everybody in the hospital in all circumstances wear protective equipment, or we would have to put the patients lives at risk," Crow said in Tuesday morning testimony.

Similar bills have been introduced nationwide, though the Ohio legislation appears to go farther in covering more vaccines than just the one for COVID-19.

In Louisiana, a pending bill would give employers broad exemption from lawsuits if they dont require workers or customers to get the coronavirus vaccine and someone contracts COVID-19.

In Tennessee, a bill that failed to make it far in the GOP-dominant Legislature would have prohibited an employer from requiring an employee to receive an immunization or vaccination for COVID-19 against the will of the employee as a condition of maintaining employment. Similar bills were introduced in Connecticut, Indiana, and Maryland this year, among others.

Hundreds of people supporting the Ohio bill have provided written testimony or traveled to the Statehouse to testify in favor.

Each person has the right to medical privacy and should have the right to choose their own medical path according to their conscience," Sally Jones, 52, a mother of three children in Hilliard in suburban Columbus, wrote the committee in testimony submitted on May 25. It is the responsibility of each individual to take care of their own health. That is NOT the responsibility of the government.

Jones' anti-vaccine position was common among people testifying in support. But many individuals singled out the coronavirus, saying that requiring that particular vaccine was a road to socialism or worse and likening the stigma of not receiving the COVID-19 vaccine to Jews forced by Nazis to wear yellow stars.

One opponent, Ohio Dr. Sherri Tenpenny, set off a social media frenzy and launched multiple internet memes when she testified on June 8 that people have become magnetized by the virus, allowing metal to stick to their skin.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a bulletin June 3 specifically debunking this falsehood, explaining that all COVID-19 vaccines are free from metals.

The Ohio bill is opposed by almost every statewide business organization, including the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, and numerous hospitals, state associations of doctors and nurses, and other health care groups.

If passed, this legislation has the potential to reverse decades of immunity from life-threatening, but vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, mumps, hepatitis, meningitis and tuberculosis, a business and health care coalition said in a statement.

Republican Gov. Mike DeWine also opposes the bill. Last week, minutes after introducing the latest winners of the state's Vax-a-Million incentive lottery, he reviewed the impact that vaccines have had on society.

Before modern medicine, diseases such as mumps, polio, whooping cough were common and caused great, great, great suffering and death to thousands of people every single year, DeWine said.

___

Associated Press writers Kimberlee Kruesi in Nashville and Melinda Deslatte in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, contributed to this report.
CONCORD, N.H. (AP)  House budget negotiators on Tuesday went along with the Senate version of a provision that would prohibit teaching school children or public employees that one race is superior to another or that one inherently discriminates against another.

The House had included language in its budget defining numerous divisive concepts that would be banned from being taught in schools or by public employers during diversity and inclusion training.
BOISE, Idaho (AP)  Idaho officials on Tuesday approved payments of $1.4 million and $1.2 million, respectively, to two men who spent decades in prison for crimes they didnt commit.

Republican Gov. Brad Little and two other statewide-elected members of the Idaho Board of Examiners approved the payments to Charles Fain and Christopher Tapp.

Republican Sen. Doug Ricks, who spearheaded legislation this year to compensate people wrongfully convicted in Idaho, said Fain and Tapp will likely get checks in the next several days.

I've very pleased that we're to this point, Ricks said. We can give compensation to try to offset some of the pain that we have caused them."

Fain, who is getting $1.4 million, was convicted of kidnapping, rape and murder in 1983 following the death of 9-year-old Daralyn Johnson. In 1984 he was sentenced to death. He came within four days of being executed at one point, Ricks said.

DNA evidence not available at the time of the conviction later cleared him, and he was released in 2001. Authorities last year identified a possible suspect in Daralyn's killing: David Dalrymple, who is already serving a life sentence for kidnapping and sexual assault of a minor in a different case.

Tapp was convicted of rape and murder following the 1996 death of Angie Dodge. He was released in 2017, and DNA evidence cleared him in 2019. Brian Leigh Dripps was arrested on DNA evidence in 2019 and charged with rape and murder in Dodges death. The 55-year-old Dripps was sentenced to life in prison last week.

The Idaho Innocence Project provided legal support to help Fain and Tapp.

Lawmakers earlier this year passed the Idaho Wrongful Conviction Act, which cleared the House and Senate unanimously and was signed into law by Little in early March, taking effect immediately.

Little vetoed a similar bill last year brought forward by Ricks when he was a representative in the House. At the time, the governor cited his concerns that it set up an adversarial court proceeding between the state and the wrongly convicted that, Little said, would likely be time-consuming and expensive.

The bill Little signed this year has a different, faster procedure, with state officials approving payments after a wrongfully convicted person obtains a certificate of innocence from a court.

The approval by the Board of Examiners on Tuesday followed a recommendation from the Idaho attorney general's office. State Controller Brandon Woolf is on the board, and it's his office that will issue the checks.

Tapp has a federal lawsuit pending against the city of Idaho Falls and law enforcement officials there concerning his wrongful conviction. Should he win and receive a monetary award, he would have to reimburse the state an equal amount up to the $1.2 million he's receiving.

Ricks said an attorney representing two other people who were wrongfully convicted and served shorter sentences has contacted him about potential compensation.
VERSAILLES, France (AP)  A French court ordered home furnishings giant Ikea to pay some 1.1 million euros ($1.3 million) in fines and damages Tuesday over a campaign to spy on union representatives, employees and some unhappy customers in France.

Two former Ikea France executives were convicted and fined over the scheme and given suspended prison sentences. Among the other 13 defendants in the high-profile trial, some were acquitted and others given suspended sentences.

Adel Amara, a former Ikea employee who helped expose the wrongdoing, called the ruling a big step in defense of the citizen....It makes me glad that there is justice in France.

The panel of judges at the Versailles court found that between 2009 and 2012, Ikea's French subsidiary used espionage to sift out trouble-makers in the employee ranks and to profile squabbling customers.

Ikea France was convicted of receiving personal data obtained through fraudulent means in a habitual way, and ordered to pay 1 million euros in fines and about 100,000 euros ($121,225) in damages.

Ingka Group, which owns and operates most Ikea stores, noted in a statement after the verdicts that the French retail operation has strongly condemned the practices, apologized and implemented a major action plan to prevent this from happening again."

We will now review the courts decision in detail and consider if and where any additional measures are necessary, the group said.

Trade unions accused Ikea France of collecting personal data by fraudulent means, notably via illegally obtained police files, and illicitly disclosing personal information. Lawyers for Ikea France denied that the company had any strategy of generalized espionage.

A lawyer for the unions, Solene Debarre, expressed hope that the verdict would make some companies tremble.

One million euros isn't much for Ikea, but it's a symbol," Debarre said.

The company, which said it cooperated in the investigation, had faced a potential financial penalty of up to 3.75 million euros ($4.5 million). Prosecutor Pamela Tabardel asked the court to hand an exemplary sentence and a strong message to all companies.

The executive who was in charge of risk management at the time of the spying, Jean-Francois Paris, acknowledged to French judges that 530,000 to 630,000 euros a year were earmarked for such investigations. Paris  the only official to have admitted to the alleged illegal sleuthing  said his department was responsible for handling the operation on orders from former Ikea France CEO Jean-Louis Baillot.

Paris was convicted of fraudulently gathering personal data, fined 10,000 euros ($12,125) and given an 18-month suspended sentence.

Baillot, who denied ordering a spy operation, was convicted of receiving fraudulently collected data and complicity in the scheme. He was fined 50,000 euros ($60,626) and given a two-year suspended sentence.

Another former CEO of Ikea France was acquitted for lack of evidence.

Ikea Frances lawyer, Emmanuel Daoud, said the company hadnt decided whether to appeal. He said the case was marked by a lack of hard evidence, and noted that the fines were well below the maximum possible.

The court took into account the action plan that Ikea put in place after the revelation of the facts, in 2012. That's very satisfying, Daoud said.

The company fired four executives and changed internal policy after French prosecutors opened a criminal probe in 2012.

Trade unions alleged that Ikea France paid to gain access to police files that had information about targeted individuals, particularly union activists and customers who were in disputes with Ikea.

In one situation, Ikea France was accused of using unauthorized information to try to catch an employee who had claimed unemployment benefits but drove a Porsche. In another alleged instance of illegal prying, the subsidiary reportedly investigated an employees criminal record to determine how the employee was able to own a BMW on a low income.

The company also faces potential damages from separate civil lawsuits filed by unions and 74 employees.

Ikea's France subsidiary employs more than 10,000 people in 34 stores, an e-commerce site and a customer support center.

___

This story corrects the spelling of the first name of former employee to Adel, not Abel.

___

Jeffrey Schaeffer in Versailles and Elaine Ganley in Paris contributed.
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)

Dov Waxman, University of California, Los Angeles

(THE CONVERSATION) There is something Shakespearean about Benjamin Netanyahus downfall.

As in a scene from Julius Caesar, who was assassinated by Roman senators, Netanyahu was deposed by his former underlings, the leaders of the three right-wing parties that have joined the new government  Naftali Bennett, Avigdor Lieberman and Gideon Saar, all of whom once worked for Netanyahu.

If two of these men had remained loyal to Netanyahu, as they had been for years, then he would still be in power today.

Instead, Netanyahu, Israels longest-serving prime minister, has finally been dethroned. King Bibi, as his devoted supporters hail him, ruled Israel for a total of 15 years, including a short stint in the 1990s. He returned to power in 2009, and for the past 12 years he dominated Israeli politics and came to personify Israel in the eyes of the world.

But while personal grudges and political rivalries largely due to Netanyahus preening personality have no doubt played a key role in his ouster, they do not fully account for the unyielding opposition he has engendered.

It is not simply a result of individual grievances and political ambitions that Netanyahu can no longer appease or politically buy off his rivals. Nor is it just because they no longer believe any of his promises. As a scholar of Israeli politics, I think that it is also, even primarily, because Netanyahu has come to be seen as a danger to Israeli democracy itself, just as former President Donald Trump was in the United States.

Becoming a demagogue

In recent years, particularly since he was indicted on corruption charges in several cases involving bribery, fraud and breach of trust, Netanyahu has become increasingly autocratic.

During a period when democracies around the world have been challenged by authoritarian populists such as Trump, Hungarys Viktor Orban, Turkeys Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Indias Narendra Modi, Brazils Jair Bolsonaro and Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines, Netanyahu has eagerly joined this global club of illiberal strongmen and publicly embraced these controversial leaders.

Domestically, he adopted many of their tactics, trying to undermine the independence of the judiciary, neuter regulators, control or muzzle the media and use the power of patronage to reward loyalists and punish critics.

Netanyahu has also frequently employed populist rhetoric, railing against the supposedly leftist elite, the deep state and the fake news media, all of whom he has alleged are conspiring against him.

He has portrayed himself as the victim of sinister, shadowy and powerful groups who are the enemies of the people. In classic populist fashion, Netanyahu has claimed that only he represents the people, specifically, Israeli Jews, since Arab citizens of Israel are cast as dangerous Others. He demonizes his political opponents as threats to the nation, even traitors.

By deftly manipulating the fears and prejudices of the Israeli public, Netanyahu became, essentially, a demagogue.

Personal becomes political

The purpose of Netanyahus assault on the pillars of Israeli democracy was simple: for him to remain in power and stay out of jail.

To achieve this, he was willing to delegitimize not only his political opponents, but also state institutions like the Supreme Court, the attorney generals office and the police.

In a desperate attempt to evade his corruption trial for bribery and fraud and a possible lengthy prison sentence, Netanyahu sought to gain immunity from prosecution as a sitting prime minister while denying he was doing so.

His stubborn refusal to resign, even after his criminal trial began  the first time a sitting Israeli prime minister was in the dock  appeared to be driven by his desire to use his position as prime minister to gain legal immunity or at least intimidate the lawyers and judges he might face, and convince the public that he was being persecuted.

It wasnt only his political survival and personal freedom, however, that motivated Netanyahu. He seems to sincerely believe that Israel will be endangered without his leadership. His long tenure in power apparently convinced him that only he can steer the ship of state, especially given the treacherous waters it must navigate.

Try to damage as little as possible of the magnificent economy we are handing over to you, so that we can fix it as fast as possible when we return, he said as power was handed over to the coalition.

Like other longtime leaders, Netanyahu came to equate his own personal and political interests with those of Israel. What was good for him was good for Israel; what harmed him, harmed Israel. Netanyahu also convinced his supporters of this equation, just as many of his critics became convinced that the opposite was true.

Thus, Netanyahu managed to divide Israelis into two antagonistic camps: pro-Netanyahu versus anti-Netanyahu. This division replaced the traditional left-right ideological divide that had dominated Israeli politics for decades  and which is why the new government spans the ideological spectrum.

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Surviving without Netanyahu

It is premature to write Netanyahus political obituary  he remains the leader of Likud, by far the largest party in the Knesset, Israels parliament. He has vowed to bring down the newly installed change government and swiftly return to power.

He could well accomplish this task given his Machiavellian political skills and the inherent fragility of Israels new governing coalition, which is composed of no fewer than eight different parties ranging across the political spectrum. Since it depends on a razor-thin parliamentary majority of 61 of the 120 Knesset seats, the government will be extremely vulnerable to Netanyahus relentless efforts to topple it.

But however short-lived Israels fledgling government turns out to be, its mere formation is not only something of a political miracle  bringing together religious and secular ultranationalist right-wingers, liberal centrists, secular leftists and Arab Islamists  but also a stunning repudiation of Netanyahu.

Ultimately, the rule of law and democratic process in Israel have survived Netanyahus attacks. A peaceful transition of power has occurred, despite angry protests and violent threats against some of the members of the incoming government.

The mere fact that Israel has a new prime minister will now demonstrate to many Israelis that the country can survive without Netanyahus leadership. Even if the new government accomplishes very little, this alone will be an important achievement.

By rejecting Netanyahus demagoguery, Prime Minister Bennett can also begin to heal some of the divisiveness that Netanyahu stoked and exploited, even if his government continues many of Netanyahus policies, as seems likely. This, if nothing else, will be the change it promises.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/it-wasnt-just-politics-that-led-to-netanyahus-ouster-it-was-fear-of-his-demagoguery-162547.
NEW YORK (AP)  Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of former President Donald Trump and one of his top advisers during his administration, has a book deal.

Broadside Books, a conservative imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, announced that Kushner's book will come out in early 2022. Kushner has begun working on the memoir, currently untitled, and is expected to write about everything from the Middle East to criminal justice reform to the pandemic.

His book will be the definitive, thorough recounting of the administration  and the truth about what happened behind closed doors, Broadside announced Tuesday.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

Kushner was often at the center of the Trump administration's policies  whether brokering the normalization of relationships between Israel and United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco  the so-called Abraham Accords  or playing a key role in a criminal justice bill passed by Congress in 2018. He has also been the subject of numerous controversies, whether for his financial dealings and potential conflicts of interest or for the administration's widely criticized handling of COVID-19.

In April 2020, less than two months into the pandemic, Kushner labeled the White House response a great success story," dismissed the eternal lockdown crowd and also said: I think youll see by June a lot of the country should be back to normal and the hope is that by July the countrys really rocking again."

The signing of Kushner comes during an ongoing debate within the book industry over which Trump officials, notably Trump himself, can be taken on without starting a revolt at the publishing house. Hundreds of Simon & Schuster employees and thousands from outside the company signed a petition this spring condemning the publishers decision to sign up former Vice President Mike Pence.

At a Simon & Schuster town hall in May, employees confronted CEO Jonathan Karp, who responded that he felt the company had a mission to hear opposing sides of political debates. He also said that he did not want to publish Trump, who issued his 2015 book Crippled America through the Simon & Schuster imprint Threshold Editions, because he didn't think the former president would provide an honest account of his time in office.

Trump issued a statement last week that he was writing like crazy and had turned down two offers from the most unlikely of publishers, a claim widely disputed within the industry.

___

This story was first published on June 15, 2021. It was updated on June 16, 2021 to correct that a petition protesting a book deal for former Vice President Mike Pence was signed by hundreds of Simon & Schuster employees, not thousands.
PHOENIX (AP)  A judge has approved a $15 million settlement against a doctor in a lawsuit by the parents of an incapacitated woman who was sexually assaulted and later gave birth at a Phoenix long-term care center, marking the last of several deals to resolve legal claims over the rape.

The settlement made on behalf of Dr. Phillip Gear, who cared for the woman for 26 years while she lived at Hacienda Healthcare, was deemed reasonable last week by a judge. But the insurer for Gear, who died late last year, said in court papers it has no obligation to pay the amount, arguing the doctors policy didnt cover claims arising from a sexual act.

It is the biggest publicly known settlement reached over the attack on the woman, who has been in a vegetative state since childhood and gave birth in December 2018. Her parents sued the state of Arizona, Gear and another doctor who cared for their daughter.

The state, which contracts with companies like Hacienda to provide services to people with developmental disabilities, settled last summer for $7.5 million.

Dr. Thanh Nguyen, who cared for the woman in the months before the surprise birth, and a medical group also resolved claims against them last summer for an undisclosed amount. And Hacienda Healthcare agreed to settle for an undisclosed amount before the womans parents filed their lawsuit in late 2019.

In declaring the $15 million settlement reasonable, Judge Theodore Campagnolo concluded Gears treatment of the woman had fallen below the standard of care by failing to diagnose her pregnancy and regularly examine her.

The judge said requests by the womans mother to have only female employees tend to her daughter werent followed. Campagnolo also said evidence that the incapacitated woman was the victim of numerous sexual assaults was undisputed in the civil case.

Kevin Barrett, an attorney who previously represented Gear in a lawsuit filed against the doctor by his insurer, didnt immediately return a call late Tuesday morning seeking comment. Gear died on Dec. 20.

The pregnancy was discovered when an employee at the long-term care facility was changing the garments of the then-29-year-old victim and noticed she was in the process of delivering a child. Employees told police that they had no idea the woman was pregnant.

The birth triggered reviews by state agencies, highlighted safety concerns for patients who are severely disabled or incapacitated, and prompted the resignation of Haciendas chief executive.

Police have said DNA from Nathan Sutherland, a licensed practical nurse who worked at Hacienda, matched a sample taken from the womans son.

Sutherland, who was fired after his arrest and later gave up his nursing license, has pleaded not guilty to charges of sexual assault and abuse of a vulnerable adult. He wasnt a target of the lawsuit.

The victim lived at Hacienda for 26 years, until the birth of her son, who is now being cared for by her parents.

The woman has been in a vegetative state since she was a young child. Campagnolo wrote the cause of her condition is unclear. When she was around 2 years old, she suffered a near drowning that deprived her brain of oxygen, though there also was testimony that she had congenital issues, such as seizure disorders, from shortly after her birth, the judge wrote.

Lawyers for the family have said Hacienda missed signs that the woman was carrying a baby, such as her weight gain and swollen belly, and that she delivered the boy without pain medications. Their lawsuit also alleged the state did a poor job of monitoring Haciendas operations.

Campagnolo said medical records showed Gear didnt conduct regular examinations of the woman for at least three years before he was transferred in September 2018.

Even though the womans mother had requested that her daughter be cared for by only women, evidence shows Sutherland and other men had cared for her over the years, Campagnolo wrote. The judge said the womans mother made the requests after she was told her daughter may have been the victim of a sexual assault in 2002.

Phoenix police have said health authorities at the time found some Hacienda employees had used language of a sexual nature when speaking to patients, but they were unable to substantiate allegations of physical abuse. Police said there was insufficient evidence to warrant a criminal complaint against employees.

Gears insurer argued Gear wasnt the womans primary care physician when she gave birth and couldnt be held responsible for sexual assault.

The former fact is accurate, and the second fact is arguable," Campagnolo wrote. "However, Dr. Gears liability was not limited to one sexual assault and the birth."

Campagnolo wrote Gear had known since 2002 that there were sexual abuse allegations that could have included the patient in question.

The fact that the internal investigation did not find evidence of sexual assaults would not take Dr. Gear off the hook, Campagnolo wrote, adding that the doctor knew the womans mother had requested only female caregivers.

Megan Rose, a spokeswoman for the Arizona Department of Administration, declined to comment on the states settlement.

Hacienda spokesman David Leibowitz, Nguyens attorney Andrew Rosenzweig, and Robin Burgess, an attorney representing Gears insurer, James River Insurance Company, didnt return calls seeking comment.
NORMAN, Okla. (AP)  Jury selection began Tuesday in the second-degree murder trial of an Oklahoma man accused of crashing his pickup truck into a group of high school cross country runners, killing three and injuring five.

Cleveland County District Attorney Greg Mashburn said opening statements could begin as early as Wednesday in the trial of 58-year-old Max Leroy Townsend. Townsend, of Tuttle, is facing three counts of second-degree murder and multiple counts of fleeing the scene of an accident. If convicted, he faces up to life in prison.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP)  Kansas will struggle to vaccinate residents and thousands of families will lose extra food aid because top Republican legislators on Tuesday ended a state of emergency for the coronavirus pandemic, one of Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly's top aides said.

Will Lawrence, the governor's chief of staff, said Kansas won't be able to use its National Guard to distribute vaccines or personal protective equipment. He said it's just going to be more difficult for state agencies to address COVID-19.

Senate President Ty Masterson announced the cancellation of a meeting of eight leaders of the Republican-controlled Legislature that had been scheduled for Tuesday afternoon. A law enacted in late March required the legislative leaders to sign off on an extension, and Masterson's announcement meant the state of emergency that had been in place since March 2020 would expire at the end of Tuesday.

GOP leaders said a decline in new COVID-19 cases in recent months means Kansas no longer faces an emergency. But Kelly accused them of political obstruction.

A state disaster response has never been, and should not be, political, Kelly said in a statement.

In neighboring Missouri, Republican Gov. Mike Parson's emergency declaration is set to run through Aug. 31. However, more than a dozen states have announced the end of emergency declarations through actions by governors, lawmakers or judges, including Massachusetts and Vermont on Tuesday.

Six of the eight Kansas legislative leaders who were to meet Tuesday are Republicans, and all six opposed an extension ahead of the gathering. They said state agencies can manage the remaining COVID-19 response without extra power given to them by law during an emergency.

It is time for Kansas to return to normal, Masterson, an Andover Republican, said in a joint statement with two other top GOP senators who'd have voted on an extension.

Kelly and Republican lawmakers have been at odds over her administration's response to the pandemic nearly since spring 2020. They've forced her over time to accept ever greater limits on the governor's power to keep the state of emergency in place.

She told reporters last week that she wanted to keep the state of emergency in place until the end of August. GOP leaders signaled in late May that they wouldn't approve any extensions beyond Tuesday.

In a letter Friday to top lawmakers, Kelly outlined a plan to wind down emergency operations and said she would let seven executive orders expire.

The letter said Kelly would keep only two executive orders in place. One mandated that state-licensed nursing homes test their residents and staff regularly for COVID-19, and another granting temporary permission for medical personnel and students to give COVID-19 vaccinations.

Lawrence said those orders would expire at the end of Tuesday. That shouldn't affect the ability of pharmacies to give the shots, but he said paramedics and medical and nursing students won't be able to do so. The state Department of Health and Environment might have the authority to require nursing home testing. Lawrence said.

He and other Democratic officials said the state will lose $14.5 million a month in extra federal aid for 63,000 households  an average of $230 a month each.

Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes said the extra food aid frees up money that families can use to pay rent and utility bills.

"We're asking them once again to pick and choose on how they will survive, Sykes, a Lenexa Democrat, said during a Statehouse news conference.

Meanwhile, COVID-19 immunizations in Kansas have slowed since early April. The state health department said 43.3% of the states 2.9 million residents  or about 1.26 million people  had received at least one of two shots as of Monday.

Its going to make us take longer to get to that herd immunity, so I do think therell be more hospitalized and more people will die, said House Minority Leader Tom Sawyer, a Wichita Democrat.

Top House Republicans said Kelly failed to make a strong case for continuing the state of emergency, particularly when she was letting most of her executive orders expire.

There are adequate medical personnel to meet the current demand for vaccines and the regular authority available to the governor under the laws of our state is sufficient to meet these needs, House Speaker Ron Ryckman Jr., of Olathe, said in a joint statement with two other top House Republicans.

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Follow John Hanna on Twitter: https://twitter.com/apjdhanna
NEW YORK (AP)  A Chinese man who prosecutors say tried to get $20 million in federal aid for distressed businesses pleaded guilty Tuesday to two criminal charges.

Muge Ma entered the plea in Manhattan federal court to bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, admitting the fraud that authorities say he carried out from his luxury Manhattan condominium.

Judge Richard M. Berman noted that it was the first hearing conducted in his courtroom since the coronavirus forced a shutdown of most in-court proceedings in March 2020.

Ma, 37, has remained incarcerated as a flight risk since his May 2020 arrest, when prosecutors said he had applied to at least five banks for over $20 million in government-guaranteed loans from the Paycheck Protection Program and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program. The programs were intended for businesses harmed by coronavirus shutdowns.

Authorities said he falsely claimed to be paying hundreds of employees millions of dollars in wages through two companies he controlled. To support the claims, he submitted fraudulent bank, tax, insurance and payroll records and provided banks with links to websites that described the companies as global, prosecutors said.

They said he also falsely asserted that he was a U.S. citizen, though he did have lawful permanent resident status.

In truth, Ma appears to be the only employee of either company and he had no legitimate claim to the funds for which he applied, U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said in a release.

Small businesses are facing uncertainty and unprecedented challenges, the least of which should be opportunists attempting to loot the federal funds meant to assist them, she added.

According to prosecutors, a bank approved and disbursed over $800,000 in loan funds for one of Ma's companies, although the money was frozen during the investigation. They said another $650,000 in loans had been approved and a $10,000 loan advance had been provided.

A sentencing agreement with prosecutors that Ma signed Tuesday recommends he be sentenced to between six and seven years in prison, including a two-year mandatory prison sentence on the aggravated identity theft charge. Sentencing was scheduled for Sept. 22.

Ma's plea deal with prosecutors contained language that made it seem that Ma's deportation was very likely, if not mandatory, but his lawyer, Peter Katz, told Berman that the words were common in legal documents, regardless of the crimes.

In our opinion, he won't be," Katz said of deportation. Still, he added: He understands it is a possibility.
CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP)  A northern Nevada attorney who has questioned the results of the 2020 presidential election and was outside the U.S. Capitol the day it was violently stormed has announced he's running for governor.

Republican Joey Gilbert told an applauding audience at the Ahern Hotel in Las Vegas over the weekend that he planned to challenge Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak in Nevada's 2022 gubernatorial race, according to a video of the event posted on Facebook.

Gilbert's assistant Andrea Wexelblatt said he was unavailable to comment Tuesday but she confirmed his campaign announcement to The Associated Press.

Gilbert, a former professional boxer, said in his remarks Saturday that he believed Donald Trump won the 2020 presidential election and was still our president."

Let me say this: If election integrity is not the No. 1 issue of these guys running, then theyre either lost, confused, or too stupid to be running, he said, referencing other Republicans who intend to run.

He positioned voter fraud allegations at the center of his campaign, falsely claimed COVID-19 vaccines were unproven and urged people not to take them. He also referred to the coronavirus as a plandemic, using a term that suggests the pandemic was intentionally created.

The coronavirus vaccine has been administered to millions of people across the world, the vast majority of whom have not experienced side effects. Research has shown that the COVID-19 vaccines approved for emergency use by federal health officials prevent severe illness from COVID-19.

Gilbert joins Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo, North Las Vegas Mayor John Lee and Gardnerville doctor Fred Simon in the Republican primary field. U.S. Rep. Mark Amodei has said hes mulling a run against Sisolak and that former U.S. Sen. Dean Heller informed him that he was considering it as well. Amodei and Heller, both Republicans, have not announced any decisions.

Gilbert was advertised as a speaker for a MAGA Freedom Rally, organized by the anti-vaccine political action committee United Medical Freedom, one block from the U.S. Capitol the day of the Jan. 6 insurrection.

The Reno Gazette Journal reported in January that Gilbert had also gone to the Capitol after barricades were torn down and the building was overrun by hundreds of Trumps supporters. Gilbert said in a video on his Facebook page that he had not gone inside the Capitol. Gilbert did not respond to emailed questions about actions on Jan. 6. He has not been charged with any crime related to the insurrection.

In addition to advertising his legal practice on billboards throughout the Reno area, Gilbert is a fixture at rallies for right-wing causes in northern Nevada.

Gilbert has spoken at events in rural Elko and Lander County celebrating local officials decisions to join the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association, a right-wing group that believes county sheriffs have a duty to uphold the constitution that supersedes other elected officials up to the president.

Hes worked with local activists in rural counties to rescind mask mandates and filed lawsuits challenging restrictions put on businesses and places of worship to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

He has protested Black Lives Matter, COVID-19 restrictions on businesses, the teaching of critical race theory in schools and the results of the election.

Legal challenges attempting to invalidate President Joe Bidens electoral victory in Nevada have failed in the courts and Nevada's Republican Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske has defended the results as reliable and accurate.

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Metz is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Executives from CNN, The New York Times and The Washington Post met Monday with Attorney General Merrick Garland to protest the Trump-era Justice Department's efforts to seize phone and email records of journalists.

After the hourlong meeting in Washington, Bruce Brown, executive director of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, said the journalists explained how this represented an existential crisis for the organizations.

None of the media executives would answer questions, with Brown saying they had agreed the meeting was off the record. The meeting included the publishers of the Times and Post, A.G. Sulzberger and Fred Ryan, respectively, as well as Post executive editor Sally Buzbee and Sam Feist, CNN's Washington bureau chief.

The Justice Department said the group had a productive conversation about the need for new rules governing the ability of prosecutors to seek this material.

Records were sought for eight journalists at the news organizations, all of whom had worked on stories in 2017 involving investigations into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. In the cases of CNN and the Times, a gag order temporarily put in place prevented lawyers at the news organizations from even telling their journalists what was happening.

News organizations are concerned that efforts to seek records that could reveal whom the journalists had used as sources would prevent such officials from revealing sensitive government information in the future.

The Justice Department announced earlier this month that it would no longer secretly obtain reporters records during leak investigations, marking a drastic shift in policy shift that abandons a practice decried for years by news organizations and press freedom groups. That announcement came after a pledge by President Joe Biden that he would not permit the Justice Department to continue the practice, which he called simply, simply wrong.

But while the Biden administration has ordered a halt to such efforts, news organizations worry that without laws to prevent it, a different administration could take a different approach.

This is about the flow of information to the public, Brown said. It is about keeping government accountable. And these news organizations can't effectively do their job in that way unless they can protect confidential sources, and that was made very, very clear by this group today in the meeting.

Prosecutors told the executives that reporters were never the target of the investigations, the department said. Officials said Garland had agreed with news executives that there was a need for strong, durable rules.

Democratic and Republican administrations alike have used subpoenas and court orders to obtain journalists records in an effort to identify sources who have revealed classified information. But the practice had received renewed scrutiny over the past few weeks as Justice Department officials alerted reporters at the three organizations their phone records had been obtained in the final year of the Trump administration.

In a statement, the Times' Sulzberger said the news organizations sought a full accounting of what happened and asked the Justice Department to codify that it would no longer seize journalists' records during leak investigations.

We were encouraged by Attorney General Garland's statements but we will continue to push until our concerns are addressed, he said.

Barbara Starr, a CNN reporter who covers defense issues, wrote in a column that she was genuinely horrified by what happened.

Secret Justice Department proceedings against the free press affect everyone in the country, she wrote. That's what I hope Merrick Garland takes from this whole solemn affair.

CNN said the Justice Department had sought logs that revealed who had been conversing with Starr via email, although not necessarily what the emails said.

The Times said that the Trump administration in 2020 secretly seized phone records from early 2017 for the reporters Matt Apuzzo, Adam Goldman, Eric Lichtblau and Michael S. Schmidt. All had written about how former FBI director James Comey had handled investigations during the election.

The Justice Department had also sought to retrieve email logs from Google, which operations the Times' email system, but Google resisted, the newspaper reported.

The Post said federal prosecutors had also sought telephone records for its reporters Ellen Nakashima and Greg Miller, and former reporter Adam Entous, from between April and July 2017.

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Bauder reported from New York.
ALGIERS, Algeria (AP)  Algerias oldest party, previously thought to be on the wane, won the largest number of seats in weekend legislative elections, the country's electoral authority announced Tuesday.

The National Liberation Front, or FLN, secured 105 of 407 parliamentary seats, according to the provisional results. Independent candidates, including young people new to politics and many others who broke away from the FLN, placed second, winning a total 78 seats.

The voting Saturday was meant to open the way to a new Algeria heralded by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune to end an era of corruption and give the North African nation a new, younger face after a two-decade reign of Abdelaziz Bouteflika as chief of state. Bouteflika was forced to resign in 2019 under pressure from the Hirak pro-democracy protest movement.

However, turnout was dismal with Hirak protesters boycotting the elections, as did traditional opposition parties. The electoral chief, Mohamed Charfi, did not provide a turnout figure in his Tuesday rundown of results, but media outlets calculating the number of voters among the 24 million eligible put the figure at 23%  a historic low.

The moderate Islamist party that has been a mainstay in Algerian politics, the Movement for a Peaceful Society, won 64 seats, double the number it held previously. Another Islamist party will also be increasing its presence in the lower chamber of parliament, going from 12 seats to 40, Mohamed Charfi, head of the electoral authority, told a news conference.

A party which once shared the majority with the FLN, the National Democratic Rally, placed fourth with 55 seats, down from 100 in the outgoing parliament.

The FLN was decried by Hirak protesters seeking to upend a system in place since Algerian independence from France in 1962. The party was born as a fighting force in the independence battle then transformed into the nation's sole political party for nearly three decades, until multiparty elections were allowed in 1989.

It lost 60 seats in the elections, but even without a majority the FLN saved itself as the premier party of Algeria. The results suggested that nationalists, from the FLN to party dissidents elected as independents and gains by another party regarded as an FLN satellite could dominate in the chamber.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP)  A ban on employers mandating vaccines for their workers inched ahead in the state House on Tuesday with a committee vote supported by all Republicans and opposed by every Democrat.

The main sponsor, Rep. Russ Diamond, R-Lebanon, called it a very simple question of workers' rights. Diamond has been a fervent opponent of coronavirus mitigation policies and has been publicly skeptical of mask wearing and vaccines.

Labor and Industry Committee Chairman Jim Cox, R-Berks, said lawmakers were responding to increasing reports that employers are requiring vaccines, forcing some workers to choose between the vaccine or losing a job.

An amendment by Cox took out a provision in Diamond's bill that would have ended employer-mandated tests for marijuana. Diamond said after the meeting that the marijuana testing language lacked support.

The bill would let workers or prospective workers avoid workplace mandated vaccinations by putting into writing that their doctor has concerns it might harm their health; that they have religious or strong moral or ethical convictions against a vaccine; that they already had COVID-19; or that they are concerned because it has not been fully approved by federal regulators.

At the end of the day you cannot force an individual to take an experimental vaccine, said Rep. Barb Gleim, R-Cumberland.

Pennsylvanians with religious and medical concerns can opt out of vaccinations, said Rep. Pam Snyder, D-Washington, noting that hospital and business groups oppose the bill.

Here we are today telling every business in the commonwealth what they can and cannot do, Snyder said. This isn't about vaccines. This is about what we are trying to mandate every business in the commonwealth to do.

She noted a Texas federal judge's decision last week that threw out a lawsuit filed by employees of a Houston hospital system over its requirement that all staff be vaccinated.

This bill isn't going to change anything because it's going to be thrown out in court, Snyder said.

Last week, the state Senate passed on party lines veto-bound legislation to prohibit so-called public-sector vaccine passports and to put limits on a state health secretarys powers when fighting a contagious disease.

That bill's prohibition on vaccine passports would apply to state agencies, counties, municipalities, school districts and universities that receive state aid, but not private businesses or organizations.

It would bar the governmental entities from requiring a proof of vaccination to use services, enter a building or engage in activities.

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Follow APs coverage of the pandemic at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic.
WASHINGTON (AP)  A top Army leader defended the Pentagons response to the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, telling a House panel Tuesday that the National Guard was delayed for hours because it had to properly prepare for the deployment and that senior military leaders had determined beforehand that the military had no role in determining the outcome of an election.

Lt. Gen. Walter Piatt, the director of the Army staff, echoed comments from other senior military leaders about the perception of soldiers being used to secure the election process. He said the Pentagon wanted to be careful about their response in part because of concerns about military helicopters that had flown low over Washington streets during protests over the killing of George Floyd by police in the summer of 2020.

It also took several hours for Guardsmen to be equipped and given a plan for how to secure the Capitol, Piatt said. The building was overrun by hundreds of supporters of former President Donald Trump who sought to stop the certification of President Joe Bidens victory.

When peoples lives are on the line, two minutes is too long," he said. "But we were not positioned to respond to that urgent request. We had to re-prepare so we would send them in prepared for this new mission.

Piatts testimony comes as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says the House will step up its investigations into the deadly riots, in which a violent mob overran police, broke into the building and hunted for lawmakers. She said Tuesday that the House cant wait any longer to conduct a comprehensive investigation after Senate Republicans blocked legislation to create an independent commission.

Whether we have a commission today, tomorrow or the next day over in the Senate, or not, the work of the committees will be very important in what we're seeking for the American people  the truth, Pelosi said.

One option under consideration is a select committee on the Jan. 6 attack, a setup that would put majority Democrats in charge. More than three dozen Republicans in the House and seven Senate Republicans wanted to avoid a partisan probe and supported the legislation to create an independent, bipartisan commission outside Congress.

But those numbers weren't strong enough to overcome GOP opposition in the Senate, where support from 1O Republicans is needed to pass most bills. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer has said he may hold a second vote after the legislation failed to advance last month, but there's no indication that Democrats can win the necessary support from three additional Republicans.

We can't wait any longer, Pelosi said. We will proceed."

Meanwhile, most Republicans are making clear that they want to move on from the Jan. 6 attack, brushing aside the many unanswered questions about the insurrection, including how the government and law enforcement missed intelligence leading up to the rioting and the role of Trump before and during the attack.

The hazards of investigating the attack in the sharply divided Congress were on full display during the House Oversight and Reform Committee hearing, which was called to examine unexplained delays and unanswered questions about the siege.

Several Republicans tried to divert the subject, using their questioning to talk about coronavirus restrictions, the border and Biden's son Hunter, while others played down the severity of the violence.

Some of the Republicans appeared to defend the rioters, including Wisconsin Rep. Glenn Grothman, who grilled FBI Director Christopher Wray on whether some of those who broke into the Capitol were innocent. Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar repeated his arguments that a Trump supporter who was shot and killed while breaking into the House chamber, Ashli Babbitt, was executed.

Democrats shot back that Republicans were trying to obscure the truth.

This has got to do with the attempts by people to overthrow the government of the United States of America, something that hasnt happened in well over 100 years, said Maryland Rep. Kweisi Mfume. "And its not something that we can slough off.

The three witnesses at the hearing  Wray, Piatt, and Gen. Charles E. Flynn, who was previously Army deputy chief of staff  were involved that day as the Capitol Police begged for backup. The National Guard did not arrive for several hours as police were overwhelmed and brutally beaten by the rioters.

Piatt insisted that he did not deny or have the authority to deny Guard help during a call with then-Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund, who has previously said he believed Piatt and other Army leaders were concerned about the optics of soldiers surrounding the building. According to the Defense Department, military leadership approved activation of the full D.C. National Guard at 3:04 p.m., about 40 minutes after the call with Sund.

Rep. Carolyn Maloney, the New York Democrat who chairs the committee, criticized Wray for not providing documents her staff had requested and asked him if he believed the FBI should be blamed for the law enforcement failures on Jan. 6.

Our goal is to bat 1.000, and any time theres an attack, much less an attack as horrific and spectacular as what happened on Jan. 6, we consider that to be unacceptable," Wray replied.

As the committee examined the insurrection, the House held a vote to give congressional medals of honor to Capitol Police and Metropolitan Police to thank them for their service that day. Dozens of those officers suffered injuries, including chemical burns, brain injuries and broken bones. Some may never return to work.

Twenty-one Republicans voted against giving the medals to the officers.

Seven people total died during and after the rioting, including Babbitt, three other Trump supporters who died of medical emergencies and two police officers who died by suicide in the days that followed. A third officer, Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, collapsed and later died after engaging with the protesters, but a medical examiner determined he died of natural causes.
DECATUR, Ga. (AP)  Police have identified the cashier in an Atlanta area supermarket who was fatally shot after an argument over wearing face masks in the store.

Laquitta Willis, 41, died from injuries suffered in the shooting Monday inside the Big Bear Supermarket in Decatur, DeKalb County police said Tuesday. The suspected shooter, 30-year-old Victor Lee Tucker Jr. of Palmetto, is charged with murder and aggravated assault. It wasnt immediately clear if he had an attorney who could comment on the charges against him.
Jacksonville Police

ARRESTS, CITATIONS

 Amarah J. Abbey, 19, of 421 S. East St. was arrested at 9:01 p.m. Sunday on a domestic battery charge. She is accused of punching and scratching someone during an altercation.

 Jolie M. Young, 18, of 1800 Mound Ave. was arrested at 12:17 a.m. Monday on a charge of illegal consumption of alcohol by a minor and cited on a charge of failing to signal after the car she was driving was stopped at Kosciusko and State streets.

THEFTS, BURGLARIES

 A flat-bed auto trailer was taken about 10 a.m. Monday from HRI Heating and Air-Conditioning.

 A bicycle was stolen Sunday from the 700 block of South East Street, according to a report filed at 10:43 p.m. Sunday.



Pike County

Sheriff

ARRESTS, CITATIONS

 Amanda N. Moore, 38, of Michael was arrested at 8:20 p.m. Friday on charges of possession of methamphetamine, driving under the influence, possession of adult-use cannabis in a motor vehicle and not wearing a seat belt.

 William J. Kochel, 35, of Key West, Florida, was arrested at 8:49 p.m. Thursday on a charge of possession of a stolen vehicle.

 Nicole L. Hare, 24, of Griggsville was arrested at 5:06 p.m. June 7 on a petition to revoke.

 John M.C. Mayfield, 44, of Monroe City, Missouri, was arrested at 4:11 a.m. June 7 on a charge of possession of a weapon by a felon.

 Ashley M. Clayton, 34, of Monroe City, Missouri, was arrested at 2:46 a.m. June 7 on a charge of possession of methamphetamine.

 Delores A. Akers, 67, of New Canton was arrested at 12:24 a.m. June 8 on an aggravated assault charge.

State police

ARRESTS, CITATIONS

 Troy G. Vahle, 35, of Fairfield, Iowa, was arrested at 9:01 p.m. Friday on a theft charge and on a warrant accusing him of failing to appear in court.

 Michael B. Davidson, 42, of Pittsfield was arrested at 11:53 p.m. Friday on an aggravated battery charge.

 Whitley L. Dominguez, 30, of Tolono was arrested at 11:19 p.m. Friday on a theft charge.

Pittsfield Police

ARRESTS, CITATIONS

 Renee L. Cottrell, 53, of Pittsfield was arrested at 8:55 a.m. Friday on a charge of possession of methamphetamine.

Compiled by David C.L. Bauer
JERUSALEM (AP)  A new poll released Tuesday finds a dramatic surge in Palestinian support for Hamas following last month's Gaza war, with around three quarters viewing the Islamic militants as victors in a battle against Israel to defend Jerusalem and its holy sites.

The scientific poll by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research also found plummeting support for President Mahmoud Abbas, who was sidelined by the war but is seen internationally as a partner for reviving the long-defunct peace process.

The poll found that 53% of Palestinians believe Hamas is most deserving of representing and leading the Palestinian people, while only 14% prefer Abbas' secular Fatah party.

Head pollster Khalil Shikaki, who has been surveying Palestinian public opinion for more than two decades, called it a "dramatic" shift, but said it also resembles previous swings toward Hamas during times of confrontation. Those all dissipated within three to six months as Hamas failed to deliver on promises of change.

The march to war began in April, when Palestinian protesters clashed with Israeli police on a nightly basis in east Jerusalem over restrictions on public gatherings during the holy month of Ramadan. The clashes eventually spread to the Al-Aqsa mosque compound, a flashpoint holy site, and were also fueled by Jewish settlers' attempts to evict dozens of Palestinian families.

Israel captured east Jerusalem, along with the West Bank and Gaza, in the 1967 war and annexed it in a move not recognized internationally. The Palestinians want a state in all three territories, with east Jerusalem as its capital. Hamas, which is seen as a terrorist organization by Israel and Western countries, does not recognize Israel.

After warning Israel to halt the evictions and withdraw security forces from Al-Aqsa, Hamas launched a barrage of long-range rockets at Jerusalem on May 10, disrupting an annual parade by Jewish ultranationalists celebrating Israel's conquest of east Jerusalem. That sparked an 11-day war in which more than 250 Palestinians were killed, as well as 13 people in Israel.

The poll found that 77% of Palestinians believe Hamas emerged as a winner, with nearly as many saying that it fought the war to defend Jerusalem and its holy sites, rather than as part of an internal struggle with Abbas' Fatah party.

The pollsters held face-to-face surveys with 1,200 Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza last week, with a 3 percentage point margin of error.

Clearly, in the eyes of the public, Hamas came out as a winner," Shikaki said, adding that it may struggle to maintain those gains as it has little control over events in Jerusalem.

An early test loomed Tuesday, when Jewish ultranationalists planned to march through east Jerusalem again. Hamas has called on Palestinians to resist" but may be reluctant to risk another war just weeks after the last one was halted by an informal cease-fire.

The Biden administration and the international community are meanwhile looking to bolster Abbas. Hamas drove his forces out of Gaza in 2007, confining his Palestinian Authority to parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Abbas faces a major crisis of legitimacy among Palestinians after calling off the first elections in 15 years in April.

At the time, it appeared Fatah would suffer another humiliating defeat to Hamas, which won a landslide victory in 2006 parliamentary elections. But his decision, citing Israel's refusal to grant permission for voting in east Jerusalem, also helped clear the way for Hamas to draw attention to Abbas' weakness in the holy city.

Around two-thirds of Palestinians opposed his decision to call off the vote, the poll found. A similar number believe Abbas did so because he was worried about the results and not because Israel refused to explicitly allow voting in east Jerusalem, as he claimed.

Shikaki said Abbas could potentially regain support, but only if he shows initiative, either by reforming the PA, which is seen as increasingly corrupt and authoritarian, or by taking part in some kind of diplomatic push after a 12-year hiatus in the peace process.

Unfortunately, so far, we are not seeing Abbas take the initiative," Shikaki said. We dont see him talking to the public, he does not have a strategy, he does not have a plan. He is instead waiting... I dont think that alone is going to work unless Hamas really fails miserably."
NEW YORK (AP)  Rita Moreno emigrated with her mother from Puerto Rico at age five. By six, she was dancing at Greenwich Village nightclubs. By 16, she was working full time. By 20, she was performing in Singin in the Rain.

I cant think of anyone Ive ever met in the business who lived the American dream more than Rita Moreno," Norman Lear says in the documentary Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It."

In the decades that followed, Moreno has won a Tony, a Grammy, an Emmy and and Oscar, for West Side Story. (Her entire acceptance speech: I dont believe it.) With seemingly infinite spiritedness, she has epitomized the best of show business while also being a victim to its cruelties. That has made Moreno, who co-stars in Steven Spielbergs upcoming West Side Story remake, a heroic figure to Latinos, and to others. I have never given up, she said in a recent interview by Zoom from her home in Berkeley, California.

The reason for the conversation was Mariem Perez Rieras intimate and invigorating documentary, which opens in theaters Friday after playing virtually at the Sundance Film Festival and at an outdoor premiere at the Tribeca Festival. The film opens with Moreno preparing a Cuban themed party for her 87th birthday. And I demand costumes, the screen legend says with a smile.

As upbeat as Moreno remains, Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It also deals frankly with the many turbulences of Morenos life: being positioned as the Spanish Elizabeth Taylor and the stereotyped casting that followed; a long and painful relationship with Marlon Brando; the abuse of her agent; a confining marriage.

Remarks have been edited for clarity and brevity.

AP: What struck me most watching the film is that despite going through what would defeat or embitter most, you seem to have emerged with such joy and appreciation for life.

Moreno: I have a very strong constitution. Maybe you inherit it. Maybe its due to learning how to cope with my tumultuous life through psychotherapy. I really credit that for helping me through some really, really bad times. My mom was like that, too. And you know what? I have a feeling that a lot of people who are outliers have strong constitutions because its either sink or swim, right? And I think you learn early on in life that swimming is preferable to sinking.

AP: How early did you learn that?

Moreno: The first test, I think, was learning English in kindergarten when I didnt know a word, not a word. Thats the first thing that happened to me literally when I came to this country. Children are impressively resilient. And then, in a way, theyre also extremely tender and fragile. I think the reason I ending up having such a hard time in life is that I ran into a racial bias very early on. When youre young  I mean 5, 6, 7  and people call you bad names like spic or garlic mouth or gold tooth, like in West Side Story, youre tender, youre a child. You believe these things. You believe that youre not worthy.

AP: Your life seems to be this long process of unlearning the cruel or wrong things you were told about yourself.

Moreno: What a wonderful way to put it. Youre absolutely on the money. I had to learn that I was a person of value like all other people. But its very difficult when you learn something from childhood. Its not as though I came to this country when I was 20 and learned something different. I was a little girl and youre very impressionable. You believe that you dont have value. You dont know why you dont have it, but you believe it. And, man, that is so hard to get rid of.

AP: Your central therapy session followed years with Marlon Brando. In your memoir, you spoke about him as your greatest lover but your time with him was torturous.

Moreno: Heres whats hilarious to me. It was he who said to me: You need help. You need therapy. So the lunatic is telling the crazy woman that she needs help! (Laughs). But he was right! He was right. I remember the day he said that to me, I thought: Yeah, but hes crazy as a loon!

AP: After West Side Story, youve said you were offered only similar, stereotypical roles for years.

Moreno: Those were brutal. Brutal! When I got the Oscar and the Golden Globe, I thought: OK, finally. And thats not what happened at all. In fact, it was the opposite. I was offered more Anita-type roles when I was offered something, which was not that frequent. I made a decision not to accept any more of those kinds of roles. It was a lot of coffee pourers, housewives and stuff. I said Im not going to do them anymore. Ha-ha, I showed them. I didnt make a movie for seven years. I mean, how stubborn can you get?

AP: You recently revisited West Side Story with Spielberg. How was that?

Moreno: It was just grand. Ive been a fan of Stevens work for years. When he called, he offered me a part in West Side Story. I nearly peed my pants because this is Steven Spielberg, one of my idols. I said to him that I would love to do a cameo, but I said, You dont really want me to do that, do you? And he said, Oh, no, no. Its a part. Its a real part. Tony Kushner wrote it for you. First of all, Tony Kushners writing the script? What! I was thrilled. I was excited the way a child would be excited.

AP: I dont imagine you do, but do you have any regrets?

Moreno: If I cant have all the movies I always wanted to be in  which are all the Meryl Streep movies, I wanted to be her  but if I cant do that, Ive done pretty well, considering. And I think Ive left an important legacy in a very, very meaningful sense and that is: That I have never gave up.
PHOENIX (AP)  House Minority Leader Reginald Bolding announced Monday that he's running for Arizona Secretary of State.

Bolding, a Democrat, has represented District 27 since 2015 and was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2014.

He's entering a growing field of candidates seeking to replace Katie Hobbs, who has been Secretary of State since 2019 and announced her run for governor earlier this month.

Five Republicans already have announced their candidacy for Secretary of State including state Sen. Michelle Ugenti-Rita of Scottsdale and Rep. Mark Finchem who represents parts of Pinal and Pima counties.

Former Maricopa County Recorder Adrian Fontes, a Democrat, announced his candidacy for Secretary of State last week.

Fontes said in a tweet Monday that he welcomed Boldings voice as a leader for the people in his district.

Bolding, a staunch supporter of voter rights, opposed a recent measure passed by the Legislature that allows the removal of people from Arizonas Permanent Early Voting List if they didnt cast a ballot in the two previous voting cycles.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP)  Republicans on a legislative committee Tuesday pushed out a multifaceted proposal to revamp Pennsylvania election law, a bill that backers said would make needed improvements and standardize procedures.

Democrats were dead set against it, insisting that many of its purported upgrades were unworkable or would, in practice, make voting more difficult. The vote to advance it to the House floor was on party lines.

Even the provisions that are supposed to increase access to the ballot box don't actually do that, said Rep. Margo Davidson of Delaware County, the ranking Democrat on the State Government Committee, asserting the legislation contained unfunded mandates all over the place.

She said it presumes that every voter comes to commit fraud. There's already an investigator in place prior to any vote being cast.

The House's Republican majority called a series of 10 committee hearings this year to consider changes to the state's election law, a process prompted in large part by former President Donald Trump's efforts to overturn his narrow loss of the state in November and his baseless claims the result was somehow because of fraud.

Rep. Seth Grove, R-York, the committee's chairman, introduced the 149-page bill last week that would change deadlines, adopt new rules for early voting, alter mail-in ballot procedures and mandate IDs for in-person voters.

Grove said Tuesday his proposal would ensure security around elections and rebuild trust, along with modernizing procedures.

The party line votes were an ominous sign for supporters because whatever the GOP majority General Assembly passes will need support from Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf. Wolf's press secretary has called the bill extremist and a retaliation against voters.

Davidson said some of the election security measures, including a host of post-vote reviews and audits, would encourage every nut job in the world coming out to demand the election be investigated.

Some of the so-called audit functions that are outlined in this bill will create a circuslike atmosphere similar to Arizona, where a troubled post-election review ordered by legislative Republicans in that state is continuing, Davidson said. It makes it easier for Republicans to cheat and harder for voters to vote.

The registration deadline would change from 15 days to 30 days before to an election, and mail-in ballots would have to be requested 15 days before the vote. Drop boxes for mail-in ballots would be limited to seven days before an election, and have to be monitored by election inspectors from the major political parties.

The bill calls for new rules for fixing problems on mail-in ballots envelopes, such as lack of signatures or dates, and counties would have to issue registration cards that in-person voters would have to show.

Several Republicans on the committee said they wanted uniform election procedures to address inconsistent practices among counties regarding ballot drop boxes and whether to fix technical mistakes on mail-in ballot envelopes.

Basically, uniform is not uniform, said Rep. Clint Owlett, R-Bradford. That's one thing we're trying to do here, is create uniformity.

Rep. Jeff Wheeland, R-Lycoming, praised elements that would make it easier for disabled people to cast votes.

But Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, D-Philadelphia, called the bill 150 pages of garbage and what is nothing more than artisanal voter suppression." He chided Republicans for not crafting a much more a narrow bill that addressed commonly supported changes.

This is not what anybody was asking for, Kenyatta said. But this is what happens when you lie. Because once you start lying you can't stop lying.

The states counties have said they want time to start counting mail-in ballots before election day and an earlier deadline for applying for an absentee ballot.

Also Tuesday, Republicans on the Senate State Government Committee approved a proposed constitutional amendment to expand the identification requirement for voters who cast their ballot in-person or by mail.

Democrats said voter identification laws have been used to disenfranchise voters and that the provision applying to mail-in voting -- requiring the voter to insert a photocopy of their identification into their ballot envelope -- will compromise the secrecy of someones ballot. ___

Associated Press writer Marc Levy contributed to this report.
DOVER, Del. (AP)  The state Senate voted mostly along party lines Tuesday to give final approval to two Democratic proposals further restricting gun ownership in Delaware.

The first measure prohibits the purchase or possession of a firearm by anyone who knows that he or she is the subject of a protection-from-abuse, or PFA, order. The purchase prohibition also applies to anyone who knows that he or she is the subject of an arrest warrant or indictment for any felony or any misdemeanor domestic violence charge.

The legislation extends the prohibition on gun purchases and possession involving protection-from-abuse orders to anyone who is subject to an ex-parte order, which is one requested by an opposing party without the subjects knowledge and issued by the court when the subject of the order is not present.

Supporters of the measure say it closes a loophole for people who are subject to, but have knowledge of, ex-parte orders.

Our laws already recognize the serious danger that lives in the intersection between guns and domestic violence, Democratic Attorney General Kathy Jennings said in a prepared statement. That danger is no less real while the abuser is awaiting a final protection-from-abuse order or trial.

The legislation passed the House unanimously last month and cleared the Senate on a 14-6 vote. Sen. Ernesto Lopez, a Republican from Lewes, sided with majority Democrats on Tuesday, while Smyrna Democrat Bruce Ennis opted not to vote, despite being listed as a co-sponsor on the bill.

Lopez also joined Democrats in voting for a bill that outlaws so-called ghost guns that cant be traced by law enforcement officials because they dont have serial numbers. Ennis and fellow Democrat Stephanie Hansen of Middletown voted against the legislation.

The bill, similar to a measure that failed to get a floor vote last year, makes it a felony to possess or manufacture an untraceable, undetectable or covert firearm.

An undetectable firearm is defined as one constructed entirely of nonmetal substances, or with major components removed, so it is undetectable by walk-through metal detectors. The definition also applies to firearms that include those major components but would not generate an image that accurately depicts the shape of the component.

A covert firearm is defined as one built in a shape that does not resemble a gun. An untraceable firearm is defined as one for which the sale or distribution chain cannot be traced by law enforcement officials.

The bill also criminalizes the sale, transport or possession of an unfinished firearm frame or receiver with no serial number. It also criminalizes the manufacturing or distribution of a firearm made with a 3-D printer, as well as the distribution of instructions on how to manufacture firearm components with a 3-D printer.

Anyone who already possesses an unfinished firearm frame or receiver  a component of a gun that houses the firing mechanism  with no serial number would have 90 days to comply with the law, presumably by destroying or surrendering it.

Senators rejected a proposed amendment by Minority Whip Brian Pettyjohn that would have allowed people who have homemade guns to undergo criminal background checks and obtain serial numbers for their guns from licensed firearms dealers.

Sen. David Lawson, a Republican from Marydel and a retired state trooper and former gun store owner, described the bill as legislation looking for a problem.

House lawmakers approved the bill on a 23-18 vote last month after removing an exemption for law enforcement officials and members of the military.

While its unknown whether anyone in Delaware has been injured or killed with a homemade gun, House Majority Leader Valerie Longhurst, a Democrat from Bear and the bills chief sponsor, has described the legislation as a preventative measure.

More than ever before, Delawareans are demanding gun safety and Delaware Democrats are delivering on meaningful legislation that seeks to address this uniquely American epidemic, Senate President Pro Tem Dave Sokola, a co-sponsor of both bills, said in a prepared statement Tuesday.

Both bills now go to Democratic Gov. John Carney, who is expected to sign them.
SALISBURY, N.C. (AP)  A North Carolina man already jailed on a separate charge is now accused in connection with a single-vehicle crash which killed a man, according to a sheriff's office.

The Rowan County Sheriff's Office said Rene Oscar Gomez Jr., 31, is charged with murder in the death last week of Edward Geouge III, 28, news outlets reported. Geouge was found dead last week in a vehicle that ran off the road and overturned in a field, authorities said.
MADRID (AP)  South Korean President Moon Jae-in arrived in Madrid Tuesday, in the first state visit to Spain by a foreign leader since the pandemic began, as the two countries seek to deepen economic ties.

Moon and First Lady Kim Jung-Sook were received with military honors at the royal palace in Madrid by Spains King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia.
HOLYOKE, Mass. (AP)  Holyoke Soldiers Home trustees will reopen the search for a new superintendent to lead the facility that was devastated by the coronavirus in the spring of 2020 after their first choice confirmed Tuesday that he will not take the job.

Trustees in April selected Rick Holloway, administrator of the Idaho State Veterans Home in Boise, to lead the Massachusetts veterans' care center.
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP)  A female wolf that had pups earlier this year has been illegally killed in northeast Washington state.

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists responded to a report of a dead wolf on May 26 in the Sheep Creek area of Stevens County. The agency says the female died of a gunshot wound.
YAKIMA, Wash. (AP)  A 17-year-old was injured in whats thought to be a gang-motivated shooting in Yakima on Monday, police said.

The teen was a passenger in a black sedan driven by his mother when a green car pulled up next to it and someone started shooting about 12:25 p.m. Monday, said Yakima police Capt. Jay Seely. The teen was hit at least three times, the Yakima Herald-Republic reported.
TULSA, Okla. (AP)  A Tulsa man and three U.S. Postal Service carriers have been charged with participating in a methamphetamine drug conspiracy, federal prosecutors said Tuesday.

A federal grand jury in Tulsa indicted Kamau Jahi Williams, 42; Erick Scott, 49; Christine Conner, 54, all of Tulsa; and Shawn Boike, 46, of Skiatook, with drug conspiracy, acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson said in a statement. The defendants made initial federal court appearances Tuesday.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP)  The biggest winemaker in the United States is set to begin construction on a $423 million bottling and distribution center in South Carolina.

E. & J. Gallo Winery is building the production facility and distribution center in Chester County after the state tweaked its liquor laws to let Gallo open tasting rooms where people can sample their wines.

Gallo wants to open a site in Chester County to be the center of its East Coast operations and asked for the tasting rooms as part of the deal. The company will hire 496 people over the next eight years, according to a Tuesday news release from Gov. Henry McMaster's office.

The first phase of construction is currently set for completion in October of next year.

Gallo told the state that it agreed to follow existing South Carolina liquor laws and buy the wine sampled and sold in its tasting rooms from the wholesalers that by law all liquor manufacturers must sell to and all outlets that sell liquor must buy from.

Gallo executives told lawmakers they picked South Carolina over Georgia and North Carolina for their East Coast operations, a strategic move to cut costs since nearly two-thirds of its customers live east of the Mississippi River.

The new building in Chester County will start as a warehouse, but Gallo said they eventually want to expand to bottle wine at the site.
As the number of patients dropped into the teens at Yale New Haven Healths five hospitals Tuesday  and held at 50 statewide  officials are talking with other hospitals in Connecticut about mandating that their employees get vaccinated, CEO Marna Borgstrom said.

A federal judge in Houston on Saturday dismissed a lawsuit brought by employees at Houston Methodist Hospital, which had required vaccinations.

Weve all been watching this very closely, Borgstrom said during an online news briefing. The decision basically came down on the side of, our responsibility is to provide safe care for those who come to us in need.

There were no new COVID-19 patients in the hospital Tuesday and no new deaths, according to Gov. Ned Lamonts office.

Borgstrom said Yale New Haven Health and other hospitals in Connecticut are evaluating mandatory vaccinations, which have not been required as of yet. If you want my opinion, I think we will all do that, Borgstrom said. It wont be a first. We do mandate flu vaccines.

Yale New Haven spokeswoman Dana Marnane said 79 percent of the health systems employees were vaccinated as of Tuesday.

Hospitals in Maryland and the District of Columbia have begun to set mandates for their employees, as has New York-Presbyterian Hospital.

Lamonts office reported that there were no new deaths from COVID in the state overnight, and 50 patients hospitalized, the same number as Monday. There were 56 new cases reported and 8,536 more tests, with a daily positivity rate of 0.66 percent.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, there have been 348,521 cases of COVID in Connecticut and 8,263 deaths.

Yale New Havens chief clinical officer, Dr. Thomas Balcezak, said that in the systems hospitals, There are now more patients with suspected COVID, patients that have symptoms that could be COVID, that we are waiting for tests, than there are actual COVID patients.

He said Yale New Haven has given more than 450,000 vaccination doses and have fully vaccinated more than 250,000. He said 57 percent of the state is fully vaccinated, compared with more than 80 percent in Vermont.

Balcezak said two concerns that have arisen with vaccines are not serious enough to warrant not getting the shots.

One is so-called breakthrough cases, in which vaccinated people get COVID-19. Were seeing small numbers of breakthrough cases, Balcezak said. Since January, weve only admitted 26 vaccinated patients with COVID, with three deaths, primarily in very elderly patients with comorbid conditions, compared with 395 deaths of patients who were not vaccinated, he said.

While the vaccines are up to 95 percent effective, there is still a chance of getting COVID after getting a shot, particularly in people whose immune systems are unable to build up a sufficient amount of antibodies, because they are older or have compromised immune systems, such as being on cancer treatments.

Another issue is myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle, which has shown up more in young adults after being vaccinated. Weve seen  myocarditis across the country being reported with all three of the vaccines, Balcezak said. There may be somewhat less with [Johnson & Johnson], but this is the risk of small numbers, that you really cant tell until more studies are done.

The risk of myocarditis is much less, and the risk of acquiring myocarditis is much less, than the risk of acquiring COVID-19 if you are not vaccinated and the outcomes in COVID-19 are much more dangerous if you do contract it, Balcezak said.

The disease is treated with anti-inflammatory drugs and steroids and intravenous immunoglobulin, he said. Balcezak said Yale New Haven has treated about a dozen patients with myocarditis, all of whom have done well.

Balcezak said Yale New Haven has exceeded its goal of 25 percent of its vaccinations going to people in the most socially vulnerable ZIP codes, and that it has held more than 30 pop-up sites in neighborhoods so far.

Borgstrom said the hospitals are more like they were before the pandemic, with more people, visitors and full clinics. I think the way it looks and feels is its more reminiscent of something that was very familiar to us, with the exception that everybody is still masked in our organization, she said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that health care workers continue to wear masks, Balcezak said, and will continue to do so, probably long beyond the time when mask mandates are dropped everywhere and the rules continue to be derestricted.

There were 16 patients in the Yale New Haven Health System as of Monday, Borgstrom said: nine at Yale New Haven Hospital, six at Bridgeport Hospital and one at Lawrence and Memorial Hospital in New London. She said two were in intensive care, with one on a ventilator.

In spring 2020, the top three floors of Smilow Cancer Hospital were dedicated to COVID patients, because the rooms on those floors have negative pressure, which reduces the risk of spreading the virus. The cancer patients were moved to the St. Raphael campus.

Smilows 15th floor normally has surgical oncology patients and its 14th floor is womens oncology.

A little over a week ago, we had a thank you, a ceremony of gratitude and remembrance on Smilow 15 for the people we were privileged to care for and got better and went back to their loved ones, and for the patients that we lost during this, Borgstrom said.

Some of the nurses who had staffed that COVID ICU for the last 15 months were so overcome with their memories that they went into side rooms and really had to relieve themselves of this terrible pressure and sense of obligation, commitment and love that they had lived with ... but largely in an insulated way, she said. And now Smilow 15 is reoccupied with our oncology surgery patients.

The womens oncology staff also was able to see Smilow 14 all clean and ready for them and to express gratitude for the work that had been done on their unit when they werent there, and also gratitude for being back home with their patients. And that was a far more joyful experience, Borgstrom said.

They were oncology respiratory therapists and nurses and physicians and patient care associates and a variety of people who provided care to these oncology patients, but they were very much on the front lines of this whole COVID experience, because their willingness, their flexibility to care for their critically ill patients, in largely unfamiliar surroundings ... was part of what they did to make it possible to provide great care and treatment to these COVID patients, she said.

edward.stannard@hearstmediact.com; 203-680-9382
When Gov. Greg Abbott announced last week that Texas would build its own border wall, one of the immediate questions was who would pay for it.

Abbott has not fully detailed the plan yet, but he said in a podcast interview released Tuesday that the state will be soliciting donations from across the country to help fund the wall.

When I do make the announcement later on this week, I will also be providing a link that you can click on and go to for everybody in the United States  really everybody in the entire world  who wants to help Texas build the border wall, there will be a place on there where they can contribute, Abbott said on the podcast, a show about Republican politics called Ruthless.

Abbott made national headlines with his announcement Thursday in Del Rio that Texas would build its own wall at the Mexico border, though he provided no further details and said he would lay out the plan this week.

MORE POLITICAL NEWS: ERCOT issues 'Conservation Warning' as temps rise

In the meantime, Abbott has faced threats of legal action and a bevy of questions about where, when and how such a wall could be constructed.

Abbott said in the podcast interview that the donations to Texas border wall will go to a fund overseen by the state of Texas in the governors office. He promised great transparency, saying everyone will know every penny in, every penny out, but the sole purpose for those funds will be going to build the border wall.

Abbott's plan would not be the first attempt to crowdfund a border wall. There was We Build The Wall, a private fundraising effort that raised more than $25 million after originally planning to construct 3 miles of fence posts in South Texas. Last year, four people involved in We Build The Wall  including Steve Bannon, the former adviser to President Donald Trump  were charged with allegedly defrauding donors to the effort. Trump pardoned Bannon before leaving office in January.

A closer parallel to Abbotts plan may date to 2011, when the Arizona Legislature passed a law establishing a fund, complete with a fundraising website, to construct a fence along the states border with Mexico. The fund received almost $270,000 by 2014, and a state border security advisory committee decided to give most of the sum to a county sheriff in 2015. The sheriff instead invested the money in border security technology such as GPS systems and binoculars, according to the Arizona Republic.

Federal lawmakers have estimated that the border wall cost the Trump administration nearly $27 million per mile in some parts of Texas.

On Friday, one day after Abbott's announcement, the White House renewed its call to end construction of the border wall, calling on Congress to cancel funds it previously appropriated to border barriers and redirect them toward other border management efforts. The White House also said the Trump administration paid up to $46 million per mile for some segments of newly built parts of the wall.

James Barragan contributed reporting.
Texans are, once again, fed up with the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT)  and Gov. Greg Abbott.

At least 151 Texans died during February's historic winter freeze and 4.5 million homes and businesses spent days suffering in the frigid cold with little to no water and even less electricity  the result of a massive grid failure caused by lack of planning and not-so-smart politicians (including one who instead opted for sunny skies in Cancun).

MAY THE ODDS BE EVER IN YOUR FAVOR: 'I hate it here' trends on social media as Texans react to lifted mask mandate

Gov. Greg Abbott claimed on June 8 that the problem had been fixed, but survey says: That was a lie.

Less than a full week later, everyones least favorite power regulator asked nearly 29 million residents to "set your thermostat to 78 degrees or higher" and use as little electricity as possible. Yes, in 100-degree weather, residents are being asked to "conserve energy" due to "unexpected" power plant outages and, you guessed it, record use of electricity due to hot weather.

Residents were even advised to avoid using large [essential] appliances, including ovens, washing machines and dryers.

This is the second time since the devastating blackouts where ERCOT has made such a request. Seriously, people are still feeling the affect of Winter Storm Uri and you're basically asking them to voluntarily relive that but with heat?

In typical Texas politician form, it didnt take long for Gov. Abbott to began trending on Twitter.

The hashtag #AbbottFailedTexas quickly gained traction, with Twitter users reminding the governor of his claim that "everything that needed to be done was done to fix the power grid in Texas."

WHO'S IN CHARGE HERE? It's hard to believe, but Texas has been named the second 'most hated' state in the U.S.

Some users pointed out the irony (and selfishness) in Gov. Abbott's strong desire to "finish what President Trump started" and build a border wall to secure Texas' border  as if there aren't any real issues to focus on.

Neither Gov. Abbott nor ERCOT have responded to the social media slander but, you know, they're probably used to it by now.

Screengrab courtesy of Twitter/@BlueTX2022

Please get it together before the official start of summer, Texas. We can't take too much more of this.
Florida, FL (34429)

Today

Thunderstorms likely in the morning. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon. High around 85F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms during the evening becoming more widespread overnight. Low around 75F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
The Canadian citizenship oath and guide will soon be amended to include Indigenous people.

Canada to amend citizenship oath and guide to include Indigenous people The Canadian citizenship oath and guide will soon be amended to include Indigenous people.

Canada to amend citizenship oath and guide to include Indigenous people The Canadian citizenship oath and guide will soon be amended to include Indigenous people.

Canada to amend citizenship oath and guide to include Indigenous people The Canadian citizenship oath and guide will soon be amended to include Indigenous people. Shelby Thevenot Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif

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Indigenous people will soon be included in Canadas citizenship oath, and guide.

Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino announced the upcoming changed on June 14. The main announcement was that Indigenous people could reclaim their traditional name on citizenship and permanent residency documents.

In addition to that announcement, Canada also committed to update the citizenship guide to include the role Indigenous peoples have played in Canadas history, its future, and today. Mendicino also said the guide would emphasize the role and stories of Indigenous peoples, including those parts that relate to residential schools.

Canadas residential schools were run mostly by the Catholic church between 1831 and 1996. They were sponsored by the Canadian government to assimilate Indigenous children into Euro-centric Canadian culture. An estimated 150,000 First Nations, Inuit, and Metis children attended residential schools. These children were taken from their families, subject to abuse, and thousands died. The exact number is not known to this day.

Contact the Law Firm of Campbell Cohen for Citizenship help

These announcements follow the recent findings of the remains of 215 Indigenous children at a former residential school in Kamloops, B.C. The discovery has prompted nationwide outrage, and more searches. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called on Pope Francis to apologize for the atrocities perpetuated by the Catholic church in residential schools. The pope declined to offer an apology.

Along with the incoming amendment to the Oath of Citizenship, these changes follow the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which was founded to inform all Canadians on what happened in residential schools. The 94 Calls to Action were introduced in 2015, calling for all levels of government to address the ongoing impact of residential schools on survivors and their families.

Call to Action 93 pertains to the Citizenship Guide, which educates soon-to-be Canadians on important historical and cultural aspects of Canada. It reads:

93. We call upon the federal government, in collaboration with the national Aboriginal organizations, to revise the information kit for newcomers to Canada and its citizenship test to reflect a more inclusive history of the diverse Aboriginal peoples of Canada, including information about the Treaties and the history of residential schools.

The next item, Call to Action 94, is in regards to the Oath of Citizenship. The current oath does not include the section about Treaties with Indigenous Peoples. The Treaties are agreements between the Canadian government, provincial or territorial governments, and Indigenous peoples that define the ongoing rights and obligations on all sides.

94. We call upon the Government of Canada to replace the Oath of Citizenship with the following: I swear (or affirm) that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada, Her Heirs and Successors, and that I will faithfully observe the laws of Canada including Treaties with Indigenous Peoples, and fulfill my duties as a Canadian citizen.

Currently, the bill to amend the citizenship oath has passed the Senate and awaits royal assent, which means it is on its way to becoming Canadian law.

Contact the Law Firm of Campbell Cohen for Citizenship help

 CIC News All Rights Reserved. Visit CanadaVisa.com to discover your Canadian immigration options.
With small-town roots, an early marriage, and then kids, Ryanne Fox (she/her) never intended to be a trailblazer while building out a career as a software engineer. Yet more than a decade ago, after one year on the job at GoDaddy, Fox came out as transgender  the first to transition at the then early-stage company.

Fox considered leaving GoDaddy and starting fresh somewhere else post-transition, but the companys broad nondiscrimination policy, which covered gender identity, promised a safe haven for remaining in the role. Nevertheless, this was uncharted territory. Fox worked with HR and company management to figure out a plan for bathrooms and healthcare, how to communicate the transition story, and lay the groundwork for policies that would support and protect future transgender colleagues.

Being the first to openly transition wasnt easy, but Fox hoped the path would free others from nagging fears. I worried I might be fired, I worried I might not be supported by my peers, I worried about healthcare, Fox recalls. The company was all in supporting me, but at the time, we had no idea what we were doing.

GoDaddy Ryanne Fox (she/her), software engineer, GoDaddy

A decade later, times have changed  a little. Fox is no longer an only as there have been others to transition along with an active LGBTQ+ community at GoDaddy and within the tech industry in general. New policies have been instituted, healthcare and spousal benefits have been expanded, and a variety of LGBTQ+ communities and support organizations have bubbled up, from Out in Tech to Lesbians Who Tech to a throng of corporate-side enterprise resource groups (ERGs), all focused on promoting diversity and inclusion (D&I).

Yet despite the corporate efforts and round-the-clock D&I discussions, the LGBTQ+ community still grapples with the same discrimination and on-the-job challenges that other marginalized groups such as women and people of color face in the notoriously nondiverse world of high-tech. Research from the University of Michigan and Temple University found LGBTQ+ STEM professionals more likely to encounter career limitations, social exclusion and harassment, and the devaluation of their knowledge compared to their non-LGBTQ peers. The paper also found this segment more likely to experience health difficulties and were more inclined to leave their professions  patterns that were not correlated to differences in training, experience, or dedication.

In a June 2020 survey conducted by Blind, a community of professionals providing feedback with heavy representation from the tech sector, nearly 40% of respondents said they witnessed some form of harassment of LGBTQ+ employees. While 86% of those surveyed described their companies as safe places to work for LGBTQ+ individuals, that number dropped 10 points among actual LGBQ responses (76%) and sunk another dramatic 12 points (64%) when members of the trans and gender nonconforming (GNC) communities waded in.

Out in Tech Gary Goldman (he/him), senior program director, Out in Tech

From a legislative and conversation standpoint, weve made huge progress and there are new roles and departments whose entire job is to make companies more inclusive, says Gary Goldman (he/him), senior program director for Out in Tech, founded in 2012 and now comprising more than 35,000 members. There is heightened awareness and understanding of the problem  but there is still underrepresentation of queer people within the tech industry, which is the biggest industry of our time.

Its hard to know exactly how underrepresented because to date, the industry hasnt focused on tracking LGBTQ+ employment, and companies are only now starting to offer self-identification opportunities to get greater transparency into the makeup of their employee base. While identifying gender and race is a common part of the onboarding process at most companies, sexual orientation and gender identity are not, which makes it all the more difficult to gather metrics.

Because the decision to share that status is voluntary, LGBTQ+ employees have a different experience than other visible minorities, says Jeff Raver (he/him), a top-level IT executive, who openly identifies as gay. Gay people must choose to share who they are and this affects people in multiple ways, says Raver, vice president of strategy, growth, and innovation at SAIC. Since teams may not know they are working with an LGBTQ co-worker, both unintentional and intentional bias becomes a greater challenge. Additionally, the stress of not sharing your authentic self requires substantial energy and can become a huge distraction for LGBTQ persons that choose to remain in the closet.

Battling LGBTQ+ backlash

Raver wasnt necessarily in the closet as he rose up the ranks at SAIC  his bosses, co-workers, even some clients knew all about his sexual orientation and it wasnt seen as a big deal. Three years ago, when Raver was approached about helping establish SAICs Equality Alliance, one of seven corporate ERGs, he decided it was time to reveal his authentic self on a much bigger stage.

SAIC Jeff Raver (he/him), vice president of strategy, growth, and innovation, SAIC

Everyone knew in my immediate group, but thats a different thing than coming out to more than 26,000 people all over the United States, he explains. I thought, Do I really want to be this out in my company, and almost immediately, my second thought was, I have to do this. No one should ever have to ask that question again.

Tech employees who are officially out at work face a number of issues, including microaggressions, outright bullying, and most commonly, misgendering or snide commentary about gender identity. Like with other marginalized groups, its also hard to envision a career trajectory if the higher-ups at your firm dont look like or present like you do. Its incredibly important to see people in positions of power, says Rue Roman (she/her), a senior software engineer and Android developer at Capital One. It starts to feel like something is achievable  not that I cant ever do that because Im gay.

For Roman, who identifies as a Puerto Rican lesbian, it didnt start out that way. She always struggled to find people that looked like her as she worked her way up in application design and eventually mobile development, mostly at smaller shops. Just as she started getting comfortable being her authentic self  wearing unconventional clothes and makeup and opening up about her sexual orientation  Roman was laid off. As she threw herself in the job search, she was determined to find the right cultural fit, which led her to Capital One.

Capital One Rue Roman (she/her), senior software engineer and Android developer, Capital One

The sheer size of the firm, the range of internal LGBTQ+ resources, including the Out Front business resource group (BRG), and the widespread use of pronouns in company emails were among the first signs Roman took that Capital One would be a better fit. Outspoken about her opinions, on code and other business issues, Roman says she occasionally encounters friction or feels overlooked, but she doesnt chalk it up to being openly LGBTQ+. Ive had scenarios where I suspect someone might be underestimating me, but I try not to assume its because Im gay, she says. Maybe they dont like me and thats fine.

LGBTQ+ professionals not openly out at work, either by choice or due to circumstances, will inevitably find the exercise mentally taxing and a drain on productivity. Mindy Ferguson (she/her) learned that lesson the hard way after years of keeping her personal life mostly under wraps during her early career and while climbing the executive ladder  often taking cues from company cultures and corporate management.

Unlike her colleagues, Ferguson drew a hard line between work and home. She was not quick to share details about weekend plans or her personal life for fear that she would be asked a question she wasnt comfortable answering. When she did open up about what she did on weekends or other personal details, she made it a point to change pronouns. Even her wedding to her long-time partner in 2008 after the passage of California Proposition 8 wasnt widely discussed or celebrated outside of her close professional circles.

Capital One Mindy Ferguson (she/her), managing vice president, Capital One

It was a strange dance, and it required a lot of effort, says Ferguson, now managing vice president at Capital One, where is she out and active in the LGBTQ+ community. I was not doing the best work of my life because I didnt have the capability to show up and be 100% myself.

As she rose up the management ranks, Ferguson believes the mental gymnastics it took to hide her authentic self also undercut her ability to be an effective manager. As a leader, the expectation is you care greatly about your team and you bring people together through team-building exercises, says Ferguson. I didnt engage in pretty normal leadership activities out of fear of where the conversation would go. I was leading through fear  afraid of what would happen to my career if I was found out, afraid of what my team would think of me, afraid of getting fired.

Corporations step up the D&I response

Any concerns Ferguson had about her future as an LGBTQ+ executive have greatly dissipated since coming onboard at Capital One, where she is now one of the leading voices for D&I. The work of the companys Out Front group, the substantial number of allies and sponsors participating in Pride and related events, even the attention paid to topline accomplishments for this community on the cover of its 2020 annual report are all benchmarks, Ferguson contends, that Capital One takes LGBTQ+ inclusion issues seriously.

Salesforce Molly Ford (she/her), vice president global equality programs, Salesforce

Salesforce is another company generally viewed in the forefront of advocating for D&I and specifically for the LGBTQ+ community. In addition to Outforce, the LGBTQ+ ERG, the company offers LGBTQ-inclusive healthcare policies covering fertility, parental leave, and gender affirmation surgery. CEO Marc Benioff was one of the first to speak out in 2015 against Indiana legislation that discriminated against the LGBTQ+ community, and Salesforce has been actively leveraging the business community to apply pressure to the legislature in various states ever since.

One of the most effective ways Salesforce promotes D&I for this community is through its voluntarily self-identity program, which encourages employees to declare their pronouns in their Workday profiles when onboarding or at any time during their tenure, says Molly Ford (she/her), vice president global equality programs at Salesforce. Having this information in the companys system of record helps guide new benefits programs  for example, exploring how to evolve the fertility benefits covering IVF after six months of trying to conceive to address the unique needs of LGBTQ+ employees. It also lets the community stand up and be recognized, Ford says.

In fact, the use of pronouns for all employees  not just for the transgender or nonbinary community  is one of the most impactful parts of the D&I journey, Ford says. If we only let them/they do pronouns, then we are giving them a scarlet letter, she says. With pronouns in the signature of your email profile or on Slack, you introduce yourself properly and it starts the journey of allyship.

Salesforce Dustin Pitts (he/him), senior manager of solution engineering, Salesforce

Dustin Pitts (he/him), a Salesforce senior manager, solution engineering, says simple things like pronouns in the HR system and joining your non-LGBTQ+ peers in events such as Pride parades goes a long way in feeling like a valued and recognized member of the work community.

Its a big thing to drop down a menu and ID as gay internally at work, he explains. Ive been coming out my whole life to my peers, my customers, to the guy at the butcher shop. With pronouns, there are no gray areas and it signals allyship. Its very subtle, but powerful.

Lianna Newman (no pronouns), a software engineer who identifies as nonbinary, recalls how a managers use of pronouns in emails even after being asked to use Liannas name felt alienating and hurtful. Its one thing to say it, but to continually write it after gentle reminders turned a small thing into a situation, Lianna says. Lianna has also been asked to create trainings to explain what nonbinary means to peers  an assignment Lianna believes shouldnt be up to the LGBTQ+ employee, but rather part of the HR management mandate.

Lianna Newman Lianna Newman (no pronouns), software engineer

Tech workers looking for an LGBTQ+-friendly workplace should be prepared to do their homework. Digging into the companys social media, scouring benefits packages, doing research on Glassdoor and other online sites, and most importantly, walking the floor to make sure you see others like you are invaluable to finding a place where you can live and work and fit in as your authentic self, Ferguson advises.

You see companies stuck hiding behind numbers and metrics  maybe they interviewed X number of diverse people so the mission is done, she explains. But how we think about diversity in the workplace has to monumentally move. We have to not just think about diversity as how many people weve spoken to or hired, but once theyre actually in the door, are we providing a psychologically safe work environment where they feel included?

GoDaddys Fox says between last years pandemic and the activism spurred by George Floyds murder, there is plenty of opportunity to see how companies step it up to support employees. Even 10 years back, the experience of transitioning while at GoDaddy couldnt have been more positive. Yet in hindsight, Fox admits the focus then was to not rock the boat as opposed to advocating for the transgender experience. Moreover, as an early and well-known GoDaddy employee prior to transitioning, Fox believes colleagues were more willing to accept and see the person beyond any single transgender story.

It wasnt like asking a random person how they feel about transgender people; its that Ryanne is transgender and transitioning, Fox explains. Its easier to be supportive when you know and care about someone.
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The next mayor of New York City will have to confront a long menu of challenges, but there is one at the nexus of many of these: the mental health crisis playing out daily on the streets and in our subways.

This is not a lets clean up our streets and subway moment, its a lets give people community, opportunity, dignity and support challenge.

Now that the city is opening up, it has a historic opportunity to ensure that one the most vulnerable groups is not left behind  those living with serious mental illnesses, which is a mental health issue which substantially interferes with major life activities, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.The de Blasio administration has taken a first step in making community mental health a priority through its ThriveNYC initiative, now morphed into the Mayors Office of Community Mental Health, but much more work needs to be done to improve the current system.

While this investment  that the biggest city in the United States made mental health a priority  is a step in the right direction, it is a mere drop in the bucket of resources needed to address the 280,000 people living with serious mental illness in the city. Even among those with health insurance, just over 50% are not receiving any care.

If half of the population in Manhattan with severe heart disease or cancer were not receiving treatment, public concern and government efforts to expand care would be a given. And yet the state of our public conversation about serious mental illness, especially in the current mayoral race, is to conflate it with violence and risk to the public and to focus almost entirely on whether the police or mental health professionals respond to 911 calls. In fact, people living with serious mental illness are far more likely to be the victims of violence than to perpetrate it.

While reform of police response to mental health crises is essential, it is just the front end of a much wider mental health and public health system that is failing too many New Yorkers. To rebuild public health, the next mayor must make community-based solutions for people with serious mental illness a top priority and standard practice  something that should have happened in the more than five decades since the deinstitutionalization of thousands of patients from psychiatric hospitals around the state.

We are in no way suggesting going back to large, inhumane and ineffective facilities of the 19th and early 20th centuries. The 21st-century solution to serious mental illness is providing care, supportive services and housing in small, community-based programs that have a track record of durable engagement of people with serious mental illness and better health outcomes. We need basic social infrastructure for these New Yorkers.

When the next mayor takes the oath of office on January 1, 2022, one of their first priorities must be solving this chronic crisis. The next administration needs a three-pronged approach to this: housing, health care and community.

On the housing front, we need to work with the state Office of Mental Health to roll out a massive expansion of behavioral health supportive housing, including streamlining access to existing beds through these programs. Every night, there are empty behavioral health supportive housing units in New York City because of the byzantine and unrealistic enrollment and eligibility criteria. We also need to reclaim unused hotels for supportive housing, akin to Californias $850 million hotel reclamation plan for the homeless.

To improve health care, we must expand the pool of behavioral healthcare workers through incentive programs, such as student loan forgiveness, to practice in low-income communities and integrate behavioral health services into primary care  essentially a better-designed and better-executed version of ThriveNYCs Mental Health Service Corps, which has been consistently underfunded and has a history of disorganization.

Additionally, the city must work with the state to better enforce mental health parity laws (which ensure that health insurance plans cover behavioral health and physical health benefits equally, but regulators must work harder to get insurers to comply), expand access to telehealth and mental telehealth services, and make permanent the equalization of insurance reimbursement for telehealth and in-person services. It also must focus workforce deployment in mental health deserts like the South Bronx, Central Brooklyn, the Rockaways, and other underserved areas.

The final piece of the roadmap is increasing access to community care. The next mayor needs to make an annual $1.5 billion investment, which is what it would cost to place the whole population with severe mental illness in community-based mental health programs such as Fountain House, which serve as therapeutic communities, and provide the basic social infrastructure needed to support and durably engage people living with serious mental illness. We need to move people away from punitive, carceral systems and into programs that break debilitating social and economic isolation, and meet their basic needs for housing, education and employment, while providing easy and low-cost access to health care.

This seemingly large investment will pay dividends for years and save the city money in the medium-term. We know this approach works because one of us runs Fountain House, which has been doing precisely these things for the last 73 years here in New York.

Compare these facts: it costs $48,000 to house one person in the shelter system annually and approximately $340,000 annually to incarcerate one person. New York state spends half a billion dollars a year on incarcerating people with serious mental illness. But it only costs about $26,000 per year for Fountain House to provide a member with access to its employment, education, and wellness services and peer community, while also providing safe, supported housing.

Studiesshow that incarceration, even for those merely awaiting trial, can exacerbate or even cause mental health issues. Rikers Island has become one of the largest psychiatric facilities in the nation: it is estimated that40% of those incarcerated there suffer from a significant mental health issue.

The results at Fountain House speak for itself: nearly 40% of its members are or have recently been homeless when they arrive  within one year, 99% are in stable housing; 25% of Fountain House members are currently or were recently involved in the criminal legal system  while only 5% recidivate; and health care costs and hospitalizations for Fountain House members are down by more than 20% compared to non-members with similar conditions. Fountain House and its model clubhouses work and have been right under our noses for decades. As a start, Fountain House recently leveraged a historic $4 million from the city for New York City-based clubhouses, communities run by people affected by mental illness, in collaboration with professional staff, that focus on the strengths of the individual and what they can contribute, rather than their illness. Thats a 50% increase in the overall clubhouse budget for the city  but more resources are needed.

There are many other good examples of programs in the city that tackle aspects of getting the homeless or recently incarcerated employment and housing, including the Fortune Society and the Doe Fund among them. We need to focus on building strong partnerships with these programs to ensure we are tackling these issues from every angle, as embodied by the recent Fountain House-Fortune Society OnRamps partnership, funded by the Mayors Office of Criminal Justice, to house and support people with serious mental illness granted early release from Rikers during COVID-19. This kind of collaboration must be standard practice.

Instead of punitive jail sentences, ineffective crisis response and undignified and dangerous housing in shelters, the city should move that money into a mental health fund of $1.5 billion to pay for these programs.
On Sunday the Knesset, Israels parliament, reached an agreement to eject Benjamin Netanyahu after twelve years, the longest time any prime minister has held power in the country. Coverage described a fraught legacy: the New York Times called him a polarizing figure; per the Washington Post, he leaves a country more divided; CNN reported that he made a wealthier, more divided Israel. Many outlets remarked on the strange cooperation among those who removed Netanyahu from office. They lead an eight-party alliance ranging from left to right, from secular to religious, that agrees on little but a desire to oust Mr. Netanyahu, Richard Perez-Pena wrote, in the Times. For The New Yorker, Ruth Margalit noted that under a government that delegitimized any form of dissent, traditional concepts of left and right have become somewhat meaningless. Naftali Bennett, a hard-right nationalist who was once Netanyahus chief of staff, has now taken his place as prime minister; Yair Lapid, a centrist and former journalist, is set to take over in 2023.

Netanyahus relationship with the press has long been combative. For CJRs global issue, Margalit wrote about his journey from a master of television, in his early career, to seasoned press antagonist. In 1999, after his first election loss, when Netanyahu sought to boost his media influence, his friend Ronald Lauder, the American cosmetics magnate, bought a majority stake in Israels Channel 10; in 2007, another ally, Sheldon Adelson, the casino-owning mega-donor, launched a free tabloid that amplified Netanyahus voice and views. By 2014, Israel got Channel 20 (The Heritage Channel), a mirror of Fox News with the motto: Really Balanced Television; soon, it was the only network with which Netanyahu sat for interviews. The same year, he sidelined his communications minister and took over the role himself. Among analysts of Israeli politics, Margalit observed, the most common word used to describe Netanyahus view of the press is obsession.

Then, in February of 2019, ahead of his next bid for reelection, Netanyahu was slammed with three major corruption cases; the most serious alleged that a media executive had taken down a story criticizing the First Lady in exchange for Netanyahus approval of a merger that would offset the executives corporate debt. Netanyahu fought to maintain his grip as long as he could: through indictments for breach of trust, accepting bribes, and fraud; through a bid for immunity; through an extended trial. By the end of December, the Knesset dissolved, and Israels election became a campaign to unseat him.

While lawmakers scrambled to form a new coalition, Netanyahu took aggressive action against Palestine. In May, Israel went on a bombing spree; when missiles hit press offices in Gaza, Netanyahu insisted that Hamas had an intelligence office in the building. Soon after, Haaretz reported that, amid protests, Netanyahu had proposed a social media crackdown. Even as his tenure as prime minister spun out of control, the press had trouble resisting his hold over messaging; as Jon Allsop wrote in a recent newsletter, Much of the top-line coverage in the United States has used fuzzy, passive languagewarlike violence erupts; the Israeli-Palestinian crisis, reignitedthat obscures who has done what to whom. In an open letter last week, a group of media professionals called for more strongly worded coverage of Israels hostility against Palestine.

Under Bennett, the outlook for the press remains to be seen. From Jerusalem, Noga Tarnopolsky, who covers Israel and Palestine as a freelance reporter, tweeted that much of the media is breathing a sigh of relief with the exit of a PM who referred to us as enemies of the people & treated journalists with sneering contempt, calling Bennetts administration a breath of fresh air. Still, Mairav Zonszein, a writer and analyst for the Crisis Group, noted that the new administration does not mark a defeat of the right. And Al Jazeera observed that, as Bennett replaces Netanyahu, Palestinians are not counting on change. Reporters like Givara Budeiriwho, according to the International Federation of Journalists, was arrested and assaulted by Israeli police, then released with a broken hand, even after a cease-fire was declaredcan only hope for better days. They cant count on them.

Below, more on news coverage and Israel:

Israeli medias one-woman show: For CJR last summer, Zonszein interviewed Or-ly Barlev, an independent journalist and activist in Israel who broadcasts via Facebook Live to hundreds of thousands. Barlev described living in a media landscape dominated by Netanyahuor Bibi, as hes known. He has planted people in every panel, every studio; there is always someone speaking on behalf of Bibi, Barlev said. Not representatives of the right. Not right-wing intellectuals. Mouthpieces. Propagandists. And he feeds the media spins, which some journalists eat up. Still, in August, she saw some signs of hope: One of Bibis tools is to divide and fracture, and people are uniting. The contra has started. All stick, no carrot: For the Canadaland podcast, Jesse Brown spoke with Dalya al-Masri, a Palestinian writer and researcher based in Vancover, about media coverage of Israel and Palestine. They agreed that ambivalent coverage of Israel and Palestine is overly governed by fear (in Browns words, all stick and no carrot). Journalists have the obligation and the duty to morally and ethically represent the truth and to represent the communities they cover, Masri said. There is a rightful fear. But most of this fear is driven by the silence. When we stay silent, and when journalists and newsrooms dont really cover these issues, it starts to get really pushed under the rug. Out in the open: In an op-ed for the Washington Post , Yousef Munayyer wrote that Bennetts policies wont mean justice or peace for Palestinians, citing Bennetts shameless opposition to a Palestinian state. Bennett will not only continue to act as Netanyahu did, he is unafraid to tell the world about it too, Munayyer argued.





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Lauren Harris is a freelance journalist. She writes CJR's weekly newsletter for the Journalism Crisis Project. Follow her on Twitter @LHarrisWrites.
SINGAPORE/PARIS  French power group EDF has begun examination of a potential issue linked to a build-up of inert gases at its nuclear power station in China, though the company and its Chinese partner said the plant was operating safely.

CNN reported on Monday that the U.S. government had spent the past week assessing a report of a leak at the Taishan power plant in Guangdong province run by a joint venture between EDF and China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN).

The U.S. news network reported that Framatome, the EDF business that designed the plants reactor and remains involved in its operations, had warned of an imminent radiological threat.

EDF said the build-up of noble gases krypton and xenon, which it said had affected the primary circuit of reactor No.1 of the Taishan plant, was a known phenomenon, studied and provided for in the reactor operating procedures.

A group spokesman said this could be because of an issue with fuel rods and seals. Measurements of inert gases were below maximum levels authorized in China, the spokesman said, adding that it was too early to say whether the reactor would have to be shut down.

Krypton and xenon do not tend to react with other substances but they do have radioactive qualities and are therefore subject to constant monitoring.

EDF has called for a meeting with CGN to go over the findings, though no date has yet been set.

State-run CGN, the majority owner of the joint venture, said operations at the plant met safety rules and the surrounding environment is safe.

Regular monitoring data shows the Taishan station and its surrounding environment meet normal parameters, it said in a statement on its website late on Sunday.

Framatome said it was supporting efforts to resolve the situation.

According to the data available, the plant is operating within the safety parameters, the company said in a statement, adding that it was working with experts to assess the situation.

TNPJVC, the joint venture behind the plant, is 70% owned by CGN and 30% by EDF.

The International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N. atomic watchdog, said: At this stage, the agency has no indication that a radiological incident occurred, and that it was in contact with officials in China about the issue.

Frances nuclear watchdog ASN had no immediate comment. The U.S. State Department and U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission referred queries to the Energy Department and the White House did not respond immediately to questions from Reuters.

EPR Technology

The Taishan reactor is the first French-designed Evolutionary Power Reactor (EPR) to become operational. The technology is also being deployed in France, Finland and at the Hinkley Point C project in Britain.

Power from the plant serves the Guangzhou and Shenzhen areas, Guangdong provinces major manufacturing hubs, which have faced power shortages in recent weeks due to hot weather and lower than normal hydropower supplies from neighboring Yunnan province.

CNN said the warning by Framatome included an accusation that the Chinese safety authority was raising the acceptable limits for radiation detection outside the Taishan plant to avoid having to shut it down.

A Reuters call for comment to the National Nuclear Safety Administration went unanswered during a public holiday.

About the photo: In this Tuesday, Feb 5, 2013 file photo, the EDF tower of French state-owned power giant Electricite de France (EDF), is seen in the La Defense business district, west of Paris. French energy company EDF is due to decide whether to go ahead with a major nuclear power plant project in southwest England that some consider too costly. (AP Photo/Jacques Brinon, File)
The collapse last month of a section of a Mexico City metro line that killed 26 people was likely due to poor construction by Mexican tycoon Carlos Slims Grupo Carso while foreign minister Marcelo Ebrard was mayor, according to a New York Times investigation.

Problems were identified in the original construction by Slims company Carso Infrastructure and Construction, and the collapse was probably caused by bad welding of the steel studs that served as linchpins of the structure, the report revealed. The job may have been rushed because Ebrard sought to open the subway before his mayoral term ended in 2012, the Times said.

The report could damage Grupo Carso as well as the reputation of Ebrard, a key presidential ally, who is seen as an early front-runner along with Mexico City mayor Claudia Sheinbaum to be the countrys next president. In a tweet on Sunday, Sheinbaum denied that her office was responsible for leaking information to the newspaper.

Antonio Gomez Garcia, chief executive of Grupo Carso, told the Times that he didnt believe the accident was due to bad welding of the lines bolt-like studs, as the article suggested.

Ebrard said in a tweet that his comments to the Times were completely ignored and that his response to the newspapers queries werent adequately included. He also noted that all observations from the federal auditors at the time were resolved.

The long-troubled metro track collapsed on May 3 after a decade of safety concerns and probes. In 2014, officials closed most of the Golden Lines service after determining that twisted rails and damaged ties were endangering passengers. The city banned some officials who headed the project from holding public office and some were fined for alleged irregularities in the planning, bidding, contract signing and execution of the project.

While the line underwent major repairs and later reopened, local media reported severe damage after a 2017 earthquake to a portion of the track one station away from the current collapsed beam. Mexico City says repairs have been done since then.

The Mexico City attorney generals office is investigating the design and construction of the line to the materials used and the costs. Both Ebrard and Sheinbaum also face scrutiny for their part in overseeing the works, including in the case of Ebrard the original construction and more recent inspections and maintenance under the Sheinbaum administration.

Copyright 2021 Bloomberg.
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP)  A Sri Lankan court granted bail to the captain of a fire-ravaged container ship on Monday, hours after he was arrested by police, officials said.

Police spokesman Ajith Rohana said investigators arrested the captain of the MV X-Press Pearl, which is sinking off the countrys capital and causing severe environmental pollution.

Rohana said the captain was charged under the Marine Pollution Prevention Act, which prohibits the dumping of oil, harmful substances and other pollutants in the ocean and coastal areas.

Russian captain Tyutkalo Vitaly appeared before the magistrate on Monday and later was released on bail. The court banned him from leaving the country. The case will be heard again on July 1.

The fire broke out when the ship was anchored about 9.5 nautical miles (18 kilometers) northwest of the capital and waiting to enter the countrys main port. It burned for 12 days.

The Sri Lankan navy believes the blaze was caused by the vessels cargo, which included 25 tons of nitric acid and other chemicals, most of which was destroyed in the fire.

Authorities extinguished the fire last week, but the ship then began sinking and attempts to tow it into deeper waters failed when the vessels stern sank to the seabed.

The ship remains partly submerged in waters about 21 meters (70 feet) deep.

On Saturday, the government said it is seeking an interim claim of $40 million from the ships operator to cover part of the cost of fighting the fire. Officials are still assessing the total damages.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
When the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power was hacked in 2018, it took a mere six hours. Early this year, an intruder lurked in hundreds of computers related to water systems across the U.S. In Portland, Oregon, burglars installed malicious computers onto a grid providing power to a chunk of the Northwest.

Two of those cases  L.A. and Portland  were tests. The water threat was real, discovered by cybersecurity firm Dragos.

All three drive home a point long known but, until recently, little appreciated: the digital security of U.S. computer networks controlling the machines that produce and distribute water and power is woefully inadequate, a low priority for operators and regulators, posing a terrifying national threat.

If we have a new world war tomorrow and have to worry about protecting infrastructure against a cyberattack from Russia or China, then no, I dont think were where wed like to be, said Andrea Carcano, co-founder of Nozomi Networks, a control system security company.

Hackers working for profit and espionage have long threatened American information systems. But in the last six months, theyve targeted companies running operational networks like the Colonial Pipeline fuel system, with greater persistence. These are the systems where water can be contaminated, a gas line can spring a leak or a substation can explode.

The threat has been around for at least a decade  and fears about it for a generation  but cost and indifference posed obstacles to action.

It isnt entirely clear why ransomware hackers  those who use malicious software to block access to a computer system until a sum of money has been paid  have recently moved from small-scale universities, banks and local governments to energy companies, meatpacking plants and utilities. Experts suspect increased competition and bigger payouts as well as foreign government involvement. The shift is finally drawing serious attention to the problem.

The U.S. government began taking small steps to defend cybersecurity in 1998 when the Clinton administration identified 14 private sectors as critical infrastructure, including chemicals, defense, energy and financial services. This triggered regulation in finance and power. Other industries were slower to protect their computers, including the oil and gas sector, said Rob Lee, the founder of Dragos.

One of the reasons is the operational and financial burden of pausing production and installing new tools.

Much of the infrastructure running technology systems is too old for sophisticated cybersecurity tools. Ripping and replacing hardware is costly as are service outages. Network administrators fear doing the job piecemeal may be worse because it can increase a networks exposure to hackers, said Nozomis Carcano.

Although the Biden administrations budget includes $20 billion to upgrade the countrys grid, this comes after a history of shoulder shrugging from federal and local authorities. Even where companies in under-regulated sectors like oil and gas have prioritized cybersecurity, theyve been met with little support.

Take the case of ONE Gas Inc. in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Niyo Little Thunder Pearson was overseeing cybersecurity there in January 2020 when his team was alerted to malware trying to enter its operational system - the side that controls natural gas traffic across Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas.

Hacker Dogfight

For two days, his team was in a dogfight with the hackers who moved laterally across the network. Ultimately, Pearsons team managed to expel the intruders.

When Richard Robinson at Cynalytica fed the corrupted files into his own identification program, ONE Gas learned it was dealing with malware capable of executing ransomware, exploiting industrial control systems and harvesting user credentials. At its core were digital footprints found in some of the most malicious code of the last decade.

Pearson tried to bring the data to the Federal Bureau of Investigation but it would only accept it on a compact disc, he said. His system couldnt burn the data onto a CD. When he alerted the Department of Homeland Security and sent it through a secure portal, he never heard back.

Robinson of Cynalytica was convinced a nation-state operator had just attacked a regional natural gas provider. So he gave a presentation to DHS, the Departments of Energy and Defense and the intelligence community on a conference call. He never heard back either.

We got zero, and that was what was really surprising, he said. Not a single individual reached back out to find out more about what happened to ONE Gas.

The agencies didnt respond to requests for comment.

Such official indifference  even hostility  hasnt been uncommon.

The 2018 break-in to the L.A. water and power system is another example.

These werent criminals but hackers-for-hire paid to break into the system to help it improve security.

After the initial intrusion, the citys security team asked the hackers to assume the original source of compromise had been fixed (it hadnt) while hunting for a new one. They found many.

Between the end of 2018 and most of 2019, the hired hackers discovered 33 compromised paths, according to a person familiar with the test who wasnt authorized to speak publicly. Bloomberg News reviewed a report produced by the hackers for Mayor Eric Garcettis office.

It described 10 vulnerabilities found during their own test, along with 23 problems researchers had discovered as early as 2008. (Bloomberg News wont publish information that hackers could use to attack the utility.) The person familiar with the operation discovered that few, if any, of the 33 security gaps have been fixed since the reports submission in September 2019.

It gets worse.

Soon after the hackers produced the report, Mayor Garcetti terminated their contract, according to a preliminary legal claim filed by the hackers hired from Ardent Technology Solutions in March 2020. The company alleges the mayor fired the hackers as a retaliatory measure for the scathing report.

Ellen Cheng, a utility spokeswoman, acknowledged that Ardents contract was terminated but said it had nothing to do with the reports substance. She said the utility frequently partners with public agencies to improve security, including scanning for potential cyber threats.

We want to assure our customers and stakeholders that cybersecurity is of the utmost importance to LADWP and that appropriate steps have been taken to ensure that our cybersecurity is compliant with all applicable laws and security standards, Cheng said in a statement.

Garcettis office didnt respond to a request for comment.

The case of the Oregon network  the Bonneville Power Administration  is no more encouraging.

The testing went on for years beginning in 2014 and involved an almost shocking level of intrusion followed by a pair of public reports. One published in 2017 admonished the agency for repeatedly failing to take action.

By 2020, two-thirds of the more than 100 flaws identified by the Department of Energy and the utilitys own security team hadnt been resolved, according to interviews with more than a dozen former and current Bonneville security personnel and contractors and former members of the Department of Energy cyber team, in addition to documents, some accessed via Freedom of Information Act request.

Doug Johnson, a spokesperson for Bonneville, said a team reviewed the security reports in mid-2019 and that efforts to remediate those are ongoing. The utility acknowledged that hackers were able to breach certain BPA systems in those test hacks, but Johnson said at no time were they able to gain access to any of the BPA systems that monitor or control the power grid.

Dragos estimated in its 2020 cybersecurity report that 90% of its new customers had extremely limited to no visibility inside their industrial control systems. That means that once inside, hackers have free rein to collect sensitive data, investigate system configurations and choose the right time to wage an attack.

The industry is finally focused on fighting back.

If the bad guys come after us, there has to be an eye-for-an-eye, or better, observed Tom Fanning, chief executive officer of Southern Co., at a conference this week. Weve got to make sure the bad guys understand there will be consequences.

With assistance from Alyza Sebenius, Will Wade and Sheela Tobben.

About the photo: The Department of Water and Power (DWP) San Fernando Valley Generating Station is seen December 11, 2008 in Sun Valley, California. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images) Photographer: David McNew/Getty Images North America

Copyright 2021 Bloomberg.
A U.S. federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit brought by 117 workers at a Texas hospital over its requirement that they be vaccinated against COVID-19.

U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes upheld Houston Methodist Hospitals policy mandating employees be vaccinated, in a ruling issued on Saturday.

Jennifer Bridges, a nurse and the lead plaintiff in the case, had argued that if she was fired for refusing a vaccine, it should be considered wrongful termination. She also said the vaccines are experimental and dangerous.

The judge did not find merit in either argument.

Methodist is trying to do their business of saving lives without giving them the COVID-19 virus, Hughes wrote in a five-page decision. It is a choice made to keep staff, patients and their families safer.

Bridges can freely choose to accept or refuse a Covid-19 vaccine; however, if she refuses, she will simply need to work somewhere else.

The judge said Texas law only protected employees from being fired for refusing to commit an illegal act and that the requirement is consistent with public policy.

Three vaccines received emergency authorization in the United States, though they have not received full approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission also said last month that U.S. companies can mandate that employees be vaccinated against COVID-19 with certain exceptions.

A lawyer for the workers who sued plans to appeal. This legal battle has only just begun, the lawyer, Jared Woodfill, said in an email. Employment should not be conditioned upon whether you will agree to serve as a human guinea pig.

In a statement, Houston Methodist called the lawsuit frivolous and said it was pleased with the judges decision. It noted that 24,947 hospital employees have met the vaccine requirements.
In the first round of the French presidential election in 2017, nearly one in five voters marked their ballots for Jean-Luc Melenchon, the candidate of the newly formed far-left La France Insoumis, or France Rising party. The result meant that Melenchon missed qualification for the final, second round by less than 2%, with the far-right candidate Marine Le Pen having won a little more than 21% and the center-right candidate Emmanuel Macron, who went on to win outright, taking 24% in the first round.

Melenchons election numbers might be respectable, but his ideas about the world are far less so, even by Frances standards, where the extremes of both left and right have, unfortunately, always enjoyed solid electoral support. Were France an English-speaking country, it is quite possible that Melenchon would have gained the same notoriety among American Jews that his co-thinker, Jeremy Corbyn, achieved during his leadership of the Labour Party in Britain, given his icy hostility to the beleaguered French Jewish community. And whereas Corbyn has been consigned once again to the backbenches of the House of Commons, Melenchon, likewise an elected member of his countrys National Assembly, is preparing another presidential challenge next year.

During an interview last week with a radio station in the city of Toulouse, Melenchon offered up a prediction with the regard to the 2022 campaign. Youll see that on the last week of the presidential campaign, well have a serious incident or a murder, he remarked. In 2012, it was Merah, last week it was Champs-Elysees.

(The Champs-Elysees refers to the recent decision of Frances highest court to place on trial a Lebanese-Canadian, Hassan Diab, accused of the 1980 bombing of the synagogue in rue Copernic, which is located close to the landmark Parisian avenue. Merah refers to the horrifying murder of a teacher, his two young sons and another young girl at the Ozar Hatorah Jewish school in Toulouse by an Islamist terrorist on March 20, 2012, about one month before the presidential election that was eventually won by Francois Hollande.)

The examples cited by Melenchon are connected by his overriding claim that the deep state (every country has one these days) will always rustle up a terrorist or national security incident at politically significant moments to prevent, so to speak, La France from rising. If you are going to make this point, particularly in France, where conspiracy theories about Jews have always been lapped up, then there are no more effective examples than the Jews in your midst.

Melenchon would have us believe that the atrocity at Ozar Hatorah was some kind of false flag operation. Twenty years ago, a writer named Thierry Meyssan enjoyed a bestseller in France with a book that made exactly the same assertion about the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States; so from a purely cynical point of view, one can appreciate that such sleazy claims chime with a big section of French opinion. Yet there is every reason to think that Melenchon believes what he says, particularly as he is a repeat offender.

For all of Corbyns myriad offenses against the Jewish community in the United Kingdom, I am not aware that he ever introduced the charge of deicide the false accusation that Jews are collectively, eternally responsible for the execution of the Son of God into public debate. But Melenchon did exactly that during a television discussion last year, on a topic that, on the face of it, had absolutely nothing to do with Jews.

Asked how French police officers should react to violent protesters, Melenchon suggested that the cops should adopt the poise of Jesus during his crucifixion by the Romans. They should stay put like Jesus without reacting, he opined. Then he added, I dont know if Jesus was on a cross, but he was apparently put there by his own people.

Those bizarre sentences were never going to persuade the French police to lay down their beloved tear gas canisters, batons and water cannons. But anyone who was listening was conveniently reminded of the ultimate Jewish crime  the original sin, no less, from which all of the subsequent misdeeds of the Jewish people are descended.

Indeed, its striking that so many of Melenchons barbs against Jews, which are often expressed in the rhetoric of anti-capitalism, rely on the basest tropes. In 2013, he charged that the then French Finance Minister Pierre Moscovici, who is not Jewish but has a Jewish-sounding name, was a member of the Eurogroup bastards (otherwise known as the finance ministers of the European Union) who behaves like someone who has stopped thinking in French, like someone who thinks only in the language of international finance. When critics pointed out that these words were uncomfortably reminiscent of fascist sloganizing from the 1930s (not to mention the anti-Semitic invective on the extremes of right and left during the Dreyfus Affair half-a-century earlier), Melenchon reached for the anti-Semites most disingenuous excuse. I had no idea of Pierre Moscovicis religion and I have no intention of making an issue of it in the future, he said. In other words, I didnt intend anything as an ethnic slur, so there is really no need for further discussion of whether or not I am an anti-Semite: Anyone who says otherwise must surely motivated by a secret agenda.

Melenchon has also depicted Crif, the distinctly moderate French Jewish representative organization, as a cauldron of sectarian hostility. In a 2014 speech, he happily conjured up the anti-Semitic stereotype of the pushy, obnoxious Jew, describing Crif as one of those aggressive communities that lecture the rest of the country. When, four years later, Melenchon had the temerity to appear at a memorial rally for Mireille Knoll, the Holocaust survivor brutally murdered in her Paris apartment during a robbery motivated by anti-Semitism, despite a request from Crif to stay away, he attempted to hijack the entire event, loudly complaining that the organization was targeting him with blatant, violent and aggressive sectarianism. Tellingly, only one other politician behaved in a similarly undignified manner at the Knoll rally: the far-right leader Marine Le Pen.

Both the United States and Europe have afforded several examples of the far-left and the far-right coming together on many key issues during the last decade, among them opposing globalization, rejecting foreign military engagements, adopting populist rhetoric and using dog whistle techniques to undermine and intimidate political opponents. But in Jean-Luc Melenchon, the anti-Semitisms of left and right intermingle, with support for the Palestinians and the BDS campaign against Israel sitting comfortably alongside xenophobic jibes about uppity Jews forgetting their place. It is the worst of both worlds.

Ben Cohen is a New York City-based journalist and author who writes a weekly column on Jewish and international affairs for JNS.
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Mikah Boyd | The ItemThe youngest and oldest member of the U.S. Army cut the cake during the Army Birthday Celebration on Monday at the H.E.A.R.T.S. Veterans Museum of Texas.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 15)  Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III on Tuesday said it will cost the government an estimated 20 billion to 25 billion to vaccinate about 15 million minors in the country aged 12-15 against COVID-19.

During the Senate inquiry on the status of the government's 88.6-billion vaccination program, the Finance chief said funding can come from the budget allocated to protect adults who are hesitant to get vaccinated.

Dominguez cited consistent survey results showing a large portion of the adult population are still "anti-vaxxers" despite repeated reassurances of safety and efficacy.

"I'm going to be very honest with you, not everybody is going to accept the vaccination. We know from surveys that there are probably 25-30% of the adult population who don't want to be vaccinated. That will be able to cover the children who want to be vaccinated at the moment," he told lawmakers.

The government has sealed deals to receive at least 149.8 million COVID-19 vaccine doses this year. This is in line with the Duterte administration's goal for 70 million adult Filipinos to receive two full doses to reach herd immunity by December.

Dominguez, however, admitted that this figure does not include minors aged 12-15 since the country's Food and Drug Administration only recently approved allowing them to receive Pfizer's COVID-19 shots.

During the Cabinet meeting Monday night, Dominguez assured President Rodrigo Duterte that the government has "enough reserves to cover that amount of money" if those aged 12-15 need to be vaccinated. He added there are enough funds to vaccinate the entire adult population and the minors.

Dominguez also said they are preparing to buy booster shots or an additional third dose for roughly 85 million Filipino adults and teens, costing 60 billion.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 15)  Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III on Tuesday disclosed the cost range of COVID-19 shots procured by the national government.

The price per dose is from $6.75 (around P324) to $27.59 (about P1,234), he told a Senate hearing on the country's COVID-19 vaccination program.

"I am not privy to the reasons for the different pricing but what I can surmise is that maybe different terms, different volumes, and different products," Dominguez said when asked by Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon about the "disparity" in costs.

He added it may also be based on what the country can pay.

A budget of P88.6-billion sourced from foreign loans and government coffers has been set aside for the country's COVID-19 vaccination program, Dominguez said.

He said the funds are enough to buy more than 148 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to inoculate 70 million adult Filipinos. He added the country may receive up to 204 million doses this year, including donations from the COVAX facility. Officials have said they aim to vaccinate more than 70% percent of the country's population once there is enough supply.

The government has signed supply agreements with Sinovac, Gamaleya, and Moderna. Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez said the Sinovac vaccine costs more or less P700 per dose.

Galvez said he cannot divulge the exact amount because of a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with the vaccine supplier.

Dominguez backed Galvez, adding the NDA is the "requirement of the suppliers, and we cannot disclose trade secrets, and including in the trade secrets are the pricing."

The country has so far received 12,705,870 COVID-19 vaccine doses, Galvez said.

Around seven million vaccine doses were administered, mostly as first shots, he added.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 15) There has been a "very slow decline" in the number of COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila, but more infections have been found in areas in the rest of the country, the Department of Health reported Tuesday.

In a media forum, Dr. Alethea De Guzman, chief epidemiologist of the DOH, said the Visayas, as seen on the chart, has the steepest increase in cases in the past weeks.

Meanwhile, she said majority of the daily cases in the past week were from CALABARZON.

The agency attributed the soaring cases to non-compliance to health protocols, and attendance at mass gatherings.

Health officials, however, said the pandemic situation nationwide remains "very fragile," adding it is uncertain if there will be an increase or decrease in cases in the following weeks.

High-risk areas

The DOH identified Cagayan Valley, CARAGA, and Western Visayas as high risk areas as of June 15.

"Bakit naka-high risk ito? Hindi lamang ang kanilang (average daily attack rate) ay naka-high risk (ang) growth in cases in the recent one to two weeks, they are showing increases in their newly reported cases," De Guzman explained.

[Translation: Why are they at high risk? Not only their average daily attack rates are on high risk, but their growth in cases in the recent one to two weeks, they are showing increases in their newly reported cases.]

When asked if the increase in cases in Dumaguete City could be variant-driven, she told reporters the department has not yet seen any variant of concern there, nor in other parts of Central Visayas.

While she reported the presence of the P.3 variant first discovered in the Philippines in the area, De Guzman said authorities have yet to establish its impact.

"It would be premature to conclude that the P.3 has significantly contributed to the case increases in areas where it was detected," De Guzman said in a separate message.

Experts previously said that one of P.3 variant's mutations is linked to increased transmission of SARS-COV2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

COVID-19 situation in numbers

As of June 15, there are over 1.3 million COVID-19 cases in the country, of which over 58,000 people are still considered sick. Over 1.2 million recovered while nearly 23,000 died of the disease.

De Guzman said the average number of people dying daily this month due to COVID-19 is down to 51 this June, from an all-time high of 119 in April.

However, the average daily number of new cases in the past weeks is picking up, driven by the spike in cases in the regions:

June 7 to 13: 6,609

May 31 to June 6: 6,558

May 24 to 30: 6,278

The current average daily attack rate or the number of people getting infected per 100,000 population increased by 15% in the past two weeks. It is already at 5.96 from May 30 to June 12, from 5.19 from May 16 to 29.

The average daily cases in NCR is 833 between June 7 to 13, down from 997 between May 31 to June 6.

However, De Guzman said this is still far from the pre-surge numbers.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 15)  Human rights groups are urged to take a deeper look at the countrys drug situation, President Rodrigo Duterte said Monday.

Nakiki-usap ako sa mga (I request) Human Rights (groups), kindly take a deeper look into the drug situation, Duterte said in a televised Cabinet meeting, emphasizing that the deaths occurred because these drug suspects "resisted" arrest.

During his presentation, Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano reported that during the week of June 6 to 13, 32 drug suspects surrendered, while 1,095 drug operations were conducted. Of these, 1,576 individuals were arrested and 11 were killed during the procedures.

You would notice that there are really persons who die almost daily because ito lumaban talaga at hindi kasali ang pulis ko na may tama at namatay din (they really resisted and this does not include police officers who were wounded and killed too), he added.

The chief executive also noted how the illegal drug trade remains to be a big business in the country. Citing Anos report, value of illegal drugs confiscated during the said period reached around P1.2 billion.

Kita mo namang negosyo iyan kaya kung ayaw ninyong tumulong, huwag na kayong takutin iyong mga pulis na demanda-demanda, opening records he said, noting that records cannot be opened because those requesting for access might even see their own names listed as one of those who provided information to authorities.

[Translation: You can see that it's a business, so if you don't want to help, do not scare the police with filing of charges, opening of records.]

RELATED: Duterte: Records on drug war, NPA killings cannot be revealed publicly

He also warned drug traders that he will kill them if they continue to destroy his country.

The administrations controversial war on drugs has been receiving criticism from human rights groups due to alleged killings of innocent persons, including minors.

On Monday, outgoing International Criminal Court Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda requested for an authorization to conduct an investigation into the alleged crime against humanity committed in Duterte's war on drugs.

She also said that the police and other government officials planned, ordered, and sometimes directly perpetrated extrajudicial killings.

READ: ICC prosecutor requests permission to probe PH drug war
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 15)  Amnesty International welcomed the landmark decision of the International Criminal Court prosecutor to seek an investigation into the war on illegal drugs carried out by the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.

The request of outgoing Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda is a "much-awaited step in putting murderous incitement by President Duterte and his administration to an end," Amnesty Internationals Secretary General Agnes Callamard said Monday.

This announcement is a moment of hope for thousands of families in the Philippines who are grieving those lost to the governments so-called 'war on drugs'," she added in a statement.

Callamard said the impunity in the Philippines significantly worsened with the widespread and systematic killing of thousands of alleged drug suspects since 2016.

"The ICCs intervention must end this cycle of impunity in the country and send a signal to the police and those with links to the police who continue to carry out or sanction these killings that they cannot escape being held accountable for the crimes they commit," Amnesty International added.

Callamard has been a vocal critic of Duterte's bloody drug war and other controversial policies. During her stint as UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial executions, she tried to investigate the anti-drug campaign. She was repeatedly criticized and threatened by Duterte.

Bensouda on Monday asked the ICC's judges to approve her request to investigate the alleged crime against humanity committed from November 2011 to March 16, 2019  the day Duterte withdrew the Philippines from the ICC.

Bensouda also said in her request that police and other government officials planned, ordered, and sometimes directly perpetrated extrajudicial killings.

According to the ICC prosecutor, around 12,000 to 30,000 civilians were killed from July 2016 to March 2019 in connection with the governments anti-illegal drug campaign. Government data showed that 6,117 individuals have died during anti-drug operations as of April 30 this year.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 15)  Sen. Sherwin "Win" Gatchalian has urged the government to start inoculating the general public to address vaccine hesitancy among Filipinos.

Speaking to CNN Philippines' The Source on Tuesday, Gatchalian said immunization must start with the A5 group or the indigent citizens, especially in local government units within NCR Plus that have already stabilized their vaccine supply.

"If more people will be vaccinated, more people will be willing to get vaccinated," Gatchalian pointed out.

"So in other words. the supply issue has been overcome but the vaccine hesitation is still there and we need to overcome that," he said.

The senator said by the end of the month, the country will have enough vaccines for the general public in NCR Plus.

"And as we all know, NCR Plus is normally the source of infection because of the density and because of economic activity," he said.

Inoculation for the essential workers under the A4 priority group started on June 7 in Metro Manila, Rizal, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Pampanga, Metro Cebu, and Metro Davao  collectively called the NCR+8.

Alongside this, LGUs are also conducting a simultaneous vaccine drive for healthcare workers (A1), senior citizens (A2), and people with comorbidities (A3).

On Monday, the Department of Health said local government units may also start vaccinating individuals from the A5 group if the supply is enough.

Gatchalian said opening slots for A5 is already equivalent to expanding the vaccine drive to "the general public, more or less." He added that the process must remain orderly to avoid overcrowding in vaccination sites.

Based on the World Health Organization prioritization framework, only A1, A2, A3, and A5 groups can be inoculated with vaccines from the global initiative COVAX for now.

As of June 13, the Philippines has over 12.7 million COVID-19 vaccines. But government data shows that only over 1.8 million Filipinos have completed their doses. This is equivalent to only 2.6% of the targeted 70 million Filipinos that must be vaccinated to achieve herd immunity.

READ: TIMELINE: COVID-19 vaccine deliveries and rollout in the Philippines

READ: LIST: Where to register for your free COVID-19 shot
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 22) - Coronavirus infection among several vaccinated healthcare workers in Tacloban City still persists, Mayor Alfred Romualdez said on Tuesday.

The mayor said about 90% of medical frontliners in the city - who have already completed their vaccine doses - have tested positive for COVID-19. But he added that majority of them were asymptomatic.

"From what we see, about 90% of all health workers, doctors and nurses, who completed the first and second dose, nag-positive sila (they tested positive)...Ang maganda lang dito 95% or almost 99% are asymptomatic (But the good thing is, 95% or 99% are asymptomatic)," Romualdez told CNN Philippines' News.PH.

Romualdez already pointed out in a government briefing last week that over a hundred of the city's medical frontliners have tested positive despite having already received their second doses.

The mayor urged inoculated individuals to continue complying with minimum health standards, as well as to avoid heading out and instead get ample rest right after getting their shot.

According to the Department of Health, it typically takes a few weeks for the body to build immunity after vaccination.

It noted that no vaccine provides full protection from COVID-19 but stressed that besides prevention, efficacy is also measured by the reduced risk of getting severe forms of the disease.

Romualdez also told CNN Philippines that most of the healthcare workers in the city received the vaccine developed by Chinese firm Sinovac. Although he agrees getting vaccinated will prevent people from getting severe infection, Romualdez believes Sinovac is not suitable for medical frontliners given their work conditions.

"But because it was the only vaccine available, yes, it's helping us now in terms of nagiging asymptomatic yung mga nagpa-positive (it's helping us now in terms of just being asymptomatic)...But if we're looking at herd immunity, then that's a different story," he said. "And I'm saying, baka mas effective pa nga ang Sinovac sa mga A4 onwards (What I'm saying is Sinovac may be suitable for those under A4 category onwards)."

The Food and Drug Administration earlier said Sinovac is not recommended for healthcare workers who are constantly exposed to the coronavirus, senior citizens, and people with comorbidities because of its lower efficacy rate.

Clinical trials on the vaccine showed 50.4% efficacy rate among medical frontliners in Brazil. However, the FDA said Sinovac has an efficacy rate of 65.3% to 91.2% when used on healthy people.

Romualdez said nearly 16,000 in the city have already received their first dose, while about 13,000 were already finished with their second dose.
The Coastal Point is a local newspaper published each Friday and distributed in the Bethany Beach, South Bethany, Fenwick Island, Ocean View, Millville, Dagsboro, Frankford, Selbyville, Millsboro, Long Neck and Georgetown, Delaware areas.
Black Tea and Gratified Grad will host "Liberation Weekend," a collection of State College events in celebration of Juneteenth.

The organizations will kick off the weekend with a "Juneteenth Jubilee" to celebrate Black leaders, educators and excellence starting at 6 p.m. Friday at Sidney Friedman Parklet in State College.

The jubilee will serve to remember the liberation of Black people," uplift the community and benefit the St. Paul African Episcopal church in honor of Dr. "Mama" King, according to a tweet from the 3/20 Coalition.

The Liberation Weekend will continue with a Freedom Flex yoga session hosted by Latisha Franklin from 10-11 a.m. Saturday at Sidney Friedman Parklet.

To sign up for this event, email gratifiedgrad@gmail.com.

Later on Saturday, there will be a showing of a film titled Judas and the Black Messiah at 7 p.m. at The State Theatre.

The theater is located at 130 W. College Ave., and tickets must be purchased at this website.

The weekend will conclude on Sunday with a "Community Connection" at 5 p.m. at Sidney Friedman Parklet where people of African descent can engage in a community conversation and build connections.

Anyone with further questions can email theblackteashow@gmail.com.

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Pennsylvania is a state known for its many American firsts  the first hospital, the first successful daily newspaper, the first radio station, the first actions in the country combatting slavery and, more recently, the first U.S. Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. And last month, it became known for another when constitutional amendments limited the governors emergency response authority.

Ratified by constituents during primary elections on May 18, the amendments came over a year after Gov. Tom Wolfs pandemic emergency declaration took effect on March 6, 2020. Wolf ended the declaration Thursday after it was renewed May 20.

Changes or additions were made to Article I, Article III Section 9 and Article IV through the amendments.

Article I concerns equality and equity in Pennsylvania  in essence, its another protection against incidents of discrimination. But Article III Section 9 and Article IV concern the governors authority in responding to disasters.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of States website, a governor may no longer alter the state of a disaster emergency declaration without the approval of two-thirds of both Pennsylvanias Senate and House of Representatives. Furthermore, any disaster emergency declarations enacted by a governor will be in effect for no longer than 21 days unless extended or altered by said two-thirds approval.

But while the amendments were passed by the majority of Pennsylvanians, some, like Tor Michaels, balked at the opinion of the majority.

Michaels, who serves as Pennsylvania Rep. Scott Conklins chief of staff, said the results of Mays primaries were concerning.

Weve now turned a public health crisis into a political situation, Michaels said. [Future emergencies are] going to turn into a political process instead of one that the governor can decide for the public health  and politics be damned.

Wolfs actions saved a lot of lives, Michaels said, and seeing such a situation politicized was heartbreaking. He said Wolfs successors will be forced to deal with partisan politics in order to do what they feel is best for the public good.

Those who wanted to politicize this, theyve done it for their own benefit instead of the public good, Michaels said. If we continue to go down that road as a society... how will we know what to believe anymore?

MORE NEWS COVERAGE

Penn State student Meghan Heister said she has been invested in politics for quite a while, and the new restrictions on Pennsylvania's governors are just adding more fuel to the fire, in her opinion.

Like Michaels, Heister (junior-hospitality management) said she believes Wolf had the best interest of Pennsylvania residents in mind when he first declared a state of emergency during the pandemic. She said she believes the governor should ultimately have authority in emergency situations to help constituents.

Its just making a bigger mess of things by trying to take [Wolfs] power away, Heister said. Hes here to help. We elected him for a reason. Why are we trying to fix things that dont need to be fixed? Were focusing on the wrong stuff.

In recent years, Pennsylvania has gained a reputation as a swing state, or one in which voters often toe the line between Republican and Democratic outcomes in elections. Heister said she believes this creates distrust in government officials, which was only worsened by the pandemic.

Michaels said a solution could be more honesty and transparency with constituents. He said communication is key, especially during emergency declarations.

This was a sentiment Michael Pipe, chairman of the Centre County Board of Commissioners, echoed. He said he and his coworkers and staff have worked hard to remain connected to their constituents while adhering to local, statewide and national coronavirus mitigation guidelines.

As the state of the pandemic has shifted and guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Wolfs office have evolved over the past year, a primary goal of Pipes office, he said, has been to encourage community participation in safety and mitigation efforts  efforts made much easier, he said, by Wolfs emergency declaration.

MORE NEWS COVERAGE

Pipe said he believes vaccinations and individual conversations with medical professionals are the most important step in this process.

As long as were seeing vaccinations numbers increase, as long as were seeing cases decline, were going to be in a really good spot, Pipe said. I think its just [about] staying on top of [COVID] and being mindful that its [still] present.

Pipe said he believes the best way to achieve herd immunity is for Centre Countys government to continue working with Gov. Wolf and the Pennsylvania General Assembly.

Historically, this is how Centre County has always acted, Pipe said, as it doesnt have its own locally operated public health organization. Because of this, statewide precedents are employed  precedents set largely by Wolfs declaration.

Centre County also received tens of millions in relief funds from the commonwealth as a product of Wolfs declaration, which Pipe said were used for housing, small businesses and mental health programs.

Michaels and Heister, however, said they arent optimistic about Centre Countys coronavirus mitigation efforts, especially without the aid of Wolfs emergency declaration authority.

Currently, the Democratic Party is the minority in Pennsylvanias House of Representatives, which Michaels said is detrimental to Conklins  and Wolfs  agenda. Without Conklins and Wolfs policies enacted, he said he believes Pennsylvania will be at a standstill.

Heister said shes worried about those who believe the pandemic is over and said such thought processes are uneducated and inhumane.

COVID is serious and people have died from it, Heister said. Even if its just one person were trying to cooperate with and save, that should be worth more than property and small businesses.

Yet, Michaels is holding on to scraps of hope.

He said local politics and the independent authority of entities like Centre County, State College, Bellefonte and even Penn State could improve mitigation statistics.

According to Michaels, both State College and Penn State have set examples for other small communities and have led the charge in Pennsylvanias coronavirus mitigation efforts. They could, should the need arise, implement their own ordinances or guidelines to improve safety at a local level  reliance on state officials and guidelines would not be necessary.

Pipe said he was pleased with Centre Countys primary election results  the county voted not to alter the existing constitution, unlike the majority of other Pennsylvanian counties.

Were heading in the right direction, Pipe said. Its challenging, but its meaningful work.

All three agree the political and economic healing process will take a long time, and complications will arise. But each said they would find ways around Mays political roadblock, and do as much as they can to improve the pandemic situation in their local and state communities.

COVID-19 is going to stay around  a case here and there, Pipe said. [But] its going to [get to] where we control it and ultimately be able to extinguish it one day.

MORE NEWS COVERAGE

Penn States Nittany Lion mascot receives LA Times Sunday crossword shoutout The Nittany Lion is, by most definitions of the word, a celebrity. Thousands of fans  be th
In what seems like a strange session of couples therapy, I will begin this by saying something positive about the Republican Party.

While I disagree with almost everything the right stands for, I cannot deny its will to stand up for what it believes in. Regardless of how controversial it might be, conservatives will back it. Theres a sense of pride they carry about themselves.

I can say wholeheartedly I feel no pride in being a member of the Democratic Party. And before conservatives jump on their high horses, I have just as many problems, if not more with the right.

Being a member of the Democratic Party is the epitome of the lesser of two evils. If Pennsylvania was not cursed with the concept of closed elections, I would have stuck with my status as an independent voter.

Unlike some, I do not turn a blind eye to the issues I see in my party. Just because you support a side does not mean it is not subject to critique. And thats exactly the purpose of this column: airing out my gripes with the Democrats.

The latest issue to come about can be found with Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, who recently said he would be voting against the For the People Act. The aim of this legislation is to allow for federal voting to become an easier task and attempt to put an end to gerrymandering.

In an op-ed Manchin wrote for the Charleston-Gazette Mail, the senator referenced partisanship numerous times, implying that Democrats and Republicans can work together on a bill they both can agree on.

Not sure if the Charleston-Gazette Mail actually meant to publish this one in the satire section of its site, as the idea of bipartisanship is the definition of the phrase when pigs fly.

In case Manchin hadnt noticed the past four years, Republicans (to put it bluntly), didnt give two shits about what Democrats thought. Now that the House and Senate are stacked in favor of the Democrats, shouldnt it be the other way around? What was the point of putting so much emphasis and pressure on voters during the runoff election in Georgia if the left wasnt going to utilize this power?

The sad part is, the left in actuality is closer to the right than perceived. Manchins actions should not be shocking, as the Democratic Party as a whole is not one that should be considered liberal.

From Clinton to Obama, Democratic presidents are typically running as moderates disguised as center-left leaning politicians. Conservatives, dont worry. You wont see a so-called socialist in office for some time.

You can thank having Joe Biden elected for that, since guess what, he is still another moderate politician. Even after slight glimpses where he might shift the meter slightly left, he approves an arms sale of $735 million to Israel in the midst of violence between Israelis and Palestinians  Israel of course, being typically backed by the right.

Even far-left politicians arent what many call radical. If Medicare for All, raising the minimum wage and taxing big corporations are all considered radical ideas, then wait until you hear about Scandanivan countries. The raging communist Bernie Sanders is viewed as a moderate in places outside the United States.

Even with all of the issues presented, at least the Democrats stick together and support one another, right? Nope.

When Rep. Ilhan Omar posted a tweet that likened the U.S. and Israel to the Taliban in an effort to hold war criminals to justice with the International Criminal Court, it was expected she would receive backlash from the right. However, the chastising that came from her cohorts on the left was a shocking one that helped fill in a space on what dumb thing did the Democrats do today bingo.

We must have the same level of accountability and justice for all victims of crimes against humanity. We have seen unthinkable atrocities committed by the U.S., Hamas, Israel, Afghanistan, and the Taliban. I asked @SecBlinken where people are supposed to go for justice. pic.twitter.com/tUtxW5cIow  Rep. Ilhan Omar (@Ilhan) June 7, 2021

Perhaps she hit a nerve with the so-called left, as we can look at any of the past wars America has gotten involved in and the death toll caused. But the fact that she was belittled by her own party for speaking up goes to show the state of House Democrats.

This comes full circle to the opening point about turning a blind eye. Not only to your party. But your country. Critiquing something does not mean you hate it: Its healthy to air out your concerns as it shows you actually care.

So the next time you see someone offer a valid criticism about the left, the right or America as a whole, you dont need to respond with the age-old phrase of, If you dont like it, you can leave.

Because in this case, I cant leave the Democratic Party. I still feel it is your civic duty to vote in elections, and I will continue to do so even with the grievances I may hold about it.

So like Sting, Im sending out an S.O.S., with my message in a bottle reading: Please give me a competent party. And while I might not be lost at sea, you can find me waiting on the so-called left.
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This year our dine and drink business locations throughout the Gorge have suffered with closures. You can help support your favorites by purchasing take out and gift cards. Many of these business will offer curb-side delivery and some will deliver to your home. Lets keep the Gorge going strong!
Summer school offerings

Columbia Public Schools is offering 11 tuition-free summer programs. Parents have until Friday to enroll their children.

The most popular program is Summer SUNsations, which is for rising kindergarten through eighth grade students. It gives students a chance to explore by constructing models, solving puzzles and creating new worlds on Minecraft, according to the district.

This summer, the program offers 58 courses. Examples include:

 Gameology for incoming second graders, which teaches game strategies using Connect Four, Guess Who and more.

 More than Money for incoming third graders, which encourages students to use innovative thinking to learn money management and economic theory.

 Crime Solvers for incoming fifth graders, in which students solve a burglary.
The Missourians Opinion section is a public forum for the discussion of ideas. The views presented in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Missourian or the University of Missouri. If you would like to contribute to the Opinion page with a response or an original topic of your own, visit our submission form
Robert L. Leighty, 93, passed in his sleep on Wednesday, June 23, 2021. He was born April 20, 1928, in Veedersburg, IN, to Hazel and Ivan Leighty. The family moved to Danville, IL when Bob was small. He attended Danville Schools before joining the Army and spending two years in the service. 
Living in Singapore is a delight: popular Indian-origin crime fiction writer Damyanti Biswas

Singapore-based author Damyanti Biswas's thriller You Beneath Your Skin, set in New Delhi is now being made into a multi-part drama series. Over 65 tautly written chapters, Biswas draws the reader into the world of Indian-American psychiatrist Anjali Morgan and her autistic son Nikhil. An underlying theme through the how-dun-it is the tumultuous affair Anjali is having with senior police commissioner Jatin Bhatt that entails furtive lovemaking in five-star hotels and pillow talk in which the super cop quotes Ghalib.

But it isnt just the protagonists that keep you riveted, the skill of Biswas is evident in the manner in which she makes the reader invest in the peripheral characters. The support cast is equally engaging. Meet Maya, the feminazi who runs a detective agency but doesnt realise she has a secret crush on her assistant. Pawan, her genial giant of an assistant, who falls back on the wisdom of the Sensei learnt in karate classes but breaks bones with nonchalance. Then there is Kusum, the hard-as-nails lady cop trying to voice her aspirations with her attempts at speaking English. Among the antagonists Varun, who sees his super-cop father getting intimate with a family friend and grows up hating him for all the times he didnt turn up for his parent teacher meetings, stands out.

One minor quibble. Given that the writer understands their motivations, having worked with a non-profit, one wishes she could have paid equal attention to the back stories of the acid attack survivors. But the manner in which she has made the sights, sounds and smells of Delhi come alive shows tremendous flair and writing nous.

In a freewheeling exclusive interview with Connected to India, Biswas opens up about her book brought out by Simon& Schuster India, the web series adaptation, the literary scene in Singapore, how she made the most of the lockdown and how she feels as a woman crime fiction writer living in a low-crime society. Edited excerpts:

C to I: How is the literary scene in Singapore, compared to the rest of the world and India in particular?

Damyanti Biswas: Im too much of a hermit to comment on the literary scene in Singapore, but Ive read wonderful work from poets like Arthur Yap, Cyril Wong, Felix Cheong, Edwin Thumboo, Madeline Lee, Ng Yi-Sheng. In fiction, Ive learned a lot from works by Suchen Christine Lim, Catherine Lim, S Rajaratnam, Ovidia Yu, Alfian Saat, and also read novels and stories by authors based in Singapore like Lee Chang Rae, Amanda Lee Koe, Clarissa Goenawan, Akshita Nanda, among so many others.

The pandemic has affected the literary scene here just as in all other countries --making in-person events difficult to arrange, but there are many promising authors to watch out for. Indias literary scene is far larger, because the country itself is immense, and follows a diverse and much longer literary tradition. Although, given the push for literacy and literature by the Singaporean government, and the Singapore Writers Festival that draws luminaries from across the world, the literary scene here promises to remain quite vibrant over the coming years.

C to I: We hear your crime thriller You Beneath Your Skin is being made into a multi-part drama series. How is the progress on that project?

Damyanti Biswas: Given the pandemic progress is slow, we can remain hopeful that the multi-part drama series optioned by Endemol Shine will be made soon.

C to I: They say writing is a solitary activity. How did the lockdown compelled by the pandemic work for you? Was it a productive or difficult phase for a writer such as you?

Damyanti Biswas: Writing is definitely a solitary activity, but theres also a joy in the community. Even though Ive not really interacted a lot in the local literary scene lately, Ive found it hard to not be able to sit at a cafe with my trusty old laptop as often as Id like. Personally, for me, it has been a productive phase otherwise, because I managed to polish up a short story collection, write and publish a few short stories in various magazines, and finish up a draft of my latest novel. I also have other news that I cant talk about at the moment. With the productivity, I must acknowledge my privilege: I havent had to worry about my livelihood and have no children -- so it has not been as chaotic for me as for a lot of others.

Acid attack survivors, says Singapore-based author Damyanti Biswas, are not defined by their trauma, but instead the spirit with which they have reclaimed their lives and place in society

C to I: You are an Indian Diaspora crime writer based in Singapore. Smoggy, smoky Delhi is like a character in your highly acclaimed book. You take the reader to its upscale neighbourhoods and malls, slums and bungalows. How did you manage to get the details of Delhis sights, sounds and smells so right?

Damyanti Biswas: Ive lived in Delhi for many years, working in its slums, and more upscale locales. It has changed since then, but not in ways I cannot recognise. Ive been going back often to volunteer and meet friends, and that has kept me in touch and given me perspective. While writing the final drafts of the novel one winter, I also went back and stayed there in order to conduct intensive and extensive research-- be it in the police stations, the slums, the roads, the eateries, the hospitals. I drove around the city, sat on its footpaths and its eateries, and visited each of the locations to ensure that the scenes were true to life at the time.

C to I: 'Low crime doesnt mean theres no crime' was a popular Singapore police slogan. How is it to stay in a relatively low-crime society such as Singapore for a crime thriller storyteller, given that you portrayed the underbelly of Delhi so well?

Damyanti Biswas: As a woman, living in Singapore is a delight because of how safe it is. The contrast made it easier for me to see how a woman is reduced to a second-class citizen in a city like Delhinever able to seamlessly occupy the public spaces with the same ease as a man. In Singapore, I can dress for comfort and walk out alone to pick up an ice-cream late at night, go to a food-court or park and sit by myself to write without raising eyebrows, take a 3 am cab to the airport or talk without hesitation to just about anybody--all without worrying about my safety. If and when I leave Singapore, thats the aspect Ill miss the most. I may not ever have the conviction to set a thriller in Singapore (though life has taught me to never say never).

C to I: In movie parlance, you have etched out your peripheral characters as strongly as the lead cast in the novel. As a debut novelist, how tough was to strike that fine balance?

Damyanti Biswas: As an author, my role is to respect both my characters and my readers. My characters have agency and free will, which, funny as it sounds, is the only way to write a plausible, cohesive story. I must respect each character enough, be it a protagonist or a supporting cast, to understand and acknowledge their desires and their journeys. When a reader invests money, and more importantly, time, in reading You Beneath our Skin, I must value them enough to give them plausible, deeply realised characters and a well-woven story. Thats the reason the supporting cast of You Beneath Your Skin has received from me the same attention as its leads.

C to I: Youve worked with acid attack survivors in real life. How much did it help in weaving their story into your narrative or empathise with them?

Damyanti Biswas: It would be an exaggeration to say Ive worked with themI wish to do so much more. The survivors have shared their stories with me over the years, and their brave and often moving accounts of their ordeal has helped me create a believable experience for the reader. At the outset, it was hard to interact with them because of my own inherent biases and fears, but they have taught me to treat them as who they are beyond their suffering. They are not defined by their trauma, but instead the spirit with which they have reclaimed their lives and place in society. My hope one day is for one or more of the survivors to write their own books in order to tell their own stories.
More than 50 companies have committed to the "Sharm El Sheikh to Kunming Action Agenda for Nature and People" in support of the global biodiversity framework, which is expected to be adopted in October 2021 at the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP15).

Related: L'Occitane en Provence Commits to Protecting Biodiversity

Large luxury brands and smaller specialty companies are included in the list that was shared along with the text of the commitment that has been submitted to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.

The list includes Natura & Co (parent company of The Body Shop, Natura Cosmetics and Avon), Weleda, Liz Earle, LVMH research division, Parfums Christian Dior, Parfums Givenchy, Kenzo Parfums, Fresh and Guerlain. The commitment also includes fragrance and flavor companies Firmenich and Symrise, and the botanicals company Martin Bauer Group.



The shared commitment is centered on sourcing ingredients from biodiversity in a way that respects people and nature.

Each company is reportedly committing to assess their ingredient sourcing practices; set targets to promote positive impact for people and biodiversity; monitor and communicate on progress; and continuously improve these actions over time.



Leading to the launch of CBD COP15, these companies showed that they are committed to change nature loss by slowing down or halting biodiversity loss and restoring nature through smart nature-based solutions.

The Union for Ethical BioTrade (UEBT) gathered these business sectors voices over the last several weeks and submitted the joint commitment. Commitments made to the Action Agenda for Nature and People represent UEBTs contribution to the convention on biological diversitys process to develop a reportedly post-2020 global biodiversity framework that will be adopted at the COP15 and will guide action on biodiversity for the next decade.

The commitment follows from The Economist Intelligence Units reportlast month that stated that over the last five years, internet searches by the public for sustainable goods had increased more than 70%, including during the pandemic. The research studied 54 countries and internet searches across 27 languages.

The report also noted that the natural beauty and pharmaceuticals sectors had clearly responded to this trend, citing the 45% growth in the number of companies working with UEBT on ethical sourcing over that same period.

Previously: Genomatica: U.S. Consumers Embrace Sustainability Despite COVID-19

According to the UEBT, the companies listed below in coordination with the UEBT have committed to cultivating, collecting or procuring ingredients from biodiversity with respect for all people and biodiversity.

We are at a critical and decisive point in history where all of society needs to reconnect to nature and contribute towards a shared vision: to live in harmony with nature by 2050, said Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, executive secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity. Every actor from society, government and the productive and financial sectors has a vital part to play in realizing this vision for the health of our planet and our future. We are delighted to profile the transformative commitment from the business sector on the Sharm El Sheikh to Kunming Action Agenda for Nature and People platform and to witness the momentum building in the business sector, to assess impacts and dependencies on biodiversity, set targets to improve and align actions in support of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework.

Consumers are increasingly demanding that businesses demonstrate a genuine commitment to ethical sourcing, added Rik Kutsch Lojenga, executive director at UEBT. We at UEBT are so pleased to see more than 50 companies stand up for nature with this shared commitment. In the coming years, we will be supporting these businesses in reaching their time-bound targets on the ground in farms and wild plant collection sites all over the world.

Featured: Cosmetic Victories Finalist Profile: Biodiversified Phyto-fermentation
A study published today (June 15, 2021) in Environmental Science & Technology Letters surveyed some 231 cosmetics and revealed the presence of high levels of fluorinated compounds in some products. According to the authors, this indicates the probable presence of PFAS and calls the safety of the products into question. Additionally, the PFAS were undisclosed in product ingredient listsexposing a gap in U.S. and Canadian label laws, the authors report. As a result, U.S. senators are introducing the "No PFAS in Cosmetics" Act to ban PFAS from makeup and personal care products.

The 231 cosmetics studied included lip products, eye products, foundations, face products, mascaras, concealers, eyebrow products and "miscellaneous products." Analyzed using particle-induced gamma-ray emission (PIGE), the authors found that, "Foundations produced the highest median total fluorine concentration, while mascaras produced the largest range of total fluorine measurements."

The authors concluded: "The cosmetic categories that had the highest percentage of high fluorine products were foundations (63%), eye products (58%), mascaras (47%) and lip products (55%)."

Report: 10 Beauty Regulatory Concerns for 2021

According to the article abstract, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are highly persistent and potentially toxic. They are added to cosmetics to increase durability and water resistance.

To assess the risk these products pose to human health and the environment, researchers from the University of Notre Dame, the Green Science Policy Institute and others purchased 231 products in the United States and Canada and screened them for total fluorine content using particle-induced gamma-ray emission spectroscopy.

Fluorinated Findings

Of the eight categories tested, foundations, mascaras and liquid lip products contained the highest proportion of fluorinated products. Many of these were advertised as "wear-resistant" or "long-lasting." Twenty-nine products including 20 with high total fluorine concentrations were then further analyzed using targeted LC-MS/MS and GC-MS.

PFAS concentrations ranged from 3310,500 ng/g product weight, with an average and a median of 264 and 1050 ng/g product weights, respectively. In this case, 6:2 and 8:2 fluorotelomer compounds, including alcohols, methacrylates and phosphate esters, were most commonly detected. These compounds are precursors to PFCAs that are known to be harmful, the authors noted.

With fluorotelomer methacrylates being detected, the institute adds this indicates the breakdown of side-chain fluoropolymers, which are marketed as a more "environmentally friendly" alternatives to individual PFAS.

Furthermore, the ingredient lists of most products tested did not disclose the presence of these fluorinated compounds. While this may be due to their being byproducts from manufacturing or degradation products, given that consumers are directly exposed to these materials, the authors expressed better regulations are necessary to limit the widespread use of PFAS in cosmetics.

'No PFAs in Cosmetics' Act

Right on cue, Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and others are introducing the "No PFAS in Cosmetics" Act to ban PFAS from makeup and personal care products, according to a report by the Green Science Policy Institute.

Rep. Debbie Dingell of Michigan also plan to introduce the same bill in the House. Sen. Blumenthal, Rep. Dingell, former National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Director Linda Birnbaum, attorney Rob Bilott and two of the study's authors will be holding a Zoom conference for cosmetic companies and the media at 12:30 pm Eastern today.

Safety Issues and Exposure Routes

According to a Green Science Policy press statement, some PFAS have been associated with health issues ranging from cancer to obesity to more severe COVID-19 outcomes, and they can contaminate drinking water. Only a small fraction of PFAS reportedly have been tested for toxicity but all are either very persistent in the environment or break down into very persistent PFAS.

PFAS reportedly may be ingested from lip products or absorbed through the skin and tear ducts, the institute reports. On top of these direct exposure routes, PFAS can make their way into drinking water, air and food during the manufacture of makeup and after it is washed down the drain.

"PFAS are not necessary for makeup," said Arlene Blum, a co-author and executive director of the Green Science Policy Institute. "Given their large potential for harm, I believe they should not be used in any personal care products. ... Its past time to get the entire class of PFAS out of cosmetics and keep these harmful chemicals out of our bodies."

FDA on PFAS

PFAS appear to be the latest addition to the growing list of targeted cosmetic ingredients. As previously reported, these materials are concerning to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), although reports to the voluntary cosmetic registration program indicate the number of formulations containing PFAS has decreased.

Science continues to advance in this area and will continue to collaborate and conduct research on the gaps, said Susan Mayne, director of the FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN), in a previous report. She added the FDA created a web page about PFAs to help the public better understand these materials.
Text:

A repressive state is being enabled by a judiciary which rubber stamps everything that the government wants

Natasha comes from Haryana, a context of deep caste patriarchy which she shares with many young women who are sitting in protest at the border of the capital city. Sangwan spoke of the unique source of hope and defiance that Devangana and Natashas activism provides to these young women to determine their own lives and exercise their rights and make choices.

She also demanded judicial accountability in times of grief such as that suffered by Natasha and her family recently with the passing of her father, Dr Mahavir Narwal, for which Natasha was unable to secure bail in time despite his critical condition due to Covid- 19.

Professor at the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), Sussex, UK, Lyla Mehta who had also taught Devangana during her time in the University of Sussex, spoke of Devanganas activism during her time in the UK. She highlighted the strong support from IDS and the many professors there who had taught or worked with Devangana, emphasising her stellar academic performance and the commitment and professionalism displayed in her work.

Citing a programme she had organised against corporate grabbing of adivasi land and her academic engagement around peoples movements and womens activism, she emphasized how Devangana made an active choice to return to India, turning down more lucrative career options outside of India in order to work for the people in her own countrys context.

Astha Lamba and Shambhawi Vikram from Pinjratod, the women students collective that Devangana and Natasha have been associated with, spoke of their activism grounded in women students movement aspiring to create a world in which the need for securitization is rendered empty through our collective strengths and solidarities.

Astha spoke of the increasing vilification of students, especially women, in a situation of graded inequality and conditional freedoms existing as a norm in universities, increasingly restructured to fit market needs. They said that the movement against Citizenship Amendment Act, National Register of Citizens and National Population Register (CAA-NRC-NPR) and the struggles that Devangana and Natasha participated in, are part of the fight by thousands of women who have imagined communities beyond structures of control and gendered norms.

Shambhawi emphasized that we should pay heed to the communications that Devangana and Natasha make to us from jail, such as the various petitions they have filed for reforms in prison conditions. She asked that we not let the incarceration of political prisoners take away from the violence that preceded these arrests. The everyday work of seeking bail and meeting needs of the incarcerated must coexist with a larger call to address the violence of Bhima Koregaon and the Delhi progrom, the complicity of the police and the impunity of those who incited hatred and violence.

Family members and friends of Devangana and Natasha also addressed the meeting, speaking of the two incarcerated activists and the significance of solidarity and support networks for families of all wrongly incarcerated political activists and prisoners at large.

Devanganas mother, Dr Kalpana Deka Kalita concluded the meeting by sending out a message of solidarity to all other political prisoners and their families. Expressing gratitude for the support Devangana and Natasha and their families have received from people, she also spoke of how, through their letters, they have always voiced their concern for the many other prisoners who lack such support or legal assistance. A feminist praxis, said Aakash Narwal, brother to Natasha, must hold more than its own interest and gently offer support to those seeking their emancipation.

The programme included moving messages by poets Sabika Abbas Naqvi, Soibam Haripriya and Akhil Katyal, all also friends of Devangana and Natasha. Sabika and Haripriya, through their poems, shared how women are structurally oppressed within patriarchal formations like the nation to which the prison is but one appendage. It is for this reason that Devangana and Natashas poetic relations to rainbows and moons offers so much solace and encouragement to women outside as well -- whether in the cage of a hostel, the arrest of a mans gaze, or under the watchful eye of the HIndutva state.

The programme concluded with a recitation by Amir Aziz who recited his popular poem Sab Yaad Rakha Jayegaa. It also announced an online exhibition of the artwork made by Devangana and Natasha during their time in Tihar jail which is to be launched on the 18th of June, the occasion of Devanganas second birthday incarcerated.

Friends of Devangana Kalita and Natasha Narwal, two incarcerated young activists in Delhi, who organised an online event to commemorate their year in prison, has seen a large number of academics, activists, journalists and others come together discuss what they called heightened repression in India in a global context by using anti-democratic laws in order to crackdown on dissent and marginalised communities.A note on the event, sent to Counterview by womens rights group Saheli, saw Mary Lawlor, UN Special Rapporteur on the condition of Human Rights Defenders, supporting arrested activists, pointing out, she had written to the Indian government expressing concern about the use of counter terror laws against human rights defenders and civil society voices almost a year ago, regretting, so far there is no response from the state.Titled In Pursuit of Freedom/ Azadi ki Justajoo , the online event saw prominent persons recall the two activists participation in the movement against Citizenship Amendment Act, National Register of Citizens and National Population Register (CAA-NRC-NPR), even as pointing towards how they, as part of the fight by thousands of women, imagined communities beyond structures of control and gendered norms.Academics, activists, journalists and others from various walks of life came together in an online meeting held on June 13, to mark over one year of the arrest of equal citizenship activists and JNU scholars Devangana Kalita and Natasha Narwal. The conversation organized by Friends of Devangana and Natasha sought to locate the experience of their incarceration and heightened repression in India in a global context of the use of anti-democratic laws and increasing crackdowns on dissent and marginalised communities.Addressing the meeting, Mary Lawlor, UN Special Rapporteur on the condition of Human Rights Defenders, said that she had written to the Indian government expressing concern about the use of counter terror laws against Human Rights Defenders and civil society voices almost a year ago but was yet to receive any response from the State.She also observed that the police seems to have moved in exactly the opposite direction from the directive given by the Supreme Court of India to decongest prisons. The police have continued arrests of political and social activists during a pandemic. Lawlor emphasized the importance of building solidarity networks to support those incarcerated and human rights activism globally.Shireen Huq, known for her pioneering work in Bangladesh on womens rights through her organization Naripokkho (established in 1983) and her activism on issues of freedom of expression and association, and enforced disappearances, expressed concern about the rising religious intolerance, bigotry, misogyny and homophobia across the subcontinent. She enumerated various facts about the condition of democracy in Bangladesh, where draconian laws such as the Digital Security Act, 2018 are being used by the state to keep citizens in jail under non-bailable provisions.Huq noted that over the past months Bangladesh has seen 631 attacks on journalists and Human Rights Defenders, 312 unlawful arrests and torture of journalists and over 500 incidents of enforced disappearances, custodial torture, gang rape and extrajudicial killings, in most cases of political opponents of the state.Eminent feminist historian, activist and filmmaker Uma Chakravarti said that a repressive state in India is being enabled by a judiciary which rubber stamps everything that the government wants. She spoke with anger and anguish over the state of the nation where young people dreaming differently are being put in prison. She pointed to the example of twenty year old Amulya Leona who was arrested for wishing well to the people of all countries in the subcontinent.The panic that such a desire for the wellbeing of all people who share a long history created worried her about the kind of citizenship that has come to be normalised in an atmosphere of fear, jingoistic nationalism, and insecurity. She also highlighted that the Citizenship Amendment Act was not just about the loss of rights but the redefinition of the very nature of citizenship and the country, in a manner which completely contravened the spirit of the freedom struggle into which she was born.Activist Joshua Virasami, from Black Lives Matter (BLM), UK, used the occasion to share some of the demands of the global BLM, particularly defunding the police and investing in communities. Speaking from day to day experience of working class and racialised communities with the carceral system and their confrontation with state repression, Virasami said that abolition (of prisons) is not just about decarceration but also about building a robust system of radical care through mutual aid, community building and response to harm which supplements radical forgiveness.He also highlighted the legitimisation of pervasive policing during the lockdown, criminalization of street protests and incommensurate punishments for protesters over the past year and more in the context of the UK and its conservative leadership.Activist Tanmay N, who in a twisted turn of events, spent nearly a month in jail last year for accompanying a gang rape survivor to court along with co-activist Kalyani, recalled their own time in a jail in Bihar. The experience, he narrated, was marked by invasive body checks including violative strip searches, poor sanitation and living conditions, lack of information and access to legal aid.Tanmay spoke movingly about the psychic toll of such an existence inside derelict prisons. Even ordinary things like menstrual hygiene become impossible by the casual disregard towards women prisoners own ways of addressing their menstrual needs and a prison system that simply refuses to provide humane living conditions to those in captivity.Inside these dehumanising spaces, Tanmay spoke about how women prisoners recovered a sense of self and beauty through love, care and solidarity that is inherent to those who find themselves inside these institutions. He also drew attention to many languishing in jails whose names are unknown to us, who do not have the privilege of a supportive community outside, and political prisoners such as adivasi activist Hidme Markam and the recently demised Maruti worker Jiya Lal.He said that the pandemic could have been an opportunity for the state to find its humanity, instead it has used this moment as an opportunity unleashing greater violence against ordinary citizens -- from the migrant workers to the activists fighting big corporations.Author, founder and executive director of the Polis Project, Suchitra Vijayan, remarked that while we speak of the resilience and courage of political prisoners, no country should demand such courage of its people. She called the carceral state a prison beyond the prison where citizens rights are not only curtailed through incarceration but the nation itself is being transformed by the process of refusing rights, the failure of due process, ongoing surveillance, intimidation and censorship.She characterized the present situation in India as that of a dual state where the judiciary is subject to the arbitrary power of the government. She underlined the need to focus on informing public opinion on issues of freedom of expression and state repression despite the crackdown on safe spaces to do so.All India Democratic Womens Association leader and family of Natasha Narwal, Jagmati Sangwan spoke from having just returned from the Tikri border where the farmers protest has been continuing and meeting many young farmers who wished to meet and speak with Natasha.
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Jackalope Cycling owners Johnny and Jen Brazil celebrated their grand opening Friday, June 25, with a ribbon cutting with the Russellville Area Chamber and friends. Jackalope is now open at 112 North Commerce with a variety of cycling, disc golf, and outdoor goods. Read more
Furthering its distinction as the foremost technical wonder of global communication, the internet this week played host to the Would Batman eat out Catwoman? debate. It all began with an interview in Variety featuring Harley Quinn showrunners Justin Halpern and Patrick Schumacker. The pair recounted an anecdote about when they pitched an episode that happened to feature Batman performing oral sex on Catwoman and DC said no, claiming that heroes dont do that and Its hard to sell a toy if Batman is also going down on someone.

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Okay, first of all, toy-wise would Cunnilingus Batman really tarnish the brand much more than Buccaneer Batman, an honest-to-goodness pirate-based Batman action figure some of us were stupid enough to buy back in 1991? Secondly, even Halpern and Schumacker took issue with the notion that heroes shouldnt satisfy their sexual partners -- as did Batman himself; the voice actor behind the Caped Crusader of Harley Quinn (and before that The Brave and the Bold) Diedrich Bader.
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Cloudy early with partial sunshine expected late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 78F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph..

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Researchers claim to have discovered the identity of the operators of Hades ransomware, exposing the distinctive tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) they employ in their attacks. Hades ransomware first appeared in December 2020 following attacks on a number of organizations, but to date there has been limited information regarding the perpetrators.

Today, researchers from the Counter Threat Unit (CTU) at Secureworks named Gold Winter as the threat group behind Hades ransomware. Furthermore, they shared details of notable traits in Gold Winters operations that distinguish it from other such threat groups and suggest it is a financially motivated, likely Russia-based big game hunter that seeks high-value targets, chiefly North American manufacturers.

The findings are a result of incident response engagements carried out by Secureworks in the first quarter of 2021. Some third-party reporting attributes Hades to the Hafnium threat group, but CTU research does not support that attribution, the researchers wrote. Other reporting attributes Hades to the financially motivated Gold Drake threat group based on similarities to that groups WastedLocker ransomware. Despite use of similar application programming interface (API) calls, the CryptOne crypter, and some of the same commands, CTU researchers attribute Hades and WastedLocker to two distinct groups as of this publication.

Hades ransomware and Gold Winters unique TTPs

The analysis of Gold Winter revealed TTPs not associated with other ransomware families, the researchers explained, with some that show similarities but with unusual aspects added. CTU researchers found that Gold Winter:

Names and shames victims but does not use a centralized leak site to expose stolen data. Instead, Tor-based Hades websites appear to be customized for each victim and each website includes a victim-specific Tox chat ID for communications. The use of Tox instant messaging for communications is a technique CTU researchers have not observed with other ransomware families.

Is known to copy ransom notes from other high-profile families such as REvil and Conti, adding unique victim identifiers and replacing websites with contact email addresses. Gold Winter may use lookalike ransom notes to confuse researchers or perhaps to pay homage to admired ransomware families, researchers wrote.

Replaces randomly generated five-character strings for the victim ID and encrypted file extension with wordse.g., cypherpunk. Based on the definition of this term, perhaps the threat actors view their ransomware activity as a way to prompt organizations to improve their security, researchers added.

Uses two distinct initial access vectors: SocGholish malware disguised as a fake Chrome update and single-factor authentication VPN access.

Deletes volume shadow copies using the vssadmin.exe Delete Shadows/All/Quiet command but uses a distinctive self-delete command with an unusual inclusion of a wait for command.

Golden Winter likely a private ransomware group, not RaaS

Typically, when we see a variety of playbooks used around a particular ransomware, it points to the ransomware being delivered as ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) with different pockets of threat actors using their own methods,"Marcelle Lee, senior security researcher, CTU-CIC at Secureworks, tells CSO. "We do not, however, think that is the case with Hades. It is most likely that Gold Winter operates as a private ransomware group, she adds.

It is also possible that Gold Winter has been organized by another threat group to throw law enforcement and researchers off their trail, Lee continues. In that case, the threat actors may be intentionally trying to find ways to appear different. Alternatively, and most likely, the techniques could simply reflect an evolution in the threat group playbook, using new tactics and capabilities.

Lee advises using common ransomware defense and mitigation strategies for Hades: Implement an endpoint detection and response solution, multi-factor authentication on internet-facing devices and for user applications, and effective asset management. She also recommends effective patch management, subscription to curated threat intelligence to drive awareness of emerging threats, and having a tested incident plan and team in place.
Three weeks after releasing patches for a critical vulnerability in VMware vCenter, thousands of servers that are reachable from the internet remain vulnerable to attacks. VMware vCenter is used by enterprises to manage virtual machines, the VMware vSphere cloud virtualization solution, ESXi hypervisors, and other virtualized infrastructure components.

Remote code execution and authentication bypass

On May 25, VMware published a critical advisory and released patches covering two serious vulnerabilities that stem from the use of VMware vCenter plug-ins. The first vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2021-21985, is caused by improper input validation in the Virtual SAN (vSAN) Health Check plug-in that's enabled by default in vCenter Server.

VMware vSAN is used for storage virtualization, but even if the plug-in is not actively used, the presence of the plug-in on the server is enough to enable attacks. A hacker with access to the server over port 443 (HTTPS) can exploit this issue without authentication to execute commands with unrestricted privileges on the operating system that hosts vCenter Server versions 6.5, 6.7 and 7.0, as well as VMware Cloud Foundation 3.x and 4.x, which include vCenter Server.

The second vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2021-21986, is rated as medium severity and impacts the Virtual SAN Health Check, Site Recovery, vSphere Lifecycle Manager and VMware Cloud Director Availability plug-ins. Attackers with access to a server over port 443 can perform actions allowed by the affected plug-ins without authentication.

Publicly exposed VMware servers

Researchers from security firm Trustwave recently performed a scan using SHODAN and identified 5,271 instances of VMware vCenter Server that are configured to be accessible from the internet. The vast majority of them (5,076) operate over port 443.

The researchers managed to connect to 4,969 of those servers and download information from their greeting banner, which includes more details about the specific version of the server such as build number and underlying operating system. The collected information revealed that 4,019, or 80.88%, of the scanned servers had not yet been patched for these flaws and that most of the remaining ones are running much older versions of the software that are considered end-of-life and are likely vulnerable to a variety of older issues.

If the ratio of unpatched servers is so high among publicly accessible servers, which are generally easier to attack and should be carefully monitored, it's fair to assume that many vCenter Servers remain unpatched on private networks. However, attackers have many ways of gaining access to corporate networks, so attacking such servers would not be hard.

Proof-of-concept exploits and urgent need to patch

Since the patches were released in May, security researchers have developed and published proof-of-concept exploits for these issues, so potential attackers don't have to spend much effort to start exploiting these issues in the wild. VMware warned users from the start that these vulnerabilities need to be patched as soon as possible and even published manual workarounds that involve editing the compatibility-matrix.xml file to disable the vulnerable plug-ins.

"If you ARE a vSAN customer, disabling the vSAN plugin will remove all ability to manage vSAN," VMware said in a blog post. "No monitoring, no management, no alarms, nothing. This might be fine for your organization for very short periods of time but we at VMware cannot recommend it. Please use caution."

"In this era of ransomware it is safest to assume that an attacker is already inside the network somewhere, on a desktop and perhaps even in control of a user account, which is why we strongly recommend declaring an emergency change and patching as soon as possible," the company said.
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GENEVA (AP)  Fresh from supportive summits with allies, Joe Biden declared himself ready Tuesday to take on Russias Vladimir Putin in far more confrontational talks  a climactic finish to the most important week of meetings in his young presidency.

Biden meets for his first talks as president with the Russian leader on Wednesday, in what's expected to be roughly a half-day of discussions between the two leaders and aides behind closed doors. That's after spending much of a weeklong European trip  the foreign policy highlight of his presidency so far  working to strengthen ties with like-minded partner nations in order to better deal with rivals Russia and China.

A reporter soon after Biden's arrival in Geneva on Tuesday shouted out a question on whether he was ready for Wednesday's talks. I am always ready, Biden answered.

The American leader reached Geneva following rounds of cordial elbow bumping, grinning photo sessions and close consultations with global leaders at the Group of Seven, NATO and U.S.-European Union summits. He secured a series of joint communiques expressing concern over Russia and China, and was at the EU on Tuesday to preside over the announcement of a breakthrough easing a long-running U.S. aircraft trade dispute with that bloc.

As for Russia, the U.S. and the EU declared they stand united in our principled approach" to the longtime rival, "ready to respond decisively to its repeating pattern of negative behavior and harmful activities.

Bidens European tour has aimed to restore U.S. partnerships that were damaged under former President Donald Trump, who openly invited what American intelligence services said was Russian interference in U.S. political campaigns, and who sought out Putin and other autocrats he saw as strong.

In line with the chilly-so-far Biden-Putin relationship  Putin's government responded with indignation earlier this year after Biden said he considered the Russian a killer  the two men plan neither lunch nor dinner together, and no joint press conference after, in what's expected to be their four to five hours together.

That's in contrast to this week's G-7 session hosted by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, where the allies and their spouses held a beach barbecue and round after round of family photos.

According to a senior administration official granted anonymity to disclose internal discussions, Biden is hoping to find small areas of agreement with the Russian president, including potentially returning ambassadors to Washington and Moscow.

That and other diplomatic issues, including the tit-for-tat expulsions of diplomats and closure of consulates, will be high on the agenda for both sides.

The U.S. ambassador to Russia, John Sullivan, a rare holdover from the Trump administration, and Anatoly Antonov, the Russian ambassador to Washington, will both be in Geneva for the summit.

The two men departed their posts earlier this year as part of what both Russia and the United States describe as an all-time low in the two countries' relationship.

In addition, Russia has complained for years about its eviction and loss of consulates in San Francisco and Seattle and other facilities in Maryland and New York. The U.S., meanwhile, has been forced to close its consulate in St. Petersburg and is now facing the loss of Russian citizens employed by its embassy in Moscow, which will significantly reduce the consular services it is able to provide.

Biden also is looking to make progress on a new arms control agreement between the two nations, which agreed to a five-year extension of the remaining current pact in January.

Putin foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov sought to moderate expectations for the summit, but he strongly emphasized its importance given the current tensions.

Its the first such meeting that takes place at a time when the bilateral relations are extremely bad, he said. Both parties realize its time to start dealing with the issues that have piled up.

Biden plans to raise issues ranging from cyberattacks to Putins treatment of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who was poisoned and later jailed in what was seen as political retribution for exposing alleged Kremlin corruption and leading an anti-Putin protest movement.

In Geneva, a couple dozen Navalny supporters turned out in a sun-drenched square on Tuesday, and murals of a smiling Navalny holding his fingers in a heart shape, with the words Hero of our time in French, have popped up around the Swiss city in recent days. Those reference a similar mural in St. Petersburg, Russia, that authorities quickly covered over.

Syria, where Russia is threatening to close the last humanitarian crossing into that country, also is on the leaders' agenda.

Biden this week called Putin a worthy adversary and has said he is hoping to find areas of cooperation with the Russian president. But he also warned that if Russia continues cyberattacks and other aggressive acts toward the U.S. we will respond in kind.

Biden goes into Wednesday's talks bolstered not only by the supportive words of European allies but by the tangible news of a major breakthrough in a 17-year trade dispute centered on rival subsidies for aircraft manufacturers.

At almost every stop this week, the president repeated his message that America is back, in hopes of convincing both allies and rivals that the U.S. is engaged and strong internationally after Trumps isolationist presidency and the political upheaval that peaked last January in violence at the U.S. Capitol.

Political sniping continued. House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy accused the Democratic president of deferring to Putin on his trip abroad and making America weaker.

I dont care about charming Europe and thinking youre one of them, McCarthy said, a day after Biden referred to Republicans as fractured.

The EU and U.S. agreed Tuesday to set up what their statement called a high-level dialogue on Russia to counter what they said was Moscows drift into deeper authoritarianism and anti-Western sentiment.

At the same time, the 27-nation EU is divided in its approach to Moscow. Russia is the EUs biggest natural gas supplier, and plays a key role in international conflicts and key issues, including the Iran nuclear deal and conflicts in Syria and Libya.

But the hope is that Bidens meeting with Putin might pay dividends, and no one in Brussels wanted to undermine the show of international unity that has been on display at the G-7 and NATO summits, according to EU officials.

___

Ellen Knickmeyer reported from Oklahoma City. Associated Press writers Matthew Lee and Jamey Keaten in Geneva, Lorne Cook in Brussels and Paul Wiseman in Washington contributed .
Powered by a heavy load of protections for cannabis workers and entrepreneurs in disadvantaged neighborhoods, Connecticut is struggling mightily to end its claim as the state that cant legalize marijuana.

Late Tuesday the whole recreational cannabis effort fell back into question as the main sponsor undid a carefully crafted deal  then led Senate approval of a bill the governor threatened to veto.

That drama should not cover up a deeper worry about the bill: Is Connecticuts legalization even legal? One section of the 295-page bill (trimmed by two pages since last week) raises doubts.

Reasonable people can debate whether the racial and economic equity measures baked into the bill make sense  dictating who can win licenses for cannabis businesses and how the industry must favor unions and people from certain areas.

These are noble rules aimed at social justice, and clearly Democrats cant agree on them even as the House prepares to vote on the reform Wednesday.

Amid all this, its possible that labor provisions in the bill, which support union membership throughout the marijuana supply chain and in cannabis-related building construction, amount to a violation of the federal law that is protected by the Constitution.

At issue is whether Connecticut has the right to establish union involvement in an industry where its not a market participant, that is, an owner or operator of businesses, or a buyer or seller of the industrys goods and services. If its only a regulator, not a market participant, then the state cant overrule federal labor law when it comes to guiding union activity with companies.

The bill spells out two main labor requirements: First, any company in the industry, whether a grower, retailer, packager, lab or courier, shall ... enter into a labor peace agreement with a bona fide labor organization. This means a union actively trying to organize cannabis workers in Connecticut.

The labor peace agreement would give the unions an unfettered path to collective bargaining. It would also bar workers from going on strike, in effect, and instead would spell out arbitration for some  though oddly not all  disputes.

Second, the bill requires a so-called project labor agreement in the construction or renovation of any facility costing more than $5 million for any cannabis business. These agreements, widely called PLAs, basically assure that jobs are done by union workers.

What role for the state?

We see project labor agreements all the time, when the state is the payer for, say, a new dorm at UConn. Even then, under state law each separate PLA must be authorized.

What about when the state is only the regulator? Do these rules go too far?

We believe that the government mandating PLAs in private industry is preempted by the National Labor Relations Act, said Chris Fryxell, president of the Associated Builders & Contractors of Connecticut, an industry group of firms that generally use nonunion labor.

He added, I would imagine that there would be lawsuits.

The same principle holds for labor peace agreements with no-strike, arbitration rules. The state can require them when its doing the paying. For private industry? That might invite trouble in the form of lawsuits that could end the states hopes of opening recreational, retail cannabis stores by the spring of 2022.

Sen. Julie Kushner, D-Danbury, happens to be the retired director of the United Auto Workers region that covers New England, eastern New York including the city, and Puerto Rico. Shes a powerful force behind these union rules, and shes certain the rules pass legal muster.

For example, she points out that a marijuana companys labor peace agreement would apply equally to any union, meaning the employer isnt picking the union  which would be a federal no-no.

Labor peace agreements have been incredibly important in other states, not just in the cannabis industry but in other industries as well, Kushner said, citing gaming as an example. Its really important that we make sure that were bringing good jobs with good benefits, and those labor peace agreements in other states have all survived.

Politics vs. law

You and I might say these are good and fair provisions. Thats a political question, and it has been answered. The labor rules were needed in order to win enough votes in a liberal but cannabis-cautious General Assembly.

In fact, for a brief few days the bill was weakened to say firms must merely make a good faith effort at reaching a labor peace agreement. Quickly, the Senate wiped out that loophole at the insistence of Sen. Gary Winfield, D-New Haven, a chief sponsor of legalization with a heavy dose of equity.

But the legal question over these orders is not as clear as the political one. I talked with several lawyers familiar with the federal labor act. What I learned from hours of conversations and reading cases was summed up by one person involved in the talks over this bill: The existing case law doesnt specifically address this question, the person said.

In one widely cited case, businesses operating at Los Angeles International Airport sued the city of Los Angeles, saying it could not require labor peace agreements. A federal district court sided with the businesses. The 9th U.S. Court of Appeals reversed that ruling, saying LA was in its rights  but only because, the judges ruled, a department of the City of Los Angeles does operate LAX, and it has taken action to protect its proprietary interest in running the airport smoothly.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled likewise in a 1993 case involving the cleanup of the Boston Harbor. The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority was allowed to set pro-union bid specifications for a construction management firm to negotiate labor agreements. Justice Harry Blackmun quoted from a dissent in the lower court by Judge Stephen Breyer, who replaced Blackmun one year later: ... when the MWRA, acting in the role of purchaser of construction services, acts just like a private contractor would act...it does not regulate the workings of the market forces ... it exemplifies them.

A blue-state risk

California has had a similar labor peace agreement requirement for cannabis firms for a few years, and no one has challenged it. New York just passed a version of it. Delaware has proposed it as part of its legalization  with the Associated Building Contractors in that state saying its unconstitutional.

Last fall, the U.S. Department of Labor issued guidance saying a few employees in a marijuana growing facility were not subject to the same federal labor rules under a carve-out for agricultural workers. Ah, but that meant  presumably  that other marijuana workers do fall under the federal law without exemptions.

Kushner argues the facts, and fairness. Whats absolutely clear is that this is going to be a competitive market and that there are going to be employers and producers and cannabis establishments that want to come to Connecticut for this new market.

Shes probably right. Regardless, we simply dont know whether Connecticut can set these rules.

Is it worth the risk of a drawn-out lawsuit to test blue states worker laws in this emerging industry? If legislators vote yes on this bill, they are saying yes, it is worth that risk.

dhaar@hearstmediact.com
On the heels of its popular Harry Potter-themed "wizarding" dining room, Southington's Cava restaurant is heading to Neverland for its latest themed dining area.

Similar to the "wizarding" room, which transports diners into the world of "Harry Potter" and is open for the next month and a half (complete with a Goblet of Fire, replica Hogwarts Express and floating candles  just like the ones found in Hogwarts' Great Hall), the Peter Pan patio features whimsical elements.
"Lift Every Voice and Sing," written by brothers James Weldon and John Rosamond Johnson, began as a poem in 1900 for schoolchildren. Before long, the song spread across the nation at NAACP events, within Black churches, and in community meetings, gaining prominence each time it was sung. Known as the "Black National Anthem" or the "Negro National Anthem," "Lift Every Voice and Sing" is a triumphant story that chronicles and acknowledges the past while marching forward toward freedom.

Lift Every Voice connects young Black journalists with Black elders in our communities to celebrate and learn from their life experiences - deepening connections with the past to position us all for a better future. Hearst Connecticut Media Group has joined Hearst newspapers, magazines and television stations across the nation to publish dozens of profiles as part of the project.

Dollie McLeans love for the arts started when she was a young girl growing up in New York.

Due to her deep love and appreciation for the city and its resources for the arts, she was hesitant to move to Hartford when her husband, acclaimed jazz musician Jackie McLean, got the opportunity to teach at the University of Hartford. She eventually agreed and was able to bring her appreciation for art to Connecticut through the development of The Artists Collective, also known as The Collective.

Below is a Q&A with McLean that has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Q. In one sentence, how would you describe The Artists Collective?

A. The Artists Collective is to celebrate, teach, help young people understand what their heritage is and to be proud of themselves.

Q. What was the vision for The Artists Collective?

A. My husband wanted an organization that would support young people in North Hartford. As it began coming together, it gave me the ability to coordinate all the pieces that went into it. But it was very difficult in the beginning. Once we began to get support from individuals who understood what we were talking about and the program that we thought we could develop, there was a great deal of support.

Q. How did you and your husband respond to the initial resistance?

A. We had to step past it and ignore it. I was quite blown away with Hartford. In New York, if you go out anywhere, there are thousands of people. You don't see the same people. You also do not get to meet council people or the mayor of New York unless you are involved in politics. In Hartford, I found that I met the mayor and councilmen.

I can recall my husband coming home and saying, you know, there's a young woman in Hartford and her name is Cheryl Smith. She teaches African dance to kids. She never missed a meeting. She was there and always supportive. Cheryl borrowed space to teach dance. She was teaching at the library and any place that she could find space. Ionis Martin, a visual artist, had a group that she had been working with. My husband had jazz musicians. Everybody was teaching out of borrowed spaces. I taught a few classes and had a few rehearsals happening out of Wadsworth Atheneum. We all came together and made plans. There was a lot of effort and a great deal of time that went into starting this. I think timing is of the essence for anything that a person wants to do. I think the time was right here in Hartford.

Shaleah Williams / For Hearst Connecticut Media

Q. How did it feel when you got a building where all of your classes could be held?

A. There was a building on Windsor Street that was owned by two lawyers. The Hartford Jaycees helped us clean up the building and paint it. We had an open house on Jan. 24, 1974. It was a Sunday afternoon and the temperature was about 60 or 65. We had approximately 1,500 people come through. It was a magnificent day.

We stayed there for one year when I received a phone call telling me that the owners wanted to sell the building. After talking with some government officials, we were told there was an old school building on Clark Street. It was a beautiful building, but it was old. We got in there and rolled up our sleeves with any number of helpers. When we started the silkscreening department, we had posters made of Harriet Tubman, Nat Turner, Sojourner Truth, Frederick Douglass, Martin Luther King and Paul Robeson. When doors opened, they would swing with our logo.

[Classes, activities and events continued in the new building with the help of returning and new instructors, including Lee Aca Thompson. Thompson started the Rite of Passage, one of The Collectives most sacred traditions.]

We started the Rite of Passage in 1976. Young people came in and they learned African dance, heritage and culture. The ceremony would close with drumming, dancing and a pledge which was a code of ethics that I developed and the initiates had to say it as they stood up with their parents. If the initiate didnt have a parent, we would find someone from the community to be with them. I also developed Skills for Living under the Rite of Passage. It was really about all of the things we need to know in order to live.

The Clark Street building was wonderful but it was tucked into a neighborhood. There was an open property that I would pass every day on Albany Avenue. I began looking at the possibility of that being our new property. It took 16 years to get, but I just would not give up. The building is beautiful. It became a tribute and a testament to the culture of those people who gave their lives for our community.

Q. You have been recognized by Essence Magazine, former President Bill Clinton and so many others. How does it feel to know that your program has touched people in the Hartford area and beyond?

A. You do what you do because you love it. It's wonderful to get awards, but I never think about that in those terms. They're all outstanding and well appreciated, but from time to time, I don't even think about them. The rewards are watching a little boy that comes in that cant read well and then he stands on the stage and hes magnificent or a little girl learning her right and left. To me, those are the real awards and I know that's what it meant to my husband as well. It's amazing what that does for a young person.

[One of the many recognitions The Collective has received was from Michelle Obama. She invited the Youth Jazz Orchestra to perform in Washington.]



There were 10 organizations that were selected as outstanding in the arts with youth and we were the ones that were invited to perform. They requested the Youth Jazz Orchestra and a dancer. So many wonderful young people came out of YJO so that was an exciting, wonderful time to be invited to Washington by Michelle Obama. My husband selected four major players - a saxophonist and a rhythm section (piano, bass and drums). We also invited a young man who had come to our dance department as a form of exercise for his polio.

Shaleah Williams / For Hearst Connecticut Media

[McLean, now retired, hopes that The Artists Collective continues to touch the lives of students near and far for years to come.]

We only hope that The Collective will be here for another 50 years. That it will be able to grow and change with the times and continue to do what it needs to do. I think what we did in the past and why The Collective was founded is needed even more today. Everything that we did in the 70s is more relevant now.
WOODSTOCK  A farmhouse on Route 169 that has been in the Reynolds family for generations was lost to a fire early Monday morning that killed their five rescue dogs and their rescue bird, according to family members.

During the early-morning hours, fire crews responded to a three-story farmhouse, according to officials with the Dudley Fire Department in Massachusetts that sent units to the scene for mutual aid.

Firefighters from Dudley responded to help local crews battle the blaze, officials said. One engine tanker from Massachusetts provided the fireground with a continuous flow of water, which had to be trucked in because of a lack of hydrants in the area.

A GoFundMe campaign was launched Tuesday afternoon as news spread of the fire that destroyed the farmhouse, which was built in the 1700s. The information on the page was written by the niece of Jay and Lori Reynolds, who lived at the home and are known locally for running a nearby seasonal business.

As of 2 p.m. Tuesday, nearly $2,000 had already been donated to the campaign. A $20,000 goal has been set.

Their niece said the couple raised their family and many pets in the home throughout the years.

The family was able to get out of the burning home, but the house and everything in it has been destroyed, the GoFundMe page said. Their five dogs  Petunia, Piper, Rizzo, Walter and Zuko  and their bird Sancho all died in the fire.

Four of the five dogs were rescues the family adopted through the Wings of Freedom Animal Rescue, a nonprofit that works with rescue animals in Connecticut and neighboring states. The nonprofit is sponsoring the GoFundMe, making all donations tax deductible.

This family has very deep ties to our rescue and we want to help them by sponsoring this fundraiser, the nonprofit said in the GoFundMe description.

In a Facebook post, the nonprofit called the news devastating. The rescue said one person remains in a hospital in Massachusetts in stable condition, another remains hospitalized locally and three others were treated and released.

This traumatic loss is a monumental burden to bear, the fundraisers description said. On top of these losses, they must now deal with the emotional and physical labor, as well as take on the financial burden, of medical costs and rebuilding their lives.

According to the GoFundMe, the Reynolds family owns, The Christmas Barn, a seasonal store open annually from September through the end of the year, across the street from the farmhouse.
Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media

BRIDGEPORT  Detectives are chasing down several leads after a city man was killed in a shooting that led to a crash Monday night, according to officials.

Capt. Kevin Gilleran said officers responded to the 800 block of State Street around 7:40 a.m. after a ShotSpotter gunfire activation in the area and citizens reports of shots fired.
BRIDGEPORT  Expressing their commitment to building a new Bassick High School on what has proven to be a controversial South End property, City Council members Monday authorized borrowing $8 million to prepare the site for construction.

But the budget committees nearly unanimous vote followed a lengthy debate during which critics of last years $6 million deal to move Bassick from the West End to land purchased from the University of Bridgeport re-litigated that decision.

Citing West End developer Gary Floccos recently reported renewed interest in instead locating Bassick at the former Hubbell factory, South End Councilman Jorge Cruz told his budget colleagues, As far as Im concerned, they need to revisit the Hubbell site, the mayor needs to renegotiate with Mr. Flocco (and) forget about Bassick coming to the South End. Its a flood zone there.

Cruz was the only one on the committee to vote against the $8 million expenditure  drawn from $27 million the council set aside for the new high school a few years ago. The $8 million is for completing designs, demolishing UB dormitories and other site work.

Councilwoman AmyMarie Vizzo-Paniccia and others said it was time to move forward with replacing the 92-year-old Bassick.

Im hoping we can all look forward to promoting this, voting for it and getting shovels in the ground, Vizzo-Paniccia said.

The $8 million still needs the approval of the full, 20-person legislative body. Then the state, which in 2019 committed nearly $91 million to the project, must give Bridgeport the OK to proceed. The state must also re-authorize that grant, which expires this summer since construction has been delayed.

The UB land is the third location for Bassick after Mayor Joe Ganims administration explored keeping it at its current West End address, then moving it nearby to Hubbell, which Flacco and Geof Ravenstine of Corvus Capital Partners purchased in 2019 as part of their ongoing residential/retail redevelopment.

The city had seemed poised to finalize a deal with Corvus before it was suddenly announced last July that the Ganim administration had instead paid $6 million to UB for the South End acreage.

Cruz and other opponents of that move have for months complained about the secrecy surrounding the negotiation and whether the land deal, authorized by the standing school building committee using the money the council had previously approved for Bassick construction, should have legally gone back to the full council for a vote.

The City Council never voted for land acquisition, Councilwoman Maria Pereira, who is not a budget committee member, argued Monday. She said that $6 million was specified for new construction costs and to spend it otherwise was completely illegal.

Councilman Marcus Brown, a building committee chairman  the group includes representatives from the council, school board and Ganims administration  read aloud language establishing that entity that specified the committee shall select as necessary the site for the project and take or request others to take all action necessary to acquire the site.

We have the authority to purchase the site with the money the council authorized, Brown said. To say were somehow doing nefarious actions, its not in reality but based on the lack of information.

More recently questions have been raised about whether work on the new Bassick can move forward before completion of a federally funded, state-managed flood mitigation project in the works for several years to protect the South End from severe water damage during major storms. Work is scheduled to begin in 2022 and run through 2023.

Brown and other officials have said they are worried the flood work will take several years to complete and Bassick can be built independent of that project.

Councilman Alfred Castillo, though not on the budget committee, advised its members to hold off on approving any more funding for Bassick. Castillo has been one of the most vocal critics of moving the high school to the South End.

Out of the blue this Bassick High School was moved into a flood zone area, Castillo said. Thats a flood zone. You cant do nothing on that area until 2023, maybe longer.

The budget committee Monday also indicated concern over comments Konstantinos Diamantis, head of Connecticuts school construction grants office in Hartford, made last week regarding a possible reconsideration of the Hubbell factory in light of the South End flooding issues. Diamantis has a key role in authorizing Bassick move forward with state funding and warned if Bridgeport pivots back to Hubbell, I would probably say, Cancel this project until you figure out where to put it and someday when you decide ... give me a call.

I want to just warn this committee (to) read what Hartford said  that Bridgeport better get its act together or theyre gonna lose an opportunity, Councilman Ernie Newton, a budget committee co-chairman, told colleagues Monday. We dont want to send the wrong messages to the state ... that Bridgeport doesnt have its act together.
Six months have passed since Maria has stepped outside Yale New Haven Hospital.

No fresh air. No wind, rain or sun on her skin. No home-cooked meals. Just air conditioning, lukewarm cafeteria meals and the view from her window, overlooking the hospitals parking garage.

Theres also access to the dialysis treatment she needs. Without it, her doctor gives her only a few days to live.

If she goes home, she wont be able to go for dialysis at a clinic or another less-expensive program, because she is an undocumented immigrant.

So Maria is stuck in the hospital, despite being well enough to leave YNHH and get outpatient dialysis. Her only other alternative is to leave and return to the emergency room every few days when her kidneys start shutting down.

I just want to leave here right now. Im bored, said Maria, who checked into the hospital Dec. 8 when her kidneys began shutting down. Before, I thought my life was ending, and thats how I feel now that I am trapped here  I consider being here even worse than being in jail. They tell you you cant go out. Just look out the window.

The CT Mirror is not disclosing Marias real name at her request because she is undocumented.

Hospitals are required by federal regulations to provide life-sustaining treatment to uninsured undocumented immigrants who show up in the emergency department and to treat them until they can be discharged safely. In Connecticut, however, undocumented immigrants dont have access to outpatient services or less-expensive nursing home care if they require ongoing treatment after hospitalization.

So patients like Maria must stay in the hospital to stay alive.

This is both extraordinarily expensive and, in the view of civil rights attorneys, a form of humanitarian incarceration.

Allowing someone to die an agonizing death  or go through repeated rounds of severe, terrifying acute symptoms, followed by an ER visit, in-patient admittance and then stabilization and discharge, to be repeated again just days later  cannot be what Connecticut citizens expect of their government, a coalition of legal aid attorneys wrote top officials in Gov. Ned Lamonts administration on April 27.

The Department of Social Services declined to comment on the states policy not to cover certain life-sustaining outpatient services for undocumented immigrants and legal immigrants who moved here within the last five years. Medical care for these patients stuck in the hospital is paid for with a combination of state and federal dollars through Medicaid. Since dialysis hasnt made Connecticuts list of covered medical care, undocumented immigrants are unable to access treatment unless they show up in the emergency room.

The legal aid attorneys from New Haven Legal Assistance Association, Greater Hartford Legal Aid and Connecticut Legal Services also have not heard back from the Lamont administration.

Failure to cover the treatment comes at a steep cost to taxpayers.

The cost of Marias six-month hospital stay is now more than $1 million, her legal aid attorneys estimate, compared to roughly $91,000 a year for outpatient dialysis treatment.

The state and federal governments are picking up the bulk of that bill, since undocumented immigrants qualify for Medicaid when they require life-sustaining measures in the hospital. At least 14 other states cover outpatient dialysis treatment, including Massachusetts and New York.

An unquantified problem

National estimates suggest that somewhere between 5,000 and 9,000 undocumented people in the United States have end-stage kidney failure, which necessitates dialysis.

Connecticut officials do not know how many of these permanent patients, as some hospital officials call them, are being subsidized by the state to live in the hospital. Nor do they know how much Connecticut could save by allowing Medicaid to cover outpatient dialysis and other step-down treatments for certain chronic health conditions.

Civil rights attorneys and Senate President Pro Tem Martin Looney, D-New Haven, believe there are other undocumented immigrants trapped in Connecticut hospitals on any given day.

I do not believe that [Maria] is the only patient in Connecticut in this situation, Looney wrote the states commissioner of the Department of Social Services on May 25. This policy seems not only inhumane but also financially unsound. Allowing Medicaid coverage for outpatient dialysis would allow this patient to go home, and it would also save money for the state. I urge you to make this change as soon as possible.

Yale New Haven Hospital declined interview requests and did not respond to specific questions for this story.

Hartford Hospital officials said they have decided to cover the cost of outpatient dialysis so that those who need the treatment can be discharged without delay. The hospital currently is paying for 10 undocumented patients to receive outpatient dialysis, which costs about $520 per treatment. The annual cost for the hospital to cover this is $270,000 a year.

We dont have to keep our patients in the hospital for a long period of time waiting to find a place that will take them, or figuring out a way to fund that, said Dr. Suparna Dutta, chief of medicine at the hospital.

The hospital does struggle, however, to discharge some undocumented immigrants who dont necessarily need to remain in the hospital but arent stable enough to return home and could benefit from a nursing home or less-expensive setting to receive care.

Theyre fine in terms of their medical issue. They dont need to be in the hospital anymore, but then the issue kind of becomes, where do they go next? Dutta said. Sometimes our recommendation is a care facility so they can get stronger before they go home, so you dont worry about them going home and falling. But, obviously, if you dont have insurance, that gets quite expensive. So where you dont have the option of sending your patients to a more controlled setting, then sometimes youll keep them in the hospital a bit longer until youre absolutely sure that theyre going to be OK at home.

It is unclear just how widespread this problem is, although Dutta suspects that undocumented immigrants disproportionately require dialysis treatment. Thats because undocumented immigrants often dont have private insurance, dont qualify for Medicaid, and therefore are unable to get a kidney transplant to avoid a lifetime of dialysis treatment. Dutta suspects that they also struggle to access the medications necessary to avoid eventually requiring dialysis.

Community health centers, which serve as a safety net for vulnerable populations, struggle to fill the void.

Dr. Ben Oldfield, the chief medical officer of Fair Haven Community Health Center in New Haven, said people with diabetes too often land in the emergency department because of a lack of access to insulin and an endocrinologist. One out of every four patients who come to his clinic are undocumented immigrants.

We have certain resources to get our patients specialty care through certain programs, but oftentimes those programs depend on this condition that [the patients] condition be life threatening, he said. If they are uninsured [and need to see an endocrinologist], we dont have a lot of recourse to make that happen  They dont get the care they need, and then there is a greater likelihood of ending up in the hospital.

The constraints placed on treatment by the medical system have adverse effects on the quality of care that undocumented patients receive; a study of undocumented immigrants with end-stage kidney failure found that those who receive dialysis only in emergencies had a mortality rate that was 14 times higher. Undocumented immigrants also face financial barriers in receiving kidney transplants, which are considered the best course of treatment for the condition.

Annual efforts to expand access to the states Medicaid plan  known as Husky  have failed to win approval by the General Assembly. However, the Democratic-controlled legislature has sent a bill to the governors desk to open the door for the children under age 8 this year.

If there was basic coverage that allows people to get in to see doctors, get preventive care, to have Medicaid coverage if they have newly diagnosed diabetes or high blood pressure, they can start on treatment right away and be monitored closely, and were going to have less people that are going to even be admitted to the hospital or needing dialysis or needing to hang out in the hospital waiting for that rehab, said Dutta.

The Connecticut Hospital Association in a statement said too often undocumented people show up in crisis in their emergency departments.

No one should have to wait until a medical problem becomes an emergency to seek care. Unfortunately, Connecticuts hospitals often see cases where delays in care due to lack of insurance or immigration status result in much more serious illnesses, requiring more intensive care and resulting in less positive outcomes. The Connecticut Hospital Association supports extending insurance coverage to low-income, undocumented immigrants living in our state. Investing in earlier, more appropriate access to care means healthier communities and lower cost of care for all.
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP)  Investment adviser and West Point graduate Greg Zanetti of Albuquerque says he'll seek the Republican nomination for governor of New Mexico in next year's election.

In a news release Monday, Zanetti said he wants to restore some dignity and principled leadership to the governor's office.

Zanetti said he wants to work with local officials to reduce crime rates and improve schools, though he did not provide detailed proposals.

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is running for reelection in 2022 on her handling of the pandemic, tax breaks for working families and increases in spending on public education. She has signed legislation that legalizes recreational marijuana, emphasizes gun safety, shores up abortion rights and scales up financial incentives to businesses.

Zanetti lost a bid for lieutenant governor in 1994 to Walter Bradley, who won the general election alongside Gov. Gary Johnson.

He sought the GOP nomination for governor in 2010 but dropped out before the primary. That was another good year for Republicans with the election of GOP Gov. Susana Martinez to succeed a termed-out Democrat.

In recent years, Zanetti has nurtured a public following on local radio with regular appearances to provide financial advice.

He was the Republican Party county chairman in the Albuquerque area, and he organized advocacy against abortion access and against labor-union membership requirements in collective bargaining.

Other contenders for the Republican nomination include Sandoval County Commissioner Jay Block.

Zanetti grew up in Albuquerque and graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1980 to serve six years on active duty. He later entered the National Guard and was deployed in 2005 as a brigadier general to a task force that oversees the detention center at the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay at the southeastern end of Cuba.
DERBY  When local activists asked Mayor Rich Dziekan last month if they could paint a mural in the city honoring Martin Luther King Jr., the mayor readily agreed.

Now the only thing left to think about is location, location, location.

TEAM and the Valley MLK Committee, the two organizations behind the mural, announced late last week that the location, once determined, would be announced at the end of June.

Organizers are still trying to figure out where to put the artwork, which will be part of an ongoing statewide arts project called MLK 39, where 39 murals honoring the iconic civil rights activist will be created throughout the state by 2022.

Maliqa Mosley-Williams, chairman of the Valley MLK Committee, said that discussing racism and racial inequality can be difficult, especially for people who do not share those lived experiences. The mural would also act as a unifier, she said.

Were hoping that with this mural when people see it, it will drive those difficult conversations, as well as create unity when people view it, she said.

But to do that, the mural needs to be in a place that gets a lot of foot traffic. The mayor and members of TEAM and the Valley MLK Committee discussed potential locations  from the Riverwalk to City Hall to private buildings.

David Morgan, CEO of TEAM, said that City Hall would be a good spot.

There's a wall that faces Route 34, its a beautiful spot, its at the base of City Hall facing Route 34. Just across the street from all the future economic development, the downtown Derby developments, Morgan said.

Because of the traffic on Route 34 it would be harder to vandalize the mural due to the prominent location, Morgan said. Plus, it would be a good counterpart to the Martin Luther King Jr. bust located in front of Ansonias City Hall.

Dziekan said City Hall would be a good location but cautioned that planned construction on Route 34 might complicate efforts to paint the mural on the building.

Mosley-Williams said a mural near Griffin Hospital is also possible.

Something that the committee has thrown around was the possibility of the mural being placed somewhere next to Griffin Hospital, so that a lot of people could see it within the city of Derby, as well as people who are coming throughout different areas in Connecticut, she said.

Dziekan said that there are other options but those might not be as advantageous as the other locations.

We have a couple of public buildings, which really aren't in a prominent area. They have some private buildings. We're reaching out to the property owners to see if they'd be interested, he said.

Wherever the mural ends up, Mosley-Williams said the result will stem from listening to Derby residents.

Our number one goal in creating this mural is to make it a point that it's not just a mural presented by the MLK Committee. It's a mural that is created by the community, she said.
NEW HAVEN  The American Red Cross is asking people to consider donating blood to address a shortage, as the rising demand for transfusions to address trauma cases has strained the organizations supply.

The group is experiencing a severe blood shortage as the number of trauma cases, organ transplants and elective surgeries rise, officials said in an email.

Right now, hospitals are responding to an atypically high number of traumas and emergency room visits, as well as overdoses and resulting transplants, officials said. In comparison to 2019, the Red Cross has seen demand from trauma centers climb by 10 (percent) in 2021 more than five times the growth of other facilities that provide blood transfusions.

There is also a greater demand from hospitals to help people who deferred care during the height of the pandemic present with more advanced disease progression, requiring increased blood transfusions, officials said.

Those interested can book an appointment using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device, officials said.

Those who book appointments before June 30 will receive a a $5 Amazon.com Gift Card via email, courtesy of Amazon, officials said.

When seconds count in emergency trauma situations, its the blood already on the shelves that can make the difference in lifesaving care, said Mario Bruno, CEO of Red Cross Connecticut and Rhode Island Region, in the email.

As many people begin to enjoy travel and time with loved ones again this summer, patients are relying on the generosity of donors to help ensure they have access to the treatment they need, Bruno said. Please consider blood donation as a summer activity that can help save lives.

In most cases, those who had COVID-19 are eligible to donate, officials said. The Red Cross is winding down its testing of donations for coronavirus antibodies, with the practice expected to end June 25.

The conclusion of Red Cross antibody testing represents a new, hopeful phase as the nation continues to journey out of this pandemic, officials said.

william.lambert@hearstmediact.com
BERLIN (AP)  Authorities in Germany said Tuesday that the number of far-right extremists in the country increased last year as neo-Nazis sought to join protests against pandemic-related restrictions.

German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer said authorities counted 33,300 far-right extremists in 2020, an increase of almost 4% from the previous year.

Far-right extremists were repeatedly able to protest side-by-side with non-extremist opponents of the pandemic restrictions, Seehofer said.

The minister added that it was worrying how the protesters often didn't distance themselves from the far-right extremists marching among them.

According to data published in an annual report by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, the domestic intelligence agency known by its German acronym BfV, some 40% of the far-right extremists in Germany are believed to support the use of violence for political ends.

BfV chief Thomas Haldenwang said the so-called New Right was to blame for much of the recent radicalization. He called its supporters intellectual arsonists and said his agency was closely watching the movement, parts of which have been linked to the far-right Alternative for Germany party.

The New Right provides the ideological justification for the actions of violent far-right extremists, Haldenwang told reporters in Berlin. They preach from morning till evening that there is a big population replacement occurring in Germany and that this needs to be resisted.

Josef Schuster, the head of Germanys Central Council of Jews, said the latest BfV report showed the shocking extent to which the threat to Jewish life in Germany has further grown.

Schuster urged security agencies and judicial authorities to act against antisemitism and extremism, while keeping a close eye on right-wing populists.

Schuster accused Alternative for Germany and some media of inflaming an already tense situation ahead of the country's national election in September.

The BfV report also noted an increase in the number of left-wing extremists last year compared to 2019, though a smaller share were considered supportive of violence.

The number of Islamists remained stable last year, according to the report.
United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts via AP/AP

United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts via AP/AP

United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts via AP/AP

United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts via AP/AP

The young barber was walking to the car after the first Saturday night party of the new year when a robber put a pistol to his head and demanded everything.

Wallet, gold watch and jewelry in hand, the robber was hanging out on a dark Boston avenue when a police patrol car rolled through. An officer inside noticed the gun.

During a foot chase that ended in his arrest, the robber ditched the weapon. Police found it with seven rounds in the magazine and one in the chamber.

It was odd that a civilian had this model of Sig Sauer M11 semi-automatic. The gun is issued to U.S. service members. It was reported stolen seven weeks before, after a man broke into a weapons vault at a military training center an hours drive away.

___

James Morales knew the Lincoln Stoddard Army Reserve Center well. As a medical logistics specialist in the reserves, he had trained there. On his last visit, just two days before, Morales picked up copies of his discharge papers.

A downward spiral led the 34 -year-old Morales to return that Saturday night.

In a hand-written account, he said that legal, financial and family problems -- and a dependence on java-flavored, high-caffeine drinks -- culminated in a breakdown in November 2015. A slow-brewing cocktail for disaster, he called it.

He had been living in his 2003 Ford Explorer for months. He couldnt stay with his children -- he had a conviction for aggravated assault on their mother, and had been charged with child rape.

Selling Army guns, he wrote, seemed like the way to make enough money to solve his problems: I reasoned that one rack of each weapon was sufficient.

Exactly an hour after parking a rented BMW SUV on the compact campus in Worcester, Massachusetts, he emerged with a duffel bag.

His target was the large room where reservists train. Inside that drill room was the vault, roughly the size of a shipping container. And inside the vault were racks of guns.

Morales broke a kitchen window. Atop the vault, he cut through several layers of metal and wood.

Once, twice -- nine times in all -- he walked between the building and vehicle, sometimes carrying tools in, sometimes duffel bags out.

It took four hours, but by just after midnight, the plundering was complete. Morales had six automatic M4 assault rifles and 10 M11 semi-automatic handguns. The guns were among the at least 1,900 U.S. military firearms that an Associated Press investigation found were lost or stolen during the 2010s.

Wedged between a large medical campus and a lake, the center was just isolated enough. A barbed-wire fence shredded his clothing, but didnt keep Morales out. The buildings alarm never rang.

No one would realize anything was wrong until the first staff arrived Sunday morning.

___

Morales used his head start.

The morning after the break-in, he was at the Boston home of a convicted marijuana dealer and gave the man one of the M4 assault rifles and five handguns to sell. Cellphone photos from the exchange show Property of U.S. Government stamped on the side of the M4, as well as a selector switch that lets the rifle fire three-round bursts with each trigger pull.

The dealer, Tyrone James, later told investigators that he unloaded the five handguns in two separate sales to people he didnt know.

Due to the rape charge, Morales wore an electronic monitoring bracelet.

With the break-in all over the news, two days later he cut the bracelet off his ankle and fled down the East Coast. Investigators soon arrested him outside a movie theater in Westbury, New York.

Authorities caught Morales with four of the assault rifles and two of the handguns. He already had ditched some of the other weapons: A homeless man prospecting for recyclables later found an M4 rifle and two of the handguns in a trash bag in a Bronx park near Yankee Stadium.

Five handguns remain missing.

While awaiting prosecution, Morales escaped prison and committed two bank robberies before being caught again and sentenced to 11.5 years for all his federal crimes.

___

Hall reported from Nashville, Tennessee. Contact her at https://twitter.com/kmhall.

___

Jeannie Ohm in Washington contributed.

___

Email APs Global Investigations Team at investigative@ap.org. See other work at https://apnews.com/hub/ap-investigations.
Signs, signs, everywhere a signdo this, dont do that, cant you read the sign?  Five Man Electrical Band

It seems that everything old is new again. In Connecticut, Governor Lamonts adoption of the recent CDC guidance regarding mask requirements has caused many of us (including Connecticuts Chief Operating Officer Josh Geballe) to recall the days when shops and restaurants would post signs saying, no shirt, no shoes, no service. Everyone has the choice not to answer [the vaccination question] or go shop somewhere else, said Geballe.

This is nothing new. For many years now, American individuals have peacefully coexisted with American businesses exercising their (admittedly and refreshingly limited) right to prohibit or require certain activities on their property (No Browsing, No Loitering, No Parking, Employees Only, etc.).

This latest governmental public health guidance gives precious little detail or instruction to business owners about how to go about reopening their public space, or which policies they should adopt for their own employees. The result, driven by individual choice and more than a little corporate handwringing, is a patchwork of varying policies with little to no uniformity.

Consider that some major well-known businesses have essentially done away with mask requirements, while others continue to require everyone to mask up. Still others have required customers to show proof of vaccination, despite the open question of whether such a policy is legal or could violate peoples rights to medical privacy. And at least one national brand eliminated in-person browsing and only offers curbside pickup.

For all this uncertainty, and as the nation emerges from its COVID hibernation, businesses seem to be leaning towards the honor system  asking non-vaccinated people to wear a mask but not enforcing the policy. Such a situation can be maddeningly confusing for consumers and businesses alike.

It is just the latest plot twist in the seemingly endless horror novel called Coronavirusa twist that unfortunately delays our emergence into a stable and consistent new normal.

So what is the best way to approach this long-awaited period of reopening in which we now find ourselves?

As a general matter, businesses that know their customers well can adapt to change and resume normal operations more easily than those that do not. The question for credit unions then becomes, How well do you know your members?

Are they mostly healthcare workers or teachers and, therefore, more likely to be vaccinated?

Does their average age suggest a greater or lesser concentration of vaccination?

What anecdotal evidence about mask wearing or lobby access have you collected from your drive through traffic or in your member service centers?

Are the vaccination or positivity rates consistent across the geographic distribution of your membership?

Where you do business has a lot to do with how you will reopen as well. For example, Connecticut is at the leading edge of vaccinations in the nation now, and as a result is seeing the lowest numbers of COVID cases and COVID-based hospitalizations since the pandemic first took hold. But how is your state doing with its public health response? Do your members have confidence in that response?

These are all simple questions that you can ask your members to help you segment, analyze and, more importantly, understand your membership. Knowing and understanding your membership will ultimately help you decide which policies to enact and, most importantly, how to apply them consistently and fairly.

As we enter this new phase of pandemic recovery, however you decide to reopen, now is a perfect time to get to know your members just a little better by asking, perhaps, how they feel in addition to what they want. Much like those signs from our past which are still with us in varying forms today, member connection is something that is never outdated.
Vote totals on first reading of Draft Law on Credit Unions. (World Council photo)

The World Council of Credit Unions International Advocacy and International Projects teams scored a major victory this week when the Ukrainian Parliament overwhelmingly approved the first reading of a new draft law on credit unions. The law must now pass a second reading as the final step for adoption.

If adopted, the law would lay the foundation for updating the countrys legal framework for credit union operations and build a level playing field for credit unions in the financial services market.

Members of Parliament (MPs), with support from the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU), developed the language for the Draft Law on Credit Unions after extensive analysis, feedback and advocacy input from World Council International Advocacy and World Council International Projects Credit for Agriculture Producers (CAP) Project, a USAID-funded activity in Ukraine.

Specifically, the draft law:
There continues to be a lot of media buzz around ransomwareand with good reason. Help Net Security argues that ransomware is the most significant cybercrime innovation in recent history. From more minor breaches that dont make the news to the latest attack on Colonial Pipeline, protection against ransomware remains paramount. Organizations are under constant pressure to stay ahead of these attacks, which can place immeasurable stress on daily operations. This article will break down key ransomware components to help your credit union adequately prepare and defend its assets against attacks.

What is Ransomware?

Ransomware is a type of malware that prevents a user or network of users from accessing their laptops, desktops, or servers until the ransomware owner is paid a monetary amount. Ransomware also includes malware that has the potential to lock up or destroy data unless reversed.

How Does Ransomware Spread?

Ransomware can infect your computer in several ways:

Malicious Spam: Emails often include attachments in the form of a PDF or Word document that contain executable malware when opened. Ransomware delivered via email uses social engineering to trick users into opening attachments or clicking specific links, which seem legitimate or reasonable enough to take action. These types of emails are posed to be sent by a colleague or friend to help ease suspicion.

Malvertising or Malicious Advertising: This method injects malware into online advertising and spreads with little to no interaction. While browsing the internet, users can be redirected to malware command and control servers monitored by criminals without ever clicking on an ad. After this exchange occurs, the server records details about the victims computer location and operating system to include specific vulnerabilities. It then matches and delivers the best malware suited to that user. Often, ransomware is the type of malware that is delivered.

Three Types of Ransomware

According to this Malwarebytes article, there are three main types of ransomware with different severity levels.

Scareware



This type involves rogue security software and tech support scams. While browsing the web, a user might get a pop-up message saying that malware was detected on their device and the only way to get rid of it is through payment. If you decide not to act on the request, youll continue to receive multiple pop-up messages, but your files will essentially remain safe.

The sensible thing to note here is that a legitimate cybersecurity software program would never solicit its customers this way. If you have security software installed, you will not have to pay for infections to be removed  the software exists for this reason.

Screen Lockers

This is a more dangerous type of ransomware that will lock you out of your computer entirely once infected. As reported in the Malwarebytes article, upon starting up your computer, a full-size window will appear, often accompanied by an official-looking FBI or US Department of Justice seal saying illegal activity has been detected on your computer and you must pay a fine. Remember, realistically, if you are ever caught doing something illegal, the FBI would not lock you out of your computer or force you to make a payment.

Encryption

This type of ransomware is the most dangerous of them all. It involves cybercriminals confiscating your files, encrypting them, and demanding payment to decrypt and release full access. This type of ransomware is so dangerous, mainly because once cybercriminals gain access to your files, there is essentially nothing that can be done to return them to you.

Cybercriminals are constantly finding ways to enhance their attacks. While ransomware is not a new cybersecurity threat, it continues to evolve. Protecting your credit union and personal assets should always remain a top priority.

Stopping Ransomware Activity Before the Final Attack

Sophisticated ransomware attacks use multiple malware delivery methods, advanced reconnaissance, lateral movement throughout the targeted network, and compromised accounts. In some cases, this gives targeted organizations a more significant opportunity to stop the final strike, mainly because cybercriminals often stay in the network for more extended periods when carrying out these attacks.

Below is a deeper look into the main options for preventing ransomware activity before it makes a final attack:

Once an attacker has entered your network to monitor a target environment, UEBA will assist you in detecting lateral movement or anomalous account activity. Remember, it is very likely that your attacker will get into your network and move around laterally to determine what network systems must be exploited and locked. UEBA will lay down a pattern of behavior for every system and every account on your network. It then searches 24/7 for anomalies, which provide clues to lateral movement or unusual activity by compromised accounts belonging to legitimate network users.

Hunting for IP IoCs in firewall, endpoint, and VPN traffic is critical to determining whether one of your legitimate users has accidentally clicked on a malware command and control link or other delivery methods used by ransomware attackers. If you have a Threat Intelligence Portal that will automatically hunt your network traffic for bad IP IoCs, then you have an excellent chance of discovering a breach in progress. Crowd-sourced IP IoCs are the best way to find dangerous IPs in real-time.

Remember, the smartest ransomware intruders do not just lock up a companys network at random in hopes of a payday. Intruders will use public records to determine the most lucrative targets to attack and digital surveillance to determine the best method for attacking vectors and targeting exploits for potential vulnerabilities. This may provide you with a critical opportunity to detect the necessary activities upfront before the final lockout.
Photo: Google Maps

Shortly after Katy Clark stepped down from her post as president of the Brooklyn Academy of Music earlier this year, the New York Times reported that shed taken with her a $1.9 million three-bedroom, two-bath prewar apartment overlooking Prospect Park, whose purchase BAM helped facilitate in the form of a nearly $968,000 housing bonus. As it turns out, Clarks housing set-up was hardly unique. In New York, a city where even the bleakest of Upper West Side studios can cost upward of $750,000, dangling housing  in some cases, both rent- and tax-free  has been a long-standing practice, used to lure (and retain) everyone from private-school headmasters to the leader of the Bronx Zoos parent organization.

Property and tax records reveal that a number of organizations, from universities and private schools to cultural institutions, have purchased or been donated everything from a $4 million Cobble Hill townhouse to a towering Victorian Gothic home in the Bronxs Fieldston neighborhood, which leaders can use during their tenure. (Clarks case, in that she was able to keep the home after she left, is less common.) And while some organizations have started to offload these units in recent years to cut costs, as the Metropolitan Museum of Art recently did with its Fifth Avenue apartment that for decades housed museum executives, the practice of sweetening an offer with housing  and providing organization leaders a setting to schmooze with donors  is unlikely to disappear any time soon. Its just standard procedure to attract top-flight people, says John Casey, a professor of nonprofit management at Baruch College.

Vincent Tompkins, headmaster of Saint Anns School, a Cobble Hill Townhouse

In 2010, to woo Vincent Tompkins, then the deputy provost of Brown University, to the headmaster position at Saint Anns School, the Brooklyn private school purchased this Cobble Hill townhouse for $3.8 million for the school leader and his familys use.

Photo: Google Maps

Dominic Randolph, head of school at Riverdale Country School, a Victorian Gothic

The property, a two-and-a-half-story Victorian Gothic home with an adjoining tower that dates to the late 19th century, served as the site for the original Riverdale Country Day School. For decades, it has served as the home of the Bronx prep schools headmaster.

Photo: Google Maps

P. David OHalloran, headmaster of Saint Davids School, a four-bedroom on East 90th

Three years after P. David OHalloran joined Saint Davids School on the Upper East Side as its headmaster, the New York Observer reported that the all-boys prep school purchased two adjacent fifth-floor condos in Philip Johnsons Metropolitan  many of the condos reportedly contain three or four bedrooms  which were to be combined into a single unit for OHalloran and his familys use.

Photo: Google Maps

Ellen Futter, president of the American Museum of Natural History; a floor-through apartment on East 79th

After Ellen Futter was hired as president of the American Museum of Natural History in 1993, the institution sold its $2.2 million apartment on West 79th Street that had housed her predecessor  at a $250,000 loss, according to the Times  and purchased a $5 million, floor-through unit in an East Side limestone building

Photo: Google Maps

Glenn Lowry, director of MoMA; a $6 million apartment in Midtown

In 2004, MoMA purchased a $6 million apartment in the Museum Tower on its campus for its director. The postwar building has a rooftop terrace, concierge services, and a fitness center.

Photo: Google Maps

The Met; a Fifth Avenue co-op

For decades, leaders of the museum could call a second-floor Fifth Avenue co-op owned by the museum home. But just a year after Daniel Weiss officially succeeded Thomas P. Campbell as CEO, the Met sold off its unit for $5.6 million amid financial belt-tightening.

Photo: Google Maps

Clive Gillinson, executive and artistic director of Carnegie Hall, a four-bedroom in the Barbizon

In 2008, Carnegie Hall purchased a 3,335-square-foot, four-bedroom condo, complete with a custom-made aquarium, at Barbizon/63 for $8.4 million, for its executive and artistic director Clive Gillinson and his wife, Anya, to reside in and charm donors, the Observer reported. But due to the awkward timing of the luxury condo purchase coinciding with end of the Great Recession, Gillinson allegedly waited to move into the space. (A spokesperson says he eventually moved in in 2010.)

Photo: Google Maps

Cristian Samper, president of Wildlife Conservation Society (Bronx Zoo, the Central Park Zoo, New York Aquarium, Prospect Park Zoo and Queens Zoo), a sprawling East End Condo

As president and CEO of the organization that oversees the Bronx, Central Park, Prospect Park and Queens Zoo, as well as the New York Aquarium, Cristian Samper has resided in an apartment owned by the Wildlife Conservation Society in an Upper East Side Italian Renaissance Palazzo building designed by architect Costas Kondylis. All apartments in the building (which has a fitness center, a 24-hour doorman, and a playroom) have (at least) 9-foot ceilings. The Bronx Zoos director, Jim Breheny, has lived in company-owned housing on the zoo grounds.

Photo: Google Maps

Annika Rembe, consul general of Sweden in New York, a four-story neo-Federal mansion

Serving as the residence of the Consul General of Sweden, the 10,000-square-foot building has 100 feet of Park Avenue frontage. The center of the house has a long, half-elliptical stair hall, and all of its rooms  which are filled with furniture by Swedish designers like Josef Frank  have windows facing the avenue.

Photo: Google Maps

Roy Fox, caretaker of King Manor museum in Jamaica, Queens

In exchange for opening and closing the city-owned King Manor (and not collecting a salary), Fox has lived rent-free for more than 30 years in the 22,000-square-foot historic landmark, according to the New York Post.

Photo: Google Maps

Reverend Canon Carl F. Turner, rector of St. Thomas Church Fifth Avenue, a studio in a CetraRuddydesigned condo

An 11th-floor six-bedroom, four-bath apartment in 550 Park Avenue served as the home for the rector until 2018, when the church purchased a 39th-floor unit at 135 West 52nd Street.

Photo: Google Maps

Donna Schaper, former senior minister of Judson Memorial Church, a Gramercy Park Townhouse

During her 26-year tenure as senior minister at Judson Memorial Church, the Reverend Donna Schaper, who retired this past May, lived in a four-story, two-unit Gramercy Park townhouse owned by the Church.

Photo: Google Maps

Monsignor Robert T. Ritchie, rector of St. Patricks Cathedral, Rectory of Saint Patricks Cathedral

The three-and-half-story neo-Gothic rectory, designed by the cathedrals architect, James Renwick Jr., has been home to members of the clergy since the 1880s. A recent renovation included updates to the priests residences and a new stainless-steel kitchen, to the delight of the church rector. Im a cook, Monsignor Ritchie told Catholic New York, but I would never cook anything in the old kitchen.

Photo: Google Maps

Sebastian Fries, president and CEO of International House, an Apartment in a 1924 Italinite-style home

The president of International House and his family are provided an apartment in the international-focused dorm that houses over 700 postgraduates to promote its mission of both serendipitous and intentional interaction among its residents, according to a spokesperson.

Photo: Google Maps

Lee Bollinger, president of Columbia University, a 16,803-square-foot mansion

Completed in 1912 and designed by the architectural firm McKim, Mead and White  responsible for Beaux Arts icons like the Brooklyn Museum and the original Penn Station  the brick and limestone Presidents House underwent a $23 million renovation that finished in 2005. (This required Bollinger to live in a number of temporary housing set-ups, which he described as one of the most miserable times of his life, according to the Times.)

Photo: Google Maps

Andrew Hamilton, president of NYU, a Greenwich Village penthouse duplex

Since beginning his tenure as NYU president in 2016, Andrew Hamilton has been living in a university-owned, 4,200-square-feet penthouse duplex overlooking Washington Square Park, with four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, and a rooftop terrace. Per the Times, the space underwent a renovation costing at least $1.1 million.

Photo: Google Maps

William J. Fritz, College of Staten Island president, a two-story Todt Hill House

Due to pandemic-spurred losses, CUNY is putting the presidential homes for the College of Staten Island and Medgar Evers College on the market. Clarion reported that the university is considering also selling the presidential residences for Baruch College, Lehman College, Queens College, and Brooklyn College.
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Brown attorneys drop petition for full body camera video release, will likely seek it in fed court

cday / Chris Day/The Daily Advance Harry Daniels, an attorney for the minor children of Andrew Brown Jr., addresses the crowd at a rally at Waterfront Park, Saturday. cday / Chris Day/The Daily Advance Cherry-Lassiter

Attorneys for the family of Andrew Brown Jr. are no longer seeking release of the full unredacted body camera footage of Browns April 21 shooting death by Pasquotank sheriffs deputies  a key demand of both those protesting Browns death and civil rights activists seeking federal probes into his fatal shooting.

Instead, Brown attorneys will likely now seek the complete video footages release through litigation in federal court.

According to a notice of withdrawal filed in Pasquotank Superior Court on June 4, Brown attorneys Chantel Cherry-Lassiter and Chance D. Lynch said they were dropping their petition for the footages release because they disagreed with conditions they anticipated being placed on their use of the videos contents. The attorneys said they faced a potential gag order limiting what they could say about the footage.

The attorneys said they participated in a May 21 preliminary hearing with other attorneys on the subject of public release of the full law enforcement body and dash camera video of Browns death. The video, captured over approximately two hours, shows Pasquotank deputies arriving at Browns Perry Street residence, confronting him in his parked vehicle, shooting him to death as he attempted to flee arrest, and the aftermath of those events, including unsuccessful efforts to revive him.

Presided over by Resident Superior Court Judge Jerry Tillett, the hearing  held by telephone  also included John Leidy and Mike Cox, attorneys for Pasquotank Sheriff Tommy Wooten; H.P. Williams Jr., the attorney for sheriffs deputies involved in Browns fatal shooting; Mike Tadych, an attorney representing a consortium of media groups that has petitioned for the footages release; and District Attorney Andrew Womble.

Cherry-Lassiter and Lynch said the attorneys at the hearing were encouraged by Tillett to converse to establish terms of a possible consent agreement allowing the unredacted video footage to be released.

However, after further conversations, the Brown attorneys said it became clear the consent order would require a gag order provision and/or speech restriction about the contents of the video.

Given their role to zealously advocate for Browns estate, Cherry-Lassiter and Lynch said they felt compelled to withdraw their petition for the footages release to avoid the risk ... of being negatively impacted by a court precedent that might infringe upon their constitutional right to freedom of speech. They also noted that any potential restrictions on what they could say about the unredacted video could also limit their right to pursue further litigation in Browns case.

Asked which of the parties requested the gag order, Harry Daniels, another member of the Brown familys legal team, said it wasnt us. He declined to say which party to the May 21 hearing made the request.

Both Cox, the county attorney, and Womble also declined to comment about which party had requested the gag order. Cox noted Wooten has also petitioned the courts to have the full video released.

Sheriff Wooten is trying to have the video released to the public and to the family as allowed by the statute and with the approval of the court, Cox said.

He said Wooten had no comment on the Brown family attorneys decision to withdraw their petition or on what effect it would have on whether the full video is released.

Womble also had no comment on the Brown attorneys decision. As for whether the full body camera footage should now be released, hes not taking a position on that.

As the state criminal investigation is now complete, I will not take a position regarding the release, he said in a statement.

Womble opposed release of the body camera footage during a court hearing in late April, saying release would hinder what was then an ongoing investigation of Browns shooting death by the State Bureau of Investigation. Womble also claimed the footages release would negatively affect efforts to provide a fair trial should he decide to file criminal charges in Browns shooting death.

Womble later decided not to file charges against the three deputies who shot and killed Brown, determining Browns driving his vehicle in the deputies direction justified the deputies use of deadly force against him.

During the press conference where he announced no charges would be filed, Womble disclosed parts of the deputies body camera footage to show what he said were Browns actions jeopardizing the deputies lives.

Superior Court Judge Jeff Foster agreed with Wombles arguments about the videos release, rejecting the media coalitions petition to make it public. Foster did order the Pasquotank Sheriffs Office to disclose roughly 16 minutes of the 118 total minutes of deputies body and vehicle dash camera footage to Browns family. As part of that order, the Sheriffs Office was required to blurry the faces of the deputies shown in the video.

Browns two adult sons and Lynch were shown those parts of the body camera footage in early May but said afterward they still wanted to see the full unredacted video.

Protesters whove been demonstrating on Elizabeth Citys streets since Browns death have also cited release of the full body camera footage to Browns family and the public as one of their primary demands. Its also a demand of civil rights activists seeking federal civil rights probes of Browns death and of both the Pasquotank Sheriffs Office and Wombles office.

Asked about dropping their petition for the unredacted body camera footage, Cherry-Lassiter and Lynch defended their decision in an emailed statement last week.

We have stated from the beginning we want transparency and accountability in this process and would like for everything to be public, the attorneys said. We will further pursue justice in the federal courts.

Cherry-Lassiter and Lynch said they would have no further comment on the petition for withdrawal.

But Daniels said the petition for withdrawal doesnt mean Brown attorneys wont still be seeking release of the full footage.

Just because we choose not to go through state court doesnt mean its dead, he said. Its just a matter of time before the footage will be released.

Daniels confirmed the likely avenue for getting the complete footage released will be through a federal lawsuit filed on the Brown familys behalf. He said the Sheriffs Office will then be required under the laws of federal procedure to turn it over to Browns attorneys.

As evidence in that case, theyve got to release it, he said. They cant keep it from me.

Daniels declined to provide a timetable for when a federal lawsuit in Browns shooting death will be filed. He also declined to say which parties will be named in the lawsuit.

Its coming. Thats all Ill say, he said, noting he had a draft of the lawsuit on his computer.

Daniels said on Saturday he expects the lawsuit will be filed by the end of June.

Daniels previously told The Daily Advance that a federal lawsuit had already been filed on Browns behalf. Asked about that last week, he said it was the newspapers error, not his, in reporting that the lawsuit already had been filed.
Sue (Aho) Dowty was part of the Astoria High School Class of 1970. She taught middle school language arts, U.S. history and leadership in Beaverton before retiring.
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Coronavirus: New York

Back to 'life as we know it'

New York state lifts numerous coronavirus restrictions as vaccination rate climbs
The following items are based on information provided by officials in law enforcement and the criminal justice system.
Phyllis Ann Broughton, 92, of Ashland, passed away Tuesday, June 29, 2021 at the Hospice Care Center in Ashland. Mrs. Broughton was born March 11, 1929 in Westwood, a daughter of the late Roy Taylor and Lenora Ellington Cook. Her mother passed away at a young age and her mother's sister Lucy
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MADISON FIREFIGHTERS (left) Justin Olson, Chad Patch and Wade Bialas took first place during last week's water-fight competition during the 2021 State Fire School in Ft. Pierre. The local team was awarded a Blitzfire ground monitor, a piece of firefighting equipment, as a prize for winning the contest.
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Sen. Carolyn Comitta has introduced legislation that would target funding from RGGI proceeds to communities impacted by climate change.
Residents heard officials from Voices for Children Coalition discuss the results of a new poll that indicated 606 registered Delaware County voters in March 2021 found that county voters support increasing local government funding for a variety of social services and believe that programs for children should be increased.
When I first met Daniel Morgan's brother Alastair in 2014, he was a man palpably worn out by nearly three decades of campaigning for justice.

Over the previous 27 years, he said, he had received anonymous death threats, sought courses of psychiatric counselling and witnessed the appalling suffering of his widowed mother Isobel, who was 86-years-old at the time.

'I see her and think, you b******s,' he told the Daily Mail with anger in his eyes. 'They have done this to us. I am terribly angry with the police.'

And who could blame him for his disgust over Scotland Yard given the police corruption and cover-up allegations that have mired Daniel's case since he was found with an axe in his head in 1987?

Despite being repeatedly let down by the Met, Alastair had somehow found it in him to continue his quest for the truth and accountability in the biggest police force in Britain.

When I first met Daniel Morgan's (left) brother Alastair (right) in 2014, he was a man palpably worn out by nearly three decades of campaigning for justice.

Morgan was hacked to death with an axe outside the Golden Lion pub in Sydenham, south London

We met for coffee in London following the first part of an investigative series for the Mail on the Morgan case. It exposed the tentacles of police malpractice and corruption that had allegedly engulfed Daniel's killing as well as the Met's probe into Stephen Lawrence in the 1990s.

At the time, the Morgan murder had exploded back into the public eye amid hotly disputed claims that the Met shredded a lorry load of anti-corruption files.

Alastair's detailed account of his endless campaign for justice at that meeting, and his savage criticisms of the police and politicians who had repeatedly let him and his family down, were shocking.

Here was a David vs Goliath situation, a little man standing up to police and political establishment and I admired him for it. 'Jack Straw, David Blunkett and Hazel Blears didn't take us seriously,' he told us. 'Only my constituency MP Chris Smith was persuaded that serious corruption had happened.' We were shown a sheaf of letters sent over the years by senior policemen, civil servants and politicians, fobbing off the Morgan family.

My memorable meeting with Alastair took place a year after then-home secretary Theresa May set up an independent panel inquiry into Daniel's murder.

Panel members are pictured Tuesday following the publication of the Daniel Morgan report at Church House in Westminster

The panel had been expected to report within little more than 12 months but took a staggering eight years to do so, not least because of the Met's reluctance to hand over sensitive documents.

Yesterday, that report was finally published. And it was devastating, branding the Met 'institutionally corrupt' in the way it concealed or denied failings over Daniel's murder, and concluding that the force's objective was to protect itself.

It was belated vindication of sorts for Alastair and his family, although as the report made clear, the stench of 'institutional corruption' in the Met and the incompetence of the murder investigation means they are unlikely to ever get justice.

As someone with more than 25 years' experience covering major crime cases for the Daily Mail, I would say this report could not be more damning of Scotland Yard.

I have reported extensively on high-profile police and justice scandals in the force: the race-hate killing of Stephen Lawrence; the antics of the corrupt Met commander Ali Dizaei who was appeased by politically correct Yard chiefs; the bungled investigation into the slaughter of Rachel Nickell on Wimbledon Common and most recently the fiasco of Operation Midland, the Westminster sex abuse investigation.

It is the culture of arrogance and cover-up ingrained in the leadership of the Met that is the main target of Baroness O'Loan's bombshell deliberations. Pictured: Met Police Commissioner Cressida Dick

Met chief Cressida Dick is personally criticised in the report

The Macpherson inquiry into Stephen's murder famously branded Scotland Yard 'institutionally racist'  a finding that severely damaged the reputation of the force and left one of my many decent contacts in the Met in tears. He felt ashamed that the general public would assume he was racist. He was not. Likewise, the assertion in the Morgan inquiry report about institutional corruption in the Met does not mean all officers are corrupt. There are bad apples in any big organisation, but the thousands of brave officers who put their lives potentially on the line whenever they go out on duty should not feel ashamed. Their bosses should, though.

It is the culture of arrogance and cover-up ingrained in the leadership of the Met that is the main target of Baroness O'Loan's bombshell deliberations yesterday.

In many respects it is far worse than the Macpherson Report. Not just because current Met chief Cressida Dick is personally criticised, but because it reflects my long held concerns about some of those who surround her and help her run the Met. The sense that they feel: 'we are the Met, we do what we want'.

Dame Cressida was widely welcomed when she was made Commissioner four years ago. She was the first female head, and she deserved to get the job  albeit from a poor field of candidates.

But as time has passed, it has become evident to me and some other very senior police figures that she is not up to the job: maybe because she had never previously run her own force, she lacks the necessary gravitas and leadership skills. Some of her appointments to key posts  such as that of her deputy Sir Stephen House, brought off retirement as her enforcer-in-chief three years after he left his job as Chief Constable of Scotland under a cloud  have been highly questionable. She put another senior officer who'd been found guilty of bullying his staff in charge of professional standards.

Her continued defence of former Met Deputy Assistant Commissioner Steve Rodhouse, who led the shambolic VIP sex abuse inquiry Operation Midland which she oversaw initially in 2014, has been nothing short of a disgrace and an insult to the victims of the probe, ex-armed forces chief and D-Day hero Lord Bramall, former home secretary Lord Brittan and ex-Tory MP Harvey Proctor.

When I revealed in September 2019 that Dame Cressida had sanctioned the setting up of Midland, she declined to answer important questions about her role in the case, while last year  just before the pandemic  a damning inspectorate report said that under her, the Met was more concerned with covering up the mistakes of the 'Nick' scandal than learning from them. Worse was to come in February this year, when Lord Brittan's widow told the Mail in an explosive interview across eight pages that a 'culture of cover up and flick away' exists in the Met, and that senior officers lacked a moral spine.

That same month, the Mail revealed after a Freedom of Information request that her senior officers and police spin doctors had launched an extraordinary PR operation to ensure Dame Cressida was not 'pulled into' the scandal over the botched abuse probe.

None of this would have come as a surprise to Alastair Morgan, who told me only last week of his hope that the inquiry into his brother's case would expose the Met's culture of corruption and cover up.

In the wake of yesterday's report, Home Secretary Priti Patel spoke of the need for a strong police watchdog. This is also the time for a 'strong' home secretary who will stand up to the police establishment and the self-protection society at the top of the Met.

That means sweeping out the stables in the higher echelons of the force and ordering a robust, independent inquiry into the Operation Midland scandal.

Two judges say the law was broken in it by the Met, six former home secretaries have demanded action over the case. There are dozens of unanswered questions about the running of the operation, and the very real sense of a cover-up to protect senior officers.

Miss Patel should learn from the Morgan scandal that doing nothing is not an option. As for Dame Cressida, if she had a fraction of the honour of Lord Bramall, she'd resign.
A US-based author of a book about cults whose father spent his teenage years being raised in a violent sect has claimed that the Royal Family is like an extremist group - while comparing Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to 'survivors of a cult'.

In a piece written for Bustle, writer and language expert Amanda Montell, 29, author of the book Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism, claimed that the British Monarchy shares several similarities with extremist groups, including 'extreme exclusivity, bizarre rules, secrecy, isolation and psychological warfare'.

Montell - whose father joined the extremist California-based cult Synanon at age 14 - pointed to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey as evidence of the Royal Family's 'cult-like influences' - claiming that Meghan, 39, 'touched on half a dozen pieces of evidence' to support her theory.

'When Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's Oprah Special aired on CBS earlier this year  and when Harry's The Me You Can't See episode with Oprah came out in May  I felt like I was watching interviews with people whod survived a cult,' she wrote.

Amanda Montell, who wrote a book about cults, has compared the Royal Family to an extremist sect in a new piece for Bustle, using Prince Harry and Meghan's Oprah interview as 'evidence'

The 29-year-old, from California, pointed out 'red flags' from the Sussexes' bombshell TV sit-down which she said 'prove that the Royal Family is a bit more cultish than some might think'

'Not a Synanon-level one. But Meghan touched on half a dozen pieces of evidence supporting my theory that cultish ideology influences communities of all stripes.'

Synanon, which was originally founded in 1958 as a drug rehabilitation center later evolved into a Church of Synanon, before being disbanded in 1991 after several members were convicted of multiple crimes, including attempted murder.

It hit national news headlines in 1978 when two members placed a rattlesnake into the mailbox of attorney Paul Morantz who was representing several former members in a lawsuit against the cult.

The Church of Synanon is now widely viewed as one of the most dangerous and deadly cults to form in the US.

Throughout her Bustle piece, Montell drew on her father's experiences within the cult to call attention to what she believes are 'cultish ideologies' within the Royal Family - including the Monarchy's adherence to strict protocols, the Queen's 'never complain, never explain' philosophy regarding public statements, and Meghan's claim that she had to hand over her passport and driver's license when she joined the Royal Family.

The writer's father joined the violent cult Synanon when he was 14, and his experiences inspired her new book, Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism

Montell did admit that the Royal Family is not structured in the same way as a typical cult, pointing out that the Queen is 'just as bound to tradition as anyone' and therefore cannot be compared to an 'all-powerful leader' like Synanon's Charles Dederich, Charles Manson or NXIUM founder Keith Raniere.

However, she claimed that the Queen's position has left the Monarchy with a 'lack of obvious power center', insisting that this is 'part of what makes the "cult" of the Royal Family so insidious'.

'In a sense, the Royal Family exists on a cult spectrum all its own,' Montell said, suggesting that Monarchy's 'army of royal superfans' are themselves under 'some degree of cult-like influence'.

The author proceeded to list the 'red flags' that she saw in Meghan and Harry's interview - during which the couple made several very damaging allegations about the royals and their time spent working within the 'The Firm' - starting with the Duchess's admission that she battled suicidal thoughts.

'On the extreme end: when someone reflects on their experience as a part of any group and says, as Meghan did, "It became almost unsurvivable" and "I just didnt want to be alive anymore," thats a major red flag,' Montell wrote.

She added that 'The Firm' - a term that Meghan and Harry used seemingly to describe the institution of Buckingham Palace, which includes senior courtiers and advisers, headed by the Queen - was like a 'pseudo Royal Deep State - a hazily defined force that secretly controls both the royals and the 400 employees who support them'.

The author also spotlighted Meghan's claim that she had to 'turn over' her passport, driver's license and keys when she joined the Royal Family in 2016 and that she 'hadn't left the house in months', claiming that these comments sounded 'like quotes from the memoir of an ex-Scientologist'.

Following the Oprah interview, it was revealed that Meghan had in fact taken at least 13 trips abroad between 2016 and September 2019, including traveling to New York for her baby shower, with sources claiming that she would have had to present her passport to officials in 12 countries that she visited during this time.

Montell said that Oprah's sit-down with Harry, 36, and Meghan, 39, was like 'watching interviews with people whod survived a cult'

Can the Royal Family REALLY be compared to a 'cult'? The 'red flags' from Harry and Meghan's Oprah interview, which author says 'prove' the Monarchy's 'culty' ideologies Royal protocols and traditions such as dress codes, curtsying and bowing, and royal orders : Montell suggests these mirror 'time-consuming tasks and formalities' that are used to assert authority over cult members

: Montell suggests these mirror 'time-consuming tasks and formalities' that are used to assert authority over cult members Meghan Markle's struggle with suicidal thoughts and her description of royal life as being 'almost unsurvivable' : The author simply said that the Duchess of Sussex's comments were a 'major red flag' about the royals

: The author simply said that the Duchess of Sussex's comments were a 'major red flag' about the royals Buckingham Palace's 'no comment' policy and the Queen's belief that the royals should 'never complain, never explain' : According to Montell, this 'culty' motto could be seen as a means of 'silencing' members of the Royal Family

: According to Montell, this 'culty' motto could be seen as a means of 'silencing' members of the Royal Family Harry's suggestion that his brother and father are 'trapped' in the Royal Family and Meghan's claim that she had to 'turn over' her passport : The author claims that these comments sounded 'almost like a former NXIUM member speaking about their family members still inside'. Montell also stated that Meghan's claim she had to hand over her passport, driver's license and keys is akin to cult leaders trying to 'quickly separate members from the outside world'

: The author claims that these comments sounded 'almost like a former NXIUM member speaking about their family members still inside'. Montell also stated that Meghan's claim she had to hand over her passport, driver's license and keys is akin to cult leaders trying to 'quickly separate members from the outside world' Prince Harry claiming that The Firm has an 'invisible contract' with the tabloids and that the royals are 'scared' of the media 'turning on them' : Montell interpreted the Duke's comments as suggested Princes Charles and William are afraid to leave the Royal Family because it might 'make the press turn on them', which could in turn lead to a bitter public backlash, and she loosely compared this to the harsh consequences imposed on former cult members when they try to leave

: Montell interpreted the Duke's comments as suggested Princes Charles and William are afraid to leave the Royal Family because it might 'make the press turn on them', which could in turn lead to a bitter public backlash, and she loosely compared this to the harsh consequences imposed on former cult members when they try to leave Public comparisons between Kate Middleton and Meghan, persistent reports of a feud - and the Duchess of Sussex's claim that she was 'not protected' by the Royal Family : The writer suggested that the Royal Family's decision not to issue a statement shutting down reports of a feud between Meghan and Kate could be compared to a cult's attempt to maintain power 'by creating enemies' within its ranks

: The writer suggested that the Royal Family's decision not to issue a statement shutting down reports of a feud between Meghan and Kate could be compared to a cult's attempt to maintain power 'by creating enemies' within its ranks Meghan stating that the Royal Family 'is nothing like what it looks like' : Writing that 'no cult is 100% evil', Montell asserted that this comment is similar to the remarks made about extremist groups, which 'three kinds of deception' to lure people in, including 'painting a rosy picture' of what life will be like once you join Advertisement

Insiders therefore suggested the Duchess' passport may have simply been taken for safekeeping, but claimed she still would have used it for her trips abroad.

However, Montell still described this as a method of 'isolation and behavioral control' and compared it to the way in which cults 'exert power' by 'quickly separating members from the outside world and enforcing strict parameters on their freedom'.

The author also used Harry's description of his father and brother as being 'trapped' within The Firm, Meghan's accusation that the Monarchy ignored her plea for help with her mental health, and the fact that members of the Royal Family are expected to remain politically neutral and therefore cannot vote as examples of this.

'For his part, Harry talked about his father and brother almost like a former NXIVM follower speaks about their family members still inside,' she wrote, adding: 'Insidiously, in a cult-like environment, this level of control doesnt seem like isolation  at least not at first  because the group paints it as a privilege.'

Oprah's now-infamous question to Meghan about whether she was 'silent or silenced' was also referenced as a 'red flag' by Montell, who noted that 'an unhealthy group... will limit your ability to speak at all' - claiming that 'this seems to be the Royal Family's M.O.'

Traditionally Buckingham Palace has adhered to a strict 'no comment' policy, following the Queen's belief that royals should 'never complain, never explain' with regards to speculation and reports about the Monarchy which are published in the press.

During her interview with Oprah, Meghan referenced this policy, explaining that she was instructed by the Palace to always answer 'no comment' when stories about her were published.

For Montell, this serves as another 'red flag', with the writer suggesting that 'silencing can also be a form of gaslighting'.

'...When no one is taking your truth seriously or even allowing you to express it, you start to question your own perception of reality. Culty? I think yes,' she wrote.

Montell also claimed that the Royal Family's many traditions and protocols are also evidence of its 'cultish' tendencies - including the rule that royals are supposed to bow or curtsy to more senior members.

For example, if following strict protocol, Meghan - whose husband Harry is sixth in the line of succession - should curtsy to Kate Middleton - whose husband William is second in line to the throne. However, in reality, these formalities are rarely followed to the letter.

The writer went on to call out the fact that the royals have long implemented a dress code, the rules of which vary depending on the event or engagement that they are attending. In general members of the Royal Family are expected to dress modestly, and it has often been reported that the Queen prefers the women in the family to wear dresses or skirts instead of trousers.

Once again however, these rules have become increasingly relaxed over time - although Meghan did opt to wear nude tights for her first official appearance as a royal in keeping with tradition.

Montell also referred to royal orders - an honor given to female members of the royal family by the reigning monarch - as 'symbolic, NXIUM-style sashes and brooches'.
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A glamorous travel blogger who announced her shock split from her boyfriend of five years has found love again.

Australian traveller Lauren Bullen, 28, best known as @gypsealust, and Jack Morris, 30, from Manchester, also known as @doyoutravel, quietly called it quits on their relationship in March.

Three months on, the blonde bombshell - who co-owns a $1.2 million three-storey mansion in Bali with Jack - has been travelling around Paris with her new lover - but she's keeping his identity under wraps.

'Everyday is perfect,' she wrote on her Instagram Story over the weekend.

Lauren shared a video of the mystery brunette man walking ahead of her holding a surfboard, followed by a picture of the pair sitting at a beach with his hand resting on her leg.

Australian traveller Lauren Bullen, 28, (pictured) best known as @gypsealust, has found love again following her shock split from her boyfriend of five years

The blonde bombshell has been travelling around Paris with her new lover (left and right) - but she's keeping his identity under wraps. Lauren shared a video of the mystery brunette man walking ahead of her holding a surfboard, followed by a picture of the pair sitting at a beach with his hand resting on her leg

In her latest Instagram post, Lauren said she was exploring the 'city of love' in France.

'I loved that I actually got to experience Paris this visit, usually I'm more busy chasing photos than experiences and sometimes forget to enjoy the place,' she wrote in her caption.

Many of her followers were quick to congratulate Lauren on her new romance, with one saying: 'You seem happy! Excited to follow this new journey of yours and see more of this new beau.'

But not everyone agreed with her new relationship, with one woman saying: 'Whoa, the glimpses of a new boyfriend. Some of us are not ready, we're still grieving, this seems so soon.'

However, Lauren hit back, saying: 'Don't you think it would be nicer to just wish us both happiness, like we wish for each other and keep in mind that you only see what we decide to have shown, and when we decided to?'

Lauren (right) and Jack Morris (left) who earn a six-figure salary from sharing their enviable lifestyle on Instagram previously revealed what they're going to do with their $1.2 million Balinese mansion following their shock split

Her new romance comes just months after Lauren revealed the ex-couple are planning on listing their $1.2 million three-storey Balinese mansion up on the rental market, 'unless a really good offer comes through to sell'.

'Our Bali villa will be turning into a rental sometime later this year. We will still keep the house together, but neither of us will live in it,' Lauren wrote on her Instagram Story in April.

'Hope to be welcoming you all soon.'

Lauren previously revealed to her followers she had always planned on moving back to Australia sometime this year after her twin sister Ellie, who lives in Queensland, gave birth her son.

'I just felt this pull to wanting to be there more,' Lauren said late last year, adding: 'I just started to crave living in Australia again'.

Last year, Lauren revealed the couple had built their mansion with the 'plan to turn it into a rental'.

'It was never our intention to live in this house forever. Bali pre-covid has great rental return. It was always a business plan with the build. We thought we'd live here for two to three years and then rent it out,' she said.

'Bali will always be our second home.'

The couple announced they had quietly parted ways in March after they used their income from social media to build their million dollar home - complete with a sunken lounge room, marble swimming pool, designer kitchen and a home cinema theatre in 2019.

The couple announced they had quietly parted ways in March, shocking millions of their followers on Instagram

Lauren said the decision to go their separate ways was 'for sure the hardest' she has ever made, before cryptically adding: 'Sadly the last year, we let our relationship slip away from under us.'

Jack, a former carpet cleaner who left the UK to travel the world in 2012, said he spent 'by far the best years' of his life with Lauren, claiming no one has inspired him the way she has.

'It's really hard for me to find words for this post, and a post I really never thought I'd be making.. but life happened and Jack and I decided to separate last month. This for sure was the hardest decision I've ever made,' Lauren began.

'Sadly the last year we let our relationship slip away from under us. I know from the outside it looked like we had everything you could want and more, but one thing was missing, something more important to me than anything, happiness.'

She continued: 'Jack you were the best thing to come into my life.. we had an instant and inseparable connection. I'm so proud of everything we achieved together it's more than I could have ever imagined for my life, which I thank you for.

'You pushed me to work harder and dream bigger and I was always so inspired by your dedication and determination to succeed.'

Lauren revealed the pair had spent the past few weeks in tears, opening up about troubles they had been hiding from one another and reminiscing on the past five years of 'love, adventure and fun' which ultimately led them to agree they should end their romantic relationship.

The duo famously used their income from social media to build a $1.2million three-storey Balinese mansion (pictured) complete with a sunken lounge room, marble swimming pool, designer kitchen and a home cinema theatre in 2019

They built their dream home (pictured) from scratch using only the money they make off the photo-sharing platform

Jack (pictured with Lauren in happier times) took a leap of faith nine years ago and quit his job as a carpet cleaner after deciding he needed more adventure in his life

'[It] brought us both so much closure and understanding of why we couldn't make it work as a couple any longer,' she wrote.

'Many of you have followed our full journey together but for sure it's the moments no one else sees, just us being us and the Jack that only I really got to see, that's what I'll miss more than anything.'

Jack echoed his ex-love's words, starting his post by saying: 'It was a real difficult decision for both of us, but a decision we know is for the best.

'I spent by far the best years of my life with this girl, and I'll cherish those memories forever. It's pretty rare to find someone you instantly click with, share the same dreams with, and then be fortunate enough to go out and take on the world together.'

The former carpet cleaner addressed Lauren directly, saying while it is difficult for him to understand why they grew apart, he will 'always be there' for her.

Lauren said the decision was 'for sure the hardest' she has ever made, before cryptically adding: 'Sadly the last year, we let our relationship slip away from under us.'

News of the split sent shockwaves through the couple's combined 4.5million follower base, with hundreds of friends and fans responding with messages of support

'I remember meeting you and feeling like I hit the jackpot, cuddling up during our first movie night in Fiji, the first time we held hands whilst walking in Sri Lanka, telling you I love you for the first time and you not hearing me... damn, where did the time go?' he wrote.

Jack paid tribute to their time together, saying that despite the glamorous lifestyle they portray online, it's the 'little day by day moments that aren't shared with the world' that he will miss the most.

'Who knows where this next chapter will take us, wherever it does, I'll always be so thankful for the years we spent together, and for our friendship that we'll always continue to share,' he added.

The exes - who sell Lightroom presets which fans and fellow content creators can use to edit photos, as well as enjoying sponsorship deals with global brands such as Royal Caribbean Cruises, Disney, Air NZ, Airbnb and Tiffany & Co. - ended their posts by promising to remain close friends and business partners.

Jack said the break-up was 'a real difficult decision for both of us, but a decision we know is for the best'

Jack and Lauren last made headlines at the start of the pandemic when they were criticised for 'bragging' about self-isolating in their Balinese mansion while millions in their home countries lined up for welfare payments.

Lauren had wanted to fly home in accordance with government instructions for Australians to return but said she was not prepared to leave her partner and their dog Oreo behind.

Photos of their time in isolation showed Jack playing Mario Kart on a lavish cinema-style screen in a palatial living area that boasts views of their pool outside.

'What our self-isolation looks like here in Bali. Netflix and Mario Kart is pretty much my life right now! What are you guys doing to keep entertained at home? Hope everyone is staying safe,' he wrote in the caption.

Jack and Lauren last made headlines at the start of the pandemic when they were criticised for 'bragging' about self-isolating in their Balinese mansion (pictured) while millions in their home countries lined up for welfare payments

Photos of their time in isolation showed Jack playing Mario Kart on a lavish cinema-style screen in a palatial living area that boasts views of their pool outside
Foodies are going crazy for new $8 packets of bubble tea you can get from Woolworths, and they contain everything you need to make the perfect tapioca pearl-infused drink at home.

New Zealand brand Avalanche is the brains behind the DIY Bubble Tea Kits, and they now sell Brown Sugar, Taro, Caramel, Mango, Matcha and Peach flavours at Woolworths stores across Australia.

Adelaide food TikToker Brittany Boyle recently shared a video detailing her 'fantastic' experience with the popular Taiwanese drink DIY packets.

Scroll down for video

Foodies are going crazy for $8 packets of bubble tea from Woolworths, and they contain everything you need to make the perfect tapioca pearl-infused drink at home (pictured)

New Zealand brand Avalanche is the brains behind the DIY Bubble Tea Kits, and they sell Brown Sugar, Taro, Caramel, Mango, Matcha and Peach flavours at Woolworths stores (pictured)

'PSA for all my bubble tea lovers,' Brittany posted on TikTok.

'Woolworths now sell bubble tea kits.'

Brittany highlighted that there are five servings or sachets in every $8 box, and each box comes with five straws, as well as the flavouring and the 'tapioca pearls' that sit at the bottom of every drink.

To make the drink for yourself, simply heat the pearls, then pour them into a cup with ice.

Make the tea then made up in a separate glass then pour it over the top.

Avalanche is a New Zealand brand best known for their low-sugar coffee kits that come in a range of flavours (the bubble tea kits pictured)

Adelaide food TikToker Brittany Boyle recently shared a video detailing her 'fantastic' experience with the popular Taiwanese drink DIY packets (pictured)

More than 1.7 million people who saw Brittany's video were wowed by the idea of buying ready-to-drink bubble tea and said they couldn't wait to get their hands on it.

'Looks like I'm taking a trip to Woolworths in the morning then,' one commenter posted.

'I'm so mad that it's 11.45pm now and I have to wait till tomorrow to get some,' another added.

A third wrote: 'This is so good!', while another suggested using milk instead of water to make the drink especially creamy.

Bubble tea, also known as boba, consists of black tea, milk, ice, and chewy tapioca pearls, all shaken together like a martini to make the perfect milky drink (the bubble tea pictured)

Bubble tea, also known as boba, consists of black tea, milk, ice, and chewy tapioca pearls, all shaken together like a martini to make the perfect milky drink.

First created in the 1980s in Taiwan, it has become popular with hundreds of thousands of people around the world.

Avalanche is a New Zealand brand best known for their low-sugar coffee kits that come in a range of flavours.

A Woolworths spokesperson told FEMAIL: 'We love seeing customers enjoy the new Avalanche Bubble Tea and sharing their excitement online, available exclusively at Woolworths.

'Customers are clearly enjoying the product and flavours available too as there's been a noticeable spike in demand on the range, particularly over the weekend.'

For more information about Avalanche, please click here.
A humble bottle shop hides a secret cellar bar that serves gourmet snacks and rare vintage wine to those lucky enough to know it exists.

Johnny's Liquor store in Cremorne, six kilometres north of the Sydney CBD, looks just like any other from outside.

But through the front door and down the stairs is a cosy drinking spot where customers can enjoy oysters and scallops topped with caviar while sipping on their favourite tipple.

The venue has earned dozens of five-star reviews online, with many calling it 'the best find' in the Harbour City in years.

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This humble bottle shop hides a secret cellar bar that serves gourmet snacks and rare vintage wine to those lucky enough to know it exists

Johnny's Liquor store in Cremorne looks just like any other from outside, but through the door and down the stairs is a cosy drinking spot with five-star reviews

This is seriously the best bottle shop ever!' one woman wrote.

'I live nearby and love my wine. They have affordable and great selection and suggestions. I am surrounded by options of bottle shops but what makes them different is their passion and sense of community.'

A second added: 'Fantastic wine, food and service. The vibe in this grotto/bottlo is just great - a diverse selection of wines to suit every budget and palate.'

A third called it the best selection of wine they have seen outside Italy and France, while a fourth simply said: 'What a find.'

And it's not the only Australian venue that is so much more than it initially appears.

Customers can enjoy oysters and scallops topped with caviar pictured) while sipping on their favourite tipple

The French-inspired cellar bar (pictured) is tucked away under the stairs

Fans have called Johnny's 'the best find' in the Harbour City in years

Further south in Melbourne, a vintage mahogany wardrobe hides the entrance to a glamorous bar in one of the country's most iconic laneways.

Tucked in a cellar on Flinders Lane, home to some of Melbourne's best restaurants, Trinket serves up cocktails and pizzas with an old-fashioned twist.

The bar is inspired by the speakeasys of the 1920s, when prohibition laws made the sale and production of alcohol illegal across the US.

Revellers were forced underground into illicit taverns concealed behind unassuming secret entrances like telephone boxes, bookcases and fridges.

It might look like a wardrobe, but this piece of vintage furniture hides the entrance to a glamorous bar in one of Australia's most iconic laneways

The cavernous restaurant (pictured) is filled with blazing fireplaces, crystal chandeliers and luxurious sofas

After peeling back the clothes hanging on the rail, guests must step through the wardrobe (left) and walk down a steep staircase (right)

A video uploaded to TikTok by Melbourne travel blogger 'JHefffy' shows him entering Trinket through a wardrobe leaning against a wall.

After peeling back clothes hanging on the rail, he steps through the wardrobe down a steep staircase before emerging in a cavernous restaurant filled with blazing fireplaces, crystal chandeliers and luxurious sofas.

The menu is mainly Italian, with pizzas and crispy arancini on offer alongside 'Instagrammable' drinks in frosted glasses.

The clip, which has racked up 5,200 'likes' since it was posted to the What's On in Melbourne TikTok account on April 26, has drawn delighted responses.

'That's a closet I might not come out of,' one viewer joked.
Princess Anne cut an elegant figure as she was spotted leaving a black tie event in London on Monday night.

The Princess Royal, 70, was joined by her husband Tim Laurence, 66, for the rare night out at upmarket department store Fortnum&Mason last night.

The royal put on a stylish display in a below-the-knee red floral dress, which she paired with black heels and a pearl necklace.

The outing came hours after Princess Anne's son Peter Phillips and his wife Autumn finally divorced over a year after announcing their separation.

Princess Anne, 70, cut an elegant figure as she was spotted leaving a black tie event in London on Monday night

The Princess Royal was joined by her husband Tim Laurence, 66, for the rare night out at upmarket department store Fortnum&Mason last night.

Meanwhile Princess Anne and Tim opted for monochrome face masks as they left the event yesterday.

The Princess Royal could be seen leading the way for her husband, at one point turning around to speak with him while they left the event.

The royal carried a small black handbag, as well as two tote bags, one of which was branded with the Fortnum&Mason logo.

The luxury department store based in Piccadilly, London, was founded in 1707 and boasted more than three centuries of royal service.

The Princess Royal could be seen leading the way for her husband, at one point turning around to speak with him while they left the event

The royal opted for a red floral wrap dress for the event, which she paired with a pearl necklace and white face mask.

The couple's outing comes amid a difficult week for the Princess Royal, as her son Peter announced his divorce from his wife Autumn, 42, yesterday.

Autumn and Peter told their families of their 'amicable' decision to end their marriage two years ago and said it was 'the best course of action for their two children and ongoing friendship'.

Now their cordial separation appears to have paid off with the remaining financial element of their split signed off.

Meanwhile Tim Laurence opted for a black tie suit for the occasion and donned a black face mask as he left the upmarket store

A statement, released by a spokesperson on behalf of the couple, said: 'Mr Peter Phillips and Mrs Autumn Phillips are pleased to be able to report that the financial aspects of their divorce have been resolved through agreement, the terms of which have been approved and ordered by the High Court today.

'Whilst this is a sad day for Peter and Autumn, they continue to put the wellbeing of their wonderful daughters Savannah and Isla first and foremost.

'Both Peter and Autumn are pleased to have resolved matters amicably with the children firmly at the forefront of those thoughts and decisions.

'Peter and Autumn have requested privacy and consideration for their children as the family adapts to a new chapter in their lives.'

The Princess Royal walked ahead of her husband as she climbed into an awaiting car after the event in Piccadilly

The breakdown of Autumn and Peter's marriage will be particularly painful for the Queen, 95, who enjoys a close relationship with her grandson's wife.

And day's ago, the Princess Royal marked what would have been her father's 100th birthday.

Speaking with ITV News from her home of Gatcombe Park in Gloucestershire in her first interview since Prince Philip's death in April, Princess Anne said the family 'all have to move on', adding: 'But it's important to remember.'

It comes amid a difficult week for the royal after her son Peter announced his divorce from his wife Autumn

The mother-of-two was presenting a special centenary award for the Prince Philip Medal from The Royal Academy of Engineering to Dr Gladys West at her home in Virginia, USA.

She explained: 'There were not many people who understood just how broad his interests were and how supportive he was to an astonishingly wide range of organisations.'

After her father's death in April, Princess Anne paid tribute to Prince Philip, describing him as her 'teacher, supporter and critic'.
A couple who had a miracle baby following five years of trying were devastated when they were told they faced a nail-biting wait while a specialist team considered if their son would be prescribed the world's most expensive drug on the NHS - costing 1.79 million for a single dose.

Overjoyed when they had Zakariya, now eight months, Londoners Mostafa and Tara Aballai, 31, were heartbroken when he was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy or SMA type one - a degenerative genetic condition causing paralysis and respiratory problems - in May this year.

His only hope is Zolgensma - a gene therapy given as a one-time infusion into a vein that works by providing a new copy of the gene that makes the human SMN protein - without which his life expectancy is around two years old.

Costing 1.79 million a time, no patients receive the drug automatically, but when children are diagnosed with SMA  which generally happens when they are they are six months or younger  they are referred to one of four UK treatment centres in London, Bristol, Manchester and Sheffield. If they are newly diagnosed and have had no treatment, a decision can be made by experts at these centres whether to treat with Zolgensma.

Normally, these children are less than six months old, but for all other children there needs to be a national multi-disciplinary clinical team (NMDT) decision made on whether to prescribe.

Mostafa and Tara Aballai, from London, need 1.8million to pay for a one-off therapy for their son Zakariya, pictured, who has spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a rare degenerative genetic condition causing paralysis, muscle wastage and respiratory failure

More than half of babies suffering from SMA do not make it past their second birthday and until two years ago there were no proven treatments. Pictured, Zakariya in hospital

Zakiraya - who was one week older than six months - was referred for assessment by the NMDT made up of medical experts from a wide variety of disciplines, who will now decide whether to give him the drug.

While this is normal for children aged over six months, it can also happen if a patient is younger, or a case is complex.

But with limited research into how the drug works in older babies, it may be decided that an alternative treatment will be more effective.

And, while there is no cut off point for prescribing, there is a theoretical weight limit for patients on the drugs licensing of 21kg, according to the NHS.

Now frightened that time is running out for Zakiraya, as he waits for his NMDT decision, his parents are desperate to raise money to fund Zolgensma privately in the US, where the age threshold for giving it is two.

Mostafa, 35, a commercial sales director, said: 'When doctors told us Zakariya wouldnt make it past two years old, we were heartbroken. He is our miracle child.'

Mostafa, 35, and Tara are now fundraising to pay for private Zolgensma treatment in the US, where it is available for children up to the age of two. Pictured, with a sonogram

After meeting in 2013 and tying the knot in June 2018, Mostafa and Tara, a full-time mum, enjoyed a fairy-tale marriage - their one great sadness being that, despite trying for a baby for five years, they failed to conceive.

'We decided to stop trying after five years. We said what will happen will happen,' said Mostafa.

'So, when Tara fell pregnant naturally we both felt like Zakariya was a miracle sent by God or the universe. We felt so lucky.'

But at four months old, the couple noticed that his movement was not progressing like his peers in his baby classes.

Zakariya in hospital as a newborn. He was diagnosed with SMA at seven months old

Zakariya is already losing movement in his limbs and his parents fear his condition will deteriorate past the point of treatment if they wait for the multidisciplinary team review. There is also the chance the team will recommend against the treatment. Pictured, as a newborn

Zakariya as an infant. He has lost movement in his legs and the couple are paying 218 per week for private physiotherapy sessions to save the movement he has in his arms. They are still on a wait list for an NHS physiotherapist

In spite of his condition, Zakariya, pictured, is a happy boy who loves to play, his parents said

'Tara noticed that Zakariya wasnt moving his legs like other babies his age. We just knew something was wrong,' said Mostafa.

'We took him to the GP and she referred us to a paediatrician, but we quickly noticed Zakariya wasnt moving his legs at all.'

Rushing their son to A&E, the anxious parents were horrified when a genetic blood test revealed their baby had the most severe kind of SMA - type one. A degenerative condition, caused by a faulty gene, it leads to paralysis and eventually respiratory failure.

According to SMA UK, 60 per cent of the population carry the SMA gene. But both parents must carry it for a child to develop the condition, meaning only one in four children of these couples are actually born with SMA type one.

While NHS experts say most children with SMA type one do not survive past the first few years of life - if administered before they turn two, Zolgensma can help children with the condition to sit, crawl, and even walk - allowing them to lead long, healthy lives, with fewer complications.

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT SPINAL MUSCULAR ATROPHY, THE NUMBER ONE GENETIC CAUSE OF DEATHS FOR INFANTS Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is a disease that weakens a patient's strength by affecting the motor nerve cells in the spinal cord. Those affected never gain the ability to walk, eat or breathe. SMA is the number one genetic cause of death for infants. It is genetic and passed from parent to child. There are four primary types of SMAI, II, III and IV, which are based on age of onset and the physical milestones achieved. Type I Onset is shortly after birth

Weakness

Difficulty breathing, sucking and swallowing

Never reach the developmental milestone of being able to sit on their own

Children with type 1 SMA can survive for a number of years Advertisement

Knowing that Zakariya, who is under the care of Londons Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) faces a wait to be assessed for the drug has come as a crushing blow to his devoted parents.

Mostafa said: 'Luckily, in March this year, the NHS approved Zolgensma.

'But we have to wait for the clinical team to be assembled and to review Zakariya's case and we're terrified that his time is running out.'

A relatively new drug, prescription of Zolgensma is not straightforward, as the NHS say it is a complex condition and many factors need to be considered.

But, desperate to help their son as soon as possible, Zakariyas parents are now researching treatment in America, where it is approved for children aged up to two years.

'We dont know how long it could take for the committee to consider our son's case and, in the meantime, every day he loses more movement,' said Mostafa.

'Our only option, if the review board refuses our baby boy treatment, is to raise 1.9 million to go abroad for this life saving drug.

'While we're still hopeful that Zakariya will be approved for it on the NHS, we have to prepare for if it doesn't happen.

'And if he does get approved for Zolgensma, then we'll give the money to another family going through the same heartbreak.

'There are families with children aged 13 or 15 months who are desperate to go to America for treatment.'

Without the drug, Zakariya is deteriorating daily. Losing movement in his legs altogether, the couple are now paying 218 per week for private physiotherapy to try and save the little movement he has left in his arms.

''Our biggest fear is the paralysis reaching his respiratory system. If hes on a ventilator he cant have the treatment,' Mostafa said.

'We massage his legs every day, and I pay for physio twice a week, as were still on a waiting list for an NHS physiotherapist.

'He also has an injection of Nusinersen bi-weekly, which gives him a protein to retain muscle control. Its really traumatic for all of us, we have to curve his spine to administer the injection. Its so painful for him.

'But its not a long-term solution. Weve been told it wont be as effective once Zakariya turns one. Were just racing against time hoping someone can help us.'

Now, eight months old, despite everything, Zakariya is a happy, smiling little boy, whose limited movement does not stop him from lighting up his parents' lives.

'Hes the most amazing child. When we cry it's like he knows theres something wrong - he just gives us this look as if to say dont worry its all going to be ok,' said Mostafa.

'Zakariya is our world and we will do whatever it takes to save our baby boy. If he doesnt make it, we dont want to live either. We waited so long for him, we have to fight.'

And his desperate mum believes her little boy is their miracle.

She said: 'I truly believe with Zakariya he was a miracle, and his purpose is to raise awareness about this awful condition.

Mostafa, pictured with his son, said Tara soon realised Zakariya was not moving his legs like other children his age, which led to his diagnosis

Tara during her pregnancy with Zakariya, said she couldn't imagine a life without him and thanked her local community for their support

Mostafa, pictured with Tara, said the couple would fight for their son and do whatever it takes to save him

'We love him so much. I know hes going to change things. Hes already raising so much awareness about SMA.

WHAT IS ZOLGENSMA, THE WORLD'S MOST EXPENSIVE DRUG? The treatment Zolgensma works by replacing a faulty SMN1 gene that stops the body making the protein SMN, involved in muscle function. The corrected gene is put into a virus (that's had its DNA removed) which is then injected into the baby's hand. The gene starts making the SMN protein which prevents the loss of motor neurons  nerve cells that help co-ordinate movement in the spinal cord. These neurons send signals to the muscles. In a study of 15 babies treated with Zolgensma published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2017, all 15 were alive at 20 months of age, compared with 8 per cent among an untreated group from the past. Twelve of the children received a higher dose, and at 20 months 11 could sit unaided and two walked independently. Sixty children in the UK are born with SMA every year. Advertisement

'The local community have been amazing. Were so thankful for all the support that everyone has given us and to all the people that have donated to our GoFundMe appeal.

'I genuinely think he was born to change the world; I think hes changing the way things are done and making a difference.

'We cant imagine a life without him in it, so were going to do everything we can to ensure he stays with us.'

A spokesperson for The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) said there was limited trial data available for Zolgensma which has only recently been available on the NHS.

The spokesperson said: 'Despite the high cost of the treatment it can be recommended for use on the NHS because of the evidence of exceptional benefit to young babies, potentially allowing them to reach normal childhood developmental milestones.'

Meanwhile, NHS experts are keen to stress that patients will not be rejected or become ineligible because they are older than six months, even though NICE recommends treatment before six months.

The NHS is offering Zolgensma for children up to 24 months, but while there is no age threshold, there are a number of factors that will be considered, including the medical history, the particular gene mutation, mobility and weight.

An NHS spokesperson said: 'Since the gene therapy Zolgensma was approved for use in March the NHS has been undertaking a rigorous process to identify centres of excellence to deliver this landmark treatment for type 1 Spinal Muscular Atrophy, with the first patient recently receiving the landmark treatment at the Evelina Childrens Hospital.

'SMA is a rare and complex condition, and an expert clinical team across all four sites will make decisions on whether the treatment is appropriate for individual patients.'

To donate, you can go here.

Mostafa said that with every day that goes by, Zakariya loses more movement. The couple are in a race against the clock to have him treated before it's too late
The ex-head of the Vaccine Taskforce Kate Bingham has revealed her daughter convinced her to take the job overseeing the delivery of the jabs.

The venture capitalist, from London, appeared on Lorraine this morning and spoke about her decision to take the unpaid role as chair of the UK's Vaccine Taskforce.

Kate is set to be made a dame for her work leading procurement of vaccines and helped secure more than 350 million doses of seven different vaccines, including 40 million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, and 100 million doses of the jab developed by Oxford and AstraZeneca.

Kate, who is married to Financial Secretary to the Treasury Jesse Norman, told the breakfast show host: 'I was far from convinced that I was the right person to take this on. I didn't think I was a vaccine expert to take this on to drive this.'

The ex-head of the vaccines taskforce Kate Bingham, from London, has revealed her daughter convinced her to take the job overseeing the delivery of the jabs

Kate told Lorraine: 'Being a dame feels wonderful actually. It's a wonderful accolade to the people I've been working with in the taskforce and generally.

'it's a wonderful day for women including Sarah Gilbert, who designed the Oxford vaccine, and the women in my team, and a whole bunch of ladies who have bought so much to the vaccination efforts in the UK.'

'I was far from convinced that I was the right person to take this on. I didn't think I was a vaccine expert to take this on to drive this. In hindsight, I'd bring in the vaccine experts.

'What was needed was someone who could bring in all the different pieces and do so quickly. The Prime Minister had asked me ot do the job and bring vaccines quickly to the UK to stop people dying.'

Kate, who is married to Financial Secretary to the Treasury Jesse Norman, told the breakfast show host her daughter Nell, 23, had convinced her to take the job

She said her daughter Nell, 23, had ended up convincing her to take on the task but added that she never found the job overwhelming, adding: 'When I was questioning taking the job, my daughter said, "But Mum, why are you not just saying yes? You should go in and do the job because you know you can do it".'

She explained: 'We had a really important task and every day we took, we knew more people were going to die.

'So it mattered to do everything we possibly could to bring the vaccine to the regulator to show the vaccines could start protecting the people most at risk.

'We did work really hard but we had a really clear mission and it was an important mission. Everyone was pleased to be working hard.'

Kate said she didn't think the pandemic was 'entirely sorted yet' but added that she believes the plan is 'in place'

Kate said she didn't think the pandemic was 'entirely sorted yet', but added: 'The plan is in place that are being executed to address both variants to this virus so that we haven't yet had any escape mutants.

'All the vaccines are working - but we have plans in place when and if new pandemic viruses come in place so we can manufacture new vaccines and do clinical testing to show if vaccines are effective.'

'I think we'll be in a much better place moving forward.'

She called vaccinating children a 'very fluid situation', adding: 'I would absolutely listen to what the JCBI say about the need to vaccinate children - or when they should be vaccinated.'

Kate said her daughter Nell had asked her why she wasn't immediately jumping to take the job after being offered it by Boris Johnson

Meanwhile she said if her major legacy was getting more women into STEM subjects, she said that would be a fantastic outcome, saying: 'All those listening to this today, please think about this as a career.

'We've got lots of things that are constantly big social challenges and we need to find solutions to them.'

It comes days after it was announced Kate would receive a damehood for leading the UK Vaccines Taskforce and obtaining millions of doses of six different jabs.

Her ability to lead the UK's efforts to find a coronavirus jab was initially repeatedly questioned because she had no experience of buying vaccines.

Her ability to lead the UK's efforts to find a coronavirus jab was initially repeatedly questioned because she had no experience of buying vaccines

There were also cries of cronyism when she was chosen by Boris Johnson because she is married to one of his most loyal ministers, Jesse.

The Oxford and Harvard educated businesswoman even admitted herself she wasn't a 'complete expert' in vaccines and was pondering turning the job down until her eldest daughter persuaded her otherwise.

But by January this year there were calls for her to be decorated as Britain raced ahead in the global race to vaccinate its population with some claiming that her appointment was one of the PM's few inspired decisions of the first lockdown.

Professor Sir John Bell, Regius Professor of Medicine at Oxford, said recently that the UK had 'only got 30m doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech because of her' with others saying she secured millions more from other companies through sheer perseverance, using her contacts and demanding meetings with CEOs until they gave in.
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The Royal Family turned out in force for the first day of Royal Ascot on Tuesday as 12,000 revellers brushed aside any disappointment over the delay to Freedom Day to kick off the five-day meet in style.

One notable exception to the royal line-up was the Queen, 95, but Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall were spotted taking a keen interest in the races as her horse King's Lynn took part in the Kings Stand Stakes -finishing in seventh place.

Camilla looked animated as she clutched her racing programme in the royal box, while discussing the action with her husband.

They were joined by Mike and Zara Tindall making their first public appearance since the birth of their son Lucas in March, Princess Anne, Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex at the Berkshire racecourse for the annual family event.

The Queen missed Royal Ascot for only the second time in 69 years. Her Majesty's racing manager confirmed the monarch would not be attending yesterday but is hoping to make it later in the week depending on 'how things go'.

A total of 12,000 revellers have been granted tickets to each day of Royal Ascot as part of a list of pilot events taking place before the possible lifting of all lockdown restrictions next month.

On Monday Boris Johnson announced a four-week delay to 'Freedom Day' - and to the ending of all social distancing measures - but any disappointment looked far from the minds revellers as they cheered on the riders and sipped Pimm's in the sunshine.

After a year of being stuck indoors, glamorous racegoers were eager to dust off their glad rags and put on a dazzling display in vibrant frocks and extravagant hats. Many showcased one of the latest summer trends: protective face masks made from the same fabric as their dress or suit.

New mother Zara, 40, and ex-England rugby player Mike, 42, appeared in particularly high spirits as they enjoyed a day out without their three children and cheered on their riders with gusto.

Meanwhile Princess Anne got into the spirits of things by wearing a face mask emblazoned with jockeys' silks.

Mike, 42, and Zara Tindall, 40, led the way for glamorous racegoers as they made their first public appearance since the birth of their son Lucas for the first day of Royal Ascot today

Mike and a very animated Zara Tindall enjoy their first afternoon back at the races since the mother-of-three welcomed their third child

Prince Charles and Duchess of Cornwall were seen chatting with Prince Edward on the first day of Royal Ascot today

Meanwhile Sophie Wessex donned a stunning floor length pearl-coloured gown with a matching headpiece for the event

Zara looked thrilled to be back in the stands as she got stuck into the races, cheering on her bets with best pal Dolly Maude (centre) and Anna Lisa Balding (right)

The Queen's granddaughter looked elegant in her polka dot ensemble as she watched the races with her husband Mike and best friend Dolly Maude

Zara Tindall (left), Dolly Maude and Anna Lisa Balding (right) react as they watch the King's Stand Stakes on day one of Royal Ascot

The Duchess of Cornwall matched her face mask to her chic outfit, opting for a striped coat in shades of blue over a shift dress, with a wide brimmed hat

Prince Charles looked typically smart for the event, donning a pale grey three-piece suit with a black top hat and a matching umbrella

A smiling Prince Charles and Duchess of Cornwall pictured at Royal Ascot today

The Queen's children Prince Edward (left) and Princess Anne (right) were among the royals in attendance at the event earlier today

The Prince of Wales arrives for a day of racing in the royal motor, having teamed his grey suit with a pink tie and handkerchief

The Duchess appeared to be keen to whip her mask off at the first available opportunity in the June sunshine, carrying it as she and Charles entered the venue

The Queen's racing manager John Warren told Radio 4: 'Obviously the Queen would love to attend, as you know she's fanatic about racing, watching racing and breeding horses, and has been going to Ascot all of her adult life. So, it's a shame to miss an event.

'The plan at the moment is to see how it goes towards the latter part of the week and if the Queen's able to come because she's got runners, then, fingers crossed, it will happen.'

He added that the monarch was 'fanatic' about horse racing, and called her energy levels 'incredible' despite her age.

He said: 'It's remarkable. The Queen's energy levels are incredible. She's 95. She went down to the G7 this week, and trundled back on the train in the middle of the night and the energy will be raised higher again for a week like Ascot.'

These two guests appeared in good spirits as they applauded after the horses went past the finishing post for the first race

This stylish guest posed at the event donning a pastel pink dress with a matching head dress, cat-eye sunglasses and a statement red lip

Revellers wearing elaborate fascinators chat and laugh together after entering the grounds at Ascot Racecourse

Left: One racegoer posed in an elaborate fuchsia hat paired with a pink and white floral dress. Right; one guest opted for a green satin dress emblazoned with an orange floral design paired with a mustard clutch bag and green hat decorated with butterflies

Once inside, groups of friends could be seen crowding together at the pilot event, which is part of a government scheme allowing a crowd of 12,000 to gather

Groups of people appeared in great spirits as they headed to the races and embraced the chance to get dressed up as they posed outside the venue

Two racegoers, donning a top hat and tails and a colourful fishtail gown, looked on with glee as the horse they backed came first during a race

Racegoers sit socially distanced as they enjoy the races from the limited capacity crowd due to the ongoing pandemic

However he said the experience would be different for the monarch, adding: 'In the past, she would have gone and looked at horses in the paddock, even though they weren't hers because she is so fascinated in the breed so she'd want go and look at the stallion prospects of the future.'

John continued: Every race that takes place every day of the week, the Queen will certainly read the Racing Post every morning, look at the breeding of all the winners the day before, and see that these stallions that she uses will be potential horses for her own mares.

'It's a deep fascination, a very broad escapism for all the other things that the Queen has to deal with in her life.'

The Queen has a number of runners at the Berkshire racecourse, with Mr Warren tipping Tactical in the Jersey Stakes on Saturday as a potential winner.

Last year  when Ascot was held behind closed doors  was the first time the Queen had missed it in her entire reign.

The Princess Royal (right) chats affectionately to her daughter Zara Tindall who places a hand on a companion's shoulder ahead of the King's Stand Stakes

Like mother, like daughter! Keen equestrians Princess Anne and Zara Tindall are seen in deep discussion ahead of the King's Stand Stakes race

Royal Ascot is one of the most glamorous occasions in the British social calendar and racegoers certainly did not disappoint today, with racegoers donning their most stylish outfits for the occasion (pictured left to right)

Strike a pose! Looking as stunning as a rainbow, these women appeared elegant in various pastel shades when attending Ascot in matching frocks and hats

Double trouble: These pairs dazzled when arriving at the races in elaborate ensembles - including eye-catching red and yellow designs (pictured left) and a bright orange frock (pictured right)

Among those who appeared delighted to attend was TV presenter Charlotte Hawkins, who opted for a stunning cream and lemon yellow ensemble

Monochrome magic! Others opted for a more elegant low-key black-and-white look for the raceday in Berkshire today

Feeling floral! Another racegoer wowed in a elegant oversized flower fascinator with yellow and red petals (pictured)

Some wore rainbow themed accessories for the event today, in a tribute to NHS workers during the Covid-19 pandemic

The event is part of a list of pilot events taking place, allowing 12,000 revellers to attend, before the possible lifting of all measures to curtail the Covid-19 pandemic in July.

The Queen's granddaughter and her rugby ace husband appeared in high spirits as they arrived at the races, marking their first public outing together since they welcomed their new baby in March.

Zara opted for a stunning monochrome polka dot dress, and swept her blonde locks into a low bun for the event. Having clearly missed the occasion, Zara got stuck into the races which she enjoyed alongside pals Dolly Maude and Anna Lisa Balding.

Meanwhile Sophie donned a stunning floor length pearl gown with a matching large floral headpiece, while Camilla matched her face mask to her striped coat in shades of blue.

Unsurprisingly, hats where the focus of many racegoers' outfits, with flowers, feathers and beading all on display

One elegant racegoer posed in a power blue gown with pussybow and pearl detailing as she arrived at the event today

A racegoer dons a novelty face mask embroidered with the words 'only remove for Champagne' as she surveys the race course

Revellers matched their face coverings to their outfits as they attended the first day of the glamorous event today

Zara opted for a stunning monochrome polkadot dress for the occasion, which marked her first public outing with her husband since she gave birth to Lucas in March

The Queen's granddaughter was enthusiastic and could be seen leading her husband by his hand into the event earlier today

Tactile Zara places an affectionate hand on her husband's shoulder as they enter the parade ring during day one of Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse

Zara removes her RayBan sunglasses to get a better look at the action as she watches the King's Stand Stakes with Dolly Maude and Anna Lisa Balding

Wearing a plain black mask, Zara Tindall watches the Queen's horse 'King's Lynn' in the parade ring ahead of the King's Stand Stakes race

The Countess of Wessex looked fabulous in this elegant silk ensemble which she teamed with matching stilettos and a striking asymmetrical hat

Sophie Wessex and her husband Prince Edward made for a stylish pair as they arrived for the day of racing at Royal Ascot

The Countess of Wessex dons a complimentary face mask as she consults her programme, showing off her elegant updo hairstyle

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall arrive ahead of day one of Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse

Camilla Parker Bowles consults her programme as she and husband Prince Charles watch the action from the Royal Box today alongside companions

Prince Charles, second right, and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, centre, arrive to the first race on the first day of the Royal Ascot horserace meeting at Ascot

Prince Charles, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, and Prince Edward pictured in the sunshine-filled Royal Box ahead of the St James's Palace Stakes

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Charles, Prince of Wales walk into the parade ring during Royal Ascot today

A jubilant Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall cheer during the races at the first day of Royal Ascot today

Keen equestrian Princess Anne looked elegant in royal blue as she arrived for the event, sporting a pair of stylish sunglasses

The Princess Royal sported an appropriate face mask for the occasion, adorned with jockey jerseys and in aid of the Injured Jockeys Fund. She also wore a gold horse brooch encrusted with diamonds as well as a set of pearls and her Jockey Club badge

TV's 'Mr Nasty' Simon Cowell is pictured arriving with his glamorous partner Lauren Silverman, clutching a leather briefcase with a copy of the Racing Post

Simon Cowell celebrates a win with his partner Lauren Silverman and ex-girlfriend Sinitta at Royal Ascot today

Comedian and Strictly Come Dancing champion Bill Bailey and his wife Kristin Bailey appeared in good spirits as they arrived at the races today (left) while TV presenter Rosie Tapner was also in attendance (right)

Sporting a fetching kilt and matching tartan hat, one racegoer pulled out all the stops for the event and stayed safe with a rainbow face covering

Reality stars were also keen to lap up the atmosphere on the day, with Claudia Smith and Chloe Bowler from Absolutely Ascot in attendance

The event is part of a list of pilot events taking place, allowing 12,000 revellers to attend, before the possible lifting of all measures to curtail the covid-19 pandemic in July

Actress and model Isabella Charlotta Poppius donned a white bodycon dress paired with a peach floral fascinator. She was later seen topping up her make-up as she waited for the first race to begin

Here come the girls! Royal Ascot racegoers held nothing back when it came to choosing eye-catching fashion for the day

Sir Bruce Forsyth's widow Lady Wilnelia, 64, - who shared her only child Jonathan with Sir Bruce Forsyth until he passed away in 2017 - cut an elegant figure in a black and white jumpsuit at the event today (pictured)

Racegoers were happy to lap up the sunshine on the first day of Royal Ascot in Berkshire today (pictured, two women relax on a bench)

Many of the glamourous racegoers in attendance opted to wear matching facemasks with the colourful ensembles.

Among those who appeared delighted to attend was TV presenter Charlotte Hawkins, who opted for a stunning cream and lemon yellow outfit.

Meanwhile another wowed in a baby blue tulle midi gown, which she perfectly coordinated with a matching facemask and huge fascinator, complete with pearl detailing.

Racegoers walk amongst other racegoers who are sitting on benches during day one of Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse

Racing enthusiast Charlotte opted to carry a small white handbag featured an illustration of a horse and jockey to the event (pictured)

Many of those attending appeared to be in high spirits as they arrived the event today, which is part of a government pilot scheme to reopen large-scale events

Simply stunning! These glamorous ladies put on a glamorous display in flowing frocks and eye catching head wear

Extravagant headpieces and playful facemasks appeared to be the order of the day for racegoers, who were overjoyed to be back at the races after 18 months of Covid restrictions

Racegoers pulled out all the stops as they attended the first day of the race after 18 months of Covid restrictions, opting to wear a dazzling array of dresses, colourful face masks and over-the-top head gear

Double trouble! One pair of friends wore matching outfits for the occasion, opting for green floral gowns, nude heels and black face masks

Others plumped for costume-inspired looks with one couple wearing a full orange and yellow striped ensemble for the occasion.

The full spectrum of race day style was on show as the first revellers arrived at Royal Ascot.

Unsurprisingly, hats where the focus of many racegoers' outfits, with flowers, feathers and beading all on display.

The event comes under the Government's Events Research Programme, and involves the expanded trialling of the NHS App and lateral flow tests to demonstrate a person's Covid status.

Ascot had been planning for an attendance of 4,000 a day. The new figure will allow all those who rolled over 2020 bookings to be accommodated with a 'material but not significant' number of tickets left over, according to a track spokesperson.

The number of spectators will be well below the usual attendance of over 300,000 over the five days but the increased number was welcomed by Frankie Dettori, whose 73 royal meeting victories have only been bettered by Lester Piggott (116).

Armed police officers could be seen standing guard as race-goers arrive on the first day of the Royal Ascot horse racing meet

Forget the action on the track! Racegoers do their best to steal the show in daring hats - which include bizarre shapes and eye-catching designs

Unsurprisingly, hats where the focus of many racegoers' outfits, with flowers, feathers and beading all on display (pictured, two of the elaborate headpieces on show)

The event is part of a list of pilot events taking place, allowing 12,000 revellers to attend, before the possible lifting of all measures to curtail the covid-19 pandemic in July

Strike a pose! Looking as stunning as a rainbow, these women appeared elegant in various pastel shades when attending Ascot in matching frocks and hats

One woman opted to wear an eyecatching large yellow headband for the event, complete with feather and butterfly detailing (pictured)

One enthusiastic race-goer donned a hat featuring colourful birds on the first day of the Royal Ascot horse racing meet (pictured)

Dressed to the nines! This group of women looked nothing short of stunning in their colour coordinated white and blue frocks and statement fascinators

Safety in style! These woman opted to match their masks to their ensembles as they kept themselves protected on the day, with one featuring the words 'only remove for champagne' and the other dotted with pearls

Suited and booted gentlemen enjoy a glass of something cold as they watch the races today from the Royal Box at Ascot

British businessman and owner of thoroughbred racehorses Michael Tabor (left) in conversation with Irish horse racing trainer Aidan O'Brien on day one of the Royal Ascot meeting at Ascot Racecourse

Two race goers were caught laughing as they attended day one of Royal Ascot in white in decorative hats and dresses

Outfits at the event ranged from chic monochrome (left) to more daring outfits which included one couple wearing matching orange and red pinstripes

Dettori, who was leading rider at the royal meeting for the seventh time last year, said: 'There's nothing better than Royal Ascot with people. I know it's not 60,000 (a day) but it's better than what we thought.

'Last year I was leading rider at Royal Ascot and won three Group Ones, including the Gold Cup. To have nobody there to see any of that, it was like someone had cut my arm off.

'Those are the biggest races we've got here and I won them in front of empty grandstands. It goes without saying it wasn't the same.'

Visitors to the Royal and Queen Anne enclosures have to abide by a strict dress code, which does not allow bare midriffs or strapless dresses, but for guests in the Windsor and other enclosures the rules are more relaxed.

Many of the racegoers opted to wear face coverings as they arrived at the event, which is one of a pilot scheme allowing 12,00 revellers to attend

Gentlemen arriving at the event opted to wear their the traditional tails and top hats (pictured)

Guests could be seen in their finery browsing through the selection of horses ahead of the races today

One racegoer attended the event in a stylish emerald dress paired with a magnificent floral fascinator, sunglasses and wedge sandals

Revellers matched their face coverings to their outfits as they attended the first day of the glamorous event today

Two racegoers laugh together while sharing a glass of Pimm's together in between races on the first day of Royal Ascot

Crowds dressed in their finery chatting in the stands ahead of the first race at Royal Ascot today

One gentlemen seen relaxing on a bench in between races today opted to wear the the traditional tails and top hats to the event

A socially distanced crowd of well dressed guests can be seen stood in the stands keenly awaiting the start of one of the races

A couple of racegoers pose a selfie while donning a blush pink gown paired with a matching floral fascinator and top hat and tails

One racegoer teamed her elegant white dress with a dainty pearl necklace and matching earrings, alongside a white hat complete with a netted veil and embellished with orange flowers. Another was seen donning a glamorous red dress with a matching floral fascinator

These guests appeared in good spirits as they watched the races from the stalls on the first day of Royal Ascot today

Time for a top up! Two guests donning glamorous get frocks and hats could be seen re-applying their make-up in between races

One gentleman and his wife browsed their racecard before turning their attention to the first race of the day

A musician donning a pink dress and fascinator is pictured playing the harp nearby the entrance to the Royal Enclosure today

With the clue in the name, Royal Ascot is hugely popular with the monarchy and Her Majesty is usually a regular at the event. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, she had attended every year since ascending the throne.

Last year, dedicated Royal Ascot showed off their finest frocks and fascinators while celebrating the fourth day of the racing meet at home.

Even the most committed fans were left watching jockeys riding, wearing face masks, broadcast virtually.

Among the racing enthusiasts who stayed at home was the Queen, who has been forced to watch the event from Windsor Castle for the first time in her 68-year reign.

In an emotional note shared last year, Her Majesty praised the 'valiant' efforts of organisers and said she is sure it will still be the 'highlight' of the racing calendar, despite the 'different' circumstances.

Socially distanced guests sipped their drinks and looked out onto the parade ring on the first day of the races

Outfits ranged from colourful gowns with eccentric headdresses to classic monochrome looks with sophisticated matching hats

Glamorous ladies finished their drinks and browed their racecards as the first race gets underway at the event

Guests who had dressed up to the nines chatted in between races on the first day of Royal Ascot today

One glamorous guest sat on the floor while enjoying a glass of wine today at the first day of Royal Ascot

A glamorous lady and gentleman posed for a selfie as they sipped on champagne and beer at the first day of Royal Ascot

One racegoer donned a floor-length monochrome polkadot gown paired with a simple black hat while another opted for a boho dress teamed with a blush wide-brim hat

Two racegoers, donning a top hat and tails and a colourful fishtail gown, looked on with glee as the horse they backed came first during a race

One racegoer opted for a bodycon emerald dress paired with Gucci sunglasses and a yellow feathered headpiece (left), while another stepped out in a floral red dress paired with a wide-brim black hat

Glam guests lined up to pose for photographs in front of a floral display board at Ascot Racecourse this afternoon

Two guests were seen taking some time out of their day to soak up the sun as temperatures in Ascot hit up to 26C

Many of those attending the event today appeared elated to be back at the races after 18 months of Covid restrictions

Guests stop to relax at benches dotted around the venue which have been set out at a safe distance from one another amid the ongoing Covid restrictions
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The Queen brushed off a compliment from Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison after he told her she was 'quite the hit' at the G7 summit as she carried out her first in person audience since March 2020.

The monarch, 95, hosted Mr Morrison at Windsor Castle this afternoon, marking the first time she has hosted a world leader or visiting dignitary in person, rather than virtually, since March 2020, just before England's first lockdown.

During the brief conversation, Mr Morrison told the monarch she had been 'quite the hit' when she met world leaders including Emmanuel Macron and President Joe Biden at the Eden Project on Friday night, adding: 'Everyone was talking about you at dinner the next night.'

The comment prompted the Queen to respond: 'Oh Lord, were they really?'

Mr Morrison told the monarch she had been 'quite the hit' when she met world leaders including Emmanuel Macron and President Joe Biden at the Eden Project on Friday night (pictured), adding: 'Everyone was talking about you at dinner the next night'

The monarch, 95, hosted Mr Morrison at Windsor Castle this afternoon, marking the first time she has hosted a world leader or visiting dignitary in person, rather than virtually, since March 2020, just before England's first lockdown. Cameras captured their exchange (pictured)

The meeting, where Mr Morrison wore a crisp suit and blue tie and the monarch opted for a summery yellow dress, took place in Windsor Castle today

As he walked into the room, the Queen said: 'It's very nice to see you, in person this time.' To which Mr Morrison responded: 'Yes, Your Majesty, it's wonderful to see you.'

The Queen then gestured to the floor next to her and said: 'If you stand here, they want to take a photo,' to which Mr Morrison said: 'That would be lovely'.

The monarch continued: 'So you were down there but I didn't see you, in Cornwall.'

The Australian leader explained he had not been invited to the Friday night event because Australia is not part of the G7, saying: 'No, that was just the G7, Your Majesty. We were sort of an extension party, as they call them.'

The remark prompted a giggle from the Queen. Mr Morrison continued: 'You were quite the hit, everyone was talking about you at dinner the next night.'

Typically humble, the Queen said: 'Oh Lord, were they really?' Mr Morrison added: 'They were, they were thrilled to see you.'

The engagement marked a return to regular duties for the Queen, who has been carrying out audiences over video calls over the last 15 months.

In March she made her first in-person official royal engagement in five months, delighting the Commonwealth Air Forces Memorial in Runnymede, Surrey, to mark the centenary of the Royal Australian Air Force with a quip about Typhoon jets being 'sent off to chase the Russians'.

The Queen wore a vibrant yellow dress with blue flowers for the occasion, which she accessorised with her usual pearl necklace and earrings.

The Queen could be seen laughing after Scott called her a 'hit' with the G7 leaders last weekend

The pair appeared to hit-it-off as they were photographed smiling and exchanging pleasantries in the Oak Room.

It was Mr Morrison's second meeting with the Queen as prime minister after visiting Buckingham Palace in June 2019.

Although it's not known what the two discussed on this occasion, last time Queen Elizabeth - who has a deep love of horses - chatted with Mr Morrison about Australian thoroughbred Winx, after it won a record 33 races in a row.

In a historic deal that was Briton's first negotiated from scratch since leaving the European Union, Aussie producers will be able to export more of their world-leading beef, lamb and cheese to the UK and young people will be able to move more freely between the two countries.

The agreement was thrashed out by Scott Morrison and Boris Johnson over a three-hour dinner in Number 10 Downing Street on Tuesday night where the friends feasted on Scottish salmon and Welsh lamb, washed down with Australian wine.

After today's breakthrough announcement, Britons under 35 will be allowed to live and work in Australia for three years without having to do farm work.

In exchange, the UK will remove a number of tariffs for Aussie businesses bringing in goods.
Investment management company BlackRock has been voted as having the best boss in Britain, according to company employees.

Jobs website Glassdoor analysed thousands of anonymous reviews from workers to determine the top 50 list of CEOs, which includes bosses at the British Heart Foundation and Buckinghamshire-based IT company Softcat.

The awards are based on the input of employees who voluntarily provide anonymous feedback by completing a company review about their CEO's leadership, along with insights into their job, work environment and employer over the past year.

Topping the list this year was US finance company BlackRock, with CEO Laurence D. Fink achieving a 99 per cent approval rate, and anonymous employees praising leadership for their 'honesty and communication'.

Investment management company BlackRock has been voted to have the best boss in Britain, according to company employees. Pictured, CEO Laurence D. Fink

Revealed: 50 best CEOs to work for in the UK according to employees 1) BlackRock CEO: Laurence D. Fink Approval Rating: 99% 2) Microsoft CEO: Satya Nadella Approval Rating: 99% 3) Softcat CEO: Graeme Watt Approval Rating: 99% 4) The LEGO Group CEO: Niels B. Christiansen Approval Rating: 98% 5) British Heart Foundation CEO: Dr. Charmaine Griffiths Approval Rating: 98% 6) UBS CEO: Ralph Hamers Approval Rating: 98% 7) Roche CEO: Severin Schwan Approval Rating: 98% 8) Unilever CEO: Alan Jope Approval Rating: 98% 9) Airbus CEO: Guillaume Faury Approval Rating: 98% 10) PepsiCo CEO: Ramon Laguarta Approval Rating: 98% 11) Dell Technologies CEO: Michael S. Dell Approval Rating: 98% 12) Computacenter CEO: Mike Norris Approval Rating: 98% 13) Salesforce CEO: Marc Benioff Approval Rating: 98% 14) Morgan Stanley CEO: James P. Gorman Approval Rating: 98% 15) MBDA CEO: Eric Beranger Approval Rating: 98% 16) Hewlett Packard Enterprise | HPE CEO: Antonio Neri Approval Rating: 98% 17) Nestle CEO: Mark Schneider CEO Approval Rating: 98% 18) Office for National Statistics CEO: Ian Diamond Approval Rating: 97% 19) Arm CEO: Simon Segars Approval Rating: 97% 20) RSM CEO: Rob Donaldson Approval Rating: 97% 21) Sky Betting & Gaming CEO: Steve Birch Approval Rating: 97% 22) Procter & Gamble CEO: David S. Taylor Approval Rating: 97% 23) McKinsey & Company CEO: Kevin Sneader Approval Rating: 97% 24) Siemens CEO: Carl Ennis Approval Rating: 97% 25) Nando's UK & IRE CEO: Colin Hill Approval Rating: 97% 26) AXA UK CEO: Claudio Gienal Approval Rating: 97% 27) ServiceNow CEO: Bill McDermott Approval Rating: 97% 28) Capgemini Invent CEO: Cyril Garcia Approval Rating: 96% 29) Majestic Wine CEO: John Colley Approval Rating: 96% 30) Mondelez International CEO: Dirk Van de Put Approval Rating: 96% 31) Octopus Energy CEO: Greg Jackson Approval Rating: 96% 32) Barratt Developments CEO: David Thomas Approval Rating: 96% 33) Schroders CEO: Peter Harrison Approval Rating: 96% 34) Diageo CEO: Ivan Menezes Approval Rating: 96% 35) Mace CEO: Mark Reynolds Approval Rating: 95% 36) PwC CEO: Kevin Ellis Approval Rating: 95% 37) Capital One CEO: Richard D. Fairbank Approval Rating: 95% 38) IHS Markit CEO: Lance Uggla Approval Rating: 95% 39) Jet2.com CEO: Stephen Heapy Approval Rating: 95% 40) J.P. Morgan Jamie Dimon CEO Approval Rating: 95% 41) Checkout.com CEO: Guillaume Pousaz Approval Rating: 95% 42) Utilita Energy CEO: Bill Bullen Approval Rating: 95% 43) Arup Alan Belfield CEO Approval Rating: 95% 44) Johnson & Johnson CEO: Alex Gorsky Approval Rating: 95% 45) CBRE Robert E. Sulentic CEO Approval Rating: 94% 46) Grant Thornton UK LLP CEO: Dave Dunckley Approval Rating: 94% 47) Turner and Townsend CEO: Vincent Clancy Approval Rating: 94% 48) River Island Clothing CEO: Will Kernan Approval Rating: 94% 49) Capco CEO: Lance Levy Approval Rating: 94% 50) Schuh Limited CEO: Colin Temple Approval Rating: 93% Advertisement

'The leadership speaks openly and honestly and inspires you to achieve the firm's goals', said one London-based employee. 'The firm has been supportive and well organised during Covid and communicate well.'

A member of the Technology and Operations team in Edinburgh, Scotland, agreed: 'Senior Management - all open door policy and willing to support and speak to junior employees.'

'Flat structure - everyone is willing to have a quick coffee catch up - even very senior people', added a London sales analyst.

UK-based IT company Softcat came third on the list, with chief executive officer Graeme Watt also bagging a score of 99 per cent from employee reviews.

This year, 80 per cent of this year's Top 50 CEOs, including eight of the Top 10, are on the list for the first time and only one woman is honoured among the top 50.

The British Heart Foundation's Dr Charmaine Griffiths came in fifth on the list and achieved a score of 98 per cent after being named as the charity's boss three years ago.

Only three CEOs have been recognised at this level all six years; Microsoft's Satya Nadella (pictured last year) came in second with 99 per cent

The list of high-ranking bosses included Softcat CEO Graeme Watt (left) and The LEGO Group's CEO Niels B. Christiansen (right)

Only three CEOs have been recognised at this level all six years; Microsoft's Satya Nadella - who came in second with 99 per cent - Morgan Stanley's James Gorman and J.P. Morgan's Jamie Dimon.

'Over the past year, company leaders around the world faced unprecedented challenges to support employees during the COVID-19 crisis', said Christian Sutherland-Wong, Glassdoor chief executive officer.

'Now, the employees have spoken and it's clear that these CEOs excelled and found new ways to support their people when the world of work flipped upside down.

'Through a challenging year, it's inspiring to see top CEOs who, according to their employees, adapted to change, redefined visions and led with transparency while putting the health and safety of employees first.

'I extend my sincerest congratulations to this year's Employees' Choice Award winners.'
Queen Letizia of Spain laughed off the bad weather as she and husband King Felipe VI waited to greet the South Korean President and his wife in Madrid today.

The Spanish royals stood outside the Royal Palace ahead of meeting with Moon Jae-in and First Lady Kim Jung-Sook in the first state visit to Spain by a foreign leader since the pandemic began.

Letizia, 48, was seen sharing a sweet moment with her husband as the pair got caught in the wind, and quickly adjusted her brunette tresses ahead of the meeting with the President.

The mother-of-two exuded elegance in a blush gown featuring a sculpted top and tulle maxi skirt, which she paired with a waist-cinching matching nude belt.

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Queen Letizia of Spain laughed off the bad weather as she and husband King Felipe waited to greet the South Korean President and his wife in Madrid today

The Spanish royal appeared to be getting on famously with South Korean First Lady Kim Jung-Sook

The meeting marks the first state visit to Spain by a foreign leader since the pandemic began. Letiza and Felipe are pictured posing for a photo outside the Royal Palace with their guests

The President and his wife were received with military honours at the royal palace, as the two countries met to discuss deepening their economic ties. The visit is the first by a South Korean president in 14 years.

Letizia appeared to be getting on famously with Jung-Sook as they chatted ahead of attending a royal banquet at the palace later in the day.

The royal teamed her stylish look with a pair of matching nude heels paired with statement diamond earrings and a dainty gold ring in a geometric design.

She wore her raven tresses typically loose around her shoulders and donned a plain white face covering for safety amid the pandemic.

Letizia was seen sharing a sweet moment with her husband as the pair got caught in the wind, quickly adjusting her brunette tresses ahead of the meeting with the President

She wore her raven tresses typically loose around her shoulders and donned a plain white face covering for safety amid the pandemic

The mother-of-two exuded elegance in a blush gown featuring a sculpted top and tulle maxi skirt, which she paired with a waist-cinching matching nude belt

Her husband Felipe, 53, cut a handsome figure in a black suit paired with a royal blue tie and white shirt, donning the same face covering as his wife.

Meanwhile, First Lady Jung-Sook opted for a sophisticated blue satin blazer paired with a white midi dress and matching heels.

The 66-year-old accessorised her look with a chunky pearl necklace, a pair of matching earrings and a pearl embellished purse.

During the two-day trip Moon is also due to meet with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and other foreign dignitaries, as well as attend a business event in Barcelona on Wednesday evening.

King Felipe VI cut a handsome figure in a black suit paired with a royal blue tie and white shirt, donning the same face covering as his wife

The visit from President Moon and his wife marks the first from a South Korean president to Spain in 14 years

Felipe chats with President Moon ahead of attending a royal banquet at the palace this evening

The royal couple last met with Jung-Sook and his wife in October 2019 when they attended a gala in Seoul during a two-day visit to the country to discuss economy and trade.

Yesterday Letizia stepped out with husband once again, as he was awarded the first Andalucian Medal of Honour at San Telmo Palace.

The King is the first person to achieve this distinction because he 'embodies the most solid affective bond of Andalucia with all the State institutions,' according to the Junta de Andalucia.

The royal, pictured amid the meeting this morning, teamed her stylish look with a pair of matching nude heels paired with statement diamond earrings and a dainty gold ring in a geometric design

First Lady wore Jung-Sook opted for a sophisticated blue satin blazer paired with a white midi dress and matching heels

During the two-day trip Moon is also due to meet with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and other foreign dignitaries

The President and his wife were received with military honors at the royal palace, as the two countries met to discuss deepening their economic ties

It comes amid a busy period for Letizia, who last week attended the Women Now summit for equality and women leadership wearing an embellished, wool-blend midi dress in bubblegum pink.

Letizia is on the honorary committee of the summit and chaired the closing ceremony of the event, which sees female professionals from various industries come together to discuss their experiences.

The in-person and online event, sponsored by Santander, takes place over three days and was organised by Spanish multimedia communications group Vocento.

The event boasted guests such as author Dylan Farrow, chef Jose Andres, designer Diane von Furstenberg, astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti and presenter Ana Rosa Quintana.

This evening Letizia joined her husband to attend an official dinner held for President Moon and his wife

She donned a recycled black cocktail dress by Dries Van Noten, emblazoned with a gold floral design, while pinning her hair back in a sleek low bun

King Felipe can be seen greeting President Moon ahead of the official state dinner this evening

First Lady Jung-Sook changed into a white ensemble featuring a sheer shirt and longline skirt. She is pictured posing for a photo with the Spanish royals this evening

This evening Letizia joined her husband to attend an official dinner held for President Moon and his wife.

She donned a recycled black cocktail dress by Dries Van Noten, emblazoned with a gold floral design, while pinning her hair back in a sleek low bun.

The monarch last wore the dress, complete with sequinned capped sleeves, while attending the delivery of the 36th edition of the Journalist Award 'Francisco Cerecedo' at the Palace Hotel in 2019.

The Spanish royals met with Spain's Prime Minister Sanchez and his wife Begona Gomez, who opted for a chic black gown, during the state dinner.

First Lady Jung-Sook changed into a white ensemble featuring a sheer shirt and longline skirt, complete with matching heels and the same pearl encrusted bag from this morning.

The Spanish royals met with Spain's Prime Minister Sanchez and his wife Begona Gomez, who opted for a chic black gown, during the state dinner

Letizia and Felipe are pictured welcoming their guests to the state dinner at Madrid's Royal Palace this evening
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A couple of storm-chasing Kansas meteorologists are on cloud nine after getting engaged in front of a tornado.

Tom Bedard, 29, and Raya Maday, 26, work together at AccuWeather in Wichita, and over Memorial Day weekend, they drove six hours to Colorado in the hopes of seeing a tornado in person.

Fortunately, the pair didn't have to take a rain check on their extreme weather plans  and as a twister touched down in front of them, Tom got down on one knee to propose.

Taking marriage by storm! A couple of storm-chasing Kansas meteorologists are on cloud nine after getting engaged in front of a tornado

Can't rain on this parade! Tom Bedard, 29, and Raya Maday, 26, work together at AccuWeather in Wichita, and recently drove six hours to Colorado in the hopes of seeing a tornado in person

Turning up the heat! They managed to find one, as as the tornado touched down, Tom got down on one knee

A match made in heaven! Tom and Raya met in 2016 at a meteorology conference and quickly bonded over their love of weather

Tom and Raya met in 2016 at a meteorology conference and quickly bonded over their love of weather.

A year later, they were both hired by AccuWeather in Wichita, where she works on weather warnings for clients like railroads and auto manufacturers, and he works with emergency management

'Were always talking about the weather and teaching each other, although Raya is unquestionably the meteorologist,' Tom told DailyMail.com.

'Theres so much more to learn about the weather once you leave your Bachelors program and Raya is always trying to improve her forecasting capabilities, so occasionally shes kind enough to put up me and give me a lesson or two.'

Tom had known he wanted to pop the question for a year, but was searching for the perfect way to do it  and finally came up with a tornado chase.

'Were both passionate about the weather, but had never seen a tornado before,' he said. 'And as it turned out, Raya was thinking of chasing storms at about the same time.'

Brainstorming: Neither had seen a tornado in person before, and Tom thought it would be a good scene for a proposal

No one's stealing their thunder! There was only a slight chance of seeing a tornado that day, but Mother Nature cooperated

Head in the clouds: 'I was thinking, "What a beautiful storm structure! just as the tornado dropped to the ground then I turned to my right to see that Tom's left knee is also touching the ground,' Raya said

'This was, oddly enough, an idea that we both had without letting the other know,' Tom said. 'I planned out the logistics of it with my close friend and fellow meteorologist Rich Putnam at the same that Raya was talking about it with Richs wife, Steph. They had tipped me off that it was a good idea and we got to planning.'

But weather doesn't always cooperate, and finding a tornado was tough  particularly when the pair was so busy, with Tom working as a volunteer firefighter and both volunteering at an animal shelter.

Finally, they had a free day on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend  and there was a slight chance they might be able to see a tornado six hours away in Colorado.

Tom convinced Raya to make the drive.

'The odds of not seeing a tornado that day were fairly high, so we were all ready for another weekend or two hunting for one,' Tom said.

'I was already anxious about taking us all the way to southeast Colorado on a slight-risk day and coming back without putting a ring on her finger ... I thought "Oh God, no, we're going to do all this travel for nothing,"' he told AccuWeather.

But as luck and Mother Nature would have it, they found a twister, and looked on as it touched down in the distance.

Showered with love! 'The feeling of seeing your first tornado and being proposed to is unmatched. If Twister had a sequel, it would go a little like that,' Raya said

They both work at AccuWeather in Wichita, where she works on weather warnings for clients like railroads and auto manufacturers, and he works with emergency management

Romance is in the air! They joked that they might schedule their wedding during tornado season in Tornado Alley, because they could get some 'really awesome shots'

As Tom watched the cyclone swirl, he told DailyMail.com, 'My mind was a mess in a rush of adrenaline, just hoping that I could remember the speech that I had practiced and deliver it perfectly for her.'

Meanwhile, Raya said: 'I was thinking, "What a beautiful storm structure! just as the tornado dropped to the ground then I turned to my right to see that Tom's left knee is also touching the ground.

'The feeling of seeing your first tornado and being proposed to is unmatched. If Twister had a sequel, it would go a little like that,' she added.

'I cant really have a better word for this, but it was absolutely unreal. I didnt expect it. I knew it was happening eventually, but I thought it was going to happen in July.' she told Kansas.com.

Though the two haven't started planning their wedding, they say they'd like to fine 'some place where we can relax and enjoy each others company without 18 hours of driving and surviving only off of gas station roller bar items.

But they also joked that they might schedule it during tornado season in Tornado Alley, because they could get some 'really awesome shots.'

'I'm always down for a tornado intercept, even if it's during our wedding day,' Raya said.
The new vegan KitKat is set to arrive in Australia after the confectionery brand delighted shoppers around the globe with the launch of the plant-based version.

One of the world's most popular chocolate bars have been transformed into a vegan option with many claiming it tastes just as good as the real deal.

The four-finger chocolate bars, made with a rice-based alternative to milk, will hit shelves across the country from Monday, July 26.

Vegan KitKat is set to arrive in Australia after the confectionery brand delighted shoppers around the globe with the launch of the plant-based version

The plant-based version features a 'perfect balance' between crispy wafer and smooth chocolate that people know and love.

'We've seen so much excitement and anticipation from our fans when plans for the first vegan KitKat were announced earlier this year, so I'm thrilled to share KitKat V will be coming to Australia,' Nestle head of marketing confectionery Joyce Tan said.

'We're always looking for ways to make breaks meaningful for Aussies, so the team at KitKat is delighted to offer a delicious alternative for anyone looking to enjoy a plant-based break.'

One of the world's most popular chocolate bars have been transformed into a vegan option with many claiming it tastes just as good as the real deal

The plant-based version was developed by chocolatiers and food scientists in Nestle's Research and Development centre in the UK, the original home of KitKat.

'Our challenge when we set out to create a vegan-friendly KitKat was to recreate this iconic product using plant-based alternatives,' Louise Barrett, head of the Nestle confectionery product technology center in York, said.

'To achieve this, we worked very hard to get the right balance between the milk alternative and the cocoa. The result is a vegan chocolate that we're very proud of, and I hope all KitKat fans will love it as much as we do.'

The new vegan KitKat - called KitKat V - has so far launched in the UK, with several countries around the world, including Australia, set to follow suit.

'It's absolutely divine and tastes. It tastes just how I remember a regular KitKat to be, very impressed,' a UK vegan food blogger wrote on Instagram.
NewYork-Presbyterian says it is requiring all of its employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

The hospital network said its 48,000 workers must receive two dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines or one shot of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine by September 1.

'As a leading health care organization, we believe it is essential to require vaccinations to protect our patients and ourselves against the threat of further harm from the pandemic and the possibility of more dangerous mutations,' CEO Dr Steven Corwin and CFO Laura Foresee wrote.

The majority of staff, 70 percent have been vaccinated, officials say, and workers have until August 1 to apply for a medical or religious exemption.

It comes as Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Monday that New York City will host a ticker tape parade next month to honor frontline workers.

NewYork-Presbyterian says it is requiring all of its employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19 by September 1

Mayor Bill de Blasio also announced on Monday that New York City will host a ticker tape parade next month to honor 'Hometown Heroes' on New York City's Canyon of Heroes

NewYork-Presbyterian is the hospital system in New York to require its employees to get vaccinated but not the first in the country.

A federal judge recently threw out a lawsuit filed by employees of a Houston hospital system over its requirement that all of its staff be vaccinated against COVID-19.

The Houston Methodist Hospital system suspended 178 employees without pay last week over their refusal to get vaccinated.

Of them, 117 sued seeking to overturn the requirement and over their suspension and threatened termination.

In a scathing ruling Saturday, U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes of Houston deemed lead plaintiff Jennifer Bridges' contention that the vaccines are 'experimental and dangerous' to be false and otherwise irrelevant.

He also found that her likening the vaccination requirement to the Nazis' forced medical experimentation on concentration camp captives during the Holocaust to be 'reprehensible.'

It came as as a U.S. federal judge dismissed a lawsuit brought by 117 workers at a Texas hospital over its requirement that they be vaccinated

Jennifer Bridges, a nurse and the lead plaintiff in the case, had argued that if she was fired for refusing a vaccine, it should be considered wrongful termination

Hughes also ruled that making vaccinations a condition of employment was not coercion, as Bridges contended.

'Methodist is trying to do their business of saving lives without giving them the COVID-19 virus,' Hughes wrote in a five-page decision. 'It is a choice made to keep staff, patients and their families safer.

'Bridges can freely choose to accept or refuse a COVID-19 vaccine; however, if she refuses, she will simply need to work somewhere else. If a worker refuses an assignment, changed office, earlier start time, or other directive, he may be properly fired. Every employment includes limits on the worker's behavior in exchange for remuneration. That is all part of the bargain,' Hughes concluded.

The judge said Texas law only protected employees from being fired for refusing to commit an illegal act and that the requirement is consistent with public policy.

Meanwhile, New York City announced it will be holding a ticker tape parade next month to celebrate essential workers.

'I said the first parade back, the first true large parade in New York City will be one to celebrate the heroes of the fight against COVID, our health care heroes who were extraordinary and need to be remembered for the ages, our first responders, our essential workers, the people who kept us alive, that people who kept the city going no matter what,' de Blasio said during a press conference on Monday.

'We are going to hold a parade to honor them, to thank them, to celebrate them,' he continued.

He added that the July 7 date was chosen because it follows the city's official reopening day of July 1 as well as July 4 celebrations.

The mayor said the parade will have floats with frontline workers, first responders, public transit workers, grocery store workers, teachers and more.

The July 7 date was chosen because it follows the city's official reopening day of July 1 as well as July 4 celebrations.

'It's time for the parade to celebrate our hometown heroes,' de Blasio said.

It will be 'a parade you will remember for the rest of your life.'

The mayor said the parade will have floats with frontline workers, first responders, public transit workers, grocery store workers, teachers and more.

The seven-day rolling average of cases has rapidly declined over the past month by 74 percent from 797 per day to 207, city health department data show.

Average deaths have also dropped from 28 to five, representing an 82 percent decline.

As of Monday, 53.5 percent of New York City residents have had at least one vaccine dose and 46.8 percent are fully vaccinate.

'We're always going to remember the pain and the tragedy of Covid,' de Blasio said.

'No one is going to ever forget those we lost and what families are still going through. But we need a day to celebrate the heroism of everyday New Yorkers.'
A daily dose of green light is being tested in the U.S. as a new way to tackle migraines.

While bright light typically worsens the pounding headaches that blight the lives of up to 25 per cent of British women and 10 per cent of men, green light may, intriguingly, have the opposite effect.

Classed among the most disabling conditions by the World Health Organisation, migraines can take three days to pass and cause 25 million work and school days to be lost in the UK each year.

The most common symptom, a throbbing pain on one side of the head, can be accompanied by nausea and sickness, increased sensitivity to light or noise, sweating, stomach pain and diarrhoea.

While bright light typically worsens the pounding headaches that blight the lives of up to 25 per cent of British women and 10 per cent of men, green light may, intriguingly, have the opposite effect

The exact cause of migraines isnt known, but they are thought to be due to changes in chemicals, nerves and blood vessels in the brain. Genes may play a role, and some migraines are associated with triggers, from flashing lights and stress to foods or drinks (although food triggers are quite rare).

Painkillers and drugs called triptans can help reverse chemical changes in the brain. And anti-emetics are also used to relieve nausea. Now, researchers are studying whether green light could provide a drug-free option.

In 2016, researchers at Harvard University in the U.S. exposed patients to different coloured lights. With bright light usually worsening migraines, leading to sufferers seeking the solace of a darkened room, it wasnt surprising the blue, amber and red lights all intensified the headaches.

Green light, however, reduced the pain by 20 per cent. Further experiments revealed green light generates smaller signals in the retina, the layer of light-sensitive cells at the back of the eye, than other colours.

Cells in the thalamus, an area of the brain that processes information from the eye, also react less to green light.

The thalamus plays a key role as a processing centre in pain conditions, including migraine.

With bright light usually worsening migraines, leading to sufferers seeking the solace of a darkened room, it wasnt surprising the blue, amber and red lights all intensified the headaches. Green light, however, reduced the pain by 20 per cent

The finding led to the development of a battery-powered lamp that emits the low-intensity pure green light found to be most effective.

Now, in a new trial at Vedanta Research in North Carolina, 250 migraine patients will use the lamp for at least 30 minutes a day for six weeks, while noting how many headaches they have and their severity.

Scientists hope the study will show if the light works to reduce symptoms during an attack and, if used regularly, to lower the risk of an attack.

Dr Nick Silver, a consultant neurologist at the Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust in Liverpool, said: This is an extremely exciting time for patients with migraines.

An increasing variety of options can treat or prevent attacks, from tablets and injections to handheld nerve-stimulators. It gives patients more choice and more options to find what works for them.

This work related to green-light treatment may add to the armoury of treatments we have and offer help with few or no side-effects.

Zinc supplements can soothe migraines, according to a new study in the journal Clinical Nutrition Research.

Sixty women aged 28 to 42 were given 15 mg a day of zinc or a placebo for 12 weeks. The frequency and severity of their headaches were assessed before and after the study.

Taking zinc significantly reduced the frequency, length and severity of attacks, compared with a placebo. This may be due to zinc easing the blood vessel inflammation thought to cause migraines.

Home gym

How doing housework can improve your health. This week: Take the ironing upstairs, two steps at a time

Climbing the stairs provides a chance to fire up one of our largest areas of muscle, the glutes (in your bottom). When we sit for most of the day, the glutes become lazy, so its important we keep them active and functional, says trainer Hollie Grant (pilatespt.co.uk).

Stair-climbing is great for the glutes, but better still, if its safe to, climb the stairs two at a time, she says. This increases the depth you have to lunge up from, and can help encourage the glutes to do the work.

Try to drive your weight through your heels, lean into the front leg as you step, and minimise how much you push off your back foot. If youre taking the laundry upstairs, why not separate it into a few piles so you have to do four trips instead of one?

Try this every time you go upstairs for any chore.

Rude health

A faulty gene may be the reason for some forms of male infertility, according to a Wellcome Sanger Institute study. The researchers analysed more than 2,300 men, half of whom were infertile. A change in the Y chromosome was responsible for a lower sperm count in some of those affected.

Try this

Fusion Allergy Cold Therapy Mask contains beads to relieve itchy, red, watery eyes, as well as puffy or inflamed eyes, such as those caused by hay fever. Place it in the freezer for an hour and then over closed eyes for ten minutes: 8.99, lloydspharmacy.com.

Jargon buster

Scientific terms decoded. This week: ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate)

If youve had blood tests for an infection, you probably had your erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) checked  even if you didnt realise.

This blood test measures inflammation levels. As well as infection, it can point to conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, and monitor them.

The test evaluates the rate at which red blood cells fall in a test tube. The word erythrocyte means red blood cells and sedimentation describes their movement.

In a patient with little inflammation, the cells fall slowly, leaving plasma (the straw-coloured liquid in blood) at the top. With higher levels of inflammation, cells fall faster.

This is because there are more proteins, which are generated as part of the bodys defence mechanism against infection.

If youve had blood tests for an infection, you probably had your erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) checked  even if you didnt realise

Arthritis drug also helps eczema

A pill used in the treatment of arthritis can reduce the symptoms of eczema, according to a trial from Mount Sinais Icahn School of Medicine in New York.

The drug, upadacitinib, was given daily to more than 1,600 patients with the skin condition, and the majority had a 90 per cent reduction in symptoms, such as itching, by 16 weeks into the trial.

Upadacitinib treats rheumatoid arthritis, where the immune system attacks the joints. It works by blocking the pathways of cytokines, inflammatory proteins linked to the condition. These proteins also affect eczema, which may explain the pills success, scientists say.

Upside of hating broccoli

If you are sensitive to bitter tastes such as broccoli, you may have a lower risk of catching Covid, research suggests.

Scientists from the Baton Rouge General Medical Center in the U.S. analysed the taste genes of 1,935 adults, of whom 266 had the virus.

They found those sensitive to bitter tastes, due to having more bitter taste receptors, T2Rs, were less likely to be hospitalised by coronavirus.

One theory is those with a sensitivity to bitter tastes, so-called supertasters, may have enhanced protection due to the nitric oxide which can be triggered by T2Rs and reduces the chances of the spike protein attaching to cells.
For some months the end of my big toe on the left foot has been numb. Could it be an advance warning of a bigger problem? I am 74 and am otherwise fairly fit.

Alan Slade, Reigate, Surrey.

From your description, I sense that this isnt a warning sign of a bigger problem.

Rather, the most likely cause is a trapped nerve close to your big toe  possibly triggered by natural wear in the joint, or osteoarthritis. This can occur even if you dont have arthritis in other joints.

The arthritis can cause the joint to swell and, as a result, the nerve that supplies the end of the toes may become pinched, causing numbness. The same effect can be caused by tight shoes.

You write in your longer letter that you also have ankylosing spondylitis (AS), an inflammatory disease.

The most likely cause is a trapped nerve close to your big toe  possibly triggered by natural wear in the joint, or osteoarthritis. This can occur even if you dont have arthritis in other joints

This leads to pain and swelling in the joints, typically in the spine, but it can also affect the hands and feet.

One side-effect of the drug you are taking for this condition, the immunosuppressant methotrexate, is peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage).

While in theory this could have triggered the numbness, its unlikely, as when it does occur it tends to be widespread  so you would experience numbness across a wider area of the feet, on both sides. Your symptom is strictly localised.

If it is nerve entrapment, as I suggest, I would recommend you see a podiatrist.

They may suggest using a metatarsal pad made of silicone gel, which sits under the ball of your foot in your shoe.

This will spread the joints just below your toes (the metatarsal heads) and relieve any pressure on the nerve.

Although it might prove uncomfortable at first, this should help stop the numbness over a few weeks. This will confirm the diagnosis.

You can pick up a metatarsal pad from your local chemist, but the additional advice of an expert may help you get the best use from it.

Ive suffered from nettle rash for about three years. Ive tried creams, antihistamines and body wash without success. Could you suggest anything?

A. Evans, Rowley Regis, West Mids.

Confusingly, nettle rash  the medical term is urticaria  actually has nothing to do with nettles directly.

Its name comes from the fact that the rash itself looks similar to the one that appears if our skin comes into contact with stinging nettles (urtica dioica in Latin).

It might look similar, but it feels very different  real nettles cause a burning sting, while nettle rash causes severe itching.

Urticaria is deemed as either acute (meaning short-lived) or chronic. Most people affected will have the acute form, which is often caused by an allergy, so can be treated with antihistamine tablets. Skin creams can be soothing for the itch but cant prevent it.

Chronic urticaria is also treated with antihistamines, but often at higher doses.

In your case, this has not worked, and Id recommend you speak to your GP about referral to an allergy or dermatology specialist, who will typically prescribe immunosuppressant or anti-inflammatory medications.

This may include omalizumab, an injection that acts against immunoglobulin E (IgE), the antibody that the body produces in an allergic reaction, which triggers symptoms such as swelling. Another possible treatment is cyclosporine, a high-dose immunosuppressant.

A long-term rash is a disabling and aggravating condition, but let me reassure you that it doesnt lead to permanent damage.

That said, it is essential to seek expert advice on which medication to take, as this will help you avoid any possible harm from long-term treatment. Steroids taken long-term have a number of potential side-effects, for instance.

Write to Dr Scurr

Write to Dr Scurr at Good Health, Daily Mail, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT or email: drmartin@dailymail.co.uk  include contact details.

Dr Scurr cannot enter into personal correspondence. Replies should be taken in a general context.

Consult your own GP with any health worries.

In my view.... Healthcare staff must have jab

As we become increasingly aware of how important the vaccine is, it strikes me as even more astonishing that some healthcare workers are reluctant to have it, and that its not mandatory for them.

A recent study from a large NHS trust found that only 64.5 per cent of healthcare workers had received their Covid vaccines.

I am struck by the inconsistencies in NHS requirements on vaccines.

For instance, my goddaughter, a catering assistant in an NHS hospital, wasnt allowed to start the job without proof of her childhood immunisations.

Difficulty in accessing the data in lockdown meant she had to get a repeat MMR jab. And medical students are required to have hepatitis vaccinations.

We have to look at it from the end point  i.e. the outcome of not being vaccinated.

This would mean more transmission, more long Covid, more deaths, and the pandemic never ending. Our actions must result in the greatest good for the greatest number (a main pillar of medical ethics), and this can only be achieved by the Covid vaccine being mandatory for healthcare personnel.
Jacqui Quibbell has suffered from crippling periods of depression and suicidal thoughts for all her adult life.

In 2003, her doctors suggested Jacqui underwent electro-convulsive therapy (ECT).

This involves attaching electrodes to the patients head and, under general anaesthetic, passing electric shocks through their brain  which is said to rewire it.

I didnt know much about ECT, I didnt have Google then, says Jacqui, 57.

I started suffering memory loss during the treatment and by the time it finished, my short-term memory had disappeared completely and has never come back. I cant recognise faces, even of people I know really well.

Aged 39 at the time, she says there was no way she could go back to work: I had to give up a career I loved [as a senior local authority housing officer] and Ive never worked since.

Her doctors suggested Jacqui underwent electro-convulsive therapy (ECT). This involves attaching electrodes to the patients head and, under general anaesthetic, passing electric shocks through their brain  which is said to rewire it . The therapy is depicted above

ECT is archaic and barbaric, she adds. Its given to people in the most vulnerable circumstances when theyre not able to understand what they are consenting to.

Jacquis experience is backed up by the startling results of a Freedom of Information request to hospital trusts for a copy of their ECT patient information leaflet.

This audit, published exclusively in the Mail, revealed that the leaflets  including one produced by the Royal College of Psychiatrists  contained at least one inaccurate statement about the safety and effectiveness of ECT, such as there being no risk of long-term memory loss.

As a result, patients were not able to give fully informed consent to the controversial treatment, the researchers behind the audit say in their report, published in the journal Ethical Human Psychology and Psychiatry.

ECT is approved on the NHS as a treatment for depressive illness, schizophrenia, catatonia and mania.

Psychiatrists maintain it lifts depression and saves the lives of people who might otherwise have committed suicide, by resetting brain pathways (in ways still yet to be explained).

Some of the leaflets said the therapy carries little risk of memory loss, despite numerous reports otherwise  and the mental health charity Mind points out that many people experience this, and sometimes it can be permanent

Under guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), last updated in 2009, the therapy should be used only to achieve rapid and short-term improvement of severe symptoms after an adequate trial of other treatment options has proven ineffective and/or when the condition is considered to be potentially life-threatening.

Particular caution is urged for its use in young people.

About 2,500 patients a year in England and Wales undergo ECT, which may involve between ten and 30 shocks to the brain administered days or weeks apart.

The audit, published today, showed that more than half of the trusts (51 were contacted, 36 responded) used leaflets with seven or more inaccurate statements, and failed to provide a full picture of the risks. For instance, they wrongly claimed that ECT could correct brain function abnormality  John Read, a professor of clinical psychology at the University of East London, who led the audit, says no research has shown this.

Some of the leaflets said the therapy carries little risk of memory loss, despite numerous reports otherwise  and the mental health charity Mind points out that many people experience this, and sometimes it can be permanent.

Many also fail to mention that ECT should only be used when talking therapies have failed, as a last-resort treatment, as in the NICE guidelines.

Professor Read adds that the majority of patients given it are women aged over 60. I think that is probably because they are less likely to have anyone to speak up for them and question why its being done, when it provides no long-term benefit and involves real risks of memory loss, he says.

What frustrates campaigners and researchers is that in 2003 NICE warned that information given to patients undergoing ECT was inadequate and said a national evidence-based leaflet should be produced.

But Professor Read says: 'This was never done.'

He adds that in some leaflets, ECT is described as like dental anaesthetic  'which it isnt - first of all its a general anaesthetic, not an injection, and patients are going to have at least ten of them which carry risks of their own'.

None of them spell out the fact there are no long-term benefits from ECT. About half of the leaflets dont mention their right to 'a legal advocate, that is someone to inform patients of their rights and support them in legal hearings'.

Jacqui, who lives in Milford, Derbyshire, says her own experience clearly bears out the need for an independent advocate.

Having read through my medical records, I apparently signed a form prior to each session. But when youre in a state of acute depression, you are not in the best position to make a judgment about treatment.

Jacqui is now part of a group legal action being co-ordinated by Freeths solicitors in Nottingham for people who claim they never gave informed consent to ECT and are seeking compensation for the brain damage they say they suffered.

Freeths solicitor Phillip McGough says they already have 12 complainants  one of their newest cases is Chloe, a 20-year-old from Newcastle who had a breakdown at 15 and was diagnosed by a psychiatrist with depression.

Aged just 17, she was referred for 26 sessions of ECT in 2018 which she says have caused epilepsy and permanent memory loss.

Having been on track to fly through A-levels, shes now reduced to volunteering a few hours a week in a food bank.

I wanted to be a doctor, I was on track to get A* for everything, she says. According to my medical record I showed only a mild improvement in mood with the ECT but they decided to keep going. I was complaining of memory issues and their response was to step up the ECT dose.

Its just too upsetting to talk about whats been taken away from me. I feel I havent got much chance of anything any more.

The only information leaflet praised by Professor Read was produced by Mind, which had no inaccurate statements. Mind has joined Professor Read in calling for a comprehensive government review of the use of the therapy.

We know some people have found it effective for improving symptoms of mental health problems  particularly depression  when nothing else has worked, Mind spokesperson, Stephen Buckley, told Good Health.

However, we still dont know why it works or how effective it is. Some people who have had ECT may have found they experience adverse side-effects that are worse than the symptoms of the problem theyre trying to treat.

Its vital that a range of treatment options are offered and any side-effects are explained properly. The decision to use ECT should never be taken lightly.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists said: Our guidance is evidence-based, information and developed with input from those who have received ECT.
The hunt for a vaccine has taken centre stage over the past year as scientists worldwide devoted themselves to finding a way out of the Covid-19 pandemic.

As more of us benefit, we can only marvel that in just ten months researchers managed to develop, test, make and distribute effective vaccines, something that would usually take more than ten years.

But the journey has not been easy, as a new BBC Horizon documentary highlights.

Here, some of the key people involved reveal the triumphs and heartbreaking failures involved in their pioneering work to get us vaccinated.

The race begins

The race to find a vaccine began on January 10, 2020. That was when Professor George Gao, head of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, sounded the starting gun for vaccine scientists worldwide.

He had seen reports about a pneumonia of unknown origin in Wuhan and his team in Beijing sourced samples from patients and used the latest rapid genetic sequencing techniques to identify in days what was causing the mystery illness  releasing the genetic sequence to the world.

The next day, Dr Teresa Lambe, an associate professor in the Jenner Institute at the University of Oxford, sat in her bedroom in front of her computer  huddled over in my PJs  designing the vaccine, she says. This would become the Oxford/AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccine. Known as a viral vector vaccine, it uses an inactivated common cold virus to smuggle a gene for the virus spike protein into our bodies.

This instructs our cells to make the spike protein, and the body, recognising it as foreign, triggers an antibody response.

The race to find a vaccine began on January 10, 2020. That was when Professor George Gao, head of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, sounded the starting gun for vaccine scientists worldwide [File photo]

Jab that failed

In January 2020, there were four main types of vaccine in development. While Oxfords viral vector version contained the spike gene, in Australia, molecular virologist Dr Keith Chappell, of the University of Queensland, had developed a vaccine composed of the spike protein itself.

This technology, known as a protein subunit vaccine, has been shown to work in animals against a number of viruses such as flu and ebola  although never in clinical trials, Dr Chappell told Good Health. The spike proteins are flexible, so we needed to use a molecular clamp  a bit like a bulldog clip  to hold it in a specific shape.

This is critical, as this triggers the best antibody response.

The protein used as a molecular clamp was a fragment of HIV  the virus that causes Aids.

We chose this protein because its well understood and a highly stable structure, says Dr Chappell, adding that there is absolutely no risk of people contracting HIV. The Australian government made a billion-dollar deal to buy 51 million doses.

The results of an initial trial showed that the vaccine triggered a strongly neutralising immune response as good as any of the vaccines that are now available, says Dr Chappell. The only side-effects were mild injection-site pain and tenderness.

But one night in October, the team received unexpected news: some of the participants tested positive for antibodies to HIV.

While the volunteers had not been infected with HIV, the results were a problem because of the connotations associated with HIV and in terms of vaccine hesitancy, says Dr Chappell. As a result, the Australian prime minister then announced that the University of Queensland vaccine will no longer feature as part of Australias vaccine plan.

It was devastating, says Dr Chappell. We knew the vaccine was safe and CSL [the manufacturer] had hundreds of millions of doses ready to go.

Building factories

A third method of vaccination was chosen by the U.S. pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, which teamed up with a German biotech company, BioNTech.

Their ground-breaking approach uses mRNA  a type of genetic code  to make a copy of the spike protein in the lab, then deliver this into the body in a protective bubble of fat.

Once inside a cell, the bubble breaks down and the Covid-19 spike is built  again, triggering those all-important antibodies.

The attractiveness of the mRNA platform is that it allows you to go at light speed, says Dr Kathrin Jansen, head of vaccine research and development at Pfizer. The only con? There had never been a vaccine produced like this.

Pfizers global manufacturing and distribution network was co-ordinated by Mike McDermott.

Manufacturing will typically take three to five years, he said. So the notion of designing, building and having it running and shipping in nine months seemed ridiculous.

My team spent about half a billion dollars before we had any idea if the product would be successful. Thats crazy.

The gamble paid off. Ten months after the vaccine race began, Kathrin took a call from Pfizers CEO and was told: Your vaccine is over 90 per cent efficacious.

I was just out of my mind, laughing and dancing around, she says.

Recruiting trials

The frontrunner was another mRNA vaccine from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the U.S., led by Dr Barney Graham, deputy director of the vaccine research centre.

In early March 2020, the vaccine was days away from the first human trials with its partner, Moderna  but in September it hit a problem because nearly all its trial participants were white.

Dr Graham explains: Ethnic minorities were the hardest hit by the virus. We thought it was important for the trial to reflect real-life disease severity, so we asked Moderna to slow down to get the trial adjusted.

After a huge effort, the team managed to enrol the last 3,000 people for the trial largely from black and brown communities, says Dr Graham. I was really proud of that.

Professor's loss

As well as the massive workload meaning she didnt see her children as much, Professor Katie Ewer, an immunologist at Oxford, was unable to see her parents from the beginning of the first lockdown  and in late July her mother, who had been shielding, became unwell.

This was around the time the Lancet paper  which showed the Oxford/AZ vaccine was safe and induced the right immune response  was written. Her mother passed away within a day or two.

By November it was revealed that the Oxford/AZ vaccine had an average efficacy of 70 per cent.

I was relieved, a bit emotional, says Professor Ewer. I was worried that we could just get negative results, and that everything that happened in the past 11 months would have been for nothing.

As well as the massive workload meaning she didnt see her children as much, Professor Katie Ewer, an immunologist at Oxford (pictured in a lab with the Prime Minister last year) was unable to see her parents from the beginning of the first lockdown  and in late July her mother, who had been shielding, became unwell

Too few cases in China

Meanwhile, in China, Professor Gao was working on a fourth type of vaccine, an inactivated virus vaccine, where the coronavirus is treated with a chemical to damage its genome and stop it replicating, leaving the virus surface structures, including the spike, intact.

The team worked with pharmaceutical companies Sinopharm and Sinovac, but progress slowed because there was so little Covid in China. So they set up trials in countries with high Covid levels.

By March 2021, tens of millions of people in more than 25 countries had received Chinese vaccines, even though the full vaccine trials were not finished. The World Health Organisation later approved the vaccines, and Chinas unorthodox policy of speeding through roll-out before trial results were finalised seems to have been vindicated.

Fighting off mutants

The problem now is getting people vaccinated fast enough before the virus mutates and becomes resistant to the available vaccines. Dr Chappell explains: Were fighting against an enemy that is constantly changing and moving.

And just how long our immune response lasts is still an unanswered question with the vaccines.

Yet Professor Ewer says: Weve changed everything in the past 12 months, in terms of what weve done, what weve shown is possible. To go from a standing start with an unknown pathogen, roll it out with phase 1, 2 and 3 trials, emergency use approval . . . its an amazing achievement.

Horizon Special: The Vaccine airs tomorrow at 9pm on BBC Two and will then be available on iPlayer.
Researchers have found more evidence to suggest that the new coronavirus was circulating in the U.S. at low levels in December 2019, weeks before cases were recognized by health officials.

Blood samples from seven people in five states show they were infected with COVID-19 around Christmastime, long before cases were first reported in their states.

The analysis is not definitive, and some experts remain skeptical, but federal health officials are increasingly accepting a timeline in which small numbers of coronavirus infections may have occurred in the U.S. before the world ever became aware of a dangerous new virus erupting in China.

This would also be in line with the theory that the virus first emerged in China in late November or early December 2019 - be it transmitted from humans to animals or escaped from a lab - and then rapidly spread around the globe.

'The studies are pretty consistent,' said Dr Natalie Thornburg, principal investigator of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) respiratory virus immunology team.

'There was probably very rare and sporadic cases here earlier than we were aware of. But it was not widespread and didn't become widespread until late February.'

Such results underscore the need for countries to work together and identify newly emerging viruses as quickly and collaboratively as possible, she added.

NIH researchers tested blood samples from 24,000 people across the U.S., which were collected in the first three months of 2020 and found seven tested positive for the virus. Pictured: Dr Sabrina Solt conducts a COVID-19 test in Scottsdale, Arizona

Because symptoms take two weeks to develop, it's suggested at least one of the patients was infected as early as Christmas Eve 2019. Pictured: This electron microscope image shows the spherical coronavirus particles from what was believed to be the first U.S. case of COVID-19 in January 2020

The pandemic coronavirus emerged in Wuhan, China, in late 2019 with the first case reported to the World Health Organization on December 31, 2019.

Officially, the first U.S. infection to be identified was a traveler, a Washington state man who returned from Wuhan on January 15 and sought help at a clinic on January 19 before testing positive for the virus on January 20.

CDC officials initially said the spark that started the U.S. outbreak arrived during a three-week window from mid-January to early February.

But research since then has suggested a small number of infections occurred earlier.

A CDC-led study published in December 2020 that analyzed 7,000 samples from American Red Cross blood donations suggested the virus infected some Americans as early as the middle of December 2019.

The latest study, published on Tuesday in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases, was conducted by the National Institutes of Health.

They analyzed blood samples from more than 24,000 people across the country, collected in the first three months of 2020 as part of a long-term study called All Of Us that seeks to track one million Americans over years to study health.

Like the CDC study, these researchers looked for antibodies in the blood that are taken as evidence of coronavirus infection, and can be detected as early as two weeks after a person is first infected.

The researchers say seven study participants - three from Illinois, and one each from Massachusetts, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin - were infected earlier than any COVID-19 case was originally reported in those states.

One of the Illinois patients was infected as early as Christmas Eve, said lead author Dr Keri Althoff, an associate professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health told the Associated Press.

The blood samples were collected on January 7 from Illinois, January 8 from Massachusetts, February 3 from Wisconsin, February 15 from Pennsylvania, and March 6 in Mississippi.

Meanwhile, Illinois confirmed its first case on January 24, Massachusetts on February 1, Wisconsin on February 5, Pennsylvania on March 6 and Mississippi on March 11.

It can be difficult to distinguish antibodies that neutralize SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, from antibodies that fight other coronaviruses, including some that cause the common cold.

Researchers in both the NIH and CDC studies used multiple types of tests to minimize false positive results, but some experts say it still is possible their 2019 positives were infections by other coronaviruses and not the pandemic strain.

'While it is entirely plausible that the virus was introduced into the United States much earlier than is usually appreciated, it does not mean that this is necessarily strong enough evidence to change how we're thinking about this,' Dr William Hanage, a Harvard University expert on disease dynamics, told the Associated Press.

The NIH researchers have not followed up with study participants yet to see if any had traveled out of the U.S. prior to their infection.

But they found it noteworthy that the seven did not live in or near New York City or Seattle, where the first wave of U.S. cases were concentrated.

'The question is how did, and where did, the virus take seed,' Althoff said. The new study indicates 'it probably seeded in multiple places in our country,' she added.
Pregnant women are getting vaccinated against COVID-19 at very low rates, a new report finds.

Only 16 percent of mothers-to-be in the U.S. had received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine by early May, the Centers for Disease (Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed on Tuesday.

Vaccination rates diverge significantly by race: 25 percent of Asian pregnant women and 20 percent of white women were vaccinated compared to 12 percent of Hispanic women and only six percent of black women.

This is especially surprising because expecting mothers are more vulnerable to severe cases of COVID-19 or dying from the disease than the general population.

The CDC researchers expect vaccination coverage among pregnant women to increase as vaccine access continues to improve and more information on the shots' safety becomes available.

A CDC study found that only 16% of U.S. pregnant women had received at least one vaccine dose. Pictured: A pregnant woman receives a COVID vaccine at Skippack Pharmacy in Schwenksville, Pennsylvania

Asian and white pregnant women had higher overall vaccination rates at 25% and 20%, respectively, compared to black and Hispanic women with vaccination rates of only 6% and 12%, respectively

When COVID-19 vaccines went through clinical trials, they were not tested in pregnant or breastfeeding women despite their increased risk of severe illness or death.

Such a practice is common in clinical trials because researchers don't want to risk the health of expecting women.

But it left these women with limited information on safety risks that the vaccines may have posed.

Regulators said the evidence on these vaccines did not raise safety concerns, yet without data specifically on pregnant women, they could not make guarantees.

Despite the limited data, when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for emergency use in early December, the agency said that pregnant women could choose to get vaccinated.

At the time, some scientists saw this as a major step forward for pregnant women - they could make their own healthcare decisions.

Doctors recommended that women consult with their doctors to make a personal choice weighing the risk of severe COVID against the unknowns of a new vaccine.

But the new data from the CDC suggest that many pregnant women in the U.S. chose not to get vaccinated, at least, not in early months of the vaccine rollout.

Researchers analyzed data from Vaccine Safety Datalink, an information portal run by the CDC and nine large healthcare organizations based in seven different states. The database includes about 11.6 million Americans in total.

The researchers searched this database for women who were pregnant between December 14, 2020 - when the Pfizer vaccine was the first to receive authorization - and May 8, 2021. They identified 136,000.

Out of those 136,000 pregnant women, only 22,000 received a vaccine dose during the five-month period - a rate of just 16 percent.

Of those 22,000 women, about 15,000 had completed their vaccination series and another 7,000 had received at least one dose.

CDC researchers say pregnant women may have been hesitant to get vaccinated because limited safety data was available for them. Pictured: A pregnant woman receives her shot

Why the low vaccination rate? The CDC researchers suggest that pregnant women may have been hesitant to get vaccinated due to the limited safety data available on the new COVID vaccines as well as potential access issues.

Older pregnant women were more likely to get vaccinated than younger women. Pregnant women between the ages of 35 and 49 had a 23 percent vaccination rate, compared to just a 6 percent rate for ages 18 to 24.

Rates also differed significantly by race and ethnicity. Pregnant Asian women had the highest vaccination rate, at 25 percent. White women also had a higher rate, at 20 percent.

Pregnant Hispanic and black women, meanwhile, had vaccination rates of only 12 percent and six percent, respectively.

This means white and Asian women were vaccinated at a rate up to four times higher than black women.

Black and Hispanic Americans have lower vaccination rates overall and experts have cited distrust in the medical community as a potential reason why these groups may be hesitant.

Some survey data suggests, however, that many black and Hispanic Americans do want to get vaccinated - yet face access barriers, such as being unable to find an appointment near where they live or one that fits into their work schedule.

Vaccination rates have improved over time for all the demographic groups included in the CDC study.

This is likely due to improved access to vaccines as well as more information on vaccine safety.

Vaccine makers and public health agencies have carefully monitored the safety of those pregnant women who get vaccinated. These studies have shown that the COVID-19 vaccines are safe for pregnant women.

Some preliminary studies have even shown that, if a mother gets vaccinated, she can transfer COVID-19 antibodies to her newborn through placenta and breast milk.

The CDC researchers expect vaccination coverage to continue improving over the coming months.

Still, the researchers say their findings 'indicate the need for improved outreach to and engagement with pregnant women, especially those from racial and ethnic minority groups who might be at higher risk for severe health outcomes because of COVID.'
Unvaccinated employees at Houston Methodist hospital system say they plan to bring their lawsuit against their employer to the U.S. Supreme Court, after their bid to have a vaccine mandate at work thrown out was ruled against by a federal judge.

The hospital system suspended 178 employees for two weeks without pay starting last week after they failed to get vaccinated.

The system set a June 6 deadline for all employees to get vaccinated back in April or risk termination.

In a stinging defeat, a federal judge bluntly ruled over the weekend that if employees of Houston Methodist, they can go work elsewhere.

But the fight isn't over yet and the staffers said they are prepared to take their case all the way to the highest court in the land.

Unvaccinated workers plan to continue appeals after federal courts ruled against them over the weekend all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. Pictured: A rally protesting the vaccine requirements was held outside of Houston Methodist's Baytown location, June 7

A group of 117 employees sued the hospital for their vaccine requirements, but a federal judge threw out their case over the weekend. Pictured: People march past Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital in Baytown after a mandate requiring workers to get a shot

Jennifer Bridges, a nurse at the hospital who gained attention for her vocal opposition to the mandate, was leading the group of 117 suing the hospital.

She is steadfast in her belief that it's wrong for her employer to force hospital workers like her to get vaccinated against COVID-19 or say goodbye to their jobs.

'This is only the beginning. We are going to be fighting for quite a while,' Bridges said.

But that's a losing legal argument so far.

'Methodist is trying to do their business of saving lives without giving them the COVID-19 virus,' U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes wrote in dismissing the lawsuit over the vaccine requirement.

'It is a choice made to keep staff, patients and their families safer. Bridges can freely choose to accept or refuse a COVID-19 vaccine; however, if she refuses, she will simply need to work somewhere else.'

In December, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ruled that employers could legally set vaccination requirements for their employees.

Bridges, 39, and her coworkers are set to be fired if they do not get vaccinated by June 22.

Hospital CEO Marc Bloom wrote in an email last week that at least 27 suspended workers had decided to get vaccinated after they were suspended.

Marc Bloom (pictured), CEO of the hospital system, released a statement saying he stands by the decision to make employees get vaccinated

'It is unfortunate that today's milestone of Houston Methodist becoming the safest hospital system in the country is being overshadowed by a few disgruntled employees,' Bloom wrote.

'I know that today may be difficult for some who are sad about losing a colleague who's decided to not get vaccinated.'

'We only wish them well and thank them for their past service to our community, and we must respect the decision they made.'

The hospital system already requires all employees to receive the flu shot every year.

Houston Methodist also offered a $500 cash incentive to all employees who received the vaccine.

'As health care workers we must do everything possible to keep our patients safe and at the center of everything we do,' said Bloom in another email to employees.

'By choosing to be vaccinated, you are leaders - showing our colleagues in health care what must be done to protect our patients, ourselves, our families and our communities.'

The hospital system first told its administrative staff and new hires to get vaccinated by mid-April before extending the deadline to early June.

Two employees chose to leave the hospital system instead of getting vaccinated at the time.

Employees who have a religious or health exemption for receiving the vaccine had until May 3 to apply for a waiver.

According to the Washington Post, 285 employees were given exemptions for medical reasons, and 332 received medical deferrals to receiving the vaccine.

On June 7, suspended workers led a demonstration outside the hospital, protesting the vaccine mandate.

Jennifer Bridges (pictured), 29, who was among the suspended, is leading 117 employees in a lawsuit against the hospital

The Houston Methodist employees have likened their situation to medical experiments performed on unwilling victims in Nazi concentration camps during World War II, which a judge later called reprehensible.

Allison K Hoffman, a law professor at the University of Pennsylvania, also agreed that said claims 'are bordering on absurd.'

Bridges says that she does not have confidence in the vaccine's safety, and has claimed that she has seen patients and co-workers have severe reactions to receiving it.

'No one should be forced to put something into their body if they're not comfortable with it,' Bridges said during the protest.

Bridges and the group of employees are being represented by Jared Woodfill from the Houston-based Woodfill Law Firm.

Woodfill told KHOU that his firm filed a declaration action, asking the court to declare the hospital's orders illegal.

He argues that the vaccine is an experimental product, and that it should not be legal to force employees to receive it.

'[The vaccine] that's been on the market for less than a year. And yes, it's being used under EUA, but at the same time, that is experimental by definition,' he said.

'You can't fire someone for refusing to do something illegal, and if you look at federal law, it makes it very clear that it's illegal to force someone to participate in a vaccine trial.'

Hospital systems in Washington, D.C., Indiana, Maryland, Pennsylvania and most recently New York, have followed Houston Methodist and have also gotten pushback.

NewYork-Presbyterian and Indiana University Health, India are each requiring all its employees be fully vaccinated by September 1.

So far, just over 60 percent of its 34,000 employees have been vaccinated, spokesman Jeff Swiatek said.

Some employees in Indianapolis on Saturday protested the requirement.

Kasey Ladig, an intensive care nurse and outpatient coordinator in the bone marrow transplant unit at IU Health, said she quit the job she loved the day the policy was announced.

'I would love to hear something other than: "We trust the science,"' Ladig said.

'It was a huge red flag. I didn't feel comfortable getting it.'
News media are more likely to report on a novel scientific finding about Alzheimer's disease if the authors fail to disclose in their paper's title that the research was done in mice, a new study finds.

Out of about 600 Alzheimer's papers, those papers without 'mice' in the title saw an average of four news stories per study, while those that did include 'mice' in the title saw only three stories per study.

This means outlets are about 30 percent more likely to report on studies where rodents were not featured in the title.

What's more, reporters are likely to follow a scientist's lead and also omit 'mice' from their news headlines - misleading readers who might think a scientific finding is closer to a new treatment or cure than it truly is.

The Brazilian study provides data for a well-established trend in popular science reporting, suggesting that scientists should be more careful in writing titles for their papers.

Papers that omitted 'in mice' from their titles saw 30% more news articles compared to those that included 'in mice,' a new study found (file image)

Mice are a common study subject for medical research.

Scientists use mice as a 'model,' using their reactions to potential treatments for disease as a way to represent how humans might react before actually testing anything in humans.

The mouse model is especially common for Alzheimer's disease. About 200 rodent models - including mice and related animals - have been developed to study the condition.

Alzheimer's is a condition that only impacts humans, however and no treatment tested in mice has actually panned out when tested for people.

In fact, there are currently no drugs available that can cure this disease, which impacts over six million Americans.

The wide-ranging reach of Alzheimer's, combined with its lack of a cure, combined further with the common use of mice to study the disease, makes this condition especially vulnerable to a worrying trend in popular science reporting.

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Media outlets reporting on new science often sensationalize new studies by failing to specify in headlines that a study was done in mice.

Such a reporting tactic can lead readers to think that science has made a great breakthrough for human patients when in fact much more research is needed before a treatment might become available.

The phenomenon is so widespread that a Twitter account calling attention to the issue, '@justsaysinmice,' has attained over 70,000 followers since it was founded in April 2019.

The account comments on new articles that omit mice from their titles with 'IN MICE' - reminding followers of the study model.

But as much as media outlets may sensationalize new research, some blame can also be placed on scientists themselves, according to a new study published Tuesday in PLOS Biology.

Two scientists from Humane Society International and the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation in Brazil looked at over 600 papers on Alzheimer's published in open-access journals during 2018 and 2019.

All papers described Alzheimer's research conducted in a mouse model.

Out of 623 papers included in the study, 405 specified in their paper titles that their research was done in mice. The other 208 did not specify.

The researchers then looked at media coverage of the papers, using a service called Altmetric that tracks news stories and social media.

Those papers that failed to specify 'in mice' in their titles saw significantly more media coverage - an average of 3.9 stories per paper, compared to 3.0 stories per paper for those that did specify the research was done in mice.

That means the omitting-mice papers saw 31 percent more news attention.

Furthermore, journalists seemed to follow scientists in titling their news stories.

If the scientist is more sensationalist - not mentioning the mouse model - a journalist will be, too.

'When authors omit mice from the paper's title, writers of news stories reporting on these papers tend to follow suit,' the researchers wrote. 'What we see is that in most cases their headlines do not mention mice either.'

Those papers that declared their use of mice in the title got less media attention than those that did

In addition, the researchers found that omitting-mice papers generated far more attention on social media - an average of 18.9 tweets per paper compared to 9.7 tweets per paper for those that did specify their mouse model.

In a press release, the researchers provided examples of sensationalist news stories based on mouse studies: 'Common nutrient supplementation may hold the answers to combating Alzheimer's disease', 'How flashing lights could treat Alzheimer's disease' and 'How Exercise Might 'Clean' the Alzheimer's Brain,' among many others.

Such articles could give false hope to Alzheimer's patients and their families, as there are many scientific steps between success in mice and feasible treatment in humans.

Papers that didn't declare their mice model in the title also saw more social media attention

'The vast majority of potential treatments discovered through experiments on mice are ineffective when tested in humans,' said Dr Marcia Triunfol, Humane Society International's scientific advisor and one of the study's authors.

'Despite this significant flaw in the animal models, we show that articles glossing over the fact that the results were obtained using animals are given increased visibility and therefore implied credibility by the media.'

Triunfol's study provides hard data for a problem that many scientists have observed for years. She said that Alzheimer's researchers and others should be more careful in writing titles for their papers while journalists should be more careful in communicating results to the public.

'The reporting of animal research needs to be addressed with far greater caution and more prominent disclaimers in mainstream media to ensure the public understands that the results of animal experiments may have little to no relevance to human patients,' she said.

In the paper, Triunfol and her colleague Dr Fabio Gouveia point to the Animal Research: Reporting of In Vivo Experiments (ARRIVE) guidelines as one potential solution to the issue.

The guidelines could be revised, they suggest, so that scientists are encouraged to review each other's paper titles in addition to the contents of those papers. The ARRIVE guidelines could even go so far as to require paper titles to 'identify the species and/or tissue sources used' in research.

With such an amendment, paper titles - and news headlines - might get a bit more boring, but scientific understanding would improve.
U.S. health officials announced on Monday a one-year ban on bringing in dogs from more than 100 countries where rabies is still a problem.

The ban is being imposed because of a spike in the number of puppies entering the country with false rabies vaccination certificates., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said.

In 2020, there were 450 dogs discovered to have entered the nation with false vaccine certificates, a 52 percent increase over the previous year.

After the new policy goes into effect on July 14, dogs coming in from those countries will need proof of rabies vaccination.

Among the 113 countries listed include Russia, Ukraine and Columbia.

About one million dogs are brought into the U.S. each year, and the ban is expected to apply to between four percent and 7.5 percent, officials said.

The United States is banning the import of dogs from 100 countries starting on July 14 in order to prevent the dogs from bringing in rabies. Pictured: A border patrol officer inspects dogs being brought into the country from the Dominican Republic for rabies

"We want to make sure we're bringing healthy dogs into the country - especially if they are going to be pets," said Douglas Kratt, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association, who applauded the decision.

Dogs from these nations must spend at least six months in an approved nation before being allowed to enter the nation.

Rabies is usually a fatal disease in animals and humans, caused by a virus that invades the central nervous system, and is most commonly spread through a bite from an infected animal.

There is no cure for it once symptoms begin, but it can be prevented through vaccination.

Currently, dogs under the age of four months are banned from entering the United States, because they dogs do not receive the rabies vaccination until that age.

Dogs were once common carriers of the virus in the U.S. but the type that normally circulates in dogs was eliminated in the U.S. through vaccinations in the 1970s.

However, many dog vaccination programs have been suspended during the pandemic, meaning even less dogs have been vaccinated for the condition, increasing the chance of its spread to humans.

In 1988, a new type of dog rabies was brought in from Mexico. It spread to wild coyotes and it took 19 years to eliminate.

Health officials are hoping that this ban will help avoid another similar outbreak from occurring once again.

Humans who are infected with rabies and show symptoms will almost always die. While deaths in America are rare, around 59,000 people die every year from rabies, usually because of contact with dogs

The CDC says that about 5,000 cases of animal rabies are reported to the agency every year, mostly among bats, raccoons, skunks and foxes.

There have only been about one or two rabies related human deaths on average since 1960, a sharp decline from the early 1900's where almost 100 Americans died every year from the disease.

About 70 percent of human rabies exposure in the United States comes from bats.

While rabies is largely under control in the United States, it does remain a problem elsewhere.

The Global Alliance for Rabies Control reports that 59,000 people die every year from rabies, usually in poorer, rural, areas of Africa and Asia.

Almost all of the deaths can be attributed to someone coming in contact with a dog infected with the virus.
Shares in Esken nosedived as the City reacted to the collapse of Stobart Air.

Esken, formerly known as Stobart Group, called in liquidators over the weekend after a deal to sell the airline to a 26-year-old Isle of Man bitcoin entrepreneur fell through.

Almost 500 jobs are at risk at the regional airline, which ran flights on behalf of Aer Lingus and other groups.

Almost 500 jobs are at risk at regional airline Stobart Air, which ran flights on behalf of Aer Lingus and other groups

And thousands of passengers risk having their flights cancelled  and possibly even being stranded  as a result.

It is a mighty fall from grace for the former FTSE 250 company, which previously ran the Eddie Stobart trucking business and had grand ambitions to become an energy, infrastructure and aviation major.

Some of this had already been scaled back, and the pandemic pummelled its aviation arm and finances.

Esken confirmed yesterday that it was retreating further and will concentrate on its prize asset, Southend Airport, and biomass businesses.

Other parts of the company are earmarked for disposal, notably Carlisle Airport which serves the Lake District.

Stock Watch - Kromek Investors cheered as Kromek won a 4.3million contract for the latest part of a project with the US defence department. AIM-listed Kromek is designing an autonomous detection system that could sense and analyse dangerous airborne pathogens released in a bio-terrorist attack. In the first stage of work with the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency, Kromek built a system mounted on a vehicle. The firm has received 9.3million from the project in total so far. Shares in the company, which was spun out of Durham University in 2003, rose 6 per cent, or 0.9p, to 15.9p.

It is in talks to secure 120million of emergency funding by selling a 30 per cent stake in Southend, valuing it at around 400million, and has been forced to seek outside help because the collapse of Stobart Air has left it on the hook for aircraft lease payments worth tens of millions of pounds.

The white knight is Carlyle Group, the American buyout fund. Esken dipped 8.6 per cent, or 2.65p, to 28.35p, making it the biggest faller on the FTSE All-Share index.

The wider market, however, made gains. The FTSE 100 ended higher, boosted by heavyweight energy companies BP (up 1.9 per cent, or 6.1p, to 330.4p) and Shell (up 2.5 per cent, or 34p, to 1393.6p) which rose in tandem with oil prices.

The Footsie hit its highest level since February 2020, reaching 7188, but it fell back slightly to end 0.2 per cent higher, up 12.62 points, to 7146.68.

The FTSE 250 only just managed to stay in the black, closing 0.1 per cent higher, up 10.38 points, to 22,744.51.

Both indexes were held back by travel and leisure stocks as investors braced for a four-week lockdown extension.

The stock market victims included British Airways-owner IAG, which fell 4.2 per cent, or 8.48p, to 194.72p, Wagamama-owner the Restaurant Group  down 4.3 per cent, or 5.6p, to 123.4p  and conference organiser Informa, which dipped 2.4 per cent, or 13.2p, to 530p.

Shares in over-50s group Saga were down 2.3 per cent, or 9.4p, to 401p, after it said in a brief annual meeting trading update that insurance sales were down and it was burning around 7million a month in the four months to May 31.

Aviation services group John Menzies, down 1.2 per cent, or 4p, to 335p, was on the back foot despite winning a deal to manage and operate a new cargo terminal at one of the worlds busiest airports, Guangzhou Baiyun International in China.

And even Just Eat Takeaway slid 2 per cent, or 130p, to 6361p as traders brushed off the assumed boost the lockdown delay will have on orders.

A stock market announcement also revealed that US asset manager Blackrock now owns more than 6 per cent of the company.

Toronto-based chip designer Alphawave IP climbed after it reported record year-to-date bookings of more than 135million in its half-year results.

The figures will come as a relief after Alphawaves disappointing market debut last month, when its shares fell by 20 per cent during its first day of trading.

Alphawaves listing had been seen as a vote of confidence in Londons tech expertise, but went the same way as the disastrous float of Deliveroo  up 0.6 per cent, or 1.5p, to 256.9p.

Alphawave shares rose by 1.3 per cent, or 4p, to 319p.
Private equity firm CVC is seeking to cash in on the 'staycations' boom by snapping up a UK holiday parks owner for 250million.

With foreign holidays thwarted by pandemic restrictions, many British families are taking breaks nearer home.

That has benefited Away Resorts, based in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, which has seen demand for space at its nine sites rocket.

Staycation boom: Private equity firm CVC has snapped up UK holiday parks owner Away Resorts in a 250m deal

Its park in St Ives, Cornwall  just a stone's throw from Carbis Bay where the G7 summit was held  is fully booked for the rest of the year.

And CVC is seeking to capitalise by taking over the company. It is the latest buyout in a string of UK takeovers mounted by private equity firms, which some critics have branded 'pandemic plundering'.

Butlins owner Bourne Leisure was recently taken over by Blackstone while Madame Tussauds and Legoland are also owned by private equity.

Park Holidays and Verdant Leisure are currently up for sale. Away Resorts, which was founded in 2008 by Carl Castledine, Neill Ryder and Greg Lashley and welcomes 200,000 people a year at sites including Tattershall Lakes in Lincolnshire, was taken over by Freshstream, another private equity company, in 2019.

Freshstream put the resorts firm up for sale this year. CVC said the business was 'well-positioned' to take advantage of the staycations trend and promised to upgrade and expand its property portfolio.

Private equity deals have snapped up a series of British firms in deals worth tens of billions of pounds during the pandemic.

The debt-fuelled spree has sparked concerns, with critics warning it could put jobs and pensions at risk if the deals go awry.

The Mail is campaigning for greater transparency in the sector and for an end to sharp practices.
Glaxosmithkline has struck a 1.4billion deal to develop new cancer drugs with a US rival.

The move bolsters the British pharma giants pipeline of medicines at a time when boss Emma Walmsley is seeking to reassure investors.

It will pay 443million upfront to Boston-based Iteos Therapeutics, which could then get another 1billion if the deal leads to clinical and commercial breakthroughs.

Glaxosmithkline's deal with Boston-based Iteos Therapeutics bolsters the UK firm's pipeline of medicines at a time when boss Emma Walmsley (pictured) is seeking to reassure investors

It comes as Walmsley, 52, is trying to convince investors that she is the right person to lead the pharmaceutical and vaccines-focused company after the consumer business is spun off next summer.

She faces potential disruption from feared activist Elliott Management, which took a multi-billion-pound stake last month.

The chief executive is due to set out her long-term plans at a capital markets day on June 23 that is now seen as a crucial test.

There, she will also seek to boost investor confidence in the pipeline of new drugs  and its potential to create future blockbusters that generate more than $1billion in annual revenue.

The Iteos deal is to develop EOS-448, an experimental treatment that could be given to patients with certain types of cancer to switch off a tumours ability to evade the bodys immune system.

EOS-448 is in early trials using patients with advanced solid tumours. Glaxo and Iteos plan to start combination studies of EOS-448 with Glaxo cancer drug Dostarlimab.

Dr Hal Barron, Glaxo science chief, said the trials could prove critical as fewer than 30 per cent of patients respond to similar drugs.

He added: We believe that [these] combinations could become transformative for many patients.
Nearly one in five Britons - or roughly 10million people - have less than 100 in savings, new research has revealed.

Meanwhile, 13 per cent have none at all and 26 per cent admit to holding under 500, according to the survey by Yorkshire Building Society.

The number of people not saving at all has almost doubled in the last two years as 21 per cent admit not saving now compared to 12 per cent in 2019.

However, 20 per cent have increased their monthly savings during the pandemic, suggesting a widening of what Britain's second largest mutual is dubbing the 'financial wellbeing gap.'

Sad piggy: Nearly one in five Britons have less than 100 in savings, new research has revealed

A further 17 per cent have reduced their outstanding debt during the outbreak, a trend which has been highlighted in Bank of England data.

The Office for Budget Responsibility has also estimated that Britons will have collectively stashed away 180billion by the middle of this year due to the pandemic.

Tina Hughes, director of savings at Yorkshire Building Society said: 'Our research highlights just how fragile many people's finances are with the shocking figure that nearly a fifth of all UK adults have less than 100 in savings.

'While we know it can be hard for people to put money away, especially with rising living costs and in a low interest environment, we mustn't overlook the impact saving has on people's financial and mental wellbeing.'

The research highlighted the impact financial wellbeing has on peoples mental health finding 22 per cent of people have had sleepless nights due to money worries and 40 per cent feel stressed about their financial situation.

Another 35 per cent of people said the pandemic had increased their stress levels when it came to money.

Hughes added: 'Now more than ever, with current and potential future economic uncertainty, it's important for people to try and build their financial resilience.

'Money worries can make people anxious, so we want them to know they don't have to suffer in silence and we're here to help them manage their money during difficult times.'

The survey by Yorkshire Building Society was of 2,000 adults by Opinium.

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Paying: More people are spending now that lockdown restrictions have eased in recent times

Savings dipped by 21%

Separate research from Yolt found the amount people have saved since lockdown restrictions lifted on 12 April has dipped by 21 per cent, when compared to March this year.

There was also a 5 per cent decrease in savings in May compared to April, suggesting people are looking to spend more after the easing of some restrictions.

Its research found more people are making the most of their new found freedom with spending increasing in several sectors, with the highest change in shopping and eating out.

The research found a four per cent uptick in the average amount users splashed on shopping after non-essential retail opened on 12 April when compared to the weeks in lockdown before.

There was also a four per cent rise in those spending on outdoor hospitality in the same period.
A US journalist held by Myanmar's military junta for three months has been released and deported after 'fake news that could cause mutiny' charges were dropped.

Nathan Maung was jailed while working for local online news agency Kamayut Media, one of nearly 100 journalists detained following the coup in February.

The American and his colleague, Burmese national Hanthar Nyein, suffered two weeks of torture while they were interrogated for 'spreading misinformation,' according to CNN. Nyein remains in prison.

Another US journalist, Danny Fenster, remains in custody after he was arrested while working as the managing editor of Frontier Myanmar which published both in English and Burmese.

He was detained at Rangoon airport on June 24 as he was preparing to board a flight to Malaysia en route to the Detroit area to see his family.

Journalist Nathan Maung, left, with his colleague Hanthar Nyein

Danny Fenster, 37, the managing editor of Frontier Myanmar, one of the country's top independent news sites, was detained at the main international gateway in Yangon while preparing to fly to Malaysia, Frontier said on Twitter

Myanmar's military junta, which seized power in February after ousting the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, has faced broad opposition to its rule and seeks to quell all dissent. Critical media voices have been forced underground or into exile.

Maung and Nyein, who co-founded Kamayut Media, were charged under a section of the penal code that punishes 'dissemination of information or 'fake news' that could agitate or cause security forces or officials to mutiny' with a maximum three-year prison term, according to the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists.

Maung's lawyer said he is being held an extra day for a COVID-19 test before taking a flight out of the country on Tuesday.

She said he is able to reclaim most of his belongings, but that $1,600 and about $4,250 in Myanmar's currency are missing.

Fellow American Fenster remains in Rangoon's Insein Prison, a detention center where the ruling military junta has confined its political enemies.

'We do not know why Danny was detained and have not been able to contact him,' Frontier Myanmar said last month.

Danny Fenster

'We are concerned for his wellbeing and call for his immediate release. Our priorities now are to make sure he is safe and provide him with whatever assistance he needs.

Bryan Fenster, Danny's brother, told the Detroit Free Press that he was en route back to the United States to visit his family when he was detained.

'We're just praying for his safety,' Bryan said.

'We just hope he's healthy, that he's being looked after and that this mess is rectified as soon as possible.'

Bryan is asking for the public's help in spreading the word about his brother's arrest in the hope that it will expedite his release.

He said his brother has a 'passion for journalism and how the written word could spark change.'

'He's got a heart and passion for human rights and social justice, definitely a concerned world citizen.'

According to Myanmar's Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, about 90 journalists have been arrested since the armys takeover, with more than half still in detention, and 33 in hiding.

The U.S. government and rights groups have urged the junta to respect freedom of expression and stop harassment and arrests of journalists. It pressed repeatedly for the release of Maung and Fenster.

Two other foreign journalists have been arrested by the junta. Freelancers Robert Bociaga of Poland and Yuki Kitazumi of Japan have since been deported.

Maung, the Kamayut website's editor-in-chief, and Hanthar Nyein, a news producer, were arrested on March 9.

They were held at a military interrogation center in Yangon, Myanmars biggest city, before being transferred to Insein Prison, the countrys main detention facility for political prisoners.
Londoners are hitting out at Uber for 'costing more than a black cab' - but the company insists it has not raised prices in two years.

Britons have accused the San Francisco-based company of hiking fares to the point where they are now more expensive than taxis. But in spite of these claims, the cost of a typical Uber still appears consistently lower than black cab fares.

The outcry is likely more to do with the increase of demand due to more Britons heading outdoors amid relatively light Covid restrictions and sunny weather.

At times when demand is high, for instance during rush hour and large events, Uber adds a 'surge charge'. This can see the fare for a journey doubled.

App history seen by MailOnline reveals a trip from Clapham, south London, to Hammersmith at 9.38am on a Saturday cost 25.22 - while the return journey an hour and a half later cost half that amount at 12.70.

The same trip repeated the following Saturday cost 20.91 for the outward journey at 11.33am, and 16.80 for the return at 1.34pm.

The company claims that increasing its prices in this way 'helps ensure that those who need a driver can get one... and it lets the Uber app continue to be a reliable choice'.

Britons have accused the San Francisco-based company of hiking fares to the point where they are now more expensive than taxis. But in spite of these claims, the cost of a typical Uber still appears consistently lower than black cab fares

Social media users have voiced their displeasure with the system recently, with one saying: 'I know I live in London but what is with Uber prices jumping by 10-15 in the matter of 20 minutes. It's really sick'

App history reveals a trip from Clapham, south London, to Hammersmith at 9.38am on a Saturday cost 25.22 - while the return journey cost half that amount at 12.70. The same trip repeated the following Saturday cost 20.91 for the outward trip at 11.33am, and 16.80 for the return at 1.34pm

CASE STUDIES: UBER PRICES DOUBLE AMID SURGE CHARGE - BUT STAY LOW OTHERWISE MailOnline has compiled Uber receipts revealing how typical prices have not increased - but surge charges can see a journey double in price. Receipts for Ubers from Battersea to Kensington, arriving at 6am, show the following prices: Today: 10.49

Yesterday: 10.97

Last week: 10.68

April 1: 11.23

March 29: 11.10

December 16: 10.56

November 11: 10 But trips between Clapham and Hammersmith, between 9.30am and 2pm, reveal a significant change in pricing, likely due to the surge charge: June 5, outgoing: 25.22

June 5, return trip: 12.70

June 12, outgoing: 20.91

June 12, return trip: 16.80 Advertisement

Social media users have voiced their displeasure with the system recently.

One said: 'I know I live in London but what is with Uber prices jumping by 10-15 in the matter of 20 minutes. It's really sick.'

Another said Uber prices were 'completely out of control in London' during peak times, and it was 'cheaper to take a black cab'.

But an Uber spokesperson told MailOnline: 'Uber has not raised its prices in London since 2019, and is committed to providing safe and affordable trips.'

More app history seen by MailOnline shows the cost of an Uber from Battersea to Kensington, arriving at 6am, has consistently cost around 11 since November.

And a MailOnline comparison found that Uber was the cheapest of four options for a trip from Kensington to Heathrow Airport, without surge pricing.

Uber would charge 17 for the journey, while Bolt would be 21, Kapten would charge 33 and a black cab would be 55.

But Steve McNamara, General Secretary of the Licensed Taxi Drivers' Association, told MailOnline: 'Black cabs have always been the most efficient, reliable way to travel in London, offering a high quality, regulated service, at a fair price.

'In contrast, Uber's business model was never sustainable.

'Its previously low fares were only made possible by its exploitative practices.

'Since the Supreme Court ruled that its drivers are ''workers'' and owed certain rights, including minimum wage, it's unsurprising that the company has increased fares to pass these costs onto passengers.

'As we've seen time and again with things like surge pricing, Uber has never been afraid to put making money above all else.'
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Coronavirus will never be eradicated and Britons will need to learn to live with the virus even if it causes hundreds of deaths a day when lockdown finally ends next month, top scientists and senior ministers have warned.

Independent experts seeking to manage expectations before restrictions are lifted told MailOnline that achieving zero Covid deaths was 'impossible' and that the focus should be to bring them down to levels comparable with flu  which kills roughly 17,000 people in England annually and up to 50,000 in a bad year.

The comments were echoed by Michael Gove, who said that while ministers need to do 'everything we can to protect people', it was important for the public to 'accept' that there would continue to be Covid deaths when the country unlocks on July 19.

Boris Johnson and England's chief expert advisers Professor Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance have all repeated the line that we will 'have to learn to live with Covid' in the past 24 hours, in what seems to be a concerted effort to take emphasis away from the daily death numbers.

There has been fierce debate about what level of Covid deaths would be 'tolerable' when Britain emerges from the shutdown  but one of the Government's top scientists, Professor Graham Medley, said it was 'quite possible' there could be hundreds each day post lockdown.

Professor Karol Sikora, an expert in medicine at the University of Buckingham, told MailOnline: 'All deaths are very emotional and upsetting... but it's important we embrace Covid like we have other viruses because it will become a normal feature in society.

'We should consider it a success if we bring it [Covid deaths] down to levels comparable with flu deaths every year. We will never achieve zero Covid.'

Cambridge University epidemiologist Dr Raghib Ali told MailOnline that once July 19 comes and most of the adult population have been given a vaccine: 'It's my view that we will be in as strong a position as we ever will be. Prolonging restrictions beyond that point doesn't achieve much.'

Asked what an acceptable number of Covid deaths would be, he added: 'If you look at deaths and excess deaths from influenza, the Government tolerates numbers up to about 50,000 [per year].'

Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office minister, told Times Radio: 'We have to accept that this virus will circulate, and it will be the case, unfortunately, that in winters to come we will find that people contract it or subsequent variants and they will fall ill.

'Unfortunately there are respiratory diseases, including flu itself, which do every year result in an upsurge of people being taken into hospital, and in some cases suffering tragic consequences.' In a separate interview with BBC Radio 4, he said 'were going to have to learn to live with Covid'.

Covid has killed more than 150,000 people since the crisis began last spring, but the vaccines have shown to be extremely effective at preventing deaths - reducing fatalities by more than 90%. Independent scientists seeking to manage expectations before restrictions are lifted told MailOnline that achieving zero Covid deaths going forward was 'impossible' and that the focus should be to bring them down to levels comparable with flu  which kills roughly 17,000 people in England annually (shown on graph). Source: Office for National Statistics and Public Health England

Michael Gove (today, left) said that while ministers need to do 'everything we can to protect people', it was important for the public to 'accept' that there would continue to be Covid deaths when the country unlocks on July 19. Boris Johnson (pictured today, right) said we will 'have to learn to live with Covid' at last night's press conference

It is not clear what levels of Covid deaths the country can expect when lockdown is ended next month, and this has been made less clear due to the outbreak of the highly transmissible Indian variant.

That strain has proven to be at least 60 per cent more infectious than the Kent version and twice as likely to put unvaccinated people in hospital.

But two doses of the jabs are extremely effective against the mutant virus, reducing hospitalisations by up to 96 per cent.

The Government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) warned there could have been 250 to more than 500 deaths per day in the third wave this summer if Step 4 of the roadmap out of lockdown went ahead as planned on June 21.

Ministers urge another 3.6MILLION people in Indian variant hotspots not to travel Millions more people in the Midlands and North West of England are being urged not to travel or meet people indoors in an attempt to curb the spread of the Indian Covid variant. In guidance released last night, roughly 3.6million residents in Birmingham, Liverpool, Warrington and parts of Cheshire were asked to minimise their movements in and out of the affected areas, which are recording higher than average levels of the mutant strain. But Boris Johnson made no mention of the fresh advice in his dramatic Downing Street press conference last night, where he confirmed England's final unlocking would be pushed back by four weeks amid fears the mutant strain could overwhelm hospitals. Remaining lockdown restrictions are now due to be lifted on July 19, which the Prime Minister last night promised would be the 'terminus date'. The Government today doubled down on its new Freedom Day pledge, with Michael Gove saying he was 'as confident as confident can be about that date', despite fears from backbench Tory MPs that the goalposts will be moved once again. Asked about whether the Prime Minister could put Tory fears to bed this afternoon, Mr Johnson's official spokesman said 'there is not a significant benefit from a further delay beyond the four weeks because of the success of the vaccination programme. The six authorities hit with the new guidance are also being offered a 'package of support' from the Government which includes surge testing, enhanced contact tracing and financial support to Covid cases and their contacts who have been asked to self-isolate. The Army will be sent in to help carry out the extra testing to flush out cases of the virus, while NHS boards in the area will be given extra help to ensure vaccine uptake is as high as possible. Residents are also being asked to get tested twice a week. They join the 4m people in Greater Manchester and Lancashire, who were placed under the new rules last week. The enhanced measures cover around 9.3m residents across England, the equivalent of 16 per cent of the entire population. Advertisement

The group did not provide clear projections for what effect delaying the unlocking until July 19 will have on deaths, but its estimates around hospitalisations show the four-week gap could shrink admissions by more than half.

Prominent SAGE member Professor Graham Medley warned that, even with the extra breathing room the delay gives, Britain could still suffer hundreds of Covid deaths every day later in the year.

Dr Simon Clarke, a microbiologist at Reading University, said this was possible because there will still be millions of people who are vulnerable to the disease even when the entire country is vaccinated.

A small percentage of people who get the jab will still catch and die from Covid, usually because they are frail and have compromised immune systems.

Dr Clarke told MailOnline: 'Even if you've got a vaccine that cuts deaths by more than 90 per cent, that still leaves almost 7million people not protected.

'Then there will be even more people who get infected but do not get seriously ill. So that still means lots and lots of virus circulating which poses a risk to those vulnerable 7m.'

But he said emphasis should be taken away from the Covid death figures and focused on NHS capacity, which he said was now the most important metric.

Keith Neil, an emeritus professor in infectious diseases at the University of Nottingham, said that once the adult population had been vaccinated with at least once dose against Covid it was no longer the Government's responsibility to try to save every life.

'We can't stay in lockdowns forever, people need to make their own risk assessments. If people are worried about Covid or think they might be vulnerable, then they might decide not to meet up with others or socially distance.'

Backbench Tory MPs, including former prime minister Theresa May and Mark Harper, chairman of the Covid Recovery Group (CRG), criticised the Government for delaying the June 21 unlocking by a month, saying it was moving away from its goal of protecting the NHS. They said Britons had to learn to live with the virus.

However, other experts have said it is the Government's duty to do prevent all 'avoidable' deaths and warned ministers against becoming cocky about the virus.

Professor Gabriel Scally, a public health expert at the University of Bristol, told MailOnline: 'What's an acceptable level of road traffic accidents? We dont accept those deaths we have inquests to find out what went wrong and how can we put it right.

'Like any infectious disease it's our duty to do whatever we can to protect people from it. If we don't take sensible action and people get ill then we're being careless with people's lives.'

Meanwhile, millions more people in the Midlands and North West of England are being urged not to travel or meet people indoors in an attempt to curb the spread of the Indian Covid variant.

In guidance released last night, roughly 3.6million residents in Birmingham, Liverpool, Warrington and parts of Cheshire were asked to minimise their movements in and out of the affected areas, which are recording higher than average levels of the mutant strain.

But Mr Johnson made no mention of the fresh advice in his dramatic Downing Street press conference last night, where he confirmed England's final unlocking would be pushed back by four weeks amid fears the mutant strain could overwhelm hospitals.

Daily UK figures show 7,673 people tested positive for the virus, 184 patients were admitted to hospital and 10 people died. The data also shows that 41.8million people have been given their first dose of a vaccine, while 30.2million have received their second

Meanwhile, figures also showed the number of patients being admitted to hospital has soared by 46 per cent over the first week of June. More than 1,000 beds are now occupied by coronavirus-infected patients in England for the first time in six weeks, data also showed. Pictured, how the number of infected patients in hospital in England has risen above 1,000

Rees Mogg talks tough as UK's daily Covid cases rise by a quarter in a week and hospitalisations soar by 46% Jacob Rees-Mogg today gave the first sign of Cabinet dissent over Boris Johnson's decision to delay the final stage of the lockdown exit roadmap  as ministers doubled-down on No10's revised Freedom Day pledge, despite cases and hospitalisations continuing to rise. The Commons Leader said 'you can't run society purely to stop the hospitals being full', insisting the Government 'doesn't have the right to take charge of people's lives, purely to prevent them seeing the doctor'. His comments are likely to raise eyebrows in Downing St, with the Prime Minister already facing rebellion from his own anti-lockdown MPs who have criticised him for pushing back the final unlocking by four weeks. Remaining lockdown restrictions are now due to be lifted on July 19  or 'terminus day', as Mr Johnson called it. It comes as Department of Health bosses today posted another 7,673 positive Covid tests across Britain  up by a quarter on last Tuesday's figure. Other data shows the UK now has the highest infection rate in Europe, overtaking Spain. Meanwhile, figures also showed the number of patients being admitted to hospital has soared by 46 per cent over the first week of June. More than 1,000 beds are now occupied by coronavirus-infected patients in England for the first time in six weeks, data also showed. Despite the uptick in admissions, deaths remain flat. Ten more victims were added to the official death toll today, compared to 13 last week. Separate figures today revealed that England and Wales saw fewer Covid deaths in the first week of June than at any time since March 2020. Advertisement

The Government today doubled down on its new Freedom Day pledge, with Mr Gove saying he was 'as confident as confident can be about that date', despite fears from backbench Tory MPs the goalposts will be moved once again.

Asked about whether the PM could put Tory fears to bed this afternoon, Mr Johnson's official spokesman claimed 'there is not a significant benefit from a further delay beyond the four weeks because of the success of the vaccination programme.

The six authorities hit with the new guidance are also being offered a 'package of support' from the Government which includes surge testing, enhanced contact tracing and financial support to Covid cases and their contacts who have been asked to self-isolate.

The Army will be sent in to help carry out the extra testing to flush out cases of the virus, while NHS boards in the area will be given extra help to ensure vaccine uptake is as high as possible. Residents are also being asked to get tested twice a week.

They join the 4m people in Greater Manchester and Lancashire, who were placed under the new rules last week. The enhanced measures cover around 9.3m residents across England, the equivalent of 16 per cent of the entire population.

In other developments, Jacob Rees-Mogg today gave the first sign of Cabinet dissent over Mr Johnson's decision to delay the final stage of the lockdown exit roadmap, despite cases and hospitalisations continuing to rise.

The Commons Leader said 'you can't run society purely to stop the hospitals being full', insisting the Government 'doesn't have the right to take charge of people's lives, purely to prevent them seeing the doctor'.

It comes as Department of Health bosses today posted another 7,673 positive Covid tests across Britain  up by a quarter on last Tuesday's figure. Other data shows the UK now has the highest infection rate in Europe, overtaking Spain.

Meanwhile, figures also showed the number of patients being admitted to hospital has soared by 46 per cent over the first week of June. More than 1,000 beds are now occupied by coronavirus-infected patients in England for the first time in six weeks, data also showed.

Despite the uptick in admissions, deaths remain flat. Ten more victims were added to the official death toll today, compared to 13 last week. Separate figures today revealed that England and Wales saw fewer Covid deaths in the first week of June than at any time since March 2020.

But the rate is climbing in the North West, where millions of adults are being urged not to travel and meet friends indoors to keep a lid on the Indian variant. Fatalities doubled from eight in the space of a fortnight to 16 across the region.

No10's top scientists expect deaths to rise in coming weeks because of the spike in cases  but remain confident vaccines will thwart the disease, preventing tens of thousands of hospitalisations and fatalities.

More than 30million adults have now been vaccinated but MailOnline analysis shows the roll-out needs to speed up by around 12 per cent for the PM to meet his revised target of ensuring all adults have had their first vaccine dose and two-thirds of adults are fully vaccinated by July 19.
A gym used by Love Island and Made in Chelsea stars in an exclusive part of London has seen two vicious daylight stabbings on its doorstep in just over a month.

ONE LDN in Imperial Wharf, Fulham, west London, saw bloodshed yesterday when a man in his 30s was knifed over the road.

Last month a 15-year-old boy was rushed to hospital after being attacked on the main street by Chelsea Harbour.

Locals are concerned by the escalating violence in the area - where homes cost up to 15million - and some are desperate to move away.

One told MailOnline the stabbings were due to 'gangs moving in' and people were terrified, adding: 'The attacks had made us think about leaving.'

The incidents happened just yards from the gym frequented by social media figures and reality TV stars.

Love Island's Zara McDermott and Made in Chelsea's Ryan Libbey were working out at the 250-a-month gym when the most recent stabbing happened.

Arabella Chi, also from Love Island, as well as Sam Thompson from MIC and his pregnant sister Louise Thompson share pictures of them there on Instagram.

ONE LDN in Imperial Wharf, Fulham, west London, saw bloodshed yesterday when a man in his 30s was knifed over the road. Pictured: Zara McDermott uses the gym

Love Island's Zara McDermott (pictured on her Instagram yesterday) and Made in Chelsea's Ryan Libbey were working out at the 250-a-month gym when the most recent stabbing happened

Police rushed to Townmead Road on the Fulham and Chelsea border at 10.50am on Monday after a man was stabbed in a house

The victim, who was in his 30s, was rushed to hospital and was in a non life-threatening condition

Police rushed to Townmead Road on the Fulham and Chelsea border at 10.50am yesterday after a man was stabbed in a house.

The victim, who was in his 30s, was rushed to hospital and was in a non life-threatening condition.

Officers arrested a man on suspicion of GBH and he remains in custody. The Met shut down the road for much of the day.

A spokesman said: 'Police were called at around 1050hrs on Monday, 14 June, to a man stabbed inside a residential address in Townmead Road, SW8.

'The man, aged in his 30s, has been taken to hospital. His injuries have been assessed as not life-threatening.

'A crime scene is in place. A man has been arrested on suspicion of GBH. He remains in police custody.

'Enquiries continue to establish the circumstances. Anyone with information that may assist the investigation is asked to call 101, ref 2802/14jun.'

Arabella Chi (pictured), from Love Island, as well as Sam Thompson from MIC and his pregnant sister Louise Thompson share pictures of them there on Instagram

Sam Thompson (left) and his co-star sister Louise (right) also have gone to the exclusive gym in the past

Louise's boyfriend Ryan Libbey (pictured together) was also in the gym when the attack occurred yesterday

ONE LDN in Imperial Wharf, Fulham, west London (pictured, the inside) is a gym frequented by celebrities

Officers arrested a man on suspicion of GBH and he remains in custody. The Met shut down the road for much of the day (pictured)

Last month officers also swooped on the area after a 15-year-old boy was stabbed in Chelsea Harbour.

The teenager was rushed to hospital and was also said to be in a non life-threatening condition.

A gang of eight men - aged between 14 and 19 - were arrested over the shocking attack.

A police spokesman said: 'Police were called at approximately 18:50hrs on Wednesday, 5 May to reports of a male stabbed in Harbour Avenue, SW10.

'Officers, London Ambulance Service and London's Air Ambulance attended the scene and found a male, believed aged 15, suffering stab injuries.

Last month officers also swooped on the area after a 15-year-old boy was stabbed in Chelsea Harbour (pictured)

'He was taken to hospital, where his condition was later assessed as not life-threatening.

'Eight males, aged between 14 and 19 years old, were arrested in connection with this incident.

'A crime scene remains in place; enquiries into the incident are ongoing.

'Anyone with information that could assist police at this early stage is asked to call 101 or tweet @MetCC and quote CAD 6025/5May.

'You can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.'
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More than 1,000 fortune seekers have flocked to a South African village in search of what they believed to be diamonds after a shepherd discovered unidentified stones in the area.

People travelled from across the country on Monday to join villagers in KwaHlathi in South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal province.

Locals have been digging since Saturday after a herd man dug up the first stone, which some believe to be quartz crystals, in an open field and put out the word.

The discovery was a life changer, said one digger, Mendo Sabelo, as he held a handful of tiny stones.

'This means our lives will change because no one had a proper job, I do odd jobs. When I returned home with them, [the family was] really overjoyed,' the 27-year-old father of two told Reuters news agency.

More than 1,000 fortune seekers have flocked to a South African village in search of what they believed to be diamonds after a shepherd discovered unidentified stones in the area

People travelled from across the country on Monday to join villagers in KwaHlathi in South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal province digging for the stones

Locals have been digging since Saturday after a herd man dug up the first stone, which some believe to be quartz crystals, in an open field and put out the word

One digger said the shepherd's discovery was a life changer in an area where many are without stable employment

Unemployed Skhumbuzo Mbhele agreed, adding: 'I hadn't seen or touched a diamond in my life. It's my first time touching it here.'

South Africa's mines department said on Monday that it was sending a team made up of geological and mining experts to the site to collect samples and conduct an analysis.

A formal technical report will be issued in due course, the department said.

The lack of an analysis of the stones has not deterred the fortune seekers as long lines of parked cars on both sides of the gravel road could be seen just a few metres from the open field, where the young, old, female and male dug through the soil with picks, shovels and forks to find riches.

South Africa's mines department said on Monday that it was sending a team made up of geological and mining experts to the site to collect samples and conduct an analysis

A formal technical report on the stones will be issued in due course, South Africa's mines department said

The lack of an analysis of the stones has not deterred the fortune seekers as long lines of parked cars on both sides of the gravel road could be seen just a few metres from the open field

The young, old, female and male dug through the soil with picks, shovels and forks to find the potential riches

South Africa's economy has long suffered from extremely high levels of unemployment, trapping millions in poverty and contributing to stark inequalities. Pictured: A man inspects what he believes to be a diamond

Some people have already started selling the stones, with the starting price ranging from 100 rand (5.15) to 300 rand (15.46)

South Africa's economy has long suffered from extremely high levels of unemployment, trapping millions in poverty and contributing to stark inequalities that persist nearly three decades after the end of apartheid in 1994. The coronavirus pandemic has made it worse.

Some people have already started selling the stones, with the starting price ranging from 100 rand (5.15) to 300 rand (15.46).

The provincial government has since requested all those involved to leave the site to allow authorities to conduct a proper inspection, amid fears the people digging at the site could potentially be spreading the coronavirus.

It expressed concern on Twitter over what it called a 'diamond rush,' writing that it had 'noted with concern, the reports of illegal mining activity taking place at KwaHlathi outside Ladysmith.'

The provincial government has since requested all those involved to leave the site to allow authorities to conduct a proper inspection

There are fears that the large number of people digging at the site could potentially be spreading the coronavirus
A judge on Monday ordered that the murder trial of New York real estate heir Robert Durst will continue, despite defense requests for a delay because they say he's in such pain that he can't stand up to dress for trial.

Durst was hospitalized and the trial was put on pause Thursday. On Monday, with the Los Angeles County jail system doctors declaring Durst fit for court, Superior Court Judge Mark E. Windham ordered that testimony in the trial, which resumed last month after a 14-month pandemic delay, would continue.

The 78-year-old Durst, charged with killing his best friend Susan Berman, appeared in court looking frail in a wheelchair and jail garb, with a catheter attached that he held up to show the judge.

A judge on Monday ordered that the murder trial of New York real estate heir Robert Durst will continue, despite defense requests for a delay because they say he's in such pain that he can't stand up to dress for trial. Pictured in court in March

The 78-year-old Durst, charged with killing his best friend Susan Berman, appeared in court looking frail in a wheelchair and jail garb, with a catheter attached that he held up to show the judge

The lawyers said Durst had a urinary tract infection as a consequence of bladder cancer, and had undiagnosed health problems that they couldn't name because the jail hospital had denied them information and access to him

Defense attorneys argued adamantly that the trial should be adjourned again because Durst was in pain, and because he couldn't get into the street clothes he is allowed to wear to avoid prejudicing the jury.

The lawyers said Durst had a urinary tract infection as a consequence of bladder cancer, and had undiagnosed health problems that they couldn't name because the jail hospital had denied them information and access to him.

'I understand hes in a good amount of pain because of the catheter,' Windham said.

Durst's lawyer Dick DeGuerin answered adamantly, 'It's not just the catheter your honor, hes in chest pain, hes unable to breathe completely.'

As testimony resumed, the judge had a blanket put over Durst to cover up his jail clothes and to 'maintain his dignity to some degree,' adding that 'one doesnt ordinarily meet with the public with a catheter bag in full view.'

Defense attorneys argued adamantly that the trial should be adjourned again because Durst was in pain, and because he couldn't get into the street clothes he is allowed to wear to avoid prejudicing the jury

Durst is on trial for the 2000 killing of Berman at her Los Angeles home. Prosecutors have also been allowed to present evidence that Durst killed his wife, who disappeared in 1982, and that he deliberately killed a Texas man in 2000.

Durst has denied killing Berman or having any involvement in his wife's disappearance. He was acquitted in the killing in Texas, which his lawyers argued was an accident.

Deputy District Attorney John Lewin argued Monday that Durst, who fled authorities after two of the deaths, had used countless ploys to avoid facing trial.

The prosecutor argued that if anything Durst's appearance hurt the prosecution.

'This doesnt look like someone whos murdered three people,' Lewin said.
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Scott Disick was caught pulling some strings for girlfriend Amelia Hamlin over the weekend after the 20-year-old was almost turned away from her birthday celebration at a Miami nightclub.

The Instagram influencer and the 38-year-old reality star were spotted stepping out in downtown Miami on Saturday as she bid farewell to her teenage years.

They kicked off the night with a lavish dinner at celebrity hotspot Papi Steak earlier in the evening before hitting up LIV nightclub where they partied into the early morning hours.

But their all-nighter celebration was nearly derailed when the couple decided to make their way over to E11EVEN, an exclusive 24-hour nightclub with exotic dancers, just before 5am.

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Birthday girl: Amelia Hamlin was seen ringing in her 20th birthday alongside beau Scott Disick in Miami on Saturday night

Exclusive DailyMail.com footage shows the pair hanging outside LIV nightclub early Sunday morning before hitting up their next destination in Downtown Miami

The pair were seen arriving at 24-hour nightclub E11EVEN just before 5am and immediately jumped to the front of the line. It seemed like Scott, however, had to pull some strings with club staff to get Amelia, who is under the legal drinking age, into the club

Golden evening: Hamlin turned more than a few heads by flaunting her fabulously fit figure in a skimpy metallic gold crop top and a matching sheer miniskirt revealing her nude-colored thong underneath

At the end of the night, Amelia was seen letting it all hang out, flashing her derriere as she dashed into The Setai Miami Beach hotel

While the two managed to skip the lengthy line outside, exclusive DailyMail.com video shows Scott had to persuade staff to let Amelia, who is under the legal drinking age, into the club.

The father-of-three was seen working his charm with one of the club bouncers who eventually let the pair into the venue.

Amelia turned more than a few heads by flaunting her fabulously fit figure in a skimpy metallic gold crop top and a matching sheer miniskirt revealing her nude-colored thong underneath.

Scott opted for casual-cool in the fashion department dressed in faded blue jeans, which had an assortment of leather crosses on them, with a black vest jacket over a navy blue t-shirt.

The couple was joined by a few of Scott's pals as well as Amelia's girl friends who were taken from party to party in a black Cadillac Escalade.

The group left the nightclub at 6am only to keep the celebration going at One Thousand Museum Miami, a luxury high-rise building whose residents include David and Victoria Beckham.

The couple was joined by Scott's pals and Amelia's girl friends who were taken from party to party in a black Cadillac Escalade

The 38-year-old reality star, who was sporting bleach blond hair, was seen chatting with his crew outside the club before heading over to their next stop

The all-night celebration continued at One Thousand Museum Miami, a luxury high-rise building whose residents include David and Victoria Beckham

Amelia was seen running in after her friends while clutching her handbag after as they arrived at the condo complex around 6am

The all-night bender then continued at a house in Coral Gables, where the birthday girl began to look a little worse for wear.

By the time they arrived at the home at 7am, the model had kicked off her strappy nude heels and was seen exiting the car barefoot.

The crew was accompanied by celebrity art dealer Avery Andon who was seen holding a huge stack of cash in hand as he followed them into the house.

They finally called it a night by 8:30am, when they were seen leaving the home and heading back to their room at The Setai Miami Beach hotel.

As they arrived, Amelia appeared eager to slip into the hotel undetected, running out of the car and dashing in the after Scott, but ended up flashing her derriere in the process.

The couple, who went public with their relationship in February, were spotted in earlier the evening, in the midst of all the fun, decked out in their party ensembles.

By 7am, the 20-year-old model began to look a little worse for wear and kicked off her heels as they headed to the next party

Video footage showed Amelia pulling up to a home in Coral Gables in a black Cadillac with a blonde friend and exiting the car barefoot

Comfort over style: She ditched the heel and touched up her hair before heading inside to continue the celebration

The crew was accompanied by celebrity art dealer Avery Andon who was seen holding a huge stack of cash in hand as he followed them into the house

The all-nighter finally came to an end at 8:30am when they couple were taken back to their room at The Setai Miami Beach hotel

Amelia appeared eager to slip into the hotel undetected, running out of the car and dashing in the after Scott, but ended up letting it all hang out

Amelia's see-through design allowed casual admirers more than a passing glimpse at her gold-colored bra and underwear, as well as her toned midriff.

Rounding out the ensemble, she donned a pair of sexy string heels and had her dark brown tresses styled long and flowing, with an added touch of volume, and a part in the middle.

Disick also donned a pair of shiny white sneakers and accessorized with an array of bracelets and three necklaces.

The one piece of jewelry that immediately caught the eye was the blinged-out necklace with an emblem of his initials 'SD' hanging around near the top of his chest.

And the reality star is still rocking dyed blonde locks, cut to a stubble on the sides and about an inch or two of hair on the top, that's styled in a spiky look; to go along with his closely cropped beard and mustache.

The birthday girl documented the evening by posting photos and short video clips on her Instagram story, giving her 931,000 fans and followers an initial glimpse at her gold 'burfday' outfit.

Humbled: The model, actress and influencer took to Instagram in the late afternoon on Sunday to give thanks for 'the best birthday a girl could ask for'

Moved to tears: Hamlin couldn't hide her emotions as her friends cheered her on

They got a jump on her special day with a birthday dinner at the Papi Steak restaurant, which presented Hamlin with a glittery cake adorned with pictures of herself around it.

In a moment that brought happy tears of joy to his lady's eyes, Disick surprised Hamlin with a cross necklace, which he personally put round her neck and followed it up with a kiss on the lips.

After filling up on food and drinks, the couple stepped up the party level and made their way to the LIV nightclub, a trendy hotel club that's often a celebrity hotspot.

While drinking under the age of 21 is illegal in the US, those over 18 are permitted entry to many nightclubs but can't order alcohol.

By the late afternoon on Sunday, the daughter of actors Harry Hamlin and Lisa Rinna took back to her Instagram page and shared three photos of herself, decked out in her birthday outfit with the caption: 'the best birthday a girl could ask for.'

One of the pictures showed the California native wiping away the tears from her eyes in the moments after she was gifted with that cross necklace from her man.

There's another image where she showed off her playful side and turned around to put her derriere center stage.
Dramatic footage shows the moment armed police arrested a man for 'kidnapping a young boy' after he was set upon by an angry mob.

A woman can be heard screaming 'You tried to steal my son' in the Winson Green area of Birmingham at around 3.15pm on Monday.

Residents appear to attack the driver of a red Vauxhall while onlookers shout 'Let the police deal with him', before armed officers arrive and arrest him.

Locals come out to see the scenes unfold as police escort the shirtless man away.

Officers had attended following reports of a child being taken and bundled into a car.

The suspect was arrested on suspicion of kidnap, and taken to hospital.

Residents appear to attack the driver of a red Vauxhall while onlookers shout 'Let the police deal with him', before armed officers arrive and arrest him

Residents are pictured at the scene in Winson Green, Birmingham, on Monday afternoon

A West Midlands Police spokesman said: 'We received reports of a child being grabbed and put in a car following disorder in Winson Green at around 3.15pm today (14 June).

'The child was promptly removed from the vehicle and was not injured.

'A man has been detained on suspicion of kidnap but taken to hospital for treatment. He will be questioned when fit to do so.

'Currently its thought those involved are known to each other, however our enquiries are at an early stage.

'Anyone with information can contact us via live chat or by calling 101. Quote log 3053 of 14 June.'

Residents come out to see the scenes unfold as police escort the shirtless man away

Residents are seen gathering around the red Vauxhall Astra as the scenes unfold
Scott Morrison has sealed a free trade deal between Australia and the UK during a dinner with Boris Johnson - after initial disagreements about agricultural exports and backpacker work requirements.

The pair met at Downing Street on Monday evening, after Mr Morrison told an Australia-UK Chamber of Commerce audience that the UK's exit from the European Union could be a boon for Australian exporters as Britain sought new trade partners.

'As the United Kingdom moves into a completely new generation of their trading relationships with the world, who better to start that journey with than Australia?' Mr Morrison said.

The agreement, which was forecast to be worth around $1.3billion per year to Australian exporters, will be formally announced on Tuesday and gives beef and lamb farmers a new market that would offset fragile deals with China, which has been cancelling many deals during a trade war.

Pictured: UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson (right) greeting Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison (left) at Downing Street in London on Monday evening

Instead of opting for a formal handshake, Mr Johnson (right) greeted Mr Morrison (left) with an elbow bump

Pictured: The awkward exchange between Scott Morrison (left) and Boris Johnson (right) outside 10 Downing Street on Monday

'Their agreement is a win for jobs, businesses, free trade and highlights what two liberal democracies can achieve while working together,' a spokesman for the prime minister said.

'Both PMs will make a formal announcement on Tuesday morning in London and release further information.'

The deal not only covers trade but also the movement of people between the two historically-tied nations.

It will pave the way for more Australians to live and work in Britain from mid-2022, once the agreement is rubber-stamped by parliaments in both nations.

It would also benefit British backpackers.

Under the current rules, all international travellers - including British nationals - are required to complete 88 days of farm or mining work to qualify for a second-year visa to stay in Australia.

But the landmark free-trade deal means the Australian government could scrap that requirement for Britons.

Fruit pickers in Australia are working up to 20 hours a day and for as little as $1 an hour, a shocking new report has revealed. Pictured: Backpackers on a farm in New South Wales

AWU National Secretary Daniel Walton has called for a royal commission to investigate exploitation. Pictured: Workers on a farm

'If an Australian goes to Britain, there are basically no constraints if they are a working holidaymaker,' Agriculture Minister David Littleproud told The Australian.

'If a Brit comes to Australia, if they want an extension of their visa, we have said to them that they have to do 88 days on a property in regional Australia to get an extension for the second year.

'(Britain) is saying "We want to equalise that".'

The change comes after a shocking new report seen by Daily Mail Australia showed the widespread exploitation of casual fruit and vegetable pickers in Australia, with some working up to 20 hours a day and for as little as $1 an hour.

Under Australian law, farmers do not have to pay the minimum wage to piece-rate workers, who instead get paid for the amount of fruit they pick.

Farmers say the best pickers can earn well above the minimum wage and argue the system is needed to make sure workers are not bludging on the job - but unions say it leads to exploitation and want a minimum hourly rate instead.

Mr Littleproud said farmers and leaders will 'have to think differently' about labour supplies and remove UK backpackers from the scheme.

'The world has changed so we are going to have to think differently about labour supply, the seasonal labour supply for agriculture,' he said.

'There are solutions that the government is trying to explore and will explore to make up that cohort that would be lost of UK backpackers that aren't working on farms for those 88 days.'

Morrison has spoken repeatedly of his ambition to honour the 'special relationship' between the two countries and was pivotal in seeking a quick deal with the UK, prioritising talks on his current trip to the country.

Pictured: Mr Morrison (left) bumping elbows with the UK Prime Minister (right) before trade negotiations

Pictured: The two leaders awkwardly touching elbows in a Covid-safe exchange on Monday

Ahead of the formal announcement, the prime minister practiced his free trade pitch before an audience of business leaders in London.

Scott Morrison described the effect of the UK joining the European common market in the 1970s as a devastating blow to Australian producers.

'The Brexit that has occurred is an opportunity for us to pick up where we left off all those many years ago and to once again realise the scale of the trading relationship we once had.'

Several key sticking points needed to be overcome before the agreement could be reached.

Agriculture firmed as the major obstacle, with consensus on Australian beef and lamb exports proving particularly elusive.

British dairy farmers were also sceptical about the deal.

Following the odd interaction, the pair posed together for photographers on Monday evening

Australian officials described negotiations as tough and the two trade ministers were in daily contact for more than a week.

'At the end of the day there will always be hesitancy when any country enters into a trade arrangement with any other country - that is quite normal,' Mr Morrison said.

'We have quite a lot of experience in that, we've been able to secure many of these arrangements, and of course you need to explain them to your populations but the ultimate explanation is jobs.

'We either are passionate about growing the markets in which we can operate - providing opportunities for our own producers and suppliers and services - or we will stay in a situation of being unable to take up those opportunities.'

Pictured: Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison waved blankly at reporters after touching elbows with Boris Johnson

Scott Morrison (pictured) was hoping to secure deals on Australian exports with the United Kingdon

The prime minister did not want to sign an agreement for the sake of it only to have arguments down the track.

Deputy Opposition Leader Richard Marles said Labor had concerns about agricultural exports and visa conditions for farm workers, which the party would work through in time.

He urged Mr Morrison to crack on with the deal, having spoken about it since 2016.

'Trade agreements are important for our country and trade diversification is important for our country,' Mr Marles told Sky News.

'The government has been talking about this. What we actually want to see is for them to get this deal done. When they do we'll obviously have a good look at the detail.'

Pictured: Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison (left) and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson (right) heading inside at 10 Downing Street, London

A split in the UK Cabinet also appeared between International Trade Secretary Liz Truss and Environment Secretary George Eustice, who has concerns about the impact on farmers.

Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove also harbours feared a deal could fuel demands for Scottish and Welsh independence.

Last month, Mr Johnson insisted a free trade deal with Australia should be seen as an 'opportunity' and not a 'threat' despite fears among UK farmers the agreement could put them out of business.

Trade Secretary Liz Truss was given the go-ahead to bring about the post-Brexit deal in spite of a significant backlash from the UK agriculture industry.

Australia has been negotiating for a five-year period of cutting import and export taxes, but the idea has stoked fear that British farmers would be undercut by the introduction of cheaper beef and lamb from overseas.
A socialite whose $100 million divorce battle fascinated the New York press for years reopened her case on Monday, insisting that he had not complied with the terms.

Libbie Mugrabi, 41, settled her divorce with her art collecting ex-husband David, 47, in December.

It's unclear how much she walked away with, but she'd asked him for $100 million and was 'very happy' with the settlement she received, she said in February.

Yet on Monday she claimed in court documents that the antidepressant she was on when she signed the divorce deal affected her judgement, and that she had not realized she was agreeing to 'only' $79,000 a month in child support.

Mugrabi said that she needs the full $98,000 a month she was receiving before the settlement was agreed, to keep their children in the lifestyle to which they are accustomed.

Libbie Mugrabi is pictured with her then-husband David in April 2018. The pair then filed for divorce, setting off a $100 million battle that ended in December. She on Monday filed legal documents seeking to reopen the divorce, and claiming she was duped

Libbie Mugrabi is pictured in August 2019, at her estate in Bridgehampton, New York. She won the Hamptons home as part of their divorce settlement

The pair have two children together, Rosemary and Joseph, who are believed to be around 14 and 12. They got married in 2005, a year after meeting at The St Regis Hotel in Aspen, Colorado.

David's Syrian family are worth an estimated $5 billion and are legends in the art world, with the world's largest private collection of works by Andy Warhol.

In her court documents, obtained by Page Six, Libbie alleged on Monday that David had sent her two paintings as agreed in the deal - but they were damaged, and therefore not as valuable.

She alleged in the suit that David 'purposely damaged the art he agreed to provide [her] under the separation agreement.'

One of the works was a 'Statue of Liberty' by Warhol, said to be worth $2 million.

Warhol's Statue of Liberty was supposed to be handed over to Libbie, by her ex-husband, on May 6. She claimed that he deliberately damaged the painting before giving it to her - and she refused to accept it

The other was a Basquiat valued at $6.5 million.

The works were due to be handed over on May 6, as specified in the deal, at the house in the Hamptons that she secured as part of the divorce.

Also to be handed over were cars, including a vintage Ferrari.

But her security team called Southampton police to her home on the day of the deal, alleging that art sent by David through a handling service had water damage.

A source claimed the Warhol 'has black lines from water damage' and 'scratches'.

The Basquiat is a 'collage that was damaged' with 'part of the paper lifting off the canvas.'

She refused to receive the works.

She claims David 'failed to timely pay his support obligation for at least the five months' before she signed the separation agreement, which she did 'under duress' because it placed her in 'financial desperation.'

She adds she was 'intimidated' into signing the agreement and was 'bullied' by both his and her own attorney to sign the agreement.

She is seeking to overturn the agreement, and reopen divorce proceedings.

He has not commented.

The new documents are an abrupt change in her feelings.

In February she told a podcast that she would have stayed married, but says he filed for divorce.

She said that while her husband was 'very nice' and a 'lovely man', he was too short for her. She didn't give his height, but she is 5ft 7 and he is smaller, she said.

She shared her hopes of meeting someone taller to date next.

In an interview on the ArtLife Podcast with Avery Andon that is now on iTunes, the pair gushed over art, her recent move to Miami and her divorce.

Libbie Mugrabi with her ex-husband David in 2010. She says he filed for divorce and that she would have stayed married to him until their kids were 18 but now wants to date a 'tall guy' because her ex was 'too short'

Mugrabi in court in 2018. She and David fought for three years over his fortune before they reached an undisclosed settlement in December 2020

She also said that she would have stayed in the marriage until the kids were both 18, but that her ex blindsided her by filing, even though they had been discussing separation.

'I gave David the book, Consciously Uncoupling, three years ago when we were first talking about breaking up. I don't know why...he thought it was funny.

'I meant it - we have two children together, they're beautiful. We are both really lucky.

'We have a great life and there was absolutely no reason to enter a bitter divorce,' she said.

She went on to say that she grew up with divorced parents and 'understands it' whereas her ex-husband does not.

After her ex-husband, Libbie dated child actor turned Bitcoin billionaire turned presidential hopeful Brock Pierce. She says he too was 'too short'

Now, Mugrabi says she is eager to work on her 'lifestyle brand' - Libbie

'My parent are divorced, I know divorce. The problem is he doesn't. He's not from here, he's not American. I don't know what he wanted or wants... I know what I want,' she said.

She also said she 'probably' would have stayed married until their children were 18 but that he filed.

'Yeah, probably. We have kids. I think I would have waited until the kids were 18

'He got angry...he got more bitter,' she said.

Now that the pair are divorced, she says she wants to move on with someone taller.

'My ex-husband was short. I don't know how I ended up again with a man that was at my height, or shorter. But I did, and I will not go out with a short man again  I couldn't wear heels. It worked in the summer, I'd go shoeless, but when the fall comes  I need a tall guy,' she said.

The other 'short guy' she was talking about was Brock Pierce, a child-actor turned bitcoin trader.

'Short men have a Napoleon complex. They aren't happy about their height so they have to make up for it in other ways,' she said.

She and Andon also discussed Mugrabi's fear of getting COVID-19, which was the driving force behind her leaving New York City for Miami, where she held a 50-person Art Basel party despite the art festival being canceled due to the pandemic.

The party was at the Faena hotel and Libbie - whose parents are plastic surgeons but who says she's been around art her entire life - was seen climbing a Damien Hirst golden unicorn at it.

She insisted that her guests wore their masks throughout the party except for when they were eating and drinking, but said she will not be taking the vaccine.

She also asked Andon if he 'likes the Black Lives Matter people', and said she does not 'trust' anyone who has COVID-19 antibodies.

She said her 2020 had been like a 'rollercoaster' and was surprised to be told by Andon that service industries and lower income groups had been 'crushed' by the pandemic.

'Have they? Nobody wanted to give me a discount, so I don't know' she replied.
A Sydney fashion boutique with a risque name that made it a viral sensation has announced it is closing down, sparking a number of inappropriate comments.

Jizz Boutique, a ladies' fashion store in Sydney's Town Hall Square, had birthed thousands of suggestive puns and innuendo when first shared online in 2018.

From Facebook to Reddit and Google reviews, internet trolls had not missed an opportunity to post a double entrendre on the boutique's name, a sexual slang word.

The store had been a rich source of memes online because of its unintentionally lewd name

The meme-worthy store is currently displaying 'closing down' posters with nothing priced in store over $39.99.

Its website, which goes by the more family-friendly name of fabfashioncom.au, is also advertising a closing down sale, suggesting 'everything must go'.

Many seem dismayed that the store, by closing down, would not be having a happy ending.

'I shop here and am covered head to toe in Jizz,' one Reddit user wrote on the site.

A Reddit post about the boutique closing down proved a boon for posters who love double entendres and risque jokes

Reddit, Facebook and Google reviews had all been popular places to joke about Jizz Boutique

Nothing in the shop is over $39.99, its closing down sale had advertised... which was also made fun of

'I've always looked my best wearing Jizz,' said another.

A third added: 'Great place, would definitely come again.'

'Could never find what I wanted, I'd usually only last five minutes in there before I went home,' said another cheeky commenter.

'Great service, the customer always comes first.'

Daily Mail Australia attempted to contact the store for comment on whether its name is the reason for the closure, and whether it will be relocating or was a spent force.
Boris Johnson will lift almost all legal Covid restrictions from July 19 under a 'freedom plan' to be published next week. The Prime Minister all but confirmed yesterday that he will give the green light for reopening mid-month as he underlined the success of the vaccine programme. Mr Johnson added that Britain was now in the 'final furlong' of the lockdown. But, with cases still surging, he warned that some 'extra precautions' may need to remain in place after so-called 'Freedom Day' on July 19. Last night it was claimed that health officials have drawn up contingency plans involving possible Covid restrictions for the next five winters. A final decision on lifting restrictions will not be made until July 12, but government sources said the plan will be published next week to give business and individuals more time to adjust. The PM has prioritised scrapping the one-metre rule, along with the rule of six on indoor socialising, which are seen as the biggest brakes on the economy. Rules limiting outdoor gatherings to no more than 30 will also go, and businesses such as nightclubs, which have been forced to close throughout the pandemic, will finally be allowed to reopen.
First time home buyers in New South Wales could get a $25,000 helping hand onto the property ladder under a proposal to axe stamp duty in the state.

Current stamp duty adds around $40,000 to the upfront costs of buying a $1,000,000 home in NSW before buyers even think about their deposit.

Under new proposals, the state is set to axe stamp duty and replace it with an annual land tax, while also offering new home buyers a $25,000 grant.

It's predicted the move could help 300,000 more people buy their first home as a result and boost home ownership by six per cent.

First time home buyers in New South Wales could get a $25,000 helping hand onto the property ladder under a proposal to axe stamp duty in the state (picture posed by models)

NSW treasurer Dominic Perrottet revealed the proposal in a progress report on the state's mission to finally axe stamp duty altogether.

The land tax would be based on an estimated land value of a home, with a property's land valued at around $400,000 likely to pay $1617 a year under the new tax.

Owners who have already paid stamp duty would not be liable for the land tax under the plan.

Public consultations found support for the move to axe stamp duty but many were worried the land tax may soar in the future.

The current median house price in Sydney is $1.3million, a jump of 12.6 per cent in the last 12 months, with more and more now unable to get their foot on the ladder.

Current stamp duty adds around $40,000 to the upfront costs of buying a $1,000,000 home in NSW before buyers even think about their deposit (picture posed by models)

Stamp duty on a home at that price runs to $56,505, on top of a potential deposit of at least $130,000.

'The first round of consultation and submissions showed 84 per cent of people believe stamp duty reform is needed,' said Mr Perrottet.

'Two thirds of the community said stamp duty was a significant barrier to home ownership. We will continue to listen to the community and invite further feedback.'

His department's progress report added: 'In the short term, the reform would reduce the NSW Governments revenue.

NSW treasurer Dominic Perrottet (pictured) revealed the proposal in a progress report on the state's mission to axe stamp duty. The current median home price in Sydney is now $1.3million, a jump of 12.6 per cent in the last 12 months, incurring stamp duty of $56,505

'Over the longer-term, the property tax would be revenue neutral, collecting the same amount of revenue as stamp duty and land tax.'

Lobby group Committee for Sydney said they welcomed the proposal to axe the tax and open up the housing market to more young first-time buyers.

'Our economy and people's home buying patterns have changed dramatically since the tax was introduced to NSW in 1865,' said chief executive Gabriel Metcalf .

'As we come out of the pandemic, now is the time to reform and bounce back stronger as a state and nation.

'Abolishing stamp duty on property purchases and replacing it with a broad-based annual land tax will be a key part of our bounce back.'
Marjorie Taylor Greene on Monday apologized for likening mask mandates to the Holocaust, admitting there was 'no comparison' and saying she was 'very sorry'.

The Georgia congresswoman, 47, paid a visit to the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington DC on Monday afternoon.

After her visit, she said she now regretted her May remarks, which draw widespread condemnation.

'I have made a mistake,' Greene told reporters on Monday.

'I wanted to say that I know that words that I've stated were hurtful, and for that I am very sorry.'

She added: 'The horrors of the Holocaust are something that some people don't even believe happened, and some people deny, but there is no comparison to the Holocaust.

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Marjorie Taylor Greene on Monday (pictured) stood before the U.S. Capitol and apologized for her May 20 remarks, in which she likened mask mandates to the Holocaust

Marjorie Taylor Greene: I have made a mistake this afternoon I visited the Holocaust Museum. The Holocaust is- theres nothing comparable to it. pic.twitter.com/skrF6YyC3u  Andrew Solender (@AndrewSolender) June 14, 2021

'There are words that I have said and remarks that I have made that I know are offensive and for that I want to apologize.'

Greene, Politico reported, wanted to show contrition for her behavior, according to a source familiar with her thinking.

'I always want to remind people - I'm very much a normal person,' she said addressing a press conference near the Capitol.

'I think it's important for me to be transparent and honest.

'I am blessed with amazing parents. My dad passed away in April. But I will say, he taught me some great things, and one of the best things is that if you make a mistake you should own it.

'I have made a mistake, and it has really bothered me for a couple of weeks now, and I really want to own it.

'This afternoon I visited the Holocaust Museum. There is nothing that compared to it.

'Over six million Jewish people were murdered. More than that - not just Jewish people - black people, Christians, children, people that the Nazis didn't believe were good enough or perfect enough.

'The horrors of the Holocaust is something that some people do not even believe happened. Some people deny it. But there is no comparison to the Holocaust.

'There are words that I have said that are offensive, and I want to apologize.

'I am just fine, and very glad to be able to do that. I believe that if we are going to lead, we need to do it in a way where, if we have messed up, it's very important to say: we're sorry.'

Greene told reporters on Monday that she had 'made a mistake' and was willing to 'own' it and apologize. She said: 'I always want to remind people - I'm very much a normal person'

Greene on Monday staged a press conference where she apologized for her 'offensive' comments

The Georgia congresswoman had visited the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington DC earlier on Monday, as part of her show of contrition

Until now she had been defiant - even doubling down on her initial comments.

On May 20, she told David Brody for his podcast The Water Cooler that Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the House, was 'mentally ill' for maintaining COVID restrictions.

'You know, we can look back at a time in history where people were told to wear a gold star, and they were definitely treated like second class citizens, so much so that they were put in trains and taken to gas chambers in Nazi Germany,' Greene said.

'And this is exactly the type of abuse that Nancy Pelosi is talking about.'

Her remarks generated an immediate uproar, but Greene was unrepentant.

'I stand by all of my statements,' she later said.

'I said nothing wrong. Any rational Jewish person didn't like what happened in Nazi Germany, and any rational Jewish person doesn't like what's happening with overbearing mask mandates and overbearing vaccine policies.'

On May 25, she tweeted: 'Vaccinated employees get a vaccination logo just like the Nazi's forced Jewish people to wear a gold star.

'Vaccine passports & mask mandates create discrimination against unvaxxed people who trust their immune systems to a virus that is 99% survivable.'

Even her own party condemned her stance.

Kevin McCarthy, the House Minority Leader, called her latest comments 'wrong' and 'appalling' and said the rest of the party was behind him.

'Marjorie is wrong, and her intentional decision to compare the horrors of the Holocaust with wearing masks is appalling,' he said.

'The Holocaust is the greatest atrocity committed in history.

'The fact that this needs to be stated today is deeply troubling.'

Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader, who previously compared Greene to a 'cancer' in the Republican ranks, said: 'Once again an outrageous and reprehensible comment.'

After facing widespread condemnation from her own party, Greene defended her remarks and blamed the 'media' and 'American left' for stoking outrage.

The 'attempts to shame, ostracize, and brand Americans who choose not to get vaccinated or wear a mask are reminiscent of the great tyrants of history who did the same to those who would not comply,' she tweeted.

She has now dramatically changed her stance.

On Monday, Anderson Cooper said on CNN that he 'gave her props for apologizing - which is not something you hear very often from Q Anon' but warned she was still backing the dangerous claim that Democrats were like the Nazi party.

Tennessee State Senate Congressman Steve Cohen, who appeared on Cooper's show, said he too was glad she'd admitted her mistake but urged her to stop supporting lies, such as the election fraud, and back away from Q Anon which he claimed has anti-Semitic roots.

Her visit and apology come as a Democrat representative for Illinois, Brad Schneider, prepares to introduce a censure resolution condemning her remarks.

Republicans, meanwhile, are planning their own move against Ilhan Omar, a Democrat for Minnesota, who strongly criticized Israel.

Both members have become lightning rods in their own party, opening a window for the rival party to exploit and sow divisions.
An image of Scott Morrison standing outside an English pub has sparked angry accusations of hypocrisy as Australians face yet another year of overseas travel bans.

The Jamaica Inn hotel, in Cornwall, posted a social media image of the Australian Prime Minister visiting their drinking hole for a weekend lunch, during the three-day G7 summit at Carbis Bay, a one-hour drive away.

'Pleasure to have the Australian Prime Minister and his 20-plus personal team for lunch this weekend,' it said on Facebook.

'You never know what you might find at Jamaica Inn!'

The Launceston village hotel's Facebook page has been inundated with messages protesting against Australia's ban on citizens travelling overseas or foreigners visiting Australia to see family and friends.

An image of Scott Morrison standing outside an English pub has sparked angry accusations of hypocrisy as Australians face yet another year of overseas travel bans

The Jamaica Inn hotel, in Cornwall, posted a social media image of the Australian Prime Minister visiting their drinking hole for a weekend lunch, during the three-day G7 summit at Carbis Bay, a one-hour drive away

Poll Is it hypocritical for Scott Morrison to fly to the UK as Australians are banned from travelling overseas? Yes No Is it hypocritical for Scott Morrison to fly to the UK as Australians are banned from travelling overseas? Yes 1362 votes

No 1090 votes Now share your opinion





This was despite Mr Morrison's visit to England on Tuesday, Australian time, yielding a free-trade deal with the UK, following the June 11 to 13 summit.

The G7 also condemned China's human rights abuses and called for a fresh inquiry into the origins of Covid, demonstrating the US, UK and the Europe Union could be united in the face of a more aggressive Communist superpower.

Mr Morrison was accompanied by personal advisers, public servants from the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, along with Australian High Commission staff, based in London, during his pub visit on Sunday, Australian time.

His office also confirmed an official photographer and a press secretary were part of the entourage to the UK.

Mr Morrison's entourage of 20 staff was significantly smaller than US President Joe Biden's 1,100 personnel.

'The Prime Minister is travelling with seven personal staff including his senior national security and international policy adviser, his senior defence adviser, a senior media adviser and photographer to manage travelling media and local media engagements, his executive officer and his director of programme and advancer,' a spokeswoman for the PM told Daily Mail Australia.

The Jamaica Inn hotel, in the Cornwall county village of Launceston, posted a social media image of the Australian Prime Minister visiting their drinking hole following the three-day G7 summit at Carbis Bay, a one-hour drive away

The Launceston village hotel's Facebook page has been inundated with messages protesting against Australia's ban on citizens travelling overseas or foreigners visiting Australia to see family and friends

With the Australian government expecting to keep the travel ban in place until at least mid-2022, Melbourne engineer Kim Bernadette suggested Mr Morrison could have joined the G7 by Zoom like his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, whose country has recently battled a deadly Covid second wave.

'He could have participated as a guest via zoom, as the Indian PM did,' she tweeted.

'Double standards when Australians can't leave the country.

'It's tone deaf for Scott Morrison to be in the UK with an entourage of 20.

'Australia isn't a member of the G7.'

Mr Morrison's spokeswoman said meeting world leaders in person was better than over Zoom.

'The G7 and meetings in Singapore, the UK and France are a unique opportunity for the Prime Minister to ensure Australia is at the table with the world's largest democracies for vitally important security, health and economic talks,' she said.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson invited Australia, India and South Korea to the June 11 to 13 G7 summit, even though they are not permanent members of the Group of Seven nations. Mr Johnson is pictured centre with his wife Carrie and Australian PM Scott Morrison at the G7 summit

With the PM and not ordinary people allowed to travel to and from Australia, an English grandmother lamented at how she was yet to meet her two-month old granddaughter in Victoria.

'We last hugged our daughter who lives outside Melbourne in August 2019,' she said.

'We now have a grand daughter born April this year. When will we get to meet her?

'How old will she be?'

A Facebook group, UK Mums in Australia, protested about the ban on permanent residents leaving Australia for social visits unrelated to work.

'I cannot begin to tell you how rage-inducing this happy snap is for our community and for everyone stuck here in Australia with family in the UK,' it said.

'The double standard of it all is astounding. Parents according to Scott Morrison (ScoMo) are not considered immediate family in Australia.

With the Australian government expecting to keep the travel ban in place until at least mid-2022, Melbourne engineer Kim Bernadette suggested Mr Morrison could have joined in by Zoom like his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, whose country has recently battled a deadly Covid second wave

'We are separated from partners, children, parents and grandparents with no road map from the government when we can see them again.'

The social media pile-on, featuring an image of that English pub, spilled over into Mr Morrison's Facebook page.

On woman defended the Prime Minister, among a sea of hostile comments.

'All the left wing whingers are here,' she said.

In limited circumstances, Australia's Department of Home Affairs is allowing overseas travel for work-related purposes or for compassionate reasons like a funeral on the proviso Australians quarantine for 14 days when they arrive home, regardless if they have been vaccinated or not for Covid-19.

Social visits overseas, however, have been banned since the start of the Covid pandemic in March 2020.

Scott Morrison's visit to England yielding a free-trade deal with the UK. He is pictured with his UK counterpart Boris Johnson outside 10 Downing Street in London

An English grandmother lamented at how she was yet to meet her two-month old granddaughter in Australia

Mr Morrison on Sunday, Australian time, defended the overseas travel ban after being asked at a press conference about his English country pub visit.

'What they can do is that they can go to sporting games,' he said during a media conference at the St Illogan Church in the UK.

'They can go to work. They can live in an economy that is bigger today than before.

'That hasn't seen the terrible number of deaths that we've seen in other parts of the world.'

Asked when Australians would be able to travel overseas again, Mr Morrison said: 'When the medical advice suggests that we should.'

Unlike returned Australian travellers or his entourage to the UK, Mr Morrison won't have to quarantine for 14 days at a cramped hotel.

In December, he confined himself to The Lodge in Canberra after a visit to Japan to meet his new counterpart Yoshihide Suga and Mr Morrison will do that again when he returns to Australia from the UK.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson invited Australia, India and South Korea to the June 11 to 13 G7 summit, even though they are not permanent members of the Group of Seven nations

Mr Johnson used Mr Morrison's UK visit to sign a UK-Australia free-trade deal, the first such bilateral arrangement since Brexit was finalised in January 2020, shortly before the Covid pandemic was declared. The deal will give Australian farmers better access to the UK market to sell their agricultural exports, with China slapping punitive tariffs and trade sanctions on Australian barley and lamb

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson invited Australia, India and South Korea to the June 11 to 13 G7 summit, even though they are not permanent members of the Group of Seven nations.

Mr Johnson used Mr Morrison's UK visit to sign a UK-Australia free-trade deal, the first such bilateral arrangement since Brexit was finalised in January 2020, shortly before the Covid pandemic was declared.

The deal, inked at 10 Downing Street in London, will give Australian farmers better access to the UK market to sell their agricultural exports, with China slapping punitive tariffs and trade sanctions on Australian barley and lamb.

The G7 also condemned China, Australia's biggest trading partner, for its treatment of Muslim Uighurs and the curtailing of Hong Kong's liberal freedoms.

A Facebook group, UK Mums in Australia, protested about the ban on permanent residents leaving Australia for social visits unrelated to work

Launceston in the UK's Cornwall county is a world away from Australia. During the 2019 election Mr Morrison visited another Launceston, in northern Tasmania. His meet and greet with voters in the Sporties Hotel helped the Liberal Party win the crucial marginal seat of Bass from Labor

It also called for a new World Health Organisation investigation into the origins of Covid, after President Biden ordered a new intelligence inquiry into whether the virus had escaped from a laboratory at Wuhan.

Local issues rather than international factors are more likely to decide who wins the next Australian election, due to be held by May 2022.

Launceston in the UK's Cornwall county is a world away from Australia.

During the 2019 election Mr Morrison visited another Launceston, in northern Tasmania.

His meet and greet with voters in the Sporties Hotel helped the Liberal Party win the crucial marginal seat of Bass from Labor, despite numerous opinion polls having former Opposition Leader Bill Shorten as the favourite to win the election.

Just seven months after winning the May 2019 election, Mr Morrison's popularity fell after he was photographed at Hawaii just before Christmas as bushfires raged across New South Wales and Queensland

While the travel ban is unpopular with social media activists, the pub test may well decide if the Coalition wins a fourth, consecutive term next year, which would be the first since 2004 when John Howard was PM.

Just seven months after winning the May 2019 election, Mr Morrison's popularity fell after he was photographed at Hawaii just before Christmas as bushfires raged across New South Wales and Queensland.

A month later, the first case of Covid came to Australia.

Nonetheless, a travel bubble with New Zealand that began in April has seen visitor arrivals to Australia almost triple in just one month, new Australian Bureau of Statistics data showed. In April, 22,610 people flew into Australia for a short stay, up from 8,320 in March. Of those short-term visitors, 16,320 came from New Zealand, a big increase from 2,060 the previous month

Zali Steggall, the independent member for Warringah on Sydney's Northern Beaches, and Liberal MP Dave Sharma have voiced concerns about the overseas travel ban.

Nonetheless, a travel bubble with New Zealand that began in late April has seen visitor arrivals to Australia almost triple in just one month, new Australian Bureau of Statistics data released on Tuesday showed.

In April, 22,610 people flew into Australia for a short stay, up from 8,320 in March.

Of those short-term visitors, 16,320 came from New Zealand, a big increase from 2,060 the previous month.
Boris Johnson and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison have agreed the broad terms of a post-Brexit trade deal, according to reports.

Mr Johnson and his Australian counterpart were said to have agreed the pact over dinner in Downing Street ahead of a formal announcement set to take place later today.

Downing Street did not deny the reports and, if confirmed, the agreement would be the first trade deal negotiated from scratch since the UK's exit from the European Union.

It comes just a month after Mr Johnson insisted a free trade deal with Australia should be seen as an 'opportunity' and not a 'threat' despite fears among UK farmers the agreement could put them out of business.

Boris Johnson and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison were said to have agreed the pact over dinner in Downing Street

Industry leaders have raised concerns over possible compromises on food standards, while farmers fear they could be undercut by cut-price imports.

A split in the Cabinet also appeared between International Trade Secretary Liz Truss and Environment Secretary George Eustice, who has concerns about the impact on farmers.

Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove also harbours fears a deal could fuel demands for Scottish and Welsh independence.

Mr Morrison, who also met with Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab yesterday, has previously spoken repeatedly of his ambition to honour the 'special relationship' between the two countries and said it was pivotal in seeking a quick deal with the UK.

'The Brexit that has occurred is an opportunity for us to pick up where we left off and to once again realise the scale of the trading relationship we once had,' the Australian Prime Minister said at the Chamber of Commerce breakfast on Monday.

'And who better to do it than with Australia? Who better would understand the issues and sensitivities that have to be worked through?

'This indeed is a special relationship and one I think can be greatly enhanced by these additional steps.'

The agreement would be the first trade deal negotiated from scratch since the UK's exit from the European Union

The deal discussed between Mr Johnson and his Australian counterpart will be announced later today

Mr Morrison has previously spoken repeatedly of his ambition to honour the 'special relationship' between the two countries

The agreement, which could boost the Australian economy by up to $1.3billion each year, will be formally announced on Tuesday and gives beef and lamb exporters the chance to move away from the volatile Chinese market.

The Australian and UK Prime Ministers are set to meet again today at Downing Street to agree a new trade agreement in principle, with Mr Johnson looking to secure a greater trade pathway with the Pacific.

Agriculture has firmed as the major obstacle, with consensus on Australian beef and lamb exports proving to be particularly elusive. British dairy farmers are also skeptical about the trade deal.

'At the end of the day there will always be hesitancy ... when any country enters into a trade arrangement with any other country - that is quite normal,' Mr Morrison said.

'We have quite a lot of experience in that, we've been able to secure many of these arrangements, and of course you need to explain them to your populations but the ultimate explanation is jobs.

'We either are passionate about growing the markets in which we can operate - providing opportunities for our own producers and suppliers and services - or we will stay in a situation of being unable to take up those opportunities.'

Australian trade minister Dan Tehan said enormous progress had been made on the agreement over the past six weeks but it was unclear whether a deal could be reached this week.

Last month trade secretary Liz Truss was given the go-ahead to bring about the post-Brexit deal in spite of a significant backlash from the UK agriculture industry

Australia has been negotiating for a five-year period of cutting import and export taxes, but the idea has ignited fear that British farmers would be undercut by the introduction of cheaper beef and lamb from overseas (stock image)

Last month, Mr Johnson insisted a free trade deal with Australia should be seen as an 'opportunity' and not a 'threat' despite fears among UK farmers the agreement could put them out of business.

His comments came following reports the UK had offered Australia a deal which would see a 15-year transition to zero-tariffs and zero-quotas.

Trade Secretary Liz Truss was given the go-ahead to bring about the post-Brexit deal in spite of a significant backlash from the UK agriculture industry.

Australia has been negotiating for a five-year period of cutting import and export taxes, but the idea has stoked fear that British farmers would be undercut by the introduction of cheaper beef and lamb from overseas.

Those is favour of a deal claim that food and wine prices in UK supermarkets will go down as barriers to imports are done away with - but the existing tariffs would be 'tapered out slowly' so British farmers could adjust.

In May, Downing Street insisted farmers would be protected in any deal with Australia.

'Any agreement would include protections for our agriculture industry and won't undercut UK farmers,' the Prime Minister's official spokesman said.

'We want a deal that is good for the British public and any agreement would have protection for the agriculture industry.'

But the spokesman refused to be drawn on what the measures to protect farmers would be, insisting he would not comment on the ongoing negotiations.
Former Tory MP Harvey Proctor has pulled out of a complaint over the Met's shambolic VIP sex abuse inquiry  saying he had totally lost faith in the system.

The furious ex-politician blasted the police disciplinary process as 'not fit for purpose'.

He has now called on Home Secretary Priti Patel  who has been accused of dithering over the Operation Midland scandal  to order a new, fully independent inquiry.

Former Tory MP Harvey Proctor has pulled out of a complaint over the Met's shambolic VIP sex abuse inquiry  saying he had totally lost faith in the system

His comments came on the eve of another highly critical report into the Met.

Scotland Yard chief Dame Cressida Dick, who sanctioned the setting up of Operation Midland, is expected to be personally criticised in today's long-awaited 1,200-page report into the grisly murder of private investigator Daniel Morgan.

She and other senior officers will be accused of delaying the inquiry into the unsolved killing by 'trying to control the disclosure of sensitive police documents', it is claimed.

The report comes after two judges said the Met Police broke the law during Operation Midland  a 16-month investigation into lies by abuse fantasist Carl Beech.

But following a 'whitewash inquiry' by the police watchdog, not one officer has faced any form of punishment.

Daniel Morgan, pictured, was investigating claims of corruption within the Metropolitan Police when he was murdered in 1987

The report comes after two judges said the Met Police broke the law during Operation Midland  a 16-month investigation into lies by abuse fantasist Carl Beech (pictured)

After a complaint by Mr Proctor, Merseyside Police has been conducting an inquiry into why Scotland Yard failed to prosecute two alleged fantasists who corroborated Beech's lies that he had been abused by a murderous VIP paedophile ring.

Mr Proctor, the only surviving victim of Operation Midland, demanded to know why the pair  known only as witnesses A and B  had not been charged with perverting the course of justice.

But months after the Merseyside inquiry began, Mr Proctor has withdrawn his complaint after discovering that the investigation was far more limited than he had thought.

He said he no longer has any confidence that the police 'can be trusted to mark their own homework'. A spokesman for Merseyside Police said the investigation was continuing.

Meanwhile, the bombshell findings of an eight-year panel inquiry will be published today  34 years after private investigator Mr Morgan, 37, was found with an axe in his head in a south-east London pub car park in 1987.

The initial inquiry into the murder  one of the most investigated cases in UK history  was marred by allegations of police corruption.

Despite five inquiries, and claims of cover-ups, no one has been brought to justice. An independent panel was set up in 2013 and asked to carry out a 'full and effective review of corruption as it affected the handling of this case'.

It was expected to take just a year and the panel is expected to blame the delays on the failure of the Met Police to promptly disclose relevant files in the five failed inquiries.
Britain's City watchdog has threatened to take legal action against Google if it doesnt do more to tackle online fraud.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has clashed with social media firms over adverts on their websites that tout investment schemes run by scammers.

The fraudulent adverts, offering products from high-return bonds to shares in firms such as Tesla, cheat customers out of their hard-earned cash  and in some cases their life savings.

Britain's fraud watchdog, the Financial Conduct Authority, threatened legal action against Google if it doesn't do more to tackle online scams. Pictured: Mark Steward, FCA director

The schemes are often backed by criminals who use the money to fund human trafficking and drug smuggling.

Appearing before the Commons Treasury committee, Mark Steward, FCA director of enforcement and market oversight, said that if Google did not vet advertisers more stringently, we are going to have to do something about it in a more formal way  and confirmed that this could mean legal action.

Companies such as Google make millions of pounds every year from fraudsters who pay for advertising space.

The social media firms also pocket almost 600,000 annually from the FCA, which runs ads warning consumers about scams. The irony is not lost on us, Mr Steward said.

He said companies such as Google must be made to check that adverts for investments are paid for by FCA-approved firms.

The Daily Mails Stamp Out Investment Fraud campaign urges the Government to take more action on online scams.

The Mail wants fraudulent adverts to be covered by the forthcoming Online Safety Bill, thereby giving internet giants a legal duty to check there is a legitimate firm behind the ads they run.

The Government says it will consider internet scams in its Online Advertising Programme, but Mr Steward said financial harm should be in the Online Safety Bill.

Tory MP Anthony Browne asked if Google was guilty of fraud, saying: The legal definition is gaining financial advantage by deception, and Google is gaining a financial advantage and deceiving customers.

Google said: We have been working with the FCA for over a year to implement measures and are developing further restrictions to financial services advertising to tackle this issue. We have pledged 3.5million in advertising credits to public awareness campaigns.
Police are investigating the suspected murder of a woman at a home on Tasmania's north coast.

Officers were called an address at Main Street in the town of Ulverstone about 3am on Tuesday, where they found the woman's body.

Police are speaking with witnesses and forensics officers are examining the scene.

Police are investigating the suspected murder of a woman at a home on Tasmania's north coast (stock image)

'Further specialist forensics officers are travelling from Hobart,' Tasmania Police said in a statement.

The street has been cordoned off and is expected to be closed for several hours.

Anyone who saw a vehicle, person or anything suspicious in the area at the time has been asked to contact police.
A reward to help solve a fatal 1999 shooting at a bikie clubhouse on the NSW Central Coast will be lifted from $100,000 to $500,000.

Paul Summers, 31, was asleep on a lounge inside the Rebels' Gosford chapter clubhouse in the early hours of September 22 when bullets sprayed the front of the property.

Three of the bullets struck and killed him, police said.

Paul Summers, 31, was asleep on a lounge inside the Rebels' Gosford chapter clubhouse in the early hours of September 22 when bullets sprayed the front of the property

A coronial inquest in 2001 failed to identify the killer or killers, and two years later the NSW government offered a $100,000 reward for information.

'Several lines of inquiry have been investigated, with no persons arrested or charged to date,' NSW Police said in a statement on Tuesday.

Police said the reward will be lifted to $500,000 on Tuesday and Mr Summers' mother will help make a renewed appeal for information.
A woman who fled North Korea when she was a teenager and is now attending Columbia University said she is seeing a lot of similarities between the totalitarian regime she grew up in and the education she is now receiving in the United States.

Yeonmi Park and her mother fled North Korea to China over the frozen Yalu River in 2007, when she was just 13, and the two were sold into slavery by human traffickers.

They were ultimately able to flee to Mongolia with the help of Christian missionaries and trekked across the Gobi Desert to eventually find refuge in South Korea, where Park, now 27, attended college before transferring to Columbia in 2016.

'I literally crossed the Gobi Desert to be free and I realized I'm not free, America's not free,' she said.

'I expected that I was paying this fortune, all this time and energy to learn how to think,' she told FOX News. 'But they are forcing you to think the way they want you to think.'

In an interview with FOX News, Yeonmi Park said she saw similarities between her homeland of North Korea and American educational institutions

Park and her mother fled North Korea to China over the frozen Yalu River in 2007, when she was just 13, and the two were sold into slavery by human traffickers

'I realized, 'Wow, this is insane,'' she recounted, 'I thought America was different but I saw so many similarities to what I saw in North Korea that I started worrying.'

Park said that her professors would give them 'trigger warnings' and allow them to opt out of readings and discussions.

'Going to Columbia, the first thing I learned was 'safe space,'' she told the New York Post.

She explained that when she started school at Columbia, she was excited to learn more about history, a subject she said was discouraged in her homeland.

But when her teacher, discussing Western Civilization, asked if students had an issue with the name of the class topic, most did, saying there was a 'colonial' slant.

'Every problem, they explained us, is because of white men,' she said, reminding her of her home country where people were categorized based on their ancestors, according to the Post.

During her orientation, a professor asked who the class who liked classical books, like Jane Austen.

'I said, 'I love those books,' Park said in an interview with FOX News. 'I thought it was a good thing.'

'Then she said, 'Did you know those writers had a colonial mindset? They were racists and bigots and are subconsciously brainwashing you.'

From there, she said, her classes were filled with 'anti-American sentiment, reminding her of her childhood in North Korea, where students were constantly taught about the 'American bastard,' which was the only way they were allowed to refer to Americans.

'The math problems would say: 'There are four American bastards, you kill two of them, how many American bastards are left to kill?,'' Park recounted, saying 7-year-olds in North Korea would have to respond with 'two American bastards' to that question.

'I thought North Koreans were the only people who hated Americans, but turns out there are a lot of people hating this country in this country,' she said.

She said she was also confused by students' use of 'preferred pronouns.'

'English is my third language - I learned it as an adult,' said Park, who published a memoir about her time in North Korea in 2015.

'I sometimes still say 'he' or 'she' by mistake,' she said, noting that she is not trying to be disrespectful to her colleagues, 'and now they are going to ask me to call them 'they.' How the heck do I incorporate that into my sentences?'

'It felt like the regression in civilization,' she said.

Eventually, she said she 'learned how to just shut up' so she could get good grades and graduate, but, she said, 'Even North Korea is not this nuts.'

'North Korea was pretty crazy,' she said, 'but not this crazy.'

'I don't know why people are collectively going crazy like this or together at the same time.'

Park fled North Korea as a teenager and was sold into slavery when she and her mother entered China. They were ultimately rescued by Christian missionaries who helped them escape to Mongolia, where they crossed the Gobi Desert into South Korea

She started attending Columbia University, pictured, in 2016 and said she thought she was going to learn how to think critically but was instead 'forced to think' a certain way

Many of the classes at Columbia, she said, would teach the students about how white men have ruined everything, despite leaders like Mao Zedong killing political dissidents.

'Because I have seen oppression, I know what it looks like,' Park said, adding that she saw people dying of starvation by the time she was 13.

'These kids keep saying how they're oppressed, how much injustice they've experienced,' Park said of her fellow students. 'They don't know how hard it is to be free.'

'I literally crossed through the middle of the Gobi Desert to be free,' she continued, 'but what I did was nothing - so many people fought harder than me and didn't make it.'

But, she said, here in America people 'are just dying to give their rights and power to the government.

'That is what scares me the most,' she said, adding: 'Power can corrupt, that's just the nature of power.'

Park also said that she grew up believing Kim Jong Un (pictured) was starving, despite his weight, because she was not taught to think critically

Park said that when she was growing up in North Korea, she was discouraged from learning history and students were constantly taught about the 'American bastard.' Here, the Korean People Army soldiers watched a military parade

'In North Korea, I literally believed that my Dear Leader was starving,' Park said, referring to Kim Jong Un.

'He's the fattest guy - how can anyone believe that? And then somebody showed me a photo and said 'Look at him, he's the fattest guy. Other people are all thin.' And I was like 'Oh my God, why did I not notice that he was fat?' Because I never learned how to think critically.'

'That is what is happening in America,' Park concluded. 'People see things, but they've just completely lost the ability to think critically.'

She said she did not understand how that could happen in the United States.

'North Koreans, we don't have Internet, we don't have access to any of these great thinkers, we don't know anything,' she said. 'But here, while having everything, people choose to be brainwashed. And they deny it.'

'You guys have lost common sense to a degree that I as a North Korean cannot even comprehend.'

Now, she says, she fears America is going to become like North Korea.

'Where are we going from here?' she asked, rhetorically. 'The future of our country's as bleak as North Korea's if we do not rise up right now.'

'There's no rule of law, no morality, nothing is good or bad anymore, it's complete chaos.

'I guess that's what they want,' she said,' to destroy every single thing and rebuild into a communist paradise.'

In her memoir, In Order to Live, Park warned that Americans were censoring and silencing each other through cancel culture.

'Voluntarily, these people are censoring each other, silencing each other, no force behind it,' she said.

'Other times (in history) there's a military coup d'etat, like a force comes in taking your rights away and silencing you. But this country is choosing to be silenced, choosing to give their rights away.'
Victor Lee Tucker Jr., of Palmetto, Georgia, had got into an argument with staff at the Big Bear grocery store in DeKalb County, on Monday over their store's mask policy

A cashier was shot dead and an off-duty deputy was wounded after a male customer pulled out a gun and opened fire when told he had to pull up his face mask in a Georgia grocery store on Monday.

Victor Lee Tucker Jr., of Palmetto, Georgia, had got into an argument with staff at the Big Bear grocery store in DeKalb County, on Monday over their store's mask policy.

The 30-year-old appeared to leave after the argument, but returned moments later, holding a handgun, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Tucker hit the casher, killing her, before he was shot and injured by an off-duty officer, a 30-year veteran of the DeKalb County Police Department, who was working as a security guard.

DeKalb County Sheriff Melody Maddox said Tucker managed to fire back twice, hitting the off-duty cop both times.

The deputy was working part-time in a security job at the store according to 11Alive.

A witness, identified as Alan Williams, said Tucker walked into the store, struck the cashier with a gun, then shot her which is when the deputy and the suspect exchanged gunfire.

The shooter and the officer were both taken to Grady Memorial hospital for treatment.

According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation which is now assisting with the incident, Tucker was found crawling out the front door of the supermarket.

The off-duty officer was listed in stable condition, but the condition of Tucker is not known.

The cashier was officially pronounced dead at Grady hospital.

A cashier was shot dead after an argument with a customer in Georgia. Victor Lee Tucker Jr., 30, of Palmetto, allegedly entered the store and argued with staff about wearing a mask

DeKalb County Sheriff Melody Maddox said the suspect, Victor Lee Tucker Jr. managed to fire back twice, hitting the off-duty cop both times
Attorney General Merrick Garland is due to unveil the country's first National Strategy for Countering Domestic Terrorism at 11am on Tuesday. It follows a 100-day review of the most urgent terrorism threats the United States faces today

The Pentagon is to start training for service members leaving the military to prevent them being radicalized by violent extremists, as part of Biden administration's plan to combat the 'lethal threat' of white supremacy that was unveiled on Tuesday morning.

It follows a review that stated the most dangerous elements of the threat today come from white supremacists and anti-government extremists.

The White House also called the Capitol riot a 'domestic terrorist attack' in a report released on Tuesday and backed a 'purge' of extremist content online.

The strategy includes $100 million for the Department of Justice, the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security for analysts, prosecutors and investigators.

'In addition, the Department of Defense is incorporating training for servicemembers separating retirements in the military, who may potentially be targeted by those who seek to radicalise them,' said an administration official.

'Domestic terrorist attacks in the United States also have been committed frequently by those opposing our government institutions. In 1995, in the largest single act of domestic terrorism in U.S. history, an antigovernment violent extremist detonated a bomb at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, killing 168 people  including 19 children  and injuring hundreds of others,' the report says.

'In 2016, an antiauthority violent extremist ambushed, shot, and killed five police officers in Dallas. In 2017, a lone gunman wounded four people at a congressional baseball practice. And just months ago, on January 6, 2021, Americans witnessed an unprecedented attack against a core institution of our democracy: the U.S. Congress.'

The move follows revelations that a disproportionate number of people arrested during the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol were active military personnel or veterans.

The strategy includes the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol among examples of domestic terrorism. The high number of serving military personnel and veterans arrested after the violence alarmed officials

Experts in domestic terrorism have long warned that far-right militants were targeting people with military or law enforcement training for recruitment.

The new strategy brackets the Capitol assault - when thousands of Trump supporters descended on Congress - with mass shootings at a synagogue in Pittsburgh and a Walmart in El Paso as part of the country's 'tragic history' of domestic terrorism

The strategy will also address the danger of 'insider threats' within the military or security agencies.

'The Department of Defence, Department of Justice, and Homeland Security Department are similarly pursuing efforts to ensure that domestic terrorists are not employed within our military or law enforcement ranks, and that they improve their screening and vetting processes,' said the official.

'Training and resources will be developed for state, local, tribal and territorial law enforcement partners as well as for sensitive private sector partners, to enable them to enhance their own employee screening programme, and to prevent individuals who post domestic terrorism threats and being placed in positions of trust.'

The strategy will be launched by Attorney General Merrick Garland on Tuesday morning.

In a foreword, President Biden said America could not ignore the threat from domestic terrorism.

'Together we must affirm that domestic terrorism has no place in our society,' he said.

'We must work to root out the hatreds that can too often drive violence.

The move follows revelations that a disproportionate number of people arrested during the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol were active military personnel or veterans. Experts in domestic terrorism have long warned that far-right militants were targeting people with military or law enforcement training for recruitment

'And we must recommit to defend and protect those basic freedoms, which belong to all Americans in equal measure, and which are not only the foundation of our democracy they are our enduring advantage in the world.'

The strategy comprises four pillars: enhancing analysis and information sharing between agencies; preventing recruitment and mobilization to violence, including targeting the online spread of hate; disrupting and deterring terrorism, including the $100 million cash injection; tackling long-term drivers such as racism and the flow of firearms.

Earlier this year the Department of Homeland Security said it was launching an internal review to assess the threat of violent extremism from within the agency.

Senior DHS officials will immediately begin the review, which is aimed at preventing, detecting and responding to extremism within the ranks of a sprawling agency that includes the Coast Guard and the nation's immigration enforcement organizations, Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in a letter announcing the effort.

'THE MOST URGENT TERRORIST THREAT THE US FACES TODAY': THE WHITE HOUSE STRATEGY TO COMBAT DOMESTIC TERRORISM On his first full day in office, President Biden directed his national security team to lead a 100-day comprehensive review of U.S. Government efforts to address domestic terrorism, which has evolved into the most urgent terrorism threat the United States faces today. As a result of that review, the Biden Administration is releasing the first-ever National Strategy for Countering Domestic Terrorism to address this challenge to America's national security and improve the federal government's response. Domestic terrorism is not a new threat in the United States, yet it is a threat Americans have endured too often in recent years. The comprehensive strategy provides a nationwide framework for the U.S. Government and partners to understand and share domestic terrorism related information; prevent domestic terrorism recruitment and mobilization to violence; disrupt and deter domestic terrorism activity; and confront long term contributors to domestic terrorism. Our approach will protect both the nation and the civil liberties of its citizens. Under Federal law, 'domestic terrorism' is defined as 'activities that involve acts dangerous to human life that are a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or of any State; appear to be intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population, to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion, or to affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping; and occur primarily within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States.' The review was rooted in an expert assessment of the domestic terrorism threat provided by the intelligence and law enforcement communities. An unclassified summary of that assessment was released in March so the public could see the key findings. It found that the two most lethal elements of today's domestic terrorism threat are (1) racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists who advocate for the superiority of the white race and (2) anti-government or anti-authority violent extremists, such as militia violent extremists. To develop a government-wide strategy to counter domestic terrorists, the Biden Administration consulted extensively with a wide array of experts across the U.S. Government as well as with leaders in Congress, state and local governments, academia, civil society, religious communities, and foreign governments. Throughout the process, we embraced the protection of civil rights and civil liberties as a national security imperative. The strategy we are releasing today is carefully tailored to address violence and reduce the factors that lead to violence, threaten public safety, and infringe on the free expression of ideas. It is organized around four pillars  the core elements of how the Biden Administration will improve the U.S. Government's response to this persistent, evolving, and lethal threat to our people, our democracy, and our national security: PILLAR 1: UNDERSTAND AND SHARE DOMESTIC TERRORISM-RELATED INFORMATION The U.S. Government will enhance domestic terrorism analysis and improve information sharing throughout law enforcement at the federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial levels, and, where appropriate, private sector partners. The Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have implemented a robust system to methodically track domestic terrorism cases nationwide. The Department of State as well as the intelligence and law enforcement communities are learning more from foreign partners about the international dimensions of this threat. The Department of State will continue to assess whether additional foreign entities linked to domestic terrorism can be designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations or Specially Designated Global Terrorists under relevant statutory criteria. The Department of the Treasury, in coordination with law enforcement, is exploring ways to enhance the identification and analysis of financial activity of domestic terrorists. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is enhancing its analysis of open-source information to identify threats earlier and will create a structured mechanism for receiving and sharing within government credible non-governmental analysis. PILLAR 2: PREVENT DOMESTIC TERRORISM RECRUITMENT AND MOBILIZATION TO VIOLENCE Drawing on the expertise of a variety of departments and agencies, the U.S. Government has revamped support to community partners who can help to prevent individuals from ever reaching the point of committing terrorist violence. The U.S. Government will strengthen domestic terrorism prevention resources and services. For the first time, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has designated 'Domestic Violent Extremism' as a National Priority Area within the Department's Homeland Security Grant Program, which means that over $77 million will be allocated to state, local, tribal, and territorial partners to prevent, protect against, and respond to domestic violent extremism. DHS and FBI are working to strengthen local prevention, threat assessment, and threat management frameworks. The Department of Defense (DOD) is incorporating training for servicemembers separating or retiring from the military on potential targeting of those with military training by violent extremist actors. The U.S. Government will improve public awareness of federal resources to address concerning or threatening behavior before violence occurs. The U.S. Government will augment its efforts to address online terrorist recruitment and mobilization to violence by domestic terrorists through increased information sharing with the technology sector and the creation of innovative ways to foster digital literacy and build resilience to recruitment and mobilization. The United States also recently joined the Christchurch Call to Action to Eliminate Terrorist and Violent Extremist Content Online, an international partnership between governments and technology companies that works to develop new multilateral solutions to eliminating terrorist content online while safeguarding the freedom of online expression. PILLAR 3: DISRUPT AND DETER DOMESTIC TERRORISM ACTIVITY The work of Federal law enforcement as well as our state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement partners is critical to countering domestic terrorism. The U.S. Government will increase support to Federal, state, and local law enforcement in addressing domestic terrorism nationwide. U.S. Attorney's Offices and FBI field offices across the country have formally made domestic terrorism a top priority and are tracking comprehensively domestic terrorism-related cases, reallocating or requesting appropriate funding and resources as needed to target the threat. That includes over $100 million in additional resources for DOJ, FBI, and DHS included in the President's Fiscal Year 2022 Budget to ensure that the Federal Government has the analysts, investigators, prosecutors, and other personnel and resources it needs to thwart domestic terrorism and do justice when the law has been broken. State, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement will have access to increased intelligence sharing and training on domestic terrorism and associated threats. DOJ is closely examining whether new legislative authorities that balance safety and the protection of civil liberties are necessary and appropriate. The U.S. Government is improving employee screening to enhance methods for identifying domestic terrorists who might pose insider threats. The Office of Personnel Management will consider updates to the forms used to apply for sensitive roles in the Federal Government that could assist investigators in identifying potential domestic terrorism threats. DOD, DOJ, and DHS are similarly pursuing efforts to ensure domestic terrorists are not employed within our military or law enforcement ranks and improve screening and vetting processes. Training and resources will be developed for state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement partners as well as sensitive private sector partners to enable them to enhance their own employee screening programs and prevent individuals who pose domestic terrorism threats from being placed in positions of trust. PILLAR 4: CONFRONT LONG-TERM CONTRIBUTORS TO DOMESTIC TERRORISM Every component of the government has a role to play in rooting out racism and bigotry and advancing equity for all Americans. The U.S. Government, in close partnership with civil society, will address the long-term contributors that are responsible for much of today's domestic terrorism. This includes reducing and protecting Americans from racial, ethnic, and religious hatred, and stemming the flow of firearms to individuals intending to commit acts of domestic terrorism. We will work to ensure that law enforcement operates without bias in countering domestic terrorism and provides for the public safety of all Americans. In a true democracy, violence cannot be an acceptable mode of seeking political or social change. The U.S. Government is committed to strengthening trust in American democracy and its ability to deliver for the American people, including through relief and opportunity provided by the American Rescue Plan, the American Jobs Plan and the American Families Plan. The U.S. Government will also work to find ways to counter the polarization often fueled by disinformation, misinformation, and dangerous conspiracy theories online, supporting an information environment that fosters healthy democratic discourse. In implementing this strategy, and at the direction of President Biden, we will remain focused on addressing violence and reducing the threat of violence while vigilantly safeguarding peaceful expression of a wide range of views and freedom of political association. Advertisement

Capitol rioter Ashli Babbitt's widower says the cop who shot her dead MUST be named - and his attorney claims it's the same officer who kept his job after leaving his handgun in public men's room

Ashli Babbitt's husband is demanding authorities name the police officer who shot his wife dead during US Capitol riots - amid claims it is the same cop who previously left his handgun in a public men's room.

Speaking to Fox News' Tucker Carlson on Monday night, Aaron Babbitt said he still hasn't been told which officer was responsible for fatally shooting his 35-year-old wife on January 6.

The Metropolitan Police Department has so far refused to name the officer involved and the Department of Justice announced in April they would not be pursuing charges against the officer following an investigation.

'Somebody in DC knows, I think a lot of people know, but nobody is telling us. And the silence is deafening,' Babbitt, who lives in San Diego, California, said.

'I never expected to lose my wife to political violence.'

His attorney Terrell Roberts said he believes the officer responsible for Ashli's death is the same one who made headlines for leaving his loaded gun in a public restroom inside the Capitol in February 2019.

Aaron Babbitt told Tucker Carlson on Monday that he still hasn't been told the identity of the officer who shot dead his wife Ashli during the Capitol riots

Babbitt is now suing the Metropolitan Police Department for refusing to name the officer involved in his wife Ashli's shooting death

During that incident, the officer left his Glock-22, which has no manual safety to prevent accidental firing, inside a bathroom in the Capitol Visitor Center complex after the House had adjourned for the day.

The weapon was later discovered by another officer during a routine security sweep.

The officer was placed under review but ultimately allowed to keep his job. It wasn't immediately clear what disciplinary action, if any, the officer faced as a result.

At the time, a department spokeswoman said: 'The Department takes these matters very seriously, and has a very thorough process to investigate and review incidents such as these, and holds personnel accountable for their actions.'

Carlson asked Babbitt's attorney if he thought that was reason police were hiding the identity of the officer given he was allowed to keep his job after that incident.

'I don't know but I think one of the reasons they are hiding his identity they don't have a good reason for this shooting,' Babbitt's attorney said.

'I think if Ashli Babbitt had been brandishing a firearm and she was shot the officer would be identified by now and pinning a medal on him.

'So I don't think we have an explanation for the shooting and that's why they have not identified him.'

Babbitt, who is now suing the Metropolitan Police Department for refusing to identify the officer, said the characterization of his wife following her death sickened him.

'There has never been a person Ashli ran across in her daily life that didn't love her and wouldn't remember her in some way, shape or form for the rest of her life,' he said.

'But this is the game. This is the social media craziness that people just run with a theory and just take off with it. You know, it is up to us and the ones that love her and people like you for not giving up on it. So I appreciate that, Tucker.'
A young woman has captured with startling accuracy what it's like going to school in Australia by mocking various types of teachers and student cliques.

Millie Ford, 25, from Sydney, has more than 15million likes on TikTok for her portrayals of quirky art teachers, those that love to interrupt a class during a test and professors that force their students to pick up rubbish before going to recess.

Her 'spot-on' impressions of school staff include shoving used tissues down her sleeve, wearing her watch on the underside of her wrist and stomping through hallways in high heels.

The 25-year-old also pokes fun at specific friendship groups that form in an average Aussie high school including one awkward video which shows the 'popular girl' accusing another student of copying her formal dress.

Millie Ford, 25, from Sydney, has gone viral on TikTok for her hilarious portrayals of Australian school teachers

In one TikTok, which garnered close to a million views, the 25-year-old portrayed how there was always one teacher so loud that students could always hear coming down the hallway - no matter how far away she was.

Ms Ford can be seen stomping down the stairwell and laughing hysterically as she pretends to chat with another teacher whilst her lanyard full of various keys sways from side to side.

In another video the young woman mimicked the quirky but beloved art teacher nearly all Aussies found themselves in a class with.

Speaking in a high-pitched voice and wearing a bizarre array of clothing, Ms Ford filmed herself complaining about students who left dirty paintbrushes in the sink - all while having splashes of paint on her face.

Ms Ford is seen pretending to be the teacher that always interrupts classes while students are in the middle of a test

The 25-year-old hilariously mocked teachers and students at Aussie schools and now has more than 350,000 followers on TikTok

TIKTOKKER MILLIE FORD'S BEST AUSSIE SCHOOL IMPRESSIONS 1. The art teacher covered in paint that loves to draw over other students' work 2. The teacher that makes students pick up pieces of rubbish before they're allowed to go to recess 3. Staff that wear high heels and chat so loudly in school hallways that students can hear them coming 4. Teachers shoving used tissues up their sleeves and wearing watches on the underside of their wrists 5. High school girls competing over formal dresses 6. Teachers that love to interrupt classrooms to speak to other staff and wave to students 7. Teachers who whenever they're sick make their class read or watch movies 8. Teachers that stand too close when helping a student with their work Advertisement

'Boys and girls I've just been down the back and I've found these paintbrushes left in the sink. Someone hasn't cleaned these properly, there's paint on the ends,' the teacher dubbed 'Bronwyn' said.

'Who did that? Who left them in the sink?'

Ms Ford also filmed a parody of a teacher who loved to interrupt a class in the midst of an exam.

Popping her head around the doorway and winking to the students working, the TikTokker knocked on the door as she asked a fellow teacher how they were running their test.

'Sorry Ms Simpson I can see you guys are doing your test, we're about to do ours,' she says as she grins guiltily and waves to the students.

Some of Ms Ford's viral videos show her mocking art teachers, staff who are sick and students fighting over formal dresses

Ms Ford then covers her face with her folder as she asks the teacher a question about the test before jokingly instructing the students to 'get back to work!'.

In another relatable video the 25-year-old forced all her students to stay behind until they'd picked up ten pieces of rubbish - a type of teacher most Aussies know too well.

Ms Ford, while pretending to be a student, then picked up one piece of rubbish before tearing it into ten smaller bits.

One of her most popular videos depicts a cringeworthy conversation between a student and the year's 'popular girl' regarding their formal dresses.

'I just find it weird because I was thinking of wearing a strapless green dress and suddenly you post about wearing one,' the supposed popular girl said.

'I'm just really weird about people copying me. So just in case I do think of wearing it do you think you could possibly return yours?'.

Many members of her huge fan base have admitted to watching Ms Ford's videos as part of their daily routines.

'These are way too accurate,' one commented.

'I'm actually reliving these experiences from your videos. Can't stop watching,' another said.

'I'm a teacher and I'm so triggered because I do all these things!' One embarrassed educator confessed.
What makes one child work hard at school while another doesnt? I decided to ask my students themselves what they thought. Most of the 25 kids in my class were from poor families. Very few were white or middle-class. But I didnt expect their answers to differ greatly from what any child would have said.

I constructed a list of all the things I could think of that might make them spend longer on their homework. Was it: To avoid detentions/getting into trouble; to please your parents; because you love the subject; to impress your teachers; to get good exam results and go to a good university; because it will lead to a good job; or to do better than your friends?

I suspected the biggest lever would be detentions, which are freely dispensed at the inner-London academy school where I teach.

My students spend more time on their homework today because they believe it will one day make them rich  or stop them from being poor

Before I became a teacher, I was a columnist on the Financial Times for 23 years. I was in my late 50s when I decided to leave my high-paying job

This turned out to be true only of my most disengaged students, and even then fear came from home rather than school. I work or I get yelled at by parents, one of them explained.

Instead, the biggest motivator turned out to be one that would not have occurred to me as a teenager in a million years: money.

My students spend more time on their homework today because they believe it will one day make them rich  or stop them from being poor.

I work so I can provide for my family when Im grown up, one student wrote. Others said: So I can have a big house; I wanna earn loadz of money, and, most tragically: I dont want to be homeless in the future.

I felt sad that the kids thought intellectual effort was only worthwhile if it might lead to money one day  but then I felt ashamed of my response. The reason it never occurred to me as a teenager that there was a link between effort and future riches was because my parents never suggested as much. They were never poor, so the chances of my becoming so were minuscule.

Before I became a teacher, I was a columnist on the Financial Times for 23 years. I was in my late 50s when I decided to leave my high-paying job to try doing something more useful.

By then, I had spent the best part of six decades associating exclusively with people who were just like me, only more so. My friends were mainly Oxbridge, almost all middle-class, and all white save two or three.

Never did it occur to me that everyone in my remit thought more or less the same things. I lived in a bubble which from the inside seemed stimulating and capacious, but which now strikes me as tiny.

Very slowly, the penny is dropping. At work now Im in a minority on almost everything: class, outlook, income, age and, most obviously, ethnicity.

The people I meet have different views to mine, as a result of their very different experiences of life so far. In my new world, Im an innocent and a know-nothing who is stumbling about clumsily.

Back in the Seventies, my own attitude to school left much to be desired. The night before my English A-level, I came crashing home late and very drunk.

My Mum, who was an English teacher at my school, didnt tell me off. In fact, she had encouraged me to go out.

In August 1977, a brown envelope dropped through the door telling me that Id got a C in my English A-level, a B in maths and an O-level pass in French. Dad gave me a hug and said everything would be all right. Neither of my parents said the obvious thing: It serves you right for not working.

What interests me now is that they didnt do anything to prevent the car crash that was bound to happen. They never gave me nagging speeches about how it mattered to get good grades. Mum never once told me to do my homework  or asked what it was or whether she could help.

I skulked in my bedroom at the top of the house, smoking and listening to Neil Young and Patti Smith. Sometimes I would sit at my desk doing a little light work, but mainly I would play obsessive games of Patience.

Both Mum and Dad had a horror of pushy parenting. The point of school, in Mums view, was that children should be happy, as only then would they be able to learn.

I dont think Mum noticed this theory was being disproved right under her nose by her middle child.

I was happy at Camden School for Girls but I emerged with poor exam grades, eccentric spelling and knowing nothing at all. Instead, what I acquired was a veneer of coolness and the idea that breaking rules was good if it made you seem different.

Progressives like my parents would have denied that education was about knowing things. They would have said it was more about skills, about learning how to think, and, most importantly, learning how to think originally.

I would have accepted this myself until I started teaching. I now see that originality is not much use if you dont know the basics.

There was another reason my parents shrugged off my A-level results: they knew I still had a chance of getting into Oxford.

Back then, the university had its own exams which were less about memorising facts and more about spotting potential.

I cant have done very well as my first-choice college turned me down. Then Lady Margaret Hall, where Mum had got a starred first, and where my sister Kate had a scholarship, said it would interview me.

The college had clearly thought that this latest Kellaway looks a dud on paper but maybe we should check, just to make sure.

And so, on a minimum of work and dire A-level results, I got into one of the best universities in the world  in part thanks to the old-girl network. This stroke of good fortune changed my life.

There was another reason my parents shrugged off my A-level results: they knew I still had a chance of getting into Oxford

Progressives like my parents would have denied that education was about knowing things. They would have said it was more about skills, about learning how to think, and, most importantly, learning how to think originally

The Oxbridge badge opened doors to smart jobs, but an even bigger prize was the change inside my head. For eight hours a day, five days a week, for three years, all I did at university was work.

At first, I worked to prove that I could. But as I sat there slogging, I found that I was actually interested in what I was studying. I had transformed myself from idler to swot.

But my new life in a Hackney comprehensive has made me see my school days from a different angle. The just-be-happy-darling school of education was a luxury for the middle classes  and even then it didnt always work.

My own children, I thought, would do better. So when my son Arty got a place at the City of London school, I was jubilant. Then, in 2007, I went to a parents evening and was told he was doing badly in all subjects  and what was needed was a system at home with strategies to ensure good working habits.

My system was to come home from work, tired, to find he had done nothing. Here are some of the strategies I deployed.

I tried to reason; if he did no work, he would get bad grades and his life would be harder. I tried to help, which ended up in shouting.

I bribed: if you do all your homework, Ill let you play Call Of Duty.

I shouted more. I went into denial and left him alone, hoping for the best. I confiscated Game Boys and laptops. Lowest of all, I used emotional blackmail.

Sometimes I would yell: I am working really hard giving speeches to make extra money to pay for this school so that you can do NOTHING!

At AS-level, Arty did badly in everything. He says now that he didnt believe any of my warnings that he was ruining his life chances. His existence seemed so comfortable, it was impossible for his adolescent brain to imagine that it might stop being so.

On A-levels results day, he went to school while I sat staring at my phone. By lunchtime the message came: Ill pay you back the money I owe you.

I read this and cried, out of shame. How could I have made him feel guilty about the cost of private school, when the decision to send him there was mine?

That autumn, Art got a job in a Chinese takeaway in the next street from our house. This was where his education began.

Within a month, he had acquired more motivation than in seven years at one of the countrys finest private schools. Hed made friends with some of the chefs, who were on minimum wage and were failing to support their families. He decided then that hed better get some qualifications after all.

Meanwhile, Id found that he could go to Nottingham to do engineering with his Cs in maths and physics so long as he did a foundation year.

Just as Id done, Arty buckled down, emerging five years later with a first-class MEng in electrical and electronic engineering.

His reasoning was the same as mine: he worked because he hated wearing the badge of academic failure. Hed also given himself a monumental fright and was not going to let that happen again.

The moral of his story is similar to mine. He got away with it, partly because he had middle-class parents who found a way.

He could afford to fail, because he had a safety net.

Teachers change lives. I dont know how many times Ive heard this trite phrase, but every time I do, I wince. After four years of teaching, the lives Ive changed so far can be counted on one finger  and that student was a bright but lazy boy in Year 9.

One day, I mentioned in passing how much investment bankers earned, and at the end of the lesson Jaward asked how he could become one.

I told him that he didnt have a hope unless he got top grades  and he had no hope of getting those unless he started working right now. The transformation was instant and lasting. This boy is no longer slightly below the middle of my class but is one of my top two performers.

Maybe when the history books are written on Jaward, the visionary financier, I will have played a bit part in changing his life because I accidentally planted a seed.

Even though I didnt go into teaching to swell the bloated ranks of investment bankers, the day Jaward gets a job at Goldman Sachs I will dance a jig.

Yet I absolutely failed to change the lives of Jordan and Deniz, two boys from the bottom set who both left school at 16 without managing even the lowest pass grade.

I recently ran into the pair lurking in the churchyard close to my house, sitting on the tomb of someone whod died 300 years earlier, drumming their heels into the side of it. I had taught these students for a year and left no mark on their lives.

Before I started teaching, I thought the best teachers were the ones who were incapable of dullness. I was determined that my lessons would be an entertaining spectacle with me going at full throttle, a cross between Miss Jean Brodie, Hector from The History Boys and my mum.

After switching from teaching maths  never a good fit  to economics, I would go through the motions of teaching the curriculum, straying at the smallest excuse.

One day, I went off on a long, impassioned rant about whether budget deficits matter. The discussion pinged to and fro between my six economics stars.

I was just congratulating myself on the quality of the lesson when a girl called Alicia stayed behind to talk to me.

She said she didnt understand what we were talking about. Then she started to cry.

As the enormity of this landed, I felt like crying myself.

Sometimes I wonder how Miss Jean Brodie or my Mum would have fared with students like Alicia. Their pupils mostly just needed to be pointed in the right direction, whereas Alicia needed actual, skilful teaching of a sort I simply was not providing.

Since that day, Ive realised the best way of helping Alicia is not to try to make economics a fun show; it is to get her to pass her exam. If it is a teachers job to open doors, those doors are GCSEs.

Changing lives turns out not to be about making instant transformations: it is about hard slog and tiny, incremental improvements. This realisation has changed my own life  or at least how I teach, and the sort of teacher I want to be.

At my school, there is no nonsense about happiness or creativity. If the kids do well in their GCSEs, they will leave this school, which has no Sixth Form, bound for somewhere decent to sit their A-levels.

A few will go on to great universities, and the world in all its gloriousness will beckon.

If they do badly, they will go to a college that admits teenagers who have already failed, with a high chance that they will be spat out two years later with no qualifications and the prospect of a life of delivering pizza from the back of a bicycle.

There are few second chances.

When I started teaching, I thought exams were a necessary evil. I still think that. I hate the way schools talk of them as if they are the purpose of education, when in fact they are merely (flawed) evidence that youve acquired some.

I despair at the way teachers spend as much time teaching exam technique as the subject itself. Yet despite this, I, too, am teaching the exam first and economics second.

There were two things in my mind when I decided to be a teacher. I suspected (rightly) that I would love showing off at the front of the class. I also suspected (rightly) that I would get pleasure from being useful.

What has changed is my understanding that the two are linked. Ive discovered there is little fun in showing off for the sake of it; it only feels good if you know you are being useful, too.

One day, when Im more experienced, I still hope I may be able to do both: to be rogue and exam stickler at the same time.

But for now, for all my students but especially for those who struggle most, I know the sort of teacher I need to become.

My prior attainment in this area is indisputably low, but Im aiming to be the greatest exam stickler the world has ever seen.

n Adapted by Corinna Honan from Re-educated: How I Changed My Job, My Home, My Husband And My Hair, by Lucy Kellaway, published by Ebury on July 1 at 16.99.  Lucy Kellaway 2021. To order a copy for 15.12 (offer valid to June 26, 2021; UK p&p free on orders over 20), visit www.mailshop.co.uk/books or call 020 3308 9193.

A baggy boiler suit? So cool, I thought

Since becoming a schoolteacher in my late 50s, Ive been surrounded by young teachers  and I find Im slowly drifting towards wearing what they do.

Almost everything Ive bought in the last couple of years comes from eBay, and because hardly anything I buy costs more than a tenner, I can take risks.

Then one day, a bit over a year into my new life, I went into a clothes shops and spotted a baggy boiler suit made of chunky scarlet corduroy.

I took it to the changing room and got one of the assistants to take a picture which I posted on our family WhatsApp.

Presently my son Stan replied: So cool! haha. defs buy it.

I needed no further encouragement: I handed over 80 and skipped out of the shop.

My glee was slightly dented on the boiler suits first outing, when I wore it on a date with a man Id met online. He seemed untroubled by my grey hair but drew the line at my outfit, which he said would be just the thing to wear to a Super Mario fancy- dress party.

I have banished this memory (as well as the man). All my life, I have dressed either to fit in or to look attractive or to look powerful. Looking back, I dont think I ever managed to look any of these things particularly successfully, and so it is thrilling to discover that Im no longer trying to look anything in particular.

These days, for the first time in six decades, I dress only to please myself.

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A former Mississippi lawmaker was found shot dead outside the burned home where her sister-in-law was found dead after Christmas.

Ashley Henley, a Republican who served in the state House from January 2016 to January 2020 from a district in DeSoto County, is believed to have been cutting the lawn outside the trailer when she was shot in the back of the head.

The 40-year-old's sister-in-law Kristina Michelle Jones was found dead in a burnt out trailer at the property in rural Yalobusha County, about 70 miles south of DeSoto County, in December last year, and Henley and her husband Brandon were convinced she was murdered.

Henley was at the property - where the couple have erected a large sign with pictures of Jones picture saying 'I was Murdered' as part of their campaign - on Sunday when she was killed.

Her body was found at about 10pm. She leaves behind a 15-year-old son.

Police have not formally linked the two deaths but Brandon Henley said he believed his sister and wife may have been killed by the same person.

Ashley Henley, 40, was found shot dead around 10pm on Sunday in rural Yalobusha County, Mississippi. She and her husband Brandon had been trying to prove that Kristina Jones had been murdered.

He told WJTV: 'I feel that if something would have been done sooner this would have never happened.

'I'd like for [the police] to do their job because this is the second person someone down there has taken from me. My son doesnt have a mother.'

He also told Fox 13: 'We were trying to get justice for my sister to find out who killed her and see that person brought to justice and taken to jail. I think that person knew what happened, and killed her.'

Yalobusha County coroner Ronnie Stark told the Commercial Appeal on Monday that the time of Henley's death had not yet been determined.

Stark told WMC-TV that Henley had been cutting the grass at the property before she was killed.

Assistant District Attorney Steven Jubera said that she had been shot, but did not disclose more detail because they 'are in the earliest stages of an investigation'. He added that the gunshot was 'non-accidental', Mississippi Today reported.

Ashley Henley's body was outside the home where the body of her sister-in-law Kristina Michelle Jones (pictured) was found on December 26. Brandon Henley shared this photo of his sister on Facebook in April as part of his campaign to prove she had been murdered

He told the publication: 'We are going back to square one [on Jones case] after receiving an initial Fire Marshals report and lab reports. We are looking at that with fresh eyes.'

Jones died just after midnight on Boxing Day last year in the bedroom of the trailer, which was owned by her father. The county's coroner said there were no signs of gunshot wounds, the Mississippi Free Press reported, and police had not ruled out homicide.

Brandon Henley commented on a Facebook post by the North Mississippi Herald today, the Mississippi Free Press reported. He said that Ashley was using a weed eater and was shot in the back of the head, adding that 'that's all they have told us at the moment'.

The homemade sign the Henleys erected at the property where Jones's body was found, with the burnt out trailer in the background

He added that his wife 'was a great person', continuing: 'She had a great heart. She loved helping people, and she was a voice for people who didnt have a voice.'

Henley had posted on Facebook about her frustration over the police investigation into Jones's death.

She wrote in April: 'We have been silent long enough. For the past three months my family has held ourselves close, grieving in secret, to cooperate with the requests of the Yalobusha County Sheriffs Department as they proclaimed to be working on the investigation into the murder of my sister-in-law, which occurred at approximately 1.30am on December 26th, 2020.

'Ive known Michelle since she was 9 years old. She was truly like my little sister. I will not give up on her.

'We will find out who did this, with or without help from Yalobusha County. Shes not the first to die like this down there, but Im going to do everything in my power to make sure shes the last. Her death will not be in vain.'

Henley was a teacher before she was elected to the state House, and she often took her young son to the state Capitol during legislative sessions.

She sought a second term in November 2019 and lost by 14 votes to a Democrat. Henley challenged the outcome, saying she believed she had found voting irregularities.

A committee in the Republican-controlled House held a hearing and denied Henley's petition to overturn the election result.

Republican state Rep. Dan Eubanks of DeSoto County wrote in a Facebook post on Monday that he was heartbroken and angry about Henley's death.

Yalobusha County coroner Ronnie Stark told WMC-TV that Henley had been mowing grass outside the burnt out trailer (pictured) where Jones was found dead

Eubanks wrote: 'What an absolute loss to our state, county, me personally, and most importantly her dear family.

'Please pray for her husband and son and their extended family... and that God's justice will be served on those responsible.'

He has set up a GoFundMe account to raise money for the family.

The officer of House Speaker Philip Gunn released a statement on Monday. They said: 'We are all shocked and saddened by this news. Our thoughts and prayers are with Ashley's family and friends.'

State Rep. Steve Hopkins of Southaven told Fox 13: 'I am just still in shock. I never thought in a million years. The DeSoto delegation, we are running the gambit of emotions.

'We are just sad for the family and the friends and everybody who knew Ashley because she touched so many lives.'
A group of five Year 7 schoolboys from elite private schools chased three 12-year-old girls through a park and asked them how much they charged for sex.

The boys also allegedly shouted homophobic slurs and asked the girls to show evidence of self-harm as they pursued them through Victoria Park in Kew in Melbourne's inner-east about 4pm on Saturday.

A mother of one of the young girls said the boys then posted footage of their behaviour online, which has since been deleted.

The abusers - understood to be students from nearby Carey Grammar and Trinity Grammar - were egged on by as many as 30 teenagers, The Herald Sun reported.

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A group of five Year Seven schoolboys from elite private schools have reportedly chased three 12-year-old girls through Victoria park in Kew (pictured) in Melbourne's inner-east and asked them how much they charge for sex

The mother said the boys taunted the 12-year-old girls by asking them 'how much' it would cost for sex as well as 'homophobic slurs'.

They also asked them 'to show wrist reveals' - a reference to self-harm.

A witness also claimed they saw a knife during the pursuit, although this was not seen in footage of the chase posted on Snapchat.

The mother of one of the girls has since pleaded with the schoolboys' parents to show respect to their peers.

'I am asking for help here, not to name and shame, but if you are the parent of, or know the parent of any of these kids, please ask them to speak to their kids about the importance of kindness,' the mother said.

'I would also ask these parents to check their kids social media and assist with removing any video evidence.'

Daily Mail Australia has contacted both schools for comment.

The abusers are understood to be students from nearby Carey Grammar and Trinity Grammar who were egged on by as many as 30 teenagers. Trinity Grammar School's campus is pictured

The incident in the Melbourne park - a popular meeting spot for teenagers in the area - comes after a fight between two private school girls in Hawthorn in the city's inner-east.

The brawl on February 19 involved two Year 10 students from Melbourne Girls College and Strathcona Girls Grammar.

The fight on Glenferrie Road showed a large crowd of girls and boys as they watched and cheered while the fight unfolded.
Half of senior civil servants will be moved out of London and all new top jobs will be advertised externally in a bid to bring in new talent, ministers will announce today.

Boris Johnson will get new powers to oversee the performance of mandarins, including linking their pay to how well they deliver.

The Government will also insist ministers work hand-in-hand with civil servants on reform as it attempts to draw a line under the era of Dominic Cummings.

During his time in No 10, the Prime Minister's former chief adviser was reported to have threatened a 'hard rain' was coming for Whitehall.

Boris Johnson will get new powers to oversee the performance of mandarins, including linking their pay to how well they deliver.

In a speech today outlining the overhaul, Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove will say: 'On some past occasions, it has been regrettable that reform overall was seen as something driven by politicians, against the mulish opposition of bureaucrats. It is a missed opportunity when reform is felt as something done by ministers to civil servants, rather than with them.

'And greater openness in the deployment of outside talent to drive progress should never be understood as somehow a replacement for or usurpation of the vital role civil servants play.'

The Cabinet and departmental permanent secretaries will hold their first ever joint meeting this morning to agree a 'declaration on Government reform'.

They will strengthen a promise to relocate 22,000 civil service roles outside the capital by saying this will include half of senior roles. New training will be offered to civil servants and ministers to build expertise in digital, data and science.

In a speech today outlining the overhaul, Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove will announce changes

Members of the public will be given a single log-in for online Government services so they do not have to remember multiple passwords.

A new system of pay, reward and performance management will be brought in for civil servants, including performance-related pay for mandarins.

The Prime Minister and the Cabinet Secretary jointly will oversee the performance of permanent secretaries to ensure they are delivering within their departments.

Mr Gove will say the pandemic has highlighted what changes are needed. He will say: 'It's been a consistent feature of our history that the national weaknesses, fissures or fractures that have been laid bare or exacerbated by crises should be addressed with the same energy and single-mindedness required for a successful response to the crisis itself.'

Mr Johnson said last night: 'As we look ahead to the opportunities ahead of us to build back a better and fairer Britain, we owe it to the people of this country to make sure their government is best equipped to deliver on their priorities.

'That's why we are launching our blueprint for reform  to keep building on our expertise, modernise how government is run and transform this country for the better.'

Cabinet Secretary and head of the civil service Simon Case said: 'As we look forward now to renewal and recovery, this reform programme created by ministers and officials ensures that we will grip the challenges and opportunities together.'
Sir Keir Starmer has demanded Oxford dons 'get on with their jobs' after they refused to teach students in a row over a statue of Cecil Rhodes.

The Labour leader told academics it was unfair to punish 'hard-hit' students in their quest to remove the colonialist.

He waded into the furore after 150 lecturers threatened to stop tutorials for Oriel College students until the statue is removed from its building.

When asked yesterday if he supported the dons, Sir Keir urged them to end their boycott immediately.

Sir Keir Starmer has demanded Oxford dons 'get on with their jobs' after they refused to teach students in a row over a statue of Cecil Rhodes

He told LBC News: 'Get on with the job of teaching people. Let's get our feet back firmly on the ground and teach the students.

'Students have been through hell in the last 18 months you know  cooped up in flats, six at a time, quite often all of them have got Covid because they've given it to one another. They have been amongst the hardest hit in the last 18 months.'

Oriel last month rejected calls to tear down the statue of Rhodes after an independent commission produced a review following the long-running Rhodes Must Fall campaign.

It is understood removing the statue would have been prohibitively expensive because of the likely legal battle involved in getting permission.

The college said it would instead spend money on improving the 'day to day experience' of ethnic minority students.

A group of 150 professors called on staff to stop holding tutorials for Oriel students until the statue of Cecil Rhodes (pictured) is removed

Critics say the monument of the wealthy imperialist - who is blamed for restricting the rights of black Africans in the 19th Century - causes offence to ethnic minorities.

An Oxford student in the 1870s, Rhodes left money to Oriel on his death in 1902 and his statue stands on the college's building on Oxford High Street.

Oriel last week acknowledged the rebellion with 'sadness', and suggested the academics were abandoning their 'duty of care' for students.

Meanwhile, the boycott was condemned by Oxford's vice chancellor, Louise Richardson, as well as universities minister Michelle Donelan.

Downing Street warned the college's 300 students could be entitled to compensation if the university did not take 'appropriate action' to quell the rebellion.

Sir Keir's strong stance comes after his predecessor Jeremy Corbyn condemned the statue and called for its context to be made more clear to the public.

He told student newspaper Cherwell: 'Cecil Rhodes was racist.

'He subjugated and killed large numbers of people in what became Rhodesia and eventually Zimbabwe and Zambia, and made a great deal of money out of diamond mining and others in South Africa.

'I don't see a need to venerate his life at all.'
Piers Morgan has warned Harry and Meghan that the public are 'sick of their yapping' and said they 'can't have their royal cake and eat it' as the couple sign lucrative media deals and give high profile interviews, while demanding privacy.

Morgan, Editor-at-Large of DailyMail.com, appeared on Fox News' Hannity show on Monday where he laid into the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for 'trading' their titles in for 'hundreds of millions of dollars' in deals with Spotify and Netflix.

'These two want to have the royal cake and eat it,' he told host Sean Hannity.

Morgan said people were tired of hearing the wealthy royals complain about their privileged lives after their bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey - which the Queen, Prince Charles, as well as William and Kate are still reeling from.

'I think it's time those two gave up their titles, stopped whining 24/7, and tried to take a leaf out the book of the Queen,' he said.

'Take a little tip from the Queen: less is more.

'And if you want to be a royal, a member of the royal family, less is more.

'We are hearing too much of your yapping, too much of your whining, it's time to pipe down.'

He added: 'They are very happy to trade off their titles, but at the same time they want the right to trash the Queen. I think it's sickening to people here.'

Piers Morgan, Editor-at-Large of DailyMail.com, appeared on Sean Hannity's Fox News show on Monday night. The British journalist, who famously left his job in March in a row about Harry and Meghan's interview with Oprah Winfrey, said he stood by his criticism of the pair

Morgan was host of Good Morning Britain until Harry and Meghan's March 7 interview with Winfrey. He said he did not believe Meghan Markle's claims about her treatment from the Royal family, and amid the ensuing row he left the show

Morgan said that the Queen had done a 'remarkable' job over the past week, while the G7 summit was hosted by the United Kingdom. He said her sense of duty stood in sharp contrast to Harry and Meghan's attitude. The Queen is seen on June 11 with Joe and Jill Biden

He explained that last week's G7 summit brought the contrast between Harry and Meghan and the Queen into sharp focus - noting that the British monarch carried out her duty, while her grandson and his wife were 5,000 miles away in California.

'She is a remarkable person who puts duty first,' said Morgan, speaking on Monday night to Fox News.

'And it seems to me that Meghan and Harry don't even understand the concept of duty.

'It is rankly hypocritical, it sticks in people's gullets over here.'

The couple's latest row involves the naming of their daughter Lilibet - the Queen's nickname.

They insist they consulted the Queen; the BBC reported that palace sources told them that that was not the case. Harry and Meghan have claimed through their lawyers that that is false and defamatory.

That disagreement comes as Harry promotes his Apple TV series with Oprah Winfrey, and a few months after Meghan published a book on parenthood.

Morgan, who is currently weighing up his next move after leaving Good Morning Britain in March, said that he thought Biden's approach at the G7 - keeping calm - was not perhaps enough, when faced with complex problems involving China and Russia

Biden is seen with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the Queen on June 11. Morgan said Biden appeared to emphasize calm, above all else - and questioned whether it was a workable strategy

Biden is seen with the Queen at Windsor Castle on June 13, before they met for tea

The broadcaster and journalist was asked for his assessment of Joe Biden's performance at the G7, which was held in Cornwall, on the southern British coast.

Morgan said that Biden was seen as a sharp contrast to his predecessor - but that that wasn't necessarily a good thing.

'The perception of Biden is that it was all fine,' he told Sean Hannity.

'It wasn't this noise and chaos and unpredictability of a President Trump visit, which I rather miss, enlivening these gatherings where everyone gets together and says boring platitudes.

'I think there's also a wider issue about President Biden, in that I think he sees his job, his role, to calm everything down as if somehow that's enough - and I don't think it is.

'And when dealing with China and Russia, NATO, every issue out there from the pandemic to climate change, whatever - I'm not sure people want a calm America that isn't taking dynamic, proactive action.'

Morgan said that Donald Trump, who he knows personally from his 2007 appearance on The Apprentice, had not got 'enough credit' for taking a hard line on China, and holding NATO members to their agreed financial contributions.

'What I did like about him was his forceful personality enabling him to cut through the bureaucracy and cut to the quick about issues - and NATO was a good example.

'Everybody knows that most NATO countries don't pay their bills, we know that because Donald Trump shone a light on that inequity, in that it was unfair that America should carry that for so many underpaying European countries.

'He was absolutely right about that.

'He was also right about the threat of China. Go back two or three years and Joe Biden doesn't think China is a threat. Suddenly he does.

'Donald Trump has been calling out China for 30 years to my certain knowledge.

'So there were also things I felt Donald Trump didn't get enough credit for.'

The British journalist said that Biden was given an easy ride by the press.

'I don't think he is held to the same account by the media in America that Donald Trump was,' said Morgan.

'And I think it is a plain and obvious fact, and that is not good for the U.S. media.

'You should be unafraid to hold your own liberal Democrat president to the same ferocious account that you held Donald Trump.

'Otherwise, you are just as biased as I always see them saying Fox News is.'

Morgan said that Biden, pictured on Monday at the NATO summit in Brussels, was being given an easy time by the U.S. media and urged the press to hold him to account as much as they did Trump

Donald Trump is pictured in December 2019, with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and an unimpressed-looking Macron and Merkel. Morgan said he missed Trump's theatrics

Hannity asked Morgan what his next step was going to be, after he dramatically parted ways with Good Morning Britain in March, amid a row over Harry and Meghan's interview with Winfrey.

On March 8 - the morning after the interview aired in the U.S. - Morgan said he 'didn't believe a word' the duchess had told Winfrey about her mental health and the way 'The Firm' treated her.

William was said to be devastated that their private discussions were so publicly shared - in particular as Meghan accused Kate of making her cry before her wedding.

Charles was reportedly furious at the attack on the monarchy, and the allegations of racism. He was said to be 'at a loss' over Harry and Meghan's decision to do the interview, Vanity Fair reported.

'He will not be drawn into it, but it's fair to say he is surprised and very disappointed by what has been said. He didn't watch the interview, but of course he's heard what has been said. He feels let down by them both,' said a longtime friend of the prince's, who also added: 'There is not a racist bone in his body and to suggest otherwise is very hurtful.'

Meghan's comments about race and her suggestion that Archie was not made a prince because of his skin color - rather than the pre-existing hierarchy - were said to be particularly painful.

'I find it hard to see how they can come back from this. William is angry and upset, and he will bear a grudge for a very long time that Meghan has dragged Catherine into all of this,' said a friend.

Morgan spoke of his disbelief of Meghan and Harry's claims, and parted ways with the show.

An ITV spokesperson said: 'Following discussions with ITV, Piers Morgan has decided now is the time to leave Good Morning Britain. ITV has accepted this decision and has nothing further to add.'

In a tweet on March 10, Morgan said that he had reflected on his opinion on the Winfrey interview and still did not believe Meghan, adding that 'freedom of speech is a hill I'm happy to die on'.

Morgan told Hannity that he felt vindicated, after she was found to have lied about at least 17 different issues.

'It is a farcical situation and of course, as with all of these situations at the moment, the cancel culture, Twitter mob come for you and say if you don't believe Meghan Markle, you are a racist,' he said.

'To which I say I've never said a racist thing about Meghan Markle or anybody else.

'It has nothing to do with her skin color and everything to do with her inability to tell the truth and her rank hypocrisy.'

Morgan added: 'At the center of this is this epidemic of cancel culture, which is this very small but vocal group of illiberal liberals.

'I called them the new fascists, who want to tell us how to lead our lives, how to speak, how to think, what to find funny, what we can enjoy on television and at the movies, what historical figures we can appreciate and not appreciate.

'And if you deviate one iota from their woke worldview, you must be shamed, vilified and canceled.'
The pandemic saw people leave Democratic blue states in droves and head towards sunnier climes in the red states of the south to escape the strict lockdowns and spiraling crime.

A migration report from moving company North American Moving Services found those living in the states of New York, California, Illinois, New Jersey and Maryland headed for Arizona, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina and Idaho.

Four of the top seven states people were fleeing were located in the Northeast where the pandemic stuck first.

Out of the moves conducted in Illinois, almost 70% were people moving out of the state.

People fled New York, Illinois and California for Texas, Idaho, Arizona and The Carolinas according to data from moving company North American Van Lines

Cities in Texas, Arizona and Denver were popular places to move to while the cities of New York, Chicago, San Diego and Anaheim in California saw the most departures

The company say Phoenix, Houston and Dallas were the top three cities welcoming new residents while New York City, Anaheim and San Diego in California saw the highest numbers of people leave.

The move away from the likes of New York was driven, in part, by an increased fear of living in densely populated cities amid the pandemic.

In addition to grappling COVID-19, New York City in particular has also struggled with escalating crime and homelessness in recent months.

Police say crime has spiked in Manhattan after hundreds of homeless were rehoused there because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Through the first five months of 2021, the total number of major crimes measured by the police department has been at its lowest level since comparable statistics became available in the 1990s

The move away from the likes of New York was driven, in part, by an increased fear of living in densely populated cities and rising crime amid the pandemic

On Monday, Mayor Bill de Blasio on Monday downplayed the violence and chaos that has been occurring in recent weeks that has seen people partying until the early hours of the morning.

Elsewhere across the country this weekend, one of 14 people shot in a mass shooting in Austin has since died of their injuries; one man was killed and seven injured in a drive-by shooting in Savannah; three men were killed in Cleveland; and a woman was gunned down in Chicago.

Murders are also currently up 60 percent in Atlanta compared to last year.

Police fear the explosion of shootings and violent crimes in recent months is a long term trend rather than just a blip.

In Austin, 25 year-old IT worker Douglas John Kantor died in hospital on Sunday after he was one of 14 people shot at random on a street packed with bars hours earlier.

Kantor, who was a tourist from New York, was shot through the abdomen when shots rang out at about 1.30am on Saturday in the Sixth Street area when two men opened fire on each other.

Aside from crimeresearchers also found among the reasons people were picking up and heading to the Sun Belt states were job availability, the cost of living and harsh winters.

NEW YORK: The move away from the likes of New York was driven, in part, by an increased fear of living in densely populated cities and rising crime amid the pandemic

'Northeastern states make up four out of the seven states with the most outbound moves, and none of them make the top eight for inbound moves. New York led the way, followed by New Jersey and Maryland. But California edged out Maryland for fourth place on the outbound list,' the NAMS report concluded.

'Pennsylvania and Michigan also made the list, and both states have made the top 10 fairly consistently for the past few years. Maryland has made the list for outbound moves since 2015, and it has ranked between second and fifth places. In 2020, it took fifth place.'

The moving company data showed that states that have much less densely populated areas were a big draw card for people looking to relocate amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rising homelessness and a fear of living in large cities were part of the draw to leave. Picture,A homeless encampment along an Upper West Side side walk is seen above, pictured last year

MIAMI: While many Americans opted for the more rural states, those in New York and New Jersey moved to Sunbelt states like Tennessee, The Carolinas and Florida, data shows

IDAHO: Idaho was a popular choie for relovation thanks to wide open spaces and cheaper property prices. Pictured, Boise cityscape at night

While many Americans opted for the more rural states, those in New York and New Jersey moved to Sunbelt states like Tennessee and The Carolinas, the data shows.

'States in the south consistently rank well in the list of inbound moves. On average, states throughout the southeast, south and southwest continue to see their populations grow as more individuals relocate there than leave the region. Arizona and South Carolina have been in the top five inbound states since 2015,' according to the report.

'Meanwhile, North Carolina and Tennessee have always been on the list but reached the top five in 2016. While Tennessee usually sat in fifth place or so, it is now in third place for inbound moves. Florida and Texas have also been in the top 12 since the first report in 2015.'

States in the south have experienced job growth due to companies relocating to or opening branches in the area. While the pandemic has changed things, there are still plenty of jobs in the south.

NEW YORK: Moving vehicles were a common sight lining the streets of New York City together with and discarded furniture stacked on the sidewalk left by residents seeking pastures new. Pictured last summer

Southern states like Texas, Florida, and Tennessee dont have a state income tax. Arizona and the Carolinas have a state income tax, but rates are relatively low, not surpassing seven percent.

Of all Western states, only California has consistently ranked in the top 10 for outbound moves since 2015.

The percentage has fluctuated over time, but enough people continue to leave to make it stand out. Californias high cost of living could be the reason for so many outbound moves, along with a lack of affordable housing in some cities.

Data also reveals people moved to houses which were $27,000 more affordable on average, and also 33-square feet larger.

Data seen by Zillow saw many people move to the suburbs - a trend that was exacerbated by the pandemic after living close to an office was no longer a motivating factor in location choice.

The majority of those who have relocated came from densely populated cities in search of greener, sparser or more remote pastures.
Liberals are renewing their calls for 82-year-old Justice Stephen Breyer to resign so they can get some new blood in the Senate before the Republicans regain the majority after Minority Leader Mitch McConnell threatened to block every Biden nominee during the 2024 election year.

McConnell said on Hugh Hewitt's radio show Monday that he thought it was 'highly unlikely' that whichever party had the majority, 'would confirm a Supreme Court nominee in the middle of an election.'

His comment sparked panic among many Democrats who fear they could lose control of the Senate during next year's election.

Many have turned on Breyer who, at 82, they believe should retire to allow someone with more energy to take his place. The Justice had already found himself unpopular with liberals after previous remarks he gave suggesting court packing may be a bad idea.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said she is 'inclined to say yes' when asked on Sunday whether she thought Breyer could retire so that Biden could appoint a younger liberal to the Supreme Court.

'You know, it's something I thin about, but I would probably lean towards yes,' she said on CNN. 'I would give more thought to it, but I'm inclined to say yes.'

Liberals have renewed their calls for Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer to resign after Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said he would block President Joe Biden's Supreme Court nominee if the person was nominated in 2024, the next presidential election year

On Sunday, House Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also said she is inclined to say yes when asked if Justice Stephen Breyer should retire so that President Joe Biden can appoint a younger liberal judge to the Supreme Court

Charlotte Clymer, a liberal activist, for example, wrote: 'Breyer needs to retire. Greatness in public service has to also mean knowing when it' time to pass the baton, and it's time.'

That tweet garnered about 2,300 likes by Monday evening, with others following suit.

About an hour later, Robert Cruickshank, the campaign director at Demand Progress, tweeted: 'If Breyer refuses to retire, he's not making some noble statement about the judiciary. He is saying he wants Mitch McConnell to hand-pick his replacement.'

Keith Boykin, a CNN commentator, meanwhile wrote: 'Mitch McConnell will block any Biden nominee from the Supreme Court if Republicans control the Senate by 2024. Now tell Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema that bipartisanship is a lie and the filibuster must be eliminated. And tell Stephen Breyer to retire.'

Jon Favreau, a former speechwriter for President Barack Obama, said it 'Certainly feels good to yell online about this, but the only audience that really matters is Stephen Breyer, [Sen. Joe Manchin], [Sen. Kyrsten Sinema], and a handful of other Senate Dems who are hiding behind them,' referring to two Democratic senators who have spoken out against eliminating the filibuster. 'Anyone got a plan to persuade that crew?'

Matthew Yglesias, a former VOX writer, added: 'Justice Breyer is playing a reckless and irresponsible gamble with the future of hundreds of millions of people,' and Matthew Chapman, a breaking news reporter at Raw Story, said: 'Stephen Breyer has a responsibility to step down at the end of this term.'

'He cannot enable this behavior from Republicans.'

Some in Congress have already called on Breyer to resign. In April, amid comments he made suggesting court packing could be a bad idea, New York Rep. Mondaire Jones, a Democrat, said he thought Breyer, the eldest member of the Supreme Court should resign, and on Monday he renewed those calls.

'When I became the first person in Congress to call for Justice Breyer to retire now, while President Biden can still appoint a successor, some people asked whether it was necessary,' he tweeted.

'Yes. Yes, it is.'

Many liberals took to Twitter following McConnell's announcement to demand Breyer resign

Breyer first joined the bench under former President Bill Clinton in 1994 and is the oldest member of the Supreme Court.

In April, he came under fire for a lecture he gave at Harvard Law School, in which he said that packing the Supreme Court with more members may be a bad idea.

He said liberals who support the idea should think 'long and hard' about what theyre proposing, arguing that politically-driven change could diminish Americans' trust in the judicial system.

His talk, Breyer said, 'seeks to make those whose initial instincts may favor important structural (or other similar institutional) changes, such as forms of "court-packing," think long and hard before embodying those changes in law.'

Mondaire Jones became the first person to ask for Breyer's resignation in April

While he has said nothing publicly about his plans, the speech could be read as a kind of farewell address, filled with calls for the public to view the justices as more than 'junior league politicians.'

He noted, for example, that despite the courts conservative majority, the court in the past year refrained from getting involved in the 2020 election, delivered a victory to Louisiana abortion clinics and rejected former President Donald Trumps effort to end legal protections for immigrants who were brought to the United States as children.

Breyer acknowledged that conservative views prevailed in other decisions.

'These considerations convince me that it is wrong to think of the Court as another political institution,' he said.

McConnell famously blocked President Barack Obama's (left) pick to replace Justice Antonin Scalia, Judge Merrick Garland (right), who now serves as President Joe Biden's Attorney General

McConnell, however, had no problem pushing through the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett (right), a week before the election. She's photographed with then President Donald Trump (left) during her nomination ceremony on September 26, 2020

In March 2016, former President Barack Obama announced he had chosen Merrick Garland to fill a seat left vacant by the late Antonin Scalia, nearly nine months before voters headed to the polls.

But, as Senate Majority Leader, McConnell refused to give now Attorney General Merrick Garland, a vote, because it was during a presidential election year.

Then, in 2020, when liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed away in September, now former President Donald Trump swiftly picked Judge Amy Coney Barrett to take her place.

Against Ginsburg's dying wishes, the Republican-controlled Senate confirmed Barrett to the bench on October 27, one week before the presidential election.

McConnell and the Senate Republicans have defended their actions pointing out that in 2016 party control of the White House and Senate was split, whereas in 2020, the same party, the Republicans, controlled both.

'What was different in 2020 was we were of the same party as the president. And that's why we went ahead with it,' McConnell said.

On the show Monday, McConnell said holding open Scalia's seat - so the late justice was eventually replaced by Trump with conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch - was 'the single most consequential thing I've done in my time as majority leader of the Senate.'

Conservatives now hold a 6-3 majority on the high court.

McConnell wouldn't say what he would do if, for example, liberal Justice Stephen Breyer retired at the end of the 2023 court session, and Republicans retook the majority after the 2022 midterms.

'Well, we'd have to wait and see what happens,' the Kentucky Republican said.

Hewitt told McConnell he was worried about some of the Republicans jumping into Senate primaries in states the GOP needs to hold on to if there's any chance of becoming the majority party again next year.

Hewitt warned 'unelectable Republicans' could lose the GOP 'easily defended seats.'

McConnell answered, 'yes, if necessary,' he would get involved if it looked like someone who didn't appeal to a general election audience was poised to win.

'You have to appeal to the general election audience,' McConnell said.

'I'll be keeping an eye on that, hopefully we won't have to intervene, but if we do, we will,' the minority leader added.
Five trees fell onto the house, destroying it and severely injuring the pair

Roxanne and son Joope were trapped inside their Olinda home by fallen trees

A mother suffered horrifying bruising to her face after five falling trees destroyed her home during wild storms in Victoria.

Roxanne and her son Joope were trapped inside their house in Olinda in the state's central-south after five trees collapsed due to the heavy rainfall and wind.

Emergency services were initially unable to access the pair due to the destruction around them.

But once rescuers got inside the home they were both were taken to hospital with horrendous injuries.

Pictures of the mother show heavy bruising to her face and eyes.

Roxanne and her son Joope suffered 'terrible injuries' when five trees smashed into their house during last weeks' horrific Victorian weather

Images of the house show the extent of the damage caused by the falling trees, with large parts of the roof completely caved in

The home has rooms completely exposed, with it completely unlivable and requiring massive repairs or demolition

Roxanne's brother Lincoln said she was 'lucky to be alive' in a GoFundMe he created to help raise money for their medical bills and damaged possessions.

'I am trying to raise funds for my sister Roxanne and her son Joope who are both super lucky to be alive today,' he wrote.

'Their house and belongins were destroyed by a 5 falling trees from the severe weather that hit Victoria and they are left with nothing.

'Roxanne was struck down and sustained terrible injuries. I would like to ask if you help this little battler get back on her feet.'

Images of the house show the extent of the damage caused by the falling trees, with large parts of the roof completely caved in.

The home has rooms completely exposed, with it completely unlivable and requiring massive repairs or demolition.

The fundraiser has had more than $11,500 in donations at the time of writing from over 150 donors, with the family hoping to get to $50,000.

Roxanne's brother Lincoln said she was 'lucky to be alive' in a GoFundMe he created to help raise money for their medical bills and damaged possessions

Emergency services were intially unable to access the pair due to the destruction around them. Both were taken to hospital with 'terrible injuries' after finally being freed

Victorians living near the Traralgon Creek area were told by authorities to evacuate at about 10.30am on Thursday as the wild weather worsened

The body of a man believed to be in his 60s was found submerged in a vehicle in Woodside, Gippsland, on Thursday at about 1.45pm after a member of the public called Triple 0.

Areas of the state were saturated by a 270ml deluge of rainfall with catchments flooding and properties inaccessible.

Victorians living near the Traralgon Creek area were told by authorities to evacuate at about 10.30am on Thursday as the wild weather worsened.

A major flood warning was also issued on Thursday night for the Thomson River, with major flooding possible for Sale on Friday afternoon.

A car was submerged by flood water in Traralgon, in Victoria on Thursday

Residents look at a downed tree following storm damage in Lilydale, Melbourne

There are other active major flood warnings across the West Gippsland catchment including the Avon, Macalister and Latrobe rivers.

Entire towns are being evacuated as the Bureau of Meteorology issued major flood warnings for areas including Milgrove, Licola, Cowwarr Weir, Tanjil Junction and Traralgon in Victoria's east.

Those already in a safe place are urged to stay put for the next 48 to 72 hours, when most of the flooding is expected to move through communities.

Authorities are pleading with locals not to drive through floodwaters.
A NSW woman who denied sedating and gassing her sheep farmer partner has been found guilty of murder.

Natasha Beth Darcy pleaded not guilty to murdering Mathew Dunbar, who was found dead in his bed on his Pandora property in the Northern Tablelands town of Walcha on August 2, 2017.

The 46-year-old's NSW Supreme Court trial began on March 31, with the Crown alleging she murdered the grazier to inherit his $3.5million property, knowing she was the sole beneficiary.

She contended the 42-year-old killed himself, but the Crown rejected her guilty plea to aiding or abetting suicide.

Natasha Beth Darcy, 46, has been found guilty of murdering Mathew Dunbar after the 42-year-old sheep farmer was found dead in his home near Walcha, northern New South Wales, on August 2, 2017

Justice Julia Lonergan directed the jurors to entirely put out of their minds the issue of assisted suicide, reminding them of the absence of any evidence about such a scenario.

After more than two days of deliberations, the jury returned a guilty verdict on Tuesday.

She will face a sentence hearing in October.

Prosecutor Brett Hatfield alleged Darcy planned the murder for some time, citing hundreds of Google searches on death methods starting with poisonous spiders and fungi which started back in February, 2017.

He said she sedated her partner using a Nutribullet to blend a cocktail of sedatives, before moving a gas tank into his room and gassing him in his bed.

Prosecutor Brett Hatfield alleged Darcy planned the murder for some time, citing hundreds of Google searches on death methods starting with poisonous spiders and fungi

The jury was told of a letter Darcy sent to a friend after Mr Dunbar's death, offering her $20,000 to tell lies about him that would assist her at any murder trial.

Agreed facts tendered in the case state that in 2009, Darcy hit her husband, Colin Crossman, on the head with a hammer as he slept.

Three days later when he was again asleep she took a tin of petrol from the garage and poured it on the bedroom floor and set it alight.

She had earlier given him a meal of tacos and samples later showed he had sedatives in his system.

The previous month, she had taken out a life insurance policy which paid $700,000 to her on the death of Mr Crossman.

Darcy, the sole beneficiary of a Dunbar's estate (pictured) googled redback spiders and mushrooms six months before his death

Mr Hatfield said these events indicate Ms Darcy has a tendency to sedate and inflict serious harm on her domestic partners for financial gain.

Darcy claimed her partner had taken his own life because he was depressed about his sexuality and a severe leg infection, the Brisbane Times reported.

She'd phoned triple 0 after claiming she found her partner dead in his bed.

Some of Darcy's Google searches included 'how to commit murder' and 'can police see websites you visit on your mobile'.

The mother had also carried out two 'dry runs' on Mr Dunbar to test the effects of drugs.

The court heard Darcy had been spreading lies about Mr Dunbar's mental health issues to friends and family, and told them he was gay.
A marked increase in elder abuse is being reported as Australians emerge from coronavirus restrictions.

Cindy Smith, chief executive of the Australian Association of Social Workers, says incidents of elder abuse are coming to light as older people return to their pre-pandemic routines.

'With older people beginning to return to GPs, community health services, aged care services and other supports, social workers are reporting that many more cases of elder abuse are now being picked up,' Ms Smith said on Tuesday.

'Social workers are also reporting an increase in the severity of cases, particularly for older people who were in Covid lockdowns with abusive family members. A trend which is very concerning.'

A marked increase in elder abuse is being reported as Australians emerge from coronavirus restrictions (stock image)

Ms Smith said while the aged care royal commission and awareness campaigns had led to greater recognition of elder abuse, more needed to be done to tackle it.

This World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, she is calling on better training for aged care staff, whether they work in residential or in-home care, so they can pick up on signs of elder abuse and be able to respond effectively

'Now that a light has started to shine on its prevalence, we need to take the opportunity to ensure that no older Australian ever experiences abuse again,' Ms Smith said.

Elder abuse is any act that causes harm to an older person and is carried out by someone they know and trust, such as a family member or friend.

The abuse may be physical, social, financial, psychological or sexual and can include mistreatment and neglect.

The NSW Trustee & Guardian agency says about 185,000 older people in Australia experience some form of abuse or neglect each year.

The government agency supports thousands of NSW residents each year who have fallen victim to elder abuse by being appointed as their guardian or financial manager by a court or tribunal.

Elder abuse is any act that causes harm to an older person and is carried out by someone they know and trust, such as a family member or friend (stock image)

'Research tells us that most elder abuse occurs within families and may explain why many cases go under-reported,' NSW Trustee & Guardian chief executive Adam Dent said.

'That's why it's important that we, as a community, are on the lookout for early signs that something isn't right.'

Mr Dent said financial abuse was the most common form of elder abuse, with large bank withdrawals, access to bank accounts being blocked, belongings disappearing, or changes to Wills all 'warning signs' to look out for.

'Take notice if an older person doesn't have money for essentials like food or clothing, or is unable to pay bills,' he said.

Mr Dent encouraged older Australians to protect themselves by preparing a will, Enduring Power of Attorney and Enduring Guardianship and appointing someone they trust to make decisions for them, in the event they can't in the future.

'While a child may seem like the natural choice, they are not always the right choice - particularly if you don't always see eye to eye,' Marie Brownell from Equity Trustees said.

'Your attorney should be someone who you consider to be 100 per cent reliable and trustworthy. This could be a family member or someone outside the family such as a family friend or professional.'
Five workers were seriously injured in a coal mine explosion because repeated over-production and poor planning led to risky gas build-up, an inquiry has found.

The miners were hospitalised after the explosion at Anglo American's Grosvenor Coal Mine in Moranbah, Queensland, on May 6, 2020.

The Queensland Coal Mining Board of Inquiry's second report released on Monday says the disaster was caused by 'spontaneous combustion'.

It said the systemic cause of the disaster was repeated methane gas build-ups, or high potential incidents, at longwall mine 104 (LW 104).

Wayne Sellars suffered burns to 70 per cent of his body in the explosion, but said he still managed to 'march' out of the site.

The board said coal production regularly outstripped the mine's gas drainage capacity of 70,000 tonnes a week despite management being aware of the risks.

'Despite the emergence of high gas emissions, beyond gas drainage system capacity, no adjustment to production was made,' the report said.

'No limit was imposed on weekly or daily production.'

The inquiry said Anglo American failed to install an adequate gas drainage system before the mine started production on March 9, 2020.

The first methane gas HPI occurred at the Grosvenor Mine less than 10 days later on March 18.

There were another six HPIs over the following six days, each occurring when coal production exceeded the mine's gas drainage capacity.

One of the injured minors is evacuated from the mine by plane and taken to hospital

'Producing coal at a rate that consistently exceeds the capacity of the critical control of gas drainage subjects coal mine workers to an unacceptable level of risk,' the report said.

'It follows that coal mine workers on LW 104 were repeatedly subject to an unacceptable level of risk.'

The inquiry found that Resources Safety & Health Queensland had also failed to identify the risk at the mine.

The board said the practice of labour hire and contract work at the mine had contributed to the risky work environment.

It said there was a perception among those workers that raising safety concerns may jeopardise their jobs.

'It has not been possible to assess how widespread that perception might be,' the report said.

'However, the existence of a perception, no matter how widespread, creates a risk that safety concerns will not always be raised.'

The miners were hospitalised after the explosion at Anglo American's Grosvenor Coal Mine in Moranbah, Queensland, on May 6, 2020

The board has made 40 recommendations to avoid a similar disaster including that coal mine operators review gas drainage

It called on the Grosvenor mine's management to audit gas drainage to ensure the risk to workers was at an acceptable level.

Anglo American senior executive Tyler Mitchelson described the incident as unacceptable and said the company had already made moves to address the recommendations, including spending $60 million on safety initiatives over the past year.

'Underground coal mining, particularly in the area where Grosvenor Mine is located, is complex with many interacting considerations,' he said.

'As the Board has identified, further research into certain technical areas such as gas and spontaneous combustion management would benefit the industry.'

The board said coal production regularly outstripped the mine's gas drainage capacity of 70,000 tonnes a week despite management being aware of the risks

The board report said all Queensland coal mines should regularly assess production to ensure they do not exceed gas drainage.

It also called for laws to be amended to compel mine managers to develop a set of critical controls for gas drainage with performance criteria.

Mine managers would have to notify the RSHQ of failures, report on controls on a monthly basis and conduct regular audits.

The board said RSHQ should review its risk profiling and response practices to ensure it acts as a 'proactive regulator'.

It also called for laws to be amended to compel labour hire agencies to report serious incidents including gas or a death at a coal mine, involving their employees.

The report said health and safety obligations could also be imposed on labour hire agencies.
Families denied access to loved ones by the hard international border want the Morrison Government to change the rules.

The current definition of 'immediate family' is being challenged by a petition to federal parliament on Tuesday as Australians seek to be reunited with parents, and so babies can meet grandparents.

Signed by more than 70,000 people in just four weeks, the petition is being presented by independent MP Zali Steggall and Greens senator Nick McKim on behalf of the advocacy group Parents Are Immediate Family.

'It's been really hard,' audiologist Sophie Robinson, with baby daughter Lucy, told reporters in Canberra.

'It's been really hard,' audiologist Sophie Robinson, with baby daughter Lucy, said. She explained she needed her mother to be allowed in to help take care of her baby

Azadeh Oskouipour and Xanir, six months, at a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra

She moved to Australia three years ago and wants to return to work as an essential healthcare worker.

'But without any help or support from my family that's just impossible,' she said.

Ms Steggall said her office is being inundated with desperate calls for help, particularly from new mothers whose parents are unable to come into Australia to assist them.

'These women, these babies need to understand what the long term plan for Australia is,' she said.

Reunification with family should be considered a compelling and compassionate reason to travel, according to the formal plea to politicians.

The petition calls on the government to add parents as an exemption category after all the medical and quarantine requirements are met.

If exemptions cannot be obtained for parents coming to Australia, then to allow an exemption for people with family overseas to travel to see them.

Signed by more than 70,000 people in just four weeks, the petition is being presented by independent MP Zali Steggall (left) and Greens senator Nick McKim on behalf of the advocacy group Parents Are Immediate Family

PAIF spokesperson Kateryna Dmytriyeva has tried five times for permission to allow her mother to travel back to Australia from Ukraine.

She slammed the 'obscene lack of compassion from the Australian government'.

Australia's border closed in March 2020 as an emergency measure.

Ms Robinson is thinking about moving back to the United Kingdom, which she had never considered before the pandemic.

Ms Steggall fears a broader brain drain, as one third of Australians are born overseas.

'At the moment we have a void of ambition, and you do not win the race with a void of ambition,' the former Olympian said.
After murdering his young girlfriend, Adam Margolis typed out an email to three church friends confessing and asking them to look after his cats.

Mai Yia Vang was just 26 when she was choked to death by Margolis, who claimed he killed her in the middle of an intense PTSD flashback.

He claimed that after coming out of the flashback and realising what he had done, he decided he would take his own life too.

In the Bendigo house after Ms Vang's death in February 2018 Margolis, 41, replied to text messages from her sisters, pretending to be her.

He then wrote a 12-page email to three acquaintances telling them what he had done. He set the email to send after seven hours.

Margolis met his victim, Mai Yia Vang, on online chatroom Omegle in January 2018

Margolis claimed he had been left with two choices - to 'let her go and have her hysteria explode to something involving screaming' or to continue.

'I will not say anything further about this other than to say I feel more dirty than I ever have in my life and that I was continually saying I'm sorry whilst it happened,' he wrote.

'I also did everything humanly possible to minimise her suffering, cutting off the blood, rather than suffocation.'

Margolis denied it was a true confession, saying he thought if he had admitted that it was his fault the church acquaintances might be more likely to care for his cats.

One of the email recipients contacted police about its contents. Police went to Margolis' California Gully home and found him on the floor. He pointed them to Ms Vang's body in a bedroom.

Three years ago Adam Margolis murdered his girlfriend, strangling her just a week after she moved into his Bendigo home

Margolis was convicted of murder by a jury after a two-week trial.

On Tuesday Supreme Court Justice Christopher Beale said Ms Vang's death had devastated her family.

Her father felt as if he had failed his daughter by not protecting her, while her mother said her world had become dark.

'You left me behind,' she said.

Justice Beale said Margolis had a history of mental health issues and had said his PTSD was the result of abuse suffered at the hands of his mother and stepfather.

He wrote a 12-page email to three church acquaintances, telling them he had killed a woman and planned to take his own life - but he needed to make sure someone would look after his cats first

In the Bendigo house (pictured) after Ms Vang's death in February 2018 Margolis, 41, replied to text messages from her sisters, pretending to be her

Margolis described his mother as a sociopath and his stepfather as an unadulterated psychopath who had tried to kill him twice.

The judge said Margolis' brother had corroborated some of the allegations he made about the childhood abuse.

But a statement from Margolis mother - who has since died - noted he had a troubled youth and had been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and PTSD by psychiatrists when he was younger.

Margolis continues to blame Ms Vang for her death. He had told a pre-sentence hearing in Victoria's Supreme Court that it was 'staggeringly difficult' for him to be around murderers in prison.

Justice Beale sentenced him to 23 years behind bars, ordering he serve at least 17 before he's eligible for parole.
An amateur photographer had just told his wife he was extending his holiday to watch a desert car race when one of the drivers lost control and ploughed into him.

The man in his 60s was killed instantly after the race truck careered off course and hit a group of trackside spectators at the Finke Desert Race near Alice Springs.

Witnesses say the victim, from the ACT, was crushed by the vehicle and dragged underneath it for several metres while other spectators leapt for the lives.

Spectator Christine Zander said she was within touching distance of the dead man when the accident happened and was only saved by her partner, Geoff, pulling her clear.

The amateur photographer had just told his wife he was extending his holiday to watch the desert car race when one of the drivers lost control and ploughed into him

She said the group of them had been standing close to the edge of the offroad race track, near a small hill, when the accident happened on Monday morning.

The race truck is understood to have crested the hill and gone airborne, before crushing its own suspension when it hit the ground.

The driver is said to have then lost control and the vehicle veered sharply into the group of spectators.

'It was so freaky. It was just there, up in the air, and then he was gone,' Ms Zander told the ABC. 'I would have been the last person he spoke to.'

The Tatts Finke Desert Race is an off-road multi-terrain two-day race for bikes, cars, buggies and quads

She told NT News: 'He said he rang his wife and said, "The Finke's on, I'm going to extend the holiday", so that's what he did.

'This was the first time he had ever come to it and he loved it, absolutely loved it. He was so happy.'

Another spectator was taken to Alice Springs Hospital with serious injuries and was expected to be airlifted to Adelaide for further treatment on Tuesday.

The driver of the vehicle - a woman in her 50s - was trapped in the wreckage but escaped with minor injuries.

Another amateur photographer revealed how he befriended the dead man before the accident and taken up position at the prime spot to catch the action.

'We had almost the same cameras,' Don Maculay, from Adelaide, told NT News. 'He was just like me  an amateur photographer.

'We started shooting here and there were a few cars that came through a bit crazy.

'He got the full brunt of it.'

Now parallel inquiries by major crash detectives, Motorsport Australia and Finke DesertRace have been launched , with a focus on why spectators were allowed so close to the action at the spot 35km from the start/finish line.

Between 10,000 and 15,000 spectators are estimated to watch the race at various points over its 230km distance.

The race was abandoned in the wake of the tragedy. Northern Territory Police have asked any spectators who may have witnessed the incident or have dash cam or video footage to contact them on 131 444.

The Tatts Finke Desert Race is an off-road multi-terrain two-day race for bikes, cars, buggies and quads through desert country from Alice Springs to Aputula (Finke).

Held annually on the Queen's Birthday long weekend in June, it's one of the biggest annual sporting events in the Northern Territory.

The race is one of the most difficult off-road remote courses in the world.

The race, which is held annually, runs through desert country from Alice Springs to Aputula (Finke)

On Tuesday, Finke Desert Race Committee President Antony Yoffa offered support for all those affected by the accident and thanked emergency services for their quick action.

'We extend our deepest sympathies and condolences to the family, friends and all those who have been impacted by this incident,' he said.

'We appreciate the efforts of all officials and volunteers across the weekend and commend the patience and understanding of competitors and spectators during this particularly difficult time.

'On behalf of the Finke Desert Race committee, Id also like to acknowledge the work of emergency services and first responders across the weekend.'
An Irish backpacker accused of drug supply and partaking in a gruesome assault which left a man with a severed ear attempted to hide her ankle monitor as she arrived at court with her mother at her side.

Katie Eileen Murtagh, 26, rugged up in a fashionable leopard print fur coat and slacks as she braved Sydney's cold snap to appear at Central Local Court on Tuesday.

But when a breeze swept up the edge of her pants, Murtagh's bulky ankle monitor was clearly visible above her ballet flats.

Murtagh was granted bail after posting a $100,000 surety that she wouldn't try to flee the country as she remains before the courts accused of wounding a person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, supplying drugs and dealing in proceeds of crime.

Police allege she and her boyfriend Patrick Earle were involved in an altercation on August 29, 2020 which culminated in Oliver Solan being found bleeding out in the foyer of their Randwick apartment in Sydney's east.

On Mother's Day, she shared photos sipping on a drink at a restaurant with her mum. She is not permitted to leave home without her mother present

Katie Eileen Murtagh, 26, rugged up in a fashionable leopard print fur coat and slacks as she braved Sydney's cold snap to appear at Central Local Court on Tuesday. But when a breeze swept up the edge of her pants, Murtagh's bulky ankle monitor was clearly visible above her ballet flats

Murtagh was pictured at The Ivy in April (pictured) celebrating a friend's birthday. The photo was cropped so as not to include her ankle monitor - and her mother was nowhere to be seen

The 26-year-old travel and tourism college student has made a concerted effort to hide the tracking device since it was first attached, an order she was forced to comply with when she was released from custody.

Murtagh was supported by her mother on Tuesday, who must accompany her whenever she leaves home, as stipulated by her strict bail conditions.

She successfully appealed to the court to have that order amended to allow her to attend college classes without her mum, but at all other times she must be supervised.

In the months since her arrest, Murtagh has been spotted dining in venues across Sydney's east, but her glamorous photos rarely include full body shots that would risk showing her ankle monitor - or her mother.

Murtagh (pictured with her lawyer) appeared unimpressed when she left court on Tuesday

Young Irish couple Katie Murtagh and Patrick Earle (pictured together) were charged over the alleged stabbing of a man that left him stranded in a unit block hallway with a partially severed ear

The 26-year-old travel and tourism college student has made a conceited effort to hide the tracking device since it was first attached, an order she was forced to comply with when she was released from custody

Three of her four co-accused remain behind bars and did not apply for bail when their matters were mentioned on Tuesday.

Police allege Murtagh and Earle had been drinking in the eastern suburbs when they invited Mr Solan back to their home on August 29.

An argument broke out and Mr Solan allegedly attacked Earle, leaving him with a dislocated arm and cuts to his head.

Police allege Earle contacted his co-accused, John Dunlea, who arrived at the apartment with Patrick Farrell and Christopher Morrisson. Each of the men have since been charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

The alleged victim was found bleeding out in the hallway of the couple's apartment suffering from a punctured spleen which was later removed in surgery.

Katie Eileen Murtagh has been spending her weekends out and about at cafes and bars in Sydney's east as her boyfriend remains behind bars

Neighbours found victim Oliver Solan, 30, barely conscious in a hallway at a Young Street apartment block in Randwick, in Sydney's east, about 8.40pm on Sunday

His ear was also partially severed and he had several other stab wounds on his body.

Detectives further claim Murtagh was aware of the consequences of inviting and letting the trio into her apartment.

CCTV footage showed the group allegedly fleeing the apartment after Mr Solan's bloodied body was dragged into the hallway.

The relationship between the group is not yet apparent, but police claim Murtagh and Earle invited Mr Solan back to their apartment after a night out in Sydney's east.

Murtagh and Earle are both facing drug supply charges which were laid after their arrests.

On another occasion days after St Patrick's Day, Murtagh was pictured drinking a Guinness at a bar in Sydney's east with two friends

Any references to Earle have disappeared from Murtagh's social media accounts, which now feature several sombre quotes about 'never looking back' and 'gratitude changing everything'. Pictured: Earle and Murtagh before their arrests

Dunlea was granted bail along with Morrisson and Murtagh, but the court heard he breached the conditions 'soon after his release', and has been in custody ever since.

Meanwhile Farrell, who remains behind bars, is pushing the court to have his matter dealt with separately to his co-accused.

His lawyer told the magistrate that Murtagh and Earle are now facing 'a number of drug charges which have nothing to do with our client'.

'[Farrell] is in a different position to those two in respect of those charges... Which aren't related to him.'

Murtagh's restrictive bail conditions prohibit her from travelling out of the state of New South Wales and required her to surrender her passport.

Earle's girlfriend, 26-year-old Katie Murtagh, let his three friends in before allegedly going to hide in a bedroom as the alleged fight ensued

She must report to Maroubra police station twice daily - once between 6am and 10am and again between 5pm and 9pm - and must be available to present herself at her front door after her 9pm curfew if required to do so.

Should she defy any of the court ordered bail conditions, Murtagh's guarantor risks losing the $100,000 cash surety that was posted to secure her freedom.

In spite of the strict court orders, Murtagh appears to be living a relatively unchanged life in Sydney, enjoying trips to the beach and day drinking with friends.

On Mother's Day, she shared photos sipping on a drink at a restaurant with her mum, while just weeks earlier she was pictured at The Ivy celebrating a friend's birthday.

Other pictures reveal she still frequents eastern suburbs bars and cafes, including The DOG Hotel in Randwick and Estate in Coogee Beach.

Footage shows a shirtless Earle being handcuffed and put into the back of an ambulance at the time of his arrest

Murtagh and Earle often shared photos adventuring together but Murtagh's Instagram page has been scrubbed clean of any reference to Earle - while his account appears to have been deleted entirely

Murtagh has also enjoyed trips to the beach (pictured) and hikes despite her strict bail conditions, which she begged to have amended in court on Tuesday

As stipulated by her bail conditions, Murtagh's mum was required to be present at each of the recent outings - though she rarely appears in the glamorous photos.

Any references to Earle have also disappeared from Murtagh's social media accounts, which now feature sombre quotes about 'never looking back' and 'gratitude changing everything'.

For the second time in a row, Murtagh arrived at court after her boyfriend's matter had already been heard.

She also did not cross paths with her co-accused, Morrisson, who also remains on bail.

As of February, Murtagh and Earle were still reportedly together and she craned her neck just to get a brief look at him when he appeared via audio visual link.

The unit block was splattered with blood after Oliver Solan was allegedly dragged to the hallway and abandoned
A producer for a now-defunct California porn website was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison Monday for coercing or tricking women into appearing in sex videos.

Ruben Andre Garcia, 31, was sentenced for conspiracy and sex trafficking involving San Diego-based GirlsDoPorn.com.

Prosecutors said that Garcia was a recruiter, producer and actor in movies for the website from 2013 to 2017.

He was detained alongside website co-owner Matthew Isaac Wolfe, 37, who also faces sex trafficking charges. The site's co-creator, Michael James Pratt, remains at large. A reward of up to $50,000 has been offered for information leading to his arrest.

Garcia falsely promised models who answered ads that they would remain anonymous and their videos wouldn't be distributed on the internet but only on privately sold DVDs overseas, prosecutors said.

In fact, Garcia knew the videos were being posted on fee-based websites and that excerpts were being posted on free sites, including popular sites that received millions of views, prosecutors said.

Website owners Michael James Pratt, 36, and Matthew Isaac Wolfe, 37, and porn actor Ruben Andre Garcia, 31, were sued by 22 women who claimed they were deceived and coerced into making explicit sex films without knowing the images would be posted on the internet

Prosecutors said that Garcia was a recruiter, producer and actor in movies for the website from 2013 to 2017. San Diego federal court is pictured above

Some women also alleged that they were coerced or threatened into doing sex scenes.

During his sentencing hearing, the judge heard from around 20 victims, many of whom testified that Garcia had sexually assaulted them.

Some of victims told of how they had attempted to commit suicide after the videos of them were released.

The women spoke of how the existence of the footage continues to affect them years later, and has damaged family relations and employment prospects.

Garcia and others sometimes coerced victims into finishing sex videos by threatening 'to sue the victims, cancel flights home, and post the videos online,' according to a statement from the U.S. attorney's office. 'Hotel room doors were at times blocked by camera and recording equipment, and the victims felt powerless and unable to leave.'

'This defendant lured one victim after another with fake modeling ads, false promises and deceptive front companies, ultimately devolving to threats to coerce these women into making sex videos,' authorities said.

'Even when victims told Garcia how the scheme had devastated their lives, he showed no regard for their well-being,' acting U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman said. 'The crime was utterly callous in nature and there is no excuse or justification for his conduct, which was driven purely by greed.'

The site's co-creator, Michael James Pratt, remains at large. A reward of up to $50,000 has been offered for information leading to his arrest

Garcia pleaded guilty to federal charges last December. He was among six people charged. Most have pleaded guilty to federal charges.

The U.S. Department of Justice said in a news release: 'Adult film performer and producer Ruben Andre Garcia was sentenced in federal court today to 20 years in prison for conspiring with the owners of the adult websites GirlsDoPorn (GDP) and GirlsDoToys (GDT) to recruit young women to appear in sex videos for adult websites using force, fraud, and coercion.

Matthew Isaac Wolfe, 37 (pictured), one of the owners of San Diego, California based porn website, GirlsDoPorn

'From approximately 2013 to 2017, Garcia worked as a recruiter, producer, and actor for the GDP and GDT websites, which grossed millions of dollars during this time.

'Garcia pleaded guilty in December 2020, admitting that as part of a premeditated scheme, Garcia recruited victims to appear in sex videos for the websites by promising them that these videos would never be posted online, that the videos would never be released in the United States, and that no one who knew the women would ever find out about the videos.

'Throughout the scheme, Garcia knew these representations were false. Garcia knew the videos were being posted on the fee-based websites, GDP and GDT, and excerpts were posted on free pornographic sites such as Pornhub.com, one of the most frequently viewed websites in the world receiving millions of views, to drive paying viewers to GDP and GDT.'

The site's co-creator, Michael James Pratt, pictured, remains at large. A reward of up to $50,000 has been offered for information leading to his arrest

New Zealand-born pair Pratt, 36, and Wolfe, 37 were found liable for fraud and breach of contract after nearly two dozen women sued the GirlsDoPorn website claiming they coerced into making sex videos without knowing the footage would be posted on the internet. Wolfe and Garcia are in custody, however Pratt is believed to have fled the country.

In the civil lawsuit, the women said that they had applied for modeling jobs and later flown to San Diego from their hometowns.

They were put up in hotel rooms before being told they would be making sex videos, for which they were paid $5,000.

The women also also said that the website's owners lied to them and told them that the videos would only be distributed on DVD to private clients.

During the four-month trial, women who testified said that they were plied with marijuana and alcohol and were rushed into signing away their rights to their own images, according to the LA Times.

In some cases, the women were recorded reading the agreement over distribution but they said they were drunk and didn't understand what they were reading.

They also claimed they were harassed, threatened, and subject to public humiliation by defendants who made sure friends, family, college and work colleagues saw the online films.
For years, a savage murderer known as the 'Torso Killer' dribbled out confessions to a New Jersey detective, closing cold cases into the brutal deaths of five young women that dated back to the late 1960s.

But there was one unsolved case the notorious serial killer would never admit to: The slayings of 17-year-old Mary Ann Pryor and 16-year-old Lorraine Marie Kelly in 1974.

Until now.

In April, Richard Cottingham, 74, pleaded guilty to kidnapping the teenage girls and raping them for days before he drowned them in a motel room bathtub.

The teenagers were last seen on August 9, 1974, in North Bergen. They'd left home for a trip 13 miles north to a Paramus mall, telling family they planned to take a bus there to buy bathing suits for a trip to the Jersey Shore.

Witnesses at the time told police the girls were hitchhiking and got into a man's car.

They were found five days after they went missing, identified by their jewelry when their nude, battered bodies were discovered facedown in the woods of North Jersey's Bergen County.

Richard Cottingham was known as the 'Torso Killer' dribbled out confessions to a New Jersey detective over a period of 21 years, closing cold cases into the brutal deaths of five young women that dated back to the late 1960s.

17-year-old Mary Ann Pryor was raped and kidnapped before being drowned in a motel room, left, Lorraine Marie Kelly, 16, was alongside Mary Ann when she suffered the same fate, right

Their murders shook the region but there were no clues in the girls' backgrounds as to who might have harmed them.

It wasn't until 2000 when a young detective in the Bergen County prosecutor's office, Robert Anzilotti, was given the task of looking into the murders together with similar cold cases from the 1960s and 1970s of which there were at least five unsolved killings of girls.

Rising through the ranks, he eventually became the chief of detectives in Bergen County, New Jersey.

His search for a killer led him to Richard Cottingham.

He was known as the 'Torso Killer' for brutally dismembering some of his victims by cutting off their limbs and heads. Cottingham was already in a New Jersey prison on a life sentence for other murders.

While he has claimed he was responsible for up to 100 homicides, authorities in New York and New Jersey have only officially linked him to 11 so far, including the two 1974 killings.

Rising through the ranks, he eventually became the chief of detectives in Bergen County, New Jersey before retiring from the force after 29 years in April

Richard Cottingham was convicted of two New Jersey murders and three in New York. Hes been housed in Trentons New Jersey State Prison since 1981, serving a 200-plus year sentence

He was finally arrested in 1980 when a motel maid heard a woman screaming inside his room. Authorities found the maid alive, but bound with handcuffs and suffering from bite marks and knife wounds.

In the 1970s, Cottingham had a wife and children and held a job as a computer programmer for a health insurance company in New York, recalled Alan Grieco, a retired chief of detectives in Bergen County who helped convict Cottingham for the 1977 murder of a woman found outside a motel in northern New Jersey.

Investigators in both states were able to tie Cottingham to other murders and sexual assaults, but Grieco remembered Cottingham 'played games' with investigators for years regarding the Pryor-Kelly murders as he sought to trade information for better treatment in prison.

'Seeing how the families are destroyed, you can't help but feel their pain,' he said. 'I think he figured, 'I'm going to just toy with them, and as long as I can drag it out, I will.'

Anzilotti first met Cottingham 17 years ago as the detective sought to close some of the county's cold cases.

Irene Blase was 18 when she was found strangled in Saddle River in 1969

'I thought he could be responsible for some,' Anzilotti told the New York Times. 'His name had floated around in the lore of Bergen County cold cases.'

It was a hunch and past investigative speculation together with the proximity of the crimes that drew Anzilotti to Cottingham who went to visit him in his prison cell.

The pair developed a unique relationship where Cottingham was sometimes testy and sometimes warm with Anzilotti.

Anzilotti would have the inmate transported to his office 75 miles away where the pair would play cards with the other detectives and eat pizza together.

When the room would finally clear, Anzilotti would begin to question Cottingham over the unsolved cases of dead girls.

First over months and then ultimately years of face-to-face meetings, Cottingham began to loosen up. He enjoyed the break from prison life for a brief couple of hours.

Eventually he began to talk about the killing of the prostitutes for which he was already in jail for.

'I wasn't overly interested in them,' Anzilotti said. 'Those cases were already closed, but it was a way to get him comfortable to talk to me about murders.'

But the chief realized that Cottingham was at his most vulnerable on the ride back to prison while sitting in the back seat of the patrol car and 'he would let his guard down'.

Anzilotti would secretly take notes while sitting in the front of the car as another detective drove.

After six years of visits, 'He said, 'I'm going to give you one,' Anzilotti said, and he began to describe details that only the killer would know.

Cottingham gave the details of the killing of Irene Blase who was found strangled in Saddle River in 1969.

Denise Falasca, 15, was strangled with her crucifix chain and dumped from a car in July 1969 and Jackie Harp, 13, was punched in the face and strangled with her band flag sling in July 1968

Anzilotti contacted the Blase family to inform them that he had a confession but asked that the cold case be quietly closed and not formally charged in the hope Cottingham might give up more information on other cold cases. The Blase family agreed

'I had long suspected that whoever killed Irene Blase also killed Denise Falasca,' Anzilotti said.

Falasca was 15 when she left her house in July 1969 but never returned having believed to have accepted a ride from a stranger.

Once against, Cottingham knew intricate details of the case.

It was a few years later that Cottingham began to reveal details of the murder of 13-year-old Jackie Harp who he abducted while walking home from school in 1968.

Robert Anzilotti was tasked with looking into the cold cases involving young women's murders

Members of her family agreed to forgo a guilty plea in open court in the hope Cottingham might spill more.

As the years wore on, Anzilotti began to consider retiring but would keep coming back to the two girls found dead in the woods, Mary Ann Pryor and Lorraine Marie Kelly.

Anzilotti tried to elicit a confession for years as Mary Ann's sister, Nancy, repeatedly checked in with detectives for updates.

During one interaction Cottingham even implied he knew a lot more than he was letting on and explained his hesitancy.

'He said, 'I know once I give you that case, I'll never see you again,' Anzilotti explained. 'He enjoys our relationship. He enjoys our time together.'

'He's embarrassed by this case,' Anzilotti believes. 'I think sometimes he grapples with his own gruesomeness back then.'

Just a few months ago, on March 12, Anzilotti summoned Cottingham to him to tell him that he had planned to end his 29-year career in law enforcement and retire.

'I'm leaving. And before I go, I want to close out the Kelly-Pryor case,' he said.

He brought Cottingham from state prison in Trenton up to the prosecutor's Paramus offices three times during April - a 75-mile trip each way - pushing him to finally admit to the murders of Mary Ann and Lorraine, days before Anzilotti left the force.

In an April 14 confession to Anzilotti, the Bergen County prosecutor's chief of detectives, Cottingham admitted to physically forcing Lorraine into a motel room and threatening to harm her if Mary Ann didn't comply.

He confessed to raping them and tying them up as he slept so they wouldn't escape. He then explained how he drowned them in the motel room's bathtub before dumping their bodies.

Cottingham was brought from state prison in Trenton up to the prosecutor's Paramus offices three times during April - a 75-mile trip each way - pushing him to finally admit to the murders of Mary Ann and Lorraine, days before Anzilotti left the force

Richard Cottingham, center, is pictured pleading guilty to two 1974 murders, finally closing the cold case deaths of teenage friends who had left home for a trip to the mall and never returned. Cottingham, 74, is currently in state prison on a life sentence for other murders

'He gave details about the murders that only the killer would know,' Anzilotti explained.

'What drove him to torture them was his sexual gratification of raping these girls and the power that he had over them,' Anzilotti said. 'In terms of what made him, on day three, kill them: It's because, I believe, they had spent so much time with him that they could identify him.'

'In his mind, he drowned them,' Chief Anzilotti said, even though the medical examiner's report said the teens died by asphyxiation. 'In essence, he filled a bathtub up with water. He had them kind of hogtied behind their backs. One at a time. Then he put them face down into the tub. He was suffocating them against the bottom of the bathtub.'

The Pryor-Kelly case had been among North Jersey's most infamous unsolved crimes yet Cottingham was always reluctant to discuss Mary Ann and Lorraine, Anzilotti said, because their murders 'bothered him more than any other, probably because of the brutality of it' coupled with their ages and the days he spent torturing them.

Anzilotti got the confession on April 14 and Cottingham pleaded guilty on April 20.

The following weekend, Anzilotti retired from the force for good.

He believes there are still 'dozens' of outstanding cases in the tri-state area that might eventually be traced back to him.

'He's relieved that this cloud that's been hanging over his head for many, many years is now removed,' said defense attorney, John Bruno, adding that Cottingham has 'serious regret' for the crimes and hoped to give the families some closure.

Mary Ann's sister, Nancy Pryor, watched the virtual hearing after years of working with detectives.

'I keep saying, before my time comes, I'd love some answers, and I never give up hope that we will get them,' she had said in 2016.

As part of a plea agreement, prosecutors said Cottingham is expected to get two life sentences in July, to be served concurrently with the time he's already serving.
Three men who beat a Melbourne father to death with a piece of wood and a pickaxe in a 'brutal and sickening' attack have been jailed.

Josaia Bolalailai, Nathan Timoteo and Jonathan Fuatavai killed 24-year-old father-of-two Ilaijah Kuru at St Albans in February 2020, after a road rage attack on one of his friends.

Bolalailai and Timoteo, both 24, tailgated the friend, Isaac Tagatanuu, and then bashed him when he pulled over, inadvertently outside the house of Timoteo's father.

Three men who beat Melbourne father Ilaijah Kuru (right with his partner Riana) to death were jailed on Tuesday

'I'm going to f***ing stab you c***,' one of the attackers said.

Timoteo called a woman who tried to intervene a 'f***ing mole' and said 'this is not over'.

Mr Tagatanuu got away and was being driven to hospital by Mr Kuru and two other men when they spotted the attackers, with Fuatavai, 22, and stopped.

The trio attacked, chasing Mr Kuru and two of his friends across the road to outside a school.

Footage filmed from the car of shocked passers-by showed Mr Kuru being beaten with a piece of wood and a pickaxe.

Timoteo hit Mr Kuru at least four times as he lay on the ground and with such force the wood broke in two.

Josaia Bolalailai (pictured) was sentenced to a total of 11 years and two months in prison, with a non-parole period of eight years and two months

Bolalailai hit Mr Kuru's head with the pickaxe, while Fuatavai was armed with an axe handle, but could not been seen using it in the video.

The trio were originally charged with murder but pleaded guilty to manslaughter, as well as assault and intentionally causing serious injury.

Timoteo at Victoria's Supreme Court was sentenced on Tuesday to 11 years and 10 months in prison.

He must serve at least eight years and nine months behind bars before becoming eligible for parole.

Bolalailai was sentenced to a total of 11 years and two months in prison, with a non-parole period of eight years and two months.

Jonathan Fuatavai (pictured) was sentenced to 10 years and one month, serving a minimum of seven years and four months before parole

Meanwhile, Fuatavai was sentenced to 10 years and one month in prison.

He must serve at least seven years and four months before being eligible for parole.

Justice James Elliott described the attack as 'brutal and sickening'. He also condemned the 'cowardly' violence that was meted out against a victim who was 'clearly retreating'.

'The attacks occurred in broad daylight on a public street and were terrifying to those nearby,' Justice Elliott said.

'You each had multiple opportunities to desist, but you continued.'

Mr Kuru - earlier described by family and friends as 'a big teddy bear' and adoring father of two boys - was left, motionless, on the side of the road and never regained consciousness.

Nathan Timoteog (pictured) was sentenced on Tuesday to 11 years and 10 months and is to serve a minimum eight years and nine months in jail before eligible for parole

A broken piece of wood, and blood-stained handle and brick were found near his body.

He died from multiple head injuries. His friends also sustained abrasions and bruising.

Mr Kuru's mother, Lisa Maxwell, said she was 'filled with so much pain and sorrow I can literally feel it flowing through my body'.

'To this day, I haven't even read the death certificate. I bury myself under a pile of work so I don't have to deal with this,' she told the court in a statement.

One of Mr Kuru's aunts, Mazal Takiri, said she was no longer angry at her son's killers because 'you don't deserve my anger'.

'If forgiveness is ever given to you, it will not come from me,' she said.

Bolalailai, Timoteo and Fuatavai have each served 481 days of pre-sentence detention.
Dentist Emad Fathy Moawad is accused of sexually molesting nine women over the course of five years while they were undergoing procedures at his office

A Los Angeles dentist has been accused of sexually abusing nine women while they were undergoing procedures.

Emad Fathy Moawad, 50, was charged on Monday with more than a dozen counts of sexual battery by restraint and other acts involving force.

Moawad appeared in court Monday but didn't enter a plea and his arraignment was continued. He was jailed on nearly $2million bail and it wasn't immediately clear whether he had an attorney to speak on his behalf.

'This case is especially concerning because its victims are low-income people and immigrants who are less likely to report crimes due to fear,' Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon said in a statement.

Prosecutors allege that between 2013 and 2018, Moawad molested at least nine women ranging from 27 to 73 years old.

In 2019, a woman sued Moawad and his LA dental office alleging that he molested her while undergoing procedures there in 2017, and again when she returned in 2018.

In 2019 one of the victims sued Moawad and his office, the Alegria Dental Center, in Los Angeles alleging that he repeatedly groped her

According to the suit, the woman initially went to Moawad's office at the Alegria Dental Center in Los Angeles in October 2017 for an x-ray and deep cleaning, and while she was being examined she alleges he brushed up against her breast, but was unsure if it was intentional.

Later that month she returned to the office to undergo another deep cleaning under local anesthesia in preparation to have veneers installed.

During the coarse of the procedure the woman alleges Moawad repeatedly reached down her shirt and touched her breasts.

The woman said she yelled at him to stop, and brought her complaint to a staff member, who she claims replied: 'We know but cant do anything about it.'

The next month, she returned to get the veneers installed and the procedure went without incident.

She returned to the office in August 2018 after her veneers became loose and painful and getting estimates from other dentists. At that time she allegedly told Moawad to fix the veneers or she would sue him for sexual battery.

Later that month the woman returned to undergo a procedure in which Moawad would remove her front four teeth.

According to the suit, the woman demanded she be only given general anesthesia for the procedure out of fear Moawad would molest her while she was unconscious.

While he was removing her teeth, however, the woman alleges Moawad forcibly groped her, reaching his hand into her underwear and touching her vagina.

When she began to protest, the woman alleges he held her down before she ran out of the room with blood on her face and clothes, screaming for help.

The staff, she alleges, told her to be quiet as to not disturb other patients.

The woman said she believes an employee recorded video of one of the alleged assaults in December 2018 and brought an end to the alleged attacks.

Criminal charges against Moawad came after a lengthy investigation by LAPD sex crimes detectives, the LA Times reported.
Two teenagers allegedly stole a $150,000 BMW but were nabbed by police after the quick-thinking car's owner tracked them using a phone app.

The owner, an Adelaide doctor left his keys inside his luxury SUV for only a few minutes - but that was long enough for the two boys, aged 16 and 17, to allegedly spot the mistake and take off on a joyride across Adelaide city.

Just before 11am on Monday the owner called police to report his car missing from Royston Park north east of the CBD - adding that he'd tracked the vehicle to Croydon about 9km away on the other side of the city.

The $150,000 BMW (similar model pictured) was tracked to the other side of Adelaide city using a phone app after being swiped

Patrol cars were dispatched to the swiped car's apparent location along with the Polair helicopter.

'Police arrived and located the grey BMW and the wing mirrors of the car activated. That indicated the keys were close by,' Senior Constable Kylie Simpson told ABC Radio Adelaide this morning.

The helicopter spotted two people running from the area with one allegedly seen throwing an item over a fence on a residential street.

The item - revealed to be the car keys - was later found by cops followed shortly after by the teenagers hiding in the front yard of a house in Ridleyton.

The 17-year-old from Ridleyton and the 16-year-old from St Mary's were arrested without incident and both charged with illegal use and unlawful possession.

The older boy was refused bail and to front court on Tuesday while the younger boy was granted bail to appear in court later.

The car was returned to the owner undamaged.

Newer model BMWs are integrated with the BMW Connected app which allows owners to track their vehicle's location (stock image)

While third party GPS trackers can be used to find vehicles, recent BMW models feature integration with the BMW Connected phone app.

This inbuilt system allows drivers to map their journeys, find their car and remotely control other functions on their vehicle.

Users can remotely lock doors or turn on the air-conditioning, for example, while the journey management function will analyse traffic and send you an alert about when you should start driving to get to an appointment.
A baby-faced teenager has claimed he's too young to be kept in an adult jail as he faces life behind bars for allegedly trafficking drugs.

Apostle Broikos, 18, one of the youngest alleged associates of the crime syndicate Operation Ironside, was on May 19 charged with trafficking a large commercial quantity of a controlled drug in Yamba, northern New South Wales.

Operation Ironside was initiated after the United States' FBI decrypted 'An0m', an online communications platform used by Australian gang figures.

In a three-year collaboration with the Australian Federal Police, the operation has resulted in more than 250 arrests across Australia.

Broikos has also been charged with manufacturing and trafficking a controlled drug between January 1 and August 19, 2020.

Broikos faces a fine of up to $1million, life behind bars or both for the charges.

The former private school student from Adelaide's St Ignatius' College appeared in court on Thursday where he was remanded in custody for another two weeks - despite his lawyer arguing he should be released on bail due to his young age.

Apostle Broikos, 18, one of the youngest alleged associates of the crime syndicate, has been charged with serious drug offences

Broikos and several of his co-accused will appear again in court on July 1

Broikos is the youngest South Australian to be allegedly connected to the sting.

Photos from his time at St Ignatius show him participating in various sporting teams.

His co-accused on the charges include his uncle Theodore Tasman Broikos, Mark James Press and Comanchero bikie boss Cain Robert Dalwood who remain in custody to await trial.

On May 19, Broikoswas charged with trafficking a large commercial quantity of a controlled drug in Yamba, northern NSW

Press and Dalwood are also accused of conspiracy to murder.

Broikos and several of his co-accused will appear again in court on July 1.

During the alleged crime stint police have acted on 21 threats to kill, including saving a family of five.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the AFP operation, known as Operation Ironside, had struck a 'heavy blow' against organised crime.

'The operation puts Australia at the forefront of the fight against criminals who peddle in human misery and ultimately, it will keep our communities and Australians safe,' he said last week.

'Illicit drug use ruins lives and fuels organised crime.'

Ninja Warrior 2017 contestant Sopiea Kong was among those arrested. The 33-year-old was charged last week following a raid at a Kangaroo Point home, where police allegedly seized 154g of meth.

Kong, who was also allegedly in possession of $2,030 cash and a revolver, was granted bail and will appear in court on June 28.

Former Bachelorette star Samuel Minkin, who appeared on Becky and Elly Miles' season of the dating show, was also arrested and charged with possessing a large commercial quantity of cannabis after police stopped a van in Byron Bay last month.

The alleged offenders are linked to the Australian-based Italian mafia - known as the Ndrangheta - as well as outlaw motorcycle gangs, Asian crime syndicates and Albanian organised crime figures.
Bikie's former mate Hakan Ayik was caught up in the Operation Ironside bust

Buddle left Australia in 2013 as it emerged he was wanted for police questioning

Wife Mel Ter Wisscha is trying to arrange documentation to return to Australia

Buddle thought to have had criminal enterprises crushed by global police sting

The wife of a notorious exiled bikie who fled to Iraq before the underworld-busting AN0M raids is set to return to Australia with their two children.

Ex-Comancheros bikie leader Mark Buddle left Dubai for Iraq in the days before Australian authorities carried out the country's largest ever crime bust last Tuesday - seizing tonnes of drugs and arresting 224 alleged organised crime figures.

The bikie's ex-mate, alleged drug lord Hakan Ayik, is one of Australia's most wanted men after being caught up in the Operation Ironside global police sting.

Ex-Comancheros bikie leader Mark Buddle left Dubai for Iraq in the days before Australian authorities carried out the country's largest ever crime bust last Tuesday

Buddle's wife Mel Ter Wisscha is now the process of arranging the documentation for her trip home to Australia, The Daily Telegraph reported.

Daily Mail Australia does not suggest Mel Ter Wisscha is responsible for any wrongdoing.

Buddle left Australia eight years ago as it emerged he was wanted for police questioning over the murder of a van security guard in Sydney in 2010.

His wife Mel Ter Wisscha is reported to be in the process of arranging documentation for her trip home to Australia

No police warrants have been issued for his arrest over the guard's death.

'Even before the arrests last week he was on the move,' a source said.

'He wants his family safe and it would be too hard to be on the run in that part of the world with her and his kids.'

Ayik, meanwhile, is understood to be trying to get his family out of Turkey after also been charged in the US with racketeering.

Buddle had an office in the Kings Cross Hotel in Istanbul, which is owned by Ayik.

Some of the world's biggest crooks began using the 'AN0M' app with encrypted messaging almost three years ago, not realising it had been secretly created by police and they were reading every word.

The app gained currency in the underworld after being promoted by Ayik.

He promoted use of the app and special phones after they were initially circulated among crime figures by police informants.

Australian Federal Police have called for the alleged drug lord Hakan Ayik to hand himself in

AN0M messages, released by the US Department of Justice, show crime figures discussing a shipment of drugs which were to allegedly be thrown over a boat and then picked up

Australian police warned Ayik - dubbed the 'Facebook gangster' for the flashy lifestyle he flaunted on social media - is a marked man after unwittingly peddling the 'trojan horse' app to his underworld associates.

The Australian Federal Police have urged Ayik, who they allege still orchestrates huge shipments of meth and cocaine into Australia from his base in Turkey, to hand himself in to authorities.

'Given the threat he faces, he's best off handing himself into us as soon as he can,' Commissioner Kershaw said.

'He was one of the coordinators of this particular device, so he's essentially set up his own colleagues.'
South Australia has lifted COVID-19 restrictions on travellers from regional Victoria.

From Tuesday, people coming across the border will only be required to have a day one coronavirus test and isolate until they get a negative result.

The new arrangements apply to people from Geelong. Those from Greater Melbourne are still banned from coming to South Australia.

South Australia has lifted its border restrictions for regional Victorians

The changes were approved at a meeting of the state's transition committee on Tuesday.

'This will be a massive relief to many people in regional Victoria,' Premier Steven Marshall told reporters.

'We'll keep looking at the statistics, the information coming out of greater Melbourne, and if we can lift those restrictions, then we will do that.

People crossing will be required to have a day one coronavirus test and isolate until they receive a negative result

'We still do have some concerns about greater Melbourne, there are still cases coming through.'

Victoria reported two new local virus cases on Tuesday, both residents of a townhouse complex.

SA reported no new virus cases on Monday and has just two active infections, both returned travellers in hotel quarantine.
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President Biden met King Philippe of Belgium before his summit with the European Union on Tuesday in the Royal Palace of Brussels that was surrounded by police officers wielding huge anti-drone devices.

Biden held talks with the second monarch of his Europe, just days after meeting Queen Elizabeth at Windsor Castle, while members of the Belgian police force stood guard with the devices outside.

The security personnel were also stationed around Brussels, including outside the European Union headquarters, to prevent drones getting near the world leaders.

King Philippe, Biden and Belgian Prime Minister Minister Alexander De Croo posed for a socially-distanced photo in the halls of the palace.

Biden then signed the guest book and held bilateral talks with Philippe ahead of his highly-anticipated summit with Vladimir Putin in Geneva on Wednesday.

A Belgian police spokesman told HLN the 'jammers' are used to detect drones early by finding signals between the unmanned aircraft and the pilot.

If the device approaches the security perimeter, cops can then bring it down by interrupting the signal.

Biden also met with European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Belgium's King Philippe (right), Prime Minister Alexander De Croo (left) and President Joe Biden pose for a photo as they meet at the Royal Palace, in Brussels

Biden walks with Belgium's King Philippe, right, and Prime Minister Alexander De Croo at the Royal Palace of Brussels in Brussels

Belgian police stood outside the Royal Palace of Brussels during the meeting carrying anti-drone units

More officers were seen carrying the huge weapons outside the European Union headquarters

Security stands outside the United States-European Union Summit at the European Council in Brussels

Male and female members of the Belgian police wield the huge devices during the palace meeting

Belgium's King Philippe, speaks with Biden prior to an audience at the Royal Palace in Brussels on Tuesday

Biden and Philippe put on their masks for a bilateral meeting ahead of the US-EU summit

Biden then signed the guest book and held bilateral talks with Philippe ahead of his highly-anticipated summit with Vladimir Putin in Geneva on Wednesday

During Biden's the US and EU reached a deal Tuesday to end a damaging dispute over subsidies to rival plane makers Boeing and Airbus and phase out billions of dollars in punitive tariffs.

U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai said the two sides have come to terms on a five-year agreement to suspend the tariffs at the center of the dispute. She said they could be reimplemented if the U.S. companies are not able to 'compete fairly' with those in Europe.

'Todays announcement resolves a long-standing irritant in the U.S.-EU relationship,' Tai said, as President Joe Biden met with EU leaders in Brussels. 'Instead of fighting with one of our closest allies, we are finally coming together against a common threat.'

The dispute saw tit-for-tat duties slapped on a range of companies that have nothing to do with aircraft production, from French winemakers to German cookie bakers in Europe and U.S. spirits producers in the United States, among many others.

Biden's two-hour stopover at EU headquarters, tucked between a NATO summit and his sit down Putin, 'is not going to settle everything but diplomacy is back', a senior EU official said on Monday.

The official said both sides had been 'sweating' to find common ground on trade ahead of the meeting and give a clear sign that Trump-era battles will soon be behind them.

To that end, Biden, Michel and von der Leyen are expected to announce the creation of a joint trade and technology council, according to a senior administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity ahead of the announcement.

The official said that trans-Atlantic council would work on coordinating standards for artificial intelligence, quantum computing and bio-technologies, as well as coordinating efforts on bolstering supply chain resilience. Biden is appointing Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai to co-chair the U.S. side of the effort.

The U.S.-EU summit is also expected to include a communique at its conclusion that will address concerns about China's provocative behavior, according to the official.

Tuesday's statement would follow a NATO summit communique on Monday that declared China a constant security challenge and said the Chinese are working to undermine the global rules-based order. On Sunday, the G-7 called out what it said were China's forced labor practices and other human rights violations against Uyghur Muslims and other ethnic minorities in the western Xinjiang province.

After his meetings with EU officials, Biden will head to Geneva to prepare for Wednesday's meeting with Putin.

Since taking office in January, Biden has repeatedly pressed Putin to take action to stop Russian-originated cyberattacks on companies and governments in the U.S. and around the globe and decried the imprisonment of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

Biden also has publicly aired intelligence that suggests - albeit with low to moderate confidence - that Moscow offered bounties to the Taliban to target U.S. troops stationed in Afghanistan.

Both Biden and Putin have described the U.S.-Russia relationship as being at an all-time low.

The Europeans are keen to set up a 'high-level dialogue' on Russia with the United States to counter what they say is Moscows drift into authoritarianism and anti-Western sentiment.

At the same time, the 27-nation bloc is deeply divided in its approach to Moscow. Russia is the EU's biggest natural gas supplier, and plays a key role in a series of international conflicts and key issues, including the Iran nuclear deal and conflicts in Syria and Libya.

The hope is that Biden's meeting with Putin on Wednesday might pay dividends, and no one in Brussels wants to undermine the show of international unity that has been on display at the G-7 and NATO summits, according to EU officials.

The United States and the European Union reached a deal Tuesday to end a damaging dispute over subsidies to rival plane makers Boeing and Airbus; above President Joe Biden is welcomed by President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen ahead to the EU-US summit
The Wuhan Institute of Virology did keep live bats on site despite one of the WHO's chief investigators dismissing it as a conspiracy theory, it has been claimed.

New footage aired by Sky News Australia purports to show live bats in cages at the lab, which is at the center of speculation that Covid was 'leaked' into the world.

If they are genuine, then it would contradict tweets penned by WHO investigator Peter Daszak last year who insisted that 'no bats were sent to Wuhan lab' while dismissing the idea as 'a widely circulated conspiracy theory'.

Daszak was part of the WHO team sent into China to investigate the origins of Covid, and whose report dismissed the 'lab leak' theory and called for no further research.

US intelligence agencies have since said there is sufficient reason to believe otherwise, prompting Joe Biden to order further investigation into the theory.

Sky News Australia on Sunday aired footage which they said was given to them by activist group Drastic. They said the footage of bats was filmed inside the Wuhan lab. A member of the WHO team that inspected the lab in January, Peter Daszak, has previously insisted the lab did not house bats. He has since admitted that the facility might have live bats

Daszak, a British zoologist who strongly supports the research work done by the Wuhan lab, insisted in now-deleted tweets that there were no bats kept inside the lab

Did Covid originate in Chinese laboratory? The Wuhan Institute of Virology has been collecting numerous coronaviruses from bats ever since the SARS outbreak in 2002. They have also published papers describing how these bat viruses have interacted with human cells. US Embassy staff visited the lab in 2018 and 'had grave safety concerns' over the protocols which were being observed at the facility. The lab is just eight miles from the Huanan wet market which is where the first cluster of infections erupted in Wuhan. The market is just a few hundred yards from another lab called the Wuhan Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (WHCDC). The WHCDC kept diseased animals in its labs, including some 605 bats. Those who support the theory argue that Covid-19 could have leaked from either or both of these facilities and spread to the wet market. Most argue that this would have been a virus they were studying rather than one which was engineered. Last year a bombshell paper from the Beijing-sponsored South China University of Technology recounted how bats once attacked a researcher at the WHCDC and 'blood of bat was on his skin.' One of the researchers at the WHCDC described quarantining himself for two weeks after a bat's blood got on his skin, according to the report. That same man also quarantined himself after a bat urinated on him. And he also mentions discovering a live tick from a bat - parasites known for their ability to pass infections through a host animal's blood. 'The WHCDC was also adjacent to the Union Hospital (Figure 1, bottom) where the first group of doctors were infected during this epidemic.' The report says. 'It is plausible that the virus leaked around and some of them contaminated the initial patients in this epidemic, though solid proofs are needed in future study.' Advertisement

The footage aired by Sky was taken from a Chinese state promotional video released in 2017 to coincide with the opening of the Wuhan Institute for Virology.

It was handed to the TV station by a group called 'Drastic', who claim to be a team of scientists and investigators probing the origins of Covid - though most of the group operate under pseudonyms.

Sky News did not air the whole video, but instead included short snippets of the footage in a report that aired on Sunday questioning the origins of the pandemic.

A short five-second segment shows bats inside a cage, followed by more footage which shows rows of similar-looking cages and a scientist feeding a bat a maggot.

Sharri Markson, the investigative reporter who put the piece together, tells the camera: 'This video shows bats in a cage at the Wuhan lab.'

However, it is not clear from the footage itself exactly where it was filmed.

There are several research laboratories in Wuhan, at least one of which - the Center for Disease Control - is known to have kept live animals including bats.

But if confirmed as genuine, the footage would contradict two tweets that Daszak penned in December last year in a challenge to his credibility.

'No BATS were sent to Wuhan lab for genetic analysis of viruses collected in the field,' he wrote in the first message.

'That's now how this science works. We collect bat samples, send them to the lab. We RELEASE bats where we catch them!'

He later added: 'This is a widely circulated conspiracy theory. This piece describes work I'm the lead on and labs I've collaborated with for 15 years.

'They DO NOT have live or dead bats in them. There is no evidence anywhere that this happened. It's an error I hope will be corrected.'

He has since deleted the tweets and this month appeared to revise his position somewhat, saying instead that he 'wouldn't be surprised if, like many other virology labs, they were trying to set up a bat colony.'

He also admitted: 'We didn't ask them if they had bats.'

Daszak's presence on a number of bodies investigating the origins of Covid has proved controversial because he has links to the Wuhan Institute and its chief researcher Dr Shi Zhengli - dubbed 'Batwoman'.

A conservation charity of which Daszak is the director has funneled money into the lab and research being done by Dr Zhengli.

The Ukrainian-born British zoologist was also an early voice denouncing 'lab leak' theories as 'conspiracies' in an open letter published in The Lancet last February - a reaction that has been likened to a cover-up.

On Monday night Markson appeared on Tucker Carlson's show to discuss her report

The second video aired by Sky News Australia was featured on Tucker Carlson's show on Monday night. Carlson in particular highlighted comments by the lab director (above), suggesting that he knew an accident could happen

Nevertheless, Daszak has remained staunch in his opinion that Covid originated in animals - most likely a bat - and then passed through an intermediary into people.

The WHO report that he helped to author described this as the 'most likely' source of the pandemic and called for further investigation into it.

Suggestions that the virus leaked from any of the labs in Wuhan - including the Institute of Virology - were dismissed as 'extremely unlikely'.

Sky then aired a second video, produced by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and also unearthed by Drastic.

The video shows a worker at the lab, Yuan Zhiming, director of the top-level P4 lab at the facility, explaining their systems.

He states: 'This is our central control room. Staff in our central control room remain in close contact with our staff in our laboratory. Providing necessary technical support for their experiments as well as for any accidents.'

Tucker Carlson, who featured Markson on his show on Monday night, said that Zhiming's comments showed there was the expectation that accidents could happen.

His remarks support those by the director of the bat research, Shi Zhengli, in April 2020.

She told colleagues that she was concerned there could have been a 'lab leak', at the start of the pandemic, but was reassured when the virus' genetic sequence did not match those in her lab, according to The Wall Street Journal at the time.

The paper reported that a number of Chinese media reports, including those claiming that a lab accident was responsible for the new coronavirus, suggested in the spring of 2020 that she raised bats in her labs in Wuhan.

Dr Daszak told the paper he had never seen any evidence of that.

'I'm pretty sure they don't have bats in Wuhan,' he said, noting that the horseshoe variety they have studied the most closely fares poorly in captivity.

According to Scientific American, in June 2020, Shi was worried about an accident.

The footage from the Chinese Academy showed scientists working inside the lab

The author spoke to Shi about her work, and told of her panic in December 2019 as the virus was first reported.

'She frantically went through her own lab's records from the past few years to check for any mishandling of experimental materials, especially during disposal.

'Shi breathed a sigh of relief when the results came back: none of the sequences matched those of the viruses her team had sampled from bat caves.

''That really took a load off my mind,' she says. 'I had not slept a wink for days.' '

Concern has also been mounting that the Wuhan Institute of Virology was ill-equipped to handle such dangerous work.

Vox reported that the lab had been handling coronavirus samples at biosafety level 2 precautions when most other labs recommend a biosafety level of 3 or higher.

At biosafety level 2, lab access is restricted, researchers must wear personal protective equipment like gloves, lab coats, and eye protection, and much of the experimental work is conducted in biosafety cabinets that filter air rather than open lab benches.

Biosafety level 3 includes all the precautions of lower levels and adds medical surveillance for lab workers, the use of respirator masks, and lab access controlled with two sets of self-closing and locking doors.

The biosafety level 3 measures are aimed at controlling potentially lethal respiratory pathogens that spread through the air, while biosafety level 2 is meant for pathogens that pose a 'moderate hazard.'
Director-generals who spent years at the top of the BBC have been savaged by MPs, who accused them of being evasive and implausible about how shamed journalist Martin Bashir was allowed to operate in the organisation.

Ex bosses Lord Tony Hall and Lord John Birt appeared before the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee today and were skewered over the reporter's actions and subsequent rehire.

Lord Tony Hall, who was managing director of news and current affairs at the time of the interview, said sorry to Prince William and Prince Harry for the 'hurt' caused to them by Bashir and his own defence of the rogue reporter who conned their mother into the 1995 Panorama interview.

Meanwhile Lord Birt, director general of the BBC at the time of the interview, said his 'heart went out' to the sons of Diana, Princess of Wales, as he blamed senior figures at the broadcaster for being fed a 'completely flawed understanding' of how the reporter got the Royal chat.

He said Bashir was a 'serial liar on an industrial scale' but despite this was still rehired. They are investigating if he was taken on again to keep him quiet over the Diana interview.

Current BBC chief Tim Davie was also quizzed today, and said the Duke of Cambridge's criticism in the wake of the Dyson report was 'upsetting' and a 'sad day' for the broadcaster.

The director-general, who took up the role in September 2020, said he has 'engaged with the royal household directly' since the publication of the inquiry's findings in May.

He said he felt 'deep sympathy' for Diana's sons, William and Harry, but added the BBC had offered an 'unconditional apology' shortly after former judge Lord Dyson concluded that the broadcaster had covered up 'deceitful behaviour' used by Martin Bashir to secure his 1995 interview with their mother.

Earlier as Lord Hall declined to answer a number of questions saying he didn't know or wasn't the best person to answer, Labour MP Clive Efford said: 'It's remarkable how much people in the BBC don't know about this' and later said there was 'massive amnesia at the BBC'.

Princes William and Harry condemned the deceit and tricks suffered by their mother and the subsequent 'woeful' cover-up by BBC managers, including Lord Hall, who called Bashir an 'honest' and an 'honourable man' despite faking bank statements and showing them to Earl Spencer to gain Diana's trust.

Apologising to the brothers today, Lord Hall said: 'We did what we thought was right at the time, investigating Martin Bashir not once but twice'.

Lord Hall admitted he hasn't spoken to William, but will apologise personally soon. He added: 'I have a huge amount of respect for the prince, I've worked with him on various things in the past and I'm deeply sorry for the hurt that this has caused to him and I do want to make that clear.'

Asked if he believes what Bashir did to the princes' mother was criminal, Lord Hall said: 'I don't know, I'm not a lawyer and it would not be for me to say.'

Lord Hall has said Martin Bashir would not have been rehired by the broadcaster if the manner in which he secured his Panorama interview with Diana, Princess of Wales had been known about at the time.

Bashir was allowed to return to the BBC in 2016 as religious affairs correspondent and subsequently became religion editor in 2018.

He said he had not wanted to second-guess those in charge of the hiring process.

Committee chairman Julian Knight said it was 'utterly extraordinary' that the BBC would rehire Bashir and asked how it came to be that a 'known liar' was brought back to the corporation.

Lord Hall said: 'If we knew then what we know now, of course he wouldn't have been rehired.'

Lord Hall squirmed as he was grilled about Martin Bashir by MPs today and was accused of being evasive

Tory MP Mr Knight responded: 'A cynic would suggest the process was entirely concocted so that the resolution at the end of the day was that Mr Bashir would get this job.'

A recent report by Lord Dyson criticised the methods the journalist used to secure his bombshell interview in 1995, including using fake bank statements.

Lord Hall, who was director-general of the BBC from April 2013 to August 2020 and led a 1996 internal inquiry into Bashir, started the session by acknowledging 'how hard this has been for the royal family, for the two princes, and I'm sorry for the hurt caused'.

He added: 'At core here, I trusted a journalist, I gave him a second chance, and that trust was abused and was misplaced.

'I don't think the words 'honest and honourable', 25 years on, look appropriate at all.'

Asked if he believes Martin Bashir might have shown the forged documents to Diana, Princess of Wales, Lord Hall said: 'I can't say.

Screen grab of former BBC Director General Lord Birt answering questions, via video link

Current BBC Director General Tim Davie (right) and Richard Sharp, (left) answering questions, via video link, in front of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee over the handling of Martin Bashir's interview of Diana, Princess of Wales

'But the letter 25 years ago, in her own handwriting, from the princess, saying what she said, that she was not manipulated, that Martin Bashir did not tell her anything she didn't already know, was very powerful.'

John Nicolson MP told Lord Hall it was 'implausible' that he had not been closely involved in the monitoring of the re-hiring of Martin Bashir and called the Ken MacQuarrie report a 'whitewash'.

Lord Hall said: 'I don't think it is, it is reporting what I know to be the case as well.

'I was not constantly asking for briefings about one correspondent in one part of the news operation and nor would I expect to be, running the BBC.'

Mr Nicolson said the Dyson report cost 1.4 million as a result of Lord Hall's 'negligence' and asked if he thought a 'forfeit of some of your lavish BBC pension would be appropriate?'

Lord Hall said: 'Twenty-five years ago myself and everybody believed Bashir, we made a mistake but please don't let that colour the other things that I have done.'

He apologised to Prince William and Prince Harry for the hurt the BBC caused with an interview with their mother secured with dirty tricks by Bashir (right) and the flawed probes that followed

He added: 'I've done a hell of a lot for the BBC and I think for the arts and I regret this one thing that we all got wrong because we were lied to by Martin Bashir 25 years ago.'

Mr Nicolson replied: 'There has been a BBC cover-up which is why you and the other witnesses are here.'

Lord Hall said he accepted somebody should have followed up with Earl Spencer, but added: 'We have not tried to conceal from the public or anyone any of the conclusions we came to 25 years ago, the notion that there has been some consistent lying that we have drawn under this to try to conceal something from the public is not true.'

Lord Birt was then quizzed by MPs and said his 'heart goes out' to William and Harry, but that senior figures at the broadcaster were fed a 'completely flawed understanding' of the measures Martin Bashir used to secure his Panorama interview with the princess.

The pair will appear before the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee later to speak about the events leading up to the bombshell 1995 Panorama interview with the Princess of Wales (pictured here during the interview with Martin Bashir)

Lord Birt held the senior position at the corporation in 1996 when an internal inquiry was launched into the events surrounding the explosive interview, in which Diana said: 'Well, there were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded.'

He told MPs that Mr Bashir had been a 'serial liar on an industrial scale' and that Lord Tony Hall, who led the inquiry, had reported his 'best understanding' of Mr Bashir's actions.

Referencing the inquiry, he said: 'Tony Hall reported up his best understanding - we now know a completely flawed understanding of what exactly had happened, and we all believed that was an honest account and that was one that was shared by the board of management and board of governors.'

He added: 'It is simply not the case that anyone set out to deceive other than Martin Bashir, as you say quite a guy.

'Unless you understand that this was a serial liar on an industrial scale you simply can't understand the story.'

Earl Spencer hopes Diana would be 'pleased the truth is out' as he slams the BBC's 'unbelievable' decision to clear itself over the rehiring of Martin Bashir Earl Spencer today told GMB he was amazed the BBC cleared itself over the rehiring of Martin Bashir and insisted the journalist should be put in the dock Earl Spencer today slammed the 'incredible' and 'unbelievable' decision by the BBC to clear itself over the reappointment of 'known liar' Martin Bashir. An internal BBC report by a long-serving former executive found there was 'no evidence' the corporation rehired Martin Bashir to cover-up his dirty tricks in securing his bombshell interview with Diana. Earl Spencer today insisted that Bashir should be charged for faking bank statements that lured his sister Princess Diana into the 1995 Panorama interview her family and friends believe hastened her death two years later. Discussing yesterday's report, he told Good Morning Britain: 'It's incredible - literally. It is unbelievable. What's so staggering about the BBC is how they keep ploughing on in a very self-destructive way. 'I'm a huge supporter of BBC as institution but its been a very bizarre process. I've seen evidence of briefings against me by the BBC - it is very troubling stuff.' BBC bosses who employed him again have insisted that they had no idea about his past. Earl Spencer says that they are lying. He said: 'It's been clearly established that they knew in March of '96 that Bashir was a serial liar. 'He went on to do all sorts of other things in America... and they're saying he was a shoe in as religious correspondent. 'What the Dyson inquiry has shown is that the BBC knew stone cold that Bashir had lied to BBC management four times. The senior echelon of the BBC did know.' Earl Spencer said he had referred Bashir's behaviour to the the Met. He said: 'If I used forged documents to benefit myself I'd be in jail straight away'. Advertisement

The session also saw Lord Birt asked by Conservative MP Steve Brine whether he believed the interview helped worsen Diana's mental state and contributed to her death in Paris in 1997.

He said: 'It is a tragic occurrence. It is an absolute horror story and it should never have happened - and it is a complete embarrassment that it did happen. None of us can speculate.

'My heart goes out to the sons of Princess Diana but none of us can truly speculate and understand what the consequences were.

'What we can understand is that this was a plane crash.

'And you probably want to discuss how it might have been avoided and what the BBC might do to ensure that it never happens again.'

Lord Birt refused to apologise to Matt Wiessler, the graphic designer who mocked up the bank statements that helped Mr Bashir secure his interview with Diana, and later tried to alert the BBC.

The former BBC boss said he does not 'have enough evidence' to explain why Mr Wiessler had been fired after reporting Mr Bashir's behaviour.

Lord Birt said there were 'absolutely no alarm bells at all' until after he stepped down as director-general and Mr Bashir had secured his 2003 interviews with Michael Jackson.

'To be honest, also - nobody else has mentioned this - I felt very uneasy about what he did with Michael Jackson. That was the first time my doubts started to kick in.

'You can't be definitive about what he did with Michael Jackson but I never liked the smell of that and the failure to reach proper conclusions in that.

'So I did subsequently think: 'I'm not sure about this person'.'

Appearing alongside BBC chairman Richard Sharp in front of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, Mr Davie said: 'It was upsetting, and it was a sad day.

'Primarily I felt deep sympathy for the sons of Princess Diana and, as you know, we have offered an unconditional apology and that was the primary thing in my mind.

'For us, as an institution that cares so deeply and has an outstanding record of journalistic integrity, it was a very low moment for us.'

Asked if he has spoken to the princes since the publication of the Dyson report, he said: 'I have engaged with the royal household directly, I do think it's appropriate as to who was in meetings and exactly who I talked to, they were private and confidential meetings.

'So I think I will leave it to the royal household in terms of if they want to say anything on that, but I have talked directly to the royal household.'

Mr Davie was also questioned over why Mr Bashir had been rehired by the BBC in 2016 as religious affairs correspondent.

He said the interviewers were aware of 'some of the controversies' around Mr Bashir but that they 'did not see them as substantive enough to block a re-hiring or stop them'.

Citing the 'glory of hindsight', he added: 'With what I know now, having personally commissioned Lord Dyson to go at this, that hiring would never have been made, there's no doubt about that.'

He rejected the allegation that there existed 'BBC guidelines on faking documents', saying: 'I am not aware of any guidelines of that nature.'

The session also saw Mr Davie address the suggestion that the BBC moved to 'pull the rug' from under GB News, the new network chaired by former BBC journalist Andrew Neil, shortly before its launch on Sunday.

He said reports suggesting the broadcaster had tried to block GB News from accessing footage available via a 'pooling' system run by the UK's three major broadcasters were 'completely off base'.

'I wouldn't speculate apart from to say that wasn't our intention in any way, shape or form,' he said.

'Some of reporting was completely off base on that one, I will be blunt. It wasn't a tactic on our part.'

He said he was 'very happy to get on with it and see if we can make it work', adding: 'There is no objection at all from outside.'

Mr Davie also outlined the BBC's plans for children's content and Tiny Happy People, a resource aimed at developing children's communication and language skills.

He said: 'I think within our strategy now is doubling down on Bitesize, the numbers for Bitesize, particularly interestingly among all demographics, and to put it on linear television during the pandemic was an outstanding success for us so I think you'll see further investment in Bitesize.

'In programmes like Tiny Happy People, we're just looking at how we evolve them, but overall CBeebies is a brand that, we are under pressure from the likes of Disney and others, and the jeopardy is there, but the truth is what we need to do is make sure we are differentiated... and not frankly becoming a US-style cartoon network, to coin a phrase.

'We've got good plans and excellent leadership of the children's area in the BBC.'

It comes after a damning report slammed the methods of journalist Bashir, 58, in obtaining the interview, in which Princess Diana notoriously said 'there were three of us in this marriage'.

The report also suggested the BBC had failed to uphold 'governance, accountability and scrutiny' with its internal investigation in 1996.

The probe was carried out by Lord Hall when he was the managing director of news and current affairs and Lord Birt was director-general.

Lord Hall later became director-general of the BBC from 2013 to 2020.

In his report, Lord Dyson, a former Master of the Rolls, said Bashir used 'deceitful conduct' to obtain the 1995 interview with the princess, which was then covered up by a 'woefully ineffective' internal investigation.

Bogus bank statements commissioned by Bashir 'deceived and induced' Earl Spencer to help the journalist 'to arrange a meeting with Princess Diana', it said.

His lies landed the Panorama reporter the interview of the century and multiple awards - but hastened the end of Diana's marriage to Prince Charles and saw her stripped of her HRH status just two years before her death.

In May, the BBC made a 'full and unconditional apology' for Bashir's conduct and the subsequent cover up.

The BBC also apologised to the whistle-blower who tried to expose Bashir's methods.

Graphic designer Matt Wiessler was sidelined by the corporation after raising concerns that fake bank statements he mocked up for Bashir had been used by the journalist to persuade Diana to do the interview.

A review into the decision to appoint Bashir as religious affairs correspondent at the BBC following the interview found 'no evidence' the journalist was given the job to 'contain and/or cover' up the events surrounding the programme.

The review, conducted by Ken MacQuarrie, found Lord Hall, the former director-general of the BBC who led the internal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the Panorama interview, did not play a part in the decision to rehire Bashir.

Last month, Lord Hall quit his Government-backed job as chairman of the National Gallery after he was criticised in Lord Dyson's bombshell report.

Ministers had viewed Lord Hall's job at the National Gallery as untenable given the museum's close connection to Prince Charles, its royal patron.

Lord Birt, who was director-general of the BBC from 1992 to 2000, was also criticised following the Panorama interview with Diana, recorded without the knowledge of Buckingham Palace.

After the recent report was published, Lord Birt said: 'We now know that the BBC harboured a rogue reporter on Panorama who fabricated an elaborate, detailed but wholly false account of his dealings with Earl Spencer and Princess Diana.

'This is a shocking blot on the BBC's enduring commitment to honest journalism, and it is a matter of the greatest regret that it has taken 25 years for the full truth to emerge.

'As the director-general at the time, I offer my deep apologies to Earl Spencer and to all others affected.'

Meanwhile, current director-general Mr Davie has contacted the royal family and is also returning all awards the explosive interview accrued, including a Bafta TV gong won in 1996.

Friends of Diana's have claimed she may still be alive today 'if she hadn't spoken to Bashir', who they nicknamed 'The Poison Dwarf' after his betrayal emerged, while Patrick Jephson, the Princess of Wales' private secretary at the time, said a 'line' leads from her interview with Bashir to the night she died in 1997 in a Paris car crash.

Yesterday, Princess Diana's brother, Earl Spencer, tweeted 'It won't end with this' after an internal BBC report found there was 'no evidence' the BBC rehired Bashir to cover-up his dirty tricks in securing his bombshell interview with Diana.

Earl Spencer tweeted a link to a BBC article about the report's findings, with the message: 'It won't end with this, I promise.'
The brother of a private investigator whose murder became one of Scotland Yard's longest-running cold cases hopes a long-awaited report into his death will find institutionalised corruption within the Met and other police forces.

Alastair Morgan has campaigned for decades for justice for his brother Daniel, who was killed with an axe in the car park of the Golden Lion pub in Sydenham, south-east London, on March 10 1987.

Despite five police inquiries and an inquest, no-one has been brought to justice over the father-of-two's death, with the Metropolitan Police admitting corruption had hampered the original murder investigation.

Mr Morgan has said he expects the report, set to be released after midday today, to contain 'a sizeable chapter on corruption' in relation to his brother's murder.

He said: 'I can shout about it. Cry foul as much as I like and it doesn't make any difference. But this is the state's verdict on itself - not my verdict - and I may have differences of opinion but it has much more impact than anything I can say'.

Daniel Morgan, pictured, was investigating claims of corruption within the Metropolitan Police when he was murdered in 1987. His brother Alastair Morgan has campaigned for decades for justice for his brother Daniel, who was killed with an axe in the car park of the Golden Lion pub in Sydenham, south-east London, on March 10 1987

Morgan was hacked to death with an axe outside the Golden Lion pub in Sydenham, south London

Speaking in May, Alastair Morgan told the PA news agency in words published today: 'I'm hoping to see a conclusion of institutionalised corruption.

'There's been some very bad policing going on there. And not just at the beginning - it went on and on and on in one way or another.

Despite five police inquiries and an inquest, no-one has been brought to justice over the father-of-two's death, with the Metropolitan Police admitting corruption had hampered the original murder investigation

'In the current situation I think it's extraordinarily unlikely that anyone will ever be convicted of the murder because of the mess that has been made en route.

'Nor do I believe that any of the police officers who were involved in discreditable activity or activity that is criticised by the panel will face any disciplinary or criminal action.

'But I just hope that this situation, this kind of injustice, will be highlighted by the panel.'

The publication follows a furious row between the Home Office, Independent Panel and Mr Morgan's family over its release, which was originally due to take place in May.

After eight years in the making, the Home Office said that it may need to redact parts of the document on national security or human rights grounds.

But the panel said it had already worked with lawyers and security experts from the Metropolitan Police, calling the last-minute intervention 'unnecessary' and 'not consistent with the panel's independence'.

Mr Morgan's family said the move was a 'kick in the teeth', and called on Home Secretary Priti Patel to consider the distress the delay caused them.

An agreement was eventually reached that a small Home Office team could read the report in advance, and last week it was confirmed that the full, unredacted report would be published.

The panel's remit was to address questions relating to the murder including police handling of the case, the role corruption played in protecting Mr Morgan's killer, and the links between private investigators, police and journalists connected to the case.

The private detective was hacked to death with an axe as he left the pub. In 2013 the then Home Secretary Theresa May ordered an independent panel to investigate Mr Morgan's murder

A long-awaited report into the unsolved axe murder of a private detective is expected to expose a 'culture of corruption and cover-up' at Scotland Yard, the Daily Mail can reveal.

On another day of shame for Britain's biggest force, leading officers in the Met are set to face personal criticism on today over their handling of the Daniel Morgan case.

According to sources, the bombshell report will reveal that at one stage police misled MPs over the 1987 murder and will be scathing of the now defunct Police Complaints Authority.

At least two former provincial chief constables who had involvement in the Morgan case will be admonished, as will Hampshire Police which carried out an 'independent inquiry' into the murder and alleged police corruption in the late 1980s.

A source briefed on parts of the report said it will 'expose a culture of corruption and cover-up' in the Met.

Last night Morgan's campaigning brother Alastair said: 'I will be disappointed if the report did not come to the conclusion there was institutional corruption in Daniel's case.'

Any use of the term 'institutional corruption' in the report would be a hammer blow to the Met, still reeling from scathing comments earlier this year by Lady Brittan, widow of former home secretary Leon Brittan, that 'a culture of cover-up and flick away' exists in the force.

According to reports, Met boss Dame Cressida Dick is expected to be personally criticised by the Daniel Morgan Independent Panel when its report is published.

The murder of Morgan, 37, who was found with an axe embedded in his head in a south-east London pub car park 34 years ago, is the most investigated case in British history. The initial investigation was marred by allegations of police corruption. Despite five inquiries, no one has been brought to justice.

At an estimated final cost of 20million, the panel investigated the case for eight years and was expected to publish its findings last month. However Home Secretary Priti Patel infuriated Morgan's family after she ordered that her department should first vet sensitive parts of the 1,200-page report on national security grounds.

Miss Patel is expected to come under pressure to get tough over the 'cover-up culture' and lack of accountability at the Met not only in the Morgan case, but also in the Operation Midland 'Nick' scandal which has seen no officers brought to book despite two judges saying the law was broken by the force.

Last month The Times reported that Dame Cressida is expected to be personally criticised over Scotland Yard's 'alleged obstruction' of the inquiry.

The Met commissioner and other senior officers will be accused of delaying the inquiry into the unsolved murder by 'trying to control the disclosure of sensitive police documents', it was claimed.

The Daniel Morgan Independent Panel, appointed by then home secretary Theresa May in 2013, was asked to carry out a 'full and effective review of corruption as it affected the handling of this case'.

It was expected to take just a year. It is understood that the panel will blame the delays on the failure of the Met promptly to disclose relevant files in the five failed inquiries.

Morgan's family believe he was on the verge of exposing police corruption when he was killed. A murder trial at the Old Bailey collapsed in 2011 after concerns about the police handling of 'supergrass' witnesses and the Met's failure to disclose sensitive police files.

Dame Cressida, then an assistant commissioner, produced a joint report with the Crown Prosecution Service that detailed the failings in the case. When the panel was first announced, she was made the liaison between it and the Met. A source said the 'provision of all relevant documents to the panel came within her remit'.

Alastair Morgan blames Dame Cressida for his mother not getting to see the report before she died in 2017. In 2014, the Mail published an acclaimed three-part series on the case and has championed the Morgan family's campaign for justice.

Former prime suspects Glenn Vian and Jonathan Rees were acquitted of murder in 2011. Mr Vian, who denied being the axeman, died last year. His brother Garry was also acquitted of involvement.

Mr Rees is in a long-term relationship with Daniel Morgan's former lover Margaret Harrison. He has been highly critical of the police.
Gone Girl and Cocktail actress Lisa Banes has died ten days after she was mowed down in a hit-and-run by an electric scooter in New York.

The 65-year-old, from Los Angeles, was on her way to meet her wife for a dinner party on the Upper West Side when she was struck by a rider who blew through a red light.

Banes suffered a traumatic brain injury and had been in critical care at Mount Sinai Morningside hospital since June 4. She died on Monday.

Confirming Banes' death, a representative told Entertainment Tonight: 'We are heartsick over Lisa's tragic and senseless passing.

'She was a woman of great spirit, kindness and generosity and dedicated to her work, whether on stage or in front of a camera and even more so to her wife, family and friends.'

'We were blessed to have had her in our lives,' the rep added.

Lisa Banes, 65, was hit while crossing the intersection of Amsterdam Avenue and West 64th Street on the Upper West Side at about 6.30pm on June 4

Banes had been on her way to meet her wife Kathryn Kranhold (right), a former Wall Street Journal writer, for a dinner party on the Upper West Side

Banes starred with Ben Affleck in Gone Girl, playing Marybeth Elliott

Lisa Banes is seen with Tom Cruise in the 1988 film Cocktail (left), and Kathryn Kranhold, Banes' wife at a book party with author Ken Wells (right)

The force of the scooter's impact sent Banes flying off the crosswalk. She was rushed by ambulance to Mount Sinai Morningside hospital

The street where Lisa Banes was hit was cordoned off by police on Saturday as cops investigated

NYPD officers were seen guarding the cordon as forensic teams got to work

Witnesses said the scooter rider ran a red light at the intersection of Amsterdam Avenue and West 64th Street and then fled after knocking Banes over.

An NYPD spokesperson said Monday night that no arrests have been made in the case.

The TV and film star, who lives in Los Angeles, had been visiting NYC for the first time since the pandemic.

Kranhold, a former Wall Street Journal writer, last week issued an urgent appeal for the public to come forward with any information about the hit-and-run.

'We have several days ahead of us to pray for Lisa,' the worried wife told the Daily News.

'If anyone has any information about the scooter driver, we ask them to please call police.'

Born in Ohio and raised in Colorado, Banes attended Julliard in New York, world renowned as a performing arts school, before launching prolific acting career, according to the New York Post.

She married Kranhold at an intimate ceremony about four years ago at City Hall.

Reacting to the news last night, Banes' friend and singer Jill Sobule shared a photo of the pair together in a book store, tweeting: 'Just busted. Lisa Banes was magnificent, hilarious, and big-hearted  always helped me though the hard times. She was so beloved by so many.'

Seth McFarlane, the creator of The Orville in which Banes appeared, also paid tribute to the actress.

He tweeted: 'I am deeply saddened at the news of Lisa Banes' passing. We had the good fortune to work with her on The Orville this past year.

'Her stage presence, magnetism, skill, and talent were matched only by her unwavering kindness and graciousness toward all of us.'

Seth McFarlane, the creator of The Orville in which Banes appeared, paid tribute to the actress

Reacting to the news last night, Banes' friend and singer Jill Sobule shared a photo of them together in a book store

Banes is best known for her role as Marybeth Elliott, the mother of Rosamund Pike's character in Gone Girl, which also starred Ben Affleck.

She also appeared in 1980s blockbusters including Cocktail, starring Tom Cruise, and Young Guns, with Kiefer Sutherland and Charlie Sheen.

Banes had since had recurring roles on The King of Queens, Six Feet Under and Nashville, as well as memorable guest roles on The Orville and Desperate Housewives.

Banes also appeared in Broadway plays including 'Present Laughter' and 'High Society.'

She scooped up a Theatre World Award in 1981 for the off-Broadway play 'Look Back in Anger' and an Obie in 1982 for her performance in 'My Sister in This House.'

Banes is seen in character as Lady Tremaine in the Disney series Once Upon A Time (left) and at the premiere of Gone Girl in New York in 2014 (right)

Banes with Christina Ricci in the 2002 movie Pumpkin

Banes scooped up a Theatre World Award in 1981 for the off-Broadway play 'Look Back in Anger' and an Obie in 1982 for her performance in 'My Sister in This House'

'She's a great character,' friend Cynthia Crossen told the Post last week.

'She's funny. She's fun. She's vibrant. She's just a person of many talents and interests.'

The fatal crash comes as traffic fatalities in New York hit a seven-year high.

As the pandemic emptied the roads of traffic, many drivers began speeding dangerously.

At least 243 people died in traffic crashes in New York City in 2020  making it the deadliest year on record since Mayor Bill de Blasio introduced his signature 'Vision Zero' plan to improve street safety in 2014.

E-scooters are '100 times more dangerous than bicycles' YouTube star Emily Hartridge was riding an e-scooter too fast with an underinflated tyre when she was killed in a crash with a lorry, a coroner has ruled E-scooters are the new craze in cities across the world, hailed as environmentally friendly and convenient for busy workers. But a study by Transport for London, based on US data, found riders needed hospital treatment after accidents every 3.1 years on average, with many suffering head or neck injuries. TfL said comparisons with the US were difficult, but the number of cyclists killed or seriously hurt in London was 2.7 per one million journeys 'or roughly 100 times fewer injuries than expected in US e-scooter studies'. One of the most well-known fatalities involved YouTube star and TV presenter Emily Hartridge who was riding an e-scooter too fast and with an under-inflated tyre when she was killed in a crash with a lorry. The 35-year-old died instantly of her injuries following the collision in Battersea, south London last July. Ms Hartridge was on her way to a fertility clinic when she tragically became the first person in the UK to have been involved in a fatal crash on an e-scooter in July 2019. At the time, e-scooters were illegal to ride in the UK other than on private land with permission, but they were given the green light by the Department for Transport in 2020. YouTube star Emily Hartridge, 35, lost her life in a collision with a lorry as she circled the roundabout while riding an e-scooter bought for her by her boyfriend Jacob Hazell, 28, as a birthday present less than a week before The presenter was killed after the e-scooter she was riding was involved in a collision with a HGV in Battersea, south west London last year (pictured, the scene of the crash) In September, an inquest heard that charity campaigner Barrie Howes died when he lost control of his e-scooter in Chatham, Kent. The 57-year-old had decided to use the vehicle in the early days of the pandemic after the Government advised people to avoid public transport. He flew off and, despite wearing a helmet, was found by a passer-by suffering from brain injuries. Meanwhile in Wales a 55-year-old man died when his electric scooter hit a parked car in September. Julian Thomas was pronounced dead at the scene in Port Tennant, Swansea, following the late-night incident. Earlier this month, Met police chief Simon Ovens blasted e-scooters as 'death traps', saying that they should not have been backed by TfL. On June 7, TfL rolled out a new hire scheme, giving citizens the chance to ride e-scooters around the capital at up to 12.5mph. TfL hailed the 12-month rental scheme as a key part of the city's sustainable future and post-pandemic recovery. In 2018, there were four recorded e-scooter collisions in London, which rose to 32 in 2019. Scotland Yard recorded more than 200 incidents involving them last year. The price of an e-scooter can start at around 350, with some high-end models selling for nearly 1,000. Their speed is capped at 15.5mph but they can be modified to race at up to 70mph. A study of scooter accidents in Austin, Texas, in 2019 found that nearly half of the 190 riders injured sustained head injuries. While at two hospitals in Southern California, the vehicles left 249 people in the emergency room over a 12-month period. Another study by Portland's Bureau of Transportation found the e-scooter injury rate to be 2.2 accidents per 10,000 miles, this is more than 40 times the national average for motorbikes (0.05 per 10,000 miles), and more than 20 times the national average for cars (0.1 per 10,000). Meanwhile police data in London released last month revealed that e-scooters had been deployed in hundreds of offences in the capital, including assaults, burglaries and anti-social behaviour. Advertisement

Throw the book at him! Moment rider flees from police as they try to confiscate his e-scooter  and a frustrated officer hurls his clipboard after him

by William Cole

A brazen man was spotted fleeing police on his e-scooter down a busy central London street  seconds after being filmed having the vehicle seized.

Footage shows the man moments before having a heated argument with several police officers when they attempt to confiscate his scooter for illegal use in the capital city.

The Met Police have been cracking down on unlawful riders taking over pavements and committing other offences.

However in a second clip, the man is seen back on his scooter making a dash down the road near Marble Arch.

A police officer frantically tries to catch the rider  even throwing his clipboard at the man whilst in pursuit  but the man appears to make an escape.

A brazen man was spotted fleeing police on his e-scooter down a busy central London street  seconds after being filmed having the vehicle seized

A police officer frantically tries to catch the rider  even throwing his clipboard at the man whilst in pursuit  but the man appears to make an escape

The incident happened at around 11am on June 14 just metres from busy Park Lane traffic.

The video was shared by @ruidoloco1 on social media and online users were left amused by the police officers futile chase of the e-scooter rider.

One commented: 'You could say they threw the book at him lol,' referring to the officer throwing his notepad at the e-scooter.

Another person added: 'Man dashed a piece of paper thinking it would slow him down.'

Another person commented: 'The scooter wasnt even that fast and he still got away from that police lol.'

Another individual complained about Londons police on e-scooters: 'How can they put electric scooters on the streets for people to pay to use but not allowed their own really makes sense [sic].'

The Metropolitan police have launched a crackdown on people illegally riding e-scooters in London, seizing more than 800 vehicle so far this year.

Electric scooter trials are currently being rolled out in towns and cities across the country, including Canterbury and London. A 12-month rental scheme began in the capital on June 7.

But while e-scooters can be bought legally, in London they can only be used legally on private land with the owners permission. Use on pavement or roads is not permitted.

Those found riding a private e-scooter could also lose six points on their current or future drivers licence and be fined up to 300.

The Metropolitan police have launched a crackdown on people illegally riding e-scooters in London, seizing multiple vehicles and taking them off the street

E-scooters can be bought legally but in London, they can only be used legally on private land with the owners permission. Use on pavement or roads is not permitted

There are also penalties for offences including mobile phone, going through red lights and drink driving - similarly to car drivers - that could amount to court imposed fines or even imprisonment.

A recent study by Transport for London (TfL) found that e-scooters could be 100 times more dangerous than bicycles.

Police data released last month showed that e-scooters have been used in hundreds of offences in London, including assaults, burglaries and anti-social behaviour.

Met Police said: 'The riding of e-scooters on Londons roads and pavements remains illegal and potentially dangerous.

'Under current legislation, e-scooters can only be driven on private land.

'The Mets Roads and Transport Policing Command continues to conduct operations across the capital to engage with e-scooter users, taking enforcement action where necessary.'

MailOnline has approached the Met Police for comment.
A now-retired police officer pushed up to six people out a window as Brisbane's Whiskey Au Go Go nightclub became consumed by a fire that killed 15 people.

Hunter Nicol was at a table near the dance floor with friends when there was a 'whoosh' sound and saw smoke billowing like 'when you set off a pile of tyres'.

The fire broke out when two drums of fuel were thrown into the downstairs foyer and set alight about 2am on March 8, 1973.

Mr Nicol, a Queensland policeman at the time, was among more than 60 patrons and staff who tried frantically to escape as air conditioning vents acted as chimneys, pouring black smoke into the Fortitude Valley club.

Fifteen people didn't make it out, dying from carbon monoxide poisoning.

Hunter Nicol was at a table near the dance floor with friends when there was a 'whoosh' sound and saw smoke billowing like 'when you set off a pile of tyres'

Police inspect the scene of the Whiskey Au Go Go firebombing at Fortitude Valley in 1973

An inquest into the firebombing re-opened for a two-week sitting in Brisbane this week - some 48 years after the first three-day inquest ended when two men were arrested.

Mr Nicol said the lights went out as the smoke grew thicker and people started to scatter.

He tried to make his way towards a door with a fire escape sign next to the bar, but became 'totally disoriented', he told the inquest on Tuesday.

He grabbed a screaming woman, dragging her into a room as their escape route was obscured by the smoke.

'When I got in there I was on the point of collapse and I couldn't breathe,' he said.

'I accepted the fact I was going to die.'

But someone smashed a window and Mr Nicol felt fresh air.

'I was able to get a few breaths of air to try and recover a bit,' he said.

The firebombing of Brisbane's Whiskey Au Go Go nightclub (pictured) was Australia's worst mass murder until the 1996 Port Arthur Massacre

Bodies pictured inside the Whiskey Au Go Go. The 15 dead were killed by carbon monoxide poisoning

Mr Nicol told the inquest he pushed five or six people out the window including the woman.

He was the last person from the room to climb out onto a roof.

He told coroner Terry Ryan he had a 'chance meeting' in March with John Kolence, the officer who took his statement hours after the firebombing.

The re-opened inquest seemed to be 'weighing on his mind quite heavily', Mr Nicol said.

'He said he wasn't going to go to jail for anyone and it's time that the truth comes out,' Mr Nicol added.

He referred to Mr Kolence as a junior officer who would have been 'acting under sufferance from the more senior staff'.

James Finch, one of two men convicted over the Whiskey Au Go Go firebombing in 1973. Finch died this year in the UK where he had been deported after serving 15 years

Questioned by Mr Kolence's lawyer, Mr Nicol said the two had spoken about what they knew and saw on the night of the attack, what they gleaned from media reports and their theories and assumptions about what had happened.

The inquest was told earlier there was evidence two men - James Richard Finch and John Andrew Stuart - who were convicted and sentenced to life over the attack were not the only offenders, and that an insurance claim might have been behind the firebombing.

Counsel assisting Stephen Keim said there was considerable evidence people associated with the nightclub knew an attack was pending and 'in some cases warned acquaintances not to be present'.

There were also several earlier suspicious fires at other venues that will provide an 'important context'.

Sonya Carroll (centre), whose mother Decima Carroll, 29, died in the fire is seen arriving at the inquest into the 1973 Whiskey Au Go-Go nightclub fire deaths at the Brisbane Coroners Court in Brisbane

The inquest was reopened after the firebombing was mentioned in a trial in which Vincent O'Dempsey and Garry Dubois were convicted over the deaths in 1974 of Barbara McCulkin and her two daughters.

The trial heard the killings may have been motivated over fears Ms McCulkin would try to implicate O'Dempsey in the firebombing.

Mr Keim said evidence suggests O'Dempsey - who is expected to be a key witness - wasn't present or active in starting the fire, but 'was involved in organising other people to carry out the attack'.

The coroner will consider whether Finch and Stuart were the only people who caused or contributed to the deaths.

He will also look into the adequacy of investigations into the deadly attack immediately afterwards and over subsequent years.

The Whiskey Au Go Go attack was Australia's worst mass murder until the 1996 Port Arthur massacre.
Top European resorts are unlikely to be added to the green list 'before August', foreign tourism chiefs have reportedly been told, leaving millions of Britons facing another summer without a holiday abroad.

UK ambassadors are said to have warned foreign tourism bosses that the return of British travellers to traditional holiday hot-spots such as Spain and Turkey will be pushed back until later this summer.

It comes as holiday firm TUI announced yesterday that it was axing more of its trips to top European holiday destinations up until July.

And one travel expert today warned that July was now being regarded as a 'white-wash' for industry bosses.

Despite this, some firms are reporting a spike in demand for flights to Gibraltar, Israel and Iceland - which are all currently on the UK's green list.

Meanwhile, a new report by Which? today revealed how less than one per cent of travel insurances are providing 'complete cover' for Covid-related disruption.

The latest travel set-back will be a particular blow to traditional holiday destinations - including the likes of Portugal, Greece France - which are currently on the UK's amber list.

Toni Mayor, head of the Hosbec association of Valencia region hoteliers, said he did not expect to see the bulk of UK tourism take off until August, according to the Telegraph.

The fresh holidays blow comes amid a spike in demand for flights to Gibraltar, Israel and Iceland - which are all currently on the UK's green list

There has also been a 40 per cent increase in demand for flights to Iceland. Pictured: Geysir Strokkur - a popular tourist hot spot in Iceland

His comments come after a meeting with Hugh Elliott, who has been the UK's Ambassador to Spain and non-resident Ambassador to Andorra since 2019.

Meanwhile, tourism chiefs in Turkey are also understood to have received a similar message, after a meeting with UK Foreign Office officials, the Telegraph adds.

The news has sparked concern within the industry. Some now fear July - one of the busiest and most profitable months of the summer holiday season - will now be a blow-out for the travel industy.

Travel expert Paul Charles, CEO of the PC Agency, said travel firms have already written off July as a return for summer holidays.

July is a white-wash, he told MailOnline.

Greek hotel bosses accuse the UK Government of banning travel so that tourists spend more money at home Greek hoteliers believe the UK Government is deliberately keeping Britons from holidaying abroad so that they will spend more money at home, according to the boss of a leading travel company. Graham Simpson, the founder of Simpson Travel, says those who run tourist businesses in Greece cannot understand why Britain is preventing visits to destinations where Covid figures are extremely low. They are now challenging the UK Government to justify its decision by providing facts and data. Speaking about a prevailing mood of 'shock, despair and worry', Mr Simpson said: 'I had a meeting with 18 hoteliers and the MP of Zakynthos [an Ionian island], who are extremely concerned. 'Usually 70 per cent of hotel guests are from the UK. They don't understand why British tourists are unable to travel to Greece. 'They believe the UK Government is trying to keep their population in the UK to ensure money is kept in the UK.' Describing the vaccination programme in Greece as 'tremendous', Mr Simpson, who lives part of the year in Paxos with his Greek wife Yianna, said he had been fully vaccinated by April. He said Paxos had recorded zero deaths and only five cases in the past five months. There had been no cases on the Ionian island of Meganisi and the situation was similar on Lefkada, Kefalonia, Ithaca and Zakynthos. He added: 'On Corfu, the island with the biggest population of around 120,000, there have been ten to 15 cases a day. Vaccination is taken very seriously and a new law means anyone working in the travel industry must be vaccinated. 'You are more likely to get infected at Gatwick Airport where people have encountered queues of two or more hours alongside other arrivals from around the world and confronted with disorganisation and untrained staff. 'It's clear the Government have not made any plan for the UK population to travel this summer.' Advertisement

Most firms are now looking beyond that, so it will be August that they will be looking at for the restart.

Mr Charles said the decision to push back green-listing countries such as Greece, Spain and Portugal at one of the busiest points of the summer holiday season could result in billions of pounds in losses for the industry.

He said: The travel industry does around half of its business in summer.

So I would say the losses will run into the billions, when you take into account refunds and loss of sales. Youve also got the cost of moving the planes to be parked and the cost of staff and running the business itself.

Mr Charles called on the Government to set a firm date for the full return of international travel.

They have set July 19 as the date for ending of domestic restrictions, the Government needs to set a date, perhaps July 31, when travel will be restored.

It needs to give confidence in the sector or there will be more companies that go under and job losses.

Meanwhile, figures from Skyscanner, and reported in the Times, show how holidaymakers are rushing to book flights to holiday destinations on the green list.

Flights to Gibraltar have seen a 115 per cent increase in seats sold at the beginning of July, compared to the previous week.

EasyJet, Wizz Air, British Airways and Eastern Airways have all reportedly put on extra flights to Gibraltar to meet the demand.

There has also been a 40 per cent increase in demand for flights to Iceland.

Both are currently on the UK's travel green list, meaning tourists can return from these countries without having to quarantine.

Those returning from amber list countries, such as Portugal, Spain, Greece and America, all face a 10-day period of self-isolation and two negative PCR-tests on arrival in the UK.

Those on the red-list are required to stay in a quarantine hotel for up to 10-days.

Israel, another country which has been on the green list since the traffic light system was announced last month, is set to open its borders for UK travel next month.

The country, which has been involved in a recent heightened conflict with Gaza, has been closed to UK holidaymakers since the pandemic began last year.

The country's tourist office told the Times it had been approached by a number of tour operators ahead of July 1.

Today a spokesperson for the Department for Transport told MailOnline said its traffic light system 'cautiously balances the reopening of international travel with managing the risk of imported variants'.

The spokesperson added: 'This list is regularly reviewed using the most up-to-date, robust data to ensure we keep the general public safe.'

It comes as holiday booking company TUI yesterday cancelled more trips to Greece, Spain and Italy until July as it was announced that Freedom Day is being pushed back by four weeks.

It has already been forced to cancel bookings before during the pandemic so it is believed that the latest decision is a bid to avoid losing more money.

The move comes after Jet2 cancelled all international flights and holidays up to July 1 and Easyjet is 'reviewing' its flights in the wake of traffic light chaos.

The latest TUI holidays to get the axe, according to Travel Weekly, are:

Up to and including July 4: Aruba, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece  Crete (Chania), Kavala, Kefalonia, Mykonos, Preveza, Samos, Santorini, Skiathos, Thessaloniki, Italy, Jamaica, Malta, Spain  Mainland Spain, Formentera, Mallorca, Ibiza, Menorca, La Palma, all Tui, Lakes & Mountains destinations.

Up to and including July 11: Bulgaria, Cape Verde, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Mexico, Morocco, Tunisia, Turkey.

TUI has already been forced to cancel bookings before during the pandemic so it is believed that the latest decision is a bid to avoid losing more money. Pictured: Passengers arriving at Heathrow Airport last month

The latest holidays to get the axe are: Up to and including July 4: Aruba, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece - Crete (Chania), Kavala, Kefalonia, Mykonos, Preveza, Samos, Santorini, Skiathos, Thessaloniki, Italy, Jamaica, Malta, Spain (pictured) - Mainland Spain, Formentera, Mallorca, Ibiza, Menorca, La Palma, all Tui, Lakes & Mountains destinations

The UK's current travel green list According to the Department for Transport, as of June 15, the current UK travel green list includes: Australia Brunei Falkland Islands Faroe Islands Gibraltar Iceland Israel and Jerusalem New Zealand Singapore South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Advertisement

The company also had to cancel all holidays which include non-Tui flights to Indonesia, Maldives, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand and UAE up to including July 11.

Jet2 originally suspended its services up to June 24 when the green list was announced.

But now all flights for this month have been cancelled amid a spate of changes - including moving Portugal, Madeira and the Azores to the amber list.

Flights to Turkey, which is on the red list of the Government's traffic light system, will be held until July 22 as the restrictions look unlikely to ease.

Jet2 boss Steve Heapy blasted the Government for confusion surrounding the last-minute changes.

He called for 'openness and transparency' on coronavirus data so that the industry could better understand decisions affecting airlines and their customers.

TUI told Travel Weekly: 'We want to offer our customers flexibility and choice this summer, so where borders are open and FCDO advice allows travel, we will operate to those destinations as planned.

'We are constantly reviewing our holiday programme and cancellations in line with the government updates every three weeks, with the next update expected on 24 June.

'All customers will be contacted as soon as possible if there is any change to their booking.'

TUI also had to cancel all holidays which include non-Tui flights to Indonesia, Maldives, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand and UAE up to including July 11

Less than 1 per cent of travel insurance policies provide 'complete cover' for Covid-related disruption, new report finds Less than one in 100 travel insurance policies provide "complete" cover for coronavirus-related disruption, according to Which? Out of 263 travel insurance policies, the consumer group rated just two as offering complete Covid-19 cover. The policies are HSBC UK select and cover and Barclays travel pack. They protect travellers against cancellation due to changes in advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) or Government lockdowns prohibiting travel; testing positive for Covid-19 or being told to self-isolate; and medical costs and repatriation. Both policies are available to customers of these banks and can only be bought alongside other insurance products, Which? said. The consumer group said buying good quality insurance has never been more important as disruption to international travel continues. It added that while some travel insurers boast of offering impressive-sounding "Covid cover", many policies exclude plausible - and often expensive - scenarios, such as new lockdowns in the UK or destination country. Which? also rated 85 policies it looked at as superior, providing cancellation cover for travellers having to self-isolate without a positive test, but not for FCDO advice changing. Superior-rated policies included those from providers AA, Axa and Staysure. Just over half of the policies (142) were ranked low. They offer some cancellation cover - but do not cover travellers cancelling in the event of needing to self-isolate without having a positive coronavirus test result. And 34 policies were ranked as basic - the lowest ranking. Basic policies provide travellers with cover for coronavirus-related emergency medical costs and repatriation. Every policy analysed offered cover for medical and repatriation costs for travellers catching Covid-19 while travelling. Advertisement

'All customers impacted by these cancellations will be contacted directly and will be able to request a full cash refund, or to change to a later date or alternative holiday and receive a booking incentive,' Tui added.

'If we need to cancel any future holidays because of updated government guidance, we will be in touch directly and aim to give customers at least seven days' notice.

'We would like to thank our customers for their understanding at this time.'

Meanwhile, budget airline EasyJet said it is reviewing flights to Portugal after the country was taken off the green list for travel.

A spokesman said: 'As a result of the Government's sudden announcement placing Portugal on the amber list from next week, we are currently reviewing our flying programme to the country in the coming days.

'If customers want to change their plans, we offer the option to transfer their flights to another date or destination on EasyJet's network without a change fee up to two hours before departure.

'Any customers whose flights are cancelled will be provided with their options which include receiving a full refund or transferring to an alternative flight free of charge.'

It comes after travel industry chiefs last week blasted the Government's 'crippling' decision to axe Portugal from its green list of safe destinations amid growing concern over the Nepal coronavirus variant.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced the Mediterranean country, whose economy relies greatly on UK tourists, is being moved to the amber list from 4am Tuesday following a rise in positive tests.

But the move triggered fury from travel industry chiefs, including the chief executives of Heathrow and EasyJet, who accused the Government of trying to 'isolate' Britain from the world and warned that another 'lost summer' could lead to a jobs bloodbath and billions more being wiped from the economy.

Figures compiled for the Mail by the all-party Future of Aviation group of MPs last night projected that the cost to the economy could be as much as 11.5billion in outbound travel alone if the current restrictions remain through the next three months. Meanwhile, fears were raised for the 1.6million jobs the aviation, travel and tourism sector creates.

It comes after furious Tory MPs lashed out at Boris Johnson as he prepares to delay Freedom Day and the end of lockdown for four weeks.

The Prime Minister will urge Britons to be patient as he announces that the relaxation of Covid restrictions will be pushed back until July 19 because of the rampaging Indian variant, to allow more people to receive their second vaccine dose.

But he is set to offer an olive branch to some industries that will be worst-hit by the delay, including lifting the cap on the number of guests who can attend weddings. He is also expected to permit more outdoor seated spaces at sporting events.

The concessions come as Tory MPs join hospitality and other business leaders in venting their fury at the postponement, warning it will cost firms millions of pounds.

The Prime Minister faced calls for a 'break clause' to cut short the lockdown extension after two or three weeks' if the data allows it.

Conservative MP Damian Green has told the Westminster Hour that there should be a break clause after two or three weeks of the extension.

'I get the point that because of the deltas variant the cases have gone up, hospitalisation has gone up a bit but not a lot and is below the level of some of the Sage predictions of a few months ago,' he said.

'So I think if there is a delay I hope it's only for a few weeks and I think if it is as long as a month then there should be a break clause after two or maybe three weeks, to say that if we can tell by then that the rise in cases is not lading to a sort of rise in the serious illness that sends people into hospital, then we can unlock earlier.'
The number of UK workers on payrolls increased by almost 200,000 between April and May this year as the jobs market continued to bounce back from the coronavirus crisis.

There were 197,000 workers added to payrolls last month, with Chancellor Rishi Sunak seizing on the figures as proof that his 'Plan for Jobs' 'is working'.

However, the overall workforce remains significantly smaller than it was before the pandemic struck last year, with the number of UK workers on payrolls still down by 553,000.

An optimistic Mr Sunak said the number of employees on payrolls is now 'at its highest level since April last year'.

The number of UK workers on payrolls increased by almost 200,000 between April and May this year as the jobs market continued to bounce back from the coronavirus crisis

There were 197,000 workers added to payrolls last month, with Chancellor Rishi Sunak seizing on the figures as proof that his 'Plan for Jobs' 'is working'

Data published this morning by the Office for National Statistics showed that 'the number of payrolled employees has increased for the sixth consecutive month, up by 197,000 in May 2021 to 28.5 million'.

The ONS said the latest figures suggested that the 'jobs market is showing signs of recovery'.

But he fact that the number of payrolled workers is still 553,000 below pre-pandemic levels is likely to cause alarm.

The ONS said that since February last year the largest falls in employment have been seen in the accommodation and food services sector.

People aged under 25 and people living in London have been among the worst hit.

Those groups have now also seen the largest monthly increases in employment as lockdown rules have eased but they are still 'well below pre-pandemic levels'.

The ONS numbers also showed that the number of job vacancies in the period between March and May this year was 758,000.

This was just 27,000 below the level recorded before the pandemic between January and March 2020.

Mr Sunak said: 'Our Plan for Jobs is working  the latest forecasts for unemployment are around half of what was previously feared and the number of employees on payroll is at its highest level since April last year.

'We understand the value of work and the distress caused by unemployment  that is why we are continuing to support people and jobs.

'The furlough scheme is running all the way through until September and we are creating new routes into work through apprenticeships, Kickstart placements for young people as well as targeted support for the long-term unemployed.'

Labour's shadow chancellor, Rachel Reeves, said the figures showed 'just how fragile our jobs recovery can be' as she criticised the Government for failing to extend the furlough scheme after Boris Johnson yesterday delayed the end of lockdown by four weeks.

She said: 'The lack of clarity in the Government's announcement yesterday on how they will support workers and businesses given the delay in their own roadmap - a result of their incompetence protecting our borders from new variants - is as unsurprising as it is disappointing.

'For sectors like hospitality, tourism, and our music industry that continue to be affected by restrictions, a month is a long time. Many businesses have financial pinch points coming up but are still struggling to turn a profit.

Mr Sunak said the 'number of employees on payroll is at its highest level since April last year'

'If businesses have to stay closed or operate at massively reduced capacity they're not going to be able to pay staff, rents and loans back. Government support must recognise that.

'The short-termism of this government is exhausting businesses and workers, and they must be clear how they will support firms hit by the Government's delay in the roadmap.'

Sam Beckett, ONS head of economic statistics, said: 'The number of employees on payroll grew strongly in May, up by almost 200,000, although it is still over half a million down since the pandemic struck.

'Job vacancies continued to recover in the spring, and our early estimates suggest that by May the total had surpassed its pre-pandemic level, with strong growth in sectors such as hospitality.

'Meanwhile the redundancy rate remains subdued, while the number of employees on furlough has continued to decline.'
A woman who sedated and gassed her sheep farmer partner had a shocking conversation with an undercover cop just months after murdering him.

On Tuesday Natasha Beth Darcy, 46, was found guilty of murdering Mathew Dunbar, who was found dead on in the Northern Tablelands town of Walcha on August 2 in 2017.

The Crown alleged she murdered the grazier to inherit his $3.5million property, knowing she was the sole beneficiary.

She drugged him with a laced milkshake full of sedatives blended in a Nutribullet before gassing him to death.

Darcy claimed the 42-year-old killed himself, but the Crown rejected her guilty plea to aiding or abetting suicide.

Natasha Beth Darcy, 46, has been found guilty of murdering Mathew Dunbar after the 42-year-old sheep farmer was found dead in his home near Walcha, northern New South Wales, on August 2, 2017

Three and a half months after murdering Mr Dunbar, Darcy told her cellmate - who was actually an undercover cop: 'I just got arrested for murder,' NCA Newswire reported.

'Oh, really?' the other woman said.

'Yeah,' Darcy replied.

''F--k,' the cellmate - who was an undercover cop - laughed.

She told him her partner took his own life but the toxicology came back and 'they're blaming me.'

Darcy started to cry and told the police officer about how her partner died.

Darcy (pictured) accidentally revealed to an undercover cop she knew one of the sedatives that was in Mr Dunbar's dead body

A second undercover officer joined the pair and said she had heard detectives talking about Darcy's partner toxicology results.

'Did they say anything about ace? Acepromazine?' she asked.

Acepromazine is usually used on sheep before shearing, or to sedate horses.

The drug was one of four sedatives found in Mr Dunbar's blood, and it seemed unusual that Darcy would know that.

Later in the cell she admitted to searching acepromazine and clonidine - another of the drugs found in Mr Dunbar's blood - after he died.

'I didn't think I had anything to hide  but it sounds like I do,' she said, seeming to realised her mistake.

Darcy will face a sentence hearing in October.

Prosecutor Brett Hatfield alleged Darcy planned the murder for some time, citing hundreds of Google searches on death methods starting with poisonous spiders and fungi which started back in February, 2017.

He said she sedated her partner using a Nutribullet to blend a cocktail of sedatives, before moving a gas tank into his room and gassing him in his bed.

Prosecutor Brett Hatfield alleged Darcy planned the murder for some time, citing hundreds of Google searches on death methods starting with poisonous spiders and fungi

The jury was told of a letter Darcy sent to a friend after Mr Dunbar's death, offering her $20,000 to tell lies about him that would assist her at any murder trial.

Agreed facts tendered in the case state that in 2009, Darcy hit her husband, Colin Crossman, on the head with a hammer as he slept.

Three days later when he was again asleep she took a tin of petrol from the garage and poured it on the bedroom floor and set it alight.

She had earlier given him a meal of tacos and samples later showed he had sedatives in his system.

The previous month, she had taken out a life insurance policy which paid $700,000 to her on the death of Mr Crossman.

Darcy, the sole beneficiary of a Dunbar's estate (pictured) googled redback spiders and mushrooms six months before his death

Mr Hatfield said these events indicate Ms Darcy has a tendency to sedate and inflict serious harm on her domestic partners for financial gain.

Darcy claimed her partner had taken his own life because he was depressed about his sexuality and a severe leg infection, the Brisbane Times reported.

She'd phoned triple 0 after claiming she found her partner dead in his bed.

Some of Darcy's Google searches included 'how to commit murder' and 'can police see websites you visit on your mobile'.

The mother had also carried out two 'dry runs' on Mr Dunbar to test the effects of drugs.

The court heard Darcy had been spreading lies about Mr Dunbar's mental health issues to friends and family, and told them he was gay.
The Covid pandemic has worsened corruption within the EU and has often forced citizens to rely on well-connected friends to access healthcare, a report found.

Anti-graft watchdog Transparency International surveyed more than 40,000 people in the EU's 27 member states between October and December 2020.

On average, it found that 29 per cent had relied on favours or well-connected friends and family to access public sector health services last year.

Six per cent of respondents resorted to paying an outright bribe.

'Healthcare, in particular, has been a corruption hotspot as governments struggled to manage the Covid-19 pandemic,' Transparency said in its annual report of people's experiences and perceptions of graft in the EU.

Bribery rates in the health sector were highest in Romania (22 per cent) and Bulgaria (19 per cent), while leaning on personal connections happened most often in the Czech Republic (54 per cent) and Portugal (46 per cent).

Anti-graft watchdog Transparency International found bribery rates were highest in Romania (above, Romania's President Klaus Werner Iohannis)

Many respondents also said their governments weren't handling the pandemic in a transparent manner.

In France, Poland and Spain, 60 per cent of respondents or more felt that way.

Transparency International called the findings 'particularly worrying in the current context'.

'Not only are Covid-19 sufferers in need of medical support, but governments across the EU are rolling out vaccinations to protect those most vulnerable to the virus and are creating plans to allocate billions of euros for post-pandemic recovery.

'Corruption threatens all these activities,' it said, urging EU governments to 'redouble their efforts to ensure a fair and equitable recovery from the ongoing pandemic'.

Bribery rates in the health sector were also high in Bulgaria (above, Bulgaria's President Rumen Radev speaks to Emmanuel Macron during a NATO summit yesterday)

Leaning on personal connections happened most often in the Czech Republic and Portugal (above, Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa on June 7)

The report's authors singled out Hungary and Poland as countries using the crisis as 'an excuse to undermine democracy' by imposing regulations that weaken democratic institutions.

Other politicians saw it 'as a chance to make a profit', they said, pointing to lobbying for face-mask procurement and lobbying scandals that have ensnared several German lawmakers.

Pictured: Michiel van Hulten, director of Transparency International EU

Looking beyond the health crisis, the survey found that a third of EU residents think corruption as a whole is getting worse in their country, although there were huge regional differences.

Overall, almost half said their government is doing a bad job at tackling the problem.

Respondents were especially wary of the 'cosy relationships' between governments and the private sector, and the apparent ease with which companies can trim their tax bills.

'These results should be a wake-up call,' said Michiel van Hulten, director of Transparency International EU.

'There are many immediate actions that can be taken,' he said, 'such as increasing lobbying transparency both at the EU and national levels and tackling tax avoidance.'
The Biloela family that has been detained on Christmas Island for more than two years are set to be reunited in Australia as father Nadesalingam 'Nades' Murugappan and his daughter Kopika were photographed boarding a plane to Perth.

The federal government has been weighing up what to do with the Sri Lankan asylum seeker family as it faces mounting pressure to let them stay in Australia, where both of their children were born.

Kopika, six, and her loving dad boarded the government charter jet for Western Australia on Tuesday morning where they will met up with mother Priya and the family's youngest daughter Tharnicaa, four - who had been flown to Perth Children's Hospital for a painful blood infection.

There was widespread outrage across the country after it was revealed young Tharnicaa was sent to the mainland for treatment while her dad and sister remained at the detention centre.

Federal Immigration Minister Alex Hawke on Tuesday announced the family would now be allowed to reside in Perth while their daughter receives treatment, granting the Tamil family a 'community detention order'.

Nades and Kopika of the Biloela family board a plane on Christmas Island bound for Perth on Tuesday (pictured at the airport) to be reunited with her sister and mother

The federal government has been weighing up what to do with the Sri Lankan asylum seeker family as it faces mounting pressure to let them stay in Australia, where both of their children were born. Pictured: Nades and Kopika of the Biloela family prepare to board a plane to Perth

'In making this determination I am balancing the government's ongoing commitment to strong border protection policies with appropriate compassion in circumstances involving children in held detention,' Mr Hawke said.

'The family will now reside in suburban Perth through a community detention placement, close to schools and support services, while the youngest child receives medical treatment from the nearby Perth Children's Hospital and as the family pursues ongoing legal matters.

The decision releases the family from held detention while they pursue ongoing litigation before the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, Federal Court and High Court.

But the decision does not create a pathway for a visa.

'The Government's position on border protection has not changed. Anyone who arrives in Australia illegally by boat will not be resettled permanently,' he said.

'Anyone who is found to not be owed protection will be expected to leave Australia.'

The Biloela family that have been detained on Christmas Island and separated for more than two years. Pictured: Nades and Kopika wave goodbye to Christmas Island

Freedom at last as Nades and Kopika walk the steps of a government charter to Perth on Tuesday

Family friend Angela Fredericks said the decision is a welcome one for the long-suffering asylum seekers, but called for more to be done to bring the family back to their North Queensland home, Biloela.

'Bringing this family back together is the first important step in getting them home to Bilo,' Ms Fredericks said.

'We are pleased that the Department of Home Affairs is finally taking this family off Christmas Island, after more than three years of sub-standard care in immigration detention in Melbourne and on Christmas Island.

'Nades is keen to get back to work in Biloela to support his young family, which he cannot do while the family is forced into community detention.

'Priya wants to enrol Kopika at Biloela State School to continue her education. And we promised little Tharni a big birthday party when she got home.

'Australia knows this familys home is in Biloela.'

The Biloela family that have been detained on Christmas Island for more than two years are set to be reunited in Australia

The family's plight is back in the spotlight after four-year-old Tharnicaa was flown with her mother from Christmas Island to the mainland for medical treatment

Former Labor leader Bill Shorten told the Today show on Tuesday morning 'enough is enough' and the family should be allowed to return to their home in Queensland.

'The Biloela community in central Queensland years ago signed a petition in massive numbers to say could the family stay where they had been living and working for years,' he said.

'Instead, they've had this three-year ordeal in our detention. We should reunite the family and let them live in a community who signalled they want to have them.

'Every year governments exercise discretion. I think the community have shown they want them, so tick.

'I don't think it sets a precedent, tick. So let them be reunited.'

The family's plight is back in the spotlight after four-year-old Tharnicaa was flown with her mother from Christmas Island to the mainland for medical treatment.

Tharnicaa's mother Priya is with her at Perth Children's Hospital, but her father and older sister were forced to stay behind on the island.

Priya and Nades Murugappan and their two young daughters (pictured) have been on the island for the past three years

Tharnicaa Murugappan (pictured) was medically evacuated to Perth after being hospitalised on Christmas Island with a suspected blood infection

Earlier on Monday, Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said work was underway to bring Nades and Kopika to Perth.

'I understand the health authorities in WA also make these considerations as to whether the whole family gets reunited,' he told reporters.

'But as I understand, there was work being done towards that.'

It was not a plea for compassion but based on clinical advice of the Tharnicaa's treating doctors that she must be with family.

Her treatment for pneumonia and sepsis, a life-threatening blood infection, could take up to eight weeks.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the government was considering its options and would take advice from medical experts at the Department of Home Affairs.

Pressure has been mounting on Mr Morrison to let the family stay in Australia, with politicians from across the spectrum calling for them to be allowed to return to their adopted home of Biloela in Queensland.

Kopika (left) gets taken to school by guards while Priya stays inside to look after four-year-old Tharunicaa (right)

He has signalled the government could finally back away from its hardline stance and allow the family to stay in Australia, at least on a temporary basis.

'There are options that are being considered that are consistent with both health advice and the humanitarian need and the government's policy,' Mr Morrison said.

However, the prime minister said permanent resettlement was out of the question.

'That wouldn't be government policy for a pathway to permanent settlement - that is not the government's policy.'

Nine health organisations representing tens of thousands of medical professionals across Australia have signed an open letter calling for the family's release.

Paediatrician Jacqueline Small from the Royal Australasian College of Physicians said the children must be allowed to develop and grow in the community.

Tharnicaa reads a book from her bed in Perth hospital on Thursday where she is being treated for sepsis. The announcement comes amid growing calls for the federal government to resettle the family

'We feel very strongly keeping these children in held detention, particularly offshore detention, represents an extreme and unacceptable risk to the children's health, development and mental wellbeing,' she told ABC radio.

'Given both children were in held detention from their toddlerhood, the risks are even higher.'

Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce has supported calls for the family to stay in Australia for more than two years.

'Tharnicaa and Kopika were born in Australia,' he told Network Seven.

'Now, maybe if their names were Jane and Sally and they were playing in their local netball side, we'd think twice about sending them back to another country which they're not from.'

Father Nades and Kopika, six, are set to reunite with mother Priya and Tharnicaa in Perth

Labor leader Anthony Albanese rejected the argument that allowing the family to settle would somehow restart the people-smuggling trade. Pictured: Priya and Nades

Mr Joyce also argued Mr and Mrs Murugappan had jobs and were valued members of their local community.

'In regional Australia, we need people who have jobs. These people should be staying here.'

Labor leader Anthony Albanese rejected the argument showing the family compassion and exercising discretion would somehow restart the people-smuggling trade.

'This is about a family who are here, this is not a threat to our national sovereignty,' he said.
More than 1,400 Southwest Airlines flights were delayed or cancelled on Monday after a technical glitch in a weather information system.

Flight operations began to resume across the US late on Monday after delays hit for hours.

The group stop, or halt in flights, aimed to ensure crew and customer safety as Southwest worked with a vendor of weather data to restore connectivity, an airline spokesman said in a statement.

The national weather data outage appeared to go down at roughly 9pm EST and the airline was able to resume some flight operations by midnight, according to NPR.

Customers complained they were left in the airport with delays of between five and six hours before their flight was ultimately cancelled.

Another took to social media to say that they had to 'sleep on the airport floor' for the next 15 hours due to their flight delay.

In an emailed statement, Southwest said: 'Our third-party weather data provider experienced intermittent performance issues... preventing transmission of weather information required to safely operate our aircraft.'

Almost 1,500 Southwest Airlines flights were delayed and cancelled on Monday after a technical glitch in a weather information system

Several hundred flights were affected as the glitch came near the end of the operational day, he added, but did not give the exact number.

According to Flightaware, 1,411 Southwest Airlines flights were delayed yesterday while 45 were cancelled. Today, another 47 flights were cancelled while 44 faced delays.

The company apologized to customers for the resulting 'stress and frustration' after many complained on social media.

One Twitter user said: 'Thank you @SouthwestAir for costing me over $1,000 due to your delays tonight. Really classy and yet no vouchers or compensation of any kind. My business will go elsewhere. Cheers.'

The company apologized to customers for the resulting 'stress and frustration' after many complained on social media, including one who claimed the delays cost them $1,000 and were not given any vouchers or compensation

Another added: 'Flight got delayed then canceled over some weather sheet print outs, but @SouthwestAir hooked it up with a luxurious nights stay at the airport. #WannaGoHome'

A third added: '@SouthwestAir really inconvenienced a lot of people tonight. It upsets me because I used to love Southwest! But now when I am forced to pay almost $100 for an Uber because y'all canceled our flight to Dallas at the last minute.'

Meanwhile, another user said: 'F*** them, I was delayed 5 hours then got cancelled. All hotels booked and only a $200 voucher gtfooooo.'

A fifth wrote: 'Thank you @SouthwestAir. I love sleeping in airports. Glad it's not your problem. It won't be mine ever again.... You could just tell me a flight is cancelled than string me along.'

One user said that they were delayed for six hours before their flight was cancelled while another said they were delayed five before it got cancelled. Another Twitter user used the social media site to say what a pleasant experience they'd had despite the flight delays

Another user said: '@SouthwestAir #southwestfailed! Flight delayed moved gates, flight canceled, no hotels no food. Where was the help... not there. Probably over at Dallas-Fort worth, on united. Here sleep on the airport floor for the next 15 hours. Thanks for nothing SW.'

A Twitter user also took to the social media site to thank the company after their positive experience following the delays.

They said: 'We are just now driving home due to a @SouthwestAir system outage, but as always all the SW staff were amazing through the entire delay - from the gate agent in Orlando to our flight crew that got us home to Indianapolis, well done all!'

Southwest Airlines told MailOnline: 'Weve resumed normal flight operations after our third-party weather data provider experienced intermittent performance issues Monday evening preventing transmission of weather information that is required to safely operate our aircraft.

'While Southwest Teams and the vendor worked to restore connectivity, we implemented a ground stop to protect the Safety of our Crews and Customers.

'We appreciate our Customers patience as we work to get them to their destinations as quickly as possible.

'We ask that Customers use Southwest.com to check flight status or consult a Southwest Airlines Customer Service Agent for assistance with travel needs.'
Beijing has furiously accused NATO of 'exaggerating "China threat theory" and artificially creating confrontations' after the Western alliance vowed to take on the country for the first time on Monday.

NATO leaders said they would work together to counter the 'systemic challenges' posed by Beijing's policies, as US President Joe Biden renewed Washington's transatlantic ties at his first summit with the allies.

In a broad statement of intent, the leaders said China's increasingly assertive actions in building a nuclear arsenal and space and cyber warfare capabilities threatened the international order.

NATO leaders said they would work together to counter the 'systemic challenges' posed by Beijing's policies, as US President Joe Biden (pictured third from left) renewed Washington's transatlantic ties at his first summit with the allies.

But in an angry response, a statement from the Chinese mission to the European Union called for NATO to 'view China's development rationally, stop exaggerating various forms of "China threat theory" and not to use China's legitimate interests and legal rights as excuses for manipulating group politics (while) artificially creating confrontations'.

It added that NATO's accusations were a 'slander of China's peaceful development, a misjudgement of the international situation and its own role, and it is the continuation of a Cold War mentality and the group's political psychology at work'.

China's rebuke of the statement came as a U.S. aircraft carrier group led by the USS Ronald Reagan has entered the South China Sea as part of a routine mission, the U.S. Navy said

Military tensions have increased over the past year between China and rival powers including the United States and India, with flashpoints like the Himalayan border, Taiwan and the South China Sea.

China's military budget - the second largest in the world after the US, though still less than a third of Washington's - is set to increase by 6.8 percent in 2021, the finance ministry announced in March.

Beijing has also poured billions into its space programme in a bid to make up ground on pioneers Russia and the United States.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the allies would seek to cooperate with China on global issues like climate change - but decried Beijing's increasingly assertive stance on other issues.

In a broad statement of intent, the NATO leaders said China's increasingly assertive actions in building a nuclear arsenal and space and cyber warfare capabilities threatened the international order. Pictured: NATO heads of state gather for a plenary session at a NATO summit in Brussels, Monday, June 14, 2021

In an angry response to the NATO statement, the Chinese mission to the European Union called for NATO to 'view China's development rationally, stop exaggerating various forms of "China threat theory" and not to use China's legitimate interests and legal rights as excuses for manipulating group politics (while) artificially creating confrontations'. Pictured: US President Joe Biden (R) and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson together, June 14 2021

In the summit statement, the leaders said that China's goals and 'assertive behaviour present systemic challenges to the rules-based international order and to areas relevant to alliance security'.

The warning to China comes as President Joe Biden has stepped up his effort to rally allies to speak in a more unified voice about China's human rights record, its trade practices and its military's increasingly assertive behaviour that has unnerved US allies in the Pacific.

While the 30 heads of state and government avoided calling China a rival, they expressed concern about what they said were its 'coercive policies', the opaque ways it is modernising its armed forces and its use of disinformation.

They called on Beijing to uphold its international commitments and to act responsibly in the international system.

Mr Biden, who arrived at the summit after three days of consulting with G7 allies in England, pushed for the G7 communique there that called out what it said were forced labour practices and other human rights violations affecting Uighur Muslims and other ethnic minorities in the western Xinjiang province.

The president said he was satisfied with the communique, although differences remain among the allies about how forcefully to criticise Beijing.

China added that NATO's accusations were a 'slander of China's peaceful development, a misjudgement of the international situation and its own role, and it is the continuation of a Cold War mentality and the group's political psychology at work'. Pictured: China's President Xi Jinping seen on March 11 in the National People's Congress of China

Mr Biden has used his eight-day trip to Europe to urge allies to work more closely in pressing Russian President Vladimir Putin over his government's treatment of political dissidents and to do more to stem cyber attacks originating from Russia that have targeted private companies and governments around the globe.

The new Brussels communique states plainly that the Nato nations 'will engage China with a view to defending the security interests of the alliance'.

But some allies bristled at the Nato effort to speak out on China.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Nato's decision to name China as a threat 'shouldn't be overstated' because Beijing, like Russia, is also a partner in some areas.

China is Germany's top trading partner and is heavily dependent on Russia in fulfilling the country's energy needs.

Mrs Merkel noted that 'when you look at the cyber threats, the hybrid threats, when you look at the co-operation between Russia and China, you can't just ignore China'.

But she added that it was important to 'find the right balance' as China is also a partner on many issues.

Mrs Merkel said: 'I think it's very important, just like we do in Russia, to always make the offer of political discussions, political discourse, in order to come up with solutions. But where there are threats, and I said they're in the hybrid field too, then as Nato you have to be prepared.'

Some allies bristled at the Nato effort to speak out on China. German Chancellor Angela Merkel (pictured right with France's Emmanuel Macron) said Nato's decision to name China as a threat 'shouldn't be overstated' because Beijing, like Russia, is also a partner in some areas

The exchanges came a day after the Chinese Embassy to the United Kingdom issued a statement saying the G7 communique 'deliberately slandered China and arbitrarily interfered in China's internal affairs' and exposed the 'sinister intentions of a few countries, such as the United States'.

China's embassy in Britain hit back at the G7 for 'political manipulation' after the group criticised China's human rights record.

In a communique after a three-day summit in England, G7 leaders slammed China over abuses against pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong and minorities in the Xinjiang region.

Human rights groups say China has rounded up an estimated one million Uyghurs and other minorities in Xinjiang into internment camps, which Beijing says is to eradicate Islamic extremism.

Biden called for China to 'start acting more responsibly in terms of international norms on human rights'.

As well as human rights, tensions have soared between Washington and Beijing on a number of fronts in recent years, including trade, technology and the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Joe Biden met with Tayyip Erdogan for talks on the sidelines of NATO's summit in Brussels on Monday, with the two men greeting each-other with what at first appeared to be a kiss on the hand - though this was only a trick of perspective

In the summit communique, NATO leaders also warned Russia's President Vladimir Putin, whom Biden will meet on Wednesday in Geneva, that his country's military build-up and provocative behaviour on NATO's eastern frontier 'contribute to instability along NATO borders and beyond'.

When he arrived at the NATO headquarters in Brussels for a summit with his 29 counterparts, Biden stressed that the alliance was 'critically important' to US security.

'I think that there is a growing recognition over the last couple of years that we have new challenges,' Biden told Stoltenberg at bilateral talks just ahead of the main summit.

'We have Russia that is not acting in a way that is consistent with what we had hoped, as well as China,' he said.

'I want to make it clear: NATO is critically important for US interests in and of itself. If there weren't one, we'd have to invent it,' he said.

A U.S. aircraft carrier group led by the USS Ronald Reagan (pictured in 2018, file photo) has entered the South China Sea as part of a routine mission, the U.S. Navy said on Tuesday

Meanwhile, a U.S. aircraft carrier group led by the USS Ronald Reagan has entered the South China Sea as part of a routine mission, the U.S. Navy said on Tuesday, at a time of rising tensions between Washington and Beijing, which claims most the disputed waterway.

China frequently objects to U.S. military missions in the South China Sea saying they do not help promote peace or stability, and the announcement follows China blasting the Group of Seven nations for a statement scolding Beijing over a range of issues.

'While in the South China Sea, the strike group is conducting maritime security operations, which include flight operations with fixed and rotary wing aircraft, maritime strike exercises, and coordinated tactical training between surface and air units,' the U.S. Navy said.

'Carrier operations in the South China Sea are part of the U.S. Navy's routine presence in the Indo-Pacific.'

The carrier is being accompanied by the guided-missile cruiser USS Shiloh and the guided-missile destroyer USS Halsey, it added.

China has ramped up its military presence in the South China Sea in recent years, including building artificial islands and air bases.

The South China Sea has become one of many flashpoints in the testy relationship between China and the United States, with Washington rejecting what it calls unlawful territorial claims by Beijing in the resource-rich waters.

U.S. warships have passed through the South China Sea with increasing frequency in recent years, in a show of force against the Chinese claims.
A wife was within her rights to divorce her tech consultant husband because he worked too much and missed holidays, the High Court has ruled.

Marion was clear to leave Charles Ayeh-Kumi from Farnborough, Hampshire, in 2018, the judge decided.

Mr Ayeh-Kumi told the court 'easy' divorce laws let his former partner split with him because he 'worked too much and never went on holiday'.

The 64-year-old argued her claim of 'unreasonable behaviour' had breached his human rights.

The estranged father-of-two, who has no legal training, claimed 'unreasonable behaviour' was not defined in law.

Government lawyers applied to the High Court to dismiss his claim of human rights, which were first brought into divorce laws in 2019.

Mr Ayeh-Kumi hit back with a counter-application of his own to get summary judgment in his favour.

But Master Victoria McCloud sided with the government and said Marion had not breached his human rights in their divorce, the Times reported.

Marion was clear to leave Charles Ayeh-Kumi (pictured together) from Farnborough, Hampshire, in 2018, the judge decided

Mr Ayeh-Kumi told the court 'easy' divorce laws let his former partner split with him because he 'worked too much and never went on holiday'

She found 'it is not a case which can proceed on the footing of a challenge to the human rights compliance of the judgments of judges in the divorce case itself'.

Mr Ayeh-Kumi told the court the Matrimonial Causes Act broke basic rule-of-law principles, the Human Rights Act and the European Convention on Human Rights.

He said his ex-wife's unreasonable behaviour claims were that he 'worked too much' and 'didn't go on holiday' 20 years earlier.

In a statement she submitted during divorce proceedings, she wrote: 'My husband was absent from the home in the evenings and at weekends.

'[He] did not come on any family holidays when the children were growing up or come to any concert performances that the children took part in.'

But Mr Ayeh-Kumi insisted throughout their marriage there was no abuse, physical or otherwise and they were equal partners who made joint decisions.

He also claimed his ex-wife was referring to holidays from more than 20 years ago - at a time when the couple were struggling to pay their mortgage.

The 64-year-old (pictured with Marion and their daughters Jessica and Rhiannon) argued her claim of 'unreasonable behaviour' had breached his human rights

Mr Ayeh-Kumi told the court the Matrimonial Causes Act broke basic rule-of-law principles, the Human Rights Act and the European Convention on Human Rights

He said: 'I am a one-man band. If I don't work, I don't get paid.

'I admit that I missed a few family holidays, and that I made myself available to clients 24/7, over the weekends and late at night.

'That is how I differentiate myself from the bigger companies that do what I do, and how I secure myself more clients.

'We were struggling to pay our mortgage at the time. I needed to keep a roof over my wife and daughters' heads.'

Last week the government revealed divorce-on-demand reforms meant to sweep adultery from the statute books had been put off for at least six months.

The new divorce law  which will end a marriage without legal blame at the request of just one partner  was supposed to go into operation this autumn.

But the introduction of the no-fault process has run into 'a few technical issues' relating to moving the system online, the Ministry of Justice said.

Implementation of the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act, passed with Boris Johnson's blessing almost a year ago, has also been held up by Covid, it said.

A Ministry spokesman said: 'Our changes will help divorcing couples to resolve their issues amicably by ending the needless ''blame game'' that can exacerbate conflict and damage a child's upbringing.'

Following 'more detailed scoping work' on the new system, the MoJ 'now aims to implement the reforms on April 6 2022'.

Ministers say will ease conflict between divorcing couples and stop husbands or wives from blocking a divorce when the other partner wants one.

But the reforms have been heavily criticised by churches and by some lawyers who have said the changes will undermine marriage by devaluing the legal status of the institution, and that they will lead to a divorce boom similar to that which happened when current divorce laws were introduced at the beginning of the 1970s.

Critics also point out that the reforms will do nothing to lessen the arguments over property, money and children that mean a divorce often leads to a lifetime of bitterness for a couple and severe damage to the lives of their children.

The current 'quickie' divorce law dating from 1971 means that in England and Wales a couple can be divorced for reasons of fault, such as adultery or unreasonable behaviour, or after a period of separation.

A couple can be divorced by agreement after two years apart, but only after five years if one declines to end the marriage.

A divorce under the current fault system of adultery or unreasonable behaviour typically takes around a year to complete.

The new system will set up a 20-week waiting time before the courts can agree the first formal stage of a divorce, the decree nisi.

Partner at law firm Charles Russell Speechlys William Longrigg told MailOnline: 'It is generally agreed amongst family lawyers that having to make allegations of adultery or unreasonable behaviour in the great majority of divorces is a waste of time and money.

'This decision demonstrates the ongoing challenge of defining the complex and ambiguous terms which serve as grounds for divorce in current law.

'While we look forward to the change in existing divorce laws, which will allow couples to divorce by providing a statement that the marriage has broken down irretrievably rather than apportioning blame, it is a shame that these changes have been delayed until 6th April 2022.'
The UK's bosses are more keen than their staff to return to the office while more than a third of workers want to keep working from home for most of the week, a study has revealed.

Data from the Office of National Statistics shows that as few as 24 per cent of businesses said they intended to use increased homeworking going forward.

In contrast, 36 per cent of employees who are currently working from home indicated they wanted to spend the majority or all their time homeworking in the future.

The UK's bosses are more keen than their staff to return to the office with more than a third of workers planning to keep working from home for most of the week, a study has revealed

Graph shows the proportion of working adults reporting working from home exclusively has varied over the past year with grey boxes representing the Autumn and January lockdowns. The light blue line shows workers who have travelled to work only, the dark blue line shows whose who have worked from home only, and the purple line represents those who have done a mix of both

The study carried out by Government statisticians shows there is still a great amount of uncertainty among businesses over how they will continue to operate moving forward.

Of the thousands of businesses interviewed by the ONS in the past two months, 32 per cent said they are unsure when and how much of their workforce will return to the office.

Meanwhile, 38 per cent of businesses expected to have 75 per cent of their workforce back in the office in the future.

Any plans to bring workers back to the office were cast in doubt yesterday after Prime Minister Boris Johnson pushed back the final easing of restrictions by four weeks.

Freedom Day which was planned to arrive on June 21 has now been delayed until July 19 over fears surrounding the Covid-19 Delta variant.

As a result, the Government's guidance that employees should work from home where possible will remain in place for another month.

Barriers to collaboration was cited as the biggest drawback for working remotely from home

Throughout the pandemic, the total number of employees working from home has risen from 27 per cent in 2019 to 37 per cent.

The research also shows that in the last year, online job adverts including terms related to 'homeworking' have increased at a faster rate than total adverts, with homeworking adverts in May 2021 three times above their February 2020 average.

But, while Government advice through lockdowns was to work from home where possible, the study shows most people continued to travel to work.

However, the data shows that workers in London and the south east, in sectors including IT and Communications, and those with higher salaries had a larger proportion of home-workers during the last year.

The research showed that a better work/life balance was given as the main benefit of working from home while barriers to collaboration was cited as the biggest drawback.
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Boris Johnson today hailed the UK's historic new trade agreement with Australia as he insisted it will 'benefit' British farmers who fear they will be unable to compete with cheap beef and lamb imports.

Mr Johnson and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison agreed the broad terms of the pact last night over dinner in Downing Street before confirming the deal at a bilateral meeting this morning.

The pair exchanged hampers of goods to mark the occasion, with Mr Johnson handing his counterpart a packet of Penguin biscuits while the PM received some Australian Tim Tam chocolate bars.

The British premier said the deal 'will be good news for the agricultural sector on both sides' and that negotiations had been 'very hard'.

He stressed the new trade rules for farmers will be phased in over a 15 year transition period and the deal contains the 'strongest possible' protections for UK farmers.

The accord with Australia is Britain's first from-scratch trade deal with a country since Brexit and Mr Johnson said it will be a 'prelude to further deals'.

His comments came as UK farmers blasted the decision to grant their Australian counterparts unfettered access to the British market, warning it could be 'fatal' for many small domestic farms.

Information released by Canberra today revealed tariffs on beef imports to the UK will be removed entirely within 10 years, with a duty free quota starting at 35,000 tonnes and rising to 100,000 tonnes per year in a decade.

Tariffs on lamb will also be eliminated after 10 years under a similar programme. Wider imports of Australian foods including wine and rice will become duty-free immediately.

The new pact also includes a reciprocal shake-up of visa rules to make it easier for people under the age of 35 to travel and work in each country.

The changes will see the current requirement for Brits on working holiday visas in Australia to carry out a period of farm work scrapped.

Boris Johnson and Scott Morrison pose with a variety of British and Australian goods, including a personalised 'Boris' Vegemite jar at Downing Street on Tuesday

Johnson hailed the UK's historic new trade agreement with Australia as he insisted it will 'benefit' British farmers who fear they will be unable to compete with cheap beef and lamb imports

Elsewhere in their hampers were a bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue Label, gourmet popcorn, Mr Kipling bakewell tarts, ginger beer and red wine

The pair exchanged hampers of goods to mark the occasion, with Mr Johnson handing his counterpart a packet of Penguin biscuits while the PM received some Australian Tim Tam chocolate bars

The deal will eventually grant Australian farmers unfettered access to the UK market and their British counterparts believe that could be 'fatal' for many small domestic farms

The two premiers took a stroll through the gardens of No 10 Downing Street as they announced the historic trade deal

UK farmers fear being undercut by cheap beef and lamb imports from Australia. The new trading rules relating to farming will be 'staggered' in over a 15 year period

Cheaper Aussie wine and British-made cars: What the new trade deal will mean for consumers in each country The trade deal agreed between the UK and Australia will eliminate tariffs on imports and exports. That means that goods made in each country and then exported to the other for sale should soon be cheaper than they are currently. The scrapping of tariffs is expected to represent a significant boost for the massive Australian agriculture sector, paving the way for cheaper lamb and beef on supermarket shelves in the UK. But UK farmers fear they will be unable to compete with the cheap imports and have also expressed concerns that Australian goods are produced to lower animal welfare standards than in Britain. The free trade deal should also mean cheaper Australian wine from brands like Jacob's Creek and Hardys. Australian clothing and confectionary exports to the UK should also be cheaper, with the UK Government predicting British households will save 34 million a year in total. The deal should result in the slashing of prices in Australia on popular British products like cars, Scotch whisky, biscuits and ceramics. For example, Scotland exported 126million of beverages to Australia in 2020 and the deal will help distillers to remove tariffs of up to five per cent on Scotch whisky. Mining machinery and manufacturing goods made in Northern Ireland and sold in Australia - 90 per cent of all exports from the province to the country are made up of those items - should be made cheaper. Car manufacturers in the Midlands and north of England will also benefit from a tariff cut of up to five per cent which should boost demand for their exports. The UK-Australia trade relationship was worth just shy of 14billion last year but both sides are hoping that figure will surge in the wake of the deal being implemented. Advertisement

Speaking in Downing Street this morning, Mr Johnson said: 'Now, thanks to this deal, we hope there will be even more trade between the UK and Australia.'

He continued: 'The idea is that we will be able to do even more because we are taking tariffs off, so for Northern Ireland, Northern Irish machine tools, this will be good news.

'It will be good news for British car manufacturers, it will be good news for British services, for British financial services and it will be good news for the agricultural sector on both sides.

'Here, we had to negotiate very hard and I want everybody to understand that this is a sensitive sector for both sides and we've got a deal that runs over 15 years and contains the strongest possible provisions for animal welfare.

'But I think it is a good deal and I think it's one that will benefit British farmers and British consumers as well. It will also make it easier for British people, for young people to go and work in Australia.'

Mr Johnson said the Australia deal will pave the way for the UK to strike further deals with other nations.

'More importantly than perhaps all of that, this is the first freestanding, free trade deal the UK has done since Brexit and it's also therefore a prelude to further deals,' he said.

'And it's the way into the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).'

The PM said the shift to tariff-free access for Australian farmers would be 'staggered' over the 15 year period.

He also stressed the UK will be 'retaining safeguards' and 'making sure we have protections against sudden influxes of goods and also making sure we adhere to the strongest possible standards for animal welfare'.

Mr Morrison defended Australian food standards as he said they are 'very high' and 'we are very confident and very proud of our record when it comes to dealing with animal cruelty'.

Earlier, Michael Gove had earlier moved to try to assuage concerns as he insisted there will be 'protections' for UK farmers.

The Minister for the Cabinet Office also played down the prospect of a wave of cheap imports as he stressed that Asia is Australia's 'principal' export market for meat.

He also claimed that farming practices in Australia had been 'mischaracterised' in the debate surrounding the deal.

Many Australian farms are much larger than those in the UK enabling them to produce cheaper goods.

British farmers have also raised concerns about animal welfare and food standards which are lower in Australia.

The prime minister leads his Australian counterpart up the stairs of Downing Street past the black and white portraits of his predecessors

It is understood that the trade deal will have an entire chapter on animal welfare standards and another on environmental standards

The new trade deal will eliminate tariffs on all UK goods exported to Australia which means British cars, Scotch whisky and confectionary will all be cheaper to sell there

National Trust joins green attack on Australia trade deal over farm standards Boris Johnson's Australia trade deal has been slammed by one of the bastions of Middle England, as it joined green groups to accuse farmers Down Under of 'unsustainable agricultural practices' contributing to climate change. The National Trust, one of Britain's largest landowners, has lined up alongside more than a dozen top environmental organisations to demand free trade deals should only be given to nations with farming standards that match the UK's. Trust director general Hilary McGrady joined the leaders of the World Wildlife Fund, the RSPCA, RSPB, Greenpeace and others in writing to Liz Truss, the Trade Secretary, warning that Australian farmers are 'driving deforestation, nature loss, and climate change'. In their letter, seen by MailOnline, the organisations warned: 'Unsustainable agricultural practices should not be rewarded with unfettered access to the UK market. 'The UK is a nation that values food produced to high animal welfare and environmental standards. 'Consumers expect that food in restaurants or on supermarket shelves is produced in ways that meet those values. 'Offering tariff and quota-free trade to Australia in the UK's first major trade deal would run directly counter to these demands, increasing rather than mitigating our global footprint. 'We welcome fair competition with Australian producers who share the UK's values and meet our standards. The government has been clear it will not remove existing standards for products such as chlorine-washed chicken or hormone-treated beef, but there is not the same clarity on environmental and animal welfare protections.' Advertisement

It is understood that the trade deal will have an entire chapter on animal welfare standards and another on environmental standards.

International Trade Secretary Liz Truss guaranteed last month that hormone-injected beef will remain banned under the deal and that commitment is expected to feature in the final pact.

The new trade deal will eliminate tariffs on all UK goods exported to Australia which means British cars, Scotch whisky and confectionary will all be cheaper to sell there.

It will also eliminate tariffs on Australian exports to the UK which will mean cheaper Australian wine from producers like Jacob's Creek and Hardys.

Total trade between the two nations was worth 13.9billion in 2020 but the countries are hoping that figure will now surge.

The new deal will also allow Brits under the age of 35 the ability to travel and work in Australia more freely.

On the crunch issue of farming, UK farmers will be protected by a cap on tariff-free imports for 15 years, using tariff rate quotas and other safeguards, enabling a smooth transition to the new arrangements.

UK farmers are against zero-tariff access because they believe they could be undercut by cheap Australian imports.

The deal with Australia is the first full trade agreement struck by Britain with another country since it left the EU.

Mr Johnson said: 'Today marks a new dawn in the UK's relationship with Australia, underpinned by our shared history and common values.

'Our new free-trade agreement opens fantastic opportunities for British businesses and consumers, as well as young people wanting the chance to work and live on the other side of the world.

'This is global Britain at its best  looking outwards and striking deals that deepen our alliances and help ensure every part of the country builds back better from the pandemic.'

The National Farmers' Union President, Minette Batters, said it appeared the deal will include 'important safeguards' for farmers and welcomed the 'reasonable time period' for the sector to adapt.

But she said only time will tell if the protections are 'sufficient' as she outlined concerns that 'todays announcement appears to have made no mention of animal welfare and environmental standards'.

She called on ministers to set out in detail how the safeguards will work and and how they will ensure animal welfare standards are 'not undermined' by the deal.

Looking ahead to future trade deals, Ms Batters warned: 'We should also be clear about the likelihood that these deals will mean a significant increase in competition in our domestic agricultural markets.'

Earlier, Russell Osborne, a farmer in St Ives, Cornwall, told the BBC's Radio 4 Today programme that he believes the deal will force him to retire within the next two years.

Mr Morrison was granted an audience with Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle after his meeting with Mr Johnson in Number 10

Liz Truss, the International Trade Secretary, (pictured today) has led the UK negotiating team in talks with Australia

Farm work requirement for Brits wanting to live in Australia is SCRAPPED Britons under the age of 35 will be allowed to live and work in Australia for three years without having to undertake a currently mandatory period of farm work. The historic trade deal struck between the UK and Australia will make it easier for young people to live and work in each other's countries. The bombshell change to visas will delight young Britons who are forced to carry out three months of gruelling work on a rural property if they want to stay in Australia for a second year on a working holiday visa. Young Australians will have the same rights to work in the UK for three years. The move will have a huge impact on Australian farmers who are dependent on 10,000 British backpackers a year to pick fruit and vegetables - but a new agriculture visa, allowing British farmers to work in Australia, will help offset the impact. The changes will not come into play until at least July 2022 when the free trade deal - which has been agreed in principle - is expected to be officially signed. It is has not yet been decided if Britons who have already used a working holiday visa will be able to re-apply and benefit from the extended working rights. Prime Minister Morrison said there would be no limit on the number of young people who would be able to move between the two nations. 'There is a great opportunity for young people from both the UK and Australia to move and operate in different countries. 'That builds capacity, in both countries, with that easy engagement,' he said this morning. Advertisement

He said: 'Basically we can't compete. The average size beef farm in England now I believe is about 60 to 80 head of animals.

'When you are looking at lots in Australia, south America, of tens of thousands if not hundreds of thousands of animals in big feed lots that won't ever see a view that my cattle have here right now, won't ever eat a blade of grass that has grown off the field.

'It just does seem so wrong. How on earth are we meant to compete with that? We can't possibly.'

Robin Traquair, the vice president of the National Farmers Union Scotland, said the agreement will mean 'a lot of change' and he fears it will the impact of future trade deals with other countries if they are offered on similar terms.

He said: 'There is talk of 15 years timing in, but to be honest we haven't actually seen the detail of what exactly is going to happen and we are worried about welfare standards, we are worried the different scales and indeed it is not just necessarily Australia.

'As you say, this is the first sort of new way of trading with other countries for some time and on the new FTA, it is other countries that come off the back of this.

'We are going to have a Pacific deal, a New Zealand deal, there could be an American deal, there could be a Brazil deal and it is all of these countries that add to the mix and we just don;t know how we are going to trade with and how much product will come into the country, at what price, at what welfare standards, because many countries have lower standards than what we have got here.'

Asked if a 15 year transition would be enough to meet his concerns, he said: 'Well, we need to know the starting point as well the way the Government lets us know what's happening and all such like, we have to know the detail before we start. We are very nervous.

'It is a bit like having a parachute, we just don't know how big it is going to be.

'We will hit the ground at some time, it is just is it going to be fatal or is it just going to be life changing.'

Mr Gove defended the trade deal during an interview on Sky News as he said it will provide UK farmers with more export opportunities.

He said: 'I personally am a great fan of Welsh lamb and Scottish lamb and I think that consumers will be free to make their choice.

'But I think it is also worth pointing out that the majority of meat which is reared and raised in Australia goes to the Asian market and that is their principal and growing market.

'Overall, Australia is a friend and ally and I think there have been one or two points that have been made about Australia during the course of this debate that mischaracterise how Australian farmers operate and the opportunities also for UK farmers.

'So it is important that we maintain protections and support for farmers but it is also the case that opening up trade barriers, or rather bringing them down and opening up new opportunities provides our farmers with the chance to show on the world stage the amazing quality of UK produce.'

The UK Government has estimated the positive impact of the deal on Australia's gross domestic product  the total value of goods produced and services provided in a country during one year  as being somewhere between 0.01 per cent and 0.06 per cent.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation said Australian Trade Minister Dan Tehan, who held talks in London earlier this year with International Trade Secretary Liz Truss, has called the pact a 'win for jobs, businesses, free trade and highlights what two liberal democracies can achieve while working together'.

Australian British Chamber of Commerce chief executive officer David McCredie tweeted that the deal will create 'many great opportunities for trade, investment and collaboration'.

Former Australian prime minister Tony Abbott, who sits on the UK Board of Trade, told GB News said Britain will 'cope' with the deal and he is confused 'that so many people in Britain are always running the country down'.

He said: 'Britain can cope. And a trade deal with one of Britain's friends that's no threat to the people of Britain, this is going to help the people of Britain.'
This is the shocking moment a rowdy reveller slaps a female bouncer and scales a taxi in a wild brawl with doormen.

Bystanders could be heard gasping as the man suddenly hit out at the woman during an argument outside a venue in Manchester city centre.

Footage shows her colleagues chase after the drinker as he runs from the scene and even climbs a taxi to evade them  before getting hurled onto the pavement and dramatically detained.

The incident happened at around midnight on Saturday June 12 outside the New Union Hotel & Showbar in a corner of the city's Gay Village area.

A rowdy reveller was caught on camera slapping a female bouncer and scaling a taxi in a wild brawl with doormen following an argument outside a bar in Manchester

Greater Manchester Police said a man, Christian St Hilaire, 30, was arrested at the scene.

St Hilaire has since admitted common assault, criminal damage, and assault by beating and was jailed for 10 weeks.

At the start of the video, the rowdy drinker can be seen verbally abusing multiple security staff outside the bar.

The individual who filmed the footage said they did not know how the altercation erupted.

As a friend tries to hold back the reveller, he can heard screaming: 'Shut your mouth!'

The man then starts pointing his fingers at a male bouncer's face when a female colleague come to his aid and pushes the drinker's hands away.

The man starts pointing his fingers at a male bouncer's face, when a female colleague come to his aid and pushes the drinker's hands away. Seconds later he slaps her across the face

The female bouncer confronts the reveller saying: 'Hey stop! What the f*** are you going to do? Move!'

But the man replies: 'Move? You move,' before slapping her across the face.

The bouncer's co-workers then rush to her defence as the reveller is seen fleeing from the scene pursued by other bouncers.

The group of staff give a dramatic chase between cars and obstacles on the busy street with shouts coming from onlookers.

In another clip the man is seen climbing on top of a parked silver taxi in an attempt to evade them.

The group of staff give a dramatic chase between cars and obstacles on the busy street with shouts coming from onlookers

Two security staff are seen grabbing on to his legs and forcibly pulling him to the pavement from a taxi's bonnet as more staff arrive to restrain him

Footage shows a drinker getting hurled onto the pavement and dramatically detained by bouncers after slapping a female bouncer across the face during an argument outside a Manchester bar

Two security staff then grab on to his legs and forcibly pull him to the pavement as more staff arrive to restrain him.

In a final clip, police officers are filmed attending the scene.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said: 'Police were called shortly after 11.50pm on Saturday 12 June to a report of a man being aggressive towards door staff outside the New Union Hotel on Princess Street, Manchester.

'Christian St Hilaire, 30, of Nottingham, was detained and later taken to custody by officers.

'He was subsequently charged with single counts of section 39 assault and battery, and appeared at Manchester and Salford Magistrates' Court on Monday 14 June.

A CPS spokesperson said St Hilaire pled guilty to three offences: common assault, criminal damage, and assault by beating. He was sentenced to 10 weeks imprisonment for each offence, to run concurrently.
Professor Pollard said there is no evidence that vaccine protection is reducing, so it is not yet clear whether a booster jab is needed

Coronavirus booster vaccines may not be necessary this winter because the original two-dose jabs are working so well long-term, one of the Oxford jab-makers has said.

Sir Andrew Pollard, director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, which played a key role in developing AstraZeneca's coronavirus jab, said there was no proof immunity from jabs fades over time.

Scientists had expected the protection given by vaccines to begin to wear off over time because the immune system naturally becomes less active.

As a result, Professor Pollard admitted experts 'don't know yet whether boosters will be needed or not'.

Sir Andrew, who was knighted this week for his role running trials of the Oxford jab, also said immunity will be boosted because of the rapid spread of the Indian variant.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'We have a virus that's circulating which will cause some mild disease in those who've had two doses, and that will actually boost their immunity as well.

'So we're actually in quite a good place at the moment, we're not seeing any failure over time, waning of that protection.

'But it is something that needs to be looked at over time but I don't think we have the evidence to predict the dates.'

Daily UK figures show that 7,742 people tested positive for the virus, while three died. One dose of the vaccine has now been given to over 41million people, while 29.9million have received both jabs

Less than a month ago, Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced at a Downing Street press conference that scientists were beginning trials of a third jab to check if it offers better protection.

Millions more vaccine doses than necessary have been bought by the Government and a giant order of 60million more Pfizer doses in April was earmarked for a top-up campaign in the autumn.

SCIENTISTS TRIAL THREE-JAB VACCINE REGIME Researchers at Southampton University are leading a study that will be the first in the world to provide data on the effectiveness of third vaccine doses. The Cov-Boost study will give participating over-30s a third jab at least 10 to 12 weeks after their second dose. Participants are expected to be people who were some of the first to be vaccinated, including over-75s and healthcare workers. The vaccines being used in the trial are the Oxford-AstraZeneca, Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Novavax, Valneva, Janssen and Curevac. Participants might receive a booster injection different to the type they received for their first two doses. The findings will inform decisions by Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) on a potential booster programme for later this year. The study is backed by 19.3 million of government funding and the results are expected in September. Source: University of Southampton Advertisement

Mr Hancock said the results of the three-dose study  run by researchers at Southampton University  would shape the plans for a booster programme later this year.

But speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme this morning, Professor Pollard said there are no signs that the protection from the vaccine was waning over time.

Additionally, people who had received both jabs but still got a mild case of the virus would be even more protected because catching Covid would further boost their immunity, he said.

Professor Pollard, who led the global clinical trials of the Oxford vaccine, said: 'At the moment we are not seeing any evidence that I'm aware of of any loss of protection over time.

'We know at least from the clinical trials that there was good protection for the first six months after people had had two doses.

'What we don't know yet is whether boosters will be needed or not.

'Of course at the moment, we've got a lot of work to make sure that the second doses are into as many of those people over 50 who are at the greatest risk of hospitalisation to try and minimise that.

'We're not that far from September, we also have a virus that's circulating that will cause some mild disease in those who have had two doses and that will actually boost their immunity as well.

'So we are actually in quite a good place at the moment, we're not seeing any failure over time, waning of that protection, but it is something to be looked at, but I don't think we have the evidence to predict dates if boosters are indeed needed.'

Professor Pollard became a Knight Bachelor for services to public health in the Queen's birthday honours list.

The latest UK figures show that over 41million people have now received their first dose of the vaccine, while nearly 30 million have received their second.

Last week, the government invited all over-25s to book their vaccine appointment.

The government said it would offer vaccinations to all adults by the end of July.

Prime Minister Boris Johnston announced last night that the highly anticipated 'Freedom Day' scheduled for June 21 - which would see all remaining restrictions lifted - would be pushed back to July 19.

He cited concerns over the spiraling Indian variant and modelling that showed waiting for more people to receive their vaccine would save thousands of lives.

The most recent daily UK figures show that 7,742 people tested positive for the virus, 1,008 were admitted to hospital and three died.

Some scientists have called on the vaccine rollout to be expanded to children.

Chief medical officer Chris Witty said at the Downing Street press conference yesterday that children could be vaccinated to prevent Covid from further disrupting their education.

The risk of children developing severe symptoms of Covid are 'much, much lower' than for adults, so the vaccine would have to be 'very safe', he said.

Earlier this month, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority (MHRA) approved the Pfizer vaccine for children in the UK aged 12 to 15.

Professor Pollard told the Today programme that there is 'a bit more time for evidence gathering there to make the best decisions about whether to vaccinate children'.

'At the moment, the children themselves are relatively low risk of serious infection and we don't have all of the evidence in to make decisions about whether there are some groups of children  JCVI will be looking at that in great detail,' he said.

If children are to get the vaccine, the next question is when to give them the jab, professor Pollard said.

'We really ought to be using those doses, at this moment, for people in low and middle income countries who are at the greatest risk of severe disease,' he added.

Third dose of Covid vaccine can raise antibody levels by as much 687-fold in organ transplant recipients who had almost no virus-fighting immune cells after two shots, study finds

A third dose of coronavirus vaccines could be more effective for organ transplant recipients than the first two doses, a study has found.

Experts from Johns Hopkins University looked at organ transplant recipients and found that patients who had low antibody levels after the first two doses saw an increase after the third dose.

The biggest increase seen were antibody levels that rose 687-fold.

They also found that one-third of patients who developed negative antibody levels - meaning they did not have any immune-fighting cells - from the first two doses now showed an increase in antibody levels.

Researchers believe that this could mean the third dose is more effective than the previous two for some individuals, though they can not be certain yet.

While the Covid vaccine is deemed to be effective in the general population, not all people are seeing the same results while using it.
Russian President Vladimir Putin says he is open to discussing a potential prisoner swap with President Joe Biden when the two meet in Geneva  calling a jailed American a 'troublemaker' while identifying a Russian pilot convicted of drug smuggling who Putin wants released.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken has already said President Biden will seek to discuss the release of jailed Americans Michael Whelan and Trevor Reed, both jailed in Russia.

Asked in an interview with NBC News broadcast Monday if he was willing to negotiate with Biden on a prisoner swap, Putin said, 'Yes, of course' and called for a broader extradition agreement.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was open to a U.S.-Russia prisoner swap. 'Why not discuss them as long as they pertain to the health and life of specific individuals and of their families? Of course. Sure thing,' he said

Putin said that some cases were 'matters of a humanitarian nature.'

'Why not discuss them as long as they pertain to the health and life of specific individuals and of their families? Of course. Sure thing,' he said.

Putin hinted that Reed's case could be resolved quickly, calling him a 'drunk and a troublemaker.'

He referred to Reed as someone who 'got himself s**t-faced and started a fight.'

'These things happen in life. There is nothing horrible about it. It happens to our men as well,' Putin said.

'What would have happened if he'd fought a cop, if he'd hit a cop in your country? He would have been shot dead on that spot, and that's the end of it. Isn't that the case?' Putin said, using his familiar topic of seeking to turn the tables on the U.S.

He made the comments to NBC in an interview that aired Monday.

Putin made the comments to NBC in an interview that aired Monday.

Paul Whelan, a former US Marine accused of espionage, holds a written protest from a defendants' cage at a Moscow court in June 2020

Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout is taking to a criminal court in Bangkok in 2010

Whelan, a former U.S. Marine was sentenced to 16 years in prison after being convicted of spying. 'This secret trial in which no evidence was produced is an egregious violation of human rights and international legal norms,' U.S. ambassador to Moscow John Sullivan said following Whelan's conviction.

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the U.S. was 'outraged' over the 'secret trial, with secret evidence, and without appropriate allowances for defense witnesses.' Whelan, who also holds passports from the U.S., Britain, Canada, and Ireland, denied the espionage charges.

His lawyer said following his arrest at a Moscow hotel in late 2019 that Whelan had been given a flash drive containing 'state secrets' that someone handed him, but that he had not opened it or looked at its contents. He was expecting it to contain personal information.

Reed is an executive with an auto parts company from Michigan who was arrested in 2019 for a drunken brawl in which he punched two Russian police officers. He and his family as well as his Russian girlfriend have denied the charges against him. Sullivan said following his conviction last year: 'This is not a good story for U.S.-Russia relations. And it is not good for encouraging U.S. private citizens and business to visit and invest here if what they did to [Reed] can be done to anyone,' NBC reported at the time.

Putin specifically raised the prospect of a swap for contract pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko, saying he was also accused of "common crime" and that he has "major health issues" ignored by prison authorities.

Yaroshenko was convicted in 2011 of smuggling drugs into the United States. He was extradited from Liberia in what the Kremlin denounced as a kidnapping.

Other high-profile Russians in US custody include Viktor Bout, the prolific arms dealer arrested in Thailand in 2010 who inspired the Nicolas Cage film "Lord of War."

He is serving a 25-year sentence on charges of smuggling weapons to Colombia's FARC rebels.
An 11-year-old Australian girl who collapsed in a Syrian refugee camp is close to death from malnutrition, charities have warned.

There are more than 20 Australian women and 40 children, most under six years old, stuck in the overcrowded Al Roj camp in northeast Syria, with many having left for the war-tore nation to support ISIS.

Save the Children wants the federal government to bring back mothers and children stuck in the camp, who may have chosen, been tricked or forced into joining the terrorist group.

Pictured: Children at a Syrian camp washing in a tiny bathtub in 2020 after thousands were displaced in the civil war

Pictured: Displaced children at a refugee camp in Syria in 2019 - where many live in squalor

An 11-year-old Australian girl collapsed due to malnutrition and had to be attended to by ambulance medics, deputy chief executive of Save the Children Australia Mat Tinkler said in a statement.

There are also increasing reports of violence. We fear its a matter of time before an Australian child dies.

It is understood the child received medical attention two months ago but is still at risk of dying.

Most of the Australian children ended up in the camp after being taken to Syria by their mothers, who support ISIS, or were born there.

The United States government has offered support to remove Australians from the camp.

There are estimated to be tens of thousands of people in the overcrowded camp, where children under the age of ten have lived their entire lives.

Pictured: Tents at the Al Roj camp in northeast Syria where many young children live

Pictured: A woman carrying her child at a camp in Syria in 2017 - where thousands have been displaced

Poll SHOULD AUSSIES WHO WENT TO SUPPORT ISIS BE ALLOWED BACK? YES NO SHOULD AUSSIES WHO WENT TO SUPPORT ISIS BE ALLOWED BACK? YES 40 votes

NO 326 votes Now share your opinion





Mr Tinkler said the Australian children in these camps should be brought back urgently because they are innocent.

The Australian children are innocent and should not be left in these camps  they belong in Australia and our government should urgently repatriate the children and their mothers, he said.

Foreign Minister Marise Payne has said the government is working with humanitarian groups to support the Australian children in Syrian refugee camps.

It is a very dangerous and unpredictable region. Were talking to our international partners  to humanitarian agencies about the environment on the ground, she said at a Senate estimates hearing.

[Australia has been] absolutely crystal-clear in consistently warning Australians that supporting or joining terrorist groups in Syria or elsewhere put lives at risk  their own and others.
The father of ten babies said to have been born to one mother in South Africa has asked the public to stop donating money to his partner.

Teboho Tsotetsi - whose wife Gosiame Sithole made headlines when it was claimed she gave birth to decuplets - also said that he has still not yet been allowed to see the babies, as mystery continues to surround the potentially record-breaking brood.

'I appreciate the financial support that we have been getting from members of the public, but I also would like to appeal to the public to stop making money deposits into our accounts until members of the community have seen the babies,' Tsotetsi said in a message, according to Pretoria News.

But according to South Africa's Sunday Times newspaper, the Mediclinic Medforum Hospital in Pretori - where Ms Sithole, 37, is claimed to have told her husband she gave birth to the babies after midnight on June 8 - said it had not treated her.

While the clinic said it was aware of the publicity around the birth of the babies, spokesperson Tertia Kruger told the newspaper following the Pretoria News report on Monday: 'We can confirm that none of our facilities were involved in the obstetric care of this patient or her decuplets.'

Mr Tsotetsi is also quoted in the Pretoria News story as saying that Ms Sithole had been moved to the Steve Biko Academic Hospital on Friday, but the Sunday Times reported that Gauteng health and provincial authorities were unable to trace her at any of their public or private health facilities.

CEO of the Hospital, Dr Mathabo Mathebula, told Radio 702 that Ms Sithole had arrived at the hospital saying she was the woman who had given birth to 10 babies, but said she was not at the hospital.

'She's not at the hospital as we speak. We don't know the background ... on Saturday afternoon she appeared, being accompanied by security, [and said] she wants to go to the NIU (neonatal inpatient unit) because she wants to see her babies.

'She said she gave birth at Louis Pasteur and they told her they will transfer the babies to the hospital [Steve Biko],' Mathebula told the radio station.

The father has said that he is yet to see the babies himself due to safety concerns over the coronavirus, and that he has not seen his wife since she left home on June 7.

Meanwhile, Mr Tsotetsi flew to Cape Town on Wednesday to accept a 50,000 donation for the children's care while insisting the world will get to see them 'at the right time' - as doubt remains over the authenticity of the birth.

Gosiame Sithole, 37, claims to have given birth to ten children in South Africa on Monday (pictured at home ahead of the 'delivery')

Tsotetsi claims his wife gave birth to decuplets - seven boys and three girls - after a 'natural' 29-week pregnancy, even though such births are almost always the result of fertility treatments.

Since then a number of relatives have come forward to insist that the birth is genuine, even as local officials say they have no record of the delivery taking place at any hospital in Guateng state, where Pretoria is located.

No doctor has yet come forward to verify the delivery and no pictures of the infants have been published - ostensibly for cultural and religious reasons.

If the birth is confirmed as genuine, it would be a world record - coming just a month after a Malian woman, Halima Cisse, gave birth to nine children in Morocco.

Last week, the infant's aunt claimed that the ten babies were fighting for their lives at a hospital in South Africa.

The aunt, who has not been publicly identified, said Ms Sithole is also recovering in the same Pretoria hospital after giving birth to five of the children naturally and another five by Caesarean section on Monday.

'[The babies] are still in incubators fighting for their lives. They came at 29 weeks; the mother is still weak... This is a sensitive issue,' the woman told TimesLIVE.

Father Tebogo Tsotetsi (right), who broke the news to journalists, said the world will get to see them 'at the right time' as doubt remains over whether it is genuine

Tsotetsi told Pretoria News last week 'They are premature, they are still incubated. Very small as you can think  10 children in one womb that normally carries one baby.

'They are very small, so the sensitivity that goes into that, even the doctors, they don't want to risk that.'

He added that five babies were born naturally and another five were delivered by c-section, saying a team of six doctors, two gynecologists and two nurses helped.

Tsotetsi said his wife was exhausted after the birth, but that she had managed to get out of bed and take a short walk on Wednesday.

'She is doing very well.' he added.

Tsotetsi was the first to break the news of the apparent birth to reporters last Monday, telling the Pretoria News that his wife had given birth to seven boys and three girls.

'I am happy. I am emotional. I can't talk much,' he said at the time.

The news quickly spread around the world, followed by a scramble for official information on the pregnancy and birth that has so-far proved elusive.

South African media have been at loggerheads over the story, with some outlets rushing to confirm the news while others quickly derided it.

To date, no definitive account of the pregnancy or birth has been published.

Government officials have gone so far as to confirm they are aware of the case and have been in contact with the family before, after Sithole gave birth to twins in 2016.

But Feziwe Ndwayana, a spokesman for the Department of Social Development, said yesterday that she cannot confirm the birth of 10 children because nobody has been in contact with Sithole recently.

Ms Ndwayana added that a social worker was to be sent to the family home last week to try and confirm the authenticity of the delivery.

If Sithole's delivery is confirmed, it would make it the world's largest - coming just a month after a Malian woman gave birth to nine children in Morocco

Pretoria News claims to have been in touch with the family for months over the pregnancy, but held on to the story until after the birth.

The newspaper claims it is not publishing all the details it has about the delivery because of 'cultural and religious reasons'.

Alongside news of the birth, which first appeared in Tuesday's paper, the outlet also ran an interview with Sithole and Totetsi that they said was conducted several months ago.

At the time, Sithole believed she was pregnant with eight children - having initially been told she was carrying six before two more were discovered on a later scan.

It was only during the birth itself that the remaining two children were discovered, according to the newspaper.

Sithole said she suffered through the complicated pregnancy, experiencing morning sickness early on followed later by pain in her leg.

Meanwhile Tsotetsi revealed that he initially could not believe his wife with pregnant with six children, thinking it was medically impossible.

'But after I found out that these things do happen, and saw my wife's medical records, I got excited. I can't wait to have them in my arms,' he said at the time.

The condition of the children following the birth was not made clear by Pretoria News, which was the first to report the case.

Children of such extreme multiple pregnancies are almost always born under-weight and can often be malnourished as the mother's body struggles to provide nutrients for so many infants.

Halima Cisse (right) and husband Kader Arby (left) welcomed five girls and four boys on May 4 after a pregnancy that is thought to have been the result of fertility treatments

Cisse's children are still being cared for at a specialist hospital in Morocco more than a month after their birth (pictured) after they were born premature and malnourished

Cases of infant mortality are also not uncommon following large multiple births.

Sithole's case comes just a month after the world's first live nonuplets were born in Morocco to Malian woman Halima Cisse.

Cisse, 25, from Timbuktu, was taken to hospital in the Malian capital of Bamako in March to be kept under observation before being flown to Morocco to be cared for at a specialist hospital after the country's president intervened.

The children - five girls and four boys - were then delivered by a team of 10 doctors and 25 nurses via Caesarean on May 4, in a complicated operation that almost caused Cisse to die of blood loss.

Doctors later revealed the babies were born significantly underweight and had 'deficiencies in everything', but are now in a stable condition.

As of last week, the children were still being cared for around the clock in Morocco with doctors saying their weight has increased significantly.

But medics said they will still need to be kept under observation for at least another six weeks before they can consider sending them home.

Cisse is thought to be staying nearby after coming out of intensive care, where she was recovering from a ruptured artery during the birth.

Ms Cisse's pregnancy was just the third reported instance of nonuplets in history.

The first recorded case of nonuplets came in Sydney in the 1970s, although sadly none of the babies survived, according to The Independent.

In March 1999, a set of nonuplets was born in Malaysia to a woman named Zurina Mat Saad, though none of them survived for more than six hours.

In January 2009, Nadya Suleman - dubbed Octomum - gave birth to octuplets including six boys and two girls at a hospital in California.

All survived the birth, and recently celebrated their 12th birthdays.

Ms Suleman is still the official world record holder for the largest live birth.

The babies were a result of IVF treatment, and were nine weeks premature when they were delivered via c-section.
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Thousands of Israeli far-right nationalists chanted 'Death to Arabs' as they marched in a flag-waving procession through East Jerusalem today, after Palestinians called for a 'Day of Rage' and condemned the event.

Tuesday's event risked reigniting tensions between Israelis and Palestinians and posed a challenge to Israel's new government as police in riot gear diverted crowds made up of many far-right nationalists away from a known social spot for Palestinians.

Last month, Israeli-Palestinian confrontations in contested Jerusalem helped trigger 11 days of cross-border fighting between Israel and Gaza's ruling Hamas militant group before a ceasefire.

Today, Israeli police on horseback and in riot gear cordoned off areas leading to the walled Old City's flashpoint Damascus Gate, the main entry to the Muslim Quarter which has an overwhelmingly Palestinian population.

Thousands of Israeli far-right nationalists marched in a flag-waving procession through East Jerusalem today (crowds pictured near Damascus Gate) in a march that risked reigniting tensions between Israelis and Palestinians

Israeli far-right nationalists were heard chanting 'Death to Arabs' during the march, while Palestinians slammed the event as a 'provocation'. Pictured: Israeli police removes a Palestinian woman as youth from far-right Israeli group participated in march

Before the marchers arrived earlier today, thousands of Palestinian protestors congregated (pictured) and at least 17 were injured in clashes with Israeli police firing stun grenades, the Palestine Red Crescent ambulance service said

Today, Israeli police on horseback and in riot gear cordoned off areas leading to the walled Old Citys flashpoint Damascus Gate (crowds pictured near the gate), the entry to the Muslim Quarter of the Old City, and a known social spot Palestinians

It is understood that more than 2,500 Israeli Police were securing the march and the Israeli Army is preparing for possibility of yet another escalation with Gaza. Pictured: Israeli security forces push away a Palestinian man in Jerusalem on Tuesday

It is understood that more than 2,500 Israeli Police were securing the march and the Israeli Army is preparing for the possibility of yet another escalation with Gaza.

Israeli far-right nationalists were heard chanting 'Death to Arabs' during the march, while Palestinians slammed the event as a 'provocation' and called for 'Day of Rage' protests in Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

The march was originally scheduled for May 10 as part of 'Jerusalem Day' festivities that celebrate Israel's capture of East Jerusalem in the 1967 Middle East war but was postponed until this month.

But despite the threat of renewed violence, the 'March of the Flags' was still given the go-ahead for 5.30pm local time today and tested the newly formed Israeli government.

At one point, several dozen youths, jumping and waving their hands in their air, chanted: 'Death to Arabs!' In another anti-Arab chant, they yelled: 'May your village burn.'

In a scathing condemnation on Twitter, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said those shouting racist slogans were 'a disgrace to the Israeli people'.

The march was scheduled for May 10 as part of 'Jerusalem Day' festivities but was postponed until this month. Pictured: Israeli security officers scuffle with a Palestinian man as ultranationalists take part in the March of the Flags

Tensions erupted during a Palestinian protest against the far-right march as Israeli forces intervened with plastic bullets and tear gas (pictured in Bethlehem)

Last month, Israeli-Palestinian confrontations helped trigger 11 days of cross-border fighting between Israel and Gaza's ruling Hamas militant group before a ceasefire. Pictured: Far right Israelis hold Israeli flags as they enter Damascus Gate

He added: 'The fact that there are radicals for whom the Israeli flag represents hatred and racism is abominable and unforgivable.'

The crowd, while boisterous, appeared to be much smaller than during last month's parade. From the Damascus Gate, they proceeded around the Old City to the Western Wall, the holiest place where Jews can pray.

Ahead of the march, Israeli police cleared the area in front of Damascus Gate, shut down roads to traffic, ordered shops to close and sent away young Palestinian protesters.

But tensions erupted during the Palestinian protest against the far-right march as Israeli forces intervened with plastic bullets and tear gas bombs, while demonstrators threw rocks and burned tires in Jerusalem.

'Jerusalem is for all religions, but Jerusalem is in Israel. And in Israel, we must be able to go wherever we want, with our flag,' said marcher Doron Avrahami, 50, channelling right-wing frustrations with police restrictions.

The crowd of mostly religious Jews danced and sung 'the people of Israel live' while carrying blue and white Israeli flags during the march before pilling into the plaza in front of the Damascus Gate, usually a popular social spot for Palestinians.

Despite the threat of violence, the 'March of the Flags' was given the go-ahead for 5.30pm local time and tested the newly formed Israeli government. Pictured: A Palestinian woman confronts Israeli security forces outside the Damascus gate

Tensions erupted during a Palestinian protest against the far-right march as demonstrators threw rocks and burned tires in Jerusalem (pictured in Bethlehem, West Bank)

Police prevented marchers from going through Damascus Gate, while marchers took a peripheral route instead, to Judaism's sacred Western Wall (pictured)

Protesters wave Palestinian flags as they stand atop the rubble of a building destroyed by an Israeli airstrike last month, amid cross-border fighting between Israel and Gaza's ruling Hamas militant group

Far right Israelis hold Israeli flags as they enter Damascus Gate during the flag march on Tuesday as there are fears that the procession could reunite tensions in Jerusalem

Palestinians threw rocks and burn tires in response to Israeli forces' (pictured) intervention with plastic bullets and tear gas bombs during protests against the flag march on Tuesday

'Take a good look at our flag. Live and suffer,' one marcher, a megaphone in one hand and a cigar in the other, shouted in Hebrew at Palestinian marchers. Pictured: Far right Israelis dance with Israeli flags as they march near Damascus Gate

Police were expected to prevent marchers from going through the gate, which is also home to shrines sacred to Judaism, Islam and Christianity. They were to take a peripheral route instead, to Judaism's sacred Western Wall.

'Take a good look at our flag. Live and suffer,' one marcher, a megaphone in one hand and a cigar in the other, shouted in Hebrew at Palestinian merchants on the other side of police barriers erected on an East Jerusalem street.

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh also warned of the dangerous repercussions from allowing extremist Israelis to take part in the flag march as tensions remain fresh between Palestinians and Israelis.

He said: 'We warn of the dangerous repercussions that may result from the occupying power's intention to allow extremist Israeli settlers to carry out the Flag March in occupied Jerusalem.'

Israel, which occupied and annexed East Jerusalem in a move that has not won international recognition, regards the entire city as its capital. But Palestinians want East Jerusalem to be the capital of a future state that would include the West Bank and Gaza.

Just hours before the event was due to start today, incendiary balloons launched from Gaza caused several fires in fields in Israeli communities near the border with the Palestinian enclave, the Israeli fire brigade said.

Such incidents had stopped along with the ceasefire that ended last month's Israel-Gaza fighting.

The crowd of mostly religious Jews danced and sung 'the people of Israel live' while carrying blue and white Israeli flags (pictured) before pilling into the plaza in front of the Damascus Gate, usually a popular social spot for Palestinians

Hamas warned of renewed hostilities over the march, testing the Israeli government of Naftali Bennett, which approved the march along an amended route. Pictured: Israeli security officers scuffle with a Palestinian man on Tuesday

Palestinian protesters burn tyres during a demonstration against the Israeli ultranationalist March of the Flags, which Palestinians have condemned as a 'provocation'

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh warned of the dangerous repercussions from allowing extremist Israelis to take part in the flag march. Pictured: Far-right Israelis holding Israeli flags taking part in the 'flag march' on Tuesday

Far-right nationalists chanted 'Death to Arabs' during the march, while Palestinians called for 'Day of Rage' protests in Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Pictured: A Palestinian man scuffles with a member of the Israeli security force

The new Israeli government of Naftali Bennett approved the march yesterday despite warnings of renewed violence. Pictured: Israelis march with national flags near the Damascus gate during the procession

Israelis hold flags as they visit the Western Wall, Judaism's holiest prayer site in Jerusalem's Old City, after the flag procession was diverted against Damascus Gate, where there is a large Palestinian community

An Israeli policeman takes a Palestinian flag from a woman as far-right Israeli groups participate in a flag-waving procession near Damascus Gate on Tuesday

Hamas warned of renewed hostilities over the march, testing the new Israeli government of Naftali Bennett, which approved the procession along the amended route, which appeared to be designed to avoid friction with Palestinians.

Bennett heads a far-right party, and diverting the procession could anger members of his religious base and expose him to accusations he was giving Hamas veto power over events in Jerusalem.

Sitting on a bench outside the police cordon, Khalil Mitwani, a 50-year-old Palestinian, said of the marchers: 'They are making a big problem in Jerusalem. All the people here want peace - why make problems here?'

Meanwhile, U.N. Middle East envoy Tor Wennesland said on Twitter: 'Tensions (are) rising again in Jerusalem at a very fragile & sensitive security & political time, when UN & Egypt are actively engaged in solidifying the ceasefire.'

He called on all parties to 'act responsibly & avoid any provocations that could lead to another round of confrontation'.

But earlier today, before the marchers arrived at Damascus Gate, thousands of Palestinians congregated and at least 17 were injured in clashes with Israeli police firing stun grenades, the Palestine Red Crescent ambulance service said.

Violence had erupted near the Damascus Gate in the Old City before the far-right Israeli groups marched through the capital in a delayed celebration of Jerusalem Day.

Palestinian youths set tires on fire during clashes with Israeli security forces after a demonstration against the Israeli March of Flags held in Jerusalem on Tuesday

Israeli security forces detain a Palestinian during a protest against the 'March of the Flags', which celebrates the anniversary of Israel's 1967 occupation of the Jerusalem's eastern sector

Tensions rise in the Old City of Jerusalem between Palestinian and Israeli police ahead of the Israeli right-wing groups 'Flag March' next to Damascus Gate

Israeli security forces disperse Palestinians near the Damascus Gate in east Jerusalem today

Video footage captured crowds clashing with deployed security forces, with feuding sides seen hurling projectiles at each other as they shoved through the streets.

It is understood at least two Palestinians were arrested and four others were removed from the Temple Mount during the chaos today.

Elsewhere, iron barriers were erected to prevent Palestinians from reaching the Damascus Gate, where group dancing with Israeli flags later took place.

Earlier, Palestinians had called for a 'Day of Rage' in Gaza and the West Bank after condemning the planned procession as a 'provocation' amid a very fragile peace.

Gaza's Islamist rulers Hamas had warned of renewed hostilities if it went ahead.

A member of the Israeli security forces gestures outside the Damascus gate in east Jerusalem

Israeli police detain a Palestinian man during clashes that erupted ahead of a flag-waving procession by far-right youth

Israeli security forces block the entrance to Damascus Gate in east Jerusalem today

Violence erupted near the Damascus Gate in the Old City as far-right Israeli groups prepared to march through the capital in a delayed celebration of Jerusalem Day

Israel scraps indoor mask order as Covid-19 infections wane Israel today told its citizens they could stop wearing masks indoors, ending one of its last main restrictions as new Covid-19 infections continue to wane. Children headed to school and adults to work without masks for the first time in more than a year. Israelis have not had to wear masks outdoors since April. About 55 per cent of Israel's 9.3 million population are fully vaccinated - a turnout largely unchanged by this month's expansion of eligibility to include 12- to 15-year-olds. Israel has this month logged either zero or one daily Covid-19 deaths, Health Ministry data show. New infections have been in a steady but gentle decline after a steep drop-off in February and March. The ministry said masks would still be required of unvaccinated patients or staff in medical facilities, of people en route to quarantine and of passengers on commercial flights Advertisement

The 'March of the Flags' was initially approved by Israel's new government on Monday, hours after Benjamin Netanyahu handed over power to Naftali Bennett.

The controversial march typically starts at Damascus Gate and enters the Muslim Quarter, before travelling to the Western Wall plaza in the Jewish Quarter.

Today's route instead saw participants proceed outside the Old City's walls to the Jaffa Gate, then walk down David Street and Chain Gate Street before entering the Western Wall plaza.

The procession avoided the Muslim Quarter, which has an overwhelmingly Palestinian population, despite David Street and Chain Gate Street running through an Arab market of Palestinian tradesmen.

Around 54 Jews visited the Temple Mount today, according to the Jerusalem Post.

The 'March of the Flags' was organised by a collection of right-wing organisations, such as Im Tirtzu, the Bnei Akiva and Ezra, alongside several councils in the West Bank.

An original march was re-routed to avoid the walled Old City's Muslim Quarter on May 10 when tensions in Jerusalem led Gaza's Islamist rulers Hamas to fire rockets towards the holy city, helping set off 11 days of deadly fighting.

However, Israeli rightists accused their government of caving into Hamas by changing its route.

They rescheduled the procession after an Egyptian-mediated Gaza truce took hold.

Today's march posed an immediate challenge for Bennett, who took office on Sunday and brought veteran leader Benjamin Netanyahu's record-long rule to an end.

Bennett's internal security minister approved the march yesterday.

The route change could expose Bennett's patchwork coalition to accusations from Netanyahu, in the opposition, and his right-wing allies of giving Hamas veto power over events in Jerusalem.

'The time has come for Israel to threaten Hamas and not for Hamas to threaten Israel,' prominent far-right lawmaker Itamar Ben-Gvir said on Twitter.

It is understood at least two Palestinians were arrested and four others were removed from the Temple Mount during the chaos today

Israeli security forces deploy at Damascus Gate in east Jerusalem today

A Palestinian woman confronts Israeli security forces outside the Damascus Gate in east Jerusalem

Palestinians had called for a 'Day of Rage' in Gaza and the West Bank after condemning the planned procession as a 'provocation' amid a very fragile peace

Gaza's Islamist rulers Hamas yesterday warned of renewed hostilities if the march went ahead

Protests were planned for 6pm across the Gaza Strip, and Hamas and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah faction previously called on Palestinians to flock to the Old City to counter the march.

'Tensions (are) rising again in Jerusalem at a very fragile & sensitive security & political time, when UN & Egypt are actively engaged in solidifying the ceasefire,' U.N. Middle East envoy Tor Wennesland said on Twitter.

'Urge all relevant parties to act responsibly & avoid any provocations that could lead to another round of confrontation,' he said.

The 'March of the Flags' was initially approved by Israel's new government on Monday, hours after Benjamin Netanyahu handed over power to Naftali Bennett

Tension in the old city of Jerusalem between Palestinian and Israeli police ahead of the Israeli right-wing groups 'Flag March' next to Damascus gate of Jerusalem's Old City

More than 2,500 Israeli police will secure the march and the Israeli army is preparing for the possibility of another escalation with Gaza

The Israeli military made preparations for a possible escalation in Gaza over the march, Israeli media reported, and the US Embassy in Jerusalem prohibited its employees and their families from entering the Old City today.

Palestinians want East Jerusalem to be the capital of a state they seek to establish in the occupied West Bank and Gaza.

Israel, which annexed East Jerusalem in a move that has not won international recognition after capturing it in a 1967 war, regards the entire city as its capital.
The grieving family of one of Colin Pitchfork's victims have hit out at Sir Keir Starmer after he said the paedophile and double-murderer 'has to be released'.

Pitchfork, 61, raped and murdered 15-year-olds Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth in the 1980s - and is now due to be released on parole.

Sir Keir told LBC Pitchfork had 'served a long sentence and he served the sentence imposed on him by the court, and under our system that means there comes a point at which he has to be released'.

He was tonight accused of being oblivious to 'serious deep concern across the country', and was blasted by a victim's family for his remarks.

Lynda's sister Sue Gatrick, 55, told MailOnline she 'could not believe' someone would say what the Labour leader said, adding: 'Perhaps Sir Keir would like to have him move next door to him - or put him up himself.

'The police told us ''they will never let him out, he will never be released, he will die behind bars''. That was what they said after the sentencing. Now he is getting out and he is not that old. I was surprised how young he was.'

Mrs Gatrick added: 'Most people are saying hang him or shoot him. Nobody wants him out. We as a family are angry, afraid and scared. If they let him out, he will do it again. There is no way he is not going to.'

She said that his release would 'break' her 73-year-old mother who 'never got over it'.

'I was not one for the death penalty but now I am,' she said. 'The possibility of him walking the earth again is unnerving - very unnerving.'

Alberto Costa, the Conservative MP whose constituency covers where Pitchfork's two underage victims were killed, said he and local families had battled for the law to be changed.

He spoke out after listening and watching would-be Prime Minister Sir Keir - a former Director of Public Prosecutions - speak about the case.

Victims: Furious relatives of the two schoolgirls murdered by a notorious paedophile have condemned a decision to let him go free. Left: Lynda Mann, right: Dawn Ashworth

Detective Superintendent Baker, whose use of DNA evidence helped prove Pitchfork (pictured) raped and murdered 15-year-olds Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth, said the full extent of the bakery worker's brutality in the attacks was never revealed

South Leicestershire politician Mr Costa said the Labour leader needed to listen harder to people sickened by Pitchfork's 'most appalling crimes imaginable to women'.

He told MailOnline: 'It is to be deeply regretted that Sir Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party, does not appear to understand the very serious deep concern there is across our country on the independent parole board's decision to release double child rapist and killer Colin Pitchfork.

'Sir Keir said ''There's a great tendency for politicians to leap on a particular case''. With respect, the whole of south Leicestershire through me their MP have been campaigning long and hard for many years to highlight the injustice and moral dilemma of allowing someone like Pitchfork, who has committed the most egregious sexual offences and murder against women to be released.

'My advice to Sir Keir is that he should listen long and hard to these people across our country who consider it an outrage that someone who has committed the most appalling crimes imaginable to women should be released.

'Sir Keir may not be aware that the law has changed. If Pitchfork committed these crimes today he would most likely receive a whole life tariff with little prospect of ever being released.

'I would urge Sir Keir to get behind our campaign to highlight the importance of getting the independent parole board in line with public thinking on these most heinous crimes.'

Pitchfork's victims' still-grieving families have spoken at their disgust at his impending parole so appear likely to be taken aback by would-be Prime Minister Sir Keir's remarks to LBC.

He said on the radio station: 'He has served a long sentence and he served the sentence imposed on him by the court, and under our system that means there comes a point at which he has to be released.

Sir Keir Starmer pictured during Call Keir, a live phone-in on LBC's Nick Ferrari at Breakfast

South Leicestershire MP Mr Costa said the Labour leader needed to listen harder to people

'That doesn't make it easier for you, it doesn't make it any easier for the families,' he told LBC.

'There's a great tendency politicians are leaping on a particular case. Actually if we think the system is wrong or sentences are wrong in general we should change the law on sentencing and look at whether it should be longer sentences in some of these cases.'

The comments may be taken by Sir Keir's critics as a sign that he is out of touch, with widespread public anger that Pitchfork could soon walk the streets again.

It comes as the Labour leader struggles in the polls. Last week his ratings plunged to the same low as Jeremy Corbyn.

Satisfaction with Sir Keir's performance has tumbled to minus 29 - on a par with the figure recorded by his left-wing predecessor after 14 months in charge of the party.

Nearly half of Labour supports think he is doing a bad job, and crucially for the Red Wall he is seen as far less patriotic than Boris Johnson.

Meanwhile a focus group organised by the Times found that he is seen as 'a bit of a toff', despite his working class roots, while Old Etonian Boris Johnson is seen as 'one of the lads'.

When the caller to the station - a mother herself - said she believed the killer should not get parole, host Nick Ferrari pressed him on whether it was right.

Sir Keir told him: 'He qualifies because the law says he does.'

Ferrari asked him again if it was right that he did, before suggesting justice secretary Robert Buckland had the power to examine the case again.

But Sir Keir did not seem convinced at first, telling the host: 'Well I don't know if Rob Buckland will call this in or not. Possibly he should have another look at it, possibly. Possibly he should have another look at it.'

Ferrari seemed frustrated by his guest's reluctance to give a straight answer and said: 'Why possibly Sir Keir, either it is a yes or a no'.

The politician still was reticent to nail his colours to the mast and said: 'This is a terrible case, I dedicated a lot of my life to prosecuting cases like this.'

Ferrari tried again and explained: 'That's why you are in the crosshairs of my questioning, I can't allow 'possibly' from you. It's a yes or a no for the justice secretary.'

Labour Party leader Keir Starmer seen arriving to participate in phone-in at LBC Radio

Mugshot of Colin Pitchfork, the first murderer convicted and jailed using DNA evidence

Retired officer David Baker said he was not consulted by Parole Board members before they approved Colin Pitchfork's release on licence

The double child killer snared by DNA whop terrified the community The crimes of Colin Pitchfork created terror in the local communities where he had struck. On November 22, 1983, the body of 15-year-old Lynda Mann was found raped and strangled on a deserted footpath running between a cemetery and a psychiatric hospital in the Leicestershire village of Narborough. Almost three years later, in July 1986, the body of another 15-year-old, Dawn Ashworth, from nearby Enderby, was found in almost identical circumstances in a wooded area, less than a mile from the scene of Lynda's murder. The dead girl had been taking a shortcut home from school instead of her usual route, but there can be little doubt that her assailant, believing he had 'got away with it' once, was on the look-out for other teenagers to assault, terrorise and murder in the same way. Initially, a local man confessed to the second murder and his blood was found to be the same group as blood found at the scene. There can be no doubt that had it not been for advances in science, he would have been convicted while Colin Pitchfork remained free. However, two years later, semen samples found at the crime scenes were used to match the DNA of Pitchfork, a baker and convicted flasher. He became the first criminal in the world to be convicted based on DNA fingerprinting, following the first mass screening of 5,000 men in three neighbouring villages. After his arrest he confessed to his crimes and when asked why he is said to have shrugged to detectives and said: 'Opportunity. She was there and I was there'. He was given life and a minimum sentence of 30 years, reduced to 28 years on appeal, which he has now served. Advertisement

Finally Sir Keir replied: 'He should have another look at it, he should have another look at it. Call it in.'

Pitchfork was cleared for release this month, unless the government successfully appeals against the decision.

Last week the detective who snared the murderer slammed the decision and said he remains a danger.

Retired officer David Baker said he was not consulted by Parole Board members before they approved Pitchfork's release on licence.

He warned that even in his 60s the paedophile remained physically capable of attacking girls again.

Echoing the warnings of Dawn's mother Barbara Ashworth, Mr Baker, 85, said he fears Pitchfork could 'pull the wool over people's eyes again'.

He said: 'I understand the Parole Board claims to have spoken to the police as part of the process that led to their decision, but they certainly have not spoken to me.

'As the chief investigating officer in the case, I know what kind of person Pitchfork is and the extent to which he tried to evade arrest.

'Because of his guilty pleas, what never came out at any court hearing was the levels of violence he caused to the two girls. You wonder if the Parole Board are aware of exactly what he did to the girls.

'While he has been in jail he has been out of temptation's way, but once freed he will be back in the community where there are countless young girls to tempt him.'

Pitchfork was jailed for life for the two rapes and murders in 1988 and given a minimum tariff of 30 years, later reduced to 28.

Barbara Ashworth, whose daughter was strangled to death after a 'particularly violent rape' in 1986 as she walked home in Enderby, told of her heartache over the release.

She said: 'This news is so upsetting. There are still 15-year-old girls wandering around and this man could still have 20 years of his life to abuse them.

'He can't hurt me any more than he has done  Pitchfork ripped my family and I apart  but he can hurt other young girls. I can't understand how he has suddenly been judged fit for release when he was turned down before.'

'This is a man who has displayed psychopathic tendencies  a man who thought he was clever enough to outwit police at the time of the murders by dodging the mass blood testing exercise. He nearly succeeded.

'I wouldn't put it past him to have duped the authorities into believing he was reformed and rehabilitated now. He will always be a danger.'
Earl Spencer today slammed the 'incredible' and 'unbelievable' decision by the BBC to clear itself over the reappointment of 'known liar' Martin Bashir.

An internal BBC report by a long-serving former executive found there was 'no evidence' the corporation rehired Martin Bashir to cover-up his dirty tricks in securing his bombshell interview with Diana.

Earl Spencer today insisted that Bashir should be charged for faking bank statements that lured his sister Princess Diana into the 1995 Panorama interview her family and friends believe hastened her death two years later.

Discussing yesterday's report, he told Good Morning Britain: 'It's incredible - literally. It is unbelievable. What's so staggering about the BBC is how they keep ploughing on in a very self-destructive way.

'I'm a huge supporter of BBC as institution but its been a very bizarre process. I've seen evidence of briefings against me by the BBC - it is very troubling stuff.'

Earl Spencer today told GMB he was amazed the BBC cleared itself over the rehiring of Martin Bashir and insisted the journalist should be put in the dock

He tweeted above a link to a BBC article about the report's findings: 'It won't end with this, I promise'

Martin Bashir, 58, wore casual clothing and a gloomy expression as he left his 1.7million house in Hampshire earlier this month

BBC bosses who employed him again have insisted that they had no idea about his past. Earl Spencer says that they are lying.

He said: 'It's been clearly established that they knew in March of '96 that Bashir was a serial liar.

'He went on to do all sorts of other things in America... and they're saying he was a shoe in as religious correspondent.

'What the Dyson inquiry has shown is that the BBC knew stone cold that Bashir had lied to BBC management four times. The senior echelon of the BBC did know.'

Earl Spencer said he had referred Bashir's behaviour to the the Met.

He said: 'If I used forged documents to benefit myself I'd be in jail straight away'.

He added that his sister would be happy the truth is now out there, but said: 'Her paranoia was fed. If she wanted to talk absolutely great - I've got no problem if she had chosen to speak to anyone but the circumstances in which she was duped into speaking that set the tone for the conversation, and that's unforgivable'.

Key findings of report into BBC's 'disturbing' decision to bring back Martin Bashir in 2016 A review into the decision to appoint Martin Bashir as religious affairs correspondent at the BBC following his Panorama interview has concluded. It found: 'No evidence' the journalist was given the job to 'contain and/or cover' up the events surrounding the 1995 programme;

Martin Bashir was viewed as the leading candidate for the appointment from an early stage... and led to other candidates or potential candidates being disadvantaged;

A candidate known only as X was told that they 'shouldn't expect to get it' and it was a 'done deal' because there was already a 'favourite' for the job;

James Harding failed to do proper due diligence on Bashir before appointing him;

Lord Hall did not interfere in the process - but will have 'at least known' Bashir was being appointed; Advertisement

Yesterday Earl Spencer tweeted 'It won't end with this' after an internal BBC report found there was 'no evidence' the BBC rehired Martin Bashir to cover-up his dirty tricks in securing his bombshell interview with Diana.

The report, published yesterday, criticised executives for failing to do 'due diligence' about the rogue reporter's past before bringing him back to the corporation in 2016, and said that another candidate thought it was a 'done deal'.

But it said there was 'no evidence' the move was intended to 'contain and/or cover' up the events surrounding the 1995 programme, and found Tony Hall, who led the internal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the Panorama interview, did not play a part in the decision to rehire him.

Earl Spencer tweeted a link to a BBC article about the report's findings, with the message: 'It won't end with this, I promise.'

Today, DCMS committee chair Julian Knight MP said the committee is 'deeply concerned' the 'disturbing' decision to rehire him as MPs will this morning grill the corporation's bosses at the time, including Lord Hall.

The inquiry was set up to establish the facts around the decision to allow Bashir to return to the BBC in 2016 after being appointed by then Head of News, James Harding.

Martin Bashir met Mr Harding and other senior executives twice for coffee to discuss the role and Mr Harding had already decided that he wanted to interview him before the job had been advertised and before Bashir had applied.

The report also says that while then former Director General Lord Hall will have known Mr Bashir was being appointed - he did not interfere with the process, Ken MacQuarrie, a BBC executive of 43 years who conducted the probe, concluded.

Bashir returned to the corporation five years ago despite years of controversy over his handling of the Diana interview and the faking of bank statements. He was also forced to resign from MSNBC in 2013 over comments disparaging Sarah Palin before returning to the BBC. He was even promoted to religion editor in 2018 and handed a 10% pay rise.

Mr MacQuarrie admitted, however, that Bashir, who has now resigned from the BBC due to ill health, would not have been re-appointed in 2021, adding there were questions over the transparency of the process.

In evidence an unnamed BBC journalist, named only as Candidate X, said they were told they 'shouldn't expect to get it, but it's a good chance to get some time with [James Harding]'. The reporter was also told there was an external candidate who was 'the favourite' - and this was believed to be Bashir.

A damning report by Lord Dyson recently condemned the methods used by Martin Bashir to secure his interview with the Princess of Wales (above) in 1995

Former BBC Head of News James Harding appointed Bashir in 2016 and while Tony Hall played no part in the process, he would have known of the decision, the report found

With BBC bosses past and present including Lord Hall set to give evidence about the Bashir scandal tomorrow, DCMS committee chair Julian Knight MP said the committee is 'deeply concerned' by revelations in the BBC's report into the decision to rehire him.

He said: 'That the BBC considered rehiring Martin Bashir when there were high level doubts over his integrity stretches incredulity to breaking point. By this point, as the Dyson report concluded, senior members of the BBC knew that Bashir had lied about the use of faked bank statements to gain access to Princess Diana.

'If the BBC considered him 'unanimously' the best candidate, where was the due diligence that should have prevented the corporation from rehiring a former member of staff who had not told a very important truth? Where were senior level discussions?

'What is disturbing is that it appeared the BBC wanted to interview Bashir at the outset, regardless of who else applied for the job. And, not only did they re-employ him, they promoted him.

'We look forward to getting answers tomorrow when former director-general Lord Hall comes before our committee along with the former DG Lord Birt, the BBC's current DG Tim Davie and its chair Richard Sharp.'

Mr Harding said: 'As I said a few weeks ago, I was in charge of BBC News when we hired Martin Bashir to be religious affairs correspondent.

'The responsibility sits with me. Today's report shows we chose the person we thought was the best candidate for the job.

'He was appointed after a formal interview process and once references were taken and considered.

'As the report concludes, we didn't know then what we know now. Of course, if I had known, he wouldn't have got the job.'

The inquiry was set up by the broadcaster following the publication of Lord Dyson's incendiary report in May, to establish the facts around the decision to allow Bashir to return to the BBC in 2016, and his subsequent move to become religion editor in 2018.

It found Lord Tony Hall, the former director-general of the BBC who led the internal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the Panorama interview, did not play a part in the decision to rehire Bashir - but will have known he was being appointed.

'I am satisfied that although Tony Hall knew that the role was being recruited, he was not involved in the selection of Martin Bashir as the religious affairs correspondent,' it said.

'Some individuals appear to have been of the view that the director-general had sanctioned the appointment.

'I have seen no evidence to support the idea that there was sign-off of Martin Bashir by Tony Hall prior to the appointment.

'However, I consider that he would have at least known of the decision to appoint Martin Bashir.'

It concluded the decision to rehire Bashir was 'ultimately taken' by then-director of news James Harding and that he did not give 'sufficient regard' to the other public controversies the journalist had been involved in.

These included being suspended from ABC News in 2008 after making allegedly sexist remarks during a dinner speech at the Asian American Journalists Association convention in Chicago and criticising US politician Sarah Palin in 2013 for comments she made comparing the Federal debt to slavery.

'Although it is not possible to say whether or not consideration of these matters would have changed the recruitment outcome, I consider that James Harding, as the individual ultimately responsible for the appointment, should have given proper consideration to these matters prior to appointing Martin Bashir,' the document said.

'In my view, this was not done.'

Tim Davie (left) will face questions about the broadcaster's handling of investigations into how Martin Bashir, 58,(right) obtained the world exclusive in 1995, in addition to his plans to reform the broadcaster

According to the report, the religious affairs correspondent role was advertised internally and there were originally seven internal applications.

Ex-BBC chairman Marmaduke Hussey wanted John Birt to quit as director-general over Martin Bashir Panorama debacle A former BBC chairman tried to force the resignation of the director-general over Princess Diana's interview, it has emerged. Marmaduke Hussey was horrified by the broadcaster's secret Panorama interview with the Princess of Wales, recorded without the knowledge of Buckingham Palace. He asked BBC governors to condemn the interview and the conduct of then director-general John Birt and attempted to force his resignation. Executives did not tell Lord Hussey about the interview until the last minute because they feared he might stop the broadcast. The Tory peer resigned two months later and wrote in his memoir that the episode had 'darkened my last months at the BBC'. He was known to be a Prince Charles 'loyalist' and had close links to the Royal Family as his wife Lady Susan is a lady-in-waiting to the Queen. The decision not to tell Lord Hussey, who died in 2006, was discussed in a BBC documentary filmed to mark the tenth anniversary of Diana's interview with journalist Martin Bashir. Lord Birt told the 2005 BBC2 Arena documentary: '[Hussey] tried to get the governors to condemn the programme, which they refused to do. 'Having failed at that he tried to get the governors to condemn the way in which I had handled the programme and particularly the fact that I hadn't alerted him as chairman. He failed to get what he wanted: a stinging rebuke which, he calculated, would force my resignation.' The documentary, The Princess and Panorama, was shown to former High Court judge Lord Dyson as part of his investigation into the 1995 interview. Advertisement

An eighth internal candidate was identified and invited to apply and on July 28 2016 three applicants were shortlisted.

The interview panel was unanimous in selecting Bashir.

The BBC's former director of nations and regions Ken MacQuarrie, who conducted the inquiry, concluded: 'In my view, the recruitment process for the religious affairs correspondent was targeted at finding the right person for the role.

'Although there were some shortcomings in the process by which he was re-employed, I am satisfied that that he was ultimately appointed because his knowledge and experience were considered to be the best match to the requirements for the role at that time.

'It said I have found no evidence that Martin Bashir was re-hired to contain and/or cover up the events surrounding the 1995 Panorama programme.

'In my view, that theory is entirely unfounded.

'As regards the due diligence conducted on Martin Bashir, the actions of the individuals involved in the recruitment and re-grading of Martin Bashir can only properly be judged against the state of the BBC's corporate understanding as it was in 2016 and not as it stands now in 2021.

'None of the individuals involved in the recruitment of Martin Bashir had knowledge of all of the matters contained in the Dyson Report.

'I have no doubt that if any of the individuals involved in the appointment of Martin Bashir in 2016 had been aware of what is now publicly known as a result of the Dyson Report, Martin Bashir would have never been reappointed to the BBC.'

The BBC's director-general Tim Davie said: 'I would like to thank Ken MacQuarrie for his report.

'It finds the recruitment process was targeted to find the right person for the role and it was conducted in good faith.

'While the report finds processes were largely followed at the time, it is clear we need to reflect on the findings to ensure consistent best practice is applied in our recruitment.

'Finally, it is without doubt that had the organisation been aware of what is now publicly known because of the Dyson report Martin Bashir would have never been reappointed.'

A recent report by Lord Dyson criticised the methods Bashir used to secure his bombshell interview in 1995, including using fake bank statements.

It came as Tim Davie was ordered to appear before MPs this week to be grilled over the Bashir Panorama scandal.

The new director general will face questions about the broadcaster's handling of investigations into how Bashir, 58, obtained the world exclusive in 1995, in addition to his plans to reform the broadcaster.

A damning report by Lord Dyson recently condemned the methods used by the journalist to secure his interview, including using fake bank statements to encourage Diana's brother Earl Spencer to make introductions.

Former BBC director-generals Lord Hall (left) and Lord Birt (right) will be questioned by MPs about the events leading up to Martin Bashir's Panorama interview with Princess Diana

Former BBC director-generals Lord Hall and Lord Birt will also appear before the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, in addition to the corporation's chairman Richard Sharp.

Mr Davie has previously said that reform at the BBC needs to continue 'at pace' at the corporation, saying the organisation had made changes since 1995.

'We've had a number of new editorial guidelines going through the system. And I have say I'm very proud of the BBC today and how it operates,' he said.

'But I think you have to reflect on this. It was very, very serious.'

Mr Davie added that he has 'no intention' of airing Mr Bashir's infamous interview ever again.

Mr Davie has contacted the royal family to apologise for what happened and is also returning all awards the explosive interview accrued, including a Bafta TV gong won in 1996.

Lord Dyson's report suggested the BBC had failed to uphold 'governance, accountability and scrutiny' with its internal investigation, carried out by Tony Hall in 1996 when he was the managing director of news and current affairs and John Birt was director-general.

Lord Hall was director-general of the BBC from April 2013 to August 2020.

He was among corporation bosses who were attacked by Prince William for 'looking the other way rather than asking tough questions' in the aftermath of the interview.

Last month, the peer quit his Government-backed job as chairman of the National Gallery after he was criticised in Lord Dyson's bombshell report.

Ministers had viewed the Lord Hall's job at the National Gallery as untenable given the museum's close connection to Prince Charles, its royal patron.

Lord Birt, who was director-general of the BBC from 1992 to 2000, was also criticised following the Panorama interview with Diana, recorded without the knowledge of Buckingham Palace.

It emerged in May that an ex-BBC chairman, Prince Charles 'loyalist' Marmaduke Hussey, had immediately attempted to force his resignation.

Former judge Lord Dyson's report found the BBC covered up Bashir's 'deceitful behaviour' in obtaining the interview with Diana, and labelled Lord Hall's 1996 internal investigation 'woefully ineffective'.

Bogus bank statements commissioned by Bashir 'deceived and induced' Earl Spencer to help the journalist 'to arrange a meeting with Princess Diana', it said.

His lies landed the Panorama reporter the interview of the century and multiple awards - but hastened the end of Diana's marriage to Prince Charles and saw her stripped of her HRH status just two years before her death.

The BBC made a 'full and unconditional apology' for Bashir's conduct and the subsequent cover-up in May.

Friends of Diana's have claimed she may still be alive today 'if she hadn't spoken to Bashir', who they nicknamed 'The Poison Dwarf' after his betrayal emerged, while Patrick Jephson, the Princess of Wales' private secretary at the time, said a 'line' leads from her interview with Bashir to the night she died in 1997 in a Paris car crash.

In his report, Lord Dyson, who carried out a six-month investigation, said: 'Mr Bashir deceived and induced him [Earl Spencer] to arrange a meeting with Princess Diana.

'By gaining access to Princess Diana in this way, Mr Bashir was able to persuade her to agree to give the interview.

'This behaviour was in serious breach of the 1993 edition of the BBC's Producer Guidelines on straight dealing.'

Lord Hall's subsequent 1996 investigation into claims Diana was hoodwinked by Bashir was 'woefully ineffective', the judge said, especially because their inquiry 'did not scrutinise' Bashir despite knowing he had lied three times about showing the fake bank statements to Earl Spencer.

'Lord Hall could not reasonably have concluded, as he did, that Mr Bashir was an honest and honourable man', the report said.

The BBC had 'without justification' 'covered up' Mr Bashir's tricks and 'thereby fell short of the high standards of integrity and transparency which are its hallmark', said Lord Dyson.

Lord Birt, director-general of the BBC at the time of the interview, said: 'We now know that the BBC harboured a rogue reporter on Panorama who fabricated an elaborate, detailed but wholly false account of his dealings with Earl Spencer and Princess Diana.

'This is a shocking blot on the BBC's enduring commitment to honest journalism, and it is a matter of the greatest regret that it has taken 25 years for the full truth to emerge.

'As the director-general at the time, I offer my deep apologies to Earl Spencer and to all others affected.'

Lord Hall insisted his 'integrity' remained intact despite the criticism and pointed the finger at the shamed journalist, saying he was 'wrong to give Martin Bashir the benefit of the doubt'.

Lord Birt, director-general of the BBC at the time of the interview, said: 'We now know that the BBC harboured a rogue reporter on Panorama who fabricated an elaborate, detailed but wholly false account of his dealings with Earl Spencer and Princess Diana'

He had previously excused Bashir's 'lapse' in having the fake statements produced and declared him an 'honest and honourable man'.

However, Lord Hall has since admitted his 1996 investigation 'fell well short of what was required'.

But a defiant Mr Bashir said in a statement last month: 'This is the second time that I have willingly fully co-operated with an investigation into events more than 25 years ago.

'I apologised then, and I do so again now, over the fact that I asked for bank statements to be mocked up.

'It was a stupid thing to do and was an action I deeply regret. But I absolutely stand by the evidence I gave a quarter of a century ago, and again more recently.'
EU leaders are split on how tough their stance should be on implementing the Northern Ireland Protocol, it was claimed today.

Hardliners led by French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reportedly want all the trade rules and checks agreed in the Brexit deal to be applied in full.

But Maros Sefcovic, the Vice President of the Commission, is said to be pushing for Brussels to take a more flexible and pragmatic approach.

Meanwhile, there are growing fears in the bloc that the row over the protocol is 'being used' by Boris Johnson to boost his domestic popularity.

Hardliners led by French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reportedly want all the trade rules and checks agreed in the Brexit deal to be applied in full while Maros Sefcovic wants a more pragmatic approach

There are growing fears in the bloc that the row over the protocol is 'being used' by Boris Johnson to boost his domestic popularity

Mr Macron and Mrs von der Leyen want the protocol to be implemented to the letter, sources told The Times.

Mr Macron has said 'nothing is negotiable' on the protocol while the UK has repeatedly called on Brussels to ditch its 'purist' approach.

But Mr Sefcovic wants the bloc to move, especially on the issue of access to medicines.

The protocol dictates that Northern Ireland can only access medicines if they have been approved by the EU's regulator.

That has raised fears that the province could miss out on new life saving drugs approved by the UK but not by Brussels.

Sources told The Times that Mr Sefcovic is winning the argument on that specific issue and a derogation could be offered so the NHS in Northern Ireland can access the drugs.

But the EU is yet to make a formal written offer on the matter as tensions continue to rise.

The protocol was agreed as part of the Brexit divorce deal and it was designed to prevent a land border on the island of Ireland by requiring Irish Sea checks on goods entering Northern Ireland from GB.

Its implementation has caused trade disruption and inflamed community tensions.

Mr Johnson has warned he will suspend elements of the protocol if the two sides cannot agree ways to smooth the checks.

A source in Brussels said 'there are real tensions' about how tough the EU should be on the issue.

The diplomatic source told the newspaper: 'It is being used to help the Conservatives at home. That is bad enough when trust is at a premium. Now Macron is making it worse. There is a real problem.

'Sefcovic is caught in the middle, between the UK and some in the EU. He wants to be pragmatic and on medicines has made a big offer but the political space is closing up fast.'
A angry motorist in the normally chilled out town of Byron Bay has erected their own hand-written road sign after getting fed-up with incompetent drivers.

The note attached to a pole at the junction of Ewingsdale Road and Bayshore Drive in the northern New South Wales town, tries to get the message across to other motorists that there is no need to stop at the roundabout if in the far left lane.

'Go! You have your own lane!' The cardboard sign written in marker pen reads.

At the double-lane intersection, drivers going straight can stay in the left lane and shouldn't technically need to stop - but are advised to pause to watch out for oncoming traffic which may have swayed into the lane.

A angry motorist in the normally chilled out town of Byron Bay has erected their own hand-written road sign (pictured) after getting fed-up with drivers

The note attached to a pole at the junction of Ewingsdale Road and Bayshore Drive in the northern New South Wales town (pictured), tries to get the message across to other motorists that there is no need to stop at the roundabout.

Because motorists must give way to the right at a normal single-lane roundabout, traffic often piles up at the intersection as some take an overly cautious approach and hit the breaks.

This infuriates the usually mellow locals who took to social media to heap praise on the vigilante traffic controller.

'I love whoever made this! I don't know how people couldn't understand the concept of a roundabout,' one person commented.

Others said: 'Thank you!' and described how it makes them scream when they enter the roundabout when driving behind tourists.

Another said: 'I agree entirely. It's so frustrating being behind fools who stop and wait forever.'

But despite the wave of support, some warned drivers not to rush through the intersection without looking right - with official rules dictating drivers should always pause to check for oncoming traffic.

'I have seen people change lanes randomly on a roundabout too often to think it's safe to just go without stopping and checking,' a social media user commented.

'Some people coming from the right are just dumb s**ts so sometimes you have to stop,' another wrote.

Poll SHOULD YOU STOP IN THE LEFT LANE AT ROUNDABOUTS? Yes No SHOULD YOU STOP IN THE LEFT LANE AT ROUNDABOUTS? Yes 351 votes

No 248 votes Now share your opinion





According to the NRMA, roundabout signs in Australia mean slow down, prepare to give way and if necessary, stop to avoid a collision.

Motorists are advised when approaching a roundabout they must be into the correct lane, indicate if turning, and always give way to traffic already on the roundabout.

It is also suggested to only enter the roundabout when there is a safe gap in the traffic.

Additionally, the NRMA suggest to look out for vehicles that are making a full turn and to always watch for bicycles, long vehicles and motorcycles.
Russian president Vladimir Putin has refused to guarantee that Alexei Navalny will ever leave prison alive, and warned that 'nobody should be given special treatment'.

Putin also said that the opposition leader's continued detention was not his decision, and noted the poor state of medical care inside Russia's jails.

The Russian's comments came during a heated interview with NBC News ahead of Putin's Geneva summit with Joe Biden, in which he was asked whether he would be willing to 'personally ensure that Alexei Navalny will leave prison alive.'

Russian President Vladimir Putin in an interview with NBC refused to guarantee that Alexei Navalny will ever leave prison alive, and warned that 'nobody should be given special treatment' in Russia's prison system

Putin also said that the opposition leader's continued detention was not his decision, and noted the poor state of medical care inside Russia's jails. Pictured: Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny attends a court hearing in Moscow, Russia February 20, 2021

'Look  such decisions in this country are not made by the president. They're made by the court whether or not to set somebody free,' Putin responded.

'As far as the health, all individuals who are in prison, that is something that the administration of the specific prison or penitentiary establishment is responsible for.'

Putin also said Navalny - whose detention has been condemned by Western politicians and activists and sparked protests across Russia - would not be treated any differently from other prisoners.

'He will not be treated any worse than anybody else. Nobody should be given any kind of special treatment,' Putin said of the opposition leader, whose name he has continued to refuse to say, referring to him as 'that person'.

Responding to the President's comments, Navalny's chief of staff Leonid Volkov told MSNBC on Monday that this was 'the first time in my life that I was listening to Putin saying something honest.'

'That is clearly his aim that Alexei Navalny stays in prison until one of the two men dies, and now Putin confirmed that is his plan,' Volkov said.

When asked to respond to Putin's comments on Monday night, U.S. president Biden told reporters: 'Navalny's death would be another indication that Russia has little or no intention of abiding by fundamental human rights.'

In August 2020, Navalny was hospitalised in Berlin after he was poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent, later accusing Putin and Russian FSB agents of being responsible - with the UK, US and EU imposing sanctions of Russian officials.

On January 17, 2021, the opposition leader returned to Russia and was detained over parole violation accusations, and on February 2 his suspended sentence was replaced with a prison sentence, meaning he will spend over two and a half years in a in a corrective labour colony.

There have been concerns over Navalny's health ever since, particularly after he announced a hunger strike on March 31 to demand proper medical treatment.

The Russian's comments came during a heated interview with NBC News ahead of Putin's Geneva summit with Joe Biden (pictured), where he is likely to come under strong criticism

Putin is likely to come under strong criticism from Biden at their meeting in Geneva for moves against his political opponents in Russia, particularly the imprisonment of Navalny, the detention of thousands of demonstrators protesting his arrest, and the outlawing of Navalnys organizations as extremist.

Anticipating that Biden will raise issues of human rights and the jailing of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, Putin said: 'You are presenting it as dissent and intolerance towards dissent in Russia. We view it completely differently.'

Putin continued to try to pick apart U.S. claims, denying that Russia engaged in cyber attacks and saying there was no proof it interfered in U.S. elections.

'Where is the evidence? Where is proof? It's becoming farcical,' Putin said in a sit-down interview with NBC's Keir Simmons in Moscow.

'We have been accused of all kinds of things - election interference, cyberattacks and so on and so forth - and not once, not once, not one time, did they bother to produce any kind of evidence or proof, just unfounded accusations,' he told the network's Kier Simmons.

'I'm surprised that we have not yet been accused of  provoking the Black Lives Matter movement. That would have been a good line of attack. But ...' Putin said, ridiculing the attack.

Putin also said Navalny - whose detention has been condemned by Western politicians and activists and sparked protests across Russia - would not be treated any differently from other prisoners. Pictured: Pro-Navalny rrotesters gather outside the Russian Embassy in London

On January 17, 2021, the opposition leader returned to Russia and was detained over parole violation accusations, and on February 2 his suspended sentence was replaced with a prison sentence. Pictured: Navalny is escorted out of a police station on January 18, 2021

Then he waded further into U.S. domestic politics, saying: 'We have always treated with understanding the fight of African Americans for their rights,' but said he couldn't approve of any 'extreme' actions associated with the movement.

He then pointed to the Jan. 6 unrest in Washington when protesters barged into the Capitol to try to halt the count of electoral votes to certify Bidens election victory over Donald Trump.

'Do you know that 450 individuals were arrested after entering the Congress? ... They came there with political demands,' he said.

Putin also reiterated denials that the Kremlin was behind last year's poisoning of Navalny with a nerve agent that nearly killed him.

'We don't have this kind of habit, of assassinating anybody,' Putin said.

'Did you order the assassination of the woman who walked into the Congress and who was shot and killed by a policeman?' Putin said, referring to Trump supporter Ashli Babbitt, who was fatally shot by a Capitol Police officer as she tried to climb through a window that led to the House floor.

In April, the United States announced the expulsion of 10 Russian diplomats and new sanctions connected to the so-called SolarWinds cyberattack in which several U.S. government branches experienced data breaches. U.S. officials blamed the Russian foreign intelligence service.

In May, Microsoft officials said the foreign intelligence service appeared to be linked to an attack on a company providing services to the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Lyubov Sobol (pictured centre with Navalny last year) said she was compelled to stop her campaign in response to a court ruling last week that outlawed groups linked to Navalny after branding them 'extremist'

Meanwhile, an ally of Navalny said on Monday she was halting her run for a seat in Russia's parliament because of a law barring members of organisations declared 'extremist' by the authorities from running for office.

Lyubov Sobol said she was compelled to stop her campaign in response to a court ruling last week that outlawed groups linked to Navalny after branding them 'extremist'.

Navalny, who is serving 2-1/2 years in jail on embezzlement charges he says are trumped up, and his allies have accused the authorities of using the law to crush opposition to the ruling United Russia party ahead of September parliamentary elections.

'My popularity angers the authorities,' Sobol, a lawyer at Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation, wrote on Facebook. 'This is why United Russia and Putin approved a law that bars me from running in elections.'

Sobol said was no longer able to protect her staff and her campaign volunteers when officials were opening criminal cases against people taking part in street protests and supporting the opposition.

President Vladimir Putin this month signed a law that bars members or heads of groups declared extremist from running for seats in the State Duma (lower house of parliament) or taking part in other elections for periods of three to five years.

Sobol was under house arrest for more than a month for allegedly breaching COVID-19 safety regulations at an unsanctioned street rally in support of Navalny. She continues to be prosecuted over the case.
Pupils must be allowed to stay in school if they say no to getting a Covid vaccination, campaigners have warned.

Activists say students should not be dragged out of classrooms if they decide not to have the jab until further tests are done.

They are 'extremely concerned' about any mass roll out of doses to children Professor Chris Whitty hinted at yesterday.

It comes as more than 50,000 people signed a petition against Covid vaccinations for youngsters.

The appeal to Parliament had raked in 54,895 as of Tuesday morning as it called on the government to avoid jabbing youngsters.

The mounting fear follows Professor Whitty revealing yesterday children could be given vaccines to stop the virus disrupting their education.

He said officials were still considering whether to vaccinate children but the 'big priority' was reaching over-18s in the summer.

Molly Kingsley, co-founder of children's campaign group UsforThem, said she was worried about forcing jabs on schoolchildren

They are 'extremely concerned' about any mass roll out of doses to children Professor Chris Whitty (pictured) hinted at yesterday

It comes as more than 50,000 people signed a petition against Covid vaccinations for youngsters

Molly Kingsley, co-founder of children's campaign group UsforThem, said she was worried about forcing jabs on schoolchildren.

The mother from Cambridgeshire told MailOnline: 'Whilst we understand there may be a need for children with specific vulnerabilities to have the Covid-19 vaccine, UsforThem are extremely concerned about suggestions about a mass roll out of the Covid-19 vaccine to children.

'Education is a fundamental right for any child and it absolutely must not be tied to the willingness of individual children or the cohort at large to be vaccinated.

'Chris Whitty's comments to the effect that a benefit of the vaccine for children would be to prevent 'multiple disruptions' in schools is - frankly - disingenuous.

'It artificially inflates the 'benefit' side of the equation - closing schools is a policy choice and once all adults have been double vaccinated it is unclear why we'd make that choice.

'Children have been put at the bottom of the heap for over a year now and it would be unconscionable to ask children to take a vaccine for which there is no long term safety data especially given the lack of direct benefit to children.'

Regulators have begun approving vaccines for children  Pfizer's jab has been deemed safe for aged 12 or over  but ministers have not yet decided what to do.

The issue is a thorny one because most children would not be getting a jab to protect their own health but to boost the chances of society getting back to normal.

Therefore any side effects they might have could outweigh their personal benefit.

For adults, the much-reduced risk of dying if they catch the virus is generally enough to make it an obvious choice, but children almost never die of Covid.

But many parents are against the idea, with 54,000 people signing a petition to stop it.

Retired paediatrician Dr Ros Jones created the page and called for officials to delay giving doses to under 18s until after 'Phase 3 trials are complete'.

She wrote: 'A risk vs benefit calculation does not support giving COVID-19 vaccines, which use novel technologies and are still in Phase 3 trials, to healthy children.

'Any rollout should not start until trials are complete and all findings are published and peer-reviewed on long-term safety data.

'Healthy children are at low risk from COVID-19 yet face known and unknown risks from COVID-19 vaccines.

'Rare, but serious, adverse events and deaths are being reported to monitoring systems around the world.

'Official guidance is updated as the side-effects become more apparent. Giving Covid-19 vaccines to healthy children to protect adults is unethical and unjustifiable.

'The Government has an ethical duty to act with caution and proportionality.'

The Government responded: 'The Government will continue to evaluate evidence and assess expert opinion before making a decision on routinely vaccinating children under 18 years old.'

Despite the backlash from parents, teachers' unions appear to be mostly in favour of jabbing children.

Joint General Secretary of the NEU Kevin Courtney said: 'The NEU would welcome the extension of vaccination to school students when and if that is approved - this would lead to children missing less in-person education.

'In the meantime we should continue to take all appropriate measures, including face coverings and better ventilation, to reduce the risks of transmission.'

Extra support to tackle a rise in cases of the Delta variant, which was first recorded in India, has been announced for more areas of the North West and Birmingham. The additional support will be introduced in Birmingham, Blackpool, Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Liverpool City Region and Warrington, a spokesman for the Department of Health and Social Care said on Monday. The package, which is the same as was announced for Greater Manchester and Lancashire last week, will see more support for surge testing, tracing, isolation support and maximising vaccine uptake after a number of cases of the Delta variant were detected in the areas

And Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: 'There will be a further decision to be made in due course about the possibility of vaccinations for secondary school pupils and this question is to be considered by the Joint Council for Vaccination and Immunisation.

'If this can be done safely and effectively, it should help to minimise future disruption to education, but we appreciate that the arguments are finely balanced.'

Prof Whitty said yesterday officials were still considering whether to vaccinate children but that the 'big priority' is now reaching over-18s over summer.

England's chief medical officer said a major consideration could become whether constant Covid outbreaks in schools could damage children's education and life chances, and whether avoiding this through vaccination would be the sensible choice.

He told a Downing Street briefing: 'The key thing for children is safety. We know that the risks in terms of of physical disease to children, other than for some children with significant pre-existing problems of physical health, are much, much lower than for adults.

'So you wouldn't want to vaccinate unless the vaccine was very safe. Vaccines are now being licensed in some countries and we're accruing safety data on the safety of these vaccines in children.'

The main vaccine-makers have already started, and in some cases published results, from clinical trials on the jabs on children.

Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Janssen  the four to have been approved in the UK  are all being tested on under-18s.

In its own clinical trial Pfizer found that the vaccine appeared 100 per cent effective, with no cases of Covid in the vaccinated group, and there were no serious side effects.

Blood tests on the 2,000 children aged 12 to 15 who took part in the trial showed that the jabs appeared to be triggering immunity just as well as they did in adults.

Professor Whitty said that helping schools to stay open could be a big benefit of giving jabs to children.

School-age children and teenagers currently have some of the highest infection rates in the country, and every time a pupil tests positive their whole class is at risk of being sent home to self-isolate.

Public Health England data showed that 10 to 19-year-olds, most of whom are not included in the current vaccine rollout, had the second highest infection rate in the country in the first week of this month, with 99 cases per 100,000 people. This was behind only 121 per 100,000 among people in their 20s.

Professor Whitty added: 'There are two possible reasons you would want to vaccinate children, potentially, but with caution  and this is the point I'm trying to stress.

'The first would be those groups who actually are at high risk of Covid, and I think JCVI will be putting forward advice on this about which of the groups they think are at particularly high risk.

'Those children, specifically, should be vaccinated to reduce the risk of them having serious disease and  in a very, very small number of cases, but it does happen, mortality.

'But the wider question is around also the effect on children's education.

'Is the multiple disruptions it [Covid] might have going to have a very negative impact on their life chances, including the effect it will have on long-term risk of physical and mental ill health?

'This is going to be a decision that'll have to be based on the data we have available.

'But at the moment the big priority, as the Prime Minister said, is getting through all the adults down to 18, making sure they're vaccinated and then double-vaccinated.'
Ikea France was today fined 1million and its former CEO was handed a two-year suspended jail sentence after the company spied on its employees for three years.

The Swedish furniture giant was found guilty of setting up an elaborate system to illegally snoop on the private lives of hundreds of current staff and potential new-hires between 2009 and 2012.

A French court fined the subsidiary 1million and handed its former CEO Jean-Louis Baillot a suspended two-year prison sentence.

The ruling was less severe than recommended by prosecutors, who accused the furniture company of illicitly carrying out 'mass surveillance.'

Ikea France was today found guilty of setting up an elaborate system to illegally snoop on the private lives of hundreds of current staff and potential new-hires between 2009 and 2012

Baillot, Ikea France's boss between 1996 and 2002, was also fined 43,000 after he was found guilty of 'receiving personal data by fraudulent means.'

He was cleared of several other charges, including 'violating professional secrecy.'

Prosecutors claim the illegal practices date back to the early 2000s.

Baillot's lawyer, Francois Saint-Pierre, said the former Ikea boss was 'shocked' by the sentence and is now considering an appeal.

A union representative, Adel Amara, who was among a total of 120 plaintiffs, said he was 'pleased' with the outcome of the trial, but called the punishments 'a little too lenient.'

Ikea executives and store managers were among 15 people on trial in March accused of spying on the private lives and criminal records of employees and applicants.

The allegations included claims that Ikea launched investigations into how low-paid employees could drive Porsches and BMWs and targeted an employee in Bordeaux described by managers as a 'protester'.

A French court fined the subsidiary 1million and handed its former CEO Jean-Louis Baillot (above) a suspended two-year prison sentence

Also in the dock were four policemen accused of taking payments to hand over criminal records.

It is thought up to 540,000 was earmarked each year for such investigations, which took place over more than a decade.

The charges against Ikea included illegal gathering of personal information, receiving illegally gathered personal information, and violating professional confidentiality.

Prosecutors said Ikea's French operation began gathering data on staff and job applicants as far back as 1999 while under the leadership of Jean-Francois Paris.

They claimed Paris regularly sent lists of names for private investigators to snoop on, with people targeted for their political beliefs and spending habits.

Among the targets was a staff member in Bordeaux 'who used to be a model employee, but has suddenly become a protester'.

'We want to know how that change happened,' Paris said in an email, wondering whether there might be 'a risk of eco-terrorism'.

In another case, Paris wanted to know how an employee could afford to drive a brand-new BMW convertible.

It was also alleged that Ikea sought to catch an employee who had claimed unemployment benefits but drove a Porsche.

One Ikea employee, Hocine Redouane, said during the trial that the company wrongly suspected him of being a bank robber because their investigation system found criminal records involving a robber with the same name.

'Such a system can easily slip into abuse,' Redouane said.

The firm sometimes targeted union members and their representatives, prosecutors had alleged.

An Ikea employee and lawyers arrive at the Versailles' courthouse on March 22

Requests from Jean-Francois Paris usually went to Jean-Pierre Foures, the boss of surveillance company Eirpace, it was claimed.

He would then send Paris confidential information, which prosecutors say he got from the police database STIC with the help of the four officers.

Emmanuel Daoud, a lawyer for Ikea France, acknowledged that the case had revealed 'organisational weaknesses'.

He said the company had since implemented an action plan, including a complete revamp of hiring procedures.

'Whatever the court rules, the company has already been punished very severely in terms of its reputation,' he said.

Prosecutors began investigating the case after newspapers Le Canard Enchaine and Mediapart uncovered the surveillance scheme in 2012.

Since then, Ikea has sacked four top executives but unions argue the internal measures do not go far enough.

'We're here to today to show that there are these types of actions inside companies that police trade unions and above all their employees,' a senior member of the hard-left CGT union, Amar Lagha, told reporters.

French Ikea currently employs some 10,000 people at 34 stores, and announced an overall profit of 2.6billion in 2019.
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Jacob Rees-Mogg today gave the first sign of Cabinet dissent over Boris Johnson's decision to delay the final stage of the lockdown exit roadmap  as ministers doubled-down on No10's revised Freedom Day pledge, despite cases and hospitalisations continuing to rise.

The Commons Leader said 'you can't run society purely to stop the hospitals being full', insisting the Government 'doesn't have the right to take charge of people's lives, purely to prevent them seeing the doctor'.

His comments are likely to raise eyebrows in Downing St, with the Prime Minister already facing rebellion from his own anti-lockdown MPs who have criticised him for pushing back the final unlocking by four weeks. Remaining lockdown restrictions are now due to be lifted on July 19  or 'terminus day', as Mr Johnson called it.

Michael Gove today said he was 'as confident as confident can be about that date', despite fears from backbench Tories that the goalposts will be moved once again with the Indian variant continuing to spread and the outbreak still growing.

The Cabinet Office minister admitted plans could be derailed by a 'bizarre' development but said it was important for the public to 'accept' there would still be Covid deaths when the country eventually unlocks, saying the nation needs to 'learn to live' with the virus.

His comments echo the sentiments of Boris Johnson and his chief scientific advisers Professor Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance, who have all come forward in the past 24 hours to roll the pitch for July 19 being the final step of the lockdown, in what seems to be a concerted effort to take emphasis away from the daily death numbers.

Independent experts seeking to manage expectations before restrictions are lifted told MailOnline that achieving zero Covid deaths was 'impossible' and that the focus should be to bring them down to levels comparable with flu  which kills roughly 17,000 people in England annually and up to 50,000 in a bad year.

It comes as Department of Health bosses today posted another 7,673 positive Covid tests across Britain  up by a quarter on last Tuesday's figure. Other data shows the UK now has the highest infection rate in Europe, overtaking Spain.

Meanwhile, figures also showed the number of patients being admitted to hospital has soared by 46 per cent over the first week of June. More than 1,000 beds are now occupied by coronavirus-infected patients in England for the first time in six weeks, data also showed.

Despite the uptick in admissions, deaths remain flat. Ten more victims were added to the official death toll today, compared to 13 last week. Separate figures today revealed that England and Wales saw fewer Covid deaths in the first week of June than at any time since March 2020.

But the rate is climbing in the North West, where millions of adults are being urged not to travel and meet friends indoors to keep a lid on the Indian variant. Fatalities doubled from eight in the space of a fortnight to 16 across the region.

No10's top scientists expect deaths to rise in coming weeks because of the spike in cases  but remain confident vaccines will thwart the disease, preventing tens of thousands of hospitalisations and fatalities.

More than 30million adults have now been vaccinated but MailOnline analysis shows the roll-out needs to speed up by around 12 per cent for the PM to meet his revised target of ensuring all adults have had their first vaccine dose and two-thirds of adults are fully vaccinated by July 19.

Meanwhile, figures also showed the number of patients being admitted to hospital has soared by 46 per cent over the first week of June. More than 1,000 beds are now occupied by coronavirus-infected patients in England for the first time in six weeks, data also showed. Pictured, how the number of infected patients in hospital in England has risen above 1,000

Jacob Rees-Mogg, the Commons Leader, today gave the first sign of Cabinet dissent over Boris Johnson's decision to delay the final stage in his lockdown exit roadmap

England needs to speed up its Covid vaccine roll-out by 10 per cent to reach the 18.3million needed to meet Boris Johnson's lockdown easing targets for July 19, MailOnline analysis of NHS England data reveals. Graph shows: How many first and second doses are required in each region in England in order to give all over-18s a first jab and two thirds of adults second jabs

The UK has now knocked Spain off the top spot to record the highest number of Covid infections per million people in the last seven days

Office for National Statistics data shows that 52 Covid deaths occurred in England and Wales between May 29 and June 4, down from 69 a week earlier and the lowest recorded since the week to March 20 last year

Weekly deaths from the coronavirus in the UK are continuing to drop, but a worrying trend caused by the Indian variant is pushing up the number of Covid victims in the North West

Extra support to tackle a rise in cases of the Delta variant, which was first recorded in India, has been announced for more areas of the North West and Birmingham. The additional support will be introduced in Birmingham, Blackpool, Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Liverpool City Region and Warrington, a spokesman for the Department of Health and Social Care said on Monday. The package, which is the same as was announced for Greater Manchester and Lancashire last week, will see more support for surge testing, tracing, isolation support and maximising vaccine uptake after a number of cases of the Delta variant were detected in the areas

One chart presented by Professor Chris Whitty yesterday showed that hospitalisations have increased 61 per cent in a week in the North West, a trend which was predicted to follow across the rest of the country. It played a heavy hand in the decision to delay Freedom Day

Ministers urge another 3.6MILLION people in Indian variant hotspots not to travel Millions more people in the Midlands and North West of England are being urged not to travel or meet people indoors in an attempt to curb the spread of the Indian Covid variant. In guidance released last night, roughly 3.6million residents in Birmingham, Liverpool, Warrington and parts of Cheshire were asked to minimise their movements in and out of the affected areas, which are recording higher than average levels of the mutant strain. But Boris Johnson made no mention of the fresh advice in his dramatic Downing Street press conference last night, where he confirmed England's final unlocking would be pushed back by four weeks amid fears the mutant strain could overwhelm hospitals. Remaining lockdown restrictions are now due to be lifted on July 19, which the Prime Minister last night promised would be the 'terminus date'. The six authorities hit with the new guidance are also being offered a 'package of support' from the Government which includes surge testing, enhanced contact tracing and financial support to Covid cases and their contacts who have been asked to self-isolate. The Army will be sent in to help carry out the extra testing to flush out cases of the virus, while NHS boards in the area will be given extra help to ensure vaccine uptake is as high as possible. Residents are also being asked to get tested twice a week. They join the 4m people in Greater Manchester and Lancashire, who were placed under the new rules last week. The enhanced measures cover around 9.3m residents across England, the equivalent of 16 per cent of the entire population. Advertisement

Mr Rees-Mogg appeared to hint at dissent in the Cabinet as he told Conservative Home's Moggcast podcast: 'Ultimately the NHS is there to serve the British people, not the British people there to serve the NHS.

'And therefore we may need to spend more money on hospitals.

'But you can't run society purely to stop the hospitals being full otherwise you would never let us get in our cars and drive anywhere or do any of the other things that people want to.

'So there has to be some proportionality within that.

'The Government doesnt have the right to take charge of people's lives, purely to prevent them seeing the doctor.'

Mr Johnson announced last night the last step in his roadmap will be postponed by four weeks to give the vaccine rollout more time amid fears the mutant 'Delta' strain could cause case numbers to sky rocket, potentially overwhelming hospitals.

The move means current rules will essentially remain in place until July 19  with social distancing in force in bars and restaurants, and the edict to work from home where possible staying.

In an effort to soften the blow for people who have been putting their lives on hold for more than a year, there will be some easing on the rules for weddings.

The 30-person limit on services and receptions will be abandoned but venues will still be restricted by how many they can accommodate while respecting social distancing rules.

Speaking on behalf of the Government this morning, Mr Gove doubled down on the July 19 pledge.

Asked if he could promise that the final unlocking will go ahead next month, the minister for the Cabinet Office replied 'yes' and added that only a 'bizarre and unprecedented' development in the Covid crisis could derail the plans.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'As the prime minister and Chris Whitty said at the press conference last night, were going to have to learn to live with Covid, and its a very nasty virus.

'We can provide people with the best protection possible through the vaccination programme. But, as with flu, we know that that every year there are a number of people who contract it, and every year certainly there are a number of people who are hospitalised and who suffer as a result of it.'

But Mr Gove's comments came after one of SAGE's top advisers warned it was still possible that the nation could return to seeing hundreds of deaths a day.

Top European resorts including Spain and Turkey are 'unlikely to be added to the green list before August' Top European resorts are unlikely to be added to the green list 'before August', foreign tourism chiefs have reportedly been told, leaving millions of Britons facing another summer without a holiday abroad. UK ambassadors are said to have warned foreign tourism bosses that the return of British travellers to traditional holiday hot-spots such as Spain and Turkey will be pushed back until later this summer. It comes as holiday firm TUI announced yesterday that it was axing more of its trips to top European holiday destinations up until July. And one travel expert today warned that July was now being regarded as a 'white-wash' for industry bosses. Despite this, some firms are reporting a spike in demand for flights to Gibraltar, Israel and Iceland - which are all currently on the UK's green list. Meanwhile, a new report by Which? today revealed how less than one per cent of travel insurances are providing 'complete cover' for Covid-related disruption. The latest travel set-back will be a particular blow to traditional holiday destinations - including the likes of Portugal, Greece France - which are currently on the UK's amber list. Toni Mayor, head of the Hosbec association of Valencia region hoteliers, said he did not expect to see the bulk of UK tourism take off until August, according to the Telegraph. Advertisement

Professor Graham Medley, of the London School for Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said: 'Although the numbers of deaths are low at the moment, everyone expects that they will rise. The question is really as to what level they will rise.'

When asked if learning to live with the virus meant accepting hundreds of deaths a day, Mr Gove stressed that he was not an epidemiologist and replied: 'I think its a fair question, but Id look at it the other way around. The key thought, in my mind, is how do we provide the maximum level of protection to all.'

And quizzed about the same topic on Times Radio, Mr Gove said it was 'important' that society accepts Brits will still die of Covid but that we should do 'everything we can consistent with society running normally to protect people'.

Professor Medley also insisted the Delta variant 'would have ended up in the UK at some point' even if the borders had been closed sooner.

Asked whether it would have made a difference if Britain had stopped people coming from India in early April, he said: 'Potentially, I mean it's speculation.

'The newer Delta variant is now quite common around the globe so it would have ended up in the UK at some point but perhaps it would have been delayed.

'It's really the competition between the virus and the vaccine so had the variant arrived in the country when we'd had more people vaccinated, then it may well not have grown in the same way that it has.

'It is now the predominant virus in the United Kingdom. And so it got a good start. A lot of cases introduced,

'Whether that's made a huge difference I think is something that we can look at afterwards but at the moment it's kind of speculation.'

Asked about whether there could be a need for future measures, Professor Graham Medley said: 'Again, it really depends upon what the prospects look like in terms of the way that this virus reacts with the vaccine, and that has actually turned out to be good news and uncertainty is solidified in terms of being good news.

'There is that possibility though, I think that depending on what the Government wants to achieve, they may well have to make decisions that are against what they would much prefer not to do which is to make the changes that we've got irreversible.

'It is possible we could end up with a situation whereby the numbers of people going to hospital, really mean that the Government have to take some kind of action that they don't want to, but I think that's always been the case  Government has always taken action to that it didn't want to, it never wanted to lockdown.

England needs to speed up its Covid vaccine rollout by 12% to reach 15MILLION jabs needed to hit Boris Johnson's targets for July 19 England needs to speed up its Covid vaccine roll-out by 12 per cent to meet Boris Johnson's ambitious target for July 19, MailOnline can reveal. Analysis of NHS England data shows 15.3million extra jabs need to be administered to ensure all adults have had their first dose and two-thirds have are fully inoculated by 'terminus day'. The Government's previous goal was to ensure all over-18s were offered a jab by the end of July. Although No10 hasn't made achieving the goal a clause of going ahead with the final unlocking, Freedom Day was only ever delayed from June 21 by four weeks to ensure millions more adults were fully protected and to save the NHS from being overwhelmed once again. Statistics suggest the health service would have to speed up its current roll-out by nearly an extra 50,000 doses per day in order to meet the targets. Currently England is administering around 390,000 jabs per day but it needs to hit just under 440,000. In the UK as a whole, around 462,000 jabs are being dished out a day on average  45 per cent fewer than the best day of the roll-out on March 20, when almost 850,000 jabs were administered. London will require the most combined first and second doses to meet the targets, with nearly 4million jabs still needed. Mayor Sadiq Khan today pleaded the Government for more Pfizer and Moderna doses to meet demand for its younger population. Meanwhile, the UK today passed the milestone of fully vaccinating 30m people, or 57.3 per cent of the population. NHS vaccinations yesterday dished out a further 132,117 first doses and 230,959 second doses. Advertisement

'And it's always going to be the case in the sense that there is this pandemic ongoing but the next pandemic will happen at some point unknown, and then having used lockdowns once it's quite possible that the Government would choose to use them again.'

But Professor Medley warned even in three weeks, experts will not know if lifting the restrictions is 100 per cent safe.

And he said waiting until after summer to lift restrictions could result in a worse situation by creating a 'super wave' of Covid and flu.

He said: 'In three weeks time how much uncertainty will remain? I suspect that the answer is more than we would like.

Waiting too long to lift Covid restrictions could cause more deaths by creating a 'super wave' of Covid and flu, a SAGE advisor has warned.

Infectious disease modeller at the London School of Hygiene and Topical Medicine professor Graham Medley said waiting until winter to lift restrictions

Experts predict another wave of infections is inevitable but have advised the Government to delay its July 21 'Freedom Day' to allow more jabs to be given out.

Ministers hope ensuring more people have been given their first and second vaccine doses will ensure a surge in cases does not translate into hospitals become overwhelmed during the summer.

But Professor Medley warned even in three weeks, experts will not know if lifting the restrictions is 100 per cent safe.

Despite No10's confidence that July 19 will go ahead, Tory MPs are sceptical.

Former minister Mark Harper, chairman of the Covid Recovery Group (CRG) of Tory MPs, tweeted: 'We've heard ministers say they're pretty confident about lifting restrictions before and then do the opposite.'

Labour today blamed the delay of Freedom Day on the Government's 'lax' border measures for letting the Indian variant into the country. Professor Medley admitted that the mutant strain 'may well not have grown in the same way that it has' had ministers acted quicker to clamp down on travel from India.

Meanwhile, millions more people in the Midlands and North West of England were urged not to travel or meet people indoors in an attempt to curb the spread of the Indian Covid variant.

In guidance released last night, roughly 3.6million residents in Birmingham, Liverpool, Warrington and parts of Cheshire were asked to minimise their movements in and out of the affected areas, which are recording higher than average levels of the mutant strain.

But Mr Johnson made no mention of the fresh advice  which has helped to thwart the spread of the variant in Bolton and Blackburn  in his dramatic Downing Street press conference last night.

The six authorities hit with the new guidance are also being offered a 'package of support' from the Government which includes surge testing, enhanced contact tracing and financial support to Covid cases and their contacts who have been asked to self-isolate.

The Army will be sent in to help carry out the extra testing to flush out cases of the virus, while NHS boards in the area will be given extra help to ensure vaccine uptake is as high as possible. Residents are also being asked to get tested twice a week.

They join the 4m people in Greater Manchester and Lancashire, who were placed under the new rules last week. The enhanced measures cover around 9.3m residents across England, the equivalent of 16 per cent of the entire population.

The spread of the Indian variant  believed to be 60 per cent more infectious than the Kent strain and twice as likely to put unvaccinated people in hospital  has led to No10 pumping the brakes on England's June 21 Freedom Day.

Last night Chief medical officer Chris Whitty warned hospitalisations had risen 61 per cent in the North West in just a week. He said the trend was expected to be seen across the rest of the country if June 21 had gone ahead as planned.

Boris backs down over lockdown announcement row: Prime Minister agrees to make major announcements in the Commons at the same time as appearing on TV Boris Johnson has agreed to make major Covid decisions to Parliament as well as to the nation on television, it was revealed today, after he was given a blunt telling off by the Commons' Speaker. The Prime Minister was summoned by Sir Lindsay Hoyle this afternoon for showdown talks amid a furious bust-up over the four-week lockdown delay that was announced last night. Mr Johnson was slapped down by Sir Lindsay last night for 'disrespecting' MPs with his live television broadcast from Downing Street - because they should have been the first to be told. The Speaker made clear his fury after the Prime Minister performed his teatime media duties and then left Health Secretary Matt Hancock to face the ire of lockdown-sceptic backbenchers later in the evening. At 'cordial' talks at the Speaker's residence this afternoon, a spokeswoman for the Speaker said the two men 'agreed the importance of keeping Parliament and the public informed when decisions are made'. 'They agreed announcements would be made at the same time,' she added. Sir Lindsay last night accused the PM of 'running roughshod' over Parliament, and said Number 10's treatment of Parliament has been 'totally unacceptable' as he again stressed that such announcements should first be made at the despatch box. He demanded a meeting with the PM and Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg this morning confirmed that they would meet this afternoon. Mr Johnson spent most of yesterday at a Nato summit in Brussels with Joe Biden and other world leaders who are part of the bloc. But he returned in time to take the press conference from Downing Street at 6pm, by which time Sir Lindsay had already voiced his anger at the timetable. Advertisement

In other developments today, weekly Covid death figures showed fatalities had reached the lowest level since before the pandemic took off.

The ONS figures released today show that over 30 per cent of all Covid deaths in England and Wales  16 of 52  were recorded in the North West.

The number of people who had Covid mentioned on their death certificated between May 29 and June 4 was 98, which accounted for just 1.3 per cent of all deaths in England and Wales. Of those deaths, 96 were in England and two were in Wales.

The numbers are up slightly from 95 recorded in the week before, but this slight increase was likely caused by registration lags due to the spring bank holiday, when many registry offices closed.

The data shows that 7,778 deaths were recorded in England and Wales that week  4.8 per cent below the five year average, with the ONS noting this number was also impacted by the holiday.

Of the 98 people who had Covid mentioned on their death certificate between May 29 and June 4, only 57 had this recorded as their underlying cause of death.

The statistics show that for a second week in a row, most victims who died from were under 75, with 71.4 per cent of those being aged between 65 and 75.

The majority of Covid deaths took place in hospitals, followed by care homes.

Professor Kevin McConway, professor of applied statistics at the Open University, said the bank holiday makes short-term trends 'pretty well impossible to evaluate for the latest week'.

He said this is 'particularly unhelpful', because accurate statistics for that week could have been 'particularly informative', as it is three weeks after restrictions were lifted for step three of England's roadmap.

'Mid-May is also when the Delta variant was becoming dominant, so any effect on deaths from that could have shown up,' he said.

'Late registrations because of the bank holiday mean it's not at all surprising that the total numbers of registered deaths from all causes is lower than the previous week, but we can't tell yet if that's a real decrease.'

He said it is 'very likely' that when complete data is published  stating when the deaths happened, rather than when they were registered  it will be higher than 98.

Professor McConway warned that despite the number of Covid victims being 'very small' compared to most of the pandemic, 'a rise is not good news after consistent decreases every week since mid-January'.

Though he said there is not yet a 'major cause for concern'.

'All these deaths are important and sad events for the families and friends of the person who died, but the numbers are still small,' he said.

'What's important is that a close eye is kept on how the numbers change as the Delta variant becomes more and more established,' Professor McConway added.

England needs to speed up its Covid vaccine rollout by 12% to reach 15MILLION jabs needed to hit Boris Johnson's targets for July 19, analysis shows as UK reaches 30million fully inoculated milestone

Britain now has Europe's WORST Covid outbreak as rapid spread of Indian variant sees nation overtake Spain The UK now has the highest daily rate of coronavirus infections in Europe after overtaking Spain, figures revealed today. Statistics compiled by the Oxford University-based research platform Our World in Data show that 107.3 people per million in the UK tested positive for the virus on average per day over the last week. The UK had for months been one of the least-affected countries on the continent after racing ahead of the EU with its vaccine rollout when many European nations were battered by a second wave. But an outbreak of the ultra-infectious Indian Covid variant has pushed Britain's infection rate back up and forced Prime Minister Boris Johnson to pump the brakes on the final stage of his roadmap out of lockdown. The UK is now ahead of the 43 other European countries included in the statistics. Spain has the second-highest Covid infection rates, with 104.6 cases per million people, followed by Latvia (92.1) and Andorra (90.6). Belarus (89.77) and Russia (83.7) have the next most highest infection rates, followed by Denmark (78.36), the Netherlands (77.19) and Sweden (76.3). Italy, which was one of the European countries hit worst by the first wave of the virus last March, now has just 28.5 cases per million. Portugal, which moved to the UK's amber travel list last week after an increase in cases, has recorded 70.58 per million. Advertisement

England needs to speed up its Covid vaccine roll-out by 12 per cent to meet Boris Johnson's ambitious target for July 19, MailOnline can reveal after the UK reached the 30million milestone for second doses.

Analysis of NHS England data shows 15.3million extra jabs need to be administered to ensure all adults have had their first dose and two-thirds have are fully inoculated by 'terminus day'. The Government's previous goal was to ensure all first doses were dished out by the end of July.

Although No10 hasn't made achieving the goal a clause of going ahead with the final unlocking, it was only ever delayed from June 21 by four weeks to ensure millions more adults were fully protected and to save the NHS from being overwhelmed once again.

Statistics suggest the health service would have to speed up its current roll-out by nearly an extra 50,000 doses per day in order to meet the targets. Currently England is administering around 390,000 jabs per day but it needs to hit just under 440,000. In the UK as a whole, around 462,000 jabs are being dished out a day on average  45 per cent less than the 844,285 dished out on the March 20 peak.

London will require the most combined first and second doses to meet the targets, with nearly 4million jabs still needed. Mayor Sadiq Khan today pleaded the Government for more Pfizer and Moderna doses to meet demand for its younger population.

The UK yesterday dished out a further 132,117 first doses and 230,959 second doses, taking the country's total fully inoculated population to 30.2million  57.3 per cent of the population.

It comes as NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens today announced the health service expects all over-18s to be offered a vaccine by the end of the week. The roll-out was extended to over-23s today.

But the rate at which younger adults can be given a jab will depend on how many doses are made available by manufacturers, with Sir Simon admitting that 'supply continues to be constrained'.

Vaccinating under-30s is entirely dependent on the supply of the Pfizer and Moderna jabs. AstraZeneca's vaccine is not recommended for under-40s because of its rare links to blood clots.

Boris Johnson yesterday delayed June 21 'Freedom Day' by four weeks to give the NHS time to vaccinate more adults and prevent the current spike in cases caused by the Indian 'Delta' variant resulting in hospitals becoming overwhelmed.

The Office for National Statistics population estimates include over-16s, so the MailOnline figures suggested will be slightly higher than in reality. No population data is provided by the NHS.

In order to reach the 15.3million doses by July 19, a rate of 438,009 first and second jabs will have to be dished out every day.

England's current rate as of June 10 is 390,329 meaning the health service would have to provide a further 47,680 a day. At the current rate, it would not meet the Government's target until July 25.

ALL over-18s are in line to be invited for Covid vaccines by the end of the week, NHS boss Sir Simon Stevens says All over-18s are expected to be invited for their first Covid vaccine dose by the end of this week, NHS England's boss claimed today. Sir Simon Stevens told the NHS Confederation's annual conference that the health service would 'finish the job' of the vaccination programme to the 'greatest extent possible' over the next four weeks. He said he expects all remaining adults to be offered their first vaccine by the end of the week but admitted 'supply continues to be constrained'. The vaccine roll-out was extended to all 23- to 24-year-olds today, with people in the age group now able to book their appointment. In light of the rapidly spreading Indian variant, the Government has brought forward its target for vaccinating all adults until July 19  the same day the final unlocking has been pushed back until. Ministers had previously pledged to offer jabs to all over-18s by July 31. Boris Johnson last night announced a delay to the original June 21 'Freedom Day' by four weeks, amid fears a third wave of Covid could overwhelm the NHS. Top scientists hope the move will give the health service more time to vaccinate as many people as possible, offering the nation as much protection against the Indian variant as possible. Advertisement

London has the most vaccines still needed to meet the target, with a further 2.3million first doses and 1.6million second doses required.

The Midlands needs the second highest amount, with 2million first doses and 670,000 second doses yet to be given out  2.7million in total.

The South West is closest to meeting the Government's target, with just 1.1million doses still required, followed by the East of England (1.5million).

But reaching the targets by June 19 will not only require speeding up the roll-out from its current rate but also that supply remains at least at the same levels currently experienced.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan today called on the Government to speed up the roll-out and has requested 367,000 extra Pfizer and Moderna doses for the capital.

Mr Khan told the Evening Standard: 'Ministers must accelerate the roll-out of the vaccines so that restrictions can be lifted as soon as possible.

'London has a young population, so it's essential the Government allocates the capital more Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to allow us to rapidly provide first doses to younger age groups, while bringing forward second doses. This final push will help us to return to doing more of the things we love and to open up our economy.'

All over-18s are expected to be invited for their first Covid vaccine dose by the end of this week, NHS England's boss claimed today.

Sir Simon Stevens told the NHS Confederation's annual conference that the health service would 'finish the job' of the vaccination programme to the 'greatest extent possible' over the next four weeks.

He said he expects all remaining adults to be offered their first vaccine by the end of the week but admitted 'supply continues to be constrained'.

The vaccine roll-out was extended to all 23- to 24-year-olds today, with people in the age group now able to book their appointment.

Sir Simon said: 'It is now very important that we use the next four weeks to finish the job to the greatest extent possible for the Covid vaccination programme, which has been a historic signature achievement in terms of the effectiveness of delivering by the NHS  over 60 million doses now administered.

'By July 19 we aim to have offered perhaps two thirds of adults across the country double jabs.

'And we're making great strides also in extending the offer to all adults  today people aged 23 and 24 are able to vaccinate through the National Booking Service.

'I expect that by the end of this week, we'll be able to open up the National Booking Service to all adults age 18 and above.

'Of course, vaccine supply continues to be constrained, so we're pacing ourselves at precisely the rate of which we're getting that extra vaccine supply between now and July 19.'
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England needs to speed up its Covid vaccine roll-out by 12 per cent to meet Boris Johnson's ambitious target for July 19, MailOnline can reveal.

Analysis of NHS England data shows 15.3million extra jabs need to be administered to ensure all adults have had their first dose and two-thirds have are fully inoculated by 'terminus day'. The Government's previous goal was to ensure all over-18s were offered a jab by the end of July.

Although No10 hasn't made achieving the goal a clause of going ahead with the final unlocking, Freedom Day was only ever delayed from June 21 by four weeks to ensure millions more adults were fully protected and to save the NHS from being overwhelmed once again.

Statistics suggest the health service would have to speed up its current roll-out by nearly an extra 50,000 doses per day in order to meet the targets.

Currently England is administering around 390,000 jabs per day but it needs to hit just under 440,000. In the UK as a whole, around 462,000 jabs are being dished out a day on average  45 per cent fewer than the best day of the roll-out on March 20, when almost 850,000 jabs were administered.

London will require the most combined first and second doses to meet the targets, with nearly 4million jabs still needed. Mayor Sadiq Khan today pleaded the Government for more Pfizer and Moderna doses to meet demand for its younger population.

Meanwhile, the UK today passed the milestone of fully vaccinating 30m people, or 57.3 per cent of the population. NHS vaccinations yesterday dished out a further 132,117 first doses and 230,959 second doses.

It comes as NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens today announced the health service expects all over-18s to be offered a vaccine by the end of the week. The roll-out was extended to over-23s today.

But the rate at which the final phase of the roll-out proceeds will depend entirely on how many doses are made available by manufacturers, with Sir Simon admitting that 'supply continues to be constrained'.

Vaccinating under-30s is entirely dependent on the supply of the Pfizer and Moderna jabs. AstraZeneca's vaccine is not recommended for under-40s because of its rare links to blood clots.

Boris Johnson yesterday delayed June 21 'Freedom Day' by four weeks to give the NHS time to vaccinate more adults and prevent the current spike in cases caused by the Indian 'Delta' variant resulting in hospitals becoming overwhelmed.

England needs to speed up its Covid vaccine roll-out by 10 per cent to reach the 18.4million needed to meet Boris Johnson's lockdown easing targets for July 19, MailOnline analysis of NHS England data reveals. Graph shows: How many first and second doses are required in each region in England in order to give all over-18s a first jab and two thirds of adults second jabs

The Office for National Statistics population estimates  provided by the NHS  include over-16s, meaning the MailOnline figures suggested will be slightly higher than in reality.

In order to reach the 15.3million doses by July 19, a rate of 438,009 first and second jabs will have to be dished out every day.

England's current rate as of June 10 is 390,329 meaning the health service would have to provide a further 47,680 a day. At the current rate, it would not meet the Government's target until July 25.

ALL over-18s are in line to be invited for Covid vaccines by the end of the week, NHS boss Sir Simon Stevens says All over-18s are expected to be invited for their first Covid vaccine dose by the end of this week, NHS England's boss claimed today. Sir Simon Stevens told the NHS Confederation's annual conference that the health service would 'finish the job' of the vaccination programme to the 'greatest extent possible' over the next four weeks. He said he expects all remaining adults to be offered their first vaccine by the end of the week but admitted 'supply continues to be constrained'. The vaccine roll-out was extended to all 23- to 24-year-olds today, with people in the age group now able to book their appointment. In light of the rapidly spreading Indian variant, the Government has brought forward its target for vaccinating all adults until July 19  the same day the final unlocking has been pushed back until. Ministers had previously pledged to offer jabs to all over-18s by July 31. Boris Johnson last night announced a delay to the original June 21 'Freedom Day' by four weeks, amid fears a third wave of Covid could overwhelm the NHS. Top scientists hope the move will give the health service more time to vaccinate as many people as possible, offering the nation as much protection against the Indian variant as possible. Advertisement

London has the most vaccines still needed to meet the target, with a further 2.3million first doses and 1.6million second doses required.

The Midlands needs the second highest amount, with 2million first doses and 670,000 second doses yet to be given out  2.7million in total.

The South West is closest to meeting the Government's target, with just 1.1million doses still required, followed by the East of England (1.5million).

But reaching the targets by June 19 will not only require speeding up the roll-out from its current rate but also that supply remains at least at the same levels currently experienced.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan today called on the Government to speed up the roll-out and has requested 367,000 extra Pfizer and Moderna doses for the capital.

Mr Khan told the Evening Standard: 'Ministers must accelerate the roll-out of the vaccines so that restrictions can be lifted as soon as possible.

'London has a young population, so it's essential the Government allocates the capital more Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to allow us to rapidly provide first doses to younger age groups, while bringing forward second doses. This final push will help us to return to doing more of the things we love and to open up our economy.'

All over-18s are expected to be invited for their first Covid vaccine dose by the end of this week, NHS England's boss claimed today.

Sir Simon Stevens told the NHS Confederation's annual conference that the health service would 'finish the job' of the vaccination programme to the 'greatest extent possible' over the next four weeks.

He said he expects all remaining adults to be offered their first vaccine by the end of the week but admitted 'supply continues to be constrained'.

The vaccine roll-out was extended to all 23- to 24-year-olds today, with people in the age group now able to book their appointment.

Sir Simon said: 'It is now very important that we use the next four weeks to finish the job to the greatest extent possible for the Covid vaccination programme, which has been a historic signature achievement in terms of the effectiveness of delivering by the NHS  over 60 million doses now administered.

'By July 19 we aim to have offered perhaps two thirds of adults across the country double jabs.

'And we're making great strides also in extending the offer to all adults  today people aged 23 and 24 are able to vaccinate through the National Booking Service.

'I expect that by the end of this week, we'll be able to open up the National Booking Service to all adults age 18 and above.

'Of course, vaccine supply continues to be constrained, so we're pacing ourselves at precisely the rate of which we're getting that extra vaccine supply between now and July 19.'
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Police are investigating the inaction of their officers after anti-lockdown protesters harassed and intimidated a senior BBC journalist in the streets of central London.

Newsnight political editor Nicholas Watt was forced to seek shelter behind a line of police near Downing Street, as large-scale protests against the Government's extension to lockdown turned ugly yesterday.

After reviewing footage of the incident, the Metropolitan Police said it was clear that the scenes unfolded on Whitehall where officers were present and the incident was now under investigation.

It comes as a man in his fifties was today taken to a police station in Hertfordshire to be questioned by detectives after being identified in video footage.

A second man has also been identified and is being actively sought by officers as detectives launch a hunt for the other anti-lockdown protesters involved.

Yesterday, disturbing footage from the protest showed a baying mob surrounding the journalist as they shouted abuse and called him a 'traitor', a 'liar' and 'scum'.

In a statement today the police said: 'An initial statement issued earlier today suggested officers were not in the immediate vicinity of the incident. It was drafted based on the 45-second video of the incident which was shared very widely on social media this morning. That video began on Richmond Terrace and out of sight of officers on nearby Whitehall.

'We were subsequently made aware of a longer piece of footage lasting 3 minutes and 28 seconds which shows the incident in full. It is clear that the incident began on Whitehall where officers were present. After reviewing the full footage, we are issuing the revised statement which also includes an update on the investigation.

'We are aware of a video that has been shared online which shows a journalist being aggressively confronted and chased by a group of protestors in the vicinity of Whitehall on Monday, 14 June.

'The behaviour shown in the video is unacceptable. Members of the public, of any profession, have the right to go about their day without being subjected to verbal harassment or actions that put them in fear for their safety.

'After reviewing the video footage, a number of possible offences were identified and an investigation was launched.

'A man in his fifties is being interviewed by Met detectives at a police station in Hertfordshire in relation to the incident. A second man has been identified and is being actively sought by officers.'

Today, Boris Johnson and Priti Patel condemned the 'appalling' behaviour of anti-lockdown protesters, with Mr Johnson's spokesperson describing the video as 'deeply disturbing'.

Asked if the Conservative leader had seen the footage, the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman said: 'He has.

'This footage is deeply disturbing. Journalists should never face that kind of behaviour. The right to protest may be fundamental in our democracy but violence, threats, and intimidation is never acceptable.'

Priti Patel doubled-down on the condemnation, as she described the anti-lockdown protesters as a 'mob' and their actions as 'appalling'.

'The video of Nick Watt being abused by a mob is appalling and distressing. This behaviour is never acceptable,' she said in a post on Twitter.

BBC Director-General Tim Davie also spoke out on the incident, saying journalists' safety is 'fundamental to any democracy' and there is 'no justification for any journalist to be treated in this way'.

In a statement, Mr Davie said: 'The safety of journalists is fundamental to any democracy - they must be able to report unhindered, free from abuse.

'There is absolutely no justification for any journalist to be treated in this way.'

Newsnight political editor Nicholas Watt ran behind a line of police near Downing Street, as large-scale protests against the Government's extension to lockdown rules turned ugly yesterday

Shocking footage shows a baying mob surrounding the journalist as they shout abuse, calling him a 'traitor' and a 'c***'

In one shocking moment, a man is seen to shout in Mr Watt's face - with his head coming within inches of the journalist's

*The video below is embedded from Youtube. MailOnline is not responsible for its title.

Boris Johnson's (pictured left) spokesperson today described the video as 'deeply disturbing'. Priti Patel (pictured right) doubled-down on the condemnation, as she described the group as a 'mob' and their actions as 'appalling'

In a statement, Mr Davie said: 'The safety of journalists is fundamental to any democracy - they must be able to report unhindered, free from abuse.

'There is absolutely no justification for any journalist to be treated in this way.'

The shocking video begins with the journalist being approached by a group of protesters who spot the blue BBC lanyard around his neck as he walks along Whitehall.

At first he engages with the 'Resistance GB' group, after mistaking them for a camera crew for GB News. But he soon works out they are an anti-lockdown and anti-media group who collar him and begin asking questions.

Nick Watt - the former Times and Guardian journalist who is now a key figure at BBC Newsnight Nick Watt is an experienced head at BBC's flagship political show Newsnight, having had more than 25 years experience on national newspapers. The video shows the journalist (pictured here appearing on the BBC) being followed by a group of protesters on Whitehall Now the show's political editor, a position he has held since 2016, he previously had a distinguished career at the Guardian and the Times. During his time at the Guardian he served as chief political correspondent and European editor, based in Brussels. And at The Times, Nick served as Ireland Correspondent based in Belfast during the final years of the Troubles and the beginning of the Northern Ireland peace process. Advertisement

For almost two minutes the journalist tries to shake-off the group by weaving in and out of watching police officers.

More and more protesters join in and start shouting and harassing the journalist - who begins to walk away from Downing Street.

But as he does the group follow, shouting 'why have you lied' as he continues his attempts to evade the group.

He then appears to be blocked off and, after being surrounded, quickly performs an about-turn and heads towards Downing Street.

As he does, a man is seen to shout in Mr Watt's face - with his head coming within inches of the journalist's.

Mr Watts then begins to run away from the group, who give chase and continue to shout abuse.

He manages to get to safety behind a line of police officers standing in front of Downing Street.

Today a spokesperson for BBC News condemned the actions of those in the video as 'completely unacceptable'.

A spokesperson told MailOnline: 'All journalists should be able to carry out their work without intimidation or impediment.'

Earlier today the Metropolitan Police said an investigation had been launched after a 'number of possible offences' had been identified in the footage.

After some online suggested officers should have intervened in the incident, the force initially said: 'In this instance, while officers were nearby as part of the policing response to the ongoing protest, they were not in the immediate vicinity of the incident.

'It was not clear at the time exactly what had taken place but after reviewing the video footage, a number of possible offences have been identified and an investigation has been launched.'

Journalist today took to Twitter to condemn the abuse, including BBC Newsnight editor Esme Wren, who said in a post on Twitter: 'Harassing and intimidating any journalist is completely unacceptable. All journalists should be able to do their work without impediment or risking their safety.'

BBC newsdesk duty editor Neil Henderson today tweeted the video with a comment, saying: 'A BBC Correspondent doing his job in Whitehall yesterday. Where does this end?

Fellow BBC journalist Allie Hodgkins-Brown also shared the video, writing on Twitter: 'This is awful. In Central London 2021. Disagree with us fine. Switch us off fine but no journalist deserves this.'

The anti-lockdown YouTubers loved by Piers Corbyn: Who are Resistance GB? They are the YouTubers who claim to show the 'news which the mainstream won't show you'. Resistance GB were set up in October 2020 to 'resist the erosion and abolition of British culture'. They say their focus is on 'Natural Rights, Civil Liberties, Police Abuses and Government Criminality in London and wider Great Britain'. The group, whose logo features a map of the British isles, similar to that of GB News, who were being set up around the same time but to whom they have no relation, claim to feature news which 'the mainstream news won't show you'. But their one notable 'exclusive' was an interview with conspiracy theorist and anti-lockdown protester Piers Corbyn - the brother of former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn - as he announced he was running for London Mayor. The fact Mr Corbyn was a candidate was at some point covered in all major national news outlets. Many of the videos featured on their social media site are from protests around the UK - which have often featured prominently on major news websites and on news channels. The channel, which has 25,000 subscribers, is loudly 'anti-mainstream media' and have criticised traditional news outlets over their coverage of lockdowns. Advertisement

Stefan Simanowitz added: 'Disturbing footage of BBC Newsnight's Nick Watt, being pursued by anti-lockdown protesters.'

The incident comes just weeks after Professor Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) for England, was filmed being harassed in the street for a second time.

In a video apparently filmed and shared online by the person who confronted Mr Whitty in Oxford, the government's top medical adviser was shown walking briskly down a street as he was followed and bombarded with questions.

It came after Matt Hancock branded a maskless TikToker 'pathetic' and 'ridiculous' after he abused Mr Whitty in the street in Westminster in a separate incident in February.

The Health Secretary laid into the unnamed teenager, who calls himself 'AA Bants', after repeatedly accusing Mr Whitty of 'lying' to the nation about the pandemic.

The film, shared on social media platform TikTok, initially showed Mr Whitty saying hello to passers-by.

But he refused to be goaded by the youth who films the scientist standing in a queue while saying: 'You're a liar. Mandem is a liar. You lie about the Covid-19 cases man. Stop lying to the TV'.

Speaking at the time, Mr Hancock said: 'I think the individual concerned is pathetic, I think it is ridiculous what he is doing.

'Chris Whitty is one of our greatest living scientists and his advice to the Government all the way through this, and his advice to all of us in the population, has been incredibly smart and thoughtful, and he is a great asset to this nation. The idea that someone would do something as silly as that is ridiculous.'

He added: 'Chris Whitty is a scientist of great repute and, frankly, he should be respected by everybody. He's got the big calls right and this man, is not even worth commenting on, this character'.

Yesterday's incident happened hours before Boris Johnson confirmed that, as had widely been reported in the press earlier that day, the remaining lockdown rules in England would be extended until July 19.

Ahead of the announcement, thousands of anti-lockdown protesters, including arch conspiracy theorist Piers Corbyn, the brother of former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, took to the streets in anger at the decision.

Though the demonstrations were largely peaceful, the group at times clashed with police on the streets of Whitehall, with officers at one point even linking arms in a bid to stop the group reaching the closed gates of Downing Street.

The incident took place amid anti-lockdown protests which took place in London yesterday against the extending of lockdown rules in England. Pictured: Piers Corbyn at the protests

A police officer faces demonstrators during an anti-lockdown and anti-vaccine protest in London yesterday

Police link arms outside Downing Street amid protests against the Government's extension of lockdown in England

Police officers stand guard outside Whitehall in London during an anti-lockdown and anti-vaccine protest

Today, Michael Gove, in a round of interviews, flip-flopped over whether the date will definitely see the restrictions scrapped as part of the Government's newly promised 'terminus date'.

The Cabinet Office minister was asked if he could promise that the final unlocking will go ahead next month, to which he replied 'yes'.

But just seconds later he caveated his answer by claiming 'none of us can predict the future with 100 per cent certainty', adding that a 'bizarre and unprecedented' development in the UK's Covid crisis could derail the plans.

Mr Gove added: 'But on the basis of all the information we have, then we will have successfully protected such large sections of the population. so we're as confident as confident can be about that date.'

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The confusing exchange on ITV's Good Morning Britain came after England's original June 21 Freedom day was pushed back by a month, following grim modelling by SAGE which forecast a third peak similar to the winter wave if the Government pressed ahead with the roadmap.

Boris Johnson's official spokesperson said the delay would save 'thousands' of lives. But this morning, prominent SAGE member Professor Graham Medley warned that even with the extra month, Britain could still suffer hundreds of Covid deaths every day.

Professor Medley, from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and head of SAGE's modelling panel SPI-M, said 'everyone expects' fatalities to rise in the coming weeks, following a huge surge in cases from the Indian variant which has resulted in an uptick in hospitalisations.

Despite admitting there was 'huge uncertainty' over exactly how the third wave will pan out over the next few months, he warned it is still possible that the nation could be battered by another surge in deaths  hinting that thousands could succumb to the virus over the coming months.

Experts have said that because the Indian variant is so infectious, it will inevitably spill into unvaccinated groups and the small percentage of people for whom the jabs don't work - even after most adults have been jabbed and the country reopens.

Announcing the month-long delay in the roadmap last night, Mr Johnson insisted he could not press ahead until more people are double-jabbed. He said he was 'pretty confident' that restrictions will be able to be lifted by then, adding that the disease cannot be 'eliminated' and the country will have to learn to 'live with it' in the future.

Chief medic Chris Whitty, flanking the PM as usual alongside Sir Patrick Vallance, told the Downing Street briefing hospitalisations had risen 61 per cent in the North West in just a week, a trend that was predicted to follow suit nationally if June 21 went ahead. 'The assessment of risk has fundamentally shifted,' he said.

Modelling submitted to SAGE showed how many people could die each day with the rapid spread of the Indian variant. Warwick University researchers made their estimates (red) based on the assumption that the Indian variant is 56 per cent more transmissible, and that fully vaccinated people are given 90 per cent protection against hospital admission. London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine researchers (blue) used similar figures to come to their conclusions. Dotted lines number one to four show the different dates restrictions were eased

Before the pandemic took hold in Britain last spring, people made contact with around 11 others every day, on average. But that figure plummetted to around three during the depths of the Covid crisis. The figure currently stands at around 6.5, according to one study called Comix (pictured)

Michael Gove flip-flopped over whether July 19 will definitely see England's remaining lockdown restrictions scrapped as part of the Government's newly promised 'terminus date' during a confusing interview on ITV this morning (left). Professor Graham Medley (right), from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and a member of SAGE, said Britain could be faced with hundreds of daily Covid deaths despite the delay to the roadmap

The move means that current rules will essentially remain in place until July 19  with social distancing in force in bars and restaurants, and the edict to work from home where possible staying.

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In an effort to soften the blow for people who have been putting their lives on hold for more than a year, there will be some easing on the rules for weddings. The 30-person limit on services and receptions will be abandoned but venues will still be restricted by how many they can accommodate while respecting social distancing rules.

But Mr Johnson's own MPs are livid at the move, with fears running high this delay is only the first and lockdown might not be dropped at all. He will face a Commons showdown with them tomorrow, with the new regulations requiring a debate and a vote.

Although they are certain to go through with Labour support, the scale of the rebellion from Tory MPs will show the level of anger he is facing. Vice chairman of the 1922 Committee of Conservative backbench MPs Sir Charles Walker said that 'existing isn't living' as he raised concerns that restrictions will stay in place all summer.

Labour today blamed the delay of Freedom Day on the Government's 'lax' border measures for letting the Indian variant into the country.

Professor Medley admitted that the mutant strain 'may well not have grown in the same way that it has' had ministers acted quicker to clamp down on travel from India.
Sadiq Khan's public relations budget has soared to more than 1million-a-year for the first time, new figures reveal.

The Mayor of London spent the eye-watering sum on managing his image from 2020 to 2021.

It means his press office costs have officially spiked by 50 per cent since he took on the role in 2016.

The leader of the Greater London Authority Conservatives slammed the figures as 'frankly shameful'.

Susan Hall said the staggering amount 'showed he put self-promotion before Londoners' priorities'.

The TaxPayers' Alliance added those in the capital would be 'maddened' by the spending during the pandemic.

But the Mayor stood firm, saying he 'makes no apology for engaging with the media to keep Londoners informed'.

It comes just months after he was criticised for demanding more money from the Government after receiving billions in bailouts only last year.

The Mayor of London spent the eye-watering sum on managing his image from 2020 to 2021

Mr Khan splashed out 1,097,285 on public relations in 2020/21 compared to 732,537 in 2015/16, City Hall figures show.

The Mayor's overall office costs also increased dramatically from 3.8million in 2015/16 to 6million in 2020/21 - up 60 per cent.

GLA Conservatives' Leader Ms Hall said the 'ever-rising PR bill' for Mr Khan's press team and office showed he put self-promotion before Londoners' priorities.

Ms Hall said Londoners would be 'amazed' the Mayor found yet more money for his press team while 'pleading poverty'.

She said: 'It's frankly shameful that Sadiq Khan has splashed so much money on his press team while pleading poverty when it comes to Londoners' priorities.

'Londoners will be amazed that the Mayor could increase his PR bill to more than 1 million considering how often he complains he is broke.

'The irony won't be lost on people that Khan is wasting cash on an extortionate press team to complain how broke he is.

'Khan constantly claims that he can't afford to invest in housing, policing and transport in London despite his 19.4 billion budget.

'But there is never a cash shortage when it comes to his ever-rising PR and office bill.

'I hope the Mayor will keep his press office costs under control during his second term. But, I doubt it.'

It means his press office costs have officially spiked by 50 per cent since he took on the role in 2016. Mr Khan is pictured with his wife Saadiya Ahmed last month

Joe Ventre, digital campaign manager of the TaxPayers' Alliance, told MailOnline: 'Londoners will be maddened by the mayor's spiralling PR spend.

'While taxpayers in the capital faced down the pandemic and a series of torrid rate rises, City Hall loosened the purse strings for publicity.

'It's high time for Khan to clamp down on these surging spin costs, prioritise frontline services, and deliver hard-pressed households some much-needed savings.'

Earlier this year Mr Khan was criticised for demanding more money from the Government after receiving billions in bailouts only last year.

The Mayor of London had lobbied Rishi Sunak to turn on the spending taps in the March Budget - and produced his own wish-list for the Chancellor.

He was seeking another financial package for Transport for London and a cash injection to revive the capital's hard-hit nighttime economy.

An extension to the business rates holiday and for furlough to continue until lockdown was eased were also on his list of proposals.

His demands were quickly shot down by the then Conservative mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey, who accused him of pouring millions into City Hall's PR machine.

Last month Mr Khan vowed to 'build bridges' with Boris Johnson's government after winning a second term as Mayor.

The Labour incumbent is serving a truncated three-year term after winning the election that was postponed from last year due to the pandemic.

But he was pushed all the way by Mr Bailey, who had been given little hope of getting anywhere close to him.

On the latest figures, the Mayor of London office said: 'As Mayor of one of the largest cities in the world, Sadiq makes no apology for engaging with the media in order to keep Londoners informed about key decisions that impact their lives.

'This has never been more important than during the current pandemic, during which the Mayor has worked closely with the media to advise Londoners of crucial public health information that has helped to stop the spread of the virus, encourage vaccination take-up and protect lives.

'In addition to the annual cost of inflation, two fixed-term press officer roles were created in 2017 in response to significantly increased workload and responsibilities and the need to strengthen the team's ability to respond to a major incident, following the terror attacks on London and the Grenfell fire.'
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Hospital admissions for Covid could surge past 7,000 a day in England's third wave if the Indian 'Delta' variant is 120 per cent more transmissible than the Kent strain and lockdown had ended on June 21, No10's top scientific advisers warned the Government.

Researchers at Warwick University, who sit on the SPI-M group that advises SAGE, cautioned that the size of the next surge will be dictated in part by how much faster the now-dominant new version of the virus can spread.

Scientists are sure it is more infectious but still don't know what the true figure is. They believe it to be around 60 per cent higher than Kent 'Alpha' variant, which triggered the second wave, but admit the increase could be much bigger or smaller.

If it were as high as 119 per cent, the Warwick team warned, the third wave could peak with 7,200 daily hospital admissions for the virus  previous highs were 3,565 in the first wave and 4,577 in a day the second.

In that scenario another 243,000 people could be admitted to hospital between now and June 2022  around half again on the total so far  and 51,900 more people could die, taking the death toll above 200,000.

This was presented as the team's worst case scenario, however, and their most likely estimate of 56 per cent extra transmissibility put the figures at a daily peak of 2,850 admissions, a total of 131,000 and 17,100 more deaths in a year  all based on social distancing having finished next week as planned.

SPI-M suggests the likely transmissibility advantage is between 40 and 80 per cent over the Kent variant. An 80 per cent rise could result in a peak of 4,000 to 5,000 admissions per day, while 40 per cent could cause 1,900, the Warwick team estimated.

Despite the dire figures, hospitals are currently bearing up well with the help of widespread vaccination despite a rise in Covid cases with the number of new infections creeping up by more than half in the last week.

Sir Simon Stevens, chief executive of NHS England, today revealed that just one in 100 hospital beds across the country has a Covid patient in it and that almost two thirds of patients are under 65, who are more likely to survive. At the height of the pandemic, 60 per cent of the infected were over 65.

If the variant's transmissibility advantage were as high as 119 per cent, the Warwick team warned, the third wave could peak with 7,200 daily hospital admissions for the virus (orange line)  previous highs were 3,565 in the first wave and 4,577 in a day the second. This was presented as the team's worst case scenario, however, and their most likely estimate of 56 per cent extra transmissibility put the figures at a daily peak of 2,850 admissions (red line)

One of the Warwick University researchers, epidemiologist Professor Matt Keeling said today: 'We know that the Alpha had had a considerable impact and a considerable advantage compared to the wild type that was around last year  probably around 50 per cent  and then we're estimating that the Delta variant is having an additional impact on top of that.

'If you compare Alpha and Delta you see that we're talking about probably about a 60 per cent  estimated from our model  transmission advantage...

'Thats combined with the fact that we know there's slightly less protection from the vaccine, so there's a mixture of things here that have combined to give the Delta variant its advantage...

'There's very, very good evidence that this is spreading much faster than wed have anticipated if we'd have just had the Alpha variant. Not surprisingly the bigger the transmission advantage, the bigger the third wave is likely to be.'

The Warwick modelling, which was one of three sets of research that informed the Government's decision to postpone the end of lockdown last night, laid out factors that could affect how bad the third wave will be.

The only one that could be properly controlled by ministers was the timing of taking Step Four on the lockdown roadmap and ending all social distancing laws.

Slated for June 21 when the plan was made, before the Indian variant emerged, that date has now been pushed back to a provisional July 19 to buy scientists more time to understand how bad the strain really is and to dish out jabs to millions more adults.

Speeding up the vaccine rollout or splitting Step Four into two stages and spreading it across July and August, could reduce the number of hospital admissions and deaths but not by as much as delaying Step Four altogether, they said.

Experts will hold out hope that the vaccines work better than expected against the new variant and that it does not spread as quickly as the worst-case scenarios suggested it could  both will help to keep a lid on the death toll and pressure on the NHS.

Chief of the NHS, Sir Simon Stevens, today said only one per cent of NHS beds are being taken up with Covid patients

Professor Keeling added: 'What's noticeable is that putting in a four-week delay really does reduce the peak height that were projecting for wave three.

'But notice that deaths because of the fantastic action that we're seeing in vaccination we think that deaths are probably going to be a lot lower, certainly in our model, than weve seen so far because we think we're getting better protection from the vaccine against death compared to hospitalisation.'

He said there are still 'huge uncertainties' but added: 'This four-week delay is going to buy us time to understand and quantify many of these uncertainties which means we will be able to do better projections working forward.

'But also the fact that weve got this four-week delay allows us additional time for vaccination and therefore far greater protection of the population.

'Looking at our models, we estimate that this extra four weeks is going to reduce the total number of hospital admissions by about 20-25 per cent and reduces the peak number of hospital admissions by 45-50 per cent, which really is going to limit the burden on the NHS.'

SAGE files published last night as Boris Johnson spoke at Downing Street showed that the team at Warwick and others at Imperial College London and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine had told ministers delaying the end of lockdown by four weeks could halve the number of people who get admitted to hospital.

Reports from the scientific advisers' meeting last week shows that if 'Freedom Day' had gone ahead as planned there could have been a summer peak of more than 200,000 infections per day along with more than 2,000 daily admissions to hospital and over 500 deaths per day.

NHS CHIEF SAYS JUST ONE IN 100 PATIENTS HAVE COVID AND MOST ARE YOUNG Sir Simon Stevens, chief executive of NHS England, said today that just one in 100 hospital beds across the country has a Covid patient in it and that almost three quarters of patients are under 65, who are more likely to survive. Speaking at the NHS Confederation annual conference the outgoing chief said: 'At the moment about one per cent of hospital beds in England are occupied by patients with a Covid diagnosis and the age distribution has really flipped as a result of vaccination. 'Back in January, it was 60/40  60 per cent of beds occupied by people over 65; 40 per cent under 65. 'Now its flipped to 30/70, so its about 30 per cent occupied by people aged 65 and over; 70 per cent by younger people whose prospects are much greater.' Advertisement

The ghastly predictions warn of a wave to rival the first crisis in March 2020 and close to the second wave, although top researchers are still in the dark about how well vaccines would control this.

The Indian 'Delta' variant has turned the lockdown roadmap on its head after measures appeared to be working against the 'Alpha' Kent variant but not strong enough to control the new strain.

SAGE warned there would be a 'large resurgence in infections and admissions' in any scenario in which lockdown rules were lifted on June 21. It added: 'The scale of this resurgence is highly uncertain, and it could be either considerably smaller or larger than previous waves.'

Early data suggest that single vaccine doses are only 33 per cent effective against symptomatic Covid, meaning almost half of adults have inadequate protection, and Boris Johnson has delayed the final step of his roadmap in order to buy time for second vaccines to be given to millions more.

SAGE clearly lobbied for a delay and said the longer restrictions can stay in place, the more hospital admissions and deaths could be reduced, but added: 'Most of the benefit comes from the first four weeks of delay.'

The group, headed up by Professor Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance, said: 'This is partly because four weeks is long enough to ensure significantly more vaccination coverage and would push Step 4 close to the school holidays, when transmission is expected to be reduced.'

Boris Johnson's spokesperson said today that a delay of just a mount would prevent 'thousands of deaths' and added: 'You have a significant proportion of cohorts one to nine who have yet to have second doses, and we have seen a potentially a higher level of hospitalisations. We are seeing below 50s going into hospital.'

Analysis by Warwick University modellers showed how daily Covid hospital admissions could hit up to 2,500 a day, if June 21 went ahead. Scientific estimates also showed how the curve of admissions would peak at just over 1,000 a day if Freedom Day was pushed back to July 19. The team also looked at what would happen if the final unlocking took place on August 23

Scientists estimated that a longer delay would flatten the curve and lead to a smaller hike in the number of patients taking up hospital beds with Covid, with the smallest peak if social distancing carried on until December and the highest one if June 21 went ahead. But in the meeting last week they admitted: 'Most of the benefit comes from the first four weeks of delay'

DEATHS: SAGE modelling by experts at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (right) and Warwick University (left) suggested there could be between 250 to more than 500 deaths per day in the third wave this summer if Step 4 went ahead as planned on June 21

HOSPITAL PATIENTS: Both teams estimated that there would be the same number of people in hospital by August as there were in the first wave in the spring of 2020

HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS: The modellers did not expect daily hospital admissions to reach the levels seen in the spring peak, with them topping out at between 2,000 and 3,000 per day in August

INFECTIONS: SPI-M warned that the number of people catching the virus each day could spike to more than 250,000 per day over the summer wit the new fast-spreading variant and no lockdown rules. The second wave appeared to peak at a total of 1.1million people being infected at any one time  daily cases are not accurately measured except through testing, which peaked at around 70,000 a day

HOW ENGLAND FAILED THE TESTS FOR COMING OUT OF LOCKDOWN The Government set out four tests earlier this year that it said the country would have to meet if it wanted lockdown to come to an end completely: Test one: The vaccine deployment programme continues successfully = SUCCESS By July 19, which is the next date earmarked for the lifting of Englands remaining restrictions, officials hope around two thirds of all adults will have been offered both doses of vaccine, ahead of the original schedule for the end of the month. Test two: Evidence that jabs reduce hospital and death rates = SUCCESS Analysis by Public Health England suggests the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is 96% effective against hospitalisation after two doses, while the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is 92% effective after a second jab. Efficacy rates are expected to be high even for the Delta variant but they will be less able to prevent infection. Test three: Infection rates do not risk putting unsustainable pressure on the NHS = FAIL Scientists and officials do not yet believe it is possible to contain the virus without some social distancing, until more people have been vaccinated. Modelling suggests that had the easing of lockdown not been delayed, hospital admissions could have reached the heights of the first peak in March 2020. Test four: A new variant has not changed the risk to the public = FAIL This is the main reason why the Prime Minister felt he could not proceed with the June 21 reopening. The Delta variant, first identified in India, is believed to be between 40 and 80 per cent more transmissible than the Alpha strain and twice as likely to lead to hospital admission. There are now around 8,000 new cases a day, the highest since February. In around one third of England, cases are doubling every week. Unvaccinated people have twice the risk of hospital admission with the Delta variant as the Alpha variant, while among those who are vaccinated 12 people in every 100 may end up in hospital with Delta compared with eight for Alpha. Source: Press Association Advertisement

SAGE modelling sub-group SPI-M, the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modelling, said that there was no scenario in which they could be confident it was safe to open up the country to normal life next Monday.

Members said they still weren't sure how much faster the Delta variant spreads  although it is thought to be between 40 and 80 per cent, likely 60  nor how well vaccines protect against severe disease, or how people would change their behaviour after the roadmap had ended.

Scientists have thought it is unlikely people would immediately return to life as if Covid didn't exist, but if they did it could have disastrous consequences.

SPI-M said in a report: 'In all scenarios modelled, even a short delay to the timing to Step 4 results in a significant drop in the number of people being admitted to hospital as more people are vaccinated and as the school summer holidays get closer.

'Even a two-week delay would have a significant effect, but a four-week delay is modelled as reducing the peak in hospital admissions by around a third to a half.

'A delay would also allow evidence to build up on the effectiveness of vaccines against delta, potentially increasing precision in future modelling scenarios.'

The team said that, although hospitals are not under a lot of pressure from Covid right now, this is expected to 'rapidly increase' in the short term.

Another 187 people were admitted to hospital with Covid last Tuesday, June 8, the highest figure since April and a spike of a fifth on the previous Tuesday.

There are expected to have been even more in the six days since then following in the trail of a huge surge in infections.

The amount of hospital admissions that could happen in the next wave of the virus will depend partly on how much faster the variant transmits than the current strain.

In the SPI-M modelling the researchers suggested that if the strain were 80 per cent more transmissible  the upper limit of the team's estimate  admissions could peak at more than 6,000 per day, higher even than the second wave.

The virus is assumed in the models to be around 56 per cent more transmissible than the Alpha Kent variant.

The main models presented to SAGE did not estimate the size of future waves of the virus in the autumn or winter because they are uncertain about how the next resurgence will play out.

The fact that the next spike is not expected to end in a lockdown means there is a chance the virus will burn out naturally, which could reduce the risk of another huge surge caused by the same variant in future. Experts have repeatedly warned, however, that the virus is seasonal and it is expected to cause problems next winter.

Allowing the June 21 relaxation could have put millions of people who have yet to have a jab at risk, as well as those who have only had one dose and elderly people who remain vulnerable.

The move means that current rules will essentially remain in place until July 19 - with social distancing in force in bars and restaurants, and the edict to work from home where possible staying.

How well do vaccines work against the Indian variant? Public Health England has warned that a single dose of vaccine, which used to protect well against the virus, no longer cuts it for most people. In a report published last week it said the estimated protection from one dose of either jab has fallen from 50 per cent against the Kent variant to just 33 per cent against Delta. This number measures the reduction in symptomatic illness  protection remains higher for severe illness or death but is still lower than it was for the Kent strain. The reduction in protection after two doses is much smaller, with it falling from an estimated 88 per cent to 81 per cent. The reason vaccines are less effective than against the Kent variant is because the Indian strain has mutated to look even less like the original Wuhan strain the vaccines are based on. Vaccines produce antibodies that target the virus like keys to locks and, the more different a virus becomes when it mutates into different variants, the less well the antibodies can stick to and destroy it. Advertisement

At the same time the vaccine rollout will be intensified, with dosing intervals reduced to eight weeks. As a result around two thirds of adults could have been double-jabbed by July 19.

Government experts say hospitalisations should be slashed by between half and a third as a result, preventing 'thousands' of deaths. Modellers have indicated that otherwise hospital admissions could hit 2,000, with 250 or even 500 deaths a day possible.

In an effort to sweeten the pill for people who have been putting their lives on hold for more than a year, there will be some easing on the rules for weddings. The 30-person limit on services and receptions will be abandoned - but venues will still be restricted by how many they can accommodate while respecting social distancing rules.

Dancing will also still be out in another blow to couples hoping to celebrate.

In a sop to critics, Mr Johnson is offering a 'break clause' with another review of the situation in two weeks' time - although officials warned that it is very unlikely to conclude restrictions can be eased quicker.

And the premier is adamant that there will be no further slippage from the new July 19 timetable. One aide said almost all the 'benefit' from additional jabs will have accrued by that date.

'The PM is confident we won't need any more than a four week delay,' the aide said.

But Mr Johnson's own MPs are livid at the move, with fears running high that this delay is only the first and lockdown might not be dropped at all.

He will face a Commons showdown with them on Wednesday, with the new regulations requiring a debate and a vote.

Although they are certain to go through with Labour support, the scale of the rebellion from Tory MPs will show the level of anger he is facing.

Vice chairman of the 1922 Committee of Conservative backbench MPs Sir Charles Walker said that 'existing isn't living' as he raised concerns that restrictions will stay in place all summer.

SPI-M modellers from Warwick University laid out best, worst and central scenarios of how hospital admissions could pan out in the third wave this summer. In the best case  which assumes a smaller transmission advantage for the new variant and high vaccine efficacy  the resurgence is much smaller than the first wave in March 2020 (bottom left). But in the worst case scenario it is almost twice as bad as last year's crisis (bottom right)

In the SPI-M modelling the researchers suggested that if the strain were 80 per cent more transmissible  the upper limit of the team's estimate  admissions could peak at more than 6,000 per day, higher even than the second wave

SAGE said that, as the vaccine rollout moves forward and more people get jabs, a greater proportion of people admitted to hospital are likely to be there despite having had a vaccine. It is likely, however, that the overall numbers will be slower and that unvaccinated people will still make up a large proportion of patients

The numbers that delayed Freedom Day: Official data shows cases ARE spiralling but not in over-60s and ICU admissions are rising slowly

Boris Johnson today announced a four-week delay to the end of the Covid lockdown roadmap as experts fear the now-dominant Indian 'Delta' variant is on the cusp of triggering a third wave.

Cases have spiked 50 per cent in a week across the UK and the number of people needing hospital treatment for Covid is rising slowly in its wake, with more than 1,000 people now on wards with the virus.

Infections are mostly in the young, with rates up to seven times higher among people in their 20s than in the over-80s, and scientists and ministers are still confident that vaccines will keep a lid on the death toll.

But a single dose is no longer enough to protect most people from catching Covid and Mr Johnson must buy the NHS more time to get second jabs out to millions more middle-aged people, who are still at risk of hospitalisation.

The PM hinted strongly at the delay when he said on Friday: 'What everybody can see very clearly is that cases are going up and in some places hospitalisations are going up... We will be driven by the data, we will be looking at that and setting it out on Monday.'

Here is a look at the data that may have spooked him:

The trend of total number of people in hospital has remained relatively flat, fluctuating between 800 and 1,100 for the past month but creeping upwards in the most recent week. Experts say the current surge in cases will see it tick up in the coming days and weeks.

Public Health England data showed that in the week ending June 6 the highest infection rate was 121 cases per 100,000 people among those aged 20 to 29. Rates were also high in teenagers (99 per 100,000) and adults in their 30s (73). They are significantly lower among older age groups

CASES ARE RISING ACROSS UK BUT BIGGEST SPIKES IN UNDER-30s

Coronavirus cases have undeniably been rising in the UK, and quickly, in recent weeks after the ending of most lockdown rules on May 17 coincided with the takeover of the Indian variant.

The average number of positive tests announced each day is now above 7,000 for the first time since the tail end of the second wave in March, after 7,490 cases were confirmed yesterday after 8,125 on Friday.

There were 50,017 cases confirmed between Monday and Sunday last week, a 50 per cent spike from 33,496 the week before.

But a ray of hope among the rising infections is the fact that cases are up to 17 times higher among young adults than they are in the at-risk elderly, suggesting vaccines are protecting older people.

Public Health England data showed that in the week ending June 6 the highest infection rate was 121 cases per 100,000 people among those aged 20 to 29. Rates were also high in teenagers (99 per 100,000) and adults in their 30s (73).

But they were significantly lower in the middle-aged and elderly, with the lowest rate in over-70s, at 7 per 100,000, followed by 14 per 100,000 among people in their 60s and 32 per 100,000 in people in their 50s.

And while the rate had doubled in just a week in people in their 20s, it rose by only 17 per cent in the over-80s, showing most of the surging epidemic at the time was in young people.

HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS ARE CREEPING UP WITH VARIANT HOTSPOTS LEADING THE WAY

Hospital admissions are creeping up across the UK and more notably in Delta variant hotspots.

The increase has been significantly slower than cases  there was a 15 per cent increase in the most recent week, from 875 new admissions by June 1 to 1,008 in the week to June 8  but this is likely an effect of the lag between someone getting infected and then getting sick enough to need hospital treatment.

The real test of how well vaccines will taking pressure off hospitals will come in the next week or two, when there has been enough time  two to three weeks  since the spike in cases to see what happens.

Professor Neil Ferguson, Imperial College London epidemiologist and member of SAGE, said scientists were hoping the ratio of cases to hospital admissions could be cut by 85 per cent from the pre-jab rate of around nine per cent.

In the most recent data, for June 8, there were 187 people admitted to hospital with Covid in the UK, the highest since April 14. By Thursday, June 10, there were a total of 1,089 patients in hospital.

The trend of total number of people in hospital has remained relatively flat, fluctuating between 800 and 1,100 for the past month but creeping upwards in the most recent week. Experts say the current surge in cases will see it tick up in the coming days and weeks.

Places where infection rates with the Delta variant are comparatively high  Bedfordshire, London, Birmingham, Manchester and East Lancashire  had the highest admission rates in the most recent data but even those, the worst-hit hospitals, still had only five patients admitted on June 6.

They also have the most people in hospital in total, with 44 Covid patients on wards in Manchester University NHS Trust on June 8. This was the highest in the country and up almost 60 per cent in a week from 28 on June 1.

Inpatient numbers were rising in all but three of the areas with the most patients  falling only in Bolton and Croydon, and flat at King's College London, while rising in Imperial College London, East Lancashire, Bedfordshire, Salford Royal in Manchester, Southampton and Birmingham.

The increase in new admissions to hospital has been significantly slower than cases  there was a 15 per cent increase in the most recent week, from 875 new admissions by June 1 to 1,008 in the week to June 8  but this is likely an effect of the lag between someone getting infected and then getting sick enough to need hospital treatment

INTENSIVE CARE CLOSE TO 2021 LOW BUT RISING SLOWLY WITH NORTH WEST WORST HIT

The number of patients with Covid in intensive care remains low in the UK, with only 158 people critically ill in hospital by June 10.

This figure rose slightly compared to previous weeks but the trend has been broadly flat  the lowest point of 2021 was 119 on May 29, just two weeks ago, after it fell from over 4,000 in late January.

More detailed information for England, up to June 8, showed that 47 out of a total 140 intensive care patients were all in the North West.

Just two Indian variant hotspots East Lancashire and Bolton hospitals accounted for 21 of these patients  15 per cent of the country's total, or one in seven.

The delay between cases and the need for intensive care is even longer than it is between people getting infected and getting admitted to a general hospital ward, so these numbers could begin increasing in the coming weeks.

But the vaccines are also expected to have an effect on the number of people who become gravely ill. While the jab should stop most people from ending up in hospital at all, even those who do end up in hospital do not seem to be as sick as they used to be.

Chief of the NHS Providers union, Chris Hopson, said last week: 'What chief executives are consistently telling us is that it is a much younger population that is coming in, they are less clinically vulnerable, they are less in need of critical care and therefore they're seeing what they believe is a significantly lower mortality rate which is, you know, borne out by the figures.

'So it's not just the numbers of people who are coming in, it's actually the level of harm and clinical risk.'

GOVERNMENT MUST BUY MORE TIME FOR VACCINE ROLLOUT OF SECOND DOSES

The Government's four-week delay to the ending of lockdown will be designed to buy time for the vaccine rollout to get second doses to more adults to try and protect them from the Delta variant.

Government data show that more than half of adults have had their second vaccine doses already but millions more still need them. A staggering eight out of 10 have had their first dose

Public Health England has warned that a single dose of vaccine, which used to protect well against the virus, no longer cuts it for most people.

In a report published last week it said the estimated protection from one dose of either jab has fallen from 50 per cent against the Kent variant to just 33 per cent against Delta. The reduction in protection after two doses is much smaller, with it falling from an estimated 88 per cent to 81 per cent.

MailOnline analysis of official figures last week showed all people aged 50 and above could all have had their second vaccine dose by June 17, at the current rate of immunisation, with protection kicking in a week or two later.

But the under-50s may not all have received by their final jab until September 18, fueling concerns a surge in Covid infections caused by the Indian variant may result in a spike in deaths and hospitalisations among the unvaccinated.

This assumes the rollout will continue at its current average daily pace of around 265,000 second doses a day, which would be dependent on both supply and uptake rates.

Dr Simon Clarke, a microbiologist at the University of Reading, agreed that the data suggests delaying lockdown easing by two weeks would make sense.

He said: 'June 17 for all over-50s to have had both doses does seem realistic. And I think they are going to delay June 21 because it takes two weeks for those vaccines to kick in and over-50s are going to be the most important to get done.'

All over-50s in England could be fully protected against Covid by July 1  nearly two weeks after 'freedom day on June 21  but it will take until September for all adults to have had two jabs, MailOnline analysis can reveal

DEATHS STILL FLAT  BUT QUARTER OF NEW VARIANT VICTIMS WERE FULLY VACCINATED

The number of people dying each day of coronavirus remains relatively flat  the daily average reported deaths is nine and the figure has been between eight and 10 for the past three weeks.

It briefly fell to a daily average of six for four days in mid-May but has not been lower than that at any time in the pandemic, not even last summer when the virus had been all but stamped out.

Deaths usually take between two weeks and a month to react after a spike in cases because it can take people so long to die of Covid after they test positive.

Although the success of the vaccines now means that there were will have to be significantly more cases per death compared to earlier waves of the virus, scientists still expect the number of fatalities to rise and fall along with infections  they just hope there will be fewer.

Professor Neil Ferguson said last week: 'It's well within the possibility that we could see another, third, wave at least comparable in terms of hospitalisations as the second wave. At least deaths, I think, certainly would be lower.'

A lingering worry, however, is the fact that vaccines won't perfectly protect people and that 'vaccine failure' is inevitable in some people  most likely the old and frail.

Public Health England figures show that almost a third of the 42 Britons who have so far died from the Indian (Delta) Covid had been given two vaccine doses.

The PHE report showed that of those 42 people who died, 12 were fully vaccinated. From the remaining members of the group, 23 were unvaccinated, while seven had received their first dose more than 21 days before, suggesting they had one-dose protection.

The latest data puts the vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic disease against the Delta variant at 33 per cent after one dose. After two doses, this rises to 81 per cent. This is is lower than the Alpha variant, where the figures are 51 per cent after the first dose, and 88.4 per cent after the second.

DELTA VARIANT NOW DOMINANT IN 263 OUT OF 315 AREAS OF ENGLAND

The Indian 'Delta' variant is now dominant in 263 out of 315 areas of England, up from 201 last week.

Surveillance data gathered by the Wellcome Sanger Institute revealed that the variant accounted for more than half of infections in 85 per cent of areas across the country in the two weeks leading up to June 5.

The strain  known by scientists as B.1.617.2  is more contagious than the Kent 'Alpha' variant and is now dominant in every borough of Greater Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham and London.

The variant is likely to be even more dominant, due to the delay in determining which variant a positive test was caused by  Public Health England said last week it was accounting for 96 per cent of positive tests.

Across the country, the variant is responsible for 88.4 per cent of all cases, according to the Sanger report. The once-dominant Kent strain now only accounts for 11.3 per cent of cases.

Havant, in Hampshire, and the Isle of Wight are the only areas that have not recorded any cases of the Delta variant, according to the statistics. All of the cases examined in those two regions were identified as the Kent mutation.

In nearly 40 parts of England  including Cambridge, Newcastle and York  the strain is thought to be responsible for all Covid infections.

The strain is not yet dominant in 28 areas of the country, such as Doncaster, Sheffield and Southampton.

But 24 regions did not provided data for the weeks leading up to June 5, so it is unclear how those places  which include Darlington and Eastbourne  have been hit by the variant.
An e-scooter rider was caught on camera being chased by a policeman down a busy central London street, seconds after being stopped by officers.

Footage shows the man moments earlier having a heated argument with police who appear to be about to confiscate his e-scooter.

The Met Police have been cracking down on private e-scooters which are not legal on public roads and pavements in the capital, seizing hundreds and fining riders.

A second clip, shows the man back on his scooter dashing towards Marble Arch.

A police officer frantically runs after him  even throwing his clipboard at the man in a fruitless bid to stop him  but the rider appears to escape into the traffic.

Despite being electric, and capable of around 25mph, it does not appear the man had turned his scooter back on during the escape.

The incident happened at around 11am on June 14 just yards from busy Park Lane traffic.

The video was shared by @ruidoloco1 on social media and online users were left amused by the police officers futile chase.

One commented: 'You could say they threw the book at him lol,' referring to the officer throwing his clipboard at the e-scooter.

A brazen man was spotted fleeing police on his e-scooter down a busy central London street  seconds after being filmed having the vehicle seized

A police officer frantically tries to catch the rider  even throwing his clipboard at the man whilst in pursuit  but the man appears to make an escape in traffic near Marble Arch

Another person added: 'Man dashed a piece of paper thinking it would slow him down.'

Another viewer commented: 'The scooter wasnt even that fast and he still got away from that police lol.'

A commenter complained about Londons policy on e-scooters: 'How can they put electric scooters on the streets for people to pay to use but not allowed their own really makes sense [sic].'

A spokesperson for the Met Police told MailOnline: 'We are aware of a video that has been shared on social media showing an e-scooter rider making off from a police officer in the vicinity of Marble Arch.

'Officers were in the area as part of the Mets continuing efforts to engage with Londoners and explain the law on the use of e-scooters. While a controlled trial has recently been announced, the wider use of privately-owned e-scooters on public roads continues to be illegal.

'We have seen a number of incidents in recent months where e-scooter riders have been involved in accidents and have sustained injuries.

'The legislation is in place to keep them and other road users safe and our officers will continue to encourage people to follow the rules, moving to enforcement where necessary.'

The Metropolitan police have launched a crackdown on people illegally riding e-scooters in London, seizing multiple vehicles and taking them off the street

The force's crackdown on illegally riding e-scooters in London has seen officers seizing more than 800 vehicles so far this year.

Rental electric scooter trials are currently being rolled out in towns and cities across the country, including Canterbury and London. A 12-month scheme began in the capital on June 7.

But while e-scooters can be bought legally for between 200 and 600, in London they can only be used legally on private land with the owners permission. Use on pavement or roads is not permitted.

Those found riding a private e-scooter could have six points put on their current or future drivers licence and be fined up to 300.

There are also penalties for offences including mobile phone use, going through red lights and drink driving - similarly to car drivers - that could include court-imposed fines or even imprisonment.

E-scooters can be bought legally but in London, they can only be used legally on private land with the owners permission. Use on pavement or roads is not permitted

In July 2019, TV presenter and YouTube influencer Emily Hartridge (pictured above, in November 2018) was killed while riding her e-scooter in Battersea, London. Right, on Monday Gone Girl actress Lisa Banes died, 10 days after being mowed down by an e-scooter in a hit-and-run in New York

A recent study by Transport for London (TfL) found that e-scooters could be 100 times more dangerous than bicycles.

And Simon Ovens, from the Metropolitan Police's road and transport policing command, described the scooters as 'absolute death traps'.

In 2018, there were four recorded e-scooter collisions in London, which rose to 32 in 2019.

In 2019, TV presenter and YouTuber Emily Hartridge became the first person in Britain to die in an e-scooter accident when she hit a lorry while riding in Battersea, south London.

And one day after her death a 14-year-old boy was left fighting for his life in hospital after he crashed his vehicle into a bus stop elsewhere in the capital.

On Monday, Gone Girl and Cocktail actress Lisa Banes died, 10 days after she was mowed down in a hit-and-run by an electric scooter in New York.

The 65-year-old, from Los Angeles, was on her way to meet her wife for a dinner party on the Upper West Side when she was struck by a rider who blew through a red light.

Police data released last month showed that e-scooters have been used in hundreds of offences in London, including assaults, burglaries and anti-social behaviour.

Met Police said: 'The riding of e-scooters on Londons roads and pavements remains illegal and potentially dangerous.

'Under current legislation, e-scooters can only be driven on private land.

'The Mets Roads and Transport Policing Command continues to conduct operations across the capital to engage with e-scooter users, taking enforcement action where necessary.'
A councillor who was jailed for his part in a drug-smuggling ring has been appointed the co-chair of a county's police and crime panel.

Ross Henning, who was imprisoned for two years in 1987 after admitting his role in smuggling cocaine worth 500,000 from Bolivia, has been elected co-chairman of the Wiltshire police and crime panel.

It comes just months after the Conservative's leading candidate for Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) was disqualified from standing after a historic drink driving conviction came to light.

Under electoral rules, anyone with a conviction for an imprisonable offence is unable to run for the PCC role - but the same rules do not apply to the police and crime panel.

Cllr Henning, 67, believes that as a rehabilitated convict he brings a unique point of view to the panel - which oversees the police and crime commissioner.

He says that since his conviction he has dedicated three decades to helping others including setting up the pilot for the Wiltshire Young Offending Team and chairing the Calne Community Safety Forum for eight years.

Wiltshire councillor Ross Henning has been appointed co-chair of the county's crime panel despite being convicted of helping to smuggle cocaine worth 500,000 from Bolivia in 1980s

Disqualified: Wiltshire PCC Conservative candidate Jonathan Seed (pictured with Prime Minister Boris Johnson) had to withdraw from the race due to a 1993 drink-driving conviction

'I've been on the police committee because of my unique experience with policing and I have tried to use my experience to help and benefit others,' he said.

'My convictions are spent, and I've spent decades trying to repay society, and to use my experience to help others. So, the two things are not linked at all.'

He added that he was honoured to rise to the position because it shows how far rehabilitation can bring someone.

'We should give people a chance rather than banging them down all the time,' he said.

'This is something I know about, and I know about it from a point of view that not many, in my position, would be able to understand.'

The same county saw further controversy in May when the front-running Wiltshire PCC Conservative candidate Jonathon Seed was disqualified before the count, due to a 1993 drink-driving conviction.

Mr Seed received 40 per cent of the vote in the first round and was elected after it went to a second ballot but was unable to take up the post.

The party said Mr Seed, who had been hoping to take over from departing Conservative colleague Angus Macpherson, had been 'disbarred' after a driving offence had 'come to light'.

Ross Henning (pictured, left, in 1980s and, right, today) believes that as a rehabilitated convict he brings a unique point of view to the panel - which oversees police and crime commissioner

Andy Brown, Wiltshire Council corporate director for resources, and deputy chief executive, said: 'Criminal convictions don't prevent someone from being a councillor unless they have been convicted and received a prison sentence, or suspended sentence, of three months or more in the five years before the election.

'It is up to the political parties to nominate their representatives on committees, and for the police and crime panel the chair and vice chair were then voted by councillors on that panel.'

Questions were raised about the double standard that this might present, but PCC Lib Dem candidate Cllr Brian Mathew said Cllr Henning has been open and honest about his past.

Henning was jailed for his role in cocaine smuggling operation Ross Henning was arrested in 1986 after UK customs officers found 5.5lb of cocaine hidden inside a statue, in a suitcase, belonging to his college friend Paul Copeland. During an investigation, officers discovered Copeland had had parcels of cocaine delivered from South America to Henning's grandparents' house in Chippenham. According to reports at the time, Cllr Hennings told arresting Customs officers: 'I allowed him to use the house with two Bolivian friends. 'They manufactured cocaine which was sold to friends in London.' He also admitted taking cocaine and being sent the drug in film canisters from Bolivia during 1982 and 1983. At the time of his arrest, Cllr Henning was a Wiltshire county councillor, leader of the SDP in the town and a governor at Hardenhuish School. He was sentenced to two years at Islewood Crown Court in 1987. Advertisement

'I think there's a big difference between that and keeping something secret,' he added.

'Ross has done huge amounts of work with restorative justice and turned what could have been a dreadful thing into a real positive.

'That is the benefit of someone who has been honest and open about his past and the benefit of the people who have worked with him on the Calne Community Safety Forum.

'To show not just remorse but to use that experience for the betterment and that is something that Ross has certainly done.'

Mike Rees who ran as an independent in the previous PCC election said people should not be continually punished for past mistakes.

'People should be given the opportunity to turn their lives around,' he said.

'I've got no issue with the fact he's made mistakes in the past and has appeared to turn his life around.'

In 2004, councillors had refused to work with Cllr Henning while he was mayor of Chippenham after learning of his conviction.

Despite calls at the time for his resignation, Cllr Henning refused as he said his past was never hidden, adding: 'I committed and served time for this crime almost 20 years ago.

'Even though I have been rehabilitated, I feel the label of a criminal will always be there.'

Labour PCC candidate and Police & Crime panel chairman, Junab Ali said: 'He's done his time. He's put his hand up but look at what he's achieved since.. he's been a town councillor, a Wiltshire councillor, Chippenham Town Mayor.

'He's reformed his life; he's done incredible work with children and young people to stop them getting into trouble.

'We put people in prison, but if we don't allow them to reform themselves, it'll just be a vicious circle.

'He has reformed himself and it will be a very useful perspective to have someone who has been on the other side of it, who has seen the other side of the criminal justice system, who has seen what it is to be in prison.

'He made a very serious mistake, and he's had to live with that ever since, but he's put it behind him and that's why I will support him as vice chairman of the Police and Crime Panel.'
EasyJet has moved aircraft from the UK to Germany in response to the countries' differing approaches to coronavirus travel restrictions.

A number of planes due to take holidaymakers from the UK to Palma on the Spanish island of Mallorca are departing from Berlin instead, the airline said.

The removal of Portugal from the UK Government's green list means people returning from every major viable tourist destination must self-isolate.

The majority of countries, including Spain, are on the amber list.

A number of planes due to take holidaymakers from the UK to Palma on the Spanish island of Mallorca are departing from Berlin instead, the airline said (file photo)

The removal of Portugal from the UK Government's green list means people returning from every major viable tourist destination must self-isolate (file photo)

Travellers returning from amber locations must take a pre-departure coronavirus test, plus two post-arrival PCR tests costing around 100, and self-isolate for 10 days.

A number of industry experts believe the delay in the next easing of domestic rules means international travel will not be opened up before the end of July.

EasyJet said in a statement: 'With 50 per cent of easyJet's flying intra-Europe, we are seeing European governments are progressively opening up using frameworks in place which enable travel and much of it restriction-free.

'And this relaxation and removal of restrictions has sparked a positive booking momentum across Europe, with the majority of our bookings showing a strong swing towards Europe when in normal times it would be a 50/50 split with the UK.

'We are fortunate that we are able to redirect flying on our European network; for example, we have moved capacity from the UK to Palma to Berlin-Palma flying, and over the past week we have added 150,000 further seats to our intra-European network.

'Europe is demonstrating that a safe reopening of travel is possible and so we continue to urge the UK Government to do so urgently so our customers can reunite with loved ones or travel for a much-needed break.'

Top European resorts including Spain and Turkey are 'unlikely to be added to the green list before August' - as demand for flights to Gibraltar, Israel and Iceland soars

Toni Mayor, head of Hosbec Valenica, said he expects return later in the summer

His comments come after a meeting with UK ambassador, reports the Telegraph

It comes as demand for flights to UK travel green list countries have now soared

Top European resorts are unlikely to be added to the green list 'before August', foreign tourism chiefs have reportedly been told, leaving millions of Britons facing another summer without a holiday abroad.

UK ambassadors are said to have warned foreign tourism bosses that the return of British travellers to traditional holiday hot-spots such as Spain and Turkey will be pushed back until later this summer.

It comes as holiday firm TUI announced yesterday that it was axing more of its trips to top European holiday destinations up until July.

And one travel expert today warned that July was now being regarded as a 'white-wash' for industry bosses.

Despite this, some firms are reporting a spike in demand for flights to Gibraltar, Israel and Iceland - which are all currently on the UK's green list.

Meanwhile, a new report by Which? today revealed how less than one per cent of travel insurances are providing 'complete cover' for Covid-related disruption.

The latest travel set-back will be a particular blow to traditional holiday destinations - including the likes of Portugal, Greece France - which are currently on the UK's amber list.

Toni Mayor, head of the Hosbec association of Valencia region hoteliers, said he did not expect to see the bulk of UK tourism take off until August, according to the Telegraph.

The fresh holidays blow comes amid a spike in demand for flights to Gibraltar, Israel and Iceland - which are all currently on the UK's green list

There has also been a 40 per cent increase in demand for flights to Iceland. Pictured: Geysir Strokkur - a popular tourist hot spot in Iceland

His comments come after a meeting with Hugh Elliott, who has been the UK's Ambassador to Spain and non-resident Ambassador to Andorra since 2019.

Meanwhile, tourism chiefs in Turkey are also understood to have received a similar message, after a meeting with UK Foreign Office officials, the Telegraph adds.

The news has sparked concern within the industry. Some now fear July - one of the busiest and most profitable months of the summer holiday season - will now be a blow-out for the travel industy.

Travel expert Paul Charles, CEO of the PC Agency, said travel firms have already written off July as a return for summer holidays.

'July is a white-wash,' he told MailOnline.

Greek hotel bosses accuse the UK Government of banning travel so that tourists spend more money at home Greek hoteliers believe the UK Government is deliberately keeping Britons from holidaying abroad so that they will spend more money at home, according to the boss of a leading travel company. Graham Simpson, the founder of Simpson Travel, says those who run tourist businesses in Greece cannot understand why Britain is preventing visits to destinations where Covid figures are extremely low. They are now challenging the UK Government to justify its decision by providing facts and data. Speaking about a prevailing mood of 'shock, despair and worry', Mr Simpson said: 'I had a meeting with 18 hoteliers and the MP of Zakynthos [an Ionian island], who are extremely concerned. 'Usually 70 per cent of hotel guests are from the UK. They don't understand why British tourists are unable to travel to Greece. 'They believe the UK Government is trying to keep their population in the UK to ensure money is kept in the UK.' Describing the vaccination programme in Greece as 'tremendous', Mr Simpson, who lives part of the year in Paxos with his Greek wife Yianna, said he had been fully vaccinated by April. He said Paxos had recorded zero deaths and only five cases in the past five months. There had been no cases on the Ionian island of Meganisi and the situation was similar on Lefkada, Kefalonia, Ithaca and Zakynthos. He added: 'On Corfu, the island with the biggest population of around 120,000, there have been ten to 15 cases a day. Vaccination is taken very seriously and a new law means anyone working in the travel industry must be vaccinated. 'You are more likely to get infected at Gatwick Airport where people have encountered queues of two or more hours alongside other arrivals from around the world and confronted with disorganisation and untrained staff. 'It's clear the Government have not made any plan for the UK population to travel this summer.' Advertisement

'Most firms are now looking beyond that, so it will be August that they will be looking at for the restart.'

Mr Charles said the decision to push back green-listing countries such as Greece, Spain and Portugal at one of the busiest points of the summer holiday season could result in 'billions of pounds in losses' for the industry.

He said: 'The travel industry does around half of its business in summer.

'So I would say the losses will run into the billions, when you take into account refunds and loss of sales. You've also got the cost of moving the planes to be parked and the cost of staff and running the business itself.'

Mr Charles called on the Government to set a firm date for the full return of international travel.

'They have set July 19 as the date for ending of domestic restrictions, the Government needs to set a date, perhaps July 31, when travel will be restored.

'It needs to give confidence in the sector or there will be more companies that go under and job losses.'

Meanwhile, figures from Skyscanner, and reported in the Times, show how holidaymakers are rushing to book flights to holiday destinations on the green list.

Flights to Gibraltar have seen a 115 per cent increase in seats sold at the beginning of July, compared to the previous week.

EasyJet, Wizz Air, British Airways and Eastern Airways have all reportedly put on extra flights to Gibraltar to meet the demand.

There has also been a 40 per cent increase in demand for flights to Iceland.

Both are currently on the UK's travel green list, meaning tourists can return from these countries without having to quarantine.

Those returning from amber list countries, such as Portugal, Spain, Greece and America, all face a 10-day period of self-isolation and two negative PCR-tests on arrival in the UK.

Those on the red-list are required to stay in a quarantine hotel for up to 10-days.

Israel, another country which has been on the green list since the traffic light system was announced last month, is set to open its borders for UK travel next month.

The country, which has been involved in a recent heightened conflict with Gaza, has been closed to UK holidaymakers since the pandemic began last year.

The country's tourist office told the Times it had been approached by a number of tour operators ahead of July 1.

Today a spokesperson for the Department for Transport told MailOnline said its traffic light system 'cautiously balances the reopening of international travel with managing the risk of imported variants'.

The spokesperson added: 'This list is regularly reviewed using the most up-to-date, robust data to ensure we keep the general public safe.'

It comes as holiday booking company TUI yesterday cancelled more trips to Greece, Spain and Italy until July as it was announced that Freedom Day is being pushed back by four weeks.

It has already been forced to cancel bookings before during the pandemic so it is believed that the latest decision is a bid to avoid losing more money.

The move comes after Jet2 cancelled all international flights and holidays up to July 1 and Easyjet is 'reviewing' its flights in the wake of traffic light chaos.

The latest TUI holidays to get the axe, according to Travel Weekly, are:

Up to and including July 4: Aruba, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece  Crete (Chania), Kavala, Kefalonia, Mykonos, Preveza, Samos, Santorini, Skiathos, Thessaloniki, Italy, Jamaica, Malta, Spain  Mainland Spain, Formentera, Mallorca, Ibiza, Menorca, La Palma, all Tui, Lakes & Mountains destinations.

Up to and including July 11: Bulgaria, Cape Verde, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Mexico, Morocco, Tunisia, Turkey.

TUI has already been forced to cancel bookings before during the pandemic so it is believed that the latest decision is a bid to avoid losing more money. Pictured: Passengers arriving at Heathrow Airport last month

The latest holidays to get the axe are: Up to and including July 4: Aruba, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece - Crete (Chania), Kavala, Kefalonia, Mykonos, Preveza, Samos, Santorini, Skiathos, Thessaloniki, Italy, Jamaica, Malta, Spain (pictured) - Mainland Spain, Formentera, Mallorca, Ibiza, Menorca, La Palma, all Tui, Lakes & Mountains destinations

The UK's current travel green list According to the Department for Transport, as of June 15, the current UK travel green list includes: Australia

Brunei

Falkland Islands

Faroe Islands

Gibraltar

Iceland

Israel and Jerusalem

New Zealand

Singapore

South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands

St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Advertisement

The company also had to cancel all holidays which include non-Tui flights to Indonesia, Maldives, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand and UAE up to including July 11.

Jet2 originally suspended its services up to June 24 when the green list was announced.

But now all flights for this month have been cancelled amid a spate of changes - including moving Portugal, Madeira and the Azores to the amber list.

Flights to Turkey, which is on the red list of the Government's traffic light system, will be held until July 22 as the restrictions look unlikely to ease.

Jet2 boss Steve Heapy blasted the Government for confusion surrounding the last-minute changes.

He called for 'openness and transparency' on coronavirus data so that the industry could better understand decisions affecting airlines and their customers.

TUI told Travel Weekly: 'We want to offer our customers flexibility and choice this summer, so where borders are open and FCDO advice allows travel, we will operate to those destinations as planned.

'We are constantly reviewing our holiday programme and cancellations in line with the government updates every three weeks, with the next update expected on 24 June.

'All customers will be contacted as soon as possible if there is any change to their booking.'

TUI also had to cancel all holidays which include non-Tui flights to Indonesia, Maldives, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand and UAE up to including July 11

Less than 1 per cent of travel insurance policies provide 'complete cover' for Covid-related disruption, new report finds Less than one in 100 travel insurance policies provide 'complete' cover for coronavirus-related disruption, according to Which? Out of 263 travel insurance policies, the consumer group rated just two as offering complete Covid-19 cover. The policies are HSBC UK select and cover and Barclays travel pack. They protect travellers against cancellation due to changes in advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) or Government lockdowns prohibiting travel; testing positive for Covid-19 or being told to self-isolate; and medical costs and repatriation. Both policies are available to customers of these banks and can only be bought alongside other insurance products, Which? said. The consumer group said buying good quality insurance has never been more important as disruption to international travel continues. It added that while some travel insurers boast of offering impressive-sounding 'Covid cover', many policies exclude plausible - and often expensive - scenarios, such as new lockdowns in the UK or destination country. Which? also rated 85 policies it looked at as superior, providing cancellation cover for travellers having to self-isolate without a positive test, but not for FCDO advice changing. Superior-rated policies included those from providers AA, Axa and Staysure. Just over half of the policies (142) were ranked low. They offer some cancellation cover - but do not cover travellers cancelling in the event of needing to self-isolate without having a positive coronavirus test result. And 34 policies were ranked as basic - the lowest ranking. Basic policies provide travellers with cover for coronavirus-related emergency medical costs and repatriation. Every policy analysed offered cover for medical and repatriation costs for travellers catching Covid-19 while travelling. Advertisement

'All customers impacted by these cancellations will be contacted directly and will be able to request a full cash refund, or to change to a later date or alternative holiday and receive a booking incentive,' Tui added.

'If we need to cancel any future holidays because of updated government guidance, we will be in touch directly and aim to give customers at least seven days' notice.

'We would like to thank our customers for their understanding at this time.'

Meanwhile, budget airline EasyJet said it is reviewing flights to Portugal after the country was taken off the green list for travel.

A spokesman said: 'As a result of the Government's sudden announcement placing Portugal on the amber list from next week, we are currently reviewing our flying programme to the country in the coming days.

'If customers want to change their plans, we offer the option to transfer their flights to another date or destination on EasyJet's network without a change fee up to two hours before departure.

'Any customers whose flights are cancelled will be provided with their options which include receiving a full refund or transferring to an alternative flight free of charge.'

It comes after travel industry chiefs last week blasted the Government's 'crippling' decision to axe Portugal from its green list of safe destinations amid growing concern over the Nepal coronavirus variant.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced the Mediterranean country, whose economy relies greatly on UK tourists, is being moved to the amber list from 4am Tuesday following a rise in positive tests.

But the move triggered fury from travel industry chiefs, including the chief executives of Heathrow and EasyJet, who accused the Government of trying to 'isolate' Britain from the world and warned that another 'lost summer' could lead to a jobs bloodbath and billions more being wiped from the economy.

Figures compiled for the Mail by the all-party Future of Aviation group of MPs last night projected that the cost to the economy could be as much as 11.5billion in outbound travel alone if the current restrictions remain through the next three months. Meanwhile, fears were raised for the 1.6million jobs the aviation, travel and tourism sector creates.

It comes after furious Tory MPs lashed out at Boris Johnson as he prepares to delay Freedom Day and the end of lockdown for four weeks.

The Prime Minister will urge Britons to be patient as he announces that the relaxation of Covid restrictions will be pushed back until July 19 because of the rampaging Indian variant, to allow more people to receive their second vaccine dose.

But he is set to offer an olive branch to some industries that will be worst-hit by the delay, including lifting the cap on the number of guests who can attend weddings. He is also expected to permit more outdoor seated spaces at sporting events.

The concessions come as Tory MPs join hospitality and other business leaders in venting their fury at the postponement, warning it will cost firms millions of pounds.

The Prime Minister faced calls for a 'break clause' to cut short the lockdown extension after two or three weeks' if the data allows it.

Conservative MP Damian Green has told the Westminster Hour that there should be a break clause after two or three weeks of the extension.

'I get the point that because of the deltas variant the cases have gone up, hospitalisation has gone up a bit but not a lot and is below the level of some of the Sage predictions of a few months ago,' he said.

'So I think if there is a delay I hope it's only for a few weeks and I think if it is as long as a month then there should be a break clause after two or maybe three weeks, to say that if we can tell by then that the rise in cases is not lading to a sort of rise in the serious illness that sends people into hospital, then we can unlock earlier.'
President Joe Biden on Tuesday declined to offer details about his one-on-one meeting with Turkish President Recep Erdogan, saying he'd let the Turks talk about it.

'We had long discussions and I feel very good about our meeting. I'll let the Turks tell you about it,' he told reporters when he arrived at the Europa Building for meetings with European leaders.

Both Biden and Erdogan have remained upbeat about their session even though they did not announce any major break throughs with several areas of tension in their relationship.

'We had a positive and productive meeting, much of it one-on-one,' Biden said at his press conference Sunday night.

'Our teams are going to continue our discussions and I'm confident we'll make real progress with Turkey and the United States,' he added.

Erdogan called the talks 'productive and sincere.'

'We think that there are no issues between U.S. and Turkey relationship that are unsolvable and that areas of cooperation for us are richer and larger than problems,' he said.

Turkey, which has NATO's second-largest military, angered other members of the alliance by buying Russian surface-to-air missiles and intervening in wars in Syria and Libya. It is also in a standoff with Greece and Cyprus over territory in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Washington removed Turkey from the F-35 fighter jet program and imposed sanctions over Turkey's purchase of the Russian S-400 surface-to-air missiles.

Turkey, meanwhile, has offered to guard and operate Kabul airport after U.S. and NATO forces withdraw in coming weeks but Erdogan said they will need US assistance in order to do so.

'If they dont want us to leave Afghanistan, if they want a (Turkish) support there, then the diplomatic, logistic and financial support that the United States will give us will of great importance,' Erdogan said at a press conference after their meeting.

President Joe Biden declined to offer details about his one-on-one meeting with Turkish President Recep Erdogan

Both President Joe Biden and Turkish President Recep Erdogan shared upbeat message post meeting even though many areas of tension remain to be resolved

At Monday's NATO session, Erdogan gave President Biden an awkward fist bump and stroked his arm when they met for the first time since the US officially recognized the Armenian genocide.

Erdogan rose from his seat and smiled at the president's badly-timed gesture before engaging in a long conversation surrounded by aides ahead of their official bilateral meeting later on Monday.

The pair seemed cordial despite Erdogan's fury over Biden's announcement in April that his administration would call the deaths of up to 1.5 million Armenians during the First World War a genocide.

It is a moment that could be potentially embarrassing for the Turkish president who has never shied away from condemning the Wes.

They met after Biden said NATO is facing 'new challenges' from China and Russia and stressed his 'sacred obligations' to allies ahead of his summit with Vladimir Putin on Wednesday.

The Turkish president has made it clear he will let Biden know the president's statement on the Armenian genocide 'disturbed and upset us'.

'An ally country taking such a stance on an issue that has nothing to do with NATO, the issue of Armenians, has disturbed and upset us. It is not possible to go on without reminding (Biden of) this,' Erdogan said in comments before traveling to the summit.

He said he would also raise the White House recognition of the 1915 massacres of Armenians during the then Ottoman Empire as 'genocide.'

Turkey accepts that many Armenians living in the Ottoman Empire were killed in clashes with Ottoman forces in World War One, but denies the killings were systematically orchestrated and constitute genocide. After years of debate in Washington, the White House in April released a statement on the historical event that resulted in the deaths of 1.5 million.

President Joe Biden greets Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a plenary session at a NATO summit in Brussels

The two men shared an awkward fist bump ahead of their private sit down, where President Erdogan will tell Biden his disappointment that the US recognized Armenian genocide

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and President Joe Biden are seen ahead of their meeting within the NATO summit

Erdogan made it clear he will let Biden know the president's recent statement on the Armenian genocide 'disturbed and upset us' during their one-on-one meeting later on Monday.

President Biden also met with the leaders of three Baltic nations and the leaders of Russia and Poland to discuss the threat posed by Russia

French President Emmanuel Macron (C) speaks with President Joe Biden (R) next to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson during a plenary session at a NATO summit in Brussels

The bodies of deportees who died of typhus and other diseases in a forest near the Mother See of Etchmiadzin, about 15 miles from the capital of Yerevan, in 1915. An estimated two million Armenians were deported and 1.5 million were killed in the events known as Metz Yeghern

'There is a slight power dynamic showing as in the first photo when Erdogan is half seated half standing. Erdogan leans forward and bows his head slightly to the standing President Biden as they fist bump. Erdogan, pat on the back is a normal inclusion signal in Turkish culture in other cultures that may show paternal comfort. Still, here it means, 'You are one of us,'' body language expert Patti Wood told DailyMail.com.

The tense meeting is part of many Biden is holding at his first NATO summit as American president.

He met with the leaders of three Baltic nations to reassure them of US support before his Wednesday summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Geneva.

'It was a constructive warm vigorous engagement with the three leaders,' a senior administration official told reporters on a briefing call.

The president sat down with Prime Minister Kaja Kallas of Estonia, President Egils Levits of Latvia, and President Gitanas Nauseda of Lithuania and 'underscored strong U.S. support' for their security, according to the White House.

'The four leaders committed to further strengthening our political, military, and economic partnerships, including working together through NATO to address challenges posed by Russia and China,' the administration said in a statement.

The president also met with the leaders of Poland and Russia to talk about the threat posed by Russia.

'Let them know his intent for the summit on Russia on Wednesday,' a senior administration official said.

Biden will talk tough on China and Russia as he seeks the support of the transatlantic alliance and rebuild ties frayed under Donald Trump.

'I want NATO to know America is there,' Biden told Secretary General Jean Stoltenberg at the start of Monday's conference.

The president used the meeting to reaffirm America's commitment, calling NATO 'essential for America.'

And he reiterated the threat China and Russia pose to all members of the alliance.

'There is a growing recognition over the last couple years that we have new challenges. We have Russia, which is acting in a way that is not consistent with what we had hoped, and we have China,' he said.

Biden was cheerful the first day of the summit, smiling broadly and chatting with various world leaders. There were lots of pats on the back and arm slapping as the heads of the 30 member nations gathered around a large, round table at NATO headquarters.

Before the meeting, the leaders gathered for a 'family photo,' standing several feet apart and wearing face masks in compliance with Belgian COVID restrictions.

Biden had a prime spot in the center of the front row. Stoltenberg stood just over his right shoulder. Turkey's Erdogan was to his left, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis to his right.

The leaders were asked over the loudspeaker to remove their masks and look at the camera for 15 seconds. Then they were asked to turn back to the video cube to watch a video presentation  a highlight reel of sorts for the NATO alliance that had the organizations objectives ('combat climate change', 'support the rules based international order') interlaced with still photos and video and a heavy orchestral soundtrack.

Then the man on the loudspeaker said: 'Please put your masks back on and proceed to Room One' so the meeting could begin. The opening remarks from Stoltenberg were broadcast and then the meeting continued privately.

At the leader meeting, Biden fist-bumped Romanian President Klaus and also spoke with British PM Boris Johnson and NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Goeana.

And Belgium Prime Minister Alexander De Croo recognized Biden when he formally opened the meeting: : 'His presence emphasizes the renewal of the transatlantic partnership.'

President Joe Biden and other NATO heads of the states and governments pose for a family photo at the annual meeting

There are 30 member nations of the NATO alliance

France's President Emmanuel Macron, left, speaks with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken during a plenary session of the NATO summit

NATO leaders gather for their annual meeting

From left, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson, France's President Emmanuel Macron, and U.S. President Joe Biden during a plenary session during a NATO summit

President Joe Biden meets with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg during a NATO summit at its headquarters in Brussels

President Joe Biden is preparing to talk tough on China and Russia when he meets with NATO allies

Biden reaffirmed America's commitment to the alliance

Biden is using his first trip to Europe as president to rally allies to his side as he works to counter Beijing and Moscow's economic might, their cyber threat and a threat to national security. He has emphasized the countries' shared interest in democracy as a means to combat the authoritarian stance of Russia and China.

NATO leaders welcomed the new American president.

'I welcome the fact that we have a president of the United States who is strongly committed to NATO, to North America and Europe, working together in NATO,' Stoltenberg said.

The president stressed the United States had a 'sacred obligation' to the 30-member alliance and the principle of collective defense, stressing America's commitment to Article 5.

Trump refused to reaffirm NATO's Article 5 - which says when one member of the alliance is attacked, it is treated as if all members were attacked. And he complained about the amount of dues America paid to the alliance.

But Biden said he will 'make the case that we are back' when he speaks to allies and will defend the alliance.

'We do not view NATO as sort of protection racket. We believe that NATO is vital to maintaining American security for the remainder of the century,' the president said at a press conference in England on Sunday after he finished the G7 summit.

He reaffirmed the American commitment to Article 5.

'Remember what happened on 9/11. We were attacked. NATO immediately supported us,' he said. 'We believe NATO and Section 5 is a sacred obligation. Bottom line is I think we made some progress in re establishing American credibility among our closest friends.'

Additionally, the White House said the communique that will be signed by NATO members at the end of the summit is expected to include language about updating Article 5 to include major cyber attacks.

American companies and the federal government have fallen victim to a number of ransomware attacks made by hackers based in Russia.

The update will lay out that f an alliance member needs technical or intelligence support in response to a cyber attack, it would be able to invoke the mutual defense provision to receive assistance, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said.

Trump strained international ties with his isolationist strategy and his provocative comments about NATO leaders.

At Trump's last NATO meeting, in December 2019 in England, Trump feuded with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and French President Emmanuel Macron.

Trump was angry after Trudeau was caught on a hot mic gossiping with other leaders about Trump during a reception at Buckingham Palace.

And Trump said that Macron's description of NATO as brain dead was insulting and a 'very, very nasty statement.'

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures during family photo

Joe Biden touched down in Brussels on Sunday evening as he continues his first foreign trip as president

President Joe Biden is greeted as he steps off Air Force One in Brussels

President Joe Biden will spend his time in Brussels strengthening transatlantic relations frayed under President Donald Trump

During the meeting of the 30 NATO nations, the White House said they will launch an 'ambitious' set of initiatives to ensure the alliance keeps providing security through 2030 and beyond.

It said the member countries would agree to revise NATOs 'Strategic Concept' that will guide its 'approach to the evolving strategic environment, which includes Russia's aggressive policies and actions; challenges posed by the People's Republic of China to our collective security, prosperity, and values; and transnational threats such as terrorism, cyber threats, and climate change.'

Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said the US would come out of the G7, NATO and EU meetings in a position of strength.

'What we're demonstrating in each of these meetings and summits is that democracies can come together and work effectively to actually deliver results for our people, and by the way, for people around the world, and also when we're working together militarily, economically, diplomatically, politically, we're a very powerful force,' he said on 'Fox News Sunday.'

After Brussels, Biden will travel to Geneva to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 16.
ne photo showed books lining walls and a gun perched on an old chair inside the quaint cottage in Wiltshire

Urban explorer Elisa Smith, 33, from Crawley, West Sussex, captured images of the incredible time capsule

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An abandoned home of a war veteran has been captured filled to the brim with historic memorabilia including a revolver, an Imperial Service Medal and a letter on behalf of the Queen in 1961.

One photo showed books lining the walls and a gun perched on an old chair inside the quaint cottage in Wiltshire, while another taken from the stairs pictured several paintings lining the walls, including a replica of the Mona Lisa.

Dozens of appliances, pots and pans and boxes can also be seen left stacked upon one another in the kitchen.

Urban explorer Elisa Smith, 33, from Crawley, West Sussex, took the images of the incredible time capsule.

An old revolver pictured inside a Fry's Shilling Chocolate box at the abandoned home of a war veteran in Wiltshire. The images were captured by 33-year-old urban explorer Elisa Smith

A first aid training certificate from the British Red Cross and on behalf of her Majesty the Queen, dated 1961, pictured above in the abandoned cottage

A desk in the living room pictured covered in newspapers, magazines, photographs and books. A bookshelf can also be seen towards the left with framed pictures on top of the desk

An old smoking pipe rests upon two leather bound books, including the complete works of Polish-British writer Joseph Conrad, inside the thatched cottage in Wiltshire

An old photograph of the war veteran with his former naval colleagues was discovered inside one of the rooms of the abandoned home

A rifle is propped up on an old armchair inside the cottage in Wiltshire, in front of a bookcase filled with leather-bound novels

During her visit to the thatched cottage, Ms Smith took the pictures using her Samsung S20 and Canon Powershot cameras.

She said: 'When I entered the house, I was filled with adrenaline as us explorers often are.

'I could see right away it was a time capsule full of history. Right from the start, I could see he was an intelligent man as there were books everywhere I looked.

'Microscopes, slides, magnifying glasses, and so many telecommunication devices - including radios and phones - could be seen.

'To my amazement, I found he had received the Imperial Service Medal in 1970.

'There was also a first aid training letter from the British Red Cross and her Majesty the Queen dated 1961.

Magnifying glasses, smoking pipes, a framed letter, leather-bound books and newspaper clippings were found on a side table

A letter passing condolences to the war veteran for the loss of his wife was also found inside the abandoned home in Wiltshire

One bedroom filled with old books and items of clothing left on hangers seen inside the abandoned property in Wiltshire

The kitchen is seen filled with boxes, appliances, tea towels and kitchenware inside the thatched cottage once owned by a war veteran

'I think the saddest part for me though was a letter expressing their condolences for the loss of his wife, but he had kept all of her belongings in the drawer, bedside and bathroom.

'It seemed like a mark of true love.'

Adults between the ages of 55 to 94 are up to three times more likely to suffer from hoarding disorder than those between the ages of 34 to 44.

The items most commonly hoarded include books, newspapers, photographs and clothing.

An old doll sits on a side table next to the bed, with pictures, brushes, hair products and a clock also seen on the dresser

Clutter has filled the living room of the time capsule, with plastic bottles seen on a tabletop and boxes on the armchair

Old black and white framed photographs of family members can be seen on the mantelpiece and throughout the property

The bathroom cupboard is seen still filled with shampoo, shaving products, a hairbrush and aftershave inside the cottage
A historian believes he has solved the gruesome 124-year-old murder of a barmaid on a London train.

After studying the evidence for a decade, Dr Jan Bondeson believes he has proof a 33-year-old barmaid was killed by a Jack the Ripper copycat who had purchased a false moustache to avoid identification.

The professor says his research proves a man named Arthur Miller killed the barmaid in a rage, while wearing a false moustache, and later bragged he had done a 'Jack the Ripper' job.

Elizabeth Camp was travelling to Waterloo station when she was brutally murdered on February 11, 1897.

The 33-year-old's body was found by a carriage cleaner with her head wedged underneath a seat and her legs outstretched on the floor.

Her skull had been bashed in from repeated blows by a blunt instrument.

Scotland Yard investigated the heinous killing, searching every inch of the track between Vauxhall and Putney in south London for clues.

Here, they found a large, heavy pestle with blood and hair on it which they identified as the murder weapon.

Historian Dr Jan Bondeson believes he has finally solved the gruesome 124-year-old murder of barmaid Elizabeth Camp. Pictured: A train conductor discovers her body in a train carriage

However, they never charged anyone in connection with the crime which has remained a mystery - until now.

Over a century later, historian Dr Jan Bondeson has pored over the evidence in the case, including police files, to try and identify her killer.

He believes the person responsible for her brutal death was 25-year-old Arthur Marshall, the son of a Reading publican.

He has outlined his theory in his book, Rivals of the Ripper, which sheds new light on several grisly late 19th century murders.

Dr Bondeson, of Cardiff University, said Marshall may have killed Miss Camp in a fit of rage as she resembled an ex-girlfriend who had left him to emigrate to America.

He said it seems likely that Marshall used a false moustache during the murder to trick possible witnesses in the event of an identity parade.

Dr Bondeson said: 'This murder should have been solved at the time as it took place on a train but no witnesses came forward and a man was spotted running from the train so it is extremely likely it was him.

'It has taken me 10 years to research this crime and I have looked at police files at the National Archives and newspapers of the day as her murder was a huge story.

After poring over evidence, Dr Jan Bondeson believes Ms Camp (left) was murdered by Arthur Marshall (right), the son of a publican who bought a moustache on the day of the murder

'The police did not charge Arthur Marshall as they couldn't understand why he would kill a complete stranger, but there is a theory that she resembled his ex-girlfriend who ran off to America.

'It was very suspicious that he bought a false moustache on the day and it appears this was done to conceal his identity in a clever ploy.'

Miss Camp, from Shoreditch, east London, had been on a day out to see her two sisters in Feltham, west London, before catching the train back to Waterloo.

Her fiance, greengrocer Edward Barry, was waiting at the platform there to meet her upon arrival at 8.25pm that night.

A sketch of the murder of Elizabeth Camp

Dr Bondeson said a man matching Marshall's description was spotted by a workman with badly blood-stained clothes after leaving the train at Wandsworth, en route to Waterloo.

He believes her killer must have alighted at Wandsworth, Clapham Junction or Vauxhall, with the porter observing a 'wild-eyed' character leaping out of the train in a hurry.

Scotland Yard's attention first turned to Mr Barry but both he and Miss Camp's former boyfriend William Brown had 'rock solid' alibis.

Another tip-off was that the eccentric barrister Charles Prideaux might have been involved in the murder, but he was in a private asylum.

At about 9pm on the night of Miss Camp's murder, a barman at the Alma public house opposite Wandsworth Station said he served a scruffily dressed young man acting strangely.

He had a large brown moustache and was wearing a ripped coat covered in fresh blood spots.

The witness also noticed scratch marks on his face.

The man was later identified as Marshall and he was arrested in bed at his father's pub two weeks later.

During the police interview he told them he travelled from Reading to Guildford, and then on to Waterloo.

Pictured: The funeral procession of barmaid Elizabeth Camp as it leaves St Peter's Church

At the coroner's inquest, Marshall said he had bought a large fake moustache from a shop on the day of the murder as he thought if he wore it he would be more likely to be accepted in the Army.

He was shown a portrait of Miss Camp and claimed he had never seen her in his life, but two labourers who spoke to him said he told them he had done a 'Jack the Ripper' job.

In the end, detectives decided there was not enough evidence to charge Marshall and the coroner recorded that Miss Camp had been slayed 'by person unknown'.

Dr Bondeson said this was an 'understandable' mistake given the facts known at the time, but all the signs point at Marshall being the culprit.

He said: 'The identity of the man at the Alma is crucial for the solution of the murder of Elizabeth Camp.

'One of the four Alma witnesses picked out Arthur Marshall with certainty, although he lacked a moustache, and another did so in a tentative manner, while two other witnesses failed to recognise him.

'Arthur Marshall's strange behaviour after the murder is also notable - why did he hint to complete strangers that he had committed a crime, and that the detectives were after him?'

He added: 'It is understandable why Marshall was released from police custody, and why the coroner's inquest returned a verdict of murder against some person unknown.

'There was nothing to suggest that he had ever known Miss Camp, no evidence linked him to the pestle, and he had no previous conviction for serious crime.

'...This railway traveller got a fixed idea that he should kill a woman, and that he had purchased the false moustache and the pestle in Guildford.

'When he sees an unprotected woman in a second-class carriage, he is struck by her likeness to his own faithless girlfriend, who had left him and gone to America.

'Before the train comes into Wandsworth, he attacks her with the pestle in a murderous rage, before he leaves the train in a great hurry, aghast at what he had just done.'

Rivals of the Ripper, by Dr Jan Bondeson, is published by History Press in paperback and costs 14.99.
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The report that shames the Met: Key findings from eight-year, 16million inquiry into murder of Daniel Morgan The report criticised 'dishonesty' by the Metropolitan Police for 'reputation benefit' which it said 'constitutes a form of institutional corruption'

The police's handling of the murder scene in 1987 was 'totally inadequate' as it was not secured and was left unguarded;

Alibis were not sought for all suspects, search warrants were 'seriously inadequate' and many opportunities lost were not retrievable;

Evidence of a culture within the Met at the time which allowed 'very close association' between police officers and 'individuals linked to crime' which included them drinking in pubs together;

Officers who were involved in 'lucrative corrupt practices' such as selling confidential details may have been concerned by indications that Mr Morgan was going to report corruption;

Some ten officers involved in the police investigations were Freemasons, which had aroused suspicions of conflicting loyalties;

Mr Morgan's family 'suffered grievously' because of the failure to bring his murderer or murderers to justice, 'misinformation' and a 'denial of the failings' in the investigations;

A later probe by an external force, Hampshire, was found to have been compromised by the inclusion of a senior Met officer on the team

Also criticised the Met for then Assistant Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick's initial refusal to grant access to a police internal data system called HOLMES and the most sensitive information; Advertisement

Dame Cressida Dick has apologised but is refusing to resign after a damning inquiry into the 1987 murder of a private investigator who was looking into bent cops branded her force 'institutionally corrupt' and condemned her for blocking the gathering of evidence.

The Metropolitan Police Commissioner said it is a 'matter of great regret that no one has been brought to justice' in the case of Daniel Morgan, who was killed with an axe to the head in the car park of the Golden Lion pub in Sydenham, south-east London.

A report into the matter today revealed that officers who took bungs in brown envelopes, 'moonlighted' in other jobs and sold lucrative information to criminals may have scuppered the probe into Mr Morgan's murder.

Officers were even paid not to arrest criminals who controlled their superiors, who also demanded 10 per cent of detectives' overtime and expenses payments each month, it was claimed.

And bent cops may have sunk the investigation having 'thought that their police careers and pensions were under threat' and that 'future, potentially lucrative corrupt practices' would be stopped, today's report says.

Despite five police inquiries and an inquest, no-one has been brought to justice over the father-of-two's death, with the Metropolitan Police admitting corruption had hampered the original murder investigation.

There is now a 50,000 cash reward for information leading to the successful prosecution of those responsible for the murder.

The report says hardly any photos were taken of the crime scene, and the Met says the ones that were 'cannot now be found'. It added that there was no 'evidential continuity' for many of the exhibits seized during the investigation and that lines of enquiry were not followed through properly.

The family of Mr Morgan had today called on the police chief to resign after Scotland Yard was condemned for 'systemic failings' including widespread 'institutional corruption' following his murder 34 years ago and having a culture of obstruction and secrecy that remains in 2021.

And today's report also said obstructive behaviour by the force had dragged an inquiry expected to take 12 months out to eight years - at a cost to the taxpayer of 16million.

Dame Cressida, who was then Assistant Commissioner, was criticised for her initial refusal to grant access to a police internal data system called HOLMES which contained the most sensitive information relating to the case. This forced a panel member to travel across the capital to a Met site on the outskirts of East London whenever they wanted to see files, before an encrypted laptop was eventually provided last September.

Describing the culture at the time, one unnamed Detective Constable told the Panel of a practice in the world-famous Flying Squad. He said: 'If you got posted to their squad the first morning you would find a brown envelope on your desk with money in it. If you didn't accept it then the result was that by lunchtime you were posted back to your old position.'

Running to more than 1,200 pages, the panel scrutinised 110,000 documents amounting to more than a million pages as well as a substantial amount of sensitive or secret material held by police as it examined the murder of the private investigator which took place more than 30 years ago.

The panel accuses the Metropolitan Police of a 'form of institutional corruption' for concealing or denying failings over the unsolved killing - and said its handling of the case means that his killers will likely escape justice.

It found the force's first objective was to 'protect itself' by failing to acknowledge its many failings since the murder. The report is being viewed as a watershed moment for the force, similar to when it was found to be 'institutionally racist' following the murder of Stephen Lawrence.

The Metropolitan Police said in a statement today: 'We deeply regret that no-one has been convicted of Daniel's murder. We have not stopped pursuing justice.

'We accept corruption was a major factor in the failure of the 1987 investigation. This compounded the pain suffered by Daniel's family and for this we apologise.'

Today's damning report, seen as the force's darkest day since the 1997 Macpherson report found the force was 'institutionally racist' following the murder Stephen Lawrence, also found:

The police's handling of the murder scene in 1987 was 'totally inadequate' as it was not secured and was left unguarded;

Alibis were not sought for all suspects, search warrants were 'seriously inadequate' and many opportunities lost were not retrievable;

Evidence of a culture within the Met at the time which allowed 'very close association' between police officers and 'individuals linked to crime' which included them drinking in pubs together;

Officers who were involved in 'lucrative corrupt practices' such as selling confidential details may have been concerned by indications that Mr Morgan was going to report corruption;

Mr Morgan's family 'suffered grievously' because of the failure to bring his murderer or murderers to justice, 'misinformation' and a 'denial of the failings' in the investigations;

Some ten officers involved in the police investigations were Freemasons, which had aroused suspicions of conflicting loyalties;

A later probe by an external force, Hampshire, was found to have been compromised by the inclusion of a senior Met officer on the team

Also criticised the Met for then Assistant Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick's initial refusal to grant access to a police internal data system called HOLMES and the most sensitive information;

Daniel Morgan, pictured, was investigating claims of corruption within the Metropolitan Police when he was murdered in 1987 - and the force failed him and his family ever since. His brother Alastair told the media today that Cressida Dick should resign

Alastair Morgan blames Dame Cressida for his mother not getting to see the report before she died in 2017

Morgan was hacked to death with an axe outside the Golden Lion pub in Sydenham, south London

Panel members are pictured today following the publication the Daniel Morgan report at Church House in Westminster

Morgan's family believe he was on the verge of exposing police corruption when he was killed.

After the devastating report was published this afternoon, Daniel's brother Alastair, who has fought for justice for years, said Commissioner Cressida Dick should 'absolutely' be considering whether to resign.

Mr Morgan said Dame Cressida had been in charge of disclosure of information to the inquiry at one point.

'She has made it very difficult. Whether she should resign? I think certainly we need much better leadership than she has provided here,' he said.

He added: 'Anyone with any knowledge of the history of the police knows how much they hate scrutiny, and I think she has been true to form in that respect.'

Who was involved in the Daniel Morgan case? Daniel Morgan: Private investigator who was murdered in the car park of the Golden Lion pub in Sydenham, South East London, on March 10, 1987 . Jonathan Rees: Mr Morgan's business partner who was charged with murder in February 1989. Three months later, the case was dropped. He was later charged with murder in 2008 but the prosecution collapsed in March 2011. In 2019, he was awarded a six-figure sum in damages after suing the Metropolitan Police for malicious prosecution. Paul Goodridge: Bodyguard who was also charged with murder in February 1989. The Crown Prosecution Service dropped the case - and Mr Goodridge went on to sue Hampshire Constabulary over the charge. Jean Wisden: Mr Goodridge's girlfriend who was charged with perverting the course of justice in February 1989. The case was also dropped by the CPS. Glenn and Gary Vian: Mr Rees's brothers-in-law who were charged with murder in 2008, before the prosecution collapsed in 2011. They were later both awarded six-figure sums in damages after suing the Metropolitan Police for malicious prosecution. Glenn Vian (left) and Garry Vian (right) James Cook: A builder who was also charged with Mr Morgan's murder in 2008. Police failures in disclosing evidence and handling of key witnesses led to the prosecution collapsing by March 2011. Kevin Lennon: Former bookkeeper at Southern Investigations, the firm that Mr Morgan founded with Jonathan Rees. Mr Lennon told police that Mr Rees had told him: 'I've the perfect solution for Daniel's murder, my mates at Catford nick are going to arrange it.' This was thought to mean that police officers in the Catford area known by Mr Rees would make sure that he was not caught. The panel found there was not enough evidence to prove police involvement in Mr Morgan's murder. Sid Fillery: Former police officer who was charged with perverting the course of justice in 2008, before the case collapsed in 2011. The report found Mr Fillery, who joined Southern Investigations after Mr Morgan died, went drinking with police officers even after they had been made suspects in the murder investigation. David Cook: Senior investigating officer who was placed under surveillance by News of the World journalists but was criticised for being allowed to 'act freely in contravention of many established procedures and practices in breach of his duties as a police officer'. Alastair Morgan: Mr Morgan's brother who has campaigned for decades for justice over what is one of Scotland Yard's longest-running cold cases. Priti Patel: Home Secretary who has been criticised by the panel after a row over the release of the report which was originally due to be published in May. The panel said they were 'disappointed' by the delay she caused. Today, Ms Patel said 'questions remain' about the ability of the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) to 'hold the police to account'. Baroness Nuala O'Loan: Former Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman who chaired the latest independent inquiry which reported back today after eight years. She said: 'Concealing or denying failings for the sake of an organisation's public image is dishonesty on the part of the organisation for reputational benefit, and constitutes a form of institutional corruption.' Advertisement

The family's solicitor Raju Bhatt added: 'You heard from the panel that the institutionalised corruption that they found is a current problem in the present tense. The current leadership in the Met has to take responsibility for that continuing.'

Alastair Morgan blames Dame Cressida for his mother not getting to see the report before she died in 2017 - and the inquiry condemned her force's culture which 'still inhibits both organisational and individual accountability'.

Baroness Nuala O'Loan's report - which has cost the taxpayer 16million since being set up nearly eight years ago - found the force placed its reputation 'above the need for accountability and transparency' and its first objective was to 'protect itself' for failing to acknowledge its many failings since Daniel Morgan's murder.

Bungled police investigations 'compounded the suffering and trauma' of Daniel Morgan's family in the decades after he was killed with an axe, she said.

And the Met owe Daniel Morgan's family, and the public, an apology for not confronting its systemic failings and those of individual officers, the panel's report found. And in more grief for Daniel's family, the report concluded that it is now 'most unlikely' there will be a successful prosecution for Daniel Morgan's murder because of the 'multiple police failings over many years, the death of witnesses and the passage of time'.

Meanwhile Home Secretary Priti Patel - who was criticised by the panel for delaying the report so she could read through it - said 'questions remain' about the ability of the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) to 'hold the police to account'.

She said a review of the organisation would now be brought forward, adding: 'There can be no confidence in the integrity of policing without confidence in the police watchdog. The IOPC has made good progress since it was formed in 2018, but questions remain about its ability to hold the police to account.

The report also referred to a culture within the police of 'brown envelopes' containing cash, with one former detective constable telling the panel of a practice in the Flying Squad: 'If you got posted to their squad the first morning you would find a brown envelope on your desk with money in it. If you didn't accept it then the result was that by lunchtime you were posted back to your old position.'

And the panel also looked at how senior investigating officer DCS David Cook was placed under surveillance by News of the World journalists, who parked a van outside his home. The report criticised the reporters for their 'intrusion' into his private life, which they said caused the officer 'considerable anxiety'.

A murder trial at the Old Bailey collapsed in 2011 after concerns about the police handling of 'supergrass' witnesses and the Met's failure to disclose sensitive police files.

Dame Cressida, then an assistant commissioner, produced a joint report with the Crown Prosecution Service that detailed the failings in the case. When the panel was first announced, she was made the liaison between it and the Met.

Home Secretary Priti Patel told the Commons this afternoon that it was a 'deeply alarming' report that revealed examples of 'corrupt behaviour' and a 'litany of mistakes' by the Metropolitan Police which 'irreparably damaged the chances of successful prosecution.' She said: 'It's devastating that 34 years after he was murdered, nobody has been brought to justice'.

Former prime suspects Glenn Vian and Jonathan Rees were acquitted of murder in 2011. Mr Vian, who denied being the axeman, died last year. His brother Garry was also acquitted of involvement.

Mr Rees is in a long-term relationship with Daniel Morgan's former lover Margaret Harrison. He has been highly critical of the police.

The Metropolitan Police was also condemned for its culture which 'still exists that inhibits both organisational and individual accountability' in the 1,251-page report into the murder.

It found: 'The family of Daniel Morgan suffered grievously as a consequence of the failure to bring his family to justice, the unwarranted assurances which they were given, the misinformation which was put into the public domain, and the denial of failings in investigation, including failing to acknowledge professional competence, individuals' venal behaviour, and managerial and organisational failures.

'The Metropolitan Police also repeatedly failed to take a fresh, thorough and critical look at past failings.

'Concealing or denying failings, for the sake of the organisation's public image, is dishonesty on the part of the organisation for reputational benefit and constitutes a form of institutional corruption.'

The panel faced its own 'very significant difficulties and delays' accessing police documents  the latter of which were only received this March  and criticised 'obstruction' by the Met, saying their communication at times 'resembled police contact with litigants rather than a body established by the Home Secretary to enquire into the case'.

Some 111,000 documents covering about one million pages were considered during the review which was only halfway through when Mr Morgan's mother Isobel Hulsmann died in 2017.

The report recommended all police officers and staff should be able to register in confidence their membership of an organisation such as the Freemasons which might call their impartiality into question.

Some ten officers involved in the police investigations were Freemasons, which had aroused suspicions of conflicting loyalties, although Baroness O'Loan insisted there was no evidence found to suggest Masonic channels were 'corruptly used' in connection with the murder or probe.

She added that the Met must ensure necessary resources are allocated to tackling corrupt officers, and said the report's findings were 'relevant to today' and they 'impact on policing today'.

Baroness O'Loan also cited examples of officers not being properly vetted, adding: 'We actually had to have one officer vetted ourselves'.

Former prime suspects Glenn Vian and Jonathan Rees were acquitted of murder in 2011. They successfully sued the Met

Two witnesses made claims of police involvement in the murder of Mr Morgan, although the panel found that there was not enough evidence for this to be proved.

The first was Kevin Lennon, the former bookkeeper at Southern Investigations, the firm that private investigator Mr Morgan founded with Jonathan Rees.

Mr Lennon told police in 1987 and an inquest in 1988 that Mr Rees had told him: 'I've the perfect solution for Daniel's murder, my mates at Catford nick are going to arrange it.'

This was thought to mean that police officers in the Catford area known by Rees would make sure that he was not caught.

The second was Paul Goodridge, a former associate of Rees who was himself arrested for Mr Morgan's murder in 1989, who claimed while in custody that: 'There is a big firm involved in this... that is all-powerful.'

He went on: 'The Met Police are a big and powerful firm. There are about seven involved in this.'

The case against Mr Goodridge was dropped and he went on to sue Hampshire Police.

The report also found that Mr Rees and former detective sergeant Sid Fillery, who joined Southern Investigations after Mr Morgan died, went drinking with police officers even after they had been made suspects in the murder investigation.

It said: 'There is evidence of a culture within the Metropolitan Police in 1987, which permitted very close association between police officers who were either members of the investigation or were close to those who were part of the investigation team, and individuals linked to crime.

'There is extensive evidence of police officers meeting DS Sidney Fillery, Jonathan Rees and others in various public houses around the area and drinking with them, even after both DS Fillery and Jonathan Rees had been arrested and continued to be suspects for the murder of Daniel Morgan.

'There is evidence that the investigation of Daniel Morgan's murder was discussed on some of these occasions, and that Jonathan Rees used these social interactions to obtain information about the investigation.'

Alastair Morgan (right), the brother of murdered private investigator Daniel Morgan, with his partner Kirsteen Knight and family solicitor Raju Bhatt (centre) speak to the media following the publication of the report at Church House today

Rees was twice charged with Mr Morgan's murder - once in 1989 when the case was dropped, and again in 2008, when Mr Fillery was charged with perverting the course of justice as part of the same prosecution. That case collapsed in 2011.

Inquiry calls for widespread reform of the Met after inquiry reveals it is institutionally corrupt After today's report revealed corruption and cover-ups in relation to Daniel Morgan's murder, the panel leading the probe has made a number of recommendation about how police forces, especially the Met, should be changed. These include: That law enforcement agencies should be subjected to a newly created 'statutory duty of candour'.

That the Metropolitan Police makes sure it properly vets employees and has 'adequate and effective processes' to establish whether any officers and staff are 'currently engaged in crime.'

The force should also make sure it has the necessary resources to tackle corrupt behaviour among its officers and to ensure police watchdog the Independent Office for Police Conduct is also sufficiently resourced to investigate such matters.

An investigation should be carried out by another police watchdog, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS), looking at police practices and procedures to determine whether 'sufficient resources' are available to protect police whistleblowers. Advertisement

The independent panel said it had not found enough evidence to prove police involvement in Mr Morgan's death.

It said: 'The panel has not found any evidence in any of the investigations conducted over the past 34 years capable of proving police involvement in the murder of Daniel Morgan.

'It is accepted that this does not demonstrate that there was no involvement by a police officer or officers in the planning and execution of the murder.

'However the rule of law demands that there can be no conclusions about guilt unless they are evidence-based and proved in a court.

'No such trial has ever occurred despite the repeated arrests of individuals and the carrying out of four investigations.'

Boris Johnson still has confidence in the Metropolitan Police Commissioner following the publication of the Mr Morgan report, according to Downing Street.

Asked if the Prime Minister still had full confidence in Dame Cressida Dick during a Westminster briefing, his official spokesman simply replied: 'Yes.'

Former prime minister Theresa May, who established the independent panel when home secretary, said that every example of corruption 'must be identified and dealt with on every occasion'.

She said in the Commons: 'At the heart of this damning report, thorough report, is yet another example of an organ of the state whose job was to protect the public, prioritising the reputation of the institution over the delivery of justice.

'Will (Home Secretary Priti Patel) agree with me that the vast majority of police officers act with integrity and with an overriding sense of public duty, but where corruption does occur it must be rooted out with vigour unlike what happened through this episode of finding the killer of Daniel Morgan?'

She added: 'Every corrupt activity must be identified and dealt with on every occasion.'

Ms Patel replied: 'When it comes to the majority of our frontline police officers, they are incredible public servants, they honour their roles, they respect their roles and they absolutely serve the front line with care and professionalism.

'But she is right to highlight and make the case very strongly that where there is corruption there can be no hiding institutionally or within inquiries or particularly panels or anything of that nature.'

Who is Daniel Morgan and why was he murdered? Daniel Morgan, who worked as a private detective, was killed after leaving a pub Despite five police investigations and an inquest, no-one has ever been brought to justice over private investigator Daniel Morgan's killing in 1987. The Metropolitan Police have previously admitted the initial inquiry into the unsolved case was blighted by police corruption. Here is a timeline of key dates: - March 10 1987: Daniel Morgan is murdered with an axe in the car park of the Golden Lion pub in Sydenham, south-east London. - April 1988: An inquest into his death records a verdict of unlawful killing. - June 1988: Hampshire police begin investigating the murder and the Metropolitan Police handling of the case. - February 1989: Mr Morgan's business partner Jonathan Rees and his associate Paul Goodridge are charged with murder and Mr Goodridge's girlfriend Jean Wisden is charged with perverting the course of justice. - May 1989: The case is dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service. Mr Goodridge later sues Hampshire Constabulary. - 1997: A new investigation is opened into Mr Morgan's death, but ends when separate crimes are uncovered. In September 1999, Mr Rees is charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice over a plot to plant cocaine on a woman involved in a custody dispute, and later jailed for six years, raised to seven years on appeal. - Late 2000: A formal review is carried out of the case, which leads to another investigation opening the following year. It is closed in March 2003 with no charges brought. - February 2004: Mr Morgan's family call on the Government to open a public inquiry into the case, but it is refused. - April 2008: Five people are arrested and charged in connection with the case. Jonathan Rees, his brothers-in-law Glenn and Garry Vian, and an associate, James Cook, were charged with Mr Morgan's murder, while former police officer Sid Fillery was charged with perverting the course of justice. - March 2011: The prosecution collapses after police failings relating to disclosure of evidence and handling of informants. In the wake of the collapse, Detective Chief Superintendent Hamish Campbell and Acting Commissioner Tim Godwin both acknowledge that corruption hampered the early investigations into Mr Morgan's death. - 2013: Then-home secretary Theresa May announces that an independent panel will be set up to examine the case. - July 2019: Mr Rees and the Vian brothers are all awarded six-figure sums in damages after successfully suing the Metropolitan Police for malicious prosecution. A High Court judge rules that Mr Rees and Glenn Vian should each receive 155,000, and Garry Vian should get 104,000. - May 18 2021: The Independent Panel is due to publish its report, but suffers delays due to the Home Office initially claiming no Parliamentary time can be found to make publication possible, and then insisting it wishes to review the document and make redactions as it sees necessary on national security or human rights grounds. - May 28: An agreement is reached that a small team of Home Office officials will be allowed to read the report before its publication on June 15, with any redactions marked in footnotes. Mr Morgan's family will also be allowed to read the full report. - June 8: The Home Office confirms that the full, unredacted report will be published on June 15. - June 15: The Met is damned and family call for Dame Cressida Dick to resign. Advertisement

Officers who were involved in 'lucrative corrupt practices' such as selling confidential details may have been concerned by indications that Mr Morgan was going to report corruption

The inquiry found that local officers ins South London may have been involved in 'lucrative corrupt practices', such as selling confidential information, assisting criminals with inside police information and 'moonlighting'.

Today's report suggests that officers scuppered the probe into Daniel's murder having 'thought that their police careers and pensions were under threat, and that future, potentially lucrative, options might be put at risk by Daniel Morgan's alleged intention to reveal what he knew'. This is a reference to police corruption.

'The evidence supporting this theory as to why Daniel Morgan was murdered was never seriously investigated, despite the fact that in the years following Daniel Morgan's murder, several of the police officers connected to Daniel Morgan's circles and business were investigated for and convicted of serious crime', the inquiry found.

Evidence of a culture within the Met at the time which allowed 'very close association' between police officers and 'individuals linked to crime' which included them drinking in pubs together

The inquiry found widespread corruption linked to the case - and that police officers would be drinking with those linked to his murder.

The report says: 'From the outset, there have been allegations that police officers were involved in the murder, and that corruption by police officers somehow played a part in protecting those who committed it from being brought to justice.

'There is evidence of a culture within the Metropolitan Police in 1987, which permitted very close association between police officers who were either members of the investigation or were close to those who were part of the investigation team, and individuals linked to crime.

'There is extensive evidence of police officers meeting DS Sidney Fillery, Jonathan Rees and others in various public houses around the area and drinking with them, even after both DS Fillery and Jonathan Rees had been arrested and continued to be suspects for the murder of Daniel Morgan.

'There is evidence that the investigation of Daniel Morgan's murder was discussed on some of these occasions, and that Jonathan Rees used these social interactions to obtain information about the investigation.

'There have been indications since 1987 that Daniel Morgan had been going to report police corruption, and to sell a story about corruption to the media. The nature of that corruption has never been established.

'There were a number of possibilities, some of which were never examined fully, including a connection between the recovery by Daniel Morgan of a Range Rover from Malta in February 1987, and a major fraud investigation being conducted by West Yorkshire Police'

'We've been lied to, fobbed off, bullied, degraded and let down time and time again', say Daniel's family

Alastair Morgan (right), the brother of murdered private investigator Daniel Morgan, with his partner Kirsteen Knight and family solicitor Raju Bhatt (centre)speaking to the media following the publication of the Daniel Morgan Independent Panel report

In a statement after the report was revealed, the Morgan family said they 'welcomed' the inquiry's findings after years of lies by police.

The statement said: 'In particular, we welcome the recognition that we - and the public at large - have been failed over the decades by a culture of corruption and cover-up in the Metropolitan Police, an institutionalised corruption that has permeated successive regimes in the Metropolitan Police and beyond to this day.'

The family said they had been aware of police corruption at the heart of the investigation three weeks after the murder, and have been lobbying for justice and transparency for more than three decades.

'At almost every step, we found ourselves lied to, fobbed off, bullied, degraded and let down time and time again,' they said.

'What we were required to endure was nothing less than torture, and that has changed our relationship with this country forever.'

The family said the Met and the Home Office had repeatedly refused to address the 'serious police corruption and criminality' surrounding the murder, even though it was 'staring them in the face'.

'The panel has shown the courage that was so signally lacking from all those previously tasked to look at this case,' they said.

'In identifying the culture of corruption and cover-up at the highest ranks of the Metropolitan Police that has blighted our lives through these decades, the panel's report has finally named the sickness that needs to be addressed.'

The Morgan family said the lengthy report was an 'accurate reflection' of their experiences.

They said it reflected the 'complicity and worse of the British state in all its guises in the police corruption and criminality that has wracked our lives'.

The family called on senior figures in the Metropolitan Police to 'stop protecting those who came before you'.

It said former leaders of the force had 'deliberately turned away from the stench of police corruption' and 'sought to manage the fallout from that corruption instead of confronting it'.

Several members of Daniel Morgan's family were quoted in the report itself after being interviewed by the panel.

His widow Iris Morgan said: 'I just want the truth. There's always been an element of empathy but it's never felt like they (the police) ever cared. Why did they not stand up against it because it was wrong, not just because there was a spotlight on it?'

His daughter Sarah said: 'We will never have the justice and the answers we deserve. No one will ever be held accountable. This will torment us for the rest of our lives.'

His son Daniel said: 'I do not want this to be in my son's future, I want to be able to show my son the panel's report and to say to him, 'Look, eventually the state can get it right'.'

Isobel Hulsmann, Daniel Morgan's mother, who spoke to the panel before she died in November 2017, said: 'Waiting year after year is so difficult and so frustrating.

'Even now, I want so much to see justice, but I fear that it will elude me. But I still have hope.'

Met's handling of the crime scene, witnesses and murder investigation was 'totally inadequate'

Despite five police inquiries and an inquest, no-one has been brought to justice over the father-of-two's death, with the Metropolitan Police admitting corruption had hampered the original murder investigation

The report looked in detail at a series of police investigations and inquiries in the decades following the murder in 1987.

It criticised a 'totally inadequate' handling of the murder scene at the time of the first investigation, saying there was evidence that some people were alerted about being arrested in advance after this was leaked to the media.

The report also found that lost opportunities 'were not retrievable' and the initial investigation 'became focused on a narrow range of issues' which meant other lines of enquiry which 'should have been followed' were not.

An inquest in 1988 then followed, with the report criticising the coroner for 'inaccurately' saying he had heard no evidence to point to any police involvement in the murder.

There was then an investigation into the initial probe led by Hampshire Police, supervised by the Police Complaints Authority, from 1988 to 1990.

This was criticised for being billed as 'independent' because a senior Met officer with full access to the evidence was appointed to work with the team.

The report said Hampshire Police defended the Met's investigation 'despite the fact that there was significant contradictory evidence', adding that Hampshire Police deliberately did not purse evidence of the Met's wrongdoing and 'agreed' with the PCA and Met to hide evidence from Mr Morgan's family.

In February 1989 Mr Morgan's business partner Jonathan Rees and his associate Paul Goodridge were charged with murder, and Mr Goodridge's girlfriend Jean Wisden was charged with perverting the course of justice.

But three months later the case was dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service, and Mr Goodridge went on to sue Hampshire Police over the charge.

By 1997, an intelligence-gathering operation called Operational Nigeria/Two Bridges had been launched.

During this, evidence emerged of a conspiracy to plant Class A drugs on the wife of a client of Law & Commercial  the later name of Southern Investigations, which Mr Morgan worked in partnership with - to have her arrested to strengthen the client's position in an ongoing custody battle.

A murder review was later launched in 2000, which at 2million was one of the most expensive and resource intensive reinvestigations the Met has ever done.

This found that senior investigating officer DCS David Cook and his wife Jacqui Hames faced surveillance and attempts to gather information about them by people working for the now-defunct News of the World newspaper, which 'caused them considerable distress'.

The private detective was hacked to death with an axe as he left the pub. In 2013 the then Home Secretary Theresa May ordered an independent panel to investigate Mr Morgan's murder

It added that 'circumstantial evidence suggests very strongly' that this was arranged by former police officer Sid Fillery, who was later charged with perverting the course of justice before the case collapsed.

In 2004, a further report was carried out  with the initial one rejected 'on the grounds of inadequacy', before a later report in April 2006 was accepted.

However this had multiple failings, including that the Hampshire Police probe was 'independent', failing to examine much of the documentation and not looking at the 'many deficiencies' in the investigation.

The fourth probe then took place in 2006, but today's report found its senior investigating officer DCS Cook 'did not have the management or supervisory powers' of that post despite being appointed to it.

It added that DCS Cook could 'act freely in contravention of many established procedures and practices in breach of his duties as a police officer'.

There were also allegations that DCS Cook had 'improper contact' with witnesses and had tried to influence the development of evidence, with the Court of Appeal ruling that his behaviour 'formed part of a broader pattern of criminal activities'.

Later, in 2008, five people were charged in relation to the case - Mr Rees, his brothers-in-law Glenn and Gary Vian, and an associate James Cook, were charged with Mr Morgan's murder, while former police officer Mr Fillery was charged with perverting the course of justice.

But police failures in disclosing evidence and handling of key witnesses led to the prosecution collapsing by March 2011.

The report said prosecutors 'repeatedly found themselves apologising to the defence and the court for belatedly discovering documents within various police departments which seriously undermined the credibility of some of its witnesses'.

Eight years later in 2019, Mr Rees and the Vian brothers were each awarded six-figure sums in damages after suing the Metropolitan Police for malicious prosecution.

It is estimated that the five police inquiries cost around 30million.

Priti Patel wrong to delay publication of report, panel finds

The Home Secretary has been criticised by the independent panel looking into the murder of Daniel Morgan for intervening in the publication of its report.

A furious row over its release erupted between the independent panel tasked with examining the case, the Home Office and Mr Morgan's family after the report was originally due to be published in May.

After eight years in the making, the Home Office said that it may need to redact parts of the document on national security or human rights grounds.

But the panel said it had already worked with lawyers and security experts from the Metropolitan Police, calling the last-minute intervention 'unnecessary' and 'not consistent with the panel's independence'.

Mr Morgan's family said the move was a 'kick in the teeth' and called on Priti Patel to consider the distress the delay caused them.

An agreement was eventually reached that a small Home Office team could read the report in advance, and it was finally confirmed the full, unredacted report would be published.

Unveiling the report's findings, panel chair Baroness Nuala O'Loan highlighted the 'regrettable last-minute delay'.

She told a press conference: 'We do not wish to rehearse the discussions which subsequently took place, other to say how disappointed we were that the Home Secretary chose to adopt this stance when she did. We are unaware of any such intervention previously.

'We do not believe the Home Secretary's approach was justified in this case.'

Scotland Yard frustrated 'repeated requests' from inquiry for evidence

Baroness O'Loan also told of the panel's frustrations in accessing files under the 'Holmes' police databases, despite 'repeated requests' after only limited access was granted in 2015.

After years of back and forth, which resulted in a member of the panel having to travel across the capital to a Met site on the outskirts of East London whenever they wanted to look at files, an encrypted laptop was eventually provided in September last year.

Her report accused the Met of 'a form of institutional corruption' for concealing or denying failings over the unsolved murder.

It also said obstructive behaviour by the force had dragged an inquiry expected to take 12 months out to eight years.

Baroness O'Loan, who is the former Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman, added that the panel faced difficulties in compelling witnesses to speak or gaining the relevant documents because it did not have statutory powers, adding that this 'caused major cost to the public purse' because of all the added delays.

The report also said that Mr Morgan's family have had to 'fight for information' for decades and have been 'determined in their quest for justice'.

And it added that, on occasions, his relatives only learned about updates in the case including arrests from watching the television news  with the lack of communication among the reasons that the family have felt 'acute frustration' and 'devastating disappointments' over the past 34 years.

'Brown envelopes' filled with cash left on desks and officers paid NOT to arrest criminals: How damning Daniel Morgan inquiry was told of Met Police 'corruption' in the 1980s and 90s - as it says handling of murder scene was 'totally inadequate'

Inquiry into the murder found corrupt officers may have scuppered the probe

Officers were even paid not to arrest criminals who controlled their bosses

Panel also accuses the Metropolitan Police of a 'form of institutional corruption'

Met chief Cressida Dick slammed for 'placing hurdles' in the inquiry's path

Police who took bungs in brown envelopes, 'moonlighted' in other jobs and sold lucrative information to criminals may have scuppered the probe into Daniel Morgan's murder, today's report revealed.

Father-of-two Mr Morgan was killed with an axe to the head in the car park of the Golden Lion pub in Sydenham, south-east London, on March 10, 1987 while he was probing corrupt officers.

And bent cops may have sunk the investigation having 'thought that their police careers and pensions were under threat' and that 'future, potentially lucrative corrupt practices' would be stopped, today's report says.

Officers were even paid not to arrest criminals who controlled their bosses, who also demanded 10 per cent of detectives' overtime and expenses payments to be paid to them each month, it is alleged.

Father-of-two Daniel Morgan (left) was killed with an axe to the head on March 10, 1987. Pictured on the right is Cressida Dick, who was criticised in the report

Describing the culture at the time, one unnamed Detective Constable told the Panel of a practice in the world-famous Flying Squad. He said: 'If you got posted to their squad the first morning you would find a brown envelope on your desk with money in it. If you didn't accept it then the result was that by lunchtime you were posted back to your old position.'

Today's damning report has been eight years in the making - although the inquiry blamed Met secrecy for preventing it being done and dusted in 12 months. It cost 16million.

Running to more than 1,200 pages, the panel scrutinised 110,000 documents amounting to more than a million pages as well as a substantial amount of sensitive or secret material held by police as it examined the murder of the private investigator which took place more than 30 years ago.

The panel accuses the Metropolitan Police of a 'form of institutional corruption' for concealing or denying failings over the unsolved killing - and said its handling of the case means that his killers will likely escape justice.

It found the force's first objective was to 'protect itself' by failing to acknowledge its many failings since the murder. The report is being viewed as a watershed moment for the force, similar to when it was found to be 'institutionally racist' following the murder of Stephen Lawrence.

Today, Dame Cressida apologised for failings in the Daniel Morgan case, saying it is a 'matter of great regret that no one has been brought to justice and that our mistakes have compounded the pain suffered by Daniel's family'.

Here are the key conclusions that shame the Met:

The car park of the Golden Lion pub in Sydenham, south-east London, where Mr Morgan was murdered

The police's handling of the murder scene in 1987 was 'totally inadequate' as it was not secured and was left unguarded

The report says: 'There were multiple very significant failings in the conduct of this investigation from the moment of the discovery of Daniel Morgan's body.

The management and administration of the investigation was poor, and in many respects was not compliant with relevant policies and procedures.

'The handling of the scene of the murder was totally inadequate  it was not searched and was left unguarded'.

The report says hardly any photos were taken of the crime scene, and the Met says the ones that were 'cannot now be found'.

'The photographs taken at the murder scene were very limited and cover only the area in which Daniel Morgan's body lay. D/Supt Douglas Campbell should have required that photographs be taken of the complete crime scene that night. Photographs should also have been subsequently taken of the whole premises, including ways in and out of the Golden Lion public house and its car park.

'A tyre skid mark can be seen in one of the photographs, very close to Daniel Morgan's body in the car park. While it would not have been possible to use that photograph to allow a forensic scientist to compare the mark with the tyres of any suspect vehicle recovered by the police later, because it lacked sufficient detail and clarity' The report adds: 'No attempt to seek any examination of the tyre mark can be identified in the available records'.

Alibis were not sought for all suspects, search warrants were 'seriously inadequate' and many opportunities lost were not retrievable

The inquiry raised serious questions about the hunt for evidence linked to the crime, including forensic evidence such as blood on clothing.

The report says there was no 'evidential continuity' for many of the exhibits seized during the investigation and that lines of enquiry were not followed through properly.

It says: A search for clothing was particularly necessary as it might have uncovered relevant evidence. Since Jonathan Rees was the last known person to have seen Daniel Morgan alive, D/Supt Douglas Campbell should, at least, have briefed his officers to search for and seize any items similar to the clothes which Jonathan Rees was wearing on the day of the murder, as described by the various witnesses, and any black or dark shoes.

'Although the clothing which Jonathan Rees was wearing when he attended Catford Police Station had been subjected to a visual check on the night of the murder, further scientific tests could have been conducted to detect, for example, the presence of Daniel Morgan's blood'.

The report adds: 'There is evidence that some of those who were arrested in connection with the murder on 03 April 1987, may have been alerted to their forthcoming arrests by a leak to the media the day before they were arrested'.

Alastair Morgan (right), the brother of murdered private investigator Daniel Morgan, with his partner Kirsteen Knight and family solicitor Raju Bhatt (centre) speak to the media following the publication of the report at Church House today

Evidence of a culture within the Met at the time which allowed 'very close association' between police officers and 'individuals linked to crime' which included them drinking in pubs together;

The inquiry found widespread corruption linked to the case - and that police officers would be drinking with those linked to his murder.

The report says: 'From the outset, there have been allegations that police officers were involved in the murder, and that corruption by police officers somehow played a part in protecting those who committed it from being brought to justice.

'There is evidence of a culture within the Metropolitan Police in 1987, which permitted very close association between police officers who were either members of the investigation or were close to those who were part of the investigation team, and individuals linked to crime.

'There is extensive evidence of police officers meeting DS Sidney Fillery, Jonathan Rees and others in various public houses around the area and drinking with them, even after both DS Fillery and Jonathan Rees had been arrested and continued to be suspects for the murder of Daniel Morgan.

'There is evidence that the investigation of Daniel Morgan's murder was discussed on some of these occasions, and that Jonathan Rees used these social interactions to obtain information about the investigation.

'There have been indications since 1987 that Daniel Morgan had been going to report police corruption, and to sell a story about corruption to the media. The nature of that corruption has never been established.

'There were a number of possibilities, some of which were never examined fully, including a connection between the recovery by Daniel Morgan of a Range Rover from Malta in February 1987, and a major fraud investigation being conducted by West Yorkshire Police'

Kirsteen Knight, (left) the partner of Alastair Morgan, the brother of murdered private investigator Daniel Morgan, speaking to the media following the publication of today's report

Officers who were involved in 'lucrative corrupt practices' such as selling confidential details may have been concerned by indications that Mr Morgan was going to report corruption

The inquiry found that local officers ins South London may have been involved in 'lucrative corrupt practices;, such as, selling confidential information, assisting criminals with inside police information and 'moonlighting'.

Today's report suggests that officers scuppered the probe into Daniel's murder having 'thought that their police careers and pensions were under threat, and that future, potentially lucrative, options might be put at risk by Daniel Morgan's alleged intention to reveal what he knew'. This is a reference to police corruption.

'The evidence supporting this theory as to why Daniel Morgan was murdered was never seriously investigated, despite the fact that in the years following Daniel Morgan's murder, several of the police officers connected to Daniel Morgan's circles and business were investigated for and convicted of serious crime', the inquiry found.

The 'spectre of freemasonry' that hung over the investigation

The report dealt in detail about the influence of Freemasonry on the Met, and whether members of the secret society could have either commissioned Mr Morgan's murder or acted together to cover up what had happened.

Ten officers involved in the police investigations were Masons, according to the 1251-page document, which led to suspicions among fellow officers about their 'conflicting loyalties'.

Detective sergeant Sid Fillery, who joined Southern Investigations after Mr Morgan died, was a Master of two different Lodges in 1993 and 1996, and regularly met other officers at meetings.

Freemasons are required to swear an oath of secrecy, which prevents them from sharing details of what is discussed at meetings.

The fact that so many investigating officers were Masons led to suspicions among police colleagues about their conflicting loyalties, the report stated.

However, Baroness O'Loan insisted there was no evidence found to suggest Masonic connections were a factor in Mr Morgan's murder, or that they were improperly deployed to frustrate the investigations into it.

Nonetheless, the panel called for police officers to be required to declare membership of any secret societies when they join the service to avoid the 'suspicion' that they could be influenced by external loyalties.

Today's damning report has been eight years in the making - although the inquiry blamed Met secrecy for preventing it being done and dusted in 12 months. It cost 16million

Met Police chief Cressida Dick slammed for 'placing hurdles' in probe's path

Today's report will make uncomfortable reading for Met Police Commissioner Cressida Dick, with the authors accusing her of 'placing hurdles' in their path by refusing to give them access to a vital police database.

The HOLMES system - named after Sherlock Holmes - is used by UK police forces to investigate complicated crimes such as serial murders and high-value frauds.

The compilers of today's report wanted to gain access to the system to gather information for their inquiry, but were initially refused by Dame Cressida, then Assistant Commissioner.

Access to the database was 'essential' because many of the documents were only available in online form, and her refusal caused 'very significant delays', the report stated.

'The Metropolitan Police's lack of candour manifested itself in the hurdles placed in the path of the Panel, such as (then Assistant Commissioner) Cressida Dick's initial refusal to recognise the necessity for the Panel to have access to the HOLMES system,' the authors wrote.

Mr Morgan's brother Alastair told reporters Dame Cressida should 'absolutely' be considering her position in light of the report.

The family's solicitor Raju Bhatt said: 'You heard from the panel that the institutionalised corruption that they found is a current problem in the present tense.

'The current leadership in the Met has to take responsibility for that continuing.'

Mr Morgan's family 'suffered grievously' because of the failure to bring his murderer or murderers to justice, 'misinformation' and a 'denial of the failings' in the investigations

While Daniel Morgan was the victim of a horrifying murder, his family including his mother, brother and two children have also suffered in the past three decades.

Today's report said Scotland Yard's treatment of Mr Morgan's relatives has been appalling since he died in 1987.

The report says: 'The family of Daniel Morgan suffered grievously as a consequence of the failure to bring his murderer(s) to justice, the unwarranted assurances which they were given, the misinformation which was put into the public domain, and the denial of the failings in investigation, including failing to acknowledge professional incompetence, individuals' venal behaviour, and managerial and organisational failures.

'The Metropolitan Police also repeatedly failed to take a fresh, thorough and critical look at past failings. Concealing or denying failings, for the sake of the organisation's public image, is dishonesty on the part of the organisation for reputational benefit and constitutes a form of institutional corruption'

It adds: 'Among its recommendations, the Panel has proposed the creation of a statutory duty of candour, to be owed by all law enforcement agencies to those whom they serve, subject to protection of national security and relevant data protection legislation'.
The Biloela family who have been detained on Christmas Island for more than two years have set foot in Australia and been reunited at Perth Hospital.

Father Nadesalingam 'Nades' Murugappan and his daughter Kopika, 6, were photographed in a car driving towards the hospital on Tuesday evening.

They were on their way to meet with Mr Murugappan's wife Priya and four-year-old daughter Tharnicaa, who had been flown to Western Australia from Christmas Island to treat a painful blood infection earlier this week.

Nades Murugappan (pictured) and his Australian-born daughter Kopika, 6, leave Perth airport on June 15 after arriving back in the country from detention on Christmas Island

Mr Murugappan holds up the ID card of his Australian-born daughter Kopika as they arrived in Perth

They are not required to enter hotel quarantine as they have not left Australian soil, with Christmas Island being an Australian territory.

The federal government is under mounting pressure to let the Sri Lankan asylum seeker family stay in Australia, where both children were born.

There was widespread outrage across the country after it was revealed young Tharnicaa was sent to the mainland with her mother for treatment while her father and sister remained at the detention centre.

Federal Immigration Minister Alex Hawke on Tuesday announced the family would now be allowed to reside in Perth while their daughter receives treatment, granting the Tamil family a 'community detention order'.

'In making this determination I am balancing the government's ongoing commitment to strong border protection policies with appropriate compassion in circumstances involving children in held detention,' Mr Hawke said.

'The family will now reside in suburban Perth through a community detention placement, close to schools and support services, while the youngest child receives medical treatment from the nearby Perth Children's Hospital and as the family pursues ongoing legal matters.'

Nades and Kopika of the Biloela family board a plane on Christmas Island bound for Perth on Tuesday (pictured at the airport) to be reunited with her sister and mother

The decision releases the family from held detention while they pursue ongoing litigation before the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, Federal Court and High Court.

But the decision does not create a pathway for a visa.

'The Government's position on border protection has not changed. Anyone who arrives in Australia illegally by boat will not be resettled permanently,' he said.

'Anyone who is found to not be owed protection will be expected to leave Australia.'

Family friend Angela Fredericks said the decision is a welcome one for the long-suffering asylum seekers, but called for more to be done to bring the family back to their North Queensland home, Biloela.

'Bringing this family back together is the first important step in getting them home to Bilo,' Ms Fredericks said.

The federal government has been weighing up what to do with the Sri Lankan asylum seeker family as it faces mounting pressure to let them stay in Australia, where both of their children were born. Pictured: Nades and Kopika of the Biloela family prepare to board a plane to Perth

The Biloela family have been detained on Christmas Island for more than two years (pictured, Nades and Kopika wave goodbye to the island)

'We are pleased that the Department of Home Affairs is finally taking this family off Christmas Island, after more than three years of sub-standard care in immigration detention in Melbourne and on Christmas Island.

'Nades is keen to get back to work in Biloela to support his young family, which he cannot do while the family is forced into community detention.

'Priya wants to enrol Kopika at Biloela State School to continue her education. And we promised little Tharni a big birthday party when she got home.

'Australia knows this familys home is in Biloela.'

The Biloela family that have been detained on Christmas Island for more than two years have been reunited in Australia

The family's plight is back in the spotlight after four-year-old Tharnicaa was flown with her mother from Christmas Island to the mainland for medical treatment

Former Labor leader Bill Shorten told the Today show on Tuesday morning 'enough is enough' and the family should be allowed to return to their home in Queensland.

'The Biloela community in central Queensland years ago signed a petition in massive numbers to say could the family stay where they had been living and working for years,' he said.

'Instead, they've had this three-year ordeal in our detention. We should reunite the family and let them live in a community who signalled they want to have them.

'Every year governments exercise discretion. I think the community have shown they want them, so tick.

'I don't think it sets a precedent, tick. So let them be reunited.'

Priya and Nades Murugappan and their two young daughters (pictured) have been on the island for the past three years

Tharnicaa Murugappan (pictured) was medically evacuated to Perth after being hospitalised on Christmas Island with a suspected blood infection

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the government was considering its options and would take advice from medical experts at the Department of Home Affairs.

Pressure has been mounting on Mr Morrison to let the family stay in Australia, with politicians from across the spectrum calling for them to be allowed to return to their adopted home of Biloela in Queensland.

He has signalled the government could finally back away from its hardline stance and allow the family to stay in Australia, at least on a temporary basis.

'There are options that are being considered that are consistent with both health advice and the humanitarian need and the government's policy,' Mr Morrison said.

Kopika (left) gets taken to school by guards while Priya stays inside to look after four-year-old Tharunicaa (right)

However, the prime minister said permanent resettlement was out of the question.

'That wouldn't be government policy for a pathway to permanent settlement - that is not the government's policy.'

Nine health organisations representing tens of thousands of medical professionals across Australia have signed an open letter calling for the family's release.

Paediatrician Jacqueline Small from the Royal Australasian College of Physicians said the children must be allowed to develop and grow in the community.

Tharnicaa reads a book from her bed in Perth hospital on Thursday where she is being treated for sepsis. The announcement comes amid growing calls for the federal government to resettle the family

'We feel very strongly keeping these children in held detention, particularly offshore detention, represents an extreme and unacceptable risk to the children's health, development and mental wellbeing,' she told ABC radio.

'Given both children were in held detention from their toddlerhood, the risks are even higher.'

Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce has supported calls for the family to stay in Australia for more than two years.

'Tharnicaa and Kopika were born in Australia,' he told Network Seven.

'Now, maybe if their names were Jane and Sally and they were playing in their local netball side, we'd think twice about sending them back to another country which they're not from.'

Father Nades and Kopika, six, are set to reunite with mother Priya and Tharnicaa in Perth

Labor leader Anthony Albanese rejected the argument that allowing the family to settle would somehow restart the people-smuggling trade. Pictured: Priya and Nades

Mr Joyce also argued Mr and Mrs Murugappan had jobs and were valued members of their local community.

'In regional Australia, we need people who have jobs. These people should be staying here.'

Labor leader Anthony Albanese rejected the argument showing the family compassion and exercising discretion would somehow restart the people-smuggling trade.

'This is about a family who are here, this is not a threat to our national sovereignty,' he said.
Morgan Stanley CEO James Gorman has said he expects all New York City staff to return full-time to the company's Times Square home office by Labor Day - and if they don't they may face salary cuts.

Gorman was speaking at the firm's annual U.S. Financials, Payments & CRE Conference on Monday afternoon when he made the remarks, some of the strongest indicators yet of how big business will handle getting their staff back to work in person now that COVID cases are falling, vaccines are up and New York City is returning to pre-pandemic norms.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday lifted most remaining COVID-19 restrictions after the vaccination rate in the state reached 70 percent: Offices can resume operating at a 100 percent capacity with no social distancing rules - with any rules left up to private businesses themselves.

The only rule that remains in place is the CDC's rule on forcing people to wear masks on public transport.

Morgan Stanley employs more than 63,000 people around the world. Its Times Square headquarters in New York has 42 floors, but it's unclear exactly how many people the company employs in the city and the company won't divulge that information. It's also not clear exactly who will be expected to return to the office.

Right now, Morgan Stanley still isn't dictating how many days a week staff should come in, but Gorman says that'll change if people don't choose to return to their office in Times Square by the end of the summer.

'I would call it directionally strong without dictating - yet. But [by] Labor Day, I'll be very disappointed if people haven't found their way into the office and then we'll have a different kind of conversation.'

He goes in four days a week right now and has been in at least one day a week since last summer.

While Gorman says the bank will continue to afford some flexibility to families whose kids can't get back to school or camp over the summer, he's ready to crack the whip in September if met with resistance from people who don't want to come in.

'Make no mistake about it - we do our work inside Morgan Stanley offices, and that's where we teach, that's where our interns learn, that's where you build all the soft cues that go with building a successful career that aren't just about Zoom presentations.

'When will that occur? My leadership style has been very deliberate. I went from one day a week from July to Labor Day last year, two days Labor Day until the end of the year, three days the beginning of this year until March and now I am at four days.

'If you can go into a restaurant in New York City, you can come into the office. We want you in the office,' he said.

His comments come after Morgan Stanley in April reported $4.1 billion in profit for the first three months of the year. Its revenue during that time rose 61 percent vs. the prior year to $15.7 billion - a record.

Morgan Stanley CEO James Gorman said on Monday he expects all New York City staff to return to the office full time by Labor Day

New York City is alive but many of the city's office towers remain empty since staff have been allowed to continue working from home. Pictured, diners in Brooklyn on May 19, indoors, eating without capacity restrictions

Businesses in NYC are allowed to welcome back 100 percent of their staff, without social distancing, if they can ensure that everyone is vaccinated.

'If you want to get paid New York rates, you work in New York. None of this I'm in Colorado getting paid like I'm sitting in New York City. Sorry that doesn't work,' Morgan Stanley CEO James Gorman

If they can't ensure that everyone is vaccinated (and it's up to each business whether or not they make vaccines mandatory), they must enforce social distancing or put barriers between workers.

Both the Mayor of New York City and Governor Andrew Cuomo have declared the city reopen, with subway services now operating at pre-pandemic levels again.

The apartment rental market is starting to show slow signs of recovery (April was the first time the monthly median rent had increased since last year) and there are no restrictions on domestic tourists who want to come to the state and city for a visit.

All remaining COVID rules (like masks on public transport, in taxis and capacity rules for where vaccines can't be verified) are likely to be lifted soon, when the state reaches a 70% vaccination rate.

HOW BIG BUSINESS IS GETTING PEOPLE BACK INTO THE OFFICE MORGAN STANLEY WFH: Voluntary return basis now, tough conversations if NYC staff aren't back by Labor Day. Staff in Indian offices won't be required back this year because of the ongoing health crisis. Staff in UK won't be required back yet because of strains of virus spreading and fast-changing rules. Salary cuts: Cuts for anyone who has relocated from NYC to a cheaper city but wants to continue working remotely from there. GOLDMAN SACHS WFH: Most NYC staff were told to be back in office, as a matter of policy, on Monday. There was free food in the office and coffee stands throughout to encourage casual, 'water cooler' conversations about work. Most London staff are expected back by June 21 - the 'freedom day' originally set by Boris Johnson. Salary cuts: No word yet on if people who have voluntarily relocated will face cuts but the bank is planning to move 100 roles from NYC to West Palm Beach, Florida. It's unclear if that's part of a strategy to lower costs by paying lower salaries, or if the salaries will remain the same but business taxes will be lower. JP MORGAN CHASE WFH: Wants staff back but will cap Manhattan office at 50% capacity. In the long term, a maximum of 10 percent of the company's 225,000 staff will work from home permanently. Salary cuts: No word on if staff who have relocated will have their salaries cut. There was a push to move some roles from NYC to Florida before the pandemic. CITIGROUP WFH: Staff can still choose to work from home. CEO Jane Fraser says she wants to wait to force staff back until young kids can get vaccinated and childcare - like summer camps - resume fully to free parents up to return full-time. FACEBOOK WFH: Mark Zuckerberg said last week that he won't go back to the office for another six months, but that staff will have to start going in, in some way, starting from September. It's unclear yet how it'll take shape but staff will be expected in the office at least 50% of the work week and they'll need manager's approval to stay at home. Salary cuts: Anyone who moves out of NYC or San Francisco for a cheaper city but wants to keep collecting their wage won't be allowed to. TWITTER WFH: Staff now have the option to work from home forever if they want to. Salary cuts: Twitter has had a pay localization policy in place for years that pays people less if they live in cheaper cities. CEO Jack Dorsey says he wants to decentralize the company entirely. The WFH policy led by COVID gave the plan a boost. Advertisement

On Monday, 69.9% of the state had been vaccinated and everyone over the age of 12 can get vaccinated across the country.

Gorman didn't specify if staff will face termination if they don't come back, or if anyone will be exempt.

He warned that anyone who had hoped to still collect a New York salary after relocating to work remotely could think again.

'There'll be more flexibility because we've learnt we can function with flexibility but that doesn't mean, "hey it'll be Monday, Wednesday and Friday and I'm in Florida."

'If you want to get paid New York rates, you work in New York.

'None of this I'm in Colorado getting paid like I'm sitting in New York City. Sorry that doesn't work,' he said.

Morgan Stanley also hasn't forced any staff to come back in yet at all, whereas Goldman Sachs brought back most staff on Monday morning.

He said that 90 percent of the staff who are coming into work are vaccinated and that by Labor Day, he expects the number to be 98 percent.

If people don't want to get vaccinated for health or religious reasons, he says the firm will enter HR discussions with them.

He is also affording some flexibility to parents whose kids can't yet go to summer camps or back to school full-time.

'Listen, everybody has taken a slightly different posture. My view is firstly we're a very global firm.

'We have 10,000 employees in India, they're in the worst part of COVID right now.

'They are not coming back to work. That's not a 2021 issue.

'We have 1,000 people in Glasgow - the UK is still coming in and out of lockdowns every few weeks.

'Then we have lots of people in markets that are completely COVID free. So I don't think issuing a blanket statement to all employees is helpful.

'I don't think speaking to employees who work at 1585 Broadway in Times Square is the same as speaking to people working in a small office in Topeka.

'A more nuanced communication is necessary.

'I allow for the fact that we have some flexibility; if families haven't been able to get their kids into camp, they have to deal with that reality - let's not be dictatorial.

'When the vaccines weren't ubiquitous, we had to deal with that reality. Now they are,' he said.

Gorman had COVID last year and recovered.

He later partnered with a healthcare firm to give workers' vaccines in the office.

In NYC, 70 percent of people are vaccinated and cases continue to drop; across the state of New York on Saturday, just 0.5 percent of people tested were positive and there were only 158 cases in NYC - just 0.001 percent of the population.

Mayor Bill de Blasio says all public schools will return to a full-time, in person learning schedule in September. Private schools can decide for themselves which approach to take.

It comes as other white collar sectors report struggles in getting people back to work.

In New York City and San Francisco - two enormous business hubs where the office workforce keeps almost every other part of the local businesses going - only 21 percent have come back to the office.

Cities in Texas, however, have managed to get more people back in; in Austin, Dallas and Houston the return rate is nearly 50 percent, according to Kastle Systems, an office-security company.

They monitored the key-card swipes in their 2,500 buildings across the country to get the data. It was reported by The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday.

It may be down to the fact that people in Texan cities use their own cars to get to work more than they rely on public transport, but it could also come down to local restrictions and advice.

In April, rents in Manhattan increased by $14 to an average of $2,799. In Brooklyn, they remained at $2,400. In Queens, they rose by $50 to an average of $2,050. It's a far cry from pre-pandemic levels but it marks an increase for the first time

COVID cases in NYC have been steadily falling since March. There were 158 on Sunday which is less than 0.01 percent of the city's population

Conversely, the city's vaccine rollout is storming ahead - nearly half are now fully vaccinated and across the entire state of New York, the number is nearly at 70 percent

Since the start of the pandemic, people in Republican cities and states have been less frightened of going back to work or even staying in the office throughout the pandemic. California and New York have been among the strictest in imposing lockdowns and rules.

Now, major businesses are trying to find ways to get people back into the office full-time.

Some HR departments are cautious about telling parents to come back before their kids' childcare or in-school learning resumes.

'Women are absolutely nervous about it.

'Im seeing the HR and business leaders at banks recognizing, understanding and starting to plan around fairness in evaluations,' Rob Dicks, Accenture Plcs talent and organization lead for capital markets, told Bloomberg on Monday.

Accenture hasn't yet dictated how much staff should come in.
Airbnb has a secretive team to keep disaster stays out of the press and gives staff blank checks to help rape victims and pay to clean up dismembered human remains, according to a report.

The short-term property rental company, which went public in December, has spent an estimated $50 million every year on payouts to hosts and guests when things go wrong, according to Bloomberg Businessweek which interviewed several former members of the secretive safety team.

The team - known as the 'black box' inside the firm - is made up of around 100 agents across cities including Dublin, Montreal and Singapore, several of whom have backgrounds in the military or emergency services.

Team members have the power to spend any amount tackling the worst crises at their rentals including sexual assaults, murders and deaths - providing support to guests and hosts and also working to keep the incidents out of the public eye, Bloomberg reported.

In one incident, a rape victim received a $7 million payout in exchange for agreeing not to 'imply responsibility or liability' on Airbnb or the host after a 'career criminal' used a duplicate key to enter a New York City rental and attacked her at knifepoint, according to the report.

The revelation of the team's existence - and its power to keep the worst incidents out of the press - raises questions about the scale of shocking incidents taking place at Airbnb properties and the company's ability to ensure safety for its guests and hosts.

Airbnb has a secret team to keep disaster stays out of the press and gives staff blank checks to help rape victims and pay to clean up dismembered human remains, it has been revealed

Several former Airbnb safety agents described the extent of their tasks, preventing PR disasters for the firm and providing support to both guests and hosts who fell victim to horrific crimes inside the walls of the rentals.

Some said they had to arrange for contractors to cover bullet holes in the walls of properties or hire body-fluid crews to clean blood off the floors, the report said.

In extreme cases, they had to deal with hosts who discover dismembered human remains inside their homes.

Others said they had to provide support to guests who had been assaulted by guests and had resorted to hiding in wardrobes or running from secluded cabins from the perpetrators.

The team has covered costs including for counseling, new accommodation, flights, and sexually transmitted disease tests and health costs for rape survivors among other things, according to the report.

Airbnb hired high profile political crises experts to work on the team, including Nick Shapiro, former National Security Council advisoe to Barack Obama and deputy chief of staff at the Central Intelligence Agency, who was brought on as its crisis manager.

Shapiro, who has since left the role, told Bloomberg the crises facing the company reminded him of the White House situation room.

'I remember thinking I was right back in the thick of it,' he said.

'This brought me back to feelings of confronting truly horrific matters at Langley and in the Situation Room at the White House.' Langley is the home of the CIA.

Airbnb hired high profile political crises experts to work on the team, including Nick Shapiro (pictured), former National Security Council adviser to Barack Obama and deputy chief of staff at the Central Intelligence Agency, who was brought on as its crisis manager

He was two weeks into the job when the New York City rape happened on New Years' Day in 2016.

The unidentified Australian woman, who was 29 at the time, and a group of friends had rented a first-floor apartment on West 37th Street, close to Times Square.

The group had picked up the keys for the apartment from a bodega close by without having to show any identification, Bloomberg reported.

They went to a party together, but the 29-year-old returned back to the property alone - ahead of her friends.

The suspect, 24-year-old Junior Lee, was allegedly already inside the apartment hiding in the bathroom when she returned.

In one incident, a rape victim received a $7 million payout in exchange for agreeing not to 'imply responsibility or liability' on Airbnb or the host after a 'career criminal' used a duplicate key to enter a New York City rental (above) and attacked her at knifepoint

He raped her at knifepoint.

Lee then returned later that night when police were there and was arrested and charged with predatory sexual assault.

Police said he had a set of keys to the apartment on his person at the time.

The incident has remained under wraps until now.

Chris Lehane, a former political operative for President Bill Clinton who was brought on as head of global policy and communications a few months before the incident, was concerned the incident would be used to help push Airbnb out of New York, according to Bloomberg.

It came at a time when the company was banned in New York but that many short-term rentals still featured on Airbnb's platform.

The safety team sprung into action right away, paying to fly the victim's mother over from Australia, housed them in hotels before flying them back home again and offered to pay for health and counseling costs, according to the report.

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky. The short-term property rental company, which went public in December, has spent an estimated $50 million every year on payouts to hosts and guests when things go wrong, according to Bloomberg Businessweek

Two years later, Airbnb reportedly paid the victim $7 million in an agreement that she would not blame or sue Airbnb or the host.

It is not clear how the alleged rapist had keys to the property but, under Airbnb rules, hosts are not required to disclose to guests who has a copy of the key or change codes on keypad locks in between guests.

Airbnb directed DailyMail.com to the company's pages on trust and safety when asked to comment on the safety team and the 2016 incident. A spokesman said the company talks about its safety team all the time.

Florida woman Carla Stefaniak (above) was murdered by a security guard at the apartment complex where she was renting an Airbnb in Costa Rica

Other incidents involving the safety team include one where a guest was found reportedly found naked in bed with the host's seven-year-old daughter, according to the Bloomberg report.

In another previously reported incident, a Florida woman Carla Stefaniak was murdered by a security guard at the apartment complex where she was renting an Airbnb in Costa Rica in 2018.

Her partially-buried body was found half-naked and covered in plastic bags by sniffer dogs 200 feet away from her Airbnb.

She suffered a blunt force wound to the head and stab wounds.

Stefaniak had told friends that she thought the accommodation was 'sketchy' and that there was heavy rain and no power.

She said in a FaceTime call that she might ask a security guard at the Airbnb to buy her water because of the storm.

Bismark Espinoza Martinez, 33, was sentenced last year to 16 years for her murder.

Stefaniak's family filed a suit against Airbnb claiming it failed to perform a background check on the security guard, who it transpired was working in the country illegally.

The case was settled for an undisclosed sum.

Stefaniak's body was found half-naked and covered in plastic bags near the San Jose vacation rental she was staying in (above)

Traces of blood were found left behind in the Airbnb, which she described as 'sketchy'

One year after Stefaniak's murder, five people were shot dead at a Halloween mansion party at an Airbnb in Orinda, California.

More than 100 people had gathered for the unauthorized party when the shooting unfolded.

Members of rival gangs from San Francisco and Marin City were among those at the party, authorities said.

Tiyon Farley, 22, of Antioch; Omar Taylor, 24, of Pittsburg; Raymon Hill Jr., 23, of San Francisco and Oakland; Javlin County, 29, of Sausalito and Richmond; and Oshiana Tompkins, 19, of Vallejo and Hercules, all died.

Airbnb said it would pay for the funerals of the victims.

But Jesse Danoff, the attorney for Hill's mother Cynthia Taylor, told Bloomberg the company did not reach out to the family for more than a week and claimed it pushed back against some of the funeral expenses.

Danoff claimed the company only cared about 'the threat or potential threat of bad PR or a nightmare in the press' and is still negotiating a settlement.

Airbnb told Bloomberg it paid the funeral bills.

One year after Stefaniak's murder, five people were shot dead at a Halloween mansion party at an Airbnb in Orinda, California. Law enforcement on the scene of the shooting

Raymon Hill Jr. - one of the victims of the shooting. Jesse Danoff, the attorney for Hill's mother Cynthia Taylor, told Bloomberg the company did not reach out to the family for more than a week and claimed it pushed back against some of the funeral expenses

Despite the critical role the team plays in supporting guests and hosts and helping to evade PR disasters, 25 of its most experienced agents were laid off last year amid the pandemic.

CEO Brian Chesky had announced in May 2020 that around half of all staff were being laid off, according to Bloomberg.

Safety agents slammed the move, arguing they had already sacrificed their mental health to the role.

Chesky later partly walked back the decision, rehiring 15 of the workers on time-and-a-half pay.
Migrants detained by Border Force officers trying to cross the English Channel in small boats has reached more than 5,000 in number - despite efforts from the Home Office to crack down on the crisis.

Yesterday 110 people were intercepted making the dangerous crossing of the busiest shipping lands in the world taking the tally to 5,007 who have been detained so far in 2021.

Just 1,865 migrants were picked up by Border Force in the same period from January 1 to June 14 in 2020 - which turned out to be a record year with 8,410 eventually making crossings last year.

French authorities intercepted a further four crossing attempts overnight on Monday involving 45 people.

But more migrants have arrived today as the heatwave continues with calm seas making the 21-mile voyage slightly easier to carry out.

One boat was seen being brought in by a Border Force patrol boat with four men wearing life jackets and face masks escorted off the jetty to be handed over to immigration officials.

More migrants arriving in Dover this week as numbers came to over 5,000 this year

A man who made the Channel crossing on June 10 huddled in a blanket

A Home Office spokesperson said: 'Criminal gangs are putting profits before people's lives through these dangerous and unnecessary crossings.

'Almost 5,000 people have been prevented from making the dangerous crossing so far this year and we are cracking down on the despicable criminal gangs behind people smuggling.

Inaction is not an option whilst people are dying. The Government is bringing legislation forward through our New Plan for Immigration which will break the business model of these heinous people smuggling networks and save lives.'

Dover and Deal MP Natalie Elphicke called for "more robust deterrents" to ensure migrants crossing the Channel by small boat know "they have no chance of breaking into Britain in this way".

Reacting to the news of more than 5,000 migrants arriving in 2021, she said: "Small boats crossings have gone on for too long. It's time these crossings came to an end.

Several people being brought ashore today at the Port of Dover earlier this week

A border force vessel carries newly arrived migrants after being picked up in a dinghy

"We should look at more robust deterrents that have been adopted elsewhere - notably in Australia, where a robust stance has saved lives and massively reduced illegal immigration activity.

"Everyone knows that these crossings will only come to an end when migrants know that they have no chance of breaking into Britain in this way, and the criminal gangs stop profiting from them."

Border Force has intercepted at least three boats in the Channel so far today.

The first group of arrivals was brought into Dover Marina around 8am on the back of Border Force cutter Hunter.

At least ten migrants - some huddling blankets and carrying their possessions in rucksacks after making the treacherous 21-mile trip across the busiest shipping route in the world - were seen on board.

They disembarked and were escorted up the gangway for processing by Immigration Enforcement officers.

Two young girls were seen smiling and giggling on the mooring after being brought in off the next boat shortly after 11am.

One was given white flip flops due to being barefooted when arriving alongside a woman, who was also wearing a red woolly hat and cuddling a blanket like the children.

They were followed by a Border Force vessel carrying around ten more migrants shortly afterwards.

A further rigid hulled inflatable boat carrying another dozen people was intercepted just before noon.

The Home Office is yet to reveal how many migrants crossed the Channel by small boat today.
The president of a suburban Philadelphia school board has resigned after telling graduating students that Frederick Douglass had a 'pretty good position' while enslaved and his escape to freedom was 'ridiculously easy.'

Joel Fishbein stepped down as president of the Cheltenham School District Board of School Directors on Monday - more than 10 days after he made the controversial remarks at Cheltenham High School's graduation ceremony.

The school district in Montgomery County has a majority black student population, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.

'Giving up leadership of the school board is not an easy decision, but it is an important first step to help our community heal from the hurt I caused at the June 3 high school commencement ceremony,' Fishbein wrote in a letter to the community.

Joel Fishbein resigned on Monday as president of the Cheltenham School District's board after he gave a controversial graduation speech at Cheltenham High School (left) on June 3

'I am grateful to the administrators, educators, parents, fellow board members and students who have shared their feelings about my words and their impact upon them,' Fishbein wrote.

'From them, I have learned that I had an enormous blind spot in my understanding of the trauma our country's history of slavery and continuing racism has inflicted.

'I apologize most of all to the students. I am deeply sorry that my poor choice of subject matter and words inflicted further pain particularly on what should have been their joyous occasion.

'I am also deeply sorry for causing division and hurt in this community that I love.'

Fishbein said the abolitionist Frederick Douglass had a 'pretty good position' while enslaved and his escape to freedom was 'ridiculously easy'

Fishbein told the story of the famous abolitionist, Douglass, by quoting Professor Heather Cox Richardson, a historian who writes a popular blog on the Substack web site titled Letters from an American.

Richardson, a professor of American history at Boston College, has amassed tens of thousands of subscribers who pay a monthly or yearly fee to read her newsletter.

She is routinely among the top earners on Substack, a platform that has attracted several top writers and journalists who have left traditional media in favor of the .

DailyMail.com has reached out to Richardson seeking comment.

Fishbein, the now-former school board president, cited Richardson's blog post from May 23 in which she writes of Douglass' escape from slavery to freedom.

'His scheme for escaping to freedom was ridiculously easy,' Richardson wrote.

'To escape from slavery, all Douglass had to do was board a train. That's it: he just had to step on a train.

'If he were lucky, and the railroad conductor didn't catch him, and no one recognized him and called him out, he could be free.

'But if he were caught, he would be sold down river, almost certainly to his death.'

Richardson's blog also describes Douglass as 'enjoying a measure of freedom' during his enslavement, a time when he also formed friendships and fell in love with his future wife.

'He most definitely changed the world,' Fishbein said of Douglass in his speech.

'And those of you who have learned resilience the hard way and have the courage to follow your passions and take risks may very well change the world.

'We all look forward to watching you do it.'

On the school district's YouTube page, an unedited and edited version of the graduation ceremonies were posted. The edited version contains a disclaimer warning viewers of Fishbein's speech

The image above shows Cheltenham High School in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania. The school district in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania serves a majority black student population

The day after the graduation ceremony, Fishbein apologized in light of the backlash to his remarks.

He released a statement saying that his comments 'greatly diminished' Douglass' enslavement.

On the school district's YouTube page, an unedited and edited version of the graduation ceremonies were posted.

The edited version contains a disclaimer warning viewers of Fishbein's speech.

'Please be advised, a section of this video contains material which reflects a whitewashed account of the systemic, violent subjugation of generations of African Americans, and denigrates and trivializes the horrors, trials and tribulations of the enslaved as well as those who were able to escape enslavement,' the disclaimer reads.

'His escape was ridiculously easy': Full text of Joel Fishbein's remarks on Frederick Douglass Joel Fishbein is pictured above delivering a commencement speech at Cheltenham High School on June 3 in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania I'll end with a story about Frederick Douglass [which was] introduced to me by historian Professor Heather Cox Richardson, whose blog I read every day. Frederick Douglass escaped from slavery in Baltimore, Maryland in 1838. Until then, he had a series of enslavers. Some treated him decently, some harshly, and one almost killed him. But by 1838, at the age of 20, he was a skilled worker in the local shipyards earning good money for his enslaver and enjoying a measure of freedom as well as protection. His sense of relative normalcy included having good friends in the area and falling in love with the woman who would become his wife. It was enslavement, but within that existence it was a pretty good position. His peers in the cotton fields of the Deep South were beaten like animals. Their death by violence - unremarkable and unremarked upon. Douglass himself had come close to being 'sold down the river' - a term that referred to slave convoys that traveled down the Mississippi River from lands in the East to brutal plantations in the harsh fields of Mississippi and Louisiana. He knew that being forced to labor on a plantation in the Deep South would likely kill him. His comparatively safe position would have been enough for a lot of people. They would have thanked God for their blessing and stayed put. But in 1838 Frederick Douglass was no different than they were - an unknown slave hoping to get through each day. Like them, he might have accepted his conditions and disappeared into the past, leaving the status quo unchanged. But he refused. His scheme for escaping to freedom from slavery was ridiculously easy. In the days of slavery, free black sailors carried documents with them to prove to southern authorities that they were free. These were the days before photos, so officials described the man listed on the free papers as they saw him: his color, distinguishing marks, scars. Douglass worked in shipyards, and had met a sailor who basically met this description. That sailor lent Douglass his papers. To escape from slavery, all Douglass had to do was board a train with what we would now call a fake ID. That's it: he just had to step on a train. If he were lucky, and the railroad conductor didn't catch him, and no one recognized him and called him out, he could be free. But if he were caught, he would be sold down the river, almost certainly to his death. Douglass took an enormous risk with the gravest of consequences and he most definitely changed the world. We are in a time of great change and those of you who have learned resilience the hard way and have the courage to follow your passions and take risks may very well change the world. We all look forward to watching as you do it. Good luck to all of you. Advertisement

The Cheltenham African American Alliance released a statement saying Fishbein's speech 'contained improperly characterized references to historical events involving slavery that were insensitive at best, and wholly out of line for the celebratory nature of the event.'

The organization said it met with district administrators on Thursday to discuss Fishbein's continued role on the board.

Fishbein was elected to serve on the board in 2015. He won re-election four years later.'

Fishbein told the story of the famous abolitionist, Douglass, by quoting Professor Heather Cox Richardson, a historian who writes a popular blog on the Substack web site titled Letters from an American

Richardson's Substack blog post she wrote last month about Douglass is seen above

The alliance statement credited Fishbein for being 'a capable and dedicated individual with policies that are aligned with the best interests of students at large.'

But the group said that a school board in a district with a majority black student population requires 'cultural proficiency.'

The alliance doubted 'whether this is the best leadership we can expect at such a pivotal time in the country's reckoning with its history.'

Douglas is revered as an abolitionist, author and orator, and has been called the father of the civil rights movement.
Cops have finally arrested and charge a man over the murder of his girlfriend's 13 year-old daughter, 11 years after she was killed.

Shawn Adkins was taken into custody in Howard County, Texas, on Monday afternoon and has since been charged with the murder of Hailey Dunn, 13. Adkins, who was dating Dunn's mom Billie when she disappeared in December 2010 is being held on a $2 million bond, according to CBS7.

Hailey Dunn was 13 at the time she went missing from her home in Colorado City, West Texas, in December 2010.

Her disappearance prompted a large-scale search, with Adkins publicly pleading for Dunn to return home.

'Hailey, I hope you come home safe really soon. You've been gone way too long. We all miss you, and we all love you,' he stated shortly after she vanished.

However, just one month later, Adkins was named as a person of interest in the case after he failed a polygraph test and gave inconsistent answers to police about his whereabouts on the night Dunn vanished.

Shawn Adkins (right) has been arrested over the murder of 13-year-old Hailey Dunn (left) in December 2010. At the time, Adkins was dating Dunn's mom, Billie (center). This chilling photo of the three of them was taken just two days before Dunn disappeared

Hailey Dunn was 13 at the time she went missing from her home in Colorado City, West Texas, in December 2010

Adkins was living at Dunn's home (pictured) at the time the teen vanished

In March 2011, Dunn's mother, Billie, was herself was arrested and charged after she falsely told officers that Adkins had been at her home the night her daughter disappeared.

She later pleaded no contest to a charge of making a false report to authorities and was sentenced to one year's probation. She and Adkins split in 2012.

Hailey Dunn's remains was discovered in March 2013 - more than two years after she went missing - around 20 miles away from her the home where she was last seen.

They were positively identified through DNA testing, but no arrests were subsequently made and the case went cold.

Police have not disclosed why Adkins has now been arrested, more than eight years after the discovery of Dunn's body.

In March 2011, Dunn's mother, Billie, was herself was arrested and charged after she falsely told officers that Adkins had been at her home the night her daughter disappeared

Erica Morse, a private investigator who has worked for years with Dunn's father, Clint, spoke with DailyMail.com on Tuesday morning about the case.

She stated that the case moved from Mitchell County - where Dunn disappeared - to neighboring Scurry County - where the teen's remains were discovered.

Morse claims the case stalled there, stating: 'I don't know if this was because they were in over their heads, because it was too expensive to prosecute, or because they were helping cover up for Shawn Adkins'.

She speculated that Adkin's family connections to law enforcement may have led to the case going cold, although this is unconfirmed, and a Scurry County spokesman refused to comment.

However, the investigation finally moved forward after Clint Dunn fought to have the case moved to Howard County, whose investigators subsequently arrested Adkins.

Morse says she is not sure why Adkins would have wanted to kill Dunn, but says she 'wouldn't be surprised' if there was a sexual element to his motivations.

Shawn Adkins (left) has been arrested for the murder of Hailey Dunn (right). If she were still alive, Dunn would now be 23 years old

She also said Adkins had vowed to take 'revenge' on Hailey's mom Billie after she called the police on him.

Hailey's dad Clint Dunn's health has been destroyed by the stress of his daughter's murder, and he suffered two heart attacks last year, Morse said.

She said Clint's 'heart was sore' at news of Adkin's arrest, and that Clint would make a statement as soon as he felt well enough to do so.
A jealous beautician who dropped her friend's baby 130ft to her death from a high-rise apartment block in Moscow has been jailed for 17 years.

Daria Shavelkina, 31, was 'envious' of mother-of-three Yaroslava Korolyova, 30, who had a loving husband and happy family life, a court heard.

The defendant, a Clarins cosmetics consultant, was pregnant at the time of the incident and met the other woman at her home to collect secondhand baby clothes.

But when Yaroslava turned away, the beautician picked up her two-month-old daughter and flung her out of the window.

Daria Shavelkina (above), 31, was 'envious' of mother-of-three Yaroslava Korolyova, 30, who had a loving husband and happy family life, a court heard

When Yaroslava (above with her husband Nikita Alexeev) turned away, the beautician picked up her two-month-old daughter and flung her out of the window

There had been no quarrel between the friends before the incident, according to reports of the criminal investigation.

The frantic mother rushed down 13 floors but her baby was motionless after landing on a hard surface in the yard, according to eyewitnesses.

Paramedics pronounced the child dead at the scene.

Yaroslava, who has two other children, was 'in deep shock' and required urgent medical assistance following her young daughter's death.

The defendant, a Clarins cosmetics consultant, was pregnant at the time of the incident and met the other woman at her home to collect secondhand baby clothes. Pictured: The scene

Shavelkina (above in court) told police that she had 'heard voices in her head' instructing her to throw the baby to her death

Shavelkina was detained and told police that she had 'heard voices in her head' instructing her to throw the baby to her death. She claimed that she was mentally ill.

But the court ruled she had 'faked' schizophrenia in a bid to avoid responsibility for the murder after she was examined by psychiatric experts at the Serbsky Centre.

Investigative Committee official Yulia Ivanova said: 'A comprehensive examination was held at the Serbsky (Centre).

'They did not find any evidence (of mental illness).

'According to the experts, the woman simulated the disease.'

The court ruled she had 'faked' schizophrenia in a bid to avoid responsibility for the murder after she was examined by psychiatric experts at the Serbsky Centre

It was alleged the woman was 'envious' of her friend's happy family life.

Shavelkina gave birth to her child while in custody.

She was found guilty of the murder of a minor, a crime that has a maximum penalty of 20 years in jail.

'The Moscow City Court issued a guilty verdict in a criminal case against 31-year-old resident of the Moscow region Daria Shavelkina,' said the city prosecutor office.

'The court sentenced her to 17 years in prison in a general regime correctional colony.'

Shavelkina was ordered to pay 49,500 compensation to the parents of the girl.
Alarming video captured the moment a brazen robber filled a garbage bag with products at a San Francisco Walgreens and bicycled out of the store after no one tried to stop him.

The footage posted on Twitter by ABC7 Reporter Lyanne Melendez was filmed on Monday afternoon in a Walgreens at the corner of Gough and Fell streets in the Bay Area - where 17 of the pharmacy's stores have been forced to close in recent years due to theft.

The surge in shoplifting incidents arose almost immediately after the passage of a local law that downgraded the theft of property less than $950 in value from a felony charge to a misdemeanor in 2014.

The video opens with a woman and security guard filming with their iPhones as they watch a man in a black sweatshirt and jeans nonchalantly fills his garbage bag with pharmacy items.

The woman asks if they should call 911, but neither make a move to do it. Then the man gets on his bike and starts to ride away before the security guard tries to grab the bag out of his hand, to no avail. The biker then pedals out of the store.

Ahsha Safai, a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, shared the video on Twitter with the caption: 'This is exactly why I held a hearing on organized retail theft and am pushing for greater accountability on shoplifting in SF.'

In a Twitter video posted by ABC7 Reporter Lyanne Melendez, a man is seen nonchalantly shoplifting from a Walgreens in San Francisco as a bystander and security guard watch

The man rode his bike to the store, filled a garbage bag with stolen goods and rode away

Ahsha Safai, a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, shared in a tweet his disgust with skyrocketing crime in San Francisco

He referred to a hearing on retail crimes he held last month with District Attorney Chesa Boudin, retailers, police and probation departments. According to Safai, many of the shoplifters leave the store just to sell their stolen goods on the street in the same neighborhood.

'Half of Walgreens was on the sidewalk. I'm not kidding,' Safai told The New York Times. 'I was blown away. I've never seen anything like it in this city.'

Walgreens spends 35 times more on security guards in the city than elsewhere, Jason Cunningham, regional vice president for pharmacy and retail operations in California and Hawaii, said at the hearing in May.

In addition to closing 17 San Francisco stores, theft in the pharmaceutical chain's 53 remaining stores is four times the average for stores elsewhere in the country, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. One Walgreens reportedly loses $1,000 a day to shoplifters, the news outlet adds.

A Change.org petition was launched in March to keep one of the Walgreens on Bush and Larkin streets open, but it ended up closing anyway.

'This has become a lifeline for many seniors, people with disabilities, and low income residents who cannot go further out to other stores to get what they need,' wrote Rusty Everclear, who started the petition that received 257 signatures.

Across the city, 18 Walgreens stores saw 94 shoplifting incidents between September 1 and December 31, 2020, according to data compiled by the San Francisco Police Department and obtained by news outlet Mission Local.

Larceny is the most common crime committed in the Bay Area, according to the San Francisco Police Department's Crime Dashboard

Larceny is the most common crime committed in the Bay Area, according to the San Francisco Police Department's Crime Dashboard.

There were 12,925 instances in 2020 and 11,062 instances in 2021 so far, as compared to the next highest crime  burglary  of which there were 3,141 instances in 2020 and 3,366 in 2021 so far.

Defined by the department as including 'thefts of bicycles, motor vehicle parts and accessories, shoplifting, pocket picking, or the stealing of any property or article that is not taken by force and violence or by fraud.' Burglary is different from larceny because it involves unlawful trespassing to commit a crime.

According to a Walgreens employee handbook, staff who witness someone shoplifting are told to notify a manager and 'never accuse a person of shoplifting or stealing'.

The handbook also states: 'Don't attempt to confront or stop a shoplifter or try to follow him or her out of the store.'

'In many cases, police don't write an incident report, because the suspect has already left the scene,' said Matthew Donahue, an assistant district attorney in the San Francisco District Attorney's Office, to the Mission Local.

Twitter users exchanged differing thoughts on the incident.

'This has been the norm throughout all of CA for quite a while,' wrote Twitter user Lady Goodman. 'The video taken by the security guard will be submitted to Walgreens security team, a report will be filed, and then absolutely NOTHING will come of it . . .'

KeepitRealRo explained that security guards in training are taught to observe and report what happened and are told, 'Don't get beat up or killed over things that are insured.'

And Mark Kitterman agreed with him, writing 'The security guard got it all video and no store patron was injured in the process. Win-Win. The video will be circulated throughout the Bay Area Law enforcement. Dude is screwed.'

But Darrel Lewis rebuked Kitterman's comment by saying: ' Yeah thats not how this works. Nothing will happen to him. He'll be back tomorrow, and why not? Eventually the store will close and the community as a whole will suffer.'

Ryan Lackey attacked San Francisco's leadership and laws, labeling the district attorney a 'communist' and saying: 'Maybe he'll get arrested if he goes to Orinda or Palo Alto or something, but if he stays in SF he's pretty safe from anything ever happening to him.'

In 2014, lawmakers passed Proposition 47, a ballot referendum known as the Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act that downgraded the theft of property less than $950 in value from a felony charge to a misdemeanor.

Other political figures who drew ire from pharmacies for their stances included actress Cynthia Nixon, who tweeted last month criticism of her local CVS in Manhattan for putting some of its products under lock and key.

The Sex and The City star tweeted and failed New York gubernatorial candidate tweeted that she had noticed her local CVS in SoHo had 'started' locking up 'basic items like clothing detergent.'

'As so many families can't make ends meet right now, I can't imagine thinking that the way to solve the problem of people stealing basic necessities out of desperation is to prosecute them,' Nixon tweeted.

But a manager of the SoHo CVS, named Vincent, said she was not living in the real world.

'Miss Cynthia Nixon, I don't think you understand what is going on,' he told DailyMail.com 'If you feel that way, maybe one day you should come here and see what we go through. Because people are in danger too - they come in here, and start with customers and they start with the people here that work.'

DailyMail.com called the Walgreens, on Gough Street, for comment, but did not receive an immediate response.

Cynthia Nixon (pictured) came under fire last month when she slammed a CVS in SoHo for putting its items under lock and key
A worker at a fire hydrant plant in Alabama pulled out a gun and began firing early Tuesday, killing two people and wounding two more, before going on the run and shooting himself dead.

The gunfire broke out about 2.30am at a Mueller Co. plant in Albertville, Police Chief Jamie Smith told news outlets. The gunman then got in a vehicle and left the factory.

The unidentified shooter was found dead with a self-inflicted gunshot wound around 6am in nearby Guntersville, Smith told Waay31.

Guntersville is located some 26 miles northwest of Albertville.

Smith says it wasn't immediately clear what prompted the shooting.

'Everything humanly possible is being done at this time to locate the person responsible,' Smith said in a statement.

A worker at Mueller Co. plant in Albertville opened fire on co-workers at 2.30am on Tuesday morning. Two people were killed and two others injured. The gunman went on the run before he was found dead by cops

Police officers are seen near the plant in Albertville, Alabama on Tuesday

The gunfire broke out about 2.30am at a Mueller Co. plant in Albertville, Police Chief Jamie Smith told news outlets. The gunman then got in a vehicle and left the factory

A company representative did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

Ann Walters, a resident of Boaz, Alabama, told AL.com that her grandson, Michael Lee Dobbins, 27, was one of the Mueller employees killed on Tuesday.

Walters said her grandson started working at the plant around 10 months ago. She said he was grateful to finally have a decent paying job.

'He was fixing to buy a home, and he wanted to buy a car for his girlfriend,' Walters said.

'He was a perfect gentleman, everybody will tell you. He was good to everybody and put his family first.'

Walters said that Dobbins is survived by a two-year-old daughter, Daisy.

The other fatality has been identified as David Horton, 44.

Hortons nephew, Allen Horton Jr of Gadsden, Alabama, waited outside the plant when he heard his uncle was among the victims.

A police officer walks at the entrance to a Mueller Co. fire hydrant plant on Tuesday

'I dont know how to take it,' Allen told AL.com.

'Im still in shock. It could have happened anywhere. But we just got word the shooter shot himself.

'I hate that it went down like that. But I hate it for my family.'

Mueller Co., based in Cleveland, Tennessee, is a subsidiary of Atlanta-based Mueller Water Products Inc., which calls itself a leading maker of water distribution and measurement products in North America.

It operates 11 plants in the United States and Canada.

More than 400 people work at the plant in Albertville, giving the city in northwest Alabama its nickname of 'Fire Hydrant Capital of the World.'

A maintenance worker from North Carolina arrived at the plant early Tuesday, unaware of the deadly shooting hours earlier.

John McFalls said he spent five days in the plant last week and saw nothing out of the ordinary.

A police car guards the entrance to the fire hydrant plant in Albertville, Alabama on Tuesday. Mueller Co., based in Cleveland, Tennessee, is a subsidiary of Atlanta-based Mueller Water Products Inc., which calls itself a leading maker of water distribution and measurement products in North America

'Everyone here was friendly,' he told Al.com. 'Radios playing, everybody getting along.'

He swallowed hard as he heard what had happened, the news site reported.

'I was thinking about coming in early this morning and getting the jump on everything,' McFalls said.

'It's kind of shocking, and then it isn't, given the state of the world.'

Albertville Mayor Tracy Honea said he was informed of the shooting early Tuesday morning.

'Its certainly a tragic day for the community,' Honea said. Mueller has been a great partner for the city.'

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255, text HOME to 741741 or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional resources
Joe Exotic has set his sights on a new money-making scheme while he sits behind bars at a Texas federal prison: NFTs.

The infamous Netflix personality is launching his 'Official Tiger King NFT' auction this week, where he hopes to rake in hundreds of thousands of dollars for items including his pistol, leather jackets, trading cards, audio recordings of himself in jail and adult film star Rachel Starr's bikini.

The auction items include tangible collectibles as well as 3D renderings encrypted with non-fungible tokens, the latest cryptocurrency craze.

One of the priciest items is Exotic's pistol, which has a starting bid of $101,984.

'I hope whoever purchases my favorite belongings is able to give them a well-deserved home,' Exotic said in a statement.

'Being able to auction off collectibles makes me feel connected with the outside world, especially without my cats by my side. Whether you love me or hate me for what you think I've done, there's no doubt that everyone wants a piece of The Tiger King!'

Joe Exotic is launching an auction to sell some of his most prized items as NFTs - including the pistol he constantly carried on Tiger King

Exotic's pistol NFT, which comes with the actual gun, has a starting bid of $101,984

The notorious Tiger King star, whose real name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage, teamed up with MORE - a cryptocurrency concierge - to set up the first NFT auction from a prison.

The auction starts June 18 and will be hosted on Mintable, the leading NFT marketplace.

Items hitting the block include:

Joe Exotic's pistol and holster (Certified by Smith & Wesson) - 3-D model and physical item included

Joe Exotic's original fringed leather jacket - 3-D model and physical item

Joe Exotic's black leather jacket and pants set - 3-D model and physical items

Rachel Starr's bikini as seen on 'Tiger King' - 3-D model and physical item

Joe Exotic authentic audio recordings from prison

Joe Exotic digital trading cards - 15 digital trading cards will be available for purchase along with a hardcopy autographed collectible

Joe Exotic cryptocurrency themed digital artworks

Adult film star Rachel Starr in an actual image and in the digital artwork at Exotic's auction

The blue bikini worn by Starr will be part of the auction, which includes the actual piece of clothing and a 3-D model

These are two the Joe Exotic cryptocurrency themed digital artworks up for auction

15 digital trading cards will be available for purchase along with a hardcopy autographed collectible

Exotic, a former zoo operator and big cat collector, is serving a 22-year sentence in Texas for numerous wildlife violations and plotting to kill his rival Carole Baskin.

Since his imprisonment, he's launched his own clothing line called REVENGE, which includes underwear and wacky fashion items like vests and shoes as well as a Joe Exotic Cannabis line.

Netflix's docuseries 'Tiger King' showed Exotic struggle with money toward the end of his time at Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park, which was his biggest source of income. He ultimately had to sell the park to Jeff Lowe in 2016 because he couldn't afford it.

Lowe was shut down before the park even opened after federal authorities claimed he and his wife, Lauren Lowe, had repeatedly violated laws requiring appropriate care for animals and had not complied with an order to hire a qualified veterinarian.

A jaguar was the last of the Tiger King's 68 big cats to be removed by federal agents at the end of May.

An NFT, or non-fungible token, is a unique digital token encrypted with an artist's signature and which verifies its ownership and authenticity and is permanently attached to the piece.

Its popularity exploded in recent years and have become a lucrative source of income for viral stars, including Exotic's rival Baskin, who dropped her own cryptocurrency and NFTs.

One of the digital artworks being sold in the NFT auction from prison

The 'Official Tiger King NFT' will be the first NFT launched from prison
A young mother whose world has been turned upside down after being diagnosed with an aggressive and incurable cancer while heavily pregnant has issued a desperate warning to others to go for regular skin checks.

Elise Squillari was 32 weeks pregnant with her second child when she was recently admitted to hospital on the Gold Coast suffering from severe headaches.

She underwent emergency surgery after multiple lesions were found on her brain that had caused life threatening bleeding.

Ms Squillari was diagnosed with stage four metastatic melanoma, an extremely aggressive skin cancer which spreads to other parts of the body, and which she believes started when a cancerous cell was missed when a spot was cut out of her back.

She has been told by doctors that treatment will be life prolonging, rather than life-saving, as the average survival rate is between six and 22 months.

Her son Romeo was delivered by emergency caesarian days later at 33 weeks so she can start immunotherapy treatment immediately.

Ms Squillari opened up about her harrowing ordeal from hospital on Tuesday to provide an update on Romeo's progress and her shock diagnosis as she pleaded for others to get their skin checked.

Family and friends have rallied around Elise Squillari and husband Dylan (pictured after Romeo was delivered by emergency C-section) after her shock diagnosis

She also claimed tumours in her body grew from one cell that was missed from getting a spot cut out of her back years ago.

'Please guys, grab a friend and get a skin check,' Ms Squillari posted on Instagram.

'I was getting 3-6 month checks. Years ago I had a spot cut out of my back, I was told it could turn cancerous.

They called me back to get the skin around it out too. It's likely that a cell was missed and has caused the tumours in my body to grow from one cell.

'So please take this seriously and get a skin check.'

Ms Squillari is expected to be released from hospital on Wednesday and will start treatment the following day as an outpatient.

The five-year survival rate for stage four metastatic melanoma is 22.5 per cent.

Thousands of Australians have rallied around Ms Squillari, her husband Dylan, three-year-old daughter Gigi and newborn Romeo by donating almost $300,000.

Romeo, who entered the world weighing 2.1 kilograms will remain in hospital for another six weeks.

Neurologists at Gold Coast University Hospital discovered multiple brain lesions when they examined Ms Squillari (pictured) who was 32-weeks pregnant

Before Ms Squillari (pictured with Dylan and Gigi) could undergo urgent immunotherapy treatment, doctors would have to deliver her baby early at just 33 weeks

Ms Squillari thanked the public for their generous donations and sharing her story.

'We can't put into words how much this means to us. We have both had to stop work and now Dylan can care for us all without stressing about finances,' she wrote.

'Romeo has to stay in hospital until full term. He is going so well and kicking all the premmie goals.

'Again, thank you to everyone that has donated, every time you share our story, to all the local businesses helping us out. We appreciate everything.

'Every message we receive has us smiling. Can't wait to start my treatment and be with family.'

Her husband described his wife as the 'strongest, most beautiful woman in the world' as he shared a heartwarming photo of the couple meeting and holding tiny Romeo for the first time.

'We are so in love, he has bought so much love at the time we needed it the most,' he posted.

Baby Romeo entered the world seven weeks early weighing 2.1kg (pictured) after his mother's cancer was discovered

His wife also shared photos documenting her final trimester, taken before her world was turned upside down.

'I can't believe this was a few weeks ago. I thought we still had another couple of months with just us. The world had other plans,' Ms Squillari captioned the photos.

A fundraiser set up by a family friend has now raised almost $300,000, which will go towards bills, family support, donor breastmilk for baby Romeo, alternative therapies, and living expenses.

'This is just the start of a very challenging time for Elise and Dylan,' Olivia Smith wrote on the GoFundMe page.

'Dylan will be unable to work for some time as he looks after Elise.

'The best way we can all help is to relieve this financial stress so Elise and Dylan can focus on what's important right now  Elise's health and their new baby.'

Young pregnant mother Elise Squillari (pictured with husband Dylan and their year-old daughter, Gigi) was admitted to hospital just over a week ago and told she needed to have emergency brain surgery
Just hours after giving her first interview since heroically saving her sister from the jaws of a crocodile, Georgia Laurie visited her twin sister Melissa in the hospital for more than 5 hours.

On Monday, Georgia gave her first television interview to ITV from a room at a luxurious hotel and hours later she hopped on the back of a motorcycle with a shirtless man and sped away to Hospital Angel Del Mar where her sister has been hospitalized for the past 8 days.

Exclusive DailyMail.com photos show Georgia leaving her hotel wearing the same shirt she had on at the interview just hours earlier. She wore a a tie dyed 'Bart Simpson' t-shirt, black shorts, trainers, a stylish cream colored bucket hat and had a backpack.

She has been staying at the four-star Posada Real Hotel in Puerto Escondido since she saved her sister from a crocodile attack by punching it in the nose last week. The Posada Real Hotel is on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean and is a full service resort hotel with it's own private beach club.

It's a far cry from the hostel they had been reportedly staying at prior to the attack.

Georgia Laurie is seen in exclusive DailyMail.com photos hopping on the back of a motorcycle with a shirtless man to visit her sister at Hospital Angel Del Mar

The sighting came hours after she gave her first TV interview to ITV from her luxurious hotel room at the four-star Posada Real Hotel in Puerto Escondido

She wore a a tie dyed 'Bart Simpson' t-shirt, black shorts, trainers, a stylish cream colored bucket hat and had a backpack

A source at the hospital told DailyMail.com that Georgia and several friends spent hours with Melissa. She was even visited by someone from the British Embassy

Georgia arrived at the hospital to visit her sister at approximately 2pm and throughout the next several hours there were at least five friends who had visited them.

A source at the hospital told DailyMail.com that Georgia and several friends spent hours with Melissa. She was even visited by someone from the British Embassy.

At one point during the visit, a few of their friends left the hospital and walked up the street to a local restaurant and brought back some food to Melissa's room.

At 7pm Georgia and two of her friends left the hospital for the night. The source said that Melissa is doing much better and could be released within the week.

Georgia is finally opening up about what happened when they were attacked by a crocodile while swimming in the Manialtepec River, giving an interview to ITV.

Georgia said, 'I thought at one point she was dead.'

She told ITV News she had seen her sister's body 'floating towards her' after Melissa, who alerted the group to the danger, did not make it back to the bank.

Georgia added: 'We saw the crocodile and we tried to swim to safety but unfortunately my sister didn't escape that - so it took her under.

'We tried to call her name but there was no answer so I went towards my friends and tried to find my friends and then I just saw her body floating towards me.

'I jumped into action with my rescue training that I remember and dragged her body towards me and laid her on my chest and tried to revive and she started going into a fit.

'And the crocodile came back twice - so I beat it off but the third time is when I sustained the most injuries'.

Melissa Laurie is seen smiling from hospital alongside her sister Georgia after narrowly escaping death at a lagoon in Mexico

The twins and friends are pictured smiling in the hospital following the horrific crocodile attack in Mexico

The sighting came hours after she gave her first TV interview to ITV from her luxurious hotel room at the four-star Posada Real Hotel in Puerto Escondido

Georgia said that Melissa remembers being dragged underwater in the first crocodile attack, feeling like she was going to drown and thinking her arm was being ripped off.

The only other thing Melissa remembered was her sister singing to her on the boat to comfort her as she drifted in and out of consciousness.

Georgia explained how a boat with tour guide went past at the right time, but those onboard could not help at the time.

The crocodile then came back for a third time, injuring Melissa as it tried to death roll and take her away, but it eventually fled following Georgia's sustained punching on the nose.

Melissa sustained puncture marks covering her abdomen and legs, along with a fractured wrist, cuts to her stomach and water in her lungs, Georgia said.

She was last week seen walking around the hospital with wounds to her hand - sustained from punching the crocodile during the on June 6 ordeal.

It was fight or flight and you fight for the ones you love.'

The parents of the British twin sisters have now flown out to Mexico to support them.

'It was trying to take her away,' Georgia said. 'I punched it in the nose with both fists and it felt hard, like hitting a table, but it scared it off.'

'No one warned us there were crocodiles there at all. We hadn't been drinking, there was no alcohol involved.

'We were just there for a chill-out. Melissa swan off by herself and got into trouble. I didn't know what was happening but I swan towards her.'

As she got closer Georgia, a qualified diver, noticed the reptile viciously attacking her sister.

'I saw her getting jerked around and I saw a croc's head which was about two feet long. The croc swam off, but kept coming back,' she said, the Sun reported.

'That's when it grabbed her by the leg and got her in a death roll. She went round and round and it was trying to drag her away.

'I was pounding it, and that's when it grabbed me and bit my arm. I bashed it with the other hand and it let me go. That happened three times.

'The croc battle seemed to go on a long time but adrenalin kicked in.'

Melissa was then pulled from the water by Georgia with the help of Moises Salinas, a 16-year-old deck hand on a tour boat named Espatula Rosada.

Georgia (right) added that Melissa is out of the medically induced coma that doctors placed her in to aid her recovery

Salinas jumped into the shallow murky waters along the Manialtepec River and helped pull Melissa onto the boat before rushing her and her sister to an ambulance 20 minutes away.

Once Melissa was on the boat, the extent of her injuries became clear, Georgia said.

'She had puncture wounds everywhere but wasn't bleeding out. She was drifting in and out of consciousness,

'The thing that worried me was she was coughing up blood and saying, 'I'm drowning, I'm drowning'. It was scary, and she screamed too.

'I thought of how I had seen her face down in the water for a long time, so I was worried how much water she had swallowed.'

Once at hospital, Georgia explained: 'The doctors were worried about her lungs, because they thought she may have got pneumonia from an infection.

'I had to sign some papers saying treatment could go ahead, which included an induced coma. That was scary, because it seemed touch and go.'
Fears are rising of a potential Sydney hotel quarantine outbreak after a traveller was infected with the identical Covid strain to a couple based in an adjacent room.

NSW Health is frantically investigating the development, with the viral sequence of all three cases confirmed as the same UK variant, known as the Alpha variant.

It remains unknown how the transmission occurred on the fourth floor of the Radisson Blu quarantine hotel in the city's CBD.

All three positive Covid cases were in hotel quarantine at Radisson Blu (pictured) in Sydney's CBD

NSW Health confirmed the three positive cases in hotel quarantine (pictured, healthcare workers transport a person into a patient transport vehicle)

The couple, who were asymptomatic, returned a positive Covid test following a test on June 3.

The other returned traveller from Doha returned a negative day two test on June 3, before developing symptoms and testing positive two days later on June 5.

In a statement on Tuesday night, NSW Health confirmed the three positive cases.

'Early possibilities as to where transmission may have occurred from the couple to the secondary case include on the flight, on transport from the airport to the hotel, in the lobby of the hotel, or while in quarantine,' the statement read.

'Currently, there is no evidence of further transmission.'

All three positive cases arrived into Sydney on the same flight from Doha in Qatar on June 1.

The trio were quickly transferred to the Special Health Accommodation where they will remain following their positive results.

As a precautionary measure, all returned travellers who stayed on the fourth floor at the hotel between June 1 and 5 must get tested and self-isolate before receiving further advice.

Additionally, staff who worked on the fourth floor of the Radisson Blu between June 1 and June 5 have also been asked to get tested and isolate.
A Spanish waiter has been jailed for more than 15 years after killing his mother, storing parts of her body in his fridge and eating her 'piece by piece' with his dog.

Alberto Sanchez Gomez, 28, was branded the cannibal killer of Ventas, the area of Madrid where he lived with his mother Maria Soledad Gomez.

He was found guilty of strangling the 68-year-old before dismembering her body and eating part of her remains following a trial in May.

The jurors, six women and three men, dismissed Sanchez Gomez's claims he was experiencing a 'psychotic episode' when he murdered his mother.

The waiter told police upon his arrest on February 21, 2019, that he had been eating his mother 'bit by bit' with his dog.

Alberto Sanchez Gomez (above), 28, was branded the cannibal killer of Ventas, the area of Madrid where he lived with his mother Maria Soledad Gomez

Detectives then found parts of Ms Soledad Gomez's remains stored in plastic containers inside his fridge and in drawers around the family's home.

Her head, hands and heart were allegedly found on her bed. Local reports at the time said her body had been cut up into more than 1,000 small pieces.

Sanchez Gomez was handed a 15-year and five-month prison sentence after being convicted of homicide and desecration of a human corpse following a two-week trial at Madrid's Audiencia Provincial court.

The sentence was laid bare in a written ruling made public today.

A prosecution indictment submitted to the court ahead of the trial said the cannibal killer used a carpenter's saw and two kitchen knives to cut up his mother's body.

Sanchez Gomez, whose father died when he was 15, claimed in court he had heard 'hidden messages' when he watched TV and voices telling him: 'Kill your mum.'

He was found guilty of strangling the 68-year-old before dismembering her body and eating part of her remains following a trial in May

The jurors, six women and three men, dismissed Sanchez Gomez's (seen upon his arrest) claims he was experiencing a 'psychotic episode' when he murdered his mother

He told Madrid's Audiencia Provincial court that the voices were those of neighbours, acquaintances and celebrities.

But he insisted he didn't remember cutting up his mother or eating her remains as he told police when they went to the murder scene.

During a last address to the court, he insisted: 'I'm very repentant. I suffer anxiety from the moment I wake up.

'I think of my mum and I'm absolutely heartbroken.'

Jurors heard the convicted killer, who regularly consumed drugs and alcohol, had been arrested 12 times for mistreating his mother before the grisly outcome of their last row. He had also breached restraining orders several times.

A police officer who gave evidence during the trial said: 'He began to tell us as he was being transferred to a police station the he had strangled her from behind.

'He also said he had eaten parts of her body, some cooked and some raw, and had given some pieces to the dog.'
A shooting at a house in Chicago's Englewood neighborhood early Tuesday morning left four dead and four injured - marking the city's second mass shooting in four days.

What police believe began as argument at the house, at the intersection of 62nd and Morgan streets, led to gunshots and the killing of three women and a man. Another four were sent to local hospitals with critical injuries.

No one has been arrested and police provided few details about the shooting. None of the victims were juveniles, but a two-year old who was at the house at the time was taken from the house and put in protective custody, police spokesman Tom Ahern said.

He added that detectives are trying to determine if there was more than one shooter.

The Chicago Sun Times identified three of the deceased as Denice Mathis, who was in her early 30s, Shametria Williams, 19, and Blake Lee, whose age was not revealed. The final victim was an unidentified woman who lived in the home and was the mother of the two-year-old girl.

Two men, one 25 and one 41, were shot in the back of the head and taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in an unknown condition, police said.

Another man, 23, was shot in the back and brought himself to St. Bernard Hospital before he was transferred to the University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition. And a woman, whose age is unknown, was wounded and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition, according to local news station WGN9.

Two women embraced outside a home in Englewood on Tuesday after learning of a shooting that happened that morning and left four dead and four injured

A crying woman was comforted by community members after she tried to cross police tape to reach the scene of a shooting outside a home in Chicago

The woman screamed, 'that's my baby,' repeatedly as she tried to get to the home, the Chicago Sun-Times reported

Mathis' family spoke to the Chicago Sun-Times and called her a devoted mother of her four sons and a daughter. 'She was a good person  a free-spirited person,' said a cousin, Vickie Smith. 'She loved her family.'

Demetrius Williams said he was at home in Maywood, putting on a shirt and tie for his daughters graduation, when he heard she had been killed, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

Shametria Williams was a mother of a two-year old daughter and was set to graduate Tuesday from the Country Club Hills Tech and Trade Center.

Blake Lee lived in the home and did odds jobs in the neighborhood. He had recently lost his mother and grandmother, the local paper reported.

At a news conference Tuesday morning, Police Superintendent David Brown said said detectives have not had a chance to interview the four surviving victims.

However, he said a witness told police about hearing gunshots at about 2am and that the department's ShotSpotter gunfire detection system picked up the sound of gunfire at that time.

Brown did not provide any details about whether that gunfire was related to the shooting at the house. The witness told police more gunshots rang out at about 5.45am.

Brown also said the police received several calls in the past about 'disturbances' at the residence where the bodies were found, but did not elaborate.

He said a high-capacity magazine and shell casings were recovered from the scene and that there was no apparent forced entry into the house.

Police investigated the scene of a shooting outside the Chicago home at the intersection of 62nd and Morgan streets

Police have not yet identified the shooter or released the identities of the survivors

Police allegedly received several calls in the past about 'disturbances' at the residence where the bodies were found, but did not elaborate

Englewood has long been one of the most violent communities in Chicago, and the city has experienced more homicides this year compared with the same period last year.

There were 282 homicides in Chicago as of June 13, compared with 269 during the same period last year. In 2021 alone, 1,640 people in Chicago have been shot  a 19 percent increase from the same time period last year, according to city records.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot blamed illegal guns for the mass shooting and told reporters that the city needs federal help to combat violence, noting that the White House had reached out to offer assistance Tuesday morning.

'We must acknowledge this for what it is - a tragedy thats ripped apart families and inflicted intense trauma on several individuals,' Lightfoot said. 'It tells us that we still have much work to do in our mission to end gun violence here in Chicago and, in particular, to limit the access of individuals to illegal guns.'

Lightfoot added that Chicago is part of a 'club of cities to which no one wants to belong: cities with mass shootings.'

Just a few days before the shooting, a woman was killed and nine others were injured when two men opened fire on a group standing on a sidewalk in Chatham, also on the city's South Side.

Police said no one has been arrested in that shooting. Several mass shootings over the weekend stoked concerns about a spike in US gun violence heading into the summer, as coronavirus restrictions ease and more people are free to socialize.

A database compiled by The Associated Press, USA Today and Northeastern University that tracks mass killings, which are defined as four or more dead excluding the perpetrator, names Tuesday's shooting as the 18th mass killing in the US this year. Of those, 17 were mass shootings.

Police removed the bodies of the four victims at the shooting at an Englewood home that took place early Tuesday morning

Englewood has long been one of the most violent communities in Chicago, and the city has experienced more homicides this year compared with the same period last year
The EU's top court has ruled that watchdogs in any country in the EU can challenge Facebook on the bloc's data privacy rules, not just Ireland where the tech giant is based.

The ruling on Tuesday has implications for other big tech companies operating in Europe as experts say it could pave the way for a fresh onslaught of privacy cases across the European Union's 27 member nations.

Under the bloc's stringent privacy rules, known as the General Data Protection Regulation, only one country's national data protection authority has the power to handle legal cases involving cross-border data complaints in a system known as 'one-stop shop.'

For Facebook, which has its European headquarters in Dublin, it is Ireland's Data Protection Commission.

However, the European Union's Court of Justice ruled that 'under certain conditions,' a national watchdog has the power to take a company to court over a GDPR violation even if it's not the lead regulator.

The EU's top court has ruled that watchdogs in any country in the EU can challenge Facebook on the bloc's data privacy rules, not just Ireland where the tech giant is based [Stock image]

The ruling held that the GDPR 'authorises, under certain conditions, a supervisory authority of a Member State to exercise its power to bring any alleged infringement... before a court of that State' where cross-border data processing is involved.

A GDPR cooperation requirement meant that a 'lead supervisory authority may not ignore the views of the other supervisory authorities,' which can raise objections that would block 'at least temporarily' the lead authority's decisions, it said.

The ruling is in line with a preliminary opinion from a court adviser.

The court's decision brings to an end a lengthy legal battle between Facebook and Belgium's data protection authority over jurisdiction for the case, which centred on the social network's use of cookies to track behaviour of internet users, even those who weren't account holders.

The company had argued that the Belgian watchdog no longer had jurisdiction after GDPR took effect in 2018.

The ECJ noted that the case pre-dated the 2018 entry into force of the EU's data privacy laws, called GDPR or General Data Protection Regulation.

Facebook painted Tuesday's ruling as a victory, noting that under the it, the Irish regulator would remain in the lead except in limited circumstances.

Facebook painted Tuesday's ruling as a victory, noting that under the it, the Irish regulator would remain in the lead except in limited circumstances. Pictured: Facebook's Dublin headquarters [File photo]

'We are pleased that the CJEU has upheld the value and principles of the one-stop-shop mechanism, and highlighted its importance in ensuring the efficient and consistent application of GDPR across the EU,' Jack Gilbert, the company's associate general counsel, said.

The 2015 Belgian case was brought by the president of the Belgian Privacy Commission - since superseded by the country's Data Protection Authority - alleging Facebook infringed on Belgian internet users' rights by collecting their information on their browsing behaviour whether they were Facebook users or not.

The Belgian court in 2018 found against Facebook and ordered it ended the practice where it took place without users' consent, under threat of a daily fine of 250,000 euros (215,310.99).

Facebook appealed, with the matter being kicked up to the ECJ to determine the effects of the 'one-stop shop' mechanism on the legal wrangle.

The European Consumer Organisation BEUC welcomed the ECJ's ruling on Tuesday, saying it 'should have positive repercussions in the fight to better protect consumers' personal data'.

The ruling by the European Court of Justice on Tuesday has implications for other big tech companies operating in Europe as experts say it could pave the way for a fresh onslaught of privacy cases across the European Union's 27 member nations. Pictured: The ECJ's headquarters in Luxembourg [Stock image]

It noted that many Big Tech companies were registered in Ireland and argued 'it should not be up to that country's authority alone to protect 500 million consumers in the EU, especially if it does not rise to the challenge.'

Ireland's under-resourced privacy watchdog has been criticised for taking too long to resolve a growing number of cases involving tech giants including Apple, Twitter, Google and Instagram. Ireland argues that the cases are complicated.

The GDPR allows the Irish Data Protection Commission to issue fines of billions of euros, however its biggest fine so far has been $548,000 (389,274.54), to Twitter over a 2019 data breach, Fortune reported.

Ireland's low taxes have attracted tech giants including Apple, Facebook and Twitter, which all have their headquarters in the country.
Police who took bungs in brown envelopes, 'moonlighted' in other jobs and sold lucrative information to criminals may have scuppered the probe into Daniel Morgan's murder, today's report revealed.

Father-of-two Mr Morgan was killed with an axe to the head in the car park of the Golden Lion pub in Sydenham, south-east London, on March 10, 1987 while he was probing corrupt officers.

And bent cops may have sunk the investigation having 'thought that their police careers and pensions were under threat' and that 'future, potentially lucrative corrupt practices' would be stopped, today's report says.

Officers were even paid not to arrest criminals who controlled their bosses, who also demanded 10 per cent of detectives' overtime and expenses payments to be paid to them each month, it is alleged.

The inquiry found that local officers in south London could have been involved in 'lucrative corrupt practices', including selling confidential information, assisting criminals with inside information and 'moonlighting'.

The car park of the Golden Lion pub in Sydenham, south-east London, where Mr Morgan was murdered

Daniel Morgan, a private investigator who was killed with an axe in the car park of the Golden Lion pub

Describing the culture at the time, one unnamed Detective Constable told the Panel of a practice in the world-famous Flying Squad. He said: 'If you got posted to their squad the first morning you would find a brown envelope on your desk with money in it. If you didn't accept it then the result was that by lunchtime you were posted back to your old position.'

Today's damning report has been eight years in the making - although the inquiry blamed Met secrecy for preventing it being done and dusted in 12 months. It cost 16million.

Running to more than 1,200 pages, the panel scrutinised 110,000 documents amounting to more than a million pages as well as a substantial amount of sensitive or secret material held by police as it examined the murder of the private investigator which took place more than 30 years ago.

Father-of-two Daniel Morgan (left) was killed with an axe to the head on March 10, 1987. Pictured on the right is Cressida Dick, who was criticised in the report

The panel accuses the Metropolitan Police of a 'form of institutional corruption' for concealing or denying failings over the unsolved killing - and said its handling of the case means that his killers will likely escape justice.

It found the force's first objective was to 'protect itself' by failing to acknowledge its many failings since the murder. The report is being viewed as a watershed moment for the force, similar to when it was found to be 'institutionally racist' following the murder of Stephen Lawrence.

Today, Dame Cressida apologised for failings in the Daniel Morgan case, saying it is a 'matter of great regret that no one has been brought to justice and that our mistakes have compounded the pain suffered by Daniel's family'.

Here are the key conclusions that shame the Met:

The report that shames the Met: Key findings from eight-year, 16million inquiry into murder of Daniel Morgan The report criticised 'dishonesty' by the Metropolitan Police for 'reputation benefit' which it said 'constitutes a form of institutional corruption'

The police's handling of the murder scene in 1987 was 'totally inadequate' as it was not secured and was left unguarded;

Alibis were not sought for all suspects, search warrants were 'seriously inadequate' and many opportunities lost were not retrievable;

Evidence of a culture within the Met at the time which allowed 'very close association' between police officers and 'individuals linked to crime' which included them drinking in pubs together;

Officers who were involved in 'lucrative corrupt practices' such as selling confidential details may have been concerned by indications that Mr Morgan was going to report corruption;

Some ten officers involved in the police investigations were Freemasons, which had aroused suspicions of conflicting loyalties;

Mr Morgan's family 'suffered grievously' because of the failure to bring his murderer or murderers to justice, 'misinformation' and a 'denial of the failings' in the investigations;

A later probe by an external force, Hampshire, was found to have been compromised by the inclusion of a senior Met officer on the team

Also criticised the Met for then Assistant Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick's initial refusal to grant access to a police internal data system called HOLMES and the most sensitive information; Advertisement

Officers who were involved in 'lucrative corrupt practices' such as selling confidential details may have been concerned by indications that Mr Morgan was going to report corruption

The inquiry found that local officers ins South London may have been involved in 'lucrative corrupt practices', such as, selling confidential information, assisting criminals with inside police information and 'moonlighting'.

Today's report suggests that officers scuppered the probe into Daniel's murder having 'thought that their police careers and pensions were under threat, and that future, potentially lucrative, options might be put at risk by Daniel Morgan's alleged intention to reveal what he knew'. This is a reference to police corruption.

'The evidence supporting this theory as to why Daniel Morgan was murdered was never seriously investigated, despite the fact that in the years following Daniel Morgan's murder, several of the police officers connected to Daniel Morgan's circles and business were investigated for and convicted of serious crime', the inquiry found.

Evidence of a culture within the Met at the time which allowed 'very close association' between police officers and 'individuals linked to crime' which included them drinking in pubs together;

The inquiry found widespread corruption linked to the case - and that police officers would be drinking with those linked to his murder.

The report says: 'From the outset, there have been allegations that police officers were involved in the murder, and that corruption by police officers somehow played a part in protecting those who committed it from being brought to justice.

'There is evidence of a culture within the Metropolitan Police in 1987, which permitted very close association between police officers who were either members of the investigation or were close to those who were part of the investigation team, and individuals linked to crime.

'There is extensive evidence of police officers meeting DS Sidney Fillery, Jonathan Rees and others in various public houses around the area and drinking with them, even after both DS Fillery and Jonathan Rees had been arrested and continued to be suspects for the murder of Daniel Morgan.

'There is evidence that the investigation of Daniel Morgan's murder was discussed on some of these occasions, and that Jonathan Rees used these social interactions to obtain information about the investigation.

'There have been indications since 1987 that Daniel Morgan had been going to report police corruption, and to sell a story about corruption to the media. The nature of that corruption has never been established.

'There were a number of possibilities, some of which were never examined fully, including a connection between the recovery by Daniel Morgan of a Range Rover from Malta in February 1987, and a major fraud investigation being conducted by West Yorkshire Police'

Alastair Morgan (right), the brother of murdered private investigator Daniel Morgan, with his partner Kirsteen Knight and family solicitor Raju Bhatt (centre) speak to the media following the publication of the report at Church House today

The police's handling of the murder scene in 1987 was 'totally inadequate' as it was not secured and was left unguarded

The report says: 'There were multiple very significant failings in the conduct of this investigation from the moment of the discovery of Daniel Morgan's body.

The management and administration of the investigation was poor, and in many respects was not compliant with relevant policies and procedures.

'The handling of the scene of the murder was totally inadequate  it was not searched and was left unguarded'.

The report says hardly any photos were taken of the crime scene, and the Met says the ones that were 'cannot now be found'.

'The photographs taken at the murder scene were very limited and cover only the area in which Daniel Morgan's body lay. D/Supt Douglas Campbell should have required that photographs be taken of the complete crime scene that night. Photographs should also have been subsequently taken of the whole premises, including ways in and out of the Golden Lion public house and its car park.

'A tyre skid mark can be seen in one of the photographs, very close to Daniel Morgan's body in the car park. While it would not have been possible to use that photograph to allow a forensic scientist to compare the mark with the tyres of any suspect vehicle recovered by the police later, because it lacked sufficient detail and clarity' The report adds: 'No attempt to seek any examination of the tyre mark can be identified in the available records'.

Alibis were not sought for all suspects, search warrants were 'seriously inadequate' and many opportunities lost were not retrievable

The inquiry raised serious questions about the hunt for evidence linked to the crime, including forensic evidence such as blood on clothing.

The report says there was no 'evidential continuity' for many of the exhibits seized during the investigation and that lines of enquiry were not followed through properly.

It says: A search for clothing was particularly necessary as it might have uncovered relevant evidence. Since Jonathan Rees was the last known person to have seen Daniel Morgan alive, D/Supt Douglas Campbell should, at least, have briefed his officers to search for and seize any items similar to the clothes which Jonathan Rees was wearing on the day of the murder, as described by the various witnesses, and any black or dark shoes.

'Although the clothing which Jonathan Rees was wearing when he attended Catford Police Station had been subjected to a visual check on the night of the murder, further scientific tests could have been conducted to detect, for example, the presence of Daniel Morgan's blood'.

The report adds: 'There is evidence that some of those who were arrested in connection with the murder on 03 April 1987, may have been alerted to their forthcoming arrests by a leak to the media the day before they were arrested'.

Kirsteen Knight, (left) the partner of Alastair Morgan, the brother of murdered private investigator Daniel Morgan, speaking to the media following the publication of today's report

The 'spectre of freemasonry' that hung over the investigation

The report dealt in detail about the influence of Freemasonry on the Met, and whether members of the secret society could have either commissioned Mr Morgan's murder or acted together to cover up what had happened.

Ten officers involved in the police investigations were Masons, according to the 1251-page document, which led to suspicions among fellow officers about their 'conflicting loyalties'.

Detective sergeant Sid Fillery, who joined Southern Investigations after Mr Morgan died, was a Master of two different Lodges in 1993 and 1996, and regularly met other officers at meetings.

Freemasons are required to swear an oath of secrecy, which prevents them from sharing details of what is discussed at meetings.

The fact that so many investigating officers were Masons led to suspicions among police colleagues about their conflicting loyalties, the report stated.

However, Baroness O'Loan insisted there was no evidence found to suggest Masonic connections were a factor in Mr Morgan's murder, or that they were improperly deployed to frustrate the investigations into it.

Nonetheless, the panel called for police officers to be required to declare membership of any secret societies when they join the service to avoid the 'suspicion' that they could be influenced by external loyalties.

Today's damning report has been eight years in the making - although the inquiry blamed Met secrecy for preventing it being done and dusted in 12 months. It cost 16million

Met Police chief Cressida Dick slammed for 'placing hurdles' in probe's path

Today's report will make uncomfortable reading for Met Police Commissioner Cressida Dick, with the authors accusing her of 'placing hurdles' in their path by refusing to give them access to a vital police database.

The HOLMES system - named after Sherlock Holmes - is used by UK police forces to investigate complicated crimes such as serial murders and high-value frauds.

The compilers of today's report wanted to gain access to the system to gather information for their inquiry, but were initially refused by Dame Cressida, then Assistant Commissioner.

Access to the database was 'essential' because many of the documents were only available in online form, and her refusal caused 'very significant delays', the report stated.

'The Metropolitan Police's lack of candour manifested itself in the hurdles placed in the path of the Panel, such as (then Assistant Commissioner) Cressida Dick's initial refusal to recognise the necessity for the Panel to have access to the HOLMES system,' the authors wrote.

Mr Morgan's brother Alastair told reporters Dame Cressida should 'absolutely' be considering her position in light of the report.

The family's solicitor Raju Bhatt said: 'You heard from the panel that the institutionalised corruption that they found is a current problem in the present tense.

'The current leadership in the Met has to take responsibility for that continuing.'

Mr Morgan's family 'suffered grievously' because of the failure to bring his murderer or murderers to justice, 'misinformation' and a 'denial of the failings' in the investigations

While Daniel Morgan was the victim of a horrifying murder, his family including his mother, brother and two children have also suffered in the past three decades.

Today's report said Scotland Yard's treatment of Mr Morgan's relatives has been appalling since he died in 1987.

The report says: 'The family of Daniel Morgan suffered grievously as a consequence of the failure to bring his murderer(s) to justice, the unwarranted assurances which they were given, the misinformation which was put into the public domain, and the denial of the failings in investigation, including failing to acknowledge professional incompetence, individuals' venal behaviour, and managerial and organisational failures.

'The Metropolitan Police also repeatedly failed to take a fresh, thorough and critical look at past failings. Concealing or denying failings, for the sake of the organisation's public image, is dishonesty on the part of the organisation for reputational benefit and constitutes a form of institutional corruption'

It adds: 'Among its recommendations, the Panel has proposed the creation of a statutory duty of candour, to be owed by all law enforcement agencies to those whom they serve, subject to protection of national security and relevant data protection legislation'.
A prison nurse has avoided jail over her secret love affair with an inmate who was seven years her junior.

Berenice Ivey, 28, wanted to marry 21-year-old Reuben Smith and have his children during their affair at Aylesbury Young Offenders' Institute in 2017.

She was handed a 15-month prison sentence suspended for two years after admitting one count of misconduct in public office at Amersham Crown Court.

The 21-year-old prisoner won the heart of senior nurse Ivey after he forced a fellow inmate to send an apology letter to the nurse after he had harassed her.

Smith then added her on social media on an illegal phone he had acquired in prison and the pair began a seven-month relationship, writing love letters and text messages to each other.

Prosecutor Walton Hornsby told the judge: 'I have to say the tone of the letters is tender and loving.

Prison nurse Berenice Ivey has been spared jail after she admitted engaging in an intimate relationship with a 21-year-old inmate while working at Aylesbury Young Offenders Institute

'It was a serious relationship between them. They talk about getting married and having children.'

The crown court heard how Ivey 'manipulated' her position to see prisoner Reuben Smith for more than 30 minute sessions of routine medical examinations, eventually exposing their secret affair to other medical staff at the prison.

The affair was uncovered when the couple's love letters were discovered and Ivey was charged with misconduct in a public office.

Sentencing Ivey, Recorder Nicholas Rhodes QC said: 'While you maintain there was no intimate sexual relationship and that is accepted, it is clear from the letters you had written that your relationship was proceeding that way and you had a strong sexual interest in each other.'

Having studied at Kings College for three years to obtain a nursing degree, the court heard how 'humiliated' Ivey had thrown her career away after a moment of madness spiralled.

Defence counsel Mohammed Saqib told the court in Amersham, Bucks., how the young prisoner had garnered the affections of the senior staff nurse who is now engaged and set to get married next May after reuniting with a former partner.

'The defendant was subject to harassment but that was followed up by an apology letter which was prompted because Mr Smith had a quiet word to suggest the inmate should apologise for his behaviour.

'That took her by surprise and that laid the foundations before Mr Smith contacted her through Facebook.

'She would encourage him to act properly and behave well as he was often in the solitary confinement unit of the prison. He seemed to listen to her advice which was reassuring.

'She was going through a hard time, her self-esteem was at the lowest in her career, she let her guard down and things spiralled out of control,' Mr Saqib added.

Berenice Ivey worked as a senior staff nurse at Aylesbury Young Offenders' Institute (pictured)

In an 'exceptional' twist of events, the judge handed the former nurse a suspended sentence after he heard how she was three years into a six-year history degree at the Milton Keynes Open University.

Mr Recorder Rhodes QC was also impressed that during the three years since she the case first came to court, Ivey had completely re-trained and was working for an insurance company.

He said: 'There are clear rules about fraternising with inmates and all forms of relationships are off limits.

'You breached that trust by striking up a relationship with a prisoner seven years younger than you.

'You opened yourself up to blackmail and compromised the safety and security of all of those in the prison.

'However, this case has taken four years to come to court, imposing significant anxiety on you.

'You are now studying for a history degree. You have also obtained employment with an insurance company and you are in a stable relationship.'

Ivey, of Aylesbury, Bucks., was sentenced to 15 months in jail, suspended for two years and will have to complete 150 hours of unpaid work.

Mr Recorder Rhodes QC added: 'It may be said that the sentence is too lenient but this is an exceptional case. You have come as close as anyone can to going straight to prison.'
A group of black teenagers who were forcibly arrested by Maryland police for vaping on a boardwalk claim the officers were 'harassing' them before they threw their friend to the ground and hurled a bike at them.

Footage of 19-year-old Brian Anderson's arrest on Saturday night has now gone viral after he and his friends got involved in a stand-off with police on the crowded boardwalk in Ocean City.

Anderson, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, said he was walking along the boardwalk with four of his friends at about 8.30pm when officers stopped them and told him to stop using his vape pen.

Smoking and vaping is banned on the boardwalk, and is only permitted in certain designated areas of the adjoining beach.

Police have said Anderson kept using his vape pen but the teenager claims he stopped and was just holding it in his hand.

In an interview with ABC's Good Morning America on Tuesday, Anderson and his friends said the officers followed and harassed them down the boardwalk.

Footage of 19-year-old Brian Anderson's arrest (above) on Saturday night has now gone viral after he and his friends got involved in a stand-off with police on the crowded boardwalk in Ocean City, Maryland

Brian Anderson, Jahtique John Lewis, Kamere Day and Khalil Warren (left to right) were taken into custody on a slew of charges over the boardwalk incident with police on Saturday

'I just feel like they shouldn't have swarmed us the way they did,' Anderson said.

His 18-year-old friend Jahtique John Lewis said he confronted the officers about why they were following them.

'I asked him what was the problem and they were like, 'Tell your boy to put his pen away',' Lewis said.

'As I turned around, we see public safety and police is crowding us. Next thing I know, Brian is on the floor.'

Footage of the ordeal, which was captured by a woman in a nearby restaurant, showed police throwing Anderson to the ground and shouting for him to stop resisting arrest.

One officer could be seen kneeing Anderson several times as a large crowd gathered around.

Police said Anderson had become 'disorderly' after they approached him the second time and asked for his ID.

They then attempted to arrest him for failure to provide necessary ID for the violation of the local ordinance.

Lewis claims that when he tried to speak to the officers, one of them threw their police bike at him.

The teen said he 'threw it to the side' before a 'scuffle' broke out between the group and officers. That moment wasn't captured on camera, although one of Anderson's group was seen launching a bike towards the group of cops.

Anderson and his friends said the officers followed and harassed them down the boardwalk. His 18-year-old friend Jahtique John Lewis said he confronted the officers about why they were following them (pictured above)

Lewis claims that when he tried to speak to the officers, one of them threw their police bike at him. The teen said he 'threw it to the side' before a 'scuffle' broke out between the group and officers

Police, however, said Lewis shoved one of the officers in the chest and shouted profanities at them before he picked up the bike and allegedly tried to hit an officer with it.

Officers said another one of their friends, 19-year-old Kamere Day, continued to try and approach them while shouting profanities.

Day said the group were 'just scared at the time' because they were being 'attacked for no reason'.

'Brian was in the middle of this circle getting abused by a cop. We were just trying our best to like help him in any way,' Day said.

'We don't know what could happen to him. In these times, you never know what could happen to people like us.'

'I could have been killed.'

Police arrested another one of their friends, 19-year-old Khalil Warren, for allegedly refusing to move off private property when officers asked him to.

'I feel like they could've just talked to us about it instead of having to be so physical,' Warren said.

'There was a different way they could've handled that situation.'

The group of teens were eventually taken into custody on a slew of charges.

One of the teens is pictured above being thrown to the ground as he was being arrested. Another teen can be seen lying on the ground in the background after being detained

Footage of the ordeal, which was captured by a woman in a nearby restaurant, showed police engaging with the group of teens as a crowd gathered on the boardwalk

Anderson was charged with disorderly conduct, resisting or interfering with arrest, second-degree assault and failure to provide proof of identity.

Lewis was charged with disorderly conduct, failure to obey a reasonable and lawful order, obstructing and hindering, second-degree assault and resisting or interfering with arrest.

Day was charged with disorderly conduct, obstructing and hindering, failure to obey a reasonable and lawful order, resisting or interfering with arrest and second-degree assault.

And Warren was charged with trespassing and resisting or interfering with arrest.

In a statement about the arrests, police said they were aware of the videos circulating regarding the incident.

'Our officers are permitted to use force, per their training, to overcome exhibited resistance. All uses of force go through a detailed review process.

'The uses of force from these arrests will go through a multi-level examination by the Assistant Patrol Commander, the Division Commander and then by the Office of Professional Standards.'

That ordeal came just days after 18-year-old Taizier Griffin (above), who is also black, was tasered after he allegedly ignored a police request to stop vaping on the same boardwalk

Griffin is pictured above being arrested after he fell to the ground clutching his stomach after being hit with the taser

It came just days after 18-year-old Taizier Griffin, who is also black, was tasered after he allegedly ignored a police request to stop vaping on the same boardwalk.

A video of the June 6 encounter, which went viral earlier this week, showed Griffin being surrounded by at least five officers as he put his hands in the air.

He was struck by the taser as he reached for the strap of his backpack after an officer shouted for him to get on the ground, according to the video.

An eyewitness claimed Griffin had been asked by police to remove the bag from his back but that is not shown in the footage that has been shared online.

He fell to the ground moments later while clutching his stomach.

'What is wrong with you?' one person could be heard asking police. Another shouted out: 'Y'all did that for no reason.'

Griffin's mother, Jessica Barber, said she was thankful the incident didn't escalate even further.

'He was not resisting, he was not giving any issues to police officers,' she told GMA.
A Mexican man has been accused of killing his parents after luring them to an abandoned property because he wanted to steal their fortune.

Alexis Castillo, 26, was arrested last Friday in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, and charged with the murders of his father, Ismael Castillo, 48, and his mother, Josefina Montiel, 49.

Authorities say Castillo, the oldest of three children, shot his parents dead on January 29, 2020, because he wanted to keep their forklift business and other properties in the area.

Hours before they were killed Montiel and her husband visited a local notary's office in the Monterrey neighborhood of Colonia del Valle and ran into their son outside as they left, according to Mexican newspaper Reforma.

Castillo then allegedly invited his parents to an uninhabited property 59 miles away in the city of Montemorelos, where he shot both of them in the head.

He appeared before a judge via a video conference Saturday and is expected to be formally arraigned in court on Wednesday.

If convicted Castillo faces between 50 to 60 years for each murder charge.

Alexis Castillo (left) was arrested last Friday in Monterrey, Mexico, in connection to the murder of his father, Ismael Castillo (right), and his mother, Josefina Montiel

Castillo with his mother Josefina Montiel. He reportedly murdered his parents because he wanted to keep his family's forklift business and other properties

Pictured from left to right: Castillo with his now 11-year-old sister; his mother, Josefina Montiel; his now 15-year-old sister; and his father, Ismael Castillo

Alexis Castillo is due back in court Wednesday

Hours after executing Montiel and Ismael Castillo, Castillo visited the Monterrey Public Ministry and filed a missing persons report.

In February 2020, investigators reviewing the records from one of the parents' cellphones found a series of phones that had been placed to a banking institution as part of an attempt to wire money to a second bank account.

The calls had been pinned to the city of Allende, located 14 miles from where Castillo allegedly killed his parents.

The bodies of Montiel and Ismael Castillo were located April 2020 in the Montemorelos town of Tanguma, where their son is believed to have dumped them.

Authorities quickly became suspicious of the son after he allegedly did not show any emotions over his parents' deaths.

Castillo is said to have used his parents' fortune to treat himself to new cars, jewelry, designer clothes and cars

Neighbors at the gate community where Ismael Castillo lived with his wife and his daughters, aged 11 and 15, found it strange that their oldest son moved back in with his parents four months before their deaths.

They also raised doubts over Castillo's innocence when he held a party at his home inside the gated community days after he reported his parents' disappearance.

Castillo was frequently seen driving around his father's Chevrolet Suburban and purchased several new cars as well as jewelry and designer clothes.

He hired two bodyguards, who accompanied him everywhere he went, including the nightclubs where he spent his parent

'Even after his parents' bodies were found, he did not look sad or worried. He could care less,' a neighbor told Reforma. 'He continued with the parties, some with live music.'

'The parents were something else, kind, very involved in the neighborhood meetings,' another neighbor said. 'We can't explain why he did that to them.'

Castillo was arrested last Friday in Monterrey, a city in the northeastern Mexican state of Nuevo Leon, in connection with the January 29, 2020 murders of his parents
Texas could be headed for more blackouts as the state braces for a heatwave and its embattled grid operator is rocked by 'unplanned outages'.

Residents were told to conserve energy Monday through Friday in a warning issued just four months after rolling blackouts left millions without power and 700 dead during February's devastating winter storms.

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) put its grid condition alert level to yellow - a conservation alert - Monday urging customers to limit their electricity usage' as much as possible'.

It cited two issues leaving it struggling to keep up with the demand for power: record high temperatures and a large number of power plants being forced offline for unexplained reasons.

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) put its grid condition alert level to yellow - a conservation alert - Monday

ERCOT officials said Monday it was struck by a significant number of unexpected, unplanned outages at its power plants.

Around 12,000 megawatts of generation were offline - equivalent to enough energy to power 2.4 million homes across the state on a hot day.

Officials admitted the outages were not expected and did not confirm what had caused them.

However, ERCOT Senior Director of Systems Planning Warren Lasher conceded that it was 'very concerning.'

'I don't have any potential reasons [for the plant outages] that I can share at this time,' Lasher said during a Monday call with the press, according to the Texas Tribune.

'It is not consistent with fleet performance that we have seen over the last few summers.'

He added: 'We operate the grid with the resources that we have available.

'It's the responsibility of the generators to make sure their plants are available when demand is high.'

He sought to reassure residents fearful of a repeat of February's disaster saying it 'appears unlikely' the ERCOT grid will need to implement rolling blackouts to homes and businesses.

Today's forecast for the US. Temperatures will top the mid to high 90s for much of Texas this week

Woody Rickerson, ERCOT vice president of grid planning and operations, admitted that the alert was 'unusual for this early in the summer season' and that the company was investigating why so many plants were offline.

The forced outages at the plants come in tandem with a spike in electricity use due to record hot weather in the state.

Temperatures are forecast to top the mid to high 90s for much of the state this week, leading residents to ramp up their air conditioning units to stay cool.

This comes just one week after state lawmakers took steps to try to try to prevent a repeat of the crisis.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a bill into law to reform the state's energy grid including the creation of a statewide emergency alert system and requiring power companies to upgrade their power plants to withstand more extreme weather.

It also requires changes to ERCOT's governing board.

While the hot weather is playing a part in the state's current power issues, it was the cold weather that set off the power issues back in February.

People shovel snow in Austin, Texas, in February amid the storms that left 700 dead

Pike Electric service trucks line up after a snow storm on February 16 in Fort Worth, Texas

Millions were left without power amid the the greatest forced blackout in US history

More than 700 people - more than four times the final death toll shared by Lone Star State officials - are thought to have died as a result of the winter storms and the subsequent power outages then.

An analysis by Buzzfeed News last month said 702 people died from causes likely related to the storm. The state's final official tally was 151.

Victims included 11-year-old Cristian Pavon who died of carbon monoxide poisoning in his mobile home which lost power in the storm.

Etenesh Mersha and her 7-year-old daughter Rakeb Shelemu also died from carbon monoxide poisoning after they huddled in their car in the garage for warmth amid a blackout in their Houston home.

When the historic winter storms struck, ERCOT instructed energy providers to cut supply, causing rolling power blackouts across the state.

At the peak of the crisis more than 4.5 million homes and businesses were left without power, many for multiple days on end.

Last week, Governor Greg Abbott signed bills into law to reform the state's power grid

Many bundled into warming shelters and furniture stores for warmth, despite concerns about COVID-19.

While struggling to survive with a lack of power and heat, the crisis worsened as the state faced the prospect of running out of food and water.

Around 15 million residents were left without any clean drinking water and were placed under boil water notices as water treatment facilities were knocked offline and freezing temperatures burst water mains and pipes.

Many resorted to boiling snow to drink or lined up at spigots for hours to get some clean water.

Senator Ted Cruz sparked fury when he jetted off on a holiday to a beach resort in Cancun, Mexico, at the height of the crisis, leaving his constituents struggling to survive back home.

Senator Ted Cruz sparked fury when he jetted off on a holiday to a beach resort in Cancun, Mexico, at the height of the crisis (above at the airport)

Following the backlash, Cruz turned around less than 24 hours after he jetted off.

He then claimed he was trying to be a 'good dad' and admitted he made a 'mistake' but ignored calls to resign over the scandal.

The crisis exposed cracks in the state's energy supply, despite Texas long regarding its energy independence as a source of great pride.

ERCOT admitted at the time the state had been just 'seconds and minutes' away from 'months-long' blackouts.

The CEO tried to defend the company's actions that sparked the greatest forced blackout in US history before he was fired in March.
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The UK now has the highest daily rate of coronavirus infections in Europe after overtaking Spain, figures revealed today.

Statistics compiled by the Oxford University-based research platform Our World in Data show 107.3 people per million in the UK tested positive for the virus on average per day over the last week.

The UK had for months been one of the least-affected countries on the continent, after racing ahead of the EU with its vaccine rollout when many European nations were battered by a second wave.

But an outbreak of the ultra-infectious Indian Covid variant has pushed Britain's infection rate back up, forcing Prime Minister Boris Johnson to pump the brakes on the final stage of his roadmap out of lockdown.

The UK is now ahead of the 43 other European countries included in the statistics. Spain has the second-highest Covid infection rates, with 104.6 cases per million people, followed by Latvia (92.1) and Andorra (90.6).

Belarus (89.77) and Russia (83.7) have the next most highest coronavirus infection rates, followed by Denmark (78.36), the Netherlands (77.19) and Sweden (76.3).

Italy, one of the European countries hit worst by the first wave of the virus last March, now has just 28.5 cases per million. Portugal, which moved to the UK's amber travel list last week after an increase in cases, has recorded 70.58 per million.

The UK has now knocked Spain off the top spot to record the highest number of Covid infections per million people in the last seven days

Iceland and San Marino are at the bottom of the list and the only countries to have zero cases per million.

According to figures published by the World Health Organization, Iceland recorded just five cases yesterday, while San Marino recorded none.

It is possible that the UK's infection rate is being inflated slightly because it is carrying out more tests per person than most other nations.

All over-18s in Britain set to get Covid vaccine offer this week, NHS boss reveals All over-18s are expected to be invited for their first Covid vaccine dose by the end of this week, NHS England's boss claimed today. Sir Simon Stevens told the NHS Confederation's annual conference that the health service would 'finish the job' of the vaccination programme to the 'greatest extent possible' over the next four weeks. He said he expects all remaining adults to be offered their first vaccine by the end of the week but admitted 'supply continues to be constrained'. The vaccine roll-out was extended to all 23- to 24-year-olds today, with people in the age group now able to book their appointment. In light of the rapidly spreading Indian variant, the Government has brought forward its target for vaccinating all adults until July 19  the same day the final unlocking has been pushed back until. Ministers had previously pledged to offer jabs to all over-18s by July 31. Boris Johnson last night announced a delay to the original June 21 'Freedom Day' by four weeks, amid fears a third wave of Covid could overwhelm the NHS. Advertisement

Officials across the UK conducted 13.74 tests per 1,000 people over the last week. Only Austria (45.48) and Denmark (17.26) conducted more Covid tests than the UK for the size of their population.

The Our World in Data statistics also show that despite having the highest Covid infection rate, the UK has administered the fourth most vaccines in Europe over the last week, which has helped to keep death rates flat.

Germany (806,001), France (568,768) and Italy (545,429) came ahead of the UK, which handed out 470,048 doses.

As the UK became the Covid infection capital in Europe, officials also announced 7,673 more cases today, an increase of a quarter in a week.

The number of infected patients admitted to hospital  a figure that lags behind cases by several weeks because of how long it can take to become seriously ill  also soared by 46 per cent.

Some 184 hospitalisations were recorded across the UK on June 9, the most recent day figures are available for. On June 2, roughly when the NHS started to feel extra pressure from the mutant Indian strain, the figure was just 126.

Despite the uptick in admissions, deaths remain flat. Ten more victims were added to the official death toll today, compared to 13 last week.

Separate figures today revealed that England and Wales saw fewer Covid deaths in the first week of June than at any time since March 2020. Office for National Statistics data shows 52 Covid deaths occurred between May 29 and June 4, down from 69 the week before.

But the rate is climbing in the North West, where it doubled from eight deaths in the space of a fortnight to 16.

No10's top scientists expect the death count to rise in coming weeks because of the spike in cases but remain confident that vaccines will thwart the disease, preventing tens of thousands of people who get infected from being hospitalised or dying.

Health chiefs today also revealed that the UK has passed the milestone of fully vaccinating 30million adults, or 57.3 per cent of over-18s. The UK yesterday dished out a further 132,117 first doses and 230,959 second doses.

Chief medical officer Chris Whitty warned at last night's Downing Street press conference that hospitalisations had risen 61 per cent in the North West in just a week, as Boris Johnson announced that June 21's Freedom Day would be postponed until July.

Professor Whitty warned this trend was expected to be seen across the rest of the country if June 21 had gone ahead as planned.

Extra support to carry out surge testing, tracing, isolation support and maximising vaccine uptake has already been deployed across the North West to tackle the more contagious variant. Data shows it helped to thwart the spread of the virus in Bolton.

But the UK has also conducted the third most Covid tests in the last week, which may have caught more infections than other countries that are not testing as much. Britain tested the third most people out of the 44 countries in Europe

The UK has administered more 470,048 first and second doses of the vaccine in the last seven days, with only Germany, France and Italy injecting more people

Daily UK figures show 7,673 people tested positive for the virus, 184 patients were admitted to hospital and 10 people died. The data also shows that 41.8million people have been given their first dose of a vaccine, while 30.2million have received their second

Ministers urge another 3.6MILLION people in Indian variant hotspots in England not to travel Millions more people in the Midlands and North West of England are being urged not to travel or meet people indoors in an attempt to curb the spread of the Indian Covid variant. In guidance released last night, roughly 3.6million residents in Birmingham, Liverpool, Warrington and parts of Cheshire were asked to minimise their movements in and out of the affected areas, which are recording higher than average levels of the mutant strain. But Boris Johnson made no mention of the fresh advice in his dramatic Downing Street press conference last night, where he confirmed England's final unlocking would be pushed back by four weeks amid fears the mutant strain could overwhelm hospitals. Remaining lockdown restrictions are now due to be lifted on July 19, which the Prime Minister last night promised would be the 'terminus date'. The Government today doubled down on its new Freedom Day pledge, with Michael Gove saying he was 'as confident as confident can be about that date', despite fears from backbench Tory MPs that the goalposts will be moved once again. Asked about whether the Prime Minister could put Tory fears to bed this afternoon, Mr Johnson's official spokesman said 'there is not a significant benefit from a further delay beyond the four weeks because of the success of the vaccination programme. The six authorities hit with the new guidance are also being offered a 'package of support' from the Government which includes surge testing, enhanced contact tracing and financial support to Covid cases and their contacts who have been asked to self-isolate. The Army will be sent in to help carry out the extra testing to flush out cases of the virus, while NHS boards in the area will be given extra help to ensure vaccine uptake is as high as possible. Residents are also being asked to get tested twice a week. They join the 4m people in Greater Manchester and Lancashire, who were placed under the new rules last week. The enhanced measures cover around 9.3m residents across England, the equivalent of 16 per cent of the entire population. Advertisement

Millions more people in the Midlands and North West of England are now being urged not to travel or meet people indoors in an attempt to curb the spread of the Indian Covid variant.

In guidance released last night, roughly 3.6million residents in Birmingham, Liverpool, Warrington and parts of Cheshire were asked to minimise their movements in and out of the affected areas, which are recording higher than average levels of the mutant strain.

But Boris Johnson made no mention of the fresh advice in his dramatic Downing Street press conference last night, where he confirmed England's final unlocking would be pushed back by four weeks amid fears the mutant strain could overwhelm hospitals.

Remaining lockdown restrictions are now due to be lifted on July 19, which the Prime Minister last night promised would be the 'terminus date'.

The ONS figures released today show that over 30 per cent of all Covid deaths in England and Wales  16 of 52  were recorded in the North West.

The number of people who had Covid mentioned on their death certificated between May 29 and June 4 was 98, which accounted for just 1.3 per cent of all deaths in England and Wales.

Of those deaths, 96 were in England and two were in Wales.

The numbers are up slightly from 95 recorded in the week before, but this slight increase was likely caused by registration lags due to the spring bank holiday, when many registry offices closed.

The data shows that 7,778 deaths were recorded in England and Wales that week  4.8 per cent below the five year average, with the ONS noting this number was also impacted by the holiday.

Of the 98 people who had Covid mentioned on their death certificate between May 29 and June 4, only 57 had this recorded as their underlying cause of death.

The majority of Covid deaths took place in hospitals, followed by care homes.

Professor Kevin McConway, professor of applied statistics at the Open University, said the bank holiday makes short-term trends 'pretty well impossible to evaluate for the latest week'.

He said this is 'particularly unhelpful', because accurate statistics for that week could have been 'particularly informative', as it is three weeks after restrictions were lifted for step three of England's roadmap.

'Mid-May is also when the Delta variant was becoming dominant, so any effect on deaths from that could have shown up,' he said.

'Late registrations because of the bank holiday mean its not at all surprising that the total numbers of registered deaths from all causes is lower than the previous week, but we cant tell yet if thats a real decrease.'

He said it is 'very likely' that when complete data is published  stating when the deaths happened, rather than when they were registered  it will be higher than 98.

Professor McConway warned that despite the number of Covid victims being 'very small' compared to most of the pandemic, 'a rise is not good news after consistent decreases every week since mid-January'.

Though he said there is not yet a 'major cause for concern'.

'All these deaths are important and sad events for the families and friends of the person who died, but the numbers are still small,' he said.

'Whats important is that a close eye is kept on how the numbers change as the Delta variant becomes more and more established,' Professor McConway added.
A father accused of murdering his teenage stepdaughter 'showed no emotion' when police asked him about her disappearance, a court heard.

Bernadette Walker, 17, was last seen alive on July 18 last year when Scott Walker, who is not her biological father, collected her from an overnight stay at her grandparents' house in Peterborough, Cambridge Crown Court heard.

Prosecutors allege that 51-year-old Scott Walker killed Bernadette to 'prevent her pursuing her allegations of sexual abuse any further'.

Her body has not been found despite police searches.

Scott Walker is then accused of forming an 'unholy alliance' with Bernadette's 38-year-old mother Sarah Walker to mislead investigators, sending messages from Bernadette's phone and social media accounts to claim that she ran away, said Lisa Wilding QC, opening the prosecution case.

Scott Walker is accused of murdering his stepdaughter Bernadette in July last year. She was last seen being collected from an overnight stay at her grandparents' house in Peterborough

She said Sarah Walker, who is not married to Scott Walker but changed her surname by deed poll, reported photography student Bernadette missing on July 21.

Sarah Walker lived with Scott Walker but their relationship had broken down and she had a new boyfriend, Christopher O'Connell, Ms Wilding said.

She said that police officer Elizabeth Aspland went to search Bernadette's bedroom on July 23 as part of the missing person's investigation.

Ms Wilding said Scott Walker was in the house when PC Aspland arrived and he 'became tearful'.

'He told her that Sarah was in a relationship with another man, Chris,' said Ms Wilding, adding that he had accused Bernadette of making 'some false allegations' against Walker to get him out of the house so that Chris 'could move in.'

Scott Walker is accused of forming an 'unholy alliance' with Bernadette's 38-year-old mother Sarah Walker, pictured together, to mislead investigators, sending messages from Bernadette's phone and social media accounts to claim that she ran away

Scott Walker 'showed no emotion about Bernadette but was emotional about losing Sarah to her new boyfriend' when police spoke to him on a separate occasion on September 9, Ms Wilding said.

She said Scott Walker told police he 'couldn't remember the exact location (Bernadette) disappeared from as he had a lot on his mind at the time'.

'He drew a map of the area but told police he wouldn't be able to locate the spot,' she said.

'He showed no emotion about Bernadette, but was emotional about losing Sarah to her new boyfriend.

'He was specifically asked if (Bernadette) had her phone with her when he picked her up that morning.

'He said he didn't know but he didn't see or hear one.'

Prosecutors said Scott Walker told police he 'couldn't remember the exact location (Bernadette) disappeared from as he had a lot on his mind at the time', and that he 'showed no emotion' towards her

He said she ran away when he stopped the car.

Ms Wilding said police found Bernadette's rucksack in a lock-up used by Scott Walker.

'There's evidence Bernadette had her period at the time she disappeared,' said Ms Wilding.

'You can see she had sanitary protection in her bag along with basic toiletries and clothing.'

She said that the bag being inside the lock-up and not taken with Bernadette 'speaks volumes about what really happened'.

Ms Wilding said police spoke to Sarah Walker on September 9 at her new boyfriend's address.

Sarah Walker said she 'didn't believe the sexual allegations Bernadette made against Scott, but blamed Scott for arguing with her on the way home causing Bernadette to disappear', Ms Wilding said.

Bernadette's mother also made allegations against Scott Walker, saying that she thought he 'used her thumb while she was asleep to access her phone so he could track her', Ms Wilding said.

'She said he spied on her at (her new boyfriend) Chris's house and sent her pictures, so she knew he was there, and he messaged her repeatedly when she was at Chris's house until he got a reply.'

Sarah Walker also told police Scott Walker should have moved out after they split up but had not, Ms Wilding said.

Scott Walker denies Bernadette's murder on or after July 18 last year and four counts of perverting the course of justice.

Sarah Walker denies two counts of perverting the course of justice.

The trial continues.
A whistleblower at England's only gender clinic for children warned the controversial clinic could be another 'Jimmy Savile waiting to happen', it was claimed today.

Sonia Appleby, 62, told a tribunal where she is suing her employers the Tavistock and Portman NHS Centre that she only mentioned the DJ in training sessions.

She claims management then used it against her when she raised issues of under 16s being given puberty-blocking drugs in an act she described as 'A full-blown organisational assault on me'.

Mrs Appleby alleged staff were told she had an 'agenda' and was sidelined by NHS bosses after she later raised concerns about giving medication to children suffering from gender dysphoria.

She claims since then she has been unable to fulfil her role as a named professional for safeguarding children at Tavistock and Portman NHS Centre, England's only gender identity clinic for children.

Colleagues were alleged to have been dissuaded from reporting safeguarding concerns with child patients because of her stance on the use of the blocking drugs.

Mrs Appleby said the ostracism began after she raised health and safety concerns about the use of them in a 'protected disclosure' in October 2017.

An internal report, made in 2018 by then staff governor Dr David Bell, effectively accused the Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS) of fast-tracking children and adolescents for gender transition.

Sonia Appleby is claiming she was 'subjected to detriments' by the controversial NHS trust

The employment tribunal is unusual in that the complainant is still working for the trust

In November 2019 Mrs Appleby sued the Trust for 'detriments' she alleged she suffered at the hands of the Trust.

Mrs Appleby states that concerns were raised after she used Jimmy Savile as an example of bad safeguarding practices during training sessions.

The DJ and Top of the Pops host, who died in 2011, was found to have committed sexual abuses on a grand scale - including against children in hospitals.

In her witness statement submitted to Central London Employment Tribunal today, the social worker stated she referenced Saville 'numerous times' at safeguarding training events for over five years.

She said her line manager, medical director Dr Dinesh Sinha, raised concerns that she was discussing the paedophile and 'linking that to the GIDS service'.

The tribunal, held remotely via videolink, heard the meeting in July 2019 that Mrs Appleby was told there was an allegation that she said GIDS was 'another Savile waiting to happen' and that he proposed to put a letter in her file.

She was also accused of being transphobic and not understanding gender because of her concerns about the use of puberty blockers.

But Mrs Appleby said: 'I said to him that I absolutely refuted that, but I do discuss Jimmy Savile during training and that is in the context of how to manage allegations against staff, professionals or carers in situations where under 18s are or are suspected of being abused.

Keira Bell, 23, who began taking puberty blockers when she was 16 before 'detransitioning'

Psychiatric nurse reveals Tavistock referred children for medication in 'quick' process Susan Evans, who was previously employed by the Tavistock as a psychiatric nurse, previously said she hoped for a 'change their attitude' at the NHS trust. She said: 'It was just to ensure that there was a sort of pause on what's currently happening with this kind of, at times quick, process towards a medicalised treatment and to allow more time for assessment and psychological treatments for young people.' She added: 'I'm hoping now that they will be asked to take serious steps towards addressing their treatment protocols... Certainly what is not going to happen is children won't go to the Tavistock and after two or three appointments be referred for medication, which is what was happening, despite their denials.' Asked about whether the ruling would have an impact on transgender adults, Ms Evans said: 'Generally, this is just my clinical opinion, is that really anyone who considers taking steps to transgender should certainly examine their kind of emotional world, their mental state before progressing to something physical and taking those steps, you shouldn't do any of that without (a) kind of consideration and investigation. 'I certainly think that if you're going to alter your body, and make adjustments to your body, that it's worth, whether you go on to do it or not, taking steps in that way.' An NHS spokesperson said: 'We welcome the clarity which the court's decision brings. 'The Tavistock have immediately suspended new referrals for puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones for the under 16s, which in future will only be permitted where a court specifically authorises it. 'Dr Hilary Cass is conducting a wider review on the future of gender identity services.' Advertisement

'It is absolutely necessary for me to talk about Jimmy Savile within the context of managing allegations about individuals who perpetrate physically, sexual and emotional abuse against children and adults.

'Jimmy Savile is a well-known perpetrator of sexual abuse, meaning that whoever is talking about me talking about Jimmy Savile, does not properly understand what 'talking about Jimmy Savile' means in the context of safeguarding children.

'I do believe that this allegation was made to me because of my protected disclosures and a desire by the Trust, Dr Polly Carmichael, to hamper my ability to operate. It was a full-blown organisational assault on me

'Talking about Jimmy Savile is an absolutely integral part that staff understand what they need to do, particularly as a result of the Lampard inquiry [the probe into Savile allegations] process, that they should know what to do if they think a patient is being harmed by a celebrity/VIP, which is the Jimmy Savile reference.

'It is incongruent to say that I need to 'exercise care' in my language to staff with safeguarding.

'Jimmy Savile has to be discussed in relation to safeguarding. It is that simple. What Dr Sinha has failed to ask himself is 'why would staff at GIDS be so sensitive about the phrase 'Jimmy Savile'?'.'

She continued: 'In addition, I believe that GIDS/Trust was using the allegation as a threat against me to prevent me carrying out my proper function, due to my [protected disclosures], to effectively to silence and intimidate me, and to diminish me and the role I was attempting to carry out in good faith.

'The Trust, somewhat cleverly, thought they had a good plank, to make it so difficult for me that it would be untenable to do her job.

'As I plead this was to prevent a repeat of bad publicity in retaliation for my [protected disclosures].

'The phrase 'I may need to investigate the matter formally if there are further reports of this type of incident' left me vulnerable to bad faith allegations, from those who would call fellow clinicians 'transphobes' simply for their clinical decision.

'The Trust had already demonstrated to me it would not even be investigated.

'This led me to conclude that the Trust had no interest in the veracity of the allegations, or even giving the appearance of investigating the matter in an appropriate way.'

In response, the NHS Trust said: 'Whereas GIDS adopts a broader holistic approach to gender-related issues, the claimant's views are rooted in traditional psychoanalytic means of dealing with patients, causing some GIDS staff to perceive that the claimant was one of a number of Trust personnel who viewed GIDS with suspicion/scepticism.'

In a witness statement the Trust added: 'During a review of GIDS undertaken by Dr Sinha, concerns arose that the claimant had compared the situation in GIDS to a 'Jimmy Savile type situation'.

'Given the sensitive nature of the work of GIDS, the potentially inflammatory and insensitive nature of the comment and the fragile morale of GIDS staff, the respondent contends that it was reasonable and appropriate that Dr Sinha investigate the alleged comment with the claimant in order to assure himself that there were no underlying or fundamental concerns about the service and also to counsel the claimant to exercise care in the language used which could be upsetting to staff.'

Ms Appleby launched a crowdfunding site for her case that has so far raised more than 118,000.

On the site, she says she has 39 years' experience of social work in child protection.

She said: 'I have always supported the availability of a gender identity service for children, adolescents, adults and their families, and staff who deliver these services, but like other NHS services, the National Gender Identity Service, in doing its work, needs to be transparent and open to safeguarding commentary regarding the delivery of its services.

'This is not an 'anti-trans' case. I am supportive of the transgender community and their right to seek services that are both supportive and safe.'

The Tavistock Clinic denies subjecting Mrs Appleby to detriment due to her public interest disclosure.

The hearing comes six months after Kiera Bell, a 23-year-old woman treated there, was victorious in a High Court action against the trust which saw judges rule children under 16 are unlikely to be able to give 'informed consent' to take puberty blockers.

Ms Bell began taking puberty blockers when she was 16, was injected with testosterone at 17 and had a mastectomy aged 20, before 'detransitioning'.

She claimed she was treated like a 'guinea pig' at the clinic, and said doctors failed to carry out a proper psychiatric assessment and should have challenged her more over her decision to transition to a male as a teenager.

The judges said in their ruling: 'It is highly unlikely that a child aged 13 or under would be competent to give consent to the administration of puberty blockers.

'It is doubtful that a child aged 14 or 15 could understand and weigh the long-term risks and consequences of the administration of puberty blockers.'
Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Tuesday that President Joe Biden is showing up with a 'self-dealt weak hand' as he meets Russian President Vladimir Putin Wednesday for the first time as president in Geneva, Switzerland.

'Biden has already signaled to Putin that he is timid and unprepared to confront the Russian challenge  a weakness that ex-KGB agent Putin surely senses,' Pompeo wrote in an op-ed for Fox News. 'We in the Trump administration created real leverage against Russia he could have used. Instead, he has chosen to abandon it,' Pompeo claimed.

Former President Donald Trump's top diplomat's biggest gripe is that Biden said climate change represents the 'greatest threat to America' during opening remarks on his first trip abroad - a remark that got mocked by Trump and Republicans.

Ex-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo wrote an op-ed Tuesday saying that President Joe Biden was showing up in Geneva for his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin with a 'self-dealt weak hand' because he said climate change was the U.S.'s top national security threat

President Joe Biden is photographed Tuesday arriving in Geneva, Switzerland for his meeting Wednesday with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Pompeo wrote in a Fox News op-ed that Biden is 'timid and unprepared' for the meeting

Pompeo advised that Biden push Russian President Vladimir Putin (pictured) to have China U.S.-Russia New START nuclear weapons treaty to help 'arrest an ongoing Chinese nuclear buildup'

Pompeo said 'Biden has already begun squandering this leverage, in part by telegraphing climate change as his top national security priority.'

'Biden needs to make clear to Putin that our military places Russian aggression in the highest echelon of threats, and he will support our armed forces in deterring it,' Pompeo said.

'In fact, Biden must realize that Putin would love nothing more than to see the American lefts Green New Deal come to fruition,' the former secretary of State continued. 'Russia is a major petroleum producing nation that will gain geopolitical leverage worldwide if America cuts back our oil and gas production.'

Pompeo also advised that Biden 'threaten a merciless cyber response against Russia' if government-backed cyberattacks and meddling in U.S. elections continue.

He also thought Biden should push to stop Nord Stream 2, calling it hypocritical that he ended the Keystone XL pipeline project at home, but hasn't exerted more pressure to get the Russian-German pipeline project ended.

'Finally, Biden should make the case to Putin that cozying up to China will make his country a tributary state to the Chinese Communist Party. In the long run, Russias better bet is separating from the CCP,' Pompeo suggested.

'Biden should push Putin to pressure the CCP to join the U.S.-Russia New START nuclear weapons treaty,' he continued. 'By helping arrest an ongoing Chinese nuclear buildup, Putin will help save himself and the world from potential devastation at the hands of a regime even more aggressive than his own.'

Pompeo added that Putin could 'win a bit of goodwill from the West' by releasing opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

Pompeo pushed back on what he considers the media narrative about Putin and Trump.

Trump stunned the world during the 2018 Helsinki summit with Putin when he declined to condemn Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

'My people came to me, Dan Coats, came to me and some others they said they think it's Russia. I have President Putin. He just said it's not Russia,' Trump said at the time. 'I will say this: I don't see any reason why it would be.'

Pompeo said during the Trump administration they imposed 'unprecedented sanctions' against Russian entities, arked Ukraine and 'convinc[ed] our NATO allies to pony up $400 billion in new defense spending.'

'[W]e easserted American strength to thwart Putin's dream of a restored Russian empire,' he boasted.

He said that while Democrats complained that Trump wasn't tough on Russia, 'Now President Biden has a chance to walk the talk.'

'If Biden apologizes for America or casts pie-in-the-sky visions for cooperation, Putin will sense weakness, and Americas Russia policy will be in for a long three and a half years,' Pompeo said.

Pompeo's op-ed came the same day he launched a new political action committee, Champion American Values PAC, which will raise funds for 2022 Republican midterm candidates in advance of an expected 2024 bid for the White House.
Russia claims to have spotted another type of Covid that could thwart the power of vaccines, it was revealed today.

Scientists are now scrambling to find out whether jabs still work against the mutant 'Moscow' strain.

Health chiefs have not released any public detail about the variant and local media says experts are confident vaccines should still be effective.

Moscow's coronavirus outbreak has been growing since mid-May, with 7,704 cases reported across the city on Sunday  the most in a single day since December 24.

Academics at the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, which produces the Sputnik V vaccine, suggested the new variant could be blame for the rocketing numbers.

Deputy director Denis Logunov told the state-owned Russian news agency TASS: 'Now we are monitoring [the situation] in Moscow, and most importantly, Moscow may still have its own Moscow strains.'

Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on Saturday the city was repurposing thousands of hospital beds for an influx of Covid patients and told residents to stay off work in the coming week to help curb the spread of the virus.

Sports pitches, playgrounds and other attractions inside large parks were closed for a week from Sunday. Bars and restaurants were ordered to close no later than 11pm.

Scientists are now scrambling to find out whether jabs still work against the mutant 'Moscow' strain. Mocked-up image of a coronavirus

What are the main variants recognised by the WHO? 'Alpha' variant First spotted: Kent Scientific name: B.1.1.7 'Beta' variant First spotted: South Africa Scientific name: B.1.351 'Gamma' variant First spotted: India Scientific name: P.1 'Delta' variant First spotted: India Scientific name: B.1.617.2 Advertisement

Mr Sobyanin said: 'This is only a temporary solution.

'To avoid new restrictions and secure a sustainable improvement of the situation, we need to significantly speed up vaccinations.'

Russia's decision to lift lockdown measures last summer as well as its slow pace of administering vaccinations are likely the cause of the surge, experts said.

Only 12 per cent of Russia's 144 million population have had at least one dose of the vaccine, despite the country being the first to approve a vaccine - Sputnik V, the Financial Times reported.

Moscow citizens who sign up to receive a vaccine in the next four weeks are going to be entered into a lottery to win one of 20 cars, Sobyanin said on Sunday.

Gamaleya Institute head Alexander Gintsburg said he believes the strain is not resistant to jabs.

Mr Gintsburg told the Moscow Times: 'We think that the vaccine will be effective, but we must wait for the study results.'

Coronaviruses  including the type that causes Covid  are constantly evolving to become better at spreading.

Several different Covid variants have already emerged since the pandemic began, including the Kent 'Alpha' variant, which quickly became the world's dominant strain.

Scientists at Britains Covid-19 Genomics UK Consortium (COG-UK) first detected the B.1.1.7 variant of coronavirus in September in the English county of Kent.

It took almost three months before they discovered that the variant was 70 per cent more transmissible than existing variants and further weeks before discovering it was also much deadlier.

The coronavirus has undergone thousands of mutations since its emergence in 2019, but most make no difference to its impact on human health.

But B.1.1.7 drove a surge in cases that flooded Britains hospitals, pushed its death toll above 125,000, and triggered travel bans by dozens of countries.

The South Africa 'Beta' variant is thought to be partially resistant to vaccines but its lower transmissibility means it has become dominant in the UK or abroad.

Now the Indian 'Delta' variant has taken over in the UK and scuppered lockdown easing plans because it is 60 per cent more transmissible than the Kent variety, according to experts.

But the vaccines are thought to be as effective against the strain after two doses, with two separate Public Health England studies showing that having both jabs is as effective at producing deaths and hospitalisations for the variant as they are for the Kent one.
A Jeffrey Epstein accuser is suing his estate for $500 million after claiming she developed a rare bone disease because the pedophile hit her in the face while raping her at his New York townhouse.

Caroline Kaufman, 27, is seeking the eight-figure sum through her lawyer, Spencer Kuvin, after earlier rejecting a smaller offer from a compensation fund set up for Epstein's victims.

Kaufman says she was raped by Epstein in 2011 after she went to his home for a 'model casting'. During the ordeal, Kaufman claims Epstein pinned her arm behind her back and 'nicked her jaw' with his hand.

That action allegedly led Kaufman to develop osteomyelitis - a serious bone disease that causes severe swelling and pain.

Kaufman says the condition has recently worsened, prompting her to seek the large sum of money from the estate of her alleged rapist.

'It's been difficult the past few months. I was going to go with the victims' fund but the offer was too low, it's not enough to cover surgery,' Kaufman told The Sun.

'It's extremely painful, I've been to the emergency room for it, my face is swollen and I'm on medication'.

She added: 'I've lost days of work, I ride horses, I feel physically exhausted because of it, and I've had difficulty eating'.

Kaufman says she wants to secure the money for her surgery, but also has plans to start a charity to help other victims of sexual assault.

Caroline Kaufman is suing Jeffrey Epstein's estate for $500 million after claiming she developed a rare bone disease after the pedophile hit her in the face while raping her at his New York townhouse.

Epstein is pictured in 2004. The disgraced pedophile died behind bars in 2019

Kaufman was allegedly lured to Epstein's palatial townhouse on the Upper East Side

Kaufman was just 17 years old when she alleges she was approached by a woman at a horse show in upstate New York about a 'modelling opportunity'.

The woman is said to have later called Kaufman and invited her to Epstein's palatial Upper East Side townhouse for a dubious 'casting session'.

There, Kaufman claims, she was raped by Epstein - an event which caused her life to subsequently spiral out of control.

Osteomyelitis: a rare, serious and VERY painful bone disease Osteomyelitis is defined as an inflammatory condition of the bone. Osteomyelitis of the jaw is a rare condition with symptoms including severe, throbbing pain that radiates along the nerve pathways. Those who suffer from the condition may also have difficulty chewing or swallowing. Some suffers subsequently become anorexic. Osteomyelitis is also likely to cause chronic fatigue. In order to stop the condition, surgery is required in order to remove all or part of the jaw. Advertisement

'I went through a long period of depression and stopped riding horses. I didn't think I was good for much, and used for sex,' she told The Sun.

'I went down the wrong path, I started stripping at 18 and I also got into porn, that whole lifestyle has drugs involved and it's been a hard road of recovery.'

Kaufman says she also met Prince Andrew during one trip to Epstein's home. The royal's career has been ruined over his friendship with Epstein, but he has denied claims of wrongdoing.

Kaufman says she did tell anyone about her osteomyelitis until recently, because she didn't 'want to explain' that Epstein had raped her.

Her attorney, Spencer Kuvin, told the publication: 'Caroline has a very serious medical condition she has had to take care of, and she has a very uncertain future as a result.

'As far as her medical condition is concerned, I would leave medical causation issues up to the physician.'

In June of last year, the Epstein Victims' Compensation Fund began accepting claims from victims of the late pedophile.

The businessman - whose estate was reported to be worth $630million - died behind bars in 2019 before he had a chance to stand trial.

By February 2021, the program received 150 claim applications and paid out nearly $50million, administrators said.

However, the fund abruptly stopped distributing payments to recipients due to liquidity problems.

Court filings in the US Virgin Island showed Epstein's estate had dramatically dropped in value.

By the end of 2020, it was worth about $240.8million, including $49millon cash.

That was down from $446million at the end of September last year and lower still from the $630million the estate was initially valued at when Epstein hanged himself in his cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

Recent filings also pointed toward dramatic swings in value of some Epstein entities.

His Virgin Islands company Southern Trust Co. Inc. lost more than half its value between September and December last year, dropping from $128million to $61million.

However, in a statement the EVCF said that the estate was supposed to pay 'all eligible claims based on the administrator's determination' and promised it would have enough funds to pay for it.
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Boris Johnson was warned by one of the bastions of Middle England against trade concessions to Australian farmers, as it joined green groups to accuse them of 'unsustainable agricultural practices' contributing to climate change.

The National Trust, one of Britain's largest landowners, lined up alongside more than a dozen top environmental organisations to demand free trade deals should only be given to nations with farming standards that match the UK's.

Trust director general Hilary McGrady joined the leaders of the World Wildlife Fund, the RSPCA, RSPB, Greenpeace and others in writing to Liz Truss, the Trade Secretary, warning that Australian farmers are 'driving deforestation, nature loss, and climate change', MailOnline can reveal.

It came as the Prime Minister today hailed the UK's historic new trade agreement with Australia as he insisted it will 'benefit' British farmers who fear they will be unable to compete with cheap beef and lamb imports.

Mr Johnson and Australian counterpart Scott Morrison agreed the broad terms of the pact last night over dinner in Downing Street before confirming the deal at a bilateral meeting this morning. The full details are expected to be hammered out over the next few days.

But in the letter, sent before today's announcement, the organisations warned: 'Unsustainable agricultural practices should not be rewarded with unfettered access to the UK market.

'The UK is a nation that values food produced to high animal welfare and environmental standards.

'Consumers expect that food in restaurants or on supermarket shelves is produced in ways that meet those values.

'Offering tariff and quota-free trade to Australia in the UK's first major trade deal would run directly counter to these demands, increasing rather than mitigating our global footprint.

'We welcome fair competition with Australian producers who share the UK's values and meet our standards. The government has been clear it will not remove existing standards for products such as chlorine-washed chicken or hormone-treated beef, but there is not the same clarity on environmental and animal welfare protections.'

It came as the Prime Minister today hailed the UK's historic new trade agreement with Australia as he insisted it will 'benefit' British farmers who fear they will be unable to compete with cheap beef and lamb imports.

Trust director general Hilary McGrady joined the leaders of the World Wildlife Fund, the RSPCA, RSPB, Greenpeace and others in writing to Liz Truss, the Trade Secretary, warning that Australian farmers are 'driving deforestation, nature loss, and climate change', MailOnline can reveal.

Tanya Steele, the WWF chief executive, said: 'It's hard to square the Prime Minister's green ambition for the G7 summit with his government's efforts to strike a trade deal with Australia  a laggard on climate and nature'

Cheaper Aussie wine and British-made cars: What the new trade deal will mean for consumers in each country The trade deal agreed between the UK and Australia will eliminate tariffs on imports and exports. That means that goods made in each country and then exported to the other for sale should soon be cheaper than they are currently. The scrapping of tariffs is expected to represent a significant boost for the massive Australian agriculture sector, paving the way for cheaper lamb and beef on supermarket shelves in the UK. But UK farmers fear they will be unable to compete with the cheap imports and have also expressed concerns that Australian goods are produced to lower animal welfare standards than in Britain. The free trade deal should also mean cheaper Australian wine from brands like Jacob's Creek and Hardys. Australian clothing and confectionary exports to the UK should also be cheaper, with the UK Government predicting British households will save 34 million a year in total. The deal should result in the slashing of prices in Australia on popular British products like cars, Scotch whisky, biscuits and ceramics. For example, Scotland exported 126million of beverages to Australia in 2020 and the deal will help distillers to remove tariffs of up to five per cent on Scotch whisky. Mining machinery and manufacturing goods made in Northern Ireland and sold in Australia - 90 per cent of all exports from the province to the country are made up of those items - should be made cheaper. Car manufacturers in the Midlands and north of England will also benefit from a tariff cut of up to five per cent which should boost demand for their exports. The UK-Australia trade relationship was worth just shy of 14billion last year but both sides are hoping that figure will surge in the wake of the deal being implemented. Advertisement

The two prime ministers exchanged hampers of goods to mark the occasion in a photo op in Downing Street, with Mr Johnson handing his counterpart a packet of Penguin biscuits while the PM received some Australian Tim Tam chocolate bars.

The British premier said the deal 'will be good news for the agricultural sector on both sides' and that negotiations had been 'very hard'.

He stressed the new trade rules for farmers will be phased in over a 15 year transition period and the deal contains the 'strongest possible' protections for UK farmers.

The accord with Australia is Britain's first from-scratch trade deal with a country since Brexit and Mr Johnson said it will be a 'prelude to further deals'.

His comments came as UK farmers blasted the decision to grant their Australian counterparts unfettered access to the British market, warning it could be 'fatal' for many small domestic farms.

Many Australian farms are much larger than those in the UK enabling them to produce cheaper goods.

British farmers have also raised concerns about animal welfare and food standards which are lower in Australia.

But it is understood that the trade deal will have an entire chapter on animal welfare standards and another on environmental standards.

International Trade Secretary Liz Truss guaranteed last month that hormone-injected beef will remain banned under the deal and that commitment is expected to feature in the final pact. But she has been involved in an internal cabinet rift with Environment Secretary and farmer George Eustice over plans to eventually allow Australian farmers tariff-free access for imports.

Tanya Steele, the WWF chief executive, said: 'It's hard to square the Prime Minister's green ambition for the G7 summit with his government's efforts to strike a trade deal with Australia  a laggard on climate and nature.

'Unless the UK government introduces core standards for trade, including environmental standards for the food it imports, a trade deal with Australia would be a huge blow to the UK's transition to greener farming.

'There is no economic benefit from trading our planet away. Trade deals should support the UK in developing the industries of the future  including sustainable farming  and make us greener and more resilient, but this will only happen if there are proper safeguards in place.

'If the UK government is serious about its global green leadership, it must set out core standards for all food brought into the UK, to ensure that it has been sustainably produced. Failure to do so could see us exporting our emissions or our environmental footprint long into the future.'

The deal will eventually grant Australian farmers unfettered access to the UK market and their British counterparts believe that could be 'fatal' for many small domestic farms

UK farmers fear being undercut by cheap beef and lamb imports from Australia. The new trading rules relating to farming will be 'staggered' in over a 15 year period

Farm work requirement for Brits wanting to live in Australia is SCRAPPED Britons under the age of 35 will be allowed to live and work in Australia for three years without having to undertake a currently mandatory period of farm work. The historic trade deal struck between the UK and Australia will make it easier for young people to live and work in each other's countries. The bombshell change to visas will delight young Britons who are forced to carry out three months of gruelling work on a rural property if they want to stay in Australia for a second year on a working holiday visa. Young Australians will have the same rights to work in the UK for three years. The move will have a huge impact on Australian farmers who are dependent on 10,000 British backpackers a year to pick fruit and vegetables - but a new agriculture visa, allowing British farmers to work in Australia, will help offset the impact. The changes will not come into play until at least July 2022 when the free trade deal - which has been agreed in principle - is expected to be officially signed. It is has not yet been decided if Britons who have already used a working holiday visa will be able to re-apply and benefit from the extended working rights. Prime Minister Morrison said there would be no limit on the number of young people who would be able to move between the two nations. 'There is a great opportunity for young people from both the UK and Australia to move and operate in different countries. 'That builds capacity, in both countries, with that easy engagement,' he said this morning. Advertisement

The new pact also includes a reciprocal shake-up of visa rules to make it easier for people under the age of 35 to travel and work in each country.

The changes will see the current requirement for Brits on working holiday visas in Australia to carry out a period of farm work scrapped.

Speaking in Downing Street this morning, Mr Johnson said: 'Now, thanks to this deal, we hope there will be even more trade between the UK and Australia.'

He continued: 'The idea is that we will be able to do even more because we are taking tariffs off, so for Northern Ireland, Northern Irish machine tools, this will be good news.

'It will be good news for British car manufacturers, it will be good news for British services, for British financial services and it will be good news for the agricultural sector on both sides.

'Here, we had to negotiate very hard and I want everybody to understand that this is a sensitive sector for both sides and we've got a deal that runs over 15 years and contains the strongest possible provisions for animal welfare.

'But I think it is a good deal and I think it's one that will benefit British farmers and British consumers as well. It will also make it easier for British people, for young people to go and work in Australia.'

Mr Johnson said the Australia deal will pave the way for the UK to strike further deals with other nations.

'More importantly than perhaps all of that, this is the first freestanding, free trade deal the UK has done since Brexit and it's also therefore a prelude to further deals,' he said.

'And it's the way into the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).'

The PM said the shift to tariff-free access for Australian farmers would be 'staggered' over the 15 year period.

He also stressed the UK will be 'retaining safeguards' and 'making sure we have protections against sudden influxes of goods and also making sure we adhere to the strongest possible standards for animal welfare'.

Mr Morrison defended Australian food standards as he said they are 'very high' and 'we are very confident and very proud of our record when it comes to dealing with animal cruelty'.

Earlier, Michael Gove had earlier moved to try to assuage concerns as he insisted there will be 'protections' for UK farmers.

The Minister for the Cabinet Office also played down the prospect of a wave of cheap imports as he stressed that Asia is Australia's 'principal' export market for meat.

He also claimed that farming practices in Australia had been 'mischaracterised' in the debate surrounding the deal.

The new trade deal will eliminate tariffs on all UK goods exported to Australia which means British car, Scotch whisky and confectionary will all be cheaper to sell there.

It will also eliminate tariffs on Australian exports to the UK which will mean cheaper Australian wine from producers like Jacob's Creek and Hardys.

Total trade between the two nations was worth 13.9billion in 2020 but the countries are hoping that figure will now surge.

The new deal will also allow Brits under the age of 35 the ability to travel and work in Australia more freely.

On the crunch issue of farming, UK farmers will be protected by a cap on tariff-free imports for 15 years, using tariff rate quotas and other safeguards, enabling a smooth transition to the new arrangements.

UK farmers are against zero-tariff access because they believe they could be undercut by cheap Australian imports.

The deal with Australia is the first full trade agreement struck by Britain with another country since it left the EU.

Mr Johnson said: 'Today marks a new dawn in the UK's relationship with Australia, underpinned by our shared history and common values.

'Our new free-trade agreement opens fantastic opportunities for British businesses and consumers, as well as young people wanting the chance to work and live on the other side of the world.

'This is global Britain at its best  looking outwards and striking deals that deepen our alliances and help ensure every part of the country builds back better from the pandemic.'

The National Farmers' Union President, Minette Batters, said it appeared the deal will include 'important safeguards' for farmers and welcomed the 'reasonable time period' for the sector to adapt.

But she said only time will tell if the protections are 'sufficient' as she outlined concerns that 'todays announcement appears to have made no mention of animal welfare and environmental standards'.

She called on ministers to set out in detail how the safeguards will work and and how they will ensure animal welfare standards are 'not undermined' by the deal.

Looking ahead to future trade deals, Ms Batters warned: 'We should also be clear about the likelihood that these deals will mean a significant increase in competition in our domestic agricultural markets.'

Earlier, Russell Osborne, a farmer in St Ives, Cornwall, told the BBC's Radio 4 Today programme that he believes the deal will force him to retire within the next two years.

Mr Morrison was granted an audience with Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle after his meeting with Mr Johnson in Number 10

Liz Truss, the International Trade Secretary, (pictured today) has led the UK negotiating team in talks with Australia

He said: 'Basically we can't compete. The average size beef farm in England now I believe is about 60 to 80 head of animals.

'When you are looking at lots in Australia, south America, of tens of thousands if not hundreds of thousands of animals in big feed lots that won't ever see a view that my cattle have here right now, won't ever eat a blade of grass that has grown off the field.

'It just does seem so wrong. How on earth are we meant to compete with that? We can't possibly.'

Robin Traquair, the vice president of the National Farmers Union Scotland, said the agreement will mean 'a lot of change' and he fears it will the impact of future trade deals with other countries if they are offered on similar terms.

He said: 'There is talk of 15 years timing in, but to be honest we haven't actually seen the detail of what exactly is going to happen and we are worried about welfare standards, we are worried the different scales and indeed it is not just necessarily Australia.

'As you say, this is the first sort of new way of trading with other countries for some time and on the new FTA, it is other countries that come off the back of this.

'We are going to have a Pacific deal, a New Zealand deal, there could be an American deal, there could be a Brazil deal and it is all of these countries that add to the mix and we just don;t know how we are going to trade with and how much product will come into the country, at what price, at what welfare standards, because many countries have lower standards than what we have got here.'

Asked if a 15 year transition would be enough to meet his concerns, he said: 'Well, we need to know the starting point as well the way the Government lets us know what's happening and all such like, we have to know the detail before we start. We are very nervous.

'It is a bit like having a parachute, we just don't know how big it is going to be.

'We will hit the ground at some time, it is just is it going to be fatal or is it just going to be life changing.'

Mr Gove defended the trade deal during an interview on Sky News as he said it will provide UK farmers with more export opportunities.

He said: 'I personally am a great fan of Welsh lamb and Scottish lamb and I think that consumers will be free to make their choice.

'But I think it is also worth pointing out that the majority of meat which is reared and raised in Australia goes to the Asian market and that is their principal and growing market.

'Overall, Australia is a friend and ally and I think there have been one or two points that have been made about Australia during the course of this debate that mischaracterise how Australian farmers operate and the opportunities also for UK farmers.

'So it is important that we maintain protections and support for farmers but it is also the case that opening up trade barriers, or rather bringing them down and opening up new opportunities provides our farmers with the chance to show on the world stage the amazing quality of UK produce.'

The UK Government has estimated the positive impact of the deal on Australia's gross domestic product  the total value of goods produced and services provided in a country during one year  as being somewhere between 0.01 per cent and 0.06 per cent.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation said Australian Trade Minister Dan Tehan, who held talks in London earlier this year with International Trade Secretary Liz Truss, has called the pact a 'win for jobs, businesses, free trade and highlights what two liberal democracies can achieve while working together'.

Australian British Chamber of Commerce chief executive officer David McCredie tweeted that the deal will create 'many great opportunities for trade, investment and collaboration'.

Former Australian prime minister Tony Abbott, who sits on the UK Board of Trade, told GB News said Britain will 'cope' with the deal and he is confused 'that so many people in Britain are always running the country down'.

He said: 'Britain can cope. And a trade deal with one of Britain's friends that's no threat to the people of Britain, this is going to help the people of Britain.'
Apple and Google's app stores, operating systems and browsers will be investigated by Britain's competition regulator over concerns they have too much power.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it will study the US tech giants and their services to assess whether their size means competition is being stifled.

The two firms have an effective duopoly across various key areas, with Apple's iOS and Google's Android being the world's two dominant mobile operating systems.

The Apple App Store and Google Play Store are the main gateways to downloading apps, while Google Chrome and Apple Safari are the two most used web browsers.

The CMA, which is based in London's Canary Wharf, said it will look into whether the companies' level of control is harming competition across a range of digital markets.

The app stores, operating systems and web browsers of Apple and Google are to be studied by the UK competition regulator over fears they have too much power and harm other businesses

The regulator admitted it was concerned the current status of the market could lead to reduced innovation in the sector and higher prices for consumers.

The 'market study' can make recommendations to Government and other bodies and issue guidance to businesses and consumers as needed.

Competition and Markets Authority boss Andrea Coscelli (pictured) said the watchdog's 'ongoing work into big tech has already uncovered some worrying trends'

CMA chief executive Andrea Coscelli said today: 'Apple and Google control the major gateways through which people download apps or browse the web on their mobiles - whether they want to shop, play games, stream music or watch TV.

'We're looking into whether this could be creating problems for consumers and the businesses that want to reach people through their phones.

'Our ongoing work into big tech has already uncovered some worrying trends and we know consumers and businesses could be harmed if they go unchecked.

'That's why we're pressing on with launching this study now, while we are setting up the new Digital Markets Unit, so we can hit the ground running by using the results of this work to shape future plans.'

The market dominance of the two companies, which are both based in California, has come under increased scrutiny in recent months, most notably led by complaints from Fortnite maker Epic Games.

The Competition and Markets Authority is based in this building in London's Canary Wharf

Epic has pursued legal action in the US and Europe against both tech giants over what it claims is an unfair control of the payment systems used in online app stores.

Both Apple and Google take a commission from in-app purchases carried out via their stores.

The CMA said its new study would be broader than some of the other competition probes it already has into Apple's App Store and Google's 'Privacy Sandbox'.

The regulator is already investigating Apple over its control of the App Store and developer access to it.

It is also looking into Google's plans around changes in Chrome - specifically, a new way to target advertising that the CMA fears may harm the advertising market.
Michael Campbell, 54, has been charged with second-degree murder and kidnapping, accused of shooting a catalytic converter thief, dragging him behind his truck and leaving him in a field to die

A homeless man from Washington state has been accused of shooting a suspected catalytic converter thief, then dragging him with his truck 400 feet and leaving to die in a field south of Tacoma.

Alleged killer Michael Campbell was caught after police were called in the early hours of Saturday to reports of a truck dragging an unidentified object through the parking lot of a business in Lakewood.

When officers responded to the scene, they found the lifeless body of a man in his 40s in a nearby field, authorities said. The victim was identified in court documents only by his initials - B.P.

Investigators said they then found Campbell, 54.

He told them them he had been sleeping in the back of his truck when he heard a loud noise coming from a thief he claims was trying to steal the catalytic converter from under his vehicle.

Campbell told investigators he shot the thief at least three times, hitting him in the stomach and torso.

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The botched theft and shooting took place in this parking lot in Lakewood, Washington, on Saturday morning

Campbell told police he was sleeping in his truck when he heard a noise and saw a man stealing his catalytic converter. He then shot the thief at least three times

The man tried to run back to his own vehicle, but collapsed. Campbell then tied the wounded thief's hands above his head, it is alleged.

He then attached the rope to the ball hitch of his white Ford F-150 truck and drove away before leaving him in the field, according to probable cause documents cited by KING5.

Carol Williams told KIRO7 she was sleeping in her van with her two German Shepherds when she heard the shots.

'I peeked out the back window and I didnt see anything but I did hear a man screaming I did hear him say, you know, "Im bleeding,"' she told the station.

Responding officers later found a 'significant' amount of blood in the parking lot where the shooting took place, and followed tire and drag marks directly to the victim's body lying in the grass.

When police tracked down Campbell, he told them the thief was still alive and talking when he was tied to the truck.

Officers said the victim was dragged about 400 feet before coming to rest at the location where he was eventually found dead.

Officials in Washington state say they have seen in spike in catalytic converter thefts because the auto parts contain precious metals

Campbell then allegedly returned to the parking lot, got into the victim's vehicle and drove away. He returned on foot a short time later, entered his own truck and took off.

A witness was being interviewed by the police in the parking lot when he spotted Campbell's white pickup truck driving away and pointed it out to the cops, who followed the suspect and initiated a traffic stop near 100th Street and South Tacoma Way.

A search of Campbell's truck reportedly yielded a 9mm pistol and green rope that matched the one used to restrain the shooting victim. Campbell has previous felony convictions and is barred from owning firearms.

Campbell was booked into the Pierce County Jail on suspicion of second-degree murder and kidnapping. He is due back in court on June 28.

Officials in Washington state say they have seen a spike in catalytic converter thefts because the auto parts contain precious metals that can be extracted and sold for profit.
A father has defended the mother accused of murdering their seven-year-old autistic son, saying he does not think she is a 'bad mom,' but instead had a 'time of weakness.'

Samantha Moreno Rodriguez, 35, was arrested in Denver, Colorado, last week and faces a murder charge in Las Vegas after her son Liam's body was found dumped on a hiking trail in Nevada last month.

But Liam's father, Nicholas Husted, has now spoken out in her defense.

Husted clutched onto his son Liam's favorite Mickey Mouse blanket as he spoke at a vigil at Sunset Park in Las Vegas on Sunday.

'I don't think she was a bad mom,' Husted told The Las Vegas Review Journal. 'She had a time of weakness, and she is going to pay for it.'

Husted had arrived home in San Jose, California, on May 24 to find Liam and Rodriguez gone. She'd left a letter saying: 'I'm sorry I had to do it like this.'

Left: A photo provided by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department of Samantha Moreno Rodriguez who has been charged with murder over the killing of her seven-year old son Liam Husted (right) whose body was found near a highway outside Las Vegas 10 days ago

Nicholas Husted clutched onto his son Liam's favorite Mickey Mouse blanket at a vigil at Sunset Park in Las Vegas on Sunday.

Police revealed that in Rodriguez's letter to Husted, she'd also said: 'I'm going to try to get a house for Liam and I and we can talk about this in the future.'

Nicholas reported Liam missing on June 1, a week after finding the letter, but said he did not think his son was in danger.

Prior to her arrest, Rodriguez was last seen on May 31 alone at a Denver-area hotel.

She was last seen with Liam on May 26 - two days before he was found dead.

Police said the mother and son left San Jose on May 24, driving a dark blue 2007 Dodge Caliber sedan with the back seat packed full of belongings.

Liam's body was found shortly after dawn May 28 behind a bush at a trailhead off the main highway between Las Vegas and rural Pahrump.

Police have arrested a mother after a nearly 12-hour hunt following the discovery of her autistic son's body dumped on a Las Vegas hiking trail. Samantha Moreno Rodriguez (pictured), 35, is now facing court charged with the murder of seven-year-old Liam Husted, who was found in the early hours of May 28

He had become the focus of a massive campaign which the local community became involved in.

'This young boy didn't live here, but he is one of us. He could be your child,' one of the vigil's organizers Dina Lynn said on Sunday. 'Liam Husted. We won't forget your name.'

Husted told the Review Journal: 'I just had to come and show my appreciation for everything you guys did in this community to take him under your wing like he was your own when I wasn't able to be here with him, really means a lot to me, and I know he appreciates it just as much as I do.'

'He was one in a trillion,' the father added. 'I'm still in shock. I still don't want to believe it.'

Rodriguez was arrested last Tuesday at a roadside hotel in Denver, Colorado by the Denver Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force.

Las Vegas police Lieutenant Ray Spencer said Rodriguez was with a man when she was found but police do not believe he had 'any involvement whatsoever in this case.'

Liam's (pictured) body was spotted at around 7.30am on May 28 by a group of hikers on Mountain Springs Trailhead, near mile marker 20 off State Route 160 between the cities of Las Vegas and Pahrump

Pictured: Artist's renderings created by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and distributed Thursday, June 3, 2021, by the FBI and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department depict a slain boy, who was later identified as Liam Husted from San Jose

Husted's body was found by hikers behind a bush on Mountain Springs Trailhead between Las Vegas and Pahrump, Nevada. The police official had said it was clear the boy was killed, but did not say on Monday how Husted had died

Pictured: A grab from a Fox 2 news report showing the site where the boy's body was found, and flowers people have left for him

'We are all relieved that we were able to get her into custody so quickly,' said Spencer, the homicide lieutenant who had made nearly daily pleas for public help to identify the child's body after it was discovered by hikers.

Spencer would not say during a news conference last week how Liam died or describe a motive for the killing. He referred to a coroner's investigation and toxicology tests, which can take weeks to complete.

However, he did say it was clear that the boy had been killed in the remote Mountain Springs area where he was found.

Spencer has previously described a 'heartbreaking conversation' with the child's father following his identification and has confirmed that the father is not a suspect in the killing.

The homicide lieutenant had also said there was 'nothing that would indicate any prior abuse that we're aware of'.

Liam's body was found shortly after dawn May 28 behind a bush at a trailhead off the main highway between Las Vegas and rural Pahrump.

Police are still trying to determine where the mother and boy stayed on May 26, Spencer said.

Police believe the body was left near State Route 160 after dark May 27.

The FBI and the LVMPD both say the child was a victim of homicide. They believe his body was found within 24 hours of his death

Pictured: The mother and son left San Jose on May 24 driving a dark blue 2007 Dodge Caliber sedan with the back seat packed full of belongings

Before Liam was identified, authorities released digitally enhanced images of an unidentified boy, developed by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children - based on images shared by the medical examiner.

They were released on Thursday, June 3, along with news of the $10,000 reward for anyone with information pointing to the boy's identity.

The renderings painted a vivid picture of an eight-to-10-year-old Hispanic boy dubbed John 'Little Zion' Doe, who was later identified as Liam Husted.

The images were created on Adobe Photoshop, and authorities said they hoped they would identify the boy sooner thanks to the stark details drawn by the artists.

Colin McNally, the supervisor for the imaging unit at the NCMEC, told Las Vegas station KVVU that the images 'open up the eyes, sort of clean up the tissue damage, (and) change the perspective of the image so that its turned upright'.

A family friend told San Jose police on Friday that she had not seen Rodriguez or Husted in more than a week. Pictured: The site where Husted's body was found

'These images are really important to make sure were capturing what this child wouldve looked like - it's not just creating a face to put out with the case, but making this truly specific to this child based on the image that we have ... to go along with the case information in the hopes that someone will recognize him and give the child his name back,' McNally said.

The boy's body was spotted at around 7.30am on May 28 by a group of hikers on Mountain Springs Trailhead, near mile marker 20 off State Route 160 between the cities of Las Vegas and Pahrump.

The Las Vegas Metro Police Department and the FBI's Las Vegas division say the child was a victim of homicide.

They believe the body was found within 24 hours of his death.

'I was just shaken,' said Shawna Burke, 63, who lives close to where the body was found, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. 'Nothing ever happens up here.'
Former NYPD commissioner Bill Bratton has warned American cities are in for a 'very, long dangerous summer' as murder rates skyrocket nationwide.

Bratton, who earned the nickname 'supercop' for helping clean up the streets of New York City and Los Angeles, issued his warning on Monday as NYPD data showed shootings and murders in the Big Apple have increased by almost 70 percent and 12 percent, respectively.

Nationwide, there have been 275 mass shootings in 2021, about 40 percent more than this time last year, according to the Gun Violence Archive.

These surging crime numbers are compared to 2020, which was the deadliest year in terms of gun violence in the last two decades.

But there aren't any short- or long-term answers, Bratton told CNBC's Shepard Smith.

'Unlike the last crime epidemic that took decades to build up to the early '90s, this one has occurred, literally, overnight,' Bratton said.

'It's like the virus, it's literally, out of nowhere, and so solutions are not immediately apparent.'

Bill Bratton, former NYC police commissioner under mayors Rudy Giuliani and Bill de Blasio, on Monday warned American cities are in for a 'very, long dangerous summer'

NYPD data showed shootings and murders in the Big Apple have increased by almost 70 percent and 12 percent, respectively, compared to 2020

Dubbed 'Supercop' in the British media, Bratton is highly regarded in the policing world and known for curtailing violence in New York City in the 1990s and Los Angeles in the early 2000s by being tough on gangs.

In New York City he served as commissioner under then-mayor Rudy Giuliani from 1994 to 1996 and again under Bill de Blasio from 2014 to 2016.

He also served as Commissioner of the Boston Police Department from 1993 to 1994 and as chief of the LAPD from 2002 to 2009.

Bratton has also served as an advisor on policing in several roles, including advising the British government.

In his CNBC interview on Monday, Bratton said there isn't one definitive reason for the surge but rather a host of factors that are like tinder for the fire.

The pandemic forced many cities to empty jails and shutter courts for nearly a year so there was almost no punishment for people arrested for violent crime, police officers left the force because they contracted the coronavirus or because of lack of morale, and criminal justice reforms have left the country in a state of ambivalence.

'We are in a period of time where we want to let people out of jail. No one really wants to put more people back in jail, but the reality is there are violent people in our society that need to be in jail,' Bratton said.

'America has to figure out what it in fact wants because right now there's a lot of confusion.'

Dubbed 'Supercop' in the British media, Bratton is highly regarded in the policing world and known for curtailing violence in New York City in the 1990s and Los Angeles in the early 2000s by being tough on gangs

New York City police officers with the Crime Scene Unit investigate the scene where a man was shot and killed in the Brooklyn on June 11

This is maps shows where people were fatally shot in the country in 2021

Nearly 9,000 have been fatally shot in 2021, according to Gun Violence Archive

Many hoped that a spike in US shootings and homicides last year was an aberration perhaps caused by pandemic-related stress amid a rise in gun ownership and debate over policing.

But those rates are still higher than they were in pre-pandemic times.

So far in 2021, nearly 9,000 people have been shot dead, according to Gun Violence Archive. And that was through June 13.

Tracking ups and downs in crime is always complicated, but violent crime commonly increases in the summer months, starting around Memorial Day weekend. Weekend evenings and early-morning hours also are common windows for shootings.

Just this weekend alone, there were four mass shootings.

One of 14 people shot in a mass shooting in Austin has since died of their injuries; one man was killed and seven injured in a drive-by shooting in Savannah; three men were killed in Cleveland; and a woman was gunned down in Chicago.

Murders are also currently up 60 percent in Atlanta compared to last year.

Police fear the explosion of shootings and violent crimes in recent months is a long term trend rather than just a blip.

In Austin, 25 year-old IT worker Douglas John Kantor died in hospital on Sunday after he was one of 14 people shot at random on a street packed with bars hours earlier.

Kantor, who was a tourist from New York, was shot through the abdomen when shots rang out at about 1.30am on Saturday in the Sixth Street area when two men opened fire on each other.
A young man was put to death by Saudi Arabia yesterday after an 'offensive' photograph was found on his phone following anti-government protests he had taken part in as a teenager.

Mustafa al-Darwish, 26, was executed despite promises from the desert kingdom that the death penalty would no longer apply for offences committed when defendants were children.

As a 17-year-old, he had been caught up in Arab Spring protests among the country's Shi'ite minority which swept through the Eastern Province region in 2011 and 2012.

Three years later, in 2015, he was arrested and accused of a range of offences such as 'seeking to disrupt national cohesion through participation in more than 10 riots'.

Mustafa al-Darwish, 26, was executed by Saudi Arabia yesterday after an 'offensive' photograph was found on his phone following anti-government protests he had taken part in as a teenager

The then 20-year-old was released without charge, his family said, but police confiscated his phone and found a photograph which offended them.

Mustafa was placed in solitary confinement and his family said he lost consciousness several times during brutal interrogation sessions.

He later said he confessed to the crimes under torture and recanted them in court saying he had only admitted to the offences to make the beatings stop.

Following his conviction he spent six years on Death Row before being executed on Tuesday.

His family, who only discovered he had been put to death after reading a news report online, said: 'Six years ago, Mustafa was arrested with two of his friends in the streets of Tarout. The police released him without charge but confiscated his phone. We later found that there was a photograph on the phone that offended them.

As a 17-year-old, he had been caught up in Arab Spring protests among the country's Shi'ite minority which swept through the Eastern Province region in 2011 and 2012

Three years later, in 2015, he was arrested and accused of a range of offences such as 'seeking to disrupt national cohesion through participation in more than 10 riots'

'Later they called us and told Mustafa to come and collect his phone, but instead of giving it back they detained him and our suffering began. How can they execute a boy because of a photograph on his phone? Since his arrest we have known nothing but pain. It is a living death for the whole family.'

At his subsequent trial the charge sheet made specific reference to a 'photograph that was offensive to the security services'.

For the past five years Saudi Arabia has made repeated pledges not to execute anyone for offences committed when they were children.

There was an outcry when, despite the promises, six young such men formed part of a mass execution that saw 37 people put to death on April 23rd 2019.

In April 2020 the Saudi Human Rights Commission announced a Royal Decree extending the Juvenile Law and later insisted that 'no one in Saudi Arabia will be executed for a crime committed as a minor'.

In February 2021, the Riyadh authorities told the UN Human Rights Council that 'anyone who commits a death-eligible crime as a child' will be subject to 'a maximum sentence of ten years in a juvenile institution'.

But following Mustafa's execution campaigners fear that other youngsters, including one who was just 14 at the time of his alleged crimes, could also die.

Reprieve Director Maya Foa said: 'It is not enough for Saudi Arabia's partners to 'raise human rights issues', as British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab reportedly did on his recent visit to the Kingdom.

'They need to raise specific cases, and make clear that executions for childhood crimes will not be tolerated. Otherwise Abdullah al-Howaiti, arrested aged 14 and sentenced to death at 17, could be next'.
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Bailiffs today moved in to clear dozens of anti-lockdown protesters from their 'Lovedown' camp in Shepherd's Bush.

Dozens of bailiffs from the National Eviction Team gathered to evict the demonstrators who have been camping on Shepherd's Bush Green since May 31.

The group, who call themselves 'Lovedown', have been protesting against the lockdown, mask wearing, Covid tests and vaccines.

They had set up around 40 tents on the Green in a rebellion against the government's lockdown restrictions and were later served with an eviction notice.

But today, bailiffs - who were supported by Met Police officers - moved in to try and remove the protesters and their camp.

The protesters had set up around 40 tents on the Green in a rebellion against the government's lockdown restrictions and were later served with an eviction notice

Dozens of bailiffs from the National Eviction Team gathered to evict the demonstrators who have been camping on Shepherd's Bush Green since May 31

But today, bailiffs - who were supported by Met Police officers - moved in to try and remove the protesters and their camp

Met Police officers can be seen speaking to some of the protesters today as bailiffs moved in to remove the demonstrators from the camp

The High Court approved the Hammersmith and Fulham Council's possession order for the camp to be removed in last week. The protesters have said they have appealed the court decision.

Some protesters were seen packing up their tents as they were faced with the bailiffs, some of whom were wearing helmets.

But an Instagram Live video from the Lovedown group's page posted at 7.45pm on Tuesday night shows some of the group still on the Green by their tents. A council spokesperson confirmed that some of the protesters were still there.

'We continue to support the Met Police and bailiffs to clear the trespassers on Shepherds Bush Green following receipt of a possession order,' a council spokesperson told MailOnline.

The group have been calling for masks to be scrapped and claim people who do wear the protective face covering increase their risk of inhaling coronavirus.

The protesters have also called for the testing to be scrapped and even questioned why, if the disease is so deadly, you would need to be tested to have it. This is despite medical experts proving that people with coronavirus can be asymptomatic, which means they show no symptoms but can still pass on the virus.

A Met Police spokesperson did not provide a statement but did confirm that officers had attended to 'prevent any breach of the peace'.

Bailiffs from the National Eviction team can be seen (left) moving in a line towards the camp, while the protesters (right) sat by their tents

Bailiffs from the National Eviction Team (right) today tried to move the protesters who have set up camp on Shepherd's Bush Green

It comes after protesters from the 'Lovedown' group were seen attending a protest outside Downing Street yesterday and holding up posters.

During the anti-lockdown protests, an injured police officer was dragged away as Laurence Fox and Piers Corbyn joined maskless anti-lockdown protesters demanding an end to all Covid restrictions.

Mr Fox, 43, was shown speaking with police while holding a copy of an anti-lockdown magazine, while Jeremy Corbyn's 74-year-old brother held an anti-vax banner alongside protesters calling climate change a 'con' and complaining about the 'New World Order'.

Other activists held signs calling for masks and testing to be scrapped, with others said '99.7% of people do not die' and 'the media is a virus'.

Social media messages showed the demonstration had been specifically planned to coincide with Mr Johnson's announcement to the Commons about the fate of the opening plans for June 21.

Footage from the demonstration shows a female police officer being hauled away by her colleagues, as protesters scream 'traitors' and 'it's all right when it happens to one of us, isn't it'.

Boris Johnson on Sunday urged Britons to be patient as he announces that the relaxation of Covid restrictions will be pushed back until July 19 because of the rampaging Indian variant, to allow more people to receive their second vaccine dose.

Activists held banners calling for masks and testing to be scrapped, with one describing the organisers as 'a collective of the concerned'

Police officers help an injured colleague during an anti-lockdown and anti-vaccine protest in London, June 14

Laurence Fox, 43, was shown speaking with police while holding a copy of an anti-lockdown magazine during a protest against Covid restrictions today

Piers Corbyn (right) held an anti-vaxxer banner alongside protesters calling climate change a 'con' and complaining about the 'New World Order'

Demonstrators protest outside Downing Street against the delay in easing of lockdown restrictions on June 14

Anti-lockdown protesters gathered outside Number 10 today to protest Covid restrictions as Boris Johnson was set to give his announcement about the June 21 reopening

A man gestures at a policeman outside the gates of No10. The Prime Minister is delaying the reopening, to anger from Tory backbenchers

An anti-lockdown and anti-vaccine demonstrator holds a placard as he takes part in a protest in Downing Street

The Prime Minister faces a ferocious backlash from all wings of the Tory Party over his decision to delay Freedom Day last night  as his own MPs warned of curbs lasting through winter and beyond.

Horrified backbenchers expressed concerns about a ' lockdown without end' and said they were losing confidence in the prospect of coronavirus restrictions being lifted for the foreseeable future.

In the wake of the Prime Minister's announcement of a four-week delay to removing curbs in England, they accused him of 'panicking' and said that they feared a return to even tighter curbs in the autumn.

One Cabinet minister said last night the frontbench team were 'resigned' to the fact there would be a delay, but added: 'We must now deliver on vaccinations.'

No ministers stuck their head above the parapet to publicly criticise the lockdown extension.

Piers Corbyn takes part in an anti-lockdown and anti-vaccine protest in Downing Street on June 14

A Trump 2024 flag was among those waved at the protest outside Downing Street during the protest yesterday

A demonstrator with a pentagram tattoo holds up a sign saying 'This NHS workers has had enough'

Police officers stand guard during an anti-lockdown and anti-vaccine protest at Downing Street, London, June 14

A woman is seen holding onto a police officer's high visibility vest at the London protest on June 14

Police are seen linking arms at the Downing Street anti-lockdown protest in London yesterday as Boris Johnson delayed plans to lift Covid restrictions

Police carry away an officer amid chaotic scenes at the protest outside Downing Street on Monday

Sir Iain Duncan Smith, the former Conservative leader, said: 'I don't see the evidence for us suddenly panicking like this.

'If we are not careful we will drift into late summer and autumn, and the scientists will say, 'You cannot unlock now because we are heading into winter'. Where are we going with all of this?'

The Tory grandee warned that the country needed to get 'business going so we can pay our taxes and can afford the Health Service and cut our borrowing'.

'We seem to think there is only one risk and that risk is Covid and everything else is irrelevant. That is a serious problem,' he added.

Some hardline anti-lockdown Tories are furious about any delay at all, as they wanted the lifting of lockdown to be faster that it has been.

Former minister Steve Baker channelled classic war film The Great Escape in a message to Covid Recovery Group MPs last night, according to Politico, saying: 'It is the sworn duty of all officers to try to escape.

'If they cannot escape, then it is their sworn duty to cause the enemy to use an inordinate number of troops to guard them, and their sworn duty to harass the enemy to the best of their ability.'

And theatre impresario Sir Howard Panter warned the industry will suffer 'significant damage' if the final lifting of coronavirus lockdown restrictions in England is put on hold.
Residents inside Grenfell Tower were unaware of a report condemning the smoke ventilation system in the building, an inquiry has heard.

The site was issued with a deficiency notice by the London Fire Brigade in 2014 after a bin fire in the 24-storey block of flats in April 2010 exposed some concerns with the automatic opening vents (AOVs).

In their notice the fire brigade stated that approximately a quarter of the vents in parts of the building were not working.

However the 2014 notice came as a 'surprise' to Janice Wray, then health and safety manager for the now defunct Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation (TMO), who said she was previously unaware of the concerns.

Seventy-two people died as a result of the fire at the 24-storey tower in 2017 when an electrical fault in a fridge-freezer sparked a catastrophic blaze

She said she subsequently pushed for works to be carried out, but, after being informed of delays to plans to upgrade the system, told a colleague: 'Let's hope our luck holds and there are no fires in the meantime.'

A new system was installed in 2016, but did not have its first inspection until eight months later - something Ms Wray also said she was unaware of.

Giving evidence to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry on Tuesday, Ms Wray denied being aware of the extent of the concerns with the AOV system contained within a report by maintenance engineers RGE in August 2011, only that it was old and needed replacing.

A section of the report, shown to the inquiry, contained the warning, written and underlined in bold, capital letters: 'We cannot guarantee conformity with fire regulation.'

It added that actuation systems were 'not fit for purpose' and needed to be replaced.

Richard Millett QC, lead counsel to the inquiry, said: 'The residents were living in a building with an AOV which had effectively been condemned as non-compliant by the maintenance engineers but (residents) were living there in ignorance.'

Ms Wray replied: 'I can't dispute that.

'But I didn't have that information so I couldn't have provided it (to the tenants).

An inquiry heard that residents inside Grenfell Tower were unaware of a report condemning the smoke ventilation system

The graphic above shows the damage caused by the fire and those who died on each floor during the blaze

'RGE were saying it couldn't be relied upon, so it's functioning to some degree but it hadn't been brought to my attention.'

Nevertheless, Ms Wray said she was concerned about fire safety to residents, staff and contractors over the original AOV, and told the inquiry she had been 'banging on, boring people' about interim measures to improve the system.

But she said the onus would have been on the contracts management team, not on her.

She described her 'luck holds' email to a colleague as 'a glib comment, and I regret it'.

She added: 'I was utterly frustrated and exasperated.'

Mr Millett said: 'Residents are entitled to expect more from you than crossed fingers.'

Ms Wray agreed.

Seventy-two people died as a result of the fire at the 24-storey tower when an electrical fault in a fridge-freezer sparked a catastrophic blaze which was fuelled by the building's flammable cladding system.

The inquiry continues.
Former CDC director Dr Robert Redfield says he thinks COVID was 'taught and educated' by scientists before leaking from a laboratory to infect the world.

Redfield implied he believed the virus had been modified before leaking from the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China because it is not 'biologically plausible' that it could have become so infectious had it jumped from an animal host to humans.

In a wide-ranging interview with Fox News contributor Dr Marc Siegel on Tuesday, Redfield doubled down on his belief that COVID-19 was leaked from the Chinese lab after being tweaked by scientists.

The virus is believed to have originated in bats, but debate is currently raging over whether it leaked from the Wuhan lab - and whether it was modified by Chinese scientists to become more contagious beforehand.

Redfield also said Dr Anthony Fauci was 'holding on tightly' to the theory that the virus evolved naturally, before likening the White House COVID tsar to a 'dog with a bone.'

And he slammed the 'highly compromised' World Health Organization for not cracking down on China at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and for letting its communist government dictate the terms of the WHO probe into the origins of COVID.

Redfield, who was CDC director under the Trump administration, first revealed back in March that he believes the virus escaped from the Wuhan lab.

Evidence has been mounting that supports the lab leak theory and President Biden has ordered a 90-day intelligence review to investigate the possibility. Donald Trump and his supporters were widely derided for sharing the same theory last year when he was president.

Redfield, who doesn't believe the virus was intentionally leaked by China, said COVID-19's ability to spread rapidly from human-to-human was unlike other coronaviruses such as SARS.

Dr Robert Redfield, who was CDC director under the Trump administration, doubled down on his belief COVID leaked from Wuhan lab

He said he didn't believe it was 'biologically plausible' that COVID-19 could have spread from a bat to an unknown animal and then to human.

Redfield pointed to how other coronaviruses spread to humans from animals but that it occurred at a much slower pace than COVID-19.

'When I said before that I didn't think it was biologically plausible that COVID-19 went from a bat to some unknown animal into man and now had become one of the most infectious viruses. That's not consistent with how other coronaviruses have come into the human species,' Redfield said.

'It does suggest that there's an alternative hypothesis that it went from a bat virus, got into a laboratory, where in the laboratory it was taught, educated, it evolved, so that it became a virus that could efficiently transmit human to human.

'My professional opinion as a virologist... that's the hypothesis I support.

'Other individuals, Tony Fauci for example, would prefer to support that it evolved from nature. I think Tony is holding onto this hypotheses tightly. Why would that be? Sometimes scientists bite into a bone on a hypothesis. It's hard for them to move on.'

Redfield said he was 'disappointed' there was a lack of openness within the scientific community early on to investigate both hypotheses.

Redfield, who was CDC director under Trump, said Dr Anthony Fauci was 'holding on tightly' to the theory that the virus evolved naturally

Redfield, who doesn't believe the virus was intentionally leaked by China, said COVID-19's ability to spread rapidly from human-to-human was unlike other coronaviruses such as SARS

Fauci flip-flops on origins of COVID April 2020: Fauci repeatedly made public statements suggesting COVID was the result of an 'unusual human-animal interface' in a Chinese 'wet market' and that 'the mutations that it took to get to the point where it is now is totally consistent with a jump of a species from an animal to a human.' May 2020: Still adamant that he didn't believe COVID was man-made, Fauci told National Geographic: 'If you look at the evolution of the virus in bats and what's out there now, [the scientific evidence] is very, very strongly leaning toward this could not have been artificially or deliberately manipulated. 'Everything about the stepwise evolution over time strongly indicates that [this virus] evolved in nature and then jumped species.' Late May 2021 to early June 2021: During an event called 'United Facts of America: A Festival of Fact-Checking,' Fauci was asked if was 'still confident' that the virus evolved naturally. 'No, actually I am not convinced about that. I think we should continue to investigate what went on in China until we continue to find out to the best of our ability what happened. 'Certainly, the people who investigated it say it likely was the emergence from an animal reservoir that then infected individuals, but it could have been something else, and we need to find that out.' 'So, you know, that's the reason why I said I'm perfectly in favor of any investigation that looks into the origin of the virus.' Advertisement

Some scientists, the media and academics long heaped scorn on the lab leak hypothesis, insisting that it was a fringe conspiracy theory and even racist after Donald Trump embraced the idea.

New evidence, including reports of three workers at the Wuhan lab who fell seriously ill with COVID-like symptoms in November 2019, has forced a sober reassessment among doubters.

Redfield went on to say that it was a 'critical error' to treat COVID-19 the same as SARS in January and February last year.

'By calling it SARS-like, we mounted a public health response that was mirrored off SARS. The problem is, COVID is nothing like SARS,' Redfield said, adding that response was 'flawed'.

Redfield acknowledged that he should have pushed harder for the CDC to be allowed into the Wuhan lab when the virus first emerged and said the World Health Organization was compromised by China.

'I think they were highly compromised. Clearly they were incapable of compelling China to adhere to the treaty agreements they have on global health,' Redfield said.

According to Siegel, the Fox contributor who interviewed Redfield, the ex-CDC director told him he started suspecting the lab leak in January 2020 but the White House COVID task force was focused on what was happening in the United States.

Redfield's comments come just weeks after Fauci dismissed revelations he was warned at the start of pandemic that COVID-19 may have been 'engineered' after a trove of his emails - 3,200 in total - were made public.

Fauci seemed to play down a mass trove of damaging emails that included warnings from the start of the pandemic that the virus originated in the lab.

He said his emails are 'ripe to be taken out of context' but he 'can't guarantee everything that is going on in the Wuhan lab'.

The emails were sent between January and June of last year.

They showed leading virus experts had warned him COVID-19 may have been created in a lab while he publicly played such claims down.
Bekes was jailed for 19 weeks at Cheshire Magistrates Court on Monday

His breath test was 'possibly' one of the highest readings recorded in Cheshire

Bekes, of Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, was driving on M56 on early hours of June 4

Vladimir Bekes, 37, crashed into a lamp post while six times over drink-drive limit

A motorist who smashed into a lamp post on a motorway when he was six times over the drink-drive limit has been jailed, a court has heard.

Vladimir Bekes, 37, from Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, was driving on the M56 in the early hours of June 4 when he crashed into the lamp post near the A540.

A member of the public flagged down PC George Aza, of Cheshire Police, and pointed out the Ford Mondeo, which was stationary at traffic lights on Ledsham Road, Chester Magistrates Court heard on Monday.

Vladimir Bekes, 37, from Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, has been jailed after crashing into a lamp post on the M56 on June 4 while six times over the drink-drive limit (stock image)

The officer, who had been actively looking for the driver after he was reported to Cheshire Police by members of the public, brought Bekes to a halt.

Bekes was described as being 'unsteady on his feet' and a breath test found he had 216 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, putting Bekes at more than six times the legal drink-drive limit of 35.

PC Aza said Bekes' breath test left him in 'shock' and was 'possibly' one of the highest readings ever recorded by Cheshire Police, the court heard.

Bekes has been jailed for 19 weeks after admitting to driving while disqualified, failing to provide a specimen for analysis and failing to comply with supervision requirements.

PC George Aza, of Cheshire Police, said Bekes' breath test was 'possibly' one of the highest readings ever recorded by Cheshire Police, a court heard on Monday (stock image of M56)

PC George Aza, from Cheshire Police's Roads and Crime Unit, said: 'Bekes' breath test is possibly one of the highest readings we have ever recorded in Cheshire.

'I was in shock when he blew a staggering 216 at the road side.

'Had the member of the public not reported him to police the potential consequences of his actions could have been horrendous.

'I want to personally thank them for making me aware of Bekes as it enabled me to bring his driving to a stop and led to a dangerous driver being taken off Cheshire's roads.'
The son and mom of a prominent South Carolina legal family had been shot multiple times in their mystery double murder last week while he was awaiting trial for the 'drunk' boating death of a 19-year-old girl.

Paul Murdaugh, 22, and his mom Margaret, 52, were found shot dead at their hunting lodge in Islandton, South Carolina on the night of June 6.

Colleton County Coroner Richard Harvey told the Post and Courier on Monday they had each been shot multiple times, with their time of death placed at between 9pm and 9.30pm.

Alex Murdaugh - Paul's father and Margaret's husband and a part-time prosecutor for the 14th Circuit solicitor's office - called 911 at 10.07pm to say he had returned home and found their bodies outside the residence. Sources said he told cops he had been out shooting and returned to the grim scene.

Officers arrived on the scene to find the victims each with multiple gunshot wounds.

Paul had been awaiting trial on charges relating to the 2019 boating death of Mallory Beach, who was thrown from the boat Paul was allegedly driving while drunk when he crashed it.

Questions around a possible tie between the incident and last week's killings continue to mount as the state attorney general is refusing to close the case into the boat crash despite the death of the man accused of being culpable.

The Murdaugh family has dominated the county's legal system for decades, prosecuting nearly every criminal case in the southern part of the state.

Several family members have served as county elected prosecutors in the 14th Circuit solicitor's office going back almost a century. The local community felt Paul was receiving special treatment in the boating death case due to his family's power.

Three days after Monday's murders, Paul's grandfather Richard Murdaugh III died aged 81, although his death is believed to have been the result of natural causes.

Buster, Margaret, Paul and Richard Alex Murdaugh (left to right). Margaret, 52, and Paul Murdaugh, 22, were found dead, shot multiple times, in the backyard of their sprawling estate in Islandton, South Carolina, June 6

Paul had been awaiting trial on charges relating to the 2019 boating death of Mallory Beach (pictured), who was thrown from the boat Paul was allegedly driving while drunk when he crashed it

'That is all the information we are releasing at this time,' Harvey said Monday.

'They were both shot multiple times and SLED will take it from here,' he said, referring to the State Law Enforcement Division.

The coroner said authorities would know more when the full autopsy is completed in around six weeks' time.

Harvey refused to answer any further questions about the case or confirm reports that two separate firearms were used in the slayings.

A law enforcement source last week told The Island Packet Paul was shot in the head and upper body with a shotgun, while Margaret was shot with an assault rifle.

The source said Paul was thought to have been the intended victim of the shooting while Margaret was likely in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Their bodies were found several yards apart from one another and shell casings were discovered at the scene, they said.

Their deaths have been ruled a double homicide and the investigation is being led by the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED).

SLED spokesman Tommy Crosby told The Post and Courier it would not be releasing records into the investigation saying they would require heavy redaction which would make them unreadable.

SLED was handed the case from Colleton County Sheriff's office almost immediately due to the Murdaugh family ties to the 14th Circuit solicitor's office.

The Murdaugh family home where the two bodies were found. Colleton County Coroner Richard Harvey said they had each been shot multiple times, with their time of death placed at between 9pm and 9.30pm

The bodies were said to be found near a dog kennel on the family's property by Richard Alex Murdaugh - Paul's father and Margaret's husband and a part-time prosecutor for the 14th Circuit solicitor's office

Officials continue to remain tight-lipped about the investigation with no suspect, person of interest, motive or details released more than one week on from the double murder.

They have ruled the deaths a double homicide but insisted there is no risk to the public.

Requests for information Tuesday and Saturday from SLED were denied, with Crosby citing an active investigation - even though South Carolina state law requires police to provide some records on cases in the days following an incident.

On Tuesday, SLED finally shared a press release about the investigation.

It gave few details, other than that SLED agents have worked 'continuously' on the case pursuing all leads.

The agency again ruled out releasing further information about the case saying it does not want to jeopardize the investigation.

'SLED is committed to conducting a professional and thorough criminal investigation to bring justice in the deaths of Paul and Maggie,' it said.

'SLED is further committed to transparency and will release any additional information, including additional information provided during the 911 call, at the appropriate time.

'However, we cannot and will not do anything that could jeopardize the integrity of this investigation or that would violate the due process afforded to all in our constitutional system of justice.'

Prior to this press release, the only report released to date had been a one-line statement from Colleton County Sheriff's Office Tuesday.

It reads: 'On June 7, 2021 at approximately 2226 hours I responded to 4147 Moselle Rd in Colleton County in reference to two gunshot victims found by the caller.'

Rumors continue to swirl over the case given the silence from officials and Paul's charges over the boating death.

The South Carolina Attorney General's Office said Monday the charges had been dropped following Paul's death but that the investigation remains open.

Paul (right) - the son of a powerful South Carolina legal family - is thought to have been the intended target of the shooting that also killed his mom Margaret (left)

Paul, Margaret, Richard Alex and Buster. The Murdaugh family has ruled the county's legal system for decades, prosecuting nearly every criminal case in the southern part of the state

Richard Alex and Margaret pictured together. Officials continue to remain tight-lipped about the double murders

'We had every intention of moving forward with Paul Murdaugh's prosecution,' spokesperson Robert Kittle told the Island Packet.

'While the charges against him will be dismissed, the case has not been closed because the investigation is not finished.'

The local paper had asked the office for the case files.

This has fueled speculation about why the investigation is still ongoing, with the attorney representing Paul saying he believes it suggests cops are probing a tie between the 2019 death and the double murder.

'I can understand that they would not want to open the investigative file to disclosure because there may be information related to the murder investigation,' said attorney Jim Griffin.

Paul was awaiting trial on three felony charges of facing one count of boating under the influence causing death and two counts of boating under the influence causing great bodily injury over the death of Mallory in 2019.

According to depositions filed as part of a lawsuit brought by Mallory's family last year, he and Mallory were part of a group of six who went by boat to an oyster roast on Paukie Island on February 23 2019.

The group left to head back around midnight.

Witnesses at the party said they urged the group not to travel by boat as it was foggy and cold and they had been drinking.

Paul was 'grossly intoxicated', got into an argument in a bar and insisted on driving the boat, according to testimony.

Mallory Beach (pictured). Questions around a possible tie between her boating death and last week's murders continue to mount as the state attorney general is refusing to close the case into the boat crash despite the death of the man accused of being culpable

Paul's attorney said the fact the 2019 case is not closed suggests a tie between the case and the murders

Pauls cousin Anthony Cook, who was also Mallory's boyfriend, said Paul was behaving erratically in the moments before the crash.

He started yelling at his girlfriend and slapped her, before stripping down into his underwear in the 40 degree weather, he said.

'Paul for some reason acted like he was on drugs or something. He started taking his clothes off during one of the arguments, and it is 40 degrees outside,' Cook sad in his testimony.

'I've seen him do it a few times when gets drinks. I don't know why he does that.'

Paul then allegedly pushed the boat full throttle and it crashed into bridge pilings that lead to Parris Island.

Mallory was thrown from the boat and drowned. It took dive teams nine days to find her body in the water.

Cook also testified that Paul would often get drunk and become a different person, earning him the nickname 'Timmy'.

An excerpt from testimony by Anthony Cook, who is Paul's cousin and was Mallory's boyfriend at the time, describing Paul strip down to his boxers

Excerpt from Cook's testimony about Paul's drunk alter ego 'Timmy'

Excerpt from Cook's testimony about the arguments before the boat accelerated and crashed

'It's a different name because he turns into a completely - totally different person. So somebody will say, 'All right. Here comes Timmy. We got to go."'

Paul pleaded not guilty and was due to stand trial.

The day after the boating accident - and weeks before Paul was charged - the 14th Circuit solicitor's office told the attorney general about the conflict of interest.

Mallory's mother filed a wrongful death civil lawsuit against the family last year.

The suit also named Parker's convenience store, saying a store clerk sold alcohol to two of the underage teens that night after one of them flashed a fake ID.

Both Mallory and Paul were underage at the time.

The first two judges it was assigned to each recused themselves from the suit and it was eventually handed to a judge from another county in the state.

The Beach family released a statement after the murders saying they hoped the killer would be brought to justice.

'The Beach Family extends its deepest and warmest sympathies to the Murdaugh family during this terrible time.

'Having suffered the devastating loss of their own daughter, the family prays that the Murdaughs can find some level of peace from this tragic loss.

'They would like the family and the community to know that their thoughts and continued prayers are with the Murdaughs.

Authorities are refusing to release almost any information about the investigation despite state rules. Colleton County Sheriff's Office released this one-line statement Tuesday

'It is their most sincere hope that someone will come forward and cooperate with authorities so that the perpetrator of these senseless crimes can be brought to justice.'

Paul's family connections are believed by some in the local community to have landed him with softer treatment from prosecutors.

There are now growing concerns the family's powerful role in the county's legal system could jeopardize the current murder investigation and the search for the killer or killers.

The sheriff's office handed the case to SLED last week due to the Murdaugh family ties to the 14th Circuit solicitor's office, according to The Post and Courier.

Richard Alex works as a part time prosecutor for the office.

On Thursday, Richard Murdaugh III - Paul's grandfather and Margaret's father-in-law, died aged 81 from an unspecified illness

Three generations of the family - Richard Alex's father, grandfather and great-grandfather - ran the office consecutively from 1920 through 2005.

There was a brief gap in 1995 when Buster Murdaugh was accused of helping moonshiners evade authorities.

It is now headed up by non-family member Duffie Stone.

However, the 14th Circuit solicitor's office is still involved with the investigation and has not handed off the case, reported The Post and Courier.

Funerals were held Friday for Paul and Margaret. Hundreds including public officials gathered for the service as they were laid to rest in Hampton Cemetery.

Richard Alex and Margaret also had another son named Buster.

As well as dominating the 14th Circuit solicitor's office, Randolph Murdaugh also founded law firm Peters, Murdaugh, Parker, Eltzroth & Detrick in 1910.

The Murdaugh family's power has helped them accrue vast amounts of wealth in the county, including owning more than 1,700 acres of land including the hunting lodge where the double murders took place.

They have been struck by other tragedy in the past with Randolph killed when a freight train hit his car.


A shaken father has recalled the moment he watched his 10 year-old daughter 'go up in flames' after a faulty propane tank exploded at a pool party.

Isla Clare Cook, from Peoria, has spent the last six days on a ventilator at the Arizona Burn Center in Phoenix with second- and third-degree burns to 46 per cent of her body, in addition to several first-degree burns.

Isla's parents, Alyssa and Justin Cook, said they were hosting a gathering at their home on June 6 when a faulty propane tank fueling their grill caught fire and exploded.

Isla Cook, a 10-year-old gymnast from Arizona (left), suffered devastating burns to nearly half of her body (pictured right in the hospital) when a propane tank exploded during a family pool party on June 6

This picture of Isla was taken just before the explosion, which produced 10-foot flames

Justin Cook, Isla's father, said watching his daughter 'go up in flames' was the hardest thing he has ever experienced

'Isla ended up receiving the brunt of the ten-foot flames,' wrote Katelyn Williams in the description of a GoFundMe campaign.

Justin told AZFamily.com that watching his daughter being consumed by the inferno was the hardest thing he has ever experienced.

Isla was initially taken to a local hospital and was then transferred to the burn unit in Phoenix, where she was intubated to help manage her pain levels.

According to the organizer of the online fundraiser, doctors will not get a clear picture of how long Isla's recovery will take until she undergoes surgery to receive skin grafts.

The 10-year-old, who is the eldest of five children, could be in the burn unit anywhere between a month and 10 months. Williams revealed that she might require skin grafts from cadavers, in which case her road to recovery will be longer.

'This is a very excruciating beginning of what will be a painfully long process,' Williams wrote.

Isla has been received care at the Arizona Burn Center in Phoenix. She has second- and third-degree burns to 46 per cent of her body

Isla has been described as mom Alyssa's helper, especially with her one-year-old twins

Isla has been training as a gymnast for years, and her mother expressed hope that her physical fitness and strength would help her make a full recovery.

'She's a fighter,' Alyssa told the news station.

The local gymnastics community has launched a campaign on Instagram to support Isla, using the hashtag #FlipforIsla to raise awareness of her plight.

Williams, the organizer of the fundraiser, described Isla as a girl with a playful, fun personality who is 'always thinking of others and is often finding ways to do acts of service for her family and friends.'

When she is not helping her mother with her younger siblings, including one-year-old twins, she bakes 'yummy treats' for her family, sings and plays the piano.

Isla, who is a trained gymnast, is awaiting surgery to receive skin grafts. She could remain in the burn unit anywhere between a month and 10 months

'The thing she loves the very most is gymnastics,' Williams wrote. 'At almost any given moment, Isla is twisting, bending, or flipping," Williams wrote. "She dedicates several hours a day to gymnastics and recently became an Optional level 6. She is basically a rockstar."

The girl's family are now dealing with mounting medical costs associated with her care, which entails continuously cleaning and redressing her burns.

'We have no idea what the cost of her care will be, but we have been told by others who have been in similar situations that it likely will be astronomical,' wrote Williams.

She set the goal of the fundraiser at $200,000, which she acknowledged was 'pretty high' but will likely still fall short of the cost of Isla's care. So far, the fundraiser has drawn more than $90,000 in donations.
A prominent California pastor is accused of embezzling more than $100,000 from a disabled veteran who was living in a squalid building next door to his church.

Misi Tagaloa, who leads the Second Samoan Congregational Church in Long Beach, has been charged with felony counts of grand theft and theft from an elder dependent.

He is currently free on a $70,000 bond, amid claims he used Peter Campbell's monthly $2,900 Veterans' Affairs checks to buy himself jewelry, clothes and sound equipment.

According to a 14-page affidavit filed by state prosecutors, Tagaloa is accused of gaining power of attorney over Campbell, a veteran aged in his 60s who suffers from schizophrenia.

The Long Beach Post reports that Campbell may have been living out of Tagaloa's church as early as 2013.

Campbell was receiving close to $3,000 per month from the VA in benefits, and in 2016 the pastor filed for power of attorney over Campbell to manage the money on his behalf.

Over the next four years, Tagaloa allegedly received close to $170,000, and is accused of spending much of that money on 'suspicious purchases' including clothing, jewelry and sound equipment.

Prominent California pastor Misi Tagaloa (left) is accused of embezzling more than $100,000 from disabled veteran Peter Campbell (right) who was found living in a squalid building next door to his church

Campbell - who once served in the Air Force - left his sister's North Carolina home in the early 2000s. He suffered from mental health issues, and soon ceased contact with his family.

Campbell's relatives searched fruitlessly for him in the intervening years, fearing for his health and safety.

Finally, a 2017 Google search of his name connected him to the Second Samoan Congregational Church in Long Beach.

His daughter, Sounmi Campbell, got in touch with pastor Tagaloa, who was initially unresponsive. However, she finally discovered that her father was living in a house next door to the church.

After seeing him in person, relatives realized that Campbell's mental condition had deteriorated significantly and that he was living in squalid conditions. One even claimed Campbell's clothes were covered in feces.

They knew Campbell was receiving a monthly VA check and started asking questions about what Tagaloa was doing with the money.

'The fact that my father is a retired, honorably discharged veteran, suffering from mental issuesyou hear that story all the timebut then we add this additional, just disgusting behavior from someone who is trusted in the community - it's just sad,' Sounmi Campbell told The Long Beach Post.

Misi Tagaloa, who leads the Second Samoan Congregational Church in Long Beach (pictured), has been charged with felony counts of grand theft and theft from an elder dependency

It's unclear how Campbell first came into contact with Tagaloa (pictured). The pastor is prominent in the Long Beach community, and is known for working with the homeless

It's unclear how Campbell first came into contact with Tagaloa.

The pastor is prominent in the Long Beach community, and is known for preaching about helping the homeless. Campbell's family theorize the pastor may have met the veteran at an outreach shelter.

Tagaloa has previously run for city council and raised eyebrows in 2009 when it was revealed that he had 'about 80 homeless people using the Second Samoan Church as their mailing address'.

Local media wondered whether those homeless people 'actually lived in the council district where they'd be casting a ballot'.

Tagaloa is not accused of defrauding any of those homeless people.

According to the new affidavit, investigators describe over 50 transactions with Campbell's VA money they they have described as 'suspicious'. They include purchases at clothing and jewelry stores.

Campbell's family claim Tagaloa neglected their father's deteriorating health and was only interested in spending his monthly VA checks.

Sadly, Campbell passed away in November of last year, aged in his late 60s.

Tagaloa is soon set to stand trial. He has pleaded not guilty to both charges and remains the public face of the Second Samoan Church.

Campbell's family hope that justice will be served.

'There's no reason that my father had to live like that,' Sounmi Campbell stated. 'We needed that pastor's help and he neglected to contact us.'
Interior Secretary Deb Haaland is urging President Joe Biden to reverse former President Donald Trump's decision to rollback the size of three national monuments.

Boundaries would be restored for Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante in Utah, while fishing protections would be put back in place around the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, which is off the Atlantic coast.

The move, first reported in The Washington Post Monday night, would preserve about 5 million acres of federal land and water.

A hiker walks over a natural bridge at Bears Ears National Monument in Utah. In 2017, former President Donald Trump decreased the size of Bears Ears by nearly 85 per cent

A remote cliff located in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument that former President Donald Trump slashed in size in 2017 by nearly 50 per cent

An underwater photo of the Seamounts Marine National Monument, which President Barack Obama protected in 2016 and President Donald Trump reopened to commercial fishing in June 2020

Trump announced in December 2017 he was shrinking the size of Grand Staircase-Escalante, which was designated by President Bill Clinton in 1996, by about half.

Trump was shrinking Bears Ears National Monument, designated by President Barack Obama a month before he left office, by nearly 85 per cent.

'He saw it as reversing Obama,' one former official told The Post.

The protected waters of the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument are off the coast of New York and New England

The newspaper did a deep dive in January 2019 on how a 'diminished' Grand Staircase-Escalante was faring.

While Trump had hoped the now non-protected lands would attract mining, government officials charged with assessing the 9 billion tons of coal desposits said they were unlikely to attract investors' attention, The Post found.

Bears Ears, however, has been targeted by looters of Native American cultural sites on the land.

In June 2020 - amid the coronavirus crisis and en route to a Maine swab factory - Trump signed a proclamation opening the protected waters of the Seamounts Marine National Monument to commercial fishing.

Again, it was a reversal of an Obama-era decision, as the Democratic ex-president had closed off 5,000 square miles in September 2016 to fishing, to allow the area to recover from overfishing and preserve the whales.

'We're opening it up today,' Trump said at a roundtable discussion with fishermen. 'We're undoing his executive order,' he said of Obama.

'What was his reason? He didn't have a reason, in my opinion,' Trump said of his predecessor's decision to protect the marine life in the Atlantic waters.

Haaland, the first Native American to hold a cabinet position, visited Utah in April as she prepared a review for Biden on what to do with Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante.

She met with the Bears-Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition - comprised of the five tribes that petitioned Obama to create the national monument.

Haaland's report was ready earlier this month, but hasn't yet been made public.

The Biden administration was widely expected to reverse Trump, as the Democrat has made environmental protection a priority.
The partner of the woman who claimed she had given birth to decuplets in South Africa says he does not believe the ten children exist.

Tebogo Tsotetsi says he has not seen girlfriend Gosiame Sithole or the alleged children since her incredible claims which made headlines worldwide.

A statement released by his family in Pretoria said he has made a number of attempts to contact Ms Sithole but has not revealed her location since the apparent world record.

His comments come after speculation grew over Ms Sithole's claims after the hospital where she is claimed to have given birth denied treating her.

The 'mother', 37, is said to have told her boyfriend she gave birth to the babies after midnight on June 8.

But Mr Tsotetsi's family said in a statement released on Tuesday: 'Tebogo confirmed he had not seen the deculplets and relied on his girlfriend who called to inform him of their birth.

'He made several attempts to visit his girlfriend and the babies but she has failed to disclose her whereabouts and the condition of her babies.

'The current uncertainties and public disclosure about the decuplets is of major concern to the family, especially in the absence of any proof of the decuplets' existence other than telephonic and WhatsApp messages from the mother.'

The statement concluded with the family saying they believe there are no decuplets until it is proven otherwise as they apologised and appealed for help in finding Ms Sithole.

It comes after Mr Tsotetsi earlier asked the public to stop donating money to the alleged mother.

Father Tebogo Tsotetsi (right), who broke the news to journalists, said the world will get to see them 'at the right time' as doubt remains over whether it is genuine

He said in a message, according to Pretoria News: 'I appreciate the financial support that we have been getting from members of the public, but I also would like to appeal to the public to stop making money deposits into our accounts until members of the community have seen the babies.'

Ato South Africa's Sunday Times newspaper, the Mediclinic Medforum Hospital in Pretori - where Ms Sithole is claimed to have told her partner she gave birth - said it had not treated her.

While the clinic said it was aware of the publicity around the birth of the babies, spokesperson Tertia Kruger told the newspaper following the Pretoria News report on Monday: 'We can confirm that none of our facilities were involved in the obstetric care of this patient or her decuplets.'

Mr Tsotetsi is also quoted in the Pretoria News story as saying that Ms Sithole had been moved to the Steve Biko Academic Hospital on Friday, but the Sunday Times reported that Gauteng health and provincial authorities were unable to trace her at any of their public or private health facilities.

CEO of the Hospital, Dr Mathabo Mathebula, told Radio 702 that Ms Sithole had arrived at the hospital saying she was the woman who had given birth to 10 babies, but said she was not at the hospital.

'She's not at the hospital as we speak. We don't know the background ... on Saturday afternoon she appeared, being accompanied by security, [and said] she wants to go to the NIU (neonatal inpatient unit) because she wants to see her babies.

'She said she gave birth at Louis Pasteur and they told her they will transfer the babies to the hospital [Steve Biko],' Mathebula told the radio station.

Meanwhile, Mr Tsotetsi flew to Cape Town on Wednesday to accept a 50,000 donation for the children's care while insisting the world will get to see them 'at the right time'.

Tsotetsi originally said his girlfriend gave birth to decuplets - seven boys and three girls - after a 'natural' 29-week pregnancy, even though such births are almost always the result of fertility treatments.

Since then a number of relatives have come forward to insist that the birth is genuine, even as local officials say they have no record of the delivery taking place at any hospital in Guateng state, where Pretoria is located.

Gosiame Sithole, 37, claims to have given birth to ten children in South Africa on Monday (pictured at home ahead of the 'delivery')

No doctor has yet come forward to verify the delivery and no pictures of the infants have been published - ostensibly for cultural and religious reasons.

If the birth is confirmed as genuine, it would be a world record - coming just a month after a Malian woman, Halima Cisse, gave birth to nine children in Morocco.

Last week, the infant's aunt claimed that the ten babies were fighting for their lives at a hospital in South Africa.

The aunt, who has not been publicly identified, said Ms Sithole is also recovering in the same Pretoria hospital after giving birth to five of the children naturally and another five by Caesarean section on Monday.

'[The babies] are still in incubators fighting for their lives. They came at 29 weeks; the mother is still weak... This is a sensitive issue,' the woman told TimesLIVE.

Tsotetsi told Pretoria News last week 'They are premature, they are still incubated. Very small as you can think  10 children in one womb that normally carries one baby.

'They are very small, so the sensitivity that goes into that, even the doctors, they don't want to risk that.'

He claimed that five babies were born naturally and another five were delivered by c-section, saying a team of six doctors, two gynecologists and two nurses helped.

Tsotetsi said his partner was exhausted after the birth, but that she had managed to get out of bed and take a short walk on Wednesday.

'She is doing very well.' he added.

Tsotetsi was the first to break the news of the apparent birth to reporters last Monday, telling the Pretoria News that his girlfriend had given birth to seven boys and three girls.

'I am happy. I am emotional. I can't talk much,' he said at the time.

The news quickly spread around the world, followed by a scramble for official information on the pregnancy and birth that has so-far proved elusive.

South African media have been at loggerheads over the story, with some outlets rushing to confirm the news while others quickly derided it.

Government officials have gone so far as to confirm they are aware of the case and have been in contact with the family before, after Sithole gave birth to twins in 2016.

But Feziwe Ndwayana, a spokesman for the Department of Social Development, said yesterday that she cannot confirm the birth of 10 children because nobody has been in contact with Sithole recently.

Ms Ndwayana added that a social worker was to be sent to the family home last week to try and confirm the authenticity of the delivery.

If Sithole's delivery is confirmed, it would make it the world's largest - coming just a month after a Malian woman gave birth to nine children in Morocco

Pretoria News claims to have been in touch with the family for months over the pregnancy, but held on to the story until after the birth.

The newspaper claims it is not publishing all the details it has about the delivery because of 'cultural and religious reasons'.

Alongside news of the birth, which first appeared in Tuesday's paper, the outlet also ran an interview with Sithole and Totetsi that they said was conducted several months ago.

At the time, Sithole believed she was pregnant with eight children - having initially been told she was carrying six before two more were discovered on a later scan.

It was only during the birth itself that the remaining two children were discovered, according to the newspaper.

Sithole said she suffered through the complicated pregnancy, experiencing morning sickness early on followed later by pain in her leg.

Meanwhile Tsotetsi revealed that he initially could not believe his wife with pregnant with six children, thinking it was medically impossible.

'But after I found out that these things do happen, and saw my wife's medical records, I got excited. I can't wait to have them in my arms,' he said at the time.

The condition of the children following the birth was not made clear by Pretoria News, which was the first to report the case.

Children of such extreme multiple pregnancies are almost always born under-weight and can often be malnourished as the mother's body struggles to provide nutrients for so many infants.

Halima Cisse (right) and husband Kader Arby (left) welcomed five girls and four boys on May 4 after a pregnancy that is thought to have been the result of fertility treatments

Cisse's children are still being cared for at a specialist hospital in Morocco more than a month after their birth (pictured) after they were born premature and malnourished

Cases of infant mortality are also not uncommon following large multiple births.

Sithole's case comes just a month after the world's first live nonuplets were born in Morocco to Malian woman Halima Cisse.

Cisse, 25, from Timbuktu, was taken to hospital in the Malian capital of Bamako in March to be kept under observation before being flown to Morocco to be cared for at a specialist hospital after the country's president intervened.

The children - five girls and four boys - were then delivered by a team of 10 doctors and 25 nurses via Caesarean on May 4, in a complicated operation that almost caused Cisse to die of blood loss.

Doctors later revealed the babies were born significantly underweight and had 'deficiencies in everything', but are now in a stable condition.

As of last week, the children were still being cared for around the clock in Morocco with doctors saying their weight has increased significantly.

But medics said they will still need to be kept under observation for at least another six weeks before they can consider sending them home.

Cisse is thought to be staying nearby after coming out of intensive care, where she was recovering from a ruptured artery during the birth.

Ms Cisse's pregnancy was just the third reported instance of nonuplets in history.

The first recorded case of nonuplets came in Sydney in the 1970s, although sadly none of the babies survived, according to The Independent.

In March 1999, a set of nonuplets was born in Malaysia to a woman named Zurina Mat Saad, though none of them survived for more than six hours.

In January 2009, Nadya Suleman - dubbed Octomum - gave birth to octuplets including six boys and two girls at a hospital in California.

All survived the birth, and recently celebrated their 12th birthdays.

Ms Suleman is still the official world record holder for the largest live birth.

The babies were a result of IVF treatment, and were nine weeks premature when they were delivered via c-section.
The Senate voted on Tuesday to confirm Lina Khan, an antitrust researcher who has focused her work on Big Tech's immense market power, to be a commissioner on the Federal Trade Commission.

Khan, who teaches at Columbia Law School, is respected by progressive antitrust thinkers, who have pushed for tougher antitrust laws or at least tougher enforcement of existing law.

She was confirmed with strong bipartisan support on a vote of 69 to 28.

She said on Twitter that she was 'grateful' for confirmation and looking forward to 'serving the American public.'

The Senate voted on Tuesday to confirm Lina Khan, an antitrust researcher who has focused her work on Big Tech's immense market power, to be a commissioner on the Federal Trade Commission

Khan was on the staff of the House Judiciary Committee's antitrust panel, and helped write a massive report that sharply criticized Amazon Inc, Apple Inc, Facebook Inc and Alphabet Inc for allegedly abusing their dominance.

Her nomination followed on the heels of the selection of fellow progressive and Big Tech critic Tim Wu to join the National Economic Council.

Khan's nomination comes as the federal government and groups of states have an array of lawsuits and investigations into Big Tech companies.

The FTC has sued Facebook and is investigating Amazon. The Justice Department has sued Google.

In 2017, she wrote a highly regarded article, 'Amazon's Antitrust Paradox,' for the Yale Law Journal which argued that the traditional antitrust focus on price was inadequate to identify antitrust harms done by Amazon.

In addition to antitrust, the FTC investigates allegations of deceptive advertising.

On that front, Khan will join an agency which is painfully adapting to a unanimous Supreme Court ruling from April which said the agency could not use a particular part of its statute, 13(b), to demand consumers get restitution from deceptive companies but can only ask for an injunction. Congress is considering a legislative fix.

Khan previously worked at the FTC as a legal adviser to Commissioner Rohit Chopra, Biden's pick to be director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
At least two inmates were killed and 11 others injured when riots broke out between two rival gangs at a prison in Ecuador and dozens of detainees tried to escape.

Security forces were able to regain control of the Litoral Penitentiary in Guayaquil on Monday. The prison, the largest in the Pacific coast city, is now being guarded by the military.

Video captured inmates scaling over a wall that separated the men's and women's pavilion as shots were reportedly fired by gang members.

In total 28 inmates were recaptured and charged with attempting to flee the prison.

'The people who were jailed in pavilions eight and nine came out through the terraces and began to shoot at the inmates in pavilions three and six,' Ecuador police general Fausto Buenano said in a press conference.

A bystander records the moment inmates escaped from the Litoral Penitentiary in Guayaquil, Ecuador, during a series of jail riots that extended from Saturday to overnight Monday. In all, two prisoners were killed and 11 others were injured. A total of 28 detainees who escaped from the jail were recaptured

Security forces guard some of the 28 prisoners who were recaptured after they tried to flee a prison in Ecuador during a rebelling between two rival gangs that spanned from Saturday to Sunday

A soldier in Ecuador questions a jail inmate after security forces were able to regain control of a prison and recapture 25 detainees who attempted to escape

Litoral Penitentiary director Franklin Huertas said at least seven prisoners were injured during the rebellion between the Los Lagartos and Los Choneros gangs on Saturday and Sunday. Another four were reportedly hurt overnight Monday.

The dead inmates were identified as Santos Nunez and Jhonny Vivero, according to El Universo newspaper.

Seven of the 11 injured prisoners were identified as Carlos Mendez; Jefferson Hidalgo; Luis Nunez; Jose Angulo; Juan Quiroz; Alfredo Castillos; and Ricardo Coloma.

The extent of the prisoners' injuries have not been reported.

Security force place plastic handcuffs on inmates at the El Litoral Penitentiary in Ecuador on Sunday, where two prisoners were killed and 11 other suffered injuries during riots between Los Lagartos and Los Choneros gangs

Inmates hope over a wall at the El Litoral Penitentiary in Guayaquil, Ecuador, after gang members opened fire. At least two prisoners were killed and 11 suffered injuries

Residents near the prison told El Universo that they heard shots being fired between 10pm Sunday and 2am Monday.

Dozens of soldiers were also deployed to the prison to guard the external perimeter.

Agents with the Ecuador National Police carried out an inspection of the jail and seized various weapons, including a grenade.

The inmates who attempted to escape the prison will have been scheduled to appear before a court judge July 1, Ecuador's Attorney General's Office said in a statement.

Problems inside prisons are frequent in Ecuador.

In late February, at least 80 inmates were killed during a series of riots across four Ecuadorian prisons.
A federal watchdog announced on Tuesday that it was starting a review into how the National Institutes of Health manages its grant program, an investigation that likely includes funding given to a Chinese laboratory at the center of COVID-19 questions.

Republicans have scrutinized NIH grants to EcoHealth Alliance, a scientific nonprofit that has helped fund research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

The review comes amid growing questions about whether the pandemic could have begun with a leak from the lab and whether scientists there were using American money to conduct 'gain of function' experiments on viruses.

'We share stakeholders' concerns regarding compliance and oversight of NIH grant funds. We have been monitoring this issue for some time and consider it a high-priority matter that can pose a threat to the integrity of the NIH grant program,' Tesia Williams, director of communications for the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, told CNN.

Dr. Anthony Fauci has said hundreds of thousands of dollars was routed from NIH to the Wuhan Laboratory via EcoHealth Alliance. Grants like those will be part of the investigation announced Tuesday by the Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General

Republicans have homed in on the relationship between Fauci and Peter Daszak, president of EcoHealth Alliance, as they press their theory that officials in the U.S. government tried to hide their links to research in China

Virologist Shi Zheng-li, left, works with her colleague in the P4 lab of Wuhan Institute of Virology in Wuhan in central China's Hubei province in this 2017 file picture

In recent weeks, the idea that the COVID-19 pandemic could have started in a laboratory has taken on fresh credibility.

A number of scientists have said they may have jumped too fast to concluding it emerged naturally and President Joe Biden has asked the intelligence community to 'redouble' efforts to identify its origins.

A U.S. intelligence report found that researchers at the Wuhan lab had fallen ill and been hospitalized in November 2019. Although there are no further details about their condition, they were taken ill shortly before the virus started spreading.

Meanwhile the work of EcoHealth Alliance has repeatedly been questioned by conservatives who have accused federal officials such as Dr Anthony Fauci of covering up connections to Wuhan.

Those accusations intensified when Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases within NIH as well as White House adviser, confirmed that hundreds of thousands of dollars had been channeled through the nonprofit for studies on coronaviruses in bats.

'About $800,000 was allocated and about $600,000 was spent over a five-year period, no more than that,' he told a congressional budget hearing in May.

'That comes to anywhere between $125 and $150,000 per year that went to collaboration with Wuhan.'

Republicans have claimed that this was used for 'gain of function' research into viruses, tweaking their capabilities to study their characteristics.

During hearing, Sen. Rand Paul said: 'For years, Dr. Ralph Baric, a virologist in the U.S., has been collaborating with Dr. Shi Zhengli of the Wuhan Virology Institute, sharing his discoveries about how to create super-viruses.

'This gain-of-function research has been funded by the NIH.'

But that was denied by Fauci.

'Sen. Paul, with all due respect, you are entirely, entirely and completely incorrect,' he fired back.

'The NIH has not ever, and does not now, fund 'gain of function research' in the Wuhan Institute.'

While China has tried to insist the virus originated elsewhere, academics, politicians and the media have begun to contemplate the possibility it escaped from the WIV - raising suspicions that Chinese officials simply hid evidence of the early spread

However, critics of Fauci say he cannot be certain what researchers might have used the money for, given the lack of cooperation by Chinese authorities with COVID-19 investigations.

They also seized on the recent release of his emails through a Freedom of Information Act request for ammunition.

Communications included a message from Peter Daszak, president of EcoHealth, thanking Fauci for last year dismissing the idea that the COVID-19 could have come for a lab.

Details of the new investigation published by the HHS office of inspector general suggested that groups like EcoHealth, sending money overseas, would be scrutinized.

'Grantees that function as pass-through entities must monitor the activities of subrecipients, including foreign subrecipients, to ensure that subawards are used for authorized purposes in compliance with relevant laws and the terms and conditions of the subaward,' said the work plan.

'We will review NIH's monitoring of selected grants, and grantee use and management of NIH grant funds in accordance with federal requirements.'
President Joe Biden said he was 'going to get in trouble' again for forgetting to thank a list of his top aides during his meeting with European Union leaders on Tuesday.

He was discussing ending a trade dispute between the US and the EU that has lasted 17 years and the impending threat of China when he appeared to stumble during his speech.

'And uh, I've said before and I apologize for the - Oh, I didn't Jake Sullivan from the State Department [inaudible]. I'm leaving out a lot of people here I apologize. I'm going to get in trouble.

'But, anyway, we'll get back to that. But um we um you know...'

It comes two days after Biden joked that he would 'get in trouble' with his staff if he didn't answer questions from a pre-approved list of reporters.

His comments sparked claims he is being controlled by his press handlers. Biden also asked questions from a pre-approved list of reporters at a NATO press conference on Monday.

In that press conference on Sunday in Cornwall, UK, after the G7 summit he also confused Libya and Syria three times.

During the meeting in Brussels, Biden celebrated a 'major breakthrough' by ending the tit-for-tat tariff row between the US and EU which started with a battle over subsidies between rival aircraft manufacturers Airbus and Boeing.

President Joe Biden said he was 'going to get in trouble' again for forgetting to thank a list of his top aides during his meeting with European Union leaders on Tuesday

'Both the U.S. and EU agreed to suspend our tariffs for five years, and we committed to ensuring a level playing field for our companies and our workers,' Biden said.

'And uh, I've said before and I apologize for the - Oh, I didn't Jake Sullivan from the State Department [inaudible]. I'm leaving out a lot of people here I apologize. I'm going to get in trouble. 'But, anyway, we'll get back to that. But um we um you know...' President Biden during a meeting with EU leaders on Tuesday in Brussels

'Significantly, we also agreed to work together to challenge and counter China's non-market practices in this sector that give China's companies an unfair advantage. He said the US and EU would work jointly 'on inward and outbound investment and technology transfer. It's a model we can build on for other challenges posed by China's economic model.'

The dispute between the world's largest aircraft manufacturers began in 2004 when they filed competing cases claiming each were profiting from unfair government subsidies.

In 2019, the World Trade Organization ruled the European Union had illegally provided support to Airbus. The Trump administration responded with tariffs worth up to $7.5billion a year that hit French winemarkers and German cookie bakers.

A year later, the WTO then ruled that Boeing's benefits with the US also violated trade regulations, so Brussels it back with tariffs worth up to $4billion that targeted US spirit manufacturers.

After years of transatlantic squabbling, Biden also tied it to his case that democracies 'are stronger when we work together to advance our shared values like fair competition and transparency.'

He was discussing with EU leaders in Brussels ending a trade dispute that has lasted 17 years and the impending threat of China when he appeared to stumble during his speech

'And uh, I've said before and I apologize for the - Oh, I didn't Jake Sullivan from the State Department [inaudible]. I'm leaving out a lot of people here I apologize. I'm going to get in trouble. 'But, anyway, we'll get back to that. But um we um you know...'

The United States and the European Union reached a deal Tuesday to end a damaging dispute over subsidies to rival plane makers Boeing and Airbus; above President Joe Biden is welcomed by President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen ahead to the EU-US summit

A line of Boeing 777X jets are parked nose to tail on an unused runway at Paine Field, near Boeing's massive production facility in Everett, Wash

U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai said the two sides have come to terms on a five-year agreement to suspend the tariffs at the center of the dispute. She said they could be reimplemented if the U.S. companies are not able to 'compete fairly' with those in Europe.

'Todays announcement resolves a long-standing irritant in the U.S.-EU relationship,' Tai said, as Biden met with EU leaders in Brussels. 'Instead of fighting with one of our closest allies, we are finally coming together against a common threat.'

The dispute saw tit-for-tat duties slapped on a range of companies that have nothing to do with aircraft production, from French winemakers to German cookie bakers in Europe and U.S. spirits producers in the United States, among many others.

'Im very positive and convinced that together we will deliver today,' European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told reporters Tuesday, hours before a meeting in Brussels with President Joe Biden.

In March, weeks after Biden had taken office, the two sides agreed to suspend the tariffs.

The 17 year trade dispute was the longest and most costly in the history of the World Trade Organization
The local television news reporter who revealed on the air that she is about to expose her bosses at Fox 26 KRIV-TV in Houston for allegedly 'muzzling' her has been fired by the station.

Ivory Hecker told The Daily Beast that she was terminated by the station on Tuesday.

The firing on Tuesday comes a day after Hecker went rogue and announced live on air that she's been secretly recording her bosses and will reveal all through Project Veritas.

Earlier in the day, Project Veritas posted an audio recording in which she was informed of her suspension effective immediately by Lee Meier, the assistant news director at KRIV-TV, and that the situation was pending further review.

Audio of Meiers phone call was posted online by Project Veritas, the organization that vows to reveal Heckers expose on how she is said to have been muzzled by her station and its corporate parent, the Fox Corporation.

Fox Corp. owns the local Houston Fox station where Hecker worked and also owns Fox News.

'FOX 26 adheres to the highest editorial standards of accuracy and impartiality,' a spokesperson for the news station told DailyMail.com.

'This incident involves nothing more than a disgruntled former employee seeking publicity by promoting a false narrative produced through selective editing and misrepresentation.'

Ivory Hecker (left), a reporter for Fox TV's local affiliate in Houston, was informed of her suspension effective immediately by Lee Meier (right), the assistant news director at KRIV-TV, and that the situation was pending further review. Later on Tuesday, she told The Daily Beast that she had been terminated

In a Twitter post, Project Veritas posted audio of the phone call between Hecker and Meier. I wanted to call you and let you know that you are suspended, effective immediately, Meier tells Hecker in the recorded audio

Meier then adds: Pending further review.

Meier then says: I would ask you not to come to the station, OK?

OK, sounds good, Hecker says.

Project Veritas says it will post the material revealing the alleged 'muzzling' on Tuesday night.

In a Twitter post, Project Veritas posted audio of the phone call between Hecker and Meier.

I wanted to call you and let you know that you are suspended, effective immediately, Meier tells Hecker in the recorded audio.

Meier then adds: Pending further review.

OK, Hecker responds.

Meier then says: I would ask you not to come to the station, OK?

OK, Hecker says in response.

Alright, and we will be in touch, Meier says.

OK, sounds good, Hecker says.

OK, thank you, Meier says.

OK, bye, Hecker replies, ending the conversation.

Ivory Hecker was introduced to report on sweltering weather for Fox 26 Houston when she interrupted her on-air piece to drop the bombshell on her employer

Hecker continued her report before handing back to her colleagues in the studio who made no reference to what she had said

'I have been longing to part ways with this strange, slightly unhinged corporation since last August when I realized what they were,' she told The Daily Beast, which was the first to report her termination.

'The piece with Project Veritas doesnt touch what they did. Fox 26 knows Im fearless.'

Hecker said that she isn't concerned about career repercussions.

'I have zero interest in working for another corporation,' the now-fired television news reporter said.

'They all toe the same line.'

Hecker said that she rejected an offer to join the company's top-rated cable news giant Fox News.

'I would turn down Fox News,' she said.

'They wanted to bring me up to the network.

'I met a lot of executives there and I dont want to talk to them anymore.

'It came from one of the top executives there that what I needed to succeed was to get in line with the narrative.'

A spokesperson for the Fox News Channel told DailyMail.com that Hecker met once with the network as a courtesy and was never formally offered a position.

The controversy was ignited when Hecker was introduced to report on sweltering weather for Fox 26 Houston on Monday when she prefaced her on-air piece with a bombshell for her employer.

'Before we get to that story, I want to let you, the viewers, know that Fox Corp. has been muzzling me to keep certain information from you, the viewers,' Hecker said. 'And from what I'm gathering, I am not the only reporter being subjected to this.'

'I am going to be releasing some recordings about what goes on behind the scenes at Fox, because it applies to you, the viewers,' she added. 'I found a non-profit journalism group called Project Veritas that is going to help put that out tomorrow, so tune in then.'

The 32-year-old then continued onto her report on the recent bad weather and power outages in Houston before handing back to her colleagues in the studio who made no reference to what she had said.

A spokesman for Project Veritas said that the group will be publishing an interview with Hecker on Tuesday evening.

He told Insider that the reporter will discuss 'corruption' and 'censorship' at Fox and 'blowing the whistle' on how corporate journalism is 'broken.'

Hecker's Twitter and Instagram pages don't reveal any particularly striking points of view or anything which might suggest she's been 'muzzled'.

She is a general reporter, covering various news stories, including about the coronavirus pandemic, murders, missing people and storms.

Hecker's Instagram and Twitter pages don't reveal any particularly striking points of view, she appears to be fan of exercise and playing the guitar

A recent post from Hecker's Instagram page

Project Veritas is known for its secret recordings targeting the media establishment, including 'stings' carried out on the New York Times, CNN and the Washington Post.

Recently Project Veritas has spoken to Facebook whistleblowers who claim the social network has been censoring vaccine skeptics during the pandemic.

The founder of Project Veritas, James O'Keefe, even appeared on Sean Hannity's Fox News show to promote the story, revealing dossiers which he said showed Facebook was testing a 'beta' version of its algorithm to smash anti-vaxxers.

Fox has been happy to watch O'Keefe go after its broadcasting rivals but now finds itself in the spotlight.

DailyMail.com has also contacted Fox TV Stations for comment.
A member of the film crew for an upcoming HBO series The Gilded Age starring Cynthia Nixon allegedly tried to pass a prop $10 bill off as real money at a store near the film's set in upstate New York.

Earlton Hill Country Store posted a picture of the fake bill emblazoned with the words 'For Motion Picture Purposes' on Facebook last week, along with a warning to other businesses in the Hudson Valley.

'Heads up to all Local Businesses!! Start double checking ALL Bills... we received this fake $10 Bill on Saturday 6/5. No telling when we received it or by who since its one of our busiest days, it's easy to mistake,' the store wrote.

'But lesson learned, our employees are aware and checking all bills. Don't want to see it happen to another business!'

Earlton Hill Country Store posted a picture of the fake bill emblazoned with the words 'For Motion Picture Purposes' on Facebook last week, along with a warning to other businesses in the Hudson Valley

Earlton Hill Country Store, where the prop money was used, is a local staple since it opened in 2012

The Hudson Valley Film Commission said it believes the prop money possibly came from someone involved in The Gilded Age, which recently filmed in the area.

'Actors are supposed to turn in their props at end of day, but I suspect someone innocently pulled out and paid with this Motion Picture Money,' the Commission told the Hudson Valley Post.

The bulk of The Gilded Age filming took place in the city of Troy - about 30 miles from Earlton and less than 10 miles north of Albany - but the Hudson Valley Film Commission helps get locals from the surrounding area hired as extras or crew members.

Cynthia Nixon is one of the stars of The Gilded Age, which filmed in upstate New York and is believed to be the origin of the $10 prop money

And the day the prop bill was used - June 5 - Earlton hosted a huge car show that attracted over 90 cars from all over New York State, Earlton Hill Country Club manager Kaitlin Anderse told DailyMail.com.

'It was so busy that day, so who knows who gave it to us or how it got here,' Anderse said. 'We've never had a fake bill before, never mind something like this.'

She said her father, Mark, who owns the business, noticed something 'was off' about the president's face when he was closing the register that night.

And then Kaitlin said she saw the 'For Motion Picture Purposes' on the right side.

Luckily, she said it was just $10 so they can have a laugh about it.

But it's also got locals in tiny hamlet of less than 2,000 talking.

Anderse said people have come in asking to see it, and one person wanted to buy it, but she said they're going to hold on to it and maybe display it.

These are the noticeable marks of prop money, but it was the face that caught the owner's attention at first

The Earlton Hill Country Store has been a mainstay in Greene County since it opened in 2012.

According to Propmoney.movie, the most noticeable differences between real money and fake movie money are:

Fake money does not feel like real cash. Prop companies use paper to create their bills, where as real cash is generally made from a softer material.

Fake money doesnt have individual serial numbers listed on them. All prop bills will come with identical sets of digits.

A fake bill will state somewhere on it 'FOR MOTION PICTURE USE ONLY', 'NOT FOR LEGAL TENDER' or something similar.

Fake money will vary in designs. Some businesses will change the president they use on each of the bills, and others may move around the positioning of the details.

In serious cases of fraud, the Secret Service keeps track of all counterfeit money going in and out of the economy.

Once counterfeit cash is detected, the authorities will call the Secret Service to investigate and track down where it came from and who is responsible for creating the bill, according to propmoney.movie.

'The Gilded Age' is a HBO series begins in 1882 and is a young orphaned daughter of a Union general who moves into the New York City home of her aunts Agnes van Rhijn and Ada Brook.

Accompanied by Peggy Scott, an accomplished African-American woman, the daughter inadvertently becomes entangled in a social war between one of her aunts, a scion of the old money set, and her stupendously rich neighbors, a ruthless railroad tycoon and his ambitious wife, George and Bertha Russell.
Jeff Bezos' ex-wife MacKenzie Scott recently donated $2.7billion to 286 different organizations, increasing her total charitable donations to $8.5billion since last July.

In a Medium post published on Tuesday, the former wife of the Amazon founder listed the charities to which she donated and denounced the country's wealth gap, explaining that she and her new husband Dan Jewett, a Seattle science teacher, are 'attempting to give away a fortune that was enabled by systems in need of change.'

Some of her causes included higher education, organizations fighting ethnic and religious discrimination, arts and cultural institutions and community engagement groups.

After her divorce in 2019, which granted her a $36billion settlement and 25 percent stake in Amazon, the 51-year old author and philanthropist signed the Giving Pledge and promised to distribute at least half of her wealth to charitable causes.

She currently ranks as the 22nd-richest person in the world, with a net worth of $59.8billion - and has given away nearly 10 percent of her fortune since the divorce.

MacKenzie Scott announced Tuesday that she and her new husband Dan Jewett (pictured together) recently donated $2.7billion to 286 different charities

Scott wrote in her Medium post: 'In this effort, we are governed by a humbling belief that it would be better if disproportionate wealth were not concentrated in a small number of hands, and that the solutions are best designed and implemented by others.'

She added that she, her husband and a team of philanthropic researchers and analysts spent the first quarter of 2021 'evaluating equity-oriented non-profit teams working in areas that have been neglected.'

'These are people who have spent years successfully advancing humanitarian aims, often without knowing whether there will be any money in their bank accounts in two months,' she wrote.

What also stands out about Scott's donations is that they came in the form of blank checks, granting the charities to decide how they will use the funds.

'Because we believe that teams with experience on the front lines of challenges will know best how to put the money to good use, we encouraged them to spend it however they choose,' she wrote.

Some of the charities expressed their appreciation for the donations on Twitter. The BOMA Project, a Kenya and Vermont-based nonprofit that supports women's empowerment and education, yielded a $10million donation and wrote in a post on its Twitter page: 'This gift will allow BOMA to accelerate and expand its work across Africa to reach millions of women and families.'

'The pandemic has pushed millions worldwide into extreme poverty, and there is an urgent need for sustainable solutions,' BOMA CEO John Stephens said in a press release. 'We're proud that MacKenzie Scott has affirmed and invested in BOMA's powerful impact in that arena.'

A number of colleges received donations, such as the University of Central Florida, which received the largest donation in its history at $40million. On its Twitter page, it wrote that the funds 'will fuel social mobility, student success, academic excellence and faculty research for generations to come.'

Last July, Scott shook the philanthropy world when she announced that she donated $1.7billion to 116 charitable causes over the previous year

Another donation went to the National Equity Project, a leadership and systems change organization, which tweeted, 'This unprecedented gift will support our ongoing efforts to develop leaders who can reimagine and design a world where everyone thrives and belongs.'

Last July, Scott shook the philanthropy world when she announced that she donated $1.7billion to 116 charitable causes over the previous year, $586.7million of which went to racial equity and justice causes.

Scott is one of 210 millionaires and billionaires to sign the Giving Pledge, which was started by Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett.

Other cosigners include Steve and Jean Case; Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan; and Sara Blakely. Bezos, the richest man in the world, has not signed the pledge.

According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, which tracks the net worth of the world's 500 richest people, Jeff Bezos is first on the list with a total net worth of $196billion, up $5.69billion from last year.

Meanwhile, Scott is 22nd on the list and has a total net worth of $59.8billion, up $1.32billion from last year.

While Bezos has increased his philanthropic efforts since their split, he still has a long way to go before coming even close to the generosity of his ex-wife.

Last year, he committed $10billion to fight climate change by launching the Bezos Earth Fund last year and has so far donated $791million of it.

Over the last 10 years, however, he only donated two percent of his total wealth. In 2020 alone, Scott has donated 9.4 percent of her fortune.

MacKenzie Scott is one of 210 millionaires and billionaires to sign the Giving Pledge. Jeff Bezos, the richest man in the world, has not signed the pledge. She skyrocketed to the 22nd richest person in the world in June 2020, largely thanks to her $36billion divorce settlement with Bezos

Amazon's share price has grown hugely not only since Bezos and MacKenzie divorced but since the start of the pandemic

Bezos isn't part of The Giving Pledge. In 2017, he asked for ideas for where he should donate his money on Twitter. Last year, he committed $10billion to fight climate change by launching the Bezos Earth Fund last year and has so far donated $791million of it

Scott and Bezos announced in January 2019 they were divorcing after 25 years of marriage and four children after the National Enquirer revealed the tech entrepreneur had been having an affair with former news anchor Lauren Sanchez.

In March 2020, Scott announced her marriage to Dan Jewett, a science teacher at the private Seattle Lakeside School where the children she shares with Bezos attend.

In a post on the Giving Pledge website, Jewett said he was joining his wife's 'commitment to pass on an enormous financial wealth to serve others'.

To see a full list of the charities to which Scott donated, click here.
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Did you see the rescue or do you know owners of the vehicle? Get in touch at katie.feehan@mailonline.co.uk Advertisement

A couple who left their dogs in a sweltering car at the height of the heatwave forcing police to smash a window to release them are under investigation for theft after they were caught on CCTV stealing tips from a seafront cafe on the same day.

In footage obtained by MailOnline, the couple can be seen appearing to take the cash left for staff - after demanding a refund on the food they had eaten - from a family-run cafe in Sussex.

In a second video recorded nearby later on in the day, the pair were filmed by witnesses as they returned to find police smashing the windows of their car, which is untaxed, to rescue dogs left inside in cages on what was the second hottest day of the year.

The RSPCA told MailOnline the temperature inside of the car could have reached up to 117F.

Staff at Carats Cafe and Bar in Southwick, near Brighton, shared the footage of the couple in a bid to identify them after they were caught helping themselves to the cash.

The team described the theft, which took place shortly before midday on Saturday, as 'unfair and completely unacceptable' and said the man and woman had received a full refund after ordering two breakfasts because they complained they were unsatisfactory.

It wasn't until management later checked the CCTV that they realised the couple had appeared to take coins from the tip jar and had also not paid for drinks which had been taken from fridges next to the counter.

Now police say they are investigating the alleged theft by the couple and are appealing for more information.

A couple helped themselves to the tip jar at a cafe in Southwick, near Brighton, before complaining about food and receiving a full refund. Hours later, police smashed into the couple's car to rescue their two dogs who were found sweltering inside

The woman can be seen taking coins out of the tip jar while staff are busy at Carats Cafe and Bar in Southwick, near Brighton

The owners of a vehicle confronted police officers after they were forced to break into the car to rescue a beagle and another dog who had been left unattended inside while temperatures reached 75F on a scorching hot day on Brighton seafront

Police say they want to speak to the suspects who allegedly stole around 30 from the staff tip jar.

They are also alleged to have stolen a number of cakes and drinks from the front counter while distracting staff.

Zoe Kibble, the manager at Carats, estimates in total the couple cost the cafe 100, with the cost of the two breakfasts, the drinks and the tips that were taken.

Describing the team's disappointment, she added: 'We take on young people and it's going to have a knock on their confidence.

'They've worked hard for their tips on a really busy, hot weekend so for them to be told their food isn't good enough and have their tips taken from them is just not on.'

Ms Kibble says the unpleasant incident is a rare occurrence at the popular seafront eatery and it is thought the couple were not from the area.

She added: 'They sat down, for their breakfasts and ate most of them before complaining to the manager who was working at the time. They said there was some hair in one and complained about the other as well.

Pictured: the owners returned to the car and asked the police officers why they had smashed their vehicle's back window

This is the moment the officers were smashed the window to rescue a beagle and another dog who had been left alone inside

'We don't get many complaints so we just offered a full refund. The manager noticed there were drinks on the table that weren't in the same order but at the time assumed they had been paid for separately.'

Prior to their appeal, footage had already been shared of police breaking into the couple's car to rescue two dogs who had been left in sweltering heat only for the man and woman to complain about the damage.

Officers said the beagle and another dog looked instantly relieved when they had fresh air and water after the rescue on Brighton seafront, where temperatures reached 75F (24C) on Saturday.

Video shows one officer using his baton to smash the back window of the black vehicle as the owners rushed back to the scene in horror.

The woman can be heard saying 'you broke my window out' as the car alarm goes off.

Another officer can be heard responding to the woman, saying: 'It's a hot day. You shouldn't be leaving the dog in the car in this weather.'

One officer attempted to use his baton before resorting to a glass punch to break the window to let fresh air into the vehicle

A crowd of beach-goers gathered to watch the dramatic rescue unfold on Brighton seafront.

One witness told MailOnline: 'The police were called by a member of the public who noticed the dog in the car.

'The police attempted to contact the owner of the vehicle but they failed. This is when they attempted forceful entry to stop the risk to the pups from the heat.

'First the PC attempted to use his baton but this failed. Then he used a glass punch four times and the window smashed.'

Another witness said the owners appeared unaware of the dangers posed to animals left in hot vehicles.

The witness, who said the dogs were 'panting solidly' told the Sun: 'Where they had parked there is just no shade.

'At first it was 'what the f*** are you doing, why did you break my car window? I was only gone for 10 minutes'.

'The bloke obviously thought he was completely in the right. He didn't really seem to have much empathy.'

The officer smashed the window which had been left slightly open but the car was not in shade and the two dogs were inside

The RSPCA says that, despite the common belief it is OK if windows are open or the car is in shade, dogs should never be left alone in vehicles during hot weather.

The charity says a car can become as hot as an oven very quickly, even when it doesn't feel that warm.

When it's 22 degrees, in a car it can reach an unbearable 47 degrees within the hour and a dog in these conditions could be susceptible to heatstroke.

Launching their Dogs Die In Hot Cars campaign, RSPCA dog welfare expert Dr Samantha Gaines said: 'We know families love their pets and want to keep them close but, sometimes, it may be safer to leave your four-legged friends at home.

'Dogs can suffer from heatstroke during hot weather and this can be extremely dangerous, and even prove fatal.

'We're calling on pet owners to put the welfare of their dogs first this summer. If you're heading out and about then consider whether your pet may be happier in the cool at home, only walk them during the cooler hours of the day, and never leave your dog in a car unattended on a warm day.'

Police officers said the dogs looked relieved once they had fresh air and water after the dramatic rescue in front of a crowd

What should you do if you see a dog in a car during hot weather? The RSPCA says you should try and establish if the dog is showing any signs of heatstroke such as heavy panting or drooling. Other signs of heatstroke include lethargy and vomiting. If the dog is showing signs of heatstroke, the charity says dial 999 immediately. If police are unavailable and the situation becomes critical, you must be careful before taking the decision to smash the window as this could be considered criminal damage and you may have to defend your actions in court. Make sure you tell the police what you intent to do and why. Take pictures or videos of the dog and the names and numbers of witnesses to the incident. Advertisement

One stall holder said: 'I couldn't leave my stall but there were several members of the public who were clearly concerned about the dog. It was a roasting day and the temperature in the car must have been horrendous.

'A couple of PCSOs turned up and then a regular police officer. They were worried as well and I think they did the right thing.

'I've heard the man claimed they'd only been away for 10 minutes but the commotion was going on for at least half an hour or more so that can't be true. The couple who left their dog in their car in that heat have only got themselves to blame.'

The couple, who had two boys, aged about nine and six, had parked their black estate car close to Brighton Palace Pier and the Sealife Centre before leaving the two dogs in their car with one window open slightly ajar.

A spokesman for Sussex Police said about the dog incident: 'We were called about two dogs left locked inside a car in the heat of the day Saturday on Madeira Drive, Brighton.

'Police officers attended and tried to get a contact number for the owners of the car but were unable.

'Officers had no choice but to smash the side window to gain access and a kind member of the public donated a bottle of water.

'The owners were given strong words of advice on returning to the car a short time later.

'The dogs, who were much improved after fresh air and water, were left with the owners.

'Dog owners should never leave a dog alone in a car on a warm day. If you see a dog in distress in a hot car, dial 999.'

Regarding the alleged theft the spokesman said: 'Police are investigating after a man and a woman went into Carats Cafe in Basin Road South, Southwick, on Saturday (12 June) at about 11.39am and stole money from the staff tip jar worth about 30.

'The suspects also stole cakes and drinks from the front counter while distracting staff. Anyone who witnessed the theft or have any information about the suspects is asked to report online or ring 101.'

Did you see the rescue do you know the owners? Email katie.feehan@mailonline.co.uk
A mom made her four year-old daughter stand for three days straight until she died, then stuffed her body in a trash bag and buried it in her yard, cops say.

Majelic 'Jellie' Young was last seen alive in August or September 2020, but her remains were only discovered last month on her mother's property in Charlotte, North Carolina, leading to her mother Malikah Diane Bennett's arrest.

Bennett, 31, was charged on May 22 with first-degree murder, felony child abuse, inflicting physical injury and felony concealing a death, the Charlotte Observer reported.

Newly released court records alleged that Majelic collapsed from exhaustion and hit her head after being forced to stand for three days. When she stopped breathing, her mother allegedly stuffed her body into trash bags and stored it in her car, until the smell of decomposition became overwhelming.

She then allegedly dug a hole in her backyard and buried her daughter in the ground, where she remained until police acting on a tip came looking for Majelic in late May.

Malikah Bennett, 31 (left), has been charged with first-degree murder, child abuse and concealing death. The body of her daughter, Majelic Young (right), 4, was found buried in her yard in May

Police acting on tips performed a welfare check on May 21 and found Majelic buried in a shallow grave in Bennett's yard in Charlotte, North Carolina (pictured)

Just days later, police made a second arrest, charging Majelic's grandmother, 53-year-old Tammy Moffett, with concealing a death and accessory after the fact.

'Ive worked homicide most of the last 10 years and I can tell you this case is deeply disturbing,' Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Lieutenant Bryan Crum said during a press conference last month.

Majelic's grandmother, Tammy Moffett, 53, faces charges of concealing a death and accessory after the fact

According to arrest warrants cited by WSOC, police officers responded to Bennett's home on Braden Drive, where she lived with at least eight children, for a welfare check on May 21, after a child protective services case worker called 911, asking police to find Majelic.

The caller reportedly told the police that family members had not seen the four-year-old since August 2020.

Detectives interviewed a man who reportedly told them that Bennett had informed him that Majelic was dead, but that she did not report her death because the child had injuries on her body and she was afraid she would get in trouble.

According to the documents, Bennett had a history of child abuse complaints involving her and her children, including three pending misdemeanor child abuse charges stemming from February 2020, NBC12 reported.

When police interviewed Bennett, she allegedly told then that she dropped Majelic off with another relative in August and had not seen her since.

The warrant alleged that an interview with Majelic's 13-year-old sister revealed that one day in August or September, the toddler was being punished by Bennett and was forced to stand in the laundry room, without being allowed to sit down or leave.

Arrests warrants allege that Bennett forced Majelic to stand for three days, after which the child collapsed from exhaustion, hit her head and stopped breathing in August 2020

After three days of standing, during which time she defecated in her pants, the four-year-old grew so weak that she fell out the back door of the room and struck her head on the ground.

After the collapse, her sister said that Majelic had trouble breathing and died the same day, according to the warrant.

Bennett allegedly attempted CPR on the child but could not do it.

She then cleaned Majelic's body, grabbed two black trash bags from under the kitchen sink and placed her dead daughter inside.

Bennett kept Majelic's body in an SUV for about five days, before the stench became unbearable, according to the warrant.

Majelic's 13-year-old sister told police she helped her mother bury the girl in a hole in the backyard

The older sister told police that Bennett went out to buy a shovel, dug a hole in the yard, put her sibling's rotting corpse inside and covered it up with dirt. The 13-year-old said she helped with the burial.

When police acting on tips searched Bennett's property on May 21, they uncovered Majelic's body in the yard. The girl reportedly was covered in bruises, had black eyes and serious injuries.

They searched Bennett's home and the SUV, and were said to have found evidence of human remains, seized a shovel and a cellphone.
Harvey Weinstein will finally be extradited from New York to California to face sexual assault charges after a judge rejected a last-ditch attempt from his lawyers to delay it because of his medical treatment.

A judge in New York's Erie County on Tuesday denied the 69-year-old's petition to halt his transfer to Los Angeles where he is charged with 11 counts of rape and sexual assault.

Prosecutors told the judge that authorities in Los Angeles would unlikely be able to transfer Weinstein until the end of this month or by mid-July.

Lawyers for the disgraced Hollywood producer had tried to argue that he shouldn't be moved from his current prison in New York because of ongoing medical treatment.

Harvey Weinstein attended his court hearing in New York remotely on Tuesday from the Wende Correctional Facility where he is currently being held

His lawyer did not disclose the conditions in open court but prosecutors mentioned that he was seeking treatment from an eye doctor.

'We're not trying to avoid a trial,' his lawyer told the judge. 'He will be ready to go to LA when the jury selection begins.'

Erie County assistant district attorney Colleen Gable hit back, saying: 'It's Los Angeles. It's not some remote outpost that doesn't have medical care.

'There is absolutely nothing in either doctor's report that says this treatment can't be done in Los Angeles. Los Angeles has some of the best medical care in the country and the world.'

Weinstein attended the court hearing remotely from the Wende Correctional Facility where he is currently being held.

The judge, one of his attorneys and prosecutors were all present in the courtroom.

When the hearing concluded, Weinstein was left alone on the video conference call.

'Is it over?' Weinstein could be heard asking before telling the guard to switch off the stream.

Lawyers for the disgraced Hollywood producer had tried to argue that he shouldn't be moved from his current prison in New York because of ongoing medical treatment. His walker was beside him during the virtual court hearing

His lawyer did not disclose the conditions in open court but prosecutors mentioned that he was seeking treatment from an eye doctor

He could be seen putting his heads in his hands as the livestream ended.

Weinstein is currently serving a 23-year sentence after a jury found him guilty in March 2020 of rape and sexual assault.

He was convicted of raping an aspiring actress in a New York City hotel room in 2013 and sexually assaulting a production assistant at his apartment in 2006 by forcibly performing oral sex on her.

LA prosecutors are seeking his transfer on charges of assaulting five women in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills from 2004 to 2013.

He is facing 11 counts of rape and sexual assault, which could carry a maximum sentence of 140 years.

Weinstein was charged in California in a criminal complaint before being indicted by a grand jury.

He maintains his innocence and contends that any sexual activity was consensual.
Police investigating the mass brawl that erupted on the Southend seafront have today released the photographs of 15 men they are trying to trace.

The shocking scenes, which took place at Pebbles One Cafe on Marine Parade in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, on Sunday, saw the group of bloodied men hurl tables, deckchairs and glass bottles at each other in front of horrified onlookers.

It came as hundreds of tourists descended onto the seafront to bask in the 82F (28C) heat on the day England played Croatia in the Euro 2020 tournament.

Today, Essex Police released the 15 images of the men they wished to speak with in connection with the incident.

The incident took place on Sunday at Pebbles One Cafe on Marine Parade in Southend-on-Sea, Essex

Essex Police today released the photographs of 15 men they are trying to trace following the mass brawl on Sunday

In a statement, Chief Inspector Ian Hughes, District Commander for Southend, said: 'Our officers were out in force over the weekend helping people and keeping you safe.

'While the vast majority of people enjoyed the Southend sunshine safely there were, sadly, a few who attempted to spoil it for everyone else.

'Officers are working hard to identify those involved and as part of our enquiries we want to speak to speak to the 15 men pictured.

'If you recognise any of the men pictured or have information about who they are please contact us.

'If you are one of those pictured, please get in touch and speak to us.'

Yesterday footage emerged of onlookers running away in terror as the two groups of men began to hurl deckchairs and glass bottles at each other.

Eventually one of the groups, some of whom were seen to be streaming in blood, walked away from the cafe after running out of objects to throw.

Meanwhile the other group of men could be heard continuing to scream and shout at them.

The cafe was left strewn with broken glass and broken deckchairs after the carnage subsided.

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Police are asking those who recognise any of the men pictured to contact the police. The scenes took place as hundreds of tourists descended onto the seafront to bask in the 82F (28C) heat

Paul Thompson, owner of the Pebbles One cafe, told the Your Southend Facebook page: 'A group of people were eating lunch at one end of the decking. A second group confronted them from the beach and they began throwing deck chairs and chairs at each other.

'They seemed to be two groups that were known to each other. There were no injuries we know of and the police arrived swiftly to quell any further trouble.'

The Your Southend group posted the video on Facebook alongside the comment: 'We were sent this shocking video of a fight between two groups of men on Southend seafront, which reportedly happened today.

'A number of deckchairs, tables and glass bottles were thrown during the altercation.

'The seafront was packed with thousands of people when the incident happened, including families with children.

'The fight, involving around 10 men, reportedly took place in the area around the Pebbles One cafe on the beach.

Video taken during the brawl shows two groups of men violently chucking tables, deckchairs and even glass bottles at each other

Families with young children watch in terror while the men, who are mostly wearing just swimming trunks, swear at each other for seemingly no reason

The men continue to hurl objects at each other in front of horrified tourists at the beach

Eventually one of the groups, some of whom are seen to be streaming blood, walk away from the cafe a

'Police are continuing to increase their patrols along the seafront as the hot weather brings more visitors into the town. Officers carried out a number of successful stop checks on people and vehicles over the weekend, as well as aiming to deter anti social behaviour with their visible presence.

'It is not yet known if any arrests were made.'

Cllr Martin Terry, cabinet member for public protection, said: 'The violent anti-social behaviour shown in the video by this group of people is unacceptable.

'The Council works closely with the police through our Community Safety Partnership, and we will be supporting them to help identify those involved.

'Thankfully, after another incredibly busy weekend for the town, the vast majority have behaved responsibly, which we are thankful for, and it was reassuring to see extra police officers on duty.'
Police hunting for a missing Hungarian woman have found human remains in a London park soon after a 63-year-old man was charged with her murder.

The discovery was made by officers searching Neasden Recreation Park, north-west London on Monday, the Metropolitan Police has confirmed.

Agnes Akom, known to her friends as Dora, went missing after leaving her home in nearby Cricklewood Broadway, north-west London, on May 9.

The twenty-year-old, who moved to the UK three years ago, was reported missing on May 11 and had not been seen or heard from since the day of her disappearance.

Agnes Akom, known to her friends as Dora, went missing after leaving her home in nearby Cricklewood Broadway, north-west London, on May 9

Forensic identification is yet to take place on the human remains but Agnes' family have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers.

Detective Chief Inspector Neil John, senior investigating officer from the Met's Specialist Crime North, said: 'The discovery of human remains by my colleagues searching the area is both shocking and deeply disturbing for everyone concerned, in particular for Agnes's family who continue to be supported by specialist officers. I request that their privacy is respected as this very difficult time.

'I expect my team and forensic colleagues to remain at Neasden Recreation Park for some days to come as they maintain the scene and complete their site examinations.

'I would like to thank the local community for their patience as we continue with our enquiries in the recreation ground.'

Officers searching Neasden Recreation Park, north-west London found human remains on Monday, the Metropolitan Police has confirmed

Forensic identification is yet to take place on the human remains but Agnes' family have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers. Scene pictured

It comes after a 63-year-old man was charged with the Hungarian national's murder in May, two weeks after she went missing.

Neculai Paizan was arrested on May 18 in connection with her disappearance and was charged with her murder a week later.

Ms Akom is believed to have been a prostitute in the capital.

Paizan will appear at Willesden Magistrates' Court later on Monday, the Metropolitan Police said in a statement.

It was reported in May that a 63-year-old arrested by police was in hospital one day prior with self-inflicted injuries sustained while in custody.

Neculai Paizan, 63, was arrested in May in connection with the disappearance of Ms Akom (pictured) and has been charged with her murder

Ms Akom has been described as around 5ft 5in tall with blonde hair.

She was wearing a distinctive white fake fur coat, blue ripped jeans and light pink trainers when she went missing.

Detectives are pursuing all possible lines of enquiry.

In an earlier statement, Met Police Detective Chief Inspector Neil John said: 'Our officers are working tirelessly to locate Agnes, who has now not been seen or heard from in 10 days.

'There are serious concerns for Agnes' safety and it is our priority to find her as soon as possible.

Ms Akom (pictured on CCTV on the last day she was seen) - who has been living in the UK for three years - is believed to have been a sex worker in the capital

'We are conducting extensive searches in the Park Royal and Holland Park areas today following the arrest, and are continuing to utilise all investigative opportunities to build a clear picture of her movements.

'We are following every lead possible and are appealing for the public to help us in our work.

'If you may have seen Agnes, or have any information on her whereabouts over the past 10 days, please contact police.'

Met Police previously launched an appeal for the public to come forward if they see or have seen anything suspicious they feel may be relevant.
A gun-toting Florida GOP candidate backed by embattled Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz has filed a stalking injunction accusing her political opponents of trying to assassinate her.

Anna Paulina Luna - who's again running to try and take Democratic Rep. Charlie Crist's seat - pointed a finger at primary opponent William Braddock, 2020 primary rival Amanda Makki and Matt Tito, who's thinking about jumping in the 2022 Congressional race.

'I received information yesterday (at midnight) regarding a plan (with a timeline) to murder me made by William Braddock in an effort to prevent me from winning the election for FL-13,' Luna wrote in the petition, the Tampa Bay Times reported Monday, adding that Braddock is working alongside Tito and Makki to 'take her out.'

Anna Paulina Luna, who is again running for the House seat in Florida's 13th district, has accused three Republican political rivals of trying to murder her

Luna received the support of embattled Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz when she ran against Democratic Rep. Charlie Crist in 2020, losing to the ex-Florida governor

Luna filed a stalking injunction against GOP rival William Braddock (pictured), writing in it he planned to 'murder' her to prevent her from winning the House seat

Luna ran for Crist's seat in 2020 and lost.

She had been backed by former President Donald Trump and Gaetz, the current subject of an FBI probe.

Crist, a Democrat, is Florida's former governor and changed political parties in 2012 after backing former President Barack Obama's re-election campaign - a move that cost him the gubernatorial election in 2014. He was then elected to Congress, representing the St. Petersburg area, in 2016.

In Luna's bid against him in 2020, she lost by nearly seven points.

In 2022, however, Crist plans to run for Florida governor, which could make the seat more ripe for the taking by a GOP challenger.

Braddock is already in the race and Tito, who lost a Florida statehouse race in 2020 for District 68, is thinking about it.

Braddock told The Times he doesn't have Luna's telephone number and has only interacted with her once, at a meeting hosted by a Community Patriots organization.

Luna accused Matt Tito (left) who ran for the Florida statehouse in 2020 and might run against her in the GOP primary in 2022, as well as Amanda Makki (right), who she beat in the 2020 GOP primary, as plotting alongside rival William Braddock to 'take her out'

There he shook Luna's husband's hand, thanked him for his service and introduced himself as one of the candidates also running in the Republican primary for the Congressional seat, Braddock told the newspaper.

'This woman is off her rocker and she does not need to be representing anyone,' Braddock also said.

He also said he wasn't planning to prepare before an upcoming court appearanc eon the matter.

'I don't really have any plans to prepare because I didn't do anything wrong,' he told The Times. 'It is a false police report and she's probably going to jail for filing a false police report,' Braddock added.

Neither Tito and Makki were served with their own injunctions, but were named in the one given to Braddock.

Braddock also learned Friday of another injunction against him from Erin Olszewski, a nurse who wrote a COVID-19 whistleblower book entitled, 'Undercover Epicenter Nurse,' The Times said.

In that filing, Olszewski - shared by Braddock - she said that he called her and told her she would be 'collateral' if she was around Lina.

Anna Paulina Luna also received the support of former President Donald Trump for her 2020 House bid. Here she appears at a Make America Great Again rally in Tampa days before the election

She said she feared for her life and for Luna's.

Olszewski said Braddock contacted one of her friend's to ask for her information.

He said he did so to invite her to a healthcare reform forum.

Olszewski declined to comment to The Times.

Both Makki and Tito denied being involved in an assassination plot.

Makki, who lost to Luna in the 2020 GOP primary, told the paper, 'I mean I really think that she's exhibiting behavior that I would say is concerning,' she said of her former rival.

Tito said he and Luna once got in a tiff during a radio show appearance together, but said he was 'shocked' by the allegations.

'But it's kind of like this is what she does,' Tito said. 'She can't debate you on the policy issues. She plays the victim better than anybody I've ever seen.'
House minority leader Kevin McCarthy demanded Speaker Nancy Pelosi remove Rep. Ilhan Omar from the House Foreign Affairs committee on Tuesday, accusing the 'Squad' member of making anti-American comments.

Republicans and Democrats have accused Omar of comparing war crimes committed by Israel and the U.S. with Hamas and the Taliban.

The episode has exposed divisions between progressive Democrats who want to take a tougher line on Israel and the party establishment.

The result is a slew of Republican attacks designed to heap pressure on Pelosi and President Joe Biden.

On Tuesday, McCarthy told Fox and Friends that Omar had a history of anti-Semitic comments.

'I think Nancy Pelosi should remove Omar from the Foreign Affairs committee, he said.

He also said he would strip her of the assignment if he the GOP wins back the House next year.

House minority leader Kevin McCarthy demanded that Speaker Nancy Pelosi strip Rep. Ilhan Omar of her Foreign Affairs committee assignment, saying anyone with 'anti-Semitic, anti-American' views should be barred

Rep. Ilhan Omar has faced intense criticism since last week when she tweeted: 'We have seen unthinkable atrocities committed by the U.S., Hamas, Israel, Afghanistan, and the Taliban.' Republicans and members of her own party accused her of comparing the U.S. and Israel with terrorist groups

'I will promise you this, if we are fortunate enough to have the majority, Omar would not be serving on Foreign Affairs, or anybody that has an anti-Semitic, anti-American view,' he said.

'That is not productive and that is not right.'

A day earlier, House Republicans published a resolution censuring Omar and three other members of the progressive 'Squad'.

It claimed Omar 'accused the U.S. of backing crimes against humanity.'

The row erupted last week when Secretary of State Antony Blinken appeared before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, on which Omar sits.

She quizzed him about the Biden administration's decision to oppose the International Criminal Court taking up an investigation into alleged war crimes in Israel and Afghanistan.

He responded by saying that courts in the U.S. and Israel were the right forum for such claims.

Afterwards, she tweeted a video of the exchange and wrote: 'We must have the same level of accountability and justice for all victims of crimes against humanity.

'We have seen unthinkable atrocities committed by the U.S., Hamas, Israel, Afghanistan, and the Taliban.'

The Republican right reacted with howls of outrage, accusing her of anti-Semitism.

And some of her own Democratic Party colleagues joined in.

Omar tweeted about her exchange with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, during which she quizzed him about justice for war crimes victims

'Equating the United States and Israel to Hamas and the Taliban is as offensive as it is misguided,' said a group of 11 Jewish Democrats.

House Democratic leaders including Speaker Nancy Pelosi responded with a statement hoping to head off damaging splits, saying that criticism of Israel and the U.S. was protected free speech.

'But drawing false equivalencies between democracies like the US and Israel and groups that engage in terrorism like Hamas and the Taliban foments prejudice and undermines progress,' they added.

Omar offered a clarification saying her comments were about accountability for specific abuses, not a moral comparison between Hamas and the Taliban and the U.S. and Israel.

'I was in no way equating terrorist organizations with democratic countries with well-established judicial systems,' she said.

Fellow squad members leaped to her defense. Alexandria Ocasio-Cotez and Rashida Tlaib both criticized members of their caucus for targeting Omar and 'policing' her words.
President Joe Biden on Tuesday unveiled picks for several high-profile ambassadorial postings, tapping career diplomats steeped in foreign policy experience - as well as political allies and aviation hero 'Sully' Sullenberger.

The picks include former Interior Secretary Ken Salazar as ambassador to Mexico and former Deputy Secretary of State Tom Nides as ambassador to Israel.

Retired airline pilot C.B. 'Sully' Sullenberger, most famous for negotiating the emergency landing of US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River in 2009 with no fatalities, has been named to serve as U.S. representative on the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization.

The announcement comes as Biden is on the tail end of an eight-day European trip that included stops in the United Kingdom for a meeting of the Group of Seven leaders and Belgium for a gathering of the 27 NATO countries and the U.S.-EU summit.

President Joe Biden on Tuesday unveiled picks for several high-profile ambassadorial postings, tapping career diplomats steeped in foreign policy experience - as well as political allies and aviation hero 'Sully' Sullenberger

Sullenberger is most famous for negotiating the emergency landing of US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River in 2009 with no fatalities

The trip culminates in Geneva on Wednesday with a highly anticipated meeting with Russias Vladimir Putin, where the leaders are to discuss rising tensions between their countries.

Sullenberger has been a prominent supporter of Biden and outspoken critic of Donald Trump, branding him 'completely unfit' for office.

'From my service as an Air Force officer and a fighter pilot, I knew that serving a cause greater than oneself is the highest calling,' Sullenberger said in September. 'And it's in that highest calling of leadership that Donald Trump has failed us so miserably.'

The pilot, who retired from commercial flying in 2010, also revealed earlier this year that both he and Biden had childhood stutters they had to overcome.

As a candidate, Biden declined to rule out appointing political donors to ambassadorships or other posts if he was elected.

But he pledged that his nominees, regardless of their contributor status, would be the 'best people' for their posts - suggesting he would move away from former President Donald Trumps heavy reliance on political appointees and rely more on the State Departments well of career foreign service officers.

More than 43 percent of Trumps ambassadorial appointments were political appointees, compared with 30.5 percent for Barack Obama and 31.8 percent for George W. Bush, according to the American Foreign Service Association.

Biden hopes to keep political appointments to about 30 percent of ambassador picks, according to the White House.

Biden has nominated Deputy Secretary of State Tom Nides to be ambassador to Israel

Former Interior Secretary Ken Salazar has been put forward to be the ambassador for Mexico

'Nobody, in fact, will be appointed by me based on anything they contributed,' Biden promised last year.

All the nominees must receive Senate confirmation before they can assume their roles.

Biden's other picks include:
A Louisiana man who was long considered a suspect in his wife's murder more than 40 years ago has now been charged with shooting her dead in their fried chicken restaurant.

Chester Vegas Sr., 78, was taken into custody in Lafourche Parish in New Orleans last Friday over the murder of his wife Diane Vegas back in October 1977.

The charges were brought against Vegas after investigators reopened the case last October after someone informed them that Vegas had allegedly secretly confessed years ago to killing his wife.

An unidentified person who had originally provided an alibi for Vegas also recently recanted their statement claiming to have known his whereabouts at the time of Diane's killing.

Chester Vegas Sr., 78, was taken into custody in Lafourche Parish in New Orleans last Friday over the murder of his wife Diane Vegas back in October 1977

Authorities were called to the couple's restaurant, The Chicken House, on October 10, 1977 after Vegas said he had found his wife dead in the kitchen.

Officers discovered Diane's body inside the restaurant, which has long since closed, with a single gunshot wound to the back.

The cash registered had been tampered with and the phone was off the hook when investigators examined the scene.

The charges were brought against Vegas after investigators reopened the case last October after someone informed them that Vegas had allegedly secretly confessed years ago to killing his wife

Vegas was questioned over his wife's killing but was released without charge.

He was considered a suspect until the case went cold.

It was reopened in October last year following new information that led to investigators being able to obtain an arrest warrant.

Investigators, who reviewed the case files, said one witness who had initially provided an alibi for Vegas later recanted his statement, the Daily Comet reports.

A second person also told authorities that Vegas had allegedly confessed years ago to killing Diane. It is unclear what prompted those two witnesses to finally come forward with their claims.

'We hope this arrest can begin to bring some closure to the Vegas family who have been living with questions about Diane's death for nearly 44 years,' Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre said.

'New information combined with the initial investigation helped us build probable cause for the arrest.'

Detectives obtained a warrant for his arrest on June 11.

He was booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex in Thibodaux on one count of Second Degree Murder.

He was released that same day after posting $50,000 bail.
Ecuadorian authorities arrested five people for allegedly selling jars filled with sea water that they claimed were Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines for $25.

Four of the suspects were arrested by the national police on Sunday in the Pacific central coast city of Manta, where they reportedly had set up a clandestine center to hawk the counterfeit shots.

A fifth suspect, who purportedly provide the fraudulent coronavirus vaccine, was detained by cops in the town of Portoviejo.

Authorities confiscated a total of 43 syringes that were each filled with liquid as well as unknown number of small glass jars that contained ocean water.

Ecuadorian authorities arrested five people (four individuals pictured standing between the two law enforcement agents) on Sunday for allegedly selling fake Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines that were filled with ocean water. The suspects had set up a clandestine vaccination center in the city of Manta to hawk the $25 counterfeit to customers

A technician from the National Agency for Health Regulation, Control and Surveillance tests a vial that contained the fake Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine

Four of the suspects were placed in pre-trial confinement as requested by Ecuador's Attorney General's Office while the last suspect was allowed to be placed under house arrest.

They were all charged with the 'alleged production, manufacturing, marketing and distribution of adulterated drugs,' according to the Attorney General's Office.

Authorities have not said if any of the residents in Manta were jabbed with the fake doses.

According to John Hopkins University data released Tuesday, Ecuador had reported 439,139 confirmed coronavirus cases and 21,051 deaths.

The five suspects were charged with the 'alleged production, manufacturing, marketing and distribution of adulterated drugs,' according to the Attorney General's Office

At least 2,788,245 vaccine doses have been administered across the Ecuador as of Tuesday

At least 2,788,245 vaccine doses have been administered across the South American nation.

As part of President Guillermo Lazzo's nationwide plan to vaccinate nine million people during his first 100 days in office, a deal was announced last Friday to acquire 6 million single-doses of the Chinese CanSino COVID-19 vaccine.

Ecuador is currently administering shots of Sinovac, Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines.

Health officials have warned residents about scammers offering fake coronavirus vaccines after the government rolled out its vaccination program in March.

In January, a medical facility was shut down in Quito after at least 70,000 patients were charged $15 for each of the three fake vaccine doses that were told they were required to take.
A school shooter who killed a heroic teenager who lunged at him to try and save his friends has been convicted of murder.

Devon Erickson, 20, was found guilty of the first-degree murder of Kendrick Castillo, 18, at a court in Denver, Colorado, on Tuesday afternoon just a day-and-a-half after jurors retired to deliberate.

Erickson stood with his hands clasped and a face mask as Tuesday's 48-count indictment was read out, and appeared calm. He was convicted of all charges, including 31 counts of attempted murder - one for each of the students in the classroom he barged into moments before killing Castillo.

He and his accomplice Alec McKinney - who previously admitted the same charges - walked into the STEM School in Highlands Ranch on May 7, 2019 carrying handguns and other weapons hidden in guitar cases. Both killers attended the school at the time.

Students in that room were watching The Princess Bride as part of their British literature studies

Castillo and two friends jumped up from their desks and shoved Erickson against a wall. Erickson fired off several rounds, and fatally struck Castillo, who was later hailed as a hero for his courageous actions.

Erickson is said to have been a chronic drug abuser at the time, with his substance abuse said to have left him unable to think clearly.

He was charged with a total of 48 counts, including 31 counts of criminal attempt to commit murder in the first degree. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.

In previous interviews, fellow students say they are angry about red flags they claim were missed in relation to Erickson, and a former student Erickson would bully younger students and had previously made jokes about shooting up the school.

Devon Erickson is pictured in court in May 2019. He was convicted of murder on Tuesday

Erickson is pictured with his hands clasped during Tuesday's sentencing hearing

Kendrick Castillo, 18, died protecting his classmates STEM School Highlands Ranch in Denver and opened fire in May 2019

Castillo was hailed a hero in the wake of the May 2019 shooting

Maya Elizabeth McKinney aka Alec McKinney, who is transgender, was previously sentenced to life plus 38 years after striking a plea deal which saw him admit to 17 charges

Students and teachers hold their hands in the air as they exit the scene of the shooting

McKinney, a transgender man who appeared on the court docket as Maya McKinney, was previously sentenced to life plus 38 years after striking a plea deal which saw him admit to 17 charges. He's eligible for parole because he was a juvenile at the time of the attack.

He initially claimed to have forced Erickson into opening his parents' gun safe and to snort a line of cocaine, with Erickson's lawyers using that behavior to try and claim that their client acted under duress.

McKinney, has since said that Erickson's behavior was voluntary, and rubbished claims that his accomplice was forced to accompany him on the shooting spree.

Last Friday, defense toxicologist Wanda Guidry testified that Erickson's drug abuse, malnourishment, and long-term sleep deprivation and insomnia meant he 'couldn't think, concentrate or understand' what was going on on the day of the shooting.

'I believe it created psychiatric symptoms ... disruption in mood, behavior and thinking,' Guidry said of the drugs found in Ericksons system hours after the shooting. 'He had a very difficult time figuring out or thinking of what he needed to do, what was right or what he wanted to do.'

Defense attorneys rested their case Friday without testimony from Erickson.

The May 2019 shooting took place in Colorado's STEM School in Highlands Ranch

Students are evacuated from the Recreation Center at Northridge in Highlands Ranch after a shooting at the STEM School Highlands Ranch on May 7, 2019

Terrified students were evacuated from the school after shots were fired

Chief Deputy District Attorney George Brauchler argued that Erickson agreed to participate in the attack as long as it looked like he was pressured into it and or could emerge as a hero by killing McKinney.

Brauchler said the students' concocted 'victim-hero' strategy unraveled after Castillo rushed Erickson when he pulled out a gun inside a darkened classroom as students watched a movie.

'There is no evidence, zero evidence, of fear,' Brauchler said. 'There is only evidence of a willing partnership.'

Erickson's gun went off, Castillo was killed and others tackled him, he said.

Their other possible scenario, in which McKinney killed himself, was stymied after an armed security guard apprehended him, Brauchler said.

Erickson's lawyer, Julia Stancil, said her client was manipulated into joining the attack by McKinney, a new friend who preyed on him during a family crisis.

Castillo was the only person who died that day, but eight others were injured.

Mike Pritchard, who was the school's director of information technology at the time, testified that he heard the commotion and saw Erickson being held down and Castillo on his stomach, The Denver Post reported.

'At that time, he wasn't responsive, like he was trying to say something, but it wasn't anything I could actually understand,' Pritchard said of Castillo. 'He was responsive and breathing.'
Cressida Dick was fighting for survival last night after a bombshell report branded her force 'institutionally corrupt'.

On a shameful day for the Metropolitan Police, a 16million inquiry into the murder of a private investigator accused it of decades of cover-up, incompetence and corruption  that continues to this day.

Dame Cressida, who is Britain's most senior police officer, faced calls for her head after the report concluded she personally placed 'hurdles' in the way of the search for the truth about the death of Daniel Morgan.

The independent panel found Scotland Yard had been more interested in protecting its reputation than in cracking what has been dubbed the 'most investigated unsolved murder in the history of the Metropolitan Police'.

Baroness O'Loan, who led the inquiry, described the institutional corruption finding as equivalent to the Macpherson report into the murder of Stephen Lawrence, which concluded the force was 'institutionally racist'.

Cressida Dick is fighting for her survival following a bombshell report branded her force 'institutionally corrupt'

Daniel Morgan was investigating claims of corruption within the Metropolitan Police when he was murdered in 1987

No one has been brought to justice for the brutal killing of Mr Morgan in a south London pub car park in 1987. The 37-year-old was found with an axe lodged in his skull and 1,000 in banknotes in a pocket.

After five separate criminal inquiries and an inquest, at an estimated cost of 30million, it was hoped that the eight-year public inquiry would finally uncover the truth.

Instead, it became clear yesterday that the stench of 'institutional corruption' pervading the Met means the family of Mr Morgan are unlikely ever to get justice.

Baroness O'Loan said the failings of the original shambolic murder investigation had been compounded over the past three decades by the shameful attempts to hide the extent of the rot at the heart of the force.

She said Scotland Yard owed Mr Morgan's family an apology for not confronting its systemic failings and those of individual officers, including Dame Cressida.

The baroness accused the commissioner of 'obfuscation'  thwarting attempts to access sensitive documents and police computers, leading to costly delays in the inquiry.

'The family of Daniel Morgan has suffered grievously as a consequence of the failure to bring his murderer or murderers to justice, the unwarranted assurances which they were given, the misinformation which was put into the public domain, and the denial of the failings in investigation, including failing to acknowledge professional incompetence, individuals' venal behaviour, and managerial and organisational failures,' she added.

Mr Morgan was killed with an axe outside the Golden Lion pub in Sydenham, south London

Alastair Morgan (right), the brother of murdered private investigator Daniel Morgan, with his family solicitor Raju Bhatt (centre) speaking to the media following the publication of the report

'Concealing or denying failings for the sake of an organisation's public image is dishonesty on the part of the organisation for reputational benefit, and constitutes a form of institutional corruption.'

Concerns about vetting police officers persist to the present day, said Baroness O'Loan, adding that there were no adequate safeguards to ensure that officers were not engaging in criminality.

Professor Rodney Morgan, a panel member, said: 'The term 'institutional corruption' is not used in a historic sense, it's used in the present tense.' Yesterday Mr Morgan's brother Alastair said the family would consider suing the force for putting them 'through hell'.

Asked whether Dame Cressida should resign, he said: 'Yes, absolutely I think she should consider her position.'

In a statement, the Morgan family said: 'At almost every step, we found ourselves lied to, fobbed off, bullied, degraded and let down time and time again. What we were required to endure was nothing less than torture.'

Singling out Dame Cressida for blame, the report said she had not given a 'reasonable explanation' for blocking access to computer data and delaying the release of files, the last of which were provided only in March.

The investigation into Mr Morgan's murder was described as 'shockingly incompetent', with officers failing to search the scene, which was left unguarded, 'pathetic' forensic work and no alibis sought for suspects.

A Home Office source said there were 'serious concerns with the Met's leadership and how it responded to failings'  although Home Secretary Priti Patel and Boris Johnson later expressed confidence in Dame Cressida.

The commissioner apologised for past mistakes yesterday, saying: 'It is a matter of great regret that no one has been brought to justice and that our mistakes have compounded the pain suffered by Daniel's family. For that I apologise again now.

'I have been personally determined that the Met provided the panel with the fullest level of co-operation in an open and transparent manner, with complete integrity at all times.'

Scotland Yard rejected the report's finding of institutional corruption, with assistant commissioner Nick Ephgrave saying: 'It doesn't reflect what I see every day.'

He insisted the panel had been given 'unparalleled access' including to the police Holmes database, adding: 'The commissioner has no need to consider her position. She has overseen disclosure to an extent never seen before.'

The force is conducting a review of the case and has repeated appeals for anyone with information to come forward. It has offered a 50,000 reward.
One prisoner has died and a further 12 remain in hospital after drinking disinfectant inside one of the world's most notorious jails.

A female inmate at Bali's Kerobokan prison stole a 4.5 litre bottle of poison that was being used to clean the facility under coronavirus protocols before selling it to other prisoners disguised as a sugarcane liquor.

As many as 21 people were rushed to hospital with fevers and stomach cramps as a result of the poisoning, with a woman known as Ni Radita passing away on Friday.

One prisoner has died and a further 12 remain in hospital after drinking disinfectant inside Bali's infamous Kerobokan jail

Kerobokan is home for six Australians including Bali Nine members Matthew Norman and Si Yi Chen (pictured)

Kerobokan, known to locals as 'Hotel K' and home for six Australians including Bali Nine members Matthew Norman and Si Yi Chen, is infamous for being vastly overcrowded and extremely under-policed.

The ABC reported in 2017 that there were just four guards in charge of the 1,300 inmates, with cells so packed with convicted criminals the doors struggled to close.

The woman who died was a 25-year-old serving a five-year and six-month sentence for possession of one gram of methamphetamine.

They believe she died as a result of kidney failure from the poison.

Prison Chief Ms Lili confirmed her death, saying inmates 'try everything to get drunk' and many believed the disinfectant was alcohol.

'Our prison is clean, there are no narcotics, no methamphetamine,' she said.

'We use the disinfectant for health protocols in prison. But it is misused by the prisoners.'

The ABC reported in 2017 that there were just four guards in charge of the 1,300 inmates, with cells so packed with convicted criminals the doors struggled to close

She said four prisoners were initially rushed to Sangalah Hospital where one died.

Upon hearing the news of the other's detiorating health, several more came forward admitting they too had drank the poison.

The woman who sold them the drink had mixed the cleaning agent with a vitamin C dirnk called NutriSari and was selling it for AU$5 per glass.

The prison has been on lockdown since March 31 last year, with prisoners saying the conditions and lack of visits from family has led to prison-wide consequences including increased violence.
Lord Hall issued a grovelling apology to Princes William and Harry yesterday for the 'hurt caused' by the Princess Diana Panorama scandal.

The former BBC director-general told MPs he was 'deeply sorry' after the future king last month accused him of 'looking the other way' as Martin Bashir ruined his mother's life.

In a day of shame for the BBC, MPs savaged Lord Hall and other corporation chiefs for being evasive over how they had allowed liar Bashir to operate.

Tim Davie, the current director-general, described his shock at the Duke of Cambridge's explosive remarks following Lord Dyson's devastating report into how Bashir secured his famous 1995 Panorama interview.

Former BBC director-general Lord Hall told MPs he was 'deeply sorry' after Prince William accused him of 'looking the other way' as Martin Bashir (pictured) ruined his mother's life

William condemned the deceit and tricks that had worsened his mother's 'fear, paranoia and isolation' and the subsequent 'woeful' cover-up by BBC managers. Mr Davie told MPs: 'It was upsetting and it was a sad day.

'Primarily, I felt deep sympathy for the sons of Princess Diana. It was a very low moment for us.'

Lord Birt, who was director-general at the time of Bashir's historic 'there were three of us in this marriage' interview, said his 'heart went out' to Diana's sons.

The Commons media committee spent almost four hours grilling the trio of past and present BBC director-generals after the Dyson report revealed how Bashir had cruelly duped Diana into granting the interview.

Lord Birt branded Bashir a cunning, callous, 'serial liar on an industrial scale'  yet the 'confidence trickster' was still rehired by the BBC in 2016 as its religious affairs correspondent.

He added: 'I think there is a terrible irony in all of this, that (Bashir) starts his BBC career on Songs of Praise and ends it as the BBC's religious editor, and in between perpetrates one of the biggest crimes in the history of broadcasting.'

In a day of shame for the BBC, MPs savaged Lord Hall (pictured via video link on Tuesday) and other corporation chiefs for being evasive over how they had allowed liar Bashir to operate

Lord Birt (pictured in front of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee over Martin Bashir's interview of Diana) branded Bashir a cunning, callous, 'serial liar on an industrial scale'

Lord Birt said it was 'probably a one-in-a-hundred-year occurrence of having a rogue reporter who is willing to be deceitful on this scale'.

Earl Spencer, Diana's brother, criticised the 'unbelievable' decision by the BBC on Monday to clear itself over the reappointment of 'known liar' Bashir after an investigation headed by veteran executive Ken MacQuarrie. He repeated his call for Scotland Yard to launch a criminal probe into the scandal.

'HE TOOK US IN'

Lord Hall, who had called Bashir an 'honest' and an 'honourable man' in his report to the BBC governors in 1996 despite him faking bank statements and showing them to Earl Spencer to gain an introduction  told MPs: 'He took us all in with his lies.'

Lord Hall, who was in charge of news and current affairs at the time, said he had grilled Bashir over his use of the forgeries in 1996.

'We pushed Bashir hard, and he was in tears. He was out of his depth and contrite. We gave him a yellow card. We gave him a second chance and trusted him, and it turns out we couldn't.'

40k PER BULLETIN IN RELIGION JOB Martin Bashir pocketed 'about 40,000' for each news bulletin he presented, MPs claimed yesterday. The BBC's outgoing religion editor, who was formerly religious affairs correspondent, was only on screen 'half a dozen times'  and spent more time 'moonlighting' on Celebrity X Factor, they said. His staggering rate of pay was estimated by Julian Knight, chairman of the culture committee, who suggested the reporter was earning up to 120,000 a year. He told former director-general Lord Hall: 'You were the DG. He was employed for about three years. He probably made 250,000. 'We did a trawl, and he basically appeared on air and on the BBC website half a dozen times. It's about 40,000 a time. Quite nice work if you can get it, Lord Hall?' The ex-BBC chief replied: 'Well, that's not an effective use of a correspondent, I would agree. But you are telling me things I didn't know.' And SNP MP John Nicolson added: 'He spent more time moonlighting for ITV on Celebrity X Factor than he did on BBC television.' Bashir was a contestant on the television talent show in 2019 and wowed judges with his rendition of the Nat King Cole song L-O-V-E. Advertisement

But Lord Hall was skewered over his treatment of BBC graphics artist Matt Wiessler who had blown the whistle on Bashir's fake bank statements ruse to bosses  but suffered for 25 years when Lord Hall made him the fall guy.

Tory MP Julian Knight, chairman of the committee, said: 'Your blackballing of Mr Wiessler isn't just a failure of management  it's a failure of morality.'

COVER-UP ACCUSATION

Mr Davie was accused of 'heading for a cover-up' just weeks after taking over as director-general last year  and only launching the Dyson inquiry after the Mail had blown the lid off the scandal.

Mr Davie insisted he had acted swiftly to order an independent inquiry, after the extent of Bashir's lies and smears came to light last November.

But he was challenged by the MPs, who said the BBC had tried to shut down the story in October  prompting Earl Spencer to become 'enraged' and go public via the Mail.

As the Mail revealed last month, the BBC twice turned away detailed claims about Bashir's scheming before spending 1.4 million on the Dyson inquiry.

Corporation chiefs rebuffed offers from Channel 4 documentary maker Andy Webb and Princess Diana's brother  who both offered their evidence for free.

SNP MP John Nicolson said: 'The crucial factor is that you had a series of conversations with Earl Spencer who grew very frustrated by your tone during those conversations and eventually he gave up on you and he went to the Daily Mail.

'So, of course, the reason that you announced the inquiry was because the Daily Mail had already splashed on it.

Mr Nicolson said: 'Earl Spencer thought you were heading for another coverup - and he gave up on you and he went to the Daily Mail. I also have an email here from Earl Spencer to a third party, and it says this: 'Tim Davie's response was the final straw for me. That's when I went public'.'

REHIRING FIASCO IN 2016

MPs lamented the 'crazed ethos' of BBC 'cappuccino interviews' that welcomed 'known liar' Bashir back to the corporation in 2016.

He was rehired as the BBC's religious affairs correspondent, despite managers knowing he had faked documents when on Panorama in 1995.

Bashir had been suspended from one high-profile job in America and resigned from another in the US, both times after making offensive remarks.

On Monday, the BBC cleared itself with an internal report concluding Bashir had been rehired because he was the 'best person for the job'.

Yet the report also revealed he had been 'the favourite' from the start and had met BBC news executives for coffee two months before the post was even advertised. One rival candidate regarded Bashir's appointment as a 'done deal'.

Yesterday Mr Knight said: 'This was a sham, plain and simple. Many people knew he was a proven liar, yet they fixed it for him to get a job and later be promoted.'

Incredulous MPs accused Lord Hall of signing off Bashir's return to the BBC despite knowing  from his own inquiries in 1996  that he was a liar. Mr Knight said: 'This man's a known liar coming back through your door. It was a complete charade on your watch.'

Tim Davie (pictured), current director-general, described his shock at William's explosive remarks following Lord Dyson's report into how Bashir secured his Panorama interview

Lord Hall strenuously denied being involved or even knowing about the appointment until after it was made.

Mr Nicolson said: 'This was the talk of the newsroom. People were walking round saying, 'can you believe it, Martin Bashir back, as religious correspondent!' And you knew nothing? Come on. Martin Bashir had been sacked twice for wrongdoing. You knew he was a serial liar. The idea you were unaware or not involved is implausible.'

Lord Hall said the MacQuarrie report had cleared him, to which Mr Nicolson said: 'Well, that report is a whitewash.'

Labour MP Clive Efford said: 'You did the inquiry. You knew he had lied to the BBC on several occasions. You knew he had used false docs. Yet you allowed him to be re-employed back in the BBC.

'Is it likely that when they are about to appoint Martin Bashir to such a sensitive position, no one knocked on your door?' Lord Hall said: 'Well, they didn't.'

MP Kevin Brennan asked Lord Hall why he didn't 'kick the cat or turn the air blue' when he was informed Bashir was returning, adding: 'BBC recruitment is less rigorous than me employing a parliamentary researcher. This is a chumocracy approach to employing a proven liar with a dodgy background.'

HALL DEFENDS HIS PUBLIC SERVICE

Lord Hall gave a passionate defence of his 35 years of public service after Mr Nicolson suggested he should forfeit some of his 'lavish pension'.

The MP said Lord Hall's woeful investigation of Bashir had led to the Dyson inquiry which cost licence-payers 1.4 million, 'or 9,000 licence fees directly as a result of your negligence'.

Lord Hall replied: 'I have been a public servant for 35 years, at the BBC, then the Royal Opera House, which at that time was in crisis, then I rescued the cultural Olympics in 2012, and I came back to the BBC in 2013 to rescue the BBC from the [Jimmy] Savile crisis. Twenty-five years ago, we made a mistake. But please don't let that colour my record of public service over 35 years. I have done a hell of a lot for the BBC and the arts.

'I regret this one thing we got wrong because we were lied to 25 years ago.'

HALL: I DIDN'T DESTROY THE MISSING DIANA MEMO

By Sam Greenhill for the Daily Mail

Former BBC boss Lord Hall yesterday angrily denied destroying key evidence that proved Martin Bashir was a serial liar.

A 'missing memo' from 1996 was unearthed by Lord Dyson  but had been mysteriously absent from the BBC's files. The 1996 note, written by then-BBC executive Tim Gardam, is the single most important piece of evidence in the Bashir saga.

Mr Gardam wrote in March that year how the reporter had lied three times to his bosses over whether he had shown faked bank statements to Earl Spencer  before finally confessing that he had.

Lord Hall, who was BBC head of news and current affairs at the time, also denied destroying evidence that proved Martin Bashir (pictured with Diana in Panorama interview) was a liar

In 1996, Mr Gardam handed his explosive memo to 'the office of Lord Hall', said Lord Dyson. After that, it appears to have gone missing.

But yesterday Lord Hall, who was BBC head of news and current affairs at the time, said he could not remember the document. When MP John Nicolson asked him, 'Did you destroy it?', he replied: 'Absolutely not.'

The memo is central because it proves the BBC had established by March 28, 1996, that its star reporter was a serial liar.

In April that year, Lord Hall wrote a statement for the BBC board of governors describing Bashir as an 'honest' and 'honourable' man who had made a simple mistake by mocking up fake statements. But he admitted yesterday these words had been 'inappropriate'.

Yet he was unable to explain why the damning handwritten memo was missing from BBC files. A copy was handed to Lord Dyson by Mr Gardam.

Mr Nicolson asked current BBC director-general Tim Davie if he consulted Lord Hall before his 'dismissive email' to Earl Spencer last year.

He said: 'Did you phone Tony Hall to ask him about events? He was sitting on this crucial piece of information. Had you spoken to Tony Hall, you would have discovered Bashir had lied three times.'

Mr Davie told the MPs the key memo had only come to light because he commissioned Lord Dyson's inquiry  which then unearthed it.
The cashier who was shot dead and the off-duty sheriff's deputy who was wounded after a male customer pulled out a gun and opened fire when told he had to pull up his face mask in a Georgia grocery store on Monday have both been identified.

Victor Lee Tucker Jr., of Palmetto, Georgia, got into an argument with 41-year-old clerk Laquitta Willis at the Big Bear grocery store in DeKalb County on Monday over their store's mask policy.

The 30-year-old Tucker appeared to leave after the argument, but returned moments later, holding a handgun, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Tucker fatally shot Willis before he was shot and injured by a retired deputy, 54-year-old Danny Jordan, a 30-year veteran of the DeKalb County Police Department, who was working as a security guard.

Laquitta Willis, 41, has been identified as the cashier at a DeKalb County, Georgia supermarket who was fatally shot after telling a customer to pull his mask over his nose

Victor Lee Tucker Jr., of Palmetto, Georgia, had got into an argument with Willis at the Big Bear grocery store in DeKalb County on Monday over their store's mask policy

Another cashier was grazed by a bullet fired by Tucker, according to investigators.

DeKalb County Sheriff Melody Maddox said Tucker managed to fire back twice, hitting the off-duty cop both times. Jordan is expected to survive.

The deputy, Jordan, was working part-time in a security job at the store according to 11Alive.

A retired deputy, 54-year-old Danny Jordan, a 30-year veteran of the DeKalb County Police Department, who was working as a security guard, shot and wounded Tucker. Jordan was also wounded in an exchange of gunfire

A witness, identified as Alan Williams, said Tucker walked into the store, struck the cashier with a gun, then shot her which is when the deputy and the suspect exchanged gunfire.

Tucker and Jordan were both taken to Grady Memorial hospital for treatment.

According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation which is now assisting with the incident, Tucker was found crawling out the front door of the supermarket.

Jordan was listed in stable condition, but the condition of Tucker is not known.

The cashier, Willis, was officially pronounced dead at Grady Hospital.

Jordan is a retired deputy and member of a reserve unit. The unit consists of certified law enforcement officers not actively working for a law enforcement agency.

Such deputies can work with a sheriffs office on a volunteer basis and can work part time security jobs, the sheriffs department said.

Willis was shot dead after an argument with a customer in Georgia. Victor Lee Tucker Jr., 30, of Palmetto, allegedly entered the store and argued with staff about wearing a mask

DeKalb County Sheriff Melody Maddox said the suspect, Victor Lee Tucker Jr. managed to fire back twice, hitting the off-duty cop both times

The deputy was working part-time in a security job at the Big Bear store

Maddox said the deputy's response might have kept other people from being hurt.

'That is what he is trained to do,' Maddox said.

The supermarket is located near The Gallery at South DeKalb mall but is not a tenant of that complex, authorities said.

Decatur is a suburban community about 6 miles east of downtown Atlanta.
A wealthy Canadian influencer and her boyfriend killed a man and shot his girlfriend - causing her to lose her unborn baby - before fleeing to Budapest, police say.

Police in Hamilton, Ontario, announced on Monday that Oliver Karafa, 28, and Yun 'Lucy' Lu Li, 25, were apprehended in Budapest by Hungarian police on Saturday.

The pair were wanted on charges of murder and attempted murder for the February 2020 shooting death of Tyler Pratt, 39, in Hamilton.

Pratt's 26-year-old girlfriend, who was pregnant at the time, was also hit by gunfire and was said to have lost her unborn baby.

Police have not revealed a motive behind the attack but said the suspects and victims knew each other. It is unclear which of the two is accused of firing the fatal shot.

Influencer Yun 'Lucy' Lu Li, 25 (left), and her boyfriend, Oliver Karafa, 28 (right) have been arrested in Budapest by the Hungarian police in connection with a fatal shooting in Canada

The pair are accused of killing TRyler Pratt, 39, a father-of-three, and injuring his pregnant fiancee, causing her to lose her unborn baby

Li and her two sisters, one of who is a beauty queen, were said to be Instagram influencers.

Karafa, a Slovakian native living in Toronto, has a past criminal record and served five years in prison for causing a fatal DUI crash nearly a decade ago.

On February 28, just after 7.15pm, the Hamilton Police Service responded to a shooting that occurred in an industrial park on Arvin Avenue in Stoney Creek.

Pratt, a father-of-three, was pronounced dead at the scene. His girlfriend was hospitalized with serious injuries.

Investigators soon identified Karafa and Li as the people responsible for the shooting, although they would not say what led them to that conclusion.

Police learned that the couple fled to Eastern Europe within 24 hours of the incident, traveling through several countries, including Karafa's native Slovakia and the Czech Republic, before arriving in Budapest, Hamilton Police Det.-Sgt. Jim Callender told CBC.ca.

Hamilton Police Service recognized the efforts of the Hungarian Fugitive Active Search Team in making the arrests.

Karafa and Li are now awaiting extradition back to Canada to face charges of first-degree murder and attempted murder.

Lis mother, Hong Wei 'Winnie' Liao, is president of the Toronto-based asset management firm Respon International Group with extensive political connections.

She has been photographed shaking hands with Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and posing with Ontario Premier Doug Ford.

Li is one of a set of triplets. She and her sisters have built a following for themselves on social media by posing in matching dresses and skimpy swimsuits.

'We are deeply shocked, disturbed and puzzled by Lucys involvement in the unfortunate incident,' the family said in a statement to a Chinese news outlet, which was translated by The National Post.

Li, pictured furthest left with her triplet sisters, is the daughter of a politically connected head of a Toronto-based asset management firm

In 2014, Karafa was found guilty of impaired driving causing death; driving while over legal limit of alcohol; criminal negligence cause death and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle cause death, and was sentenced to five years in prison, reported CTV.

The conviction stemmed from an April 2012 crash, in which Karafa got behind the wheel drunk and was driving at twice the speed limit when he crashed his car, causing his passenger, 19-year-old David Chiang, to be ejected from the vehicle and smash head first into a pole. The victim died at the scene.

Tyler Pratt's mother, Jonni Yeomans, told The Daily Beast that her son was a 'phenomenal father' to his three children.

She also revealed that the shooting robbed her not only of her son, but also of another grandchild when Pratt's fiancee lost her unborn child after being wounded.

'Weve gone through a devastating time,' said Yeomans.

The mother took some comfort in the knowledge that the suspects in her son's murder have been arrested on his sister's birthday, calling it a 'beautiful gift' and 'an answer to a prayer.'
Daniel Morgan, a 37-year-old private investigator who had earlier been drinking in the pub with his business partner Jonathan Rees

When a customer pulled into the car park of the Golden Lion pub on March 10, 1987, his headlights picked out what he thought was a tailor's dummy on the ground.

It was about 9.40pm on a cold, dark night. He got out of his car to take a closer look  and realised it was a body.

The shocked customer dashed inside the crowded bar in Sydenham, south-east London, and spent an agonising few minutes attempting to call over the landlord.

'I was trying to attract his attention without causing a panic. I whispered to him that he had a problem in his car park,' the anonymous witness would later say to police.

The victim  still with an axe embedded in his skull  was Daniel Morgan, a 37-year-old private investigator who had earlier been drinking in the pub with his business partner Jonathan Rees.

No one has ever been convicted of killing Mr Morgan, with the police's failings in the case reverberating to the present day and to the very top of Scotland Yard.

A major, eight-year public inquiry finally published its report yesterday, concluding that the Metropolitan Police was  and is 'institutionally corrupt'.

The force's obstruction of the truth began in the Eighties but has continued under the leadership of Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick, according to the report by the Daniel Morgan Independent Panel, chaired by Baroness Nuala O'Loan.

WHO WAS MORGAN?

The father-of-two had set up a private detective firm, Southern Investigations, with Rees. There had been 'indications' that Mr Morgan was poised to report police corruption or sell a story about it to a national newspaper.

'The nature of that corruption has never been established,' the panel's report noted.

But it was thought to centre on the CID at Catford police station in south-east London, whose officers had extensive links with Mr Morgan's outfit.

In 1988 a witness at the inquest into Mr Morgan's death  Kevin Lennon, a former bookkeeper at Southern Investigations  said Rees had asked him if he knew anyone who could kill his business partner.

The witness also said Rees told him in 1986 that Catford officers would arrange for the murder, or even carry it out themselves.

Further, Mr Lennon said Rees told him that one Catford officer, Detective Sergeant Sidney Fillery, would retire from the Met and replace Mr Morgan at Southern.

Fillery did eventually become Rees's business partner, as Kevin Lennon had predicted.

Meanwhile, some of the key police officers were Freemasons, including Fillery, and this led to 'recurring suspicion and mistrust in the investigations of Daniel Morgan's murder', the report said.Rees was twice charged with Mr Morgan's murder  in 1989, when the case was dropped, and in 2008, collapsing three years later. A host of other connected prosecutions also failed.

Alastair Morgan (right), the brother of murdered private investigator Daniel Morgan, with his partner Kirsteen Knight and family solicitor Raju Bhatt (centre) speaking to the media following the publication of the Daniel Morgan Independent Panel report, at Church House, in Westminster, central London

YARD CORRUPTION

The independent panel said it had not found enough evidence to prove police involvement in Mr Morgan's death.

But five police inquiries into Mr Morgan's murder were all flawed or even compromised by corruption, its report said.

For example, suspects were warned of their impending arrest, giving them time to dispose of incriminating material.

Later in the saga, Detective Chief Superintendent David Cook, who led one of the Metropolitan Police's re-inquiries into the case, had been allowed to 'operate outside many of the laws, policies and procedures which govern policing, without being called to account'.

In its devastating 1,200 pages, the panel's report accused the Metropolitan Police of a host of failings which were designed to protect its own reputation.

Scotland Yard is accused of a 'culture of obfuscation and a lack of candour'. The force's tendency to 'conceal or deny' its own failings 'constitutes a form of institutional corruption,' the report found

TOP BRASS UNDER FIRE

Scotland Yard is accused of a 'culture of obfuscation and a lack of candour'. The force's tendency to 'conceal or deny' its own failings 'constitutes a form of institutional corruption,' the report found.

Perhaps most damagingly, the Metropolitan Police and its top brass placed 'significant impediments' in the way of the panel as it attempted to uncover the truth.

RECOMMENDATIONS Policies on how detectives handle police informants 'still allow scope for corrupt practices', and should be brought under the scope of a watchdog, the report recommended. The Government should also introduce new measures to licence and regulate private investigators, it went on. And ministers should also stiffen the sentences for unlawfully obtaining, disclosing or selling personal data, making it punishable with a jail term rather than just a fine. Advertisement

Baroness O'Loan and the rest of her team faced a struggle to access police databases and Scotland Yard took years to provide documents to the inquiry. Although the panel was set up more than eight years ago, and the original crime took place more than 34 years ago, final documents were only handed over by the Met in March this year.

Some of the paperwork from the force had been 'excessively and inconsistently redacted', the report said.

'The Metropolitan Police placed its concern for its own reputation above the public interest, when it concealed from the family of Daniel Morgan and from the wider public the failings in the first murder investigation and the role of corrupt officers in the lack of success in gathering evidence to convict those responsible,' it went on.

'The lack of candour displayed by the Metropolitan Police in relation to the investigation of the murder of Daniel Morgan over so many years constitutes a barrier to the proper accountability of the Metropolitan Police.'

The panel said there was a 'failure of senior police officers to acknowledge evidence of police incompetence when it is put before them, and a general tendency for the police service to 'close ranks' and become defensive when challenged'.

The 'Golden Lion', Sydenham, South London where Daniel Morgan was struck about the head with an axe as he left the pub

WHICH OFFICERS WERE CRITICISED?

Criticism of the Metropolitan Police's most senior officers centre on their lack of transparency when it emerged that things had gone badly wrong.

Dame Cressida Dick has been in charge at the force since 2017, but when she was in an assistant commissioner role she tried to block the panel from gaining access to the police 'Holmes' computer system. Yesterday's report described this as a 'lack of candour'.

Lord Stevens, previously Sir John Stevens, led the Metropolitan Police from 2000 to 2003, and later signed a deal to write for the News of the World, even though the title had links with some of the corrupt police officers in the Morgan case.

Yesterday's report said the ex-commissioner 'failed to exercise due diligence'.

Even a 'cursory check' of police records would have revealed troubling links between the paper and 'illegally obtained police information'. The panel went on to describe how a report by Yard Deputy Assistant Commissioner John Yates into the Morgan case in 2006 'failed to confront the issue of corruption adequately', at least in its first draft.

Mr Yates's inquiry 'reflects a totally inappropriate mindset' within the force at the time, the panel said, adding: 'It ignores the endemic risk and existence of police corruption.'

Meanwhile, the Crown Prosecution Service was also slammed for its decision not to take former Detective Chief Supterintendent Cook to court for making unauthorised disclosures of police material.

Panel members said the CPS decision sent 'an appalling message to officers of all ranks about how the criminal justice system views such conduct'.

Two of the report's main recommendations are designed to avoid a repeat of this obstructive behaviour.

All public institutions should be placed under a 'duty to co-operate' with public inquiries, it says, and under a 'statutory duty of candour' about their activities.

FREEMASONRY AND THE POLICE

The report said it had found no evidence of Freemasonry playing a part in the corruption.

But it recommended that all police officers and staff should be required to register their membership of the Masons  or any other organisation which could call their impartiality into question.
Susan Berman once posed as the missing wife of Robert Durst to call in sick to her job - on the day she went missing, jurors learned in testimony on Monday in Durst's ongoing murder trial.

Lynda Obst, a friend of Berman and a film producer, testified that she believed Berman may have been in love with Durst, based on how often she talked about him.

In Obst's testimony, which was recorded, she claimed that Berman said she once called in to the dean at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, pretending to be Kathie Durst calling in sick for a rotation.

Authorities say that call was placed by Berman after Kathie had already been dead, according to Law & Crime Network.

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The murder trial for Robert Durst (pictured Tuesday) continued this week with new testimony

Robert Durst seen with friend Susan Berman, who he is on trial for allegedly killing

In Lynda Obst's testimony, which was previously recorded, she claimed that Berman said she once called in to the dean at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, pretending to be Kathie Durst calling in sick for a rotation

Durst (pictured in May) has been in jail since 2015 on charges related to Berman's death, with his trial in her murder resuming in mid-May

Previous recorded testimony from Dr. Albert Kuperman, the former associate dean, confirmed that the call took place, which would've been different from the way people would normally call in sick, bypassing several supervisors.

Prosecutors believe there is a link to Kathie Durst's 1982 disappearance and death and the 2000 death of Berman, which Robert Durst is currently on trial for.

They claim that Robert Durst murdered Berman because she was allegedly considering coming forward with information about Kathie's disappearance.

Testimony on Tuesday remains ongoing, with Berman's ex-boyfriend Paul Kaufman and Obst's attorney, Lev Ginsburg, testifying in the trial.

One memorable moment appeared to show Durst fall asleep before being roused awake.

Last week, Mella Kaufman testified that Berman confessed to the 'alibi' call to the dean.

'She was telling me about her friend (Durst) and how his wife had disappeared and how she had been an alibi, or made a phone call for him, so that it wasnt suspicious,' Kaufman testified, according to the New York Daily News.

The testimony from Obst came on the same day that the judge refused to halt the murder trial after the defense requested a delay because they say he's in such pain that he can't stand up to dress for trial.

Durst was hospitalized and the trial was put on pause Thursday. On Monday, with the Los Angeles County jail system doctors declaring Durst fit for court, Superior Court Judge Mark E. Windham ordered that testimony in the trial, which resumed last month after a 14-month pandemic delay, would continue.

Kathie Durst (who disappeared in 1982) pictured with Robert Durst

Robert Durst seen with his second wife, Debrah Lee Charatan

The 78-year-old Durst, charged with killing his best friend Berman, appeared in court looking frail in a wheelchair and jail garb, with a catheter attached that he held up to show the judge.

Defense attorneys argued adamantly that the trial should be adjourned again because Durst was in pain, and because he couldn't get into the street clothes he is allowed to wear to avoid prejudicing the jury.

The lawyers said Durst had a urinary tract infection as a consequence of bladder cancer, and had undiagnosed health problems that they couldn't name because the jail hospital had denied them information and access to him.

'I understand he's in a good amount of pain because of the catheter,' Windham said.

Durst's lawyer Dick DeGuerin answered adamantly, 'It's not just the catheter your honor, hes in chest pain, he's unable to breathe completely.'

As testimony resumed, the judge had a blanket put over Durst to cover up his jail clothes and to 'maintain his dignity to some degree,' adding that 'one doesn't ordinarily meet with the public with a catheter bag in full view.'

Durst appeared in court looking frail in a wheelchair and jail garb, with a catheter attached that he held up to show the judge on Monday

Durst (pictured Tuesday) is on trial for Berman's death, which prosecutors have frequently linked to Kathie's disappearance

Durst has denied killing Berman or having any involvement in his wife's disappearance. He was acquitted in a killing in Texas, which his lawyers argued was an accident.

Deputy District Attorney John Lewin argued Monday that Durst, who fled authorities after two of the deaths, had used countless ploys to avoid facing trial.

The prosecutor argued that if anything Durst's appearance hurt the prosecution.

'This doesn't look like someone who's murdered three people,' Lewin said.

In a May interview with DailyMail.com, DeGuerin expressed concerns about Durst's health saying: 'His health has deteriorated alarmingly over the past fourteen months since the trial was shut down at the beginning of the Covid pandemic.

'I'm concerned about whether he can withstand the rigors of trial.

'We are continuing our request for mistrial through a Writ to the appellate courts, which means we have appealed the trial court's denial of our latest motion for mistrial.'

The real estate heir was the subject of The Jinx, an HBO documentary that ends with Durst seemingly confessing to murder.

Durst has been in jail since 2015 on charges related to Berman's death, with his trial in her murder resuming in mid-May.

He had admitted to fatally shooting and dismembering his 71-year-old neighbor Morris Black in 2001, but he was acquitted of his murder in 2003 after claiming self defense.

But Lewin said the killing of Berman and Durst's admission that he had killed Black are both tied to the mystery of Kathie Durst.

Her body has never been found and Robert has not been charged with her death, though authorities believe he is likely responsible, according to the New York Post.

'Everything starts with Kathie Durst's disappearance and death at the hands of Mr. Durst,' Lewin said.
Despite five police inquiries and an inquest, no-one has been brought to justice over the murder of Daniel Morgan in more than 30 years.

The father-of-two was killed with an axe in the car park of the Golden Lion pub in Sydenham, south-east London, in 1987.

Now an independent panel set up to look into the case has published a scathing report in which it accused the Met of 'a form of institutional corruption' for concealing or denying failings over the unsolved murder.

Here, as the killing bursts back into the public eye again, we examine the key players in the case...

DCS DAVID COOK

The detective chief superintendent was in charge of reviewing Mr Morgan's murder  but went on to face investigation for misusing confidential papers. He claimed he had planned to 'set the record straight' about corruption  but yesterday's report described his actions as the 'unlawful dissemination of material to journalists and others'.

A police raid on his home in 2014 found a range of documents from the Morgan case and others, including some that were marked 'secret'.

Baroness O'Loan's report said: 'There is no evidence of payment for any of the unauthorised disclosures. However, there is evidence that he hoped to profit from his activities in the future.'

Pictured left: Jonathan Rees leaving the Old Bailey in 2011. Right: Detective Superintendent David Cook

SUSPECT JONATHAN REES

Mr Morgan's business partner at Southern Investigations was twice charged with his murder. No trial ever took place due to difficulties with evidence.

On the night of the murder, Rees met Mr Morgan in the Golden Lion pub  where his body would later be discovered. Rees claimed he left before Mr Morgan was killed.

Police who visited Rees's home to question him a few hours later described him as 'extremely nervous', while his wife's behaviour was said to be 'odd'.

Assistant Commissioner John Yates outside New Scotland Yard in London, 2011

AC JOHN YATES

The assistant commissioner was strongly censured over the failure to prosecute suspects in 2011. The report found: 'AC John Yates was responsible for failure to impose a proper management structure and the fact that the Abelard Two investigation [the codename for the inquiry into Mr Morgan's murder] was not run properly... the absence of any proper functioning oversight process during the period from 2008 to 2011 by AC John Yates was unacceptable.'

THE CPS

The Crown Prosecution Service ruled in 2015 that it would not bring criminal charges against DCS Cook.

Yesterday's report accused the organisation of sending an 'appalling message to officers of all ranks', adding: 'It is... surprising that senior lawyers should conclude that Cook had a public interest defence for his criminal behaviour that was so strong that it could not be challenged.

'This sends an appalling message to officers of all ranks about how the criminal justice system views such conduct, which is in breach of all the fundamental duties of a police officer.'

HAMPSHIRE POLICE

The force not only failed to conduct an independent inquiry in 1989, but also neglected to pursue evidence of potential criminality by serving and former officers.

The report said: 'It did not pursue, to the fullest extent possible, evidence that serving or former police officers were involved in the murder of Daniel Morgan; had committed crimes not connected to the murder of Daniel Morgan; or had been guilty of disciplinary offences, whether or not connected to the murder of Daniel Morgan. There is some evidence that this was deliberate conduct.'

POLICE WATCHDOG

Priti Patel brought forward plans to review the 'effectiveness and efficiency' of the Independent Office for Police Conduct last night, following yesterday's revelations.

The Home Secretary said of the IOPC: 'The issues raised by Daniel Morgan's independent panel further reinforce the need for a strong police watchdog.'
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A shortage of vaccines could threaten a further Freedom Day delay as supplies of Pfizer and Moderna jabs are 'tight' amid an increased demand - as young people are taking alternatives to AstraZeneca.

The Covid vaccine rollout has now slowed to under half its peak speed despite Boris Johnson stressing the urgent need to jab as many people as possible to free Britain from lockdown.

In light of the rapidly spreading Indian variant, the Government has brought forward its target for vaccinating all adults until July 19  the same day the final unlocking has been pushed back until. Ministers had previously pledged to offer jabs to all over-18s by July 31.

And the Prime Minister this week delayed Freedom Day from June 21 to July 19 to give the NHS a 'few more crucial weeks' to protect Britons from the Indian, or Delta, variant.

But Britain administered just 368,555 vaccine doses on Monday  well under half the 844,285 it managed on a single day in March. The pace has slowed because of the decision by Government advisers to recommend alternatives to the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab for the under-40s and limited supply of the two alternatives  Pfizer and Moderna.

Ministers have conceded that the supply of the Pfizer jab is particularly 'tight' while the Moderna vaccine  which has only just become available  is thought to be similarly limited.

NHS England boss Sir Simon Stevens has said that the health service would 'finish the job' of the vaccination programme to the 'greatest extent possible' over the next four weeks, and he expects all remaining adults to be offered their first vaccine by the end of the week.

But he told the NHS Confederation's annual conference 'supply continues to be constrained'.

Government advisers recommended an alternative to the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab for under-40s after it was linked to fatal blood clots. But this has hugely increased demand for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.

Downing Street's vaccine minister Nadhim Zahawi last week admitted stocks of Pfizer  the main jab being administered to young people  would be 'tight' this month.



But in a glimmer of good news, Covid cases appear to be flat or falling in the first areas to be hit by the new Indian 'Delta' variant, official figures show.

The infection rate in Blackburn with Darwen, which took over from Bolton as the country's hotspot at the end of May, is now falling after appearing to peak on June 4 when there had been an average 143 cases per day over the previous week.

The Covid vaccine rollout (pictured: woman is given a vaccine in Cheshire) has slowed to under half its peak speed as Boris Johnson delayed Freedom Day from June 21 to July 19

What are the main variants recognised by the WHO? 'Alpha' variant First spotted: Kent Scientific name: B.1.1.7 'Beta' variant First spotted: South Africa Scientific name: B.1.351 'Gamma' variant First spotted: India Scientific name: P.1 'Delta' variant First spotted: India Scientific name: B.1.617.2 Advertisement

It remains the worst-affected place in the country but if the trend keeps up the change of fortunes could suggest that, as was seen in Bolton, simple surges in testing and vaccinations and tougher advice on travelling in or out of the area and social distancing could be enough to keep a lid on local outbreaks.

Ministers urged another 3.6million people in Birmingham, Liverpool, Warrington and parts of Cheshire to try to avoid travelling and be more careful about virus control measures in a bid to slow outbreaks there.

Boris Johnson yesterday announced a four-week delay to plans to end social distancing rules on June 21 as planned, saying not enough is known about the Indian variant and how difficult it will be to control.

The other areas that were first to be hard hit by the strain when it emerged in April  Bedford and Burnley  also appear to have arrested the spread of Covid by scaling up local efforts to stamp it out and test and isolate everyone.

Those four areas, Bedford, Blackburn, Bolton and Burnley, were the first to see cases surge, the first to get extra help from the Government to control the virus, and now appear to be the first to see infections levelling off.

But infections are still rising fast in many areas that have been added to the official hotspots where advice has been upgraded, with cases going up in twice as many areas as they are flat or falling.

Department of Health positive test figures show that there has been a plateau in the numbers of people testing positive for coronavirus in those hard-hit areas, offering proof that the Indian variant can be controlled.

Infection numbers appear to have plateaued in Bedford, which was one of the first areas to see cases caused by the new Indian Delta variant take off. The same trend, or even in some cases a decline, is being seen in other hard-hit areas below (Blackburn, Bolton and Burnley)

Extra support to tackle a rise in cases of the Delta variant, which was first recorded in India, has been announced for more areas of the North West and Birmingham. The additional support will be introduced in Birmingham, Blackpool, Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Liverpool City Region and Warrington, a spokesman for the Department of Health and Social Care said on Monday. The package, which is the same as was announced for Greater Manchester and Lancashire last week, will see more support for surge testing, tracing, isolation support and maximising vaccine uptake after a number of cases of the Delta variant were detected in the areas

Data from the Wellcome Sanger Institute shows how the proportion of cases being caused by the Indian 'Delta' variant rose during the first half of May, with hotspots (shown in purple) first emerging in the North West, London and central England

The Wellcome data show that, by the end of May, the variant was accounting for almost all cases in almost all parts of the country. Some areas  those in white  do not have enough data to work out a trend, but by June the strain appeared to have completely taken over England except the Isle of Wight

In Bolton the infection rate had risen to 453 cases per 100,000 people on May 21, with an average of 186 people testing positive each day, but this has since plummeted to 309 per 100,000 and an average 127 daily cases.

There are hopes that the trend there, where the council offered free regular testing to all adults and stepped up its efforts on contact tracing and vaccinations, will translate to other areas that see outbreaks of the variant.

NHS England boss Sir Simon Stevens has said that the health service would 'finish the job' of the vaccination programme to the 'greatest extent possible' over the next four weeks, and he expects all remaining adults to be offered their first vaccine by the end of the week

It may be beginning to happen in Blackburn, which took over as the hotspot at the end of May with the rate of cases per 100,000 people hitting 667 by June 7, but since dropping to 599. Average daily cases appear to have peaked at 143 on June 4 and since fallen to 128.

In Bedford a similar trend is playing out, with an infection rate high of 208 per 100,000 on May 23 now having fallen to 154 per 100,000, and average daily cases peaking at 52 on May 20 and now down to 38 per day in the past week.

Burnley also appears to have seen a levelling off in cases, although the trend is less certain and only recent. The seven-day infection rate was 370 per 100,000 on June 8 and fell to 367 by two days later, with average daily cases having levelled off at around 47 per day since June 5.

There are 34 areas now on the list of places to face tougher guidance, which offers a 'package of support' from the Government to include surge testing, enhanced contact tracing and financial support to Covid cases and their contacts who have been asked to self-isolate.

Recent data from these 34 areas show that infections appear flat in 10 places, are falling in two (South Ribble as well as Blackburn) but are rising in 22 places.

Most of them are recent additions to the enhanced support list and ministers will be hoping the extra measures help to turn the tide on infections in those places, too.

Boris Johnson's delay to the original June 21 'Freedom Day' by four weeks came amid fears a third wave of Covid could overwhelm the NHS.

The UK administered just 368,555 Covid-19 vaccine doses on Monday (pictured: latest figures) well under half the 844,285 it managed on a single day in March

Before the pandemic took hold in Britain last spring, people made contact with around 11 others every day, on average. But that figure plummetted to around three during the depths of the Covid crisis. The figure currently stands at around 6.5, according to one study called Comix (pictured)

One chart presented by chief medic Chris Whitty showed that hospitalisations have increased 61 per cent in a week in the North West, a trend which was predicted to follow across the rest of the country. It played a heavy hand in the decision to delay Freedom Day

Top scientists hope the move will give the health service more time to vaccinate as many people as possible, offering the nation as much protection against the Indian variant as possible.

Experts say because the mutant strain is so infectious, it will spill into unvaccinated groups and the small percentage of people for whom the jabs don't work.

As well as pledging to offer jabs to all over-18s by July 19, the Prime Minister's new vaccination target is also to fully vaccinate two-thirds of adults. The figure currently stands at around 56.9 per cent, or 30million.

He also pledged to shorten the gap between two doses to just eight weeks for over-40s, bringing them in line with over-50s.

The aim of dishing out jabs to all younger adults is entirely dependent on the supply of the Pfizer and Moderna jabs. AstraZeneca's vaccine is not recommended for under-40s because of its rare links to blood clots.

Sir Simon said: 'It is now very important that we use the next four weeks to finish the job to the greatest extent possible for the Covid vaccination programme, which has been a historic signature achievement in terms of the effectiveness of delivering by the NHS  over 60 million doses now administered.

NHS leaders 'relieved' by lockdown extension NHS leaders have expressed their 'relief' that Boris Johnson has extended the current lockdown restrictions for another four weeks. Pushing back Freedom Day to July 19 will mean that the NHS can vaccinate 'many more people', NHS Providers said as it welcomed the 'cautious' approach. It will also mean that there is 'less pressure' on hospitals which are still recovering from the effects of the pandemic. Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, said that a cautious approach 'is prudent'. He said: 'There is welcome increasing evidence that, for this pattern of variants, vaccines are breaking the chain between COVID-19 infections and the high levels of hospitalisations and mortality we saw in previous waves. 'A delay of four weeks will enable the NHS to do two important things. It will enable us to confirm the extent to which vaccines have broken the chain between infections and hospitalisations and deaths. And, crucially, it will enable us to vaccinate many more people with double doses and a period of protection build up. 'It will also mean less pressure on hospitals at a point when they are very busy recovering care backlogs and dealing with increased demand for emergency care with significantly reduced capacity, due to the need to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in hospitals. 'So trust leaders will welcome the decision taken today, for operational reasons. But they will also understand the impact of continuing lockdown measures on people's lives, mental health and on the economy. 'Vaccines will enable us to exit this current pandemic soon. But we must all understand that the virus will be with us for a long time yet. So our next task will be to discuss what the NHS, and we as a nation, need to do to live with the virus longer term. That debate has barely started.' Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, added: 'Health leaders will be relieved that the Prime Minister has listened to their warnings and extended the current lockdown restrictions.' 'Our members are committed to using this extra time to vaccinate as many adults as they can so that we can protect our population and support the NHS to continue to restore its services for patients,' he continued. 'However, if the data continues to show that the Covid situation has not improved come 19 July, the Government has to be prepared to act decisively again and if needed, slam the brakes down further.' Advertisement

'By July 19 we aim to have offered perhaps two thirds of adults across the country double jabs.

'And we're making great strides also in extending the offer to all adults  today people aged 23 and 24 are able to vaccinate through the National Booking Service.

'I expect that by the end of this week, we'll be able to open up the National Booking Service to all adults age 18 and above.

'Of course, vaccine supply continues to be constrained, so we're pacing ourselves at precisely the rate of which we're getting that extra vaccine supply between now and July 19.'

Sir Simon added that just one per cent of hospital beds in England are currently being used by Covid patients.

He said: 'At the moment about one per cent of hospital beds in England are occupied by patients with a Covid diagnosis and the age distribution has really flipped as a result of vaccination.

'Back in January, it was 60/40  60 per cent of beds occupied by people over 65, 40 per cent under 65.

'Now it's flipped to 30/70, so it's about 30 per cent occupied by people aged 65 and over 70 per cent by younger people whose prospects are much greater.'

Meanwhile the NHS has been given orders to 'gear up' for new Covid-19 treatments, which the NHS expects to come online in the next few months which will also help to prevent severe illness and death.

These new treatments are expected to be given to people in the community, without the need for hospital treatment, within three days of infection.

Sir Simon said: 'We expect that we will begin to see further therapies that will actually treat coronavirus and prevent severe illness and death.

'Today I'm asking the health service to gear up for what are likely to be a new category of such treatments, so-called neutralising monoclonal antibodies, which are potentially going to become available to us within the next several months.

'But in order to be able to administer them, we're going to need community services that are able to deliver through regional networks this type of infusion in patients before they are hospitalised, typically within a three-day window from the date of infection.

'So the logistics and the organisation and applying the full excellence of the sort of networked NHS services locally through integrated care systems, we're going to need to harness all of that, to be able to benefit from the new monoclonal antibodies.

'We are setting out a set of asks as to how to bring that about in each integrated care system so that as and when the treatments become available to us, they can immediately begin to be deployed.'

Mr Johnson delayed the final stage of unlocking by a month after dire predictions by No10's top scientific advisers warned the Indian strain could kill up to 500 people in a day had Freedom Day went ahead as planned.

Unveiling the bad news, the PM defied fury from Tory MPs and the hospitality industry to insist he could not press ahead until more people are double-jabbed.

He said he was 'pretty confident' that restrictions will be able to be lifted by then, adding that the disease cannot be 'eliminated' and the country will have to learn to 'live with it' in the future.

Chief medic Chris Whitty, flanking the PM as usual alongside Sir Patrick Vallance, told a Downing Street briefing hospitalisations had risen 61 per cent in the North West in just a week, a trend that was predicted to follow suit nationally if June 21 went ahead. 'The assessment of risk has fundamentally shifted,' he said.

Downing Street's vaccine minister Nadhim Zahawi last week admitted stocks of Pfizer  the main jab being administered to young people  would be 'tight' this month

Boris Johnson's delay to the original June 21 'Freedom Day' by four weeks came amid fears a third wave of Covid could overwhelm the NHS

JUST 1 PER CENT OF BEDS TAKEN BY CORONA CASES Thanks to vaccines, just one in 100 hospital beds is now taken by Covid-19 patients. NHS England chief Sir Simon Stevens yesterday said jabs had 'flipped the age distribution'. He said: 'Back in January, it was 60/40  60 per cent of beds occupied by people over 65, 40 per cent under 65. 'Now it has flipped to 30/70, so it's about 30 per cent occupied by people aged 65, and over 70 per cent by younger people whose [survival] prospects are much greater.' There are 1,030 corona patients in hospital in England  down from a peak of 34,336 on January 18. In further good news, Sir Simon said the NHS was 'gearing up' for the arrival of new Covid treatments, expected within 'several months'. It is hoped the drugs  neutralising monoclonal antibodies  will cut hospital cases and deaths and reduce pressure on staff working to clear record waiting lists of five million patients. Advertisement

The move means that current rules will essentially remain in place until July 19  with social distancing in force in bars and restaurants, and the edict to work from home where possible staying.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation currently has no plans to revise its guidance on the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab.

But sources said members may reconsider advice if the balance of benefits and risks changes, potentially as a result of a rapid surge in infections.

A total of 79.4 per cent of adults have now received at least one dose of Covid vaccine and 57.4 per cent  more than 30million people  have been given both doses.

Yesterday NHS England chief executive Sir Simon Stevens said all over-18s in England would be able to book a jab by the end of the week.

However, he admitted: 'Vaccine supply continues to be constrained so we're pacing ourselves.'

It is thought many people may have to wait a fortnight to receive their vaccine.

Mr Johnson has set a target of offering all adults a first vaccine dose and two-thirds a second dose by July 19.

Professor Karol Sikora, a former World Health Organisation director, said: 'The Government needs to work hard to get the speed of the vaccination programme back to its peak level.

'It should be putting pressure on Pfizer and Moderna to increase supplies so we can quickly vaccinate ourselves out of lockdown.'

Dr Simon Clarke, of Reading University, said: 'It is more likely lockdown will end on July 19 if the UK can increase the number of people it is vaccinating each day.

'The Government needs to do all it can to maximise uptake as quickly as possible. There are plenty of people who want them.'

Meanwhile, London Mayor Sadiq Khan has lobbied vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi for an extra 367,000 doses of Pfizer and Moderna jabs.
A quick-thinking female driver tracked down an alleged car thief using a mobile phone app, leading to the man's arrest.

Vanessa Osovnikar's boyfriend was waiting in the passenger seat of her Toyota Sedan on Sunday night as she finished work in Adelaide's CBD, when a man allegedly opened the door and jumped behind the wheel.

Her boyfriend was forced to flee the car, leaving his iPhone behind, as the alleged offender drove away, 7News reports.

Vanessa Osovnikar's (pictured) car was allegedly stolen as she finished work in Adelaide's CBD on Sunday night

The couple used Vanessa's phone to call police before using location-sharing app Life360 to trace the alleged carjacker's movements throughout the city, relaying his whereabouts to officers.

A police helicopter followed the car for about an hour as it travelled throughout the CBD and surrounding suburbs.

The suspect eventually abandoned the car at the intersection of Payneham Road and Ashbrook Avenue, in Payneham.

The man, a 27-year-old from Croydon Park, was arrested a short time later by patrols who had been directed to his location by the police helicopter.

He was charged with illegal use of a motor vehicle, drive disqualified and drive in a manner dangerous.

He was refused bail to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
The Treasury is expected to announce only limited help for struggling hospitality firms today despite coming under huge pressure to address the 'toxic cocktail' of costs that businesses now face.

Following the four-week delay to Freedom Day, pubs, restaurants and nightclubs will see vital government support withdrawn while they are still forced to abide by Covid curbs.

This 'triple whammy' of costs includes demands for billions of pounds in rent debt, the resumption of business rates payments, and the winding up of the furlough scheme.

Last night, industry leaders warned that these costs, combined with the delay in lifting Covid restrictions until at least July 19, could force up to 25,000 venues to remain shut and cost the economy 4billion.

Following the four-week delay to Freedom Day, pubs, restaurants and nightclubs will see vital government support withdrawn while they are still forced to abide by Covid curbs

Ministers have insisted there is no prospect of extending most of the Covid support measures, despite the fact that nightclubs will be unable to open until late July and most pubs will have to struggle on with restricted capacity.

However, it is understood that the Treasury is likely to announce today that it will extend the ban on evictions for unpaid commercial rent.

This ban, which prevents landlords from taking businesses to court for unpaid rent, had been due to lift on June 30. It is expected that it will now be extended, perhaps into next year. A new arbitration system could also be established to sort out differences over unpaid rent between landlords and firms.

The hospitality and retail sectors are thought to have built up 5billion in rent debt during the pandemic and these debts will have to be faced at some point.

At the end of the month, the amount of government support for employees' wages under the furlough scheme will fall from 80 per cent to 70 per cent.

The business rates holiday will end from June 30, with companies having to start paying a third of their rates bill in July  even if they are unable to open.

The concession on rent debt is unlikely to satisfy hospitality and pub industry leaders, who last night wrote to Boris Johnson to demand support after he announced a four-week delay to the easing of lockdown.

Groups including UKHospitality and the British Beer and Pub Association called on the Treasury to go further and delay the end of the business rates holiday for at least three months. Business rates payments would cost the sector 93million in July alone, they said.

A spokesman for UK Hospitality said: 'Hospitality businesses are perilously close to a cliff edge of failure. In July a toxic cocktail of costs will kick in for venues still suffering from severely constrained trading or being legally forced shut because of the roadmap delay. The Government must extend the business rates holiday and rent moratoria to prevent these businesses collapsing, triggering hundreds of thousands more job losses.'

The hospitality sector leaders, which also included real ale group Camra and the British Institute of Innkeeping, told the Prime Minister they were 'bitterly disappointed' by the delay to the full reopening of their sector, which will cost pubs 400million alone.

Nick Mackenzie, chief executive of Greene King, which has 3,000 pubs, said his firm will be forced to pay 250,000 per day in business rates even though some are still shut

A spokesman said: 'Many pubs cannot break even under current restrictions and around 2,300 remain closed. It is critical that the Government provides further support or else the recovery of our pubs will be over before they've even been given a chance.'

Nick Mackenzie, chief executive of Greene King, which has 3,000 pubs, said his firm will be forced to pay 250,000 per day in business rates even though some are still shut.

In accounts published yesterday, Caffe Nero, said any further Covid restrictions could put the coffee shop chain's future in doubt.

Last night a government source told the Daily Mail: 'We are looking at the rent moratorium. We are looking at options. We are confident that enough support is in place to enable businesses to get through the next month.'

The source also said the hardest-hit firms can apply for a share of 1billion of funding as part of a pot first announced last November.
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Jeff Bezos' girlfriend Lauren Sanchez has been spotted wearing a massive diamond on her ring finger.

Exclusive DailyMail.com photos show Sanchez sporting a huge yellow heart-shaped ring as she ran errands in Los Angeles Monday, sparking rumors Amazon boss Bezos has popped the question.

Sanchez wore floral yellow pants to match her new ring, a tan hat, crop top and shades as she stepped out of her car and into the LA heat.

The engagement speculation comes a little over a month before Bezos is set to launch himself into space with Blue Origin.

Jeff Bezos' girlfriend Lauren Sanchez was seen Monday wearing a massive diamond on her ring finger, DailyMail.com can reveal

Exclusive DailyMail.com photos show Sanchez sporting a huge yellow heart-shaped ring as she ran errands in Los Angeles

The sighting sparks rumors Bezos has popped the question to Sanchez who he has been publicly dating since January 2019

Sanchez wore floral yellow pants to match her new ring, a tan hat, crop top and shades as she stepped out of her car and into the LA heat

The engagement speculation comes a little over a month before Bezos is set to launch himself into space with Blue Origin on July 20

Bezos, who was married to Mackenzie Scott at the time, has since divorced. And Sanchez, who was married to top celebrity agent Patrick Whitesell, also divorced after news of their relationship was made public

The pair were publicly outed as a couple in January 2019 and have been going strong ever since.

Their whirlwind romance sparked high drama when their racy texts were revealed.

The pair were publicly outed as a couple in January 2019 and have been going strong ever since

Bezos, who was married to Mackenzie Scott at the time, has since divorced after 25 years of marriage. And Sanchez, who was married to top celebrity agent Patrick Whitesell, also divorced.

Bezos, who has built a fortune of over $130billion after spotting the potential for online shopping 30 years ago and starting Amazon as an internet bookseller, is stepping back from his position at the top of the firm early next month.

The richest man in the modern world has come under fire for alleged anti-competitive practices through Amazon.

He has also come under fire for controversial labor practices at Amazon, including complaints of low wages, constant surveillance of employees and overwork.

His Blue Origin project has so far completed 15 flights, but all of them have been unmanned. He has been putting $1billion a year into it out of his spare change.

As a result of his planned personal July 20 trip, Bezos is now the leader in the space race which has developed between himself and rival technology entrepreneur Elon Musk, the similarly fabulously rich boss of Tesla electric cars.

In an Instagram post, Bezos said he had dreamed of traveling to space ever since he was five years old, adding: 'I will take that journey with my brother. The greatest adventure, with my best friend.'

He will fly with his brother and two others, including the winner of a $28 million pound auction, on the first crewed flight of the autonomous New Shepherd rocket.

As a result of his planned personal July 20 trip, Bezos is now the leader in the space race which has developed between himself and rival technology entrepreneur Elon Musk, the similarly fabulously rich boss of Tesla electric cars

He will fly with his brother and two others, including the winner of a 20 million pound auction, on the first crewed flight of the autonomous New Shepherd spacecraft (artist illustration)

A petition has had over 6,000 signatures suggesting Amazon founder Jeff Bezos should be denied re-entry to Earth when he launches for space next month

Meanwhile, a petition has had over 6,000 signatures suggesting Amazon founder Bezos should be denied re-entry to Earth when he launches for space next month.

The tongue-in-cheek petition compares Bezos, who is set to launch to the edge of space on his Blue Origin rocket on July 20, to superman villain Lex Luthor.

Titled 'Petition To Not Allow Jeff Bezos Re-Entry To Earth,' the change.org page urges people to sign to keep him out, adding 'The fate of humanity is in your hands.'

The petition was launched five days ago and is addressed to Blue Origin, the rocket launch firm founded by Jeff Bezos in 2000 and operator of the upcoming flight.

It has been signed by over 6,800 people at the time of writing but has new signatures coming in every few minutes, with some suggesting he 'takes Elon [Musk]' with him.

'Jeff Bezos is actually Lex Luthor, disguised as the supposed owner of a super successful online retail store,' the petition description says, adding he is 'actually an evil overlord hellbent on global domination.'

'He's also in bed with the flat earth deniers,' the petition jokingly claims, adding 'it's the only way they'll allow him to leave the atmosphere.'

The creator of the petition, Jose Ortiz, suggested the upcoming spaceflight was a perfect opportunity to rid the world of the man he describes as an 'evil overlord' and urges Blue Origin to stop the rocket returning to Earth.
NSW Health is investigating the source of a COVID-19 case diagnosed in hotel quarantine which has an identical viral sequence to two cases staying in an adjacent room.

The department said on Tuesday night it was unclear how and where transmission occurred from a couple to another returned traveller who were all staying on the fourth floor of the Radisson Blu quarantine hotel.

Genomic sequencing has shown all three cases have identical viral sequences of the Alpha strain (B.1.1.7).

The couple, who were asymptomatic, tested positive to COVID-19 on a routine Day 2 test on June 3, NSW Health said in a statement.

The department said on Tuesday night it was unclear how and where transmission occurred from a couple to another returned traveller who were all staying on the fourth floor of the Radisson Blu (pictured) quarantine hotel

The other returned traveller returned a negative Day 2 test on June 3 before subsequently developing symptoms and testing positive for COVID-19 following a test on June 5.

The three cases were transferred from the Radisson Blu to the Special Health Accommodation, where they remain.

All three cases arrived into Sydney on the same flight from Doha on June 1 and stayed in adjacent rooms in the quarantine hotel.

"Early possibilities as to where transmission may have occurred from the couple to the secondary case include on the flight, on transport from the airport to the hotel, in the lobby of the hotel, or while in quarantine."

NSW Health said there was no evidence of further transmission.

"Out of an abundance of caution, all returned travellers who were on the same floor of the Radisson Blu hotel between June 1 and June 5 and were subsequently discharged are being contacted and asked to get tested and isolate at home pending further advice from NSW Health."

All staff who worked on the fourth floor of the hotel between June 1 and June 5 have been asked to get tested and isolate pending further advice.
Care home staff will be forced to have Covid vaccinations, ministers will announce this week.

The controversial measure means 1.5million people working in social care will be told to have the jab within 16 weeks  or face losing their jobs.

It has been introduced following a consultation which concluded it would help protect the most vulnerable in society.

No decision has yet been made on whether vaccination should be made mandatory for the 1.4million who work for the NHS. A separate consultation on that is to be launched.

Ministers are concerned about low take-up of the coronavirus vaccine among care workers, who include care home staff plus home helps.

A controversial measure to be announced this week means 1.5million people working in social care will be told to have the jab within 16 weeks  or face losing their jobs (stock image)

Despite care workers being among one of the top priority groups for Covid jabs, latest figures show that just two thirds of them have had both doses of the vaccine.

Tens of thousands of care home residents died in the pandemic, largely as a result of infections being brought in by staff during the first wave.

The Daily Mail first revealed in March that the Government was considering making it a legal requirement for NHS and care home staff to have the jab.

Organisations representing care firms and their staff have warned that the move could backfire and see workers quit rather than agree to have the jab.

The social care sector already faces a workforce shortage as a result of years of underfunding, and an exodus of staff would make it harder to meet the expected upsurge in demand once the pandemic subsides.

The move also raises questions about how care homes treat staff who refuse a mandatory jab, and whether they have to be moved into other roles, and over whether the Government could face a legal challenge.

Later this week ministers will confirm that they are pushing ahead with compulsory vaccination for most of the 1.5million working in social care in England.

On Tuesday night it was claimed that, under the plans, those working with adults will have 16 weeks to get vaccinated or face losing their jobs.

Despite care workers being among one of the top priority groups for Covid jabs, latest figures show that just two thirds of them have had both doses of the vaccine

The Government is also keen to make it mandatory for the 1.38million who are directly employed by the NHS in England to get vaccinated against Covid-19 and winter flu.

The Department of Health and Social Care will in the coming days launch two separate consultation exercises into making Covid and flu jabs mandatory for NHS staff.

But Health Secretary Matt Hancock believes the arguments in favour of protecting patients from potentially infectious staff now outweigh those that allow health workers the right to choose whether to have either immunisation.

Latest figures show that, as of June 6, 89 per cent of NHS staff had had their first dose of Covid vaccine and 82 per cent had had both.

Some 83.7 per cent of staff in adult care homes had received at least one dose by June 6 and 68.7 per cent had been double-jabbed.

The British Medical Association, which represents doctors, warned that while it wants all NHS staff to get jabbed, 'compulsion is a blunt instrument that carries its own risks'.

The health department said: 'Vaccines are our way out of this pandemic and have already saved thousands of lives  with millions of health and care staff vaccinated.

'Our priority is to make sure people in care homes are protected. We will publish our response [to the consultation] in due course.'
A dossier of allegations that Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein trafficked, groomed and abused girls and young women in the UK will be reviewed by the Metropolitan Police.

At least half a dozen women have come forward with allegations of abuse by the pair, including serious sexual assault and rape, spanning more than a decade in the 1990s and 2000s.

Evidence of the alleged offences, compiled by Channel 4 News, is said to be a combination of court papers, witness accounts and interviews.

A dossier of allegations that Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein (pictured together in 1995) trafficked, groomed and abused girls and young women in the UK will be reviewed by the Metropolitan Police

Scotland Yard was asked to investigate claims by Virginia Giuffre that she had been trafficked to London when she was 17 and pressured by Epstein and Maxwell into having sexual relations with Prince Andrew. The Duke of York has vehemently denied the allegations.

The force reviewed the evidence but decided not to proceed with a full investigation in 2016.

In August 2019, following the death of Epstein, officers reviewed the decision from 2016 and concluded that the position should remain unchanged.

Nazir Afzal, the former Chief Crown Prosecutor for north west England at the CPS, said: 'From what I've seen, there is clearly enough evidence for the police to investigate more thoroughly than they have done up to now.

'It's concerning, because we've got potential victims here. And maybe other victims or alleged victims who may, if an investigation follows its course, be identified.'

Also among the alleged victims is a woman known as Minor Victim 3 who claims she was 'groomed' by Maxwell and sexually abused by Epstein from 1994-1995.

Another woman, referred to as Jane Doe, claims she was abused by Epstein at his Florida home and his private Caribbean island after being groomed by both him and Maxwell in 2001.

Scotland Yard was asked to investigate claims by Virginia Giuffre that she had been trafficked to London when she was 17 and pressured by Epstein and Maxwell into having sexual relations with Prince Andrew. The Duke of York has vehemently denied the allegations

Virginia Giuffre (pictured) has claimed that she had been trafficked to London when she was 17

Maxwell, 59, is currently in the United States awaiting trial on charges of recruiting and grooming teenage girls from 1994 to 1997 to provide sexual massages to her one-time boyfriend Epstein. She denies all the allegations.

Maxwell faces a raft of charges in the US, including claims she groomed a young woman for abuse in the UK.

However, the woman has never been questioned by the Met, even though she is due to testify in Maxwell's US trial, according to Channel 4 News.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said last night: 'We always take allegations of sexual offences and exploitation seriously.

'The MPS is clear that it will investigate allegations where there is sufficient evidence of an offence having taken place, where it is the appropriate authority to do so and where those against whom the allegations are made are alive.

'The MPS has continued to liaise and offer assistance with other law enforcement agencies who lead the investigation into matters related to Jeffrey Epstein but is unable to comment on individuals with whom they may or may not have interacted with regard any allegations of crime. We will always consider any new information and will review the information sent to us from Channel 4.'
Thousands of residents in flood-ravaged Melbourne areas have been ordered: 'Don't drink the tap water!'

The recent deadly storms which saw extensive flood damage across the state have caused a failure in the drinking water tanks supplying the Yarra Valley.

On Wednesday, homes in Kallista, Sherbrooke and The Patch suburbs in Melbourne's outer east were told they couldn't drink their tap water for the next three days.

Locals were warned that even boiling the water wouldn't make it safe - and residents should also take care not to swallow any water while bathing or showering.

Thousands of residents in flood-ravaged Melbourne areas have been ordered not to drink their tap water after deadly storms contaminated a drink water tank in the Yarra Valley

'This advice has been issued following an equipment failure at our drinking water tank due to recent severe weather,' warned Yarra Valley Water in an urgent message to residents.

'This may result in potentially unsafe water entering the drinking water system and customer taps.

Homes in Kallista, Sherbrooke and The Patch suburbs in Melbourne's outer east were told they couldn't drink their tap water for the next three days. Yarra Valley Water have set up emergency water tanks for residents at two public halls in The Patch and Kallista while the outage continues.

'Until we can guarantee that the water is safe to drink again, we ask customers who live, work or are in these suburbs not to drink tap water until further notice.

'We ask customers in these areas not to use the tap water for drinking, preparing beverages, washing and preparing food, preparing baby formula, brushing teeth and making ice.'

The recent deadly storms which saw extensive flood damage across the state have caused a failure in the drinking water tanks supplying the Yarra Valley

Residents in nearby areas that are not named have been told their water is however safe.

Yarra Valley Water have set up emergency water tankers for residents at two public halls in The Patch and Kallista while the outage continues.

'We are working to ensure that emergency drinking water is available to those who need it,' said a spokesman.

'Customers will need to bring their own containers - bottles, pots, kettles - to fill up from the tankers.

Yarra Valley Water have set up emergency water tankers for residents at two public halls in The Patch and Kallista while the outage continues

'Customers are advised to purchase bottled water from their local supermarket if unable to collect water from tankers.'

Pets and livestock were also warned not to drink from the water supply, while dishes must be washed in hot soapy water and allowed to air dry before being used.

Even home-use water filters offer no protection against the contamination, the water authority warned.

Yarra Valley Water added: 'If customers believe they are experiencing ill-health as a result of drinking water, they are advised to visit their doctor, visit a local medical centre or hospital.'
Victoria has reported another five new local coronavirus cases, including two that were announced late on Tuesday.

The state's health officials said three cases were also acquired overseas from 17,538 tests in the past 24 hours.

Three of the cases are linked to known outbreaks, Victoria's Department of Health said.

The latest figures come as Melbournians wait anxiously to find out whether the lingering social distancing restrictions following the city's latest outbreak will be relaxed from Friday.

A couple wait for a tram on Bourke Street in Melbourne on June 10. Victoria has reported another five new local coronavirus cases, including two that were announced late on Tuesday

Health officials and government ministers are expected to discuss easing restrictions in a cabinet meeting on Wednesday morning, The Herald Sun reported.

The city's five million residents are still banned from hosting home gatherings and must wear masks outdoors as well as follow a strict 25km travel limit.

The state on Tuesday afternoon previously recorded two shock new cases of coronavirus linked to a townhouse where an aged care worker tested positive.

Health Minister Martin Foley confirmed the new cases were linked to the Kings Park Apartment Complex on Dodds and Wells Streets in Southbank.

The cases, both men, will be included in Wednesday's tally - as a mass testing initiative of the building is now underway.

More than 200 people have been tested so far and the building is locked down until they confirm it hasn't spread further.

Covid-19 testing staff put on protective equipment before entering the Kings Park on Southbank apartment building, in Melbourne on Tuesday

Health Minister Martin Foley confirmed the two new coronavirus cases recorded on Tuesday were linked to the Kings Park Apartment Complex on Dodds and Wells Streets in Southbank

Covid-19 Commander Jeroen Weimar said the two new cases live in separate apartments 'adjacent to the four other positive cases that we've already seen in that wider complex'.

He said the chance of spreading between apartments was low and supported the idea of people remaining in their flats despite problems with cross-infection in hotels.

'We don't have any evidence of apartment-to-apartment transition like in hotel quarantine,' Weimar said.

The Kings Park on Southbank apartment building on Tuesday. Two residents tested positive for Covid-19 on Tuesday, bringing the total number of infections there to six

Victoria has recorded two shock new cases of coronavirus on Tuesday afternoon linked to the Southbank townhouse where an aged care worker tested positive. Pictured are two masked pedestrians exercising at Albert Park Lake in Melbourne on June 11

'I don't think we see the direct parallels.'

Hundreds of people who live in the low-rise complex were forced into self-isolation on Sunday, after authorities established a link between two previous coronavirus cases who live there.

A total of six people who live in the apartment have tested positive for Covid-19.

'Those two positive cases are connected to some communal areas that we are concerned about, thoroughfares within that particular complex,' Weimar told reporters.

The first three cases were transferred to hotel quarantine upon testing positive.

One positive case, a baby, is still in the complex with its mother.

Mr Foley said more than 200 residents were tested on Sunday.
Almost six million white-collar jobs are at risk of being shipped abroad if the work-from-home revolution continues, a major report warned last night.

It said the 'mass experiment' with remote working during the pandemic has 'begun to loosen the binds' that previously tied working roles to specific places.

As a result, well-paid professions are vulnerable to being shifted overseas  including the jobs of graphic designers, accountants and software experts.

The report, by the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, warned that if ministers do not take urgent action there will be consequences similar to those caused by the 'loss of manufacturing jobs in the 1970s, but on an accelerated timeframe'.

A report by the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change has found 5.9million jobs  18 per cent of the UK's workforce  could be lost offshore if working from home continues. (Stock image)

According to the research, 5.9million jobs  18 per cent of the UK's workforce  could be lost offshore.

The report said: 'Having put in place the digital infrastructure to make remote working possible, businesses, especially larger ones, are likely to persist with it even after the pandemic in order to reduce overheads, boost productivity and recruit talent from a wider geography.

'As a result, they may opt to employ only the core staff required for in-person collaboration and decision-making while outsourcing and offshoring those who are not.'

The warning came as Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove indicated that some workplaces could see a continued working-from-home pattern in future.

Asked whether Britain would ever return to pre-pandemic 'normality', he said: 'I suspect it may be the case that we may see different workplaces allowing people to work from home at certain points as well as coming into the office.

'I think there may be changes to the way that we live.'

In a foreword to his report, former Labour PM Mr Blair called on ministers to move quickly to secure jobs already in the UK and take advantage of the opportunity to draw new ones in.

He wrote: 'On the one hand, there is a risk that employers decide that 'Anywhere Jobs' can be done as easily by those working abroad.

'On the other hand, if Britain takes the necessary measures of preparation to facilitate such working here, we could attract jobs from abroad.'

Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove indicated that some workplaces could see a continued working-from-home pattern in future

Meanwhile, James Gorman, boss of Morgan Stanley investment bank, has warned staff that if they can eat out they can step out to work.

He insisted: 'If you can go to a restaurant in New York City, you can come into the office. And we want you in the office.'

The comments will have repercussions in London where the bank employs 5,000 staff.

The City of London, which employs most of the UK's finance workers, had been preparing to go back to the office on June 21 but after Boris Johnson's delay to Freedom Day that date has been pushed back until July 19.

Top bank bosses have to work within Government guidelines but have increasingly run out of patience with employees working from home.

The delay is a blow for the City of London's struggling businesses  in particular bars and sandwich shops  which used to serve half a million commuters each day.

The numbers are now just a fraction of that and the transition to remote working has led some to question whether the City of London and the nearby Canary Wharf financial district have a future.
Israeli aircraft have launched fresh airstrikes against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, bringing an end to the brief ceasefire after the latest devastating conflict in the region.

Israel's military said the latest explosions were a response to the launching of incendiary balloons that caused fires in fields in southern Israel.

In a statement, the IDF military said that it was 'ready for all scenarios, including renewed fighting in the face of continued terrorist acts emanating from Gaza'.

Explosions light-up the night sky above buildings in Gaza City as Israeli forces shell the Palestinian enclave

Israel's military said the explosions were a response to the launching of incendiary balloons that caused fires in fields in southern Israel

Israeli forces shell the Palestinian enclave at Khan Yunis, ending the brief ceasefire

Israel's new prime minister, Naftali Bennett, had said in the past that the Israeli government should not tolerate incendiary balloons

Pictured: A Palestinian man sits on the rubble of a building destroyed by Israeli air strikes last month in Gaza City on June 15, 2021

The attacks, following an Israeli nationalist march in East Jerusalem that angered Palestinians, were the first launched by Israel and Gaza militants since an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire ended 11 days of cross-border fighting last month.

The truce that halted fighting between Israel and Gaza militants did not immediately appear to be threatened by the flare-up, with the overnight Israeli airstrikes giving way to calm by morning.

The Israeli Defence Force said that in response to the 'arson balloons', its 'fighter jets struck military compounds belonging to the Hamas terror organisation'.

It added that 'facilities and meeting sites for terror operatives' in Khan Yunis were targeted.

There were no reports of casualties on either side.

Israel's new prime minister, Naftali Bennett, had said in the past that the Israeli government should not tolerate incendiary balloons, and must retaliate as if Hamas had fired rockets into Israel.

Hamas had threatened to take action in response to an Israeli nationalist march on Tuesday through East Jerusalem.

Thousands of Israeli far-right nationalists chanted 'Death to Arabs' as they marched in a flag-waving procession through East Jerusalem, after Palestinians called for a 'Day of Rage' and condemned the event.

The Israeli Defence Force published aerial footage of the latest airstrikes against 'military positions' in Gaza

In a statement, the military said that it was 'ready for all scenarios, including renewed fighting in the face of continued terrorist acts emanating from Gaza'

The violence poses an early test for the government of new Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, whose patchwork coalition came to power on Sunday on a pledge to focus on socioeconomic issues and avoid sensitive policy choices towards the Palestinians.

But the flare-up could prove challenging for Israel's new government, which represents a cross section of views on the ongoing conflict.

The strikes, the military said, came in response to the launching of the balloons, which the Israeli fire brigade reported caused 20 blazes in open fields in communities near the Gaza border.

A Hamas spokesman, confirming the Israeli attacks, said Palestinians would continue to pursue their 'brave resistance and defend their rights and sacred sites' in Jerusalem.

But analysts suggested Hamas refrained from firing rockets around the march and after the Israeli strikes to avoid an escalation in Gaza, which was devastated by May's aerial bombardment.

'It (the ceasefire) is very fragile. The current calm may give the Egyptians a chance to try and cement it,' said Talal Okal, an analyst in Gaza.

Israel's Army Radio reported that Israel had informed Egyptian mediators that direct Hamas involvement in the balloon launch would imperil long-term truce talks. Israeli officials did not immediately confirm the report.

Hours earlier, thousands of flag-waving Israelis congregated around the Damascus Gate of Jerusalem's Old City before heading to Judaism's holy Western Wall, drawing Palestinian anger and condemnation.

Masked Palestinian supporters of the Islamic Jihad movement prepare incendiary balloons east of Gaza city, to launch across the border fence towards Israel

The strikes, the military said, came in response to the launching of the balloons, which the Israeli fire brigade reported caused 20 blazes in open fields in communities near the Gaza border

Prior to Tuesday's march, Israel beefed up its deployment of the Iron Dome anti-missile system in anticipation of possible rocket attacks from Gaza

A burned field is seen after Palestinians in Gaza sent incendiary balloons over the border between Gaza and Israel

Israel, which occupied East Jerusalem in a 1967 war and later annexed it in a move that has not won international recognition, regards the entire city as its capital.

Palestinians want East Jerusalem to be the capital of a future state that would include the West Bank and Gaza.

Prior to Tuesday's march, Israel beefed up its deployment of the Iron Dome anti-missile system in anticipation of possible rocket attacks from Gaza.

But as the marchers began to disperse after nightfall in Jerusalem, there was no sign of rocket fire from the enclave.

The procession was originally scheduled for May 10 as part of 'Jerusalem Day' festivities that celebrate Israel's capture of East Jerusalem.

At the last minute, that march was diverted away from the Damascus Gate and the Old City's Muslim Quarter, but the move was not enough to dissuade Hamas from firing rockets towards Jerusalem, attacks that set off last month's round of fighting.

Pictured: A Palestinian protester throws a burning projectile towards Israeli forces during a demonstration east of Gaza City by the border with Israel, on June 15, 2021

Palestinian protesters lift national flags as they burn tyres during a demonstration east of Gaza City by the border with Israel, on June 15, 2021

Pictured: A Palestinian demonstrator returns a tear gas canister fired by Israeli forces during a demonstration near the Jewish settlement of Beit El near Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, on June 15, 2021

The US and UN had called for restraint before the march, which Bennett's new administration had authorised.

With tensions high, Israeli police were deployed in heavy numbers, blocking roads and firing stun grenades and foam-tipped bullets to remove Palestinians from the main route.

Medics said 33 Palestinians were wounded and police said two officers were injured and 17 people arrested.

The demonstration triggered protests in the West Bank and Gaza Strip and prompted rebukes and warnings from Israel's allies.

The so-called March of the Flags celebrates the anniversary of the city's 'reunification' after Israel captured east Jerusalem from Jordan in 1967 and annexed it, a move not recognised by most of the international community.

Tuesday's demonstration was originally scheduled for early May but cancelled twice amid police opposition and threats from Hamas, the Islamist group that controls the Palestinian enclave of Gaza.

Throngs of mostly young religious men sang, danced and waved flags at the Damascus Gate entrance to the Old City, that was cleared of its usual Palestinian crowds.

Some chanted 'Death to Arabs' before others quieted them.

Israeli security officers scuffle with a Palestinian man as ultranationalists take part in the March of the Flags near Jerusalem's Old City, on June 15, 2021

Israel's new prime minister, Naftali Bennett, had said in the past that the Israeli government should not tolerate incendiary balloons, and must retaliate as if Hamas had fired rockets into Israel

The march comes just two days after Netanyahu was ousted after 12 straight years in power, toppled by an ideologically divided coalition including, for the first time in Israel's history, an Arab party.

Bennett is himself a Jewish nationalist but Netanyahu's allies accused the new premier of treachery for allying with Arabs and the left.

Some demonstrators on Tuesday carried signs reading 'Bennett the liar'.

Yair Lapid, the architect of the new government, tweeted he believed the march had to be allowed but that 'it's inconceivable how you can hold an Israeli flag and shout, 'Death to Arabs' at the same time.'

Mansour Abbas, whose four-seat Raam Islamic party was vital to the coalition, called Tuesday's march a 'provocation' that should have been cancelled.

The violence is the first flare-up between Israel and Palestinian militants since a ceasefire came into place in May, ending 11 days of heavy fighting that killed 260 Palestinians including some fighters, the Gaza authorities said.

In Israel, 13 people were killed, including a soldier, by rockets and missiles fired from Gaza, the police and army said.

Israeli ultranationalists chant 'Death to Arabs' during parade through Jerusalem as Palestinians condemn 'provocation' and call for a 'day of rage' in response

Thousands of Israeli far-right nationalists chanted 'Death to Arabs' as they marched in a flag-waving procession through East Jerusalem today, after Palestinians called for a 'Day of Rage' and condemned the event.

Tuesday's event posed a challenge to Israel's new government as police in riot gear diverted crowds made up of many far-right nationalists away from a known social spot for Palestinians.

Last month, Israeli-Palestinian confrontations in contested Jerusalem helped trigger 11 days of cross-border fighting between Israel and Gaza's ruling Hamas militant group before a ceasefire.

Today, Israeli police on horseback and in riot gear cordoned off areas leading to the walled Old City's flashpoint Damascus Gate, the main entry to the Muslim Quarter which has an overwhelmingly Palestinian population.

It is understood that more than 2,500 Israeli Police were securing the march and the Israeli Army is preparing for the possibility of yet another escalation with Gaza.

Thousands of Israeli far-right nationalists marched in a flag-waving procession through East Jerusalem (crowds pictured near Damascus Gate) in a march that risked reigniting tensions between Israelis and Palestinians

Israeli far-right nationalists were heard chanting 'Death to Arabs' during the march, while Palestinians slammed the event as a 'provocation'. Pictured: Israeli police removes a Palestinian woman as youth from far-right Israeli group participated in march

Israeli far-right nationalists were heard chanting 'Death to Arabs' during the march, while Palestinians slammed the event as a 'provocation' and called for 'Day of Rage' protests in Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

The march was originally scheduled for May 10 as part of 'Jerusalem Day' festivities that celebrate Israel's capture of East Jerusalem in the 1967 Middle East war but was postponed until this month.

But despite the threat of renewed violence, the 'March of the Flags' was still given the go-ahead for 5.30pm local time today and tested the newly formed Israeli government.

At one point, several dozen youths, jumping and waving their hands in their air, chanted: 'Death to Arabs!' In another anti-Arab chant, they yelled: 'May your village burn.'

Before the marchers arrived earlier today, thousands of Palestinian protestors congregated (pictured) and at least 17 were injured in clashes with Israeli police firing stun grenades, the Palestine Red Crescent ambulance service said

Today, Israeli police on horseback and in riot gear cordoned off areas leading to the walled Old Citys flashpoint Damascus Gate (crowds pictured near the gate), the entry to the Muslim Quarter of the Old City, and a known social spot Palestinians

In a scathing condemnation on Twitter, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said those shouting racist slogans were 'a disgrace to the Israeli people'.

He added: 'The fact that there are radicals for whom the Israeli flag represents hatred and racism is abominable and unforgivable.'

The crowd, while boisterous, appeared to be much smaller than during last month's parade. From the Damascus Gate, they proceeded around the Old City to the Western Wall, the holiest place where Jews can pray.

Ahead of the march, Israeli police cleared the area in front of Damascus Gate, shut down roads to traffic, ordered shops to close and sent away young Palestinian protesters.

But tensions erupted during the Palestinian protest against the far-right march as Israeli forces intervened with plastic bullets and tear gas bombs, while demonstrators threw rocks and burned tires in Jerusalem.

'Jerusalem is for all religions, but Jerusalem is in Israel. And in Israel, we must be able to go wherever we want, with our flag,' said marcher Doron Avrahami, 50, channelling right-wing frustrations with police restrictions.

The crowd of mostly religious Jews danced and sung 'the people of Israel live' while carrying blue and white Israeli flags during the march before pilling into the plaza in front of the Damascus Gate, usually a popular social spot for Palestinians.

Despite the threat of violence, the 'March of the Flags' was given the go-ahead for 5.30pm local time and tested the newly formed Israeli government. Pictured: A Palestinian woman confronts Israeli security forces outside the Damascus gate

Tensions erupted during a Palestinian protest against the far-right march as demonstrators threw rocks and burned tires in Jerusalem (pictured in Bethlehem, West Bank)

Police prevented marchers from going through Damascus Gate, while marchers took a peripheral route instead, to Judaism's sacred Western Wall (pictured)

Protesters wave Palestinian flags as they stand atop the rubble of a building destroyed by an Israeli airstrike last month, amid cross-border fighting between Israel and Gaza's ruling Hamas militant group

Far right Israelis hold Israeli flags as they enter Damascus Gate during the flag march on Tuesday as there are fears that the procession could reunite tensions in Jerusalem

Palestinians threw rocks and burn tires in response to Israeli forces' (pictured) intervention with plastic bullets and tear gas bombs during protests against the flag march on Tuesday

'Take a good look at our flag. Live and suffer,' one marcher, a megaphone in one hand and a cigar in the other, shouted in Hebrew at Palestinian marchers. Pictured: Far right Israelis dance with Israeli flags as they march near Damascus Gate

Police were expected to prevent marchers from going through the gate, which is also home to shrines sacred to Judaism, Islam and Christianity. They were to take a peripheral route instead, to Judaism's sacred Western Wall.

'Take a good look at our flag. Live and suffer,' one marcher, a megaphone in one hand and a cigar in the other, shouted in Hebrew at Palestinian merchants on the other side of police barriers erected on an East Jerusalem street.

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh also warned of the dangerous repercussions from allowing extremist Israelis to take part in the flag march as tensions remain fresh between Palestinians and Israelis.

He said: 'We warn of the dangerous repercussions that may result from the occupying power's intention to allow extremist Israeli settlers to carry out the Flag March in occupied Jerusalem.'

Israel, which occupied and annexed East Jerusalem in a move that has not won international recognition, regards the entire city as its capital. But Palestinians want East Jerusalem to be the capital of a future state that would include the West Bank and Gaza.

Just hours before the event was due to start today, incendiary balloons launched from Gaza caused several fires in fields in Israeli communities near the border with the Palestinian enclave, the Israeli fire brigade said.

Such incidents had stopped along with the ceasefire that ended last month's Israel-Gaza fighting.

The crowd of mostly religious Jews danced and sung 'the people of Israel live' while carrying blue and white Israeli flags (pictured) before pilling into the plaza in front of the Damascus Gate, usually a popular social spot for Palestinians

Hamas warned of renewed hostilities over the march, testing the Israeli government of Naftali Bennett, which approved the march along an amended route. Pictured: Israeli security officers scuffle with a Palestinian man on Tuesday

Palestinian protesters burn tyres during a demonstration against the Israeli ultranationalist March of the Flags, which Palestinians have condemned as a 'provocation'

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh warned of the dangerous repercussions from allowing extremist Israelis to take part in the flag march. Pictured: Far-right Israelis holding Israeli flags taking part in the 'flag march' on Tuesday

Far-right nationalists chanted 'Death to Arabs' during the march, while Palestinians called for 'Day of Rage' protests in Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Pictured: A Palestinian man scuffles with a member of the Israeli security force

The new Israeli government of Naftali Bennett approved the march yesterday despite warnings of renewed violence. Pictured: Israelis march with national flags near the Damascus gate during the procession

Israelis hold flags as they visit the Western Wall, Judaism's holiest prayer site in Jerusalem's Old City, after the flag procession was diverted against Damascus Gate, where there is a large Palestinian community

An Israeli policeman takes a Palestinian flag from a woman as far-right Israeli groups participate in a flag-waving procession near Damascus Gate on Tuesday

Hamas warned of renewed hostilities over the march, testing the new Israeli government of Naftali Bennett, which approved the procession along the amended route, which appeared to be designed to avoid friction with Palestinians.

Bennett heads a far-right party, and diverting the procession could anger members of his religious base and expose him to accusations he was giving Hamas veto power over events in Jerusalem.

Sitting on a bench outside the police cordon, Khalil Mitwani, a 50-year-old Palestinian, said of the marchers: 'They are making a big problem in Jerusalem. All the people here want peace - why make problems here?'

Meanwhile, U.N. Middle East envoy Tor Wennesland said on Twitter: 'Tensions (are) rising again in Jerusalem at a very fragile & sensitive security & political time, when UN & Egypt are actively engaged in solidifying the ceasefire.'

He called on all parties to 'act responsibly & avoid any provocations that could lead to another round of confrontation'.

But earlier today, before the marchers arrived at Damascus Gate, thousands of Palestinians congregated and at least 17 were injured in clashes with Israeli police firing stun grenades, the Palestine Red Crescent ambulance service said.

Violence had erupted near the Damascus Gate in the Old City before the far-right Israeli groups marched through the capital in a delayed celebration of Jerusalem Day.

Palestinian youths set tires on fire during clashes with Israeli security forces after a demonstration against the Israeli March of Flags held in Jerusalem on Tuesday

Israeli security forces detain a Palestinian during a protest against the 'March of the Flags', which celebrates the anniversary of Israel's 1967 occupation of the Jerusalem's eastern sector

Tensions rise in the Old City of Jerusalem between Palestinian and Israeli police ahead of the Israeli right-wing groups 'Flag March' next to Damascus Gate

Israeli security forces disperse Palestinians near the Damascus Gate in east Jerusalem today

Video footage captured crowds clashing with deployed security forces, with feuding sides seen hurling projectiles at each other as they shoved through the streets.

It is understood at least two Palestinians were arrested and four others were removed from the Temple Mount during the chaos today.

Elsewhere, iron barriers were erected to prevent Palestinians from reaching the Damascus Gate, where group dancing with Israeli flags later took place.

Earlier, Palestinians had called for a 'Day of Rage' in Gaza and the West Bank after condemning the planned procession as a 'provocation' amid a very fragile peace.

Gaza's Islamist rulers Hamas had warned of renewed hostilities if it went ahead.

A member of the Israeli security forces gestures outside the Damascus gate in east Jerusalem

Israeli police detain a Palestinian man during clashes that erupted ahead of a flag-waving procession by far-right youth

Israeli security forces block the entrance to Damascus Gate in east Jerusalem today

Violence erupted near the Damascus Gate in the Old City as far-right Israeli groups prepared to march through the capital in a delayed celebration of Jerusalem Day

Israel scraps indoor mask order as Covid-19 infections wane Israel today told its citizens they could stop wearing masks indoors, ending one of its last main restrictions as new Covid-19 infections continue to wane. Children headed to school and adults to work without masks for the first time in more than a year. Israelis have not had to wear masks outdoors since April. About 55 per cent of Israel's 9.3 million population are fully vaccinated - a turnout largely unchanged by this month's expansion of eligibility to include 12- to 15-year-olds. Israel has this month logged either zero or one daily Covid-19 deaths, Health Ministry data show. New infections have been in a steady but gentle decline after a steep drop-off in February and March. The ministry said masks would still be required of unvaccinated patients or staff in medical facilities, of people en route to quarantine and of passengers on commercial flights Advertisement

The 'March of the Flags' was initially approved by Israel's new government on Monday, hours after Benjamin Netanyahu handed over power to Naftali Bennett.

The controversial march typically starts at Damascus Gate and enters the Muslim Quarter, before travelling to the Western Wall plaza in the Jewish Quarter.

Today's route instead saw participants proceed outside the Old City's walls to the Jaffa Gate, then walk down David Street and Chain Gate Street before entering the Western Wall plaza.

The procession avoided the Muslim Quarter, which has an overwhelmingly Palestinian population, despite David Street and Chain Gate Street running through an Arab market of Palestinian tradesmen.

Around 54 Jews visited the Temple Mount today, according to the Jerusalem Post.

The 'March of the Flags' was organised by a collection of right-wing organisations, such as Im Tirtzu, the Bnei Akiva and Ezra, alongside several councils in the West Bank.

An original march was re-routed to avoid the walled Old City's Muslim Quarter on May 10 when tensions in Jerusalem led Gaza's Islamist rulers Hamas to fire rockets towards the holy city, helping set off 11 days of deadly fighting.

However, Israeli rightists accused their government of caving into Hamas by changing its route.

They rescheduled the procession after an Egyptian-mediated Gaza truce took hold.

Today's march posed an immediate challenge for Bennett, who took office on Sunday and brought veteran leader Benjamin Netanyahu's record-long rule to an end.

Bennett's internal security minister approved the march yesterday.

The route change could expose Bennett's patchwork coalition to accusations from Netanyahu, in the opposition, and his right-wing allies of giving Hamas veto power over events in Jerusalem.

'The time has come for Israel to threaten Hamas and not for Hamas to threaten Israel,' prominent far-right lawmaker Itamar Ben-Gvir said on Twitter.

It is understood at least two Palestinians were arrested and four others were removed from the Temple Mount during the chaos today

Israeli security forces deploy at Damascus Gate in east Jerusalem today

A Palestinian woman confronts Israeli security forces outside the Damascus Gate in east Jerusalem

Palestinians had called for a 'Day of Rage' in Gaza and the West Bank after condemning the planned procession as a 'provocation' amid a very fragile peace

Gaza's Islamist rulers Hamas yesterday warned of renewed hostilities if the march went ahead

Protests were planned for 6pm across the Gaza Strip, and Hamas and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah faction previously called on Palestinians to flock to the Old City to counter the march.

'Tensions (are) rising again in Jerusalem at a very fragile & sensitive security & political time, when UN & Egypt are actively engaged in solidifying the ceasefire,' U.N. Middle East envoy Tor Wennesland said on Twitter.

'Urge all relevant parties to act responsibly & avoid any provocations that could lead to another round of confrontation,' he said.

The 'March of the Flags' was initially approved by Israel's new government on Monday, hours after Benjamin Netanyahu handed over power to Naftali Bennett

Tension in the old city of Jerusalem between Palestinian and Israeli police ahead of the Israeli right-wing groups 'Flag March' next to Damascus gate of Jerusalem's Old City

More than 2,500 Israeli police will secure the march and the Israeli army is preparing for the possibility of another escalation with Gaza

The Israeli military made preparations for a possible escalation in Gaza over the march, Israeli media reported, and the US Embassy in Jerusalem prohibited its employees and their families from entering the Old City today.

Palestinians want East Jerusalem to be the capital of a state they seek to establish in the occupied West Bank and Gaza.

Israel, which annexed East Jerusalem in a move that has not won international recognition after capturing it in a 1967 war, regards the entire city as its capital.
Frederick Douglass shown as a young man

Frederick Douglass was a prominent activist, author and public speaker who became a leader in the abolitionist movement after he escaped from slavery.

Douglass was born into slavery in Talbot County, Maryland, in 1818, although he was never sure of his day and month of birth. His mother was of Native American ancestry while his father was of African and European descent.

He was separated from his mother as an infant and lived with his maternal grandmother before being moved to live and work on the Wye House plantation in Talbot County and then on to Baltimore.

There he was a house servant with the family of Hugh Auld. Auld's wife defied state law to teach Douglass to read, and as he grew up, he taught other slaves using the Bible.

In 1838, he escaped after several failed attempts at freedom and made his way to a safe house in New York established by the abolitionist David Ruggles.

That year, he married Anna Murray, a free black woman he had met while enslaved and they settled in Massachusetts. He then dedicated his life to the abolition of slavery and his five children.

In addition to campaigning for abolition, he fought for women's rights - specifically their right to vote - until his death.

Douglass gave his speech - What to the Slave is the Fourth of July - at an Independence Day celebration on July 5, 1852, in Rochester, New York.

The address challenged the Founding Fathers and the hypocrisy of their ideals with the existence of slavery on American soil.

He had been asked to speak on July 4th but opted instead to speak the following day, saying he could not celebrate freely when so many Americans were still enslaved.

During the Civil War he was a consultant to President Abraham Lincoln and through Reconstruction he fought for full civil rights for freedmen.

He died February 20, 1895 in Washington, D.C. He had been U.S. minister and consul general to Haiti from 1889 to 1891.
More than half of popular cosmetics being sold in the US and Canada are likely to contain high levels of toxic chemicals called polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a new study has warned.

Researchers from Notre Dame University tested more than 200 products including concealers, foundations, eye and eyebrow products and lip products, and found evidence of PFAS in around half (52 per cent) of them.

Worryingly, previous research has linked certain PFAS to a range of health issues, including kidney cancer, testicular cancer, hypertension, thyroid disease, low birth weight and immunotoxicity in children.

Professor Graham Peaslee, who led the study, said: 'PFAS is a persistent chemical - when it gets into the bloodstream, it stays there and accumulates.

'There's also the additional risk of environmental contamination associated with the manufacture and disposal of these products, which could affect many more people.'

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Researchers from Notre Dame University tested more than 200 products including concealers, foundations, eye and eyebrow products and lip products, and found evidence of PFAS in around half of them (stock image)

Cosmetics with high fluorine Product category Number of products tested Percentage of products with high fluorine All lip products 60 55% Liquid lipstick 42 62% Foundations 43 63% Concealers 11 36% Other face products 30 40% All mascara 32 47% Waterproof mascara 11 82% Other eye products 43 58% All cosmetics tested 231 52%

PFAS are a large, complex, and ever-expanding group of manufactured chemicals that are widely used to make various types of everyday products, according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

They explained: 'For example, they keep food from sticking to cookware, make clothes and carpets resistant to stains, and create firefighting foam that is more effective. PFAS are used in industries such as aerospace, automotive, construction, electronics, and military.'

In the study, the team tested more than 200 cosmetics for fluorine  an indicator of PFAS use in the product.

Their analysis revealed that 56 per cent of foundations and eye products, 48 per cent of lip products and 47 per cent of mascaras contained high levels of fluorine.

In particular, products advertised as 'long-lasting' and 'wear-resistant' were found to contain high levels, which is unsurprisingly, according to the team, given PFAS are often used for their water resistance and film-forming properties.

In particular, products advertised as 'long-lasting' and 'wear-resistant' were found to contain high levels, which is unsurprisingly, according to the team, given PFAS are often used for their water resistance and film-forming properties (stock image)

Worryingly, 29 products were tested further, and found to contain up to 13 PFAS  yet just one of these items listed PFAS as an ingredient.

Professor Peaslee said: 'This is a red flag. Our measurements indicate widespread use of PFAS in these products - but it's important to note that the full extent of use of fluorinated chemicals in cosmetics is hard to estimate due to lack of strict labeling requirements in both countries.'

PFAS are known as 'forever chemicals' because they don't naturally degrade, meaning they can contaminate groundwater for decades.

Aside from cosmetics, previous research has identified the chemicals in non-stick cookware, treated fabrics and fast food wrappers.

'These results are particularly concerning when you consider the risk of exposure to the consumer combined with the size and scale of a multibillion-dollar industry that provides these products to millions of consumers daily,' said Professor Peaslee.

PFAS have been linked to a range of health issues, including kidney cancer, testicular cancer, hypertension, thyroid disease, low birth weight and immunotoxicity in children.

Professor Peaslee added: 'There's the individual risk - these are products that are applied around the eyes and mouth with the potential for absorption through the skin or at the tear duct, as well as possible inhalation or ingestion.'
A petition has had over 6,000 signatures suggesting Amazon founder Jeff Bezos should be denied re-entry to Earth when he launches for space next month.

The tongue-in-cheek petition compares Bezos, who is set to launch to the edge of space on his Blue Origin rocket on July 20, to superman villain Lex Luthor.

He will fly with his brother and two others, including the winner of a 20 million pound auction, on the first crewed flight of the autonomous New Shepherd rocket.

Titled 'Petition To Not Allow Jeff Bezos Re-Entry To Earth,' the change.org page urges people to sign to keep him out, adding 'The fate of humanity is in your hands.'

The petition was launched five days ago and is addressed to Blue Origin, the rocket launch firm founded by Jeff Bezos in 2000 and operator of the upcoming flight.

It has been signed by over 6,800 people at the time of writing but has new signatures coming in every few minutes, with some suggesting he 'takes Elon [Musk]' with him.

A petition has had over 6,000 signatures suggesting Amazon founder Jeff Bezos should be denied re-entry to Earth when he launches for space next month

BLUE ORIGIN: THE SPACE LAUNCH FIRM FOUNDED BY JEFF BEZOS Amazon founder and outgoing CEO Jeff Bezos entered the space sector in 2000, two years before SpaceX was formed by Elon Musk. Based in Kent, Washington, it originally focused on sub-orbital spaceflight services, building cheaper, more reliable and reusable launch vehicles. They are gradually moving from suborbital to orbital flight in an incremental way and will launch humans to space on July 20. Bezos will be on that first crewed flight along with his brother Mark, the winner of an auction, and three members of Blue Origin staff. The firm currently has two launch vehicles, the suborbital New Shepherd, named for the first American in space, Alan Shepherd, and New Glenn, named for John Glenn, the first American to orbit the Earth. Bezos has announced they are also working on New Armstrong, after the first man on the Moon, Neil Armstrong, although no details have been revealed. Advertisement

'Jeff Bezos is actually Lex Luthor, disguised as the supposed owner of a super successful online retail store,' the petition description says, adding he is 'actually an evil overlord hellbent on global domination.'

'He's also in bed with the flat earth deniers,' the petition jokingly claims, adding 'it's the only way they'll allow him to leave the atmosphere.'

The creator of the petition, Jose Ortiz, suggested the upcoming spaceflight was a perfect opportunity to rid the world of the man he describes as an 'evil overlord' and urges Blue Origin to stop the rocket returning to Earth.

He also jokingly says governments stand by and watch as he takes over the world.

Ortiz pokes fun at Bezos, saying he is in cahoots with the Epsteins and the Knights Templar, as well as the flat Earth deniers.

He says keeping him in space is essential before this Bezos-led cabal 'enable the 5G microchips and perform a mass takeover'.

Bezos and the three other space tourists will venture up to 62 miles above the Earth's surface on the New Shepherd rocket.

This is the point believed to be the boundary between Earth's atmosphere and outer space, although NASA recognises 50 miles above the surface as the edge of space.

They will launch on July 20, the 52nd anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, flying at more than 2,000 mph to get into space.

After its moments in orbit, providing a few minutes of weightlessness, the innovative vehicle is supposed to float back on parachutes and land upright.

New Shepard - named after first American in space Alan Shepard - flies by automation, is 59ft high, and has room for up to six passengers.

Titled 'Petition To Not Allow Jeff Bezos Re-Entry To Earth,' the change.org page urges people to sign to keep him out, adding 'The fate of humanity is in your hands'

Bezos, who has built a fortune of some 130bn after spotting the potential for online shopping 30 years ago and starting Amazon as an internet bookseller, is stepping back from the top of the firm early next month.

The richest man in the modern world, Bezos has come under fire for alleged anti-competitive practices through Amazon.

He has also come under fire for controversial labour practices at Amazon, including complaints of low wages, constant surveillance of employees and overwork.

He will fly with his brother and two others, including the winner of a 20 million pound auction, on the first crewed flight of the autonomous New Shepherd rocket

He will fly with his brother and two others, including the winner of a 20 million pound auction, on the first crewed flight of the autonomous New Shepherd spacecraft (artist illustration)

His Blue Origin project has so far completed 15 flights, but all of them have been unmanned. He has been putting $1bn a year into it out of his spare change.

As a result of his planned personal trip Bezos is now the leader in the space race which has developed between himself and rival technology entrepreneur Elon Musk, the similarly fabulously rich boss of Tesla electric cars.

In an Instagram post, Bezos said he had dreamed of travelling to space ever since he was five years old, adding: 'I will take that journey with my brother. The greatest adventure, with my best friend.'
The UK competition regulator is investigating the Google and Apple mobile app stores over concerns they have 'too much power' and harm businesses.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it will carry out a market study of the tech giants and their services, which dominate the mobile ecosystem market.

The goal of the investigation is the assess whether their respective sizes and dominance of the mobile app market means competition is being stifled.

The two companies have an effective duopoly across a number of key areas including the fact iOS and Android are the most used mobile operating systems.

The market study can make recommendations to Government and other bodies and issue guidance to businesses and consumers as needed.

The UK competition regulator is investigating the Google and Apple mobile app stores over concerns they have 'too much power' and harm businesses

The Apple App Store and Google Play Store are also the main gateways to downloading apps, the CMA said, when mentioning areas they will cover.

Outside of the operating system and app stores, Google's Chrome and Apple's Safari are the two most used mobile web browsers globally.

The CMA said it will look into whether this level of control is harming competition across a range of digital markets.

The regulator admitting it was concerned the current status of the market could lead to reduced innovation in the sector and higher prices for consumers.

'Apple and Google control the major gateways through which people download apps or browse the web on their mobiles  whether they want to shop, play games, stream music or watch TV,' CMA chief executive Andrea Coscelli said.

'We're looking into whether this could be creating problems for consumers and the businesses that want to reach people through their phones.

'Our ongoing work into big tech has already uncovered some worrying trends and we know consumers and businesses could be harmed if they go unchecked.

'That's why we're pressing on with launching this study now, while we are setting up the new Digital Markets Unit, so we can hit the ground running by using the results of this work to shape future plans.'

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it will carry out a market study of the tech giants and their services, which dominate the mobile ecosystem market

A Google spokesperson told MailOnline: 'Android provides people with more choice than any other mobile platform in deciding which apps they use, and enables thousands of developers and manufacturers to build successful businesses.

'We welcome the CMAs efforts to understand the details and differences between platforms before designing new rules.'

The market dominance of the two companies has come under increased scrutiny in recent months, most notably led by complaints from Fortnite maker Epic Games, which has pursued legal action in the US and Europe against both firms.

Epic claims Apple and Google's unfair control of the payment systems used in online app stores and from which both companies take a commission from in-app purchases carried out via their stores is anti-competitive.

The CMA is also already investigating Apple over its control of the App Store and developer access to it, as well as Google's plans around changes in its Chrome browser.

Specifically, a new way to target advertising that the competition watchdog worries may harm the advertising market.
NASA has approved the Near-Earth Object Surveyor space telescope to help the space agency be better prepared for future asteroids that could pose a threat to Earth.

The 20-foot-long infrared telescope would help astronomers and planetary scientists find 'most' of the potentially hazardous asteroids and comets that come within 30 million miles of Earth's orbit, also known as near-Earth objects (NEOs).

According to NASA, there are just over 25,000 NEOs, but many more are waiting to be discovered.

NASA defines NEOs as 'potentially hazardous' when space objects come within 0.05 astronomical units (4.6 million miles) and measure more than 460 feet (140 meters) in diameter.

'NEO Surveyor will have the capability to rapidly accelerate the rate at which NASA is able to discover asteroids and comets that could pose a hazard to the Earth, and it is being designed to discover 90 percent of asteroids 140 meters in size or larger within a decade of being launched,' said Mike Kelley, NEO Surveyor program scientist at NASA Headquarters, in a statement.

NEO Surveyor is a new mission proposal designed to discover and characterize most of the potentially hazardous asteroids that are near the Earth

The 20-foot-long infrared telescope would help find 'most' of the potentially hazardous asteroids and comets that come within 30 million miles of Earth's orbit

NASA has not yet revealed the cost of the space telescope or which contractor will build it.

DailyMail.com has reached out to the space agency with a request for comment.

In 2010, NASA completed its goal to find NEOs that are more than 3,280ft (1,000m) across, but it was later directed by law to find objects that are larger than 459ft (140m).

It says it has found approximately 40 percent of NEOs within this range. An object that size crashing into Earth could potentially trigger an apocalyptic event.

'Each night, astronomers across the globe diligently use ground-based optical telescopes to discover new NEOs, characterize their shape and size, and confirm they do not pose a threat to us,' Kelly Fast, program manager for NASA's NEO Observations Program, added in the release.

'Those telescopes are only able to look for NEOs in the night sky. NEO Surveyor would allow observations to continue day and night, specifically targeting regions where NEOs that could pose a hazard might be found and accelerating the progress toward the Congressional goal.'

In 2018, NASA drew up a 20-page plan with detailed steps for the US to better prepare itself against NEOs that come within 30 million miles of the planet.

Although there are no known threats from 'potentially hazardous' NEOs for the next century, there have been unpredicted impacts, such as the 2013 Chelyabinsk event in Russia.

Traveling at speeds approaching 42,000mph, the 62-foot wide meteor hit Chelyabinsk with the force of 40 Hiroshima atom bombs, resulting in smashed windows, damaged buildings and left more than 1,600 injured.

In 2010, NASA completed its goal to find NEOs that are more than 3,280ft (1,000m) across, but it was later directed by law to find objects that are larger than 459ft (140m). It says it has found approximately 40 percent of NEOs within this range

It became the largest object to hit Earth since the Tunguska blast of 1908.

The NEO Surveyor could help prevent events such as the meteorite in Chelyabinsk, Russia utilizing infrared sensors to help find NEOs faster.

This includes the ability to find ones that could approach Earth during the day from the direction of the Sun, something that is not yet capable from ground-based observatories.

'By searching for NEOs closer to the direction of the Sun, NEO Surveyor would help astronomers discover impact hazards that could approach Earth from the daytime sky,' said Amy Mainzer, survey director for NEO Surveyor at the University of Arizona.

'NEO Surveyor would also significantly enhance NASA's ability to determine the specific sizes and characteristics of newly discovered NEOs by using infrared light, complementing ongoing observations being conducted by ground-based observatories and radar.'

The NEO Surveyor is scheduled to launch sometime in the first half of 2026, but the agency did not specify exactly when.

The US space agency is working towards deflecting asteroids with its Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission, scheduled for launch later this year.

In 2019, NASA awarded a $69 million contract to Elon Musk's SpaceX to help with the DART mission.

This will be 'the first-ever mission to demonstrate the capability to deflect an asteroid by colliding a spacecraft with it at high speed  a technique known as a kinetic impactor,' according to the space agency.

The DART spacecraft will crash into Dimorphos (Greek for "having two forms"), an object that orbits the Didymos near-Earth asteroid, some time in 2022 and change its course slightly, altering it by one percent.
Researchers have found gray reef sharks in French Polynesia are able to save energy by surfing the updrafts of the currents in the area.

Experts at Florida International University found that the sharks, located in Fakarava Atoll, can save up to 15 percent of their normal energy expenditure by floating and relaxing on the current.

'During the day, they're pretty placid and relaxed, swimming with minimal effort,' FIU marine scientist Yannis Papastamatiou said in a statement.

'It's interesting because it's a pretty strong current.'

While conducting their research, Papastamatiou and the other researchers saw 'hundreds' of gray reef sharks swimming against the current.

Gray reef sharks in French Polynesia can save energy by surfing the updrafts of the currents in the area

The sharks, located in Fakarava Atoll, can save up to 15 percent of their normal energy expenditure by floating and relaxing on the current

Fakavra Atoll is a popular diving spot in the Pacific Ocean and the second-largest of the Tuamotu atolls

To save the most energy, the sharks changed how deep they went to surf the current. For incoming tides with strong updrafts, they went deeper, while they were closer to the surface for outgoing tides

The sharks also created a 'conveyer-belt-like system,' in which one shark that reached the end of the line allowed the current to bring it back to the beginning

They also noted the sharks had created a 'conveyer-belt-like system,' in which one shark that reached the end of the line allowed the current to bring it back to the beginning.

After they saw other sharks also do that, did the experts realize they were on to something.

'This study is a nice demonstration of energy seascapes, a spatial representation of how much energy it costs an animal to move through an environment,' Papastamatiou added.

'Marine environments are a lot more dynamic because of the water currents, which are much less predictable. They can change seasonally, throughout the day and even minute by minute. Ultimately, the energy seascape helps explains why these animals are in this channel hanging out there during the day. Now we have an answer.'

Fakarava is a famous dive site and home to approximately 500 gray reef sharks, which have been known to attack humans.

To save the most amount of energy, the sharks changed how deep they went to surf the current.

For incoming tides with strong updrafts, they went deeper, while they were closer to the surface for outgoing tides.

The scientists used a number of tools, including tracking tags and cameras to make their observations.

These findings could also apply to other coastal areas, and possibly explain why there may be larger numbers of sharks in certain places. It could even help predict why sharks may prefer one area over another.

The research was recently published in Journal of Animal Ecology.

Although much smaller than other sharks such as gray whites, these agile predators can reach over 6ft in length and can be spotted by their white-tipped dorsal fins, broad snouts and large eyes.

They normally reside near coral reefs and have been spotted as far west as South Africa.

In July 2020, researchers found that shark populations have gone missing from nearly 20 percent of the world's coral reefs.

One month later, a separate study was published that found that after hunting at night, gray reef sharks return to the same spot on the reefs and stayed in a stable group of other gray reef sharks.
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'Seagliders' will transport passengers across the Channel in just 40 minutes by 2028, if a new maritime transport project led by Brittany Ferries is successful.

The vehicles, revealed today in new concept images, will each transport 150 passengers between England and France at speeds of up to 180 miles per hour  six times faster than conventional ferries.

The fleet of battery-powered gliders are designed to ride on a cushion of air trapped between the vehicle and the water's surface  the so-called 'ground effect'.

The ground effect means lift is increased and drag decreased when an aircraft's wings are close to the surface, meaning it's neither floating nor flying.

They're fully electric, meaning they don't rely on burning carbon-emitting fuel for power generation, and would cut the journey time from Portsmouth to Cherbourg from around six hours to just 40 minutes.

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The fleet of seagliders would cut the journey time from Portsmouth to Cherbourg from around six hours to just 40 minutes

A seaglider as seen in a new concept image from Brittany Ferries. The company has signed a letter of intent which could see seagliders with a 150 passenger capacity sailing between the UK and France by 2028

WHAT IS GROUND EFFECT? Ground effect is the aerodynamic interaction between the wings and a surface beneath. It creates a cushion of high-pressure air trapped between wings and the ground or water while flying at low altitude. It means lift is increased and drag decreased when an aircraft's wings are close to the surface. Advertisement

Operating a few metres above the water's surface, the fleet will combine the high speed of an aeroplane with the low operating cost of a ship, according to Brittany Ferries.

It has the potential to serve routes of up to 180 miles with existing battery technology, and routes up to 500 miles with next-generation batteries.

Brittany Ferries is working with a Boston, US-based startup called Regent to make the vehicles a reality. The two companies claim it promises the quickest, greenest way to reach France from the south of England.

'The reality is we as an industry have to look at technologies for the future,' Nigel Wonnacott at Brittany Ferries told the BBC. 'We have to look at decarbonising maritime transport.'

Brittany Ferries describes the seagliders as 'akin to a hovercraft with wings'. In open waters, it takes off, riding the air cushion all the way to its destination.

Wing-mounted propellers provide the thrust to take to the air at low speeds, while electric motors regulate air flow over wings while riding the air cushion.

The vehicles will also be packed with sensors to detect and automatically avoid traffic at sea, offering the 'most convenient and comfortable form of cross-Channel travel', according to Brittany Ferries.

The fleet, which have the potential to connect to existing ferry ports, is now being built at Regent's premises.

The ground effect means lift is increased and drag decreased when an aircraft's wings are close to the surface, meaning it's neither floating nor flying (concept image)

Seagliders would cut the journey time from Portsmouth to Cherbourg from around six hours to just 40 minutes compared to a traditional ferry (both are pictured for comparison)

SEAGLIDER SPECS - Part ship, part plane - Battery powered and fully electric - High speed (180 mph) - Range of 180 miles with existing battery technology - Could cut journey times across the Channel to 40 minutes - Size: TBC Advertisement

Regent is working on several different sizes of passenger-carrying seagliders, all of which operate on the same principle.

'Seaglider is an attractive and exciting concept and we look forward to working with Regent in the months and years to come,' said Frederic Pouget, ports and operations director for Brittany Ferries.

'We are particularly pleased to contribute now because it means we can bring real-world challenges and potential applications into the company's thinking at an early stage.

'We hope this may help bring commercial success in the years that follow. Who knows, this could be the birth of ferries that fly across the Channel.'

Getting the fleet on the Channel by 2028 will be a challenge, and both companies have acknowledged the 'many technological, practical and regulatory milestones' that lie ahead.

However, according to Brittany Ferries, 'caution should not stand as an impediment to the development of a promising concept'.

Ground effect vehicles (GEVs) are nothing new  in the 1960s, the Soviet Union built an experiential GEV called the Caspian Sea Monster.

Former Premier of the Soviet Union Nikita Khrushchev famously leaked the project when talking to reporters at the UN about 'ships that can jump over bridges'  although the Americans thought he was talking nonsense.

The gliders will each transport 150 passengers between England and France at speeds of up to 180 miles per hour. Pictured coming out of Portsmouth harbour in concept image

Operating a few metres above the water's surface, the fleet will combine the high speed of an aeroplane with the low operating cost of a ship
The world's largest magnet, a decade in the making, is ready to be shipped to France where it will form the centrepiece of a project to replicate the power of the sun.

This will form a central part of ITER, a 17 billion ($23.95 billion) machine that creates fusion energy on Earth, built in France by 35 partner countries to find a 'true renewable power'.

The hydrogen fusion system is a test to prove the technology can work and that power can be created and controlled to provide carbon-free safe electricity.

While fusion power has been generated on Earth, it has never been possible in a sustained way that produces more energy than it takes to operate, the team said.

This new magnet, one of six, is 14ft in diameter and when the full system is assembled will be 59ft tall and 14ft wide, weighing about 1,000 tons.

It will be so powerful it could lift a 1,000ft, 100,000 ton aircraft carrier as much as six foot off the ground, but instead will be used to induce a powerful current in plasma.

This is a technical demonstration, but if it goes to plan it is hoped that hydrogen fusion power plants could be contributing to electricity grids by the middle of the century, generating 1,500 megawatts of electricity from just 1kg of fuel per day.

The world's largest magnet, a decade in the making, is ready to be shipped to France where it will form the centrepiece of a project to replicate the power of the sun

This will form a central part of ITER, a 17 billion machine that creates fusion energy on Earth, built in France by 35 partner countries to find a 'true renewable power'

WHAT IS THE INTERNATIONAL THERMONUCLEAR EXPERIMENTAL REACTOR (ITER)? Know as ITER, the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor aims to use a strong electric current to trap plasma inside a doughnut-shaped enclosure long enough for fusion to take place. The design, known as a tokamak, was conceived by Soviet physicists in the 1950s but it's proving tough to build and could be even tougher to operate. Construction of the reactor in southern France has been dogged by delays and a surge in costs to about 20 billion (17bn / $23.7 bn). ITER is the most complex science project in human history. Hydrogen plasma will be heated to 150 million degrees Celsius, ten times hotter than the core of the Sun, to enable the fusion reaction. The process happens in a donut-shaped reactor, called a tokamak 1, which is surrounded by giant magnets that confine and circulate the superheated, ionized plasma, away from the metal walls. The superconducting magnets must be cooled to -269C (-398F), as cold as interstellar space. Scientists have long sought to mimic the process of nuclear fusion that occurs inside the sun, arguing that it could provide an almost limitless source of cheap, safe and clean electricity. Unlike in existing fission reactors, which split plutonium or uranium atoms, there's no risk of an uncontrolled chain reaction with fusion and it doesn't produce long-lived radioactive waste. The ITER team claim a technique for building launcher and satellite components has turned out to be the best way for constructing rings to support the powerful magnetic coils inside the machine. Advertisement

Known as the Central Solenoid, the giant magnet is being built in California by General Atomics and is the largest US contribution to the international project.

The massive machine, involving work and funding from the EU (including the UK and Switzerland), China, India, Japan, Korea, Russia and the US is 75 per cent complete.

The final large scale components will be installed between now and 2023, with the first plasma due to be generated by 2025, according to the ITER team.

When assembled together, the magnets and other components will make up the ITER Tokamak, a 'sun on earth' to demonstrate fusion at industrial scale.

The Central Solenoid will induce a powerful current in the ITER plasma, helping shape and control the fusion reaction during long pulses.

The 'beating heart' of the machine, at its core it will reach a magnetic field strength of 13 Tesla, about 280,000 times stronger than the Earth's magnetic field.

The support structures for the Central Solenoid will have to withstand forces equal to twice the thrust of a space shuttle lift-off.

Being built by General Atomics, final testing was completed earlier this year, and now it is set to be loaded onto a special heavy transport truck to ship to Houston.

When it Texas it will be loaded on to a ship for travel on to souther France.

The Central Solenoid will play a critical role in ITER's mission to establish fusion energy as a practical, safe and inexhaustible source of clean, abundant and carbon-free electricity, according to General Atomic director of engineering, John Smith.

'This project ranks among the largest, most complex and demanding magnet programs ever undertaken,' according to Smith.

Five additional Central Solenoid modules, plus one spare, are at various stages of fabrication, with Module 2 set to be shipped in August.

The technology will lead to the creation of hydrogen fusion, which ITER says is an ideal method of generation electricity as it depends on deuterium for fuel.

Deuterium is readily available in seawater and the only by-product is helium.

Like a gas, coal, or fission plant, a fusion plant will provide highly concentrated, baseload energy around the clock, meaning an always available power supply not possible with wind or solar farms.

How it works: This graphic shows the inside of a nuclear fusion reactor and explains the process by which power is produced. At its heart is the tokamak, a device that uses a powerful magnetic field to confine the hydrogen isotopes into a spherical shape, similar to a cored apple, as they are heated by microwaves into a plasma to produce fusion

Yet fusion produces no greenhouse gas emissions or long-lived radioactive waste. and the risk of accidents with a fusion plant is very limited - if containment is lost, the fusion reaction simply stops, the team explained.

In February of this year, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) called for aggressive action to build a pilot power plant.

NASEM released a report on the issue that proposes a design by 2028 and a fusion pilot plant in the 2035-2040 timeline.

The hydrogen fusion system is a test to prove the technology can work and that power can be created and controlled, to provide carbon-free safe electricity

Fusion power works by colliding heavy hydrogen atoms to form helium  releasing vast amounts of energy in the process, as occurs naturally in the centre of stars. In such stellar furnaces, it is gravity that overcomes the tendency of the charged hydrogen atoms to repel away from each other. In ITER, however, this will be done by creating a ring of charged, super-hot gas  reaching some 270,000,000F  which will be held in place by magnets

'The point of working from this timeline was to outline what it would take to have an impact on the transition to reduced carbon emissions by the mid-century,' said Kathy McCarthy, Director of the US ITER Project Office.

'Many investments and essential activities would need to begin now in order to meet that timeline,' she said.

Adding 'the experience we're gaining from ITER in integrated, reactor-scale engineering is invaluable for realising a viable, practical path to fusion energy.'

While fusion power has been generated on Earth, it has never been possible in a sustained way that produces more energy than it takes to operate, the team said

This new magnet, one of six, is 14ft in diameter and when the full system is assembled will be 59ft tall and 14ft wide, weighing about 1,000 tons

'The ITER project is the most complex scientific collaboration in history,' says Dr. Bernard Bigot, Director-General of the ITER Organization.

'Very challenging First-of-a-kind components are being manufactured on three continents over a nearly 10-year period by leading companies such as General Atomics. Each component represents a top-notch engineering team.

'Without this global participation, ITER would not have been possible; but as a combined effort, each team leverages its investment by what it learns from the others.'

It will be so powerful it could lift a 1,000ft, 100,000 ton aircraft carrier as much as six foot off the ground, but instead will be used to induce a powerful current in plasma

This is a technical demonstration, but if it goes to plan it is hoped that hydrogen fusion power plants could be contributing to electricity grids by the middle of the century, generating 1,500 megawatts of electricity from just 1kg of fuel per day

ITER will be the first fusion device to produce net energy across the plasma, meaning the fusion reaction will generate more thermal energy than the energy required to heat the plasma in the first place.

It will also be the first fusion device to maintain fusion for long periods of time.

ITER will generate 500 megawatts of thermal fusion power, more than thirty times the current record achieved on the JET tokamak in the UK.

Known as the Central Solenoid, the giant magnet is being built in California by General Atomics and is the largest US contribution to the international project

HOW DOES FUSION POWER WORK? A small amount of deuterium and tritium (hydrogen) gas is injected into a large, donut-shaped vacuum chamber, called a tokamak. The hydrogen is heated until it becomes an ionized plasma, which looks like a cloud. Giant superconducting magnets, integrated with the tokamak, confine and shape the ionized plasma, keeping it away from the metal walls. When the hydrogen plasma reaches 150 million degrees Celsius - ten times hotter than the core of the Sun - fusion occurs. In the fusion reaction, a tiny amount of mass is converted to a huge amount of energy (E=mc2). Ultra-high-energy neutrons, produced by fusion, escape the magnetic field and hit the metal tokamak chamber walls, transmitting their energy to the walls as heat. Some neutrons react with lithium in the metal walls, creating more tritium fuel for fusion. Water circulating in the tokamak walls receives the heat and is converted to steam. In a commercial reactor, this steam will drive turbines to produce electricity. Hundreds of tokamaks have been built, but ITER will be the first to achieve a 'burning' or largely self-heating plasma. Advertisement

Creating the magnetic fields in a tokamak requires three different arrays of magnets.

External coils around the ring of the tokamak produce the toroidal magnetic field, confining the plasma inside the vessel.

The poloidal coils, a stacked set of rings that orbit the tokamak parallel to its circumference, control the position and shape of the plasma.

In the centre of the tokamak, the Central Solenoid uses a pulse of energy to generate a powerful toroidal current in the plasma that flows around the torus.

The movement of ions with this current in turn creates a second poloidal magnetic field that improves the confinement of the plasma, as well as generating heat for fusion.

Together, ITER's magnets create an invisible cage for the plasma that conforms precisely to the metal walls of the tokamak.

'Fusion has the potential to provide safe, environmentally friendly energy as a realistic replacement for fossil fuels during this century,' Bigot says.

'With a nearly unlimited global supply of fuel, it also has the potential - in complement with renewable energies - to transform the geopolitics of energy supply.

'I can think of no better illustration of that transformative action than the ITER project, where our US partners work in close collaboration with contributors from China, Europe, India, Japan, South Korea, and Russia, as a single team dedicated to achieving the common goal of a bright energy future.'

Though ITER will not generate electricity, it will be a critical testbed for the integrated technologies, materials, and physics regimes necessary for the commercial production of fusion-based electricity.

The lessons learned at ITER will be used to design the first generation of commercial fusion power plants, expected to be online by 2040 or 2050.
A new study suggests that humans and Neanderthals lived together in Israel's Negev desert, approximately 50,000 years ago.

The research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, notes that Boker Tachtit is the earliest known migration point from Africa for early humans in the area, making it likely the two coexisted for a period of time.

The researchers were able to date that evolution at Boker Tachit started around 50,000 years ago and ended about 44,000 years ago using updated radiocarbon dating.

This allowed for a 'certain overlap' between the transition that happened in Boker Tachtit and that which happened in the area that is now modern-day Lebanon and Turkey between 49,000 and 46,000 years ago.

'This goes to show that Neanderthals and Homo sapiens in the Negev coexisted and most likely interacted with one another, resulting in not only genetic interbreeding, as is postulated by the 'recent African origin' theory, but also in cultural exchange,' two of the study's authors, Elisabetta Boaretto and Omry Barzilai, said in a statement.

A new study suggests that humans and Neanderthals lived together in Israel's Negev desert, approximately 50,000 years ago. The area of Boker Tachtit is the earliest known migration point from Africa for early humans in the area. Left to right: View of the Boker Tachtit excavation site. Circled: a group of unearthed flint stone artifacts; Flint point representative of the Upper Paleolithic in Boker Tachtit

Homo sapiens are widely believed to have originated in Africa about 270,000 years ago. From there, they took routes to Eurasia, passing through Levant and subsequently, Boker Tachtit, or they went to remote areas of Asia and beyond

The excavations of the area were done by the researchers from 2013 to 2015.

In addition to high-resolution radiocarbon dating, they optically stimulated quartz sand grains at both the Weizmann Institute and Max Planck Institute, respectively.

Archaeologist Anthony Marks first started looking at Boker Tachtit in the 1980s, determining the area as transitional from the Middle to Upper Paleolithic era.

The star represents where Boker Tachtit is in Israel's Negev Desert

However, Marks based it on a single radiocarbon date, concluding it dated to 47,000 years ago.

Since then, some radiocarbon dating said it happened as late as 34,000 years ago, placing the original transition in flux.

'If we are to follow this timeline, then the transitional period could have lasted more than 10,000 years, and yet artifacts excavated from northern sites in Israel, Lebanon and even Turkey suggest that the transition occurred much faster,' says Boaretto.

Neanderthals went extinct between 50,000 and 35,000 years ago, as modern humans began to settle throughout Europe and Asia

'Marks managed to date only a few specimens from Boker Tachtit, owing to the limitations of radiocarbon dating then, and the range of his proposed dates is not consistent with evidence gathered from other  old and new  excavation sites in the region,' Boaretto added.

'Radiocarbon dating, the method that he used in his study, has evolved tremendously since his time.'

The new dating puts the early era of Boker Tachtit to the Middle Paleolithic era, when Neanderthals were still around.

Homo sapiens are widely believed to have originated in Africa about 270,000 years ago.

From there, they took routes to Eurasia, passing through Levant and subsequently, Boker Tachtit, or they went to remote areas of Asia and beyond.

Neanderthals went extinct between 50,000 and 35,000 years ago, as modern humans began to settle throughout Europe and Asia.
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Now more than ever, the idea of sailing around the world, leaving all your cares at home, has enormous appeal. You could book a world cruise for early next year and be home by Easter.

But what about a world tour with a difference?

Take it slower and allow time to explore more ashore with a tour of 27 countries. Here we show you how it can be done  in 181 days on seven ships, a yacht and a train. And all without setting foot in an airport...

Southampton to San Francisco

Epic adventure: The first leg of the world tour runs from Southampton to San Francisco, with the Fisherman's Wharf, Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge among the city's highlights

Jan 3, 2022  Jan 27, 2022

24 days, 16 of them at sea, five ports, five countries and a canal.

The voyage: Sailing across the Atlantic, the first call is Tenerife, the largest of the Canary Islands. Next stop is Barbados followed by Curacao. Transit the Panama Canal before calling at Huatulco and Cabo San Lucas on the Pacific coast of Mexico.

Don't miss: Whale watching on the Sea of Cortes, which is fizzing with marine life  dolphins, sea lions, pelicans and whales that come to calve.

Your ship: Adults-only Aurora offers classic cruising. Swim every day whatever the weather, thanks to a retractable Skydome.

Book: From 3,112pp (pocruises.com).

There are 12 days until your next ship sails, so when you've seen San Francisco  Fisherman's Wharf, Alcatraz  head over the Golden Gate Bridge to the vineyards of the Sonoma and Napa valleys, or go east to Yosemite National Park.

San Francisco to Sydney

On Cunard's Queen Victoria you can spend your days at sea in the theatre or playing quoits and shuffleboard on deck

Feb 6, 2022  Mar 1, 2022

22 days, 15 at sea, five ports, five countries and crossing the Equator and the International Date Line.

The voyage: After five days heading across the Pacific, the Hawaiian archipelago comes into view and it is time to step ashore in Honolulu. Back at sea, first-timers crossing the Equator can expect a dousing from King Neptune and you'll lose a day crossing the International Date line en route to Samoa and Fiji before arriving in New Zealand.

Don't miss: New Zealand is the farthest country from the UK, so make the most of the time in the three ports of call. Experience hissing geysers in Rotorua, bungee jump from Auckland Bridge and explore the Waitangi River on a Maori war canoe.

Your ship: Queen Victoria has dining rooms designated by cabin grades, but everyone gets dressed up for gala balls in the Queens Room. Spend your days at sea watching a play in the theatre or playing quoits and shuffleboard on deck.

Book: From 3,669pp (cunard.com).

It is six days until it's time to board your next ship. Climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge, take a tour of the Opera House, hang out on the city's beaches and scoot inland to the beautiful Blue Mountains.

Sydney to Hong Kong

Paddy fields framed by lush surroundings on the Indonesian island of Lombok, which you can see on a Royal Princess cruise

Mar 7, 2022  Mar 25, 2022

18 days, 11 at sea, five ports, four countries.

The voyage: The first port of call is Brisbane, then on to Darwin. You'll also see Lombok, Bali's less-visited neighbour, and Saigon.

Don't miss: Gliding past red gum trees along the Adelaide River in the tropical Top End of Australia to watch 'salties'  salt water crocodiles  jumping for fish.

Your ship: You can stroll out to sea on Royal Princess, thanks to the astonishing steel and glass SeaWalk, curving out 128ft above the waves. Or enjoy cocktail theatre from juggling waiters in the glass-floored SeaView Bar.

Book: From 1,149pp (princess.com).

There is no need to rush around in Hong Kong, you'll be there ten days.

Hong Kong to Bangkok

The Grand Dining Room onboard Oceania Cruises' 700-passenger Insignia ship

April 4, 2022  April 16, 2022

12 days, two at sea, six ports, three countries.

The voyage: You'll be immersed in the sights of South-East Asia with overnight stays in Vietnam's Hanoi, Hue and Saigon, and days in Nha Trang in Vietnam and Kampot in Cambodia.

Don't miss: Meditating with a Buddhist monk on the deck of a wooden junk gliding through Halong Bay.

Your ship: A foodies' favourite, 700-passenger Insignia has plant-based menus and French and Oriental cuisine.

Book: From 3,769pp (oceaniacruises.com).

After seeing Bangkok, head for the beach  Koh Samet island is just four hours away.

Bangkok to Singapore

The gleaming, deep-green Belmond Eastern & Oriental Express is opulently fitted out with a piano bar and observation carriage

Apr 27, 2022  Apr 30, 2022

Three days by rail, two stops, three countries.

Your journey: The train rolls west from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi, site of the Bridge on the River Kwai. Travelling south through Thailand and into Malaysia, the train stops in Kuala Kangsar before reaching Singapore.

Don't miss: A village visit and hill trek with a naturalist in the Malaysian countryside.

Your train: The gleaming, deep-green Eastern & Oriental Express is opulently fitted out with a piano bar and observation carriage.

Book it: From 2,348pp (belmond.com).

You'll have time to play before your next ship. So, when you've sipped Singapore Slings at Raffles hotel and strolled through Chinatown and Little India, strike out to the beaches of Sentosa island and the walking trails of Bukit Timah Nature Reserve.

Singapore to Athens

Yala National Park in Sri Lanka is home to leopards and the elephants are another attraction

May 13, 2022  June 3, 2022

21 days, 12 at sea, seven ports, six countries and another canal.

The voyage: After four weeks on land you'll be glad of three days to get your sea legs back, sailing west to Sri Lanka, calling at Hambantota, for leopard and elephant spotting in Yala National Park, and at Colombo. Next stop is Cochin on India's south-west coast. Across the Arabian Sea, an overnight stay in Safaga gives time to visit Luxor and the Valley of the Kings. Then it's the Red Sea port of Aqaba before transiting the Suez Canal to Ashdod, the port for Jerusalem and the Dead Sea. Finally, you cross the Mediterranean to Crete.

Don't miss: Walking through Al Siq, a narrow gorge that opens on to the city of Petra, ancient capital of the Nabataean Kingdom.

Your ship: Azamara Journey is a 700-passenger ship and every voyage includes an AzAmazing evening.

Book: From 3,388pp (azamara.co.uk).

You have three days in Athens, time to see the Acropolis and its museum, the Parthenon and the Temple of Zeus.

Athens to Dubrovnik

Jun 6  Jun 11, 2022

On a ten-day cruise with Seabourn you'll visit three ports in Greece and Saranda, in Albania, pictured

Five days, four ports, two countries.

Your voyage: It is a ten-day cruise but you'll be jumping ship halfway. Not before visiting three ports in Greece (Santorini, Pylos and Kefalonia) and Saranda, in Albania.

Don't miss: Boarding a catamaran in Santorini to sail across the caldera to bathe in hot springs on an island created by a massive volcanic explosion 3,600 years ago.

Your ship: Luxury, all-inclusive Seabourn Sojourn has a high staff-to-guest ratio.

Book: Fares start from 5,649pp for a ten-day cruise that finishes in Valletta, Malta (seabourn.com).

There are 11 days until you join your last ship. Time to sneak in a week's side-cruise island-hopping along the Dalmatian coast.

Dubrovnik to Dubrovnik

On Motor yacht MS Agape Rose you can go island hopping around Croatia. Pictured, the island of Hvar

Jun 11, 2022  Jun 18, 2022

Seven days, five islands, three cities.

The voyage: Always in sight of land, you'll hop on and off the Croatian islands of Brac, Hvar, Korcula, Mljet and Vis, and visit Split and Omis on the mainland, too.

Don't miss: Spotting locations for Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again on Vis.

Your ship: Motor yacht MS Agape Rose has 18 cabins and lots of space for sunbathing.

Book: 1,244pp (completelycroatia.co.uk).

Dubrovnik to Southampton

Bolette is the flagship of the Fred. Olsen fleet. Pictured, one of the ship's premier suites

Jun 22, 2022  Jul 2, 2022

Nine days, four at sea, five ports, five countries.

The Voyage: Your shipmates will have been on board more than a week when you join them. On the Adriatic Sea you'll visit Neum in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Split in Croatia and Durres in Albania, then sail across the Med to Cagliari in Sardinia and on to Tangiers, Europe's gateway to Africa.

Don't miss: A glass of mint tea on an outdoor terrace at Cafe Hafa in Tangiers with views of the Atlantic and distant coast of Spain.

Your ship: Bolette is the flagship of the Fred. Olsen fleet with 11 spacious bars and lounges.

Book: The 18-night round-trip cruise starts in Southampton on June 14. From 2,799pp, for the ten nights on board (fredolsencruises.com).

Congratulations! You have returned home, six months after setting off, in time to enjoy a glorious English summer.

All fares quoted are for cruise only.
John Challis checks into our travel Q&A

This week actor John Challis checks into our travel Q&A.

He talks about his earliest holiday memory, his favourite city, a hotel from hell - and more.

EARLIEST HOLIDAY MEMORY?

Going to Weston-super-Mare  Ill never forget losing my catapult on the beach.

FIRST TRIP ABROAD?

An exchange trip, aged 15, to a holiday camp in Saint-Brevin-les-Pins, France, in the late 1950s. The idea was to get fit, and there was a lot of jumping up and down on the beach. But it had a touch of the PoW camp about it because there was a fence to stop us getting out.

FAVOURITE CITY?

Belgrade, which lies at the junction of two great European rivers and is full of history. Only Fools And Horses is huge there, so wherever I went people were calling out, Hey, Boycie!

ANY MUST-SEE SIGHTS?

The Serbian Orthodox Temple of Saint Sava, with its beautiful mosaics.

FAVOURITE HOTEL IN BELGRADE?

I stay at the Zepter in the centre of town  everything is close to hand.

HOTEL FROM HELL?

In my early days as an actor I saw a sign in a Glasgow B&B saying, No theatricals. A lot of guesthouse owners thought actors never paid, were always drunk and would run off with their daughter.

ARE YOU A GOOD FLYER?

No, Ive always been terrified of flying and sit there rigid in my chair until we touch down.

John hopes to visit the Jurassic Coast this summer. Pictured is Durdle Door in Dorset, which is one of the area's most eye-catching spots

WOULD BOYCIE MAKE A GOOD TRAVEL BUDDY?

Hed be a nightmare, complaining about the service and always looking for special treatment.

WHERE NEXT?

I hope to head to the Devon, Dorset and Jurassic coast this summer  but next year I want to take a train across America.

WOULD BOYCIES DREAM BREAK BE ANYTHING LIKE YOURS?

No. It would involve holding court in a fancy hotel restaurant and moaning about foreigners, whereas I like to explore wherever I visit.
She divides her time between her homes in London and Miami.

And Kimberley Garner looked incredible as she showcased her gym-honed physique during an outing in Chelsea on Monday.

The former Made In Chelsea star, 30, sported a bright red crop top that highlighted her toned abdomen, pairing it with matching leggings.

Out and about: Kimberley Garner looked incredible as she showcased her gym-honed physique during an outing in Chelsea on Monday

The social media influencer also sported a pair of white trainers and carried her sunglasses in her hand.

Letting her blonde locks fall loose down her shoulders, Kimberley accentuated her natural beauty with a light pallet of makeup.

The blonde beauty is known for her love of fitness and also owns her own swimwear line, Kimberley London.

Kimberley appeared to be flying solo on the walk and was last linked to a mystery man in December, whose identity she has not disclosed.

Looking good: The former Made In Chelsea star, 30, sported a bright red crop top that highlighted her toned abdomen, pairing it with matching leggings

The couple spent the last few months travelling, ringing in Christmas in Barbados and spending the new year in Florida after flying to out Miami in late December.

It wasn't all carefree partying, however, as she took to Instagram to defend herself from backlash over her international travel.

The former Made In Chelsea star said she jetted out of the UK on December 14  a week before London moved into Tier 4  to 'check on my apartment'.

Casual: The social media influencer also sported a pair of white trainers and carried her sunglasses in her hand

The London native said at the time: 'I bought my place here this time two years ago.

'It was a massive achievement, still really can't believe it sometimes. I run a business - I'm not an influencer.

'I am here, but I am very very strict still. I see people in Tulum and all over going to parties and it doesn't feel right to me.'
A mysterious death on Home and Away has the residents of Summer Bay on edge.

As the police are called to investigate the discovery of a woman's body that washed up on the beach, locals are worried it could be someone they know.

Among the residents suspected to be the deceased is Mackenzie Booth (Emily Weir), the owner of Salt restaurant.

A murder mystery hits Home and Away: Summer Bay residents fear a washed-up body could be someone they know in a gripping new storyline

In recent weeks, Mackenzie has hit rock bottom and alienated her friends, following a break-up with Ari Parata (Rob Kipa-Williams) and suffering an ectopic pregnancy.

A new trailer shows her half-brother Dean Thompson (Patrick O'Connor) concerned for her whereabouts and safety - even filing a missing persons report.

One suspect is con artist Susie McAllister (Bridie Carter), who recently fled Summer Bay after stealing thousands of dollars from the residents and donations from the Surf Club.

Hard times: Among the residents suspected to be the deceased is Mackenzie Booth (Emily Weir), the owner of Salt restaurant. In recent weeks, Mackenzie has hit rock bottom and alienated her friends, following a devastating break-up and suffering an ectopic pregnancy

Could it be her? One suspect is con artist Susie McAllister (Bridie Carter), who recently fled Summer Bay after stealing thousands of dollars from the residents and donations from the Surf Club. She also tricked John Palmer (Shane Withington) into thinking she was in love with him

She also swindled Leah Patterson-Baker (Ada Nicodemou) and Justin Morgan (James Stewart) out of their life savings, and tricked John Palmer into thinking she was in love with him.

Since leaving, Leah has been hot on her trail to find her and retrieve the stolen money with the help of another of Susie's victims, Stephen Tennyson (Bren Foster) - but could Susie's conniving ways have caught up to her?

Actor Nick Cartwright, who plays Senior Constable Cash Newman, told The Daily Telegraph there are many 'different motives' surrounding the death of the victim.

Suspicions: Actor Nick Cartwright, who plays police officer Cash Newman, told The Daily Telegraph there are many 'different motives' surrounding the death of the victim

Motives: 'Just about everyone has a motive to take out that person. So it's a process to bring in the lead characters one by one and slowly tick them off the list,' Nick said

'Just about everyone has a motive to take out that person. So it's a process to bring in the lead characters one by one and slowly tick them off the list,' he added.

While Mackenzie's fate is unknown, actress Emily recently told Digital Spy of her character's storyline: 'There's a pile-on of grief.'

'There's just all these catastrophic events that happen and the release from that pressure cooker bursts,' she added.

'There's a pile-on of grief': While Mackenzie's fate is unknown, actress Emily Weir recently said her character is about to be the centre of 'a pile-on of grief'

'She really goes into a downward spiral in which she self-destructs, pushes everyone close to her away and she really severs ties with many important relationships in her life because she doesn't feel worthy and is in so much pain.'

Meanwhile, in other drama on the soap, Justin faces troubles of his own after he is arrested for assaulting Leah's new friend Stephen.

Justin has suffered from an addiction to painkillers and is seen behind bars in a recent trailer.
Monday night's episode of MasterChef Australia saw the Orange team grilled by the judges over their wastage of raw duck flesh.

The remaining contestants were divided into three teams and challenged to feed 100 people in their own homes via a pop-up Deliveroo menu.

It was a first in MasterChef history, as a total of 60 dishes - including an entree, main and a side dish - had to be crafted for the at-home diners.

Stunned: MasterChef judges Andy Allen and Jock Zonfrillo (pictured) scolded one of the teams for wasting a huge amount of food on Monday night's episode

The team with the least-interesting menu would face Tuesday's pressure test.

The Orange team, led by Scott, decided on a Thai-centric menu including Thai fishcakes with a sweet chilli dipping sauce for the starter, a red duck curry with steamed rice for the main, and a Pad Kra Pao for the side.

While preparing the curry, the judges noticed the Orange team was wasting huge quantities of duck flesh, prompting judge Andy Allan to approach them while holding up a duck breast.

'What happens to the rest of that?' he asked alongside Jock Zonfrillo, who looked equally disapproving. 'You're not using the breast?'

Wasted duck: 'What happens to the rest of that?' Andy (right) asked alongside Jock (left), who looked equally disapproving. 'You're not using the breast?'

The team explained they were only going to use the duck legs and they 'didn't have time' to break down all of the ducks.

'So you're not using any of that? None of that?' continued Andy.

Team captain Scott then said they were only going to use the 'Marylands'.

'That seems like madness,' Andy said. 'So what do you do with the 30 ducks that have still got their breasts on, wings on, necks on, carcass. What happens then?'

The Orange team was eventually ruled safe, with the Purple team heading into Tuesday's pressure test.

'Madness': The wasteful Orange team was eventually ruled safe, with the Purple team heading into Tuesday's pressure test. Andy and Jock are pictured with fellow judge Melissa Leong

The tense exchange comes just one day after contestant Brent Draper quit the show due to mental health concerns and stress.

The 31-year-old boilermaker broke down in tears during an elimination challenge on Sunday's episode and said he 'can't cook' and 'had nothing left'.

The moment saw Jock Zonfrillo take Brent aside and talk to him about his decision as Brent explained, 'I just need to go home. It's my mental health.'
The Block's Shaynna Blaze hinted she was in a new relationship last month.

And according to friends, the 58-year-old interior design expert is 'very happy' after meeting a mystery man in Melbourne.

'Let's just say Shaynna is in a really good place,' a source told New Idea.

New love! Shaynna Blaze hinted she was in a new relationship last month, and friends say the 58-year-old interior design expert is 'very happy' after meeting a mystery man in Melbourne

'With so much change in the world, Shaynnas taking control and really making herself and her family a priority. Her friends couldnt be happier for her.'

The comments come after the Celebrity Apprentice star revealed she likes to keep matters of the heart quiet.

'I'm taking my love life private,' she told TV Week magazine in May.

'My life has been splashed out there more than I ever wanted All I can say is I'm very happy,' she added, hinting at her new romance.

Claims: 'With so much change in the world, Shaynnas taking control and really making herself and her family a priority. Her friends couldnt be happier for her,' a source told New Idea

It comes after Shaynna announced her split from personal trainer husband Steve Vaughan in an Instagram post in August 2018.

She wrote at the time: 'Sometimes in life, our paths change directions and now this is one of those times for me, with Steve and I separating.

'I will not be making any further statements about this and whilst I appreciate your support, I ask that you respect our right to privacy. Thank you Shaynna.'

Former love: It comes after Shaynna announced her split from personal trainer husband Steve Vaughan (left) in an Instagram post in August 2018

Shaynna and Steve married 19 years ago, after dating for just 11 months.

Following the split, she threw herself into her work on The Block and Selling Houses Australia.

She went on to announce her departure from the Foxtel property program in March.

Split: Shaynna and Steve married 19 years ago, after dating for just 11 months

The Block judge is also a doting mother of two children, a son, Jesse, and a daughter, Carly, whom she shares with her first husband.

In an interview with The Daily Telegraph in March 2020, Shaynna admitted she'd been 'in a hole' following her split from Steve.

'You reach a point [where] you think you're never going to hit and sometimes it's okay to just sit there and go, "I can't get out of this hole I'm in for a while", but I can reach out to people when it gets too bad to pull me out of this swamp,' she said.
While her successful lingerie line is no stranger to making a stir, this just might be a little much.

A TikToker named @fathermarge has gone viral over a post in which she discussed one of Rihanna's latest entries in her Savage X Fenty line, soft mesh open-back crotchless leggings.

The leggings feature a cross-hatched open back that descends all the way down to the middle of the wearer's derriere.

A TikToker has gone viral over a post in which she discussed one of Rihanna's latest entries in her Savage X Fenty line: Soft mesh open-back crotchless leggings

'Umm Can someone at [Kate Hudson's rival brand] Fabletics tell me what this is? Things are getting a little bit crazy,' the TikTok in question proclaimed.

The video  titled 'we need ANSWERS!!'  garnered upwards of 3 million views, with countless users providing witty or baffled comments.

'Definitely not squat-proof,' one user mused. 'How did that get approved?'

'Every day we get further and further from the Lord,' another quipped.

Entrepreneur: Rihanna's successful lingerie line is no stranger to making a stir

What: The leggings feature a cross-hatched open back that descends all the way down to the middle of the wearer's derriere

'I love Rihanna, but these Fenty gym leggings are trashhhhhhh,' another commenter shared. 'One two deadlift/squat and people will see what you ate for lunch.'

'Ummmm... Well, for me - I really don't want this to be my view at the gym, if I'm on a treadmill and the girl on the step machine in front of me, is wearing one of these,' yet another contributed.

The Fenty site, meanwhile, explains on the product page that the garment is not meant for the gym, but rather a 'cozy night in.'

'I love Rihanna, but these Fenty gym leggings are trashhhhhhh,' one commenter shared. 'One two deadlift/squat and people will see what you ate for lunch'

'Ummmm... Well, for me - I really don't want this to be my view at the gym, if I'm on a treadmill and the girl on the step machine in front of me, is wearing one of these,' another contributed

'Our Soft Mesh Open-Back Crotchless Legging features sheer soft mesh fabric that provides a comfortable fit and an open strappy back for a playful surprise,' the description continues.

And 'surprise' or not, some users came to Riri's defense over the controversial undergarment.

'Can we normalize butt cleavage?' one woman opined in a response video.

'Butt cleav is sexy, butt cleav is amazing. Let's normalize that.'
Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson had a major disagreement over Thomas Markle on their KIIS FM radio show on Tuesday.

The duo were discussing Thomas' interview on 60 Minutes when the conversation turned to whether or not Meghan Markle was right to cut her father out of her life.

'I feel sorry for the dad, he did one mistake,' Jackie argued.

Drama: Kyle Sandilands (pictured) and Jackie 'O' Henderson had a major disagreement over Thomas Markle on their KIIS FM radio show on Tuesday

'What, telling everyone when his daughter was about to join the Royal Family?' Kyle shot back.

Jackie responded: 'No, he did the set-up pap shots, remember? So he did that, that was it. So he can't see his grandchildren.

'He just feels it's a bit rough. I think it's a bit rough.'

Kyle was having none of it, boldly stating: 'He looks like a fat a**ehole if you ask me! He sold his daughter out for a few dollars. What a dog.'

Defender: 'I feel sorry for the dad, he did one mistake,' Jackie said of Thomas' infamous set-up paparazzi photos before Meghan's wedding to Prince Harry

It comes after Thomas criticised Oprah Winfrey for 'using' Harry and Meghan to promote her new TV ventures.

Speaking publicly for the first time since the birth of his new granddaughter, Lilibet, the 76-year-old also criticised the 'cold' couple for refusing to see him - saying even 'axe murderers' are visited by their family.

The retired Hollywood lighting director, who lives 70 miles away from the Sussexes' LA mansion, has not spoken to the Duchess of Sussex, 39, since she married Prince Harry three years ago and has never met either of his grandchildren.

Kyle was having none of it, boldly stating: 'He looks like a fat a**ehole if you ask me!' The shock jock added: 'He sold his daughter out for a few dollars. What a dog'

'Of course it hurts, there are axe murderers in prison and their family comes to see them,' he said in a bombshell television interview on 60 Minutes.

'Im not an axe murderer. I made one dumb mistake and Ive been punished for it. This show theyve been on, they talk about compassion, theres no compassion for me, no compassion for my family, and no compassion for the world.

'If I had done something terribly wrong, that would be fine, but I haven't.'

'Im not an axe murderer': Thomas opened up in a tell-all interview with 60 Minutes this week

With his ailing health continuing to deteriorate, Thomas said he fears he will never get to meet Archie, 2, or baby Lilibet, who was born on June 4.

'I'll be very disappointed that I don't get to hold my granddaughter,' he said.

'On July 18, I'll be 77 years old. Most of the Markle men don't make it much past 80.

'I might never see my grandchildren. I'm not looking for pity. I'm just saying that's a reality.

'All I can say is that I hope eventually I get to see these grandchildren of mine. Im a pretty good grandpa.'
She was reportedly left 'distressed' after having her night at the BRITs was 'ruined' by Gemma Collins.

But Amber Davies looked like she left the drama behind as she showcased her washboard abs in a series of bikini snaps shared to Instagram on Monday.

The Love Island star, 24, went makeup free for the stunning snaps which she shared with her 1.5 million Instagram followers.

Stunning: Amber Davies, 24, showcased her washboard abs in an electric blue bikini as she posed for a series of snaps she shared to Instagram on Monday

Amber kept accessories to a minimum with a simple gold chain and earrings as she posed in the PrettyLittleThing two-piece.

The former Love Islander captioned the pictures: 'Todays category was.. blue'

Olivia Attwood commented under the post with: 'Erm sorry boobs!!!!!!!' and fire emoji's.

It was recently reported that Gemma, 40, demanded to know why Amber had been giving her 'dirty looks' as the pair watched the BRITs from a corporate box at London's O2 arena last month.

Gorgeous: The Love Island star went makeup free for the stunning snaps which she shared with her 1.5 million Instagram followers

Insiders from the ceremony told MailOnline the Love Island winner was made to feel 'uncomfortable' by Gemma,

It's the first time the pair have confronted each other since they clashed in 2017 when Gemma fell through a trap door at the Radio 1 Teen Awards and nearly crushed Amber, who accused her of belittling her in the aftermath.

A source said: 'Amber isn't a confrontational person, so she felt out of her depth when Gemma came over to her at the BRITs.

'Gemma wanted to know why Amber had been giving her dirty looks, which made things very uncomfortable.

Awkward: It comes after Amber was reportedly left 'distressed' after having her night at the BRIT Awards 'ruined' by Gemma Collins

'Luckily, before tensions got any worse, Gemma left the awards early, but Amber still felt as though her night had been ruined.'

A source close to Amber said: 'Amber is going to try and instigate a plan to resolve the issues with Gemma and meet up socially to work through their differences.'

Gemma and Amber had both been invited to enjoy the music event from a corporate box, which is an area that encourages guests to eat and drink.

In celebration of her first night out since lockdown, Gemma ordered Dom Perignon Vintage champagne that cost 230 and later said: 'I've had the time of my life.'

She wore a glamorous silver gown with a high-thigh slit and had her makeup done by Pat McGrath's professional team.

Whereas Amber said on her Instagram a day after the event: 'Had such an off couple of weeks feel like I want to press a big refresh button.'
Kitty Flanagan raised eyebrows on Monday's Have You Been Paying Attention? when she joked about Prince Charles' reaction to the birth of his granddaughter Lilibet.

Quizmaster Tom Gleisner asked the panellists how Charles had described Lilibet's arrival, and the 53-year-old comedian shocked with her response.

Kitty was first to hit her buzzer with a joke referencing the racism scandal that engulfed the Royal Family after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's interview with Oprah Winfrey in March.

Pushing the envelope: Comedian Kitty Flanagan raised eyebrows on Monday's Have You Been Paying Attention? when she joked about Prince Charles' reaction to the birth of his granddaughter Lilibet. Pictured: the Sussexes posing with their son Archie in May 2019

'I think he said it was a "dark day" for the Royal Family,' she joked.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex had claimed during their sit-down with Oprah that an unnamed member of the Royal family allegedly aired concerns over how 'dark' their son Archie would be.

There is nothing to suggest Prince Charles made the remark.

Have You Been Paying Attention? is the most popular panel show Down Under, and is considered Australia's answer to Britain's Mock the Week.

Borderline: Quizmaster Tom Gleisner asked the panellists how Charles had described Lilibet's arrival. Kitty responded with a joke referencing the racism scandal that engulfed the Royal Family after the Sussexes' interview with Oprah Winfrey in March. 'I think he said it was a "dark day" for the Royal Family,' she joked

During their Oprah interview, Meghan, who is mixed race, was asked why she believed the Royal Family were trying to stop her unborn son being made a prince and prevent him from receiving official security.

She said: 'All around this same time, we have in tandem the conversation of [Archie not being] given security, he's not going to be given a title and also concerns and conversations as to how dark his skin might be when he's born.

'That was relayed to me from Harry from conversations that family had with him.'

Oprah remarked that Meghan and Harry must have had their own 'suspicions', asking flatly: 'Do you think it's because of his race?'

Meghan said she would answer 'honestly', before going on to claim there were 'concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when he's born'.

Reacting with horror, Oprah asked who said that. Meghan sighed and said there were 'several' conversations about it with Harry.

Claims: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex had claimed during their sit-down with Oprah that an unnamed member of the Royal family allegedly aired concerns over how 'dark' their son Archie would be. There is nothing to suggest Prince Charles made the remark

'About how dark your baby is going to be?' asked Oprah.

Meghan replied: 'Potentially, and what that would mean or look like.' When pushed to reveal that person's identity, Meghan refused.

Significantly, she revealed that the question was asked during conversations 'family had with' her husband.

When Harry joined the conversation, Oprah quickly took up the issue with him, saying Meghan had revealed there was a 'conversation about Archie's skin tone'.

He nodded, clearly uncomfortable, admitted that it was 'awkward' and he was 'a bit shocked', but said he did not want to discuss it further.
The series will recount the gripping true-life tale of Dr. Christopher Duntsch.

And Dr. Death costars Christian Slater and Joshua Jackson were seen in attendance at the 2021 Tribeca Festival premiere of their upcoming Peacock series at Pier 76 in New York City on Tuesday evening.

The series also stars Meryl Streep's daughter Grace Gummer, who wowed on the red carpet and looked very much like her film legend mother.

Buddies: Dr. Death costars Christian Slater and Joshua Jackson were seen in attendance at the 2021 Tribeca Festival premiere of their upcoming Peacock series in New York City on Tuesday

Slater, 51, was dapper in a dark blue plaid suit, accented with a matching tie featuring red polka dots.

The Heathers actor smiled as his costar Jackson, 43, put his arm around him, wearing a mint green blazer over white dress shirt and khaki pants.

Joshua also carried an umbrella on the rainy New York evening.

Chic and showstopping: The series also stars Meryl Streep's daughter Grace Gummer, who wowed on the red carpet and looked very much like her film legend mother

Spiffy: Slater, 51, was dapper in a dark blue plaid suit, while Jackson, 43, was wearing a mint green blazer over white dress shirt and khaki pants

Having fun: The Heathers actor smiled as his costar Jackson put his arm around him

The Fringe star was casual in yellow and green Converse-style sneakers, while Christian spiffed it up in brown leather loafers.

Jackson portrays the titular character of Duntsch in Dr. Death, while Slater plays peer surgeon Dr. Randall Kirby.

Grace, meanwhile, was statuesque in a low cut black maxi dress.

Actors: Jackson portrays the titular character of Duntsch in Dr. Death, while Slater plays peer surgeon Dr. Randall Kirby

Grace, meanwhile: She was statuesque in a low cut black maxi dress

She carried a boxy clutch and wore black pumps on her feet.

Other actors from the series were in attendance as well, including actress AnnaSophia Robb.

The Race to Witch Mountain star, 27, wowed in a sheer lacy black dress that featured an off-the-shoulder neck line.

Other actors from the series were in attendance as well: These included Hubert Point-Du Jour

Elegant: AnnaSophia Robb wowed in a sheer lacy black dress that featured an off-the-shoulder neck line

Put together: The actress sported a lovely blond pixie cut, and donned black Mary Jane shoes with heels

The actress sported a lovely blond pixie cut, and donned black Mary Jane shoes with heels.

Actor Hubert Point-Du Jour, who will portray a character named Josh Baker in the series Dr. Death, was also in attendance in a dapper light gray suit.

The series, also set to star Alec Baldwin and Carrie Preston, will premiere on NBC's streaming platform Peacock later this year.

The whole Dr. Death gang: Show creator Patrick Macmanus joined his cast on the red carpet

Inside the event: Christian talked about his experience acting on the show

Grace and AnnaSophia: The actresses also attended the panel at the NYC-based film festival

Answering questions: Joshua and Hubert fielded questions during the Q&A

Ouch! Jackson appeared to have injured himself prior to the premiere was was spotted walking with a limp out in Manhattan's East Village

Makeshift cane: cThe fringe star seemed to use his umbrella as a support as he made his way to a waiting SUV
Ashley & Mary-Kate Olsen celebrated the 15th anniversary of The Row by giving a rare interview detailing the oral history of their high-end fashion label, which is still privately owned.

The fraternal twin tycoons - who turned 35 on Sunday - were both 'raised to be discreet people' which reflects on their handmade modest, minimalist daywear designs.

'I think that potentially that's just our aesthetic, our design preference,' Ashley explained in i-D's The New Worldwi-De Issue.

Diminutive designers: Ashley (L, pictured in 2019) and Mary-Kate (R) Olsen celebrated the 15th anniversary of The Row by giving a rare interview detailing the oral history of their high-end fashion label, which is still privately owned

$1,990 'Au Coat' from The Row's SS/21 collection: The fraternal twin tycoons - who turned 35 on Sunday - were both 'raised to be discreet people' which reflects on their handmade modest, minimalist daywear designs

'But that doesn't mean that we don't also appreciate something truly ornate or maximal. Sometimes a collection even starts quite like that, and then gets pared down. It doesn't always start from that simplistic place.'

The Olsens co-founded The Row - named after London's Savile Row - between 2004-2006 while attending New York University's Gallatin School of Individualized Study.

'We had just moved to New York. We were 18 years old,' Ashley recalled of the era of Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie.

'We didn't want to be in front of it, we didn't necessarily even want to let people know it was us. It was really about the product, to the point where we were like, "Who could we get to front this so that we dont have to?" I think, to this day, you'll see we really put the product first.'

Ashley explained in i-D's The New Worldwi-De Issue: 'I think that potentially that's just our aesthetic, our design preference. But that doesn't mean that we don't also appreciate something truly ornate or maximal'

Originated at college: The Olsens co-founded The Row - named after London's Savile Row - between 2004-2006 while attending New York University's Gallatin School of Individualized Study (2016 stock shot)

In the era of Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie, Ashley (L, pictured in 2019) recalled: 'We had just moved to New York. We were 18 years old. We didn't want to be in front of it, we didn't necessarily even want to let people know it was us'

Mary-Kate added: 'Creatively, we wanted to explore making something of ourselves.'

The Olsens were aware of 'what sells in the fashion mass market' after building a billion-dollar tween empire after starring in ABC sitcom Full House from 1987-1995.

The five-time CFDA Fashion Award winners' rebellion swiftly began in 2003 when they were first allowed to dress differently at the red carpet premiere of Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle.

'We like working together and we like having that dialogue. I think it helps harden your ideas to be able to hear them out loud, to speak something through,' Ashley - who's two minutes older than Mary-Kate - said.

Former child stars: The Olsens were aware of 'what sells in the fashion mass market' after building a billion-dollar tween empire after starring in ABC sitcom Full House from 1987-1995 (pictured in 1989)

Expressing their distinct identities: The five-time CFDA Fashion Award winners' rebellion swiftly began in 2003 when they were first allowed to dress differently at the red carpet premiere of Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle

Ashley (R, pictured in 2019) - who's two minutes older than Mary-Kate (L) - said: 'Our instincts are kind of the same. But I think what's great is that we have each other to lean on'

'You know, we definitely go by intuition and instinct and it can either confirm that feeling, or if we're both not feeling right about something, for some reason, we just don't do it. Our instincts are kind of the same. But I think what's great is that we have each other to lean on.

'And managing design is one thing and then also running the business side is another and I think you have a lot of decisions to make. I mean, when you put those two things together, there's a lot of decisions to make on a daily basis, so I think we feel fortunate that we can have that dialogue and divide and conquer a bit.'

The Row's summer 2021 collection includes accessories like the $920 suede 'Jade' pump and $3,190 suede 'Massimo' backpack.

'We like working together': The Row's summer 2021 collection includes accessories like the $920 suede 'Jade' pump (L) and $3,190 suede 'Massimo' backpack (R)

$3,250 'Oswin Coat' from The Row's SS/21 collection: Mary-Kate chimed in, 'For us, [luxury is] something that makes your life easier. The idea that you could buy something off the rack, put it on your body and it already feels like a part of your wardrobe'

Olsen (R, pictured in 2019) continued: 'I think the reason we do fashion is to constantly try to fix our imperfections. And you have next season to do that. But it's also our job to find every imperfection in there to make sure that were constantly pushing ourselves and training our eyes and making sure everyone is served'

'We're quite petite people, and we do collect couture. We have a love for design and there weren't any pieces we could really wear because the product would wear you. That was another thought as we started The Row,' Mary-Kate chimed in.

'For us, [luxury is] something that makes your life easier. The idea that you could buy something off the rack, put it on your body and it already feels like a part of your wardrobe  that's luxury.'

Olsen continued: 'I think the reason we do fashion is to constantly try to fix our imperfections. And you have next season to do that. But it's also our job to find every imperfection in there to make sure that were constantly pushing ourselves and training our eyes and making sure everyone is served.'
Lin-Manuel Miranda has issued an apology via Twitter after a colorism controversy surrounding his just released movie In The Heights.

Miranda, who is a producer on the film adaptation of his stage musical, tweeted Monday that he's sorry for not including more dark-skinned Afro-Latinx actors in the cast.

'I started writing In The Heights because I didn't feel seen. And over the past 20 years all I wanted was for us-ALL of us-to feel seen,' he wrote.

Lin-Manuel Miranda has issued an apology via Twitter after a colorism controversy surrounding his just released movie In The Heights. Pictured at the Tribeca Festival on June 9

'I'm seeing the discussion around Afro-Latino representation in our film this weekend and it is clear that many in our dark-skinned Afro-Latino community don't feel sufficiently represented within it, particularly among the leading roles.'

Miranda, 41, went on: 'I can hear the hurt and frustration over colorism, of feeling still unseen in the feedback. I hear that without sufficient dark-skinned Afro-Latino representation, the work feels extractive of the community we wanted so much to represent with pride and joy.'

The actor, playwright and musician acknowledged that the movie 'fell short' and promised 'to do better'.

'I'm truly sorry,' Miranda shared.

'I'm truly sorry', the actor, musician and playwright said in a statement. 'I can hear the hurt and frustration over colorism, of feeling still unseen'

'It is clear that many in our dark-skinned Afro-Latino community don't feel sufficiently represented within it, particularly among the leading roles,' he tweeted. 'I promise to do better in my future projects'

'I'm learning from the feedback, I thank you for raising it, and I'm listening,' he added. 'I'm trying to hold space for both the incredible pride in the movie we made and be accountable for our shortcomings.

'I promise to do better in my future projects, and I'm dedicated to the learning and evolving we all have to do to make sure we are honoring our diverse and vibrant community.'

In The Heights tells the stories of several characters living in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Upper Manhattan in New York City.

Miranda, who was born in the neighborhood, wrote the original play while at university.

In The Heights tells the stories of several characters living in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Upper Manhattan in New York City. Miranda is a producer on the movie that he adapted from his successful stage musical

In 2004, he partnered with playwright and lyricist Quiara Alegria Hudes to turn it into a stage musical which premiered on Broadway in 2008.

It won four Tony Awards including Best Musical and Best Original Score.

The film version starring Anthony Ramos, Melissa Barrera and Leslie Grace and directed by Jon M. Chu was released in the United States on June 10 in theaters and simultaneously streaming on HBO Max.

Last week, The Root's Felice Leon had expressed concern about 'the lack of Black Latinx people represented' in the film, observing that the main cast 'were light-skinned or white-passing Latinx people.'

Chu responded in an interview with Leon, explaining: 'In the end, when we were looking at the cast, we were trying to get the people who were best for those roles.

'But I hear you on trying to fill those cast members with darker-skinned [actors]. I think that's a really good conversation to have, something that we should all be talking about.'
Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky dressed to the nines when they attended the Gold Dinner at Sydney Airport last week.

But on Tuesday, the Hollywood power couple were back to their boho best during an outing in their hometown of Byron Bay.

The Spanish actress, 44, shared a photo of herself with her husband, 37, as they met with the founder and director of Local Futures, Helena Norberg-Hodge, and her colleagues ahead of their talk in the coastal town.

Happy to be home: Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky (right) were back in their element at home in Byron Bay as they met with the founder and director of Local Futures, Helena Norberg-Hodge (centre), and her colleagues ahead of their talk in the coastal town on Tuesday

Elsa kept it simple in a grey shirt with black leopard print leggings, sneakers and oversized sunglasses.

Chris also opted for a laidback look, wearing a beige T-shirt, tracksuit pants and sneakers, with a cap and sunnies.

Elsa wrote in the caption: 'She I had a great time at a Local Food Feast with Helena Norberg-Hodge on Saturday as part of World Localisation Day.'

Dressed to the nines: The couple's relaxed meeting with the Local Futures founder comes after they made an appearance at the star-studded Gold Dinner in Sydney on Thursday

The couple's relaxed meeting with the Local Futures founder comes after they made an appearance at the star-studded Gold Dinner in Sydney on Thursday to raise money Sydney Children's Hospital foundation.

They were joined at the event with Chris' younger brother Liam and his girlfriend Gabriella Brooks, and their friend Lucciana Barroso - the wife of actor Matt Damon.

Chris donated two tickets for the Sydney premiere of Thor: Love and Thunder, scheduled to be released in 2022, according to The Daily Telegraph on Saturday.

Star-studded evening: Chris and Elsa (right) were joined at the event with Chris' younger brother Liam and his girlfriend Gabriella Brooks (left), and their friend Lucciana Barroso (centre) - the wife of actor Matt Damon

The tickets went under the hammer for $60,000, which helped raise a record setting $4.4 million for the foundation.

The Gold Dinner 2021 raises funds to support mental health research and care at the Sydney Children's Hospital.

The return of the charity event comes after it was cancelled last year due to Covid.
Project Runway alum Michael Costello took to Instagram Monday saying that the abuse he absorbed at the hands of Chrissy Teigen in 2014 torpedoed his fashion career and left him with suicidal ideations.

Costello, 38, said that Teigen, 35, tormented him amid a misunderstanding that he had used a racial slur online, which he denied, and tried to explain to her at the time to no avail.

Costello took to social media as Teigen publicly addressed her own bullying scandal, apologizing in a Medium post on Monday morning in which she admitted to being a 'troll' and an 'a**hole' while insisting that she is 'no longer that person.'

The latest: Project Runway alum Michael Costello, 38, took to Instagram Monday saying that the abuse he absorbed at the hands of Chrissy Teigen, 35, in 2014 torpedoed his fashion career and left him with suicidal ideations

Costello wrote on Monday, 'For the past 7 years, Ive lived with a deep, unhealed trauma.'

Teigen 'apparently formed her own opinion of me based on a Photoshopped comment floating around the internet which has now been proven to be false by Instagram and since taken down,' he wrote.

Costello, who shared texts illustrating the situation, said the model and cookbook author 'told me that my career was over and that all my doors will be shut from there on,' and took action to see to such.

He said that both Teigen and her stylist Monica Rose had went 'out of their way to threaten people and brands that if they were in any shape or form associated with me, they would not work with any of them.'

Backstory: Costello said that Teigen tormented him amid a misunderstanding that he had used a racial slur online, which he denied, and tried to explain to her at the time to no avail

Costello, who shared texts illustrating the situation as he tried to explain his side of the issue to the influential star, who he said went on to dim his career prospects

Costello said that his efforts to plead his case to Teigen and Rose were for naught.

He said that in trying to get them 'to see the whole story before believing a false narrative a former disgruntled employee cast upon me, they didnt give me the time of day.'

In screengrabs he said were direct messages he exchanged with Teigen, she wrote to him, 'Racist people like you deserve to suffer and die. You might as well be dead. Your career is over, just watch.'

In the wake of the exchange, Costello said that he 'didnt see the point of living' with his career in disarray.

Speaking out: Costello added a detailed message about the situation involving the model and her stylist

'There was no way I can ever escape from being the target of the powerful elites in Hollywood.'

Costello said he is 'not okay,' adding, 'I may never be okay, but today, I am choosing to speak my truth.'

Costello captioned the post urging his followers not to respond with vitriol toward Teigen and Rose, stressing that it was his own personal process to move forward.

'You do not have to say anything mean or hurtful about them in the comments I am trying every day to love myself and forget this,' he said. 'This is step 1.'

The designer received supportive words from April Love Geary, Olivia Culpo, Audrina Patridge and LeAnn Rimes among others amid his public revelation.

Dailymail.com has reached out to Teigen's reps for comment on the story.

A number of celebs including April Love Geary, Audrina Patridge and LeAnn Rimes chimed in with supportive comments for the embattled designer

He later told TMZ that he doesn't wish 'ill' on Teigen, saying: 'We are all works in progress and we deserve the opportunity to prove that we can do better.'

'But progress takes time. We must show through actions that we have changed. After all, action speaks much louder than a 10-minute apology written on a notepad.'

Costello's post comes as Teigen has come under fire in recent weeks for cruel posts on Twitter aimed at Stodden, Lindsay Lohan, Quvenzhane Wallis, and others.

In 2011, Teigen published a barrage of tweets telling then-16-year-old Stodden, who had just married 50-year-old actor Doug Hutchison, to 'go to sleep forever'.

Stodden said this was only part of the picture, saying Teigen would also 'privately DM me and tell me to kill myself.'

Stodden incurred relentless bullying both publicly and in private from Teigen, who tweeted at the then-teen in 2011: 'My Friday fantasy: you. dirt nap. mmmmmm baby', followed by: 'go. to sleep. forever.'

Old tweets from 2013 have also resurfaced in which she described nine-year-old Oscar nominee Wallis as 'cocky' and called Teen Mom star Farrah Abraham, then 21, a 'wh***'.

'Not a day, not a single moment has passed where I havent felt the crushing weight of regret for the things Ive said in the past': Chrissy Teigen (seen last month) has written a blog post to apologize for her past bullying tweets

Teigen has been the target of backlash since abusive tweets by the star, originally made in 2011, resurfaced online, including one that urged then 16-year-old TV personality Courtney Stodden (pictured above in 2019), who identifies as non-binary, to kill themselves

Lindsay Lohan was also the subject of an insensitive post by Teigen. A tweet from January 2011 read: 'Lindsay adds a few more slits to her wrists when she sees emma stone'

Relentless: In one tweet Teigen told the non-binary reality star to 'take a dirt nap,' which is slang for death

Hatred: In another tweet she told Stodden 'I hate you,' and insinuated that drugs must be responsible for her affected speech

'Lindsay [Lohan] adds a few more slits to her wrists when she sees emma stone,' read the tweet dated January 16 2011

Teigen apologized to Stodden last month, but the television personality, who identifies as non-binary, questioned the sincerity of the apology.

Earlier this month, Abraham, 30, said Teigen needs professional help over her 'highly disturbing' past tweets, and calls her an 'unfit person in society.'

'It's really just a pathetic statement after someone has gone to therapy publicly for sex shaming, working through my own depression, bereavement, and vulnerabilities at that time,' Abraham told Fox News.

In her Medium post, Teigen wrote that she plans to reach out personally to the other celebrities she insulted.

Row: Farrah Abraham calls Chrissy Teigen an 'unfit person in society' and tells her to 'get therapy'... after she called Teen Mom star a 'w***e' in past 2013 tweets amid cyberbullying scandal

Vitriolic: Teigen shared this tweet about Farrah in 2013

Amid the backlash, Teigen has been dropped by several companies, including Safely, the cleaning brand she founded with Kris Jenner; Macy's; Target; and Bloomingdale's.

The large retailers have removed her line of Cravings cookware from its shelves. Teigen has also pulled out of Netflix's Never Have I Ever.

Teigen was slated to be one of the guest narrators for the series, co-created by Mindy Kaling, but is exiting the gig amid the fallout following her cyberbullying scandal.

Teigen began by writing: 'Hi all. It has been a VERY humbling few weeks.

Teigen began by writing: 'Hi all. It has been a VERY humbling few weeks.'

'I won't ask for your forgiveness, only your patience and tolerance,' Teigen wrote

'I know Ive been quiet, and lord knows you dont want to hear about me, but I want you to know Ive been sitting in a hole of deserved global punishment, the ultimate "sit here and think about what youve done",' the supermodel wrote.

'Not a day, not a single moment has passed where I havent felt the crushing weight of regret for the things Ive said in the past.'

Teigen has been the target of backlash since abusive tweets by the star, originally made in 2011, resurfaced online, including one that urged a then 16-year-old Stodden to kill themselves.

Lohan was also the subject of an insensitive post by Teigen. A tweet from January 2011 read: 'Lindsay adds a few more slits to her wrists when she sees emma stone'

Under pressure: After the barrage of tweets came to light and people called for the model to be 'canceled' she issued an apology to Stodden

Moving on: 'I accept her apology and forgive her. But the truth remains the same, I have never heard from her or her camp in private,' Stodden wrote last month after the scandal broke

Jaw-dropping: 'I said yes,' they gushed in the caption, adding that 'the ring made me gag it's so beautiful'

Taking the plunge: The ring appears to be from their longtime boyfriend Chris Sheng - in March 2020, Courtney told Us Weekly that they had been dating Sheng for 'three years,' adding, 'It isn't easy to believe in love. It's hard for me to completely open up to him and trust'

The tweet was shared by user @Leyton last month.

'I was a troll, full stop. And I am so sorry,' Teigen writes in her Medium post from Monday.

She added: 'There is simply no excuse for my past horrible tweets. My targets didnt deserve them. No one does.

'Many of them needed empathy, kindness, understanding and support, not my meanness masquerading as a kind of casual, edgy humor.'

Teigen continued: 'When I first started using social media, I had so much fun with it.

'I made jokes, random observations. Think of all the engineers, working day and night to develop this amazing new platform and technology, connecting people all over the world to learn, create, and find kindred spirits.

'And I used it to snark at some celebrities.'

Teigen writes that her tweets were borne out of being 'insecure, immature and in a world where I thought I needed to impress strangers to be accepted.'

'If there was a pop culture pile-on, I took to Twitter to try to gain attention and show off what I at the time believed was a crude, clever, harmless quip,' she wrote.

'I thought it made me cool and relatable if I poked fun at celebrities.'

Teigen wrote that when she is now confronted with some of her past posts, 'I cringe to my core.'

Chrissy Teigen founded Safely with Kris Jenner and previously appeared in its marketing materials

Jenner advertising the brand. She is said to be in 'crisis mode' after the bullying scandal erupted

'Ill honestly get sharp, stabbing pains in my body, randomly remembering my a*****e past, and I deserve it,' she wrote.

Teigen said that the Twitter persona she built as a 'bad a** b***h' was not in step with who she was as a person.

'I wasnt mean in my everyday life. More than once, someone would come up to me and say, Youre so much nicer in person,' she wrote.

'Why was that not a huge red flag?'

Teigen wrote that she wasn't 'deserving of sympathy' and that she explained this in order to provide 'context.'

'There's no justification for my behavior,' Teigen wrote.

'I'm not a victim here. The subjects of your sympathy - and mine - should be those I put down.'

Teigen wrote that she has changed and matured in recent years.

'The truth is, Im no longer the person who wrote those horrible things,' the cookware entrepreneur wrote.

'I grew up, got therapy, got married, had kids, got more therapy, experienced loss and pain, got more therapy and experienced more life.

'AND GOT MORE THERAPY.'

Teigen added: 'Life has made me more empathetic.

'Im more understanding of what motivates trolling  the instant gratification that you get from lashing out and clapping back, throwing rocks at someone you think is invincible because theyre famous.

'Also, I know now how it feels to be on the receiving end of incredible vitriol.

'Believe me, the irony of this is not lost on me.'

Teigen, who has two children with singing superstar John Legend, wrote that she hopes to set an example for their kids.

'The world needs more kindness and love and I want to contribute to it,' she wrote.

'Ive been on a path of self-improvement for the past decade and that path is going to continue.'

Teigen is feeling the financial pinch triggered by the backlash to her decade-old tweets.

She was dropped from the marketing campaign for Safely, the cleaning brand she founded with Kris Jenner, after sales reportedly plunged because of the controversy over her tweets.

The new brand, Safely, debuted in early May and included both stars in its marketing campaigns, but following the bullying scandal the 35-year-old model has not been seen once.

Before June 5, Teigen hadn't been seen on husband John Legend's Instagram since May 16 and hasn't posted on her own accounts since sharing an apology on Twitter on May 12. The couple is seen above in Los Angeles in February 2020

A source told The Sun: 'Kris Jenner has been in crisis mode for weeks with Chrissy's scandal.

'She likes Chrissy but she's a numbers girl first and their sales tanked after all of Chrissy's tweets came out.

'It's the worst case scenario for them, they just launched their cleaning brand days before the scandal.'

The backlash against Teigen's tweets is a blow to the brand, which had hoped to focus on her and her children in advertising campaigns.

Dailymail.com has contacted both Safely and Teigen for comment.

Earlier this month, Teigen made her first appearance on Instagram since the scandal erupted.

The model looked peaceful as she beamed with her daughter Luna, 5, while celebrating her first-ever dance recital. The image was posted to her husband's account.

At the time of the scandal, Target had discontinued their partnership with Teigen's line of Cravings cookware  though it was said the two came to an agreement in December before the social media eruption.

Expedia-owned rental site VRBO came under fire for recently running a promo with Teigen, Legend, and their kids Luna and Miles, to celebrate 'joy and togetherness'

But just weeks later, retail giant Macy's also dropped her cookware line and it was reported that Bloomingdale's also backed out of a huge deal with the internet personality.

Expedia-owned rental site VRBO came under fire for recently running a promo with Teigen, Legend, and their kids Luna and Miles, to celebrate 'joy and togetherness.'

The promo push on social media prompted many enraged users to speak out that the company shouldn't promote partnerships with a 'bully.'

After Vrbo retweeted an article about the commercial from People, one user responded: 'VRBO, cancel the collab you have with Chrissy NOW unless you support telling children to commit suicide.'

Another tweeted: Hey, @vrbo You're paying @chrissyteigen to do ads for you after she repeatedly messaged an abused minor, telling them to commit suicide? Really?'

'Using an abuser bully as a spokesperson no thanks,' another wrote.
Kendall Jenner had more bad luck with stalkers after a man allegedly tried to find her at her Los Angeles home over the weekend.

A 23-year-old man presented himself at the gate to the 25-year-old Keeping Up With The Kardashians star's exclusive community on Saturday in an attempt to see her, law enforcement sources told TMZ.

Although the guards didn't allow him to enter, he then allegedly went around them and climbed over the wall guarding the community.

Scary: Kendall Jenner, 25, had another stalker scare while she was out of town after a 23-year-old man tried to scale the wall to her home on Saturday, according to TMZ; seen May 26 in LA

The guards were reportedly familiar with the man because he had made several earlier attempts to see Jenner.

Unlike his previous attempts, he then scaled the wall in order to get past the guards, though he cut his hand seriously enough to require medical attention in the process.

The police were called to the scene and the intruder was apprehended, though it's unclear if the guards got ahold of him first or if the police captured him.

Despite his attempt to scale the wall, he was reported taken into custody before he ever made it to Jenner's house.

Brazen display: Guards initially turned the man away, as they knew his face from previous attempts, but this time he went further and climbed the wall, though he cut his hand in the process; Kendall seen in 2019 in NYC

After a trip to the hospital to attend to his cut hand, the intruder was booked for misdemeanor trespassing and released from the jail after 10 hours.

Jenner has reportedly been steering clear of the house following an earlier stalking incident, and she traveled to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, over the weekend with her friend Hailey Bieber.

In April, a 27-year-old man named Shaquan King gained entrance to her property and attempted to take a nude swim in her pool, TMZ reported.

During the frightening break-in attempt he began pounding on the doors and windows and calling out for Jenner, who was home but safe from the stalker.

After he gave up on getting her to come out, he tried to get into the pool, though he was subdued by security guards and arrested by police shortly afterward.

The catwalk star was later granted a five-year restraining order against the skinny-dipping enthusiast.

Unsuccessful: The man was subdued before he reached Jenner's house, and he was booked for misdemeanor trespassing and held for 10 hours; seen in February 2020 in London

Sister act: Kendall previously had a man try to swim nude in her pool in April, and the same person tried to terrorize Kylie; seen in February 2020

The stalker also terrorized Jenner's younger sister Kylie Jenner.

He spent only six hours in jail for trespassing on Kendall's property and headed to Kylie's home shortly after being released.

The cosmetics mogul was able to get her own restraining order against the stalker, though a judge only granted a shorter three-year order.

Kendall previously moved out of her last home, located in West Hollywood, in 2017 after she was the victim of a burglary.

Jenner family stalker: After being arrested and held for six hours for trying to swim nude in Kendall's pool, he immediately headed to Kylie's home. She was granted a three-year restraining order against the man, while Kendall won five years

She had another stalker scare earlier in April, when she told a judge that a Los Angeles Police Department detective told her that a 24-year-old man named Malik Bowker had traveled across the country with the intention of purchasing an illegal firearm to murder her.

They claimed that he then intended to kill himself.

The catwalk star was swiftly granted a restraining order against him, which required Bowker to stay at least 100 yards from her.

At the time, he was being held in a hospital's psychiatric ward, though she claimed that she feared he would seek her out after being released, TMZ reported.

So far, Jenner hasn't made any moves to sell her current home, though she doesn't appear to have any plans to return to it.
Melissa McCarthy and her husband Ben Falcone have been in Australia filming various projects since last year.

And on Sunday, Ben, 47, was spotted taking a low-key stroll with a friend in Byron Bay, where he and his family have been based.

The sighting comes after Melissa and Ben's upcoming comedy series for Netflix, titled God's Favorite Idiot, halted production recently.

Stepping out: Melissa McCarthy's husband Ben Falcone (right) took a stroll in Byron Bay on Sunday, after production for his new Netflix series God's Favorite Idiot wrapped up early

Ben looked casual in a bright orange shirt, which he teamed with grey trousers, sneakers and a black jacket.

Ben and his friend enjoyed a chat as they walked around the coastal town after picking up takeaway coffees.

Production on God's Favorite Idiot abruptly wrapped because Netflix wants to film the show in two separate eight-episode installments, reports Deadline.

Low-key ensemble: Ben looked casual in a bright orange shirt, which he teamed with grey trousers, sneakers and a black jacket

Eight episodes have already been filmed.

'We are so sad to leave Australia, as it has truly felt like home to us this past year,' Ben and Melissa said in a statement.

'We were so lucky to have had the best, hardest-working Australian cast and crew. We are so proud of God's Favorite Idiot and cannot wait to share it with everyone.'

Cut! Production on God's Favorite Idiot abruptly wrapped because Netflix wants to film the show in two separate eight-episode installments, reports Deadline. Pictured on set in April

It remains unclear when Melissa and Ben will leave the country.

They were first spotted filming God's Favorite Idiot in March on location in Lismore, 45km west of Byron Bay.

God's Favorite Idiot is a workplace comedy about a mid-level tech support employee (Falcone) who finds love with his co-worker (McCarthy) at exactly the same time he becomes the unwitting messenger of God.

Melissa and Ben were recently granted $10million from the federal government's Local Incentive program to film the series in Australia.

Leaving so soon! It remains unclear when Melissa and Ben will leave the country

'To have the opportunity to safely film our show in a beautiful country like Australia is a dream come true,' the couple said in a statement in February.

'We love this country and the talented people who live and work here.'

Back in December, it was reported that Melissa enjoyed working in Byron Bay so much that she was lobbying to shoot her next project Down Under.

While in Australia, Melissa also filmed scenes for Marvel movie Thor: Love and Thunder and Hulu mini series Nine Perfect Strangers.
She spent 15 months living in Perth, Western Australia amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

But Grey's Anatomy star Kate Walsh, 53, finally said goodbye to the Land Down Under on Monday as she boarded a flight bound for the US.

Joined by her new boyfriend, Australian farmer Andrew Nixon, the American star cut a low-key figure as she strolled through Sydney Airport's departures terminal ahead of the long-haul flight.

See you later, mate! Grey's Anatomy star Kate Walsh, 53, (left) and her Australian boyfriend Andrew Nixon (right) said goodbye to the Land Down Under on Monday as they arrived at Sydney Airport ahead of flying to the US

As is usual protocol for A-list travellers, the couple were spotted being chaperoned to the departures lounge by a female airport staffer.

Kate dressed for comfort, sporting a grey tracksuit set, white lace-up sneakers matching crew socks.

She carried her belongings in a Louis Vuitton duffle bag worth around $3,000 and covered her eyes with a pair of aviator-style spectacles.

Finally coming to an end: Kate had spent the past 15 months living in Perth, Western Australia, amid the Covid-19 pandemic

Comfortable and stylish: Kate dressed for comfort, sporting a grey tracksuit set, white lace-up sneakers matching crew socks

Andrew, who lived with Kate in Perth during her time in Australia, meanwhile toted a Louis Vuitton hat box worth approximately $8,000.

He dressed down in a blue tracksuit set and carried his belongings in a dark green backpack.

The lovebirds both followed Covid safety measures by wearing surgical masks.

A-list exit: Flanked by a airport chaperone, the couple cut a low-key figure as they toted their designer luggage to the departures lounge

Expensive taste: She carried her belongings in a Louis Vuitton duffle bag worth around $3,000 and covered her eyes with a pair of aviator-style spectacles

The last time fans saw Kate was on Friday when she was walking her dog in Perth, indicating that she travelled to New South Wales over the weekend to catch her international flight at Sydney Airport.

Kate announced she would be leaving Australia last Tuesday, telling Western Australia radio station The West Live: 'I'm about to go home for a bit, literally in six days.'

However, she promised to return, adding: 'I go back for work and [to] see my family. So I'll be gone for a couple of months, but then I'll be back!'

Low-key look: Andrew dressed down in a blue tracksuit set and carried his belongings in a dark green backpack

Stylish farmer alert! Andrew, who lived with Kate in Perth during her time in Australia, toted a Louis Vuitton hat box worth approximately $8,000.

Kate even said she was leaving her pets behind with her assistance in the interim.

And in between she'll be going to Europe to shoot an undisclosed project.

'I can tell you this: I'll be in Paris,' added Walsh, cryptically when pressed for details.

Masked: The lovebirds both followed Covid safety measures by wearing surgical masks

Say cheese! At one stage, Kate posed for a selfie with an enthusiastic fan

This seemed to provide a clue as to the project's title, likely the second season of Netflix show Emily in Paris.

Walsh played Emilys boss Madeline in the show's first season.

During her time in Western Australia, the Private Practice star put down roots in the beachside city of Perth on the country's west coast.

Boy voyage! Kate announced she would be leaving Australia last Tuesday, telling Western Australia radio station The West Live : 'I'm about to go home for a bit, literally in six days'

The beloved star found herself 'stuck' in the Southern Hemisphere after pandemic lockdowns began to take hold while she was vacationing down under last March.

She quickly fell for the country.

Speaking to The Daily Telegraph about her new love affair with Australia recently, the actress explained she didn't want to go back to her New York home.

Hollywood star: During her time in Western Australia, the Private Practice star put down roots in the beachside city of Perth on the country's west coast

'I didn't really want to go back to New York in the middle of a pandemic when it was pretty gnarly to say the least," she said.

'I couldn't go home initially, and now that I can, I don't really fancy going back. When I have my own mother saying don't come home, my 86-year-old mum we are in a very challenging time!'

Claiming to have found a new 'passion project', Kate revealed recently her plans to help bolster Australia's local film industry after it suffered enormously due to global pandemic.

The Grey's Anatomy star recently told 2GB's Jim Wilson she felt 'very grateful' to be in Australia during the COVID-19 crisis.

'Honestly, I feel very lucky,' she said. 'It's kind of a crazy situation: it's like being in an alternate reality compared to the rest of the world.'
She the Married At First Sight star who has managed to fashion herself into a style icon.

And Martha Kalifatidis rocked a very racy outfit during Monday's episode of Celebrity Apprentice Australia.

The 33-year-old turned heads in a pink mini skirt and matching crop top by designer Lillian Khallouf.

'She should be fired purely for her outfit!' Celebrity Apprentice viewers have reacted to Martha Kalifatidis' VERY revealing outfit on the show on Monday night

Although some fans praised Martha's sense of style, others claimed it wasn't suitable for the show.

'I love Martha but she should be fired purely for tonight's boardroom outfit,' one viewer tweeted.

'Jesus, Martha's really got the girls out in that outfit...,' another commented.

Pretty in pink: The 33-year-old turned heads in a pink mini skirt and matching crop top by designer Lillian Khallouf. Pictured Martha with co-stars Ross Noble, Josh Gibson and Shaynna Blaze

However there were fans of Martha's look, with one person writing: 'Love love love this outfit.'

'I usually don't care about such things but how cute was Martha in the pink top and skirt combo tonight,' another agreed.

During Monday's episode of Celebrity Apprentice Australia, Martha was fired from the show by Lord Alan Sugar.

Divided opinions: Although some fans praised Martha's sense of style, others claimed it wasn't suitable for the show

The final four - Ross Noble, 45, Josh Gibson, 37, Shaynna Blaze, 58, and Martha, 33 - battled it out for a place in Tuesday's grand finale.

Lord Sugar appeared to be leaning towards sending Martha to the grand final, when a slip of the tongue revealed her true intentions.

'Can I say something? This will change my life. It will literally open so many doors,' Martha said, when pleading her case.

Out: During Monday's episode of Celebrity Apprentice Australia, Martha was fired

'I'm not just an influencer, I'm not just a beauty blogger, I'm not just a make-up artist, and it will give me so many opportunities,' she added.

Advisor Janine Allis, 55, was shocked and reminded Martha that the aim of the show was actually to raise money for charity, not to raise her profile.

Lord Sugar said: 'You have put your foot in it. The way you're worried about yourself rather than your charity'.

He announced that The Block star Shaynna would be going through to the grand final, and will be up against British comic Ross.

Celebrity Apprentice continues Tuesday at 7.30pm on Channel Nine
Hugh Jackman has revealed he recently met up with the woman he shared his first kiss with during his school days.

The 52-year-old, who is in hotel quarantine after jetting from New York to Sydney a few days ago, was asked about his first kiss during an Instagram Q&A on Tuesday.

The Oscar winner said he remembered the moment well, and actually ran into the woman 'just over a year ago'.

Reminiscing: Hugh Jackman has revealed he recently met up with the woman he shared his first kiss with during his school days

'Do I remember my first kiss? Of course, who doesn't?' Hugh said.

'Sarah Dowsett. I have, by the way, met up with her about a year ago,' he added. 'So apologies Sarah for mentioning this.'

Recalling the details of his first kiss, Hugh said he made the 'rookie error' of telling his mates he had made 'arrangements' to meet Sarah at the park after school.

Down memory lane: The 52-year-old, who is in hotel quarantine after jetting from New York to Sydney a few days ago, was asked about his first kiss during an Instagram Q&A on Tuesday

'I walk off, thinking we're alone, and as we are about to go in for the kiss about 20 of my friends jumped out,' he reminisced.

'They chased us through the bush,' he added. 'Finally, after they left, we had our first kiss.'

'I went to an all-boys school and she went to an all-girls school and we met there every day for a month,' he concluded.

Surprise! The Oscar winner said he remembered the moment well, and actually ran into the woman 'just over a year ago'

Hugh is in Sydney serving out his mandatory 14 days of hotel quarantine, which is a requirement for all Australians returning from overseas.

For most of the Covid-19 pandemic he has been living in New York City with his wife, Deborra-Lee Furness, and their children, Oscar and Ava.

They had actually been in Australia when coronavirus was declared a pandemic in March last year, but flew to America days later to keep their family together.
The Gold Dinner charity gala raised an incredible $4.8million for the Sydney Children's Hospitals Foundation on Thursday night.

But despite the celebrity guests stepping out for a good cause, some staff at Sydney Airport - where the star-studded dinner was held - were 'unimpressed' by how the event was organised.

One crew member said there were grumblings over the fact actress Rose Byrne was picked up directly from the tarmac following the auction and didn't have to take the shuttle bus with the other attendees.

EXCLUSIVE: The organises of the Gold Dinner 2021 reportedly left Sydney Airport staff 'unimpressed' on Thursday after actress Rose Byrne (pictured) had 'special access' to the tarmac while other guests caught the shuttle bus

'Rose had special permission [from the airport] so she didn't have to catch the shuttle bus with other guests,' they said.

According to the source, Rose's driver was granted one-time access to drive directly onto the airport grounds to collect her without the need for a permit.

Meanwhile, other guests who paid $1,500 per ticket - including Anthony Minichiello and Terry Biviano, Ian Thorpe, Julie Bishop, Francesca Packer and Richard Wilkins - had 'no problem' catching the shuttle back to the airport terminal.

VIP treatment! One crew member said there were grumblings over the fact Rose was picked up directly from the tarmac following the auction and didn't have to take the shuttle bus with the other attendees - including the likes of Julie Bishop, Francesca Packer and Ian Thorpe

No dramas! Other guests who paid $1,500 per ticket, including Richard Wilkins and his girlfriend Nicole Dale (pictured), had 'no problem' catching the shuttle back to the terminal

No special treatment! Radio personality Hamish Blake and his wife Zoe (left) were pictured stepping off the shuttle bus with Nova 96.9's Michael 'Wippa' Wipfli and his wife Lisa (right)

It's likely event organisers arranged access to the tarmac to ensure the VIPs like Rose had a comfortable time at the event, without having to worry about waiting for a bus.

When contacted by Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday, a Sydney Airport spokesperson declined to comment.

It comes days after organisers shut down false rumours that Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky had 'failed to bid' at the charity auction.

Special guests: It's likely event organisers arranged access to the tarmac to ensure the VIPs like Rose had a comfortable time at the event, without having to worry about waiting for a bus. Rose is pictured at the Gold Dinner with Luciana Barroso (left) and Elsa Pataky (right)

Clarification: It comes days after organisers shut down false rumours that Chris Hemsworth (right) and Elsa Pataky (left) had 'failed to bid' at the charity auction

In a statement to Daily Mail Australia on Sunday, Gold Chair Monica Saunders-Weinberg said: 'Our mission this year was to not only raise as much money as possible but to shine a light on this year's beneficiary  Mental Health which is a crisis that effects far too many children and adolescents.

'The entire Hemsworth table stayed until after the official proceedings and were incredibly generous with their time, their dollars and in fact were some of our largest donors on the evening.

'The Hemsworths were invited because they represent so much of what is good in our country and community, and they should be applauded for their positivity and generosity, as acknowledged by the Queens in this year's honour list for Chris.

'Over and above, Chris and Elsa donated a prize which earned the hospital $65,000 and were integral in helping us reach our goal and most importantly shine light on the mental health crisis affecting our youth.'
Ellen DeGeneres appeared emotional as she ran errands in Montecito, California on Monday.

The 63-year-old's eyes looked heavy with concern as she left the Montecito Country Mart by herself.

Adjusting her blue face mask, Ellen stepped outside into the affluent community with her phone and water bottle tucked into her arm.

Heavy: Ellen DeGeneres appeared emotional as she ran errands in Montecito, California on Monday

The TV host kept it casual for her day of shopping with a dark grey T-shirt, coordinating pair of trousers, and Nike trainers.

She added a timeless touch with a smart silver watch.

The sighting comes amid a difficult year for the television icon, who last month announced the end of her daytime talk show.

In mid-May, Ellen confirmed that her upcoming 19th season of The Ellen DeGeneres Show would be her last.

Laid-back: The TV host kept it casual for her day of shopping in the affluent town

The show's end comes after several former and current employees accused Ellen of fostering a toxic work environment last year and turning a blind eye to bullying by executives.

The Ellen DeGeneres Show got off to a strong ratings start last fall in her 18th season premiere when she addressed the scandal, but has seen a swift decline in the months since.

'I learned that things happen here that never should have happened,' Ellen said in her season premiere. 'I take that very seriously. And I want to say I am so sorry to the people who were affected.

Tough times: The sighting comes amid a difficult year for the television icon, who last month announced her daytime chat show would be coming to an end

'I know that I'm in a position of privilege and power, and I realize that with that comes responsibility. I take responsibility for what happens at my show.'

'This is me and my intention is to always be the best person I can be, and if I've ever let someone down, if I've ever hurt their feelings, I am so sorry for that,' she said. 'If that's ever the case, I've let myself down and I've hurt myself as well because I always try to grow as a person.

'I look at everything that comes into my life as an opportunity to learn. I got into this business to make people laugh and feel good, that's my favorite thing to do.'

It has since been announced that Kelly Clarkson's eponymous talk show will be filling the time slot void left by Ellen after the show ends next year.
Seven hours after issuing a formal apology for her growing cyberbullying scandal, Chrissy Teigen unveiled a new arm tattoo of a sketch by her five-year-old daughter Luna Simone.

'Luna drew this butterfly on me today and it seemed fitting to make permanent,' the 35-year-old 'canceled' influencer - who boasts 49.2M social media followers - wrote on Monday.

'A little imperfect, a little messy, but hell, she's here to stay. Lol. Love you all to bits, I really do. Even if you hate me, I can honestly say I do not hate you. I send you love.

Symbolism: Seven hours after issuing a formal apology for her growing cyberbullying scandal, Chrissy Teigen unveiled a new arm tattoo of a sketch by her five-year-old daughter Luna Simone

'How annoying is that! You must be soooo annoyed! Anyhoo, love you, love you, love you. Here's to the messes in progress.'

It was Chrissy's third tattoo by LA-based fine-line artist Winter Stone - who's previously inked Lady Gaga, Demi Lovato, Joe Jonas, and Mandy Moore.

That same day, Teigen's husband of six years - EGOT champ John Legend - delivered the commencement address at little Luna's preschool graduation.

'I sobbed from beginning to end, breaking for laughter only when John's much-anticipated-by-him commencement speech welcomed them to the workforce and listed the 5 P's as pizza, peanut butter, petey, penny and parents,' the wisecracking presenter wrote.

The 35-year-old 'canceled' influencer wrote on Monday: 'Luna drew this butterfly on me today and it seemed fitting to make permanent, A little imperfect, a little messy, but hell, she's here to stay'

Reunited: It was Chrissy's (R, pictured January 12) third tattoo by LA-based fine-line artist Winter Stone (L) - who's previously inked Lady Gaga, Demi Lovato, and Joe Jonas

'I sobbed because my god, what a year. But also, man. they're SO young. Their eyes are gonna see so much. They're going to experience pain, hurt, loss. But also love, success, unimaginable bonds with friends. Then I thought about what I've learned just in the past few months and I feel a wealth of gratitude for life alone and those unimaginable bonds.

'To the people that never let up with the texts, to my diamond painters, the ones who wanted to give me space, the girls who wiped the snot, and my f***ing rock of a husband, my god I love you. I pray all our little pod tots collect real ones all their lives. May they forever grow and learn, and maybe a little bit messy in the process.'

Chrissy is on full-on PR damage control following the long-delayed backlash to vicious tweets she sent to Courtney Stodden, Lindsay Lohan, and Farrah Abraham circa 2011-2013.

Teigen's Cravings cookwear has since been pulled from Macy's, Target, and Bloomingdale's; she stepped down as co-founder of the cleaning brand Safely; and dropped out of a narrating gig for Netflix's Never Have I Ever.

Teigen wrote: 'Love you all to bits, I really do. Even if you hate me, I can honestly say I do not hate you. I send you love. How annoying is that! You must be soooo annoyed! Anyhoo, love you, love you, love you. Here's to the messes in progress'

'I sobbed because my god, what a year': That same day, her husband of six years - EGOT champ John Legend - delivered the commencement address at little Luna's preschool graduation

'I'm in the process of privately reaching out to the people I insulted,' the half-Thai Utah native wrote Monday on the platform Medium.

'There is simply no excuse for my past horrible tweets. My targets didnt deserve them. No one does.

'Many of them needed empathy, kindness, understanding and support, not my meanness masquerading as a kind of casual, edgy humor. I was a troll, full stop. And I am so sorry.'

'Go to sleep forever': The wisecracking presenter is on full-on PR damage control following the long-delayed backlash to vicious tweets she sent to Courtney Stodden, Lindsay Lohan, and Farrah Abraham circa 2011-2013

Consequences: Chrissy's Cravings cookwear has since been pulled from Macy's, Target, and Bloomingdale's; she stepped down as co-founder of the cleaning brand Safely; and dropped out of a narrating gig for Netflix's Never Have I Ever

Chrissy insisted she's 'no longer the person who wrote those horrible things' due to her numerous therapy sessions over the last decade.

'John tells me almost every day how much our daughter Luna reminds him of me,' Teigen wrote.

'Every day, I try to make sure she's all the best parts of me, all the things I aspire to be all the time, but fail at sometimes. And we preach kindness to her and [three-year-old son] Miles every chance we get.

Teigen wrote Monday on the platform Medium: 'I'm in the process of privately reaching out to the people I insulted...There is simply no excuse for my past horrible tweets. My targets didn't deserve them. No one does...I was a troll, full stop. And I am so sorry'

'We preach kindness to our children every chance we get': The half-Thai Utah native insisted she's 'no longer the person who wrote those horrible things' due to her numerous therapy sessions over the last decade (pictured April 13)

'Will they eventually realize there is some hypocrisy there? I certainly do. But I hope they recognize my evolution.'

The People's Beautiful Issue cover girl is saving face in order to sell her $29.99 cookbook - Cravings: All Together: Recipes to Love - co-written by Adeena Sussman, which Clarkson Potter will publish on October 12.

Chrissy is also planning on opening her very first restaurant 'in the heart of Beverly Hills' to further her Cravings brand.

'Printed a page from book 3!' Chrissy is saving face in order to sell her $29.99 cookbook - Cravings: All Together: Recipes to Love - co-written by Adeena Sussman, which Clarkson Potter will publish on October 12
He recently debuted a Netflix series about the legendary 1970s fashion designer Halston.

And now Ryan Murphy has announced that one of the hottest nightlife locales of that era will soon be the focus of an upcoming season of his acclaimed American Crime Story series.

The famously prolific television creator, 55, spoke with Deadline about his intention to create a season of ACS based around the saga of historic New York City nightclub Studio 54.

More to come: Ryan Murphy has announced that one of the hottest nightlife locales in history will soon be the focus of an upcoming season of his acclaimed American Crime Story series

Studio 54 was a legendary albeit short-lived disco nightclub in midtown Manhattan, which was open on and off from 1977 until 1986.

It attracted glitterati from around the globe, including famous guests such as Andy Warhol, Grace Jones, Liza Minnelli and Halston.

The nightclub was known for its incredibly selective door, with throngs of would-be clubgoers packing the street outside in hopes of being selected for entry.

Studio 54 also was infamous for the debauchery inside, with parties that allowed excessive drug use and free-flowing sexuality.

Nightlife legends: The TV creator spoke about his intention to create a season of ACS based around historic New York City nightclub Studio 54; (L-R) clubgoers Halston, Bianca Jagger, Jack Haley, Jr. and wife Liza Minnelli and Andy Warhol seen here in a stock photo from that era

Infamous: Studio 54 also was infamous for the debauchery inside, with parties that allowed excessive drug use and free-flowing sexuality

The original owners of the club, Ian Schrager and Steve Rubell, were forced to shut the club down in 1980 when they were convicted of tax evasion.

That particular part of the story, presumably, will figure as the 'crime' in Murphy's American Crime Story.

'Were going to do Studio 54 as season of American Crime Story,' Ryan told Deadlines Crew Call.

'You can tell in my work that Im obsessed with that era,' the Glee co-creator continued. 'Thats when I was a child, in Indiana, getting the Liz Smith column in the Indianapolis Star, reading about it, Im like "Oh! I wanna go there."

'I love what its about. I love that time and place,' he added. 'But I also feel like, its a story of excess, and a story of two guys who had a dream, and took the dream too far and paid for it. I love Ian Schragers work and I think hes a genius. Its an interesting story to tell through the prism of American Crime Story.'

Studio 54 was a legendary albeit short-lived disco nightclub in midtown Manhattan in the late 70s and early 80s: It was known for its incredibly selective door; Socialite Bianca Jagger, club owner Steve Rubell, Halston and Liza Minnelli seen here at the club in December 1977

'Were going to do Studio 54 as season of American Crime Story,' Ryan told Deadline: 'You can tell in my work that Im obsessed with that era'; seen here in 2019

The first two seasons of ACS focused on the OJ Simpson trial and the assassination of fashion designer Gianni Versace, respectively.

Both of those seasons were widely acclaimed, winning a total of 16 Primetime Emmy Awards.

The third season of American Crime Story is currently in production.

It focuses on the story of the Monica Lewinsky-Bill Clinton scandal from the late 1990s.

This series, starring Beanie Feldstein as Lewinsky and Clive Owen as Clinton, will premiere this September.
A casually dressed Jordan Barrett was spotted in New York City's Soho district on Monday.

The 24-year-old Australian model was accompanied by a male friend during his outing, and appeared to be in good spirits.

Jordan carried a man bag for the outing, wearing a small black satchel across his body.

Out and about: A casually dressed Jordan Barrett (left) was spotted in New York City's Soho district on Monday

He also wore a pair of red and white Nike shorts, which he teamed with a black Nike T-shirt.

The Byron Bay native rounded out his sporty ensemble with black sneakers.

He carried his phone as he walked alongside his friend, with the two young men laughing happily.

All smiles: The 24-year-old Australian model was accompanied by a male friend during his outing, and appeared to be in good spirits

Jordan's companion wore a pair of black shorts, a white T-shirt and black sneakers, which he teamed with off-white socks.

In an interview with GQ Australia in April, Jordan spoke about trading life in Australia for New York City.

'I'm not looking at it like I'm gone for good,' he confessed.

In the bag: Jordan stepped out with a man bag for the outing, wearing a small black satchel across his body

He also spoke about his battle with mental health, and said that returning to Australia for three months earlier in the year gave him time to reflect on himself.

'From being 17, and being extremely successful overseas in what I was doing, but not even really knowing what it was I was doing' he explained.

'When I was scouted, I didn't even understand what it meant to be a model. I didn't know what was going on in my mind. I didn't even know what a panic attack was until now.'
AFL star Daniel Riolo has moved in a new relationship with DJ and TikTok star Paris Lawrence, following his split with Mia Fevoloa last year.

And in an Instagram post on Monday, the 24-year-old footy star looked as loved up as ever with the blonde beauty.

In the mirror, she flaunted her trim and toned figure in a white, twisted crop top that exposed her physique.

Something to tell us? AFL star Daniel Rioli rest his hand on his DJ girlfriend Paris Lawrence's stomach as they put on a very affectionate display in an Instagram Story post on Monday

Daniel wrapped his arm around the blonde beauty placing his hand on her torso.

The DJ she wrote in the caption: 'baby,' with a red love heart.

While it might seem a bit too early in their relationship for the young couple to be expecting, it is likely the pair's loved up display was merely a show of affection for the photo.

Cute: While it might seem a bit too early in their relationship for the young couple to be expecting, it is likely the pair's loved up display was merely a show of affection for the photo

New romance: Daniel began dating Cry Baby hitmaker Paris earlier this year

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Paris Lawrence's management for comment.

Daniel began dating Paris earlier this year, according to the Herald Sun.

Before dating the Cry Baby hitmaker, Daniel was in a relationship with Mia Fevola, the daughter of retired AFL star-turned-radio host Brendan Fevola.

Former flames: Daniel was previously in a relationship with Mia Fevola (pictured), the daughter of retired AFL star-turned-radio host Brendan Fevola. They announced their split in February, 2020, after two years together

Daniel and Mia announced their split in February, 2020, after two years together.

He had moved into the Fevola family home in 2018 when they began dating.

She has since moved on with AFL rising star Jamarra Ugle-Hagan.
She's been married to her actor sweetheart Joe Manganiello for five years.

But Sofia Vergara and her husband celebrated a different anniversary on Monday evening when they marked seven years since their first date.

The 48-year-old Modern Family star and the 44-year-old True Blood actor showed off some of their best looks while enjoying top-of-the-line cuisine at the popular Japanese restaurant Nobu in Malibu.

On the town: Sofia Vergara, 48, glowed in the night in a lovely floral-print off-the-shoulder dress as she enjoyed a date night on Monday with her husband Joe Manganiello, 44

Sofia was a burst of color thanks to her vibrant off-the-shoulder Veronica Beard dress, which was decorated with gorgeous floral designs.

She elevated her 5ft7in stature with a set of black platform heels, and she complemented her plant-covered outfit with a green leather handbag with a thick gold chain.

The Colombia-born star wore her brunette locks parted down the middle and styled pin straight.

She spiced up her ensemble with multiple necklaces and chains, including a strand with a lovely large emerald that matched her bag.

Seeing green: She paired her Veronica Beard dress with a green leather handbag, black platform heels and an emerald necklace

Back in black: Joe was a study in contrasts, as he eschewed Sofia's colors and opted for a low-key untucked charcoal button-up shirt with a black blazer and black jeans

Fierce: He added a set of leopard-print boots and sported his usual rugged salt-and-pepper goatee

Joe was a study in contrasts, as he eschewed Sofia's colors and opted for a low-key untucked charcoal button-up shirt with a black blazer and black jeans.

He added a fierce set of leopard-print boots and sported his usual rugged salt-and-pepper goatee.

The two looked too good not to share it, so the Chef actress posted some photos from the romantic evening to her Instagram account.

The lovebirds got close in one selfie, with Joe showing off a blissful smile while Sofia grinned playfully.

'Feliz first date anniversary,' she captioned her post. '7 anos [lovestruck emojis] luuuv uuuuu.'

Sweet: She revealed that they were celebrating the seventh anniversary of their first date on Instagram

Yum! She seemed to be loving her dinner in a second photo as she held up a bite of meat between her chopsticks

She seemed to be loving her dinner in a second photo as she held up a bite of meat between her chopsticks.

Nobu is a popular spot for celebrity sighting thanks to its upscale sushi and other Japanese dishes, and it's a regular favorite of the KardashianJenner clan.

Before leaving home, Sofia showed off her outfit in the mirror for her 21.9 million Instagram followers.

She and Joe had their first date in the summer of 2014, and the two got engaged on Christmas Day of that year.

They were married less than a year later in November 2015 in a ceremony in Palm Beach, Florida.

Winning look: Before leaving home, Sofia showed off her outfit in the mirror for her 21.9 million Instagram followers
She meditates regularly with her beloved Southern white-faced owl named Kering that she rescued just two years ago.

And during an interview on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Salma Hayek shared that the owl sleeps with her in her bedroom, but only when her billionaire husband Francois-Henri Pinault.

The actress, 54, also has the bird with her in London where's she's currently promoting her movie Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard and told Ellen it had once coughed up a hairball on Harry Styles head.

Funny story: Salma Hayek revealed on The Ellen DeGeneres Show that her pet owl, pictured with her in a video link from London, once coughed up a hair ball on Harry Styles' head

'He was really excited about the owl and was hoping the owl would go on his head,' she shared.

'The minute he least expected it, it came on his head and then this ball of rat hair was on his head.'

Hayek added: 'He was super cool, by the way. He was super cool even with that happening.'

Her interview will air in full on Tuesday's episode of the daytime chat show on NBC.

Wild: 'He was really excited about the owl and was hoping the owl would go on his head,' she said. 'The minute he least expected it, it came on his head and then this ball of rat hair was on his head'

Owl fan: 'He was super cool, by the way. He was super cool even with that happening,' Hayek said of Styles' reaction to the incident

Celebrity pals: It's not known when Styles' encounter with Hayek's owl occurred but the two are pictured together with Zoe Saldana at the Gucci Cruise 2020 show in Rome in May 2019

Meanwhile, Hayek also spoke about her owl with People magazine in a story published Monday.

She said that she meditates with her 'owl very, very often.'

'The minute I go deep into meditation, she stays super still,' she told the outlet.

Feathery friend: Meanwhile, Hayek, 54, also spoke about her owl with People magazine in a story published Monday. She said that she meditates with her 'owl very, very often'

Quiet time: 'The minute I go deep into meditation, she stays super still,' she told the outlet

During a video interview for People's 2021 Beautiful Issue, Hayek said she named Kering after her husband's company because 'their symbol' is 'of the owl.'

'Just being in the same room [with her], there's an energy to it, and it is mesmerizing,' she added.

'Sometimes, when she is really close to me, I can feel her rubbing against me, which is really nice. And I feel so blessed,' Hayek said.

Bond: 'Sometimes, when she is really close to me, I can feel her rubbing against me, which is really nice. And I feel so blessed,' Hayek told People

The mother-of-one has previously introduced her social media followers to her love of animals with videos of her dogs and two parrots.

The animal lover has never been shy about expressing her fondness for adopting pets.

'I have five horses, four alpacas, one cat, eight dogs, one hamster, five parrots, two fish, I'm sure I'm forgetting something!' Salma said on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in October 2013.

'You know this is like the Oscars you forgetting someone. Oh I forgot! I have bunny rabbits, I have turkeys, 20 chickens, same with the rabbits be careful just buy one.'

She added, 'I don't know something is in the air at my ranch, animals keep reproducing!'
Jane Seymour was spotted on set of her Irish drama Harry Wild without crutches in Bray, Co. Wicklow on Monday, three weeks after suffering a nasty fall.

The actress, 70, suffered a hairline fracture on her left kneecap last month and had to also wear a leg brace in the following weeks to help her in her recovery.

But Jane appeared to be in high spirits on Monday as she walked around on set unaided with her script in her hand.

Action! Jane Seymour was spotted on set of her Irish drama Harry Wild without crutches in Bray, Co. Wicklow on Monday, three weeks after suffering a nasty fall

Jane cut a stylish figure in a waxwork jacket which she layered over a grey polo knit.

She teamed the look with skinny jeans and knee-high brown leather boots.

Ahead of filming, Jane wrapped a tartan scarf around her head as she prepared to ride in her red car.

Off for a drive: Ahead of filming, Jane wrapped a tartan scarf around her head as she prepared to ride in her red car

Last minute rehearsal: The actress was spotted reading her script ahead of shooting the scenes for the drama

Late last month Jane revealed she had suffered a hairline fracture on her left kneecap following a fall on the set of Harry Wild.

And keeping fans updated on how she's recovering, Jane recently credited ballet for helping her.

The actress explained on Instagram: 'I've been taking extra care of my knee. Rest and patience is the cure!

'Thankfully ballet has enabled me to almost not limp on set. Although it hurts, it's getting better everyday!

'Thank you to everyone who reached out with such kind messages. Keep smiling! #HarryWild @acorn_tv. [sic]'.

'Keep smiling!' Late last month Jane revealed she had suffered a hairline fracture on her left kneecap following a fall on the set of Harry Wild

Jane had shared details about her 'really painful' injury at the time, with the actress revealing she had injured her left kneecap after filming a thrilling scene that involved her running across a bridge.

The star explained she 'fell pretty badly' and proudly added that she still managed to 'finish the scene' and hasn't missed a 'minute of work' since.

Jane captioned the Instagram video, which was shot from her trailer on set, with: 'I thought I'd break the news to you all, I fell pretty badly on set about a week ago. [injured emoji].

'I've got lots of hairline fractures on my kneecap. Got lucky comparatively! In spite of it, I managed to finish the scene and work all week trying not to hobble. [crying emoji] This is acting! #HarryWild @acorn_tv.'

In the video, Jane panned the camera onto her leg brace as she spoke to the camera and revealed that she also has crutches to help her during recovery, she said: 'So I was set the other day...

'I had to run across a bridge and look for a guy that was being tortured. I fell, so I'm in a leg brace and I've got crutches. I have not missed a minute's work and I have now been renamed to hop-a-long and hop-a-long keeps trying to hop a long.

'But I did apparently smash my kneecap, so it's really painful, I'm not allowed to move it for two to three weeks.

'I'm acting above the kneecap and I have a wonderful double for below the kneecap!'

Oh dear: In a video shared to Instagram, Jane revealed she had injured her left kneecap after filming a thrilling scene that involved her running across a bridge

Jane was first spotted on the set of Irish mystery thriller Harry Wild last month and it is due for release next year.

The actress will both star and co-executive produce the show for Acorn TV, a streaming service from AMC that focuses on British content.

In the eight-part series, Jane is set to play retired English professor Harriet 'Harry' Wild, who finds herself recovering from a mugging at the home of her son, who works as a police detective.

While staying at her son's house, she becomes entwined in a murder investigation that he is working on.
She's been extremely vocal since the death of her ex-husband Geoffrey Edelsten on Friday, and now Gabi Grecko has claimed they were 'still married' when he died.

In a post on Instagram on Tuesday, the 32-year-old American clarified that she never divorced the multimillionaire businessman when they split in 2015.

'For people who have asked. No me and Geoffrey were still married when he passed away, no divorce, widowed,' she wrote.

Bombshell: She's been extremely vocal since the death of her ex-husband Geoffrey Edelsten on Friday, and now Gabi Grecko has claimed they were 'still married' when he died. Pictured together at the Red Ball in Melbourne in September 2015

In a since-deleted post on Instagram on Monday, Gabi also claimed she was in with a shot at a slice of his fortune.

She shared a bizarre post from an Instagram follower, who claimed Geoffrey had told her three years ago that he would leave Gabi 'something' in his will.

'I met Mr Edelsten at a hospital in Australia three years ago. He told me that Gabi is the only woman that he has ever loved and that he can never love another woman,' the post read.

Still married: In a post on Instagram on Tuesday, the 32-year-old American clarified that she never divorced the multimillionaire businessman when they split in 2015

'For people who have asked. No me and Geoffrey were still married when he passed away, no divorce, widowed,' she wrote

'He also mentioned that unlike the others, she was not with him for his money and that he intends to leave her something in his last will and testament upon his passing.

'He said Gabi never judged him and made him feel youthful and optimistic about life again.'

The person added: 'I myself do not know Gabi nor have I ever met her but I can vouch that she is not a gold-digger and never leached on Mr Edelsten for his money.'

Making bank: In a since-deleted post on Instagram on Monday, Gabi also claimed she was in with a shot at a slice of his fortune. Pictured together at the Melbourne Cup in November 2014

Commenting on the post, Gabi urged people to 'stop with the negativity' after receiving a barrage of backlash following Geoffrey's death.

Geoffrey was found dead aged 78 by a cleaner at his Melbourne apartment on Friday, June 11 - the anniversary of his wedding to Gabi.

Gabi and Geoffrey dated on and off for five years, before marrying in Melbourne back in 2015.

The way they were: Gabi and Geoffrey dated on and off for five years, before marrying in Melbourne back in 2015. Pictured at the public service for Tom Hafey in Melbourne in May 2014

He was 72 and she was only 26 when they tied the knot in an elaborate wedding ceremony.

But their marriage proved to be short-lived, with the former couple splitting just a few months later.

They reunited in January 2018 and were planning on renewing their vows before calling it quits again at the end of that year.
She recently announced she is expecting her second child with husband Hugo Taylor.

And Millie Mackintosh cradled her growing baby bump in an idyllic beach snap shared to Instagram on Tuesday as she detailed her second pregnancy journey.

The former Made In Chelsea star, 31, opened up about the symptoms she's been suffering while also stating that this pregnancy is 'challenging' as she's also juggling 13-month-old daughter Sienna.

Radiant: Millie Mackintosh cradled her growing baby bump in an idyllic beach snap shared to Instagram on Tuesday as she detailed her second pregnancy journey

The image sees Millie looking down at her bump as she poses in a floaty white dress with a floral pattern.

Millie teamed her dress, by DOEN, with a pair of white trainers and trendy sunglasses as she soaked up the sun on the beach.

Captioning the image, the star detailed how she's been feeling in her second pregnancy, detailing her symptoms including insomnia, morning sickness and pelvic pain.

She penned: 'I share so much about how Im feeling and what Im going through on here that its been weird holding back, it feels like a relief now I can talk about my pregnancy and Im so excited to hear from lots of other mums about how they found the experience second time around.

Family: The ex Made In Chelsea star, 31, detailed the symptoms she's been suffering while also stating that this pregnancy is 'challenging' as she's also juggling 13-month-old daughter Sienna

'Its been easier in some ways and harder in others, here are some of the symptoms I have been experiencing over the last few months.

'I had morning sickness from around 6 weeks until the end of my first trimester, I think Im pretty much past it however occasionally it comes out of nowhere and catches me off guard.

'Ive learnt that the only thing that really helps is for me to eat through it, ginger biscuits and marmite on toast saved me! Ive also had this awful sour, metallic taste in my mouth which has added to my general queasiness.

Blooming lovely: The image sees Millie looking down at her bump as she poses in a floaty white dress with a floral pattern

'I felt exhausted in my first trimester, some days I struggled to focus or function. Being pregnant with a 1 year old is a whole different ball game! Ive also struggled with insomnia, Im in bed asleep by 9pm most nights but am waking up around 3am to pee (for the 2nd time) and then I cant get back to sleep.

'I have been trying to work in the mornings and rest when Sienna has her afternoon nap.'

Millie then went on to further discuss her pregnancy ailments, adding: 'My hunger levels have been crazy, during my first trimester I needed to eat the minute I woke up and was waking up in the night starving, I keep rice cakes by my bed, its a primal hunger that you just cant ignore!

'Ive also had to eat smaller meals more often so I dont get hungry and then feel sick. Ive been craving a mix of sweet and savoury, Hawaiian pizzas with extra pineapple, chicken sausages with ketchup, egg fried rice with sweet chilli sauce - you get the picture!

Candid: Captioning the image, the star detailed how she's been feeling in her second pregnancy, detailing her symptoms including insomnia, morning sickness and pelvic pain

'I had pelvic pain last time and its already started bothering me again. I know that pilates will help me to manage it as well as regular trips to the osteopath, avoiding certain exercises that trigger it and no long walks or running.'

The beauty went on to add that her emotions have been 'all over the place' adding that she's extra tired as she has to juggle being pregnant with raising her 13-month-old Sienna.

She wrote: 'My emotions have been ALL over the place, Im teary, grumpy and full of mood swings (lucky @hugotaylorlondon!) Its definitely more challenging this time in some ways because its exhausting having a 1 year old but I just feel so lucky and overwhelmed with happiness!'

Honest post: The beauty went on to add that her emotions have been 'all over the place' adding that she's extra tired as she has to juggle being pregnant with raising her 13-month-old Sienna

It comes after Millie shared a heartwarming snap of herself holding her sonogram scan alongside Hugo and Sienna.

The media personality smiled at the camera as she held up the scan while Hugo gave their daughter a kiss.

Alongside the photo, Millie wrote: 'Thank you for your lovely messages! It feels so good to be able to share the news with you all'.

Bump: The reality star took to her Instagram Stories and displayed her growing baby bump in a mirror selfie shortly after revealing her baby news

The reality star also took to her Instagram Stories and displayed her growing baby bump in a mirror selfie.

Millie sported a navy top in the snap while Hugo stood behind her and placed his hands on her stomach.

Millie took to Instagram on Sunday to announce her baby news, sharing a sweet snap of her baby bump as she lifted Sienna in the air.

Congratulations: Millie took to Instagram on Sunday to announce her baby news, sharing a sweet snap of her baby bump as she lifted Sienna in the air

Coming soon: Millie said she was 'so excited' to make Sienna a big sister in her sweet post

She wrote: 'We are so excited to announce that Sienna is going to be a big Sister!

'I couldnt keep this to myself for much longer and Im running out of ways to hide my bump! Baby 2 is due later this year.'

The star will welcome her newest bundle of joy with husband Hugo Taylor, 35, who she wed in 2018.

Millie was positively glowing in a pink swimsuit which clung to her blossoming bump as she smiled in the snap.

The star's celebrity friends including new mum Binky Felstead and Saturdays star Mollie King were quick to send well-wishes.
Former Hollyoaks star Scarlett Bowman has welcomed her second child, a baby girl named Juno Rose.

The actress, 35, took to Instagram to announce the news and shared a heartwarming snap of herself cradling the newborn alongside husband Rob Colicci.

Juno was nestled against her mother's chest as the couple smiled at the camera, with Scarlett congratulated on the birth by her famous sister-in-law, Marvel star Emily VanCamp.

Congratulations: Former Hollyoaks star Scarlett Bowman has welcomed her second child, a baby girl named Juno Rose

She wrote: 'Welcome to this crazy world little lady. @robcolicci is our hero for looking after us we love you x x x'

She wrote: 'Welcome to this crazy world little lady. @robcolicci is our hero for looking after us we love you x x x.'

Scarlett, who played Maddie Morrison on Hollyoaks, shared another adorable snap of the newborn on Saturday following the birth.

She wrote: 'Juno Rose Colicci. Arrived earth side on 08.06.21 weighing 7 and a half pounds.'

Scarlett appeared in 121 episodes of Hollyoaks between 2011 and 2012 and left the soap when her character was killed in a bus crash.

Heartwarming: Scarlett, who played Maddie Morrison on Hollyoaks, shared another adorable snap of the newborn on Saturday following the birth

Scarlett wrote: 'Juno Rose Colicci. Arrived earth side on 08.06.21 weighing 7 and a half pounds'

Career: Scarlett appeared in 121 episodes of Hollyoaks between 2011 and 2012 and left the soap when her character was killed in a bus crash

The actress and her other half are also parents to a son who they regularly share snaps with on social media.

Emily, who is married to Scarlett's brother and fellow actor Josh Bowman, wrote under the baby snap: 'Gorgeous. Can't wait to meet little Juno.'

Josh and Emily have been a couple since 2011, when they were still acting in Revenge, a loose modernization of The Count Of Monte Cristo.

Family: Scarlett was congratulated on the birth by her famous sister-in-law, Marvel star Emily VanCamp who is married to Emily's brother Josh (Emily and Josh pictured in 2014)

Emily wrote: 'Gorgeous. Can't wait to meet little Juno'

Scarlett and Rob tied the knot in a romantic ceremony in Portofino, Italy back in 2016.

Since leaving Hollyoaks, Scarlett has turned her hand to artwork, creating the brand Projects On Walls.

The company focuses on 'sourcing and curating art for residential and commercial interiors'.
Max Bowden has split from long-term girlfriend Danielle McCarney, four weeks after co-star Jessie Wallace left a sexually-explicit message on his Instagram post.

The EastEnders actor, 26, who plays Ben Mitchell in the BBC1 soap, called time on the relationship with the former show runner after two years and it's believed the decision was amicable.

Fans of the soap speculated at the time of Jessie's crude post on a throwback picture of Max at the 2020 NTAs, in which she wrote: 'Rememberif you need a m***e to cry onI'm yer gal', was a hint the pair were romantically involved.

It's over: Max Bowden has split from long-term girlfriend Danielle McCarney, four weeks after co-star Jessie Wallace left a sexually-explicit message on his Instagram post

Max's followers were taken aback by the crude comment as they shared their shock and amusement online.

One fan penned: 'Omg,' alongside a crying laughing emoji while another said: '@jessie.wallace_official we need more Kat, Ben & Phil scenes '.

Another wrote: '@jessie.wallace_official Supportive m***e.I'm defiantly using this as a pick up line. Cheers Jess,' in addition to crying laughing emojis.

Surprising! Fans of the soap speculated at the time of Jessie's crude post on a throwback picture of Max at the 2020 NTAs

Lewd! Jessie appeared in on a joke as she typed on the post: 'Remember if you need a m***e to cry on. I'm yer gal [winking emoji]'

But pals told MailOnline Jessies comment was simply a joke and Max was with Danielle at the time. Its not linked to the split.

A source close to the star said: 'Max and Danielle's split had been on the cards for a while.

'The relationship was a whirlwind at the start but ran into trouble a few months ago. They tried to make it work but they decided to remain friends. Nobody else was involved.

Thoroughly entertained: Max's followers were taken aback by the crude comment as they shared their shock and amusement online

'Max is still very fond of Danielle and he's gutted it didn't work out. The consolation is at least they parted on good terms.'

An EastEnders spokeswoman said: 'We never comment on personal matters.'

Max met Danielle while she was working on EastEnders as a runner between April 2019 and March 2020. She now works as a runner on Loose Women.

Considering Max joined the hit show at the start of 2019, it can be assumed they must have worked alongside each other at the time.

The actor posted many gushing messages about his girlfriend on social media and it is believed they had been living together prior to their split.

Wishing her a happy birthday in April last year, he described her as the 'most beautiful woman on the planet,' adding 'you are the gift that keeps on giving.'

Time to move on: A source close to the star said: 'Max and Danielle's split had been on the cards for a while

The split comes after a tough few months in Max's life following the deaths of two of his close pals, plus the passing of his grandfather last September.

The Albert Square favourite lost best friend Terry Mills, the showbiz agent and manager, in February after contracting Covid-19 during a business trip to Mexico which later developed into pneumonia.

Last week, the talented actor revealed another of his oldest friends, Luke Goodings, had passed away after taking his own life.

Max urged people to talk about their mental health issues in the wake of his friend's death, while also pushing a GoFundMe page to help contribute to the costs of the funeral.

The Woking-born performer is the sixth actor to play Ben Mitchell in EastEnders after joining the soap in 2019.

He's won praise for his part in the soap's biggest storylines since his arrival, which included his character's same-sex marriage to

Callum Highway, played by Tony Clay. Max was nominated for the Best Newcomer gong at the 2020 NTAs but lost out to Peter Ash, who plays Paul Foreman in Coronation Street.

Happier times: 'The relationship was a whirlwind at the start but ran into trouble a few months ago. They tried to make it work but they decided to remain friends. Nobody else was involved'

EastEnders viewers were left crying with joy at the end of January when Max's character Ben and his onscreen lover Callum Highway finally got engaged.

And the pair later tied the knot in a romantic ceremony during a recent episode of the long-running BBC soap.

It's been a rocky road to happiness for Ben and Callum, fraught with lies and crime, after sharing their first kiss in June 2019, so it was no surprise that their engagement back in January delighted viewers.

Special day: EastEnders viewers were left crying with joy at the end of January when Max's character Ben and his onscreen lover Callum Highway finally got engaged

Throughout the episode Ben had been planning to pop the question to Callum, enlisting the help of Lexi to make it the perfect proposal.

But unbeknownst to him, Callum had also been planning a proposal of his own which had began when the pair met outside the Queen Vic.

Realising he'd been pipped to the post, a furious Ben shouted: 'Lexi is going to kill you!' and stormed off.

Fearing he'd blown his chance to make an honest man of Ben, a devastated Callum wandered over to the Prince Albert, where he was greeted by his friends and family holding up signs bearing the words: 'Will you marry me?'

Ben then appeared on the balcony with an enormous bunch of flowers and after he was joined by Callum, the pair proposed at the same time, and no surprise the answer was a resounding yes.

The episode ended on an uplifting note with their family cheering down below as fireworks filled the sky.
Last week she enjoyed two epic birthday parties including a star-studded soiree attended by BFF Kylie Jenner, her sister Kendall, Hailey Bieber, and Winnie Harlow.

And Anastasia 'Stassie' Karanikolaou has managed to keep the party going.

The 24-year-old Instagram model took to Instagram on Monday to share stunning snaps from her trip to Turks and Caicos as she flaunted her enviable figure.

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'Island girl': Anastasia 'Stassie' Karanikolaou took to Instagram on Monday to share stunning snaps from her trip to Turks and Caicos as she flaunted her enviable figure

She proudly put her toned torso on full display in a patterned criss cross halter neck cut-out bodycon mini dress.

The dress even featured a beaded detailing which went across the stomach as she seductively posed with her tongue on her top lip in one of the images.

Her long brunette tresses were combed in a middle-part as she accentuated her looks with complementary make-up including dusty pink lip and blush.

Simply stunning: The 24-year-old Instagram model proudly put her toned torso on full display in a patterned criss cross halter neck cut-out bodycon mini dress

No doubt she is enjoying her time at the British Overseas Territory southeast of the Bahamas as she captioned the image to her 10.5million followers simply: 'island girl [sun emoji]'

Stassie has kept active on social media as she has shared several s naps from the trip including one of her seductively posing in a pink bikini from Revolve.

She also donned a clinging green mesh mini dress featuring small cut-outs all over the torso.

Wow factor: Stassie has kept active on social media as she has shared several s naps from the trip including one of her seductively posing in a pink bikini from Revolve

Making a splash: She also donned a clinging green mesh mini dress featuring small cut-outs all over the torso

The trip comes just days after celebrating her 24th birthday with a star-studded bash at Goya Studios in Hollywood which she shared with Zack Bia.

Stassie seemed to be the life and soul of the party - which was also attended by the likes of Kendall Jenner and Hailey Bieber - as she posed for snaps at the event.

Capturing some of the night's action, Stassie's best friend Kylie filmed her from behind on Insta Stories as the birthday girl stood shaking her behind for the camera.

Wild! The trip comes just a week after celebrating her 24th birthday with a star-studded bash at Goya Studios in Hollywood which she shared with Zack Bia (pictured with music video director Cole Bennett)

Twerking: The YouTuber seemed in great spirits as she twerked in the car park, posed for crude snaps with pals and tucked into a giant cake at her joint party with Zack Bia

Stassie was dressed to impress for her big night and left little to the imagination in a sheer silver gown, flashing her nude thong and strapless bra beneath the glittering mesh material.

She added to the glamour with a pair of towering silver heels, and wore her glossy brunette locks in loose waves that framed her pretty features.

Working her every angle, Stassie put her famous curves on full display in the snaps.

Loving life: Stassie seemed to be the life and soul of the party - which was also attended by the likes of Kendall Jenner and Hailey Bieber - as she posed for snaps at the event

Wowza: Stassie was dressed to impress for her big night and left little to the imagination in a sheer silver gown, flashing her nude thong and strapless bra beneath the glittering mesh

The YouTuber has been open about having a few breast augmentations on her channel as she shared her before and after photos with her subscribers, and has fessed up to lip fillers in the past.

She cited a disproportionate bust as the initial reason for her first procedure in 2017. 'My bras and just like everything was difficult,' she said in her vlog.

'I [would get] a bra that was too small on one side and fit the other side perfect,' she shared.

Then in 2018 she made the decision to fix the initial surgery she had after her breasts looked 'deflated' after losing weight.

Brunette beauty: She added to the glamour with a pair of towering silver heels, and wore her glossy brunette locks in loose waves that framed her pretty features

'When I lost all my weight, [my boobs] just like shrunk...And I just want them to be like cute again. Whatever. Judge me if you wish,' she said.

The following year she swapped out the implants for smaller ones after she said she had 'issues' with the current ones.

Additionally she and Kylie got lasik eye surgery together which was also filmed for her channel as well as Keeping Up With The Kardashians.

Keeping a low-profile: Stassie's best friend Kylie Jenner seemed to be feeling rather camera shy as she rocked up to the party in a gold tiger print ensemble

Dynamic duo: Kendall Jenner, 25, and Hailey Bieber , 24, ensured all eyes would be on them as they donned sexy co-ords at the party

Wow: Winnie Harlow was also in attendance at the bash and dropped jaws in a barely-there white and silver gown

Though childhood friends since they were 10, she became the Kylie Cosmetics' founder's ride or die after her fallout with Jordyn Woods after the Tristan Thompson cheating scandal.

And they frequently take to social media to show off their 'twinning outfits'  which have become sort of their gag on social media.

In addition to a romance with Noah Centineo (To All The Boys I've Loved Before) that began in the fall, Stassie has also been linked to suitors including Too Hot To Handle's Harry Jowsey and even Bachelorette alum Tyler Cameron.

Golden girl: It was the second night out in a row for the influencer, who spent Monday night having pre-birthday celebrations with pals
Malin Andersson has announced that she's got a mystery boyfriend, gushing that he is her 'best friend and soulmate'.

The Love Island star, 28, shared a stunning bikini snap of herself holding her new beau's hand in St. Lucia to Instagram on Sunday.

Revealing that she's known her love for 'five years', Malin said that she's 'so excited for the future' and 'couldn't be more content and at peace'.

New love: Malin Andersson has announced that she's got a mystery boyfriend, gushing that he is her 'best friend and soul mate' while sharing a sizzling bikini snap to Instagram

The brunette beauty looked incredible in the post, rocking a leopard print bikini top and colourful animal print skirt.

She flashed a smile for the camera while looking over her shoulder and teased a tiny glimpse of her partner's hand, with her beau wearing a silver bracelet.

Alongside the sun-soaked snap, Malin penned: 'Life has a funny way of making sure you truly do get what you deserve in the end

'I'm out here in St Lucia with not just my best friend but my love too.. a lot of you are wondering who this mystery guy is. And I'm going to keep it just like that, as this bit of happiness deserves my privacy in which I will cherish for now.

Happy: The Love Island star, 28, explained that she's known her beau for five years and looked radiant as she kept fans updated with her idyllic trip to St. Lucia on Tuesday

'I've known him for 5 years and we have always been friends, and also in and out of each other's lives.. he's also been the one that's got away.. but he's here to stay and I couldn't be more content and at peace.

'It's weird how it's all worked out as the ones that care for you the most, you tend to push away.. but timing has been everything in this.

'My soul mate, bringing only the best out in me and helping me on my forever journey of healing. He knows every inch of my soul and what I've gone through, and has been there throughout which is what makes this so special.

'It's safe to say it feels surreal and I've had a hard time of opening up and letting my guard down, but I know this ones deserving of me (to all my precious fans, I love you and adore you so please don't worry about me getting hurt as i'm 100% sure I won't)

Excited: Malin said she was looking forward to the future with a 'rock by my side' and told fans she would be keeping her new man's identity a secret

'This next chapter of my journey needs a rock by my side.. and I'm so excited for the future. Even though I'm an independent boss ass b***h, that will never change.. I also want you guys to know that happiness comes from yourself first.

'I'll keep this post short - but yeah.. say hi to the other half of me.'

Malin is back in sunny St. Lucia following an earlier trip in May and jaunt back to the UK at the beginning of June where she enjoyed a spa trip with a pal in Staffordshire after quarantining.

The body confidence adovcate was last linked to tattoed-faced beau Michael Sadler, who she dumped in April when she found out he had a secret pregnant girlfriend.

The devastated star ended the 18-month romance after his partner of seven-years Rebecca Barr, 38, contacted her to reveal he has four children and one that's due in August.

Stunning: The brunette beauty rocked a striped swimsuit with a tie-waist detail on Tuesday

Poser: She ensured to work all her angles while showing off the sexy swimwear in her mirror

Malin told MailOnline at the time: 'I am just terrified at the level of narcissism, the lies, and everything that's happened.

'To everyone else he's so lovely, but he needs to be exposed. In my soul I cannot let another women go through what I've been through for seven years.'

The same month Malin revealed also she had suffered a miscarriage - two years after her four-week-old daughter Consy passed away.

Malin has always been very candid about her relationships and has often spoken about her experience with domestic abuse.

The Love Island star's former partner Tom Kemp, 28, was jailed for 10 months for an assault that left her 'black and blue' last September.

He admitted to assaulting the reality star, which left her with a broken her hand.

Powerful: It comes after Malin shared a throwback snap of herself with a bruised and cut face as she penned a powerful domestic violence post in May

Tom was released in December after three months and will serve the rest of his term on Home Detention Curfew.

Tom was the father of Malin's baby girl Consy, who tragically died with a heart defect in January 2019, just one month after being delivered at 33 weeks.

Malin met Tom in late 2017, shortly after she lost her mum, also named Consy, to breast cancer.

She's since had time to reflect on her relationship with Tom and says they formed a 'trauma bond' amid her grief and depression at the loss of her mum.

In June 2020, Malin spoke about the abuse and emotional torment she suffered while being in the on/off relationship during 2018.

Abuse: The reality star's former partner Tom Kemp, 28, was jailed for 10 months for an assault that left her 'black and blue' [pictured together in February 2019]

She said: 'It started with things being thrown in my face out of anger  food, bottles of water, whatever was in his hand, all out of anger.

'He switched from zero to 100 within seconds. Once they think they can do that to you, it escalates.'

And last month, Malin shared a throwback snap of herself with a bruised and cut face as she penned a powerful domestic violence post.

She recalled the abusive names and horrendous insults she received amid her abusive relationship, with the star adding that she was 'none of the above'.

Malin also shared a list of pleas and thoughts that she had at the time of her ordeal, as she then stated: 'I was once this young woman. And now I am thriving.'

If you have been affected by this story, contact Women's Aid at www.womensaid.org.uk.
Irina Shayk held hands with her little girl Lea De Seine, four, as they crossed the street in New York this Tuesday.

The 35-year-old, who shares her daughter with her friendly ex Bradley Cooper, cut a stylish figure in Burberry print shorts.

Russian-born supermodel Irina could be seen modeling a loose-fitting white blouse and leaving several buttons open to hint at her black lace bra.

Her latest outing with Lea comes after a report that Kanye is living at the $2.2 million Los Angeles ranch he purchased in 2018.

Family time: Irina Shayk held hands with her little girl Lea De Seine, four, as they crossed the street in New York this Tuesday

The 1.25 acre home, which also serves as a base of operations for his Sunday service, has become his bachelor pad amid his divorce according to The Sun.

The $60 million mansion he once shared with his ex-wife is now occupied by Kim as well as their children North, eight, Saint, five, Chicago, three, and Psalm, two.

Meanwhile, in recent photos exclusively obtained by DailyMail.com Irina and Kanye were spotted in France together, first confirming their romance.

So sweet: The 35-year-old, who shares her daughter with her friendly ex Bradley Cooper, cut a stylish figure in Burberry print shorts

After the pictures surfaced a TMZ insider claimed they had been an item since March, and last week a People source said Kim has known about them for 'weeks.'

'It doesn't bother Kim that Kanye is dating. Her only concern is their kids,' the insider explained to People.

'She wants Kanye to be present and spend as much time with them as possible. The kids love when Kanye is around.'

Supermodel: She could be seen modeling a loose-fitting white blouse and leaving several buttons open to hint at her black lace bra

Kanye and Irina have known one another since at least 2010 when she played an angel in the music video for his song Power.

Then at Paris Fashion Week in 2012 she hit the runway for the rapper and fashion mogul's fall/winter collection.

Meanwhile Irina was involved with Bradley from 2015 until 2019 and before that she also had a relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo.

Although she and Bradley are no longer a couple they have kept up a friendly co-parenting relationship.

Making it work: Although she and Bradley are no longer a couple they have kept up a friendly co-parenting relationship

'Well, its hard to find a balance between being a single mom and being a working woman and provider,' she told British Vogue in 2019.

'Trust me, there are days I wake up and Im like: "Oh my god, I dont know what to do, Im falling apart." I always try not to stay away from my daughter for more than a week, but I also dont want to be this woman whos not truthful to herself, because I love my work and I was raised in a woman-run household,' Irina added.

'I want my daughter to know that momma has a job in her life because I want to raise a strong, powerful woman. Presents and food do not come out of the blue.'

There he is: Kanye and Irina have known one another since at least 2010 when she played an angel in the music video for his song Power; he is pictured in 2019

Later in the day on Tuesday, Irina took to Instagram to share a trio of sultry snapshots taken directly from her shoot for TAMARA MELLON.

The Russian-born beauty rocked a noticeably bare face as she modeled a plunging sweater top and a pair of strappy brown leather heels with treaded soles.

One shot gave fans a peek at Irina's pert derriere as she strolled away from the camera in her TAMARA MELLON heels.

Model behavior: Later in the day on Tuesday, Irina took to Instagram to share a trio of sultry snapshots taken directly from her shoot for TAMARA MELLON
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Ioan Gruffudd was pictured without his wedding ring in Santa Monica on Sunday, three months after filing for divorce from his wife Alice Evans.

The actor, 47, filed for divorce in March, citing irreconcilable differences as the reason behind his split from his wife of 14 years Alice, 49, and was previously spotted not wearing his gold band.

And Ioan appeared to not be letting the breakdown of his marriage get him down as he soaked up the sun on the beach.

Moving on: Ioan Gruffudd was pictured without his wedding ring in Santa Monica on Sunday, three months after filing for divorce from his wife Alice Evans

Making things official: Ioan's divorce papers cite irreconcilable differences as the reason behind his split from his wife Alice (pictured in happier times)

The Harrow star showed off his impressive physique as he went shirtless on the beach trip.

Ditching his ring: The actor stepped out without his wedding band amid his divorce

Ioan donned a pair of navy palm tree shorts for the outing and it wasn't long until the Welsh actor headed into the sea for a splash around.

Despite his ongoing divorce troubles, Ioan looked like he didn't have a care in the world as he was pictured laughing and smiling during the solo outing.

The actor's abs were on full display as he ran his hands through his hair to cool off in the balmy climes.

Back in January, Ioan's estranged wife Alice revealed she and the actor they were breaking up after 20 years in a shock Twitter statement and claimed he 'mentally tortured' her.

The thespian has been taking to social media regularly to update fans on the split and, in a recent post, shared a picture of an columnist article on her page.

Enjoying the sunshine: Ioan appeared to not be letting the breakdown of his marriage get him down as he soaked up the sun on the beach

Where has it gone? The star's wedding ring was now noticeably absent (pictured wearing his ring in October 2018)

The piece slammed her for opening up about her painful break-up from Gruffudd so publicly and commented on how it could affect her children in the years to come.

Hitting back, Alice said her daughters Ella, 11 and Elsie, seven, had no idea about their public profile and 'probably never will'.

She wrote: 'You know what they ARE upset about though? That their Dad walked out and abandoned them out of the blue. Without explanation.'

All over: Back in January, Ioan's estranged wife Alice revealed she and the actor they were breaking up after 20 years in a shock Twitter statement and claimed he 'mentally tortured' her

Speaking out: It comes after Alice continued to hit back at online critics in March while insisting the Welsh actor is not the man many admiring fans perceive him to be

Vocal: Taking to Instagram, Alice defended her right to speak out against the 47-year old heartthrob after previously accusing him of abandonment

'Their dad abandoned them': Back in January, Alice revealed she and the actor they were breaking up after 20 years in a shock Twitter statement and claimed he 'mentally tortured' her

Alice also accused her estranged husband of 'winding the s**t up me' as she posted a vitriolic video about their 'collaborative divorce' talks.

She said: 'I have been served with a petition for divorce and it's came out of the blue and I won't cry. But we've been 20 years together, we have two amazing kids. I don't know why.

'At the moment we're doing something called collaborative divorce which is somewhere between a really kind way of doing divorce and a phenomenal scam.

'Because in one way it's "okay, let's hear what you would want and take it to the court afterwards" and in another way it's like, people in the acting business will know when an agent says to you "we just can't find you the roles".

Making a splash: Ioan donned a pair of navy palm tree shorts for the outing and it wasn't long until the Welsh actor headed into the sea for a splash around

Actor: Ioan first came to public attention as Fifth Officer Harold Lowe in Titanic, and then for his portrayal of Horatio Hornblower in the Hornblower series of television films

'It's a bit like, I'd like my daughter to stay with me on Saturday nights, "it's just not within our possibilities".

The TV and film star then insisted he misled her with collaborative divorce, adding: 'And then I read nothing is binding in collaborative, absolutely nothing.

'So if I want my daughter to stay one more night in my house, the court hasn't said anything so I can do it. So my husband is winding the s**t up me, saying what he says is the law, well we haven't got to the law yet.

'Lawyers aren't the law. Lawyers are there to f*** the law. That's what I always said. Anyway I may have some more thoughts later.'

Gruffudd's divorce papers cite irreconcilable differences as the reason behind his split from his wife of 14 years, Alice.

Soaking up the sun: Ioan set up a deck chair for a spot of sunbathing

The couple met on the set of 102 Dalmatians in 2000, when Alice was in a relationship with Pablo Picasso's grandson Olivier.

The pair became engaged six years later after she gave him an ultimatum about their relationship, and tied the knot in an intimate ceremony in Mexico in September 2007.

Gruffudd recently stepped out without his wedding band for the first time.

Still friends: In February, Alice insisted she and the actor 'are still friends' and confirmed that they were pressing ahead with discussions over a 'legal separation' (pictured in 2018)

The document, which was filed Los Angeles Superior Court on March 1, also reveals the former couple separated on New Year's Day - a month before they went public with their relationship status.

The papers state the exes are in a 'collaborative process and intend to resolve all issues including spousal support by written agreement' - which mirrors their joint statement about their shock break-up.

They said: 'As you can imagine, this is an incredibly difficult time for our family and we remain committed to our children. Thank you for respecting our privacy.'
Holly Willoughby and co-star Phillip Schofield enjoyed a treat of tequila cocktails and vodka-soaked watermelon during a boozy cooking segment on Tuesday's This Morning.

The presenter, 40, happily sipped on the boozy beverage - rustled up by Irish chef Cloddish McKenna - noting the strong taste of tequila, before calling the drink 'beautiful'.

But Phil, 59, was quick to warn that the pair had better 'be careful' as it was only a short time after 11am and they still had 'a lot of the show left to do.'

Bottoms up! Holly Willoughby and co-star Phillip Schofield enjoyed a treat of tequila cocktails and vodka-soaked watermelon during a boozy cooking segment on Tuesday's This Morning

The moment came as Clodagh, 46, introduced the pair to an array of watermelon-based treats, including watermelon and halloumi skewers and Watermelon, Mint & Lime Granita.

However, the highlight certainly appeared to be the watermelon margarita as the presenting duo happily sipped on the alcoholic summer drinks.

But as they tasted Clodagh's concoction, Phillip remarked: 'We've got to be quite careful here because it's 13 minutes past 11 and we've still got a lot of the show left to do.'

Easy does it: But Phillip, 59, was quick to warn that the pair had better 'be careful' as it was only a short time after 11am and they still had 'a lot of the show left to do'

With Clodagh then quipping: 'No, drink it all and it'll be the best show ever!'

Commenting on her boozy beverage, Holly said: 'In a normal margarita, the lime disguises the tequila but watermelon is more subtle. So if you're into tequila you can taste it a lot more.'

And while Phil gushed it was 'delicious', Holly agreed, adding: 'It's very beautiful.'

Next up the pair tried vodka-infused watermelon slices during the segment, with Holly stating: 'Now this is the vodka one, I've heard of this, but never tried it.

Tasty: The host, 40, happily sipped on the boozy beverage - rustled up by Irish chef Cloddish McKenna (pictured) - noting the strong taste of tequila, before calling the drink 'beautiful'

As you do: The segment followed a successful Guinness World Record attempt by a Scottish woman, who squashed three watermelons between her thighs

'I didn't think it would end up like a slice of fruit.'

As as she tucked into the vodka-laced fruit, Holly quipped: 'Well that's dangerous.'

The mother-of-three observed how easy it would be to get tipsy from the boozy fruit, adding: 'That would be game over for me because I wouldn't know!'

She added: 'Wow, that's yummy. You'd have to make sure you keep it away from the kids though!'

Ooh I say! Holly was in for a shock on Tuesday's This Morning as a Dreamboys hunk suddenly whipped off his top before doing an impressive backflip live on air

Wow: The host and co-star had been interviewing the performer about the Dreamboys' latest tour when he decided to strip for the pair and show off his moves

The segment followed a successful Guinness World Record attempt by a Scottish woman, who squashed three watermelons between her thighs.

It was an eventful show for Holly who was in for a shock as a Dreamboys hunk suddenly whipped off his top before doing an impressive backflip live on air.

The host and Phil had been interviewing the muscular performer about the Dreamboys' latest tour when he decided to strip for the pair and show off his moves.

Observing the hunk's rippling abs, a blushing Holly quipped: 'Well you haven't let yourself go in lockdown!' but viewers at home were not impressed as they commented on how 'cringey' the impromptu performance was.

Eventful: Observing the hunk's rippling abs, a blushing Holly quipped: 'Well you haven't let yourself go in lockdown!' but viewers at home were not impressed, branding it 'cringey'
She launched her new fashion line with PrettyLittleThing last month.

And Tamara Francesconi turned up the heat on Tuesday as she modelled outfits from her collection for a series of sexy snaps from a shoot in Santorini.

The model, 24, posed for a sizzling topless snap in a pair of striped bikini bottoms surrounded by the Greek island's stunning landscape.

Stunning: Tamara Francesconi, 24, turned up the heat on Tuesday as she modelled outfits from her collection for a sizzling PrettyLittleThing shoot in Santorini

The beauty stunned as she posed poolside at the Andronis Luxury Suites in Santorini, Greece.

She wore her brunette locks loose and her glam makeup enhanced her natural beauty.

In another picture the model changed into a black zebra print mini skirt and tie front bralet with puff sleeves.

She paired the outfit with a satin pink handbag and let the ensemble speak for itself by keeping accessories to a minimum.

Wow! In another picture the model changed into a black zebra print maxi skirt and tie front bralet with puff sleeves

The London-based influencer launched her new fashion line with PrettyLittleThing last month.

Speaking about her line with the online fashion brand, she said: 'It's one thing to be on a billboard but to see my name on a billboard is just too crazy.

It comes after Tamara revealed she was 'obsessed' with her boyfriend's show Gossip Girl before she began dating him, revealing she 'manifested him in her life'.

The happy couple, who have been dating since October 2019, first got together after Ed slid into Tamara's DMs on Instagram.

Cute: Ed and Tamara, who have been dating since October 2019, first got together after he slid into her DMs on Instagram

In a new backstage interview from her recent PrettyLittleThing photoshoot, the beauty opened up on her relationship with the actor, who starred as Chuck Bass in the American teen drama series.

Speaking about the beginnings of their romance in 2019, Tamara explained how she had to apologise to her fellow fangirl friend for going out with the hunk, as her pal initially had 'dibs' on him.

Spilling the beans about being obsessed with her beau before they had even met, she said: 'Okay here's the tea I was the biggest Gossip Girl fan known to man, I watched it religiously twice a year and I swear to god I manifested him actually in my life.

'It was actually so funny though because when I first started dating him, my whole group of friends we're super into Gossip Girl and more particularly my friend Annie and when I first started dating him I had to sit her down and apologise to her, because she was so insulted.. like how dare I she had dibs on him!'

Happy couple: Tamara also recently revealed she was 'obsessed' with her boyfriend's show Gossip Girl before she began dating him, revealing she 'manifested him in her life'

Adding how she was 'obsessed' with the show, Tamara went on to say that she now gets reminders of Facebook statuses she used to make about Gossip Girl, adding her obsession was 'kinda weird'.

Talking about their relationship on social media, she said: 'Going to answer this first because it's my most asked question, and probably the reason a lot of you follow me.

'He direct message me out of the blue saying ''Hi,'' and I nearly fell off my chair, we then chatted for a while and he asked me on a date, which I assumed would be a dinner.

'Instead he took me to a butterfly sanctuary in Mayfair, we thereafter spent the whole day exploring London together, and the rest is history.

'I feel like we have all become codependent with our partners this year (I know I have) I think it's really important to do things alone and for yourself, read a book, go for a walk, chat to a friend.' (sic)
Katie Holmes has been wearing a mask in New York City for the past year as she follows guidelines for curbing the spread of COVID-19.

But on Tuesday the Batman Begins actress, 42, made the rare move of removing her mask as she stood on a midtown sidewalk.

The ex-wife of Tom Cruise had on no makeup with an unfussy topknot as she wore amber-tinted sunglasses during as she was seen without daughter Suri Cruise, 15.

Bare faced: Katie Holmes has been wearing a mask in New York City for the past year as she follows guidelines for curbing the spread of COVID-19. But on Tuesday the Batman Begins actress made the rare move of removing her mask as she stood on a midtown sidewalk

Dude, where's my Uber? She took her time to search her maroon covered cell phone as she seemed to be waiting for an Uber

The white face mask was in her hand but not on her face.

The beauty from Ohio had on a blue shirt with white stars on front that flashed her tummy a bit, as she added black sweatpants and white sneakers.

She took her time to search her maroon covered cell phone as she seemed to be waiting for an Uber.

This comes just after her ex Emilio Vitolo Jr was seen laughing as he walked with a red headed woman this week in Manhattan.

The blues: The beauty from Ohio had on a blue shirt with white stars on front that flashed her tummy a bit, as she added black sweatpants and white sneakers

The easy breezy look: Even though she had no glam going on, Holmes looked beautiful

Cool Katie: Holmes has managed to keep in top shape even as she is in her 40s; she has said in the past she keeps a regular workout routine. She also has shared that she has a love for dance

Katie split from actor and restauranteur Emilio, 33, in April, with sources saying their relationship 'fizzled'.

'They figured out theyre better off as friends. Theres no drama that went down with the breakup and in fact, theyre still friends.' a source told Us Weekly.

Emilio collaborates with his father to run the popular Italian restaurant Emilio's Ballato, a favorite of celebrity visitors including Tom Hanks, Bradley Cooper and even former president Barack Obama.

New gal? This comes just after her ex Emilio Vitolo Jr was seen laughing as he walked with a red headed woman this week in Manhattan. Right, Katie and Emilio in October 2020

On good terms: Last week Holmes praised her 'talented' ex Vitolo Jr. ahead of his new short film Almost A Year premiering at the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival. Katie, who served as producer on Almost A Year, shared a sweet post congratulating leading man Emilio on the project

His romance with Katie reportedly faded after she left for Connecticut to film her second feature as a director, The Watergate Girl.

According to ET, Katie took a 'wait and see' approach to her relationship while she was out of the state filming.

'Before she left, [Katie and Emilio] were inseparable, but their relationship was existing in a bubble,' said an insider. 'Because of the pandemic, she wasn't jet setting around the country for jobs and he wasn't tied up every night working at his family's restaurant.'

But once their regular social lives resumed, the couple found they were not 'as compatible anymore.'

Home baking: During lockdown, The Secret: Dare To Dream star baked at home and painted

Last week Holmes praised her 'talented' ex Vitolo Jr. ahead of his new short film Almost A Year premiering at the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival.

Katie, who served as producer on Almost A Year, shared a sweet post congratulating leading man Emilio on the project.

Alongside stills from the movie, she penned: 'ALMOST A YEAR @tribecafilmfestival. I am so excited for the start of the @tribecafilmfestival today!!!!!

'I am so honored to have been a part of the making of ALMOST A YEAR which is premiering at #Tribeca2021 as part of #TribecaAtHome tickets and more details on the @Tribeca website.

'Congratulations to the very talented and amazing cast @eveclindley @emiliovitolo @lilmitz_ and director @jamiesonbaker,' she concluded.
Elizabeth Olsen and Robbie Arnett are pictured wearing their wedding bands after the actress recently let slip that she's now married.

The couple took a stroll in New York City on Monday looking relaxed as they held hands and showed off the gold rings on their left hands.

The outing came one week after Elizabeth, 32, referred to musician Robbie as her 'husband' in an interview.

Secret ceremony: Elizabeth Olsen and Robbie Arnett are pictured out in New York City on Tuesday after the actress let slip earlier this month that they're now married

Wed: The couple each showed off a gold band on their left hand

Elizabeth wore a black tank top and dark jeans and layered on a patterned silk shirt while Robbie opted for a T-shirt, sweats and denim jacket.

Before tying the knot, the Ingrid Goes West star was engaged to the Milo Greene musician for two years.

They met when they were both vacationing in Mexico in 2017.

Earlier this month the actress dropped the big news during a chat with Kaley Cuoco for Variety's Actors on Actors series.

During the interview, the actress said that she was doing the interview from her bathroom due to construction noises and sweetly called her 'husband' Robbie a 'f**king cutie' as he helped decorate.

Casual stroll: Elizabeth wore a black tank top and dark jeans and layered on a patterned silk shirt while Robbie opted for a T-shirt, sweats and denim jacket

Planning on forever: Before tying the knot, the Ingrid Goes West star was engaged to the Milo Greene musician for two years

Making it official: The couple got engaged in 2019 after dating for two and a half years

She said: 'I'm in a bathroom. I've been in the U.K. for seven months, and I got back two days ago, and my neighbor is doing so much construction to their backyard. I can still hear it, and I'm in the furthest bathroom.'

She added: 'I also just noticed that my husband put Little Miss Magic, you know, the Little Miss books? They're these classic books, but magic because of WandaVision, because he's such a f**king cutie.'

Fans went into meltdown after the interview and took to Twitter to joke about how 'casually' Elizabeth dropped the revelation.

Interview: The actress, 32, spoke to Kaley Cuoco for Variety's Actors on Actors series where she 'casually' dropped the wedding news

One person said: 'Elizabeth Olsen saying out of nowhere: "MY HUSBAND"', followed by a GIF of someone pointing to their ring finger.

A different fan put: 'So Lizzie got married and mentioned her husband so casually in chat with kaley cuoco like it's not a big revelation #elizabetholsen.'

Another follower commented: 'I love that #ElizabethOlsen casually mentioned her 'husband' in an interview! Congratulations to the happy couple!'

It comes after Elizabeth previously discussed how signing up to portray a Marvel character would impact her family plans.

The actress starred alongside Paul Bettany as Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch in spin-off series WandaVision.

Dropped the H bomb: During the interview earlier this month the actress said that she was doing the interview from her bathroom due to construction noises and sweetly called her 'husband' Robbie a 'f**king cutie' as he helped decorate

However, Elizabeth admitted she had concerns about committing to the character  who she has previously played in five movies  for so long would work for her family life.

Asked by OK! magazine how committing to Marvel affects her life decisions, she said: 'Babies? That's so funny  That was part of the Marvel pitch.

'Kevin Feige pitched the new show to me and he told me about Doctor Strange 2  and then I said, "So when should I think about conceiving a child, if I want to?"

'He said to me, "I'll tell you the same thing I told Zoe [Saldana] and Scarlett [Johansson], You like your life and we'll work around you."' That's honestly the best answer any boss could say.'
The infamous Watergate scandal is getting the television treatment.

A mustached Justin Theroux, 49, was spotted on the set of The White House Plumbers alongside co-star Domhnall Gleeson, 38, while shooting in Albany on Tuesday.

Theroux plays former FBI agent G. Gordon Liddy in the upcoming five-part HBO miniseries set during the controversial Nixon administration from 1972-1974.

Watergate: A mustached Justin Theroux, 49, was spotted on the set of The White House Plumbers alongside co-star Domhnall Gleeson, 38, while shooting in Albany on Tuesday

Sporting a charcoal grey pinstripe suit, white button-up and loudly patterned burgundy, black and white tie, Justin transformed into Liddy.

Rocking some aviator sunglasses and the disgraced FBI agent's signature thick mustache, Theroux filmed a scene in upstate New York.

He and Irish actor Domhnall Gleeson were seen walking down a sidewalk in intense conversation flanked by cameras and crew members all trying to get the perfect shot.

The ginger-haired Harry Potter star was dressed in a slate grey pair of suit slacks and a matching vest worn over a pale blue button up.

Infamous: Theroux plays former FBI agent G. Gordon Liddy in the upcoming five-part HBO miniseries set during the controversial Nixon administration from 1972-1974

On set: He and Irish actor Domhnall Gleeson were seen walking down a sidewalk in intense conversation flanked by cameras and crew members all trying to get the perfect shot

Gleeson is playing former White House Counsel to President Nixon, John Dean, who was involved in the Watergate coverup.

The White House Plumbers stars Theroux alongside Cheers vet Woody Harrelson as E. Howard Hunt.

The two actors seem to be getting on like wildfire in their roles and, despite the fact that he wasn't filming, Harrelson was seen stopping by the set in his sweatpants to catch up with Justin.

During a break from filming, Justin - still dressed in his 1970s duds - sat on the sidewalk with his beloved pit bull Kuma and yucked it up with Woody.

Scandal: Gleeson is playing former White House Counsel to President Nixon, John Dean, who was involved in the Watergate coverup

Iconic: Rocking some aviator sunglasses and the disgraced FBI agent's signature thick mustache, Theroux filmed a scene in upstate New York

The Whitehouse Plumbers will revisit the infamous 1972 Watergate scandal.

The project hails from the executive producers of Veep and is based on public records in addition to the book Integrity by Egil 'Bud' Krogh and Matthew Krogh.

E. Howard Hunt and G. Gordon Liddy plotted the burglary of the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate building in Washington, D.C..

They were instrumental in the toppling of US President Richard Nixon despite working tirelessly to protect the administration at any cost.

Stars: The White House Plumbers stars Theroux alongside Cheers vet Woody Harrelson as E. Howard Hunt

BFFs: The two actors seem to be getting on like wildfire in their roles and, despite the fact that he wasn't filming, Harrelson was seen stopping by the set in his sweatpants to catch up with Justin

Crime: E. Howard Hunt and G. Gordon Liddy plotted the burglary of the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate building in Washington, D.C.

Both members of the 'White House Plumbers'  a special investigations unit created to stop the leak of classified information such as the Pentagon Papers to the media  the duo organized a break in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters.

Liddy and Hunt were convicted of conspiracy, burglary, and illegal wiretapping after their operatives were arrested in the DNC headquarters in 1972  what was dubbed the Watergate scandal.

Liddy refused to testify to the Senate committee investigating the scandal and served nearly 52 months in prison, whereas Hunt spent 33 months in prison.

History: White House Plumbers were a special investigations unit created to stop the leak of classified information such as the Pentagon Papers to the media

Game of Thrones actress Lena Heady will take on the role of Hunt's wife Dorothy in the series.

Gleeson's John Dean, meanwhile, pleaded guilty to a felony in connection with the coverup and turned key witness for the prosecution.

He served a reduced sentence at a facility in Maryland and was disbarred.

The star studded cast also features Kiernan Shipka (Mad Men), Ike Barinholtz (The Oath) and John Carroll Lynch (Zodiac).
She has been in the throes of a PDA-packed relationship with her new beau Richard Lee ever since debuting their romance several months ago.

And Alessandra Ambrosio continued to spread the love as she locked lips with her hunky boyfriend in honor of his birthday on Tuesday.

The runway star, 40, posted a slideshow gushing about her birthday beau, including a snap of herself giving Richard a kiss on the lips.

Birthday kisses! Alessandra Ambrosio continued to spread the love as she locked lips with her model boyfriend Richard Lee in honor of his birthday on Tuesday

The couple clinked glasses as they locked lips whilst enjoying a scrumptious meal at Kassi Beach House in Las Vegas.

One of the flirty snaps captured the gorgeous twosome looking as smitten as can be as they shared a drink.

The birthday boy couldn't help but dote on his girlfriend as he affectionately puckered up to her in one of the snaps.

Alessandra and her boyfriend looked incredible for their night out celebrating Richard's big day.

Gorgeous couple! Alessandra and her boyfriend looked incredible for their night out celebrating Richard's big day

Just the two of us! Alessandra and her boyfriend looked smitten as they shared a drink

The catwalk queen dazzled in a shimmering plunging red dress with head full of glossy brunette locks.

Richard looked smart and sharp in a midnight blue T-shirt, grey slacks, and white sneakers.

Gushing about her other half, Alessandra posted in the caption, 'Happy birthday to my favorite person in the world @_bigasia. I Love you with all my heart meu coracao !!!'

Life is good! The couple clinked glasses as they locked lips whilst enjoying a scrumptious meal at Kassi Beach House in Las Vegas

Alessandra started off the day showering her boyfriend with attention.

The beauty treated her beau to breakfast in bed, serving the shirtless hunk a tray of candle-lit cake and other goodies.

The shirtless model blew out the candles to his decadent cake after Alessandra instructed him to make a wish.

XOXO: Ambrosio sweetly showered her beau with affection

Happy birthday to you! Alessandra started off the day showering her boyfriend with attention

It has been just a few months since Alessandra and Richard went public with their relationship, and the couple have been practically attached at the hip ever since then.

From volleyball sessions to their current trip to Las Vegas, the couple are clearly having the time of their lives with each other.

Alessandra shares two children - Anja, 12, and Noah, nine - with her ex-fiance Jamie Mazur who co-founded RE/DONE.

After splitting with Jamie, Alessandra got romantically involved with Italian fashion designer Nicolo Oddi who founded the brand Alanui with his sister Carlotta.

The pair split sometime in December, just months before the model sparked romance rumors with Richard with various dinner dates in February.

Hubba hubba: The shirtless hunk was a sight to behold

Birthday boy! Lee was the center of attention during his birthday dinner
She announced that her beau Scott Ratcliffe proposed to her on her birthday on Sunday.

And Kym Marsh appeared to be celebrating her recent engagement as she left drinks at the Coqbull pub in Soho on Tuesday night after watching the show Scrubs To Sparkles in London's Garrick Theatre.

The actress, 44, appeared worse for wear and was covered by a blanket as a mystery man helped her to her car while she left the bar in the early hours of the morning.

Night out: Kym Marsh appeared to be celebrating her recent engagement as she left drinks at the Coqbull pub in Soho on Tuesday where she looked worse for wear and was covered by a blanket

All smiles: Kym put on a leggy display in her edgy dress as she arrived at the theatre earlier in the evening before heading on to the pub

The star opted for a black and white monochrome dress that highlighted her toned pins as she headed home after the night out.

But Kym was clearly feeling shy after her night of partying as she was covered the blanket and escorted to her taxi.

Posing for the cameras as she arrived at the theatre earlier in the evening, the former Coronation Street star styled her ensemble with nude open toe heels and a black chain strap bag.

Shy: The actress, 44, was covered by the blanket a mystery man helped her to her car as she left the bar in the early hours of the morning

Glam: The star opted for a black and white monochrome dress that highlighted her endless pins as she headed home after the night out

Precautions: Kym made sure she donned a face mask as she left the pub and got into her taxi

Her brunette locks were blow dried in curls and her glam makeup enhanced her naturally pretty features.

Kym arrived to the venue wearing a face covering in line with the current Covid-19 regulations in England.

The outing comes after the star shared a loved-up snap of herself and fiance Scott taken at the moment he proposed last weekend.

Going home: Kym got into a waiting taxi as the man held up the yellow and white blanket

Feeling shy? The man held up the blanket as she left the bar in central London and headed down the street

Ready to go: Kym was even fully covered by the blanket as she sat in the taxi

Beautiful: Posing for the cameras as she arrived at the theatre earlier in the evening, the former Coronation Street star styled her ensemble with nude open toe heels and a black chain strap bag

Sharing the picture of herself and Scott kissing in front of a light-up Happy Birthday sign on Instagram on Sunday, Kym wrote: 'I said YES!!!!!! Sooooo happy!!! '

The actress shared the exciting news with fans in an interview with OK! on Saturday and said she's 'over the moon' to be marrying the Army Major after nearly three years together.

She said: 'I'm absolutely over the moon - I can't believe it. It's been the best birthday surprise ever. I can't stop smiling!'

Radiant: Kym was all smiles as she arrived at the venue after revealing her engagement over the weekend

Style: The former Coronation Street star styled her ensemble with nude open toe heels and a black chain strap bag

Safety: Kym arrived to the venue wearing a face covering in line with the current Covid-19 regulations in England

The Hear'Say star looked radiant as she stole a kiss from her new fiance, wearing a striking floral dress for her birthday celebrations.

The couple had been dating since July 2018 but have had to endure long stints of separation as Scott serves abroad, with Kym admitting last April that they had at the time been apart for seven months.

She previously told The Sun that the Covid lockdown has meant Scott is spending more time at home.

Congratulations! Sharing the picture of herself and Scott kissing in front of a light-up Happy Birthday sign on Instagram on Sunday, Kym wrote: 'I said YES!!!!!! Sooooo happy!!! '

Kym said: 'He's actually home. He was due to go to staff college in September but we've ended up spending most of the past year together.'

'I feel so lucky to be in this situation.

It has given me the opportunity to have more time with Scott, my son David, my daughters Emilie and Polly and the rest of my family. I'm not taking those things for granted.

Happy news! The actress shared the exciting news with fans in an interview with OK! and said she's 'over the moon' to be marrying the Army Major after nearly three years together

Back in December 2018, Kym revealed she and Scott were facing six months apart as the soldier was due to return to Afghanistan for duty in the Parachute Regiment.

Despite the long-distance looming, the star was resolute in her belief that their relationship will survive the strain.

Kym told The Sun at the Military Awards 2018: 'He is due to go back to Afghanistan next year for six months. It is tough, but I know we can make it work and we will be fine.

'He's just got back from a training exercise in Kenya, so tonight was the first time we have seen each other in weeks.'

Wedding bells! Kym announced her engagement to her beau Scott on Saturday after he proposed on her birthday over the weekend

Kym had split from Matt Baker three months before sparking up a romance with Scott, after a two year romance.

She was first in a relationship with builder David Cunliffe before her rise to fame in 2001's Popstars, and the couple had a son David, 25, and daughter Emilie, 25, during a five-year relationship.

After breaking onto the pop scene as a member of Hear'Say Kym married EastEnders star Jack Ryder, 36, in 2002, but they divorced in 2009 after she admitted having an affair with Hollyoaks star Jamie Lomas, 43.

Kym went onto marry Jamie in 2012, and the couple have a eight-year-old daughter Polly. The couple's first child Archie, passed away shortly after his premature birth in 2009.

Just over a year after tying the knot, Kym filed for divorce from Jamie in 2013 citing 'unreasonable behaviour.

She is also a grandmother, with daughter Emilie welcoming baby son Teddy in May 2019.
She has a seemingly endless closet full of glitzy ensembles.

And Emma Weymouth shined bright in a plunging one-shoulder dress on Tuesday as she stylishly arrived at Dr Ranjs Scrubs To Sparkles press night in London alongside a host of Strictly Come Dancing stars.

The socialite, 35, highlighted her pert assets in the daring number which boasted sheer fabric and a gold spotted print.

Wow: Emma Weymouth shined bright in a plunging one-shoulder dress on Tuesday as she arrived at Dr Ranjs Scrubs To Sparkles press night in London alongside a host of Strictly stars

She boosted her height with nude Louboutin heels whilst keeping jewellery to a minimum, simply wearing a silver ring.

Emma proved she has expensive taste as she clutched a black woven handbag from Bottega Veneta.

The socialite styled her brunette locks in a straight hairstyle and opted for a soft make-up look which highlighted her delicate features.

Katya Jones also turned heads at the event in a black dress which featured a semi-sheer train and racy split.

Strike a pose: The socialite, 35, highlighted her pert assets and in the daring number which boasted sheer fabric and a gold spotted print

Skyscraper: She boosted her height with nude Louboutin heels whilst keeping jewellery to a minimum, simply wearing a silver ring

Asymmetric: The star's dress featured ruched fabric at the waist, emphasising her petite frame

Evening out: Emma appeared poised and elegant as she looked over her shoulder

Arm candy: She proved she has expensive taste as she clutched a black woven handbag from Bottega Veneta

Watch your step: Emma was seen exiting a taxi before sauntering inside the Garrick Theatre

The Strictly star, 32, teamed the gown with nude heels as she worked her best angles outside the Garrick Theatre.

Kym Marsh stood out from the crowd in a monochromatic shift dress which boasted an abstract print.

The actress, 45, added height to her frame with nude heels and draped a Stella Mccartney bag over her shoulder.

Meanwhile Russian native Luba Mushtuk showed off her honed midriff in a skimpy bralette, which boasted lace and harness detailing.

Plenty to smile about: She gave a radiant smile to the camera

Black is always in fashion: Katya Jones also turned heads at the event in a black dress which featured a semi-sheer train and racy split

Gone with the wind: The Strictly star, 32, teamed the gown with nude heels as she worked her best angles outside the theatre

Make a statement: Kym Marsh stood out from the crowd in a monochromatic shift dress which boasted an abstract print

She also wore a longline blazer and palazzo trousers which featured an usual cut-out section on her hips.

The professional dancer 31, accessorised tastefully with a black handbag and rocked patent heels.

Fellow dancing star Joanne Clifton, 37, showcased her brunette locks as she attended the star-studded event.

She looked sensational in a polka dot dress in a navy hue, complete with a chic belt cinched at the waist.

Designer touch: The actress, 45, added height to her frame with nude heels and draped a Stella Mccartney bag over her shoulder

Set pulses racing: Meanwhile Russian native Luba Mushtuk showed off her honed midriff in a skimpy bralette, which boasted lace and harness detailing

New look: Fellow dancing star Joanne Clifton, 37, showcased her brunette locks as she attended the star-studded event

Strictly's Nancy Xu embraced seasonal style in a floaty pink dress which she paired with metallic platforms.

Giovanni Pernice also attended the theatre show as he rocked a navy check suit and crisp white shirt.

The Latin dancer, 30, rocked a Gucci belt and luxurious silver watch as he headed inside the building with fellow dancer Aljaz Skorjanec, 31.

Meanwhile Gemma Oaten put on a leggy display in a denim jumpsuit and nude wedges.

Highlight her curves: She looked sensational in a polka dot dress in a navy hue, complete with a chic belt cinched at the waist

Pretty in pink: Strictly's Nancy Xu embraced seasonal style in a floaty pink dress which she paired with metallic platforms

Staying protected and connected: She rested oversized shades on her tumbling raven tresses and clutched a face mask and her mobile phone

The actress, 37, appeared over the moon to attend the event and support her friend Dr Ranj.

Scrubs to Sparkles is a theatre production which features TV personality and NHS medic, Dr Ranj.

It premiered on Tuesday and featured stories from Ranjs life, punctuated by well-known songs and performed by a live band.

The night was in aid of the Make A Difference Trust theatre fund, supporting professionals in the theatre industry who have been impacted by the COVID pandemic.

Flair for fashion: Giovanni Pernice also attended the theatre show as he rocked a navy check suit and crisp white shirt

Crew: The Latin dancer, 30, rocked a Gucci belt and luxurious silver watch as he headed inside the building with fellow dancer Aljaz Skorjanec, 31

Denim dreams: Meanwhile Gemma Oaten put on a leggy display in a denim jumpsuit and nude wedges

Man of the moment: Scrubs to Sparkles is a theatre production which features TV personality and NHS medic, Dr Ranj

First show: It premiered on Tuesday and featured stories from Ranjs life, punctuated by well-known songs and performed by a live band

Janette Manrara was seen exiting the fun-filled show in a rose gold sequin mini dress.

The outing marked the Cuban-American star's, 37, first public appearance since she announced she has quit Strictly.

And she made sure she remained the centre of attention in her plunging outfit complete with cream tassles and shoulder pads.

Meanwhile Faye Tozer looked chic in an asymmetric satin dress which featured an off-the-shoulder neckline and gathered fabric at the waist, creating an elegant silhouette.

The former Steps star, 45, strutted out of the London venue in Perspex heels and brushed her flaxen locks away from her visage in a glamorous half-up half-down hairdo.

Stunning! Janette Manrara was seen exiting the fun-filled show in a rose gold sequin mini dress

Top form: The outing marked the Cuban-American star's, 37, first public appearance since she announced she has quit Strictly

Demure: Meanwhile Faye Tozer looked chic in an asymmetric satin dress which featured an off-the-shoulder neckline and gathered fabric at the waist, creating an elegant silhouette

Walk this way: The former Steps star, 45, strutted out of the London venue in Perspex heels and brushed her flaxen locks away from her visage in a glamorous half-up half-down hairdo

Looking good: Emma looked radiant as she sauntered home after the show
Gabi Grecko is coping with her grief following the death of her ex-husband Geoffrey Edelsten by sharing thirst traps on Instagram Stories.

The American model, 32, uploaded eight sexually suggestive posts in less than 12 hours on Tuesday while holed up in her New York City apartment.

She flaunted her ample chest and henna tattoos in a series of skimpy crop tops, and added magic mushroom emojis to several of the images.

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Grieving widow: Gabi Grecko is coping with her grief following the death of her ex-husband Geoffrey Edelsten by sharing thirst traps on Instagram Stories

In addition to the risque photos and videos, she also sensationally claimed in a post on her main account that she never actually divorced Geoffrey, making her a widow.

'For people who have asked. No me and Geoffrey were still married when he passed away, no divorce, widowed,' she wrote.

Daily Mail Australia has been unable to verify if this is actually true.

Gabi and Geoffrey married at a Melbourne registry office in June 2015 - when he was 72 and she was 26 - before announcing their separation just months later.

How creative: She flaunted her ample chest and henna tattoos in a series of skimpy crop tops

Fancy that: In addition to the risque photos and videos, she also sensationally claimed in a post on her main account that she never actually divorced Geoffrey, making her a widow

Married? 'For people who have asked. No me and Geoffrey were still married when he passed away, no divorce, widowed,' she wrote. Daily Mail Australia has been unable to verify this

They seemingly reconciled in January 2018 when the medical entrepreneur told Daily Mail Australia he wanted to renew their vows.

But it's unclear if their planned 'second wedding' in New York ever happened, meaning Geoffrey may well have proceeded with the divorce.

Meanwhile, Gabi - Geoffrey's third wife following his marriages to Brynne Gordon and Leanne Nesbitt - may be vying for a share of the late businessman's inheritance.

The way they were: Gabi and Geoffrey married at a Melbourne registry office in June 2015 - when he was 72 and she was 26 - but separated just months later. Pictured on May 19, 2014

On and off: They seemingly reconciled in January 2018 when the medical entrepreneur told Daily Mail Australia he wanted to renew their vows. But it's unclear if their planned 'second wedding' in NYC ever happened, meaning Geoffrey may well have proceeded with the divorce

On Monday, she re-shared a bizarre post from an Instagram follower claiming Geoffrey had told her three years ago he would leave Gabi 'something' in his will.

'I met Mr Edelsten at a hospital in Australia three years ago. He told me that Gabi is the only woman that he has ever loved and that he can never love another woman,' the post read.

'He also mentioned that unlike the others, she was not with him for his money and that he intends to leave her something in his last will and testament upon his passing.

'He said Gabi never judged him and made him feel youthful and optimistic about life again.'

Gabi has since deleted this post, and strongly denies being a 'gold digger'.

Geoffrey died alone aged 78 at his Melbourne apartment on Friday, June 11 - which coincidentally was the anniversary of his wedding to Ms Grecko.

Claim: On Monday, she re-shared a bizarre post from an Instagram follower claiming Geoffrey had told her three years ago he would leave Gabi 'something' in his will
Russell Crowe has unveiled his ambitious plan to bring Hollywood Down Under.

The Australian actor, 57, will soon be building a major film studio in Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, near his country estate in Nana Glen.

The Gladiator star plans to build the studio at the Pacific Bay Resort, where there will be on-site accommodation for A-list movie stars and their families.

New studio: Russell Crowe has unveiled his ambitious plan to bring Hollywood Down Under

A source told The Daily Telegraph it will be a 'family friendly film studio'.

The publication reports Russell will personally bankroll the project and is set to make an official announcement with government officials on Wednesday.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted representatives for Russell Crowe for comment.

Not bad! The actor, 57, will soon be building a major film studio in Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, near his country estate in Nana Glen. He plans to build the studio at the Pacific Bay Resort (pictured), where there will be on-site accommodation for movie stars and their families

In recent months, Australia has been dubbed 'Hollywood 2.0' thanks to a number of A-listers moving across the Pacific to work on projects amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Filming has just wrapped on Thor: Love and Thunder - starring Natalie Portman, Chris Hemsworth, Christian Bale, Matt Damon and Chris Pratt - at Sydney's Fox Studios.

Zac Efron was recently in South Australia filming the Stan Original movie Gold. He has also been travelling around the country shooting Netflix series Down to Earth.

Hollywood 2.0: Filming has just wrapped on Thor: Love and Thunder - starring Natalie Portman, Chris Hemsworth and Christian Bale - in Sydney. Pictured: Chris and Thor director Taika Waititi

Other movie stars in Australia include Melissa McCarthy, Isla Fisher, Sacha Baron Cohen and Sam Worthington.

Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence will soon travel Down Under to film the latest Fantastic Four movie.

Julia Roberts and Sean Penn are also expected to shoot a political thriller in Sydney.

Watch Stan's Original movie Gold on Stan later this year.
Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Erika Jayne was dropped by her legal team from the firm Dinsmore & Shohl LLP Monday amid the release of the new Hulu doc The Housewife and the Hustler.

The legal firm said 'the relationship of trust and confidence that is essential to a properly functioning attorney-client relationship has broken down and, in the good faith assessment of counsel, the relationship is irreparable,' Page Six reported Tuesday, citing court docs it reviewed.

The firm, which was representing Jayne, 49, in the bankruptcy of her estranged husband Tom Girardi, said it had informed the Atlanta-born reality star of its decision on Monday.

The latest: Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Erika Jayne, 49, was dropped by her legal team from the firm Dinsmore & Shohl LLP Monday amid the release of the new Hulu doc The Housewife and the Hustler. She was snapped last month in LA

The firm said it had advised the Bravo personality of 'the potential consequences of not timely securing replacement counsel' if she did not retain a new attorney in timely fashion.

The Housewife and the Hustler featured interviews with former clients accusing Girardi, 82, of financial theft in their cases, and noted Jayne's involvement in an LLC he had, with some funds allegedly being routed to her company EJ Global.

Tom was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and dementia in March, the same month his legal license in California was revoked.

Tom faces a litany of legal problems, including a $2 million class action lawsuit claiming fraud and embezzlement from the firm Edelson PC in connection with the 2018 Lion Air Flight 610 crash, in which all 189 people onboard died.

Details: The Housewife and the Hustler featured interviews with former clients accusing Tom Girardi, 82, of financial theft in their cases, and noted Jayne's involvement in an LLC he had, with some funds being routed to her company EJ Global

Tom was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and dementia in March, the same month his legal license in California was revoked

He and Jayne were sued for allegedly embezzling funds meant for families of victims, while Edelson PC, a firm for their ex clients, said in court docs their divorce last fall was orchestrated to 'fraudulently protect Tom and Erika's money' as they're 'on the verge of financial collapse.'

In the Hulu doc, attorney Sunny Hostin pointed out that Jayne is seeking to have her high-dollar items classified as 'separate property' in their split, claiming they were 'gifts to her.'

Reporter Brandon Lowrey of Law360 said in the doc that the estranged couple is 'together in these bankruptcy proceedings' and that 'it's going to be hard for her to say she didn't know that anything was going on.'

In a preview for the show's 11th season, Jayne said of the accusations, 'No one knows the answer but him.'

The couple rose to fame on Bravo's Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
Nacogdoches, TX (75965)

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Scattered thunderstorms in the morning, then mainly cloudy during the afternoon with thunderstorms likely. High 86F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

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Galvanized by the racial justice protests and the coronavirus pandemic, charitable giving in the United States reached a record $471 billion in 2020, according to a report released Tuesday that offers a comprehensive look at American philanthropy.

The Giving USA report says Americans gave more to charity last year than in 2019, despite an economic downturn that disrupted the paychecks of millions. Faced with greater needs, estates and foundations also opened up their pocketbooks at increased levels  resulting in a 5.1% spike in total giving from the $448 billion recorded for 2019, or a 3.8% jump when adjusted for inflation.

In some ways, 2020 is a story of uneven impact and uneven recovery, said Amir Pasic, the dean of Indiana Universitys Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, which researched and wrote the report published by the Giving USA Foundation.

Many wealthier households were more insulated from the effects of COVID-19 and the ensuing economic shock, and they may have had greater capacity to give charitably than households and communities that were disproportionately affected and struggled financially, Pasic said in a statement.

Although wealthy individuals contributed to the spike in giving to educational nonprofits and other charities, the findings for the report come from an analysis of IRS tax data for 128 million U.S. households, as well as other surveys. Its the first study to provide a comprehensive look into how donors  big and small -- stepped up to meet the increased needs brought forth by the economic crisis, racial unrest and a global pandemic that has killed an estimated 600,000 Americans.

Experts say the strong year-end finish by the S&P 500, which closely tracks with giving from individuals and foundations, along with the uptick in personal income by the end of 2020 likely contributed to the spike.

Giving by individuals, which made up a majority of the donations last year, rose by approximately 2%. The biggest uptick came from foundations, who, in total, increased their giving by 17% for an estimated $88.5 billion in contributions. Those donations made up about 19% of the total share of contributions, the largest that has ever come from foundations.

The spike in giving was coupled with changes many foundations adapted in the early days of the pandemic to provide more flexibility to grantees in their pandemic response. The changes included loosening restrictions on how to use prior and new donations, but how long that will continue, if at all, remains unclear.

By contrast, companies gave about 6% less in 2020 than they did in 2019, the report said. Experts note giving by corporations is closely tied to GDP and pre-tax profits, which both declined last year.

Following last years racial justice protests, many corporations made sizable pledges that aim to improve racial equity in the U.S. But those commitments have often been multi-year initiatives. Many pledges also consist of other minority-focused business investments apart from direct philanthropy, including commitments to diversify vendors and offer loans to minority-owned businesses.

Most nonprofit categories experienced a boost in contributions, with the strongest growth seen among public-society groups that include civil rights organizations and other charities, like United Way. The nearly 16% increase in contributions also included donations given to donor-advised funds, which are like charitable investment accounts that draw strong opinions across the philanthropic world.

Donor-advised funds are often criticized because they arent required to make donations in any given year, but donors are able to take immediate tax deductions before charities get any of the money. A Congressional bill, which follows a plan put forth by billionaire philanthropist John Arnold and others to accelerate the payouts, is now aiming to change that.

It is important to recognize that the picture for individual households and organizations may have looked quite different, with many facing hardship even though total giving posted strong growth, said Laura MacDonald, the chair of the Giving USA Foundation.

Indeed, the report says two nonprofit categories saw an overall decline in giving: arts and culture organizations, as well as general nonprofit hospitals and other disease-specific health organizations.

Una Osili, the associate dean for research and international programs at the Lilly School, says thats partly because a large chunk of pandemic-related donations went to vaccine research and other direct services offered by university hospitals. Those donations were counted as educational gifts, which saw a 9% spike compared to 2019. That growth was further fueled by billionaire Mackenzie Scotts unrestricted donations to historically Black colleges and Universities, tribal colleges and other schools.

Another reason for the decline in giving to health organizations, and the arts, was because Americans participated less in in-person activities, including fundraising walks and runs, during the pandemic. Anna Pruitt, the managing editor of Giving USA, says event cancellations, and the inability of many organizations to shift all their programming online also had a negative impact on fundraising.

Arts and culture organizations, in particular, have tended to struggle during economic recessions as donors give more focus to immediate basic needs. But Osili suggests fundraising success in 2020, for the most part, has depended on an organization's ability to shift to new ways of engaging donors.

In order to recapture the interests of current donors and establish relationships with new ones, arts organizations will need to demonstrate their relevance in light of current events, said MacDonald, of the Giving USA Foundation.

Although the boost in giving is something many nonprofits welcome, it may not continue as COVID vaccination rates increase and the racial justice protests continue to dissipate.

As an optimist, Id like to believe that Americans generosity will continue to grow, said MacDonald. But as a realist, I understand that giving responds to larger economic forces. In 2021, we may also realize the benefits of engaging donors through galas and events, personal visits, and in-person experiences."

______

The Associated Press receives support from the Lilly Endowment for coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all of APs philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy.
The state Senate late Tuesday killed a measure that would have banned flavored e-cigarettes in Connecticut, after its main advocate said the ban was riddled with major loopholes, leaving tens of thousands of children and teens unprotected.

The Connecticut Legislature is making it quite clear that it will sell out Connecticuts kids to do the bidding of Juul and Altria instead, Matthew Myers, president of the Washington-based Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, said in a written statement earlier Tuesday.

Myers had said hed rather see no ban at all than the diluted version the Senate and House ended up with. Sen. Cathy Osten, co-chair of Appropriations Committee, announced Tuesday night that Democrats were recommending the section be killed.

Earlier this year, the legislatures Public Health Committee passed a bill that would have banned all flavored tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes, but that bill was diluted. Then over the last few days, it was gutted further  without the knowledge of the committee co-chairs who had supported it.

In the General Assemblys special session this week, the measure was added to the 857-page budget implementer that lawmakers adopt at the end of each spring session.

Rep. Jonathan Steinberg, D-Westport, co-chair of the public health committee, said earlier Tuesday he and fellow Democratic co-chair Sen. Mary Abrams were not consulted about the changes, and that he was first alerted to them by one of the interested parties.

Steinberg said he was not aware who was behind the new language, but he suspects the industry had their fingerprints on it.

The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids was concerned that the proposal included in the implementer targeted the manufacturing of tobacco products, which are approved and regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, rather than restricting the sale of these products.

That could have made Connecticut more subject to lawsuits from the vaping industry, which has sued other states that have implemented bans. The proposal also wouldve provided too many exemptions to benefit the industry, the group said, and wouldve handed over too much control to the FDA.

The bill would have exempted any product that the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services determines to be a modified risk tobacco product, which indicates it poses lower health risks compared to existing products on the market such as cigarettes.

It also made an exception for products for which a manufacturer has applied for or received a marketing order from the FDA, which is needed to legally market a new tobacco product in the U.S.

By handing over the decision to the Food and Drug Administration, Connecticut is deferring to an agency that has a poor track record of putting the interests of kids first, Myers said. It was the FDAs failure to act that largely created the epidemic of youth e-cigarette use and the need to eliminate these dangerous and addictive products.

After nonpartisan budget analysts said the state could lose nearly $200 million in tax revenue over the next two years from a ban on menthol cigarettes, the co-chairmen of the finance committee, Rep. Sean Scanlon of Guilford and Sen. John Fonfara of Hartford, removed that ban.

Gov. Ned Lamont had proposed a ban on flavored e-cigarettes, except for menthol cigarettes, in his state budget. His staff fought unsuccessfully to keep the ban intact during budget negotiations. A spokesman for the governor said Tuesday that Lamont still believes his proposed ban is the best policy for Connecticut.

julia.bergman@hearstmediact.com
DENVER (AP)  A former high school student accused of teaming up with a classmate to kill teens in a suburban Denver classroom in 2019 was convicted Tuesday of all 46 charges against him, including murder for the death of a student who tried to stop the attack.

The verdict against Devon Erickson came less than 24 hours after lawyers delivered closing arguments in his trial. Prosecutors said Erickson, now 20, was a full partner with Alec McKinney in the shooting that killed Kendrick Castillo, 18, and wounded eight others at STEM School Highlands Ranch in an unincorporated suburban community south of Denver.

The shots were fired in a darkened classroom of high school seniors, who were watching The Princess Bride in the days leading up to graduation. Castillo and two other students, Joshua Jones and Brendan Bialy, charged at Erickson after he pulled out a gun, which jammed after he fired four times.

Defense attorneys argued that Erickson, who was 18 at the time, was manipulated and pressured into participating by his younger friend. McKinney testified against Erickson after pleading guilty last year.

Since he was an adult at the time of the shooting, Erickson faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole for his murder conviction plus many more years for the other charges. A sentencing hearing was set for Sept. 17.

McKinney, who was 16 at the time of the shooting, could become eligible for parole after about 20 years in prison under a program for juvenile offenders.

Despite the pending mandatory life term, prosecutors asked that a report be prepared that recommends a sentence and summarizes the evidence presented at trial. That information could help deter a future governor who might possibly consider clemency for Erickson, District Attorney John Kellner said. The judge granted the request.

John Castillo, Kendrick Castillos father, projected a quiet, calm satisfaction after the verdict, saying he felt his slain sons presence throughout the day.

Im sure he was looking down today, Castillo said. I believe, I feel, he was with us. He was probably with those jurors making their decision. ... This day was justice for him.

During closing arguments, Erickson's defense lawyer, David Kaplan, told jurors that the shooting unfolded without a true plan and happened only after Erickson, who was sent to the nurses office after he looked sick, got a threatening message from McKinney to help with the attack.

The defense also raised the possibility that Castillo was accidentally shot as he pushed Erickson against a wall.

The prosecution disputed the theory, saying an accidental shooting was not likely given the positioning of the two. Jones and Bialy struggled to get Erickson to give up his gun after Castillo was shot, prosecutors said.

As the verdict for each count was read, Erickson stood nearly motionless, hands clasped in front of him, staring straight ahead and blinking as his parents sat in the courtroom. He was wearing a gray suit and tie and had short, neat brown hair in contrast to the longer, purple hair he had at the time of the shooting.

Former STEM school student Mitchell Kraus, who was wounded in the shooting, had walked Erickson to the nurses office just minutes before the attack. Erickson never gave any indication that something was about to happen, Kraus said Tuesday.

Kraus, now a college student, said he had struggled to put the shooting behind him but recently has started to believe he can.

Now that I can be sure that this monster, to be honest, is never going to see the light of day again, its just a weight off my back, he said.

____

Associated Press writer Thomas Peipert contributed to this report.
A day after her interview for a part-time job at Target last year, Dana Anthony got an email informing her she didn't make the cut.

Anthony didn't know why  a situation common to most job seekers at one point or another. But she also had no sense at all of how the interview had gone, because her interviewer was a computer.

More job-seekers, including some professionals, may soon have to accept impersonal online interviews where they never talk to another human being, or know if behind-the-scenes artificial-intelligence systems are influencing hiring decisions. Demand for online hiring services, which interview job applicants remotely via laptop or phone, mushroomed during the COVID-19 pandemic and remains high amid a perceived worker shortage as the economy opens back up.

These systems claim to save employers money, sidestep hidden biases that can influence human recruiters and expand the range of potential candidates. Many now also use AI to assess candidate skills by analyzing what they say.

Anthony likes to look an interviewer in the eyes, but all she could see was her own face reflected in the screen. I interview better in person because Im able to develop a connection with the person, she said.

But experts question whether machines can accurately and fairly judge a persons character traits and emotional signals. Algorithms tasked to learn who's the best fit for a job can entrench bias if they're taking cues from industries where racial and gender disparities are already prevalent.

And when a computer screens out some candidates and elevates others without explanation, it's harder to know if it's making fair assessments. Anthony, for instance, couldn't help wondering if her identity as a Black woman affected the decision.

If you apply for a job and are rejected because of a biased algorithm, you certainly wont know, said Oxford University researcher Aislinn Kelly-Lyth. In a face-to-face interview, by contrast, a job seeker might pick up discriminatory cues from the interviewer, she said.

New rules proposed by the European Union would subject such AI hiring systems to tighter regulation. Advocates have pushed for similar measures in the U.S.

One of the leading companies in the field, Utah-based HireVue, gained notoriety in recent years by using AI technology to assess personality and job skills from an applicant's facial expressions during the interview. After heated criticism centered on the scientific validity of those claims and the potential for bias, the company announced earlier this year it would end the practice.

But its AI-based assessments, which rank the skills and personalities of applicants to flag the most promising for further review, still consider speech and word choices in its decisions.

The privately owned company helped create a market for on-demand video interviews. Its known customers have included retailers like Target and Ikea, major tech companies like Amazon, banks like JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs, oil giants, restaurant chains, supermarkets, airlines, cruise lines and school districts. The Associated Press reached out to numerous brand-name employers that use the technology; most declined to discuss it.

HireVue CEO Kevin Parker says the company has worked hard to ensure its technology won't discriminate based on factors such as race, gender or regional accents. Its systems, which translate speech to text and sift for clues about team orientation, adaptability, dependability and other job skills, can outperform human interviewers, he said.

What were trying to replace is peoples gut instinct, he said in  naturally  a video interview.

HireVue says it interviewed more than 5.6 million people around the world in 2020. Supermarket chains used it to screen thousands of applicants a day amid a pandemic-fueled hiring surge for cashiers, stockers and delivery crews, Parker said.

Providers of broader hiring-focused software such as Modern Hire and Outmatch have started offering their own video interviews and AI assessment tools. On its website, Outmatch touts its ability to measure "the must-have soft skills your candidates and employees need to succeed.

HireVue notes that most customers don't actually use the company's AI-based assessments. Atlanta's school district, for instance, has used HireVue since 2014, but says it relies on 50 human recruiters to score recorded interviews. Target said the pandemic led it to replace in-person interviews with HireVue interviews, but the retail giant told the AP it relies on its own employees  not HireVue's algorithms  to watch and evaluate prerecorded videos.

None of that was clear to Anthony when she sat down in front of a screen to interview for a seasonal job last year. She dressed for the occasion and settled into a comfortable spot. The only hint of a human presence came in a prerecorded introduction that laid out what to expect  noting, for instance, that she could delete an answer and start over.

But she had no way to know what sort of impression she was creating. Were unable to provide specific feedback regarding your candidacy, Target's rejection email said. She was rejected again after completing a HireVue interview for a different job in December.

I understand companies or organizations trying to be more mindful of the time and the finances they spend when it comes to recruitment, said Anthony, who obtained a master's degree in strategic communications last year at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Still, the one-way interviews left her uneasy about who, or what, was evaluating her.

That inscrutability poses one of the biggest concerns about the rapid growth of complex algorithms in recruitment and hiring, Kelly-Lyth said.

In one infamous example, Amazon developed a resume-scanning tool to recruit top talent, but abandoned it after finding it favored men for technical roles  in part because it was comparing job candidates against the company's own male-dominated tech workforce. A study released in April found that Facebook shows different job ads to women and men in a way that might violate anti-discrimination laws.

Governments across the U.S. and Europe are looking at possible checks on these hiring tools, including requirements for outside audits to ensure they don't discriminate against women, minorities or people with disabilities. The proposed EU rules, unveiled in April, would force providers of AI systems that screen or evaluate job candidates to meet new requirements for accuracy, transparency and accountability.

HireVue has begun phasing out its face-scanning tool, which analyzed expressions and eye movements and faced derision by academics as pseudoscience reminiscent of the discredited and racist 19th century theory of phrenology. The Electronic Privacy Information Center filed a complaint in 2019 with the Federal Trade Commission, citing a HireVue executive who had said 10% to 30% of a candidates score was based on facial expressions.

The value it was adding related to the controversy it was creating wasnt very much, Parker told the AP.

HireVue also released portions of a third-party audit that examined fairness and bias issues around its automated tools. A published summary recommended minor changes such as modifying the weight given to the especially short answers disproportionately provided by minority candidates.

Critics welcomed the audit but said it was merely a start.

I dont think the science really supports the idea that speech patterns would be a meaningful assessment of someones personality, said Sarah Myers West of New York Universitys AI Now Institute, which studies the social implications of AI. For instance, she said, such systems have historically had trouble understanding women's voices.

Kian Betancourt, a 26-year-old who is pursuing a doctorate in organizational psychology at Hofstra University, also failed a remote HireVue interview for a consulting position earlier this year. He acknowledged that he might have tried too hard to predict how the system would evaluate him for a consultancy job, tailoring his diction to include keywords he thought might boost his score.

While Betancourt is supportive of structured interviews involving a standard set of questions, he's bothered by the opacity of automated systems.

Tell people exactly how were being evaluated, even if its something as simple as, This is an AI interview'," he said. That basic information can affect how people present themselves, he said.
Daytona Beach, FL (32114)

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Kochi: The shine of the highly trumpeted second coming of the Pinarayi Vijayan-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in Kerala is lost within weeks of its assumption of power, following expose of a massive loot of forest and other governmental wealth along the fabled Western Ghats and beyond.

A re-energised Congress and the United Democratic Front (UDF) it leads energetically took up a visual media report of the large-scale cutting down of highly priced trees like Veeti and Teak from across districts in the western sector in recent months. The loot, in which an individual known to have links with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan stood in the front, is suspected to be of the order of over Rs 100crore. The Kerala high court is seized of the matter though there is pessimism as to how this case will be taken to its logical conclusion.

The loot was facilitated by a state government order issued last year in the backdrop of the Covid-induced paralysis of life. Months later, the GO was withdrawn. The suspected plan was to provide a window of opportunity to facilitate the loot with strong political backing. Communist parties, the CPIM and the CPI, are largely infested with corrupt elements as they handled power in the state for long years, meaning half of the past 70 years. CPI ministers handled the revenue and forest departments when the massive felling of prized trees from forest and poramboke lands took place.

The perceived weak organizational strength of the Congress, its ageing leadership that has now been changed, as also substantial support from Muslim and Christian minorities to ably checkmate the forays of the BJP-RSS in the state helped the LDF return to power this time. Added to this was the free food kits distribution by the first Pinarayi-led government.

Some officials have been suspended and an investigation ordered by the state government into the loot of forest and revenue wealth in a highly coordinated and mischievous manner by gangs with help from top government entities. There are strict rules guiding removal of trees on the Western Ghats, but the forest flying squads were forced by governmental entities to look the other way.

Now, question marks are raised as to the sincerity of the government as regards the present investigations, seen by many as a farce. The top cop who has been entrusted with the investigations is known to be a confidant of chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

The state government took the position that no forest trees were cut and the land in the possession of adivasis and other farmers along the Western Ghats in Wayanad and adjoining districts were denuded. This, it says, was done by wrongly interpreting the government order which was only meant to help farmers.

The deed is done and the state lost heavily. The BJP has taken up the matter with the Union minister for environment and forests, Prakash Javadekar. He promptly sought a report from the forest department. However, since some BJP leaders are involved in a havala money transaction in the context of distribution of assembly poll funds for the 2021 April assembly polls, a quid pro quo between the LDF government and the BJP to hush up both cases is likely, feel Congress leaders.
KARIMNAGAR: IT minister K. T. Rama Rao has come to the rescue of three children who have turned orphans during this second wave of Coronavirus pandemic at Oglapur village in Malliala mandal of Jagtial district.

Busi Sattaiah, a resident of Oglapur had returned from the Gulf two months ago.

He got infected with Covid-19 after his return and died while undergoing treatment on June 4. Sattaiahs wife had died several years ago. As a result, their three children  Akshara, Sahitya and Harshavardhan had turned into orphans.

A resident of the village Nallala Sai Kiran tweeted to the IT minister about the plight of these children. Responding immediately to that post, Rama Rao directed district collector G. Ravi to help the children. He also asked Choppadandi MLA Sunke Ravi Shankar to follow up on the matter.

Following this, the MLA visited the house where the orphaned kids have been staying and handed over Rs. 1 lakh to them. He said arrangements will be made to enrol the three kids into a government residential school, so that they could continue their studies. Sunke Ravi further assured that a double-bedroom house will be sanctioned to them.
The Supreme Court was hearing the Central government's plea to close criminal proceedings pending in India against two Italian marines accused of killing two fishermen off the coast of Kerala in 2012. (PTI)

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered the closure of all proceedings in India against two Italian Marines -- Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone -- accused of killing two fishermen off the coast of Kerala in 2012.

The top court said it decided to quash all proceedings against the marines after being informed that the compensation of Rs 10 crore for the families of the victims has been deposited in the registry of the Supreme Court by the Republic of Italy.

"The compensation amount of Rs 10 crore already paid by the Italian government, over and above is made, and is reasonable and adequate," a two-judge vacation bench of the Apex Court, headed by Justice Indira Banerjee and also comprising Justice M R Shah, said in its order.

The compensation is a mutually agreed amount between India and Italy in terms of the award fixed by an international tribunal.

"This is a fit case to close all proceedings in India under Article 142 of the Constitution," the apex court said in its order.

The Supreme Court passed the order after the Union of India (UOI) moved the SC seeking to close the case against the two Italian marines in India.

The two Kerala fishermen -- Valentine Jalastine and Ajesh Binki -- were allegedly shot dead on February 15, 2012 by Italian mariners -- Latorre and Girone - who allegedly mistook the Kerala fishermen's boat 'St. Antony' for a pirate boat.

Justice Shah further today in his order said that the Republic of Italy shall now resume the criminal proceedings (against the two Italian marines).

He further directed that the compensation amount of Rs 10 crore, lying with the court be transferred to the Kerala High Court registry, out of which Rs 4 crore each will be paid to the next of the kin of the two fishermen while Rs 2 crore will be paid to the owner of the fishing vessel 'St Antony'.

"We order that a judge be appointed by the Kerala High Court to ensure that the amount of compensation paid to the victims are made available to their (deceased) legal heirs," the apex Court said, in its order today.

The top court also directed the Kerala government, Union of India and the Republic of Italy to ensure that the criminal proceedings against the two marines are carried out effectively in Italy.

The Supreme Court also said in its order that Italy must start criminal proceedings against the two Marines under its jurisdiction immediately and the case details and evidences will be provided by the Union of India and Kerala government to the Italy government to ensure that the case must go on against the two Italian marines.

The Supreme Court had in its last hearing on April 9, asked the Republic of Italy to deposit the compensation amount of Rs 10 crore, with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

The apex court had asked the Centre to furnish the account details of the MEA so that the Republic of Italy can deposit the money in the account, and the SC can initiate the process of disbursing the money to the families of the victims.

The Supreme Court was hearing the Central government's plea to close criminal proceedings pending in India against two Italian marines accused of killing two fishermen off the coast of Kerala in 2012.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration had in July, last year, had given its decision saying that the two Italian marines - Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone -- will not be tried in India and in its judgment had ruled that India is entitled to claim compensation from Italy.

It had observed that the marines had violated international law and, as a result, Italy breached India's freedom of navigation, under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
VISAKHAPATNAM: The Andhra Pradesh High Court has struck down appointment of Sanchaita Gajapati Raju as chairperson of Maharaja Alak Narayan Society of Arts and Science (Mansas) and Simhachalam temple trusts. Further, the court restored former minister and TD politburo member P. Ashok Gajapati Raju as chairman of both these trusts.

While cancelling GO No. 74 issued in March 2020 appointing Sanchaita Gajapathi Raju, High Court judge Justice N. Venkataramana upheld the appointment of Ashok Gajapati Raju made in 2016.

Urmila Gajapathi Raju, second daughter of Ananda Gajapati Raju who is the elder brother of Ashok Gajapati Raju, was nominated but disqualified as she was below 30 years of age. Sunita Prasad, sister of Ashok and Anand, did not take oath. It is mandatory to take oath within 30 days of the nomination. Sanchaita is the daughter of Anand Gajapati Raju.

Ashok Gajapathi Raju had filed two petitions in the High Court challenging the appointments made under GO 74. His counsel argued that elders should be trustees in their old age, as they are hereditary trustees. He thus contended that AP governments appointment of chairpersons of these trusts had been against rules. The government, however, contended that the appointment was made in accordance with rules.

The High Court agreed with arguments submitted by Ashok Gajapati Raju and struck down the GO issued by the AP government.

Sanchaita had said that since her father Ananda Gajapathi Raju had been the chairman of 104 temples as a member of erstwhile royal Vizianagaram family, she urged that she should also be recognised as legal heir and family member.

I am yet to see the copy of the High Court order. I am not the kind of woman to give up the fight so easily, Sanchaita Gajapati Raju told Deccan Chronicle soon after the court order.

Ashok Gajapathi Raju told reporters in Vizianagaram that the decree proved that the Constitution and courts are still intact. I have to check what all damages have been done to the temple during my absence, Raju told reporters.

Meanwhile, sources said the state government has decided to approach the Supreme Court against the High Court orders. Endowments minister Vellampalli Srinivas met Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy soon after the court verdict and briefed him about the judgment. The CM reportedly advised Srinivas to appeal against the High Court orders in the apex court, sources added.
HYDERABAD: Ministers and TRS leaders are intrigued by the absence of Union home minister Amit Shah and BJP national president J.P. Nadda at the BJP headquarters in Delhi when former TRS leader Etala Rajendar and some other leaders from the state joined the party on Monday. They termed the future of these leaders in the saffron party as ominous.

They said Rajendar had dug his own grave with his decision to quit the TRS, even as Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao had accorded him highest priority in the party and the government. They exuded confidence that the TRS will retain Huzurabad Assembly seat with a record majority in the coming bypoll.

Ministers G Jagadish Reddy, Gangula Kamalakar and TRS leaders Palla Rajeshwar Reddy, Vemula Prashanth Reddy addressed separate press conferences on Monday to lash out at Rajendar. They were gleeful that top-level national BJP leaders ignored Rajendar and did not attend the Delhi event. Etala will soon fade away in the BJP and also from Telangana politics, they said.

"Etala has joined a sinking ship. People are furious at BJP for making petrol and diesel unaffordable. People are ready to bury BJP not only in Telangana state but across India whenever the next elections are held. Etala joined a party that failed on all fronts. He will not get any high office in the BJP and this is clear from the lukewarm response he got in Delhi. Soon, he will fade away along with BJP," said Jagadish Reddy.



Minister Kamalakar compared Rajendar with TD chief N. Chandrababu Naidu. Etala attempted to backstab Chief Minister Chandrashekar Rao and he is eyeing the CM post in future.



"KCR treated Etala like his younger brother. But he tried to backstab him like Chandrababu did (with then Chief Minister N.T. Rama Rao) to grab the CM post. His political career has ended," Kamalakar stated.

Rajeshwar Reddy said Rajendar should explain to the people what the BJP did more for people than the TRS. "Is any BJP government at the Centre or states giving Rs 5,000 per acre under Rythu Bandhu like the TRS? Are they giving 24x7 free power to agriculture? Are they extending Aasara pensions, Kalyana Laxmi, Shaadi Mubarak schemes to the poor? Etala owes an explanation to the Telangana people," Rajeshwar Reddy said.
HYDERABAD: The state government seems to be exhausting its borrowing limit much faster in the current fiscal 2021-22 over previous fiscal 2020-21.

The government is looking to raise Rs 3,000 crore more on Tuesday to meet Rythu Bandhu expenditure. It needs to credit Rs 7,508 crore as Rythu Bandhu assistance in the bank accounts of 63.25 lakh farmers from June 15 to 25.

The government's earnings have taken a severe beating in both the fiscals due to the outbreak of the first and second waves of the Coronavirus. With this, the government is depending heavily on loans to meet expenditure on welfare schemes, development programmes and administrative affairs.

The government has already borrowed Rs 3,500 crore this month. The government pinned its hopes on raising funds through sale of lands from July in addition to loans that were recently put up for e-auction. The government mobilised Rs 4,500 crore loans through auction of bonds in April and May.

It had proposed to raise Rs 47,500 crore through auction of bonds in Budget 2021-22. Of this, the RBI had permitted to raise Rs 8,000 crore in the first three months (April-June). But the government has raised Rs 11,000 crore in three months, which is over and above the permitted limit.

In 2020-21, the budgeted borrowing was Rs 33,191.26 crore, but the government had borrowed Rs 45,638.79 crore after the Centre raised FRMB (Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management) limit from three to five per cent of the GSDP to help states tide over the Covid financial crisis.

Against this backdrop, finance minister T. Harish Rao made a request to the Centre on Saturday last during the GST Council meeting held by Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman to increase the FRBM limit to five per cent again this year as Covid second wave adversely impacted revenue earnings of states.

If permitted, the state government could mobilise an additional Rs12,000 crore over the budgeted borrowing limit of Rs 47,500 crore this fiscal.
VISAKHAPATNAM: Former Central minister and TDP politburo member P Ashok Gajapathi Raju allegedly violated the Covid-19 protocol by visiting Paidithalli temple in Vizianagaram town along with hundreds of party workers and his followers on Tuesday morning. Normally, people visit this temple on Tuesdays, a tradition that has been followed since decades.

His followers said after winning the high court case against the state government regarding his removal from the chairman post of MANSAS and Simhachalam Temple Trust, Gajapathi Raju wanted to offer special prayers to the Goddess.

But his critics said it was a clear violation of Covid-19 protocol, taking hundreds of people inside the premises of the temple.

Ashok did not visit the temple during Sirimanotsav, the annual festival of the Goddess citing Covid-19. He also most of the time shut his bungalow to outsiders citing infection. Why did he go today? said a retired school teacher and a devotee of the Goddess.

District Medical and Health Officer Dr SV Ramana Kumari said the administration was allowing one or two persons into the temple and not hundreds as per the Covid-19 protocol.

Superintendent of police Vizianagaram B Raja Kumari said as per information, only 60 to 70 persons accompanied Ashok Gajapathi Raji to the temple in the morning.

But it is still a violation of Covid-19 protocol, the SP said.
Asserting that the BJP's alleged "apathy" towards protesting farmers will hurt it in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, RLD chief Jayant Chaudhary on Sunday said artificial issues such as "love jihad" and "cow terror" will not work as issues of development will win in the elections.

As the focus shifts from the West Bengal polls earlier this year to the high-stakes election battle in Uttar Pradesh in 2022, newly-appointed Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Chaudhary asserted that his party will not allow a communally polarised campaign to ruin the Hindi heartland state in the run up to the assembly polls.

In an interview with PTI, Chaudhary, who took over as RLD chief after his father Chaudhary Ajit Singh's demise last month, said his party and the Samajwadi Party have a good rapport and a strong working relationship.

He said details need to be worked out for a formal alliance for the polls.

Asked if a 'Mahagathbandhan' or a grand alliance is needed in UP to take on the BJP and whether the BSP and the Congress would be part of such an alliance, Chaudhary said, for him, issues come first and an understanding of those needs to be built between all alliance partners.

Also Read | BJP top brass talk strategy after Yogi-Modi meet

"Who can be accommodated depends on who is honestly open to working together on the common framework," the 42-year-old leader said.

On whether the Congress would play a significant role in the assembly polls despite its poor showing in the panchayat elections, Chaudhary said he would not like to comment on the Congress' plans and chances.

Asked about the speculation over UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's political future as CM and reports about Cabinet reshuffle in the state, Chaudhary said the BJP is just trying to divert attention and create an illusion of dialogue to manage the disgruntled elements in the party.

"Social engineering doesnt come about by tinkering with one or two leaders at the top. The fact is that BJP's Uttar Pradesh government has been caught in a caste-based matrix and has not delivered jobs, economic growth, and efficient governance to people," he alleged.

The state government's Covid response has been atrocious and no one can forget the scenes of dead bodies in the Ganga, he added.

"Now, after four-and-a-half years to create rumours of change in leadership is a poor attempt to shift focus from failures," Chaudhary said.

Talking about the farm laws protests and whether they would be a key issue in the polls, he said farmers will and should be the biggest poll issue in our country, and asserted that as a class they have been denied their rights for far too long.

"The Centres new laws are prescribing a takeover of the entire market and value chain by the private sector and the withdrawal of the government from procurement and subsequent monopolisation will hurt producer and consumer interests," the RLD chief said.

The "apathy and insensitive" attitude towards the protesting farmers will continue to haunt and hurt the BJP in polls, he claimed.

Chaudhary has participated in a number of 'kisaan panchayats' in western Uttar Pradesh, where his party has had a significant presence over the years, and campaigned aggressively against the Centre's farm laws.

Farmers from various parts of the country are protesting at Delhi's borders against the three farm laws brought by the Centre last year, alleging that the legislations will hamper farming.

Asked about the electoral chances of the Opposition against the BJP in UP, Chaudhary said "when the nation is grieving and hurting, the Hindi heartland also will respond appropriately".

"Love jihad, cow terror, Kairana exodus and other useless artificial issues will be rejected; healthcare, education and balanced development will win (in the polls)," he asserted.

The Opposition in UP has been alleging that cow vigilante violence is on the rise in the state, a charge denied by the BJP.

The 'Kairana exodus' was a reference to a BJP MP's claim in 2016 that close to 350 Hindus had left Kairana over alleged threats and extortion by criminal elements belonging to a particular community.

Asked how he plans to turnaround the fortunes of the party which drew a blank in the last assembly polls, Jayant Chaudhary said, "I am humbled by the opportunity and the faith reposed in me by the Party at this critical juncture."

"Chaudhary Sahebs untimely passing has been a jolt for all of us. Just as any family copes with stress responds by coming together, the office bearers and workers of Rashtriya Lok Dal will need to work cohesively and look to the future," Chaudhary said.

For reviving the party, Chaudhary said, as a first step he wants to engage with people who have worked at the grassroots and have political experience.

He said the party is also in conversation with a lot of leaders from other parties who want to join the RLD and work with us, Chaudhary said.

Asked if a fragmented opposition will be able to pose a challenge to the BJP in UP, the RLD chief said poll arithmetic has its own rhythms and rules and it's not as easy to combine different parties and fight elections and assume a "2+2=4 result".

"It is not as if the multiplicity of players is helping the incumbent. Some of the parties could also be taking away votes which might otherwise shift to the BJP," he argued.

Asserting that it is most important to pick the right issues, Chaudhary said social developmental deficits need to be addressed aggressively if we want the state to progress.

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A 60-year-old woman and a 17-year-old minor girl from West Bengal have approached the Supreme Court alleging horrific gang rape by TMC workers, for their families' support to the BJP in the recently held Assembly election and sought SIT probe into all incidents of post-poll violence.

The 60-year-old woman alleged that she was raped in front of her six-year-old grandson by TMC workers on the intervening night of May 4-5, in "a glaring living example of the nature of post-poll violence unleashed throughout the state against family members of those who opposed the interest of the ruling party".

The woman said on May 3, after the declaration of poll results, a large mob of 100-200 people, which mainly comprised of TMC supporters, surrounded her and asked the family to leave the house. After BJP emerged victorious in the Assembly constituency (Khejuri), workers of the ruling party in the state got infuriated and started burning down houses of BJP supporters, hurling bombs, even inflicting physical torture and looting jewellery and other valuables," the womans application read.

While history is replete with gruesome instances where rape was employed as a strategy to terrorise the enemy civilian population and to demoralise enemy troops, never have such cruel crimes been committed against a woman for her or her family's participation in the democratic process, it said.

Not merely the said crimes were facilitated by the inaction of the state authorities/police, but what was shocking is the post-crime humiliation that the rape survivors were subjected to, for their perceived audacity in reporting the crime," it added.

The victim alleged that the police refused to register the case when her son-in-law tried to report the incident, and after her daughter-in-law persisted, an FIR was filed only against one, despite the naming of the five accused. The woman was later treated at a hospital, where medical examination confirmed rape.

A 17-year-old minor girl from the Scheduled Caste community also approached the top court seeking SIT/CBI investigation into her alleged gang rape by TMC workers on May 9, when she was returning home with her friends. The victim claimed that she was raped by four TMC workers for more than an hour as a "lesson" for her family supporting BJP.

The victim asked the top court to shift the trial out of the state, alleging the police were pressuring her family saying their other daughter may face the same consequences.

The applications were filed in a pending case by Biswajit Sarkar, the brother of deceased Bengal BJP worker Abhijit Sarkar, allegedly murdered in post-poll violence in West Bengal.

The court, which had already issued notice on Sarkars plea, would take up the matter on Tuesday.

In a response to the plea for a CBI probe into post-poll violence, the West Bengal government told the court that no interference was required as the High Court was already seized of the matter.

In an affidavit, the West Bengal government claimed the allegations were misleading and politically motivated. It also said the state was cooperating with National Commission for Women already probing violence. It also said the FIR was already lodged, arrests were made and compensation paid to the victims.
An agriculturist was injured in an elephant attack in Kusuburu village on Monday morning.

Katnamane Girish is the injured. He was on his way to the town to purchase essential items when an elephant attacked him and the motorbike he was riding.

Girish sustained injuries on his hip and abdomen. He was provided first aid at the government hospital in Somwarpet and was later shifted to the district hospital for advanced treatment.

The bike he was riding was also damaged.
National film award winner Sanchari Vijay, 38, who was critically injured in a bike accident on Saturday night, was declared brain-dead on Monday.

According to a statement by the Apollo Hospitals group at 8.20 pm, there is irreversible complex damage to his brain.

The actors family has decided to donate his organs.

Vijay was returning to his residence on Bannerghatta Road with his friend Naveen when their bike skidded and hit an electric pole. Vijay was riding pillion. Both were reportedly not wearing helmets. Doctors said Naveen is out of danger. Jayanagar traffic police have registered a case against Naveen. Further probe is on.

Apollo Hospitals said in their bulletin that the next step was the retrieval of Vijays organs and transplant procedures to recipients as per protocols.

"The result has been conveyed to the family and the jurisdictional police for further processing. Jeevasarthakathe officials are here for all the procedures. The next step is the retrieval of organs and then transplant procedures to the recipients as per protocols which will happen at various hospitals including Apollo Hospitals," the bulletin said.

Lijamol Joseph, Chief Transplant Coordinator, Jeevasarthakathe, the state organ transplant body that facilitates cadaver organ donation, told DH, "As per protocol, the patient should be found to be brain-dead twice with a gap of six hours. Our first assessment was done at 12.30 pm when he was found to be brain-dead. The second assessment was done at 7.50 pm. We're awaiting the organ advisory teams' opinion on the viability of his kidneys, liver, heart valve and corneas."
Highlights of this day in history: England's King John signs the Magna Carta; A deadly steamboat fire in New York City; Jordan's King Hussein weds American Lisa Halaby; Arlington National Cemetery created; Singer Ella Fitzgerald dies. (June 15)
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Former Sun Valley custodian gets two-five years for child porn
A UUP councillor believes that Derrys Bonfire Working Group must be improved by involving bonfire builders in the process.

The local council set up a bonfire working group in 2017.

The purpose was to have councillors from different backgrounds representing all political parties in order to show respect for cultural traditions, respect for the law, and respect each other.

Importantly, the group aims to ensure bonfires are safe, clean and respectful to people of all backgrounds who live near and around them.

DUP Alderman Hilary McClintock and UUP Alderman Darren Guy yesterday told a special meeting of the council that they would not be nominating councillors to sit on the Bonfire Working Group.

The Derry News contacted DUP and UUP councillors this morning.

Alderman Guy (below) was the only representative who answered.

He believes that the bonfire group has not been working to its full potential and unionist communities always viewed it as a way of getting rid of bonfires.

Alderman Guy said: Ive been involved since I was elected on to council in 2019. Since Ive been on it, lets say, the proper people arent involved in it.

I think the actual people who are building the bonfires should be involved. I know that in Protestant Unionist Loyalist (PUL) community areas that have the bonfires theyve actually broken off any engagement with the Bonfire Group.

I dont know whether theyll ever come back on board, I still keep in touch with them all as a go-between but theres a lot of bridge building to be done between the actual committee and bonfire builders themselves.

That is the main point. There is no point in talking to those on the periphery, it has to include the grassroots of it.

The UUP representative for the Waterside area refuted any suggestion that sinister elements have put pressure on unionist councillors and community workers to withdraw their support for the Bonfire Working Group this year.

He says that doesnt happen in Derry because the bonfires are run by local communities who hold fundraisers throughout the year.

Alderman Guy said its okay to talk about engaging with community workers but they are not building the bonfires.

The UUP councillor believes members of the Bonfire Working Group have gained a greater understanding of what bonfires mean to PUL culture in recent years.

In his view, the 'problem bonfires' have been in nationalist areas of Derry such as the Bogside and Galliagh, not in unionist areas where they are well-managed and health and safety is always at a high level.

Over recent years, the Derry News has highlighted controversy at nationalist and unionist bonfires in the city where images of politicians and other individuals have been burned.

Alderman Guy was asked whether he has concerns that unregulated bonfires could increase tensions in the city with the burning of offensive effigies.

The UUP councillor explained he was elected a matter of months when his image was placed on a bonfire in Currynierin but he it didnt bother him as its only a piece of cardboard.

However, he did acknowledge that it could lead to a 'tit-for-tat' between both communities.

He accepted issues at Irish Street but put that down to the centenary celebrations attracting overzealous dumpers.

Alderman Guy made it clear that no decision has been taken as such' and hopes that after further discussions common ground will be found.

It is up to all councillors to improve the working group, he added.

Talks are expected to continue over the coming days and Alderman Guy said he is happy to take part.
Health Minister Robin Swann has launched a new Elective Care Framework for Northern Ireland, setting out a detailed roadmap for tackling hospital waiting lists.

The Minister today said he wanted to restore hope to people waiting for hospital care in pain and discomfort.

The Framework proposes a 700m investment over five years.

It sets out a twin track approach of investment and reform - targeted investment to get many more people treated as quickly as possible, plus reform and investment to eradicate the gap between demand and capacity and ensure backlogs do not keep re-occurring

I realise this is a big ask at a time when there are many financial demands on our public sector. However, we should have no illusions that this is a crisis that has already dragged on far too long, Mr Swann today stated.

The time for talk is over. What we need now is concerted action.

This framework contains a range of short term, medium term and longer term actions.

It makes clear that the waiting list crisis has been building up for seven years and has been seriously exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. There are no quick fixes to the situation.

The plans detailed in this document include: implementation of green pathways with every effort made to keep elected care services entirely separate from any exposure to COVID-19; expansion of the elective care centre model with surgeries provided in ring fenced specialist hubs; a relentless regional NI-wide approach rather than a disjointed postcode lottery system; delivery of megaclinics for outpatient, assessment and pre-operative assessment clinics; improved data, reporting and accountability; continued focus on performance management; ongoing close cooperation with the independent sector; development of in-house HSC capacity including continued investment in staffing and use of temporary, enhanced rates for targeted shifts.

These are just some of the examples of a suite of initiatives. It will take all these and many more to properly turn the situation around, the Health Minister stated.

I want long waits to have been fully banished by March 2026. The Framework sets a target for March 2026 of no patient waiting more than 52 weeks for a first outpatient appointment and inpatient/day case treatment; or 26 weeks for a diagnostics appointment.

If we can bring forward this timeline we will obviously do so, but we have to acknowledge the scale of the problem that has built up and the capacity restrictions that will limit our room for manoeuvre.

For example, there are currently almost 190,000 patients waiting more than a year for their first outpatient appointment. This is almost five times as many as when the abortive 2017 Elective Care Plan was published.

The plans include crucial and sustained investment in building up the in-house capacity of our health service.

If we dont eradicate the gap between demand and capacity then the backlogs in care will keep re-occurring. Up until 2014, the gap was managed through in year funding injections to facilitate additional activity. Those monies have been in shorter supply since then and waiting times have climbed relentlessly as a result.

Investment and reform are now both required - targeted investment to get many more people treated as quickly as possible; reform to ensure the long-term problems of capacity and productivity are properly addressed.

The Minister also announced that he will reinstate a new Cross-Border Healthcare Directive for a 12 month period from July 2021.

This new Republic of Ireland Reimbursement Scheme sets out a framework, based on the Cross-Border Healthcare Directive, and will allow patients to seek and pay for routinely commissioned treatment in the private sector in ROI and have the costs, up to the cost of the treatment to the HSC in Northern Ireland, reimbursed.

Further details will be confirmed in the coming days.

I view today as a staging post in the long struggle to turn our health service around. This crisis has been building up for years, the Health Minister added.

We must put it right, however big the challenge. And we need to create sustainable long-term solutions.

Fundamentally, we have to bring back hope and confidence; we must restore hope to all those languishing on waiting lists.

There is a very heavy responsibility on all our shoulders. We must live up to it and deliver better public services.

I have said it before about waiting lists, but it bears repeating. I cannot think of a more important issue facing not just my Department, but the whole Executive and Assembly.
A special memorial will take place in Derry next week to mark the first anniversary of the death of Belfast teenager Noah Donohoe.

Noah, a pupil at St Malachy's College, was found dead in a storm drain in North Belfast last June, six days after he went missing.

Next Monday, June 21, will be the first anniversary of the 14-year-old's death.

Councillors on the Business and Culture Committee of Derry City and Strabane District Council today voted unanimously to light up council buildings blue on Monday to mark Noah's anniversary.

The teenager's mother Fiona was originally from Strabane and many of Noah's relatives still live in the town.

The lighting up proposal was put forward today by independent councillor Raymond Barr.

Cllr Barr said the gesture would be be a 'show of solidarity' with Noah's family at such a sad time.

His proposal was backed unanimously by other members of the committee.
Sushant Singh Rajputs family lawyer: Why have CBI not done custodial interrogation till date?

Senior advocate Vikas Singh, the family lawyer of late Bollywood star Sushant Singh Rajput, expressed surprise that there has been no custodial interrogation of suspects by the CBI in the sensational death case when there is mystery involved. Responding to the statement of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officials that the probe is continuing and all angles are being looked into, Singh, said if they are looking into all the aspects then they should have done custodial interrogation of the named accused.

I am a little surprised because if they are looking into all the aspects then they should have done custodial interrogation of the named accused and also of the people who were living at his residence. Why have they not done custodial interrogation till date. Wherever there is mystery involved, custodial interrogation is required in such cases, Singh told PTI on the death anniversary of the actor.

The 34-year-old actor was found hanging from the ceiling of his apartment in Mumbai's Bandra on June 14, last year. Mumbai Police investigated the case till the probe was handed over to the CBI by the apex court. The top court had last year invoked its extra-ordinary plenary power under Article 142 of the Construction while handing over the probe surrounding circumstances of Rajput's unnatural death and had said "When truth meets sunshine, justice will not prevail on the living alone but after Life's fitful fever, now the departed will also sleep well. Satyameva Jayate."

The probe agency has not yet filed the charge sheet or the closure report in the death case. Singh, who is also the Supreme Court Bar Association President, said if the CBI is getting any leads it's really good but nothing concrete has happened till now even after one year. "Custodial interrogation is required in cases where mystery is involved," the senior advocate stressed. When asked about the delay in filing of the charge sheet in Rajput's case, Singh said, It's difficult for me to comment on the delay in the investigation and filing of the charge sheet. Maybe, they are wanting to break down the witnesses slowly so that they might get some leads somewhere."

The CBI earlier in the day said that the probe into actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death is still continuing, even after the AIIMS medical board's report last year that had said it was a case of suicide. Asked about the developments, CBI officials said the probe is continuing and all angles are being looked into. The CBI had taken over the probe from Bihar Police into the alleged abetment to suicide case filed by the actor's father K K Singh in Patna against Rajput's girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty and her family.
Pearl V Puri gets bail in rape case after 11 days in judicial custody

TV actor Pearl V Puri has been granted bail after spending 11 days in prison on charges of rape and molestation of a minor. The actors bail petition filed by his lawyer Rajeev Sawant on June 7 was delayed and the Vasai Court finally heard the matter on Tuesday around noon.

The actor was arrested for alleged rape and molestation of a minor on the sets of his show Bepanah Pyarr in 2019. The minor in question is the daughter of another actor who worked on the show. The case was registered by the minors father and the Waliv Police arrested the actor on June 4. He was booked under Section 376 of IPC and POSCO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act 4,8,12, 19 and 21. He was presented before the Vasai Court and put in judicial custody.

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Pearl actor received overwhelming support from his colleagues in the TV industry who have vouched for his innocence. Ekta Kapoor claimed she had spoken to the victims mother who claimed that the actor was innocent and also said that it was her husbands fabricated claim to win a custody battle. The police investigating the matter, however, claimed that there is evidence against the actor. The victims father also put out a statement through his lawyer alleging that a medical examination confirmed that the child was molested.

The news of Pearls bail was confirmed by his lawyer. The court granted bail on a cash surety of Rs. 25000.
Over 30 Global Bloomsday events hosted by Department of Foreign Affairs

Press release

To mark Bloomsday 2021, More than 30 of Irelands Embassies and Consulates are marking Bloomsday 2021 with a diverse range of physical and virtual events in collaboration with local partners.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence, Simon Coveney, T.D., commented:

Building on Irelands innovations in digital diplomacy over the last year, our 2021 Bloomsday campaign is a global celebration of Joyce, as our diplomatic network mobilise hundreds of diverse partnerships to bring inspiring Irish literature to new audiences on six continents.

Fans of literature worldwide can check out the full range of activities at Ireland.ie/Bloomsday. Some highlights include:

Irelands Consulate General in New York have partnered with the University of Buffalo in unveiling a new 36-foot vibrant James Joyce mural in the city, creating a landmark for the Irish community and raising awareness of the home of the largest collection of Joycean manuscripts and materials.

In Mozambique, the Irish Embassy looks to uncover talented local writers with a Bloomsday Poetry Competition, open to all ages.

The Irish Embassy in London will host a virtual Bloomsday celebration of the life and works of James Joyce with the help of a few very special guests including author Emma Dabiri who will host the event, and actor Adrian Dunbar who will perform a reading by Joyce.

Irelands Embassy in Indonesia are bringing Joyces Ulysses to life with a Bloomsday Booth that recreates the iconic Sweneys pharmacy alongside an interactive exhibit, all displayed in one of Jakartas most prominent shopping malls.

In Stockholm, the Irish Embassy combines Bloomsday with the great national celebration of Midsommar, presenting Mollys Midsommar, with the best of Irish and Swedish culture brought to audiences from the citys harbour.

In Pretoria, the Embassy will take part in a cultural event on June 16 partnering with a literary social enterprise and non-profit group dedicated to enhancing access to literature for young people in inner-city Johannesburg, and will giveaway copies of Joyces work.

Irelands Embassy in Mexico collaborated with the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) to present the Joyce in Latin America Conference, hosting high profile speakers and experts on James Joyce and Irish literature more broadly. One of the conference highlights was the announcement of the establishment of the Eavan Boland  Anne Enright Irish Studies Chair at UNAM. This is the first dedicated Chair in Irish literature in Mexico, and will be the corner stone for a developing Irish studies programme.

In Sydney, Irelands Consulate partners with the University of Sydney to present a Joycean Jam, collaborating with local artistic collective Prankqueans to engage audiences in a celebration of Joyces work through cabaret readings, spoken word and song.

In Atlanta, Nuala OConnor, author of the acclaimed Nora, joins Emorys Universitys Geraldine Higgins, Consul General Ciara OFloinn and others on 16 June for In Praise of Women. This program, a collaboration between the Consulate of Ireland in Atlanta and Aris Theatre celebrates the women in Joyces life and work, above all Nora Barnacle, the inspiration for Molly Bloom.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Museum of Literature Ireland (MoLI) have partnered to produce Opening Ulysses, a short film created in collaboration with 40 Irish Embassies and Consulates worldwide. Ahead of the centenary of the novels publication next February, this specially commissioned film invites global audiences to engage with Ulysses through a playful, virtuosic reimagining of its opening line: Stately, plump Buck Mulligan came from the stairhead, bearing a bowl of lather on which a mirror and a razor lay crossed.Filming has taken place in more than 40 locations across six continents, from Alaska to Abuja, Santiago to Seoul, Canberra to Chicago. The short film is available to view on the DFA YouTube channel.

As an additional initiative to reach new global audiences as part of DFAs Bloomsday campaign, Irish Embassies and Consulates have also organised a Global Joycean Book Giveaway. Over the Bloomsday period, more than 5,000 copies of Ulysses, Dubliners and A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man will be distributed in 100+ cities on six continents, in 18 languages ranging from Chinese, Japanese and Latvian to Hebrew, Greek and Bahasa. To deliver this, our diplomatic network has partnered with hundreds of local organisations including national and public libraries, secondary schools, universities, development NGOs, bookshops, literary cafes, cultural centres, broadcast media and transport hubs.

ENDS

Press Office

15 June 2021

The Opening Ulysses film is available to feature on media and multimedia platforms once DFA and MoLI are credited; please contact DFA Press Office for sharing/download details. The Museum of Literature Ireland (MoLI) is also encouraging readers to join thousands of others in finally picking up Ulysses this year as part of a free online public book club. Ulysses  for the rest of us! will run for two months from 16 June 2021, and is hosted by American podcaster Conner Habib. Sign up for free at moli.ie/Ulysses In Ireland the Bloomsday Festival, presented by the James Joyce Centre, is presenting an extensive range of programming from 11-16 June, including a Ulysses Punk Cabaret, Bloomsday Film Festival screenings, Joyce art exhibitions and drawing workshops. Find out more at bloomsdayfestival.ie.

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Airtel has started 5G trials in Gurgaon ahead of an expected rollout early next year. While commercial 5G network wont roll out anytime soon, telecom companies including Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio and Vodafone Idea have received permission from the government to conduct trials in different regions of India. Airtel is trialling its 5G network in the Millennium city in Cyber Hub, Gurgaon where it has demonstrated its mettle by offering upto 1Gbps speeds.

According to a report by ET Telecom, Airtel is working with smartphone companies such as Apple, OnePlus, Realme, Oppo and more to test its 5G network in India. Apart from this network in Gurgaon, Airtel will also start testing its 5G network in Mumbai in the next few weeks. Airtel is using Ericsson 5G hardware for its trials which is in line with the DoT (Department of Telecom) guidelines. Airtel has been given 3500MHz, 28GHz and 700MHz bands in Delhi/NCR, Mumbai, Kolkata and Bengaluru to conduct its 5G trials.

The report also states that the DoT has allotted 700MHz, 3.5GHz and 26GHz bands to Vodafone Idea and Reliance Jio for testing 5G networks. Vodafone Idea will be using Nokia and Ericsson hardware while Jio is working with Samsung, Nokia, Ericsson apart from testing its indigenous 5G solution as well.

Airtels #5G trial network speeds in Gurgaon. Running on Ericsson gear. pic.twitter.com/nLctWjIHuX  Danish (@DanishKh4n) June 14, 2021

ET Telecoms Danish Khan uploaded a video on Twitter that showed Airtel 5G network running SpeedTest at over 1Gbps speeds. Danish said that the phone being used in the video is a OnePlus 8 series phone and that OnePlus issued a special patch to enable 5G on this particular phone. Going by the looks of it, the phone looks likely to be the OnePlus 8 Pro.

While Airtel is testing its 5G network, spectrum regulations do not allow the general public to have access to the next-generation network, and for good reasons. The telecom companies are starting to test out 5G networks to assess their performance and stability in the long run. These tests could go on for months as the DoT is yet to put 5G spectrum for auction and till that happens we are still at least a year away, if not more, from getting our hands on a commercial 5G network. Reliance Jio and Airtel, both have plans to launch their 5G services soon after the availability of the 5G spectrum in the country.
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By JUAN A. LOZANO and BRIAN MELLEY

Associated Press

HOUSTON  Jennifer Bridges, a registered nurse in Houston, is steadfast in her belief that it's wrong for her employer to force hospital workers like her to get vaccinated against COVID-19 or say goodbye to their jobs. But that's a losing legal argument so far.

In a stinging defeat, a federal judge bluntly ruled over the weekend that if employees of the Houston Methodist hospital system don't like it, they can go work elsewhere.





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By TOM KRISHER and JENNA FRYER

Associated Press

DETROIT  The president of General Motors says his company plans to announce more U.S. battery factories later this week.

Mark Reuss gave no details of where the factories would be located or exactly what they would manufacture. He spoke in a weekend interview with The Associated Press at an IndyCar race on an island park near downtown Detroit.





. . .
KRWM-FM Seattle

Hughes

KRWM-FM morning host, Seth Hughes has inked a deal to continue as morning host and has been named music director for the Hubbard Radio Seattle station. Hughes joined Hubbard Radio Seattle in March of 2018, as mid day host of Seattle's Country 98.9 KNUC. He assumed the Warm 106.9 morning time slot in April 2019, and can be heard from 5am-9am. Started in 1923, Hubbard Broadcasting, is a television and radio broadcasting corporation based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.




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PORTLAND (AP)  The Portland Police Association said Monday it is taking its ongoing contract negotiations with the city to mediation.

The move means the partially public negotiations will no longer have a public element, as the two sides negotiate the thorniest remaining unresolved issues, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported.





. . .
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SEATTLE  The Northgate Village retail center, which is north of the separately owned Northgate proper, has sold for $34.3 million, according to King County records.

The seller of the Big 5 Sporting Goods-anchored complex, at 830 N.E. Northgate Way, was S-F Northgate LLC. That California and Oregon investor group acquired the property in 2003 for over $17.6 million.





. . .
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BOISE, Idaho (AP)  Four housing organizations in Idaho are getting coronavirus relief funding to help cover the cost emergency housing vouchers.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded $2.4 million total to the Housing Authority of the city of Pocatello, the Boise City Housing Authority, the Southwestern Idaho Cooperative Housing Authority and the Idaho Housing and Finance Association, the Idaho Press reported.





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Local

Jason Shelton honoring Todd Jordan request with Jackie Clayton as interim police chief

Adam Robison | BUY AT PHOTOS.DJOURNAL.COM/ A file phone of Deputy Chief Jackie Clayton. Outgoing Mayor Jason Shelton on Monday afternoon announced that he was appointing Clayton as interim police chief at the request of Mayor-elect Todd Jordan.

TUPELO  Outgoing Mayor Jason Shelton on Monday afternoon announced he will appoint Deputy Chief Jackie Clayton as the interim chief of the Tupelo Police Department until a permanent chief can be named.

Shelton told the Daily Journal at an agenda review meeting of the Tupelo City Council that incoming-Mayor Todd Jordan requested Clayton be temporarily appointed to the position effective July 1.

This is through conversations with Mayor-elect Todd Jordan and his transition team, Shelton said at the agenda review. Im going to make this nomination at Mayor-elect Jordans request.

The Tupelo City Council will vote on Tuesday night to either confirm or reject Claytons temporary appointment.

Chief Bart Aguirre announced last month that he would be retiring from the department effective June 30.

Jordan, in a written statement to the Daily Journal, said Clayton has worked for the police department for more than 40 years and has worked his way up through the ranks.

I support Mayor Sheltons decision to name him as the Interim Chief, Jordan said. We look forward to beginning the formal process of hiring our next Chief of Police in July.

Clayton will not be in the running to be the permanent chief because he is retiring at the end of the year.

Clayton first joined the police department in August 1979. Since then, he has been a patrolman, a shift captain and a major of operations. He became one of the departments two deputy police chiefs in January 2020.

Clayton said he counts it as an honor to be asked to temporarily serve as chief and that he intends to meet with the bulk of the police department at some point to discuss operations of the police department.

Over the next two weeks, Im going to try and learn all I can about some of the operations Im not familiar with, Clayton said. I plan to keep things going steady.

Clayton said he intends to rely on fellow deputy chief Anthony Hill as he temporarily serves as the interim chief.

Jordan will be sworn in as the citys next mayor on July 1. He has repeatedly said he wants to utilize some form of an independent task force to aid him in appointing the next police chief.
Douglas, WY (82633)

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Mostly clear. Low 58F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph..

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Mostly clear. Low 58F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph.
Duncan, OK (73533)

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Thunderstorms likely in the morning. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon. High 82F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

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Partly cloudy with late night showers or thunderstorms. Low 69F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
Six Louth women picked up awards at the Businesswomen of the Year Awards last week, hosted by Network Ireland.

Of the winners, three of them will move ahead to the Network Ireland National Conference and Awards, set to take place in Waterford in October.

The three winners were: Niamh Pentony of Boyne Ergonomics, Karen Devine of Whitelight Consulting and Joanne Lavelle of Michael Lavelle Estate Agents.

The awards were in the categories of: Emerging New Business Owner, Established Business Owner and Power Within Champion.

The awards themselves took place outside the Monasterboice Inn, due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Additional awards were also given out by the Network Ireland Louth branch, with Pauline Clarke, Denise Wogan, Maria Branigan, Karen Devine and Niamh Pentony all taking home trophies.

President of Network Ireland Louth, Marie Fleming, said that there was a phenomenal level of interest in the awards this year, with entries coming in from all across Louth.

Fleming continued saying that despite challenges many businesses have faced due to Covid-19, there was a positive trend and growing confidence in business.

The judging panel for this years awards consisted of Aoife Mackie of AIB, Anne Reilly of Paycheck Plus and Eimer Hannon of Hannon Travel.

The judges said that it was difficult to pick winners due to the very high calibre of this years finalists and that everyone nominated should reflect and celebrate their successes.

Network Ireland is a nationwide organisation that supports the professional and personal development of women.

According to the organisation, it provides support, networking and learning opportunities for women who are in business.

The group was established in 1983 and now has 14 branches across the country.
The Irish Farmers Association (IFA) held a protest in Castlebellingham on Friday to highlight what they say is the importance of commercial farming to the rural economy.

There was large scale protest action across the country, with the IFA having a presence in 30 other towns around Ireland.

Louth IFA members have said that without new policies, Irelands farming sector will suffer and there will be a knock-on impact in towns like Castlebellingham.

We are here to make it clear that if they do not, these towns where we are demonstrating today will no longer be viable because the agri sector wont exist to keep them afloat, said Louth IFA in a statement.

Farmers have called on both the Government and the EU to introduce policies that support the farming industry, citing seven years of food prices declining.

Both Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) reform and the Climate Action Bill came under criticism, with local farmers labelling some aspects of the bill as unfair.

Currently, the Climate Action Bill is aiming to achieve a carbon-neutral Ireland by 2050, with five-year carbon budgets that have sectoral targets being a key part.

The Climate Action Plan for 2021 is currently undergoing consultation, with an interim plan currently in place.

While Louth IFA has said that they support climate action, they have also said that they require additional funding, referencing a commitment made by the Government to invest 1.5 Billion from the carbon tax into agri-environment measures.

Farmers support climate action, but they cannot do more environmental actions with less money.

We hear lots of nice phrases such as a just transition. What is just about making the primary producer carry the can for everything?

CAP reform is also concerning local farmers, with the IFA saying that farmers are being hit with massive cuts under the EU policy.

The IFA has also said that both the farming and good sectors employ 300,000 people across the country, saying that they contributed 13 Billion worth of exports.
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Dundalk councillor Kevin Meenan has called on Irish Water to immediately investigate the cause of water discolouration in the town centre today, Tuesday.

The Sinn Fein representative for Dundalk South said he had been contacted by a number of businesses in the town centre on Tuesday morning in relation to problems with the water colour.

Cllr. Meenan, who is vice chair of Dundalk Municipal District, said the latest issue comes days after a major problem that affected hundreds of homes in the south of the town last week following a major pipe burst on the Inner Relief Road.

At that time, Irish Water said they had rectified the leak and while there would be sediment in the pipeline as a result, it was expected to be cleared by last Saturday.

However, a new issue has arisen in Dundalk on Tuesday, particularly affecting the town centre.

Cllr. Meenan said: "This is the second time the issue of water discolouration has arisen in the Dundalk area and I have been in daily contact with Irish Water since last week to try to find out what is going on and to get answers for people.

"I have to say that I am not happy with the lack of clarity from Irish Water about the cause of the problem and why it is occurring.

"People, including householders and those who are running businesses, have not been given proper advise about what to do.

"They have been told to run the water from the taps for a few moments to see whether it clears, but not what happens if it remains discoloured.

"I will remain in touch with Irish Water to ensure that the latest incident is fixed in a timely manner and to get to the bottom of what has caused this in the first place.
Irish Water have said it is aware of a number of reported issues from customers in Dundalk regarding discoloured drinking water.

Irish Water and Louth County Council investigated the matter and said they found a large burst on the network caused sediment to be dislodged and carried through the network to the customer tap.

Repairs were completed on Friday 11 June but some customers continue to experience discoloured water.

Irish Water and Louth County Council undertook a programme of further investigations, which included monitoring at various locations throughout Dundalk town, and found that the build-up of sediment and the subsequent discolouration of water at customer taps was caused by the presence of manganese, a mineral which occurs naturally in the area.

Manganese is found naturally in many surface water (lake and river water) and groundwater (underground water) sources, including the River Fane, which is the source water for the Cavanhill Water Treatment Plant.

In response to this issue, a programme of works is currently taking place at the Cavanhill water treatment plant to reduce manganese levels in the final treated water, and therefore reduce the likelihood of sediment build-up in the network.

Following completion of the works at Cavanhill Water Treatment Plant, Irish Water intend to conduct a network flushing programme in Dundalk town and environs to clear the network of any remaining sediment.

Irish Water said it will advise customers in advance of when we intend to commence this activity.

While these essential works are completed and further monitoring of the network, customers are advised that if their water is discoloured, to continue running the tap for a few minutes to restore the clear colour.

If the colour does not restore to clear, customers are advised not the drink the water as a precaution, and should contact Irish Water.

Irish Water can confirm that the Manganese levels found during our investigations are not at a level that would pose a risk to health, however we are continuing with enhanced monitoring both at the plant and in the network to keep the situation under close review. In this regard we have been consulting with the Health Services Executive (HSE), who are the statutory authority in public health matters. If the situation changes, and a risk to public health arises, we will notify all affected customers immediately.

irish Water apologised for any inconvenience as a result of this issue.

For more information on issues in drinking water, customers can visit the Water Supply section of our website. Information on drinking water quality can be found in our drinking water quality section. The HSE have also produced an informative Frequently Asked Questions on Manganese in drinking water which can be found here (FAQ).

Customers with queries or concerns about the quality of their drinking water should contact the Irish Water customer care helpline, open 24/7 on 1800 278 278 or via Twitter @IWCare.
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North Andover, MA (01845)

Today

Steady light rain in the morning. Showers continuing in the afternoon. Cooler. High near 65F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

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Cloudy with occasional rain showers. Low 56F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
By The Staff of The News

CLOVIS  A man reported missing in Texas on Friday night was discovered deceased in Curry County on Saturday, according to the Levelland Police Department.

Curry County Sheriff's deputies, acting on a tip from a concerned citizen, found an unoccupied vehicle on the side of a dirt road. The vehicle was confirmed to be that of Greg Balboa, 23, who was reported missing by family members as of Monday night. Deputies later located Balboa's body in an undisclosed location in the county.

Levelland police did not release the cause of death, but told KCBD in Lubbock no foul play was suspected.
Vermont became the first state in the country to vaccinate at least 80% of the eligible population, prompting Gov. Phil Scott to lift all remaining state COVID-19 restrictions
New Zealands government is formally apologizing for an immigration crackdown nearly 50 years ago in which Pacific people were targeted for deportation, often after early-morning home raids
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DENNIS Collins has been living in Kinsale for the past 37 years, although he jokes that he is probably still considered a blow-in.

A busy man, he works in DePuy Synthes in Ringaskiddy, while also running a garment printing company called The Print Den with his fiancee Aisling.

Hes a local DJ  currently behind the decks at Hamlets  and is fully immersed in the towns life as the administrator of the Kinsale Noticeboard on Facebook.

If that wasnt enough, he is also on the cusp of launching a new business venture (more of which later) and is father to Ailin, aged four, and Keena, aged two, who keep him busy exploring the great outdoors.

One of his frequent family outings is on the stunning Scilly walk, which takes you to Summer Cove with panoramic views from the inner harbour all the way out to Charles Fort. The Scilly walk can be found by exiting the town and walking towards the Man Friday restaurant and continuing on.

Scilly walk is perfect for kids of all ages and is great for using their bikes or scooters safely, Dennis says.

In his words, if you want to go hard-core, you can then continue up to Charlesfort and take another splendid walk from there along the coast towards Lower Cove.

This walk is a little bit of a hike and maybe one for kids but not toddler-friendly, he advises.

If you have the time and energy to explore further, Dennis has more suggestions.

There is another lovely walk from the town to James Fort which is close to the local beach called The Dock, a clean and safe family-friendly beach. Walk up the hill behind and youre on the grounds of James Fort. Its really untouched; its stunning the views you get of the harbour and of the town, its a hidden gem to be honest with you.

A picnic is ideal on the grounds of James Fort, or theres a fantastic cafe on the pier called Food U, should you come back hungry or thirsty from your walk.

Kinsale resident, Dennis Collins.

Even if you dont go on any of the breath-taking coastal walks, you can spend hours wandering the colourful streetscape, where there are generally unexpected delights around every corner. And now, with outdoor dining reintroduced, some of those delights are of a culinary nature.

Kinsale is considered by many to be the gourmet capital of Ireland and eateries such as Fishy Fishy, Finns Farmcut, Cosy Cafe and Lemon Leaf are all happy to be back serving customers al fresco. Meanwhile, we all fell in love with mobile food and coffee trucks during lockdown and Nags Head by the Perryville Hotel is one of the options for coffee and toasties on the go.

The winding streets will also offer up fantastic shopping opportunities with independent boutiques, arts and crafts, jewellers and bookstores all to be found along the way.

Surrounded by the sea, youll undoubtedly be tempted to leave terra firma behind at some stage and get on the water. Again, Dennis has the answers: You can do a boat tour off the pier with Kinsale Harbour Cruises, which runs daily through the summer, or you can charter a yacht for the day with Sovereign Sailing.

In addition, Ocean Addicts provides diving and snorkelling opportunities, while Atlantic Offshore Adventures is a mobile adventure activity provider based in and around Kinsale, providing courses and rentals in stand up paddle boarding, surfing and kayaking.

Furthermore, Dennis has established a new business to explore Kinsale in a unique way through first person view (FPV) drone goggles. Wild Atlantic Drone Tours  to be launched before the end of the summer  will give people the chance to explore the renowned coastline without ever setting foot on the water.

When I saw that you could broadcast a drone signal to multiple sets of goggles, I thought how amazing it would be to give somebody the sensation of flying, he says.

I want the drone tours to give anyone whos visiting here an experience they havent had anywhere else in the world and I also hope the local people see Kinsale in a way theyve never seen before.

The flight would last approximately 12 minutes and youd get a real-time birds eye view. Every trip is unique. Youd get a perspective youd never get really  unless youre a bird!

(See www.wildatlanticdronetours.com )

Kinsales beaches are more popular than ever, with Sandycove approximately 5km away, and Garretstown and Garylucas beaches around 10km from the town.

Weekend traffic has been very busy of late so if you want a quiet swim maybe choose mid-week.

Mind you, Sundays in Kinsale were quite special last year, with a family day on pedestrianised streets, organised by Kinsale Chamber of Commerce.

It was like a holiday atmosphere. It was a nice break from what was going on mentally for people, says Dennis, who maintains that we can expect a similar experience this summer.

Arrive to Kinsale any Wednesday morning to avail of the farmers market in the main car park on the left as you enter the town, and also keep an eye out in that vicinity for a large Kinsale mural  a popular backdrop for selfies  created by visual artist Audrey Cantillon.

Another idea is to plan your visit to take in Kinsale Arts Weekend from July 9  12.

Adhering to physical distancing, the festival will focus on drive-in outdoor theatre events as well as special fun events for children. Art in the Windows will also return in an effort to flood the town with creativity.

If you wish to have a quiet, respectful moment, a very special but lesser known spot is the Ringfinnan Garden of Remembrance, established by a Kinsale native, the late Kathleen Murphy, who had a long nursing career in New York City.

Following the Twin Towers attack, she devised a memorial on her land at Ringfinnan, Kinsale, dedicated to the 343 fire fighters who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. A tree has been planted for each of the firemen, as well as one for their chaplain, Father Mychal Judge.

Finally, a few last tips from Dennis, who is fond of early morning strolls: The harbour can be good for the soul when taken in while the birds are still singing their morning songs.

And later in the day?

You could rent bikes and fishing rods from Mylie Murphys on Pearse Street and head over to the bridge to catch a bit of lunch or dinner!

Spoken like a true non-blow-in.

Catch up on the Come To My Town series at EchoLive.ie
FOR years, long-standing puppetry company Dowtcha Puppets was a fixture in Cork: set up in 2002 by Cork punk legend Mick Lynch and his Australian co-founder Cliff Dolliver, Dowtchas puppet shows and workshops were a regular childrens diversion at festivals and events throughout Cork county and beyond.

But following Mick Lynchs sad loss to cancer in 2015 and Cliff Dollivers return to his native Tasmania in 2019, there was a gaping, puppet-shaped hole in Corks arts landscape.

Enter Elisa Gallo Rosso, who has rallied former Dowtcha puppeteers, newcomers and an assortment of collaborating artists to found Cork Puppetry Company, which will step into Dowtchas shoes to bring puppetry and puppet-making to the people of Cork.

The Italian maker, puppeteer, performer and clown is artistic director with the new company; originally from Turin, she moved to Cork five years ago, after many years of working and performing in London and Portugal.

Cork Puppetry Company was founded in January, 2020, Elisa explains. When the Covid-19 crisis started shortly afterwards, the fledgling arts organisation found themselves temporarily grounded.

Right at the beginning of starting a new company, lets say that Covid didnt help, Elisa says with a laugh.

We were quiet for a long time, but we began working again for the St Patricks Festival in Cork and Dublin, where we presented some workshops online.

Tom Cambell , artist and Elisa Gallo Rosso , artistic director Cork Puppetry Company getting props ready for 'Star Me' planetary games at Gerry O'Sullivan park, Churchfield in June

We used the quiet time as incubation time, writing applications, getting funding and working on our website: weve been investing in ourselves and exploring what we want to do.

"And now, its exciting, because there are loads of things going on. Weve been quiet for a year and now, boom! Were busy.

Elisas involvement with Corks puppetry scene started when she rented a studio at the Marina Parks Outlaw Studios, where Dowtcha Puppets were also based. Puppetry is a unique artform in that its as much about making as performing, and shes keen to keep that loose collaboration with artists going.

We want to work more like a flexible platform for artist collaborators, who have puppetry as a main medium, but also work on things like parades, performance and events, she says.

The community of artists is great and very supportive. Outlaw Studios was the best base I could find when I ended up here.

Cork Puppetry Company are also going to take up the reins of Cork Puppetry Festival, Irelands only puppetry festival, featuring international and Irish puppeteers and performances. Dowtcha Puppets had founded the festival in 2014. This years iteration will be a small festival while the newcomers find their feet.

So what does all this mean for Cork children and adults who are fans of puppetry? What can we expect on our streets?

The companys first large outing is as part of the upcoming Cork Midsummer Festival, when they will take over a city park and, with the help of local children, aged five to 12, will transform it into a cosmic celebration of planets and aliens. Star Me: A Planetary Game will take over Gerry OSullivan Park in Churchfield for two weeks, Elisa explains.

Were making the park a site for UFOs and aliens, she says.

"Well be asking kids to look around at the things they can find around the park: there will be a map that they can download and they can mark where they saw aliens and suggest names for them.

Well have an area where kids can leave messages to aliens, and another area for building asteroids and spaceships.

Were interested in making sure the kids are not only looking around at their surroundings, but also envisioning other worlds beyond our knowledge.

Elisa getting ready for 'Star Me' planetary games at Gerry O'Sullivan park, Churchfield in June.

Originally inspired by the famous childrens book The Little Prince, Elisa and her fellow artists and puppeteers decided to expand the theme to include children who may not be familiar with the book, so that all children can get involved in making their own interplanetary installations.

But for fans of The Little Prince, sculptures of the prince, the rose and the fox will be amongst those on the mapped trail in the park.

There will also be nine planets to find, which will be a combination of sculptures and stencils on the ground, Elisa says.

It will be fun, and colourful, definitely.

The treasure trail format of the installation is designed to comply with social distancing guidelines while still providing all the imaginative inspiration children usually get from puppet shows.

For those who work in live performance, meeting the challenges posed by the guidelines so that live art events can be successfully re-started means a lot of extra thought and work.

Oh, even just the risk assessments are incredible, Elisa says.

Its just so much more work to do. But its worth it.

We held our first in-person workshop two weeks ago, after having postponing it several times over the year, and it was amazing. Finally, to go back to something real, even at two metres distance, is fantastic, Oh my God! I cant wait for more.

Star Me: A Planetary Game, by Cork Puppetry Company, in collaboration with local schoolchildren, will be in Gerry OSullivan Park, Churchfield, as part of Cork Midsummer Festival from June 12 to 27. See https://www.corkmidsummer.com/whats-on/star-me-a-planetary-game
Picturesque Kinsale is drawing plenty of visitors at the moment and also seems to be a popular destination with ocean-dwellers.

These dolphins were seen off the Old Head of Kinsale on Monday by those enjoying the 18 degrees Celsius heat in Cork.

Dolphins spotted around Kinsale Harbour even had people questioning if Fungie might have made his return.

Embedded Facebook post

Back in April, there was excitement when the Orca Ireland group said they were examining the possibility that a bottlenose dolphin that had popped up in Kinsale could be the missing Dingle dolphin.

However, after closer examination, they determined that the Kinsale dolphin has different facial and fluke markings than those seen on Fungie down the years and ruled out any Cork relocation by the tourist favourite.

Embedded Facebook post

These current batch of visitors may not actually include the Kerry legend, but they are adding plenty of smiles and excitement to Kinsale harbour.
THE number of people on temporary release from Cork prison is close to 60 in recent days.

According to the Irish Prison Service, the number of inmates on temporary release on Monday was 56, while there were 57 on temporary release last Thursday.

The number has been rising steadily in recent weeks, with 44 on temporary release at the end of May.

Prior to the pandemic, in 2019, the prison had a daily average of 291 people in custody, although there were days when the numbers exceeded the bed capacity of 296 at the Rathmore Road facility.

The prison is the committal prison for courts in Cork, Kerry and Waterford. In 2019, the average number of people out on temporary release was 39.

A spokesman for the Irish Prison Service said it is inevitable that the number of people in the prison system will increase as Covid restrictions ease, with more people on the move in society.

One of the methods used to maintain social distancing in the prison system is temporary release.

There are currently more than 3,800 prisoners in the Irish prison system.

In a report published on Friday, the Office of the Inspector of Prisons said: The reduction in the number of persons in custody in Irish prisons is reflective of measures taken to prevent and reduce transmission of Covid-19. Early and temporary release was applied to an increased number of prisoners described as low risk and who were assessed on an individual basis.

"Two target groups were identified for release: (i) prisoners serving sentences of less than 12 months for non-violent offences, and (ii) prisoners with less than six months remaining on their sentence.

"While the Inspectorate welcomes the overall reduction of the prison population, the total number of persons in custody would need to be below 3,000 to ensure single-cell occupancy in Irish prisons; a measure which would aid in transmission prevention.

Prisoners granted temporary release will have conditions they have to adhere to, such as abstention from alcohol, a requirement to sign on at their local garda station or prison, and observing a curfew.

Selection of prisoners for temporary release is done on a case-by-case basis, with a risk assessment done of each person.
A post office on the Northside of Cork city is to close, it has been announced.

Montenotte Post Office will not be staying open following the resignation of the Post Mistress Mary Pauline Clifford.

The position has been advertised twice by An Post but without a successful appointment.

Customers will now transfer to St Lukes Post Office, 900m away. However, there is the option to transfer to a number of the neighbouring post offices in the area, if more convenient.

The other post offices are in Mayfield, McCurtain Street, the GPO or Blackpool.

Sinn Fein TD for Cork North Central, Thomas Gould, has said the loss of the Montenotte post office will come as a major blow to local residents and the community of the Northside.

Mr Gould said: Weve lost three post offices in less than 2.5 years on the Northside of Cork.

Todays announcement will have caused a lot of distress for local residents and vulnerable elderly people who rely on this post office.

When Shandon St Post Office closed, I raised concerns about other vulnerable post offices.

Covid-19 has highlighted the importance of connectivity and a working postal network. Its strengthened many of our ties to our local communities.

This government need to put an end to services being lost on the Northside. After years of neglect, we are being further stripped of our resources. It is simply not good enough.

Local Independent Councillor Ken OFlynn said it was very disappointing to hear the post office was closing and said many of the residents of the area were heavily dependent on the services provided by the facility.

Many do not have the mobility to avail of the service in other locations They will have to travel too. We are at a time where we need to invest in our community rather than take out the services that have existed and people have depended on for so long.

"The post office is not just a place to use for services, its a place to meet your neighbours talk about your community and the post office is at the heart of any community life.

Montenotte Post Office will close on June 30.
There have been an additional 283 confirmed cases of Covid-19, the Department of Health has said.

There are currently 60 people in hospital with the disease, of whom 23 are in intensive care units.

Daily case numbers may change due to future data review, validation and update, owing to the cyberattack on the HSE.

Advice around self isolation

People who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 should not have to self-isolate on their arrival into Ireland from abroad, the Higher Education Minister has said.

Simon Harris said it would be prudent and sensible if public health officials examined the advice around self-isolating for those who have been fully vaccinated.

Mr Harris said: Its my view that there seems to be a logic that if somebody is fully vaccinated, surely they should have some benefit or bonus from someone whos not fully vaccinated?

I would like to see a review of the issue of a fully-vaccinated person having to self-isolate or self-quarantine at home. It seems to me not the most logical scenario.

I would hope that as we move towards trying to reopen international travel and connectivity in the coming weeks, that our medical experts would look again at the issue of how fully-vaccinated people are treated.

He added: We must be near to the point that when someone who is fully vaccinated against Covid-19 that there has to be a benefit to that in terms of the isolation rules.

I made a similar point around mandatory quarantine that if youre fully vaccinated, why are we sending people to mandatory hotel quarantine?

Im now asking the question as we learn more about the vaccine, the benefit of the vaccine, is it now time to begin to review the rules around fully vaccinated people having to self-isolate?
The trial of a man accused of having more than 13,000 worth of heroin for sale or supply at Grenagh in Co Cork was about to commence by judge and jury when the accused changed his plea.

Eoin OSullivan initially pleaded not guilty to a number of charges when he was arraigned at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

A jury of four women and eight men was sworn in to hear the case before Judge Sean O Donnabhain.

However, just as the case was about to start, defence senior counsel Blaise OCarroll indicated that the accused man wished to be rearraigned.

Eoin OSullivan, aged 34, of 128, Comeragh Park, The Glen, Cork, then pleaded guilty to a charge that on February 26, 2020, he was in possession of diamorphine at Clonard Avenue, Grenagh, Co Cork, for the purpose of sale or supply at a time when its street value exceeded 13,000.

The relevance of that amount is that it allows for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years unless there are exceptional circumstances.

Mr OCarroll SC said the accused has a problem with addiction.

I would like a probation report, he said.

Judge O Donnabhain said that he would direct a probation report but that the accused would be remanded in custody until September 1 for that purpose in advance of sentencing.

Mr OCarroll asked for the accused to be remanded on continuing bail.

The judge refused this application and said that the defendants status had changed as he was now convicted of this serious drugs offence.


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The software industry fueled jobs and GDP growth in the United States in 2020, according to a report released Tuesday by an international software research organization.

The report by Software.org: the BSA Foundation found the software industry supported more than 15.8 million jobs in 2020, a 5.9 percent jump from 2018; and supported $US1.9 billion in total value-added GDP, a 17.1 percent increase over the previous two-year period.

More than 12.5 million of those jobs were outside the tech sector, added the report, which measures software's impact on the U.S. economy with data and analysis from The Economist Intelligence Unit.

It also noted that the industry directly contributed $933 billion to the U.S. economy in 2020, a 15.1 percent over 2018.

"Software played an instrumental role throughout the pandemic -- easing many Americans' transition to remote work, empowering manufacturers to rapidly shift to producing medical and personal protective equipment, and helping small businesses connect with customers online," Victoria Espinel, president of the Software.org: the BSA Foundation, said in a statement.

"The pandemic has made tech more dominant and present than ever before," added Bob O'Donnell, founder and chief analyst at Technalysis Research, a technology market research and consulting firm in Foster City, Calif.

"As a result, it's resetting the whole economy," he told TechNewsWorld. "Tech as a whole is going to take up a bigger percentage of the total job market."

Expanding Geography

While the largest concentrations of software jobs remain in traditional technology hubs, such as Washington and California, the report noted that other states have experienced greater job growth.

Jobs are surging in New Mexico (direct jobs up 18.7 percent), New York (12.9 percent), Texas (10.9 percent) and Florida (10.1 percent), the report revealed.

Looking ahead, it added, given the trajectory of software's spread through the overall economy and the pandemic-inspired spread of remote work, software jobs are poised for continued strong growth all across the country.

"We're excited to see that software is growing most quickly in places you wouldn't expect," said Software.org: the BSA Foundation Executive Director Chris Hopfensperger.

"We expect the new era of remote work to help geographically diversify the tech work force," he told TechNewsWorld. "As long as you have the right tools and skills, you can do a lot of software jobs from almost anywhere."

"Geographic diversity is also going to lead to more diversity in the software workforce," he added.

In addition, as software is applied to local problems, he said, it will create new lines of software business.

Outside Tech Users

Broad use of software outside the tech sector is also contributing to geographic diversity, the report found.

It noted that businesses outside the tech sector are increasingly leveraging the benefits of data and software to grow jobs and business.

The report cited manufacturers as an example. They are coding new solutions to optimize production, speed time-to-market, and deliver innovative products and services.

Farmers, it continued, are using software to maximize outputs and better manage their herds, transforming agriculture.

In healthcare, electronic records and other innovations are improving medical administration and helping deliver a higher level of patient care, it added.

Those sectors -- and the software workers who support them -- are necessarily spread all across the United States.

In light of the expansion of a wide range of new software jobs, the report called on businesses and policymakers to consider the newly discovered possibilities of remote work.

The ability of traditional coders to take their skillsets out of high-cost tech hubs and work from far-flung home offices will dramatically alter the spread of the software workforce all across the country, a trend that will only increase as the pandemic recedes, it predicted.

Tech Talent in Short Supply

As tech jobs increase, the sad reality is that very few people feel required to work in tech because it requires specialized degrees and certifications. O'Donnell, though, said some businesses are making an effort to address that problem.

"There are quite a few companies now who are creating training programs, even for software developers, for people who have nothing more than a high school degree," he noted.

"There are aggressive efforts by a number of the biggest players -- Amazon, Microsoft, Google, IBM, Cisco -- to get people who would have never considered being part of tech into tech," he observed.

Developer shortages have been a problem in the software industry for years, added Ross Rubin, the principal analyst with Reticle Research, a consumer technology advisory firm in New York City.

"Companies have tried to tap into talent from around the world to help fulfill the demand for software maintenance, upgrades and new products," he told TechNewsWorld. "It's been a sore point in the immigration discussions of the last few years."

He added that the shortage has given rise to the "citizen developer" -- someone in an organization, who is not a professional programmer, but can use tools to create simple apps. "There's a whole category of low-code or no-code development environments that allow people to create point solutions to make their work lives better," he said.

"Software drives the world so it's not surprising that we need more software engineers, but the effect they have on the overall economy is massive, observed Jack E. Gold, founder and principal analyst with J.Gold Associates, an IT advisory company in Northborough, Mass.

"The shortage has gotten worse in the U.S. because of the limitations the government has put on importing engineers from other countries," he told TechNewsWorld. "I don't see the shortage going away any time soon."

Unabated Growth

Software industry growth will continue in 2021 and 2022, according to a report by Forrester Research analyst Andrew Bartels.

He predicted software will lead the tech market with 10 to 12 percent growth.

Licensed software sales bore the brunt of the 2020 software slowdown, but most cloud vendors experienced a couple of quarters where quarter-to-quarter revenue slowed to rates of one to two percent as new sales dried up, he wrote.

However, cloud software revenue growth recovered by Q4 2020 and will continue to expand, Bartels continued.

Sales of licensed software will recover as well, he added. As a result, total software spending will grow by around 10 percent in 2021 and even faster in 2022.

As rosy as the future looks for software, manpower issues could create a speed bump for the industry. "The shortage of skilled workers is a big thing," Hopfensperger acknowledged. "We need more workers getting more skilled sets and staying ahead of technology so we can stay on top of the digital economy."

John P. Mello Jr. has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2003. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, IT issues, privacy, e-commerce, social media, artificial intelligence, big data and consumer electronics. He has written and edited for numerous publications, including the Boston Business Journal, the Boston Phoenix, Megapixel.Net and Government Security News. Email John.


Gonzalo Boye, lawyer to Carles Puigdemont, has asserted in an interview with Catalonia's TV3 that the Spanish Supreme Court "may take its time" with the processing of the pardons for those convicted in the 2019 pro-independence leaders trial, even after the Sanchez government has published them in the official gazette.

Slow processing

Boye explains that if the pardons were total, and not partial as is expected, "no calculation would need to be made" and the process would be much more agile. The lawyer to the exiled Catalan politicians says that, in the absence of any law that defines the maximum period that the Supreme Court could use for the procedure, the court "could delay the granting of pardons."

In a recent article in ElNacional.cat, Boye explained that there is a long and politicized route which the pardons have to traverse before they become effective. "When the pardons are granted, they have to be communicated to the sentencing court (the criminal chamber of the Supreme Court), which will work with the prisons to process the new calculations of the sentences, and these will then have to be re-approved," he explained.

The Supreme Court chamber will be in charge of deciding the penalties that remain for the prisoners to serve, without having any legal time limit on making its decision. And this will be in addition "to the legitimization that the Popular Party and Vox may have to file appeals against the procedures".

According to Boye, the pardons themselves "will end up becoming judicialized just as the whole conflict between the Spanish state and the Catalan independence movement has been. Thus, whatever the outcome of this chapter is, it is far from an event that will occur quickly, because, as you can see, we are facing a complex matter, with multiple aspects and not all of them - probably just a small part - controllable from politics".

"European law is not being respected"

During the interview on TV3, the lawyer argued that "the pardons will not affect the exiles", but that he will also have to wait for the interpretation which the Supreme Court makes. Boye predicts there will be partial pardons given that only affect the offence of sedition, a crime that he calls "medieval and unconstitutional."

In reference to the exiled Catalan politicians, he also pointed out that the independence leaders are now free to move throughout Europe, including Spain, but that "it seems that European law is not being respected from the Pyrenees down."

"It only leads to discredit "

Boye summed up by saying that the Spanish state "has made a mistake, it has gone down a road that leads nowhere, only to its discredit." "This game has already been won and now it is only a question of knowing how many more moves are required to bring it to an end," he explained in reference to the European Arrest Warrants issued for the pro-independence leaders.
Josephine Smith Lively Davis passed away June 27, 2021, at the age of 83 at her home in Decatur, Alabama. A celebration of life will be at Ridout's-Brown Funeral Home on Friday, July 2, 2021. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to noon. Funeral services will follow in the chapel at noon with Cha
Over the past 35 years, Castlevania has mutated into a multimedia franchise that spans games, comic books and an acclaimed Netflix anime. Now, independent publisher Limited Run Games is preparing to release a chapter in the vampire hunter saga that never made it to the west. For the first time, an English version of the original Castlevania: Rondo of Blood for the TurboGrafx-16 is heading to the US.

Castlevania Rondo of Blood is getting a physical retro rerelease on Turbo Duo! Follow https://t.co/5Lksol4sqo for more details to come. #LRG3 pic.twitter.com/KtNgSOyEY1  Limited Run Games (@LimitedRunGames) June 14, 2021

Though there's no release date yet, the timing of the announcement is fortuitous. Currently, expert console cloner Analogue is readying the Duo, which relies on field-programmable gate array (FPGA) chips to support every TurboGrafx-16/PC Engine game ever made. While it struggled in the US, the original cartridge-based console was a huge hit in Japan and even spawned a Sega CD-like add-on for games on disc.

Castlevania: Rondo of Blood was released in 1993 for Japan's PC Engine CD, known elsewhere as TurboGrafx-CD. That version of the game never made it out of Japan, but a heavily-revised remake called Dracula X later came to the SNES and also got a 2.5D port to the PSP handheld in 2007. It was also released as part of a PS4 compilation alongside its direct sequel, 1997's Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, which ushered in the series' influential metroidvania style. Unlike that title, Rondo of Blood is a familiar platformer, with a linear stage-based setup that was similar to previous instalments.
Four Democratic lawmakers want to ban the federal government from using facial recognition technology. Led by Massachusetts Senator Edward J. Markey and Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley, the group plans to introduce The Facial Recognition and Biometric Technology Moratorium Act to Congress. If passed, the bill would prohibit federal authorities from using the technology alongside several other biometric tools like voice recognition. Perhaps even more significantly, state and local entities, including law enforcement agencies, would need to pass their own moratoriums to secure funding from the federal government.

In laying out the need for policy intervention, the group cites a report from The National Institute of Standards and Technology. The organization recently found that people of color are up to 100 times more likely to be misidentified by facial recognition technology than white males. The lawmakers also point to last year's wrongful arrest of Robert Williams. According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the incident is the first known instance of a wrongful arrest in the US based on an incorrect facial recognition match.

While organizations like the ACLU and Electronic Frontier Foundation have come out in support of the proposed legislation, it won't be easy to pass in an evenly split Senate and little more than a year away from the 2022 primary election. As things stand, a handful of US cities like Boston have banned facial recognition, but those prohibitions don't prevent federal authorities from using the technology in those communities.
FedEx is expanding its robotics testing to include one of the bigger names in autonomous delivery. The company has struck a multi-year deal with Nuro to test its self-driving delivery vehicles, including for "last-mile" deliveries. The team-up started this April with a Houston-area pilot, but that's likely to expand when Nuro characterized this as a pledge to use driverless vehicles on a "large-scale."

This is a big move for Nuro. which is dipping into parcel logistics for the first time after focusing heavily on grocery deliveries and pizza. For FedEx, this could help it manage capacity, tackle less-than-ideal routes and cut costs (which, let's be honest, could involve job cuts). It's also a competitive play  rivals like UPS are already testing self-driving trucks, and this could help it keep up as the courier business becomes increasingly automated.

Nuro also envisioned this helping customers in the long run. FedEx could not only deliver at more convenient times, but tell you exactly when your package will arrive. You also wouldn't have to travel to a store or wait for a human driver to ship a package of your own. In other words, courier services could operate more on your terms.
OnePlus may have long ditched the "flagship killer" tagline, but its sister brand Realme  the team that once brought us the "garlic" and "onion" phones  is now rehashing these two words for its latest global launch. The Realme GT, first launched in China back in March, is finally entering other markets with a starting price of 369 euros (around $450), making it the world's cheapest Snapdragon 888 smartphone. For now, anyway.

Gallery: Realme GT hands-on | 16 Photos





























/16 Gallery: Realme GT hands-on | 16 Photos





























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Before we dive into the specs (which, to be honest, is actually the most boring part in today's flagship market), let's take a look at the phone's design. The Realme GT comes in three flavors: "Racing Yellow," "Dashing Silver" and "Dashing Blue."

Personally, I'm all for the "Racing Yellow" which features vegan leather jazzed up with a glossy race track stripe. Even though I'd most likely keep the bundled protective case on, I do like the feel of the ultra-fine grain. This version comes in at 9.1mm thick and 186.5g heavy, which isn't bad considering these are just an additional 0.7mm and 0.5g over the other two glossy designs, respectively.

Richard Lai/Engadget

The Realme GT ticks all the boxes for a 2021 flagship: Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor, 120Hz Super AMOLED panel (6.43 inches, FHD+), in-display fingerprint reader, Dolby Atmos stereo speakers, dual Nano SIM slots, NFC, a 4,500mAh battery and 35-minute rapid charging (a 65W SuperDart Charger is included). If I must nitpick, it would have been nice of Realme to throw in a third microphone for an even better noise cancellation.

The Realme GT is shipping with Android 11-based Realme UI 2.0 and, for those who care, you'll be able to try Android 12 beta builds on this device ahead of the next Realme UI release later this year.

Richard Lai/Engadget

Realme is also pitching this as a mobile gaming device, thanks to its 360Hz touch sampling rate, linear motor tactile engine, 3.5mm headphone jack and stainless steel vapor cooling system  this can apparently reduce the core temperature by up to 15 degrees Celsius. You can activate a "GT Mode" which pushes the processor performance and screen refresh rate to the max, so long as you keep an eye on the battery level.

Richard Lai/Engadget

Photography isn't the Realme GT's main selling point, but you're still getting a 64-megapixel f/1.8 main camera, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera (119 degrees), a 2-megapixel macro camera and a 16-megapixel punch-hole selfie camera. You'll find the usual features like "Super Night Mode," "Timelapse," "Panoramic View," "AI Beauty" and up to 4K/60fps video capture on the main camera.

Richard Lai/Engadget

The Realme GT will soon be up for grabs in select European markets, with the 8GB RAM + 128GB storage version going for 369 euros (around $450) in an early-bird sale on AliExpress between June 21st and 25th. The higher-end 12GB RAM + 256GB storage option will be available for 499 euros (around $605) as part of Amazon Prime Day between June 21st and 22nd. Afterwards, these prices will be bumped up to 449 euros (about $540) and 599 euros (about $730), respectively, across all retail channels.

Realme is also working on bringing its "flagship killer" to other major markets, namely the UK and India, which will undoubtedly further threaten the likes of Xiaomi, Samsung and Huawei. That said, the company currently has no plans to bring its phones to the US.

Realme

In addition to Realme's surprisingly ambitious push into the global flagship smartphone market, the company is also launching its Techlife line of smart home devices, starting with a robot vacuum that sucks and mops using LIDAR mapping and a 300ml water tank. This will cost 299 euros (about $360) when it starts pre-sale on AliExpress on June 16th.
The services celebrating and honoring the life of Kim Wheeler will be 10:00 A.M. Friday in the Meno Faith Center with Pastor Cody Anderson under the direction of Brown-Cummings Funeral Home. Condolences may be shared online at www.Brown-Cummings.com.
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Hollywood is opening their gates to foreign celebrities, beginning with Marvel Studio casting Korean actor Seojun Park.

Based on this article, Park was offered a casting proposal for a role in 'The Marvels,' an upcoming sequel for the 'Captain Marvel' movie series.

After passing an internal review, the actor is set to travel for the shoot.

He will fly to the United States during the second half of 2021 after filming for the local Korean film 'Concrete Utopia.'

Nia Dacosta, the director of 'The Marvels,' has had her eye on Seojun Park ever since she tweeted a picture of the actor with the caption "Drama Boyfriend."

The director's Twitter account is now deleted.

Seojun Park Starring in the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Brie Larson, Fans Reaction On Twitter

Avid watchers of Korean dramas are familiar with the 'Itaewon Class' actor, Seojun Park, and have expressed their excitement for the news.

The news was brought to the attention of fans through a Twitter account sharing the information.

StarNews shares Park Seojoon to join cast of Captain Marvel 2 - Park Seojoon is set to depart to the U.S. in the second half of 2021 for filming



Captain Marvel 2 will be released next year on November 11th, 2022https://t.co/jC8humlVU1   (@balloon_wanted) June 15, 2021

Fans express their split reactions through quote retweets. "So what will happen with the overseas filming for 'Dream'?" one user shares their concern for Seojun's other movie projects while the majority are bursting with excitement.

So what will happen with the rest overseas filming for 'Dream'????  https://t.co/P4c5lnMtJA  kan lain sasaha (@akubukansasaha) June 15, 2021

Many comments are claiming that the actor is "going international," with his Hollywood debut role.

Casting the actor might be a good move from the MCU franchise as even non-marvel fans "will be tuning in" just to see a glimpse of Seojun Park.

dont know what that is but i will be tuning in https://t.co/zH0h2tiUkG  - joon (@rkivebaby) June 15, 2021

READ ALSO: Marvel Studios Boss Kevin Feige Sudden Appearance in X-Men Comic Shocks Fans

'Captain Marvel 2' Movie Details Revealed, Sneak Peek Into The Cast, Plot, and Release Date

Captain Marvel will be having company in the sequel 'The Marvels,' as the writers and producers confirm that Carol Danvers will not be alone.

According to this article by Digital Spy, Brie Larson will return as the main character.

Teyonah Parris is assigned the role of the grown-up Monica Rambeau.

Iman Vellani will appear as Kamala Khan or better known as Ms. Marvel, rounding up the number of Marvels to two.

Zawe Ashton is cast as 'The Marvels' primary antagonist, although her character's name has yet to be revealed.

'The Marvels' will be released on November 11, 2022, in the US and UK.

READ MORE: Chris Hemsworth Announces Wrap of 'Thor: Love and Thunder,' But Fans' Attention Got Caught Elsewhere

See Now: Famous Actors Who Turned Down Iconic Movie Roles
"Friends" fans may be living their dreams right now as Jennifer Aniston and David Schwimmer reportedly want a "real-life" romance.

This year, the most-awaited "Friends: The Reunion" special arrived on HBO Max. The get-together became emotional for the original cast as it brought back the feelings they had decades ago.

Apart from friendships, they seemingly brought back potential romances as Aniston and Schwimmer allegedly want to take a second change again.

Are Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer Dating?

In a report published by Life & Style for this week's edition, it revealed that the on-screen couple reportedly wants to take their crush to the next level.

One source revealed that the co-stars kept in touch soon after the reunion happened.

"They've been talking, FaceTiming and are planning to meet up," the source said. "Maybe that ship hasn't sailed after all."

The insider added that Schwimmer once regretted not taking his opportunity before and that he never really got over Aniston.

Furthermore, the duo allegedly never lost their connection through these years. But only after the reunion when they realized they want to try again.

READ ALSO: Kendall Jenner Never Included Any Of Her Boyfriends On 'KUWTK' -- Here's Why!

"They felt a huge sense of nostalgia when they saw each other again. They're the same people as they were back in the day - just older!" the insider exclaimed.

Since Aniston and Schwimmer became friends at the same time, they have so many things in common. The comfort and peace they gain whenever they are together also ignited the potential romance even more.



If the Aniston-Schwimmer romance truly happens in real life, "Friends" fans will surely celebrate their Ross-Rachel ship.

Despite the report, Gossip Cop noted that the two showed nothing but professionalism while caring for each other. The fact that they went on to marry other people after "Friends" proved that their crush was not enough to establish a serious relationship.

What Other Tabloids Said

It was not the first time they stirred romance rumors, though.

In 2019, New Idea claimed that Aniston and Schwimmer were trying to give their romance a go. The same tabloid said that the colleagues spent a lot of time "alone together" while making the reunion special.

Amid these reports, one should take this with a grain of salt. Although Ross and Rachel's stars are both singles in real life, it does not mean Aniston and Schwimmer can try the impossible.

READ MORE: Chrissy Teigen Canceled: John Legend's Wife Criticized For Insincere 'Monthly' Apology Statements

See Now: Famous Actors Who Turned Down Iconic Movie Roles
Ziona Chana, the man, famously known for having 39 wives and 94 kids, has died at the age of 76. He is the patriarch of the largest family in the world, with over 167 members.

The Chief Minister of Mizoram, India, took to Twitter to announce the devastating news. "With heavy heart, #Mizoram bid farewell to Mr. Zion-a," he wrote.

"Mizoram and his village at Baktawng Tlangnuam had become a major tourist attraction in the state because of the family. Rest in Peace Sir!" he added.

With heavy heart, #Mizoram bid farewell to Mr. Zion-a (76), believed to head the world's largest family, with 38 wives and 89 children.

Mizoram and his village at Baktawng Tlangnuam has become a major tourist attraction in the state because of the family.

Rest in Peace Sir! pic.twitter.com/V1cHmRAOkr  Zoramthanga (@ZoramthangaCM) June 13, 2021

Trinity Hospital in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, declared that he was "brought dead" at around 3 PM on Sunday. He died from hypertension and diabetes complications.

Ziona Chana's funeral on hold

According to Times of India, the patriarch's funeral is on hold as members of their church believe that he is still alive.

According to Zaitinkhuma, the church's secretary, their family felt a pulse, and his body is still warm when he was brought back home on Sunday evening.

They also claim that there were no stiffening muscles throughout his body until the next day. Therefore, their community believes that it is not appropriate to hold a funeral in his condition.

READ NOW: Seojun Park Prepares For 'Captain Marvel 2:' Fans Expect Big For New MCU Movie With Diverse Characters

Twitter users not happy with his legacy

Following his death, a lot of Twitter users expressed their disappointment with Chana's local sect.

"Profoundly misogynistic, this is wrong at multiple levels, and the state govt supports the man?" one user wrote.

"It was ilegal by any religion's standard ? Did the state took the action for this mischivious blunder?" another user tweeted.

"Creepy in all ways. Specially the ones who followed him." one wrote.

Ziona Chana's history

Chana, who was born on July 21, 1945, was also the head of a local Christian sect called "Chana Pawn" that allows polyamorous relationships. It was founded by his father in 1942 and had hundreds of families as its members.

He was 17 years old when he married his first wife, and he claimed that he had married ten wives in the same year.

Ziona spent his last days living in a four-story building called "Chhuan Thar Run" (Abode of the New Generation) that has over 100 rooms together with his family.

Ziona Chana is survived by 39 wives and over 200 children and grandchildren.

READ ALSO: Pink Floyd's Roger Waters Trolls Zuckerberg as He Furiously Denies Facebook's Request to Use Their Song for Ad

See Now: Famous Actors Who Turned Down Iconic Movie Roles
Just a few days after reuniting with her ex Johnny Lee Miller in New York City, Angelina Jolie has gone and seen him again. This time, she allowed her ex to meet this son, Pax-the 17-year-old son she shares with Brad Pitt, another ex-husband.

The "Maleficent" actress, 46, reportedly met up with Miller, 48, at his apartment in Brooklyn on Tuesday, June 15. Pax Thien Jolie-Pitt, 17, seemed to have willingly went with his mom to meet Miller. It would have been a different story if the kid she had with her was one of the younger ones.

Based on the photos published by the Daily Mail, Jolie and her son were spotted entering the building in the Dumbo neighborhood of Brooklyn. They reportedly stayed there for an hour. Unlike her solo visit to her ex, this time they have security in tow.

ALSO READ: Amy Schumer Reacts To Viral Trucker Lookalike, Draws Hilarious Tweets From Fans

Jolie was seen arriving at Miller's apartment sans security back on Friday, June 11. Reports had it that they were having a date at home. At that time, photos obtained by The New York Post's Page Six revealed Jolie entering the building in a trench coat. She also allegedly brought a gift, an expensive bottle of Peter Michael wine, retailing beyond $200.

Her second visit with Pax on Miller's apartment lasted an hour but their Friday "date" is said to have lasted for three whole hours. Jolie reportedly left at approximately 10:30 p.m. It seems that the rumors about her reconciling with her ex did not faze her, since she would not go there for the second time with her eldest if she was worried about what people would say.

It appears too that she must truly trust her ex, because she would not bring her child to see him if she does not.

The actress was already in the city before this date to celebrate her birthday with all her children-Maddox, 19, Pax, 17, Zahara, 16, Shiloh, 15, and 12-year-old twins Vivienne and Knox. She shares the six in a joint custody of with her ex, Brad Pitt.

Angelina Jolie, Johnny Miller's Weird Past

The former couple met in 1995 after co-starring in "Hackers." The whirlwind romance landed them in a marriage in March 1996. At the time, Jolie was just 20 years old.

The said marriage only lasted a year. They separated in September 1997. Divorce was filed in 1999.

ALSO READ: Amy Schumer Reacts To Viral Trucker Lookalike, Draws Hilarious Tweets From Fans

See Now: Famous Actors Who Turned Down Iconic Movie Roles
2021-06-15

Maeci

Saipem, in JV with Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Co. Ltd (DSME), a main South Korean specialized shipbuilding and offshore contractor, has been awarded by Petrobras a contract, worth USD 2.3 bn, for the construction of a Floating Production Storage and Offloading Vessel (FPSO), named P-79, for the development of the Buzios offshore field in Brazil. Saipems portion of the contract is USD 1.3 bn. In July 2020, Saipem had already been awarded another large contract, worth USD 325 million, also relating to the Buzios field.

The Buzios field, the worlds largest deep-water oil field, is located in the region of the pre-salt Santos Basin (i.e. lower than the salt formations on the sea floor), approximately 200km off the coast of Rio de Janeiro. The P-79 FPSO will be the eighth platform in the field under consideration, and is expected to be completed by 2025, according to Petrobras, with an output capacity of 180,000 oil barrels and 7.2 million cubic metres of gas per day.
2021-06-14

Maeci

Minister Di Maio has met today, at the Foreign Ministry, with the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Ambassador Rafael Mariano Grossi.

The Foreign Minister has reiterated to Mr. Grossi Italy's commitment to non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and Italy's appreciation for the IAEA's action vis-a-vis Iran to continue monitoring under the Safeguards Agreement.

Minister Di Maio has also reaffirmed Italy's hope for a successful conclusion to the negotiations underway in Vienna for the full restoration of the JCPOA nuclear agreement with Iran.
Researchers from University of Texas at Dallas and Emory University published a new paper in the Journal of Marketing that examines the issue of encroachment in the hotel industry.

The study, forthcoming in the Journal of Marketing, is titled "Can Encroachment Benefit Hotel Franchisees?" and is authored by TI Tongil Kim and Sandy Jap.

For decades, the issue of encroachment, or adding an outlet in proximity to existing outlets, has been contentious. A new outlet increases competition for customers, causing concerns for franchisors and franchisees that the existing outlet's sales will be cannibalized. Franchising is a key means for growth and market expansion for many companies. These organizations account for as much as $890 billion or 50% of all retail sales across 75 industries in the US (approximately 3% of the US gross domestic product). Therefore, encroachment is a big issue.

A new study in the Journal of Marketing suggests that cannibalization does not always have to be the case. Using five years of hotel sales data, an experiment, and a series of simulations, the research team finds that adding a new outlet in markets with few same brand outlets can modestly benefit existing locations. Specifically, the researchers find that revenues can increase an average of 1.7% (a 2.3% improvement in profits) - in other words, a sunny side to an issue that has historically dissolved in conflict.

Importantly, this positive impact does not happen when the new outlet is a different franchise brand. In other words, brands matter. Kim adds that "We also find that younger brands, cross-brands (e.g., Hyatt Place and Hyatt House), and brand bookings through online travel agencies also benefit from having more versus fewer locations." Customers appreciate and value additional outlets of a brand (up to a point) as well as when the brands are new or when they share a moniker with other franchise locations of the same brand. Customers also value multiple same brand options when booking through websites like Expedia or Kayak.

This means that when looking to expand, franchisors should prioritize markets with few same brand outlets, newer brands in their portfolio, cross brands, and online travel agency sales channels. These potentially represent win-win options in the conflict over encroachment.

Most of the work around network expansion has focused on the legalities of this process, codes of conduct, expectations, and compliance and monitoring practices. This research suggests that there may be alternate ways of tackling this thorny problem.

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Full article and author contact information available at: https:/ / doi. org/ 10. 1177/ 00222429211008136

About the Journal of Marketing

The Journal of Marketing develops and disseminates knowledge about real-world marketing questions useful to scholars, educators, managers, policy makers, consumers, and other societal stakeholders around the world. Published by the American Marketing Association since its founding in 1936, JM has played a significant role in shaping the content and boundaries of the marketing discipline. Christine Moorman (T. Austin Finch, Sr. Professor of Business Administration at the Fuqua School of Business, Duke University) serves as the current Editor in Chief. https:/ / www. ama. org/ jm

About the American Marketing Association (AMA)
The influx of warmer water masses from the North Atlantic into the European marginal seas plays a significant role in the marked decrease in sea-ice growth, especially in winter. Sea-ice physicists from the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) together with researchers from the US and Russia, now present evidence for this in two new studies, which show that heat from the Atlantic has hindered ice growth in the Barents and Kara Seas for years. Furthermore, they demonstrate that the invasion of warm Atlantic water masses further east, at the northern edge of the Laptev Sea, can have such a long-term impact on the increase in ice thickness that the effects are evident a year later, when the ice has drifted towards Greenland via the North Pole and leaves the Arctic through Fram Strait. This study also includes data from the MOSAiC expedition.

Marine researchers refer to this increasing influx of warm Atlantic water masses into the Arctic Ocean as 'Atlantification'. To date, this process has mainly been investigated from an oceanographic perspective. In two new studies, AWI sea-ice physicists have, for the first time, estimated the effects of the input of heat on the sea-ice growth in the Arctic. Of note here: in those places where the sea ice completely melts in summer, in the following winter the sea releases especially large amounts of heat into the atmosphere. As a result, the sea freezes so rapidly that it compensates for the summertime ice losses. "Young, thin sea ice conducts heat significantly better than thick ice, and therefore less effectively protects the sea from cooling. At the same time, more water freezes on the underside of the ice, which is why thin ice grows more quickly than thick ice," explains AWI sea-ice physicist Dr Robert Ricker.

The important winter growth no longer takes place as smoothly in all marginal seas, as Ricker and colleagues found using long-term data on the thickness, concentration and drift of Arctic sea ice. "We analysed satellite data from the ESA Climate Change Initiative and found that in the period from 2002 to 2019, less and less sea ice formed, especially in the Barents Sea and Kara Sea," Ricker reports. In the East Siberian Sea, as well as in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas, on the other hand, the winter ice production is still great enough to compensate for the losses in summer.

To determine the cause of these varying regional trends, the researchers simulated the interaction between the ocean, ice, wind, and air temperature for the past four decades using two coupled ice-ocean models. Both simulations led to the same conclusion. "The warm water masses that flow from the North Atlantic into the Arctic Ocean are responsible for slowing or even preventing ice growth in the Barents and Kara Seas. If new ice does form, it's significantly thinner than before," says Ricker, adding: "If Atlantification persists to this extent, and the winter temperatures in the Arctic continue to rise, in the long term we will also see changes in the regions of the Arctic Ocean further east. In that case, the ice cover in the Arctic Ocean will decline and become thinner and more fragile than it already is.

Signs of rising heat at the northern edge of the Laptev Sea

In the second study, AWI sea-ice physicists report on the first indications that the rising ocean heat is also slowing ice formation in the Laptev Sea, which also includes measurements of the ice floe from the one-year MOSAiC expedition in late summer 2020. In it, the researchers analyse the long-term data from their sea-ice thickness measuring programme in the Arctic, 'IceBird', and trace the origins of the unusually thin sea ice that they observed from the research aeroplane in the northern Fram Strait in summer 2016. At that time, the ice was just 100 centimetres thick, making it 30 percent thinner than in the previous year - a difference that the researchers were initially unable to explain. "To solve the puzzle, we first retraced the ice's drift route with the help of satellite images. It originated in the Laptev Sea," explains AWI sea-ice physicist Dr Jakob Belter. The experts then examined the weather along the route. However, the atmospheric data for the period 2014 to 2016 didn't show any abnormalities.

That meant the answer had to lie in the ocean - and indeed: from January to May 2015, experts from the University of Alaska Fairbanks recorded unusually high temperatures in the waters north of the Laptev Sea. We now know that the heat rose from the depths with Atlantic water masses, and slowed the winter ice growth. "Using the satellite data, we were able to show that the thin ice that we recorded in Fram Strait in July 2016 had previously passed through this unusually warm area off the Russian continental shelf," says Belter. Furthermore, the ocean heat wave must have been so extreme that its effects on the growth in sea-ice thickness couldn't be compensated for during its drift across the Arctic Ocean.

The two new studies highlight the importance of long-term datasets for sea-ice research in the Arctic. "If we are to understand the changes in the Arctic sea ice, long-term observations of ice thickness using satellites and aircraft are vital. Combined with modelling data they provide an overall picture that is sufficiently detailed to allow us to identify the key processes in the changing Arctic," explains Jakob Belter.

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The two studies have now been published on the following portals:

1. Robert Ricker, Frank Kauker, Axel Schweiger, Stefan Hendricks, Jinlun Zhang and Stephan Paul (2021): Evidence for an increasing role of ocean heat in Arctic winter sea ice growth. Journal of Climate, DOI: https:/ / doi. org/ 10. 1175/ JCLI-D-20-0848. 1
June 15, 2021 - Canadian researchers have discovered that a bee thought to be one of the rarest in the world, as the only representative of its genus, is no more than an unusual specimen of a widespread species.

Scientists with the Canadian Museum of Nature (CMN) and York University have reclassified the mystery bee, collected somewhere in Nevada in the 1870s, as Brachymelecta californica. They note that it's an aberrant individual of a species, the California digger-cuckoo bee, that is part of a group that includes five other species. All are cleptoparasitic bees, with females that lay eggs in the nests of digger bees. Brachymelecta californica itself is known to be widespread from western Canada to southern Mexico.

The paper setting the record straight is published today in the European Journal of Taxonomy. "The unusual specimen has puzzled bee researchers for decades, and deceived some of the world's great experts on bee taxonomy" says Dr. Thomas Onuferko, research associate with the CMN and the study's lead author. "They can now stop searching for more examples of this 'rare' bee."

The bee was first described in 1879 by American entomologist Ezra Townsend Cresson from the Nevada specimen. It was later placed in its own genus, and renamed Brachymelecta mucida in 1939, a name that has only ever been associated with this lone specimen.

It stood apart from other related bees because its abdomen's dorsal surface is unusually covered in pale hairs, these being partly dark in other specimens of what are now understood to be the same species. Another unusual feature is that the fore wings of the specimen each have two submarginal cells (the normal number for the bees in this group is three). These two features had confused everyone, until now.

In 2019, Onuferko was able to examine the rare specimen during a visit to the collections at Philadelphia's Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University. There, he discovered a series of other specimens with the same vague locality labels, but these bees were identified as Xeromelecta californica, a species that was also described by Cresson in the year before the description of the mystery species.

In some of the specimens, the pattern of veins in the wings is the same as in the mystery specimen. "At that point, I made the connection that these specimens might all be the same species," says Onuferko.

This connection was further boosted by the discovery in Dr. Laurence Packer's collection at York University of a bee that also had conspicuously pale hairs on its entire abdomen. DNA barcoding confirmed the specimen to be Xeromelecta californica. Hairs that are normally dark in this species were completely light. Onuferko and Packer, who also collaborated on the study, concluded that the hairs likely lacked pigmentation due to a form of partial albinism.

The finding surprised Packer because some of the best bee biologists had studied the specimen, but he adds, "Rummaging around in old collections is actually an important thing to do. There is a lot to discover within museum collections, and in this case the rummaging revealed that a rare bee is not so rare after all."

The discovery has prompted an unusual name change, which is based on rules of the organization that governs the naming of animal species--the International Commission of Zoological Nomenclature. Due to the chronology of dates in which the bees' various genus and species names were published, Brachymelecta californica takes precedence as the accepted name, and the five related species classified as Xeromelecta are now also part of the genus Brachymelecta. This genus, previously known from a single specimen, is now known from most of the bee collections in North America.

"The reclassification of this bee shows why it's important to describe new taxa from multiple examples and why entomologists collect specimens in series," explains Onuferko. It is impossible to know the range of variation within a species with a single specimen, and describing new species from a lone sample risks mistaking an aberrant specimen for a new species.

New species still occasionally get described from single specimens; however, in such cases the new species should be thoroughly justified (using both molecular and morphological evidence, if possible), to avoid taxonomic problems down the line.

The study's authors explain that many researchers have written about the mystery bee under its earlier classification as Brachymelecta mucida, meaning that intellectual resources were dedicated to a specimen that did not merit them. "Bee collectors were effectively in search of an elusive 'white whale; or more appropriately, a 'whitish bee', a species that evidently only existed in the minds of taxonomists," says Onuferko.

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About the Canadian Museum of Nature

Saving the world through evidence, knowledge and inspiration! The Canadian Museum of Nature is Canada's national museum of natural history and natural sciences. The museum provides evidence-based insights, inspiring experiences and meaningful engagement with nature's past, present and future. It achieves this through scientific research, a 14.6-million specimen collection, education programs, signature and travelling exhibitions, and a dynamic web site, nature.ca.

About York University

York University is a modern, multi-campus, urban university located in Toronto, Ontario. Backed by a diverse group of students, faculty, staff, alumni and partners, we bring a uniquely global perspective to help solve societal challenges, drive positive change and prepare our students for success. York's fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education. York's campuses in Costa Rica and India offer students exceptional transnational learning opportunities and innovative programs.

Information for media:

Dan Smythe

Head, Media Relations

Canadian Museum of Nature

613-698-9253; dsmythe@nature.ca

Sandra McLean

Senior Media Relations Officer

York University

416-272-6317; sandramc@yorku.ca
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- A 30-year program that made flying safer through continued innovations in airplane inspection, maintenance and airworthiness research has ended its tenure at Sandia National Laboratories.

The Federal Aviation Administration Airworthiness Assurance Center, or AANC, operated by Sandia for the FAA, is moving to the National Institute of Aviation Research at Wichita State University to combine with another long-standing FAA center. The planned move supports shifts in structure at both Sandia and the FAA.

At the center, Sandia researchers partnered with staff from aircraft manufacturers, airlines, regulatory agencies, universities and industry to develop inspection and maintenance systems for airplanes. The original focus was on developing nondestructive inspection techniques for aging airplanes and then grew to include airworthiness assurance needs throughout the lifetime of all aircraft systems.

"Our goal was to develop the technology, prove the technology and, just as importantly, transfer the technology to industry so it could be used routinely to ensure flight safety," said Senior Scientist Dennis Roach, Sandia's lead engineer at the center. "The AANC at Sandia became a trusted source of unbiased technology development and validation for an array of programs."

The center supported a wide range of airplane safety and reliability and new technology application concerns, including operations, structural repair, advanced materials, corrosion monitoring and control, human factors, engine and fuel systems, landing gear, mechanical and electrical systems, structural modeling and analysis, sensor and instrument development, crashworthiness, aircraft certification, information processing and analysis, accident investigation, regulatory and advisory oversight requirements, failure analysis and systems safety.

The center also collaborated with other industries and all branches of the military on multiple engineering system and reliability needs.

Roach said the center staff adapted to and created many changes in the aviation industry. For example, the sole focus on metallic structures shifted into research in composite structures as the next generation of aircraft used these materials as their primary structure. Similarly, hand-deployed nondestructive inspection methods gave way to automated Structural Health Monitoring as the center led the way to the introduction of on-board sensors and use of smart structures to improve damage detection on aircraft.

Some projects of note, including spin-off programs for other industries, include:

Accident investigations: The center supported accident investigations for TWA800, Swiss Air111, American Airline587 and several rotorcraft accidents. All programs resulted in the introduction of enhanced inspections methods for critical components.

Space shuttle program: After the space shuttle Columbia accident, the center worked on NASA's Return to Flight program to develop an inspection system to certify each space shuttle before launch.

Syncrude/Exxon oil exploration: Composite expertise gained from aviation programs was used to produce new repair methods for high-cycle oil recovery equipment.

Monitoring bridge health: Expertise from the center's airplane safety research was applied to monitor the health of bridges.

Robotic inspection of wind blades: The center's expertise in nondestructive inspection was applied to develop a robotic inspection system to monitor the integrity of the blades on wind turbines.

Aircraft designs for tomorrow: In its work to deploy advanced aircraft maintenance technology and new materials, the center teamed with over 300 companies and government organizations and conducted Strategic Partnership Projects in 10 countries.

"I never could have imagined back in 1990 that this program would end up spanning 30 years and contribute so much to commercial aviation safety," said Dave Galella, FAA program manager. "It was incredibly comforting to know that whenever a new airworthiness challenge arose, I could pick up the phone and have access to the vast expertise that resided at the Sandia-AANC."

During its time at Sandia, the center has received dozens of patents, won nine "Better Way" awards from the Airlines for America and FAA, produced more than 500 publications and formal procedures and helped develop regulatory measures to advance the aviation, aerospace, oil and gas, renewable energy, automotive and nuclear energy industries. The team worked on multiple international committees to produce worldwide standards for aircraft maintenance.

"The AANC has been a highly successful collaboration offering the opportunity to develop new technologies for aviation assurance that further enabled structural health monitoring for our core NNSA physical security program and other programs," said Sandia director Gary Laughlin. "Dennis Roach has been a central figure and leader both technically and programmatically in the program from its inception."

All of the assets acquired during the program, including nondestructive inspection equipment, test specimens, custom tools, new inventions and an aviation document library were loaded into trucks in late April and transferred to a new hangar at Wichita State University. Most Sandia researchers working at the center have retired or transferred to other projects at Sandia, while Roach said the transition lines up with his planned retirement and movement into aviation consulting.

Roach estimates that more than 100 Sandia researchers contributed to projects at the center. The program brought in $120 million in funding over 30 years and led to an additional $30 million from industry partnerships.

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Sandia National Laboratories is a multimission laboratory operated by National Technology and Engineering Solutions of Sandia LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Honeywell International Inc., for the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration. Sandia Labs has major research and development responsibilities in nuclear deterrence, global security, defense, energy technologies and economic competitiveness, with main facilities in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Livermore, California.

Sandia news media contact: Kristen Meub, klmeub@sandia.gov, 505-239-1671
Lehigh University's Mary Foltz will serve as a scholar-in-residence at Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center, where she will work with the center's Lehigh Valley LGBT Community Archive and lead public humanities initiatives

Lehigh University associate professor of English Mary Foltz has been awarded a Scholars and Society Fellowship by the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) to collaborate with regional LGBTQ organizations to build their archival collections, expanding awareness of the history and contributions of these communities.

Foltz will serve as the first scholar-in-residence at Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center in Allentown, Pa. She begins working with the center's Lehigh Valley LGBT Community Archive and leading public humanities initiatives in September 2021. Foltz is one of 12 awardees of the fellowship program, which provides opportunities for faculty to conduct research projects while in residence with community-based organizations.

The Lehigh Valley LGBT Community Archive is a rich resource for exploring the value of regional LGBTQ political, social and cultural organizations as they contribute to national movements for equity, Foltz said. The collection, which includes publications, organizational records, personal papers, oral histories and artifacts, documents local and regional LGBTQ life and activism. The materials provide opportunities to expand understanding of such history and organizations beyond major cities like New York City, San Francisco, Boston and Chicago, Foltz said.

"I am truly honored to receive the ACLS Scholars and Society Fellowship and to have the opportunity to work with Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center staff next year in the archives," she said. "During the fellowship year, I will offer a variety of public-facing pieces that explore the value of regional LGBTQ history and will work on academic articles about the unique contributions of Lehigh Valley LGBTQ organizations."

The fellowship builds upon Foltz's existing collaborations with Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center, where she leads a community reading group on LGBTQ memoir in connection with her work with Lehigh's South Side Initiative. The South Side Initiative promotes sustained research collaborations among Lehigh faculty, staff and students, area residents, local artists, activists, community leaders and public officials.

"Mary's award is recognition of her deep commitment to forging connections with community resources that make tangible differences in the lives of the people they serve," said Robert Flowers, Herbert J. and Ann L. Siegel Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Lehigh. "Her work illustrates the importance of public-facing research in the humanities and how the work we do in the college leaves lasting impressions throughout the region and benefits the communities in which we live."

Foltz, who is director of Lehigh's South Side Initiative, is a member of Lehigh's Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies program and teaches post-1945 U.S. literature, with an interest in LGBTQ writers of the post-WWII period.

In historians' and scholars' focus on major metropolitan areas when exploring LGBTQ history, contributions of rural or smaller urban centers often are missed, she said.

"We need to share knowledge about the role of small urban centers in national movements such as the homophile movement, the gay liberation movement, the trans liberation movement, AIDS activism and the fight for Marriage Equality, as well as other topics that matter to diverse LGBTQ groups of people, such as Black Lives Matter, immigration issues or economic justice issues," Foltz said. "That small urban center story is something that scholars should be working on nationally in their own local communities, partnering with local organizations to co-produce knowledge about urban and rural contributions to national movements."

Her work with the archive will culminate in a public exhibition of regional LGBTQ history and continue her partnership with Bradbury-Sullivan to conduct oral histories that contribute to the archive and highlight LGBTQ voices. "In the next year we will continue this work to address the gap in our historical understanding of Lehigh Valley and the contributions that LGBTQ people have made to the communities here," Foltz said.

The archive includes 17 collections and is offered to the community in partnership between Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center and Trexler Library at Muhlenberg College.

"The Lehigh Valley LGBT Community Archive is among our fastest-growing programs at Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center," center Executive Director Adrian Shanker said. "We are so excited to enhance the impact of the community archive with our first-ever scholar in residence."

The ACLS Fellowship program honors scholarship in the humanities and humanistic social sciences with the capacity to make significant contributions to knowledge in their fields, supporting six to 12 months of full-time research and writing. The program awards fellowships to individual scholars working in the humanities and related social sciences. Institutions and individuals contribute to the ACLS Fellowship Program and its endowment, including The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Ford Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the Council's college and university associates, and former Fellows and individual friends of ACLS.

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For more information:

https:/ / cas. lehigh. edu/ content/ mary-foltz-receives-scholars-and-society-fellowship-american-council-learned-societies
The development of new urban agriculture technologies, such as vertical and smart farms, has accelerated rapidly in recent years. These technologies are based on hydroponic cultivation in which plants are grown using nutrient-rich solutions rather than soil. Approximately 20-30% of the nutrient solutions used during hydroponic cultivation are discharged without being absorbed by the crops, and because most farmers in South Korea do not treat the discharged solutions, hydroponic farms contribute significantly to environmental pollution.

This problem can be reduced if hydroponic farms use a recirculating hydroponic cultivation method that reuses the nutrient solutions after sterilizing them with ultraviolet (UV) light, instead of discharging them. However, two main issues complicate the implantation of such recirculation systems. First, the potential for diseases and nutrient imbalances to develop owing to microbial growth in the recycled nutrient solutions must be eliminated. Second, the initial investment required to set up a recirculating hydroponic cultivation system is often prohibitive, costing hundreds of millions of Korean won per hectare.

However, a new study conducted by researchers at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST)proposes a method that can stably manage the microbial population in recirculating hydroponic cultivation systems. The research team, led by Drs. Ju Young Lee and Tae In Ahn of the Smart Farm Research Center, KIST Gangneung Institute of Natural Products, conducted an integrated analysis of the microbial growth characteristics by constructing a model that simulates the flow of water and nutrients, and the inflow, growth, and discharge of microorganisms in recirculating and non-circulating hydroponic cultivation systems. Their simulations revealed that the microbial population in recirculating hydroponic cultivation systems can be controlled by adjusting the UV output and the water supply. On the contrary, in non-circulating hydroponic cultivation, the microbial population fluctuates considerably depending on the amount of water used, increasingly sharply if there is too little water.

High cost has restricted the use of UV sterilization systems in hydroponic farming in Korea And prompted the research team to develop their own UV sterilization system, with further studies underway to commercialize this system as an economical alternative to imported systems.

The results of the study have already received strong interest: the rights to the operation and management software technology for recirculating hydroponic cultivation has been acquired by Dooinbiotech Co., Ltd. for an advance fee of 80 million won (8.5% of the operating revenue), while an agreement is in place with Shinhan A-Tec Co., Ltd. for the advanced recirculating hydroponic cultivation technology for an advance fee of 200 million won (1.5% of the operating revenue). Commercializing the recirculating hydroponic cultivation system is expected to reduce fertilizer costs by approximately 30~40%, which equates to 30 million won per year based on a 1-hectare farm.

Commenting on the envisaged impacts of the study, Dr. Ju Young Lee said, "The developed system makes the transition to eco-friendly recirculating hydroponic cultivation systems an affordable option for many more farmers." Dr. Tae In Ahn added, "We are also developing software and operation manuals to guide farmers in managing the nutrient balance in the solutions to increase the number of farms using the recirculating hydroponic cultivation system."

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The study was supported by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs (Institute of Planning and Evaluation for Technology in Food, Agriculture, and Forestry) and the Innovative Smart Farm Technology Development Program of Multi-agency Package. The research results are published in the latest issue of the Journal of Cleaner Production (IF: 7.24, ranked in the top 6.9% by JCR), a highly respected international journal in the field of environmental science.
Instead of looking at the reasons child welfare caseworkers leave their jobs, Oregon State University researchers examined the common factors among workers who stay in the field, and what makes them feel most satisfied in their work.

In their recent study, researchers found that quality supervisory support and strong relationships with coworkers helped caseworkers feel appreciated and understood, while having adequate technology and equipment helped them manage their workload effectively

They hope child welfare agencies can use this information to support caseworkers and reduce the field's high turnover and burnout rates, which in turn will mean better support for children and families.

"Caseworkers have very challenging jobs, but some are satisfied with the work despite its challenges, and they intend to stay," said co-author Kelly Chandler, an assistant professor in OSU's College of Public Health and Human Sciences. "If we want to improve continuity in terms of service to children and families in the community, it's important to not only minimize the job challenges that are inevitable, but also think about which employees are really thriving and what we can learn from them."

Researchers sent a confidential online survey to all social service specialist caseworkers in Oregon's Department of Human Services in 2018 and were able to use the data from 485 respondents, including 222 from Child Protective Services.

The survey posed a series of statements and asked caseworkers to rank how strongly they agreed with them. The statements covered a range of topics, from job satisfaction and intention to remain, to more specific items about job resources, such as: "My supervisor gives me clear feedback on my job performance" and "I have the technology and equipment to do my job well."

For more quantitative points about job demands, researchers examined objective agency records to measure caseload and case severity. They took a unique approach to measure case severity, basing it on the number of substantiated abuse flags in a single client family, up to a total of five per family.

Case severity was the only job demand shown to have a significant negative impact on whether an employee was a "satisfied stayer;" that is, someone who intended to stay at the agency and was satisfied in their job. They compared satisfied stayers with undecided workers and found caseworkers were 8% less likely to be in the satisfied stayer group if they had severe caseloads.

On the flip side, all three job resources studied -- supervisor quality, coworker support and work tools -- were significantly and positively associated with caseworkers feeling satisfied and wanting to stay in their jobs.

Lead author Brianne Kothari, an assistant professor at OSU-Cascades, said that while there are obvious budget and salary factors that affect caseworker retention, this study demonstrates that agencies also need to remember the value of intangible support for their workers.

"It's really about finding how we can support caseworkers to increase their job satisfaction and intention to stay at ODHS," Kothari said. "They want to feel seen and heard. It might be a pat on the back for one person; it might be something else for another person. This study demonstrates the importance of quality supervisor relationships and the need to identify specific supervisory behaviors that benefit employees. It's also important to remember that all workers, including supervisors, need support."

That kind of emotional support, both from coworkers who are "in the trenches" together, and from supervisors who see how hard caseworkers are working, can go a long way toward helping employees feel that they're not alone, Chandler said.

This study aligns with a broader effort at Oregon DHS to transform the workplace culture and employ more trauma-informed approaches to training at all levels, Kothari said. And it opens the door for further collaboration between OSU and the agency, where researchers can work together to dig into the data and help the agency solidify the best evidence-based practices.

"This is part of our effort to figure out how we can better collaborate with state agencies, which I think really falls within the OSU land grant mission," Kothari said. With ODHS, "There are ways we can think about how we as a larger community can be supportive of these workers, who are really there because they want to make a difference in these children's and families' lives."

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PHILADELPHIA--The Pew Charitable Trusts today announced that 22 early-career researchers have been selected to join the Pew Scholars Program in the Biomedical Sciences. These scientists will receive funding over the next four years as they investigate timely questions surrounding human health and disease.

"Pew has a history of supporting talented researchers who are committed to understanding intricate scientific processes," said Susan K. Urahn, Pew's president and CEO. "Our newest cohort of scholars is joining a large community of accomplished scientists who are dedicated to uncovering new solutions to significant biomedical challenges."

The 2021 class of scholars--all of whom are early-career junior faculty--join more than 1,000 other scientists who have received awards from Pew since 1985. Current scholars have opportunities to meet annually, share ongoing research, and exchange perspectives across the health sciences field.

"Biomedical research is one of the best pathways we have to understand and overcome the world's greatest health hurdles," said Craig C. Mello, Ph.D., a 1995 Pew scholar, 2006 Nobel laureate in physiology or medicine, and chair of the national advisory committee for the scholars program. "I am confident that these researchers will uphold the Pew scholar legacy of advancing scientific discovery."

The 2021 scholars were chosen from 198 applicants nominated by leading academic institutions and researchers across the United States. This year's class includes scientists exploring the genetic evolution of cancer cells, how regulatory RNAs influence embryonic development, and how animals select specific types of foods for their nutritional needs.

Five members of the 2021 class, who were selected for their commitment to investigating health challenges relating to the brain as it ages, will receive awards with support from the Kathryn W. Davis Peace by Pieces Fund.

The 2021 Pew scholars in the biomedical sciences are:

Alaji Bah, Ph.D.

SUNY Upstate Medical University

Dr. Bah will study how proteins that lack a fixed structure form membraneless cellular subcompartments to support biological processes.

Alexandre Bisson, Ph.D.

Brandeis University

Dr. Bisson will probe the molecular mechanisms through which single-celled organisms can radically change their shape.

Edward Chouchani, Ph.D.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute; Harvard Medical School

Dr. Chouchani will study how the chemically reactive byproducts of metabolism regulate the activity of proteins involved in inflammation and obesity.

E. Josephine Clowney, Ph.D.

University of Michigan

Dr. Clowney will unravel how female and male brain development is programmed to allow sex-specific behaviors.

Colin Conine, Ph.D.

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Dr. Conine will investigate how regulatory RNAs carried by sperm influence embryonic development and offspring phenotype.

Sujit Datta, Ph.D.

Princeton University

Dr. Datta will explore how microbial communities organize and operate in complex three-dimensional habitats.

Laura B. Duvall, Ph.D.

Columbia University

Dr. Duvall will characterize the neural and molecular pathways that regulate biting and mating in mosquitoes.

Stephen N. Floor, Ph.D.

University of California, San Francisco

Dr. Floor will develop tools to understand the rules of RNA regulation in cells that are healthy, under stress, or have mutations that cause human diseases.

Kellie Jurado, Ph.D.

University of Pennsylvania

Dr. Jurado will examine how cells in the placenta protect an embryo from being rejected by the maternal immune system.

Elizabeth Kellogg, Ph.D.

Cornell University

Dr. Kellogg will harness the power of transposases--enzymes that catalyze the movement of specific DNA elements--to engineer novel genome-editing tools.

Bluma Lesch, M.D., Ph.D.

Yale University

Dr. Lesch will explore how genetic changes in chromosome structure contribute to development and disease.

Laura Lewis, Ph.D.

Boston University

Dr. Lewis will explore the complex neural circuits that guide people through sleep.

Qili Liu, Ph.D.

University of California, San Francisco

Dr. Liu will investigate how animals select specific types of foods to satisfy their changing nutritional needs.

Cressida Madigan, Ph.D.

University of California, San Diego

Dr. Madigan will explore the molecular mechanisms by which infections damage the brain.

Aaron McKenna, Ph.D.

Dartmouth College

Dr. McKenna will map the genetic evolution of cancer cells as they proliferate and spread.

Jose Ordovas-Montanes, Ph.D.

Boston Children's Hospital; Harvard Medical School

Dr. Ordovas-Montanes will explore how different cells within a tissue contribute to the initiation and spread of an inflammatory immune response.

Bennett Penn, M.D., Ph.D.

University of California, Davis

Dr. Penn will study the molecular mechanisms that enable the bacterium that causes tuberculosis to develop tolerance to antibiotics.

Justin Perry, Ph.D.

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Dr. Perry will unravel the link between cell death and inflammation.

Yasemin Sancak, Ph.D.

University of Washington School of Medicine

Dr. Sancak will probe how mitochondria, which provide the cell with energy, interact with other subcellular structures.

Molly Schumer, Ph.D.

Stanford University

Dr. Schumer will explore how genomes respond to hybridization--the movement of genes between species.

Summer Thyme, Ph.D.

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Dr. Thyme is developing new methods for dissecting the genetic underpinnings of neurodevelopmental disease.

Zhao Zhang, Ph.D.

Duke University

Dr. Zhang will investigate how the virus-like genetic elements hidden in the genome could help prime the immune system to battle future infections.

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The Pew Charitable Trusts is driven by the power of knowledge to solve today's most challenging problems. Learn more at pewtrusts.org.
The eye is the first sensory organ that recognizes the presence or shape of an object. The conjunctiva is a thin mucous membrane that covers the front half of the eyeball. It protects the eye by secreting mucus and tears for lubrication, and prevents microorganisms from entering. However, since it is exposed to the air, it is susceptible to damages by microorganisms, bacteria, or dust. In fact, if fibrovascular tissues are left to propagate on its surface, they can lead to diseases like pterygium, which can cause visual deterioration. To treat such conditions, an operation to remove and regenerate the damaged conjunctiva is performed. Recently, a Korean research team has developed a new method for performing sutureless amniotic membrane transplantation using the mussel adhesive protein.

Professor Hyung Joon Cha's research team at POSTECH (Ph.D. candidate Seong-Woo Maeng, Dr. Tae Yoon Park) with the team led by Professor Woo Chan Park of the Department of Ophthalmology at Dong-A University College of Medicine (Dr. Ji Sang Min, currently at Kim's Eye Hospital of the Konyang University School of Medicine) have together applied a light-curable protein bioadhesive named FixLight to an animal model that simulated the transplantation of the amniotic membrane on an actual ocular surface. As a result, it was confirmed that the operation could be completed more than five times faster than the traditional suture method and the therapeutic effect of the conjunctival regeneration through stably bonded amniotic membranes could successfully replace the conventional procedure.

The amniotic membrane is the innermost membrane of the placenta that surrounds and protects the embryo. Since it contains many factors that promote epithelial regeneration, performing amniotic transplantation to reconstruct the ocular surface has been widely practiced. However, the current method stitches the membrane with sutures and fixes it to the surface of the eyeball, which leaves a scar. And since precise sutures are required due to the thinness of the amniotic membrane, the operation is considerably time-consuming.

To this, the POSTECH research team has developed a light-curable adhesive that exists in a liquid state when unexposed to light, but changes into a hydrogel within a few seconds when exposed to visible light of a specific wavelength. Going a step further this time, in joint effort with researchers from Dong-A University College of Medicine, the amniotic membrane was transplanted without sutures on the ocular surface of a rabbit model with conjunctiva defects using a light-curable bioadhesive.

The joint research team used a visible light-curable bioadhesive with liquid-solid photocrosslinking characteristics in the amniotic membrane transplantation surgery, focusing on the high transparency of the amniotic membrane. After evenly coating the liquid adhesive, the amniotic membrane was adhered to the defect site by crosslinking it with light of a specific wavelength. In an experiment using a rabbit conjunctiva defect model, the researchers observed stable tissue adhesion ability that showed no significant difference from suture-treated cases even on the wet surface of the eye. In addition, after epithelialization progressed over the transplanted amniotic membrane, the adhesive completely biodegraded and regenerated into an integrated epithelial tissue.

Professor Hyung Joon Cha of POSTECH explained, "We confirmed the effectiveness of a new amniotic membrane transplantation method for conjunctival reconstruction in an actual animal model using the mussel adhesive protein, an original biomaterial." He added, "It is anticipated to be highly useful as a safe bioadhesive to replace sutures in various medical fields."

FixLight - the visible light-curable protein bioadhesive - shows promise for commercialization in the near future as it has completed the technology transfer to Nature Gluetech Co., Ltd. and is awaiting clinical trials as a safe bioadhesive that can fully replace surgical sutures.

"The amniotic membrane transplantation is an important operation in ocular surface reconstruction and this visible light-curable bioadhesive enabled facile and rapid operation," remarked Professor Woo Chan Park of Dong-A University College of Medicine. "This technique shows promise to be applicable to other ophthalmological surgeries such as closing of incisions after cataract operation or other transplantations of the ocular surface, such as conjunctival autografting."

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The findings from this research were published online in Advanced Healthcare Materials, an international journal on biomaterials. The study was carried out as part the Korea Health Technology R&D Project through the Korea Health Industry Development Institute funded by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Nano-New Materials Core Technology Development Program funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT, and the Marine Biotechnology Program of the Korea Institute of Marine Science & Technology Promotion funded by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of Korea.
Proper chromosome segregation into two future daughter cells requires the mitotic spindle to elongate in anaphase. However, although some candidate proteins are implicated in this process, the molecular mechanism that drives spindle elongation in human cells has been unknown, until now! Researchers at the Croatian Ruer Boskovic Institute (RBI) have discovered the exact molecular mechanism of bridging microtubules sliding and its role in proper distribution of genetic material during cell division. These latest results were published in the scientific journal Developmental Cell (IF: 10.092).

Cell division is a fundamental process required for stable transmission of genetic information from a parent cell to two daughter cells. Sister chromatids segregate into future daughter cells during anaphase by kinetochore fibre shortening (anaphase A) and spindle elongation (anaphase B).

Moreover, the importance of spindle elongation in human cells is evident from the fact that in addition to being the main driver of chromosome movement, it promotes correct segregation of lagging chromosomes, and its defects correlate with cancer.

Since this is one of the key steps in cell division, which occurs in almost all organisms, the molecular mechanism that drives spindle elongation has been in the spotlight of intensive research for many decades now. Although there has been some important breakthrough made in the last twenty years, that shed light on the molecular mechanisms behind the elongation process, the researchers did not manage to identify the exact proteins involved in the self-elongation of the spindle in human cells.

However, the team of molecular biologist at the Croatian Ruer Boskovic Institute - Dr Kruno Vukusic, doctoral students Ivana Ponjavic, Patrik Risteski and Dr Renata Bua, led by Prof Iva Tolic, discovered that two mechanistically distinct sliding modules, one based on a self-sustained kinesin and the other on a crosslinker-assisted kinesin motor, power the mechanism of spindle elongation in human cells.

"We hope these results will encourage new research into the role of spindle elongation in the final steps of cell division, when the cell completes the division between the newly formed daughter cells. I believe these results are just the first step on a path of elucidating the complex control mechanisms acting behind these motor proteins, that operate under strict control of many other factors in the cell. Moreover, the principle of co-operation between these motor proteins, that we have described, could help other scientists in determining molecular mechanisms in other crucial cell processes," said Professor Iva Tolic, research leader.

What molecular mechanisms are responsible for spindle elongation?

The mitotic spindle is crucial to the process of cell division. It is a dynamic and complex cellular structure made of microtubules and associated proteins. In addition to providing structural support within cells, among many other roles, these microtubules provide tracks for motor proteins, which transport chromosomes with our genetic material and position them in the centre of the mitotic spindle. They are assisted by special motor and microtubule-binding proteins.

After all the chromosomes have been successfully connected to the microtubules on either side of the mitotic spindle, the bond between sister chromatids, that make up the chromosome, breaks down and the chromatids begin their journey at the two distant halves of the mitotic spindle. At the same time, the mitotic spindle begins to elongate to further contribute to the physical removal of chromatids, which is the final goal of any division process.

"We wanted to understand which motor proteins are responsible for elongation of the mitotic spindle in anaphase, so we developed a set of tools to remove individual proteins and groups of proteins at a specific time, just before the spindle elongation. We also used various other methods, some of which we adapted for the first time to the study of the mitotic spindle, which allowed us to study the organization of microtubules in the central part of the mitotic spindle. We used methods that enable very rapid monitoring of dynamic changes in bridging microtubules, structure we have previously shown to be crucial for proper chromosome segregation in human cells." explains Dr. Kruno Vukusic, postdoctoral fellow in the Tolic Lab, who is one of the first authors on this paper together with his colleague Ivana Ponjavic.

The key role of motor proteins KIF11 and KIF4A

"By applying the approach of simultaneous silencing of the function of multiple motor proteins, we wanted to discover a potential network of independent motor protein systems involved in the process of the mitotic spindle elongation. By using this approach, we observed that after simultaneous removal of the activity of KIF11 protein and KIF4A protein, spindle elongation does not occur at all, unlike their individual perturbations, which means that combined work of these proteins is crucial for elongation. This is the first case of stopping the elongation of the mitotic spindle by removal of specific motor proteins in human cells. In addition, we have seen that the KIF4A protein depends on the PRC1 protein to localize bridging fibres, so the same effect can be obtained by silencing the PRC1 protein combined with inhibition of the KIF11 motor protein." says Patrik Risteski, a doctoral student and one of the authors of the paper.

Further experiments demonstrated that independent motor proteins KIF11 and KIF4A participate specifically in the sliding of bridging microtubules, which then push the poles of the mitotic spindle from each other. This confirms that their role in the sliding of antiparallel microtubule bundles also occurs in anaphase cells, since the same has been shown in previous works only in vitro.

"These results have led us to conclude that anaphase B is a process driven by independent motor protein systems that have quite different mechanisms of action and probably different control mechanisms. This means that the cell ensures by the use of independent modules very high success of this process, which is not surprising, since it is one of the riskiest processes for the fate of future daughter cells that arise as a result of the division of the mother cell.

This work has shown that the consequences of unsuccessful elongation of the mitotic spindle are devastating for the division of human cells and the properly balanced inheritance of genetic material." concludes Professor Iva Tolic.

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The research was supported by funding from projects of the European Research Council, the Croatian Science Foundation and the Scientific Centre of Excellence for Quantum and Complex Systems, and Representations of Lie Algebras (QuantiXLie).
Reston, VA (Embargoed until 3:00 p.m. EDT, Tuesday, June 15, 2021)--A phase III clinical trial has validated the effectiveness of the prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-targeted radiotracer 18F-DCFPyL in detecting and localizing recurrent prostate cancer. Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration last month, the radiotracer identified metastatic lesions with high positive predictive values regardless of anatomic region, adding to the evidence that PSMA-targeted radiotracers are the most sensitive and accurate agents for imaging prostate cancer. This study was presented at the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) 2021 Annual Meeting.

Prostate cancer patients have high levels of PSMA expression, which makes PSMA an effective target for imaging the disease. In previous studies, the novel positron emission tomography (PET) imaging agent 18F-DCFPyL was found to bind selectively with high affinity to PSMA. To demonstrate the diagnostic performance of 18F-DCFPyL for regulatory approval, a prospective, multicenter study was conducted in 14 sites across the United States and Canada.

The study sought to determine the positive predictive value (the probability that patients with a positive screening test actually have the disease) and detection rate of 18F-DCFPyL PET/computed tomography (CT) by anatomic region, specifically the prostate/prostate bed, pelvic lymph nodes, and regions outside the pelvis. Study participants included men who had rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels after local therapy as well as negative or equivocal conventional imaging results.

Patients were imaged with 18F-DCFPyL PET/CT, then imaged again after 60 days to verify suspected lesions using a composite "standard of truth," which consisted of histopathology, correlative imaging findings and PSA response. Comparing findings between the 18F-DCFPyL imaging and the "standard of truth," the positive predictive value and detection rate were measured.

18F-DCFPyL-PET/CT was found to successfully detect and pinpoint metastatic lesions with high positive predictive value, regardless of their location in the body, in men with biochemically recurrent prostate cancer who had negative or equivocal baseline imaging. Higher positive predictive values were observed in extra-pelvic lymph nodes and bone compared to soft tissue regions.

With the recent approval of 18F-DCFPyL (now referred to as piflufolastat F-18) by the FDA, the impact of this research may be realized in the very near future. As these agents become more widely available, patients with newly diagnosed, recurrent, and metastatic prostate cancer may have new therapeutic approaches available to them. The results of the study will be presented at the SNMMI meeting by Steven Rowe, MD, PhD, associate professor of radiology and radiological science at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.

Abstract 123. "A Phase 3 study of 18F-DCFPyL-PET/CT in Patients with Biochemically Recurrent Prostate Cancer (CONDOR): An Analysis of Disease Detection Rate and Positive Predictive Value (PPV) by Anatomic Region," Steven Rowe and Michael Gorin, Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, Maryland; Lawrence Saperstein, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut; Frederic Pouliot, Departement de Chirurgie, Division d'Urologie, University of Quebec, Quebec, Canada; David Josephson, Tower Urology, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California; Peter Carroll, UCSF, San Francisco, California; Jeffrey Wong, City of Hope, Sierra Madre, California; Austin Pantel, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Morand Piert, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan; Kenneth Gage, Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida; Steve Cho, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin; Andrei Iagaru, Stanford University, Stanford, California; Janet Pollard, University of Iowa Hospital, Iowa City, Iowa; Vivien Wong, Jessica Jensen and Nancy Stambler, Progenics Pharmaceuticals, Inc., New York, New York; Michael Morris, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York; and Barry Siegel, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.

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All 2021 SNMMI Annual Meeting abstracts can be found online at https:/ / jnm. snmjournals. org/ content/ 62/ supplement_1 .

About the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging

The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) is an international scientific and medical organization dedicated to advancing nuclear medicine and molecular imaging, vital elements of precision medicine that allow diagnosis and treatment to be tailored to individual patients in order to achieve the best possible outcomes.
Solar activities, such as CME(Coronal Mass Ejection), cause geomagnetic storm that is a temporary disturbance of the Earth's magnetosphere. Geomagnetic storms can affect GPS positioning, radio communication, and power transmission system. Solar explosions also emit radiation, which can affect satellite failures, radiation exposure to aircraft crew, and space activity. Therefore, it is important to understand space weather phenomena and their impact on the Earth.

Space weather research by continuous observation of cosmic rays on the ground is mainly conducted using observation data from neutron monitors and multi-directional muon detectors. Since the phenomenon of space weather is on a short-term, days-long scale, it is effective to investigate changes in the flow of cosmic rays for several hours, which requires a total sky monitor of cosmic rays. In the muon detector, the global muon detector network (GMDN) has been observing space weather phenomena since 2006, and in the neutron monitor, the Spaceship Earth project constitutes a similar observation network and the role of the all-sky monitor. Until now, observations by neutron monitors and muon detectors have been performed independently, and progress has been made in space weather research.

In February 2018, Professor Chihiro Kato of Shinshu University took the lead in acquiring simultaneous observations of the neutron monitor and muon detector at Syowa Station in the Antarctic in order to acquire bridging data of observations by the neutron monitor and muon detector. In the polar regions, unlike low latitude regions on the earth, it is possible to observe cosmic rays coming from the same direction with a neutron monitor and a muon detector due to the weaker deflection by the geomagnetism. This is the reason why Syowa Station was selected as the observation point.

Syowa muon detector and neutron monitor observed small fluctuation in CR count like a Forbush decrease on 2018.8. The research group including researchers from Shinshu University and the National Polar Research Institute found curious cosmic-ray density variation on this event by analyzing GMDN data.

On the CME event, a huge amount of coronal material released with a bundle of the solar magnetic field, called Magnetic Flux Rope (MFR), into the interplanetary space. MFR moves through interplanetary space as expanding. CR density is low inside of it because it is originally coronal material. When the Earth enters the MFR, CR counts on the ground decreases. This is called Forbush Decrease.

Normally, when MFR arrives on Earth, CR density observed at the ground level decreases rapidly, and then turns to increase recovering to the original level while the Earth is in the MFR. On this event, however, the CR exceeds the original level before the Earth exits the MFR.

This event attracts interest from researchers because 1) The solar activity is currently near the minimum and the scale of the event itself is small, 2) It causes a disproportionately large geomagnetic storm, and 3) There is high-speed solar wind catching up the MFR expected to interact with it.

By analysis of the GMDN and solar plasma data, it is concluded that the high-speed solar wind causes the unusual enhancement of the CR density by compressing the rear part of the MFR locally.

Cosmic ray observation data is closely related not only to space weather research but also to atmospheric phenomena such as sudden stratospheric temperature rise and is expected to be used in a wide range of fields in the future. The cosmic ray observation data at Syowa Station, including the phenomenon in August 2018, which was the subject of this research, is published on the website and updated daily: http://polaris. nipr. ac. jp/ ~cosmicrays/

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Acknowledgments
WASHINGTON--The Endocrine Society--a professional organization of more than 18,000 health care providers and scientists worldwide--praised the American Medical Association's House of Delegates for passing a resolution opposing efforts to criminalize medical care for transgender youth.

The resolution, which cites the Endocrine Society's Clinical Practice Guidelines on transgender care, makes it AMA policy to oppose the criminalization and otherwise undue restriction of evidence-based gender-affirming care.

The Endocrine Society opposes legislative efforts to prevent transgender and gender diverse adolescents from accessing gender-affirming medical care. These bills do not conform to medical evidence and clinical practice.

More than 20 states have introduced or are considering legislation prohibiting gender-affirming care for minors. Arkansas passed a law April 6 prohibiting gender-affirming care for minors, the first law of its kind in the United States.

These policies criminalize physicians' efforts to provide needed medical care and disregard widely accepted medical evidence, including the Society's internationally recognized Clinical Practice Guideline. Scientific evidence shows that there is a durable biological underpinning to gender identity.

When young children experience feelings that their gender identity does not match their sex recorded at birth, the first course of action is to support the child in living according to their gender identity and to provide mental health support, as needed.

After transgender and gender diverse minors start puberty, prescribing hormone blockers to delay puberty is the recommended strategy if desired and if diagnostic and treatment criteria are met. Hormone blockers are commonly prescribed to delay puberty in children who experience early puberty. This treatment, which is reversible, gives adolescents more time to explore their options.

Being unable to access medical care puts transgender and gender diverse youth at an elevated risk of suicide or self harm. A study published in the journal Pediatrics last year found transgender and gender diverse youth who wanted to delay puberty and could not access the treatment had higher rates of suicidal thoughts over their lifetimes than those who wanted the treatment and received it.

The Society is among the organizations submitting a written intervention to the United Kingdom's High Court as part of the appeal of Bell v Tavistock and Portman NHS Health Foundation, a case where the High Court ruled in December 2020 that adolescents younger than age 16 could not give informed consent to take hormones to delay puberty. The appeal is slated to be heard June 23-24. The ruling threatens to block transgender and gender diverse teenagers from accessing the medical care they need.

Medical evidence, not politics, should inform treatment decisions.

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Endocrinologists are at the core of solving the most pressing health problems of our time, from diabetes and obesity to infertility, bone health, and hormone-related cancers. The Endocrine Society is the world's oldest and largest organization of scientists devoted to hormone research and physicians who care for people with hormone-related conditions.
Responsibility for the safety, integrity and scientific validity of the trials fell to 12 experts of the COVID-19 Vaccine Data and Safety Monitoring Board, who now have taken the unusual step of publishing details of their review process

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Clinical evaluation of three COVID-19 vaccine candidates in 2020-21 during a worldwide pandemic that killed or sickened millions was unprecedented in terms of urgency and scope. Responsibility for the safety, integrity and scientific validity of the trials in the United States fell to 12 experts of the federally appointed COVID-19 Vaccine Data and Safety Monitoring Board, or COVID-19 DSMB, who in turn report to an oversight group.

This COVID-19 DSMB team -- which included co-contributing author Richard Whitley, M.D., distinguished professor of pediatrics in the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine -- has now taken the unusual step of publishing details of their review process in The Journal of Infectious Diseases.

Their goal, they say, is to assure the public of the board's independence and lack of interference from external actors, while they operated under exceptional conditions. Challenges the board faced included:

The remarkable scale and pace of the trials.

The frequency of safety events among a combined enrollment of more than 100,000 people, many of whom were older adults or persons with comorbidities that put them at independent risk of serious health events.

The need to monitor a portfolio of related trials rather than a single trial, and the need to harmonize these studies.

The politicized setting in which the trials have taken place, including a United States presidential election.

Despite these challenges, they say that the COVID-19 Vaccine DSMB also "can serve as a model for future situations in which there is an urgent need for coordinated development of multiple therapeutic or preventive interventions to address rapidly evolving public health threats."

The story began in May 2020, as the federal government launched Operation Warp Speed to accelerate COVID-19 vaccine development. The operation included funding for multiple large randomized trials to assess the safety and efficacy of candidate vaccines and agreements to purchase hundreds of millions of doses to assure timely manufacture of ample quantities of vaccine.

To ensure rigorous, independent and unbiased scientific and ethical oversight of the vaccine field trials, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, or NIAID, empaneled the COVID-19 Vaccine DSMB. The board has 11 members from the United States, Brazil, South Africa and the United Kingdom, including experts in infectious disease, vaccinology, immunology, biostatistics, pharmacoepidemiology, public health and bioethics, as well as a biostatistician, who is a full-time NIAID employee and serves as executive secretary.

The DSMB's Journal of Infectious Diseases article details their study review process as they reviewed three formal interim efficacy analyses of trials for vaccine makers Moderna, Janssen and AstraZeneca. The board currently is monitoring the Moderna, Janssen, AstraZeneca and Novavax trials. The trial of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, which was not federally funded, has a separate DSMB.

The DSMB reports that it has met by videoconference more than 25 times, generally for two to three hours at a time. As needed, the board holds ad hoc meetings to address emerging safety concerns. If accrual or event milestones were met between scheduled meetings, the board met to review interim analyses.

The board focused on trial conduct, safety and vaccine efficacy. This included a close look at accrual of trial participants, including the numbers and proportions of people in relevant subgroups like age, sex, race, ethnicity and people with risk factors that predispose them to severe COVID-19.

"The DSMB's role in overseeing a portfolio of multiple trials," the board writes, "has facilitated its ability to perform safety monitoring across all trials. For example, when concerns first surfaced about thromboembolic events associated with AstraZeneca's vaccine in Europe, the DSMB was able to review relevant categories of adverse events across its portfolio of trials to look for broader patterns associated with SARS-CoV-2 vaccines as a class."

Participant safety was a central responsibility for the board, which devoted much attention at each meeting to review interim safety metrics. Given the large number of participants in the trials, the board also received regular reports of individual adverse safety events between meetings and determined what further information or actions in response might be needed.

Among the political challenges the board faced was what Science magazine called its "extraordinary rebuke" last March, when the board said the company had used potentially misleading and outdated data in its initial analysis.

The highly politicized atmosphere also included an August 2020 tweet by then-President Donald Trump that the United States Food and Drug Administration "deep state" was delaying COVID-19 vaccines, and his September suggestion that a vaccine for COVID-19 could be ready by Election Day. Another political challenge came when then-FDA Director Stephen Hahn said he was prepared to authorize a vaccine before Phase 3 trials were complete.

Yet politics did not affect the board's work. In its report, the COVID-19 Vaccine DSMB concluded that "Operation Warp Speed is an unprecedented effort to develop safe and effective vaccines that will help end the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Conducting clinical trials under these circumstances requires the utmost attention to participant safety and to data integrity, so that the public and the medical community will ultimately have trust in the vaccines and the process used to develop them. Although (the board) operates behind the scenes, by virtue of its access to unblinded interim data, its charge to recommend changes to ongoing studies based on these data, and its ability to examine emerging data across multiple parallel trials, the COVID-19 Vaccine DSMB is uniquely positioned to ensure that these goals are met."

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Co-authors with corresponding author Steven Joffe, M.D., University of Pennsylvania, and Whitley, of the report "Data and safety monitoring of COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials" are the other board members and the executive secretary. They are Abdel Babiker, University College London, United Kingdom; Susan S. Ellenberg, University of Pennsylvania; Alan Fix, Center for Vaccine Innovation and Access, PATH, Washington, D.C.; Marie R. Griffin, Vanderbilt School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee; Sally Hunsberger, NIAID, Rockville, Maryland; Jorge Kalil, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil; Myron M. Levine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland; Malegapuru W. Makgoba, Office of Health Standards and Compliance, Pretoria, Republic of South Africa; Renee H. Moore, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia; and Anastasios A. Tsiatis, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina.

Support for operations of the COVID-19 Vaccine DSMB came from NIAID.
What will the Earth be like for our children and grandchildren, as temperatures continue to rise? We can be fairly certain of some things: Some regions will become inhospitable, as heat drives their inhabitants away or causes massive declines and changes in their ecosystems. Many other physical, chemical and biological processes will also be affected by rising temperatures that threaten critical ecosystem services such as food production, biodiversity and energy security.

But what these changes will be and exactly how they impact the Earth -- and ultimately us humans -- are still difficult to predict. Many of them are so gradual and happen over such a long timescale that they wouldn't be noticeable until they accelerate past the point of no return. Other events, meanwhile, are so rare and unpredictable that it would be impossible to prepare for them by ordinary means. Yet others have such wide-ranging effects that experts from several disciplines would be needed to unravel the mystery.

Fortunately, the National Science Foundation has developed a network of 28 sites representing diverse ecosystems where more than 2,000 multidisciplinary scientists work to get a grasp on the situation, and the changes to come. UC Santa Barbara is home to two of these Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) Network sites: Santa Barbara Coastal (SBC), focused on local kelp forests, and Moorea Coral Reef (MCR), focused on coral reefs in French Polynesia.

"Long term research is really critical for developing predictive models," said Marty Downs, who directs the LTER Network Office, housed at the National Center for Ecological Analysis & Synthesis at UC Santa Barbara. "Models need really good information on the mechanisms that underlie those dynamic relationships. LTER sites have not only the observations of the natural systems but also deliberate experiments that tease out the interacting effects of different drivers."

The value of long-term ecological research is brought to the fore in a newly published special issue of the online journal Ecosphere, in which the importance of LTER research is highlighted in the effort to understand mechanisms that aren't easily addressed by short-term studies, such as time lags, cascading effects, resilience, connectivity and ecosystem state change.

Connectivity: Santa Barbara Coastal LTER

Just off the coast of Santa Barbara, giants sway gently beneath the waves, and with them, communities of animals find food and shelter.

"Giant kelp is a foundation species that supports the entire kelp forest community," said project lead investigator Robert Miller. Both on the floor and in the canopy, a diverse array of creatures, including urchins, sea cucumbers, brittle stars, fish and crustaceans rely on Macrocystis pyrifera to rear their young, feed and hide. On the ocean's surface, kelp forests are a source of food for marine mammals and seabirds, and on the shore, kelp wrack nourishes sandy beach organisms.

Unlike many other foundation species, however, giant kelp plants live only a few years, and their populations fluctuate greatly.

"This enables ecologists to examine how such changes in a foundation species affect the associated community," Miller said. "Studies like this might take centuries or longer in, say, a hemlock forest."

Thanks to rapid growth, giant kelp can recover quickly from disturbance by periodic winter storms, and maintain a relatively stable habitat for animals. Wind, waves and current serve to disperse kelp spores between reefs to recolonize them, and send kelp wrack to shore where multitudes of beach critters eat it and live in it. Ocean circulation and upwelling also provide plankton that kelp forest filter feeders depend on for food.

How could a changing climate affect giant kelp's ability to replenish itself and maintain its community? Thanks to years of data from experiments monitoring this rather ephemeral foundation species and the habitat it creates, researchers at the SBC LTER found, to their surprise, that the frequency of disturbance had more impact on the biodiversity of a kelp forest than did the severity of the disturbance. If, as predicted, climate change brings more storms and marine heat waves, kelps' ability to create that essential canopy could be suppressed, leading to a less productive environment overall -- a blow not just to animals that live there but also to visiting seabirds and the sandy beach community, and to the humans who rely on food produced in and supported by the kelp forest.

"An improved understanding of how kelp is affected by the environment, and how it affects the kelp forest community as a whole, informs strategies to conserve and restore these economically and ecologically valuable ecosystems," Miller said. "Long term research," say the Ecosphere article authors, "is vital to understanding how short-lived foundation species and the ecosystems they support react to environmental change, including future climate change."

Corals are at the front lines of climate change, as rising water temperatures, increasing ocean acidification and other stressors continue to take their toll on coral reefs, which provide food, shelter and spawning ground for more than a quarter of all marine animal species.

"Coral reefs are one of the most diverse and productive of the world's ecosystems, supporting vast biodiversity and providing ecosystem services of enormous value," said Russell Schmitt, the principal investigator at the Moorea Coral Reef (MCR) LTER. The millennia-old structures dominate their habitats, but changes to temperature and ocean water chemistry, in addition to the physical pounding from storms and destructive fishing practices, have resulted in widespread death of coral.

"When coral is lost from a tropical reef as a result of these disturbances, it can be replaced by seaweeds, which can negatively impact biodiversity and ecosystem services," Schmitt said. Under normal circumstances, the disturbances pass and corals once again assert their dominance. However, under the constant onslaught of stress, "many seaweed-dominated reefs are remaining in that state, failing to transition back to their coral communities."

The coral reef community at Moorea isn't giving up without a fight. Case in point: From 2007 to 2010, the reefs experienced a series of setbacks -- from an outbreak of coral-eating crown-of-thorns seastar to damage wrought by Cyclone Oli -- that gave the researchers reason to expect the dominance to shift to seaweed in relatively short order. Instead, what they found was a rapid recovery brought about by grazing fish herbivores, which suppressed the seaweed and kept space unoccupied, and vigorous repopulation of coral from nearby reefs. Coral cover on the fore reef on the north shore of Moorea came back from 2% just after Cyclone Oli to 55% in 2015.

Yet the ability of corals to endure and recover from the longer term stress brought on by global warming is still not well understood. What processes allow coral reefs to withstand environmental perturbations and restore corals in the face of a changing climate and an increasing human footprint? How will a warmer and more acidic future due to ever increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere alter resilience, community composition and ecosystem functioning in the coming decades?

"Answering these questions requires long-term studies because reefs must be studied as they undergo cycles of disturbances and recovery as temperatures continue to rise, which takes years to decades," said MCR co-principal investigator Sally Holbrook. "Understanding the factors that affect reef resilience is critical for development of management strategies for tropical reefs, which benefits the local communities in Moorea who depend on the reefs for fishing, tourism, recreational and cultural values."

Holbrook added, "Our work illustrates the ecological processes and feedbacks that either must be strengthened to keep a coral reef in a desirable state, or to break if the goal is to restore a degraded reef back to coral."

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The University of Ottawa has been awarded four new Canada Research Chairs

The University of Ottawa has been awarded four new Canada Research Chairs (CRC) that will strengthen its expertise in artificial intelligence, health and law. The University is also proud to announce the renewal of two CRCs that will conduct leading-edge research in quantum communications and photonics.

"The Canada Research Chairs Program provides invaluable support to our researchers as they forge their paths of discovery at a world-class level," said Sylvain Charbonneau, vice-president, research. "The results of this most recent competition will undeniably help the University succeed in pursuing our goals of excellence, relevance and research impact."

The three new Tier 1 Canada Research Chairs are:

Khaled El Emam (Faculty of Medicine and CHEO Research Institute) -- Canada Research Chair in Medical Artificial Intelligence

Khaled El Emam's research will focus on developing a methodology for the synthesis of complex health data. This means applying artificial intelligence techniques to model personal clinical and biological information stored in databases. These models can be used to generate virtual patients that mimic the characteristics of real patients. This solves data-sharing problems and enables adding simulated patients to accelerate clinical studies.

Rita Horvath (Faculty of Medicine and CHEO Research Institute) -- Canada Research Chair in Mitochondrial Disease Pathogenesis to Therapy

Mitochondrial diseases are genetic disorders that are difficult to diagnose and cause a range of devastating physical, developmental and intellectual disabilities. Rita Horvath's research aims to understand the molecular mechanisms of mitochondrial disease, to provide accurate diagnosis and develop targeted therapies.

Carole Yauk (Faculty of Science) -- Canada Research Chair in Genomics and the Environment

Carole Yauk's research addresses an urgent need to modernize the toxicological risk assessment of environmental chemicals. She will develop and deploy genomics approaches that measure how toxic chemicals can alter the function of genes or damage genetic material. Her laboratory will work with regulatory and industry partners to determine the best use of this information, to predict toxicological risks to humans and wildlife.

The new Tier 2 Canada Research Chair is:

Emmanuelle Bernheim (Faculty of Law, Common Law Section) -- Canada Research Chair in Mental Health and Access to Justice

Emmanuelle Bernheim's research looks at improving access to the justice system for diverse groups, particularly those living with mental health issues, while focussing on community, political and research circles.

The two renewed Tier 2 Canada Research Chairs are:

Ksenia Dolgaleva (Faculty of Engineering) -- Canada Research Chair in Integrated Photonics

Photonic integration uses light for applications traditionally performed by electronics. Combining a laser source, waveguides that direct light and other optical components on a small semiconductor chip, photonics has a number of uses in areas such as medicine, information and communication technologies, and sensing. Ksenia Dolgaleva's research aims to increase the functionality of existing optical chips by developing integrated optical devices that can manipulate light in new ways. These devices will be able to change the colour of incident light and manipulate light with light. This is essential to all-optical processing of information channels without needing to convert them to an electrical current.

Ebrahim Karimi (Faculty of Science) -- Canada Research Chair in Structured Quantum Waves

Ebrahim Karimi's research program uses structured quantum waves to enhance capabilities and open new horizons in quantum communication protocols, simulators and sensing. Robust yet compact devices will be designed to efficiently structure electron and optical beams, increasing the security and capacity of information transmission -- the key to establishing the first quantum network across Ottawa -- as well as measuring and analyzing materials properties quickly on a small scale.

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Researchers have discovered a new and more efficient computing method for pairing the reliability of a classical computer with the strength of a quantum system.

This new computing method opens the door to different algorithms and experiments that bring quantum researchers closer to near-term applications and discoveries of the technology.

"In the future, quantum computers could be used in a wide variety of applications including helping to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, developing artificial limbs and designing more efficient pharmaceuticals," said Christine Muschik, a principal investigator at the Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC) and a faculty member in physics and astronomy at the University of Waterloo.

The research team from IQC in partnership with the University of Innsbruck is the first to propose the measurement-based approach in a feedback loop with a regular computer, inventing a new way to tackle hard computing problems. Their method is resource-efficient and therefore can use small quantum states because they are custom-tailored to specific types of problems.

Hybrid computing, where a regular computer's processor and a quantum co-processor are paired into a feedback loop, gives researchers a more robust and flexible approach than trying to use a quantum computer alone.

While researchers are currently building hybrid, computers based on quantum gates, Muschik's research team was interested in the quantum computations that could be done without gates. They designed an algorithm in which a hybrid quantum-classical computation is carried out by performing a sequence of measurements on an entangled quantum state.

The team's theoretical research is good news for quantum software developers and experimentalists because it provides a new way of thinking about optimization algorithms. The algorithm offers high error tolerance, often an issue in quantum systems, and works for a wide range of quantum systems, including photonic quantum co-processors.

Hybrid computing is a novel frontier in near-term quantum applications. By removing the reliance on quantum gates, Muschik and her team have removed the struggle with finicky and delicate resources and instead, by using entangled quantum states, they believe they will be able to design feedback loops that can be tailored to the datasets that the computers are researching in a more efficient manner.

"Quantum computers have the potential to solve problems that supercomputers can't, but they are still experimental and fragile," said Muschik.

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The study, A measurement-based variational quantum eigensolver, which details the researchers' work was recently published in the journal Physical Review Letters.

This project is funded by CIFAR.
"The picture we have in our mind of air pollution is black smoke billowing out of a smokestack or tailpipe," said Gabriel Isaacman-VanWertz, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering. "But the truth is that it is much more complicated."

The atmosphere behaves like a giant chemical reactor driven by the sun, Isaacman-VanWertz explained, and major air pollutants like ozone and particulate matter are mostly products of this chemistry. Gases emitted from natural sources mix with emissions from human activities and "cook" in the atmosphere. Precipitation has the potential to wash out these gases before the chemistry produces ozone and particulate matter, but the process is not yet well understood, he said.

Isaacman-VanWertz received a National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award and a Department of Energy Early Career Research Program grant to quantify the removal of those gases from the atmosphere, better understand how quickly this process occurs, and estimate its impacts on concentrations of air pollution around the globe. "We hope this will lead to improved models and better predictions of regional air quality," he said. His research may also provide fundamental insights into the impact of different types of emissions on the chemistry of the atmosphere.

These five-year grants are the top honors from these agencies awarded to early-career faculty to lead advances in education and research.

Isaacman-VanWertz has been studying the way the atmosphere interacts with organic compounds for several years. In 2018, he was the lead scientist on a study published in Nature Chemistry that established a method of tracking reactions between air and carbon-based compounds. This was the first time this had been done by researchers and aimed to study pollution, smog, and haze in a way that was backed by data depicting a compound's behavior over time. However, this project led him to wonder whether processes that couldn't be easily captured in the lab, like rain-out from precipitation, happened fast enough or often enough to interrupt the sun-driven chemistry and reduce the amount of air pollution formed. He found that there was not much data on it so he envisioned a project to fill that gap by measuring the washing-out of gases in real-world and laboratory-generated rain storms. He also realized there was a network of measurements around the globe supported by the Department of Energy that might be useful to understand the global impacts of rain on pollutants.

Isaacman-VanWertz will measure concentrations of the reactive organic gases at an established forested field site and in Blacksburg that account for most of the reactivity of the atmosphere and have the most potential for aerosol formation. He will also build a chamber to simulate rain events and measure how they wash out gases. "As far as I know, this is something that has never been done before, but I have done a lot of modeling and reading to convince myself that it is possible," he said. Using data from the Department of Energy Atmospheric Radiation Measurement network, he will estimate how fast these gases get washed out around the globe and model how this process affects the formation of pollution.

He hopes the research will contribute to scientific understanding across a range of disciplines, from ecology to public health to climatology. Furthermore, the goal is to translate the core scientific issues into a variety of materials to engage with the public. The NSF grant will support collaborations with regional partners to bring his science to the public and provide valuable opportunities for outreach and broad engagement.

"A major focus of my lab is to develop new methods and approaches for state-of-the-art instrumentation and lower-cost tools to make atmospheric measurements more available," he said. Through the NSF grant, online educational materials and hands-on activities will be developed and shared through museum programming and on-campus events. He will be working with the Science Museum of Western Virginia to develop an exhibit for the museum floor about the chemistry of the atmosphere, as well as some virtual teaching materials.

"I hope this project will help the public develop a new picture of air pollution in their mind closer to reality, of gases and particles cooking together in the atmosphere," Isaacman-VanWertz said.

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Womb Pain Stories from the Glass: Lions for Change category got the most thumbs up from the industry

While India has had a bleak start at Cannes Lions this year with no entries from the country getting featured in its first shortlists, the creative industry is nevertheless excited about some powerful campaigns this year. The Indian ad world has shared with exchnage4media.com their favourite shortlists from the Glass, Titanium, and Innovation category.

DDB Mudra Group CCO Rahul Mathew is placing his bets onThe Uncensored Library created by the German arm of his agency for Reporters Without Borders for Titanium Lions.

He quips, Ive seen this piece of work through many stages of its development since its a piece from our Germany office. I thought the Uncensored Playlist would be hard to beat, but the Uncensored Library has pushed it many notches up. The use of Minecraft is genius. And the crafting of the idea is enviable. I would lock myself in a library (if one is open) in disappointment if this didnt win.

For Innovation Category, his favourite is the Purple Hive Project created by Thinkerbelle Melbourne for Bega B Honey. I had judged this piece of work at Spikes as well. And its a great example of creativity and innovation coming together to make protecting the environment a more sustainable act.

In the Glass: Lions for Change Category, Matthews is rooting for #WombPainStories to win. The campaign is created by AMV BBDO London for Essitys Bodyform/Libresse.

I think this comes from being a huge fan of the brand. I simply love the work that Libresse does. Right from 'Bloodnormal' to 'viva la vulva' to the shortlisted womb stories, it has completely changed the way we look at feminine hygiene as a category and periods as a conversation.

However, he feels that the campaign might become a victim of its own consistency. Some juries may find their regular presence in this category reason enough to give a new conversation a chance.

Dentsu Webchutney NCD PG Aditya, who is a part of the Brand Experience & Activation Lions Shortlist Jury at Cannes Lions this year, has also shared his favourite campaigns from the shortlists thus far.

He says, I was fortunate enough to review a lot of the work that made it to the Glass & Titanium shortlist at Cannes, through the One Show jury earlier in April/May -- where they had also been entered.

In Glass, even his bets are on Womb Pain Stories. I have a feeling its going to be the Fearless Girl of 2021, he says. Another favourite of his is 'True Name' by MasterCard created by McCann New York: True Name is the most relevant interpretation of MasterCards Priceless philosophy Ive seen till-date.

He adds, Please Arrest Me is also a very compelling piece, and its quite telling that this campaign about changing an Indian law was born out of Singapore. Both reassuring & unnerving. The campaign is created by Ogilvy Singapore for RIT foundation and is shortlisted in the Glass category.

However, he is a little surprised at Buy With Your Time making it to the Titanium shortlist. I recall a previous jury I was part of feeling that it was a little insincere that IKEA, a brand that is globally moving towards championing sustainability, was celebrating an idea thats all about driving long distances. But it goes to show how different jury sentiments can be across festivals.

Industry veteran and Nihilent Ltd & Hypercollective Global CCO KV Sridhar (Pops) has two favourites in the Glass Category -- Glass Ceiling Breaker by BBH New York for Chief & National Women's History Museum and Blame No More by TBWA\Hunt\Lascaris Johannesburg for Hype Magazine.

He says, There is a lot of good and insightful work in the Glass category this year but these two stand out for their great execution. While the Glass Ceiling Breaker is extremely topical and in a very demonstrative way talks about breaking stereotypes associated with the minorities, Blame No More represents the real picture about the trend of victim blaming that is prevalent all across the world. The latter has been dramatically shot and really jolts the viewer in thinking about the issue.

In the Titanium category, he supports the #WombPainStories along with Nikes You Cant Stop Sport campaign, created by Wieden+Kennedy Portland.

Talking about the two he said, 'The Womb Pain Stories' is a brilliantly shot and executed campaign, without going crass or overboard about the issue. It touched me at a deeper level. On the other hand, I am hugely impressed by the craft that has gone behind making Nike's You Cant Stop Sport campaign. Brilliantly written and executed, especially keeping in mind the current times.

Pops, however, feels that the Innovation category doesnt have many striking shortlists this time as most of the ideas are not really capable of altering the world or contributing better to shared human emotions and experiences by solving complex problems. Though, his favourites amongst the lot are NOTPLA by Superunion London and Untouchables by Leo Burnett Mexico city for Eva Clinic.

He elaborates,'Notpla' is an interesting idea. Though I dont know how it could be scaled up for the future, but it is definitely the need of the hour to reduce the burden of plastic waste.

Speaking about Untouchables", he said, Though it seems like a deeply cultural issue, the campaign shows how it's relevant to women across the world. Most of the women are not comfortable in checking their breasts, let a doctor or family member help them. The innovation is not only useful but is also presented quite nicely.

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UK Jobs Market Recovery Continues, Pound Sterling Unable to Respond to Better than Expected Data

The UK jobs data overall was significantly stronger than expected with increased employment and sharp decline in the claimant count, but the Pound Sterling was unable to hold fleeting gains after the release.

The Pound to Euro (GBP/EUR) exchange rate at 1.1630 from 1.1650 highs as the Euro strengthened in global markets.

According to the latest ONS data the unemployment rate edged lower to 4.7% in the three months to April from 4.8% previously and in line with consensus forecasts.

The other data elements were generally stronger than expected.

The universal credit claimant count recorded a sharp monthly decline of over 92,000 for the month after a revised 55,000 decline the previous month.

The number of workers on payrolls increased 197,000 on the month, the sixth successive increase, although there was still a 553,000 decline compared with February 2020.

Above: UK payrolls chart

There was also a decline in the redundancy rate to near the level seen in the quarter to February 2020.

There was only a limited increase in the number of hours worked to 975 million from 956 million the previous month.

Sam Beckett, ONS head of economic statistics, commented: "The number of employees on payroll grew strongly in May, up by almost 200,000, although it is still over half a million down since the pandemic struck.

He added; "Job vacancies continued to recover in the spring, and our early estimates suggest that by May the total had surpassed its pre-pandemic level, with strong growth in sectors such as hospitality.

Suren Thiru, head of economics at the British Chambers of Commerce commented; ONS data confirms the UK jobs market is improving, payroll employment up 197,000 in May, the sixth successive monthly rise, as restrictions eased further in the month.

CIPD labour-market economist Jonathan Boys, added; In many ways, these figures confirm what we already know - recovery appears to be in full swing and confidence is returning.

Vacancies Continue to Increase, Earnings Jump

There was a further increase in job vacancies for the month with a quarterly increase of close to 147,000 and only 27,000 below pre-pandemic levels in the quarter to March 2020.

The ONS noted: The strongest quarterly increase was in accommodation and food services. In May 2021, the experimental monthly vacancies data, and the experimental Adzuna online vacancies data both surpassed pre-pandemic levels.

Average earnings increased 5.6% in the year to April from 4.0% previously and the strongest reading since April 2007 which will improve confidence in the outlook for consumer spending.

Thomas Pugh, UK economist at Capital Economics did not see the labour market as tight which should curb upward pressure on earnings; "The level of employment is still well below its pre-crisis level, suggesting there is still plenty of slack in the labour market."

ING still expressed some reservations over the outlook later in 2021; Unemployment is likely to rise again as wage support ends, though assuming the four-week delay to ending restrictions isn't extended further, the spike is likely to be more muted than it might have been had furlough ended earlier.

Chancellor Sunak adopted an upbeat stance; Our Plan for Jobs is working  the latest forecasts for unemployment are around half of what was previously feared and the number of employees on payroll is at its highest level since April last year.

The Pound Sterling posted gains in immediate response to the data, but failed to hold the gains. The Pound to Dollar (GBP/USD) exchange rate traded at 1.4115 from 1.4130 highs.
Tuesday, June 15, 2021

Bookpleasures.com welcomesas our guest Scott Farris the New YorkTimes best-selling author of four books on Americanpolitical history, including Freedom on Trial: TheFirst Post-Civil War Battle Over Civil Rights and Voter Suppression,Almost President:

The Men Who Lost theRace But Changed the Nation (2011), Kennedy andReagan: Why Their Legacies Endure (2013) and Inga:Kennedy's Great Love, Hitler's Perfect Beauty and J. Edgar Hoover'sPrime Suspect (2016).





He is a former journalistspecializing in political and governmental reporting and one-timebureau chief for United Press International who also taughtjournalism at the University of Wyoming.

Good day Scott and thanksfor taking part in our interview.

Norm: How longhave you been writing? And how long did it take you to get your firstmajor book contract?







Scott: Thank you for theinvitation to participate! While I began my professional life morethan 40 years ago as a journalist, most notably with United PressInternational, I did not begin writing books until I was almostfifty.

Mostly for fun (though Ialso had delusions of being a college professor in mid-life) I hadgone back to school to get a masters degree in history andconcluded that if I could write a thesis, I could write a book.

I also had run forCongress in 1998 (and lost) but the experience gave me the idea formy first book, which is the role losers play in our political system.

By chance, I made theacquaintance of Egil Bud Krogh, whose name will be recognizedby political history buffs as one of the Watergate conspirators.

Bud was tormented by hisrole in that affair and wrote a book called Integrity toexplore why, as a generally honest man, he had been willing to breakthe law in that instance.

Thinking about the bookgerminating in my own mind, I asked Bud how you go about gettingpublished. He replied that it helps if your stepdaughter is a leadingliterary agent. He introduced me to said literary agent, Laura Dail,who liked my proposal and took me on as a client  two kindnessesfor which I will be forever grateful.

Laura helped me shape myproposal and shopped it around and it was initially rejected, thoughI received positive feedback from a number of intrigued publishersand some good advice from one editor who said my initial concept wastoo esoteric.

She said people like toread about people, so I restructured the proposal and made the bookcalled Almost President a series of biographical sketchesabout losing presidential candidates and their impact on history.Lyons Press liked it and bought it.

So the whole process frommy introduction to Laura to publication took four years. Gettingnon-fiction, at least, published is not a quick process, only aworthwhile one.



Norm: When did theidea for Freedom on Trial: The First Post-Civil War BattleOver Civil Rights and Voter Suppression first emerge?

Scott: Genealogicalcuriosity. I had long heard family legends that my great-grandfatherhad rather suddenly left South Carolina after the Civil War andrelocated to a remote part of Arkansas because he had killed a Blackman.

One day, I was readingEric Foners magisterial book Reconstruction: AmericasUnfinished Revolution in which he noted that several thousandWhite men had fled South Carolina in that period to avoid arrest andconviction for being part of the Ku Klux Klan.

I decided to discover ifthis had been my great-grandfathers motive and learned that he hadbeen indicted, not for murder, but for participating in the brutalbeatings of two Black men in order to prevent the men from voting. AsI learned the context for these horrific assaults I saw a book ofcontemporary relevance form.



Norm: Can youshare a little of your book with us?



Scott: My book tellsthe story of the successful post-Civil War crackdown on the Ku KluxKlan by the Grant administration.

This was the high point ofReconstruction and was a tremendous achievement that instead became amissed opportunity that might have dramatically altered the racialhistory of the United States.

I tell the stories ofseveral fascinating early civil rights pioneers, Black and White, andhow the Ku Klux Klan evolved from a social club to a massiveparamilitary organization devoted to preventing African Americans andtheir White allies from voting with the goal of restoring southernsociety to something akin to what existed before the war: bondage byanother name.

To combat the Klan,Congress gave the president the power to suspend the writ of habeascorpus and Grant sent in federal troops, including the 7th Cavalry,to make mass arrests of suspected Ku Klux.

There were so many thathundreds never went to court, but those who did go to trial werecharged with committing the then-novel crime of violating anothercitizens civil rights.

The most important andhigh-profile trials were held in South Carolina where the Ku Kluxwere represented by two former U.S. attorneys general and the jurieswere predominantly African-Americans who, along with many witnesses,displayed extraordinary courage in fulfilling their civil duty.

The prosecutions weremasterminded by the then-current U.S. attorney general who was,remarkably, a former Confederate and enslaver named Amos T. Akermanwho had become extraordinarily committed to civil rights for AfricanAmericans.

The trials produced aremarkable debate over the meanings of the Thirteenth, Fourteenth andFifteenth Amendments to the Constitution while also exposing to ashocked and appalled nation (for this was front page news nationwide)the absolutely ghastly crimes committed by the Ku Klux.

In addition tohighlighting some truly extraordinary figures, the book also tellsthe depressing story of how the U.S. Supreme Court, which could haveenshrined civil rights nearly a century earlier than it eventuallydid, betrayed the promise of the trials with decisions that ought tobe as reviled in popular memory as Dred Scott or Plessy v. Ferguson.

Still, displaying thepower of the law when it is vigorously enforced, even in relativelysmall doses, the trials broke the black of the KKK, which disappearedfrom our national life for a half-century until it was resurrected ina newly incarnated version following the release of the odious filmBirth of a Nation.

I do end the book on amore upbeat note by discussing how descendants of some of thoseinvolved in the trials and others in the local community have workedin recent years toward racial reconciliation and preserving thetruth of these events.

This is why I weave in thestory of my great-grandfather, whose story also helps explain themotives of those who participated in the Ku Klux.

As I state in the book, Ido not believe in inherited guilt but I do believe our ancestorsbequeath us certain obligations, and so the book is a small attemptat making amends for my ancestors role in perpetuating racialinjustice.

I do note that I alsohighlight another ancestor, a cousin of my great-grandfathers, whocaptained an otherwise all-Black militia to battle the Klan. Allfamilies have a mix of good and bad.



Norm: What did you knowgoing in about your subject matter?

Scott: My first book,Almost President, partially covered the Reconstruction era,but writing the book, as writing every book is, was a tremendouslearning experience for me.

There are some superbhistories out there, but they represent a very small fraction of thenumber of volumes you can find regarding the Civil War, for example.

Reconstruction has beenone of the least-studied periods of American history. I recall goingto the National Museum of African American History and Culture inWashington and being gobsmacked that the entire set of displays onthe Reconstruction period would fit in my modestly-sized living roomat home.

I think this is becauseit is such painful period that is genuinely viewed as a failure. Iwill say that I think my book is part of a very recent upsurge ininterest in Reconstruction, as demonstrated by the Henry Louis Gatesdocumentary on PBS last year.

More people arediscovering what I learned, which is that Reconstruction was atime of great promise that is worth studying so we might avoidsquandering future opportunities for creating a more just andpeaceful society.



Norm: What was thetime-line between the time you decided to write your book andpublication? What were the major events along the way?

Scott: I had been thinkingabout writing Freedom on Trial for several years before fullycommitting to it in 2016, immediately following (or even a littlebefore) the publication of my previous book about Inga Arvad, theglamorous suspected Nazi spy who was the great love of John F.Kennedys life. (I have sold the movie option for that book, whichwould make a fabulous streaming series, if I say so myself.) So,similar to Almost President, Freedom on Trial was a four-yearadventure.

The great challenge for mewith every book is that I do not have the means to be a full-tinewriter. I have a fairly demanding full-time day job as a governmentaffairs specialist for one of the worlds leading renewable energycompanies.

So, I had to find time toresearch and write, including travel to South Carolina. That trip, Ithink, was key event in the book coming together. I love archivalresearch, but you can also glean much information and get a sense ofnarrative tone by actually standing in the place where eventshappened.



Norm: Can youshare some stories about people you met while researching thisbook? What are some of the references that you used whileresearching this book?

Scott: I was fortunatethat there was a tremendous amount of source material. As Imentioned, national and local newspapers covered these trialsextensively. This included the Yorkville Enquirer, thenewspaper of York County, South Carolina, which is where mygreat-grandfather lived and which was the epicenter of Ku Kluxactivity at the time.

Congress held hearingsthroughout the South on the Ku Klux Klan and the transcripts, whichinclude testimony by both suspected Ku Klux and their victims, fillthirteen volumes.

Best of all, Akerman,because he wanted to rouse the nation to action, commissioned a raretranscript of the trials held in Columbia, South Carolina, for thefederal court winter term in 1871-72, so much of the book hasverbatim testimony that is often as riveting as any courtroom dramafrom film or stage.

When I traveled to SouthCarolina and Georgia, I admit I was curious how I would be received,but I was overwhelmed by the kind assistance of so many.

This was not a pleasantepisode of local history, but I discovered several local York Countyhistorians had already done tremendous work, and historians andarchivists at the Historical Center of York County, the York CountyLibrary, the University of South Carolina and Winthrop University allbent over backwards to be of help.

Individually, I wasfascinated to speak with writer and filmmaker Dr. Spenser Simril Jr.and Tuskogee University professor Dr. Lisa Bratton. Each hail fromfamilies that had the enslaved and the enslavers and each has workedto bring together White and Black descendants within their respectivefamilies to create one family.

Another inspirationalvoice was Pastor Sam McGregor of the Allison Creek PresbyterianChurch, whose congregation can take credit for the raising of thefirst state historical marker in South Carolina that acknowledges theexistence of the Ku Klux Klan.

The marker tells the storyof a particularly remarkable person featured in the book, Elias Hill,an autodidact former slave and a quadriplegic who was a brilliantpreacher, teacher and political leader so persecuted by the Klan thathe led a large group of emigrants to Liberia in 1871.

There, he was justbeginning a campaign to protest the poor treatment of nativeLiberians by African-American immigrants when he died of malaria.American history is overstuffed with remarkable stories that havenever been widely told.

Norm: What purpose doyou believe your book serves and what matters to you about thestory?



Scott: First, it simplytells a fascinating story about a largely unknown period and event inAmerican history. Second, voter suppression, civil insurrection andcivil rights arent issues of the distant past, they remain the hottopics in todays headlines. If my book helps to deepen ourunderstanding of how we got to where we are, perhaps we will have abetter sense of how to continue moving forward and not take backwardssteps.

Norm: What were yourgoals and intentions in this book, and how well do you feel youachieved them?



Scott: In addition totelling this story well and illuminating the present through thepast, I hope my book inspires others to take a candid look at theirown family history.

We all love to brag onancestors who fought valiantly in war or performed some great deed,but every ancestor was not a hero and several of mine werent evenlaw-abiding.

But I have their DNA, too,and they also connect me to the past of this nation. I think it isimportant, for good or bad, to appreciate those historicalconnections. It makes us better citizens and perhaps even betterpeople, because truth is important. If we arent anchored by truth,then we are unmoored and that is not a good thing for us personallyor nationally.

Norm: What was themost difficult part of writing this book?



Scott: Striking the righttone and balance in the narrative. Issues as touchy as race are fullof landmines, especially when the author is an older White man, but Iwant people of all persuasions and opinions to read my books andhopefully be informed if not even a little bit changed by them.

You seldom change minds byargument, but you can do so with stories. Stories, not dialectics,are how humans process information. I seek understanding.

Clearly, there are goodguys and bad guys in my book, but I ask the same question Bud Kroghasked of himself: why do otherwise good people do bad things?

In this particularinstance, I needed to know, because I have the DNA of some of thosewho are the bad guys in my book. It keeps you both humble and alertto realize each of us, under the right circumstances, are capable ofvery bad behavior.



Norm: What wouldyou say is the best reason to recommend someone to read Freedomon Trial: The First Post-Civil War Battle Over Civil Rights and VoterSuppression?

Scott: Its afascinating story incredibly relevant to todays news and  I saythis with no modesty whatsoever  I am a very good writer who tellsthis story very well.

Admittedly, this is a bookthat can be hard to read because it recounts some very gruesomeincidents and the end result is dispiriting.

But based on many readerreviews and the opinion of several scholars for whom I have thehighest opinion, all stated this book greatly enhanced theirknowledge of some very important issues and deeply enriched theirunderstanding of American history.



Norm: How canreaders find out more about you and Freedom on Trial: TheFirst Post-Civil War Battle Over Civil Rights and Voter Suppression?



Scott: I confess to beingno fan of social media, much to my agents and publisherschagrin, so I have not kept up my web page nor am I active on Twitteror Facebook.

I do have pages onGoodreads, Amazon and the Barnes and Noble website, so there isinformation in those places, although, obviously, Freedom on Trialshould be available through any bookstore (or library) of yourchoice. If not, insist they order it  especially the libraries.



Norm: Should we bescared about American democracy?

Scott: Our national mottoof e pluribus unum  out of many, one  is our greatestaspiration and our greatest challenge.

One theme of my firstbook, Almost President, is that our democracy is more fragilethan most imagine, which is why I applaud those previous losingcandidates who graciously accepted their painful defeats in serviceto unifying America.

That obviously did nothappen in 2020 with Mr. Trump  and in fairness to my Republicanfriends I acknowledge Mrs. Clinton was not particularly gracious in2016.

On the other hand, one keytheme of Freedom on Trial is how much individual Americanslove our country. I was truly awestruck at how, despite thepersecution and tribulations they have experienced, Black Americansremain so patriotic and committed to our nations continuedimprovement.

How can those of us whohave experienced far fewer travails feel anything less? I havetwo children just entering adulthood.

When I think of thecurrent state of affairs, I feel considerable distress, but when Ilook at them and their peers, I see a generation that offers a greatdeal of hope. They more than my generation has embraced the idea ofstrength in diversity in the same way a cloth is strong by how themany threads are interwoven.



Norm: What are youupcoming projects?

Scott: Very much in thespirit of the previous question, I am writing a book on how the 1952presidential election between Dwight Eisenhower and Adlai Stevensonexplains and defined the state of modern politics.

It was the first election,really, since the Cold War began and also the first election that hadto take stock of how much World War II had changed America.

Old notions aboutconservatism or liberalism changed dramatically, as did Americansociety. The cliche of the 1950s is that it was the time ofconformity but it was instead a time of great intellectual andcultural ferment, and it was the reaction to that ferment, notgovernmental policies, that began to define what it meant to be aliberal or a conservative.

Of particular interest ishow the erudite Stevenson led to Republicans becoming overtlyanti-intellectual, while Democrats then seemed to abandon genuineeconomic reform.

1952 was a particularlypivotal year in many ways, ending 20 years of a Democrat occupyingthe White House, and setting in motion a host of important politicalcareers, including those of Nixon, Kennedy, Goldwater  evenReagan, for that was the year he married Nancy.

It was also the year whenRalph Ellisons Invisible Man was published, when Clevelanddisc jockey Alan Freed organized the first a rock and roll concertand when there were more sightings of UFOs than any other. It hasbeen a fun book to research and I hope to finish writing it forpublication in 2024.



Norm: As this interviewcomes to an end, if you could invite three authors (dead or alive) toyour dinner table, who would they be and what would you discuss?

Scott: As my above answersattest, many writers are not particularly fascinating themselves;their job is to write about those who are fascinating.

I have had the privilegeof meeting some of the most eminent historians alive, but we aretalking about a dinner party, not a graduate seminar, and dinnerparties should be fun and lively.

So, I would want to invitewriters known for being witty and/or provocative conversationalists.So an interesting mix would be Abraham Lincoln, Oscar Wilde and JamesBaldwin, three of the most quotable writers in history.

Lincoln, of course, neverwrote a book, but is among the finest prose stylists in the Englishlanguage.

With such guests, ahost of marvelous stories and memorable bon mots would be expected,not to mention engrossing debate over an extraordinary range ofissues and each sought to understand the others time period. Thetopics covered would range far and wide, but mostly, I imagine therewould be a lot of laughter, which would be most convivial after thepandemic.



Norm: Thanks again andgood luck with Freedom on Trial: The First Post-Civil WarBattle Over Civil Rights and Voter Suppression?

Scott: Thank you, Norm! Ithas been a great pleasure!
Monday, June 14, 2021

Many of you have been asking what you can do at the State level. Heres a terrific option. Kudos to Eric Koleda. He has also negotiated an agreement with a KY hospital Wound Center to start treating TBIs. All relevant state initiatives can be viewed at: https://treatnow.org/contact/state-campaigns/

My Fellow Veterans and HBOT Advocates,

Attached is a letter to KY Governor Andy Beshear requesting he support our state legislative RESOLUTION (see attached) to our US Senators and Congressmen/Woman. Larry Arnett leads the legislative effort for JECVO (Joint Executive Council for Veteran Organizations) who represent all of the VSOs on the far left of the letter in KY for legislative initiatives. I will be presenting to the KY Senate and House Committees on this effort in the coming months to migrate this forward. We are requesting all of you take a similar effort in your respective states, especially all that have HBOT enacted laws.

Wyoming (non-HBOT enacted state) has already passed their resolution and forwarded it to their delegation in Washington. Grady Birdsong (Vietnam Marine Veteran) has led the way in getting Wyoming to enact the RESOLUTION, he is currently working on Colorado. Grady has a long affiliation with Rocky Mountain Hyperbaric Institute clinic in Colorado.

Through our joint efforts, we can make a difference and have our voices heard in Washington that TBI Veterans have earned the right to HBOT treatment. Feel free to use the attached letters to draft your own resolutions or share within your legislative groups. Larry Arnett has agreed to openly share his letter with our fellow advocates. If you need any assistance, please feel free to contact me on this very important effort.

We will be working to migrate this effort forward in OK, AZ, and TX along with our states of KY, IN, NC, and FL.

Regards,

Eric Koleda

National Director-TreatNOW State Legislative Efforts

Director and Founder

HBOT4KYVETS

502-938-1300 Cell
Four months ago, Texans went without power for days after frigid cold broke the back of the states power grid. Now, a heat wave is pushing the grid to the brink, prompting its operator and utilities to ask Texans to conserve energy and the city of San Antonio to open dozens of cooling centers.

With peak power demand forecast to top a record set in 2018, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas at midday Monday asked Texans to conserve energy through Friday. The grid operator said the conservation alerts were a result of both rising temperatures and power plant outages.

It was unclear why as much as 15 percent of the grids generating capacity was offline as forecasts called for temperatures in San Antonio and across the region to reach the upper 90s this week.

The situation was very concerning, said Warren Lasher, ERCOT senior director of systems planning.

We operate the grid with the resources that we have available, he told reporters Monday afternoon. Its the responsibility of the generators to make sure their plants are available when demand is high.

Woody Rickerson, ERCOT vice president of grid planning and operations, said an analysis would be conducted to determine why the units were out of service.

This is unusual for this early in the summer season, he said.

Maintenance outages are more common in the spring and fall as power plants prepare for the extreme heat of the Texas summer or cold in the winter. About 12,000 megawatts of generation were offline Monday, enough to power 2.4 million homes on a hot summer day.

CPS Energy, which echoed ERCOTs call for customers to reduce usage, said all its plants were running at full capacity.

With temperatures and concern for the power grid rising, the city said it would begin opening dozens of cooling centers Tuesday across the city.

I want to encourage our residents to utilize these cooling centers if they need to seek safety from the heat, City Manager Erik Walsh said in a statement. If you need assistance, please call 311.

A full list of locations and opening times for the centers at public libraries and community centers can be found on the citys website.

ERCOT said that as of 2:30 p.m., about 12,178 megawatts of the states roughly 80,000 megawatts of power capacity had been forced offline for maintenance. Earlier, it said Mondays peak demand could exceed 73,000 megawatts  well above the previous record demand of 69,123 set June 27, 2018.

Though the requests for conservation came along with heat advisories, they put San Antonians in mind of Februarys freeze, when many CPS customers went without power for days.

Mondays conservation order, however, wasnt the first since Winter Storm Uri. The grid manager issued one April 14, when temperatures were hotter than usual and power generators were offline for routine maintenance ahead of heavy summer demand. But that alert lasted for only one day.

Lasher said it was unlikely this weeks situation would require ERCOT to resort to rolling outages, as it did in February, to reduce strain on the grid.

Ed Hirs, an energy fellow at the University of Houston, said he wasnt surprised by Mondays alert  and that Texans should expect more in coming months.

This is not going to get better, he said. There will be more alerts this summer primarily because the weather pattern looks like it will be hotter than last summer, and ERCOT, with the new bills passed out of the Legislature, is duty-bound to issue alerts.

Experts said after the freeze that shoring up the grid to be more resilient will require moving away from the states current market-based system, which favors efficiency and lower prices over reliability. Creating more reliability would come at a significant cost because it would require building more backup generation and redundant systems, even if theyre rarely used.

This month, Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law Senate Bill 3, which mandates weatherization of power plants, creates a statewide emergency alert system, aims to improve communication among those in the industry and designates some natural gas facilities as critical so their power cant be turned off during crises.

On ExpressNews.com: Texas politicians knowingly blew 3 chances to fix the failing power grid

Hirs said those actions fall short of what is needed.

This was destined to fail because no one would invest in new capacity or at least not invest fast enough to keep pace with demand, he said. Theres really no incentive to reinvest or maintain the grid for weatherization.

Meanwhile, ERCOT has forecast that demand could set more records this summer. In May, it said peak power demand could reach 77,144 megawatts; the previous summer record was set Aug. 12, 2019, when demand hit 74,820 megawatts.

Then, Rickerson said the state would have enough output to meet demand, with an estimated generation capacity of 86,862 megawatts. But he and ERCOT did not rule out the possibility for tight grid conditions during some of the hottest days when air-conditioning use is at its peak.

Apparently, those days have arrived about a week and a half before the official start of summer.

CPS encouraged residents to conserve energy, and it offered these tips:

Set thermostats 2 or 3 degrees higher from 2 to 7 p.m. daily, with the optimum energy-saving temperature being 78 degrees.

Avoid using large appliances such as electric ovens, washing machines and dryers during the afternoon and evening hours, when power demand usually peaks.

Shut off pool pumps from 4 to 6 p.m.

Turn off and unplug nonessential lights and appliances.
When Robbin Hummel took on a part-time job with Bill Miller Bar-B-Q at the age of 15, she did not think it would turn into an almost 40-year career with the San Antonio-based restaurant chain.

Hummel, who is now 54, began working at the 3408 S Military Dr. location in 1982. She had hoped to eventually move on from Bill Miller to become a veterinarian but became pregnant right out of high school and needed the money at the time.

"I was a single mom," she said. "I couldn't really afford to do anything else."

On ExpressNews.com: 'Impressive' 6-foot bullsnake wrangled from tree in Helotes last week

Life may have taken her in a different direction, but Hummel has made the most of it with a company she said has been good to her over the years. She is now the area manager for five locations in San Antonio and the surrounding areas.

The Texas chain on Tuesday shared a Facebook and LinkedIn post celebrating Hummel's 39 years of service.

"Since joining our family, Robbin has undoubtedly contributed to the growth and development of the company in more ways than one," the post said.

The restaurant chain took notice of Hummel's talent early in her career. Only two weeks after she was hired, she was asked to take part in the "staff leader class," which led to several managerial roles before she was given the title of store manager at the age of 21.

She was making big steps in her career while being a mom to a toddler. Hummel said she didn't have anyone else but her mom to help.

"My mom is my biggest asset," Hummel said. "She was always there for me. She took care of my child whenever I had to go into work."

Past co-workers, customers, friends and family shared their love and support for Hummel on the restaurant's Facebook post.

Sandra G. Bustillos, a frequent Bill Miller Bar-B-Q customer, said she always had a positive experience with Hummel.

"Every time I would go to the Bill Miller on Military Drive and when Ive seen her at other Bill Miller locations, she is always as sweet as Bill Millers tea," Bustillos commented.

On Expressnews.com: Bill Miller Bar-B-Q headquarters closer to leaving downtown with San Antonio City Council approval of land sale

Bill Miller Bar-B-Q

About 25 restaurant locations existed when Hummel first started, she said. Today, Bill Miller Bar-B-Q operates 77 restaurants in the San Antonio, Corpus Christi and Austin areas.

Hummel now has three children and has been married to her husband for 32 years. She paid off her house last year and said she sent a letter of gratitude to Balous Miller, Bill Miller's oldest son.

"I told him that I just wanted to thank [him] for this opportunity. If it hadn't been for this company, I wouldn't have been able to buy my house and live the life that I've had," she said.

Malak.Silmi@express-news.net
LONDON (AP)  Britain and Australia announced the broad outlines of a free trade deal Tuesday, eliminating tariffs on a wide range of goods as the U.K. seeks to expand links around the world following its exit from the European Union.

The pact is expected to boost exports of traditional British products such as Scotch whisky, while boosting imports of lamb and wine from Australia. Crucially for Britain, it will also reduce barriers to trade in financial and other services. The U.K. hopes the deal will help it join the trans-Pacific trade partnership, which would open the door to increased trade throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

It is the first trade deal Britain has negotiated from scratch since it left the EU. Earlier deals with countries including Japan and Canada were built on existing agreements struck by the EU.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson appeared outside his Downing Street office with his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison on Tuesday, to highlight the benefits each country would receive from the deal and stress the long ties between the two nations.

This is an ambitious free trade agreement,'' Morrison told reporters. This is not a standard cookie-cutter agreement. This is an agreement with great ambition for both countries.''

While both leaders were effusive in praising the benefits of the deal, details were limited. The U.K. said a final agreement in principle would be published in the coming days."

Australia is the U.K.'s 14th largest trading partner, accounting for 13.9 billion pounds ($19.5 billion) of exports and imports last year, according to British government statistics. The relationship is even more important to Australia, which counts Britain as its 5th largest trading partner.

Australian farmers may be one of the big beneficiaries of the deal as agricultural goods account for about 14% of the country's total exports. That has raised concern among British farmers, who fear they wont be able to compete with cheap imports from Australia, which has different rules on animal welfare and environmental protection than the U.K.

U.K. farm groups reacted with caution, saying they were waiting to see the details of the agreement.

The ultimate test of this trade deal will be whether it contributes to moving farming across the world onto a more sustainable footing, or whether it instead undermines U.K. farming and merely exports the environmental and animal welfare impact of the food we eat," National Farmers Union President Minette Batters said in a statement.

Johnson defended the deal, saying tariff-free agricultural imports would be capped for 15 years to protect U.K. farmers. The government also said it would seek to increase agricultural exports to Asia and the Pacific.

I want everybody to understand that this is a sensitive sector for both sides and weve got a deal that runs over 15 years and contains the strongest possible provisions for animal welfare,'' Johnson said. But I think it is a good deal, and I think its one that will benefit British farmers and British consumers as well.''

Former Australian trade negotiator Dmitry Grozoubinski, who now runs the Geneva-based consultancy ExplainTrade, said the significance of the deal may be in the benchmark it sets for the future.

British farmers should probably be far more concerned about what comes next in terms of what kind of precedent it sets for future trade deals than Australia specifically,'' he told the BBC.

Johnson's government has been focused on negotiating free trade deals around the world in an effort to boost economic growth following Brexit. The biggest prize would be the United States, which also has a large export-focused agricultural industry.

While the debate over agricultural products has garnered most of the attention during negotiations over the free-trade deal, the provisions governing professional services may have a bigger impact on the British economy.

Australia imported 5.4 billion pounds worth of services from the U.K. last year, making it the 10th largest market for Britain's service industry. Services account for about 80% of the U.K. economy.

It is encouraging to see services recognized in the (Free Trade Agreement,) and going forward we are confident there will be continued momentum to strengthen ties in financial and professional services specifically," said Catherine McGuinness, policy chair for the City of London Corp., which represents the U.K. financial services industry.

__

McGuirk reported from Canberra, Australia.
The body of a father who disappeared alongside a good Samaritan after they rescued two of his children from the Guadalupe River was recovered Monday afternoon.

Victor Villanueva, 30, of San Antonio, was recovered at 2:56 p.m., according to Sgt. Kelly Mann, with the Guadalupe County Sheriffs Office.

On Sunday, Villanueva and his three children were out on an island in the middle of the river near the F.M. 1117 Bridge, authorities said.

Around 5 p.m., Mann said two of Villanuevas children were swimming in the water when they got caught up in the current.

Villanueva jumped in to help his children. He was followed by Casandra Kendrick, 22, of Seguin. The two are not related, Mann said. Kendrick was also on the island but with a separate group of people.

Villanueva reached his children and managed to pass them along to Kendrick, who passed them along to other people onshore, he said.

After his children were rescued, Villanueva himself began struggling and went under the water, authorities said.

Kendrick tried to rescue Villaneuva, Mann said, but she also went under. Neither of them resurfaced Sunday, authorities said.

On ExpressNews.com: Body of 22-year-old woman who saved 2 children from drowning found

Her body was found by divers Sunday evening.

She was a good Samaritan who was attempting to assist Victor in saving his children, Mann said.

The search was stopped Sunday night, but resumed Monday.

Villanuevas body was found approximately one mile downstream from where he was last seen, Mann said.

Mann said Villanueva was from San Antonio, but that he had been living south of New Braunfels.

He said there are multiple signs posted along the river warning people of how dangerous swimming in the area can be.

The currents can be different beneath the surface of the river than how they appear above, Mann said.

The same conditions made it difficult for rescuers who were attempting to find Kendrick and Villanueva. Mann said Villanuevas body was further downstream, outside of the initial search grid.

Anyone thats going to do any kind of water activities anytime of year needs to understand the danger of the area that theyre in, he said. Its frustrating for us when we have situations like this. Its a tragedy for everyone involved.
Bexar County commissioners approved funds Tuesday to beef-up staffing for a local probate court that has been flooded with cases because of the pandemic.

Veronica Vasquez, Probate Court No. 2 said the more than 3,500 deaths attributed to COVID-19 in Bexar County have driven up her caseload from small estate filings, each with an estimated worth of less than $75,000.

In many cases, delays in the overburdened court are hurting residents at a vulnerable time in their lives, forcing them to pay more in attorney fees and court costs, she said.

Theres a direct correlation  from the amount of deaths that we saw from COVID and the strain that its put on the probate courts, Vasquez told commissioners. We need immediate relief as soon as possible.

On ExpressNews.com: Medical examiner says caseload has shot up from COVID-19

Commissioners approved funding for an associate judge, staff attorney and paralegal, at a cost of $81,500 for the remainder of the fiscal year. The estimated annual cost of those positions is $325,881.

Tuesdays action followed commissioners approval in February of a $230,000 allocation for the Bexar County Medical Examiners Office, which reported a 17 percent increase in deaths requiring investigation last year.

Dr. D. Kimberley Molina, the countys chief medical examiner, has attributed the spike in fatalities not only to COVID-19 but also heart attacks and other factors resulting in at-home deaths involving people who deferred medical checkups or hospital visits, for fear of getting the virus.

Along with deaths, Vasquez said population growth and a high number of guardianship cases has compounded her caseload.

According to 2019 U.S. Census estimates, Bexar County has the highest portion of residents under 65 with a disability among the five largest urban Texas counties, at 10.6 percent, compared with 6.1 to 7.3 percent in Dallas, Harris, Travis and Tarrant counties.

Bexar County had nearly 5,000 new probate guardianship filings in 2020, the second-highest number statewide, but the lowest staffing levels among those five counties, with two probate judges and 10 court staff members. Harris County, which had just over 10,000 new filings, has four probate judges, four associate judges and 34 court employees, Vasquez told commissioners.

She described the impact that the bloated docket can have on a widow whose spouse died without a will. If they have a house to sell and need access to their loved ones bank account, they now have to wait for about a month to get probate orders signed.

And often times, within that month, an emergency happens and she will file (for) an emergency proceeding and then that emergency proceeding will end up costing her an extra $2,000. So it winds up costing the taxpayers even more, Vasquez said.

Patricia Vargas, chair of the San Antonio Bar Associations Probate Courts Committee, urged commissioners to give relief to the local courts that provide the needed answers, solutions and services to those in our county who are most vulnerable and are most in need. The two courts, which also hear eminent domain and mental health cases, provide a safety net for the justice system, she said.

And without securing the funding that is sought, we limit these courts ability to provide the critical services that each and every citizen of Bexar County will come to need, Vargas said.

On ExpressNews.com: Jury letters to soon reach Bexar County mailboxes

Oscar Kazen, Probate Court No. 1 judge, said hes been similarly inundated with cases, and will soon request funds for staffing relief.

John Davenport /San Antonio Express-News

In other business, commissioners authorized agreements for two private contractors, C-6 Disposal Systems and Tiger Sanitation, to begin curbside garbage pickup service in five subdivisions in unincorporated eastern Bexar County.

County officials said theyre hopeful that the new service, to begin Aug. 1 under a three-year contract period, will lead to a long-term solution to a serious public health and quality of life issue that festered in those neighborhoods. The city of San Antonio has been providing service under a pilot program in Camelot II.

Officials with the countys Environmental Services Department said door hangers with information will be placed at 3,700 homes in the Camelot II, Candlewood, Crownwood, Glen North and Glen South neighborhoods. Residents will be able to make payments online or at H-E-B stores.

County leaders said theyre still lobbying CPS Energy to add the waste-hauling fees to its monthly bills in those subdivisions.

shuddleston@express-news.net
Days after a lockdown at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland forced anywhere from 15,000 to 20,000 trainees, their instructors, a major medical center and assorted civilians to hunker down for nearly three hours, the Air Force and local police are at odds over what caused it.

Joint Base San Antonio said Friday that possibly two gunmen fired into the base near the Valley Hi gate last Wednesday. San Antonio police later said the claims were not credible or valid, but as the week began, Brig. Gen. Caroline Miller, commander of the joint base, insisted otherwise.

Numerous military and civilian personnel with extensive experience reported that they heard gunfire in the vicinity of the base perimeter and took immediate cover, she said in a statement released Monday afternoon in response to questions from the Express-News.

Although no evidence or eyewitnesses were identified, we are confident that the reports were credible and Security Forces and off-base authorities took the appropriate and immediate action to safeguard the base and personnel in the vicinity.

Millers statement waved off a question about whether base security personnel had launched an assessment of its gate staffing and infrastructure after the incident.

We are unable to discuss specifics surrounding base security; however, the safety and security of our personnel is of utmost importance to our Security Forces team and they will always take necessary measures to ensure our installation remains a safe place to work, train, live, and support the mission, she said.

In a statement Friday, Miller had praised the response of both local police and Security Forces, the Air Force law enforcement organization that defends the gates of its bases around the world.

The incident response demonstrated excellent cooperation between military and civilian law enforcement agency officials which involved both on- and off-base locations, she said. The outstanding and immediate response from local law enforcement was very well coordinated and enabled a perimeter to be established immediately.

Jerry Lara /San Antonio Express-News

Joint Base San Antonio, which provides logistical support for Lackland, Randolph, Fort Sam Houston and Camp Bullis, said Friday the investigation was closed.

That left unresolved the question of whether anyone had fired at or near the base.

The lockdown paralyzed basic and technical training, Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center, the Defense Language Institutes English Language Center, and staff at Lackland Independent School District, though students and teachers already had been dismissed.

The Air Force said the Base Defense Operations Center had received numerous reports with conflicting information about potential shots fired near the perimeter of the base at approximately 12:15 p.m.

Air Force Lt. Col. Brian Loveless, commander of the 802nd Security Forces Squadron, said a caller from inside Lackland reported gunfire just before noon near the gate and that one of the base buildings had been shot at.

An email sent to commanders, first sergeants and personnel with the 737th Training Group at Lackland said, ACTIVE SHOOTER ON BASE THIS IS NOT A DRILL.

Joint Base San Antonio didnt directly say if Security Forces personnel at the Valley Hi gate were aware of any shots fired before being notified about the reports that the operations center received.

JBSA said its Crisis Action Team and Emergency Operations Center were activated, with emergency responders working with the San Antonio Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety and Bexar County deputies to search for possible shooters and clear the area.

An all-clear was issued at 3 p.m. When asked by the Express-News if it could confirm that shots had been fired, a JBSA statement said, Please refer this question to SAPD as they covered the investigation off the installation.

After a search for physical evidence and talking to people at nearby restaurants and a motel, San Antonio police said Saturday that officers were unable to locate any indication that a shooting had occurred.

A fatal shooting occurred in April 2016 on Lacklands Medina Annex, when Air Force Tech. Sgt. Steven Bellino killed his squadron commander, Lt. Col. William Schroeder, in his office before taking his own life.

The Medina Annex, a training area, is now known as the Chapman Annex. It was renamed last year for Master Sgt. John A. Chapman, an Air Force combat controller who was killed in Afghanistan in 2002 and posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

Tracing the arc of Steven Bellino's steep descent https://www.expressnews.com/militarycity/article/Tracing-the-arc-of-Steven-Bellino-s-steep-10869808.php

sigc@express-news.net
A former civilian with the Air Force pleaded guilty Tuesday to charges that he rigged multimillion-dollar contracts for flight simulation technology and training in exchange for $2.3 million in bribes.

Keith Alan Seguin, 55, who worked for 28 years with the 502nd Trainer Development Squadron at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, admitted he conspired with contractor David Bolduc Jr. to rig a series of contracts so a company Bolduc co-owned, QuantaDyn Corp., would land much of the work. The scheme ran between 2006 and 2018.

Seguin pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy. He also pleaded guilty to charges of fraud and making false statements for stealing items meant for fulfilling some of the contract work and selling them online or to brokers, and for not reporting the money he made in the bribery scheme to the IRS.

U.S. District Judge Fred Biery summarized portions of a 35-page factual basis filed with Seguins plea deal and chastised Seguin because he sold some of the stolen equipment to China for less than $10,000.

You sold out your country for $9,900, the judge told Seguin, adding that the equipment might be used to train Chinese pilots to shoot Americans. Seguin replied that he didnt think about that.

Biery set Seguins sentencing for Pearl Harbor Day, Dec. 7. Seguin faces up to 20 years in prison on each fraud charge, and up to five years for the tax count.

Seguin, of Spring Branch, earned about $65,000 at his government job and retired in 2017 before going to work at QuantaDyn.

Bolduc, 61, of Herndon, Va., is awaiting trial on charges that he bribed Seguin for his help in steering the contracts to larger companies that then hired QuantaDyn as a subcontractor. The prime contractors were Booz Allen Hamilton and the engineering division of another contractor that Booz Allen acquired in 2012, records show.

The largest of the contracts was for $413 million for simulation equipment and training awarded in 2013 to Booz Allen Hamilton, though court records show Seguin and Bolduc were working on rigging another one in 2015 proposed for $1.2 billion to $1.8 billion and forming a partnership with Booz Allen Hamilton. Investigators learned about the scheme and intervened so Seguin was unable to continue rigging the contract.

As part of his plea, Seguin admitted releasing confidential government information to employees of Booz Allen Hamilton and the engineering subsidiary Booz Allen acquired so they would pass through the work to QuantaDyn. In turn, QuantaDyn paid Seguin kickbacks.

Court records allege the two larger companies charged fees of up to 10 percent for subcontracting QuantaDyn and that the two large companies profited for doing little to no work.

The government is investigating Booz Allen Hamilton and the subsidiary, though neither company nor any of its employees have been charged.

Booz Allen Hamilton has denied any wrongdoing and says it is cooperating with the federal investigation.

QuantaDyn pleaded guilty in October to charges related to the bribery and was sentenced to five years of probation and ordered to pay a $6.3 million fine and $37 million in restitution.

Another friend of Seguin, Rubens Wilson Fiuza Lima, 71, of Atlanta, is also awaiting trial on charges that he helped launder some of the bribe payments Bolduc made to Seguin.

guillermo.contreras@express-news.net | Twitter: @gmaninfedland
The Bexar County District Attorneys Office said Monday that the case of a San Antonio veteran who was killed in a confrontation in 2020 with sheriffs deputies remains under review.

Army veteran Damian Lamar Daniels, 30, was shot and killed by Bexar County Sheriffs deputies on Aug. 25, after authorities received a call for a man who was in mental distress.

District Attorney Joe D. Gonzales said in a statement Monday that his office was aware of a request by Daniels family to release video of the shooting taken from police body-worn cameras.

However, until our review has been completed and the case has been presented to a Bexar County Grand Jury, we can make no comment on the evidence or the case itself, Gonzales said.

The DAs Civil Rights Division is reviewing the case.

Authorities said Daniels was the subject of four mental health-related calls before he was killed in a struggle with three deputies in the 10000 block of Liberty Field.

Philadelphia-based civil rights attorney Lee Merritt is representing Annette Watkins, Daniels mother, in the case. He has asked the Sheriffs Office to release video of the shooting.

The day before the killing, Daniels family called authorities for assistance after finding him in a despondent state. They were given information on accessing a mental health warrant.

The family reported around 4:08 p.m. on Aug. 24 that Daniels was having suicidal thoughts. Deputies went to his home, where he lived alone, but he did not answer the door.

A second call on the same day came from Daniels, at 10:30 p.m. He told authorities he was hearing things, saw a ghost in the house and was feeling paranoid. Deputies described him as curt when they spoke to him outside his home. He reportedly refused help.

On Tuesday, at 3:48 p.m., the family called police for the third time to report that Daniels was having a paranoiac episode and had sent family members messages saying he was hearing and seeing things and referring to dead relatives. Family members said he recently had lost a sibling and a parent.

An hour later, Daniels mother called deputies, telling them her son was willing to go outside and speak with them. Once he emerged from the home, deputies noticed a bulge at his hip.

Daniels reportedly was shot following a 30-minute confrontation involving tasers, which led to a struggle with Daniels and three deputies. At some point, Daniels reportedly reached for the gun in his hip.

Gonzales said ethically, prosecutors should not release evidence of a case before it has been presented to a grand jury or petit jury, and that the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct prohibit disseminating information that will have a substantial likelihood of materially prejudicing an adjudicatory proceeding.

ezavala@express-news.net | Twitter: @elizabeth2863
There are times we have the privilege to develop friendships that are extraordinary and special because of the way people have lived and the good deeds they have performed for all those whose lives they have touched.

One of those individuals was my dear friend and colleague Joey Cavazos, Camp Discovery executive director, who recently departed from our lives after several bouts with cancer. He will never be forgotten.

Joey was an extraordinary individual who served in the Bexar County Juvenile Probation Department for more than 25 years. He led the gang unit in the 1990s, when gang violence was rampant.

As an associate judge hearing juvenile cases, I was always amazed how Joey connected with juvenile offenders and sometimes redirected them away from gang life. He was firm and direct and always spoke the truth to them, without the fear and intimidation they would try to project onto him. That was a unique ability, one Joey had early in his career.

Joey went on to initiate and develop an award-winning program that involved a special course called Ropes, a character-building and team-development program involving an obstacle course. I witnessed how tough gang kids would change their behavior and attitudes because they had to learn to rely on others in team-building exercises.

On ExpressNews.com: Comedian Gabriel 'Fluffy' Iglesias picks San Antonio, his 'home away from home,' for return to stand-up

Joey loved the outdoors and the opportunities that being outside could bring these juveniles. This led to his summer programs, with juveniles and supervising adults taking camping trips to Colorado.

He was cutting-edge in thought and practice. He truly cared for these juvenile offenders. No matter how tough and obstinate they could be, he often broke through their facades. I have not seen any other person with the abilities Joey showed in dealing with these children.

During his later years with the Juvenile Probation Department, he started working as a counselor with the renowned Camp Discovery for children with cancer. His biggest decision was for his nonprofit VisionWorks Inc. to take over Camp Discovery in 2013 from the American Cancer Society. The camp incorporated many of the initiatives and practices developed with juvenile offenders. I played a very small part in helping Joey sustain that great organization.

Because of Joeys strong faith in God and tireless work ethic, Camp Discovery was taken to another level of success, with a strong and committed board of directors and volunteers who all worked to make this camp a wonderful experience for children with cancer. His nonprofit was just a reflection of what Joey was and always has been  strong and dedicated.

Two great philanthropists in our community, Harvey Najim and Gordon Hartman, were among his biggest supporters. So were his friends Tommy T-Bone Bounds and Howie Nestel. More than his biggest supporters, they were his best friends and admirers.

Only Joey Cavazos could turn gang members around and convince the biggest philanthropists to generously support his nonprofit. And Joey never forgot to help others doing the same, as he made sure to take care of other small nonprofits, such as Angies Angels Foundation, which helps kids with cancer and their families deal with the pain and burden of the disease.

For all of that, I stand in awe of the extraordinary Joey Cavazos. It never ceases to amaze me the power of one individual to make a difference in our community. I am struck by the quote of another extraordinary individual, Gandhi, who said: The purpose of life is undoubtedly to know oneself. We cannot do it unless we learn to identify ourselves with all that lives.  The instrument of this knowledge is boundless, selfless service.

To my dear friend and colleague, you were a private man and public servant who lived an extraordinary life. You did it your way. You made a difference for all of our community and us. May you rest in everlasting peace. Vaya con Dios.

Judge Peter Sakai presides over the 225th District Court.
Pointing to vile and despicable social media posts, Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff plans to reject a $32,000 check from a local business for a rescue boat.

Instead, he wants to use county funds  pending the approval of county commissioners.

Sheriff Javier Salazar said he understands Wolffs position. Without elaborating, he said he is working on a proposal to buy a boat that would not use taxpayer funds. Although commissioners meet Tuesday, theres no agenda item concerning a rescue boat.

The unfortunate area drowning deaths being reported on as I write this illustrate our need for this lifesaving equipment in Bexar County, Salazar said in a statement.

Over the weekend, a man and a woman in Guadalupe County went missing after saving two children from drowning in the Guadalupe River. The body of 22-year-old Casandra Kendrick was later recovered, but authorities have not found the man.

On ExpressNews.com: DeBerry, Salazar spar over donation for rescue boat

Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff's letter to Sheriff Salazar Read the full letter here

Commissioner Trish DeBerry balked at an initial request from Sheriff Javier Salazar in April to spend $20,000 from the nonprofit Bexar County Sheriffs Foundation for a rescue boat. The foundation was created two years ago and is maintained by the San Antonio Area Foundation to fund non-budgeted items for the department.

DeBerry said it was insulting for the sheriff to bring a request for a shiny new toy when there were other needs, such as equipment for deputies. At the time, commissioners asked Salazar to return with details about storage, liability, maintenance and operation of the boat.

It seemed as if controversy over a search and rescue boat for the Bexar County Sheriffs Office had nearly been resolved once Black Rifle Coffee Company, a veteran-owned business, donated funds for the watercraft earlier this month. Its co-owners posed with the sheriff and an oversized $32,000 check in a photo widely circulated online.

In a letter to the sheriff released Monday, Wolff said one of the owners of the shop then went on a social media attack against DeBerry. He called the post and comments that followed one of the ugliest and most blatant displays of sexism and personal attacks that I have ever seen in the fifty years that I have been in politics.

As a result, Wolff is willing to expend county funds for a rescue boat, but only after Salazar appears before commissioners to answer questions on its storage, operation and other details.

You want to talk about garbage politicians? reads the post from Jarred Taylor on Instagram. Lets talk about @trishforcommish our county commissioner that sat and mocked our Sheriff when he asked for funds to purchase a rescue johnboat for the Bexar County Sheriffs department.

He adds that Black Rifle Coffee will make sure our communities have the equipment they need as you sit on your high horse.

The coffee brewery co-owners post, Wolff said in the letter, gave rise to hundreds of other vile and despicable posts which attacked Commissioner DeBerry as a woman, a leader and her family.

DeBerry said shes less upset with Black Rifle for the online attack than Salazar because she believes he misrepresented the discussion at the April 6 meeting.

The Sheriffs Office, one of the largest law enforcement agencies in the county, runs the Bexar County Jail, which has been on pace to accrue $4 million in unbudgeted overtime costs this year, with about 200 staff vacancies. Since the San Antonio Police Department, city parks police, constables and some county emergency service districts have boats, water rescue has not historically been under the sheriffs purview.

I didnt say no to the boat. I said come back and brief us. I dont think that context was ever given, DeBerry said. This is about getting your house in order. Prioritize. And a boat is not the priority right now.

Hes had two months to come brief all of us, she said. And then all of a sudden theres this big announcement regarding this $32,000 check from Black Rifle Coffee. It still would be nice to know the details associated with that.

DeBerry noted that its up to commissioners to accept or decline the $32,000.

Since the donation was announced on social media and in news reports in early June, DeBerry has received hundreds of angry comments on her county commissioner Instagram site from people from across the country.

My Instagram account blew up. These offensive, threatening, harassing texts from across the country  more than 800  each were laden with (expletives) and threats of a political backlash, DeBerry said.

On ExpressNews.com: BCSO receives $32K check for rescue boat

Salazar said he was not aware of angry comments directed at the commissioner.

The first I saw of any specific comments regarding this issue were the ones apparently cut and pasted into Judge Wolffs letter, he said in the statement, without further comment.

Wolff said he would refuse to accept the donation for any county-related purpose. His letter chided Salazar for fueling the ire directed at DeBerry.

The despicable behavior displayed in this matter is not less than an affront to human dignity and the values of tolerance and respect that we as a community share  it should not be tolerated, Wolff wrote.

shuddleston@express-news.net
Puro Politics is a weekly podcast hosted by columnist Gilbert Garcia, covering the drama and nuance of local government issues. Produced by Luis Vazquez and Joy-Marie Scott.

Lyle Larson recently completed his sixth regular legislative session in the Texas House.

The last four of those sessions have been dominated by the presence of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, whose relentless culture-war crusades often divert the Legislature from handling the most pressing issues in the state.

Larson guested on this weeks episode of the Express-Newss Puro Politics podcast, and he made no effort to conceal his disdain for Patrick.

On ExpressNews.com: Garcia: Cheney and Larson are united in their alienation from the GOP

Larson commended his old friend and fellow San Antonio Republican, Joe Straus, for being able to knock the crazy off the train during Straus tenure as speaker of the House.

Patrick frequently derided Straus for not doing enough to facilitate the most divisive pieces of Patricks agenda. This year, Patrick leveled similar criticisms at Dade Phelan, the new House speaker.

The lieutenant governor is just a jerk, Larson said. Hes not a good man. Ive had meetings face-to-face. Hes soulless.

You look into his eyes and theres nothing there. Hes got a lot of hostility. Hes a control freak. Hes got a lot of things you dont want in leadership.

On ExpressNews.com: Garcia: Patrick manages to aggravate two House speakers in four years

Larson said he was dismayed to learn that Patrick will seek another term in 2022 and added that he hopes a viable GOP primary challenger emerges to spare the state from the nonsense inflicted on it by the lieutenant governor.

Im not certain what drives him. I think hes got some psychological issues. Hes got just an insatiable desire for power. I think its time for him to see the gate and get out the gate.

Hear Larson talk about Patrick, election law, the state power grid and other issues on the latest edition of Puro Politics.

ggarcia@express-news.net | Twitter: @gilgamesh470
As a slate of young progressives took their seats Tuesday on the San Antonio City Council, some of the councils old guard warned them against pursuing too much of an ideological agenda.

Four new council members who prevailed in the June 5 runoffs took the oath of office  including three progressives who could further tilt the balance of an already left-leaning council. The new council takes office as the city tries to bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic and a year of economic loss and death. This week, theyll dive head-first into setting the citys spending priorities for the next year.

Among the new council members are two self-identified democratic socialists  Jalen McKee-Rodriguez and Teri Castillo, who will represent the East and West sides, respectively.

For so long, our representatives have not looked like us and haven't had shared experiences, McKee-Rodriguez said.

McKee-Rodriguez, 26, a math teacher at Madison High School, unseated his former boss Jada Andrews-Sullivan for the District 2 seat  and cast his victory as a win for the working-class, regular-ass people of the East Side district.

Castillo, 29, a substitute teacher at San Antonio Independent School District, beat a more moderate candidate in the open race to succeed District 5 Councilwoman Shirley Gonzales, who left because of term limits.

McKee-Rodriguez and Castillo each campaigned on not kowtowing to real estate developers, boosting the citys investment in affordable housing and reforming the San Antonio Police Department among other things.

The pair will be joined by environmental activist Mario Bravo, a progressive and strident critic of CPS Energy who ousted District 1 Councilman Roberto Trevino, also a progressive, in a contentious runoff. Bravo has said he would govern as a pragmatic progressive.

Nonetheless, the surge of council members who lean further left has prompted cocked eyebrows amid some of the councils more moderate members and business leaders about whether the council will now see more ideological conflict and policies considered more hostile to business interests.

So far, the heads of the San Antonio chambers of commerce are taking a wait-and-see approach.

Well see how out there they get and then well figure it out, said Cristina Aldrete, CEO of the North San Antonio Chamber of Commerce. But its too early still.

Some council members gave veiled warnings to the newcomers: Dont get too ideological on the council dais. Much of the councils work, they said, deals with fairly nonpolitical problems like potholes, neighborhood zoning cases and sidewalks.

For the new folks coming in, its about business, said District 10 Councilman Clayton Perry, the councils lone conservative. Its not about personal issues or personalities, anything like that.

District 8 Councilman Manny Pelaez dismissed the notion that the council is about to see a substantial lurch to the left.

People keep talking to me about ideological shifts and all that, Pelaez said. I think thats going to be a lot more noise than the reality, which is City Council still has to run the city. And the day-to-day of a city is really kind of boring.

McKee-Rodriguez and Castillo stressed that they plan to work with council members and community advocates that span the political spectrum. But the need to provide basic services like streets and sidewalks in some of the citys poorest neighborhoods, parts of town they represent, isnt out-of-step with their political identities, they said.

We're still waiting on basic needs like sidewalks, Castillo said. So it's ensuring that we're prioritizing streets, drainage and sidewalks for residents.

For his part, McKee-Rodriguez said he expected those kinds of remarks from Perry and Pelaez. In a chat with Mayor Ron Nirenberg, the new councilman told Nirenberg people think Im going to come in and be a rebel.

And you know, maybe I will be, maybe I won't be. But I will commit to meeting with everyone, McKee-Rodriguez said.

San Antonio voters also picked moderates to helm the council for the next two years. Phyllis Viagran has succeeded her sister Rebecca Viagran as District 3 councilwoman, keeping the seat in the family for the next term. Like her sister, Phyllis Viagran is expected to chart a middle-of-the-road, pro-business course.

But Phyllis Viagran stresses that shell have a different governing style than her sister.

We're looking at a limited budget, Phyllis Viagran said. We're looking at a travel and tourism industry that needs to be revived, so the priorities are going to be different.

Bravo faces the task of staying on the good side of residents who ousted his predecessor. Residents of the Dellview neighborhood were irate with Trevino when he transformed his field office on Vance Jackson Road into a center for homeless people to reside and seek services. Neighbors complained Trevino was making the area less safe.

Bravo capitalized on that disillusionment to score an upset win for the downtown seat. During the campaign, Bravo said he wasnt going to run a homeless service center out of the district office.

Now, the environmental activist is taking a slower approach. Bravo visited the field office Monday, he said, and told people camping there that, despite rumors, police officers werent gearing up to raid the place and arrest everyone.

I assured them that there aren't gonna be any swift changes, Bravo said. I committed to meeting with everybody in the community and working with experienced professionals to see how can we best support everyone in our community and address all of our biggest challenges.

The council no longer has a slim female majority. For the past two years, the council has been composed of six women and five men, including the mayor.

Outgoing Councilwoman Rebecca Viagran lamented the loss  but had advice for women still on the council.

Call out the mansplaining, Rebecca Viagran said. Take the credit you deserve. Remind them of your title: you are a councilwoman or a council member. You earned that. And build one another up because we have enough people tearing us down.

Now the composition is six men and five women.

Theres still five of us, you guys, District 4 Councilwoman Adriana Rocha Garcia said. Were still going to be all about girl power. Dont worry.
Less than one week after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed legislation promising to strengthen Texas' electric grid, residents were asked this week to start conserving electricity in preparation for potential "last resort" forced outages amid a relentless heat wave that has sent temperatures into the 100s and air conditioning demand soaring.

In a rare early summer alert, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas warned customers on Monday to turn thermostats to 78 degrees or higher and to cut back electricity use until at least Friday.

On HoustonChronicle.com: ERCOT: Demand could come close to outstripping generation capacity Tuesday

The warning did not go over well with Texans, who were told last week by Abbott that everything that needed to be done was done to fix the power grid in Texas."

The hashtag #AbbottFailedTexas started trending online Monday and Tuesday, with social media users across the state saying they are fed up with the grid's apparent unreliability. Many said that facing a possible blackout during a heat wave has triggered PTSD-like feelings from the deadly February storm that left millions without power for days in below-freezing temperatures.

FACT CHECK: Beto O'Rourke says Texas was warned for years about power grid

Online reactions were mixed between lighthearted memes and more serious takes calling out lawmakers.

The recently-signed legislation, Senate Bill 3, consists of weatherization mandates that call for winter preparation at power plants and some natural gas facilities and the creation of a statewide alert system - but those won't take effect until next winter. Experts said while those reforms are welcome, they still fall short of preventing another grid failure and do not address the fundamental problem of increasing power generation during extreme weather and emergency situations.

Many were quick to blame the inaction on protecting the grid on controversial voting legislation Abbott and other Republican lawmakers pushed for this legislative session. A mass walkout from Democrats helped kill the voting bill that would have prohibited voting measures Harris County used during the pandemic to increase voter participation, such as drive-thru voting and extending polling hours. Republicans have said they plan to try and revive it during a potential special session.

It's not the first time the hashtag taken over online platforms. #AbbottFailedTexasAgain trended online earlier this month after Abbott threatened to defund the legislature in response to the mass walkout.

rebecca.hennes@chron.com


Air Serbia will carry more passengers and operate more leisure charter services this summer season than during the pre-pandemic 2019. The airline initially planned to run some 800 charters but now has over 1.000 leisure operations planned for the coming months, with more contracts expected to be signed. As a result, the carrier is Air Serbia will carry more passengers and operate more leisure charter services this summer season than during the pre-pandemic 2019. The airline initially planned to run some 800 charters but now has over 1.000 leisure operations planned for the coming months, with more contracts expected to be signed. As a result, the carrier is wet-leasing additional capacity with a Smartwings Boeing 737-700 aircraft (registered OK-SWT) expected to arrive in Belgrade this Thursday. Air Serbia is operating the most charters to Egypt, Turkey and Greece but has now also signed contracts for services to Monastir in Tunisia, as well as Mallorca in Spain.





Commenting on the developments, Air Serbia said, In comparison, we operated 299 summer charters in 2020, while at this very moment we already have more flights planned than we operated in 2019 as well, or before the coronavirus pandemic, even though that year was a record breaker for us on all fronts. In May we handled over 100.000 passengers, an increase of around 50% on the month before, or 100% on March, and thats excluding charter operations, which have now begun. The airlines most popular routes continue to be its scheduled services to Tivat, Podgorica, New York, Moscow, Athens, Zurich and Istanbul.





Air Serbia noted the three new routes it launched over the past twelve months, during the covid era, which include Oslo, Geneva and Rostov-on-Don, are performing well. Our Oslo service sees a lot of transfer passengers continuing onto our regional destinations. Recently we have seen a significant increase in transfers from Russia, since we maintain operations to Moscow, St Petersburg, Krasnodar and Rostov. These are primarily holidaymakers heading to Turkey, Greece, Montenegro and Croatia, but also some Western European countries as well, Air Serbia said. It added, Due to relaxing travel restrictions and the fact that many of our citizens delayed their holidays last year, there is a lot of pent up demand. We expect a further increase in holiday traffic, as well as transfers from the region, to Spain when we restore operations to Barcelona in July.








SAN FRANCISCO (AP)  Welcome back, California.

San Francisco announced the return of its iconic cable cars. Disneyland threw open its doors to out-of-state tourists. And Gov. Gavin Newsom marked the day with Hollywood flair, visiting Universal Studios to celebrate the lifting of most COVID-19 restrictions and what he called the "full reopening of the Golden States economy Tuesday.

California has turned the page. Let us all celebrate this remarkable milestone, an exuberant and mask-less Newsom declared from an outdoor stage at Universal Studios Hollywood, where he hosted a game show-style selection of 10 residents to receive $1.5 million apiece, just for getting vaccinated. Today is a day to reconnect with strangers, loved ones, family members. Give people hugs.

Life-sized Minions, Avengers and other movie mascots danced and cheered during festivities to mark what Newsom called a new day for California, which was the first state in the country to order a coronavirus lockdown in March 2020 and is among the last to fully reopen. President Joe Biden on Tuesday encouraged nationwide July 4 celebrations to mark the countrys effective return to normalcy.

At midnight, California lifted most of is pandemic restrictions, meaning no more state rules on physical distancing or capacity limits at restaurants, bars, supermarkets, gyms, museums, amusement parks, stadiums or anywhere else. Masks are no longer mandated for vaccinated people in most settings, though businesses and counties can still require them and other restrictions.

The Democratic governor pointed to the more than 40 million doses of vaccine administered  to more than 70% of the states adults  and the resulting plunge in cases as the reason for the reopening. California currently has one of the nation's lowest infection rates, below 1%.

The reopening doesnt necessarily mean people will immediately flock to places and events they once packed or that businesses will opt to return to full capacity.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed announced that the citys landmark cable cars will start running again in August, after being halted at the start of the pandemic. Across the street from the cable car stop in Fisherman's Wharf at the Buena Vista cafe, manager Larry Silva said he wished they would restart sooner, but that's what we get."

The cafe famous for its Irish Coffee gets most of its business from tourists riding the iconic trolleys that stop outside. It reopened its bar Tuesday for the first time in 15 months. In pre-pandemic time the bar sold 2,000 Irish coffees a day, Silva said.

Im looking forward to a really strong summer, and to seeing more outside tourists, he said.

Tourism was among the hardest-hit industries during the pandemic, and businesses want to make up for lost time.

Disneyland on Tuesday welcomed back out-of-state visitors for the first time since it closed in March 2020. It was shut down for months until opening this spring to California residents only.

The famed park is also dropping many of its other restrictions, such as temperature checks and face coverings for vaccinated guests.

Among the many mask-less at Disneyland was Dominique Vazquez, who was on Day 2 of visiting the park and liked the change.

The no mask, its great. Its great," said Vazquez. It was very hard yesterday walking in the park with the mask on. Youre sweating. You cant breathe."

At a bagel shop in Huntington Beach, customers poured in and out for breakfast Tuesday  most still wearing masks  as employees doled out juice and bagels from behind a plastic divider.

I think Im going to wait it out, and see how it goes, said Anna Yam, 39, who wore a face covering while pushing her young son in a stroller. For now, she has no plans to change her routine: Shell wear masks indoors even though shes had the shot.

Gyms took a variety of approaches. In Sacramento, Midtown Fitness & Boxing dropped its mask mandate Tuesday, but the few patrons inside still held their masks or wore them around their chins.

Im just taking tippy toes, said Judy Bratman, 65, who was visiting from Los Angeles, as she watched her adult daughter train in a boxing ring. Im glad the economy is coming back. All of that is good. I am just a little cautious.

At Urban Fitness Oakland, they're checking vaccination cards.

If you want to work out inside with no mask, that's great. We just ask to see the card," said owner Noah Kinner.

Newsom has warned that the virus is not gone completely, and enthusiasm for reopening should be tempered with vigilance.

More people tested positive for the virus in California (3.8 million and counting) and more people died (63,000 plus) than anywhere else in the country, although the nations most populous state had a lower per capita death rate than most others.

Newsom urged more people to get vaccinated, and honored a few lucky Californians who already have been vaccinated in the grand finale of the nation's largest vaccine incentive program. The 10 winners of a $15 million jackpot Tuesday were the last selected in a $116 million COVID-19 lottery that also handed out $50,000 to 30 winners and many $50 gift cards.

Before announcing the winners, Newsom called up frontline ICU nurse Helen Cordova, who was the first in California to get the vaccine in mid-December.

I am feeling so emotional, excited, hopeful, Cordova said, as the giant Universal Studios globe spun behind her. To look back now, and see where we were, its a little eerie but also encouraging and exciting to see how far weve come.

Pandemic highs and lows saw California go from being a success story to the U.S. epicenter of the virus. Californias businesses were just starting to reopen last June when cases started rising and restrictions were imposed again.

By summers end, California hurtled toward a deadly winter surge.

We saw way more death than wed ever like to see. We held way too many hands because families were not able to, Cordova said.

___

Associated Press writers John Antczak in Los Angeles, Amy Taxin in Orange County, Olga R. Rodriguez in San Francisco and Kathleen Ronayne in Sacramento contributed to this report.
FAIRFIELD  The town received about 25 percent more than expected in state aid with the recent state budget approval, officials said.

The town is getting more than $4.4 million in total state aid for the upcoming fiscal year, which is about $1.1 million more than the current year.

About $3.3 million of that will be used for non-educational aid and the other $1.1 million will go towards education.

Connecticut cities and towns will be receiving large amounts of money for both education and non-educational aid, including the federal pandemic relief that will kick in July 1 when the two-year, $46.4 billion budget starts.

Fairfield will be receiving an additional $24.8 million in federal relief funding from the American Rescue Plan.

We have identified four areas of focus, said First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick. Public safety, recreation, environment and other town investments which include the senior center, funding for racial equity and justice task force, mental health programming and other items.

Ill be working to call a joint meeting of the board of selectmen, board of finance and RTM to present a list of items that we have worked really hard on, she added. A lot of them have already been approved for bonding, but some have not, but they are not unknown to our elected board of officials.

Kupchick said they will then put the list out to the public and seek input from the community.

Fairfield Public School officials have said the approval of the state budget does not have an immediate impact on their funding. While there may be some trickle-down related to how the formulas are calculated this year, the schools will not know the exact impact for several months.

School officials have cited that their conservative estimate of state funding in the budget process has given them an idea of what they would be receiving, which is displayed in the school proposed 2021-2022 school budget.

Gov. Ned Lamont, called the budget transformative and said it makes a big difference in peoples lives, especially the lives of people who have been hardest hit by the pandemic, especially for the lives of Black and brown people, the likes of which hasnt been done in 30 years.
ALBERTVILLE, Ala. (AP)  A worker wielding a handgun fatally shot two people and wounded two others at an Alabama fire hydrant factory early Tuesday before killing himself near a cemetery where his mother is buried, police said.

The shooting  which happened about 2:30 a.m. at a Mueller Co. plant in Albertville  added to a slew of homicides around the country. Several hours later, gunfire in Chicago claimed four victims.

In the Alabama case, a manhunt ended when the shooter's body was found inside a Jeep in Guntersville, about 15 miles (24 kilometers) away from the factory, shortly after daybreak. Multiple weapons were found inside the vehicle, Albertville Police Chief Jamie Smith said at a news conference.

Smith said the suspect appeared to have died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. What prompted him to kill and maim his coworkers wasn't immediately clear, the chief said. He called the shooting completely unprovoked.

The chief identified the dead men as Michael Dobbins and David Horton, and the shooter as Andreas Horton, 34. He said that as far as he knew, the Hortons were not related, and had no ties other than co-workers.

Two other people  Casey Sampson and Isaac Byrd  were hospitalized. Their conditions weren't immediately known. They were taken to a nearby hospital and later transferred to a larger hospital in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the chief said.

The body of Andreas Horton, who was sometimes called Andy, was found in his vehicle, parked along a road overlooking Guntersville City Cemetery, about 10 miles (16 kilometers) from the plant. His mother, who died of cancer at age 40 in 2011, was buried just a short walk away.

A distant relative of Hortons, Sanchez Watkins, said he last saw Andreas a few months ago at a grocery store.

Andy was a good guy. Very quiet, easygoing. You would never expect this from him, Watkins said.

Cody Windsor, a Mueller employee who was at home at the time, told The Associated Press that he knew both Hortons, but didn't know what might have prompted the shootings.

Windsor said friends working the overnight shift told him the shooting happened in a part of the plant where fire hydrants and pipes are painted, and that an announcement about an active shooter was made over a PA system at the factory, which occupies several buildings over a large area near a railroad track, with fire hydrants stored on racks outside.

The police chief said the crime scene encompasses a large area inside the sprawling plant, and victims were found in two or three different locations inside.

Windsor said he and David Horton, a foundry helper who could do most any job in the plant, were buddies at work and often hung out together during breaks. Wed sit in our cars and listen to music, he said. Andy Horton was quiet and recently went through the death of his mother, Windsor said.

We work together and we bond together. Were here as much as we are at home, he said. He added that the shooting made him nervous about going back to work for fear that somebody is going to walk in the door and shoot you."

Ann Walters told Al.com that Dobbins was her grandson, and that he had been working at the factory for nearly a year, saving up to buy a home and a car. He was a perfect gentleman, everybody will tell you. He was good to everybody and put his family first, she said.

Mueller Co., based in Cleveland, Tennessee, is a subsidiary of Atlanta-based Mueller Water Products Inc., which calls itself a leading maker of water distribution and measurement products in North America. More than 400 people work at the plant in Albertville, giving the city in northwest Alabama its nickname of Fire Hydrant Capital of the World.

In a statement read aloud by the police chief, company officials said they were shocked and deeply saddened by the horrific tragedy, and committed to providing help and support to the victims families.

The growing gun violence nationwide has police and criminal justice experts concerned. Within hours of the Alabama gunfire Tuesday, four women were killed and four other people were wounded in a pre-dawn shooting at a home in Chicago, police said. The toll from this past weekend included two people killed and at least 30 others wounded in mass shootings in Chicago, the Texas capital of Austin, and Savannah, Georgia.

Law officers had hoped that last year's spike in homicides would subside as the nation emerges from coronavirus restrictions, but they remain higher than they were in pre-pandemic times.

There was a hope this might simply be a statistical blip that would start to come down, said Chuck Wexler, executive director of the Police Executive Research Forum. That hasnt happened. And thats what really makes chiefs worry that we may be entering a new period where we will see a reversal of 20 years of declines in these crimes.

Albertville is a tightknit community, and its people will come together to support the victims' families, city spokeswoman Robin Lathan said.

Everyone is absolutely heartbroken and devastated, she said. The Mueller Company is part of the lifeblood of who we are in the city of Albertville. Its just a devastating blow.

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Associated Press reporters Kim Chandler in Montgomery, Alabama, and Jeff Martin in Marietta, Georgia, contributed to this report.
ORLANDO, Fla.  Disney plans to restart fireworks shows at its theme parks in Florida and California in the latest move by the company to ease up on pandemic restrictions implemented last year.

The company said Tuesday that firework shows would resume at the beginning of July at Walt Disney World in Florida and on the Fourth of July at Disneyland in California. The fireworks shows had been put on hold in order to discourage people from gathering together after the parks reopened following virus-related closures last year.

The decision was the latest move by Disney to lift restrictions implemented last summer to stop the spread of the new coronavirus.

Starting Tuesday, face masks were made optional for visitors to Disney World in Florida, provided they are vaccinated, though Disney workers werent requiring proof of vaccination.

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MORE ON THE PANDEMIC:

 U.S. death toll surpasses 600,000 from coronavirus

 Johnson & Johnson shots arrive in Mexico from US for 4 border cities

 Japanese companies set up vaccination sites to help with inoculation effort

 More evidence suggests COVID-19 was in US by Christmas 2019

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Follow more of APs pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic and https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccine

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HERE'S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:

LOS ANGELES  Gov. Gavin Newsom has doled out $1.5 million each to 10 vaccinated winners at Universal Studios to mark the end of the states coronavirus restrictions.

The $15 million awarded Tuesday was the final part of Newsoms $116.5 million so-called Vax for the Win program. The effort encourages residents to get vaccinated and speed up Californias recovery amid the COVID-19 pandemic that has killed 3.8 million globally and 600,000 nationwide.

Tuesday was hailed as Californias reopening and meant the end of many coronavirus-related restrictions, including masks, social distancing and capacity limits in most settings.

More than 3.6 million people tested positive for the virus in California and over 62,000 died.

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  Vaccine supplies have eclipsed demand in New Mexico even as the state makes a hard push toward meeting a key vaccination goal Thursday.

Health officials have confirmed to The Associated Press that New Mexicos inventory includes nearly 493,000 doses that are being stored in freezers around the state. Expiration dates range from this week through September. The state also has donated 372,600 doses of its undelivered allocation back to the federal government.

Health Department spokesman David Morgan has said that New Mexico is adapting to shrinking demand for the vaccine in several ways. That includes ordering only a minimal number of doses as requested by providers.

New Mexico is just shy of meeting its goal of having 60% of residents 16 and older fully vaccinated. Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham wants to hit that mark this week so she can follow through with plans to fully reopen the state by July 1.

The latest data from the state puts the vaccination rate at 58.5%.

The state is offering cash incentives for people who get either their second shot or the one-time Johnson & Johnson shot by Thursday. Those who are vaccinated also can participate in a sweepstakes that includes a grand prize of $5 million.

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NEW YORK  Gov. Andrew Cuomo says 70% of adults in New York have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine.

He says the state will celebrate by easing many of its remaining social distancing rules and by shooting off fireworks to honor essential workers. Effective immediately, the state is lifting rules that had limited the size of gatherings. Businesses will no longer have to follow social distancing rules, or limit how many people they can allow inside based on keeping people 6 feet apart.

Some rules will remain: New Yorkers will continue to wear masks in schools, subways, large venues, homeless shelters, hospitals, nursing homes, jails and prisons.

About half of all 20 million residents in New York are fully vaccinated. In New York City, 58% of Manhattan residents and 51% in Queens are fully vaccinated, respectively. Its 40.6% and 38% fully vaccinated in Brooklyn and Queens.

In the past week, New York has been averaging around 450 new coronavirus cases a day, the lowest level since the start of the pandemic.

New York has registered 2.1 million confirmed cases and 53,558 confirmed deaths from the coronavirus. Its considered an undercount because many had the virus before testing was widely available.

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BRUSSELS  The European Commission proposed the 27-nation bloc appoint a European chief epidemiologist by the end of the year to better respond to future health crises.

The EUs executive arm presented a list of 10 lessons learned from the coronavirus pandemic, focusing on improvements for next time.

The Commission also proposed creating a global surveillance system to ensure faster detection, allowing the activation of an EU pandemic state of emergency. The proposals will be discussed by EU leaders during a summit next week in Brussels.

Meanwhile, the European Commission says it has raised $24.2 billion through a 10-year bond to finance the 27-nation blocs recovery from the coronavirus crisis.

EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen says the inaugural transaction of the NextGeneration EU program is the largest institutional bond issuance in Europe. The money will help finance the national recovery plans devised by member states to get their economies back on track.

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ANNAPOLIS, Md.  Maryland will end a state of emergency on July 1, Gov. Larry Hogan announced Tuesday.

The governor made the announcement at a news conference one year, three months and 10 days after Maryland confirmed its first cases of the coronavirus.

Masks or face coverings will not be required in any settings anywhere, including schools, camps and childcare facilities, Hogan said. Businesses and other workplaces are obviously still able to set their own policies, and well support their ability to do so. But there will not be any legal mandate from the state for wearing masks at any location anywhere in the state.

Hogan, a Republican, also says July 1 will be the start of a 45-day grace period through Aug. 15, where certain regulations will continue to be relaxed to help people complete the transition out of the pandemic.

The governor says Maryland is granting an extension of the states moratorium on evictions related to COVID-19 through Aug. 15. Health officials will have a 45-day period to transition from emergency operations.

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NEW YORK  The U.S. death toll from COVID-19 has topped 600,000 as the vaccination drive has decreased daily cases and deaths.

Thats according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. The number of lives lost is greater than the population of Baltimore or Milwaukee. It is about equal to the number of Americans who died of cancer in 2019.

With the advent of the vaccines, COVID-19 deaths per day in the U.S. have plummeted to an average of 340 from a high of more than 3,400 in mid-January. Cases are running at 14,000 a day on average, down from a quarter-million per day during the winter.

Worldwide, the COVID-19 confirmed death toll stands at 3.8 million. The actual totals in the U.S. and around the globe are thought to be significantly higher, with many cases overlooked or possibly concealed by some countries.

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SAN FRANCISCO  California was the first state in America to put in place a coronavirus lockdown, but it is turning a page on the pandemic.

At midnight, California lifted most of its COVID-19 restrictions and ushered whats being called a Grand Reopening. There will be no more state rules on social distancing and no more limits on capacity at restaurants, bars, supermarkets, gyms and stadiums. Masks have been one of the most symbolic and fraught symbols of the pandemic. Now they will no longer be mandated by the state in many situations.

More people tested positive for the virus in California (3.8 million and counting) and more people died (63,000 plus) than anywhere else in the country, although the nations most populous state had a lower per capita death rate than most others.

California now has one of the lowest rates of infection below 1%. That dramatic drop combined with an increasing number of vaccinated residents  over 70% of adults have had at least one dose  led Newsom to announce in April that most COVID-19 restrictions would be lifted June 15.

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NEW YORK  Nearly 900 people received expired COVID-19 vaccine doses at a vaccination site in Times Square this month, health officials said Tuesday.

People who got the expired doses of the Pfizer vaccine at the former NFL Experience building between June 5 and June 10 were being urged by city health officials to get another dose.

ATC Vaccination Services, the company that administered the shots, apologized for the error. Officials said there is no danger from getting the expired doses or from getting a replacement shot.

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SAO PAULO  Brazils government says it has documented 41 cases of COVID-19 related to the Copa America.

It says the cases include 31 football players or staffers with teams and 10 workers who were hired for the event. Brazils health ministry also says all workers who tested positive are in Brasilia. Thats where Brazil kicked off the tournament on Sunday with a 3-0 win over Venezuela.

Brazil stepped in late as an emergency host for the tournament despite the country having the second-highest number of recorded deaths from the coronavirus in the world. Brazils health ministry says 2,927 COVID-19 tests related to Copa America have been conducted so far.

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NEW YORK  A new analysis of blood samples from 24,000 Americans taken in early 2020 is the latest and largest study to suggest the coronavirus arrived in the U.S. in December 2019.

Thats weeks before cases were first recognized by health officials. The analysis is not definitive, and some experts remain skeptical. But federal health officials are increasingly accepting a timeline in which small numbers of COVID-19 infections may have occurred in the U.S. before the world became aware of a dangerous new virus erupting in China.

The study was published Tuesday online by the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases.

The studies are pretty consistent, said Natalie Thornburg of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There was probably very rare and sporadic cases here earlier than we were aware of. But it was not widespread and didnt become widespread until late February.

A CDC-led study published in December 2020 analyzed 7,000 samples from American Red Cross blood donations and suggested the virus infected some Americans as early as the middle of December 2019.

The latest study is by a team that includes researchers at the National Institutes of Health. They analyzed blood samples from more than 24,000 people across the country, collected in the first three months of 2020, as part of a long-term study.

The coronavirus emerged in late 2019 in Wuhan, China. Officially, the first U.S. infection identified was a traveler  a Washington state man who returned from Wuhan on Jan. 15 and sought medical help on Jan. 19.

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HELSINKI  Estonia will ease COVID-19 restrictions on June 28 by raising the limit on participants in indoor and outdoor events.

Up to 1,000 people can participate in events and activities held indoors and up to 5,000 people in events and activities held outdoors, subject to the requirements for dispersion and 50% occupancy, the government said Tuesday.

Easing of restrictions doesnt however mean that there wouldnt be a need for caution. The virus is still spreading from person to person, and it has not disappeared from among us, said Prime Minister Kaja Kallas.

She added the Indian strain of the coronavirus has started to spread in Estonia, a nation of 1.3 million.

Estonia has recorded 130,599 confirmed infections and 1,266 confirmed deaths since the start of the pandemic.

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TOPEKA, Kan.  Top Republicans are ending the Kansas state of emergency for the coronavirus pandemic.

They refused Tuesday to consider Democratic Gov. Laura Kellys arguments for an extension. Kelly chief of staff Will Lawrence says the Kansas National Guard wont be able to help distribute vaccines and the state will lose an extra $14.5 million a month in federal food aid for 63,000 households.

But top Republicans refused to consider an extension of the state of emergency that has been in place since March 2020. Their approval is required by state law for any extension, and the state of emergency will expire at the end of the day Tuesday.

Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson says it is time for Kansas to return to normal.

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MEXICO CITY  Mexico received 1.35 million doses of Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccines donated by the United States on Tuesday.

The U.S. shipment will be used to vaccinate anyone over 18 in four cities along the U.S. border: Tijuana, Mexicali, Ciudad Juarez and Reynosa. Mexico has said the goal is to boost vaccination rates there to levels similar to the U.S. cities they adjoin.

Foreign Relations Secretary Marcelo Ebrard, who was meeting with U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in Mexico City, says after the vaccinations there will be no public health arguments for keeping the border closed.

The U.S. and Mexico have restricted border crossings to essential travel since early in the pandemic.

Assistant Health Secretary Hugo Lopez-Gatell says the expanded vaccinations in border cities could begin Wednesday. Mexico is seeking to acquire more of the vaccine to inoculate all border residents.
EAST HADDAM  More than a century ago, performers would arrive at the Goodspeed Opera House by steamboats that traveled up the Connecticut River from as far away as New York before disembarking into a bustling center of commerce along its banks.

Today, the route is a more direct drive over an aging truss bridge, with two lanes that occasionally swing open to allow river traffic to pass through. The historic theater, restored in 1963, is still there, along with two restaurants, a handful of shops, and several vacant municipal buildings, including the old Town Hall.

For decades, officials have dreamed of bringing development to the historic riverfront landing in hopes that more shops, restaurants and lodging will entice theater-goers and tourists to spend their money in East Haddam.

An overly ambitious plan?

A recent proposal by two local architects to purchase several acres of land from the town for a private, $51 million development project has sparked intense local divisions, with opponents of the plan casting it as overly ambitious, and disruptive to existing homes and businesses.

Thats just what it is, a dream, Edward Blaschik, Goodspeed theater manager, told officials at a public forum Wednesday. I have to call it a dream.

The details of the Swing Bridge Landing project, presented at two forums this month, include plans for up to a dozen retail shops, five restaurants and two ice cream shops, along with office space, apartments, beauty salons, and an esplanade along the river.

One of the proposed buildings, a replica of the Goodspeed Mansion, which once existed across the street from the theater, is shown in artistic depictions, with dozens of diners seated on a patio surrounding Greek Revival columns.

Jeff Riley, founder of Centerbrooks Architects and Planners, who designed the project with his wife, Mary Wilson, said the plan drew heavily from the history of the area, and the idea of the opera house as monument building.

The couple live in East Haddam.

Our intention is not to have a Neiman Marcus, our intention is to have locally owned and operated retail shops, Riley told residents at the forum.

Riley said Friday that people had misconstrued the size of the project based on the renderings that had been submitted by his firm and published online. Still, he said, he was fully prepared to work with the towns historic commission to refine some aspects of the project and alleviate public concerns.

What we presented was a vision, now we have to make it a reality, Riley said.

Selling town land

Before the developers can attract new investors to help pay for the costly traffic and environmental impact studies, Riley said the town must first agree to sell the 2.75 acres of land containing the vacant municipal buildings. The developers already have purchase agreements on two smaller adjacent properties.

The sale of municipal land to the developers, for a proposed $450,000, would require a public referendum for approval, according to First Selectman Robert Smith, a supporter of the project.

Smith said the town recently had the land appraised at $1.25 million, though the developers were offered a reduced price because they need to pay an estimated $800,000 for the remediation of contamination from an old garage.

Riley said the actual cost of the remediation is closer to $1.2 million. The proposal from Rileys firm, Smith added, was the only one submitted during a bidding process last year.

This has been in the works for almost a decade now, Smith said, referring to plans to develop the town property. When asked about local concerns, Smith said the referendum would simply allow the town to enter into an agreement with the developers on the sale, which would be completed only if they obtain the necessary permits and approvals to build the project.

Theres a lot of hoops [Riley] will have to jump through to see if he can put this together, Smith said this week.

Traffic issues

Without formal permits and studies in place, residents at Wednesdays public forum said they felt shut out of the design process and openly questioned preliminary figures presented by the developers and town officials.

For example, Riley said his estimates show the project adding no more than 140 car trips to the current 1,200 trips at peak traffic hours. However, the firm has yet to acquire a state-mandated traffic study, and residents said traffic was likely to be much heavier, especially when the swing bridge opens hourly for river traffic during the summer.

Others questioned whether the bridge would ever be able to handle the steady stream of traffic necessary to keep the development and added businesses afloat.

Its hard to deal with the current level of backup when the bridge is open, but it will become a nightmare, as everyone is saying, if that volume were doubled or tripled by the impact of this proposed development, one resident complained.

The development, which Riley said could be completed by 2025, coincides with an already-planned $58.2 million overhaul of the East Haddam Swing Bridge by the state Department of Transportation. That project, which is expected to last three years, includes the addition of a pedestrian walkway connecting the landing area with the town of Haddam across the river.

Residents who spoke out in favor of the sale Wednesday expressed a desire to move forward with some version of the plan presented by Riley, even if the details have to be worked out later.

The village was once thriving

Ed Thereault, a former chairman of the towns Economic Development Commission, said that the town has always been an attraction for tourists drawn to the Goodspeed Opera House and nearby Gillette Castle State Park. Some officials said the town is poised for renewed interest, pointing to a flattering write-up in this years New York Times list of places to love.

There are cars that come across that bridge every day, and we do not take advantage of them, Thereault said. They come here for our attractions, and then they go elsewhere and support the businesses ... Some people remember a time when there were 13 or 14 shops in the village, back in the 70s and 80s, and people walked across the village and it was thriving.

Good for economic development

A referendum on the proposed sale of the town property would also come on the heels of overwhelming public vote this week to reject the towns proposed budget, and a likely tax increase, sending officials back to the drawing board.

Wilson attempted to capitalize on that sentiment at Wednesdays meeting, saying there was a corollary between the towns high taxes and the lack of development along the river.

The Swing Bridge Landing development would provide the town with a means to stabilize its mill rate, and provide tax relief for those members of the community who simply cannot afford the prospect of continuing higher taxes, Wilson said.

Smith said officials are now planning to hold another budget referendum in August, though no date has been set for a public vote on the land sale for the Swing Bridge Landing.

Speaking to those who had voiced objections at Wednesdays forum, Bill DiCristofaro, chairman of the towns Board of Finance, warned that blocking the sale would likely have the effect of scuttling the whole project.

If we do not move things forward and allow our leaders to pursue this project, we may never have this opportunity again, DiCristofaro said.
That State of Montana held the June Oil and Gas Lease Sale on June 1, with all 45 tracts going for the nominating fee of $1.50 per acre.

In total, 20,086.76 acres were leased, bringing $30,130.14 to the state.

The leases in Daniels and Valley Counties all went to Lustre Oil Company, LLC. Lustre Oil, according to records with the Montana Secretary of State, was registered on November 23, 2020, with an address in the neighborhood of the legendary Cat Creek Oil Field near Winnett, Montana.

Lustre, according to the Montana Board of Oil and Gas Conservation database, does not currently operate any wells.

The two parcels in Sheridan County went to Richard E. Sampsen.

New Locations - Horizontal Wells

In Richland County, four permits were issued to Prima Exploration, Inc. for the drilling of Bakken Formation wells.

The Sundance Kid 1H has a Surface Hole Location (SHL) at SW SE 24-25N-58E (240 FSL/2438 FEL) and a Probable Bottom Hole Location of 21,119 feet at NW NW 13-25N-58E (250 FNL/550 FWL).

The Sundance Kid 2H has an SHL at SW SE 24-25N-58E (240 FSL/2403 FEL) and a PBHL of 20,838 feet at NE NW 13-25N-58E (250 FNL/1950 FWL). The Sundance Kid 3H has an SHL at SW SE 24-25N-58E (240 FSL/2368 FEL) and a PBHL of 20,790 feet at NW NE 13-25N-58E (250 FNL/1950 FEL). Wrapping up the Sundance wells is the Sundance Kid 4H, with an SHL at SW SE 24-25N-58E (240 FSL/2333 FEL) and a PBHL of 20,976 feet at NE NE 13-25N-58E (250 FNL/550 FEL).

Abandoned Wells

In Toole Countys Kevin-Sunburst, final abandonment procedures for the Well Done Montana LLC well Bluhm 14 were approved. The well is located at SW NE NE 19-35N-1W (1100 FNL/660 FEL).

Another Well Done Montana LLC, the Anderson 1, located in the Kevin-Sunburst Field in Toole County was also approved for final abandonment procedures. The Anderson is located at NE NE SE 30-35N-1W (2420 FSL/220 FEL).

The Bluhm 14 was drilled in 1934 and produced from the Madison Group. The last recorded production was in 2003, when the well produced 144 barrels of oil over a 15 day period.

When it was drilled, the Bluhm 14 produced 4 barrels of oil per day. After the well was acidized, it produced 25 barrels per day. Imperial Craig was formed in 1934 in Kevin, Montana.

In Richland County, final abandonment procedures for the Delaney 41-4 were approved. The Delany was under the operation of True Oil LLC, and was in the Four Mile Creek Oil Field at SE NE NE 4-25N-58E (800 FNL/200 FEL).

Drilled in 1975, the first recorded production was in 1986 from the Red River Formation. In 2012, production shifted to the much shallower Ratcliffe Formation. The last recorded production was in 2019.
Youd never know Dave Freeman is about to be 92 years old. This true gentleman is as sharp as a tack and has such fascinating stories, you dont want him to stop sharing.

Born in 1929 in new London, Connecticut to a mother who escaped Finland for the US. The Russian Cossacks had overtaken the country and at 12, his mother watched as her father was killed with a sword. Daves father fled Sweden and they both came through Ellis Island in the 1800s. They landed in Galveston, Texas where Daves dad worked on his uncles ranch. Daves father was not suited to ranching, so he studied to become a machinist and took a job in Connecticut.

At 16, Dave approached the Army Air Corps about enlisting because he had been at a technical high school and knew that he had the skills they were seeking. They told to him to go get his mothers permission before they would take him. At 17, he was accepted. He trained as an airplane engine mechanic at Keesler Field in Biloxi, Mississippi where he graduated with a superior rating. He then spent three years in the Pacific Ocean Theater: China, Japan and Guam after World War II had ended.

In 1947, while in China, he witnessed the Communist takeover. The Chinese would not let he and a buddy leave the country for 35 days. The Army Air Corps thought they had gone AWOL. They ultimately escaped on a C46 to Okinawa. When finally, back at the Guam base, Freeman was denied his promotion to sergeant because of their undeserved AWOL status!

From Guam, he flew to East Base which is what Malmstrom was originally called. Life in the barracks was quite a climate adjustment because temperatures were sub-zero and the barracks were heated with coal and woodstoves. Freeman only had his summer clothes, so had to purchase a whole new Montana wardrobe.

It was here, in January of 1949 that he met the love his life, Wyoma Dee Preston. Freeman describes that theirs was a whirlwind romance. They married in June 1949. Dee, as she liked to be called had been born in Nebraska and her dad had purchased a small farm In Sun River. After they married, they went back to Connecticut, where Freeman did a short stint with Pfizer and it was in Connecticut that first son Dan Freeman was born.

Eight months after Dans birth Dee contracted polio. Freeman thought he was going lose her. The doctor did not recommend her going into an iron lung. He suggested she just use exercise to heal. At one point, her temperature rose to 106 degrees and death was looming, but she pulled out of it and survived. She lost use of her right side and to help in her healing, Dave built a climbing wall for her to do what we would now call physical therapy. Dave Freeman said she always worked alongside him. Dee eventually regained strength and grew to love fencing which was a good thing because they had 20 miles of it!

In 1953 second son Douglas was born in Montana. Douglas had a distinguished career in school administration and lives in Oregon.

In 1966, David and Dee bought Dees dad, Clyde Prestons 1,880-acre ranch that he had acquired and built in Riebling, Montana. The ranch included the Eders original 1872 log homesteaders home with a stone kitchen and two-foot-thick walls for insulation. The Eders were German and because of that they struggled after the end of WWII because folks saw them as the enemy.

Few people know much about Riebling. Freeman shares that it had a grain elevator (which was later moved to Gilman and burned) grocery and lumber store, blacksmith shop and a thriving railroad. It originally had been divided into lots when it was developed and when Freeman bought his ranch ground, he was assessed 60 cents a lot for the 160 lots that were included in what became a ranch, not homesites! He later successfully appealed this.

In 1969, the Freemans purchased another 4000 acres from Clyde Preston. It was a delicate purchase since her siblings were involved. Dees mom had died, in 1932, when Dee was only 2 years old, leaving her a biological brother and a sister. Her father quickly re-married and this union produced 4 daughters, half-sisters to Dee. Dave was able to come up with $250,000 for the purchase of the ranch when a friend he had sold cattle to offered to loan him the money.

Their first year in business, they made a whopping $400. Clyde was a good teacher though, and with his assistance, they made $4,000 in year three. David jokes that Clyde did NOT like irrigation. Clyde would say, If you want to go broke, buy an irrigated ranch.

In those days, there was not much machinery involved in ranching. Freeman put hay up with horses, a buck rake and an overshot stacker. As time went on, they invested in a Ford tractor and a power mower. They went into debt when they purchased their first hay baler and a rake.

After a few minor heart attacks, in 1988, the Freemans made the decision to sell their ranch to William and Desiree Moore. The Moores had founded Kelly-Moore Paint Company. Dave Freeman laughs that they bought everything: the cattle, the machinery and even the toilet paper in the outhouse.

The Moores were shrewd businesspeople. Dave said that Moore would buy a pivot company when he needed a pivot. They also knew a good thing when they saw it, so they hired Daves oldest son Dan Freeman to manage their ranch. Dan also knew a good thing and he hired his father to help him.

The Freeman Ranch had passed hands with 250 head of cattle. William Moore loved Dave Freemans cattle, so Moore pleaded with Dave to raise me a bunch of cows just like yours. The thing is, he wanted 4,000 of them! Dave told him it was going to take some time to accomplish that goal. Moore said, I dont care how long it takes. Just do it.

With that goal in mind, Dave went out and bought the most expensive bulls he thought Moore could afford. He worked hard to improve the weaning weights and with great success went from 518 pounds to a whopping 720 pounds!

Dave says that he has had a good life. When not working, he restored a 1930 Model A with a rumble seat and a 1932 Chevrolet Business Coupe. He also has done his share of hunting, fishing and collecting arrowheads from the old buffalo jumps on the ranch. (See table made with some of them in photos.)

Sadly, his wife of 70 years, Dee Freeman passed away in March of 2020. With photos of her throughout the house and sympathy cards still out, it is obvious there is a void there that will never be filled. Daves days are quite active, though. (I could barely get him on the phone for follow up questions!) Dave fills his time with nearby children, grandchildren, a great grandchild and even a great-great grandchild. His self-appointed nickname is Grandpasaurus. He is also headed back to Connecticut with his boys, for a family reunion this summer

Dave Freeman is a 92-year-old going on 42! Youd never guess his age after meeting him. He is entertaining, wise and authentic. I asked him what his trick is. He says he regularly researches and studies the economy and investments. If thats what it takes to staying sharp, a subscription to the Wall Street Journal should be on order for all!
An adage credited to Mark Twain holds that you should get the facts first, then distort them as you please.

This cynical advice comes to mind when reading the sprawling, controversial election bill called the For the People Act of 2021  especially its entire section aimed at the Supreme Courts much-maligned Citizens United v. FEC ruling, which struck down the ban on corporations making independent political communications more than a decade ago. I was chair of the FEC when this took place.

The bill, which passed the House of Representatives on a party-line vote and is now in the Senate, calls for a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United, contending that the opinion and its progeny have empowered large corporations, extremely wealthy individuals, and special interests to dominate election spending, corrupt our politics, and degrade our democracy through tidal waves of unlimited and anonymous spending.

This criticism echoes the New York Times, which at the time of the ruling declared that Citizens United has paved the way for corporations to use their vast treasuries to overwhelm elections and has distorted the political system to ensure that Republican candidates will be at an enormous advantage in future elections.

But if we stick with the facts, we can see some major upsides to Citizens United.

Alarmist predictions that powerful businesses would buy elections have not materialized. For-profit corporations have largely avoided contributing to super PACs or making direct expenditures for fear of angering their consumers, employees, and lenders. So far, most companies have decided that directly intervening in elections is bad for business.

Also, little evidence suggests that Citizens United has led to a deluge of corruption. In fact, an Institute for Free Speech study shows that, while independent political spending has exponentially increased in the opinions wake, public corruption prosecutions brought by the Department of Justice have declined. Data suggesting that outside spending buys legislators votes is scant.

And judging by recent voter turnout rates, our democracy has grown stronger, not weaker, since Citizens United. More than 66% of voters turned out in 2020, the best showing in a presidential election in 120 years. This followed 2018, which saw the highest midterm voter turnout rates in over a century. While many do not like heavy political spending on often-negative advertising, increased outside money has not diminished voter engagement but looks to be enhancing it by providing the electorate with helpful information about candidates and issues.

Nor has Citizens United delivered a political windfall for Republicans. Instead, outside spending  fueled by wealthy individual donors empowered by the decision  tends to favor the party that does not control the White House: The GOP benefited from a surge in independent expenditures when Barack Obama was president, followed by a shift toward the Democrats after Donald Trump won in 2016. According to numbers compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics, liberal outside groups outspent conservative ones, $1.6 billion to $1.3 billion, in the 2020 election cycle; and with respect to so-called dark money  the political spending financed by undisclosed donors  the Democrats enjoyed a more than 2-to-1 advantage. Few things motivate donors more than the tantalizing prospect of their side regaining power. So do not be surprised if Republicans regain the outside spending advantage in 2022.

Post-Citizens United, what especially stands out is how competitive our electoral politics have become, with power fluctuating between the parties. When the Supreme Court issued its decision in early 2010, the Democratic Party controlled the presidency and held large House and Senate majorities. Since then, we have seen:

2010  Republicans recapture the House by netting 63 seats, while winning six Senate seats.

2012  Democrats retain the White House.

2014  Republicans retake the Senate with the biggest net seat gain since 1980.

2016  Republicans win the presidency and obtain unified control of the White House and Congress for the first time since 2006.

2018  Democrats win 41 seats to take back the House.

2020  Democrats take back the White House, the Senate ends up tied 50-50, and Republicans narrow the Democrats House majority to a mere five seats.

One likely reason for this back-and-forth struggle is that outside spending helps offset the built-in advantages enjoyed by entrenched incumbents, whose broad name recognition and established fundraising networks typically allow them to outraise challengers by lopsided margins. Independent expenditures in favor of challengers level the financial playing field and, combined with a donor motivation advantage for the out-of-power party, look like they have contributed significantly to a period of remarkable parity between the parties.

Though I believe Citizens United deserves a lot of credit for these outcomes, there is certainly room for debate regarding the rulings impact. Still, in the decisions aftermath, rather than our government being sold to the highest bidder, we see robust election competition, engaged voters, and more even-handed political spending  all without increased corruption.

In the debate around Citizens United, we don't need to play by Mark Twains rules. Facts alone are far more helpful than distortions.
In a proposed rule April 19, the Biden administrations Education Department laid out plans to strongly encourage, if not require, federally funded American History and Civics Education programs to focus on the consequences of slavery and the ongoing national reckoning with systemic racism. The program would incorporate anti-racist practices into teaching and learning.

There could be legal problems, however. The use of highly charged and stylized code words like equity, systemic racism, and anti-racism make clear that this is far more than a plan to teach American history, flaws and all. On the contrary, the administration seeks to entrench a comprehensive  almost ontological  historical view, often referred to as critical race theory.

According to the departments rulemaking notice, grant-funded teachers must emphasize racial identities and create an identity-safe learning environment. Teachers also must teach the tenets of critical race theory: systemic racism, biases, inequities, and discriminatory policy and practice in American history. One critical race theory proponent even called Martin Luther King Jr.s dream of a colorblind society racist.

Teachers will also be required to emphasize equity as the solution.

Here is where the legal problems begin. By incorporating these ideas into a federally funded grant program, the administration sends a clear message: America is not a country that has struggled to overcome racism but one that itself remains deeply racist  and this premise should form the foundation of American History and Civics.

This concerns parents like Scarlett Johnson, a Hispanic-American whose children are taught critical race theory in Wisconsins Mequon-Thiensville district. She worries that her children are being exposed to a curriculum that claims the U.S. is an oppressive country, which denies them the ability to learn about history and have hope for their own success, regardless of the color of their skin.

As Johnson correctly fears, the term equity, as used in critical race theory, is very different than the equality America was founded on and has admittedly struggled to achieve. For decades, schoolchildren have studied the Declaration of Independence, the Gettysburg Address, and Kings I Have A Dream speech. These foundational texts teach students that no matter where they come from or who their parents were, every person is created equal and should never be judged by the color of his skin.

To be sure, a variety of different theories and views of America can be taught in the public schools. But federal and state laws protect individuals against racial discrimination  meaning that students cannot be treated differently because of their race. If a student has been made to feel inferior and unequal based on the color of her skin, she has probably been exposed to a racially hostile environment that violates these guarantees of equal treatment.

Moreover, the Constitution, along with federal and state statutes, protects freedom of conscience, meaning that public schools cannot force students to affirm certain points of view  such as critical race theorys ideas of white supremacy, white privilege, or systemic racism. The Constitution also prohibits compelled speech, meaning that teachers cannot force a student to speak a certain message, such as a confession that I am a racist.

Public school teachers who violate these basic guarantees open themselves up to lawsuits, discovery, and potential liability. The Education Department is not helping teachers by presenting them with this discriminatory curriculum.

Critical race theory literally teaches children racism. They are placed in groups, labeled oppressors and victims, and taught that Americas system is rigged against persons of color. These are destructive lies that have no place in American schools.

Our schools are places of reason, facts, discovery, and the scientific method. Critical race theory is a Marxist experiment to remake society based on class struggle. It is not an educational tool and certainly should not be funded with taxpayer dollars. The Education Department should abandon this abominable social experiment and remove any reference to critical race theory from these grant programs. America must reject the false promises of equity and rededicate itself to equality for all.
A 'game-changing' digital assistant has been launched for farmers to take control and capture the full value of their natural capital.

The first in a suite of complementary software from Trinity AgTech has launched this week with Sandy, a new digital assistant.

Sandy allows farmers to accurately and independently assess their business's sustainability.

It will help them plan their path to profitability, provide provenance for their produce and capitalise on the natural assets they care for.

Sandy is designed to support farmers as they face unprecedented change in farm subsidies and customer preferences.

It seeks to address concerns over the soundness of existing tools, and uncertainty in agricultural markets.

Among Sandys core tools are carbon footprint and biodiversity assessments, such as managing and optimising livestock feed strategy.

Theres management at a subfield level, monitoring crop performance, growth, nutrient status and yield prediction.

Sandy also analyses productivity and financial performance at farm, crop and field level.

Trinity AgTechs managing director, Richard Williamson, said: Sandy has come at a time when farmers are being forced to ask themselves how their business will evolve.

"Within this change, there are opportunities for farmers to capture different and diverse income streams.

"However, farmers need clear, independent and robust information to succeed in these."

He added that Sandy was a 'trusted and credible' software, using the latest science and technology that helped farmers progress both financially and environmentally.

The software was developed by a team of more than 30 scientists and engineers in consultation with farmers and industry leaders.

Major retailers, banks and cooperatives also back the use of the programme.
Welsh Senedd members have voted to review controversial rules which aim to tackle agricultural pollution in the country.

The Welsh government has designated the whole of Wales a nitrate vulnerable zone (NVZ) as part of the new Control of Agricultural Pollution Regulations.

Before, approximately 2.4 percent of the land area of Wales was designated a NVZ.

The devolved government has also introduced tougher rules on the storage and spread of slurry.

But a joint opposition party motion, which was passed by 58 votes to 0 on 9 June, has called for a Senedd committee to hold an 'urgent' review into the rules.

Plaid Cymru's agriculture spokesman Cefin Campbell called the vote 'a victory for common sense'.

"How on earth can the minister justify offering 11m in financial support, when the government's own assessments suggest that the cost to farmers could be between 109m, and 360m?" he added.

Welsh farming industry bodies have repeatedly expressed frustration at the way the pollution regulations were pushed through.

The Farmers' Union of Wales (FUW) warned of the impacts that the rules may have on farmers and rural communities as they could cost the industry 'millions'.

Vice President Dai Miles said: We sincerely hope that the review will take into full consideration the financial implications these regulations have on small and medium sized farm businesses.

As farmers we care deeply about the environment and with this acceptance of a need for a review we have the opportunity to once again become partners with Welsh government in the efforts to tackle pollution and to protect our environment.

According to the Welsh government, agricultural pollution incidents 'remain very high', averaging over three per week in the last three years.

It said some of these had led to the contamination of drinking water sources and the destruction of plant and aquatic life in parts of waterways.

Rural Affairs Minister Lesley Griffiths said 'more rapid progress on reducing pollution from agriculture' was needed from 'across the whole industry, and across the whole of Wales'.
The NFU says it is 'concerned' that the newly announced UK-Australia trade deal contained no mention of animal welfare and environmental standards.

The UK and Australia have reached a trade agreement which includes a 15-year cap on tariff-free imports.

Prime Ministers Boris Johnson and Scott Morrison agreed the main elements of the free trade agreement on Monday evening (14 June).

It marks the first major trade deal negotiated by the United Kingdom since it left the European Union.

But the NFU has been vocal about its concerns over the potential impact of future post-Brexit trade deals.

The union noted that the announcement made no mention of animal welfare and environmental standards, adding that 'details remain very thin on the ground.'

President Minette Batters said: "While the government has previously been keen to highlight how our Free Trade Agreements will uphold our high standards of food production, there has always been a question mark over how this can be achieved while opening up our markets to food produced to different standards.

"We will need to know more about any provisions on animal welfare and the environment to ensure our high standards of production are not undermined by the terms of this deal."

She added: The ultimate test of this trade deal will be whether it contributes to moving farming across the world onto a more sustainable footing, or whether it instead undermines UK farming and merely exports the environmental and animal welfare impact of the food we eat."

The NFU said it was 'critical' that the government engaged with industry on the details of the deal 'as soon as possible', and that parliament was also involved.

The union added that this meant providing both Houses with the details 'well in advance of ratification, alongside a proper impact assessment'.

The Trade and Agriculture Commission is also set to have a vital role to play in assessing these aspects of the deal in the near future.

Mrs Batters said: This trade deal... will, I hope, provide UK farmers with opportunities to export more great British food abroad, although we should be realistic about the extent of those prospects with large net-exporters such as Australia.

"We should also be clear about the likelihood that these deals will mean a significant increase in competition in our domestic agricultural markets."
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Sushant Singh Rajput had leased a spacious house in Bandra in December 2019. This sea-view apartment in Bandra was supremely stylish and spacious. The actor lived there for some months and had rented it for Rs 4.5 lakhs a month. Now according to reports in E Times, the apartment is now up for rent.

SSRs former apartment has been put on lease for Rs 4 lakhs a month. A celebrity broker from Bandra spoke to E-Times and said, The apartment has been put up for lease but has yet to get a tenant." The broker further adds that due to the pandemic the property has not yet received many enquiries.

The celebrity broker further gives details of the house and how it is perfect for creative minds. It is a beautiful sea view apartment and is ideal for creative minds and a good home from those who migrate to Mumbai for work. He further adds, This house attracts people who like vibrations and the scenic view." Considering the location and the scenic beauty from the apartment, the brokers are sure that house will surely go back on rent soon.

Yesterday, June 14, marked the first death anniversary of Sushant Singh Rajput. The actor was missed immensely by his peers from the TV and film industry. Kriti Sanon, Ankita Lokhande, Parineeti Chopra, Kartik Aaryan, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and many other celebrities took to Instagram to express their grief.
OTTAWA, ON / ACCESSWIRE / June 14, 2021 / Stria Lithium Inc. ("Stria" or the 'Company') (TSXV:SRA), announced today that further to its June 1, 2021 news release, it settled outstanding indebtedness in the aggregate amount of $500,000 owing to JJJY Holdings Inc., a holding company controlled by a director and Chairman of the Board of the Company, through the issuance of 20,000,000 common shares of the Company at a deemed price of $0.025 per share (the "Debt Settlement"). The common shares issued in connection with the Debt Settlement are subject to a hold period that will expire on October 15, 2021.

The issuance of the shares pursuant to the Debt Settlement is considered to be a 'related party transaction' as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Securityholders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101") as the creditor is a company controlled by a director and Chairman of the Board of Stria. The Debt Settlement is exempt from the formal valuation requirements of MI 61-101 pursuant to subsection 5.5(b) of MI 61-101 as the Company is not listed on a specified exchange.

In accordance with MI 61-101 and the policies of the Exchange, the Debt Settlement is subject to minority shareholder approval. The Company sought and obtained minority shareholder approval of the Debt Settlement at the Company's Annual General and Special Meeting on May 21, 2021.

About Stria Lithium

Stria Lithium is a Canadian junior mineral exploration company with an expanding technology focus and is the sole owner of the Pontax spodumene lithium property in Northern Quebec.

Lithium is a critical metal in the universal fight against global warming. It is a core component of Lithium-Ion batteries used for powering electric vehicles and for industrial scale energy storage.

For more information about Stria Lithium, please visit www.strialithium.com.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains 'forward-looking statements'. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as: 'anticipate,' 'intend,' 'plan,' 'goal,' 'seek,' 'believe,' 'project,' 'estimate,' 'expect,' 'strategy,' 'future,' 'likely,' 'may,' 'should,' 'will' and similar references to future periods. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements we make regarding the closing of the Transaction and the number of shares issuable to the Lender in the Transaction.

Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Our actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others, the fluctuations in the trading price of the Company's listed shares and obtaining necessary approvals of shareholders and the TSXV to complete the Transaction.

Any forward-looking statement made by us in this news release is based only on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, we undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

Investor Contacts:

Scott Anderson

Investor Relations

(858) 229-7063

sanderson@nextcap-ir.com

Stria Lithium Inc.

Judith Mazvihwa-MacLean

CFO

(613) 581-4040

jmazvihwa@grafoid.com

SOURCE: Stria Lithium Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/651704/Stria-Lithium-Inc-Announces-Closing-of-Shares-for-Debt-Transaction
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - General Motors Co. (GM) said that its shareholders approved its director nominees. They also approved named executive officer compensation. The shareholders ratified the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as the company's independent registered public accounting firm for 2021. The shareholders rejected report on greenhouse gas emissions targets as a performance element of executive compensation. General Motors noted that its board and its committees will consider the results of votes when evaluating the company's governance and compensation practices. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
DUBLIN (dpa-AFX) - Accenture (ACN) said that it has reached an agreement with DI Square to acquire the company's consulting capabilities for product lifecycle management (PLM) and application lifecycle management (ALM) systems integration. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Accenture noted that it will acquire DI Square's consulting capabilities for PLM and ALM systems integration - strengthening the engineering expertise of its Industry X group for automotive and other manufacturing clients. Accenture will acquire DI Square's PLM and ALM-related know-how and client contracts as well as take on approximately 70 DI Square professionals. They will join Accenture's Industry X group in Japan, which helps clients digitize their core operations including the design, development, manufacturing and servicing of smart connected products. Completion of the acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
TOKYO, June 15, 2021 - (JCN Newswire) - Fujitsu Limited today announced that in accordance with the Japanese government's COVID-19 vaccination policy targeting a June 21, 2021 start for large companies and universities, Fujitsu will initiate on-site inoculations for employees at select locations in Japan from June 29, 2021, supplementing efforts by local governments. COVID-19 vaccinations will start in areas with at least 1,000 employees and where vaccinations can be administered by in-house medical staff. Beginning with Fujitsu's Kawasaki Plant, Fujitsu plans to offer vaccinations to over 1,000 employees per day to fully vaccinate 30,000 employees by October 2021 (60,000 doses). As soon as preparations are made, Fujitsu plans to expand the initiative to other areas, including its Kansai Systems Laboratory.Additionally, if Fujitsu Group employees receive vaccinations at work or from their local municipality on a working day, special measures will be taken to permit them to take accumulated leave as vaccine leave. This will make it easier for employees, who can take advantage of flextime and remote working, to flexibly schedule their vaccinations. Accumulated leave can also be taken when it becomes difficult to work due to adverse reactions to the vaccine, or when it is necessary to attend to the vaccination of a family member or to take care of a family member recovering from side effects.Prevention of future outbreaks of COVID-19 will require swift action to ensure that as many people as possible can safely and smoothly receive their vaccinations. Bearing this in mind, in addition to its efforts to vaccinate its employees, the Fujitsu Group will also offer vaccinations to residents in its local communities, for instance with its ongoing program to offer inoculations for city residents at its Fujitsu Clinic in the City of Kawasaki.By contributing proactively to the Japanese government's target of 1 million vaccinations per day, the Fujitsu Group aims to ease the burden on all involved, while creating an environment in which people can work in good health, with peace of mind and body.Work Site Vaccination Program OverviewStarting Date: Upon completion of preparations from June 29, 2021Location: Fujitsu's Kawasaki Plant, Kansai Systems LaboratoryTarget: Fujitsu Group employees that wish to receive their vaccineNo. of vaccines: Over 1,000 people a day, for 30,000 staff vaccinated on-site by October 2021.Vaccine Type: Moderna (manufactured by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited) vaccine distributed by the Japanese GovernmentAdditional considerations: Encouraging use of flextime and remote work, accumulated leaveAbout FujitsuFujitsu is the leading Japanese information and communication technology (ICT) company offering a full range of technology products, solutions and services. Approximately 126,000 Fujitsu people support customers in more than 100 countries. We use our experience and the power of ICT to shape the future of society with our customers. Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 3.6 trillion yen (US$34 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021. For more information, please see www.fujitsu.com.Source: Fujitsu LtdCopyright 2021 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved.
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Alexandria Real Estate Equities Inc. (ARE) said that it has priced its upsized public offering of 7.00 million shares of the company's common stock at a price of $184.00 per share. The company also granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to 1.05 million additional shares. The offering is expected to close on or about June 17, 2021, subject to customary closing conditions. The company has entered into forward sale agreements with Royal Bank of Canada, Bank of America, N.A., Citibank, N.A., Goldman Sachs & Co. and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. with respect to 7.00 million shares of its common stock. The forward purchasers or their affiliates are expected to borrow and sell to the underwriters an aggregate of 7 million shares of the common stock that will be delivered in this offering. The company intends to deliver, upon physical settlement of such forward sale agreements on one or more dates specified by the Company occurring no later than December 14, 2022, an aggregate of 7 million shares of its common stock to the forward purchasers in exchange for cash proceeds per share equal to the applicable forward sale price. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
LeddarTech joins Tech.AD Europe as the Lead Sponsorand as both a presenter and exhibitor at this live event at the Titanic Chaussee Berlin, Germany, on July 1-2, 2021. Join LeddarTech either in person or digitally by registering today at autonomous-driving-berlin.com.



QUEBEC CITY, June 15, 2021, a global leader in Level 1-5 ADAS and AD sensing technology, is excited to be reigniting its physical event calendar as a lead sponsor and keynote speaker of Tech.AD. Tech.AD has long been recognized as one of Europe's leading technical ADAS and AD conferences. LeddarTech's CTO Pierre Olivier will serve on the honorary jury for the 8th Annual Tech.AD Europe Awards. These awards honor individuals and organizations who have designed exceptional solutions or products that contribute to ADAS/AD automotive development.

With a focus on environmental sensing that reimagines ADAS and AD solutions, the LeddarTech team will be participating in several capacities at this event.

Keynote presentation: July 1, 2021, 4:45 p.m. - 5:05 p.m. CET

Topic : Sensing Modalities, Sensor Fusion, and Perception for Autonomous Driving. The speaker, Pierre Olivier, Chief Technology Officer of LeddarTech, will explore the challenges and exciting opportunities facing the ADAS and AD business community.

World Cafe session: July 2, 2021, 1:15 p.m. - 3:35 p.m. CET

Topic: Sensor Cafe - Object Fusion vs. Raw Sensor Fusion - What Is the Superior Solution? Moderators: Reza Rashidi Far, PhD, and Andre Malz, PhD, of LeddarTech's Strategic Product Management division.

Exhibition booth (6): July 1-2, 2021.

LeddarTech will feature solutions that solve critical sensing and perception challenges across the automotive and mobility value chain. LeddarTech will present these solutions through an innovative approach of on-site and live-streaming demonstrations of:

Mobility and ITS sensors, including the recently released Leddar Sight (https://leddartech.com/solutions/leddar-sight/) LiDAR and the award-winning Leddar Pixell (https://leddartech.com/solutions/leddar-pixell/);

LeddarVision (https://leddartech.com/leddarvision/), a sensor-fusion and perception solution that delivers highly accurate 3D environmental models for L1-5 autonomy;

Special Feature: the Westfield (https://westfieldavs.com/) AutoSweep, the UK's first fully autonomous pure electric road sweeper, featuring the Leddar Pixell.



"Our technical teams from Israel, Germany, and Italy are excited to be joining our esteemed colleagues, peers, and partners at Tech.AD. Our much-anticipated return to in-person events is especially significant as we will be showcasing our customer Westfield's autonomous AutoSweep POD, which features the Leddar Pixell," stated Daniel Aitken, Vice-President, Global Marketing, Communications, and Product Management at LeddarTech. "Tech.AD provides an excellent opportunity to engage with many leaders in the industry both virtually and in person, and we look forward to demonstrating our latest technology, sharing our vision, and engaging with our customers," Mr. Aitken continued. "Tech.AD is making all efforts to implement precautions to ensure a safe and fulfilling event for all delegates, and I welcome you to visit us in person or online during the event in July," concluded Mr. Aitken.

For more information about Tech.AD, visit autonomous-driving-berlin.com.

Prior to Tech.AD register for the Automotive IQ Webinar: June 29, 2021, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. ET

Topic: A Clean Sweep: How Adopting Autonomous Vehicle and EV Technology Is Paving the Way to Increased Road Sweeper Efficiency and Safety While Reducing Environmental Impact. Join Pierre Olivier, CTO of LeddarTech and Julian Turner, CEO of Westfield Technology Group, for this Automotive IQ hosted event.

Register here.

About LeddarTech

LeddarTech is a leader in environmental sensing platforms for autonomous vehicles and advanced driver assistance systems. Founded in 2007, LeddarTech has evolved to become a comprehensive end-to-end environmental sensing company by enabling customers to solve critical sensing and perception challenges across the entire value chain of the automotive and mobility market segments. With its LeddarVision sensor-fusion and perception platform and its cost-effective, scalable, and versatile LiDAR development solution for automotive-grade solid-state LiDARs based on the LeddarEngine, LeddarTech enables Tier 1-2 automotive system integrators to develop full-stack sensing solutions for autonomy level 1 to 5. These solutions are actively deployed in autonomous shuttles, trucks, buses, delivery vehicles, smart cities/factories, and robotaxi applications. The company is responsible for several innovations in cutting-edge automotive and mobility remote-sensing applications, with over 95 patented technologies (granted or pending) enhancing ADAS and autonomous driving capabilities.

Additional information about LeddarTech is accessible at www.leddartech.comand on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.

Contact:

Daniel Aitken, Vice-President, Global Marketing, Communications, and Product Management, LeddarTech Inc.

Tel.: + 1-418-653-9000 ext. 232

daniel.aitken@leddartech.com

Leddar, LeddarTech, LeddarSteer, LeddarEngine, LeddarVision, LeddarSP, LeddarCore, VAYADrive, VayaVision, and related logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of LeddarTech Inc. and its subsidiaries. All other brands, product names, and marks are or may be trademarks or registered trademarks used to identify products or services of their respective owners.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2f336faf-ccca-4167-939e-c1dfcfc4c897

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/84aebadf-f893-466e-8144-9b31e4d79c26
Investment led by Macquarie Capital Principal Finance

NEW YORK, June 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- JOOR (https://joor.com/), the world's leading digital wholesale platform for Luxury, Fashion and Home, today announced that it has raised $46M in Series D funding led by Macquarie Capital Principal Finance. Previous investors ITOCHU Corporation, Battery Ventures and Canaan Partners also participated. This capital raise will fuel the company's investment in platform innovation, payments and financing, as well as support continued global and vertical expansion. JOOR also announced that Anand Subramanian, Managing Director at Macquarie Capital Principal Finance, will join its Board of Directors.



"JOOR's singular mission is to digitally enable and transform our industry," explained Kristin Savilia, CEO of JOOR. "We are pleased to have such great partners to support us in this mission as we embark on our next stage of growth. This new capital enables us to accelerate innovation as an independent company and to continue to provide industry leading solutions in service of our broad global network of brands and retailers."

JOOR's platform has evolved over the last decade into the industry's most comprehensive solution for digital wholesale management, growing new business 228% in the last 12 months. Through innovative technology, including best-in-class virtual showrooms and robust mobile in-market tools, JOOR facilitates the wholesale buying and selling process, including discovery, connection, collaboration, transaction, and payment.

With over 12,500 brands and 325,000 curated retailers, the JOOR platform hosts the world's leading wholesale marketplace in the Luxury, Accessories, Footwear, Lifestyle and Home verticals, processing over $1.5 billion in wholesale transactions each month. JOOR's exclusive partners range from established luxury fashion houses such as LVMH, Kering, Richemont and Capri, to leading brands such as Stella McCartney, Valentino, Kate Spade and Dr. Martens. Premier department stores including Neiman Marcus, Printemps and Harrods as well as global digital retailers such as Ssense, Shopbop and Revolve conduct their buying exclusively through JOOR.

"We continue to be impressed by the capabilities of JOOR's technology platform coupled with its industry leading network of brands and retailers," explained Anand Subramanian, Managing Director at Macquarie Capital Principal Finance. "This investment reflects belief in JOOR's talented team, and we see significant growth for JOOR as they expand their platform to offer payments and financing alternatives to their global client base. We look forward to leveraging our expertise to support the company's long-term success."

Building on the company's leadership position in North America and Europe, JOOR recently announced its Asian expansion (https://joor.com/press-releases/joor-continues-expansion-in-asia-through-office-opening-in-shanghai), as the first B2B wholesale platform to launch operations serving brands and retailers in mainland China. This new foothold in China, in addition to its existing presence in Japan and Australia, positions the company solidly for successful growth in the Asia-Pacific region.

To learn more about JOOR, visit joor.com (https://joor.com/).

About JOOR

JOOR is the world's leading wholesale management platform, with over $1.5Bn in wholesale transactions processed every month. More than 12,500 brands and over 325,000 curated fashion retailers across 144 countries connect on the platform every day. With a commitment to fueling the advancement and growth of both brands and retailers, JOOR provides a digital ecosystem that combines dynamic virtual showrooms with collaborative tools including JOOR Passport, which centralizes the trade show experience across multiple global fashion events. JOOR users have greater flexibility, visibility, performance and insights into their business. JOOR is the exclusive platform for leading luxury conglomerates including LVMH, Kering and Richemont, as well as brands such as Balenciaga, Valentino and Saint Laurent. JOOR has exclusive partnerships with 30+ leading global retailers using the JOOR Retail Partner platform including: Harrod's, Neiman Marcus, Harvey Nichols, Printemps, Bergdorf Goodman, Shopbop, Ssense, 24S.com, Revolve, FWD, Liberty London, Dover Street Market and Intermix. JOOR is headquartered in New York City and has offices in Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Paris, London, Milan, Madrid, Berlin, Melbourne, Tokyo and Shanghai. For more information visit: JOOR.com.

About Macquarie Capital Principal Finance

Macquarie Capital Principal Finance, the principal investing arm of Macquarie Capital Advisory and Capital Solutions, provides flexible primary financing and secondary market investing solutions for corporate and commercial real estate clients across North America, Europe and Australasia, having executed more than $36 billion of debt financing and equity investments over more than 620 deals globally since 2009. Macquarie Capital is the advisory, capital markets and principal investment arm of Macquarie Group, with capabilities encompassing corporate advisory and a full spectrum of capital solutions, including capital raising services from equity, debt and private capital markets. These offerings are reinforced through our deep sector expertise in: aerospace, defense and government services, consumer, gaming and leisure, financial institutions, healthcare, industrials, infrastructure and energy, real estate, resources, services, technology and telecommunications and media sectors.

For more information, please visit: www.macquarie.com/us/corporate/financing/principal-finance.
15 June 2021

Imperial X

(Imperial X or the "Company")

(Soon to be renamed Cloudbreak Discovery Plc)

Imperial X and Alianza Minerals

Form Southern US Copper Exploration Alliance

Imperial X PLC (LSE: CDL) and Alianza Minerals Ltd. (TSX-V: ANZ, OTCQB: TARSF) ("Alianza") announce the two companies have formed a strategic alliance to explore for copper deposits in the United States. This alliance will focus on the identification, acquisition and advancement of copper projects in the states of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah. Together, the two companies intend to identify new copper exploration opportunities to acquire and advance with the intent of finding a partner to further the projects.

Kyler Hardy, President and CEO of Imperial X expressed his enthusiasm for working with the Alianza team, "Entering into this alliance will enhance our initial target evaluation and accelerate our ability to pursue opportunities throughout the region with enticing examples of mineralization to target. These are the types of relationships that have worked well for Imperial X's management team in past transactions and follows in line with the objectives of Imperial X."

Jason Weber, President and CEO of Alianza, noted that "We are looking forward to identifying a robust portfolio of copper projects with the Imperial X team. We started this process in 2020 and are excited to bring Imperial X's expertise, together with our own, to take advantage of these opportunities."

Under the terms of the alliance, either company can introduce projects to the strategic alliance. Projects accepted into the alliance will be held 50/50 but funding of the initial acquisition and any preliminary work programs will be funded 40% by the introducing partner and 60% by the other party. Project expenditures are determined by committee, consisting of two senior management personnel from each party. Alianza is the operator of alliance projects unless the alliance steering committee determines that Imperial X would be a more suitable operator, on a case-by-case basis. The initial term of the alliance is two years and can be extended for an additional two years.

Alianza and Imperial X expect to make project acquisitions for the alliance and start exploring imminently.

For additional information please contact:

Imperial X PLC Tel: +1 604 428 9480 Kyler Hardy, CEO khardy@cloudbreakdiscovery.com Kyle Hookey, Director khookey@cloudbreakdiscovery.com Novum Securities

Financial Adviser and Broker Tel: +44 7399 9400 David Coffman / Lucy Bowden

Colin Rowbury Blytheweigh

(Financial PR/IR-London) Tel: +44 207 138 3204 Cloudbreak@blytheweigh.com Tim Blythe Megan Ray

About Imperial X

Imperial X PLC, which will change its name to Cloudbreak Discovery PLC as soon as practicable, is a leading natural resource project generator, working across a wide array of mineral assets that are being developed and managed by an experienced team with a proven track record. Value accretion within the projects being developed by the Cloudbreak's generative model enables a multi asset approach to investing. Diversification within the mining sector and amongst resource classes is key to withstanding the cycles of natural resource investing.

About Alianza Minerals Ltd.

Alianza employs a hybrid business model of joint venture funding and self-funded projects to maximize opportunity for exploration success. The Company currently has gold, silver and base metal projects in Yukon Territory, British Columbia, Colorado, Nevada and Peru. Alianza currently has one project (Tim, Yukon Territory) optioned out to Coeur Mining, Inc. and a copper exploration alliance in the southern United States with Cloudbreak Discovery PLC. Alianza also is seeking partners on other projects. The Company is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "ANZ" and trades on the OTCQB market in the US under the symbol "TARSF".
ELGIN, Scotland, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Whisky creator Gordon & MacPhail is set to release the world's oldest single malt Scotch whisky this September - an 80-Years-Old from Glenlivet Distillery - in partnership with Sir David Adjaye OBE.

On 3rd February 1940 in a quiet corner in the north of Scotland, George Urquhart and his father, John, had the extraordinary foresight and vision to lay down spirit from Glenlivet Distillery in a bespoke Gordon & MacPhail cask to be enjoyed by future generations.

Referred to by renowned whisky writer Charlie MacLean as 'the father of single malt', George Urquhart passionately believed that each whisky should be left to mature until the cask and spirit had combined to create the desired quality, and it was ready to be shared. The time for Cask 340 was to be 80 years - longer than any other Scotch whisky in history.

On 5th February 2020, leaning on the unique skill and experience acquired over more than 125 years, the decision was taken to finally bottle the cask's precious out-turn, yielding a total of 250 decanters.

"That this whisky - the oldest single malt Scotch ever bottled - remains so full of vibrant flavour with a strength of 44.9% ABV, is testimony to knowledge handed down over successive generations of my family," explains Stephen Rankin, Director of Prestige at Gordon & MacPhail Whiskies, and member of the fourth generation of the family that owns the company.

For over 125 years, Gordon & MacPhail has been driven by a simple mission: to create single malt Scotch whisky of exceptional quality. Through four generations of family ownership, the company has matched its own casks with spirit from over 100 Scottish distilleries. It is this unique depth and breadth of experience that enables Gordon & MacPhail to combine oak, spirit and time to create iconic whiskies found nowhere else in the world.

To celebrate John and George Urquhart's vision, Gordon & MacPhail has collaborated with internationally acclaimed architect and designer, Sir David Adjaye OBE, to create a unique decanter and oak case to house the world's most precious whisky to date. Described as 'an architect with an artist's sensibilities and vision', Adjaye was a natural choice as a creative partner; a man who shares the company's values of artistry, legacy, and craftsmanship.

"When collaborating, I am looking for like-minded partners in terms of their craft, beliefs and traditions. I loved Gordon & MacPhail's rigour and obsession with their products and their craft - a romantic commitment that enables one to do exceptional things. Our partnership felt so organic," expresses Adjaye.

"Maturing a single malt Scotch over eight decades is an art," adds Ewen Mackintosh, Managing Director at Gordon & MacPhail, "similar in many ways to architecture where you are creating something that needs to stand the test of time. Neither can be rushed. Both Sir David and Gordon & MacPhail share a commitment to invest in the future. We both see the significance of creating something exceptional; leaving a legacy for future generations."

In the same way that a 50th anniversary is commemorated by gold, 80 years is traditionally symbolised by oak - a pleasing reflection of this whisky, cradled in oak for eight decades. Sir David Adjaye's stunning decanter and case will be revealed in September 2021, with decanter number #1 auctioned by Sotheby's in early October 2021. To continue the legacy theme, auction proceeds, minus costs, will be donated to award-winning Scottish charity Trees for Life whose mission is to rewild the Caledonian Forest.

"It's fitting that this release will provide a relevant, valuable and long-lasting legacy with direct benefits for many," comments Ewen Mackintosh.

The Generations range from Gordon & MacPhail has previously presented some of the longest matured single malt Scotch whisky ever to be bottled. Its reputation will be further enhanced this September when the Gordon & MacPhail Generations 80YO from Glenlivet Distillery will finally be unveiled.

Register interest via: gordonandmacphail.com

Adjaye.com

Sothebys.com

Treesforlife.org.uk

@gordonandmacphail

Notes to editor:

About Gordon & MacPhail Generations Range

The name 'Generations' signifies the many decades these whiskies have been left to mature and the four generations of company ownership by the same family. Gordon & MacPhail's Generations range presents some of the longest-matured single malt Scotch whisky ever to be bottled representing iconic moments of Scotland's liquid history. Previous 'Generations' releases include: Generations 70 Years Old from Mortlach Distillery; Generations 70 Years Old from Glenlivet Distillery; Generations 70 Years Old from Glenlivet Distillery (release two); Generations 75 Years Old from Mortlach Distillery.

For further information, please contact: g&m@anmcomms.com, +44(0)20 7940 2900

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New report measures value of business travel for first time



London, June 15, 2021: Only 24 months ago, business travel was synonymous with global corporations and senior executives' roles. During the global lockdowns, companies have experienced the direct impact of no travel or in-person meetings on their business functions and operations. In new research from VistaJet, the first and only global business aviation company, in association with WSJ Intelligence, that impact is quantified for the first time.

For The Future of Business Travelreportover 200 high-level company executives in the U.S., EMEA and APAC were surveyed about the essential role and value of travel in their professional lives.

During the pandemic, travel has been limited for 90% of companies surveyed, and almost all (97%) said their businesses experienced negative impact directly related to those restrictions. Nearly one-quarter (24%) indicated massive or substantial disruptions across all eight areas measured, and 87% cited massive or substantial disruption in at least one area. More than a third (37%) said international business development and product launches took a hit due to a lack of in-person presence.

As restrictions ease, built-up anticipation for business travel is clear, with 81% saying business travel will be more important than ever to driving success. Among respondents who take eight or more private flights a year, 60% plan to significantly increase in-person meetings.

VistaJet has seen a surge of 49% in corporate interest around the world since the start of the pandemic, confirming that flying private continues to be a key support for business travel. The main benefits of taking private flights for business travel are reported by those surveyed, in order, as flexibility, efficiency, safety and privacy. The two top priorities for trips are visiting partners and vendors and going to industry events, each at 34%. Managing current relationships and building new ones are also key drivers.

The return to business travel largely hangs on regulations - 46% of respondents are waiting for destinations to reopen; 42% want updated COVID-19 data and rules for destinations; 36% seek support in case COVID-19 regulations change during a trip; and the same number await relaxation of their own company's travel policies.

Ian Moore, Chief Commercial Officer, VistaJet said: "The COVID-19 pandemic has upended the world, including travel. It also showed that some business travel is truly essential and having to forgo in-person trips came at a real cost to companies. Additionally, it is hard to read a room when everyone is in individual windows on screen - misunderstandings can occur, especially across cultures, and these in turn can become costly mistakes."

To further support businesses around the world connect and restart the economy in the midst of heightened market insecurity, VistaJet recently launched a new Corporate Membership, offering speed and maximum flexibility with payment in arrears, unlimited flying hours, guaranteed availability of additional aircraft, and streamlined travel logistics.

For the full findings of The Future of Business Travel report, and to download a copy, please visit vistajet.com/businesstravel.

- Ends -

Information

Jennifer Farquhar | VistaJet | press@vistajet.com

About VistaJet

VistaJet is the first and only global business aviation company. On its fleet of over 70 silver and red business jets, VistaJet has flown corporations, governments and private clients to 187 countries, covering 96% of the world. Founded in 2004, the company pioneered an innovative business model where customers have access to an entire fleet whilst paying only for the hours they fly, free of the responsibilities and asset risks linked to aircraft ownership. VistaJet's signature Program membership offers customers a bespoke subscription of flight hours on its fleet of mid and long-range jets, to fly them anytime, anywhere.

VistaJet is part of Vista Global Holding - the world's first private aviation ecosystem, integrating a unique portfolio of companies offering asset-light solutions to cover all key aspects of business aviation.

More VistaJet information and news at vistajet.com

VistaJet Limited is a European air carrier that operates 9H registered aircraft under its Maltese Air Operator Certificate No. MT-17 and is incorporated in Malta under Company Number C 55231. VistaJet and its subsidiaries are not U.S. direct carriers. VistaJet-owned and U.S. registered aircraft are operated by properly licensed U.S. air carriers, including XOJET Aviation LLC.

Attachments
LEVALLOIS-PERRET, France, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Keyrus, an international player in the fields of Data Intelligence, Digital and Consulting on the Management and Transformation of enterprises, announces the opening of a subsidiary in Portugal, in order to accelerate its development in Southern Europe and create a nearshore center of excellence in Data Intelligence, for the benefit of its European customers.

Present in Spain for over 15 years, the Keyrus Group is expanding in the Iberian region with the opening of a subsidiary in Portugal. The country, which is highly competitive in the domain of digital services in Europe, boasts assets such as excellent IT infrastructure and a highly qualified, English-speaking workforce, with qualifications from reputable institutions.

With the launch of this subsidiary, the Keyrus Group will expand its presence in Southern Europe and gain significant market share by deploying its full portfolio of services and solutions in Data & Digital transformation, among which Cloud & Security, Data Management & Visualization, Data Science & Advanced Analytics and Performance Management offerings. One of the main strategic goals is to meet the nearshore services needs of its current international clients in Europe. Keyrus will target sectors in which it has a strong European market footprint, such as Industry (e.g. CCPA, Euralis, Radiall, DS Smith), Retail/CPG (e.g. Monoprix, IKKS) and Financial Services (e.g. BNP Paribas, Fortis, Brookson, Fitch Ratings). Keyrus is actively recruiting to build its European Data Intelligence & Analytics nearshore center of excellence.

In order to address the local market, it will also work closely with its key partner vendors who have identified Portugal as a priority for their European development. Market plans have been defined together with Tableau, Alteryx, Snowflake, Talend, Denodo and Anaplan.

Established in Lisbon, Keyrus's newest agency will be run by Javier Riera, a senior executive within the Keyrus Group for over 15 years.

Having started his career in Spain, in Technical, Sales & Managerial roles, he held the post of Managing Director at Keyrus in Brazil for the past 5 years, before returning to the Iberian Peninsula as Executive Director - Southern Europe.

"The opening of this subsidiary is a fantastic challenge. After Brazil, I am happy to take on this new, strategic adventure within the Keyrus Group. I am personally very fond of Portugal, as it is a country with enormous human and cultural wealth. The timing of the launch could not be better, as the market is highly dynamic, thanks to the digitalization of companies, particularly as Cloud and Analytics gain traction within organizations," comments Javier Riera, Director - Southern Europe at Keyrus Group.

"This new subsidiary was a natural step in our European expansion, because of the perspective of new 'nearshore' service lines for our European customers. Thanks to our presence in Spain for over 15 years, and our network of technological partners, we possess all the means necessary in terms of skills and experience, to rapidly create a place for ourselves within this new market", adds Marc Stukkens, Executive VP of Keyrus Group.

ABOUT KEYRUS

Creator of value in the era of Data and Digital

An international player in consulting and technologies and a specialist in Data and Digital, Keyrus is dedicated to helping enterprises take advantage of the Data and Digital paradigm to enhance their performance, facilitate and accelerate their transformation, and generate new drivers of growth and competitiveness.

Placing innovation at the heart of its strategy, Keyrus is developing a value proposition that is unique in the market and centered around an innovative offering founded upon a combination of three major and convergent areas of expertise:

Data Intelligence

Data Science - Artificial Intelligence - Big Data & Cloud Analytics - Business Intelligence - EIM - CPM/EPM

Digital Experience

Innovation & Digital Strategy - Digital Marketing - DMP & CRM - Digital Commerce - Digital Performance - User Experience

Management & Transformation

Strategy & Innovation - Digital Transformation - Performance Management - Project Management

Present in 20 countries on 4 continents, the Keyrus Group has 3,000 employees.

Keyrus is quoted Euronext Growth Paris (ALKEY - Code ISIN: FR0004029411) (Reuters: KEYR.PA) (Bloomberg: ALKEY:FP).

Further information at: www.keyrus.com

Contact:

KEYRUS

Felix Bassous

Tel: 01 41 34 10 00

rp-keyrus@keyrus.com

LA NOUVELLE AGENCE

Jonathan Smadja

Tel: 01 83 81 76 87 / 06 67 27 57 40

jonathan@lanouvelle-agence.com

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LONDON (dpa-AFX) - AstraZeneca Plc. (AZN.L, AZN) said that the STORM CHASER trial did not meet the primary endpoint of post-exposure prevention of symptomatic COVID-19 with a long-acting antibody combination, AZD7442, compared to placebo.



Trial participants were unvaccinated adults 18 years and over with confirmed exposure to a person with a case of the SARS-CoV-2 virus within the past eight days. In the overall trial population, AZD7442 reduced the risk of developing symptomatic COVID-19 by 33% compared to placebo, which was not statistically significant.



Myron Levin, Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, US, and principal investigator on the trial, said that the results of STORM CHASER suggested that AZD7442 may be useful in preventing symptomatic COVID-19 in individuals not already infected.



Mene Pangalos, Executive Vice President, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, said even though the trial did not meet the primary endpoint against symptomatic illness, it is encouraged by the protection seen in the PCR negative participants following treatment with AZD7442.



STORM CHASER is a Phase III, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-centre trial assessing the safety and efficacy of a single 300mg dose of AZD7442 compared to placebo for the post-exposure prevention of COVID-19. The trial was conducted in 59 sites in the UK and US. 1,121 participants were randomised in a 2:1 ratio to receive a single intramuscular (IM) dose of either 300mg of AZD7442 (n=749) or saline placebo (n=372), administered in two separate, sequential IM injections.



AZD7442 is a combination of two LAABs - tixagevimab (AZD8895) and cilgavimab (AZD1061) - derived from B cells donated by convalescent patients after SARS-CoV-2 virus.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

ASTRAZENECA-Aktie komplett kostenlos handeln - auf Smartbroker.de
New marketing service enables retailers to acquire more online shoppers cheaper

STOCKHOLM, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Klarna, a leading global retail bank, payments, and shopping service, today announced the launch of their new Comparison Shopping Service (CSS) in 21 markets. Klarna CSS offers Klarna's partner retailers across Europe an increased customer reach and budget savings to boost their return on advertising spend and drive traffic from high shopping intent consumers. In addition, the Klarna comparison shopping page will provide new opportunities for brands to reach browsing consumers with their products.

David Sandstrom, Chief Marketing Officer at Klarna: "We are extremely excited to launch the Klarna Comparison Shopping Service today. With this new product, we enable retailers to list their Google Product Listings Ads more efficiently. Concretely, this means that we offer retailers a more effective and cheaper way to increase their customer reach and convert highly relevant traffic from consumers who are searching for products they want to purchase, thereby maximizing merchants' return on advertising spend. As a growth partner for our retailers, we are thrilled to be launching even more products and services to support their strategy in the near future."

This is how Klarna Comparison Shopping Service works

The CSS program was created by Google to diversify the search results for Product Listing Ads (PLA). A CSS partner can facilitate the publication of a PLA on Google and is then the link between the advertiser (the retailer) and Google. Unlike competitors, Klarna Comparison Shopping Service provides PLA hosting for a small flat monthly fee. By switching to Klarna CSS, retailers can save up to 20% on their Cost Per Click spend by avoiding a fee charged by Google CSS.

Klarna will also list a retailer's product listing inventory on the Klarna comparison shopping web pages to further boost retailer product visibility and customer reach. Klarna's new Comparison Shopping Service is available in Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

Contact

David Zahn

00491707400911

presse@klarna.de

About Klarna

With over 90 million global active users and 2 million transactions a day, Klarna is meeting the changing demands of consumers who want to shop, pay and bank on one intuitive platform and with one trusted brand. Over 250,000 global retail partners, including H&M, Saks, Sephora, Macys, IKEA, Expedia Group, Samsung, ASOS, Peloton, Ralph Lauren, Abercrombie & Fitch, Nike and Shein have enabled Klarna's innovative shopping experience online and in-store. Klarna is one of the most highly valued private fintechs globally with a valuation of $45.6 billion. Klarna was founded in 2005, has over 4,000 employees and is active in 17 markets. Klarna has been backed by Sequoia Capital since 2010 and more recently, SilverLake, Dragoneer, Bestseller Group, Permira, Ant Group, HMI Capital, TCV, NorthZone, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Merian Chrysalis Investment Company Limited, funds and accounts managed by BlackRock amongst others.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/klarna-bank-ab--publ-/r/klarna-launches-klarna-comparison-shopping-service-across-europe,c3367205

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CHICAGO, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the new market research report "Automotive Plastics Market for Passenger Cars by Product Type (PP, PU, PVC, PA), Application (Interior, Exterior, Under Bonnet), Vehicle Type (Conventional Cars, Electric Cars), and Geography - Global Forecast to 2026", published by MarketsandMarkets, the Automotive Plastics Market size for passenger cars is projected to grow from USD 21.1 billion in 2021 to USD 30.8 billion by 2026, at a CAGR of 7.9% during the forecast period 2021 to 2026.

Download PDF Brochure:https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=506

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The demand for automotive plastics is mainly driven by passenger car production and the increasing utilization of automotive plastics in vehicle designs. Plastics offer a maximum weight reduction of automobiles, which in turn reduces carbon emissions. There is a growing demand for automotive plastics products from developing economies.

The polyurethane (PU) product type segment accounted for the largest share of the Automotive Plastics Market for passenger cars in 2020.

By product type, the PU segment accounted for the largest market share in 2020. PU has various properties such as high stiffness, strength, dimensional stability, high temperature, and abrasion resistance, and low friction characteristics, along with chemical, flame, abrasion, creep, and fatigue resistance, which makes it one of the majorly used plastics. Polyurethanes (PU) are utilized in passenger cars for seat foams, carpet backing, seat overlays, head & armrests, airbag covers, and acoustic insulations. The largest share of PU in terms of value can be attributed to its high cost as compared to other plastics such as PP, PVC, HDPE, among others.

The electric car vehicle type is expected to be the fastest-growing segment of the Automotive Plastics Market for passenger cars.

By vehicle type, the electric cars segment is expected to be the fastest-growing segment of the Automotive Plastics Market for passenger cars. Electric cars are solely dependent on the lighter parts to improve their driving range as the electrified powertrains enable the exertion of kinetic energy, which decreases the weight reduction. Companies like Volvo have their R&D working on plastics materials that store and discharge electric energy. The plastics are strong and light in weight and enough for the vehicles structural components and body panels. The growth of EVs has improved drastically since 2014 and is expected to register a CAGR of 26.5% by the end of 2026. These factors are expected to drive the growth of the electric cars vehicle type segment during the forecasted period.

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Asia Pacific region accounted for the largest share in the global Automotive Plastics Market for passenger cars in 2020.

Asia Pacific accounted for the largest share of the Automotive Plastics Market for passenger cars in 2020. The countries considered for the study in Asia Pacific are China, Japan, India, South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, among others. Asia Pacific is a leading manufacturing hub for the automotive industry owing to the increasing passenger vehicle production in China and India. The vehicle production in these countries is growing at a rapid rate because of the presence of major automotive players such as Honda, Toyota, Hyundai, and Nissan. Manufacturers such as BMW and Volkswagen have already set up manufacturing units in these countries. In terms of geography, Asia has the highest production of electric vehicles, making it the largest market for plastic for EVs. Such factors are expected to fuel the growth of the Automotive Plastics Market for passenger cars in the region.

BASF SE (Germany), SABIC (Saudi Arabia), LyondellBasell Industries Holdings BV (Netherlands), LG Chem (South Korea), DuPont (US), Covestro AG (Germany), Evonik Industries AG (Germany), Solvay (Belgium), Arkema SA (France), Borealis AG (Austria), among others are the key players operating in the Automotive Plastics Market for passenger cars.

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MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "Knowledge Store" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets.

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WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Oil prices rose on Tuesday on hopes of rising demand as the coronavirus pandemic recedes. Brent crude oil futures rose half a percent to $73.22 per barrel, while U.S. crude oil futures for July settlement were up half a percent at $71.22. Prices hit as high as $71.53 earlier in the day, marking the highest since October 2018. As businesses reopen and demand for air and auto travel bounces back, investors are pinning hopes for increased summer demand in the U.S. and Europe. Last Friday, the International Energy Agency said in a report that it expects global oil demand to return to pre-pandemic levels late next year. World consumption will once again surpass 100 million barrels a day in the second half of 2022 as developed economies bring the virus under control, the agency said and called on the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries to 'open the taps to keep the world oil markets adequately supplied.' A slowdown in talks between Iran and global powers in reviving a 2015 nuclear deal also supported oil prices. An Iranian government spokesman said that the landmark accord was being delayed to resolve key sticking points. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
But more jobs than ever require them

The global workforce is on the brink of a digital skills crisis. More jobs than ever require an understanding of new technologies but a third of American workers lack digital skills.1 Questionmark, the online assessment provider, is calling on employers to ensure that workers across different teams and functions have the digital literacy they need.

John Kleeman, Founder of Questionmark, said: "Digital and technology skills are required across the workforce. It's time to break the tech skills silo and the cultural assumption that only technology workers need to understand workplace technology.

"Assessing the skills of workers gives employers a good steer on the extent of the digital skills gap within their own organizations. Where there is a clear gap, they can introduce further training and support."

Workplace technology is no longer just for the technologists. Some, 98% of European Union (EU) workplaces now require all managers to have at least basic digital skills, according to a study by the European Commission.2 In the United States (US) 82% of middle-skills jobs those that typically require less than a bachelor's degree while paying a living wage are described as digitally intensive.3

However, almost a third of US workers lack digital skills, according to the National Skills Coalition4. Less than 20% of managerial staff believe they are developing their digital skills at work, found the Lloyds Bank Consumer Digital Index.5

Measuring the skills of workers with online assessments gives employers real information about areas of strength and weakness across the organization. The results of the assessment can help employers identify the training need. By testing the skills of candidates before hiring them, leaders can ensure that people with the right skills are joining their teams.

www.questionmark.com

Ends

Notes to editors

About Questionmark

Questionmark unlocks performance through reliable and secure online assessments.

Questionmark provides a secure enterprise-grade assessment platform and professional services to leading organizations around the world, delivered with care and unequalled expertise. Its full-service online assessment tool and professional services help customers to improve their performance and meet their compliance requirements. Questionmark enables organizations to unlock their potential by delivering assessments which are valid, reliable, fair and defensible.

Questionmark offers secure powerful integration with other LMS, LRS and proctoring services making it easy to bring everything together in one place. Questionmark's cloud-based assessment management platform offers rapid deployment, scalability for high-volume test delivery, 24/7 support, and the peace-of-mind of secure, audited U.S., Australian and European-based data centers.

1 https://www.nationalskillscoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/05-20-2020-NSC-New-Landscape-of-Digital-Literacy.pdf

2 https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/new-report-shows-digital-skills-are-required-all-types-jobs

3 https://www.burning-glass.com/wp-content/uploads/Digital_Edge_report_2017_final.pdf

4 https://www.nationalskillscoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/05-20-2020-NSC-New-Landscape-of-Digital-Literacy.pdf

5 https://www.icaew.com/technical/technology/tech-faculty/tech-news/tech-news-articles/digital-skills-at-work

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005215/en/

Contacts:

For more information:

US: Kristin Bernor, external relations: Kristin.bernor@questionmark.com +1 203.349.6438

UK: James Boyd-Wallis: james.boyd-wallis@fourteenforty.uk +44 7793 021 607

Australia and New Zealand: Chelsea Dowd: chelsea.dowd@questionmark.com +61 2 8073 0527
2-3 Week Program Builds Upon Findings from the Geological Reconnaissance Program in Spring/2021 with a View Toward a Drill Program Based Upon Results

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 15, 2021 / Victory Resources Corporation (CSE:VR)(FWB:VR61)(OTC PINK:VRCFF) ("Victory" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Company has launched an extensive geological sampling program on its recently acquired Smokey Lithium property in Esmeralda County, Nevada.

Victory's team of 2 geologists has begun an extensive two-week sampling project on the Smokey Lithium property. The goal of the project is to sample the claystones using Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) analyzers, as well as collecting verification samples for submission for lab analysis.

Previous reconnaissance sampling by Victory Resources Corporation returned anomalous Li in claystone (i.e. >300 ppm Li) on the southwest part of the Smokey Lithium Property. The current sampling program will greatly expand coverage and knowledge on major areas of the Smokey Lithium Property where no previous sampling has occurred. During spring, 2021, the property was mapped by Victory geologists to gather the information to plan the current extensive sampling program.

Pulps from previous sampling by Victory have been used to calibrate the LIBS analyzer, which will allow real time analysis of claystones on the property. These analyses will in turn guide an application for a proposed drill program. Confirmation samples will also be submitted to ALS for analysis.

Victory's Smokey lithium project is a clay lithium property that lies approximately 20 miles north of Clayton Valley, and 20 miles west of American Lithium's flagship lithium project. Smokey Lithium is located 25 km northwest of Noram's Zeus Li Project and 35 km southwest of American Lithium Corporation's Tonopah Lithium Claims Property in southwest Nevada. Esmeralda County Nevada is a prolific region for lithium clay deposits, (Noram, Cypress, American Lithium, Spearmint, Enertopia, Jindalee).

Scientific and technical information contained in this press release was reviewed and approved by Mr. Helgi Sigurgeirson, Victory Geologist, and a "qualified person" under NI 43-101.

For further information, please contact:

Mark Ireton, President

Telephone: +1 (236) 317 2822 or TOLL FREE 1 (855) 665-GOLD (4653)

E-mail: IR@victoryresourcescorp.com

About Victory Resources Corporation

VICTORY RESOURCES CORPORATION (CSE: VR) is a publicly traded diversified investment corporation with mineral interests in North America. The company is also actively seeking other exploration opportunities.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding future financial position, business strategy, use of proceeds, corporate vision, proposed acquisitions, partnerships, joint-ventures and strategic alliances and co-operations, budgets, cost and plans and objectives of or involving the Company. Such forward-looking information reflects management's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to management. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "predicts", "intends", "targets", "aims", "anticipates" or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be identified by statements to the effect that certain actions "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. A number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause the actual results or performance to materially differ from any future results or performance expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions and dependence upon regulatory approvals. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. The Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by securities laws.

SOURCE: Victory Resources Corporation

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/651702/Victory-Launches-Expanded-Geological-Sampling-Program-on-Smokey-Lithium-Property
Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands--(Newsfile Corp. - June 15, 2021) - Talon Metals Corp. (TSX: TLO) ("Talon" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on the Tamarack Nickel-Copper-Cobalt Project ("Tamarack Nickel Project"), located in Minnesota, USA. The Tamarack Nickel Project comprises the Tamarack North Project and the Tamarack South Project.





Figure 1: Portion of new drill hole 21TK0301, representing 2.77 meters (9.09 feet) of nickel-copper mineralization starting at 356.24 meters.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/2443/87548_84e62db0d4ab797e_001full.jpg

HIGHLIGHTS

One of Talon's key catalysts for value creation in 2021 is to grow the Tamarack Nickel Project's current resource towards the north, while aiming to reduce the timeline to production.

In April 2021, Talon announced that drill hole 20TK0277 (located in the northern portion of the resource area) intersected 138.18 meters (453.35 feet) grading 1.66% Ni, 1.02% Cu (2.26% NiEq1) starting at 317.5 meters.

As a follow-up to drill hole 20TK0277, Talon has just drilled new drill holes 21TK301 and 21TK0312, which represent, respectively, 49 and 25 meter north-east step-outs from drill hole 20TK0277.

Talon is pleased to report that drill hole 21TK0301 successfully intersected an aggregate of 108.81 meters (356.9 feet) of nickel-copper mineralization in two intervals as follows:

43.58 meters (142.9 feet) of nickel-copper mineralization starting at 289.38 meters, and

65.23 meters (214.0 feet) of nickel-copper mineralization starting at 343.22 meters.

Drill hole 21TK0312 also successfully intersected an aggregate of 87.35 meters (286.6 feet) of nickel-copper mineralization in three intervals as follows:

68.85 meters (225.9 feet) of nickel-copper mineralization starting at 309.49 meters;

4.34 meters (14.2 feet) of nickel-copper mineralization starting at 392.86 meters; and

14.16 (46.4 feet) of nickel-copper mineralization starting at 405.24 meters.

"The new drill holes announced today demonstrate that there will be further resource expansion within the area we refer to as the Upper Semi-Massive Sulphide Unit, located in the north-eastern portion of our resource area," said Etienne Dinel, Vice President - Geology, for Talon. "These new drill holes also demonstrate that we have not yet found the edge of the Upper Semi-Massive Sulphide Unit, especially considering the thickness of the mineralized intervals, and therefore, further drilling in this area is warranted."

SUMMARY

The new drilling reported in today's press release should be viewed in the context of historic drill hole 09TK00942 and Talon's recent drill hole 20TK0277. Drill hole 20TK0277 intersected 138.18 meters (453.35 feet) of disseminated and semi-massive sulphide mineralization, grading 1.66% Ni, 1.02% Cu, 0.04% Co, 0.21 g/t Pd, 0.36 g/t Pt, and 0.21 g/t Au (2.26% NiEq or 6.03% CuEq3) starting at 317.5 meters, and extended the Upper Semi-Massive Sulphide Unit (the "Upper SMSU") further north and east (see the Company's press release dated April 13, 2021).

Historic drill hole 09TK0094 intersected the Upper SMSU mineralization with 27 meters grading 0.83% Ni, 0.57% Cu, 0.03% Co, 0.06 g/t Pd, 0.10 g/t Pt and 0.09 g/t Au (1.13% NiEq or 3.02% CuEq) starting 349.5 meters and an additional 7.5 meters of 0.69% Ni, 0.42% Cu, 0.02% Co, 0.07 g/t Pd, 0.11 g/t Pd and 0.06 g/t Au (0.92% NiEq or 2.47% CuEq) starting at 397.5 meters.

Talon followed the success of drill hole 21TK0277 with three additional drill holes designed to probe further east and north in an effort to further expand the Upper SMSU. Drill holes 21TK0301 and 21TK0312 are, respectively, 25 and 45 meter step-outs south of drill hole 09TK0094, while drill hole 21TK0315 represents a 25 meter step-out north of drill hole 09TK0094.

Results from the three new drill holes are as follows:

Drill hole 21TK0301 intersected an aggregate of 108.81 meters (356.9 feet) of nickel-copper mineralization in two intervals, with:

43.58 meters (142.9 feet) of nickel-copper mineralization starting at 289.38 meters, and

65.23 meters (214.0 feet) of nickel-copper mineralization starting at 343.22 meters.

Drill hole 21TK0312 intersected an aggregate of 87.35 meters (286.6 feet) of nickel-copper mineralization in three intervals, with:

68.85 meters (225.9 feet) of nickel-copper mineralization starting at 309.49 meters;

4.34 meters (14.2 feet) of nickel-copper mineralization starting at 392.86 meters; and

14.16 (46.4 feet) of nickel-copper mineralization starting at 405.24 meters.

Drill hole 21TK0315 intersected 51.6 meters (169.2 feet) of nickel-copper mineralization starting at 284.2 meters.

Assays are pending for all of the above-noted drill holes.

With the intention of advancing the project towards a further resource and economic update, Talon will continue drilling this area with a series of infill drill holes, as well as drill holes with the goal of identifying the edge of the Upper SMSU. To date, the drilling shows growth of the mineralization to the north-east, while the edge of the mineralization within the Upper SMSU has not yet been defined.





Figure 2: Plan view geological map of the Tamarack Nickel Project's resource area showing the location of new drill holes 21TK0301, 21TK0312 and 21TK0315.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/2443/87548_84e62db0d4ab797e_002full.jpg

QUALITY ASSURANCE, QUALITY CONTROL AND QUALIFIED PERSONS

Please see the technical report entitled "NI 43-101 Technical Report Updated Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) #3 of the Tamarack North Project - Tamarack, Minnesota" with an effective date of January 8, 2021 prepared by independent "Qualified Persons" (as that term is defined in National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101")) Leslie Correia (Pr. Eng), Andre-Francois Gravel (P. Eng.), Tim Fletcher (P. Eng.), Daniel Gagnon (P. Eng.), David Ritchie (P. Eng.), Oliver Peters (P. Eng.), Volodymyr Liskovych (P.Eng.), Andrea Martin (P. E.) and Brian Thomas (P. Geo.) for information on the QA/QC, analytical and testing procedures at the Tamarack Project. Copies are available on the Company's website (www.talonmetals.com) or on SEDAR at (www.sedar.com). The laboratory used is ALS Minerals who is independent of the Company.

Lengths are drill intersections and not necessarily true widths. True widths cannot be consistently calculated for comparison purposes between holes because of the irregular shapes of the mineralized zones. Drill intersections have been independently selected by Talon. Drill composites have been independently calculated by Talon. The geological interpretations in this news release are solely those of the Company.

The locations and distances highlighted on all maps in this news release are approximate.

Dr. Etienne Dinel, Vice President, Geology of Talon, is a Qualified Person within the meaning of NI 43-101. Dr. Dinel is satisfied that the analytical and testing procedures used are standard industry operating procedures and methodologies, and he has reviewed, approved and verified the technical information disclosed in this news release, including sampling, analytical and test data underlying the technical information.

ABOUT TALON

Talon is a TSX-listed base metals company in a joint venture with Rio Tinto on the high-grade Tamarack Nickel-Copper-Cobalt Project located in Minnesota, USA, comprised of the Tamarack North Project and the Tamarack South Project. Talon has an earn-in to acquire up to 60% of the Tamarack Project. The Tamarack Project comprises a large land position (18km of strike length) with numerous high-grade intercepts outside the current resource area. Talon is focused on expanding its current high-grade nickel mineralization resource prepared in accordance with NI 43-101; identifying additional high-grade nickel mineralization; and developing a process to potentially produce nickel sulphates responsibly for batteries for the electric vehicles industry. Talon has a well-qualified exploration and mine management team with extensive experience in project management.

For additional information on Talon, please visit the Company's website at www.talonmetals.com or contact:

Sean Werger

President

Talon Metals Corp.

Tel: (416) 361-9636 x102

Email: werger@talonmetals.com

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements". All statements, other than statements of historical fact that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect the current expectations or beliefs of the Company based on information currently available to the Company. Such forward-looking statements include statements relating to the timing and results of the exploration program, including assay results, grades, mineralization, potential and results, and drilling plans; the potential to add to the current resource and release a further economic update; and the aim of reducing the timeline to production. Forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements, and even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on the Company.

Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein.

Table 1: Collar Locations of New Drill Holes Referred to in this Press Release

Hole ID Easting (m) Northing (m) Elevation (masl) Azimuth Dip End Depth (m) 31TK0301 490837.3 5168859.5 388.0 314.3 -86.3 474.6 21TK0312 490840.0 5168864.0 388.0 219.8 -84.2 498.7 21TK0315 490838.0 5168867.0 388.0 28.3 -80.2 413.9 09TK0094 490969.9 5168798.7 388.9 309.6 -60.7 509.6

Collar coordinates are UTM Zone 15N, NAD83.

Azimuths and dips are taken from survey record at collar unless otherwise noted.

Table 2: Quick Lithology Log for New Drill Holes in the Tamarack Resource Area

Hole ID From (m) To (m) Length (m) Lithology % Sulphides 21TK0301 0 32.52 32.52 Overburden 32.52 289.38 256.86 FGO/MZNO Traces 289.38 332.96 43.58 CGO 5-10% 332.96 343.22 10.26 CGO Traces 343.22 408.45 65.23 CGO 4-25% 408.45 445.68 37.23 CGO tr-3% 445.68 474.57 28.89 SED 21TK0312 0 35.6 35.6 Overburden 35.6 309.49 273.89 FGO/MZNO tr-2% 309.49 378.34 68.85 CGO/SMSU 3-40% 378.34 392.86 14.52 CGO Traces 392.86 397.2 4.34 CGO/SMSU 5-60% 397.2 405.24 8.04 CGO 1% 405.24 419.4 14.16 CGO 5-20% 419.4 451.71 32.31 CGO tr-3% 451.71 498.65 46.94 SED 21TK0315 0 47.24 47.24 Overburden 47.24 284.2 236.96 FGO/MZNO tr-2% 284.2 335.8 51.6 CGO 5-7% 335.8 392.2 56.4 CGO Traces 392.2 413.92 21.72 SED

Quick lithology log of drill holes: Fine-grained Orthocumulate/Mixed Zone (FGO/MZNO); Mixed massive sulphides (MMS); Massive sulphides (MSU); Meta-sedimentary rocks (SED); Coarse-grained Orthocumulate (CGO)

Table 3: Assay of Drill Hole 09TK0094

Drill hole

# From

(m) To

(m) Length

(m) Ni

(%) Cu

(%) Co

(%) Pd

(g/t) Pt

(g/t) Au

(g/t) NiEq

(%) CuEq

(%) 09TK0094 349.5 376.5 27 0.83 0.57 0.03 0.06 0.10 0.09 1.13 3.02 including 363 373.5 10.5 1.07 0.77 0.03 0.07 0.12 0.11 1.47 3.92 and 397.5 405 7.5 0.69 0.42 0.02 0.07 0.11 0.06 0.92 2.47

Length refers to drill hole length and not True Width.

True Width is unknown at the time of publication.

All samples were analysed by ALS Minerals. Nickel, copper, and cobalt grades were first analysed by a 4-acid digestion and ICP AES (ME-MS61). Grades reporting greater than 0.25% Ni and/or 0.1% Cu, using ME-MS61, trigger a sodium peroxide fusion with ICP-AES finish (ICP81). Platinum, palladium and gold are initially analyzed by a 50g fire assay with an ICP-MS finish (PGM-MS24). Any samples reporting >1g/t Pt or Pd trigger an over-limit analysis by ICP-AES finish (PGM-ICP27) and any samples reporting >1g/t Au trigger an over-limit analysis by AAS (Au-AA26).

NiEq% = Ni%+ Cu% x $3.00/$8.00 + Co% x $12.00/$8.00 + Pt [g/t]/31.103 x $1,300/$8.00/22.04 + Pd [g/t]/31.103 x $700/$8.00/22.04 + Au [g/t]/31.103 x $1,200/$8.00/22.04

CuEq% = Cu%+ Ni% x $8.00/$3.00 + Co% x $12.00/$3.00 + Pt [g/t]/31.103 x $1,300/$3.00/22.04 + Pd [g/t]/31.103 x $700/$3.00/22.04 + Au [g/t]/31.103 x $1,200/$3.00/22.04.

No adjustments were made for recovery or payability.

1 Where used in this news release: NiEq% = Ni%+ Cu% x $3.00/$8.00 + Co% x $12.00/$8.00 + Pt [g/t]/31.103 x $1,300/$8.00/22.04 + Pd [g/t]/31.103 x $700/$8.00/22.04 + Au [g/t]/31.103 x $1,200/$8.00/22.04

2 Drilled in 2009 by Kennecott Exploration Company (Rio Tinto)

3 Where used in this news release: CuEq% = Cu%+ Ni% x $8.00/$3.00 + Co% x $12.00/$3.00 + Pt [g/t]/31.103 x $1,300/$3.00/22.04 + Pd [g/t]/31.103 x $700/$3.00/22.04 + Au [g/t]/31.103 x $1,200/$3.00/22.04

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/87548
Victoria, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 15, 2021) - Plurilock Security Inc. (TSXV: PLUR) (OTCQB: PLCKF) and related subsidiaries ("Plurilock" or the "Company"), an identity-centric cybersecurity solutions provider for workforces, has received an order from a California state healthcare agency worth US$400,000 under the NASPO ValuePoint program.

Healthcare organizations continue to be significant targets for cyber attacks, with recent data showing a 55% increase in 2020.1 These attacks against healthcare providers have turned into a $13.2 billion industry, underscoring the need for support from innovative cybersecurity solutions providers like Plurilock.2

Per the order, Plurilock will provide the U.S. state agency with Broadcom licenses and maintenance support. Plurilock secured the order as an authorized vendor in the NASPO ValuePoint program. This order is the latest in an ongoing effort from the Company to expand within the healthcare and government verticals.

About NASPO ValuePoint

NASPO ValuePoint is the cooperative purchasing arm of the National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO).3 NASPO is a non-profit organization that provides state chief procurement officers with procurement resources and access to competitive vendors for public procurement solicitations and agreements.4 Being a vendor through the NASPO ValuePoint program gives Plurilock access to directors of central purchasing offices in all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and all U.S. territories.

About Plurilock

Plurilock provides identity-centric cybersecurity for today's workforces. Plurilock offers world-class cybersecurity solutions paired with AI-driven, cloud-friendly security technologies that deliver persistent identity assurance with unmatched ease of use. The Plurilock family of companies enables organizations to operate safely and securely-while reducing cybersecurity friction.

For more information, visit https://www.plurilock.com or contact:

Ian L. Paterson

Chief Executive Officer

ian@plurilock.com

416.800.1566

Roland Sartorius

Chief Financial Officer

roland.sartorius@plurilock.com

Prit Singh

Investor Relations

prit.singh@plurilock.com

905.510.7636

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") related to future events or Plurilock's future business, operations, and financial performance and condition. Forward-looking statements normally contain words like "will", "intend", "anticipate", "could", "should", "may", "might", "expect", "estimate", "forecast", "plan", "potential", "project", "assume", "contemplate", "believe", "shall", "scheduled", and similar terms. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, actions, or developments and are based on expectations, assumptions, and other factors that management currently believes are relevant, reasonable, and appropriate in the circumstances. Although management believes that the forward-looking statements herein are reasonable, actual results could be substantially different due to the risks and uncertainties associated with and inherent to Plurilock's business. Additional material risks and uncertainties applicable to the forward-looking statements herein include, without limitation, the impact of general economic conditions, the success of the Company in obtaining new or extended contracts or orders; the Company's ability to maintain existing customers or develop new customers; the Company's ability to successfully integrate acquisitions of other businesses and/or companies or to realize on the anticipated benefits thereof; and unforeseen events, developments, or factors causing any of the aforesaid expectations, assumptions, and other factors ultimately being inaccurate or irrelevant. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect the Company's forward-looking statements. Many of these factors are beyond the control of Plurilock. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as at the date hereof, and Plurilock undertakes no obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. Risks and uncertainties about the Company's business are more fully discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in its most recent Annual Information Form. They are otherwise disclosed in its filings with securities regulatory authorities available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

https://www.cpomagazine.com/cyber-security/healthcare-cyber-attacks-rise-by-55-over-26-million-in-the-u-s-impacted/ https://www.cpomagazine.com/cyber-security/healthcare-cyber-attacks-rise-by-55-over-26-million-in-the-u-s-impacted/ https://www.naspovaluepoint.org/cooperative-contracts/ https://www.naspovaluepoint.org/cooperative-contracts/

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/87573
Technology eliminates the need for irradiation to bring higher quality cannabis to market

Vernon, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 15, 2021) - True Leaf Brands Inc. (CSE: MJ) (OTC Pink: TRLFF) (FSE: TLAA) ("True Leaf" or the "Company") today announced that on June 11, 2021, it signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") with Cold Plasma Group ("CPG"), bringing CPG's organic cannabis anti-microbial technology to Western Canada for the first time. Under the agreement, True Leaf will be the only Licensed Producer offering this technology and unique service in the region.

The MOU anticipates the parties will negotiate and enter into a joint venture agreement and a share purchase option agreement on or before July 31, 2021. If the MOU results in a joint venture agreement, the parties anticipate that they will split the cost of the CPG plasma-assisted sterilization equipment ("Sterilization Equipment") and commissioning at True Leaf's facility in Lumby, B.C. They will also split the operational costs and revenue derived from the Sterilization Equipment. Entering into such agreements is subject to satisfactory completion of due diligence, the required corporate and regulator approval, among other standard conditions. There is no guarantee these agreements will be entered into by the parties.

Alternatives to irradiation

Cannabis is a regulated product, including for microbial contamination. During the growing process, cannabis is prone to microbial contamination and can be infected with bacteria and mold. With the stringent safety requirements imposed by Health Canada, many licensed cannabis producers use irradiation to ensure their products are contaminant-free. Based on our research, we believe a majority of licensed producers currently use irradiation to sterilize their product which may alter the moisture content, texture, colour, cannabinoids, odour, and terpene profiles of the product.

This agreement is timely as a B.C. government study released last week shows representative samples of unregulated cannabis were tainted with 24 pesticides and unacceptable levels of bacteria, fungi, lead, and arsenic (21-06-09, BC Cannabis Legalization and Regulation Secretariat (Ministry of Public Safety and the Solicitor General) - "Testing finds contaminants in illegal cannabis"). This highlights the potential pitfalls any producer can face and the need for alternatives to irradiation which can further compound the quality issues and dollar value of the treated product.

Organic CPG technology comes to Western Canada for the first time

CPG's technology provides a safe and organic method to treat cannabis to remove bacteria and mold. It uses oxygen-enriched plasma to disinfect cannabis without degrading the quality of the product, changing its physical characteristics, or its terpene profiles. CPG's technology obviates the need for most pesticides and allows growers a path to pesticide-free product by treating microbial contamination just before packaging rather than during the growth cycle.

"Our mission is to bring higher quality craft cannabis to consumers," said True Leaf CEO Darcy Bomford. "We believe CPG's technology will provide microbial-free cannabis with no product degradation, and we look forward to offering this service to our micro-cultivator clients."

"We are proud to partner with an innovator like True Leaf which is also committed to elevating Canada's cannabis industry with higher quality products," said David Johnson, President of Cold Plasma Group. "Many consumers feel the irradiation process in cannabis causes damage to the product by creating a reduction in terpenes, altering flavour and effect. The demand for non-irradiated cannabis is huge and we look forward to working with True Leaf to meet consumer demand."

The agreement with CPG is a strategic move in more ways than one. Management expects True Leaf and its micro-cultivator clients will benefit from increased consumer confidence in its products, the ability to command a higher price per gram, and adding this valuable selling point to marketing efforts.

True Leaf has launched both a traditional private placement and an equity crowdfunding offering (together the "Offering") so institutional investors, the craft cannabis community, and the general public all can invest in the Company's innovative business model. To learn more, please visit: invest.trueleafbrands.com.

About the Company

True Leaf is a Licensed Producer of cannabis preparing to launch a program to provide seed-to-shelf solutions for micro-cultivators. The program will operate from the Company's 40-acre property in Lumby, B.C., Canada, and will provide a full suite of in-house production, processing, and packaging services to the burgeoning craft cannabis community.

To learn more, visit www.trueleafbrands.com.

Investor Contact:

Nick Foufoulas

ir@trueleafbrands.com

250.275.6063 ext. 201

Media Inquiries: media@trueleafbrands.com

Cautionary and Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" including, among other things, statements relating to the completion, timing, and size of the proposed offering, the issuance of warrants to purchase additional common shares, the expected use of proceeds from the offering and the expected market for craft cannabis products. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of True Leaf to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: whether or not the Company will offer the units or consummate the offering, the final terms of the offering, prevailing market conditions, the anticipated capital raised under the offering, which could differ based upon market conditions, the anticipated use of the net proceeds of the offering, which could change because of market conditions or for other reasons, the impact of general business, economic, competitive, geopolitical and social uncertainties; regulatory risks; and other risks related to the cannabis industry. Forward-looking statements in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company undertakes no obligations to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities law.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities of the company, nor shall it constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. Any offers of the securities will be made only by means of an offering memorandum and an applicable exemption from registration and prospectus requirements. In the United States, the Offering is available solely to accredited investors under Rule 506(c) of Regulation D ("Rule 506(c)") promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") under the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act"). All securities to be issued in connection with the offering will be subject to statutory restrictions on resale for a period of four-months-and-one-day from the date of issuance in Canada and the statutory period under Rule 144 of the 1933 Act.

The Canadian Securities Exchange (operated by CNSX Markets Inc.) has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed Transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved of the contents of this press release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/87575
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 15, 2021) - Edgemont Gold Corp. (CSE: EDGM) (FSE: EG8) ("Edgemont") is pleased to announce that the B.C. Ministry of Mines has issued a Multi-Year Area-Based Permit that will allow Edgemont to begin a fully funded initial Phase I drill program this summer at its Dungate copper/gold porphyry project located 6 km south of Houston, B.C.

The Phase I drill program, announced in the May 17th news release, will be comprised of at least six 500 metre drill holes from six permitted drill pad location to test mineralization at depth. Following successful completion of this initial drill program, the five-year permit will allow Edgemont to identify and drill from a further ten drill locations next year, subject to the conditions of the permit. Supplemental drill locations can be added subject to normal notification requirements and successful reclamation of completed drill holes.

"We are excited to be able to move forward with our initial drill program at Dungate," stated Edgemont CEO Stuart Rogers. "We have retained Apex Diamond Drilling Ltd. of Smithers, B.C. and logistics are underway for a late July drill startup.

We have identified several large IP anomalies that have never been properly drill tested at depth, and are encouraged by the recent success at Sun Summit's nearby Buck project which hosts geological similarities to the breccia zone identified in drill logs from historic drilling at Dungate in 1975.

The last drilling at Dungate was in 1976 and was only comprised of shallow (<100m) drill holes. With the comprehensive geophysical data now available to us through our recent Induced Polarization geophysical survey, we are looking forward to the potential for a significant discovery at this compelling copper/gold porphyry target."

The first holes to be drilled at Dungate will test a strong cohesive circular chargeable anomaly approximately 1.2 km in diameter (chargeability response varies from 15mv/v to greater than 60 mv/v) identified by Edgemont during a 16 line km IP survey conducted in September 2020. In addition, the magnetic and IP surveys also identified another possible intrusion, much larger in size, under overburden to the north of the initial Dungate showing. This new target will be drill tested for the first time during this summer exploration program.

The only deep hole (333 m) on the property, DDH C75-1, was drilled by Cities Services in 1975 and drill logs reported 142 m of "abundant chalcopyrite" at the bottom of the hole. No assay results are available. The drill log also indicates that 24 m zone of quartz-pyrite ("Qtz-Py") breccia was intercepted about 90 meters downhole with similar characteristics to that reported by Sun Summit at the nearby Buck discovery this January. This zone appears to be an exciting gold target within the larger copper-gold porphyry and will be tested in the first drill hole planned for this summer. A map interpreting the location of this possible Qtz-Py breccia zone and indicating the locations of the initial six drill holes planned at Dungate can be accessed here :





Figure 1

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6955/87580_75035e60e4008909_002full.jpg

The technical information contained in this news release has been approved by Joseph Campbell, P. Geo, a Director of Edgemont, who is a Qualified Person as defined in "National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects."

About Edgemont Gold Corp:

Edgemont is actively exploring the Dungate copper/gold porphyry project located just 6 km south of Houston, BC, in a region with a history of successful mining projects including the Equity Silver Mine, Imperial Metals' Huckleberry Mine, and the more recent gold-silver discovery at Sun Summit Minerals' Buck Project which sits just 7 km to the south.





Figure 2

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6955/87580_75035e60e4008909_003full.jpg

Having acquired an interest in its initial claims at Dungate in 2018, the Company now holds five mineral tenures covering 1,582.2 hectares that can be explored year-round by all-season roads. For more information, please visit our website at www.edgemontgold.com.

For further information, please contact:



Stuart Rogers

Chief Executive Officer

Tel: (778) 239-3775

www.edgemontgold.com



Kevin Arias

VP Corporate Development

Tel: (778) 773-4786

E-mail: info@edgemontgold.com

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as the term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/87580


WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Footwear brand Teva, a division of Deckers Brands, has partnered with designer Christian Cowan for the release of a capsule collection for summer.



The limited-edition Teva x Christian Cowan collection is inspired by the fusion of fashion and the modern outdoors. It fuses together metallics, glitter, and the outdoors.



The capsule collection features two striking silhouettes, a newly designed Hurricane Gladiator - CC and Hurricane XLT2 - CC.



The Teva x Christian Cowan Hurricane Gladiator is available in Cowan's signature fluorescent pink and Hurricane XLT2 in Silver and Pink. All these are available in extended all gender inclusive sizing, size 4-14, and retails for $175 and $90. The customers can purchase the capsule collection from select specialty retail stores as well as online at Teva.com.



According to Teva, these reimagined footwear styles draw inspiration from the British born, New York based designer's fierce aesthetic, featuring head-turning hues and chrome touches on each sandals' buckles and straps.



All straps in the collection spotlight earth-friendly materials, and allows all wearers the freedom to express and experience life's everyday adventures in bold fashion.



The Hurricane Gladiator - CC offers an ultra-strappy gladiator upper grounded in Teva's classic Hurricane XLT2 outsole. All straps on the Hurricane Gladiator - CC feature Teva's recycled polyester straps using traceable, verifiable REPREVE recycled plastic and polyester yarn by Unifi finished with an iridescent shine for added chromatic glam.



Further, the Hurricane XLT2 - CC comes with iridescent webbing and connector straps embellished in environmentally-friendly plant-based glitter. It features a rugged Durabrasion Rubber outsole, to supply great traction and a molded EVA midsole and rubber outsole for comfort, durability and support for all day wear.



Cowan said, 'As a designer most known for designing party dresses, I am so excited to bring the party to the sandal world through this collection with Teva. ...I loved working with existing Teva silhouettes and dialing up the sparkle, a testament to Teva's free-spirited nature, and hope both existing and new fans of both brands will enjoy wearing them as much as I enjoyed designing them with Teva!'



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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MUNICH, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Nagarro, a global leader in digital engineering, will join the SDAX index on June 21, 2021, only six months after being listed on the exchange. Inclusion in the SDAX index confirms Nagarro's growing importance in the financial markets.

On June 3, 2021, Deutsche Borse announced the result of the extraordinary review of its indices: Nagarro is one of four so-called 'small caps' promoted to the 70-member SDAX index. Nagarro was admitted based on the 'fast entry rule.' Four times a year, the stock exchange decides on the composition of its indices. Whether a company is promoted or relegated is measured by the company's stock market value calculated by the free-float market capitalization and the stock market turnover.

"Two weeks ago, we celebrated the milestone of 10,000 employees. Today, we are very pleased that Deutsche Borse has included us in the SDAX after only six months," said Annette Mainka, Custodian of Regulatory Compliance at Nagarro. "The inclusion in the SDAX should further increase the confidence of global investors in our stock. It is a confirmation of our growth strategy. It is also a good moment to recommit ourselves to creating value for all Nagarro stakeholders in the future."

Since the announcement of the inclusion in the SDAX index, the Nagarro SE share has increased in value by more than 20% and was trading at its all-time high closing price of EUR 107.50 (XETRA) on June 14, 2021.

For more information, visit www.nagarro.com

For inquiries, please contact press@nagarro.com

About Nagarro

Nagarro, a global digital engineering leader, helps clients become innovative, digital-first companies and thus, win in their markets. The company is distinguished by its entrepreneurial, agile, and global character, its CARING mindset, and its approach of "Thinking Breakthroughs". Nagarro employs over 10,000 people in 26 countries. For more information, visit www.nagarro.com.

(FRA: NA9) (SDAX, ISIN: DE000A3H2200) (WKN: A3H220)

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Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/844192/Nagarro_Logo.jpg
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / June 15, 2021 / Sterling Metals Corp. (TSXV:SAG)(OTCQB:SAGGF) ("Sterling Metals" or the "Company") is very pleased to report the commencement of a maiden drilling program on the Silver-Copper-Lead-Zinc Sail Pond project ("Sail Pond" or the "Project") located on the Great Northern Peninsula of Newfoundland, Canada. The drilling program will comprise of an initial 7,500 metres with one drill and is expected to take approximately 4 months to complete. Initial drill holes will target the South Zone, where previous exploration campaigns have identified extremely high-grade mineralization with grab sample results up to 4,526.1 g/t Ag, 0.9 g/t Au, 14.9 % Cu, 7.5 % Pb, 5.0 % Sb, and 9.6 % Zn (see Sterling Metals press release dated January 6, 2021). In addition, the Company is pleased to announce the results and interpretation of a gravity survey completed over the South Zone, which will assist with drill targeting.

Mathew Wilson, CEO of Sterling Metals, commented "we want to thank everyone who has helped Sterling get to this point. Since acquiring this project in October of last year, each data point generated has progressively given us greater confidence in our Sail Pond asset. With our fully funded 7500m program, and the plan and funds to expand well beyond this first program, we look forward to seeing what lies beneath this at surface 12km, district scale, high grade project."

Drill Program

Sterling Metals has contracted Logan Drilling Group International out of Stewiacke, Nova Scotia, and Mercator Geological Services out of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia to complete its upcoming initial 7,500 metre program. Assays will be sent to Eastern Analytical in Springdale, approximately 3 hours south of the Sail Pond project. Compilation and interpretation work completed by GoldSpot Discoveries Corp (as announced by Sterling on May 13, 2021) has identified 18 priority drill target locations and a total of 12,485 metres of drill targets. The drill program has been designed to target known surface mineralization as well as geophysical and structural targets in areas that have not been subjected to significant surface exploration.

Gravity Survey Results

A small gravity survey was completed in March over the South Zone of Sail Pond. GoldSpot Discoveries Corp (SPOT) has completed their interpretation of the data and have presented compelling results. A linear trend consisting of gravity-high anomalies has been identified, as shown in Figure 1, which correlates very well with both metal-in-soil anomalies and high-grade grab samples. The gravity high lies between the contacts of several geological units, namely the Table Head and Table Cove Formations and the Table Cove and Watts Bight Formations. The gravity high correlates quite well with induced polarization ("IP") data, with the bulk of the gravity anomaly lying within a large zone of resistivity and adjacent to a zone of conductivity. The strongest gravity anomalies also lie within a zone of chargeability. Three-dimensional inversion of the gravity data shows that the anomalies deep steeply to the East, while the mapped geology shows that it dips to the West. The difference in the dip of the gravity anomaly compared to the geology indicates that the gravity anomaly is likely not formational, i.e., it is potentially associated with a mineralized body. Sterling's initial drillholes will test these anomalies, which indicate the potential of galena-bearing sulfides at depth. Sterling will also expand the gravity survey to cover the entire geochemical trend on the Project and utilize this data to further optimize its targets during the drilling program.

Figure 1: Filtered, interpreted, gravity data (in mG) on the South Zone of the Sail Pond project overlain by Lead-in-soil data. Note the very strong correlation of the gravity highs (warm colours) with the high-grade lead values.

Financing Change

Further to the Company's press release of April 1, 2021, the Company has paid certain eligible persons (the "Finders") an aggregate of 8,290 broker warrants (each, a "Broker Warrant"). Each Broker Warrant entitles the holder thereof to acquire one common share at a price of $0.65 per Common Share until March 31, 2023. All securities issued pursuant to the offering will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months plus a day from the date of issuance in accordance with applicable securities legislation.

Qualified Persons

Kelly Malcolm, P.Geo., Technical Advisor to Sterling Metals, and a Qualified Person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Minerals Projects, has reviewed and approved the technical information presented herein.

About Sterling Metals

Sterling Metals (TSXV:SAG)(OTCQB:SAGGF) is a mineral exploration company focused on Canadian exploration opportunities. The company is currently exploring for silver and base metals at the Sail Pond project in Northwestern Newfoundland. Sterling has the option to acquire 100% of the 13,500 Ha Project by spending $500,000 by October 2021 and an additional $1,000,000 by October 2023.

For more information, please contact:

Sterling Metals Corp.

Mathew Wilson, President & CEO

Tel: (416) 643-3887

Email: info@sterlingmetals.ca

Website: www.sterlingmetals.ca

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "would", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the information is provided, and is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. For a description of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company and its business and affairs, readers should refer to the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change, unless required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

SOURCE: Sterling Metals Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/651713/Sterling-Metals-Launches-Maiden-Drill-Campaign-at-the-Sail-Pond-Silver-and-Base-Metal-Project
BIEL/BIENNE, Switzerland, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Armin Strom today announced the introduction of a new timepiece that reinterprets the classic dress watch. "We believe that exceptional hand-finishing, presented in the context of a modern aesthetic sensibility, is the key to a modern dress watch revival" said Claude Greisler, Master Watchmaker and co-founder of the revitalized Armin Strom about the new 'Tribute 1'.

A Contrarian Bet On A Modern Dress Watch Revival:

"At a time when so many of us have spent so long without formal social interaction, the end of the pandemic represents a return to normal life and the luxury of social gatherings. Our introduction of a dress watch is an expression of that hope for the future" said Serge Michel, co-founder. "A dress watch may seem contrarian right now, but we've learned to trust our instincts. Years ago, we were told that there was no economic model to justify a low-volume independent watchmaker bringing all of its fabrication in-house; because the equipment is expensive and requires a lot of space. We did it anyway - and that decision paid off. Today we have the luxury of continuing to follow our passion. The 'Tribute 1' isn't just a manifestation of that passion, it's a 'tribute' to it. It's also our tribute to the classic haute horology dress watch, updated from a modern perspective."

Exceptional Haute Horology Finishing:

"I've been obsessed with this timepiece, particularly its finishing" said Greisler. "Just hand-polishing the white gold barrel bridge takes us over 12 hours to complete. The polishing of the hands is similarly time-consuming. The gear chain bridge is beveled and polished in 60 - a complex process demands twice the effort. The barrel is also hand-polished. The movement is adorned with Cotes de Geneve; with a circular-grained mainplate and jewel sinks that are polished to gleaming perfection. It's also more classic than my recent designs," said Greisler, "with a diameter of 38mm and a height of just 9mm. The crown is located at 2 o'clock; a nod to modern design that enhances wearer comfort."

Technical Distinction:

The motor barrel is unusual as its arbor turns around the mainspring within the barrel itself; making it more efficient while conserving space. It provides 100 hours of operation.

Pricing And Availability:

Priced at an intentionally-accessible price of CHF 13,900, this inaugural limited-edition of 25 watches is distinguished by its white gold barrel bridge and 10-year warranty.

System 78 Collection:

The 'Tribute 1' is the latest offering in the 'System 78' collection, the entry point to the Armin Strom brand. It embodies the sensibilities of the co-founders of the revitalized Armin Strom, who were both born in 1978.

About Armin Strom AG

Armin Strom AG is an independent watch brand based in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland. Its timepieces represent a unique fusion of the Swiss-German horological tradition, avant-garde 'transparent mechanics' and an unwavering commitment to horological innovation. The hallmark of Armin Strom's low-volume, artisanal approach to watchmaking is a commitment to exposed dial-side movement mechanics, with every part hand-finished to the highest haute-horology standards.

Established in 1967 by Mr. Armin Strom, stewardship of the brand was transferred to Master-Watchmaker Claude Greisler and Businessman Serge Michel in 2006. They established Armin Strom AG's first fully-integrated Manufacture in 2009; enabling the brand to bring even its most complicated ideas to life without any of the compromises that typically stem from reliance on a supply chain.

For more information visit http://bit.ly/Press_Tribute1

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1531790/Armin_Strom.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1532299/Armin_Strom_Logo.jpg

Contact:

Sonja Voutat-Hagmann

s.voutat-hagmann@arminstrom.com

+41 32 343 33 41
WorkLLama enters the UK market to help recruiters attract and place more candidates through an automated, mobile-first SAAS platform

WorkLLama, the AI-powered talent community platform, has entered the UK market with a commitment to increasing productivity, placements and business growth for agency and corporate recruitment teams.

With the Office for National Statistics reporting increasing employment levels and the latest REC/KPMG UK Report on Jobs reporting the highest vacancy growth since 1998, talent shortages once again abound, with the recruitment community innovating to enhance their service offering and value proposition to the wider market.

For recruiters and talent teams again facing the war for talent, finding more efficient ways to attract and recruit candidates will help facilitate getting people back to work whilst also enhancing their own productivity and placement rates.

For corporate talent teams this means attracting more candidates and making more placements whilst enhancing the candidate experience; and for recruitment agencies, delivering a more cost-effective delivery model, where low-value repetitive tasks are automated. Both will help get more people into work whilst enabling growth and supporting the wider UK economy.

By leveraging referral networks through AI and automation, WorkLLama enables:

900% increase in candidate placements

300% increase in candidate referrals

46% increase in new or re-engaged candidates

66% reduction in time to hire

Sudhakar Maruvada, WorkLLama CEO, comments: "The UK recruitment market is arguably the most mature and competitive in the world, with recruitment agencies and corporate talent teams vying for a shrinking talent pool whilst looking towards innovative ways to enhance the recruitment process and candidate experience. With the economic growth forecast upgraded to 5.7% in 2021, businesses will need to find new ways to access the talent they need to grow their businesses and take advantage of the projected rebound.

"Traditional recruitment and hiring processes are no longer effective. While professional networking platforms and talent tech have helped amass vast audiences, they fail to deliver a seamless process that is both scalable and referral driven. WorkLLama's technology makes it possible to automate candidate sourcing and communication through each step of the recruitment process while AI and automation improve the efficiency of sourcing teams."

WorkLLama has formally launched in the UK market and is working with recruitment agencies, RPO/MSP providers, workforce augmentation businesses and corporate/direct hire teams to enhance their recruitment processes. Interested parties can request a demo of the platform.

About WorkLLama

WorkLLama is a talent community platform that helps companies leverage their brands to create powerful candidate, employee and client experiences. Its technology makes it possible to foster meaningful, more human connections with talent, leading to exceptional and inspired branded talent communities that fuel business success.

Corporations and recruitment agencies alike use WorkLLama to automate and optimise recruiting, engagement and staffing processes that put their brand at the forefront and centre around the candidate. By doing so, they can build, nurture, and grow a curated network of talent empowered to be brand ambassadors for their organisations.

The most comprehensive technology platform of its kind, WorkLLama drives digital transformation through social referral management; frictionless candidate engagement; an AI-driven conversational bot; integrated, omnichannel communication; on-demand recruitment; and direct sourcing solutions. For more information visit www.workllama.com.

Notes for editors:

The WorkLLama branded talent community platform video can be found here.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005233/en/

Contacts:

For more information or to arrange an interview with a WorkLLama spokesperson, please contact the WorkLLama press office via:

Kristie Perrotte

Thrive Marketing Communications

Phone: 0203 905 3222

Email: kristie.perrotte@thrivemarcoms.co.uk



U.S. Media Contact:

Michelle Meek

Email: mmeek@clearedgemarketing.com

Phone: +1773-220-3120


BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - The NATO Summit in Brussels warned of the military threat posed by China, and reaffirmed the Alliance's dual-track approach of defense and dialogue towards Russia.



Leaders of 30 European and North American countries who convened at NATO Headquarters Monday took important decisions to chart the Alliance's course over the next decade and beyond.



They called on China to uphold its international commitments and to act responsibly in the international system. They agreed on the need to address the challenges posed by China's growing influence and international policies, and to engage with China to defend NATO's security interests.



China responded to the NATO communique by saying that its pursuit of defense and military modernization is 'justified, reasonable, open and transparent.'



However, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stressed that the alliance does not prefer engaging in a new Cold War with China.



On Russia also, the military alliance made it clear that it did not want a confrontation with the super power.



Leading off the discussion, US President Joe Biden said that in his upcoming meeting Wednesday with Russian President Vladimir Putin, he will convey to him that he is not looking for conflict with Russia.



However, after the summit, he told reporters, 'The Alliance will respond if Russia continues its harmful activities and we will not fail to defend the Transatlantic Alliance or stand up for democratic values.'



The Alliance adopted a far-reaching plan to make sure that NATO can meet the challenges it faces today and in the future.



The last time NATO put together a strategic plan was in 2010, when Russia was considered a partner and China wasn't even mentioned.



But now, the leaders have agreed to do more to enhance the resilience of the member nations' critical infrastructure around the world, including trusted telecommunications providers, supply chains, and energy networks.



The summit endorsed a new cyber defense policy - NATO's first in the past seven years - to improve the collective ability to defend against counter threats from state and nonstate actors against its networks and our critical infrastructure.



It also adopted a Climate Security Action Plan.



On the margins of the NATO Summit, Biden met with the leaders of three Baltic countries - Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia - to discuss and coordinate with them in advance of his meeting with Putin on Wednesday to talk about the threat that Russia poses to NATO's eastern flank.



Biden told them that the United States seeks a stable and constructive relationship with Russia, but will also respond in the face of Russia's harmful activities and will always stand up for NATO Allies.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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Molecular signature test predicts likelihood of non-response to adalimumab or etanercept, two of the world's most expensive medications, in an independent validation cohort

PrismRA demonstrates a more efficient therapy selection protocol beyond current standard

Three new analyses published on efficacy of PrismRA test stratification in patients with rheumatoid arthritis at EULAR



WALTHAM, Mass., June 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Scipher Medicine, a precision immunology company matching patients with the most effective therapy, today announced that in an independent validation study, PrismRA accurately predicted which patients with rheumatoid arthritis would not achieve EULAR good response criteria at six months of treatment using either adalimumab or etanercept.

A validation study with 68 RA patients who started either adalimumab or etanercept as their first biologic was recently presented at EULAR on June 2, 2021, along with the Sint Maartenskliniek in the Netherlands. The study compared baseline PrismRA results with actual outcomes at six months using EULAR good responseas the clinical outcome measure.

The study found a EULAR-based inadequate response in 37 out of the 68 patients, or 54.4%. The study demonstrated that patients with a molecular signature of non-response were four times more likely to achieve a EULAR inadequate response at six months than those lacking the molecular signature. Identifying those patients who will not respond to TNFi therapy in advance, before treatment begins, has the potential to reduce time spent on trial-and-error approaches and could result in improved outcomes and decreased patient burden.

"The successful validation of the novel test for EULAR inadequate response in this treat-to-target setting is promising," said Johanna Withers, Ph.D., study co-author, and Principal Scientist at Scipher Medicine. "This could optimize care, reducing wasted time on ineffective therapies and potentially halting disease progression. Demonstrating PrismRA's ability to accurately predict non-response in an independent cohort outside of the United States further demonstrates the tests generalizability across diverse patient populations."

In addition to this collaboration with the Sint Maartenskliniek, Scipher Medicine also published new data on the ability of PrismRA to predict inadequate response to TNF inhibitor therapies in seronegative RA patients as well as on efforts to define high-confidence treatment response outcomes using a Monte Carlo simulation approach to evaluate the true impact of therapeutic efficacy and response.

About PrismRA

PrismRA, a molecular signature test, is a revolutionary advancement bringing precision medicine to the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, which affects 20 million patients globally. From a routine blood draw, the PrismRA test analyzes an individual's molecular signature, helping identify who is unlikely to adequately respond to TNFi therapy, the world's largest selling drug class, so non-responders can be prescribed alternative effective therapy. Providers now have objective data to guide therapeutic decision-making and give patients the best chance of achieving treatment targets and improving clinical outcomes. For more information, please visit www.PrismRA.com

About Scipher Medicine

Scipher Medicine, a precision immunology company, holds the fundamental belief that patients deserve simple answers to treatment options based on scientifically backed data. Leveraging our proprietary SpectraTM Network Biology platform and artificial intelligence, we commercialize blood tests revealing a persons' unique molecular disease signature and match such signature to the most effective therapy, ensuring optimal treatment from day one. The unprecedented amount of patient molecular data generated from our tests further drives the discovery and development of novel and more effective therapeutics. We partner with payers, providers, and pharma along the health care value chain to bring precision medicine to autoimmune diseases. Visit www.sciphermedicine.comand follow Scipher on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Media Contact:

Alexander Petti

Alexander@TakeOnCommunications.com

201.978.4882

Scipher Medicine Company Contact:

Lauren Kendall

lauren.kendall@sciphermedicine.com

520.400.5346
Deep learning platform evaluates drug activity in patient tumour microenvironments with single cell resolution

First AI platform clinically validated to improve treatment outcomes in a prospective study

Exscientia, a clinical stage pharmatech company, has entered into a binding agreement to acquire Allcyte, a leader in artificial intelligence (AI) based precision medicine. The combination expands Exscientia's translational capabilities by enabling high content evaluation of individual patient biology in primary tumour tissues, rather than artificial cell lines or animal models. Allcyte's platform has been validated on multiple solid and haematological tumour types as well as in non-cancerous tissues.

Pioneering work by Allcyte has delivered a platform able to anticipate the effectiveness of cancer treatments in the clinic by using AI to analyse the activity of drugs in live patient samples at single-cell resolution. In the ?rst-ever1 prospective interventional study of its kind, EXALT-1, Allcyte's approach predicted which therapy was to be most effective for late-stage haematological cancer patients based on drug activity in their own tissue samples. EXALT-1 demonstrated the real-world patient selection capabilities of Allcyte's platform by achieving a 55% overall response rate and statistically significant improvement in progression free survival over the prior line of therapy. In a post hoc analysis, patients receiving therapy recommended by the platform showed significantly improved outcomes compared to their prior treatments (clinical benefit hazard ratio of 0.53; p=0.005), whereas patients who received treatments other than the platform recommended therapy showed worse outcomes (clinical benefit hazard ratio of 1.4; p=0.4)2

By joining Exscientia, Allcyte's platform will be significantly expanded and extended into early discovery so that these ground-breaking technologies are applied from target discovery and drug optimisation to patient selection. This end-to-end approach will allow discovery projects to be assessed in a biological setting that more accurately reflects the actual patient environment, improving translation from laboratory to clinic.

"Allcyte is able to demonstrate what therapy actually works in the individual patient with the most disease relevant screening platform we have seen," said Andrew Hopkins, Exscientia's CEO. "Combining Allcyte's platform with Exscientia's technologies can redefine how drugs are developed, enabling integrated discovery and patient selection. Allcyte has assembled an outstanding team in Vienna and integration of the two platforms truly allows us to build our vision of patient-first AI."

Commenting on the acquisition, Nikolaus Krall, Allcyte CEO added, "We are incredibly excited about the opportunity to immediately apply this technology to a wide range of drug discovery projects at Exscientia. This will also provide our team with the scale to expand our operations much more quickly to help provide important personalised, precision medicines to as many patients as possible."

The transaction is currently being reviewed under the customary Austrian regulatory process prior to closing. Under the terms of the merger agreement, Exscientia will pay 50 million, comprising cash and Exscientia ordinary shares. Exscientia plans to expand the Vienna site as its hub in the European Union.

About Exscientia

Exscientia is an AI-driven pharmatech company committed to discovering and designing the best possible medicines in the fastest and most effective manner. Exscientia is the first company to progress AI-designed small molecules into the clinical setting and repeatedly demonstrate the ability of AI to transform how drugs are created. Exscientia's AI platform has now designed three drugs that are in Phase 1 human clinical trials.

Drug design is precision engineering at the molecular scale. Exscientia has built dedicated AI systems that efficiently learn from the widest range of data and consistently reapply enhanced knowledge through iterations of design. Because Exscientia's AI platform learns more effectively and rapidly than human-led efforts alone, candidate molecules satisfying complex therapeutic requirements are created with revolutionary efficiency. Exscientia believes that designing better drugs, faster, will allow the best ideas of science to rapidly become the best medicines for patients.

Exscientia has offices in Oxford, Miami, Osaka and Dundee. For more information visit us on www.exscientia.ai or follow us on Twitter @exscientiaAI.

About Allcyte

Allcyte is a Vienna, Austria-based precision medicine company whose mission is to ensure that every cancer patient gets the best possible treatment. Allcyte's technology is designed to select the most promising drug candidates for clinical development in the right patient populations to maximise clinical study success rates and patient bene?t. Clinically, Allcyte's goal is to provide physicians with actionable insights on how to treat cancer patients with the right drug at the right time in situations where classical genetics-driven precision medicine does not give precise answers. This is achieved by measuring functional anticancer drug activity in viable, primary human patient tissues at the single cell resolution to gain a preview of likely clinical ef?cacy. Allcyte's technology is the first AI platform to successfully improve cancer patient outcomes in a clinical trial.

For more information on the EXALT-1 trial, refer to

[1] the following Lancet Haematology article; https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanhae/article/PIIS2352-3026(17)30208-9/fulltext

[2] the following ASH abstract; https://ash.confex.com/ash/2020/webprogram/Paper140831.html

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005584/en/

Contacts:

Edelman PR:

Nathan Field

P: +44 (0)78 6411 988

Nathan.Field@edelman.com

Stephanie Crisp

P: +44 (0)75 8300 3417

stephanie.crisp@edelman.com

For Exscientia

Mark Swindells, Chief Commercial Officer

contact@exscientia.ai
BEQOM ANNOUNCES SOLUTION FOR EQUAL PAY ANALYSIS AND COMPLIANCE

beqom, a provider of cloud-based compensation management software, has announced a major step forward in empowering organizations to attract, retain, engage, and motivate their employees, through new equal pay analysis and compliance functionality.

The beqom solution gathers and analyzes data such as company demographics, job roles, compensation, and relevant external benchmarks. By applying business rules and AI/machine learning, beqom is able to produce the analysis an organization needs to identify current inequities, suggest remedial actions, and learn which attributes will lead to pay gaps over time.

"Equal pay for equal work-without bias related to gender, race, or other factors-has become increasingly important to companies as they seek to compete for talent and enhance their employer brands," according to Tanya Jansen, beqom CMO. "Employers are seeking to assess the objectivity of their own pay practices both to achieve fairness and to attract an increasingly diverse workforce."

The business case for equal pay has been well established by countless research reports, and Human Resources departments around the world are embracing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Fair pay helps firms to attract, retain, and engage talent in their industries, and is part of a positive employer brand. Eliminating pay gaps encourages diversity, and diversity, in turn, drives innovation and is associated with greater financial performance. McKinsey Company's global study of more than 1,000 companies in 15 countries found that organizations with greater gender diversity were more likely to outperform on profitability-25% more likely for gender-diverse executive teams and 28% more likely for gender-diverse boards. Organizations in the top quartile for ethnic/cultural diversity among executives were 36% more likely to achieve above-average profitability.

beqom provides organizations with the tools to support fair pay and DEI efforts, which are increasing each year, especially amongst large enterprises. According to PayScale1, 74.2% of organizations with over 5,000 employees say they will conduct a gender pay gap analysis, a racial pay gap analysis, or both in 2021.

Meanwhile, employees are demanding greater transparency regarding pay practices. According to a beqom Gender Pay Gap Survey, 63% of workers in the U.S. and U.K. would be more willing to work at a company that discloses its gender pay gap figures yearly, a feeling shared more strongly by women (70%) than men (53%). The PayScale research found that 54.6 percent of organizations want to be transparent and share pay ranges with employees, but only 33.6 percent currently do so.

beqom's equal pay analysis and compliance solution enables companies to bring pay inequities to light and to provide pay transparency not only to employees but to regulators who may be assessing a firm's compliance with fair pay legislation. Most countries have laws regarding wage discrimination, though details and reporting requirements vary widely. beqom ensures that a company has the means to provide the required analysis and reporting to all internal and external stakeholders.

1 PayScale's State of the Gender Pay Gap Report for 2021

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210610005792/en/

Contacts:

Stanley Chang

Email: Stanley.Chang@beqom.com
The investment capital will accelerate the growth of Addepar's industry-leading platform and fuel its global expansion

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Addepar, a leading technology platform for wealth management, today announced it has raised $150 million from D1 Capital Partners at a pre-money valuation of $2 billion as part of its Series F financing. The funding will be used to further accelerate the company's rapid growth, fueling expansion of the business and workforce into new geographies and driving continued development of Addepar's category defining platform.

Addepar was founded by Joe Lonsdale in 2009 in the wake of the financial crisis to meaningfully improve how finance works and enable more efficient capital allocation. The company has paired an elite technology culture and platform-based approach with a client-centric mindset, positioning it to become a critical and impactful part of the global financial infrastructure.

Addepar has amassed more than $2.7 trillion in client assets on its platform, and serves over 600 family offices, registered investment advisors, private banks and large financial institutions across more than 25 countries. Its platform is used to process millions of accounts each day, empowering thousands of advisors to deliver timely advice and results, and to manage risk for their clients across all asset classes in any market environment. For nearly the last year, Addepar has added an average of more than $15 billion in assets a week to its platform, and had its strongest year on record across all key metrics including client and revenue growth, user engagement and client retention.

"Today's announcement underscores the trajectory and strength of Addepar's business. Our coveted client base spans multinational banks, family offices, RIAs and other financial advisors. They all use our open software platform to deliver lasting and differentiated value for their clients. We're able to unlock this value by enabling a more complete and meaningful financial picture at every level. This empowers financial professionals to advise each client on making the most informed and data-driven decisions that align with their unique goals, objectives and preferences," said Addepar CEO Eric Poirier.

"At D1 we seek to back visionary companies that solve large, pressing problems," said Prateek Bhide, Principal at D1 Capital Partners. "Addepar has built a world-class wealth management platform and has demonstrated an ability to service some of the industry's most demanding clients. Addepar has a unique opportunity to rapidly expand the platform to address the $225 trillion in investable assets around the world. We look forward to partnering with them on this journey."

Today, the company is focused on evolving financial advice and investment management with the broader purpose of maximizing the impact of the world's capital. Given the growing pressure on financial advisors to provide access to a broad range of liquid, illiquid and alternative asset classes for their clients, Addepar introduced Marketplace in 2020. This digital experience streamlines and unifies access to shares in private companies, and includes opportunities to invest in private equity, venture capital, hedge funds and real estate among other investment categories that have historically been fragmented and opaque.

Last fall, the company launched the Investor Sentiment Index which uses aggregated and anonymized data across more than 10,000 portfolios, each of which have at least $10 million, in order to surface timely insights that had previously been unattainable. In January, Addepar acquired RCI , and in doing so, launched Navigator which helps clients codify cash flow, liquidity and tax projections, and refine pacing models among other ex-ante capabilities. Marketplace and Navigator complement Addepar's flagship data aggregation, management and analysis capabilities, and are available as additional offerings to Addepar's software clients.

The company has also designed its platform with advisors' end clients in mind, offering a white-labeled mobile app and web-based portal so that investors can quickly assess what's in their portfolio, how it's allocated, and how their performance has changed over time. Looking ahead, the company will continue its aggressive pace of innovation, delivering on an ambitious roadmap with its clients at the center.

"Eric continues to build an amazing team around him, and their hard work is showing with exciting momentum towards achieving our vision," said Joe Lonsdale, Addepar Founder and Chairman of the Board. "This is a rare company where the second decade is much more exciting than the first - Addepar will continue to grow at a high rate for a long time, and will be a much more impactful platform than people yet realize, as a key part of the global financial infrastructure."

To learn more about Addepar, please visit https://addepar.com/

About Addepar

Addepar is a wealth management platform that specializes in data aggregation, analytics and reporting for even the most complex investment portfolios. Founded in 2009 by Joe Lonsdale, who currently serves as an active Chairman of its Board of Directors and General Partner at 8VC, the company's platform aggregates portfolio, market and client data all in one place. It provides asset owners and advisors a clearer financial picture at every level, allowing them to manage investments and make more informed decisions. Addepar works with hundreds of leading financial advisors, family offices and large financial institutions that manage data for over $2.7 trillion of assets on the company's platform. In 2020, Addepar was named as a Forbes Fintech 50 company and honored as a member of the CB Insights Fintech 250. Addepar is headquartered in Silicon Valley and has offices in New York City, Salt Lake City and Edinburgh. All brokerage services are offered through Acervus Securities Inc., member FINRA / SIPC.

About D1 Capital Partners

D1 Capital Partners is a global investment firm that operates across public and private markets. The firm combines the talent and operational excellence of a large, premier asset management firm with the flexible mandate and long-term time horizon of a family office. Founded in 2018 by Daniel Sundheim, D1 focuses on investing in the global internet, technology, telecom, media, consumer, healthcare, financial, industrial, and real estate sectors.

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Focus on delineating and extending the high-grade silver trend which produced several grab samples in excess of a kilogram per tonne of silver.

Detailed review of geophysics, combined with mapping and additional sampling, to be conducted.

Developing a better geological understanding of the potential of this well-mineralized area.

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 15, 2021) - Mountain Boy Minerals Ltd. (TSXV: MTB) (OTCQB: MBYMF) (FSE: M9UA) ("Mountain Boy" or the "Company") is pleased to report that the upcoming exploration program on the Theia project is intended to define drill targets in multiple areas on the property. The exploration program will include re-interpretation of previous geophysics, detailed mapping and sampling, as well as channel sampling.

The 9,028-hectare Theia property is located in the Golden Triangle of British Columbia, 30 km east-southeast of Stewart, BC and 15 km north of the historic Dolly Varden silver mine. There are logging roads within 10 km of the eastern boundary of the claims and the proposed Homestake Ridge Road is 12 km to the west.

Theia shares a southern claim boundary with Hecla Mining Company's ("Hecla") Kinskuch property, which according to Hecla's website (https://www.hecla-mining.com/kinskuch/) hosts potential for the discovery of epithermal silver-gold, gold-rich porphyry and volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposits. Teuton Resources Corp's Konkin Silver property shares a northern claim boundary, where two gold target areas have been defined (http://teuton.com/properties/konkin-silver-property).

Field work by Mountain Boy in 2020 followed up on the high-grade silver occurrences that were identified in the 1990's on the western part of the project as part of a reconnaissance program looking for gold. Since that time, extensive glacial retreat has opened up areas that have not previously been explored. The Mountain Boy geological team confirmed the historic occurrences and extended the mineralized trend to 500 meters. Recent grab samples include the following:

39 kg/t silver, 3.45 g/t gold, 45.8% lead,1.25% copper, 2.57% zinc.

1.68 kg/t silver, 3.46 % lead, and 2.7% zinc.

(The reader is cautioned that grab samples are selective by nature and may not represent the true mineralization on the property).

The area covered by the present Theia property was first explored in the 1960s by a unit of Kennecott as a copper and molybdenum porphyry prospect. Subsequent work by Bond Gold in the 1990's identified precious and base metal mineralization. The property hosts a variety of styles of mineralization, including several stages of quartz veining and associated vein style mineralization, local sulphide rich breccia zones, local disseminated sulphides associated with veins, dykes and intrusions, and shear hosted precious metals.

This year's program is intended to develop a more comprehensive geological understanding of the several styles and areas of mineralization through detailed mapping and sampling and to develop potential drill targets. The following table highlights some of the surface sample results from the 1994 and 2020 programs (see News Release March 8th, 2021).

Sample No Year AU (g/t) Ag (g/t) Cu (%) Pb (%) Zn (%) A00217672 2020 3.941 39293.0 1.251 45.790 2.570 ERK94070 1994 4.500 7409.0 2.180 0.055 0.215 ERK94071 1994 2.850 4320.0 0.662 0.028 0.047 A00217671 2020 0.180 1681.0 0.081 3.460 0.270 ERKDC-09 1994 0.140 701.4 0.135 4.260 19.300 ERKDC-11 1994 0.540 645.3 0.053 0.363 0.146 ERK94585 1994 0.280 507.4 0.135 0.713 0.864 KK94091 1994 0.680 211.1 0.018 0.597 0.325 ERK94072 1994 0.245 149.3 0.015 0.002 0.004 A00217673 2020 0.033 71.3 0.010 0.049 0.013 71538 2020 0.008 65.0 0.017 0.060 0.005 KK94090 1994 0.780 64.3 0.010 0.069 0.155 KK94628 1994 0.170 62.3 0.003 1.750 1.960 ERK94573 1994 0.450 45.8 0.027 0.030 0.039 A00217674 2020 0.013 45.1 0.007 0.051 0.008 KK94625 1994 0.420 2.8 0.001 0.010 0.016

The technical disclosure in this release has been read and approved by Andrew Wilkins, B.Sc., P.Geo., a qualified person as defined in National Instrument 43-101.

About Mountain Boy Minerals

Mountain Boy has six active projects spanning 604 square kilometres (60,398 hectares) in the prolific Golden Triangle of northern British Columbia.

The flagship American Creek project is centered on the historic Mountain Boy silver mine and is just north of the past producing Red Cliff gold and copper mine (in which the Company holds an interest). The American Creek project is road accessible and 20 km from the deep-water port of Stewart. On the BA property, 178 drill holes have outlined a substantial zone of silver-lead-zinc mineralization located 4 km from the highway. Surprise Creek is interpreted to be hosted by the same prospective stratigraphy as the BA property and hosts multiple occurrences of silver, gold and base metals. On the Theia project, work by Mountain Boy and previous explorers has outlined a silver bearing mineralized trend 500 meters long, highlighted by a recent grab sample that returned 39 kg per tonne silver (1,100 ounces per ton). Southmore is located in the midst of some of the largest deposits in the Golden Triangle. It was explored in the 1980s through the early 1990s, and largely overlooked until Mountain Boy consolidated the property and confirmed the presence of multiple occurrences of gold, copper, lead and zinc. The Telegraph project, covering 23,600 hectares, has a similar geological setting to major gold and copper-gold deposits in the Golden Triangle.

Mountain Boy is funded for the coming field season and plans to advance these projects, including drilling on select targets.

On behalf of the Board of Directors:

Lawrence Roulston

President & CEO

For further information, contact:

Nancy Curry

VP Corporate Development

(604) 220-2971

NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

This news release may contain certain "forward looking statements". Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this news release and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/87567
THC - CSETHCBF - OTCTFHD .F

VANCOUVER, BC, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- THC BioMed Intl Ltd. ("THC" or the "Company") (CSE: THC) is pleased to announce that it has retained the services of Toronto-based Oak Hill Financial ("Oak Hill") to assist with investor relations activities. THC has partnered with Oak Hill to enhance its visibility and profile to the public and in the financial community.

Oak Hill has been engaged for a three-month period. Oak Hill is to provide THC with Canadian investor relations advisory activities. The total cost to THC over the term of the agreement is $24,000 plus HST and THC will also issue 300,000 options to Oak Hill with an price equal to the higher of the closing price of the Company's common shares on the day before or the day of issuance.

Oak Hill and THC are not related parties and operate at arm's length. Aside from the options issued by THC to Oak Hill, Oak Hill does not have any additional interest in THC's securities, directly or indirectly, or any right or intent to acquire such an interest.

"Oak Hill is going to ensure that the story of our company gets out to investors and the Canadian investment community while we expand our product lines and looking at further opportunities," said John Miller, CEO of THC. "

ABOUT THC

THC BioMed is one of Canada's oldest active licensed cannabis companies. It was first licensed to deal with cannabis in 2013 under a Health Canada Section 56 exemption under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and has been a Licensed Producer under the current regime since 2016. It is a small batch producer and aims to be a leader in the beverage and edible space.

THC BioMed is a Licensed Producer of medical and recreational cannabis under the Cannabis Act. It is licensed to cultivate and sell dried, extract, edible, and topical cannabis. The Company is on the leading edge of scientific research and the development of products and services related to the cannabis industry. THC BioMed is well-positioned to be in the forefront of this rapidly growing industry.

Please visit our website for a more detailed description of our business and services available. www.thcbiomed.com

Forward-Looking Information

This press release may include forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, concerning the business of THC BioMed Intl Ltd. ("THC"). Forward-looking information is based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the management of THC. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of words such as "will," "may," "would," "expect," "intend," "plan," "seek," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential," "continue," "likely," "could" and variations of these terms and similar expressions, or the negative of these terms or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date of this press release and include that THC will be on the forefront of this rapidly growing industry. Although THC BioMed believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information because THC BioMed can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. THC disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, other than as required by applicable securities laws.

The Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or the accuracy of the contents of this release.

President and CEO, John Miller, THC Biomed Intl Ltd., 1-844-THCMEDS, E: info@thcbiomed.com
LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 15, 2021 / Reviv3 Procare Company (OTCQB:RVIV), an emerging global e-commerce brand in the premium hair care products industry, today provided an interim update on its mass market advertising effort launched in late April 2021, aimed at growing direct-to-consumer sales and raising awareness of Reviv3's flagship 3-part hair care system as well as other complementary products.

For the month of May 2021, as compared to the same year-ago period, results from the campaign drove a 390% year-over-year sales order increase in direct-to-consumer channel. Sequentially, for the months of April to May 2021, the campaign contributed to a 65% increase in orders for the direct-to-consumer channel.

"Our 'Beautiful Hair, Beautiful You' mass market national advertising campaign continues to prove itself with strong and accelerating revenue growth," said Jeff Toghraie, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Reviv3 Procare. "Since our launch, we rapidly received a strong market response as we broadcasted a multi-faceted digital media advertising campaign spanning multiple social media channels, driving targeted sales and new user traffic.

"The effectiveness of the campaign has continued to reverberate, with our June orders for the first 10 days tracking 492% higher than the same period last year. These gains are especially substantive, being transacted through our high-margin direct-to-consumer channel.

"With this first national campaign successfully underway, we are now reviewing the metrics obtained to evaluate outcomes, customer acquisition costs, and target demographic reach in anticipation of future campaigns. Given the strong success seen to-date, we anticipate continuing this campaign into the near-future as we further refine our strategy and sales optimization models." concluded Toghraie.

About Reviv3 Procare Company

Reviv3 Procare Company (OTCQB:RVIV) is an emerging global e-commerce brand in the $90 billion hair care products industry. The Company is a predominantly direct-to-consumer marketer of premium hair and skincare products under its in-house Reviv3 Procare brand - selling products in the United States, Canada, the European Union and throughout Asia. To learn more, please visit the Company's website at www.reviv3.com .

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains a number of forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. The use of words such as 'anticipates,' 'expects,' 'intends,' 'plans,' 'confident that' and 'believes,' among others, generally identify forward-looking statements.

These forward-looking statements are based on currently available information, and management's beliefs, projections, and current expectations subject to a number of significant risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, among other things: (i) Reviv3's ability to grow net sales and adjusted EBITDA as anticipated; (ii) our ability to fund our operating expenses (iii) potential difficulties or delays Reviv3 may experience in implementing its cost savings and efficiency initiatives; (iv) Reviv3's ability to compete effectively with other hair and skincare companies (v) the concentration of Reviv3's customers, potentially increasing the negative impact to Reviv3 by changing purchasing or selling patterns (vi) changes in laws or regulations in the United States and/or in other major markets, such as China, in which Reviv3 operates, including, without limitation, with respect to taxes, tariffs, trade policies or product safety, which may increase Reviv3's product costs and other costs of doing business, and reduce Reviv3's earnings. Potential investors are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. Except as required by law, Reviv3 does not assume any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, even if new information becomes available in the future.

Investor Contact:

ir@reviv3.com

Tel: (888) 638-8883

SOURCE: RVIV

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/651701/Reviv3-Procare-National-Advertising-Campaign-Drives-390-Sales-Order-Increase-in-May-2021
Public and private companies can now measure ESG readiness

DUBAI, UAE, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Instinctif Partners MENA today announces the launch of ESGOptic, a unique and powerful digital tool that allows businesses to instantly measure how they are performing in relation to the ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) requirements expected from all key stakeholders, including regulators, investors and customers.

ESGOptic is the latest member in Instinctif's family of free online diagnostic tools which, as a self-assessment tool, is designed to provide guidance for companies on how they are integrating ESG matters into company decision-making, to maximise performance. By providing this level of clarity into operations, strategy and financials, ESGOptic allows companies to recognise longer-term opportunities for growth faster and more efficiently than using financial data alone.

Commenting on today's announcement, Ed Amory, Chief Executive of Instinctif Partners, said: "Every business leader now knows that they operate in a world in which they must demonstrate societal purpose beyond profit, that the days of navigating their companies on financial metrics alone are at an end. They are under increasing pressure from consumers, regulators, employees, and investors to demonstrate their performance against wider ESG metrics, but it can be hard to know where to start. Many businesses are already making huge societal contributions but are unaware of how to demonstrate this to external stakeholders. Others face more complex challenges but need to decide where to start their journey to a more sustainable purposeful future. That's why we have developed this free service for self-assessment, to help all businesses, whether or not they are currently working with us, undertake a basic benchmarking exercise. We hope it will be helpful, and our team of experts are ready to help businesses and their leaders to act on the results."

Working alongside some of the world's largest brands, Instinctif Partners used its proprietary methodology to equip companies with a platform for quantitative and qualitative assessment of their internal ESG practices. Similar to existing Optic tools - CrisisCommsOptic , CrisisOptic and RecallOptic - ESGOptic uses a simple, secure online questionnaire system to evaluate the integration of ESG quickly and effectively across six core areas:

Sustainability & business objectives Leadership and accountability Risk and opportunities management Stakeholder engagement and collaboration Sustainability governance & management Reporting, transparency and communication of ESG

Meanwhile in the Middle East & North Africa,Samantha Bartel, CEO and Managing Partner of Instinctif Partners MENA, added: "We are excited to see rapidly growing demand for better ESG performance, not only from regional regulators but also issuers. Boards have understood that the ESG value proposition is here to stay and that companies need to improve their ESG performance to generate long-term value, business resilience and shareholder support. Our clients are increasingly concerned about how to embark on or accelerate their ESG journey, and we are well-positioned to support them."

Victoria Cross, Managing Partner who leads Instinctif's Reinventing Responsibility service, commented: "The last year has brought to the surface many ESG challenges, most of which were dormant before the pandemic. While reacting to a crisis does present an opportunity to jumpstart discussions of ESG issues internally, a crisis response, no matter how efficient it is, cannot address the root of the problem. As the pressure to demonstrate ESG integration increases, companies need to make use of the tools available to them to ensure an honest appraisal of the internal ESG processes, systems and controls. ESGOptic aims to do just that."

ESGOptic can be used as a stand-alone diagnostic tool or as part of an in-depth assessment of an organisation's readiness incorporating qualitative methods.

To find out more or to register for ESGOptic: https://optic.instinctif.com/registration

Instinctif Partners is independently owned, with the majority stake held by private equity firm LDC.

About Instinctif Partners

Instinctif Partners is a leading international business communications consultancy with expertise across diverse practice areas: capital markets, corporate, public policy, content & creative and insight & research. It is a specialist in reputation and influence, with experience across numerous sectors. It works with clients across multiple and complex audiences combining deep insights, expert storytelling and creative delivery to change behaviours, emotions and perceptions. Instinctif Partners currently employs over 320 people in 12 offices across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

The company is one of the fastest growing consultancies in its industry, and over the past two years has won or been shortlisted for over 30 awards, recognising both client work and the growth of the business as a whole. Accolades include International Agency of the Year 2018 & 2017 at the PR Week Global Awards, Outstanding Large Consultancy of the Year 2018 at the CIPR Excellence Awards, Corporate Consultancy of the Year 2017 at the EMEA SABRE Awards, and City Agency of the Year at the PRCA City and Financial Awards 2016 & 2017. Instinctif Partners also won Gold at the PR Week Best Places to Work 2018 for Large Agency, and was named by the London Stock Exchange as one of 1000 Companies to Inspire Britain. www.instinctif.com

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1533586/Instinctif_Partners_MENA.jpg
VICTOR, N.Y. and CHICAGO, June 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE: STZ and STZ.B), a leading beverage alcohol company, in partnership with Modelo, the beer brewed for those with The Fighting Spirit, announced today a collective $500,000 contribution to UnidosUS, the nation's largest Latino civil rights and advocacy organization. The contribution will provide UnidosUS with resources to strengthen Hispanic families' financial security through financial empowerment and homeownership programs.



"One of our focus areas for our Corporate Social Responsibility strategy is a commitment to serve as a catalyst for economic development and prosperity for disadvantaged communities," said Mike McGrew, Constellation Brands' Executive Vice President, and Chief Communications, CSR, and Diversity Officer. "The Hispanic population is the fastest growing demographic in the U.S., and our authentic Mexican beer brands have been an integral part of special moments for members of this community for many years. As an extension of this shared cultural appreciation and inherent connection, we are proud to support UnidosUS and are committed to doing our part to provide resources and support to address systemic issues preventing a more equitable chance at success for members of Hispanic communities across the U.S."

In the last year, the economic downturn brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted the systemic barriers that put Hispanic communities at a disadvantage across the U.S. The median wealth of a Hispanic household is five times lower than that of a white counterpart (1). And within the last year alone, nearly 60 percent of Hispanic households have reported lower incomes, which is nearly twice as much as their white counterparts.(2)

Homeownership is a key indicator of financial mobility, and UnidosUS believes reaching this goal is key to an individual's ability to build wealth. Constellation and Modelo's contributions will support financial literacy programs by providing funds to the UnidosUS National Homeownership Network, which has provided more than 590,000 families with housing counseling. In addition, more than 30,000 people have been able to buy their own homes and 90,000 families have avoided foreclosure.

"Modelo has a tradition of honoring those who embody the fighting spirit and show grit, perseverance, and determination in the face of adversity," said Greg Gallagher, Vice President, Modelo Brand Marketing. "We are proud to work with UnidosUS and to help support their mission to provide our core Hispanic audience with the necessary resources to build unified, prosperous, and resilient communities."

To identify the right programs and organization, Constellation tapped into its SALUD! business resource group - standing for Supporting and Attracting Latinos United for Diversity and Development. The SALUD! team helped to identify financial literacy and housing empowerment as areas of support that could truly make long-term impact in the economic development and prosperity of the Hispanic community and played a role in vetting organizations that could best deliver impact in these areas.

Through its unique combination of research, advocacy, programs, and a national network of nearly 300 community-based affiliate organizations across the country, UnidosUS works to lift the social, economic, and political barriers that affect Latinos in the United States. For more information on UnidosUS, visit www.unidosus.orgor follow UnidosUS on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

(1) Economic indicators Gap: Pew Research Center analysis of 2020 Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement (IPUMS)

(2) Collage Group Latinum COVID Impact Study April 2020

ABOUT CONSTELLATION BRANDS

At Constellation Brands (NYSE: STZ and STZ.B), our mission is to build brands that people love because we believe sharing a toast, unwinding after a day, celebrating milestones, and helping people connect, are Worth Reaching For. It's worth our dedication, hard work, and the bold calculated risks we take to deliver more for our consumers, trade partners, shareholders, and communities in which we live and work. It's what has made us one of the fastest-growing large CPG companies in the U.S. at retail, and it drives our pursuit to deliver what's next.



Today, we are a leading international producer and marketer of beer, wine, and spirits with operations in the U.S., Mexico, New Zealand, and Italy. Every day, people reach for our high-end, iconic imported beer brands such as Corona Extra, Corona Light, Corona Premier, Modelo Especial, Modelo Negra, and Pacifico, and our high-quality premium wine and spirits brands, including the Robert Mondavi brand family, Kim Crawford, Meiomi, The Prisoner brand family, SVEDKA Vodka, Casa Noble Tequila, and High West Whiskey.

But we won't stop here. Our visionary leadership team and passionate employees from barrel room to boardroom are reaching for the next level, to explore the boundaries of the beverage alcohol industry and beyond. Join us in discovering what's Worth Reaching For.

To learn more, follow us on Twitter @cbrandsand visit www.cbrands.com.

ABOUT UNIDOS US

UnidosUS, previously known as NCLRof nearly 300 community-based organizations across the United States and Puerto Rico, UnidosUS simultaneously challenges the social, economic, and political barriers that affect Latinos at the national and local levels. For more than 50 years, UnidosUS has united communities and different groups seeking common ground through collaboration, and that share a desire to make our country stronger. For more information on UnidosUS, visit www.unidosus.orgor follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

ABOUT MODELO

Born in 1925 in the small town of Tacuba, Mexico, Modelo has been bringing distinctive high-quality beer to people ever since, including Modelo Especial, Modelo Negra, Modelo Chelada Especial, Modelo Chelada Tamarindo Picante, Modelo Chelada Limon y Sal and Modelo Chelada Mango y Chile. Modelo Especial is a golden, full-flavored Pilsner-style Lager with a clean, crisp finish whose original recipe was first brewed under the vision to create a 'model' beer. As the #1 imported beer in the U.S., Modelo Especial surpassed 100MM cases sold in 2018. The Modelo family of beers are exclusively brewed, imported and marketed for the U.S. by Constellations Brands.

MEDIA CONTACTS INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACTS Mike McGrew 773-251-4934 / michael.mcgrew@cbrands.com (mailto:michael.mcgrew@cbrands.com)

Amy Martin 585-678-7141 / amy.martin@cbrands.com (mailto:amy.martin@cbrands.com) Patty Yahn-Urlaub 585-678-7483 / patty.yahn-urlaub@cbrands.com (mailto:patty.yahn-urlaub@cbrands.com)

Marisa Pepelea 312-741-2316 / marisa.pepelea@cbrands.com (mailto:marisa.pepelea@cbrands.com)

A downloadable PDF copy of this news release can be found here. http://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/10589cfd-9f08-4e17-b594-8a006e1fd02f
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 15, 2021) - StraightUp Resources Inc. (CSE: ST) ("StraightUp" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has filed an independent technical report titled, "Technical Report on the Belanger Property Northern Ontario Canada", prepared by J. Garry Clark, P.Geo. and Brian Atkinson, P.Geo. with an effective date of June 7, 2021 (the "Technical Report"). The Technical Report conforms to National Instrument 43-101 - Standards for Disclosure of Mineral Projects. The Technical Report will be available for viewing on the Company's profile on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval ("SEDAR") at www.sedar.com.

The Technical Report recommends a further exploration program to evaluate the potential of economic gold, with associated base metals, mineralization on the Property.

It is recommended that the Company complete an exploration program comprised of:

Prospecting and mapping to assess the potential of the presence of parallel gold zones to the known mineralization (first 6 months);

Covering the Belanger Property with soil sampling; and

A hand and mechanical stripping, mapping and sampling program over the Joey Prospect, Hemming Occurrence, Hemming Zone, Williamson Occurrence and King Bay Gold Corp. areas to help determine the alteration and controls of mineralization.

The Property is located approximately 75 km east of Red Lake, Ontario in the Red Lake Mining Division. Access to the property is from the town of Ear Falls up South Bay Mine Road, 65 km northeast of the town of Ear Falls. The Company has the right to earn a 100% interest in and to the property with a 3% Net Smelter Returns Royalty (NSR).

The Company has terminated its option agreement on the Hi-Mars Property located near Powell River, BC. StraightUp's President and CEO, Mr. Mark Brezer, said, "We have made the decision to focus our exploration efforts on the Red Lake Mining District and wish to thank the Hi-Mars property owners for their cooperation and support. We are continually looking to acquire new mineral property assets of merit."

In addition, the Company reports that, pursuant to its stock option plan, it has granted an aggregate of 600,000 incentive stock options to a consultant. The stock options are exercisable at a price of $0.28 for a term of five years.

About StraightUp Resources

StraightUp is engaged in the business of mineral exploration and the acquisition of mineral property assets in Canada. Its objective is to locate and develop economic precious and base metal properties of merit. In addition to exploration of its Red Lake Division properties, StraightUp intends to conduct exploration on the RLX North, RLX South, Belanger and the Ferdinand Gold Property.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Mark Brezer Chief Executive Officer, President and Director

For further information, please contact:

Mark Brezer

Chief Executive Officer, President and Director

(604) 989-6275

Neither the CSE nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release).

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/87545
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 15, 2021) - Boosh Plant-Based Brands Inc. (CSE: VEGI) ("Boosh" or the "Company") announces the commencement of its expansion into the United States ("US"). Boosh has retained the services of an award winning, nationally recognized premier food broker, Thrive Natural Sales ("Thrive") as its US representative. In addition to providing food brokerage services, Thrive also provides an outsourced solution to national sales and supply chain management.

"Our Canadian food broker, Brandseed Marketing Inc., has done an outstanding job in Canada. In fact, approximately 225 of the 375 stores came online within the past six months, so our momentum is definitely building. Consequently, we believe our foundation is strong enough for us to begin exporting into the US, and then either buy or build our own manufacturing facility," states Connie Marples, founder and president of Boosh Food. Brandseed has a long standing relationship with Thrive Natural Sales so we believe the synergy will help expedite our growth in the US, and the opportunity to introduce Boosh to as many of the 40,000 US grocery stores as possible."

"We perform extensive due diligence prior to onboarding a new client. Boosh not only met our criteria, but exceeded it," exclaims Craig Anderson, founder, Thrive Natural Sales. "We have a firm commitment to represent only top-of-class products and then provide a variety of solutions such as supply chain management, allowing our clients to maximize their potential. We strongly believe the components that make up Boosh, from their laser focus to details, to their seasoned management team and their corporate philosophy, provides the platform we need to expand Boosh nationwide."

As compensation for services performed, Thrive will receive a retainer and a commission based on net sales. The term is for one year and is automatically renewed for an additional one year terms. Either party is able to terminate the agreement by providing the other party with a 60 day termination notice, provided that following the first year of engagement, a 90 days termination notice is required.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

James Pakulis

Chief Executive Officer

Telephone: (833) 882-6674

Investor Relations

Contact - Edge Communications Group

Email: invest@booshfood.com

Telephone: (236) 237-1315

About Boosh Plant-Based Brands Inc.:

Boosh Plant-Based Brands Inc., through its wholly owned subsidiary, Boosh Food, is the gateway to experiencing high quality, non-GMO, gluten free, 100% plant-based nutritional comfort foods for the whole family. We currently offer six frozen meals which are sold throughout Canada, and in the summer will be expanding our meals to include three refrigerated products. Boosh, good for you and good for planet earth.

The information in this news release includes certain information and statements about management's view of future events, expectations, plans and prospects that constitute forward looking statements. These statements are based upon assumptions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Because of these risks and uncertainties and as a result of a variety of factors, the actual results, expectations, achievements or performance may differ materially from those anticipated and indicated by these forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, the Company's proposed use of the proceeds of its initial public offering. Any number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements as well as future results. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in forward looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that the expectations of any forward looking statements will prove to be correct. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward looking statements or otherwise.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/87586
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 15, 2021) - Tamino Minerals Inc (OTC Pink: TINO) ("Tamino" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has acquired significant mining concessions and therefore has begun preparations in the locations for exploration.

The Properties are located in the State of Sonora, which hosts Mexico's most prolific Mining Camps hosting many of the World Major Gold Producers.

Tamino Minerals, Inc. issued 5 Million Shares in exchange of 100% Interest in the mining properties located on important Mining Districts within the aforementioned Mexican State.

In recent days Here to Serve Holding Corp. "OTC-HTSC" holly owned subsidiary Fortune Nickel and Gold Inc. have partnered to make this exploration efficient and timely. Here to Serve Holding Corp. holds 40 Million Shares of Tamino Minerals, Inc. as of June 12th. 2021.

This week Tamino Minerals plans on filing updated financial statements with OTC Markets Financial Group. Shortly after management will supply the Attorney Letter signed off, which will lead TINO to becoming a Pink Current Information Issuer.

Management sincerely believes that the Company is going Pink Current so close to the deadline that investors will be joyfully surprised and lead to a large increase in valuation for TINO Shareholders.

TAMINO MINERALS, INC.

TAMINO MINERALS INC. is exploring for gold deposits within a prolific gold producing state of Sonora.

www.facebook.com/taminominerals

www.twitter.com/taminominerals

www.instragram.com/taminominerals

www.linkedin.com/company/taminominerals

On behalf of the Board,

Pedro Villagran-Garcia, President & CEO

Tamino Minerals, Inc.

www.taminomineralsinc.com

For further information, please contact the Company at 1-307-212-4657 or by email at info@taminominerals.ca

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information contained in this press release, including any information as to our strategy, plans or future financial or operating performance and other statements that express management's expectations or estimates of future performance, constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. The words "believe," "expect," "will," "anticipate," "contemplate," "target," "plan," "continue," "budget," "may," "intend," "estimate," "project" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/87482
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 15, 2021) - GMV Minerals Inc. (TSXV: GMV) (OTCQB: GMVMF) (the "Company" or "GMV") is pleased to announce that it has received all the necessary drill permits from the State of Arizona and the Bureau of Land Management to proceed with its next phase of step-out drilling at its 100% owned Mexican Hat gold project located in SE Arizona. The Company is 100% funded for this drill program.

NASCO Industrial Services and Supply has been engaged to drill up to 9000 feet of diamond drill core on the Company's Mexican Hat gold project. The Company expects the drilling program to commence in early July 2021.

In consultation with technical advisors, including DRW Geological Consultants Ltd., RESPEC, Tetra-TechCanada, and IMDEX Inc., three areas of the Mexican Hat mineral resource were found to contain probable extensions of the principal mineralized structure that hosts and controls the Mexican Hat gold deposit. These areas are defined geophysically and possess geochemically anomalous soils that are enriched in gold and gold pathfinder elements. Eight drill holes are designed to test these targets with up to 3,050 m of total drilling. This expansion exploration phase will include testing the principal mineralized structure from 100 m to 900 m away from previously drilled Mineral Resources, potentially increasing the footprint of the deposit by 70% in strike. Please see link for map: https://www.gmvminerals.com/projects/mexican-hat/overview/

The principal controlling structure has been drilled from surface where it dips 59o to a depth of 250 m below surface where the dip appears to have flattened to 24o. Additional drilling to the north will test to see if the structure continues to flatten. The five highest-grade composites within this structure average 37.6 gpt gold over 3 m lengths demonstrating that there are some higher-grade domains that can be identified. The subsidiary structures that appear as splays off of this principal structure (Zones 1 to 6 inclusive) extend up to 220 m into the hanging wall and contain 67.5% of the total tonnage of the deposit. The Company is also aware of the potential to extend these splays above the principal controlling structure into relatively shallow depths.

Ian Klassen, CEO commented that, "There are not a lot of gold projects like Mexican Hat in the southwestern United States and we are very eager to resume drilling on the project this summer. We will be immediately focused on expansion of the resource with drilling to test the structures to the southeast and the potential to the north."

Dr. D.R. Webb, Ph.D., P.Geo., P.Eng. is the Q.P. for this release within the meaning of NI 43-101 and has reviewed the technical content of this release and has approved its content.

About GMV Minerals Inc.

GMV Minerals Inc. is a publicly traded exploration company focused on developing precious metal assets in Arizona. GMV, through its 100% owned subsidiary, has a 100% interest in a Mining Property Lease commonly referred to as the Mexican Hat Property, located in Cochise County, Arizona, USA. The project was initially explored by Placer Dome (USA) in the late 1980's to early 1990's. GMV is focused on developing the asset and realizing the full mineral potential of the property through near term gold production. GMV recently updated its National Instrument inferred mineral resource to 36,733,000 tonnes grading 0.58 g/t gold at a 0.2 g/t cut-off, containing 688,000 ounces of gold.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

________________________________________

Ian Klassen, President

For further information please contact:

GMV Minerals Inc.

Ian Klassen

Tel: (604) 899-0106

Email: Klassen@gmvminerals.com

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements that describe the Company's future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "estimates", "may", "could", "would", "will", or "plan". Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties as described in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/87534
- Solution from Microsoft Gold Partner Cyient leverages Microsoft technologies to address challenges faced by utilities industry

HYDERABAD, India, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cyient, a global engineering and technology solutions company, has announced the launch of Mobius, a software-as-a-service (SaaS)-based solution and decision support platform. Mobius-hosted on Microsoft Azure-consolidates the outage planning and approval process within a central location to provide improved information flow for optimizing schedule plans.

Mobius provides customers with:

A robust and secure outage planning, scheduling, and visualization system built on a strong communication platform for addressing ongoing and future outages and curtailments

Transparency in communicating planned outages to all connections that may be impacted

Reduced outages on their network and easy risk/opportunity tracking, helping reduce outage costs that can affect operational budgets

Commenting on the launch, Kimberley Reed, Product Owner at Cyient, said, "We're excited about the launch of Mobius. Planned network outages are a routine requirement for most utilities. With the growing need for decarbonization initiatives and increasing number of distributed energy resource (DER) customers connecting to existing networks, utilities are faced with the challenge of improved communication and transparency of planned outages with DER customers."

In developing Mobius, Cyient extensively employed the following Microsoft offerings:

Azure DevOps was used to manage the solution backlog and roadmap, enabling continuous enhancement and functionality for Mobius with minimal disruption during customer rollouts. Azure provides a scalable environment to offer Mobius as a SaaS solution by boosting connectivity among corporate users and accounts, as well as between external DER customers and network planners. Azure Portal is employed to manage application elements. Azure Blob Storage is used to store outages and site attachments so they can be created and viewed by all users in a centralized location. Azure Application Insights and Dashboards enables the Cyient product support team via the continuous monitoring of the application and microservices. Azure SQL Database provides the ability to manage and easily scale the database as required.

"The Microsoft Azure cloud platform was the development back end for Mobius. Integration with Azure DevOps completely removed any manual deployment tasks and provided a repeatable deployment process that enabled Cyient to focus on testing, with the certainty that any issues after deployment would be the result of code changes rather than missed dependencies during deployment," Reed explained. "Azure DevOps provided a centralized tool to enable us to manage our product backlog, define sprints, and store our code in the Git-backed code repository. This greatly simplified the product release process and subsequent rollout to customers and end-users."

Learn more about Mobius here.

About Cyient:

Cyient (Estd: 1991, NSE: CYIENT) is a global engineering and digital technology solutions company. As a Design, Build, and Maintain partner for leading organizations worldwide, Cyient takes solution ownership across the value chain to help customers focus on their core, innovate, and stay ahead of the curve. The company leverages digital technologies, advanced analytics capabilities, domain knowledge, and technical expertise to solve complex business problems.

Cyient partners with customers to operate as part of their extended team in ways that best suit their organization's culture and requirements. Cyient's industry focus includes aerospace and defense, medical technology and healthcare, telecommunications, rail transportation, semiconductor, geospatial, industrial products, and energy and utilities.

Rudra Bose | Satyaki Maitra Cyient Press Office - Genesis BCW +91 9811626585 | +91 99580 41503 rudra.bose@genesis-bcw.com | satyaki.maitra@genesis-bcw.com Devina Wallang | Michelle Lobo Cyient PR Team +91 7829673285 | +91 9833307424 devina.wallang@cyient.com | michelle.lobo@cyient.com

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/289359/cyient_logo.jpg
FAIRFAX, VA / ACCESSWIRE / June 15, 2021 / Futuris Company (OTC PINK:FTRS) a Human Capital Management (HCM) company focused on HCM Staffing, Consulting and Tech Services, has successfully completed the acquisition of The TASA Group Inc.

The TASA Group Inc., is a family-owned expert referral service business that provides access to seasoned professional consultants in over 10,000 technical and medical specialties. Located in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, TASA was originally positioned to provide psychology testing for companies around hiring and promoting employees. However, the Company wound up getting a request for expert witness services for a specific case by a lawyer who encouraged them to begin developing an expert witness services business. As a result, TASA began to initially market to Philadelphia lawyers. The business began to grow rapidly and as a result, the Company focused solely on the expert service sector and expanded to various locations.

Owned by the Rosen and Sherman families, TASA delivers timesaving, targeted referrals to quality expert witnesses in all fields and all locations, for plaintiff or defense. Its experienced referral advisors work with clients to pinpoint specific expert witness criteria and connect the clients with expert witnesses who are available to discuss their cases. There is no charge for the search and referral services unless the client designates or engages an expert witness TASA refers. As a client, firms and agencies benefit from TASA's years of experience and innovation since 1956 within TASA's 11,000+ categories of expertise. In addition, it has a Knowledge Center of archived expert-led webinars and case-relevant articles written by TASA referred expert witnesses.

From its inception, TASA has been a pioneer in the expert witness sourcing and referral industry and is the largest and best-known company in the industry. TASA boasts a revenue of $9.5 Million with an EBITDA of $800,000.

TASA offers an "Expert Profile 360" also known as "EP360," which delivers the most comprehensive information available today on an expert witness an individual might retain or oppose. Each comprehensive report is custom-produced in a fraction of the time it would take an in-house research team to generate an equal amount of material. The EP360 checks case law databases, docket sheet repositories, brief banks from appellate courts, motions and pleading banks from trial courts, state trial court orders, even every blog post available. This allows an individual to acquire an improved understanding of an expert's strengths and weaknesses.

TAS Consulting refers consultants in the fields of accounting, appraisals, architecture, business, chemistry, computer fields, construction, employment, engineering, environment, finance, insurance, manufacturing, media, medicine and healthcare, patents/copyrights/trademarks, pharmaceuticals, transportation and more. The TASA Group website can be visited at www.tasanet.com.

"TASA Group has a strong track record of success since 1965. The Company has proven to be an innovator and leader in the expert witness service field. Acquiring the TASA Group only adds to the strong foundation that we have set in place for Futuris," said Kalyan Pathuri, President.

We encourage shareholders to continually visit our website and social media platforms for updates.

Website: www.futuris.company

Twitter: www.twitter.com/futuriscompany

About Futuris Company

Futuris is a Human Capital Management (HCM) company focused on executive search, Staffing and Consulting services specializing in verticals such as Medical, Accounting/Finance, Information Technology, Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO), and Legal. The Company is committed to building a global HCM company through highly targeted and accretive acquisitions and operational efficiencies. For more information, please visit http://futuris.company/ .

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, without limitation, anything relating or referring to future financial results and plans for future business development activities, and are thus prospective. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties some of which cannot be predicted or quantified based on current expectations. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, the risks and uncertainties set forth from time to time in reports filed by Futuris Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends affecting the financial condition of our business and although the company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. Consequently, future events and actual results could differ materially from those set forth in, contemplated by, or underlying the forward the forward-looking statements contained herein. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly release statements made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.

Contact Information:

Futuris Company

Preya Narain

Email: info.it@futuris.company

Phone: (347) 837-0626

SOURCE: Futuris

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/651470/Futuris-Company-Completes-Acquisition-of-The-TASA-Group-Inc
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 15, 2021 / Cielo Waste Solutions Corp. (CSE:CMC)(OTCQB:CWSFF) ("Cielo" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has received conditional approval to list its common shares on the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV"), subject to fulfilment of certain conditions.

The Company will make a further announcement once the TSXV has issued a bulletin confirming the date on which trading on the TSXV will commence. The Company will also apply to have its common shares voluntarily delisted from the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") immediately before trading begins on the TSXV.

Once listed on the TSXV, the Company will continue to trade under its existing symbol "CMC" and shareholders will not be required to take any action related to the listing. The Company's shares will also continue to be listed on the OTCQB under the symbol "CWSFF". Cielo anticipates the listing to be completed shortly.

Don Allan, CEO, commented: "We are excited to begin trading on the TSXV, a globally recognized exchange. The move to the TSXV will increase Cielo's presence and provide easier access and trading to investors globally. We would like to thank the CSE for their continued support over the years and look forward to our new relationship with all those involved with the TSXV."

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"Don Allan"

Don Allan, President / CEO / Director

Company Contact:

Lionel Robins, COO

Email: lrobins@cielows.com

Telephone: 1-(403)-348-2972 ext:106

Website: www.cielows.com

For further information please contact:

Investor Cubed Inc. (Canada):

Neil Simon, CEO

Email: info@investor3.ca

Telephone: 1-(647) 258-3310

RB Milestone Group LLC (USA):

Trevor Brucato, Managing Director

Email: cielo@rbmilestone.com

New York, NY & Stamford, CT

About Cielo Waste Solutions Corp.

Cielo is a publicly traded company with a proprietary technology that transforms landfill garbage into renewable high-grade diesel, kerosene (aviation jet and marine fuel) and naphtha. Cielo's proven and patented technology is currently being deployed in the Company's Aldersyde, AB facility, where wood waste is currently being converted into renewable fuels. Cielo's experienced management team is well positioned with strategic partners in place to expand aggressively across Canada, into the US and then globally. Utilizing waste/feedstock that will be used in the Company's green facilities is the world's most available and inexpensive feedstock, garbage; including household, commercial/ construction/demolition garbage, used tires, railway ties, telephone poles, as well as all types of plastic, some of which currently cannot be recycled and/or deposited into landfills. Cielo's goal is to manufacture renewable fuel while ridding the world of unwanted and problematic garbage.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements

This News Release contains certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively referred to herein as "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements other than statements of present or historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "achieve", "could", "believe", "plan", "intend", "objective", "continuous", "ongoing", "estimate", "outlook", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "should" or similar words, including negatives thereof, suggesting future outcomes.

Forward-looking statements are subject to both known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. CIELO is making forward looking statements related to the listing of its common shares on the TSXV and delisting from the CSE. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended.

Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, some of which are described herein. Such forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause the Company's actual performance and results to differ materially from any projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required by law, neither the Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise such statements to reflect new information, subsequent or otherwise. The CSE, OTCQB and, WKN, have not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this News Release.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: Cielo Waste Solutions Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/651736/Cielo-Receives-Conditional-Approval-to-List-on-the-TSX-Venture-Exchange
CRANBROOK, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 15, 2021 / Eagle Plains Resources Ltd. (TSXV:EPL) ("EPL" or "Eagle Plains") has mobilized crews to commence exploration fieldwork on the Dictator Project, located 70km east of Vernon, B.C. (the "Property"). EPL holds the exclusive right to obtain a 100% interest in the property (details below). Current fieldwork will consist of prospecting and soil geochemical sampling which follows a 2-Phase airborne magnetometer survey carried out by Eagle Plains in late 2020 and early 2021. The survey outlined two prominent magnetic features within an area where high-grade gold mineralized float boulders were located during the summer of 2020. Permitting is underway for future diamond drilling, with program scope to be determined based on results from the current program. 2021 program work will be managed by TerraLogic Exploration Services of Cranbrook, BC.

See Dictator Project Location Map here

The Dictator Property is road-accessible and located within rocks of the prolific Quesnellia Terrane, host to many major B.C. porphyry deposits such as Highland Valley, Gibraltar, Mount Polley, Mount Milligan, Copper Mountain and others. Despite the rich endowment of mineralization in these rocks, the Dictator area has seen relatively little exploration activity by industry or government. Management cautions that past results or discoveries on proximate land are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be achieved on the Dictator property.

See Dictator Regional Projects Map here

The Property consists of 6 tenures comprising 2578 ha overlying Jurassic-aged porphyritic intrusive rocks that are host to parallel gold-bearing veins that have seen limited past production at the Dictator and Morning occurrences. During a property inspection carried out by Eagle Plains personnel in Summer, 2020, grab samples from the Morning workings ranged from trace values to a high of 39.4 g/t gold and 912 g/t silver (sample TTLPR016*) and 1.31 g/t gold, 205 g/t silver, 1.88% lead, 5.03% zinc and 0.12% cadmium (sample TTLPR015*).

Prospecting in 2020 resulted in the discovery of numerous float boulders containing brecciated semi-massive sulphides that consistently contain highly elevated gold, lead and zinc mineralization with values ranging from trace quantities to a high of 5.84 g/t gold, 30.6 g/t Ag, 3680 ppm lead and 674 ppm zinc (sample TTLPR010*-float boulder). The source of the boulders is unknown and will be the focus of ongoing work. *Management cautions that rock grab samples are selective samples by nature and as such are not necessarily representative of the mineralization hosted across the property.

Over the winter of 2020/2021, Eagle Plains carried out two airborne geophysical (magnetometer) surveys which outlined two prominent magnetic features which appear to be related to known mineralization and also correspond with the area within which mineralized float boulders were located.

See Dictator Airborne Geophysical Results Map here

Dictator Option

Eagle Plains holds the exclusive option with Aurum Vena Mineral Resources Corp. of Cherryville, BC, whereby EPL may earn up to a 100% interest in the Dictator (formerly Lightning Peak) Property. Under terms of the agreement, EPL will make exploration expenditures totalling $150,000, cash payments of $70,000 and share payments of 250,000 shares over a four-year period to earn its interest. A one percent net smelter return royalty will be reserved for the vendor, which may be purchased by Eagle Plains for $1M.

Charles C. Downie, P.Geo., a "qualified person" for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects and a Director of Eagle Plains Resources Ltd., has prepared, reviewed, and approved the scientific and technical disclosure in this news release.

About Eagle Plains Resources

Based in Cranbrook, B.C., Eagle Plains continues to conduct research, acquire and explore mineral projects throughout western Canada. The Company is committed to steadily enhancing shareholder value by advancing our diverse portfolio of projects toward discovery through collaborative partnerships and development of a highly experienced technical team. Eagle Plains also holds significant royalty interests in western Canadian projects covering a broad spectrum of commodities. Management's focus is to advance its most promising exploration projects. In addition, Eagle Plains continues to seek out and secure high-quality, unencumbered projects through research, staking and strategic acquisitions. Throughout the exploration process, our mission is to help maintain prosperous communities by exploring for and discovering resource opportunities while building lasting relationships through honest and respectful business practices.

Expenditures from 2011-2020 on Eagle Plains-related projects exceed $22M, the majority of which was funded by third-party partners. This exploration work resulted in approximately 37,000 m of diamond-drilling and extensive ground-based exploration work facilitating the advancement of numerous projects at various stages of development.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"Tim J. Termuende"

President and CEO

For further information on EPL, please contact Mike Labach at 1 866 HUNT ORE (486 8673)

Email: mgl@eagleplains.com or visit our website at http://www.eagleplains.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain forward-looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding the timing and content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of property titles, potential mineral recovery processes, etc. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore, involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements.

SOURCE: Eagle Plains Resources Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/651469/Eagle-Plains-Commences-Exploration-Activity-at-Dictator-Gold-Project-South-central-British-Columbia
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 15, 2021 / Maxtech Ventures Inc. ("Maxtech" or the "Company") (CSE:MVT)(Frankfurt:M1N)(OTC PINK:MTEHF) is pleased to announce completion of its first diamond drill hole, SA21-15, as part of its Phase One diamond drilling program on the St Anthony mine property located in the Kenora-Patricia Mining District of North Western Ontario. Hole SA21-15 is the first of two planned twinned holes in a 15-hole drill program targeting a total of 5,000 m.

Twinning drill holes is a traditional technique used for QA-QC verification of historical drilling to provide data necessary for completing a National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") compliant mineral resource estimate. Hole SA21-15 twinned a 2011 drill hole with the second twinned hole setting up adjacent to a 2010 drill hole. The remaining drill holes in the work program will be a combination of infill and peripheral drilling to expand the mineralization along strike and down dip.

Drill core samples will be sent to ALS Global for gold (Au-AA23) and multi-element (ME-MS61) analysis plus spectral mineralogy data will be collected from selected samples through the mineralized envelope to assist in vectoring to additional gold bearing structures.

Peter Wilson, CEO stated, "the 2009/2010 drilling showed a non - compliant 1.2 million ounce probability within only a 300m by 300m area over the St. Anthony Mine. The Phase 1 drill program will focus on infill and expansion drilling to prove up more tonnage and looking to increase up to 3 million ounces by opening up the current deposit in other directions and by properly assaying for nugget effect gold. An infill-drilling program is being utilized to confirm the extent of mineralization between previous drill holes and hopefully expand the St. Anthony mineralization zones. (source: Technical Report on the St. Anthony and Best/King Bay Properties, prepared by Graeme Evans BSc, PGeo, June 16, 2015)."

The Company also announced that is has issued 5,000,000 options under its Stock Option Plan to officers, directors and consultants. Each option is exercisable at $0.10 for a period of two years.

About The St. Anthony Gold Project:

The St. Anthony Gold Mine is located in the Kenora-Patricia Mining District of Ontario and encompasses four historical mining operations including the largest past-producing mine in the area, the St. Anthony. The mine produced 63,310 ounces of gold from 332,720 tons for an average grade of 5.95 grams per tonne (or 0.191 ounces per ton) up until World War II when gold production was halted. (source: Technical Report on the St. Anthony and Best/King Bay Properties, prepared by Graeme Evans BSc, PGeo, June 16, 2015). The property consists of 233 contiguous claims totaling 4,224 hectares (42.24 sq. km). In addition to the historical underground workings over 20 gold (-silver) occurrences have been documented, some hosting visible gold, many of which have seen little if any exploration work for several decades. Previous workers in the area include Aubet, Can Con and Falconbridge, companies that carried out work focused on the bulk tonnage potential of a mineralized area hosted within a quartz-feldspar porphyry intrusive located within the property. The St. Anthony Gold Project is located 85 km east of the town of Sioux Lookout, or 13 km south of the smaller town of Savant Lake.

Andrew Tims obtained his B.Sc. in Geology from Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario, and is a Registered Professional Geologist in Ontario and Manitoba and a Qualified Person under NI 43-101. He has reviewed and approved the technical contents of this news release.

About Maxtech Ventures Inc.

Maxtech Ventures Inc., a Canadian-based diversified industries corporation, is focused on identifying and advancing high-value mineral properties.

For additional information see the Company's web site at

http://www.maxtechventures.com

Email to info@maxtechventures.com

Contact: Peter Wilson CEO - 604-484-0355

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Further information about the Company is available on www.SEDAR.com under the Company's profile.

Certain statements contained in this release may constitute "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" (collectively "forward-looking information") as those terms are used in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and similar Canadian laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated", "anticipates" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Company's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. In particular, this release contains forward-looking information relating to the business of the Company, the Property, financing and certain corporate changes. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof and the Company is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE: Maxtech Ventures Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/651721/Maxtech-Announces-Completion-of-the-First-Drill-Hole-at-St-Anthony-Mine-and-5000-m-Program-Underway
Global consortium of expert partners will generate proof-of-concept data to support product licensure and future access

IAVI has received an award of 22.8 million from the European Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) to conduct a Phase IIb clinical trial of a novel vaccine candidate to prevent Lassa fever disease. An acute viral illness endemic to many parts of West Africa, Lassa fever causes significant annual outbreaks of disease. There are an estimated 300,000 to 500,000 cases and 5,000 related deaths each year1. Despite this disease burden, which is believed to be significantly underestimated, no vaccine for Lassa fever is currently available.

The joint award supports an international collaboration, called Lassa Fever Vaccine Efficacy and Prevention for West Africa (LEAP4WA), to conduct a Phase IIb clinical trial of IAVI's Lassa fever vaccine candidate among adults and children in Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone. Collaborators in LEAP4WA represent institutions in Africa, Europe, and North America and together will strengthen capacity of investigational sites in countries where Lassa fever outbreaks and disease occur frequently. LEAP4WA builds on an existing partnership with CEPI that supports IAVI and a global consortium of partners to conduct Phase I and II clinical trials of IAVI's Lassa fever vaccine candidate.

"We're delighted to support this international collaboration to accelerate the clinical development of an urgently needed vaccine, and in parallel to strengthen the north-south partnerships among researchers through well-aligned R&D capacity developments," said Michael Makanga, M.D., Ph.D., F.R.C.P., Executive Director, EDCTP. "The strategic activities of LEAP4WA will enhance the in-country capacity of existing trial sites in endemic countries to conduct clinical trials for vaccines against Lassa fever and other emerging infectious diseases toward controlling future outbreaks."

LEAP4WA is part of CEPI's recently launched $3.5 billion plan to tackle future epidemics and pandemics, which includes the goal of advancing clinical trial capacity, infrastructure, and expertise in low- and middle-income countries. The forward-looking plan also aims to advance a Lassa vaccine to licensure within the next five-year period (2022-2026).

"Today's announcement of additional funding to IAVI to support large-scale trials of their Lassa vaccine candidate is a pivotal moment in reflecting on how far we have come in tackling this serious public health threat," said Melanie Saville, M.D., director of vaccine R&D, CEPI. "The launch of IAVI's upcoming Phase I trial, planned to start later this year, will become the third Lassa vaccine to enter the clinic and once through Phase IIa, our subsequent Phase IIb study LEAP4WA funded by CEPI and EDCTP, will provide us with crucial proof-of-concept efficacy data from populations located in regions prone to outbreaks of the potentially deadly disease."

IAVI's Lassa fever vaccine candidate, rVSV?G-LASV-GPC, uses a recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (rVSV) vector the same rVSV platform used for the rVSV-vectored Ebola Zaire vaccine, ERVEBO, a highly efficacious vaccine licensed by Merck, which is now registered for use in eight African countries. rVSV?G-LASV-GPC provided high-level protection from Lassa fever in previously conducted animal studies. rVSV is the platform technology used in IAVI's emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) vaccine development portfolio, which focuses on EIDS that are epidemic threats and have potential to be used for bioweapons. IAVI, EDCTP, and CEPI are united in their commitment to global equitable access to vaccines, with rVSV?G-LASV-GPC to be accessible to all populations that need the candidate vaccine, should it be found safe and effective in clinical testing.

"We are excited to apply the recombinant VSV technology, used in the previously licensed Ebola vaccine called ERVEBO, for the development of a much-needed Lassa fever vaccine. In partnership with our collaborators in LEAP4WA, we believe that we are well-positioned to develop a powerful new tool against this devastating disease," said Swati Gupta, Dr.P.H., M.P.H., vice president and head of emerging infectious diseases and scientific strategy, IAVI. "LEAP4WA embodies a comprehensive and collaborative approach that will generate the necessary data to expedite licensure of and access to a Lassa fever vaccine, and hopefully inspire additional collaborative and end-to-end vaccine development models needed to advance global public health more broadly moving forward."

The LEAP4WA consortium2 will advance the comprehensive clinical evaluation of IAVI's rVSV?G-LASV-GPC vaccine candidate, and includes the following members: IAVI Inc., U.S.; IAVI Stichting, Netherlands; Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, U.S.; Ministry of Health and Sanitation/Kenema Government Hospital in Sierra Leone; Imperial College of Science Technology and Medicine, U.K.; University of Liberia, Liberia; Epicentre, France; and HJF Medical Research International Ltd/Gte, Nigeria. Additional partners supporting the consortium include the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the U.S. National Institutes of Health through their Partnership for Research on Ebola Virus in Liberia (PREVAIL) in collaboration with the University of Liberia, and the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (U.S.) through its collaborative research with HJF in Nigeria.

IAVI's Human Immunology Laboratory at Imperial College London will validate the key assays needed to measure immune responses in clinical trials and support technology transfer of these assays to the participating clinical research center partners in West Africa.

To accelerate production, IAVI will leverage state-of-the-art manufacturing for highly intensified, modular vaccine production through an ongoing partnership with Batavia Biosciences in Leiden, The Netherlands, a contract-development and manufacturing organization focused on delivering sustainable, low-cost manufacturing solutions in the field of infectious disease and cancer.

Much of the research and development on IAVI's rVSV platform is performed at the IAVI Vaccine Design and Development Lab (DDL) in Brooklyn, New York. The DDL is located at the bioscience center in the historic Brooklyn Army Terminal. Since its founding in 2008, the IAVI DDL has become one of the world's leading viral vector vaccine research and development labs, known for innovation and generation of novel vaccine design concepts.

About Lassa Fever

Lassa virus is an emerging zoonotic virus that can cause a range of symptoms in humans, including hemorrhage, vomiting, swelling of the face, bleeding, and pain in the chest, back, and abdomen. The Lassa virus is most commonly transmitted to humans from an infected rodent known as the multimammate rat (Mastomys natalensis). However, the virus can also spread from person to person via bodily fluids.

An estimated 300,000 to 500,000 Lassa fever cases are diagnosed annually, resulting in approximately 5,000 deaths. However, the true disease burden is currently unknown, and efforts are ongoing to provide a more accurate estimate of the incidence of the deadly hemorrhagic disease. Despite recurrent outbreaks, no vaccine for Lassa fever is currently available. In addition to its toll in affected countries in Africa, Lassa fever has the potential to spread more widely if infected individuals travel and become ill outside the endemic region. The WHO has identified Lassa fever as one of the top emerging pathogens likely to cause severe outbreaks in the near future in its Research and Development Blueprint for Action to Prevent Epidemics.

About EDCTP

The mission of the European Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) is to reduce the social and economic burden of poverty-related diseases in developing countries, in particular sub-Saharan Africa, by accelerating the clinical development of effective, safe, accessible, suitable, and affordable medical interventions for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, neglected infectious diseases, lower respiratory tract infections, diarrhoeal diseases, and infectious diseases of epidemic potential, including Ebola, Yellow Fever, Lassa Fever, and COVID-19. The second EDCTP programme (EDCTP2) is supported under Horizon 2020, the European Union's Framework Programme for Research Innovation. EDCTP2 is investing more than 750 million in clinical trials, fellowships and in strengthening the research environment in sub-Saharan Africa. EDCTP2 is helping to lay the foundation for a concerted effort, led from Africa, to reduce the burden associated with infectious disease in sub-Saharan Africa and to strengthen global health security. Planning is now underway for the successor to the EDCTP2 programme, the Global Health EDCTP3 Joint Undertaking, which will build on the foundation laid by EDCTP to deliver further benefits to sub-Saharan Africa. Due to launch in the first quarter of 2022, EDCTP3 will retain its focus on poverty-related infectious diseases, but it will have additional resources and a stronger commitment to collaborative and coordinated approaches to address them. COVID-19 has illustrated the fundamental importance of global collaboration to accelerate new medical product development, offering lessons that can be applied to other diseases.

For more information, visit the EDCTP website. Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

About CEPI

CEPI is an innovative partnership between public, private, philanthropic, and civil organisations, launched at Davos in 2017, to develop vaccines against future epidemics. Prior to COVID-19 CEPI's work focused on developing vaccines against Ebola virus, Lassa virus, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus, Nipah virus, Rift Valley Fever virus and Chikungunya virus it has over 20 vaccine candidates against these pathogens in development. CEPI has also invested in new platform technologies for rapid vaccine development against unknown pathogens (Disease X).

During the current pandemic, CEPI initiated multiple programmes to develop vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 and its variants with a focus on speed, scale, and access. These programmes leverage the rapid response platforms developed by CEPI's partners prior to the emergence of COVID-19 as well as new collaborations. The aim is to advance clinical development of a diverse portfolio of safe and effective COVID-19 candidates and to enable fair allocation to these vaccines worldwide through COVAX.

CEPI's five-year plan lays out a $3.5 billion roadmap to compress vaccine development timelines to 100 days, develop a universal vaccine against COVID-19 and other Betacoronaviruses, and create a "library" of vaccine candidates for use against known and unknown pathogens. The plan is available at https://endpandemics.cepi.net/.

Follow CEPI's news page for the latest updates. Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

About IAVI

IAVI is a nonprofit scientific research organization dedicated to addressing urgent, unmet global health challenges including HIV, tuberculosis, and emerging infectious diseases. Its mission is to translate scientific discoveries into affordable, globally accessible public health solutions. Read more at iavi.org.

Initially developed for an HIV vaccine candidate, the rVSV vector technology is now leveraged beyond HIV, including rVSV?G-LASV-GPC development. Funders who have made the development of the rVSV vector possible include the Bill Melinda Gates Foundation; the Government of Canada; the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the Government of Japan, in partnership with the World Bank; the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation; the U.K Department for International Development; the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH); and through the generous support of the American people from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

IAVI licensed the vaccine technology underlying rVSV?G-LASV-GPC from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). rVSV?G-LASV-GPC is based on an rVSV vector and was developed by scientists at PHAC's National Microbiology Laboratory.

Follow IAVI on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube, and subscribe to our news updates.

___________________________

1 https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/introduction-to-lassa-fever

2 Members of the LEAP4WA Consortium: IAVI Inc., U.S.; IAVI Stichting, Netherlands; Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, U.S.; Ministry of Health and Sanitation/Kenema Government Hospital in Sierra Leone; Imperial College of Science Technology and Medicine, U.K.; University of Liberia, Liberia; Epicentre, France; and HJF Medical Research International Ltd/Gte, Nigeria.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005740/en/

Contacts:

EDCTP Media

Nora Buenemann

buenemann@edctp.org



CEPI Media

press@cepi.net

+44 7387 055214



IAVI Media

Rose Catlos

+1 212 847 1049

RCatlos@iavi.org
Dieppe, New Brunswick--(Newsfile Corp. - June 15, 2021) - Colibri Resource Corporation (TSXV: CBI) ("Colibri" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that its partner, Tocvan Ventures Corp ("Tocvan"), has reported assay results from 4 holes drilled at the Pilar Gold & Silver Project ("Pilar") located in Sonora, Mexico. Tocvan is currently completing 3,500 metres ("m") of Reverse Circulation drilling in 20 holes comprising its Phase II program at Pilar. Previously released assay results from Phase II at Pilar include an intersection of 29 m at an average grade of 0.71 grams per tonne ("g/t") Au in hole hole JES-21-38.

A highlight of the current results includes an intersection of 0.66 g/t Au over an intersection length of 35.1 m in hole JES-21-43. "Hole JES-21-043 is a significant step out to the east and illustrates the potential of the Main Zone at Pilar. We continue to be very pleased by the work being completed by Tocvan and look forward to further assay results from the Phase II drill program" commented Company President and CEO Ron Goguen.

Tocvan is in year two of a five-year option agreement with Colibri to earn an initial 51% ownership of the Pilar Gold-Silver Project. For full details of the agreement see Colibri's news release dated September 24th, 2019. Description of the drill results released by Tocvan follows:

TOCVAN NEWS RELEASE:

Calgary, Alberta - June 15, 2021. Tocvan Ventures Corp. (CSE: TOC) ("Tocvan" or the "Corporation") is pleased to announce results for the next four drill holes from its Phase II drill program (the "Program") at the Pilar Gold-Silver Project in Sonora, Mexico. A Phase II drill program is currently in progress with 3,500 meters of reverse circulation (RC) drilling in twenty (20) drill holes. Results for four drill holes are included in this release, highlighted by drill hole JES-21-43 which returned 35.1 meters at 0.66 g/t Au and 6 g/t Ag (0.72 g/t AuEq). Thirteen (13) drill holes are pending assay results.

Drill Result Highlights

JES-21-43 (Figure 1)

35.1 meters at 0.66 g/t Au and 6 g/t Ag (0.72 g/t AuEq) from 97.6 to 132.7 meters Including 13.7 meters at 1.7 g/t Au from 119 to 132.7 meters Including 3.1 meters at 6.8 g/t Au and 7 g/t Ag from 119 to 122 meters Also Including an upper elevated Ag zone, 7.6 meters at 17 g/t Ag from 97.6 to 105.2 meters

from 97.6 to 132.7 meters

"JES-21-43 is a significant step-out to our Main Zone, 100-meters east of our Phase I drill hole JES-20-32", commented VP Exploration, Brodie Sutherland. "This not only expands the potential width of our Main Zone but also shows a continuation of mineralization down dip towards the east. Pending assay results for the remaining drill holes includes a series of holes stepped further east to test the 4-Trench Extension and the continuation of mineralization at depth."

Results Discussion

JES-21-40 - The hole was planned to test the Main Zone at depth and to the east. Drilling intersected a broad low grade zone from surface of 58m of 0.19 g/t Au. (see Table 1). Results from drill holes JES-20-33 (41.2m at 1.14 g/t Au) and JES-13-15 (34.5m at 1.27 g/t Au) through the same area of the Main Zone intersected higher grade, but were drilled from the opposite direction to JES-21-40, suggesting drilling from the east to the west through the zone is the optimal angle for intersecting mineralized structure.

JES-21-41 - The hole was planned to test 50m down dip of drill hole JES-20-32, which returned 94.6m at 1.6 g/t Au. Several zones of anomalous gold were intersected including, 3m of 0.54 g/t AuEq, 4.6m of 0.43 g/t AuEq, 1.5m of 0.54 g/t AuEq and near the bottom of the hole from 199.8 to 212m, 12.2m of 0.28 g/t AuEq. The results from JES-21-43 suggest mineralization can widen with depth as the system dips to the east, stepping out to the east of this area remains a strong target for drill testing.

JES-21-42 - The hole was planned to test quartz veining and alteration recorded at surface along the 4-Trench Extension in a new corridor with little previous drilling. Anomalous gold was intersected, highlighted by 1.5m at 0.46 g/t Au and 5 g/t Ag.

JES-21-43 - The hole was planned to test the eastern extent of the Main Zone which correlates with a resistivity anomaly from the CSAMT survey. An oxide zone with quartz veinlets was recorded from 41m depth to 93m followed by several quartz veins in oxidized andesite from 93m to 130m. 35.1m at 0.66 g/t Au and 6 g/t Ag was drilled from 97.6m to 132.7m. The interval is significant as it is spatially 100m to the east of drill hole JES-20-32 and historic drill hole JES-18-19, both which returned grade above 0.75 g/t Au over wide intervals (see Figure 1).

Figure 1. Cross-Section of Drill Hole JES-21-43

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4269/87600_c3cb3a94c45dd8f1_001full.jpg

Figure 2. Planview Map of Phase II Drill Program Update.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4269/87600_c3cb3a94c45dd8f1_002full.jpg





Table 1. Summary of Drill Results

Hole ID From (m) To (m) Width* (m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) AuEq (g/t) JES-21-40 1.52 59.48 57.96 0.19 1 0.20 JES-21-41 44.23 47.27 3.04 0.36 17 0.54 and 65.58 70.15 4.57 0.39 4 0.43 and 85.40 86.92 1.52 0.47 7 0.54 and 199.78 211.97 12.19 0.19 4 0.24 JES-21-42 12.20 13.72 1.52 0.46 5 0.51 JES-21-43 97.60 132.68 35.08 0.66 6 0.72 including 118.95 132.68 13.73 1.65 3 1.68 including 118.95 122.00 3.05 6.79 7 6.87 also 97.60 105.22 7.62 0.01 16 0.19

*Insufficient drilling has been undertaken to determine true widths. All widths reported are core length. Gold equivalent ("AuEq") is calculated using metal prices of $1,700/oz gold and $18/oz silver.

About the Pilar Property

The Pilar Gold-Silver property is interpreted as a structurally controlled low-sulphidation epithermal project hosted in andesite rocks. Three zones of mineralization have been identified in the north-west part of the property from historic surface work and drilling and are referred to as the Main Zone, North Hill and 4-Trench. Structural features and zones of mineralization within the structures follow an overall NW-SE trend of mineralization. Over 19,200 m of drilling have been completed to date. Significant results are highlighted below:

2020 Phase I RC Drilling Highlights include ( all lengths are drilled thicknesses ): 94.6m @ 1.6 g/t Au, including 9.2m @ 10.8 g/t Au and 38 g/t Ag; 41.2m @ 1.1 g/t Au, including 3.1m @ 6.0g/t Au and 12 g/t Ag ; 24.4m @ 2.5 g/t Au and 73 g/t Ag, including 1.5m @ 33.4 g/t Au and 1,090 g/t Ag

17,700m of Historic Core & RC drilling. Highlights include: 61.0m @ 0.8 g/t Au 16.5m @ 53.5g/t Au and 53 g/t Ag 13.0m @ 9.6 g/t Au 9.0m @ 10.2 g/t Au and 46 g/t Ag



Soil and Rock sampling results from undrilled areas indicate mineralization extends towards the southeast from the Main Zone and 4-Trench Zone. Recent Surface exploration has defined three new target areas: Triple Vein Zone, SE Vein Zone and 4 Trench Extension.

Brodie A. Sutherland, P.Geo., VP Exploration for Tocvan Ventures Corp. and a qualified person ("QP") as defined by Canadian National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this release.

Quality Assurance / Quality Control

RC chips were shipped for sample preparation to ALS Limited in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico and for analysis at the ALS laboratory in North Vancouver. The ALS Hermosillo and North Vancouver facilities are ISO 9001 and ISO/IEC 17025 certified. Gold was analyzed using 50-gram nominal weight fire assay with atomic absorption spectroscopy finish. Over limits for gold (>10 g/t), were analyzed using fire assay with a gravimetric finish. Silver and other elements were analyzed using a four-acid digestion with an ICP finish. Over limit analyses for silver (>100 g/t) were re-assayed using an ore-grade four-acid digestion with ICP-AES finish. Control samples comprising certified reference samples and blank samples were systematically inserted into the sample stream and analyzed as part of the Company's robust quality assurance / quality control protocol.

ABOUT COLIBRI RESOURCE CORPORATION:

Colibri is a Canadian-based mineral exploration company listed on the TSX-V (CBI) and is focused on acquiring and exploring prospective gold & silver properties in Mexico. The Company has six exploration projects of which five currently have exploration programs being executed or planned for 2021. The flagship Evelyn Gold Project is 100% owned and explored by Colibri. The Company has four additional projects, Pilar Gold & Silver Project (optioned to Tocvan Ventures- CSE:TOC), El Mezquite Gold & Silver Project , Jackie Gold & Silver Project, and the Diamante Gold & Silver Project (earn-in agreements with Silver Spruce Resources - TSX.V-SSE) are also currently being actively advanced.

For more information about all Company projects please visit: www.colibriresource.com.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

This news release contains "forward-looking statements". Statements in this press release which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that they will prove to be accurate.

For further information:

Ronald J. Goguen, President, Chairperson and Director

Tel: (506) 383-4274

rongoguen@colibriresource.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/87600
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 15, 2021) - Solvbl Solutions Inc. (CSE: SOLV) ("Solvbl" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with Research Capital Corporation as sole agent and sole bookrunner (the "Agent") in connection with a best efforts, private placement offering of units of the Company (the "Units") at a price of $0.06 per Unit (the "Offering Price") for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $2,000,000 (the "Offering").

Each Unit will be comprised of one common share of the Company (a "Common Share") and one Common Share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant shall be exercisable to acquire one Common Share (a "Warrant Share") at a price of $0.12 per Warrant Share for a period of 24 months from the closing of the Offering.

The Agent will have an option (the "Over-Allotment Option") to offer for sale up to an additional 15% of the number of Units sold in the Offering at the Offering Price, which Over-Allotment Option is exercisable, in whole or in part, at any time up to 48 hours prior to the closing of the Offering.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering for working capital requirements and other general corporate purposes.

The securities to be issued under the Offering will be offered by way of private placement in each of the provinces of Canada, and such other jurisdictions as may be determined by the Company, in each case, pursuant to applicable exemptions from the prospectus requirements under applicable securities laws.

The Offering is scheduled to close on or about the week of July 12, 2021, or such earlier or later date as agreed upon between the Company and the Agent (the "Closing") and is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals including the approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "Exchange"). The Units to be issued under the Offering will have a hold period of four months and one day from Closing.

In connection with the Offering, the Agent will receive an aggregate cash fee equal to 8.0% of the gross proceeds from the Offering, including in respect of any exercise of the Over-Allotment Option. In addition, the Company will grant the Agent, on date of Closing, non-transferable compensation options (the "Compensation Options") equal to 8.0% of the total number of Units sold under the Offering (including in respect of any exercise of the Over-Allotment Option). Each Compensation Option will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one Unit at an exercise price equal to the Offering Price for a period of 24 months following the Closing.

The securities described herein have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws, and accordingly, may not be offered or sold within the United States except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities requirements or pursuant to exemptions therefrom. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy any securities in any jurisdiction.

Solvbl Solutions Inc.

SoLVBL is an innovative cybersecurity company. The Company's mission is to empower, better, faster decisions by developing a universal standard for establishing digital record authenticity. The lead product Q by SoLVBL, is a proprietary software of the Company, designed to be easy to use and adopt, economically priced and provide digital record authentication at lightning fast speed. Q by SoLVBL allows organizations to establish trust in their data. The Company is currently pursuing the following verticals: chain of custody for digital evidence; including, NG-911, data used in the financial sector, medical applications and critical IoT infrastructures.

For Further Information, Contact:

SoLVBL Solutions Inc.

Raymond Pomroy, CEO

15 Toronto Street, Suite 602

Toronto, Ontario, M5C2E3

E: Ray.Pomroy@SoLVBL.com

T: 905.510.7982

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Information

The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.

NEITHER THE CSE NOR ITS MARKET REGULATOR (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE CSE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: the ability of the Company to successfully achieve its business objectives, including, the implementation and success of Q by SoLVBLTM, and expectations for other economic, business and/or competitive, factors. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. Except as required by law, SoLVBL assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described herein in the United States. The securities described herein have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities law and may not be offered or sold in the "United States", as such term is defined in Regulation S promulgated under the U.S. Securities Act, unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration requirements is available.



NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

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THC-O-Acetate to be Produced Through Company's Specialty Molecule Division

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 15, 2021) - Nextleaf Solutions Ltd. (CSE: OILS) (OTCQB: OILFF) ("Nextleaf", "OILS", or the "Company"), an extraction company that owns one of the largest portfolios of U.S. patents for the extraction and distillation of cannabinoids, is pleased to announce the launch of a Specialty Molecules Division to focus on the development and commercialization of novel psychoactive compounds. The division is supported by the Company's existing intellectual property ("IP") portfolio, including the manufacturing of CBD-O-acetate and the recently announced U.S. patent for the synthesis of THC-O-acetate.





(Left to right: Dr. Xuan Jia, Paul Pedersen, Ryan Ko, Dr. David Novitski, Keenan Sindia)

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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"The purpose of this new division is to leverage Nextleaf's existing intellectual property and delivery technology to develop IP-protected therapeutic products from novel molecules," said Paul Pedersen, Chief Executive Officer of OILS. "The commercial opportunity for our Speciality Molecules Division is to partner with larger organizations looking for differentiation by leveraging Nextleaf's intellectual property and Metro Vancouver based licensed innovation lab and extraction plant to manufacture specialty molecules under Nextleaf's Health Canada licenses. We anticipate our Specialty Molecules Division will play a major role in long-term value creation thanks to the disruptive nature of our IP, particularly as it relates to the acetylation of cannabinoids," said Pedersen.

The cannabis industry has seen an increased focus on novel cannabinoid-based products with wellness and therapeutic applications, and investment from large pharmaceutical and CPG companies. An example is the recent $221 million investment by British American Tobacco in Canadian cannabis producer Organigram.

Nextleaf expects to announce a future R&D and innovation agreement with a large strategic partner operating in the cannabis or pharmaceutical space.

The initial focus of the Specialty Molecules Division is commercializing more complex cannabinoid-based treatments that may provide a therapeutic alternative to opioid-based medications. The Company currently holds the prerequisite licensing necessary under the Cannabis Act to commercialize THC-O-acetate in Canada.

THC-O-Acetate

Nextleaf intends to develop therapeutic products from its intellectual property pertaining to the acetylation of cannabinoids. The Company expects to release adult-use products with THC-O-acetate, which to the best of the Company's knowledge has never been sold under a legal framework.

The Company believes a THC-derived product produced with its patented acetylation process may hold significant potential as a therapeutic due to anecdotal reports of THC-O-acetate having a more gradual onset, longer-lasting effects, and altered psychoactive effects, as compared to Delta-9-THC. The reported enhanced potency may also have potential for reducing the cost per dose and the amount of active ingredient in a formulation to obtain the same level of effect compared to Delta-9-THC.

Nextleaf's U.S. and Canadian issued patents describe a process of acetylating THC by refluxing naturally derived THC distillate in the presence of a single reactant, with THC-O-acetate the product of the reaction.

"This U.S. patent covers our method of THC acetylation and follows our previous patent for synthesizing THC-O-acetate, with improvements to reaction efficiencies," said patent author Dr. David Novitski. "Our latest patented method reduces processing time and costs, which are critical when scaling up any drug delivery technology, and THC-O-acetate is no different."

THC-O-acetate acts as a metabolic prodrug for THC, which can improve the absorption, metabolization, and distribution within the body. Prodrugs themselves are an inactive derivative that must be biologically transformed in vivo to release the pharmacologically active parent drug, ideally a single-step enzymatic activation. Common examples of prodrugs include codeine, which is metabolized into the painkiller morphine, and psilocybin, which is metabolized into the psychedelic form psilocin.

Nextleaf Featured in Forbes

Nextleaf CEO Paul Pedersen was interviewed by Stephen Key, a Forbes contributor and a leading expert on innovation, intellectual property, and licensing. The interview was focused on Nextleaf's IP strategy and published on the Forbes website last week. The article was the second such publication to feature Nextleaf, with a March 2021 Forbes article by Amanda Siebert focused on the Company's ground-breaking human trials program.

About Nextleaf

Nextleaf is an innovative cannabis processor that owns one of the largest portfolios of U.S. patents for the extraction, distillation, and delivery of cannabinoids. Nextleaf supplies cannabis oils to its wholesale customers and distributes consumer products under its award-winning prohibition-era brand, Glacial Gold. Nextleaf's proprietary closed-loop automated extraction plant in Metro Vancouver has a design capacity to process 600 kilos of dried cannabis into oil per day. Nextleaf is developing delivery technology through its Health Canada Research Licence with sensory evaluation of cannabis via human testing. The Company owns 14 U.S. patents and has been issued 80 patents globally.

Nextleaf Solutions trades as OILS on the Canadian Securities Exchange, OILFF on the OTCQB Market in the United States, and L0MA on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.

Follow OILS across social media platforms: Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.

www.nextleafsolutions.com

For more information please contact:

Jason McBride, Corporate Development

604-283-2301 (ext. 219)

jason@nextleafsolutions.com

On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company,

Paul Pedersen, CEO

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements". All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this press release, including, without limitation, those regarding the Company's ability to capitalize on its IP portfolio, the Company's strategy, plans, objectives, goals and targets, and any statements preceded by, followed by or that include the words "believe", "expect", "aim", "intend", "plan", "continue", "will", "may", "would", "anticipate", "estimate", "forecast", "predict", "project", "seek", "should" or similar expressions or the negative thereof, are forward-looking statements. These statements are not historical facts but instead represent only the Company's expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual results may differ materially from what is expressed, implied or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. Additional factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially include, but are not limited to the risk factors discussed in the Company's MD&A for the most recent fiscal period. Management provides forward-looking statements because it believes they provide useful information to investors when considering their investment objectives and cautions investors not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and other cautionary statements or factors contained herein, and there can be no assurance that the actual results or developments will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, the Company. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect subsequent information, events or circumstances or otherwise, except as required by law. The CSE has not reviewed or approved the contents of this press release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/87584
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 15, 2021) - SKRR Exploration Inc. (TSXV: SKRR) (FSE: B04Q) ("SKRR" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has entered into a non-arm's length acquisition agreement (the "Agreement") to acquire a 100% interest in Ross McElroy's Father Lake Nickel Property consisting of nine (9) mineral claims comprising a total of 4,727.382 hectares dated June 14, 2021.

Highlights

Located in mineral rich Saskatchewan, a world class mining jurisdiction

Host rock is a 200m to 800m wide norite body that can be traced for 16km trending East North East

Numerous nickel and copper showings along trend

Claims cover eastern half of previous Strongbow Exploration Inc.'s Nickel Lake / Dumas Lake project and covers several historic nickel and copper showings including: Dumas Zones A & B drilling intersections 1.34% Ni & 0.94% Cu over 2m Dumas Zone D drilling intersection of 2.36% Ni over 0.5m



"We are extremely excited to acquire the Father Lake Nickel property and add it to our expanding portfolio of assets in one of the world's premier mining jurisdictions," stated Sherman Dahl, CEO of SKRR. "The timing of this acquisition positions the Company well for a tightening nickel market."

Terms of the Agreement

Under the terms of the Agreement, SKRR will acquire a 100% interest in the Father Lake Nickel Property by making a cash payment of CAD$7,500 to Mr. McElroy, which represents the costs expended by Mr. McElroy in staking and researching the Father Lake Nickel Property.

The Agreement is subject to acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange.

The acquisition agreement with Mr. McElroy is not an "Arm's Length Transaction" as such term is defined in the Exchange's Policy 1.1 and therefore constituted a "related party transaction" as such term is defined in Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions. Ross McElroy is a director of SKRR.

The Father Lake Nickel Property Details

The Father Lake property is located 40km northeast of the hamlet of Stony Rapids in the province of Saskatchewan. Stony Rapids is a full service community with a commercial airport. Access to the property is via fixed wing or helicopter aircraft. From a regional perspective, the property lies along the Snowbird Tectonic Zone (SBTZ), which is a 2,800 km long Archean age crustal scale structural break. Locally, the property is situated immediately south of the Grease River fault. Geologically the area is underlain by metasedimentary rocks which are intruded by a 3 km long norite sill trending 065 to 080 that varies in thickness from 215m to 800m.

The 9 contiguous mineral claims that comprise the Father Lake property, cover ~12km of prospective geologic trend, including the 3 km long norite sill that is host to the historic Dumas A, B, C and D nickel-copper sulphide showings, as well as additional identified airborne Electromagnetic "EM" geophysics anomalies along trend to the northeast that show TAU decay signatures similar to that at the Dumas showings. Zone C is the westernmost zone, while Zones A/ B are the easternmost and located ~3km to the east and interpreted to be the fault off-set continuation of Zones C and D. Zone D is situated half-way between Zone C and Zones A/B. The area has been the subject of historic exploration work dating back to 1956 by Father Lake Mining Co. with the discovery of Dumas zones A, B, C and D and drilling of 18 holes. An additional 11 drill holes were completed in 1969 by Pathfinder Resources Ltd. and more recently in 2007-08, Strongbow Exploration Inc. conducted airborne geophysics surveys (MegaTEM and VTEM platforms) and drilled 5 holes to test geophysics targets that appeared to be associated with the showings as well as targets away from the showings.

A brief summary of the highlight results of the historic mapping, prospecting and drilling is as follows:

Dumas Nickel Zones A & B occurs within a Norite body estimated by mapping to be between 215m to 800m thick. The zones exhibits a gossan 10 to 15m wide and traced 180m along strike, with sulphides (chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite with minor amounts of pyrite, arsenopyrite and pentlandite) comprising 15 to 25% of rock volume within a Norite body. Surface sampling assayed 1.00% Ni and 0.77% Cu. Encouraging drill results included: Father Lake Development Ltd. (1956) drilled hole #2, which returned 1.33% Ni and 0.94% Cu over 2m from 45.4m to 47.4m down-hole depth. Pathfinder Uranium and Nickel Mines Ltd. (1969) drilled hole P-11 which returned 0.26% Ni, 0.07% Cu over 6.1m from 3.0m to 9.1m down-hole depth. Strongbow Exploration Inc. (2008) drilled hole DS08-001 which returned 0.15% Ni, 0.08% Cu and 0.008% Co over 25m from 6m to 31m

Dumas Nickel Zone C occurs within Norite body which is estimated by mapping to be between 215m to 800m thick. Zone C is mapped at is 1.5m to 12m wide, averaging 5m wide, and is exposed for a distance of 400m along strike and open in both directions along strike. Sulphide mineralization is similar to Zone A with lenses of chalcopyrite, pyrite, arsenopyrite and pentlandite. Outcrop samples returned 1.87% Ni and 0.56% Cu. Encouraging drill results included: Pathfinder Uranium and Nickel Mines Ltd. (1969) drilled hle P-2 which returned 0.34% Ni and 0.15% Cu over 1.7m from 18.4m to 20.1m. Strongbow Exploration Inc. (2008) drilled hole DS08-003 which returned 0.27% Ni, 0.20% Cu and 0.012% Co over 4.55m 36m to 40.5m.

Dumas Nickel occurs within Norite body which is estimated by mapping to be between 215m to 800m thick. Zone D mineralization is exposed over 15m wide along 183m of strike. Similar to Zones A, B and C, mineralization is associated with lenses of chalcopyrite, pyrite, arsenopyrite and pentlandite. Encouraging drill results included: Father Lake Development Ltd. (1956) drilled hole #8, which returned 2.36% Ni and 0.26% Cu over 0.5m from 25m to 25.5m. Strongbow Exploration Inc. (2008) drilled hole DS08-002 which returned 0.19% Ni, 0.12% Cu, 0.01% Co over 12m from 14.5m to 26.5m.



In 2008, Strongbow drilled 5 holes totaling 671.5m. The drilling targeted plates modeled from a 2008 airborne VTEM survey. The first 3 holes tested the historic Zone B, D and C respectively and all intersected anomalous mineralization of nickel, copper and cobalt. The last two holes tested targets away from the historic showings and did not encounter mineralization.

SKRR believes that the Father Lake Ni-Cu-Co showings may represent the same style of mineralization and possibly the same mineralizing event as Nickel King Ni-Cu-Co deposit, which lies within the SBTZ, ~90 km to the northeast of the Father Lake property. Strongbow Resources produced a resource estimate on Jun 2, 2010 (Updated NI 43-101 Technical Report for the Nickel King, Main Zone Deposit, Northwest Territories, Canada, dated June 2, 2010) with an Indicated Resource of 11.1 Mt grading at 0.40% Ni, 0.10% Cu and 0.018% Co, containing 97.7 Mlb of Ni, 23.5 Mlb of Cu, and 4.4 Mlb of Co. The total Inferred Resource is 33.1 Mt grading at 0.36% Ni, 0.09% Cu, and 0.017% Co, containing 262.4 Mlb of Ni, 63.9 Mlb of Cu, and 12.3 Mlb of Co at a base-case cut-off of 0.2% Ni.

SKRR cautions that past results or discoveries on proximate lands are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be achieved on the Father Lake Property. SKRR cautions that some of the historical results were collected and reported by past operators and have not been verified nor confirmed by a Qualified Person, but form a basis for future work in the Father Lake Property.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Ross McElroy P.Geo, a director of the Company and a "Qualified Person" as defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. McElroy verified the data disclosed (unless indicated otherwise) which includes a review of the sampling, analytical and test data underlying the information and opinions contained therein.

About SKRR Exploration Inc.:

SKRR is a Canadian-based precious metal explorer with properties in Saskatchewan - one of the world's highest ranked mining jurisdictions. The primary exploration focus is on the Trans-Hudson Corridor in Saskatchewan in search of world class precious metal deposits. The Trans-Hudson Orogen - although extremely well known in geological terms has been significantly under-explored in Saskatchewan. SKRR is committed to all stakeholders including shareholders, all its partners and the environment in which it operates.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Sherman Dahl

President & CEO

Tel: 250-558-8340

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information or statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, which may include, without limitation, statements that address the TSX Venture Exchange approval of the Agreement, future work on the Father Lake Property, other statements relating to the technical, financial and business prospects of the Company, its projects and other matters. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, including the price of metals, the ability to achieve its goals, that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner, that financing will be available if and when needed and on reasonable terms. Such forward-looking information reflects the Company's views with respect to future events and is subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including those filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include, but are not limited to, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions, adverse weather conditions, equipment failures, failure to maintain all necessary government permits, approvals and authorizations, decrease in the price of gold, nickel and other metals, the impact of Covid-19 or other viruses and diseases on the Company's ability to operate, failure to maintain community acceptance (including First Nations), increase in costs, litigation, and failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations. The Company does not undertake to update forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, except as required by law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/87522
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 15, 2021) - TransCanna Holdings Inc. (CSE: TCAN) (FSE: TH8) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has completed construction of an industrial-grade distribution site and launched third party distribution services.

As part of its Phase 1 Construction project at the 196,000 square foot facility, the Company has built out 16,000 square feet of retail-ready product storage space, installed automated, assembly-line style packaging equipment for jar and pouch production, and built out a climate-controlled area that can store 30 tractor-trailer loads of cannabis and 230 pallets positions of -40 degree Fahrenheit freezers for storing live resin and live resin products. A secure loading bay and a small in-house fleet of refrigerated trucks is also in place.

The new site capabilities, coupled with the Company's distribution license, means TransCanna can now service an unmet market need for safe, reliable, compliant storage, distribution and transportation services.

"We continually receive inquiries from producers across California looking for secure, reliable and compliant assistance with storage, merchandising, and transportation of their cannabis products," said Bob Blink, TransCanna CEO. "The strength and reputation of our brand has been driving customers to our doorstep, and now we can help them."

Contract negotiations for distribution services are underway, and the Company expects the site to be operating at full capacity when the fall outdoor cannabis harvest approaches.

The new service launch represents great progress in TransCanna's mission to provide a one-stop shop of services for the entire California cannabis industry.

Coupled with the facilities' Processor license, the Daly Ave site will provide a full suite of services ranging from climate-controlled storage for drying, curing, trimming, grading, packaging for both retail and wholesale products, secure transportation, and cash collection for an eager crowd of solution-seeking customers.

About TransCanna

TransCanna Holdings Inc. is a California-based, Canadian-listed company building cannabis-focused brands for the California lifestyle, through its wholly-owned California subsidiaries.

TransCanna's wholly owned subsidiary Lyfted Farms is California's authentic cannabis brand whose pioneering spirit has been continuously providing the finest cannabis flower genetics and cultivation methods since 1984. The Lyfted Farms brand of exclusive cannabis flower is sold at premium retailers throughout the state. With its new cultivation facility in Modesto, California, the company is now poised to become one of the largest and most efficient vertically integrated cannabis companies in the California market.

For updated information with respect to our company, please see our filings on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the CSE at www.thecse.com, or visit the Company's website at www.transcanna.com. To contact the Company, please email info@transcanna.com.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Bob Blink, CEO

Corporate Communications:

info@transcanna.com

604-200-8853

FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION:

Certain information in this release may contain forward-looking statements, such as statements regarding financial statement filing timelines, future expansions and cost savings and plans regarding production increases and financings. This information is based on current expectations and assumptions, including assumptions concerning the completion of the expansion of the Daly Facility, government approval of pro-cannabis policies, greater access to financial services and increased cultivation capacity, that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. Risks that could cause results to differ from those stated in the forward-looking statements in this release include unexpected increases in operating costs, a continued strain on farmers due to fires and the Coronavirus pandemic and competition from other retailers. All forward-looking statements, including any financial outlook or future-oriented financial information, contained in this release are made as of the date of this release and are included for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future. The Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements unless and until required by securities laws applicable to the Company. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in the Company's filings with the Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedar.com.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.



NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OF THE SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN

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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 15, 2021) - Jaxon Mining Inc. (TSXV: JAX) (FSE: 0U31) (OTC: JXMNF) ("Jaxon" or the "Company") announces that the field team, led by Dr. Tony Guo, has kicked off the 2021 field season and is now preparing for the Phase One drilling program at Netalzul Mt. Field work includes structural mapping, as well as soil and rock sampling and mapping at Netalzul Mt. Drill testing the high-grade silver polymetallic veins and porphyry systems at Netalzul is scheduled to commence early July. Drill testing the porphyry systems at Red Springs is scheduled for the fall of 2021.

Fathom Geophysics Reports

The Company is pleased to announce it has received two studies on the Netalzul Mt and Red Springs projects prepared by Fathom Geophysics of Ohio, USA fathomgeophysics.com. "3D Porphyry Footprint Modeling of Netalzul, British Columbia, Jaxon Mining, May 2021" and "3D Porphyry Footprint Modeling of Red Springs British Columbia, Jaxon Mining, May 2021" by Dan Core, Fathom Geophysics. The studies were commissioned to assist the Company in its target/site modeling exercise at Netalzul Mt and to advance its ongoing conceptual geological modelling, target visualization and vectoring programs at the Hazelton property.

The studies indicate that the porphyry systems at Netalzul Mt and Red Springs are associated with uniquely and anomalously high mineralization levels across the spectrum of porphyry associated metals, in assayed soil and rock samples.

The Netalzul study identified three major porphyry targets by comparing the structural, geochemical, and geophysical features of the Netalzul Mt porphyry system to reference models of other known porphyry systems. The 2021 drilling targets at Netalzul involve a system of copper-molybdenum porphyries with related intermediate sulfidation (IS) type high-grade silver polymetallic deposits. Outcrops containing anomalously high-grade material were sampled, assayed and reported on during the field exploration programs conducted in 2019 and 2020. Both the Netalzul and Red Springs studies produced confirmatory information correlating with the Company's field work, geological modeling and the originally sited drilling targets. The porphyry footprint modelling effectively locates, visualizes and vectors in on the targets.

The principal motivation for commissioning the studies was to take advantage of an independently produced, model-driven approach to targeting porphyries and their associated mineralization. This process provided an expert review of the entirety of the Company's geochemical and geophysical data, in combination with structural mapping and the other datasets.

The Netalzul study includes the compilation, processing and modelling of both soil and rock geochemical datasets and newly acquired aeromagnetic data. The study involves a live evolving model that will continue to be updated with new information, including information from drill core and cuttings. To date, the information in the study has allowed the Company to visualize, better locate and more precisely vector in on the location of the porphyries and to better locate the distal intermediated sulfidation high-grade copper silver polymetallic mineralized vein systems associated with the porphyry systems at Netalzul Mt. Further sampling work will be completed, as recommended. Additional work around the results of the Red Springs study will be conducted later in the summer of 2021 prior to commencing the Phase 2 drilling program.

Highlights of the Netalzul study include:

Five potential targets were defined by applying the footprint modeling method to the Netalzul soil and rock data (Table 1, Figures 1-4). Four of these five targets, FG-NZ-Soils-1 and 2, FG-NZ-Rocks-1 and 2, will be drill tested in Phase One of the 2021 drilling program (Figure 6). The 3D footprint models indicate that the FG-NZ-Soils-1, FG-NZ-Rocks-1 and FG-NZ-Rocks 2 targets all have the potential for deep mineralization, down to 800-1200 meters in depth.

Geophysical signatures of the porphyry mineralization are recognized as discrete magnetic lows or magnetic highs. Four potential porphyry Cu-Mo or other mineralization centers were identified. Two are magnetic highs and two are magnetic lows; these could be the porphyry centers depending on which part of the porphyry is exposed (Figure 5). Three of these porphyry centers will be drill tested in the 2021 Phase One drilling program (Figure 5). Porphyry mineralization showings previously observed are within or near these porphyry targets defined by the Netalzul study.

Ring structures in the northwestern corner of the magnetic anomaly are considered a caldera collapse (Figure 6) with the potential to be a low-grade bulk tonnage epithermal Ag-Au deposit, based on both rock and soil sampling in 2020 and 2021.

Mr. John King Burns, CEO and Chairman of Jaxon Mining, commented, "To develop sophisticated geological models of the Netalzul Mt and Red Springs projects, our team has integrated the use of advanced geochemical and geophysical methods as exploration tools in combination with structural mapping work. Dr. Guo has organized and is conducting a world class, multi-disciplinary exploration program in pursuit of multiple targets, each with the scope, scale and features necessary to become a commercial copper (polymetallic) mine."

"We are applying all appropriate tools to help us build better and more accurate models of our targets, and we will continue to conduct comprehensive and disciplined exploration as we develop those targets. Our approach reduces drilling risks and expenses and allows for improved drilling results. This systematic and interdisciplinary approach takes time but allows us to delineate and create well-developed and more accurate pictures of our targets before commencing drill testing. Fathom's work indicates the porphyries are there and should be pregnant with metal. We are looking forward to the 2021 drill programs demonstrating that."





Table 1: Targets highlighted by the footprint modeling method applied to the Netalzul soil and rock data.

To view an enhanced version of Table 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/881/87585_jaxontable1.jpg





Figure 1: Netalzul_Soils_Halley_90th_3D Targeting Results Plan View - Soils Well-constrained at Netalzul Mt. project (The image above shows the 0.18 isosurface of the results for the soil data using a model built using the Halley model geometry with thresholds generated using the 90th percentile of the soil data. The results are masked to show only well-constrained targets. The central part of the survey is highlighted as a high-ranking target. The target is split into a shallow and deep part. Results could be improved if the gaps in the soil survey were filled.)

To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/881/87585_056255db54064be9_002full.jpg





Figure 2. Netalzul_Soils_Halley_90th_Const_3D Targeting Results Section View - Soils well-constrained (The image above shows a cross section through the well-constrained soil processing results. The section is from 626050E 6128675N on the left to 627225E 6130075N on the right. The near-surface part of the target area is less well-constrained because the deeper part of the model is narrower.)

To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/881/87585_056255db54064be9_003full.jpg





Figure 3. Netalzul_Rocks_Halley_Const_3D Targeting Results Plan View - Rocks well-constrained (The image above shows the 0.85 isosurface of the results for the rock samples using the Halley model. The results are masked to show the better constrained parts of the results. FG-NZ-Rocks-1 is a relatively vertically extensive target and scores very highly. Additional rock chip sampling would be necessary to determine if the best target location is more likely at FG-NZ-Rocks-1 or FG-NZ-Soils-1.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 3, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/881/87585_056255db54064be9_004full.jpg





Figure 4. Netalzul_Rocks_Halley_Const_3D Targeting Results Section View - Rocks well-constrained (The image above shows a cross section through the well-constrained rock processing results. The section is from 626075E 6128800N on the left to 626675E 6130690N on the right. Masking to the more well-constrained areas reduces some of the noise. Additional sampling would help further constrain the targets.)

To view an enhanced version of Figure 4, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/881/87585_056255db54064be9_005full.jpg





Figure 5. Jaxon's 2021 planned drill hole locations and Dr. Core's geochemical footprint model targets and aeromagnetic data interpretation image map.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 5, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/881/87585_056255db54064be9_006full.jpg





Figure 6. Structural and Magnetic Anomalies Interpretation Image Map at Netalzul Mt. project (Structural, mineralization and magnetic anomalies interpreted from the magnetic data over the Netalzul area, as indicated in the legend).

To view an enhanced version of Figure 6, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/881/87585_056255db54064be9_007full.jpg

Qualified Person

Yingting (Tony) Guo, P.Geo., President and Chief Geologist of Jaxon Mining Inc., a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed, and prepared the scientific and technical information and verified the data supporting such scientific and technical information contained in this news release.

About Fathom Geophysics

Fathom Geophysics provides geophysical and geoscience data processing and targeting services to the minerals and petroleum exploration industries, from the regional scale through to the near-mine deposit scale. Among the data types we work on are: potential field data (gravity and magnetics), electrical data (induced polarization and electromagnetics), topographic data, seismic data, geochemical data, precipitation and lake-level time-lapse environmental data, and remotely-sensed (satellite) data such as Landsat and ASTER.

Fathom Geophysics offers automated data processing, automated exploration targeting, and the ability to tailor-make data processing applications. Fathom Geophysics' automated processing is augmented by expert geoscience knowledge drawn from in-house staff and from details relayed to us by the project client. Fathom Geophysics also offers standard geophysical data filtering, manual geological interpretations, and a range of other exploration campaign-related services, such as arranging surveys and looking after survey-data quality control.

About Jaxon Mining Inc.

Jaxon Mining is a Canadian-based exploration and development company pursuing the discoveries of commercial scale and grade Cu, Au, Ag, polymetallic projects. Jaxon focuses on overlooked and underexplored targets with deeper intervals that have not been identified or adequately explored; in areas that often have not been systematically mapped, modeled or drilled. Jaxon is currently focused on the Skeena Arch, an exceptionally orogenic and metallogenic area, in one of the most richly endowed terrains in British Columbia. The Company is preparing its 2021 drilling program to test the Netalzul Mountain and Red Springs projects on its 100% controlled Hazelton property.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

JAXON MINING INC.

"John King Burns"

John King Burns, Chairman

For more information please contact:

Investor Relations

Kaye Wynn Consulting

T: 604-558-2630

TF: 1-888-280-8128

E: info@kayewynn.com

Freeform Communications

T: 604-243-0499

E: enquiries@freeform.com

Corporate

T: 604-424-4488

E: info@jaxonmining.com

This news release may contain forward-looking information, which is not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking information involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Forward-looking information in this news release may include, but is not limited to, the Company's objectives, goals or future plans. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, those risks set out in the Company's public documents filed on SEDAR. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames, or at all. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law. Neither TSX Venture exchange nor its Regulations Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/87585
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Actinium Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ATNM) said that pivotal phase 3 SIERRA trial data showed 100% bone marrow transplant engraftment in patients treated with Iomab-B. The company presented data at the 2021 Virtual SNMMI Conference, which was being held virtually from June 11th - 14th. The SIERRA trial is the randomized Phase 3 trial to offer potentially curative BMT as an option for patients with active, relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (r/r AML) age 55 and above, a patient population not considered eligible for BMT with standard non-targeted conditioning regimens. With consistently strong engraftment data through 75% of patient enrollment, the company believes Iomab-B has the potential to unlock a paradigm shift in the treatment of patients with relapsed and refractory AML. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
High-resolution heliborne magnetic survey reveals favourable structural make-up for gold deposition on the fully permitted Project

[DATELINE]GoldON Resources Ltd. (TSXV: GLD) ("GoldON" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on exploration activities on its Red Lake North property (the "Property") located in the Red Lake Mining District of Northwestern Ontario. The 3,347-hectare property is located approximately 65 kilometres (km) north of the town of Red Lake. Access is excellent via Nungesser Road, an all-weather road that lies 1.5 km north of the Property and connects to Red Lake.





Figure 1: Regional Map Showing Location of Red Lake North Property

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://goldonresources.com/images/Red-Lake-North/Red-Lake-North-Regional.jpg

GoldON acquired the Property in February 2021 and subsequently hired Prospectair Geosurveys to complete a heliborne high-resolution magnetometer (MAG) survey that consisted of 740 line-km with 50 metre (m) line spacings to cover the Property. In conjunction with the MAG survey, Dynamic Discovery Geosciences was engaged to interpret the new geophysical data.

Preliminary interpretation of the first vertical derivative reveals a wide shear/deformation zone varying from 100 m to 750 m in width within a magnetic low transecting the property (Figure 2).





Figure 2: Magnetic signature of the Red Lake North property and preliminary structural interpretation

To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit:

https://goldonresources.com/images/Red-Lake-North/RLN_Prelim-MAG-Interpretation.jpg

This wide corridor is interpreted to be the E1 crustal-scale extensional shear zone postulated by Zeng and Calvert (2006) from seismic reflection studies north of Red Lake. The E1 shear hosts second-order structures postulated to providing fluid pathways for the gold mineralization of the Red Lake Mine Complex (Zeng and Calvert, 2006). A similar structure, the E3, has second-order fault systems associated with the gold mineralization at Great Bear Resources' Dixie Project and LP Fault discovery (See Figure 3 and Great Bear's news release of June 3, 2021).





Figure 3: Interpretation of the migrated seismic reflection section along the seismic profile in the Red Lake Area (Zeng and Calvert, 2006)

To view an enhanced version of Figure 3, please visit:

https://goldonresources.com/images/Red-Lake/RLN_Lithoprobe.jpg

GoldON's Red Lake North property appears to have a similar structural environment as the Red Lake Mine Complex and Great Bear's Dixie Gold Project where a deep-seated first-order shear appears to have a network of second-order structures. These are important structural shear zones that are common hosts to orogenic gold deposits (Feng and Kerrich, 1992).

As a next step, GoldON has commissioned Orix Geoscience to compile all historical exploration and reinterpret the surface geology and associated structure from the recently completed MAG survey. The objective of the Orix study is to gain a better understanding of the geological and structural framework of the Property which will aid in targeting future exploration efforts.

"Our Red Lake North property appears to host all the structural ingredients that have been integral to the formation of the Red Lake Mine Complex," said Mike Romanik, president of GoldON. "The Project is now fully permitted, and we are looking forward to receiving the Orix recommendations."

Mike Kilbourne, P.Geo., an independent Qualified Person as defined in NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the contents of this news release on behalf of the Company.

About GoldON Resources Ltd.

GoldON is an exploration company focused on discovery-stage properties located in the prolific gold mining belts of northwestern Ontario, Canada. Our current project portfolio includes six properties in the Red Lake Mining Division (West Madsen, Red Lake North, Pipestone Bay, Pakwash North, McInnes Lake, and McDonough) and a seventh property in the Patricia Mining Division (Slate Falls).

For additional information: please visit our website at goldonresources.com; you can download our latest investor presentation by clicking here and you can follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/GoldONResources.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Signed "Michael Romanik"

Michael Romanik, President

GoldON Resources Ltd.

Direct line: (204) 724-0613

Email: ir@goldonresources.com

179 - 2945 Jacklin Road, Suite 416

Victoria, BC, V9B 6J9

Forward-Looking Statements:

This news release may contain "forward-looking statements" that involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this news release and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/87605
Secure coding techniques supported by the LDRA tool suite underpin the domain separation capabilities inherent in OpenSynergy's COQOS hypervisor technology

LDRA, the leading provider of automated software verification, source code analysis and test tools, and OpenSynergy, specialist in high-quality embedded automotive software, today announced their partnership to support and promote a defense-in-depth strategy combining hypervisor technology with secure coding techniques.

Automotive connectivity is an ongoing concern, with vulnerability to attacks from bad actors being demonstrated in models from a range of manufacturers. The inexorable rise in popularity of electric vehicles can only add to that unease because several features of connected EVs such as the batteries and their charging systems are associated with inherent safety implications.

Automotive application developers are already familiar with the demands of functional safety standards, including ISO 26262's defined development, validation, and verification processes, and with the capacity of the LDRA tool suite to help achieve those aims. The benefits of virtualization in the automotive sector are also well known, and class-leading COQOS hypervisors present an opportunity for development teams to realize reduced cost; reduced device seize, weight and power (SWaP); improved CPU performance, and a NAconvenient migration path for unmodified legacy applications.

It is their capacity to provide a mechanism for domain separation, however, that is critical to automotive cybersecurity. The need for inter-process communication (IPC) between those domains is inevitable and a likely source of vulnerabilities. The role of secure application code is pivotal in that context because the code handling the data processed by IPCs has a key role to play in defending a potential weakness in a virtualized architecture.

OpenSynergy focuses on the automotive virtual platform COQOS Hypervisor SDK based on VIRTIO technology. The hypervisor on this platform runs directly on the System-on-Chip (SoC) application cores and creates several virtual machines (VMs). Each VM is isolated from the others. This separation makes it possible to run functions with different real-time behavior and functional safety requirements simultaneously on a single SoC.

"The wisdom of a defense-in-depth strategy is unquestionable," said Matthias Stumpf, Vice President (VP) Sales OpenSynergy. "Defenses against cyberattack are often envisaged as analogous to a medieval castle with moats, perimeter walls and armed soldiers all operating independently. But the combination of LDRA's secure coding and OpenSynergy's hypervisor technology goes beyond that analogy by combining defenses that are mutually supportive, ensuring a level of security that they could not provide independently."

"Automotive application software developers have a lot to contend with," added Ian Hennell, Operations Director, LDRA. "The demands of ISO 26262 are challenging enough, and the emergence of the connected car with its implications for cybersecurity only adds to those challenges. By providing a tool suite that allows security and functional safety objectives to be fulfilled concurrently and accommodates a focus on the secure coding of software associated with inter-process communications, we hope to help lighten the load."

Both the LDRA tool suite and the OpenSynergy hypervisors have been certified by SGS TuV as suitable for development of safety-related software compliant with ISO 26262. In addition, the LDRA tool suite offers tool qualification support packs for the qualification of LDRA tools for high assurance applications requiring regulatory approval.

Product Availability

The OpenSynergy COQOS hypervisors are available now. Contact sales@ldra.com or sales@opensynergy.com for more information or download a free 30-day trial of the LDRA tool suite.

About LDRA

For more than 40 years, LDRA has developed and driven the market for software that automates code analysis and software testing for safety-, mission-, security-, and business-critical markets. Working with clients to achieve early error identification and elimination, and full compliance with industry standards, LDRA traces requirements through static and dynamic analysis to unit testing and verification for a wide variety of hardware and software platforms. Boasting a worldwide presence, LDRA has headquarters in the United Kingdom, United States, Germany, and India coupled with an extensive distributor network. For more information on the LDRA tool suite, please visit www.ldra.com.

About OpenSynergy

OpenSynergy provides embedded software products for the next generation of vehicles. Its hypervisor and communication products pave the way for an integrated driving experience.

The automotive virtual platform COQOS Hypervisor SDK integrates a mix of real-time applications and open source solutions on powerful domain controllers. It supports a large bundle of features corresponding to the virtualization standard VIRTIO, creating maximum flexibility: guest operating systems can be used and reused on different Systems on Chips.

The automotive leading Bluetooth stack Blue SDK is one of OpenSynergy's communications platforms. It is the reference Bluetooth implementation for many OEMs around the world. The variant Blue SDK Fusion offers a reliable Automotive-Grade Bluetooth stack for AndroidTM Automotive OS.

OpenSynergy further provides complimentary Automotive-Grade software components tailored for the AndroidTM Open Source Project (AOSP) to boost Android's adoption in the automotive domain.

OpenSynergy also provides engineering services to support the customization of its products.

Read more on www.opensynergy.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005808/en/

Contacts:

OpenSynergy GmbH

Sabine Mutumba

Director of Marketing

Rotherstr. 20

D-10245 Berlin

Tel.: +49 (0)30.60 98 540-41

Email: marketing@opensynergy.com

LDRA

Mark James

Marketing Manager

Tel: +44 (0) 151 649 9300

Email: mark.james@ldra.com

HCI Marketing and Communications, Inc.

Kelly Wanlass

Media Relations

Tel: +1 (801) 602-4723

Email: kelly@hci-marketing.com


WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - New York manufacturing activity expanded at a slower rate in the month of June, according to a report released by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on Tuesday.



The New York Fed said its general business conditions index fell to 17.4 in June from 24.3 in May, although a positive reading still indicates growth in regional manufacturing activity. Economists had expected the index to dip to 22.0.



The bigger than expected decrease by the headline index reflected substantial slowdowns in the pace of growth in both new orders and shipments.



The new orders index tumbled to 16.3 in June from 28.9 in May, while the shipments index plunged to 14.2 from 29.7.



The number of employees index also edged down to 12.3 in June from 13.6 in May, indicating a modest slowdown in the pace of job growth.



The price indexes also retreated from last month's record highs, with the prices paid index falling to 79.8 in June from 83.5 in May and the prices received index sliding to 33.3 from 37.1.



Meanwhile, the report said the delivery times index jumped to a record high of 29.8 in June from 23.6 in May, pointing to significantly longer delivery times.



Despite the slowdown in the pace of growth in June, the New York Fed said firms remained optimistic that conditions would improve over the next six months.



The index for future business conditions spiked to 47.7 in June from 36.6 in May, with the index for future employment reaching a record high.



On Thursday, the Philadelphia Fed is scheduled to release its report on regional manufacturing activity in the month of June. The Philly Fed Index is expected to edge down to 31.0 in June from 31.5 in May.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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The adoption of cloud computing technology has experienced considerable growth in Switzerland over the last few years. The adoption of cloud-computing technology in 2020 grew by around 30% from 2019. The revenue from public cloud is expected to be over $4 billion in 2021 and reach over $10 billion by 2026. SaaS will be the leading revenue generator in 2021, expected to generate over $2.5 billion. Local cloud providers in Switzerland include Exoscale, Radity, astarios, and Swisscom, among other companies. Global cloud service providers such as Microsoft, Google, and Oracle have a strong presence in Switzerland and will expand further within the forecast period. In November 2020, Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced a new cloud region in Zurich with three availability zones, which will be operational in 2022.

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.


WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - The United States on Monday reached the grim milestone of losing 600,000 lives due to the COVID-19 pandemic.



US President Joe Biden, who is in Europe to attend a series of international summits, offered tributes to the American victims of the deadly virus.



'My heart goes out to all those who have lost a loved one. I know that black hole that seems to consume you, that fills up your chest when you lose someone that's close to you that you adored,' he said at a news conference at the NATO Headquarters in Brussels after attending the NATO Summit.



'We've made enormous progress in the United States. Much of the country is returning to normal, and our economic growth is leading the world, and the number of cases and deaths are dropping dramatically. But there's still too many lives being lost,' he told reporters.



205 new deaths were reported on Monday. The daily death rate is lower than the 7-day average of 339.



The coronavirus pandemic turned most deadly in the United States than in any other country in the world.



10010 new cases on the same day took the national total to 34,335,239. This is less than the current weekly average of 14020.



North Carolina reported the most number of cases - 1,136 - and deaths - 24 - among U.S. states.



A total of 28,436,981 people have so far recovered from coronavirus infection in the country.



California, which was the first U.S. state to shut down due to Covid-19, lifted most of its pandemic restrictions on Tuesday.



Californians will be exempted from capacity limits and physical distancing. Mask requirements will not be made mandatory for those who were vaccinated.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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- Increased cases of osteoporosis in all worldwide locations and growth in research activities by players are estimated to drive the expansion of the global viscosupplementation market during 2019-2027

- On regional front, the Asia Pacific viscosupplementation market is expected to expand at promising pace in the assessment period 2019-2027

ALBANY, N.Y., June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- For performing the viscosupplementation process, mainly three primary injection types are used, namely, five injections, single injection, and three injections. A gel-like fluid named hyaluronic acid is injected into the joint in this procedure. The technique of viscosupplementation injection is widely employed in various health conditions such as hip osteoarthritis, hand osteoarthritis, and knee osteoarthritis. Thus, sizable growth in the number of patients with these health issues in all worldwide locations is estimated to bring extensive growth avenues in the global viscosupplementation market during the years to come.

According to a new report by Transparency Market Research (TMR), the global viscosupplementation market is likely to expand at a promising CAGR of ~7% during the assessment period 2019 to 2027. In 2018, the market was valued at ~US$ 2.6 Bn.

Request for Analysis of COVID-19 Impact on Viscosupplementation Market - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/covid19.php

Viscosupplementation Market: Key Findings

New Research Activities Focus on Offering Treatment for Hip and HandOsteoarthritis

In addition to offering treatment for knee osteoarthritis, major enterprises from the viscosupplementation market are growing focus toward providing advanced treatment options for many health issues such as hand and hip osteoarthritis. As a result, they are increasing investment toward the research and development activities.



Request Brochure of Viscosupplementation Market Report - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/brochure.php

Market Players Focus on Expansion in Asia Pacific

While North America is one of the prominent regions in the viscosupplementation market, major players in the market are growing focus toward expanding their businesses in the Asia Pacific region. Some of the key factors supporting market growth is presence of rapidly growing economies as well as presence of sizeable patient pool in this region.

Explore 201 pages of superlative research, current market scenario, and extensive geographical projections. Gain insights into Viscosupplementation Market (Product Type: Single Injection, Three Injections, and Five Injections; Application: Knee Osteoarthritis, Hip Osteoarthritis, and Hand Osteoarthritis; Source: Animal and Non-animal; and Distribution Channel: Retail Pharmacies, Hospital Pharmacies, and Online Pharmacies) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast, 2019 - 2027 at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/report-toc/10232

Viscosupplementation Market: Growth Boosters

Remarkable growth in the cases of osteoporosis in all worldwide locations is one of the key factors driving the market growth. Moving forward, considerable increase in the older population all across the globe is projected to bring promising sales avenues in the market in the forthcoming years. In addition to this, consistent increase in the worldwide obese population is likely to boost demand avenues in the viscosupplementation market.

Major players in the global viscosupplementation market are focused on strengthening their production capabilities for the development of advanced synovial fluids that can thicken up after pressure application and which can act as shock-absorbing materials. Notable increase in the availability of synthetic products is one of the key factors fueling the expansion of the viscosupplementation market.

Purchase the Viscosupplementation Market Report - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php

North America is leading region in the viscosupplementation market. The region is expected maintain its dominant position in the upcoming period on the back of growing demand for minimally invasive surgery, presence of sturdy healthcare infrastructure, and increased cases of osteoarthritis in the region. Apart from this, the market is likely to gain advantage of increased research and development activities in the region.

is leading region in the viscosupplementation market. The region is expected maintain its dominant position in the upcoming period on the back of growing demand for minimally invasive surgery, presence of sturdy healthcare infrastructure, and increased cases of osteoarthritis in the region. Apart from this, the market is likely to gain advantage of increased research and development activities in the region. To sustain in the intense competitive landscape of the market, players are utilizing various strategic moves. Thus, many enterprises are seen engaged in the mergers and acquisitions, partnerships, and collaboration activities. Moving forward, several industry leaders are increasing concentration toward strengthening their product portfolio by participating in the new product launch activities. All these activities are projected to offer fertile ground for the rapid expansion of the global viscosupplementation market in the years to follow.

TMR's Latest News Publication - https://www.medgadget.com/2021/06/surgical-kits-market-increase-in-number-of-cataract-surgeries-and-related-procedures-propels-the-market-growth.html

Viscosupplementation Market: Well-Established Participants

The report profiles key participants working in the viscosupplementation market. Thus, the segment sheds light on many crucial factors such as financial overview, product portfolio, business strategies, recent developments, company overview, and business segments of all players in this market.

The list of key players in this market includes following names:

Anika Therapeutics, Inc.

Sanofi

Zimmer Biomet

Seikagaku Corporation

Ferring B.V.

Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd,

Bioventus, Inc.

LG Chem

Explore Transparency Market Research's award-winning coverage of the global Healthcare Industry:

Osteoarthritis Drugs Market: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/osteoarthritis-drugs-market.html

https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/osteoarthritis-drugs-market.html Knee Implant Market: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/us-knee-implant-market.html

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Our reports are single-point solutions for businesses to grow, evolve, and mature. Our real-time data collection methods along with ability to track more than one million high growth niche products are aligned with your aims. The detailed and proprietary statistical models used by our analysts offer insights for making right decision in the shortest span of time. For organizations that require specific but comprehensive information we offer customized solutions through adhoc reports. These requests are delivered with the perfect combination of right sense of fact-oriented problem solving methodologies and leveraging existing data repositories.

TMR believes that unison of solutions for clients-specific problems with right methodology of research is the key to help enterprises reach right decision."

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2021 marks Proteintech's 20th anniversary with 100,000th citation of their products

Proteintech Group, a leading manufacturer of antibodies and related products, is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its founding. To celebrate the achievements and challenges of the past years, Proteintech will host special events throughout the year with its customers, collaborators, and employees while still looking forward to future opportunities.

"Over the years we have witnessed countless discoveries and we couldn't be prouder of everything our customers have achieved. We want to thank all of our customer for their tireless efforts and sacrifices to advance scientific discovery," Dr. Jason Li, CEO

Proteintech Group was founded in early 2001 by a small group of scientists including its current CEO, Dr. Jason Li. The founders set out with a vision to produce an antibody for every single protein coded in the human genome. Comprehensive coverage of all human gene products is a massive undertaking, but critical because it is difficult for researchers to predict which targets may be required to further scientific studies. With antibodies for two-thirds of the human genome, Proteintech has the largest self-manufactured target coverage of all antibody companies.

100,000 success stories to date

"While we are proud of our progress as a company over the past couple decades, we are most proud of what our technology has done in the hands of scientists. We've seen more than 100,000 citations of our products since our company establishment," said Dr. Li. "We are excited about the future and how we can continue to help scientists apply the new technology we are working on to help people."

Company expansion and cGMP facility

As Proteintech has continued to expand their own antibody, protein and ELISA kit product lines, they have welcomed other producers of high-quality tool providers for scientists. In April 2018, Proteintech acquired Humanzyme, a Chicago-based manufacturer of human cell-expressed proteins, and shortly thereafter opened their cGMP facility in 2019. Using a proprietary HEK293 cell expression technology, HumanKine proteins are authentic human proteins with human glycosylation providing an optimized biological activity. Furthermore, they can be easily transferred from research grade, preclinical and process development to GMP grade for manufacturing in clinical trials and for commercial products.

In 2020, Proteintech acquired ChromoTek, a Munich-based manufacturer of camelid, single-domain antibodies, also known as nanobodies. These high-performance recombinant reagents will help Proteintech address opportunities and challenges in single cell analysis, super resolution imaging, and multiplex assays.

Over the last 20 years, Proteintech has grown in their global reach. With locations in the US, UK, Germany, Singapore, China and Japan, Proteintech is able to provide fast delivery around the world. Now with over 300 employees worldwide, Proteintech is setting their sights on continuing to support the future of science with quality, transparency, and customer needs in mind.

For more information on Proteintech and their products please visit ptglab.com. For the event page please visit ptglab.com/news/company-news/celebrating-our-20th-anniversary.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005887/en/

Contacts:

Thompson Conard Communications

Jane Thompson

jane@thompsonconard.com

1-415-710-1675
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Bitcoin crossed a strong support level of $40000 late Monday, riding on the quick boost it received the day before from a positive Elon Musk tweet. The most popular cryptocurrency's price rose to more than $39,400 in the early hours of Monday, showing a 12.5 percent improvement. And the price crossed $40000 later in the day, and went as high as $40949. However, it is trading at $39,968 at the time of writing this report, losing its value by about $1000 over the past 24-hours. The price of Bitcoin, which has been comparatively dormant since the recent set backs, surged by nearly 15 percent after Tesla CEO Elon Musk tweeted Sunday that the electric car company would start accepting the cryptocurrency again once at least half of it can be mined using clean energy. It appeared to be a salvaging act by the business magnate, whose damaging comment on the same social media platform a month ago sent the prices plunging by more than 17 percent. Elon Musk said on Twitter on May 12 that his car company will not accept the cryptocurrency while selling Tesla vehicles, citing environmental concerns. Tesla had bought $1.5 billion worth of Bitcoin in February. The next month, environmentalists and investors criticized the car manufacturing company's offer to its potential customers that it would accept payments in cryptocurrency. He said at that time Tesla would not sell its Bitcoin holdings, but use it for transactions as soon as mining transitions to more sustainable energy sources. Bitcoin is mined using high-capacity computers that consume a lot of power, generated with fossil fuels. Musk's tweet triggered a significant fall in Bitcoin price from around $54,000 to $46,290 in just two hours, marking Bitcoin's lowest price in weeks. In a confidence-boosting statement on Twitter Sunday afternoon, Musk wrote, 'When there's confirmation of reasonable (~50%) clean energy usage by miners with positive future trend, Tesla will resume allowing Bitcoin transactions'. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
ALL AGENDA ITEMS ADOPTED WITH THE REQUIRED MAJORITY

DR CONSTANZE ULMER-EILFORT ELECTED AS NEW MEMBER OF THE SUPERVISORY BOARD

PROF. DR WOLFGANG PLISCHKE RESIGNS FROM HIS OFFICE AS CHAIRMAN OF THE SUPERVISORY BOARD

HAMBURG, GERMANY / ACCESSWIRE / June 15, 2021 / Evotec SE (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: EVT, MDAX/TecDAX, ISIN: DE0005664809) today announced that its shareholders approved all proposals the Company's Management put to vote at the Company's virtual Annual General Meeting 2021 with the required majority. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year's Annual General Meeting again was held as a purely virtual event.

First, CEO Dr. Werner Lanthaler and CFO Enno Spillner presented Evotec SE's new strategic direction - the "Action Plan 2025" - as well as the business development and highlights of the fiscal year 2020.

All actions of the Management Board and the Supervisory Board were approved by the Annual General Meeting 2021 for the fiscal year 2020. Furthermore, the shareholders confirmed the appointment of Ernst & Young GmbH Wirtschaftsprufungsgesellschaft, Hamburg, as auditors for the fiscal year 2021.

The Annual General Meeting also elected a new member of the Supervisory Board: Effective immediately, Dr Constanze Ulmer-Eilfort will become a new member of the Supervisory Board of Evotec SE. Dr Constanze Ulmer-Eilfort has been a partner in the Munich office of the law firm Baker McKenzie for more than 20 years and has been a member of the Global Executive Committee for several years. She has long-term and extensive experience in advising high-tech, pharmaceutical and media companies on the protection and marketing of their intellectual property rights and on a wide range of agreements, including cooperation and licensing agreements, R&D agreements and agreements with academic institutions.

The long-standing Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Prof. Dr Wolfgang Plischke, resigned from his office for personal reasons. As confirmed by the Supervisory Board today following the Annual General Meeting, the former vice chairperson Prof. Dr Iris Low-Friedrich will initially become the new Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board.

"I would like to express my sincere thanks, also on behalf of my colleagues on the Evotec Management Board, to our long-standing Supervisory Board Chairman Prof. Dr Wolfgang Plischke for the great cooperation over the last seven years. We always appreciated his very qualified advice and constructive feedback. At the same time, I would like to warmly welcome Dr Ulmer-Eilfort to the Supervisory Board of Evotec SE. I look forward to working with her," said Dr Werner Lanthaler, Chief Executive Officer of Evotec.

Prof. Dr Wolfgang Plischke, former Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Evotec SE, said: "Due to personal reasons I have made the decision to resign from my office in the Supervisory Board of Evotec SE, effective as of the end of the ordinary Annual General Meeting 2021. Over the past seven years, I have thoroughly enjoyed working together with my colleagues in the Supervisory Board and also the close and without exception constructive collaboration with Evotec's entire Management Board. I am particularly glad to be initially succeeded in my office by Prof. Dr Iris Low-Friedrich, a colleague who has served in Evotec's Supervisory Board for as long as I have and who knows the Company extremely well. Additionally, with the appointment of Dr Constanze Ulmer-Eilfort, Evotec's Supervisory Board gains a proven expert in the protection of intellectual property - which is an eminently important area for the Company. I look forward to following Evotec's continued successful development with great interest in the future".

Likewise, the shareholders approved with the required majority the cancellation of the Authorised Capital 2017 and the creation of a new authorised capital (Authorised Capital 2021) in the amount of 20% of the Company's share capital (now 10% due to the legally binding voluntary self-restriction) with the possibility to exclude shareholders' subscription rights.

The new remuneration systems of the Management Board and the Supervisory Board were also approved.

In total, 65.17% of the registered share capital was present at the virtual Annual General Meeting 2021.

More information on the Company's Annual General Meeting including the voting results on all agenda items can be found on the Company's website at https://www.evotec.com/en/invest/annual-general-meeting.

ABOUT EVOTEC SE

Evotec is a life science company with a unique business model that delivers on its mission to discover and develop highly effective therapeutics and make them available to the patients. The Company's multimodality platform comprises a unique combination of innovative technologies, data and science for the discovery, development, and production of first-in-class and best-in-class pharmaceutical products. Evotec leverages this "Data-driven R&D Autobahn to Cures" for proprietary projects and within a network of partners including all Top 20 Pharma and over 800 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, as well as other healthcare stakeholders. Evotec has strategic activities in a broad range of currently underserved therapeutic areas, including e.g. neurology, oncology, as well as metabolic and infectious diseases. Within these areas of expertise, Evotec aims to create the world-leading co-owned pipeline for innovative therapeutics and has to-date established a portfolio of more than 200 proprietary and co-owned R&D projects from early discovery to clinical development. Evotec operates globally with more than 3,700 highly qualified people. The Company's 14 sites offer highly synergistic technologies and services and operate as complementary clusters of excellence. For additional information please go to www.evotec.com and follow us on Twitter @Evotec and LinkedIn

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Information set forth in this press release contains forward-looking statements, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements contained herein represent the judgement of Evotec as of the date of this press release. Such forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, and which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in these forward-looking statements. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any such statements to reflect any change in our expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

IR Contact Evotec SE:

Volker Braun, SVP Head of Global Investor Relations & ESG, Phone: +49.(0)40.56081-775, volker.braun@evotec.com

SOURCE: Evotec AG
Broadening of the Pediatric offer with the availability of REFLECT , GLOBUS MEDICAL's solution for deformity

, GLOBUS MEDICAL's solution for deformity Exclusive distribution agreement to market the solution in France to 15 university centers specialized in pediatric spine surgery

Regulatory News:

IMPLANET (Paris:ALIMP) (Euronext Growth: ALIMP, FR0013470168, eligible for PEA-PME equity savings plans), a medical technology company specialized in vertebral and knee-surgery implants, today announced an exclusive agreement for the distribution of GLOBUS MEDICAL's REFLECT Scoliosis Correction System to 15 French university centers specialized in pediatric spine surgery.

GLOBUS MEDICAL, a US based company and leading player in musculoskeletal solutions, generated revenues of $789 million in 2020. The REFLECT solution is a pediatric scoliosis correction system that offers a comprehensive range of implants and instruments for fusionless deformity correction.

This system enables the convex side of the deformity to be stabilized with the help of screws and a cord, the modulated growth of the concave side gradually correcting the deformity and avoiding, in over 1 in 2 cases, the need for vertebral fusion in late adolescence.

The first surgical procedures are scheduled for June 2021.

The solution will be presented during the upcoming SFCR (Societe Francaise de Chirurgie Rachidienne, the French spine surgery society) Annual Congress from June 17 to 19, 2021.

Ludovic Lastennet, Implanet's CEO, stated: "This partnership further strengthens the credibility of our platform and the work of our teams. This distribution agreement highlights our know-how and our commercial footprint in France from which Globus, a global Spine leader, will henceforth be able to benefit. Allied with Globus, Implanet is more than ever a player in the field of pediatric spine deformity surgery. We have chosen to distribute their REFLECT solution, the most comprehensive on the market. We are very proud to have been chosen by Globus to represent them in France

Upcoming financial events:

H1 2021 revenue, July 6, 2021 after market

H1 2021 results, September 21, 2021 after market

About Implanet

Founded in 2007, Implanet is a medical technology company that manufactures high-quality implants for orthopedic surgery. Its activity revolves around two product ranges, the latest generation JAZZ implant, designed to improve the treatment of spinal pathologies requiring vertebral fusion surgery, and the MADISON implant designed for first-line prosthetic knee surgery. Implanet's tried-and-tested orthopedic platform is based on product traceability. Protected by four families of international patents, JAZZ and MADISON have obtained 510(k) regulatory clearance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States, the CE mark as well as the ANVISA authorization in Brazil. Implanet employs 29 staff and recorded 2020 sales of 6.0 million. For further information, please visit www.implanet.com. Based near Bordeaux in France, Implanet established a US subsidiary in Boston in 2013. Implanet is listed on Euronext Growth market in Paris.

The Company would like to remind that the table for monitoring the equity line (OCA, OCAPI, BSA) and the number of shares outstanding, is available on its website: http://www.implanet-invest.com/suivi-des-actions-80

This press release must not be released in the US

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005669/en/

Contacts:

IMPLANET

Ludovic Lastennet, CEO

David Dieumegard, CFO

Tel.: +33 (0)5 57 99 55 55

investors@Implanet.com

NewCap

Investor Relations

Mathilde Bohin

Nicolas Fossiez

Tel.: +33 (0)1 44 71 94 94

Implanet@newcap.eu

NewCap

Media Relations

Nicolas Merigeau

Tel.: +33 (0)1 44 71 94 94

Implanet@newcap.eu
Regulatory News:

AKKA Technologies (Paris:AKA) (BSE:AKA) (ISIN:FR0004180537), a European leader in engineering consulting and R&D services is proud to collaborate with Futura Gaia, an innovative French start-up which designs and develops indoor vertical farms combining agronomy precision and cutting-edge technology for the agricultural world. Vertical farming aims to compensate for the loss of surface area, due to the continued population growth and expansion of cities, by stacking cylinders to increase the area produced in a controlled environment.

Since the end of 2019 AKKA has leveraged its cross-sectorial expertise in the field of automotive and aeronautics to accompany Futura Gaia in the robotization of the cultivation process. One example is the development of a tailored automated guided vehicle (AGV) solution to move the systems between the production racks and the harvesting area. This AGV helps performing the extraction and insertion of containers GiGrow machines in their rack by a robotic arm, at a height of six meters and a total payload above 800 kilograms.

More recently, AKKA contributed to the successful set-up of the first prototype farm, also known as pilot pre-industrialization farm, in February 2021 in Tarascon where the first 12 cultural systems had been emplaced. By July 2021, the farm will operate 48 cultural systems. The creation of this first prototype farm validates the ability of future large-scale production farms to commit to quality, prices and volumes.

Jean-Franck Ricci, AKKA's Group Managing Director in charge of business development and sales, commented: "We are extremely pleased to work alongside Futura Gaia on these innovative vertical agricultural solutions. For more than 18 months our expertise in robotics and automatics in the aeronautics and automotive field have been instrumental in the set-up technical solutions. This project demonstrates AKKA's ability to leverage cross-sectorial knowledge and expertise and to propose transversal solutions, injecting an innovational drive to any business."

"It's a fantastic opportunity for Futura Gaia to partner with a worldwide leader like AKKA. The last 18th months where crucial for us with the design and setup of our first farm. Thanks to AKKA robotic expertise we had design, select and start the robotization in less than a year with 3 lockdowns. Now, we have our first robot active and totally autonomous in our farm in the south of France." said Pascal Thomas, President and CEO of Futura Gaia Technologies.

ABOUT AKKA

AKKA is a European leader in engineering consulting and R&D services. Our comprehensive portfolio of digital solutions combined with our expertise in engineering, uniquely positions us to support our clients by leveraging the power of connected data to accelerate innovation and drive the future of smart industry. AKKA accompanies leading industry players across a wide range of sectors throughout the life cycle of their products with cutting edge digital technologies (AI, ADAS, IoT, Big Data, robotics, embedded computing, machine learning, etc.) to help them rethink their products and business processes. Founded in 1984, AKKA has a strong entrepreneurial culture and a wide global footprint. Our 21,000 employees around the world are all passionate about technology and share the AKKA values of respect, courage and ambition. The Group recorded revenues of 1.5 billion in 2020. AKKA Technologies (AKA) is listed on Euronext Paris and Brussels segment B ISIN code: FR0004180537.

For more information, please visit: https://www.akka-technologies.com/

Follow us on: https://twitter.com/AKKA_Tech

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005830/en/

Contacts:

Stephanie Bia

Group Communications Investor Relations Director

Tel: +33(0)6 47 85 98 78

stephanie.bia@akka.eu
LONDON, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --

Lawrence A. Rosen (Chairman of the Supervisory Board)

Elizabeth E. Tallett (Supervisory Board Director)

Dr. Metin Colpan (Supervisory Board Director)

Stephane Bancel (Supervisory Board Director)

Prof. Dr. Ross Levine (Supervisory Board Director)

Prof. Dr. Elaine Mardis (Supervisory Board Director)

Thomas Ebeling (Supervisory Board Director)

Dr. Toralf Haag (Supervisory Board Director)

Hulsterweg 82, 5912 PL Venlo, Netherlands

Dear Members of the Supervisory Board,

Davidson Kempner European Partners, LLP's ("DKP") funds remain a significant shareholder in Qiagen (the "Company") and are engaged with the Company, the Executive Management, the Supervisory Board as well as many industry leaders and advisors. Post the lapsed deal, DKP worked with consultants and advisers to help lay out a series of operational and strategic objectives that we believe would put the Company on a path to success. These objectives were communicated to Lawrence Rosen. A critical issue that we identified was the need for a new Chairman to improve corporate governance and rebuild trust with stakeholders.

We are pleased with the progress on the operational side and the Executive Management team, led by Thierry Bernard and Roland Sackers, has performed strongly in executing on these key objectives. In particular, setting and meeting expectations, driving growth in new products and increasing transparency through improved financial reporting. Despite the Executive Management team performing strongly and successfully meeting these objectives, the Company's share price continues to underperform and trades at a discount to its historic P/E trading range and that of its peers. We believe this to be a function of historic corporate governance issues and a discount for the level of trust and confidence in the effectiveness of the Supervisory Board.

Following the failed Thermo Fisher Scientific sales process in August 2020, we expressed to Mr. Rosen our strong belief that in order for the Company to realise its potential and address historic issues with regards to the effectiveness of the Supervisory Board, there was a need to appoint a new external Chairman. A new Chairman, with a strong & pedigreed executive healthcare background is necessary to guide the Company in the innovative, fast changing and dynamic healthcare industry it competes in. We had expressed to Mr. Rosen and the Board that this was necessary given Mr. Rosen's long tenure on the Board (8 years), his complete lack of executive healthcare experience and his intimate involvement in the series of multi-year governance shortcomings culminating in the failed sales process. We had hoped and expected Mr. Rosen to act as an interim Chairman and assist in the process of finding a suitable appointment. Unfortunately, Mr. Rosen chose to pursue a different approach, and retained his position as Chairman while turning down highly qualified candidates for the Chairman role. While we welcome the appointment of the two additional NEDs, who we believe are strong additions to the Supervisory Board, this does not go far enough in addressing the key governance concerns. Elizabeth E. Tallett has been on the Board for 10 years, was likewise intimately involved in the same multi-year governance shortcomings, has many other commitments and lastly, in her role on the Nomination Committee should not have allowed Mr. Rosen to unduly influence the search for a Chairman.

We believe appointing a new external Chairman with a strong executive healthcare background would go a long way in rebuilding trust and confidence, which will allow the Executive Management team's strong execution and improved performance and prospects to be properly reflected in the Company's valuation.

DKP intends to vote against the reappointment of Lawrence Rosen (Chairman) and Elizabeth E. Talett (Supervisory Board Director) at the upcoming Annual General Meeting of Shareholders ("AGM"). We understand other shareholders share our concerns and we encourage all shareholders to exercise their right and vote against Lawrence Rosen and Elizabeth E. Tallett.

cc: Risto Koivula (Partner)

For media enquiries:

Greenbrook

Andrew Honnor, Rob White, Fanni Bodri

Email: davidsonkempner@greenbrookpr.com

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7952-2000
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 15, 2021) - Buffalo Coal Corp. (TSXV: BUF) ("Buffalo Coal Corp." or "Buffalo" or "the Group" or "the Company") is pleased to announce that, at the Company's annual and special meeting of shareholders held on Monday, 14 June 2021 (the "Meeting"), all resolutions proposed, as set out in the Company's management information circular dated 17 May 2021, were duly passed by the shareholders of the Company (the "Shareholders").

The resolutions approved by the Shareholders are as follows:

Shareholders re-elected Craig Wiggill, Rory Taylor and Edward Scholtz as directors of the Company for the ensuing financial year;

McGovern Hurley LLP was re-appointed as the Company's auditor for the ensuing financial year; and

the Company's amended and restated stock option plan was also re-approved.

The Company's board of directors and management would like to thank the Shareholders for their support and confidence.

About Buffalo

Buffalo is a coal producer in South Africa. It holds a majority interest in two operating mines through its 100% interest in Buffalo Coal Dundee, a South African company which has a 70% interest in Zinoju. Zinoju holds a 100% interest in the Magdalena bituminous mine and the Aviemore anthracite mine in South Africa. Buffalo Coal has an experienced coal-focused management team.

The Company has its primary listing on the TSX Venture Exchange and has a secondary listing on the Alternative Exchange, operated by the JSE Limited.

Neither the Toronto Venture Exchange, nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the exchange), accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Emma Oosthuizen

Chief Executive Officer

Email: Emma.Oosthuizen@buffalocoal.co.za

Registered office:

Greytown Road, Industrial Area

Dundee

Kwazulu-Natal

3000

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/87632
BEIJING, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2021 International Conference on Industrial Internet, themed "New Era, New Situation, New Journey: Industrial Internet Enables Industrial Chain Modernization", opened on June 15.

The event consisted of a videoconference and an academicians' forum. The attendees discussed a series of issues concerning the role of industrial Internet in the development of the country's "dual circulation" economic development pattern, and reached a consensus on supporting digital governance and digitalization of businesses and promoting high-level development of the manufacturing industry.

At the event, the INDICS2.0 was unveiled.

INDICS 2.0 is an upgrade of INDICS, a leading industrial Internet platform in China. It is also a critical support for the "digital aerospace" strategy of China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation Limited (CASIC), and the latest practice of the "NEW PAGE" new infrastructure strategy of CASICloud, an Internet technology company invested by CASIC and its affiliates. INDICS is leading the industrial Internet sector into a new stage and playing a vital role in bolstering industrial chain modernization and high-level industrial development.

INDICS 2.0 has five features: new-generation industrial operation system, new-generation platform system, new-generation systems engineering engine, new-generation cloud-based services, and new business support capacity.

It is reported that the platform has provided more than 2,000 intelligent projects and services and formed 84 digital solutions for 16 segments in the sectors of aerospace, electronics, machinery and automobiles; industrial Internet support centers have been set up in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, Yangtze River Delta, Pearl River Delta, southwestern, northeastern regions; and cooperation with Tsinghua University, Tongji University, University of Science and Technology Beijing and other higher education institutions have been carried out to build practice-based training rooms and bases; the Industrial Internet Convergence Platform for Central SOEs built and operated by CASIC and a number of central state-owned enterprises (SOEs) has gathered the resources of 15 SOEs' platforms, more than 960 industrial apps, 164 digitalization solutions and more than 7,500 science and technology innovation achievements.

At the academicians' forum in Beijing, Wei Yiyin, Sun Youxian, Li Bohu, Gui Weihua, Zheng Weimin, Su Donglin and Zhang Ping, academicians from the Chinese Academy of Engineering, discussed paths of using industrial Internet technology to drive the industrial development in the country.

The academicians brainstormed ways of relying on industrial Internet to facilitate collaboration within industry chains, supporting digital governance and helping enterprises realize digitalization, and discussed issues related to integration of 5G and industrial Internet technology and industrial Internet security.

They also offered suggestions for the development of the industrial Internet industry, believing that it should revolve around the country's major strategic needs to help enhance resource concentration, promote technology application and drive improvement of the independent controllability of industrial and supply chains to greatly propel a high-level development of the country's manufacturing industry.

Contact: Chen Shuo

Tel: 008610-81135810, 0086-13601110701

E-mail: chenshuo@casicloud.cn

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1533893/CASICloud.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1533894/CASICloud.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1533892/CASICloud_Logo.jpg
DZ BANK AG (contact: Ralph Ockert; telephone: +49 69 7447 7051) hereby

announces, as Stabilisation Coordinator, that the Stabilising Managers named

below may stabilise the offer of the following securities in accordance with

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052 under the Market Abuse

Regulation (EU Regulation 596/2014).

The security to be stabilised: Issuer: European Union Guarantor (if any): None Aggregate nominal amount: 20bn Description: fixed rate, due 04. July 2031 Offer price: 99.141% Other offer terms: payment 22.06.2021, denoms 1k/1k, soft bullet Stabilisation:

DZ BANK AG Stabilisation Coordinator:

Stabilising Managers:







DZ BANK AG

Bca. Intesa

BNP Paribas

HSBC

Morgan Stanley Stabilisation period expected to start on: 15th June 2021 Stabilisation period expected to end on: no later than 30 days after the proposed issue date of the securities Existence, maximum size and conditions of use of over-allotment facility. The Stabilising Managers may over-allot the securities to the extent permitted in accordance with applicable law. Stabilisation trading venue: Luxembourg Stock Exchange (Regulated Market)





In connection with the offer of the above securities, the Stabilisation Manager(s) may over-allot the securities or effect transactions with a view to supporting the market price of the securities at a level higher than that which might otherwise prevail. However, there is no assurance that the Stabilisation Manager(s) will take any stabilisation action and any stabilisation action, if begun, may be ended at any time. Any stabilisation action or over-allotment shall be conducted in accordance with all applicable laws and rules.

This announcement is for information purposes only and does not constitute an invitation or offer to underwrite, subscribe for or otherwise acquire or dispose of any securities of the Issuer in any jurisdiction.

In addition, if and to the extent that this announcement is communicated in, or the offer of the securities to which it relates is made in, any EEA Member State that has implemented Directive 2003/71/EC, as amended (together with any applicable implementing measures in any Member State, the "Prospectus Directive") before the publication of a prospectus in relation to the securities which has been approved by the competent authority in that Member State in accordance with the Prospectus Directive (or which has been approved by a competent authority in another Member State and notified to the competent authority in that Member State in accordance with the Prospectus Directive), this announcement and the offer are only addressed to and directed at persons in that Member State who are qualified investors within the meaning of the Prospectus Directive (or who are other persons to whom the offer may lawfully be addressed) and must not be acted on or relied on by other persons in that Member State.
TEL AVIV, Israel, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The FOX group announces today the signature of an agreement between HEARTLAND and TERMINAL X. Upon the completion of the public offering, HEARTLAND will hold around 10.1% of TERMINAL X's equity.

HEARTLAND A/S is the investment arm of Danish businessman, Mr. Anders Holch Povlsen, and owner of significant holdings in a variety of industries, including fashion brands and leading fashion e-commerce platforms such as the British fashion site ASOS and the German fashion sites Zalando and About You.

The announcement about the partnership came while TERMINAL X announced that it considered an IPO in the Tel Aviv stock exchange. In the investor presentation released to the public, the company presented exceptional growth over the past three years, as well as impressive operational data and growth engines for the future.

TERMINAL X, is a multi-brand online company, owned by the FOX group, and became, in just three years, the Israeli leading site in its field. The site offers the Israeli audience more than 160 Leading international brands such as Nike, Mango, American Eagle, as well as leading local brands and a private label of TERMINAL X. TERMINAL X was the first site in Israel to offer one business day delivery, a unique customer experience through advanced technological and logistical capabilities, a fully automated robotic warehouse and a deep understanding in the field of fashion.

The FOX group is the leading and biggest retail group in Israel. The group holds a big and varied portfolio of 20 international and domestic brands, among them, Nike, Foot Locker, Mango, American Eagle, Billabong and more, side by side with its home brands such as FOX, FOX Home, Laline, Shilav and more. The group operates around 800 stores in Israel and in the world and employs 8,500 employees. The company has been listed in the stock exchange since 2002 and recently completed public offering and listing the shares of its subsidiary Retailors that operates the Nike, Foot Locker and Dream Sport networks. The listing was made simultaneously with the completion of the assignment of 10% of Retailors' equity to Foot Locker's Global company, a deal that reflects a huge faith expression in the Israeli group. The FOX group operates in several countries in Europe and Canada, in cooperation with Nike and Foot Locker and has a significant expansion plan for the next years.

Anders Holch Povlsen: "We are very impressed by TERMINAL X. The company features remarkable capabilities with high sales growth together with a strong increase in business performance which motivated me to make this partnership. I strongly believe in the company, its capabilities and its growth potential."

Harel Wizel, owner and CEO of the FOX group: "I am glad about this strategic partnership with HEARTLAND. The expression of faith, when coming from this particular partner, emphasizes TERMINAL X's well deserved position next to the biggest global players and attests to its potential, power and capabilities, more than any grade or number."

Nir Horovitz, CEO of TERMINAL X: "The partnership with HEARTLAND will help TERMINAL X both in the domestic market, and in expanding to more countries. TERMINAL X provides its customers with a full buying experience in the highest international standards as a result of which we became the leading, most varied and biggest platform in Israel. HEARTLAND has a proven record in identifying e-commerce players prior to their becoming global leaders and this partnership we are striking today is a strategic meaningful step towards the future of the company and its continued growth."
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Crude oil prices rose sharply on Tuesday, with traders betting on hopes demand for oil will see a significant increase in the second of this year amid signs of a strong economic rebound from the pandemic. Expectations that the official data, due Wednesday morning, will reveal another drop in weekly crude inventories contributed as well to oil's uptick. Analysts expect crude stockpiles may have dropped by about 3 million barrels last week. A slowdown in talks between Iran and global powers in reviving a 2015 nuclear deal also supported oil prices. Markets are also looking ahead to the Federal Reserve's monetary policy announcement, due Wednesday afternoon. West Texas Intermediate Crude oil futures for July ended up by $1.24 or about 1.8% at $72.12 a barrel, the highest settlement in over two-and-a-half years. Brent crude futures were gaining $1.25 or 1.7% at $74.11 a barrel a little while ago. Traders now await weekly crude oil reports from the American Petroleum Institute (API) and Energy Information Administration (EIA). While the API's report is due later today, the EIA is scheduled to release its data Wednesday morning. Last Friday, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said in a report that it expects global oil demand to return to pre-pandemic levels late next year. World consumption will once again surpass 100 million barrels a day in the second half of 2022 as developed economies bring the virus under control, the agency said and called on the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to 'open the taps to keep the world oil markets adequately supplied.' Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.


SEATTLE (dpa-AFX) - MacKenzie Scott, the ex-wife of Amazon. Inc (AMZN) CEO Jeff Bezos has donated $2.7 billion to 286 'high-impact organizations' as per her blog post on Tuesday. Including this, Scott has donated a total of $8.5 billion since July 2020.



In her post on Medium titled, Seeding by Ceding, Scott started with bashing the wealth gap between the rich and poor across the globe. Scott said, 'Me, Dan, a constellation of researchers and administrators and advisors - we are all attempting to give away a fortune that was enabled by systems in need of change. In this effort, we are governed by a humbling belief that it would be better if disproportionate wealth were not concentrated in a small number of hands and that the solutions are best designed and implemented by others.'



The donation was segmented targeting multiple 'historically underfunded and overlooked' areas both geographically and in the socio-economic setting. According to her post, the higher education institutions operating in the under-deserved communities, ethnic and religious minorities, and Arts and cultural institutions were the chief focus in their filtration process. The primary focus was given to groups that were working locally, in a racially and sexually diverse ecosystem.



Post her tumultuous divorce with Bezos, Scott was left with 4% in shares in Amazon as she became one of the richest women in the world with a net worth of $59 billion. In 2019, she signed up for the Giving Pledge program to give away half of her wealth to charity. The program, started by Warren Buffet, Bill Gates, and his ex-wife Melinda Gates, encourages the ultra-rich to give away a fraction of their wealth to society. Micael Bloomberg, Bill Ackman are among the other big guns who have signed the pledge.



Since July 2020, Scott has donated $1.7 billion in historically African-American institutions and groups while in December 2020, she donated another $4.2 billion to 384 groups. Scott's post reflected sensitivity towards the non-profit organizations that work towards the betterment of society. In 2019, while signing the pledge, Scott had mentioned, 'My approach to philanthropy will continue to be thoughtful. It will take time and effort and care. But I won't wait. And I will keep at it until the safe is empty.'



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - June 15, 2021) - Shine Box Capital Corp. (TSXV: RENT.P) ("Shine Box") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a non-binding letter of intent ("LOI") dated June 9, 2021, to enter into a business combination (the "Transaction") with Interfield Solutions Ltd. ("Interfield"). It is expected that upon completion of the Transaction, the combined entity (the "Resulting Issuer") will meet the listing requirements for a Tier 2 Technology issuer under the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV").

General Information on Shine Box

Shine Box was incorporated under the Canada Business Corporations Act and has a head office in Calgary, Alberta. Shine Box is a "Capital Pool Company" under the policies of the TSXV and it is intended that the Transaction will constitute the "Qualifying Transaction" of Shine Box, as such term is defined in TSXV Policy 2.4 - Capital Pool Companies. The common shares of Shine Box ("Shine Box Common Shares") are currently listed on the TSXV and Shine Box is a reporting issuer in the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario.

Shine Box currently has 6,000,000 Shine Box Common Shares issued and outstanding and securities exercisable or exchangeable into 900,000 Shine Box Common Shares, being: (i) 600,000 directors and officers options exercisable at a price of $0.10 per Shine Box Common Share (the "Shine Box Stock Options") and (ii) 300,000 broker warrants exercisable at $0.10 per Shine Box Common Share (the "Shine Box Warrants"). It is expected that the directors and officers of Shine Box will exercise the 600,000 Shine Box Stock Options in connection with the Transaction.

General Information on Interfield

Interfield was incorporated under the International Business Companies Act, 1994 of the Republic of the Seychelles in June 2014 and is based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Interfield carries on a software development business that provides data management and marketplace solutions for numerous business segments worldwide including oil and gas, mining, agriculture, maritime, retail, banking and government institutions, for the purposes of increasing efficiency, improving overall performance and lowering costs through online and offline software applications. Interfield's primary commercial products include a data management tool that allows industrial companies to access real-time information and in-depth analytics of their operations. Interfield also operates "Equipment Hound", an online marketplace allowing industrial equipment suppliers and customers to transact. Interfield also offers web application development, mobile application development and enterprise development solutions.

As part of a pre-Transaction restructuring it is expected that Interfield will either continue from the Republic of the Seychelles into the Province of Alberta, or alternatively, complete a restructuring transaction that will result in an Alberta incorporated parent company being the transacting party to the Transaction, such structuring to be determined following input from legal and tax advisors.

Terms of the Transaction

The Transaction is expected to be completed by way of a share exchange, amalgamation or other form of business combination determined with input from the legal and tax advisors to each of Shine Box and Interfield, which will result in Interfield (or an Alberta incorporated parent entity) becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of Shine Box.

Upon the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set out in the definitive transaction agreement to be entered into by Shine Box and Interfield (the "Definitive Agreement"), the following, among other things, will be completed in connection with the Transaction:

the Shine Box Common Shares (which, for the purposed of the Transaction, have a deemed value of $0.25 per Shine Box Common Share on a pre-Consolidation basis) will be consolidated immediately prior to the completion of the Transaction (the "Consolidation"), which will result in the Shine Box Common Shares having a deemed value equal to the value of the common shares of Interfield ("Interfield Shares"), as determined by the pricing of the Private Placement (as defined below). It is currently anticipated that the pricing for the Private Placement will be $1.00, which would result in a Consolidation Ratio of one (1) post-consolidation Shine Box Share ("Post Consolidation Shine Box Share") for every four (4) pre-consolidation Shine Box Common Shares, provided that in no event shall the Consolidation ratio exceed one (1) post-consolidation Shine Box Share for every five (5) pre-consolidation Shine Box Common Shares; the holders of Interfield Shares will receive common shares of the Resulting Issuer (on a post-Consolidation basis) in exchange for their Interfield Shares on the basis of an exchange ratio establishing an agreed valuation of Shine Box of not less than $1,725,000 (the "Exchange Ratio"); all outstanding warrants of Interfield will be replaced with equivalent convertible or exchangeable securities of the Resulting Issuer entitling the holders thereof to acquire common shares of the Resulting Issuer in lieu of common shares of Interfield adjusted to reflect the Exchange Ratio, and otherwise bearing the same terms of the securities they replace; the management and board of directors of the Resulting Issuer will be determined by Interfield and announced in further press releases; and Shine Box will change its name to Interfield Solutions Ltd.

The Transaction constitutes an Arm's Length Transaction under the policies of the TSXV.

A more comprehensive news release will be issued by Shine Box disclosing details of the Transaction, including financial information respecting Interfield and details of insiders and proposed directors and officers of the Resulting Issuer, once an agreement has been finalized and certain conditions have been met, including:

approval of the Transaction by Shine Box's Board of Directors; satisfactory completion of due diligence; and execution of the Definitive Agreement.

Private Placement Financing

In connection with and as a condition to the Transaction, Interfield intends to complete an equity financing through a brokered private placement for minimum gross proceeds of $5,000,000 (the "Private Placement"). It is expected that the issue price per Interfield Share will be a minimum of $1.00, determined by Interfield in the context of the market and with advice from the agent engaged in respect of the Private Placement. The Interfield Shares will be sold to "accredited investors" and other exempt parties pursuant to exemptions from prospectus requirements under Canadian securities laws.

The Private Placement is intended to be completed prior to or concurrently with closing of the Transaction. The net proceeds of the Private Placement will be used to complete future acquisitions, working capital and general corporate purposes.

Listing

An application will be made to TSXV to list the Resulting Issuer Shares on TSXV subject to all applicable shareholder and regulatory approvals.

Conditions of the Transaction

Completion of the Transaction is subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including: (i) the satisfactory completion of due diligence by each of Shine Box and Interfield; (ii) receipt of all required approvals and consents relating to the Transaction, including without limitation all approvals of the shareholders of Shine Box and Interfield, as required by the TSXV and under applicable corporate or securities laws; (iii) completion of the Private Placement; and (iv) the TSXV's approval for listing the Resulting Issuer Shares.

Sponsorship of Transaction

Sponsorship of a qualifying transaction of a capital pool company is required by the TSXV unless exempt in accordance with the policies of the TSXV. Given the size and nature of the Private Placement, Shine Box will apply for an exemption from the sponsorship requirements pursuant to the policies of the TSXV, however, as Interfield will be subject to TSXV Exchange Policy 2.10 concerning Emerging Market Issuers an exemption may not be available.

Trading Halt

Trading of the securities of Shine Box will be halted until the completion of the Transaction.

Additional Information

If and when a Definitive Agreement is executed, Shine Box will issue a subsequent press release in accordance with the policies of the TSXV containing details of the Definitive Agreement and additional terms of the Transaction including information relating to sponsorship, summary financial information in respect of Interfield, and to the extent not contained in this press release, additional information with respect to the Private Placement, history of Interfield and the proposed directors, officers, and insiders of the Resulting Issuer upon completion of the Transaction.

For further information please contact:

Shine Box Capital Corp.

Dan Forigo

Phone: 403-796-5529

E-mail: danforigo1972@gmail.com

Interfield Solutions Ltd.

Suite 910 Yes Business Centre

Al Barsha 1, Dubai UEA

Harold Hemmerich

Phone: +971 04 551 6795

Email: halh@interfieldsolutions.com

Crae Garrett

Phone: 403-281-6399

E-mail: crae@interfieldsolutions.com

All information in this press release relating to Interfield is the sole responsibility of Interfield.

Cautionary Note

Completion of the transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, TSXV acceptance and if applicable pursuant to TSXV requirements, majority of the minority shareholder approval. Where applicable, the transaction cannot close until the required shareholder approval is obtained. There can be no assurance that the transaction will be completed as proposed or at all.

Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the management information circular or filing statement to be prepared in connection with the transaction, any information released or received with respect to the transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of a capital pool company should be considered highly speculative.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws relating to the proposal to complete the Transaction and associated transactions, including statements regarding the terms and conditions of the Transaction, the Private Placement, the use of proceeds of the Private Placement, and the proposed directors and officers of the Resulting Issuer. The information about Interfield contained in the press release has not been independently verified by Shine Box. Although Shine Box believes in light of the experience of its officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate that the expectations reflected in this forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because Shine Box can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Readers are cautioned to not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements depending on, among other things, the risks that the parties will not proceed with the Transaction, the Private Placement, the appointment of the proposed directors and officers of the Resulting Issuer and associated transactions, that the ultimate terms of the Transaction, the Private Placement, the appointment of the proposed directors and officers of the Resulting Issuer and associated transactions will differ from those that currently are contemplated, and that the Transaction, the Private Placement, the appointment of the proposed directors and officers of the Resulting Issuer and associated transactions will not be successfully completed for any reason (including the failure to obtain the required approvals or clearances from regulatory authorities). The terms and conditions of the Transaction may change based on Shine Box's due diligence (which is going to be limited as Shine Box intends largely to rely on the due diligence of other parties of the Transaction to contain its costs, among other things) and the receipt of tax, corporate and securities law advice for both Shine Box and Interfield. The statements in this press release are made as of the date of this release. Shine Box undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third-parties in respect of Shine Box, Interfield, their securities, or their respective financial or operating results (as applicable).

The TSX Venture Exchange Inc. has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Not for distribution to U.S. Newswire Services or for dissemination in the United States of America. Any failure to comply with this restriction may constitute a violation of U.S. Securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/87687
CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - Japan will on Wednesday see May figures for imports, exports and trade balance, highlighting a modest day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. Imports are predicted to jump 26.6 percent on year after rising 12.8 percent in April. Exports are called higher by an annual 51.3 percent after gaining 38.0 percent in the previous month. The trade deficit is pegged at 91.2 billion yen following the 255.3 billion yen surplus a month earlier. Japan also will see April numbers for core machine orders, with forecasts suggesting an increase of 2.7 percent on month and 8.0 percent on year. That follows the 3.7 percent monthly increase and the 2.0 percent yearly contraction in March. Australia will see May results for the leading economic index from Westpac; in April, the index was up 0.2 percent on month. New Zealand will release Q1 data for current account, with forecasts calling for a deficit of NZ$2.23 billion following the NZ$2.695 billion shortfall in the previous three months. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Accenture (NYSE: ACN) is to acquire Japanese DI Squares consulting capabilities for product lifecycle management (PLM) and application lifecycle management (ALM) systems integration.

The amount of the deal  still subject to customary closing conditions  was not disclosed.

The acquisition will expand Accentures engineering expertise for automotive and other manufacturing clients in Japan and other markets. Accenture will acquire DI Squares PLM and ALM-related know-how and client contracts as well as take on approximately 70 DI Square professionals. They will join Accentures Industry X group in Japan, which enables clients digitize their core operations including the design, development, manufacturing and servicing of smart connected products.



DI Squares capabilities for PLM and ALM solutions and advanced engineering include 3D computer-aided design (CAD), computer-aided manufacturing (CAM), modular design and model-based systems engineering (MBSE). The company is an implementation partner for PLM solutions from Dassault Systemes, whose solutions are adopted among Japanese manufacturers including automotive companies, which set particularly strict QCD (quality, cost and delivery) standards.

DI Squares capabilities will enable Accenture to build systems and solutions that can optimize and integrate clients engineering processes end-to-end, from conceptual design through to integration, operation and maintenance. The combination with Accentures artificial intelligence and Digital Twin expertise will help manufacturing clients become more productive and competitive. The two companies will also look to establish an ongoing alliance to streamline clients acquisition of software licenses and hardware as part of implementing their PLM and ALM solutions.

FinSMEs

15/06/2021




Alentis Therapeutics, a Basel, Switzerland biotech developing treatments for fibrotic diseases, raised USD67 (CHF60)m in Series B financing round.

The round was led by Morningside Venture Investments, joined by Jeito Capital and Series A investors BioMed Partners, BB Pureos Bioventures, Bpifrance through its InnoBio 2 fund, High-Tech Grunderfonds and Schroders Capital. In conjunction with the funding, Jason Dinges of Morningside and Rafaele Tordjman, founder and CEO of Jeito Capital, joined Alentis Board of Directors.

The company intends to use the funds for proof-of-concept clinical trials of its first in class, Claudin-1 targeting, anti-fibrotic molecules in advanced liver and kidney fibrosis, and support ongoing drug discovery programs targeting other fibrotic diseases and hepatobiliary cancers.

Founded in 2019 based on research in the laboratory of Prof. Thomas Baumert MD at the University of Strasbourg and the French National Institute of Health (Inserm) and led by Dr. Roberto Iacone, CEO, Alentis Therapeutics is a biotech company that focuses on developing new treatments for fibrotic diseases. The companys lead candidates are monoclonal antibodies that are highly selective for Claudin-1, a novel, previously unexploited target with a unique mechanism of action that plays a key role in the pathology of liver fibrosis and fibrosis-driven hepatobiliary cancers. It also has early discovery programs exploring the potential of Claudin-1 inhibition in the treatment of fibrosis of other tissues including the kidney and lung.

Alentis also has a subsidiary for R&D in Strasbourg, France.

FinSMEs

15/06/2021


CloudNine, a Houston, TX-based provider of eDiscovery automation software simplifying litigation, investigations, and audits, closed a major funding round of undisclosed amount.

The round was led by Crest Rock Partners. In conjunction with the deal, Steve Johnson and Jeff Carnes, partners and co-founders of Crest Rock, will join the CloudNine Board of Directors.

The company will use this capital to deliver new product offerings and increase its headcount by more than 50 percent over the next three years.

Founded in 2002 and led by Tony Caputo, CEO, CloudNine provides customers with cloud-based or on-premise based eDiscovery automation products to reduce the overall costs of eDiscovery. Law firms, government agencies, legal service providers and corporations consolidate all of their data collection, processing, and review requirements by leveraging the companys eDiscovery software.

FinSMEs

15/06/2021
IRL (In Real Life), a San Francisco, CA-based group messaging social network, raised $170M in Series C funding, achieving an over $1.17 Billion valuation.

The round, which brought IRLs total funding to more than $200M to-date, was led by SoftBank Vision Fund 2.

The company intends to use the funds to continue to grow its team and expand its user base internationally.

Led by Abraham Shafi, CEO and Co-Founder, IRL is a group messaging social network that brings people together through events and shared experiences. Since launching in 2019, the network now coordinates two million events per day. Users have spent over 300 million hours together through the app and clocked more than one billion messages sent.

IRL also announced the new Culture and Creator Fund, which will help finance local events and social activities for users in cities across the US, along with new expanded Group Messaging features, broadening its in-app experience to deepen everyones ability to connect with friends, family and discover new friends based on shared interests.

FinSMEs

15/06/2021
Ohza , a Cambridge, Mass.-based ready-to-drink cocktail brand known for premade mimosas, closed a round of funding worth just over $4m.

The round was led by CircleUp Growth Partners with participation from Branch Venture Group, Ruttenberg Gordon Investments, Riverside Ventures, individuals like Elliot Grainge, Founder of 10K Projects and existing investors such as Austin Rosen, Founder of Electric Feel Management.

The company intends to use the funds to expand operations and its business reach.

Founded in June 2019 by Ryan Ayotte, Ohza is a champagne cocktail company that uses sparkling wine and real juice to make products that have 130-140 calories per 12-ounce serving. Now available in four flavors in both can and keg formats, Ohza is available online in 42 states at ohzamimosas.com, as well as at 2,500+ retailers including Whole Foods, Hannaford, Wegmans, Total Wine & More, Market Basket, and many more independent retailers.

FinSMEs

15/06/2021
Rory OConnor, Founder and CEO, Scurri. Picture Andres Poveda

Scurri, a Wexford, Ireland-based eCommerce ordering, shipping and delivery process software company, raised 9M in funding.

The round, which brought the companys total funding to 15.3 million to date, was led by Gresham House Ventures, with participation from existing investors family offices represented by Millview advisory, Pa Nolan and others.



The company intends to use the funds to accelerate its growth in the UK market.

Led by CEO and Founder Rory OConnor, Scurri is a cloud-based software provider connecting and optimizing the eCommerce ordering, shipping, and delivery process. The platform also allows retailers to create accurate labels, track shipments from dispatch to delivery and provide analytics. Customers include eBay, Everything5pounds, Vision Direct, Gousto and many others.

The company currently employs 45 people, and now plans to triple their workforce to over 120 employees in the next two years.

FinSMEs

15/06/2021
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The U.S. Department of Justice announced that three Inland Empire women have pleaded guilty to federal criminal charges accusing them of using information belonging to other people -- including California state prison inmates -- to file for pandemic-related unemployment benefits, with each defendant causing at least $350,000 in losses.
MOBILE COUNTY, Ala. (WALA) -- Mobile County deputies arrested a man accused of dousing his girlfriend's home with gasoline and setting it on fire.

Investigators said Davey Trivett shoved his girlfriend to the ground during a fight early Sunday morning and she called 911. He took off before deputies arrived, but the sheriff's office said he returned hours later with a gas can.

According to investigators, he poured gas all over the home and lit a fire.

The girlfriend was able to run away and called 911. When firefighters arrived, the home was already engulfed in flames.

Trivett was arrested and charged with first-degree arson, domestic violence, harassment, and theft of property.
The news about a potential link between the Covid-19 vaccine and a cardiac ailment in young people may be striking fear in the hearts of some parents. But pediatric cardiologists have a message for these parents: Covid-19 should scare you more -- a whole lot more -- than the vaccine.
SPARTANBURG, SC (FOX Carolina)- At least one person is dead and three others are hurt after a shooting near Cleveland Park in Spartanburg on Thursday afternoon.
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Patient navigator John Masembe works with African American and African-descent cancer patients at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance as part of the Fred Hutch/University of Washington Cancer Consortium's efforts to improve cancer outcomes in Black populations.

It might start with your symptoms being misdiagnosed. Or dismissed entirely. You need to lose weight; thats why youre having back pain. That lumps nothing to worry about. Youre too young for breast cancer. Maybe the doctor  predominantly white; often male  wont touch you, even during a physical exam, when touch is standard of care. Maybe he stops listening the moment you mention youre in pain.

Stephanie Walker was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer de novo  stage 4 from the start  in 2015. Though shed worked in healthcare for decades, Walker said she didnt realize how differently Black patients like her were treated by providers until she moved to a different state, switched oncologists and started having breakthrough pain from her metastatic bone disease.

I was having a lot of discomfort and nobody could figure out why, said the 62-year-old patient advocate, who now lives in North Carolina. And this new oncologist decided I was drug seeking. I shouldnt be having pain, he told me. My scans were negative; my bloodwork was great. Maybe it was all in my head.

A former hospice nurse who taught and practiced nursing for 30 years, Walker was floored.

I felt like if he could say that to me, knowing Im an educated nurse, what was he saying to other Black women, she said. Women who happened to be poor, or illiterate, who didnt have the things I had  what was he saying to them?

Cancer can be a completely different experience for people who are Black. And their cancer outcomes clearly show its not a good one. Black and African American people in the U.S. have the highest cancer mortality and shortest survival rate of any racial or ethnic group. And its not because of genetics. Research shows its unequal treatment when it comes to accessing and receiving timely, high-quality cancer care.

Racial bias in cancer care has been with us a long time, as have calls for its demise. But how do you take down centuries of baked-in structural bias against Black patients? Health disparities researchers, providers and educators at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and its partners within the Fred Hutch/University of Washington Consortium are doing it in a number of ways.

They have to: Its killing people.
Cancer patient advocate Bridgette Hempstead regularly counsels people diagnosed with cancer through her nonprofit Cierra Sisters, many of whom use Medicaid insurance. "Theres a breakdown in the system with regard to Medicaid patients," she said. "Especially Black Medicaid patients. Theyre not treated the same."

Why no hospice care?

Its a significant finding, the researcher said, because it shows the patients goals for end of life may not have been met and raises questions as to the circumstances of their death.

A persons place of death is an essential component of high quality and respectful cancer care, Panattoni said. The real goal is to ensure that patients, if they are going to die, have goal-concordant end-of-life care that meets their values and beliefs.

One of her biggest concerns, she said, is that patients who died without hospice care may have died in pain.

When I think of hospice care, I think of pain management, she said. Thats what Im most concerned about. I hope their pain was adequately managed.

Why did these patients not have hospice care? Panattoni said the researchers dont have enough data to pinpoint specific reasons yet.

There may have been a difference in the availability of hospice care for commercially insured patients versus those with Medicaid, she said. Maybe it was harder for these patients to access hospice or maybe they preferred to die in their own home, because of their beliefs. Or they didnt want to engage with the health system at the end of their life.

Patients may have even been denied care.

We cant tell, she said. We can only tell what was successfully billed. We dont see denials or out-of-pocket costs if there were any.

A breakdown in the system

Fred Hutch research partner and patient advocate Bridgette Hempstead, founder of the cancer nonprofit Cierra Sisters, regularly works on behalf of cancer patients. She said Medicaid patients often receive a totally different kind of care.

These patients might be ignored by front desk people, she said. Or be released from a hospital before theyve healed, forcing them to seek help  and hospitalization  elsewhere.

One woman went to get medicine for her pain and they told her to take Tylenol, Hempstead said. She had stage 4 cancer. The medical community told her, We dont want you to get addicted to drugs, so take Tylenol. She was sent home and she died at home without hospice support.

Hempstead said she wasnt at all surprised by HICORs findings; shes heard, lived and witnessed many such cases.

Theres a breakdown in the system with regard to Medicaid patients, she said. Especially Black Medicaid patients. Theyre not treated the same. Its absolutely better in Washington than it is in other states, but its still flawed. Its not an equitable health care opportunity.

HICOR and its rigorous research provide a solid scientific base for the big policy lift necessary to make health care equitable.

We dont know why there were changes in the place of death but its really important to understand why this happened, Panattoni stressed. We need to understand the mechanisms driving these disparities, understand the reason for the shifts and separate out the short-term pandemic-related reasons.

Next steps, she said, might be to talk to the patients and the families and the hospice providers and hear what their concerns and hypotheses are.

Claims data gives you a high-level look at what happened, she said. We can see the end result of structurally racist mechanisms and processes in society when we compare differences between Medicaid and commercially insured patients, like in this study. The big challenge is going back upstream and identifying where those structurally racist policies and characteristics are impacting patients the most. its hard to know what creates the biggest barriers.

Claims data point to the issues, she said. It doesnt give you the personal stories.
He wrote that the sequences support other lines of evidence that SARS-CoV-2 was circulating in Wuhan before the December 2019 outbreak in a seafood market. They do not provide evidence either for or against either a natural animal origin for the virus or an accidental lab leak. More early sequences are probably out there, he wrote, and scientists should focus on identifying them and analyzing all available data to determine the origins of the pandemic.

On June 22, Bloom reported his discovery of SARS-CoV-2 sequences from early in the Wuhan outbreak that had been deleted from a National Institutes of Health database. In his non-peer-reviewed preprint and a complementary Twitter thread, he explained how he found and reconstructed 13 of these sequences and what he learned from his analysis of them.

As the pandemic increasingly comes under control in the U.S., Bloom and other scientists have begun focusing on understanding how the pandemic began. This spring, Bloom teamed up with other experts in his field to speak out publicly in support for a more thorough investigation. In a letter published in Science, Bloom and 17 other scientists argued that greater clarity about the origins of this pandemic is necessary and feasible to achieve. We must take hypotheses about both natural and laboratory spillovers seriously until we have sufficient data."

In a Q&A, we asked Bloom to explain the significance of understanding pandemic origins in the context of understanding viruses and preventing future outbreaks.

Why is it important to figure out how the COVID-19 pandemic started?

Bloom: By understanding the origins of SARS-CoV-2, we can be informed about how to best use the power of science to mitigate the risk of possible future viral outbreaks.

Currently, there is a lack of clear evidence about how the SARS-CoV-2 virus emerged. The deep ancestors of SARS-CoV-2 are coronaviruses from bats, but so far no bat virus has been identified that is closely enough related to SARS-CoV-2 to be the immediate ancestor. There are two major theories about how the bat ancestor viruses could have led to the emergence of the pandemic in Wuhan. One theory is that there was a natural zoonosis, with the virus jumping directly from a bat to a human, or passing from a bat to an intermediate animal host and then to a human. The other theory is that there was some sort of accident in one of the labs in Wuhan that was working with bat coronaviruses.

Both theories are plausible given the currently available evidence. I also believe as a scientist its important to clearly convey that there is scientific uncertainty  especially because this is a hot-button topic. The job of scientists like myself is to take a more objective and dispassionate approach, and be sure that the discussion is framed in terms of scientific facts, rather than the many strong opinions that some people have about this topic. And unfortunately, at this point, the facts are limited.

What do you think happened? Was it an accidental lab leak or natural emergence?

Bloom: Natural zoonosis is plausible because most pandemics start that way. For instance, four of the last five influenza pandemics started from natural zoonoses, while one (the 1977 influenza pandemic) was due to human error: either a misguided vaccine trial or a lab accident. In the case of coronaviruses, we know that in the past there have been other animal coronaviruses that have caused outbreaks in humans due to direct animal-to-human jumps. These include the original SARS-CoV-1 and MERS-CoV. My first assumption when I heard about SARS-CoV-2 back in January of 2020 was that it most likely had jumped from a bat.

But there have also been lab accidents. For instance, in 2004 a number of people in Beijing were infected with SARS-CoV-1 due to a lab accident. The reason that a lab accident is a plausible explanation for the origins of SARS-CoV-2 is that one of the leading labs studying SARS-like coronaviruses is located in Wuhan, and researchers there are known to have collected many coronaviruses, although at this point there is no evidence that they had collected any virus sufficiently similar to SARS-CoV-2 to be its direct ancestor.

Thats why I joined other scientists in an open letter published in Science calling for more investigation. Were not taking an advocacy position on one scenario being more likely than another. Were just pointing out that the existing scientific evidence is insufficient to know what happened. We need more investigation of this topic if we ever hope to get a clear answer.

Why was publishing an open letter in Science important and how did it come together?

Bloom: I am among 18 scientists who wrote and signed the letter that appeared May 13 in the journal Science.

We wanted a letter published in a scientific journal. Our goal in writing a letter by practicing scientists and publishing it in a scientific journal was to remind people that how the pandemic started is ultimately a scientific question, not a political one.

A few of us started drafting the letter to support calls from the World Health Organization and U.S. government to further investigate the origins of the virus. We reached out to other scientists with relevant expertise who were currently studying SARS-CoV-2 and virus evolution  and most other scientists we contacted agreed to sign the letter.

What has been the response to the letter?

Bloom: Im still getting a lot of emails. Many from other scientists who are supportive of the need for more investigation, others saying that further investigation is a distraction. Almost everyone concurs that the science is unclear, but people differ in their assessments of the relative likelihoods of a lab accident versus a natural zoonosis. As a scientist, Im used to the idea of dealing with uncertainty, but Im not accustomed to dealing with uncertain topics where so many people want one or the other possibility to be true even if the evidence remains unclear.

However, Im encouraged by the growing consensus on the need for further investigation. Many basic facts about the earliest SARS-CoV-2 cases remain unclear, so of course scientists and experts have different guesses on the relative likelihoods of a lab accident versus a natural zoonosis. But there is a shared view that further careful scientific investigation is needed.

What would you want from another investigation? And how likely is that considering so much will have to happen in China?

Bloom: Its clear further study is needed to determine the origins of the virus.

Ideally, we can get more access to underlying data about the sequences of the coronaviruses that were being studied in Wuhan labs and more insight on the earliest human cases of COVID-19.

There are complex and political dimensions, but thats beyond the scope of what I can control. My job as a scientist is to focus on trying to get at the truth.

Some dismissed the lab leak idea as a conspiracy theory and others have wondered if it was intentional. Whats your view?

Bloom: We dont have enough scientific evidence to rule anything out. In my view, an investigation should include study of both a possible natural zoonosis and a possible lab accident.

I do not think that intentional release is a plausible theory: There is no motive, and all indications are that the outbreak was a surprise to China just like the rest of the world, which would not be the case for an intentional release.




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Story Highlights Gallup's "State of the Global Workplace: 2021 Report" covers workplace trends

U.S. and Canadian workers reported highest rate of daily stress in 2020

U.S. and Canada as a region lead the world in employee engagement

2020 was a year filled with unpredictable challenges spanning from furloughs to virtual hiring, from changing market needs to disrupted supply chains, and from changing business models to bringing people back to a new way of working in a post-pandemic world.

None of this has been easy on leaders and managers who must inspire as well as operationalize these changes, all while individualizing to each of their team members.

Gallup's State of the Global Workplace: 2021 Report found that workers in the U.S. and Canada reported the highest rate of daily stress in the world during 2020.

Globally, Gallup's World Poll found substantial increases in daily stress, worry, sadness and anger among workers employed for an employer during 2020. But the U.S. and Canada topped the list on stress. For the first time in a decade, employee engagement also declined globally. But it rose slightly in the Northern America region of the U.S. and Canada. Employees who are engaged at work but are not thriving in their overall lives report a 61% higher rate of burnout often or always. These findings indicate resilience will continue to be top of mind for leaders for the foreseeable future.

Gallup's State of The Global Workplace: 2021 Report provides the only representative sample of the world's workforce. Here are some of the findings from the U.S. and Canada:

1. Working women saw higher daily stress than working men.

Sixty-two percent of female workers in the U.S. and Canada say they experienced stress a lot of the day the previous day, compared with 52% of male workers.

The higher levels of reported daily stress seem to match reports elsewhere that working women, who typically shoulder most of the childcare and other household and elder care burdens, were very stressed during 2020 when many schools were closed or remote.

It is worth noting here that the high stress of working women is nearly universal across the globe.

2. Younger workers saw higher daily stress than older workers.

Sixty-four percent of workers under 40 said they experienced stress a lot of the day the previous day, compared with 51% of those 40 and older. There could be a couple of explanations for this generational divide.

One, older generations may have been able to put the pandemic in perspective, a "this too shall pass" mindset from previous life experiences that made them more psychologically resilient in crisis.

Two, younger workers may have had younger children to care for. Those with preschoolers and early elementary kids who need constant attention may have been torn between parental and work concerns. In contrast, older children are more independent and able to do online education with greater ease. Also, tending to be less established in their careers, younger workers may have perceived a greater threat to their jobs and livelihoods during the pandemic.

3. Daily stress and worry were higher for Canadian workers than U.S. workers.

One might think that stressed-out, overworked employees are a distinctly American experience. However, our data shows that Canadian workers had even higher stress than U.S. workers.

With the complexity of the COVID-19 pandemic affecting different parts of the world at different times, the field periods of Gallup surveys during 2020 should be considered. Data collection in the U.S. occurred throughout 2020. Data for 2020 were collected in Canada in September, which coincided with heavy lockdowns, perhaps influencing high percentages of stress and worry.

4. The U.S. and Canada as a region lead the world in employee engagement.

This could be due to a culture that emphasizes the value of work and the centrality of work to personal identity -- the frequent "What do you do?" question in social introductions. However, that certainly can't be the whole story. Gallup's measure of engagement -- the Q12 employee engagement survey -- does not measure how much Americans value work or how satisfied they are with their chosen profession. Rather, it tracks the workplace experiences and conditions for high employee performance. These conditions include having an opportunity to do what you do best, opportunities to develop and opinions counting at work.

5. Employee engagement in the U.S. and Canada increased in 2020.

That, of course, is not the whole story. As Gallup tracked U.S. engagement throughout 2020, levels went on a wild ride, unlike anything Gallup has seen before. But there may have been two key factors that increased engagement in the U.S.

1. Corporate leaders and managers increased communication with their employees during the onset of COVID-19 and showed more caring and flexibility than in years past. 2. Gallup's research has shown that remote worker engagement can exceed that of in-office workers when managers communicate with them frequently and effectively. Employees in the U.S. reported a higher frequency of meaningful feedback during the second half of 2020. Many workers went fully or mostly remote in 2020, and those managers were perhaps more communicative and supportive than they would've been under normal circumstances.

The lesson here is that leaders really can see substantial gains in engagement and productivity by simply providing greater support and meaningful feedback to their people.

6. However, it's worth keeping in mind that still only about one in three U.S. employees and one in five Canadian employees are engaged at work.

While the engagement trend is up over the past decade, two-thirds of American workers and eight in 10 Canadians are either watching the clock, doing the bare minimum to get a paycheck, or worse, actively working against their employer. There is still much room for improvement. Best practice organizations consistently see engagement over 70% -- with Gallup's engagement measure being a uniquely high bar to reach.

7. Burnout prevention requires both high engagement and high employee wellbeing.

Typically, high engagement makes employees more productive while decreasing their work stress and potential for burnout.

Bar graph showing how employees who are engaged and thriving report lower daily stress than those who are not. 44% of employees who are engaged and thriving in their wellbeing report daily stress compared with 50% of those who are thriving, but not engaged. 63% of employees who are engaged but not thriving in wellbeing report daily stress compared with 70% of those who are not engaged and who aren't thriving in their wellbeing.

However, engaged workers can still experience burnout, especially if they are struggling with the rest of their lives -- such as with the uncertainties of a pandemic. For 2020 as a whole, in the U.S. and Canada, we saw both increasing engagement and high negative emotions. Leaders we have consulted with said that they saw improved productivity but also feared employee burnout was on the horizon. This fear is certainly well-founded. And the stress has been felt particularly by managers.

But if an employee can achieve both engagement and a thriving life, the chances of stress a lot of the day reduce substantially. Our analysis of U.S. and Canada data shows that of engaged and thriving employees, 44% experience stress a lot of the day, compared to 63% who are engaged but not thriving, and 70% who are not engaged and not thriving.

For leaders, the lessons are clear:

Employers are in a position to greatly enhance the lives of their people -- and they have a responsibility to do so. Creating a low-burnout, high-performance culture of engagement and wellbeing creates healthy, profitable, and sustainable organizations.

Leaders must be measuring both the engagement and wellbeing of their employees on a regular basis. After 2020, the workplace will never be the same. Work and life have a new relationship with one another. At the time of this writing, our data show that many employees don't want to go back to the old ways of doing things. Some do. And most prefer a hybrid model that blends the new and old ways of working. It takes highly skilled managers to make that happen effectively.

Managers need to be trained to have more frequent meaningful and individualized conversations with employees. The reality is that most employees rarely have conversations with their managers. Nearly half (47%) of employees say they receive feedback from their manager a few times a year or less. But frequent strengths-based conversations open the door for managers to establish trust and to understand each person's situation so that they can direct them to the right resources, accommodate them, develop them, and improve their overall lives.

Create a low-burnout, high performance culture of engagement and wellbeing: Sign up for a webinar to learn more about global workplace trends from a Gallup expert.

Learn how we help organizations everywhere improve employee engagement.

Create resilient teams and organizations by enhancing employee wellbeing.
News

editor's pick centerpiece featured

Roaming peacocks ruffle feathers on Galveston's West End

jenniferreynolds / JENNIFER REYNOLDS/The Daily News A peacock perches in the shade near Fabian Boarding Kennel, 13720 Stewart Road in Galveston, on Monday, June 14, 2021. The peafowl, which have roamed the nearly 35-acre property surrounding the kennel for years, have some homeowners along neighboring Cove Lane upset with their racket and messes. jenniferreynolds / JENNIFER REYNOLDS/The Daily News Tom Fabian, who runs Fabian Boarding Kennel, 13720 Stewart Road in Galveston, feeds peacocks and peahens in the shade near his West End Kennel on Monday, June 14, 2021. He has fed the birds that roam wild on the property for years, he said. jenniferreynolds / JENNIFER REYNOLDS/The Daily News A peacock displays his feathers near Fabian Boarding Kennel, 13720 Stewart Road in Galveston, on Monday, June 14, 2021. West End peacocks jenniferreynolds / JENNIFER REYNOLDS/The Daily News A peacock struts through a driveway on Cove Lane in Lafittes Cove on the West End of Galveston on Monday, June 14, 2021. West End peacocks jenniferreynolds / JENNIFER REYNOLDS/The Daily News A peacock roams near Fabian Boarding Kennel, 13720 Stewart Road in Galveston, on Monday, June 14, 2021. jenniferreynolds / JENNIFER REYNOLDS/The Daily News Peacocks feed in a yard on Cove Lane in Lafittes Cove on the West End of Galveston on Monday, June 14, 2021. Some homeowners on the street are upset with the free-ranging birds.

GALVESTON

When Tom Fabian wakes up each morning, hes greeted by at least 10 peacocks at his front door waiting to be fed. Fabian gathers the cracked corn and hen feed and tosses it out to the colorful birds.

Fabian estimates there are about 50 peacocks on the roughly 35 acres just west of Lafittes Cove he manages, along with a dog kennel he runs from the property.

For the 20 years Fabian has been on the property, the peacocks have roamed free and he enjoys living with them, he said.

They look nice, Fabian said. Its relaxing, I guess, to see them all.

But Fabian is worried the city might want him to get rid of the peacocks after some Lafittes Cove residents complained about the abundance of the birds on their front lawns, he said.

For the decades theyve lived on the property, the peacocks have wandered onto the lawns of the homes that back up immediately to the property line and have roosted in the big trees by the stately canal homes.

The peacocks just jump over the fence and go up in the trees, Fabian said. At nighttime, there will be 20 peacocks in that tree.

Peacocks might be beautiful, but they also can be loud and annoying, some neighbors say.

Houston resident Judy Harding has owned a home across the street from Fabians property for 20 years.

We have two big oak trees on our lot thats next to our house and they perch there and make noise all night, Harding said. Its really hard to sleep.

The peacocks always have been a nuisance, but unlike 20 years ago, there are dozens, she said.

Theres peacock droppings everywhere, Harding said. Its all over our deck, our dock, our driveway.

Fabian insists many people enjoy the peacocks, but hes worried the complaints will prompt the city to come out and cull the population, he said.

The city isnt planning on going out and shooting any peacocks, said Joshua Henderson, animal services supervisor for the Galveston Police Department.

Residents can keep peacocks, like they can keep chickens, Henderson said.

Peacocks are somewhat of a novelty in Texas, he said. Some people keep them to sell their feathers. Others just like the look of the peacocks, he said.

Theyre definitely more of a novelty, Henderson said. Theyre pretty to look at.

Still, those keeping peacocks must contain the birds to their private property, Henderson said.

Hes welcome to maintain peacocks, Henderson said. Hes simply got to find a way to keep them from flying. If he does not reduce his numbers, its going to involve a pretty large aviary.

For the estimated 50 peacocks on the property, that means a pretty large structure, Henderson said.

Whether we have one person complaining or a dozen, the violation does exist, Henderson said.

But building an aviary is too big a feat, Fabian said.

I cant build an enclosure for 50 peacocks, Fabian said.

Fabian has informed the Houston owners of the property he manages. Calls Monday to those owners werent immediately returned.

Fabian doesnt want to have to get rid of the peacocks he has, he said.

I dont have them, Fabian said. They sort of have me.

As to what will happen to the peacocks if an aviary isnt constructed: Still evaluating all of those options at this point, Henderson said.

Henderson had discussed with Fabian relocating at least some of the peacocks, he said.
Galveston, TX (77553)

Today

Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 89F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy skies during the evening followed by isolated thunderstorms overnight. Low 81F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%.




[This unedited press release is made available courtesy of Gamasutra and its partnership with notable game PR-related resource Games Press.]

For Release on June 14, 2021, at 11.30pm BST / 3:30pm PDT (June 15, 0:30am CEST / 6:30am SGT):

HAMBURG, Germany  Razer, the leading global lifestyle brand for gamers (Hong Kong Stock Code: 1337), today announced during their E3 keynote the return of a gaming legend: The Razer Blade 14. After a three-year hiatus, the Blade 14 is back to shake up the scene as the first Razer Blade to ever feature an AMD processor, the 8-core AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX, offering the fastest gaming performance in its class[1]. The new Razer Blade 14 will also feature up to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Laptop GPU, and up to a Quad HD 165Hz display, all packaged into the worlds most compact 14-inch gaming chassis. Rounding out the 14-inch powerhouse are the signature Razer trappings that have established Razer Blade laptops as one of a kind, including per-key Razer Chroma RGB backlighting, immersive THX Spatial Audio for dynamic sound, and an abundant offering of ports to make everyday life easier. When we introduced the Blade 14 in 2013, Razer challenged the industry to think bigger, yet smaller. The original Blade 14 revolutionized the mobile gaming landscape, earned laptop of the decade, and brought us to where we are today, said Brad Wildes, Senior Vice President & General Manager of Razers Systems Business Unit. The new Blade 14 aims to shake up the industry once again by combining Razers decade worth of experience in crafting ultra-compact and high-end gaming machines with the power and efficiency of AMD Ryzen Mobile Processors. We are thrilled to bring the ultimate mobile gaming experience to gamers with the Razer Blade 14. As gamers demand lighter and more powerful form factors in gaming laptops, we have remained committed to our goal of delivering best-in-class mobile processors for premium OEM designs, said Saeid Moshkelani, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Client Business Unit, AMD. We are excited to collaborate with Razer, for the first time ever, by powering the Razer Blade 14 with the best mobile processors we have developed for gaming, the Ryzen 5000 H-Series Mobile Processors. Ultra-Powerful With the revival of the Blade 14 comes the birth of an entirely new partnership between Razer and AMD, culminating in the first Razer Blade ever to run on an AMD processor. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX 8-core, 16-thread processor features a max boost clock of up to 4.6GHz, enabling it to quickly dispatch dense workloads, reduce latency when gaming, and chew through demanding workloads at breakneck speeds. The new Blade 14 with AMD Ryzen doesnt just offer the highest raw computational power in its class, but does it with a cool, quiet efficiency, providing users with up to 12 hours of battery life so they can spend less time near an outlet and more time on the move. The Blade 14 features the latest NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30 Series Laptop GPUs, up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Laptop GPU. Built with NVIDIAs Ampere architecture, the RTX 30 Series offers improved ray tracing and advanced AI features to create more visually immersive worlds. In addition to the improved graphical performance, the GeForce RTX 30 Series features a suite of Max-Q technologies such as Dynamic Boost, Whisper Mode 2.0 and a resizable BAR that allow the Blade 14 to remain silent but deadly. Ultra-Fast Matching power with visual fidelity, the Blade 14 offers the fastest 14-inch gaming displays in the market. Ranging from Full HD 144Hz up to Quad HD 165Hz, both IPS-grade panels offer excellent color coverage, reaching up to 100% SRGB on the Full HD panel and up to 100% DCI-P3 on the Quad HD panel. The high refresh rate of both panels, paired with the integrated AMD FreeSync Premium technology[2], delivers a crisp and fluid visual gaming experience. To ensure a consistent and vibrant experience for every user, each panel is custom calibrated at the factory for color accuracy. Ultra-Thin Continuing a legacy of industry-leading compact design, the Blade 14 features an all-aluminum chassis, precision milled to reduce any excess waste in the frame and anodized with a matte black coating to ensure a consistent finish that is unique to the touch and resistant to scratches. To make the Blade 14 not just thin but overall compact, the chassis dimensions have been trimmed down to a mere 0.66 x 8.66 x 12.59  making it the worlds smallest 14-inch gaming laptop. To achieve this technical feat, the Blade 14 utilizes Razers unique vapor chamber cooling solution instead of the bulky and inefficient heat pipe systems that other gaming laptops rely on. The vacuum-sealed chamber within the Blade 14 uses vaporized liquid to dissipate heat away from integral components, while working in tandem with two ultra-low-profile fans, each of which features 88 fan blades at a mere .1 mm thin, equivalent to the thinness of a human hair, to pull cool air in and push hot air out, ensuring both the CPU and GPU can operate at maximum capacity while remaining cool. The Ultimate Experience Designed to be a versatile tool, the Blade 14 boasts an abundance of user-friendly features that go beyond gaming to improve the day-to-day experience. Lining the top bezel of the display is a sharp 720p webcam for taking web calls when working away from the office, with an IR sensor for a safe and seamless login via Windows Hello. The punchy keyboard is accented with per-key Razer Chroma RGB that can be customized to match any of the 16.8 million colors available within Razer Synapse. Flanking the keyboard are booming speakers that can be tuned via built-in THX Spatial Audio technology for gaming, movies, or music. Lining the sides of the Blade 14 is a plethora of ports including two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C ports with power delivery for charging when in a bind, two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports for connecting legacy items, HDMI 2.1 for easily hooking into board room media sets, and a 3.5mm jack for listening to immersive 3D audio with THX Spatial Audio. Back to revolutionize the gaming world again, the Blade 14 is the premiere 14-inch gaming laptop, offering the best-of-the-best in every category from processing power, to visuals, to mobility, to versatility. It is the Ultimate AMD Gaming Laptop. To learn more about the all-new Razer Blade 14, please visit http://razer.com/gaming-laptops/razer-blade-14 . Play. Re-Charge. Repeat. Alongside the Razer Blade 14, Razer also announced their first Gallium Nitride (GaN) charging device, the Razer USB-C GaN charger. Utilizing cutting-edge GaN technology, the new charger is perfect for gamers, prosumers, or those on-the-go. Offering up to 130W of combined charging power between the two USB-C ports and two USB-A ports, it enables customers to charge their smartphone, tablet, or laptop, while being small enough to easily fit in a pocket. The GaN technology featured in the new charger is not only more efficient in terms of size and power delivery compared to a traditional silicon-based charging brick, but also in thermal performance, meaning a reduced risk of over-heating or short circuiting of connected devices. The Razer USB-C GaN Charger ensures gamers and prosumers can always stay connected and powered up on the go. To learn more about the new Razer USB-C GaN Charger, please visit https://www.razer.com/gaming-pc-accessories/razer-usb-c-gan-charger . PRICING & AVAILABILITY The all-new Razer Blade 14 starts at GBP 1799.99 / USD $1799.99 / EUR 1,999.99 MSRP and is available now at Razer.com, RazerStore retail locations, and with select retail partners. The Razer USB-C GaN Charger is available now for GBP 179.99 / USD $179.99 / EUR 179.99 MSRP on Razer.com and at RazerStore retail locations. PRODUCT ASSETS Watch the Razer Blade 14 product video here . ABOUT RAZER Razer is the worlds leading lifestyle brand for gamers. The triple-headed snake trademark of Razer is one of the most recognized logos in the global gaming and esports communities. With a fan base that spans every continent, the company has designed and built the worlds largest gamer-focused ecosystem of hardware, software and services. Razers award-winning hardware includes high-performance gaming peripherals and Blade gaming laptops. Razers software platform, with over 125 million users, includes Razer Synapse (an Internet of Things platform), Razer Chroma RGB (a proprietary RGB lighting technology system supporting thousands of devices and hundreds of games/apps), and Razer Cortex (a game optimizer and launcher). Razer also offers payment services for gamers, youth, millennials and Gen Z. Razer Gold is one of the worlds largest game payment services, and Razer Fintech provides fintech services in emerging markets. Founded in 2005 and dual-headquartered in Irvine (California) and Singapore, Razer has 17 offices worldwide and is recognized as the leading brand for gamers in the USA, Europe and China. Razer is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (Stock Code: 1337). THX and the THX Logo are the property of THX Ltd., registered in the U.S. and other countries. PRESS CONTACTS United Kingdom Nick Haywood [email protected]

Americas Michael Reagan [email protected]

EMEA Maren Epping [email protected] China Evita Zhang [email protected] Asia Pacific Vanessa Li [email protected] Global Jan Horak [email protected] Razer - For Gamers. By Gamers. # # #
SALEM (AP)  Kip Kinkel, who killed his parents before going on a shooting rampage at his Oregon high school in 1998, killing two classmates and injuring 25 more, has given his first news interview, telling HuffPost he feels tremendous, tremendous shame and guilt.

Kinkel, now 38, is serving a de facto life sentence at the Oregon State Correctional Institution. He spoke with the news site by phone for about 20 hours over 10 months.

He said he felt guilty not just for what he did as a 15-year-old suffering from then-undiagnosed paranoid schizophrenia, but the effect his crime has had on other juvenile offenders sentenced to life terms: His case has been held up by some of his victims and by others as a reason to oppose juvenile justice reform in the state.

While he has not previously given interviews because he did not want to further traumatize his victims, he said, he also began to feel that his silence was preventing those offenders from getting a second chance.

I have responsibility for the harm that I caused when I was 15," Kinkel said. "But I also have responsibility for the harm that I am causing now as Im 38 because of what I did at 15.
We had a good feeling about this mission. It was raining elsewhere  but dry in Corvallis. The reporter saw a perfectly fine couch on Old Salem Road in Albany on the way into the town. Good omen.

We had put in a Zoom appearance at the Rental Property Management Groups annual move out, sofa challenge soiree in May. Appearing, mysteriously, only via the chat box, we were calm and confident.

Then, Monday hit like a ton of bricks  and we wandered, dazed throughout the campus area wondering what happened. Who got through to these students and told them NOT to leave couches on the lawn  or the planter strip  or the streets?

Our best finds were dubious, stuff arranged, sometimes artistically, sometimes comically, around dumpsters. Hard to claim that stuff placed next to a dumpster shows a serious livability problem.

We did find a lot of chairs. Mainly solo ones, a wet blue one with needles on it from the conifer tree above at 31st Street and Polk Avenue, another blue one on Jackson between 14th and 15th.

Which led to a theorem. Maybe, with COVID, and all of the students siloed individually in underheated rental housing, there was no need for a couch. So you just sat in a chair the whole school year, the chair wore out, so you dumped it.
Oregon State University has a new dean of the College of Business.

Tim Carroll replaces interim dean Jim Coakley as of July 30. Coakley has been in the role since 2019.

Carroll has served as a dean and a professor of management at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California, since 2018. At Pacific, he led the development of a new college strategic plan, increased student retention and enrollment, launched programs to meet the needs of students and employers, created events to enhance communication between the college and students, and expanded fundraising.

We are pleased to welcome Tim Carroll to Oregon State University, said Edward Feser, the universitys provost and executive vice president. He has the background, experience, and record of accomplishment to continue advancing the colleges priorities in scholarship, teaching, and collaboration with industry and other partners.

Signatures of our College of Business are the outstanding learning experience it offers undergraduate and graduate students and its focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Tims commitment to shared governance will serve him well as he works with the faculty to continue developing those strengths as well as others.
Red Cross assisting evacuees

ROCKTONThe American Red Cross of Northwest Illinois chapter got a call to assist first responders Monday morning with canteen service, providing water and food items as firefighters fought the fire at the Chemtool plant.

The chapter then reached out to its partners, including the McDonald's in Roscoe, which donated lunch for all of the first responders, according to Executive Director of the American Red Cross of Northwest Illinois chapter Leslie Luther.

As of Monday afternoon, Luther said the chapter was working with the Salvation Army to provide meals in the evening. As of midafternoon, there were more than 20 evacuees at the reception sites. The American Red Cross chapter was going to assess if there was a need for overnight sheltering later in the day.

Domino's Pizza in Beloit donated around 30 pizzas at noon and were planning to deliver another 30 to Roscoe Middle School, according to Domino's Supervisor Amanda Spranger. The school was serving as a shelter area for people who had to leave their home due to close proximity to the Chemtool fire.

We do it because its the right thing to do. We appreciate our community. Its a small way we can give back when we can, Spranger said.

Hillary Gavan, Adams Publishing Group
Amstelveen (Netherlands) and Paris (France)  June 15, 2021 - Unive has extended its agreement for the management of its digital infrastructure with Atos for five years in support of the digital transformation of Unive, including transition to a new hybrid cloud platform.

Atos has worked in partnership with Unive, a leading Dutch home and motor insurance provider, since 2009 and through the newly extended collaboration the hybrid cloud solution will deliver Unive a platform to support and facilitate innovation at scale in a secure environment. This approach is expected to increase agility, operational effectiveness and ultimately, augment customer experience while simultaneously protecting business critical processes.

Atos will remain responsible for security, compliance and chain management services for Unive, continuing to provide deep expertise in order to optimize the insurers critical processes translating to more efficient services to its millions of customers.

Frank Dijkstra, CIO of Unive, said "A reliable IT infrastructure, the continuity of our services and security are our top priorities and this is what we have experienced with Atos over the past ten years. Atos acts as a strategic partner and collaborates with us on existing services as well as on innovations. These are fundamental reasons for us to continue to work together for the next five years."

"The extension of this agreement offers us the opportunity to intensify and expand our positive cooperation with solutions that enable Unive  a loyal customer for many years - to respond to new developments and opportunities in the insurance market", says Peter 't Jong, Head of Atos in The Netherlands. "With our hybrid cloud solution, we continue to modernize and optimize Unive core operations, accelerate its transformation, increase operational effectiveness, and digitally enable our valued customer."

Learn more about how Atos is shaping the future of insurance .

***

About Atos

Atos is a global leader in digital transformation with 105,000 employees and annual revenue of over  11 billion. European number one in cybersecurity, cloud and high performance computing, the Group provides tailored end-to-end solutions for all industries in 71 countries. A pioneer in decarbonization services and products, Atos is committed to a secure and decarbonized digital for its clients. Atos operates under the brands Atos and Atos|Syntel. Atos is a SE (Societas Europaea), listed on the CAC40 Paris stock index.

The purpose of Atos is to help design the future of the information space. Its expertise and services support the development of knowledge, education and research in a multicultural approach and contribute to the development of scientific and technological excellence. Across the world, the Group enables its customers and employees, and members of societies at large to live, work and develop sustainably, in a safe and secure information space.

Press contacts

Atos in The Netherlands: Marianne Hewlett - marianne.hewlett@atos.net - 06 30 63 24 30

Atos Global: Lucie Duchateau  lucie.duchateau@atos.net - +33 7 62 85 35 10

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An affordable decades-old drug has been reformulated and repurposed to treat COVID-19 patients.



MONTREAL, June 14, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- After months of preparation, a global phase III clinical trial sponsored by the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC), in partnership with Canadian start-up Pulmonem, begins an innovative treatment to reduce and possibly prevent the development of severe pulmonary inflammation caused by the COVID-19 virus. The clinical trial will test the use of PULM-001 in patients in the early stages of COVID-19. The is one of very few phase III clinical trials for COVID therapies to obtain approval from both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Health Canada.

PULM-001 is a decades-old, safe and affordable oral antibacterial that also has well-recognized anti-inflammatory properties. It has been used to treat infectious diseases such as malaria, lupus, HIV and many other inflammatory infections. The repurposed drug will be administered to symptomatic adults recovering at home to lessen lung inflammation. This inflammation causes complications in the lungs that can lead to increased hospital and ICU stays, and even death.

This Canada-led phase III clinical trial could change the course of the global pandemic, especially for developing countries that have little access to vaccines. The study will be conducted entirely remotely beginning with patients in Ontario and Quebec followed by six centres in the United States. Thousands of symptomatic (COVID-19 positive) outpatients will be involved throughout the course of the trial.

Patient recruitment is launching in Quebec and Ontario June 28: https://dapcorona.com/en/

The trial is led by Dr. Jean Bourbeau, a senior investigator and Director of the McConnell Centre of Innovative Medicine at the RI-MUHC. Dr. Bourbeau is a respirologist at the McGill University Health Centre as well as Professor and Associate Member of the Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health at McGill University.

The vaccines are undoubtedly important, but are not the final answer to this problem. It will be a long time before the whole world is vaccinated, and until then, we need a treatment that is effective against this damaging disease. This medication is inexpensive and has a proven record of safety, and we are confident that it will prevent severe COVID-19 cases.

 Dr. Jean Bourbeau, Director, Centre for Innovative Medicine, RI- MUHC

The trial is a collaboration between the RI-MUHC, the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) Foundation and Pulmonem Inc., a Canadian biotech startup. Pulmonem has international manufacturing partnership agreements in place and is ready to produce the new medication for the treatment of COVID-19 quickly and in large quantities.

Ive been impressed to see that Canadas clinical research expertise and infrastructure can be scaled quickly to meet the challenges of this pandemic. With the endorsement of federal health regulators in the US and Canada now in place, we can begin the trial. says Dr. Houfar Sekhavat, President and CEO of Pulmonem Inc.

While people in Canada and other countries are being vaccinated in large numbers, affordable, safe and effective treatments for COVID-19 are still necessary. Despite continued vaccinations, cases of COVID-19 will not disappear worldwide, and many patients will still need treatment to prevent complications and hospitalizations, especially in areas of the world still coping with uncontrolled outbreaks and variants that risk coming to Canada.

The MUHC Foundation has already raised one million dollars needed to start the trial in Canada. Another $4 million is required to complete it in the United States and get cost-effective drugs to those in need.

This collaboration between research, fundraising and private partnerships is a new and exciting way for philanthropy to play a role in changing the course of lives and medicine, says Julie Quenneville, President and CEO of the McGill University Health Centre Foundation. By investing early in concrete and viable treatments that can be repurposed to fight COVID-19, our supporters are truly at the forefront of transforming health care.

About the McGill University Health Centre Foundation

The McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) Foundation raises funds to support excellence in patient care, research and teaching at the McGill University Health Centre, one of the top university hospitals in Canada. Our Dream Big Campaign to change the course of lives and medicine is raising millions of dollars to solve humanitys deadliest puzzles: infectious diseases; end cancer as a life-threatening illness; fix broken hearts through innovative cardiac care; detect the silent killersovarian and endometrial cancersearly; create the best skilled health care teams in Canada; and much more. We are rallying our entire community to solve the worlds most complex health care challenges. www.muhcfoundation.com

About the RI-MUHC

The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC) is a world-renowned biomedical and healthcare research centre. The institute, which is affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine of McGill University, is the research arm of the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC)  an academic health centre located in Montreal, Canada, that has a mandate to focus on complex care within its community. The RI-MUHC supports over 450 researchers and around 1,200 research trainees devoted to a broad spectrum of fundamental, clinical and health outcomes research at the Glen and the Montreal General Hospital sites of the MUHC. Its research facilities offer a dynamic multidisciplinary environment that fosters collaboration and leverages discovery aimed at improving the health of individual patients across their lifespan. The RI-MUHC is supported in part by the Fonds de recherche du Quebec  Sante (FRQS). www.rimuhc.ca

About Pulmonem Inc.

Pulmonem Inc. was founded to demonstrate the effectiveness and safety of a reformulated and patented version of PULM-001, a generic drug to arrest the development of inflammation caused by COVID-19 and help prevent hospitalization of those who become infected. Pulmonem has established manufacturing partnerships that will allow the company to quickly bring this treatment to market soon after successful completion of clinical trials. www.pulmonem.ca

Contact:

Tarah Schwartz

Director, Communications and Marketing, MUHC Foundation

tarah.schwartz@muhc.mcgill.ca

Keelan Green

Prospectus Associates for Pulmonem

green@prospectus.ca

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2c494c32-4337-4de0-8a6b-8c61cf0542d0
New York, June 14, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The National Kidney Donation Organization (NKDO) announces the appointment of retired NYPD Detective and Good Samaritan Kidney Donor, Michael Lollo, to the position of President of NKDO.

Michael Lollo is a 21-year veteran of the New York City Police Department who donated his kidney to a stranger in 2018, through the National Kidney Registry (NKR). He donated at New York-Presbyterian Hospital Weill Cornell Medical Center. While with the NYPD and since his retirement in 2020, Michael has been an active member of NKDO. Since his donation, he regularly counsels potential living donors as well as recipients in need of a living donor kidney transplant.

Ned Brooks, founder and CEO of NKDO, said, Since our inception five years ago, NKDO has grown to become the leading living kidney donor advocacy organization in the country. Our team of recipients and donors is now engaged nationwide in a wide variety of advocacy efforts. Last year we hired Lisa Emmott as our Executive Director to support the rapid expansion of NKDO. The growth in activity in 2021 suggests a very active future in which Michaels proven leadership skills will make a big contribution to our mission of eliminating the waitlist for kidney transplant recipients.

Mr. Lollo will assume the title of President of NKDO effective August 1, 2021. About his new role, Michael said, I never would have thought that my passion to advocate for living kidney donation would have led me to this moment. I am so honored and humbled to be asked to embark on this journey with Ned, Lisa and all of my fellow NKDO members. After 21 years of service in the New York City Police Department, I can only hope for another 21 years of service to NKDO and the entire living donor community.

For details, contact:

Lisa Emmott 954-205-0067 L.emmott@NKDO.org, or

Michael Lollo 917-837-2058 M.Lollo@NKDO.org

National Kidney Donation Organization, Inc. (NKDO.org)

Media Contact



Company Name: National Kidney Donation Organization

Contact Person: Michael Lollo

Email: m.lollo@nkdo.org

City: New York

State: New York

Country: United States

Website: www.NKDO.org

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Groningen, Netherlands, June 14, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Citing the importance of AEDs for employees and workers, AED consultant Jeroen Camies from AEDmaster, says the time has come to make AED part of our safe and healthy work environment across the Netherlands.

AED or Automatic External Defibrillator is essential to every factory and office. But the Working Conditions Act, 1999, has never made it mandatory as yet.

Owing to a continuous rise in sudden cardiac cases at workplaces, employers must have AEDs at their offices to provide a healthy working environment to all employees.

A research report by the Hartstichting and HartslagNu concluded that there is an acute shortage of AEDs across the Netherlands. Not too many employers have the necessary awareness about it. Placing AED in company premises can contribute to the local safety and national coverage of AEDs.

The Working Conditions Act envisaged some essential rules to ensure the safety of workers and employees at workplaces. For example, fire extinguishers, escape routes and emergency response officers must be present in the building.

Its ironic that the act doesnt emphasise much on the importance of placing AEDs in offices. More than 17,000 workers and employees suffer a cardiac arrest every year. In many such cases, a person can be saved by providing them with the initial fast-aid with a defibrillator on time.Why does the government not encourage companies that have an AED kopen through a subsidy? With this, the Dutch government is also not taking its responsibility, Jeroen Camies from AEDmaster explained.

A company also needs to hire a technician who can efficiently operate AEDs in times of emergency. Being an emergency medical device, someone from a medical background and with experience of operating such devices should be appointed. AEDs may differ in colour, design, and functions. So the Working Conditions Act needs to include uniform guidelines and SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) for using AEDs.

In a crisis situation, training is the key to success. Adequate training and expertise in handling AEDs can help the technician work with a cool head and save a patient who needs urgent emergency treatment. Without sufficient training and instructions, it would be difficult for anyone to operate an AED and may also endanger the life of a person who suffered a cardiac arrest at his workplace.

AEDs can be different, but most of them perform the same functions. So the authority needs to implement uniform guidelines for the installation of AEDs at workplaces. Not just training, AED operators or technicians should be also provided with an opportunity to upgrade their skills in AED operation from time to time. In this regard, timely intervention by the higher authority is required.

In the Netherlands, you can choose from two quality marks: the FDA quality mark and the CE mark. Some renowned AED brands are Defibtech, Zoll, Philips and HeartSine.

Though AED is not mandatory, employers must consider placing it at their offices for the safety of their personnel. It applies to all companies, organisations, clubs, schools, colleges, and factories.

Any employer or Human Resource Head can start placing AEDs at offices and factories for the safety of their personnel and people within the premises. Investing a few bucks on AED equipment and training can give a new life to people who may need emergency medical care during a sudden cardiac attack.

Register on AED in de buurt on HartslagNu, and contribute to the national coverage of AEDs.



Media Details -

Company - AEDmaster

Email - info@aedmaster.nl

City - Groningen

Country - Netherlands

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LeddarTech joins Tech.AD Europe as the Lead Sponsor and as both a presenter and exhibitor at this live event at the Titanic Chaussee Berlin, Germany, on July 1-2, 2021. Join LeddarTech either in person or digitally by registering today at autonomous-driving-berlin.com.



QUEBEC CITY, June 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LeddarTech, a global leader in Level 1-5 ADAS and AD sensing technology, is excited to be reigniting its physical event calendar as a lead sponsor and keynote speaker of Tech.AD. Tech.AD has long been recognized as one of Europes leading technical ADAS and AD conferences. LeddarTechs CTO Pierre Olivier will serve on the honorary jury for the 8th Annual Tech.AD Europe Awards. These awards honor individuals and organizations who have designed exceptional solutions or products that contribute to ADAS/AD automotive development.

With a focus on environmental sensing that reimagines ADAS and AD solutions, the LeddarTech team will be participating in several capacities at this event.

Keynote presentation: July 1, 2021, 4:45 p.m.  5:05 p.m. CET

Topic : Sensing Modalities, Sensor Fusion, and Perception for Autonomous Driving. The speaker, Pierre Olivier, Chief Technology Officer of LeddarTech, will explore the challenges and exciting opportunities facing the ADAS and AD business community.

World Cafe session: July 2, 2021, 1:15 p.m.  3:35 p.m. CET

Topic: Sensor Cafe  Object Fusion vs. Raw Sensor Fusion  What Is the Superior Solution? Moderators: Reza Rashidi Far, PhD, and Andre Malz, PhD, of LeddarTechs Strategic Product Management division.

Exhibition booth (6): July 1-2, 2021.

LeddarTech will feature solutions that solve critical sensing and perception challenges across the automotive and mobility value chain. LeddarTech will present these solutions through an innovative approach of on-site and live-streaming demonstrations of:

Mobility and ITS sensors, including the recently released Leddar Sight LiDAR and the award-winning Leddar Pixell;

LeddarVision, a sensor-fusion and perception solution that delivers highly accurate 3D environmental models for L1-5 autonomy;

Special Feature: the Westfield AutoSweep, the UKs first fully autonomous pure electric road sweeper, featuring the Leddar Pixell.



Our technical teams from Israel, Germany, and Italy are excited to be joining our esteemed colleagues, peers, and partners at Tech.AD. Our much-anticipated return to in-person events is especially significant as we will be showcasing our customer Westfields autonomous AutoSweep POD, which features the Leddar Pixell, stated Daniel Aitken, Vice-President, Global Marketing, Communications, and Product Management at LeddarTech. Tech.AD provides an excellent opportunity to engage with many leaders in the industry both virtually and in person, and we look forward to demonstrating our latest technology, sharing our vision, and engaging with our customers, Mr. Aitken continued. Tech.AD is making all efforts to implement precautions to ensure a safe and fulfilling event for all delegates, and I welcome you to visit us in person or online during the event in July, concluded Mr. Aitken.

For more information about Tech.AD, visit autonomous-driving-berlin.com.

Prior to Tech.AD register for the Automotive IQ Webinar: June 29, 2021, 11:00 a.m.  12:00 p.m. ET

Topic: A Clean Sweep: How Adopting Autonomous Vehicle and EV Technology Is Paving the Way to Increased Road Sweeper Efficiency and Safety While Reducing Environmental Impact. Join Pierre Olivier, CTO of LeddarTech and Julian Turner, CEO of Westfield Technology Group, for this Automotive IQ hosted event.

Register here.

About LeddarTech

LeddarTech is a leader in environmental sensing platforms for autonomous vehicles and advanced driver assistance systems. Founded in 2007, LeddarTech has evolved to become a comprehensive end-to-end environmental sensing company by enabling customers to solve critical sensing and perception challenges across the entire value chain of the automotive and mobility market segments. With its LeddarVision sensor-fusion and perception platform and its cost-effective, scalable, and versatile LiDAR development solution for automotive-grade solid-state LiDARs based on the LeddarEngine, LeddarTech enables Tier 1-2 automotive system integrators to develop full-stack sensing solutions for autonomy level 1 to 5. These solutions are actively deployed in autonomous shuttles, trucks, buses, delivery vehicles, smart cities/factories, and robotaxi applications. The company is responsible for several innovations in cutting-edge automotive and mobility remote-sensing applications, with over 95 patented technologies (granted or pending) enhancing ADAS and autonomous driving capabilities.

Additional information about LeddarTech is accessible at www.leddartech.com and on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.

Contact:

Daniel Aitken, Vice-President, Global Marketing, Communications, and Product Management, LeddarTech Inc.

Tel.: + 1-418-653-9000 ext. 232

daniel.aitken@leddartech.com

Leddar, LeddarTech, LeddarSteer, LeddarEngine, LeddarVision, LeddarSP, LeddarCore, VAYADrive, VayaVision, and related logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of LeddarTech Inc. and its subsidiaries. All other brands, product names, and marks are or may be trademarks or registered trademarks used to identify products or services of their respective owners.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2f336faf-ccca-4167-939e-c1dfcfc4c897

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/84aebadf-f893-466e-8144-9b31e4d79c26
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Christina Lake Cannabis Corp. (the Company or CLC or Christina Lake Cannabis) (CSE: CLC) (OTCQB: CLCFF) (FRANKFURT: CLB) is currently in the process of transferring over 45,000 plants from its onsite greenhouse facility to the field area for transplantation, allowing each plant to begin growing under natural sunlight as CLC prepares for the 2021 growing season. In a press release dated May 19, 2021 the Company provided an update regarding its current activities and milestones attained in Q2 2021, which included the migration of mature clones from the propagation room to the greenhouse, a key phase in the research and development (R&D) timeline for CLCs proprietary cannabis strains. After the Companys Master Growers determined approximately 30,000 clones were suitable for further experimentation through outdoor cultivation, CLCs team began migrating the clones onto the field for transplantation, along with approximately 15,000 seedlings of non-experimental strains which have already grown to between 1.5 feet (45 centimetres) and two feet (61 centimetres) in average height.



For the 2021 growing season, CLC has increased its total count of pots (many of which contain multiple plants) for commercial-scale growing by 15% from 22,500 pots in 2020 to approximately 26,000 25-gallon (95-litre) pots this year. Seven strains of cannabis will comprise the majority of the Companys crop, with approximately 50 strains still in R&D to identify genetic formulations with benefits to include durability for outdoor growth and increased potency of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). In a press release dated December 18, 2020 , the Company stated it had identified a market deficit with respect to the selection of cannabis strains specifically suited to outdoor growth. Given the sustained popularity of this cultivation method, the Company is continuing its R&D initiatives both for the purposes of growing its own plants as well as for potentially supplying seeds to other licensed producers that cultivate cannabis outdoors under natural sunlight.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9e1213df-e2f8-4fa0-a582-3e74329ed764

Readers using news aggregation services may be unable to view the media above. Please access SEDAR or the Investor Relations section of the Companys website for a version of this press release containing all published media.



Climate forecasts for the Christina Lake region of British Columbia for the months of June through October 2021 indicate very favourable conditions for outdoor cannabis cultivation. With a newly expanded operational team, the Company intends to carry out full-scale cultivation throughout the 2021 growing season alongside its R&D activities as well as around-the-clock extraction using the Companys Vitalis R200 machine with the Cosolvent Injection System, in addition to initiatives to continue building the Companys sales pipeline for dried cannabis, extracts (distillates, winterized oils, kief, etc.), and prepared consumer-ready goods which the Company may add to its offerings in the near future (e.g., pre-rolls).

Nicco Dehaan, Chief Operating Officer of Christina Lake Cannabis commented, In terms of both cultivation and R&D, it is very exciting for us to be bringing tens of thousands of plants out to the field as the 2021 growing season begins. We have identified seven key cannabis strains that are tried and true and will make up the bulk of our crop this year, though we also have over seven times as many experimental strains that have made their way through the R&D process to the point that they are now ready to begin growing outdoors. With a focus on cannabis extracts, maximizing our THC yield is a key consideration in our development of cannabis strains, some of which have shown potency of over 20% in our lab tests. Having recently nearly tripled our extraction capacity, we are keen to see how these increased THC levels could translate into a competitive advantage as we enter our second full year of operations as a fully integrated licensed producer whose activities go from soil to oil. We look forward to seeing how 2021 unfolds with respect to all areas of our business.

About Christina Lake Cannabis Corp.

Christina Lake Cannabis Corp. is a licensed producer of cannabis under the Cannabis Act. It has secured a standard cultivation licence and corresponding processing/sales amendment from Health Canada (March 2020 and August 2020, respectively) as well as a research and development licence (early 2020). CLCs facility consists of a 32-acre property, which includes over 950,000 square feet of outdoor grow space, offices, propagation and drying rooms, research facilities, and a facility dedicated to processing and extraction. CLC also owns a 99-acre plot of land adjoining its principal 32-acre site, which enables the Company to grow at a much larger scale. CLC cultivates cannabis using strains specifically developed for outdoor cultivation and in its inaugural harvest year produced 32,500 kg (71,650 lb) on its existing facility before developing an adjacent 99-acre expansion property. Such an expansion will ultimately bring CLCs annual cultivation footprint to over 4.35 million square feet, which could enable at least 150,000 kg (330,693 lb) of low-cost, high-quality, sun-grown cannabis to be produced annually by the Company.

On behalf of Christina Lake Cannabis Corp.:

Joel Dumaresq

Joel Dumaresq, CEO and Director

For more information about CLC, please visit: www.christinalakecannabis.com

Jamie Frawley

Investor Relations and Media Inquiries

jamie@clcannabis.com

416-268-9432

THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE (CSE) HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS RELEASE, NOR HAS OR DOES THE CSES REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER.

Forward-Looking Information: This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed forward-looking statements. The use of any of the words anticipate, continue, estimate, expect, may, will, would, project, should, believe and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. These statements speak only as of the date of this News Release. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks including various risk factors discussed in the Companys disclosure documents which can be found under the Companys profile on http://www.sedar.com .

Statement Regarding Third-Party Investor Relations Firms
New York, June 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Off-grid solar systems work independently of the grid and contain batteries that stores the excess energy generated by the solar system during the day. These systems are self-sustaining and provide a viable backup of power during critical times. Off-grid solar systems can provide electricity in rural areas or areas with frequent power outages. This can prevent operations of large institutions and companies from halting and creating a lag in production. The global off-grid solar market is expected to exhibit 8.62% CAGR over the forecast period (2020-2027), as per the latest report by Market Research Future (MRFR). Focus towards renewable sources of energy and efforts to reduce dependence on fossil fuels can bolster the market growth.

Market Scope

The off-grid solar market is driven by solutions demanded by governments that are sustainable in nature. Soaring costs of electricity and near depletion of fossil fuel reserves can push the market demand. Adoption of off-grid solar solutions in rural areas to generate power and light up villages can bolster the market demand as well. Incentives provided to villagers for installation of solar panels and subsidies offered to panel manufacturers can facilitate market growth. Small and medium sized enterprises are grabbing subsidies to attain tax rebates and lower grid defection rates. Setup of microgrids and village lighting schemes can invite funding from venture capital firms and large chains of companies. Acquisition of renewable energy schemes by wealthy households for storing energy and the presence of pay-as-you-go model can boost the market revenues.

But the high investment capital required for setting up plants and government hurdles in attaining licenses can deter market growth.





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COVID-19 Impact

The COVID-19 outbreak has negatively impacted the off-grid solar market. The direct hit to production schedules and supply chains had derailed plans of governments. Surge in prices of hardware components had created hurdles for the market. But emission reduction targets of governments can be the coup de grace needed to relieve the market. Procurement of solar PV panels by small and medium enterprises can boost the market growth post-pandemic.

Industry Breakthroughs

The off-grid solar market is likely to catapult by addressing the demands of DC-powered household appliances. Procurement of fans and television sets are likely a sign of encouragement for the market. Products certified with Productive Use Leveraging Solar Energy (SOLAR) can encompass solar water pumps, refrigeration appliances, cold storage applications, and other electrical appliances can bode well for the market. Subsidies provided by governments can help propel sales in a positive direction. This is evident with many manufacturers expanding their base and moving into new regions.

Upselling of products by gaining information from existing customers is another revenue source for off-grid solution providers. Rollout of next-generation energy products and services including plug-n-play lighting products can allure prospective customers. Acquisitions are likely to be witnessed in the coming years as the market aims to lower its price while keeping its large client base. Attracting equity partners and ability to scale their production efforts can favor the industry.



Share your Queries https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/7227





Segmentation

By type, solar panels can capture a large market share due to increased capacity of equipment and entry of new players. Low installation costs and lack of drawbacks for the product has contributed to the heavy demand in the global off-grid solar market. Dams and reservoirs used for hydropower generation can be connected to solar power grids for faster storage of power. In addition, easy adjustment of solar PV panels according to the direction of the sun can push the demand in the segment. On the flip side, batteries are likely to gain a large footing in the market owing to being optimal for storing solar energy. Long spans of batteries as well as use of lithium-ion can bode well for the segment.

By application, the non-residential segment is estimated to capture a large market share over the assessment period. This is attributed to attractive schemes pertaining to renewable energy and steady economic growth of countries. Support for small generators and sustained power levels during the day can bode well for the segment.

Regional Analysis

APAC is estimated to lead in the off-grid solar market owing to heavy potential in renewable energy sources, abundance of lands, and investments in rural areas. Electrification schemes for villages and incentives offered by governments for attracting citizens can bode well for the regional market demand. Collaborative efforts between public and private sectors and goals for reducing carbon emissions can bode well for the region.

North America can be viable for investments and expansion for the global off-grid solar market owing to adoption of clean energy schemes and acceptance of solar power in residential neighborhoods. The U.S. and Canada are expected to contribute to the market growth owing to being part of the Paris Agreement.





Browse In-depth Market Research Report (111 pages) on Global Off-Grid Solar Market



https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/off-grid-solar-market-7227





Competitive Analysis

Jinko Solar Holding Co. Ltd., Engie, Delta Electronics Inc., Schneider Electric, Solectria Renewables LLC, Canadian Solar, ABB, Oolu Solar, M-KOPA Kenya, Hanwha Group, SMA Solar Technology Ag, and SunPower Corporation are prominent players of the global off-grid solar market. Vendors in the marketspace are competing on performance of solar panels and their long lifespan. Investments in research and development coupled with growing awareness of customers can guide the players over the forecast period. Customization of products according to the needs of customers in specific regions can be profitable for the market.

Industry News

AEE Power (Madrid), Gridworks (U.K.), and Eranove (France) have signed 22 year agreements with the Republic of Congo for construction of 3 off-solar grid projects. These projects can be used in supplying power to the cities of Isiro, Bumba, and Gemena.

Rural Electrification Schemes to Power Demand in Global Off-grid Solar Market Growth

The global off-grid solar market is bound to thrive over the forecast period owing to establishment of solar component manufacturing plants, goals to lower dependence on fossil fuels, and renewable energy targets. Impact of technology and access to modern electricity services can drive the market demand significantly. Change in business models to attract more customers and low tariff plans can bode well for the market.



Discover More Research Reports on Renewable Energy, By Market Research Future



About Market Research Future:

Market Research Future (MRFR) is a global market research company that takes pride in its services, offering a complete and accurate analysis with regard to diverse markets and consumers worldwide. Market Research Future has the distinguished objective of providing the optimal quality research and granular research to clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help answer your most important questions.

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San Francisco, June 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SINAI Technologies Inc., a San Francisco-based decarbonization platform, was selected among hundreds of candidates as one of the World Economic Forums Technology Pioneers. SINAI Technologies was recognized for its software platform built to help organizations decarbonize value-chain-wide emissions by enabling more intelligent carbon emission measurement, reporting, mitigation and pricing.

The World Economic Forums Technology Pioneers are early to growth-stage companies from around the world that are involved in the use of new technologies and innovations that are poised to have a significant impact on business and society.

Its an honor to be acknowledged as a pioneer by the World Economic Forum, said SINAIs CEO, Maria Fujihara. It is a confirmation that our approach and technology is among the most unique in the world and can advance the transition to a low-carbon economy. Our technology can help global corporations decarbonize and we look forward to contributing to the Forum dialogues on this challenge.

SINAI Technologies is already having a positive impact, having enabled organizations in many sectors, including steel, manufacturing, transportation, utilities, agriculture, and food and beverage, to measure and mitigate their carbon emissions.

Were excited to welcome SINAI Technologies to our 2021 cohort of Technology Pioneers, says Susan Nesbitt, Head of the Global Innovators Community, World Economic Forum. SINAI and its fellow pioneers are developing technologies that can help society solve some of its most pressing issues. We look forward to their contribution to the World Economic Forum in its commitment to improving the state of the world.

With their selection as Technology Pioneer, CEO Maria Fujihara of SINAI will be invited to participate at World Economic Forum activities, events and discussions throughout the year. SINAI will also contribute to Forum initiatives over the next two years, working with global leaders to help address key industry and societal issues.

For the first time in the communitys history, over 30% of the cohort are led by women, including SINAIs CEO, Maria Fujihara. This years cohort includes start-ups from 26 countries on six continents, with UAE, El Salvador, Ethiopia and Zimbabwe represented for the first time.

The diversity of these companies extends to their innovations as well. 2021 Tech Pioneer firms are shaping the future by advancing technologies such as AI, IoT, robotics, blockchain, biotechnology and many more. The full list of Technology Pioneers can be found here .

Technology Pioneers have been selected based on the communitys selection criteria, which includes innovation, impact and leadership as well as the companys relevance with the World Economic Forums Platforms .

-ENDS-

About SINAI Technologies:

SINAI Technologies Inc. is a software platform built to help organizations measure, analyse, price, and reduce value-chain-wide emissions. Their decarbonization platform enables more intelligent carbon emission measurement, reporting, mitigation and scenario analysis for organizations using science-based methodologies. To learn more, visit: www.sinaitechnologies.com

About World Economic Forum:

The World Economic Forum, committed to improving the state of the world, is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. ( www.we forum.org ).

About the Technology Pioneers:

The World Economic Forum believes that innovation is critical to the future well-being of society and to driving economic growth. Launched in 2000, the Technology Pioneer community is composed of early to growth-stage companies from around the world that are involved in the design, development and deployment of new technologies and innovations, and are poised to have a significant impact on business and society.

The World Economic Forum provides the Technology Pioneers community with a platform to engage with the public- and private-sector leaders and to contribute new solutions to overcome the current crisis and build future resiliency.
New York, June 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Middle East Military Vehicles Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2021 - 2026)" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06079816/?utm_source=GNW





The military spending of major countries in the region is decreasing. Factors like the fluctuations in oil prices and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic are affecting the economies of several countries, thereby affecting the growth in military spending. In addition, countries like Saudi Arabia have announced that they will reduce defense spending to allocate more resources to healthcare and social development sectors. Such decisions may impact the growth of the market in the region.



While countries like Saudi Arabia, Israel, and UAE operate modern military vehicles, several countries in the region possess Soviet-era vehicles that require modernization. Hence, these countries are investing in the procurement of new military vehicles.



In addition, the aging fleet of military vehicles is also forcing some countries to invest in upgrade programs to improve the efficiency, lethality, and sophistication of the vehicles if they are slated to be effectively functional for some more years.



Moreover, while the modernization and expansion of the regions vehicle fleets continue at a healthy pace, the region is also becoming increasingly self-sufficient and independent of the foreign countries by developing their indigenous manufacturing capabilities. Several countries have been developing military vehicles on their own or are partnering with their foreign counterparts and manufacturing vehicles locally with the help of technology transfer agreements.



Key Market Trends

Increasing Focus on the Modernization of Naval Vessels Fleet



For several decades, countries in the Middle East have focussed more on maintaining a modernized fleet of armored vehicles. However, with the changing nature of modern warfare, countries have increased their spending on naval vessel procurement over the past decade and have placed orders for newer generation naval combat ships. For instance, in June 2019, the UAE awarded a USD 850 million contract to Frances Naval Group for two Gowind corvettes. The UAEs 2,700-ton corvettes will be equipped with Naval Groups SETIS combat management system, MBDAs Exocet missile, and Raytheons Evolved Seasparrow Missile. Additionally, the Gowind corvettes would also feature the Thales Tacticos combat management system. Likewise, in February 2020, Fincantieri launched the first Doha-class air defense corvette ordered by the Qatari Ministry of Defence within the national naval acquisition program. The vessel, scheduled for delivery in 2021, is designed consistent with the RINAMIL rules. The ship is envisioned to be capable of fulfilling a range of tasks, from surveillance with sea rescue capabilities to being a fighting vessel, while also being capable of operating high-speed boats such as RHIB (Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat) through lateral cranes or a hauling ramp located at the far stern. The flight deck and hangar are also sized for hosting one NH90 helicopter.



In recent years, the Middle East countries have also realized their over dependency on foreign manufacturers for military vehicles, which has resulted in few countries investing in indigenous development of military vehicles through partnership with allied nations. Such developments and procurement plans will drive the growth of the naval vessels segment during the forecast period.



Saudi Arabia Accounted for a Major Share (by Revenue) in 2020



In 2020, Saudi Arabia accounted for over 36% market share in the Middle East military vehicles market. Saudi Arabia has reduced its defense spending and budget allocation since 2015, primarily due to downward pressure from declining energy prices and more focus on the education sector. Increasing tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran and the recent drone attacks on the oil facilities in Saudi Arabia by Yemens Houthi rebels have raised concerns about the territorial defensive capability of Saudi Arabia. Due to this, the country initiated a huge project to modernize its armed forces. In 2014, the government of Saudi Arabia selected General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada to supply light-armored vehicles, equipment, training, and support services to the country. The contract is worth USD 10 billion and is planned to run through 2030. However, due to the countrys involvement in the war in Yemen, Canada temporarily ceased the delivery of the armored vehicles to the armed forces of Saudi Arabia in 2018. Later, in April 2020, the governments renegotiated the terms of the contract to recommence the deliveries of light armored vehicles. Later in 2016, Saudi Arabia placed an order for 200 armored vehicles from Renault Trucks Defense. The contract includes 100 VAB Mk3 6x6 APCs and 100 SHERPA Light tactical vehicles.



The government of Saudi Arabia initiated the Saudi Naval Expansion Program II, a naval modernization program spanning a period of more than 10 years. The government plans to spend approximately USD 20 billion on new ships (which may replace the outdated East Naval Fleet) and about USD 6 billion on the frigate program built by Lockheed Martin. Under this initiative, the country ordered Multi Mission Surface Combatant Ships (MMSC). In December 2019, Lockheed Martin was awarded a USD 1.96 billion foreign military sales contract to design and construct four MMSC for the country. The delivery of the naval vessels are anticipated to begin by 2023.



The country is also strengthening its aerial combat capabilities through procurement of advanced fighter jets. In December 2020, the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) officially received its final Boeing F-15SA multirole jet as a part of the USD 29-billion foreign military sales (FMS) agreement signed with Boeing in 2010. Under the FMS agreement, 84 F-15SA aircraft were delivered to the country. In March 2021, Saudi Arabia signed two contracts worth more than USD 150 million with Lockheed Martin Corporation, for UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters. Under one contract, the company received an order for four helicopters from the country, which are expected to be delivered in June 2022 (contract modification to previous contract signed in 2017). Another contract was awarded to deliver 25 modified UH-60M helicopters for the Saudi Arabian National Guard (SANG). The contract is scheduled to be delivered through October 2024. With these two orders, the orderbook for UH-60M helicopters has increased to more than 110. Such procurements will propel the growth of the military vehicles market in Saudi Arabia.



Competitive Landscape

The Middle East military vehicles market is majorly dominated by foreign players as of 2020. However, the growing focus toward indigenous manufacturing of military vehicles is anticipated to increase the market share of local players during the forecast period. Countries like Turkey, Saudi Arabia, the UAE are the frontrunners in indigenous manufacturing. Turkey has vastly advanced in armored vehicle manufacturing and is acquiring new vehicles to modernize its fleet. In August 2017, BMC, one of the leading Turkish armored vehicle manufacturers, received a contract from the Turkish government to produce and sell a total of 529 tactical wheeled armored vehicles. Under this contract, BMC was selected as the prime contractor in the program for procurement. The contract was issued under the Tactical Wheeled Vehicles-2 (TTA2) program. Also recently, BMC reached an agreement with two South Korean companies to work on the power pack of its new generation Altay tank. In recent years, Turkey has also improved its indigenous ship manufacturing capability, which has been fueled by the sanctions imposed by the United States. Companies like Aselsan, TAI, IAI, BMC, and NIMR are some of the prominent local players that have grown significantly globally over the past years. Foreign players in order to stay competitive in the Middle East market are partnering with local players and are establishing local manufacturing capabilities.



Reasons to Purchase this report:

- The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format

- 3 months of analyst support

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06079816/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



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New York, June 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Asia-Pacific Micronutrient Fertilizer Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2021 - 2026)" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06079790/?utm_source=GNW

This resulted in a shortage of supply of raw materials required to produce micronutrient fertilizer over a shorter term. Owing to often insufficient micronutrient fertilization during the pandemic restrictions, the steady growth of crop yields is anticipated to compound the problem by progressively depleting soils of their micronutrient supply.



The decreasing arable land and increasing demand for food are propelling growers to increase their agricultural productivity and build sustainable food systems globally, and this is expected to augment the growth of micronutrient fertilizers in the region. Among all the countries in the region, China is the largest market for micronutrient fertilizer consumption, followed by India.



Micronutrient deficiency is widespread in the Asia-Pacific region, which is one of the major regions where crop yield is affected by the deficiency. More than half of the cereal crop soils are zinc deficient and around one-third of the cultivated soil is iron deficient. It is estimated that 40-55% of the soils are moderately deficient in zinc, 25-35% in boron, and approximately 10-15% in other micronutrients. Paddy rice soils are the most susceptible to zinc deficiency and hence, there is a high demand for zinc fertilizers from key rice growing areas of Thailand, Philippines, India, and China among others. Hence, there is growing demand for zinc-based micronutrient fertilizers in these areas over the years.



Key Market Trends

Growing Deficiency of Micronutrients in Soil



Micronutrient deficiencies are frequently observed in intensively grown cereals, oilseeds, pulses, and vegetable crops. Hence, in order to obtain quality products and better yields, farmers are starting to increasingly adopt the use of micronutrients in their crops. The organic matter content in the soil is very low in most of the parts in India, resulting in poor soil fertility, lower output, and increasing import dependency on chemical fertilizers. The impact of particular micronutrients differs from crop to crop and across regions. For instance, in the case of wheat, the major micronutrient deficiencies are copper and manganese. In countries like China, India, and Japan, boron and molybdenum are identified to be deficient in wheat.



As reported by the All India Coordinated Research Project on "Micro and Secondary Nutrients and Pollutant Elements in Soils and Plants" (2016), nearly 49% of the soil samples across the country had a deficiency in Zinc, followed by 33% of the soil being deficient in Boron.



In addition to soil nutrition deficiency, the imbalanced application of different plant nutrient fertilizers is a major problem in most of the developing countries like India. The demand for high-quality soil across the country is driving the overall micronutrient fertilizer market in the Asia-Pacific region since India is one of the largest micronutrient fertilizer consumers in the world.



China is the Largest Market in Micronutrient Fertilizer Consumption



Among all the countries in the Asia-Pacific region, China holds the largest share in terms of consumption, accounting for about 33% of the micronutrient fertilizer market. Increased focus on agricultural productivity and government support strategies are the major factors for the growth of the Chinese micronutrient fertilizer segment. The Ministry of Agriculture of the Peoples Republic of China in 2016 proposed the plan to reduce the reliance and usage of pesticides such as fertilizers by 2020 and further promote the development and usage of environmentally friendly products such as micronutrient fertilizers owing to the increasing demand for novel chemicals in the agricultural sector to enhance the production.



Micronutrient deficiencies are widespread in China because of the generally low micronutrient availability in soils and also because of increasing nutrient demands from increasingly intensive cropping practices. Manganese deficiency is a widespread problem, most often occurring in sandy soils, organic soils with a pH above 6, and heavily weathered, tropical soils, particularly in Northern China.



Although fertilizer usage in the country has been increasing over the years, micronutrient deficiency such as zinc deficiency in the soil has been increasing along with the expansion in the agricultural production. High micronutrient deficiency and increasing demand for crops have encouraged the farmers to adopt more micronutrients, in order to increase soil health and enhance crop productivity.



Competitive Landscape

The market for micronutrient fertilizers in the Asia-Pacific region is moderately consolidated with the international players such as The Mosaic Company, FMC Corporation, AkzoNobel NV, Yara International ASA, BASF SE, Haifa Chemicals Ltd., Coromandel International Limited, Valagro SpA, and others along with many small regional players occupying and capturing the overall market. The most adopted strategies for these players have been mergers and acquisitions as well as the expansion of the market base in the Asia-Pacific region.



Reasons to Purchase this report:

- The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format

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ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



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CHICAGO, June 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As more U.S. citizens have interacted with government agencies online during the COVID-19 pandemic, account takeover fraud threats (ATO) are becoming more prevalent. The findings were revealed today in TransUnions (NYSE: TRU) Public Sector Fraud Study, created in conjunction with the Ponemon Institute.



The study surveyed nearly 600 leaders across federal, state, and local government agencies about their experiences with customer fraud and the technology used to combat it. A clear finding is that ATO fraud has become more prevalent in the public sector as consumers use of the web, mobile phones and connected enterprise/civic software have significantly increased.

More than half (53%) of respondents in the study said that ATO fraud has increased in the last two years. Yet, only 41% of respondents said senior leadership makes it a priority to prevent ATO, and only 38% said their agency regularly assesses the ability of its IT systems to prevent and detect fraud.

The breadth of services delivered on government websites creates complexity, and agencies face dynamic constituent and regulatory requirements to protect customers, verify identities, authenticate eligibility and secure payment transactions, said Jonathan McDonald, executive vice president and head of TransUnions public sector business. Each agency, be it federal, state or local, has unique regulatory and fraud challenges depending on the types of e-commerce services offered. Constituents expect positive online experiences from public sector agencies as government websites form a critical backbone for constituent service delivery.

Rising risk: mobile phones are a significant ATO fraud vector

Not only are ATO threats on the rise, but six in 10 government agency workers said the severity of these attacks are as well.

Because mobile phones are ubiquitous, they represent the largest threat to customer accounts.

57% of visits to U.S. government websites are mobile

62% of respondents said mobile phones are the most vulnerable to ATO

The report also found that government agencies are not making adequate investments in security technologies to protect customer data and make online access to accounts secure and convenient. Only 39% of government agency respondents said customers are happy with the security they offer.

AI perceived as a growing force

Agency leaders agree artificial intelligence (AI) and improving identity authentication will help them deliver a better customer experience while ensuring greater security. More than two-thirds of respondents felt more investment in these two areas is necessary to achieve this goal.

Combatting fraud in each vector, from mobile to online portals, is an imperative and essential task that government agencies must address in 2021. Focusing on emerging tools, such as AI, device risk assessment and identity verification, in addition to policies and best practices for a seamless user experience, will go a long way towards protecting and gaining the confidence of consumers, added McDonald.

According to the study, 65% said artificial intelligence decision-making tools/technologies and interconnected devices will improve the ability to track customers status to improve the security and convenience when accessing online accounts. In addition, 61% said improvements in identity authentication will improve the state of access governance and, therefore, improve user experiences.

Improving benefit enrollment security with identity verification

Government agencies provide trillions of dollars in benefits to constituents annually. The programs that provide cash payment benefits like unemployment, Medicare, SNAP and Social Security are particularly tempting targets for criminals. In 2020, federal agencies reported more than $7 billion of confirmed improper payment fraud.1

Government agencies can address these challenges and be in a position to improve their service levels with a friction-right approach that seamlessly verifies and authenticates constituents throughout their customer journey. Using integrated identity proofing, risk-based authentication and fraud analytics, agencies can scale protections while delivering the streamlined experience their constituents demand, concluded McDonald.

TransUnions Public Sector Division provides fraud, benefit eligibility verification, continuous evaluation services, identity authentication, data breach response, investigation services, and other key solutions to federal, state and local government agencies in the U.S. TransUnions solutions help both private and public sector organizations manage risk and reduce costs.

Government agency officials may register for a July 29 webinar to learn more about the findings. The full study can be downloaded here.

About TransUnion (NYSE:TRU)

TransUnion is a global information and insights company that makes trust possible in the modern economy. We do this by providing a comprehensive picture of each person so they can be reliably and safely represented in the marketplace. As a result, businesses and consumers can transact with confidence and achieve great things. We call this Information for Good.

A leading presence in more than 30 countries across five continents, TransUnion provides solutions that help create economic opportunity, great experiences and personal empowerment for hundreds of millions of people.

http://www.transunion.com/publicsector

Contact Dave Blumberg TransUnion E-mail david.blumberg@transunion.com Telephone 312-972-6646

1 US Government, PaymentAccuracy.gov, Annual Improper Payment Datasets, Payment Accuracy Dataset 2020


VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Macarthur Minerals Limited (ASX: MIO) (TSX-V: MMS) (OTCQB: MMSDF) (the Company or Macarthur) is pleased to announce that it has signed a Cooperation Agreement (Agreement) with diversified Singaporean-based conglomerate Jin Sung International Pte Ltd (Jin Sung), paving the way for a potential strategic investment into Macarthurs iron ore and non-iron ore assets.

Established in 1967, the Jin Sung Group is a large, diversified producer of construction products with a procurement and trading business. Jin Sung is headquartered in Singapore and has diversified interests in a range of producing businesses and is also involved in the procurement and trading of coal, clinker, aggregate, molybdenum concentrate, copper cathodes, gold and silver. Jin Sung is now partnering with Macarthur under a non-binding Co-operation Agreement to explore the potential to bring high grade iron ore and battery minerals into its diverse portfolio of investments.

The Jin Sung Groups interests had a total sales turnover of some USD700 million in 2020. The majority of the Groups 2020 turnover was attributable to its construction interests, predominantly in concrete products which have formed an integral part of a post Covid-19 infrastructure-led recovery. The Groups significant international operations are focused in south-east Asia, and include Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Myanmar and Bangladesh.

The non-binding Cooperation Agreement sets out the terms and conditions upon which the Parties intend to progress discussions on the development of a transaction involving a strategic equity investment in Macarthurs iron ore and non-iron ore assets (at the project level). Following completion of further due diligence, a strategic investment into Macarthur by Jin Sung would be subject to the execution and closing of definitive transaction documentation. The Agreement also facilitates a continuation of potential investment discussions between Jin Sung and Infinity Mining Limited with respect to Macarthurs Australian non-iron ore assets following a successful spin-out of those assets on into that entity and its intended listing on ASX later this year (see the Companys recent announcement regarding the Infinity Mining Limited transaction dated 11 June 2021 (here).

A potential transaction between the parties may take the form of a strategic equity investment by Jin Sung into Macarthurs iron ore assets or non-iron ore assets, or provision of direct project financing.

Mr Jung Sung Chun, Director of Jin Sung commented:

We are very glad to have established a long-term perspective win-win partnership with Macarthur Minerals through the Signing Ceremony for the Cooperation Agreement, and we look forward to deepening our strategic relationship with them.

Richard Moon, General Manager, International Sales & Marketing for Macarthur Minerals commented:

Macarthur has worked collaboratively with Jing Sungs management over several months, and this Agreement represents a material step forward in the relationship between our two organisations.

Jin Sung has a significant business presence in Korea as well as Southeast Asia and I have been particularly pleased to have led the development of this engagement for Macarthur over here in Seoul.

Andrew Bruton, CEO of Macarthur Minerals commented:

Macarthur is very pleased to be co-operating with Jin Sung. We look forward to building a strategic relationship with them into the future and to working with them on a mutually beneficial investment as the Company exciting transition into production continues.

On behalf of the Board of Directors, Mr Cameron McCall, Chairman

For more information please contact:

Joe Phillips Managing Director +61 7 3221 1796 communications@macarthurminerals.com Investor Relations  Australia Investor Relations - Canada Advisir Investor Cubed Sarah Lenard, Partner Neil Simon, CEO sarah.lenard@advisir.com.au +1 647 258 3310 info@investor3.ca





Company profile

Macarthur is an iron ore development, gold and lithium exploration company that is focused on bringing to production its Western Australia iron ore projects. The Lake Giles Iron Project mineral resources include the Ularring hematite resource (approved for development) comprising Indicated resources of 54.5 million tonnes at 47.2% Fe and Inferred resources of 26 million tonnes at 45.4% Fe; and the Lake Giles magnetite resource of 53.9 million tonnes (Measured), 218.7 million tonnes (Indicated) and 997 million tonnes (Inferred). The JORC reporting tables and Competent Person statement for the magnetite and hematite mineral resources have previously been disclosed in ASX market announcements dated 12 August 2020 and 5 December 2019. Macarthur has prominent (~721 square kilometer tenement area) gold, lithium and copper exploration interests in Pilbara region of Western Australia. In addition, Macarthur has lithium brine Claims in the emerging Railroad Valley region in Nevada, USA.

About Jin Sung International Pte Ltd

Jin Sung International Pte Ltd was established in 1967. It has large, diversified holdings in construction products, and has a commodity procurement and trading business that is presently focused on coal, clinker, aggregate, molybdenum concentrate, copper cathodes, gold and silver. Jin Sung is headquartered in Singapore and has operations in Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Myanmar and Bangladesh.

This news release is not for distribution to United States services or for dissemination in the United States

Caution Regarding Forward Looking Statements

Certain of the statements made and information contained in this press release may constitute forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (collectively, forward-looking statements) within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements herein, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including but not limited to statements regarding expected completion of the Feasibility Study; conversion of Mineral Resources to Mineral Reserves or the eventual mining of the Project, are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this press release reflect the current expectations, assumptions or beliefs of the Company based upon information currently available to the Company. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct as actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include but are not limited to: unforeseen technology changes that results in a reduction in iron or magnetite demand or substitution by other metals or materials; the discovery of new large low cost deposits of iron magnetite; the general level of global economic activity; failure to complete the FS; inability to demonstrate economic viability of Mineral Resources; and failure to obtain mining approvals. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty thereof. Such statements relate to future events and expectations and, as such, involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release and except as may otherwise be required pursuant to applicable laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5f9173b8-faf8-4b1c-9280-cceb4614773c

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/38a8e581-fc33-42ac-ae0f-3329e2f3c621
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- RevoluGROUP Canada Inc. (TSX-V: REVO), (Frankfurt: IJA2) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that RevoluPAY EP S.L. signed a Definitive Agreement ("DA") on the 14th of June 2021 with PROSEGUR CASH S.A. subsidiary GELT CASH TRANSFER S.L.U. Under the agreement terms, all underlying gross cash flows are to be processed through RevoluPAY via the Company's PSD2 banking license. The Company initially informed shareholders of this impending DA on the 1st of June 2021. The DA sees RevoluPAY launch what the Company expects to be the first of many white-label partnerships of its RevoluSEND remittance delivery financial technology. As with all such licensing, the RevoluPAY PSD2 banking license and superior KYC and AML protections sustain all financial cashflows. This first white-label of RevoluSEND technology permits remittance deliveries into Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Dominican Republic, Bolivia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Peru, Paraguay, Venezuela, and Uruguay. While this nascent partnership covers only 15 countries, the Company can offer this and other future partners such technology for expanded remittance deliveries to over 110 countries.



GELT CASH TRANSFER S.L.U.

GELT CASH TRANSFER S.L.U. was founded in 2019 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of PROSEGUR CASH S.A. to initially pursue a focus in the wholesale interbank family remittance sector. GELT and its parent Companies will expand into providing remittance services to retail consumers via the RevoluPAY rebranded RevoluSEND proprietary technology deployed under white-label through today's DA.

About Parent PROSEGUR CASH S.A.

Prosegur Cash is a leading global company listed on the Madrid Stock Exchange (Symbol: CASH) with a current market capitalization of approximately 1.42B Euros (approx. 2.09B $CA). Prosegur Cash provides logistics and cash management services and outsourcing services to financial institutions, businesses, government agencies and central banks, money factories, jewelers, and other business activities around the world. The Company has a team of more than 39,000 employees (in addition to 16,000 employees through joint ventures in India and South Africa), a fleet of approximately 9,000 vehicles between armored vehicles and light vehicles, and more than 550 installations between bases and other operational centers. Prosegur was founded in 1976 by Herberto Gut. It began as a private security company, focusing on power plants, industrial facilities, and shopping centers. In 1987, it became the first security company to list on the Madrid Stock Exchange and remains the largest Company in the private security industry in Spain. PROSEGUR operates in 26 countries across four continents. PROSEGUR's entry into new markets and subsequent expansion has often been through acquisition. Its operations grew initially through Spain, Portugal, and Latin America but have since expanded to other parts of Europe and Asia. In December 2013, PROSEGUR entered the Australian market by acquiring the second largest cash in transit business in the country, the Australian division of Chubb Security, for A$145 million (95 million). Prosegur holds a market-leading position in many countries in which it operates, including Spain, Brazil, and Germany.

Company CEO Steve Marshall commented: "Today, a key market player in the finance sector has licensed RevoluSEND. Yet another example for our shareholders that our state-of-the-art technology is embraced and preferred by companies of great magnitude, exemplifying our revenue verticals' strength and desirability. A similar outcome is soon approaching for our crypto technology RevoluEX. We continue to leverage our PSD2 banking license and proprietary technology through these novel partnerships with companies that maintain vast user bases. We expect this first foray into the white-labelling of our RevoluSEND platform to be the start of many such partnerships, as the industry switches away from archaic bricks and mortar business models to securer, lower cost, more convenient web and mobile app technologies, such as those designed and owned by RevoluPAY."

Links Used in this News Release.

Madrid Stock Exchange  Symbol: CASH https://shortly.cc/SN6ug

PROSEGUR CASH S.A.  https://www.prosegurcash.com/en

RevoluSEND - https://revolusend.com/

About RevoluPAY

The Company's flagship Neobanking technology is RevoluPAY, the Apple and Android multinational payment app. Conceived entirely in-house, RevoluPAY features proprietary, sector-specific technology of which the resulting source code is the Company's intellectual property. RevoluPAY's built-in features include Remittance Payments, Forex, Crypto-to-fiat exchange, Retail and Hospitality payments, Real Estate Payments, pay-as-you-go phone top-ups, Gift Cards & Online Credits, Utility Bill payments, Leisure payments, Travel Payments, etc. RevoluPAY employs blockchain protocols and is squarely aimed at the worldwide multi-billion dollar Open Banking sector and + $595 billion family remittance market. RevoluPAY is operated by the European wholly-owned subsidiary RevoluPAY EP S.L situated in Barcelona. RevoluPAY is a dual-licensed Canadian FINTRAC and European PSD2 payment institution 6900 under the auspices of E.U. Directive 2015/2366 with EU Passporting. RevoluGROUP Canada Inc. controls five wholly-owned subsidiaries on four continents.

About RevoluGROUP Canada Inc.:

RevoluGROUP Canada Inc. is a multi-asset, multidivisional publicly traded Canadian Company deploying advanced technologies in; Banking, Mobile Apps, Money Remittance, Mobile Phone Top-Ups, EGaming, Healthcare Payments, Esports, Invoice factoring, Online Travel, Vacation Resort, Blockchain Systems, and Fintech app sectors. Click here to read more.

For further information on RevoluGROUP Canada Inc. (TSX-V: REVO), visit the Company's website at www.RevoluGROUP.com. The Company has approximately 175,180,592 shares issued and outstanding.

RevoluGROUP Canada, Inc.

"Steve Marshall"

______________________

STEVE MARSHALL

CEO

For further information, contact:

RevoluGROUP Canada Inc.

Telephone: (604) 332 5355

Facsimile: (604) 687 3119

Email: info@revolugroup.com

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.
English French

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, June 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SEB Administrative Services Inc. (SEB Admin) has fully implemented and gone live with the life insurance administration for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Group Life Insurance and Disability Income Insurance plans. This is in accordance with the multi-year contract awarded to SEB Admin as announced by the RCMP on January 28, 2021. This initiative is in line with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police objective of providing enhanced member experience, and to ensure its active and retired 40,000+ plan members have a modern and sustainable insurance administration solution.



States Mohamad El Chayah, President, CEO of SEB Administrative Services Inc., SEBs FlexPlus platform has numerous features that the RCMP group life and disability members will enjoy while we facilitate the RCMPs transformation of its administration processes from paper to digital. This will provide RCMP with a reliable, optimized and secure mission critical environment to provision group benefits and enroll participants. The initial contract term is 3 years and the RCMP has 6 years of contractual options. This contract adds to SEBs large professional services footprint to the Government of Canada. We have over $300M of contracting vehicles at all levels of government - federal, provincial, municipal and crown corporations.

States the RCMP, We would like to compliment SEB Admin for the smooth transition through the implementation process as we have migrated from the the previous provider. We would also like to thank Morneau Shepell for its services over the last 15 years and its support through the transition process.

As a policing organization, the RCMP places significant priority in ensuring that life and disability insurance benefits and claims are administered promptly, accurately and efficiently; and that plan participants have access to information in a timely and accessible manner.

This transformational initiative supports our Vision150 modernization agenda by delivering leading-edge services to our members and retirees more conveniently, advancing claims processing, and enhancing the overall member experience.

About SEB and The Expected Benefits

The Administration Services FlexPlus platform provides the RCMP with a modern, digital system for administering the RCMP insurance plans including Group Life, AD&D and Disability Income Group Insurance plans. It will also provide a highly responsive user experience for the 40,000+ RCMP active and retiree plan members. Plan members now have the flexibility to access a secure self-service platform supported by SEBs dedicated bilingual, state-of-the-art Contact Centre, located in Montreal, Quebec, providing services to a national client base.

SEBs FlexPlus platform features a full range of administration modules that have been tailored to the requirements of the RCMP Life Insurance Program (LIAP). The solution has digitally transformed the plan member experience with online enrollment and multiple self-service functions that we are continuing to evolve. Benefits of the new service provider include:

FlexPlus CONNECT portal for convenient single sign-on access of all benefit environments.

Intuitive digital enrollment process.

Enhanced on-line (self-service) access to plan, entitlement and beneficiary information and updates.

Automated Personalized Member Communication Statements including new hire welcome, over-age dependent verification, enrollment reminder notices, termination conversion, beneficiary confirmation, evidence of insurability, etc.

Dedicated and personalized high performance RCMP national bilingual Contact Centre for plan participants.

Capability to seamlessly provision flex plan designs and secure data file feeds between HRIS, Payroll and Carrier systems.

SEB Admin has conformed with all mandatory RCMP security clearances and requirements to ensure compliance with RCMP and Government of Canada policies.

About SEB Administrative Services Inc.

SEB Administrative Services Inc. (SEB Admin), a wholly owned subsidiary of Smart Employee Benefits Inc. (SEB, TSXV:SEB), is a third-party administrator (TPA) providing leading edge cloud-based, fully bilingual, benefit processing solutions using SEB Admins proprietary and customized technologies, solutions and services of Partners. SEB Admins FlexPlus platform provides single sign-on connectivity for all group benefit stakeholders. FlexPlus has over 20 modules supporting multiple revenue models, capturing over 90% of all benefit processing activities for all benefit types. Each module can operate standalone or as an integrated solution. SEB Admin manages benefit plan environments for more than 50 of Canadas name brand companies and government entities. SEB Admin has over 350,000 plan members under administration and more than 180,000 additional plan members under contract and in transition; in total representing more than $1.3B of premium. FlexPlus cloud-enabled solutions support all plan designs  traditional, flex, cafeteria, hour bank, dollar bank, marketplace  via co-sourced, fully outsourced or SaaS models. Our solutions turn cost centers to profit centers for many of our clients and partners.

For further information about SEB Administrative Services Inc., please visit: www.seb-admin.com.

About RCMP

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has been Canada's national police service for nearly 150 years. It has national, federal, provincial, and municipal policing mandates that extend from coast to coast to coast, covering community, provincial/territorial and federal levels. The RCMPs missions are to:

Strive to prevent crime

Investigate crimes

Enforce federal, provincial/territorial, and municipal law

Keep Canadians safe

Offer its renowned expertise at the international level as well.



The RCMP has more than 20,000 active police officers, supported by nearly 10,000 civilian employees in over 700 detachments in 150 communities across the country. It also provides policing services in more than 600 Indigenous communities across Canada. The RCMP, as an organization, is committed to its employees, the communities it serves and all Canadians.

About Smart Employee Benefits Inc. (SEB)

SEB is a proven provider of leading-edge IT and benefits processing software, solutions and services for the Life and Group benefits marketplace and government. We design, customize, build and manage mission critical, end-to-end technology, people and infrastructure solutions using SEBs proprietary technologies and expertise and partner technologies. We manage mission critical business process for over 150 blue chip and government accounts, nationally and globally. Over 90% of our revenue and contracts are multi-year contracts related to government, insurance, healthcare, benefits and e-commerce. Our solutions are supported nationally and globally by over 600 multi-certified technical professionals in a multi-lingual infrastructure, from 11 offices across Canada and globally.

Our solutions include both software and services driven ecosystems including multiple SaaS solutions, cloud solutions & services, managed services offering smart sourcing (near shore/offshore), managed security services, custom software development and support, professional services, deep systems integration expertise and multiple specialty practice areas including AI, CRM, BI, Portals, EDI, e-commerce, digital transformation, analytics, project management to mention a few. We have more than 20 partnerships with leading global and regional technology and consulting organizations.

For further information about Smart Employee Benefits Inc., please visit: www.seb-inc.com.

Forward-looking Statements

This news release is intended for information purposes only. Statements made in this news release may contain "forward-looking" information about the company's future business prospects. These statements while expressed in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis are subject to risk and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth or implied by such forward looking statements. Investors should consult a professional advisor before making any investment decision. Neither TSX Venture Exchange Inc. nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange Inc.) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Media Contacts:

Mohamad El Chayah, President & CEO

SEB Administrative Services Inc.

Tel: 416.418.0619

mohamad.elchayah@seb-admin.com

www.seb-admin.com

Investor Contact:

John McKimm, President/CEO/CIO

Smart Employee Benefits Inc.

Tel: 416.460.2817

john.mckimm@seb-inc.com

www.seb-inc.com
ST. LOUIS, June 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Stifel Financial Corp. (NYSE: SF) today announced the hiring of Charlie Smith as Managing Director in the Venture and Fund Banking Group. Based in California, Mr. Smith is responsible for West Coast fund banking to venture capital and private equity funds, primarily focused on the technology and life sciences sectors.



We are thrilled to welcome Charlie to our team as we actively expand our national footprint, said Brad Ellis, Head of Venture and Fund Banking at Stifel. Mike Breaux has done a tremendous job building our fund banking business over the last three years and driving us to this important point. We are now able to complement Stifels well-established investment banking team on the West Coast, with on-the-ground fund banking capabilities designed specifically for the venture capital and private equity communities. This is a key initiative for us, and we expect to make additional investments and hires in the coming months.

Mr. Smith brings more than two decades of finance experience, primarily working in the asset management space. He joins Stifel from City National Bank, where he was a Senior Vice President in the firms Structured Finance group. In this role, Mr. Smith developed and maintained holistic banking relationships with private equity firms and their affiliates. Prior to this, he was a Senior Vice President in the Wells Fargo Private Bank Specialty Finance Group focused on providing financing to general partners of private equity firms. He earned an MBA from the Simon School of Business at the University of Rochester, and a Bachelor of Science from the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California. He also holds a CFA charter.

Im excited to join the Stifel platform, commented Mr. Smith. Having the ability to tap into the broader Stifel network is a game changer. We are able to offer clients one-stop solutions, including direct lending and banking for portfolio companies, traditional investment banking services, fund placement, fund finance, and management company lending.

Stifels Venture and Fund Banking Group launched in 2018 and provides debt capital financing and commercial banking solutions to entrepreneurs, investors, and their businesses. With national coverage capabilities, the group has produced $2.5 billion in loan commitments and more than $1 billion in deposits in less than three years. The Group targets early-stage startups through mature growth companies and offers broad fund banking products such as capital call/subscription lines of credit in excess of $100 million, treasury management tools, and high-touch relationship management with a single point of contact.

Not only is venture and fund banking an attractive loan and deposit growth vehicle for us, it is also highly complementary to other businesses across the Stifel platform, noted Chris Reichert, CEO of Stifel Bank & Trust. We are incredibly pleased with our success to date and look forward to Charlies contributions on the West Coast.

Stifel Company Information

Stifel Financial Corp. (NYSE: SF) is a financial services holding company headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, that conducts its banking, securities, and financial services business through several wholly owned subsidiaries. Stifels broker-dealer clients are served in the United States through Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, including its Eaton Partners business division; Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.; Miller Buckfire & Co., LLC and Stifel Independent Advisors, LLC. The Companys broker-dealer affiliates provide securities brokerage, investment banking, trading, investment advisory, and related financial services to individual investors, professional money managers, businesses, and municipalities. Stifel Bank and Stifel Bank & Trust offer a full range of consumer and commercial lending solutions. Stifel Trust Company, N.A. and Stifel Trust Company Delaware, N.A. offer trust and related services. To learn more about Stifel, please visit the Companys website at www.stifel.com . For global disclosures, please visit https://www.stifel.com/investor-relations/press-releases .

Media Contact

Neil Shapiro, (212) 271-3447

shapiron@stifel.com

Jeff Preis, (212) 271-3749

preisj@stifel.com
New York, June 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "United States Self-Storage Market - Growth, Trends and Forecast (2020 - 2025)" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06000981/?utm_source=GNW

This is evident from the presence of players such as Public Storage, Extraspace Storage Inc., U-haul amongst others.

- The increasing competition in the region between the players and a surge of new storage construction across the country has resulted in a decrease in rental costs which is expected to fuel the adoption of the self-storage facilities over the forecast period.

- According to SpareFoot the average monthly cost to rent a self-storage unit is USD 88.85 which is a 2.5% decrease from the average price in 2017, the estimation includes all reservations for all storage sizes and types made on SpareFoots network.

- Also, the United States had a 90% share of self-storage inventory as compared to the rest of the world that held only 10% making the United States by far the largest self-storage market worldwide according to Investor Management Services. This in itself is indicative of the fact that there exists a lucrative opportunity for the providers to invest in the market fueling its growth.

- The personal storage segment of the self-storage market is expected to register the highest share, considering the critical demand driver of the market, and urbanization.



Key Market Trends

Business Segment is Expected to Register a Significant Growth



- Although self-storage was originally intended for personal storage, businesses have slowly realized the importance of self-storage facilities. As renting a self-storage unit would be a cost-effective, short-term or long-term solution, to address space management issues.

- For instance, Kuhl Clothing, an outdoor company with a lifestyle vibe and one-of-a-kind fabrics and specialized fit sold their clothing to local boutiques only a few times a year, identified that storage units are more feasible as compared to traditional warehouses as it did not have to pay for empty warehouse space year-round that they only used occasionally.

- The faster-growing e-commerce market in the region has resulted in the increased usage of self-storage spaces by vendors as it has allowed them to mitigate the problems of inventory management smoothening the supply chain operations.

- With vendors in the market offering insurance services, as well as advanced surveillance, like video, to safeguard the products stored, more businesses are looking forward to investing in self-storage units, to keep their inventory running. Vendors in the market are planning their construction spaces within the radius of small businesses, and in line with their requirements, like climate-controlled units of different sizes, etc.



Increased Urbanization Coupled With Smaller Living Spaces is Expected to Drive the Market



- Due to the rising urban population, between 1970-2018, the growth in consumer spending on goods and services is facilitating the need for storage spaces. This is evident from the fact that according to the world bank, the United States had 82.25% of the population living in urban areas of the city as compared to 80.77% in 2010.

- This has presented the self-storage vendors in the region with a lucrative opportunity to build such spaces that allows the user to store his belongings safely and securely at a cheap price.

- For instance, in May 2019, Public Storage PSA opened a new storage facility in Colorado Springs in a move that would allow the company to expand in the region that is witnessing growing neighborhoods.



Competitive Landscape

The competitive rivalry in the United States self-storage market is high owing to the presence of some key players in the region such as public storage, U-haul International Inc. amongst others. Their ability to continually innovate their offerings has allowed them to gain a competitive advantage over other players. Through research and development, strategic partnerships, and mergers & acquisitions these players have been instrumental in gaining a stronger footprint in the market.



- May 2019 - Metro Storage LLC announced the opening of its newest store in Austell, Georgia. the company converted the former Target retail store building, into a single-story, state of the art storage facility with 71,335 RSF of climate-controlled storage.



Reasons to Purchase this report:

- The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format

- 3 months of analyst support

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06000981/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



__________________________
SURRY, MAINE, June 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In the second edition of her book, The World Becomes What We Teach, author Zoe Weil, a pioneer in humane education and president of the Institute for Human Education (IHE), offers a transformative new approach to addressing Americas broken public education system.

The book will be available in July.

Weil proposes that schools educate students to become solutionaries, and her approach is already being incorporated in select schools and school systems across the United States and in India. According to Weil, the goal of a solutionary is to identify inhumane, unsustainable, and unjust systems, and then develop solutions that are healthy and equitablefor people, animals, and the environment alike.

In the new edition, Weil writes: . . . doesnt it make sense for schools to ensure that students understand the formidable challenges before them; to prepare young people to address these challenges; and to engage youth in cultivating their ability and desire to create meaningful solutions to potentially calamitous global problems?

The COVID-19 pandemic, along with the growing calls for social justice, have brought to light the chronic problems that have plagued public education for yearsfrom inequitable funding and unequal access to technology to the relevance of the curriculum for todays world. Since March of last year, school systems have scrambled to keep students connected to their classrooms. But with millions of students poised to return to school this fall, one question looms large: What are they returning to?

As outlined in the book, students and teachers could be returning to schools where they are working to solve problems for their families, communities, and the worldwhile still learning their basic core curriculum. As Weil writes, through a solutionary approach each childs interests and talents are fostered and celebrated and real-world, viable solutions to problems provide an important and respected measure of learning, along with a true sense of meaningful accomplishment. The result is that students become excellent researchers, and critical, systems, strategic, and creative thinking and collaboration are practiced daily.

The San Mateo County Office of Education in California has made Weils approach the philosophy and framework for their entire county, which serves 113,000 students in 23 school districts. Theyve trained hundreds of educators to bring solutionary learning to students, and these students have developed solutions to problems they care about. Sixty-six student teams recently shared their solutionary ideas at the countys first annual Solutionary Fair.

Zoe Weil is the cofounder of IHE and created the organizations online graduate programs and acclaimed workshops. She writes a blog, Becoming a Solutionary, for Psychology Today; regularly appears on podcasts, radio, and television; and is a frequent keynote speaker at educational and other conferences. The author of seven books, she has given six TEDx talks, including her acclaimed talk The World Becomes What You Teach.

Learn more about Zoe by clicking here. For a copy of The World Becomes What We Teach, contact Holly Rodriguez at holly@humaneeducation.org.

Attachment
ALAMEDA, Calif., June 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Plaintiffs with Zantac lawsuits alleging the heartburn medication causes certain types of cancers can pursue their claims in California state court as part of a newly established Judicial Council Coordinated Proceedings (JCCP). This is the largest state court proceeding in the country involving Zantac (ranitidine).



On April 16, 2021, Chief Justice of California and Chair of the Judicial Council, Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye, issued an order assigning Superior Court of California, County of Alameda for all purposes to oversee and coordinate the legal proceedings of Ranitidine Product Cases JCCP 5150. The Presiding Judge of the California Superior Court then assigned Judge Winifred Y. Smith as the Coordination Trial Judge. Judge Smith is the same judge that presided over the California state Roundup cancer cases against Monsanto and the trial of the Pilliods v. Monsanto in the spring of 2019, resulting in the historic $2 billion verdict.

Today, we learned that Judge Smith issued an order assigning attorneys from six law firms to oversee and manage the litigation.

Baum Hedlund and Moore Law Group Appointed to Zantac JCCP Leadership

Judge Smiths order appoints trial attorneys R. Brent Wisner of Baum Hedlund Aristei & Goldman and Jennifer Moore (also admitted to practice law in California) of the Moore Law Group to the Zantac JCCP leadership as Plaintiffs Liaisons. Together, they will present the position of the plaintiffs in all pretrial matters, propose agenda items for case management conferences, draft case management orders, initiate and coordinate pretrial discovery, and submit and argue motions, among many other duties. They also serve as two of the Co-Chairs of the Zantac Litigation Group for AAJ  the American Association for Justice.

Attorneys Wisner and Moore participated in forming the federal Zantac MDL in January of 2020. Both attorneys were also integral parts of the Monsanto Roundup litigation and worked together on the Edwin Hardeman v. Monsanto Co. trial, the only federal case to go before a jury. Attorney Moore served as co-lead trial counsel for Mr. Hardeman, which resulted in an $80 million jury verdict. Attorney Wisner, who was co-lead trial counsel in two Roundup state court cases in California (Johnson and Pilliod), and won jury verdicts totaling more than $2.3 billion, also served on the trial team for Mr. Hardeman.

These hard earned court victories laid the groundwork for over $10 billion in settlements with Bayer (acquired Monsanto in 2018). According to Wisner, the Zantac litigation will dwarf what we won in the Roundup litigation.

With the federal Zantac MDL and the new Ranitidine Product Cases JCCP in California state court, we are following the same path that we took with Roundup, says Wisner. Having multiple venues for these cases gets us one step closer to trial. We are looking forward to giving our clients their day in court.

Dozens of plaintiffs originally filed Zantac lawsuits in California state courts. However, the defendants named in these lawsuits filed motions to transfer the cases into the federal multidistrict litigation (MDL). More than 70,000 individual cases are registered in federal court before United States District Judge Robin Rosenberg for the Southern District of Florida In Re: Zantac (Ranitidine) Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2924, 20-MD-2924.

Attorneys Wisner and Moore had filed multiple remand motions to move dozens of cases out of federal court and back into California state court where they were initially filed. As of this writing, 62 complaints have been filed in the JCCP on behalf of 1,078 plaintiffs, with many more soon to be filed.

Individuals diagnosed with various forms of cancer after regularly taking Zantac may be eligible to pursue a case in the California Ranitidine Product Cases JCCP 5150. Some of the cancers in the Zantac JCCP include:

Bladder Cancer

Breast Cancer

Esophageal / Throat

Kidney Cancer

Liver Cancer

Lung Cancer

Pancreatic Cancer

Prostate Cancer

Stomach Cancer

Thyroid Cancer

What is a JCCP?

Complex cases filed in more than one California county that stem from a common issue of fact or law may be transferred and consolidated to a single court under specific procedures and with the agreement of all of the parties. JCCP stands for Judicial Council Coordination Proceedings. This type of consolidated litigation is commonly referred to as a JCCP or Coordinated Proceedings.

Cases consolidated in a JCCP allow for pre-trial discovery, motions, and the first bellwether trials to happen in front of one presiding judge. A JCCP is similar to a federal MDL in that both provide unified management for the pretrial and trial phases of consolidated cases. The main difference between the federal Zantac MDL and the Ranitidine Product Cases JCCP is that the MDL cases are consolidated in Florida federal court and the JCCP cases are coordinated in California state court. The allegations against the makers of Zantac are largely similar in both proceedings.

Plaintiffs' Executive Committee for the Ranitidine Product Cases JCCP 5150

Several other colleagues will join attorneys Wisner and Moore in the plaintiffs leadership. Judge Smith appointed the following attorneys to the Ranitidine Product Cases JCCP 5150 Plaintiffs Executive Committee (PEC) include:

Steven J. Brady

Brady Law Group of San Rafael, CA

Cynthia L. Garber

OnderLaw of Newport Beach, CA

Behram V. Parekh

Dalimonte Rueb Stoller of Los Angeles, CA

Emily Roark

Bryant Law Center of Paducah, KY

The PEC will work closely with Plaintiffs Liaison Counsel to manage the litigation, including assisting in organizing subcommittees, delegating tasks to subcommittees, and assisting in scheduling meetings for Plaintiffs counsel, among other duties.

About Baum Hedlund Aristei & Goldman

Baum Hedlund Aristei & Goldman has won more than $4 billion in verdicts and settlements over the past 40 years. The firms award-winning personal injury attorneys have a longstanding track record of success holding large corporations accountable for failing to warn of the dangers of consumer products.

The National Law Journal and The Trial Lawyer Magazine honored Baum Hedlunds Roundup legal team as 2020 Elite Trial Lawyers Mass Tort Law Firm of the Year finalists and 2019 Elite Trial Lawyers Mass Tort Trial Team of the Year winner. The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 awarded the firms Roundup attorneys the Trial Team of the Year 2019 and attorney Wisner as 2019 Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyer of the Year. All of the firms attorneys who worked on the Monsanto Roundup litigation are now working on the Zantac cancer litigation.

More than 7,400 people throughout the country have retained Baum Hedlund Aristei & Goldman to mount legal claims alleging Zantac (ranitidine) caused them or a member of their family to develop cancer. Baum Hedlund Zantac attorneys have already filed lawsuits in California state courts on behalf of 840 people.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b52bd260-4a8f-475b-9c39-718a37c5a35b
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alpha Lithium Corporation (TSX.V: ALLI) (OTC: ALLIF) (Frankfurt: 2P62) (Alpha or the Company) is pleased to announce that it is increasing its existing position in the Hombre Muerto Salar, Argentina. The Company has agreed to purchase a 100% working interest in an additional 287 Hectares in this world-class salar.



Hombre Muerto houses one of the most desirable lithium brines in the world, rivaled only by the Salar de Atacama in Chile, primarily due to its high lithium concentrations, exceptional brine flowrates and minimal levels of impurities. It has attracted billions of dollars of investment from the likes of Livent Corporation, Galaxy Resources and Korean giant, POSCO, amongst others.

The Company expects to build on this, and the first (see news release May 18, 2021), acquisition in this world renowned salar. Hombre Muerto is the highest quality and longest producing salar in Argentina and it benefits from an extensive amount of infrastructure developed to support Livent Corporations 25 years of production history.

Through a privately negotiated purchase and sale Agreement the Company has acquired a 100% interest in 287 Hectares  free of any 3rd party royalties  in the heart of the Hombre Muerto Salar. This latest acquisition brings the Companys total to 4,087 Hectares. The Companys position in Hombre Muerto, just as it is in neighboring Tolillar Salar, is 100% owned. The Company has agreed to pay US$750,000 for the property, which has been privately owned by the same individual since 1957.

Alphas newest asset is adjacent to POSCOs property, which was purchased from Galaxy Resources in 2019 for US$280 million. POSCO has since been aggressively developing their project and is currently constructing a lithium production facility near to Alphas property.

Brad Nichol, President and CEO of Alpha noted his local team has a definite edge, Our team has set a pace in Argentina that is unmatched. They have hundreds of years of combined experience in Hombre Muerto, Tolillar and all the major salars in Argentina and Chile. The progress we have made in the last year is a result of our team relying on their experience and strong, established relationships. This is a clear benefit to our shareholders  and it will continue to be so as we increase our presence in Hombre Muerto, now our second core area. We are excited about developing this world class asset, surrounded by numerous lithium giants.

Alpha has $34.2 million in cash and equivalents and is well positioned to aggressively pursue high-quality growth in Argentinas Lithium Triangle.

The Company is already making preparations for a drilling campaign in Hombre Muerto and expects to commence drilling shortly. Additionally, Alpha is currently drilling the final well of its Phase 3 drilling campaign on the Tolillar Salar (see news release April 13, 2021) and looks forward to the completion of that well, followed by an updated 43-101 Resource Estimate, in the coming weeks.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF ALPHA LITHIUM CORPORATION

Brad Nichol

Brad Nichol

President, CEO and Director

For more information:

Alpha Lithium Investor Relations

Tel: +1 844 592 6337

info@alphalithium.com

About Alpha Lithium (TSX.V: ALLI) (OTC: ALLIF) (Frankfurt: 2P62)

Alpha Lithium is a team of industry professionals and experienced stakeholders focused on the development of the Tolillar and Hombre Muerto Salars. In Tolillar, we have assembled 100% ownership of what may be one of Argentinas last undeveloped lithium salars, encompassing 27,500 hectares (67,954 acres), neighboring multi-billion-dollar lithium players in the heart of the renowned Lithium Triangle. In Hombre Muerto, we are expanding our foothold in one of the worlds highest quality, longest producing lithium salars. Other companies in the area exploring for lithium brines or currently in production include Orocobre Limited, Galaxy Lithium, Livent Corporation, and POSCO in Salar del Hombre Muerto; Orocobre in Salar Olaroz; Eramine SudAmerica S.A. in Salar de Centenario; and Gangfeng and Lithium Americas in Salar de Cauchari. For more information visit: https://alphalithium.com/.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include the results of further brine process testing and exploration and other risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company will update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements as expressly required by applicable law.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. No securities regulatory authority has reviewed nor accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release.
TORONTO, June 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Questrade -- Canadas fastest-growing online brokerage -- is proud to announce it has been named Canadas Best Online Broker 2021 by MoneySense. Now in its ninth year, the ranking relies on analysis provided by Surviscor , a leading Canadian research and consulting firm specializing in digital and direct financial services customer experiences. Customized for MoneySense to include hundreds of data points including price, customer service, product offerings and mobile capabilities, Surviscors deep-dive into the Canadian online brokerage marketplace is cited as the most definitive ranking of online brokers in Canada. As the number one pick this year, Questrade scored significantly ahead of the other thirteen firms evaluated in the report and was lauded for its consistently high level of customer service, an area where it continues to outperform its industry peers. In addition, Questrade maintained its top standing in the mobile experience category and led the rankings mobile experience category and new customer onboarding category.



"Were honoured to be recognized once again as the best online brokerage in the country by MoneySense, said Edward Kholodenko, president and CEO, Questrade. It celebrates our commitment to constantly innovate, educate and develop new offerings that make a difference in the lives of Canadians. Throughout our history, we have had one clear vision: provide Canadians with the absolute best investment products, technology, and customer service at a great value, and help them become financially successful and secure.

In the past year, Canadian investors have embraced online brokerage services at rates not seen since the early 2000s. The surge makes sense, given that COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns have forced many of us to navigate life from behind a computer screen. If youre working, socializing and shopping online, why not invest online, too? said Glenn LaCoste, president and CEO, Surviscor.

Questrade claims the overall #1 spot with a score of 36 points. Other notable wins include a repeat as best in customer service, in addition to maintaining its #1 standing in the mobile experience category, and first place ranking in the inaugural, customer onboarding category, which explores the overall process and experience of becoming a client and initial customer experience. This includes transparency on offerings and fees and account opening experience, given Questrade offers both potential and existing customers a clear, streamlined, and supported account opening process regardless of device preference.

Also cited as this years top firm for user experience (UX), Questrade was noted for its intuitive online platform and corresponding mobile experience with industry-leading customization features and functionality, meaning investors can tailor their experience to their personal preferences. Questrade is also noted as a leader for transactional experiences, making it easy for investors to buy and trade equities, ETFs and options.

The company was recognized as an industry influencer, and as being progressive and dedicated to improving its service for customers. Lastly, Questrade was highly praised for its ongoing philanthropy and commitment to financial literacy.

More information about the MoneySense rankings may be found at https://www.moneysense.ca/save/investing/best-online-brokers-in-canada/ .

About Questrade

Questrade ( www.questrade.com ) is Canadas fastest growing online brokerage that is changing the Canadian financial services industry by leveraging technology to lower fees while providing a viable alternative to traditional financial investment options, thereby allowing Canadians to Keep More of their Money. As a leader and innovator in financial services, Questrade is a trusted ally that advocates for consumers, focused on improving value.

With 21 years of challenging the status quo as Canada's leading, non-bank online brokerage, over $25 billion in assets under administration and more than 200,000 accounts opened every year, Questrade and its companies provide financial products and services: securities and foreign currency investment. Questrade has been named one of Canadas Best Managed Companies for the tenth year in a row, achieving Platinum status. For more information visit www.questrade.com or on Facebook and Twitter @Questrade. Questrade, Inc. is a registered investment dealer, a member of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) and a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF).

About Questrade Wealth Management, Inc.

Questrade Wealth Management Inc. ("QWM") provides professional investment management services through Questwealth Portfolios ( www.questrade.com/questwealth-portfolios ). QWM is an Exempt Market Dealer, Investment Fund Manager and Portfolio Manager. QWM is a wholly owned subsidiary of Questrade Financial Group Inc.
TORONTO, June 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Montero Mining and Exploration Ltd. (TSX-V: MON) (Montero or the Company) is pleased to announce the commencement of exploration of its 170 km2 Avispa copper molybdenum exploration concessions (Avispa or the property) located in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile. The Avispa project is situated within the well-defined north to south trending late Paleocene to early Eocene Cu-Mo porphyry belt of northern Chile that hosts some giant operating porphyry copper mines. The property is located approximately 40 km north of BHPs Spence Cu-Mo mine and KGHMs Sierra Gorda Cu-Mo mine which are situated in this belt. Avispa is also 50 km west of Codelcos Chuquicamata supergiant porphyry copper mine that occurs within the younger late Eocene  early Oligocene porphyry belt (Figure 1). The property is surrounded by major mining companies with exploration and mining concessions including; Codelco in the north and Freeport and Glencor to the south with Antofagasta and SQM to the east and west.



The prospective geology of the Avispa project is below a sequence of cover rocks consisting of gravels and fine-grained clastic sediments intercalated with evaporite deposits of Tertiary age. These sediments are underlain by Paleocene volcanics and Cretaceous monzodiorite and diorite porphyries (Figure 1). The Avispa district was previously the target of some wide-spaced exploration drilling.

Dr. Tony Harwood, President and Chief Executive Officer of Montero commented, Montero has secured 17,000 hectares in this highly prospective copper district in proximity and in the same geological setting as world class operating copper molybdenum mines. The Avispa exploration program will be the first step in defining drill target areas to test for buried porphyry and porphyry-related copper molybdenum mineral deposits.

Figure 1 is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e8736c3f-158a-4086-af95-cf29fd57cb02

Planned Exploration Program

Montero has completed a thorough investigation of historical information on exploration in this highly prospective area and aims to utilize cutting edge exploration technology with the objective of developing drilling targets. The Company has planned an exploration program that includes; geological mapping, surface sampling, ground, and airborne geophysical surveys.

Reconnaissance mapping has shown extensive areas of Tertiary evaporites with intercalated sediments that overlay older volcanic and intrusive rocks hosting the porphyry deposits in the area. The area will be initially mapped and prospected on a scale of 1:10,000. A rock chip and soil sampling program will be undertaken to help define geochemical signatures of any buried mineralization. Our geologists will also sample surface RC stockpiles that have been left next to RC drill holed left by previous companies that has drilled in the area. Geophysical work planned in the future will include airborne magnetics over selected areas of the property to define possible buried porphyry targets and controlling structural features. Targets will be prioritized for reverse circulation drill testing.

Previous companies to have explored Avispa include BHP that conducted limited drilling on the property at 2 km to 3 km spacing as part of a regional exploration program. Montero believes that there is potential for buried porphyry and porphyry-related deposits with smaller footprints than those sought by major companies.

Monteros Chief Geologist, Marcial Vergara, has reviewed publicly available data on Avispa and has conducted a field visit. Marcial previously worked for Codelco and Anglo American, both major operating copper mining companies in Chile. Montero has adopted a prospect generator model at Avispa where it will de-risk the project and carry out limited exploration while seeking a partner to advance the project through the drill phase. This will provide Montero shareholders with exposure to the copper space while it continues to focus on the gold-silver potential of southern Chile.

Qualified Person's Statement

This press release was reviewed and approved by Mr. Mike Evans, M.Sc. Pr.Sci.Nat. and Sr. Marcial Vergara B.Sc. who are qualified persons for the purpose of National Instrument 43-101. Sr Vergara is based in Santiago and has more than 30 years experience in copper exploration experience in Chile.

About Montero

Montero is a junior exploration company focused on finding, exploring, and advancing globally significant gold deposits in Latin America. The Company is in the process of relinquishing its portfolio of battery metal projects in Africa to focus on gold opportunities in Latin America. Monteros board of directors and management have an impressive track record of successfully discovering and advancing precious metal and copper projects. Montero trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol MON and has 38,647,485 shares outstanding.

For more information, contact:

Montero Mining and Exploration Ltd.

Dr. Tony Harwood, President and Chief Executive Officer

E-mail: ir@monteromining.com

Tel: +1 416 840 9197 | Fax: +1 866 688 4671

www.monteromining.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements, projections and estimates with respect to the Share Consolidation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as plans, expects or does not expect, is expected, budget, scheduled, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates or does not anticipate, or believes, or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved. Such information is based on information currently available to Montero and Montero provides no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Forward-looking information by its very nature involves inherent risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance, or achievements of Montero to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Actual results relating to, among other things, completion of the agreement, results of exploration, project development, reclamation and capital costs of Monteros mineral properties, and financial condition and prospects, could differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements for many reasons such as: an inability to complete the agreement on the terms as announced or at all; changes in general economic conditions and conditions in the financial markets; changes in demand and prices for minerals; litigation, legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; technological and operational difficulties encountered in connection with Monteros activities; and other matters discussed in this news release and in filings made with securities regulators. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of Monteros forward-looking statements. These and other factors should be considered carefully and accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Montero does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
English French

OTTAWA, June 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- This week, union members from across the country are meeting online for the Canadian Labour Congress triennial convention to debate the labour movements priorities and to elect new leadership.



The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) is Canadas major umbrella organization of national unions, provincial federations of labour and local labour councils and represents over three million workers.

The convention, originally scheduled for last May but postponed due to the pandemic, will be CLC President Hassan Yussuffs final official duty before his retirement.

Yussuff became the first person of colour to lead Canadas union movement when he was elected to the presidency in 2014 after having spent 15 years as part of the Executive team in various roles. Yussuff was planning to step down in 2020, but his term was extended to help confront the challenges of the pandemic.

Practically overnight, Canadas workers were looking down a dark, uncertain tunnel of fear about safety, joblessness, precarity and disruption that we had to address quickly, said Yussuff, who worked with the federal government to push for worker protections. Our priorities included ensuring that workers had adequate personal protective equipment, emergency income supports, and ensuring that governments addressed the gaps impacting frontline workers, including women and members of equity seeking communities. We were able to do much of this and help workers get through one of the most challenging moments in our history.

Yussuff has long been at the forefront of improving conditions for Canadas workers and their families, winning victories like a $15 dollar federal minimum wage, an expanded Canada Pension Plan, a national ban on asbestos and funding for a national child care program, and paid domestic leave, among other gains. Yussuff sat on the governments NAFTA advisory panel, as part of an unprecedented involvement of Canadas labour unions in the trade negotiations, and he also co-chaired the Just Transition Task Force for Canadian Coal Power Workers and Communities.

This years convention theme is Defining the Future. Delegates will be tasked with debating key policy resolutions that will address current and emerging issues in Canadas political landscape, and will help shape a strong COVID-19 pandemic recovery.

This event is ground-breaking, said Yussuff. Never before have so many union members met virtually in a setting such as this one. We hope to establish a clear roadmap for Canadas unions that includes looking ahead to a strong pandemic recovery that puts people first, and leaves no one behind. This event will be a defining moment for Canadas unions.

Delegates will be electing a new CLC executive on Friday, June 18. They will cast electronic ballots for the roles of President, Secretary-Treasurer and Executive Vice-Presidents.

To arrange an interview, please contact:

CLC Media Relations

media@clcctc.ca

613-526-7426
TORONTO, June 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Euro Sun Mining Inc. (TSX: ESM) (Euro Sun or the Company) is pleased to announce the issuance of the Avizul de Oportunitate by the County Council of Hunedoara County, Romania. This approval is a significant milestone in the permitting process and is required under Romanian legislation to continue to advance the Rovina Valley Project.



With the issuance of the Avizul de Oportunitate, (approximate translation: opportunity opinion and/or permit), the Company is now approved to proceed to the next stage of permitting for the Rovina Valley Project, namely the Planul Urbanistic Zonal (PUZ) or Certificate of Urbanism for Land. The PUZ process takes the existing pastoral or forest lands and re-zones the required area for commercial activity. The definitive feasibility study, filed on April 14th, 2021, provided the necessary engineering details required for the submittal of the approximately 3,000 page application and ultimately approval of the permit.

As announced on April 5th, 2021 the Company officially initiated the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) with the Environmental Protection Agency of Hunedoara County (EPA). The legislated eighteen-day period for public comment on initiation of the SEA has passed with no comments received by the EPA. The Company and the EPA are now working towards receiving the agreements and/or opinions from all the administrative authorities for the environmental opinion on the PUZ and preparing for public consultations expected to occur in Q3 2021.

Scott Moore, Euro Suns CEO states, We are pleased to see continued ongoing support by the Romanian state as they deliver approvals as required to move the Rovina Valley Project towards our construction start. Investor perception of Romania as a potentially unfriendly jurisdiction to mining is clearly not accurate as these approval milestones continue to demonstrate. Our Definitive Feasibility Study has outlined a generational asset that brings the highest environmental stewardship along with significant economic benefits directly to our local communities and to the County as a whole. The milestone permit now allows the company to proceed with the PUZ taking us another step closer to construction.

About Euro Sun Mining Inc.

Euro Sun is a Toronto Stock Exchange listed mining company focused on the exploration and development of its 100%-owned Rovina Valley gold and copper project located in west-central Romania, which hosts the second largest gold deposit in Europe.

For further information about Euro Sun Mining, or the contents of this press release, please contact Investor Relations at info@eurosunmining.com

Caution regarding forward-looking information:

This press release contains statements which constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Company with respect to future business activities and operating performance. Forward-looking information is often identified by the words may, would, could, should, will, intend, plan, anticipate, believe, estimate, expect or similar expressions and includes information regarding the Companys estimates, expectations, forecasts and guidance for production, all-in sustaining cost, capital expenditures, cost savings, project economics (including net present value) and other information contained in the feasibility study; as well as references to other possible events, the future price of gold and copper, the estimation of mineral reserves and mineral resources, the realization of mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates, the timing and amount of estimated future production, costs of production, capital expenditures, costs and timing of the development of the project and mining and processing activities, requirements for additional capital, government regulation of mining operations, and environmental risks.

Investors are cautioned that forward-looking information is not based on historical facts but instead reflect managements expectations, estimates or projections concerning future results or events based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates of management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, such information involves risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed on such information, as unknown or unpredictable factors could have material adverse effects on future results, performance or achievements of the Company. This forward-looking information may be affected by risks and uncertainties in the combined business of the Company and market conditions, including (1) there being no significant disruptions affecting the Companys operations whether due to extreme weather events and other or related natural disasters, labor disruptions, supply disruptions, power disruptions, damage to equipment or otherwise; (2) permitting, development, operations and production for the Rovina Valley Project being consistent with the Companys expectations; (3) political and legal developments Romania being consistent with current expectations; (4) certain price assumptions for gold and copper; (5) prices for diesel, electricity and other key supplies being approximately consistent with current levels; (6) the accuracy of the Companys mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates; and (7) labor and materials costs increasing on a basis consistent with the Companys current expectations. This information is qualified in its entirety by cautionary statements and risk factor disclosure contained in filings made by the Company with the Canadian securities regulators, including the Companys annual information form, financial statements and related MD&A for the financial year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the securities regulatory authorities in certain provinces of Canada and available at www.sedar.com.

Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Although the Company has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be others that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update this forward-looking information except as otherwise required by applicable law.

The Company has included certain non-GAAP financial measures in this press release, such as all-in sustaining costs (AISC) per ounce of gold sold, net present value (NPV). These non-GAAP financial measures do not have any standardised meaning. Accordingly, these financial measures are intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). AISC is a common financial performance measure in the mining industry but has no standard definition under IFRS. AISC includes operating cash costs, net-smelter royalty, corporate costs, sustaining capital expenditure, sustaining exploration expenditure and capitalised stripping costs. Other companies may calculate these measures differently and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS.

The TSX does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
English French

OTTAWA , June 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

Thanks to the generosity of Canadians and the Government of Canada, Red Cross and Red Crescent efforts to help mitigate the impact of COVID-19 in India, Nepal and the wider region will be increased through medical equipment and other urgently needed supplies.



High COVID-19 infection rates have been devastating in South Asia. Thousands of Red Cross and Red Crescent personnel are working diligently, providing ambulance services, first aid, medical care, oxygen, and vaccination support to people in some of the most vulnerable areas and situations.

Canadian efforts to assist people impacted by COVID-19 in South Asia will include providing urgent items such as:

oxygen generators and concentrators;

an ambulance;

field hospital tents to help isolate patients;

hygiene kits; and,

personal protective equipment.



As efforts to contain the pandemic continue to evolve, the Red Cross will adapt its response and provide supports as needs are identified.

Canadians wishing to support Red Cross COVID-19 response efforts in Canada or around the world can do so online at www.redcross.ca or by calling 1-800-418-1111.

QUOTES

The humanitarian needs in South Asia are immense as the region faces the devastating effects of COVID-19 and its variants. The medical equipment and supplies being delivered to India, Nepal, and the wider region are desperately needed to help save lives. Thanks to the generosity of Canadians and the Government of Canada, the efforts being made will make a difference in these very challenging times.

 Conrad Sauve, president and CEO, Canadian Red Cross

More than ever before, the world needs to come together to defeat this pandemic. Our government is working closely with the Red Cross in support of the response against COVID-19. The needs are immense, but every donation makes a difference. Thank you to everyone who has generously supported this effort.

 Karina Gould, Minister of International Development



ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

@RedCrossCanada | facebook.com/CanadianRedCross | redcross.ca/blog

Red Cross donor inquiries: WeCare@redcross.ca or 1-800-418-1111

ABOUT THE CANADIAN RED CROSS

Here in Canada and overseas, the Red Cross stands ready to help people before, during and after a disaster. As a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement  which is made up of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Committee of the Red Cross and 192 national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies  the Canadian Red Cross is dedicated to improving the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity in Canada and throughout the world.

MEDIA CONTACTS

English Media: 1-877-599-9602

French Media: 1-888-418-9111
EDMONTON, Alberta, June 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bitcoin Well (the Company or BTCW), a company providing convenient, secure and reliable ways to buy, sell and use bitcoin, is pleased to announce that we have officially opened our Calgary over-the-counter (OTC) office. Our OTC Calgary office will provide best-in-class service by appointment for individuals seeking to transact in larger bitcoin denominations and will offer a comfortable setting for those interested in learning about the benefits of bitcoin as a means of securing financial sovereignty.



The Bitcoin Well management team includes two of Albertas original bitcoin entrepreneurs, both of whom have an established track record of successfully opening bricks-and-mortar bitcoin locations. The Companys Chief Revenue Officer, Dave Bradley, opened the worlds first bitcoin store in Calgary back in 2013 as bitcoin was in its early stages, and created a prestigious and trusted environment for clients. Chief Executive Officer, Adam OBrien launched the OTC office in Edmonton which has been successfully serving our loyal client base with superior, high-touch service since 2017.

Expanding our office footprint to Calgary is monumental. Both Adam and I believe the city is in need of our white-glove service to replicate the success we have built with the same model in Edmonton, said Dave Bradley. As two of the longest-serving and trusted experts with a proven track record in the bitcoin space, the Bitcoin Well team plans to continue this trend and open additional OTC offices in other national and international cities, bringing our top-quality, exceptional service to markets around the world.

The new ~1,000 square foot office is centrally located at 724 11 Avenue SW in Calgarys popular Beltline District and will house our growing Calgary BTCW team. With ample street parking and easy accessibility, the Calgary OTC office will provide services by appointment within a welcoming, concierge-type environment where people can learn about bitcoin and gain insights into how to protect their digital assets. With this office opening, Bitcoin Well is looking forward to enhancing our activity in the Calgary community, including hosting educational sessions for Calgarians to learn more about bitcoin.

As an organization focused on advancing tech and innovation in Calgary, Platform is excited to see a company like Bitcoin Well choose to expand their business to downtown Calgary  its a reflection of the growth and momentum were seeing in tech and innovation across the city and the province, says Terry Rock, CEO at Platform Calgary. Bitcoin Wells expansion to Calgary will help create new jobs in tech and attract young talent which is critical to our economic recovery.

About Bitcoin Well

Bitcoin Well offers convenient, secure and reliable ways to buy and sell bitcoin through a trusted Bitcoin ATM network and suite of web-based transaction services. BTCW is Adjusted EBITDA positive and positioned to become the first publicly traded Bitcoin ATM company, with an enterprising consolidation strategy to deliver accretive and cost-effective expansion in North America and globally. As leaders of the longest-running, founder-led Bitcoin ATM company, management of Bitcoin Well brings deep operational capabilities that span the entire value chain along with access to proprietary, cutting-edge software development that supports further expansion. Follow us on LinkedIn , Twitter , YouTube , Facebook and Instagram to keep up to date with our business.

Contact Information

For investor information, please contact:

Bitcoin Well

10142 82 Avenue NW

Edmonton, AB T6E 1Z4

bitcoinwell.com

Adam OBrien, President & CEO or

Dave Bradley, Chief Revenue Officer

Tel: 1 888 711 3866

IR@bitcoinwell.com

For media queries and further information, please contact:

Karen Smola, Director of Marketing

Tel: 587-735-1570

k.smola@bitcoinwell.com

Reader Advisory / Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release regarding Bitcoin Well which are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, such as the timing of expansion plans and activities, allocation of the proceeds from the private placement as well as various business objectives. Such information can generally be identified by the use of forwarding-looking wording such as may, expect, estimate, anticipate, intend, believe and continue or the negative thereof or similar variations. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature, they involve inherent risks and uncertainties such as the risk that the closing may not occur for any reason. Actual results in each case could differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements due to factors such as: (i) adverse market conditions and (ii) the need for additional financing. Except as required by law, Bitcoin Well does not intend to update any changes to such statements.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/293588df-19b0-4748-9fa0-c51d1447a0f8
United States, Massachusetts, Andover, June 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- IQRA Network, a leading Quran and Arabic school where students can learn Quran online, speak Arabic confidently, and master Islamic Studies has announced expansion of its operations to five new states including New York, California, Michigan, Illinois, and Texas. Students in these states will have access to high quality Quran tutors for kids and adults along with electronic resources and a highly trained dedicated academic team.

While speaking about the expansion, Dr. Fahd Albinali, cofounder of IQRA indicated that this new expansion will bring the program closer to the community.

Our mission at IQRA has always been to forge meaningful relationships with the communities where our students reside and this will bring us closer to being present in local mosques, as well as online.

IQRA Network was founded in 2017 with the mission of making Arabic, Quran, and Islamic Studies easy and affordable. The learning process involves going through the comprehensive, premier online program with the support of professional tutors. It is tailored for each of the students depending on their learning needs. Apart from going through the learning process, the network also organizes the IQRA International Quran Competition where students from across the world have an opportunity of testing their mastery of the Quran together with other students.

One of the students who has gone through the program, Ghada Davies says that the inspirational tutors contributed immensely to their spiritual growth.

I can't be any happier with the level of Professionalism and excellence in the provision of service from IQRA. They were always very prompt in responding to any queries and excellent communication. My teacher is so knowledgeable and inspirational, she goes over and above expectations to make it easy for me to learn. If you or any member of your family needs to learn Quran at your own pace, IQRA is the best.

Joining the program involves 3 easy steps. The candidates first need to schedule an evaluation by filling a form mentioning their availability. IQRAs highly trained evaluators will then contact the student for the appointment. The evaluation usually gauges the student level and proficiency in different areas of language and Quran. After completing the evaluation, a report will be sent to the student with details of their scores in Arabic and Quran. The report also contains the curriculum they will go through and details on the instructor and the date of starting their class. After confirming everything, the student receives a welcome email with a link to their virtual class.

The program has so far enrolled students from 46 countries across the world. It has also received 5-star customer reviews on Google and Facebook making it a valuable service to families worldwide. To learn more about the network visit our Facebook, YouTube and Instagram platforms.

For the original news story, please visit https://prdistribution.com/news/online-islamic-learning-program-iqra-network-announces-expansion-into-five-new-states-in-the-us.html

Attachments
Visiongain has published a new report on  Rare Disease Market Forecast 2021-2031: By Drugs (Revlimid, MabThera/Rituxan, Opdivo, Imbruvica, Sprycel, Tasigna, Copaxone,Rebif, Gleevec, Velcade, Others), Disease (Rare Oncology Diseases, Rare Metabolic Diseases, Rare Neurologic Diseases, Rare Hematology Diseases, Rare Infectious Diseases, Other Rare Diseases) Type (Non Biologics, Biologics) Age (Adult, Pediatric) End Use (Specialty Pharmacies, Hospital Pharmacies, Retail Pharmacies), by Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East & Africa) Plus COVID-19 Recovery Scenarios

Visiongains lead analyst says: The global rare disease market was valued at US$179.56 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach US$623.73 billion by 2031.



What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the Rare Disease Market?

COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on the global economy and disrupted the flow of trade since the coronavirus spread in late 2019. As lockdowns were imposed in all the countries, diagnosis rates went down in majority of countries during the year hitting the drug sales for some period. Although lockdown measures have been eased up in most countries by mid-year 2020, this trend is expected to continue beyond 2020, stock up of medicines by patients is likely to propel the drug sales in majority of the developed economies, which account for majority of rare diseases.

Download Exclusive Sample of Report @ https://www.visiongain.com/report/rare-diseases-market-2021/#download_sampe_div

Key highlights about rare diseases market:

 Majority of rare diseases effect new born and are diagnosed before the age of 5 years

 Genetic testing finds major application in diagnosing variety of rare diseases

 Rising number of new born screenings is expected to increase the diagnosis rate of rare diseases

 Prenatal screening finds its application in diagnosing Trisomy 13, Trisomy 18 and Edwards disease

Regional Analysis:

Based on regions, the global rare diseases market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. According to Visiongain analysis, North America dominated the global rare diseases market and is predicted to do over the forecast period. The market dominance is attributed to due to high number of approved drugs, high awareness levels regarding diagnosis and management of diseases.

Furthermore, government funds for geriatric population is also one of the major reason for North America being dominant across the globe. However, APAC region is projected to witness highest growth rate over the forecast period owing to increasing growth of prenatal as well as new born screenings in countries such as India, Thailand, Singapore, and many more. Rising geriatric population coupled with increasing awareness regarding symptoms, diagnosis is anticipated to fuel the regional market over the study period.

Disease Analysis:

Based on disease, the global rare disease market has been divided into has been segmented based on rare oncology diseases , rare metabolic diseases, rare neurologic diseases, rare hematology diseases, rare infectious diseases, other rare diseases. The rare oncology segment is likely to grow owing to rising number of rare cancers coupled with large pool of clinical trials being conducted in the U.S. and Europe for the same.

Get Detailed TOC @ https://www.visiongain.com/report/rare-diseases-market-2021/#download_sampe_div

How the Rare Disease Market report helps you

In summary, our 330+ page report provides you with the following knowledge:

 Revenue forecasts to 2031 for rare disease Market growth , with forecasts for disease and end use, each forecasted at a global and regional level discover the industrys prospects, finding the most lucrative places for investments and revenues

 Revenue forecasts to 2031 for 5 regional and 17 key national markets See forecasts for the rare disease market in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East and Africa. Also forecasted is the market in the U.S., Canada, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Russia, Denmark, Netherland, Japan, India, China, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, and UAE among other prominent economies.

 Prospects for established firms and those seeking to enter the market including company profiles for 15 of the major companies involved in the rare disease Market. Some of the companies profiled in this report are Pfizer Inc., Novartis AG, Merck KGaA, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Amgen Inc., Biogen Inc., Teva Pharmaceuticals, Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Sanofi S.A., AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Roche, Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc.

Information found nowhere else

With our newly report title, you are less likely to fall behind in knowledge or miss out on opportunities. See how our work could benefit your research, analyses, and decisions. Visiongains study is for everybody needing commercial analyses for the respiratory inhalers market and leading companies. You will find data, trends and predictions.

Find quantitative and qualitative analyses with independent predictions. Receive information that only our report contains, staying informed with this invaluable business intelligence .

Find more research reports on the Pharmaceutical Industry , please click on the following links:

Do you have any custom requirements we can help you with? Any need for a specific country, geo region, market segment or specific company information? Contact us today, we can discuss your needs and see how we can help: sara.peerun@visiongain.com

About Visiongain

Visiongain is one of the fastest growing and most innovative, independent, market intelligence around, the company publishes hundreds of market research reports which it adds to its extensive portfolio each year. These reports offer in-depth analysis across 18 industries worldwide. The reports cover a 10-year forecast, are hundreds of pages long, with in depth market analysis and valuable competitive intelligence data. Visiongain works across a range of vertical markets, which currently can influence one another, these markets include automotive, aviation, chemicals, cyber, defense, energy, food & drink, materials, packaging, pharmaceutical and utilities sectors. Our customized and syndicated market research reports means that you can have a bespoke piece of market intelligence customized to your very own business needs.
English French

OTTAWA, June 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Canadian Propane Association (CPA) is celebrating its tenth anniversary with a new brand identity that conveys propane as an essential part of Canadas low carbon economic future. While this is a significant transformation, the industrys core values havent changed.



Though Canadas propane industry has been represented for over 50 years, the industry took an important step in 2011 by uniting over 400 businesses from coast to coast as one national voice under the Canadian Propane Association. The CPA continues to be a respected voice, committed to advancing the industry on multiple fronts and to promoting a culture of safety in areas related to the transportation, storage and use of propane.

The decision to update our brand was born out of the need for our visual expression to convey todays industry  modern, versatile, and reliable. The visual brand also needed to convey two undeniable facts: Canadian propane is distributed by a vast network of businesses engaged in face-to-face relationships with their communities, and propane is a critical part of a low carbon economic future.

The new logo aptly demonstrates the propane industry as cooperative in supporting Canadians to make greener, affordable choices for their homes and businesses.

The blue represents the economic prosperity while the prominent green, the need to safeguard the environment. These fundamental pillars merge to form a bond shaped like a leaf and a flame. This balance is very important in our history  we must be authentic to who we are. We are not pretending propane is the only solution, but rather insisting that its part of an array of sensible solutions for communities and businesses.

The CPA will be incorporating the new identity into all communications through a phased approach. Keep an eye out for the new branding that helps to tell the propane industrys story: Propane  a modern and sustainable energy solution.

About the Canadian Propane Association

With over 450 members, the Canadian Propane Association (CPA) is the national association for a growing, multi-billion-dollar industry that impacts the livelihood of tens of thousands of Canadians. The CPA develops and produces industry training materials, offers an emergency response assistance plan to its members, and provides advocacy services for the propane industry. The CPA does not monitor or provide an analysis of propane prices or supply and cannot comment on individual businesses operations.

For further information, contact: Tammy Hirsch, Sr. Director, Communications and Marketing by email: media@propane.ca or phone: 587-349-5876.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/bf1cabb0-c99a-4613-be8d-9776a30ff1c5




Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States

TORONTO, June 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PowerBand Solutions Inc. (TSXV: PBX) (OTCQB: PWWBF) (Frankfurt: 1ZVA) ("PowerBand", PBX or the "Company), a comprehensive e-commerce solution transforming the online experience to sell, trade, lease, and finance vehicles, is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with Desjardins Capital Markets and Scotiabank, acting as co-bookrunners and co-leads (the Agents), whereby the Agents have agreed to sell, on a best efforts private placement basis up to 17,647,100 common shares of the Company (the Offered Shares) at a price of $0.68 per Offered Share for gross proceeds of up to $12,000,028 (the Offering). The Company has granted the Agents an option, exercisable, in whole or in part, to sell up to an additional 15% of the Offering at the Issue Price for market stabilization purposes and to cover over-allotments, if any (the Agents Option). If the Agents Option is exercised in full, the total gross proceeds of the Offering would be approximately $13,800,032.



All securities issued in connection with the private placement are subject to a 4-month hold. Closing of the Offering will be subject to certain closing conditions, including approval from the TSX Venture Exchange. The Company anticipates closing the transaction on or about July 8, 2021.

The Company intends to use the proceeds to fortify the balance sheet, accelerate growth from DRIVRZ Financial and launch DrivrzXchange and DrivrzLane before the end of 2021. Kelly Jennings, CEO commented This transaction serves to de-risk our business plan and enables us to attract new capital markets partners and sophisticated investors as we continue to accelerate growth and scale our business. This is a very strategic financing as it positions all three business segments to contribute to financial results in 2022.

The Offered Shares will be offered for sale by the Agents in each of the provinces and territories of Canada.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless an exemption from such registration is available.

About PowerBand Solutions, Inc.

PowerBand Solutions Inc., listed on the TSX Venture Exchange and the OTCQB markets, is a fintech provider disrupting the automotive industry. PowerBand's integrated, cloud-based transaction platform facilitates transactions amongst consumers, dealers, funders, and manufacturers (OEMs). It enables them to buy, sell, trade, finance, and lease new and used, electric and non-electric vehicles, on any phone, tablet or PC connected to the internet. PowerBand's transaction platform - being trademarked under DRIVRZ" - is being made available across North American and global markets.

For further information, please contact:

Kelly Jennings

Chief Executive Officer

E: info@powerbandexchange.com

P: 1-866-768-7653

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to the Company and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding future plans and objectives of the Company, are forward looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company makes no representations or guarantees that the Offering will close.

The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, including market factors, and subscriber demand for the Offering, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. As a result, we cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement will materialize, and the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as at the date of this news release, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by Canadian securities law.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Access Pro Bono Society of BC ( APB ), B.C.s Provincial Court and the Ministry of Attorney General launch the innovative Virtual Family Mediation Project to reduce the backlog of separation and divorce matters awaiting resolution in family courts.



Separation and divorce are often time-consuming and costly processes for B.C. families. Resolving family relationship breakdowns in court can also be traumatizing for everyone involved. The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified these negative experiences, and has increased delays and other barriers to swift resolution within an already overburdened justice system.

Access Pro Bono has partnered with the Ministry of Attorney General and a BC-based technology start-up, Qase, to launch a pilot project enabling online family mediations for low and modest income families engaged in the Provincial Courts Early Resolution Process. This project uses new online technology to facilitate early resolution of family law mattersthereby saving money and reducing stress for families, and improving access to justice.

The Qase platform will dramatically improve the timeliness and reach of our services as we respond to the COVID-19 pandemic by serving critical legal needs with the safety of online connections, said Jamie Maclaren QC, Executive Director of Access Pro Bono. Our lawyers, frontline staff and clients will all benefit from the cutting-edge technology. We look forward to using it to improve access to justice during the late stages of the pandemic and far beyond.

APB promotes access to justice in B.C. by providing free legal services to people and non-profit organizations of limited means. As one aspect of its full spectrum of free legal services, APB conducts approximately 500 half-hour, face-to-face legal advice sessions each month in 55 cities and towns across the province.

We know that having to go to court to resolve family law issues, such as child support or parenting time, can have a significant negative impact on families, said David Eby, Attorney General. By taking those issues out of the courtroom where possible, this project will lead to better outcomes for families, reducing stress and help them deal with matters more quickly and efficiently. It is another great example of how technology can improve access to justice and deliver a system that better supports the needs of British Columbians, wherever they are in the province.

About Access Pro Bono: Access Pro Bono is a British Columbia charitable organization whose mission is to promote access to justice in B.C. by providing and fostering quality pro bono legal services for people and non-profit organizations of limited means. APBs LRS also provides opportunity for every British Columbian to engage an expert lawyer in a free consultation about their legal concerns.

About Qase: Qase is a SaaS platform built for both legal organizations and law firms that helps people find and work with lawyers entirely online.

For more information, please contact:

Jamie Maclaren QC, APB Executive Director, jmaclaren@accessprobono.ca

Ministry of Attorney General, Media Relations, 778 678-1572
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Cassandra Cole-Williams, a Chicago police sergeant, says her team was deployed for several days to protect her supervisor's house in Chicago's Bridgeport neighborhood during unrest in the city last year.
ELKHART [mdash] Helen Free was born Feb. 20, 1923 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to James S. Murray and Daisy Piper Murray, who died when Helen was six years old. Graduating as valedictorian of Poland Seminary High School in 1941, she attended the College of Wooster, initially majoring in Engli
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The Baku Grand Prix was a great success for the whole AlphaTauri team. Not only did Pierre Gasly finish on the podium, but Yuki Tsunoda also finished in the top ten and earned solid points. It was the Japanese driver's best weekend so far.

It was the boost Tsunoda needed. The young Japanese driver had a rather difficult start of his F1 career and was more often dissatisfied on the radio than able to put points behind his name. In the AlphaTauri press release the rookie looks back on the weekend in Azerbaijan positively.

"Before Baku I had a couple of difficult race weekends behind me, so the result there was a good feeling. Compared to previous races my preparation was much better than normal and right from FP1 I felt ready. The week before Baku I left for Italy, where I spent most of the time in the factory studying our approach for the race week and looking at previous problems with the car. We decided to take a slightly different approach to the race week and have more conversations, and that worked well. In qualifying I reached Q3 for the first time and I think we laid a new foundation for how we should approach a race. The overall result was okay, I'm quite satisfied, even if it was a shame that I lost a place after the restart."

Tsunoda in Italy

So since Baku, he has been living in Italy on a daily basis. Tsunoda says he has adapted to the situation by now. "The weather and food there are good, and I can spend more time at the factory talking to the engineers. The move to Italy was the right decision and something very positive for me, although it does mean I have to go back to Britain for simulator sessions."

Paul Ricard

The start of a triple header is just around the corner. This is something new for the young Japanese, but the circuit where the triple-header starts is already familiar territory for him. "I have driven twice before in Formula 3 at Paul Ricard, which means it is a different situation after Portugal, Monaco and Baku, which were all completely new to me, and that will be a positive factor. Ricard will be different in a Formula One car and Sector 3 will be decisive for the round, with tyre repair perhaps a key factor." He also knows that, unlike past street circuits, he will have to be a little less careful and have a little more run-out alongside the track.

"It's a pretty flat track and, unlike the previous two races, there are no walls. There are big run-off lanes, so I don't have to be so careful when I'm looking for the limit. The setup will also be very different from Azerbaijan, where our car worked very well, because there are no low-speed rectangular corners. It's a very different circuit in all respects. I'm looking forward to it and hope I can finish in the points again." Tsunoda, like Gasly, will try to work with AlphaTauri to continue his current form in the South of France.
Max Verstappen and Lance Stroll crashed during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix due to a blowout. An investigation by Pirelli shows that the incidents had nothing to do with the quality of the tyres.

Both drivers crashed hard into the wall on the long straight in Baku. As they were almost identical crashes, it seemed to be a fault in the tyres. Verstappen was angry about the incident and had to wait for the investigation that would follow. Pirelli said after the investigation that no production or quality faults were found.

The Italians state that for both drivers it was a crack in the circumferential direction on the inside of the tyre, which points in the direction of the pressure and temperature of the tyres. Pirelli does believe that the starting parameters prescribed by the teams were respected. Nevertheless, the company claims that the problem lay with the teams themselves.

Perez with first GP victory for Red Bull

Sergio Perez profited from the crash of Verstappen. The Mexican driver took his first GP victory in service of Red Bull. Sebastian Vettel and Pierre Gasly also finished on the podium.
The "most important thing" at present is that Formula 1 is able to race past the current covid crisis.

That is the view of Haas boss Gunther Steiner, even as some circuits are at least starting to look forward to welcoming spectators back to the grandstands.

At Paul Ricard this weekend, three zones of 5,000 spectators has been approved by French authorities.

And British newspapers report that Silverstone is planning for a packed house throughout the July race weekend - including a whopping crowd of 140,000 both for 'sprint qualifying' on Saturday and Sunday's race.

That is despite the fact that British prime minister Boris Johnson has announced that lockdown restrictions across the country will extend beyond the original June 21 deadline.

British GP chiefs are confident of receiving an exemption, due to the expansive nature of the venue in Northamptonshire and the fact that no public transport will be provided.

"We remain confident fans will be back at Silverstone in July," a spokesman confirmed.

"Our ongoing discussions with the department and Public Health England are positive. We will communicate the full details with you once we have them."

Steiner commented: "For me, the most important thing is to get past this pandemic, so that everyone can move freely again - that's what I look forward to.

"For sure, if we can get people to our races, that's great as people can then see that normality is around the corner. We need to work hard to get there.

"An event with spectators is much more inspiring for everybody taking part in F1," the Haas boss added. "I look forward and hope that we'll see full race tracks again soon."

(GMM)
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Its official: Sallys Apizza, an internationally-renowned Wooster Street destination, will expand beyond New Haven. The new restaurant will open in Stamford, later this summer at 66 Summer Street.

The 4,000 square foot Stamford location features a mezzanine and outdoor patio, a dedicated fulfillment area for takeout and delivery, and a full bar, with craft beer and cocktails. Decor will highlight art and memorabilia nodding to Sallys history as a favorite stop among musical artists, like Frank Sinatra and the Rolling Stones.

"We've seen people from other states and even other countries make the journey to New Haven for our craveable tomato sauce and addictive charred pies," said Rob Nelson, Sally's director of hospitality, in a press release. "Our fans have been hoping for years that we would open up additional locations and we are thrilled to announce to the world that this dream is now a reality."

Visual essay: An inside look at some of Connecticut's famous pizza

Sallys promises a commitment to authenticity, using original recipes and recreating brick-for-brick identical custom pizza ovens in the new location. Brothers Bob and Rick Consiglio, whose parents Salvatore (Sally) and Flora (Flo) opened the pizzeria in 1938, sold the business to new owners Lineage Hospitality in 2018, but have stayed on as consultants.

"Sally's is committed to using the same ingredients, recipes and techniques that my father developed in New Haven decades ago," said Bob Consiglio, who plans on helping Sally's provision for the new locations.

"I am happy to see my father's legacy carrying on and being made available to more people, said Rick Consiglio. I plan on making the rounds at the new locations, with an eye toward seeing the same quality product coming out of these incredible ovens."

Sallys was reportedly set to open a location in South Norwalk, at the SoNo Collection, Hearst Connecticut reported in 2019. Krystina Nataloni, Sallys director of marketing, said in an email Tuesday that the company did not have an update on the SoNo location, and that the pandemic had altered some of its plans.

The restaurant, frequently featured in national publications and on television shows, was recently spotlighted on Good Morning America, as host Lara Spencer spoke with Connecticut businesses recovering from COVID-19 shutdowns.

The Wooster Street pizzeria also made pies for Vice President Kamala Harris and her staffers when she visited New Haven in late March.

Information and updates: sallysapizza.com or follow on social @SallysApizza.
GREENWICH  A community celebration planned for Saturday in Old Greenwich has drawn criticism from nearby residents and merchants over the location in Binney Park and the admission fee that will be charged.

But those concerns are unfounded, the events organizer said, saying the Old Greenwich Market and Family Festival will be a great community event.

The goal is to get people together as a community and have fun, said town resident Liz Tommasino, who is planning the event through her company, called Its All In The Details.

The event is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, featuring food trucks, bounce houses, slides and an obstacle course, a DJ, games, face-painting and an outdoor market/boutique selling clothing, home goods jewelry and more. Admission will be $10 per person, free for kids under 1.

I want people to come together and celebrate the reopening of Connecticut, to celebrate the end of school, to celebrate the beginning of summer, Tommasino said. This is for kids to get out and have fun and run around like crazy and dance and do the things they werent able to do all year at school.

Also, 20 vendors are signed up to take part that are from Greenwich or the vicinity, she said.

But as of Monday, the event had not received a permit from the Department of Parks and Recreation. Susan Snyder, the towns recreation supervisor, said she had not received insurance requirements from several of the vendors, which had to be resolved by Friday.

The issues would be resolved in time for the event to take place, Tommasino said.

Donation destination?

Many residents are asking about the admission fee to an event in a public park, according to Candace Garthwaite, chair of Old Greenwichs District 6 in the Representative Town Meeting.

There needs to be more communication about events that are being held to raise funds, she said.

A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Old Greenwich beautification project, Tommasino said. But town resident Bob Brady said no such specific project or nonprofit exists.

Old Greenwich Merchants Association board members Pat Cameron, who serves as president, Marcos Torno, Diane Faugno and Richard Fulton said they had reached out to Tommasino for clarification on the project and what percentage of funds will be donated.

We are not sure who the money would be donated to and want to be sure any money raised on Old Greenwichs behalf would not be co-mingled with other funds for other projects, they said in a joint statement.

Tommasino said she told the OGMA that she does not have an answer yet and said she wanted to be a part of a public/private partnership in Old Greenwich.

There has been talk in Old Greenwich to make Sound Beach Avenue and Arcadia and that whole area more aesthetically pleasing, said Tommasino, citing a plan put forth by business owner Lisa Salley. Last winter there was supposed to be an Old Greenwich beautification task force formed ... but they never did it.  I want to donate money to this, but the task force has not been formed.

She said she has reached out to civic and beautification groups in Old Greenwich but has not found a partner yet.

I really want to do something great for the community where this is taking place, Tommasino said. Im struggling as to how to do this. I want to do the right thing. I have money to donate and no one wants to take it.

Her plan remains to donate a good 10 percent to beautification and hopes to have it settled by Saturday.

Use of the park

Peter Uhry, one of many residents organizing a Friends of Binney Park group to advocate for the park, said he had spoken to Tommasino about his concerns over the admission charge and the use of the park.

This (event) does not sit well with a number of different groups, Uhry said. I dont think this is the kind of event thats best for Binney Park. Binney Park should not have for-profit events such as a fair with bouncy houses and food trucks. You cant even have a picnic in Binney Park. There are no picnic tables there.

The Eastern Greenwich Civic Center would have been a more appropriate location for the event, Uhry said.

This goes to a broader question of what are the towns parks being used for, he said. If you take the Pinetum (in Cos Cob) and put in a pickleball court, youd find its pretty incongruous. Its not an appropriate kind of thing. Its the same thing with Binney Park. Binney Park is a recreation park for the community. Its not a setting for a private event.

Binney Park has hosted town fireworks shows, musical performances and the ceremony after the annual Memorial Day parade, Tommasino said. This past weekend, it hosted the Art in the Park show.

The Old Greenwich Market and Family Festival will use only part of the park, near Wesskum Wood Road, she said.

The festival is just what many need after the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of many town events in the past year, Tommasino said.

The community needed to get together and celebrate once we were able to, she said. Its been a really hard and long 15 to 16 months and since quarantine began no one has been able to get out and enjoy themselves without masks on and play and have fun. ... The time is right.

Nearly 300 tickets have been sold, Tommasino said. Tickets can be bought at itsthedetailsllc.com/purchase-ogmff21-tickets.

kborsuk@greenwichtime.com
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Verizon announces that it will begin offering vaccinated customers 10% off any accessory that Verizon sells, including items that are on sale (*but excluding clearance items with prices ending in $.97).

The COVID-19 vaccine is already widely available to all Americans, so Verizon is offering this discount to any Verizon customer who has received at least one vaccine. First responders, nurses, teachers, and members of the military are eligible as well.

To get the discount, you need to visit the link at the bottom of this post and fill out a form before July 31. Then, once you receive a code, you can head to a Verizon store in-person or online and purchase an accessory and use the promotional code when checking out. These discount codes need to be used before August 15.

The following items already include the 10% discount:

Apple AirPods Pro for $179.99 (reg. $249.99; 6/15-6/20)

Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Noise-Canceling Headphones for $269.99 (reg. $349.99; 6/15-6/20)

Eufy RoboVac G30 Verge for $224.99 (reg. $349.99; 6/15-6/20)

JBL Quantum ONE Gaming headset for $224.99 (reg. $349.99; 6/15-6/27)

Google Nest Hub Max for $180.88 (reg. $229.99; 6/15-6/27)

Arlo Video Doorbell for $116.99 (reg. $149.99; 6/15-7/4)

Razer Kishi for Android (Xbox) Gaming Controller for $80.99 (reg. $99.99; 6/15-6/19)

Fitbit Charge 4 for $89.99 (reg. $129.99; 6/14-6/19)

You can take an additional 10% off of any of the following accessories:

JBL Tune 225TW *Save $30* $69.99 6/15-6/27

Select Arlo Cameras *Save $20-$50* $99.99-$299.99 6/15- 7/4

JLab JBuds Pro Wireless Earbuds *Save 20% off* $15.99 6/15- 6/19

JLab Epic Air ANC TW Earbuds *Save 20% off* $79.99 6/15- 6/19

Eufy RoboVac G30 Verge *Save $100* $249.99 6/15-6/20

Samsung Wireless Charger Pad *Save $10* $29.99 6/15-6/30

Samsung Wireless Charger Pad Duo *Save $10* $49.99 6/15-6/30

Samsung Wireless Charger Pad Trio *Save $20* $69.99 6/15-6/30

JBL Clip 4 - RED *Save $30* $39.99 6/15-8/30 IN-STORE ONLY

JBL Quantum 800 Gaming headset *Save $40* $159.99 6/15-6/27

JBL Quantum ONE Gaming headset *Save $50* $249.99 6/15-6/27

Razer Hammerhead True Wireless Earbuds *Save 45% off* $54.99 6/15-8/7

Beats Solo Pro - Light Blue *Save 50% off* $149.99 6/7 (while supplies last)

Apple Airpod Pros *Save $50* $199.99 6/15-6/20

Google Nest Audio *Save $25* $74.99 6/15-6/27

Google Nest Hub *Save $20* $69.99 6/15-6/27

Google Nest Hub 2nd *Save $20* $79.99 6/15-6/27

Google Nest Hub Max *Save 29.01* $200.98 6/15-6/27

EXTRA BASS Portable BLUETOOTH Speaker *Save $50* $199.99 6/15-6/20

Razer Kishi for Android (Xbox) Gaming Controller *Save 10% off* $89.99 6/15-6/19

Razer Kishi for Android *Save $10* $69.99 6/15-6/19

Razer Kishi - Gaming Controller for iOS - NASA Packaging *Save $10* $89.99 6/15-6/19

LuMee Lights *Save 25% off* $14.99-$74.99 6/15-6/26

Arlo Essential Spotlight Camera 1-Pack *Save $30* $99.99 6/15-7/4

Arlo Essential Spotlight Camera 3-Pack *Save $50* $299.99 6/15-7/4

Arlo Video Doorbell *Save $20* $129.99 6/15-7/4

Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight Camera *Save $50* $199.99 6/15-7/4

Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 True Wireless Headphones *Save $30* $69.99 6/15-6/20

Anker Soundcore Life Dot 2 XR *Save $20* $79.99

Anker Soundcore Flare 2 *Save $10* $59.99 6/15-6/20

Sony SRSXB23 EXTRA BASS Portable BLUETOOTH Speaker *Save $20* $79.99 6/15-6/20

Sony SRSXB33 EXTRA BASS Portable BLUETOOTH Speaker *Save $30* $119.99 6/15-6/20

Source  Discount form (not yet active)




Haiti - News : Zapping...





The UN calls for calm in Haiti

The UN in Haiti is deeply concerned by the upsurge in gang violence against civilian populations and their property and calls for calm. We urge all stakeholders to end the violence and allow access to humanitarian aid to populations in need.



Covid : Death of ONA Administrator

After the death on May 21 of Chesnel Pierre (55 years old) Director General of the Office National Old Age Insurance (ONA), it is now Jean Richard Perard, the Administrator of the Office National d'Assurance Vieillesse (ONA), who died Sunday, June 13, 2021 at Mirebalais University Hospital as a result of Covid-19 according to our sources.



Haiti joins the UNESCO Africa Group

The plenary assembly of UNESCO unanimously approved the request of the Republic of Haiti to join the Africa Group of the international body. Haiti is now an observer member of the group and the first country outside the African continent to join the Africa Group within UNESCO.



Did you know ?

Rapadou is an artisanal brown sugar made using traditional methods. It is produced exclusively from cane juice. The local recipe includes both cane juice, cinnamon and ginger. A few pinches of black charcoal ash are sometimes added to the product. This last element fights heartburn.



The Governor of the BRH appointed for the Presidency of FILAC

Appointed at the end of the 5th round table of leaders of the World Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI), the Bank of the Republic of Haiti (BRH), represented by Governor Jean Baden Dubois, will assume the Presidency of the Initiative for Financial Inclusion of Latin America and the Caribbean (FILAC) for the next 2 1/2 years. Governor Dubois will lead the FILAC Working Group made up of 21 other central banks.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















By William Schwartz | Published on 2021/06/14

In an interview released on June 14th actress Choi Ri opened up about wearing a school uniform on film for the last time. In the upcoming "Whispering Corridors 6: The Humming" Choi Ri will play So-yeon, a broadcast jockey monitoring the events of the film for the sake of an online audience. The conflict of the movie centers around a vice principal played by Kim Seo-hyung and a problem student played by Kim Hyun-soo, where supernatural influences may be involved.

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With her twenty-sixth birthday coming up later this month, Choi Ri does not expect to do another project where she plays a student. But from her debut in "Spirits' Homecoming" back in 2016 where she played a comfort woman under the purview of the Imperial Japanese Army, she has long been known for a youthful disposition. Last year's "Birthcare Center" marked a noteworthy shift for the actress as she an online shopping mall CEO and unmarried mother.

Choi Ri described her performance in "Whispering Corridors 6: The Humming" as being filled with ups and downs. Choi Ri said she focused on smiling and sincere emotions, trying her best to appear lovely. This worked to emphasize the scarier scenes, where Choi Ri claims to have been very seriously scared. Choi Ri also talked about researching the role through searching out visual blogs on TikTok and YouTube and consulting accordingly.

Prior to this role Choi Ri last appeared as a student in "Keys to the Heart" back in 2017. Though insisting this would be her last student role, Choi Ri still claimed to have enjoyed herself. Choi Ri said that she filmed "Whispering Corridors 6: The Humming" with a similar bubbly disposition as she did with "Keys to the Heart" but that she has since dropped it. Choi Ri has no confirmed upcoming projects but has expressed an interest in traditional Korean dress for her next role.

Written by William Schwartz
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Ragtop down, a spectacular view of San Francisco Bay and the city below suddenly opens up for two seconds as we tear around another bend; Grizzly Peak Boulevard zigzags along the Berkeley hilltops in tight S-curves that, for the passenger, rapidly alternate breathtaking panoramas with sheer rock escarpments. Then we close in on a car poking along at 35, and behind the wheel of his convertible, Mark Danner '80 grows restive. To properly enjoy a spin on Grizzly Peak, he insists, you have to move along at a minimum of 50 mph. We are held under that rate, but passing on this winding two-lane road, Danner notes, "is suicidal. I would never do it." He grins before adding, "With a passenger."

Danner may have an appetite for risks with a serious undertowhe has also done 50 mph down this road (where he lives) on a bicycle, sans helmet ("I'm working on that," he says)yet, in a well-traveled life that has reached some of the world's most searing hot spots, he has emerged unscathed, at least so far. A little more than a year ago, Danner was in Iraq; he has spent stretches in Haiti since the 1980s, and reported from Sarajevo during the siege there in the 1990s. His risky trips have produced revelatory accounts of horrific deeds that powerful people with a penchant for violence would often prefer to keep hidden.

One example is his newest book, Torture and Truth: America, Abu Ghraib, and the War on Terror. This volume reproduces several U.S. government reports on Abu Ghraib, together with Danner's New York Review of Books (NYRB) pieces, in-depth analyses "in which the reader has the greatest respect for the author's moral voice," says Dave Eggers, author of A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius and Danner's colleague on the Graduate School of Journalism (GSJ) faculty at the University of California at Berkeley. "Mark has a way of delaminating, stripping back the veneer, layer by layer, from things people don't want to pay attention to," says Orville Schell '62, dean of the school. "He goes right to the festering wound. This is something television does not do very wellthey want to rouge it all up."

In Torture and Truth, Danner unblinkingly documents several forms of torture that U.S. forces have used on detainees in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He cites a Red Cross report describing the harsh dragnet operations that Coalition forces conducted in Baghdad, rounding up thousands of Iraqi civilians who might be part of the insurgency:"Arresting authorities entered houses usually after dark, breaking down doors, waking up residents roughly, yelling orders, forcing family members into one room under military guard...pushing people around, insulting, taking aim with rifles, punching and kicking and striking with rifles." Soon thereafter, in another report, "...one comes upon this quiet little sentence," Danner writes, which indicates that certain Coalition military-intelligence officers estimated that "...between 70 percent and 90 percent of the persons deprived of their liberty in Iraq had been arrested by mistake [emphasis added]." This provokes him to wonder "...which of the naked, twisted bodies [in Abu Ghraib photos] that television viewers and newspaper readers around the world have been gazing at these last weeks were among them?"

Danner urges his readers to consider the consequences of such operations. "In fighting a guerrilla war, the essential weapon is not tanks or helicopters but intelligence, and the single essential tool to obtain it is reliable political support among the population. In such a war, arresting and imprisoning thousands of civilians in murkily defined 'cordon and capture' raids is a blatantly self-defeating tactic, and an occupying army's resort to it means not only that the occupier lacks the political support necessary to find and destroy the insurgents but that it has been forced by the insurgents to adopt tactics that will further lessen that support and create still more insurgents. It is, in short, a strategy of desperation and, in the end, a strategy of weakness."

On a more concrete level, his description of the Abu Ghraib prison is vivid: "...a besieged, sweltering, stinking hell-hole under daily mortar attack that lacked interpreters, interrogators, guards, detainee uniforms, and just about everything else, including edible food, and that, at its height, was staggering under an impossible prisoner-to-guard ratio of seventy-five-to-one...." Furthermore, there were other such sites; beginning in late 2001, "...the United States gradually built a network of secret and semisecret prisons in Bagram [air force base] and Kandahar, Afghanistan; Guantanamo, Cuba; Qatar and Diego Garcia, as well as Abu Ghraib and Camp Cropper, Iraq...."

With this backdrop, in one dense paragraph, Danner summarizes the linkages between the torturers in the prisons and the policymakers safely distant in Washington:

It has long since become clear that President Bush and his highest officials, as they confronted the world on September 11, 2001, and in the days after, made a series of decisions about methods of warfare and interrogation that General Aussaresses [a French general who oversaw torture during the Algerian War], the practical soldier, would have well understood. The effect of those decisionsamong them the decision to imprison indefinitely those seized in Afghanistan and elsewhere in the war on terror, the decision to designate those prisoners as "unlawful combatants" and to withold from them the protections of the Geneva Convention, and finally the decision to employ "high pressure methods" to extract "actionable intelligence" from themwas officially to transform the United States from a nation that did not torture to one that did.

Later, he poses a searching question: "It has become a cliche of the Global War on Terrorthe GWOT, as these reports style itthat at a certain point, if the United States betrays its fundamental principles in the cause of fighting terror, then 'the terrorists will have won.' The image of the Hooded Man, now known the world over, raises a stark question: Is it possible that that moment of defeat could come and go, and we will never know it?"

The brutal practices in question included "water-boarding," for which Danner offers a description recounted by a prisoner who was tortured during the Algerian War in the 1950s by French police and soldiers:

Then they laid me on a bench, flat on my stomach, head extending into the air, and tied my arms against my body with cords. Again the same question, which I refused to answer. By tilting the bench very slowly, they dipped my head into a basin filled with stinking liquiddirty water and urine, probably. I was aware of the gurgling liquid reaching my mouth, then of a dull rumbling in my ears and a tingling in my nose. "You asked for a drinktake all you want." The first time I did drink, trying to appease an insupportable thirst. I wanted to vomit immediately. "He's puking, the bastard." And my head was pushed back into the basin.... From time to time one of them would sit on my back and bear down on my thighs. I could hear the water I threw up fall back into the basin. Then the torture would continue.

The quotation is from The Gangrene, a 1960 book by seven Algerian prisoners, translated from the French by NYRB cofounder Robert Silvers. Tapping such historical sources helps set Danner's work apart from more conventional investigative reporting. "There's an area that falls somewhere between the world of academic scholarship and journalism, where thoughtful writing, long-form journalism, documentary research, and essayistic style all merge," says Schell. "That, to me, is the most interesting, hopeful, and exciting area of journalism. Mark has staked out this territory as where he wants to operate. He will go to Iraq or Haiti to report on events, but he'll also sit at home for a more slow-motion, echo-chamber consideration of books, documents, history, literature, philosophy, poetry. Unfortunately, very few media outlets esteem, cultivate, and publish such writers. The New Yorker does, and the New York Review of Books does it par excellence."

Those two periodicals have published the bulk of Danner's work. His relationship with the NYRB extends back to his early twenties, and he became a staff writer at the New Yorker in 1990, just a few days after his three-part series in that magazine on the upheavals in Haiti won the 1990 National Magazine Award for reporting. These venues allow Danner enough working space to explain the historical forces that drive current events. "I've always thought that history is particularly critical to having a clear understanding of a conflict," he says. "It allows you to anticipate what's about to happen in a place like Haiti or Iraq. The Iraqis, for example, are very aware of the revolt under the British in 1920 and 1921. One could almost say that history times geography equals politics."

History and geography certainly informed Danner's investigative report on a ruthless 1981 slaughter in the mountains of El Salvador. For only the second time in its history (the first was John Hersey's Hiroshima report of August 31, 1946), the New Yorker devoted an entire issue (December 6, 1993) to one article, "The Truth of El Mozote." In this piece, Danner provided a chillingly explicit documentation of a massacre in which U.S.-trained Salvadoran troops murdered nearly a thousand peasants, including children and even infants, in a horrifying atrocity whose reality the Reagan administration steadfastly denied.

To most readers, Danner's monograph settled the issue. "Once in a rare while a writer re-examines a debated episode of recent history with such thoroughness and integrity that the truth can no longer be in doubt," wrote Anthony Lewis '48, Nf '57, in a 1993 New York Times article. "After the Danner report, no rational person can doubt that Salvadoran Government forces carried out a massacre." Christopher Lehmann-Haupt's Times review of Danner's subsequent book, The Massacre at El Mozote: A Parable of the Cold War noted that "[T]his account is agonizing to read and is redeemed only by the clarity of perspective the author brings to it. You struggle to understand both the brutality of the soldiers and the suffering of the victims, and feel as if you are staring into the bowels of hell. "

Time and again, Danner has explored those hellish depths with lucid, unflinching observation of savage realities. His accounts focus on war, violence, and power, including American power abroad. Danner explains why such narratives attract him by quoting onetime Haitian president Leslie Manigat: "Violence strips naked the body of a society, the better to place the stethoscope and hear the life beneath the skin." Danner uses this statement as a kind of touchstone, and elaborates: "During times of violent conflict, you see the forces in a society nakedly struggling with one anotherwho has power, who is trying to get power, and the means they use to try to take it."

And yes, reporting on such confrontations is hazardous duty. In Haiti in 1987, "...we slowed at a roadblock of tree trunks and cinderblocks and old car parts and a crowd of drunken peasants appeared from nowhere and dragged us from the car," Danner wrote later. "The rabble of men with machetes engulfed us, churning and shouting; we argued, pleaded, holding our press cards before us like pitiful shields. Then, after a moment's pause, the scene turned very dark: the tough old man closest to me, small, leathery-faced, narrow-eyed, hissed, 'Kommunis!'" Today, Danner reflects that "these were people who had been chopping up other Haitians all week" while he and his media colleagues recorded the violence; even in the moment of crisis, he recognized the ironical overlay and wondered if "it was all a bit too...pat, this story of reporters hacked to pieces by their own story." But luck intervened: with perfect timing, a wealthy, light-skinned Haitian arrived in a four-wheel-drive vehicle and ordered the mob to dispersewhich it did, in some ways compounding the irony.

"You do what you can not to take stupid risks," Danner says. "And when you get into a dangerous situation, you try to behave intelligently and stay calm. I do worry sometimes that I may have used up my nine lives."

If so, Danner is living the tenth one in style. He divides his time between the San Francisco Bay area, where, for the past five years, he has rented the Berkeley house of his longtime friend, the late Nobel Prize-winning Polish poet Czeslaw Miloscz, and New York City, where he owns two adjoining co-ops on the Upper West Side. (He rents one, and lives in the other when in town.) Danner has never married, a fact partly explained by his bicoastal lifestyle and his penchant for traveling to hellholes around the world for extended periods. But he has a wide and sociable acquaintance. "Mark is a treasure," says writer and film actor Peter Coyote, who is both a friend and avid reader of Danner. "He's got a bon vivant jolliness. Mark doesn't seem tarnished or frayed by that which he has rubbed up against. It's actually a great human achievement: showing that it's possible to do your work in the world, no matter how grim it may be, and do it with swing, a swagger, and a great smile."

In Berkeley, deer congregate in the sloping yard of Miloscz's stucco cottage, which has a fieldstone fireplace and exposed beams. A fair chunk of the poet's enormous library lines the walls, and the bay view takes in three bridgesan index of high status in Berkeley.

"I'm not an ascetic," says Danner. "I love to have a good time." Last spring, for example, he hosted more than a hundred guests at a cocktail party that featured a "sad Russian accordion player" serenading the partygoers on the terrace. Friends since college with his classmate, the well-known director Peter Sellars, Danner is alive to the arts. He's a film buff, and often speaks at the Telluride Film Festival. For years, he ran a home film series for his journalism students, screening classics like The Battle of Algiers. "Students would go up there and eat themselves sick and see very violent films," says Orville Schell, with a guffaw.

Danner's own student days began in Utica, New York, where he grew up the son of a dentist father and a "very artsy" mother who taught high-school Spanish. On drives to a lakeside cabin in the Adirondacks, Danner's father regaled the boy with stories ranging from David and Goliath to Sarajevo in 1914 and Pearl Harbor. "My father had served as a gunner on an aircraft carrier in the South Pacific in World War II," Danner says, "and he had the feelinga pretty common oneof being someone in the middle of combat who had no idea what was happening in the larger war. This led him afterwards to investigate what led to the war, which eventually turned him into a history buff."

In school, "I thought of myself as a rebel type," Danner recalls, adding that he spent a lot of time in detention: "I tended to run my mouth." In a drama competition, he won first prize playing Clarence Darrow in a scene from Inherit the Wind and coedited the newspaper, which won an award as the best high-school paper in the state. In a racially conflicted, inner-city school, it frequently published controversial stories, including a section on sex education that disturbed many in the heavily Catholic city and nearly got Danner and his coeditor expelled.

Yet Danner did not comp for the Crimson at Harvard, where he created his own concentration in modern literature and aesthetics. As a sophomore, he had a seminal learning experience when renowned literary critic Frank Kermode arrived to give the Charles Eliot Norton Lectures in 1977-78. After Kermode's first lecture, Danner asked a question and soon afterward called on the scholar and convinced him to be his tutor. "Every week I would go to his office on the top floor of Widener and we'd talk for an hour and a half about Robbe-Grillet, James, Conrad, Woolf," Danner recalls. "That was a really important experience for me. We became fast friends and are still friends to this daylast year we spent several days together in Berkeley and I'll see him this winter in London."

After graduation, having "refused to consider what I was going to do," Danner stumbled, at Harvard's Office of Career Services, upon the name of a Radcliffe alumna in the literary field. She was Barbara Epstein '49, who had founded the New York Review of Books with Robert Silvers in 1963. "I phoned her office on a Friday at about 6:30 or 7:00 p.m.," Danner says, "and to my shock, she got on the phone! Barbara grilled me for about 20 minutes. I knew the Review very well, having read every issue in Widener as a procrastination technique, and also knew several of their contributors, like Kermode and [now Buttenwieser University Professor] Stanley Hoffmann. At the end, Barbara said, 'Come down and see us.'"

Come down he did, and soon joined the NYRB as an editorial assistant (a.k.a. "slave," he explains) to Silvers, a job he kept for three years. In the tiny, intense NYRB offices, Danner inhabited "an intellectual hothouse, with all these writers coming in and every book published coming through the door. I had a bird's-eye view of the intellectual life of the country." Next, he became senior editor for Harper's ("a young staff building a magazine, starting anew and presided over by this wonderfully entertaining chief [Lewis Lapham] with a very offbeat, contrarian view of the world"), followed by a stint at the New York Times Magazine, where he handled foreign affairs and politics, cabling correspondents in all parts of the world.

In 1999, in the wake of filing many reports from the Balkans, Danner was named a MacArthur Fellow. Currently he's a bicoastal academic, teaching at Berkeley each spring semester and in the fall at Bard College in New York, where he is Luce professor of human rights, democracy, and journalism. At Berkeley he has co-taught a graduate seminar for five years with Peter Tarnoff, who was undersecretary of state for political affairs in the first Clinton administration. "The course is designed to teach students how the U.S. government reacts to foreign policy crises overseas," says Tarnoff. In simulated press conferences, students role-play both government officials trying to avoid and deflect questions while getting out their own point of view, and journalists striving to learn the facts. Tarnoff, of course, can convincingly portray an official, and he wryly notes that "Mark likes nothing better than to wade in at the end and show how an experienced reporter can get under the skin of someone at the microphone."

In the past couple of years, Danner has been behind the microphone himself many times, having given dozens of speech esoften broadcast on C-SPAN, CBS, or various radio stationson public affairs, particularly the Iraq war, which he warned against months before the invasion, describing it as a grave foreign-policy blunder. He frequently debates other public intellectuals like Christopher Hitchens of Vanity Fair, Leon Wieseltier of the New Republic, William Kristol '73 of the Weekly Standard, and Carr professor of human rights practice Michael Ignatieff.

In October, Danner made a public appearance in Berkeley at a GSJ panel on Iraq and the press, where he declared, "We are living in the age of the destruction of the fact. The press reports 'two views of Iraq'Bush with a 'better' view and Kerry a 'worse' view. There are two political positions on Iraq, but there are not two views on Iraq. When I was there last year, insurgent attacks were happening 17 times a day, and now they are happening nearly 100 times a day. The simple fact is that Americans are losing this war at the moment; in a war of insurgency, the guerillas win by not losing; the occupier loses by not winning. [For Fox News,] facts are simply political things; Fox is a harbinger of the new world of destruction of the fact."

After encountering some of the world's most appalling acts at close quarters, Danner is a difficult man to shock. What seems to dumbfound him most is the way in which the most blatant abuses, even when fully exposed, trigger no corrective action. "Americans are divided, not about the principle of torture, which they condemn, but the practice of torture, which they have preferred to ignore," he said at the October panel. "The practice of water-boarding by American forces has been public knowledge for two years: beginning in 2002, there've been reports in the Washington Post and the New York Times. Yet no policymaker has resigned or even been reprimanded. At Abu Ghraib, Americans committed repugnant actions, evil acts, and only the lowest-level people have suffered any consequences at all. We've seen in the last few years what happens to a press in a country seized by nationalism and run by what is in effect a one-party government. It's not just the fault of the press; the issue of inaction is an issue of politicswhat the people are willing to do. It's not information, it's politics."

If this is an age of the destruction of the fact, Danner, a purveyor of hard-to-find facts, does not yet seem an anachronism. Furthermore, his writing "wrings the implications out of the facts," according to Peter Coyote. "Mark is not afraid to make a summation or come to a conclusion. He has a very clear moral voice," says Dave Eggers. "Since Mark has been where he has been and seen what he has seen, we can accept judgments from him and trust his conclusions."

Yet Danner has a higher priority than reaching conclusions. "I think of myself as a writer, not really an advocate," he says. "The biggest and most important job is to tell what happened. That's difficult enough in itself. Three little words: tell what happened." He pauses. "If you do, that's where your job ends," he says. "And the reader's begins."

Craig A. Lambert '69, Ph.D. '78, is deputy editor of this magazine.
Our View: Havasu has to wait another year for a second bridge

Efforts to secure funding for second Island access route stalled out this year, but legislators hold out hope for 2022
Press release

The registration deadline for the 20-mile Boats in the Breaks canoe and kayak race on the Wild and Scenic Missouri River is quickly approaching.

The deadline to sign up is June 30. Space is limited, so interested people should register now at https://runsignup.com/Race/Info/MT/FortBenton/BoatsintheBreaks or by visiting the Friends of the Missouri Breaks Monument website at http://missouribreaks.org .

The race will be held July 17, beginning at Fort Benton and ending at the Wood Bottom Recreation Area. Its part of this years celebration of the 20th birthday of the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument.

After the race, participants can kick back at the Boats, Brews and Blues event in historic Fort Benton. This annual event, hosted by ChoCo Fun, includes a Montana craft brewfest and a free community concert featuring The Two Tracks, The Workers and Molly and Peter Wilson.

Racers can compete solo or in teams of two in canoes or kayaks. Awards will be given to the top three finishers in the solo and pair categories.

The registration fee per canoe or kayak is $35 for solo and $50 for pairs.

The event is a fundraiser for the Friends of the Missouri Breaks Monument, which protects and preserves the monument through its work in stewardship, education and advocacy. The Friends group is also celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.

Partners and co-sponsors for the race are Golden Triangle Brewing, Great West Engineering, ChoCo Fun, Outside Bozeman magazine and the Bureau of Land Management.
Shane Johnson sits in state District Court in Havre last Tuesday during jury selection in his retrial on a charge of negligent homicide. A jury today found Johnson guilty of the charge, stemming from the 2013 shooting death of his brother, Travis Johnson.

After only a few hours of deliberation a jury found Havre resident Shane Johnson guilty of negligent homicide in the death of his brother Travis Johnson this afternoon in a trial that began one week ago.

Johnson had pleaded not guilty to the charge, his defense arguing that the death of his brother was a tragic accident, but not negligent homicide, and the prosecution arguing that the evidence clearly showed the opposite.

Johnson had appealed his 2014 conviction for the same crime, arguing the court made errors in allowing the jury unrestricted access to all of the state's testimonial audio and video exhibits during deliberations and by allowing the state to add a negligent homicide charge at the end of trial that was not included within the deliberate homicide charge for which the state tried Johnson.

The Montana Supreme Court ruled that select errors had been made and overturned the verdict, sending the case back to District Court in Havre last fall for a new trial.

Johnson has been released into the custody of the Montana Department of Corrections and will be held at the Hill County Detention Center until sentencing next month.

Watch for more in Wednesday's edition of Havre Daily News.
The H. Earl Clack Memorial Museum Board met Monday to consider a possible update to the Wahkpa Chugn Interpretative Center, hear updates on museum activity and discuss the possible return of the summer solstice event.

Board Vice-Chair David Sageser proposed that old lights in the Interpretative Center be switched out in favor of LED lights for the sake of energy and cost efficiency.

Sageser said he ran a light check on the bulbs the building is using now and they are creating a lot of heat that needs to be compensated for with air conditioning, a problem that LEDs can solve.

Youve basically got a 2,500 watt heater on all the time that were fighting with air conditioning, he said.

He said between the reduction in heat generated, greater longevity and generally better energy efficiency of LEDs they seem like a sensible investment.

Board Chair Lela Patera said she would bring the issue up to H. Earl and Margaret Turner Clack Memorial Museum Foundation President Elaine Morse, who was not able to be at this months meeting, the next time she saw her.

Patera said she doubts there will be any objection to the upgrade.

She said Morse has been spending much of her time recently working on the new location for the museum, the former Griggs Printing Building on the 10 Block of Fifth Avenue.

She also said a state archeologist will be visiting the area July 6 to do some mapping and hes invited members of the board to meet him and listen to the talk hes planning to give while here.

Patera said shes hoping the Buffalo Jumps guides will be able to attend as well.

Board members also discussed the possibility of bringing back the Summer Solstice event next year at the Buffalo Jump, possibly as a fundraiser, including snacks and drinks, speakers, dances and smudging.

Board Member Val Hickman also said the foundation has been approved to take over the museum gift shop after getting approval from the Hill County Commission, a shift that will make purchasing for the shop easier.

Museum Manager Emily Mayer said May was a quiet month for the museum and Buffalo Jump overall, but they have had plenty of school tours.
Rocky Boy Health Center will hold a mobile drive-up vaccination clinic open to everyone at the Havre Holiday Village Mall parking lot from 2-6 p.m. Wednesday.

Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines will be available. Pfizer is available to anyone 12 or older; youths must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

The Pfizer vaccine is the only one authorized to date for people younger than 18. Both the Pfizer and the Moderna vaccines require a series of two shots.

Heath departments in Blaine, Hill, Chouteau and Liberty counties also have been offering the Pfizer vaccine as well as the Moderna vaccine.

The health departments at Rocky Boys and Fort Belknap Indian reservations have the Pfizer vaccine, and are offering it to all.

People can call the Rocky Boy Health Department at 406-395-1655 and the Fort Belknap Health Department at 406-353-3219.

Hill County Health Department is scheduling clinics on the third Tuesday of each month with Moderna and Pfizer vaccines available. People can call 406-400-2415 to schedule an appointment.

People can call the Blaine County Health Department at 406-395-4305 to schedule a vaccination or for more information.

People can call the Chouteau County Health Department at 406-622-3771.

People can call the Liberty County Health Department at 406-759-5517.

And other options also are available.

Northern Montana Health Cares flu clinic is taking calls at 406-262-1585 to schedule vaccinations.

In Havre, Gary & Leos Pharmacy is taking walk-ins seven days a week for vaccinations with Johnson & Johnson, and Western Drug at 406-265-9601 is taking calls to schedule Moderna vaccinations and taking walk-ins for Johnson & Johnson.

Bullhook Community Health Center is booking vaccinations at 406-395-4305, and its pharmacy also is taking calls at the same number to tell people about vaccine availability.

People can call Big Sandy Pharmacy at 406-378-5588 to schedule a vaccination.

People can also call Big Sandy Pharmacy at 406-378-5588 to schedule a vaccination.
Senate passes bill to open personnel records

RALEIGH  A bill to provide more transparency to the public regarding performance and disciplinary records of government employees moved one step closer to becoming law Monday evening as House Bill 64, Government Transparency Act of 2021, passed its third reading in the N.C. Senate.

If enacted as law, the new requirements would apply to state employees and workers in local school districts, counties, cities, and colleges and universities.

A nearly identical senate version of the bill was active earlier this year, and supported by the N.C. Press Association, which asserted that a general description of the reasons for demotions, suspensions, and terminations have been kept secret from the public for far too long.

The proposal is energetically opposed by Democrats, interest groups such as the N.C. Justice Center, and employee unions like the N.C. Association of Educators, who have deemed the proposal unconstitutional.

Specifically, bill opponents raise concerns over exposure of protected employee information. Proponents of the act, however, regard political resistance to the transparency legislation as merely an effort to keep unflattering personnel records from public view and scrutiny.

In an opinion piece, Paul Mauney and Bill Moss of the NCPA say these organizations flooded senators inboxes with a letter declaring the bill unconstitutional, and they persist in the false portrayal even after sponsors agreed to an amendment addressing their due process concerns.

Contrary to the NCAEs arguments, due process safeguards exist  by statute or by agency procedural rules  at every level of city, county, and state government for employees who believe they have been wrongfully accused and discharged. Language has been added to the bill to prohibit disclosure of personal medical information; and additional safeguards are built into judicial decisions that are well-known to public sector lawyers, who train their state and local government managers to use them when appropriate. There is nothing legally defective  much less constitutionally defective  about this bill.

Whereas current state law only requires the date and type of personnel actions be made public, to include a termination letter if an employee is fired, H.B. 64 would expand public record requirements to include government personnel actions like suspensions, promotions, demotions, transfers, separations, and dismissals. Each such action would require a general description be entered and maintained in public record as soon as the appeals period expires.

Gov. Roy Cooper, who has been virtually silent on the bill, is presumed to oppose it. The governor has been pressed since spring on whether he would support the legislation, especially considering his previous sponsorship of the Discipline Disclosure Act as a state senator in 1997.

In an unusual scenario, on this issue Cooper finds himself opposite press outlets that typically align with his policy positions. Media outlets such as the Raleigh News & Observer have publicly expressed frustration over the administrations reticence when it comes to disclosing records of public interest, such as those on state incentives offered to lure Apple to Research Triangle Park, the $58 million Atlantic Coast Pipeline Agreement, and a bevy of records requests related to COVID data and North Carolina nursing homes that remain unfulfilled.

The transparency legislation comes at a time of heightened public focus on improving accountability of public employees. The issue cuts across party lines in that expanding the publics right to know could provide insight into the personnel practices of law enforcement during an acute period of scrutiny; it can also provide for accountability in public schools, for teachers and school administrators, amid an avalanche of parent concern over controversial trends in cultural instruction.

Ahead of the Monday evening vote, the NCPA noted as much, reporting that seven out of 10 North Carolinians favor a change to the States public records law.

The Government Transparency Act does not make entire personnel files open to the public. Personnel evaluations, supervisory letters, leave documents, and many other types of documents would still be shielded.

The act does ensure that the public can see when a government employee has been promoted, demoted, disciplined or terminated and a brief reason for the change. It ensures that supervisors cannot covertly promote and demote staff without any public accountability. The act helps with tracking bad apple employees that shuffle between agencies. It can assist with tracking gender-based, racial, and forms of inequity.

Government employees in North Carolina work for the taxpaying public. The people have a right to know if a police officer has been disciplined for excessive force, if a teacher has been demoted for inappropriate contact with a minor student, or if a family member has been given a big promotion due to nepotism, the NCPA writes.

Further, Civitas Action let lawmakers know Monday afternoon the organization would be scoring the vote on its Civitas Action Freedom Rankings, adding that it views a Yes vote on House Bill 64 as a vote for freedom.

Since the positions subject to the changes in H.B. 64 are taxpayer-funded, this change will provide more transparency for taxpayers to understand how government is using their money, wisely or otherwise, Civitas Action stated in a release. Unlike private sector workers, state employees are funded using money that was compelled from taxpayers, who have little to no oversight or recourse if their money is being mismanaged. Increased sunshine on publicly-funded personnel helps keep government accountable to make prudent personnel choices.

Having passed the Senate on a party line vote, the bill heads to the N.C. House for concurrence and then on to the desk of Cooper, who faces diametrically opposed pressures that do not follow the usual political pattern.
A PARTY that was due to take place in Henley next month has been cancelled.

The Henley Festival Summer Fling will not go ahead due to the delay in the easing of lockdown restrictions.

Boris Johnson confirmed the final stage of the roadmap could not go ahead as planned on June 21 due to rising concerns about the delta variant of coronavirus and an increase in the number of cases.

The fling was intended to be a one-off pop-up music festival, held at Butlers Field in Remenham from July 8 to 10.

There are no plans to re-organise the event for next year and anyone who purchased tickets will receive a full refund.

Jo Bausor, chief executive of the Henley Festival, said: We are incredibly disappointed because we really wanted to put on a party for Henley. We are a charity and it is a fundraising event for us, so it is a double whammy.

We were really confident when we launched the event  and actually right up until the third stage of lockdown easing  that we would be able to run the event. The delta variant has taken everybody by surprise and it is whizzing around much quicker than everybody thought it would.

Nothing is 100 per cent guaranteed in a covid world. When we launched it, the delta variant was not here and everything was going to plan. Vaccinations were exceeding targets and there was absolutely no reason to think it wouldnt go ahead.

Health and safety has to come first and we will comply with whatever the Government says.

The organisers of the Henley Festival say they have been hit hard by the pandemic and the pop-up event was designed to help raise funds.

The festival is still due to take place from September 15 to 19, with headliners including James Blunt, Madness and Sophie Ellis-Bextor.

Mrs Bausor added: By the time the festival comes around, Im sure everybody will be up for a massive party. We are disappointed about the fling, but now it is full steam ahead to September.

We hope to put on a fantastic event later this year and hopefully the weather will be kind to us.

The line-up for the Summer Fling included DJ sets from Jo Wiley, Martin Kemp and Trevor Nelson.

Also on the bill was Maroon Town, a London-born Jamaican band, former Ministry of Sound artists Jonny Cash Converters and The Bikini Beach Band, who play guitar-led instrumental music.
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Mrs. Beverly Joan Thompson, age 83, of Estill Springs, TN passed from this life on Monday, June 28, 2021, at Life Care Center of Tullahoma. Beverly was born on January 02, 1938, to the late Harry and Olga Skinner in Dayton Ohio. She enjoyed sewing and was deeply passionate about animals wher
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The parents of former U.S. Marine Trevor Reed are pleading with Presidents Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin to cooperate and bring their son back home to America.

Paula and Joey Reed were hopeful that the leaders' summit on Wednesday would provide a level of cooperation between the two political leaders. They added their son was being treated as an object for leverage concessions.

In July 2020, Russian authorities sentenced the marine to nine years in prison for allegedly endangering the life and health of Russian police officers during an encounter after drinking. Reed and his family denied the accusations while U.S. Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan said the trial was a "theater of the absurd."

Lack of Proper Care

Amid the pandemic, Reed contracted the COVID-19 virus and later wrote a letter to his family that he had been showing symptoms, such as coughing, pain in his lungs, high blood pressure, and weight loss.

The marine wrote the letter, dated June 7, by hand and in Russian as it was one of the conditions set by prison officials. Lina Tsybulnik, Reed's Russian fiancee, translated the contents of the letter for his family, MSN reported.

In the letter, Reed opened up about his COVID-19 diagnosis and other medical problems. He also asked his family to send him toilet paper, water and meat. One part of the letter also addressed the U.S. embassy in Moscow and the State Department, asking if they still remembered his case.

Read Also: Joe Biden, First Lady Meet Queen Elizabeth II; Royal Expert Claims Donning Glasses While Greeting Was Offensive

On May 20, Reed was able to get in touch with his parents through a phone call. Their concerns were only amplified after finding out about the letter. They said Russian authorities purposely avoided providing basic health care to their son. The news about Reed having pain in his lungs was especially worrisome, they said.

The marine's parents have been continuously asking the Russian government for the last three weeks to allow Reed to call them and have the embassy visit him. However, all of their requests were denied. They also urged Russian President Putin to allow them to talk with their son as well as send and receive letters. They also wanted officials to acknowledge their lack of care, CNN reported.

Drunk and Rowdy

Officials from the U.S. embassy in Moscow have called on Russian officials to provide access to Reed and his medical records. Charge d'affaires Bartle Gorman accused Russia last Friday of violating conventions. He said authorities were trying to isolate Reed from his family and the U.S. government.

However, Putin called Reed a "drunk" and a "troublemaker" before his summit with Biden in Geneva. The Russian leader also considered the marine lucky to be in prison in Russia, arguing if he had done his crime in the United States, he would have been shot on the spot and killed.

On Monday, Reed's parents countered Putin's statement, arguing the Russian leader's words were offensive. In an interview, Putin said negotiating the terms of release for the imprisoned marine could be talked about, Dallas News reported.

Related Article: Biden Open to Swapping Cybercriminals With Russia, White House Walks Back On Comment

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Aung Suu Kyi, Myanmar's ousted leader, stood on trial on Monday in a closed-door hearing. Critics are calling it an attempt by the military junta to eliminate her as a political factor and to remove the country's democracy while increasing the military's authority and power.

Last year, Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party secured a landslide victory. However, a coup in February prevented elected lawmakers from taking office. Suu Kyi's prosecution is the latest event in a series of major setbacks for the politician, who has been struggling to progress towards democracy in Myanmar.

Human Rights Watch's Asia Director, Phil Robertson, said the accusations against Suu Kyi were baseless and are an attempt to disregard her political victory and prevent her from running ever again. Robertson added this was only the first step in the plan to suppress Suu Kyi's Democracy party due to its challenge of the military, The Globe and Mail reported.

Reversal of the Coup

The U.N. expressed its desires to have Suu Kyi freed along with all of her administration's senior members, U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said. He added Secretary-General Antonio Guterres continues to call for the reversal of the coup on February 1. He also called for the restoration of the legitimate government of Myanmar that Suu Kyi served under.

On February 1, the army took control of the nation before elected lawmakers could be seated, arrested Suu Kyi, who was the special counselor, President Win Myint, and other members of her government and the ruling party. Most of the country quickly spiraled into chaos while under military rule.

Read Also: Biden Open to Swapping Cybercriminals With Russia, White House Walks Back On Comment

The army countered criticisms by saying the government was unable to properly investigate accusations of irregularities in the voting process. Afterward, officials said they found evidence of voter fraud, much to the objection of the independent Asian Network for Free Elections and many others.

Within the next year or two, the junta is planning to hold new elections, officials said. However, history has shown that the military has had multiple cases of not following its promise of new elections. For 50 years, Myanmar has been ruled by the military after the 1962 coup. After a failed 1988 uprising, Suu Kyi was kept under house arrest for 15 years, the Associated Press reported.

Behind Closed Doors

At the hearing inside the Naypyidaw council compound, the military junta did not allow any journalists to enter. Suu Kyi appeared to not have been well with her health, defense lawyer Khin Maung Zaw said. However, he said the politician continued to listen with awareness and interest.

Before her trial, Suu Kyi only had three meetings with her legal team since being imprisoned on February 1. Junta officials disallowed her access to the internet or gaining access to information other than state-controlled media for the last four months.

The court will hear further cases against Suu Kyi on Tuesday, including a charge of incitement against her, Win Myint and Dr. Myo Aung, the capital chairman and Naypyidaw city mayor, The Guardian reported.

Related Article: Former US Marine Imprisoned in Russia Infected With COVID-19 Amid Lack of Proper Care

Related Article: Former US Marine Imprisoned in Russia Infected With COVID-19 Amid Lack of Proper Care

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The US government has spent the last week analyzing an allegation of a leak at a Chinese nuclear power plant after a French business that owns and operates it warned of an "imminent radiation hazard."

According to a letter to the US Department of Energy obtained by CNN, Framatome, a French corporation, also said that the Chinese safety authority was raising the acceptable limits for radiation detection outside the Taishan Nuclear Power Plant in Guangdong province to keep it from shutting down. Despite the letter, the Biden administration feels the plant is not yet at "crisis level."

French partner of Chinese nuclear plant warns the US

A probable radioactive leak was discovered at the Taishan Nuclear Power Plant in Hong Kong, which is jointly operated by China Guangdong Nuclear Power Group and France's Framatome. While China has remained silent on the issue, the French partner in charge of the nuclear project appears to have requested assistance from the US to get the situation under control.

While US officials have determined that the situation does not currently pose a serious safety threat to plant workers or the general public in China, it is unusual for a foreign company to seek assistance from the US government on its own when its Chinese state-owned partner has yet to acknowledge a problem. Should the leak persist or worsen without being corrected, the US might find itself in a difficult situation.

According to US officials, the National Security Council held multiple meetings last week to monitor the situation, including two at the deputy level and another at the assistant secretary level on Friday, led by NSC Senior Director for China Laura Rosenberger and Senior Director for Arms Control Mallory Stewart.

Reports say that the Biden administration has spoken with the French government and their specialists at the Department of Energy about the matter. CNN's sources say that the US has had communication with the Chinese government, though the amount of that engagement is unclear.

Framatome has acknowledged that the Taishan Nuclear Power Plant in China's Guangdong region is experiencing performance issues, as per Republic World. The French company stated in a statement released on June 14 that it is working with necessary specialists to evaluate the situation and suggest remedies to any potential issues. Given the potential for broad consequences of a nuclear radiation leak, the Chinese company's silence and the surrounding lack of information on the matter have sparked concern.

Read Also: North Korea's Kim Jong Un Appears to Have Lost Some Weight. Why is the World Watching His Waistline?

China remains silent over nuclear leak allegations

Nearly 24 hours after the facility's operator stated all of the readings were "normal," the Chinese government and its official news services have kept silent over claims of a probable radioactive leak at a nuclear power plant, Newsweek reported. On Monday, China was still on holiday, and headlines about the Taishan nuclear power plant in southern Guangdong province were noticeably absent from news carried by state broadcaster CCTV and official information agency Xinhua.

Late Sunday, the Taishan Nuclear Power Joint Venture Company (TNPJVC) refuted a CNN report that said that the facility had been "leaking fission gas." The state-owned China Guangdong Nuclear Power Group said in a statement that it was responding to "agency and media" concerns on the plant's situation.

The site's two reactors were functioning within the required safety and technical requirements, and continual monitoring revealed that environmental indicators inside and outside the plant were "normal," according to the report. The China-France joint venture is mainly owned by CGNPC, with utility company electricite de France (EDF) owning a 30% share.

Despite the plant operator's official denial, news of the possible safety concern does not appear to have made much of an impact on the Chinese internet. Aside from official channels' silence, only a few unauthorized news outlets in the nation reprinted the TNPJVC statement, and none of them referenced the CNN report.

Related Article: Massive Illinois Chemical Plant Explosion Prompts Authorities to Order Evacuation; Causes Environmental Nightmare

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One of China's top virologists, Shi Zhengli, denied conspiracy theories suggesting the COVID-19 virus originated from a Wuhan lab and that the country is involved in the spread of the pandemic.

The virologist is once again in the center of the discussions regarding the origin of the virus as various narratives look for evidence to support their stance. Many American politicians and scientists believe Zhengli is the key to discovering the true origin of the coronavirus and if it actually came out of a human lab in Wuhan. However, for the Chinese government, she is a hero who helped reduce the casualties of the COVID-19 virus.

True Origin of the Virus

United States President Joe Biden's administration recently refreshed scrutiny over the issue of COVID-19's origins and called for scientists to be more open about what information they know. The discussions have brought back talks about the lab leak theory.

While many scientists have a general consensus that the lab leak theory does not have enough evidence to support its claims, there are a few who say otherwise. They argue the possibility of the conspiracy was dismissed too quickly without a thorough investigation. They referenced a set of unsettling and unanswered questions regarding the incident.

Some scientists accuse Zhengli of conducting experiments that toyed with bat coronaviruses. Many others are demanding clarifications on American intelligence reports that claimed employees of the Wuhan Institute of Virology were affected by early infections of the COVID-19 virus as reported by the New York Times.

Zhengli has since denied the accusations, consequently defending her lab's reputation. Two weeks ago, the scientist said during a phone call that she was not ready to speak directly with reporters due to her institute's policies, with clear signs of frustration in her voice.

Read Also: Massive Illinois Chemical Plant Explosion Prompts Authorities to Order Evacuation; Causes Environmental Nightmare

Innocent Scientist

During the brief conversation, she questioned how she could provide evidence for something that did not exist. One of her text messages noted the world's outrageous efforts to accuse a single innocent scientist of the problems of the pandemic.

Zhengli denounced the baseless suspicions in an email interview as well and denied allegations that some of her colleagues fell ill shortly before the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. The major question many are asking is if the Wuhan lab contained crucial information regarding the source of the coronavirus, to which the scientist said no.

Additionally, investigators are demanding an inquiry into the role that science journals played in the coronavirus pandemic. Officials argued that many editors of influential journals rebuffed dozens of critical articles, raising the possibility of the COVID-19 being engineered.

Professor of Medicine at Australia' Flinders University, Nikolai Petrovsky, said the managers of the journals could have been trying to make favors with the Communist Party of China. He said most of their revenue was coming from them.

Petrovsky argued many papers that questioned the source of the coronavirus were rejected by Nature and Lancet editors and many others, the Voice of America reported.

Related Article: Biden Open to Swapping Cybercriminals With Russia, White House Walks Back On Comment



Related Article: Biden Open to Swapping Cybercriminals With Russia, White House Walks Back On Comment

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Payments for the Child Tax Credit will begin on July 15th. While the majority of eligible Americans will automatically get it, others will be required to supply additional information.

Monthly Payments for Eligible Families

In a recently published article in News Center Maine, it was reported that families who may be eligible for the monthly Advance Child Tax Credit payments may use a new online tool to assist them to set up. This is applicable to those who do not ordinarily need to file a tax return.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) said Monday that the Non-filer Sign-up tool has been updated from the one used last year by persons who needed to sign up for the COVID-19 stimulus payments. Eligible families can now register using this online tool.

In a recently published article in Yahoo Finance, families who do not file tax returns may now sign up for monthly Child Tax Credit (CTC) payments via the IRS's online site. This benefit will last until December this year.

Read Also: Third Stimulus Checks Delayed? $1400 Payments Still Coming, IRS Sends Out Millions of Plus-Up Payments

How Much Will Eligible Families Receive?

The new, but temporarily enlarged, Child Tax Credit gives qualified parents a $3,000 benefit for each child aged 6 to 17 and a $3,600 credit for each child under the age of 6. Half of that money may be provided in the form of a monthly advance of $250 or $300 per child, with families able to claim the rest on their tax returns the following spring, according to a published article in Forbes.

Meanwhile, a parent filing as a single person is eligible for the full credit if they earn up to $75,000 per year. Parents filing as heads of household are eligible for the full credit up to $112,500 per year, while married couples filing jointly are eligible for the full credit up to $150,000 in income.

Furthermore, the payments are reduced by $50 for every $1,000 of adjusted gross income over certain limits. The CTC was also made fully refundable in the recent stimulus package, which means that qualifying families may get the whole credit regardless of whether they earn enough to incur income taxes.

Biden Proposes To Extend Monthly Payments Until 2025

President Joe Biden proposes extending the CTC's monthly payments until 2025 as part of his American Families Plan. He previously said that the administration intends to make the CTC payment permanent.

Some politicians also favor making the CTC and the enhanced Earned Income Tax Credit permanent. In fact, 40 Democratic Senators wrote a letter in March and stated that "Doing so would result in a significant spike in child poverty after we have made historic strides to end it. It would mean that millions of struggling adult workers would once again be taxed into poverty," according to a published report in Yahoo Finance.

They also added that these monthly benefits for qualified and eligible families in the country should not expire after one year but rather expanding the benefits. The IRS also clarified that eligible Americans may also utilize the Non-Filers service to sign up for this year's $1,400 stimulus payment or to recover rebate credits for prior stimulus payments missed.

Related Article: IRS To Start Monthly Payments of Child Tax Credit in July

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While millions of Americans wait for the first of a new series of monthly stimulus payments to arrive next month - and to see whether the federal government ever agrees to a fourth stimulus check - there are other ways to get money from the government right now.

The average claim paid in 2019 was $1,780 and unclaimed property programs returned more than $3 billion in total that year, as per the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators. In addition, it isn't always money that the states are holding to, either:

How to check unclaimed properties, including stimulus payment?

According to the same report, the Tennessee State Treasurer's Office restored a Purple Heart to a soldier's family after it was awarded more than 70 years ago, while Arkansas State Auditor Andrea Lea looked for the rightful owner of love letters written home during WWII. Unclaimed property is due to around one out of every ten Americans, BGR reported.

In other cases, New York State claims to be holding $16.5 billion in lost and unclaimed property, and that as of this writing, the state had already restored more than $191.5 million to owners in 2021. It is free to search for and reclaim your property in most US states. You may start your search with your state treasurer's office.

The National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators' page will also lead you to a map of the United States, where you can find the database you need to search for the state that applies to you. Some websites, such as the Missing Money website, has been certified by the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators and allows users to search 39 states and lets allow you do searches across numerous states. Similarly, FindMyFunds allows you to search for unclaimed funds in 25 states and the District of Columbia, and also gives connections to official unclaimed property websites for states that aren't included in its findings.

Read Also: Stimulus Payment Worth $8,000: How to Qualify for Extra Check You Didn't Know About

These states will distribute $1,000 stimulus checks

Per National Interest, the state-level direct payments come as several Democratic members of Congress have pressed President Joe Biden to pass recurrent stimulus checks until the pandemic is over. After Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) approved the budget last week, first responders and teachers in Florida will get $1,000 one-time stimulus payments during the summer.

More than $400 million has been set aside in the state budget for direct payments, with almost 174,000 first responders and 180,000 educators projected to benefit. The stimulus payments are expected to be given out during the summer, although the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity has already started issuing money to first responders since the initiative was first announced, said DeSantis.

The state's first responders, which include law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency medical professionals, are likely to get an extra stimulus payment, according to the governor. There are 49,405 police enforcement officers, 40,732 Emergency responders, 35,811 firefighters, and 33,185 paramedics on the list.

Teachers will also receive state-level stimulus payments from the third phase of President Joe Biden's American Rescue Plan's Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund. The state will spend $215 million to provide direct payments to 175,000 full-time classroom teachers and nearly 3,000 principals. Both California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) and Maryland Governor Larry Hogan (R) have given extra one-time payments to selected people, similar to DeSantis' stimulus idea.

Because of the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic, Democratic supporters argue that millions of Americans are still struggling to put food on the table and pay for necessities. The White House, on the other hand, has shifted its attention to achieving a bipartisan infrastructure package that would, among other things, restore conventional infrastructure in the US and enhance broadband internet.

Related Article: Missing Stimulus Check: How to Track Your Payment Through The IRS Tool

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North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) leaders branded China a continuing security threat, saying the Chinese are seeking to undermine global order, a message that aligns with President Joe Biden's efforts to urge allies to speak out more forcefully against China's economic, military, and human rights actions.

China's objectives and "aggressive conduct create systemic challenges to the rules-based international order and sectors crucial to alliance security," the leaders said in a summit declaration on Monday. While the 30 leaders of state and government avoided referring to China as a rival, they voiced alarm about its "coercive practices," the hidden methods in which it is modernizing its military, and its use of misinformation.

NATO wants China to participate in the international system

Per Mercury News, NATO urged Beijing to honor its international obligations and participate properly in the international system. Biden, who came to the conference after three days in the UK, negotiating with Group of Seven allies, pushed for the G-7 communique, which condemned forced labor practices and other human rights violations affecting Uyghur Muslims and other ethnic minorities in China's western Xinjiang province.

The President expressed satisfaction with the communique, despite disagreements among allies over how firmly to chastise Beijing. Biden also used his eight-day trip to Europe to urge allies to work more closely together in pressuring Russian President Vladimir Putin over his government's treatment of political dissidents and to do more to combat cyberattacks perpetrated by Russia against private companies and governments around the world.

Biden is adamant that NATO remains a cornerstone of global stability and a critical player in countering these emerging challenges. However, NATO's shift toward China, rather than a laser focus on Russia, is not universally embraced, as per CNBC.

Some of NATO's smaller members, many of whom are situated in Eastern Europe, think that the alliance's security measures should prioritize deterrence against Russian aggression. On Monday morning, Biden met with the presidents of numerous Balkan countries, as well as Poland's president, Andrzej Duda.

The United States maintains a significant military presence in Poland, which is largely seen as a vital deterrent to Russia. In response to Russia's threat of hybrid warfare, NATO member states have raised the possibility of invoking Article 5 of the Mutual Defense Agreement in the event of disruptive misinformation strikes on political institutions and public opinion.

Read Also: Joe Biden, First Lady Meet Queen Elizabeth II; Royal Expert Claims Donning Glasses While Greeting Was Offensive

China fires back to NATO, urging to stop "threat theory"

On Tuesday, China retaliated against claims made against it in a communique published following the NATO summit, warning that it would not stand by if other countries posed systemic threats to it and that it would closely monitor NATO's strategic adjustments toward China, Global Times reported. The Chinese Mission to the European Union (EU) spokesperson stated that China will not pose "systemic challenges" to others, in response to NATO leaders' stern position on China in a communique.

The claims made by NATO have slandered China's peaceful development, misjudged the international situation and its role, and perpetuated a Cold War mentality mixed with group politics, according to the Mission. It was responding to remarks made in a communique signed in Brussels by leaders from the alliance's 30 members at the request of the new Biden administration. China has always pursued a defensive national defense strategy and its military development has been lawful, open, and transparent, as per the Mission.

Related Article: China Refutes Report of Nuclear Plant Radiation Leak; US Says It Is Investigating Incident at Guangdong Facility

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A deadly outbreak of COVID-19 cases is currently hampering vaccination efforts in Thailand, which had just kicked into high gear last week.

As of late 2020, health officials in Thailand have only recorded fewer than 5,000 total coronavirus cases. However, the case numbers exploded Monday when officials reported 3,355 new transmissions and 17 COVID-19 deaths. On Tuesday morning, the Public Health Ministry reported an additional 3,000 new cases and 19 deaths, according to the Bangkok Post.

COVID-19 Outbreak

Thailand has now reported 202,264 total COVID-19 cases and 1,485 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic.

Thai health officials have just announced the government's national vaccine rollout last week, kicking it off with a ceremony at Bangkok's Bang Sue Grand Station. The government will distribute locally produced AstraZeneca shots, in partnership with Siam Bioscience-a pharmaceutical firm without any prior experience in manufacturing vaccines.

Earlier this year, an opposition politician questioned how Siam Bioscience got the contract despite having no prior experience manufacturing. He was later charged with "wronging the monarch" for criticizing the company.

In Thailand, the kingdom holds a strict rule against criticizing the royals. As Siam Bioscience is controlled by the king, it is covered by the rules.

Only 3% of the entire population has been vaccinated on Monday, and the program has already faced massive hurdles amid the surge in COVID-19 cases, according to The Thaiger.

Read Also: China Refutes Report of Nuclear Plant Radiation Leak; US Says It Is Investigating Incident at Guangdong Facility

Vaccination Campaign

On Sunday night, private and public hospitals in Bangkok announced it would cancel previously confirmed appointments. While the hospitals did not give any reason, many suspect it is because of a mass shortage of locally-made vaccines.

"If you have any questions about this (postponement), please contact our call centre or contact the public health minister (directly) and ask why this lack of readiness has occurred," one Bangkok hospital said on social media, as reported by The Thaiger.

The Thai government later deflected the issue and pointed to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration who blamed the Health Ministry.

Kiattiphum Wongrachit, an official from the Thai health department, said the country has received fewer than expected vaccine doses this month. That forced hospitals to cancel vaccine appointments made by the elderly and people suffering from underlying medical conditions.

The Health Ministry later countered the statement, saying they had sent out doses they promised to local authorities, who are then responsible for distributing the said doses. Vaccines for at least 50 million people have also been secured, the agency said Monday.

However, Aswin Kwanmuang, the governor of Bangkok, later announced the suspension of mass vaccinations in the capital on June 15 due to "technical difficulties," and said they will continue the campaign once the shots are secured.

"Bangkok will stop the vaccinations and will resume the inoculations as soon as we receive the vaccines," Kwanmuang said, according to the New York Times.

On Monday, as factories and prisons in the capital struggled with outbreaks of COVID-19 cases, officials announced they would lift restrictions and allow parks, museums and tattoo parlors to resume operations.

Related Article: Massive Illinois Chemical Plant Explosion Prompts Authorities to Order Evacuation; Causes Environmental Nightmare

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The House Judiciary Committee, led by Democratic members, ordered the investigation of the former US President Donald Trump's Department of Justice's (DOJ) alleged efforts to monitor Congress members, journalists, and the then-White House counsel.

Amid the announcement, current Attorney General Merrick Garland said the DOJ would work on improving its policies on gathering records from lawmakers. The recent lifting of gag orders revealed Trump's Justice Department issued subpoenas to several tech companies.

Officials discovered that in February 2018, the department secretly subpoenaed Apple, one of the leading technology companies in the world, to gain access to then-White House counsel Don McGahn and his wife's account information. It then issued a gag order to prevent Apple from speaking about the matter to anyone.

Secret Subpoenas

Last month, the tech giant informed the McGahns about the subpoena after the gag order expired. Authorities also discovered last week that the Justice Department during Trump's administration used the same strategy to gather information from at least two Democratic members of the House Intelligence Committee, Reps. Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell, and some of the staff and family members.

Some believe that the subpoena was part of the Trump administration's Justice Department's attempt to discover the source of the leaks of classified information during the Republican's early years in office, NPR reported.

Both Schiff and Swalwell have been known to be expressive with their disagreement with Trump's administration. The two representatives were involved with the investigations looking into the connection between the Republican's 2016 campaign with the Russian government.

Read Also: Biden Open to Swapping Cybercriminals With Russia, White House Walks Back On Comment

In a statement announcing the committee inquiry, House Judiciary Chair Jerrold Nadler said some reports suggested Trump's DOJ spied on the Republican's political enemies using criminal investigations as a pretext. He added it was possible that the cases were isolated incidents.

However, former attorney generals Jeff Sessions and Bill Barr and former Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein denied having knowledge of Trump's DOJ's alleged secret subpoenas. But House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said one of the crucial pieces of information was who was the person who signed off the orders.

Fighting the Opposition

During his time in office, Trump repeatedly called for the imprisonment of his political opponents, Business Insider reported. Staff close to Sessions said he was not aware or briefed on the information-gathering schemes. Barr, on the other hand, denied knowledge of the orders as he was appointed a year after the subpoenas were issued. Rosenstein also said he was not made aware of the secret subpoenas Trump's DOJ issued during his time.

Trump-appointed head of the Justice Department's national security division, John Demers, is stepping down from his position at the end of the month. The top position of the department played a crucial role in the secret subpoenas Trump's DOJ issued.

Before his announcement, Demers became the center of discussions after the reveal of the information-gathering orders the DOJ issued under the Trump administration. On Sunday, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer urged Senate Republicans to support Democrats in issuing a subpoena to Demers after the revelations, CNN reported.

Related Article: Trump Establishes New Communications Platform; Blog That Lets Users Share on Twitter, Facebook



Related Article: Trump Establishes New Communications Platform; Blog That Lets Users Share on Twitter, Facebook

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What does "HVAC" stand for?

"HVAC" is an acronym for "Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning". An HVAC system is the heating and cooling system used in homes and other buildings. Sometimes the acronym will include an "R" for Refrigerator.

Most, if not all of us have an HVAC system and refrigerator in our homes, and some maintenance we can do on our own. Other issues may require a professional's help. So who do you call?

Types of HVAC Jobs and Their Salaries

HVAC Engineer

HVAC engineers create and assess materials related to heating and air conditioning to accommodate them to the spaces they'll be running in. Their main job is to come up with a design specific to a client's needs, whether it be a system for a residence, institution, office, etc.

In the United States, the average yearly salary for an HVAC engineer is around $70,000, or $34 per hour. Because this is an engineering job, this is one of the few HVAC jobs that require more than an Associate's degree. HVAC engineers usually have to have a Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, as well as a certification and professional license.

HVAC Installer/Technician

Just like the job title suggests, an HVAC installer installs HVAC systems in buildings. Many also work as technicians who inspect, test, and repair any system that may be malfunctioning. On average, installers make less than $20 per hour, which can total to about $40,000 per year. This is probably why many installers also work as technicians, since technicians can make $48,000 a year, on average.

Refrigeration Mechanic

Refrigeration mechanics, or technicians, install and repair refrigerators. They can also work with other HVAC systems but mainly deal with the electrical and mechanical elements of refrigeration systems. The average salary for a refrigeration mechanic is around $46,000 per year.

Pros and Cons of Working in the HVAC Industry

Pro: Spend Less on School and Get Paid While You Learn

With the exception of most engineers, HVAC(R) technicians don't have to attend a four-year college or university to learn the job. Most programs last about two years, and part of the curriculum involves paid training on the job! You can earn about half the salary of a technician just by training. Once you earn your license in HVAC, you earn the full salary.

Con: Safety Hazards

Unfortunately, HVAC(R) workers tend to suffer more job-related injuries than others, due to the fact that they're working with heavier and sometimes hazardous materials. However, education programs and on-site training can help further educate individuals on job safety.

Pro: Job Outlook

The current job growth rate for careers in the HVAC(R) industry is 13%, with a projected increase in the near future. Ventilation systems and refrigerators are technologies that are not expected to die out any time soon, so this field is not likely to see a decrease in jobs.

Con: Long Hours

This isn't always the case, but sometimes these technicians have to work longer hours during certain times of the year. You can imagine how busy HVAC(R) technicians can get in the hottest months of the year, in some of the hottest places in the country. The same goes for colder months in colder places.

Pro: Work Anywhere

The need for ventilation systems and refrigerators is not location-specific, so if you have to move from city to city, or state to state, this is one job that will guarantee work no matter where you live. Some of the best states for HVAC(R) technicians to work in are Florida, Texas, and California, with technicians in California having the highest salary, close to $75,000 per year.

Overall, the pros outweigh the cons when it comes to working in the HVAC industry. The cost of education is lower than many occupations, but the salaries are just as high as (if not higher than) many other jobs.

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Pipeline

15 June 2021

The Hyde Hotels, Resorts & Residences brand today announced Dubai's first Hyde Hotel to open in Dubai Business Bay with four branded culinary experiences.

Hyde Hotels, Resorts & Residences, part of the world-leading Accor group, today announced the first Hyde hotel outside of the United States, Hyde Dubai Business Bay, in close proximity to the iconic Burj Khalifa directly fronting the Business Bay canal and promenade. The project is being developed in collaboration with owner, Emerald Palace Group, who have been successfully developing and constructing residential projects in Ukraine, UAE and Russia since 1996, including the newly announced Raffles the Palm Dubai. This news comes on the heels of Accor's latest phase of expansion and its planned joint venture with Ennismore, which will see the creation of one of the world's largest and fastest growing lifestyle operators, set to include Hyde Hotels, Resorts & Residences. This will be the fifth opening under the Hyde brand.

Hyde Hotel Dubai Business Bay, a five-star hotel, is set to open in Q4 2021. The 276-rooms, all with balconies, will be a mix of gracious standard rooms and luxurious suites with views of the Dubai Canal, the Dubai skyline and the iconic Burj Khalifa - the tallest building in the world. The Hotel will feature three incredible culinary experiences from Accor including the Mediterranean concept, Cleo, contemporary Japanese from Katsuya, hand-crafted burgers from Hudson Tavern and The Perq, a coffee concept, as well as a lobby lounge, Hyde pool and lounge, five meeting rooms and a function hall, a spa, male/female salon, fitness center, a swimming pool and retail area. The hotel's public areas, guestrooms and Cleo will be designed by Ciarmoli Queda Studio. Katsuya, Hudson Tavern and Hyde pool and lounge to be designed by Tristan Plessis Studio.

Accor's introduction of the Hyde brand to Dubai follows the hospitality company's global expansion of its luxury and premium lifestyle portfolio as part of a recent acquisition of sbe's hotel brands. Additional openings include the recent debuts of SLS Dubai and SLS Cancun.

The property will be part of the ALL Accor Live Limitless, Accor's lifestyle loyalty program, allowing guests to earn and redeem points when staying at the hotel.

Hyde Dubai is situated in the Business Bay area which was created as "a city within a city" featuring an array of top tier dining options, trendy bars, spas, clubs and much more. The Dubai Water Canal is one of the longest waterfront promenades in Dubai spanning almost 12km. Business Bay is a top trendy residential and professional hub in Dubai, making it the ideal location for Hyde Dubai.
Appointment

15 June 2021

In his new role as Vice President of Engineering for ProfitSword, Wallace will leverage his more than 15 years of expertise in IT, software development and data management to spearhead ProfitSword's vision and strategy in meeting hospitality's latest business intelligence needs and priorities. Wallace's efforts will specifically focus on providing leadership and expert guidance for ProfitSword's development teams as well as for the company's Technical, Data and Systems Integration Services.

Prior to joining ProfitSword, Wallace served as Technical Lead/Assistant Director for Master Data Management at EY, a global leader in tax, transaction and advisory services where he was responsible for overseeing the Development and QA teams as well as technical strategy and architecture. Wallace previously also served as Director of Development for Brown Bag Marketing and Vetlocity, where he led the company's overall technical strategy and architecture. A graduate of computer science from Georgia Tech, Wallace further holds multiple Microsoft certifications for web applications, business intelligence, and database development.
Appointment

15 June 2021

The Westin Tempe, the largest new hotel to debut in Tempe, Ariz. in nearly four decades, has appointed Patti Hunt as the general manager ahead of their late summer opening.

As the general manager of The Westin Tempe, Patti Hunt is a veteran of the hospitality industry with over three decades of experience successfully launching and managing luxury hotels within the portfolios of some of the world's leading hotel brands.

Hunt comes to The Westin Tempe after illustrious tenures with the likes of Marriott Hotels International, Hilton Hotels, Starwood Hotels, Fairmont Hotels, Carlson Hospitality, and various other inde pendent brands. A distinguished hotelier, Hunt has acquired a number of prominent trade and leadership awards throughout her career, including the Business Impact Award by Downtown Tempe Authority, Hotel of the Year by Pacific Hospitality Group, General Manager of the Year by Marriott Hotels International, Hotel of the Year by Fairmont Hotels International, and the Pride, CARE Cup and Connie awards by Hilton Hotels, among others.

Hunt has also been active in education, advocacy and professional development efforts within Arizona's tourism industry for over 26 years, having previously served as the President of the Arizona Hospitality Human Resources Association and the Tourism Commissioner for the Arizona Skill Standards Commission. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for both the Arizona Lodging & Tourism Association and the Tempe Office of Tourism, as well as on the American Hotel & Lodging Association's Educational Institute Certificate Advisory Co uncil.

Originally from Wisconsin, Hunt holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications from the University of Wisconsin La Crosse, and a Master's Certificate in Hotel, Revenue and Financial Management from Cornell University. After settling in Arizona in the early 2000s, she went on to represent the state as Mrs. Arizona America and as an ambassador for the Governor's Office. Through her work with countless charity, school and civic organizations, Hunt developed a strong desire to serve others, to which she credits her success as a hotelier today.
Industry Update

Appointment

15 June 2021

Jim Oberliesen

Promoted Area Directors of Operations

At Commonwealth Hotels, LLC in Covington - KY, USA

Prior to joining Commonwealth Hotels, Jim Oberliesen served in numerous leadership roles, most recently as Vice President of Operations for Lodgco Hospitality. Jim is well versed in all areas of hotel operations including renovation and new construction. Oberliesen is also skilled at developing and executing targeted business initiatives in order to drive guest and associate satisfaction. Jim is a graduate of Michigan State University with a degree in Hospitality Business.

Hotelschools.com The School of Hospitality Business at Michigan State University Jim Oberliesen (Class of 0) is a graduate of The School of Hospitality Business at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan - United States (Class of 0) is a graduate of The School of Hospitality Business at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan - United States more information

Commonwealth Hotels, LLC Commonwealth Hotels, LLC was founded in 1986 and is a proven partner in providing hotel management services with superior financial results. The company has extensive experience managing premium branded full service and select service hotels. more information

Recent Appointments at Commonwealth Hotels, LLC Ken Mendoza - General Manager 30 June 2021  Commonwealth Hotels announced today that Ken Mendoza has been appointed the General Manager of the Radisson Hotel Memphis East . Mr. Mendoza brings over 30 years of hospitality experience to his new role as General Manager having previously served as the Regional Director Operations for Radisson Hotel Group. read more

Arthur Burrell - Director of Sales and Marketing 29 June 2021  Commonwealth Hotels is pleased to announce the appointment of Arthur Burrell to the role of director of sales and marketing of the Four Points by Sheraton Tucson Airport. Mr. Burrell brings over 15 years of hospitality experience to his new role having previously served as the director of sales and marketing at the Hyatt Place Tucson Airport. read more
Industry Update

Appointment

15 June 2021

Jim Seitz

Promoted Area Directors of Operations

At Commonwealth Hotels, LLC in Covington - KY, USA

Jim Seitz has been a valued member of the Commonwealth team since 2005. During his 16 year tenure, Jim as served as General Manager, Regional General Manager, Field Director of Operations, and Sr. Director of Operations. Prior to joining Commonwealth, Jim held an acquisition role with GF Management. Jim has tremendous leadership experience and a proven track record in multiple brands and new hotel openings. Jim attended Washington State Community College.

Commonwealth Hotels, LLC Commonwealth Hotels, LLC was founded in 1986 and is a proven partner in providing hotel management services with superior financial results. The company has extensive experience managing premium branded full service and select service hotels. more information

Recent Appointments at Commonwealth Hotels, LLC Ken Mendoza - General Manager 30 June 2021  Commonwealth Hotels announced today that Ken Mendoza has been appointed the General Manager of the Radisson Hotel Memphis East . Mr. Mendoza brings over 30 years of hospitality experience to his new role as General Manager having previously served as the Regional Director Operations for Radisson Hotel Group. read more

Arthur Burrell - Director of Sales and Marketing 29 June 2021  Commonwealth Hotels is pleased to announce the appointment of Arthur Burrell to the role of director of sales and marketing of the Four Points by Sheraton Tucson Airport. Mr. Burrell brings over 15 years of hospitality experience to his new role having previously served as the director of sales and marketing at the Hyatt Place Tucson Airport. read more
Appointment

15 June 2021

Noku Maldives welcomes their new Assistant Director of Sales Ulviyya Gahramanli.

With extensive experience in senior managerial positions in international hotel chains, Ulviyya has a proven track record of achieving targets in a competitive environment within a short period of time.

Prior to joining Noku Maldives, Ulviyya worked as a Sales Manager with The Standard Huruvalhi, Maldives. Previously, she managed global corporate accounts for four 5-stars luxury hotels with Marriott International and worked as Cluster Sales Manager at Absheron Hotel Group in Azerbaijan.

Ulviyya is a creative, agile, and results-driven professional with 6 years of experience in proactive sales & business development. With a Master's degree in Business Administration in Hospitality Management from the Swiss Montreux Business School in Switzerland, Ulviyya is fluent in Russian, Turkish and English.

A scenic 45-minute flight by seaplane from Male's Velana International Airport takes you to the balmy shores of Noku Maldives. Situated on Kudafunafaru in Noonu Atoll, the resort offers comfort, space and tranquillity that are second to none. There are 20 spacious beach villas and 30 over-water villas, each designed to offer privacy and fitted with modern amenities that provide comfort. The refined elegance of each villa with its soft white hues and dark wood accents complement the beauty of nature seen through large bay windows and French doors.
Press Release

15 June 2021

Gender diversity, insertion of people with disabilities, social, ethnic, racial and cultural diversity and LGBTQ+ inclusion: at Accor, diversity is manifold. We take a look back at some of the best practices of our regional teams during Diversity & Inclusion Week.

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With more than 260,000 employees in 110 countries, diversity is a daily reality for Accor. As a leading player in the hospitality sector, our Group is mobilized to encourage openness, promote professional equality and prevent discrimination wherever we have a presence. More than a social responsibility, our open and inclusive corporate approach is an opportunity to promote the wellbeing of our teams, stimulate innovation and improve individual and collective performance.

From June 14 to 20, we are celebrating a week dedicated to diversity and inclusion to honor and promote the values of tolerance, openness, equity and respect, which are our strengths. To mark the event, Anne-Sophie Beraud, VP Group Diversity & Inclusion and Patrick Mendes, Group Chief Commercial Officer are revisiting the Group's inclusive vision, the announcement of the new LGBTQ+ pillar in the Group's D&I strategy and of the partnership with IGLTA, the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association by video:

It is also an opportunity to revisit the four pillars of our diversity ambition, the Group's firm commitments and some of the key actions of our teams around the world:

Gender diversity and equality

Working for more Inclusive Hospitality  Photo: Accor

This year, the Group has also been selected to take part in one of the six Action Coalitions in the Generation Equality program from UN Women. Accor is officially part of the "Gender-based Violence" coalition as co-leader with Kering, founding company of the OneinThreeWomen network. Accor has also set specific objectives for its management bodies, in order to increase the number of women in management positions: 35% female hotel managers by the end of 2021 (currently 34%), 30% female members on the Executive Committee by 2022 and 40% female members on global management committees by 2022.

RiiSE, our international network for diversity, makes diversity a key lever for collective performance. The network works in favor of equality and diversity, and against all forms of violence through the mobilization of strong regional communities.

OUR REGIONAL TEAMS PROMOTE OUR COMMITMENTS:

By taking part in the Evolvin' Women program in the Middle East and Africa , Accor welcomes women from sub-Saharan African countries for training and professional experience at its hotels in the United Arab Emirates.

, Accor welcomes women from sub-Saharan African countries for training and professional experience at its hotels in the United Arab Emirates. In Brazil , the Group has launched a Canal da Mulher Accor helpline in order to provide our employees with a safe communication channel should they experience abuse or gender-based violence.

, the Group has launched a Canal da Mulher Accor helpline in order to provide our employees with a safe communication channel should they experience abuse or gender-based violence. Accor also supports the Acolhe Program which helps women and girls who are victims of violence, by providing them with shelter and food as well as social and psychological support.

which helps women and girls who are victims of violence, by providing them with shelter and food as well as social and psychological support. The regional teams in South America have also created a podcast on the empowerment and leadership of women.

As part of D&I Week, South East Asia, Japan & Korea are getting involved by organizing webinars dedicated to domestic violence.

Inclusion of people with disabilities

Working for more Inclusive Hospitality  Photo: Accor

Since 2015, Accor has also been a signatory of the Global Business and Disability Charter of the International Labor Organization (OIT) and has adopted its 10 principles. Our Group works to raise awareness of disability, promote employment and welcome guests with disabilities in our establishments. Various hotels in our network also offer Smart Rooms, PMR accessible rooms adapted for disabled people, including height-adjustable beds, floor lighting, showers with removable walls and adjustable jets, etc.

Applications from individuals with disabilities on our recruitment website are processed by trained recruiters and/or by the Mission for the Integration of Disabled Persons (MIPH) team.

OUR REGIONAL TEAMS PROMOTE OUR COMMITMENTS:

In France , Accor has been leading a unifying handisport project since 2018: the Ensemble race  an inter-company sporting challenge to change the way people look at disability. When it comes to talent acquisition, Accor takes part in many dedicated exhibitions such as Hello Handicap, Alternance par DuoDay , etc.

, Accor has been leading a unifying handisport project since 2018: the  an inter-company sporting challenge to change the way people look at disability. When it comes to talent acquisition, Accor takes part in many dedicated exhibitions such as , etc. In Spain , Accor promotes inclusive tourism with a sign language course in collaboration with the Instituto Europeo de Turismo Inclusivo, with which we have created specific training for the hotel accommodation and catering sectors.

The need to wear masks to prevent the spread of coronavirus has had a huge impact on people with hearing difficulties.

, Accor promotes inclusive tourism with a sign language course in collaboration with the Instituto Europeo de Turismo Inclusivo, with which we have created specific training for the hotel accommodation and catering sectors. The need to wear masks to prevent the spread of coronavirus has had a huge impact on people with hearing difficulties. In China, the Accor teams have partnered with universities to offer a six-month internship program to university graduates with disabilities.

Social, ethnic, racial and cultural diversity

Working for more Inclusive Hospitality  Photo: Accor

Accor has a major role to play in contributing towards social and economic inclusion, in particular by providing access to jobs and training. To make hospitality a social elevator, our Group relies on transmission through mentoring programs, sponsorships and associative partnerships to promote integration within local communities, as well as recruitment events, etc. All over the world, Accor teams have launched pioneering initiatives in this area to meet the challenges and priorities specific to each region, according to their needs.

OUR REGIONAL TEAMS PROMOTE OUR COMMITMENTS:

In North America , the Group has a committee dedicated to diversity, equity and inclusion, and is stepping up its efforts to reach 30% BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) in leadership positions in the region by 2023.

, the Group has a committee dedicated to diversity, equity and inclusion, and is stepping up its efforts to reach 30% BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) in leadership positions in the region by 2023. In France , Accor has been associated with the PAQTE project since 2018 to promote professional integration through internships and work-study programs for young people who live in the priority neighborhoods of cities. More than 1,500 students from middle school level have been allocated work experience placements that were face-to-face (at the head offices) or completed remotely.

, Accor has been associated with the project since 2018 to promote professional integration through internships and work-study programs for young people who live in the priority neighborhoods of cities. More than 1,500 students from middle school level have been allocated work experience placements that were face-to-face (at the head offices) or completed remotely. In Australia , the indigenous employment program was created in 2001 by Accor  a first in the Australian hospitality sector. Today we are lucky enough to have more than 400 indigenous members of staff in our teams.

, the was created in 2001 by Accor  a first in the Australian hospitality sector. Today we are lucky enough to have more than in our teams. In South America, the UK and France, our teams work with committed associations and organizations, such as the Tent Partnership for Refugees, to promote the recruitment of refugee staff in our hotels.

Welcoming the LGBTQ+ community within our teams and in our hotels

Working for more Inclusive Hospitality  Photo: Accor

For several years, the Group has been advocating equality and non-discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation throughout the world. On the one hand, this involves promoting the well being of our LGBTQ+ employees thanks to training, dedicated recruitment and integration processes, but also being more inclusive towards our guests in the hotels with events, partnerships, personalized products and services, etc. What's more, Accor regularly launches awareness campaigns and new collaborations centered around these issues. Today, our Group is reaffirming its commitment and making LGBTQ+ inclusion one of the four pillars of its Diversity & Inclusion strategy. The objective: to establish itself as a benchmark on the hospitality market for integrating employees and welcoming LGBTQ+ guests, in particular through our new international collaboration with IGLTA, the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association. Fresh impetus was also given by the launch of an international LGBTQ+ committee to mobilize teams and share best practices internally.

OUR REGIONAL TEAMS PROMOTE OUR COMMITMENTS:
Supplier News

15 June 2021

INTELITY, the developer of hospitalitys most comprehensive guest experience and staff management platform, announced today a new deal with Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo in Monaco. The renowned Mediterranean property will deliver contactless service for guests through a branded mobile app with robust capabilities including mobile check-in, that adds another layer of convenience and safety for guests and team members.

Built on land once owned by Pope Leon XIII, the Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo debuted in 1886 and offers 125 rooms and suites. The Belle Epoque palace embodies the old-world glamour and modern allure of Monte-Carlo and combines an elegant heritage with Mediterranean freshness. Renowned for impeccable service, the hotels new app will enable guests the ability to tailor their experience before, during, and after their stay. The app will allow guests to check in before they arrive, enabling a more modern arrival experience for both the guest and hotel team members.

At Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo, weve long prided ourselves on delivering a thoroughly luxurious, exceptional standard of service, but implementing the INTELITY platform will allow us to raise the bar even higher, said Serge Ethuin, General Manager at Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo. Between the self-service technology and convenience it provides to guests and the operational automation it offers team members, well be able to exceed expectations and elevate the guest experience in a new way.

Using the mobile app, guests will have access to an array of digital amenities and services throughout their stay. Theyll be able to find hotel and amenity information, make dining, spa, and activity reservations, order food, schedule touchless deliveries, communicate with hotel team members, and morefurther elevating the entire guest experience.

We couldnt be more excited to partner with Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo, said Benjamin Keller, INTELITY SVP of Sales. This glamourous property is known for their innovative and personalized service and has so much to offer guests. Now travelers will be able to access it all in just a few taps thanks to the INTELITY app. Thats exactly the kind of modern, contactless experience guests are coming to expect in 2021.

In addition to receiving a four-star rating from the prestigious Forbes Travel Guide, the property is also a member of the Leading Hotels of the World collection of luxury hotels and resorts. In tandem with Leading Hotels Healthy Stays commitment to provide enhanced cleanliness standards and protocols for more than 400 worldwide members, the mobile app developed by INTELITY will enable Hotel Metropole to continue to deliver the highest standards for guests.

For more information on this partnership or the INTELITY platform, visit www.intelity.com.
Press Release

15 June 2021

Karisma Hotels & Resorts, the award-winning portfolio of luxury resort properties across Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe, and Margaritaville, the global lifestyle brand synonymous with fun and escapism, have announced plans to launch their newest boutique hotel collection: St. Somewhere. This latest addition marks the second elevated concept developed by Karisma Hotels & Resorts and Margaritaville, complementing the Margaritaville Island Reserve Resort brand, which debuted in Riviera Cancun in 2020.

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The first St. Somewhere resort is slated to launch in fall 2021, with additional properties to be announced in other luxurious locations. Designed to appeal to both couples and families, St. Somewhere will encompass the laid-back, escapist lifestyle that Margaritaville is known for, with yacht-inspired architecture and its own boutique luxury twist. With the first resort set to launch in Isla Holbox, a small island north of the Yucatan Peninsula between the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, guests will be able to experience life by the sea in a tranquil, private club setting.

The expansion of our partnership with Margaritaville with the elevated St. Somewhere brand will provide guests the ultimate exclusive escape, said Mario Mathieu, Senior Vice President of Business Development, Design and Construction at Karisma Hotels & Resorts. Each hotel in the new collection of boutique properties will be uniquely rooted in its destination, which will inform everything from architectural design to suite layout.

Our relationship with Karisma Hotels & Resorts has incredible potential, creating destinations to deliver Margaritavilles casual renowned atmosphere, top-notch amenities and outstanding food and beverage offerings to guests, said Shamim Lodin, Executive Director of Hotel Development of Margaritaville This new St. Somewhere collection, starting with our first property in Isla Holbox, will bring together our signature laid-back luxury vibe with a more personalized and intimate island experience.

Karisma Hotels & Resorts and Margaritaville joined ownership and development group, Desarrollos Hacienda Puerta Azul, to bring this resort to life due to their market-leading and outstanding reputation of top-quality service and innovation of new guest experiences.

"The raw beauty of Isla Holbox is the perfect location for the first St. Somewhere hotel, said developers Christian OFarrill Welter and Esau Gutierrez Sandoval. "We look forward to bringing this intimate property, which marries Karisma Hotels & Resorts exceptional service and Margaritavilles distinctive guest experiences, to beautiful Punta Coco Beach on this picturesque island off Quintana Roo."

About Margaritaville

Margaritaville, a state of mind since 1977, is a global lifestyle brand inspired by Jimmy Buffett, whose songs evoke a passion for tropical escape and relaxation. Margaritaville features over 20 lodging locations and over 20 additional projects in the pipeline, with nearly half under construction, two gaming properties and over 60 food and beverage venues including signature concepts such as Margaritaville Restaurant, award-winning JWB Prime Steak and Seafood, 5 o'Clock Somewhere Bar & Grill and LandShark Bar & Grill. More than 20 million travelers every year change their latitude and attitude with a visit to a Margaritaville resort, residential real estate destination, vacation club, vacation home rental or restaurant. Consumers can also escape everyday through a collection of Margaritaville lifestyle products including apparel, footwear, frozen concoction makers, home decor, a satellite radio station and more. To learn about Margaritavilles commitment to health, safety and sanitation, please visit us online:

https://www.margaritaville.com/healthandsanitationcommitment.
Press Release

15 June 2021

Accor, the largest hotel operator in Australia and New Zealand, is shining a light on our cities through its newest campaign, Go ALL Out, which launches in Australia and New Zealand today.

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Accor Pacific CEO, Simon McGrath, said: Through our Go ALL Out campaign, we will show our magnificent cities at their best, as vibrant and exciting destinations, bursting with culture and experiences. By working with our incredible partners, we have curated a series of amazing events to inspire travel which will get our cities moving again.

The gateway to the Go ALL Out campaign is ALL - Accor Live Limitless, a lifestyle loyalty program that integrates rewards, services and experiences throughout the Accor portfolio of brands, and the campaign is centered around a comprehensive and eclectic program of events, both large and small and across a diverse range of genres, taking place in cities across Australia and New Zealand.

These events are featured on a central campaign and events hub on ALL.com, which showcases more than 150 Accor-created and Accor-supported events, to inspire and motivate travellers to seek out city experiences that tap into their passion points  whether thats live music, food and wine experiences, arts and culture, or sporting events.

To curate this incredible line-up, Accor has collaborated with many of its major event and sporting partners, such as Vivid Sydney, the AFL, the NRL, Melbourne Food & Wine Festival, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, and Winter Pride Queenstown (just to name a few!).

Accor properties across Australia and New Zealand are also activating their spaces with a range of bespoke events.

For example, Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbours iconic Champagne Bar is inviting guests to celebrate Sydney Solstice and Fete de la Musique (Frances summer solstice festival) with live music, a collection of gin infused cocktails, and a Yarra Valley Bloody Shiraz Gin Caviar pairing from now until 20 June on Wednesday to Sundays.

In New Zealand, Novotel New Plymouth Taranaki is celebrating Matariki (Maori New Year) with a degustation dinner hosted by renowned chef Martin Bosley and Kono on 8 July.

Across these events, ALL and Accor Plus members will enjoy exclusive access to offers, events and limitless experiences.

Accors Go ALL Out campaign runs from now until 30 September 2021 and includes the following campaign elements:

 Paid media, including out-of-home advertising, a paid partnership with Ticketek, Broadcaster Video on Demand (BVOD) television advertising, digital advertising, social media and video content.

 Owned channels, including email marketing, app and website display advertising, social media campaigns, and in-hotel assets.

 A tactical promotion of Accors flexible rates across the Pacific, with rates starting from as low as AU$124* / NZ$133 per night across Australia and New Zealand.

From luxury to economy, Accor has more than 380 properties across Australia and New Zealand, including international brands such as SO/, Sofitel, MGallery, Art Series, Pullman, Swissotel, Movenpick, Grand Mercure, Peppers, The Sebel, Mantra, Novotel, Mercure, Tribe, BreakFree, ibis, ibis Styles and ibis budget.

Accor has some of the most stringent cleaning standards and operational procedures in the world of hospitality to ensure guest safety. Accors ALLSAFE label certification, developed with and vetted by Bureau Veritas, represents Accor's new cleanliness and prevention standards and provides assurance these standards have been met in Accor hotels.

CAMPAIGN CREDITS:

 Creative Agency: Special Group and John+John

 Media Agency: iProspect

#goALLout21 #ALLsafe #flexiblecancellations
Supplier News

15 June 2021

As the hospitality industry continues to rebound and business travel begins to recover, smart hoteliers should now be thinking about how to maximize SMERF booking opportunities for the fall and winter seasons. Thinking outside the box and leveraging new and innovative technologies can make all the difference between a successful SMERF marketing campaign and empty event spaces.

First introduced as a micro-wedding RFP lead generation service in 2020, RFPAssist leverages the ubiquity of Facebooks Messenger service and enables properties to deliver sales materials to prospects while capturing SMERF business leads 24/7 and 365 days a year. The results are happy prospects who are provided with immediate delivery of property event sales materials on their mobile devices and happy salespeople who receive real-time SMERF sales leads, stated DJ Vallauri, Lodging Interactives Founder and CEO.

According to Knowland U.S. Meetings and Events Volume Shows Double-Digit Growth for Fourth Consecutive Month. Lodging Interactive believes now is the time smart hoteliers need to focus on SMERF business opportunities for the upcoming fall and winter seasons.

We have shown proven results in driving SMERF RFP leads to our hotel clients which is why we offer a clear, no-risk guarantee. If a property doesnt receive at least five SMERF RFP leads per month, they dont pay us, added Vallauri. And with 90-day agreement terms, hotels are never locked in long-term.

RFPASSIST Delivers Warm Sales Leads

RFPAssist captures Warm SMERF leads by capturing the following information and delivering it in real-time to the hotel sales team:

Prospects name

Email address

Phone number

Event type

Event dates

Number of expected attendees, and

Number of sleeping rooms required.

Properties are onboarded in less than 10 days with RFP leads sent to multiple hotel sales team members in real-time, added Mr. Vallauri. Additionally, the details of every RFP lead are databased for easy roll-up reporting by the Director of Sales.

For more information on how RFPAssist can deliver warm SMERF sales leads to your sales team and a demonstration, please click here or call us at 877-291-4411 ext 704.
Press Release

15 June 2021

Indian Hotels Company (IHCL), South Asias largest hospitality company, announced that its iconic brand  Taj  has been rated as the Number One hospitality brand in India by Brand Finance in their coveted India 100 2021 report. In addition, it has continued to retain its position amongst the Top Two strongest brands in India across all sectors. Brand Finance is the world's leading brand valuation consultancy.

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Speaking about the announcement, Mr. Puneet Chhatwal, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Indian Hotels Company, said, We are delighted that Taj has been ranked as one of the nations strongest brands and Number One in the hospitality industry for the second consecutive year, inspite of the hotel industry being under lockdown for half the year. The brand has demonstrated great resilience while contributing to the community and the country. The Taj brand has been a hallmark of excellence for over a century, and we remain committed towards meeting the evolving needs of all our stakeholders.

Released by Brand Finance, the report shows Taj securing a BSI (Brand Strength Index) score of 89.3 out of 100 and a corresponding elite AAA brand strength rating based on factors such as marketing investment, stakeholder equity, and business performance. Brand Finance highlights the companys innovative strategy in the face of the pandemic, and its various COVID relief measures, including hosting medical fraternity across its hotels.

Brand Finance defines Brand Strength as the efficacy of a brands performance on intangible measures, relative to its competitors. Each brand is assigned a BSI score out of 100, which feeds into the brand value calculation. Based on the calculations, each brand is assigned a corresponding rating up to AAA in a format similar to credit rating. The full report can be accessed here.
Opinion Article

15 June 2021

Is it time to re-think your management agreement?

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As the hospitality industry moves toward recovery, many hotel owners are re-evaluating the management of their properties. A good manager can bring great value to a property; a poor manager can reduce its value. Some studies have concluded that a good management agreement  one that provides for meaningful accountability, transparency and performance  can add or subtract 50% to the value of a hotel. The next normal will likely require rethinking how to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of operations, rather than simply riding post-recession boom, and to plan for the future, not just hearken back to the past.

The Global Hospitality Group at Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP has been negotiating, re-negotiating, litigating, arbitrating and advising clients for more than 30 years on more than 2,500 hotel management and franchise agreements. Our experience extends to virtually every brand and every significant independent manager, as well as many less well-known players. Based on that experience, we thought it would be helpful to provide a few tips that owners should bear in mind when considering the hotel management agreement.

1. Owners and managers are not partners. Owners and managers often look at the management agreement as a means of aligning the interests of the owner and the manager, and managers often characterize themselves as just like a partner in the hotel. While the interests of the owner and manager can be reconciled, they are not aligned  even when the operator provides key money, has incentives to make the hotel profitable or even makes an equity investment in the hotel. Managers are charged with making profits for their stockholders and are focused on increasing the value of their entire portfolio of properties, while hotel owners are concerned about the value and income of a single property (or their portfolio of hotels). Managers can sacrifice the profitability of a single property so long as the value of their portfolio is enhanced; moreover, managers get their money off the top from gross revenues, whether or not the hotel is profitable. Owners need to profit from each property to make the investment in building and maintaining a hotel justifiable.

2. Managers are NOT taking ownership risk. While its true that hotel managers take on some costs and risk in managing a property, the fact is that in almost all cases, their risk is dwarfed by the owners risk. Regardless of profitability, owners are responsible for all costs and liabilities of the operation (except when the operator is guilty of gross negligence or breach of contract); managers are not. Those who raise funds for charities often refer to the difference between involvement and commitment. And they like to make an analogy to a ham and egg breakfast, where they say the chicken was involved, but the pig was committed. In the world of hotels, managers are involved, but owners are committed.

3. The Hotel Management Agreement or HMA is important. Many commentators, including those with experience in the industry, argue that the managers track record is more important than the management agreement. We agree that an owner should verify the managers track record before making a commitment, and that a manager with a poor track record cannot be reformed with a well-drafted agreement. However, the track record alone is not enough. First, while every management company has a list of highly-touted successes, every management company also has a less-publicized list of disappointments  the track record goes both ways. Beyond that, a hotel management agreement is a complex document that identifies the expectations of parties for a period of five, ten, twenty, fifty years or more. Over that period of time, a good track record can turn into a disappointment, and relying on decades-old assumptions may be disastrous. The history of mergers and consolidations among hotel managers is littered with changes of key personnel, revised corporate objectives and forgotten promises.

4. Owners need meaningful approval rights. All of these factors lead to a key conclusion  owners need to have a meaningful say in hotel operations. While owners hire managers to operate properties because of their expertise, resources, personnel and reputation, the relationship between owners and operators is asymmetrical, and the goals of the two differ. While managers would like a hotel management agreement where the owner simply hands the keys to the manager and hopes for the best, todays owners are, and should be, vitally interested in operations. This means that owners should have clear oversight and approval rights over budgeting, expenditures and key operating decisions. They should not be dissuaded from exercising those rights because of an operators track record.

5. The gap can be bridged. Despite the differences between owners and managers, the gap can be bridged, but to do so requires expertise and experience with the options and alternatives available to the parties. From the owners point of view, an attorney that understands what managers need and how their requirements can be met is essential. Just as important is bringing to the table advisors that can recommend meaningful and practical compromises, and who are known to be credible players in the industry.
Brazil and Mexico are beginning to emerge from the pandemic and thats boosting demand for road fuel in economies that buy more U.S. gasoline and diesel than any other foreign nation.

Even with both countries still struggling with high Covid-19 infection rates, government leaders are taking steps to reopen and that is driving more economic activity. Road use in Brazil has been climbing with restaurants and gyms in the countrys most populous state allowed to operate during extended hours from July 1. In Mexico, students in the capital returning to in-person classes this month and soccer stadiums and movie theaters are open at half capacity.

We are definitely on a path to recovery in the region, said Suzanne Danforth, an analyst with Wood Mackenzie Ltd. Its an uneven recovery between Mexico and Brazil, but still both are progressing.

While oil demand has recovered quickly in the U.S., China and Europe, Latin America was among the hardest hit regions by the pandemic. Brazil and Mexico, the two largest economies in the region, together comprise about seven out 10 barrels of U.S. gasoline exports, making them critical to the global oil market recovery.

Demand for motor fuel in Brazil, a category that includes gasoline and ethanol, should return to pre-pandemic levels in the last quarter of this year, Danforth said. Brazils need for U.S. fuel imports has also climbed after oil refineries there cut fuel-making for maintenance.

Mexico, which has the slowest vaccination campaign in North America, should see demand recover at a slower pace until reaching pre-virus levels in the last quarter of 2022, she said.

Mexico depends on imports for half of its gasoline needs, most of it produced by U.S. Gulf Coast refiners. Demand will continue to be ahead of the countrys ability to produce fuels, said Adrian Duhalt, a doctoral fellow in energy studies at Rice Universitys Baker Institute.

Flow of gasoline, diesel and jet fuel from the Gulf Coast to Mexico in May was at its highest this year. Typically one to three fuel cargoes leave the U.S. refining hub for Mexico ports each day, shipping data compiled by Bloomberg show.

Mexico certainly wants to get ahead in producing more gasoline, and reducing imports, but that is difficult to achieve, Duhalt said in a phone interview from Houston. You need intense capital spending.
Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions, a nonregulated commercial brand of Duke Energy, said it has started construction of the 250-megawatt Pisgah Ridge Solar project in Navarro County south of Dallas.

Operations at the solar facility, which will be the largest in Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions fleet, are expected to begin by the end of 2022, the company said.
U.S. refiners may be jumping the gun in ramping up production of gasoline for the summer driving season.

After weathering more than a year of pandemic-related demand destruction, a massive Gulf Coast freeze, the temporary shutdown of the Colonial pipeline and weeks of spring rains, cash-strapped refiners may feel the worst is behind them and summer days will bring increasing demand.

In the week ended June 4, refinery runs jumped to the highest since February 2020. Capacity utilization climbed four weeks in a row, reaching 91.3%, the most since January 2020.

Yet, despite road traffic being largely back to levels seen before the pandemic, supply is outpacing demand. In the week ended June 4, the four-week rolling average for gasoline demand fell to the lowest seasonally since 2014, excluding 2020 when the spread of Covid-19 kept millions off the road and out of work. Overall demand for oil products dropped by about 1.4 million barrels a day.

On the Gulf Coast, which has the greatest concentration of U.S. refining capacity, rates were the highest, at 92.9 percent, and gasoline supplies are about 7 million barrels higher than the five-year average between 2014 and 2019.

Running harder after more than a year of cuts and postponing maintenance is also causing a rash of units to malfunction from California to Texas. Valero Energy Corp. had fires at two of its Texas plants last week, Three Rivers and Port Arthur.

Gulf Coast refineries, many of which rely on exports to Latin America to clear out inventories, will also find there is plenty of other foreign refinery capacity available, said Andy Lipow, president of Lipow Oil Associates in Houston.

London energy consultancy Energy Aspects projects a strong recovery in demand to help clear the product overhang, although net exports of products still need to rise. It expects total U.S. stocks to fall below the five-year average by the end of July. But refiners need a signal to run and thats margins, and margins arent great, said Amrita Sen, co-founder of Energy Aspects and head of research.

The Nymex 3-2-1 crack, a rough gauge of the margin refiners can capture with a barrel of crude based on futures prices in New York, fell to the lowest since March on Friday, while Gulf Coast margins were the lowest since February.

Refiners who dont do their own blending of ethanol into gasoline to meet federal biofuel requirements are also paying a premium of more than 20 cents for every gallon of gasoline.

They would need more consistent signals for stronger demand ahead. Itd be nice if we saw a little more consistency over these next few weeks, particularly around gasoline, said Phil Gresh, senior equity analyst for North American oils and refining at JPMorgan Chase.
Larry Callies on the truth about the American cowboy

Larry Callies is the founder and curator of the Black Cowboy Museum in Rosenberg. Born in El Campo and raised in Beaumont, Callies believes the legacy and true history of the cowboy, particularly its direct pertinence to African Americans, is important to preserve and showcase.

Q: What was your life as a Black cowboy like?

A: I worked for one of the biggest ranches in the state of Texas. It was called The Sloan Ranch. My dad worked for the ranch, and after I turned 10 I worked for the ranch. I started riding horses, working cows, and Sloan [Williams] had some of the best bulls in the state.

We used to go to all the rodeos every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. . My dad worked for him for about 25 years. I worked for him for about 15 years. We used to go to every rodeo in the state of Texas, so I got to know all the cowboys.

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Q: How did your father learn to be a cowboy?

A: From my uncle. And he learned from his dad, and he learned from his dad. I have a picture from the 1850s of my great-great uncle working cattle. I never thought Id see a picture from the 1850s.

See, I come from slave owners. James Kerr, he was having kids with slaves. He had 12. He was a minister of the gospel, and he documented it in his Bible, which was then out in an article. Its called A Texas Family. I found from my Uncle Whitney that I was kin. My great-great grandmother was in his Bible. He was one of the slave girls that he had.

Q: What was your experience with segregation and racism like back then?

A: When I turned five or six years old we went to this place called Dairy Queen. But we called it The Pigtail, because they had a big ice cream thing on top and it had a swirl atop. We were little young kids from the country and it looked like a pigtail. We went to The Pigtail, and this was the first time I had ever experienced racism.

I was like four or five, and we were sitting in the back of my dads truck, and a brand new 57 Chevrolet pulled up. It was some white people. And I looked at that car, and I saw somebody wave. It was this blonde-headed white girl. She waved at me. She was about the same age I was. And I waved back. By the time I waved, her daddy looked back at her. And he hit her. I dont if he slapped her or he hit her on the leg, but she cried out. And her dad started pulling off. My dad looked over and they said the n-word a couple of times before they left, and they took off.

My dad, he got out the car and he said Boy, dont you ever do that again! You could get me in trouble. And that was the first time I experienced racism. That was the first time I knew there was something different between black and white.

Q: How would you say that things have changed since then?

A: Its changed. But its a lot of stuff thats still hidden. And still racist.

Q: What does Juneteenth mean to you, personally?

A: Every time somebody says Juneteenth I think about being 3 years old at my first rodeo. I went to a place called Egypt, Texas. Theyve been having that rodeo since the 40s. In 1955 I rode with my dad and my mom and we went to the rodeo. I remember my dad unloaded his horse. It was an all-black rodeo, but we had a couple white people riding within our rodeo, but we called it a Black Rodeo.

I remember standing up, and my dad going to get me a red soda water, a watermelon, and a barbecue sandwich. It was really good. That was the thing everybody did back in Juneteenth 1955, in Wharton, El Campo, Eagle Lake, everybody. Everybody connected right there at that rodeo. It was a big celebration.

I tried to have a Juneteenth celebration while I worked at the post office. I almost got laughed out of the post office. They didnt want us to celebrate Juneteenth. They just wanted to let the day go through. They dont want to be reminded of slavery and what happened back in the day. I remind people that Im celebrating for what happened then. We were free.

Q: How does the history of racism within America relate to the history of the cowboy as we know it?

A: It happened right here in Fort Bend County and Wharton County. They had slaves that worked the cows, and they said Hey, boy, go get that cow. Thats a cowboy right there. They had a boy that worked in the house, thats a houseboy. A boy that worked in the yard, thats a yardboy. The person they called boy could be 67 years old, theyd still call him a boy. And thats where the word cowboy came from. But people didnt know that until I opened my museum.

Q: Is the misunderstanding about cowboys what ultimately inspired you to create this museum?

A: I didnt want what the cowboys did to go in vain. I had so many relatives that were cowboys, my uncles, my cousins. And I found out that on my mothers side there were cowboys, on my fathers side there were cowboys. I mean, I was just flooded with information. I had an uncle from El Campo, and hes the one who told me about the cowboys. They werent called cowboys. They were called cowhands. If you called a white man in the 1800s a cowboy, hed be insulted.

One famous Black cowboys name was Bass Reeves. He was the real Lone Ranger. They tried to put him on the radio and talk about it, but when they found out he was black, they wouldnt listen to the radio station. So they said No, we didnt say the Lone Ranger was Black. We said he was a white man with a black mask. So in the 50s they had to put a white man on TV as the Lone Ranger, cause they knew they [the public] werent gonna accept him as a Black man. Thats why you dont see Black cowboys on TV.

Q: Did you have any difficulty in opening the museum?

A: It took me two weeks to open up this museum, and a year to fill it up. That was it. People would bring me articles and things. Everything here was donated, except a couple of things. I bought a couple of things, but it was easy. I mean, it just filled up quick. Im all the way to the top of the roof, and I need more space.

Q: How do you feel being able to put out the true origin of the cowboy?

A: It feels unbelievable. I come to work every day thanking God for this museum, and just I had no idea it was gonna blow up like this. Im known in France and England. Im known in Italy and Venezuela. Ive had people come from South Africa. Ive had four or five African guys, and somebody took my picture with them there, and it blew up. And I have a picture that somebody saw in China. Im on a billboard in China, and Im working cows. So its getting around, theyre talking a lot.

Q: Have you ever thought about expanding?

A: Yeah, Im trying. Im just looking for somebody to put a little money into this. And Im opening up a library in the back for kids. And Im going to tell them the true story of Texas. People dont know the real story about Texas. Im writing a book about the history of Texas, and the history of the Black cowboy.

Q: Do you have any advice for Black youth?

A: Just follow your passion. I didnt do this to make money. I did this because I didnt wanna see the hard work my dad did go to dust. People wouldnt even know that there were cowboys. Black cowboys. Theyll always think that there were white cowboys, but there were black cowboys, too. Thats what I want people to get to know.

Waddy, a senior at Texas Southern University, is a Summer 2021 intern at the Houston Chronicle. He can be reached at Treyvon.Waddy@chron.com.

Conley is a photographer at the Houston Chronicle. She can be reached at Elizabeth.Conley@chron.com.



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A new study confirms what Katy residents already know. Katy has been named the best city for retirement in the state of Texas by SmartAsset.com, an online financial advisor service.

The annual study, released June 8, considers four criteria in the designation: tax burden, access to medical care and opportunity for recreation and social activity, said Steve Sabato of SmartAsset.com.

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The first consideration- the tax burden, is based on income and sales tax. Katy has an overall tax burden of about 15 percent.

We calculated effective rates based on a retiree earning $35,000 annually- from retirement savings, Social Security and part-time employment, Sabato explained. We subtracted income taxes paid from the gross income to determine disposable income. Sales taxes paid were calculated based on the disposable income being spent on taxable goods.

According to the study, around 14 percent of the Katy population consists of seniors. Statistically speaking, there is one retirement center per 2,000 residents.

The study showed that access to medical care, a significant concern for the retirement-age population, abounded in Katy. There are approximately 17 doctors offices per 1,000 residents in the area.

There are around four recreation centers per 1,000 residents. The centers are critical to the physical and mental well being of seniors, the study reported.

Matthew Ferraro, president of the Katy Area Chamber of Commerce, lauded the results of the study but wasnt surprised by the outcome. Katy has that small town charm with the amenities of a much larger city, Ferraro said. Its a close-knit community where you can get to know everybody. The people are friendly, the business community is thriving and everyone looks out for each other.

City council member Chris Harris, too, agreed that the study reflected accurately on quality of life in Katy. Katy is your hometown, and this award just confirms what Katyites know, he said. The best place to live, work, and play in every state of life is Katy, Texas.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Turner picks director for Houston Emergency Center

I feel Katy is the best place for anything and everything, Ferraro added.

Other top 10 ranked cities in Texas followed in order:
Wharton County Junior College  with campuses in Wharton, Bay City, Richmond and Sugar Land  is looking to make it easier for students to register for classes this fall.

The Lets Get Registered initiative aims to make it easier for students to get in-person registration.

Well be there to make sure you receive the help you need to start off on the right foot, Director of Academic and Career Advising Dr. Mike Adkins said in a news release. Wed love to see a lot of students attend.

According to the news release, evening events are planned at all four of WCJCs campuses beginning on June 16 to assist students who may be unable to speak with a college advisor during regular business hours.

Staff from WCJCs Academic, Career and Transfer Center; the Admissions Office; and Financial Aid Office will be on hand to answer questions and help navigate through the registration process. There is no pre-registration required, but students must have completed their Admission Status checklist prior to the event.

Evening events include:

Wednesday, June 16: 6 to 8 p.m. in Room 228 on the Richmond Campus; Room 370 on the Sugar Land Campus; and in the Library Computer Lab at the Wharton Campus.

Tuesday, June 22: 5 to 7 p.m. at the Bay City Campus.

Wednesday, July 21: 6 to 8 p.m. in Room 228 on the Richmond Campus; Room 370 on the Sugar Land Campus; and in the Library Computer Lab at the Wharton Campus.

Tuesday, Aug. 17: 6 to 8 p.m. in Room 228 on the Richmond Campus; Room 370 on the Sugar Land Campus; and in the Library Computer Lab at the Wharton Campus.

According to figures from Wharton County Junior College, the college had an enrollment of 6,099 students for the fall semester in 2020 with 63 percent of those students hailing from Fort Bend County. The colleges service area covers Wharton, Matagorda and Colorado counties, and includes portions of Fort Bend, Austin and Jackson counties.

The bulk of Fort Bend ISD graduates, along with other districts in Fort Bend County, can attend Wharton County Junior College as in-district students. That means they pay lower rates for classes compared to out-of-district students.

As part of the Lets Get Registered endeavor, students can attend one-hour group advising sessions at the Wharton and Sugar Land campuses every Wednesday. Sessions will be held at 9, 10 and 11 a.m. and 1, 2 and 3 p.m. The Wharton sessions will take place on the third level of the Pioneer Student Center and the Sugar Land sessions will be in Room 376. Appointments are not required.

The college is offering a number of resources to assist students in funding their future at WCJC, explained Zina Carter, WCJCs director of marketing, communications and advancement. Resources range from scholarships for all first-time-in-college WCJC students to discounted tuition and fees to various forms of federal aid and much more.

In addition to registering for classes, students are encouraged to review the Fund Your Future resources webpage found on the colleges website at wcjc.edu.

rkent@hcnonline.com
ATLANTA (AP)  Johnny Lorenzo Bolton was lying on a couch in his apartment near Atlanta when police serving a narcotics search warrant burst through the front door with guns drawn and no warning.

Bolton stood and at least one of the officers fired, sending two bullets into Boltons chest. The 49-year-old Black man died from his injuries.

Details of the pre-dawn encounter in December  most of which come from a lawyer representing Boltons family  resemble a well-known case: the killing nine months earlier of Breonna Taylor in Kentucky. The 26-year-old Black woman also died after being shot by officers serving a drug search warrant at her apartment.

But unlike Taylors, Boltons name isn't mentioned in the ongoing nationwide discussions on racial injustice and police brutality that began after Taylors death in March 2020 and that of George Floyd, who was killed by a Minneapolis police officer in May 2020.

Boltons relatives and their lawyers wanted to gather information before drawing attention to his killing, they said. Frustrated in those efforts, attorneys sent a draft lawsuit to Cobb County officials in mid-April along with a letter threatening litigation.

For almost six months, we gave them quiet, Boltons sister Daphne Bolton said in a recent interview with The Associated Press. That lets me know thats not what gets a response.

Now, Bolton says, I want my brothers name to ring beside Breonna Taylors. When they say Breonna Taylor, I want them to say Breonna Taylor and Johnny Lorenzo Bolton. I want them to be simultaneous.

The specifics of Taylors killing are widely known: Police arrived after midnight and used a battering ram to knock open the door. Taylors boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, said he grabbed his gun and he and Taylor got out of bed and walked toward the door. Police say they knocked and identified themselves. Walker said he didnt hear them say police and feared they were intruders. He fired once, hitting an officer. Three officers returned fire, killing Taylor.

Fewer details about Boltons death have been released.

In a bare-bones news release the day he died, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said a Cobb County Sheriff's Office SWAT team executed a narcotics search warrant at a Smyrna apartment around 4:40 a.m. on Dec. 17.

During entry into the residence, a SWAT team member discharged his firearm and an occupant of the apartment was struck, the release said.

The Cobb County district attorneys office has said its still investigating and  as it does with all shootings by police  plans to present the case to a grand jury.

In a letter to the familys lawyers, an attorney representing Cobb County said officials believe there are several material inaccuracies in the draft lawsuit and accompanying letter.

The two-bedroom apartment where Bolton lived served as an unofficial boarding house, and Bolton slept on a couch in the living room, according to Zack Greenamyre, one of the familys lawyers.

Police served two warrants at roughly the same time: one at a townhouse where a suspected drug dealer lived and the second at the apartment where Bolton lived. The officer who provided sworn statements for both warrants said he relied on a confidential law enforcement source and surveillance. The officer said drug sales continued at the apartment in December.

The officer asked for a no-knock warrant, which allows police to enter without announcing themselves. He cited the criminal histories of people known to associate with the suspected drug dealer at the apartment and previous reports of guns there.

Greenamyre says the warrant was based on false and outdated information and that the apartment was residential, with no drug sales happening there. Boltons name doesnt appear in the warrant paperwork.

Greenamyre said witnesses told him Bolton was lying on a couch with his eyes closed, possibly sleeping, when officers crashed through the door. He stood and was shot. Witnesses also said officers didnt immediately provide first aid but instead handcuffed Bolton.

The limited information available to the family now does not make this look like a justified shooting, said the letter accompanying the draft lawsuit.

About two weeks after the shooting, police got additional arrest warrants for the alleged dealer, who had already been arrested in the raid on the townhouse, and his brother, saying the pair had access to a locked closet in the apartment where a backpack containing drugs was found.

Police also got arrest warrants for two women and a man who were in the apartment with Bolton. The warrants charge all three with possession of a gun by a felon after one gun was found in the kitchen and another in a bedroom. The man also had a backpack containing cocaine, marijuana and methamphetamines, a warrant says.

Daphne Bolton wants to know why her brother was shot and wants the officers fired and charged. She also wants no-knock warrants banned.

The siblings grew up, along with an older sister who died five years ago, in a tightknit family in Mississippi. As teenagers, they moved to South Carolina with their mother after their parents divorced.

Johnny Bolton never really liked school, but he was funny and well liked and drew a crowd when hed sing in public. He began using drugs in his late teens, possibly to cope with their parents divorce, his sister said. He moved to the Atlanta area as a young man.

Daphne Bolton saw her brother a couple of times a year, but spoke to him often. He worked at a carwash and was popular with customers and staff there, she said.

Johnny Bolton had trouble with the law over the years, mostly drug and misdemeanor offenses, and spent some time locked up. Hed often call his sister to ask for money.

He always told me, he said, Baby Sis, Im gonna get better. I said, I know you are, Daphne Bolton said through tears. I never gave up hope that he would get better. Now I, unfortunately, will never get to see that day.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP)  A Multnomah County grand jury has returned an indictment against a Portland police officer accusing him of hitting an Oregon protester in the head with a baton in 2020.

The indictment marks the first time in the county an officer has been prosecuted stemming from force used during a protest, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported. Months of demonstrations over racial injustice last year led to accusations that officers were heavy-handed in their response.

Corey Budworth is charged with misdemeanor fourth-degree assault. He's accused of unlawfully, knowingly and recklessly causing physical injury to Teri Jacobs on Aug. 18.

Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt called Budworths use of force excessive and lacking any legal justification, and said in a statement that the integrity of our criminal justice system requires that we, as prosecutors, act as a mechanism for accountability."

Budworth, 40, joined the Police Bureau six years ago. He has been on desk duty during the investigation.

Budworths lawyer, Nicole L. Robbins, did not immediately return an email from the Associated Press seeking comment. The police union called the prosecution politically-driven, and said Budworths baton push to a womans head was accidental."

U.S. Department of Justice lawyers and the city-hired compliance officer had highlighted the incident in their reports critical of the bureaus review of officers use of force during the nightly demonstrations.

A video shared on Twitter caught an officer running and striking the back of a protesters head with his baton shortly after 11 p.m. on Aug. 18. The officer knocked the woman down and then hit her with the baton a second time while she was down, the video appears to show.

The Police Bureau found the baton strike was not intentional and therefore not considered lethal force while the Independent Police Review office viewed the strike as a push, compliance officer Dennis Rosenbaum noted in his report.

However, Rosenbaum said the video did not support either stance and that police should have started a deadly force investigation. Police started an inquiry as a result  several weeks later, a federal Justice Department report noted.

At the time of the incident, Budworth was assigned to the Police Bureaus Rapid Response Team, which does crowd control.

Jacobs filed the civil rights and battery lawsuit in September, saying she was working as a photojournalist when she was pushed by the officer.

Ms. Jacobs posed no threat to the officer at any time, and she had not committed any crime nor was she being lawfully arrested or detained," her attorney Juan Chavez wrote in the lawsuit. "When the officer noticed he had been caught committing this vile act on camera, he quickly composed himself and walked away as if nothing happened. An entire squad of Portland Police Officers witnessed this act, failed to intervene, and allowed this officer to walk away after committing a violent crime against Ms. Jacobs.

The city and Jacobs reached a settlement of the civil lawsuit this spring, with the city agreeing to pay her $50,000, plus $11,000 in attorney fees, court records show.

Unfortunately, this decorated public servant has been caught in the crossfire of agenda-driven city leaders and a politicized criminal justice system, the Portland Police Association said Tuesday in a statement.

Budworth used his baton to move Jacobs out of the area, the union argued.

He faced a violent and chaotic, rapidly evolving situation, and he used the lowest level of baton force  a push; not a strike or a jab  to remove Ms. Jacobs from the area, the union argues.

Portland Police Chief Chuck Lovell, in a Tuesday statement, said, Law enforcement is held to a higher standard and must constantly strive to live up to that standard.

He said he couldnt comment about the case as he will play a role in the Police Bureaus internal review of Budworths actions.

"I ask for the community's patience as we follow the guidelines of the established internal accountability process, he said.
MILFORD  For 20 years, Cindy Wolfe Boynton has been searching for her truth. Now, she may be just weeks away from finding it.

Boynton is one of about 38,000 adult adoptees in Connecticut who are barred from accessing their original birth certificates. This year, the General Assembly passed legislation giving people like Boynton the right to see their birth documents.

The bill goes before Gov. Ned Lamont next month.

Boynton said the bill is an attempt to right a long-time wrong and create a new beginning.

This bill is saying, You know what, Im sorry. Lets right the wrong, she said. And every time you say youre sorry, you get an opportunity for a fresh start.

State Sen. James Maroney, D-14, one of the bills most vocal supporters, said the legislation aims to end decades of denial of important  sometimes life-impacting  access to adoptees own information. It would amend state statutes to allow all adopted individuals and their children and grandchildren to obtain their original birth certificates. Currently, Maroney said, state law only allows individuals born or adopted after Oct. 1, 1983, to access their original birth certificates.

Numerous organizations submitted testimony in favor of the bill, including the North American Council on Adoptable Children, which endorsed the legislation under the statement that every adopted person has the right to receive personal information about their birth, foster and adoption history, including medical information, educational and social history.

Boyntons birth certificate has her place of birth, when she was born, how much she weighed and the doctor who was in the delivery room. But the parent information on the document contains falsehoods, she said.

All this part in the middle is 100 percent untrue, she said. These are my parents, the people that raised me, but they are not the people that conceived me, and its not the mother who gave birth to me.

In addition to advocates like Boynton, and legislative backers like Maroney, the bill has its opponents. Eight senators and 28 state representatives voted against it. And Catholic Charities, which facilitated adoptions in Connecticut from the 1960s into the 1980s, has consistently been opposed to such legislation.

The organizations position is that women who gave their children up for adoption should have their privacy respected.

We are not in favor of breaking promises to birth parents who were promised anonymity, said John Noonan, director of development and communications for Catholic Charities for the Archdiocese of Hartford. These promises were made when birth parents came to our agency during the most vulnerable and difficult time of their lives.

State Sen. Eric Berthel, R-32, who voted against the legislation, said mothers who gave up their children did so for many reasons, but they did so under a promise of anonymity. He said he had heard arguments for and against the bill from these women during public testimony.

Some of these mothers inevitably chose to disclose their identity to their child, he said. This decision is their choice, based on these protections put in place years ago. It is wrong to undo these protections and create another mandate from Hartford.

Boynton said the promises of anonymity were made in a different time, under conditions that no longer exist.

It was the time in our society where being unmarried and pregnant was just about the worst thing that you could do, she said. For the woman to keep the child, she had to have the support of her family. At that time, there was tremendous shame cast upon the woman and her child.

Boynton said a woman couldnt get a credit card or rent an apartment without her father or husbands signature, and support for single mothers was scarce.

The majority of families didnt support their daughters to keep the babies because, again, it was scorn on the family, she said. When women were allegedly sent to live with their aunts for several months or sent away to school, they were really sent to maternity homes. There were maternity homes all around the country.

In Connecticut, adult adoptees could get their original birth certificate until 1975, when a change in the law closed adoptees original birth documents. Those wishing to see their original birth certificates had to petition the court and provide a compelling reason. Boynton herself started the legal process in 2000. She eventually found her birth parents, but said she still had not received her original birth certificate, which is on file with the state Department of Children and Families.

The state receives about 20 inquiries each month from adoptees looking for their birth parents or records. For those born before Oct. 1, 1983, those requests usually go unfilled.

For Boynton, the first step was to reach out to a representative from the adoption agency. She also had to send a notarized letter to the state saying she wouldnt sue if she received traumatizing information. For a $250 filing fee, she received non-identifying information.

I got one sentence ... that said your parents met in college, your birth father didnt want to get married, your birth mother didnt want to give you up, and thats all I knew, she said.

After she received the non-identifying information, Boynton paid another $250 and sent another notarized letter to conduct a records search.

The search allows a few hours of searching time, she said. I was fortunate that my biological mothers mother still lived in the exact house in Berlin. So my social worker contacted my biological grandmother, who then contacted my biological mother, and a date and time were set up for my biological mother to call me.

Boynton found her biological father 10 years later after extensive searching.

My biological mom was in New Hampshire, and my biological dad was living in California, she said. Im very fortunate that I have a wonderful extended family now, and I went from being the only child to being the oldest of seven.

With the advent of in-home genetic testing, Boynton said the promise of secrecy was essentially obsolete.

We have all this genetic testing thats available out there. You spit in a tube, you send it in, and all of a sudden online, you get matched with anyone that has your DNA, she said.

Such a search would be far less private than simply giving adults access to their birth records, she argued.

When you have access to the birth records, you see the name, you can find that person yourself, and you can go straight to them. Its very private, said Boynton.

But Sen. Kevin Kelly, R-21, took the opposite approach, saying that technology made it easy enough for people to find their own genetic information so there was no reason to renege on a promise of privacy.

I think what we should be looking at here is a process that would look and balance these interests, which I think is what we have under current law, said Sen. Kelly. Rather than deciding that one interest, one of a child, is more important than that of a mother.

For Sen. Heather Somers, R-18, the situation boiled down to the rights of adopted children being in direct conflict with the rights of their birth parents.

Who is the one who wins here? Who is the one that has the right to either secrecy or the right to information? she said. I feel for both sides.

She said she understands the adoptees who want to reach out and want to know who they are and what their family history is. Sometimes, a reunion between a birth mother and child can be a joyful event. But it should be a decision left up to the birth mother, she said.

They have a right to be able to consent to that and have a right to say, yes, things have changed and Im OK with giving that information out. I do want to meet the child I gave away, Somers said. I also feel they have the right to say no.

Somers said she was swayed by a story from one constituent who wanted the details of her decision to give her child up for adoption to remain private.

Her husband and her children do not know, and the last thing she wants is to have somebody knock on her door or call her or have this information exposed, she said. She went into it with a guarantee she wouldnt have to face this situation and not be exposed. I do believe in many cases the birth mother has already paid a huge price that she will carry for her entire life.

Boynton said she and her fellow adoptees considered Maroney a hero for his efforts to advance the bill.

When James Maroney gave his testimony, every one of us was crying in (a group text) saying how great he was, how much passion he spoke with, and how he was bringing it home, she said. He was really incredible, and all the legislatures were incredible who spoke for the bill.

Should Lamont sign the bill, the new law would go into effect July 1. Boynton said she, and many others, would be ready.

I will be at Norwalk City Hall on July 1, she said. I will be first in line. I will sleep out if I have to. I know adoptees all over the state who will be doing the exact same thing.
Ng Han Guan/AP

MADRID (AP)  Detained antivirus software entrepreneur John McAfee testified in a Spanish court Tuesday as part of his fight against extradition to the United States, where he is wanted on tax-related criminal charges that carry a prison sentence of up to 30 years.

McAfee, 75, appeared from prison via videolink at a hearing in Spains National Court. He argued that the charges against him are politically motivated and said he would spend the rest of his life in prison if he was returned to the United States, according to a report by private Spanish news agency Europa Press.
Chronicle file

The Adams triplets, the first triplets born at Baptist Hospital (later Memorial Hospital), came into this world today in 1931. The photograph seen here was taken about an hour after their birth.

In Galveston, Miss United States was being crowned that night to compete in the Miss Universe contest the following night. In a sad sidebar, a woman visiting the island city for the pageant of pulchritude contest died after the car she was riding in overturned after striking driftwood on the beach.
AUSTIN, Texas (AP)  Police made a second arrest Monday in a weekend shooting that killed a man and left more than a dozen more people wounded after gunfire rang out on in a busy, downtown Austin entertainment district.

Officers arrested a 17-year-old boy at Harker Heights High School in Harker Heights, according to statements from Austin police and the Killeen Independent School District. He is facing a charge of aggravated assault.
Texas first trove of 2021 state standardized test scores offers early confirmation of what many educators feared: students fell dramatically behind in math during the coronavirus pandemic.

Results from spring algebra tests given to Texas high school students show a major decline in performance compared to 2019, particularly among Black, Hispanic and lower-income students.

By contrast, performance on high school English tests slightly dipped this year, mirroring nationwide studies suggesting that students reading skills continued to develop  albeit slower  throughout the pandemic.

Taken together, the scores offer one of the states earliest looks at the academic fallout from the pandemic, which upended education across Texas and pushed millions of children into online-only classes for varying lengths of time.

The results further validate concerns that students math development, in particular, has taken the biggest hit among core subjects. While children continue to gain literacy and language skills through everyday interactions, students are less likely to acquire math skills without regular classroom instruction.

The math problem Fewer first-time test takers in Houston's largest districts scored on grade level this year in Algebra I than in 2019 - though the pandemic has complicated efforts to compare the scores. District; On grade level in 2019; On grade level in 2021; Change Houston ISD; 57%; 29%; -28% Cy-Fair ISD; 78%; 63%; -15% Katy ISD; 82%; 67%; -15% Fort Bend ISD; 70%; 45%; -25% Conroe ISD; 70%; 60%; -10% Note: Texas did not administer state tests in 2020. Source: Texas Education Agency See More Collapse

Just think of anything you do regularly  sports, cooking, playing the piano. When you dont do that thing, you get rusty, Sarah Powell, an associate professor for the University of Texas at Austins College of Education, wrote in an email. The same holds true with math.

The state data released this week only includes performance on state end-of-course exams that high school students must pass before graduating, with limited exceptions. State officials are expected later this month to publish scores for students in grades 3 through 8 on the tests, known as the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or STAAR.

While the high school results allow for drawing broad conclusions, the data does not offer a precise apples-to-apples comparison between scores from 2019 and 2021. The tests were not given in 2020.

Making such comparisons are difficult, for several reasons. For example, many more struggling students re-took end-of-course exams in 2019 than 2021, likely skewing the 2019 results lower. In addition, a small fraction of teens taking virtual-only classes this spring opted out of the tests, which could impact average scores in 2021.

Still, the end-of-course results offer an imperfect, but potentially useful, window into student achievement. Looking only at first-time test takers in 2019 and 2021, an approach that offers a more accurate comparison between years, the results show:

The share of Texas students who passed the primary math test, Algebra I fell from 88 percent to 74 percent. More concerning, the share of students who scored on grade level dropped from 66 percent to 42 percent. Texas students can pass the exam, but fall short of performing at grade level.

Scores on the two reading tests, English I and English II, held more steady. Passage rates on the English I exam slipped slightly, from 74 percent to 71 percent, as did rates of scoring on grade level (from 60 percent to 55 percent). Scores on English II, which fewer high schoolers take, essentially were unchanged.

Student demographic groups that historically have performed worse on the exams saw their scores drop the most. The share of Texas students scoring on grade level in Algebra I fell dramatically among Black students, from 53 percent to 28 percent, Hispanic students, from 64 percent to 34 percent, and students considered economically disadvantaged by the state from 59 percent to 31 percent.

The demographic trends showed up in Houston. Five of the regions largest districts serving predominantly non-white and lower-income students  Alief, Aldine, Fort Bend, Houston and Pasadena ISDs  saw drops ranging from 25 percentage points to 33 percentage points in their share of students on grade level in Algebra I. More affluent districts saw declines of 15 percentage points or less, including Conroe, Katy and Humble ISDs.

Officials in several Houston-area districts did not immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday. A spokeswoman for Humble ISD noted the district, which reported some of the regions smallest drops in test scores, offered in-person classes all school year. Some local districts remained online only through the first several weeks of 2020-21.

Education leaders across the state remain in the early stages of planning for how to help students emerge from the pandemic. Local districts will receive billions of dollars in federal stimulus money aimed at supporting children, with a larger share of funds going to districts with more students from lower-income families.

Texas schools and districts this year will not receive state-issued academic accountability ratings, which are largely or wholly dependent on students STAAR scores. The ratings, issued in a A-through-F format, will resume in 2022, but schools and districts that score D or F grades will instead receive a not rated label.

Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath has defended giving STAAR in 2021  If we dont know where they are, how do we know how to support them? he said in February  while many educators and critics of testing argued the time spent on exams could be better spent on instruction.

jacob.carpenter@chron.com
Billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has gone public as the donor providing free tuition to 2021 graduates going to San Jacinto College this fall.

In early June, San Jacinto College omitted the name of the private donor and the amount of the gift when announcing its new "21 Forward" program designed to provide Class of 2021 high school graduates with free tuition.

In a previous story by the Houston Chronicle, Amanda Fenwick, the school's vice president for marketing and public relations, said even she wasn't aware of the amount, but knew it was enough to cover the 5,000 eligible graduates within San Jacinto's six independent school districts, in which the students are required to live to receive funding.

PAST COVERAGE: San Jacinto College anonymous donor gives free tuition to 2021 high school grads

But now Scott, who is also an author and the ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has announced in a blog post Tuesday that she has given $2.7 billion to a variety of charities working to combat racial discrimination, bringing her total donations since her first giving spree in July 2020 to $8.5 billion.

"People struggling against inequities deserve center stage in stories about change they are creating," Scott, 51, wrote.

She wrote that she and her husband Dan Jewett and others "are all attempting to give away a fortune that was enabled by systems in need of change."

"Higher education is a proven pathway to opportunity, so we looked for 2- and 4-year institutions successfully educating students who come from communities that have been chronically underserved."

And San Jacinto made the cut.

Of that $2.7 billion, San Jacinto received a whopping $30 million that will fund up to three years of tuition for students enrolling in the fall 2021 semester, towards either an associates degree or workforce certificate.

Fenwick said to her knowledge Scott does not have any ties to San Jacinto College or the local area. She provided the following statement from SJC Chancellor Dr. Brenda Hellyer to the Houston Chronicle following the news:
A group of Houston Methodist employees who sued the hospital system over its COVID-19 vaccine requirement have appealed a ruling dismissing the case.

Over the weekend, U.S. District Judge Lynn N. Hughes tossed the lawsuit, calling it reprehensible to compare the vaccine requirement to Nazi Germanys medical experiments.

Equating the injection requirement to medical experimentation in concentration camps is reprehensible, Hughes said. Nazi doctors conducted medical experiments on victims that caused pain, mutilation, permanent disability, and in many cases, death.

Houston Methodist issued a rule requiring its employees to be vaccinated in late March. Employees can opt out of the vaccine requirement if they provide a medical or religious exemption. Otherwise, they had to provide proof of vaccination by June 7, or risk suspension and eventually, job termination.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Supporters gather as unvaccinated Methodist Baytown nurses, workers finish their last shifts

More than 170 employees were suspended for two weeks without pay as a result of the requirement, although 27 of them had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and would no longer be at risk of termination if they receive their second during the suspension, according to the hospital.

Our employees and physicians made their decisions for our patients, who are always at the center of everything we do, Houston Methodist CEO Marc Boom said in a Saturday statement. They have fulfilled their sacred obligation as health care workers, and we couldnt ask for a more dedicated, caring and talented team.

About 25,000 Houston Methodist employees have been vaccinated for COVID-19.

Federal regulators in May issued guidance allowing employers to require proof of vaccination as a condition of employment.

More than half of frontline medical workers nationwide have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to a survey from the Kaiser Family Foundation, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank. But as of April, nearly one in five said they did not plan on receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.

An American Medical Association survey of vaccinated medical workers found that doctors were among the most likely to receive a shot, with 96 percent of physicians nationwide fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Vaccine leery workers concerned about the imminent mandate filed a federal labor lawsuit in Montgomery County, which landed in federal court June 1. The plaintiffs asked Hughes to halt the mandate. Hughes dismissed the matter a week later.

Jared Woodfill, a lawyer known for suing over hot-button conservative issues who represents the 117 plaintiffs in the Houston Methodist case, believes the workers have grounds to revisit the case.

Although the lower court judge thought the case had no merit, Woodfill could get traction from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court, known as one of the most conservative appeals courts in the country. On several recent occasions, the 5th Circuit has dealt blows to Hughes, an historically stubborn 79-year-old Reagan appointee.

The appeals court ordered him to resentence a defendant in a terrorism case who was accused of supporting ISIS overseas. After Hughes resentenced the man to the same abbreviated sentence, 18 months, which did not consider a sentencing enhancement, the government appealed and the 5th circuit removed the sentencing from Hughes court.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Unemployment recipients can no longer refuse jobs for COVID related reasons

The 5th circuit also admonished Hughes for remarks he made on the record about female employees of the federal government. Hughes later barred the Houston prosecutor from appearing at the jury trial involved in that case.

gwendolyn.wu@chron.com

gabrielle.banks@chron.com
For the first time in decades, Dwight McKissic is not attending the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention.

That may soon be the norm for the Arlington pastor, who recently announced his congregation, Cornerstone Baptist Church, might leave the nations second-largest faith group over issues of race, the role of women in churches and sexual abuse.

He sees all three matters  and the SBCs views on them  as rooted in the same sins.

There is an informal, structural system in place, a good old boys system, that has a low view and very negative view of minorities and women, McKissic said of the SBC this week. It is oppressive, it is devaluing of the marginalized.

On Tuesday, more than 17,000 SBC church delegates will gather in Nashville, Tenn., to elect a new president and vote on a hodgepodge of reforms related to the sexual abuse crisis thats rocked the denomination since 2018 and re-emeged in recent weeks.

The roots of the debate over critical race theory largely began at the SBCs annual meeting in 2019, with the passage of a resolution that said CRT had useful applications to reading scripture. CRT is a field of scholarship that examines the intersection of race and legal institutions.

It has become a lightning rod in a denomination that was founded in support of slavery: Hard-line conservative groups have spent nearly two years framing CRT as a Trojan horse for Marxism and secularism; last year, an all-white group of SBC seminary presidents released a statement decrying CRT as incompatible with the Gospel.

Its already driven multiple majority-Black churches  including one of Houstons largest congregations  to leave the SBC at the same time that Black Christians across the country have wrestled with their place in majority-white religious spaces.

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In this time, these men chose to castigate a framework that points out a truth that cannot be denied, Ralph West, pastor of Houstons Church Without Walls, wrote last year in his announcement that his church would leave the SBC. American history has been tainted with racism. America codified it. And more, our public and private institutions propagated it.

Many Black Baptists have similarly framed CRT as a distraction from other issues plaguing the faith group, including sexual abuse.

There is no real issue with CRT, said Kyle Howard, who has been outspoken about racism he said he encountered at an SBC seminary. Its a distraction, misdirection. Its about covering up abuse. Black and brown people have been sacrificed on (the) altar for cover.

Regardless, its likely to play a large factor in the race for SBC president.

Two of the front-runners in that contest  prominent seminary President Albert Mohler and Mike Stone, a longtime denominational official  have been outspoken in their opposition to CRT, saying the Bible is adequate for examining societal racism and injustice.

Mohler has long faced questions about his views on race. Last year, he apologized for decades-old comments that downplayed the severity of slavery, and hes also been criticized for not pledging to do more in response to a report that documented historical racism at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, the school he leads in Louisville, Ky.

Stone, meanwhile, has been at the center of recent scandals involving denominational leaders responses to sex abuse. Earlier this month, letters were leaked in which outgoing SBC official Russell Moore accused Stone and others of retaliating against him for his work with sexual abuse survivors.

Stone has denied those allegations. He is aligned with and supported by the Conservative Baptist Network, a group of congregations that recently formed in opposition to what they say is a drift toward liberalism in the SBC.

The CBN is also linked with Paige Patterson, the former SBC leader who has been accused of mishandling or ignoring numerous sexual abuse complaints. Patterson has also faced criticism for his comments about Black Southern Baptists, including those he made after the SBC in 2012 elected its first Black president.

The difficulty is that among many of the ethnic groups there are not so many of them who understand the issues involved and the seriousness of them, Patterson wrote in a 2012 letter that was published by a critical Baptist blogger in 2019.

Oklahoma pastor Wade Burleson has been among Pattersons most vocal critics and, like McKissic, has been outspoken on abuse and misogyny within the SBC.

However, Burleson disagrees with the stance of McKissic, a friend, on CRT.

Though Burleson said there are pockets of the SBC that are racist, he believes they are in the vast, vast minority.

Burleson characterized CRT as potentially destructive not just to Baptists, but to America in general.

Its about forced equality, he said. And I believe America has always been a meritocracy.

Burleson said hell vote for Mohler in Tuesdays presidential election and said he hopes the outcome of the race wont drive those such as McKissic from the faith group to which theyve both dedicated so many years of their lives.

We need more Dwight McKissics in the SBC, he said.

But come Tuesday  and for the first time in decades  Dwight McKissic might just disagree.

robert.downen@chron.com

twitter.com/robdownenchron
A Houston Community College board of trustee member has been accused of sexual misconduct and offering to help an instructors career in exchange for sex.

Documents obtained by the Houston Chronicle show that a female instructor filed a Title IX complaint, alleging that HCC trustee chair Robert Glaser has since November 2019 physically, mentally, and emotionally abused and continually sexually harassed her.

It turns out that the Trustee gave Filer preferential treatment in exchange for sexually harassing her, the complaint states.

The 50-year-old instructor contends she is a victim of quid pro quo sexual harassment and discrimination based on her sex, disability and mental health issues, and retaliation based on a hostile work environment. Her attorneys did not immediately respond to calls or messages left at their office.

The Houston Chronicle typically does not identify victims of alleged sexual assault or harassment.

Glaser, 60, did not immediately respond to calls or a voicemail left by the Chronicle.

HCC board vice chair Dr. Reagan Flowers said in a written statement that trustees recently learned about the disturbing allegations and launched an independent investigation into what occurred.

We find the content of the complaint deeply concerning and take this and any accusations against trustees very seriously. We will be cooperating with the appropriate authorities and protect personnel privacy due to the sensitive nature of these allegations, Flowers wrote. As a Board, we remain committed to transparency. We hold our Board and each individual trustee to the highest moral, ethical, and legal standards, and we want the public to be assured that this matter will be no different. Out of respect to the investigation in progress, the Board does not anticipate making any further statements.

David Cross, HCCs Title IX coordinator, acknowledged the instructors allegations in a letter sent in late May, which also include violations of confidentiality obligations relating to Board meetings and possible violations of student privacy obligations.

Cross noted that in addition to the investigation, the college will host a live hearing, during which the instructor and her adviser will be able to cross-examine or ask Glaser and witnesses questions, which follows the college policy. An informal resolution, which could include mediation, is optional.

The instructor stated in her complaint that she met Glaser at an HCC-sponsored event, where he flirted with her commented on her cute outfit. She said she believed that Glaser had good intentions confided in him about a hostile work environment that she was experiencing at the community college. Glaser assured the instructor that he would see to it that she be treated fairly and would investigate her concerns, the report says.

Glaser got her number and soon after began texting the instructor, revealing details about his marriage and asking her questions about her personal life, the complaint states. Glaser also made visits to the instructors classroom and asked to be copied on her emails.

The instructor contended that Glaser invited her out for a drink at a nightclub. The next morning, she woke up in her own bed, with soreness around her thighs and no recollection of the night before, she stated in her complaint. She said Glaser told her that the two had just made out and that he tucked her into bed.

For the next few months, the instructor alleged that Glaser visited her every day at her home, giving her gifts and offering to help with her work issues in exchange for sex. A sexual relationship continued, according to the complaint, with the instructor fearing that if she ended it or denied Glasers sexual advances, she would be back at mercy of her abusive HCC supervisors and feared her job would be at risk, the complaint states.

The filed complaint also notes that the instructors attorneys have copies of text messages from Glaser to the instructor, which include nude and explicit photos and videos, messages to schedule their sexual encounters, and Glasers promises to help and protect the instructor.

The instructor alleged that Glaser insisted that they be together and continue a sexual and romantic relationship despite her trying to end it. The relationship came to a halt shortly after one of the instructors neighbors recorded an interaction between her and Glaser and threatened to report their relationship to HCC officials.

The instructors work environment worsened, she said  with her supervisors questioning her relationship with Glaser  as did her mental health. The instructors complaint notes that she was diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder, and is now on medical leave. The complaint states that shes been required to participate in a background review and has been threatened with termination.

Glaser, who represents District V, has been a trustee since 2013 and is serving his second term. The board elected him chair in January.

HCC leadership has experienced its share of controversy in the past few years.

In April, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear an ongoing case involving former trustee Dave Wilson who alleges in a lawsuit that the school violated his constitutional rights.

Wilson, who served on HCCs board as a District II trustee for several years, filed a lawsuit in 2018 claiming the college violated his 1st and 14th Amendment rights after his fellow board members voted to censure him.

The college was also hit with a $100 million lawsuit last June that alleged that HCC Chancellor Cesar Maldonado and its human resources director Janet May discriminated against hundreds of African American employees. The plaintiff Zelia Brown, a former employee, also contended that board of trustees member Adriana Tamez misused grant money. U.S. District Judge Lynn N. Hughes dismissed claims against Maldonado and May on May 13. Investigations into the case are still ongoing, and HCC and Browns attorneys from Hall Law Group have fought over the release of public records related to the case.

In September, Harris County District Judge Steven Kirkland denied HCCs plea to jurisdiction, which calls for the court to dismiss information that a party deems irrelevant or lacking in subject matter. Judge Kirkland ordered the college to provide all public information that the Hall Law Group requested. HCC appealed, and on June 10, Texas First Court of Appeals upheld the ruling.

Editors note: This article has been updated to include that U.S. District Judge Lynn N. Hughes dismissed claims against HCC Chancellor Cesar Maldonado and human resources director Janet May.

brittany.britto@chron.com
Melissa Phillip/Staff photographer

Southwest Airlines resumed flights late Monday after a network issue caused delays that impacted Houston, according to the company and Houston airport officials.

In a statement, the company said a third party that provides weather data experienced "intermittent performance issues" earlier Monday evening. The data is required to safely operate the aircraft, the company said. While the airline worked with the vendor to restore connectivity, Southwest implemented a ground stop, the company said.
The Arizona Senates audit of Maricopa County votes  a risible effort replete with unattended computers, ballots whizzing by on conveyor belts and barely trained volunteers checking for weight, texture and Asian bamboo fibers  has been called many things, including deluded and deranged, but while its easy to mock the farcical proceedings, the danger they pose to democracy is serious.

Attempts to further audit the 2020 presidential results are being considered in several states where Donald Trump lost, including Georgia, Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. These deceptive partisan reviews must be stopped lest they continue to spread doubt and misinformation that is damaging Americans faith in fair elections.

In Arizona, an ongoing audit apparently approved to appease Trump loyalists has taken on a mission, mystique and a prophecy all its own, with the ever-inventive QAnon conspiracy theorists portraying it as the new conduit for their banished candidates resurrection: The audit is The Great Awakening in how weve been manipulated by those that want to control us, USA Today quoted one follower named Just Stan, who posted earlier this month on the Arizona Audit Watch Chat channel of the messaging app Telegram.

Meanwhile in the Grand Canyon state, Cyber Ninjas, a Florida-based cybersecurity firm whose only relevant experience seems to be its CEOs support of conspiracy theories around the election, has changed audit standards as it goes. Experts say the company fought to keep the media in the dark and destroyed the chain of custody of ballots.

It is impossible to believe that this incompetent review could produce a true count, such as those delivered by two previous audits in Maricopa  the states largest county and the source of President Bidens twice-confirmed margin of victory. That margin, which accounts for 11 electoral votes, was narrow  roughly 11,000 votes  but his defeat of Trump across the country was resounding. He won 306 electoral votes to Trumps 232, and more than 7 million more Americans voted for him than for Trump.

The truth, of course, is not the point. But it should be.

There has never been an election in American history that was more auditable and verifiable  and also audited, verified and scrutinized  than the 2020 election, said David Becker, a former senior trial attorney in the Voting Section of the Department of Justices Civil Rights Division and executive director of the nonpartisan Center for Election Innovation & Research.

We had 95 percent of all Americans casting their ballots on auditable paper. Every ballot cast in every battleground state was on auditable paper, he said. To then conduct audits, seven months-plus after an election that has been confirmed, audited and verified as many times as it is, does nothing to shed light on the matter.

Much like Republican-backed statehouse legislation that seeks to curtail voting rights under the cover of election integrity despite no evidence of widespread fraud, these audit efforts are cynical attempts to curry favor with Trump and his many supporters, who continue to cling to false allegations of a stolen election.

No one disputes that ballot recounts and audits of voting results are part of the electoral process, when truly needed, and all candidates are within their rights to request a review in a close race. Thats why the recounts in November were given so much time to proceed, and why courts reviewed dozens of legal challenges. All of those efforts led to the same conclusion: Biden won. But based on claims by Trump and his supporters, there is no answer they will be satisfied with that doesnt prove he belongs back in the White House.

If partisan audits such as Arizonas propagate, they risk sending American elections down a perilous path, leaving us in a perpetual state where half the country questions the legitimacy of elected officials ad nauseam, impacting their capacity to govern.

Republicans and Democrats alike should be concerned, even in Texas, where the strong GOP showing has doused any interest in similar audits. So far, these allegations seem concentrated on the right among die-hard Trump followers, but Republican politicians dont have a stranglehold on being sore losers. If a candidates supporters will believe claims of fraud without evidence, its a perverse incentive to use them as just another partisan tool to undermine opponents.

False claims of a stolen election have already hurt democracy in America  a quarter of Americans and 53 percent of Republicans, say they believe Trump is the true president, according to a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll. While the damage seemed to have happened overnight, Becker told us recovery may take decades.

Theres a natural tendency among some to look for magic bullets, to look for one piece of legislation, one particular leader, one Supreme Court ruling. This is going to take a lot more than any of that, he said.

However long it takes, recovery begins with putting these partisan audits to rest and with responsible officials, Democrats and Republicans, reaffirming that fair and free elections are something Americans can count  and yes, even recount  on.
Former Texas Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman appears poised to challenge Attorney General Ken Paxton, making her the second well-known Republican to try to unseat the embattled incumbent.

Guzman has not made a formal announcement but has filed the necessary paperwork with the Texas Ethics Commission, according to the Texas Tribune, which obtained a copy and first reported the filing. Guzman's political consultant Justin Dudley confirmed the development.

In a statement, Dudley highlighted Guzman's 22 years of judicial service.

She looks forward to putting her experience and know-how to work in a new role," he said. The campaign will have a formal announcement soon.

The former judge, who resigned from the high court on Friday, would join a field that also includes Land Commissioner George P. Bush, who announced his candidacy earlier this month.

The move would complicate what is already a fierce GOP primary campaign, with the heir to the Bush political legacy trying to play off of Paxton's legal troubles, which include a pending state securities fraud indictment and an FBI investigation of corruption accusations by former aides to the attorney general. Paxton has denied any wrongdoing.

The State Bar of Texas is also looking into whether Paxton committed professional misconduct last year when he helped former President Donald Trump try to overturn the 2020 election results with unsubstantiated claims of fraud.

Guzman, 60, became the first Hispanic woman elected to statewide office in Texas when she won a full term on the Supreme Court in November 2010. She had previously served on the Houston-based 14th Court of Appeals, having been appointed by then-Gov. Rick Perry.

Prior to that, Bush's uncle, former Gov. George W. Bush, first appointed Guzman to the 309th District Court in Harris County in 1999.

Mark Jones, a political analyst at Rice University, said Guzman's entrance poses a particular threat to George P. Bush, who is trying to draw in both Trump supporters and other conservatives who are fed up with the attorney general. Guzman has the most legal experience of all three and has been less overtly partisan while on the bench.

"Guzman brings a lot to the table in the sense that she's very popular," Jones said. "And certainly if you're a Republican thinking about who gives you your best hope for victory in November, she provides (you) with that  dramatically more than Ken Paxton."

Until last year, Guzman had held the record for most votes ever collected in a Texas election: 4.9 million in 2016.

Many Texas Republicans see Paxton as their weakest link heading into the midterms next year, although he has built a following on the right with his loyalty to Trump and his willingness to use the office to advance a conservative agenda.

The attorney general is the states top lawyer and law enforcement officer, defending public officials and agencies in lawsuits in court. Paxton has spent his two terms zeroing in on Republican priorities including border security, religious freedom, abortion restrictions and purported voter fraud.

Neither Bush's nor Paxton's campaigns responded to requests for comment. Both candidates have been vying aggressively for Trump's endorsement. The former president has said he likes both men but plans to make an endorsement.

Jones said Bush has the most to lose if he doesn't get a Trump nod, which would leave him in between one candidate who appeals more to activist conservatives and another with more entrenched roots in the legal community.

Outside of the GOP primary, Joe Jaworski, a Galveston lawyer and former mayor, is running as a Democrat. Lee Merrit, a popular civil rights attorney from North Texas, has said he intends to run.

Guzman's path to office would be familiar for Republicans, following in the footsteps of Gov. Greg Abbott and U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, who each launched their political careers after serving on the high court.

Her second full term on the court was set to expire next year, leaving Abbott to appoint her replacement on the all-GOP court.

jeremy.blackman@chron.com
Republican Gov. Greg Abbott said he wants to build a new fence along the Mexican border that could trap immigrants who enter the country illegally into committing jailable crimes.

The remarks, part of an interview that aired Tuesday on the conservative podcast Ruthless, come after the governor vowed last week to finish portions of the Texas border wall that the Trump administration struggled to complete, and that the Biden administration has sought to end work on.

While a full plan isnt expected until Wednesday, Abbott said the new fence will be the first step, believing it will slow people to some extent, but also it sets up a crime.

Anybody coming across the border who in any way tries to damage that fence, they are guilty of two crimes, he said. One is trespassing, the other is vandalism.

Under a disaster declaration issued earlier this month by the Republican governor, property offenses along the border are treated as higher level crimes.

We will be putting these people in jail for a long time, Abbott said.

BORDER CRISIS: How Gov. Abbotts three-pronged border plan escalates clash with Biden

Immigration experts have said the move will likely face legal challenges. The Supreme Court in 2012 blocked a similar effort by Arizona Republicans, who passed a law that would allow state police to arrest migrants on trespassing charges, among other things. The court ruled states cannot enforce immigration law.

But the high court has changed dramatically since that 5-3 ruling  with former President Donald Trump appointing three new, conservative justices  and Abbott may be betting that precedent could be overturned. And unlike in Arizona, most of Texass border land is privately owned, which Abbott may see as an opening. The governor has planned a 3 p.m. news conference on Wednesday to discuss his border wall plans.

Abbotts push is the latest in a monthslong attack on the new Democratic administration over the surge in immigration, which includes tens of thousands of unaccompanied children seeking asylum. Earlier this year, he said he was sending thousands of additional state troopers to the border to boost security. And the governor has taken steps to revoke state licenses from facilities where migrant children are housed later this summer a move over which Biden officials have threatened to sue.

The governor and other Republicans have accused President Joe Biden of manufacturing a crisis at the border by taking a more lenient approach to asylum seekers than the last administration.

Biden ended a Trump-era policy that forced migrants seeking asylum to wait in Mexico while their cases were processed. He has kept in place a public health order Trump issued last spring that allows the federal government to immediately expel migrants because of the pandemic.

In addition to the fence, the governor said his office will soon begin crowdsourcing construction funds to build a more permanent wall.

TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox

I will also be providing a link that you can click on and go to, for everybody in the United States or really everybody in the entire world who wants to help Texas build a border wall, he said, adding that the fund would be run by his office, allowing for great transparency.

The Trump administration finished about 450 miles of construction, almost all of it repairs to existing barriers. Most of that work was done outside of Texas, where crossings are more difficult given the remote terrain and the shifting contours of the Rio Grande.

The administration ran into trouble with landowners in South Texas who did not want portions of the wall built on their properties. The effort sparked more than 100 legal battles.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, which represents three landowners in those cases, has said the state doesnt have the authority to unilaterally seize land, a process known as eminent domain.

jeremy.blackman@chron.com
PETE MAROVICH, STR / NYT

WASHINGTON  U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz wants Dr. Anthony Fauci to be fired, alleging the nations top infectious disease expert behaved more like a two-bit politician than a scientist during the coronavirus pandemic.

This is someone that had a position of enormous responsibility in the government during a time of great peril, during a time of worldwide pandemic, Cruz said in an interview with conservative radio host Michael Berry. He was saying whatever was politically convenient, he was saying whatever the Democrats wanted said at the time and the science was secondary.
WASHINGTON  A group of Texas Democrats who helped derail new voting restrictions pushed by Republicans in the statehouse received a warm welcome from their colleagues on Capitol Hill on Tuesday  including a half-dozen standing ovations during a closed door luncheon with Senate Democrats, according to the majority leader.

The Texas lawmakers  who staged a walkout that killed the proposed voting restrictions  urged senators to pass a sweeping overhaul of the nation's voting laws to prevent another such effort.

We were really taken by their courage, their bravery  and most importantly their mission, which is: We need to help Texas, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said. We need to undo these awful laws and help Texas obtain a decent way of voting for all people.

BACKGROUND: Texas Democrats call on Congress to help fight voting restrictions

The Texans, including San Antonio Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, who said they were on Capitol Hill to push Congress to cowboy up, were largely preaching to the choir in meetings with Democratic leaders and senators throughout Tuesday. They are also expected to meet on Wednesday with Vice President Kamala Harris, who President Joe Biden tasked with leading the administrations efforts to protect voting rights.

One Democrat who has held out support for the federal voting legislation the Texans are pushing, U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin III of West Virginia, wasnt at the lunch and didnt meet with the lawmakers, though members of his staff did.

We hope that Sen. Manchin takes our experiences to heart, Martinez Fischer said. Across the country, there is an assault on democracy, and the battleground is in state legislatures. Congress needs to act.

The Texas Democrats also didnt meet with any Senate Republicans, who are poised to easily block the voting rights bill that Schumer has said the Senate will vote on this month.

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, a Texas Republican, on Tuesday defended the states voting laws, noting that at least 66 percent of Texas' 17 million registered voters cast ballots in the 2020 general election.

I think anybody who wants to vote can cast a ballot, as long as they're legally qualified to do so, he said.

Cornyn also took a swipe at the statehouse Democrats trip to Washington in a tweet on Monday: All they did is walk off their job.

The Senate is expected to vote on the Democratic legislation, known as the For the People Act, this month. The bill passed the House earlier this year and would target virtually all of Texas existing voting restrictions. It would ban voter ID laws, institute automatic and same-day voter registration; and it would expand mail-in and early voting options.

The federal law would also stop many  but not all  of the voting restrictions Texas Republicans pursued in the Legislature. Perhaps most significantly, it would require states to offer widespread mail-in voting in federal elections as Texas Republicans have sought to curtail who can cast ballots by mail and where they can cast them. The federal legislation would also bolster protections against voter intimidation  something voting rights advocates say would be important as Texas Republicans seek to grant partisan poll watchers greater access at voting sites.

Texas Take: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox

But the bill isnt expected to pass the Senate after Manchin made clear he would not vote for it or support getting rid of the filibuster to push it through.

Some in my party have argued that now is the time to discard such bipartisan voting reforms and embrace election reforms and policies solely supported by one party, he wrote in an op-ed in the Charleston Gazette-Mail. Respectfully, I do not agree.

Schumer said Tuesday he still plans to bring the measure to the floor for a vote.

Its so important; and were working as we speak with others, including Sen. Manchin, to see if we can get a big, strong bill passed, he said.

Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican who had said he would have signed Senate Bill 7  the package of GOP voting restrictions  if it had passed, has said reviving the legislation will be a priority in a special legislative session later this year.

Abbott has claimed the measures are needed to combat voter fraud, though studies have found it is not a widespread problem. Some Republicans were incensed when Harris County aggressively made it easier to vote last fall through the use of drive-by voting, 24-hour voting and numerous drop boxes for absentee voters to return their ballots.

Texas lawmakers on the trip were Reps. Chris Turner, Nicole Collier, Rafael Anchia, Senfronia Thompson, Jessica Gonzalez, Gina Hinojosa, Martinez Fischer and Yvonne Davis, as well as Sens. Carol Alvarado, Beverly Powell and Royce West.

ben.wermund@chron.com
The massive power outage in Texas that left millions with no heat amid frigid temperatures should have come as no surprise, according to former El Paso Congressman Beto ORourke.

"Texans are suffering without power because those in power have failed us," said ORourke in a Twitter thread, calling out Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.

"State leaders dont get to say that they didnt see this coming. Energy experts and State House Dems, among others, were warning of this for years. Abbott chose to ignore the facts, the science and the tough decisions and now Texans will once again pay the price," tweeted ORourke, a 2019 Democratic presidential candidate.

We found that ORourke spoke accurately  there had been years of warnings by energy experts about the states power system following cold weather in February 2011, when around 200 generating units faltered, causing power outages for 3.2 million customers, according to a post-mortem of that crisis.

Federal report warned about lack of winterization

In August 2011, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the North American Electric Reliability Corp., wrote a 357-page report about the February 2011 outage.

The report stated that in 1989, after cold weather caused many generators to fail, the Public Utility Commission of Texas issued a number of recommendations aimed at improving winterization of the generators. However, "these recommendations were not mandatory, and over the course of time implementation lapsed. Many of the generators that experienced outages in 1989 failed again in 2011," the report stated.

The report found that in 2011 "the generators did not adequately anticipate the full impact of the extended cold weather and high winds." More thorough preparation for cold weather could have prevented many of the weather-related outages, the report found.

There are a lot of similarities between the deficiencies in the grid cited in the 2011 report and those now, said Dave Tuttle, an Energy Institute research associate at the University of Texas at Austin, in an interview with the Austin American-Statesman.

Some legislators filed bills intended to improve the states energy infrastructure

Following the 2011 blackout, state legislators held a hearing where senators expressed surprise that Texas had outages when other areas of the country are able to keep power on during cold weather.

ORourke told us in a text message that one of the people who warned about the problems was Sylvester Turner, who was a state representative in 2011 and is now Houstons mayor. Turner, a Democrat, authored HB 1986, which called for the Public Utility Commission to ensure the Electric Reliability Council of Texas had adequate reserve power to prevent blackout conditions. ERCOT manages about 90% of the states electric load.

"Ironically that bill that I filed was not heard in committee," Turner said this week on CNN.

In 2011, the Legislature did pass a bill to require power companies to submit reports to the Public Utility Commission about weatherization efforts. The author of that bill, Republican Glenn Hegar, who is now the state comptroller, questions whether the bill went far enough, according to a recent report in the Houston Chronicle.

"I am extremely frustrated that 10 years later our electric grid remains so ill-equipped for these weather events," Hegar said.

The Texas House Democratic caucus cited some other bills that were intended at least in part to improve the states energy infrastructure that failed to pass or remain pending. Some bills pertain directly to the Public Utility Commission, which has oversight of ERCOT. One bill included a proposal to elect a member of the commission while another would have required state agencies to create strategic plans to account for expected changes in weather. A separate bill called for creating an agreement between ERCOT and an adjacent Mexican power grid for cross-border dispatch. This session, a legislator filed a bill to study the impacts of climate change.

One of the key experts who has raised concerns for years about ERCOT is Ed Hirs, a lecturer of energy economics at the University of Houston.

Following the 2011 mass outage, "there were lots of reports and recommendations and lots of people waving their hands," but no substantial changes, Hirs told us.

Hirs sent us articles in which he raised alarms about Texas power setup dating back to 2013, when he wrote that the state had a Soviet-style model that allowed ERCOT to essentially set prices across the state.

"ERCOT's problem with the model has been made evident in the rolling blackouts across Texas over the past several years," Hirs wrote in a 2013 Houston Chronicle op-ed with co-author Paul MacAvoy, an energy expert and Yale University professor emeritus.

"A recent letter from the North American Electric Reliability Corporation to ERCOT warns that projected near-future generating capacity is insufficient to meet growth in demand and points to the likelihood of significant shortfalls in electricity generation and delivery," they wrote. (Here is the letter.)

Hirs raised similar alarms about ERCOT and blackouts in 2014 in a Texas Monthly article and in a 2019 op-ed in the Houston Chronicle.

"The Texas electricity market is rife with market manipulation and major disincentives for generators to maintain a reliable supply of power," he wrote in 2019. "The latest examples of this have become public in recent days, a state of affairs that costs Texas consumers real money each year."

We asked spokespersons for Abbott if they had any evidence to refute ORourkes statement about the warnings about the power problems for years. Renae Eze replied that ORourke was "choosing to play politics" but did not respond directly to our question. Abbott has declared reforming ERCOT a priority for the current legislative session.

Our ruling

ORourke said regarding the Texas power blackout "energy experts and State House Dems, among others, were warning of this for years."

Experts have been warning about the failures of the states power grid for years, particularly after a 2011 cold spell. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the North American Electric Reliability Corp. wrote an extensive report showing that recommendations following a 1989 outage werent implemented. Other experts have also warned for years about ERCOT and power blackouts, and state legislators tried to propose bills to improve the states energy infrastructure.

We rate this claim True.
Hudson, NY (12534)

Today

Periods of rain. High around 70F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Rain. Low 56F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall around a half an inch.
The Berkshire Workforce Board held its annual meeting on Thursday.

Workforce Board Recognizes 5 with Impact Awards, Highlights Pandemic Efforts

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  The MassHire Berkshire Workforce Board on Thursday held its annual meeting virtually during which five local professionals were recognized with Workforce Impact Awards and the board highlighted its yearly efforts in meeting the demand for highly skilled workers in Berkshire County.

During fiscal 2021, the board leveraged more than $3.5 million to assist 662 employers, 2,600 job seekers, and 3,400 youth with workforce needs.

"Since March 2020, the Workforce Board assisted over 650 companies with their workforce needs, answering their immediate employment questions, connecting them to grants and economic development opportunities, referring them to the Career Center, and collaborating with them with numerous training grants," Executive Director Heather Boulger said.

"These efforts led to $165,000 for manufacturing training and $286,000 for career readiness programming. We are also happy to be announcing this morning that the Berkshire Workforce Board has received an additional $225,000 in health-care resources to train additional nursing and medical assistants."

The board also worked with the Berkshire Skills Cabinet and implemented training in health care, manufacturing and hospitality as a part of the Berkshire Workforce Blueprint. This gave more than 120 organizations labor-market data from the board that helped generate $1.6 million in new resources.

State Sen. Adam Hinds and Pittsfield Director of Administrative Services Roberta McCulloch-Dews were in attendance at the meeting to applaud the board's work during the COVID-19 pandemic and congratulate the award recipients.

"This was where the action happened before a global pandemic and an economic downturn," Hinds said. "And now your work has been more critical than ever this past year, and it will be for some time."

 Tony Dobrowolski, business editor of The Berkshire Eagle, was given the 2021 Workforce Ambassador award for his advocacy of workforce items and for demonstrating "strong civic value in community journalism with integrity, honesty, and fairness."

 Sherwood Guernsey of First Congregational Church of Williamstown was given the 2021 Youth Ambassador award for establishing and supporting the North County YouthWorks program for the past seven years that has made a "significant" difference in the lives of local youths.

 Sarah Miller, Berkshire Healthcare System's director of education and training, and Susan Choquette, a registered nurse and clinical trainer, were presented the 2021 Employer of the Year award for establishing a blended hybrid nursing assistant program during the pandemic to help get people back to work while keeping residents, staff, and students safe.

 Christopher Kapiloff and John Lafleur of LTI Smart Glass were presented the 2021 Employer of the Year award for being strong supporters of manufacturing initiatives and for providing on-the-job training opportunities to get people back to work.

 Taylor Gibeau, community relations and cash management coordinator for Adams Community Bank, was presented the 2021 Youth Champion award for assistance in planning, establishing, and participating in the first Virtual Career Week for area students and having employers submit videos for the board's career readiness library.

"On behalf of Mayor [Linda] Tyer, I just want to extend a heartfelt thank you to the Berkshire Workforce board members, the staff and partners collectively all are a powerful catalyst in helping our employers with their workforce needs and connecting our workforce with essential resources and opportunities," McCulloch-Dews said.

"And to today's awardees, thank you for your consistent diligence and commitment to workforce development. Your efforts and collaboration have truly made a powerful difference and our community it's better for it."

McCulloch-Dews spoke on the work that the city did to support local businesses with COVID-19 Economic Recovery funding that was implemented in April 2020. With the funding, 90 small businesses in Pittsfield received a total of $682,000 and the program continues to accept applications.

She added that every effort, every admission, and every program makes an impact and helps the city and county continue to keep moving forward in the right direction.

Hinds reported that the county's unemployment rate is down to just over 7 percent as compared to the 80 percent unemployment rate in March. He also highlighted the advantages of remote work, as people can apply for jobs elsewhere while being based in Berkshire County with a "high quality of life and a lower cost of living."

He is chairing a new committee called Reimagining Massachusetts Post-COVID Resiliency that is focused on preparing for the workforce of the future, the economy of the future, and recognizing what vulnerabilities when there is a shock to the system.

Making sure the state budget is supporting connecting activities such as youth works and the workforce board funding its self is important, he added.

"You keep showing when it matters, that you get the job done and your key piece of how we have a vibrant thriving economy here locally," Hinds said to the board.

Also in this meeting, the BWB voted on the Workforce Business Plan for FY2022 and elected a slate of officers.

Eva Sheridan of Boyd Technologies was appointed as president; Michael Taylor, Pittsfield's director of human resources, and Albert Ingegni III of Berkshire Health Care Systems, as vice presidents; Doug McNally of Frosthollow Associates as Youth Council chair; Superintendent James Brosnan of McCann Technical School as treasurer; and Chelsea Tyer of Neenah Paper as secretary.

"Our annual meeting is an opportunity to revisit our yearly accomplishments, recognize our workforce champions, and to set the stage for a productive new fiscal year," board President Eva Sheridan said. "Today's theme is really all about appreciation, collaboration, and opportunity. Everything that we do, we do with input, engagement, and involvement from all of you and we truly appreciate your voice and continued participation."
North Adams School Committee OKs Funds for School Study, Passes Budget

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.  The School Committee on Monday authorized the use of $300,000 from the school choice account to fund a feasibility study for Brayton School.

The expenditure is contingent on the city being accepted in the feasibility phase of a school project. The vote was required for that consideration along with an approval of the City Council last week to submit a statement of interest to the Massachusetts School Building Authority. Both votes were necessary for the submission of materials by the June 25 deadline.

The school district is currently in the eligibility phase of the process, having been accepted in Dec. 19, 2019, to explore the possibility of renovating or rebuilding Greylock School. However, the state agency strongly suggested earlier this year that the district reconsider its options based on a looming decline in enrollment citywide and the costs associated with a full building project.

Instead, the MSBA entertained the idea of accepting a second statement of interest for Brayton School if the city would consider a two-elementary school model. Brayton, which was built in 1991 to replace an aged building. Thirty years on, Brayton does need repairs  roof, doors and windows  and may requiring reconfiguring to accommodate an increased enrollment. The costs are considered to be much lower than a renovation of the 60-year-old Greylock and the Brayton has the plus of also being in the West End and attached to the Berkshire Family YMCA.

"In order to move into feasibility, the city would need to set aside or go to the voters, to the taxpayers in order to obtain a set amount of funds that would be used to support that feasibility study," said Superintendent Barbara Malkas. "The two things that happen during feasibility are we would hire our owner's project manager or OPM. And we would also select a design team and begin some preliminary work on developing a design with respect to the Brayton project. ...

"If we were still operating through the Greylock project, because that was going to be a much more significant project, whether a full new school or a major renovation, the estimate was $750,000."

A portion of the $300,000 would be reimbursed dependent on the school being accepted into the feasibility stage, and Malkas, in response to questions, said the reimbursement could be returned to the school choice account or put toward elements of the project that are not covered by the MSBA. The school choice account has $2,026,763 in it, none of which is being used to offset the school budget this year.

"We would be allocating that money, then the city would accept those funds and they would be used specifically for the purpose of feasibility," explained Malkas.

Mayor Thomas Bernard, chairman of the School Committee, said, "the next step of this will be also to get a similar authorization on the city side at the next meeting of council."

The School Committee also, in a public hearing held immediately before its regular meeting, approved a fiscal 2022 budget projected at $18,380,596 and a differential of $611,522 in ESSER funds for an appropriation of $17,769,074.

The level-funded, level-serviced budget has been reviewed a number of times with no changes since its first presentation to the School Committee in early May. It has been before the City Council Finance Committee and the committee's Finance & Facilities subcommittee.

Business Administrator Carrie Burnett did have more information on the amount of federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds. Of the $611,522 ESSER I and II grants being used to offset the budget, $481,522 would go to salaries for teaching assistants, bus monitors, behavioral technicians and Career & College Readiness staff and $130,000 would go toward technology, software, HVAC maintenance and capital improvements.

"Right now, we have about $100,478 in ESSER I to utilize toward this budget. And our ESSER II, which is in the final stages of being written to be submitted to [the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education] is roughly $1.9 million," she said, adding she had put in a column on the monthly balance sheet to show where ESSER funds were being used to offset line item costs.

The expected allocation from ESSER III is $4,249,541, which should become available in fiscal 2022 and can be used through fiscal 2025. ESSER funds can only be used for certain educational needs and largely targeted for aiding schools to reopen and operate safely and to address impacts from the pandemic.

Included in this budget is pre-K programming, counseling services for middle school, college and career readiness, social/emotional support, and speech, occupational and physical therapy.

"One of the things that all of our leaders and teachers are sharing is a much greater need for social emotional supports for students as we're coming back from all of the different blended approaches last year," said Thomas Simon, director of student support services. "The other element to it, too, is in terms of the way that we provide speech, occupational therapy and physical therapy, as we talked about many times ... we're in a very difficult position in terms of trying to fill open positions in these areas."

The district is trying to build these services at the very earliest levels in pre-kindergarten and build them into the general curriculum, he said. "That will have the ultimate effect of actually reducing our overall need for some of those individualized services. However, it doesn't actually reduce the need for those people providing those services, because we're just shifting it and doing it a different way."

There may be ways to deliver these services differently, such as through co-teaching, or having pathologists planning curriculum with teachers.

"It is something that we feel is necessary in order to be able to kind of move forward and reduce our reliance on, you know, specific individualized services," Simon said.

The School Committee passed the budget in sections to allow for abstentions; City Council is expected to pass the full fiscal 2022 budget next Tuesday, June 22. A final review is scheduled by the Finance Committee on Tuesday, June 15.
Berkshire Mountain Search & Rescue is raising funds for a vehicle to get into rough terrain for quicker rescues.

Berkshire Rescue Team Seeks Donations for Vehicle

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  The Berkshire Mountain Search and Rescue Team is aiming to raise $14,000 for a utility terrain rescue vehicle that is vital to their operations.

BMSAR is one of only two volunteer search and rescue teams in Massachusetts that are attached to the State Police Special Emergency Response Team, which is of "high value" for the organization.

It serves all of Western Massachusettes and sometimes assist in other parts of the commonwealth.

In order to respond to missing persons in the most efficient way, the team needs a vehicle that can handle rough terrain.

"We don't have a UTV vehicle ourselves, we can rely on the Sheriff's Department if we ever need them, which is good, but time is critical," team President Michael Comeau said. "It's our goal to get one of these vehicles in our own capacity so that when we're on the scene, we're going right down in there into the woods to get the person."

Comeau has gotten a quote for a Polaris Ranger crew cab from Ronnie's Cycle Sales & Service in Adams and made a fundraising page for the vehicle purchase on Facebook.

The vehicle has many useful features including four-wheel drive, a place to store gear, and a trailer hitch to which a patient transporter can be attached.

BMSAR is looking for donations or a sponsor. Because it takes about three months for the UTV to arrive after being ordered, the team would like to secure funds as soon as possible.

"The sooner the better," Comeau said. "Because in the fall is when everybody is trying to go to the woods and go hiking and the fall time is when we seem to have our highest amount of calls."

Comeau even wrote an email to Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg regarding the fundraiser. He is unsure if he will get a response but said it was worth a try.

"BMSAR has been around since 1977," he explained. "Since I took over about, let's say about 11 years ago now, we're constantly evolving, we're constantly getting bigger."

The team currently has a search trailer that is at capacity with equipment and with the help of B&B Micro Manufacturing in Adams and donations, it was able to consult the tiny house manufacturers to construct an additional trailer.

Comeau said that is a great improvement for the team but they still lack a vehicle that can assist them in the terrain.

"If nobody is there with a machine, we're walking to get to the victim when so many times we could use one of these," he added. "To put searchers in, put the search dogs in, we can put them in the back of it with all our gear and just go right away up and get to the person."

In November 2020, BMSAR collaborated with Make-A-Wish Massachusetts to host a fake search and rescue on October Mountain for a young girl with a life-threatening heart condition.

Comeau said they hope to work with the charity organization again in the future to make the wishes of children interested in rescues come true.
Cheshire Passes Budget, Rejects Recall Measures

CHESHIRE, Mass.The annual town meeting passed an operating budget of $6.7 million for fiscal 2022 Monday and approved a salary for a full-time town administrator. But voters balked at making the town clerk appointed or instituting means to recall elected officials.

Voters gathered in the auditorium at Hoosac Valley Regional Middle and High School to deliberate on the budget and various other articles in the town meeting warrant.

Finance Committee Chairman John Tremblay said, "our committee feels that the budget this year is a good one." He said the most critical part of the budget was the full-time town administrator position.

Indeed, residents spent a lot of time debating the merits of having a full-time town administrator. Gary Trudeau, a Cheshire resident, was an outspoken opponent of transforming the position from part time to full time. "We never needed a full-time town administrator before," he said, so he didn't see the purpose of having one now.

He said many of the proposed budget increases, including the town administrator position, were "just plain irresponsible."

"We have to stop coming up with fantasy budgets," he said, arguing that Cheshire is already is in financial straits.

Selectmen Chairwoman Michelle Francesconi responded that Cheshire's financial struggles demonstrated the need for a full-time administrator  someone who can better manage the $7 million budget.

Selectman Jason Levesque read a list of small towns in Berkshire County and other counties and states with similar populations to Cheshire's, almost all of which had full-time town administrators. Their salaries ranged from $70,000 to over $100,000. Cheshire's proposed town administrator salary is $80,000.

The town overwhelmingly supported the measure, and the budget passed with no serious amendments.

In other business:
SVMC Updated Visitation Policy

BENNINGTON, Vt.  Beginning Tuesday, June 15th, Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC), part of Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC), is updating its visitation policy for hospital visitors and medical practice patients as well as expanding its visiting hours.

The change follows an announcement by Vermont Governor Phil Scott today that discontinued COVID-related restrictions now that the state has reached a vaccination rate of 80 percent of eligible people.

"This is a big step closer to providing care in the ways that we are used to and that we prefer," said Pamela Duchene, chief nursing officer and vice president of Patient Care Services. "No one knows our patients as well as their families and close friends, which makes these visitors integral to recovery and good health."

Visiting hours have been expanded to 9 a.m.  7 p.m. daily.

Everyoneincluding patients, staff, and visitorsare required to wear a mask or face covering, regardless of vaccination status. Those who do not have a mask will be provided one. All masks must be worn over the mouth and nose for the entire duration of the visit. Those who do not comply will be asked to leave the premises.

The numbers of visitors allowed varies by department and the age and condition of the patient:

One visitor per adult patient is allowed in the perioperative areas (including the Operating Room, Endoscopy, and Medical Infusion), imaging, lab, and practices in the Medical Office Building.

Adult patients birthing with Women's and Children's Services may have a birth partner for the duration of the stay and one visitor at a time.

Two visitors are allowed at a time for inpatients, including those using the Emergency Department, East and West Wings, and ICU.

Pediatric patientsboth inpatients and outpatients, regardless of areamay have up to two visitors at a time.

There are no limits to visitors for patients at the end of life.

Everyonepatients, caregivers, and visitors:
Vaccinated Residents Can Win a 'VaxMillion'

BOSTON  If avoiding a deadly disease isn't enough of a reason to be vaccinated, state officials are sweetning the jab with a chance to win $1 million.

The Massachusetts VaxMillions Giveaway is for residents who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Fully vaccinated residents 18 and older will have the opportunity to enter to win one of five $1 million cash prizes. Fully vaccinated residents between 12 and 17 years of age may enter for the chance to win one of five $300,000 scholarship grants.

"The commonwealth leads the nation in vaccinating our residents, with almost four million people fully vaccinated, and our goal remains ensuring everyone that wants a vaccine has access to one, said Gov. Charlie Baker. "The VaxMillions Giveway is one of the many ways our administration is encouraging people to get the vaccine, and we are grateful for the partnership of Treasurer [Deborah] Goldberg and the Mass State Lottery in developing the program."

The number of fully vaccinate individuals now stands just under 4 million with the expectation it will cross that line within the week. The percentage of fully vaccinated in the state hovers below 60 percent while our neighbor to the north, Vermont, crossed the 80 percent line on Monday.

Eligible residents will be able to enter the drawing beginning July 1. Drawings will be held once a week for five weeks beginning the week of Monday, July 26, and continuing through the week ending Friday, Aug. 27.

"Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from COVID," said Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito. "We are hopeful that this new initiative will encourage even more residents to get the COVID vaccine and help return our commonwealth to a new normal."

The commonwealth is launching the Massachusetts VaxMillions giveaway as one of many strategies to increase awareness of the availability and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines and encourage residents to get vaccinated to keep themselves, their families and their communities safe. Once scarce, the ability to access the vaccine has become so ubiquitous that the state is phasing out the mass and regional vaccination sites set up earlier this year. The vaccine is free and is available at various medical sites and pharmacies. The state is also doing outreach with mobile vaccination sites to ensure populations that may have other challenges can be safely inoculated.

Beginning July 1, Massachusetts residents will be able to enter the VaxMillions Giveaway online. There will be a call center available for those who have questions or may not have online access. Sign up information and call center contact info and hours will be made available prior to July 1. Only lawful, permanent residents of Massachusetts who are fully vaccinated can apply. Residents must have received their vaccine doses within Massachusetts and must be fully vaccinated prior to submitting their entry.

"The Massachusetts State Lottery is proud to join Gov. Charlie Baker and the Department of Public Health to ensure the health, safety, and well-being of every person across the commonwealth," said Goldberg. "The Lottery has decades of experience and know-how to hold drawings with the upmost integrity and our team is excited to fulfill an essential role in this initiative."

There are more than 900 vaccination locations across the commonwealth, with appointments and walk-ins widely available. Residents seeking a vaccine can visit mass.gov/COVIDVaccine to find a vaccine location that is convenient for them. For more information on the Mass VaxMillions Giveaway, visit mass.gov/VaxMillions
Principal Heidi Dugal was presented with a commemorative bench on her retirement from Gabriel Abbott.

Abbott Memorial Says Goodbye to Longtime Principal



Principal Heidi Dugal with fellow principals Rowe's William Knittle and Clarksburg's Tara Barnes, and leaving with gifts from the Abbott Memorial School community at left. Dugal is retiring after 13 years as principal and nearly 15 years as a teacher at the Florida school before that.

FLORIDA, Mass.  The Gabriel Abbott Memorial School community said goodbye to longtime Principal Heidi Dugal with a special bench to commemorate her years of service to the school.

"Heidi is an amazing educator and school leader who has made a positive impact on countless young lives both in and out of school," said Northern Berkshire School Union Superintendent John Franzoni said at Monday's event. "It's been wonderful to see the outpouring of gratitude over the last few weeks by so many to recognize her retirement and thank her for all she does to support her students. Heidi doesn't seek or want this attention, but she is certainly very deserving of it for all she has done and continues to do."

The School Committee and the Northern Berkshire School Union's staff and principals presented Dugal with the bench, which will sit in the school lobby, after the School Committee meeting.

"I was surprised," Dugal said. "Typically I avoid the pomp and circumstance. I am the queen of the Irish goodbye."

Dugal has been in education for more than 34 years. She started out has a substitute at Drury High School in North Adams while attending what was then North Adams State College. She ended up following her mother and grandmother's footsteps into the classroom and earned her master's degree in education from Cambridge College in Boston. All of her children would be her students during her 15 years or so as a teacher at Abbott, where she had also gone to school.

She taught at Readsboro (Vt.) and Savoy Elementary School first and later spent a year as principal at the Savoy school before returning as principal of Abbott in 2008.

She said returning to Abbott Memorial was a highlight in her career.

"I grew up here. I went to school here. So that was something," she said. "Working with the same teachers that had me. That is humbling especially after the trouble that you may have caused in the classroom."

Dugal said she did consider staying a few more years, but this last year with the pandemic has not been easy. Especially in a community with limited internet access.

Dugal said this is actually her second bench, and that school staff installed one outside in her name some years ago. It was a community effort to refurbish a bench that had some of her known sayings burned into the wood such as "You could be the ripest juiciest peach, and there is always someone who doesn't like peaches."

She said she had a few trips planned this summer but doesn't plan to stop working altogether.

"I know I will want to work and do something," she said. "My kids say just make sure it is not 24 hours, 7 days a week like teaching. But it is the most wonderful career in the world."

She left her fellow educators with advice: stay positive, stay passionate.

"It is always easy to have a bad day and to get negative," she said. "You just have to stay positive and stay passionate about what you are doing."

Franzoni said the School Committee already went through an interview process and has agreed to hire Martin McEvoy as the new principal. The current superintendent in Hatfield and former principal of Lanesborough Elementary and Herberg Middle School in Pittsfield will begin July 1.

Franzoni said he certainly has big shoes to fill.

"It has certainly been my honor to work with Heidi the last three years, and she has set a great example for all of us on how to be strong, caring school leaders to meet the needs of all students," he said. "She will definitely be missed, but she leaves a tremendous legacy at Abbott Memorial."
Large-scale release of young eels in lakes of The Netherlands

June 15,2021 | Source: VISSERIJNIEUWS

Inland fishermen in The Netherlands have released half a million young eels in recent weeks. The large-scale release, under the umbrella of the DUPAN Foundation and on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, took place in four provinces.



Most of the young eels  271,416  were released in the Zwarte Meer by father and son Frans Komen (UK 7). In the Frisian basin, all 12 Frisian professional inland fishermen released 123,980 young eels. In the Amstelmeer, Rinke Blok and Jaap Buitenhuis were involved in the release of 67,016 young eels and in the Kromme Mijdrecht, Freerk Visserman (Heeg) helped his colleague Martin van Wettum with the counting and release of 10,052 glass eels.



Last Saturday, about 12,500 eels were released in Grafhorst and Genemuiden. Earlier this year, 2.5 mn glass eels were released.



Research organization Ravon has mapped out more than 70,000 bottlenecks for eel migration in the Netherlands in the past two years. On Thursday, 24 June, the Ravon Foundation, the Good Fish Foundation and the World Fish Migration Foundation will award the Power to the Eel Prize to the water manager with the best score for opening up the habitat for eels and for solving bottlenecks.



This news item is translated from Dutch language to english by Cornelie Quist

Theme(s): Fisheries Resources.
Little by little: How S.O.S. Corales looks to restore the Mediterranean

by MARTIN COLOGNOLI & MARINA PALACIOS

June 15,2021 | Source: oceanographic

Protection is all the more effective when it is carried out by local people and by working all together. Our Coral Guardian pilot project around Hatamin Island in Indonesia is a success, with eight local people working full time for the project. Over 40,000 corals have been transplanted in the surrounding marine protected area, and we have noticed a return of 30 times more fish, and five times more species of fish in just four years. Located in the north-west of Flores, next to Komodo National Park, this area was officially declared an MPA in September 2019 by the Indonesian government.



This is why we launched our Blue Center programme, that aims to support any project leader in the world in developing their own coral restoration project. Its a perfect example of the positive changes that humans can make by protecting the resources that they depend on for a living. And thanks to our Adopt a Coral programme, we have proven that everyone has a role to play in protecting and restoring coral reefs. The main idea of Coral Guardian when we launched was to protect coral ecosystems by involving the very people who depend on them for a living, and in the case of our pilot project in Indonesia, a community of traditional fishermen fighting for their food sovereignty. We like to experience the positive interaction between humans and the living world that surrounds them and to see the result.



This is how we began supporting the local NGO, Equilibrio Marino, for their project S.O.S. Corales located around Punta de la Mona in Spain. The aim of the project is to clean the seabed from abandoned fishing nets and other pollution, restore corals in the area, and raise awareness locally by involving local communities such as fishermen, divers and universities.



Many people think that coral reefs only exist in tropical areas. However, cold water reefs, especially in the Mediterranean, are very important because they form the basis of the ecosystem. Many species depend on them because they are the place where they shelter, where they get their food, and where they reproduce. And their survival depends directly on the state of the reef. These species are so important in the Mediterranean because they are bio-indicator species. Since they are sessile and very sensitive, they quickly reveal any changes linked to human pressures such as pollution, invasive species, sedimentation and climate change. This population is endangered because hundreds of ropes, lines, nets, and even tyres accumulate on the reef, covering, fragmenting and strangling the corals, and the fragments that fall to the bottom are buried, isolated. Little by little, they die.



At Punta de la Mona we have a unique population of chandelier corals in the Mediterranean Sea. The Dendrophyllia ramea coral, also called the chandelier coral, normally lives in very deep areas, but in this area, it lives at much shallower depths and in great abundance. And that is what makes it special. It is an emblematic species of Mediterranean hard corals that reaches large sizes but grows very slowly. That is why the colonies we have in this area are so interesting, because besides being very abundant, their size suggest they can be up to 200 years old. However, so far very little is known about this species and its growth rates, which is part of the research we want to carry out with our project S.O.S. Corales.



S.O.S. Corales is a pioneering marine conservation project that has five phases: the removal of all marine debris from the seabed, the transplantation of the coral colonies, the recovery of coral fragments that are broken onto coral nurseries and their reintroduction into their natural habitat. The final and transversal element is to raise awareness among local actors. The ultimate goal is to create an efficiently managed Marine Protected Area, so human activities are managed according to the ecological value of the area.

 2021 CXD MEDIA LTD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Theme(s): Fisheries Resources.
Irish fishermen plan Dublin flotilla protest for next week

Irish fishing boats are planning on creating a flotilla and demonstrating at the entrance of Dublin Port next week to protest their working conditions.



On 23 June, Irish Fishing vessels both inshore and offshore from around the Irish coast will assemble at the entrance to Dublin Port from early morning.



Under instruction from the lead vessel and Dublin Port Authority, the vessels are scheduled to travel up the River Liffey in convoy through the East Link Toll Bridge to John Rodgersons Quay.



A rally supported by protestors from all sectors of the Irish fishing industry will be held at noon at the Spencer Dock beside the National Convention Centre where the Dail will be sitting.



After the rally, fishing representatives will hand deliver a letter outlining the plight of the industry to the Taoiseach.



The letter reiterates the demands made at the Cork protest and serves notice on the Taoiseach and Government that further actions are planned if the only solution continues to be the decimation of the Irish fishing industry at the expense of our rural communities, a joint statement from various fish producers associations said.



Fishermen are protesting the conditions they face under the Brexit deal agreed before Christmas, which included a gradual decrease in quota amounts for Irish fishermen.



Last month, fishermen threatened to block the nations busiest ports over an EU audit which resulted in changes to how landed fish are weighed and distributed.

 TheJournal.ie

Theme(s): Post Harvest Technology and Trade.
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Name: Patrick Harr

Company: SlashNext

Job Title: CEO

Location: Santa Cruz

Patrick Harr is CEO of SlashNext, the phishing authority and provider of real-time AI phishing defense services. Prior to SlashNext, Harr was CEO of cloud file services provider Panzura, which he transformed into a software subscription company, grew ACV 400% and led the organisation to successful acquisition in 2020. He has held senior executive and GM positions at Hewlett-Packard Enterprise (HPE), VMware and BlueCoat (formerly CacheFlow).

What was the most valuable piece of career advice that you received? Instead of going after a title, look at the role as well as the industry and sector it's in and follow your passion. When you align your passion with your work, you will excel. Escalating titles and responsibilities will happen naturally. Life is too short to spend it in an area you dont care about or at a job that makes you feel miserable.

What was the worst piece of business advice that you received? This builds on the previous point. I was once advised to take a position that was a step down from what I was aiming for at the time. I passed on the opportunity, and that company went on to become a highly successful public company. Lesson learned: focus on opportunities that best match your skills and challenge you to learn. Just as important, look beyond the job title to the companys overall potential.

What advice would you give to someone starting their career in IT? Roll up your sleeves and understand the technology. It doesn't matter if you are in sales or engineering - you must understand the inner workings of what you are dealing with and what challenges it can solve for the customer.

Did you always want to work in IT? As an undergrad, I did a double major in Economics and Russian because I wanted to get involved in politics.This political foundation taught me the power of networking and how to influence people. It also led to working on the Telecom Act and ultimately to moving over to the private sector, getting my MBA, and starting a career in technology. I encourage people to take whatever career path suits your interests, as there is no one technology career path, and your unique experiences can lend different perspectives and successes to your career.

What was your first job in IT? I joined Xerox Imaging Systems in 1995 as an intern. They gave me a pile of RFPs and computer components to build systems - the rest is history.

What are some common misconceptions about working in IT? The biggest is that it is easy and there is all this money to be made. People see the glamour of working at Google, Apple, Facebook, and Twitter and believe there is this pot of gold waiting for them. It takes hard work and quite a bit of luck to be successful in IT.

What tips would you give to someone aiming for a C-level position? You must work hard, persevere, and have some luck on your side. With technology, if you are maniacally focused on your customer problem and paranoid about your competition, you can win personally and make money. Those that have an absolute focus on being the hardest working person are the ones that will succeed.

What are your career ambitions, and have you reached them yet? I have had great success selling companies, starting new ideas inside large organisations, and taking those to a billion-dollar level. My next focus/ambition is to take a company public.

Do you have a good work-life balance in your current role? It is better now. But even though I am still working long hours, I can recognise the risk of overdoing it. The only way you get perspective is to do other things you enjoy, whether spending time with family or just following your hobbies and passion. These aspects of life are a vital de-stressor and let you recharge your batteries.

What, if anything, would you change about the route your career path has taken? There are probably times I could have persevered more and could have stayed longer at some companies. Today, I use those lessons as motivation to work as hard as I can to get things done.

Which would you recommend: A coding boot camp or a computer science degree? A coding boot camp. I believe in understanding the key concepts of what you are working on and getting your hands dirty by knowing how a product works. As an example, there are so many developers globally contributing to open source. Understanding how things work and fulfil a specific goal will help you move up.

How important are specific certifications? This depends on your career path. In engineering, certification is essential as it gives you a foundation. But on other fronts, it is about understanding what a role is and getting the job done. You do not have to be certified to be successful in IT.

What are the three skills or abilities you look for in prospective candidates? It comes down to passion, planning, and persistence. I grade every candidate on those three Ps while not forgetting the importance of tenacity.

What would put you off a candidate? It is easy to tell if people are not passionate or do not have persistence. More than that, it is a lack of listening that puts me off.

What are the most common mistakes made by candidates in an interview? Not doing homework beforehand. It is not uncommon for people to come into an interview without understanding the company they are interviewing at. It is also important to be confident and approach the interview as if the organisation is the one that requires your skillset and not the other way around.

Do you think it is better to have technical or business skills - or a mix of both? It would be best if you had both, but that is something of a rarity. Even if you are an engineer, it is not good enough to only have technical skills. You need to understand what will make a product sell and design one that fulfils a gap in the market.
Since Lukashenko's contested re-election to a sixth presidential term in August 2020, demonstrations have been violently repressed, while journalists covering these protests have faced systematic harassment and arbitrary detentions by the authorities. There are currently he 27 journalists jailed in Belarusfor simply doing their job.

The authorities are also closing down websites and censoring messages on social media.



The recently enacted law is just one more example of the never-ending targeting of journalists in Belarus. On 24 May, Lukashenko adopted legal measures making it compulsory to obtain a permit from the authorities to organise mass events and prohibiting journalists from live covering of such events.

In addition to this, Belarussian authorities have repeatedly labelled the media and journalists as extremists, accusing them of stirring up hatred. As the notion of extremist activity remains unclear in the recent legislation, it's likely to be used to suppress any dissent, but also any media activity related to the opposition organisations.

IFJ General Secretary, Anthony Bellanger, said: Belarus is now one of the most dangerous countries in Europe for media professionals. We call on the Belarusian authorities to immediately stop the relentless targeting of journalists. The international community must take immediate action to stop the arbitrary detention of Belarussian media workers.
Global tech innovator Lenovo has announced that its all-new portfolio of ThinkEdge embedded computers will soon be available to the Philippine market. Building from its existing edge portfolio, the new ThinkEdge SE30 and ThinkEdge SE50 are small, rugged, and powerful enough to meet the demanding needs of enterprise data processing, security, and scalability at the edge.

Edge computing brings computing and the processing power close to or at the source of data that reduces latency and saves bandwidth. As it transforms the way data is handled, generated, and delivered to several devices around the globe, edge computing is seemingly the new frontier of computing.

It is estimated that by 2025, 75% of enterprise-generated data will be processed at the edge. The global pandemic has become a catalyst for digital transformation and accelerated the push to the edge for many levels of the enterprise, as new solutions for operations and sales are introduced in global markets.

As the Philippines continues to accelerate digitization, the opportunity to adopt the technology becomes apparent for enterprises in industries such as banking and finance, healthcare, and business process outsourcing. Edge computing applications are numerous and growing rapidly. Retailers are implementing more automated checkouts and dynamic signage, real-time store traffic monitoring, inventory, and fulfilling. Manufacturers are further automating assembly lines with predictive maintenance alerts and utilizing smart cameras for safety and quality inspections. Healthcare turns to edge computing for remote patient monitoring and medical device integration. With increased need for powerful, real-time insights across industries, the edge is becoming more critical and complex than ever.

For many companies, edge computing is becoming an urgent priority, presenting potential for further growth in the next few years. Lenovo recognizes this and introduces its latest addition to its edge technology portfolio to the market to ensure that it addresses business needs in achieving optimal efficiency at the edge.

ThinkEdge Portfolio

The new Lenovo ThinkEdge devices are powered by Intel technology and built for the data needs of tomorrow. The embedded edge computers are for customers who need faster processing power, better security, and scalability. With the right data securely on hand for when it matters, businesses can be more efficient, insightful, and competitive.

Edge computing is critical infrastructure for intelligent transformation within the enterprise, said Michael Ngan, Lenovo Philippines President and General Manager. The new products in the ThinkEdge portfolio are purpose-built devices designed to be networked on premise or embedded in solutions to give Lenovos customers an advantage in performance, security, and scalability.

The new ThinkEdge SE30 is a small and rugged compute device for edge workloads. It includes the latest 11th Generation Intel Core i5 vPro processors for industrial computing. The processor improves compute power, accelerates AI workloads, and is built for the challenges of edge implementations in enterprise with extended temperature support from -20 to +60 Celsius, long-life reliability, as well as enhanced security and manageability features.

The ThinkEdge SE30 offers 4G and 5G availability with key carrier support in select areas. 5G edge devices enhance wireless connectivity to match the low-latency, high-reliability, and high-capacity capabilities of existing wireline solutions with both improved agility of capabilities and better return on investments.

Embedded applications for the ThinkEdge SE30 include kiosks and ATMs for smart retail, automated production lines in manufacturing, and medical device monitoring in healthcare, among others.

ThinkEdge SE30 Key Features / Specs:

11th Generation Intel Core i5 vPro processors for industrial computing

Up to 16GB memory and 1TB storage

Fan-less, operational temperature range of -20 to 60 Celsius

Both 4G 1 and 5G 1 modules

ThinkEdge SE30

The new ThinkEdge SE50 is designed for versatile applications that require higher analytics and data processing at the edge. The embedded edge compute device includes an Intel Core i5 or i7 vPro processor for industrial computing and up to 32GB of memory.

End users can deploy the ThinkEdge SE50 to aggregate and analyze real-time data from distributed IoT devices. This smart edge device can filter and forward IoT data across the WAN to the cloud or data center. Customers have the option to enhance their edge AI strategy with cutting edge silicon and optimized software leveraging the OpenVINO toolkit.

ThinkEdge SE50 Key Features / Specs:

11th Generation Intel Core i7 or i5 vPro processors for industrial computing

32GB memory and up to 1TB storage

Fan-less, operational temperature range of 0 to 50 degree Celsius, and IP50 rating

2-liter design with full industrial I/O

ThinkEdge SE50

Lenovos Solutions Give Customers the Edge

The same commitment to continuous innovation that drives Lenovos global leadership in PC manufacturing provides the foundation for its edge device roadmap. Lenovos portfolio of ThinkEdge devices gives enterprises the flexibility to specify what they need today with the value to include processing capacity to grow for future functionality.

The ThinkEdge portfolio is supported by a growing group of industry-leading software providers, OEMs and system integrators to deliver devices that become a seamless part of the overall ecosystem. The ThinkEdge Certified Solutions Partners include Telit, IMS Evolve, Software AG and many more.

ThinkEdge devices are ready to be embedded in solutions to accelerate time to market and improve efficiencies for OEMs. Lenovo, through its OEM Solutions business, provides secure, reliable hardware and services to design purpose-built appliances and solve industry pain points.

Data is exponentially rising each day, especially now that digital transformation across industries is accelerating. As market trends dictate, we need machines that are capable of working on extreme locations and conditions, while still connected all the time. Our ThinkEdge portfolio is aimed at empowering the local growth of edge computing in data-dependent industries in our mission to deliver smarter technology for all. It offers state-of-the-art technology that gives enterprises greater competence in a smaller footprint, while improving scalability and response times. Lenovo continuously creates new technologies that will prepare different sectors for a more digitally powered future, said Ngan.

The Lenovo ThinkEdge SE30 and SE50 are now available in the Philippine market by order basis via solution partners where pricing will be available upon request.
Imperial Valley News Center

Three Men Arrested on Charges Alleging They Collected Ransom Payments as Part of Cross-Border Kidnapping Conspiracy

Los Angeles, California - Law enforcement officials have arrested three men allegedly involved in a ring that kidnapped at least six people near the U.S.-Mexico border, later demanding ransom for their release, and often refusing to release them after payments were made.

Edgar Adrian Lemus, 23, of Vernon; Francisco Javier Hernandez Martinez, 20, also of Vernon; and Junior Almendarez Martinez, 23, of Watts, have been charged with one count of money laundering conspiracy. Lemus and Hernandez were arrested Monday evening on a federal criminal complaint. Almendarez was arrested  also on Monday evening  on a separate complaint. The three defendants are expected to make their initial appearances this afternoon in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles.

According to affidavits filed with the complaints, each of the kidnapping incidents targeted victims who were waiting or attempting to cross the border from Mexico into the United States. In each incident, the kidnappers offered to assist in smuggling the victims across the border from Mexico, but instead would hold them for ransom. The kidnappers insisted on ransom payments from the victims family members to release the victim, the affidavit states.

The kidnappers allegedly used specific sections at Walmart and other stores in Southern California to meet with the family members to collect the ransom payments. After the payments were made, however, the kidnappers demanded additional money rather than releasing the victim, according to the affidavit.

Law enforcement has identified Lemus, Hernandez and Almendarez as individuals that either picked up or received ransom payments from the victims family members, the affidavit alleges. Specifically, the defendants allegedly match the individuals captured on video surveillance footage during the ransom drops.

Lemus allegedly picked up a $19,000 ransom payment on April 20 at a Walmart store in South Gate from the husband of a victim in Mexicali who had been promised she would be smuggled into the United States, but who had been kidnapped instead. After delivering the payment, the kidnappers allegedly refused to release the victim and demanded additional payment. After the victims husband told the kidnappers that they had made him crash his car and he was in the streets begging for more money, they stopped calling him. The victim was released on April 22.

Hernandez allegedly picked up a $15,000 ransom payment on May 26 at a Walmart in Paramount from the husband of another kidnapping victim who was being held in Mexicali. After the ransom payment was made, the kidnappers allegedly demanded an additional $16,000 because the victim purportedly broke a package believed to contain narcotics, the affidavit states. All three allegedly were seen together on May 31 at a shopping center in Pico Rivera for another ransom payment pickup.

Almendarez was observed with Lemus and Hernandez after Lemus picked up a ransom payment at a Target store in South Gate, an affidavit attached to a criminal complaint charging him alleges. From February 9 to June 2, Almendarez allegedly made 10 cash transfers  all but one sent to individuals in Mexico  totaling $14,720 at a MoneyGram store in Lynwood. Several of the transfers were sent to a receiving MoneyGram agent in Mexicali, where the kidnappings occurred, the affidavit alleges.

A complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

If convicted, the defendants would face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.

The FBI investigated this matter. The South Gate Police Department and the Santa Barbara County Sheriffs Office provided substantial assistance.

Assistant United States Attorneys Jeffrey M. Chemerinsky and Kathy Yu of the Violent and Organized Crime Section are prosecuting this case.
Imperial Valley News Center

FBIs Encrypted Phone Platform Infiltrated Hundreds of Criminal Syndicates; Result is Massive Worldwide Takedown

San Diego, California - A wave of hundreds of arrests that began in Australia and stretched across Europe culminated today with the unsealing of a federal grand jury indictment in San Diego charging 17 foreign nationals with distributing thousands of encrypted communication devices to criminal syndicates.

The 500-plus arrests that took place during a worldwide two-day takedown were possible because of a San Diego-based investigation like no other. For the first time, the FBI operated its own encrypted device company, called ANOM, which was promoted by criminal groups worldwide. These criminals sold more than 12,000 ANOM encrypted devices and services to more than 300 criminal syndicates operating in more than 100 countries, including Italian organized crime, Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs, and various international drug trafficking organizations, according to court records.

SEARCH WARRANT - Operation Trojan Shield

INDICTMENT - Operation Trojan Shield

During the course of the investigation, while ANOMs criminal users unknowingly promoted and communicated on a system operated lawfully by the FBI, agents catalogued more than 27 million messages between users around the world who had their criminal discussions reviewed, recorded, and translated by the FBI, until the platform was taken down yesterday.

The users, believing their ANOM devices were protected from law enforcement by the shield of impenetrable encryption, openly discussed narcotics concealment methods, shipments of narcotics, money laundering, and in some groupsviolent threats, the indictment said. Some users negotiated drug deals via these encrypted messages and sent pictures of drugs, in one instance hundreds of kilograms of cocaine concealed in shipments of pineapples and bananas, and in another instance, in cans of tuna, in order to evade law enforcement.

The indictment charges 17 alleged distributors of the FBIs devices and platform. They are charged with conspiring to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), pertaining to their alleged involvement in marketing and distributing thousands of encrypted communication devices to transnational criminal organizations worldwide.

During the last 24 to 48 hours, in addition to the more than 500 arrests around the world, authorities searched more than 700 locations deploying more than 9,000 law enforcement officers worldwide and seized multi-ton quantities of illicit drugs.

Grand totals for the entire investigation include 800 arrests; and seizures of more than 8 tons of cocaine; 22 tons of marijuana; 2 tons of methamphetamine/amphetamine; six tons of precursor chemicals; 250 firearms; and more than $48 million in various worldwide currencies . Dozens of public corruption cases have been initiated over the course of the investigation. And, during the course of the investigation, more than 50 clandestine drug labs have been dismantled. One of the labs hit yesterday was one of the largest clandestine labs in German history.

This was an unprecedented operation in terms of its massive scale, innovative strategy and technological and investigative achievement, said Acting U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman. Hardened encrypted devices usually provide an impenetrable shield against law enforcement surveillance and detection. The supreme irony here is that the very devices that these criminals were using to hide from law enforcement were actually beacons for law enforcement. We aim to shatter any confidence in the hardened encrypted device industry with our indictment and announcement that this platform was run by the FBI.

Today marks the culmination of more than five years of innovative and complex investigative work strategically aimed to disrupt the encrypted communications space that caters to the criminal element, said Suzanne Turner, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) - San Diego Field Office. The FBI has brought together a network of dedicated international law enforcement partners who are steadfast in combating the global threat of organized crime. The immense and unprecedented success of Operation Trojan Shield should be a warning to international criminal organizations  your criminal communications may not be secure; and you can count on law enforcement worldwide working together to combat dangerous crime that crosses international borders.

Operation Trojan Shield is a perfect example of an OCDETF case - an investigation driven by intelligence and maximizing the strengths of partner law enforcement agencies in coordinated efforts to dismantle command and control elements of criminal networks, said OCDETF Director Adam W. Cohen. Coordination is the cornerstone of the OCDETF program, and the impressiveness of the combined efforts of the U.S. Attorneys Office, FBI, and our foreign partners cannot be overstated. This effort has created lasting disruptive impacts to these transnational criminal organizations.

The AFP and FBI have been working together on a world-first operation to bring to justice the organised crime gangs flooding our communities with drugs, guns and violence, said AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw APM. The FBI provided an encrypted communications platform while the AFP deployed the technical capability which helped unmask some of the biggest criminals in the world. This week the AFP and our state police partners will execute hundreds of warrants and we expect to arrest hundreds of offenders linked to the platform. This is the culmination of hard work, perseverance and an invaluable, trusted relationship with the FBI.

We thank the FBI for their long and integral partnership with the AFP.

Europols Deputy Executive Director Jean-Philippe Lecouffe: This operation is an exceptional success by the authorities in the United States, Sweden, the Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand and the other European members of the Operational Task Force. Europol coordinated the international law enforcement community, enriched the information picture and brought criminal intelligence into ongoing operations to target organised crime and drug trafficking organisations, wherever they are and however they choose to communicate. I am very satisfied to see Europol supporting this operation and strengthen law enforcement partnerships by emphasizing the multi-agency aspect of the case.

I am exceptionally proud of our New Zealand Police staff who supported Operation Trojan Shield, said New Zealand Police Commissioner Andrew Coster. This operation will have an unprecedented impact on organised crime syndicates across the globe. We value our strong relationship with the FBI, AFP and Europol and it is through these partnerships and the unrelenting efforts by law enforcement agencies from multiple countries that this operation has seen such incredible success This is a fantastic result and reiterates the importance of our transnational partnerships with law enforcement agencies across the globe in our common ongoing efforts to dismantle organised crime groups and the enormous harm they cause to our communities.

This remarkably successful operation demonstrates what can be accomplished when law enforcement agencies throughout the world work together, said DEA Los Angeles Division Special Agent in Charge Bill Bodner. Through strong relationships with our partners in more than 67 countries, professionals throughout the DEA, including experts in the Los Angeles Division, supported this unprecedented collaboration and our own mission to disrupt and dismantle the criminal organizations that profit from the distribution of illegal drugs.

According to the San Diego indictment, ANOMs administrators, distributors, and agents described the platform to potential users as designed by criminals for criminals and targeted the sale of ANOM to individuals that they knew participated in illegal activities.

All defendants are foreign nationals located outside of the U.S. In total, eight of the indicted defendants were taken into custody last night. Authorities are continuing to search for the remaining nine defendants.

The indictment alleges the defendants knew the devices they distributed were being used exclusively by criminals to coordinate drug trafficking and money laundering, including in the U.S. The defendants personally fielded wipe requests from users when devices fell into the hands of law enforcement.



The FBIs review of ANOM users communications worked like a blind carbon copy function in an email. A copy of every message being sent from each device was sent to a server in a third-party country where the messages were collected and stored. The data was then provided to the FBI on a regular basis pursuant to an international cooperation agreement. Communications such as text messages, photos, audio messages, and other digital information were reviewed by the FBI for criminal activity and disseminated to partner law enforcement agencies in other countries. Each user was using ANOM for a criminal purpose. Those countries have built their own cases against ANOM users, many of whom were arrested in takedowns in Europe, Australia and New Zealand over the last several days.

Intelligence derived from the FBIs communications platform presented opportunities to disrupt major drug trafficking, money laundering, and other criminal activity while the platform was active. For example, over 150 unique threats to human life were mitigated.

This operation was led by the FBI and coordinated with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Marshals Service, Australian Federal Police, Swedish Police Authority, National Police of the Netherlands, Lithuanian Criminal Police Bureau, Europol, and numerous other law enforcement partners from over a dozen other countries.

This investigation began after Canada-based encrypted device company Phantom Secure was dismantled by the FBI in 2018 through a San Diego-based federal RICO indictment and court-authorized seizure of the Phantom Secure platform, forcing many criminals to seek other secret communication methods to avoid law enforcement detection. The FBIalong with substantial contributions by the Australian Federal Policefilled that void with ANOM.

When the FBI and the San Diego U.S. Attorneys Office dismantled Sky Global in March 2021, the demand for ANOM devices grew exponentially as criminal users sought a new brand of hardened encryption device to plot their drug trafficking and money laundering transactions and to evade law enforcement. Demand for ANOM from criminal groups also increased after European investigators announced the dismantlement of the EncroChat platform in July 2020. The ANOM platform - unlike Phantom Secure, EncroChat, and Sky Global - was exploited by the FBI from the very beginning of ANOMs existence and was not an infiltration of an existing popular encrypted communications company.

In October 2018, Phantom Secures CEO pleaded guilty to a RICO conspiracy in the Southern District of California. He was sentenced to nine years in prison and ordered to forfeit $80 million in proceeds from the sale of Phantom devices.

Operation Trojan Shield is an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meghan E. Heesch, Joshua C. Mellor, Shauna Prewitt, and Mikaela Weber of the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of California are prosecuting the case, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Tracie Jarvis. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew P. Young made invaluable contributions during his tenure on the case team.

Acting U.S. Attorney Grossman praised federal prosecutors and FBI agents and international law enforcement partners for their relentless pursuit of justice in this extraordinary case. Additionally, Acting U.S. Attorney Grossman thanked the coordinated efforts of the Department of Justices Office of International Affairs which facilitated many international components of this complex investigation.

The charges and allegations contained in an indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

DEFENDANTS 21-CR-1623-JLS COUNTRY *Joseph Hakan Ayik (1) Domenico Catanzariti (2) Australia *Maximilian Rivkin (3) Abdelhakim Aharchaou (4) The Netherlands *Seyyed Hossein Hosseini (5) Alexander Dmitrienko (6) Spain *Baris Tukel (7) *Erkan Yusef Dogan (8) *Shane Geoffrey May (9) Aurangzeb Ayub (10) The Netherlands James Thomas Flood (11) Spain *Srdjan Todorovic aka Dr. Djek (12) *Shane Ngakuru (13) Edwin Harmendra Kumar (14) Australia Omar Malik (15) The Netherlands Miwand Zakhimi (16) The Netherlands *Osemah Elhassen (17) *Fugitive

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

Conspiracy to Conduct Enterprise Affairs Through Pattern of Racketeering Activity (RICO Conspiracy), in violation of 18 U.S.C.  1962(d)

Maximum Penalty: Twenty years in prion

AGENCIES

Federal Bureau of Investigation

Drug Enforcement Administration

United States Marshals Service

Department of Justice, Office of International Affairs

Australian Federal Police

Swedish Police Authority

Lithuanian Criminal Police Bureau

National Police of the Netherlands

EUROPOL
Imperial Valley News Center

Former Digital Marketing Executive Sentenced to Over 6 Years in Federal Prison for Embezzling More Than $22 Million from Employer

Los Angeles, California - A former executive at a Hollywood-based digital marketing company that represents influencers on Instagram and YouTube was sentenced Wednesday to 79 months in federal prison for embezzling more than $22 million from his employer and then using the stolen money for personal expenses and cryptocurrency gambling.

Dennis Blieden, 31, of Cincinnati, but who formerly lived in Santa Monica, was sentenced by United States District Judge Andre Birotte Jr., who also ordered him to pay $22,669,979 in restitution.

Blieden pleaded guilty in November 2019 to one count of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.

From October 2015 to March 2019, Blieden was the controller and vice president of accounting and finance for StyleHaul Inc., a digital company once based in Hollywood. As part of his job, Blieden had control over the companys bank accounts. He abused this authority to wire company money to his personal bank account, then, used the stolen money to pay for personal expenses, gambling debt, and to fund his cryptocurrency accounts.

To conceal his scheme, Blieden made fraudulent entries in StyleHauls accounting records, falsely representing that the illegal wire transfers he made were authorized payments of money due to StyleHaul clients. Blieden also falsely indicated on one of StyleHauls bank accounts that wire transfers to Bliedens personal bank account were equity draws that the company owed him. Furthermore, Blieden created fictitious wire transfer letters that purported to be from Western Union and were designed to make it appear that he had caused wire transfers from StyleHaul to pay money it purportedly owed to a client.

Blieden also disguised his fraud by creating a fictitious lease in May 2018 for the rental of a condominium in Rosarito Beach, Mexico, which bore a forged signature of a StyleHaul executive. He illicitly transferred $230,000 of StyleHauls funds by falsely representing that the condominium was being rented for business purposes for StyleHauls clients and employees.

Blieden, who has entered and won professional poker tournaments, also frequently engaged in online gambling with cryptocurrency he purchased with embezzled money.

(Blieden)breached the trust and obligations owed to the young and perhaps unsophisticated YouTube, Instagram, and other social media influencers and creators, who earned money through their work on said platforms, that were needed to support their families, prosecutors wrote in their sentencing memorandum. Those clients relied upon defendant to do his job, when instead, he stole millions (of dollars) from them.

The FBI investigated this matter.

Assistant United States Attorney Valerie L. Makarewicz of the Major Frauds Section prosecuted this case.
A new report on employee well-being reveals some troubling, if not completely surprising, results: Last year, workers around the world were more stressed out than ever before.

Employed people in the U.S. and Canada had the highest levels of stress of any region, with 57 percent surveyed in 2020 saying they experienced stress "a lot of" the previous day, according to Gallup's State of the Global Workplace 2021 report, released Tuesday. That was an increase of eight percentage points from 2019.

Jim Harter, Gallup's chief scientist of workplace management and well-being and co-author of Wellbeing at Work, a book on how organizations can build resilient teams, says there is a playbook for managers to improve the situation.

CEOs can't engage with every employee on what they need to thrive at work, Harter says, but you can empower your managers to do so since "they're in the best position to understand the situation of each person and make the right kind of accommodations."

Harter's top recommendation: Employees should have a "meaningful" conversation with their manager every week. Then, managers can provide everything from career development to workload adjustment so people don't feel as overwhelmed and out of control--especially during challenging times.

Last year, helping people feel in control became particularly important, Harter adds. Globally, workers felt more anger, sadness, and worry during 2020, according to the Gallup report. In the U.S. and Canada, 22 percent of employees reported feeling angry during "a lot of" the prior day, up seven percent percentage points from 2019.
When a team led by Nobel Prize-winning economist James Heckman combed through data on thousands of people to discover what factors matter most for success in life, they found that IQ mattered a minuscule 1 or 2 percent. What mattered a whole lot more? In a word, personality.

Which might sound pretty terrifying to those who worry they don't have the right personality to get ahead in life. But it shouldn't.

If research is pretty clear that character plays an outsized role in life outcomes, it's also clear that personality can change. Measure what psychologists call the Big 5 personality traits -- extroversion, neuroticism, agreeableness, openness, and conscientiousness -- when someone is 14 and then do it again when they're 75, and the two tests will bear basically no resemblance to each other. What's more, studies show that with a little bit of effort, it's possible to consciously change your personality if you so desire.

So to sum up, your personality can make or break your chance of success in life, and your personality is, at least to some degree, under your control. And this raises the obvious next question: Which personality traits should you try to influence?

The 7 biggest personality pitfalls

While that question will always be somewhat personal -- if your definition of success is building a billion-dollar business then you'll presumably need a different personality than if you dream of becoming a beloved local librarian -- but psychology can still help answer it.

In a recent Psychology Today post University of Massachusetts, Amherst professor Susan Krauss Whitbourne explains how psychologists figured out what personality traits hold people back from success. While diagnostic checklists have long existed for various clinical mental health problems, up until recently no test or inventory claimed to be able to tell you whether you had a "maladaptive" personality that was likely to keep you from fulfilling your dreams. So a team led by researcher Michael Boudreaux set out to create one.

Whitbourne's post lays out their approach in detail, but the important takeaway for the layperson is that they claim to have succeeded. Sifting through the data the team homed in on seven clusters of problematic personality traits that were consistently associated with lower life satisfaction, worse social functioning, and other problematic behaviors like drug and alcohol use. Here they are:

Emotion dysregulation (difficulty managing stress and intolerant of frustration) Internalizing (sadness and self criticism) Will to achieve (lack of direction and distractibility) Externalizing (acting out in risky behavior) Scrupulousness (rigidity and perfectionism) Fantasy proneness (getting lost in fantasies) Apathy (lack of enthusiasm or strong emotions)

Reading this list, one or more of these areas might immediately pop out at you as something you struggle with, but if not, Whitbourne offers a simple 26-question assessment to help you decide if any of these personality problems apply to you. Shining a spotlight on your personality flaws might not sound fun, but as the article points out, facing up to your weaknesses can actually be empowering.

"Gaining insight into your tendencies to thwart your own chances of success is an important first step in short-circuiting a self-defeating vicious cycle. You may never be able to solve all your intrapersonal problems, but gaining insight into their effect on your life can help you be that much more likely to gain long-term fulfillment," Whitbourne concludes.
China on Tuesday slammed Nato for calling it a security challenge and said it will never give up its right to uphold peace.

The Chinese mission to the European Union also urged Nato to view Chinas development in a rational manner.

On Monday, the leaders of Nato declared China as a challenge to the rules-based international order. It said Chinas stated ambitions and assertive behaviour present systemic challenges to the rules-based international order and to areas relevant to alliance security.

The statement left China unimpressed.

It asked Nato to stop hyping up in any form the so-called China threat, and stop taking Chinas legitimate interests and rights as an excuse to manipulate bloc politics, create confrontation and fuel geopolitical competition.

Instead, Nato should devote more of its energy to promoting dialogue and cooperation and making more efforts that are truly conducive to upholding international and regional security and stability, said Chinas mission to the EU on Tuesday.

It said that Beijing will never give up its right to uphold peace, and will stand firm in defending our sovereignty, security and development interests.

We will follow very closely Natos strategic adjustment and its policy adjustment towards China, said the mission.

Nato said that China is rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal, is opaque in the modernisation of its military, and is cooperating militarily with Russia. Nato said it remains concerned with Chinas frequent lack of transparency and use of disinformation.

The strong statement was a result of the efforts of the US which has been trying to get the European allies to confront China.

Before the statement, the USs national security advisor, Jake Sullivan, had said that China will feature in the communique in a more robust way than weve ever seen before.

China countered by claiming that Nato is slandering Chinas peaceful development and misjudging the international situation and its own role.

It represents a continuation of the Cold War mentality and bloc politics. China is committed to a defence policy that is defensive in nature. Our pursuit of defence and military modernisation is justified, reasonable, open and transparent, said the Chinese mission.

It said that the total military expenditure of 30 Nato member states is expected to reach $1.17 trillion (1.2 trillion) in 2021, more than half of the total global military expenditure and 5.6 times that of China.

The people of the world can see clearly who has military bases all over the world and who is flexing muscles by sending aircraft carriers all over the world, it said.
China has denied any safety concerns relating to the Taishan nuclear power plant stating that no abnormal radiation was detected in it, after the French operator reported a gas build-up.

A foreign ministry spokesman in Beijing, Zhao Lijian, responded to reporters questions by saying: there is nothing abnormal detected in the radiation level surrounding the plant. He gave no confirmation of a leak or other details.

Hong Kong, which is closer to Guangdong province, has also expressed concern after the reports on Tuesday, however, the data from the Hong Kong Observatory and other departments showed that as of Monday night the radiation levels in the city were normal.

The chief executive of Hong Kong, Carrie Lam, said her government would ask authorities in Guangdong for information and tell the public about any developments.

Framatome, a French company that helps manage the Taishan Nuclear Power Plant, raised an alarm on Monday saying that the plant was dealing with a performance issue, but that it was operating within safety parameters. The company statement followed media reports that the plant could be experiencing a leak.

A CNN report quoting sources claimed that the US government was assessing the risk factors of the Taishan nuclear power plant, based in the populous region of Guangdong province. It said that Framatome told US authorities about a possible leak and also warned that the Chinese safety authority was raising the acceptable limits for radiation detection outside the plant to prevent it from being shut down.

However, the Biden administration reportedly concluded that the situation at the plant isnt yet at crisis level and does not pose an immediate danger to the workers in the plant or the people around it. However, concerns regarding a potential leak are still worrying experts.

The statement from the French company said it was informed of the increase in the concentration of certain rare gases in one of the reactors at Taishan.

Luk Bing-lam, an expert on nuclear engineering at the City University of Hong Kong told the Associated Press, that this suggests the fuel rods are leaking noble gases, a byproduct of nuclear fission.

If the leakage is more severe, then you will start seeing more radioactive material like caesium, rather than gas, said Mr Luk, who is also the chairman of the Hong Kong Nuclear Society.

He also said such leaks happen every so often in China and plants usually can handle it themselves but he said this incident might be complicated if the Taishan plant uses US technology that is covered by export restrictions.

Previously, the Taishan facility leaked a small amount of radioactive gas on 9 April, the National Nuclear Safety Administration said on its website, AP reported. It said the event was Level 0, or without safety significance.

The Taishan plant became operational in 2018 and is jointly owned by China Guangdong Nuclear Power Group and Electricite de France (EDF), the majority owner of Framatome. The two reactors in the plant are the first of a new type called European Pressurized Reactors.

Additional reporting by agencies
Floridas skies are set to be turned orange this week by a giant Saharan dust storm that has traveled across the Atlantic.

The dust is part of 60 million tons of sand and mineral particles that are annually swept up off the African desert floor and pushed westwards across the ocean by winds.

Weather experts predict that the cloud of dust is due to arrive in the Gulf of Mexico this week and will likely hit Florida on Wednesday.

They say that when the sun is low to the horizon its rays have to travel through more of the Earths atmosphere, creating orange, red and pink hues in the sky.

The dust is expected to stay around until the weekend, meteorologists say.

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America has warned that the dust cloud could impact people with respiratory issues or lung conditions.

They have advised people to close their windows, use an air purifier, wear a mask outdoors and check the air quality before going outside or cancel outdoor activities.

Scientists say that one upside of the dust is that it helps suppress the development of hurricanes and tropical storms off the US coast.

Saharan dust changes the regional climate by reflecting and absorbing the sunlight, which decreases the sea surface temperature, Bowen Pan from Texas A&M Universitys Department of Atmospheric Sciences, has told Newsweek.

This decreases the energy supply to the storms. Additionally, dust also stabilises the atmosphere.

In 2020 the Godzilla storm that dumped dust on North and South America was so large that it was visible from the International Space Station.

This years dust storms were fueled by stogy winds in Mali and Mauritania, carrying the cloud over Senegal, Gambia and Cabo Verde and out into the Atlantic.

And NASA satellites using infrared imaging picked up the cloud out over the middle of the Atlantic by 7 June.

Some of the dust even reaches the Amazon region of South America, where experts say that minerals it contains, such as iron and phosphorus act as a fertiliser.
At least five brands, including Kopparberg drinks and Nivea skincare, have suspended advertising on GB News pending further review of the channels content.

The Swedish brewery appeared on a list of companies whose commercials had appeared on GB News after its launch, amid a social campaign to calling for advertisers to boycott it.

Kopparberg, best known for its ciders, told Twitter users: Thanks for bringing this to our attention. We want to make it clear to everyone that our ad ran on this channel without our knowledge or consent.

The firm added: Kopparberg is a drink for everyone and we have immediately suspended our ads from this channel pending further review of its content.

Other companies made a similar move, as first reported by Press Gazette. Beer company Grolsch said it would do everything we possibly can to stop its adverts appearing on GB News again.

The new channel, which aims to provide an outlet for opinions it claims are not given airtime by other broadcasters, has been forced to deny comparisons to Fox News, the right-wing US channel.

The Independent has contacted Kopparberg and GB News for comment.

Following months of speculation about how it might affect opinion and political discourse in the UK, GB News launched on Sunday evening, immediately attracting attention.

The 24-hour-channel opened with a programme called Welcome to GB News, hosted by the channels chairman, former BBC journalist Andrew Neil.

Neil introduced the GB News team, including the former Brexit Party candidate and The Apprentice winner Michelle Dewberry, ex-Sky News reporter Colin Brazier, and former Sun executive editor Dan Wootton, who sparked controversy with his first broadcast on the channel.

Tonight Live with Dan Wootton began with a lengthy monologue condemning the expected delay to Englands exit from the remaining Covid lockdown restrictions, which was confirmed on Monday.

Wootton went on to claim it was increasingly clear now that there is a move among some public health officials and politicians to create an ultra-cautious biosecurity state, copying the likes of China.

He urged viewers to fight back against doomsday scientists, who he suggested were taking control and were addicted to the power, accusing the government of running a Covid scare campaign that had terrified the public into supporting lockdowns.

The channel's opening night was beset with technical issues and received mixed reviews from critics. Its launch did, however, attract more viewers than rivals BBC News and Sky News in the same timeslot.
The director of public prosecutions has said he is sorry that the families of those who died in the Hillsborough disaster were denied the justice and accountability they have sought since 1989.

Max Hill QC also apologised for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS)s inability to provide loved ones with any closure.

It comes after the trial of two retired police officers and a solicitor, all accused of covering up key details of the tragedy, which killed 96 people, collapsed last month when a judge ruled there was no case to answer.

Former chief superintendent Donald Denton, retired detective chief inspector Alan Foster, and Peter Metcalf, a lawyer for South Yorkshire Police at the time of the tragedy, applied to have the case against them dismissed after a month of evidence in a trial that had been awaited for decades by the victims loved ones.

A judge ultimately found the offence of perverting the course of justice did not apply because the statements were changed for a public inquiry.

Mr Hill appeared before MPs on the Justice Committee on Tuesday to discuss various aspects of his workload, including an update on the Harry Dunn case.

He said the legal team responsible for the Hillsborough trial had done everything we could and applied all of the vigour that we could in their work on the tragic case.

I have to start by paying tribute to the 96, the friends and the families who have gone through, year after year, decade after decade, a search for justice and accountability, he told the panel.

It was instigated by one of the committees members, Labour MP Maria Eagle, reading out an email from one of her constituents  a family member of a man who died while at the FA Cup semi-final at Hillsborough Stadium, Sheffield, on 15 April 1989.

I think we have to accept now, in 2021, that criminal proceedings have not provided that justice and accountability.

Mr Hill said he had previously met with many of the families and will be doing so again in the next two or three weeks.

Acknowledging the failures of the team, he told MPs: They  and I speak for them  are first in saying how sorry we all are that this process has not led to the closure which the 96 have sought.

But he added: I maintain that we did everything we could, and we applied all of the vigour that we could.

Hillsborough disaster 25th anniversary: RIP to the 96 Show all 50 1 /50 Hillsborough disaster 25th anniversary: RIP to the 96 Hillsborough disaster 25th anniversary: RIP to the 96 Hillsborough disaster anniversary Members of the Hillsborough Justice Campaign group march to Anfield for a memorial service marking the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster at Anfield stadium in Liverpool Hillsborough disaster 25th anniversary: RIP to the 96 Hillsborough disaster anniversary Members of the Hillsborough Justice Campaign group march to Anfield for a memorial service marking the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster at Anfield stadium in Liverpool Hillsborough disaster 25th anniversary: RIP to the 96 Hillsborough disaster anniversary A woman walks past a Hillsborough tribute banner as fans arrive in Anfield for a memorial service marking the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster at Anfield stadium in Liverpool Hillsborough disaster 25th anniversary: RIP to the 96 Hillsborough disaster anniversary A Liverpool fan wipes away tears during the Hillsborough 25th Anniversary Memorial Service at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool Hillsborough disaster 25th anniversary: RIP to the 96 Hillsborough disaster anniversary A Liverpool fan reacts during the Hillsborough 25th Anniversary Memorial Service at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool Hillsborough disaster 25th anniversary: RIP to the 96 Hillsborough disaster anniversary Members of the Hillsborough Justice Campaign group embrace as they arrive at Anfield for a memorial service marking the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster at Anfield stadium in Liverpool Hillsborough disaster 25th anniversary: RIP to the 96 Hillsborough disaster anniversary A man carrying flowers arrives at the Hillsborough Memorial at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool Hillsborough disaster 25th anniversary: RIP to the 96 Hillsborough disaster anniversary British member of parliament Andy Burnham (C) arrives to attend a memorial service to mark the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool Hillsborough disaster 25th anniversary: RIP to the 96 Hillsborough disaster anniversary Members of the public and football fans gather together during the Hillsborough 25th Anniversary Memorial Service at Hillsborough, Sheffield Hillsborough disaster 25th anniversary: RIP to the 96 Hillsborough disaster anniversary Chairman Milan Mandaric lays a wreath during the Hillsborough 25th Anniversary Memorial Service at Hillsborough, Sheffield Hillsborough disaster 25th anniversary: RIP to the 96 Hillsborough disaster anniversary Fans lay flowers by the Shankly gates before a memorial service to mark the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster at Anfield in Liverpool Hillsborough disaster 25th anniversary: RIP to the 96 Hillsborough disaster anniversary Tommy Biggadike (2) whose grandfather Thomas Howard died in the tragedy arrives to lay flowers ahead of the Hillsborough 25th Anniversary Memorial Service at Hillsborough, Sheffield Hillsborough disaster 25th anniversary: RIP to the 96 Hillsborough disaster anniversary Members of the public lay flowers before the screening of the Hillsborough 25th Anniversary Memorial Service at Goodison Park in Liverpool Hillsborough disaster 25th anniversary: RIP to the 96 Hillsborough disaster anniversary Flowers are laid at the Hillsborough memorial outside Anfield to mark the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster in Liverpool Hillsborough disaster 25th anniversary: RIP to the 96 Hillsborough disaster anniversary Football scarves are tied on the Shankly Gates at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool Hillsborough disaster 25th anniversary: RIP to the 96 Hillsborough disaster anniversary A mourner stands next to the scarfs which are tied to the Shankly gates outside Anfield to mark the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster in Liverpool Hillsborough disaster 25th anniversary: RIP to the 96 Hillsborough disaster anniversary A fan ties a scarf to the Shankly Gates at Anfield in Liverpool Hillsborough disaster 25th anniversary: RIP to the 96 Hillsborough disaster anniversary A Liverpool supporter looks at the tributes ahead of the Hillsborough 25th Anniversary Memorial Service at Hillsborough, Sheffield Hillsborough disaster 25th anniversary: RIP to the 96 Hillsborough disaster anniversary A man holds up a scarf remembering those who have died in football disasters over the years during a memorial service to mark the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool Hillsborough disaster 25th anniversary: RIP to the 96 Hillsborough disaster anniversary Everton's Spanish manager Roberto Martinez (top row L) and Liverpool football club players Steven Gerrard (3L), Daniel Agger (4R), Luis Suarez (3R), Daniel Sturridge (2R) and Glen Johnson (R) stand above former Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish (bottom 3L) and former Liverpool player Ian Rush (5L) during a memorial service to mark the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool Hillsborough disaster 25th anniversary: RIP to the 96 Hillsborough disaster anniversary Liverpool's (left-right) Glen Johnson, Daniel Sturridge, Luis Suarez, Daniel Agger and Steven Gerrard arrive for the Hillsborough 25th Anniversary Memorial Service at Anfield Stadium, Liverpool Hillsborough disaster 25th anniversary: RIP to the 96 Hillsborough disaster anniversary Liverpool football club captain Steven Gerrard arrives for a memorial service to mark the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool Hillsborough disaster 25th anniversary: RIP to the 96 Hillsborough disaster anniversary Liverpool football club player Glen Johnson arrives for a memorial service to mark the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool Hillsborough disaster 25th anniversary: RIP to the 96 Hillsborough disaster anniversary Scarfs and balloons are placed in front of the Kop stand on the Anfield pitch to mark the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster in Liverpool Hillsborough disaster 25th anniversary: RIP to the 96 Hillsborough disaster anniversary The figure 96, made up of fans scarves, fills the centre circle before the Hillsborough 25th Anniversary Memorial Service at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool Hillsborough disaster 25th anniversary: RIP to the 96 Hillsborough disaster anniversary Hull City and Sheffield United players observe a minute of silence to mark the 25th anniversary for the Hillsborough disaster during the English FA Cup Semi-final match between Hull City and Sheffield United at Wembley Stadium in London Hillsborough disaster 25th anniversary: RIP to the 96 Hillsborough disaster anniversary The crowd and players pause for a delayed kick off in memory of the victims of the Hillsborough disaster 25 years ago before the FA Cup Semi Final match at Wembley Stadium in London Hillsborough disaster 25th anniversary: RIP to the 96 Hillsborough disaster anniversary The teams of Reading and Leicester City respect a minutes silence for the Hillsborough victims before the Sky Bet Championship match at the Madejski Stadium, Reading Hillsborough disaster 25th anniversary: RIP to the 96 Hillsborough disaster anniversary The players take part in a minute silence to remember the Hillsborough disaster before the Sky Bet Championship match between Reading and Leicester City at the Madejski Stadium in Reading Hillsborough disaster 25th anniversary: RIP to the 96 Hillsborough disaster anniversary Liverpool scarves cover 96 seats in memory of the victims of the Hillsborough disaster 25 years ago during the FA Cup Semi Final match at Wembley Stadium in London Hillsborough disaster 25th anniversary: RIP to the 96 Hillsborough disaster anniversary The crowd and players pause for a delayed kick off in memory of the victims of the Hillsborough disaster 25 years ago before the FA Cup Semi Final match at Wembley Stadium in London Hillsborough disaster 25th anniversary: RIP to the 96 Hillsborough disaster anniversary The crowd and players pause for a delayed kick off in memory of the victims of the Hillsborough disaster 25 years ago before the FA Cup Semi Final match at Wembley Stadium in London Hillsborough disaster 25th anniversary: RIP to the 96 Hillsborough disaster anniversary Before their English Premier League soccer match at Anfield Stadium against Manchester City Liverpool supporters hold their scarves prior to a minute's silence in tribute to the 96 supporters who lost their lives in the Hillsborough disaster of 25 years ago in Liverpool Hillsborough disaster 25th anniversary: RIP to the 96 Hillsborough disaster anniversary Liverpool's Kenny Dalglish and Ian Rush receive wreath from Manchester City's Mike Summerbee (R ), Tony Book (L ) and Joe Corrigan (C back) to honour the ninety six Liverpool fans who lost their lives during an FA Cup semi final at Hillsborough in Sheffield 25 years ago, before the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool vs Manchester City in Liverpool Hillsborough disaster 25th anniversary: RIP to the 96 Hillsborough disaster anniversary Liverpool fans hold up a banner in respect of the Hillsborough disaster ahead of their English Premier League soccer match against Manchester City at Anfield in Liverpool Hillsborough disaster 25th anniversary: RIP to the 96 Hillsborough disaster anniversary Before their English Premier League soccer match at Anfield Stadium against Manchester City Liverpool supporters hold banners prior to a minute's silence in tribute to the 96 supporters who lost their lives in the Hillsborough disaster of 25 years ago in Liverpool Hillsborough disaster 25th anniversary: RIP to the 96 Hillsborough disaster anniversary Jose Mourinho the Chelsea manager and his coaching staff observe a minute's silence to mark the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster prior to the Barclays Premier League match between Swansea City and Chelsea at Liberty Stadium in Swansea, Wales Hillsborough disaster 25th anniversary: RIP to the 96 Hillsborough disaster anniversary Captain Curtis Davies of Hull City carries a wreath to mark the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster prior to the FA Cup with Budweiser semi-final match between Hull City and Sheffield United at Wembley Stadium in London Hillsborough disaster 25th anniversary: RIP to the 96 Hillsborough disaster anniversary Fans in the Kop wave banners in memory of victims of the 1989 Hillsborough disaster before the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield in Liverpool Hillsborough disaster 25th anniversary: RIP to the 96 Hillsborough disaster anniversary Players from both teams line up for a minutes silence in front of fans in the kop displaying cards to form a message in remembrance of the 96 Liverpool fans that lost their lives in the Hillsborough disaster during the Barclays Premier League match at Anfield, Liverpool Hillsborough disaster 25th anniversary: RIP to the 96 Hillsborough disaster anniversary A boy stands next to floral tributes laid in memory of the victims of the Hillsborough disaster, on the 25th anniversary of the tragedy prior to the Barclays Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield in Liverpool Hillsborough disaster 25th anniversary: RIP to the 96 Hillsborough disaster anniversary View of floral tributes laid in memory of the victims of the Hillsborough disaster, on the 25th anniversary of the tragedy prior to the Barclays Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield in Liverpool Hillsborough disaster 25th anniversary: RIP to the 96 Hillsborough disaster anniversary People lay floral tribute in memory of the victims of the Hillsborough disaster, on the 25th anniversary of the tragedy prior to the Barclays Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield in Liverpool Hillsborough disaster 25th anniversary: RIP to the 96 Hillsborough disaster anniversary View of club scarves placed in memory of the victims of the Hillsborough disaster in Liverpool Hillsborough disaster 25th anniversary: RIP to the 96 Hillsborough disaster anniversary Fabio Borini of Sunderland lays a floral wreath is laid on the pitch to mark the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster prior to the Barclays Premier League match between Sunderland and Everton at Stadium of Light in Sunderland Hillsborough disaster 25th anniversary: RIP to the 96 Hillsborough disaster anniversary A floral wreath is laid on the pitch to mark the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster prior to the Barclays Premier League match between Sunderland and Everton at Stadium of Light in Sunderland Hillsborough disaster 25th anniversary: RIP to the 96 Hillsborough disaster anniversary A tribute is displayed on the scoreboard as a minute's silence is observed to mark the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster prior to the Barclays Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Aston Villa at Selhurst Park in London Hillsborough disaster 25th anniversary: RIP to the 96 Hillsborough disaster anniversary 96 blue seats at the Leppings Lane end of Hillsborough are replaced by 96 white seats to represent the 96 Liverpool fans who died at the Hillsborough disaster, during the Sky Bet Championship match at Hillsborough, Sheffield Hillsborough disaster 25th anniversary: RIP to the 96 Hillsborough disaster anniversary Football spectators observe a minutes silence for the 25th Anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster with a billboard in the background displaying the names of those who were killed, ahead of the English Premier League football match between Stoke City and Newcastle United at the Britannia Stadium in Stoke on Trent Hillsborough disaster 25th anniversary: RIP to the 96 Hillsborough disaster anniversary Arsenal fans during a minutes remembrance next to the 96 seats that are being left empty as a tribute to the 96 Liverpool fans that lost their lives in the Hillsborough disaster, are seen before the FA Cup Semi Final match at Wembley Stadium in London

Ms Eagle, the MP for Liverpools Garston and Halewood constituency, went on to say old slurs had been reintroduced during the trial and in public commentary afterwards, claiming there was no cover up  something for which the prime minister of this country has apologised from the despatch box  and also saying that the Liverpool fans rioted.

Mr Hill said he dissociates himself and the entire CPS from such claims.

Its not for me to regulate what defence representatives say either before, during or after trial. That is simply not within the CPSs power, he insisted.

I will say that I dissociate myself, and I speak for the whole of the Crown Prosecution Service, with anything that was said in that article, or in commentary after the case came to an end.

Following the end of the trial in May, the lawyer of one of those acquitted  Mr Metcalf  spoke to Adrian Chiles on BBC Radio 5 Live.

Jonathan Goldberg QC was criticised for claiming Liverpool fans caused a riot ahead of the disaster, but later said his comments were taken out of context.

Meanwhile, Mr Chiles apologised for failing to challenge the barrister on evil nonsense during the interview.

In 2016, a jury at inquests into the deaths concluded the behaviour of fans did not cause or contribute to the situation which built up outside the ground.

It was revealed earlier this month that South Yorkshire and West Midlands police forces had agreed to pay damages to more than 600 people over the cover-up, despite nobody ever being convicted of what happened at Hillsborough.

A spokesman for Saunders Law, the lead solicitors for the group litigation, said at the beginning of June the claim was started in 2015 and agreed in April, but could not be reported until the conclusion of the trial involving former police and legal officials.
Tariffs will be scrapped immediately on imported beef and lamb from Australia, triggering accusations that the trade deal struck by Boris Johnson will send UK farmers to the wall.

The small print of the first major post-Brexit agreement  revealed by Canberra, as the UK government tried to keep it under wraps  revealed a pledge to protect farmers for 15 years has been dropped.

Instead, Australian farmers will effectively be handed tariff-free access from day one, up to a cap on sales that is 60 times the current level of imported beef.

The detail was revealed as experts warned the overall economic boost from the deal would be close to zero  and the government admitted the average household would be just 1.20 a year better off.

The National Farmers Union demanded ministers come clean on exactly what has been agreed, to ensure our high standards of production are not undermined by the terms of this deal.

And Emily Thornberry, Labours shadow trade secretary, said: No other country in the world would accept such a terrible deal for its farming industry, and neither should we.

With this deal, and the precedent it sets for New Zealand, America, Canada and Brazil, the government will send thousands of farmers to the wall, undermine our standards of animal welfare and environmental protection, and threaten the conservation of our countryside.

MPs are demanding the power to scrutinise the deal immediately, but ministers  as The Independent revealed  plan to deny full access until the autumn, when critics fear it will be too late.

Neil Parish, the Conservative chair of the Commons environment committee, said that would make a mockery of the commitments made, when a watchdog was promised last year.

The prime minister, shaking hands in Downing Street with Scott Morrison, his Australian counterpart, insisted it was a good deal that will benefit British farmers and British consumers as well.

It contained the strongest possible provisions for animal welfare, the prime minister argued, telling journalists: We had to negotiate very hard.

However, when the deal was mooted last month, it was anticipated that tariffs and quotas would not be fully removed on meat imports for 15 years  to calm the protests of worried farming groups.

But the full details, released by Australia but suppressed in London, showed that:

* Tariffs on beef will only kick in, from day one, when imports rise above 35,000 tonnes  more than 60 times the level of sales to the UK in 2020.

* Tariffs will only be levied on imports of lamb above 25,000 tonnes  around three times last years sales.

Currently, Australian beef exporters pay a 12 per cent tariff, with variable surcharges of between 1.40 and 2.50 a kilo, and face an annual quota of 3,761 tonnes.

Labour also argued the UK would leap immediately from the 27th to the 6th most popular destination for Australian beef, if the full quota was taken up, and to third place for lamb.

Tariff-free beef imports will be allowed to reach 110,000 tonnes by the tenth year and sheep meat imports 75,000 tonnes.

While Australia is getting everything it wanted and more, we are getting next to nothing in return, with a miniscule 0.025 per cent increase in UK growth the most optimistic projection, Ms Thornberry added.

Trade experts backed that verdict on the economic benefits of the deal, John Ferguson, at the Economist Intelligence Unit, calling it incredibly small.

This is simply due to the fact that Australia is a long way away from the UK and distance really matters to the amount that two countries trade with each other, he said.

Dr Peter Holmes, of the UK Trade Policy Observatory at the University of Sussex, said: The total direct net effect of the trade deal will be close to zero, so the key questions are what provisions it makes for standards and what precedents it sets.

The UK government said the agreement in principle, to be published in the coming days, would:

* Eliminate tariffs on all UK goods going to Australia  although they are typically only around 5 per cent.

* Save British households 34m a year as tariff cuts make Australian imports cheaper  which works out as 1.20 per household.

* Make Britons under the age of 35, instead of under 30, eligible for working holiday visas  and free them from a compulsory rural work, in a second year in Australia.

* Scrap export tariffs for car manufacturing, Scotch whisky, confectionery, biscuits and ceramics.

Downing Street has been asked to confirm the tariff-free deal for beef and lamb imports and respond to the criticism that farmers have been let down.

Liz Truss, the trade secretary, admitted to a zero-tariff quota that increases over time, but argued there were safeguards to prevent import surges.

She also said MPs would eventually be able to oppose the deal, although there will be no specific vote, but there would be no detailed scrutiny until after it has been agreed in full, which is not expected to happen until the autumn

Angus MacNeil, chair of the Commons international trade committee, condemned the delay, saying: The trade negotiation team must come to a public hearing of the committee.

This is too important for a pig in a poke deal  we dont want the UK to agree to something that hasnt been scrutinised.
An Asian man delivering food by bicycle in New York was stabbed in the back by another cyclist in broad daylight, in an incident that police are investigating as the latest in a series of anti-Asian hate crimes.

The 53-year-old victim was knocked to the ground by the attack, but got back up and completed the delivery with a knife wound  only realising he had been stabbed when he arrived back at the restaurant.

The Asian man, whose identity is being withheld, was attacked on Sunday evening when he was running an order in Brooklyn and a hooded assailant pedalled up behind him, asking cryptically: What happened?

As the victim slowed down his bike and started to turn around, the green-clad attacker took a knife and stabbed him in the back, knocking him to the ground in the process, the video footage released by the New York Police Department shows.

The NYPD released the footage of the attack in Fulton Street, asking anyone with information to get in touch.

The police said on Monday that they were investigating the attack as a possible hate crime, reported the NY Daily News.

The victim was rushed to Jamaica Hospital in Queens where he is being treated for a non-life-threatening puncture wound in the back.

The manager of the Chinese food joint told the New York Post that the man got up after being knocked on the ground, dusted himself off and peddled away to deliver the food in his charge.

It was only when he returned and narrated the story to his colleague that he realised he was hurt and bleeding.

He feels his back and says, Its a little wet, the manager said. He looks at his hands, he sees the blood.

Shocked to discover how badly he was attacked, the victim ran out of the food joint apparently to find his attacker. He ran out to look for the man, the manager recalled. I say, No, come back!

The manager said the delivery driver is scared and wants the NYPD to find his attacker quickly.

According to the latest NYPD statistics up to 31 May, incidents of hate crimes against Asian people in New York City this year are up 335 per cent from the same period last year. Overall, hate crimes have increased by 98 per cent this year.
A 30-year-old man got into a heated argument about masks on Monday with a cashier at a supermarket in Georgia, Atlanta, returned with a handgun and shot her dead, police confirmed.

Victor Lee Tucker got into an argument with the cashier at the Big Bear supermarket in DeKalb County in Georgia and shot her, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) said in a statement. The incident also left a retired sheriffs deputy injured.

The cashier  whose identity wasnt revealed by the police as of Monday evening  was taken to the Grady Memorial Hospital where she died.

DeKalb County sheriff Melody M Maddox said Mr Tucker and the retired deputy were also taken to the hospital following the shooting incident.

Cynthia Williams, DeKalb sheriffs office spokesperson, told the media that the incident took place inside a supermarket at South Dekalb mall on Candler Road.

There were several people inside when Mr Tucker opened fire. Ms Maddox confirmed that the argument between Mr Tucker and the cashier started in reference to wearing a mask.

Mr Tucker left the supermarket after the verbal duel with the cashier without making any purchase. But police say he returned immediately.

The GBI said: Tucker walked directly back to the cashier, pulled out a handgun and shot her.

The retired sheriffs deputy who was also injured in the shooting had been working a part-time security job at the store. Authorities said that Mr Tucker started shooting at the deputy who then returned fire.

The retired deputy had been with the Dekalb County police department for more than 30 years. Ms Maddox said that he was shot at twice but was wearing a bulletproof vest. The deputy was taken to the Atlanta Medical Center after the incident.

He is currently in stable condition.

A bullet also grazed a second cashier at the store, the GBI told the media.

Mr Tucker was arrested while he was trying to crawl out the front door, Ms Maddox said. He was also injured in the incident and was taken to the hospital but the police have not released more details about his current condition.

The Atlanta-Journal Constitution reported that the incident is the 41st shooting involving a law enforcement officer that the GBI has investigated this year.
Kip Kinkel, who killed his parents before murdering two of his classmates and injuring another 25 in a 1998 school shooting in Oregon, has said that he feels tremendous, tremendous shame and guilt in his first interview.

Kinkel, now 38 years old, spoke with HuffPost for 20 hours over the course of 10 months while serving a 111-year sentence at the Oregon State Correctional Institution.

He committed the crimes at the age of 15 while suffering from an undiagnosed case of paranoid schizophrenia.

He told HuffPost that he didnt only feel guilty for the crimes he committed but also the effect his actions has had on young offenders being sentenced to life in prison.

His case has been used by some of the victims of the Thurston High School shooting and others to work against reforming juvenile justice in Oregon.

He has remained silent until this point because he didnt want to further traumatize those affected by his crimes but he also felt that his silence was hindering those young offenders from getting a second chance.

I have responsibility for the harm that I caused when I was 15, Kinkel told HuffPost. But I also have responsibility for the harm that I am causing now as Im 38 because of what I did at 15.

Kinkel spoke about how he had been hearing voices since he was 12 years old, becoming fixated on weapons such as knives, guns, and explosives. He thought China was going to invade the United States and that the government along with Disney had put a microchip in his head.

He said his whole world blew up when he was caught at the high school in Springfield on 19 May 1998 with a handgun that he had bought from a fellow student.

All the feelings of safety and security  of being able to take control over a threat  disappeared," he said.

Under the threat of being expelled, being charged with a felony, and with a sense of shame, he said the voices in his head convinced him he had to kill his parents and then return to the school to kill everybody.

Killing his parents the following day, he went to the school on the day after that and killed Ben Walker, 16, and Mikael Nickolauson, 17, and injured 25 people before he was overpowered by other students.

Not wanting to accept his diagnosis and plead not guilty because of insanity, he instead pleaded guilty to resolve the case quickly, feeling pressure from the community.

I feel tremendous, tremendous shame and guilt for what I did, Kinkel said I hate the violence that Im guilty of.

Kinkels attorneys filed a petition in federal court in March, contending that his guilty plea was not made voluntary, having been off his medication for weeks. The lawyers also argued that his sentence was unconstitutional.

Sentencing a juvenile to die in prison because they suffer from a mental illness is a violation of the Eighth Amendment, his attorneys wrote.

The Oregon Legislature passed a measure in 2019 to stop automatically sending 15- to 17-year-olds to adult court for certain crimes and to make sure that theyre not sentenced to life in prison without the chance to seek parole.

A month later, legislators passed another measure to clarify that the rule change was not retroactive after critics worried that the new law could lead to Kinkels release.

In a video released in 2019, Adam Walker, the brother of victim Ben Walker, said: It doesnt matter if he was 15. The victims dont get second chances. Why should the offenders?"

Kinkel said he watched the debate play out from prison.

It was like, there was hope, he said. And then the Legislature... came back and said, No, we are specifically, intentionally, purposely with everything that we have, going to take this away from the kids already in the system.

He said he tries to avoid thinking of ever getting out.

I dont allow myself to spend too much time thinking about that because I think that can actually bring more suffering, he said.
A dramatic scene unfolded in an Ohio courtroom on Tuesday after a judge dismissed murder charges against the brother of Olympic gymnast Simone Biles.

Judge Joan Synenberg of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, said the evidence for the charges was insufficient and would not support a conviction in the case against Tevin Biles-Thomas.

This matter has drawn to a conclusion. I thank everyone for their effort, and my heart goes out to the families of the victims, Judge Syngenberg said in concluding the hearing. Suddenly, a figure flashed across video of the court proceedings, and someone offscreen shouts youve got to be f***ing kidding me.

Mr Biles-Thomas was accused of fatally shooting three men  DelVaunte Johnson, 19; Toshaun Banks, 21; and DeVaughn Gibson, 23  at a party on New Years Eve in 2018.

NBC News reported that Mr Johnsons mother rushed toward Mr Biles-Thomas in a scuffle partially captured by the camera in the courtroom.

Im going to kill you, the woman appears to say in the altercation.

Mr Biles-Thomas defence lawyers argued there was no forensic evidence proving the defendant fired at the men who were killed. No witnesses testified that they saw Mr Biles-Thomas fire at the victims.

A mistrial was declared in the case last month after jurors received legal paperwork by mistake.

Ms Biles, an Olympic gold medallist, wrote on Twitter in September 2019 that it was a terrible tragedy and that My heart aches for everyone involved, especially for the victims and their families.

Gino Spocchia contributed
A woman who allegedly apprehended an ambulance in Utica, New York, crashed the vehicle in a bay after a lengthy pursuit on the New York State Thruway, police have said.

WHAM-TV reported that a 100-mile chase ensued following reports of a stolen ambulance from Kunkel Ambulance on Sunday before the vehicle crashed into Irondequoit Bay near Newport Yacht Club.

Police reportedly said that a woman refused to comply as state troopers attempted to pull the vehicle over several times.

David Drushler told the broadcaster that he had been making a delivery at the yacht club when he witnessed the vehicle crash into the water.

"People on the power boats around were yelling, Shes drowning. She cant swim. Thats when the power boats came down and fished her out, Mr Drushler said.

According to Mr Drushler, the woman tried to get out of the vehicle via its window, trying to manoeuvre on top of the ambulance and hold onto something.

It was surreal to see somebody come flying through, crashing through our gate and go into the water, Bob Henry, who serves on the board of directors for the club, told the TV station.

Monroe County Sheriffs scuba team located the vehicle in the water and spent more than an hour pulling it from the bay below.

A spokesperson for Kunkel Ambulance said the vehicle was taken while it was being cleaned, and that authorities used a GPS tracker installed inside it to track it.

The woman who allegedly took the ambulance was immediately taken into custody and charges regarding the incident are pending.
The Girl Scouts are trying to find a way to offload 15 million boxes of cookies after the coronavirus pandemic upended their yearly sales campaign.

Due to lockdowns and social restrictions during the pandemic, many of the Girl Scouts' in-person sales events had to be cancelled.

This left the organisation with a huge stock of cookies that they never had a chance to sell.

According to The New York Daily News, the cookies are being held by the two companies that bake them.

Those companies  Little Brownie Bakers and ABC Bakers  have agreed not to charge the local Girl Scout branches for the boxes. Neither group wants to see the cookies go to waste, so they have begun to brainstorm ideas for how to effectively distribute the surplus treats.

One option the Girl Scouts and the companies are considering is donating the cookies to the military or to food banks. They're also considering selling them to prisons.

While the baking companies hold 12 million boxes of cookies, the Girl Scout organisation is already in possession of another 3 million boxes. Scouts in local chapters will have to help sell or donate those remaining boxes.

Each spring, Girl Scouts set up booths around their towns to sell their cookies. Many girls opted not to participate in sales during the pandemic due to obvious health concerns.

The Girl Scouts attempted to keep their cookies moving during the pandemic by promoting online purchases and by making their goods available via Grubhub, but neither alternative proved to be a viable alternative to in-person sales.

Kelly Parisi, a spokeswoman for the Girl Scouts, told The Associated Press that the development was disappointing but also not entirely unexpected.

This is unfortunate, but given this is a girl-driven programme and the majority of cookies are sold in-person, it was to be expected, she said.

In a normal year, the Girl Scouts generally sell around 200 million boxes of cookies, which amounts to about $800m.

Girl Scouts sell their cookies to help raise money for organisation programming, travel, camping trips and other activities.

While the pandemic certainly dealt a blow to the Girl Scouts' fundraising, it's likely not the worst challenge the organisation has ever faced.

During World War II, the Girl Scouts had to forgo selling their signature cookies due to the rationing of baking goods like butter, flour and sugar.

Instead, the girls had to resort to selling calendars in order to raise money.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has said he plans to ask people from around the entire world to donate to the construction of a border wall between his state and Mexico.

Last week, Mr Abbott, a Republican, announced plans for Texas to build its own border wall, prompting questions around who would be paying for the endeavour.

Speaking in an interview on the podcast Ruthless, Mr Abbott revealed that he plans to crowdfund the initiative, drawing on funds from everybody who wants to donate to the initiative.

When I do make the announcement later on this week, I will also be providing a link that you can click on and go to for everybody in the United States  really everybody in the entire world  who wants to help Texas build the border wall, there will be a place on there where they can contribute, the governor said on the podcast, which centres around Republican politics.

Mr Abbott said donations made to the initiative would be overseen by the state of Texas in the governors office.

He said there would be great transparency around the initiative, with the governor saying everyone will know every penny in, every penny out, but the sole purpose for those funds will be going to build the border wall.

The governor said he would be shedding more light on his plan later this week.

Regarding his reasons for aiming to fund the wall, Mr Abbott has cited President Joe Bidens efforts to stop or reverse immigration policies introduced by his predecessor, former President Donald Trump  including the construction of Mr Trumps border wall between the US and Mexico.

Of course, Mr Abbott will not be the first person to take a crack at crowdfunding a border wall, with a private fundraiser known as we Build the Wall having raised more than $25 million to help bring Mr Trumps border wall ambitions to fruition.

Those involved with the initiative, including Steve Bannon, Mr Trumps former adviser, were later charged with defrauding donors, however.

Mr Trump pardoned Mr Bannon before departing from office in January.

It is unclear how many miles of border wall Mr Abbott hopes to see constructed and how much the initiative will cost.

However, the project is unlikely to garner President Bidens support.

On Friday, just a day after Mr Abbott made his initial announcement on the plans, the White House put out a fresh call for construction of Mr Trumps border wall to come to an official end.

The White House urged Congress to cancel money that had been previously dedicated to the construction of the barriers and redirect it to other border initiatives.
Joe Biden has named his first slate of political ambassadors on Tuesday, including key posts for Mexico and Israel, at a time when hes on his first abroad trip as president.

Former Colorado Senator Ken Salazar, who also previously served as President Barack Obamas Interior Secretary, was announced as ambassador to Mexico.

Then Tom Nides, the former deputy secretary of state, was named as the ambassador to Israel.

Mr Nides appointment comes mere days after Israel voted in a new government, ending former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus 12-year reign as head of the country. The ousting of Mr Netanyahu was a relief to Democrats, but Mr Nides and the Biden administration could face difficulties when managing relations between Iran, the Palestinian territories and the Israeli government.

Other announcements on Tuesday include Cynthia Telles, who will serve as the ambassador to Costa Rica.

Chesley Sully Sullenberger, who was known for being the pilot who successfully landed a plane on New Yorks Hudson River in 2009, will be the ambassador to the International Civil Aviation Organization in Montreal.

Julianne Smith, who currently works as an adviser to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, was announced as the ambassador to NATO.

These appointments were largely expected and come as Mr Biden is travelling overseas with the message to global leaders that America is back at the table.

Mr Biden met with G7 leaders last week in the United Kingdom and was expected to meet with Russian President Vladmir Putin on Wednesday  a highly anticipated meeting between the two leaders.

Previous reports indicated that Mr Biden also tapped Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti as the countrys ambassador to India. Nicholas Burns, the former senior state department official, was also reportedly selected as the ambassador to China.

The White House has not confirmed these reports when contacted for a comment.

Both Mr Garcetti and Mr Burns, if confirmed by the US Senate, would enter into their positions as ambassadors at a prominent time in the countrys relationship with India and China.

Mr Garcetti served on the presidents campaign and was initially expected to hold a Cabinet position within the Biden White House before he was accused of sexual harassment by a former staffer.

Reasoning why some political ambassador positions have been announced before others was due to countries having to agree to these selections, and so sometimes thats part of the timelines, said White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki. Some of the political ambassadors who were selected by Mr Biden were currently undergoing a comprehensive background check, White House officials said, according to The New York Times.

More ambassador announcements are expected in the coming weeks from Mr Biden.
CNN correspondent Barbara Starr has branded the Trump-era Justice Departments past decision to seize her personal email and phone records, as well as those of other colleagues, a sheer abuse of power.

In an op-ed penned for her outlet on Monday, Ms Starr accused the Trump administration of having manipulated both her and CNN when the DoJ secretly obtained her email records during a probe into news leaks.

I am not the subject of an investigation and there is no suggestion of wrongdoing, the correspondent wrote. But as a CNN journalist, myself and my newsroom clearly were being used as a tool by the Trump Justice Department.

The journalists comments came as leaders from CNN, The New York Times and The Washington Post were scheduled to meet with Attorney General Merrick Garland to demand a full explanation for why eight reporters from the three organisations, including Ms Starr, were subjected to secret efforts to access their records.

According to CNN, the DOJ informed Ms Starr on 13 May that prosecutors had procured her phone and email records dating from 1 June, 2017, to 31 July, 2017.

Earlier this month, CNNs lead attorney David Vigilante reportedly revealed to the network that the DOJ had asked CNN for thousands of Ms Starrs email records.

The attorney said he had been placed under a gag order and was only able to discuss the investigation with CNNs president, attorneys of CNNs corporate parent and with lawyers at an outside firm.

Due to the gag order, Ms Starr said she had no idea that her emails had been accessed until late May.

Ms Starr said CNN had managed to reduce the DOJs request for 30,000 records to exclude any messages that were not related to the investigation.

Still, she said: I am genuinely horrified by what happened.

The journalist is now calling for the Biden administration to introduce new protections to ensure that journalists will not be targeted in a similar effort again as she branded the incident a sheer abuse of power.

All of this is a sheer abuse of power in my view  first against CNN and myself, since our work is and should always be protected by the First Amendment, Ms Starr said.

President Biden has said the seizing of reporters records will be stopped under his administration. But with all respect to him and his stated intentions, that is a promise of limited relevance, she said.

Unless new protections are codified, this could all happen again to any journalist, the correspondent warned. Secret proceedings, gag orders so CNN attorneys cant speak to me, and eight reporters being swept up in investigations with no explanation  these are not part of a free press in the United States.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday criticized Iran's hard-liner dominated judiciary over last week's prosecution of the countrys telecommunications minister.

Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi was released on bail after he was summoned for prosecution Judiciary officials cited his refusal to block Instagram and impose limitations on the bandwidth of other foreign social media and messaging systems.

Speaking in a Cabinet meeting Wednesday, Rouhani said improving the bandwidth of the Internet was done on his orders. If you want to try someone, try me. It was my order, he said.

Under pressure from hard-liners, the Iranian government has long blocked access to many websites and social media platforms, from YouTube and Facebook to Twitter and Telegram.

The relatively moderate Rouhani said increasing bandwidth would help improve business and an anti-corruption campaign. However he said both a lack of control on content as well as closure of social media are wrong.

The move to prosecute Jahromi is part of a political struggle between moderates and conservative hard-liners ahead of June elections. Jahromi is seen as a possible candidate who has the support of younger Iranians.

Hard-liners in the countrys parliament and other powerful bodies have long viewed social messaging services as part of soft war by the West against the Islamic Republic.

Many Iranians, mostly youth, access social media through VPNs and proxies. Instagram and WhatsApp remain unblocked.
During a committee hearing on the law enforcement failures during the Capitol riot, US Rep Jim Jordan criticised Democrats for releasing a trove of damning emails showing Donald Trumps administration urging officials at the US Department of Justice to substantiate the ex-presidents attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.

He downplayed the contents of the emails, including messages from Mr Trumps chief of staff Mark Meadows to top prosecutors about a YouTube video spinning a conspiracy theory that Italian intelligence conspired with the CIA to compromise election data.

I bet weve had some of our chiefs of staff send YouTube links, said Mr Jordan, mocking Democrats who said the emails signalled pressure from the Trump administration.

When the chief of staff to the president of the United States asks someone in the executive branch to do something, and they basically give him the finger, I think thats the problem we should be looking into, he said.

GOP lawmakers on the House Oversight Committee  holding a second round of hearings on federal law enforcements response and intelligence failures surrounding the insurrection on 6 January  once again focused their rage on Democrats holding the hearings and appeared to distance themselves from the false stolen election narrative that fuelled the attack in the first place.

Last month, several Republicans on the committee were widely criticised for characterising rioters as tourists at the Capitol and rejecting calling the event an insurrection, after hundreds of people breached the halls of Congress in an attempt to overturn millions of Americans votes, resulting in the deaths of at least seven people.

Republican US Rep Paul Gosar claimed at that hearing that outright propaganda and lies are being used to unleash the national security state against law abiding US citizens, especially Trump voters.

Before Tuesdays hearing, the committee released emails showing Mr Trumps staff pressuring Justice Department officials to pursue his baseless allegations of voter fraud and election-related conspiracy theories in the weeks after the election and his definitive loss.

House Democrats requested the emails following the first round of oversight committee hearings on the police response to the assault, as lawmakers piece together a timeline of events and try to get closer to answering why and how military officials and federal law enforcement failed to stop hundreds of people from breaking into the Capitol.

Their ongoing attempts to extract information from top administration officials and law enforcement follows GOP obstruction of investigations into the attack, including Senate Republicans filibuster of a bipartisan commission, which Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell dismissed as unnecessary.

GOP lawmakers have similarly dismissed the parallel committee hearings about the riot, effectively shutting out any bipartisan congressional attempt to get to the bottom of what happened on 6 January.

Republican US Rep James Comer called Tuesdays hearing politically motivated, unproductive and partisan and said it had uncovered no new information.

The previous hearing uncovered absolutely zero new information, he said. Today, Democrats want to try again.

Republican US Rep Jody Hice ran out of time during his remarks before he could ask about Hunter Bidens laptop, he said. Others demanded hearings on Black Lives Matter protests.

Mr Gosar  who supported the Stop the Steal campaign that compelled the riot  claimed that the US Capitol Police officer who fatally shot Ashli Babbitt was lying in wait for her before she was executed as she joined the pro-Trump mob that sought to break into the House chamber on 6 January.

Republican US Rep Andy Biggs, another critical congressional proponent of the Stop the Steal campaign, said that the hearing was designed to attack Trump and his supporters and that claims that Trump supporters committed violent acts have been totally debunked despite widely shared footage showing crowds attacking law enforcement during the riots.

Democratic US Rep Gerry Connolly condemned Republican lawmakers gaslighting attempts to manipulate the narrative surrounding the riots.

He said their repugnant remarks are a dishonour to the memories of those who did die and a dishonour and disrespect to those who were willing to put themselves at risk.

Lawmakers questioned FBI Director Christopher Wray as well as US Army General Charles Flynn and Lieutenant General Walter Piatt, director of the Army staff, two men who were involved with a mid-riot phone call in which law enforcement reportedly urged them to deploy the National Guard amid alleged concerns of negative optics about military presence defending the Capitol.

In submitted testimony, General Flynn  brother of Mr Trumps former national security adviser Michael Flynn, among the most prominent supporters of the big lie of the 2020 election  said he did not hear or use the word optics on the call.

Documents obtained by the committee show that beginning at 1.30pm on 6 January, Defence Department officials received at least 12 urgent calls for help from Capitol police, Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser and others.

National Guard troops did not arrive until 5.20pm, more than four hours after the Capitol perimeter was breached.

Committee chair Carolyn Maloney said right-wing social media platform Parler sent warnings to the FBI about violent threats on the platform more than 50 times.

Mr Wray said he was not aware of specific messages.

The system was blinking red, Ms Maloney said.

Acting Capitol Police chief Yogananda Pittman did not appear at Tuesdays hearing; Ms Maloney said she will appear at a congressional hearing on 21 July.

Five months after the attack, we still do not have the full story of these failures, she said, adding that the FBI and Justice Department have not fully cooperated with this committees investigation.

This delay is unacceptable and makes us more vulnerable to another attack, she said.

She also condemned GOP colleagues who have denied basic truths about that day.

Lets be clear: the attack was an insurrection, she said. It was not a peaceful protest.

US Attorney General Merrick Garland said on Tuesday that federal law enforcement has arrested more than 480 people related to riot investigations, adding that prosecutors face an enormous task ahead to bring them to justice.
US Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene refused to reveal whether she has taken the coronavirus vaccine, justifying her silence by misunderstanding the point of HIPAA.

The controversial congresswoman made her comments during a press conference announcing her Fire Fauci Act, which is meant to force Dr Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Disease, out of his job.

When reporters asked if she has taken the coronavirus vaccine, she said: "I stand with the Americans that want their privacy, and HIPAA gives us rights to privacy."

Ms Greene has previously used HIPAA, which requires healthcare providers to protect the privacy of their patients, as an argument against vaccine requirements at businesses or in government.

Vax records, along with ALL medical records are private due to HIPPA rights, Ms Greene tweeted, both misspelling and misunderstanding the law.

HIPAA only applies to healthcare providers. This prevents insurance companies or hospitals from using patient data for any non-medical reason.

It does not prevent businesses from asking a person their vaccine status.

Earlier in the press briefing, Ms Greene announced her plans for a bill to reduce Dr Fauci's salary to $0 and to require the Senate to confirm someone to fill his position.

Republican support for Ms Greene's legislation grew in the days after a trove of Dr Fauci's emails were obtained by news organisations via a FOIA request.

Conservative media ran with the emails, claiming they proved Dr Fauci had foreknowledge of the danger posed by the coronavirus.

In reality, the emails showed the opposite; Dr Fauci appeared unsure of whether "gain-of-function" research had been done at the Wuhan Institute of Virology and was scrambling to find out more.

When pressed by Republican lawmakers if the US, under his direction, had funded any "gain-of-function" research on the virus, Dr Fauci said there was no American money spent. He also noted he could not account for anything done at the lab by non-US researchers.

Prior to the release of the emails, Ms Greene had four co-sponsors for her bill. After the emails that number climbed to nine.

The latest cosponsors to join the bill are Congressmen Mo Brooks, Greg Steube, Buddy Carter, Bob Good and Matt Gaetz.

Despite the increased interest in her bill, the legislation is extremely unlikely to pass through the Democrat-controlled House and Senate.

In addition to her new legislation, Ms Greene has also been busy learning, at the age of 47, that the Holocaust was bad and comparing it to having to wearing a piece of cloth over ones nose and mouth was insensitive.

She gave a press conference on Monday explaining that she visited the Holocaust museum in Washington DC and then apologised for her wildly inaccurate analogies comparing patches used to identify Jews by Nazis to face masks worn to stop the spread of Covid.

There are words that I have said, remarks that Ive made that I know are offensive, and for that Id like to apologize, she said.
US senator Ted Cruz is facing another wave of online criticism after Texas energy authority asked state residents to conserve power and warned of grid shortages following his own attacks aimed at liberal states that faced similar issues.

The backlash started on Monday after the power grid of Texas urged state residents to conserve power amid a heat wave in the state, less than a year after the states junior Republican senator mocked California for the exact same reason.

A news release from the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) urged Texans to reduce electric use as much as possible through Friday, as a result of an energy shortage brought on by outages at power stations.

According to the statement, a significant number of forced generation outages was responsible for the problem.

We will be conducting a thorough analysis with generation owners to determine why so many units are out of service, said a spokesperson for ERCOT.

Ted Cruz might use this #ERCOT power crisis to go down to EPCOT and demand answers, and no I did not spell ERCOT wrong that second time, tweeted filmmaker Jeremy Newberger, referring to Disneys Epcot theme park in Florida and a previous scandal Mr Cruz faced for leaving Texas on vacation during devastating winter storms that left millions without power.

Others mocked Mr Cruz for posting a tweet Monday amid the outages that accused Democrats of being unwilling or somehow against saying the Pledge of Allegiance to the US flag, with many making references to his support of objections to the certification of the Electoral College results earlier this year.

Certified election results didnt used to be controversial, you traitorous twat, wrote The West Wing star Bradley Whitford.

Certified election results didnt used to be controversial, you traitorous twat, @tedcruz. Neither did defending your father and your wife. https://t.co/70Chg1E4oG  Bradley Whitford (@BradleyWhitford) June 15, 2021

Heartwarming: Senator Reunited With Lost Flagpole Used as Weapon in Insurrection He Incited, quipped The Daily Show With Trevor Noah in a tweet.

Heartwarming: Senator Reunited With Lost Flagpole Used as Weapon in Insurrection He Incited https://t.co/0yF2ulzLH4  The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) June 15, 2021

The power shortages come less than 12 months after California faced power outages in August of 2020, though California officials at the time only asked state residents to conserve power for a few hours.

Mr Cruz jumped on the opportunity to attack the blue state and nationally-recognised Democrats including President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at the time, claiming that the power shortages caused by a heat wave were actually the result of liberal policies.

California is now unable to perform even basic functions of civilization, like having reliable electricity, he tweeted at the time.

Biden/Harris/AOC want to make CAs failed energy policy the standard nationwide. Hope you dont like air conditioning! Mr Cruz added in the August 2020 tweet.

That tweet resurfaced Monday, with many critics of the Texas Republican including a former spokesman for Hillary Clinton chiming in.

See below what Ted Cruz thinks of gov'ts in states that have power outages in summer. Ted Cruz's own Texas is warning about power outages in summer, tweeted Jesse Ferguson.

See below what Ted Cruz thinks of gov'ts in states that have power outages in summer



Ted Cruz's own Texas is warning about power outages in summer. https://t.co/rdt91TTlUQ  Jesse Ferguson (@JesseFFerguson) June 15, 2021

Mr Cruzs office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Independent regarding his states current power woes or his own past comments.

The Texas senator was previously ridiculed earlier this year after absconding to Cancun, Mexico in the aftermath of a winter storm that that left millions in his state without electricity or heat, many of whom were still struggling to stay warm while Mr Cruz left the state.

ERCOT also faced criticism over its response to that winter storm, as many residents faced skyrocketing energy bills due to issues with Texass state-run power grid at the time resulting from frozen equipment at natural gas plants as well as wind power farms.
Former President Donald Trump announced the appointment of a new spokesperson, former Republican Party national spokeswoman Liz Harrington, on Tuesday following the resignation of former aide Jason Miller.

In a press release on Tuesday, the former president called Ms Harrington a fighter and instrumental to his 2020 campaign for reelection.

Ms Harrington previously made national headlines in the days following the presidential election in November when she claimed that President Biden would not be inaugurated on 20 January despite Mr Biden having been projected the winner a day earlier.

Speaking in interviews with several local news outlets, Ms Harrington repeatedly claimed that Mr Biden had in fact lost the election, and argued that a media narrative was attempting to coronate Mr Biden as president. She also echoed the baseless fraud claims about votes in Arizona, Michigan, and Pennsylvania that other associates of Mr Trump also spread in the weeks after the election ended.

This complete fraud of pretending that Joe Biden is the president elect: He is not. We won. We won, she said in one interview with Kentucky radio station KFYO in November.

Ms Harrington continued to spread her false claims about the election even after the deadly attack on the US Capitol on 6 Jan, after which five people died including one US Capitol Police officer; two other officers died from suicide in the weeks following.

The real insurrectionhappened on November 4th at about 3:30 in the morning, when all those vote dumps were dropped, she said during a 12 January interview with the far-right cable channel Newsmax, referring to baseless and unproven claims that votes for Mr Biden were shipped in to election facilities overnight.

Thats when it happened. That was the overthrow, continued Harrington.

In her own statement on Tuesday Ms Harrington called her new position the honor of a lifetime while not referencing either her or Mr Trumps false claims about the election.

It is an honor of a lifetime to represent President Trump and to stand for the truth, Harrington said in the announcement. At such a critical time for our country, President Trumps fighting spirit is needed now more than ever. We will not stand idly by and let America fall to the Radical Left-Wing Mob.

Her appointment comes as it has been reported by numerous outlets and journalists including The New York Timess Maggie Haberman that Mr Trump has told supporters in gatherings at his Mar-a-Lago resort that he could be reinstated as president, despite there being no mechanism in the US Constitution for such an action to occur.

The former president has also teased his interest in a 2024 bid for the White House, a prospect that would almost certainly make Mr Trump the frontrunner for the next GOP presidential nomination.
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The highly infectious and deadly delta variant of coronavirus first detected in India has been spreading across the globe and is said to be on track to become the dominant strain in many countries.

One of the biggest concerns the spread of delta strain is causing is its ability to evade the antibodies produced by vaccination.

AFP

The effectiveness of the existing vaccines against the delta strain is still being studied across the world.

Sputnik's claim

But Gamaleya Research Institute, which developed the Sputnik V has claimed that the Russian-made vaccine has shown more efficiency against the Delta variant than any other vaccine that has published results on this strain so far.

BREAKING | RDIF: #SputnikV is more efficient against the Delta variant of coronavirus, first detected in India than any other vaccine that published results on this strain so far - the Gamaleya Center study submitted for publication in an international peer-reviewed journal. pic.twitter.com/XrwnGNhiNE  Sputnik V (@sputnikvaccine) June 15, 2021

Sputnik V was the first COVID-19 vaccine registered anywhere in the world and the third to be approved for use in India.

Dr Reddy's Laboratories, the marketing partner for the vaccine in the country, has been importing the shots from Russia.

Agencies

Over a period of time, the vaccine is also going to be manufactured in India.

Where others stand

Meanwhile, a study published in The Lancet journal has said that Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines provide good protection against the delta strain.

Researchers at Public Health Scotland and the University of Edinburgh, UK, found that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine offered better protection against the Delta variant compared to the Oxford-AstraZeneca preventive, known as Covishield in India.

File Photo

The analysis covered the period from April 1 to June 6, 2021, for the demographic distribution of cases.

The study found that the Pfizer vaccine offered 79 per cent protection against the Delta strain two weeks after the second dose.

For AstraZenecas vaccine, there was 60 per cent protection against Delta.

They also found that two doses of vaccine provide much better protection against the Delta variant compared to a single dose.

REUTERS

Risk of COVID-19 hospital admission was approximately doubled in those with the Delta variant of concern (VOC) when compared to the Alpha VOC, with risk of admission particularly increased in those with five or more relevant comorbidities, the authors of the study noted.

Both the Oxford-AstraZeneca and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines were effective in reducing the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 hospitalization in people with the Delta VOC, they said.
In a sheer act of bravery, a 10-year-old boy lost his life after saving one of his younger siblings who had fallen into a river in US' South Dakota.

According to a report in the New York Post, the body of Ricky Lee Sneve was found on Saturday night by the Lincoln County Sheriffs Department. As per the childs mother, Nicole Eufers, Ricky was out with his father, Chad Sneve, and siblings when several of them fell into water near Hudson, in southeastern South Dakota.

Nicole Eufers/New York Post

A couple of the siblings fell in the water. Dad jumped in for two of them, and Ricky jumped in to save his sister Chevelle," Eufers told the Argus Leader.



She said that Ricky jumped in to save his sister Chevelle and got her to shore, but when his father and siblings turned around, Ricky was missing.

A rescue operation was launched to find the missing 10-year-old boy, with multiple agencies assisting the LCSO, a post on Facebook stated.

By 10:30 pm local time, the LCSO reported on Facebook a dive team had recovered the boy's body.

Ricky was the oldest of four children and has one step-sibling.

His parents paid rich tributes to their him as they remembered their courageous son. Rickys mother explained that her son taught her how to love and appreciate life. He never failed to amaze me, Eufers stated.

Representational Image/Shutterstock

The boys father, Chad Sneve, said his son was the type of boy to do anything for anyone. Ricky was smart, dedicated and conservative, Sneve said.



"He was generous, kind and special in more ways than I can begin to explain," Chad Sneve said. "He was my everything, and he touched everyone he encountered."

A GoFundMe page was set up by the boy's uncle, Ricky Eufers, who described the young Sneve as a "very intelligent and smart young boy who loved his family and was an adventurous little guy."



The fundraising effort has since raised $24,173 of its $25,000 goal to help cover the boy's funeral costs.

Also read: Real-Life Hero: Brave 7-YO Boy Helps Rescue His Baby Sister From Their Burning Home
Evelyn Iggy Rose, a friend, a model and possible love interest of Pink Floyd co-founder Syd Barrett graced the scene of his debut album in the 1960s.

Her figure has always engulfed in mystery and whenever Iggy was requested about her origins, she would mysteriously confer with the Himalayas. There has always been an interest in her origins.

While her looks attracted attention, it was her personality that charmed the London Scene. When her mixed-race appearance was exoticised in the London of the 60s, she gave the name Eskimo to a photographer as a joke and another origin story stuck Iggy the Inuit.

Pinterest

Now, four years after her death, it has all come together - the charming socialite was from the hills of Mizoram.



"Iggys Mizo title was Laldawngliani, Rosangzuala, 48, whose grandmother and Iggys grandmother had been sisters, told The Times of India.

I had been looking for Iggy and our England family since 2008. I joined Facebook to look for them. But nothing turned up Days ago, I saw a post in a local Mizoram Facebook group which mentioned a blog which said Iggy the Inuit might be a Mizo  If not for Iggys relationship with Syd Barrett, we might not have found them. I thank Pink Floyd fans for helping us reunite the family," Rosangzuala said.

pinkfloydz.com

It was reported that Iggys great-grandfather Thangphunga was a chieftain of three Mizoram villages now consolidated as Chaltlang.



It all, though, falls into place with this revelation - her mother Chawngpuii (her English name was Angela) had married British Army officer Harry Charlton Joyce who was serving in India and had then left for Yemen, followed by England.

Her father was posted with the Royal Engineers. He was a Major when he married Chawngpuii," Rosangzuala added.

In 1966, what was then the Mizo district and would later become the state of Mizoram was caught in a struggle for autonomy. Letters coming into the state would be censored by the government and, many believe, destroyed.

The last time we received a letter from Iggys father, he was a Brigadier. After that, all communication stopped. Around this time, Iggy was attending art school, meeting some iconic pop stars of the time - Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, Brian Jones and Keith Moon.

She was also attending counterculture concerts like the 14 Hour Technicolour Dream, headlined by Pink Floyd, says the first extensive profile of the socialite by British music journalist Mark Blake in 2011, before she started living with Syd Barrett.

Pinterest

While years passed and though her family in Mizoram knew about her, they could not figure out how to get in touch with their relatives in England.



It was only through the Facebook post that Rosangzuala saw that finally established a trail. It was a single line in a 2017 obituary  she died a day before turning 70  in a blog called The Holy Church of Iggy the Inuit (which replaced Inuit with Mizo later) which had resurfaced on Facebook.

Rosangzuala also said that it was confirmed to them that Iggys mother was not from Pakistan, but from Mizoram, situated at the northeast of India, sharing borders with Bangladesh and Myanmar. Rosangzuala got in touch with the blog posts author.

He was called Felix. He helped us contact Iggys family in England online, Rosangzuala said. Iggys cousin Thana has connected with her brother, Stephen. He has a Mizo name, too.

Also read: 33 Forgotten Singers From The '90s Who Need To Make A Comeback ASAP And Pump Up The Jam
A petition has been made to urge the worlds wealthiest man, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, to buy Leonardo Da Vincis famous Mona Lisa painting  and eat it!

Yes, that's a real thing happening in the world. A person going by Kane Powell started the petition on Change.org, and it has already been signed by more than 5,000 people and is titled We want Jeff Bezos to buy and eat the Mona Lisa.

AP

Nobody has eaten the Mona Lisa and we feel Jeff Bezos needs to take a stand and make this happen, the petition says.



The Mona Lisa, famously housed in the Louvre Museum in Paris, is owned by the French Government.

If anything, money won't be an issue for Bezos if he does want to buy the painting. Although its not clear exactly how much the Mona Lisa is worth, valuations range from hundreds of millions to billions of pounds.



Wikimedia Commons

Despite its absurdity - the petition has been gaining some serious momentum in the last few days, and continues to draw media attention.



The only thing that tops the petition are the amusing comments left on the petitions page by supporters.

Screengrab/change.org

This is the most important petition in modern times. Jeff Bezos needs to eat the Mona Lisa to save the world, one commenter wrote.



Another was even more succinct, saying gobble da lisa.

If not now, when?", one comment read.



The multibillionaire recently announced that he will be one of the first civilians to fly to space in a rocket launched by his company Blue Origin. The flight is scheduled for July 20.
In a bizarre incident, a man in the US' Baltimore, who said he had a heart attack, allegedly stole an ambulance to drive himself to the hospital.

A Baltimore City Fire Department Medical Unit responded to a call for service at a residence in the city's 900 block on Seagull Avenue, The Washington Post reported. When they were inside the location, the 38-year-old man jumped into the running ambulance and took off.



Representational Image/Shutterstock

Shortly after the man drove away, authorities stopped him near the MedStar Harbor Hospital, according to police. Officers took the driver into custody without incident.



Police said the man told the officers that he was having a heart attack and stole the ambulance to drive himself to the hospital. After speaking to him, investigators determined that the man was having a "medical crisis."



Representational Image/Baltimore Sun

No injuries or damages were immediately reported.



As per the report citing police spokeswoman Detective Chakia Fennoy, the man was taken to a hospital for an emergency evaluation. She, however, didnt have details on his condition.



It is still unclear if the man was facing any charges.

Last month, a man in US' Tennessee stole an ambulance from a hospital, crashed into a police vehicle, and then drove into the woods before he was caught.

Renny McMahon had stolen an ambulance from Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville shortly after he reportedly created a disturbance.

Metro Nashville police

The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department said authorities used GPS to track the ambulance to the Chestnut Hill neighbourhood, just south of downtown.



It was reported that a police officer drove behind the ambulance for a short amount of time before McMahon stopped the vehicle in the middle of the street, put the ambulance in reverse and crashed into the police vehicle.

McMahon then drove into the woods nearby. He was taken into custody without incident and hospitalized after he reportedly crashed the ambulance into trees.

Also read: New York: A Day After Getting Released From Custody In Bank Robbery Case, Man Robs Another Bank




Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks during a bilateral meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Biarritz, south-west France, on Aug. 26, 2019, on the third day of the annual G-7 Summit. Modi attended the summit virtually this year due to Covid restrictions. (Nicholas Kamm/AFP via Getty Images)
Woodbridge, VA (22192)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms in the morning. Cloudy skies late. High near 80F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. Slight chance of a shower throughout the evening. Low 61F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
Woodbridge, VA (22192)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms in the morning, then cloudy skies late. High around 80F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Some clouds early will give way to generally clear conditions overnight. Slight chance of a shower throughout the evening. Low around 60F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
Local Twin Cities artists Enzyrose, Eyenga Bokamba, Noah Lawrence-Holder, LeShon Lee, and Meadow Gillispie, talk about their reaction to the murder of George Floyd, the trial of Derek Chauvin, and life as a black artist during this time.
The owner of a Revere, Massachusetts, construction company was sentenced on June 10, 2021, on charges of engaging in an under-the-table payroll fraud scheme that defrauded the government of more than $500,000 and insurance carriers of approximately $93,000.

Ralph Caruso, of Wenham, Massachusetts, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge George A. OToole to three years of probation with the first year to be served in home confinement. Caruso was also ordered to pay restitution of $546,320 to the IRS and $93,430 to workers compensation insurance carriers and forfeiture of $93,000. The government recommended a sentence of one year and one day in prison.

In January 2021, Caruso pleaded guilty to seven counts of filing false tax returns and five counts of mail fraud.

For tax years 2008 through 2016, Caruso paid wages to his employees via payroll and under-the-table. The employee wages paid through payroll accounts were reported to the IRS and taxes were properly withheld and paid in returns.

However, the under-the-table wages totaled more than $2.2 million, which Caruso did not collect, account for or pay to the IRS in required withholding and FICA taxes. The cash payments to employees were funded through off-the-books accounts Caruso created and used solely to pay the under-the-table wages. By failing to pay the required taxes on $2.2 million in wages, Caruso evaded more than $546,000 in federal taxes.

Caruso was also required by state law to carry workers compensation insurance. Workers compensation premiums were based on an audit of his payroll records to determine actual wages paid. By providing only the payroll records for the wages paid on the books, Caruso underreported the wages for which he owed insurance premiums by more than $93,000.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell and Ramsey E. Covington, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Services Criminal Investigation in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Victor A. Wild of Mendells Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.

Source: U.S. Attorneys Office, District of Massachusetts

Topics Workers' Compensation Fraud Abuse Molestation Massachusetts Construction
Legal & General Investment Management will sell holdings in four companies including U.S insurer American International Group Inc. after deeming theyre making insufficient progress on addressing climate change risks.

The UK asset manager said in a statement on Tuesday it will also divest investments in Industrial & Commercial Bank of China Ltd., Pennsylvania-based utility PPL Corp. and China Mengniu Dairy Co. The companies either provided unsatisfactory responses to LGIMs climate questions or breached red lines around coal involvement, carbon disclosures or deforestation, it said.

Climate change is a pressing concern for money managers: the physical impacts of global warming, such as extreme heat and rising seas, as well as the possibility of a rapid and chaotic transition away from fossil fuels, pose significant risks to investors. Thats leading investment firms to apply greater pressure on the companies they own to cut emissions and prepare for a low carbon future.

Read more: Worlds Largest Insurers Failing to Address Climate Change, Biodiversity Loss

A lot of daylight is opening up between leaders and laggards, said Yasmine Svan, senior sustainability analyst at LGIM. Climate change is material and a key risk. Getting on a net zero by 2050 pathway is the safest outcome for clients.

Latest Action

The latest action from Legal & General Group Plcs investment arm comes after it said in October it would engage on climate issues with over 1,000 companies that are together responsible for more than 60% of the greenhouse gas emissions produced by publicly traded companies. By dropping the four companies, the asset manager is following through on its threat to sell holdings if the corporations fall short of its minimum standards, including a comprehensive disclosure of emissions. LGIM has said it may also vote against companies management.

LGIM is selling its stake in AIG due to the insurers lack of policies on excluding thermal coal insurance and because it has yet to disclose figures on the amount of emissions it finances, measures LGIM considers to be a minimum standard for the sector, said Svan. Industrial and Commercial Bank of China will also be dropped because of its approach to thermal coal, she said.

The British money manager also reinstated a company it had previously divested. U.S. food retailer Kroger Co. was added back following improvements in its deforestation policies and disclosure, as well as efforts to promote plant-based products that have lower climate impact. ICBCs chief economist said last month the bank will establish a road map and timeline for the gradual withdrawal of coal financing, according to the South China Morning Post.

Fund Universe

While LGIM manages a total of 1.3 trillion pounds ($1.8 trillion), its climate change engagement and divestment approach only applies to funds with 58 billion pounds in assets. Svan said the approach is applied for funds where LGIM is contractually able to divest and does not apply to most index funds where LGIM has to follow the composition of the benchmark.

Each of the companies in which we invest on our clients behalf has many stakeholders beyond us as asset managers, including its employees and suppliers, LGIM Chief Executive Officer Michelle Scrimgeour said in a statement. Climate change will affect every single one of these stakeholders, not least given its growing financial materiality, so we must use our influence as shareholders to raise standards across the entire market for the benefit of all.

Photograph: AIG headquarters in New York. Photo credit: Michael Nagle/Bloomberg.

Copyright 2021 Bloomberg.

Topics Carriers AIG
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., the Rolling Meadows, Ill.-based broker, announced it has acquired the remaining shares of specialist Swiss broker Hesse & Partner AG and Hesse Consulting GmbH from the companys founder Guido Hesse.

Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.

Gallagher entered a partnership with Zurich-headquartered Hesse & Partner three years ago when it acquired a majority interest of the business.

Founded in 1997, Hesse & Partner develops risk management and insurance solutions for companies of all sizes in the industrial and service provider sectors, with particular expertise in the growing waste-to-energy sector.

Founder Guido Hesse will become chairman, and Stephan Bachmann, previously head of International Clients and Property Insurance, will lead the operations going forward.

Bringing this business fully into Gallagher is another important step as we expand our footprint in Europe, said J. Patrick Gallagher Jr., chairman, president and CEO. The team shares our vision, client focus and entrepreneurial spirit, so this is great news for both our clients and employees.

Source: Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

Related:

Topics Mergers A.J. Gallagher
The French utility that partly owns a nuclear power plant near Hong Kong is seeking more information on a gas buildup in a reactor, even as its Chinese partner insists the facility is operating safely.

Electricite de France SA, which has a 30% stake in the Taishan nuclear plant in South China, has called for an extraordinary board meeting with majority owner China General Nuclear Power Corp., or CGN, to discuss the increased concentration of inert gases at the Unit 1 reactor in Guangdong.

Paris-based EDFs call for more information on the issue  first detected in October  comes after CGN said Sunday that environmental indicators at and around the facility are normal. Its premature to say whether the reactor will have to be halted, spokespeople for EDF said.

A spokesperson for Shenzhen-based CGN referred to earlier statements on the issue when asked to comment on EDFs request. Shares of the firms Hong Kong-listed unit fell as much as 3.5% in Tuesday trading as other uranium-related stocks dropped.

Data from the joint company that operates the facility, TNPJVC, suggest the coating on a few fuel rods has deteriorated, leading to increased gas within the primary loop of the reactor, EDF told reporters Monday.

The system is designed to collect and treat these gases before they are released outside the plant, and the gas buildup and emissions have remained within Chinese regulatory limits, which are in line with average international standards, EDF said.

Chinas National Nuclear Safety Administration said in April the plants Unit 1 had experienced an operational incident that was categorized as minor, and not of safety significance.

Fuel Rod Leaks

EDF, the worlds largest operator of nuclear power stations, has faced fuel rod leaks at its French plants in the past. Such leaks dont necessarily require a halt if gas emissions remain within regulatory limits, the spokespersons said. In France, the deterioration of fuel rods was caused either by a fault in the fuel assemblies, or because they were damaged by a stray element in the reactor, they said.

The Taishan plant, about 130 kilometers (80 miles) west of Hong Kong, has two units with a combined capacity of 3.3 gigawatts that came online in 2018 and 2019, making them the most powerful reactors in operation. They were designed by Framatome, a subsidiary of EDF, which also supplied their atomic fuel. Each reactor contains 241 fuel assemblies, which consist of 265 rods each, according to the French utility.

Framatome warned the U.S. government of an imminent radiological threat at the plant, CNN reported Monday, citing unnamed U.S. officials and documents the news network says it has reviewed.

The unit is supporting resolution of a performance issue with the Taishan Nuclear Power Plant, Framatome said in an email, adding that according to the data available, the plant is operating within the safety parameters.

Several high-level meetings have taken place in Washington, as well as discussions between the U.S. and French governments and contact between the U.S. and Chinese administrations, as a result of Framatomes concerns, CNN reported.

U.S. officials do not believe the situation poses a severe safety threat to the public or workers at the plant, CNN said.

The Taishan issue is arising amid a power shortage in Guangdong, the countrys industrial hub, that has caused more than 20 cities to ration electricity to some companies and factories. Unit 1 was operating normally and Unit 2 was reconnected to the grid last week after an overhaul, CGN said.

Issues at the China facility are also a new setback for EDF, which is facing construction delays and cost overruns at similar atomic projects in France and the UK. Its been showcasing the Taishan reactors to convince these two countries to build more such nuclear plants, and other nations such as Poland and India to adopt the technology.

China is the worlds third-biggest nuclear power market, after the U.S. and France, and has the most new reactors under construction. Its never had a serious nuclear accident on domestic soil.

With assistance from Alfred Cang and Krystal Chia.

Photograph: A security guard stands in front of signs displaying the Chinese characters reading nuclear power at the China Guangdong Nuclear Power Group Co. atomic plant in Taishan, Guangdong Province, China, on Thursday, July 29, 2010. Photo credit: Qilai Shen/Bloomberg.

Copyright 2021 Bloomberg.

Topics China
Verlingue, the Adelaide Groups insurance brokerage subsidiary, is consolidating its brand in Switzerland and Portugal.

After the successful launch of the brand in the United Kingdom in December 2019, the brokers Swiss and Portuguese subsidiaries now have officially adopted the name Verlingue as of June 14, 2021.

Verlingue has been present in Switzerland since 2016, following the successive acquisitions of Advantis, S&P and Meex, which employ a total of 120 staff. The merger of these three entities is now complete, creating the third largest insurance broker in Switzerland.

In Portugal, Luso Atlantica, which employs 100, now takes the Verlingue brand name, just six months after its acquisition by the group.

The extension of the Verlingue brand is one of the key objectives for Europe set out in the Verlingue 2024 strategic plan:

Establish a major independent European insurance broker in the field of business risk management, which is regarded as a benchmark in terms of professionalism and customer service by its clients, employees and the other players in the market

Triple international sales , through organic growth in its current subsidiaries and through strategic acquisitions

Establish offices in the main business centers in Western Europe.

Headquartered in Quimper, France, Verlingue operates out of 24 offices in France, Switzerland, Portugal and the UK. It also draws on resources from WBN, the international network of independent brokers, to provide its services to companies throughout the world.

Marco Buholzer, managing director of Verlingue Switzerland, said the companys size has many advantages: Our clients will benefit from our broader presence, our strong positioning in the insurance market and from the acceleration of digital support for our services.

The launch of the Verlingue brand in the Portuguese market is a great opportunity for our development, and therefore beneficial for all our clients and employees, commented Jose Morgado, board member of Verlingue Portugal. We are in a strong position to be able to enhance our offers through high quality service. At the same time, this will support Verlingues ambitious growth strategy in Europe.

We are extremely proud and excited about the rebranding and integration of our Swiss and Portuguese subsidiaries, underlining their great faith in the Verlingue project, said Benjamin Verlingue, director of Verlingues International Subsidiaries.

This new step will enable us to capitalize on our shared values and the strength of the Verlingue brand, for the benefit of all our clients, he added. The positive feedback from our latest operations has further reinforced our desire to accelerate our development in Portugal, and in Europe as whole.

Source: Verlingue

Topics Agencies Europe
This wrap-up of international People Moves details recent appointments at reinsurance brokers Guy Carpenter & Co. and Lockton Re and insurer Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI).

A summary of these new hires follows here.

Guy Carpenter & Co., the reinsurance broker and a business of Marsh McLennan, announced the appointment of Paul Gressier as managing director and head of UK & Ireland Motor and Associated Casualty, effective Aug. 9, 2021.

In this newly created role, Gressier will be responsible for leading Guy Carpenters motor and associated casualty activities across the region, capitalizing on the companys analytical capabilities and local market knowledge to develop and structure comprehensive, client-focused reinsurance solutions.

Based in London, he will report to Dean Jenner who leads the UK & Ireland Property and Casualty business at Guy Carpenter.

Gressier has been providing motor and casualty reinsurance solutions to clients for 22 years. Most recently, he was head of Structured Risk at AXA XL Reinsurance, providing solvency relief solutions for clients both in the UK motor space and internationally. During his tenure as head of International Casualty at XL Re Europe, Gressier was responsible for UK motor for 15 years.

***

Lockton Re, the global reinsurance business of the worlds largest privately held independent insurance broker, announced that Robert Bisset has joined the company as chairman, Global Retrocession & Property Specialty, Bermuda and Market Capital, subject to regulatory approval.

Bisset will also become a member of Lockton Res Global Executive Committee.

Bisset was most recently strategic growth leader for Aon Reinsurance UK, focused on driving business development across Aons London-based global businesses in addition to his retrocessional client responsibilities.

He began his career at EW Blanch in 1994 in the U.S., eventually joining the EW Blanch Capital Markets division which took him to London in 1998. In 2002, he transferred to Bermuda to assist in the creation of Benfields new Bermuda platform and later became CEO of the Bermuda office of Benfield, which was then Aon Benfield. Bisset relocated to London in 2013 and ran Aons Global ReSpecialty (GRS) team as CEO from 2014 to 2019.

Bob is a great addition to our global team, he will be supporting the ongoing expansion of our Global Retrocession and property specialty offering as well as playing a key role in our new Bermuda operation and growing market capital capability, commented Keith Harrison, International CEO, Lockton Re. Bob will work with Lockton Re colleagues and clients across the business and will be based in our London office. Im excited to be welcoming Bob to the business and our Management team.

Bob is a great addition to our global team, he will be supporting the ongoing expansion of our Global Retrocession and Property Specialty offering as well as playing a key role in our new Bermuda operation and growing Market Capital capability, commented Keith Harrison, International CEO, Lockton Re.

Bob will work with Lockton Re colleagues and clients across the business and will be based in our London office. Im excited to be welcoming Bob to the business and our management team, he added.

***

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI) announced that it has promoted Andrew Knight to senior vice president, head of Executive & Professional Lines, in Canada. He was previously national director for Financial Institutions business in Canada.

Knight joined BHSI in January 2016 after nearly 12 years at Chubb where he was director, Financial Institutions of Chubb Specialty Insurance, and national practice leader for Financial Institutions Property/Casualty Insurance, Chubb Commercial Insurance, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Andrew has done an outstanding job building our Executive & Professional Lines portfolio and expanding our relationships with customers and brokers throughout Canada, said Anthony Tatulli, head of Executive & Professional Lines, North America. In his new role as head of Executive & Professional Lines in Canada, he will have an even broader impact in bringing our consistent, customized Executive & Professional Lines capacity to the marketplace.

For more information on BHSIs Executive & Professional Lines capabilities in Canada, Knight can be contacted at: Andrew.knight@bhspecialty.com.

Topics Aon Canada AXA XL Lockton
The co-founder of a Florida financial firm facing investor lawsuits alleging securities fraud has died by suicide, and a spokesperson on Monday denied wrongdoing, saying the death was not connected to a class action lawsuit filed last week.

Eric Holtz, the 54-year-old co-founder of the Seeman Holtz Family of Companies in Boca Raton, took his own life on Friday in California, the company spokesperson confirmed.

Lawsuits claim that Holtz, business partner Marshal Seeman and their insurance and financial firm defrauded elderly investors in South Florida using life insurance policy-backed notes.

The most recent, a class action filed June 7 in South Florida federal court on behalf of 76-year-old Broward County resident Fanny Millstein, alleges the firm sold securities without proper licenses or external controls, resulting in unreturned funds.

The Seeman Holtz spokesperson said that the company had only learned of this lawsuit on Monday. We deny any allegations of wrongdoing and believe this case is without merit, he wrote.

There is no indication that Erics tragic passing is in any way related to this filing, he added.

The Seeman Holtz investment notes, which the firm called longevity linked assets, were described as collateralized by life insurance policies issued to third parties that promised to pay a substantial premium upon the death of the insured, according to the class action.

The notes were sold as safe and easy to cash out of at maturity, according to the lawsuit. But Millstein was told that the firm was undergoing financial problems and needed more time to return her money, which never happened, according to the class action.

The effects have been devastating for Plaintiff. At age 76, Fanny Millstein should not be forced to contemplate that her and her husbands life savings invested with Seeman Holtz have vanished, the lawsuit said.

Attorney Scott Silver, who represents plaintiffs in the class action, said his team had spoken to nearly 100 investors with similar experiences. They represent more than $100 million invested in the Seeman Holtz securities, and Silver believes the actual dollar amount is far greater.

The lawsuit said the firm has been unwilling or unable to provide information about the value of the notes or the assets.

The new class action follows similar pending lawsuits filed earlier this year by Silver and other attorneys in Palm Beach County Circuit Court. The Seeman Holtz spokesperson said the company also denies the allegations in those lawsuits.

Seeman, president of Seeman Holtz, did not respond to direct messages seeking comment.

(Reporting by Lawrence Delevingne; Editing by Lauren Tara LaCapra and Cynthia Osterman)

Topics Fraud
The Associated Press recent firing of a young reporter for what she said on Twitter has somewhat unexpectedly turned company and industry attention to the flip side of social media engagement  the online abuse that many journalists face routinely.

During internal meetings after the Arizona-based reporter, Emily Wilder, was let go, several journalists expressed concern over whether the AP would have the backs of employees under attack from the outside.

The Emily Wilder situation triggered this for many people on the staff, Jenna Fryer, an AP sportswriter who spoke at one of the meetings, said in a subsequent interview.

Wilder was fired last month because of what the company said were tweets on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that violated APs social media policy against offering opinions on contentious issues. Before her firing, a conservative group had sparked an online campaign against her over her pro-Palestinian views, and while the AP has said it wasnt responding to pressure, her dismissal ignited debate over whether the news organization acted too rashly.

Journalists are often subjected to racist or sexist slurs, vile insults and threats of rape, dismemberment or other violence from online readers.

Online harassment is hardly unique to journalists. But the visibility of reporters makes them particularly vulnerable to attack, said Viktorya Vilk, program director for digital safety and free expression at the literary and human rights organization PEN America.

Fryer, who covers auto racing, said she was in tears daily over online abuse she received for coverage of a noose found last year in an Alabama garage stall used by NASCARs only full-time Black driver. She said the only time she heard from the company about harassment was when a manager remarked that Fryer had gotten a lot of it.

Sometimes you feel like youre on a total island, she said.

Orders Study

The news agency says it has worked with law enforcement in many cases when its journalists were attacked online. Still, following the meetings, the AP ordered a study on whether more can be done.

I can speak from personal experience that we have not been ignoring this, said Julie Pace, the APs Washington bureau chief. What we have to do is put this on a par with the way we handle what we have traditionally viewed as security threats for our journalists _ if you are going to Syria, or if youre covering protests that could potentially become chaotic.

News organizations were often quick over the past decade to press their journalists to build social media profiles, recognizing it as important to their brands, but slow to see its dangers, said Vilk, who has worked with more than a dozen media outlets on this issue.

Women and minorities usually have it worse. Vilk believes the preponderance of white men in management has contributed to the industrys delay in reacting.

Some members of the APs race and ethnicity reporting team approached their editor, Andale Gross, following Wilders firing with concerns over whether the company would support them if their stories or tweets proved controversial, he said. Racist slurs and threats happen frequently to the reporters he supervises, who include Blacks, Latinos and Asian-Americans, and AP security has responded to a number of them, he said.

The teams story two weeks ago about racism in the military provoked many hateful messages from people who said they were in the military  essentially proving the articles point, he said.

I dont want people to think it should be accepted or tolerated, Gross said. But it comes with the territory of the things we write about. We know that every story we produce, we can be dealing with an onslaught of racism.

The National Association of Black Journalists has offered members help on the problem through in-person information sessions and webinars, said Dorothy Tucker, NABJ president.

Nearly three-quarters of 714 female journalists surveyed said they had experienced online attacks, according to a study released in April by UNESCO and the International Center for Journalists. Twelve percent sought medical or psychological help. The survey said 4% left their jobs and 2% quit the business altogether.

Washington Post columnist Margaret Sullivan wrote in March about receiving viciously misogynistic name-calling and sexualized fantasies about dismembering me.

Unless youve been there, its hard to comprehend how deeply destabilizing it is, how it can make you think twice about your next story, or even whether being a journalist is worth it, she wrote.

Taylor Lorenz, a reporter at The New York Times, wrote on Twitter this spring about the unimaginable attacks she had received online. Its not an exaggeration to say that the harassment and smear campaign Ive had to endure over the past year has destroyed my life, she wrote. No one should have to go through this.

Both journalist Glenn Greenwald and Fox News Channel host Tucker Carlson belittled her concerns.

Destroyed her life? Really? Carlson said on the air. By most peoples standards Taylor Lorenz would seem to have a pretty good life, one of the best lives in the country, in fact.

A suck it up attitude or feeling that nothing can really be done about online harassment leads many journalists to stay silent. Anne M. Peterson, a veteran sportswriter for the AP, said she has received lewd pictures online and a threat from someone who chillingly attached a Google image of her house. She has never reported an incident to management.

The APs Pace, who also writes stories and appears on television, said she has been a target of abuse and has had to address it for employees she manages.

There have been moments when I sort of chalked it up to, `Yeah, this is part of the job, she said in an interview. I know Im in a high-profile job.  Then there are moments where they really cross a line, or if it affects your personal safety or your family where you think, `No, this is not something I should have to put up with. This is unacceptable and scary.

So we dont want to normalize it, she said. We dont want people to feel like they have to sit there and take it.

Online attacks in general have worsened. The Pew Research Center said in January that 41% of U.S. adults say they have been harassed online, up from 35% in 2014. The percentages of people who say they have been threatened or sexually harassed online have both doubled since 2014, Pew said.

There are signs that the problem is being taken more seriously in newsrooms.

One indication is a greater willingness to publicly back journalists under attack. That happened this past winter, when Washington Post reporter Seung Min Kim was criticized for asking Sen Lisa Murkowski her reaction to something President Joe Bidens failed nominee for budget director, Neera Tanden, had tweeted about Murkowski.

Kims boss, Post national editor Steven Ginsberg, said the attacks were wildly misguided and a bad-faith effort at intimidation. What she did was basic journalism.

Vilk advises news organizations to conduct an anonymous internal survey to determine the extent of their problems, and to examine social media policies. Most policies concentrate on what journalists should or shouldnt do, as opposed to what happens when the audience goes on attack, she said.

Organizations should provide cybersecurity training and support, legal and mental health counseling and access to services that can scrub an employees personal information from the web, she said. Companies must also be aware that harassment is often more organized than it appears, and be prepared to investigate the source of campaigns, she said.

The AP set a Sept. 1 deadline for a committee of staff members to bring forward ideas to improve how harassment is dealt with.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
The increased use of ridesharing apps appears to be associated with a decrease in motor vehicle collisions and impaired driving convictions,.

Thats according to research by The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth). The findings based on data from Houston were published in JAMA Surgery.

The study found that rideshare volume had a significant correlation with the incidence of motor vehicle-related trauma, with a reduction in the rate of incidence by one-third for every 1,000 rides. The rate continued to drop as more rides occurred.

The age group with the most significant decrease in motor vehicle-related trauma were those under the age of 30, with a reduction rate of almost 39%.

Impaired driving convictions also reduced in the years following the introduction of Uber into Houston. Before 2014, there were an average of 22.5 impaired driving convictions in Houston daily. After 2014, impaired driving convictions decreased to an average of 19 per day.

I think this was the biggest takeaway from the study. The data shows that ridesharing companies can decrease these incidents because they give young people an alternative to driving drunk, said Christopher Conner, MD, PhD, lead author. Conner is neurosurgery resident in the Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth.

He said he hopes the results will allow people to see that anyone can be affected by a motor vehicle collision, but that they do have another option that has been proven to reduce their risk of injury, death, or impaired driving conviction.

The research is timely as more individuals are utilizing ridesharing apps, according to Conner.

Automobile accidents are the leading cause of death and disability among young people, so anything we can do to reduce those incidents is going to have a massive effect, he said.

The greatest number of motor vehicle collisions occurred on Friday and Saturday nights between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m. Comparing the date from before and after 2014 revealed an almost 24% decrease in motor vehicle collision traumas and the number of impaired driving convictions during those hours.

For the study, researchers asked rideshare app companies that were in Houston as early as 2014 to supply their utilization rates. Uber responded, submitting data from 2014 through 2018.

Researchers also collected data from the Red Duke Trauma Institute at Memorial Hermann Hospital-Texas Medical Center and Harris Health Ben Taub Hospital in Houston comparing rates of patients admitted for injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident from 2007-2013 and 2014-2018. Memorial Hermann-TMC and Ben Taub are the only American College of Surgeons Level 1 trauma centers in Houston. All patients admitted as a result of a motor vehicle accident were included in the data set.

They also collected data on impaired driving convictions from the Harris County District Attorneys Office from 2007-2019, limited to cases resulting in a conviction or probation.

McGovern Medical School co-authors from the Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery were Ryan McCormack, MD, PhD, neurosurgery resident; Samantha Parker, MD, neurosurgery resident; and Ryan Kitagawa MD, associate professor of neurosurgery. Other McGovern Medical School co-authors were Hunter Ray, MD, vascular surgery resident in the Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery; Xu Zhang, PhD, professor of clinical and translational sciences in the Department of Internal Medicine; John Harvin, MD, associate professor of acute care surgery in the Department of Surgery; and medical student Jacqueline Dickey, BSA. Conner, Ray, Parker, and Kitagawa see patients at UTHealth Neurosciences.

Other co-authors were from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

The study was funded by grants from the HeadStrong Brain Injury Foundation and Alpha Omega Alpha.

Source: Association of Rideshare Use With Alcohol-Associated Motor Vehicle Crash Trauma

Topics Personal Auto Sharing Economy Ridesharing
Waco, Texas-based Insurors Indemnity has signed a definitive agreement to purchase insurance carrier Colonial Lloyds, headquartered in Fort Worth, pending regulatory approval.

Colonial Lloyds has been serving the Texas homeowners insurance market since 1981.

Insurors Indemnity said it is positioned to build on Colonial Lloyds range of residential policy forms and endorsements offering a competitive market for moderate value residential properties and older structures.

Insurors Indemnity, a regional insurance carrier, markets its property/casualty and surety products in Arkansas, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah through independent agents. It also offers premium finance through its subsidiary Roadrunner Premium Finance Company.

Topics Mergers Carriers
Eight people were injured when a vehicle crashed through a guardrail and plowed into a crowd at a mud racing event in Texas.

The crash happened at about 6:30 p.m. on June 13 at a racetrack in Fabens, Texas, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) southeast of El Paso and less than a mile from the Mexican border, the El Paso County Sheriffs Department said.

Eight people were taken to a hospital, including three spectators in critical condition, the sheriffs department said in a statement.

Today what happened was what we all hoped doesnt happen  a wreck while racing, said Scott Smith, owner of Rock Solid Protection, an El Paso-based security firm. Smith, speaking at a news conference, said that the mud can tell the car where to go, at times and that is what he said happened in this crash.

Karla Huerta, who was watching the race when it turned tragic, described the scene as pretty ugly.

Well, they started the race. And when they started, one of the trucks lost control and slammed into a pile of cars and people, Huerta said.

Three other vehicles were also struck as a result of the initial crash, the statement said. It was not immediately known what caused the vehicle to leave the track.

Police said an investigation remains ongoing.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Texas Auto
The constitutional right of North Carolinas children to have access to a good public school education also applies to individual students who arent getting help to stop classroom bullying and harassment against them, the state Supreme Court ruled Friday.

The justices unanimous ruling in part addresses the declaration in a landmark 1997 ruling by the court that the combination of two portions of the state constitution guarantees every child of this state an opportunity to receive a sound basic education in our public schools. This and another 2004 ruling in whats known as the Leandro case created the basis for a separate public policy debate over how to address inequitable school funding and services not considered in Fridays opinion.

But the right to that opportunity also must be offered as grounds for reasonable legal claims by individual students who say their rights were violated and there is no other way to seek redress, Chief Justice Paul Newby wrote.

The right to a sound basic education rings hollow if the structural right exists but in a setting that is so intimidating and threatening to students that they lack a meaningful opportunity to learn, Newby said in the opinion, which reverses a ruling by the state Court of Appeals to dismiss the case.

The case involved a mother and her three children. Ashley Deminski said her children, two of which are diagnosed with autism, were subject in 2016 to physical violence and sexual harassment and vulgarities by as many as four students at Lakeforest Elementary School in Pitt County. Deminski said the schools leadership and the local school board were largely unresponsive to her concerns.

School personnel said changes would take time but no real change occurred, according to the opinion. Ultimately the three were able to transfer to another school, but Deminski sued in late 2017, citing education provisions in the North Carolina Constitution. The family sought monetary damages and an order that the children would never have to return to Lakeforest.

A trial court judge allowed the case to proceed, despite arguments by the Pitt County School Board that it was immune from the litigation as a government body. A majority on a three-judge Court of Appeals panel dismissed the case last year, citing a similar case involving the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board and negligence claims related to a teachers sexual relationship with a high school student.

But Newby said the Court of Appeals majority decision would mean the constitutional guarantee extends no further than an entity affording a sound basic education by making educational opportunities available.

Instead, the constitutional right to education and the states duty to guard and maintain that right extend to circumstances where a school boards deliberate indifference to ongoing harassment prevents children from receiving an education, he added.

Pitt County board lawyers had argued there was no cause of legal action under the constitution in cases alleging school employees had failed to prevent harm caused by a third party.

Deminski is very pleased with Fridays ruling, attorney Troy Shelton said in an interview, calling it a victory for all North Carolina students in that schools cant turn a blind eye to abuse thats happening right under their noses and not face consequences. Deminskis children are no longer in elementary school, Shelton said.

The case, which now returns to a trial court, received attention from outside groups. The American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina and Disability Rights North Carolina filed briefs stating a sound basic education includes a safe learning environment.

Lawyers for the North Carolina Schools Boards Association, siding with the Pitt County board, wrote in a brief that subjecting school boards to more claims of individual injury would be financially ruinous to school systems.

Recognizing a (new) constitutional claim  would extend Leandro well beyond its holding and purpose, which was to create a framework through which the states public school system, as a whole, could be scrutinized for constitutional adequacy, wrote attorney Elizabeth Troutman, representing the association.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Lawsuits North Carolina
A Georgia jury has awarded $500,000 to a woman who sued her former pastor, alleging that he had sexually abused her for years, starting when she was 15 years old.

Jurors in Columbus found that Lewis Clemons, who led the Faith Unlimited Ministries and Kingdom Awareness Ministries churches, must pay Lequita Jackson, The Ledger-Enquirer reported.

Victims should not be ashamed to come forward, said Jackson, whose suit said he pushed her into a sexual relationship lasting from 2002 to about 2009.

Were not the ones who should be hiding in the shadows, she said Thursday. The predators are the ones who should be hiding in the shadows.

Jackson filed the suit four years ago. She said she revealed the relationship after learning Clemons had pressured other women into similar affairs.

Lequitas goal from the very beginning was to make sure this doesnt happen to anyone else, said her attorney, Jeb Butler.

He said Jackson was among four women who testified against Clemons, who was not represented by an attorney in the civil trial before Muscogee County Superior Court Judge Ron Mullins.

Jackson alleged Clemons made advances after she went to him to complain about a church music directors inappropriate sexual contact.

From age 15 until she turned 23, she and Clemons had sex multiple times in various locations, including motel rooms, cars, the church office, the pulpit and a bedroom belonging to Clemons daughter, Butler said.

Jackson and other women testified that Clemons perpetuated a practice he called body anointing, in which he would have them strip to their underwear or completely nude and rub oil on them as he preached or recited scripture.

He would tell them it would `seal in the holy spirit, Butler said. Clemons at one point claimed it cured a womans breast cancer, he added.

When Jackson tried to end the relationship, Clemons re-initiated it using coercion, persuasion, and by falsely claiming the Bible justified his actions, said the lawsuit filed June 16, 2017.

Butler, now 34, said she lost a lot after suing Clemons, but it was worth the sacrifice.

When she left the church, I lost a family that I had for years. She lost other friends, too, she said: It helped me sort through who my friends were.

Clemons could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Butler said he doubts that his client will ever get the money the jury awarded her.

I dont think Lewis Clemons has half a million dollars, Jeb Butler said. I dont think well collect a dime.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Lawsuits Abuse Molestation Georgia
A jury has awarded nearly $15 million to five people who lost eggs or embryos when a cryogenic storage tank failed at a fertility clinic.

A federal jury made the award in a lawsuit filed over the 2018 tank failure at the Pacific Fertility Center in San Francisco that destroyed about 3,500 frozen eggs and embryos.

The award  including more than $14 million in damages for pain, suffering and emotional distress  will go to three women who lost eggs and a married couple who lost embryos.

Their case is the first to go to a jury, but hundreds of other people also have sued the clinic and Chart Industries Inc., which made the cryogenic tank where the specimens were stored.

During the trial, the women and the couple described their pain from the loss.

Chloe Poynton, 39, lost nine eggs.

Its really painful to be at a baby shower celebrating someone elses family being built and knowing inside youll never get that, Poynton testified. So you start to pull back. You start to isolate.

A similar tank failure in a Cleveland suburb that occurred the same day as the San Francisco failure ruined more than 4,000 eggs and embryos. They were the biggest such losses on record in the U.S., causing centers around the nation to review their procedures.

In closing arguments during the San Francisco trial, a lawyer for Chart blamed the fertility center for the tank failure. But jurors rejected the argument that the tank had been misused or improperly modified.

Jurors found that a manufacturing defect was to blame for the tank failure and found Chart 90% responsible and negligent for failing to recall the malfunctioning part, finding that was a substantial factor in causing harm.

The part was a controller that monitored liquid nitrogen levels.

Pacific Fertility was found negligent and 10% responsible for harm.

The three women were each awarded about $2 million to $3 million, while the couple was awarded $7.2 million.

Messages left for Charts attorney and Pacific Fertility werent immediately returned.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics California
The widow of a New Mexico State Police officer fatally shot in the line of duty in February has filed a wrongful death lawsuit, asserting the agency failed to equip her husband.

The Albuquerque Journal reported that Gabriella Jarrott filed the suit in 1st Judicial District Court in Santa Fe, naming the state Department of Public Safety as a defendant. It has been filed on behalf of her and the couples three young children.

When reached, the State Police declined to comment.

Officer Darian Jarrott pulled over 39-year-old Omar Cueva on Feb. 4 along Interstate 10 east of Deming. Police said Cueva shot Jarrott multiple times, including in the head.

Cueva fled the scene and fired on officers during the pursuit, police said. Las Cruces officers returned fire, fatally hitting Cueva.

Police said Jarrott was helping Homeland Security Investigation agents with a narcotics investigation when he pulled Cueva over. Cueva was the target of a federal drug sting involving a confidential informant and undercover agent, according to State Police documents.

Sam Bregman, Gabriella Jarrotts attorney, alleges Jarrott was tasked with pulling over Cueva without any protective gear or backup. The officer had no idea how dangerous Cueva was but his superiors did, the lawsuit says.

Gabriella Jarrott is asking for unspecified damages.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Lawsuits Law Enforcement Mexico
New Mexicos Attorney General has moved to intervene in a lawsuit in which the California Insurance Co.s is fighting actions by the California Department of Insurance to block CICs redomestication to New Mexico.

New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas, Jr. on Friday filed a request to submit amicus curiae briefs in support of CIC in the lawsuit aimed at enjoining the CDI from blocking CICs move.

Balderas filing is related to the federal lawsuit in the Eastern District of California filed by California Insurance Company of New Mexico against Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, Deputy Insurance Commissioner Kenneth Schnoll and Special Deputy Insurance Commissioner Bryant Henley.

In his submission to the court, Balderas supports the claims made by CIC in its efforts to be released from CDIs hold on the company and the approved redomestication.

We applaud Attorney General Balderas forthright action recognizing that our position is valid and also that the CDI has acted in a manner that hurts his state since the presence of the California Insurance Company in New Mexico means jobs, enhanced insurance availability for the states majority minority (Hispanic and Native American) consumers, and tax dollars for the State, Jeffrey Silver, executive vice president and general counsel of the company, said in a statement.

A CDI spokesman was reached out to for comment and replied with the following statement:

State and federal courts have repeatedly affirmed the California Department of Insurances right to proceed with this valid and proper conservation.

In 2019 CIC, as part of its buyout from Berkshire Hathaway, sought the CDIs permission to move to New Mexico, while New Mexico held a hearing to approve the change of domicile. Approval was unanimous, including that of CDI officials. CIC had begun to plan its move to New Mexico, when in November California regulators acted to block the move with the imposition of a conservatorship.

A California federal court in April declined to get involved with a lawsuit that Applied Underwriters and the California Insurance Co. filed against the California Department of Insurance.

California Insurance Company of New Mexico filed suit in federal court in January to enjoin the CDI from continuing to take what the suit asserts are illegal, actions to block the approved redomestication of CIC and to undermine a financially sound insurer by instituting a conservatorship to gain control of CIC.

The suit came after the Office of the Superintendent of Insurance in New Mexico ordered CIC either to comply immediately with all regulations required under its approved redomestication to New Mexico or face financial penalties and possible revocation of the Companys Certificate of Authority.

CDI got approval last year to place CIC in conservatorship and in January CDI filed a follow-up rehabilitation plan that would force CIC to sell its California business to another insurer.

CIC charges Lara and the other officials named with unlawful and bad faith action in imposing an arbitrary, illogical and illegal conservatorship of CIC to obstruct its New Mexico redomestication, after that move was approved by several states.

Related:

Topics Carriers California Mexico
The parents of a man fatally shot five years ago by a Mesa police officer at an Arizona hotel has agreed to settle their legal claims against the city over their sons death.

The Arizona Republic reported that the city has declined to reveal how much it will pay to settle the lawsuit over the 2016 shooting death of 26-year-old Daniel Shaver of Granbury, Texas.

Then-Officer Philip Brailsford shot Shaver as Shaver lay on the ground outside his hotel room and was ordered to crawl toward officers.

Brailsford was charged with murder in Shavers death, but a jury acquitted him of the charge.

The newspaper reported that the city and police officers settled with Shavers parents on May 28 but have failed to reach an agreement with Shavers widow, Laney Sweet, and two children, court documents show.

Mesa refused to provide the settlement amount with Shavers parents until it finalizes the full terms of the settlement.

Sweet filed a lawsuit in 2017 seeking $75 million in damages, alleging Shaver had not provoked the killing and the event could have been avoided if officers had investigated more.

Sweet, in a statement emailed to The Republic, said she looks forward to a trial date.

The U.S. Department of Justice opened a civil-rights violation investigation against Brailsford. The Mesa Police Department in March 2018 said the DOJ had subpoenaed the department for all documents about the January 2016 shooting.

Results from that investigation have not been released.

Mesa initially fired Brailsford, but he was later rehired to apply for a pension and then took medical retirement.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Arizona
Center Parcs is planning an 85m expansion of its existing Irish-based holiday village in Co. Longford, but is vague over how it will fund the project.

The holiday company intends to submit a planning application to Longford County Council by the end of this year and is hopeful of commencing work in 2023.

Center Parcs opened its Irish-based village, near Ballymahon in Co. Longford, two summers ago. It employs around 1,000 people, but a further 250 permanent jobs are likely to be created by the expansion.

The plan includes the building of 200 additional accommodation lodges and enlargement of a number of existing amenities. Center Parcs chief executive Martin Dalby said the plan illustrates the companys commitment to its Irish operation.

He said the expansion plans have been driven by great confidence in [the] business and in the Irish domestic tourism market.

Mr Dalby said Center Parcs has not decided on how it will fund the project and that it will plan those details at a later date. However, he said the company has factored in rising construction costs since the onset of the Covid crisis into its budgeting.

He also said that while the rising crisis threatening the aviation market is a broad concern, it is not a huge worry for Center Parcs as most of its custom in Longford is from domestic holidaymakers.

Mr Dalby said bookings for Center Parcs Ireland for this summer and autumn are extremely strong following last years disruptions. He said all expansion planned will happen within the boundaries of Center Parcs existing 1,000 acre site.

The company has also said it has no plans for a secondary holiday park in Ireland.

We have always intended for Longford Forest to be the only Center Parcs in Ireland. We feel that it is perfectly located for the majority of Irish families, it said.
We had two days out last weekend. One involved a walk in the Galtee mountains, the other was a beach in West Cork. I never thought Id say this, but I preferred the Galtees to the beach. (Saying I prefer Tipperary is probably enough to get me drummed out of Cork.)

Its not that the beach was bad. It was at Dunworley outside Clonakilty, one of those flat beaches in a stunning sheltered cove that they put in travel guides to Ireland. Its one of my favourite beaches in the world. But as any parent knows, thats only part of a beach day in Ireland.

Before you head there, you have to put enough stuff in the back of the car to keep the kids occupied for a month. Bodyboards, wetsuits, buckets and spades, a digger, two balls and four dinosaurs might see you through.

Thats before you get into food and drink, enough for two meals in case the weather improves, and dont forget towels and a change of gear because the kids always run into the water before you can get them into their wetsuits and clothes dont dry by the seaside.

Now youre ready to go to the beach.

As I said, Dunworley was amazing. But this is Ireland in June, so it was only amazing for an hour before the sharp breeze told us it was time to go somewhere else. So we drove around to Courtmacsherry for a sunny, sheltered bag of chips by the sea, and that was amazing too. But then we headed home and the work began. Unload the car, shower the kids (children cant go to bed with sandy legs anymore), hose down the wetsuits, it was a good half hour before I could pour a hard-earned beer.

In other words, dont believe everything you see on Instagram, a day at the beach is no walk in the park.

Sunny day in the Galtee Mountains, Tipperary, Ireland.

The next day was nice in an Irish way and I got a hankering to head inland. Ive driven past the Galtee mountains all my life on the way up and down to Dublin, without ever once paying a visit. My wife and kids werent too keen on heading out for a second day, so I bribed them with KitKats and a promise that Id cut the grass.

Its a lovely drive up to the Galtees on the motorway, followed by a short trip down memory lane on the old N8 through Kilbehenny, and then up a lovely narrow lane to a place called Kings Yard in the foothills of the mountains. This is a little base camp for the Galtymore mountain, run by a friendly local farmer, who offers toilet and shower facilities, a small cafe and also secure parking for 3.

We said wed keep the mountain climb for another day, and headed off instead on a lowland loop called Attychrann. (That has its own free car park down the hill from Kings Yard.) It was magic. You walk through mature forest, bursting out every now and again for a view of the mountain. By the time you get back to Kings Yard, youll have seen a raging river, curious cows, lambs, birds and a red double-decker bus parked in someones back garden.

The kids skipped back to the car, stopping for one last look at some cows in the farmyard before we headed home. But the best was yet to come. On the way back down the hill, four or five deer ran through the trees, right next to our car. It was a fleeting moment, two or three seconds, but we all saw them and it had us buzzing all the way back home.

This time there was nothing to unload from the car, no showers, no hosing down wetsuits. A perfect day really.

I think we big-up beaches in this country more than they deserve. Thats not to say I wont go to one next weekend if the weather plays ball. I love a day at the beach. But for a relaxing day in the countryside with loads of variety and a small family of deer, give me the mountains every time.
Confidence in the countrys judges has been badly affected by a lack of transparency in how the judiciary is appointed, an Oireachtas committee will hear on Tuesday.

The Joint Committee on Justice is to hear that the State should have as little discretion as possible in judicial appointments.

The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) is set to appear at the committee on Tuesday afternoon to discuss the pending Judicial Appointments Commission 2020 bill, which, if enacted, will fundamentally change the selection process for the judiciary going forward.

However, the bill has not been without its critics, with Liam Herrick, executive director of the ICCL, set to assert that some of its provisions fall short of international best practice, particularly in the area of transparency.

Last month, the Bar Council of Ireland said the establishment of a new Judicial Appointments Commission was unnecessary, with the creation of the new entity likely to be needlessly costly.

Separately, three senior Irish legal academics have previously advised that the new bill requires a number of changes if the commission is to prove more effective than the current Judicial Appointments Advisory Board has been.

The issue of judicial appointments was brought sharply into focus last summer by the controversial appointment of former attorney general Seamus Woulfe to the Supreme Court, despite his having no experience as a judge whatsoever.

As things stand, judges register their expression of interest with the Government if they are seeking a promotion, while those who are not already a member of the judiciary must apply to the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board, which assesses their suitability.

Eight recommendations

The ICCL is set to make eight recommendations to the committee regarding desired changes to the bill as it stands.

The issue of judicial appointments was brought sharply into focus last summer by the controversial appointment of former attorney general Seamus Woulfe to the Supreme Court. Picture: Collins Courts

A key proposal relates to the number of recommendations to be made by the new Commission to Government for each vacant post, which the ICCL says should be both reduced from the proposed five and then ranked, an action which does not occur within the bill as it currently stands.

The importance of the separation of powers is key here, Mr Herrick will tell the committee.

The Government should have as little discretion as possible in judicial appointments."

The ICCL will also recommend that the process proposed for judicial appointment should also apply to the appointment of the Chief Justice and the presidents of the higher courts.

A separate system for the most senior appointments serves to undermine the entire process of a streamlined, transparent appointments system, Mr Herrick will say.

He is also set to suggest that in circumstances where the Government disagrees with the judicial recommendations provided by the new commission, its reasons for disregarding that advice should be given in writing.

Without the provision of clear reasoning for choosing to disregard the recommendations the system will remain translucent, Mr Herrick will say.

Those changes will bring about an appointments process that is independent, representative, transparent and ensures accountability he will tell the committee.

The ICCL sees this bill as an opportunity to drastically improve the judicial appointments system.

If approached correctly these changes have the potential to enhance public confidence in both the judiciary and the rule of law. This can only be achieved if the Government is truly committed to reinventing the system in a manner which aligns with international best practice, Mr Herrick will add.
A new policing powers bill, which could see someone jailed for five years for refusing to give gardai their passwords for phones or computers, has been described by legal and privacy experts as very concerning.

The general scheme of the Garda Siochana (Powers) Bill was published on Monday and will see sweeping changes made to the system of search warrants and detention currently used by gardai.

It is very concerning, there are huge powers being created here, said Dr Vicky Conway, associate professor of law at Dublin City University.

The general power of arrest without charge is being expanded massively, there is a power of detention for stop and search, and a very broad power of seizure of items upon arrest.

Im surprised at this, it feels like a bit of a land grab by the Department of Justice.

The new bill seeks to expand the powers gardai have to access private communications in ways that had previously only been available under certain pieces of legislation. It has been described by the department as serving to modernise existing law and make it more consistent.

Justice Minister Heather Humphreys said in launching the bill that the law in the area of search and detention is currently very complex.

Bringing it together will make the use of police powers by gardai clear, transparent and accessible, she said.

Where we are proposing to extend additional powers to gardai, we are also strengthening safeguards, she added.

'Exceptionally weak on safeguards'

That statement was disputed strongly by Dr Conway, who said the proposed bill as it stands is exceptionally weak on safeguards.

There are about 20 of them which are absent. The more powers you give the gardai the more safeguards you should have, she said, adding that one of the more shocking absent safeguards is that the presence of a lawyer at an interview is no longer guaranteed.

So if the gardai dont like how the lawyer is behaving they can get rid of him, she said.

Dr Conway added that under the bill a breach of the law by gardai cannot result in either civil or criminal prosecutions is huge, as is the fact that such a breach does not affect the admissibility of evidence.

Previously, the gardai had to at least obey the law in assembling a case. That would no longer be the case.

The Irish Council of Civil Liberties (ICCL) will be making submissions to the Department of Justice, but said it is concerned about a number of facets of the prospective law.

A spokesperson said the ICCL took issue with the bills provisions for seizing privileged information, while the fact that search warrants could be issued by Garda superintendents, as opposed to judges, in exceptional circumstances is worrying, given those circumstances are not defined.

'Missed opportunity'

Associate professor of law at UCD TJ McIntyre described the bill as a missed opportunity.

It continues the practice, which the Supreme Court has found unconstitutional, of self-service search warrants, he said.

In every case, that application should go through a judge, there is no reason why there cant be a scheme to do it urgently.

He described the bill as quite worrying.

Its taking a very invasive power which is highly controversial in other jurisdictions and extending it in a blanket way to all search warrants in an unjustified and disproportionate way, he said.
Donegal is falling, said Dermot Farrell, whose dream home in Raphoe is cracking, along with thousands of other buildings across the county due to mica-contaminated blocks.

Its a nightmare. Homes are crumbling around families. Children are going to bed at night unable to sleep from the worry that their home will fall down around them.

Its constantly there in the back of peoples minds.

Mica is the new Covid here, people in Donegal dont even talk about Covid anymore, he said.

Originally from Galway, Mr Farrell moved to Donegal for its beautiful scenery and its people.

Now a father of three young children, he built his dream family home, a 3,500sq ft two-storey house in the countryside outside Raphoe in 2008.

Reputable, respected local builders were hired and he spared no expense on building, insulating and finishing his home, inside and out.

Spiderweb cracks

But spiderweb cracks started to break out, fracturing the plasterwork by the front door in recent years. And now cracks have also split down the corners of the house  a telltale sign of mica contamination.

When we had it tested for mica, the engineer took eight core samples. Just by looking at it he said it 100% had mica. We dont have the results yet but if he could see the mica in it just by looking at it  there must be a lot in there.

And mica, in time, turns the block into dust, or into Weetabix.

I worry that were three to four years behind Inishowen [the Donegal peninsula where much of the most severe mica damage has occurred so far] where houses have been crumbling around families.

When you see families suffering with this its scary, especially when you have children in the house, when theyre asking if their house is going to fall down around them."

The Letterkenny estate agent said his dream home is now worthless.

Your home is your castle.

But I couldnt sell it to anyone now.

Homebuyers are now going to want proof that properties theyre viewing do not have mica. But the tests are expensive, who will pay for those?

Many of his friends and neighbours' homes have also been contaminated with Mica and news that public buildings like schools and hospitals may also be affected is sobering, he said.

How many of these bricks were sold over the years? No one knows.

I cant understand how a company can produce something thats defective and theres no redress for consumers."

Mr Farrell will march on Leinster House on Tuesday to demand support for those with mica-contaminated homes.

He believes the current redress scheme is a defective scheme for defective blocks.

Just to apply for the current redress scheme, Mr Farrell said that he has to pay 4,600 to have the materials tested and a report filed on the condition of his home.

Anyone accepted onto the redress scheme will then have to pay 10% of the rebuild and other associated costs which he said will be too expensive for many.

Redress scheme amended

He wants to see the redress scheme amended to cover 100% of costs, like the pyrite scheme did for homeowners in Dublin and elsewhere whose homes were also collapsing due to that substance.

The difference between the two redress schemes reveals the divide between the way government treats Dublin versus the west of Ireland, he said.

We in the west of Ireland are treated differently because were not from the big city.

I hope all of Donegal will attend the march and show our feelings peacefully, show that we are looking for a proper redress scheme."

Donegal independent councillor Frank McBrearty plans to open a Mica-Pyrite Advice Centre in Raphoe to help locals like Mr Farrell.

He has called for the redress scheme to be amended so that those affected would be eligible for 100% redress with no funding cap (currently 247,500).
Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny has thrown his support behind families affected by the mica scandal.

It comes ahead of a huge protest march planned to take place in Dublin on Tuesday, with thousands expected to march on Leinster House.

Defective building blocks containing the mineral mica have caused cracks and fissures to open up in an estimated 5,000 to 6,000 homes primarily in Donegal and Mayo.

Campaigners have criticised the Government redress scheme and are calling for 100% of their costs, with many of the homes facing demolition.

On Monday, Ireland boss Kenny lent his voice to the growing numbers supporting the campaign in a video posted online.

He said: I lived in Donegal for many years and Ive seen first hand families being so distressed because their houses are literally disintegrating before their eyes.

Theyre unsure if they can live in their homes, where will they live. They can never sell their homes.

Its a huge number of houses. Its so stressful for them, because theyve put themselves out there with their families, getting substantial mortgages. Trying to do the right thing, with very little redress.

We really hope a solution can be found, a fair and equitable solution for all the families. Because theyre hard working people and they deserve a fair solution.

It was reported at the weekend that Taoiseach Micheal Martin was seeking a meeting with the affected families ahead of Tuesdays protest.

Housing Minister Darragh OBrien has warned the cost of the current redress scheme has already exceeded 1bn.

Campaigners have criticised the scheme for an upfront charge of 5,000 for access, failing to provide alternative accommodation and covering 90% of costs, compared to 100% covered by the Pyrite scheme, which also involved faulty materials resulting in damage to homes.

The union Siptu have also come out in support of the campaign.

Organiser Kevin McKinney said: There has been a clear failure to adequately police compliance with the regulations governing construction materials.

These regulations are supposed to protect families from the issues that thousands are now having to endure.

Families have no choice but to continue to pay a mortgage for a home that is worthless.

Many have been forced to move out of their homes due to them becoming unsafe, with some resorting to living in caravans as they cannot afford to rent.

The Government has proposed a completely inadequate redress scheme for the homeowners affected.

The owners of these homes are not at fault in anyway and should not be out of pocket for carrying out the remedial work required.

What is needed is a commitment from the Government to provide the homeowners affected with 100% compensation for carrying out the work necessary to make their homes inhabitable.

Homeowners from Donegal, Mayo and Clare will gather outside the Convention Centre in Dublin, where the Dail is being held due to Covid-19 restrictions, at 1.30pm on Tuesday.

From there, they will walk to Leinster House, for a demonstration between 3pm and 4pm.
A further 283 confirmed cases of Covid-19 have been reported today as the Government seek to enhance quarantine measures for arrivals from the UK.

There are currently 60 Covid patients in hospitals around the country which is down seven from yesterday.

Of the patients hospitalised with the virus, 23 are in intensive care.

There was a 21% drop in the number of new Covid-19 cases week-on-week up to last Sunday.

The Health Minister has given an update on the vaccination rollout citing "another big week" for the programme.

According to the figures provided by Stephen Donnelly, over 3.2 million doses of Covid vaccine have been administered.

Read More 25m funding issued to kickstart live music and entertainment sector

The latest available data shows 56% of the adult population has received at least one dose while a quarter of adults are now fully vaccinated.

It is expected that around 300,000 vaccine doses will be administered this week.

As of yesterday, 1,000 community pharmacies joined the vaccination programme.

Currently, people over 50 will be able to get a Covid-19 vaccine from their local pharmacist.

It is expected that pharmacies will gradually begin vaccinating other age cohorts, however, there are approximately 140,000 people over the age of 50 who have not yet received a Covid-19 vaccine, according to The Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU).

Registration for Covid-19 vaccination is expected to open for those aged 30 to 39 years soon.

Meanwhile, the Taoiseach has said mixing vaccines would delay the overall vaccine roll-out.

Micheal Martin has effectively ruled out giving people who got a first dose of AstraZeneca a second dose of another type of vaccine.

He suggested mixing and matching would delay things for those already waiting on a second dose.

"What we have learned is once we start changing, once you start giving out mixed signals, it can disrupt the vaccination programme," Mr Martin said.

"It can genuinely undermine it and I am not saying that anyone wants to do that in making this suggestion but that has been the experience.

"It can affect people's take-up and so on."

Taoiseach says 'so far, so good' for reopening despite concerns over Delta variant

Not taking immediate action to prevent the Delta variant becoming dominant in Ireland could endanger the re-opening of society this summer, according to some TDs.

The government is set to approve enhanced quarantine at home measures for people arriving from the UK.

The plans at Cabinet will see people arriving from the UK who are not fully vaccinated having to quarantine at home for ten days, and they can only leave after negative PCR tests on days five and ten.

Fully vaccinated people can get out of home quarantine after five days with a negative test.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin says he believes the planned re-opening of the country can go ahead, even with concerns about the more transmissible Delta variant coming here.

Mr Martin said it is still early days and the latest variant will continue to be monitored but it is "so far, so good" in relation to reopening.

Social Democrats co-leader Roisin Shortall said the extension of a five-day quarantine period to 10 days will make little difference unless it is properly supervised.

While People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy says reopening is in danger without mandatory hotel quarantine for people coming from the UK.

"If we don't take an action like this now, it is not without consequences," Mr Murphy warned.

Ministers will announce the enhanced home quarantine measures later, along with the easing of visa restrictions on a number of South American countries.

No proof Covid variants carry greater risk of blood clotting

New Covid-19 variants do not pose a greater risk of blood clots forming, according to new research.

It shows clotting affects severe Covid-19 patients due to a disrupted balance in the molecule that causes clotting and its regulator.

The Royal College of Surgeons says this creates a "perfect storm" that tips the balance in favour of blood clots forming.

Dr Jamie OSullivan says this can happen to people infected with any strain of the virus.

"We think it is very much an underlying common thread in Covid-19," said Dr O'Sullivan.

"We haven't, as of yet, studied whether it is specifically related to a sub-type or a variant. We do think it is a common feature that we see in severe Covid-19."
Unvaccinated passengers arriving in Ireland from Britain by air or sea will have to isolate at home for at least 10 days, under new tighter restrictions to be approved by Cabinet today.

Approval for the plan was given at a meeting of the three Government party leaders  Taoiseach Micheal Martin, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar, and Eamon Ryan  last night in response to concern as to the spread of the Delta variant of Covid-19.

The Irish Examiner has confirmed that under the plans, unvaccinated people will be subject to an isolation period of 14 days at home, but which can be set aside following a negative test after 10 days.

The plan also states that vaccinated people will be able to set aside the 14-day home quarantine requirement after five days should they receive a negative test.

Delta variant 60% more transmissible

The Delta variant, which was first identified in India, is now the dominant strain in the UK. It is proving to be 60% more transmissible than the previously dominant Alpha strain, which was first seen in Kent.

Coalition leaders Eamon Ryan, Micheal Martin, and Leo Varadkar have agreed measures to quell the Covid-19 Delta variant which will be put before the Cabinet today. Picture: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews

The tighter restrictions could be in place this week as they only require new regulations as opposed to primary legislation, which could take several weeks to pass through the Oireachtas.

The memorandum is expected to be tabled by Mr Martin, as health minister Stephen Donnelly is in Europe. Of the 69,400 persons arriving in Ireland in April, Britain proved the largest source, accounting for 21,600 arrivals and 28,000 departures.

Emergency visa requirements lifted

At Cabinet, justice minister Heather Humphreys will today inform her colleagues that she has lifted emergency visa requirements imposed on passport-holders from a dozen countries, including Brazil and South Africa.

An order was signed in January to require people from those countries  as well as Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname and Uruguay  to be in possession of a valid Irish visa when landing here.

That order will be lifted with immediate effect today, meaning that necessary travel can resume for people from those countries. (However, for Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Suriname, the visa restriction is lifted for transit visas only  that is, visas for the purposes of passing through Ireland to get to another state. Visas are otherwise required from these countries.)

Despite the lifting of the visa ban, arrivals from the countries subject to today's decision  regardless of their nationality, or what passport they hold  will still be required to enter mandatory hotel quarantine, carry out necessary tests, and adhere to public health measures, Government sources have said.

Reopening of third-level campuses

Also at Cabinet, higher education minister Simon Harris will present for approval his plan to facilitate the full return of students to third-level campuses in September.

According to a Cabinet memorandum being brought by Mr Harris, at a minimum, it is envisaged that most primary functions of college campus life will return. These include:

Laboratory teaching and learning;

Classroom-based teaching and learning;

Tutorials;

Workshops;

Smaller lectures and libraries.

Canteens, sports facilities, bars, and cafes will be allowed to open in accordance with the prevailing public health advice.

The memorandum said that, at a maximum, large-scale lectures will also be allowed. Institutions will be asked to prepare for this with a further report to Government in July, ministers will be told.

Mr Harris will also seek approval for rapid antigen testing to be used to facilitate the large-scale return of people to campus.

Rapid testing may play its part

If proven through piloting and feasibility, the benefits of rapid testing could provide an additional element to the control strategy set out in national guidance, the memorandum states.

In addition, there will be provision for further and higher education and training, including on-site presence for apprentices, English-Language education, and the resumption of research activity, over the summer months.

Caution about relying on antigen tests

Meanwhile, single antigen tests are not recommended for use by asymptomatic people, as a significant proportion of infections will be missed, a HSE review has found.

Using one test with asymptomatic people, just 52% of positive cases were detected, compared to a PCR test.

The report from the HSE Covid-19 antigen testing working group shows the working group evaluated seven antigen tests including six lateral flow tests and one microfluidic device with a reader.

The use of antigen tests has been hotly contested in Ireland despite being in wider use in other European countries.
Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has apologised for recent comments in which she compared the required wearing of safety masks in the US House of Representatives to the horrors of the Holocaust.

Im truly sorry for offending people with remarks about the Holocaust, the Georgia Republican told reporters outside the Capitol, saying she had visited Washingtons US Holocaust Memorial Museum earlier in the day.
Burma Hundreds of Students, Staff at Myanmar Private School Test COVID-19 Positive

Medics from Mingalardon Military Hospital provide healthcare at the Mahawthahta Private High School in Hlegu, Yangon Region on June 9. / Pyinnyar Wai Hpyar Mahawthahta Facebook

Myanmars commercial capital Yangon saw a spike in its COVID-19 count on Sunday after a large cluster of cases were reported at a Buddhist monk-run private high school in Hlegu Township.

On Sunday, Myanmar reported 373 new cases of COVID-19 across the country, the largest daily jump in cases since the Feb. 1 coup.

Of the new cases, Yangon Region accounted for 226, making it the hardest-hit region in the country. Of those, 211 cases were found at the Mahawthahta Private High School.

The school, founded by well-known Buddhist monk Ahshin Pyinnyar Wara, opened in Ngwe Nathar Village in Hlegu in June 2016.

It provided free education and accommodation to more than 500 students yearly through 2020, according to the school. After facing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the school started providing education to students on a co-payment basis this year.

Mahawthahta Private High School opened its doors for the new school year in June when the regime reopened schools nationwide. According to a Hlegu-based news page, the school is now in lockdown following the detection of the COVID-19 cases.

The Irrawaddy couldnt reach a spokesperson for the school on Tuesday, however.

On June 7, the military regime closed schools in Tamu and Kale townships in Sagaing Region and in five townships in Chin StateTonzang, Hakha, Thantlang, Falam and Tedimafter the areas saw spikes in COVID-19 cases.

Over the past two weeks, Yangon had been the third hardest-hit area for COVID-19 in Myanmar, reporting between five and 37 cases each day.

In that period, hardest hit-Sagaing Region reported 15 to around 80 cases a day and second-hardest-hit Chin State reported 11 to around 60 a day, according to daily COVID-19 records released by the military-controlled Ministry of Health and Sports.

The cluster at Mahawthahta Private High School was detected after a female student who reported losing her sense of smellone of the symptoms of COVID-19tested positive last Thursday.

A teacher at the school died of COVID-19 while being treated at the Hlaing Tharyar Hospital in Yangon on June 10.

Dr. Daw Khin Khin Gyi, the director of the Health Ministrys Emerging Infectious Disease Epidemiology Unit, said on her Facebook page on Monday that a total of 246 out of 456 students, teachers and staff of the private school have tested positive for COVID-19.

Currently, the 246 COVID-19 patients are in isolation at the school and are being treated there.

Dr. Khin Khin Gyi said those patients who start experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 will be sent to Phaunggyi Makeshift COVID-19 Center, Hlegu Hospital and Hlaing Tharyar Hospital.

On Monday, Myanmar reported 223 new COVID-19 cases and four more deaths.

As of Monday, Myanmar had reported a total of 145,826 COVID-19 cases including 3,248 deaths and 132,969 recoveries.



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Kamayut Media editor-in-chief Ko Nathan Maung.

A Myanmar journalist, who has US citizenship and had been detained in Myanmar since March, was released on Monday after the junta withdrew charges against him.

Ko Nathan Maung, a US citizen who co-founded Kamayut Media, was detained in Yangon on March 9 when the security forces raided the firms office. Ko Hanthar Nyein, the other co-founder, was also detained and remains in custody.

They were charged under Article 505(a) of the colonial-era Penal Code for inciting dissent against the military regime and held in Yangons Insein Prison.

Ko Nathan Maung was released after the police officer who filed the charges withdrew the case during a court hearing inside Insein Prison on Monday, according to their lawyer Daw Tin Zaw Oo.

Ko Nathan Maung has reportedly been deported to the US on Tuesday.

Several journalists are being held in Insein Prison on incitement charges. Among them are former Irrawaddy editor Ma Tu Tu Thar and 7 Days and Myanmar Now staff.

Nearly 90 journalists, including foreigners, have been detained since the coup in February. Around 30, including Japanese journalist Yuki Kitazumi, BBC reporter Ko Aung Thura and AP photojournalist Ko Thein Zaw, have been released.



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Burma Myanmar Junta to Reopen Russian-backed Steel Plant

Russia's state corporation Rostec completed the Pinpet iron plant in 2015 in Taunggyi, Shan State, Myanmar. / Rostec

The Myanmar regime plans to reopen the No. 2 Steel factory (Pinpet) in Shan State, which was closed more than four years ago. The plant, located near the Shan State capital Taunggyi, is a joint iron exploitation and processing project between the military-owned Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEC) and the state-owned Russian company Tyazhpromexport.

On Monday, the military regime and their Russian counterparts discussed the resumption of the Pinpet project during a meeting in Naypyitaw between the Russian ambassador to Myanmar, Dr. Nikolay Listopadov, and Dr. Charlie Than, the regime-appointed Minister of Industry.

A junta-controlled newspaper stated on Tuesday that the Russian ambassador and the junta minister also discussed bringing in Russian technical experts to inspect the steel mill, as well as discussing bilateral economic relations such as the production of medicines under the respective ministries of the two countries and working together on rubber and garment production.

Until it was suspended in early 2017, the Steel Mill construction project was run under a contract between the MEC and VO Tyazhpromexport, a subsidiary of Rostec (Russias State Corporation).

Located in war-torn Shan State, the Pinpet project has transformed the area, Mount Pinpet, or Pine Tree Mountain, into the countrys largest iron mine.

It is built on 5,260 acres of land in Pinpet, some eight miles away from Taunggyi.

The project, which began in 2004, was expected to produce 200,000 tonnes of pig iron and 720,000 tonnes of iron ore.

In 2014 the Ministry of Industry, under the quasi-civilian government led by President U Thein Sein of the Union Solidarity and Development Party, had an agreement worth 137 million Euros with Tyazhpromexport to produce iron ore for commercial utilization using the Russian Romlet process.

The pig iron was to be used as a raw material for steel production at the No.1 Steel Mill, Myingyan steel plant [which is also suspended], in Mandalay Region.

In September 2016, the state-run Global News Light of Myanmar  citing geological studies  announced that the mines near the mill could possibly produce 10.7 million tonnes of Hematite iron ore with 56.4 percent of iron ore property and 59.3 million tonnes of Lemonite iron ore with 42.6 percent of iron ore property.

The Pinpet plant was scheduled to start operating in late 2016.

However the project was halted in March 2017, after the National League for Democracy-led parliament inspected 24 loss-making state-owned factories, and suspended their operations largely due to financial concerns. Construction and operations at both the Pinpet mine and the Myingyan steel plant were stopped.

In 2017, the former ministers in charge of the Ministry of Industry, including U Soe Thane and former lower house lawmaker for Mingin U Maung Myint, criticised parliaments decision to stop the construction and operations of those factories.

The Pinpet mine and the iron-processing factory have had a severe adverse impact on the ethnic Pa-O people living in the area and on the environment, as documented by the local Pa-O Youth Organization (PYO) in their 2009 report Robbing the Future. The report claims that the mining project threatens the local Pa-O community.

PYOs report stated that a total of 7,000 people from 25 villages could be permanently displaced from their homes and farmland by the projects. A further 35,000 people rely on the water from the Thabet River in the Hopong valley east of the Mount Pinpet.

A local resident in Hopong told The Irrawaddy that they had not seen any activity near the project since its suspension in 2017. Another local said they had heard about the resumption of the project and that they didnt want it to restart.

Both China and Russia have backed the junta in Myanmar since their Feb. 1 coup, saying that the military takeover is an internal affair.

Defense ties between Russia and Myanmar have grown stronger in recent years, with Moscow selling arms to a military blacklisted by several Western countries for alleged atrocities against civilians, as well as providing army training and university scholarships for thousands of soldiers.

Russia said in March that it wanted to further strengthen military ties with Myanmar despite the coup. Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin attended the Myanmar militarys celebration of Armed Forces Day on March 27, even as the international community was denouncing the coup.

Coup leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing met Russian Defense Minister General Sergey Shoigu in Naypyitaw on Jan. 21, just 10 days before the military takeover.

In May, a high-ranking junta delegation led by Air force chief General Maung Maung Kyaw travelled to Moscow to attend an exhibition of Russian military helicopters. They reportedly discussed over 20 mega projects with their Russian counterparts, including the procurement of arms and military hardware.



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Burma Only Myanmar Regime Undercover Soldiers Murdered, Not Civilians: KNDO

The grave of the slain men.

Ethnic armed group the Karen National Defence Organisation (KNDO) has denied the military regimes allegation that it slaughtered civilians in Karen State, eastern Myanmar, claiming that the men it killed were undercover soldiers sent to spy by the junta.

On May 31, the KNDO, an armed group under the Karen National Union (KNU), detained 47 people including women and children engaged in roadworks near the town of Waw Lay in Myawaddy Township close to the border with Thailand. Twenty five men aged between 18 and 52 were later found dead.

The military regime said on Sunday that the 25 victims were civilians working on the construction of a bridge linking Ka Ne Lay and Maw Khee villages in Waw Lay. The Myanmar militarys South Eastern Command has reportedly sent a complaint to the KNU headquarters asking the KNU to explain the killings.

Saw Wah Nay Nu, the spokesperson for the KNDO chief of staff Major General Nerdah Bo Mya, said that the victims were not civilians, but military personnel from infantry and engineering units who the junta had sent to collect intelligence about the armed group.

We shot some of them dead. But some were killed in shelling by the military. Two of our troops were even injured by the shelling. They were not road workers. They had military uniforms and badges. They had military equipment. We seized it all, he said.

They sent drones every night for a month. We said we could not accept that. But they continued and we have had to do what we are supposed to do as we are fighting a war. It was because they didnt listen to us. They always want to carry out area clearance operations. In fact, they have killed a lot of people. They (the victims) belonged to the engineering unit, added the KNDO spokesman.

A case on the killings has been opened with the Myawaddy police by the regime, according to sources close to the KNU headquarters.

The military regime has said that it will annihilate the ethnic armed group, claiming that the KNDO is a terrorist organization.

There were heavy clashes between the KNDO and junta troops in Waw Lay from May 31 to the first week of June and military tensions remain high in the town.

During the fighting on May 31, the KNDO took 47 people31 men, six women and 10 childrenfrom the bridge construction site. It released six men and all the women and children between June 1 and June 9.

The military regime said that while searching for the remaining 25 men they found them buried in two separate graves around a mile from the construction site. It reported finding a charred body and the grave of six men on June 11, killed with their hands tied behind their backs. It retrieved 18 more bodies the following day.

On May 31, near Phlu village in Myawaddy Township, the military and Border Guard Force (BGF) also clashed with a combined force of the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army splinter group, Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army-Peace Council, a BGF splinter group and a peoples defense force made up of civilian resistance fighters.

Over 200 locals from Waw Lay and Phlu were forced to flee to Thailand.

The KNU signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement in 2015. Despite that pact, the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), another armed wing of the KNU, and the military have engaged in fighting in Papun District since 2018 after the latter constructed roads and deployed troops in the area.

Since March, the KNLA has also attacked military outposts in Papun District in response to the juntas coup. More than a thousand civilians in Papun were forced to flee from their homes after the regime retaliated with airstrikes.



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Burma Three Striking Teachers Jailed by Myanmar Junta

Daw Nay Chi Htwe and Daw Chit Myat Thu, arrested on March 31, were sentenced to three years imprisonment on Monday.

Three striking teachers in Myeik Township, Tanintharyi Region, were each sentenced on Monday to three years in prison for incitement for participating in the civil disobedience movement (CDM) against the regime.

Daw Nay Chi Htwe and Daw Chit Myat Thu were detained together at their home on March 31 and charged with Article 505(a) of the Penal Code for allegedly lobbying other staff on social media to join the CDM. The teachers, who are related, were beaten during the arrest.

U Nyein Chan Oo, a high-school teacher, was detained in early April in Myeik, on the same charge.

The three were held in Myeik Prison and sentenced on Monday, a member of the basic education teachers union in Tanintharyi Region said.

They were sentenced for expressing their views peacefully by joining the CDM, the member said.

Many civil servants have been on strike since the Feb. 1 coup, refusing to work under military rule.

Striking teachers have been jailed across the country and many have been officially suspended.

In Tanintharyi Region, 7,236 striking educators and administrative staff were removed from their duties, according to the regional teachers union.

Seven arrests have been made.

Hundreds of striking Tanintharyi teachers went into hiding to evade arrest in May when the regime threatened them with arrest if they failed to return to work when the schools reopened.

Several schools cant open as a majority of teachers went on strike. Only very few schools could open and less than a quarter of pupils have returned, a Tanintharyi teacher said.

The junta opened public schools on June 1 amid efforts to normalize the country but attendances have been very low nationwide.



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Guest Column Myanmar Junta Sells Resources to Neighbors in Exchange for Legitimacy

Karen people gather to oppose the construction of dams on the Salween River, including the Hatgyi Dam, in Hpapun, Karen State, on March 14.

The Myanmar military (also known as the Tatmadaw), since staging a coup on Feb. 1 against the elected National League for Democracy (NLD) government, has encountered unexpected nationwide public protests and is also confronted by the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) of civil servants. These have disrupted the economy and public sector, pushing the country to the brink of state collapse and civil war. Now the juntas State Administration Council (SAC) is trying to stabilize this situation by selling the countrys resources to friendly neighbors China and Thailand.

Coup leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, during his trip to Karen State on May 31, announced a plan to resume the controversial Hatgyi Dam project for power generation. The projects sponsors are Thailands Energy Generation Authority of Thailand (EGAT), Sino-hydro, IGE Company Limited, which is owned by the brother of the current commander in chief of the navy, and the Ministry of Energy and Electricity (MOEE). The dams location is in a conflict-affected zone in Karen State where fighting recently broke out between the Myanmar military and brigades of the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), the armed wing of the Karen National Union (KNU).

Rumors are also circulating that the 1,400 megawatt upper Salween (Kunlone) project was approved and a memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed between the scandal-plagued Hanergy Group Holdings; Asia World, which belongs to the late drug lord Lao Hsing Hans son; and the Myanmar governments MOEE.

At the same time, the BRI Steering Committee and relevant committees have been revamped and now the senior general is the chairman of this committee, the highest policy-making committee on the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC), which is the most crucial component of the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) Corridor under Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). In implementing CMEC projects, which include the Kyaukphyu Special Economic Zone (SEZ) deep seaport, public consultation will not be necessary and a clause on the BRI implementation joint committees functions was removed. That indicates Chinese investors will not need to worry about public protest against their investments and go through a time-consuming public consultation process.

The SAC-controlled Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) has also approved the US$2.5-billion Mee Lin Gyaing LNG to Power Project proposal submitted during the deposed NLD governments term, which is one of Chinas BRI projects in Myanmar. The mega power project will be implemented by a consortium led by Chinese companies.

Likewise, Vice-Senior General Soe Win of the SAC has become the chairman of the Myanmar Special Economic Zone (SEZ) central committee, and all working committees and SEZ management committees were recently replaced with senior army officers and pro-junta civilians. There are three SEZs in Myanmar: Thilawa, Dawei and Kyaukphyu. Only Thilawa is in the operational phase. The Kyaukphyu SEZ deep seaport projects shareholder agreement was signed during Chinese President Xi Jinpings visit in January 2020 between Chinas state-owned CITIC and the Kyaukphyu SEZ Management Committee, and a concession agreement was signed in November of that year. It called for bids to conduct an environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) in January 2021, just before the coup.

There are several reasons for SACs recent moves on BRI, SEZ and hydropower projects.

They should not be taken at face value. These moves can be considered SACs grand strategy to gain legitimacy with some level of governing capacity, control ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) and annihilate the opposition National Unity Government. After gaining recognition from China and some countries in ASEAN, particularly Thailand, they may predict that others in the Asia-Pacific region will follow suit, most probably Japan, Korea and India.

Therefore, the SAC is selling the countrys natural resources wholesale to China and Thailand in order to entice these countries to give recognition to them. The SAC is using the same playbook as the previous military regime, the State Law & Order Restoration Council (SLORC), in the 1990s. SLORC gave wide-ranging concessions from fishing and logging to oil and gas to Thailand and in return the Thai government reduced support for the KNU. In the same way, it signed many MOUs with Chinese state-owned enterprises to implement hydropower projects on the Irrawaddy River. The idea is that the more wholesale agreements China and Thailand decide to implement, the more support they will need to provide to the SAC and the more they will have to rein in the EAOs on their borders to ensure the security of their projects and workers.

Hydropower projects are attractive to Chinese and Thai investors because their concession agreements are so-called 90:10 contracts; investors will take the lions share of the profits while the host country and local communities will have to pay the cost of environmental damage and livelihood loss. In addition, 90 percent of the electricity generated from these projects will be sold back to the investors countries, so investors are able to control revenue flows and reduce project risks, as they will not depend on the host countrys transmission, distribution system and macroeconomic conditions.

With respect to the SEZs, Kyaukphyu is crucial to Chinas China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC), which it hopes will provide its landlocked Yunnan province with an ocean gateway. Many say its geostrategic value is of more importance to China than its commercial viability. For Japan, it will be difficult not to invest in the Dawei SEZ, as China will fill the gap if it decides to leave. India will also face the same strategic dilemma as Japan, facing encirclement by archrival Chinawith its CMEC and BCIM corridorsand its allies.

If the SACs grand strategy works, Chinas influence will definitely rise, possibly leading to its expansion southward, joining with its Indo-China Corridor. That will pose a security threat to ASEAN, particularly countries which have territorial issues with China in the South China Sea. In turn, this will destabilize the whole region and draw the US and its allies into an already tense game of strategic competition.

Sadly, Myanmar will never become a stable and prosperous nation under the SAC, which will act to gain legitimacy from its neighboring countries while waging war on its own people.

Lin Htet Myat analyzes public policy with a focus on economic governance and Public-Private Partnership Projects in Myanmar.



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Track your stimulus check or EIP card for free! Use the USPS Informed Delivery service to quickly and accurately monitor the delivery date for your stimulus payment.

It only takes four steps to complete the process. Also, don't throw away the envelopes you receive with the payment, as these have other uses in the future.

Another wave of relief payments is being released. However, different problems are being reported by eligible recipients. Complaints are coming in that the stimulus money is stolen from their account. Also, other malicious actors tend to steal the stimulus payment from your mailbox!

This is only the first of many malicious attempts to steal your money. Therefore, it helps if you could track the stimulus check or EIP cards, including their date of delivery. There are online tools available for you to use conveniently.

How to Sign Up in USPS Informed Delivery

The United States Postal Service (USPS) has a free online service that lets you monitor any parcels delivered to your name. This includes the stimulus check deposit or the EIP debit card that arrives by mail. Note that plus-up payment checks and your third stimulus check could also be tracked by this method.

Unfortunately, USPS won't show how much money you are supposed to receive. Instead, it could accurately track the current location of your parcel. It could also give you an estimated delivery date schedule for your parcel. Moreover, keep in mind that USPS service only extends to private residences and personal post office box addresses. A company or business establishment cannot use the service.

To sign-up for the USPS online service called "Informed Delivery," first you should head to their website.

Click "Sign Up for Free."

Enter your personal details and mailing address. Accept the terms and conditions for their services. Tap "Continue."

Enter your account details like your chosen username, password, and security question. Also, provide your contact information. Tap "Continue."

You need to complete the "Verify Identity Online" process by inputting a verification code sent by your phone or email. This is the last step to completing the Informed Delivery service.

Read Also: Third Stimulus Check Update: 2.3 Million Payments Sent--How to Track Your Payment Online, Via USPS

Stimulus Check Tracker

Unfortunately, some parcels might be tampered with or have its money stolen before reaching your address. Immediately check for indicators that mark your stimulus check or EIP debit card as the legitimate parcel. Cnet reported some of the indicators you should look out for, including a few photo samples of the parcel.

Paper checks will be delivered in a white envelope with the label "Economic Impact Payment" by the US Department of the Treasury. Note that the recent wave of stimulus check payment has a subtle, different design than previous stimulus checks.

EIP Debit Cards will be delivered in a white envelope with a seal from the Department of the Treasury. EIP debit card is a Visa card with its issuing bank listed as MetaBank, N.A. More details regarding the card should be available with the letter mail together in the parcel.



Related Article: Fourth Stimulus Check Tracker: $2000 Payment Still Possible Amid Positive Impact of 2nd, 3rd Stimulus Waves
On Friday, officials with the Walker County Hospital District board announced that they have finalized a $7.8 million purchase of Huntsville Memorial Hospital. Do you feel like this is a good use of tax dollars, and is this the right direction for the struggling health care facility?

You voted:
Ithaca, NY (14850)

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Rain showers in the morning will evolve into a more steady rain in the afternoon. High around 70F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch..

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Cloudy with occasional rain showers. Low 59F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Thanks to rising digital commerce and widespread retailer digitalisation, innovative payment solutions are now in the limelight  especially contactless payment. But this is not news to Australia, where nearly 47 percent of the population already uses cards or digital wallets.

There is much more to look forward to in the payment innovation space. Besides improving the payment experience, we believe that industry players will increasingly focus on enhancing and differentiating how we approach payments through technology  both from the customers and businesss perspective. Here are some examples.

Sustainability in payments

Technology also has the capacity to change how payments impact the wider world. Growing environmental awareness is driving demand for greater sustainability in all areas of life, including financial services. The transition from physical financial statements to e-statements was just the first step; now the industry is doubling down with sustainable payment practices and materials.

New technology has made it possible to use recycled PVC to make payment cards that are just as sophisticated as regular cards, though, more eco-friendly. Technology has also enabled banks to offer services such as loan applications, fixed deposits and investments online, which improves their efficiency and reduces paper usage while improving convenience for customers.

Supporting the FinTech revolution

Once new payment habits take root, customers rarely go back to the old ways, and FinTechs are driving the transformation of the payment industry. Cash might be entering its sunset, but many FinTechs are focusing on cards as a starting point for the payment revolution. However, FinTechs can only drive that large-scale shift if there is a supportive ecosystem in place.

Initiatives such as our FinTech Accelerator Card Program, a fast-track program that has enabled over 100 FinTechs worldwide to expand rapidly into the market with a dedicated offering from onboarding to card issuance, are necessary to ensure that FinTechs can deliver their solutions to the market as quickly as possible. These initiatives significantly increase the adoption rate and market maturity, as well as encouraging further innovation and healthy competition.

FinTech can also benefit from the IDEMIA Connect technology, which allows users to activate the card on the app for smart and efficient eKYC (Know-Your-Customer) onboarding as the card connects the user to the bank at all times. This will save FinTechs customers from visiting the branch and can activate their new card in the comfort of their homes within a minute.

Biometric authentication in payments

A major advantage of contactless payments is that you can simply tap your card on the payment device to complete a transaction. No more awkward silences at checkout while waiting for authorisation or holding up an impatient queue while you try to remember your PIN.

In response, payment providers are increasingly incorporating biometric authentication into card payments. For instance, fingerprint readers can be embedded into payment cards to authenticate transactions with your unique bio-signature upon tap. This locks card usability to its owner and significantly reduces the risk of abuse, thus preserving security without compromising convenience. Furthermore, biometric payment cards can potentially be a solution for the visually impaired, mitigating their challenge to enter a pin at the point of sale.

Secure remote commerce (SRC)

Australians are shopping online more. Reports showed that eCommerce growth in Australia and New Zealand was the highest across the globe at 107 percent in the third quarter of 2020. However, checkout can be a confusing and frustrating process due to the sheer variety of online payment platforms used by retailers, each with its own payment journey. In fact, one in five shoppers have abandoned their carts due to negative checkout experiences.

To reduce payment friction, major payment providers across the world have joined forces to launch the EMV Secure Remote Commerce Specifications, which binds the consumers identity to their card and device. Customers only click one button to pay on supported sites instead of going through a different multi-step verification process every time  and since the consumers details are not stored online, data exposure is minimised.

Despite these exciting examples, we are only beginning to scrape the surface of the transformation that smart technology can bring to the payment industry. As an organisation committed to protecting and facilitating all payment types, we are always ready to play our part in shaping both tomorrows payments and payment disruptors through innovation. We look forward to what the future holds.
The new Blood Donation feature inside Facebook has already helped over 100 million Facebook users sign up to receive notifications to donate blood across the world. The feature has directly contributed to increasing global blood donations which in turn helped maintain blood supplies during COVID-19.

The feature means those aged between 18 and 65 can sign up right on Facebook to receive notifications about blood donation opportunities at 76 centres across Australia. You can do this yourself by going to Blood Donations within the About section of your profile, or opening facebook.com/donateblood.

Facebook is also promoting the feature by notifying people in their newsfeeds.

Over 31,000 blood donations are needed by Lifeblood every week to meet the needs of patients across Australia. Thousands of lives are saved daily through the generosity of donors literally bleeding for the cause, providing valuable red blood cells, plasma and platelets. One in three Australians will need blood products during their lifetime - chances are you already know somebody who has benefited from donations.

Yet, most donors are aged over 45 and it's imperative Lifeblood recruits, well, "new blood. Facebooks blood donation feature is helping to secure the next generation of long-term donors, securing the blood supply for the future.

Mia Garlick, Director of Public Policy for Facebook Australia and New Zealand, said: The work undertaken by Lifeblood saves lives every day. The need for blood in Australia is ongoing, with one blood donation needed every 24 seconds and a new blood donor needed every five minutes. We want it to make it as easy as possible for our Australian community to donate blood and save lives, and within a few clicks, you can sign up, be notified when your local donor centre needs more donors to book in, as well as encourage others to do the same.



During the COVID-19 crisis, weve seen many Australians come together on Facebook to help each other, for example by offering to help others in Facebook Groups. This product launching today is another way Australians can come together and use our services to learn about how and where they can donate blood, no matter where they are in Australia.



Samantha Bartlett, Lifebloods Marketing Director added: We know Facebook is a great way to spread the message about giving blood and for people to encourage others to get involved as well, so were excited about the blood donation feature.



In Australia, this means were able to let people who have updated their profile know when a blood donor centre nearby needs their help.



Over the last 12 months, with the rise of people working from home, peoples donating habits have changed, so this is a great way for people to know when their new local donor centre needs a helping hand.



Were encouraging existing donors, former donors, and people who have considered donating but havent gotten around to it yet, to update their status so we can reach them when we need it most.

The facility has already been proven in other nations; in the first two months, after it launched in the US in June 2019, Facebook's Blood Donations feature increase donations from first-time blood donors at partner sites by 19%. In Brazil and India the share of donors at blood banks who said they were influenced by Facebook notifications to donate blood increase from 0% to 14% in the first year.

If you can give blood, please consider it. Each donation you make can save up to three lives.

Even if you have a needle phobia the excellent phlebotomists have you in safe hands. The worst part, in my experience, is simply the anticipation of the needle, not the needle itself. When finished you can go and enjoy a delicious milkshake and snack with full permission to take it easy for the rest of the day.

What do you think?
TeleGeography say the map visualizes 464 global cables and 1,245 landing stations, as well as major future deployments. The map further analyses the changing dynamics in the market and influence of new players on submarine cable investments.

TeleGeography states that content providers share of total capacity surged from less than 10% prior to 2012, to 66% in 2020. Unlike previous cable construction booms, content providers like Amazon, Google, Facebook, and Microsoft are taking a more active role in the submarine cable market. These companies alone have such incredible demand for data centre traffic that theyre driving projects and route prioritisation for submarine cable systems. Google alone has more than 15 subsea cable investments globally.

TeleGeography Research Director Alan Mauldin said, Were excited to launch our latest Submarine Cable Map and would like to thank Telecom Egypt for supporting it this year. The 2021 map illustrates a market thats experiencing more deployments, with new and diverse players. Over the last decade, weve seen content providers emerge as disruptors, ramping up investments to meet global demand for their services.

The submarine cable market has never been so dynamic and were thrilled to showcase our data and analysis on all things subsea cable.

TeleGeography claims that there is no shortage of cable facts hidden throughout this map. Take this stat, for example: there are over 1.3 million km of submarine cables spanning the globe, which would wrap around Earth more than 30 times end-to-end. Of the 464 cables displayed in this 2021 edition of this map, 428 are active and 36 are planned. Out of these planned cables, 19 are brand new to TeleGeographys map, boasting a combined length 103,348 km.

New subsea cables have been deployed across every global route grouping, with more systems expected in the coming three years. The Intra-Asian route is expected to experience the most investment, with a projected $1.6 billion in new cables to be launched.

The map covers Singapore and Tokyo hubs in the Asia Pacific region well, however has little detail on hubs in Australia.



TeleGeographys Submarine Cable Map is available to order as a physical piece or to explore as an interactive version reference. View the interactive map here.
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Nearly a quarter of vehicles leased by Kentucky may be underutilized
Staff Writer

Jonathan Roberts is a reporter and photographer for the Johnson City Press covering Jonesborough, healthcare and higher education. He is a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, and has been with the Press since 2019.
Jonesboro, AR (72401)

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Some clouds in the morning will give way to mainly sunny skies for the afternoon. High 84F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph..

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Clear skies. Low 62F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph.
Joplin, MO (64801)

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Some clouds in the morning will give way to mainly sunny skies for the afternoon. High near 85F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph..

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HURTIGRUTEN EXPEDITIONS LAUNCHES EPIC POLE-TO-POLE EXPEDITION CRUISES Hurtigruten Expeditions, the world leader in exploration travel, has unveiled an epic 93-day Pole to pole expedition cruise  exploring Alaska, the Northwest Passage, Greenland, the Caribbean, the Panama Canal, South America, and Antarctica in one monumental voyage. HURTIGRUTEN EXPEDITIONS LAUNCHES EPIC POLE-TO-POLE EXPEDITION CRUISES Hurtigruten Expeditions, the world leader in exploration travel, has unveiled an epic 93-day Pole to pole expedition cruise  exploring Alaska, the Northwest Passage, Greenland, the Caribbean, the Panama Canal, South America, and Antarctica in one monumental voyage. Events - Ultimate Luxury Experiences - Communication/Marketing

More Ultimate Luxury Experiences: Sea, Cruises, Yachting, Paradise Islands...

This is a press release Category: Worldwide More Ultimate Luxury Experiences: Outstanding offers This is a press release selected by our editorial committee and published online for free on 2021-06-15







epic 93-day adventure on board battery-hybrid powered MS Roald Amundsen.



This is the first of two new pole-to-pole itineraries, with MS Fram setting sail for an epic 66-day expedition cruise from the Arctic to Antarctica a little over a month later.



The two new itineraries will encompass several bucket list destinations and experiences, including some of the worlds most beautiful and remote places in Antarctica, Canadas Northwest Passage, the Chilean Fjords, and Greenland, as well as crossing through the Panama Canal. Pole to Pole Adventure: The Ultimate Bucket List Expedition Cruise In the wake of polar hero Roald Amundsen The 93-day itinerary departs Vancouver on August 8, 2022 and will visit 11 countries  and Antarctica  before disembarking adventurous guests in Buenos Aires.



The expedition cruise will be with the MS Roald Amundsen, which is not only the worlds first battery-hybrid powered cruise ship, but also fittingly named after the first explorer to successfully reach both the North and South poles, as well as the first person to navigate through the Northwest Passage, which he did in 1903.



The vast voyage includes the rarely visited Aleutian Islands along the Alaskan Peninsula and the deserted St. Matthew Island, the most isolated place in Alaska, before crossing the Artic Circle and heading through the fabled Northwest Passage to Greenland and Baffin Island.



Along the journey towards The South, unique stops include Belize and Nicaragua before the Panama Canal and exploring the majestic South American coastline.



Full itinerary can be found here. The exclusive itinerary starts at $64,581 per person. Between the Poles: The Epic Global Expedition Cruise  The 66-day alternative Hurtigruten Expeditions is also offering a 66-day long expedition option that visits seven countries between Edmonton, Canada, and Santiago de Chile, departing September 22, 2022.



The MS Fram will take guests through the Canadian Arctic to Greenland, before heading south, through the Caribbean, the Panama Canal, exploring the coast of South America, and do some of the first landings in Antarctica that season.



Hurtigruten Expeditions MS Fram is named after the original explorer ship Fram, one of the mightiest expedition ships of all times and used on a series of expeditions between 1893 and 1912  including Roald Amundsens 1911 Antarctica expedition where he reached the South Pole.



Full itinerary can be found here. This unique trip starts at $50,143 per person.



These extraordinary expedition cruises will offer more bucket list destinations and once-in-a-lifetime experiences than we have ever before offered in one voyage. They will showcase some of the most spectacular nature and wildlife of our planet and offer authentic encounters with unique cultures. We proudly believe they represent the most epic voyages of modern-day expedition cruising, said Asta Lassesen, CEO, Hurtigruten Expeditions.



Exploring some of the most remote and unique waters of the world for 93 or 66 days, some only accessible by small expedition ships like ours, make these guests true modern explorers. These are exceptional opportunities that only very, very few people get to experience, said Captain Terje Johnny Willassen who is one of the two Masters who will be captaining MS Roald Amundsen from Pole to Pole in the fall of 2022.



Additional pre and post tours are available, including other bucket list destinations such as Easter Island and Machu Picchu, which could be added to end of the trip. About Hurtigruten Expeditions  the world leader in exploration travel Hurtigruten Expeditions is the worlds largest and leading expedition cruise line. With sustainability and exploration at core, we offer big adventures on small ships  taking you to some of the most spectacular areas of our planet.



Tracing our roots back to the great explorers and golden age of exploration, the curiosity, sense of adventure, love for our planet, and the art of exploration is deeply embedded in our DNA.



With Hurtigruten Expeditions, you can join fellow explorers on adventures to 30+ countries and more than 250 destinations, including Antarctica, Alaska, Northwest Passage, Greenland, Iceland, Svalbard, Norway, British Isles, South America, Caribbean, and more.



Hurtigruten Expeditions fleet of seven small-size custom-built ships includes the worlds first battery-hybrid powered cruise ships  and a variety of green technology enabling to explore more sustainably.



Onboard, you will join our team of experts. Hand-picked for your adventure, they will join you as you explore wildlife, nature, local communities and more, taking full advantage of our onboard Science Center and abundance of expedition equipment - making sure we can take you where the big ships cant.



As generations of explorers have done before us, we are always looking for new adventures and new areas to explore, and new adventures to embark on. Join us  and explore more!



Ultimate luxury experience will end on 2022-09-22














During session, Eric can be found at the Capitol in Hartford, reporting the information that readers want and need to know. For insights and updates on legislation, politicians, committees, and commissions that affect the entire state of Connecticut, follow Eric on Twitter: @BednerEric.
The AICPA and the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) on Tuesday launched the CPA Evolution Model Curriculum (CPAEMC), a recommended blueprint for an accounting program designed to help educators prepare graduates for the changing demands of the CPA profession. The CPAEMC outlines suggested courses colleges and universities can offer to align their accounting programs with CPA Evolution, a new CPA licensure model expected to debut in 2024.

Under the CPA Evolution model, CPA Exam candidates will all take three Core sections, which will test their fundamental knowledge in the areas of accounting, audit, and tax/regulation, with a recognition of the ways technology has impacted these three areas. They will then take an Exam section in their choice of one of three Disciplines: tax compliance and planning (TCP), business analysis and reporting (BAR), or information systems and controls (ISC). The AICPA anticipates rolling out a new version of the CPA Exam based on this model in 2024.

Task forces of educators and practitioners, representing schools and employers of all sizes from across the United States, developed the CPAEMC in a months-long collaborative process. They examined the most recent CPA Exam Blueprints and lists of learning objectives and decided what material to retain, leave out, or add, while considering insights from the most recent practice analysis.

Their goal, said BAR co-Chair Kimberly Swanson Church, Ph.D., director of the School of Accountancy at Missouri State University in Springfield, Mo., was to include the topics that new accounting hires most needed to know during their first two years of employment. The material that was taken out is still important, but its material they are less likely to be exposed to early in their careers, she said.

The CPAEMC is meant to serve as a starting point for how schools can reimagine their curricula, said Core co-Chair Wendy Tietz, CPA, CGMA, Ph.D., professor of accounting at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. Every curriculum is going to reflect that model curriculum differently, she said. Schools will need to take a look at their resources, students, and local employers and determine how to shape the CPA Evolution Model Curriculum to best fit their programs needs, she said.

The CPAEMC includes an increased emphasis on technology. The ISC Discipline is heavily technology-focused, and the BAR Discipline includes data analytics.

TCP co-Chair Stephanie Saunders, CPA, owner, Saunders and Saunders in Virginia Beach, Va., approved of the prominence of technology in the CPAEMC and said it would help the profession remain relevant.

All of a sudden, we saw that firms were hiring IT professionals and not accounting graduates, she said. It was a wake-up call. What we need to do is make sure the CPA Exam and education are aligned with whats really happening in practice today.

Audrey Katcher, CPA/CITP, CGMA, ISC co-chair and partner and leader of IT Risk Services, which includes Assurance and Advisory Services, at RubinBrown in St. Louis, said that the CPAEMC would ultimately help employers hire candidates with the right skill sets. Its become hard to find candidates with the necessary understanding of IT, she said.

Task force members kept the needs of smaller schools in mind throughout the process of developing the CPAEMC, Church said. We were always very mindful of budgets and resources, she said. Every time we added a learning objective, wed have a discussion about how it could be implemented, she said, considering such factors as whether free or low-cost software was available to teach certain technological skills.

Smaller accounting programs may decide to partner with other schools or departments to give students more exposure to the topics covered in the three Disciplines, Tietz said. For instance, some of the material in the ISC Discipline might be covered in computer science or management information systems classes, she said. Church said that CPA Evolution has inspired her to reach across the aisle to the IT department and confer with that departments head about how they can work together.

Practitioners will want to pay attention to the CPAEMC because its a signal as to where the profession is headed and gives you an idea of what your new hires will be prepared to do, Church said. It reveals the evolution in the profession that weve all been observing over the last 10 years.

Im glad the fundamentals of accounting have been retained, she added, but Im also excited to see the profession embracing emerging and disruptive technologies.

The AICPA and NASBA are introducing the CPAEMC to educators during a free two-day launch event in which members of the CPAEMC task forces discuss topics and learning objectives for their subject areas in depth.

The AICPA is providing educators with resources they can use to help implement the CPAEMC at their schools and integrate more technology into their courses. Educators can access these resources through the Academic Resource Hub and receive updates by signing up for the free Extra Credit newsletter, joining the AICPAs Academics LinkedIn group, or visiting EvolutionofCPA.org.

 Courtney L. Vien (Courtney.Vien@aicpa-cima.com) is a JofA senior editor.
Today

Thunderstorms in the morning followed by occasional showers in the afternoon. High around 80F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%.

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. Low 56F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.

Tomorrow

A mainly sunny sky. High 83F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
Today

Thunderstorms in the morning followed by occasional showers in the afternoon. High near 80F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%.

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. Low 56F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.

Tomorrow

Mainly sunny. High 83F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
Classes in the Wilkes County Schools will start on Aug. 23 and end on May 25 in 2021-22 as a result of a calendar approved by the Wilkes Board of Education on Feb. 1.
Myanmars ambassador to the United Nations, who has refused to leave his post despite being fired after the February coup, has called for effective collective measures against the junta, ahead of expected Security Council talks on the situation.

It is most urgent that the international community take effective collective measures to prevent any possible crimes against humanity from happening and the emergence of a potential regional humanitarian crisis, Kyaw Moe Tun wrote in a letter to the world body dated May 28 and published on Monday.

Strong, decisive and unified measures are imperative and needed immediately, he wrote.

The lack of such actions by the international community will further encourage the military to continue committing inhumane and brutal acts against civilians and will result in the further loss of lives of innocent civilians in Myanmar.

Kyaw Moe Tun has passionately rejected the February 1 coup and brushed aside the juntas claims that he no longer represents Myanmar. The United Nations still considers him as the rightful envoy.

He said that the lack of forceful international reaction in the wake of the coup, which ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, helped facilitate the deadly crackdown on anti-coup protesters.

If the international community, including the United Nations, had taken decisive and timely action against the military, it would have prevented the loss of over 800 innocent lives, he wrote.

China has repeatedly worked to delay Security Council talks on Myanmar, but a closed-door meeting is scheduled for Friday, in order to discuss mediation efforts by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, diplomats said Monday.

The Council is expected to hear a presentation by Erywan Pehin Yusof, Bruneis second minister for foreign affairs, who was one of two ASEAN envoys to meet with junta leader Min Aung Hlaing earlier this month.

The pair were unable to meet with members of a shadow government made up of former lawmakers  mostly from Suu Kyis National League for Democracy Party.

ASEAN has led diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis in Myanmar, but the regional bloc is not known for its diplomatic clout and observers have questioned how effectively it can influence events in the country.

Brunei is the ASEAN chair for 2021.

The last Security Council meeting on Myanmar took place on April 30. In a unanimous statement, the councils 15 members called for an immediate end to violence in Myanmar as stated in an ASEAN plan.

That plan also called for the naming of an ASEAN envoy tasked with handling the crisis, but so far, no one has been named to that position.

On Friday, the Council is also expected to hear from the UN special envoy to Myanmar, Christine Schraner Burgener, who recently returned from a long trip to the region, but without a stop in Myanmar, as the junta has barred her.

The UN General Assembly is currently at an impasse over a resolution proposed by Liechtenstein that would call for an arms embargo on the military leadership.

Diplomats say Liechtenstein has been kept out of recent discussions, with Western powers taking over, adding it is less and less likely that an arms embargo, as called for by Myanmars UN envoy, will be put to a vote anytime soon.
Ivory Coasts former president Laurent Gbagbo returns on Thursday to a country that he left in humiliation almost a decade ago, forced out after a bloody conflict and dispatched to The Hague to face charges of crimes against humanity.

His homecoming will be a key test of stability in Ivory Coast, the worlds biggest cocoa producer and the wealthiest country in francophone West Africa.

Gbagbo, 76, is set to arrive aboard a commercial flight from Brussels, his home since the International Criminal Court (ICC) acquitted him in 2019. An appeal against the ruling failed in March, paving the way for his return.

Gbagbo was ousted in April 2011 after a war sparked by his refusal to accept electoral defeat at the hands of Alassane Ouattara, the current president.

Around 3,000 people died in the months-long conflict, which left Ivory Coast divided along north-south lines.

Today, Gbagbo has been recast in the role of statesman, called upon to help national reconciliation after elections last year left scores of dead.

Ouattara, 79, has facilitated his return, issuing his rival with a diplomatic passport and promising him the rewards and status due to ex-presidents.

In a powerful message, Ouattara has made the presidential salon at Abidjan airport available for his return, the secretary of Gbagbos Ivorian Popular Party, Assoua Adou, told AFP on Monday.

 Veteran 

Gbagbo is among a handful of powerful, ageing politicians whose careers were forged in Ivory Coasts early years of independence from France.

A historian and socialist from a humble background in a country whose politics is dominated by well-off families, he launched a campaign in the 1970s to end the countrys single-party system.

He was jailed for almost two years and in the 1980s spent years in exile in France.

After he returned and a multiparty system was introduced, Gbagbo became the sole opposition candidate to Felix Houphouet-Boigny, Ivory Coasts revered founding father, in elections in 1990.

Gbagbo was elected president in 2000, but his tenure was marked by division and rebellion.

Elections that should have been held in 2005 were postponed again and again until 2010, when he lost to Ouattara, and conflict erupted.

Gbagbo has accused France of being behind the plot that led to his arrest on April 11, 2011 by Ouattaras French-backed forces.

 Calls for return 

Gbagbos supporters chorused for his return after his acquittal by the ICC in 2019.

But their campaign gained special traction last year after Ouattara declared he would bid for a third term in office  a move that critics said violated the constitution.

After scores of deaths and a ballot largely boycotted by the opposition, Ouattara found himself re-elected by a landslide  but presiding over a divided country fearful of another descent into bloodshed.

In his home region of Gagnoa, where he is a cult figure, Gbagbos face has been emblazoned on caps, T-shirts and colourful kaftans proclaiming that the Lion of Africa Is Back.

He was a perfect president, said one of his supporters, Agnes Koudy. With him, there was joy in being alive. Weve missed him so much.

Joseph Goli Obou, 71, a traditional chief clad in a gown bearing Gbagbos face, said: When a son is gone from you for a while, you do not stand back when he comes back.

I am getting the whole village swept. I am preparing food for the people who are coming with him  sheep, beef. I have already prepared his house, his bed.

The FPI have insisted that Gbagbo is returning in peace. In March, his party took part in legislative elections, ending a decade-long boycott of the ballot box.

But the authorities have been worried that celebrations could turn violent or that Gbagbo, a skilled orator and wily politician, may not play the alloted role of elder statesman.

The wounds are still open and the authorities are worried that Gbagbo will stir up the crowds again, which is one of his hallmarks, said Rinaldo Depagne, a researcher at the International Crisis Group (ICG) think tank.

If Gbagbo actively works on reconciliation, this would be a good thing, because he carries considerable weight, Depagne said.
Former Ivory Coast president Laurent Gbagbo is scheduled to arrive home on Thursday after being cleared of crimes against humanity for violence following the countrys 2010 election.

Here is a timeline of the case since the disputed vote.

 2010: Contested election 

A presidential election finally takes place in Ivory Coast in 2010 after six postponements since 2005.

The constitutional council declares incumbent Gbagbo victor but the electoral commission says his old rival Alassane Ouattara has won.

The United Nations says Ouattara  a former prime minister from the mainly Muslim north  won. Gbagbo refuses to acknowledge defeat.

In 2011, after four months of tension and unsuccessful mediation efforts, forces loyal to Ouattara, made up of ex-rebels from the north, win control of much of the country.

 2011: Gbagbo arrest 

French and UN soldiers deploy in the economic capital Abidjan to prevent the use of heavy weapons.

After 10 days of fighting in the city, Gbagbo is arrested by Ouattaras troops. More than 3,000 people die during the crisis.

In May 2011 Ouattara is sworn in as president. He is re-elected in 2015.

 2016: In the dock 

Gbagbo is transferred to the International Criminal Court in The Hague in November, and in 2014 he is joined by his close associate Charles Ble Goude.

The trial of both men begins on January 28, 2016, making Gbagbo the first former head of state to stand trial in The Hague.

Gbagbo and Ble Goude are accused of four counts of crimes against humanity over the 2010-11 bloodshed. They plead not guilty.

Simone Gbagbo, the former first lady, also stands trial in Abidjan and is jailed. But in 2018 Ouattara amnesties her along with some 800 people in a spirit of national reconciliation.

 2019: Shock verdict 

In a stunning blow to the war crimes tribunal, judges at The Hague in January 2019 acquit Gbagbo and order his immediate release, and also that of Ble Goude.

Belgium agrees to host Gbagbo after he is released under strict conditions, including his return to court for a prosecution appeal against his acquittal.

 2020: Ouattara wins again 

The ICC in May 2020 announces Gbagbo is permitted to leave Belgium under certain conditions as he insists he will return to Ivory Coast.

Technically he could be jailed on his return, having been sentenced in absentia to a 20-year term for looting the local branch of the Central Bank of the West African States during the 2010 crisis.

Ahead of the presidential election in October, Ivory Coasts constitutional court rejects some 40 candidacies, including Gbagbos. Ouattara wins the vote.

 2021: Gbagbo comeback? 

Gbagbos Ivorian Popular Front party returns to the ballot papers in legislative elections in March 2021. It had boycotted all votes since his ICC arrest. It gets less than two percent of the vote.

The ICC on March 31 upholds Gbagbos acquittal on crimes against humanity.

Ouattara says Gbagbo is welcome to return home.

On June 9, after weeks negotiating details with a government keen to avoid unrest, Gbagbo sets the afternoon of June 17 for his return.

burs/jmy/fg/pvh
Key dates in the life of former Ivory Coast president Laurent Gbagbo, who is scheduled to return home on Thursday after being acquitted of crimes against humanity in The Hague.

 May 31, 1945: Born in the south-central Ivory Coast region of Gagnoa, to the Bete ethnic group. Educated in a Christian seminary.

 1971: Becomes a history professor. Emerges as critic of Ivory Coasts post-independence single-party system. He is imprisoned for almost two years for subversive teaching.

 1982: Founds the Ivorian Popular Front (FPI) to fight one-party rule. Goes into exile in France.

 1988: Returns to take part in the FPI party congress.

 1990: Is the sole opposition candidate at presidential elections against Felix Houphouet-Boigny, the father of Ivory Coasts independence, after a multiparty system is introduced.

 October 26, 2000: Elected president.

 September 2002: Renegade soldiers try to oust Gbagbo. Rebels take over the north of the country but the government retains control of the south.

 2005: The presidential election is postponed for the first of six times before finally being held in 2010.

 2007: Gbagbo and northern rebel chief Guillaume Soro sign an agreement to end the crisis. Gbagbo appoints Soro as prime minister.

 April 11, 2011: Arrested in Abidjan after more than four months of crisis after he refuses to acknowledge defeat at the November 2010 election against Alassane Ouattara. More than 3,000 people die.

 November 30, 2011: Is transferred to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.

 January 15, 2019: Acquitted by the ICC on charges of crimes against humanity. Freed on strict conditions in February pending a prosecution appeal. He lives in Belgium.

 September 14, 2020: Ahead of the presidential election in October, Ivory Coasts constitutional court rejects Gbagbos candidacy.

 March 31, 2021: The ICC confirms his acquittal.

 June 17, 2021: Scheduled return to Ivory Coast.
Theres a been a breath-taking flurry of activity during the last eighteen months of Fatou Bensoudas tenure as prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The Palestine investigation has finally kicked off, with all the diplomatic blowback to be expected after she gave room, via a request to judges for a jurisdiction ruling, to states to weigh in on why this investigation was wrongly premised. She was personally battered by the United States over her Afghanistan investigation which may stray into victims of CIA rendition. Shes concluded major cases against Bosco Ntaganda and Dominic Ongwen. With the support of the judges she added events in Myanmar  a non-state party  to her list of investigations. Shes kicked off new court cases concerning Central African Republic, Mali and  in a remarkable vindication of the Office of the Prosecutors persistence  has begun a Darfur case more than 15 years since that situation was referred to the ICC by the United Nations Security Council.

Altogether, shes ending her tenure with a straighter back and head held higher than seemed possible part way through her stewardship of the top job, having inherited (and been previously partly responsible for as deputy prosecutor from 2004 to 2012) poor investigations and a disastrous relationship with many African states.

But that very expansion has also left the newcomer Karim Khan with what scholar Kevin Jon Heller has described as a mess during a recent online discussion with her decisions to add Georgia, Burundi to the roster of investigations, and with her most recent move to the investigation stage in Ukraine and Nigeria  and at the very last minute, requesting opening The Philippines  with no funding. Plus the failure to wrap up Colombia and Guinea, and one-sided prosecutions in Cote dIvoire, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). There, governments have not been held accountable for mass violence. Its not just unfinished business, says Anni Pues, a lecturer at Glasgow School of Law, but rather that the court leaves now little chance to leave a positive legacy of justice, especially in Uganda where the ICC has lost some of its credibility a long time ago.

The ICC has made so many compromises

Bensouda also decided not to pursue UK forces for their role in Iraq in 2003-2009. Along with the debacle of the Kenya cases where no-one was held responsible for the 2007-2008 post-election violence, some human rights NGOs are disillusioned. I dont know what is left of any reason to trust that the ICC still represents what it was created for. It has made so many compromises, says George Kegoro, executive director of Open Society Initiative for East Africa, an NGO. Especially complex will be how Khan navigates the diplomatic complexities of the Palestine investigation in a way that is convincing to the broader publics and the different audiences, and that at the same time doesnt lose him the support of key states, says Pues.

So what can the new prosecutor do to steady the ship? The court is undergoing extreme pressure following a damming Independent Expert Review last September with many suggested changes that would affect the Office of the Prosecutor. Khan faces internal challenges, external ones, and still has a hill to climb in gaining the confidence of some quarters, especially in East Africa, after a long and chaotic election. How he straddles the variety of expectations without being overwhelmed by the multiple demands on the limited ICC resources will define whether hes seen as a success or not.

Some commentators seem to think that Bensouda should be congratulated for lasting as long as she has at the court, because as one former insider put it, its an extraordinarily hard place to work. The Expert Review noted a toxic environment and culture of bullying and fear. This will be one of the many important elements Khan will have to tackle. But there are other internal challenges. If Khan is to make changes, hes going to need to be able to bring in people that have the same commitment to change that he does, said Heller, the heads of the various divisions in the Office of the Prosecutor have simply been there too long.

The Expert Review certainly noted that a high percentage of senior court officials had been in the institution for more than a decade. Alex Whiting, formerly with the ICC, says that the current organisational structure is overly complicated, creating bottlenecks and impeding swift decision-making. Khan, in a recent interview for the Asymmetrical Haircuts podcast, says he will always endeavour to listen but also [not] shirk decisions. His choice as deputy prosecutor  to be approved by member states  will be crucial. He has already committed to picking a woman, providing some needed gender balance  Bensoudas heads and closest advisors were all male.

The first prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Argentinas Luis Moreno-Ocampo (left), with his then deputy prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda (right), in a photo taken in June 2012.  Bas Czerwinski / ANP / AFP

Prioritise viable investigations

One of the highlights of Bensoudas tenure has been the attempt to move out of Africa and into situations in other parts of the world. But investigations in Afghanistan, Palestine and Myanmar all involve non-member states, including the powerful duo of the US and Israel. And with opening the investigation into Ukraine, the court is on a continued clashing course with another powerful non-member, Russia, already not cooperating over Georgia, a situation where no individual case has been brought to fruition by Bensouda five years after she opened a full investigation. Whiting suggests that Khan has been somewhat boxed in by Bensoudas decisions but that he has plenty of room to see which ones are viable and prioritise those. Hes is inheriting an interesting portfolio of situations, says Pues, but turning those investigations into successful prosecutions would be incredibly difficult and a massive challenge. She says the British lawyer will have to explain why he has prioritized one situation and therefore neglected another even though it is hugely important as well, and retain credibility. That would require to work out how to communicate his priorities within the courts limited resources so that then the ball is kicked back into the court of the international community to task them with either coming up with more resources or with other forms of [justice] mechanisms that could support the ICC, Pues says.

Khan himself certainly sounds as if he will be pragmatic. The quest for accountability, we shouldnt be parochial about it. I dont think it matters too much for most victims where justice takes place as long as it takes place, he says, looking back on his time investigating Islamic State crimes.

The new prosecutor can certainly build on the policy developments Bensouda has set in place  on dealing with children, and on sexual and gender-based crimes. Her team was also working on a benchmarking system to enable assessment and closure of preliminary examinations. Khan has shown himself also an aficionado of policy papers with two issues under his tenure as head of the UN Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Islamic State (UNITAD), on trauma-informed investigations and use of technology. Technology cant replace the human aspect, he says, but its part of being in the 21st century and an important resource to facilitate and accelerate the work that we have to do. Such creativity with investigative methods may be one of the sort of fields in which he can leave his footprint, says Pues.

This guy understands the art of deal making with states

As the court undergoes the reform process it will  as always  be hoping to get some more cash. Both Khans predecessors have argued for more resources. Maybe hell charm them, says Whiting, maybe hell persuade them with his energy and ideas. But I think he has to expect that states are not likely to expand the budget significantly and think about how you succeed with what you have. Heller points out that the Expert Review has many really good suggestions for how to increase the number and quality of personnel without actually needing a larger budget, by encouraging member states to lend prosecutors and investigators and analysts, borrowing staff from UN agencies, encouraging NGOs and universities to lend experts to the court. Khan is going to have to be creative to get the people that he needs to accomplish the ends that he sets for the office, says Heller.

Bensoudas own identity as an African played a part in helping to calm the courts acutely disturbed relationship with African states, but thats still a very fragile thing, says Pues, while musing that Khans identity as Muslim might allow more identification with, say, a more diverse community.

Since Khan was elected in what was a contentious process, theres been a notable enthusiasm about him within much of the international justice practitioners community and some hope for his ability to bring about change. But his election victory did not convince others. Its very difficult to trust Karim Khan, says Kegoro referring to the time he was defending Kenyas top men from allegations of crimes against humanity, he was condescending, he was domineering, he bullied people while playing victim. Khans role not only as a defence counsel, but apparently as a close confidant of the inner circles of the Kenyan government is his albatross. This guy understands the art of deal making with states, says Kegoro. Hes done one with Kenya. He can be trusted to do more with a broader number of states. He becomes prosecutor in the eyes of very many people as a continuation of that insider relationship with governments that has landed him in the office of prosecutor. Very, very unlikely journey, but a journey that nevertheless succeeded. He made the impossible possible when having been excluded from the shortlist of candidates. So its very difficult for him. [But] theres nothing he cant do.
As Myanmars democratic leader Aung Sang Suu Kyi faces more than a decade behind bars after her ouster in a coup, we look at the fate of some other deposed leaders:

 Jailed Nobel winner 

Myanmars Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi has been in custody since a military putsch toppled her party four months ago and sparked deadly protests.

The junta has brought a sometimes bizarre raft of charges against the former leader, including claims she flouted coronavirus restrictions, illegally imported walkie-talkies, accepted illegal payments of gold and violated a colonial-era secrecy law.

If convicted of all charges in the trial that began Monday, and in another separate trial scheduled to start Tuesday, the 75-year-old Suu Kyi faces more than a decade in jail.

 Sudans al-Bashir 

The army ended Sudanese dictator Omar al-Bashirs 30 years in power in 2019 after a four-month street revolt in which more than 250 people died.

Held in Khartoums high security Kober prison since he was deposed, Bashir has already been convicted of corruption.

His trial for the Islamist-backed 1989 coup which brought him to power started last year, but proceedings have been repeatedly delayed.

If convicted, Bashir could face death by hanging.

He is also wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to face genocide and crimes against humanity charges for massacres in the western Darfur region in 2003 that the UN says left 300,000 people dead.

 Gbagbos war crimes trial 

Ivory Coasts Laurent Gbagbo was ousted in 2011 after a deadly conflict that was sparked by his refusal to accept electoral defeat.

He was arrested then hauled off to the ICC in The Hague to face charges of crimes against humanity, becoming the first head of state to stand trial at the court, over the violence in which more than 3,000 died.

He spent nearly a decade behind bars before he was acquitted in 2019. After an appeal against that ruling failed earlier this year, he announced that he will return to the Ivory Coast Thursday.

 Gambias Yahya Jammeh 

Yahya Jammeh ruled Gambia with an iron fist for 22 years until 2017 when he fled to Equatorial Guinea after losing presidential elections.

Neighbouring nations had threatened a military intervention if he refused to go.

Gambias government subsequently established a Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission to investigate abuses allegedly committed under Jammeh.

It is due to report its findings next month amid calls for Jammeh to return to Gambia to face prosecution.

 Wanted for murder 

Burkina Faso president Blaise Compaore fled to Ivory Coast in 2014 after being ousted in a revolt sparked by his efforts to extend his 27-year hold on power.

A warrant for Compaores arrest was issued in 2016 and in April lawyers said he would be tried for the murder of the man he ousted in 1987, revolutionary hero Thomas Sankara.

 Morsi drops dead in dock 

Egypts first democratically-elected civilian president Mohamed Morsi came to power in 2012 but was toppled a year later by the military after mass protests.

Mid-trial in 2019, Morsi collapsed and died during a court hearing. UN experts said brutal prison conditions probably contributed to his death.

 Thais Serbian exile 

Thailands army seized power in 2014 after months of demonstrations against the elected government of Yingluck Shinawatra, the sister of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, himself driven out by a coup in 2006.

Yingluck was jailed but in 2017, with the kingdom still under junta rule, she furtively slipped out a few weeks before she was handed a five-year sentence for negligence over a costly rice subsidy scheme.

In 2019 a Serbian magazine published an image of a government document that said Yingluck had obtained Serbian citizenship.
Ebrahim Raisi, the favourite in Irans presidential election, has used his position at the heart of the judiciary for grave rights violations, including mass executions of political prisoners, activists say.

They say Raisi  who now has victory in his sights on Friday after even conservative rivals were disqualified in vetting  should face international justice rather than lead his country.

At 60, the mid-ranking cleric is still relatively young for a figure who has held a succession of key positions, starting almost immediately after the fall of the shah in the Islamic revolution of 1979.

At just 20, he was appointed prosecutor for the district of Karaj and then for Hamadan province, before in 1985 being promoted to deputy Tehran prosecutor.

It was in this role, campaigners allege, that Raisi played a key part in the executions of thousands of opposition prisoners  mostly suspected members of the proscribed Peoples Mujahedin Organisation of Iran (MEK)  when, activists say, he was part of a four-man Death Committee that sent convicts to their death without a shred of due process.

Raisi, seen by some Iranian media outlets as a possible successor to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has denied personal involvement in the 1988 killings, but also praised the decision to go ahead with the executions.

He subsequently became chief Tehran prosecutor in 1989, and then in 2004, deputy judiciary chief, a position he held for 10 years.

Since 2019, he has served as head of the judiciary.

Raisis only place is in the dock, not the presidency, said Shadi Sadr, executive director of London-based Justice for Iran, which campaigns against impunity for crimes in Iran.

The mere fact he is currently the head of judiciary and running for president demonstrates the level of impunity that the perpetrators of the heinous crimes enjoy in the Islamic Republic of Iran, she said.

 No mercy 

The 1988 killings, which took place from July to September that year allegedly on the direct orders of revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, remain a near taboo in modern Iran.

Most rights groups and historians say between 4,000 and 5,000 were killed, but the political wing of the MEK, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), puts the figure at closer to 30,000.

Last year, seven special UN rapporteurs told the Iranian government that the situation may amount to crimes against humanity and urged an international probe if Tehran did not show full accountability.

Amnesty International came to a similar conclusion in a 2018 report, which identified Raisi as a member of the Tehran death commission that secretly sent thousands to their deaths in Evin prison in Tehran and Gohardasht prison in Karaj.

The vast majority of the bodies were buried in unmarked mass graves and Iran continues to conceal the fate of the victims and the whereabouts of their remains, it charged.

The rights groups Iran researcher Raha Bahreini told AFP that Raisi should be criminally investigated for the crimes against humanity of murder, enforced disappearance and torture, including by foreign countries under the principle of universal jurisdiction.

According to an audio recording that emerged in 2016, Hossein Ali Montazeri, once Khomeinis likely successor but later pushed aside, in August 1988 told members of the death commission including Raisi that the killings were the greatest crime in the history of the Islamic Republic.

Hossein Abedini, a member of the foreign affairs committee of the NCRI, described Raisi as a stone hearted killer with a 40-year track record of repression.

Former prisoners, now living in exile who said they had survived the massacres, testified in a conference organised by the NCRI last week that they had personally seen Raisi working as a member of the commission.

When I entered the death commission I saw Raisi a white shirt and Revolutionary Guards uniform, Reza Shemirani, who was imprisoned for 10 years and now lives in Switzerland, told the conference.

Raisi, he said, was the most active member of the commission, while Mahmoud Royaei, who was jailed from 1981 until 1991, said Raisi made the utmost effort to execute everyone.

Royaei added: He had no mercy.

 Pillar of a system 

When the US Treasury in November 2019 included Raisi in sanctions against members of Khameneis inner circle, it said he had taken part in the 1988 death commission and also was involved in the brutal crackdown on protests that followed the disputed 2009 presidential election.

Under Raisi, according to Amnestys Bahreini, the judiciary ensured that those responsible for a bloody 2019 November crackdown against protesters that left hundreds dead were granted total impunity.

Raisi is a pillar of a system that jails, tortures, and kills people for daring to criticise state policies, said the executive director of the New-York based Centre for Human Rights in Iran, Hadi Ghaemi.

Instead of running for president, he should be tried in an impartial court, he said.
Belgian lawmakers on Tuesday put forward a resolution warning of a serious risk of genocide against the Uyghur Muslim minority in Chinas Xinjiang region, adding to Western pressure on Beijing.

The motion was approved by the parliaments foreign relations committee and will be confirmed by a plenary session on July 1, the MP who authored the resolution Samuel Cogolati told AFP.

Cogolati, who has himself already been hit by sanctions from Beijing, initially pushed for a tougher statement blaming China for committing the crime of genocide.

But the resolution was toned down last week after a debate inside Belgiums majority coalition of liberals, socialists and greens.

Cogolati still welcomed Tuesdays approval as a historic vote, that was unimaginable a month ago.

Those behind the text said it would make Belgiums the sixth democratic parliament after Canada, the Netherlands, Britain, Lithuania and the Czech Republic to denounce crimes against humanity against the Uyghurs.

G7 leaders on Sunday called on China in a joint statement after their meeting to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms, especially in relation to Xinjiang.

A report from rights group Amnesty International last week accused Beijing of systematic state-organised mass imprisonment, torture and persecution amounting to crimes against humanity in the northwestern region.

China denies allegations that it is committing crimes on a vast scale by forcing up to one million Uyghurs and people from other ethnic-Turkic minorities into internment camps in the region of Xinjiang.
Ontario announced Tuesday Can$10 million (US$8 million) to search for and look after unmarked graves of indigenous residential school students in the Canadian province, after burials were discovered elsewhere in the country.

Like all Ontarians, I was heartbroken by the tragic news that a burial site was found at a former residential school in Kamloops, British Columbia, Ontario Premier Doug Ford told a news conference.

We grieve for the 215 children that lost their lives (in Kamloops), as well as their families and the communities that they were taken from, Ford said.

This is a moment to recognize the painful legacy of Canadas residential school system, and of the damaging lasting effects it has had on survivors and indigenous communities.

Canada has been convulsed by the discovery of remains at the Kamloops Indian Residential School in British Columbia, where only 50 deaths were officially recorded.

The school was one of 139 boarding schools set up across Canada a century ago to forcibly assimilate the countrys indigenous peoples.

More than 4,100 students are believed to have died from disease or malnutrition at the schools, where students were physically and sexually abused by headmasters and teachers who stripped them of their culture and language.

The Ontario funding, spread over three years, will be used to identify, investigate, protect and commemorate residential school burial sites and cemeteries, Ford said.

In some cases, if it is the wish of their families and communities, the childrens remains may be repatriated.

A truth and reconciliation commission has identified 17 former residential schools in Ontario, and 12 possible unmarked burial sites.

The British Columbia coroner is working with the Tkemlups te Secwepemc tribe to identify the remains and causes of deaths of the 215 pupils at the Kamloops school, while pressure is mounting on the Oblates of Mary Immaculate who ran the school on behalf of the federal government to release their records.

Searches have also turned up more unmarked student grave sites in Manitoba and Saskatchewan provinces.
Murugappans moved to a community detention facility in Perth thousands of kilometers away from their home, while the youngest daughter was battling a fatal infection.

Australia has stated that it will allow Tamil families of four to leave the immigration detention facility on remote Christmas Island, but will not allow them to return to their home in Queensland. Instead, they will be placed in a community detention facility in the western city of Perth, about 4,000 kilometers away (2,485 miles) away.

Murugappans two children were born in Australia and they are Sent to Christmas Island, After the asylum applications of parents Nades and Priya were rejected, the court considered their legal appeal and the situation of their youngest daughter Tharunicca.

Last week, after the three-year-old had to leave, their plight was once again the focus of attention. Medical evacuation Go to Perth Hospital, because a serious blood infection is believed to be caused by untreated pneumonia.

Immigration Minister Alex Hawke did not mention the familys name. He said that when making the decision, he was in the governments continued commitment to a strong border protection policy and appropriate in situations involving detained children. A balance is struck between sympathy.

Angela Fredericks, a friend of Murugappans who has been leading their return movement, said that although the news that their families will be reunited is welcome, they should be allowed to return to Biloela.

Community detention does not guarantee the safety and peace of this family, Fredericks said in a statement. Nades is eager to return to work in Biloela to support his young family. Priya wants Kopika to enter Biloela State School to continue her studies. We promised Tharni Jr. to hold a grand birthday party when he returns home. Australia knows that this familys home is in Biloela Ella.

In March 2018, during an early morning raid by immigration officials, a family of four was suddenly taken away and sent to an immigration detention center in Melbourne, Australias second largest city. Their case caused a nationwide outcry in a country notorious for taking a tough attitude towards asylum seekers and refugees. Send thousands of people trying to arrive by sea to an offshore processing center And tell them that they will never be allowed to settle in the country.

The treatment of this family has caused anger in Australia, and Australias right-wing government is notorious for its tough immigration policies. [File: James Ross/EPA]

Nadesalingam and Priya, Tamils ??from Sri Lanka, arrived by boat and sought asylum in 2012 and 2013, respectively. They met and married in Australia, but were detained after Priyas visa expired.

Michelle Grattan of the University of Canberra wrote in the conversation: If Tharunicca is not seriously ill, the government will not release the family from detention this week. As far as the sympathy the government is showing now. As far as the mind is concerned, it is compassion driven by the bad publicity it has suffered.

Opposition leader Anthony Albanian wrote on Twitter that he recalled his visit to Biloela in 2019 and the communitys love for this young family, I know very well that this family should be allowed to go to HomeToBilo. Lets finish it. He Say.

Queensland Governor Annastacia Palaszczuk also expressed support for the family.

She said in a statement: There is still a long way to go from Biloela. Their friends and neighbors have been fighting for their freedom for so many years. Biloela is a community of 6,000 people. Everyone. We all know each other and take care of each other. I look forward to the day when the family can return to Bilos house.

In October 2019, the United Nations asked Australia to allow the family to stay and gave the government 30 days to comply.

Last week, Interior Minister Karen Andrews stated that the government is looking for relocation options for the family, but in a third country instead of Australia.

Although Tharunicca and Kopika were born in Australia, they did not have the right to obtain Australian citizenship at birth.

After their asylum application was rejected, they tried to deport them in August 2019, but a federal court judge approved the injunction at the last minute, forcing their flight to Sri Lanka to land in Darwin. Their legal actions are still continuing.
Hancock was told to be cautious before denying that COVID winter surge is inevitable

After being urged to be completely honest about the future threat posed by Covid-19, Matt Hancock denied that there will be an inevitable surge in Covid this fall and winter.

The Minister of Health has repeatedly told members of Congress that the expected increase in cases later this year is not inevitable due to the impact of the vaccine program, although he also admitted that it may happen.

He made the remarks after the former Conservative Party Health Minister Jeremy Hunt advised his successor to be cautious and realistic about the impact of the vaccine-breaking variant. Mr. Hancock confirmed that the lifting of restrictions was delayed by four weeks. Mr. Hunt said: I happen to support these measures and the cautious attitude shown by the government.

But can I suggest (Mr. Hancock) that one of the reasons many people are disappointed is the use of words likeirreversible. Tonight Sir Patrick Valance said that we will be with you for the rest of our lives. The co-existence of the new coronavirus.

If there is a vaccine destruction variant that threatens the lives of another 100,000 people, these measures will not be irreversible, and we have a responsibility to treat people completely honestly about the bumps in the road ahead. So, I can urge the Minister of Health to speak to us. Be cautious, just like he is right about NHS bed capacity.
The EU and the U.S. are ready to resolve a The 17-year aircraft subsidy battle, Lifting the threat of billions of dollars of punitive tariffs from its economies in order to promote transatlantic relations.

Diplomats and officials confirmed on Monday night that the two-day intensive negotiations in Brussels put the European Union and the Biden administration on the cusp of confirming an agreement on Airbus subsidy rules. BoeingThis breakthrough is scheduled to be finalized at the first EU-US summit in Brussels by US President Joe Biden on Tuesday.

People close to the meeting said on Monday evening that governments AirbusThe EUs three home countries-Germany, France and Spain-are negotiating on an agreement that could be confirmed on Tuesday morning if there are no last-minute hurdles.

People familiar with the negotiations said that the agreement may still break down and may take the form of a multi-year subsidy restriction agreement.

A breakthrough will lift the cloud of uncertainty that looms over the aviation industry, and at the same time eliminate the threat that EU and US consumer products may be hit by punitive tariffs again due to the dispute.

$7.5 billion





Additional tariffs imposed by the U.S. on European goods in October 2019



These tariffs-a wide range of products from French wines to American spirits and sugar cane syrup-are currently being time out Previously, the European Union and the United States agreed in March to lift it for four months and begin negotiations on a settlement.

The Airbus-Boeing dispute is one of the longest-running battles in the history of the World Trade Organizationboth parties acknowledge that they may be increasingly unable to afford this disagreement as they seek to strengthen cooperation in response to Chinas state capitalist model. .

EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis held talks with U.S. Trade Representative Catherine Tay and Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimundo a few days before the summit, and the two sides worked hard to reach an agreement on this line.

Dais office declined to comment.

Companies on both sides of the Atlantic have long called for solutions. This matter has become more urgent after the United States hit $7.5 billion worth of European exports with additional tariffs in October 2019, and the EU imposed additional tariffs on $4 billion of U.S. exports last year. Both sets of measures are in line with WTO rulings and are beneficial to both sides.

Over the years, both sides have been found to have failed to properly implement the WTOs expert group ruling on providing illegal subsidies for their aircraft manufacturing champions.

Respected

But EU and US trade officials emphasized the complexity of the dispute-both sides disputed the others claims to comply with WTO decisions. The nature of subsidies on both sides of the Atlantic is also very different-EU officials cited the huge US defense contract as an example.

The end of the Airbus-Boeing dispute will remove a key stimulus in the trade relationship, but other factors will remain.

Brussels did not increase tariffs on U.S. goods last month. This is a gesture of good faith in the context of continued disagreement. Tariffs in the Trump era Steel and aluminum in Europe.

The two economies have not completely concealed their differences Digital tax, This issue is now linked to broader international negotiations.
Boris Johnson has the right to be the chairman of the G7 major economy group and the chairman of the United Nations COP26 climate conference. He is not the only one who seized the opportunity of global convening power this year. The same goes for Italy.

Rome served as the presidency of the G20 for a year, with the largest high-income countries joining the largest emerging economic powers such as China, India and Brazil. It is also the co-chair of COP26 and the United Kingdom, although this is a secondary matter. However, the G20, which will be held in Venice next month, is now where the G7 passes.

On most issues on the global agendainternational taxation, global vaccine campaigns, economic recovery, and climate changeit will be difficult to go further without cooperation between high-income countries and developing countries.

For the first time we have begun to see the sequence from G7 to G20 and then to broader institutionalized multilateral diplomacy in such an obvious way, such as OECD taxes or WTO vaccine patents, said Nathalie Tocci, Italian Institute of International Affairs.

Many of the worlds biggest challenges can only be resolved when the major rich countries first reach a consensus, then reach an understanding with the emerging powers and finally ally with all relevant countries. Torch said this makes the G20 a key link in this cascade of multilateralism.

How will Italy view this opportunity? Observers of Italian foreign policy agree that the position of Prime Minister Mario Draghi is very different. Draghis personal status in the international arena is so high that his voice will be more relevant than that of Italy, said Marta Dassu, former deputy foreign minister of Italy.

Dasu said that under Draghis leadership, Italys foreign policy stance returned to a clear pro-European and pro-Atlantic route.

Respected

There are also breakthroughs in style and rhetoric. Italys classic strategy is to wait and see and tend not to participate in conflicts, said Arturo Varvelli, head of the Rome office of the European Commission on Foreign Relations. In the current era, Draghi understands that if you dont participate, you will be completely excluded from the negotiating table.

Italy under Draghi has established a clearer distance from countries such as Turkey (whose leaders he called the dictator), Russia and China. Dasu pointed out that Italy is now actively using the power of golden stocks to prevent Chinas acquisitions in sensitive areas.

This coincides with Draghis attempt to restart US-Europe relations by US President Joe Biden. The US will continue to ensure Europes security, but Europe will support its efforts to oppose Chinas foreign policy and economic ambitions. Instead of choosing a more independent route, Valvilli said.

But this means Draghi can build on the new Western consensus [it] It will not be enough to reach out to the rest. .. Dassu stated that Draghi may not be an ideal bridge between rich and poor countries.

However, compared with other Western countries, Italy may still be in a good position to build consensus, Tocchi said. She said that Italian diplomacy has traditionally not depended on (the country)s ability to move countries forward together, but on the fact that everyone likes us. Despite its colonial history in Africa, the country has not aroused the same vigilance as France or Britain. Italy may be the right country at the right time.

Italys international role is also very important at home. Another consistent point with Biden is that Draghi is willing to invest heavily in support of a sustainable economic recovery after the impact of the pandemic. In the near future, the choice to help the world recover will become the universal paradigm, Varvelli said. In a country strongly tempted by nationalist populism, showing that the matching of national and collective interests will put Draghi in a good position to restore Italys support for multilateralism.
As lawmakers and Joe Biden seek to modify and update the legal basis of US military operations, a symbolic vote is expected later this week.

The U.S. House of Representatives will vote later this week to repeal the war authorization granted by Congress to former President George W. Bush in 2002, allowing the United States to invade and occupy Iraq.

Motion to repeal the bill Authorized use of military power According to CNN, the first AUMF held in Iraq with the support of President Joe Biden is expected to be held in the House of Representatives on Thursday.

The Biden administration stated on Monday that the United States has no ongoing military activities and only uses the 2002 AUMF as a domestic legal basis and its repeal may have minimal impact on current military operations.

But the upcoming vote is seen as the beginning of a larger debate in the U.S. Congress on revising and rebuilding the legal basis for the deployment of American troops in Iraq and elsewhere. Critics of Congress call it eternal war.

The White House said in a statement: The President is committed to working with Congress to ensure that outdated authorizations to use force are replaced with appropriate narrow and specific frameworks to ensure that we can continue to protect Americans from the threat of terrorism. The statement on Monday Support the repeal of the House of Representatives.

However, if there is no alternative authorization to address the modern situation in Iraq, the repeal of the US law will face the suspicion of Senate lawmakers, who must also agree to the House of Representatives resolution to take effect.

The 2002 AUMF was mainly about Saddam Hussein, and it was obviously also used to address terrorist threats in and from Iraq, said representative Michael McCall.

Republican McCall said: Unless we learn from the military that the 2002 AUMF is no longer used to protect Americans, we should not abolish it before replacing it.

This problem recently followed Assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani Many members of the US military on the territory of Iraq believe that such behavior is unreasonable and reckless. The Trump administration later used the 2002 Iraq War authorization as a legitimate reason for Soleimanis attack.

The US and NATO forces invaded Afghanistan after the Al Qaeda attack on September 11, 2001. The former Bush administration subsequently promoted and obtained Congress authorization to invade Iraq in a pre-emptive war to overthrow Saddam Hussein and prevent Iraq from gaining a large scale. Weapons of destruction.

The Bush administrations excuse for invading Iraq was later proved to be based on false statements. Former President Barack Obama agreed to withdraw most of the US troops from Iraq in 2011.

After the US-led campaign aimed at repelling the Islamic State of ISIL (ISIS) and containing the Syrian civil war, some US troops remained in Iraq. U.S. troops continue to clashed with Iranian-backed militias in Iraq.

McCall said: Today there are terrorist organizations funded by Iran in Iraq. They threaten our diplomats, soldiers and citizens.

Ministry of Defense lawyers in Predecessors of the Trump Administration He strongly opposed the abolition of the 2002 Iraqi AUMF alone, because it would abolish the power of the United States to take military actions against militias.

Nonetheless, Congressional Democrats broadly support the abolition of the 2002 mandate for the Iraq War, as well as the Al-Qaida and Afghanistan-related mandates passed by Congress in early 2001.

Biden is already in action Plan to withdraw foreign troops from the U.S. and allies Withdraw from Afghanistan by September 11, 2021, before the 20th anniversary of the Al-Qaida attack.

Over the years, successive presidents have used AMUF in 2001 and 2002 to justify a series of military actions, including Drone attack in YemenIn some cases, this has little to do with the initial conflict that Congress tried to resolve.

The idea that they have not been abolished or ended has no meaning, said leading Democratic Rep. Jim McGovern.

Either we did not have due diligence, or we did not pay close attention to these things, McGovern said on Monday.
People familiar with the matter said that the United States and Europe are stepping up efforts to reach an agreement to end the 17-year-old aircraft subsidy dispute, but may reach a long truce in the recent tariff war.

The agreement to end or suspend the worlds largest corporate trade dispute will ease dozens of other industries affected by the tit-for-tat tariffs that were suspended in March. If there is no progress, they will face a new trade war within a few weeks.

U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai discussed the dispute in the first face-to-face meeting with EU Trade Representative Valdis Dombrovskis before the US-EU summit on Tuesday. She will travel to the UK on Wednesday.

The European Commission and the United States, which oversee EU trade policy, are eager to find a solution when the current transatlantic tariff moratorium ends on July 11.

The two parties have been aiming at two treaties-one between the United States and the European Union, one the original contracting parties, and the other between Washington and London after the United Kingdom withdraws from the European Union-new basic rules on aerospace.

One of the people familiar with the matter said that unless a detailed agreement is reached, they can choose a suspension agreement that will delay the resumption of tariffs for several years, but a final decision has not yet been reached.

Reset relationship

After four years of turmoil under former President Donald Trump, US President Joe Biden promised to re-establish relations with European partners.

Trade experts say that reaching an agreement to freeze jet aircraft subsidies conflicts, some of which have been cancelled or eased, will give both parties more time to focus on broader agendas, such as concerns about Chinas state-driven economic model.

Since 2019, the United States and the European Union have won partial victories in the World Trade Organization (WTO) due to unfair assistance to aircraft manufacturers Boeing and Airbus, imposing tariffs on goods worth $11.5 billion.

Since the United States withdrew from the 1992 aircraft subsidy agreement and brought the European Union into the WTO in 2004, the dispute has been delayed, claiming that Airbus has managed to equal Boeings jet market share, partly because of government loan subsidies.

The EU counterclaimed its so-called unfair R&D support and preferential tax subsidies to Boeing.

People familiar with the matter said that in a potential key breakthrough, the United States played down its opposition to Airbuss future public lending principles, but insisted that they must be clearly market-based and notified in advance.

But they added that there are still obstacles to the extent to which this can effectively allow Washington to approve or block European projects. The EU strongly opposes any veto by the United States.

More important is the benchmark used when deciding whether the interest on any future loan is compatible with the market.

According to the 1992 subsidy agreement, one-third of a project can be funded by direct government support, such as loans and indirect R&D support for liquidation, up to 4% of the companys revenue.

One option is to re-examine the framework and replace subsidy quotas and new caps on indirect R&D support with market rules.

None of the parties agreed to comment on the talks.

Chinas Radar

Former U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer once suggested that the U.S. and the European Union join forces to fight Chinas aircraft subsidies [File: Elijah Nouvelage/Bloomberg]

In December 2020, Robert Lighthizer, the outgoing U.S. trade representative, told Reuters that the United States and Europe should cooperate to oppose Chinas future use of aerospace subsidies.

Two people familiar with the matter said that the United States has conducted a joint review of aerospace funding from non-market economies such as China.

There is no doubt that the rise of Chinas aircraft industry is as we all know, it is well known, Marjorie Jolins, senior vice president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said on Monday, noting what she referred to as Chinas substantial subsidies.

Like the United States, the European Union has disputes with Beijing on trade and security issues this year. But its 27 countries may find it difficult to reach consensus on topics such as aerospace.

For example, in April, Hungary prevented the European Union from making a statement criticizing Chinas new Hong Kong security law, sparking a debate about the right of member states to veto the EUs foreign policy.

The Chinese Embassy in Washington did not immediately comment.

Complications of Brexit

Brexit also complicates negotiations.

In December of last year, the United Kingdom and the United States nearly reached an aerospace agreement, which may force Brussels to take part in its own negotiations with Washington.

But several sources said it collapsed due to British employment concerns, and was eventually replaced by political interference surrounding the unrest in Washington in January. A British official said that a balanced agreement could not be reached at that time.

Britains ability to negotiate trade agreements independently of the European Union is at the core of its new Global Britain position. But its flexibility at Airbus is limited by its role as one of the four core countries in which the aircraft manufacturer participates, predating its accession to the European Union.

Airbus, which has 14,000 employees in the UK, made it clear that if the UK abandons the aerospace industry, jobs may be transferred abroad.
The end of the endless battle between the European Union and the United States over aircraft subsidies and the fight over the sea bass and lamb stew in Brussels marked a seemingly major truce. Thorny trade conflict.

For policymakers in Brussels, it is hoped that the Airbus-Boeing deal can decisively reverse the Trump-era trade tensions. For businesses on both sides of the Atlantic, it has lifted the ghost of punitive tariffs on goods ranging from aviation to Georgias sugar cane molasses and Italian cheese.

but transactionThe finalization at the EU-US summit on Tuesday also marks the beginning of a long-term process that requires close cooperation if the two sides are to stay away from each other and focus on the mutual trade challenges posed by China.

What is the content of the dispute?

It can be traced back to 2004, when Airbus delivered more aircraft than its American competitors for the first time. The previous understanding of subsidies collapsed, and the US government accused the state aid of unfairness. The EU refuted its complaints. The World Trade Organization launched an investigation into both sides.

The main criticism of the United States focused on the so-called launch assistance provided to Airbus by its EU host countries (then Britain, France, Germany, and Spain). This assistance is equivalent to funds provided by the government for the development of new models and is compensated by royalties for future sales.

The EU countered that Boeing benefited from U.S. support for violating WTO rulesespecially tax relief in Washington state where the company is located. Tit-for-tat disputes ensued, as each party accused the other party of (successfully) not complying with WTO rulings.

In 2019, the WTO granted the United States the right to impose US$7.5 billion in retaliatory tariffs on European products. The American hot list ranges from French wines to German machine tools.

The following year, the EU was authorized to tariff U.S. goods worth nearly 4 billion U.S. dollars. Its equally eclectic hot list ranges from spirits to ornamental fish.

With the coming of the Biden administration, ending the dispute has become a serious possibility  and more and more people realize that this will harm the companies of both parties and at the same time contribute to Chinas ambitions in the commercial civil aviation market.

In March, both parties agreed Suspend their retaliatory tariffs Four months have created a window for negotiations.

Whats in the transaction?

The key element is the suspension of punitive tariffs for five years and the establishment of a working group responsible for reaching a final consensus on past and future subsidies.

Boeing welcomed the deal, stating that it committed the European Union to resolve the launch assistance issue and establish the necessary rules to ensure that the European Union and the United States fulfill this commitment without the need for further WTO action.

Nevertheless, in order to establish some rules for this path, the WTO benchmarks on R&D funding, tax breaks and other types of subsidies will be used. The agreement also requires regular ministerial contactsmainly between EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Taito review progress.

What is important is that both parties agree to cooperate in handling non-market economy entrants entering the civil aviation market. In a statement, US President Joe Biden clearly linked it to the counter-attack that Chinas non-market behavior in this field gives Chinese companies an unfair advantage.

What is the impact on the aviation industry?

Welcome relief.The industry has been in Hardest hit by Covid-19, And the prospect of a trade war will be an additional costly disturbance. Due to cash-strapped airlines canceling or postponing orders, aircraft deliveries are still far below pre-pandemic levels.

Officials from Airbus and Boeing also recently expressed their desire to reach a settlement. In addition to the coronavirus, their long-standing duopoly is also facing increasingly fierce Chinese competition. State-owned aviation manufacturer COMAC is developing the C919, which aims to compete with Airbus A320 and Boeing 737.

Boeing forecast Last year, China will become the worlds largest aviation market. In the past ten years, about 25% of the worlds aviation growth has come from this Asian country.

I am confident that we have resolved these disputes, Dai said on Tuesday. We are putting away litigation briefcases.

Where will the agreement lead to trade between the EU and the United States?

It puts an end to a long-standing source of disharmony. Now Brussels is pushing for another development: the Trump-era steel and aluminum tariffs.

These damage the interests of EU producers and lead the EU to another wave of retaliation against American consumer products such as Harley-Davidson and bourbon. Biden and EU leaders agreed on Tuesday to set up a working group on this issue.

For the EU, this is a particularly fierce quarrel, because the Trump administration has listed the EU as a national security threat along with Canada and other traditional US allies to justify this move. However, although Canada was subsequently approved by Trump as part of the updated trade agreement to suspend implementation, the EU has not been relieved.

EU officials said that the EU is currently adopting a dual-track approach to end disputes while advancing a positive agenda. To this end, Biden and EU leaders also agreed to establish a Trade and Technology Committee to cooperate in the development of rules and technical standards for emerging industries such as artificial intelligence and sensitive technologies such as semiconductors.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson stated that the agreement marked a new dawn for the relationship between Britain and its former colonies.

The United Kingdom and Australia announced a new trade agreement on Tuesday, the first such agreement that the United Kingdom has negotiated from the ground up since leaving the European Union.

The agreement will eliminate tariffs and red tape, and was hailed by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson as the new dawn for relations between the two countries.

Johnsons Conservative government views the deal as an important part of its post-Brexit strategy, which aims to shift the countrys economic center from Europe and seek new opportunities in the faster-growing Indo-Pacific countries.

Earlier transactions with other countries, including Japan, were based on existing agreements reached by 27 member states.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison (Scott Morrison) and Johnson (Johnson) overcome the sticking points in the meeting after the British G7 meeting, and Morrison attended the meeting as a guest.

The United Kingdom said the deal would mean that it would be cheaper to sell products such as cars, Scotch whiskey, biscuits and ceramics in the former British colony of Australia.

It will also enable British citizens under the age of 35 to travel and work in Australia more freely.

On the other hand, the agreement will eliminate tariffs on Australian goods such as wine, swimwear and sweets imported into the UK.

With the support of our shared history and shared values, today marks a new dawn in the relationship between the UK and Australia, Johnson said in a statement.

This is where the UK is at its best globally-looking out and making deals to deepen our alliance and help ensure that every part of the country can better recover from the pandemic.

Foreign Secretary Dominique Raab said on Twitter that the agreement is an important stepping stone in efforts to join the Indo-Pacific Free Trade Area-the Comprehensive Progress Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Congratulations @trussliz. I am very happy to reach a win-win free trade agreement with our Australian friends, which also provides an important stepping stone for CPTPP-both open up huge opportunities for the Indo-Pacific region. #Global Britain https://t.co/nwjt4KS86G  Dominic Raab (@DominicRaab) June 15, 2021

The UK is Australias eighth largest trading partner, and Australia is the UKs 20th largest trading partner, with a bilateral trade volume of 26.9 billion Australian dollars (20.7 billion US dollars).

Before Britain joined the then European Common Market in 1973, it was Australias most profitable trading market.

New opportunity

Although more details about the transaction have not yet been announced, some official estimates suggest that in the long term, the agreement may add 500 million pounds (705.7 million US dollars) to the UKs economic output-for a value of approximately 2 trillion pounds. (US$2.8 trillion) of the economy, this is only a small part.

The agreement will be reviewed by British farmers, who worry that if the agreement removes tariffs on lamb and beef imported from Australia, they may be forced to close business.

The United Kingdom stated that British farmers will enjoy tariff-free import ceiling protection within 15 years through tariff quotas and other safeguards.

Australian Trade Minister David Littleproud told 4BC Radio that the deal marked a victory for Australian agriculture.

However, Australias economy has focused on Asia.

Ben Willings, a senior lecturer in politics and international relations at Monash University, said: This free trade agreement is more of a symbolic meaning than an immediate tangible material benefit.
When the explosion occurred, the suicide bomber was standing among the recruits lined up outside General Dhegobadans barracks.

At least 15 recruits were killed in a suicide bomb attack at a military training camp in the capital of Somalia, Mogadishu.

Army officer Mohamed Adan said the bombers behind the attack on Tuesday were disguised as recruits lined up outside General Degobadans barracks at the time of the explosion.

I counted about 15 recruits who were killed in the explosion, he said, adding that the death toll could be higher.

According to Reuters, the injured were taken to the Medina Hospital in Mogadishu.

More attention

An ambulance carrying the wounded in a suicide bombing attack on a military base arrives at Medina Hospital in Mogadishu [Feisal Omar/Reuters]
The polio workers targeted three locations in Jalalabad city-the latest in a series of attacks on health workers.

A provincial health department official stated that the multiple attacks in the eastern city of Jalalabad in Afghanistan resulted in the deaths of four polio vaccinators and the injuries to three others. This was part of a series of attacks on health workers. The latest together.

Since the Taliban and the Afghan government began peace talks in Doha last year, a wave of assassinations has hit the city center, many of which have targeted government employees, health workers, the media and members of civil society.

Nangarhar (Jalalabad is one of the main cities) polio immunization campaign leader Dr. Jan Mohamed said on Tuesday that gunmen attacked polio workers in three locations in the city, killing 4 people and injuring 3 others .

Today is three months from the second day of our operation, but we have to suspend it again, Mohammed told Reuters, adding that all the victims were men.

Gunman Killed three female polio vaccination workers The incident in Jalalabad in March this year forced health workers to suspend operations and assess safety.

Afghanistan and Pakistan are the only countries in the world where polio is still endemic.

In March of this year, pray in front of the coffin of one of three female polio vaccination workers killed by unidentified gunmen at two different locations in Jalalabad [File: Reuters]

No organization claimed responsibility for the attack on Tuesday.

The Taliban, which is working to overthrow the foreign-backed Afghan government, denied participating in previous attacks.

The Islamic State of ISIL (ISIS) is also responsible for multiple targeted killings of the countrys nascent civil society as well as journalists and legal professionals.

Nangarhar Governor Zia ul Haq Amarkhil stated that the police are investigating the attack.

Many people in Afghanistans conservative society oppose vaccination. Fighters often attack health workers, claiming that they are used as cover for espionage by the West.

This The recent increase in violence The United States and NATO are completing their military withdrawal from Afghanistan.

It is estimated that 2,500-3,500 American soldiers and 7,000 NATO allied soldiers will be evacuated by September 11 at the latest, but there are predictions that they may be evacuated in mid-July.
This article is a live version of our trade secret newsletter.registered Here Send the newsletter directly to your inbox every Monday to Thursday

Greetings from London, just like the protagonist of a movie In Bruges, The African editor of the British Financial Times found himself in trouble, basically unable to travel to and from the continent he intended to cover. Appropriately, the subject of todays post, the World Trade Organizations Covid-19 intellectual property exemption, has also fallen into a similar state of suspended animation.

Therefore, in order to subtly break the deadlock, Trade Secrets adopted a different strategy. Today we will mainly look at this issue from the perspective of South Africa and India, rather than analyzing the transatlantic debate on intellectual property exemptions.

There was also major trade news overnight, and the United States and the European Union were preparing to sign an agreement to resolve the 17-year-old dispute between Boeing and Airbus.Expected More about this In tomorrows newsletter.

Concession waters After the two parties reached a broad agreement on the transaction, assess the trade links between the UK and Australia.

We hope to hear from you.Send any ideas to [email protected] Or email me [email protected]

According to South Africa, what problems the IP exemption will solve

South Africa has been here before.

As early as 2001, the author who was a pharmaceutical reporter at the Financial Times in the United Kingdom happened to spend a historic day in Pretoria, when the pharmaceutical company abandoned its lawsuit against the South African government for obtaining cheap HIV drugs. Pretoria maintains its right to respond to the AIDS pandemic by overriding the intellectual property protection of AIDS drugs. Although AIDS has caused about 35 million deaths, it has never been officially classified as a pandemic. Mainly, it hopes to obtain the right to import cheap generic antiretroviral drugs that have saved lives in the West but are too expensive for most people in Africa where the pandemic is raging.

Xolelwa Mlumbi-Peter, South Africas ambassador to the World Trade Organization, said that it was this experience that convinced her government and the Indian government to start pushing for similar patent exemptions for the Covid-19 vaccine and other coronavirus-related medical interventions last year. It doesnt want to be like this. HIV drugs wait 10 years to get a vaccine. We know that once there is a vaccine, there will be a battle, she told Trade Secrets. Although we appreciate that intellectual property has indeed made a very good contribution to research and innovation, we are also very careful We should use intellectual property not only for the benefit of intellectual property holders, but also for the benefit of society.

The initial proposal made little progress until the United States chose to support the abandonment of vaccine intellectual property rights, if not all Covid-19 medical interventions. This move by the new U.S. trade representative Catherine Tay shocked the trade community.

It is expected that the support of the United States will lead South Africa and India to draft a reduced version of their original proposal. However the critics (Including us) Argued that it is still too broad to gain widespread support in the WTO.With the U.S. Seemingly reluctant Intensify the presentation of your own text and propose a more limited version. It is expected that any progress in giving up Covid-related intellectual property rights, vaccines or any other aspects will be slow.

At the same time, the pharmaceutical industry Postpone Opposition to the view that intellectual property protection is the main obstacle to shooting in developing countries. A complex supply chain means that manufacturers need to purchase dozens of inputs from multiple countries/regions. This is a logistics nightmare that cannot be solved by abandoning the IP magic wand. (moan.)

Mlumbi-Peter said that South Africa is fully aware that intellectual property rights are not the only obstacle to improving vaccine production. Voluntary licensing, technology transfer, clinical data sharing, and trade secrets can all play a role in what she calls a toolkit to fight the pandemic. But South Africa denied some manufacturers assertions that intellectual property rights do not have a substantial barrier to vaccine production.

As early as the late 1990s, pharmaceutical companies often argued that patenting antiretroviral drugs was not a major obstacle to AIDS treatment, which may remind people of similar denials. They believe that even if HIV drugs are free, Africa lacks the infrastructure or knowledge to use them effectively. This turned out to be wrong, although the problem at the time was a cost issue, not a supply restriction that hindered the distribution of vaccine in 2021.

Despite this, South Africa stated that potential vaccine manufacturers in Bangladesh, Canada, Denmark, India and South Africa have all been restricted due to the threat of prosecution for infringement of intellectual property rights. This is the focus of intellectual property protection, because it grants monopoly rights. If these monopoly rights are violated, the right holders can accept it, Mlumbi-Peter said. So the threat is there, and thats why intellectual property is an obstacle.

She also stated that they accepted criticism that the requested exceptions were too broad. In response to European opposition, they proposed a revised text that states that the exemption should be temporary and only apply to diagnoses and treatments specifically related to the Covid pandemic. She said that many countries have received at least partial guarantees and are ready to negotiate on this basis.

If you give up intellectual property rights, African manufacturers are preparing to take advantage of this advantage. The African continent produces only 1% of the vaccines it consumes every year. At a meeting of the African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in April, delegates formulated a plan to increase this proportion to 60% by 2040.

Three potential COVID-19 vaccine producing countries have surfaced: South Africa, Aspen Pharmacare has prepared to fill and complete 300 million doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccine this year; Senegal Pasteur Institute produces yellow fever vaccines and hopes to produce COVID-19 vaccines in 2022 ; And Rwanda, a country located in central Africa, has strong manufacturing ambitions and matching industrial policies. BioNTech announced its plans to enter Africa last week, aiming to establish mRNA vaccine production facilities on the African continent.

Some of them may sound far-fetched. For critics, the demand for vaccine exemptions is more like a strategy aimed at industry concessions and cooperation, rather than a serious plan to change the situation in which Africa is almost entirely dependent on imports to provide vaccine supplies. For purists, it does not matter whether the African vaccine is produced in India, Malaysia or Malawi.

However, it is worth remembering that in 2001, despite the then President Thabo Mbekis denial of the link between HIV and AIDS, South Africa still urgently requested a Trips exemption for HIV drugs. What happened in the chaos. If he is righthe is definitely notantiretroviral drugs are irrelevant.

However, the victory at the Pretoria court proved to be a turning point. Within a few years, the South African government had caught up with scientific and pharmaceutical companies slashing the prices of their HIV drugs. Literally, millions of lives have been saved.

Pretoria must hope to get similar results from its current patent exemption activities.With the Covid vaccination rate in developing countries Terribly low  Nigeria made 1.1 jabs per 100 people, compared to 103.7 in the UK  G7 promised to close the gap that was about to be missed, and so did the rest of us.

Concession waters

UK and Australia have agree On Monday night, the two prime ministers, Boris Johnson and Scott Morrison, had dinner together after the broad terms of the trade agreement.

As shown in the figure below, the two countries are not particularly dependent. However, the deal is significant because it is expected to become a model for other agreements the UK plans to sign after Brexit. If a trade agreement can be signed this year, it will mark the first large-scale bilateral agreement that has been fully negotiated since Britains withdrawal from the European Union.

The following is a breakdown of reliance on the Australian export sector, showing that British manufacturers are most closely linked. Most of the concerns of both parties are about what concessions the deal will provide for farmers. Claire Jones

Trade ties

Gideon Rachman has a great reading As a reminder Although bashing the other side may be meaningful to Boris Johnson or French President Emmanuel Macron, the unity of the Western alliance is more Frozen sausage.

Nikkei report ($) Technology supplier Taiwan, Japan with Korea Listed as a dangerous risk along with China U.S. National Security, Highlighting that Washingtons desire to strengthen its supply chain may rebound in business in Asia.

Some interesting articles on how to Environmental policy Have an impact on foreign direct investment.To everyone Chinas talk about green, Economist ($) notes Due to the influence of Beijing, foreign companies are still delaying investment there Dependence on coal. Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga promised to stop government support this year Overseas coal power projects Led by domestic companies that have no offsets, his country aligns with its counterparts in the Group of Seven in its opposition to fossil fuels. (Nikkei, $)

political cover Challenges facing the President of the United States Joe Biden When he tried to get more European support Alliance against China. Claire Jones
When US President Joe Biden met with EU leaders on Tuesday, he ended a front in the Trump-era trade war and agreed to a truce in the transatlantic aircraft subsidy dispute, which has lasted for 17 years.

At the beginning of his first EU-US summit as president, Biden quoted the Irish poet Yeats as saying that the world is changing and Western democracies need to unite.

The world has changed, completely changed, Irish-American Biden quoted the poem of Easter in 1916 in his comments, pointing out the themes of his eight-day trip to Europe: the rise of China??, COVID- 19 Pandemic and climate change.

Sitting at the oval table at the EU headquarters with US cabinet officials, he told EU institutional leaders that the cooperation between the EU and the US is the best answer to these changes, which he said has caused great anxiety.

He told reporters earlier that his views were very different from those of his predecessor. Former President Donald Trump also visited EU institutions in May 2017, but later imposed tariffs on the EU and pushed for Brexit-the UKs withdrawal from the EU.

I think we have a good opportunity to work closely with the EU and NATO, and we feel very good about it, Biden said of the summit meeting room with the EU after walking through the futuristic glass Europa Tower (also known as The Egg). Institutional leaders.

Maintaining good relations with NATO and the European Union is essential to the interests of the United States. My views are very different from those of my predecessors, he said.

The two sides agreed to eliminate tariffs on US$11.5 billion in goods ranging from European Union wines to American tobacco and spirits within five years. The tariffs were imposed on a tit-for-tat basis because the two sides were disappointed with the state subsidies of American aircraft manufacturer Boeing and European rival Airbus.

From left, European Commission President Ursula von der Lein, U.S. President Joe Biden, and European Council President Charles Michel take off their masks before the European Councils participation in the U.S.-Europe summit in Brussels on Tuesday. [Patrick Semansky/AP Photo]

European Commission President Ursula von der Lein said: This meeting started with a breakthrough in aircraft. This really opened a new chapter in our relationship as we moved from litigation to aircraft cooperation-after 17 years of controversy. We have delivered today.

Bidens summit met with von der Lein and Charles Michel, the president of the European Council representing the governments of the European Union.

Biden also reiterated his mantra-America is back-and talked about the need to provide good jobs for European and American workers, especially after the economic impact of COVID-19. He said of his father that a job is more than just a salary because it brings dignity.

Facing the more powerful military and economic rise of Russia and China, he is seeking European support to defend the free and democratic countries of the West.

We are facing a once-in-a-century global health crisis, Biden said at NATO on Monday night, adding, Russia and China are both seeking to weaken the wedge of our transatlantic unity.

According to a draft EU-US summit statement seen by Reuters, negotiations are still underway before the end of the meeting, and Washington and Brussels will commit to ending another dispute over punitive tariffs related to steel and aluminum.

Broader agenda

US Trade Representative Catherine Day discussed the aircraft dispute in the first face-to-face meeting with EU Trade Representative Valdis Dombrovskis before the US-EU summit. The two are scheduled to speak on Tuesday afternoon.

Diplomats said that easing the trade conflict gave both parties more time to focus on broader agendas, such as concerns about Chinas state-driven economic model.

Biden and U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Brinken earlier met with King Philip of Belgium, Prime Minister Alexander De Crowe and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sophie Wilmes at the Royal Palace in Brussels. On Wednesday, he met with Russian President Putin in Geneva.

The draft summit statement to be released at the end of the meeting stated that they have the opportunity and responsibility to help people earn a living and protect their safety, respond to climate change, and defend democracy and human rights.

However, there is no new transatlantic climate commitment in the draft summit statement, and the two sides will avoid setting a date to stop coal burning.

The European Union and the United States, like China, are the worlds largest trading nations, but Trump is trying to put the European Union aside.

After reaching a free trade agreement with the European Union, the Trump administration focused on narrowing the USs growing merchandise trade deficit. However, Biden sees the EU as an ally in promoting free trade, combating climate change, and ending the COVID-19 pandemic.
From Octavian Cato Scholarship For the upcoming return to campus, the citys universities have many exciting opportunities.

Return to campus this fall

Philadelphia Community College is happy to welcome students back to campus this fall.In the past few months, the college has been working closely with Pennoni, an engineering consulting firm based in Philadelphia, to develop a comprehensive 2021 Fall Campus Safety Plan To ensure a safe return to campus.

Although face-to-face teaching will be conducted on a staggered schedule, courses will be offered in four formats: synchronous and asynchronous online, hybrid and face-to-face. The college is committed to providing courses that best meet the needs and schedule of students.

The college will continue to follow all guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Pennsylvania Department of Health, and the Philadelphia Department of Public Health.

For more information on what students can expect when they return to campus this fall, as well as a list of frequently asked questions, please visit myccp.online/coronavirus.

Octavian Cato Scholarship

The college is currently recruiting the next batch of Octavius ??Catto scholarships.

Catto Scholars collaborated with Mayor Jim Kenney to obtain full-time college students for the first time. They received the last dollar of funding to pay for tuition and miscellaneous fees. Cato scholars also receive a monthly allowance to pay for food, books, transportation, and other expenses.

More than 130 scholars have taken advantage of this scholarship.meet Chelsea Hammond  One of our current scholars  Learn more about the opportunities offered by the scholarship.

Are you or someone you know ready to go to college for free?Learn more about how to become an Octavius ??Catto Scholar by visiting ccp.edu/catto.

Provide affordable housing for our students

In May, the college officially announced its cooperation with the Philadelphia Housing Authority to provide low-cost, stable, and high-quality housing for students whose housing at Philadelphia Community College is unsafe and has participated in the foster care system.

Starting this fall, up to 16 students will be placed in two dormitory-like buildings less than a mile from the campus. The rent will be based on 30% of their income, and under no circumstances will students pay more than $125 in rent per month.

Students will also receive special comprehensive services to ensure their success, including: Participating in the Cultivation Care Contact Program designed to support CCP students participating in the foster care system; Academic consulting services; Obtaining counselling; Scholarship process for tuition assistance and other emergency funds Provide assistance; and provide help for job search, career preparation support, and other programs through Career Connections.

After entering the program, the college will work with each student to develop a stability plan, with the goal of ensuring permanent housing after graduation. To learn more about the program, please contact Michelle Lopez [email protected].

Library and learning sharing area

As students return to campus this fall, they will be welcomed by the redesigned library and learning sharing area. Construction began in the spring of 2019, and its mission is to completely change the way students learn.

The new Learning Commons will include enhancements such as active learning and computer laboratories, cafes and art exhibition areas, academic computing services with more than 200 available computers, tutoring in almost all subjects, and One Button Studio production for digital video studio.

For more information about the college library and learning sharing area, please visit ccp.edu/llc.

Career and Advanced Technology Center

It is expected that in the spring of 2022, the college will officially open to its Career and Advanced Technology Center (CATC), which is a state-of-the-art teaching facility.

Although the colleges automotive technology project will be the backbone of the building, CATC will also provide support to local entrepreneurs and provide hands-on learning experiences in areas in need, such as advanced manufacturing and entry-level healthcare training.

CATC will become a community-centric center, bringing career preparation and community building to West Philadelphia through community workspace laboratories and pre-university STEM colleges.

Learn more about the colleges career and advanced technology center by visiting ccp.edu/catc.
Deputies were dispatched to the 17000 block of Gary Road, Jennings, Louisiana, in reference to a disturbance on Tuesday, June 15, 2021, at around 12:30 am.

When deputies arrived they spoke with the complainant and her husband. Both admitted to getting physical, pushing and striking each other during an argument in the presence of their 5 year old child.

Deputies arrested both, John Chaisson, 34 and Desiree Denise Chaisson, 29, of Jennings for domestic abuse battery with child endangerment.
BATON ROUGE  Gov. John Bel Edwards released the following statement , upon signing House Bill 652 by Representative Cedric Glover, which reduces the penalties for possession of small amounts of marijuana.

Gov. Edwards said:

I have signed HB 652, which contrary to the narrative developed in the press and elsewhere, does not decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana, 14 grams or less. Instead, anyone convicted of this crime will now be subject to a maximum penalty of $100 instead of being exposed to parish prison time.This is not a decision I took lightly. In addition to carefully reviewing the bill, I also believe deeply that the state of Louisiana should no longer incarcerate people for minor legal infractions, especially those that are legal in many states, that can ruin lives and destroy families, as well as cost taxpayers greatly. This measure passed Louisianas Legislature with bipartisan support following a robust discussion of the toll of over incarceration on our people and our state. Taking this action is another step forward for Louisianas criminal justice reform efforts.
Could the mask mandate make a come-back? A number of cities across the nation recommend masks, even for people who are fully vaccinated. But so far no one is requiring them. Local doctors say re-booting the mandate would be difficult.
Park Seo Joon is on his way to Hollywood!

It came after the Hallyu star is set to appear in the highly anticipated movie "Captain Marvel 2," alongside American actress Brie Larson.

In a report cited by a South Korean publication, the 32-year-old heartthrob is expected to join the powerhouse cast of the much-awaited Marvel franchise.

Moreover, the outlet also noted that the actor recently completed an internal review after receiving an offer to appear in the upcoming superhero movie.

In addition, the "Itaewon Class" star is scheduled to leave for the U.S. in the second half of 2021 to film the MCU movie.

Amid the news regarding his forthcoming film, his agency Awesome ENT has responded "No comment" to the issue.

Aside from Park Seo Joon, "Train to Busan" star Ma Dong Seok will also star in another MCU movie, "The Eternals," slated to premiere on November 4, 2021.

READ MORE: Park Seo Joon Net Worth 2021: 'Itaewon Class' Actor Earning Big as a YouTuber?

Fans Celebrate Park Seo Joon's New Project

There's no denying that his appearance in "Captain Marvel 2" will be a major boost in his career globally.

With this, fans can't help but gush on Park Seo Joon's upcoming film on Twitter as they expressed their support for the actor.

I wasnt fond of the first Captain Marvel but Ill definitely watch the second installment if Park Seo Joon is in it. https://t.co/w16jlzVzcv  Arissa Rosella (@ArissaRosella) June 15, 2021

manifesting park seo joon playing a villain in the marvels   sam  (@samanthaistan) June 15, 2021

Omg Park Seo Joon going Hollywood?!?!.? AHHH  https://t.co/a6GJYEob2N    Min Hee (@minhee_IDiKONIC) June 15, 2021

What You Need to Know about the Upcoming "Captain Marvel 2"

Brie Larson will reprise her role as Carol Danvers alongside Teyonah Parris as Monica Rambeau, while Iman Vellani will appear as Kamala Khan, aka Ms. Marvel, and Zawe Ashton which is set to play the villain.

"Captain Marvel 2" will be helmed by a young filmmaker, Nia DaCosta, who will be the first-ever Black woman to direct a Marvel movie. At the same time, the script will be written by "Wanda Vision" screenwriter Megan McDonnell.

As for the production, rumors sparked that the upcoming movie aims to start filming by the end of May 2021 and is slated to release the much-awaited sequel in November 2022.

This will follow the release of other MCU films, which include "Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness," "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" and "Thor: Love And Thunder."

Park Seo Joon's Upcoming Drama and Movies

Park Seo Joon is currently filming his forthcoming sci-fi movie "Concrete Utopia" as Min Sung together with Lee Byung Hun and "Doom at Your Service" actress Park Bo Young.

Apart from this, he is also set to lead the cast of the comedy-drama movie "Dream" and will work alongside Hallyu star IU.

This will be his comeback film since the 2019 "The Divine Fury."

As for his drama, the 32-year-old heartthrob will also star in the new thriller drama "Hard Creature," who will portray the wealthy Bukchon born Jang Tae Sang.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Park Seo Joon Stuns in a Black and White Photo for Korean Actors 200





KDramastars owns this article.

Written by Geca Wills
The second half of "Doom at Your Service" finally commenced, and the love triangle between Lee Soo Hyuk, Shin Do Hyun, and Kang Tae Oh intensifies.

Read on to know what happened in "Doom at Your Service" Episode 11.

Myul Mang is Now Part of Tak Dong Kyung's Family

Tak Dong Kyung (Park Bo Young) decided to distance herself from the people she loves: her family, friends, colleagues, and Myul Mang.

But Myul Mang (Seo In Guk) always found her. He tried to comfort the lady.

They spent more time together, and Myul Mang saw that Tak Dong Kyung missed her family. That was why he told them where she was.

Tak Dong Kyung's aunt Kang Soo Ja (Woo Hee Jin) thanked Myul Mang for taking good care of her niece. While having their dinner, Myul Mang was fascinated by how Tak Dong Kyung's family treated one another - and he didn't feel left out.

Cha Joo Ik Quits, Decides to Launch Own Company

Cha Joo Ik (Lee Soo Hyuk) had been constantly disappointed at how his boss managed the publishing company. Thus, when he had enough, he finally left for good.

CEO Park Chang Sin (Song Jin Woo) found out that Cha Joo Ik's father is the landlord of the building where Life Story is situated.

CHA JOO IK BEING SASSY (part2) 



I CAN'T HE NATURALLY HAVE ANSWERS TO EVERYTHING. HE'LL WIN IN EVERY DEBATE. #DoomAtYourServiceEp11#DoomAtYourService#LeeSooHyuk pic.twitter.com/IscFpO46te  DramaKay (@DramaKay_) June 15, 2021

Cha Joo Ik then went to his father to borrow money because he wanted to build his own company. His father was initially hesitant, but seeing how determined Cha Joo Ik was made him decide on helping his own son.

Tak Dong Kyung called Cha Joo Ik to ask him to return to work, but the male web editor had no plans to go back. Instead, he asked her to be part of his company.

Tak Dong Kyung had been wanting to ask his previous colleague about his relationship with her best friend Na Ji Na. Based on her observation, Na Ji Na has begun to show interest in Cha Joo Ik.

Na Ji Na Asks Lee Hyun Kyu on a Date

After reuniting with Lee Hyun Kyu (Kang Tae Oh), Na Ji Na (Shin Do Hyun) made a surprise visit in his cafe and told him that they need to date three times for her to distinguish her true feelings for Lee Hyun Kyu. She also asked him not to make any first move, which Lee Hyun Kyu immediately agreed on. He was very happy with what Na Ji Na did.

On her way out the cafe, Na Ji Na called Cha Joo Ik and confessed what she did to Lee Hyun Kyu. At that very moment, she crossed paths with the male web editor who looked dashing in his black coat and an umbrella on hand.

After their quick encounter, Cha Joo Ik gave his umbrella to Na Ji Na since it was snowing hard that day. This simple gesture made Na Ji Na's heart flutter.

Na Ji Na Finds a New Male Character for Her Story

As her consultant, Cha Joo Ik kept on telling her she needs a new male character in her story to change the plot of her novel. Na Ji Na decided to terminate her first novel where Lee Hyun Kyu was the male protagonist and began to write a story with a new male character on board.

Na Ji Na used Cha Joo Ik as her new male lead. Tak Sun Kyung (Da Won) and Tak Dong Kyung also had the same thoughts that Na Ji Na was already starting to have feelings for the male web editor.

Cha Joo Ik read the new novel of Na Ji Na and realized that he was the new main character of her story.

Will Cha Joo Ik and Na Ji Na be the endgame? Let's all find out the upcoming "Doom at Your Service" episodes!

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 'Doom at Your Service' Episode 10: Park Bo Young Wants to Break up with Seo In Guk

Have you watched the latest "Doom at Your Service" episode? What can you say about the blossoming romance between Lee Soo Hyuk and Shin Do Hyun? Don't forget to share your thoughts with us in the comments!

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news and updates, keep your tabs open here at Kdramastars.

Kdramastars owns this article.

Written by Shai Collins
Kim Ji Ho is back on the big screen with a new film, "Hard Hit."

The upcoming thriller movie will be her comeback following the success of her 2016 melodrama film "Unforgettable."

Kim Ji Ho Joins the Powerhouse Cast of "Hard Hit"

In a report, the 46-year-old actress is set to join lead stars Jo Woo Jin and Lee Jae In alongside Jin Kyung, Ryu Seung Soo, and "Love Struck in the City" star Ji Chang Wook.

In the upcoming movie, Kim Ji Ho will portray the role of Yeon Soo, the wife of the bank center head Sung Gyu played by Jo Woo Jin.

Interestingly, the veteran actress will captivate the viewer's hearts with her solid acting skills and her impressive portrayal of the doting wife and mother.

READ MORE: Incredible Days" Kim Ji Ho Feels Emotional

K-Movie "Hard Hit" Release and Synopsis

The forthcoming thriller film is helmed by Kim Chang-Ju and is said to be his directorial debut.

Following the announcement, the movie is set to hit the big screen on June 23

In a previous press conference, he described "Hard Hit" as a "psychological horror" full of "dramatic twists and turns" in the story.

"It isn't only the dramatic twists and turns that get the audience hooked on the movie, but also the psychological horror or feeling that death is just near," he explained.

The upcoming movie follows the story of Sung Gyu, a bank center head in Busan whose life turns upside down after his daughter, Hye In, played by Lee Jae In, receives a mysterious call.

In their conversation, a stranger told her that a bomb had been planted under her seat.

"There's a bomb under your seat right now. And as soon as you step and get out of the car, it's going to explode," the stranger told Hye In.

On the other hand, Sung Gyu was given a series of instructions and insisted on fulfilling his request.

If he fails to do this, the stranger will denote the bomb, killing his daughter.

The patriarch is now caught up in a devastating situation--this is whether to save his life and the lives of his children.

"Hard Hit" Cast Shares Thoughts on the Upcoming Movie

In a previous interview, Jo Woo Jin admitted that he feels pressure given that "Hard Hit" is his first lead role.

"It'd be a lie to say there was no pressure. I was constantly worried and had a lot of doubts. But I thought Sung-kyu must have bigger fear and stress than I do," he shared.

To cope up with the situation and better portray his character, the 42-year-old actor mentioned that he tried to "concentrate" on his daily task and "pour my energy into each scene."

As for Lee Jae In, she described her character as a typical teenager who has a complex relationship with her father.

"Hye-in is a teenager who has attractive personality. Facing a life-threatening situation, she shifts out of a rebellious stage and gets along with her father to overcome it," she explained.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Park Seo Joon Expected to Join Hollywood Actress Brie Larson in Upcoming Movie 'Captain Marvel 2'

KDramastars owns this article.

Written by Geca Wills
In the recent drama stills released by tvN, Go Kyung Pyo finally appeared and looks like he is curious to know more about the female student Lee Dam (Hyeri).

Go Kyung Pyo to Play an Important Role in Hyeri and Jang Ki Yong's Lives in "My Roommate is a Gumiho"

First week of June, it has been reported that the "Private Lives" star Go Kyung Pyo is confirmed to make his special appearance in Hyeri's ongoing fantasy-romance series "My Roommate is a Gumiho."

And on June 16, "My Roommate is a Gumiho" Episode 7 is about to kick off on primetime, and as the first episode to air for this week, the viewers can't hold their excitement to see Hyeri and Go Kyung Pyo again in one frame.

Go Kyung Pyo transforms into a mountain god who is the mastermind behind the condition of Shin Woo Yeo that can only become a human if he collects human energy and makes the marble blue before he turns 1000 years old.

As a mysterious being, Go Kyung Pyo's forthcoming character is the one who knows all the answers on how Shin Woo Yeo (Jang Ki Yong) can become a normal human being. He holds the secret keys about the marble that was inside Lee Dam's body.

The mountain god's unexpected appearance will bring changes to the story's development. Go Kyung Pyo looks stunning and appealing with his white turtleneck, he then meets Lee Dam inside the bookstore.

When the mountain god finally gets the chance to be with Lee Dam, he stares at her meticulously.

Meanwhile, to give more knowledge about Go Kyung Pyo's cameo, one of the drama's official representatives shared, "First, we would like to thank actor Go Kyung Pyo for appearing in the drama despite his jam-packed schedule. To give you a hint, his character will play a crucial role in the lives of Lee Dam and Shin Woo Yeo. And please look forward to his short but meaningful appearance in 'My Roommate is a Gumiho.'"

What Happened in "My Roommate is a Gumiho's" Previous Episode?

Lee Dam had her first blind date but failed to enjoy it. On the other hand, Shin Woo Yeo was there to save her night and brought Lee Dam to a museum. Their limited time inside the museum carved special memories for Lee Dam and Shin Woo Yeo.

The two also began to develop special feelings for each other but are still in denial to admit the truth.

In Case You Missed It: 'My Roommate is a Gumiho' Episode 6: Kim Do Wan and Kang Han Na Set Hyeri on a Blind Date

What are you most excited about with Go Kyung Pyo's upcoming cameo in "My Roommate is a Gumiho"? Don't forget to share your thoughts with us in the comments!

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news and updates, keep your tabs open here at Kdramastars.

Kdramastars owns this article.

Written by Shai Collins.
ROGUE VALLEY, Ore. -- As families begin to get into the swing of summer, local summer camps are seeing an urgency to get kids enrolled for day-time programs.

Rogue Valley YMCA says slots for summer camp this year filled up much faster than previous years.

The Associate Executive Director, Gary Taylor says, this can partly be attributed to a reduced number of available spaces due to Covid restrictions.

Right now with the square footage we were able to have the schools allocate, we can serve somewhere between 180 and 240 kids in the traditional program, and that traditional program would normally serve as many as 300-400 kids.

Taylor says, though the price has gone up, the camp is excited to have scholarships from the Oregon Community Foundation. Scholarships range from a 15 percent scholarship all the way up to making sure money is not a barrier.

Girls Build is a week long summer camp, visiting five different locations throughout the summer, making camp more accessible to families who may not be able to typically afford it.

Executive Director, Katie Hughes says, we're a non-profit, so we have not changed our price at all for Covid. We have sought more funding so that we can keep camp affordable.

Hughes says in addition to having some families on a payment plan, girls build offers generous scholarships.

She says this year, more scholarships were available than were applied for. it has already given out 14 scholarships for its Grants Pass campers and 19 scholarships to campers in Talent.

Hughes says, it's also making a few changes in line with Oregon's Covid-19 guidance, respecting social distancing and cohorts of 10.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement has terminated the Trump-era office that focused on victims of crimes linked to undocumented immigrants, another move the Biden administration has taken to distance itself from President Donald Trump's immigration policies.

ICE announced on Friday that it was shuttering the Victim of Immigration Crime Engagement office and replacing it with a new program to provide victim support regardless of immigration status of the victim or perpetrator.

"All people, regardless of their immigration status, should be able to access victim services without fear," Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement.

Acting ICE Director Tae Johnson echoed those comments, saying that ICE is "committed to serving all victims of crime."

The Trump administration launched the victim support office in April 2017 as a fulfillment of the then-President's executive order on immigration. Formation of the office followed Trump's repeated public comments linking immigrants and criminals, most notably a speech in which he referred to Mexicans as criminals and "rapists."

Critics said at the time that the office was part of several measures that would skew public opinion against immigrants.

Then-Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said the goal of the office was to give resources and support to families that he said previously felt unheard.

The Biden administration's replacement program, called the Victims Engagement and Services Line, will include guidance on visas for immigrants who are victims of crimes or human trafficking.

The new hotline will provide callers with multiple options, such as the ability to report abuse in ICE detention, along with a long-standing system for push notifications about custody status and case outcome, in addition to the victim assistance support.

Since President Joe Biden took office, ICE has taken several steps to reverse or modify agency policy under the Trump administration.

Shortly after Biden took office, his administration rolled out ICE guidelines focusing the agency's law enforcement measures more narrowly on immigrants who pose a national security, border security or public safety risk.

The new guidance was prompted by an executive order and marked a return to Obama-era immigration enforcement measures based on a priority system instead of the more aggressive approach taken under the Trump administration.

And earlier this year, ICE said it would no longer issue fines to undocumented immigrants who have failed to depart the United States, a reversal from the Trump-era policy that threatened immigrants with thousands of dollars in debt to the federal government.

The agency rescinded the two orders on the collection of financial penalties after determining the policy to be "ineffective," announcing it intended to cancel fines already issued to undocumented immigrants.
SACRAMENTO, Calif.  A local man suspected of raping a child was tracked down and arrested in Sacramento last week, according to the Jackson County Sheriff's Office.

JCSO said that the crime happened in Central Point. At some point the suspect, 58-year-old Thomas Grant Cox, learned that the victim had disclosed the crime and "armed himself while making suicidal statements to a family member," the agency said.

According to court documents, the sex abuse occurred between 2014 and 2015. The victim was under the age of twelve at the time.

Cox reportedly went to ground in Sacramento. Detectives started working with the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office to pinpoint Cox's location. Surveillance from Sacramento deputies began on Wednesday, the same day that Jackson County issued a warrant for Cox's arrest.

On Thursday, JCSO detectives traveled south to serve a search warrant at Cox's location. After 4 p.m. that day, Cox left the address in a vehicle before he was stopped by the Sacramento Sheriff's SWAT team. He was taken into custody without incident.

Detectives interviewed Cox in California, and he was lodged in the Sacramento County Jail on two counts of first-degree Rape and two counts of first-degree Sex Abuse. His bail has been set at $1 million.

JCSO said that an extradition process will be necessary before Cox can be brought back to Jackson County.
Grants Pass, Ore. -- Employers across the region are struggling to hire enough qualified employees to sustain their businesses.

Recent data from the Oregon Employment Department shows that underlying wage growth remains in-line with pre-covid trends.

This is in addition to Oregon job openings having returned to pre-pandemic levels, indicating businesses are not responding to the pandemic recession as if there is a surplus of available workers.

What the current unemployment rate excludes is would-be workers who are out of the labor force. This means that people under this category neither have a job, nor are they looking for one.

An estimated 45,000 people in Oregon said they were prevented from looking for work due to Covid-related reasons during the first quarter of 2021.

Ryan Fleming is the owner of Flespys Bar & Grill in Grants Pass. He says he is exploring different forms of advertising to get out the word that his restaurant is hiring. Fleming attributes some struggles to getting people back at work to the lack of available child care.

It's impossible to try to home school your kids while you have full time job. Lucky enough over here, we all of have worked together to kind of help each other, enough to keep all of our staff. We are still looking for cooks at the moment.

Fleming says a lot more goes into hiring struggles, beyond people wanting to collect unemployment benefits.

According to research from the Office of Economic Analysis, heading into the pandemic, one out of every six Oregonians in the labor force had kids, worked in an occupation that cannot be done remotely, and also did not have another non-working adult present in the household.

Oregon Employment Departments regional economist, Guy Tauer says, "In terms of the difficulty in filling positions, it's hard to say if demand for labor continues to outstrip the supply of people looking for work, then the tight labor market could continue even past the fall.

Researchers say, employers will need to continue to cast a wider net, and dig deeper in their resume stack to attract and retain workers, just as they were doing pre-pandemic.
SALEM, Ore.  Lawmakers in the Oregon House of Representatives voted on Monday to further suspend standardized testing requirements for students into 2024. The requirement, called Essential Skills, was originally lifted in 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Senate Bill 744 would suspend Essential Skills through the 2023-2024 school years. However, House Democrats indicated that the vote to eschew Essential Skills goes beyond the current COVID-19 considerations, and would be accompanied by an in-depth review of current diploma options and requirements by the Oregon Department of Education.

Its time to understand just what we want to see in the next generation of Oregonians, said Senator Lew Frederick.

Senate Bill 744 directs education officials to compare Oregon's diploma requirements with those of other states, accompanied by an analysis of the expectations that employers and institutions of higher education have of students' skills and knowledge.

Oregon has a practical opportunity to evaluate the Essential Skills requirement and report to the State School Board as to how it can be strengthened or modified, or if it should continue at all. said Representative Courtney Neron, who carried the bill. As we review what should be included to earn a high school diploma in Oregon, education advocates are calling on us to evaluate if this is a necessary and helpful added layer to our graduation requirements.

Naturally, high school students in Oregon must achieve passing grades in required courses in order to graduate. The Essential Skills requirement, added in 2009, was intended to determine if students could apply their learning outside the classroom by receiving a passing score on "one of the approved assessment options in their district."

Democrats said that districts have reported challenges with implementing the requirement as it was originally intended.

SB 744 passed the House in a 38-18 vote, with all votes against coming from Republicans. In a statement, House Republicans characterized the bill as Democrats lowering graduation standards in Oregon.

I worry that by adopting this bill were giving up on our kids, said House Republican Leader Christine Drazan. This proposal abandons students who fell behind last year because of government-mandated distanced learning and does nothing to give them an opportunity to recover.

The bill now heads to Governor Kate Brown's desk for a signature.
SALEM, Ore.  A temporary rule change that allowed Oregon bars and restaurants to sell cocktails to-go during the pandemic will become permanent with a bill passed by the legislature and signed into law by Governor Kate Brown.

In December of 2020, the legislature approved a bill that temporarily allowed establishments with full on-premises sales licences to sell cocktails and single servings of wine to-go, as bars throughout the state struggled under coronavirus restrictions that all but prevented their ability to do business.

The original bill had a sunset date  60 days from the end of Governor Brown's emergency declaration for COVID-19.

While it's unclear how much of a boon cocktails to-go proved to be for Oregon bars, the temporary change was popular enough that trade groups supported making it permanent.

Governor Brown supported Oregon restaurants and bars by allowing cocktails to-go during the pandemic, said Adam Smith, vice president of state government relations at the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States. Cocktails to-go provided a much-needed lifeline for struggling hospitality businesses and prevented the permanent closure of many. Now that this measure is permanent, Oregon businesses will have increased stability as they begin the long path to recovery. We applaud the legislature and Governor Brown for supporting local businesses and providing increased convenience to consumers.

Senate Bill 317 becomes effective January 1, 2022. Because the original law will expire within 60 days of Governor Brown's executive order, it's likely that there will be a gap of several months between the end of the first and the beginning of the second. Brown has indicated that she will allow the emergency declaration to expire at the end of June.

The Distilled Spirits Council said that Oregon will be the 15th state to make pandemic-era cocktails to-go rules permanent. More than 35 states adopted similar measures during the height of COVID-19 shutdowns.
WASHINGTON, D.C.  While much of the aid that was included in the American Rescue Plan has found its way with relative speed to eligible business owners and individuals in need since President Biden signed it into law in March, the same cannot be said of funds that were earmarked for shuttered venues.

Originally passed as the "Save Our Stages Act," what later became known as the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) program was intended to get $16 billion in relief to venues that found themselves without the ability to welcome in audiences during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic  similar to the Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loans that served other small businesses and nonprofits.

The original bill was passed at the end of December, 2020, and it was amended by the American Rescue Plan in March. Now, months later, those grants are only just beginning to trickle out.

The slow pace has drawn scrutiny from a bipartisan group in Congress, particularly those that championed the original bill. On Tuesday, those lawmakers sent a letter to Small Business Administration administrator Isabella Guzman, grilling her about the delay. Oregon's U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley joined in the bipartisan letter.

"With each passing day, more independent businesses are forced to shutter permanently or file for bankruptcy," the lawmakers wrote to Guzman. "Landlords and banks are no longer permitting deferrals and are pressing for immediate payment of past due accounts; businesses are receiving eviction notices; mom-and-pop businesses are being forced to sell."

The pace of SVOG has started to accelerate since the beginning of this month. In a June 9 report, the SBA said that only 90 grants had been awarded in spite of more than 14,000 applications received, accounting for almost $128 million in funds. By the June 14 report, 411 grants had been awarded, for just over $304 million.

The latest SBA report SBA states that almost 5,000 applications are in the review process, with 8,821 still only in the "submitted" category.

In their letter to Guzman, the Senators implied that an "insistence on strict compliance with competitive grant rules" has contributed to the delay in getting funding out to venues.

"Similarly, restrictions that SBA has placed on communication with grant applicants are unnecessary and have prevented the agency from providing administrative support to individual applicants that could have streamlined the application review process," the lawmakers continued. "Bureaucratic process cannot stand in the way of getting these desperately needed funds out the door."

Included in the letter were ten questions for Guzman regarding the program  some of which are answered in the weekly reports. Most of the questions, however, concern more behind-the-scenes information: the number of applications with holds, what the SBA is doing to make sure that applicants aren't erroneously denied, why awards are being broken into multiple installments, and what the timeline for those installments might be.

"Further delays are unacceptable and would have irreversible consequences for these industries," the lawmakers wrote, saying that the requested information is necessary to ensure that their constituents are informed and receive the support they need.
The last person who asked me that is still missing.

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In the quarter of century that has passed since Big Boy disappeared from the landscape of southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois, many a cheesehead has found themselves turning off an interstate exit when spotting a Big Boy when traveling out of state, be it neighboring Michigan or as far south as Louisville. According to Big Boys website, the chain has 74 locations in the United States.

On June 5, Germantown-based businessmen Chaz Hastings and Scott Carleton announced that they had secured a franchise deal giving them Big Boy franchise rights for Wisconsin.

The Germantown Big Boy, which Hastings and Carleton say will included a Big Boy museum and shop selling Big Boy merchandise, is scheduled to have a special preview event starting at 3 p.m. Thursday with fanfare that includes a nostalgic car show, retro rock n roll, 85-cent Big Boy sandwiches (to mark the 85th anniversary of the restaurant chains founding) and an appearance by the Big Boy himself.

According to a news release, Hastings and Carleton plan on operating two Big Boy food trucks for festivals or private events. They also would like to open a location in Brookfield and have permanent stands at event venues such as Lambeau Field, American Family Field and State Fair Park, Hastings told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
I bought into the stigmas about the mentally ill, until I became one of them

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The first thing someone says when I tell them I have bipolar, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder is, Im sorry.

For a long time, I was sorry too.

Bipolar runs in my family, so I knew the harsh realities of this untreated illness. A family member faked his own death after a counterfeiting spending spree. My grandfather told people that I would die in a car accident, and he would take my body up to the mountain and bring me back to life.

When I was younger, surrounded by this family chaos, it was easy to tell myself, They are crazy! I bought into many of the stigmas of mental illness  that those with mental illness are unpredictable, incompetent, and have trouble holding down a job.

I thought I was different. I was married to a hospital CEO, attended charity events, lived in a beautiful home, and had three healthy children. Yet, life felt unbearable. The stigmas around mental illness kept me from getting the help I desperately needed, so I continued to suffer in silence.

More than 50 percent of people in the United States will experience a mental illness or disorder during their lifetime. Mental illness and disorders are mostly considered negative. To many people who dont have a mental illness, and even those who do suffer with a mental illness, view it as a personal failure or weakness. And I was no different.

In 2007, my husband and an emergency room doctor involuntarily committed me to a psychiatric hospital because I had become extremely suicidal. When the psychiatric counselor sat me down and uttered the three words, You are bipolar, I felt as if I was being handed a life sentence for something I didnt do.

The additional disorders of OCD and anxiety only added to my invisible chains. I rejected the idea of mental illness and its permanence. The painful truth that I was going to have to manage these illnesses for the rest of my life filled me with grief. I began to mourn the life I thought I could no longer have.

As a psychiatric patient, the harmful stigmatizing words associated with mental illness, such as crazy, psycho, or delusional took on a whole new meaning. In 2015, I attempted suicide. That night I swallowed hundreds of pills, certain my life was worthless, I was worthless, and the world would be better off without me. Fortunately, the ER doctors disagreed and worked to save my life.

It was not difficult for me to stop using stigmatizing language about others, but to stop stigmatizing myself was a different story. I had to change my mindset from I am bipolar or I am OCD to I have bipolar and OCD disorders.

Millions of people suffer from different types of illnesses, and they do not say, I am cancer or I am heart disease. It is time to understand that those with mental illness are more than their diagnosis.

As I embraced treatment and developed skills, I started finding hidden strengths in my mental illness. Rarely do people talk about the positives that come with a mental illness.

My OCD gives me a keen eye for detail and a determination to successfully attain goals. Anxiety has taught me courage as I face my fears and move forward through each day. My bipolar has given me creativity and resilience.

Living with pain has made me sensitive to the pain in others and an understanding of what they need. I have experienced many depressive episodes and know firsthand that you can come out of them stronger, more empathic, and grateful for even the smallest things in life.

A wise therapist explained to me that I could lie in bed all day in pain or if I wanted a life worth living, I had to get out of bed most days and find my purpose, even while in pain.

Mental health advocacy work of destigmatizing mental illness  the very thing I struggled with  became my passion. I set out with my daughter in 2019 to raise mental health awareness one local library at a time by traveling to all 50 states donating my memoir. The pandemic forced us to stop in 2020.

We recently re-started our journey and visited South Dakota, state number 45. I received an email from a womans prison coordinator in South Dakota asking if I would donate copies of my memoir to the prison library and conduct a book club for the female inmates.

This email  along with so many others  was a reminder that just because a person suffers from a mental health disorder doesnt mean they cannot make an impact.

I learned the hard way that when a person stigmatizes others or themselves, it is not only extremely damaging, but keeps them from receiving treatment and experiencing the gifts mental illness has to offer.

Every person needs to know they have a life worth living.

Sonja Wasden is a mental health advocate and co-author of An Impossible Life.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
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My role as a care coordinator for a local mobile health clinic  the mobile outreach clinic (MOC)  comes with responsibilities seldomly awarded to an undergraduate, 20-year old, volunteer student. MOC is unique in that it not only provides free, low-barrier, patient-centered primary care, but it also assigns patients to volunteer care coordinators. Care coordinators have a daunting task: to identify our assigned patients socioeconomic barriers to health and give patients the resources and support they need to overcome them. We develop long-standing relationships with our patients, learn from them regarding barriers to health and wellness, and empower them to set and achieve health goals.

There are common barriers that most of our patients face: lack of reliable transportation, lack of access to healthy foods, no health insurance, and underemployment. Our local community has a robust safety net with non-profit organizations and community groups who offer myriad resources to help patients overcome these barriers. However, sometimes even the act of accessing these resources is a challenge. For example, I recently helped connect a patient to an organization that has a resume building workshop every week at 5 p.m. While my patient was able to call the organization and confirm a slot in the following weeks workshop, she ended up working late and was unable to attend. It took several attempts to help her reconnect with the organization, but she was eventually successful.

When I checked in with her the following week, she thanked me and said she was already on the job hunt with her new resume.

While there are successes to celebrate in care coordination, there are also many times care coordination alone does not suffice. As a Spanish-speaking volunteer, all of my 14 assigned patients are native Spanish speakers with limited English proficiency. Some of them have additional barriers related to immigration status. It is far too common to work to connect them to local resources, only to see an unmet need remain because of insufficient language access services.

Just a few weeks ago, I called a woman I have been in contact with for a few months. She does not speak English, is without health insurance, and has limited income in her work as an at-home caregiver for an elderly man. During our call, her priority was worsening dental pain and a need to see a dentist. I provided contact information for a local resource that provides low-cost dental care; we made a plan that she would reach out to this agency, and I would follow up with her the following week.

I left the call feeling grateful that such resources are available in our community. During our next call, she relayed to me the frustration she felt when she called the dental office, only to realize that no one was available on the other end to communicate with her in Spanish. The person on the other line, being unable to understand what my patient was saying in Spanish, eventually hung up the phone. For patients like her, care coordinators must go above and beyond to connect patients with the community; simply passing on a resource is not enough.

That day, I offered to spend my shift on a three-way conference call so that I could interpret for her in real-time and get answers to her questions, book the appointment, and provide all the necessary information she would need to successfully receive dental care.

We are failing Spanish-speaking members of our community when we refer them to outside programs and organizations and assure that we can help, without knowing if those programs are equipped to provide appropriate language and cultural care. My role as a care coordinator is valuable. And being able to address a patients social determinants of health as part of their plan of care is crucial to achieving health equity. However, the added barriers our Spanish-speaking patients face means it must be a priority for community partners to provide interpretation services in-house and brochures and websites in Spanish.

Of course, this is much easier said than done. Community organizations, often already working on a tight budget, may not be able to devote increased financial and human resources towards translating a wealth of printed and electronic materials into other languages, as well as hiring interpreters or paying for a telephonic language interpretation service. A more affordable solution is to seek and train bilingual volunteers or better yet, to engage the limited English proficiency patients who utilize the services to weigh in on the ways that access, communication, and equity can be improved.

Laura V. Robles-Torres is a care coordinator.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
JUNCTION CITY, Ore.  Months after the Lane County District Attorney's office decided against charging a retirement caregiver accused of mistreatment, Noelle Jendraszek was arraigned in Lane County Circuit Court on Monday.

Jendraszek, who was employed at Junction City Retirement and Assisted Living and several other facilities in recent years, faces numerous charges, including criminal mistreatment, theft, tampering with drug records and more, adding up to 21 charges, according to court records.

LIST OF CHARGES Six counts of first-degree criminal mistreatment

Two counts of second-degree theft

Two counts of third-degree theft

Six counts of tampering with drug records

Five counts of recklessly endangering another person

Junction City Retirement and Assisted Living Junction City Retirement and Assisted Living

In October 2020, DA officials said no charges were being filed at the time because more evidence was needed. Jendraszek, who was initially taken to the Lane County Jail on more than 100 charges, was released.

MORE: NO CHARGES AT THIS TIME FOR CAREGIVER ACCUSED OF MISTREATMENT, THEFT

The woman is accused of stealing money, jewelry and drugs from residents at Junction City Retirement and Assisted Living, 500 E. 6th St. This is the same nursing home that was evacuated last year after a power outage, drawing the attention of state regulators. Department of Human Services records show reports of abuse at the Junction City facility going back a decade.

Caitlin VanDerSchaaf with Frontier Management, which oversees the Junction City facility, issued the following statement last year:

We have zero tolerance for abuse or neglect of our residents. As soon as we confirmed the claims against this employee, we terminated her employment with Junction City Retirement and Assisted Living and self-reported the incidences to the Department of Health. We remain committed to partnering with local law enforcement on the charges against Noelle Jendraszek and we want to fully support the residents and their families who are impacted by this devastating situation.

Frontier said Jendraszek was fired on Sept. 11, a day after the incident was reported to VanDerSchaaf. Staff then reported the incident to DHS. Frontier said staff at the facility have been cooperating with Junction City police in their process to charge the caregiver.

Jendraszek had also reportedly been cooperating with the investigation and has talked with investigators about her wrongdoings, police said. She reportedly admitted to withholding vital and medically necessary medications from 44 vulnerable residents in her care.

The investigation began Sept. 10, 2020, when a residents son reported cash had been stolen from his elderly father. The man had moved into the Junction City facility in August 2018. Investigators talked to Jendraszek, who had been a med-tech there since October 2018. Within hours, the woman reportedly surrendered about 275 pieces of jewelry she said she'd stolen from residents at multiple facilities.

Jendraszek has been employed at the following facilities in the past five years, including:

Cedar Village Assisted Living Community  Salem

Capital Manor Retirement Community  Salem

Four Seasons Residential Care  Salem

Junction City Retirement and Assisted Living  Junction City

Gibson Creek by Bonaventure  Salem

Prestige Senior Living Orchard Heights  Salem

Redwood Heights Retirement and Assisted Living Community  Salem

River Grove Memory Care  Eugene

If you know someone who was a resident at any of those facilities in that time frame and believe jewelry may have been stolen, you are urged to review images of the recovered items by clicking here.



This is just some of the jewelry that police recovered in the case.

Last year, police said Jendraszek indicated she's "at peace" with her decision to admit to the crimes.

In a notarized affidavit, Jendraszek said: I am very apologetic for any harm I have done and/or any sadness I have caused. It is my intent to correct my wrongs and do the right thing by taking responsibility for my actions. I hope someday that all the families and persons I have harmed can find it within themselves to forgive me because I know what I have done is wrong and I am seeking the help I need to recover and become a better person.

Anyone with information regarding incidents of abuse or other crimes at Junction City Retirement and Assisted Living should contact police at 541-998-1245.
LANE COUNTY, Ore. -- Community members are speaking out as the eviction moratorium in Oregon comes to an end with the expiration set for June 30.

This means that Oregonians will have until Feb. 28, 2022, to pay back rent accumulated between April 2020 and June 2021. This falls under state law SB 282.

However, once July 1 arrives, renters have to pay current rent on time or they could face eviction. A renter cannot be evicted for rent owed between April 2020 and June 2021 until after the grace period expires next February.

Tim Morris is the executive director of the Springfield Eugene Tenant Association.

If I can boil it down to one word -- the word I would say is panic and the other word is dread, Morris said. A lot of renters that we're connecting with or people that we're touching base with have shared either in the past or even within this month concerns about being able to pay rent, being able to afford back-due rent or being able to afford upcoming rent.

He said tenants he works with are trying everything they can to pay their rent payments but need more time to do so.

It is absolutely necessary and critical for tenants to not only know what resources are available but what rights and protections that they have as well -- because that's going to be the first defense if something a little strange happens or something that's a little off the wall happens, Morris said.

KEZI 9 News also spoke to landlords and property owners.

Selpher Nandwa is currently renting out a property in Lane County.

Its been a nightmare sincerely, Nandwa said. Just not getting any rent from the renter since I believe October or December of last year. I havent received that.

She said the manager of the property has tried filing for aid but hasnt been successful.

I have to juggle between jobs, Nandwa said. My husband is trying to work overtime. I have looked for another job so that I can pay my mortgage and my house in Oregon so I don't lose it.

However, even through all of this and with the eviction moratorium expiring at the end of the month, she said making ends meet is still going to be a struggle.

Knowing that although it's coming to an end, I'm still not going to get anything until next year February when I can start asking for their money," Nandwa said. "I've used all my savings.

She said after she sells her house, she will never buy a rental property again.

I feel for everybody who is genuinely going through a lot, Nandwa said. But there are so many people who are taking advantage of this, and it's not fair for the many landlords that have given everything they have to be able to put a roof under the renter's head and put a roof over ourselves.

She hopes the local and federal governments can do more to bring relief to landlords.

Its really affecting our lives, and we need help, Nandwa said. We need it urgently. We need them to be able to reach out to the renter than tell them, Please do your part. Do your part to sign those papers so your landlords can get the money to pay their mortgage so that you can continue living in this home.

A proposal was outlined Monday, Senate Bill 278, by Oregon lawmakers that would give tenants a 60-day pause from evictions if passed. This is pending in the House Rules Committee, and you would have to show proof of your application.

In Lane County, a new round of rent assistance pre-applications will reopen on Friday, June 25, at 9 a.m and will close on Monday, June 27, at 5 p.m. For criteria and further details, CLICK HERE.

You can also apply for rent assistance through the Oregon Emergency Rental Assistance Program (OERAP).

Oregon Housing and Community Services encourages landlords to apply for assistance. They share that millions of dollars remain in the Landlord Compensation Fund (LCF). That application closes June 18. This will be the last opportunity to cover all rental debt for all tenants, regardless of income.

Landlords have the chance to receive up to 80 percent of rent owed from April 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021.

Governor Kate Brown announced on Friday that she is extending the states mortgage foreclosure moratorium through September.
SPRINGFIELD, Ore. -- A recent Springfield High School writing assignment caused some controversy in the community, but teachers said it was misinterpreted.

Students in English 10 at Springfield High School were assigned to write about a topic involving injustice. However, some parents saw this as the school teaching Critical Race Theory.

Kyle Johnson, who teaches the class, says Critical Race Theory is not part of the curriculum. He wrote to the Springfield School Board that the assignment is given out every year. Students are given the task to use rhetorical techniques to "express a claim on a topic of injustice that they choose." Johnson said students were given examples but they were never required to write to those specific examples.

Regardless, this assignment did start a conversation about teaching the history of racism in schools. According to the American Bar Association, Critical Race Theory recognizes that systemic racism is part of American society and challenges the beliefs that allow it to flourish. States like Idaho and Tennessee have banned it from being taught in their public schools.

Johnson told the board in his public comment that Critical Race Theory is not part of Oregon's curriculum. The writing assignment that's been called into question is aligned with Common Core Standards.

Some parents believe the history of racism and racism in the 21st century should not be taught. They wrote in the public comment they believe it's racist. One parent wrote, "It is wrong to put children in a position where they have to judge themselves and their fellow students as either victims or perpetrators based on the color of their skin."

Derrick Bryant has one biracial son at Springfield High School and he said what needs to be taught is working hard and setting goals to succeed in life.

"So it's not about racism that gets you through life, it's about working hard, being honest surrounding yourself with good people, making good choices, and more than likely your life will have a better outcome," Bryant said.

Other parents however called on the district to implement teaching Critical Race Theory. These parents argued that Critical Race Theory will give students a more well-rounded education. One parent wrote, "Critical Race Theory is just teaching an accurate version of American history, over a watered-down whitewashed version. Our kids deserve to learn accurate history over American Mythos, and come to conclusions on their own."

KEZI reached out to the school district for comment Monday night, but didn't hear back.
By Benjamin Jumbe

The albinism movement in Uganda is calling for reasonable accommodation in the countrys education system.

This comes as concerns are raised over continued stigma against people living with albinism and especially children, which has forced many to abandon school

The executive director of the Albinism Umbrella Olive Namutebi says instead of thinking of giving children with albinism a special school, they should be accommodated in schools with other children.

She says this is important to help them grow up and socialize with others normally, however calling for understanding from the teachers of their special needs and conditions.
By Damali Mukhaye

Medical experts have warned Ugandans against using weeds including marijuana to treat Covid-19 symptoms.

Many people across the country have resorted to boiling various weeds, inhaling and drinking the concoctions to boost their immunity.

The latest in use is marijuana where videos and audios have been making rounds on social media with some people claiming its leaves can cure Covid-19.

However medical doctors have noted that intake of marijuana has instead increased cases of intoxication in various hospitals.

The Permanent Secretary at Ministry of Health, Dr Diana Atwiine says the population should desist from using marijuana because there is no research that proves that it cures covid-19.

Dr Atwiine said that if this persists, intoxication and drug addiction will rise.

She says people should stick to prescriptions from trusted medical personnel and follow care and preventive guidelines issued by the ministry of health.

Uganda currently has 63,099 cases of covid-19 and 434 related deaths.
By Juliet Nalwooga

Police in Hoima city is holding six teachers from Yana Day and Boarding Primary School who were found teaching pupils in contravention of the presidential directives meant to stop the spread of Covid-19.

Police spokesperson Fred Enanga says among the arrested teachers is the proprietor of the school one Juliet Ndibalekera.

He says police also await statements from parents of the 11 pupils currently detained at the police station.

The suspects face charges relating to engaging in a negligent act likely to cause the spread of an infectious disease which in this case Covid-19.

In his last address on the covid-19 situation in the country, President Museveni ordered the closure of all educational institutions and banned inter-district travel for 42 days.

Uganda currently has 63,099 cases of covid-19 and 434 related deaths.
Weather Alert

...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM PDT SUNDAY... * WHAT...Dangerously hot conditions combined with limited night time cooling. * WHERE...Portions of North and North Central Idaho. Portions of Central, East Central, North Central, Northeast, and Southeast Washington. * WHEN...Until 7 PM PDT Sunday. * IMPACTS...Heat related illnesses increase significantly during extreme heat. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Going to a place with air conditioning even for a couple hours can help mitigate heat stress. Consider going to a shopping mall, local library, or community center for relief. Do not leave young children and pets in unattended vehicles. Car interiors will reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes. Take extra precautions when outside. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing. Try to limit strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Take action when you see symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. &&
A County Louth man who showed up at a nearby garda station to alert officers to the fact that he had just tried to rape a young woman has been jailed for three years.

Oliver Kane (41), who was homeless at the time, told gardai that when he saw the woman walking by he decided I am going to run towards her and get as close as I can. He said his intentions were to get her into a side area but she fought him off and managed to get away.

God knows what would have happened, Kane told gardai before he admitted he was going to rape her.

Garda Roisin ODonnell agreed that Kane said in subsequent interviews with gardai if you were homeless and wanted a shag, you wouldnt care where it came from.

Kane pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to attempted rape of the now 21-year-old in Ardee, County Louth on November 16, 2020. He has one previous conviction for a public order offence.

Mr Justice Paul Coffey sentenced Kane to four years with the final year suspended on strict conditions including that he engages with his local mental health service for three years upon his release from prison.

He also registered him as a sex offender and imposed a three-year post-release supervision order during which time Kane must engage with the Probation Service.

Mr Justice Coffey said Kane intended to abuse his natural physical strength to degrade the victim. He said Kane had embarked upon the crime opportunistically in shocking circumstances during which the woman was attacked from behind while walking home late at night.

The judge noted that the woman has had to endure the continual ill effects of the crime in that she suffers from severe depression, sleepless nights and never feels safe.

Mr Justice Coffey acknowledged that Kane was instantly overcome with remorse and admitted his crime to the gardai. He said coupled with his plea of guilty, this admission has been of very considerable value to the prosecution.

Finally, the judge noted that Kane has only one previous conviction for a minor public order offence, was from a decent law-abiding family, was homeless at the time of the attempted rape and has a minor intellectual disability.

Carl Hanahoe BL, prosecuting, told the court at an earlier hearing that although the complainant does not wish to waive her right to anonymity, she is satisfied that reporting the name of her attacker and the location of the incident would not identify her.

She stated in a victim impact statement, read to the court by Garda ODonnell, that Kanes attack changed her life.

He attempted to rape me and violate me. I was strong enough to escape but it has still affected my mental health, the woman said.

She described how she suffered from constant nightmares and struggled to sleep. She took two weeks off work. She has started counselling since last Christmas after initially thinking I could do this my own and has since been treated for depression.

The woman said the worst part of the whole ordeal was seeing her mother upset and she added that she is now more careful.

No human being should be violated and taken advantage of and never feel unsafe, the woman concluded.

Michael Bowman SC, defending said that his client is aware of the behaviour that brought him here and the distress that he has brought on the complainant.

He said Kane was sleeping rough at the time in both Drogheda and Dundalk but had come to Ardee that night to look for help.

Counsel said his client was being treated for both depression and psychosis at the time but had not taken his medication for the two weeks prior to the attack.

Kane interrupted Bowmans address to the court and shouted nothing excuses what I have done before counsel continued and added that Kane does not seek to hide behind any of his difficulties.

Garda ODonnell told Mr Hanahoe that the victim had left a friend's house around 1am that morning and was walking home to her fathers when she heard a noise and became aware that there was a man behind her. She had been listening to music and had headphones in.

Kane asked her for a lighter. She told him she didnt have one but he continued to ask for one and walked after her.

He suddenly grabbed her from behind and put his hand over her mouth. The woman attempted to get away and struggled with Kane.

She later told gardai that she believed he was trying to get her to the entrance of a nearby housing estate where there is a green area behind a small wall.

The woman eventually managed to break free although Kane tried to grab her a second time. She ran away and shouted to him that she was calling the gardai. Kane fled the scene and the woman immediately called the gardai.

Garda ODonnell told Mr Hanahoe that she was just about to leave the station to respond to the womans call when Kane arrived at the station and admitted he had just tried to rape a woman.

She agreed with Mr Bowman that his client has considerable mental health issues and his behaviour on the night was bizarre.

She acknowledged that he was crying when he first arrived at the station and was still quite upset during his later garda interviews.

Garda ODonnell agreed that Kane expressed regret for what had taken place and understood that he had hurt the woman.

She accepted that he was from a decent law-abiding family and at the time was in desperate need of help and accommodation.
Irelands poultry industry will gain knowledge on topical issues over a five-part webinar series beginning Wednesday, 16 June, at 2pm.

Hosted by Teagasc, prominent topics such as biosecurity, Cocci, Foot Pad Dermaititis, Support Scheme for Renewable Heat (SSRH) and layer management will be examined.

The 50-minute webinars will go live every fortnight, starting on Wednesday, 16 June at 2pm with a discussion on Biosecurity with Conor Sheehy, Vet with St Davids Poultry Team. At a time where the industry is faced with constant disease threats, it is critical to emphasise to producers the importance of day-to-day biosecurity measures for the prevention of disease, explained Rebecca Tierney, poultry advisor, Teagasc.

The second webinar will focus on the Support Scheme for Renewable Heat (SSRH) offered by SEAI. We will speak to Martin Dempsey, commercial broiler producer, who has implemented the scheme on his farm. Martin will be joined by Ray Langton of the SEAI, who will detail with the application process and the tariffs received.

On the third webinar, Rebecca will be joined by Robbie Hagwood, poultry consultant. Robbie is going to discuss the importance of good flock recording and how records are for the benefit of the farmer and the business.

Ellie Radford, Huvepharma, and Callum Tuner, St Davids Poultry Team, will speak to producers on Wednesday, 28th July, in relation to Cocci, the best ways to prevent it and disinfect following an outbreak.

Conor Sheehy will return on August 11th, to discuss Foot Pad Dermatitis, how it is scored, and the management practices to ensure good foot pad scoring.

The Teagasc Lets Talk Poultry webinar series is aimed at providing timely information and support for the industry. Teagasc has sourced leading experts in biosecurity, layer management, and sustainable heat supply.

The webinar series will be hosted on Zoom and is free to join. The first in the series starts on Wednesday, June 16 at 2 p.m. Participants will have the chance to pose their questions to speakers at the end of each webinar.

To register, log on to https://www.teagasc.ie/ corporate-events/lets-talk- poultry/
Garda powers are to be modernised and updated as the Minister for Justice, Heather Humphreys TD, today publishes the General Scheme of the Garda Siochana (Powers) Bill following approval by Government.

Publication of the Bill was a key commitment in the Justice Plan 2021. The Bill will modernise existing law and make it more consistent.

In line with a recommendation of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland, the Bill will provide a clear and transparent statutory basis for the existing police powers of search, arrest and detention, supported by statutory codes of practice.

It will also have a strong focus on human rights. This includes both the rights of suspected or accused persons, as well as the human rights of all members of society to live free from violence, abuse, crime and fear.

New measures included in the Bill include:

The introduction of a single power of arrest. This will increase the scope of Garda arrest powers, but also make the power subject to conditions to ensure the arrest is necessary in the particular circumstances. This is in line with other common law jurisdictions

The Garda caution will be put on a statutory basis and the requirement for a written contemporaneous note of a Garda interview will be removed in cases where it can be recorded by other means.

Placing current practice on a statutory footing, a statutory right for the accused to have their lawyer present at interview will be introduced.

A power for An Garda Siochana and other bodies to require a person to provide passwords for access to electronic devices when carrying out a search warrant.

A new requirement to make a written record of a stop and search. This will facilitate the collection of data necessary to assess the effectiveness and use of the relevant powers by Garda management and oversight bodies.

Statutory codes of practice will be drawn up to provide guidance for Gardai in using their powers under the Bill

Special measures will be taken for suspects who are children and suspects who may have impaired capacity (whether because of an intellectual disability, mental illness, physical disability or intoxication).



Minister Humphreys said: The law in this area is currently very complex, spread across the common law, hundreds of pieces of legislation, constitutional and EU law. Bringing it together will make the use of police powers by Gardai clear, transparent and accessible. The aim is to create a system that is both clear and straightforward for Gardai to use and easy for people to understand what powers Gardai can use and what their rights are in those circumstances.

At the same time, where we are proposing to extend additional powers to Gardai, we are also strengthening safeguards. The Bill will have a strong focus on the fundamental rights and procedural rights of the accused. I believe this will maintain the crucial balance which is key to our criminal justice system, while ensuring greater clarity and streamlining of Garda powers.

This Bill, along with the implementation of the other recommendations of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland, will improve and copper-fasten a policing practice which is focused, intelligence-based and underpinned by community confidence and support. It will enhance the bedrock of safeguards for good policing  trust, legitimacy and authority.

The new Bill will set out and enhance the rights of persons in Garda custody, and bring together the existing powers to detain people in Garda custody for the purpose of an investigation.

It will bring in longer detention periods for the investigation of multiple offences being investigated together, for a maximum of up to 48 hours.

It will also allow for a weeks detention for suspects in human trafficking offences, which are currently subject to a maximum of 24 hours detention. The longer detention period is warranted because of the control that is often exerted by the perpetrators over their victims.

It is important to note that these are the maximum detention periods permitted. They can only be used where necessary to investigate the offence and they are subject to authorisation by a Court.

The rights of detained suspects are provided for in detail, including the right to rest, the right to medical attention and the right of access to a lawyer.

The Department has consulted extensively in the formulation of the Bill, including with human rights bodies, policing oversight bodies, as well as An Garda Siochana and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The Part of the Scheme dealing with search warrants will also apply to the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement and the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission.

The proposals relating to the rights of accused persons will strengthen the measures in place to implement the EU Directive on the Right to Information and facilitate the State opting-in to the EU Directive on Access to a Lawyer. The General Scheme also implements the majority of recommendations of the Law Reform Commissions 2015 Report on Search Warrants.

The Scheme does not include the powers of search, arrest and detention under the Offences Against the State Acts, as that legislation is separately the subject of a review chaired by Mr Justice Michael Peart. Following the completion of that review, any implications for this Scheme will be considered.

The General Scheme will now be sent to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice for pre-legislative scrutiny.
The winners of the Equine Farming and Biodiversity photo competition were announced by Teagasc today, Tuesday, 15 June 2021.

Amy Finn from Ballyfoyle has been named as one of the competition winners for her photo of a Connemara pony, seen above.

The overall winner is Roseann ONeill from Kenmare, County Kerry. As Roseann explains, her winning image captures her Class 1 Kerry Bog Pony mare taken through the window of an old cow house.

Roseanns winning image was selected from over 150 diverse images featuring examples of biodiversity in harmony with equines farms around the country which were recently submitted to the Equine Farming and Biodiversity photo competition. Roseann will receive vouchers valued at 250.

Teagasc Equine Specialist Wendy Conlon added her congratulations saying Roseanns photo resonated with the judges for its simplicity yet captivation of the beautiful Kerry landscape and its native Kerry Bog pony.



In second place is Nicole Groyer from Naul, Co. Dublin. Wendy compliments Nicole on framing her horse while demonstrating the aesthetic and shelter values of hedgerows. Nicole is delighted to receive vouchers valued at 150.

In third place is Amy Finn from Ballyfoyle, Co. Kilkenny who will receive vouchers valued at 100. Wendy praises Amys representation of the Connemara Pony among the trees which are a valuable resource that enhance farm aesthetics.

A special prize for an image portraying the three native Irish breeds of the Kerry Bog pony, Irish Draught and Connemara Pony could not be ignored. Congratulation to Yasmin Fortune of Greystones, Co. Wicklow who will receive vouchers value at 50.

Catherine Keena, Teagasc Countryside Management Specialist appreciated the biodiversity portrayed in the winning photos, which demonstrate the importance of equine farms in maintaining biodiversity and the relevance of this in the promotion of the environmental credentials of the Irish equine industry.

Catherine said: Native Irish hedges are networks for nature through equine farms, full of flora and fauna. Individual trees provide shade for horses and are of immense value to biodiversity, particularly native tree species and also old trees which host mosses, lichen, fungi and associated invertebrates. Many horses and ponies are delivering ecosystem services by maintaining species-rich grassland and upland habitats in good condition. The three native Irish equine breeds provide a rich reservoir of genetics and contribute to the preservation of Irelands genetic heritage.

It was gratifying for the judges to experience the range of excellent images from participants. The winning Equine Farming and Biodiversity photos can now be viewed at www.teagasc.ie/equinecomp.

Teagasc sincerely thanks all participants for taking the time to enter and wishes everyone continued enjoyment of their surroundings while encouraging all to strive to both sustain and improve biodiversity on their farms.
KIMT NEWS 3.- Minnesota's prolonged drought is devastating rivers, lakes, streams and harming the wildlife that calls them home.

Craig Soupir with the Minnesota DNR says the drought has caused water levels in lakes to decline dramatically, diminishing the habitat for fish. He also tells KIMY News 3 larger lakes aren't impacted as severely but they are seeing drought-fueled algae blooms.

"A lot of times during drought conditions, you have a lot more sunlight and it's not cloudy as much so that causes algae blooms. The summer can be a little prolonged and the water turns a little bit green faster."

Soupir hasn't seen any summer kills for fish yet. The last time he saw them was in 2012 when the state experienced a similar drought.

"We hope we get just enough rain to keep things going but certainly, we can see some dead fish because of high water temperatures and drought conditions."

According to the DNR, water levels are way down, especially in South Fork Zumbro River.
ALBERT LEA, Minn.  A former North Iowa man is finally pleading guilty to attacking another man in a Freeborn County bar.

Christopher Lon Rogers, 42 of Lyons, Georgia and formerly of Northwood, entered a guilty plea Tuesday to one count of third-degree assault. He was accused of punching someone in the face at Hunters Bar in Myrtle on June 14, 2017. The Freeborn County Sheriffs Office says the victim was knocked down and a deputy found him lying on the floor of the bar patio with a pool of blood around his head.

The deputy says the victims head was resting on a roll of paper towels that was getting soaked in blood.

Rogers had been scheduled to stand trial beginning Tuesday but changed his plea to guilty instead. His sentencing is set for August 27.
HOUSTON (AP)  Jennifer Bridges, a registered nurse in Houston, is steadfast in her belief that it's wrong for her employer to force hospital workers like her to get vaccinated against COVID-19 or say goodbye to their jobs. But that's a losing legal argument so far.

In a stinging defeat, a federal judge bluntly ruled over the weekend that if employees of the Houston Methodist hospital system don't like it, they can go work elsewhere.

Methodist is trying to do their business of saving lives without giving them the COVID-19 virus. It is a choice made to keep staff, patients and their families safer. Bridges can freely choose to accept or refuse a COVID-19 vaccine; however, if she refuses, she will simply need to work somewhere else," U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes wrote in dismissing a lawsuit filed by 117 Houston Methodist workers, including Bridges, over the vaccine requirement.

The ruling Saturday in the closely watched legal case over how far health care institutions can go to protect patients and others against the coronavirus is believed to be the first of its kind in the U.S. But it won't be the end of the debate.

Bridges said she and the others will take their case to the U.S. Supreme Court if they have to: This is only the beginning. We are going to be fighting for quite a while."

And other hospital systems around the country, including in Washington, D.C., Indiana, Maryland, Pennsylvania and most recently New York, have followed Houston Methodist and have also gotten pushback.

Legal experts say such vaccine requirements, particularly in a public health crisis, will probably continue be upheld in court as long as employers provide reasonable exemptions, including for medical conditions or religious objections.

The Houston Methodist employees likened their situation to medical experiments performed on unwilling victims in Nazi concentration camps during World War II. The judge called that comparison reprehensible and said claims made in the lawsuit that the vaccines are experimental and dangerous are false.

These folks are not being imprisoned. Theyre not being strapped down. Theyre just being asked to receive the vaccination to protect the most vulnerable in hospitals and other health care institutional settings, said Valerie Gutmann Koch, an assistant law professor at the University of Houston Law Center.

Bridges is one of 178 Houston Methodist workers who were suspended without pay on June 8 and will be fired if they dont agree by June 22 to get vaccinated.

The University of Pennsylvania Health System, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, and the NewYork-Presbyterian hospital system have likewise indicated employees who arent fully vaccinated would lose their jobs.

Houston Methodists decision in April made it the first major U.S. health care system to require COVID-19 vaccinations for workers. Many hospitals around the country, including Houston Methodist, already require other types of vaccines, including for the flu.

Houston Methodists president and CEO, Marc Boom, has said nearly 25,000 of the system's more than 26,000 workers have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

You did the right thing. You protected our patients, your colleagues, your families and our community. The science proves that the vaccines are not only safe but necessary if we are going to turn the corner against COVID-19, Boom said in a statement to employees.

But Bridges, 39, and Kara Shepherd, 38, another nurse who is part of the lawsuit, say they dont have confidence in the vaccines safety. They say that they have seen patients and co-workers have severe reactions and that there is insufficient knowledge about its long-term effects.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said that while a small number of health problems have been reported, COVID-19 vaccines are safe and highly effective.

Both Bridges, who has worked 6 years at the medical-surgical in-patient unit at Houston Methodists hospital in the suburb of Baytown, and Shepherd, who has worked 7 years in the labor and delivery unit at a Methodist hospital in Houston, say they are not anti-vaccine, are not conspiracy theorists and are not making a political statement.

To me, what this ultimately boils down to is freedom, Shepherd said.

Their attorney, Jared Woodfill, said the hospital system is not allowing its workers to make their own health care decisions.

Indiana University Health, Indiana's biggest hospital system, is requiring all its employees be fully vaccinated by Sept. 1. So far, just over 60% of its 34,000 employees have been vaccinated, spokesman Jeff Swiatek said.

Some employees in Indianapolis on Saturday protested the requirement.

Kasey Ladig, an intensive care nurse and outpatient coordinator in the bone marrow transplant unit at IU Health, said she quit the job she loved the day the policy was announced.

I would love to hear something other than, We trust the science, Ladig said. It was a huge red flag. I didnt feel comfortable getting it.

Hospital employees and others have argued that such requirements are illegal because the COVID-19 vaccines are being dispensed under emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration and have not received final FDA approval. But Koch said emergency use does not mean people are being experimented on, and she added that FDA approval is expected.

Allison K. Hoffman, a law professor at the University of Pennsylvania, said claims made by Houston Methodist employees that they are being used as human guinea pigs or that vaccine policy violates the Nuremberg Code, a set of rules for medical experimentation that were developed in the wake of Nazi atrocities, are bordering on absurd."

To avoid such fights, many employers are offering incentives for vaccinations.

Instead of requiring vaccines, the small health care system in Jackson, Wyoming, offered $600 bonuses to employees who got vaccinated before the end of May. That boosted vaccinations from 73% to 82% of the 840 employees at St. Johns Health, said spokeswoman Karen Connelly.

Bridges and Shepherd said that while the expected loss of their jobs has meant some financial worries, they have no regrets.

Were all proud of our decision because we stood our ground and we didnt do something against our will just for a paycheck, Bridges said.
MASON CITY, Iowa  A Missouri man is back in Cerro Gordo County to face criminal charges over a 2017 chase.

Kevin Lee Jennings, 53 of Warsaw, MO, has been booked into the Cerro Gordo County Jail on $10,000 bond. Hes charged with eluding and three counts of forgery.

Court documents state Jennings passed a forged check at Hy-Vee West in Mason City on January 27, 2017, and then refused to stop when ordered to by a police officer. Authorities say that led to a chase on Highway 122 and then north on Eisenhower Ave., with Jennings hitting speeds of 90 miles per hour in a 35-mile-per-hour zone.

Jennings is also accused of cashing fake payroll checks in Clear Lake in December 2016 and January 2017.

Criminal complaints against Jennings were filed in 2016 and 2017 but his prosecution has been delayed while Jennings served a prison sentence in Missouri on other charges.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP)  A Democratic state representative from eastern Iowa who chaired the Legislative Black Caucus and advocated for the safety of meatpacking plant workers early during the pandemic has become the first person to announce a run for governor next year.

Rep. Ras Smith launched an ad campaign on Tuesday, hours before he was expected to formally announce his bid.

The 33-year-old lawmaker is serving his third term representing an area of Black Hawk County that includes his hometown of Waterloo.

Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds hasn't said if she'll run for reelection, but she's expected to do so.
OSAGE, Iowa  A Mitchell County woman is pleading not guilty in a collision that injured both drivers.

Dorothy J. Werner, 66 of Osage, is charged with serious injury by vehicle. The Iowa State Patrol says Werner was driving on Highway 218 around 11:40 am on March 24 when he had a head-on crash with another vehicle near mile marker 256.

Both Werner and the other driver had to be taken to the hospital for treatment of their injuries.

A state trooper says Werner admitted she had been using her cellular device while driving.

A trial is scheduled to start on August 11.
MASON CITY, Iowa - From drive-by shootings, to finding syringes in his parking lot, to breaking into cars with an axe, Mason City Auto Sales owner DaLayne Germundson has seen a lot of criminal activity take place in and around his lot.

"This area of town is getting terrible."

This past Sunday morning, Mason City Police reported a call of shot fired near Germundson's lot, including shell casings that were found on the ground. (The incident is still under investigation.) Less than a month ago, one person was shot just across the street from his lot roughly a half of a block away.

With the amount of incidents, it's to the point where it's scaring customers.

"I've had a lot of people message me that are interested in cars, but are scared to come down here and look at them because of the shootings."

Germundson has installed high-definition, high quality surveillance cameras around his lot, and has captured many of these events on video. In addition, he's spoken to Mayor Bill Schickel and others about the activity surrounding his lot. But even with video evidence, the criminal incidents continue.

"Things are hitting way too close to home. I don't know what can be done, but something needs to be done."

He's seeking public input on how to keep his inventory, and customers, safe. If you have a suggestion, contact Germundson at 641-210-5571, or by messaging through the Mason City Auto Sales Facebook page.
ROCHESTER, Minn. - As lawmakers meet to hammer out Minnesota's next two-year budget, State Senator Carla Nelson says leaders have reached an agreement on a new tax bill.

As chair of the Minnesota senate's tax committee, Senator Nelson (R-Rochester) was deeply involved in negotiating the agreement with democratic members of the Minnesota House and Governor Walz. Nelson tells KIMT the $944 million bill is focused on jumpstarting Minnesota's economy, and helping small businesses and workers alike recover from the pandemic.

"It's a great bill for Minnesotans - empowering Minnesotans, and spurring economic growth. It does not include tax hikes, and does include strategic investments to help Minnesotans, our employers, and our employees thrive, not just survive, thrive, and recover stronger from COVID," Nelson said.

In addition to preventing any tax increase for state residents, Senator Nelson says the bill ensures Minnesota will not tax federal pandemic unemployment benefits up to $10,200, or PPP loans made to businesses. With the legislation set to provide close to $1 billion in tax relief, Senator Nelson believes more Minnesotans will be able to keep more of their paychecks.

"They are going to see about a billion dollars in tax relief. That is allowing Minnesotans to keep more of their hard-earned money. We know they know how to spend it better than the state government does. And we know that state government requires significant resources, but those resources are there, and they're being augmented by the federal government. We did not need to take more money out of Minnesotans' pockets."

The Senator also highlights provisions in the bill extending Minnesota's Angel Tax Credit, Historic Structure Rehabilitation Credit, and a new tax credit incentivizing the development of affordable housing. Nelson tells KIMT the bill will make its way through the Minnesota legislature and arrive at the Governor's desk before the end of this month.
Pitcured: Ashley McDonald, senior director of sustainability for NCBA, was the keynote speaker at an Iowa Cattlemen's Association Beef Meets event on Thursday, June 10, 2021. (Photo by Brent Barnett)
Residents were ordered to evacuate their homes after a chemical fire broke out Monday morning at the Chemtool Inc. plant in Rockton, Illinois. (Credit: WLS/ABC 7 Chicago via AP)
ST. LOUIS (KMOV.com) -- Friends and family members are mourning the loss of a 34-year-old man from the Chicago-area who died following a boat crash in the Meramec River Saturday night. According to Missouri Highway Patrol, Milos Marjanovic was on a boat at George Winter Park along with five others just before 9 pm.

Man killed, 5 injured in Fenton boating crash One person was killed and five others were injured in a boating accident Saturday night.

The boat hit a rock, killing Marjanovic and injuring five others. Friends said two victims are out of the hospital and the three others, including the driver, Zarko Nedeljkovic, from St. Louis, are still battling serious injuries.

Austin Wiseman said hes a friend and neighbor of Nedeljkovics and said the last few days have been extremely tough.

It broke everybodys heart, everybody, family, friends and even the neighbors around here, Wiseman said. Everybody was worried and concerned, everybody got to the hospital as fast as they could. Nobody slept, everyone was up all night worried.

Wiseman said Nedeljkovic had friends in town for the weekend and that the group decided to go boating Saturday night. Nedeljkovics friend, Marjanovic sustained the worst injuries and died at the scene, according to Missouri State Highway Patrol. Wiseman said he knew of him through his frequent visits to the area and said he had an in-depth conversation about life with him, earlier that day.

Ive talked to him a lot but I never got to sit down and actually get to know him and the it hurts to know the day I sat down with him to hear about his life was the day that he passed, Wiseman said.

Wiseman said his neighbor is an experienced boater and is out on the Meramec River all of the time. As he continues to pray for the other five victims and their recovery, he is reminded that this tragedy will stick with him forever.

Heartbreak, tears knowing that were not going to get someone back or that boat ever again, Wiseman said. Well never to get to see his smile, hear his voice or others to know who he was.

Friends said many of those onboard have relatives in Serbia that they are still trying to notify. A GoFundMe page has set up by the family.
MOUNT VERNON  The Salvation Army of Mount Vernon is grateful to receive continued funding from the Ariel Foundation for the Pathway of Hope program.

This grant challenges The Salvation Army to raise money for Pathway of Hope, which the Foundation will match up to $25,000. Pathway of Hope is a comprehensive intensive case management program, with the goal to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty and establish self-sufficiency within families.

We are very proud of Pathway of Hope and thankful for the continued funding from the Ariel Foundation," stated Captain Christine Moretz, Commanding Officer of The Salvation Army of Mount Vernon. "Our case manager will work with up to five families over the course of 18 months to support with direct assistance and personal development.

"The success for these families is so immense. It changes their lives,

The Ariel Foundation has been a program partner of Pathway of Hope since 2019. Their continued support has helped inspire hope and creating lasting change in Mount Vernon.

Recently, one Mom in the Pathway of Hope program told me, I have found Hope. Now I dont just want a job. I want a career! It shows the true success of our work in peoples lives, Moretz said.

To learn more about The Salvation Army in Mount Vernon, or make a donation, visit www.SalvationArmyOhio.org/MountVernon or call 740-392-8716.

The Salvation Armys Mission

The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination. Nearly 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through the broadest array of social services that range from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, and outreach programs for youth. For more information, go to www.SalvationArmyOhio.org.
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Weather Alert

...Forecast flooding changed from Minor to Moderate severity and increased in duration for the following rivers in Missouri... Missouri River at Jefferson City. River forecasts are based on observed precipitation and forecast precipitation for the next 24 hours. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Rainfall heavier than forecast could cause river levels to rise even higher than predicted. The National Weather Service will monitor this developing situation and issue follow up statements as conditions change. This product, along with additional weather and stream information, is available at https://water.weather.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=lsx. && ...Forecast flooding increased from Minor to Moderate severity and increased in duration until early Monday morning... The Flood Warning continues for the Missouri River at Jefferson City. * Until early Monday morning. * At 7:45 PM CDT Thursday the stage was 26.0 feet. * Flood stage is 23.0 feet. * Moderate flooding is occurring and moderate flooding is forecast. * Recent Activity...The maximum river stage in the 24 hours ending at 7:45 PM CDT Thursday was 26.1 feet. * Forecast...The river is expected to rise to a crest of 26.1 feet just after midnight tonight. It will then fall below flood stage Saturday evening. * Impact...At 26.0 feet, Pumping from a ditch in Hartsburg, MO begins. At this height...numerous county roads near McBaine... Easley...and Ashland are flooded. These include Coats Lane... Grocery Branch...Burr Oak...Old Plank...Cedar Tree...Jemerson Creek...Christian School...Claysville...and Soft Pit Hill Roads. && Fld Observed Forecasts (7 pm CDT) Location Stg Stg Day/Time Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Missouri River Jefferson Cit 23.0 26.0 Thu 7 pm 26.1 22.8 19.0 15.3 11.8 &&




The United States has no immediate plan to directly provide COVID-19 vaccine to North Korea but supports international efforts to assist the impoverished country cope with the pandemic, the State Department said Monday.







"While we have no plans to provide vaccines to the DPRK, we continue to support international efforts aimed at the provision of critical humanitarian aid to the most vulnerable North Koreans," a department spokesperson told Yonhap News Agency, asking not to be identified.







DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the North's official name.







The remarks come after South Korean President Moon Jae-in said his country will help push for international support for the North if Pyongyang asked.







"If North Korea agrees, (we) will push proactively for cooperation on vaccine supplies for it," Moon said in a joint press conference with his Austrian counterpart, Alexander Van der Bellen, in Vienna.







North Korea claims to have detected no confirmed case of the new coronavirus within its borders.







The country has maintain a strict border control since the start of the pandemic early last year. (Yonhap)






South Korea's exports of strawberries rose nearly 25 percent on-year in the first five months of this year on the back of robust output and rising demand amid the pandemic, data showed Tuesday.







The country's exports of strawberries reached US$49 million in the January-May period, up 24.7 percent from a year earlier, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.







The gain was mainly attributable to an increase in strawberry output and the use of chartered flights for outbound shipments, the ministry said.







The government said last month that the country has operated 88 chartered flights to Singapore since December last year to help local strawberry farmers facing troubles in shipping their produce amid the pandemic.







The country has set the goal of increasing exports of strawberries to $65 million this year, up 20 percent from the previous year. (Yonhap)


By Martin Schram





Looking back, Vice President Kamala Harris's first major mission as the highest-ranking woman in the history of the United States  her trip to Guatemala and Mexico last week to ease, if not resolve, the surging refugee crisis at our southwest border  really wasn't as imperfect as some critics and pundits are saying.







But it was discouraging. And mainly, it was a missed opportunity to send a powerful and humane message to desperate people who needed to hear it the most. Namely: those hundreds of thousands of despairing men, women, teens and little children who are about to risk their lives, and may well waste their last dollars, on criminal coyotes who promised to somehow smuggle them into the U.S.







Harris arrived in an increasingly dysfunctional region just as U.S. officials announced that in May, more than 180,000 refugees had surged to the U.S.-Mexico border seeking asylum  the highest monthly total in two decades. And on June 6, Mexico held nationwide elections after a 10-month campaign in which 91 politicians were reportedly murdered  36 of them aspiring candidates.







Those of us who watched Harris in action, respected her skills and hoped she would succeed in helping humanity, were sad to realize neither she nor her corps of Biden-Harris experts and advisers seemed to grasp how they could have been making good things happen at the intersection of the news media, policy and politics. (Memo to message manipulators: It happens just the same way at those intersections in Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Mexico as it does back in Washington.)







Today we are spotlighting the powerful message/policy tools the Biden-Harris team left unused in their toolbox  a missed opportunity that could have been more effective in communicating to hundreds of thousands of desperate Central Americans who are homeless and/or jobless. Also people in those long-corrupted countries who thugs threatened to injure or kill if they didn't pay protection money to gangs that are also paying cops and judges to look the other way.







No wonder those frantic people have been easy marks for coyotes who conned them into believing the U.S. border was opening up  so they gave smugglers maybe $5,000 to be jammed cheek-to-jowl in panel trucks that would take them to the border. Smugglers promised to somehow get them onto U.S. land so they could surrender, apply for asylum, and live in U.S. shelters waiting for officials to let them in.







In Guatemala, Harris rambled at length before issuing a planned but only quasi-convincing warning: "Do not come (to the U.S.-Mexico border)  I believe if you come to our border, you will be turned back." She also announced another batch of bureaucratic-sounding policies: the creation of a joint "Anticorruption Task Force," a "Human Smuggling and Corruption Task Force." It all sounded like more talk about aid that won't ever reach them (because it never has before). So the surge surges on.







Predictably, U.S. reporters repeatedly asked her the gotcha questions that were being dished by Republican critics: Why didn't she go to the border? Astonishingly, she seemed shocked each time. Finally, when NBC's Lester Holt pressed her about it last Monday, she snapped: "And I haven't been to Europe. And I mean, I don't understand the point you are making." CNN's Jake Tapper reported that gaffe led to not just predictable criticism from the right and left, but also from anonymous White House sources.







But wait! Suppose the Biden-Harris thinkologists had used their message-molding tools and started her trip to start at the border with refugees telling her about the misery of their month-long trek to the border. Suppose she then went to Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras  and cut a ribbon opening a Top Priority Refugee Asylum Application & Processing Center in each country.







Suppose she announced that from now on, these new "Top Priority" centers are the only places where "top priority" processing will be rapidly done. (It is, after all, an existing procedure done in U.S. consulates each country anyway.)







Let the TV cameras record it all. Let the veep explain that starting now there is zero advantage to surging hopelessly to the border. Show video of people being returned from the border to await in these new centers back in their home countries while their relatives in San Diego and Cleveland were contacted.







Don't admit the drug gang punks. But admit all refugees who indeed have relatives in the U.S., who just want to work  and send money home to their families.







Team Biden-Harris can still make that message and broadcast it through the Americas. It's not too late to show asylum seekers that, from now on, these all new, humanitarian centers are every refugee's top-priority, peril-free place to be.







Epilogue: It is late at night and I am googling to find an example I can show you of a well-intentioned but overreaching U.S. aid program that failed to reach Latin America's lower income workers who most needed our help. Up pops a perfect example of speaking truth to power.







It's from the JFK-LBJ era. A government consultant wrote a memo warning foreign aid officials that a planned low cost housing project would be building homes that were too costly for the workers they're supposed to be helping. The memo, really quite gutsy, urged that the U.S. build lower cost, truly affordable housing. And it questioned whether the project really was "designed to impress the U.S. (powers)  rather than serve the (workers') practical necessities."







The memo was spotted and quoted by a Stony Brook University grad student, Michael J. Murphy, in his 2013 doctoral dissertation: "The costs for workers seeking to purchase homes in these housing projects caught the attention of Marlo J. Schram "  OMG!  that's my dad he's quoting! Well of course.







Dad was always about helping people buy their first house  a dream many in the world still think will only come true for others. Dad's been gone 17 years now. Yet as another Father's Day approaches, we all think about our dads and always enjoy those fun times that still make us smile.









Martin Schram (





martin.schram@gmail.com .) is a veteran Washington journalist, author and TV documentary executive. This article was distributed by Tribune Content Agency.
By Ahn Ho-young





President Moon Jae-in attended the Group of Seven (G7) Summit in Cornwall, United Kingdom from June 11 to 13. The event reminds me of the two previous times Korea has participated in a G7 summit, the momentous changes that have taken place in the world since then, and the meaning of Korea's participation at the Cornwall meeting more than a decade later.



Korea's first participation in the G7 goes back to 2008, when Japan hosted the meeting in Toyako. At that time, the so-called Heiligendamm Process had been established, which enabled the G5 countries of Brazil, India, China, South Africa and Mexico to participate as a group at the G7 summits in what used to be called the "G8 (as Russia was also attending the G7 meetings at the time)+G5" format. Then, it was also customary for the G7 country hosting that particular summit to invite special guest countries. Japan accordingly invited Australia, Indonesia and Korea to attend the Toyako G7 Summit as guests.



Cheong Wa Dae, in preparation for then President Lee Myung-bak's participation at the summit, appointed me as a "sherpa" to the President, or his personal representative. (I used to work at the time as the deputy foreign minister for trade) I jumped at the opportunity because I believed in the importance of Korea making a bigger contribution to global affairs and in being further involved in important institutions for global leadership. Korea's participation at Toyako was followed by many other important moves made in that direction.



In the same year, the G20 was started in the wake of the Great Recession. In the following year, at the London sherpas' meeting held in February, Korea was already cited as a perfect candidate to hold a G20 summit, and it was subsequently held in Seoul in November 2010. In 2011, the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) was established in Seoul, which started, among other things, the climate partnership between Korea and Denmark, as we recently observed in the Seoul Summit of the Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G). In the following year, Korea hosted the 2nd Nuclear Security Summit and succeeded in bringing the Global Climate Fund headquarters, the financing arm of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to Korea.



Now, almost 10 years later, Korea has again attended a G7 summit. My hope is that it will prove to be more than a one-time event and serve as another opportunity for Korea to enhance its stature on global issues.



There are several points we have to reflect on for that to happen. First of all, we must understand the changes the G7 went through over the years. The intervening years saw many important changes in the strategic, economic, technological, environmental and even health conditions around the world, such that we often talk about today being a time of global uncertainty.



This has resulted in important changes in the structure, and substance, of G7 meetings as well. As for the structure, as an example, G5 countries are no longer collectively represented at the G7. The issues dealt with by the G7 have also undergone important changes, part of the reason being that the G20 has been declared "the premier institution for international economic issues."



Second, we must understand the motivation behind the invitation extended to Korea this time. A clue can be found on the U.K. government's official G7 website: "The prime minister's ambition is to use the G7 to intensify cooperation between the world's democratic and technologically advanced nations. To that end, he has invited leaders from Australia, India, South Korea and South Africa ()."



U.S. President Joe Biden, in his pre-G7 summit contribution to The Washington Post, echoed British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and raised what he called, "a defining question of our time": "Can democracies come together to deliver real results for our people in a rapidly changing world?"



If Korea was invited to the G7 summits in 2008 and 2009 for its enhanced capability to contribute to G7 cooperation on climate change and official development assistance (ODA), this time it was invited as a model democracy to join other democracies at this time of global uncertainty.



Third, we must ask ourselves if we wish to take this opportunity of joining other leading democracies and, if so, how we can make the best of this situation. On this choice, the fact that President Moon attended the G7 Cornwall Summit is in itself a clear indication that it has already been made.



As for how to make the best of this opportunity, Korea must not be timid in declaring its intention to join other democracies, to play a role commensurate with its capabilities, and to shed itself of the perception that Korea is becoming increasingly backward and inward-looking. In the wake of the May 14 Korea-U.S. Summit and its joint statement, I wrote in this column of my pleasant surprise, and the importance of implementing it. Let us hope that Korea's participation at the Cornwall Summit will serve as another timely juncture for Korea to move in that direction.





Ahn Ho-young (hyahn78@mofa.or.kr) is president of the University of North Korean Studies. He served as the Korean ambassador to the United States and first vice foreign minister.


Former Vice President Mike Pence, right, waves as New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu introduces him at the annual Hillsborough County New Hampshire GOP Lincoln-Reagan Dinner, June 3, in Manchester, New Hampshire.
Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

Sunny, along with a few afternoon clouds. High 74F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Mainly clear. Low 53F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
MULTNOMAH COUNTY, OR (KPTV) - A group of people rallied outside the Multnomah County Courthouse demanding Oregon's eviction moratorium, which is set to expire in about two weeks, be extended.

The state started the moratorium in April 2020 because tenants were financially struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting in July, renters protected by it will have to start paying rent. Oregonians have until next February to make payments on previous months they missed but renters can get kicked out if they don't make new rent payments starting next month.

So, how many people are going to be facing a problem once the moratorium ends? The exact number isn't known but a study from Portland State University estimates as many as 89,000 Oregon households owe back rent and as many as 200,000 face problems making rent each month. More than half of those households have kids.

On Tuesday, a group called "Don't Evict PDX" held a rally outside the Multnomah County Courthouse. Demonstrators who FOX 12 spoke with shared their concerns about the upcoming expiration.

"A lot of people are still trying to get back to work and everything and/or catch up from the bills from the pandemic," Heather Ryan said.

"I'm really concerned about upcoming evictions, current evictions, a lot of people being pushed out of their homes during a crisis and just the ongoing violence of people losing housing and being displaced along with their families," Gabriel Burns told FOX 12.

The group is calling for an extension of the moratorium, legal counsel for tenants, and for support of the measures in its "Keep Oregonians Housed" petition. Lawmakers in Salem are considering extending protections for vulnerable renters.
A patron leaves Charleys Philly Steaks restaurant, Friday, June 4, 2021, in Mayfield Heights, Ohio. Hiring in the United States picked up in May yet was slowed again by the struggles of many companies to find enough workers to keep up with the economy's swift recovery from the pandemic recession. U.S. employers added 559,000 jobs last month, the Labor Department said Friday, an improvement from April's sluggish increase of 278,000.
Speaking at the NATO summit in Brussels, Belgium, President Biden called on foreign leaders to protect against those who prey on division and push "phony populism," saying it is on the democratic nations to prove democracy can prevail.
UPDATE: JUNE 27 AT 11:34 A.M.

Mop-up work continued on the Robertson Draw Fire Saturday.

Crews also completed work to chip wood debris along the East Side Road Custer Gallatin National Forest reported in an update.

On Sunday, the south and east sides of the fire will continue to be patrolled and monitored for any hot spots or pockets of heat along the containment lines.

Crews will grid the fire edge again and look for pickets of heat, and suppression repair of interior dozer lines will be continued on the eastern side the update said.

On the northwest side firefighters will continue to patrol and monitor the hand lines.

The structure protection group will work on some additional fuels reduction planning.

If the weather clears, firefighters will return to the plateau and south of Mt. Maurice area on the west side of the fire to check on that area, Custer Gallatin National Forest said in the update. The initial attack group will remain prepared to respond to any new fire starts.

UPDATE: JUNE 26 AT 12:10 P.M.

Custer Gallatin National Forest reports the Robertson Draw Fire is 29,838 acres large and is now 65 percent contained.

On Friday, crews continued to patrol and mop up along the southern and eastern sides of the fire.

Firefighters on the northwest side of the fire Friday continued to mop up and search for hot spots along the hand line as well as continued work chipping woody debris along the East Side Road as a part of a contingency line tied into US Highway 212.

The Structure Group finalized the equipment list that is needed to set up structure protection actions in the Highway 212 corridor.

An initial attack group was identified and prepared to respond to any new fires.

Planned actions for Saturday include paroles and monitoring of the south and east sides of the fire for any hot spots or pockets of heat along the containment lines.

On the northwest side, firefighters will continue to construct the contingency fire line between the fire area and the East Side Road and use a chipper to dispose of the wood debris and haul it away the report says.

If the weather clears, firefighters will return to the plateau and south of Mt. Maurice area on the west side of the fire to check on that area, Custer Gallatin National Forest said in an update. An initial attack group is identified and will be prepared to respond to any new fire starts.

Evacuation warnings are still in effect for areas located south of Red Lodge and east of US Highway 212. Residents are asked to have a household evacuation plan and to remain vigilant and aware of the fire situation and their surroundings.

At this time, the North and South Grove Creek Road, Gold Creek Road, Ruby Creek Road, Meeteetse Trail, and Robertson Draw Road are closed to public use.

As of 8:00 am Saturday, the Forest Closure Order has changed and all lands west of US Highway 212 are now open to public use.

All Custer Gallatin National Forest System lands south of Point of Rocks in the Rock Creek drainage and east of US Highway 212 are still closed under a new Forest Closure Order.

This includes trailheads, campgrounds, dispersed camping areas, and the USDA Forest Service Recreation Residences in Corral Creek and Spring Creek. This is in addition to the Closure Area encompassing the Line Creek Plateau.

A Closure Order is also in effect on all Bureau of Land Management lands lying West of State Highway 72, South of State Highway 308, and East of US Highway 212 in Carbon County.

UPDATE: JUNE 25 AT 4 P.M.

The Forest Closure will be lifted in the area on the west side of Highway 212 at 8 a.m. on Saturday, June 26.

According to Custer Gallatin National Forest trails, facilities, campgrounds, and Snow and Sheep Creek Recreation Residences will be accessible to the public. This includes the Lake Fork trail, Parkside, Greenough, Limber Pine, and MK Campgrounds.

The area east of Highway 212 from the forest boundary to the Wyoming state line, encompassing all of the Line Creek plateau, Rattin and Sheridan Campgrounds, Spring Creek and Corral Creek Recreation Residences will remain closed until further notice.

The entire Custer Gallatin National Forest remains under fire restrictions. On the Beartooth Ranger District NO FIRES are permitted, metal camp ring or otherwise. However, camp stoves powered by gas with an on and off switch are allowed.

UPDATE: JUNE 23 AT 8:23 A.M.

The Robertson Draw Fire is now burning 29,601 acres and is 53 percent contained as of Wednesday morning.

Fire crews with the Red Lodge Fire Rescue, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, Northern Rockies Incident Management Team, U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management wrote in a release smoke was visible in the south side of the fire where crews did the burnout operation Monday.

The release said Fire Use module and Helicopter module completed building a fuel break from the north end of the Line Creek Plateau north towards Mount Maurice while also looking for hot spots along the fire's edge. Additionally, the structure protection group completed structure evaluating and planning.

Fire crews wrote in the release they will look for heat spots along the containment line on the east side of the fire Wednesday. They will focus on the creek draw with clusters of aspen trees containing heat.

Crews on the northwest side will resume building the contingency fire line between the fire area and the East Side Road and work toward farther up the slope, the release said. Crews will start removing vegetation along the East Side Road.

On the south side, crews will resume mop up efforts at the containment line where the burnout happened. Fire crews said in the release smoke may be visible from this area.

Due to forecasted thunderstorms and lightning, crews will come back from the plateau on the west side. The structure will standby for initial response in the event new fires ignite in the area.

Hot and dry weather patterns cover the region this week through next week. A cold front is expected to move through the area Wednesday afternoon, possibly causing small thunderstorms and lightning with little precipitation.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

UPDATE: JUNE 22 AT 8:24 A.M.

The Robertson Draw Fire is now burning 29,596 acres and is 53 percent contained as of Tuesday morning.

The Red Lodge Fire Rescue wrote in a release crews did burnout operations along the Robertson Draw trail and a mid-slope containment line on the south side of the fire Monday to clear out unburned fuels.

Some smoke traveled to the Highway 212 corridor. RLFR said crews monitored the eastern part of the fire for smoke and heat along the containment line.

A Division Supervisor, 10-person Wildland Fire Module and a helicopter crew in the west side worked on fuel breaks and a hand line going north towards Mount Maurice. Crews will continue building a fuel break and hand line in this area Tuesday.

RLFR said the team is spike camping for several nights in the mountains. A structure protection team resumed evaluating summer cabins for secure space and if they would need to put in a sprinkler system, and they are expected to complete this Tuesday.

Crews will monitor and extinguish spots of heat along the containment line on the eastern side of the fire Tuesday, RLFR said crews will work on a creek draw that has a cluster of aspen trees holding heat.

On the south side, crews will mop up the containment lines from Monday's burnout operation.

Crews will build a contingency line between the fire area and the East Side Road in the northwest side. Crews will look for patches of heat farther up the slope and cool along the edge of the fire.

Evacuation warnings are still in effect, and all the Custer Gallatin National Forest System lands south of Point of Rocks in the Rock Creek drainage are closed under a Forest Closure Order. Bureau of Land Management lands located west of state Highway 72, south of state Highway 308 and east of U.S. Highway 212 in Carbon County are closed.

Beartooth Highway, Highway 212, remains open.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

UPDATE: JUNE 21 AT 6:30 A.M.

The Robertson Draw Fire is 45 percent contained as of Monday morning, according to a briefing from the incident command.

The incident command said the lower elevation with grass and brush has been contained, and crews are working on the higher elevations, such as Maurice Mountain, Monday.

There was a grizzly bear with cubs north of Maurice Mountain Sunday, so crews had to leave the area for safety reasons.

UPDATE: JUNE 20 AT 6:08 P.M.

Evacuation warnings have been lifted for the areas of North and South Grove Creek, Gold Creek, Ruby Creek, and Robertson Draw east to Highway 72.

Although the evacuation warnings have been lifted, road access is still restricted to local access.

The Custer Gallatin National Forest says the area south of Red Lodge along the east side of Highway 212 is still under an evacuation warning.

Residents are being told to remain vigilant and be ready to evacuate.

All the Custer Gallatin National Forest System lands south of Point of Rocks in the Rock Creek drainage are still closed under a Forest Closure Order.

UPDATE: JUNE 20 AT 11:37 A.M.

As of Sunday morning, the Robertson Draw Fire is now reported to be 13 percent contained and 29,437 acres large.

Fire activity Saturday continued to be in the upper reaches of the Grove Creek and Line Creek drainages similar to previous days the Custer Gallatin National Forest reports.

Fire crews on the east side continued to patrol and cool down any remaining pockets of heat, and some containment was accomplished on that part of the fire.

An indirect line, a constructed fire line built by hand or equipment and located a certain distance ahead of the active fire, was completed by firefighters on the south side who tied it to an old fire scar.

Fixed-wing CL-415 water scooper aircraft were again used to make water drops on this part of the fire.

On the northwest side, firefighters continued to scout areas for fire line and worked on a direct fire line.

The Structure Protection Group continued work on assessments involving identifying and labeling the locations and access routes to structures. The group also made a task list of preparation work that would be needed to defend the areas around structures including sprinkler systems and reducing the amount of flammable vegetation.

On Sunday, crews will continue to patrol along the east side of the fire and will grid areas as needed.

Firefighters on the south side will strengthen the indirect fire line and prepare for the fire as it moves in that direction.

On the northwest side, firefighters will start working on indirect hand and equipment constructed fire line working to connect the line from the fire area going west to East Side Road.

UPDATE: JUNE 19 AT 12:20 P.M.

Fire crews and equipment continued to mop up along the east side edge of the Robertson Draw Fire an update from the Custer Gallatin National Forest said.

Most of the fire activity Friday continued to be in the upper reaches of the Grove Creek and Line Creek drainages the update says.

On the south side, firefighters continued work tying an indirect line into an old fire scar.

On the northwest side, firefighters continued to scout for indirect line locations.

According to the Custer Gallatin National Forest, Division Supervisor and 10-person Wildland Fire Module are spike camping on the west-central side of the fire and scouted indirect line locations.

The Structure Protection Group continued their work on assessments and developing a structure protection plan for structures northwest of the fire.

Crews will continue to patrol and mop up along the east side of the fire and will grid areas as needed Saturday.

Firefighters on the south side will finish their work on the indirect line and prepare the line for the fire as it moves in that direction.

On the northwest side, crews will move forward with plans for indirect hand line and some dozer line construction.

The structure protection group will keep moving through their assessments of private structures to the northwest and west of the fire and develop a plan to protect structures should there be a need to do so.

A Red Flag Warning is in effect from 12:00 pm until 9:00 pm for the fire area so fire managers will continually be monitoring the fire activity in relation to the weather conditions.

Evacuation warnings are still in effect and all the Custer Gallatin National Forest System lands south of Point of Rocks in the Rock Creek drainage are closed under a Forest Closure Order.

The Robertson Draw Fire is currently at 27,566 acres and is 0 percent contained.

UPDATE: JUNE 18 AT 10:55 P.M.

A Red Flag Warning has been issued in the Robertson Draw Fire area for Saturday, June 18, from noon to 9 p.m.

Firefighters have made great progress over the past few days. However, significant areas of uncontrolled fire exist, especially on Mt Maurice south of Red Lodge. While the expected conditions are not as extreme as last Tuesday, there is potential for rapid fire growth.

Red Lodge Fire Rescue is warning residents near the fire to monitor fire conditions and be ready to leave should those conditions change.

UPDATE: JUNE 18 AT 5:12 P.M.

In an update Friday afternoon, the Northern Rockies Incident Management Team reported that two CL Water Scoopers have been requested to help with firefighting efforts on the Robertson Draw Fire.

At this time, the Cooney Reservior is being used to supply water to the aircraft, and Buffalo Bill Reservoir may be used as well.

The aircraft generally needs a lake that is at least six feet deep and1-2.5 nautical miles according to the update.

Fire crews are working to tie in dozer lines to burned areas that have cooled down in the rangeland grass areas.

Air tanker water and retardant drops are being conducted along the northwest side of Mt. Mauriceand southern areas to check fire spread.

Crews will continue to tie in fire lines where needed, mop up pockets of heat and any areas of fire located around private structures.

On the south side of the fire, crews will continue to look for opportunities to build fire line.

Additional fire crews have been ordered and will be arriving.

Aerial resources will continue to drop water or retardant, based on fire activity.

UPDATE: JUNE 18 AT 11:04 A.M.

The Roberson Draw fire has grown to 24,470 acres and is 0 percent contained as of Friday morning.

Firefighters made progress on several areas of the fire Thursday, the Northern Rockies Incident Management Team reported in an update.

Planned actions for Friday include crews continuing to work on indirect line and utilize aircraft as necessary.

On the eastern and northeastern sides of the fire, crews will continue to patrol and mop up any areas of heat or smoke along the fireline. On the northwest side, firefighters will continue to plan indirect line and begin to start some of that work.

Structures will be assessed by the structure protection group and they will develop a structure protection plan which will include flagging access roads as well as numbering structures.

The crew on the west side of the fire will scout for opportunities to work on an indirect or direct fire line based on the fire activity at the head of the Line Creek drainage according to the update.

The North and South Grove Creek Road, Gold Creek Road, Ruby Creek Road, Meeteetse Trail, and Robertson Draw Road that are in Evacuation Warning status remain closed to general public use.

Evacuation orders have been lifted for the areas of North and South Grove Creek, Gold Creek, Ruby Creek, and Robertson Draw east to Highway 72.

The areas will remain in evacuation warning, and residents are recommended to have a household evacuation plan ready.

UPDATE: JUNE 17 AT 8:50 P.M.

As of 6 p.m., June 17, Evacuation Orders have been lifted for the areas of North and South Grove Creek, Gold Creek, Ruby Creek, and Robertson Draw east to Highway 72.

These areas will remain in evacuation warning status, but residents can return to their homes. All area residents are recommended to have a household evacuation plan ready.

The North and South Grove Creek Road, Gold Creek Road, Ruby Creek Road, Meeteetse Trail, and Robertson Draw Road that are in Evacuation Warning status remain closed to general public use.

All the Custer Gallatin National Forest System lands south of Point of Rocks in the Rock Creek drainage are closed under a Forest Closure Order. This includes trailheads, campgrounds, dispersed camping areas, and the USDA Forest Service Recreation Residences in Corral Creek, Spring Creek, Snow Creek and Sheep Creek.

The areas within the Forest Closure Order remain in evacuation and include the USDA Forest Service Recreation Residences in Corral Creek, Spring Creek, Snow Creek and Sheep Creek. This is in addition to the Closure Area encompassing the Line Creek Plateau.

The Beartooth Highway (US Hwy 212) remains open.

Temporary flight restrictions are still in place for airspace over the fire to allow crews to receive air support in containing the blaze.

According to InciWeb, fire crews had success in all divisions of the fire on Thursday.

Fire resources are working up a plan on the west end to use an existing trail and natural barriers to create indirect line and take advantage of the possible moisture that could come into the area over the weekend.

The majority of fire activity reportedly was in the Grove Creek and Line Creek drainages actively burning midslope timber with short upslope runs, group torching, and spotting.

A night shift will work Thursday evening to mop-up pockets of heat around any structures.

UPDATE: JUNE 17 AT 11:50 A.M.

An infrared flight early Thursday morning mapped the Robertson Draw Fire at 24,273 acres.

The Northern Rockies Incident Management Team reports that on Thursday, fire crews will work along the northeastern, eastern, and southeastern sides of the fire to continue to tie in fire lines where needed, mop up pockets of heat and any areas of fire located around private structures.

Crews on the south side will continue to look for opportunities to build fire line.

On the northwest side of the fire near Mt. Maurice, the Division Supervisor and operations personnel will begin scouting the fire area and develop a strategy for suppression.

A structure protection group has been organized and will be working on structure assessments and planning according to the Northern Rockies Incident Management Team.

Additional fire crews have been ordered and will be arriving. Aerial resources will continue to drop water or retardant as needed based on fire activity.

While evacuation orders are still in place, any affected residents in evacuated areas that need to return to their homes briefly can contact the Sheriffs Office to make arrangements for a Deputy Sheriff escort.

A temporary flight restriction is also in place for the air space over the Robertson Draw Fire, which also applies to unmanned aircraft systems or drones.

UPDATE: JUNE 17 AT 7:02 A.M.

The Robertson Draw fire grew to 24,273 acres by Thursday morning morning, Mariah Leuschen-Lonergan with Custer Gallatin Public Affairs tells us.

Additionally, the fire destroyed 8 major structures and 13 secondary structures or outbuildings, the Custer Gallatin National Forest reported on Facebook.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

UPDATE: JUNE 16 AT 10:14 P.M.

Evacuation Orders are still in place for North and South Grove Creek, Gold Creek, Ruby Creek and Robertson Draw east to Highway 72, according to a release from Custer Gallatin National Forest. All other evacuation orders and evacuation warnings have been lifted. This does NOT include the USDA Forest Service Recreation Residences in Corral Creek, Spring Creek, Snow Creek and Sheep Creek. Residents and visitors are encouraged to be vigilant and aware of the situation and your surroundings. If residents in areas still under evacuations need to return to their homes briefly, they may do so with a Sheriff deputy escort. You can contact the Sheriffs Office at 406-446-1234 to make arrangements. All Custer-Gallatin National Forest Service lands south of Point of Rocks in the Rock Creek drainage are closed. This includes: trailheads, campgrounds, dispersed camping areas and the USDA Forest Service Recreation Residences in Corral Creek, Spring Creek, Snow Creek and Sheep Creek. This is in addition to the closure area encompassing the Line Creek Plateau. However, the Beartooth Highway (U.S. Hwy. 212) is still open. The sheriff confirmed that eight major structures and 13 secondary structures or outbuildings were lost in the fire. Those property owners are being notified.

UPDATE: JUNE 16 AT 5:45 P.M.

According to InciWeb, Evacuation Orders are still in place for residents in the following areas:

Area south of Highway 308 from Red Lodge to Highway 72, east of 72 to the Wyoming border. This excludes the town of Bearcreek and Belfry.

The area west of Meeteetse Trail Road, and the east side of Highway 212 from Meeteetse Trail Road to Westminster Spires Church Camp.

USDA Forest Service Recreation Residences in Corral Creek, Spring Creek, Snow Creek and Sheep Creek.

All campgrounds, dispersed camping and trailheads from the Lake Fork north to Red Lodge including the dispersed camping area just west of the Lake Fork Road.

The town of Bearcreek is under an evacuation warning. The order was put in place by the county sheriff and recommends residents leave their homes immediately. People with medical, functional or other needs should consider evacuating if possible.

An area closure is also still in place for the area south of Highway 212, east to the area along the Beartooth Front and south to the Wyoming border. This does not include the campgrounds and homes along East Side Road.

Line Creek Road remains closed in Wyoming.

The following roads will also remain closed to through traffic: Meeteetse Trail Road, Grove Creek Road and Robertson Draw Road.

The fire remains at 0% contained. Approximately 200 personnel are assigned to the incident with more personnel incoming.

Crews are working on structure protection, along with building dozer line and tying into cold burned black to secure portions of the fire's edge. Retardant lines were placed throughout the day along the northwestern edge of Mt. Maurice.

Much of Wednesday, smoke and growth occurred on the southern perimeter of the fire and on an interior bowl on the southern side of Mt. Maurice.

UPDATE: JUNE 16 AT 11:29 A.M.

As of Wednesday morning, the Robertson Draw Fire is estimated to be 21,000 acres large.

An update from the U.S. Forest Service says the fire had significant growth yesterday with challenging fire weather and high sustained winds.

The update says the firefighting situation is challenging due to continued record high temperatures with relative humidity in the single digits.

Extreme fire behavior on Tuesday made fighting the fire safely on the ground nearly impossible and the high winds preventing aircraft from fighting the fire with retardant and water drops challenging. Engines were placed on structure protection, as safe to do so, the update reads.

The update says the weather Wednesday is more favorable towards firefighting efforts, however, shifting winds may cause more growth on the South and Eastern portions of the fire.

Priorities remain structure protection, building line around the fire and as always, firefighter and public safety.

The fire is continuing to actively burn along the east side of Line Creek Plateau into sage and grass south of Bear Creek and Belfry and around Mount Maurice, south of Red Lodge.

According to the update, the fire is not within the wilderness area, and firefighters have been using aircraft to deliver water and retardant to the fire line since the fire was reported.

Aircraft resources are working the fire to deliver water and retardant when conditions are safe to fly.

All evacuation orders are still in place.

A virtual and in-person public meeting is planned for, Wednesday, June 16 at 7:00 p.m. at Red Lodge High School Gym, 800 Chambers Ave N. in Red Lodge.

The meeting will be live-streamed on the Custer Gallatin National Forests Facebook page here.

UPDATE: JUNE 16 AT 9:54 A.M.

The Robertson Draw fire has grown to 21,000 acres Wednesday morning, according to the Custer Gallatin National Forest.

UPDATE: JUNE 15 AT 6:30 P.M.

The area along Rock Creek and Meeteetse Trail Road being Evacuated, according to a release from Custer Gallatin National Forest. This includes all homes in the area west of Meeteetse Trail Road and on the east side of Highway 212 from Meeteetse Trail Road to Westminster Spires Church Camp. This also includes all USDA Forest Service Recreation Residences in Corral Creek, Spring Creek, Snow Creek and Sheep Creek. All campgrounds, dispersed camping and trailheads are closed in this area on both sides of Highway 212 from Red Lodge to the Lake Fork of Rock Creek, including the camping area to the south of the Lake Fork Road.

Evacuation Orders are also now in place for homes south of Highway 308 from Red Lodge east to Wolf Creek Road (with the exception of the Town of Bearcreek), south of Wolf Creek Road to Highway 72, east side of Highway 72 to Grove Creek Road and everything north of Grove Creek. The Town of Bearcreek is under an Evacuation Warning.

A shelter has been set up at the Red Lodge Community Church at 308 S. Broadway. Small pets are welcome as long as they are restrained.

The Red Cross will be setting up a shelter at the Veteran Memorial Civic Center in Red Lodge at 215 14th Street West.

The Robertson Draw Fire area remains under a Red Flag Warning until 10 p.m. tonight.

UPDATE: JUNE 15 AT 6:05 P.M.

The area west of Meeteetse Trail Road and the east side of Highway 212 from Meeteetse Trail Road to Westminster Spires Church Camp are under an Evacuation Order, according to InciWeb.

USDA Forest Service Recreation Residences in Corral Creek, Spring Creek, Snow Creek, and Sheep Creek are also under an Evacuation Order.

An evacuation warning is issued from the county sheriff. He alerts people to be ready to go if needed. People with medical, functional, or other needs should consider evacuating if possible.

An area closure is in place for the area south of Highway 212, east to the area along the Beartooth Front and south to the Wyoming border. This does not include the campgrounds and homes along East Side Road.

Line Creek Road is also closed in Wyoming.

Roads closed to through traffic include: Meeteetse Trail Road, Grove Creek Road and Robertson Draw Road.

UPDATE: JUNE 15 AT 5:45 P.M.

According to our on-scene reporter, the Carbon County Sheriff's Office is issuing an Evacuation Order for the Meeteetse Trail area.

An area closure is in place for the area south of Highway 212, east to the area along the Beartooth Front and south to the Wyoming border, according to InciWeb.

This does not include the campgrounds and homes along East Side Road. However, Line Creek Road in Wyoming is also closed.

The following roads are closed to through traffic, only local access is allowed: Meeteetse Trail Road, Grove Creek Road and Robertson Draw Road.

UPDATE: JUNE 15 AT 4 P.M.

North and South Grove Creek are under an Evacuation Order, as of 3:21 p.m., according to a Facebook update from the Custer Gallatin National Forest.

The following locations are now under Evacuation Orders:

Gold Creek

Ruby Creek

North Grove Creek

South Grove Creek

The following areas are under Evacuation Warnings:

The area west of Meeteetse Trail Road, and the east side of Highway 212 from Meeteetse Trail Road to Westminster Spires Church Camp. USDA Forest Service Recreation Residences in Corral Creek, Spring Creek, Snow Creek and Sheep Creek.

Individuals with medical, functional or other needs should consider evacuating if possible.

UPDATE: JUNE 15 AT 8:36 A.M.

RED LODGE, Mont. - Gold and Ruby Creek areas are under evacuation again as of 7 a.m. Tuesday after the Robertson Draw Fire grew to 2,000 acres from 200 acres overnight.

Custer Gallatin National Forest Public Information Officer Billy Chapman told Montana Right Now there is a possibility of extreme fire conditions worsening due to the weather, and the fire has a chance of going into the main fork of Rock Creek.

Chapman told us the following areas are under evacuation warning, meaning these areas aren't currently under evacuation but could be later:

North and South Fork Grove areas

Area west of Meeteetse Trail Road, east of Highway 212 and down to Westminister Spires Church Camp

A Type 2 fire crew is on the way to battle the fire.

RED LODGE, Mont. - The Robertson Draw Fire burned about 200 acres Monday, which has the town's mayor a little worried because the fires usually don't start this early.

"I just couldn't believe it was happening this early. Usually, our fire season is towards the end of July and August," Red Lodge Mayor William Larson said.

Red clouds loomed over Red Lodge this afternoon, as the fire burned just 12 miles away.

Mayor Larson is no stranger to fires, but says he's worried about tourism season.

"We have a full blown July coming up, starting with the rodeo during the first week, and that whole month is full," Larson said.

And after a rough economic year in 2020, fires just don't help small businesses.

"I talked to some store owners this morning and everyone's having a great year, but they are a little concerned after last year," Larson said.

The situation could be worse, but the Forest Service and Red Lodge Fire had to take some drastic measures Monday.

"No structures are currently threatened, but we do have evacuations in place in Ruby Creek and Gold Creek," Amy Hyfield, with Red Lodge Fire, said.

For now, part of the Custer-Gallatin National Forrest is shut down.

"Highway 212 from about Mt. Morris to Reno Lake, and then South to the Wyoming border and east to Beartooth Front," Hyfield said.

But a big factor with this will be the wind. We'll have a Red Flag warning in place through Tuesday.

"The wind and the high temperatures with that, we do expect higher fire activity," Hyfield said.

But there's no reason to panic, for now.

"We don't feel like the community of Red Lodge or the surrounding communities are threatened at this time, just the evacuated areas," Hyfield said.
HELENA, Mont. - Governor Greg Gianforte issued an executive order on Tuesday, declaring a disaster in the following five Eastern Montana counties: Dawson, Garfield, McCone, Richland and Roosevelt.

Recent severe thunderstorms downed power poles and lines in Eastern Montana, leaving too many residents without power. I appreciate the robust efforts the regions electric coops made to restore power to affected communities. Todays disaster declaration is a first step to help residents and electric coops in the area recover, Gov. Gianforte said. The State of Montana is requesting federal disaster assistance on behalf of the impacted communities and the electric coops that serve them.

On June 10, a series of severe thunderstorms  with hail as large as three inches in diameter, recorded wind speeds of 70-90 mph, and winds up to 115 mph  caused damages to over 800 power poles and lines across the East Central portion of Montana, according to a release from the governor's office.

With the disaster declaration issued, the State of Montana will proceed with requesting federal disaster assistance on behalf of the affected counties and electric cooperatives.

You can view the governors executive order here.
BILLINGS - We are just days away from the 42nd Heart and Sole Run in Billings. On Monday, run organizers were out marking the grounds for the course.

With spray paint and cardboard arrow cutouts, Kim Kaiser, CEO of the Billings Family YMCA, and her team members went along the route spraying yellow and white arrows.

The arrows will allow runners to know which direction to run.

Heart and Sole will take place on Saturday, June 19. Last year's event was virtual because of the pandemic, but Kaiser says they're excited and ready to have the run back in person again.

"Yeah, I think it's that somewhat return to a bit of normalcy that we're all just craving, and want to be out and gather as much as we can in a safe way. So I think we're all really excited to be out running again together and supporting our Y and the Billings TrailNet," Kaiser said.

This year, there have been a few changes to the races: There will only be a 2-mile and 5K race. Both which will start at Grandview Park, just north of St. Vincent Healthcare and end at Dehler Park.

During the run, several streets will be blocked off in town.

That includes the partial closure of Spruce St., Beverly Hill Blvd., N. 32nd St. and N. 31 St., the complete blockage of Poly Dr. and Grandview Blvd., and the partial blockage of N. 25th St. and one lane of N. 27th St.

Registration for the run is open until June 19 and there's still an option to run virtually.

All the proceeds raised will go to the Billings Family YMCA and Billings TrailNet.
ROME, JUN 15 - The Indian Supreme Court on Tuesday closed legal proceedings in India against two Italian marines who allegedly killed two Indian fishermen while on an anti-piracy mission in 2012, The Hindu reported. Marines Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone allegedly fired on Jelestine and Ajeesh Pinku after mistaking them for pirates while on duty off the coast of Kerala on the merchant ship Enrica Lexie. Last year the International Tribunal of Arbitration ruled in Italy's favour in the case after a long battle over who had jurisdiction but said Italy would have to pay compensation for the loss of life. Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said the outcome was the result of a big diplomatic effort. "All judicial proceedings in India against our marines, Salvatore Girone and Massimiliano Latorre, have been closed," Di Maio posted on Twitter. "Thanks to those who worked with perseverance on the case, thanks to our tireless diplomatic corps, the final word has been said on this long affair.". The tribunal ruled that the marines were doing their national duty and thus subject to the 'flag law'. The Italian foreign ministry said at the time that Italy would restart criminal proceedings in the case. New Delhi allowed Latorre to return to Italy for treatment after he had a stroke in 2014. Girone had to wait until 2016 to be able to return to Italy. Latorre's wife, Paola Moschetti, expressed bitterness. "I have been forced to speak on behalf of my husband for nine years," Moschetti told ANSA. "He has been explicitly banned from speaking, with the risk of heavy penalties. "He cannot even participate in any sort of public event. "He must respect secrecy. "Now it 's time to ask why the military authorities want to keep what he knows and wants to say secret. "What I know is that we have been cannon fodder for the Italian political world. "Massimiliano will go to speak to the Rome prosecutors department". (ANSA).
ROME, JUN 15 - Italian medicines agency AIFA has approved giving people people a mix of different COVID-19 vaccines after the government decided to stop using the AstraZeneca jab with under-60s. This means that people younger than 60 who have had their first jab with AstraZeneca are set to get the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine for their second dose. Italy has stopped giving the AstraZeneca jab to under-60s, after links to bloods clots in younger people and the death of a 18-year-old woman after she had it. The Italian authorities had already recommended AstraZeneca be only given to over-60s, but this was not an outright ban and many regions had been giving it to younger people on a voluntary basis. The European Medicines Agency (EMA), however, has reiterated that it has approved the AstraZeneca jab for all adults, saying the benefits outweight the risks. (ANSA).
SIRACUSA, JUN 15 - A 45-year-old Italian worker died in an accident at a building site near Siracusa in Sicily on Tuesday, local sources said. The man, Sebastiano Presti, was killed when a building that was being restored collapsed. Fire fighters pulled the body of the man from the rubble. The accident took place in via Caldarella, at Avola. Another worker was hurt and coptered to Cannizzaro Hospital in Catania. Italy is in the middle of a spate of workplace accident deaths which has spurred calls to up workplace safety. The death of the 22-year-old mother of a five-year-old boy, Luana D'Orazio, in a textile mill accident near Prato on May 3, placed the issue at the centre of public debate once again. Another five people died at work in the first week of May, in accidents. They have been followed by six more already this month. Premier Mario Draghi said that more must be done on workplace safety. Over 2,000 additional workplace safety inspectors will be hired adding to the 4,500 now on duty, he said. (ANSA).
ROME, JUN 15 - An attempted heist of a security van on Italy's main north-south motorway cut the country in two on Monday evening. The spectacular attempted robbery between Modena and Bologna stopped traffic on the A1 motorway for several hours. Shortly after eight o'clock pm the bandits scattered nails on a stretch of road to stop traffic. Then they threatened drivers with their guns, torched several cars and forced two lorry drivers to pull their vehicles across the carriageway. The gang shot at the van and let off explosive devices but in the end they were forced to flee. No one was hurt. A manhunt is continuing in the area. (ANSA).
ROME, JUN 15 - President Sergio Mattarella will pay a state visit to France on July 4-6 and meet President Emmanuel Macron on Monday July 5, according to a preliminary schedule released Tuesday. Also on July 5, Mattarella will meet the president of the National Assembly. On July 6 he will meet the premier, the president of the Senate, and the mayor of Paris, the schedule said. (ANSA).
CATANZARO, JUN 15 - Italian police on Tuesday captured an 'Ndrangheta boss who had evaded capture in a big round up of Calabrian mafia members in the Vibo Valentia area of the southern Italian region in December 2019. Police said Agostino Papaianni, 70, was in good physical shape having been using a small gym he had in his hideout. Papaianni is also wanted in the Black Money laundering probe, for mafia association, police said. His hideout was in an "impervious" hilly area surrounded by narrow alleyways, a green area and a gully, police told a press conference. He had started renting it with false documents in April, police said. Papaianni did not resist arrest and told police who he was. He is one of the historic clan leaders in the Vibo area, police said. (ANSA).
ROME, JUN 15 - Campania Governor Vincenzo De Luca said Tuesday that he has banned giving people under-60s the AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines in the southern region. Central government has told the regions to stop giving the AstraZeneca jab to under-60s, after links to bloods clots in younger people and the death of a 18-year-old woman after she had it. Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca use the same vaccine technology. "The people new to vaccination will not be given AstraZeneca if they are under 60," De Luca said in a statement. "As for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, the (health) ministry's position is not defined in a clear, binding way. "So this vaccine will not be given to the under-60s". The government has said people under 60 who have had their first jab with AstraZeneca should have another vaccine when it is time for the second dose. De Luca has said he does not think this is a good idea. (ANSA).
Forest Service officials have had to scramble to find a fire lookout to work this summer on Mount Ireland
WHITEWATER  The Whitewater Arts Alliance is hosting a state exhibit and accepting entries for its annual photography competition.

The alliance is hosting the Wisconsin Regional Art Program (WRAP) exhibit, featuring the works of non-professional Wisconsin artists at the Cultural Arts Center, 402 W. Main St., Whitewater.

The WRAP exhibit is free, from 2 to 4 p.m., on Fridays through Sundays. The last day of the exhibit is Sunday, June 27.

WRAP was established to encourage Wisconsin citizens with a serious interest in art. It consists of many artist workshop/exhibits that meet throughout the year, statewide. Each one has a different artist demonstration or slide lecture and a different judge to lead the afternoon critique.

Artists may enter as many Wisconsin Regional Art Workshops as they like. Those who win a State Exhibit Award can compete for monetary awards at State Day in Madison.

WRAP is run by the Association of Wisconsin Artists (AWA) and developed and administered by the University of Wisconsin-Madisons Department of Liberal Studies and the Arts.

The show can be viewed via link on the AWA website, awa-artwork.org, or at www.whitewaterarts.org/wrap-2021.
Linda Casper's peace sign collection in Burlington Many of the walls in Linda Casper's home in Burlington have some sort of peace signs on them.

BURLINGTON  Linda Casper has no use for politics most of the time. But she is deeply interested in matters of war and peace.

Peace is her thing.

The Burlington woman has amassed a prolific collection of classic, 1960s-era peace symbols, and she is proud to share them with anyone who visits her home  or just walks by.

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The recognizable emblem, popularized during protests against the Vietnam War, adorns both the interior and exterior of Caspers apartment near Burlingtons downtown.

Passersby often stop and remark about the display near the corner of Jefferson Street and Perkins Boulevard.

Casper exhibits peace signs in varied colors and sizes with the hope of conveying a message: The symbol itself might have fallen out of fashion, but the goal of spreading peace and love remains as relevant as ever.

Linda Casper of Burlington with tiny peace sign earring in her ear A tiny peace sign earring, shown on Linda Casper's ear, is among the hundreds of peace signs that she has collected in jewelry, housewares, wo

Truly, I stand by it, she said. There might be peace someday. Well, Im certainly trying.

Friends and acquaintances know Casper as The Peace Lady, because of her unapologetic allegiance to a movement  and symbol  that fueled anti-war passion in her generation back in the 60s.

Bette Bastian, a friend since childhood, cannot remember a time when Casper did not advocate peace to whoever would listen. Whatever the politics or popular trends of the moment, Bastian said, her friends attitude has always been anti-war.

Thats just her, Bastian said. Shes like an old hippie who doesnt want to grow up. She has a wonderful outlook on life.

Born in Edgerton as Linda Brown during the mid-1950s, Casper grew up seeing hippies protest the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. She immersed herself in the times, with long hair, tie-dyed clothing and a love of peace.

She remembers first seeing the peace sign and immediately feeling a connection with the circular-shaped emblem that includes what sort of looks like an upside-down Y.

I just remember what it stood for, she said.

After graduating from high school in 1974  one year before the United States retreated from Vietnam in defeat  Casper and a couple of friends moved to Burlington and took jobs as housekeepers at the Lake Geneva Playboy Club.

War and addiction: There and back again

LInda Casper's peace sign collection in Burlington Here is one of the peace sign collectibles displayed at Linda Casper's home in Burlington.

Casper later married and divorced twice. She battled drug and alcohol abuse problems for many years.

In 1990, the United States was at war again, fighting Iraq in the first Persian Gulf War. Although she generally shuns politics, Casper found herself drawn back into an anti-war movement that sparked renewed public interest in the emblem from her youth.

This time, Casper took up a collection of peace signs wherever she found them  in jewelry, housewares, artwork, clothing and elsewhere.

Thirty years later, her apartment is filled with peace sign images. From the shower curtain in the bathroom to salt and pepper shakers in the kitchen, the symbol is displayed in every room.

It feels good, she said. I walk in here, and I feel peace.

Casper has never counted her peace signs, but she is certain that she owns several hundred. Many of them are in storage.

Friends have encouraged her to find a place to create a museum exhibit.

Now working as a housekeeper at Aurora Medical Center Burlington, Casper, 65, has lived in the Jefferson Street apartment for eight years.

Linda Casper with peace sign collection outside her apartment in Burlington Linda Casper looks over the exterior of her apartment on Jefferson Street in Burlington, where she has displayed a colorful arrangement from h

Linda Casper's peace sign collection in Burlington A piece sign on a cloth of peace signs holding up a piece sign against a cloth of peace signs inside Linda Casper's Burlington home.

Landlord Theresa Orndorf said she welcomes the peace sign display as a positive expression about an important issue. Caspers collection gives the apartment building a little extra personality, Orndorf said.

Whenever the tenant sends a rent payment through the mail, the check always arrives with a peace sign displayed.

She has a thing  thats for sure, Orndorf said. She goes above and beyond, to make it her statement.

For the past 10 years, the peace sign has taken on added personal meaning for Casper.

After a long battle with substance abuse issues, she has been sober since 2011. The peace sign now represents a personal commitment to maintaining her own peace through sobriety.

In her collection of artifacts and in her lifes journey, too, Casper feels like she has accumulated enough peace that she has plenty to share with others.

Im at peace with myself, for sure, she said. Im trying to totally share it.

Offering one more relic from the 60s, she adds: Right on.

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LYONS  A nude man in a Lake Geneva area hotel hallway was arrested and charged after reportedly being too intoxicated to take care of children.

Christopher Castiglione, 44, of Machesney Park, Ill., is being charged with two counts of neglecting a child under 6; lewd and lascivious behavior; and disorderly conduct.

According to the criminal complaint:

Police were called to the Timber Ridge Resort, 7020 Grand Geneva Way, on Monday, April 19, for a report of two intoxicated subjects with small children in the hallway, one of the subjects being a nude man.

Officers spoke with witnesses and housekeeping staff who report that a nude, intoxicated man with a woman and two children, ages 1 and 4, were locked out of their hotel room. Witnesses also reported that the man was holding a fire extinguisher from the wall in the hallway. Housekeeping staff stated that the woman had reportedly offered them shots of Grey Goose Vodka for helping them.

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Police decided to conduct a welfare check to make sure the two intoxicated adults were capable of caring for the two small children. Resort staff gave officers the room reservation name, which was reserved under Castiglione.
Lake Geneva Fire Chief John Peters has issued a ban on all open burning in the city of Lake Geneva until further notice.

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The burning ban includes all outdoor fireplaces or pits. The order does not prohibit people from using grills for cooking food.

The burning ban is being issued because southeast Wisconsin currently is experiencing extremely dry conditions, high heat, strong winds and below average rainfall, which has caused extremely dry vegetation in the area.

Other surrounding municipalities have enacted similar burn bans. Residents and visitors should check with their municipalities and use extreme caution.
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I do like the fact that all the discussions we have at the committee level are available to the general public through the fact that we video tape them now or they have a GoToMeeting type of application, Flower said.

Attorney Dan Draper told the aldermen they could decide to adopt an ordinance to continue to offer a virtual option for people to view the meetings after July 12.

Draper said the City of Green Bay has already adopted an ordinance to allow for virtual meetings.

Green Bay has sort of taken the working oars on this and developed one, Draper said. We can take that, and we can discuss it among staff and come with a recommendation to you as far as how we accomplish this goal.

Other aspects of the emergency proclamation such as limiting seating capacity in the council chambers to 25%, conducting city hall business only at the vestibule area, requiring people to wear masks in city buildings and allowing downtown merchants to display their items outside of their businesses have expired.

Everything that was on that proclamation is wiped out, except for the virtual meetings, City Administrator Dave Nord said. So everything else is gone.
New Delhi, Jun 15 (PTI) Full utilisation of the free trade agreement implemented between Mauritius and India can substantially increase the bilateral trade between the two countries, Alan Ganoo, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, Mauritius, said on Tuesday.

India and Mauritius signed the agreement, officially dubbed as, Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement (CECPA), on February 22. It came into force from April 1.

The pact covers 310 export items for India, including food and beverages, agricultural products, textile and textile articles, base metals, electricals, and electronic items, plastics and chemicals, and wood.

On the other hand, Mauritius will benefit from preferential market access into India for its 615 products, including frozen fish, specialty sugar, biscuits, fresh fruits, juices, mineral water, beer, alcoholic drinks, soaps, bags, medical and surgical equipment, and apparel.

Ganoo said that the bilateral trade figures are still "remain below existing potential" and they can be "substantially increased if the opportunities of CECPA, which entered into force from April 1, fully utilised".

He was speaking at PHDCCI's virtual interactive series on 'Global Trade and Investment Opportunities for Indian Industry in Mauritius'.

The minister said that this agreement offers win-win opportunities for Indian exporters and importers.

There are about 64 Indian companies currently operating in Mauritius in several sectors like education, ICT, and financial services, he informed.

He added that Mauritius is a renowned producer of high-quality rum and 1.5 million liters of rum can be imported under the agreement by India.

He also said that Indian businesses can use Mauritius as a gateway to access African markets.

The bilateral trade between the two nations stood at USD 690 million in 2019-20 as against USD 1.23 billion in 2018-19.

Further, the minister sought investments from India as his country is taking steps to improve the business climate.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
The Senate had confirmed President Joe Biden's appointee Ketanji Brown Jackson to serve as a federal judge in U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

The Senate vote was 53-44, NBC News reported. All those who opposed were Republicans, with three voting with Democrats to approve the nomination.

Democrats see Jackson as a possible Supreme Court contender in the future if one opens up during the Biden administration.

Joe Biden has vowed to put the first Black woman on the high court during his campaign. The White House had also implied to Democratic senators that it wants more public defenders and civil rights lawyers in the courts.

Chief counsel for Demand Justice Christopher Kang said that Jackson's confirmation would spur the start of a new era for a court system.

Kang added that Jackson's experience as a public defender makes her an ideal person for the type of judge that Biden and the Senate Democrats should continue to prioritize.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the Senate plans to confirm several of Biden's appointees to restore the balance in the courts.

The three Republicans who joined the vote in favor of Jackson's confirmation were senators Lindsey Graham, Susan Collins, and Lisa Murkowski.

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Who is Ketanji Brown Jackson?

Ketanji Brown Jackson, 50, who was educated at Harvard, is the first of Biden's appointees to be confirmed by the Senate. ABC News Go reported that Jackson is also the first Black woman to be confirmed to an appeal court in a decade.

Jackson has served on the U.S. District Court in Washington since 2013, having been appointed by former President Barack Obama.

Jackson, who will fill the seat of Merrick Garland, who became Biden's attorney general in March, will now be one of the five Black female circuit court judges currently serving.

Ketanji Brown Jackson is seen to replace Justice Stephen Breyer should he retired soon. She always served as a former clerk to Breyer.

Schumer noted that women of color have long been underrepresented on the federal bench, and they are closing that gap with the Biden administration.

Republican Speaker of the House Paul Ryan said that their politics might differ, but he praises Jackson's intellect, character, and integrity.

Ryan and Jackson are related by marriage. Jackson's husband is the twin brother of Ryan's brother-in-law.

Seeking Balance in Supreme Court

During the Trump administration, the judiciary system has been reported to be tilting to the right. Edward Fallone, an associate professor at Marquette University Law School, noted that the Supreme Court's term is shaping up to be the revenge of the former president, The Guardian reported.

Trump had appointed 234 judges, including appellate judges. He outnumbered Obama's first term total of 172 and George W Bush's 204.

Trump appointee Amy Coney Barrett replaced Ruth Bader Ginsberg after her death. Barrett is considered to be a devout Catholic.

Some of the cases that the Supreme Court would decide on include a Roman Catholic adoption agency in Philadelphia that argues it is entitled to discriminate against potential foster parents based on their sexual orientation.

They will also review a challenge to New York's prohibitions on people carrying concealed handguns in public.

READ MORE: Biden Asks Supreme Court to Cancel Arguments on Border Wall, Asylum

WATCH: WATCH LIVE: Ketanji Brown Jackson to be Nominated as U.S. Circuit Judge - From PBSNews Hour






President Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden, is now working being a full-time artist, and his paintings are set to be sold in an exhibition in New York in the coming months.

Breitbart News reported that prices for a Hunter Biden's painting range from $75,000 to $500,000. According to Artnet, Hunter Biden said that he does not paint from emotion or feeling, adding that it is much more about trying to bring forward what he thinks "the universal truth."

The president son's art dealer is Georges Berges, who plans to host a private viewing for Hunter Biden in Los Angeles this fall. An exhibition would follow it in New York.

Berges has some connection to China, with it regularly featuring works by Chinese artists. The art dealer, who opened his Soho gallery in 2015, earlier said that he would want to open art galleries in Beijing and Shanghai, New York Post reported.

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Hunter Biden's Art Dealer

Berges has a noteworthy reputation in China's role in the art world. In a 2014 interview, he said he was always being asked how China is changing the world in terms of art and culture.

Berges, who was once arrested for "terrorist threats" and assault with a deadly weapon in California, has praised Hunter's work, saying that it has "authenticity" and that he personally loved the artwork.

Meanwhile, Hunter Biden continues to hold business interests in a billion-dollar Chinese investment firm. He has been criticized for his business endeavors in the world of international finance.

One of the issues includes his involvement on the board of Burisma, a Ukrainian oligarch-owned oil and gas company. Hunter was paid tens of thousands of dollars per month despite his lack of expertise in the energy sector of Ukraine.

Hunter Biden's Art Career

Last year, Hunter Biden was featured in The New York Times for his new venture in the art world. According to the NY Times feature, Hunter had set out the previous year to find a gallery representation with the assistance of Lanette Phillips.

Phillips was known to be running a management company with clients, including Quentin Tarantino and Darren Aronofsky.

She is also a family friend of the Bidens, with her hosting a fund-raise for the former vice president at the Pacific Palisades. However, Hunter did not sign with her, and Phillips said she would no longer advise him regarding the matter.

Hunter did not have any formal study as an artist. However, he said it was something he was doing since he was seven years old, albeit not for public consumption.

Collector Beth Rudin DeWoody said there would probably be a lot of curiosity if he turns out to be a great artist. DeWoody is also the president of the Rudin Family Foundations and a board member of the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Hammer Museum.

However, Michael Kohn, owner of Los Angeles' Kohn Gallery, expressed his skepticism, saying that there is too much baggage. Kohn added that the transition does not work because the public perception has already been established.

READ MORE: Hunter Biden Says He Has 'No Recollection' of Meeting Ex-Stripper Who Gave Birth to His Child

WATCH: Hunter Biden on "Beautiful Things" And His Struggles With Substance Abuse - From CBS This Morning






A 49-year-old man has been accused of murdering his 80-year-old mother in her home. The suspect's lawyer entered a not guilty on behalf of his client in an arraignment on Monday, June 14, for the death of an elderly woman named Katherine Paratore, according to a Law and Crime report.

Katherine Paratore was found dead in her home in the city of Lynn in Massachusetts on Friday, June 11, at around 8 p.m. after suffering multiple injuries.

The scene was said to be gruesome and that Katherine Paratore's body had likely been inside the home for several days. Her son, Alfredo Paratore, ended up being arrested.

According to court documents, Alfredo Paratore called the cops to report finding his mother on the floor, believing that she was dead.

Police said that the suspect had appeared nervous and could not immediately remember the last time he had talked with his mother or the last person who had seen her, NBC Boston reported. Alfredo said he had come home and found his mother where she was.

Police said the elderly woman's body was found inside the doorway against the wall and seemed to have been there for some time.

Authorities added that the 80-year-old mom had no shirt on and police said they observed what appeared to be internal organs on the welcome mat just inside the home.

Police said that Alfredo appeared to be on drugs while they were questioning him at the crime scene. He was given multiple doses of Narcan and eventually taken to Salem hospital, CBS Local reported.

Upon investigation, police found that the body of the 80-year-old mom had lacerations near the right collarbone and on the right hand.

The body was also covered in bruises in both arms, the neck, and the head. A set of dentures was also found on the floor next to her shoulder.

Meanwhile, officers had seen scratches on Alfredo's cheek and ear, and he appeared to have dried blood on his left hand.

The court is now determining Alfredo Paratore's mental state. He will go to Bridgewater State Hospital for an evaluation.

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Crimes Against the Elders

Rates of elder abuse are particularly high in facilities such as nursing homes and long-term care facilities. According to a World Health Organization fact sheet, two in three staff reporting that they have committed abuse in the past year.

In addition, rates of elder abuse have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. This type of violence includes violations of human rights, with physical, sexual, psychological, and emotional abuse. It also includes financial and material abuse, abandonment, and serious loss of dignity and respect.

A 2017 study including 12 low- and middle-income countries estimated that 15.7 percent of people aged 60 years and older were subjected to some form of abuse over the past year.

A U.S. study also showed that elder abuse increased in the community by as much as 84 percent, with emerging evidence to support the claim.

In 2016, the WHO introduced a global strategy and action plan on aging and health, including guidance for coordinated action in countries on elder abuse that supports the Sustainable Development Goals.

READ MORE: Mom of Florida Teen Accused of Stabbing Tristyn Bailey 114 Times Caught on Video Scrubbing Blood off Her Son's Jeans

WATCH: Elder Abuse: Risk Factors and Warning Signs - The Wrinkle




A Texas man has been arrested and charged with murder after he allegedly ran over his pregnant wife with a truck during an argument.

The incident led to the death of the suspect's pregnant wife and eight-month-old unborn child, People reported. Christopher Gonzales was taken into custody on Sunday, June 13, and charged with first-degree murder and second-degree aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

The 26-year-old Texas man was charged in connection to the incident on March 28 when deputies from the Midland County Sheriff's Office received a call about a woman who had fallen from her husband's truck.

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Christopher Gonzales' Case

During the investigation, deputies found that Gonzales and his pregnant wife were arguing on the side of the road when she stands on the step rail of the truck to get his attention.

Authorities said the truck started to move while she was on the step rail, and the pregnant woman fell off the vehicle. She was then run over by the truck.

The Texas man admitted that he knew his wife was standing on the rail when he decided to drive recklessly, leading to her fall, according to a CBS 7 report. Gonzales said he knew he ran over his wife when he felt a bump and heard her scream, according to the affidavit.

The victim was then airlifted to an intensive care unit in Lubbock. The child was found to be deceased after an emergency C-section, Houston Chronicle reported. The woman had suffered a crushed pelvis and two fractured hips in the incident.

Christopher Gonzales was charged after an investigation by the Midland County Sherriff's Office. He is currently being held at the Midland County Detention Center with a $150,000 bond.

A representative from the Sheriff's Office did not immediately comment on the matter, while the attorney information for Gonzales has not yet been released publicly.

Violence Against Women

The World Health Organization (WHO) said that violence against women is a major public health problem and a violation of women's human rights.

According to a WHO fact sheet, a 2018 data covering 161 countries and areas found that around one in three women has been subjected to physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner or non-partner.

More than a quarter of women aged 15-49 who have been in a relationship had been subjected to physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner at least once in their lifetime.

Over 38 percent of all murders of women worldwide are committed by intimate partners, while six percent of women have reported being sexually assaulted by someone other than a partner.

Restrictions such as lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic have increased the exposure of women to abusive partners while limiting their access to services that could help them.

Factors associated with intimate partner violence and sexual violence against women include low levels of education, a history of child maltreatment, witnessing family violence, and antisocial personality, among others.

Low levels of women's access to paid employment and discriminatory laws are also among the risk factors. It can have fatal outcomes like homicide or suicide, with 42 percent of women who experience violence from intimate partners reporting injuries.

READ MORE: Missing Toddler Dead: James Chairez's Remains Found at Texas Mobile Home

WATCH: WHO - Violence Against Women: Strengthening the Health System Response - From World Health Organization (WHO)






The United State Space Force reported that they were able to seize at least $1million-worth of cocaine after more than 30 kilograms of the narcotics washed ashore the Cape Canaveral Space Station, Florida.

Turtle Nesting Discovery

The surveyor, Angy Chambers, who is also a civil engineer and wildlife manager, discovered the drugs on May 19. Officials mentioned that Chambers noticed the packages scattered on the beach while conducting a turtle nesting survey.

According to NBC News, the Brevard County Sheriff's Office shared that the estimated value of the 24 packages of narcotics was around $1.2 million. Chambers, a member of the 45th Civil Engineer Squadron, mentioned in his statement that she immediately contacted the 45th Security Forces Squadron (SFS) with Space Force after making the discovery.

Moreover, Chambers shared that while waiting for the Squadron to arrive, she drove a little further and noticed another package. She then added that she found another package when she moved forward.

In addition, she said at that point, she called SFS back and suggested bringing their UTV or Utility Terrain Vehicle. By that time, she counted at least 18 packages.

Space Force Security Forces Squadron field commander Joseph Parker immediately suspected that the packages contained drugs. Parker locked down the beach and contacted the county sheriff's office for further investigation.

Furthermore, Parker added that the County Sheriff's Office immediately provided a narcotics agent who will conduct the testing in one of the packages. The results confirmed that it was indeed cocaine.

Meanwhile, officials stated that they turned over the drugs to Homeland Security Investigations, which is the primary investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Afterward, the information collected from the discovered drugs is shared with the El Paso Intelligence Center. The center serves as a repository for abandoned drugs found in the country.

ALSO READ: Truck Driver Caught Smuggling Cocaine Inside Banana Boxes

Transportation Problems

On the other hand, a special agent with Homeland Security Investigations, David Castro, shared in a statement that drug packaging is usually destroyed during transfers while they were transported at sea, as Fox4 News reported. Castro added that maritime drug traffickers will transport bulk shipments of controlled substances in bales consisting of 25 kilos of drugs or what they called 'bricks.'

He also added that the bale wrapping is usually destroyed during transit which causes the bricks to be lost at sea. It will eventually be recovered on the coastline of the United States.

Parker also thanked the civil engineer, Chambers, who first spotted the packaged cocaine, for helping to ensure the drugs. Parker also added that Chambers stopped the drugs from reaching the streets of the U.S.

The special agent also said that they take pride in protecting their base and the surrounding community. He also added that there is also a higher level of job satisfaction knowing that the drugs will not ever touch community grounds.

Tampa reported the drug seizure was one of the biggest ever at the world-famous space station, WFLA reported. The TV news outlet also reported last month that millions of dollars of cocaine washed up on Florida coasts during a period of prolonged onshore wind. But officials stated that the origin of the cocaine is still under investigation.

RELATED ARTICLE: Humpback Whale Swallows Lobster Fisherman: Man Says "Completely Black Inside"

WATCH: Cocaine washes up at Cape Canaveral -from WFLA News Channel 8




A man was sentenced Monday to nearly one year of house arrest and ordered to pay $500,000 in restitution for taking part in a tax and insurance fraud scheme that victimized thousands of United States Navy sailors in San Diego County.

Paul Flanagan, 56, ran the insurance company "Go Navy Tax Services" along with co-defendants 54-year-old Ranjit Kalsi and 51-year-old Gregory Martin.

Trailer Operated Scam Outside Naval Base San Diego

Flanagan's company operated out of a trailer located just outside the front gate of the Naval Base San Diego, NBC San Diego reported.

The Attorney's Office stated that the "Go Navy Tax Services" offered the Navy sailors free income tax preparation services for military members and enticed the service members to purchase retirement accounts.

According to Fox5 San Diego, instead of opening those accounts, the prosecutors noted that the defendants utilized the information gathered from service members to set up life insurance policies without their knowledge or consent.

Because of the fraud scheme, the company earned more than $2 million in commissions stemming from the sales of close to 5,000 applications for life insurance policies and annuity contracts.

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Navy Sailors as American Heroes

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan said that the victims of the fraud scheme of Flanagan and other defendants were Navy sailors who were serving their country. They were tricked into signing up for something that they could not afford and did not even need.

Stephan also said that their work with their law enforcement partners made it possible for the company to shut down. She added that they prosecuted the offenders in order to put the money back into the pockets of the hard-working members of the Navy.

Stephan also mentioned the satisfaction she felt when she saw the sailors receive thousands of restitution payments. She said that she was so satisfied to make a difference in the lives of the service members.

Paul Flanagan was sentenced to 357 days of house arrest after filing his plea to a felony count of conspiracy to commit insurance twisting or making misrepresentations to consumers to persuade them to take out insurance policies.

Paul Flanagan's co-defendants, Kalsi and Martin, also faced their sentences. In February, Kalsi was sentenced to 358 days in custody and ordered to pay $500,000 in restitution per her plea to a single felony account of identity theft.

On the other hand, Martin was sentenced to time served for 517 days in custody following his plea last year to a misdemeanor count of grand theft, STL News reported.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta said the military service members and their families have a lot of contributions to the nation. However, there are still individuals who want to abuse the heroes of America.

Bonta noted that he hopes that the announcement of the sentences will help the wrongs committed by the scammers of "Go Navy Tax Services."

Brian O'Rourke, the Navy spokesman, said the Navy welcomes the outcome of the fraud case and applauds the civilian-military teamwork which led to the discovery of the fraud scheme done by the company.

O'Rourke noted that restitution is a positive and fitting result, which will be appreciated by sailors who have been victimized.

READ MORE: San Diego Gold Medalist Swimmer Pushes For Another Olympic Shot, Refuses to Surrender Against Chronic Disease

WATCH: Insurance Fraud - Investigating and Uncovering Fraud Against Insurance Companies - From Uncover Fraud
It's a whole new world for social media businesses, and now a Midlands college is offering the first ever course in how to become an influencer.

Institute of Technology Carlow has launched Digital Hustle - Irelands first school for influencers this week.



It is Irelands first online summer course for teenagers who are interesting in learning how to become a social media influencer.

And there has already been a huge reaction to the offering with just a few course places left.

Digital Hustle, Irelands first school for influencers is funded by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and is open to TY and senior cycle secondary school students who are interested in developing an online presence, an online business or launching a fan page or a social justice campaign.

Starting on 21st June, the week-long course will teach how to build a personal brand.

The course was created and designed by Dr Irene McCormick after hearing a career guidance expert discuss how influencing should be seen as a career choice.

Many people consider influencers self-absorbed when, in fact, they are incredibly hard-working, industrious people. There is still a mentality out there that if someone says they want to be an influencer people snigger, but if any of us were doing a side-hustle making 500 a month we would be thrilled, commented Dr McCormick.

The course will feature a number of successful influencers who will teach students about the basics of growing their following and capitalising on their brand.

They include: IT Carlow PR and media student Lauren Whelan, who has amassed over 600,000 followers on TikTok and fronted social media campaigns for Samsung, Lifestyle Sports, Amazon Prime and Subway; Nia Gall, considered one of the most popular TikTok stars in Ireland, with 285,000 followers; and the teen coffee entrepreneurs behind Quirky Coffee, who are navigating the big world of digital marketing and brand building online.

Speakers will also include IT Carlow academics and marketing experts, including Dr Eleanor OLeary (popular culture), Dorothy Keane (marketing) and Ciaran OLoan (brand planning). The course will also advise on digital identities, the psychology of memes, protecting your privacy and mental health, and telling your story online.

For further information, email DigitalHustle@ITCarlow.ie.
A man who appeared in Portlaoise District Court on a number of drugs charges had made monumental changes to his life, the court heard on Thursday last.

Eric Dos Santos, 20, of 30 Riverside, Portarlington pleaded guilty to possession and possession for sale or supply at Portlaoise Road, Portarlington on January 21 this year. He also pleaded guilty to charges of possession and possession for sale or supply at the Abbeyleix road, Portlaoise on November 6, 2020.

Sgt JJ Kirby told the court that on November 6, 2020 at the Abbeyleix Road, Portlaoise a car was stopped at a checkpoint.

There was a smell of cannabis from the car. Cannabis and cocaine were found in the car with a value of 1,170.

On January 22, 2021 on the Portlaoise Road, Portarlington at 9.30pm a car was stopped. Cannabis was discovered in the car, valued at 335.

Sgt Kirby applied for a disqualification order, given the two separate offences.

Defending solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said that in the offence of November 2020, Garda Quinn accepted that the use was for Mr Dos Santos himself and his friends. The drugs were for sharing amongst them for Halloween.

On the other matter he was using the drugs to support his habit.

Ms Fitzpatrick said he was a Brazilian native who had grown up in Naas. He came to Ireland at the age of 5 and left school at the age of 15. He had experimented with drugs.

Ms Fitzpatrick said that when he moved to Portarlington he had tried to make friends but had fallen in with a wrong crowd.

After January he had to move out of his home. He went to Cork where he got work in a stable yard, and lived in accommodation nearby. He starts work at 7.30 every morning, Monday to Friday.

It had had a positive effect on him. He had made monumental changes in his life. Judge Staines said she wanted to check with Garda Quinn that he was accepting what the drugs were allegedly used for.

Later, Judge Staines fined him 300 on the Section 15 charge and took into consideration the other charges.
The views and experience of people in Laois and other counties are being sought to assess the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the rituals and practices of Catholic funerals in Ireland during the pandemic.

Moved by personal experiences of bereavement and funerals during the pandemic, two academics say they have decided to draw together peoples experiences and research the impact on funerals.

Dr Michael Shortall and Dr Aoife McGrath, from the Centre for Mission and Ministries at the Pontifical University, St Patricks College, Maynooth say their pilot study will explore the experience of dealing with dying, death, and Catholic funerals from the perspective of people in local faith communities and those who support and serve them, such as funeral directors, local clergy, parish pastoral workers, and funeral ministry teams.

They say funerals, and the rituals associated with them, have traditionally held a place of profound importance in Irish society.

"Having a wake in the deceaseds home, digging the grave, shaking hands with the bereaved, standing in a guard of honour, shouldering the coffin or walking in procession to accompany the deceased to their final resting place: all of these practices (and others) have, for many generations, played their part in helping the people of Ireland deal with death and loss.

"By gathering together to mark the persons life, share memories, and spend time together, we supported one another  and especially the bereaved  through such challenging periods.

"The Covid-19 pandemic  and public health measures that were taken to limit the spread of the virus  has meant that these longstanding rituals have had to be adapted or even set aside. At different stages of the pandemic, the number of mourners attending funerals was limited. Public advice precluded the bereaved from sharing funeral arrangements on public death notices; instead, they had to privately communicate such details to those who were selected to attend.

"Bereaved persons were also instructed to ask people to send condolences through social media, online websites, or some other messaging facility. However, anecdotally, we know that people in local communities began to find other ways to participate in funerals and accompany bereaved persons: for instance, neighbours standing at crossroads while the hearse passes by, waiting outside churches during funeral services, or standing at a distance in graveyards during burials.

"People sought novel ways of showing their support for the bereaved and showing respect for the deceased.

"The risk presented by funerals, and the determination of people to adapt the ways in which they participated in funerals, became a cause for concern for the Government. They expressed unease over the significant numbers of people continuing to congregate in homes of the bereaved and in funeral homes, or at churches and graveyards before and after funeral services. The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) reported increased outbreaks associated with funerals," conclude the researchers.

If you are interested in participating in their pilot study, Dr Shorall and Dr McGrath invite you to take their survey and/or participate in a remote interview.

Find out more at https://maynoothcollege.ie/covid-19-and-funeral-rituals-and-practices-a-study
Bakers in Laois and other counties around Ireland are invited to put their brown bread baking skills to the test in the 2021 edition of National Brown Bread Baking Competition.

There's a grand prize of 15,000 for the overall winner of the competition held in association with the National Ploughing Association (NPA) and the Irish Countrywomens Association (ICA).

NPA Managing Director Anna May McHugh said: The NPA are delighted that the hugely popular National Brown Bread Baking competition is returning this year. Every year the interest grows and the standard is escalating with hundreds of entries from all around the country. Despite having to cancel this years Trade Exhibition due to Covid the National Ploughing Competitions will take place from Sept 15th to 17th and plans are in place to build a programme of activities around #Ploughing2021 including digital activations for all to get involved with and the highly anticipated National Brown Bread Baking winner will be announced on the final day. 

Hilda Roche, President of the ICA said: The members of the Irish Countrywomens Association are very much looking forward to participating in this years National Brown Bread Baking Competition. I wish everyone the very best of luck.

If you think you have the recipe for success, log onto www.aldi.ie/brown-bread- competition or www.ica.ie for information on how to enter, full terms and conditions and competition rules.

The winners brown bread will be stocked in all Aldi Stores in Ireland for twelve months and they will receive a grand prize of 15,000.

The competition will be open to all members of the public (over 18). All successful entrants will be contacted on August 20, to attend the finals, due to take place on September 10 in Howth Castle Cookery School, with the winner then announced on September 17.

All entrants will be asked to drop off their freshly baked bread at one of the following Aldi stores on the prescribed date below picture of last year's winner Marie McCarthy:

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4 9am- 11am

Aldi Head Office Naas, Newbridge Road, Naas, Co. Kildare, W91 VE40.

Aldi Swords, 10 Seatown Rd, Townparks, Swords, Co. Dublin, K67 V2N7.

Aldi Athlone, Golden Island, Ankers Bower, Athlone Co. Westmeath N37 FC04.

WEDNESDAY, August 11 9 am - 11 am

Aldi Macroom, Oakwood, Sleveen East, Macroom, Co. Cork, P12 ER89.

Aldi, Newcastle West, , Co. Limerick, V42 KD35.

Aldi, Main Street, Gort, Co. Galway, H91 PV44.

WEDNESDAY, August 18 9 am - 11 am

Aldi New Ross, Marshmeadows, New Ross, Co. Wexford, Y34 NP48.

Aldi Castlebar, Lannagh Rd, Garryduff, Castlebar, Co. Mayo, F23 TV29.

Aldi Cavan, Dublin Rd, Tullymongan Upper, Cavan, H91PK29.

Group Buying Director, John Curtin said, "At Aldi, we are a proud supporter of Irish suppliers and producers, so we are delighted to sponsor The National Brown Bread Baking Competition again this year and to be able to host the competition during these challenging times. Last years winning product Maries Brown Bread has been a great success, and we want to ensure that Irelands best bakers have the opportunity to take part in this fantastic competition again this year. We look forward to sampling Irelands best brown bread in the coming weeks and announcing the winner on September 17th in Howth Castle Cookery School.
Ballinakill GAA club are hosting the Maggie Walsh tournament on the weekend of July 2nd  July 4th in memory of one of their most decorated and much loved club men.

Not only was he one of the best, if not the best players ever produced by the club, the club legend is also one of the msot decorated players to ever pull on a Laois jersey.

His career with Ballinakill lasted four decades while also making 122 appearances for Laois.

1976 saw him nominated for an All Star while the following year, he was honoured as the Laois hurler of the year. Selected at wing forward on the Laois team of the Millennium, Walsh also made a great contribution to Avonmore factory league teams and won eight All Ireland Inter firms titles.

Having passed away suddenly in March of 2017, the club now feel the time is right to honour their fallen son.

A tournament has been set up with clubs from across the province of Leinster more than eager to take part in what promises to be an emotional and historic weekend for the club.

Six teams from Laois  Borris In Ossory/ Kilcotton, Abbeyleix, Ballinakill, The Harps, Castletown and Trumera, five teams from Kilkenny  St Martins, Tullaroan, Lisdowney, St. Patricks Ballyragget & Fenians and Gortnahoe from Tipperary will take part in this tournament.

The club are also indebted to Phelan's Topline for rowing in behind the project and coming on board as the main sponsor for the event.
The death has occurred of Geraldine BALDRICK (nee Cronin)

Ashgrove Drive, Naas, Kildare



Peacefully, in the tender care of the staff of Craddock House Nursing Home, Naas.

Beloved wife of the late Liam. Sadly missed by her loving daughters Mary, Anne, Geraldine, Monica and Pauline, son Liam, son-in-law John, daughter-in-law Helyne, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, extended family, relatives and friends.

"May Geraldine Rest in Peace"

Due to current Government guidelines regarding public gatherings, a private family funeral will take place with Funeral Mass on Thursday morning at 10am in The Church of Our Lady and St. David, Naas. Those who would like to join the private Funeral Service remotely by webcam can do so by clicking on

https://www.naasparish.ie/our-parish/naas-webcam

or via the Naas Parish App on the webcam folder. Geraldine will be laid to rest in St. Corban's Cemetery, Naas.

Those who would have liked to attend the funeral, but due to current restrictions can not, please feel free to leave a message in the condolence page below.

The death has occurred of Marie HILL (nee Ferguson)

Ardclough, Kildare



Hill (nee Ferguson) (Ardclough and Oughterard)  June 13, 2021, (peacefully and with the greatest dignity, surrounded by her loving children, after a short illness bravely borne), at Tallaght University Hospital, Marie, pre-deceased by her beloved husband Michael, loving parents John and Eileen and dear brother Sean; Sadly missed by her loving children Michael, William and Martina, sisters Joan and Patricia, relatives, neighbours, friends and faithful companion Mars.

Due to current Government guidelines regarding public gatherings, a Private Funeral (limited to 50 people) will take place. Maries funeral cortege will leave her son Michaels residence on Wednesday at 10.45am and proceed to St. Annes Church, Ardclough arriving for 11am Mass followed by burial immediately afterwards in Oughterard Cemetery. Those who would like to join the private funeral service remotely by webcam can do so by clicking on www.memoriallane.ie/livestream . Those who would have liked to attend the Funeral, but due to current restrictions cannot, please feel free to leave a message in the Condolence Book below. Family flowers only please. Donations, if desired, to PAWS Animal Rescue.

May She Rest In Peace

The death has occurred of Gloria Lynam (nee Bayly)

Geashill, Offaly / Ardclough, Kildare



Formerly of Ardclough, County Kildare. Peacefully surrounded by her loving family at Oghill Nursing Home, Monasterevin. Deeply regretted by her loving husband Patrick, daughters Amy and Christine, son Mark, daughter-in-law Sarah, sons-in-law Eddie and David, her 11 adoring grandchildren, sisters, brothers, aunt, extended family and friends.

Rest In Peace

Due to the Covid 19 restrictions, a private family funeral will take place. Removal from her residence in Geashill, County Offaly, on Thursday arriving at St. Anne's Church, Ardclough, County Kildare (limited to 50 people) for Requiem Mass at 11am. Funeral afterwards to Newlands Cross Crematorium arriving for Cremation Service at 1pm. People are welcome to stand along the route to the church and in the churchyard. You can leave your condolences on the online Condolence Book below. The family would like to thank you for your help and understanding at this sad and difficult time.

Family flowers only, please. Donations, if desired, to The Alzheimer Society of Ireland https://alzheimer.ie/.

The death has occurred of Susie (Susanne) MAHER

Leixlip, Kildare / Dublin 1, Dublin



MAHER, SUSIE (Susanne), Leixlip, Co. Kildare (formerly of Sean McDermott Street, Dublin 1), 12th June 2021, suddenly at home. Pre-deceased by her younger brother Jamie. Beloved daughter of John and Doris. Susie will be deeply missed by her parents, her loving children Adam, Shannon, and Conor, treasured little grandson Maison, her sisters, brothers, her loving partner Les, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, extended family and a large circle of friends.

Rest In Peace - Sleep Well.

Due to Government advice regarding public gatherings, a private family Funeral Service will take place, giving consideration to current restrictions regarding attendance numbers. To those who would have liked to attend Susie's funeral, but due to current restrictions cannot, please leave your condolence at the bottom of this page or send on condolences by the traditional manner.

Details of Susie's funeral Mass - Church Link will follow later





Funeral Arrangements Later

The death has occurred of John (Jack) Martin More

Sallins, Kildare / Derry City, Derry



MORE, John (Jack) Martin (Sallins, Co. Kildare and formerly Derry City) 11th June 2021. Unexpectedly but peacefully, in the care of the staff at Naas General Hospital. Beloved father to Kerry, Gemma, Stephanie and Hannah. He will be sadly missed by his daughters, sons-in-law Dylan, Conor and Ryan, sisters Maureen, Isabella and Deirdre, grandchildren Matthew, Alannah, Jacob, Ethan, Bernard, Culainn, Elvi, Vincent and Juno.

May he rest in peace.

Due to current government restrictions, a family funeral will take place privately but can be viewed online at 14:00 on Thursday (June 17th 2021) using the following link: https://www.mcnmedia.tv/camera/newslands-cross-cemetery-crematorium.Family flowers only please. Donations, if desired, by post directly to Naas General Hospital.

The death has occurred of Colette Morrison (nee Shortall)

Leixlip, Kildare / Rialto, Dublin



MORRISION (nee Shortall), Colette (Leixlip, Co. Kildare and formerly of Rialto, Dublin 8) June 13th, 2021 (peacefully) in the loving care of the staff at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown. Beloved wife of Oliver and much loved mother of Mark and Conor and dear sister of the late Freddie. Sadly missed by her loving husband, sons, grandchildren Eleanor, Maggie, Thaidy and Ryan, daughter-in-law Ann, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends.

May She Rest in Peace

A private funeral will take place due to government advice regarding public gatherings. When the current circumstances have passed we look forward to celebrating Colettes life with friends and extended family at a later date.

Those who would have liked to attend the funeral; but due to current restrictions cannot, please leave your personal message by selecting Condolences below or alternatively at www.cunninghamsfuneral.com

Family flowers only, donations if desired to Irish Hospice Foundation.

Ar dheis De go raibh a h-anam dilis

Colette will repose at Cunninghams Funeral Home, Lucan on Thursday evening, (June 17th) between 6pm and 8pm with the Funeral Mass available online on Friday June 18th at 1pm by following this LINK.

Colettes Funeral Cortege is expected to leave Cunningham's Funeral Home, Lucan, on Friday morning (June 18th) at 12:15pm and will then proceed to the Church of Our Ladys Nativity, Leixlip via Celbridge Road, Castletown Estate and Green Lane. Anyone wishing to stand along the route as a mark of respect are asked not to gather in groups and to adhere to all guidelines relating to social distancing and the wearing of face masks.
The proposed development, which is subject to planning approval, provides for a further 200 lodges, in addition to bringing the 466 self catering accommodation already in situ on the company's 395 acre site.

Four treehouses, branded as being Center Parcs' most luxurious living quarters are also included with each individual unit being able to house up to eight people and coming complete with a games den, outdoor hot tub, private parking as well as a dedicated Treehouse Host for the duration of a stay at the facility.

In a move which is arguably the single biggest tourism investment to emerge this year, the company say the plans will also bring an extension to existing facilities, including leisure facilities, restaurants and cafes, back of house facilities, its much vaunted Subtropical Swimming Paradise and Aqua Sana Spa.

Center Parcs bosses say the investment will create around 300 jobs during construction, with a further 250 permanent jobs on offer once the project is fully complete.

Chief Executive Officer, Martin Dalby said the expansion plans were indicative of the firm's belief in both its brand and the resilience of Ireland's tourism industry in a new, post Covid era.

We are thrilled to be announcing our intention to invest further in Center Parcs Longford Forest," he said.

"Despite a challenging year, we have great confidence in both our business and the Irish domestic tourism market, backed up by our extremely positive forward bookings for the remainder of 2021 and into 2022.

Since we opened, Irish families have really taken Center Parcs to their heart, and we are excited to bring more visitors to this beautiful part of the country and introduce the Center Parcs concept to even more families.

This announcement is great news for County Longford, a significant investment which will generate more local jobs, opportunities for local suppliers, consultants and contractors and a significant boost for the local and regional economy.

Details of the mooted 80m investment has been met with universal accord at local political level.

Fianna Fail Longford-Westmeath TD Joe Flaherty said the projected eight figure cash injection could not have arrived at a better time for a county still attempting to find its economical feet after more than a year of enforced lockdown.

This is fantastic news for Longford and for the midlands," he said.

"Center Parcs is a really valued employer in the area. I know the company has made a huge effort to work with the local community and Im sure that will continue with this further expansion."

Tanaiste Leo Varadkar followed suit, saying the planned venture would bring untold fiscal spin offs to the Longford and wider midlands area once complete.

Center Parcs will now commence detailed design and site survey work, as well as a programme of community engagement, in advance of submitting a planning application to Longford County Council.

Its envisaged those plans will be dispatched by the end of December with a decision from local authority planners expected early in the new year.
A retired member of a Catholic religious order is seeking a High Court order preventing his trial on charges of child sexual abuse dating back to the 1960s from going ahead.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is facing four charges of sexual assault made against him by a woman, on dates between 1966 and 1969.

The complainant was a secondary school student and a minor at the time of the alleged assaults which all took place in Co Galway.

The first assault is alleged to have taken place in the room of an Abbey. Two other alleged assaults took place when the girl was bringing communion for Sunday Mass to a Convent.

She claims the accused waited for her near the convent, before violently assaulting her on those occasions.

The fourth charge relates to an incident around Christmas time, when she claims the man came up behind her, pushed her against a wall and assaulted her.

The man, who is now aged in his eighties, denies the allegations.

He claims he cannot get a fair trial due to the delay between the time of the alleged offences and the time he was charged.

He also claims that he will suffer prejudice because he has aged related dementia and cognitive impairment that has affected his memory.

The accused trial has been set down before the Circuit Criminal Court.

However due to the delay caused by the Covid-19 pandemic it is not known when his trial will take place.

Represented by Hugh Hartnett SC the man claims that the alleged events took place over 50 years ago.

In addition, the man claims there was a considerable delay when the complainant first went to the police about the allegations in 2017 and the time that he was charged with the offence in December 2020.

No explanation has been given for the delay in charging the man who was first interviewed about the allegations by Gardai in 2018, counsel said.

Due to medical condition, which counsel said is dynamic and progressive, it was unlikely that the man will be able to defend himself should the case go to trial before a judge and jury.

As a result, the man has brought judicial review proceedings against the DPP where he seeks an order prohibiting his trial from proceeding.

It is the man's case that the prosecution is guilty of inordinate prosecutorial delay, which has deprived the man of a fair trial contrary to his Constitutional rights, and rights under the European Convention of Human Rights.

The matter came before Mr Justice Charles Meenan at Monday's sitting of the High Court.

The Judge, on an ex-parte, basis granted the accused permission, to bring his challenge.

The judge also placed a stay on the trial pending the outcome of the judicial review action. The case will return before the High Court in October.
Catherine Fulvio will host a Summer Cookery Demonstration which has been sponsored by a number of local authorities, including Kildare County Council to show you how to make the most of BBQs without food waste this summer.

Preparing more food than can be eaten is a waste and not just of food, but of your own time and money.

BBQs can often result in a huge amount of wasted food.

With more people choosing to BBQ and dine outdoors this summer, Catherine shows how with a little bit of preparation and planning, you can cook an amazing BBQ for your guests while producing less food waste and taking some pressure off you as a host.



Food waste can soar in the summer, as temperatures rise it can be trickier to stop food spoiling, especially as a BBQ can go on for a whole afternoon or evening. A fact often overlooked is that around a third of all food produced is lost or wasted contributes between 8 and 10 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Irish households produce over 250,000 tonnes of food waste per year, at a cost of 700 per household.



Dara Wyer, Environmental Awareness Officer, Kildare County Council says It is worth considering food waste contributes significantly to climate change. Growing, processing, packaging and transporting of food uses energy and resources, and then when we throw food away it rots and releases yet more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. So we are excited to have celebrity chef Catherine Fulvio involved in this campaign giving her tips and advice on how to enjoy Summer BBQs with some good food management tips to reduce food waste, save money and help the planet.



Catherine Fulvio is delighted to be involved in this campaign as reducing food waste is something that she holds close to her heart. In this collaboration I am delighted to have teamed up a total of fourteen county councils to host a cookery demonstration sharing some easy delicious recipes and helpful hints on how to make the most of your food when having a BBQ and dining outdoors this summer and avoid food waste.



My first golden rule when hosting a BBQ or outdoor summer dining is to think about how many people I will be entertaining and to plan the menu to ensure I have just enough food to satisfy all my guests. To enhance my guests overall experience I ensure they enjoy the food at its best; fresh from the fridge and hot off the BBQ!

Catherine will have lots of hacks, ideas and recipe suggestions to share in her Cookery Demonstration which will premier on Thursday 17th June at 8pm on on your Kildare Co Council Facebook page and on the StopFoodWaste page.
Two Leitrim women, one in Australia and the other in England, have been awarded by the Queen for their outstanding service.

Pauline Woods, originally from Ballinaglera has been titled MBE by the Queen.



Pauline, who lives in Surrey, formed the charity Born Too Soon with other parents in 1985 and she accepted the award on on behalf of the tens of thousands of precious babies and their families who I was privileged to meet over the past 36 years.

Having had four children who benefited from the services provided by the unit, Pauline felt it was time to give something back and helped set up the charity which provides equipment and facilities for families with premature babies.

Born Too Soon helps make the journey through the Neonatal Unit the best it can possibly be and ensures that the families who dont get to take their babies have some precious memories.

Pauline was a team member at Kingston Hospital Maternity and Neonatal Unit, Marie Richter, Pediatric Outreach Nursing Team.

Pauline Woods pictured with her mother Mary



She dedicated the award to my family and my Dear Mother Marry from Ballinaglera, County Leitrim and where I was proud to live and my father Edward from Stradbally, County Waterford sadly no longer alive. I am so proud of my Irish Heritage.



Pauline We went to Cornagee NS Dowra and then to Drumkeerin Technical College now Lough Allen College. After school she got a job working in The Junior Knitwear Factory in Dowra until it closed suddenly at Christmas 1970. Pauline then emigrated to Surrey with her then fiance Michael Woods from Newbridge Dowra, they married and set up life there.



Mary McGowan, originally from Mohill and daughter of Harry and Noleen, has been awarded an OAM for the service to nursing and to the community through charitable initiatives in Victoria, Australia.

A woman who has spent the past 40 years caring for children with cancer and their families at the Royal Childrens Hospital has been given a Queens Birthday honour. #9News



The full list: https://t.co/iAu1TGqKnE pic.twitter.com/NHJkKNQojl  9News Melbourne (@9NewsMelb) June 14, 2021



Mary left Ireland aged 26 years and expected to stay in Australia for two years. She spent 40 years caring for children with cancer at the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne.



Mary started as a pediatric nurse in 1978 and in two years was promoted to the Nurse Unit Manager. She held that role for more than 20 years, during which she influenced many changes at The Royal Childrens Hospital. In 2003, Mary was promoted to the managers position at the Childrens Cancer Centre.

I thoroughly enjoy what I do, I find it bittersweet  you see the best and worst, she said.



Mary retired from nursing 12 years ago and now works as a community liaison manager at the Childrens Cancer Centre. She is also heavily involved with the Childrens Cancer Foundation, My Room and Ronald McDonald House charities.

Ms McGowan is honoured by the Medal of the Order of Australia, I dont see it as just for me, its a team effort. Mary said her work has been rewarding, when she first started the cure rate was 38% for children's cancers now it is above 86%.

Both extraordinary women have relatives in Leitrim and each has returned to the county to visit them on numerous occasions.

The honours are awarded as part of Queen of England's Birthday Honour List each year.

Also read: Leitrim Ladies star Michelle plays down plaudits as she looks forward to Lidl NFL Division 4 Final
ALL unvaccinated adults in Limerick are being encouraged to avail of free self-referral Covid-19 tests, as new cases in the community continue to have a negative impact on businesses and services across the city and county.

According to provisional data, the Department of Public Health Mid-West has recorded more than 770 cases of Covid-19 in Limerick over the past fornight. There were a more than 80 cases in Clare and more than 50 in North Tipperary during the same period.

While the the majority of businesses have done their best to protect their customers and staff from Covid-19, there are concerning trends of inconsistent and poor practises when it comes to adhering to Public Health guidelines.

"This is largely among workplaces that have reopened over the past four weeks. It is very discouraging and frustrating for businesses who have reopened to be faced with possible closure again due to Covid outbreaks, and it is important that all employees and managers understand their responsibilities in the workplace," said a spokesperson for Public Health Mid West.

"We continue to see evidence of people who are confirmed close contacts attending work when they should be restricting their movements for at least 10 days, pending a negative PCR test result," he added.

While the vast majority of businesses have improved their mitigation measures in relation to social distancing during working hours, there have been some incidents of staff congregating or engaging in close contact in break rooms, locker rooms, and in communal areas without masks.

According to Public Health Mid West, a number of workplace situations have been connected to outbreaks which have been linked to indoor gatherings and house parties.

Issues have also been identified in some workplaces, such as hair salons and beauticians, where there is close contact between staff and customers or clients. PPE needs to be changed after each customer and there are concerns that some workplaces are not doing this, resulting in contaminated PPE.

Public Health Mid-West is currently investigating Covid-19 situations in 50 workplaces, involving 141 cases and an estimated 324 close contacts in the Mid-West region. The vast majority of these are in retail, supermarkets, hair salons, beauticians, offices, and factories.

Dr Mai Mannix, Director of Public Health Mid-West, said: It is an exciting time as businesses return to work and bring back vibrancy into communities, which is very visible and welcome. With the increased social element associated with the reopening of retail, cafes, pubs and restaurants, the business community has an added responsibility to protect its staff and customers, which in turn will reduce the level of infection in their respective communities. If measures are lax amid a high incidence rate in the community, businesses are at increased risk of small to large outbreaks. Our department is prioritising the safe return of businesses and is eager to connect with the business community over the coming weeks to ensure just that.

In relation to the lower daily Covid-19 figures in recent days, Dr Mannix said: The public response in Limerick has to be commended and has potentially resulted in the prevention of hundreds of cases across the city and county. However, in recent weeks, we have seen a trend of cases fluctuating, and decreasing between Saturdays and Mondays due to lower uptake in testing at the weekend. In light of society being more active, we will need to see a consistent decrease in cases on a week-by-week basis.

The free self-referral walk-in and drive-through COVID-19 testing centre at St Josephs Health Campus on Mulgrave Street is operational, from 11am to 6.15pm daily up to and including Monday, June 21.

No appointment is needed and those attending must bring photo ID and mobile phone.
THERE has been a call for a smoking shed on the grounds of University Hospital Limerick (UHL) after a significant amount of cigarette butts were dropped outside.

Since 2012, smoking on the grounds of all HSE premises has been banned, and its led to both staff and patients lighting up outside the gates on the St Nessans Road.

Independent councillor Fergus Kilcoyne has appealed to UHL bosses to consider installing a shed to the rear of the premises to facilitate smokers.

There's a lot of land to the rear and I can't for the life of me understand why they can't section off a small little timber shed at the back of the hospital and allow people smoke in the grounds, he said.

Cllr Kilcoyne believes any such shed would in fact be further away from the building than the gates are.

Photographer Stephen Kiely, who captured the littering said: I'm not allowed in to see my wife who is a cancer patient, but these people are allowed to come out as patients and go back in again.
GARDAI are investigating two incidents in Limerick city during which mobile phones were stolen from teenage boys.

Witnesses are being sought following one of the incidents  a robbery  which occurred at Norwood Estate last Thursday evening.

A 16-year-old youth had arranged on social media to sell his iPhone to another male and they agreed to meet in Norwood Park. The date and time was set and the young man was walking to meet the buyer when he was suddenly grabbed from behind and punched in the nose, said divisional crime prevention officer Sergeant Ber Leetch.

The attacker then tore his jacket off him and the iPhone and an amount of cash was in this jacket. He cycled off on a bicycle, she added.

Investigating gardai are looking for witnesses and they are also appealing to any motorists who may have dash camera footage to contact them at (061) 212400.

Separately, a fifteen-year-old youth was robbed while walking at the Grange in Raheen.

According to gardai, he encountered two other youths who asked him for the time and the youth took his phone from his pocket to check it.

One of males snapped the phone from his hand and the two males fled the scene. Again, Gardai are investigating and are asking for any witnesses to this theft to please contact them, said Sgt Leetch.

Gardai at Roxboro Road are investigating that incident.
BRUSSELS : President Joe Biden reaffirmed the US commitment to NATO on Monday as leading members declared it a pivotal moment for an alliance beleaguered during the presidency of Donald Trump, who questioned the relevance of the multilateral organization.

Shortly after arriving at the alliance's headquarters for the first NATO summit of his presidency, Biden sat down with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and underscored the US commitment to Article 5 of the alliance charter, which spells out that an attack on one member is an attack on all and is to be met with a collective response.

Article 5 we take as a sacred obligation," Biden said. I want NATO to know America is there."

It was a sharp shift in tone from the past four years, when Trump called the alliance obsolete" and complained that it allowed for global freeloading" countries to spend less on military defense at the expense of the US.

Looking forward, Stoltenberg noted myriad challenges still facing the alliance.

We are meeting at the pivotal time for our alliance, the time of growing geopolitical competition, regional instability, terrorism, cyber attacks and climate change," Stoltenberg said at the start of a joint session of the NATO leaders. No nation and no continent can deal with these challenges alone. But Europe and North America are not alone."

Biden, who came to Brussels following three days of consultations with Group of Seven leaders in England, was greeted by fellow leaders with warmth and even a bit of relief.

Belgium Prime Minister Alexander de Croo said Bidens presence emphasizes the renewal of the transatlantic partnership." De Croo said NATO allies were looking to get beyond four stormy years under the Trump administration and infighting among member countries.

I think now we are ready to turn the page," de Croo said.

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi made a not-so-subtle dig at Trump, while welcoming Biden.

This summit is a continuation of yesterdays G-7 and is part of the process of reaffirming, of rebuilding the fundamental alliances of the United States that had been weakened by the previous administration," he said. Think that President Bidens first visit is to Europe and try to remember where President Trumps first visit was?"

Trump's first overseas visit as president was to Saudi Arabia.

Trump routinely berated other NATO countries for not spending enough on defense and even threatened to pull the U.S. out of the worlds biggest security organization and even questioned the mutual defense provision of the NATO charter, a central tenet of the alliance.

When alliance members last met for a summit in England in December 2019, Trump grabbed headlines by calling Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau two-faced" and French President Emmanuel Macron nasty."

Trump lashed out after Trudeau was caught on a hot mic gossiping with other leaders about Trump turning photo opportunities into long news conferences. Ahead of the summit, Macron had declared NATO brain dead" because of a void in U.S. leadership under Trump.

The White House said the communique to be signed by alliance members at the end of the NATO summit is expected to include language about updating Article 5 to include major cyber attacks  a matter of growing concern amid a series of hacks targeting the U.S. government and businesses around the globe by Russia-based hackers.

The update will spell out that if an alliance member needs technical or intelligence support in response to a cyber attack, it would be able to invoke the mutual defense provision to receive assistance, according to White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan.

The president started his day meeting with leaders of the Baltic states on NATO's eastern flank as well as separate meetings with leaders of Poland and Romania to discuss the threat posed by Russia and the recent air piracy in Belarus, according to the White House.

Biden's itinerary in Europe has been shaped so that he would first gather with G-7 leaders and then with NATO allies in Brussels before his much-anticipated meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Geneva on Wednesday. And with both summits, Biden aimed to consult European allies on efforts to counter provocative actions by China and Russia.

The G-7 meeting ended with a communique that called out, at the urging of Biden, forced labor practices and other human rights violations impacting Uyghur Muslims and other ethnic minorities in the western Xinjiang province. The president declined to discuss private summit negotiations over the provision, but said he was satisfied" with the communique, although differences remain among the allies about how forcefully to call out Beijing.

The Chinese embassy to the United Kingdom on Monday issued a statement saying the communique deliberately slandered China and arbitrarily interfered in Chinas internal affairs," and exposed the sinister intentions of a few countries, such as the United States."

Biden has said he's focused on building a more cohesive bond between America and allies who had become wary of U.S. leadership after enduring four years of Trump's name-calling and frequent invectives about NATO.

He has already acknowledged during his Europe tour that the alliance needs to ensure better burden-sharing and needs more American leadership. Hes also highlighted NATO members' contributions in the war in Afghanistan, noting that NATO stepped up" after America was attacked on Sept. 11, 2001.

The US and the alliance are winding down their involvement in the nearly 20-year war that killed tens of thousands of Afghans and more than 3,500 U.S. and allied troops. The war also raised profound questions about whether NATOs effort was worth it.

For now, NATO plans to leave civilian advisers to help build up government institutions. Its unclear who will protect them. The alliance is also weighing whether to train Afghan special forces outside the country.

Biden will meet later on Monday with Turkey's president, Erdogan, on the summit sidelines.

Biden has known Erdogan for years but their relationship has frequently been contentious. Biden, during his campaign, drew ire from Turkish officials after he described Erdogan as an autocrat." In April, Biden infuriated Ankara by declaring that the Ottoman-era mass killing and deportations of Armenians was genocide"  a term that U.S. presidents have avoided using.

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BEIJING : China said on Tuesday that radiation levels around the Taishan nuclear project in the southeastern province of Guangdong remained normal, following media reports of a leak at one of its reactors.

French utility EDF, one of the project's owners, said on Monday that it was investigating media reports that abnormal levels of radioactive gas had leaked from the plant.

CNN had reported that Framatome, the EDF unit that designed Taishan's reactors, was warning of an "imminent radiological threat" at the project following a build-up of krypton and xenon.

Zhao Lijian, a spokesman for China's foreign ministry, told a news briefing that the plant was fully compliant with all requirements and there were no signs of abnormalities in its vicinity.

"So far China's nuclear power plants have maintained a good operating record, with no incidents affecting the environment and public health," Zhao said.

EDF said on Monday that the problem at the plant could have been caused by fuel rods supplied by Framatome.

Under normal operating conditions it is true some gases like krypton and xenon will escape and be detected but in this case the concentrations are much higher, so something is happening," said Tatsujiro Suzuki, a former vice-chairman of the Japan Atomic Energy Commission.

"Once radioactive gas is leaking to the environment it is a serious issue. It could get worse. I think there could be problems with the fuel. It is unusual."

The Taishan project, completed in 2019, consists of two French-designed reactors, and is located around 200 km (124 miles) from Hong Kong.

Earlier, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam told reporters that the Hong Kong Observatory and the Water Supplies Department have been monitoring radiation levels and have so far not detected anything abnormal.

Li Ning, a Chinese nuclear scientist based in the United States, said the dangers at Taishan have been exaggerated.

"Because nuclear power plants, once built and in operation, are under very strict control and local areas are excluded from further development, background radiation levels around them can often be lower than historical levels," he said.

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Nicosia: Cyprus has banned the entry of anyone who has been to or passed through India in the previous two weeks of travelling to thwart the spread of the B.1.617 variant of COVID-19.

In a directive issued on Monday, the Cypriot government said the ban excludes Cypriot citizens and their families, European Union citizens and foreign nationals who live permanently in Cyprus.

However, they either must undergo a PCR test 72 hours prior to boarding a flight to Cyprus, be tested for the virus on arrival or remain under a 10-day quarantine from the date of their arrival at quarters designated by authorities. Quarantine costs will be covered by the Cypriot government.

Cyprus has already confirmed the presence of the B.1.617 variant of COVID-19 within the community, although the UK variant remains the most widespread. More than 40% of Cyprus' population of around 900,000 has been fully vaccinated.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.

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The novel coronavirus may have already arrived in the U.S. by late December 2019, adding to the evidence that the virus was already lurking here at least a month before the country's first reported case, according to a new study.

The study researchers analyzed more than 24,000 blood samples collected in the U.S. from Jan. 2 to March 18, 2020, as part of the National Institutes of Health's All of Us program, a project that aims to gather health data from diverse populations.

The researchers identified seven participants from five states (Illinois, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Mississippi) who tested positive for antibodies against the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, prior to the first reported cases of COVID-19 in those states. The earliest detection came from a sample collected Jan. 7 in Illinois. Because it takes about two weeks for a person to develop these antibodies, the new findings suggest the virus may have been circulating in Illinois as early as Dec. 24, 2019, according to the study, published Tuesday (June 15) in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases .

"This study allows us to uncover more information about the beginning of the U.S. epidemic" of COVID-19, Dr. Josh Denny, CEO of All of Us and co-author of the study, said in a statement .

Related: 20 of the worst epidemics and pandemics in history

The first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the U.S. was reported on Jan. 20, 2020, in a resident of Washington state who had recently traveled to China. But researchers have suspected that the virus arrived in the U.S. earlier than this, and a previous study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also found evidence that the virus was in the U.S. in December 2019, Live Science previously reported .

Still, the new study has limitations. Although positive antibody tests suggest a prior infection with SARS-CoV-2, they cannot prove that a person had the virus. For example, even very accurate antibody tests still produce a small number of false positive results.

But the researchers did take steps to rule out false positives. They used two different antibody tests, and the samples had to test positive on both to be counted as positive results. The first test identified 147 samples that were positive for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, but of these, only nine also tested positive on the second test. (Two of these samples were collected after the first cases of COVID-19 were identified in the participants' respective states.)

There's also a chance that the samples had antibodies against other, similar coronaviruses that "cross-react" in this test to give positive results, but this is uncommon. In 1,000 blood samples collected in the U.S. from January to March 2019, which was used as a control group for comparison, none tested positive for antibodies against SARS-CoV-2.

"It is unlikely all nine of these [positive] individuals are false positive," the authors wrote.

It's important to note that the authors did not have information on whether the people who tested positive had traveled recently, which would suggest whether they became infected within their communities or elsewhere. The researchers plan to follow up with the people who tested positive to ask about their travel history, according to The New York Times . They are also planning further research to pinpoint exactly when the novel coronavirus first appeared in the U.S.

"The exact month at which it probably came into the U.S. is still unknown," study lead author Keri Althoff, an epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, told the Times.

Originally published on Live Science.
A humpback whale recently swallowed a Cape Cod lobster diver.

This is a highly unusual event, but one expert told Live Science that there are certain types of behaviors that could have led to the man being swallowed  such as diving too close to the whale's normal food.

Michael Packard was 45 feet (14 meters) deep in the coastal waters off Provincetown, Massachusetts, on Friday (June 11), when he was suddenly gulped inside the mouth of an enormous marine animal.

"All of a sudden, I felt this huge bump, and everything went dark," he told WBZ-TV News.

Related: 8 Human-animal encounters that went horribly wrong

At first he thought he had been attacked by a shark, as great whites frequent the area, but he soon realized he couldn't feel any teeth.

"Then I realized, 'Oh my God, I'm in a whale's mouth ... and he's trying to swallow me,'" Packard told WBZ-TV News. "And I thought to myself 'OK, this is it  I'm finally  I'm gonna die.'" Packard's thoughts turned to his wife and his two sons, ages 12 and 15.

He estimated that he remained trapped inside the mouth of the leviathan for 30 seconds, and he was still able to breathe through his scuba respirator. But then the whale, clearly keen to remove its unwelcome, and inedible, guest, surfaced, shook its head and spat him out.

"I just got thrown in the air and landed in the water," he said. "I was free and I just floated there. I couldn't believe  I'm here to tell it."

Packard was hauled back onto his fishing boat by his topside crew mate, who had been anxiously surveying the water's surface for signs of bubbles from Packard's oxygen respirator. Astonishingly, Packard survived the biblical encounter with no greater injury than a dislocated knee.

Getting swallowed by any marine creature is hardly going to make anyone's day, but Packard was somewhat fortunate that he was grabbed by a baleen whale. Despite being one of the largest whale species  growing up to 60 feet (18 m) long, and weighing an impressive 40 tons (36 metric tons) the school bus-size giants predominantly dine on tiny sea creatures such as small fish, krill and plankton, meaning their throats are usually only 4 to 8 inches (10 to 20 centimeters) wide. No one gobbled up by a humpback could end up in the beast's stomach, but the creature's 4 ton (3.8 metric tons) tongue could easily crush a person.

Rather than teeth, humpback whales have 270 to 400 nail-like strands called baleen plates. They hunt by opening their mouths to about 90 degrees before lunging at high speed with a swift swipe of their tails. This lunge generates drag that forces water, along with prey, into their mouths. After snapping their jaws shut, humpbacks expel water through their plates before swallowing the remaining prey.

And these whales can gulp a lot of water. "The engulfment capacity of a humpback whale is upwards of 50,000 kilograms [110,230 pounds] of water (which is typically filled with prey like fish or krill)," Jeremy Goldbogen, a biologist and co-director of the Hopkins Marine Station at Stanford University in California, told Live Science in an email. "So their expansive gulp could easily engulf a diver. I have never heard of this happening before with humans."

Another whale expert told Live Science that Packard's encounter, while unusual, was an accident that could have been caused by him swimming too close to a "bait ball"  the swirling ball that sardines form when threatened on all sides by predators.

"Bait balls can form in open water as well as near the bottom. and whales start by feeding bottom-up in many areas. They may not see an object," such as a diver, Hector Guzman, a marine biologist at Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama, told Live Science.

The only whale capable of eating an entire human is probably the sperm whale, the famed subject of Moby Dick known to swallow its prey  the 400-pound (180 kg) giant squid  whole. Once inside one of the sperm whale's four stomachs, a hapless human would likely asphyxiate on the gas before being pulped down by powerful muscles and dissolved by digestive acid. There are, however, no reliable reports of any human having ever met such a grim fate, Live Science previously reported.

Originally published on Live Science.
The first humans to discover Antarctica weren't seafaring Westerners but rather Polynesians, who found the coldest continent 1,300 years ago, a new study suggests.

Researchers in New Zealand assessed oral histories about a Polynesian explorer spying an icy, mountainous continent untouched by the sun. To find the evidence, they sifted through "gray literature," or historical reports that weren't published in peer-reviewed journals, and integrated them with Indigenous oral histories and artwork. This deep dive into Indigenous history revealed that Polynesians likely discovered the southernmost continent more than a millennium before Westerners first spotted it in 1820, according to most historic reports.

"Maori (and Polynesian) connection to Antarctica and its waters have been part of the Antarctic story since circa [the] seventh century," the researchers wrote in the study. After Westerners first reached Antarctica in the 19th century, a handful of Maori joined their voyages as crewmembers and even medical professionals, although prejudice against Indigenous people at that time was prevalent, the researchers said.

Related: 50 amazing facts about Antarctica

Antarctica has eluded humans since ancient times. The ancient Greeks theorized that Antarctica existed, as a lower continent would likely be needed to balance out the Arctic in the Northern Hemisphere, they reasoned, according to the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) in New York City. The Greeks named this hypothetical continent "Antarktikos," or the land "opposite of Arktos," the bear-shaped constellations (Ursa Major and Ursa Minor) in the north.

Ocean explorers, especially during the Age of Exploration during the 1400s to 1600s, tried to find Antarctica, including Captain James Cook in the 1700s. But none succeeded. According to most history books, Antarctica was first spotted in 1820, although it's unclear who saw it first; it could have been an officer in the Imperial Russian Navy, an officer in the U.K's Royal Navy or an American sealing captain, according to Encyclopedia Britannica .

However, according to the new study, published online June 6 in the Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand , these Westerners were latecomers.

According to previously dated 1,300-year-old oral histories from different Maori groups, the Polynesian explorer Hui Te Rangiora (also known as Ui Te Rangiora) and his crew voyaged into Antarctic waters aboard the vessel Te Ivi o Atea, study first author Priscilla Wehi, a conservation biologist at the University of Otago in New Zealand, and colleagues wrote in the study.

"In some narratives, Hui Te Rangiora and his crew continued south. A long way south," the researchers wrote. "In so doing, they were likely the first humans to set eyes on Antarctic waters and perhaps the continent."

If this early 600s date is correct, Indigenous explorers found Antarctica even before the Maori arrived in New Zealand between 1200 and 1300, the researchers noted. At that time, the ancestors of the Maori lived in Polynesia.

A carved wooden post with Maori symbols that stands at Scott Base in Antarctica and overlooks the Ross Ice Shelf. (Image credit: Wehi, P.M. et al. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand (2021))

The navigational accomplishments of Indigenous peoples in the Pacific are "widely acknowledged," the researchers wrote. For instance, New Zealand ethnographer Elsdon Best documented the Maori from the late 1800s to early 1900s and found that the Maori traversed the Pacific as easily as Western explorers might cross a lake, the researchers said.

The team found supporting evidence by looking at the Maori name "Te tai-uka-a-pia," in which "tai" refers to "sea," "uka" means "ice" and "a-pia" means "like the arrowroot," which looks like snow when it's scraped, according to an 1899 report by ethnologist S. Percy Smith.

In his report, Smith wrote how the Maori wanted to see the remarkable sights that the voyagers aboard the Te Ivi o Atea had reported seeing. These "wonderful things" included "the rocks that grow out of the sea  ; the monstrous seas; the female that dwells in those mountainous waves, whose tresses wave about in the water and on the surface of the sea; and the frozen sea of pia, with the deceitful animal of the sea who dives to great depths  a foggy, misty and dark place not seen by the sun," Smith wrote. "Other things are like rocks, whose summits pierce the skies, they are completely bare and without vegetation on them."

This mysterious place was likely Antarctica, Smith wrote. The "tresses that float on the monstrous waves" were likely Southern Ocean bull kelp, while the other descriptions might depict marine mammals and icebergs, which Polynesian explorers had never seen.

Related: Photos: Renaissance world map sports magical creatures

While scientists haven't historically relied on the Indigenous sources used in this study, such as oral traditions and carvings, the practice is becoming more common, according to Smithsonian magazine. For instance, Stephen Augustine, hereditary chief of the Mi'kmaq Grand Council and associate vice president of Indigenous Affairs and Unamaki College at Cape Breton University in Nova Scotia, Canada, explained how oral history was preserved among the Mi'kmaq.

"When each elder spoke they were conscious that other elders would serve as 'peer reviewer' [and so] they did not delve into subject matter that would be questionable," he wrote. " They had to reach back to the teachings of their parents, grandparents and even great-grandparents. These teachings were shared in the circle and these constituted a reconnaissance of collective memory and knowledge."

Wehi and colleagues also documented Maori involvement in the Western exploration of Antarctica. During the 18th and 19th centuries, there was a "growing European impetus to discover, explore and name unexplored parts of the world," the researchers wrote in the study. "These expeditions were fueled by nationalism, economic opportunism and political and scientific interests." However, except for a few notable cases, for instance when a few crewmembers and even a doctor with Maori heritage joined various European voyages to Antarctica, the Maori were often excluded.

Nowadays, Maori scientists do research in Antarctica, and artwork of Maori cultural symbols can be found near research stations. But there's still more work to do to understand how "Antarctica features in the lives and futures of Indigenous and other under-represented communities," the researchers wrote in the study.

Originally published on Live Science.
Members of the team pose with some of the mammoth bones that were found in Little Flake Mine near Dawson City in the Yukon.

Gold miners have discovered three partial skeletons of three woolly mammoths , which may have been part of the same family, at Little Flake Mine near Dawson City, Yukon, in Canada.

They turned over the bones to the Yukon government. "We seem to have one large full-grown mammoth, one younger adult and one juvenile," said Grant Zazula, the head paleontologist for the Yukon government.

Some of the bones are still articulated (connected) with each other, Zazula told Live Science in an email. The way the bones were found suggests "that these three mammoths were probably living together and died together very close to where the fossil bones were found," Zazula added. Even if they weren't family members, they may have been part of a larger herd, he said.

Related: Mammoth resurrection: 11 hurdles to bringing back an ice age beast

Image 1 of 5 A giant humerus bone from one of the mammoths is shown here. (Image credit: Government of Yukon) Image 2 of 5 Here, pelvis bones from the mammoths, which lived about 30,000 years ago. (Image credit: Government of Yukon) Image 3 of 5 The bones come from three woolly mammoths. One is full grown, another is a younger adult and another is a juvenile. (Image credit: Government of Yukon) Image 4 of 5 Members of the team pose with some of the mammoth bones that were found in Little Flake Mine near Dawson City in the Yukon. (Image credit: Government of Yukon) Image 5 of 5 Shown here, upper arm bones from the Yukon mammoths. (Image credit: Government of Yukon)

Glacial environment

The miners found the mammoth skeletons near a layer of volcanic tephra that likely dates to around 29,000 years ago when a volcano on the Aleutian Islands erupted, Zazula said. The mammoths therefore likely lived around the time of the eruption. At that time, much of Canada was covered in glaciers, with the area around Dawson City being one of the few areas that was ice-free, Zazula said.

"The mining region in the interior of the Yukon was part of the unglaciated landscape called Beringia, which connected with Alaska and Siberia via the Bering Land Bridge," Zazula said. "The climate was incredibly cold and dry, likely treeless, leading to the prevalence of grazing mammals," Zazula noted. From about 35,000 to 18,000 years ago, woolly mammoths (Mammuthus primigenius) crossed that land bridge into North America, according to the University of California Museum of Paleontology .

The dry environment there helped to preserve the three mammoths. The climate was arid and the wind would have easily blown dust around, Zazula said. "This windblown silt, or loess, filled these valleys with sediment" that rapidly covered the mammoths after they died." Because they were covered so quickly, the remains would have been less exposed to oxygen and to scavengers.

The "miners need to remove all this frozen silt to get to the gold-filled gravel in the valley bottoms, and when they do that, they often uncover the remains of ice age animals," such as the three mammoths, said Zazula, who noted that more mammoths may be found at the mine site.

"The miners will be resuming mining at this spot in a few weeks and our crews will be on hand to see if there are more bones from the skeletons," Zazula said. Its uncertain what the three mammoths died from and Zazula hopes that ongoing research will provide an answer.

Originally published on Live Science.
Denham Springs, LA (70726)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms in the morning, then mainly cloudy during the afternoon with thunderstorms likely. High 87F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Variably cloudy with scattered thunderstorms. Low 73F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
Ivory Hecker, a reporter for Houstons Fox 26, had a surprise for viewers and her bosses during Mondays 5 p.m. newscast.

Hecker was on-scene for a live shot about the current heat wave when she went off-script.

"I want to let you the viewers know, that Fox Corp. has been muzzling me to keep certain information from you, the viewers," Hecker said on live TV. "And from what I am gathering I am not the only reporter being subjected to this. I am going to be releasing some recordings about what goes on behind the scenes at Fox because it applies to you, the viewers. I found a nonprofit journalism group called Project Veritas thats going to help put that out tomorrow so tune into them.

Project Veritas / YouTube screenshot

OPINION: Fired reporter's recordings of Fox 26 bosses are underwhelming

Then, the 32-year-old Hecker went straight into her report about the Houston heat wave.

Project Veritas, which posted the clip to its YouTube channel on Monday, is a far-right group that targets mainstream news media and left-leaning groups.

On Tuesday afternoon, Project Veritas released audio from a phone call it reports to be between Hecker and Fox 26 assistant news director Lee Meier in which Meier informs Hecker she has been suspended.

Later, Hecker told The Daily Beast, she had been fired.

I have been longing to part ways with this strange, slightly unhinged corporation since last August when I realized what they were, Hecker told The Daily Beast. The piece with Project Veritas doesnt touch what they did. Fox 26 knows Im fearless.

Hecker also took a shot at Fox News, telling The Daily Beast: I would turn down Fox News. They wanted to bring me up to the network. I met a lot of executives there and I dont want to talk to them anymore. It came from one of the top executives there that what I needed to succeed was to get in line with the narrative.

Project Veritas told Insider.com that Hecker will sit down for an interview with the group and she will be blowing the whistle on the journalism industry and discuss her claims of corruption and censorship at Fox 26.

Hecker is a general assignment reporter and fill-in anchor who joined the station in October 2017. Prior to moving to Houston, Hecker had the same job at KARE, the NBC affiliate in Minneapolis. She also worked as a reporter in Lexington, Kentucky and Columbia, South Carolina after graduating from Syracuse University. Hecker also is a songwriter with a separate Instagram account dedicated to that endeavor.

Project Veritas is highly controversial and has been kicked off Twitter for its deceptive practices. The group tried to discredit the Washington Post by having a woman make up a sexual assault story, which the paper investigated and uncovered. The group also tried to expose Planned Parenthood by secretly recording and editing conversations with Planned Parenthood employees.

The group has helped spread misinformation about supposed voter fraud, although one of their secret recordings did lead to the arrest of a San Antonio woman for unlawfully assisting a voter.

In May, the New York Times reported that Project Veritas employed women to go on dates with FBI employees and try to record them criticizing Donald Trump.
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It was never a question that Andy Senor Jr. was going to be the one to put up Rent in Havana, the first Broadway production to be performed on the island in decades. But first things first: Figure out how he was going to explain to his family why he was so willing to go back to a country they fled half a century ago.

When I got the call, the decision wasnt, am I going to go or not? It was, Im definitely going, he tells Rolling Stone. If they had asked me to put on West Side Story, maybe theres a decision there. Its just a show, right? Again, West Side Story is beautiful. But it doesnt come from the same place as Rent. I thought to myself, I know what this show means to me. And I know what Jonathan Larson [who wrote Rent] has put inside those words in that music.

Senor  who performed as Angel in Rent on Broadway beginning in 1997  ultimately staged the production in Cuba for a three-month run starting Christmas Eve 2014 at the Bertolt Brecht Theater in Havana. In many ways, the documentary Revolution Rent, also co-directed by Senor (along with Victor Patrick Alvarez) is as much about his own autobiographical journey as a Cuban-American as it is about the struggles of throwing together a Broadway-level production in a developing nation. Notably, one of the first scenes isnt of auditions, or even the rehearsal process, but Senor sitting at the dinner table with his family, attempting to justify his decision to direct the show. Its hard to watch him explain how theater can transform lives to elders who may be jaded (understandably so) by years of heartbreak, sacrifices, and cultural and political upheaval.

All youre doing is helping the government, his brother-in-law tells him in the film. Youre not putting the power into the hands of the people. They go around the table telling him how his career will be affected; how he wont make an impact; and that he will, in fact, actually be making things worse for the people hes supposed to be helping. All by giving them a taste of freedom they will never have. But its just a show, right? This is the part where one must explain that, if youre Cuban (as I am), you have slightly different variations of this conversation with your family every week.

Older generations of Cuban-Americans often grieve for a lost nation  because they cant return to the free Cuba that exists in their memories, and its difficult for them to understand why anyone else would. I was so afraid to dishonor my family by going, Senor explains. I was scared that I was going to fail the whole time, and that in failing, I would dishonor them. But what I learned, not only by creating this project, but by releasing this documentary, was that my family is now expanded in ways that are immeasurable.

Theres a lot the film says about what makes a family, some of which runs parallel to themes in the plot of Rent itself. The show inherently focuses on found or chosen family, the kind of queer belonging that comes from a unique kind of shared trauma, poverty, and lived experiences that the LGBTQ community faces. Some of these are parallels expected, such as when Senor turns the attention on himself and how incredibly at home he feels in Havana, in different ways than he would in Miami.

The way the cast eventually bonds as a family throughout the rehearsal process will also hit those familiar beats for anyone whos ever done theater  yet the film goes out of its way to point out different degrees of unprofessionalism, from American Idol B-roll level auditions, to goofing around on set, shaky harmonies during vocal practice, and cast members weakly throwing out excuses for missing rehearsals for weeks. They lack integrity with their own work, Senor comments during one frustrating day on set captured for the film.

Youre left to draw your own conclusions about whether this is due to a lack of experience preparing for a professional production, or wider laissez faire Cuban cultural attitudes. But as much as Cuban culture can connect across political divides, Senor doesnt shy away from demonstrating that we cant, as Cubans or Americans, pretend that our lived experiences are the same. When a few of the actors struggle to put the necessary emotion into the lines while rehearsing What You Own, Senor requests they change the lyrics from When youre living in America / at the end of the millennium / you are what you own, to use Cuba instead.

We worked a lot with substitution. Many of them have never been to the United States, theyve never seen a musical, he adds. I think the key was figuring out how to change these words, find where the circumstances matched their circumstances, for them to be able to acknowledge and say, Oh, this is this is me. Because those lyrics are yours now, and not Jonathans.

While its clear when hes putting a lot of emotional effort into building that camaraderie, Senor also recognizes his own privilege when it came to the cast. You know what surprised me? My own ignorance. I was talking to an actor, and he was having vocal trouble. He had this water bottle and I was like, You shouldnt drink cold water because its not good for you vocal chords. You should go buy water thats room temperature. And he was like, Buy water? Like I have money to buy water? Or asking where I could find detergent because I had a stain, and them giving me a look. Just little things like that. They were learning the show and I was learning what life is, what is like what life is like on the island.

In this vein, the deepest, most illuminating moments are the ones where we get an intimate glimpse into the cast members lives beyond the show. Senor takes us into the homes (or rather, is invited in) of the cast, with a kind of hospitality that feels effortless and unforced: most times, the aluminum cafetera is already bubbling on the stove with espresso when the crew arrives.

Life isnt easy or hard in Cuba. Its just life. Its normal, says the actor playing Collins, one of the many they visit. When asked whether Senor meant to frame the film to reflect this sentiment, Senor asserts that there is no specific agenda to be found. What I wanted to do with the film was not add or subtract, just document exactly what we saw. It doesnt feel like theres a very specific point of view. Just like the argument at his family table, this is a microcosm of what the Cuban conversation is between Cuban-Americans, Cuba, and the world, he goes on to explain. And yet its obvious what youre watching.

But its hard to expect a certain level of nuance from an American (and to a certain extent, international) audience that has been inundated with propaganda from all sides for decades. Thats what makes certain shots, like murals along the roads featuring portraits of Che and Fidel, along with a cut back and forth between two protests  both screaming Freedom! [Libertad!]  that tries to loosely connect the dots to the revolutionary imagery in Rent feel, at times, targeted at exactly what others think encapsulates the countrys legacy.

Its a balancing act, recognizing that this is what makes up the nations history, one the film mostly executes by leaning into the more personal experiences of the cast, Senor and his family. Despite their hardships, its the connections the cast make to each other that reinforces the strength of the movie, and their production, and changes lives. Sure there are constant power outages, audio equipment gets held up in customs, they make extension cords from light sockets and zip ties. But Senor recalls an uplifting moment post-rehearsal that drives the heart of this experience home.

We finished rehearsal on a Saturday night, and everybody goes across the street and gets a bunch of beers. They bring them on the stage and everyones on the same tables as we were doing La Vie Boheme, but with beers and croquetas. People are sitting there and they start dancing on the tables. I remember sitting in the audience and thinking, If Jonathan Larson only knew that they were dancing here right now on the set. Its amazing. Its like I was watching La Vie Boheme in its purest form.

Which is why the gut punch comes swift and harsh when you watch the whole cast as they huddle around the TV together with bated breath, as Raul Castro speaks about normalizing the complex relations between the Cuba and the U.S. with then-president Barack Obama. Its a bittersweet moment, knowing whats to come. Wherever you believe theater in Cuba will go after this production, it only gets more complicated from here.

Well, Ill tell you this much. They havent done a musical since, Senor says about the aftermath of Trumps policy changes toward the island. Right after having done Rent, we were in discussions of what we were going to do next, and then the the policy changed. And it just got harder and harder and, right now, its the hardest its been since the Special Period [a decade of economic difficulties] in the Nineties, maybe harder.

But for an hour and a half, to see a group form together, as one human being, one body working together in spite (and perhaps, because) of language barriers, cultural differences, different backgrounds, sexualities is what makes the legacy of Senors production such a revolutionary triumph. It could have been any show, right? Or perhaps there was no other path, no other road, no day but today, and no other show but Rent that could have facilitated these deep, lasting bonds. The film certainly works as an argument to say it does.

Revolution Rent premieres on June 15th, and is available to stream on HBO Max.

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If your dad is one to appreciate a well-shaken drink, then a personalized cocktail is one of the best gifts you can get him this Fathers Day. Dads can be really particular about the alcohol they drink, but if you gift him the the right cocktail ingredients and recipes, it shows youre really paying attention. Whether hes a Don Draper-esque whiskey drinker, a Tony Soprano scotch sipper or a James Bond martini fanatic, theres an endless array of fun drinks that he can make with a well-stocked bar cart.

No matter his signature drink, we rounded up a list of the best Fathers Day cocktails, recipes and ingredients, one of which your dad is sure to love.

An Old Fashioned For the Old Fashioned Dad

If your dad sips whiskey like he works in a 1960s ad agency in New York City, then you cant go wrong with a classic old fashioned recipe. Your dad can mix it just like Don Draper does using his recipe from the The Unofficial Mad Men Cookbook. Thankfully, the timeless drink doesnt have too many rules: muddle together one sugar cube for subtle sweetness with two dashes of bitters. Mix together one and a half to two ounces of a whiskey of your choosing (we fancy Bob Dylans Heavens Door if youre looking to cram even more pop culture into your drink). Pour the mix into a classic whiskey glass, filled with ice, before garnishing it with Drapers classic orange twist.

The Unofficial Mad Men Cookbook

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A Death & Co. Aperol Spritz For the Millennial Dad

Death & Co. became an instant cocktail institution after its Manhattan opening in 2006 and is still beloved by the millennial generation that experienced the speakeasy-esque lounge from the beginning. Their eponymous cocktail book includes more than 500 of the bars most innovative and sought-after cocktails, including their treasured Naked and Famous aperol spritz. The fruity notes of aperol with the herbal quality of yellow chartreuse harmonize perfectly for a refreshing, citrusy drink. They recommend using the Del Mageuy mezcal for an enjoyable kick. Shake together .75 ounces each of the mezcal, yellow chartreuse, Aperol and lime juice for the perfect ratio.

Death & Co: Modern Classic Cocktails

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Aperol

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Stemless Glasses

A Vesper Martini For the James Bond Dad

Nothing feels classier than ordering a Vesper Martini, the famous drink that James Bond orders at the infamous poker game in Casino Royale. What gives the vesper its extra kick (aside from being shaken, not stirred) is its unusual mix of both gin and vodka, balanced out by a dash of lillet. Shake together three ounces of Tanqueray gin, one ounce of Haku Vodka, half an ounce of Lillet Blanc and garnish with one lemon slice for a potent mix that 007 would approve of.

Shaken: Drinking with James Bond and Ian Fleming

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An Aviary Sparkling Punch For the Foodie Dad

The Aviary is one of the most iconic cocktail bars in the country, known for its wildly innovative drinks and genius food combinations. Any food-lover will appreciate its 440-plus page cocktail book that includes one-of-a-kind insights from the renowned chef Grant Achatz. Famous mixologist of Aviary, Craig Schoettler, thought up of one of the bars most popular cocktails, called the molly arlington. It calls for one-and-a-half ounces of fruit syrup, one-and-a-half ounces of Paul Beau VS Cognac, four ounces of Henriot Blanc de Blanc Champagne and a whole nutmeg. But you can always switch out the ultra-expensive Paul Beau Cognac for a slightly more affordable premium Cognac like Martell XO. While Aviary makes their orange shrub from scratch, this premium fruit syrup by Shrub & Co. should do the trick.

The Aviary Cocktail Book

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Punch Glass Pair

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A Hemingway Daiquiri for the Bon Vivant Dad

Ironically, some of the best cocktails were born out of the U.S.s Prohibition Era of the 1920s, when hundreds of American writers flocked to Paris, one of the only places they could legally drink in peace. If your dad loves a historic drink with a global flair then he would probably enjoy a Hemingway daiquiri. This cocktail calls for half an ounce of maraschino liqueur (instead of traditional cane syrup due to the writers disdain for sugary drinks), two ounces of light rum like this one by Brugal, 3/4ths of an ounce of fresh lime juice and half an ounce of grapefruit juice. If your dad wants more options though, you can gift him this history of the lost generation through the lens of the eras most famous ex-pats, and the cocktails they loved.

A Drinkable Feast: A Cocktail Companion to 1920s Paris

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A Tennessee Julep For the I Need My Morning Coffee Dad

Coffee in alcohol: you either hate it or love it. If your dad falls in the latter category, then this recipe book, with over 75 ways to mix coffee and liquor, will be well used. You cant go wrong with an espresso martini but if you want something a little more unique, the books Tennessee julep recipe offers the easiest way to make a sophisticated coffee-based drink. Mix together two ounces of coffee-infused George Dickel No. 8 Tennessee Whiskey, a bar spoon of apricot liqueur (Giffard pairs well with whiskey), 1/3 of an ounce of light organic corn syrup and 12 chocolate mint leaves. While it can be hard to get your hands on the coffee-infused George Dickel, you can always mix their regular No. 8 Whiskey with coffee to achieve the same effect. La Colombe cold brew is known to mix well for coffee-infused cocktails.

The Art & Craft of Coffee Cocktails

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When Lauren Hadaway was working on Justice League in the sound department, she had time to kill between arduous reshoots on the gritty superhero adventure.

With years of experience finessing sound and dialogue on a range of blockbusters and indies, including the jukebox musical Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again, Damien Chazelles Whiplash, Quentin Tarantinos Western thriller The Hateful Eight and Transformers: Age of Extinction, shed put out enough fires for top-shelf auteurs to have the confidence to spearhead her own feature.

So she spent her downtime during production by putting pen to paper, heeding the age-old aphorism to write what you know. It became a cathartic experience that helped her work through the trauma and moments of triumph that came with her background as a college athlete.

The result is The Novice, a gritty, twisted coming-of-age story that draws inspiration from cerebral thrillers like Black Swan and Whiplash. Starring Isabelle Fuhrman, recognizable to audiences as the creepy girl from The Orphan, the film follows Alex Dall, a college freshman who joins her schools rowing team and obsessively pushes herself physically and psychologically past her breaking point.

Following its premiere at this years Tribeca Festival, Hadaway spoke to Variety about the near-unhealthy drive that fuels collegiate athletes and how working with directors like Tarantino and Chazelle influenced her inaugural feature film.

How did your background in sound design help you get into directing?

I had been writing my whole life. I wanted to be a writer-director when I went to college, and I had the classic imposter syndrome and got a little bit overwhelmed. I got into post production, and I fell in love with sound. Its this limitless world. I went into sound when I got to L.A., and then after five years of working with some of my heroes  actors, directors, editors, sound people  I realized that not everyone is a creative genius like you think. Not everyone has it all figured out. Kill Bill was a film that got me into filmmaking, and then I worked with [Quentin] Tarantino when I was 25. That gave me the confidence to think, You know what? I can write and direct.

Why did you pursue rowing in college?

I grew up in a really small podunk Texas town. I had no idea what rowing was. Before going to college, I got a flyer in the mail for the [Southern Methodist University] womens rowing team. It sounded a little bit harder than intramural sports, and I like a challenge. Ive always been drawn to the water, and this seemed different. I arrived at SMU and walked onto the novice rowing team. Within days or weeks, I was obsessed. It consumed the next four years of my life, and I ended up getting full scholarship from it at some point. My entire life revolved around it. We were rowing 20 hours a week, throughout my entire college career.

Do you still row?

Oh, I stopped. Ive dabble a little bit here and there, mostly to get my feet wet for the film. But my senior year, it felt like a test of survival. I remember the last semester of my senior year, I would literally wake up crying, so fucking tired. I would just be thinking, I cannot wait to go to bed. I was counting down the days for it to be over. It consumed my life because I really did push myself. This movie is sort of my catharsis.

The films main character Alex describes her work ethic by saying she may not be the best but she can work the hardest. Do you relate to that mentality?

Im somewhere on the bell curve of average, I like to think. But the thing that can set me apart from people is my sheer grit and willingness to suffer through things. Sometimes it bites me in the ass. Theres the cliche of, like, If Im not going to be good at it, Im going to quit. No, everyone sucks. What separates you from someone else that youre just willing to come back day after day after day. And eventually, maybe if youre lucky, you move out of the bell curve. My philosophy with Alex in this movie is shes a Honda, and Jamie, her frenemy, is like a Ferrari. A Honda can beat a Ferrari on the highway if the Hondas willing to pedal to the metal, give it its all and blow up engine while the Ferraris is just coasting. Thats something I really believe in.

Is Alexs pressure to push herself internally or externally motivated?

The desire is very internal. A question I got a lot in the script stage is: What drives Alex Dall? Its so frustrating because people [tell] me, I dont understand what drives you sometimes. And I dont fucking know. This film is my existentialist anthem. Im not religious and in life, you have to create your own meaning. What Ive discovered and thereby Alex, who is a proxy of me, is that I am happiest or thrive when I have a challenge. For Alex, too, its some kind of obsession, and maybe its a mix of nature and nurture. Rowing, I never thought I was going to the Olympics or anything like that. It was never about that. Its this internal, inexplicable thing.

Did you initially know you wanted to make a psychological thriller?

When youre watching rowing in the Olympics, its not inherently super adrenaline-pumping. Youre literally going backwards, doing the same motion over and over. So stylistically, the movie became a question of How do you make each rowing scene feel different? It became focused, not on the actual rowing, but more on the emotional journey. To me, this is really a love story between Alex and this boat. I framed it as an entire relationship from this first attraction to the clunky beginnings, the first time making love, to being in love and everythings all happy, hunky dory, to a slow descent into the toxic breakup that starts happening between her and her sport.

How did you cast Isabelle?

As with many indies, we had a lot of false starts and stops. I didnt think the movie was going to happen. I had started to mentally check out, and my producer was like, OK, youre flying to Toronto to location scout. The person we had attached, we lost them at this point, they had been cast in another film. So we had to hold auditions for Alexs part. Isabelles audition came through, and this one scene, she really nailed it. [In other peoples auditions,] it was hit or miss, 50-50 that people either interpreted it right, or they were really wrong. There was no middle ground. She wrote me this letter and described this experience of running from L.A. to Las Vegas. She just had this very Alex Dall energy and drive to her, very above and beyond. We met, and she had this fucking binder with all these little tabs.

I imagine there were some intense days on set, especially when Alex is physically harming herself. How did you get into that headspace before filming?

Isabelle is super obsessive, and she was like, I dont have anything to reference. Ive never been in this situation. I talked with her to describe what its like to be hurting yourself and the rage that comes up. Men, as a stereotype, destroy outward. They punch, they destroy other things. And I think for women, as Ive experienced myself, we turn inwards and destroy ourselves. I was describing to Isabelle, This is very much a rage and a frustration, and you need to destroy something so youre turning to yourself. That scene was tough.

Youve worked with a lot of big-name directors. What did you learn from them?

This wasnt from a director I worked with, but I saw a Q&A with David Fincher [about Gone Girl], and he said when he casts someone, he really likes to know who the actor is at their core. Because at the end of a 15-hour day, that person isnt going to be a superhero. Theyre going to be Ben Affleck, theyre going to be whoever, theyre going to be fucking tired. So who are they? That really stuck with me.

What are some other movies or directors that influenced you?

Black Swan is one of my favorite films. Darren Aronofskys movies have these sort of addictive, obsessive personalities. Theyre dark, fucked up and twisted. I love that. Kill Bill: Vol 1, I saw that when I was 15. I had been pretty sheltered at that point, but that film fucking blew me away. Not that Im remotely like Tarantino, but the thing that I love about his films is that hes bold. Someone gets shot, and 500 gallons of blood explodes and then they fly 20 feet into a wall. He really makes cinema an experience. I certainly love my subtle films, but I love to be bold and weird.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

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LOS ANGELES (AP)  Gov. Gavin Newsom doled out $1.5 million each to 10 vaccinated winners at Universal Studios on Tuesday to mark the end of the state's coronavirus restrictions.

The $15 million total was the final part of Newsom's $116.5 million so-called Vax for the Win program, an effort to encourage residents to get vaccinated and hasten California's recovery in the COVID-19 pandemic that has killed 3.8 million globally and 600,000 nationwide.

Tuesday, hailed as California's reopening, meant the end of many coronavirus-related restrictions  such as masks, social distancing and capacity limits in most settings. Universal Studios encouraged guests to be masked and vaccinated but did not require it.

Newsom and Dr. Mark Ghaly, the state's health secretary, were among those who did not wear masks during the vaccine lottery ceremony in front of the massive rotating Universal Studios globe, a Southern California tourism landmark.

Newsom, a Democrat, faces an expected recall election and his critics have called the taxpayer-money giveaways a publicity stunt. Vaccine incentives nationwide have ranged from beer to season tickets to vacations.

Ghaly said the state does not have specific data benchmarks that would prompt a return to restrictions and that local officials are expected to monitor their cases numbers and vaccination rates in the coming months.

There is not a trigger, he said.

More than 3.6 million people have tested positive for the virus in California and over 62,000 state residents died  figures that are higher than anywhere else in the country, though the nations most populous state had a lower per capita death rate than most others.

Now, California has one of the lowest rates of infection in the country  below 1%, and more than 70% of adults have received at least one vaccine dose.

Still, Newsom said state officials will continue to urge people to get vaccines for themselves and their children. On Tuesday, the state reported that 977 people with confirmed COVID cases were hospitalized  including 251 in intensive care units.

This is not a day where we announce mission accomplished,  he said.

Newsom was accompanied at Universal by some of the studio's famous characters like the minions from the Despicable Me franchise and Optimus Prime from the Transformers, as well as "Access Hollywood" host Scott Evans and Helen Cordova. Cordova is the Los Angeles nurse who was the state's first person to receive a vaccine in mid-December as the holiday virus surge raged in hospitals across California.

It was definitely one of the hardest points of my career, Cordova said. We saw way more death than we'd ever like to see.

The trio pulled balls with numbers on them, in the style of game show hosts handing out huge checks, to represent the 10 winners throughout the state.

The names of the winners  among 22 million people who had to have received at least one dose; more than 40 million doses in total have been administered  were not made public.
Two U.S. Army active duty soldiers were arrested over the weekend for attempting to smuggle two Mexican citizens who had crossed the border illegally, according to an arrest affidavit.

Emmanuel Oppongagyare, 20, and Ralph Gregory Saint-Joie, 18, were charged with transport, attempt to transport and conspire to transport migrants. If convicted, Oppongagyare and Saint-Joie face up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Border Patrol are conducting the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Bajew is prosecuting the case.

On June 13, a black sedan approached the Hebbronville checkpoint speeding before stopping abruptly to be inspected by agents. Loud music was coming from the car stereo. Authorities identified the driver as Emmanuel Oppongagyare and Ralph Gregory Saint-Joie as the passenger.

Both were wearing full U.S. Army uniforms. Oppongagyare stated he was traveling to San Antonio from Zapata. Questioned about the unusual travel route, Oppongagyare stated that his GPS took him through that route.

In the (agents) past experience, the GPS direction is a common explanation used by smugglers to justify their unusual route of travel to San Antonio, Texas, states the affidavit.

The agent referred the vehicle to secondary inspection, where Oppongagyare and Saint-Joie exited the vehicle after being asked to do so. While agents conducted pat downs on Oppongagyare and Saint-Joie, they noticed the soldiers communicating using a low-toned voice and hand signals. Both allegedly avoided eye contact with agents.

Oppongagyare allowed agents to search the trunk of the vehicle. Agents opened the trunk and discovered two citizens of Mexico who had crossed the border illegally. Oppongagyare and Saint-Joie were then taken into custody.

Saint-Joie, a U.S. citizen, opted to remain silent. But Oppongagyare, a dual citizen of Ghana and the United States, agreed to provide a post-arrest statement, according to court documents.

Oppongagyare stated he was approached by (an) individual who he met through Saint-Joie to pick up undocumented aliens in McAllen, Texas and take them to San Antonio, Texas, and was paid $100, states the affidavit.

This individual promised to pay Oppongagyare and Saint-Joie an undetermined amount of money when they arrived in San Antonio, Texas. The individual specifically instructed they both wear their U.S. Army-issued uniforms to avoid questioning by Border Patrol.

Oppongagyare and Saint-Joie traveled from Killeen, Texas to McAllen, Texas on June 12 and received directions from the individual to meet another person in a sport utility vehicle. There, the person dropped off the two migrants.

Oppongagyare stated Saint-Joie instructed (the migrants) to get inside the trunk of their sedan and began to travel to San Antonio, Texas, maintaining communication with (the first individual), states the affidavit.
Laredo Sector Border Patrol agents assigned to Laredo North Station stopped a narcotics smuggling attempt after smugglers endangered when they attempted to abscond in west Laredo.

The incident occurred during the early June 12 morning, when agents responded to an alert of a suspicious gray pickup leaving the Justo Penn Street area in west Laredo. Responding agents located the vehicle near the intersection of Riverside Drive and Island Street after it had collided with a blue sedan. The occupants of gray truck had absconded from the vehicle and were not located. Fortunately, the driver of the blue sedan did not require medical attention.
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)

Raphael Travis Jr., Texas State University; Kathleen Lynch; Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, Temple University; Naomi Polinsky, Northwestern University, and Roberta Golinkoff, University of Delaware

(THE CONVERSATION) Already 62% of parents believe their children are behind in learning, according to a survey conducted by the National PTA and Learning Heroes. The transition from in-person to remote learning in 2020 has disrupted students academic work. Weve assembled a panel of academics to talk about how summer schools should be supporting students this year. Here, five experts explain what summer school does, and why it may look very different this year.

Does voluntary summer school work?

Kathleen Lynch, assistant professor of learning sciences, University of Connecticut

Summer school programs help children get better at both reading and mathematics. Students who attend summer school tend to have higher test scores than those who dont, which means that offering voluntary summer programs is likely to help students catch up from pandemic-related learning slowdowns. And summer learning programs may also improve outcomes beyond test scores, such as by helping students to recover course credits.

Summer learning programs work best when the reading instruction uses research-based strategies such as guided oral reading and modeling approaches to reading comprehension, and when daily time is given to math.

Sports, extracurricular clubs and field trips can improve attendance at summer school programs  a necessary ingredient for learning.

Summer programs can and should also create hands-on learning activities to build personal and social skills that will help children during the school year. For example, one summer program, in which students in Baltimore worked in teams to build robots while also learning math, improved school attendance during the following academic year.

What should summer school look like after a year of the pandemic?

Roberta Golinkoff, professor of education, University of Delaware; Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, professor of psychology, Temple University and the Brookings Institution; Naomi Polinsky, doctoral candidate in cognitive psychology, Northwestern University

Summer school is the perfect time to return joy to classrooms with educational games, physical activity and inviting children to talk and participate. This year in particular, its a chance to reimagine what the regular school year will look like, and make sure it meets kids academic and social needs after many months of the pandemic.

Blending the fun of summer camp with summer school allows us to put the best science to work for children  and teachers. Playful learning that is active, engaging, meaningful, socially interactive and fun can reignite a love of learning along with promoting strong teacher-student relationships.

The Department of Education is aligned with this vision of what summer school can be for children  an active and interactive experience that enriches 21st-century skills like collaboration, communication, content, critical thinking, creative innovation and confidence, or the 6Cs. When children work together to figure out which butterflies are local, they are engaging in collaboration, communication and content. When they investigate whether a moth is the same as a butterfly, they are using critical thinking. And when they present their findings to the class, they are using creative innovation and building their confidence.

Summer school can have a rich curriculum and still cultivate the skills that children will need to succeed in a world where knowing how to solve problems, beyond just knowing the answer, is of critical importance. Indeed, children learn best when they are actively engaged with the material.

When material to be learned is meaningful and linked to childrens lives, it is also easier to learn. And children love to be socially interactive and learn with their peers. Learning should be iterative so it can be revisited and tied in with new learning. These learning principles increase childrens learning by increasing their agency and making the learning stick.

What challenges will summer school teachers face this year?

Raphael Travis Jr., professor of social work, Texas State University

Teachers may not be prepared to address the social and emotional needs of children, needs that have always existed but will play an important role this summer if children are to attend summer school.

In summer programming meant to support the social and emotional needs of youth, the phenomenon of summer strain was introduced to highlight the student stress and mental health concerns that continue to affect student lives throughout the summer, without the added buffer of school structure and support. This contrasts with the idea of summer slide or summer slump, which focuses on perceived academic losses during summer months.

One strategy using hip-hop culture allows youths to shape the direction of activities by exploring, researching and processing emotional themes of importance to them, such as strained relationships or overcoming life challenges. Next, they are able to make music that discusses these themes and possible solutions, for themselves or for others.

Of course, the circumstances that produce summer strain have occurred on an even larger scale during the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes reduced activity, loneliness and social isolation, family stress, and limited

Health care claims for teenagers increased substantially between April 2019 and April 2020, reflecting significant increases in anxiety, depression and substance use disorders. Girls, LGBTQ+ youth and children from minority racial or ethnic groups have been particularly affected.

I believe we must take meaningful steps to refocus summer school programs beyond academics to address these challenges.

[Over 106,000 readers rely on The Conversations newsletter to understand the world. Sign up today.]

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/bringing-joy-back-to-the-classroom-and-supporting-stressed-kids-what-summer-school-looks-like-in-2021-161150.
A convicted child sex offender was arrested while entering the country in northwest Laredo, according to the U.S. Border Patrol.

Agents said that Francisco Guzman-Pio, a 44-year-old Mexican citizen, was one of 15 undocumented individuals walking in the brush through ranchland property.
The Latest on U.S. President Joe Biden's trip to Europe:

GENEVA  A few dozen supporters of jailed Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny have staged a colorful, cheeky rally in Geneva, in the hope of sending a message to Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of his summit with U.S. President Joe Biden.

The rally, on a square that Swiss police have authorized for protests during Wednesdays meeting, marked one effort to leverage public attention on some of the more hot-button issues Putin and Biden are likely to address  human rights and arms control among them.

Despite the tiny turnout  with possibly more journalists than demonstrators  Tuesdays protest was well-orchestrated, in a show of dissent that participants said might have garnered a crackdown by security forces in Russia.

Banners called for the liberation of political prisoners generally and of Navalny himself. Protesters chanted for a Free Russia!

___

BRUSSELS  The United States and the European Union have agreed to set up a high-level dialogue about Russia as part of a renewed trans-Atlantic partnership between the U.S. and the 27-nation bloc.

A summit statement released Tuesday after talks in Brussels between U.S. President Joe Biden and the heads of two of the EUs main institutions said they stand united in our principled approach towards Russia" and "are ready to respond decisively to its repeating pattern of negative behavior and harmful activities.

They also agreed to urge Russia to stop its continuous crackdown on civil society, the opposition and independent media and release all political prisoners.

The statement was issued as Biden prepares for a Wednesday summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Geneva.

The president and the EU leaders said the U.S. and EU also aim to keep channels of communication open with Russia for cooperation in areas of common interest.

They offered support for the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova in the face of Russia's attempts to expand its influence. The leaders said they also by the people of Belarus and back their demands for human rights and democracy.

___

GENEVA  President Joe Biden arrived in Geneva Tuesday for a high-pressure meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Thats after a week-long series of confidence-building meetings between the U.S. leader and his European allies.

Biden held long days of meetings at summits of Group of Seven, NATO and European Union leaders, and he helped secure communiques expressing concern over Russia and China. On Tuesday, he presided over a tension-easing breakthrough in a long-running U.S.-EU trade dispute involving airplane subsidies.

But Bidens Wednesday meeting with the Russian president is his most highly anticipated.

Biden plans to confront Putin on everything from Moscows cyberattacks to its election interference efforts and human rights abuses,. He's said he also hopes to look for areas where the United States and Russia can cooperate and to normalize the historically icy relationship between the two nations.

___

BRUSSELS  The trade association for producers and marketers of distilled spirits sold in the United States said the five-year suspension of tariffs outlined in deal between the U.S. and the European Union to end their 17-year dispute over aircraft subsidies will be critical to helping the industry recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

The dispute over subsidies for Boeing and Airbus saw tit-for-tat duties slapped on a range of companies that have nothing to do with aircraft production. The Distilled Spirits Council said the agreement announced Tuesday will end the EU's 25% tariff on U.S. rum, brandy and vodka, as well as the 25% U.S. tariff on liqueurs and cordials from Germany, Ireland, Italy and Spain, and on certain cognacs and other grape brandies from France and Germany.

The council said that removing the tariffs will benefit restaurants, bars and small craft distilleries that had to close during the pandemic. But it noted that the EU and the United Kingdom still have a 25% tariff on American whiskey as part of a steel and aluminum trade dispute stemming from the Trump administration.

Until steps are taken to permanently remove these tariffs on American whiskeys, the United States largest spirits export category will remain at a serious competitive disadvantage in our two most important export markets, the trade group said.

___

BRUSSELS  The United States and the European Union reached a deal Tuesday to end a damaging dispute over subsidies to rival plane makers Boeing and Airbus and phase out billions of dollars in punitive tariffs, the U.S. trade envoy said.

U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai said the two sides have come to terms on a five-year agreement to suspend the tariffs at the center of the dispute. She said they could be reimplemented if the U.S. companies are not able to compete fairly with those in Europe.

Todays announcement resolves a long-standing irritant in the U.S.-EU relationship, Tai said, as President Joe Biden met with EU leaders in Brussels. Instead of fighting with one of our closest allies, we are finally coming together against a common threat.

The dispute saw tit-for-tat duties slapped on a range of companies that have nothing to do with aircraft production, from French winemakers to German cookie bakers in Europe and U.S. spirits producers in the United States, among many others.

___

BRUSSELS  The United States and the European Union appear close to reaching a deal to end a damaging dispute over subsidies to rival plane makers Boeing and Airbus and lift billions of dollars in punitive tariffs.

A person familiar with the discussions said U.S. and EU officials have reached principles of an agreement to end their 17-year dispute over the aircraft subsidies. The person was not authorized to discuss the matter and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The trade dispute skyrocketed under the Trump administration, and saw tit-for-tat duties slapped on a range of companies that have nothing to do with aircraft production, from French winemakers to U.S. spirits producers.

The U.S. imposed $7.5 billion in tariffs on European exports in 2019 after the World Trade Organization ruled that the EU had not complied with its rulings on subsidies for Airbus, which is based in France. The EU retaliated last November with $4 billion in punitive duties after the WTO ruled that the U.S. had provided illegal subsidies to Boeing.

In March, weeks after Biden had taken office, the two sides agreed to suspend the tariffs.

 By Aamer Madhani

___

BRUSSELS  President Joe Biden is seeking to tamp down trade tensions with European allies as he spends one last day consulting with Western democracies ahead of his highly anticipated meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

After a pair of summits with Group of Seven world leaders in the U.K. and then NATO allies in Brussels, Biden meets Tuesday with European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

The president has sought to marshal widespread European support for his efforts to counter Russia prior to his Wednesday meeting in Geneva with Putin. But the U.S.-EU relationship is not without some tensions.

Biden will meet with the top EU officials as the continents leaders are becoming impatient that the American president has not yet addressed Donald Trumps 2018 decision to impose import taxes on foreign steel and aluminum.

Theres also a longstanding dispute over how much of a government subsidy each side unfairly provides for its aircraft manufacturing giant  Boeing in the United States and Airbus in the EU.
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP)  Aupito William Sio recalled the terrifying day during his childhood when police officers holding German shepherd dogs turned up at his family home before dawn and shined flashlights into their faces while his father stood there helpless.

Now the minister for Pacific peoples, Sio and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced Monday the government would formally apologize for an infamous part of the nation's history known as the Dawn Raids.

It's when Pacific Island people were targeted for deportation in the mid-1970s during aggressive home raids by authorities to find, convict and deport overstayers. The raids often took place very early in the morning or late at night.

Sio became emotional as he and Ardern discussed the apology at a news conference.

We felt as a community that we were invited to come to New Zealand. We responded to the call to fill the labor workforce that was needed, in the same way we responded to the call for soldiers in 1914," Sio said.

But he said the government then turned on the Pasifika community when it felt those workers were no longer needed.

Ardern said that at the time, people who didn't look like white New Zealanders were told they should carry identification to prove they weren't overstayers, and were often randomly stopped in the street, or even at schools or churches. She said Pacific people were often dragged before the courts in their pajamas and without proper representation.

Not only were they targeted, they were targeted using a process and a practice that was really dehumanizing, that really terrorized people in their homes," Ardern said.

She said that when computerized immigration records were introduced in 1977, they showed that 40% of overstayers were either British or American, groups that were never targeted for deportation.

The raids, and what they represented, created deep wounds, Ardern said. And while we cannot change our history, we can acknowledge it, and we can seek to right a wrong.

In Sios case, he said his family were legal residents who owned the home but a couple of his fathers nephews from Samoa were staying with them and were taken away by the police without their clothes or belongings, and later deported.

He said the nephews had been working at a factory and their visas had expired. He said they had been preparing to go home and wanted to do a few more overtime shifts before they left. Sio said his father helped advocate for them to get back their clothes and money so they could leave New Zealand with some measure of their dignity intact.

The formal apology will be held at a commemoration event on June 26 in Auckland. The apology doesn't come with any financial compensation or legal changes, but Sio believes it is an important first step. He said the trauma is still fresh for many and it's good to address the issue and prevent such a situation happening in the future.

Ardern said it's just the third time the government has made such an apology.

The previous apologies were for imposing a entry tax on Chinese immigrants in the 1880s and for introducing the deadly influenza pandemic to Samoa in 1918, which killed more than one-fifth of the population.
U.S. Border Patrol have announced that shelter tents will soon be assembled at the Interstate 35 checkpoint and other stations throughout the Laredo Sector.

Authorities said these tents will be utilized to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 during positive cases.
BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP)  Slovakia's Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a lower court's acquittal of a businessman accused of masterminding the 2018 slayings of an investigative journalist and his fiancee.

A three-judge panel of the Supreme Court said the criminal court did not properly assess available evidence when it cleared businessman Marian Kocner and one co-defendant of murder in the killings of journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancee, Martina Kusnirova, both 27.

The judges said the Specialized Criminal Court in Pezinok evaluated the evidence without applying elementary logic in some instances and failed to consider it at all in others. They sent the case back to the lower court and ordered it to deal with all the objections. A date for the retrial has not been set.

The suffering of the parents and dear ones of Jan Kuciak and Martina Kusnirova is not over ye,t but theyre a step closer to justice, Slovakian President Zuzana Caputova said after the panel issued its ruling..

Kusnirova's mother, Zlatica Kusnirova, said, I have mixed feelings, but I'm glad that justice won."

A Specialized Criminal Court judge said when the acquittals were handed down in September that there was not enough evidence for the convictions. A third defendant was convicted and sentenced to 25 years in prison. Within hours, prosecutors appealed the verdicts to the countrys Supreme Court.

Kuciak was shot in the chest and Kusnirova was shot in the head at their home in the town of Velka Maca, east of Bratislava, on Feb. 21, 2018. Kocner had allegedly threatened the journalist following publication of a story about his business dealings. In total, Kuciak published nine stories about the businessman.

Kuciak filed a complaint over the alleged threats in 2017 and had claimed that police failed to act on it. He had been investigating possible government corruption when he was killed.

Two other defendants previously were convicted and sentenced. Former soldier Miroslav Marcek pleaded guilty to shooting Kuciak and Kusnirova and was sentenced to 23 years in prison in April 2020. Prosecutors alleged Kocner paid Marcek to carry out the killings.

In the meantime, Kocner was sentenced to 19 years in prison in January in a separate forgery case. The verdict in that case is final.

The couple's deaths prompted major street protests unseen since the 1989 anti-Communist Velvet Revolution and a political crisis that led to the collapse of Slovakia's government.

Slovakias prosecutor general, Maros Zilinka, described Tuesday's ruling as an important moment for justice and the rule of law.

Judge Peter Paluda said the detailed written decision of the three-judge panel might not be published until the end of July.
GENEVA (AP)  An American president wont side with Moscow over his own intelligence agencies. There will be no talk of a reset in Russian relations. And it is highly doubtful that anyone will gaze into Vladimir Putins eyes and discuss his soul.

But beyond that, its not clear what will happen Wednesday in Geneva when President Joe Biden meets Putin for the first time since taking office. Both sides acknowledge that the relationship between the two nations is dismal and neither holds out much hope for meaningful areas of agreement. Still, each man brings his own goals to the summit table.

A look at what each president is hoping to achieve in Switzerland:

WHAT BIDEN WANTS

Biden and his aides have made clear that he will not follow in the footsteps of his recent predecessors by aiming to radically alter the United States ties to Russia. Instead, the White House is looking for a more modest though still vitally important goal: to move toward a more predictable relationship and attempt to rein in Russias disruptive behavior.

Bidens first overseas trip was deliberately sequenced so that he will meet with Putin only after spending days meeting with European allies and powerful democracies, including a gathering at NATO, the decades-old alliance formed to serve as a bulwark to Russian aggression. He hoped to project a sense of unity and renewed cooperation after four years of tumult under former President Donald Trump, who often tried to cozy up to the Russian president.

Biden will push Putin to stop meddling in democratic elections, to ease tensions with Ukraine and to stop giving safe harbor to hackers carrying out cyber and ransomware attacks. Aides believe that lowering the temperature with Russia will also reinforce the United States' ties to democracies existing in Moscows shadow.

National security adviser Jake Sullivan said Biden will look for areas where, in our common interest, we can work together to produce outcomes that are  that work for the United States and for the American people."

Sullivan, who briefed reporters on Air Force One heading to Brussels for the NATO summit, said that Biden's other message would be more stick than carrot: How do we send a clear message about those harmful activities that we will not tolerate and to which we will respond?

There have been brief moments of common ground. Moscow and Washington have shown a shared interest in restarting talks on strategic stability to work out a follow-up deal to the New START, the last remaining U.S.-Russian arms control pact that was extended for five years in January.

Biden will exhort Putin on human rights, including the poisoning and imprisonment of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, not to support the regime in Belarus that carried out a recent skyjacking and to stop interfering with other nations elections. Cyber will also be a focal point, with the Geneva summit coming just days after NATO expanded its Article 5 mutual defense pact to include cyberattacks.

But the president acknowledged that there may be no way to keep Putin in check.

Theres no guarantee you can change a persons behavior or the behavior of his country. Autocrats have enormous power and they dont have to answer to a public, said Biden during a news conference Sunday after the Group of Seven summit in England. And the fact is that it may very well be, if I respond in kind  which I will  that it doesnt dissuade him and he wants to keep going.

Biden had not minced words when it comes to assessing Putin. He said in an interview earlier this year that he agreed with an assessment that Putin was a killer, and he once declared that Putin didnt have a soul.

That was far colder rhetoric than that of his immediate predecessors.

Trump spoke warmly of Putin and was deferential to him during their one summit, held in Helsinki in 2018, in which he turned his back on his own intelligence agencies. President Barack Obamas administration, though wary of Putin, expressed hope in a reset and improvement of relations with Moscow. And George W. Bush said that he looked the man in the eye and found him very straightforward and trustworthy.

I was able to get a sense of his soul," Bush said.

Biden won't.

WHAT PUTIN WANTS

Putin also wont be expecting to warm up ties. His main goal will be to draw his red lines for the new U.S. administration and negotiate a tense status quo that would protect Moscows vital interests.

The Russian leader doesnt hope for a new detente to mend the rift caused by Russias 2014 annexation of Ukraines Crimean Peninsula. Nor does he count on a rollback of the crippling U.S. and EU sanctions that have restricted Moscows access to global financial markets and top Western technologies.

Putins task now is more modest  to spell out Russias top security concerns and try to restore basic channels of communication that would prevent an even more dangerous destabilization.

The main red line for Moscow is Ukraines aspirations to join NATO. Fearing its bid for the alliance membership, Putin responded to the 2014 ouster of Ukraines Russia-friendly president by annexing Crimea and throwing Moscows weight behind a separatist insurgency in the countrys eastern industrial heartland, where the seven-year conflict has killed more than 14,000.

When tensions along the line of contact in Ukraines east rose earlier this year, Russia quickly beefed up its troops near Ukraine and warned Kyiv's leaders that it would intervene militarily if they tried to reclaim the rebel-controlled regions by force.

Moscow has since pulled back some of its forces from the border areas, but the Ukrainian leadership has said the bulk of them have remained close to the border.

In an interview with state TV last week, Putin described Ukraines bid to join NATO as an existential challenge to Russia that would allow the alliances missiles to hit Moscow and other targets in western Russia in just seven minutes. He compared it to Russia deploying its missiles in Canada or Mexico near the U.S. border. Isnt it a red line? he said.

While taking a tough stance on Ukraine, the Russian leader could show a degree of flexibility on other global hotspots.

Even though Moscow has been critical of the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan, its interested in a settlement that would prevent the country from plunging into chaos following the U.S. troops withdrawal later this year, fearing that instability could spill into ex-Soviet Central Asia.

Russia also has been involved in painstaking international talks to help repair a nuclear deal with Iran that was spiked by Trump, and it has expressed a willingness to cooperate with the U.S. in efforts to restart the stalled Mideast peace talks.

And the Kremlin would be interested in working out a deal on Syria, where Moscows military campaign helped President Bashar Assads government reclaim control over most of the country after a devastating civil war and the U.S. has maintained a limited military presence.

Russia has said its ready to include its prospective doomsday weapons  such as the Poseidon atomic-powered, nuclear-armed underwater drone and the Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile  in the talks on condition the U.S. brings its missile defense and possible space-based weapons into the equation.

Putin also has emphasized Russias readiness to make joint efforts to address climate change and cope with the coronavirus pandemic.

He called for establishing a dialogue on cybercrime, noting that Moscow could agree to extradite cybercrime suspects to the U.S. if Washington assumes the same obligation.

The White House has strongly downplayed the idea of a cybercriminal prisoner exchange.

___

Isachenkov reported from Moscow.
My first mistake was my worst. Having read news reports that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was allowing at-home, self-administered COVID-19 tests to be used to re-enter the United States after travel abroad, I made an assumption that turned out to be very incorrect. Since there were myriad self-tests sold everywhere from Costco to my neighborhood Walgreens, I figured at least one of those readily available options would qualify. But they dont. As far as I can tell, none do.

But in order to finally come to that disheartening conclusion, I first spent an hour researching tests online. The CDC web page devoted to the Jan. 12, 2021 order made the testing seem fairly straight forward. It states that all air passengers arriving to the United States from a foreign country need to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than three days before entering the country.

Though the order excludes people who have gotten, and recovered from, COVID-19 who can provide documentation of recovery, it does not exclude people, like myself and my husband Tim, who are fully vaccinated. Though the distinction between having recovered from COVID-19 and having been vaccinated is unclear to me, it was clear our four-day trip to Mexico would demand a test of some kind before returning home to the Bay Area. And its a requirement I support.

Freda Moon

Which COVID-19 test do I need to re-enter the U.S. from abroad?

Based on the CDCs description of which self-tests are accepted as re-entry documentation, it seemed most of the FDA-approved options would qualify. Both antigen and molecular (or nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) tests like the RT-PCR) are accepted, as are rapid tests and self tests.

The problem for me came from two separate, but related, issues.

First, I didnt realize that many of what I thought were at home tests are actually just self-administered tests  meaning yes, you can buy a kit at pretty much any drugstore and collect your sample at home, but you then have to send the sample to a lab and wait up to 48 hours for results. The test itself is not processed at-home. That means these tests wouldnt work for our international trip, since sending a sample from Mexico wouldnt be practical (if it is permitted at all, which Im not certain it is). There are, however, some tests that dont require that second step. Great, I thought, Ill get one of those.

But nope. There was one additional issue I also misunderstood. The CDC guidelines make clear that a test used for re-entry documentation must include a telehealth service ... that provides real-time supervision remotely through an audio and video connection. The purpose of the telehealth component is to confirm the testers identity, observe the testing to make sure it was done correctly and to confirm the test results over video. Great, I thought, Costco sells tests that come with video observation and that specifically advertise themselves as travel approved. Those specific tests need to be sent away for lab testing, but I reasoned, surely there are others that dont.

There are so many over-the-counter COVID tests out there, with video observation and without, at-home processing and mail-in lab results. It seemed impossible that there wasnt some way for me to simply go to a pharmacy, buy a test kit, and test myself on video a few days before our return flight.

The specific test that kept coming up in my research was BinaxNOW COVID-19 Antigen Self Test from Abbott Laboratories that pairs with an app that functions as a digital record of your test results. Great, I thought, Ill run to CVS and buy one for $24. But then I read the FAQ at the bottom of CVS product page. Though this test seems identical to another Abbot test with a virtually identical name, the over-the-counter version is for personal use only and doesnt provide a documented test result that you can display when traveling. Well, phooey.

Then I read on: For a documented test result the BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card Home Test may be a better. Combined with the NAVICA App and with a negative result, you will have a digital result that may meet travel requirements. This test is offered by eMed, please visit www.emed.com for further information.

Though it took me another half-hour of online sleuthing to confirm it, this was the moment I learned that despite all the options out there, the only self-test that meets the CDC requirements for re-entry is only available online  and only through one specific online pharmacy. Would I love to know what eMed, a company I have never before heard of, did to get monopoly rights to sell this test? Yes, I very much would.

The lesson

Though the CDC testing requirements for re-entry dont seem particularly onerous or complicated, theyre not as straightforward as they appear. The Ag Card version of the BinaxNOW test is sold only in packs of six that cost $150  significantly more than the various over-the-counter versions that, as far as I can tell, do essentially the same thing. Theyre also available only online, meaning that by the time I was hoping to buy one, a few days before my trip, it was already too late to realistically receive the test kit in time to take it with me.

Freda Moon

We would not be self-testing our way back into the country, as planned. But you can, if youre willing to fork over $150 to eMed and wait however many days it would take for the kits to arrive via mail  and I dont know how long that takes because I refused to enter my information into the site in order to find out.

While I find it both frustrating and mystifying that eMed currently offers the only self-testing option for international travel from California, that seems likely to change fairly soon. EMeds site describes its tests as the first "FDA-authorized, virtually guided, at-home COVID-19 rapid antigen test with automated results reporting," but that suggests there can be others. And, hopefully, there will be soon. In the meantime, eMed has just started distributing the Ag Card version of the home test in some Walgreens in New York and New Jersey, which Id hope means more states and brick-and-mortar retailers will follow.

If we cant self-test for COVID-19 to re-enter the U.S., what do we do instead?

This part, it turns out, was remarkably easy. I had read that some Mexican tourist hotels were offering testing as a service for guests. Some were even offering both free testing and a paid quarantine stay for guests who test positive and, therefore, cant return home until theyre COVID-free. Airlines also have various testing programs in place, including a partnership between United and eMed (though its unclear how buying a test through the United portal differs from buying from eMed directly).

We were flying Delta, so I first checked the airlines Testing Resources website to see what it offered. It listed several ways to get tested in southern Baja, where we were staying. But I thought the easiest option might be contacting our hotel, the wonderful new Grupo Habita design hotel Baja Club, to see whether provided on-site testing. A quick email to the concierge later and I had scheduled our tests for two days before our return.

I had been given the option of either taking an antigen test with results in three hours (for 1,100 pesos or about $55) or a PCR test with a 24-hour turnaround (3,500 pesos, which would set us back $176 each). We were told that U.S. guests typically take the former, so thats what we did as well.

Freda Moon

The hotel testing process

That day, a technician met us in the hotel lobby, put on his protective gear, and administered a nose-tickling but largely painless antigen test. A couple hours later, we received the test results via email, while a paper version was delivered to the reception desk that afternoon. While not an insignificant expense, it was at least a seamless, stress-free process. We could, I know, have gotten the testing done for less at one of the many testing sites in the region, which includes a last resort test at the Los Cabos airport for 450 pesos for the antigen test. Id guess other non-airport labs are even more affordable.

I wasnt sure what advantage the more expensive and slower PCR test might have, but it seems the antigen test is more prone to false positives, which would have been a real problem for us  parents with young kids staying with family  had that happened. (Also worth noting: Canada requires a PCR test, while the United States allows either.) Ultimately, however, I had followed the research on vaccine efficacy closely enough that I was less concerned with contracting COVID as a fully vaccinated person (and especially as one who was also masking in transit and in most indoor settings) than I was with making sure my paperwork was in order. And that part was far less complicated than Id feared.

At the airport

We arrived at Los Cabos airport two and a half hours before our flight home. Wed already checked into our Delta flight on the Delta app, which had asked some basic COVID-19 screening questions as part of the online check-in process. At the airport ticket counter area, there were tables set up with paper forms asking the same series of questions, which we then handed over to a Mexican health official as we passed through a temperature screening area on our way to the security check. Our COVID test documentation was not asked for at this point.

On the other side of security, as we waited to board, the Delta gate agent announced that passengers should come to the desk for a passport check. Once there, Tim was also asked for our negative COVID test paperwork, which he had wisely grabbed as well. And just like that, we were on our way.

Freda Moon

The takeaway

In retrospect, the fact that the self-administered COVID tests are comparatively hard to get was to my advantage. I ended up spending less money for an easier, less anxiety-inducing process. But I can also see that, depending on where one is traveling and what infrastructure is available there, the eMed test may be the best, or even the only, option.

For our trip, we stumbled upon a better, easier, and more affordable way. The most important lesson, for me, was that the combination of my overall comfort with travel and the strangeness of not having done it for a very long time means that I should over-research, over-plan, over-worry. Where I normally fight against my inclination to anxiety, this may be a time to indulge it.

Tim and I chose Baja as our first short trip away from kids because the peninsula is driving distance from our Northern California home while still being Mexico  a country so close to me that staying away, over the last many months, was an act of love. So too was coming back.
In 1769 Captain Cook saw Aotea and Te Hauturu o Toi as guardians of the Hauraki Gulf /Tikapa Moana, so named them the Great Barrier and Little Barrier Islands. Hauturu is the highest island in the gulf and is often seen with the peaks of the island wreathed in cloud, providing moisture for the forest-covered slopes below. Early naturalists, enticed to New Zealand by stories of strange birds and plants, recognised the islands uniqueness, virtually untouched by man.



Hauturu is a gold mine for scientists.

Thomas Kirk, a botanist, visited the island several times from 1867 onwards. Plant samples Kirk gathered still remain in a collection at the Auckland Museum. Captain Hutton, about the same time, recorded a list of 19 bird species that he observed on the east coast of the island, among them saddleback, laughing owl and falcon, which had disappeared from the island by 1900. Andreas Reisheck, an Austrian naturalist and collector of birds, visited Hauturu several times in the 1880s and1890s. His particular interest was hihi, which by then had disappeared from mainland NZ.

Several of these collectors, while writing records and exhorting for the preservation of places like Hauturu to save NZs unique wildlife, were also decimating those same populations by collecting skins to sell to collectors and museums, particularly in Europe.

The story goes that one of the last pair of huia were being kept to transfer to Hauturu to save the species, only to be killed and the skins sold overseas!

Later scientists and naturalists were of a different ilk, recording and learning about the island and sharing that knowledge to extend our understanding of New Zealands natural world. In the early 1900s, Frances, a daughter of the then caretaker, Mr R. Shakespear, made a substantial plant collection, which is also still housed at the Auckland Museum. In the 1930s, W.M. Hamilton visited the island several times, producing the first comprehensive treatise on the islands vegetation, history and geology. This was reproduced by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research as Bulletin 54. From 1947 on, there was an increase in visitor numbers to the island, especially botanists, ornithologists, Auckland University students, the Wildlife Service and many others recording observations and findings for future reference.

Some interesting scientific work of recent times has been Victoria University research with the islands tuatara. Other researchers have studied the recently rediscovered NZ storm petrel; plant pollinators (there are bats and lizards present on Haururu, but very few introduced insects); and environmental or eDNA, where soil samples can be studied to indicate any species that interacted with that piece of soil  generating a wealth of information in a test tube.

As part of my science degree back in 2014, I researched stream invertebrates and native fish present in some of the islands many streams. Google Scholar shows well over 400 scholarly papers relating to research done on Hauturu and its cargo. Much of this is covered in the book Hauturu, published in 2019, which the Little Barrier Island/Hauturu Supporters Trust was responsible for. It is still available through the trust website.

Lyn Wade, Little Barrier Island Supporters Trust

www.littlebarrierisland.org.nz


Susan Meszaros is a geneticist, breeder and also owns a horse feed software business.



Susan has developed her land to sustainably provide for her animals.

Makarau geneticist Dr Susan Meszaros and partner Karyn Maddren, of Streamlands Suffolks, have a novel approach to breeding their ewes and rams. They do DNA tests on each of their sires to breed for genes that promote survival and resistance to disease.

One of the genes they select for controls the amount of brown fat that lambs are born with around their kidneys.

When lambs are born, their mothers lick them and it stimulates the conversion of fat into energy, providing an instant kick-start.

The more fat, the more energy. It encourages them to get up and want to feed from their mother, Susan says.

There are three different variations of the gene, labelled as A, B and C, and the A allele of the gene provides the best chance of survival.

The Streamlands Suffolk flock is bred to an extent that almost all the animals have at least one A allele of the gene, while none have the inferior C allele.

They also do DNA tests for genes that resist footrot. Susan says the same genes are also found in humans and play a role in resistance to various diseases.

A DNA test is done by making a small cut behind a sheeps ear and collecting a sample with blotting paper, which is sent to Lincoln University in Christchurch.

Another unique aspect to Streamlands approach is that they keep lambs with their mothers in a pen for 48 hours after they are born, instead of keeping them in a paddock.

This technique comes from Susans origins as a sheep farmer in Canada where lambs have to be protected from minus 40 degree temperatures.

It allows Susan and Karyn to keep a close eye on the lambs and ewes, and record their traits including birth weight. They are also trying to breed ewes that have the best mothering instincts and produce a steady supply of milk.

Farmers buy Streamland Suffolks rams to breed with their Romneys or Perendales to produce faster growing lambs that are ready to sell by Christmas.

Susan and Karyn have also developed their land to allow it to sustainably provide for their animals.

Famed author and agro-ecologist Nicole Masters visited the farm and provided recommendations that they implemented. They built new fences which partitioned 11 paddocks into 30. This means that each mob of sheep can be moved to a new paddock each day.

Susan and Karyn shift the sheep before they are able to graze the grass down to soil level. Longer grass supports longer roots and is able to regrow much faster. It also protects the soil from drying out.

They have also been trying to introduce as many species of grass to their paddocks as possible, as it increases biodiversity in the soil, creating more productive top soil. Susan says 12 or more species is ideal.

Streamland Suffolks sells its breeding stock to farmers all over the North Island. It was producing between 250 and 300 lambs in a season, but has been significantly knocked back by drought and Covid-19 interruptions. Now it expects to produce about 150 lambs in July and 30 in September.
A month after the Pfizer vaccine began being delivered to people in the Ministry of Healths Group 3, (people at risk of getting very sick from Covid-19), the first doses reached the Hibiscus Coast.

A Pharmacy Care Group team delivered jabs to more than 150 aged care residents and 98 staff at Evelyn Page in Orewa on June 5.

First up was Gloria Sowden, 73, who enthusiastically put up her hand to be the first resident vaccinated.

Until now, it has been possible for local residents in Groups 1-3 to be vaccinated in other parts of Auckland, but the rollout is now accelerating locally.

The Ministry advises that residents of all 11 Aged Residential Care facilities on the Coast will receive their first dose this month. After that comes everyone aged over 65  the Ministry says invitations are being sent to them this month.

Once this is done, the remaining population aged 16-65 (Group 4) will be able to be vaccinated, including those living in retirement villages. This group will get their vaccinations from a local GP or pharmacy, starting at the end of next month. The Ministry also plans to open a Community Vaccination Centre on the North Shore soon, which will be available to Hibiscus Coast residents.

Not all local GPs will be able to offer the jab. GPs, pharmacies and urgent care centres have been given guidelines for staffing and space by the Ministry which could be prohibitive, especially for small to medium-sized practices whose general services are already at capacity, or have limited waiting room space.

One practice that is able to offer the vaccine is Silverdale Medical, which will begin administering the Pfizer vaccine this month to its registered patients, by invitation, starting with the most at risk. The practice spokesperson says that by September, its Weiti Creek clinic should start delivering vaccines to the wider community.

Meanwhile, local pharmacies have trained staff ready to offer the vaccine, but must wait to get the go-ahead. Every vaccination site also has to go through a DHB sign-off process to ensure quality and safety standards are met.

The vaccination is free. Info: www.covid19.govt.nz/covid-19-vaccines/our-covid-19-vaccination-plan/covid-19-vaccine-rollout-groups/
The recent shooting of a small number of white pigeons has caused considerable distress and bad feeling among residents of Kensington Park in Orewa.

Around eight of the birds were living in and around Kensington Park and a number of residents complained about the mess and noise they caused.

In response the body corporate of one of the apartment blocks where the birds were living arranged for them to be exterminated by a contractor called No More Birds.

One resident, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisals, says she found out that the birds were to be shot the day before the cull happened.

A pair of them nest on the eaves of her apartment, and when she looked out her window the morning after the shooting took place, she saw a dead dove in its nest with its mate alive beside it.

They were quite happy living there and a little bit of poo around is fine, the resident says. Shooting them was very distressing and made me want to get out [of Kensington Park], right now.

Linda Nunn of North Shore charity Animal Re-homing says she was contacted by a lot of distressed people after around five of the birds were shot and killed. She approached the body corporate that organised the shooting, offering to assist with a humane solution for any remaining birds. She says she is concerned this option wasnt considered first and says shooting is not very common in her experience.

No More Birds website describes shooting birds as a last resort, listing several other methods including installing bird netting.

The body corporate committee was contacted for comment, but declined, its chair saying this was due to the amount of acrimonious feeling among residents about the situation. He told Hibiscus Matters that other methods had been tried to discourage the birds off the roofs before the shooters were employed.

The overarching body corporate for Kensington Park, the Kensington Park Residents Association, also did not wish to comment.
Click the image above to view slideshow

Love Soup Hibiscus Coast, the food rescue charity, has come a long way since it began offering free meals at Whangaparaoa Hall five years ago, on June 18.

That free meal every Sunday continues to attract around 60 diners each week.

Love Soup also works with local churches, and the result has been the monthly free lunches at St Johns church in Orewa, which began in 2018. This month, on Sunday, June 27, a monthly free dinner at St Chads church in Orewa will also be launched.

During lockdown last year, Love Soup began providing food parcels to struggling local households and this has continued  around 100 of these each week are going out.

Lockdown also highlighted the need for another local foodbank, Love Soup director Julie King says. The Love Soup foodbank, which has continued to operate from Whangaparaoa Hall since lockdown, is not means tested and enables people to access staple foods by messaging Love Soups Facebook page or through its website.

A free school lunch service is also underway, and growing, with around 500 lunches a week being distributed to local college and Primary School students, as well as the HBC Youth Centre. It started as the initiative of Whangaparaoa College student and Love Soup youth ambassador Xavier Mika. Julie says Love Soup is meeting with Orewa College to discuss potentially offering the lunches there.

Rescued food is used for the lunches. Julie says the way the scheme is operating is a pilot, designed to ensure no food is wasted.

Its targeted at a certain number of students, and we work with each school to ensure the numbers are right, Julie says.

She says while Love Soups services and volunteer numbers have grown enormously over the years, one thing hasnt changed  the need for more sponsors. Currently Love Soup rescues food from all the local supermarkets  with Pak n Save Silverdale coming on board just last month. But additional sponsors are needed to fund food items that they are short of for the meals or foodbank  things such as non-perishable (tinned) food.

We have to work with whatever we are given, and there is plenty of it, which is amazing, Julie says. But we really need a business partner so we have money to fill the gaps.

Looking back at five years of food rescue work, Julie says she feels proud of what has been achieved so far.

The community is making this happen and its beautiful to see it grow like this.
Lockport, NY (14094)

Today

Cloudy with periods of rain. High 68F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a half an inch..

Tonight

Rain showers in the evening becoming more intermittent overnight. Low 58F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
Lawyers for the State have told the Special Criminal Court that gardai were entitled to use mobile phone data in their investigation of the abduction and assault on Quinn Industrial Holdings director Kevin Lunney.



Sean Guerin SC has continued his submissions to the three-judge, non-jury court, saying that the Court of Justice of the European Union does not prohibit the mass retention of mobile phone data. Quoting a recent Spanish case that went before the European court, Mr Guerin said the EU court had decided that the legality of retention of data was a matter for national courts alone.



He also said that while the information sought to be used in the trial was a "serious interference" with the privacy rights of the accused men, the interference was justified because gardai were investigating "serious crime".



A 40-year-old man who cannot be named by order of the court, Alan OBrien (40), of Shelmalier Road, East Wall, Dublin 3, Darren Redmond (27), from Caledon Road, East Wall, Dublin 3 and Luke OReilly (67), with an address at Mullahoran Lower, Kilcogy, Co Cavan have all pleaded not guilty to false imprisonment and intentionally causing serious harm to Mr Lunney at Drumbrade, Ballinagh, Co Cavan on September 17, 2019.

Mr Lunney has told the court that he was bundled into the boot of a car near his home and driven to a container where he was threatened and told to resign as a director of Quinn Industrial Holdings. His abductors cut him with a Stanley knife, stripped him to his boxer shorts, doused him in bleach, broke his leg with two blows of a wooden bat, beat him on the ground, cut his face and scored the letters QIH into his chest. They left him bloodied, beaten and shivering on a country road at Drumcoghill in Co Cavan where he was discovered by a man driving a tractor.

Michael O'Higgins SC, for the unnamed man, has previously told the court that gardai broke the law when they used search warrants to access mobile phone data from service providers Meteor and Vodafone.

Mr O'Higgins said that despite a finding by the Court of Justice of the European Union that mass retention of phone data is a serious breach of citizens' privacy rights, the government has done nothing.

He added: "That has left another arm of the executive, law enforcement, breaking the law repeatedly, for years and years and years."

Mr Guerin responded that the retention is not a breach of anything but an "interference" with privacy rights. Such interference, he said, is allowed in certain circumstances including for the investigation of serious crime. Counsel said that in the Spanish case the court had considered the legality of accessing mobile phone data and did not conclude that mass retention was unlawful.



Mr Guerin also told the court that mass retention of data is mandated in Irish law by the Communications (Retention of Data) Act 2011. He said the High Court had concluded that such mass retention was prohibited by the EU but, Mr Guerin said, the Supreme Court has since disagreed with the High Court's conclusion. Counsel told the court that it cannot "disapply" the 2011 Act until it is clear what the EU court requires.



Mr Guerin will continue his submissions tomorrow in front of Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding, with Judge Gerard Griffin and Judge David McHugh.
Longford's first citizen has said Center Parcs' proposed 85m expansion will only serve to reinforce Longford's appeal as a key tourism destination.

Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council Cllr Paul Ross expressed his delight this afternoon at the earlier announcement of the leisure giant to undertake a major extension of its current 395 acre Longford Forest.

Center Parcs Longford Forest is a transformational project for County Longford and Irelands Hidden Heartlands, representing the largest private tourism development in the State.

ALSO READ: Center Parcs announce 85m expansion of Longford Forest

"This proposed investment has the potential to be the catalyst which will further consolidate Longfords position as a tourism destination, bringing with it economic, social and employment benefits and opportunities.

Subject to planning which is not expected to be submitted until the latter end of 2021, the company said it intends to create 300 jobs during construction and a further 250 permanent jobs once operational.

County Longford is centrally located, making it very attractive as a tourism and business location. Longford County Council will continue to promote Longford as a dynamic, vibrant, safe and prosperous county and a great place to live, work and invest.

The Fine Gael local politician referenced Longford County Council's Tourism Strategy which includes an ambitious programme of work to support the county's fledgling tourism sector as further proof of the region's appeal to visitors.

The heritage, unspoilt countryside and natural assets which are available in the county provide the necessary ingredients for the development of the tourism sector, he said.

We all need to continually talk up our county, highlight all its positive features and ensure that visitors expectations are not only met but exceeded. We all have a vital role in making Longford the place to be.
Local News, Community, Charity & Cause, Press Releases

By Chris Boyle Published: June 15 2021

Sylvia was philanthropic and civic oriented.

Nassau County Executive Laura Curran was joined by the Kaminetsky family, Senator Todd Kaminsky, and the Five Towns community recently for an official ceremony renaming the community room in the Administrative Building at North Woodmere Park in honor of Sylvia Kaminetsky. Sylvia Kaminetsky dedicated her life to volunteering and philanthropic activities in North Woodmere and the surrounding communities.

Sylvia Kaminetsky was born in New York City to Abraham and Dora Berkowitz on Oct. 28, 1933 and grew up in Cleveland. She came to New York at the age of 17 to live and work at the urging of her then suitor, and soon to-be husband, Irving Kaminetsky. Sylvia and Irving lived life to its fullest and were married 67 happy years. She was a wonderful mother to her two children, Jed and Lynn and an extraordinary grandmother to Jared, Alexandra, Jacob, Aaron and Amanda.

Sylvia was philanthropic and civic oriented. She volunteered for many years at Franklin General Hospital in Valley Stream where she served as the president of coordinating council of the auxiliaries. Also active in local politics, she served as the president of the Republican Club of North Woodmere, an election coordinator for the Town of Hempstead, and the biggest supporter of her husbands campaigns for commissioner of Sanitary District 1. Sylvia was also actively engaged at her temples. She was a member of Temple Hillel in North Woodmere for more than 50 years, served on the board for 20 years and served at Sutton Place Synagogue in Manhattan.

Sylvia was one of a kind that made a difference in the lives of others, and it is fitting that this room, where so much good is done for the community, is named in her honor. May her memory be a blessing, said Nassau County Executive Laura Curran.
Local News, Health & Wellness, Press Releases

By Chris Boyle Published: June 15 2021

The unspoken truth is that the pandemic forced too many people to engage in substance abuse to cope with the isolation and stress of this pandemic," said Bellone.

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone has announced that Suffolk County will host a summit this fall to discuss mental health and substance use disorders in the wake of COVID-19. The conference, which will be presented in partnership with Wellbridge Addiction Treatment and Research, will cover behavioral health responses to the events and consequences of the coronavirus epidemic.

The unspoken truth is that the pandemic forced too many people to engage in substance abuse to cope with the isolation and stress of this pandemic," said County Executive Bellone. "This summit is designed to bring together stakeholders and professionals from across the spectrum to identify best practices and strategies to address those struggling with addiction and other mental health ailments."

Addiction is a treatable condition, and at Wellbridge, we provide a holistic, personalized and affordable approach to caring for our patients, said Dr. Harshal Kirane, Medical Director at Wellbridge. The fall summit convened by County Executive Steve Bellone will be a major step toward educating the public that those suffering from addiction can recover and improve their lives. No one should have to face addiction treatment alone.

The Fall Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders Summit will bring together leaders from the fields of mental health and substance use disorder to guide discussions on currently available resources and a future vision. The goal is to increase the use of science-driven approaches to treatment, and supporting essential healthcare workers with suggestions for not only surviving but also thriving in a complicated time.

The summit will be offered as an open invitation, with a save-the-date announcement to follow in the coming weeks. The fall conference follows the County Executives 2019 Stories From Suffolk forum. The form was a policy conversation among leading experts in the field on substance use and opioids to assess the next steps that should be taken to combat the opioid epidemic. The first of its kind forum convened over 300 attendees from across New York State, including medical providers, academic scholars, community advocates, faith leaders, state officials, local law enforcement and criminal justice advocates.

Our residents in Suffolk County have had to demonstrate tremendous resilience in order to get through the dark days of this devastating crisis, said Dr. Gregson Pigott, Commissioner of Health Services. What we need now is to support people in attaining healthy coping strategies that are needed to sustain long-term wellness and recovery.

Its a brain thing; science confirms so, said Cari Besserman, Director of the Department of Health Services Division of Community Mental health. We need to destigmatize substance use disorder and educate healthcare practitioners as well as the public about recent advances in evidence-based treatment and how to access help.

In a recent report released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), researchers found the percentage of adults with recent symptoms of an anxiety or depressive disorder increased from 36.4-41.5%, while the percentage of individuals reporting unmet mental health care needs increased from 9.2-11.7% between August 2020 and February 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Experts have also highlighted increases in sleeping problems and alcohol and other substance misuse.

For those who had been coping with substance use or mental health disorders before the pandemic, this past year has been especially challenging. Beyond loss of family members and friends to COVID-19, we also saw loss of businesses and jobs, disruptions to education, extra-curricular activities, general socialization and normal routines. Feelings of anxiety, depression, loss, impatience and anger are prevalent. For some residents, these feelings may have been brought on by the events surrounding the pandemic, while others who have existing mental or substance use challenges, symptoms may have gotten worse.

According to the National Institutes of Health, 10 percent of US adults will have drug use disorder at some point in their lives. A survey of American adults revealed that drug use disorder is common, co-occurs with a range of mental health disorders and often goes untreated. Approximately 20 percent of Americans, or about one in five people over the age of 18, suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year. Mental health problems also affect one in every five young people at any given time.

The Suffolk County Division of Community Mental Hygiene hosts robust open subcommittee meetings focusing on Mental Health, Substance Use Disorder and Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities. These subcommittees have active workgroups addressing access to and coordination of prevention, treatment, and recovery services. More recently, the focus has largely been on access to meaningful treatment and support services in light of COVID-19. For more information call 311.
(Alliance News) - Ninety One on Tuesday said Non-Executive Director Fani Titi will retire at the annual general meeting, scheduled for August 4.

The investment company said Khumo Shuenyane has been selected to succeed Titi from August 1 as the representative of Investec on the board of Ninety One.

Khumo has served as an independent non-executive director of Investec Ltd and Investec PLC since 2014. He also serves on the boards of a number of other companies within the Investec Group, including Investec Bank Ltd, Investec Life Ltd and Investec Property Fund Ltd. Additionally, Khumo is an independent non-executive director of Vodacom Group Ltd.

Ninety One is an Anglo-South African asset management business, based in London and Cape Town. Ninety One completed its demerger from Investec in mid-March 2020. Following an initial public offering in London and Johannesburg, Investec held a 25% stake, with 55% held directly by Investec PLC and Investec Ltd shareholders. Around 20% is held by employees.

Ninety One PLC shares closed 0.6% lower in London on Tuesday at 232.00 pence each, while Ninety One Ltd stock ended the day 0.3% lower in Johannesburg at ZAR45.55 a share.

By Evelina Grecenko; evelinagrecenko@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
(Alliance News) -A Phoenix Group Holdings PLC on Tuesday said talks over the possible sale of its European businesses have ended.

The long-term savings and retirement business said it received "unsolicited expressions of interest" for Phoenix Europe and entered into advanced discussions with a third party over a potential sale. It confirmed these talks back in May.

"However, the board has concluded that the transaction under consideration would not maximise shareholder value and therefore discussions have been discontinued," it said on Tuesday.

Phoenix will now progress a "range of management actions" to maximise shareholder value.

Shares in Phoenix were down 0.1% at 720.80 pence in London midday Tuesday.

By Lucy Heming;A lucyheming@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
(Alliance News) - TP Group PLC on Tuesday reported a widened loss despite higher revenue, due to pandemic disruption.

The Hampshire, England-based consulting, software and engineering company said its pretax loss widened to GBP5.2 million in 2020 from GBP1.2 million in 2019, despite revenue increasing by 20% to GBP59.0 million from GBP49.4 million. In keeping with the previous year, the company declared no dividend.

TP said margins were reduced by the coronavirus pandemic, which delayed project execution, disrupted supply chains, and led to higher overall resource use.

Shares were trading down 19% at 4.56 pence each in London on Tuesday afternoon.

More positively, the company won a series of high-value contracts in 2020, it said, including a GBP5.0 million order for an Army headquarters transformation programme and orders worth over EUR30.0 million from its contract with the European Space Agency, which now has been extended until December 2022.

Additionally, TP acquired consultancy and software business Osprey Consulting Services Ltd in August, and this contributed GBP5.8 million to the overall order book and GBP1.4 million to revenue in 2020.

Following the first quarter of 2021, TP said its order book already covers budgeted revenue to 72% in 2021 and 41% in 2022.

For the remainder of 2021, TP said it plans to continue investment into higher-margin artificial intelligence technology and to expand into the US and Middle East markets to maintain growth in the coming years. The company currently operates in six European countries, serving global customers under long-term contracts. In 2020, the company celebrated its first significant contract in the US, for an AI system project.

TP said it will continue to dispose of loss making or non-essential businesses. In 2020, it sold the loss-making Manchester-based fabrication business TPG Engineering Ltd and discontinued a non-core business, Lift BV. Currently, TP is in discussions with a preferred bidder to dispose of TPG Maritime Ltd.

If required, TP expects to be able to use the GBP5 million accordion option on its fully drawn GBP7 million credit facility maturing in 2023. The credit facility was secured in February 2020 and was fully drawn within the year.

Chief Executive Phil Cartmell, said: "Through this period, we were able to grow our revenue by 20%, due to a strong opening order book, continuity of critical programmes, the addition of Osprey and Sapienza, and the continuing capture of new contracts, despite the backdrop of global uncertainty caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. We trust that the uncertain trading conditions of 2020 will eventually stabilise, and so we have taken the opportunity to prepare the group to continue revenue growth and return to improving profit levels."

By Scarlett Butler; scarlettbutler@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
(Alliance News) - The following is a round-up of updates by London-listed companies issued on Tuesday and not separately reported by Alliance News:







GB Group PLC - identity data intelligence firm - Reports revenue growth of 9.3% for the year to the end of March to GBP217.7 million, with pretax profit jumping by 66% to GBP34.3 million. Declares 6.4p per share payout, which comprises 3.00p as an interim dividend paid posthumously in January in lieu of no dividend paid for financial 2020, in addition to 3.40p declared on Tuesday for financial 2021. "The pandemic has accelerated customer digitalisation initiatives and permanently shifted more consumer activity online," notes CEO Chris Clark. GB Group reports good start to the year with current trading in line with the expectations.







International Personal Finance PLC - Leeds, England-based home credit business - Says its operational performance has continued to be positive since the end of April. Credit issued has been broadly in-line with the company's internal expectations despite tighter Covid-19 related restrictions in a number of its markets. The company says that, while it remains cautious given the dynamic Covid-19 environment, the faster-than-anticipated improvement in impairment in April and May is expected to result in a further improvement in the full-year impairment charge and a stronger rebound in profitability in 2021 than was previously expected.







IG Design Group PLC - Eversholt, England-based greeting cards company - Reports revenue up 40% year-on-year to GBP873.2 million, driven by a full year's trading of since acquisition of CSS Industries Inc, with like-for-like revenue - excluding CSS - 5% down reflecting the impact of Covid-19. Other operating income is up to GBP4.1 million from GBP927,000 the year before. Swings to pretax profit of GBP14.7 million for the financial year that ended March 31 from the GBP873,000 loss posted the year before. IG Design proposes a final dividend of 5.75p which means a full-year dividend of 8.75p, in line with the prior year. "Whilst there remain challenges ahead, many of them the ongoing impact of Covid-19, the hard work and creativity of our teams gives us great confidence in the future," notes CEO Paul Fineman.







Kin & Carta PLC - London-based business consultancy - Reports accelerating demand for digital transformation advice as the effects of the pandemic begin to abate. For the current financial year to the end of July, the company now expects net revenue growth of 10% to GBP150 million and growth in underlying pretax profit of between 35% and 40% to GBP14.5 million, comfortably ahead of market expectations for the current financial year.







Iomart Group PLC - Glasgow, Scotland-based cloud computing company - Reports revenue at GBP111.9 million for the financial year that ended March 31, down from GBP112.6 million the year before, with revenue mix improving as growth in core cloud managed services was offset by reduction in non-recurring revenue. Pretax profit for the year falls to GBP12.5 million from GBP16.8 million. Iomart proposes dividend of 4.5p per share, up from 3.93p paid the year prior. Going forward, Iomart says it has traded in line with management expectations since the start of the new financial year.







Evgen Pharma PLC - Manchester-based clinical stage drug development company - Generates revenue for the financial year that ended March 31 of GBP194,000 versus none the year prior. Pretax loss is broadly flat year-on-year at GBP3.2 million, as operating expenses rise to GBP3.5 million from GBP3.0 million. "Over the last 12 months Evgen has substantially strengthened its senior team, made considerable progress across all areas of its business, raised significant funding to accelerate the development of its therapeutic programmes and concluded its first commercial partnership," says Chair Barry Clare.







MobilityOne Ltd - Malaysia-based e-commerce infrastructure payment solutions and platform provider - Says revenue increases 46% in 2020 to GBP246.7 million, mainly due to higher sales recorded in its mobile phone prepaid airtime reload and bill payment business in Malaysia. Pretax profit jumps to GBP2.3 million from GBP1.1 million year-on-year. Looking ahead, MobilityOne is positive on its prospects for the reminder of 2021 as the Covid-19 pandemic has not hurt its financial performance, and the existing businesses in Malaysia are expected to grow further.







Triad Group PLC - Godalming, England-based software company - Reports revenue of GBP17.8 million for the financial year to the end of March, down from GBP19.4 million the year before. Revenue in the year has reduced mainly due to the reduction in private sector low-margin contractor-led assignments. Pretax profit comes in at GBP600,000 versus a loss of GBP600,000 the year earlier. The company proposes a final dividend of 2.0 pence per share. Going forward, Triad says it is looking to build on the momentum created during the previous year. Several of the recently won contracts are still ramping up and further recruitment is planned to service demand on these and the new work the company hopes to win.







K3 Capital Group PLC - Bolton, England-based advisory services provider - Expects to report revenue for the financial year to the end of May of GBP46.0 million and adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation of not less than GBP14.3 million. This would compare to Ebitda of GBP6.8 million in financial 2020. K3 notes that its M&A division had a strong year with material organic growth delivering revenue and adjusted Ebitda ahead of expectations and delivering a high-profit-margin contribution. "We continue to identify further opportunities to expand the range and depth of our service lines. In summary, the board is delighted with the performance of the group and remains confident of continuing its strategy and making further progress in the upcoming financial year," says Chief Executive John Rigby.







Wentworth Resources PLC - Tanzania-focused natural gas production company - Reports strong in-country natural gas demand in the first half of 2021, enabling an increase in annual average production guidance for 2021 to 70-80 million standard cubic feet per day from 65-75 million. Wentworth says average daily production in year to date of 80.3 million standard cubic feet, compared with 58.1 million during the first half of 2020. The company declares a final dividend in respect of 2020 of 1.0p per share, taking the total for the year to 1.5p, an increase of 27% year-on-year.

Separately, Wentworth says resolution 3, an advisory vote on the director's remuneration report, was passed with a majority of 71% shareholder support. The company notes the significant vote against the resolution. "We have engaged with shareholders to understand their reasons for voting in this way and understand their concerns. Whilst the board remains satisfied with the executive directors' remuneration, we will continue to engage with shareholders and will consider their responses further during the coming year," it says.







Tatton Asset Management PLC - Cheshire, England-based investment management firm - Reports revenue increase of 9.3% in the financial year to the end of March to GBP23.4 million, but says pretax profit falls steep 29% to GBP7.3 million from GBP10.3 million. Profit suffers from an increase in administrative expenses to GBP15.9 million from GBP12.7 million year-on-year. Assets under management rise by 35% to GBP9.0 billion. Current assets under management at June 15 stand at GBP9.5 billion. Organic net inflows increase by 11% to GBP755 million year-on-year. Tatton ups final dividend by 17% to 7.5p, taking its full-year payout up to 11.0p from 9.6p.







Montanaro UK Smaller Cos Investment Trust PLC - London-based investment firm - Reports net asset value per share as at March 31 of 148.6p, up 31% from 113.8p a year ago. Share price at the end of the financial year stands at 145.0p, representing a 2.4% discount to NAV. During the financial year, the company pays four quarterly dividends of 5.52p. No shares were bought back during the year.







Pressure Technologies PLC - Sheffield, England-based engineering company - Reports revenue of GBP14.5 million for the 26 weeks ended April 3, an increase from GBP13.9 million recorded a year before, as a strong performance from Chesterfield Special Cylinders more than offset continued weakness in Precision Machined Components. The company swings to pretax profit of GBP200,000 from a loss of GBP1.5 million a year prior. Pressure Technologies says Precision Machined Components order book at May reached the highest level since October 2020, and original equipment manufacturer customers are reporting an improving outlook for the second half of 2021 and a steady recovery in 2022.







CML Microsystems PLC - Langford, England-based microwave semiconductors manufacturer - Posts revenue of GBP12.5 million for the financial year that ended March 31, down from GBP15.0 million reported the year before, reflecting the effect of Covid-19 on voice-centric markets. Pretax profit falls to GBP100,000 from GBP1.2 million, after accounting for share-based payments and net finance income. CML proposes final dividend of 50p per share, taking total payout for the year to 52p, up from just 4p paid the year earlier. "Economic uncertainty aside, the fundamental growth factors are positive and subject to unforeseen circumstances, we expect a good year of progress for the continuing business, both from a revenue and a profitability perspective," says Managing Director Chris Gurry.







Property Franchise Group PLC - UK-based residential property franchise business - Achieves "strong" trading results in the first five months of 2021, in-line with management's expectations. Revenue was 90% higher than for the same period in 2020, which was hurt by Covid-19, as well as up 85% on 2019. The results benefited from the acquisition of Hunters Property PLC, which completed this past March. Property Franchise Group says integration of Hunters is progressing well with particular focus on finance, training, compliance, IT and key suppliers in the first three months.







Oxford BioDynamics PLC - Oxford, England-based biotechnology company - Reports revenue for the six months to the end of March of GBP250,000 versus GBP190,000 a year before. The company says revenue for the half-year was driven by work on existing projects for pharmaceutical partners. Pretax loss widens to GBP3.5 million from GBP2.3 million year-on-year. Research and development activity was increased compared to the prior year, at GBP601,000 versus GBP279,000, with higher consumables usage and costs associated with the procurement of blood samples necessary to develop its EpiSwitch platform for laboratory tests.







Ramsdens Holdings PLC - Middlesbrough, England-based financial services provider - Reports resilient performance against challenging trading conditions caused by Covid-19 restrictions, with pretax loss of GBP100,000 for the six months to the end of March versus GBP2.3 million profit the year before. Revenue falls 23% to GBP20.8 million form GBP27.0 million, but administration expenses are cut by 26% to GBP10.4 million, with overheads well controlled, the company notes. "Despite restrictions, during the period we continued to focus on delivering against our long-term growth strategy. We currently have six new Ramsdens stores in the pipeline including debut sites in London and the South East and will continue to appraise new site opportunities in line with our expansion plans," says CEO Peter Kenyon.







Concurrent Technologies PLC - Colchester, England-based computer boards manufacturer - Says trading performance in 2021 has continued on from the positive results reported for 2020. The company expects its first-half results to be in line with expectations. The overall order book is strong, it says, and the company's cash position remains healthy. "The board continues to take a cautious approach to revenue expectations for the year as a whole. The well-publicised shortage of components and materials that is affecting companies worldwide has added to the uncertainty initially caused by the Covid-19 outbreak and its potential effect on some programmes," says CEO Jane Annear.







Renalytix AI PLC - Cardiff, Wales-based diagnostics company - Recognises USD600,000 of services revenue related to work performed for Mount Sinai hospital in New York and USD100,000 of testing revenue during the three months ended March 31. Operating expense for the quarter totals USD8.1 million, compared with USD2.7 million a year prior. Research and development expenses increases by USD1.7 million to USD3.1 million year-on-year, primarily due to increased headcount, consulting, and professional fees to support the development of KidneyIntelX, as well as research studies focused on long-term effects of Covid-19 on kidney health. General and administrative expenses increase to USD5.5 million for the three months ended March 31 from USD1.3 million a year ago, due to increased expenses related to public listing compliance, headcount and consulting and professional fees. Net loss attributable to shareholders was USD8.8 million for the quarter compared to USD700,000 a year earlier.







Northbridge Industrial Services PLC - Burton, England-based industrial services and rental company - Says its Power Reliability business, began the year with a record order book for manufactured equipment. Ongoing order levels have remained in line with expectations and encouragingly it is expected that the factory will remain at full capacity through the year. The company notes that visibility for the second half of 2021 is growing with trading set to continue in a positive vein well into the third quarter. Overall, Northbridge says its half-year revenue and pre-exceptional pretax profit will be ahead of 2020, and it remains firmly on course to meet full year management expectations.







Eckoh PLC - London-based secure payment products provider - Says total contracted business for the financial year that ended March 31 totals GBP30.7 million, down from GBP35.9 million the year before. New contracted business falls to GBP15.7 million from GBP18.6 million. Revenue for the year comes in at GBP30.5 million, down 8%. Pretax profit, however, rises to GBP3.5 million from GBP3.3 million the year prior, as administrative costs fall to GBP20.7 million from GBP23.0 million. Going forward, the company says shift to remote working driving opportunities and demand for Eckoh's products and business model. The company expects revenue and profit for financial 2022 to be comparable to financial 2021, followed by material year-on-year revenue and profit growth in financial 2023.







Idox PLC - Theale, England-based management software provider - Says revenue for the six months to the end of April increased by 4% to GBP31.1 million, but recurring revenue decreased by 1% to GBP17.6 million. Pretax profit jumps to GBP3.7 million from GBP176,000 year-on-year as administrative expenses fall to GBP17.0 million from GBP19.3 million. In addition, restructuring costs are reduced to GBP160,000 from GBP1.3 million. Looking ahead, the company says full-year financial performance is expected to be slightly ahead of management previous expectations.







By Evelina Grecenko; evelinagrecenko@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Today

Scattered thunderstorms in the morning, then mainly cloudy during the afternoon with thunderstorms likely. High 88F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.

Tonight

Thunderstorms likely in the evening. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms later on. Low 73F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%.

Tomorrow

Thunderstorms. Potential for heavy rainfall. High 84F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%.
Bonnie Squires is a communications consultant who writes weekly for Main Line Media News and can be reached at www.bonniesquires.com. She hosts the Bonnies Beat TV show at

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Jefferson, GA (30549)

Today

Thunderstorms likely, especially during the morning. Potential for heavy rainfall. High 82F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Partly cloudy skies. Low 63F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
The biggest news of the week is the announcement that Soller is to get its own events auditorium within the next week. A three-month rental has been taken on land on the main road between the tunnel and the Puerto.

The land is cleared and a stage being erected which will become the summer hub for events and occasions. Usually the Placa in Soller is the space for most things, but a wider, open space was considered better for this year with all the covid restrictions.

We now wait for the events programme which is being constructed as we speak. This summer might turn out to be the best for events and gatherings in years. The space allocated is a short walk for me and all my neighbours from LHorta. We will have no excuse not to join in with everything planned.

anna & olivia

On Friday, Soller paid its respects on the death of the children in Tenerife. We joined all Town Halls in Spain at 10 pm on Friday. Our hearts broke thinking of those beautiful babies and their mother. Everyone hugged their own close and stood in bewilderment. A beautiful evening was touched by such awfulness.

Vaccinations

The Americans are in town and it is good to see them. I have met six couples in the past few days who flew in as soon as they could. They all have family here and the reunions have been very happy. The Vaccine certificate was the common factor, it was a two jabs and you are welcome situation at the airport.

The vaccination stories of Mallorca depend on where you are getting your information from. There are certainly 7-day week injections being given all over Mallorca. This is still not getting the numbers to 50% of the population having had one injection. Our vaccine roll out is amongst the lowest in Spain  even now.

The one dose injection has found its way to Soller and some of my friends have had this. We can cry all we like about the UK people not being allowed to come here but our low vaccine rate does have something to do with the decision.

summer is coming...

The duvet was finally taken off the bed as the summer nights are upon us.

Duvet to the laundry and the electric blanket away till October was my job of the weekend.

School is nearly out!

The last week of term is upon us and some of our teenagers are in the middle of very important exams. Family life and friendships are just waiting for the last test to be over and then a collective sigh of relief. Summer can then start for 2021. In my family a graduation from junior to secondary school for youngest granddaughter.

Her class are celebrating with an activity week in Minorca and lots of planning for great fun is happening.

Politics

The Mayor of Soller was interviewed this week at the end of the mid term of his four-year election stint. All the promises and difficulties of Covid have been rolled into one  he says. He now has two years to fulfil his election manifesto and then he and his party are under scrutiny again. There is no large majority here, far from it, so every decision is scrutinised and over analysed.

Music to your ears

Live music is a feature of the summer experience of the Puerto Soller. The newly built Marina Tramuntanta are continuing the live music, Thursday to Saturday nights, of previous years.

This past weekend we have enjoyed the groups Drop Step Jazz, Blues I Altres Herbes and the Nayla Yenquist Band. It is a stunning venue to sit on the edge of the harbour amongst the fine yachts. The sunset and the music are just part of summer in the Soller Valley. To walk from there, round to the Repic Beach, we also hear the sounds of music coming from many bars and restaurants.

Concerts and choirs have returned to our main music venues. Last weekend a fine concert in St Bartholomews church and a choir singing on the Patio of the Escolapies.

We love to think we have music for all tastes and right now people will keep an open mind on the musical genres. They just want to be around music and keeping it live. From Bach to Pop is fine as long as we can listen in socially distanced comfort.
In June 1893, the Spanish Congress passed a bill by which ownership of the walls of Palma was ceded to the town hall. Strangely enough, or so it might seem, the town hall didnt have ownership, although it wasnt so strange when you consider that even today there are city walls that belong to the state: the walls in Avila form part of a World Heritage Site, and the Spanish government owns them.

Nowadays, this ownership is because walls - certain ones, at any rate - are elements of national cultural heritage. They would have been at the back end of the nineteenth century as well, but cultural heritage wouldnt have been the only consideration, as there was the strategic aspect of defence. Or was there?

Warfare had moved on somewhat from the days when walls were an absolute imperative. However, there were to be the truly bizarre events of summer 1898 which might have made Congress query its 1893 approval and the reason for it having given approval in the first place - demolition.

In May 1898, the Captain General of the Balearics, Rosendo Moino, declared a state of war. The islands were placed under military command, and so any worries that Congress might have had were allayed. The fact that the town hall had possession of the walls was immaterial. Palma, Mallorca and the Balearics were on a war footing, and the walls were to come in handy for howitzers.

This was to turn out to be, as anyone with much sense must surely have realised, a totally unnecessary exercise. Digging trenches at La Lonja was just one of the other measures adopted. And why? Because there were wholly false rumours, seemingly started by the French press, that Mallorca was about to be attacked by the Americans.

Simple consultation of an atlas might have persuaded the Captain General, the mayor of Palma, Eugeni Losada, and one General Jose Barraquer, in command of Spanish troops sent to Mallorca, that the island was an awfully long way away from the Caribbean and the Pacific, the theatres of war between the Spanish and the Americans.

Regardless of the distance, everyone had got into their heads that the Americans were on their way. They werent and there was never the slightest intention that they would have been. So much for press misinformation.

By 1898, clearly enough, the walls were still standing despite the 1893 approval. The American assault that never was aside, there were enough voices calling for the walls to come down because they were basically useless, and they included voices from the military.

One of them was none other than General Valeriano Weyler y Nicolau, Palma-born, the minister of war on three occasions, who was made Governor-General of Cuba in 1896 and is said to have been responsible for having initiated the use of concentration camps.

Regardless of anything that happened in Cuba which might have tarnished his reputation, General Weyler was hugely popular on his home island and in Palma especially. When the chief engineer of public works in Mallorca, Eusebi Estada, advocated the demolition of the walls, the general gave his wholehearted support.

Estada stated that the walls were useless militarily, and Weyler agreed with him. Had the Americans really been planning an invasion in 1898, the existence of the walls would have been of pretty much zero value.

There had in fact been an earlier approval for the removal of the wall where the Paseo Sagrera now is. This was in 1873, and it was in response to what by then was a pressing need. Laws impeded building outside the citys walled enclosure. More and more people were therefore being packed in, and there was an increasing public health risk as a consequence.

Even the 1873 demolition might not have happened, had the then Captain General not received an official order from the Spanish government. He had been unaware of any demolition and so troops were brought in to prevent it. The governments authorisation had been sent to the town hall, but no one had initially thought to inform the Captain General.

That demolition, while welcomed, didnt serve much purpose for what Estada, Weyler and many others recognised was imperative. The city had to expand, and the only way it could do was by knocking the walls down. Congress, by ceding the walls to the town hall in 1893, gave the local authority responsibility, but something was missing.

In 1901, Estada was part of a delegation which went to Madrid. They wanted definitive authorisation, and this had to be in the form of a royal order. In 1902, Alfonso XIII gave that order, and in August there was a grand ceremony to mark the occasion of the first stone being removed; a ceremony and, in good Mallorcan style, a fiesta as well. There were fireworks, processions, bands of music. Doves were released, choirs sang, the town hall organised a meal for some 2,000 poor of the city. The walls were finally tumbling down.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson met Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez at the NATO summit on Monday, where the pair agreed to deepen their relationship and discussed Brexit issues, the British PM's office said.

"The leaders discussed their shared commitment to deepening the already strong UK-Spain bilateral relationship across a huge range of issues including trade, defence and security," the No.10 Downing Street statement said.

"On the Northern Ireland Protocol, the Prime Minister said a constructive way forward needs to be found which preserves both the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement and the territorial integrity of the UK."
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SCOTTVILLE  Throughout his time working at West Shore Community College as executive director of college relations, Thom Hawley always felt a sense of pride during commencement season.

"I think my proudest times were commencement. I had the distinct opportunity to be the emcee for commencement for a number of years at the college," Hawley said. "And the proudest moment is when I can stand in front of those students and see their smiling faces."

Hawley enjoyed his final WSCC commencement this spring  as a staff member, anyway. After nearly 20 years with the college, Hawley is now officially a retiree.

"Working at the college has been a great pleasure and a truly rewarding experience," he said. "It's one that I will carry with me for the rest of my life."

The Ludington native began his career as executive director of the Mason County Historical Society, which operated in White Pine Village. Eventually Hawley was invited to join Lake Michigan Carferry, where he worked for 10 years doing marketing and public relations.

"I had a great time with that job," Hawley said. "That put me in both states and working in an industry that was brand new yet familiar to our community of Ludington."

Eventually, Hawley was invited to apply for a position with WSCC. His hiring served as a homecoming of sorts.

"That continued a whole bunch of history that I'd had with the college prior to that. I've had some association with the college since my teens when I was a student there," he said. "I was active in the college while I was there. I went away to get my undergraduate degree at Oakland University and then came back to the community following that. I was involved with the college's foundation for 11 years, so I've had an opportunity to work with all of the presidents since the founding president, Dr. (John) Eaton."

Scott Ward, WSCC president, said Hawley's history with the college afforded him a unique perspective which allowed him to flourish in his position.

"I always valued Thoms historical knowledge of the college, going from a student and student senate president perspective from the 1970s to that of a longtime employee," Ward said. "Combining his history with the college and his historical knowledge of the communities we serve, he was a tremendous asset in his college relations role. Thom was always a consummate professional and performed his role to that standard."

Hawley said he built many relationships at the college, and those relationships are what he's most grateful for from his time at WSCC.

"I think what I'm going to miss the most are my colleagues and the students. I have enjoyed the professional association that I've had with so many people," he said. "I've been introduced to many new friendships at the college. While those friendships will continue, I'll not see some of my colleagues on a daily basis and certainly the students will be at a distance now, but I'm grateful for the ones that I know and those I may have had an impact on."

Ward said although Hawley retired, the college will continue to focus on building strong relationships with its students.

"What I most appreciated about Thom though is his understanding of the important role we play as a community college in developing students," Ward said. "Thom mentored and supported many students throughout his career. The pride he took in watching those students build successful careers and his friendships with them long after they left West Shore encapsulates what we want to do as a college."

Taking the reins from Hawley is Crystal Young, who previously served as the WSCC Business Opportunity Center director. According to Hawley, the college is in good hands.

"I've been mentoring Crystal. She reported to me prior to my leaving the college," he said. "When I made the decision that it was time to retire, she expressed interest in the position, so Crystal's taking over and I have every confidence that she's going to do a great job."

For Hawley, retirement does not mean slowing down.

"I am an explorer  I love to travel overseas to go to places I've never been. I've been to Europe several times and I'm hoping also to explore Asia," he said. "Immersing myself in other cultures, eating and traveling in countries and learning about them is one of my hobbies. I'll also be involved with my business, Jamesport Brewing Company, in Ludington. I'm also the board president of the Ludington Area Center of the Arts and I'm sure I'll be busy there.

"While I don't have any real hobbies yet, I'm sure I'll develop one or two just for the fun of it."

SEE ALSO:

Photos: WSCC kicks off three days of commencement ceremonies
The value of Coca Cola fell in the region of four billion dollars after Cristiano Ronaldo disparagingly removed two bottles from their place at his press conference on Monday.

The Portugal star is known to be a keen advocate of healthy living and is not a fan of fizzy drinks such as Coca Cola.

Upon arriving for his media duties ahead of Portugal's opening Euro 2020 game against Hungary, the attacker sat down and then pushed two bottles of Coke to one side. He then pointedly raised a bottle of water.

The message was clear and, as well as going viral on social media, it has had an impact on the financial world too.

Coca Cola shares dropped from 56.10 dollars to 55.22 dollars almost immediately after Ronaldo's gesture, meaning the company's value fell from 242bn dollars to 238bn dollars.

If anyone was in any doubt over the power of Ronaldo's words and actions, they won't be now.

This isn't the first time Ronaldo has spoken out against carbonated drinks, having previously told of how he tries to avoid his son consuming them.

"Occasionally my son drinks Coca Cola or Fanta and eats crisps and he knows I don't like that," Ronaldo has said in the past.

On Tuesday evening, Portugal fans will be hoping Ronaldo has his say on the pitch with as much impact as he has had on the stock market.
Goldie Wilkinson, 90 of Alderson died Tuesday, June 29, 2021. Family will greet friends and relatives 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Thursday at Bishop Funeral Service. Funeral service will be 2:00 p.m., Friday at Bishop Chapel of Memories Burial will follow in Memory Gardens Memorial Park Cemetery.
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Marietta, GA (30060)

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Thunderstorms likely in the morning. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon. Potential for heavy rainfall. High around 80F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

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Thunderstorms likely in the morning. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon. Potential for heavy rainfall. High 81F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

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Not all desi dads are cut from the same cloth but there are some qualities that every Indian father possesses. Taunting their kids when they wake up late or using sarcasm to insult them is a birthright of every dad and they take it very seriously.



 Yash Raj Films

Every dad is different in his own way. Whether your old man is expressive and emotional or strict and stern, he is a typical Indian dad if he does everything under the sun just to see a tiny smile on your face without showing a frown line on his.



 Hatts Off Productions

Some Bollywood movies and series have given us the most relatable and real dads ever who remind us of the sacrifice, love and taunts of our own fathers. These reel dads have made us scream he is so much like my dad at our TV screens too many times.



 Dharma Production

Here are 5 types of onscreen desi dads that remind us too much of our own papa, baba, abba and dad at our home.



1. Satendra Sharma: The Struggler dad

Satendra Sharma from Aam Aadmi Family is the one who makes sure you are aware of all the facilities you are getting which he didnt enjoy as a kid and that you know its importance. He will tell you stories of how he used to climb mountains and swim rivers (all the time) just to go to school. And, if you suggest buying something, even for him, get ready for one of those beta, paise aise kharch karoge toh.. lectures.

 The Timeliners

2. Yashwardhan Raichand: The Sanskari Dad

This is the dad for whom sanskar, sanskriti and parampara are of utmost priority. If you have a father like Mr Raichand, you are required to attend family functions and festivals without fail, even if that means you have to come home from London in a helicopter. Plus, you are pretty sure that you will have to marry a girl he chooses for you. Because, keh diya na? Bas. Keh diya!

 Dharma Production

3. Indravadan Sarabhai: The Sarcastic dad

He is the daddy cool who is always looking for fun and sometimes trouble. He uses sarcasm like a true blue desi dad. Honestly, he is better than Chandler at roasting and killing someone with his sarcastic one-liners. But you can always count on him when you make a blunder because he always has your back, and also a dozen solutions in his mischievous mind.

 Hatts Off Productions

4. Chaudhry Baldev Singh: The Strict Dad

One death stare from him still gives you nightmares, TBT when you had to make scenarios in your head before taking permission from him as a kid. You have grown up with certain house rules that you still sometimes follow subconsciously, given the fear of your dad. However, you know that he is like a coconut with a hard shell but a warm heart underneath.

 Yash Raj Films

5. Sanjay Thapar: The Supportive Dad

If you have a dad like Bunnys dad in YJHD, especially when your friends have a Chaudhry Baldev Singh at their house, you are one lucky son of a...uber supportive dad. He supports you in every decision and encourages you to live the life he never got to live. Plus, he will casually slip in some cash, without you even asking.

 The Timeliners

So which one of these are you blessed with?


Serial killers are fascinating creatures, especially when they are a part of a riveting series like Mindhunter or True Detectives.

It shouldnt be a surprise that some of the best performing web series on OTT platforms are actually based around serial killers.

 AFP

Mindhunter, in particular, stands out in this regard. Yes, it may be verbose at times, but it is very gripping.



The interview sequences, in particular, are simply fascinating to watch. The makers of the show actually did a fantastic job in recreating some of the most popular and widely written about serial killers.

 Netflix

However, there are plenty of serial killers who were just as horrifying and scary that they did not cover.



Here are 7 serial killers that we wish we could have seen in Mindhuter, who were never actually covered:

1. John Wayne Gacy

 Reuters

John Wayne Gacy would fit perfectly into the category of serial killers that the show deals with.



Gacy was a business management graduate who was actually quite good at his job as a salesman. He eventually started working as a clown, as a hobbyist.

His claim to fame is killing 33 people, often dressed up as a clown.

2. Patrick Kearney

 AFP

Patrick Kearney was a necrophile, who confessed to killing about 45 people throughout his career, although, the local police, as well as the FBI, only managed to charge him for 21 of these murders.



As per several stories online, he gave some of the most bizarre interviews while he was behind the bars, and would often speak absolute rubbish.

His would have been an interview that agents Ford & Tench would have loved.

3. Kenneth Bianchi & Angelo Bueno Jr.

 AFP

Angelo Bueno Jr. and Kenneth Bianchi were cousins who murdered about 12-14 women. Local authorities and the general public thought that it was just one man, and they named the killer, the Hillside Strangler.



Serial killers have been known to lie during their interviews with Ford & Tench. It will be really interesting to see how these two serial killers give differing testimonies about the same events and murders, and how they contradict each other.

4. Rodney Alcala

 AFP

Okay, Alcala maybe the weirdest serial killer on this list, and a subject that Tench and his team should definitely have interviewed.



While his killing career was very much active, he not only participated in a dating show for a national TV channel, he actually won it.

He was on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list for a few years before he participated on the show, for a number of assault cases, and was already a convicted felon.

5. Gerald & Charlene Gallego

 Reuters

In the two seasons that we have seen of Mindhunter, we have always seen male serial killers. This would have been a great opportunity for agents Ford & Tench to actually interview a female serial killer, especially one that killed with her romantic partner.



Gerald & Charlene Gallego killed about 11 people in two years before they were arrested and sent to prison for their entire lives.

Surprisingly, Charlene, the female serial killer, was released after 17 years, while Gerald spent his entire life in prison.

6. Herbert Mullin

 Reuters

This is yet another serial killer that the show should have featured. Plus, they could have easily interviewed him as he was stationed right beside Ed Kemper or the Co-Ed Killer.



The reason Mullin would have made a great subject is the reasons he gave explaining why he did, what he did. Apparently, voices inside his head told him that he had to kill some people and sacrifice them to the gods, to prevent violent and devastating earthquakes.

Apparently, he killed 13 people, although the local police and amateur detectives believed his toll to be much higher.

7. Ted Bundy

 Reuters

Finally, we have the most notorious serial killer from that time period. Ted Bundy was the opposite of everything that Tench & Ford had made serial killers out to be up until that point.



Given how much people are interested in the man and his actions, and the fact that there are tons of documentaries, and docu-series being made on him, and being consumed, it is actually surprising that the team at Mindhunters did not see it fit to make an episode entirely on him.

The Bottom Line

Make no mistake, Mindhunter is one heck of a show. The subjects that they chose to interview were very fascinating, to say the least.

However, we think that these aforementioned serial killers would have made the show, just a tad bit better.
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King Carl XVI Gustaf to Recognize Granholm in Stockholm Thursday for Fostering Relations between Michigan, Sweden

King Carl XVI Gustaf to Recognize Granholm in Stockholm Thursday for Fostering Relations between Michigan, Sweden

Katie Carey 517-335-6397

Governor to receive Swedish Order of the Polar Star

LANSING - Governor Jennifer M. Granholm on Thursday will be recognized by His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf with Sweden's Insignia of First Commander, Order of the Polar Star for her work in fostering relations between Michigan and Sweden to promote a clean energy economy. The honor will be bestowed on the governor at the Royal Palace in Stockholm during an afternoon ceremony.

"In our pursuit to diversify Michigan's economy and create jobs we have forged a strong and fruitful relationship with Sweden, a country known for its leadership in clean energy," Granholm said. "Our mutual work to use clean energy technologies to create jobs is having a dramatic effect and so this award recognizes not just me, but everyone who is committed to making Michigan a leader in the clean energy economy."

His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf will present Granholm with the honor at the Royal Palace in Stockholm, the king's official residence. Among those scheduled to witness the ceremony will be U.S. Ambassador to Sweden Matthew Barzun, the governor's parents Victor and Shirley Granholm, Swedish Consul General for Michigan Lennart Johansson, and Greg Main, President and CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

The Order of the Polar Star was created in 1798 and is now awarded to foreigners and members of the Swedish royal family for services to Sweden.

In September 2008, Granholm hosted His Majesty for an official visit to Michigan. During the visit they co-hosted a conference on climate change in Dearborn and presided at the groundbreaking of the state's opening of the first Center of Energy Excellence, a clean energy collaboration between Swedish Biogas International, Kettering University and the city of Flint.

While in Stockholm the governor will be participating in a panel discussion about sustainable cities at the annual VINNOVA conference in Stockholm. VINNOVA, the Swedish governmental agency for innovation systems, is the state department that aims to promote growth and prosperity throughout the country. Granholm will also deliver a speech at the conference about Michigan's strategy for developing the clean energy sector.

Granholm's investment mission to France and Sweden is the governor's 11th overseas investment mission since 2004. Her previous missions to Austria, Belgium, Germany, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Italy and Sweden have resulted in 48 companies announcing over $1.8 billion in new investment in Michigan and 20,699 (9,244 direct) jobs created and retained.

For additional information please visit: www.kungahuset.se

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Gov. Whitmer Signs Executive Directive Prohibiting use of MDHHS-Administered Funds for the Practice of Conversion Therapy on Minors

Gov. Whitmer Signs Executive Directive Prohibiting use of MDHHS-Administered Funds for the Practice of Conversion Therapy on Minors

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 14, 2021

Contact: Press@Michigan.gov

Gov. Whitmer Signs Executive Directive Prohibiting use of MDHHS-Administered Funds for the Practice of Conversion Therapy on Minors

LANSING, Mich. - Today Governor Whitmer signed Executive Directive 2021-3 requiring MDHHS to take actions necessary to prohibit the use of state and federal funds for the harmful practice of conversion therapy on minors. The directive also requires departments and agencies to explore what further actions can be taken to protect minors from this harmful practice.

The governor was joined by Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist, medical and psychological professionals, as well as representatives from the Ruth Ellis Center and Equality Michigan to discuss the negative impacts of conversion therapy on LGBTQ+ youth and the necessity of ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent solely on evidence-based medical and mental health services. Governor Whitmer also called on the legislature to codify a ban on conversion therapy.

"Since day one, I have made it clear that hate has no home in Michigan," said Governor Whitmer. "My administration is committed to addressing the systemic barriers faced by young LGBTQ+ Michiganders so that our state is a place where they are able to reach their full potential. The actions we take today will serve as a starting point in protecting our LGBTQ+ youth from the damaging practice of conversion therapy and in ensuring that Michigan is a reflection of true inclusion."

Conversion therapy, also known as "reparative therapy" refers to any intervention that attempts to change an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity. It rests on the false premise that an LGBTQ+ individual's identity is pathological and must be "repaired" or "fixed." The nation's leading medical and mental health organizations oppose the practice of conversion therapy on minors. Not only is conversion therapy ineffectual, it can lead to significant long-term harm, including anxiety, depression, internalized homophobia, self-blame, and higher risk of suicide. LGBTQ+ youth, who may be unable to refuse or resist conversion therapy sought by their parents or guardians, are particularly vulnerable to these harms.

"Governor Whitmer's directive affirms our commitment to support the health, safety, and welfare of Michigan's LGBTQ+ youth. Every step we take towards equality will impact Michiganders for generations to come, and we are committed to walking on the right side of history," said Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist. "Members of the LGBTQ+ community face systemic barriers and are often further marginalized by this harmful practice. Our administration is committed to addressing these barriers and making Michigan a reflection of true equality. Governor Whitmer and I will continue to work towards ensuring that hate has no home in Michigan."

"No child should be subjected to the abusive practice of so-called conversion therapy, which sends the harmful message that there is something wrong with who you are," said Equality Michigan Executive Director, Erin Knott. "Luckily, LGBTQ+ kids in Michigan have the support of Governor Whitmer who is doing everything in her power to protect them from this dangerous, fraudulent practice that should never be subsidized with taxpayer dollars. Equality Michigan calls upon the legislature to immediately pass legislation prohibiting mental health providers from subjecting anymore LGBTQ+ kids in Michigan to this discredited practice."

"The Ruth Ellis Center staff and board applaud and celebrate the courage and wisdom of Governor Whitmer in moving Michigan forward in national leadership to ban harmful and discredited practices aimed at changing an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity," said Jerry Peterson, Executive Director, Ruth Ellis Center. "All efforts to shame a child and try to force them to deny their full and true selves are harmful and traumatizing. LGBTQ+ children and youth deserve the protection of the State of Michigan from such harms."

"As a pediatrician who works with LGBTQ+ adolescents, I have seen how patients thrive when they are able to be themselves and when their identities are supported," said Dr. Maureen Connolly, a pediatrician in Detroit who specializes in adolescent medicine and caring for the LGBTQ+ community. "Conversion therapy is the exact opposite of what young people need and has been shown to have long-lasting negative effects including depression, self-harm, and decreased self-esteem. I am grateful for this executive action and I know it will have a positive impact on the health of young people across Michigan."

"Today, Governor Whitmer sends a powerful message of care and appreciation that our LGBTQ+ and nonbinary citizens of all ages and races are precious and valued, that such harmful, discredited practices will not be tolerated in the state that I grew up in," said Amorie Robinson, Ph.D., L.P. "Governor Whitmer joins a host of others who understand the unique needs, challenges, and vulnerabilities of LGBTQ+ youth and the potential psychological damage when family members, faith institutions, and mental health providers try to force identities upon children. Most health professions agree that treating something that is not a disorder is unethical and that youth should be supported in their right to explore, define, and articulate their own identity without having their identity or exploration be suppressed. Today, the youth in Michigan can be assured that they have protections, support, and services that affirm who they are including those who are exploring who they are."

To view Executive Directive 2021-3 click the link below:

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Gov. Whitmer Announces Credit Rating Outlook Boost as State Displays Strong Financial Position, Economic Recovery

Gov. Whitmer Announces Credit Rating Outlook Boost as State Displays Strong Financial Position, Economic Recovery

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 15, 2021

Contact: Ron Leix, leixr@michigan.gov

Gov. Whitmer Announces Credit Rating Outlook Boost as State Displays Strong Financial Position, Economic Recovery

Fitch Ratings improves Michigan's AA credit rating outlook from "stable outlook" to "positive outlook."

LANSING, Mich. - Governor Whitmer today announced that the state of Michigan's improving economy and multi-billion-dollar revenue surplus coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic have prompted Fitch Ratings to improve the state's general obligation bonds AA credit rating from a "stable outlook" to a "positive outlook." The State of Michigan recently announce new revenue projections taking the state from a nearly $3 billion deficit to a $3.5 billion surplus. The move is an affirmation the state is headed in the right direction, saving taxpayers money by lower borrowing costs for upcoming bond issues.

"This rating is a sign of confidence in Michigan's hardworking people, close-knit communities, and innovative small businesses," said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. "Our early, decisive efforts to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic are paying dividends as we emerge from the pandemic stronger than ever, poised for an economic jumpstart. With billions in federal stimulus and a $3.5 billion state budget surplus, we must continue our forward momentum and channel it into raising wages, invest in small businesses, and uplift families. I look forward to engaging the legislature, local communities and Michiganders as we continue thinking through the best ways to turbocharge our economy and make a real difference in people's lives."

In its announcement, which formally rated $603 million of limited obligation revenue bonds to be issued through the Michigan Strategic Fund in support of the Flint Water Advocacy Fund, Fitch noted the state of Michigan's success in achieving balanced budgets and the expectation that the state's improved fiscal and budgetary resilience will be sustained.

In addition, Fitch believes the state is well-positioned to benefit from a return to economic growth following the deep recession caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I am delighted how Wall Street has recognized the hard work and effort taken to react to the impacts of COVID-19 here in Michigan," State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks said. "The credit rating agencies have again displayed confidence in Michigan's economic and financial health by affirming their credit ratings - with Fitch even boosting their outlook - showing investors that our state is a great investment."

Prior to offering $603 million of limited obligation revenue bonds, Fitch and Moody's Investor Services reviews the state's economy, finances and other factors to determine a credit rating.

Due to the bonds being an appropriation credit of the state, the rating agencies rate the Michigan Strategic Fund bonds one notch below the credit ratings of the state of Michigan. The bonds are rated AA- by Fitch and Aa2 by Moody's.

The money from this bond sale will be used to make a loan to the Flint Water Advocacy Fund for the purpose of transferring $600 million to the Flint Water Crisis Qualified Settlement Fund in accordance with a settlement agreement entered between the state of Michigan and plaintiffs concerning state defendants' legal liabilities related to the Flint Water Crisis.

During the May Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference, the Michigan Department of Treasury and state House and Senate Fiscal Agencies agreed to revenues $3.5 billion more than anticipated in January. Federal stimulus programs and improving public health situation were attributed to the increase.

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Governor Whitmer & Lt. Governor Gilchrist Announce Michigan has Reached a First Dose Vaccination Rate of 60%

Governor Whitmer & Lt. Governor Gilchrist Announce Michigan has Reached a First Dose Vaccination Rate of 60%

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 11, 2021

Media Contact: Press@Michigan.gov

Governor Whitmer & Lt. Governor Gilchrist Announce Michigan has Reached a First Dose Vaccination Rate of 60%

Michigan has administered more shots per 100k than Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina and Georgia

LANSING, Mich. -- Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist today issued the following statements as Michigan reaches 60% of the population age 16 and older receiving at least a first dose of a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine.

"Thanks to every Michigander who stepped up to keep themselves, their family, and their community safe," said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. "We can all feel a sense of optimism thanks to the tireless efforts of countless frontline workers who put their own safety on the line to keep the rest of us going. And we are tremendously grateful to the medical community who kept us all safe and created the safe, effective vaccines, all miracles of modern science. As we cross the 60% milestone in vaccinations, we are seeing cases, deaths, and hospitalizations continue to fall fast, which has helped to poise our economy for a strong recovery. I know that we can give Michigan the economic jumpstart it needs with the billions in available federal funds and our multi-billion dollar budget surplus. We will emerge from this once-in-a-century pandemic stronger than ever, and I am confident that we can make lasting, transformative investments in our schools, small businesses, and communities to help them thrive."

"I am pleased to see that so many Michiganders are continuing to make the choice to get vaccinated. Thank you to every person who has had a conversation with someone in their life to encourage them to get vaccinated, and the professionals and volunteers who have made vaccines available everywhere in our state," said Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II. "These safe, effective vaccines are our best shot to end this pandemic on our own terms. As more Michiganders make that choice, we come closer and closer to confidently growing our economy across the board, and setting our path toward a stronger Michigan. As we reach these vaccine milestones, we're able to hug our families, return to offices, enjoy a dinner out at our favorite restaurant, and safely spend time with friends."

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When people hear the word labyrinth, a maze typically comes to mind. But labyrinths can also be a single path  with no tricks or gimmicks - that invite people on a meditative walk.

During the Middle Ages, labyrinths were built in cathedrals to allow people to do a symbolic pilgrimage to Jerusalem without having to leave the building.

Now, theres a movement to bring them back as a spiritual tool to help reduce stress and quiet the mind. Karen Price, a former pastor, is part of that movement since she first learned about labyrinths nearly 25 years ago.

Price has installed a labyrinth in the last three homes shes lived in, and her current one in Port Austin is open to anyone who wants to walk it.

We welcome the community to come and walk the labyrinth as they like, Price said. Its interesting because people dont really need to know what its about  theyre just kind of drawn to it and curious about it.

Price said she typically gets a dozen people every year who come to the Willow Labyrinth on Port Crescent Road. She said visitors come for various different reasons, but she welcomes anyone.

Some people come because theyre hungry spiritually, Price said. "Some people come because theyre stressed, and others because theyre looking for answers and are struggling.

Despite their religious historical associations, Price said her labyrinth is open to anyone, regardless of faith. As a Christian, she personally walks her labyrinth in prayer, but she wants people to understand that labyrinths are an inclusive and unifying space.

The experience is bigger than one faith, Price said. Its big enough to encompass whatever youre there for. I think we have to be able to (come together) or were going to destroy the world someday because we cant understand each other.

In response to people who think labyrinths are new age nonsense, Price said she reminds people that theyre actually Middle Age, and she encourages people to try it out and walk the labyrinth.

The Willow Labyrinth is just one of 115 labyrinths across Michigan, according to the World-Wide Labyrinth Locator. Currently, Price is organizing guided meditations and events at the labyrinth.

She said she hopes that her farm and labyrinth can just be a happy space for people looking to find peace.

To learn more about Prices events, visit the Best of Times Farm website here: https://pricebestoftimesfarm.com/

This story was produced in partnership with CMU Public Radio. To hear the story, visit https://www.wcmu.org/hurondailytribune.
BERLIN (AP)  Police in Austria say a 29-year-old man arrested on suspicion of stabbing another man to death told officers he had planned the killing for weeks in order to be imprisoned.

Innsbruck police said Tuesday that the suspect, an Austrian citizen, had walked into a police station Monday in the town of Kufstein, near the German border, and claimed responsibility for the killing.
Elkton is working toward a potential first in Huron County.

The village has been in the process of qualifying for funds through a Michigan Economic Development Corporation program called Redevelopment Ready Communities for more than a year. Phyllis Baranski, the villages clerk and treasurer, has been spearheading the effort that involves several steps and a lengthy commitment in order to qualify. While the program is open to all Michigan communities, Elkton could be the first Upper Thumb location to qualify  a mark that fewer than 60 communities statewide have reached to this point.

The MEDC has done this program for several years and weve been engaged in it for almost two years, Baranski said. Its a lengthy process, but as long as youre maintaining progress, its something that can be done at your own pace.

Of the locations already deemed Redevelopment Ready Sites, North Branch in Lapeer County is the closest to the Upper Thumb area and one of just five in Region 6, which stretches from Huron County to Shiawassee County. Other communities in Huron County have at least started the RRC process, with Elkton being the first to have their evaluation completed.

This state-offered no-cost program is aimed at funding communities to attract new businesses and residents. It also requires a lot of legwork, starting with a training session and an approval from the communitys governing body, then the effort moves to meeting several goals.

One of them is developing a master plan, Baranski said. We had ours updated and completed in February and we just got the final copy. Then we need a capital improvement plan and thats in the drafting process, going to the planning commission.

Fortunately for communities with minimal staff like Elkton, the process comes with guidance in addition to a lenient timeframe. Baranski said the MEDC provides advisors who can assist throughout the process and potentially help her maneuver through the requirements while helping use time more efficiently.

I have a person from the state of Michigan who helps me and go through the organized steps, she said.

The MEDC also provides a planner to work with each community after its been acknowledged as meeting all the requirements, including identifying various funding programs the community qualifies for.

Were interested in the funding to help infrastructure, street paving, water and sewer among others, Baranski said. We dont know when well get everything done but well keep going through the steps to get there.

One of the available funding options is the Michigan Main Street Program, which began in 2003 and had generated over $300 million in private investments and nearly $100 million of public investments as of the start of 2020.
VIENNA (AP)  A top European diplomat said Tuesday he believes international negotiations with Iran will ultimately succeed in re-imposing limits on its nuclear program, but indicated that more time may be needed.

Enrique Mora, who is coordinating the talks in Vienna, said progress had been made on overcoming key obstacles at the talks.

The obstacles (are)...something that I think can be bridged, Mora told reporters outside the hotel where Iranian officials have been meeting with envoys from Russia, China, France, Germany, and Britain.

This is why we are here: to negotiate these different approaches, and I think we will succeed.

A landmark agreement in 2015 imposed strict curbs on Irans nuclear activities in exchange for easing U.S. sanctions but the deal was largely abandoned by the former Trump administration three years later.

U.S. President Joe Biden, along with European allies, is keen to revive the accord due to concerns that Iran has made significant advances since it stopped abiding by the 2015 commitments.

A joint statement issued by the United States and European Union after Bidens meetings this week with leaders in Europe described the Vienna process as critical to ensuring the exclusively peaceful nature of Irans nuclear program and upholding the global nuclear nonproliferation architecture.

The sides, it said, share serious concerns about Irans advances in the nuclear program while recognizing that the lifting of sanctions constitutes an essential part of a potential deal.

The U.S. is not taking part in the Vienna talks but has sent a senior diplomatic delegation to the Austrian capital to discuss the issue with many of the participating envoys, including Russian officials.

The Iran nuclear negotiations have brought about some alignment between Moscow and Washington despite years of recent tension, and is likely to be discussed at Wednesdays summit meeting in Geneva between Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin. ___

Follow latest news on Iran at https://apnews.com/hub/iran

___

Follow Gatopoulos at https://twitter.com/dgatopoulos and Jenne at https://twitter.com/PhilippJenne
LONDON (AP)  U.K. competition regulators are looking into Apple and Google smartphone operating systems, app stores and browsers, over concern that the control of "mobile ecosystems" by the two tech giants is harming consumers.

The Competition and Markets Authority on Tuesday opened a market study of Apples iOS, App Store and Safari browser and Googles Android, Play Store and Chrome browser.

The authority said it's taking a closer look at the effective duopoly the two companies have on the various gateways through which users can access online content such as music, TV and video streaming; services such as fitness tracking, shopping and banking; and products like smart speakers and watches.

Google said its Android operating system provides people with more choice than any other mobile platform in terms of apps they can use.

We welcome the CMAs efforts to understand the details and differences between platforms before designing new rules," Google said.

Apple did not reply immediately to a request for comment.

The watchdog said it's examining whether the role Apple and Google have in mobile ecosystems is stifling competition in digital markets and whether it could lead to reduced innovation and higher prices, either for devices and apps or for other goods and services because their makers face higher digital advertising prices.

Apple and Google control the major gateways through which people download apps or browse the web on their mobiles," CMA chief executive Andrea Coscelli said. Were looking into whether this could be creating problems for consumers and the businesses that want to reach people through their phones.

The study adds to the scrutiny that U.S. tech giants are facing in the U.K. and elsewhere in Europe. British regulators this month opened an investigation into Facebook's use of data in classified ad and online dating services and also said they will have a role overseeing Google's phase-out of ad-tracking technology from Chrome.
Advocates for different causes are hoping to get a second chance at passing a bill or securing funding in the new state budget as the Connecticut General Assembly prepares to return to the Capitol for a short special session this week.

The list runs the gamut from climate change groups who want lawmakers to take up a multi-jurisdictional initiative that attempts to cap and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to those who support helping people who are terminally ill to die.

Although the odds here may be small, we owe it to those faced with terminal illness to explore every opportunity to pass this legislation, read an email from the group Compassion and Choices, which urged its supporters to reach out to state legislators and ask them to take up the bill in special session. The Senate is scheduled to convene Tuesday and the House of Representatives on Wednesday.

Such requests are in addition to the legislature's original plan to vote this week on a massive bill that legalizes the adult use of cannabis and a bill that spells out details of the new two-year budget. Both bills were not passed before the June 9 deadline. The budget bill, known as the implementer, is often used as a tool to pass bills and concepts that didn't make it earlier in the session.

I've been on the phone, non-stop  the phone or Zoom, said Sen. Cathy Osten, D-Sprague, the co-chair of the General Assembly's Appropriations Committee, when asked about fielding budget requests.

On Monday, officials from community-based nonprofit agencies that provide mental health and addiction service urged lawmakers to find them about $75 million in additional funding over two years. They noted how a recent settlement Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont reached with unionized workers at group homes for people with disabilities did not help their agencies, which provide behavioral health care services.

We are not saying the others should not have received their increase, said Gian Carl Casa, president and CEO of Connecticut Community Nonprofit Alliance. They deserve the funding that theyre getting. Were just saying that the state has the means to provide for behavioral health providers as well.

Roughly $400 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds to the state were not spent in the new, two-year $46.3 billion budget that was approved last week. Osten said Monday that about $200 million of the remaining $400 million has been earmarked since the legislature adjourned its regular session. For example, she said $50 million over two years will be added to the nonprofit agencies that provide behavioral health and addiction services.

I have it cobbled together for $25 million in year one and $25 million in year two to help out, she said. They are getting other payments within the confines of the budget already. So its pretty complicated.

Additionally, Osten said an additional $10 million has been set aside for nursing homes with a client base that is heavily reliant on Medicaid patients. Also, she said about $22.5 million is set aside to provide certain state employees and members of the Connecticut National Guard with special compensation for working during the height of the pandemic, while about $70 million was added to workforce development initiatives.

You start adding in $70 million here and $70 million there, it eats away a lot of that ($400 million in leftover federal funds), Osten said.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  Iran's presidential election on Friday, though likely more a coronation for a hard-line candidate long cultivated by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, still carries implications for a wider Middle East already roiled by years of tensions between Tehran and the West.

Khamenei holds final say over Iran's military and its nuclear program, but the presidency does control domestic matters such as the economy, and serves as the public face of the Islamic Republic.

Its decisions, though on a narrow bandwidth, can affect how the rest of the world interacts with Iran. The far different tenures of hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and that of the relative moderate President Hassan Rouhani, whose administration reached the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, are a stark reflection of that.

How an administration overseen by hard-line judiciary chief Ebrahim Raisi would behave, remains in question. Raisi  who analysts and polling suggest is the clear front-runner after a panel overseen by Khamenei disqualified his major rivals  already faces strong skepticism from the West. That is in part for running a judicial system in Iran that remains one of the world's top executioners and sees its Revolutionary Courts operate many trials behind closed doors.

In 2019, the U.S. Treasury under President Donald Trump sanctioned Raisi for his administrative oversight over the executions of individuals who were juveniles at the time of their crime and the torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment of prisoners in Iran.

Raisi as the head of the judiciary also oversees a system long criticized by families of detainees and activists as targeting dual nationals and those with Western ties to use them as bargaining chips in negotiations.

The Treasury also noted Raisi's time in the Tehran's prosecutor's office, describing him as being involved in the security force crackdown on Iran's 2009 Green Movement protests surrounding Ahmadinejad's disputed re-election at the time. The Treasury said Raisi participated in the so-called death panels of 1988, which Amnesty International says oversaw the execution of as many as 5,000 people at the end of the Iran-Iraq war.

President Joe Biden's administration so far has made no move to remove Raisi from the sanctions list. The State Department and the Treasury declined to answer questions about how sanctions on Raisi could affect American foreign policy if he's elected.

It probably would not help matters that Raisi in early January threatened Trump  still president at the time  with assassination while speaking at the first anniversary of the U.S. drone strike in Baghdad that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani.

The enemy should not think that if someone (who) appeared in the guise of the American president (and) is responsible for the assassination, they will be safe from justice," Raisi said then. "None will be safe anywhere in the world. The resistance is determined to take revenge.

In recent presidential debates, however, Raisi said he would oversee a return to the nuclear deal reached by Rouhani. That accord saw Iran limit its enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. Since Trump's unilateral withdrawal of America from the agreement, Iran has been enriching small amounts of uranium to up to 63% purity  a record high though still below weapons-grade levels of 90%.

Iran's economy has cratered since America's withdrawal from the accord. Rejoining the deal, even though the agreement remains despised by hard-liners, could help ease the economic hardship.

The deal would not be executed by you," Raisi told his moderate competitor, Rouhani's former Central Bank chief Abdolnasser Hemmati, at the final pre-election debate Saturday. It needs a powerful government to do this.

Those remarks followed his previous comments during his failed 2017 campaign for president against Rouhani, in which he compared the deal to a check that has not been cashed through government inaction.

Raisi has not offered other hints on foreign policy during the campaign, though he's praised the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah in the past and criticized normalization efforts between Israel and Arab nations as undermining the Palestinians. A return to the nuclear deal could have a knock-on effect for Hezbollah as Iran is its main patron, freeing up cash as Lebanon faces what the World Bank has described as the world's worst financial crisis since the 1850s.

Iran's Gulf Arab neighbors meanwhile have sought to improve ties in recent months as they anticipate a return by the Biden administration to the nuclear deal.

Saudi Arabia and Iran held talks in Baghdad in April, with Riyadh likely hoping it can avoid a direct confrontation such as the one it saw in 2019, when a suspected Iranian attack struck the heart of its oil industry. The United Arab Emirates, home to Abu Dhabi and Dubai, similarly held talks after tankers off its coast came under attack in another assault suspected to have been carried out by Tehran. Those attacks, as well as others in a shadow war between Tehran and Israel, can be linked directly back to Trump's withdrawal from the deal.

That doesn't mean a rapprochement with Tehran is immediately in the cards. But that hedging could indicate a possibly easier time for Raisi in managing ties to other countries, especially to the UAE, which had been a crucial economic outlet for Iran.

But for Raisi himself, the immediate danger may be coming from inside Iran itself. Anger over its ailing economy has seen nationwide protests erupt twice in recent years and spin out of control. Polling from the state-linked Iranian Student Polling Agency puts turnout  long viewed by officials as a sign of support for the theocracy  on track to be the lowest since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

With that public disenchanted with the government, Raisi is likely to soon become its face both at home and abroad.

___

EDITORS NOTE  Jon Gambrell, the news director for the Gulf and Iran for The Associated Press, has reported from each of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Iran and other locations across the world since joining the AP in 2006. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jongambrellAP.
ESSEX  The Essex Fire Engine Co. #1 dedicated its new fire boat June 12, the Joseph H., in honor of Joseph Heller, a longtime member of the fire department who passed away in 2019.

It was dedicated in Hellers name because of his knowledge of the Connecticut River and boat training he provided to department members who served on boats in the past, according to a press release.
The nonprofit community agencies that contract with the state to provide a wide array of social services were quick to applaud nearly $200 million in new funding for nonprofits in the two-year state budget approved last week  a meaningful plus-up that providers said would help address their longtime quest for increased state support.

That helped some of them, including workers at group homes for people with intellectual disabilities, who came within a day of striking earlier this month. But it leaves many agencies, and workers, out.

On Monday, a day before the state Senate and two days before the House were set to make the budget final, the Connecticut Community Nonprofit Alliance decried that the budget does not include increases for Medicaid funded mental health and addiction programs in the state.

We are extremely grateful for the increases provided in the budget for other sectors of the nonprofit community and its our hope that this is an oversight, a mistake rather than a choice, Gian-Carl Casa, president and CEO of the Alliance, said during an online news conference Monday.

The budget includes Medicaid increases for private nonprofits across the board, but much of that money was diverted to settle strike actions earlier this month with the group home workers. Other workers in the same sector sustained the same extraordinary pressures in the pandemic, executives in the business said.

The Lamont administration, as the major payer through the state-federal Medicaid system, helped broker the $184-million, two-year deal to provide wage increases and enhanced benefits to the group home workers.

Casa indicated it wasnt until the final budget language came out that his group realized mental health and substance abuse providers would not be getting an increase. The Alliance says an additional $75 million in funding is needed over the next two years to provide increases for these providers.

Lawmakers are expected to approve about $25 million over the biennium for these services, mostly mental health, through passage of the so-called budget implementer bill this week, Sen. Cathy Osten, D-Sprague, co-chair of the General Assemblys Appropriations Committee, said by phone Monday.

But Casa said Monday that its not yet clear how that federal funding will be distributed.

Our hope is that it will go out in proportion to all the nonprofits to address their needs, he said.

Heather Gates, president and CEO of Community Health Resources, one of Connecticuts largest behavioral health, housing, foster care and methadone providers, said at Mondays news conference that while group home workers certainly deserve raises  no question about that  so does her staff.

How do leaders make a decision to shortchange mental health and substance use treatment providers following the toughest year weve ever experienced going into a year where we know demand will be high and funding cuts over the last decade have kept us on the edge of disaster, she said.

Without a Medicaid increase, Gary Steck, CEO of Wellmore Behavioral Health, said the organization, which is based in Waterbury but serves 40-plus towns, cant afford to boost pay for its staff, who also spent the past 15 months on front lines of the pandemic.

Steck called on lawmakers correct this injustice and put the resources where necessary.

This is happening as substance abuse is on the rise and more people are seeking out mental health services.

Luis Perez, president and CEO of Mental Health Connecticut, said at the national level the organization is screening about 50 percent more people than average and the severity of the cases has also increased. Thats consistent with what Perez is seeing here in Connecticut, he said.

Connecticut also saw a jump in opioid-related overdose deaths in 2020. Perez said the rise of substance abuse also applies to alcohol and other illicit drugs  people are self-medicating.

For those programs, the lack of funding increase may be devastating, Casa said. Itll jeopardize patients access to programs across Connecticut.
Correction Officer Ginny Ligi says she was working 80-hour weeks in April 2020, often without the needed personal protective equipment, when she began feeling sick.

A test soon confirmed her worst fear  the intense vertigo, nausea and headaches were symptoms of COVID-19. She is one of an estimated 1,700 Connecticut Department of Correction workers to contract the coronavirus since the pandemic began, according to her union.

Ligi, who works at the Cheshire Correctional Institution, spent the next month at home, much of it in bed, worried about her future and whether she would pass the coronavirus on to her husband and three children.

It was horrible, she said. After I came home sick, my 3-year-old would sit at my bedroom door crying, wanting to come in and see me and I couldn't let her. So, it was devastating for everybody.

The Connecticut AFL-CIO on Monday asked Connecticut lawmakers to use this week's special legislative session to allocate federal COVID-19 relief funds to all those deemed essential workers during the pandemic, such as Ligi.

They are calling it hero pay," and are asking for a dollar an hour for every hour worked, which would be an estimated $500 million for all of the state's essential employees.

State Sen. Cathy Osten, D-Sprague, co-chair of the General Assembly's Appropriations Committee, said $22.5 million in total has been set aside at Gov. Ned Lamont's request for hazard pay during the height of the pandemic. Of that sum, about $10 million would go to essential state employees and $12.5 million to members of the Connecticut National Guard. Osten said she doesn't know how Lamont intends to dole out those funds.

His people have not given us the list of where thats going. So I dont know, she said. My question is, what state employees does he consider essential? What is the job classification that youre covering?

Ligi said people don't understand the fear she and coworkers had to overcome every day just to report to work, not knowing which inmates and which coworkers might be infected. In the first weeks of the pandemic they had no N95 masks and gloves were in scarce supply, she said.

We still had to tour every 15 minutes, 30 minutes, depending on what block we were on, she said. And unfortunately, you're with 104 inmates with two officers in a unit and really no place to social distance.

The Correction Department, while not specifically endorsing the call for hero pay, released a statement Monday saying it is deeply indebted to those workers.

It is difficult, if not impossible, to put a value on the importance of serving the greater good, the department said. The countless acts of selfless service the men and women of the DOC performed during the pandemic were truly invaluable, and will leave a legacy for others to admire and emulate for a long time to come.

Ligi, 37, came back to work in late May of last year, working 16-hour shifts through much of the pandemic. She said she still is suffering from inner-ear problems and chronic fatigue and her doctors can't tell her if she will ever fully recover.

She said the hero pay would be a morale booster.

We're all just very tired and frankly feeling defeated," she said.

____

Associated Press Writer Susan Haigh contributed to this report
Photo by Getty Westend61 / Photo by Getty Westend61

WINDSOR LOCKS  Officials apprehended a 31-year-old Massachusetts resident following an incident at a home in town Monday, according to police.

Michael Mesick, a Feeding Hills resident, is facing charges of burglary, larceny, reckless driving and disobeying an officers signal, according to a Facebook post from Windsor Locks Police Department.
BRANFORD  The James Blackstone Memorial Library marks its 125th year on Thursday, June 17. Its among many libraries that been transformed over the past century, more so during the global pandemic.

The library will commemorate the anniversary throughout the 2021-2022 with a range of programs that connect the past, present and future, culminating in June 2022 with a celebration of the building renovation and the anniversary.

Library Director Karen Jensen said that the calendar of activities is still being finalized.

During the year, the library is engaging Branford residents in its strategic planning initiative, focused on remaining responsive to community needs and being a resource for all residents.

Branford voices will help shape the outcome and guide the library to deliver even greater value, make even more of a difference to the community, and continue the legacy of being an everlasting anchor of the town providing so much more than books, according to Jensen. To join one of the conversations, visit the library website at blackstonelibrary.org

An intellectual center

In 1896, the library was established as the intellectual center of the community, beginning with the purchase of 6,000 volumes and the contemporary idea that the library should be used for enjoyment as much as education. According to Professor Arthur T. Hadley, in his address at the librarys dedication, the modern idea of education includes everything that goes to make life worth living  the best life is attained by the man who finds his freest play in educational work When a man has finished his education he has ceased to grow.

In one account of the librarys grand opening celebration in June 1896, a reporter from the Boston Herald wrote In a very plain village in Connecticut by the sea, nine miles east of New Haven, in a lonesome little town called Branford, which has a malleable iron factory, a lock shop, a quarry and miles of farm patches that produce annually 50,000 quarts of strawberries for the Boston Market, there is a public library that cost nearly $600,000!

In its early days, the library was open from 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Saturday. It was a vital resource for current information with 100 periodical subscriptions in addition to books; it was also a meeting place and a source of warmth when homes were still heated by fireplaces and coal stoves. Through the years, the library hosted occasional concerts and many lectures, like one in 1912 entitled Climbing and Exploring in the Peruvian Andes, by Professor Hiram Bingham of New Haven.

The crown jewel of the town

Both the town of Branford and the James Blackstone Memorial Library have grown over 125 years with the library playing a central role in supporting community life.

Today the library holds more than 60,000 volumes in its print collection and provides access to an additional 25,000 electronic titles, which can be utilized within the library walls or where there is internet access. The auditorium is in more demand than ever for its gracious space and outstanding acoustics.

When the library was established, its construction and operational expenses were covered by Timothy Blackstones generous donation. By the 1960s, income generated from a modest endowment was no longer sufficient to support operating expenses and the town stepped in to help.

Today, approximately 85 percent of the librarys operating budget is supported by the town. The remaining income comes from fundraising, grants and other donations. The Friends of the James Blackstone Memorial Library, established in 1978, also raise funds that allow the library to offer additional materials and programs to the community.

As described by the architect in the inaugural program, the Blackstone occupied a central and commanding point on the main street. Today, the library building is much the same as it was in 1896, although the grounds are now more of a hidden gem beckoning to be discovered and experienced by not only Branford residents, but by all visitors to Branford.

In the 1970s, a dedicated childrens space was created in the basement, an area originally planned to serve as a gymnasium. An extensive renovation in the 1990s provided more space for library operations by moving the HVAC to a separate building. A badly needed restoration of the murals and gold leaf in the rotunda, along with other structural repairs, was also accomplished.

The most recent renovation was completed in last year. A new entryway was added and space has been reallocated within the original footprint to allow for more meeting space, technology, and resources for children and teens. The rear dome roof above the auditorium stage was completely replaced.

The Blackstone Library has remained true to the vision of those who toiled to create an enduring monument of architectural beauty that would be a center of learning, achievement and inspiration.
HARTFORD  Towns and cities that continue to have school mascots, images, nicknames and logos with Native American references could lose state funding under budget-triggering legislation that was heading to a vote Tuesday night in the state Senates special session.

Under the proposed legislation, even intramural teams would have to drop Native American references. Municipalities could start to lose their share of Native American casino money starting July 1, 2022, unless they have a written agreement with the states historically recognized tribes.

State Sen. Cathy Osten, D-Sprague, said that if schools can get their nearest tribal nations to agree, they can keep the nicknames and logos. You can keep it anyways, she said. You just cant keep the money if they disagree.

Derby High School, with its Red Raiders nickname and arrowhead logo, is one of a dozen in the state that have retained references to Native Americans. In the budget approved last week in the General Assembly, Derby was approved for $207,304 in each year of the biennium.

Derbys mayor Richard Dziekan said Wednesday that the future of its sports mascot would be determined through discussions involving community stakeholders and the Board of Education .

Ultimately, the decision lies with the Board of Education, but in 2021 and in light of all the changes being made nationwide, it will not be something the community takes lightly, Dziekan said in an emailed statement Wednesday.

Nothing will change the Derby pride for which we are known, but I know the Board of Education will represent the city well in whatever decision they make.

Richard Dziekan

Mayor, City of Derby

Last year, the town of Killingly in eastern Connecticut voted to retain its high schools Redmen nickname and images. The budget includes $94,184 for the town from the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan Fund.

The legislation also includes requirements that school districts begin to teach sections of Native American history in the academic year starting in September, 2023.

The schools that have Native American references also include Canton High School, which will receive no gambling revenue, Conard High School in West Hartford ($27,820), Montville High ($1.44 million), Nonnewaug High in Woodbury (no gambling revenue), North Haven High ($86,789), Torrington High ($196,642), Wamogo High in Litchfield ($2,687), Wilcox Tech in Meriden ($698,609) Wilton High (no revenue) and Windsor High (no revenue).

The Native American names proposal was part of a massive bill designed to put into effect provisions of the state budget adopted last week  not a separate bill, raising objections from a Republican leader.

Senate Minority Leader Kevin Kelly, R-Stratford complained that the large bill was given to lawmakers with only a few hours before the days activities. He said the punishment for schools that retain their nicknames should have been subject to the usual legislative process of public hearings and committee votes.

I would think that would be better as a subject for a separate bill, because you want all parties at the table, all interests, Kelly said.

Another proposal from Osten to pay East Windsor $3 million annually to make up for a long-stalled $300 million casino project planned in town, however, did not make it into the budget adjustment bill due to objections from the Lamont administration. That money was first reported by Hearst Connecticut Media last week.

I told them I would bring it up again next year, Osten said Tuesday ahead of the Senates vote to finalize the budget.

The Sprague Democrat and co-chair of the legislative Appropriations Committee, pushed for the town, far from her eastern Connecticut district, to recoup the lost revenue it would have collected had the casino opened.

Osten argued that since Gov. Ned Lamont pushed the two casino-owning tribes in her district to put the East Windsor casino project on hold for at least 10 years to reach a deal on legalizing online gaming and sports betting, a proposal she led, the state owed a debt to the town.

The payments wouldnt have started until 2024, around the same time state is expected to see added revenue from the expansion of gaming, Osten said. I have no problem bringing it back again.

The 837-page bill to start the state budget year on July 1 would also require Bridgeport to have mandatory election monitors; raise the pay of state judges; provide for free phone calls for incarcerated people; and raise the monthly personal needs allowance for nursing home residents to $75.

Most of the budget legislation is devoted to enacting previously approved legislation, such as a 4.5 percent wage increase for nursing home workers, and a $15.4 million contribution to worker fringe benefits and retirements.

kdixon@ctpost.com Twitter: @KenDixonCT
TEHRAN, Iran (AP)  A prominent contender in Irans presidential election appealed Tuesday for better economic and political relations with the West, his most extensive attempt yet to attract reformist voters just days ahead of the poll.

Former Iranian Central Bank chief Abdolnasser Hemmati, among the seven candidates allowed on the ballot for Fridays vote, has no official ties to any political faction but is positioning himself as the likely candidate for moderate and reform-minded voters.

Why should there be a barrier for peaceful co-existence? asked Hemmati, while emphasizing that an "improvement in global and regional peace hinged on American good will and "trust-building" with the Islamic Republic.

He repeated calls for a return to Tehran's tattered 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, saying that if he were to become president, resurrecting the agreement and securing sanctions relief would definitely be one of my priorities."

In an interview with The Associated Press last week, he said hed even be willing to possibly meet with U.S. President Joe Biden if he wins.

Polling and analysts indicate that Hemmati lags in the race behind the countrys hard-line judiciary chief, Ebrahim Raisi, the clear front-runner cultivated by Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Nearly 600 challengers hoped to replace relatively moderate President Hassan Rouhani, who is term-limited from running again.

But the Guardian Council, a clerical vetting body, allowed just Raisi, Hemmati and five lower-profile contenders, mostly hard-liners, to run. Hemmati on Tuesday described those challengers as proxy candidates" that he expected would soon drop out of the race.

Within Iran, candidates exist on a political spectrum that broadly includes hard-liners who want to expand Irans nuclear program and confront the world, moderates who hold onto the status quo and reformists who want to change the theocracy from within.

The son of Mehdi Karroubi, once Irans most outspoken opposition leader, announced earlier this week that his father would throw his support behind Hemmati, saying he believed the moderate candidate would "defend the republic and the presidential system.

The Guardian Council's stunning disqualification of well-known reformist candidates, coupled with the coronavirus pandemic, have subdued the typical pre-election frenzy in Iran and created a mood of voter apathy. Calls for a boycott have increased in recent weeks. The state-linked Iranian Student Polling Agency most recently projected a 42% turnout from the countrys 59 million eligible voters, which would be a historic low.

With the still-raging virus halting campaign rallies and big gatherings, Hemmati spoke Tuesday at a modest press conference at the University of Tehran. Addressing some hundred reporters and supporters, he expressed hope that Iranian and American negotiators, now engaged in indirect talks in Vienna, would agree on a plan for Iran to curb its nuclear program and the U.S. to lift heavy sanctions, re-imposed when then-President Donald Trump withdrew America from the accord in 2018.

Trump's decision to pull out of the deal has, over time, seen Iran abandon almost every limitation of the agreement, enriching more uranium than allowed and to a greater purity than permitted, among other things.

Cabinet spokesman Ali Rabiei announced Tuesday that the country's low-enriched uranium stockpile had climbed to 108 kilograms (238 pounds) of 20% enriched uranium from 90 kilograms (198 pounds) in May. The stockpile of 60% enriched uranium, a short technical step to weapons-grade levels, had reached 6.5 kilograms (14.3 pounds), up from last month's 2.5 kilograms (5.5 pounds).

Rouhani's eight years in office brought steep economic decline, particularly after the collapse of the nuclear deal. Hemmati sought Tuesday to promote his successes as a top banker, although his Central Bank tenure was defined by the crash of the Iranian riyal amid America's economic pressure campaign.

I believe that an economist should take the executive responsibility of the country, he said. I hope that, with the peoples help, a government will come to power to manage the country rationally and prevent politics from running the economy.

___

Associated Press writer Isabel DeBre in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed to this report.
Looking for something to read while lounging on the beach this summer? Heres 15 new books that are available in June that are sure to keep you glued to pages whether youre reclining by the water or seeking refuge by your air conditioner.

Sparks fly when a workaholic returns to her hometown to care for her injured father. Now that Maya is home she finds a job at a bridal shop owned by Derek, a widower trying to keep the family business afloat while caring for his tween daughter. Sparks quickly fly between the two, but with Mayas plans to stay temporarily, what will happen to the couple?

We Are Inevitable by Gayle Forman - June 1

Joy has left Aarons life after losing his mother and brother, and now the teen spends all his time working in his fathers bookshop. However, things begin to change for him when he meets a best life bro and a musician who might just be his inevitable person.

The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo - June 1

Jordan Baker grows up with the best of the best during the Jazz Age, but quickly finds that despite her adopted familys wealth, her queer Asian identity bars her from many opportunities. For Jordan, the world is full of wonders and her own fantastic abilities might be all she needs to build the life she wants.

Ace of Spades by Faridah Abike-Iyimide -June 1

Two teens find their lives have been turned upside down by an anonymous texter who goes by Aces. When the texter begins to threaten their futures, things turn deadly in this Gossip Girl-like thriller.

Lizzie & Dante by Mary Bly - June 1

Lizzie is living on borrowed time when she meets and begins to fall for Dante while on an Italian vacation. But knowing that her time is limited, Lizzie is faced with deciding if she should live and love to the fullest or deny herself happiness because her life has a rapidly approaching expiration date.

One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston - June 1

Augusts life is dreary and mundane until her daily commute is shaken up by the appearance of the mysterious Jane. The only problem is Jane doesnt belong in this decade, the cute punk rocker has somehow ended up in the wrong time and only August can help her.

The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot by Marianne Cronin - June 1

Together Lenni and Margot have lived a century, but the unexpected friendship between a terminal teen and an octogenarian leads to an unforgettable story of love and loss.

Anne of Manhattan by Brina Starler - June 1

Anne of Green Gables gets an update as Anne leaves her childhood home in Avonlea to take on Manhattan to attend grad school with her nemesis Gilbert Blythe in tow. Except now her nemesis is making eyes at her so Annes forced to decide if hes her enemy or something more.

The Queer Principles of Kit Webb by Cat Sebastian -June 8

When an aristocrat hires a reformed thief to teach him how to execute a robbery to protect his friend, their plans quickly go awry when the two men steal each others hearts.

We Cant Keep Meeting Like This by Rachel Lynn Solomon - June 8

A cynical wedding harpist and a romantic catering waiter have known each other forever, but now as they flirt back and forth throughout the wedding season will they survive it without falling for each other?

The Maidens by Alex Michaelides - June 15

Mariana is convinced one of Cambridges professors is a murderer and shes determined to prove it, even if it means putting her own personal and professional life on the line.

The World Gives Way by Marissa Levian - June 15

Myrra knows she wont be free until she works off her contract, but suddenly she finds herself in charge of her own life much earlier than expected but shes not sure if she can afford the cost of her freedom.

What to Do When Someone Dies by Nicci French - June 22

When her husband dies in a car accident with a mysterious passenger, a widow is left to wonder if her husband was cheating or if the accident was part of a murder plot.

Songs in Ursa Major by Emma Brodie - June 22

A local musician gets the spotlight and the break of a lifetime when the headlining act misses the festival. The two musicians meet and strike up an affair and revel in the 70s music scene.

Survive the Night by Riley Sager - June 29

When two strangers carpool from campus to their homes in Ohio, one of the passengers begins to wonder if shell survive the trip and if she inadvertently agreed to a road trip with a serial killer.

tinamarie.craven@hearstmediact.com
WASHINGTON (AP)  Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene apologized Monday for affronting people with recent comments comparing the required wearing of safety masks in the House to the horrors of the Holocaust.

I'm truly sorry for offending people with remarks about the Holocaust," the Georgia Republican told reporters outside the Capitol, saying she had visited Washington's U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum earlier in the day. There's no comparison and there never ever will be."

Greene's comments were a rare expression of regret by the conservative agitator, a freshman whose career has included the embrace of violent and offensive conspiracy theories and angry confrontations with progressive colleagues.

Her apology came more than three weeks after appearing on a conservative podcast and comparing COVID-19 safety requirements adopted by Democrats controlling the House to a time and history where people were told to wear a gold star." She said they were put in trains and taken to gas chambers in Nazi Germany. This is exactly the type of abuse that Nancy Pelosi is talking about. Pelosi, D-Calif., is House speaker.

Greene's comments were condemned by Republican leaders, including House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., who called the comparison appalling."

GOP leaders have often been reluctant to castigate Greene, a close ally of former President Donald Trump. After social media posts were unearthed in which Greene suggested support for executing some Democratic leaders, McCarthy and most Republicans stood by her when the House took the unusual step of stripping her of her committee assignments in February.

But as House members returned to the Capitol on Monday after a three-week break, Greene was contrite.

Anti-Semitism is true hate," she said. And I saw that today at the Holocaust Museum."

In 2018, two years before her election to Congress, she speculated on Facebook that California wildfires may have been caused by lasers or blue beams of light controlled by a left-wing cabal tied to a powerful Jewish family.

On Monday, she told reporters that when she was 19, she visited the site of the Auschwitz concentration camp in what during World War II was Nazi-occupied Poland. It isn't like I learned about it today," she said of the Holocaust, in which 6 million Jews and huge numbers of other people were killed. I went today because I thought it was important," she said, and wanted to talk about it as she apologized.

House leaders have recently said vaccinated people no longer must wear masks in the chamber.

Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Ill., said he would introduce a resolution in the House this week to censure Greene.

In addition, Republicans may try forcing a vote to punish Rep. Ilhan Omar. The Minnesota Democrat recently made remarks criticized by top House Democrats and Jewish lawmakers for seeming to compare the U.S. and Israel to Hamas and the Taliban. Omar said she didn't mean to draw that parallel.
The United States will not conduct airstrikes to support Afghan security forces after it withdraws its remaining troops from Afghanistan, the head of U.S. Central Command, or CENTCOM, told Voice of America.

In an interview published by VOA on Monday, Marine Gen. Kenneth McKenzie said the U.S. will conduct airstrikes in Afghanistan only when plans to conduct terrorist attacks against the American homeland, or those of its allies, have been uncovered.

"That would be the reason for any strikes that we do in Afghanistan after we leave," he told VOA while aboard a military plane headed for the Middle East. "[It] would have to be that we've uncovered someone who wants to attack the homeland of the United States, one of our allies and partners."

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The New York Times reported last week that the Pentagon was considering whether to intervene and carry out airstrikes, either from manned aircraft or drones, to support Afghan security forces if Kabul or other major cities were at risk of falling to the Taliban.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin declined to comment on that report during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing last week.

VOA reported that McKenzie's comments appeared to refute the Times' report about airstrikes being considered.

McKenzie also told VOA that a plan to evacuate Afghan interpreters and other citizens who have assisted the United States, if necessary, has been completed. He said that the State Department will dictate when that plan would be carried out and the size of the operation.

Activists and lawmakers who are working to help Afghan allies obtain visas to come to the United States have grown increasingly concerned in recent weeks about those Afghans' safety, and are desperately pushing the administration to do more. Some Afghans already have been killed in retaliation for their work helping the U.S., the activists say; as the withdrawal continues, time is quickly running out to help those who remain.

The Special Immigrant Visa program meant to vet Afghan allies and bring them to the U.S. has long been deeply troubled and plagued by understaffing, and its complex and bureaucratic process often leaves Afghans in limbo for years. A report earlier this year said the program had a backlog of about 18,800 people. Some activists are now pushing a plan that calls for flying Afghan allies and their families to Guam, where they can be safely housed away from potential retaliation while the visa process takes its course.

McKenzie also told VOA that there are now roughly 40,000 troops in the Middle East, fewer than the 60,000 to 80,000 that were there about a year and a half ago.

He said in the interview that the Afghanistan withdrawal has strained resources across both CENTCOM and U.S. Transportation Command, as mobility aircraft have shuttled large amounts of equipment out of the country.

In a roundtable with reporters last Monday, McKenzie said that the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces from Afghanistan was about halfway complete.

-- Stephen Losey can be reached at stephen.losey@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @StephenLosey.

Related: The US Is Now Halfway Out of Afghanistan, CENTCOM Commander Says
BRUSSELS  Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Monday his country would need diplomatic, logistic and financial assistance from the United States if it were to maintain troops in Afghanistan to protect and run Kabul's international airport, following the withdrawal of other NATO troops.

Speaking to reporters at the end of a series of meetings with NATO leaders on the sidelines of the alliance summit, Erdogan also said Turkey was seeking Pakistan and Hungary's involvement in a new mission in Afghanistan following the departure of the U.S.-led NATO force.

Turkey is reported to have offered to guard the airport as questions remain on how security will be assured along major transport routes and at the airport, which is the main gateway to Kabul.

If they dont want us to leave Afghanistan, if they want a (Turkish) support there, then the diplomatic, logistic and financial support that the United States will give us will of great importance, Erdogan said. Turkey, a majority Muslim nation which has close historic ties to Afghanistan, currently has some 500 soldiers in the war-torn country.

Erdogan also said he held a constructive meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden and invited him to visit Turkey. The two leaders have known each other for years, but it was their first face-to-face meeting as heads of state and came at a difficult time in the two NATO allies relations.

There is a strong will for the start of a new era in all areas, based on mutual respect and interest, Erdogan said. There is no problem in Turkey-US relations that cannot be solved.

Biden told reporters he was confident well make real progress with Turkey.

On Afghanistan, Biden said: There was a strong consensus in the room among the leaders ... on Afghanistan. Our troops are coming home, but we agreed that our diplomatic, economic, humanitarian commitment with the Afghan people ... will endure

Turkey has been angered by U.S. support for Kurdish fighters in Syria while the U.S. has sanctioned Turkey over its purchase of a Russian weapons system. In April, Biden infuriated Ankara by declaring that the Ottoman-era mass killing and deportations of Armenians was genocide.

Turkey denies the deportations and massacres, which began in 1915 and killed an estimated 1.5 million Armenians, amounted to genocide.

Erdogan said the Armenian issue was not discussed during the meeting. The Turkish leader however, renewed a call for an end to U.S. support for the Syrian Kurdish fighters, who Ankara argues are inextricably linked to a decades-long Kurdish insurgency in Turkey.

I openly stated that the support given to the (Syrian Kurdish fighters) should be ended, Erdogan said.

Erdogan signaled that the two leaders failed to find a way to overcome difference over Turkeys purchase of the S-400 advanced Russian missile defense systems which Washington says is a threat to NATO. It has removed Turkey from its F-35 fighter jet program and imposed sanctions on defense industry officials. It has demanded that Ankara abandons the $2.5 billion system.

Our thoughts on the S-400 are the same as before, I relayed our same thoughts to Mr. Biden, Erdogan said.

Earlier, Erdogan who is trying to mend battered relations with Turkey's Western partners, said that a revival of dialogue with fellow NATO member Greece to resolve long-standing disputes will serve stability and prosperity in the region.

Last summer, a dispute over boundaries and rights to natural resources in the eastern Mediterranean flared anew after Ankara sent research vessels into waters where Greece asserts jurisdiction.

Diplomats from the two countries have held two rounds of talks in recent months for the first time in five years, while the foreign ministers of Greece and Turkey also held reciprocal visits.

Erdogan said on Monday he and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis agreed to call each other over a direct line without involving others.

The Turkish strongman has recently toned down his anti-Western rhetoric as he seeks foreign investments for his country, which has been troubled by a currency crisis and an economic downturn made worse by the coronavirus pandemic.

In Brussels, Erdogan also met with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

After his meeting with Erdogan, Macron tweeted that he wants to move forward with Turkey.

Macron later told reporters that he and Erdogan have found some areas of convergence to preserve the cease-fire in Libya and meet the goal to hold elections in December in the country.

France and Turkey agreed to work together over the summer on the departure of foreign fighters and mercenaries, he said, calling that a major step.

Erdogan expressed his will that they leave Libya as soon as possible, he added.

It was their first meeting since a dispute between the two countries reached its peak in October, after Erdogan questioned Macrons mental health.
The Department of Veterans Affairs is chipping away at a disability claims backlog that ballooned during the pandemic, but it doesn't expect to achieve pre-pandemic levels until late next year, officials said last week.

Part of the strategy includes providing staff to support records retrieval and digitization, as well as paying for overtime at the National Archives and Records Administration, according to the VA.

Of roughly 520,000 pending VA claims for disability compensation and benefits, 191,000 are considered to be backlogged, or older than 125 days. While the number is down by roughly 10% from earlier this year, it far exceeds the 77,000 cases that were considered backlogged in March 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic struck.

Related: Air Force Vet Reality Winner Freed from Prison After Four Years, Attorney Says

The number could grow as the department receives claims applications for three conditions added to the list of illnesses related to Agent Orange exposure; it is also weighing claims from roughly 60,000 "Blue Water" Navy veterans or their survivors over the herbicide.

But even as the VA anticipates the new claims, it is aiming to keep the backlog under 200,000 by the end of this year and 100,000 by late 2022, said Kenneth Smith, assistant deputy under secretary at the Veterans Benefits Administration.

"We're working to get these claims processed. ... Our workload is very dynamic," Smith said during a call with reporters last week.

To process a disability claims application, VA adjudicators use a variety of documents, including military personnel records obtained from the National Personnel Records Center at the National Archives and Records Administration.

But much of the work at the NPRC stopped during the pandemic, with 90% of the staff sent home. The center's records request backlog rose from 62,000 in March 2020 to 480,000 a year later.

The VA estimates that more than 25,000 of those requests are for personnel records related to VA claims.

To facilitate the center's return to work, the VA in April sent medical and administrative staff to vaccinate NPRC personnel who work with veterans' records.

The VA also has temporarily assigned roughly 60 staff members to the National Archives to retrieve paper records and scan them into digital files. Working together, VA and archives processors are now responding to records requests in "three to four days" -- a "faster response time than we were achieving actually prior to the pandemic," Smith said.

The VA also received $272 million in the American Rescue Plan law to address its claims and appeals processing, including $150 million to digitize records and to cover the overtime required to accelerate records retrieval.

The NPRC backlog has drawn attention from members of Congress, who have urged the center to return to work. As of March 31, about 25% of the center's employees and contractors were working on site.

Rep. Mike Bost of Illinois, the ranking Republican on the House Veterans Affairs Committee; Rep. Deborah Ross, D-N.C.; and 183 other members of Congress wrote President Joe Biden and Archivist of the United States David Ferriero urging them to reopen the center.

"It's past time for the National Personnel Records Center to resume their normal operations in a safe manner," Boat said in the letter. "Without question, the NPRC provides an essential service."

The VA last faced a major claims backlog a decade ago, when it received thousands of new claims from Iraq and Afghanistan veterans as well as Vietnam veterans seeking disability compensation for Agent Orange-related conditions.

That backlog, which began ballooning in 2011 and rose to more than 600,000 claims in early 2013, prompted then-VA Secretary Eric Shinseki to pledge to eliminate it by the end of 2015.

The backlog was reduced to roughly 75,000 by December 2015, where it basically remained until the pandemic.

-- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Monster.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime.

Related: Biden Signs Sweeping New Law Allowing VA to Vaccinate All Veterans, Spouses
WASHINGTON  The Biden administration says it will enhance its analysis of threats from domestic terrorists, including the sharing of intelligence within law enforcement agencies, and will work with tech companies to eliminate terrorist content online as part of a nationwide strategy to combat domestic terrorism.

The National Security Council on Tuesday released the strategy, which comes more than six months after a mob of insurgents loyal to President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol as Congress was voting to certify Joe Bidens presidential win.

Domestic terrorism  driven by hate, bigotry, and other forms of extremism  is a stain on the soul of America, Biden, who's traveling in Europe, said in a statement. It goes against everything our country strives for and it poses a direct challenge to our national security, democracy, and unity."

A report from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence found that domestic violent extremists posed an increased threat in 2021, with white supremacist groups and anti-government militias posing the highest risk, officials said.

The new strategy includes enhancing the governments analysis of domestic terrorism and improving the information that is shared between local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. Administration officials said the Justice Department had also implemented a new system to methodically track domestic terrorism cases nationwide within the FBI.

In the FBI's view, the top domestic violent extremist threat comes from racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists, specifically those who advocated for the superiority of the white race, Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a speech Tuesday.

The Justice Department was also evaluating whether the administration should recommend Congress pass a specific domestic terrorism law, which does not currently exist. In the absence of domestic terrorism laws, the Justice Department relies on other statutes to prosecute ideologically motivated violence by people with no international ties.

But that has made it harder to track how often extremists driven by religious, racial or anti-government bias commit violence in the U.S and complicates efforts to develop a universally accepted domestic terror definition. Opponents of domestic terrorism laws say prosecutors already have enough tools.

Still, there is a delicate balancing act for prosecutors between disrupting violence and not infringing on free speech.

We are focused on violence, not on ideology, Garland said. In America, espousing a hateful ideology is not unlawful. We do not investigate individuals for their First Amendment protected activities.

The governments new plan also includes an effort to identify government employees who may pose a domestic terrorism threat, with a number of federal agencies working on new policies and programs to root out potential domestic extremists in law enforcement and in the military.

A senior administration official said the Office of Personnel Management was considering updating forms to assist in improving screening and vetting of government employees to make sure people who could pose a threat are identified before being put in sensitive roles. The official spoke to reporters on the condition of anonymity to detail the internal tools.

Officials said the Justice Department had also formally made domestic terrorism a top priority and had been reallocating resources at U.S. attorneys' offices and at FBI field offices across the U.S. to combat the threat from domestic extremists. The Justice Departments proposed budget for next year includes $100 million in additional resources related to domestic terrorism to be used for analysts, investigators and prosecutors.

The U.S. and four other countries joined onto an effort to stop extremist violence from spreading online. The effort, known as the Christchurch Call, involves some 50 nations plus tech companies including Google, Facebook, Twitter and Amazon, and is named for the New Zealand city where worshippers at two mosques were killed by a white supremacist gunman.
BEIJING  The Chinese mission to the European Union on Tuesday denounced a NATO statement that declared Beijing a "security challenge," saying China is actually a force for peace but will defend itself if threatened.

The Chinese news release said the NATO statement was a "slander on China's peaceful development, a misjudgment of the international situation and (NATO's) own role, and a continuation of the Cold War mentality and organizational political psychology."

NATO allies joined the United States on Monday in formally scolding Beijing as a "constant security challenge."

Washington has singled out China as a particular threat, especially in the South China Sea, where it has built and militarized artificial islands, as well as over its attempts to intimidate self-governing Taiwan, which it claims as its own territory to be annexed by military force if necessary.

The Chinese mission said Beijing's spending on its military is considerably less than that of NATO members and it accused the organization of conjuring up a military threat from China in order to justify its own agenda.

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China will "never give up the right to maintain peace but unswervingly defend our sovereignty, security and development interests," the mission said.

NATO leaders said China is working to undermine global order, a message in sync with U.S. President Joe Biden's calls to confront Beijing on China's trade, military and human rights practices.

In a summit statement, the leaders said that China's goals and "assertive behavior present systemic challenges to the rules-based international order and to areas relevant to alliance security."

The leaders expressed concern about what they said were China's "coercive policies," the opaque ways it is modernizing its armed forces and its use of disinformation.

In response, the Chines mission said Beijing's military was purely for defensive purposes and its military modernization was "reasonable, rational, open and transparent."

China's defense budget is the second largest after the U.S., but the mission said the figure of approximately $209 billion was still more than a fifth less than what NATO countries spent combined. Observers say China spends more than it says on its military by not declaring costs for new weapons and other programs.

NATO countries also maintain bases around the world and "send their aircraft carriers all over the place to display their military might," the Chinese mission said.

It also referenced the bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Serbia in 1999, which killed three state media journalists. NATO has said that was the result of faulty targeting but most Chinese believe it was a deliberate attack.

The mission also said China's nuclear arsenal is 20 times smaller than that possessed by NATO, and that it would never be the first to use such weapons or use them against non-nuclear nations.

"We will not pose a 'systemic challenge' to anyone, but if anyone wants to pose a 'systemic challenge' to us, we will not sit idly by," the mission said.

NATO should "expend more energy on advancing dialogue and cooperation, and do more things that are truly conducive to maintaining international and regional security and stability," it said.
A Maine senator is calling for the U.S. to house tens of thousands of Afghan interpreters and their family members in territories held by NATO countries while their visa applications are being completed.

"I want the White House's hair on fire" over the pressing need to ensure Afghans' safety, Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, said in a telephone briefing with reporters. "The time is short, and getting shorter all the time."

King said he has not discussed his idea to temporarily house Afghans in NATO territories with President Joe Biden, but added that he is "trying to think as creatively as possible about how to solve the problem."

U.S. troops have a mandate to depart Afghanistan no later than Sept. 11, 2021.

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King later clarified in the roundtable that he was not suggesting Afghans stay in NATO nations themselves, but territories they held, similar to how the United States holds Guam. This, he said, would give the Afghans a safe place to stay while not compromising the NATO nations' security.

"Afghanistan is a NATO operation, and there were NATO allies involved along with us in Afghanistan, pretty much from the beginning," King said. "I think we need to call upon our NATO allies to help with this process, and perhaps to provide a waystation for some of these people."

He also said the military may need to detail some Washington D.C.-based personnel to the State Department to help plow through a backlog of roughly 18,000 Afghans awaiting processing for their Special Immigrant Visas.

But the State Department's handling of the Special Immigrant Visa program is troubled and slow, taking more than 900 days on average to process applications for Afghan allies and their dependents. At this pace, by the time the vetting process for many is finished, King said, the Americans will be long gone -- and their lives are in danger.

A rapid military evacuation of Afghans would be complicated, King said. Because Afghanistan is landlocked and there is no sealift option, the evacuation would almost certainly have to be done by air.

Further complicating matters: The U.S. Embassy in Kabul on Sunday suspended all visa operations, due to an intense outbreak of COVID-19 throughout the country.

"It's not only a moral issue, it's a national security issue," King said. "This can't just be business as usual at the State Department. ... History judges you for how you go into a war, but also how you leave it."

King noted that after the Vietnam War, the United State temporarily housed Vietnamese refugees in Guam while similar immigration issues were resolved. Today, some advocates for Afghans are vociferously pushing the government to take the same step now.

King said he's not specifically recommending Guam as the waystation for Afghans, but that NATO nations may fill that role today, and allow the time for proper processing.

King did not spell out exactly how he envisioned detailed Defense Department personnel might help out with Afghan visas. It could be, he said, that as personnel are transitioned out of remote areas in Afghanistan, they could do a stint in Kabul to help with visa processing.

He cited the need to get the chief of mission at the U.S.'s embassy in Kabul to sign off on visas, helping to alleviate one major backlog.

The U.S. also has a practical motivation for acting here, King said: if it does not help Afghans now, will potential allies in future conflicts risk their own lives to assist America?

"The signal it sends is, do not help the Americans, because when the crunch comes, they're going to abandon you," King said. "You cannot operate in a foreign theater without the cooperation and assistance of residents there, who believe in the cause that you're supporting. But they're going to have to think twice, if there's a major bloodbath after we leave Afghanistan and we didn't do everything possible to solve this problem."

King stressed that he isn't calling for lowering screening standards "or simply opening the gates," as that could possibly allow a terrorist planning an attack to sneak into the country. But, he said, "we've got to speed it up."

He said he has heard from service members who have depended on Afghans as interpreters and guides, and are now "gravely concerned" for their safety.

King said he was alarmed when Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley testified to the Senate Armed Services Committee last week that planning to help Afghans is "working through the system right now." But in a conversation after the hearing, King said, Milley agreed that this is an urgent problem that requires an "all hands on deck" solution.

-- Stephen Losey can be reached at stephen.losey@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @StephenLosey.

Related: CENTCOM Chief Says US Won't Use Airstrikes to Support Afghan Forces After Withdrawal: Report
FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii -- The Marine Corps confirmed Monday that a 21-year-old who died last week after being hit in a Honolulu pedestrian crosswalk was a corporal at Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

Cpl. Douglas A. Mott, an air traffic control communications technician, died June 8 at Queens Medical Center from injuries he received after being hit by a vehicle nine days earlier.

"We wish to express our deepest condolences to the Mott family and friends during this difficult time," the Marine Corps said in a statement Monday. "We share in their sorrow as we mourn the loss of our Marine brother."

Mott was walking in a marked crosswalk shortly after midnight on May 30 in the Kaimuki neighborhood of Honolulu when a passenger van driven by a 52-year-old man struck him, according to a report by the Honolulu Police Department. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition.

"Speed and drugs did not appear to be contributing factors," the police report said. "It appears that alcohol may have been a contributing factor for both the driver and pedestrian."

The incident is still under investigation.

The Honolulu Medical Examiner's Office notified the police department's Vehicle Homicide Section on June 8 that Mott had died.

Mott joined the Marines in September 2017 and was promoted to corporal in August 2020, according to his Marine Corps biography. Marine Corps Base Hawaii had been his sole duty station, and he had never deployed.

Mott was the recipient of the National Defense Service Medal and Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal.

He is survived by his parents, Nancy and Douglas Mott, and his brother, Daniel, according to a brief obituary posted online by Marinello Funeral Home in Coram, N.Y.

A funeral mass is scheduled for June 21 at St. Margaret of Scotland Church in Selden, N.Y.
MANILA, Philippines  Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday again suspended his decision to terminate a key defense pact with the United States, which he has asked to provide more aid and coronavirus vaccines in exchange for retaining the accord.

Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said, without elaborating, that Duterte suspended the abrogation of the Visiting Forces Agreement for another six months to allow both sides to address his concerns. Terminating the pact would be a major blow to one of Americas oldest alliances in Asia.

Dutertes administration notified the U.S. government in February last year that it intended to abrogate the 1998 agreement, which allows the entry of large numbers of American forces for joint combat training with Philippine troops and lays down the legal terms for their temporary stay.

The maneuvers involved thousands of American and Philippine military personnel in land, sea and air drills that often included live-fire exercises in pre-pandemic times.

The pacts termination would have taken effect after 180 days, but Duterte has repeatedly delayed the effectivity of his decision.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana welcomed the presidents decision, which he said would give the two governments more time to review the pact.

Our bilateral cooperation with the U.S. is geared toward upholding our national interest and, to the extent necessary, to enhance the Philippines defense capability, Lorenzana said.

Duterte said in February that if the U.S. wants to keep the agreement, they have to pay.

Its a shared responsibility, but your share of responsibility does not come free, Duterte said then.

In December, he warned that he would proceed with the abrogation if the U.S. does not provide at least 20 million doses of vaccine.

If they cannot deliver even a minimum of 20 million vaccine, they better get out. No vaccine, no stay here, Duterte said.

Critics hit Duterte for the remarks, which Sen. Panfilo Lacson, who heads the Senate committee on national defense and generally supports Duterte, said may have given the impression that the Philippines is a nation of extortionists. Lacson said one cannot put a price tag on the value of the Visiting Forces Agreement.

Duterte has often lashed out at U.S. security policies while nurturing relations with China and Russia. But his foreign and defense secretaries have cited the importance of the U.S. alliance.

The U.S. military presence in the region has been seen as a counterbalance to China, which has aggressively asserted claims to vast areas of the disputed South China Sea despite a 2016 international arbitration ruling that invalidated their historic basis. China, the Philippines, Vietnam and three other governments have been locked in the territorial standoff for decades.
Authorities in California's agricultural heartland weren't looking for a military assault rifle when they went to investigate the domestic assault case, but they found one.

It was in the garage of a Spanish-tiled home in Fresno that police stumbled upon the AK-74. Its distinctively banana-shaped magazine -- loaded with 20 rounds -- was in a nearby storage container.

AK-74s are similar to their more famous cousin, the AK-47. Every two seconds, they shoot three bullets. Because of how rapidly they fire, civilians cannot legally possess them in the United States without a license.

The weapon recovered by chance in 2019 was stolen eight years before from Fort Irwin, a base in California's Mojave Desert where many soldiers trained before tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The three thieves had base access because they were military police -- the soldiers who'd get the call when there was a break-in. To get into the supply warehouse known as Building 934 they cut through a fence, forced open one door and cut through another to enter the arms storage room.

One of them was affiliated with the Fresno Bulldogs street gang. Sgt. John Rodriguez said in an internal interview that he had joined the gang as a fifth grader but was no longer active. That was March 2011 -- four months before the heist of 26 AK-74s and a sniper rifle.

After the theft, Rodriguez and Pfc. Harvey DelValle II took off nearly 300 miles to Fresno to unload their haul. At the home of an associate, the two soldiers began calling potential buyers.

This was how the weapons of war made their way onto the streets of Fresno. The guns were among at least 1,900 U.S. military firearms that an Associated Press investigation found were lost or stolen over the last decade.

Authorities around Fresno recovered some of them quickly.

Less than two weeks after the theft, agents tracked one down in the detached garage where a Bulldogs member, Moses Zapien, lived with his girlfriend.

The gun was on a shelf above their bed. Someone had tried to scratch off the serial number. The magazine, with bullets, was inserted.

Zapien told authorities he'd bought it to protect his home for what he considered the bargain price of $200. The garage was in a neighborhood that a century ago housed a railroad depot boom town, but was now gang territory.

Zapien said that he understood the source of the weapon was a Bulldogs member who worked at a military base and was "putting one back on the street for work for the gang." The gang started in prison and its members have been accused of running guns and drugs, and operating networks of human trafficking and prostitution.

Another six AK-74s reached gang hands through an extended negotiation, according to what Rodriguez's associate, Nathan Granados, told federal investigators.

About a week after the theft, Rodriguez and Granados met in the back room of a tattoo shop with three gang members who'd arrived in a white BMW SUV. Rodriguez brought one of the AK-74s inside for show and tell.

The discussion was promising enough that the two groups reconnected later and continued to negotiate. Around midnight, they drove to a home for the exchange. Rodriguez went to the backyard cellar and retrieved six guns. The Bulldogs handed over $1,400 and the deal was done.

How many remain in gang hands is unclear. Some of the 26 stolen guns have surfaced by happenstance. In June 2012, an insurance adjuster found one inside a vehicle that had been repossessed from a felon.

The three soldiers were convicted in military courts and sentenced to between six and 20 years in prison. At least 14 civilians were charged.

Though the case is now closed, nearly a decade after the theft at least nine AK-74s remain missing.

Ohm reported from Washington; Hall reported from Nashville, Tennessee.
The Orioles acquired minor league outfielder Jose Berroa from the Pirates for catcher Taylor Davis, reported Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com among others.

Davis, 31, picked up 20 games of big league experience with the Cubs from 2017-19. He signed a minor league deal with the Orioles in January 2020, and played in 12 games for the Norfolk Tides this year. Davis may not have made much of a big league impact yet, but he did garner fame for shooting icy stares at the Iowa Cubs cameras, as SIs Dan Gartland put it in 2017. Davis will now make the trip to the Pirates Triple-A affiliate. The Indianapolis Indians open a six-game set against the Memphis Redbirds tonight.

Berroa, 19, did not fall within FanGraphs top 51 Pirates prospects back in February. He played 56 games in the Dominican Summer League in 2019 and will be assigned to the Orioles Florida Complex team in Sarasota. He was a July 2 signing out of the Dominican Republic back in 2018.
In this part, we will see possible solution in a situation when information has been denied on the grounds that it is of a personal nature and that no larger public interest has been established.

Grounds for Appeal:

Section 8 (1) (j) of the right to information (RTI) Act exempts

information which relates to personal matters, the disclosure of which has no relationship to any public activity or interest, or which would cause unwarranted invasion of the privacy of the individual unless the central public information officer or the state public information officer or the appellate authority, as the case may be, is satisfied that the larger public interest justifies the disclosure of such information:

Provided that the information, which cannot be denied to the Parliament or a State Legislature shall not be denied to any person.

To qualify for this exemption, it must be personal information. In common language, we would ascribe the adjective 'personal' to an attribute which applies to an individual and not to an institution or a corporate.

Therefore, it suggests that 'personal' cannot be related to institutions, organisations, or corporates. Also, since the provision talks about invasion of privacy of the individual, Section 8(1) (j) of the RTI Act cannot be applied when the information concerns institutions, organisations or corporates.

A clear reading of the law shows that the information requested may be denied under section 8(1)(j), under the following two circumstances 

a) Where the information requested is of a personal nature and as such has apparently no relationship to any public activity or interest; or

b) Where the information requested is of a personal nature and the disclosure of the said information would cause unwarranted invasion of the privacy of the individual.

If the information is of a personal nature, it must be examined whether the information came to the public authority because of a public activity. Generally, most of the information in public records arises from a public activity.

Even if the information has arisen out of a public activity, it could still be exempt if disclosing it would be an unwarranted invasion on the privacy of an individual. Privacy is to do with matters within a home, a persons body, and sexual preferences as per the Kharak Singh and the R Rajagopal judgements of the Supreme Court.

This is in line with Article 19 (2) which permits placing restrictions on Article 19 (1) (a) in the interest of decency or morality. Article 19 (2) permits reasonable restrictions on the exercise of the right conferred by the said sub clause in the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the state, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, decency or morality or in relation to contempt of court, defamation or incitement to an offence.

The only words, which could apply to the issue of violation of privacy are decency or morality.

Even if it is felt that the information is not the result of any public activity or disclosing it would be an unwarranted invasion on the privacy of an individual, before denying information it must be subjected to the acid test of the proviso: Provided that the information, which cannot be denied to the Parliament or a state legislature shall not be denied to any person.

The proviso is meant as a test which must be applied before denying information claiming exemption under Section 8 (1) (j).

Hence, when a public information officer (PIO), first appellate authority (FAA), information commissioner or judge invokes the exemption under Section 8 (1)(j), they must first come to the subjective conclusion that they would not provide the information to members of Parliament (MPs) and members of legislative assembly (MLAs) and record this when denying information to citizens.

Such an authority must first determine whether the information sought is a result of a private activity; secondly, whether it relates to the privacy of the individual and would violate decency or morality.

Even if one of these applies, your subjective assessment must be recorded and that that the information would also be denied to Parliament or state legislature. Otherwise, the denial will not be in consonance with the RTI Act or the Constitution.

I quote the ratio decidendi (the rule of law on which a judicial decision is based) of the Supreme Court judgement in R Rajagopal and Anr v state of Tamil Nadu (1994), which states:

26. We may now summarise the broad principles flowing from the above discussion:

1. The right to privacy is implicit in the right to life and liberty guaranteed to the citizens of this country by Article 21. It is a "right to be let alone." A citizen has a right to safeguard the privacy of his own, his family, marriage, procreation, motherhood, child-bearing and education among other matters. None can publish anything concerning the above matters without his consent - whether truthful or otherwise and whether laudatory or critical. If he does so, he would be violating the right to privacy of the person concerned and would be liable in an action for damages. Position may, however, be different, if a person voluntarily thrusts himself into controversy or voluntarily invites or raises a controversy.

2. The rule aforesaid is subject to the exception, that any publication concerning the aforesaid aspects becomes unobjectionable if such publication is based upon public records including court records. This is for the reason that once a matter becomes a matter of public record, the right to privacy no longer subsists and it becomes a legitimate subject for comment by press and media among others. We are, however, of the opinion that in the interests of decency [Article 19(2)] an exception must be carved out to this rule, viz., a female who is the victim of a sexual assault, kidnap, abduction or a like offence should not further be subjected to the indignity of her name and the incident being publicised in press/media.

3. There is yet another exception to the rule in (1) above - indeed, this is not an exception but an independent rule. In the case of public officials, it is obvious that the right to privacy, or for that matter, the remedy of action for damages is simply not available with respect to their acts and conduct relevant to the discharge of their official duties. This is so even where the publication is based upon facts and statements which are not true, unless the official establishes that the publication was made (by the defendant) with reckless disregard for truth. In such a case, it would be enough for the defendant (member of the press or media) to prove that he acted after a reasonable verification of the facts; it is not necessary for him to prove that what he has written is true. Of course, where the publication is proved to be false and actuated by malice or personal animosity, the defendant would have no defence and would be liable for damages. It is equally obvious that in matters not relevant to the discharge of his duties, the public official enjoys the same protection as any other citizen, as explained in (1) and (2) above. It needs no reiteration that the judiciary, which is protected by the power to punish for contempt of court and Parliament and legislatures, protected as their privileges are by Articles 105 and 104 respectively of the Constitution of India, represent exceptions to this rule.

This judgement effectively lays down that matters of public records cannot claim privacy, unless it relates to violation of 'decency or morality'. This reiterates the principle in Article 19 (2) of the constitution.

If the denial is based on the Girish Ramchandra Deshpande judgement of the Supreme Court, I would like to point out that it was given in a special leave petition (SLP) and, hence, does not give any reasoning and cannot lay down the law. Besides, the R Rajagopal judgement precedes the Girish Deshpande judgement. It also has a clear ratio decidendi and, hence, forms a precedent laying down the law. The Girish Deshpande judgement being a subsequent judgement cannot contradict or override the R Rajagopal judgement.

All personal information is not exempt from disclosure by law; hence, there is no reason to establish a larger public interest. This would be necessary only when the information is exempt.

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The Delhi High Court on Monday set aside an order granting bail to former Fortis Healthcare promoter Shivender Mohan Singh in a case connected with the alleged misappropriation of funds of Religare Finvest Ltd (RFL).

The RFL had moved a plea in the High Court against the March 3 trial court order granting bail to Shivender Mohan Singh in the case registered against him by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) for cheating, criminal conspiracy and criminal breach of trust.

A bench of Justice Suresh Kumar Kait noted that Shivender Mohan Singh's detention was necessary to unearth the conspiracy hatched and trace the siphoned off money, which he has credited for his personal benefit.

"Keeping in mind the factual matrix of the present case as also the pertinent observations of the Supreme Court in various decisions, I have no hesitation to hold that the impugned order suffers from serious infirmities, resulting in miscarriage of justice," he ruld.

Citing the nature and gravity of accusation against Shivender Mohan Singh is serious, the court said the grant of bail in a case involving cheating, and criminal breach of interest by an agent of such a large magnitude of money, affecting a very large number of people would also have an adverse impact not only on the progress of the case but also on the trust of the criminal justice system that people repose.

The High Court noted that it is not disputed that after passing the March 3 order, considering the seriousness and gravity of the offence, the sessions court on April 1 dismissed the bail application of Malvinder Mohan Singh, who has been ascribed a similar role in the present case.

"Thus, in my considered opinion, the court below had no ground to grant bail to the respondent No.2 (Shivender Mohan Singh) vide its impugned order dated March 3, as the role of respondent No.2 is not less than above named accused by any stretch of imagination," said Justice Kait in the 29-page judgement setting aside the bail granted to Shivinder Mohan Singh by the trial court.

The High Court said the trial court recorded reasons for granting bail to Shivender Mohan Singh, but failed to consider the case pertains to a serious economic offence of high magnitude, where large amount of approximately Rs 2,400 crore, including interest has been siphoned off at the behest of the Singh brothers by diverting it through various financial transactions, by granting loan to the shell companies, of whom they were the directors or promoters or beneficiary in interest.

In March 2019, the EOW registered a case on a complaint from RFL's Manpreet Suri against Shivinder Mohan Singh, former Religare Enterprises Ltd CMD Sunil Godhwani and former CEO Kavi Arora and others, alleging that loans were taken by them while managing the firm but the money was invested in other companies.

Disclaimer: Information, facts or opinions expressed in this news article are presented as sourced from IANS and do not reflect views of Moneylife and hence Moneylife is not responsible or liable for the same. As a source and news provider, IANS is responsible for accuracy, completeness, suitability and validity of any information in this article.
"The Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act (RERA) has punitive provisions not just for builder or promoter and real estate agents, but also for allottees or buyers. However, RERA is quite strict on promoters and agents and had mandatory compliance provisions," says Sulaiman Bhimani, an RTI activist and Founder-President of Citizens Justice Forum. Following advocacy from consumer organisation, the Central government provided an alternate dispute redress mechanism or conciliation process, which is turning out to be quite useful for buyers, added Ajit V (AV) Shenoy. Both Mr Bhimani and Mr Shenoy were speaking at an special workshop, "RERA: Effective Complaint Filing & Compliance using RTI & How RERA Conciliation Works", organised by Moneylife Foundation's RTI Centre in Mumbai.

According to Mr Bhimani, under the Law, the promoter or builder or developer cannot advertise, book or sell any plot or flat without registering the project with RERA. "Validity of registration remains till the date of completion as stated by the promoter. However, if the promoter tries to sell flats without registering the project with RERA, he is levied a penalty of more than 10% of the estimated cost of the project."

There, however, are certain cases where the promoter is not required to register his project with RERA. "If area of the land to be developed is lower than 500 square meters, or number of apartments are less than eight, or where completion certificate is received prior to 1 May 2017, then he is not required to register the project with RERA," Mr Bhimani, who had exposed several illegal constructions, corruption and land deals relating to SRA and MMRDA, added.

RERA provides a relief for buyers, as there are provision like Section 12 that deals with claiming loss sustained due to incorrect or false statement in advertisement or prospectus. He said, "Section 13 clearly says, if there is no agreement for sale then there is no question of paying any advance or deposit to the builder. Next, section 14, mandates the promoter to adhere to sanctioned plan and not make any changes without nod from the buyers."

Real estate agents are also mandated to register with RERA. "Registration of agents is valid for five years and they are mandated to quote registration number in every sale facilitated by them. Agents are also required to maintain and preserve prescribed books. If the agent fails to follow any of these, he is penalised with around 5% cost of the flat that he had facilitated," Mr Bhimani added.

Talking about responsibility of buyers, Mr Bhimani said, "Under Section 19, buyer has to make payments as per the manner and time fixed in the agreement for sale. Any delay in payment of these charges can attract payment of interest. Buyer has to take physical possession within two months of issuance of occupancy certificate and also participate in formation of a legal entity like society, association of allottees, and co-operative society."

Mr Shenoy, who works with the Consumer Guidance Cell of the Mumbai Grahak Panchayat, then explained the conciliation process under the RERA. He says, "Before RERA came into effect the affected buyers of real estates could only approach the civil courts, criminal courts or consumer forums under the provisions of the Maharashtra Ownership of Flats Act (MOFA) or the Consumer Protection Act 1986. These involved long years of pending cases for affected buyers in one of the above courts and very high legislation costs. At present thousands of cases are pending in various courts across Maharashtra."

When the RERA was being enacted consumer organisations strongly advocated alternate dispute resolution mechanisms to help the affected buyers avoid the above hassles and get quick dispute resolution for the affected parties at low cost by cutting out the delays due to legal wrangles and legal costs. Accordingly, the Central government, while enacting the RERA, provided under Section 32 (g) a provision for amicable settlement of disputes.

"To meet the above obligation Maharashtra RERA (MahaRERA) has set up 10 conciliation benches in Mumbai and five in Pune. Each bench consists of a member each from real estate developers' organisations and one member from a recognised consumer organisation. For the Mumbai and Pune benches National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO), Maharashtra Chamber of Housing Industry (MCHI) and Confederation of Real Estate Developers Association of India (CREDAI) are chosen as representing the developers and Mumbai Grahak Panchayat (MGP) has been chosen to represent consumers. Similar benches will be formed in other major cities of Maharashtra progressively based on need," Mr Shenoy added.

The conciliation application process has started from 1 February 2018 and the first conciliation hearings have taken place both at Mumbai and Pune on 10 March 2018.

He expects more and more aggrieved persons will tend to use the conciliation mechanism as it is expected that the duration of the process of conciliation should not exceed 45 days and should be completed in maximum three hearings as, unlike what happens in normal courts, no adjournments are allowed for paltry reasons. He said, "Also as the cost is only Rs1000 it is quite affordable for a common man and no legal fees are involved. This is expected to reduce the number of pending cases in the courts."
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June 15, 2021

Putin Teaching A Journalist And Other New Bits Around Ryanair Flight 4978

There are some new bits about the Ryanair flight 4978 which on May 23 landed in Belarus after having received a bomb threat. To recap:

On May 23 a bomb threat against a Ryanair flight from Greece to Lithuania was emailed to airports and authorities in Lithuania, Belarus and Greece. It is not known who has sent the email. ... Belarus Air Traffic Control, through whose airspace the plane was flying at that time, contacted the pilot, informed him of the threat and recommended landing the plane in Minsk. The pilot contacted Ryanair management and then decided to follow the advice. The plane landed at 10:15 utc (13:15 Belorussian time), the passengers disembarked and a lengthy bomb search was carried out. No bomb was found.

...

The passengers had to pass through passport controls. Two passengers were found to have outstanding arrest warrants against them and were detained. The other passengers flew to their original destination.

...

[J]ust an hour after the plane had landed [regime change agent] Frank Viacorka, who is followed by many 'blueticks' on Twitter, presented a narrative of the incident which strongly diverted from reality but allowed for a new push of the stalled regime change agenda.

...

The widely shared tweet and the ones following it implied that the Belorussian government ordered the plane down to arrest the regime change agent Protasevich. When one looks into the details of the case it soon becomes obvious that the narrative is false.

The false narrative continues to be told by 'western' media. It has led, as its originators hoped, to the introduction of new sanctions against Belarus.

The case came up again during a recent interview by NBC with the Russian President Vladimir. The transcript and video are available here:

Keir Simmons: Let's move on to Belarus and Ukraine, two issues that will certainly come up in your summit with President Biden. Did you have prior knowledge that a commercial airliner would be forced to land in Belarus and that a journalist would be arrested? Vladimir Putin: No, I did not know about this. I didn't know about any airliner. I didn't know about the people who were detained there subsequently. I found out about it from the media. I didn't know, I didn't have a clue about any detainees. I don't know. It is of no interest to us. Keir Simmons: You appear to have approved of it judging by your meeting with President Lukashenko soon afterwards. Vladimir Putin: Not that I approve of it. Not that I condemn it. But, well, it happened. I said recently in one of the conversations with a European colleague, the version of Mr Lukashenko who told me about it was that information had been given to them that there was an explosive device on board the plane. They informed Keir Simmons: And you believe that? Vladimir Putin: the pilot without forcing the pilot to land. And the pilot made a decision to land in Minsk. That is all. Why should I not believe him? Ask the pilot. It's the simplest thing. Ask the chief pilot. Ask the commander of the aircraft. Did you ask him if was he forced to land? Because I have not heard or seen an interview with the commander of the aircraft that landed in Minsk. Why not ask him? Why not ask him if he was forced to land? Why don't you ask him? It's actually even odd. Everybody accuses Lukashenko, but the pilot hasn't been asked.

...

Vladimir Putin: Yes. Look, I will tell you one more time. What President Lukashenko told me, I don't have any reason not to believe him. For the third time, I'm telling you: Ask the pilot. Why don't you ask the pilot: Was he Keir Simmons: But you Vladimir Putin: being scared? Was he being threatened? Was he being forced? The fact that information appeared that there was a bomb on the plane, that individuals, people who had nothing to do, who were passengers, who had nothing to do with politics or any kind of domestic conflicts, that they could perceive it negatively, could be worried about it, of course that's a bad thing. There is nothing good about this. And obviously, we condemn everything that has to do with this, and international terrorism, and the use of aircraft. Of course, we are against this. ...

Putin is right to point out that 'western' media have made no effort to really look into the case. They could reach out to the pilot and co-pilot and to Ryanair and ask what really had happened.

But Putin is wrong in suggesting that the pilots were not questioned at all. After the plane had finally landed in Vilnius the pilot was questioned by the Lithuanian police:

Those questioned include the captain of the aircraft who "made the decision [to change course to Minsk] after consulting Ryanair's management", according to [Rolandas Kiskis, head of the Criminal Police Bureau].

The undisputed transcript of the radio traffic between the pilot and Belorussian Air Traffic Control proves that there was no threat or order from the authorities to land the plane. The ATC recommended to divert to Minsk because of the bomb threat. The pilot communicated with his airline and then followed the ATC's advice.

That the NBC interviewer of Putin is not aware of those facts disqualifies him as a journalist.

Two 'western' paid activists who had worked for regime change in Belarus had been on the Ryanair flight. Roman Protasevich and his girl friend Sofia Sapega had warrants outstanding against them. They were arrested after the plane had landed in Minsk. A Belorussian TV station made a documentary (video) of the bomb threat case. It shows that both left the plane like all other passengers and were only arrested when passing through the custom control. It also shows Protasevich's first interview with the police. In another 90 minute interview (video) of Protasevich with a Belorussian TV journalist he is spilling the beans about the 'western' financed opposition.

Yesterday the Foreign Ministry of Belarus gave a press conference on the issue. Protasevich was also there to answer question. His part is at 45:00 minutes into the video of the press conference.

BBC journalists at the press conference left the room as they assumed that Protasevich's appearance was not voluntary. Protasevich himself strongly disputes that. Like in the previous videos of him there is no sign in his attitude or engagement that would make me believe that he was coerced into doing this.

The press conference was intended to clear up several false claims found in 'western' media. One was this:

Asta Skaisgiryte, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda's chief foreign policy adviser, said on Sunday that Belarus had scrambled two military aircraft  a MiG-29 fighter jet and a Mi-24 helicopter  to divert the civil passenger plane to Minsk.

The military spokesperson in the press conference explains that the helicopter had nothing to do with the Ryanair flight as it was flying much lower and slower and had no chance to ever come near to it. The MIG-29 went up only after the Ryanair flight had already decided to declare MAYDAY and to land in Minsk. It was at that time hundreds of kilometers away from the Ryanair flight and the nearest distance it came to it was 55 kilometers when the Ryanair plane landed in Minsk.

Then follows a part about a border tussle around illegal immigration between Belarus and Lithuania. After that the main investigator of the case discusses what crimes Protasevich and Sapega are accused of. He also says that Protonmail, the Swiss company through which the bomb threat email had been sent, has not cooperated with the Belorussian authorities in this and previous cases.

Then follow questions to Protasevich himself. The first question is about a claim in an opposition channel on Telegram that President Lukashenko had appeared in his prison and had personally beaten up Protasevich.

Protasevich calls that a joke. He explains the marks on his wrists that could be seen in his last interview. He says that when he got arrested the police at the airport did not have hand cuffs and used plastic cable binders instead. Those cut into his skin.

He says that he has not been hurt at all and that he is in full health. He asks his former comrades in the Belorussian opposition to not spread rumors about him. He is afraid that his parents, who are in Poland, are getting misled about his situation. When he is asked about the Russian oligarch who he had claimed financed part of the opposition he says that he can not remember the man's name.

Thanks to Elena Evdokimova for translating the above details.

In its report about Protasevich's appearance at the press conference the New York Times makes several false claims. It says that Protasevich "was dragged off a Ryanair flight along with his girlfriend, Sofia Sapega, three weeks ago by Belarusian security agents."

The documentary about the flight shows at 20:20 min and at 25:45 min that this was not the case. No police came on board. The passengers, including Protasevich and Sapega, left the plane one by one with their carry-on luggage. Bomb sniffing dogs then check the luggage and the passengers enter a bus to be drive to the terminal.

At 26:53 min the documentary shows Protasevich with a black mask and a military backpack in the terminal waiting for passing the passport control.

The New York Times also claims:

Belarusian authorities had promised to provide new details in their story of how and why the Ryanair flight was forced to land after entering the countrys air space on a flight to Lithuania from Greece.

The Ryanair flight was not "forced to land" and a no point have Belorussian authorities offered to provide details about such an event. They did provided details about a plane that was under a bomb threat and which diverted to Minsk after the pilot had voluntarily decided to do so.

The BBC report of the press conference is likewise filled with untruth and propaganda:

Flatly contradicting independent accounts of what happened, Belarus air force chief Igor Golub told the briefing: "There was no interception, no forced diversion from the state border or forced landing of the Ryanair plane."

What please are "independent accounts of what happened" aside from some fact free tweets from regime change agents like Frank Viacorka which are completely contradicted by well documented evidence and facts?

---

Previous Moon of Alabama post on the Ryanair incident in Belarus:

Posted by b on June 15, 2021 at 15:36 UTC | Permalink

Comments
June 15, 2021

U.S., UK Information Warfare Behind Regime Change Drive In Belarus

by Kit Klarenberg

This piece was first published by Covert Action Magazine. It is reproduced here with the author's permission.



Protesters in Minsk - bigger

The at-times fiery protests that raged across Belarus throughout 2020 had largely fizzled out by the time local activist and seeming neo-Nazi Roman Protasevich was dramatically arrested in May this year.

Now, the country has been catapulted back to the top of the mainstream news agenda, with new life breathed into controversial self-appointed President Svetlana Tikhanovskayas hitherto unheeded calls for Western leaders to recognize her as the legitimate Belarusian leader.

True to form though, not a single mainstream outlet has deigned to mention that for many years prior to the unrests eruption, London and Washington had funded, trained, and promoted the very elements that took to the streets in opposition to President Alexander Lukashenko.

Not Worth Peoples Blood

In April 2019, the RAND Corporationa U.S. government think-tankpublished a report, Extending Russia: Competing from Advantageous Ground.

It outlined a range of possible means to extend Russia, defined as measures to bait Russia into overextending itself in order to undermine the regimes stability.

Drawing on quantitative and qualitative data from Western and Russian sources, this report examines Russias economic, political, and military vulnerabilities and anxieties and then analyzes potential policy options to exploit themideologically, economically, geopolitically, and militarily along with the likelihood that [these policy options] could be successfully implemented.

A dedicated section of the 354-page report dealt with promoting regime change in Belarus. It noted that, among other welcome outcomes, denying Russia its one and only true ally would be a clear geopolitical and ideological gain for the West, undermining Moscows proposed Eurasian Economic Union, complicating any attempt to employ military force against the Baltic States, and further isolating Kaliningrad, the Russian exclave situated between Lithuania and Poland.

Fomenting unrest in Belarus was said to present an opportunity to extend Russia by aiding the opposition, removing a long-standing Russian-allied dictator, and supporting liberalization. Aid to Lukashenkos opposition could come in a variety of forms, ranging from public declarations of support by U.S. leaders to more direct financial and organizational assistance helping the opposition parties.

Such a course of action was nonetheless forecast to be extremely risky, and likely to fail. For one, the Belarusian opposition mounting a serious challenge to Lukashenko was considered unlikely, and in any event would likely prompt Russia to employ political and economic pressure to keep the regime in place, if not intervene in the situation militarily, and produce greater local repression from authorities.

Furthermore, there was little tangible public appetite for democratization. RAND cited a 2015 survey conducted by the Independent Institute for Socio-Economic and Political Research, which found that 78% of Belarusians believed regime change was not worth peoples blood and 70% did not want a Ukrainian-style revolution.

People dont want more freedom. They want more government. They want the better life they used to have, a Belarusian expert quoted in the report said in 2017.

Promoting liberalization in Belarus was predicted to require European support, and given the bloc faced a host of other challenges from Ukraine to refugees to Brexit, Brussels [European Union] might not want to add Belarus to the mix and rock the boat.

Still, there was perceived value to attempting to precipitate regime change even if the effort ultimately failed as such a campaign would create apprehensions among Russian leaders, making them worry about the prospect of such a movement in their own country. This would in turn prompt Moscow to reinforce its military presence and political influence within Belarus, burdening Russia with a weak, corrupt dependency and possibly even generating some degree of local resistance, the report approvingly suggested.

Essentially, were Moscow to commit resources to preserve its grasp over Belarus, it would extend Russia, by provoking the U.S. and its European allies to respond with harsher sanctions. In other words, mission accomplished.

Shadow Political Structure

The question of what if any impact this section of RANDs report had on U.S. policymakers subsequently is somewhat moot, given Washington had for some time prior to its publication provably been engaged in precisely the destabilization efforts proposed therein, by way of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED).

Founded in November 1983, then-U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director William Casey was central to its creation. He sought to construct a public mechanism to support groups and individuals overseas to engage in propaganda and political action undermining enemy governments from withinactivities historically organized and paid for clandestinely by the Agencyunder the bogus aegis of democracy and human rights promotion.

In 1991, senior NED official Allen Weinstein acknowledged that a lot of what we do today was done covertly 25 years ago by the CIA, and NEDs work often directly complements Langleys cloak-and-dagger work.

For example, during the Reagan administrations brutal secret war against Nicaraguas progressive Sandinista government during the 1980s, in which tens of thousands died, NED allocated millions of dollars to civic opposition entitiesincluding La Prensa, the countrys primary anti-Sandinista newspaper.

Concurrently, the CIA trained, funded, and armed the Sandinistas fascist opponents, the Contras. In particular, the Agencys Tayacan manual on guerrilla warfare was highly influential, leading the group to incite mob violence, neutralize government officials and civilian leaders, and attack soft targets such as schools and hospitals, among other hideous atrocities.

Publicly available data indicates the NED funded at least 159 civil society initiatives in Belarus, costing $7,690,689, from 2016 to 2020 alone.

While the projects have innocent-sounding titlesstrengthening regional youth initiatives; fostering freedom of the media; promoting civic journalismthe example of Ukraine indicates such endeavors can have highly incendiary results.

As investigative journalist Robert Parry documented after the March 2014 Maidan coup, the NED bankrolled 65 projects in Ukraine in the years prior to that uprising, in the process creating a shadow political structure of media and activist groups that could be deployed to stir up unrest when the Ukrainian government didnt act as desired.

Six months prior, long-time NED chief Carl Gershman wrote a chilling op-ed for The Washington Post in which he documented Moscows growing troubles in its near abroadthe constellation of countries that formerly comprised the Soviet Unionand how his organization was exploiting them to the full. Hailing Ukraine as the biggest prize, he explained that Russian democracy could also benefit from Kiev being absorbed into the Western fold.

Ukraines choice to join Europe will accelerate the demise of the ideology of Russian imperialism that Putin represents, Gershman wrote. Russians, too, face a choice, and Putin may find himself on the losing end not just in the near abroad but within Russia itself.

Further underlying the insidious efficacy of NEDs democracy-promotion activities, in May 2021 a pair of Russian pranksters posing as Belarusian opposition figures successfully duped high-ranking NED representatives into bragging about their involvement in the ongoing unrest in Belarus at the start of 2020.

Among many startlingly frank disclosures, Nina Ognianova, who oversees the NEDs work with opposition groups in the country, revealed that a lot of the people who were trained and educated via the organizations various endeavors in Minsk were pivotal to the events, or the build-up to the events, of last summer.

Gershman added that the organization was working with Svetlana Tikhanovskaya and her team very, very closely.

Malicious Violator

U.S. meddling in Belarus dates much further back than 2016. Five years earlier, an official White House press release on U.S.-Polish efforts to advance democracy worldwide had a dedicated section on the pairs work to pressure the Lukashenko government and support civil society, which stated the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) would work with the Warsaw-based Belsat TV station to develop content and programming on democracy education.

Founded in December 2007 by the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Belsat dubs itself reminiscent of U.S. propaganda outlets Radio Free Europe and Voice of Americaassets of BBG [now U.S. Agency for Global Media]describes its mission as promoting democratization processes in Minsk, and boasts that events in Ukraine have shown Belsat TV has influenced the public opinion not only in Belarus, but elsewhere in the region, too.

Belsat may well have influenced political action and policy too, with lethal consequences. For example, in May 2015 it broadcast a slick documentary about a young man who went to fight in the war in Donbas for Tactical Group Belarus, a Belarusian volunteer group spun out of Ukraines notorious Right Sector, a pro-government neo-Nazi militia.

The film was billed as the stirring tale of a brave protagonist [risking] his life  because he believes that the fate of his homeland depends on it, while every day facing potential extradition back to Minsk and years in prison, as his presence in Ukraine was illegal. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Lukashenko has repeatedly stated there is no place in Belarus for citizens who fight in the Donbas, and hundreds have been prosecuted for taking part in the conflict to date.

The documentarys politically charged subtext could not be more blatant, and six months after transmission, the government of then-President Petro Poroshenko answered its seeming call, amending the law to allow foreigners to legally serve in the Ukrainian armed forces, and instructing police and migration services to assist would-be recruits in joining.

This development was enthusiastically welcomed by Belsatin an article heralding the move, the broadcaster went to the shocking extent of providing the email and phone number of Tactical Group Belarus for any reader who wanted to help the guys.

How many Belarusians answered this call to arms, and went on to kill and/or be killed on the front lines, is an open question, although this obvious consideration clearly did little to dent the stations standing with Western powers.

On an official visit to Warsaw in late 2017, then-UK Prime Minister Theresa May allocated 5 million of UK funding to Polish organizations to detect and counter the spread of Russian information operations, with some of the money specifically earmarked for Belsat.

UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) files leaked by hacktivist collective Anonymous shed some light on the support provided by London to the station via Thomson Reuters Foundation (TRF), the internationally renowned newswires charitable arm.

In all, Belsat received 150 days of intensive consultancy in a three-month periodof which 97 were delivered in-countryfrom consultants, interpreters, and project and finance managers, among them Reuters staff.

If TRF sought to greatly ramp up Belsats propaganda capabilities, then its counsel was certainly successful. A Media IQ monitoring report on the stations compliance with journalistic standards when reporting public-political news September-December 2019 was utterly damning, finding it to be a malicious violator in respect to separating fact from opinion, a staggering 75% of its current affairs output contravening this basic principle during the period assessed.

Countering Malign Kremlin Influence

It seems likely TRFs guidance was informed by the findings of an extensive target audience analysis of Belarusian citizens perceptions and motivations conducted in January 2017, which sought to identify opportunities to appropriately communicate with them. The study was commissioned by the FCDO in January 2017, under the auspices of a 100 million Whitehall effort to weaken Russias influence in its near abroad.

In particular, London was interested in Belarusians existing or potential grievances against their national government that could be leveraged, and channels and messages through which the UK government could appropriately engage with different sub-groups.

The FCDOs target audience analysis was carried out by long-time Whitehall contractor Albany Associates, central to a number of Londons covert information warfare operations aimed at Russia.

In one such connivance, the firm sought to develop greater affinity among the regions Russian-speaking minority for the UK, European Union, and NATO. In another, it collaborated with French NGO IREX Europe to promote media plurality, balance and literacy in Central Asia.

In its submissions to the FCDO, Albany noted IREX had been working in Belarus since 2006 with print, online and radio outlets, to improve the quality of their coverage, and increase their understanding of the EU and EU member states. As part of its youth audience offering in the country, the organization was said to have founded Warsaw-based Euroradio, along with online outlet 34mag.

IREX is closely connected with the NED, and created Euroradio in 2006 with funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), another entity that has frequently been used to insidiously undermine governments in Washingtons crosshairs. Just like the FCDO, USAIDnow under the direction of war hawk Samantha Poweroperates a multi-faceted program targeted at Russias near abroad, Countering Malign Kremlin Influence, in alignment with U.S. national security strategy.

A 2015 report on backing provided by IREX to independent media across Eastern Europe under the terms of its cooperative agreement with USAID details Euroradios exponential rise following its launch. Within four years, it was also receiving sizable funding from the European Union and numerous foreign governments, and running elaborate promotional multimedia campaigns.

By 2008, it was sponsoring 300 events in the region annually, receiving significant free exposure by placing its banners at music and cultural events, including the annual Right to be Free concert in Lviv, Ukraine. Bands from Belarus, Ukraine, and elsewhere played to a 10,000-strong crowd, with many bused in from Belarus.

During the 2010 election, it broadcast live footage of protests following the vote via the web, Skype, and various instant messaging platforms, interviewed leading opposition candidates, reported on the arrests of protesters, reported from the election commission, and provided reports from six regions through regional stringers, tailoring its content and marketing efforts specifically for 17-35-year-olds.

These activities among others cemented Euroradio as Belaruss leading external radio broadcaster and, come 2012, its potential audience for terrestrial broadcasts was two million, more than one-fifth of the countrys population, the website receiving hundreds of thousands of visitors monthly.

Sugar Daddy of Overt Operations

Throughout 2020 and beyond, Euroradio almost endlessly published footage of violent crackdowns on protesters in Minsk, which in turn was routinely aired by the mainstream media. The BBC went to the extent of issuing an open call for activists on the ground to submit pictures and videos for use in its coverage, which Euroradio enthusiastically amplified.

It would be entirely unsurprising if much of the content featured in Western news reporting on the unrest was created by individuals and organizations secretly in receipt of funding and training from Open Information Partnership (OIP), the flagship strand of the FCDOs multi-pronged propaganda assault on Russia.

OIP maintains a network of 44 partners across Central and Eastern Europe, including journalists, charities, think tanks, academics, NGOs, activists, and factcheckers.

Internal Whitehall documents reveal one of its primary objectives is influencing elections taking place in countries of particular interest to the FCDO. It achieves this disruption by helping organizations and individuals produce slick propaganda masquerading as independent citizen journalism, which is then amplified globally via its network.

In Ukraine for example, OIP worked with a dozen online influencers to counter Kremlin-backed messaging through innovative editorial strategies, audience segmentation, and production models that reflected the complex and sensitive political environment, allowing them to reach wider audiences with compelling content that received over four million views.

Similarly, in Russia and Central Asia, OIP established a network of YouTubers, helping them create videos promoting media integrity and democratic values.

Participants were taught to make and receive international payments without being registered as external sources of funding and develop editorial strategies to deliver key messages, while the consortium minimized their risk of prosecution and managed project communications to ensure the existence of the network, and OIPs role, were kept confidential.

Belarus, along with Moldova and Ukraine, is referred to in the leaked files as the most vital space in the entire [OIP] network, and a high-impact priority country for London. This suggests its 2020 election was very much of interestand the shock results of Moldovas November 2020 presidential vote suggest OIPs informational influence can be decisive.

That election pitted upstart pro-Western Maia Sandu against incumbent pro-Russian leader Igor Dodon, with the former emerging victorious in a win widely acknowledged by the Western media to be surprising. Two Moldovan organizations, the Association of Independent Press and Newsmaker, are fellow OIP network members, and could well have served as conduits for FCDO-funded, pro-Sandu, anti-Dodon material.

Slovakian OIP member MEMO 98, coincidentally also funded by NED, published an extensive study of the election campaign, attributing Sandus upset to her social media Nous.

MEMO 98 similarly kept a close eye on the Belarus protests, publishing several analyses of media reporting and social media activity related to the strife, in the process drawing particular attention to the output of none other than Belsat, praising its extensive coverage of protests and related intimidation of activists.

In September 1991, The Washington Post published an article on the subject of spyless coups abroad, in which it referred to the NED as the sugar daddy of overt operations, and noted that throughout the late 1980s, it had dispensed money to anti-communist forces behind the Iron Curtain.

Covert funding for these groups would have been the kiss of death, if discovered. Overt funding, it would seem, has been a kiss of life, the newspaper concluded.

NED funding has very clearly been a kiss of life to a large number of oft-dubious opposition actors within and without Belarus, in turn unleashing all manner of chaosand whats more, its sugar daddy status is now being challenged by a number of other spectral, malign Western actors.

Whether these efforts ultimately fail or succeed in unseating the Lukashenko government is immaterial to the individuals and organizations responsible for instigating themfor merely attempting to do so serves the purpose of extending, and thus internationally isolating, Minsk and Moscow alike.

---

Previous Moon of Alabama post on the Ryanair incident in Belarus:

Posted by b on June 15, 2021 at 18:07 UTC | Permalink

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Richard Payerchin covers Lorain City Hall, business news and other interesting stories for The Morning Journal. Reach the author at rpayerchin@MorningJournal.com or follow Richard on Twitter: @MJ_JournalRick.
Auditor of State Keith Faber announced last month in a news release that Bay Village City School District received the Auditor of State Award 
Lorain City Council's Buildings & Lands Committee voted on June 14 to request a resolution for an energy savings project to save money on operating costs for city buildings including Lorain City Hall, 200 W. Erie Ave. The committee also voted for the full Council to consider spending $39,604 for a study about renovating or moving city hall.
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Moultrie, GA (31768)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms in the morning becoming more widespread in the afternoon. High 86F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Thunderstorms likely in the evening. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms later on. Low 72F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%.
Moultrie, GA (31768)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms in the morning, then mainly cloudy during the afternoon with thunderstorms likely. High 86F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms likely in the evening. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms later on. Low 72F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  The Middle East's largest airline, Emirates, announced on Tuesday a net loss of $5.5 billion over the past year as revenue fell by more than 66% due to global travel restrictions sparked by the coronavirus pandemic.

It marks the first time in more than three decades that the Dubai-based airline's parent group has not churned out a profit, underscoring just how dramatic an impact COVID-19 has had on the aviation industry. Emirates Group, which also operates dnata travel and ground services at airports, reported a total loss of $6 billion.

The Dubai-based airline said revenue had declined by $8.4 billion, even as operating costs decreased by 46%. The company has furloughed a third of its staff due to the effect of the pandemic on its bottom line.

Revenue as a whole for the company, including its dnata services, stood at $9.7 billion, compared to $28.3 billion the year before.

Emirates' success is seen as integral to the health of Dubai's economy, which relies heavily on travel, tourism, real estate and investment to thrive. In a clear indication of just how important Emirates Air is to Dubai, the state-owned carrier was thrown a $2 billion lifeline from the government to stave off a liquidity crunch in 2020. The move underscored how dire the situation had become for one of the worlds leading airlines amid the pandemic.

The International Air Transport Association has said it expects airlines to continue to suffer financial losses in 2021, despite vaccination rollouts in many developed countries around the world. The aviation industrys largest trade association estimated that airline losses reached as wide as $126 billion in 2020.

Sadly, our industry is not recovering as quickly as hoped, said Emirates CEO and chairman, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum. Many countries are battling new variants and a third or fourth wave of COVID-19 infections, and international travel is still severely restricted in almost all markets.

Emirates, which flies to more than 150 cities including several in the U.S., said its total passenger and cargo capacity declined by 58% over the year marking April 2020-March 2021. The long-haul carrier carried just 6.6 million passengers last year, a staggering decline of nearly 90% from the previous year.

The airline had squeezed out profits of $288 million the previous year, while its parent company Emirates Group had earnings of $456 million.

A brief statement by Dubai's ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in the company's annual report described the pandemic as "one of the biggest challenges humanity has faced.

He noted his own country's handling of the outbreak, which has varied widely from one emirate to the next and depended heavily on the decisions of its local rulers.

Dubai, for example, has flung open its doors to tourists since last year and does not require quarantine upon arrival. This in part, has kept it on the red list for travel for U.K. residents and those in the United States. Neighboring Abu Dhabi, however, has taken a far more cautious approach and even requires negative coronavirus test results or proof of vaccination for people driving from Dubai before entry.

For nearly eight weeks last year starting in March, Emirates was forced to ground all passenger flights amid a temporary closure of airports across the United Arab Emirates, including transit flights through Dubai  the hub for Emirates and the worlds busiest airport for international travel.

We have been tested in our ability to deal with this unforeseen situation, but we have emerged out of it tougher, Sheikh Mohammed said.

The carrier said that despite its financial losses, it remains committed to its order booking for 200 new aircraft as part of its long-standing strategy of operating a modern and efficient fleet.

The airline, known worldwide for its luxury first-class cabins, quality service and modern aircraft, received three new Airbus 380 aircraft over the past year and phased out 14 older aircraft. It now operates a fleet of 259 planes, including cargo.

To further distinguish itself amid last year's travel upheavals, Emirates said it was the first airline to offer COVID-19 medical coverage for passengers who contract the virus while traveling.

In an effort to meet the surge in cargo demands last year in the UAE, which relies heavily on food and other essential imports, Emirates said it turned 19 Boeing 777 passenger aircraft into mini freighters by tearing out the seats in the economy cabin to make room for more cargo.

Emirates has proven very profitable to its shareholders. During the 2015-2016 fiscal year, it netted profits of $1.9 billion  a record it has not repeated since then.
HONG KONG (AP)  China's government said Tuesday no abnormal radiation was detected outside a nuclear power plant near Hong Kong following a news report of a leak, while Hong Kong's leader said her administration was closely watching the facility.

The operators released few details, but nuclear experts said that based on their brief statement, gas might be leaking from fuel rods inside the reactor in Taishan, 135 kilometers (85 miles) west of Hong Kong.

In Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian gave no confirmation of a leak or other details. He responded to reporters' questions by saying, there is nothing abnormal detected in the radiation level surrounding the plant.

In Hong Kong, radiation levels Tuesday were normal, according to the Hong Kong Observatory.

Framatome, a French company that helps manage the Taishan Nuclear Power Plant in Guangdong province, said Monday it was dealing with a performance issue. It said the facility was operating within safe limits.

That followed a report by CNN that Framatome told U.S. authorities about a possible leak.

With regards to foreign media reports about a nuclear plant in Taishan, Guangzhou, the Hong Kong government attaches a high degree of importance to this, said Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam.

She said her government would ask authorities in Guangdong for information and tell the public about any developments.

China is one of the biggest users of nuclear power and is building more reactors at a time when few other governments have plans for new facilities because the cost of solar, wind and other alternatives is plunging.

Chinese leaders see nuclear power as a way to reduce air pollution and demand for imports of oil and gas, which they deem a security risk. Government plans call for Hong Kong to use more mainland nuclear power to allow the closure of coal-fired power plants.

The Taishan plant, which began commercial operation in December 2018, is owned by China Guangdong Nuclear Power Group and Electricite de France, the majority owner of Framatome. A second reactor began operating in September 2019.

They are the first of a new type called European Pressurized Reactors. Two more are being built in Finland and France.

CNN reported Framatome wrote to the U.S. Department of Energy warning of an imminent radiological threat and accusing Chinese authorities of raising acceptable limits for radiation outside the plant to avoid having to shut it down.

U.S. officials believed there was no severe safety threat, CNN said.

The Department of Energy declined to comment. The International Atomic Energy Agency, a U.N. body, told The Associated Press it was aware of the issue and was awaiting information from China.

There is nothing we can do about it," said Li Tak, a Hong Kong retiree. Justin Santini, a teacher, noted that government officials have said it isn't a problem as of yet. Until more alarm bells are raised, its probably premature to be concerned about it," he said.

Electricite de France said Monday it was informed of the increase in concentration of certain noble gases in Taishan reactor No. 1.

That suggests fuel rods are leaking gases produced during nuclear fission, according to Luk Bing-lam, an expert on nuclear engineering at the City University of Hong Kong.

Noble gases such as xenon and krypton are byproducts of fission along with particles of cesium, strontium and other radioactive elements.

If the leakage is more severe, then you will start seeing more radioactive material like cesium, rather than gas, said Luk, who is chairman of the Hong Kong Nuclear Society.

Such leaks happen every so often in China and plants usually can handle it themselves, Luk said. But he said this incident might be complicated if the Taishan plant uses U.S. technology that is covered by export restrictions.

Chinas state-owned nuclear power companies are on Washingtons entity list that bars them from obtaining U.S. technology without government approval.

The French partner might ask for permission because Framatome previously licensed technology from Westinghouse, Luk said.

With the situation now, that becomes difficult, he said. For even a small problem, they need U.S. government approval.

China has 50 operable reactors and is building 18 more, according to the World Nuclear Association, an industry group. It is largely self-sufficient in reactor design and construction but is making full use of Western technology while adapting and improving it, the association says on its website.

China has constructed reactors based on French, U.S., Russian and Canadian technology and has developed its own Hualong One reactor, based on Westinghouse technology, marketing it abroad since 2015.

Hong Kong gets as much as one-third of its power from the Daya Bay nuclear power plant east of the territory in Guangdong.

Luk, who has worked with Chinese nuclear power plant operators, said he asked the company for information about the leak but managers wont talk about it.

I suspect the leakage is far more widespread than just a single assembly, he said. Because of that, they probably need some special technology to resolve this leakage problem.

Previously, the Taishan facility leaked a small amount of radioactive gas on April 9, the National Nuclear Safety Administration said on its website. It said the event was Level 0, or without safety significance.

Zhao, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson, defended China's nuclear safety record and said the nuclear agency works with regulators in other countries and the IAEA.

Chinas nuclear power plants have maintained a good record in operation and no incidents affecting the environment or public health have occurred, Zhao said.

___

This story corrects the spelling of Framatome and fixes the second reference to the nuclear expert to Luk throughout. Also, the translation of the quote by Chief Executive Carrie Lam has been revised to clarify that she said the Hong Kong government attaches a high degree of importance to the reports about the nuclear plant, not that it is highly concerned about them.

___

AP Business Writer McDonald reported from Beijing. AP video journalist Alice Fung in Hong Kong contributed to this report.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  Minneapolis police on Tuesday identified the man suspected of driving into a crowd of demonstrators, killing one and injuring three others as a 35-year-old from St. Paul with multiple convictions for driving while impaired.

Police say Nicholas Kraus was booked into the Hennepin County jail on suspicion of criminal vehicular homicide. Online jail records show he was arrested early Monday and was being held without bail. He's also being held on suspicion of driving after a license was canceled and providing false information to police, records show.

The Hennepin County jail does not accept messages for people in custody and a phone message could not be left for Kraus. Prosecutors have asked for an extension until noon Wednesday to file charges. It was not immediately clear if Kraus had an attorney to speak on his behalf.

A woman, who family members identified as 31-year-old Deona Knajdek, was killed Sunday night and three other people were injured when Kraus allegedly drove into demonstrators during a rally in Minneapolis' Uptown neighborhood.

Protests have been ongoing in Uptown since the June 3 shooting of Winston Boogie Smith Jr., a 32-year-old Black father of three, by members of a federal U.S. Marshals Service task force. Authorities said they were trying to arrest Smith on a warrant for being a felon in possession of a firearm when he displayed a handgun from inside a parked vehicle and task force members fired. Authorities also say evidence shows Smith fired his gun from inside the vehicle, but a female passenger has said she never saw him with a gun.

Minneapolis has also been on edge since the death of George Floyd under an officers' knee in May 2020 and the fatal police shooting of another Black man, Daunte Wright, in a nearby suburb.

On Tuesday, city crews began clearing and reopening streets near the site of Smith's shooting and Knajdek's death, but after police left, protesters moved back in and blocked traffic.

Protesters told radio station WCCO they want the busy Lake Street and Hennepin Avenue intersection shut down much like the site of Floyd's arrest is closed to traffic and memorialized as George Floyd Square.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said: This is a safety concern. We cant have a major commercial corridor like this shut down. We cant have unauthorized closure of our streets, period. People need service.

Witnesses have said the driver of an SUV in Sunday's crash, now identified as Kraus, struck a parked car, tossing it into the crowd of demonstrators. Police have not confirmed that account. Police said protesters pulled Kraus from his vehicle and witnesses reported demonstrators struck him. Kraus was arrested and treated for injuries at a hospital.

Police have said Kraus' motive wasn't clear, but that a preliminary investigation indicated drugs or alcohol may have been involved. Kraus has five convictions for driving while impaired dating back to a 2007 incident, according to online court records. Court records also show his driver's license was canceled in 2013 because he was found to be inimical to public safety.

A search warrant affidavit obtained by TV station KARE-11 says Kraus admitted several times that he was the driver, without being asked, but when asked specific questions he gave illogical and irrelevant answers. Kraus told police his name was Jesus Christ and Tim Burton, that he had been a carpenter for 2,000 years, and that he wanted to get his children to the Super Bowl, the affidavit says.

Police noted his pupils were small and didn't react to a flashlight. A field sobriety test could not be performed because of his injuries.

The affidavit says a city camera captured the incident and appears to show no brake lights before the crash.

On Tuesday, police asked for the public's help in locating a person who climbed a pole and spray painted a city-owned camera. Police say this particular camera would have recorded the crash had it not been disabled.

Other injuries and deaths have been reported involving vehicles at protests across the U.S. as people have increasingly taken to the streets to press their grievances. In Minneapolis, marching onto freeways has become a common tactic. Last year, a semitrailer rolled into a crowd marching on a closed Minneapolis freeway. No one was seriously injured.

Republican politicians in several states, including Oklahoma, Florida and Iowa, have sought legal immunity for drivers who hit protesters.
NEW YORK (AP)  Dozens of Holocaust survivors clapped, sang and danced Monday at a concert held in their honor in Brooklyn in the first large gathering for New York-area survivors after months of isolation during the coronavirus pandemic.

The concert by popular Orthodox Jewish singer Yaakov Shwekey was organized by the Nachas Health and Family Network and other groups that help the more than 35,000 Holocaust survivors estimated to live in the New York City metropolitan area.

Its extremely good for the soul, for the heart, to see people coming out once again and socializing, said Dolly Rabinowitz, who sat in the front row of the Yeshivah of Flatbush auditorium joined by other Holocaust survivors and students of the Modern Orthodox Jewish school.

The survivors, most of whom are now in their 80s and 90s, suffered unspeakable horrors in concentration camps. In the past year, many remained isolated at home because they were at a high risk of contagion from the fast-spreading virus.

To be out once again is like reviving ourselves. To sit among our children and grandchildren is heartwarming, said Rabinowitz, who lived through Auschwitz and the Death March.

Many of the survivors arrived at Mondays concert in yellow school buses.

This feels like going back to school! Henry Rosenberg, 92, told other survivors as he stepped off a bus and walked into the Yeshivah of Flatbush Joel Braverman High School.

Its good to feel the fresh air. It was hard, he later said about the pandemic. We couldnt go to any places for many months.

Some students greeted them inside and helped those with mobility issues to their seats in a cafeteria. Afterward they walked to the school theater for the show.

Some held hands and choked back tears when they heard an instrumental version in violin and piano of Ani Ma'amin, Hebrew for, I believe, which was sung by many Jews who were herded into cattle cars on their way to concentration camps.

During WWII, many of them were tattooed with ID numbers, shorn of hair and used as slave labor. Some nearly starved and witnessed family members killed. Sometimes, theyll share these experiences to teach younger generations about the horrors they endured at a time when global antisemitism is rising, while fewer young people know about the Holocaust and its death camps.

Its the unfortunate reality that some time from now, were not going to have these Holocaust survivors to tell their story, so its so crucial an critical for us to be with them, to get their stories and cherish them, said Michael Oved, 17, who recently graduated from the high school and will soon attend Harvard University.

The lesson for other generations, Oved said, is to keep going. These people have suffered through hell and back, yet theyre here standing. And during the pandemic, they were just as strong as they ever were. So their message to us should be: Always, always persevere and never give up.

Some Holocaust survivors regularly attend Nachas, Yiddish for joy, which is part of a network of community centers that offer wide-ranging services to survivors. Dozens go there to socialize, receive legal assistance, study the Torah, exercise, get counseling and eat meals.

Lillian Feintuch, 85, who contracted the coronavirus and for months lost her sense of smell and taste, has now returned to exercising at Nachas and at a local YMCA. On Monday she joined a group of women on stage, smiling, lifting her arms high and swaying from side to side to a catchy tune called Et Rikod, or Time to dance.

I dont take anything for granted," Feintuch said. "I thank God every day for little things that I have in my life ... for being able to talk and walk and think for myself.

___

This story has been corrected to delete an erroneous reference to a Nazi invasion of Germany.

___

Associated Press religion coverage receives support from the Lilly Endowment through The Conversation U.S. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
The U.S. death toll from COVID-19 topped 600,000 on Tuesday, even as the vaccination drive has drastically brought down daily cases and fatalities and allowed the country to emerge from the gloom and look forward to summer.

The number of lives lost, as recorded by Johns Hopkins University, is greater than the population of Baltimore or Milwaukee. It is about equal to the number of Americans who died of cancer in 2019. Worldwide, the COVID-19 death toll stands at about 3.8 million.

The milestone came the same day that California and New York lifted most of their remaining restrictions, joining other states in opening the way, step by step, for what could be a fun and close to normal summer for many Americans.

Deep down I want to rejoice, said Rita Torres, a retired university administrator in Oakland, California. But she plans to take it slow: Because its kind of like, is it too soon? Will we be sorry?

With the arrival of the vaccine in mid-December, COVID-19 deaths per day in the U.S. have plummeted to an average of around 340, from a high of over 3,400 in mid-January. Cases are running at about 14,000 a day on average, down from a quarter-million per day over the winter.

The real death tolls in the U.S. and around the globe are thought to be significantly higher, with many cases overlooked or possibly concealed by some countries.

President Joe Biden acknowledged the approaching milestone Monday during his visit to Europe, saying that while new cases and deaths are dropping dramatically in the U.S., theres still too many lives being lost, and now is not the time to let our guard down.

The most recent deaths are seen in some ways as especially tragic now that the vaccine has become available practically for the asking.

More than 50% of Americans have had at least one dose of vaccine, while over 40% are fully vaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

But demand for shots in the U.S. has dropped off dramatically, leaving many places with a surplus of doses and casting doubt on whether the country will meet Biden's target of having 70% of American adults at least partially vaccinated by July 4. The figure stands at just under 65%.

As of a week ago, the U.S. was averaging about 1 million injections per day, down from a high of about 3.3 million a day on average in mid-April, according to the CDC.

At nearly every turn in the outbreak, the virus has exploited and worsened inequalities in the United States. CDC figures, when adjusted for age and population, show that Black, Latino and Native American people are two to three times more likely than whites to die of COVID-19.

Also, an Associated Press analysis found that Latinos are dying at much younger ages than other groups. Hispanic people between 30 and 39 have died at five times the rate of white people in the same age group.

Overall, Black and Hispanic Americans have less access to medical care and are in poorer health, with higher rates of conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure. They are also more likely to have jobs deemed essential, less able to work from home and more likely to live in crowded, multigenerational households.

With the overall picture improving rapidly, California, the most populous state and the first to impose a coronavirus lockdown, dropped state rules on social distancing and limits on capacity at restaurants, bars, supermarkets, gyms, stadiums and other places, ushering in what has been billed as its Grand Reopening just in time for summer.

Disneyland is throwing open its gates to all tourists after allowing just California residents. Fans will be able to sit elbow-to-elbow and cheer without masks at Dodgers and Giants games.

Gov. Gavin Newsom celebrated by hosting a drawing in which 10 people won $1.5 million each simply for being vaccinated.

In New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Tuesday that 70% of adults in the state have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and he announced that the immediate easing of many of the restrictions will be celebrated with fireworks.

What does 70% mean? It means that we can now return to life as we know it, he said.

He said the state is lifting rules that had limited the size of gatherings and required some types of businesses to follow cleaning protocols, take peoples temperature or screen them for COVID-19 symptoms. Businesses will no longer have to restrict how many people they can allow inside based on the 6-foot rule.

For the time being, though, New Yorkers will have to keep wearing masks in schools, subways and certain other places.

Massachusetts on Tuesday officially lifted a state of emergency that had been in effect for 462 days, though many restrictions had already been eased, including mask requirements and limits on gatherings. Republican lawmakers in Kansas decided to let a state of emergency expire Tuesday. And Maryland's governor announced that the emergency there will end on July 1, with the state no longer requiring any masks.

The first known deaths from the virus in the U.S. were in early February 2020. It took four months to reach the first 100,000 dead. During the most lethal phase of the disaster, in the winter of 2020-21, it took just over a month to go from 300,000 to 400,000 deaths.

With the crisis now easing, it took close to four months for the U.S. death toll to go from a half-million to 600,000.
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With high case loads and limited budgets, local public defenders say they are at a disadvantage when it comes to helping those theyve been assigned to represent.

Attorney Tom Piper knows how limited the resources can be. He is the public defender for two rural Illinois counties  Morgan and Greene.

There are a lot of things we need, Piper said. Money is an issue, though. And, Id agree, all public defenders are overworked.

Many rural counties have few public defenders.

There are studies that say the case load should be about 16, but that is so below what all we have to do, Piper said. I believe criminal defense is lessened because of it. Just the total in Morgan is more than what is recommended; thats not including what I have going on in Greene.

Piper said he has more than 100 clients in Morgan County alone, with at least another 100 in Greene County. While some of those cases are inactive, that still is a lot on his plate, he said.

The Illinois Supreme Court commissioned a study by the Sixth Amendment Center  a non-profit organization that works with policymakers and other stakeholders to evaluate the criminal justice system  to examine the effectiveness and quality of public defenders in the state.

The study looked at nine counties  Champaign, Cook, DuPage, Gallatin, Hardin, LaSalle, Mercer, Schuyler and Stephenson  and found the public defender system is lacking in Illinois without proper oversight by the state.

The large case loads and the lack of independence make it difficult to provide adequate services to those they are representing, the study found.

Public defenders are handled at the county level, with budgeting and oversight taking place locally.

The study found that, while each county has its own oversight, the state does not have any oversight structure by which to know whether each countys indigent defense system has a sufficient number of attorneys with the necessary time, training, and resources to provide effective assistance of counsel at every critical stage of a criminal case for each and every indigent defendant.

Ideally, Piper said, his office would have access to funds for things such as the hiring of investigators for high-profile cases.

A states attorney has access to city police, county police, state police, and sometimes even the FBI, Piper said. I have no one and no budget to hire anyone. I have to do it all on my own. And when a witness tells me a different story than they told police, I cant testify to that. I have to have an investigator go out and talk to them.

Piper said his office also would benefit from having access to social workers, who can help with things such as mental illness and other needs. Police departments have been working with social workers to help address issues with difficult inmates, but Piper said a client sometimes could benefit from a social workers services, as well.

I get that small counties have limited funding; its no ones fault, Piper said. Im not criticizing anyone, both (Morgan and Greene counties boards) have been great.

While money is an issue, cases also are more difficult now than they were in the past, he said.

Meth cases have grown, all types of cases have grown, Piper said. There are more felonies. Theres just more.

The Sixth Amendment Center recommended that the state Legislature create and appropriately fund a commission to set and enforce standards for effective public defense.
A New York judge on Tuesday approved disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein's extradition to California, where he faces additional sexual assault charges, ending a legal fight prolonged by the COVID-19 pandemic, the defense's concerns about Weinstein's failing health and a squabble over paperwork.

Judge Kenneth Case said there was no reason to delay Weinstein's transfer any longer, denying his lawyer's request to keep him at a state prison near Buffalo  where he is serving a 23-year sentence for a rape conviction last year  until the start of jury selection in the Los Angeles case.

Los Angeles authorities plan to collect Weinstein, 69, from the Wende Correctional Facility in Alden, New York, at the end of June or in early July, prosecutors said at Tuesday's extradition hearing in Buffalo, giving Weinstein's lawyer time to appeal Judge Case's decision.

Weinstein's lawyer, Norman Effman, argued he should remain in Wende's hospital-like maximum-security setting while receiving treatment for maladies including a loss of eyesight, rather than being shipped cross-country to a Los Angeles jail cell. His suggestion that Weinstein instead be arraigned by video was also rejected.

What we were trying to do is not avoid the trial, but avoid an unnecessary stay in a jail rather than a prison," Effman said, claiming pre-trial detention in California would rob Weinstein of needed medical care.

Erie County Assistant District Attorney Colleen Curtin Gable, arguing in favor of Weinstein's extradition, retorted: Its Los Angeles. Its not some remote outpost that doesnt have any sort of medical care."

Weinstein faces 11 sexual assault counts in California involving five women, stemming from alleged assaults in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills from 2004 to 2013. The charges include rape, forcible oral copulation, sexual battery by restraint and sexual penetration by use of force.

Los Angeles prosecutors first charged Weinstein in January 2020, just as jury selection was getting underway in the New York City case that ended in his conviction and imprisonment.

Weinstein is appealing the verdict that he raped an aspiring actress in 2013 in a Manhattan hotel room and forcibly performed oral sex on TV and film production assistant in 2006 at his Manhattan apartment.

Because Weinstein is incarcerated in New York, Case's authorization was needed in order to transfer him to the custody of Los Angeles authorities under the terms of an interstate extradition agreement.

One other way Weinstein's move could have been blocked was by an objection from New York's governor, but Gable said there was no such action by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Weinstein, appearing via video from the Wende prison, placed his hands on his mask-covered face after Case announced his decision. Earlier in the hearing, Weinstein had the mask drooping from his right ear as he sat in what appeared to be a prison meeting room.

In addition to concerns about Weinstein's health, Effman questioned the legitimacy of extradition paperwork filed by Los Angeles authorities, which he said was defective because it listed only some of the charges.

We are challenging the paperwork because its not right. Its wrong... They just copied the form and changed the date," Effman told Case.

Gable said the paperwork absolutely met the requirements of the extradition agreement.

Gable also challenged Effman's claims about Weinstein's health, telling the judge Weinstein last week rejected a prescribed treatment for his eye condition because he said he wasnt psychologically ready for it" and that prison officials cycled through ophthalmologists trying to find one acceptable to the defendant.

Weinstein has myriad health problems and his condition has worsened since hes been in prisons, according to his lawyers, including a bout with COVID-19 two weeks after his sentencing in March 2020.

Weinstein has diabetes, extensive coronary artery disease, anemia, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, chronic lower back pain, sciatica , chronic leg pain and arthritis that severe limits his ability to walk, and eye ailments that have severely degraded his vision, his lawyers said.

Every inmate has an absolute right to appropriate treatment when he or she is in custody, Gable said. But they don't have a say in when and where they get their treatment, and theres absolutely nothing in either doctors report that says this treatment cant be done in Los Angeles.

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Follow Michael Sisak on Twitter at twitter.com/mikesisak.
LONDON (AP)  The British government fended off calls Tuesday to provide more financial support to businesses and workers suffering from its decision to delay lifting coronavirus restrictions in England until July 19.

Although many restrictions were eased in recent weeks, allowing large parts of the U.K. economy to reopen, a number of businesses, particularly in the hospitality and entertainment sectors, have remained shuttered because it was not financially viable.

After months of planning, those businesses had been preparing to reopen on June 21, the date the government had earmarked for the possible lifting of restrictions on social contact. But a recent spike in new infections as a result of the more contagious delta variant upended that plan and has fueled concerns that the restrictions may persist beyond July 19.

Scientists advising the government reckon that the delta variant, which was first found in India, is between 40% to 80% more transmissible than the previous dominant strain in the U.K. The alpha variant first found in Britain was largely behind a winter virus surge that left the country with Europe's highest virus-related death toll at nearly 128,000.

Now is the time to ease off the accelerator, because by being cautious now we have the chance in the next four weeks to save many thousands of lives by vaccinating millions more people," Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Monday when announcing the delay.

Following the announcement, unions joined business leaders to urge the Conservative government to compensate those affected by the delay, warning that it may tip many companies over the edge and lead to a sharp rise in unemployment, which stood at 4.7% in April.

Frances OGrady, general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, said the government should delay asking businesses to contribute to the salary support program it has operated since March 2020 and retain the program for as long as it's needed.

Under the Job Retention Scheme, the government has been paying 80% of the salaries of those unable to work because of the restrictions. But beginning in July, that support goes down to 70% with firms contributing 10%. The scheme becomes less generous through the summer before it expires at the end of September.

We cant afford for more companies to go to the wall, taking good jobs with them, she said.

And the Confederation of British Industry urged the government to hold back on the planned tapering of tax relief for businesses and extend the commercial rent moratorium for the sectors most impacted.

We must acknowledge the pain felt by businesses in hospitality, leisure and live events, the CBIs director-general Tony Danker said.

Cabinet Officer minister Michael Gove, a close Johnson ally, said the support programs were created knowing that there could be delays in getting out of lockdown. But he said he was pretty confident there wouldn't be another delay in lifting restrictions.

It would require an unprecedented and remarkable alteration in the progress of the disease, he told Sky News.

Johnson said health officials would use the reopening delay to drive up immunity levels, limiting the spread of the delta variant when restrictions are fully lifted.

The plan is that two-thirds of the U.K.'s adult population will have been offered two vaccine shots, including everyone over 50, by July 19. In a further development Tuesday, the National Health Service said the rollout, which has been primarily based on age, will be accelerated so that every adult should be able to book a first dose by the end of this week.

As of Tuesday, around 62% of the British population had received one vaccine shot, while about 45% had two.

An analysis from Public Health England showed that two doses of the main vaccines in the U.K. are highly effective against hospitalization from the delta variant  96% in the case of Pfizer and 92% for the AstraZeneca jab.

Scientists have generally welcomed the delay as it means the peak in the current wave of infections will end up being lower.

Were at a critical point in the ongoing race between the virus and our vaccination program," said Imperial College epidemiologist Professor Neil Ferguson.

On Tuesday, the British government reported 7,673 new confirmed cases, one of the highest daily numbers since the end of February. The delta variant accounted for around 90% of all new infections.

The opposition Labour Party has put the blame for the spread of the delta variant squarely on the Conservative government, saying it was too slow in imposing the strictest quarantines on all arrivals from India.

They should have red-listed the delta variant, instead Boris Johnson showed it the red carpet, said Jonathan Ashworth, Labour's health spokesman.

___

Follow all of APs pandemic coverage at:

https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic

https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccine
TOKYO (AP)  Until recently, the location of executed wartime Japanese Prime Minister Hideki Tojo's remains was one of World War II's biggest mysteries in the nation he once led.

Now, a Japanese university professor has revealed declassified U.S. military documents that appear to hold the answer.

The documents show the cremated ashes of Tojo, one of the masterminds of the Pearl Harbor attack, were scattered from a U.S. Army aircraft over the Pacific Ocean about 30 miles (50 kilometers) east of Yokohama, Japans second-largest city, south of Tokyo.

It was a tension-filled, highly secretive mission, with American officials apparently taking extreme steps meant to keep Tojo's remains, and those of six others executed with him, away from ultra-nationalists looking to glorify them as martyrs. The seven were hanged for war crimes just before Christmas in 1948, three years after Japans defeat.

The discovery brings partial closure to a painful chapter of Japanese history that still plays out today, as conservative Japanese politicians attempt to whitewash history, leading to friction with wartime victims, especially China and South Korea.

After years spent verifying and checking details and evaluating the significance of what he'd found, Nihon University Professor Hiroaki Takazawa publicly released the clues to the remains' location last week. He came across the declassified documents in 2018 at the U.S. National Archives in Maryland. Its believed to be the first time official documents showing the handling of the seven war criminals remains were made public, according to Japan's National Institute for Defense Studies and the Japan Center for Asian Historical Records.

Hidetoshi Tojo, the leader's great-grandson, told The Associated Press that the absence of the remains has long been a humiliation for the bereaved families, but he's relieved the information has come to light.

If his remains were at least scattered in Japanese territorial waters ... I think he was still somewhat fortunate, Tojo said. I want to invite my friends and lay flowers to pay tribute to him" if further details about the remains' location becomes available.

Hideki Tojo, prime minister during much of World War II, is a complicated figure, revered by some conservatives as a patriot but loathed by many in the West for prolonging the war, which ended only after the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

About a month after Aug. 15, 1945, when then-Emperor Hirohito announced Japans defeat to a stunned nation, Tojo shot himself in a failed suicide attempt as he was about to be arrested at his modest Tokyo home.

Takazawa, the Nihon University professor specializing in war tribunal issues, found the documents during research at the U.S. archives into other war crimes trials. The documents, he said, are valuable because they officially detail previously little-known facts about what happened and provide a rough location of where the ashes were scattered.

He plans to continue research into other executions. More than 4,000 people were convicted of war crimes in other international tribunals, and about 920 of them were executed.

Tojo and the six others who were hanged were among 28 Japanese wartime leaders tried for war crimes at the 1946-1948 International Military Tribunal for the Far East. Twenty-five were convicted, including 16 sentenced to life in prison, with two getting shorter prison terms. Two others died while on trial and one case was dropped.

In one of the newly revealed documents  dated Dec. 23, 1948 and carrying a secret stamp  U.S. Army Maj. Luther Frierson wrote: "I certify that I received the remains, supervised cremation, and personally scattered the ashes of the following executed war criminals at sea from an Eighth Army liaison plane."

The entire operation was tense, with U.S. officials extremely careful about not leaving a single speck of ashes behind, apparently to prevent them from being stolen by admiring ultra-nationalists, Takazawa said.

In addition to their attempt to prevent the remains from being glorified, I think the U.S. military was adamant about not letting the remains return to Japanese territory ... as an ultimate humiliation," Takazawa said.

The documents state that when the cremation was completed, the ovens were "cleared of the remains in their entirety.

Special precaution was taken to preclude overlooking even the smallest particles of remains, Frierson wrote.

Here's how the operation went.

At 2:10 a.m. on Dec. 23, 1948, caskets carrying the bodies of Tojo and the six others were loaded on a 2.5-ton truck and taken out of the prison after fingerprinting for verification, Frierson wrote in a Jan. 4, 1949 document.

About an hour and a half later, the motorcade guarded by truckloads of armed soldiers to protect the bodies arrived at a U.S. military graves registration platoon in Yokohama for a final check.

The truck left the area at 7:25 a.m. and arrived at a Yokohama crematorium 30 minutes later. The caskets were unloaded from the truck and placed directly in the ovens in 10 minutes, while soldiers guarded the area.

The remains were then transported under guard to a nearby airstrip and loaded onto a plane that Frierson boarded. We proceeded to a point approximately 30 miles over the Pacific Ocean east of Yokohama where I personally scattered the cremated remains over a wide area.

Today, even without the ashes, bereaved families and conservative Japanese lawmakers such as former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe regularly pay tribute at Tokyos Yasukuni Shrine, where the executed war criminals are enshrined with 2.5 million war dead considered sacred spirits in the Shinto religion. No remains are enshrined at Yasukuni.

After the seven executed war criminals were enshrined there in 1978, Yasukuni has become a flashpoint between Japan and its neighbors China and South Korea, who see the enshrinement as proof of Japans lack of remorse over its wartime aggression. Yasukuni also enshrines five other convicted wartime leaders and hundreds of other war criminals.

Hidetoshi Tojo said his great-grandfather was consistently made a taboo in postwar Japan, never glorified.

Everything about my great-grandfather was sealed, including his speeches. Taking that into consideration, I think not preserving the remains was part of the occupation policy, he said. I hope to see further revelations about the unknown facts of the past.

___

This story has been corrected to say the documents were found at the U.S. National Archives in Maryland, not Washington.

___

Follow Mari Yamaguchi on Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/mariyamaguchi
China sends record 28 fighter jets toward Taiwan View Photo

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP)  China flew a record 28 fighter jets toward the self-ruled island of Taiwan on Tuesday, the islands defense ministry said, the largest such display of force since Beijing began sending planes on a near daily basis last year.

Taiwans air force deployed its combat air patrol forces in response and monitored the situation in the southwestern part of the islands air defense identification zone with its air defense systems, the Ministry of National Defense said.

The planes included various types of fighter jets including 14 J-16 and six J-11 planes, as well as bombers, the ministry said.

Chinas show of force comes after leaders of the Group of Seven industrialized nations issued a statement Sunday calling for a peaceful resolution of cross-Taiwan Strait issues and underscored the importance of peace and stability.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian on Tuesday said the G-7 was deliberately interfering in Chinas internal affairs.

Chinas determination to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests is unwavering, he said.

Taiwan and China split during a civil war in 1949, but China continues to claim Taiwan as part of its territory. Taiwan has been self-ruled since then.

Since the election of President Tsai Ing-wen in 2016, China has increased diplomatic and military pressure on the government over her refusal to agree to Chinas insistence that the island be considered part of Chinese territory.

The vast majority of Taiwanese reject the prospect of political union with China under the one country, two systems framework used for Hong Kong.

Since last year, China has been flying fighter jets toward the island almost daily in what it calls a demonstration of its seriousness in defending its national sovereignty.

Previously, the largest such maneuver was in March, when China sent 25 fighter planes toward Taiwan.

By HUIZHONG WU

Associated Press
The Excessive Heat Warning issued for the Mother Lode, the Central Sierra Nevada Foothills, the western slope of the Northern Sierra Nevada and the Northern San Joaquin Valley has been extended until 8 PM Sunday evening.

According to the National Weather Service, dangerously hot conditions are forecast during this time period with afternoon high temperatures ranging from 101 to 112.

High pressure over the west continues to result in very hot daytime temperatures this weekend. The hot afternoon temperatures, combined with warm overnight lows, continues to lead to widespread high to very high heat risk.

Extreme heat will significantly increase the potential for heat related illnesses, particularly for those working or participating in outdoor activities.

During the heat event, drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9 1 1. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances. This is especially true during warm or hot weather when car interiors can reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes.
McConnell: Waiting For Biden To Take Charge Of Border Crisis

U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered remarks regarding the crisis at the border last week on the Senate floor.

McConnell was Tuesdays KVML Newsmaker of the Day. Here are his words:

The latest data from Customs and Border Protection show that the current fiscal year has seen the highest number of migrant apprehensions since 2006.

Let me say that again. Were eight months into FY 2021, but the CBP has already apprehended more migrants at our southern border than in any full year since 2006.

Its hard to overstate the humanitarian and security crisis thats unfolded this year.

Monthly arrivals of unaccompanied minors reached their highest levels on record.

Higher border traffic concealed an alarming rise in the flows of deadly drugs like fentanyl. CBP recently announced its apprehensions even included individuals who are on the Terrorist Watch List.

The origins of this crisis are not a mystery.

The Democrats who have spent the last few months in the White House focusing on what to call it instead of how to fix it are the same Democrats who spent last year sending potential migrants dangerous mixed messages from the campaign trail.

Quote: You want to flee you should come. That was future President Biden.

Quote: No they should not be deported. That was then-Senator Kamala Harris.

Sure enough, CBP officials are reporting that many migrants they encounter believe that, quote, theres been a change in immigration laws a gap in enforcement on the U.S. border, under the new Administration.

But if you ask now-Vice President Harris, the Administrations point person on the border, theres apparently blame to be found everywhere but her own partys rhetoric on immigration. And theres value in going just about anywhere but the border, itself.

This week, the Vice Presidents investigation of the root causes of migration brought her to Guatemala and Mexico. The Administrations delegation was apparently keen to talk about factors like corruption and climate change.

But the President of Guatemala had a different agenda. As he put it, quote, We asked the United States government to send more of a clear message Sound familiar?

Of course, one place Vice President Harris did not stop on her trip was the U.S.-Mexico border. And bizarrely, when she even plans to remains unclear.

When asked about it in an interview this week, the Vice President responded with a laugh. I dont understand the point that youre making, she said.

For months the Biden Administration has assured the American people that when it comes to our southern border, Vice President Harris has it covered.

And they sure are betting on it  the White Houses budget request proposes no increase in funding for DHS, whose agents are working overtime to contend with the crisis on the ground.

Well, there are a lot of folks on both sides of the border who are still waiting for the point person to actually take charge.

The Newsmaker of the Day is heard every weekday morning at 6:45, 7:45 and 8:45 on AM 1450 and FM 102.7 KVML.
Tuolumne County Government View Photo

Sonora, CA  The first item that opinions were split on at todays Tuolumne County Supervisors meeting was a proposal by Supervisor Jaron Brandon that he travel to a conference in Maryland.

It is the annual National Association of Counties conference this July 9-12. The backstory is that Board Chair Ryan Campbell is the countys voting member for the annual conference. Campbell was planning to attend, and vote, virtually, online. However, there is also an option to attend in person. Campbell indicated a belief he could accomplish goals online rather than having the county spend money to send him to the East Coast. CAO Tracie Riggs estimated the costs for air travel, lodging, and food would be around $2,500.

Supervisor Jaron Brandon told the board he felt it would be beneficial to have someone in person to network and get a better feel about the national issues facing counties. He proposed that he travel to the conference in person, while Campbell also attends virtually.

District Three Supervisor Anaiah Kirk questioned the benefits of having an alternate onsite in Maryland, while Campbell would be the voting member for the county, attending virtually. Supervisor Campbell also questioned the need to have Brandon at the event in person while he is the only voting member. District One Supervisor David Goldemberg then said he would be in favor of sending both Brandon and Campbell, physically, to the conference. District Four Supervisor Kathleen Haff also liked the idea of having someone in person at the conference, citing the benefits of past supervisors attending, and asked if Campbell would be able to travel there, as an option instead of Brandon. Campbell said he would, if that is the desire of the board.

After spending nearly a half-an-hour on the topic, many of the supervisors started to express discouragement taking so much time discussing this item. Campbell stated that the board needed to just make a decision. In the end, the board unanimously directed county staff to move forward with the concept of sending Supervisor Campbell in person to the Maryland conference. Supervisor Brandon would then have the option of attending virtually.
Mariposa County Public Health View Photo

Californias coronavirus restrictions on social distancing and limits on capacity at restaurants, bars, supermarkets, and gyms are gone for what could be a close to normal summer for many Americans.

The State Public Health Officer issued a new public health order effective today superseding all prior health orders. Public health measures will stay for indoor concerts, sporting events or other large gatherings of more than 5,000 people. Attendees of those mega-events will have to show proof that they are vaccinated or have a recent negative COVID-19 test. Outdoor event organizers expecting more than 10,000 people are strongly encouraged to do the same.

The new order has guidance for settings serving children and youth pending an expected update to the K-12 schools guidance by the CDC. All of the new orders can be found here: https://covid19.ca.gov/stay-home-except-for-essential-needs/

Fully vaccinated people are no longer required to wear masks in most places, but those who are unvaccinated are expected to, but it wont be enforced. Businesses have three choices: operate on an honor system, require customers to show proof of vaccination or require everyone to cover their face. Masks are still required in places like public transit, airports, health care settings and indoor school classes.

The Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board will consider updating its face-covering rules on Thursday, June 17 to better align with the state and federal guidance. Any update to the rules for workplaces, if voted on by the board, will go into effect around June 28. In the meantime, the protections adopted in November of 2020 remain in effect. More information on the ETS for workplaces can be found at: https://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/coronavirus/ETS.html

Gov. Newsom celebrated the state having one of the lowest rates of infection in the country, below 1%, from Universal Studios Hollywood attributing the dramatic drop in infections with the number of residents vaccinated. The reopening celebration accompanied the grand finale of the lottery for 10 winners who will get $1.5 million each for getting vaccinated. As detailed here Gov. Newsom will host drawings for six vacation packages on July 1 in hopes of increasing tourism.

Tuolumne County  Tuolumne County Public Health sadly reported a 60-year-old male who was hospitalized passed away due to Covid yesterday and today they report it has been confirmed that another male resident of the county also in his 60s passed away out of the county in May due to Covid. There are a total of 71 deaths attributed to Covid in Tuolumne County.

There are nine new cases to report, one over the weekend, three on Monday and five today, Tuesday. Yesterdays cases are a man and a woman age 18 to 29, and two women age 50 to 59, today it is one girl under 17 one woman age 18 to 29 a mand and a woman avge 40 to 49 and a woman age 60 to 69. None of the individuals were vaccinated. A total of 10 cases are isolating, none are hospitalized. As part of ongoing data analysis and auditing, Tuolumne Public Health says they identified four cases among prison staff who were incorrectly reported as prison inmate cases and ten prison inmate cases that were not reported to the public during the late 2020 surge of infections. Tuolumne County has a total of 4,199 cases split between 2,776 community cases and 1,423 Sierra Conservation Center (SCC) inmate cases. The California Department of Corrections reports no active cases. Last week (Friday to Friday) there were 12 new cases reported and 9 released from isolation.

Total community cases released from isolation is 2,696 and the total number of tests administered is 100,610. The county reports 20,073 fully vaccinated residents and 3,589 individuals partially vaccinated.

The California Department of Public Health issued its final tier placement today and Tuolumne County closes out the blueprint in the Orange Tier or Moderate risk level. There will be no further updates on tier placement. Clarke Broadcasting plans weekly updates on Covid numbers on Saturdays.

Calaveras County  Judy Hawkins, Deputy CAO/Risk & Human Resources Director County of Calaveras, states as soon as the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board adopts revisions, a revised County Coronavirus Protection Plan (CPP) will be sent to all employees informing them of the changes. Hawkins released clarification on face coverings guidelines and protections for Calaveras County Employees and visitors stating Cal/OSHA has not changed their Emergency Temporary Standards at this time noting their rules govern the Countys workplace safety practices. The countys Coronavirus Protection Plan (CPP) aligns with Cal/OSHA and still requires employees to wear a face covering, unless in a room alone, socially distance by staying 6 feet away (even if you are vaccinated) and disinfect high touch areas on a regular basis.

The Calaveras public health reported yesterday one new case since Friday, today the numbers did not change with the countys total Covid cases at 2,201. Active cases decreased two to four total and recoveries increased three to 2,141 total. No Calaveras residents are hospitalized with Covid. The total number of people over 65 years old identified with Covid is 455 since the pandemic began. Calaveras reports 35,904 vaccinations given. Last week (Friday to Friday) there were 7 new cases reported and 11 released from isolation.

Vaccines  Tuolumne Public Health says We have seen the effectiveness of the vaccines in reducing the burden of disease and we thank everyone involved in the tremendous effort to help protect our residents through the COVID vaccinations. As we see new and expanding variants of the virus, against which the vaccines are showing effectiveness, we continue to encourage our community to get vaccinated if they have not done so already. We also encourage everyone to continue to practice other preventive health measures such as washing hands frequently, wearing a mask when indicated, and staying home if feeling sick to help keep themselves, their loved ones, and our community safe and healthy. Our individual actions are now even more important as we move beyond the blueprint and more activities open up.

Upcoming Covid clinics in Tuolumne are June 16, and in Groveland June 18. In Tuolumne, Calaveras, and Mariposa schedule an appointment for a Covid vaccine by going to myturn.ca.gov. You can also call 833-422-4255 if you dont have an email (Mon to Fri 8 AM to 8 PM, Sat and Sun 8 AM-5 PM) for assistance. More about the Calaveras Vaccination Van is here. Vaccine eligibility is open to everyone 12+ (Pfizer) and 18+ (Moderna and Johnson & Johnson) More information about the vaccines is here.

Testing  Sonoras Covid testing is at the Tuolumne Memorial Hall. The hours are Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 7 AM to 7 PM. The Groveland testing site remains open at the Youth Center, 18950 Hwy 120 on Thursdays from 7 AM to 7 PM. Due to low utilization and reopening of the youth center, this location will likely be relocated soon. Individuals can select the site location when making their appointment at www.lhi.care/covidtesting or by calling 888-634-1123. More details are in our events calendar here.

County/Date

Tier Color Active

Cases New Cases

Total Cases COVID

Deaths Amador 6/11 12 7 1,816 38 Calaveras 6/15 4 0 2,201 56 Mariposa 6/15 3 3 464 7 Mono 6/15 1 0 1,035 4 Stanislaus 6/15 147 30 56,635 1,068 Tuolumne 6/15 15 5 4,204 71
NATO nations ready to jointly respond to attacks in space View Photo

BRUSSELS (AP)  NATO leaders on Monday expanded the use of their all for one, one for all, mutual defense clause to include a collective response to attacks in space.

Article 5 of NATOs founding treaty states that an attack on any one of the 30 allies will be considered an attack on them all. Until now, its only applied to more traditional military attacks on land, sea, or in the air, and more recently in cyberspace.

In a summit statement, the leaders said they consider that attacks to, from, or within space could be a challenge to NATO that threatens national and Euro-Atlantic prosperity, security, and stability, and could be as harmful to modern societies as a conventional attack.

Such attacks could lead to the invocation of Article 5. A decision as to when such attacks would lead to the invocation of Article 5 would be taken by the North Atlantic Council on a case-by-case basis, they said.

Around 2,000 satellites orbit the earth, over half operated by NATO countries, ensuring everything from mobile phone and banking services to weather forecasts. Military commanders rely on some of them to navigate, communicate, share intelligence and detect missile launches.

In December 2019, NATO leaders declared space to be the alliances fifth domain of operations, after land, sea, air and cyberspace. Many member countries are concerned about what they say is increasingly aggressive behavior in space by China and Russia.

Around 80 countries have satellites, and private companies are moving in, too. In the 1980s, just a fraction of NATOs communications was via satellite. Today, its at least 40%. During the Cold War, NATO had more than 20 stations, but new technologies mean the worlds biggest security organization can double its coverage with a fifth of that number.

NATOs collective defense clause has only been activated once, when the members rallied behind the United States following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

Former President Donald Trump raised deep concern among U.S. allies, notably those bordering Russia like Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, when he suggested that he might not rally to their side if they didnt boost their defense budgets.

President Joe Biden has been trying to reassure them since taking office and has used the summit, his first at NATO, as a formal opportunity to underline Americas commitment to its European allies and Canada.

Biden said Monday that Article 5 is a sacred obligation among allies. I just want all of Europe to know that the United States is there, he said. The United States is there.

By LORNE COOK

Associated Press
Bezos ex-wife, Scott, gives millions to 2 Chicago colleges View Photo

CHICAGO (AP)  Two Chicago educational institutions have received donations from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, the largest gifts from a single person in their histories, officials said Tuesday.

Kennedy-King College, a branch of City Colleges of Chicago, was given $5 million by Scott. The University of Illinois-Chicago received $40 million from the ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

Ms. Scotts extremely generous donation will advance the lives of students who are poised to make great contributions to our city, our state and our world, said UIC Chancellor Michael D. Amiridis. Her gift is a vote of confidence in the mission of public higher education and in UIC.

City College officials say the money is the largest single private donation ever given Kennedy-King. The donation is part of $2.7 billion given to 286 organizations by Scott.

Forbes Magazine has reported Kennedy-King College, which serves a largely African-American student body, is considered one of the top 10 community colleges in the country as determined by Academic Influence.

We are dedicated to realizing the full potential of each one of our talented students, said Kennedy-King College President Greg A. Thomas, adding college officials are deeply grateful to Ms. Scott for the gift.

Located in Chicagos South Side Englewood neighborhood, Kennedy-King serves nearly 5,000 students, offering culinary and hospitality, construction technology and creative arts classes.

The donations announced Tuesday is the third round of no-strings-attached, major philanthropic gifts Scott has made. Scotts wealth, estimated by Forbes at roughly $60 billion, has only grown since she divorced from Bezos in 2019 and walked away with a 4% stake in Amazon. She has pledged to give away a majority of her wealth during her lifetime.
LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. (AP)  Southern California fire agencies are getting two large-scale helicopters that can each carry up to 3,000 gallons (11.356 liters) of water or retardant to try to limit the spread of wildfires  and just as hot dry weather is setting in.

Fire agencies in Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura counties, which are home to a combined 14 million people, said they are entering a partnership starting Tuesday that will help deploy critical air resources quickly to wildfires, including the two large-scale Boeing Chinook helitankers known as CH-47s, a helitanker that can carry up to 1,000 gallons (3,785 liters), a coordinating helicopter and a mobile retardant base.

However, the tankers were pressed into service early Monday to handle a fire in Ventura County. By evening, firefighters were making good progress on stopping the blaze from spreading and no buildings had burned, fire officials said.

The tri-county effort, dubbed the quick reaction force program, will be in place for up to six months and funded with up to $18 million from regional electric utility Southern California Edison. It comes as much of the region is bracing for an early season heat wave and red flag warnings signaling the potential for wildfires.

The fact that were bringing these copters is a plus, a significant plus, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Daryl Osby told reporters at a demonstration of the helicopters at the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos, California.

The agencies said the CH-47s will be able to drop fire retardant through the night, something they havent done before, and that could significantly help firefighters limit the spread of these blazes.

Fire officials throughout the region are concerned by the tinder-dry weather conditions and a decline in the number of hand crews who work on the ground to contain wildfires. Osby, for one, said he has 10 hand crews ready for the upcoming fire season compared with 28 of these crews about five years ago.

The use of these large-scale helicopters is also an advantage, Osby said, adding his agency until now has been counting on helicopters capable of carrying 350 gallons (1,325 liters) or 1,000 gallons of water at a time.

Orange County had use of a CH-47 last year. It was equipped to drop water overnight, but not retardant, which is used around the edges of a fire to try to limit its spread, Orange County Fire Chief Brian Fennessy said. He said he was looking forward to having this capability at night when winds tend to die down and temperatures fall.

In California, fire conditions have worsened in recent years. Last years record-setting wildfire season scorched more than 4% of the state while killing 33 people and destroying nearly 10,500 buildings.

Numerous studies have linked bigger wildfires in America to climate change from the burning of coal, oil and gas. Scientists have said climate change has made California drier, meaning trees and other plants are more flammable.

This week, much of the state faces an early season heat wave as high pressure over the Southwest expands westward. Red flag warnings will be in effect through Wednesday morning along the south Santa Barbara County coast. Critical fire weather conditions are also expected in southeastern California.

By AMY TAXIN

Associated Press
MONTCLAIR, Calif. (AP)  The FBI has joined the investigation into a minivan explosion that caused a brief power outage in a Southern California neighborhood early Monday, authorities said.

Police said no injuries were reported in the blast that tore the roof off the van around 12:10 a.m. in Montclair, about 35 miles (56 km) east of Los Angeles.

Residents in that area experienced a brief loss of electrical power and believed it was from a transformer explosion, police Lt. Brian Ventura told the Los Angeles Times. But when officers arrived on the scene, they located a parked unoccupied van with extensive interior and exterior damage caused by an explosion.

FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller told the Times the bureaus evidence technicians were assisting with the scene.

There are no leads on suspects or motives, Ventura said. Investigators have asked anyone with information to contact the Montclair Police Department.
BIG SPRING, Texas (AP)  Authorities have arrested a man in the death of a 13-year-old West Texas girl who was reported missing more than a decade ago, a police spokesman said.

Texas Rangers arrested Shawn Casey Adkins on Monday on a murder charge in the killing of Hailey Dunn, said Sgt. Fred Biddle, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Public Safety. He said Adkins was arrested in the area of Big Spring, a city nearly 300 miles (480 kilometers) west of Dallas. Biddle said he could not immediately provide more details on the case.

Adkins was booked into the Howard County jail Monday, jail records show. From there he was transferred to the Mitchell County jail where he was being held Wednesday on a $2 million bond, said Frankie Atkinson, the jail administrator for the Mitchell County Sheriffs Office.

Jail records do not list an attorney for Adkins, and neither Biddle nor Atkinson knew whether he had one.

Hailey was reported missing in December 2010. She and her mother, Billie Dunn, lived in the small West Texas town of Colorado City at the time and Adkins, who was dating Hailey's mother, was named as a person of interest.

Hailey's body was discovered in April 2013 in a remote area near a lake about 30 miles (50 kilometers) northwest of Colorado City. Authorities have not released a cause of death.

Adkins told The Associated Press shortly after Hailey's disappearance that he was not involved and that he was praying for her safe return.

Authorities have not said what led police to arrest Adkins, and Biddle referred questions to prosecutors in the 32nd Judicial District Attorneys Office.

District Attorney Richard Thompson said in a statement that Adkins' arrest was the result of a multi-county and multi-agency effort." He declined to provide further information, saying the case is still under investigation.

Adkins arrest was met with shock by some in Colorado City, a 4,500-resident town just 40 miles (65 kilometers) west of Big Spring where he was taken into custody.

The shock of him being arrested was my shock too because I wasnt aware of any of it, said Police Chief Charles Rice. Rice said that by the time he came to the department the case had been handed off to the Texas Rangers and the FBI.

___

This story was first published June 15, 2021. It was updated June 16, 2021, to correct that Shawn Casey Adkins was transferred from the Howard County jail to the Mitchell County jail, where hes being held on bond, not released on bond from the Howard County jail.
KENS and Univision are undergoing some big changes.



Starting on Sunday June 20, KENS will welcome Henry Ramos to its Sunday lineup. Ramos started his career at KENS in 2017 as a multimedia journalist and says he's excited for his expanded role.



He will be joining Vanessa Croix on the morning anchor desk.



"I am PUMPED to say the least. I am overjoyed and ready. So many greats and legends have sat in the anchor chair at KENS 5 and of course some still do. To now be part of that lineage  it is truly an honor," Ramos tells MySA.



Ramos grew up visiting San Antonio and fell in love with the city then, and even more so now.

"When I would visit, I would stay in the hotel room and watch all the newscasts from the different stations. KENS 5 always stood out," he says. "In my broadcasting career, it was a goal to work at KENS 5. Here, I am four years later. The station has given me a voice and a platform to grow as a journalist. With this new role, I hope to continue to evolve."

MORE SAN ANTONIO TV NEWS FROM CANDICE: San Antonio meteorologist Gabriel Torres chats about work and life outside of TV



One thing that will be different for the San Antonio reporter  his sleep schedule.

"I have been in this business 10 years. I have always worked nightside. Nightside in the TV world means starting your day in the afternoon around 2 p.m. and reporting and being live in the late show, in this case the 10 p.m. For more than 3 years now I have been a reporter on Eyewitness News at 10 p.m. I am a night owl. So, this is going to new and different," he says. "I will definitely be drinking lots of coffee. I will also be going to bed early on Saturdays and telling Alexa to set like five alarms."

Ramos is well-known with local viewers, especially when it comes to diverse viewers.

"A few weeks before I was told about this opportunity, a viewer stopped me at a restaurant and thanked me for my work. He also said it was nice to see someone like 'him' on the news. He was talking about representation," Ramos tells MySA. "He said I hope one day to see you at that desk. Crazy, how life works."



Although San Antonio viewers will continue to see the chic journalist, there will be something a little different Ramos is excited about.

"While it seems simple, I am ready to smile. I don't hardly to get to do that during my reports at night," he says. "But, more importantly I am looking forward to gaining the trust from viewers in this new role. You know Henry Ramos as the guy on the street chasing stories, but this will be a different side. A new side that is ready to shine under the TV studio lights."

READ ALSO: San Antonio Univision TV couple talks 'high risk' pregnancy, what it's like to be first-time parents

Courtesy Myrna Salas

The changes continue over at Univision San Antonio.



Back in April, anchor Myrna Salas switched from the morning to the evening newscasts. She now anchors the 5 p.m. alongside Brenda Jimenez and solo anchors at 10 p.m. Meteorologist Gabriel Torres forecasts the weather for both newscasts.



Salas says her sleep schedule changed completely working nightside.

"I think it's a healthier change. Before I slept when I could. Now I sleep often," Salas says.

The San Antonio anchor who has a 2-year-old at home says it's been a challenge managing motherhood and a career. She says her mother-in-law helps when her and her husband Anuar Revuelta, who is also an anchor at Univision, are working. She says she uses the weekend to dedicate mommy-and-daughter time.



"On weekends all my attention is on her. I take her everywhere with friends, she says. "I take her everywhere I go so that she feels that we are together and of course to the playgrounds so that she can have fun with her mother."

Despite the challenges of being a working mom, Salas still managed to receive a Telly Award, which honors excellence in video and television.



"It was for a series that highlighted our Hispanic culture in San Antonio. It was my second national award and I am very proud of it."




Click here to read the full article.

Mexican authorities may have stumbled upon a particularly gruesome serial killer, after he allegedly chose a police officers spouse as his latest victim.

On May 15th, according to the Associated Press, a police commander in Mexico City went looking for his wife after she failed to come home from a shopping trip. A man whom they both knew, named Andres, was supposed to have accompanied her. The officer confronted Andres at his home and found his wifes dismembered body on top of a table in the basement.

When police searched the rest of the home, they found womens clothing, jewelry, and makeup, along with voter IDs, ID photos, cell phones, and audio and video tapes suggesting he had other victims and may have recorded them. Some of the IDs belonged to women who have been missing for as long as five years. The outdated technology, however  8 mm tapes and VHS tapes  raised the possibility that the killings may have been going on even longer.

While the suspect awaits trial for the murder of one person, police continued searching his home for evidence of more victims, including digging up the earth beneath the house. On Saturday, investigators announced that since starting the search in May, they have found nearly 4,000 fragments of bone from 17 different people, showing the possible scale of the suspects alleged murders. (The Attorney General of the State of Mexico did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the case.)

Mexican authorities have released only the suspects first name, but theyve shared that Andres is 72 years old, a former butcher, and a neighborhood association president. According to the AP, he used a butchers hacksaw and knives to section and fillet his last victim.

Investigators are working on extracting DNA from the bone fragments to identify victims while continuing to search the property for more remains.
GENEVA (AP)  A year ago, Geneva was largely down on its diplomatic luck: The Trump administration had an America First policy that shunned the internationalism the Swiss city epitomizes, and blasted some of its top institutions like the World Health Organization, the Human Rights Council and the World Trade Organization.

That's all in the past.

The lakeside city, known as a Cold War crossroads and a hub for Swiss discretion, neutrality and humanitarianism, returns to a spotlight on the world stage Wednesday as U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin come to town for a summit.

It will mark the third time that Geneva has hosted U.S. and Russian leaders' talks: The first was a multilateral meeting involving U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev in 1955. The second came 30 years later, when President Ronald Reagan met Mikhail Gorbachev  an important icebreaker that some say paved the way toward the end of the Soviet Union.

Both times, the two sides made progress toward defusing tensions. This time, hopes loom for even a modest improvement on the current U.S.-Russia chill over issues like Ukraine, human rights and cyber attacks.

Soviet and Russian studies expert Robert Legvold, a professor emeritus at Columbia University, said Geneva hosted crucial U.S.-Soviet talks on strategic nuclear arms control and has had a relatively good track record as a venue where the two countries can cooperate.

If theres any city where business has been done ... it has been Geneva, Legvold said of the two rival countries.

Legvold noted how Eisenhower used the 1955 meeting to launch what became known as the Open Skies agreement, which called for U.S. and Soviet militaries to exchange maps to boost transparency and defuse tensions.

That eventually led to a treaty in 1992, which let each country carry out surveillance flights over the others territory. Under Trump, the U.S. pulled out of the Open Skies Treaty, and the Biden administration announced last month that the U.S. would not rejoin it  alleging repeated Russian violations.

Putin has lamented the collapse of the Soviet Union as the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century, and has sought to rebuild Russia's Soviet-era global clout and prestige. He often has been critical of Gorbachevs legacy, saying that the U.S. and its Western allies cheated the Soviet Union by pledging not to expand NATO eastward following the reunification of Germany  and then breaking their promise.

Todays Geneva is not the den of Cold War espionage and intrigue that it once was. But while Switzerland has in many ways cleaned up its reputation as a hub for the rich and powerful to squirrel away funds and avoid taxes, experts say many autocrats are still drawn to the discretion and stability of Swiss banking.

Nevertheless, the city has painstakingly built a reputation for diplomacy, humanitarianism and multilateralism. The International Red Cross was founded here in 1863 to help victims of conflict. U.S. President Woodrow Wilson helped set up the League of Nations  the U.N. predecessor that the U.S. Congress shunned  to foster dialogue. The Geneva Conventions set rules about humanitarian conduct in war.

More recently, Geneva has been home to the United Nations European headquarters, its human rights office and scores of U.N.-affiliated bodies, multilateral institutions and humanitarian and advocacy groups  often with U.S. support.

Still, in this city of about 200,000 people, Trump casts a long shadow. He pulled the U.S. out of the U.N.-backed Human Rights Council. He criticized the WTO and largely stripped it of its ability to settle trade disputes. Just over a year ago, Trump paused U.S. funding for the WHO and threatened to pull the U.S. out over the health agency's alleged missteps and kowtowing to China early in the COVID-19 crisis.

Biden kept the U.S. in the U.N. health agency and restored U.S. funding.

Certainly, the former situation (under Trump) was threatening ... Geneva as a place for multilateral negotiation as well as its many technical organizations, said Nicolas Levrat, director of the Global Studies Institute at the University of Geneva.

He differentiated between Genevas lure as a site for face-to-face power diplomacy and its penchant for multilateralism, which the U.S. hasnt always supported  even before Trump.

(The) Biden administration is not as unilateral as the Trump administration. And it is a very good thing, I think, for global governance (and) for the place of Geneva, Levrat said. But, he said, the U.S. has never been a genuine supporter of multilateralism.

Thomas Greminger, a former secretary-general of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which counts both Russia and the U.S. as participating states, said the choice of Geneva for the summit was highly symbolic and hoped it will signal an important U.S. role in multilateralism.

For Putin and Biden, amid tensions between their two countries, Greminger suggested the summit offers a neutral venue that could help reduce polarization.

Safe spaces are again becoming very important -- that is, places where people that are not like-minded can meet, discuss and try to establish bridges, said Greminger, now director of the Geneva Center for Security Policy. Geneva has a track record for this.

___

Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow contributed to this report.
Pulling a pistol from his waistband, the young man spun his human shield toward police.

Dont do it! a pursuing officer pleaded. The young man complied, releasing the bystander and tossing the gun, which skittered across the city street and then into the hands of police.

They soon learned that the 9mm Beretta had a rap sheet. Bullet casings linked it to four shootings, all of them in Albany, New York.

And there was something else. The pistol was U.S. Army property, a weapon intended for use against Americas enemies, not on its streets.

The Army couldnt say how its Beretta M9 got to New Yorks capital. Until the June 2018 police foot chase, the Army didnt even realize someone had stolen the gun. Inventory records checked by investigators said the M9 was 600 miles away -- safe inside Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Its incredibly alarming, said Albany County District Attorney David Soares. It raises the other question as to what else is seeping into a community that could pose a clear and present danger.

The armed services and the Pentagon are not eager for the public to know the answer.

In the first public accounting of its kind in decades, an Associated Press investigation has found that at least 1,900 U.S. military firearms were lost or stolen during the 2010s, with some resurfacing in violent crimes. Because some armed services have suppressed the release of basic information, APs total is a certain undercount.

Government records covering the Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force show pistols, machine guns, shotguns and automatic assault rifles have vanished from armories, supply warehouses, Navy warships, firing ranges and other places where they were used, stored or transported. These weapons of war disappeared because of unlocked doors, sleeping troops, a surveillance system that didnt record, break-ins and other security lapses that, until now, have not been publicly reported.

While APs focus was firearms, military explosives also were lost or stolen, including armor-piercing grenades that ended up in an Atlanta backyard.

Weapon theft or loss spanned the militarys global footprint, touching installations from coast to coast, as well as overseas. In Afghanistan, someone cut the padlock on an Army container and stole 65 Beretta M9s -- the same type of gun recovered in Albany. The theft went undetected for at least two weeks, when empty pistol boxes were discovered in the compound. The weapons were not recovered.

Even elite units are not immune. A former member of a Marines special operations unit was busted with two stolen guns. A Navy SEAL lost his pistol during a fight in a restaurant in Lebanon.

On Tuesday, when AP published its investigation, Army Secretary Christine Wormuth told a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee that she would be open to new oversight on weapons accountability, and said the number of military firearms obtained by civilians is likely small. The Pentagon used to share annual updates about stolen weapons with Congress, but the requirement to do so ended years ago and public accountability has slipped.

There must be full accountability in Congress with regular reporting of missing or stolen weapons, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said in an interview. In a written statement, Pentagon spokeswoman Commander Candice Tresch told AP that the Defense Department "looks forward to continuing to work with Congress to ensure appropriate oversight.

The Army and Air Force couldnt readily tell AP how many weapons were lost or stolen from 2010 through 2019. So the AP built its own database, using extensive federal Freedom of Information Act requests to review hundreds of military criminal case files or property loss reports, as well as internal military analysis and data from registries of small arms.

Sometimes, weapons disappear without a paper trail. Military investigators regularly close cases without finding the firearms or person responsible because shoddy records lead to dead ends.

The militarys weapons are especially vulnerable to corrupt insiders responsible for securing them. They know how to exploit weak points within armories or the militarys enormous supply chains. Often from lower ranks, they may see a chance to make a buck from a military that can afford it.

Its about the money, right? said Brig. Gen. Duane Miller, who as deputy provost marshal general is the Armys No. 2 law enforcement official.

Theft or loss happens more than the Army has publicly acknowledged. During an initial interview, Miller significantly understated the extent to which weapons disappear, citing records that report only a few hundred missing rifles and handguns. But an internal analysis AP obtained, done by the Armys Office of the Provost Marshal General, tallied 1,303 firearms.

In a second interview, Miller said he wasnt aware of the memos, which had been distributed throughout the Army, until AP pointed them out following the first interview. If I had the information in front of me, Miller said, I would share it with you. Other Army officials said the internal analysis might overstate some losses.

The APs investigation began a decade ago. From the start, the Army has given conflicting information on a subject with the potential to embarrass -- and thats when it has provided information at all. A former insider described how Army officials resisted releasing details of missing guns when AP first inquired, and indeed that information was never provided.

Top officials within the Army, Marines and Secretary of Defenses office said that weapon accountability is a high priority, and when the military knows a weapon is missing it does trigger a concerted response to recover it. The officials also said missing weapons are not a widespread problem and noted that the number is a tiny fraction of the militarys stockpile.

We have a very large inventory of several million of these weapons, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said in an interview. We take this very seriously and we think we do a very good job. That doesnt mean that there arent losses. It doesnt mean that there arent mistakes made.

Kirby said those mistakes are few, though, and last year the military could account for 99.999% of its firearms. Though the numbers are small, one is too many, he said.

In the absence of a regular reporting requirement, the Pentagon is responsible for informing Congress of any significant incidents of missing weapons. That hasnt happened since at least 2017. While a missing portable missile such as a Stinger would qualify for notifying lawmakers, a stolen machine gun would not, according to a senior Department of Defense official whom the Pentagon provided for an interview on condition the official not be named.

While APs analysis covered the 2010s, incidents persist.

In May, an Army trainee who fled Fort Jackson in South Carolina with an M4 rifle hijacked a school bus full of children, pointing his unloaded assault weapon at the driver before eventually letting everyone go.

Last October, police in San Diego were startled to find a military grenade launcher on the front seat of a car they pulled over for expired license plates. The driver and his passenger were middle-aged men with criminal records.

After publicizing the arrest, police got a call from a Marine Corps base up the Pacific coast. The Marines wanted to know if the grenade launcher was one they needed to find. They read off a serial number.

It wasnt a match.

___

CRIME GUNS

Stolen military guns have been sold to street gang members, recovered on felons and used in violent crimes.

The AP identified eight instances in which five different stolen military firearms were used in a civilian shooting or other violent crime, and others in which felons were caught possessing weapons. To find these cases, AP combed investigative and court records, as well as published reports. Federal restrictions on sharing firearms information publicly mean the case total is certainly an undercount.

The military requires itself to inform civilian law enforcement when a gun is lost or stolen, and the services help in subsequent investigations. The Pentagon does not track crime guns, and spokesman Kirby said his office was unaware of any stolen firearms used in civilian crimes.

The closest AP could find to an independent tally was done by the FBIs Criminal Justice Information Services. It said 22 guns issued by the U.S. military were used in a felony during the 2010s. That total could include surplus weapons the military sells to the public or loans to civilian law enforcement.

Those FBI records also appear to be an undercount. They say that no military-issue gun was used in a felony in 2018, but at least one was.

Back in June 2018, Albany police were searching for 21-year-old Alvin Damon. Theyd placed him at a shooting which involved the Beretta M9, a workhorse weapon for the military that is similar to a model Beretta produces for the civilian market.

Surveillance video obtained by AP shows another man firing the gun four times at a group of people off camera, taking cover behind a building between shots. Two men walking with him scattered, one dropping his hat in the street. No one was injured.

Two months later, Detective Daniel Seeber spotted Damon on a stoop near the Prince Deli corner store. Damon took off running and, not far into the chase, grabbed a bystander who had just emerged from the deli with juice and a bag of chips.

After Detective Seeber defused the standoff, officers collected the pistol. A check by New York State Police returned leads to four Albany shootings, including one just the day before in which a bullet lodged in a living room wall. In another, someone was shot in the ankle.

At the request of Albany police, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives traced the guns story. The ATF contacted Armys Criminal Investigation Command, and a review of Army inventory systems showed the M9 had been listed as in-transit between two Fort Bragg units for two years before police recovered it.

And the Army still doesnt know who stole the gun, or when.

The case wasnt the first in which police recovered a stolen service pistol before troops at Fort Bragg realized it was missing. AP found a second instance, involving a pistol that was among 21 M9s stolen from an arms room.

Military police learned of the theft in 2010. By then, one of the M9s was sitting in an evidence room in the Hoke County Sheriffs Department, picked up in a North Carolina backyard not far from Bragg. Another M9 was later seized in Durham after it was used in a parking lot shooting.

Another steady North Carolina source of weapons has been Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, where authorities often have an open missing weapons investigation. Detectives in Baltimore found a Beretta M9 stolen from a Lejeune armory during a cocaine bust. The Naval Criminal Investigative Service found in the 2011 case that inventory and security procedures were rarely followed. Three guns were stolen; no one was charged.

Deputies in South Carolina were called in 2017 after a man started wildly shooting an M9 pistol into the air during an argument with his girlfriend. The boyfriend, a convicted felon, then started shooting toward a neighbors house. The pistol came from a National Guard armory that a thief entered through an unlocked door, hauling off six automatic weapons, a grenade launcher and five M9s.

Meanwhile, authorities in central California are still finding AK-74 assault rifles that were among 26 stolen from Fort Irwin a decade ago. Military police officers stole the guns from the Army base, selling some to the Fresno Bulldogs street gang.

At least nine of the AKs have not been recovered.

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INSIDER THREAT

The people with easiest access to military firearms are those who handle and secure them.

In the Army, they are often junior soldiers assigned to armories or arms rooms, according to Col. Kenneth Williams, director of supply under the Armys G-4 Logistics branch.

This is a young guy or gal, Williams said. This is a person normally on their first tour of duty. So you can see that we put great responsibility on our soldiers immediately when they come in.

Armorers have access both to firearms and the spare parts kept for repairs. These upper receivers, lower receivers and trigger assemblies can be used to make new guns or enhance existing ones.

Weve seen issues like that in the past where an armorer might build an M16 automatic assault rifle from military parts, said Mark Ridley, a former deputy director of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. You have to be really concerned with certain armorers and how they build small arms and small weapons.

In 2014, NCIS began investigating the theft of weapons parts from Special Boat Team Twelve, a Navy unit based in Coronado, California. Four M4 trigger assemblies that could make a civilian AR-15 fully automatic were missing. Investigators found an armory inventory manager was manipulating electronic records by moving items or claiming they had been transferred. The parts were never recovered and the case was closed after federal prosecutors declined to file charges.

Weapons accountability is part of military routine. Armorers are supposed to check weapons when they open each day. Sight counts, a visual total of weapons on hand, are drilled into troops whether they are in the field, on patrol or in the arms room. But as long as there have been armories, people have been stealing from them.

Weapons enter the public three main ways: direct sales from thieves to buyers, through pawn shops and surplus stores, and online.

Investigators have found sensitive and restricted parts for military weapons on sites including eBay, which said in a statement it has zero tolerance for stolen military gear on its site.

At Fort Campbell, Kentucky, soldiers stole machine gun parts and other items that ended up with online buyers in Russia, China, Mexico and elsewhere. The civilian ringleader, who was found with a warehouse of items, was convicted. Authorities said he made hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Often though, recovering a weapon can prove hard.

When an M203 grenade launcher couldnt be found during a 2019 inventory at a Marine Corps supply base in Albany, Georgia, investigators sought surveillance camera footage. It didnt exist. The warehouse manager said the system couldnt be played back at the time.

An analysis of 45 firearms-only investigations in the Navy and Marines found that in 55% of cases, no suspect could be found and weapons remained missing. In those unresolved cases, investigators found records were destroyed or falsified, armories lacked basic security and inventories werent completed for weeks or months.

Gun-decking is Navy slang for faking work. In the case of the USS Comstock, gun-decking led to the disappearance of three pistols.

Investigators found numerous security lapses in the 2012 case, including one sailor asleep in the armory. The missing pistols werent properly logged in the ships inventory when they were received several days before. Investigators couldnt pinpoint what day they disappeared because sailors gun-decked inventory reports by not doing actual counts.

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ROOM FOR DISCREPANCY

Military officials shied from discussing how many guns they have, much less how many are missing.

AP learned that the Army, the largest of the armed services, is responsible for about 3.1 million small arms. Across all four branches, the U.S. military has an estimated 4.5 million firearms, according to the nonprofit organization Small Arms Survey.

In its accounting, whenever possible AP eliminated cases in which firearms were lost in combat, during accidents such as aircraft crashes and similar incidents where a weapons fate was known.

Unlike the Army and Air Force, which could not answer basic questions about missing weapons, the Marines and Navy were able to produce data covering the 2010s.

The Navy data showed that 211 firearms were reported lost or stolen. In addition, 63 firearms previously considered missing were recovered.

According to APs analysis of data from the Marines, 204 firearms were lost or stolen, with 14 later recovered.

To account for missing weapons, the Pentagon relies on incident reports from the services, which it keeps for only three years.

Pentagon officials said that approximately 100 firearms were unaccounted for in both 2019 and 2018. A majority of those were attributable to accidents or combat losses, they said. Even though APs total excluded accidents and combat losses whenever known, it was higher than what the services reported to the Pentagon.

The officials said they could only discuss how many weapons were missing dating to 2018. The reason: They arent required to keep earlier records. Without providing documentation, the Pentagon said the number of missing weapons was down significantly in 2020, when the pandemic curtailed many military operations.

The Air Force was the only service branch not to release data. It first responded to several Freedom of Information Act requests by saying no records existed. Air Force representatives then said they would not provide details until yet another FOIA request, filed 1.5 years ago, was fully processed.

The Army sought to suppress information on missing weapons and gave misleading numbers that contradict internal memos.

The AP began asking the Army for details on missing weapons in 2011 and filed a formal request a year later for records of guns listed as missing, lost, stolen or recovered in the Department of Defense Small Arms and Light Weapons Registry. Charles Royal, the former Army civilian employee who was in charge of the registry, said that he prepared records for release that higher ups eventually blocked in 2013.

Youre dealing with millions of weapons, Royal said in a recent interview. But were supposed to have 100% recon, right. OK, were not allowed a discrepancy on that. But theres so much room for discrepancy.

Army spokesman Lt. Col. Brandon Kelley said the services property inventory systems dont readily track how many weapons have been lost or stolen. Army officials said the most accurate count could be found in criminal investigative summaries released under yet another federal records request.

APs reading of these investigative records showed 230 lost or stolen rifles or handguns between 2010 and 2019 -- a clear undercount. Internal documents show just how much Army officials were downplaying the problem.

The AP obtained two memos covering 2013 through 2019 in which the Army tallied 1,303 stolen or lost rifles and handguns, with theft the primary reason for losses. That number, which Army officials said is imperfect because it includes some combat losses and recoveries, and may include some duplications, was based on criminal investigations and incident reports.

The internal memos are not "an authoritative document, Kelley said, and were not closely checked with public release in mind. As such, he said, the 1,303 total could be inaccurate.

The investigative records Kelley cited show 62 lost or stolen rifles or handguns from 2013 through 2019. Some of those, like the Beretta M9 used in four shootings in Albany, New York, were recovered.

One gun creates a ton of devastation, Albany County District Attorney Soares said. And then it puts it on local officials, local law enforcement, to have to work extra hard to try to remove those guns from the community.

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Hall reported from Nashville, Tennessee; LaPorta reported from Boca Raton, Florida; Pritchard reported from Los Angeles; Myers reported from Chicago. Also contributing were Jeannie Ohm in Arlington, Virginia; Brian Barrett, Randy Herschaft and Jennifer Farrar in New York; Michael Hill in Albany, New York; Dan Huff in Washington; and Pia Deshpande in Chicago.

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Contact Hall at https://twitter.com/kmhall; contact LaPorta at https://twitter.com/jimlaporta; contact Pritchard at https://twitter.com/JPritchardAP; contact Myers at https://twitter.com/myersjustinc.

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Email APs Global Investigations Team at investigative@ap.org or https://www.ap.org/tips/. See other work at https://www.apnews.com/hub/ap-investigations.
The University of Texas at San Antonio has received a "transformational" gift from philanthropists MacKenzie Scott and Dan Jewett.

On June 15, the university announced it's been gifted $40 million from the couple to "to support its vision of becoming a model for student success, a great public research university, and an exemplar for strategic growth and innovative excellence," notes a release.

UTSA's gift is part of an overall $2.7 billion in donations the pair announced today.

Scott, who became one of the richest women in the world following her split from ex-husband and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has pledged to give away most of her $38 billion divorce settlement. Since their split in 2019, Scott's fortune has continued to grow to $60 billion, due in part to Amazon's stock prices, the New York Times reports.

Tom Reel /Staff file photo

Over the past year, she's actively sought out historically Black colleges and universities, tribal colleges, and other higher-ed institutions with majority-minority populations to endow.

With a student population that identifies as 57 percent Hispanic and 75 percent receiving financial aid, UTSA also falls into this category.

READ MORE: San Antonio's award-winning La Cantera Resort & Spa sold for undisclosed sum

According to a release, "Scott and Jewett were drawn to UTSA because of the universitys strong commitment to create pathways to success for students from communities with significant educational attainment and income disparities."

How exactly the university will use the multimillion-dollar gift is still being determined. UTSA leaders say they plans to allocate funding for enrollment, learning, retention, and graduation.

This gift is completely transformational for us, for our students, and for our community  it is a tremendous investment in our collective future. A college education is the best way to address inequities that exist in our communities. I am immensely grateful to Ms. Scott and Mr. Jewett for their belief in UTSAs mission and impact as a Hispanic Serving Institution here in San Antonio, says UTSA President Taylor Eighmy. We look forward to announcing specific plans for this gift later this year."
The inquiry also recommends greater transparency and accountability from the government. Unfortunately, the trend is in the opposite direction.

It is a formality of British politics that when a big scandal breaks, a public inquiry is formed. Sometimes a scandal is so bad that it warrants more than one. So far, the Greensill affair, the worst lobbying scandal in a generation, has racked up no fewer than eight separate inquiries.

The first to report its interim findings  that of the Committee on Standards in Public Life  has recommended that former ministers and civil servants who enter the private sector should be barred from lobbying for up to five years, as opposed to the current two-year limit. Chaired by Lord Jonathan Evans, a former MI5 chief, the committee said the ban should, if possible, be made legally enforceable.

If an applicant had a particularly senior role, or where contacts made or privileged information received will remain relevant after two years, a longer ban may be necessary to ensure former officials lobbying government are not directly benefiting from their time in office when they do so, Evans said in his report.

When Lobbying Becomes Stalking

The inquiry has revealed how the former premier David Cameron, who had joined the supply chain finance provider Greensill as an advisor in 2018, blitzed government ministers, including the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak, and officials at 10 Downing Street, the Treasury and Bank of England with around 80 text, WhatsApp and email messages during the first four months of the coronavirus crisis. One member of the Treasury Select Committee likened it more to stalking than lobbying.

Cameron was desperate to secure Greensill access to Covid support. Once he had, he tried to increase the amount the company could receive. In June, he urged both Sunak and vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi to increase the maximum loan Greensill could make under the Treasurys Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS) from 50 million to 200 million. The difference, Cameron said, was rather crucial.

By that time Greensill was on the ropes. A number of its client companies had already collapsed. Attention was shifting to the financial menage a trois Greensill had formed with its primary backer, Soft Bank, and Swiss mega-lender Credit Suisse. Greensill was also under investigation by German banking regulator BaFin and the Association of German Banks, an industry group, over its German subsidiary Greensill Banks huge exposure to a single client: UK-based steel magnate Sanjeev Gupta.

The company needed money fast. And thanks to Camerons tireless lobbying, it got it. Greensill was able to make loans totalling 418 million under the governments coronavirus lending schemes, 335 million of which was guaranteed by the British Business Bank. Most of that money ended up going to Greensills biggest client, Guptas GFG Alliance.

Special Treatment

Greensill Capital was the only non-bank financial firm to administer the emergency coronavirus loan schemes. It was also exempt from the capital adequacy and stress tests that are normally applied to lenders. The only apparent reason for this special treatment was Camerons persistent lobbying, none of which was included in departmental disclosures. This patent disregard for transparency and accountability is par for the course in British government today, says the Committee on Standards in Public Life:

It is too difficult to find out who is lobbying government, information is often released too late, descriptions of the content of government meetings are ambiguous and lack necessary detail, transparency data is scattered, disparate, and not easily cross-referenced, and information in the public interest is often excluded from data releases completely. Reforms are needed to the accessibility, quality, and timeliness of government data and to the scope of transparency rules. The rules and guidance on informal lobbying and alternative forms of communication also require improvement and greater clarity.

Other recommendations made by the Committee include a two-year ban on ministers and senior officials taking a job in their policy area once they leave office, new guidance on the use of modern forms of communication (texts and WhatsApp messages), closing the loophole on not disclosing informal lobbying (such as drinks and/or dinner) and lobbying information being published more regularly and in more detail.

These, of course, are all recommendations; they are not legally binding. Their implementation depends entirely on the government of the day.

Government By WhatsApp

Its far from clear whether todays government, with all its skeleton-filled closets, will actually be interested in greater disclosure. If anything, the trend is in the opposite direction. The government is adopting an increasingly hostile response to requests made under the Freedom of Information Act. According to a new report in The Guardian, the disregard for transparency and accountability in government is so widespread that ministers and civil servants are now using self-deleting messages for much of their internal communication.

Ministers and civil servants are allowed to set messages to delete instantly, the government has admitted, amplifying concerns about its transparency and accountability. The confirmation comes as concerns grow that self-destructing messages are being used to avoid scrutiny of decision-making processes, including on key issues such as the governments coronavirus response. A letter from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) sent to the Citizens, a non-profit organisation, in response to a freedom of information request and seen by the Guardian, says: Instant messaging (through Google Workspace) may be used in preference to email for routine communications where there is no need to retain a record of the communication. Chat messages are retained for 90 days to provide staff with the opportunity to record any substantive conversations, after which time they are permanently deleted. Users can also switch history off, meaning messages will be deleted once a chat session has finished. Transparency campaigners have expressed alarm at a culture of government by WhatsApp. The Citizens has threatened legal action, saying use of such functions makes it impossible to carry out required legal checks about whether a message should be archived for posterity. Information that could be useful to a public inquiry, or otherwise fall within the scope of an FOI request, may be lost as a result.

The stakes are high, says Martha Dark, the director of Foxglove, a non-profit organisation pursuing what it calls justice in technology. We simply wont be able to hold the government to account for what they do if the evidence is automatically erased within minutes. Disappearing message apps are the modern equivalent of politicians shredding the evidence. Its the perfect tool for people who just want to get away with it.

Greensills Legacy, Thus Far

The Greensill affair is important for a host of reasons. It has served as yet another reminder of the risks posed by excessive financialization. It has pushed two small banks into bankruptcy  the Greensill Bank in Germany and Milan-based Aigis Banca  and left one very big bank, Credit Suisse, in serious trouble. Greensills biggest customer, GFG Alliance, which owns huge chunks of Europes steel industry, is also on the ropes as it seeks alternative financing.

The scandal has also revealed just how bad government can be at managing public money  and how easily ministers and civil servants can be seduced by smooth-talking, well-connected financiers, especially when said financiers offer said civil servants or ministers well-paid advisory positions at their firms.

Greensill Capitals eponymous founder, Lex Greensill, was brought into Whitehall by late mandarin Sir Jeremy Heywood, who ended up sitting on Greensill Capitals board a few years later. Heywood described Greensill as a very clever guy, then employed by Citi, who could find substantial savings for the public sector. Instead, the opposite has happened. The government has racked up big losses as a result of its underwriting of Greensills emergency loans. It has also squandered public funds and forced government suppliers to accept lower payments due to its wholly unnecessary use of supply chain finance.

As former Cabinet Office minister Lord Maude told the inquiry, he saw nothing that suggests that any involvement the government has with supply chain finance actually saved the government money:

I could not see how Jeremys contention that this would save the government a lot of money stacked up, because it is kind of rule 101 of finance that nobody could provide finance more cheaply than a triple-A rated Government, which is what we were.

The scandal has also revealed the vital  albeit diminished  role investigate journalism can play in shining the light on government. This is particularly important when the government in question is engaging in all manner of corrupt activity while doing everything within its significantly increased powers to conceal that activity and cover its tracks. If it wasnt for the tireless work of journalists like the FTs Robert Smith and The Times Gabriel Porgrund, it would have taken even longer for the Greensill scandal to break, allowing even more damage to accrue in the meantime.

But the UK government also appreciates this fact. The Greensill affair has caused serious embarrassment to many of its leading figures, past and present. And it is now using and seeking every opportunity to protect itself from further scrutiny, including by escalating its war on whistleblowers and investigative journalists, who are increasingly being treated as one and the same thing.
By Jerri-Lynn Scofield, who has worked as a securities lawyer and a derivatives trader. She is currently writing a book about textile artisans.

The New York Times published a comprehensive piece Saturday discussing how the private equity industry avoids taxes, Private Inequity: How a Powerful Industry Conquered the Tax System.

Regular readers wont be surprised by any of the articles revelations about these shenanigans, particularly over the carried interest loophole, a subject Yves has covered extensively, along with her broader coverage of the private equity industry (see, for example, this April post, Private Equity and Hedge Fund Barons Having a Hissy Over Carried Interest Grift Because Biden Isnt Staying Bought):

Tax professional cringe when normies use the term carried interest in the manner that has become pervasive in the fund management industry. What is called carried interest in the US is not actually carried interest, which comes about when a participant in a deal borrows money (typically from other principals) to buy his equity stake. Instead, what the press widely calls carried interest is a profits interest that gets preferential tax treatment. As we explained in 2015: The reason the carried interest label is a misnomer relates directly as to why it is also a tax abuse. Money managers like private equity and hedge funds enter into fee arrangements that include what the IRS calls a profits interest and a layperson would describe as a profit share. These firms enter into a prototypical 2 and 20 fee structure, meaning a management fee of 2% per annum of the committed capital plus 20% of the profits, usually after a hurdle rate is met. Due to clever tax structuring, that 20% is taxed at a capital gains rate even though the managers have no or only a token amount of capital at risk (as in the investors generally require that the fund manager invest some of his capital alongside that of the investors, but it is typically in the 1% to 3% range, and in many cases, that amount isnt actual cash, but instead a deferral of some of that 2% management fee, which by definition is excessive if the manager is in a position to defer it.). In other words, they are being taxed at a preferential capital gains rate on what by any commonsense standard is ordinary income and should be taxed at ordinary income rates. To underscore the key point: the carried interest loophole allows private equity and hedge fund honchos to have their labor income taxed at more favorable capital gains rates. That preferential treatment is the reason someone going into asset management is twice as likely as someone going into tech to become a billionaire.

The NYT takedown is well worth a read as it sets out in considerable detail the strategies private equity firms and their executives employ to minimize their taxes.

A couple of issues. The rationale for taxing carried interest at a lower rate is that part of the investment at risk. But as Yves points out above, thats not actually true.

She was also not fooled by the noises Biden has made to close the carried interest loophole. The NYT article  from which Ill quote extensively below  offers details on how Democrats and Republicans alike have whiffed on previous reform efforts. That means I too wouldnt bet the farm on the prospects for closing the carried interest loophole anytime soon.

The NYT piece tells the story of how over the past decade the private equity industry got even greedier. How? In seeking also to reclassify their management fee  that 2% levied on investments in their funds  as capital gains rather than ordinary income. That seems outrageous on its face. Yet the industry has largely succeeded in getting that interpretation accepted:

One day in 2011, Gregg Polsky, then a professor of tax law at the University of North Carolina, received an out-of-the-blue email. It was from a lawyer for a former private equity executive. The executive had filed a whistle-blower claim with the I.R.S. alleging that their old firm was using illegal tactics to avoid taxes. The whistle-blower wanted Mr. Polskys advice. Mr. Polsky had previously served as the I.R.S.s professor in residence, and in that role he had developed an expertise in how private equity firms vast profits were taxed. Back in academia, he had published a research paper detailing a little-known but pervasive industry tax-dodging technique. Private equity firms already enjoyed bargain-basement tax rates on their carried interest. Now, Mr. Polsky wrote, they had devised a way to get the same low rate applied to their 2 percent management fees. The maneuver had been sketched out a few years earlier by the Silicon Valley law firm Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, in a 48-page presentation filled with schematic diagrams and language that only a finance executive could love. Objective, one slide read. Change Management Fee economics to achieve Carried Interest tax treatment, without reducing GP cash flow or adding unacceptable risk. In a nutshell, private equity firms and other partnerships could waive a portion of their 2 percent management fees and instead receive a greater share of future investment profits. It was a bit of paper shuffling that radically lowered their tax bills without reducing their income. The technique had a name: fee waiver. Soon, the biggest private equity firms, including Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, Apollo Global Management and TPG Capital, were embedding fee-waiver arrangements into their partnership agreements. Some stopped using fee waivers when they became publicly traded companies, but the tax-avoiding device remains in wide use in the industry. Its like laundering your fees into capital gains, said Mr. Polsky, whose paper argued that the I.R.S. could use longstanding provisions of the tax code to crack down on fee waivers. They put magic words into a document to turn ordinary income into capital gains. They have zero economic substance, and they get away with it.

As the article goes on to explain, eventually three whistle-blowers would contact Polsky. Why? They were concerned that the structures were dodges. And whistleblowers typically receive a portion of whatever the IRS recovers as a result of any tipoff:

The whistle-blowers  whose previously undisclosed claims are not public but were reviewed by The Times  had independently obtained dozens of private equity and venture capital firms partnership agreements from former colleagues in the industry, laying out the fee waivers in great detail. The arrangements all had the same basic structure. Say a private equity manager was set to receive a $1 million management fee, which would be taxed as ordinary income, now at a 37 percent rate. Under the fee waiver, the manager would instead agree to collect $1 million as a share of future profits, which he would claim was a capital gain subject to the 20 percent tax. Hed still receive the same amount of money, but hed save $170,000 in taxes. The whistle-blowers, two of whom hired Mr. Polsky to advise them, argued that this was a flagrant tax dodge. The whole idea behind the managers compensation being taxed at the capital gains rate was that they involved significant risk; these involved almost none. Many of the arrangements even permitted partners to receive their waived fees if their private equity fund lost money. Prompted at least in part by the whistle-blower claims, the I.R.S. began examining fee waivers at a number of private equity firms, according to agency documents and lawyers who represented the firms. This would be the last time the I.R.S. seriously examined private equity, and it would not amount to much.

Carried Interest Reform: A Bipartisan Fiasco

Despite ongoing sturm und drang about carried interest and private equity taxation, when changes have been enacted, theyve loosened rather than tightened the regulatory framework. Political pressure has been deployed to defang rules that agency staffers may propose. Initiatives from both sides of the aisle have followed this pattern.

Before Biden, the last Democratic administration mulled cracking down on carried interest. But readers wont be surprised to learn of the lack of follow through on these musings. Over to the NYT:

Early in his first term, President Barack Obama floated the idea of cracking down on carried interest. Private equity firms mobilized. Blackstones lobbying spending increased by nearly a third that year, to $8.5 million. (Matt Anderson, a Blackstone spokesman, said the companys senior executives are among the largest individual taxpayers in the country. He wouldnt disclose Mr. Schwarzmans tax rate but said the firm never used fee waivers.) Lawmakers got cold feet. The initiative fizzled.

Quelle surprise! When Democrats finally roused themselves to action, theyve actually made things worse. I dont this was any accident; however you may disagree. According to the NYT:

In 2015, the Obama administration took a more modest approach. The Treasury Department issued regulations that barred certain types of especially aggressive fee waivers. But by spelling that out, the new rules codified the legitimacy of fee waivers in general, which until that point many experts had viewed as abusive on their face. To the frustration of some I.R.S. officials, private equity firms now had a road map for how to construct the arrangements without running afoul of the government. (The agency continued to review fee waivers at some firms where whistle-blowers had raised concerns.) ]The Treasury secretary at the time, Jacob Lew, joined a private equity firm after leaving office. So did his predecessor in the Obama administration, Timothy F. Geithner.

The NYT described the reactions of IRS agents to this situation:

Inside the I.R.S.  which lost about one-third of its agents and officers from 2008 to 2018  many viewed private equitys webs of interlocking partnerships as designed to befuddle auditors and dodge taxes. One I.R.S. agent complained that income is pushed down so many tiers, you are never able to find out where the real problems or duplication of deductions exist, according to a U.S. Government Accountability Office investigation of partnerships in 2014. Another agent said the purpose of large partnerships seemed to be making it difficult to identify income sources and tax shelters. The Times reviewed 10 years of annual reports filed by the five largest publicly traded private equity firms. They contained no trace of the firms ever having to pay the I.R.S. extra money, and they referred to only minor audits that they said were unlikely to affect their finances. Current and former I.R.S. officials said in interviews that such audits generally involved issues like firms accounting for travel costs, rather than major reckonings over their taxable profits. The officials said they were unaware of any recent significant audits of private equity firms.

What about the Republicans? Trump initially promised to get tough on carried interest. According to the NYT:

As a presidential candidate, Mr. Trump vowed to eliminate the carried interest deduction, well-known deduction, and other special-interest loopholes that have been so good for Wall Street investors, and for people like me, but unfair to American workers.

Readers wont be surprised that Trump didnt follow through on this promise either. Per the NYT:

But his administration, stocked with veterans of the private equity and hedge fund worlds, retreated from the issue. In 2017, as Republicans rushed through a sweeping package of tax cuts, Democrats tried to insert language that would recoup some revenue by collecting more from private equity. They failed. Private equity weighs in so consistently and so aggressively and is always saying that Western civilization is going to end if they have to pay taxes annually at ordinary income rates, said Mr. [Ron] Wyden, an Oregon Democrat. While White House officials claimed they wanted to close the loophole, congressional Republicans resisted. Instead, they embraced a much milder measure: requiring private equity officials to hold their investments for at least three years before reaping preferential tax treatment on their carried interests. Steven Mnuchin, the Treasury secretary, who had previously run an investment partnership, signed off.



It was a token gesture for an industry that, according to McKinsey, typically holds investments for more than five years. The measure, part of a $1.5 trillion package of tax cuts, was projected to generate $1 billion in revenue over a decade. Private equity cheered. One of the industrys top lobbyists credited Mr. Mnuchin, hailing him as an all-star. Mr. [Victor] Fleischer, who a decade earlier had raised alarms about carried interest, said the measure was structured by industry to appear to do something while affecting as few as possible.

So, the entire legislative charade was merely an exercise in kayfabe. Nonetheless, Treasury had to flesh out the legislative language with precise rules. It took more than two years to propose any. And then, according to the NYT:

 The Treasurys suggested language was strict. One proposal would have empowered I.R.S. auditors to more closely examine internal transactions that private equity firms might use to get around the laws three-year holding period. The industry, so happy with the tepid 2017 law, was up in arms over the tough rules the Treasurys staff was now proposing. In a letter in October 2020, the American Investment Council, led by Drew Maloney, a former aide to Mr. Mnuchin, noted how private equity had invested in hundreds of companies during the coronavirus pandemic and said the Treasurys overzealous approach would harm the industry. The rules were the responsibility of Treasurys top tax official, David Kautter. He previously was the national tax director at EY, formerly Ernst & Young, when the firm was marketing illegal tax shelters that led to a federal criminal investigation and a $123 million settlement. (Mr. Kautter has denied being involved with selling the shelters but has expressed regret about not speaking up about them.) On his watch at Treasury, the rules under development began getting softer, including when it came to the three-year holding period. In December, a handful of Treasury officials working on the regulations told Mr. Kautter that the rules were not ready. Mr. Kautter overruled his colleagues and pushed to get them done before Mr. Trump and Mr. Mnuchin left office, according to two people familiar with the process. On Jan. 5, the Treasury Department unveiled the final version of the regulations. Some of the toughest provisions had vanished. Among those was the one that would have allowed the I.R.S. to scrutinize transactions between different entities controlled by the same firm. The result was that it became much easier to maneuver around the three-year holding period. The government caved, said Monte Jackel, a former I.R.S. attorney who worked on the original version of the proposed regulations. Mr. Mnuchin, back in the private sector, is starting an investment fund that could benefit from his departments weaker rules.

The Hapless IRS

Within this deliberately inadequate framework, the outgunned, outmanned IRS fights what seems to be a never-ending series of losing battles.The article drills down into two areas in particular. The first: who gets audited? Answer: not private equity. Over to the NYT:

While intensive examinations of large multinational companies are common, the I.R.S. rarely conducts detailed audits of private equity firms, according to current and former agency officials. Such audits are almost nonexistent, said Michael Desmond, who stepped down this year as the I.R.S.s chief counsel. The agency just doesnt have the resources and expertise. One reason they rarely face audits is that private equity firms have deployed vast webs of partnerships to collect their profits. Partnerships do not owe income taxes. Instead, they pass those obligations on to their partners, who can number in the thousands at a large private equity firm. That makes the structures notoriously complicated for auditors to untangle. Increasingly, the agency doesnt bother. People earning less than $25,000 are at least three times more likely to be audited than partnerships, whose income flows overwhelmingly to the richest 1 percent of Americans.

Second, on the rare occasions the IRS does audit a private equity executive, IRS auditors apparently lack sufficient training and expertise to achieve a win for the government. Per the NYT:

Kat Gregor, a tax lawyer at the law firm Ropes & Gray, said the I.R.S. had challenged fee waivers used by four of her clients, whom she wouldnt identify. The auditors struck her as untrained in the thicket of tax laws governing partnerships. Its the equivalent of picking someone who was used to conducting an interview in English and tell them to go do it in Spanish, Ms. Gregor said. The audits of her clients wrapped up in late 2019. None owed any money.

Ouch. Although I dont think it was prudent for Gregor to be quoted as describing auditors  with whom she may have future dealings  as untrained.

What Could Be Done?

As I mentioned above, raising the tax rate on capital gains so that its closer to the top rate on ordinary income would reduce or eliminate many of the particular private equity strategies analyzed in this NYT article. The effect would extend beyond the narrow universe of private equity to include all long-term investments. It would also produce other benefits for the U.S. economy, as Yves wrote in April:

Getting rid of the preferential treatment of capital gains is the biggest step Biden could take to reduce the income and wealth gap between the rich and the rest of us. That plus imposing a financial transactions tax would have the salutary effect of cutting the economically unproductive asset management business down to size. Sadly we are a long way away from seeing these changes implemented.

Whether or not Biden takes on the capital gains challenge, he might surprise us and manage to pass legislation that closes the carried interest loophole. What would that mean for the take-home pay of private equity barons? As Yves wrote in her April post:

In fact, top tax experts have been telling private equity fund managers for many years that the carried interest loophole would be eliminated, it was just a matter of how long it would take. The same experts tell us that getting rid of the carried interest abuse isnt a serious threat to these money managers incomes, because they can use other structures to achieve similar ends. Thats why the CBO scores the income from ending the carried interest tax break at only $14 billion over 10 years. So why arent these funds getting out of the way of the inevitable, particularly since its not hard to imagine that the private equity firms tax gurus would find ways to cut the cake even more in the fund managers favor in the new tax gimmickry? They dont want to be told what to do.

As part of any legislation, Congress could provide further direction to the IRS as to what appropriate audit priorities might be. These could be simple: follow the money!

Some of the IRS staffing and training issues could be fixed by allocating more money to the agency. But this change would require time before its impact would be felt.

Part of the general problem is that the U.S. system of taxation (and financial regulation in general, for that matter) is rules-based. Lots of creative lawyering and other thinking goes into structuring transaction so that they follow the rules. If the taxpayer can demonstrate that a structure conforms to the letter of the rules, s/he survives the audit, no matter how obviously abusive that structure might be.

The UK takes another approach. Its system is principles-based. What that means: an Inland Revenue examiner can tear up a structure that sails too close to the wind. The effect of this difference is to make at least some UK private equity firms and their executives more leery of being as aggressive in pushing the carried interest envelope  or other envelops for that matter  as their U.S.counterparts. Although I have also been told that some UK firms have in fact pushed the most aggressive fee waiver structures.

There was much discussion at the time of deliberations over what became the 2010 DoddFrank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of embodying more principles-based concepts into U.S. financial regulation. These went nowhere. But incorporating them into the U.S. tax code  at least in theory  might give the outgunned, outmanned IRS tools for shutting down the worst tax abuses.

Whom am I kidding?

The extensive quotations from the NYT article I included above show that most if not all of the key players who designed and implemented the current system knew exactly what they were doing. And theyre no doubt pleased with the results.
Lambert here: And the essential workers?

Nicholas Bloom, Professor of Economics at Stanford University, Paul Mizen, Professor of Monetary Economics and Director of the Centre for Finance, Credit and Macroeconomics, and Shivani Taneja, Research Fellow, School of Economics, University of Nottingham. Originally published at VoxEU.

The COVID-19 pandemic prompted a collective shift to working from home. This column argues that though the shift was surprisingly easy, returning to the office will be hard. New evidence from a survey of 2,500 employees in the UK shows a preference in favour of home working 2-3 days a week, with lingering concerns of overcrowded transport and offices. But allowing workers to choose when to work from home will leave empty offices Monday and Friday, and many tasks such as large group meetings are more effective in person than online. Hybrid working will be the solution.

Leaving the office to work from home in spring 2020 was surprisingly easy. Almost immediately, workers began to work remotely using their own homes as workplaces in an attempt to carry on working while socially distancing due to COVID-19 (Davis et al. 2021a). Data show that 35% and 50% of workers were working from home in the US and some major European countries (Bick et al. 2020, Brynjolfsson et al. 2020, Buchheim et al. 2020, Aneyi et al. 2021).

Initially, productivity at home was lower than productivity at work in normal times (Bartik et al. 2020, Morikawa 2021). But jobs could be performed at home (Dingel and Neiman 2020), and employers got better at working from home, learning how to use the technology available in the 2020s. Compared to what might have happened a couple of decades earlier without affordable ICT equipment, fast internet connections and, most recently, videoconferencing software, the shift was surprisingly manageable.

Davis et al. (2021b) argue that the pandemic accelerated the widespread adoption of technologies used when working from home. This raised the relative productivity of working at home, particularly compared to the awkward and costly arrangements (e.g. personal protective equipment, hand sanitiser, social distancing) of working at the business premises.

A year or more after we first made the leap to working from home, employees like to work from home (Barrero et al. 2020a, Taneja et al. 2021) and returning to the office will be hard.

The May 2021 update of our survey (Taneja et al. 2021) of 2,500 working-age employees reveals what we have been hearing from dozens of firms. Firms and organisations are increasingly reporting major challenges persuading employees to come back to the office, driven in part by the surging labour market. We see that more than 70% of UK employees want to work from home 2+ days a week (see Figure 1) with similar figures in the US (Barrero et al. 2020b).

Figure 1 In 2022, how often would you like to have paid workdays at home?

Part of this is due to the relaxed atmosphere when working from home, with informal clothing and flexibility in balancing work and home chores, and the reluctance to get back into a 9-5 routine with the hassle of commuting. Workers dont want to go back to hard pants (Clark 2021a).

Another issue that is impeding the return to the office is a continued fear of crowding. Large numbers of respondents report fears of being close to their co-workers and fellow commuters. It may seem these worries are overblown  surely once everyone is vaccinated these concerns will pass?

Possibly, although precedents like the three-year lull in air traffic after the 9/11 terrorist attacks do not bode well. Our data suggest a large plurality of employees will be extremely hesitant to return to the office post-pandemic, making it harder still to achieve a return to the office for large firms.

Figure 2 Views on social distancing if a COVID-19 vaccine is approved

Complicating this further is what every manager has been fearing (Clark 2021b)  that, given a choice, most employees will take Monday and Friday off (Figure 3). Indeed only 36% of employees would come in on Friday, compared to 82% on Wednesday. This highlights the severe problems firms could face over the effective use of office space if they let employees pick their days to work from home. Providing enough desks for every employee coming in on Wednesday would leave most of these desks empty on Monday and Friday.

Efficient Office Space Use Will Require Coordination

Question: If you got to work from home for two days per week, which two days would you choose?

Figure 3 Preferred work-from-home days

Of course, to fix this peak-load problem, firms could centrally allocate days for each employee or each team to work from home. Indeed, this advice to centrally set work-from-home patterns is the advice we have been giving to firms (Bloom 2021a). But our survey highlights how even this could create challenges.

Those missing out on the coveted Monday and Friday work-from-home days could feel mistreated. Should CEOs and HR groups decide this by lottery, missing out on the chance to pick overlapping days for teams that work closely together? Or should they centrally decide work-from-home days and risk claims of favouritism when some team gets given Tuesday and Wednesday? Or might firms want to rotate work from home days every few months so all employees have an equal share of different days over the year? This would seem fairer but would complicate business and personal scheduling.

Interestingly, drilling into the data, we also see different groups have varying strengths of feelings over working from home on Monday and Fridays (Figure 4). Men with children are the group most focused on working from home Monday and Friday, while women with children are the most balanced across the week. Maybe fathers are planning long weekends away with (or without) their kids? Since we did not ask for the reasons for the choice of days, it is hard to know  but it highlights many of the complexities in planning the return to the office.

Men with Children Are Most Focused on Work from Home on Monday/Friday

Figure 4 Preferred work from home days for people with children, by sex

One other consideration from the May survey highlights why returning to the office, at least for a few days each week, is important: the need to run some activities in person  particularly, larger meetings. We asked respondents to our survey how they found the efficiency of meetings by video call compared to in person (Figure 5).

Large Meetings in Particular Are Better in Person

Question: How do meetings compare by videocall (Zoom, Teams, etc.) versus in person in terms of how efficient the meetings turn out to be?

Figure 5 Difference in efficiency of videocall versus in-person meetings, by meeting size

As you might guess, the data suggest that small meetings of two to four people are about as efficient by video call as in person. In-person meetings are typically easier for making personal connections and communicating, with the ability to make more visual cues and gestures. But in-person meetings require some travel time and present infection risk during pandemic times and potentially room-booking logistics.

Since a video call with two to four people means everyone occupies a large box on their Zoom screen, it is easy for everyone to speak. With few people on the call, it is also possible to meet without muting, so it is easier to have a flowing conversation. Hence the choice between video calls and in-person meetings is pretty balanced.

In contrast, almost half of all respondents reported large 10+ meetings were worse by video call, with only a quarter reporting they were better. Large meetings are harder by video call. Individuals are allocated to small boxes so it is hard to see the faces of the participants. People typically have to mute themselves because with large groups, there is always somebody whose neighbour is using a leaf blower or whose kids are practising the trumpet. And we hear from firms that large meetings can be hijacked by one or two vocal individuals.

When asked whether holding meetings by video calls had improved or reduced their overall efficiency, those respondents that answered positively indicated that the main benefit had been better time management. Individuals responding negatively cited the difficulties of accessing side conversations and the difficulty of communicating online, which is more problematic if there are many large group meetings.

As such, the advice to move to a hybrid working week seems appropriate (Bloom 2021b). Two or three days a week at home for quiet time and small meetings of two to four people; the remaining days in the office for social events, larger meetings, informal communication, and building company culture  this is becoming the norm for many businesses. Indeed, the tightness in the labour market means that some firms may never get their employees to return to the office without this.

References available at the original.
I began my journalism career in Nashville in 1990, with my current position with Nashville Post having evolved since October 2000 (when I was with the now-defunct The City Paper, a sister publication of the Post starting in 2008).

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(Natural News) Santa Clara County in California, which encompasses San Jose, Mountain View, and parts of Palo Alto  this is where many Big Tech companies are located  has announced that area businesses will need to procure Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccination records for all of their employees, which are to be handed over to the government on demand.

A Public Health Order frequently asked questions document explains that both public and private sector employers will now have to ask about and record the vaccination status of their workers because Chinese Virus injections are the most effective way to reduce transmission of Chinese Germs.

Businesses and governmental entities throughout the county, which is located just to the south of San Francisco, are also being told that they must treat their unvaccinated employees differently than their vaccinated employees so they can keep their workers, customers, and the community safe from the Wuhan Flu.

Businesses and governmental entities must determine whether each of their employees (and any contractors or volunteers working in their facilities) is fully vaccinated or not, the document explains.

Businesses and governmental entities must have a record for each staff member reflecting that persons vaccination status. The record may document a businesss or governmental entitys review of documentation establishing vaccination status (e.g., the employees vaccine card), or the employees completed Certification of Vaccination Status.

Covidism is a religion that leftists are forcing on people against their will

In the event that an employee refuses to disclose his or her vaccination status, Santa Clara County is requiring that employers assume the person is not vaccinated and follow all the rules that apply to workers who are not fully vaccinated.

Such rules include forcing unvaccinated employees to wear a face covering forever, even though there has never been a shred of medical or scientific evidence to back the mask. Unvaccinated employees who show symptoms that might scare someone into thinking they are infected must also be immediately reported if they test positive for the Chinese Virus.

In the event that a business or governmental entity learns that any of its personnel is a confirmed positive case of COVID-19 and was at the workplace in this timeframe, the business or governmental entity is required to report the positive case within 24 hours to the County Public Health Department, Santa Clara County is demanding.

Unvaccinated employees are also to be continually pestered about their vaccination status at two-week intervals. If an employee indicates that he or she has not been jabbed for Chinese Germs on June 15, that same employee will need to be asked again on June 29, and again on July 13  and on and on forever until they finally obey Fauci.

Any business or government entity that disobeys Santa Clara Countys new directives will be subject to daily fines of up to $5,000 until they come into compliance.

Apparently, Santa Clara County wants to be sued into bankruptcy because this is the most egregious form of medical fascism that we have seen yet in this country. To demand that all employers harass their unvaccinated employees and treat them like filthy vermin until they agree to get their Fauci Ouchie is unspeakably authoritarian and defiantly unconstitutional.

However, it is exactly what we would expect from the place where Facebook and Twitter are based. This far-left Bay Area hellhole will presumably become a blueprint for other far-left hellholes across the country that will all be scrambling to out-tyrannize each other until someone, somewhere finally stands up and says enough is enough!

More related news about Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) tyranny can be found at Pandemic.news.

Sources for this article include:

covid19.sccgov.org

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) Former Navy pilot Lieutenant Ryan Graves disclosed that the Navy spotted UFOs in restricted American airspace every day for years. He made the disclosure during an interview on CBS News 60 Minutes, which aired May 16.

Graves told show correspondent Bill Whitaker that his F/A-18F Super Hornet squadron began detecting UFOs southeast of Virginia Beach in 2014. The squadron had just upgraded their jets radar, making it possible to zero in with infrared cameras.

One encounter that his squadron recorded on video involved an aircraft hovering over Jacksonville, Florida in 2015. Pilots speaking in the video could be heard saying, Look at that thing, its rotating! My gosh! Theyre all going against the wind, the winds 120 knots to the west. Look at that thing, dude.

Graves, who served for the Navy for over a decade, admitted that his squadron regularly spotted such objects every day for at least a couple of years. (Related: Navy pilots recall encounters with fleet of UFOs from 2014 to 2015.)

The retired lieutenant thinks that UFOs are a threat to national security but acknowledges that they might be something else. He noted that other pilots speculated UFOs were one of three things  a secret American technology, an enemys spy plane or something out of this world.

I would say the highest probability is its a threat observation program, he said, adding that UFOs could be Chinese or Russian technology.

He turned critical when asked whether the presence of UFOs in restricted U.S. airspace worries him: If these were tactical jets from another country that were hanging out up there, it would be a massive issue. But because it looks slightly different, were not willing to actually look at the problem in the face. Were happy to just ignore the fact that these are out there, watching us every day.

The Department of Defense (DOD) has a special unit dedicated to UFO research. Called the Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon Task Force, the unit was established last August to gain insights into the nature and origins of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP)  the Pentagons preferred term for UFOs.

The task force was the successor of the shadowy Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP), which operated from 2007 to 2012 in secret. The existence of the AATIP was never known to the public until The New York Times reported about it in 2017.

Questions remain about what UFOs are

Luis Elizondo, who headed the AATIP during its last two years, also sat with Whitaker on the same episode. When asked to confirm whether UFOs are real, he replied that the government itself stated for the record that UFOs exist. What remains unanswered is what these objects and what their intentions and capabilities are, he said, noting that some sightings are unexplained.

Some of the aircraft that Elizondo encountered in his investigations were able to perform exceptional feats: Imagine a technology that can do 6-to-700 g-forces, that can fly at 13,000 miles an hour, that can evade radar and that can fly through air and water and possibly space. He added that these aircraft also had no obvious signs of propulsion yet were able to defy the natural effects of gravity.

Those that were classified as unidentified were examined closely before being given that designation, he said: Were not just simply jumping to a conclusion thats saying, Oh, thats a UAP out there.'

UFOs a national security threat yet government did not take them seriously

Elizondo said that the Pentagon did not take his findings seriously. And while he continued to investigate UAPs for the DOD years after the AATIP folded, he decided to quit in 2017 out of frustration. One of his last accomplishments was declassifying the three UAP videos that the Pentagon made public last year.

Christopher Mellon, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Intelligence under former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, leaked those videos to the New York Times in the same year. He told Whitaker during the episode that he was concerned nothing was being done about UAPs.

Its bizarre and unfortunate that someone like myself has to do something like that to get a national security issue like this on the agenda, he said. (Related: Pentagon UFO videos just tip of the iceberg, says former U.S. government agent.)

At the Capitol, anything related to UFOs were met with skepticism and even ridicule. Theres a stigma on Capitol Hill, Sen. Marco Rubio told Whitaker. Some of my colleagues are very interested in this topic and some kind of giggle when you bring it up.

Last December, while he was still the head of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Rubio ordered intel agencies to present Congress an unclassified report on UAPs. The report is due next month and would detail sightings that are difficult to explain, former Intelligence Director John Ratcliffe said last March.

Read more shocking disclosures about UFOs at UFOs.news.

Sources include:

CBSNews.com

Defense.gov

NYTimes.com

ABCNews.Go.com

TheGuardian.com
(Natural News) The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved a new Alzheimers drug even though their expert review panel rejected the fraudulent end points that were used to promote the drugs efficacy! Even though the three-member panel voted unanimously against the drug, the agency overruled their expert scientific analysis and approved the new drug anyway, opting to rely on a separate measure promoted by the drug company itself. In protest, the three FDA advisors resigned from their positions, leaving bare the FDAs compromised state and scientific fraud.

The FDA no longer functions as an effective drug regulator, nor do they properly scrutinize medical fraud. With thousands of people dying after covid vaccines, it has become glaringly obvious that a protective and law-abiding FDA does NOT exist any longer. The FDA wont revoke the emergency use authorization for these bioweapon delivery systems, and are therefore complicit in crimes against humanity.

FDA sets dangerous precedent disregarding their own scientific panel

One of the men who opposed the new drug was Dr. Aaron Kesselheim, director of Brigham and Womens Hospital Program on Regulation, Therapeutics and Law. He said the approval of the drug Adulhelm sets a dangerous precedent on the type of evidence an Alzheimers therapy would need in order to gain FDA approval. He warned that the FDA abandoned the science and allowed the drug company to turn around and at the last minute seek [accelerated approval] when their primary clinical endpoints in their trials dont reach the level needed for [traditional] FDA approval.

The new drug promotes an untested theory that amyloid plaque treatments can reverse Alzheimers. Jason Karlawish, a geriatrician and co-director of the Penn Memory Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania says the amyloid plaque reduction hypothesis has been studied for decades but no science has proven that these reductions improve cognition of Alzheimers patients. Desperation should drive the funding of science, not drive the way we interpret the science, Karlawish says.

Despite the controversy, Big Pharmas mainstream media was already prepared to market the new drug, with hope-filled headlines for Alzheimers patients. Behind the scenes, however, this hope is based on fraudulent clinical endpoints, much like the clinical studies for the new covid vaccines, which also used fraudulent clinical endpoints and misleading interpretation of the data.

FDA approves new drugs based on correlations, not substantial scientific evidence

George Perry, a neurobiologist at the University of Texas at San Antonio, said This is going to set the research community back 1020 years, because it will discourage drug developers from focusing on treatments that actually affect cognition in a profound way. The neurologists argue that demonstration of amyloid-lowering activity should not be the gold standard to win regulatory approval for new Alzheimers drugs. This is similar to the FDAs emergency use approval for covid vaccines which is based on fraudulent diagnostic criteria and relies on chance and false correlations, with no comparison of the actual symptoms caused by the vaccines compared to any symptoms following positive PCR tests.

Another member of FDAs expert panel, neurologist J. Perlmutter, decided to quit the committee due to this ruling by FDA without further discussing with our advisory committee. Mayo Clinic neurologist David Knopman followed suit, giving the FDA his letter of resignation. He said Biogens Aduhelm was probably the worst drug approval decision in recent U.S. history. Knopman, Perlmutter and Kesselheim were ahead of the curve last November, studying the Biogens fraud. Because they had previously exposed the drugs fraudulent trial results and published a paper on the drugs flaws in JAMA, the FDA recused Knopman from having any authority on the matter. The FDA now over-rules its own scientific panel and helps these drug companys falsely market their fraudulent products.

Sources include:

Zerohedge.com

NaturalNews.com

NaturalNews.com

TheLancet.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) Many countries have turned to vaccines to address the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. However, a number of scientists have proposed the use of self-spreading vaccines that transmit immunity instead of sickness. While the concept itself has not been implemented in real life, it is not entirely without risk.

The concept first emerged in a 2018 Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health report. According to the report by the institutions Center for Health Security (CHS), self-spreading vaccines could dramatically increase coverage in human populations without the need for inoculating persons one at a time. The reports authors elaborated: Only a small number of vaccinated individuals would be required to confer protection to larger susceptible population, thus eliminating the need for mass vaccination operations.

According to the report, self-spreading vaccines could theoretically come in two forms. Transferrable types are restricted to a single round of transmission, while transmissible types are capable of spreading indefinitely. While scientists acknowledge that such kinds of vaccines are still not mainstream, they believe that the revolution in genome engineering will bring self-spreading vaccines closer to reality.

Self-spreading vaccines could also address the issue of vaccine hesitancy in certain populations. Social and behavioral scientists utilize soft science techniques to convince people to get vaccinated. Current strategies to encourage vaccinations use prizes and rewards  such as a chance to win cash prizes and free items at food establishments.

Interestingly, the CHS co-sponsored the Event 201 pandemic exercise  which simulated real-life coronavirus outbreak  a year after it released the report. The World Economic Forum and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation also sponsored the October 2019 event. A January 2020 CHS statement clarified that it modeled a fictional coronavirus pandemic during the exercise and explicitly stated that it was not a prediction. The statement continued: [The Event 201] exercise served to highlight preparedness and response challenges that would likely arise in a very severe pandemic.

Self-spreading vaccines are not without their own respective issues

The idea of vaccines that transmit immunity throughout the population has garnered the attention of a number of entities. Government agencies such as the National Institutes of Health and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency have put self-spreading vaccines into their funding pipelines. Private entities such as the Gates Foundation have also expressed interest in funding such an endeavor.

At first glance, self-spreading vaccines have a clearer advantage over mass vaccination programs. However, the authors of the CHS report acknowledged two big challenges with the idea.

First, self-spreading vaccines override the concept of informed consent. The Nuremberg Code of 1947 outlined the concept: The voluntary consent of the human subject is absolutely essential. This means that the person involved should have legal capacity to give consent  without the intervention of any element of force, fraud, deceit, duress,  constraint or coercion. (Related: Health freedom advocates file informed consent lawsuit to exempt all persons from mandatory vaccination.)

The authors noted that in the case of self-spreading vaccines, directly vaccinated individuals would have the option of informed consent. However, those people who will contract the self-spreading vaccine would not have that option. They also noted the risk of self-spreading vaccines causing life-threatening adverse reactions. The ethical and regulatory challenges surrounding informed consent, and prevention and monitoring of adverse events, would be critical challenges to implementing this approach  even in an extreme event, they wrote.

Second, the CHS authors noted that the virus used in self-spreading vaccines could revert to a wild-type pathogen. One example would be the virus used in the polio vaccine. In some instances, the virus reverted to its wild form  making it more infectious and damaging the nervous system. This is both a medical  [and] public perception risk; the possibility of vaccine-induced disease would be a major concern to the public, the CHS report said.

An outbreak of wild polio in South Sudan last year illustrated this potential risk. Back in October 2020, health officials in the East African nation confirmed the outbreak. The South Sudan Ministry of Health (MOH) said 15 cases of vaccine-derived polio were identified in the countrys northwestern region.

MOH Director-General for Preventative Health Services Dr. John Pasquale Romunu attested to the polio outbreak in South Sudan. He told reporters: Yes, there is an outbreak of vaccine-derived polio and the [MOH] and its partners are working on it. [I] think it is under control, [though it] has affected quite a number of counties and states.

The polio vaccine is made from a weakened form of the original virus and is administered orally. However, the weakened virus mutates and becomes more infectious  ironically causing disease instead of preventing it, as in the case of South Sudan. (Related: South Sudan confirms new outbreak of vaccine-related polio.)

Head over to VaccineDamage.news to read more about the risks of self-spreading vaccines.

Sources include:

WakingTimes.com

ChildrensHealthDefense.org

CenterForHealthSecurity.org

StrangeSounds.org
(Natural News) A new report is warning that apps to track the coronavirus vaccination status of Americans are ineffective, amplify existing inequalities and pose thorny privacy issues.

(Article by Chris Mills Rodrigo republished from TheHill.com)

As the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)] guidance evolves and we start to see increasingly different recommendations for those of us who are and arent vaccinated it puts greater pressure on the public, businesses and governments to figure out who has got a shot, said Albert Fox Cahn, the executive director of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project (STOP), which released the report. Its kind of alarming that so much faith is being put in such an unproven technology.

With vaccination rates steadily climbing and businesses reopening their doors, some governments and companies have proposed digital credentials to make sure only inoculated Americans can enter. While documentation for international travel  like the World Health Organizations Yellow Card  is commonplace, some of the methods in development domestically have alarmed the public and experts alike.

The watchdogs report released Wednesday focuses on New York states Excelsior pass, the countrys first government issued vaccine passport. The tool, which can be downloaded on either phones or computers, generates a QR code that businesses and venues can scan to verify proof of vaccination or a negative test.

The Excelsior Pass, developed by IBM and Salesforce, has been downloaded over a million times since the voluntary program was launched in March.

The nonprofits report cautions that the passes can easily be forged, greatly diminishing their effectiveness. Cahn said he downloaded another New Yorkers pass using only information available on social media in just 11 minutes.

Projects like the Vaccine Credential Initiative spearheaded by Microsoft and the Mayo Clinic and Walmarts vaccine app developed in collaboration with Clear will likely have similar vulnerabilities, Cahn predicts.

This is something that weve seen time and again in American online credentials  its very difficult to have a system that is accessible to everyone and is still robust against fraud, he told The Hill.

A spokesperson for New York Gov. Andrew Cuomos (D) office stressed that the states Excelsior program is voluntary and that businesses and venues must also accept printed proof of vaccinations.

The entire system was created with privacy and security in mind, however, those who post personal information online such as their CDC card, risk having someone use their information to create a false record, which is why every Excelsior Pass has to be cross-referenced with photo ID when you enter a venue, they added in a statement.

A spokesperson for Walmart told The Hill that the companys goal is simply to give people digital access to their health record, so they are empowered to use it how and when they want.

The Vaccine Credential Initiative did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the reports findings.

Digital vaccine credentials also risk exacerbating existing inequalities, the STOP report argues.

Vaccination rates for Black and Hispanic people across the country continue to lag behind national averages. And working-class Americans more broadly face a litany of challenges  transportation, child care requirements, inability to take time off  to getting the shot.

If vaccine passport requirements are implemented, individuals who struggle to get the vaccine may lose their job or find themselves barred from stores, transit, and public life, the report reads.

The roughly 15 percent of Americans who dont have a smartphone may be unable to use the apps even if they are vaccinated.

Domestic vaccine passports could also infringe on Americans privacy. Developers have publicly claimed to limit location data collection and retention, but independent researchers have struggled to verify those commitments.

If Americans are required to provide vaccine certificates to be scanned at entrances to stores, schools or transportation, that could create movement logs that could be misused by law enforcement or immigration authorities.

Currently, there is no legal protection against police subpoenaing or requesting voluntary production of vaccine app data, a tactic used with many other smartphone apps, the report argues. The difference is that users are not required to install other apps as a condition of accessing public life.

STOPs report is careful not to condemn all efforts to track vaccination status and does not criticize the use of paper records and school registries, both of which have come under fire from conservative lawmakers.

Republican governors Greg Abbott (Texas), Ron DeSantis (Fla.), Brian Kemp (Ga.) and Kay Ivey (Ala.) have all issued executive orders barring public institutions from requiring proof of vaccination.

States will likely continue to lead in this space as the White House earlier this year ruled out the Biden administration playing a role in a vaccine passport system.

Read more at: TheHill.com and PrivacyWatch.news.
(Natural News) One of the Pentagons top generals warned on Thursday, June 10, that Beijing is rapidly expanding its military capabilities at a very serious and sustained rate. He added that this could pose a threat to worldwide peace and stability.

General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff since Sept. 2019, made this assessment during a hearing with the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday.

We must ensure that we retain our competitive and technological edge, Milley added.

Americas national security policy has been focused on keeping China contained since well before the administration of former President Donald Trump. The U.S. has done this by taking a strong stand on critical issues that puts it at odds with Beijing, such as the countrys human rights violations against its minority populations and its territorial disputes with Taiwan and the countries bordering the South China Sea.

Listen to this special Situation Update breaking news episode of the Health Ranger Report, a podcast by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, as he talks about how China may launch a total war against the U.S. within the next few months.

Beijing becoming increasingly assertive towards the US

Milley made these comments after Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin raised similar concerns in recent days regarding the rhetoric coming from the Chinese Communist Party.

During the same hearing that Milley was in, Austin told senators that the defense budget requested by President Joe Biden  $715 billion  was necessary to meet the potential challenge posed by an increasingly assertive Beijing.

The request is driven by our recognition that our competitors  especially China  continue to advance their capabilities, said Austin. We must out-pace those advances to remain a credible deterrent to conflict around the world. (Related: China exploiting Caribbean nations to build military and missile bases that can threaten the continental United States.)

Milley noted that the combined total defense spending by two of Americas greatest potential competitors  Russia and China  was now greater than that of the U.S. He then said that China is still the countrys number one military threat.

Even Biden has come around to understanding that China is the countrys greatest external threat. He signed an executive order enhancing and extending Trumps ban on investments in certain Chinese corporations tied to Beijings surveillance industry and the military-industrial complex. This blacklist includes 59 Chinese companies.

The president has even used the threat of China to push Congress to support his other projects, including his gargantuan infrastructure spending proposal. Back in February, he said China would eat our lunch if the country did not step up and spend.

Theyre investing a lot of money, theyre investing billions of dollars and dealing with a whole range of issues that relate to transportation, the environment and a whole range of other things, he said.

On Tuesday, June 8, the Senate approved a nearly $250 billion bill to invest in the countrys manufacturing and technological capabilities to out-compete with Beijing.

China denies it is being aggressive towards America

Top officials in Beijing have repeatedly denied that they have any kind of prospect to challenge America. In a statement, the foreign affairs committee of the National Peoples Congress  the countrys legislature  said:

At a time when the world is entering a period of turbulence and change, the practice of treating China as an imaginary enemy at every turn is against the general trend of the world, unpopular around the world and doomed to fail.

Despite this tone, Beijings actions in recent weeks have always been at odds with American attempts to uphold democracy and human rights in the region.

Indeed, Americas latest spat with Beijing came after a bipartisan group of senators visited Taiwan in early June. These senators promised to help the island nation overcome its Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. This promise to provide the country with aid prompted Beijing to respond with a series of aggressive statements.

Wu Qian, the spokesman for Chinas Ministry of National Defense, even alleged that the senators and the U.S. were seriously undermining stability in the region by answering Taiwans call for aid.

The spokesman then went on to threaten anyone who would help split Taiwan from China with violence. He said any attempt would be met with a resolute attack head-on from the Peoples Liberation Army, Chinas armed forces.

Beijing has long claimed sovereignty over Taiwan, despite never having controlled it. On the other hand, the government in Taiwan asserts that it is a sovereign and democratic nation.

Because Beijing believes Taiwan is an integral part of China, it opposes any attempts by governments or representatives of governments to foster better ties with Taiwan.

Learn more about the threats to Americas national security by reading the latest articles at NationalSecurity.news.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

Newsweek.com

Reuters.com
(Natural News) The French nuclear power company Framatome has announced a performance issue at the Taishan Nuclear Power Plant in China, which it operates in partnership with the state-owned China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN).

In a highly unusual step, Framatome warned the United States government about an imminent radiological threat from the plant, which is located in the Guangdong province near Hong Kong.

With its parent company EDF on board, Framatome reassured American authorities that the plant is operating within safety parameters, however an increase in the concentration of certain noble gases has been detected within the primary circuit of the cooling system at one of the plants two nuclear reactors.

Both reactors are supposedly still operating according to nuclear safety rules and regulations, and conditions in the surrounding environment are said to still meet normal parameters. Neither CGN nor the communist Chinese government issued any comments about the plant until pressed by the media following Framatomes statement.

The message sent by the company to the Department of Energy (DoE) was supposedly more alarming than the statements the company issued on Sunday and Monday. This could explain why China was more reluctant to issue a response to the issue.

Do we have another impending Fukushima situation on our hands?

According to CNN, Framotome has accused Chinese safety officials of raising the acceptable limits for radiation detection outside the Taishan Nuclear Power Plant in Guangdong province in order to avoid having to shut it down.

If true, this definitely explains why China did not issue and response, and why it has simply continued on with business as usual. The rest of the world, however, is wondering if there might be something more serious going on for which we all deserve some answers.

CNN further claims that U.S. officials took the June 8 warning seriously, but that they determined that the plant has not yet reached crisis level. This, the fake news agency contends, was done to allow Framatome, CGN and Chinese authorities to come up with a solution.

Concern was significant enough that the National Security Council held multiple meetings last week as they monitored the situation, including two at the deputy level and another gathering at the assistant secretary level on Friday, which was led by NSC Senior Director for China Laura Rosenberger and Senior Director for Arms Control Mallory Stewart, according to US officials, CNN reported.

The Biden administration has discussed the situation with the French government and their own experts at the Department of Energy, sources said. The US has also been in contact with the Chinese government, US officials said, though the extent of that contact is unclear.

The federal government, meanwhile, has declined to explain the assessment, and the NSC, the State Department and the Department of Energy are all insistent that if there was any real risk to the Chinese public from the plant that authorities would be required to make it known under existing treaties.

News of the issue brings back memories of the Fukushima Daiichi incident in Japan, which is still releasing toxic radiation into the ocean some 10 years after the fact.

CNN quoted analysts who say that Framatome contacted the DoE to request waivers allowing them to share American technical assistance with staff at the Taishan plant, supposedly to help them address the situation. Others, however, warn that this could be dangerous, potentially triggering secondary sanctions that would damage U.S. relations.

As of the beginning of the week, outside experts seem to be in agreement that there is no suggestion as of now that there is any serious environmental threat from the plant.

To keep up with the latest news, visit Chaos.news.

Sources for this article include:

Breitbart.com

ZeroHedge.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) The city of Guangzhou in Chinas Guangdong province experienced an outbreak of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19). Reports seemed to indicate that the Indian strain of the coronavirus was behind the rise in infections despite more than 60 percent of Guangzhou residents being vaccinated. This has cast doubt on the effectiveness of vaccines produced in China  which the country administered to its citizens  to fight the pandemic.

The new Guangzhou outbreak raised questions about the effectiveness of these vaccines. More than 60 percent of the citys residents had received their COVID-19 vaccine doses by the end of May 2021. Despite the pandemic generally easing out in Guangdong province in the past few days, many Chinese vaccinated locally are still testing positive for SARS-CoV-2  the virus behind COVID-19.

Because of the outbreak, Guangzhou Deputy Mayor Li Ming announced an abrupt halt to the vaccinations during a May 31 press conference. She added that the local government will shift its focus to swab testing. The deputy mayor believed that overcrowding at vaccination sites could have contributed to the spread of the virus.

According to the COVID-19 Vaccine Tracker, China has approved six vaccines for use in the country. Four candidates  two from state-owned Sinopharm, one from Sinovac and one from Minhai Biotechnology Co.  use an inactivated form of the virus for their vaccines. Meanwhile, the CanSino vaccine uses a non-replicating viral vector while the vaccine candidate from Anhui Zhifei Longcom uses a protein subunit.

Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) researcher Shao Yiming put in his two cents on the matter. He told Chinese media on June 7 that current COVID-19 vaccines administered domestically are not meant to prevent infections. According to Shao, Chinese COVID-19 vaccines are designed to prevent serious illness and death stemming from COVID-19. That why some people are likely infected [by the virus] even after receiving the [vaccines], he said. (Related: VAX COCKTAIL: China mulls mixing different coronavirus vaccines to boost vaccine efficacy.)

The China CDC researcher elaborated that vaccines are divided into three levels of protection. The primary level prevents infections altogether, while the secondary level prevents minor illnesses from becoming worse. The tertiary level of protection prevents the transmission of the pathogen  even though someone is infected and shows minor symptoms.

Beijing is using Big Data to keep the Wuhan coronavirus at bay

The Chinese government has moved to curb the rising number of cases in Guangzhou. On June 5, seven cities dispatched 5,600 medical staff to support the city. These staff members came from the cities of Zhuhai, Zhongshan, Dongguan, Shenzhen, Huizhou, Qingyuan and Shaoguan. The more than 5,000 medical workers added to the more than 170,000 staff stationed in Guangzhou by the end of 2020.

Aside from medical support, authorities are also utilizing surveillance and location tracking technology to trace close contacts of infected patients. On May 30, a person with COVID-19 ate at the citys Yingfeng Restaurant and subsequently tested positive for the pathogen. In a short period of time, Chinese authorities managed to quickly identify customers who dined in or ordered takeaway during the same period. The customers close contacts and their family members were sent to local hotels for isolation.

A resident of Guangzhous Haizhu district who went by the pseudonym Tang Ming was among those required to undergo quarantine. He was a family member of a close contact who visited the restaurant. Tang told The Epoch Times that people who appeared within a one-mile radius around Ying Feng restaurant were quarantined together with no one escaping from it.

Tang also shared how the local authorities managed to find him and other close contacts. He said: [If] you have a mobile phone, which has information about your location, the  authorities can request your data from the mobile phone companies. All those who were there during the requested time frame are located. If you didnt take your mobile phone to the restaurant, you wont be tracked. (Related: Big Tech propping up Chinas police state surveillance system.)

While Tang himself did not visit the restaurant, his family members did. He even joked that he did not expect to be implicated by his family.

The Haizhu resident remarked that he received a flood of calls from the local community office and local epidemic office in Guangzhou. He initially thought the calls came from scammers  until he was told to quarantine himself. Tang entered isolation on June 5 and stayed at the Rosedale Hotel & Suite.

Visit CommunistChina.news to read more stories about how China inoculates and tracks its citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

COVID19.TrackVaccines.org
(Natural News) An executive who works in the oil and gas industry to strategize succession plans for large corporations has issued a warning that companies all around the world are already anticipating having to replace their vaccinated workers within the next few years.

In the followinf video from Brighteon.com, listen as the woman featured explains how the corporations she works with know full well that those injected for the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) will more than likely die within the next three years, leaving employment holes that will need to be quickly filled:

Companies need to plan for whats going to happen as their staff move on  and succession planning is something that I help companies with, specifically recruitment services, she explains.

Executives are having their HR staff and their managers, superintendents, floormen, etc., go through and look at the staff that have received the vaccines, and theyre planning on having to replace them all within the next three years. What does that say to you?

The woman does not name herself, but does claim that she runs a company that works in succession planning. We are taking her word for it, but it does resonate with what French virologist and Nobel Laureate Luc Montagnier recently admitted about what will happen to jabbed people within the next few years.

Its got some of these guys literally in tears as theyre going through the company and literally checking off all of these individuals who have taken the vaccine, knowing that most likely within the next three years theyre going to have to replace that person, the woman adds.

This is a really big thing in the industry that Im in. These massive gas and oil companies are looking to have to replace thousands of personnel.

Injecting people with anything during a pandemic is unthinkable

Montagnier made similar comments during a recent interview, suggesting that once the injections run their course throughout a persons body, death is pretty much certain. This could take weeks, months or years depending on the person.

There is no hope and no possible treatment for those who have already been vaccinated, Montagnier is quoted as saying.

Montagnier also railed on the idea of injecting people with anything at all during an alleged pandemic, calling it unthinkable because of the risks involved. Worse is what has been uncovered about how the injections function like a slow kill mechanism to end the recipients life on a time-delayed schedule.

In time, all the people who have been injected will start to see the effects of this when their immune systems are unable to ward off simple diseases like influenza and the common cold that become more prevalent yearly during the winter months.

Could it be that the effects of these injections will fully manifest in the fall and winter when the sun grows dimmer, temperatures grow colder, and sickness abounds? Many believe this will be the case, and there are only a few months that remain before we find out for sure.

Once you realize that ALL vaccines are the head of pyramid schemes, everything begins to make sense, a Natural News commenter wrote. We are lied to about most everything. Vaccines and medications bring in tons of profits and power. All pharm products are dangerous and deadly.

The injected spike proteins destroy your immune system, wrote another. When the poisonous ingredients break down to their half-life in the body, they turn into other poisons. Side effects include fluid in the lungs, looks like covid and will be blamed on covid.

More related news about Chinese Virus vaccine outcomes in the coming years can be found at ChemicalViolence.com.

Sources for this article include:

Brighteon.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) Cybercriminals who thought transacting in cryptocurrency automatically protected them from scrutiny were proven wrong when the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) successfully breached a crypto wallet held by the Colonial Pipeline hackers. Now with this in mind, hackers have started turning to coins with anonymity built into them, such as Dash, Zcash and Monero.

Monero, in particular, is quickly becoming popular among the worlds top ransomware criminals. The more savvy criminals are using Monero, said Rick Holland, chief information security officer at Digital Shadows, a cyber threat intelligence company. Weve seen REvil give discounts or request payments in monero, just in the last few months.

REvil is a Russian-speaking gang that has made some of the largest ransomware demands on record in recent months.

Monero was also a popular option on AlphaBay, a popular underground market until it closed in 2017.

Its almost as if were seeing, at least from a cybercriminal perspective, a resurgence in Monero, because it inherently has more privacy than some of the other currencies, Holland said.

Monero hides nearly all transaction details

Released in 2014 by a consortium of developers, many of whom have chosen to remain anonymous, Monero offers anonymity features that allow cybercriminals greater freedom. It operates on its own blockchain, which hides virtually all transaction details. The identities of the sender and recipient, as well as the transaction amount itself, are disguised.

On the bitcoin blockchain, you can see what wallet address transacted, how many bitcoin, where it came from, where its going, explained Fred Thiel, former chairman of Ultimaco, one of Europes largest cryptography companies, which has worked with Microsoft, Google and others on post-quantum encryption.

With monero, [the blockchain] obfuscates the wallet address, the amount of the transactions, who the counter-party was, which is pretty much exactly what the bad actors want. (Related: Treasury to crack down on illegal activities in cryptocurrency markets and transactions, ignoring the fact that most crimes are carried out in DOLLARS.)

But Monero has its own limitations. It is not as liquid as other cryptocurrencies.

Many regulated exchanges have chosen not to list Monero due to regulatory concerns, explained Mati Greenspan, portfolio manager and founder of Quantum Economics. That means it is more difficult for cybercriminals to collect directly in the currency. If you are a corporation and you want to acquire a lot of monero to pay someone, it is very difficult to do, said Thiel.

The digital currency could also be more vulnerable to regulation on its entry and exit ramps, which is the bridge between fiat cash and crypto tokens.

I would bet to say that the United States and other regulators will shut them down [monero] very hard, Thiel said.

One way they could do it is by telling an exchange that if they list Monero, they risk losing their license.

Bitcoin still rules ransomware for now

Cyber ??insurance is a huge reason bitcoin remains the currency of choice for most ransomware attacks.

Insurance is so important in this space, and insurers often refuse to refund a ransom payment if it has been in monero, said Peter Marta, a former case officer at Central Intelligence Agency. One of the things that insurers will always ask is what type of due diligence the victim company carried out, before making the payment to try to minimize the possibility that the payment will go to an entity on the sanctions list.

Traceability is more easily achieved with bitcoin, since its blockchain shows the transaction amounts and the addresses of both the sender and the recipients participating in the exchange. There is also an infrastructure in place for officials to monitor these transactions. The authorities maintain lists of bitcoin wallets, which are linked to different sanctions regimes.

This traceability is how the FBI was able to retrieve the $2.3 million in bitcoin paid by Colonial Pipeline to cybercriminal gang DarkSide. Court documents indicated that investigators traced bitcoin transaction records to a digital wallet, which they subsequently seized under court order. Officials were then able to access that wallet with something called a private key, or password.

That said, there are ways to make it difficult for researchers to trace transactions to their final destination.

Cybercriminals have mastered certain techniques to make anonymous bitcoin transactions in order to obscure the chain of custody. They often turn to a mixing or dumping service to combine illicit funds with clean crypto and essentially create a new type of bitcoin, at which point they turn to currency exchanges.

With these techniques, bitcoin will remain one of the main cryptocurrencies cybercriminals use for now.

Follow CryptoCult.news for more on how cryptocurrencies are enabling cybercrime.

Sources include:

CNBC.com 1

Insider-Voice.com

CNBC.com 2
(Natural News) New York startup Kelekona unveiled plans to develop a 40-seater flying bus that could transport people starting 2024. The first route for the service would transport people between Manhattan to the Hamptons for $85.

Video animation from the company showed an electric air shuttle that looked like a cross between a blimp and a flying saucer. The aircraft would have eight thrust-vectoring fans with movable propellers. The fans would perform all stages of flight, from vertical takeoff to forward flight and landing.

To achieve nonstop flights, the vehicle would be equipped with a swappable battery pack similar to what Tesla uses in its Model S and Model 3 cars. With a capacity of 3.6 megawatt-hours  enough to power thousands of homes  this battery pack would eliminate the need to recharge between stations and thus would cut turnaround time.

Kelekona claimed that a one-way trip aboard its flying bus would take just 30 minutes and cost $85 per head, which is around the same price as a train ticket.

The firm plans to launch its first passenger flights between Manhattan and the Hamptons in 2024, and then add different routes soon after, including Boston to New York, New York to Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles to San Francisco. In addition to transporting travelers, the firm also envisions its flying bus transporting military payloads and airlifting people during emergencies. (Related: Would you ride in a drone? Self-flying taxi will have parachutes but no driver.)

The aircraft would be able to carry up to 40 passengers on top of the pilot, much higher than the capacity of air taxis. Ubers planned air taxi could only carry four passengers in addition to the pilot. Uber sold that air taxi, which is scheduled for launch in 2023, to California startup Joby Aviation but it invested $75 million in the startup.

Kelekona prioritized fitting as many passengers in its flying bus since New York has a small airspace. It never made sense to us to create a small aircraft that was only able to carry up to six people, CEO and founder Braeden Kelekona told Digital Trends. You have to have the kind of mass transit we rely on here in the city. It makes sense to try to move as many people as possible in one aircraft, so that were not hogging airspace.

The company hasnt actually built its blimp-like aircraft. Instead, it has only laid out a design in computer simulations. But Braeden said that the aircraft could start transporting cargo by next year. Meanwhile, passenger routes planned for 2024 would depend on the certification process with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Thats one of the trickier parts with passenger operation, he said. The FAA is still, to this day, creating the right protocols to test durability and reliability. They just want to make sure that the aircraft is [ready for whatever incident might] happen.

Urban air mobility is getting close to reality

Urban air mobility refers to urban transportation systems that move people by air, such as flying buses and air taxis. These modes of transport may seem futuristic, but theyre very much real. In fact, they may even go into operation very soon.

In September last year, German startup Volocopter opened up reservations for the first commercial electric air taxi rides. These flights would take place in the startups two-seater VoloCity, which is an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. An eVTOL is also known as a flying car but is more accurately called an electric helicopter.

Each $300 ride would take around 15 minutes and be confined within city routes. Before opening up reservations, Volocopter conducted successful test flights in Germany and Singapore.

Follow FlyingCars.news for the latest innovations on urban transportation.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

DigitalTrends.com

CleanTechnica.com
(Natural News) On Wednesday, June 9, Republicans in the House of Representatives sent a letter to Facebook co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg demanding that he surrender all communications between himself, White House Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci and other federal health officials regarding the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The primary authors of the letter are Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, and Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, a ranking member of the House Oversight Committee.

The request comes after emails between Fauci and Zuckerberg were published by mainstream media outlets who were able to obtain them through Freedom of Information Act requests. The emails show Zuckerberg soliciting help from Fauci to promote the tech giants coronavirus information hub. (Related: Fauci emails: Fauci colluded with Zuckerberg to fearmonger about the coronavirus before the election.)

Zuckerberg may have influenced federal coronavirus policy

In light of Facebooks subsequent censorship of certain COVID-19 content  including content about the pandemics origin  these communications with Dr. Fauci raise the prospect that the federal government induced Facebook to censor certain speech in violation of the First Amendment, wrote the congressmen.

Jordan and Comer want to know if Fauci or anyone else in the federal government helped Facebook decide to censor any content that framed the lab leak origin theory in a good light. This theory suggests that the coronavirus was engineered in a lab in the Wuhan Institute of Virology, where it leaked after infecting its employees.

In their letter, the congressmen demand that Facebook hand over all documents and communications between or among Facebook employees and U.S. government employees regarding the coronavirus, its treatment and its possible origins. In addition, they also want Facebook to hand over documents detailing the companys content moderation policies regarding the coronavirus.

Furthermore, they want Facebook to hand over unredacted versions of the recently released emails, specifically the ones that were heavily censored because they contained confidential trade or commercial secrets.

In an interview with Fox Business, Jordan said the exchanges between Zuckerberg and Fauci raise a lot of questions that the American public deserves the answers to.

Theres probably two explanations, said the congressman. Either Zuckerberg and Facebook [were] duped like so many Americans were and thought Dr. Fauci is the smartest man on the planet  or they were working with the government. And it seems to be more of the latter.

Jordan speculated that Facebooks initial decision to stifle any debate regarding the origins of COVID-19 may have subdued any pressure government officials may have felt to take the lab leak theory more seriously.

Why is this big tech platform working in cahoots with the government to suppress certain types of information that we now know was pretty darn credible? asked Jordan.

The congressman added that it is telling that when Fauci was downplaying the lab leak theory, Facebook suppressed all content on its platform that portrayed it positively. But when the administration of President Joe Biden announced it was taking the theory seriously, the companys policies suddenly changed.

Dr. Fauci, once again has changed his position, said Jordan. So hes saying, Oh, well, there may be some credibility to looking at the lab, the origins of the virus from the lab.'

Whatever the government says, Facebook goes along with it.

Facebook spokesperson claims no secrets between Zuckerberg and Fauci

Facebook Policy Communications Director Andy Stone attempted to address the interactions between Zuckerberg and Fauci in a series of tweets.

Stone claimed that Facebook reached out to offer its assistance not just to Fauci but also to members of former President Donald Trumps Coronavirus Task Force. During this initial exchange, Zuckerberg shared information with Fauci regarding his companys plan to launch an information hub to make reliable resources and information about COVID-19 from government and health experts easily accessible on the platform.

He claims that the creation of the information hub and its purpose are not a secret, and is something that the company actually talked about on multiple occasions.

In the redacted part of the email, Zuckerberg told Dr. Fauci of our plan  which wed described in our company blog weeks earlier  to share Facebook ad credits with government agencies to help them run coronavirus PSAs, wrote Stone.

Jordan countered this assertion by Stone. If the emails dont actually contain sensitive trade secrets that Facebook is trying to hide, then the company should release the original emails in their unredacted forms.

Learn more about how big tech companies like Facebook may have influenced government policy regarding the coronavirus pandemic at Pandemic.news.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

FoxBusiness.com

BizPacReview.com
(Natural News) A government-backed push to mine lithium in western Arizona is compromising the ability of indigenous groups in the area to freely practice their religion.

Australian company Hawkstone Mining Ltd. has been conducting exploratory drilling in the Big Sandy River Valley under the auspices of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The valley is home to several sacred sites on public land, including culturally significant hot springs. But it also holds an enormous lithium deposit.

Lithium is an essential component of the batteries that power many electric vehicles and electronic devices. Listed as a critical mineral, it is needed to achieve the Biden administrations goal of replacing gas-powered cars with electric vehicles.

Currently, the U.S. has only one large-scale lithium mine, which is located in Silver Peak, Nevada. But more are on the way, with pundits expecting a lithium mining boom in the country in the near future.

In the Big Sandy River Valley, exploratory work had already begun a few years back. Ivan Bender, a member of the federally recognized Hualapai Tribe, recalled seeing men working on a hillside near the valleys Cholla Canyon Ranch four years ago.

I asked them what they were doing, Bender told High Country News. They told me they were drilling.

The company behind the drilling work is USA Lithium Ltd., now a subsidiary of Hawkstone. As part of its drilling operations, the company bulldozed a network of roads and drilled nearly 50 test wells more than 300 feet deep on the sacred landscape. But it did not inform the Hualapai Tribe that it was searching for lithium on nearby BLM land.

Bender is the caretaker of the ranch but it means so much more to him because it is home to Ha Kamwe  hot springs that are sacred to his tribe and known today as Cofer Hot Springs. The valley is also part of an ancient salt route that connects tribes from central Utah to communities in Baja, California and along the Pacific Coast. That route is documented in the songs and oral traditions of many indigenous nations.

There are stories about that land and what it represents to the Hualapai Tribe, Bender said. To me, it holds a really, really sacred valley of life in general.

The Hualapai Tribe also harvests native plant materials along the corridor of the Big Sandy River, which are used for making culturally important products such as cradle boards and drums, according to Richard Powskey, a Hualapai tribal council member who heads the Hualapai Department of Natural Resources. (Related: Is the Grand Canyon being put in danger by nearby uranium mining?)

Government overreach on ancestral lands

The Hualapai Tribe is trying to protect the valley from intensive mining operations, but indigenous groups in America exercise very limited control over their lands. This is influenced by landmark court rulings from the past, particularly the Supreme Courts verdict on the 1988 case Lyng v. Northwest Indian Cemetery Protective Association.

The Supreme Court ruled that the Forest Service could widen a logging road in Northern Californias Six Rivers National Forest, even though the road-widening project would completely destroy a region that was important to several indigenous religions. The court reasoned that though the area would be destroyed, the governments actions did not constitute an attempt to force tribal members to violate their religious beliefs.

That ruling tightened the governments control over the use of sacred sites on public land. If the government is unwilling to accommodate an access for different native peoples so that they can practice their religion in those sacred sites, then it wont happen, said Stephanie Barclay, director of the University of Notre Dames Religious Liberty Initiative.

The Hualapai Tribe is trying to have a say on how drilling and mining operations in the valley should be carried out. But the BLM has all but shut the group out of the discussion.

Though the agency invited the tribe to consult with it in June 2020 about Hawkstones exploration plans, it later rejected the tribes requests to be the coordinating unit on the project. It also dismissed suggestions to send a tribal leader to drilling areas and educate the agency about minings impact on the environment. (Related: Fight to the death: Ancient Amazon tribe threatened by mining corporations isnt going down easily.)

This summer, Hawkstone is set to triple its drilling operations in the valley. The firm has mining rights on more than 5,000 acres of public land in Arizona for the project. And in the next few years, it plans to break ground on an open-pit mine and dig an underground slurry to pipe the ore 50 miles to a plant in Kingman, Arizona. There, it will use sulfuric acid to extract lithium.

Visit Environ.news for more about how lithium mining and the governments policies related to it affect communities in America.

Sources include:

EnergyNews.us

NYTimes.com

FreePressEngine.com
(Natural News) Less than a year ago, Elana Fishbein was a happy stay-at-home mother, raising her three boys in a well-off Philadelphia suburb. Shed noticed the school that two of her boys attended would push out some lessons and activities that she considered politically biased or inappropriate, but each time was able to resolve the situation by opting her children out. In June last year, however, she saw no other choice than to take action.

(Article by Petr Svab republished from TheEpochTimes.com)

Following the protests and riots sparked by the death of George Floyd in Minnesota, the school issued new cultural proficiency lessons.

My husband and I looked at the lesson plan and opened the links to the books that they included for the lesson plan and we were thoroughly horrified because they were totally racist, she told The Epoch Times.

The events that followed led to the launch of a group that now runs chapters in nearly half the states, sporting tens of thousands of followers.

The school materials Fishbein examined followed what she called woke culturea set of quazi-Marxist ideologies that divides society into oppressors and the oppressed based on characteristics such as race, sex, class, or sexual proclivities. The term woke is sometimes used interchangeably with critical race theory (CRT), which is only one of the ideologies that operate within this framework.

Fishbein immediately opted her children out of the lessons and sent an incensed letter to the school district superintendent.

The material selected for this indoctrination pumps their brains with LIES that puts unbearable emotional burdens on them for years to come, she wrote, backing her argument with a doctorate in child welfare (pdf). Why must our kids feel like villains and hate themselves for something they had no control overthe color/pigmentation of their skin?!?

They are doing to us what they told us not to do to others, her 9-year-old commented, according to the letter.

Her children didnt return to the school in falla decision shed already made before she learned of the new curriculum.

I was just a happy mom. But somebody made a point of destroying the life of my children and many other children, she said.

Since nobody responded to her letter, she posted it on the parents Facebook page of the school, asking others what they thought.

The response took her aback.

I was called racist and bigoted and homophobe and whatever, she said.

Her post was then taken down.

She tried several other local Facebook pages with similar results.

I was blown away, she said. They wont even discuss it. They just call you a name.

She contacted her friend at a conservative-leaning news outlet that agreed to run a story about her experience.

It was then that people facing similar issues started to reach out to her.

They were telling me, every single one of them, that theyre afraid to speak up, she said.

This was the watershed moment for her.

Being of Jewish descent, Fishbein felt an implicit threat behind the ideology.

This is ridiculous, she said she told herself. This is going to take over our country. Theyre attacking our children. Theyre attacking our families, our values, our way of life and were just going to sit around and take the bullet? And people are just afraid? Just because somebody called you a racist?

In that moment, in late-August, it hit me  and I launched a movement, she said.

She assembled in her living room a few parents that contacted her and she shared her idea with them.

Are you a racist? If youre a racist, I understand, but if youre not a racist, why are you not standing up for your kid and for your family? she told them.

In mid-September, she was invited on Fox News Tucker Carlson Tonight after somebody forwarded the initial article about Fishbein to the show.

Over the week after the show aired, her small Facebook page called No Left Turn in Education received over a million visits.

Tens of thousands of people were reaching out to her with their fears and worries.

They were tormented. And many of them said, We would like to act, but we dont know what to do,' she said.

And so she started to organize people into chapters.

Soon after, the organization launched its first lawsuit after Fishbein connected a Nevada mother with a lawyer.

The Clark Suit

The mother, Gabrielle Clark, had a son in his senior year at Democracy Prep at the Agassi Campus charter school in Las Vegas. In late August, the school launched a series of lessons that asked students to label and identify which groups they belonged to based on race, sex, religion, and family income. The teacher leading the lessons then attached the labels of privileged and oppressive versus oppressed to the groups, according to court documents (pdf).

Privilege was defined as the inherent belief in the inferiority of the oppressed group, while oppression was defined as malicious or unjust treatment or exercise of power.

While Clark is a black single mother of five, her son William inherited blond hair, green eyes, and light skin from his deceased father. As it turned out, the young man hit nearly all the privileged and oppressive checkboxes, being raised in Judeo-Christian values and the only one perceived as white in his class.

The teacher also instructed the students that they have to unlearn and fight back against oppressive structures supposedly implicit in their family arrangements, religious beliefs, race, and sex, the court documents say.

Clark refused to accept this.

All I could think of was, How in the world is my son supposed to function in his life normally with his siblings and with his mother with this idea in the back of his head that he is somehow privileged and oppressing us? I couldnt allow that to be the way my son felt about himself, she said during a March interview with YouTube channel The Reason We Learn.

Her son refused to follow the classes and complete the related assignments and was thus failed, which would lead to a failure to graduate. The family pleaded with the school to allow him to take an alternative class, but the school refused.

In December, the family filed a suit, alleging the constitutional rights of both William and his mother were violated and that a government-funded school has no business attaching moral judgements to students based on their identities and compel them to participate in the exercise, much less to unlearn some of the traditional values theyve learned at home.

The school hired a powerful law firm and responded by saying Clarks son wasnt really facing any adverse action and was just trying to avoid lessons he didnt like.

But two expert witnesses presented by Clark concluded that the class materials were indeed discriminatory.

The class materials appear to teach critical race theory as both morally superior and factual, rather than as a theory, concluded Ilana Redstone, associate professor of sociology at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, in her expert opinion (pdf).

Such school materials that place students in a hierarchy based on immutable identities are unacceptable and discriminatory, said Redstone, a specialist in political polarization, viewpoint diversity, and communication across ideological divides.

This material inherently pits students against one another based on their race and sex (among other identities), wrote the other witness, Erec Smith, associate professor of Rhetoric and Composition at York College of Pennsylvania (pdf).

The school didnt respond to a request for comment.

Clark is now the chapter head of No Left Turn in Nevada.

Parents Organize

The group helps parents oppose the woke education based on a strategy of four Es, Fishbain said. Were educating them, then were empowering them, then were engaging them, and finally, we are going to eradicate this whole thing.

The group is providing legal help, offering model curricula, and even model legislation to ban CRT from schools, as some states have already done.

Its also helping parents to file Freedom of Information requests to obtain school materials, especially where schools refuse to disclose whats happening in their classrooms, Fishbain said.

A lot of our work is actually exposing whats going on.

The next step is to explain to parents what they could do about any woke influence they find in their childrens schools.

We educate them about the importance of the school board, the role of the school board, and whos making the decision about the curriculum, whos making the decision on what books are going to be at your kids class, what curriculum, what lesson plan, whos hiring all those trainers [that proliferate woke ideologies], how much money they are paying for them to come and brainwash your kids and poison their minds and their heart, Fishbain said.

Shes compiled a list of nearly 100 euphemisms used by these woke proponents aimed at helping people to decode the meaning of the jargon-laden materials used by schools.

The group is planning to launch a new website in a few weeks that will make available all the various materials and advice as well as testimonials from parents, students, and teachers.

One of the most crucial points is to help people get together and organize themselves, she said.

Facing this whole machine alone is really almost impossible.

Read more at: TheEpochTimes.com and Indoctrination.news
(Natural News) In an executive order issued on Wednesday, June 9, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper has committed the state to developing 2.8 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind projects by 2030 and eight GW by 2040.

Achieving those wind energy targets will provide enough electricity to 2.3 million homes by 2040, according to a statement from the Democratic governors office.

To generate offshore wind projects, the executive order directs the North Carolina Department of Commerce to appoint an offshore wind coordinator and establish a task force that will advise on programs and policies, among other roles.

The states goals are ambitious and Gov. Coopers vision for this and the ambitious nature of these efforts is really impressive and exciting, said Erin Carey, director of coastal programs for the Sierra Club in North Carolina. It shows just how serious the state is.

Other East Coast states, such as New York, Massachusetts and New Jersey, are also pursuing wind power plans of their own. But North Carolinas targets are among the biggest to date. In comparison, Virginia is only targetting 5.2 GW of offshore wind power by 2034 and New Jersey looking at 7.5 GW by 2035, according to Michelle Allen, project manager for the Environmental Defense Funds North Carolina Political Affairs.

The new commitments are part of a push to reduce the states greenhouse gas emissions to 70 percent by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. These emission targets were announced two years back, along with plans to accelerate the retirement of coal-fired plants and expand the use of renewables. (Related: Democrats climate agenda will mimic their COVID tyranny.)

Expanding use of wind power can hurt coastal economies

Coopers executive order comes as President Joe Biden looks to expand the development of offshore wind power as part of his climate agenda.

Last March, the White House announced a national goal of installing 30 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity by 2030 and 110 gigawatts by 2050. To help achieve these targets, the federal government opened up $3 billion in loan guarantees for offshore wind projects and $500 million for improvements at ports that will service these projects.

The Biden administration claims that hitting its 2030 target will create thousands of jobs, but it also comes at the cost of other industries. In New Jersey, residents fear that the construction of a 1.1 GW offshore wind farm called Ocean Wind will hurt tourism and fishing.

Suzanne Hornick, an Ocean City resident and core committee member of Save Our Shorelines NJ, which is dedicated to opposing wind projects in the state, says that the wind farms nearly 100 turbines will be an eyesore, potentially driving away tourists who come for the states clear coasts.

Though the turbines will be constructed 20 miles off the coast, Hornick notes that Atlantic Citys tallest building is clearly visible from Ocean City, which is 16 miles away. And the turbines planned for Ocean Wind will be 850 feet tall, much higher than the 735-foot building. (Related: Wind turbines are about to be even BIGGER.)

Tony Butch, a recreational fisherman who follows the activities of Hornicks organization, is concerned about the wind farms effect on fisheries. He says that the cables that will be used to convey power ashore will create an electromagnetic field that can interfere with fish migration.

Fishing enthusiast says that the impact of installing wind turbines in the states coast is not studied enough. There just hasnt been enough research done in our waters to tell us that it would be safe environmentally, Butch told NJ Spotlight News. To me it feels like the state is putting the carriage before the horse.

Expanding wind power generation is bad for the climate

Wind power is far from emission-free once the energy needed to build and maintain wind turbines is taken into account. Producing the massive turbines planned for Ocean Wind, for instance, will use millions of tons of energy-intensive steel. It will also require fossil-fuel-burning ships to transport components at specially built ports and deliver the turbines to where they will be installed.

Companies claim that the environmental benefits of wind farms far outweigh their upstream emissions. But research suggests that wind power may do more harm than good.

In 2018, a pair of Harvard University researchers found that significantly increasing wind power generation to meet Americas power demand could increase temperatures over where wind farms are located, as well as over the continental U.S. They noted that their finding tallied up with recent satellite observations of local warming around wind power plants in California, Illinois, Iowa and Texas.

Visit NewEnergyReport.com for more about the disadvantages of expanding wind power use.

Sources include:

UtilityDive.com

NewsObserver.com

NPR.org

NJSpotlight.com

Bloomberg.com
(Natural News) If Virginia is for lovers, then Oregon is for homeless people. And if you happen to live there and arent a lunatic, its way past time for you to get out.

The states majority Democrats just passed legislation decriminalizing homelessness in most public spaces and for nearly every reason, meaning that people will now be able to camp out literally anywhere they choose  public, taxpayer-supported parks, city streets, sidewalks, and in front of businesses. And there is nothing anyone who opposes this reckless insanity can do about it.

The Oregonian reports:

House Bill 3115, which passed the Senate Wednesday afternoon and is en route to Gov. Kate Browns desk, is a response to a 2018 landmark homelessness case that impacted most western states with an intent to better support individuals experiencing homelessness.

While local governments should already be following rules set forth by the case known as Martin v. Boise, the bill, written at the behest of House Speaker Tina Kotek, forces cities to officially change any ordinance language still on the books to be in line with the court decision. It passed the Senate 28-10 on a largely party line vote, with Sen. Betsy Johnson of Scappoose the lone Democrat to vote no.

Speaking of left-wing lunatics, judges on the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals (the most overturned court in the land by the U.S. Supreme Court) ruled that governments dont have the authority (somehow) to criminalize any conduct that results from not having a home of their own. To punish a homeless individual for sleeping outside when there arent enough shelter beds would be comparable to punishing that individual for the fact that they are homeless, a consequence the court described as a cruel and unusual, The Oregonian reported, a reference to the courts interpretation of such laws as being violations of the Eighth Amendment.

Alison McIntosh, policy director for the Oregon Housing Alliance who obviously does not have to deal with a gaggle of homeless people herself (although maybe she should have to), claimed that as is, some cities go around the ruling by enforcing no camping ordinances on some public property but not all public lands.

This does not solve the problem, though, for either people experiencing homelessness or law enforcement, she wrote. It does not provide people experiencing homelessness clear guidance about where they can or cannot sit or sleep.

Not everyone in the state is a lunatic. The Marion County Board of Commissioners opposed the bill because, members said, the measure would limit local control of the homeless crisis facing Oregon and would place residents in our communities at risk by restricting local governments power to limit homeless camps.

First and foremost, the reason why what we used to call vagrancy was disallowed was because it disrupted the normal, healthy function of a civil society, one that thrives on having rules that enhance the quality of life, not demean or detract from it. Taxpayers in communities should have an expectation that their dollars are going to maintain the civil society, not disassemble it and create chaos on their streets and in public spaces they, too have a right to use unmolested.

Secondly, werent these intolerable Democrats in Oregon and around the country concerned about public safety and health when they locked down residents for months on end and made them close their businesses due to COVID? If city leaders had the authority to do that last year, why do they now lack the authority to keep their own streets, sidewalks and public spaces free from filthy conditions that breed violence and disease?

This is insanity on steroids. One by one, day by day, moment by moment, the Democratic Marxist party is demolishing the remaining vestiges of our republic. And when it collapses, so, too, with the rest of Western-style democracy.

Sources include:

ThePostMillennial.com



MSN.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) The conservative think tank Citizens for Renewing America (CRA) was suspended from Twitter for tweeting resources that challenge the racist ideology known as Critical Race Theory, or CRT.

Rachel Bovard, Senior Director of Policy for the Conservative Partnership Institute, explained that Twitter silenced CRA for merely sharing a toolkit that parents can use to try to combat the use of CRT at their childrens public schools.

Media Matters issued a baseless and wildly untrue hit on the Center, Bovard said, and mere hours later, Twitter suspends their account. Big Tech working very hard to protect racist ideologies from criticism.

According to CRA President Russ Vought, Twitter is claiming that his groups Renewing America accounts were suspended not by actual humans but by enforcement bots, though Twitter would not reveal precisely what was flagged and why.

This occurred soon after we launched an important anti-CRT tool kit and a radical left outlet put forward wild conspiracy theories about it, he added in a tweet.

Entitled, Combatting Critical Race Theory in Your Community, the tool kit was made available to parents and others who are concerned about the anti-white indoctrination now being pushed on children who attend American public schools.

Part of the CRT curriculum involves teaching children that if they have lighter skin, they are inherently racist and hold lesser value than children with darker skin. Lighter-skinned children are basically being told that they are privileged and thus evil, while darker-skinned children are told that they are victims who deserve reparations.

All of this can easily be found in CRT dogma, yet Media Matters says anyone pointing this out is inventing a conspiracy theory about the overthrow of Americas constitutional system.

Media Matters says only a white nationalist would take issue with the CRT religion

In many ways, CRT is a religion based on left-wing dogmas that push hatred against white people and unfailing love for non-white people. And ironically, if you object to this doctrine, then you are a white nationalist, according to Media Matters.

For daring to create a tool kit that challenges the CRT religion, CRA was likened by Media Matters to the infamous nationalist march in Charlottesville, Virginia. In other words, when all else fails, just pull the race card.

This is no surprise coming from a group that took in more than $1.5 million from billionaire eugenicist George Soros between 2010 and 2014. Twitter might as well also be on the dole of Soros, as all it does is silence his political foes will elevating and amplifying the voices that push his agenda.

The Media Research Center (MRC) gave Twitter an F grade in its first Big Tech Report Card, which highlighted the platforms censorship of Donald Trump and giving of a sensitive content label on an MRC graphic.

The graphic described the results of a recent poll in which fifty-three percent of respondents answered no to the question: Should biological men be allowed to compete in womens sports?' Newsbusters reported.

Disney, by the way, which is arguably the most influential force in the lives of American children, is a full-fledged supporter of CRT. The companys theme parks were caught pushing an anti-white agenda on its employees, encouraging them to go woke and hate white people.

Every white Disney employee should quit this racist company, one of our own wrote on that story. Then they wont have Snow White, theyll only have Snow Brown.

When pressed by MRC Free Speech America for confirmation about its suspension of CRA, Twitter reportedly did not respond with a comment.

More related news about the American educational system can be found at Collapse.news.

Sources for this article include:

Newsbusters.org

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) Tucker Carlson slammed the government for putting young people at risk by pushing them to get vaccinated against the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) even as reports of the vaccines potential link to a certain type of heart inflammation emerged.

The Fox News pundit noted that Israeli health officials released a report showing that vaccinated young people, particularly young men, were developing myocarditis at extremely high rates.

Myocarditis is condition that involves inflammation of the heart muscle. Symptoms can include fever and fatigue, as well as shortness of breath and a very specific type of chest pain. Patients tend to say their chest hurts more when they lean forward. The pain tends to subside when they lean back.

Israels Ministry of Health identified over 200 cases in men between 16 and 30 years old, with a vast majority of those happening at the younger end of that range. That equates to a risk of between 1 in 3,000 and 1 in 6,000 of suffering from inflammation of muscles that line the heart wall. Researchers determined that the incidence of myocarditis in vaccinated young men was 25 times the usual rate.

This is a serious development for us in the United States. If statistical trends observed in Israel hold here, as many as 150,000 young Americans will develop a potentially fatal heart disorder because of the COVID vaccine, Carlson said. Thats not alarmism or some kind of anti-vaxxer conspiracy theory. Its real.

At that rate, Carlson said, healthy young people are more likely to be harmed by the vaccine than by COVID itself. That scenario, he said, would be the definition of a preventable disaster.

Colleges and universities invite disaster by requiring students to be vaccinated

Instead of preventing disaster, some are inviting it  at least in Carlsons point of view.

Many American colleges and universities have already announced theyll require proof of vaccination before they allow students to return to campus. Virginias state university system recently announced that vaccine exemptions will not be granted based on a philosophical, moral or conscientious objection.

In other words, your conscience is irrelevant. Personal autonomy means nothing. It is no longer your body, it is no longer your choice. When it comes to the vaccine, there is no escape, Carlson said.

There are close to 20 million college students in the U.S. and Carlson fears that most of them will have no choice but to take a drug other government have concluded is dangerous for them to take.

You wonder, watching this, how it could happen in a free country. Its hard to believe it is happening. As a medical decision, its reckless. What are the long-term effects of forcing these drugs on millions of young people, many of whom dont need it? We dont know the answer, Carlson said. We dont know what the long-term effects are. Anyone who claims to know is lying. At this point, theres literally no way to tell.

Immunization Safety Office Deputy Director Dr. Tom Shimabukuro of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said during a presentation to a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory group on Thursday, June 10, that there have been 226 confirmed cases of myocarditis after vaccination among Americans younger than 30, and that 250 more cases are under investigation.

Normally, fewer than 100 such cases would be expected for people below 30.

Across all ages, 789 cases of myocarditis have been reported after getting the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines  most commonly after the second dose. Cases predominantly have been seen in males, and the median age for a case of myocarditis following the second dose is 24. (Related: Heart inflammation in COVID-19 vaccine recipients seen across the US.)

Further investigation is needed to confirm whether the vaccination was the cause of the heart problem. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), CDCs vaccine advisory committee that develops recommendations on how to use vaccines to control diseases in the U.S., will hold an emergency meeting on June 18 to discuss the issue.

Ages 12 to 24 account for more than half of myocarditis cases reported to CDC

The FDA expanded Pfizers emergency use authorization to include children as young as 12, even though the pharmaceutical companys own clinical trials of the vaccine showed disturbing effects on young people.

Pfizer gave the vaccines to one group of children between ages 12 and 15 while another group got a placebo. Among children who received just the first dose of the vaccine, rates of serious symptoms were higher across the board  including symptoms consistent with myocarditis.

Those between ages 12 and 24 accounted for more than half of the myocarditis cases in people below 30, despite representing just a fraction of people who have received the vaccines. We clearly have an imbalance there, Shimabukuro said.

Carlson took notice of Shimabukuros remarks. Imbalance is one way to put it. Potential emergency is another way, Carlson said.

The New York Times reported that COVID-19 vaccines may be available in the fall for American children as young as six months. Pfizer announced on Tuesday, June 8, that it will begin testing the vaccine in infants in the next few weeks.

As a scientific question, none of this is necessary, Carlson said. Studies in medical journals around the world have shown that COVID is not a grave threat to children and that young people dont play a significant role in spreading COVID. But that hasnt stopped the Biden Administration.

Carlson hinted that President Joe Biden does not care about scientific studies. Joe Biden doesnt want to wait, he said. Biden promised universal vaccination, whether we need it or not, and he plans to get it done.

Follow Immunization.news for more news and information related to coronavirus vaccines.

Sources include:

CitizenFreePress.com

NBCNews.com

KeweenawReport.com

AAPPublications.org

NYTimes.com
Weather Alert

...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM PDT SUNDAY... * WHAT...Dangerously hot conditions with temperatures 95 to 105 degrees. * WHERE...In Washington, Lower Columbia Basin of Washington. In Oregon, Lower Columbia Basin of Oregon. * WHEN...Until 8 PM PDT Sunday. * IMPACTS...Extreme heat will significantly increase the potential for heat related illnesses, particularly for those working or participating in outdoor activities. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...There is the possibility that all time record high temperatures will be reached or exceeded during this heat wave. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances. Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9 1 1. &&
NEW ORLEANS (AP)  The Biden administrations suspension of new oil and gas leases on federal land and water was blocked Tuesday by a federal judge in Louisiana who ordered that plans continue for lease sales that were delayed for the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska waters and all eligible onshore properties.

The decision is a blow to Democratic President Joe Biden's efforts to rapidly transition the nation away from fossil fuels and thereby stave off the worst effects of climate change, including catastrophic droughts, floods and wildfires.

U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty's ruling came in a lawsuit filed in March by Louisiana Republican Attorney General Jeff Landry and officials in 12 other states. Doughty said his ruling applies nationwide. It grants a preliminary injunction  technically a halt to the suspension pending further arguments on the merits of the case.

The omission of any rational explanation in cancelling the lease sales, and in enacting the Pause, results in this Court ruling that Plaintiff States also have a substantial likelihood of success on the merits of this claim, he wrote.

We are reviewing the judges opinion and will comply with the decision," an Interior Department statement emailed by communications director Melissa Schwartz said. "The Interior Department continues to work on an interim report that will include initial findings on the state of the federal conventional energy programs, as well as outline next steps and recommendations for the Department and Congress to improve stewardship of public lands and waters, create jobs, and build a just and equitable energy future.

The moratorium was imposed after Biden on Jan. 27 signed executive orders to fight climate change. The suit was filed in March. The Interior Department later canceled oil and gas lease sales from public lands through June  affecting Nevada, Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and the bureaus eastern region.

Biden's orders included a call for Interior officials to review if the leasing program unfairly benefits companies at the expense of taxpayers, as well as the program's impact on climate change.

The 13 states that sued said the administration bypassed comment periods and other bureaucratic steps required before such delays can be undertaken, and that the moratorium would cost the states money and jobs. Doughty heard arguments in the case last week in Lafayette.

Federal lawyers argued that the public notice and comment period doesn't apply to the suspension, that the lease sales aren't required by law and that the Secretary of the Interior has broad discretion in leasing decisions.

No existing lease has been cancelled as a result of any of the actions challenged here, and development activity from exploration through drilling and production has continued at similar levels as the preceding four years, lawyers for the administration argued in briefs.

But Doughty sided with the plaintiff states attorneys, who argued that the delay of new leasing cost states revenue from rents and royalties.

Millions and possibly billions of dollars are at stake, wrote Doughty, who was nominated to the federal bench by President Donald Trump in 2017.

Local government funding, jobs for Plaintiff State workers, and funds for the restoration of Louisianas Coastline are at stake, he added, alluding to a possible loss of oil and gas revenue that pays for Louisiana efforts to restore coastal wetlands.

This is fantastic news for workers in Louisiana whose livelihoods are being threatened by the administrations thoughtless energy policy, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) said in a statement.

But not everyone was supportive of the judge's decision.

The judges order turns a blind eye to runaway climate pollution thats devastating our planet, said Randi Spivak, public lands program director at the Center for Biological Diversity. Well keep fighting against the fossil-fuel industry and the politicians that are bought by them.

Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah and West Virginia are the other plaintiff states.

This is a victory not only for the rule of law, but also for the thousands of workers who produce affordable energy for Americans, Landry said in a statement issued shortly after the ruling.

___

Associated Press reporter Matt Brown in Billings, Montana, contributed to this report.
Californians can eat, drink and rub shoulders at restaurants, movie theaters and most other businesses without COVID-19 restrictions as the state fully reopened Tuesday. Here are some things to know about the changes:

WHAT IS HAPPENING?

When the pandemic hit last year, California issued the nations first statewide stay-at home order, closing all nonessential businesses and restaurant dining. Since then, restrictions have been tightened or eased as circumstances changed.

Last summer, California adopted a four-tier, color-coded system of business restrictions and guidelines. Each county was assigned a color based on their COVID-19 risk.

Infections have dropped precipitously and more than 70% of eligible people have gotten at least one shot, leading Gov. Gavin Newsom to end the tier system and fully reopen the state.

WHAT IT MEANS

Restaurants, shopping malls, movie theaters and other businesses can open without capacity limits or social distancing requirements. However, people who want to attend indoor concerts, sporting events and similar gatherings that draw 5,000 people or more will have to verify that they are vaccinated or dont have COVID-19. Attendees at outdoor events drawing 10,000 people or more are strongly encouraged to do the same.

All students are allowed to resume classroom learning. However, those in K-12 public schools must continue to wear masks and social distance because many children havent been vaccinated. Some universities also are keeping their mask requirements in place.

Counties are expected to follow the state guidelines but they have the option of enforcing stricter regulations. Following federal guidelines, masks will still be required on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation and at airports and train stations.

Only unvaccinated people must wear masks indoors, though businesses may require face coverings if they choose. All workers initially must remain masked and physically distanced on the job. The regulations apply in almost every workplace in the state, including offices, factories and retail.

However, fully vaccinated employees would not need to wear masks under rules to be approved Thursday by the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board. Newsom said he will then issue an executive order putting those regulations into effect immediately, bypassing a normal 10-day legal review.

Under the plan, employers would have options, including requiring workers to show proof of vaccination; requiring everyone to remain masked, vaccinated or not; or allowing employees to self-attest to their vaccination status, with the employer keeping a record of who self-attests.

WHAT WONT CHANGE

The state is still requiring people who haven't been vaccinated to wear a mask in indoor public settings and businesses, including restaurants and government offices.

Health officials will continue encouraging people to get vaccinated and will continue testing and contact tracing programs to detect COVID-19 spread.

Newsom says California will remain under a state of emergency that grants him broad authority to issue, alter or suspend state laws and regulations. California has been under the state of emergency since the pandemic began in March 2020. Newsom says the virus that killed more than 62,000 Californians hasnt been eradicated and its not taking the summer months off.
LOS ANGELES (AP)  While Jane Austen admirers savor the wit and romance of Pride and Prejudice and her other enduring novels, scholars ferret out details of Austens life and times, including a family link to slavery that surfaced 50 years ago.

The effort to place the writer in the social and political context of her day has yielded a new and contrasting discovery: A favorite brother was part of the 19th-century abolition movement.

Devoney Looser, an Arizona State University professor and author of The Making of Jane Austen, unearthed the Rev. Henry Thomas Austen's attendance at the 1840 World Anti-Slavery Convention in London, which drew some 500 delegates.

I was stunned to find that fact, Looser said in an interview. She first detailed her research in an essay for The Times Literary Supplement.

The familys commitments and actions changed profoundly, from known complicity in colonial slavery to previously unnoticed anti-slavery activism, Looser wrote. Henry became a next-generation Austen publicly supporting a political commitment to abolish slavery across the globe.

Loosers essay also addresses patriarch George Austens previously revealed ties to another family's West Indian sugar plantation, calling them very real but both under-described and overstated.

The latest research was welcomed by Patricia A. Matthew, an associate professor of English at Montclair State University who focuses on literature of the period that encompasses Austen. Her courses include British abolitionist literature.

Im always excited about new information about the authors I teach, Matthew said. While it doesn't change her view of Austen's work  I dont believe that Im reading someone whos actively engaged in debates about the slave trade  it could resound with Austen's most devoted admirers, sometimes called "Janeites."

I think they are having a kind of reckoning in how they think about not just Austen, but the Regency period, said Matthew, referring to the British era of the early 1800s. It raises all manner of interesting questions about how they understand this author.

The six major novels that Jane Austen wrote before her death at 41 in July 1817 are sharply observed works about human nature and relationships, not anchored in current events. There is a reference to slavery in Mansfield Park, and a conversation between two characters in Emma includes mentions of abolition and the sale of "human flesh.

As for Austens own beliefs, Looser said, we know from her letters that she refers to having loved the writings of a prominent white abolitionist, Thomas Clarkson. So we know that she read and cared about issues of race and racial injustice.

A diary entry from another Austen brother, Francis, called it regrettable that any trace of slavery should be found to exist in countries dependent on England, or colonised by her subjects. His opinion was not made public until the early 1900s.

Britain outlawed the slave trade in 1807 and made slavery illegal in 1833 with the exception of some territories. Subsequent legislation outlawed it entirely.

How Looser discovered Henrys abolition activism is a scholarly detective story. In the course of her ongoing research, she found that he had billed himself as the Rev. H.T. Austen for his writing and public work. That pulled her down new paths, including his convention participation.

It was not to be found elsewhere, even in the Austen scholars' bible, A Chronology of Jane Austen and her Family: 1600 to 2000 by Deirdre Le Faye, which Looser describes as nearly 800 pages filled with thousands and thousands of facts about the Austens.

Looser's find coincides with a racial reappraisal that is taking place widely, including in the United Kingdom.

In April, a British media squall greeted plans to update the museum at Jane Austen's House in the town of Chawton, where she lived and wrote for about eight years and which is a magnet for Austen fans. A revamped display that will include research on her connections to slavery was denounced as a revisionist attack" by one newspaper.

We would like to offer reassurance that we will not, and have never had any intention to, interrogate Jane Austen, her characters or her readers for drinking tea, said a tart statement issued by Jane Austen's House  tea being a vital part of the British colonial empire.

For readers who might balk at bringing what might seem like modern issues and perspectives into consideration of Austen and her work, Looser has a ready answer.

Issues of race, racism and racial justice are central to Jane Austens day," she said. "So were not bringing questions and concerns that werent there in her time. They were absolutely there.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) 

Federal regulators have denied a union's push to try to organize fewer than 100 employees at the Nissan assembly plant in Tennessee, ruling instead to set a union election of 4,300 plantwide production and maintenance workers that the union says it will not pursue.

A National Labor Relations Board official ruled Friday that the 87 tool and die technicians at Nissan's Smyrna plant share an "overwhelming community of interest" with the rest of the facility's production and maintenance workers. The official wrote that the only appropriate unionized group through the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers campaign would be one representing all of those workers.

The machinists union said in a statement that it strongly disagrees with this decision and would request a review of the NLRB regional director's decision.

The decision complicates efforts in the latest foray in the uphill fight for unions to gain traction at foreign-owned auto assembly plants in the traditionally anti-union South. In-person voting was scheduled July 7 and 8 at the plant, located about 25 miles (40 kilometers) outside of Nashville. Since the union won't pursue the larger vote, per the order, the petition for wall-to-wall representation will be dismissed within two business days when the union doesn't show at least 30% of the 4,300 workers support unionizing.

The union has argued that the 87 employees sought for a bargaining unit have extremely specialized skills for a job that others at the plant cannot do and should be eligible for standalone representation. Meanwhile, the company has contended that the employees are not sufficiently distinct from other plant workers to be eligible for their own small unionized bloc.

Lisa Henderson, acting regional director for the National Labor Relations Board, wrote that although the tool and die workers have unique skills, those are outweighed by other commonalities, including terms and conditions of employment, integration and contact with other types of workers.

Nissans history reflects that we respect the right of employees to determine who should represent their interests in the workplace," said Nissan spokesperson Lloryn Love-Carter. "We are pleased with the boards position that representation should be decided by all employees at the Nissan Smyrna Assembly Plant, not a small subset of the population.

Nissan does work with organized labor in the rest of the world, but votes to unionize broadly at the U.S. two plants have not been close. Workers in Smyrna rejected a plantwide union under the United Auto Workers in 2001 and 1989. The Japan-based automakers other U.S. assembly plant in Canton, Mississippi, rejected facilitywide representation by the UAW during a 2017 vote.

The margin was much closer in 2014 and 2019 votes at the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where workers twice rejected a factorywide union under the UAW.

The year after the 2014 vote failed, a group of 160 Chattanooga maintenance workers won a vote to form a smaller union, but Volkswagen refused to bargain. The German automaker had argued the bargaining unit needed to include production workers as well. The dust-up led to the 2019 factorywide vote.

Unions also have run into opposition from Republican politicians when they attempt to organize at foreign automakers in the South, including in Tennessee.

Tennessee does have a big union presence at an American automaker. The General Motors plant in Spring Hill has about 3,000 production and skilled trades workers represented by UAW.
New Castle, PA (16103)

Today

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Newburyport, MA (01950)

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A steady rain in the morning. Showers continuing in the afternoon. Cooler. High 64F. Winds NE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..

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By PTI

NEW DELHI: Vedanta on Tuesday said that over 84,000 employees, business partners as well as their family members have been inoculated with first dose so far, and it expects to complete the vaccination drive across all its locations by August.

The company said it also plans to provide the first jab across locations to the visitors who have not been inoculated so far.

"In one of the largest COVID-19 vaccination drives carried out by corporate India so far, Vedanta Cares has administered one dose of vaccine to over 84,000 employees, business partners as well as their family members," the company said in a statement.

Vedanta will extend Covid Kawach Insurance to its business partners that includes term life and hospitalisation as well as an ex-gratia amount of Rs 10 lakh to be paid to the family members of the deceased business partner employee.

Considering the increased mortality rate due to COVID-19 and the recent black fungus outbreak, the company is providing cover for family members of deceased employees.

This will be in the form of continued payments of last drawn salary until notional date of retirement, continuation of mediclaim insurance coverage until retirement, and education assistance for two children until graduation.

Under the aegis of Vedanta Cares Covid relief initiatives, the company announces long-term HR benefits and increased COVID-19 cover, in line with its commitment to ensure the health and well-being of its people, the statement said.

These will include enhanced COVID-19 insurance for its employees, their families and business partners.

Vedanta Chairman Anil Agarwal said, "Employee-centricity is at the core of Vedanta's organisational culture.

Our employees and our extended family of business partners have always been our greatest resource, and their safety and wellbeing is our foremost priority."
By Express News Service

BENGALURU: BJP general secretary in-charge of Karnataka Arun Singh will be in Bengaluru on a three-day visit from Wednesday, in a bid to hear out all parties and put an end to differences in the state BJP unit. He will be meeting ministers on Wednesday, MLAs on Thursday and State Core Committee members on Friday, along with a series of meetings with various stakeholders.

Meanwhile, the coordination committee constituted to iron out differences between party leaders will also hold one-on-one talks with MLAs criticising party leaders in public, and causing embarrassment to the party and government. In the past few months, many BJP leaders, including Basavaraj Patil Yatnal, Aravind Bellad, AH Vishwanath, CP Yogeshwar, MP Renukacharaya and others have been making statements against their own leaders, either speaking to the media or on social media. Chief Whip and Karkala MLA V Sunil Kumar had urged party leaders to provide a platform for legislators to express their opinions and grievances.

The coordination committee headed by BJP State President Nalin Kumer Kateel includes Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, DV Sadananda Gowda, ministers KS Eshwarappa, R Ashoka, Aravind Limbavali, Jagadish Shettar, State General Secretary N Ravikumar and others.Ravikumar told TNIE, We will either call these party leaders to our head office, Keshava Krupa, or we will go to their place and listen to their woes. We will explain our limitations and make them understand. In case they dont agree, we will invite Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa to sit with us, he said.

A senior BJP leader, on condition of anonymity, said the State government is struggling with the Covid crisis as well as a financial crisis. In the coming days, the State has to face bypolls, Taluk and Zilla Panchayat elections and BBMP elections. If we fight openly, this will impact these elections. Our leaders are trying to resolve differences. That is one of the purposes of Arun Singhs visit, he said.Singh has already made it clear that there is no question of leadership change and Yediyurappa will continue as CM for the next two years.

VEERASHAIVA SEERS WARN AGAINST BSY OUSTER

Tumakuru: When CM B S Yediyurappa announced Rs 1 lakh as compensation to kin of Covid victims, a group of Veerashaiva-Lingayat religious heads on Monday held an emergency press conference and sent a clear message to the BJP national leadership that they are with Yediyurappa.Led by Sri Rudramuni Swami of Shadakshara Mutt at Tiptur, they questioned the move to oust Yediyurappa from the chief ministers post, warning that the party may face dire consequences. He is the undisputed leader who has united different sections of the community. The BJP high command must let him complete his remaining term, he urged.
SV Krishna Chaitanya By

Express News Service

CHENNAI: The spotted deer population inside IIT Madras continues to diminish although most of the feral dogs, which were blamed all these years for wildlife kills in the campus, have been captured. Official data obtained through RTI reveals that a total of 94 animals, including 75 deer and three endangered blackbucks, died last year alone.

In October last year, IIT Madras captured and impounded several stray dogs in a shelter now called a dog park, where currently 190 dogs are housed. In the following two months - November and December - 20 animals, including 12 deer and one blackbuck, died. In fact, the death ratio was among the highest in the year. Only July (12) and September (15) months recorded more animal deaths in comparison.

Animal rights and RTI activist Antony Clement Rubin, also the petitioner in a relevant case in the southern bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), told The New Indian Express that the RTI reply from the Chennai Wildlife Warden office also revealed another shocking fact. "No post-mortem was conducted by the forest department on any of the carcasses in the last five years, although hundreds of animals have died. A total of 479 wild animals have died inside IIT Madras campus since 2016, of which a whopping 367 are spotted deer, 20 blackbucks and 79 monkeys."

The forest department has attributed the decision not to conduct a post-mortem to the decomposed state of carcasses. "Post-mortem can be done only for non-decomposed dead spotted deer/blackbuck," it said.

ALSO READ: Covid samples of Vandalur zoo lions found contaminated?

Rubin wondered how the IIT Madras or forest department could blame stray dogs in the campus for wildlife deaths without conducting a post-mortem. "Dogs are scavengers. The bite marks found on the deer and blackbuck carcasses can be scavenger-induced marks. How can anyone establish the actual cause of death without a post-mortem? The root cause of wildlife deaths in IIT Madras is improper disposal of solid waste and construction debris," Rubin alleged.

NGT suggests AWBI member in monitoring committee

On Monday, when the case came up for hearing, the southern bench of the NGT consisting of judicial member Justice K Ramakrishnan and expert member K Satyagopal suggested the inclusion of an official of the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) in the Permanent Monitoring Committee.

Inclusion of an AWBI member was proposed by Rubin's advocate Ritwik Dutta who alleged that the committee was presently composed of only forest department and IIT Madras officials who remained mute spectators.

However, senior counsel Chita Sampath representing IIT Madras refuted the allegations saying several proactive measures were initiated by the institute to save the wildlife in the campus. "Improved solid waste management practices are adopted and single use plastics are completely banned."

In an affidavit submitted before the Madras High Court recently, IIT Madras registrar Jane Prasad defended its actions to capture the feral dogs and house them in a shelter. "In 2020, 19 deer and 1 blackbuck were rescued and taken to the forest department for treatment, of which 7 deer were injured due to dog bite. After the start of rescuing free roaming dogs, in the last 2 months, only one deer death has been reported due to dog bite/attack. Therefore, to avoid any further death of deer and blackbuck due to dog bite, the NGT appointed Permanent Committee has suggested retaining the dogs in the dog park with proper care and feeding," IIT Madras said.

IIT Madras raising Green Fund

IIT Madras is raising a 'Green Fund' to protect the unique biodiversity of the campus. According to a tweet by IIT Madras alumni, the fund will be utilised to support the flora and fauna conservation needs of the campus including providing shelter to animals.

"Special programs to support the development of wildlife, as well as tree planting, will be run using the resources in the fund. The fund will also be used to sustain spotted deer, blackbuck as well as free-ranging and feral dogs on campus. In all cases, the activities undertaken using this fund shall follow all Animal Welfare Board guidelines as well as other state and central laws," IIT Madras alumni said.
Sushmitha Ramakrishnan By

Express News Service

CHENNAI: A day after schools were allowed to reopen for admissions, parents in the city have complained about being asked to pay the full fees despite government regulations. In response, School Education Department officials said that action will be taken against any school that forces parents to pay the full fees.

While the Madras High Court, in view of the lockdown last year, ruled that schools can collect only 75 per cent of the fees in two installments for the academic year 2020-21, School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi on Monday told reporters that schools must follow the same this year too. He said, "They must continue to follow the court rules and collect only up to 75 per cent of the fees in two parts." It is unclear if an official order will be issued by the government on the matter. Poyyamozhi however added that action will be taken against schools that do not follow these regulations.

ALSO READ: Kids whose parents tested positive for COVID but were negative while dying eligible for aid: TN

Nonetheless, parents say this has not deterred schools. Members of the SBOA School and Junior College Parents Association, meeting reporters on Tuesday, said that the school continues to charge the full fees and further added that parents were compelled to pay book and uniform fees against CBSE regulations. "They have only informed us of the total fees and not given us any break-up. Class teachers have been calling us threatening not to promote our children or allow them into online classes if we do not pay the full fees," said S Sahil, one of the parents.

The principal of the school K Manoharan told The New Indian Express, "We have asked only for installment one and two. Many parents are yet to pay even that. Some parents are yet to pay the fees for even the academic year 2019-20." Responding to the allegations made by the parents association, he said, "Regarding this I have to consult with my management before commenting. We will reply to the government if they ask."

In another incident, parents of Narayana E-Techno School, Arumbakkam, staged a protest outside the school campus on Tuesday, demanding that the school follow fee regulations. "The school took only 75 per cent of the fees from us last year. This year they have hiked the fees by 16-25 per cent across different classes and have asked us to pay the full fees," said one of the protesting parents. He added that the school has further demanded that parents pay an additional 10 per cent of the previous academic year's fee and 60 per cent of this year's fee to accept their wards into online classes, which started on Monday. The New Indian Express could not reach the school management for comment.

Another parent, on condition of anonymity said that she did not enroll her son in kindergarten this year as the school demanded a fee of over Rs 50,000 even as classes would be held online only for an hour each day. "Children do not even get toys or other facilities. We cannot afford such expensive kindergarten education in the middle of a pandemic," she said.

Speaking to The New Indian Express, A Anitha, the Chief Education Officer of Chennai, said, "The department will look into and inquire into every complaint we get on this issue. Our officials visited Narayana (E-Techno) School today. We will take action against any school if it is asking for full fees," she asserted.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh each for identification of two people captured on CCTV camera when explosive material was being planted outside the Israeli embassy here earlier this year, an official spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said that the NIA was seeking information to help identify two individuals, as seen on CCTV footage, in connection with the case related to the explosion near Israeli Embassy, New Delhi.

"Any information in this regard leading to identification and arrest of the suspected individuals will be rewarded with cash of Rs 10 lakh on each," the spokesperson said.

The NIA spokesperson also shared the drive where one can access the pictures and videos of the two people.

#WATCH | CCTV footage of suspects in a blast that took place on January 29th outside the Israel Embassy in Delhi.



(Video source: NIA) pic.twitter.com/KS1jIcKSkJ  ANI (@ANI) June 15, 2021

Those willing can visit https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/18kmmCvfFXm8bXQovI9bxye8qcr0zLqFr?usp.

If someone recognises them, they can send an email to 'do.nia@gov.in', 'info.nia@gov.in' or call phone numbers 011-24368800 and 9654447345.

A minor IED blast took place near the Israeli Embassy in the heart of Lutyens' Delhi on the evening of January 29.

The case was handed over to the NIA on February 2.

While no one was injured, some cars were damaged in the explosion that occurred about 150 metres away from the embassy on the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Road in the very high-security Lutyens' bungalow zone.
By PTI

CHIKKAMAGALURU: National Award winning Kannada film actor 'Sanchari' Vijay, who succumbed to his injuries sustained in a road accident, was laid to rest with police honours at his home village Panchanahalli here on Tuesday.

The 37-year-old actor was heading home with his friend on Saturday night when their motorcycle skidded and he sustained head injuries.

The hospital where the actor was admitted had declared him brain dead on Monday, following which his family decided to donate his organs.

In the wee hours of Tuesday, the hospital officially announced him dead.

The last rites were performed as per the Lingayat tradition by interring his body in his friend's agriculture land with police honours on Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa's direction.

Mourning his demise, Yediyurappa had tweeted earlier that the actor's funeral will be held with police honours.

"I am thankful to his family who came forward to donate the organs. I offer my condolences," he said.

B Vijay Kumar, an engineering graduate, got the prefix of 'Sanchari' for starting his career with 'Sanchari' Theatre, a cultural centre with its troupe in Bengaluru.

He had won the national award for his performance in the film 'Naanu Avanalla Avalu' (I'm not him, her) in 2015.

He made his debut in the movie 'Rangappa Hogbitna' in 2011 but it was his performance in the movie 'Dasavala' that earned him recognition.

His role of a transgender in 'Naanu Avanalla Avalu' was widely appreciated and he won the best actor award in the 62nd National Film Awards.
Cynthia Chandran By

Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Not too long ago, George was giving headaches to the authorities. The teen-tiger had strayed into human settlements in Wayanad and killed cattle there. Now, the 21-year old tiger, being cared for at the Thiruvananthapuram Zoo, is a hero in faraway France. Middle school students of Jean de La Fontaine School in Thenezay are studying Georges life as part of their lesson on the necessity of wildlife and tiger conservation.

The tigers fight to sustain himself and how humans around him facilitated his survival are among the topics for French students, thanks to The Story of George penned by Claire Le Michel. It was in 2015 that a notorious tiger was spotted in Sultan Bathery killing and injuring cattle in the villages. The tiger, which killed more than 25 domestic animals, was caught by forest officials.

After veterinary surgeons identified that the captured tiger had difficulty in hunting in the forest, the authorities transferred him to the Thiruvananthapuram Zoo. They named him George, after Nivin Paulys character in the movie Premam. They had little hope that he would bounce back in life as, apart from maggot-infested wounds all over his body, there was a lacerated wound on the left thigh which was as big as 12 inches exposing the knee joint.

The Story of George wins over French school

Tape worms had infested his intestines while a claw on the left forelimb was injured and exposed with severe inflammation of the paw. The tip of Georges nose was missing and he could not lift his neck properly.

Dr Jacob Alexander, senior veterinary surgeon at the zoo, recalled that the laboratory investigations revealed that his lungs were severely affected with worms, which occupied a major part of the vital organ causing severe dyspnoea (laboured breathing).

Initially, we were under the impression that George would live for just a few days. But with excellent medical care and a slew of surgeries, he made a remarkable recovery. Due to old age, George is toothless now. We have to feed him boneless meat and food supplements, said Dr Jacob.

Just before the Covid outbreak, Claire Le Michel, a French writer and dancer, had visited the zoo and George caught her attention. She also found out his story of survival from the zoo authorities. A regular visitor to Kerala since 2015, Michel had done several projects with the Alliance Francaise Trivandrum. On her return to France, Michel wrote The Story of George.

I was amazed and I still am on the way Dr Jacob cared for every animal in the zoo, including George, Michel told TNIE over the phone. The Story of George was noticed by Marie Courtecuisse, head teacher of a local school, and she along with Marielle Palancher, the English teacher at Jean de La Fontaine School, introduced the story to children aged 12 to 13 years.

The children are so moved by the struggles George had overcome, said Michel who runs a theatre company in France. Last Saturday, Dr Jacob received a bunch of moving thank you notes from the students who had learnt the story of George.



Michels text in French about the valiant tiger has since been recorded by a local radio station in France and is going places. Eva Martin, the director of Alliance Francaise Trivandrum, has plans to set up a project with the Story of George in Kerala, after the pandemic.
By ANI

KOLKATA: West Bengal Special Task Force (STF) on Tuesday took the charge of the investigation of the Chinese national, who was apprehended from the India-Bangladesh Border in West Bengal last week.

On June 10, the BSF had arrested 35-year-old Chinese national, Han Junwe while he was trying to cross the India-Bangladesh international boundary illegally. On being asked to stop, Junwe tried to run away but was chased and caught by BSF personnel.

He was then taken to the Border Out Post Interrogation and his passport revealed that he had gone to Dhaka, Bangladesh on June 2 on a business visa, where he stayed with a Chinese friend. On June 8, he reached Sona Masjid in Bangladesh's Chapai Nawabganj district.

While trying to enter inside the Indian territory on Thursday morning, he was caught by BSF troops.

"When troops questioned him, he didn't give a satisfactory reply. Immediately agencies concerned and the local police were informed. Agencies are questioning him," BSF sources had said.

According to the BSF statement, during interrogation, Junwe had revealed that he had previously visited India four times-- Hyderabad in 2010, and Delhi and Gurugram thrice after 2019. He also said that he has a hotel in Gurugram called 'Star Spring'.

He had further said that when he had gone to his hometown of Hubei, one of his business partners, namely Sun Jiang, used to send him 10-15 numbers belonging to Indian mobile phone SIM cards and after a few days, they are received by him and his wife.

But a few days ago, his business partner was caught by ATS in Lucknow and he mentioned Junwe and his wife. A case was registered against them in ATS Lucknow due to which he was not able to get an Indian visa in China.

He, however, managed a visa from Bangladesh and Nepal, so that he could come to India.

BSF had said that a thorough search of the intruder produced one laptop, two mobile phones, one Bangladeshi SIM cars, one Indian SIM card, two Chinese SIM cards, two pen drives, three batteries, two small torch lights, five Money Transaction Machines, two ATM/Master Card, US Dollars, Bangladeshi Taka and Indian currency.
Sumi Sukanaya Dutta By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The Centre has recorded Indias first Covid vaccine-related death since the start of the coronavirus vaccination campaign and classified seven other post-vaccination deaths as indeterminate" indicating there is no evidence to connect them to the vaccines.

This death was reported following Covid jab in a 68-year-old male on March 21 and the reason was anaphylaxis or severe allergic reaction to the vaccine but it's not clear whether the person had received Covishield or Covaxin.

Top government authorities, however, stressed that the data on adverse effects following immunization released as part of a transparent reporting process should not be used to create any doubts about the Covid vaccines.

The finding related to the confirmed death has come out in a report on causality assessment results of 31 reported serious AEFI cases following Covid vaccination approved by National AEFI Committee carried out on February 5, March 9, and March 31, submitted to the Centre on June 4.

It said that 18 deaths were classified as having an inconsistent causal association to vaccination (coincidental - not linked to vaccination), 7 were classified as indeterminate, 3 cases were found to be vaccine product related, 1 was anxiety-related reaction and 2 cases were found to be unclassifiable.



In a press briefing on Covid status in the country on Tuesday, Lav Agrawal, joint secretary in the Union health ministry said after 23.5 crore vaccinations in India, 488 deaths in individuals, who had taken the jabs, were reported.

ALSO READ | Those in 1-20 age group accounted for less than 12 per cent of Covid cases during both waves: Centre

Talking about the confirmed vaccine-related death, VK Paul who heads the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration on Covid19 meanwhile said that it has to be seen through a public health perspective.

The vaccines that are licensed for use in India have fulfilled the criteria of safety, said Paul adding that the death confirmed should be seen in a wider context as public health decisions are intended for large public benefit and to secure lives.

Risk or benefit is always balanced during these decisions. There should be no doubts about vaccines. This minuscule risk is almost negligible, almost non-existent, said Paul.

This information is being truthfully presented and this should not be used to create doubts. We need to take some risk for such a campaign... Unfortunately, if such reactions occur... But this should not be a reason for creating any doubts. Were doing this for the overall public good, he added.

To make a comparison, in the US more than 30 crore Covid vaccine doses were administered till June 7. During this time authorities there received 5,208 reports of death (0.0017%) among people who received a Covid vaccine.

In India, the government last month had said that there is a small but definitive risk of serious blood clot formation with Covishieldamounting to 0.61 cases per million in the Indian populationbut asserted that its benefits far outweigh the risks.

No such side effect, however, was seen in people administered with Covaxin among the 498 serious adverse events reported till early April whose in-depth studies were completed by the national AEFI committee.

ALSO WATCH | Delta plus: New Covid variant identified, experts say no cause of concern for now
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday said it would hear after two weeks a plea challenging the Centre's notification inviting non-Muslims belonging to Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan and residing in 13 districts of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Haryana and Punjab to apply for Indian citizenship.

The matter came up for hearing before a vacation bench of Justices Hemant Gupta and V Ramasubramanian.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the petitioner, said the Centre had filed a counter-affidavit on the issue on Monday.

"The Union of India has filed a counter-affidavit yesterday. We need two weeks to file reply," Sibal told the bench.

The apex court said it would hear the matter after two weeks.

In its affidavit filed in the top court, the Centre has said that its notification does not relate to the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA) and is a "mere delegation of power vested with the Central Government to local authorities."

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has said that similar delegation of power has been permitted by the Central government in 2004, 2005, 206, 2016 and 2018 also and no relaxation whatsoever has been made in respect of the eligibility criteria between different foreign nationals which are laid down in the Citizenship Act, 1955 and rules made thereunder.

"It is submitted that the notification dated May 28, 2021, does not relate to the CAA which has been inserted into the Act as section 6B," the MHA said in the affidavit and added that it seeks to merely delegate the power of the Central government to the local authorities in particular cases.

"The said notification does not provide for any relaxations to foreigners and applies only to foreigners who have entered the country legally as the Central Government used its authority under Section 16 of the Citizenship Act and delegated its powers to grant citizenship by Registration or Naturalisation to District Collectors," the MHA said.

The affidavit, filed in response to a plea by Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), said the May 28 notification is merely a process of decentralisation of decision making aimed at speedy disposal of the citizenship applications of such foreigners as the decision will now be taken at the district or state level itself after examining each case.

The IUML had recently moved the top court challenging the Centre's notification inviting non-Muslims belonging to Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan and residing in 13 districts in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Haryana and Punjab to apply for Indian citizenship.

The application claimed that the Centre is trying to circumvent the assurance given to the apex court in this regard in the pending petition filed by the IUML challenging the constitutional validity of the provisions of the CAA.

The CAA grants Indian citizenship to non-Muslim minorities --Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian -- who migrated to India from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh till December 31, 2014, following persecution over their faith.

IUML, in its plea, said that the Centre had during the course of hearing of its plea challenging the constitutional validity of CAA, submitted before the apex court and provided assurance that staying of the Amendment Act was not necessary since the rules of the Amendment Act had not been framed.
By Express News Service

GUWAHATI: The chief minister of a province in coup-hit Myanmar is among over 9,000 people who have fled to Mizoram over the past few months.

Chief Minister of the countrys Chin State, Salai Lian Luai, crossed over the border on Monday night and was taking refuge in the remote Champhai district.

Luai is among over 20 lawmakers from the country taking shelter in the northeastern state. He is a leader of National League of Democracy which Aung San Suu Kyi leads.

The refugees include a large number of security personnel, mostly cops. Earlier, the Mizoram government had urged the Centre to view the influx of the refugees as a humanitarian crisis.

Six Mizoram districts such as Champhai, Siaha, Lawngtlai, Serchhip, Hnahthial and Saitual share 510 of the 1,643 km land border, which India shares with Myanmar.

People from Myanmars Chin community and the Mizos in India belong to the Zo ethnic group and they share the same ancestry. The Chin people are settled in Myanmars Chin State, which shares a 404 km porous border with Mizoram.


By PTI

KOLKATA: The West Bengal government on Tuesday said Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar's letter to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over post-poll violence in the state was not consistent with "real facts".

In a series of tweets, the state Home Department criticised the letter that was shared by the governor on Twitter, claiming that it was violative of all established norms.

"Government of West Bengal has observed with dismay and distress that the Hon'ble Governor of West Bengal has suddenly made public, a letter of his to the Hon'ble Chief Minister of West Bengal, with contents that are not consistent with real facts," the Home Department tweeted.

"The communication format is violative of all established norms. The letter has been written to Hon'ble Chief Minister & released to public media through tweets simultaneously, which disrupts sanctity of such communications," it added.

In his letter, Dhankhar alleged that the chief minister was silent over post-poll violence in the state and has not taken steps to rehabilitate and compensate the suffering people.

ALSO READ | 'Constrained to observe your continued silence': Bengal Governor to CM Mamata on post-poll violence

Rejecting the allegations, the Home Department said that post-poll violence took place when the Election Commission was in charge of law and order in the state.

"While the post-poll violence in the State was somewhat unabated when the Election Commission of India was in charge of the law and order machinery, after the swearing in, the State Cabinet has reigned in the situation, restored normalcy and established full command over anti-law elements," it said.

The state police have been firmly directed to bring to book all anti-socials, and the government remains committed to maintain the basic fabric of society and uphold law and order, the Home Department further said.

ALSO READ | Demand for separate North Bengal UT by BJP MP, Mamata Banerjee says

Dhankhar, whose letter came as he went on a four-day trip to New Delhi, also accused the police and administration in the state of being partisan.

"I am constrained to observe your continued silence and inaction over post poll retributive bloodshed, violation of human rights, outrageous assault on dignity of women, wanton destruction of property, perpetuation of untold miseries on political opponents - worst since independence and it ill augurs for democracy," Dhankhar wrote to the chief minister.

"Your studied silence, coupled with absence of any steps to engage in rehabilitation and compensation to alleviate the unimaginable suffering of people, force an inevitable conclusion that all this is state driven," he alleged.

Dhankhar has been at loggerheads with the Trinamool Congress government on several issues since taking over in July 2019.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The government on Tuesday said that it has kept an eye on Delta Plus, the new strain of Covid virus, which is yet to be classified as a variant of concern.

This virus strain was first identified in March but it remains to be studied whether this is more transmissible, immune evasive, or capable of causing more severe disease.

In a press briefing on Covid status in the country, VK Paul, head of the national Covid task force said that Delta variant or B.1.617 strain, first detected in Maharashtra in India, played a major role in the second wave of the pandemic in the country.

An additional mutation of this variant, namely Delta Plus, has been found and submitted to the global data system, said Paul, adding that it had emerged in Europe in March and was brought into the public domain on June 13.

However, Paul said that the new Delta Plus strain is yet to be classified as a "variant of concern," adding that the government is keeping a close eye on the progress of the said variant.

ALSO READ | Those in 1-20 age group accounted for less than 12 per cent of Covid cases during both waves: Centre

"As per data available in the public domain, this variant nullifies the use of monoclonal antibodies, currently being used in mild moderate Covid patients with good results. We will study and learn more about this, Paul said.

The delta plus or B.1.617.2.1 variant is characterised by the acquisition of K417N mutation, according to scientists and the mutation is in the spike protein of SARS CoV 2, which helps the virus enter and infect the human cells.

New research findings show that there are two groups of K417N - one of them is internationally distributed and the other one is found on the genome sequences uploaded to global science initiative GISAID by the United States.

By last week, 63 genomes of delta plus variant had been identified on GISAID from Canada, Germany, Nepal, Russia, India, Switzerland, Poland, Portugal, Japan, and the US.

Till a few days back, there were 36 cases of the new variant in the UK while it made up 6% of all cases in the US.
By PTI

SHILLONG: A sophisticated machine deployed by the Indian Navy to explore the flooded shaft of a coal mine in Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills district where five miners remain trapped for over two weeks Tuesday detected two suspicious objects at the bottom of the 152-metre deep pit, an official said.

District deputy commissioner E Kharmalki said, "We are analysing the footage taken by the ROV (remotely operated vehicle) to verify if the objects are indeed human bodies."

Though the rescuers have not been able to pull out the objects, a quick analysis of the video footage taken by the ROV suggests that it could be human bodies, he said.

"As of now the rescuers will be analysing the videos and by tomorrow when the visibility of the water at the bottom of the pit improves, the Navy will deploy the ROV again," Kharmalki said.

The water inside the shaft was murky on Tuesday hampering visibility.

Besides the Indian Navy, about 60 rescuers belonging to the NDRF, the SDRF and the Fire Service personnel are camping at the site for carrying out dewatering exercise, a magistrate at the site said.

ALSO READ | Navy divers join rescue operation in Meghalaya coal mine, Ksan tragedy replayed

Water could not pumped out on Tuesday as the Navy was exploring the flooded shaft using the ROV, the magistrate said.

Because of rainfall on Monday night, the water level in the pit has risen by about 1 metre, he said.

The water level at the mine was recorded to be 33 metres deep on Monday and the rescuers had managed to dive up to a depth of 15 metres inside the flooded mine, the official had said.

By using an ROV, a team of the Indian Navy had been able to locate three bodies weeks after the shaft of another mine at Lumthari in the same district was filled with water from a river on December 13, 2018.

The ROV was sent down the flooded rat-hole coal mine to determine visibility inside it.

At the Umpleng coal mine accident on May 30, at least five people have been identified by the district administration - four from Assam and one from Tripura- who got stuck somewhere inside the rat-hole mine after it was flooded following a dynamite explosion on May 30.

The mine is located about 20 km from Khliehriat, the headquarters of East Jaintia Hills district.

Hazardous rat-hole coal mining is not permitted in Meghalaya after the National Green Tribunal (NGT) banned it in 2014.

A deep vertical shaft is dug till coal seams are found in the rat-hole mining.

Once the seams are found, coal is taken out through small holes along the horizontal line of the coal seams.

Six co-workers of the trapped miners escaped the tragedy as they were outside the mine at the time of the incident and they have been escorted to their homes in Assam.

The police arrested the owner of the coal mine, Shining Langstang, and charged him with violation of the NGT order banning unscientific mining and transportation of coal.

The 'Sordar' (mine manager) is on the run and a lookout notice has been issued since he was the one who brought migrant workers from Assam and Tripura to work in the illegal mine, a senior police officer said.

An FIR was registered based on account of the survivors.
Prasanta Mazumdar By

Express News Service

GUWAHATI: An alleged multi-crore rupees foodgrain scam, involving the Food Corporation of India (FCI), Shillong, has shaken the Meghalaya government.

The Assam Police unearthed the scam by seizing one lakh bags of rice from a private godown in Boko of Kamrup district, Assam. Each bag contained 50 kg of rice.

The Assam Police said the matter was under investigation. A huge quantity of rice was seized and we are going by the laws. We have written to the agency concerned. A response is awaited, Kamrup Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Kalyan Kumar Pathak told The New Indian Express.

Earlier, a case was registered by the police suo motu under various Sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The maximum punishment under these IPC Sections is imprisonment up to seven years, the DSP said.

The Meghalaya government has washed its hands of the incident but some influential organisations in the state are going for its jugular while opposition Congress and BJP, which is a constituent of the states ruling coalition, are demanding a probe and the arrest of the culprits.

Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma said the incident had nothing to do with the public distribution system (PDS) in Meghalaya. He said the verbal reports he received suggested the state has received its quota of PDS rice under the National Food Security Act, 2013, for May and June in advance.

We have no idea if Meghalaya rice is lying in Assam, the CM said.

He also said that if rice of such a huge quantity had gone missing, it would have come to everyones notice. However, the Congress and the BJP were not amused.

Terming the diversion as unacceptable, the Congress demanded the matter be probed by a high-level committee. This is a huge violation of the rights of the people of Meghalaya, party MLA, Ampareen Lyngdoh said.

The BJP demanded the arrest of all those involved. The rice was meant for the poor. If it a case of diversion, the culprits should be booked, BJPs state vice president, Bernard Marak said.

The alleged diversion has ruffled the feathers of some NGOs. The Civil Society Womens Organisation demanded the government to register an FIR while Thma U Rangli Juki (TUR) called for social auditing of the Supplementary Nutrition Programme. TUR sniffed corruption in the implementation of the programme under the states Social Welfare Department.

The FCI is maintaining silence. Its senior officials were not available for comments.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Recognising the dedicated services of the Indian Army soldiers towards peacekeeping, the United Nations awarded them with Medal on Monday. The Peacekeepers from Sri Lanka were also awarded.

It was a special day for the 135 Indian soldiers on UN Duty, also known as Blue Berets, as the medal ceremony in Bor, South Sudan, was presided over by Lt Gen Shailesh Tinaikar, UN Force Commander, also an Indian Army officer himself. As many as 103 Sri Lankan Blue Berets were also awarded the medal.

My heartfelt congratulations to all these officers for their contributions towards the fulfillment of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) mandate in this challenging environment, said Lieutenant General Shailesh Tinaikar.

The UNMISS took to its official Twitter handle and said, "Take a bow, people of #India! Some 135 of your peacekeeping troops, based in #SouthSudan and serving with #UNMISS, have received @UN medals for their outstanding performance in Jonglei State and the Greater Pibor Administrative Area. #ServingForPeace"

The Indian troops are stationed in Bor, Pibor, and at a temporary operating base in Akobo and have engaged in a variety of activities, including civil-military cooperation such as a veterinary camp. They have been dealing with the often violent situations in the volatile parts of South Sudan beset with intercommunal violence. Flooding and the resulting displacement of thousands of people have further complicated matters.

Indian troops deployed under MONUSCO, a UN peacekeeping mission headquartered in the Congolese city of Goma and bordering Rwanda, earned praises. The troops facilitated smooth evacuation and protection of the civilians of Goma City and the UN personnel in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo after volcano Mount Nyiragongo erupted molten red hot lava.

India has been one of the top troop contributors for various UN missions. At present, there are around 5,500 Indian soldiers serving in eight of the 13 UN Missions.

The year 2018 brought a paradigm shift to peacekeeping with foreign troops for the first time began serving under an Indian battalion in Lebanon. A company of 120 Kazakh Army troops part of operations with the Indian Army.

In 2007, India became the first country to deploy an all-women contingent to a UN peacekeeping mission.

Currently, India has deployed a total of 5,424 personnel for UN missions. Since the UN's first mission of 1953 more than 2,50,000 Indian troops have served in UNs 52 out of 71 missions. More than 160 Indian peacekeepers have paid the ultimate price in service to peace, losing their lives serving under the UN flag.

The United Nations is an international organization founded in 1945 with 51 Member States which currently stands at 193 Member States. It primarily works to maintain international peace and security, give humanitarian assistance to those in need, protect human rights, and uphold international law. It has set sustainable development goals for 2030, in order to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.

ALSO WATCH | "Told Putin we will 'not tolerate' interfering in US democracy" says Joe Biden
By Express News Service

While the Centre recently bristled at an international news magazine pegging Indias excess deaths due to the pandemic at 5-7 times the official count, the fact that there is under-reporting cannot be brushed away.

Under mounting pressure for an honest admission on the scale of the pandemic, Maharashtra and Bihar raised their fatality figures last week through data reconciliation after audit/validation by around 14,000 and 4,000, respectively.

But allegations that not all deaths in private hospitals or of patients on their way to hospitals in rural areas were recorded under the Covid category refuse to go away, prompting the Patna High Court to direct the Bihar government to confirm whether its data revision was full and final.



HYDERABAD: Data discrepancy, to put it mildly, is visible across the country and under all political dispensations.

Take Hyderabad. There was a 14.2% jump in deaths within the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) limits in 2020-21, as compared to the same period in the previous year.

A Right to Information query by this newspaper on the death certificates it issued revealed that the corporation handed out 9,235 more certificates between 2020 March and 2021 April (see box).

Besides, 998 other death certificates are under process. Also, data was available only for 18 erstwhile circles of GHMC, which have now been reorganised into 30 circles within the same area.

Yet, the cumulative count of Covid deaths recorded in the entire Telangana as on June 14 is just 3,496, though there were humungous crowds at the states burial and cremation grounds when the second wave was at its peak.

A municipal officer in Hyderabad said an year-on-year increase of 3-4% in death certificates is normal because of continued migration and rising awareness of the need for death certificates.

However, a 14.2% increase in a year when for three months the city was under lockdown was concerning, he said. During lockdown there were hardly any road traffic deaths, which is one of the major contributors to daily toll, he added.

MYSURU: Sa Ra Mahesh, a legislator from Mysuru, disputes the district administrations Covid-19 death figures.

While the district administration claims 238 people succumbed to the virus between May 1 and May 29, 2021, he claims he has documents to show that 974 people died during the same period.

A former minister, Mahesh substantiated his argument by producing death reports along with Covid-19 test results, mentioning the cause of death as Covid-19.This paper did a reality check at Tagaduru, a village in Nanjangud taluk of the district.

While the government data available at the community health centre stated that eight persons died of Covid-19 in May, villagers disputed the number before the minister and deputy commissioner, saying that they buried 18 who had died of Covid.

On their part, the doctors at the hospital said they have records of only those who tested positive and died at their health centre, and not that of those who availed of treatment and died elsewhere.

Mysuru had reported 893 deaths in March 2020, which went up to 1,222 during the corresponding month in 2021. Similarly, in April 2020, the district reported a total of 699 deaths, and in April 2021, the number went up by around 61% to 1,129.

Interestingly, Karnataka health departments State War Room data shows that Mysuru district reported zero death in March and April 2020. The official tally of Covid-19 deaths in March and April 2021 is 24, and 157, respectively.

DEHRADUN: In Uttarakhand, the Dehrdaun Municipal Corporation presents a peculiar picture. It recorded 26.47% increase in death certificates in 2020-21 when compared to the same period the previous year.

In all, 1,274 death certificates were issued in April 2021 as compared to 1,035 in April 2020. In April 2020, the official count of Covid death in Uttarakhand was zero while in April 2021, as many as 907 Covid death were recorded.

In other words, over 1,000 people died due to causes other than Covid last year, but this year the number of such deaths was just about 360.

JAIPUR: In Rajasthans capital, the numbers of death certificates issued by the Jaipur Municipal Corporation in April and May 2020 were 858 and 1,650, respectively.

The corresponding figures ballooned to 3,309 and 3,387 in April and May 2021, a jump by 2,451 and 1,697.

However, the official count of Covid fatalities in April and May 2020 were 32 and 59, while for the same months a year later, the figures stood at 241 and 1,121. There is little by way of explanation yet for the skew.

RAIPUR: Another inexplicable data count can be seen in Chhattisgarhs capital Raipur. While records show that 2,194 people died April-May this year, death certificates issued by the Raipur Municipal Corporation (RMC) stood at 5,434 for the same period. RMC registrar Vijay Pandey has an strange explanation.

The deaths recorded in April or May 2021 are not actually of those months. Many of them are late additions - from one to a few months old - due to delayed registration. During lockdown, government offices were not functional. It was only after some relaxation in the later part of May that the process of death registration picked up, he said.

(Reporting by Donita Jose @ Hyderabad; K Shiva Kumar @ Mysuru; Rajesh Kumar Thakur @ Patna; Vineet Upadhyay @ Dehradun; Rajesh Asnani @ Jaipur; Ejaz Kaiser @ Raipur)
Manish Anand By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: With the BJP seemingly caught unawares, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar appears to have cut his challenger Chirag Paswan to the size, after five MPs of the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) in a dramatic turn of events, elected Pashupati Paras, whos known for his close ties with the JD (U), as its new leader on Monday in the nation`al capital.

At a time Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with senior ministers and the BJP chief JP Nadda, is busy reviewing performances of the ministries, the rebellion within the LJP is a shot in the arm for the Bihar chief minister, strengthening JD (U)s stock and negotiating depth within the NDA for the Cabinet expansion at the Centre.

Paras, younger brother of the LJP founder and former Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, is seen within political circles as being close to the Bihar chief minister. While the Bihar verdict last year had left JD (U) at the third spot, the NDA allies, Vikassheel Insan Party (VIP) and Hindustan Awami Mocrcha (HAM), have been keeping the chief minister edgy with their statements. Though the LJP makes no numerical changes in the Bihar Assembly equations, the five MPs block of the LJP expressing their full support to Kumar may make the chief minister fancy weaning away legislators from the opposition camps in the coming days.

READ HERE | Pashupati Kumar Paras elected LJP leader in Lok Sabha after rebel MPs seek ouster of Chirag Paswan

After Chirag Paswan ran a bitter campaign against the Bihar chief minister during the 2020 Assembly elections, the BJP was forced to publicly denounce the LJP. The JD (U) had been assertively stating that LJP wasnt part of the NDA even while BJP had been avoiding clarifying the position.

Unlike 2019, when the then BJP chief Amit Shah had offered one Cabinet berth to the JD (U), the LJP removing Chirag Paswan and expressing full support to Kumar may help him negotiate hard during the expansion of the Union Council of ministers. Also, the turn of events in the LJP is likely to change the social chemistry in Bihar, with the OBC-Muslim-Dalit combination boosting the confidence of the chief minister. With the Bihar unit of the BJP lacking a credible local face and the party banking on the Prime Ministers appeal, political observers note that Kumar may gain the upper hand in his equations with the saffron outfit in the coming months.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: A pan-India 'fraud-to-phone' network has been busted by security agencies, which have also arrested eight people and seized nearly 300 new mobile phones bought with stolen funds, officials said on Tuesday.

Moreover, 900 mobile phones, 1,000 bank accounts and hundreds of unified payment interface (UPI) and e-commerce IDs of this gang have been identified and are under investigation.

Nearly 100 bank accounts, and debit and credit cards have been frozen by the security agencies so far, officials said.

In all, eight 'fraud-to-phone' (F2P) gang masterminds, including four from Jharkhand, two each from Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh, have been arrested and nearly 300 new mobile phones bought with stolen funds seized, a home ministry official said.

The operation against the gang has covered 18 states, involving 350 people.

It was carried out by the Union home ministry's cyber safety wing FCORD, the Madhya Pradesh Police and police forces of several other states on specific information.

An official said that a case of cyber fraud of Rs 6.5 lakh was reported on June 11 by a 78-year-old Udaipur resident on the CyberSafe app run by the home ministry.

The F2P caller was operating from Jharkhand.

During investigation, it came to light that funds were directly credited to three SBI cards, which were used to buy 33 China-made Xiaomi POCO M3 mobile phones from Flipkart.

Within minutes, the addresses of where these were delivered in Balaghat in Madhya Pradesh were identified, and the superintendent of police of Balaghat was informed.

The Madhya Pradesh Police was most efficient in detaining the mastermind and all 33 new phones and several more were seized from him, another official said.

The Jharkhand Police has arrested the F2P caller.

The F2P gang bought these phones for about Rs 10,000 each and sold them in the black market at five to 10 per cent discount.

The F2P gang had several hundred operatives who ran different legs of a transaction which involved OTP fraud, credit card fraud, e-commerce fraud, fake IDs, fake mobile numbers, fake addresses, black marketing, tax evasion, money laundering and habitually dealing in stolen goods.

The accused are also being questioned about their preference for China-made phones, especially those made by Xiaomi.

The CyberSafe is an application created by FCORD, which is operational since August 2019.

It links more than 3,000 Law Enforcement Authorities (LEAs), including police stations, in 19 states and union territories with 18 fintech entities online and in real-time.

Fraudsters' mobile numbers are the key to CyberSafe.

As soon as a victim informs police, information is entered on CyberSafe and in real-time, fund flows are identified and communicated.

Till now 65,000 phone frauds have been reported on this app and 55,000 phone numbers and several thousand bank accounts of fraudsters identified.

The CyberSafe runs a website 'cybersafe.gov.in', which provides access only to law enforcement authorities and fintech entities.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the closure of criminal proceedings in India against two Italian marines, accused of killing two fishermen off the Kerala coast in February 2012, and asked the Kerala High Court to oversee the apportionment Rs 10 crore compensation to the heirs of the victim.

A vacation bench of Justices Indira Banerjee and M R Shah quashed the FIR and proceedings emanating from the case against the two Italian marines.

The bench said that as per the international arbitral award accepted by India, Italy shall resume further investigation in the case against the marines -- Massimilano Latorre and Salvatore Girone.

The top court termed the Rs 10 crore compensation paid by Italy over and above the payment already made as "reasonable and adequate".

It said that out of the Rs 10 crore compensation, Rs 4 crore each shall be deposited in the name of heirs of two deceased Kerala fishermen and Rs 2 crore shall be given to the owner of boat.

The top court that Rs 10 crore deposited in apex court's registry shall be transferred to the Kerala High Court, which will make a fixed deposit of Rs 4 crore each in the name of heirs of the two deceased fishermen for some time.

The bench said that heirs of fishermen will be able to withdraw the interest amount during the period of fixed deposit of compensation money, so that entire money is not misappropriated.

In February 2012, India had accused the two marines on board the MV Enrica Lexie -- an Italian flagged oil tanker -- of killing two Indian fishermen who were on a fishing vessel in India's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

On June 11, the top court had said that it would pass orders on closure of proceedings in India against the Italian marines.

Earlier, the top court was informed by the Kerala government that Rs 4 core each would be given to the heirs of two deceased fishermen and the rest Rs 2 core would be paid to the owner of the fishing vessel St.

Antony on which the two were shot dead.

The top court had said that it was of the view that the compensation money be transferred to the Kerala High Court for disbursal and ensuring that the amount does not fritter away.

The Centre had informed the top court earlier that Italy has deposited Rs 10 crore with it over and above the ex-gratia paid earlier and the same has been deposited by the Union Ministry of External Affairs with the apex court's registry as directed.

"There was an award by International Tribunal, which we as a Nation have accepted. The agreement is among the Republic of Italy, India and the Kerala government," Solicitor General Tushar Mehta had said.

The dispute before the international tribunal was as to which country, Italy or India, has the jurisdiction to prosecute the marines and it was decided that both the nations have the "concurrent jurisdiction", Mehta had said.

"But based on facts it was decided that India would not pursue the criminal case and proceedings would be started in Italy," he had said.

The Centre has also told the top court that Italy has assured the Indian government that it would prosecute the marines there as per law and that maximum compensation will be ensured to the victims' family members.

The Centre had referred to the last year's ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) at The Hague which held that India was entitled to get compensation in the case but can't prosecute the marines due to official immunity enjoyed by them.

It had said the arbitration under United Nation Convention on the Law of Sea (UNCLOS), which was instituted on a request from Italy, has delivered its Award on May 21, 2020.

Latorre, who had suffered a brain stroke on August 31, 2014, was first granted bail and allowed by the apex court on September 12, 2014 to go to Italy for four months and after that, extensions have been granted to him.

In Italy, Latorre underwent a heart surgery after which the top court granted him extension of his stay in his native country.

On September 28, 2016, the apex court had allowed Latorre to remain in his country till the international arbitral tribunal decided the jurisdictional issue.

On May 26, 2016, Girone was also granted bail with certain conditions and allowed by the top court to go to his country till the jurisdictional issue was decided.

The complaint against the marines was lodged by Freddy, the owner of fishing boat 'St Antony' in which two Kerala fishermen were killed when marines opened fire on them allegedly under the misconception that they were pirates.
Prasanta Mazumdar By

Express News Service

GUWAHATI: Two tribal girls, whose bodies were found hanging from a tree in a forest in the Kokrajhar district of Assam on Friday night, were raped before being murdered, the police said on Tuesday.

The rape and murder of two minor tribal girls have been solved. @lrbishnoiassam, IGP, BTR called me to inform about the outcome of the investigation. I have visited their residence on Sunday. Feeling extremely a sense of satisfaction that the Culprits have been identified, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted.

The police said seven persons have been arrested so far in connection with the incident. The police had got the incident probed by a special investigation team.

After visiting the family in Kokrajhar on Sunday, Sarma had said it appeared to be a case of murder or suicide under duress. He had also stated that the culprits would be tracked down and punished as per law.

The victims were aged 16 and 14 years.
By PTI

PATNA: Factional feud within the Lok Janshakti Party played itself out on the streets of the Bihar capital on Tuesday when loyalists of Chirag Paswan stormed the partys state headquarters and vented spleen against the five MPs who had staged a political coup of sorts on the previous day.

The Wheeler Road office of the LJP, situated a few hundred yards from several vantage locations of the city, bore witness to posters and banners of its Lok Sabha members Pashupati Kumar Paras, Prince Raj, Veena Devi, Chandan Kumar and Mehboob Ali Kaisar being blackened and torn down by irate party workers who dubbed the rebels as "traitors".

Confusion seemed to prevail over who controls the party, on a day when Chirag, the national president, ordered disciplinary action against the five parliamentarians after they came out in revolt against him and got him removed as the leader of the party in the House.

"We are angry as we were stopped from entering the premises. It was locked from inside by those who have switched loyalty and joined the Pashupati Kumar Paras camp", said an angry Chirag loyalist who waited outside until occupants of the LJP office gave in and opened the gates for the visitors.

Paras, the youngest brother of the party's founding president Ram Vilas Paswan, had approached Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, armed with the support of other party MPs, with the request that he be recognized as the leader of the LJP.

ALSO READ | Chirag Paswan removed as LJP chief, says 'party like mother, should not be betrayed'

He also expressed displeasure over his nephews seemingly untenable stance of opposing Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his JD(U) while claiming loyalty towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP and the NDA which the saffron party leads.

Police was called in to keep the situation under control at the LJP office where another Chirag loyalist fumed. "Paras seems to have grown too ambitious. If he was so keen on heading the party, he should have begged before our Sahib. He is magnanimous enough and would have allowed his uncle to fulfil his petty desire".

Besides Paras, other rebel MPs had similarly blamed Chirag for the turn of events, pointing out that the young presidents brinkmanship in the assembly election had "harmed the NDA, of which we are a part".

Chirag, a second-term MP from Jamui, had begun to exhibit his dislike for the Bihar Chief Minister during the nationwide lockdown last year when he accused Nitish Kumar not doing enough for migrants unlike his counterparts in Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat.

ALSO READ | Chirag Paswan has reaped what he had sown: JDU after fallout in LJP

As assembly polls approached, and Paswan senior breathed his last, Chirag declared that he was going to take on the JD (U) boss claiming that the people of Bihar no longer wanted him as CM and that he was doing the same to help the BJP form its own government.

Although there were speculations that the young LJP chief had the BJPs tacit backing, the saffron party and its top leaders found his antics too hot to handle and sought to distance themselves from his electoral stance and backed Nitish Kumar to the hilt.

Interestingly, outside the LJP office, slogans denouncing the Bihar Chief Minister also rent the air as loyalists of Chirag alleged that Paras and other rebels were acting at the behest of Nitish Kumar who is known for taking no prisoners and wanted to extract "revenge".

Tuesday's events at the LJP's headquarters here indicated that the factional fight would intensidy in days to come and the situation may further turn ugly when Paras group is expected to organise a national meet at the office soon.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Chief of Army Staff Gen MM Naravane on Tuesday led the force in hailing the valour of the 20 soldiers who laid down their lives while defending the country's territorial integrity in the face of "unprecedented" Chinese aggression at the Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh a year ago.

On the first anniversary of the deadly clashes, the Army said the supreme sacrifice of the soldiers while fighting the adversary in the "most difficult" high altitude terrain will be "eternally etched" in the memory of the nation.

"General MM Naravane #COAS & All Ranks of #IndianArmy pay homage to the #Bravehearts who made supreme sacrifice in Galwan Valley #Ladakh while defending the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country. Their valour will be eternally etched in the memory of the #Nation," the Army tweeted.

In the first deadly clash in the border area in nearly five decades, 20 Indian soldiers were killed on June 15 last year in the Galwan Valley in fierce hand-to-hand combat with Chinese troops, triggering a large deployment of troops and heavy weaponry by both armies at the friction points in eastern Ladakh.

In February, China officially acknowledged that five Chinese military officers and soldiers were killed in the clashes with the Indian Army though it is widely believed that the death toll was higher.

The Army's Leh-based 14 Corps, popularly known as Fire and Fury Corps, also paid homage to the "Galwan Bravehearts" on the first anniversary of the violent clashes.

"In the face of unprecedented Chinese aggression, 20 Indian soldiers laid down their lives defending our land and inflicted heavy casualties on the PLA (People's Liberation Army," the Army said.

Major Gen Akash Kaushik, the officiating General Officer Commanding of the Fire and Fury Corps laid a wreath at the iconic Leh war memorial in paying homage to the fallen heroes.

The 14 Corps takes care of guarding the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China in the Ladakh region.

"The nation will remain eternally grateful to these gallant soldiers who fought in the most difficult high altitude terrain and made the supreme sacrifice in service of the nation," the Army said in a statement.

Colonel Bikumalla Santosh Babu, the commanding officer of the 16 Bihar regiment, had led from the front against the Chinese aggression near Patrolling Point 14 in Galwan Valley.

In January, he was posthumously named for Mahavir Chakra, the second-highest military award for acts of gallantry in the presence of the enemy.

Four other soldiers were named for Vir Chakra awards posthumously.

The Army last year built a memorial for the 'Gallants of Galwan' at Post 120 in eastern Ladakh.

The memorial mentioned their heroics under operation 'Snow Leopard' and the way they evicted the PLA troops from the area while inflicting "heavy casualties" on them.

Days after the clashes, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had bluntly told his Chinese counterpart that the "unprecedented development will have a serious impact on the bilateral relationship.

India held the neighbouring country accountable for triggering the Ladakh standoff by violating rules of engagement on border management and conveyed that peace and tranquillity along the LAC is the basis for the progress of the rest of the relationship and they cannot be separated.

Months later, Jaishankar and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi agreed on a five-point pact to resolve the row at a meeting in Moscow.

The two sides completed the withdrawal of troops and weapons from the North and South banks of Pangong lake in February following a series of military and diplomatic talks.

They are now engaged in talks to extend the disengagement process to the remaining friction points.

There was no visible forward movement in disengagement of troops in the remaining friction points as the Chinese side did not show flexibility in their approach on it at the 11th round of military talks.

Last month, Army Chief Gen Naravane said that there can be no de-escalation without complete disengagement at all friction points in eastern Ladakh and that the Indian Army is prepared for all contingencies in the region.

Gen Naravane also said that India is dealing with China in a "firm" and "non-escalatory" manner to ensure the sanctity of its claims in eastern Ladakh, and that it was even open to initiating confidence-building measures.

India has been insisting on complete disengagement in remaining friction points to de-escalate the situation in eastern Ladakh.
P R Kumaraswamy By

The new Israeli government headed by Naftali Bennett (with Yair Lapid as the alternate prime minister) sworn in on Monday establishes several precedents and breaks barriers. Bennett became the first religiously observant person to head the Israeli government. Until now, all the prime ministers were notionally secular, even if they presented themselves as observant due to political considerations; for example, even during foreign trips, Shimon Peres preferred to walk on Jewish sabbath than travel by car.

Leader of the Raam party Mansour Abbas broke the psychological Jewish-Arab barrier and emerged as the kingmaker of the new government. His willingness to break away from the Joint Arab List and explore coalition possibilities with Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu largely enabled the Islamist party to join the Bennett-Lapid coalition.

Despite having a woman prime minister in Golda Meir, female political representation in Israel has not been impressive. With religious and Arab parties not preferring women politicians, the task fell on mainstream parties. The current Knesset has the highest number of 30 women members (same as in the March 2020 election), and the new government has eight women ministers. Some of the key positions, such as interior, education and transportation, are held by women. The Cabinet also has two minority ministers and the Ethiopia-born Pnina Tamano-Shata as absorption minister.

Under the rotation agreement, Bennett would serve until September 2023, when Lapid, the alternate prime minister, would take over. Even though Netanyahu signed a similar agreement with Blue and White leader Benny Gantz following the March 2020 election, his going back on the agreement forced another election this March.

The coalition is an ideological hotchpotch, and its 61 members belong to eight different parties: three right-wing parties, namely, Yisrael Beitenu (seven seats), New Hope (six seats) and Yamina (six of its seven MKs); two left-wing partiesLabour (seven seats) and Meretz (six seats); two centrist partiesYesh Atid (17 seats) and Blue and White (eight seats) and one Arab party (Raam, four seats). Interestingly, the leader of the coalition comes not from the two larger parties but from a smaller outfit, one of whose members has bolted out over Yamina abandoning Netanyahu.

By all accounts, Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid wields the real power. Though the opposition made innumerable efforts to unseat Netanyahu, by conceding the prime ministership to Bennett, a former protegee of Netanyahu, Lapid could convince the right-wing parties about the idea that Netanyahu was dangerous to Israel and must be replaced.

Some of the measures in the agreed agenda of the new government are pathbreaking but controversial. While a developmental and inclusive approach towards the Arab population is long overdue, the coalition is also committed to bringing in far-reaching religious reforms. Among others, it promises to end the monopoly of the financially lucrative and politically important Kashrut services, which grant kosher certificate to foods consumed by religiously inclined Israelis; reform the process of selecting chief rabbis that is presently controlled by the ultra-orthodox segment; and decentralise conversion process to the local level. The coalition is committed to expanding and standardising conscription for Haredi men and bringing in an alternative national service for the minority population.

While promising to maintain the religious status quo, Yesh Atids agreement with other partners touches upon issues that are redlines for the Haredi community. Yisrael Beitenu, whose anti-Haredi posture was partly responsible for four elections in two years, wields a veto over any expansion of the current coalition. This, in practical terms, would mean no Haredi party could join the Bennett-Lapid government. Yisrael Beitenu and left-wing Meretz demand public transportation on sabbath. These two parties and Labour are committed to recognising and advancing the rights of the LGBT community in the country.

Given the composition and general agreement among the parties, the scope for expansion is highly limited, especially since the coalition promises religious reform measures that are anathema to the Haredi parties. Except for the Joint Arab List with six MKs, only right-wing and religious parties make up the opposition, and in recent decades, they have acted as a political bloc to maximise their influence. Even though staying out of government would be a financial liability, the religious parties will not give up their existing privileges and veto.

The fragility of the coalition was palpable even before the Knesset vote on Monday. The original support of 61 MKs could not be maintained when Raam MK Saeed al-Harum abstained due to concerns over possible demolition of illegal Bedouin houses in the Negev. Another MK from Yisrael Beitenu sulked over his portfolio, forcing Avigdor Lieberman to tap Druze MK Hamed Amar for a Cabinet position. The first test for the Bennett-Lapid government has come just a day after it was sworn in the form of the Jerusalem flag march by right-wing groups, which could not be conducted earlier due to rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip.

P R Kumaraswamy

Professor at JNU. Teaches contemporary Middle East there

(kumaraswamy.pr@gmail.com)
Vijaya Sunder M and Milind G Sohoni By

After thousands of people died in the first wave of Covid-19 in 2020, we witnessed more than four times the destruction in 2021. About six months after the peak of the first wave in September 2020, India failed to prepare for the second one until its arrival in March 2021. On the one hand, in several parts of the country, communities reopened malls, cinemas, bars and restaurants. Naturally, people were eager to go out and resume some of their regular activities. A few business firms resumed as though there had been no pandemic during the six-month break. On the other hand, while medical experts advised precautions should continue, including physical distancing, hand-washing, and mask-wearing, many of us threw caution to the winds.

Observers stated that the nationwide lockdown had slowed the growth rate of the pandemic, but a resumption resulted in significant confusion after November 2020. A well-managed phase-wise unlock in the first wave was not seen nationwide during the second. The lockdown decisions were left at the discretion of state governments. While Maharashtra, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Uttar Pradesh imposed strict curbs, a few other states like Telangana, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal had only partial lockdowns during the second wave. Inter-state movement of people was disregarded. While lockdowns retarded economic activity, they made no significant improvement case-wise in the second wave without a nationwide shutdown. According to a recent estimate, Indias GDP contracted by 7.3% in 2020-21. The net direct tax collections, an indicator of economic activity, was only 5% higher in 2021 when compared to that in 2020 during the first wave.

While the first wave created a supply problem as the transportation sector was shut down for a few months, the biggest toll of the second wave was in terms of a demand shockloss of mobility, discretionary spending and employment besides inventory accumulation, according to the Reserve Bank of India. Further, several parts of rural India witnessed Covid-19 cases in the second wave, unlike in the first. Consequently, commodities like vegetables, pulses and coffee supplies were affected.

During the second wave, there was a dearth of oxygen. Governments started several oxygen plants across the country and routed industrial oxygen to increase the stock. However, due to cylinder and tanker shortages, the demands werent met on time. Oxygen was transported via trains and flights but on many occasions failed to meet full demand requirements. Consequently, oxygen consumption was only 54% of production capacity in April 2021. In addition, we witnessed a chronic shortage of space in intensive care wards, with many patients families forced to drive for miles to find a bed for their loved ones. Before the second wave hit, India had about 0.5 hospital beds for every 1,000 people, compared with a global average of nearly 2.9. While the Indian Railways, several NGOs and government agencies created temporary bed care centres, these were only reactive measures.

Another critical issue was the shortage of RT-PCR tests in a few instances. Several states struggled to detect and isolate the infected. Further, on many occasions, false-negative RT-PCR reports have led to confusion. Amidst the chaos, the best thing that happened in the second wave was the vaccination drive. As of 3 June 2021, 21.3 crore vaccine doses were administered, and 3.2% of the Indian population has been fully inoculated. Though the spread of infection has been showing a declining trend in the second wave since June 2021, it is certainly not the end of Covid-19. Even a single case of infection left unnoticed could spread and repeat the whole cycle of adversity. Are we prepared to handle the third wave? What can we do in the next few months to avoid another disaster?

Be fast and proactive: Even though the 68-day hard lockdown in the first wave appeared to be a control measure, it is unlikely that the empowered groups will recommend such a nationwide step again. Thus, state governments have a critical role to playthey need to gauge basic needs and impose restrictions accordingly. A full unlock may lead to a repeat of the disaster that we witnessed after the first wave. Another proactive measure is to prioritise vaccinations for the people working in critical supply chains. Given that the vaccination drive has opened up for those in the 18-to-45-year age group, some relief could be felt, but with only 3.2% citizens fully inoculated, the pace is still a concern. Thirdly, with rich pharma sector companies and drug and equipment manufacturers in the country, product innovation and R&D should be leveraged for self-testing of infections.

Be open-minded and adaptive: We should learn and adopt best practices from countries that have reported almost nil infections. For example, to support businesses and workers, the government of Australia provided subsidies to firms to keep people employed. Another example is South Korea that learned from its mistakes during the MERS pandemic outbreak of 2015. After an outcry, the country built a new public health system that snapped into action in early 2020 and successfully contained Covid-19. We can also learn from the UK that detected different variants of Covid-19 entering the nation, imposed a ban on visitors and conducted technology-led awareness campaigns on the importance of vaccination.

Be cooperative and responsible: Policymakers and healthcare leaders must focus on driving awareness and creating infrastructure towards promoting citizen-driven responsiveness. While the states and the Centre have an extensive vital role to play to contain the pandemic, the general public needs to cooperate and abide by the rules. Responsible implementation of protocols of pandemic control such as social distancing, constrained citizen mobility, hand washing, in-house toileting and avoiding spitting in open areas requires far more than merely investing in traditional public health systems. Governments, socially responsible corporate giants and NGOs should consider investing in building awareness in citizen communities towards improving their state of living. Without cooperation from the general public, state responsiveness alone will not effectively control the third wave around the corner.

Vijaya Sunder M

Assistant Professor (Practice), Operations Management Department, ISB

Vijaya_SunderM@isb.edu

Milind G Sohoni

Professor, Operations Management Department and Deputy Dean, ISB

Milind_Sohoni@isb.edu
After no less than four elections in two years, Israel has finally got a new dispensation helmed by Naftali Bennett, who brings a mere seven members into a rather eclectic coalition with a wafer-thin majority in the 120-member Knesset. The 49-year-old tech millionaire, leader of the right-wing Jewish nationalist Yamina party, and his unlikely coalition ended Benjamin Netanyahus 12-year-long stint with a cliffhanger 60-59 vote. Eight ideologically disparate parties united under the Change Coalition slogan to effect this landmark change. When Bennett told Knesset that the new government represents all of Israel, it was no rhetoric. Bennett shares power with two left-wing parties, three from the right, two centrist outfits and even one conservative Arab Islamic party. Bennett himself is a staunch pro-expansionist. Little wonder that out in Gaza, Hamas described the Tel Aviv drama as of no consequence in the nature of the relationship. Netanyahus exit was partly a fallout of the 11-day war with Hamas. Bibi was seen by his right-wing supporters to have gained nothing in the faceoff, while losing the battle of perceptions globally, particularly in the US. Many of those instrumental in ousting Bibi are a product of his right-wingism, including Bennett, who was earlier his defence minister.

As per the prenuptial agreement, Bennett will cede premiership in 2023 to Yair Lapid, a secular centrist and popular TV anchor credited with bringing together the anti-Bibi coalition. Lapid, now foreign minister, quickly made overtures to New Delhi in response to Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankars tweet. Prime Minister Modi had a calibrated response, first acknowledging Netanyahus personal contribution to Indo-Israel relations and later welcoming the new order. It is not India, though, nor even the US, but the Iran policy that could determine the new regimes durability. Meanwhile, stripped of power, Netanyahu will be exposed to a welter of corruption charges: Expect him, therefore, to try his level best to crawl back.
By Express News Service

KADAPA: A 62-year-old YSRC party leader Shivaprasad Reddy shot dead his 45-year-old relative Parthasarathy Reddy, also from the same party, in Nallapureddypalle village of Pulivendula mandal, Kadapa district on Tuesday, allegedly over property disputes.

According to information reaching here, at around 8 a.m. Parthasarathy Reddy went to the house of Sivaprasad Reddy and attempted to attack him with a knife. At that time, seemingly in self-defence, Sivaprasad Reddy shot Parthasrathy Reddy with his licensed revolver. Parthasarathy Reddy died on the spot.

Later, Sivaprasad Reddy, overcome with fear of being arrested, took his own life by shooting himself. He was rushed to Pulivendula Area Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. Police rushed to the spot and took up the investigation. Additional forces were deployed at Pulivendula to ensure no untoward incidents happen.

Bodies of Parthasarathy Reddy and Sivaprasad Reddy were shifted to the government hospital for postmortem. A case has been registered and the investigation is on.
Arunkumar Huralimath By

Express News Service

HUBBALLI: Passengers suffered anxious moments after the Kannur-Hubballi flight experienced a double nosegear tyre burst while landing on Monday evening at Hubballi Airport. Luckily none of the passengers and crew members suffered any injuries in the incident.

The Indigo ATR operating 6e-7979 flight was heading to Hubballi from Kannur Airport in Kerala. It was supposed to land at Hubballi Airport at 8:03 pm. However, due to bad weather following high wind and rain, the craft was not able to land and the first attempt of landing was failed. On its second attempt to land at 8.33 pm, the aircraft suffered a tyre burst while landing.

According to sources, the craft was scheduled from Kannur in Kerala to Hubballi and from Hubballi to Bengaluru. There were five passengers and four crew members on board and no one suffered any injuries. After the incident, the runway was blocked for maintenance till Tuesday at 8 am. Later it was opened for flight operations.

Hubballi Airport director Pramod Kumar Thakre said due to heavy wind the aircraft was forced to make a hard landing that led to the tyre burst. Except some scratches, there is no major damage to the runway. The staff at the airport removed tyre parts and cleaned the area before reopening the runway for the Bengaluru-Hubballi flight to land on Tuesday morning.

On Tuesday morning, the Indigo technical team arrived from Bengaluru for the maintenance of a double nosegear tyre burst craft and initiated repair works. It is said the tyre has been replaced and other technical issues will be fixed by Wednesday and ferry flying will take place on Wednesday or Thursday.

The craft will not be allowed for passengers service until a technical team from Directorate General for Civil Aviation visit the craft for certification and it will take a week period or more, said sources.

Previous incidents in Hubballi

2015- In March 2015 a SpiceJet plane from Bengaluru skidded off the runway following heavy rain in Hubballi Airport. There were 74 passengers and 4 crew members and luckily no one hurt in that incident. After that incident, SpiceJet withdrew its service from Hubballi Airport till today

2018- In April 2018 a chartered flight carrying Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had a rough landing in Hubballi. The plane suddenly tilted heavily on the left side and the altitude dipped steeply with violent shuddering of the aircraft body

2021- In June 2021, Indigo craft suffered a tyre burst on landing in Hubballi Airport
Omjasvin MD By

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Deaths related to COVID-19 in six government hospitals in Tamil Nadu during April and May could be 8.4 to 9.8 times higher than the actual deaths of 863 issued by the government in its daily health bulletin in the same period, a report by NGO Arappor Iyakkam has claimed.

The NGO arrived at this conclusion after examining the death certificate data issued by the six hospitals - Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai, Coimbatore Medical College Hospital, Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College Hospital in Tiruchy, Vellore Medical College Hospital, Kaur Medical College Hospital and Tiruppur Government Hospital.

According to the report by the NGO, during April and May 2021, the six hospitals issued 11,699 death certificates.

Convenor of Arappor Iyakkam, Jayaram Venkatesan, said the NGO could only work on these six hospitals as only they had uploaded their death certificate data on the state governments portal for 2019, 2020 and 2021. The NGO drew the data of deaths recorded during April and May this year and compared it with the health bulletin which indicated a gross mismatch.

During the period of April and May, while there were 3,152 deaths in Madurai GH, the Health Department's bulletin recorded only 172 COVID-19 deaths. In the absence of any other natural calamity and road traffic remaining less, due to a full lockdown, the NGO has said many of the deaths could possibly be related to COVID-19 or complications related to it.

Similarly, in Coimbatore GH, out of the 3,464 deaths, only 323 were recorded for COVID, and in Tiruchy GH, out of the 1806 deaths, 55 were due to COVID, and in Vellore, out of 1416 deaths, 104 were due to COVID-19, and in Karur, it was 115 deaths out of 960, and 94 out of 901 in Tiruppur.

ALSO READ: Parents cry foul as Chennai schools demand full fees despite government's warning

The report also highlighted that in Tiruppur GH, zero COVID deaths were declared in the state bulletin from April 1 to May 19 2021 but the total death certificates issued in these dates came to 489 for this hospital during that period, while the NGO also flagged Tiruchi GH for grossly underreporting, saying that the mortality was 32.8 times more than the reported COVID deaths in April and May 2021.

To prove its claim further that the deaths may be related to COVID-19, the NGO compared the data of total deaths in April and May of 2019 and 2020, with the deaths recorded in the same period in 2021.

The report said that the number of deaths in the six hospitals remained around 2000 per month for January to March in 2021. The deaths in 2019 and 2020 also remained around 2000 per month in April and May respectively.

In 2019, the deaths in April (2117) and May (2320) together were 4437 while in 2020, the deaths in April (1440) and (1821) together were 3261.

It also remained around 2000 deaths per month in the previous years for April and May. However, this increased to 3,009 in April 2021 and 8690 in May 2021, as per the report, totaling 11,699 deaths in April and May together.

The report concluded that there have been 7,262 more deaths in April and May 2021 compared to the numbers in 2019, and 8,438 more deaths compared to the deaths in 2020 during the same period. Convenor Jayaram Venkatesan said the NGO took into account COVID-19 deaths from May that were added to the bulletin in June as well but even then, there seemed to be a large mismatch.

The report has several accounts of people who had lost their kin while undergoing treatment at the hospital. They said that the names of their kin have not appeared in the health bulletin nor were they handed over any medical certificate by the hospital.

Venkatesan said that the medical certification for the cause of death (MCCD) was not handed over to the patients as per ICMR protocols and the deaths were under-reported by skipping the protocols.

The COVID mortality code U07.2 has been completely skipped and anyone who dies due to symptoms/ complications arising out of it is not given any cause of death certificate mentioning COVID at all, said Venkatesan.

The NGO called for transparency in putting out death certificates and also asked for an independent committee to be set up immediately that will do an audit of all deaths that happened during the COVID-19 period.

Government will look into the issue

Health Secretary Dr. J Radhakrishnan said that all the hospitals have been instructed to follow the ICMR guidelines and the health department would look into the issue.

In case kin of the deceased could not get the deaths classified at that time, they can reach out to the health authorities now to get the deaths reclassified. There is no time limit for this, he told The New Indian Express.

He said that the health departments priority is to record all the deaths accurately for COVID-19 and other non-communicable diseases as well.

Many people also die due to post COVID-19 complications. We will look into the issue, he assured.

What ICMR rules say:

As per the ICMR code U07.1, the hospital must call it a COVID death if the person was RTPCR positive (with symptoms, without symptoms, has comorbidities).

As per the code U07.2, hospitals must report a death as clinically-epidemiologically diagnosed COVID-19, if they test negative but have symptoms. They must mark it as suspected COVID if tests are awaited and the patient has symptoms. They also must mark it as probably COVID if tests are inconclusive but patients have symptoms.
Omjasvin MD By

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu is on road to recovery from the devastating COVID-19 second wave with cases and positivity rate showing a decline. There is, however, heated debate on a possible third wave and the rising number of cases in a few clusters.

In an interview with The New Indian Express, Dr Prabhdeep Kaur, Senior Scientist and Deputy Director, Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Epidemiology, Chennai, discusses the preparations to be done and issues to be addressed. Excerpts.

The second wave appears to be weakening, but what are the possibilities for a third one?

We need to look at the data very carefully. The decline is not uniform across the State. Once we start opening up, there might be a resurgence of cases in several districts.Lockdown is only a short-term measure to prepare and improve the capacity of the health system. A third wave is technically possible as we have a virus that mutates fast.

The current variant is more infectious and can keep mutating further. We still have a high percentage of the population in non-metros who have not been exposed to the virus. We also know that as we start opening up, we will find it much more difficult to identify hotspots and contain them. We need to prepare for the third wave and also resurgence within second wave.

In the first wave, the State had a peak of just close to 7,000 daily cases. But in the second wave, during mid-May, the State was recording more than 30,000 cases daily. What went wrong in this period, and must the State follow a proactive approach as opposed to a reactive one in the future?

In the second wave, per day cases were much higher for every State in India. This is a pattern in the virus' behaviour. What we missed was when the new mutant took over the other variant in our population.

If we had done genomic surveillance, we could have detected it. We missed the shift and the only option was lockdown. We cannot stop the virus from changing its behaviour. We need a system in place to identify when it happens and act fast.

In the second wave, there was a lack of beds, oxygen, and increased waiting time for admissions to hospitals. Could these have been avoided if we had appropriate infrastructure in place? How can the infrastructure be prepared for the upcoming waves?

If you look at last year and this year, there has been a lot of development in infrastructure in terms of oxygen beds and the ability to supply oxygen. The challenge was faced even by developed countries. Every state or country can prepare its health system to a certain level but if the health system gets overwhelmed above that, it will be very difficult.

We should monitor the bed occupancy. If it exceeds 70 or 75 per cent, thats when you start putting restrictions. As long as the health system handles it, we can allow economic activities. We definitely need to up our infrastructure.

We need a trained workforce, infection control, and many other clinical practices to be established. We also need to strengthen and institutionalise our processes such as triaging abilities, especially in the districts.

Lack of manpower in the medical system has been an issue even in the past, but the State never faced a health crisis of this magnitude. Has the COVID-19 pandemic scenario exposed the dire shortage of doctors and nurses in our government machinery? How crucial it is to address this issue?

The importance of manpower in the healthcare sector has been emphasized globally during the pandemic. Tamil Nadu is doing better in human resources but obviously, we need to add manpower as Covid has added several new activities to the health sector.

Addition has indeed been done in medical colleges, but, if we look at the field situation, there is not enough manpower. For instance, health inspectors and nurses in the peripheral level.Vaccination will go on for a long time and we must have dedicated manpower for it.

In secondary care hospitals, there is not as much manpower as in bigger hospitals. They need to be strengthened. We also need to add anaesthetists, physicians, and those trained in critical care and ICU care in smaller districts.

Newer variants such as the B1617 are being discussed globally and it is said to have a more rapid transmission rate and infectivity. How the public health surveillance system, research, and development, can equip itself to monitor newer variants entering the State?

Every State must have genomic surveillance in place and a fixed number of samples from every district must be tested to understand if there is a change. All mutations are not important but we need to know if variants of concern are increasing in the population.

The only way to do that is by testing a fixed number of samples every week or every 14 days from every part of the State. We must strengthen our ability to do genomic surveillance on an ongoing basis.

In the second wave, more youth were infected, and several in their mid and late 20s and without comorbidities died. How crucial is it to fast-track vaccination for the 18-44 age group?

We have to vaccinate everyone and thats the only way to come out of the pandemic. There is still a large proportion of the elderly and the comorbid, who are not vaccinated. If the third wave comes, all the deaths likely to happen will be from these two groups.

We have to prioritise the elderly and those with comorbidities for vaccination. Within 18 to 44, again there are people with comorbidities.

Watch Full Interview :

With the possibilities of schools opening in the coming months, is vaccinating children and teens critical?

In India, Covaxin has already initiated trials for younger age group. We hope that at least one indigenous vaccine is available to us quickly. Now that India has come up with a more open vaccination policy, other manufacturers will be willing to manufacture here. Or, we will have many more vaccines available here.

A few of those might be approved for the younger age group as well. But, I am concerned that it may take some time. Within the next six months or so, we may have options for children and teenagers.

Risk of pregnant women contracting COVID has been high in the country. How critical is it for them to get vaccinated?

There is a national-level committee that makes these decisions and they are reviewing the data for the two vaccines available in India. Even gynaecologists have recommended that pregnant women be vaccinated. The public health community feels the same. There are maternal deaths in the antenatal and postnatal phases.

Coming back to field-level containment strategies, the government took many measures like closing down streets and door-step triaging. How can there be a proactive surveillance strategy at the field level?

Strategy to reduce spread must be strengthened. The strategies are surveillance, testing, tracing, and isolation. While the government sector facilities have been good, a large chunk of people have been using the private sector and thats a weak link in the surveillance system.

We must get the private sector on board by building systems so that they can report early on people coming with Covid-like symptoms. People with symptoms sometimes do not get tested over fear or other reasons, and take up paracetamol.

Pharmacies must be brought to the surveillance system and this must be replicated everywhere, just like it was done in Chennai.

Surveillance in CT scan centres too must be strengthened. We also need to strengthen surveillance in industries and we have to find ways to detect those clusters early. Employees must be taken into confidence so that they report the symptoms early.The employer must also provide paid sick leave, which will empower staff to come forward to report symptoms.



In clusters, we should do Rapid Antigen testing. Contact tracing must be done at workplaces and households. Systems must be in place to monitor isolation. In Chennai, we had FOCUS volunteers and similar people in districts could be roped in for supporting this kind of activities.
Lalitha Ranjani By

Express News Service

MADURAI: Weeks after taking the first dose of Covishield, people from Tamil Nadu who are set to fly abroad for education and work say they have been left in the lurch. Though the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare permitted them to receive the second dose of the vaccine 28 days after the first dose, thousands of them say they are being turned down at vaccination centres since the CoWIN portal still prescribes an 84-day gap between the doses.

In a letter to Health Secretaries last week, Rajesh Bhushan, Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, said that until August 31, those who have to go abroad to study or work, and sportspersons and accompanying staff of the Indian contingent attending the Olympic Games in Japan, could be given the second dose of Covishield, at least 28 days after the first dose.

The letter said State governments should designate a competent authority in each district to grant permission in such cases. The competent authority (in districts) may issue another certificate linking the vaccination certificate with the passport number of the beneficiary. The CoWIN system will soon provide the facility for the administration of the second dose in such exceptional cases, it stated.

Dheivendran (51), a resident of Kochadai who works as a ship-repair engineer in Saudi Arabia, said he came to his hometown in January. He took the first dose of Covishield on April 9, and went for his second dose on Monday, after 67 days. I was sent away from the vaccination centre, as they said the CoWIN portal doesnt have any facility to make entries for exceptional cases as announced by the Central government.

Raama Sreenivasan, a 25-year-old engineer from Thanjavur who gained admission to a Canadian college for a PG diploma, had to postpone his travel in April since direct flights were cancelled. After the Centre relaxed the rules for students going abroad, he booked his tickets for June 30. But he now seems to be left in the lurch. I took the first dose on May 10 at a private hospital in Tiruchy, and have tried my luck at many vaccination camps in Thanjavur. But the response has been the same - they all say there is no provision on the CoWIN portal. As per Canadas norms, it would cost Rs 60,000-1,20,000 to be quarantined for three days at a hotel. But those who are fully vaccinated are sent to 14-day quarantine at their place of stay, he said.

Expressing apprehension over switching to another vaccine in Canada, Sreenivasan said, Since Covishield is no longer available in Canada, I would either have to go ahead with my trip and take the first dose of a different vaccine after six months, or postpone the trip and receive the second dose of Covishield after 84 days. He added, I even tried taking the second dose in Kerala. But my request was declined as they were only vaccinating residents of the State and a few people from Kanniyakumari.

A data entry staff at a vaccination centre in Madurai confirmed that the CoWIN portal doesnt have a facility to accommodate these exceptional beneficiaries. Even if someone administers the vaccine via manual registration, the beneficiary wont be able to get the vaccination certificate as it is generated only on the CoWIN portal and there would be a mismatch in the vaccine inventory data uploaded on the portal. On Monday alone, five such international travellers who came for vaccination were turned away, he shared.

Principal Secretary of the Department of Health and Family Welfare Dr J Radhakrishnan said that time and again the State government has been insisting that the Centre do away with the CoWIN portal. This specific issue would be brought to the immediate notice of the Centre. Besides, the State government too would look into options, in consultation with other States, to resolve the problem in a day or two, he promised.

Technical or systems failure?

Many claim that CoWIN portal generating the vaccination certificates does not permit one to take the second dose before the prescribed 84-day interval
T Muruganandham By

Express News Service

CHENNAI: A day after AIADMK charged her with staging a drama by not staying away from politics as she declared ahead of the Assembly elections, VK Sasikala on Tuesday explained that she had kept away from politics since they (EPS, OPS) said they would win the elections.

But now the cadres are appealing to me to lead the party. As long as I live, I will be in AIADMK only. It is now crystal clear that only if I step in, the party can be protected and taken forward. I will accomplish everything with the support of the AIADMK cadre, Sasikala said talking to a party functionary.

Expressing anguish at the expulsion of 16 AIADMK functionaries for talking to her, Sasikala continued her telephonic interactions with partymen from many parts of the State on Tuesday too.

At least 10 audio recordings were released in which Sasikala explained that she had kept away from politics ahead of Assembly elections. While talking to a person who indicated that he is a supporter of O

Panneerselvam, Sasikala said that she would have made Panneerselvam as the Chief Minister after the Supreme Court gave its verdict in the disproportionate wealth case in February, 2017, had he remained a loyalist.

Talking to Athani Palanisamy from Gobichettipalayam, Sasikala said: Ahead of the election, I announced that I would be staying away from politics only with a good intention that the party nurtured by Amma (J

Jayalalithaa) should win. But they (EPS, OPS) did not heed my advice to stand united. Now, there is a compulsion to protect the party and their cadre. Definitely I will be coming. Amma had plans to

implement many schemes for the people after she came back to power in 2016. Since she passed away, I wish to do all those things for the people of Tamil Nadu.

Similarly, while interacting with Ragunathan of Sulur, Coimbatore district, Sasikala said I will not allow the party to split or to alienate it from the party cadre. I have been keeping a tab on what is happening in the party. From all places, I receive a similar message that the AIADMK is becoming a caste-oriented party.

Sasikala repeated this with most of the functionaries she spoke: All cadres are with me. Just after the Corona lockdown is over, I will come and meet you all. We have to form the government again. Will

meet you all soon.


By Express News Service

HYDERABAD: Hard selling Telangana as a safe and popular investment destination, IT and Industries Minister KT Rama Rao on Monday asked the Saudi companies to take advantage of the opportunities the State offers.

Delivering the inaugural address at the 'Telangana Investment Meet', organised by Embassy of India in Saudi Arabia, Rama Rao said that Telangana is an attractive destination for investments and has already been able to attract huge investments from several countries and world's top-ranked institutions in the past seven years.

The State has already attracted over USD 22 billion of investments, thereby providing 1.5 million direct jobs, the Minister said. While stating that the State is trying to attract large scale investments in sectors like IT, pharma, life sciences, aerospace, defence, renewable energy and food processing, he said that the government will provide all assistance to the Saudi companies interested in investing in these sectors.

While thanking Saudi ambassador for organising the meeting with an aim to strengthen Telanganas trade ties with the kingdom, he said this initiative will introduce investment opportunities and government policies in the State to the companies in Saudi.

Meanwhile, Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Asaf Saeed said that Telangana is one of the youngest States in the country but has achieved excellent industrial progress over the last five years.
By PTI

WASHINGTON: During the last weeks of his presidency, Donald Trump and his allies pressured the Justice Department to investigate unsubstantiated claims of widespread 2020 election fraud, despite his former attorney general declaring there was no evidence of it, newly released emails show.

The emails, released Tuesday by the House Oversight Committee, reveal in new detail how Trump, his White House chief of staff and other allies pressured members of the U.S. government to challenge the 2020 election over false claims, even though officials at Homeland Security and Justice, as well as Republican election leaders across the country, repeatedly said there had been no pervasive fraud.

Former Attorney General William Barr, a longtime Trump loyalist, was among those who said there was no evidence of it.

The emails also show the extent to which Trump worked to enlist then-acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen in his campaign's failing legal efforts to challenge the election result, including suggesting filing a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court.

The ones sent to Rosen include debunked conspiracy theories and false information about voter fraud.

Trump's lies about the election helped spur on the mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan.6 in a failed effort to stop the certification of Joe Biden's victory.

Several times, for example, allies wrote about Dominion Voting Systems' potential voter fraud, a conspiracy theory now the subject of a billion-dollar defamation lawsuit by the voting company.

Trump's chief of staff, Mark Meadows, asked about investigating allegations of voter fraud caused by satellites from Italy.

Meadows tried to have Rosen investigate the conspiracy theories and pushed the acting attorney general to meet with an ally of Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani who was pitching unfounded election conspiracies that Italy was using satellites and military technology to change votes.

After Rosen forwarded Meadows' email, Rich Donoghue, the acting deputy attorney general, sent a note to Rosen that said, pure insanity.

Rosen wrote back that he was asked to have the FBI meet with Giuliani's associate and he said no, insisting the man could follow the FBI's normal protocol for tips and just call the public tip line or take his information to an FBI field office.

But Rosen said Giuliani was insulted by the answer.

Asked if I would reconsider, I flatly refused, said I would not be giving any special treatment to Giuliani or any of his witnesses,' and re-affirmed yet again that I will not talk to Giuliani about any of this, Rosen wrote.

On Dec.14, the day that Electoral College votes were certified and that Barr said he would be resigning later that month, Trump's White House assistant sent a note to Rosen with the subject From POTUS, an acronym for president of the United States.

The email to Rosen, a deputy attorney general who became acting attorney general after Barr left, included talking points on alleged voter fraud in Antrim County, in a key battleground state, Michigan, such as claims like a Cover-up is Happening regarding voting machines in Michigan and Michigan cannot certify for Biden.

Just moments after Trump's assistant sent the documents, Donoghue sent the same documents to the U.S. attorneys in the Eastern and Western districts of Michigan. On Dec. 29, Trump's White House assistant emailed Rosen, Donoghue and Acting Solicitor General Jeffrey Wall and included a draft legal brief for the Supreme Court, with a phone number where they could contact the president directly.

The proposed complaint asked the court to "declare that the Electoral College votes cast in the six battleground states that Trump lost cannot be counted.

It asked for the court to order a special election in those states.

One of Trump's private attorneys then emailed senior Justice officials urging them to file the complaint.

The emails show he repeatedly called Rosen's senior advisers and others in the Justice Department demanding meetings, saying he was driving from Maryland to Justice Department headquarters in Washington to meet with Rosen because he couldn't reach him.

As I said on our call, the President of the United States has seen this complaint, and he directed me last night to brief AG Rosen in person today and discuss bringing this action," he wrote in one email.

I have been instructed to report back to the President this afternoon after this meeting.

The Associated Press reported late last year on the effort within the Trump administration to pressure government employees to adopt the false narrative of 2020 election fraud.

Trump asked the Justice Department to investigate instances of voter fraud, and Justice leaders sent a memo to the states prioritizing the effort.

The Republican president also asked that a special prosecutor be named to investigate the false voter fraud claims.

And the official serving as Trump's eyes and ears at the Justice Department tried to pressure staffers to give up sensitive information about election fraud and other matters she could relay to the White House.

She was banned from the building.

Trump considered replacing Rosen with a more loyal ally, Jeffrey Clark, and even looked into whether the White House could appoint a special counsel without the Justice Department's approval.

On Jan.1, for example, Meadows asked Rosen to have Clark investigate signature match anomalies in Fulton county, GA.

It didn't happen, and on Jan.3 another Justice official wrote that the cause of justice won.

Three days later, hundreds of pro-Trump rioters broke into the Capitol, attacking police and causing dozens of injuries, causing $1.5 million in damage and sending lawmakers fleeing for their lives.

Five people died, including a police officer who collapsed that day.

At least 400 people have been arrested in connection with the riot, the largest Justice Department prosecution in history.
By Associated Press

NEW YORK: US health officials on Monday announced a one-year ban on bringing in dogs from more than 100 countries where rabies is still a problem.

Dogs coming in from those countries already needed proof of rabies vaccination. The ban is being imposed because of a spike in the number of puppies denied entry because they weren't old enough to be fully vaccinated, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

The ban goes into effect July 14. Douglas Kratt, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association, applauded the decision. "We want to make sure we're bringing healthy dogs into the country - especially if they are going to be pets," said Kratt, a veterinarian in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

The ban applies to dogs coming into or returning to the country, including pets or those brought in for sale or adoption. For example, if an American couple took their dog to Belize, they wouldn't be able to bring the dog back to the US unless the dog first spends six months in a country that is not at a high risk for rabies.

Officials said that about 1 million dogs are brought into the US each year, and the ban is expected to apply to 4 to 7.5 per cent. Exceptions will be made for some situations, including guide dogs for the blind or foreigners moving to the US with their pets.

Most of the dogs recently rejected came from just three countries - Russia, Ukraine, and Colombia. But numerous other denials prompted the CDC to ban dogs from all countries where the risk of rabies is also high, said Emily Pieracci, a CDC rabies expert.

Many of the rejections were due to fraudulent paperwork claiming the dogs were older than 4 months, Pieracci said. Dogs younger then 4 months aren't allowed in because rabies vaccinations dont take full effect before a dog is that age.

Rabies is usually a fatal disease in animals and humans, caused by a virus that invades the central nervous system. Its most commonly spread through a bite from an infected animal. There is no cure for it once symptoms begin, but it can be prevented through vaccination.

Dogs were once common carriers of the virus in the US but the type that normally circulates in dogs was eliminated in the US through vaccinations in the 1970s. In 1988, a new type of dog rabies was brought in from Mexico. It spread to wild coyotes and it took 19 years to eliminate. "Cases from that second wave highlight the impact that a single imported case of rabies can have on wildlife, domestic animals, and people," Pieracci said

Pieracci noted that the demand for dogs is believed to have been increased during the COVID- 19 pandemic, with Americans seeking furry companionship. But some dog rabies vaccination programs had to be suspended or canceled during the pandemic, making the risk of bringing in a rabid dog higher, she added.
By PTI

BEIJING: China on Tuesday praised the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), saying the eight-member group in which India is a member has fostered a brand new cooperation model promoting harmonious ties between countries with different social systems.

SCO, whose founding members included China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, on Tuesday celebrated its 20th anniversary.

India and Pakistan were admitted as full members of the Beijing-based organisation in 2017.

Commenting on the 20th anniversary, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a media briefing here that over the past two decades, the SCO has navigated the evolving international landscape successfully, blazed a path of cooperation and development under a new type of regional organisation.

The grouping has made important exploration through practice for the building of a new type of international relations fostered a brand-new cooperation model of harmonious co-existence of countries with different social systems and development paths, he said.

The SCO also safeguarded regional security and stability, he said.

Taking security cooperation as a priority, the SCO ratified important legal instruments such as the Convention on Combating Terrorism and the Convention on Combating Extremism, stepped up cooperation in such areas as counter-terrorism, counter-narcotics, border defence and information security, he said.

The bloc also held regular joint counter-terrorism exercises, and promoted the peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan through the SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group, creating a peaceful and stable environment for the development of regional countries, he said.
By AFP

BRUSSELS: US President Joe Biden said on Monday he would lay down "red lines" to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin at their upcoming meeting, after rallying NATO allies to face up to challenges from Moscow and Beijing.

Speaking after his first NATO summit since being elected, Biden insisted: "I'm not looking for conflict with Russia, but that we will respond if Russia continues its harmful activities." Biden also called Putin "tough" and "a worthy adversary" ahead of their hotly anticipated meeting in Geneva on Wednesday.

The warning to the Kremlin leader came as Biden pressed to renew Washington's transatlantic ties with allies after years of tensions under his predecessor Donald Trump. At Biden's urging, NATO leaders agreed to work together against the "systemic challenges" posed by China's aggressive policies as the alliance fleshed out its nascent approach to Beijing.

China's increasingly assertive actions in building a nuclear arsenal as well as space and cyber warfare capabilities threatens the international order, they said in a statement. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the allies would seek to cooperate with China on global issues like climate change, as European capitals wanted.

But, in a nod to Washington's growing concern, he warned: "China's growing influence and international policies present challenges to Alliance security.Leaders agreed that we need to address such challenges together as an alliance, and that we need to engage with China to defend our security interests."

In the summit communique, the leaders told Russia that there would be no quick return to "business as usual". Russia's military build-up and provocative behaviour on NATO's eastern frontier "increasingly threaten the security of the Euro-Atlantic area and contribute to instability along NATO borders and beyond".

'Right balance'

On China, Biden is picking up from where Trump left off by getting NATO to start paying attention to Beijing. But European allies have been wary that an increase of focus on China could distract NATO from its major priority -- Russia.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel insisted that alliance members should not "overestimate" the dangers posed from Beijing. "We have to find the right balance. China is a rival on many issues, but at the same time it is also a partner on many issues," she said.

French President Emmanuel Macron insisted that NATO should not spread itself too thin and "skew" the relationship with China. "NATO is a military organisation, the subject of our relationship with China is not only military," he said, stressing NATO's north Atlantic focus.

Afghanistan

Looming large in the background for the summit was also the scramble to complete NATO's hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan after Biden surprised partners by ordering US troops home by September 11.

Biden discussed with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan an offer from Ankara to keep troops in the country to secure Kabul airport -- provided the US gave support. Erdogan announced no firm deal on the issue -- or any progress on the thorny dispute over Turkey's purchase of Russia's S-400 missile system.

But Erdogan insisted that he had held "fruitful and sincere" talks with his US counterpart. The final NATO summit statement did not mention Turkey's role at the airport, but did stress that the alliance would continue to pay to keep the facility open.

Much of the summit on Monday was dedicated to trying to forge a way forward by greenlighting a 2030 reform plan to revitalise an alliance that Macron warned in 2019 was undergoing "brain death". Allies endorsed a new cyber defence policy to tackle rising threats and agreed for the first time that an attack in space could trigger the Article 5 collective defence clause.

They also committed to increasing the alliance's budget and spending more on "common funding" -- but details remained sparse after opposition to increased spending led by France.
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LONG HILL TWP. - As the school year draws to a close, the Board of Education recognized seven retiring teachers and staff members for their se
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RANDOLPH TWP.  There was song, there was dance, there was jubilation Saturday as scores of residents collected in Brundage Park for the towns
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NEW MILFORD  On May 12, Procare Pharmacy, LLC hosted an outdoor celebration at Candlewood Valley Heath and Rehabilitation at 30 Park Lane East, New Milford, to recognize the skilled nursing facility winning the 2020 CMS Value-Based Purchasing Award.

The Value-Based Purchasing Award Program is a centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) program that awards incentive payments to skilled nursing facilities based on their performance on a single measure of all cause hospital re-admissions.
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Police tape placed at the scene of a shooting on Monday night in West Jefferson, Ohio, on Tuesday, May 25, 2021. Police say four bodies were found inside and outside a home after a shooting on a dead-end street in central Ohio, about 20 miles west of Columbus.
It appears that one of Mentors chain restaurant vacancies is about to be filled.
FILE - In this Oct. 30, 2019, file photo, Republican Ohio state Rep. Larry Householder, sits at the head of a legislative session as Speaker of the House, in Columbus, Ohio. The Ohio House will have its first hearing Thursday, June 10, 2021, for a resolution that would expel the former Republican speaker as he has been embroiled in a $60 million federal bribery scheme.
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Bioterrorism agents are pathogenic organisms or biological toxins that have the potential to cause disease and death in humans, animals, or plants. While these pathogens may not pose a threat to humans as they exist in nature, terrorists have the potential to use these agents to deliberately expose humans, animals, or plants to these compounds in acts of terrorism to kill or insight fear in the public.

Bioterrorism agents can be used as they are found in nature or can be modified to enhance their virulence, rendering them resistant to currently available antibiotics and vaccinations. To date, there have been several incidences of bioterrorism that have occurred around the world and throughout history. Here, we give a brief background on the use of bioterrorism agents, what they are, and how they may develop in the future.

Bioterrorism. Image Credit: Motortion Films/Shutterstock.com

A brief history of bioterrorism

Bioterrorism agents are classified as weapons of mass destruction (WMD). While this phrase became popular only in recent years, bioterrorism has been a threat to human society for centuries. Documented cases of bioterrorism go as far back as the 6th century BC, where fungus rye ergot was reportedly used by the Assyrians to poisoned the wells of their enemies.

During the 14th century, according to historical accounts, the Black Death reached Europe from the Crimea due to corpses being catapulted over the city wall during the siege of Caffa as a method of biological warfare. These historical methods of bioterrorism were widely researched during World War II and the Cold War to prepare for and plan to counteract potential bioterrorism attacks.

More recently, the US suffered its worse biological attack in history when letters laced with anthrax were sent in the US mail shortly after the terrorist attacks of 9/11. The attack resulted in five deaths and 17 injured. Following this, research into bioterrorism became a key focus of research, with the US government investing in expanding its resources and efforts into the study of biodefenses.

It is of great concern that as technology has advanced, so has its capacity for increasing the impact of bioterrorism attacks. Now, it is possible to genetically alter organisms, modifying them so that they meet specific requirements. While this technology has been developed for positive applications, such as developing new cancer treatments, there is the possibility for the technology to be hijacked by those planning attacks of bioterrorism to enhance the virulence of a pathogen to increase the detrimental impact of a hypothetical attack.

Currently identified bioterrorism agents

More than 65 different potential bioterrorism agents have been identified by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Here, we list some of the most well-known agents, along with the disease it causes: Bacillus anthracis, anthrax; Clostridium botulinum, botulism; Yersinia pestis, pneumonic plague; variola major, smallpox; Francisella tularensis, tularemia; arenaviruses, bunyaviruses, and filoviruses, viral hemorrhagic fevers; influenza, avian flu; Brucella species, brucellosis; Coxiella burnetii, Q-fever; rickettsia prowazekii, typhus; Burkholderia mallei, glanders; SARA-associated coronavirus, SARS; Ricinus communist, ricin; Eastern equine encephalitis, Western equine encephalitis, and Venezuelan equine encephalitis, viral encephalitis.

Anthrax. Image Credit: Kateryna Kon/Shutterstock.com

Potential bioterrorism agents

While several agents have already been used in acts of bioterrorism, which has given scientists the chance of predicting how future acts of bioterrorism with these agents may develop, allowing them to prevent and prepare to control and minimize the impact of such attacks, there is a great concern over the possibility for new agents to be developed with the use of modern technology.

Scientists fear the potential for known pathogenic viruses to be reconstructed with the result of enhancing their virulence. In the same vein, scientists are also concerned that with the use of new technology, brand new microorganisms may be developed, with the potential to release highly toxic chemicals into the body. It is feared that these new microorganisms may have the capability to modify the human microbiome or the human immune system, which would have devastating effects.

In addition to augmented and newly engineered pathogens, other major concerns for future agents of bioterrorism attacks include the new, highly potent strain of botulism, known as botulism H. Currently, there is no known treatment for botulism H, which is considered to be deadly. Scientists are also concerned about the potential development of antibiotic-resistant agents, which already infect over 2 million Americans annually, accounting for over 20,000 deaths each year. Worryingly, antibiotic resistance is increasing around the world, making antibiotic-resistant agents a rising concern.

Interestingly, coronaviruses have been on the watch list in recent years as potential new agents of bioterrorism. With the significant detrimental impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, scientists will likely keep an eye on this group of viruses and prepare to isolate and treat future outbreaks.

References:
Diverse messenger RNAs are produced in cells by alternative splicing. The Leducq Foundation is now supporting a transatlantic network dedicated to investigating this process in heart muscle cells and how changes in this process contribute to disease. Professor Michael Gotthardt of the MDC and Professor Leslie Leinwand of the University of Colorado Boulder are coordinating the project.

Despite advances in prevention and therapy, cardiovascular diseases are still one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Scientists have only recently begun to understand the key role of alternative splicing - the "stitching together" of messenger RNA during gene transcription - in cardiovascular diseases. The Leducq Foundation is providing 7 million U.S. dollars over the next five years to support the Cardiac Splicing as a Therapeutic Target (CASTT) project, which is comprised of six European and U.S. researchers. They will focus on examining the regulation and disease relevance of alternative splicing in different types of heart cells.

Our goals include mapping the path from splicing factor discovery to drug development, and creating a database that will make it easier in the future to incorporate complex splicing information into heart disease diagnostics." Professor Michael Gotthardt, group leader at the Max Delbruck Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC) and the European coordinator of CASTT

Professor Leslie Leinwand, biologist and founder of several successful BioPharma companies who is the North American Coordinator adds: "The Leducq Foundation allows us, as scientists and clinicians, to think outside the box of what is traditionally considered effective treatments for heart disease. It enables us to connect different research directions from animal models to patients with innovative genomic and computational approaches."

Other network members include Professor Euan Ashley, a cardiologist at Stanford University; Professor Maria Carmo-Fonseca, a cell and oncobiologist at the University of Lisbon; Professor Benjamin Meder, a cardiologist at Heidelberg University Hospital; and Professor Lars Steinmetz, a geneticist at the EMBL Heidelberg and Stanford University.

Splicing errors can cause heart disease

Heart muscle cells require a variety of proteins so that they can develop, contract, transmit electrical impulses to neighboring cells, and respond to external influences such as stress. The blueprints for producing these proteins are contained in the genes and are transcribed into messenger RNA (mRNA), which then carries this information to the cell's protein factories - the ribosomes.

Some cells, especially those of higher organisms, use a trick to produce a wide variety of protein molecules. The genes of these cells do not only encode one particular protein, but can serve as the blueprint for several proteins. Genes usually contain alternating coding segments called exons, and non-coding regions called introns. The latter can be removed as needed during transcription, while exons can be linked together in a variable fashion. This creates mRNAs with different exon compositions. This process, known as "alternative splicing," is executed by the spliceosome - a complex machinery made up of splicing factors and splicing regulators. Errors in the splicing process can lead to heart disease. "While remodeling processes dominate in the embryonic heart, allowing the heart to grow and mature, the most important processes at work in the adult heart are those that ensure effective pumping," explains Gotthardt. "In diseased hearts, however, we see gene expression patterns that partly transition back toward the embryonic state in terms of protein formation. As a result, the heart no longer operates within the normal range."

A heart for large meals

The researchers work both clinically as well as experimentally with human cell lines, artificial heart tissue, and animal models. In addition to mice, this includes Burmese pythons, because this powerful strangler is one of only a few living creatures capable of rapidly growing the size of its heart - within a day of swallowing its large prey. This increases blood flow and speeds up the distribution of nutrients throughout the reptile's body. The organ then shrinks back to its original size when digestion is completed. "We want to elucidate the very specific regulation of splicing processes in the python heart because we think these findings could be of therapeutic use - for example, in patients suffering from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which involves a thickening of the heart muscles," says Leinwand, chief scientific officer for the BioFrontiers Institute at University of Colorado Boulder.

The Leducq Foundation was created in 1996 in Paris by industrialist Jean Leducq and his wife Sylviane to drive forward transatlantic collaboration on cardiovascular disease and stroke research. Since then, the foundation has supported more than 70 international networks in these areas, involving more than 800 investigators at more than 100 institutions in 25 countries.
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has awarded LSU Health New Orleans School of Nursing a $1.25 million grant over five years to improve access to mental and behavioral health care. The funding will increase the number of psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners integrated into primary care settings and improve education and training for primary care nurse practitioners who encounter patients with substance abuse disorders, intimate partner, or exposure to other forms of violence, and depression, among other mental and behavioral health needs.

The project will increase the number of clinical training sites to promote the integration of behavioral health into primary care settings in medically underserved areas. More trained advance practice nurses in mental and behavioral health will help fill a gap in these high-demand services and increase access to care, particularly among children, adolescents and transitional-aged youth living in medically underserved areas.

Key elements of health disparities in Louisiana include a lack of access to mental health care, poverty, low educational levels, and a lack of health insurance coverage. Most children, adolescents, and transitional-aged youths receive Medicaid, which does cover mental health services, but because a significant percentage of this population lives in rural areas with few providers, they have little or no access to mental or behavioral health care.

The project will also increase the diversity of the nursing workforce by recruiting graduate students who are from underrepresented ethnic and/or disadvantaged backgrounds.

This grant will provide primary care and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner students enhanced clinical placement within community-based, integrated care clinics. Additionally, the grant will provide psychiatric mental health NP students with tuition relief and an immersive clinical experience over three semesters with potential psychiatric mental health NP employers." Leanne Fowler, DNP, MBA, APRN, AGACNP-BC, CNE, Project Leader, Director of Nurse Practitioner (NP) Programs at LSU Health New Orleans School of Nursing

A 2020 Mental Health America report ranks Louisiana 45th for overall mental health care, demonstrating that the state has a high prevalence of mental illness and scarce resources and access to care. Rankings also indicate that Louisiana ranks 21st for mental illness among youth. Data indicate that 52.7% of youth in Louisiana who had experienced a Major Depressive Episode did not receive mental health care, and in the last year, only 9% of children (age 3 -17) in the state have received treatment or counseling for mental health from a mental health provider.

Psychiatric mental health and primary care Nurse Practitioners are an essential component of the health care system. To recognize mental health issues and other disparities in Louisiana residents, it is imperative that psychiatric mental health and primary care NP students be prepared to meet the unique needs and challenges of caring for all populations, but especially among medically underserved populations. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, the demand for mental health providers will exceed supply by 2025 in the United States.

"I am very encouraged that this opportunity will contribute greatly to building the capacity of a primary care NP and psychiatric mental health NP workforce in Louisiana - a state with a tremendous primary care and mental health workforce deficit," adds Dr. Fowler.
Nearly 12,000 people in Sweden received sickness benefit from the Swedish Social Insurance Agency for COVID-19 during the first wave of the pandemic. The median duration of sick leave in this group was 35 days, but for many it was considerably more long-drawn-out, according to a University of Gothenburg study.

A research group in rehabilitation medicine at the University of Gothenburg has studied sick-leave patterns. The study now presented in the scientific journal BMC Public Health.

The study included all recipients of sickness benefit from the Social Insurance Agency for COVID-19 diagnoses in Sweden during the first pandemic wave, from 1 March to 31 August 2020, and monitored them for 4 months from the start of the sick-leave period.

Sickness benefit from the Swedish Social Insurance Agency is normally paid from day 15 of a sick-leave period. People whose sick leave lasted two weeks or less, with sick pay from the employer, were not included in the study.

Data from the Social Insurance Agency, the National Board of Health and Welfare, and Statistics Sweden were used. Describing sick leaves is a way to investigate the impact of diseases on society and individuals, but few other studies have specifically looked at this repercussion of the pandemic.

The results show that 11,955 people received sickness benefit for COVID-19 during the first wave. For a sizable proportion, sick leave was lengthy. The median time was 35 days, and for 9% sick leave was still underway at the end of the follow-up period, i.e., after 4 months.

The proportion of participants who were on sick leave for more than 12 weeks, i.e., those who may have been affected by what is known as "long-term COVID-19," was 13.3%.

Inpatient hospital care for COVID-19 was the strongest predictor of prolonged sick leave. Another major factor was sick leave in the previous year, 2019. Age, too, appears to have a bearing on the duration of sick leave.

However, the study showed no socioeconomic factors that clearly and consistently predicted long-drawn-out sick leave.

The research group behind the study belongs to the Department of Clinical Neuroscience at the Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, and Sahlgrenska University Hospital. Hanna C Persson is the study's corresponding author.

The results indicate that the category of people who had been on long-term sick leave due to COVID-19 is heterogeneous, and that the disease is complex. For us to understand the whole picture, more studies are needed in this subject, and with a longer follow-up period." Hanna C Persson, Corresponding Author
Researchers have found that the variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that were initially identified in South Africa (B.1.351) and Brazil (P.1) appear to be spreading more quickly in some areas of France than the previously dominant UK variant B.1.1.7.

The SARS-CoV-2 virus is the agent responsible for the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic that has now claimed the lives of more than 3.8 million people globally.

The team found that since the period between January and March 2021, when the transmission advantage of B.1.1.7 was larger than that of B.1351, that trend appears to have shifted in at least two French regions during April. The B.1.351 and P.1 lineages showed a significant transmission advantage over B.1.1.7 in the regions between April 12th and May 7th.

The researchers say that since one of these regions  Ile-de-France  has been one of the most impacted by the epidemic to date, it is possible that a shift in variants with a transmission advantage is occurring there due to the high proportion of individuals who have acquired immunity to SARS-CoV-2 through previous infection.

The team from Cerba Laboratory in Saint Ouen LAumone, Montpellier University Hospital and the University of Montpellier says that, given the ongoing relaxation of control measures in June, the findings call for particular care to be taken regarding vaccination rollout and the maintenance of non-pharmaceutical interventions until vaccine coverage reaches levels that are compatible with spontaneous regression of the epidemic.

SARS-CoV-2: severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; VOC: variant of concern; VOI: variant of interest. a Only regions with more than 400 respective tests are shown. b Characterisation as wild type SARS-CoV-2 is based on the absence of both N501Y and E484K mutations. c Characterisation as B.1.351 and/or P.1 lineage (VOC  and/or ) is based on the presence of both N501Y and E484K mutations. d Characterisation as B.1.525 lineage (VOI ) is based on the simultaneous absence of N501Y and presence of E484K mutation. e Characterisation as B.1.1.7 lineage (VOC ) is based on the simultaneous presence of N501Y and absence of E484K mutation. The number of tests performed is indicated in each panel. For each day, the different colours indicate the proportion of tests belonging to each of the four screening categories (these sum to 1.0 every day). Regions with few tests can exhibit strong variations in frequencies for some days (e.g. Occitanie for days with only B.1.525 detected).

More about the variants of concern so far identified

The SARS-CoV-2 variants of concerns (VOCs) that have emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic are phenotypically distinct lineages associated with major epidemiological or clinical shifts.

To date, four viral lineages have been classified as VOCs by the World Health Organization. The first emerged in the UK (B.1.1.7) and is currently causing the majority of infections in Europe and North America. The second emerged in South Africa (B.1.351), where it is currently the most common strain. The third variant  P.1  dominates in Brazil and South America, and the fourth  B.1.617.2  caused a major epidemic wave in India.

Since January 2021, national guidelines have required that all clinical samples testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 undergo additional reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing to detect mutations indicative of certain variants.

Since April 2021, this variant-specific testing has targeted the N501Y mutation that is shared by the B.1.1.7, B.1.351 and P.1 lineages and the E484K mutation shared by B.1.351, P.1, and the B.1.525 variant of interest (VOI) that emerged in Denmark.

What did the current study involve?

To investigate the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 variants in France, Samuel Alizon and colleagues analyzed the results of 36,590 variant-specific RT-PCR tests that were performed on samples between April 12th and May 7th, 2021, in 13 regions of the country.

As reported in the journal Eurosurveillance, the dominant lineage in most regions was B.1.1.7, which made up 79.1% of viruses detected.

Other prevalent lineages included B.1.351 (7.9%,), B.1.525 (4.4%) and B.1.214 (2.3%). The latter, which was first identified in Switzerland, is not yet classified as a VOC, but is currently undergoing monitoring. Other lineages made up less than 2% of the samples, including P.1 (0.6%).

The B.1.351 and P.1 lineages were most frequently detected in the Ile-de-France and Hauts-de-France regions.

For all regions, the risk of being infected with a wildtype or B.1.525 variant were either the same or lower than the risk of being infected with B.1.1.7.

However, the risk of being infected by B.1.351 or P.1 rather than B.1.1.7 significantly increased over time in Ile-de France and Hauts-de-France.

For B.1.351 and P.1, the team identified a transmission advantage over B.1.1.7 of 15.8% in Ile-de-France and 17.3% in Hauts-de-France.

How does this compare to findings earlier in the year?

The team had previously analyzed the results of variant-specific tests on samples obtained between January and March 2021. That study revealed that B.1.1.7s transmission advantage over wildtype lineages was more significant than that of B.1.351.

During April 2021, in at least two French regions, this trend appears to have shifted, with B.1.351 and possibly P.1 spreading more rapidly than B.1.1.7, says Alizon and colleagues.

The researchers point out that the B.1.351 lineage has already been shown to escape vaccine- or infection-induced immunity.

With Ile-de-France being one of the French regions the most impacted to date by the epidemic, it is possible that a shift in variants with a transmission advantage is occurring there because of the high proportion of individuals with immunity acquired through prior-SARS-CoV-2-infections, they suggest.

More detailed analyses are needed

The team also points out that the coverage resulting from the COVID-19 vaccination rollout is homogeneous among French regions.

Alizon and colleagues say the findings call for more detailed analyses of the link between the transmission advantage of B.1.351 and the proportion of the population that is immune to SARS-CoV-2 (following infection or vaccination) in different French regions.

Given the progressive lifting of the control measures in June 2021 in France, these results call for particular care regarding vaccination rollout and the maintenance of non-pharmaceutical prevention until vaccine coverage reaches levels compatible with spontaneous regression of the epidemic, they conclude.
Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive disease in which malignant cells form in the tissues of the pancreas, a long and flat gland located behind the stomach that helps with digestion and blood sugar regulation. Because pancreatic cancer is difficult to detect early, it is associated with a low survival rate, accounting for just over 3% of all new cancer cases in the U.S., but leading to nearly 8% of all cancer deaths, according to the National Cancer Institute.

Through a pre-clinical study conducted in his former role at Moffitt Cancer Center and published in Clinical Cancer Research, Said Sebti, Ph.D., associate director for basic research at VCU Massey Cancer Center, identified a novel drug that effectively thwarts pancreatic tumors that are addicted to the cancer-causing mutant KRAS gene. Sebti recently met with clinical colleagues at Massey to discuss evaluating the drug in clinical trials in patients whose pancreatic tumors harbor mutant KRAS.

We discovered a link between hyperactivation of the CDK protein and mutant KRAS addiction, and we exploited this link preclinically to counter mutant KRAS-driven pancreatic cancer, warranting clinical investigation in patients afflicted with this deadly disease. Our findings are highly significant as they revealed a new avenue to combat an aggressive form of pancreatic cancer with very poor prognosis due mainly to its resistance to conventional therapies." Said M. Sebti, Lacy Family Chair in Cancer Research at Massey and Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology, VCU School of Medicine

KRAS is mutated in 90 percent of pancreatic cancers. Previous research from the Sebti lab and other labs has demonstrated that some tumors that harbor mutant KRAS are actually addicted to the mutant gene, meaning they cannot survive or grow without it. Sebti set out to discover if there is a drug that can specifically kill tumors that are addicted to mutant KRAS.

Sebti and collaborators used three scientific approaches to try and answer this question.

First, they mapped out the blueprint of pancreatic cancer cells through global phosphoproteomics, which gave them a snapshot of how the addicted and non-addicted tumors differ at the phosphoprotein level. They found two proteins -- CDK1 and CDK2 -- which were indicative of which cells were addicted to mutant KRAS.

Additionally, they analyzed a comprehensive database from the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard that contains genome-wide CRISPR gRNA screening datasets. They found that CDK1 and CDK2 as well as CDK7 and CDK9 proteins were associated with mutant KRAS-addicted tumors.

Lastly, they evaluated the ability of a library of 294 FDA drugs to selectively kill mutant KRAS-addicted cancer cells over non-KRAS-addicted cancer cells in the lab and determined the most effective drug in preclinical experiments was AT7519, an inhibitor of CDK1, CDK2, CDK7 and CDK9.

"Using three entirely different approaches, the same conclusion presented itself clearly to us: pancreatic cancer patients whose tumors are addicted to mutant KRAS could benefit greatly from treatment with the CDK inhibitor AT7519," Sebti said.

To further validate these findings in fresh patient-derived tumors from pancreatic cancer patients, Sebti collaborated on this study with Jose Trevino, M.D., surgeon-in-chief and the Walter Lawrence, Jr., Distinguished Professorship in Oncology at Massey who was at the University of Florida at the time. They found that AT7519 suppressed the growth of xenograft cells from five mutant KRAS pancreatic cancer patients who relapsed on chemotherapy and/or radiation therapies.

AT7519 has previously been tested unsuccessfully in a number of clinical trials, but none of the trials targeted pancreatic cancer.

"If our findings are correct and translate in humans, then we should be able to see a positive response in pancreatic cancer patients whose tumors are addicted to mutant KRAS," Sebti said.

The study authors believe that, in addition to pancreatic cancer, these findings may also have clinical implications for colorectal and non-small cell lung cancer patients where mutations in KRAS are prevalent.
The rapid spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. To date, the virus has claimed more than 3.8 million lives worldwide.

The reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is considered the gold standard for detecting SARS-CoV-2 in upper and lower respiratory specimens as well as for diagnosing COVID-19.

Researchers have stated even though the neutralizing antibodies are found in the sera several months post COVID-19 recovery, the duration of its presence is not yet known.

Many cases have been reported where patients' PCR results turned negative after their symptoms resolved and a second PCR showed a positive result.

Based on the genomic analysis of COVID-19 reinfected patients, it appears that they were reinfected as opposed to not clearing the initial infection. However, a research gap exists regarding genomic evaluations.

Reinfection is determined by the presence of two positive molecular tests separated by a negative test and a time gap, along with the recurrence of clinical symptoms.

New research published on the medRxiv* preprint server provides a detailed analysis of COVID-19 patients who had repeated positive PCR tests for SARS-CoV-2 infection in a large US COVID-19 electronic health record (EHR) database. Additionally, researchers of the present study characterized the demographic and clinical data including SARS-CoV-2 test reports, symptoms, medication, and complications associated with COVID-19 disease.

This research has been conducted following the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention Common Investigation Protocol for Investigating Suspected SARS-CoV-2 Reinfection.

In this study, scientists characterized the clinical and testing data of 23 patients obtained from a large electronic health record database. These patients had shown repetitive positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test results, more than sixty days apart, separated by two consecutive negative tests.

The clinical symptoms related to severe COVID-19 disease were ascertained. The median age of the candidates was 64.5 years. Among the 23 candidates, 40% were Black, and 39% were female. Additionally, the majority of the candidates, i.e., 83%, smoked within the preceding year. In terms of health, 61% of the candidates were obese, and 83% had immune compromising conditions.

More than 96% had more than two comorbidities, which included hypertension and diabetes. Among the 23 patients, 19 patients were COVID-19 positive with 60-89 days in between two positive PCR tests and 4 patients showed positive PCR tests, with more than 90 days between two positive tests.

Researchers revealed that in most cases, i.e., over 70% of patients hospitalized during the first positive test were also admitted to the hospital at the second test. This may be because in most cases, reinfection was not associated with less severe disease.

COVID-19 RT-PCR testing and clinical journey for 23 patients with repeatedly positive tests

The study revealed that the percentage of immune-compromised patients, such as advanced stage renal disease on dialysis, solid organ transplant, and cancer, were more in the study population who were affected by COVID-19 compared to the general population without COVID-19. Researchers have revealed that reinfection may be due to increased clinical conditions related to the immune defect.

Researchers also revealed that immune-compromised populations with COVID-19 are at a high risk of getting affected more severely by the disease.

A similar observation was found among patients with a functional kidney transplant, undergoing dialysis, or alcohol-related liver disease.

These observations align with previous observational prospective studies conducted in Madrid, which showed increased mortality and deteriorating liver functions in patients with cirrhosis and COVID-19.

The previous study had shown an average of 101 days between first and second positive tests. Also, viral genomic sequences strongly exhibited reinfection rather than failure to clear an initial infection.

The current study adds to the previous observations by reporting that reinfections may be a common occurrence. However, as most of the patients in the Optum dataset did not have repeated tests after COVID-19 diagnosis, researchers failed to conclude the true incidence rate of recurrent detectable SARS-CoV-2.

One of the current analysis limitations is the lack of data on RT-PCR platforms or semi-quantitative RT-PCR cycle threshold (Ct) values. Nonetheless, candidates included in the present study satisfied the CDC criteria and based on the current data, cases were classified as reinfection instead of relapse of COVID-19 disease. However, researchers failed to determine if COVID-19 was the primary diagnosis associated with hospitalization, if patients were incidentally found to be SARS-CoV-2 positive post-hospitalization for other ailments, or if patients exhibited symptoms during their hospital stay.

Despite the limitations, the present study has provided a comprehensive characterization of a large EHR database across the US. The outcome of this research could help prioritize patients who show signs of reinfection.

More research is required in the future to assess the possibility of reinfection by degree and type of immunosuppressive condition, the severity of disease, etc.

*Important Notice

medRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information.
Thought Leaders Professor Peter M Nilsson Clinical Cardiovascular Research Lund University

In this interview, News-Medical spoke to Professor Peter M Nilsson about cardiovascular disease risk and whether this is affected by the number of siblings you have.

Please can you introduce yourself and tell us about what led you to begin this research?

I am a Professor of Clinical Cardiovascular Research at the Lund University in Sweden. We already know that a positive family history of cardiovascular disease is something important to ask patients about.

My interest in sibling number and rank in relation to cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk is linked to the broader concept of family history.

What did you find about the link between sibling number and rank, and cardiovascular events?

We found that the first-born child seems to have a somewhat lower risk for cardiovascular events than later-born siblings. This could be linked to both biological, social, and psychological factors of being the firstborn.

Such people have more attention from parents and are expected to do their best, often resulting in higher social positions and a better income. This translates into a healthier lifestyle and perhaps also stronger self-control according to the avoidance of smoking or alcohol abuse.

Siblings. Image Credit: Brocreative/Shutterstock.com

It is long recognized that family history is a significant factor in cardiovascular health. This research suggests that immediate and present family can also have an impact. What could this mean for how we view cardiovascular health?

Cardiovascular disease often runs in families, but the genetic influence is often just minor. Instead, environmental influences, shared environment, and sibling relations could shape the conditions for healthy or unhealthy behaviors early in life.

What other health issues did you look at and what did you find?

In fact, the first-born siblings had a slight but significantly increased total mortality risk as compared to second- or third-born siblings.

The reason for this is not clear but could be influenced by some occupational hazards if first-born siblings act as leaders in risky circumstances or suffer from mental health problems, outcomes that we have no data on which is why this is pure speculation. Further research is needed.

How could this concept of immediate family affecting the prevalence of disease relate to other areas of health?

Another link is the mother-child link in the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) concept focusing on the early life influences of adult cardiometabolic risk. This mother-child link is not only a biological link but is also a social and psychological link that may be modified by factors such as the sex of the child, parity, or the health of the child. Siblings both collaborate and play with each other, but also compete for resources and the attention of the parents.

How could health policies and how they support families and children influence this data from country to country?

First of all, a deeper scientific understanding is a legitimate goal in itself, but family policies are at the core of the social policy program of every government.

One example is China, where a one-child strategy for families was upheld for a long time but now has shifted to a more liberal attitude to have more children. As selective abortion played a role, there is now a generation of young Chinese boys and young men that grow up in one-child families, and as more boys than girls survived, there will be a mate-finding problem in the future for many of these boys.

Growing up with siblings is common in most parts of the world and that creates an environment for language and motor development when younger siblings learn from their older brothers and sisters.

What limitations were there in the study?

We lack data on cardiovascular risk factors on the individual level (blood pressure, lipids, smoking) because national registers do not include this data from health screenings.

This data was based on men and women born from 1932 to 1960. Would you expect different results from later generations growing up and experiencing cardiovascular problems?

Yes, there are generational differences as a reflection of so-called birth cohort characteristics. People like me who were born in the 1950s have had mothers who attended preventive maternal health care, and we attended preventive child and school care, a fact that did not apply to our parental generation born in the 1920s.

In addition, family structure, norms, and economy have changed due to national policies to support families and offer extra subsidies for each newborn child. Such things may impact social roles among siblings, and this also concerns the role of schooling when modern children (siblings) spend relatively more time at school (away from their siblings) than in the past.

Cardiovascular Health Concept. Image Credit: Brian A Jackson/Shutterstock.com

What biological mechanisms do you propose could be behind your results, and how could genetic versus environmental factors come into play?

First-born siblings are at a higher risk during delivery because the mother has not given birth before. That can cause obstetric problems and health risks. However, if the firstborn survives he or she has young parents who can offer a lot of attention (and food) to the newborn child.

The sex ratio is a biological factor and is influenced by parity and maternal age. I cite from Wikipedia;

In an extensive study, carried out around 2005, of sex ratio at birth in the United States from 1940 over 62 years, statistical evidence suggested the following:

For mothers having their first baby, the total sex ratio at birth was 1.06 overall, with some years at 1.07.

For mothers having babies after the first, this ratio consistently decreased with each additional baby from 1.07 towards 1.03.

The age of the mother affected the ratio:

the overall ratio was 1.05 for mothers aged 25 to 35 at the time of birth

mothers who were below the age of 15 or above 40 had babies with a sex ratio ranging between 0.94 and 1.11, and a total sex ratio of 1.05

What does it mean that your study was observational and how could the results be applied appropriately and beneficially?

Large register-based studies like ours are, by nature, observational. This is like taking a photo and seeing lights and shadows, but maybe not everything. This is why causality cannot be proven. It may also have some limitations because it was carried out in the Swedish population that is rather wealthy and has been spared from war for over 200 years.

In addition, Swedish family policies are generous towards families and support for children. Thus the findings may be somewhat different in other populations living in relatively less affluent societies that apply different policies for families or schooling.

What is the next step for your research?

It would be interesting to use information from the Medical Birth Register (starting from 1973 in Sweden) in order to add information on early life factors. Another such register is the Military conscript testing register with data from a health examination and cognitive testing viewpoint in young men and more recently also young women.

We know that sibling relations last longer in life than the relations with our parents, so this should be studied further.

A special case of siblings is to be a twin. In Sweden, as in several other countries, we have a very sophisticated national Twin Register that could be used to study relations not only between twins themselves but also towards other siblings (non-twins) and whether that could impact cardiovascular risk or not. It is well-known that identical twins have a more similar risk profile than unrelated twins.

Where can readers find more information?

Nilsson PM, Sundquist J, Sundquist K, Li X. Sibling rank and sibling number in relation to cardiovascular disease and mortality risk: a nationwide cohort study. BMJ Open. 2021 May 25;11(6):e042881. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-042881. PMID: 34035122.

https://ki.se/en/research/the-swedish-twin-registry

https://dohadsoc.org/

About Professor Peter M Nilsson

I involve myself in research on the epidemiology of cardiovascular risk linked to early life factors (DOHaD) but also to aging. Some people tend to be biologically older than their chronological age indicates and this also affects the arterial system, so-called Early Vascular Ageing (EVA) - a concept that I have developed with colleagues in Paris.

My next step is to look for models of high risk but no events, i.e. patients with a high cardiovascular risk factor burden but no or delayed cardiovascular events. Investigating these lucky escapers can hopefully bring us new insights about protective mechanisms - and new potential drug targets in the future. Could sibling rank be part of this protection?
insights from industry Mark Bumiller Technology Manager Entegris

In this interview, Mark Bumiller, Technology Manager at Entegris talks to News Medical Life Sciences about the role nanoparticles can play in drug delivery.

Could you give our readers some background on Entegris?

With over 50 years of experience, Entegris is a global leader in Advanced Materials Science and strives to help customers utilize advanced science-based solutions to support and innovate faster and more efficiently.

How are nanoparticles typically defined?

Typically when we talk about nanoparticles, we talk about particles where one of the dimensions is in the range of 1 to 100 nm. Both the ISO definition and the ASTM definition align with this measurement range.

The European Commission has a more complicated definition because they are more concerned with toxicity and exposure to consumers from manufactured nanomaterials than nanoparticles used for drug delivery. The Commission states that 50% of the particle distribution should be between 1 and 100 nanometers, with specific risk assessments required based on this figure.

While nanoparticles are generally considered to have at least one dimension under 100 nm, that definition sometimes gets stretched in terms of the upper size limit. For instance, Wikipedias information on nanoparticles for drug delivery for the brain provides a definition which states that particles with one dimension between 10 to 1000 nm (1 micron) can be understood to be nanoparticles.

Image Credit: Shutterstock/lookerstudio

Can you provide an example of a typical nanoparticle application, for example, in vaccines?

Looking at typical nanoparticles is another way of defining these. For example, a solid lipid nanoparticle could be used to encapsulate a drug or things like the messenger RNA present in the vaccines that we are taking.

There is a single layer of a phospholipid on the exterior surface. This makes the particle hydrophilic, allowing us to effectively hide organic molecules inside the particle. This particle will also be comfortable in an aqueous dispersion.

When we work at the nanoscale, we can also do interesting things on the surface of particles. For example, we can functionalize the surface, adding ligands targeting antibodies, drugs, or peptides. This helps the particles seek out things like tumors to selectively adhere to that surface to deliver the therapeutic payload.

What are some key advantages of working at the nanoscale?

There are various advantages to working at the nanoscale. One of the key benefits is an improvement in the surface area to volume ratio. For example, if we look at the example of three cubes, each time we halve the size of a cube, we see an increase in surface area to volume ratio. As we move to smaller sizes, we gain proportionally more surface area for a given volume or given mass of the drug particle.

This is important because, at these smaller sizes, more of the atoms are actually on the surface of the particle. More atoms on the surface of the particle will mean that the particle will be more reactive.

Particles at these smaller scales will also start to acquire unique properties; for example, some drugs exhibit better water solubility at a smaller scale, enabling higher circulation time of the drug through the patient. We are also better able to fine-tune the drugs controlled release properties.

How important are accurate size measurements in ensuring drug solubility and bioavailability?

Accurate size measurement is critical. A lot of new drugs never get their approval because of poor water solubility, so by decreasing the size, you can improve the solubility and the bioavailability of drugs while better ensuring they meet regulatory requirements.

For example, reducing the size from 100 microns down to 10 microns, then down to 100 nm will lead to a significant increase in the surface enlargement factor. We also start to see quicker dissolution at this scale, and this can be understood using the NoyesWhitney equation.

Overall, there is a direct relationship between the size of the particle and the dissolution rate. Being able to measure the size of particles accurately can help us to predict these dissolution rates. It is worth noting that at smaller sizes, we often need to stabilize the drugs - this is often done by adding surfactants to the surface of the particles.

Image Credit: Shutterstock/EMkaruna

How does the Entegris Nicomp support particle size measurements at the nanoscale?

The Entegris Nicomp provides us with a lot of data on nanoparticles. The instrument offers two algorithms for use with using dynamic light scattering. Gaussian distribution will always set the results against a single symmetric peak. There is also a proprietary Nicomp algorithm, which splits that result into two individual peaks. This algorithm can also resolve peaks that are very close, allowing different distributions to be identified, even when their sizes are relatively close to one another.

This information is especially important information when formulating and processing these drugs, as it offers the ability to understand whether or not we are dealing with a single peak or multiple peaks in the distribution of the particles being processed.

Image Credit: Entegris

Can you give our readers an overview of the principles of dynamic light scattering?

Dynamic light scattering (DLS) is the most popular technique for performing size measurements at the nanoscale, though some people do use TEM and some other novel techniques to try to acquire these particle sizes.

In dynamic light scattering, particles move according to a random thermal motion that we call Brownian motion. Small particles move faster and larger particles move slower. A conventional DLS system includes a number of standard components.

The light source projects light into the sample, while a detector (sitting at 90 degrees) will count photons, measuring a change in count rate due to the Brownian motion of the particles. This will build up as a correlation function. The Stokes-Einstein equation can then be used to convert this diffusion coefficient and calculate the radius of the particle.

Overall this is a fairly easy technique, though people sometimes struggle with sample preparation and data interpretation.

What are some current and recent trends in the market for drugs at the nanoscale?

As well as a wide range of current drugs being on the market, there is also a lot of R&D taking place. In terms of sales of the Nicomp instrument in the pharmaceutical industry, at least 50% of these sales are to research organizations and research universities where researchers are working to create new drugs, or investigating drugs currently under development.

There are already drugs out in the field and saving lives that are based on the nanoscale, with many of these employing liposomes and polymers. Nanocrystals are also popular, and these originally came from the Elan nanocrystal milling technique. We also see a range of inorganic particles, micelles and proteins used in current drugs.

Liposomes were first discovered and formulated in 1965. The first nanoparticle drug that entered the market was Doxil or Doxorubicin, which came about in 1995. The Doxil drug was encapsulated into a liposome delivery device, with various other drugs also using liposomal bases, such as Myocet, Marqibo, Genexols and micelle.

Other current examples of nanoparticles in pharmaceuticals include the NanoTherm treatment (which uses an iron oxide nanoparticle) and the BIND-014 particle (a block copolymer of polyethylene glycol and PLGA).

What approaches are used to fine-tune controlled release qualities in drugs at the nanoscale?

When we work with the nanoscale, we can try to fine-tune the controlled release qualities of drugs. To do this we need to look at the pharmacokinetic data for the nanoparticle in question. We tend to report the drug concentration in the patient as a function of time, and in many standard examples this will drop down to zero fairly quickly.

However, if we take an identical dose of the drug and encapsulate this in something like the BIND-014 nanoparticle, the concentration of the drug in the patient will last much longer, allowing the drug to keep recirculating and continuing to address whatever issue it is designed to address. This improves the profile of the drug concentration, hitting the places where it needs to provide therapeutic benefit to the patient.

Another useful technique is to use an oil-soluble lipid layer. This can be used to effectively hide drugs that are oil-soluble, or drugs that are water-soluble in the hydrophilic core, allowing us to deliver both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs within an aqueous suspension. We can also undertake service modification to help targeted delivery.

What is zeta potential and how does the Nicomp DLS system make this available for drug discovery applications?

Zeta potential has existed as a concept for quite some time, with instruments designed to measure zeta potential now being fairly common.

If a particle has a negative charge on the surface, it will attract positive ions, which will build up. Negative ions are then attracted to the positive ions, building up something referred to as an electric double layer.

Zeta potential can be understood as a potential, measured in millivolts a slight distance from the surface of the particle. We call this distance the slipping plane, and at that distance, those ions move with the particle when it moves.

We measure this by placing the particle in a cell and using electrodes to apply an electric field. The direction that the particle moves in tells us whether it is positively or negatively charged, and we can measure the speed the particle moves at to determine the magnitude of the charge. This is another fairly simple measurement to make.

The Journal of Controlled Release recently published data relating to zeta potential in terms of particle size. The study in question looked at the stability of a series of nanoparticles, specifically a mixture of calcium phosphate with a lipid coating. The study discovered that by altering the ratio of the calcium phosphate to liposome in the mixture, it was actually possible to fine-tune the surface charge of the particle.

The surface charge of the particle was measured, with the researchers discovering that while this started out with a negative charge, as the ratio of calcium phosphate to liposome was changed, it went from a negative charge through a point where there was zero zeta potential, finally ending up with a positive 40 millivolts of zeta potential.

Two things are important here. Being able to fine-tune the surface charge is important because, with this particular drug, the zeta positive potential improved both the ability for increased drug loading while also optimizing the drugs ability to cross cell membranes during delivery.

If you have no charge on the surface of the particle, then particles can actually get close enough to start aggregating. That means that, generally, if we want to formulate stable dispersions of particles, we need to have some sort of charge, either negative or positive. Zero zeta potential usually exhibits the least stability, so this should be avoided.

We can perform the measurements I have just mentioned using dynamic light scattering. Some particles do not scatter much light, however, so one way to challenge any DLS instrument is to attempt to measure these particles.

When I first joined the company, I had struggled with making these measurements when using other instruments in the past. I started to challenge the Nicomp with lysozyme at 0.1 mg/mL, and in one experiment, after starting at 9:00 am, I had all the data I needed by 2:00 pm. I was impressed by the sensitivity of the Nicomp and its ability to perform measurements at low concentrations.

Can you give our readers some examples of DLS measurements in practical applications?

In a recent publication from the International Journal of Nanomedicine, the Nicomp was used to optimize the processing of liposomes, particularly in determining their polydispersive index - polydispersity is a calculation of the width of the distribution.

This experiment used a homogenizer to attempt to standardize particle distribution as much as possible. The results confirmed a decrease in size as the pressure of the homogenizer increased. This data was helpful in terms of optimizing the ideal pressure at which to run the homogenizer.

As particles continued to cycle through the homogenizer, they kept reducing the size. When processing the liposomes using a homogenizer or microfluidizer, this is adding the energy required to enable self-assembly. Users can then take measurements and tweak the process, repeating this as necessary.

This example made use of a lab measurement to help control the process, but this technique can also be applied to conduct measurements directly in the process. Another example using BIND nanoparticles (a PLA-PEG block copolymer) required the use of a homogenization step in the process, inserting this with a view to creating these nanoparticles at a scale of about 100 nanometers.

The system in question used fluid processing to adjust the stream from downstream of the homogenizer. A diluent source was used to dilute the sample for the measurement. Measurement was taken using a DLS system. This case study also revealed that an increase in pressure in the homogenizer resulted in a decrease in particle size.

After running the experiment several times and performing a correlation study, the study found that the result was a 9 nm change in particle size per 1000 psig change in pressure.

The researchers later attempted to process a batch to explore this further. In the beginning, the particle size reduced to about 94 nm - slightly too small. Based on the results of the previous experiment, it was possible to specifically adjust the pressure until the particle size was closer to the desired 100 nm.

A third experiment involved a clinical scale study. Throughout this process, all of the particles were very close to the perfect size of 100 nm. This is an important consideration because it means that drug manufacturers processing this particular product can be confident that 100% of the product is within specification.

This is even more crucial when the value of that product is very high; for example with many of the experimental drugs currently under development.

Where do you see DLS and nanoparticle-based drug discovery going next?

Around 95% of all DLS measurements are still being performed in laboratory settings, but our Florida office is currently building a number of systems designed for experimentation and implementation in processes. It is possible to perform DLS measurements in process and in real-time, so this is an exciting development for the technology and the field.

There is a lot of interesting R&D and implementation currently taking place in developing nanoparticles to be used for drug delivery. Particle size is a key issue, and to make those measurements accurately it is important to use the best possible tool.

The Entegris Nicomp DLS system can measure size and zeta potential with very high resolution. Entegris also offers a whole product line designed to measure oversized particles - the AccuSizer - that can complement the Nicomp DLS system where required.

About Entegris

For over 35 years, the Entegris AMH Instrumentation team has been committed to helping customers find solutions to their particle sizing problems. We offer products with unique capabilities that can size particles from single-digit nanoparticles to particles that are thousands of microns in diameter. Whether you need a particle size distribution or to find that needle in a haystack, our team of engineers and sales staff are available to provide the product knowledge and scientific expertise necessary to solve your sizing issues.
Commissioner for Belt & Road Denis Yip (left) and Economic Affairs Department Deputy Director-General and Commercial Office of the Liaison Office Head Liu Yajun (right) speak at the webinar.

The Government today held a webinar for Hong Kong enterprises which are interested in expanding their businesses in the Mainlands overseas Economic & Trade Co-operation Zones in Malaysia and Thailand.

The webinar was organised by the Commerce & Economic Development Bureaus Belt & Road Office and the Commercial Office of the Economic Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

It aims to enhance participants understanding of prevailing local investment policies, facilities and supporting services, as well as preferential terms of the zones concerned.

Around 400 people registered to participate in todays webinar which introduced the Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park in Malaysia and the Thai-Chinese Rayong Industrial Zone in Thailand.

Commissioner for Belt & Road Denis Yip spoke at the webinar with Economic Affairs Department Deputy Director-General and Commercial Office of the Liaison Office Head Liu Yajun.

Mr Yip pointed out that many enterprises had been re-examining their modes of operation and production, and creating new business opportunities in the face of external challenges brought by the uncertainties in the global economy and geopolitical changes.

The Mainlands overseas zones provide enterprises with an ideal entry point to the Belt & Road, he added.

Mr Yip noted the five zones identified in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Cambodia could represent a better fit for Hong Kong enterprises.

The bureau has been discussing with the Ministry of Commerce possible facilitation measures for Hong Kong enterprises and ways to help them develop their businesses in the zones on a pilot basis.

Ministry of Commerce Department of Outward Investment & Economic Cooperation Deputy Director General Li Yongjun introduced the overall situation of overseas zones.

The management of the two zones in Malaysia and Thailand briefed the participants on their state of play, while representatives of enterprises from the zones shared their local investment experiences.

The second webinar will be held on June 22 to introduce the three zones in Indonesia and Cambodia.
Funeral services for Thomas Armond "Tommy" Ritch, 72, will be Friday, June 11 at 11 a.m. from the Chapel of Kilgroe Funeral Home. Interment to followe at Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Cemetery in Gallant. The family will receive friends on Friday from 10 a.m. until service time at funeral home
Jeffersonville, IN (47130)

Today

Partly cloudy skies. High near 80F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

A mostly clear sky. Low 58F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph.
Teachers and staff at Silver Creek High School left handwritten notes to high school seniors in March 2020 as the students collected books and supplies during spring break. The school switched to eLearning the next week because of the coronavirus pandemic.
(Newser)  The theory that COVID-19 leaked from a lab in Wuhan has been getting a lot more attention in recent weeksand so has the lab's most famous virologist. Dr. Shi Zhengli, nicknamed the "Bat Lady" for her work researching bat coronaviruses, has been the focus of much speculation, but she firmly denies that COVID could have leaked from the Wuhan Institute of Virology. "I don't know how the world has come to this, constantly pouring filth on an innocent scientist," she tells the New York Times. Shi's work involved modifying bat coronaviruses, but she says the lab never carried out "gain of function" experiments to make them more infectious as a way of predicting future outbreaks, but altered them to better understand how they could jump across species. She says the closest virus her lab had to COVID was only 96% identical, which the Times notes is a "vast difference by genomic standards."

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Shi, whose team has collected more than 10,000 bat samples from across China, describes accusations the lab has not been completely open with researchers as "speculation rooted in utter distrust" and denies reports that workers at the lab became ill with COVID-like symptoms in November 2019. She says the question of COVID's origins has become so politicized that she has decided to stop investigating it and focus on COVID vaccines instead. But with Chinese authorities refusing to share information on the lab's research with international investigators, speculation is likely to continue, the Times notes. "Im sure that I did nothing wrong, Shi says. "So I have nothing to fear. On Sunday, Group of Seven leaders called for a "timely, transparent, expert-led, and science-based" investigation of COVID's origins in China, the Hill reports. (Read more coronavirus stories.)
(Newser)  Until recently, the location of executed wartime Japanese Prime Minister Hideki Tojo's remains was one of World War II's biggest mysteries in the nation he once led. Now, a Japanese university professor has revealed declassified US military documents that appear to hold the answer. The documents show the cremated ashes of Tojo, one of the masterminds of the Pearl Harbor attack, were scattered from a US Army aircraft over the Pacific Ocean about 30 miles east of Yokohama, Japan's second-largest city. It was a tension-filled, highly secretive mission, with American officials apparently taking extreme steps to keep Tojo's remains, and those of six others executed with him, away from ultra-nationalists looking to glorify them as martyrs, the AP reports. The seven were hanged for war crimes just before Christmas 1948, three years after Japan's defeat.

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After years spent verifying and checking details and evaluating the significance of what he'd found, Nihon University Professor Hiroaki Takazawa publicly released the clues to the remains' location last week. In one of the newly revealed documentsdated Dec. 23, 1948 and carrying a secret stampUS Army Maj. Luther Frierson wrote: "I certify that I received the remains, supervised cremation, and personally scattered the ashes of the following executed war criminals at sea from an Eighth Army liaison plane." US officials were extremely careful about not leaving a single speck of ashes behind, apparently to prevent them from being stolen by admiring ultra-nationalists, Takazawa said. He said the US military was adamant "about not letting the remains return to Japanese territory ... as an ultimate humiliation."

(Read more World War II stories.)
(Newser)  Marjorie Taylor Greene is apparently done defending her comments comparing COVID-19 public health guidelines to the Holocaust. The Georgia congresswoman on Monday said she is "truly sorry" for the "offensive" and "hurtful" comments. Politico reports she had originally reacted defiantly to the backlash over what she said, tweeting, "Vaccinated employees get a vaccination logo just like the Nazis [sic] forced Jewish people to wear a gold star." On Monday, however, she admitted "there is no comparison to the Holocaust." She said the timing of the apology, which came on the heels of a private visit Greene made to the National Mall's Holocaust Museum, had nothing to do with the fact that Democrats are considering possible disciplinary measures. Illinois Rep. Brad Schneider, a Jewish House Democrat, is preparing to introduce a censure resolution condemning the Holocaust comments.

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CNN notes that in the weeks since Greene's comments, some voters in her district have also expressed their displeasure. Meanwhile, in what could turn into a "tit for tat" situation, some House Republicans are considering censuring Democrat Ilhan Omar over her comments on Israel, but neither party's leadership has finalized next steps for either Greene or Omar. The Washington Post also notes that though Greene apologized for some of her remarks, she failed to walk back others, including likening the Democratic party to Adolf Hitler's political party, the National Socialist German Workers Party. Asked about that comparison, she said Monday, "You know, socialism is extremely dangerous, and so is communism. And anytime a government moves into policies where theres more control and theres freedoms taken away, yes, thats a danger for everyone." The Post notes that while it included "socialist" in the name, Hitler's party was actually far-right. (Read more Marjorie Taylor Greene stories.)
(Newser)  The film adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda's In the Heights debuted this weekend, but rather than celebrating, Miranda was responding to criticism Monday on Twitter. "It is clear that many in our dark-skinned Afro-Latino community don't feel sufficiently represented" in the film, he wrote, "particularly among the leading roles." He assured those disappointed with the film's casting that he is listening, and hears "the hurt and frustration over colorism." He apologized, and promised to do better. Variety reports that Miranda had declined to be interviewed for the Root piece that brought the discussion of representation to the forefront. He had also previously defended the casting, telling Vox last week, "Its unfair to put any kind of undue burden of representation on In the Heights. ... There are so many millions of stories."

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The film, and the Broadway musical it's based on, take place in the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York City. The List reports that following the Root piece, some were making observations like: "The erasure of dark-skinned Afro-Latinx folks in a musical film set in Washington Heights, NYC, a BLACK Dominican neighborhood, is colorist and racist." Vulture explains that while the main cast does have a Black character, he is played by a Black non-Latino actor (Corey Hawkins) and his character is non-Latino and seen "as an outsider" by the father of his love interest. As Yahoo News reports, the film and musical have also been praised by many for the representation they do offer: "For decades it was very common for Hollywood movies to associate Latinos with negative images such as prostitution, drug dealing, and violence," the New York City councilmember who represents the district that includes Washington Heights says. "The In the Heights film shows the world we are so much more." (Read more Lin-Manuel Miranda stories.)
A vehicle sits in the driveway of the Murdaugh family home in rural Colleton County, near Islandton, SC, on June 8. (Andrew J. Whitaker/The Post And Courier via AP)

A vehicle sits in the driveway of the Murdaugh family home in rural Colleton County, near Islandton, SC, on June 8. (Andrew J. Whitaker/The Post And Courier via AP)
(Newser)  In the last 24 hours, the question of whether President Biden will be able to put a judge on the Supreme Court intensified on two fronts. The first came when Mitch McConnell made clear that if Republicans regain control of the Senate next year, he would almost certainly block a Biden pick in 2023 and 2024. Meanwhile, a woman widely considered to be a Biden frontrunner for a Supreme Court vacancy won confirmation to a powerful appeals court. Coverage:

The judge: The Senate confirmed Ketanji Brown Jackson, 50, to the US Court of Appeals for DC by a vote of 53-44. She's a Harvard grad and former clerk for Stephen Breyer and is on everybody's short list as a Biden pick, reports the Wall Street Journal. Jackson has been a federal trial judge since 2013 and before that represented indigent defendants as a public defender.

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Small world: Jackson will replace Merrick Garland on the DC court, considered the second highest court in the US, per the New York Times. Garland, of course, is now the attorney general, and it was his nomination to the Supreme Court that McConnell famously derailed in 2016. The DC court is considered to be an "incubator" for Supreme Court justices, according to the Times, and Biden had pledged to nominate a Black woman should a vacancy arrive.

Jackson will replace Merrick Garland on the DC court, considered the second highest court in the US, per the New York Times. Garland, of course, is now the attorney general, and it was his nomination to the Supreme Court that McConnell famously derailed in 2016. The DC court is considered to be an "incubator" for Supreme Court justices, according to the Times, and Biden had pledged to nominate a Black woman should a vacancy arrive. Timing: All of the above means that more pressure than ever will be on Breyer to announce his retirement later this month, at the end of the current term, writes Chris Cillizza at CNN. He notes that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez publicly said she would "lean toward yes" when asked over the weekend if the 82-year-old should quit now. So far, no Democratic senators have said anything to that effect publicly. Should Breyer stay on, the stakes in next year's fight for Senate control will be "especially large," notes Cillizza.

All of the above means that more pressure than ever will be on Breyer to announce his retirement later this month, at the end of the current term, writes Chris Cillizza at CNN. He notes that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez publicly said she would "lean toward yes" when asked over the weekend if the 82-year-old should quit now. So far, no Democratic senators have said anything to that effect publicly. Should Breyer stay on, the stakes in next year's fight for Senate control will be "especially large," notes Cillizza. Not a slam dunk: Breyer stepping down in 2022 gives Democrats a much better chance of filling a court opening, and Jackson is the likely pick, but that still doesn't mean an "easy path" for her, notes the Politico Nightly newsletter. "Justice Amy Coney Barrett won three Democratic votes in 2017 for her own appellate court nomination," but when "Trump picked Barrett for the high court three years later, every Senate Democrat voted no." Democrats could afford zero defections.

(Read more federal judges stories.)
(Newser)  Pink Floyd co-founder and bassist Roger Waters had a strong reaction to Facebook's request to use one of the band's songs in an ad promoting Instagram: "F--- you. No f---ing way." Waters went into detail about the offer during a Thursday event in honor of Julian Assange, whom the US is hoping to extradite from Britain, at the The People's Forum in New York City. During a discussion of social media censorship, Waters said Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg had written to him that morning, offering "a huge, huge amount of money" to use the 1979 classic song "Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2" in an ad for Instagram. "And the answer is, 'F--- You. No f---ing way,'" said the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, per Mediaite. "It's the insidious movement of them to take over absolutely everything" and "I will not be a party to this bullshit, Zuckerberg."

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Waters then read aloud from the offer, quoting Facebook as saying "the core sentiment of this song is still so prevalent and necessary today, which speaks to how timeless the work is," per Rolling Stone. "It's true and yet they want to sojourn it," Waters said, per Newsweek. "They want to use it to make Facebook and Instagram even bigger and more powerful than it already is so that it can continue to censor all of us in this room." He then went off on Zuckerberg specifically, calling him a "little prick" who started out as a Harvard student rating women based on their looks and ended up as "one of the most powerful idiots in the world." Asked whether people should delete Facebook, Waters responded "probably." He also noted "Zuckerberg features in my new rock and roll show," without elaborating. No word on if he has the CEO's approval. (Read more Pink Floyd stories.)
(Newser)  Johnny Lorenzo Bolton was lying with his eyes closed on a couch in his apartment near Atlanta when police serving a narcotics search warrant burst through the front door with guns drawn and no warning. Bolton stood up and at least one of the officers fired, sending two bullets into Bolton's chest. The 49-year-old Black man died from his injuries. Details of the pre-dawn encounter in Decembermost of which come from a lawyer representing Boltons familyresemble a case that is well known nationwide: the killing nine months earlier of Breonna Taylor in Kentucky. The 26-year-old Black woman also died after being shot by officers serving a drug search warrant at her apartment. But unlike Taylors, Boltons name is not painted in large letters on protest signs or mentioned in the ongoing nationwide discussions on racial injustice and police brutality that began after Taylors death in March 2020 and that of George Floyd, who died under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer in May 2020.

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Boltons relatives and their lawyers wanted to try to get information about the shooting from law enforcement before drawing attention to his killing, they said. Frustrated in those efforts, the attorneys sent a draft of a lawsuit to Cobb County officials in mid-April along with a letter threatening litigation if county officials didnt provide more information and address accountability and compensation for Bolton's death. For almost six months, we gave them quiet, Bolton's sister Daphne Bolton said in a recent interview with the AP. That lets me know thats not what gets a response. Now, Bolton says, I want my brothers name to ring beside Breonna Taylors. When they say Breonna Taylor, I want them to say Breonna Taylor and Johnny Lorenzo Bolton. I want them to be simultaneous. She also wants an end to "no-knock" warrants. (More on Bolton's death, and what the next steps are, here.)
(Newser)  A former Mississippi state lawmaker was murdered Sunday outside a burned-out trailer where her sister-in-law was found dead only months ago. Ashley Henleya Republican who represented District 40, including parts of DeSoto County, from 2016 to 2020was shot and killed while mowing the grass outside the trailer in the Water Valley Boat Landing community of rural Yalobusha County, reports Mississippi Today. Her body was found around 10pm, hours after she'd arrived. Henley's sister-in-law, Kristina Michelle Jones, was found dead inside the burned trailer on the property at the end of December. Henley and her husband, Brandon Henley, had spoken of the death as murder and erected a large sign at the site to that effect, though authorities were apparently unable to determine a cause of death. Assistant District Attorney Steven Jubera says both deaths are under investigation.

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Brandon Henley wrote on Facebook that his wife "was found murdered in the same place my sister was," per the Mississippi Free Press. He said authorities told him "she was running a weed eater and was shot in the back of the head." He tells WREG that he believes the same person killed both women. Ashley Henley had expressed frustration at the lack of progress in the investigation into Jones' death in recent weeks, vowing to "leave no stone unturned in my pursuit of truth," per the Free Press. The 40-year-old former adjunct American history instructor at Northwest Mississippi Community College also described a prior encounter with sheriff's deputies at the trailer, saying they'd "threatened to arrest" her "for refusing to allow them to take my lawfully holstered, concealed firearm without probable cause." Jubera says there's no sign Henley's death is tied to her work in the Legislature. (Read more Mississippi stories.)
(Newser)  One of Ford's most iconic vehicles hasn't left the factory for a quarter-century, but this week, assembly lines are up and running again. "The Broncos are out of the gates, out of the corral," a manager at the Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne told reporters on Monday, the day the automaker was set to ship its first orders of the SUV, per the Detroit Free Press. The plant is the same one where previous editions of the Bronco were churned out from 1965 to 1996. To create the new models, Ford added 2,700 jobs at the factory.

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CNBC notes this new Bronco incarnation is one of the "most critical nonelectric product launches for the company in years." A Ford rep says 125,000 orders have already been placed and that shipments will start to arrive at Ford dealers within days, which Fox News reports is earlier than the late-summer date Ford initially provided in December. "To see it rolling down the line here, it's amazing," a Bronco marketing manager tells CNBC. The 2021 Bronco, which comes in two- and four-door models in a variety of colors, starts at $29,995. (There was some hubbub earlier this year when Ford announced the original Bronco release date as July 9OJ Simpson's birthday).
(Newser)  Alicia Lombardini became a mother right before the pandemic hit, and she's now the proud mom of an 18-month-old son. But hers wasn't a typical or easy journey to motherhood, and she's hoping maybe someday it will be for single moms like herself, she writes in the New York Times, in which she discusses the obstacles to going the in vitro fertilization route alone. After fleeing a troubled relationship, Lombardini found herself in her mid-40s and yearning for a child, and so she started researching what it would take to make her dream come true. Quite a lot, it turns out, with plenty of logistical, financial, and societal challenges along the way. For starters, the costs of IVF are hugethe average cost per cycle, with meds, is about $25,000, she notesand insurance often doesn't cover it. When there is coverage, there are often conditions, such as a woman not being able to get pregnant via intercourse, which leaves single and LGBTQ women out.

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The stigma of being an over-40 single mom also followed Lombardini, with her own mother telling her, "I really wish you would just meet a man. I don't know how you are going to manage this on your own." Lombardini even researched IVF in Europe and Israel, where she met similar age and status roadblocks. Doing it all solo made it more overwhelming. "IVF can be emotionally devastating even when you are sharing the burden," she writes. "When you are all alone, you dig deeper than you possibly knew you could." Thanks to a compassionate doctor back in the US, Lombardini was finally able to achieve her goal: She gave birth to Romeo in December 2019, at the age of 46. She calls her son "an absolute joy" and says she has "zero regrets," but she wants this happy ending for all women who wish to be moms. "Single or queer, regardless of our age and demographics, we all deserve the chance to become parents," she writes. Read her story (which Aziz Ansari documented in a Master of None episode) here. (Read more IVF stories.)
(Newser)  A grocery store cashier in Georgia died Monday when a shopper was told to put on a face mask and instead opened fire, per WSB. A reserve sheriff's deputy was also injured in the shooting, which erupted at the Big Bear grocery store in Decatur shortly after 1pm. A 30-year-old man, identified as Victor Lee Tucker, Jr. of Palmetto, had refused to put on a mask upon entering the store, per WSB. While checking out, he "got into an argument with a cashier about his face mask," the Georgia Bureau of Investigation says in a release. He then "left the store without making his purchase, but immediately returned inside  walked directly back to the cashier, pulled out a handgun and shot her," it adds. "I don't know what the world is coming toperiod," a witness tells WSB.

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"There was some confrontation, argumentI'm not sure exactly whatin reference to the wearing of masks," DeKalb County Sheriff Melody Maddox said at a Monday press conference, per KABC. She added a reserve deputy and 30-year veteran of the DeKalb County Police Department who was hired to enforce the store's mask policy returned fire, shooting the suspect. Tuckerto face charges, including murderwas ultimately arrested by police officers as he tried to crawl out of the store, per WSB. He is listed in stable condition at a hospital, along with the deputy, who was shot twice despite wearing a bulletproof vest, per KABC. The unidentified cashier was pronounced dead at a hospital. A second cashier who was grazed by a bullet was treated at the scene, per WAGA. (Read more shooting stories.)
(Newser)  The patriarch of what is believed to be the world's biggest family has died, leaving 38 grieving widows behind. Polygamy is officially illegal in India, but Mizoram state in the country's northeast allows exceptions for some groups, including the Christian sect founded by Ziona Chana's grandfather in 1942. Chana, who died Sunday at age 76, had around 94 children and dozens of grandchildren, Deutsche Welle reports. They lived in a 100-room home he called the "New Generation Home," where many of his wives slept in a dormitory.

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Chana was head of the Chana Pawl sect, which has around 2,000 followers. He said he married his first wife in 1959, when he was 15. His most recent marriage was to a 25-year-old woman in 2004. Zoramthage, Mizoram state's chief minister, expressed his condolences, noting that Chana's home and village had become a major tourist attraction, the BBC reports. According to the Hindu, Chana had a total of 181 family members, a possible world record, though Canadian polygamist Winston Blackmore is believed to have had around 150 children with 27 wives. (Read more polygamy stories.)
(Newser)  A newly released batch of emails show that former President Trump and top aides were using all the leverage of the White House in their late-hour push to block the results of the 2020 election. Specifically, Trump and chief of staff Mark Meadows pleaded with Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosenwho was soon to replace William Barr in the top postto investigate their allegations of fraud, reports the Hill. Rosen rejected the pleas. The emails were released Tuesday by the House Oversight Committee and can be read here. Some examples:

An email "From POTUS" to Rosen less than an hour before Trump announced Barr's resignation claimed that "a Cover-up is Happening regarding the voting machines in Michigan" and that "Michigan cannot certify for Biden." Trump alleged that the machines were "intentionally and purposefully" rigged against him, per the Washington Post. "It's indicative of what the machines can and did do to move votes," said the email, which provided suggested talking points for Rosen. "We believe it has happened everywhere."

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Two weeks later, Trump emailed Rosen and urged the Justice Department to file a brief with the Supreme Court arguing that state officials weakened voting security because of the pandemic, leading to widespread fraud, per the New York Times. The court had recently rejected a suit in Texas arguing much the same.

Meadows was similarly pressuring Rosen, even sending him a link to a YouTube video outlining a conspiracy theory in which election results were somehow altered via Italy. Rosen emailed an assistant, referring to it as "pure insanity," reports NPR.

The documents suggest that Trump blurred the traditional lines between the White House and Justice Department, which is set up to act independently on criminal investigations, per the Times. Rep. Carolyn Maloney, chair of the oversight panel, put it more strongly. "These documents show that President Trump tried to corrupt our nation's chief law enforcement agency in a brazen attempt to overturn an election that he lost," she said in a statement.

(Read more President Trump stories.)
(Newser)  It's one small grace note after a hard-to-fathom tragedy. Brooklyn detectives have chipped in to send a 9-year-old girl who lost her family in a triple homicide to Disney World, reports the New York Post. The murders made national headlines in April because the girl hid in a closet while her father fatally shot her mother and two sisters before killing himself, per ABC7. She then called 911. "Daddy was coming over for my birthday, and he shot people," the girl told the dispatcher. Detectives who investigated the case have since raised several thousand dollars (the exact amount is unspecified) for her.

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With the money, she will get a free trip to Disney World in Florida with her aunt and uncle, who are now caring for her, as well as her grandmother and two cousins. JetBlue is providing the tickets for free. Police have not spoken of a motive in the case, and there had been no history of domestic violence. The 46-year-old shooter had a manslaughter conviction from nearly three decades ago. The three female victims were ages 45, 20, and 16. (Read more Brooklyn stories.)
(Newser)  British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has denounced protesters of lockdown measures who chased a BBC journalist Monday through London streets. People in the crowd confronted Nicholas Watt, who wore BBC identification, screaming "traitor," before he made a run through the crowd, around a police line, and beyond a gated entrance to Downing Street as people booed, reports inews. Watt is political editor for the show Newsnight. "Disgraceful to see the hounding of Nick Watt doing his job," Johnson tweeted, per Sky News. Watch a tweeted video of the harassment here. "The media must be able to report the facts without fear or favorthey are the lifeblood of our democracy." The crowd was protesting Johnson's decision to postpone the lifting of England's coronavirus restrictions.

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One man in the crowd grabbed Watt by the shoulder, screaming in his face. Another person who confronted him said, "Why did you lie and say lockdowns are legal? How can it be legal to lock people in their house?" The BBC also denounced the attack on its employee, and a former BBC interviewer denounced the "intimidation and thuggery of the mob," per the Mirror. The Labor Party's shadow culture secretary called the confrontation "clear intimidation of a journalist while carrying out his job." Jo Stevens added, "It is shocking that a BBC lanyard makes someone a target like this." Police said that no officers were near Watts at the time but that they've spotted possible crimes on the video. An investigation has begun, the statement said. (Read more BBC stories.)
(Newser)  Multiple new instances in one city on the same night of police using force against young Black men have renewed pressure on Maryland's legislature to act. Lawmakers already approved police legislation in April, but it will be more than a year before parts of it take effect, USA Today reports. The new cases "underscore the urgency of the police reform legislative package passed last Session, and the need to implement those reforms purposely with fidelity," said Senate President Bill Ferguson, a Democrat, in a statement. "Each of these actions is why the Maryland General Assembly passed police reform this year," said House Speaker Adrienne Jones, a Democrat. Other officials, as well as Sherrilyn Ifill of the NAACP, called for state investigations of the police behavior.

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The confrontations took place Saturday night on the boardwalk in Ocean City. Enforcing a prohibition on vaping, officers surrounded a teenager as a crowd watched, per the Washington Post, which posted a video. He had his hands up, though he was moving his hand toward the strap of his backpack, when a Taser was used on him. An officer then kneed him in the stomach. "Stop resisting!" one hollered. "He was standing there!" a person in the crowd yells. "You all did that for no reason." Police used a Taser on another man later and fought another who'd picked up a bicycle. The police department said, "Our officers are permitted to use force, per their training, to overcome exhibited resistance," adding that the events will be reviewed. "Black and brown children should not be tased while their hands are up," Jones tweeted. (Read more Taser stories.)
(Newser)  The pilot of a Ryanair passenger jet had to land in Minsk last month after being told a bomb on the plane would explode if he didn't, the airline says. Once the plane landed, journalist Raman Pratasevich and his girlfriend, Sofia Sapega, were removed from the flight, arrested, and imprisoned. Belarus denies it forced the plane to land, the BBC reports. Michael O'Leary, chief executive of Ryanair, said Minsk air traffic control told the pilot it had received a "credible threat" that the plane would be blown up if it continued to its destination in Lithuania. O'Leary called it "a premeditated breach" of international aviation rules. The pilot repeatedly tried to get air traffic control to put him through to airline officials, O'Leary said, but was told that employees in Poland "were not answering the phone."

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When the pilot asked what the threat level was, O'Leary said, he was told it was a red alert, meaning he had no options but to land in Minsk. "He wasn't instructed to do so, but he wasn't left with any great alternatives," O'Leary said, per the Hill. He made the revelations in an appearance Tuesday before a British Parliament committee. After the landing, he said, the plane's crew members were told to say on camera that the diversion was voluntary but refused. On Monday, the head of the Belarus air force said there was "no interception, no forced diversion from the state border or forced landing of the Ryanair plane." Pratasevich was brought out at that press conference, where he praised ruler Alexander Lukashenko and said he'd been trying to overthrow him. A BBC reporter said it appeared his statement was not voluntary. (Read more Belarus stories.)
(Newser)  Harvey Weinstein, once one of Hollywood's most powerful figures, will be returning to Los Angeles as a prisoner. The 69-year-old has lost his battle to delay extradition to California and will soon be returned to the state to face sex-crimes charges, Los Angeles Times reports. He was indicted by a Los Angeles grand jury in April in connection with sexual assaults on five women in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills between 2004 and 2013. The charges include four counts of forcible rape and four counts of forcible oral copulation. Lawyers for Weinstein, who is serving a 23-year sentence at the maximum-security Wende Correctional Facility in New York state, argued that he should remain in the prison's medical wing until jury selection begins in the California case, reports the Wall Street Journal.

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It's not clear when Weinstein's California trial will begin, but Erie County Court Judge Kenneth Case ruled Tuesday that LA County authorities could claim custody of him immediately. Prosecutors said he will probably be moved to a Los Angeles jail cell in late June or early July. Erie County Assistant District Attorney Colleen Curtin Gable rejected arguments from Weinstein lawyer Norman Effman that moving Weinstein would interfere with his treatment for numerous health conditions, including eye ailments that have severely affected his vision, the AP reports. "Its Los Angeles. Its not some remote outpost that doesnt have any sort of medical care," Gable said. "Los Angeles has some of the best medical care in not only this country, but the world." (Read more Harvey Weinstein stories.)
But the student told Newshub seeking out unauthorised help and sharing the content of the assessment with others is exactly what's happening - and in huge numbers.

They say much of the alleged cheating takes place on social media platform Discord, a chatroom-style app that allows users to create private channels where they share messages, audio and whatever's on their screen, making it easy to copy from one another.

"Some people have their mics on and some have theirs muted, just like a massive Zoom call," they explained.

"The only difference between Discord and Zoom is that it's a private server which doesn't keep any records and you can do multiple screen shares - so everyone can be sharing the screen at the same time, and you click on that profile for that screen to get bigger."

The student says while they hadn't been into a Discord server during an exam, they'd taken a peek in one just an hour before their exam started last week - and were shocked to discover just how many people on their course were already online.

"I joined the channel and found 38 other students all on a group call, waiting for the Inspera exam to open so that they could share answers and pool knowledge to complete the exam together.

"There was a similar group of students sharing knowledge for our exam last week, and there is another plan in place for our exam tomorrow."
Chinese President Xi Jinping's push for a "loveable and respectable" image doesn't appear to be working, at least on Kiwis.

We're increasingly seeing the world's most populous country as a threat, a new survey has found, and fewer of us consider China a friend to New Zealand.

The Asia New Zealand Foundation on Wednesday released its latest Perceptions of Asia and Asian Peoples report, based on a survey of more than 2000 New Zealanders. While it found Kiwis are increasingly warming to Asian nations, China is bucking the trend.

Just 31 percent of us considered China a friend in October 2020, when the survey was done - down from 40 percent in 2019; and 35 percent of us now consider the Middle Kingdom a threat, up a whopping 14 percent in one year.
"The prices we pay in New Zealand makes us the highest in the world, and that makes us attractive," Customs investigations manager Bruce Berry told Patrick Gower as part of his documentary Patrick Gower: On P.

"We've got credible reporting that one Mexican drug cartel sees New Zealand as the golden nugget. So they're pushing bulk supply into New Zealand, it's all about money."

In a Newshub exclusive, the notorious Sinaloa Cartel has spoken publicly for the first time about how they export methamphetamine to New Zealand.

They talk about how cheap it is to make there and openly discuss having operatives here.

In a sign of how brazen the syndicate is, they conducted an interview for Gower's documentary while packing meth.

"I am in charge only of the packing, and of sending it out from here in Culiacan," an anonymous cartel member says.

"We are packing right now. Here we have four kilos, more or less."

Methamphetamine does make its way to New Zealand - like the 501 kilograms in the Ninety Mile Beach bust that was stopped when it got here.

One of those busted, Stevie Cullen, speaks for the first time in Gower's documentary, saying his life could be in danger from the international syndicate behind it.

"Up till this point they haven't put a hit out on me," he says "[But] they send people across the world to kill people, you know."

Local criminals and international cartels, teaming up to get P into New Zealand.
Moses had told the crowd that leaders should be consistent in condemning terrorism.

"We need to hear leaders condemn all support for terrorism and all terrorism equally whatever the source, target, and circumstances, and even when it is not politically expedient to do so.

"Hezbollah and Hamas, their military wings are proscribed terror organisations in New Zealand but we saw a rally in support of Hezbollah on Queen St in 2018."

Her remarks caused a strong response from members of the Muslim community including victims of the Christchurch mosque attacks, as people shouted: "Free Palestine."

Federation of the Islamic Associations of New Zealand (FIANZ) chair Abdur Razzaq said the hui was about "discussing social cohesion ... we came here to discuss ways to peace".

"There are lots of things out there that divide us, let us have some wisdom and prioritise what unites us first."

He said it was "inappropriate" to discuss issues "that divide us" and was not the tikanga way.

After the panel had finished, the hui organisers gave those in attendance a chance to respond to the comments which included a remark from Rashid Omar whose son Tariq died in the 15 March mosque attacks.

Moses said she was only "stating fact" and did not believe her comments were controversial and that she was referring to the 2018 march, not the one that happened in Auckland this year.

RNZ
The Fiji Government is now seeking Australia's help to deploy a planning team from its Medical Assistance Teams (AUSMAT) programme to the capital Suva.

Fijian Health Secretary James Fong said the AUSMAT team would help the ministry plan for the worst.

"The Australians will provide for contingency beyond our current surge preparations.

"We have extra space to deploy for field hospitals and we have extra critical care capacity we have yet to activate. They come to help us plan beyond that," he said.

Dr Fong said discussions with Canberra were now advanced and he expected the Australian team to arrive in Fiji soon.

Head of Health Protection and Fiji's Centre for Disease Control, Aalisha SahuKhan said their case count per day was now higher than what both Australia and New Zealand have had.

"So we are now at about 60 cases per day and if you're looking at our population, that's about 68 per million population which is a high number.

"To put that in context, neither Australia nor New Zealand got to this level of cases per day."

Fiji now has 860 people with the coronavirus, with 23 patients recovered.

There were a total of 1,048 cases reported on Sunday since the outbreak started in April and with yesterday's cases, the tally should have been 1037.

However, the ministry said a duplicate entry in Sunday's case count means there have been 1036 cases of COVID-19.

Four people have died from the virus since 2020 while seven people who had covid at the CWMH and died have had their deaths attributed to other illnesses and not covid-related.

RNZ
Local

top story

Council discusses city-wide safety issues

SHAMOKIN  City council at their regular meeting Monday discussed city-wide safety issues involving the Lawton W. Shroyer Memorial Swimming Pool, fireworks and off-road vehicles.

Councilwoman Jennifer Seidel, who is the director of parks and public buildings, stated that public misconduct during the pools first week of operation last week is under investigation. She also criticized those who posted images of the alleged acts, but did not contact police.

Seidel did not speak in detail about the incidents, but Chief of Police Darwin Tobias III later explained that a large fight had occurred Wednesday outside the facilitys permitter fence. An investigation, he said, is continuing.

Seidel continued by stating that the pool has a code of conduct and that violators will be removed. She said there is a zero-tolerance policy.

We dont run this pool to make money. We are operating in a deficit to serve the community. So, give us a chance to do it right, Seidel said of criticism directed toward the city.

Mayor John Brown reiterated that there are state restrictions on where Class C fireworks, also known as consumer fireworks, can be shot.

There are very few, if any, places in the city that have a 150-foot clearance area of any buildings, he said, referring to state law that forbids setting off fireworks within 150 feet of a structure. You cannot fire aerial fireworks in the City of Shamokin. If the police department gets a complaint, expect to be told to knock it off or get a citation.

Resident Gilbert Petraskie, a member of the Shamokin Cemetery Board, added that fireworks are not permitted inside the complex.

Brown noted that during the municipal primary on May 18 he observed up to 30 off-road vehicles on city streets near a polling place at the West End Fire Co. Off-road vehicles are permitted to travel on certain city streets on the weekends, but not on Tuesdays, and must follow state laws.

Brown warned that Tobias issued citations this week and that the enforcement of state laws and the city ordinance will continue.

We dont live in Thunderdome, there are rules here that we have clearly posted, he said to those who illegally operate off-road vehicles. If you are out when you arent supposed to be, the police department will issue citations before you ruin it and this goes away for the businesses in this town.

In other business, council authorized Peters Consultants to award a bid of $48,700 from Affordable Construction and Demolition to demolish 725-727 E. Dewart St., contingent upon a final bid review for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) compliance.

Peters Consultants, the engineer for CDBG, held the bid opening for this project at SEDA-COG on June 10. Two bids were received, $98,442 from Northeast Industrial and $48,700 from Affordable Construction.

Affordable Construction has 60 days to complete the project.

The city honored Kathy Klase and her effort to bring awareness to X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH), which is an inherited disorder characterized by low levels of phosphate in the blood. Phosphate levels are low because phosphate is abnormally processed in the kidneys, which causes a loss of phosphate in the urine and leads to soft, weak bones.

On behalf of Brown and council, Seidel declared June 23 as XLH Awareness Day and June 2021 as XLH Awareness Month thanks to the efforts of Klase and her family, who brought the disorder to councils attention.

Brown swore-in Gregory Hoffman as the newest city police officer. Participating in the ceremony were Hoffmans wife, Taylor, and young daughter, Trinity, as family and friends looked on.

During citizens comments, Coal Township resident Vinny Clausi announced he would donate $1,000 toward the renovation of the 99 Steps. The local businessman and former Northumberland County commissioner made the announcement following remarks from Brown, who said that a chicken barbecue fundraiser that will go toward the steps will be held 11 a.m. June 26 in the parking lot of Bamse Coffee. For tickets, call 570-274-9318.

In other business, council:

 Extended Browns executive order allowing outdoor seating until Dec. 31.

 Increased the non-bargaining, part-time position rate for new and current employees from $8.50 to $10 per hour. Councilman Charlie Verano opposed both measures, explaining that he is favor of the raises, but felt it should have been done in increments, considering a new council in January and the financial status of the city.

 Granted permission for Covered Bridge Brewhaus to install and maintain planters in front of the business.

 Granted permission for the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area to install a welcome sign at the portal into the city.

 Allowed Oasis Recovery Club to hold a Community Recovery Walk on Sunday, Sept. 19. The route and street closures will be determined and approved on the recommendation of city officials.

 Appointed Christopher Williams to the Civil Service Board to fill the vacancy left by William Grow.
The Olsons Lake Fire is one of three lightning fires east of the Dalton Highway that started over the weekend.
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TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, today chaired the weekly Cabinet meeting, held remotely.

The cabinet discussed several memorandums during the meeting and outlined the following outcomes:

The following memorandums were approved:

1. In line with the Royal Directives to launch a financial and economic stimulus package designed to mitigate the impact of COVID-19, and preserve Bahrains sustainable development, HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister is to oversee the implementation of the Royal Directives across the relevant authorities in developing appropriate solutions to support the most impacted sectors. Several support initiatives within the existing financial and economic package will be extended for an additional 3 months from June 2021 to August 2021, set out as follows:

 The salaries of insured Bahraini private sector employees working in impacted sectors will be paid through the Unemployment Insurance Fund for a period of 3 months, 100% for the first month and 50% for the second and third months.

 Exempting companies impacted by COVID-19 from paying municipal fees for a period of 3 months.

 Exempting tourist establishments and facilities from paying tourism fees for a period of 3 months.

 Extension of the Tamkeen Labor Fund Business Continuity Support program for companies impacted by COVID-19 for a period of 3 months.

 Exempting tenants of government properties including government-owned companies from the payment of rent for a period of 3 months.

 Exempting companies impacted by COVID-19 from paying the commercial registration renewal fees for the year 2021.

 Re-opening of applications to the liquidity fund, with a focus on small and medium-sized companies.

This is in addition to the already announced extension of the option to defer loan repayments for a period of six months.

These measures are to be introduced following the review of a memorandum by the Ministerial Committee for Financial and Economic Affairs and Fiscal Balance.

The Cabinet commended HM the Kings continued support for national efforts to combat COVID-19 and safeguard the health of all, led by HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister. The Cabinet further commended the royal directives of HM the King to launch a financial and economic stimulus package to protect livelihoods and mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on the economy.

The Cabinet reviewed the latest updates on the COVID-19 Delta variant and highlighted the importance of adhering to all precautionary measures, getting vaccinated and receiving a booster dose, in line with the National Medical Taskforces recommendations.

The Cabinet welcomed Bahrains adoption of the second follow-up report on combating money laundering and terrorist financing, and on implementing international standards, during the Middle East and North African Financial Action Task Force (MENAFATF) meeting. The Cabinet noted that these steps reflect the Kingdoms efforts and the role played by the Committee for combating extremism, terrorism, money laundering and its financing.

The Cabinet further welcomed the World Health Organizations adoption of "Manama Healthy City 2021", international recognition of government plans, programmes and efforts in the area of health and social development, stressing ongoing efforts and programmes to expand the number of health-promoting locations in Bahrain.

The Cabinet extended congratulations to the leadership, government and citizens of the United Arab Emirates, on its election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the period 2022-2023, acknowledgement by the international community of its contribution to strengthening global security and stability.

The cabinet also discussed other memorandums with the following outcomes:

A memorandum by the Ministerial Committee for Development and Infrastructure Projects on the Unified Guide for the Management of Hazardous Chemicals in Bahrain, which was approved according to the unified system in GCC countries, and aims to ensure proper handling of hazardous chemicals with reactive properties and standardise the procedures for their transfer between ministries and government regulatory agencies.

A memorandum by the Minister of Interior regarding cooperation between the Financial Intelligence Department in the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Afghan Unit, on the exchange of financial information related to money laundering, associated criminal conduct and the financing of terrorism, to collect, prepare, analyze and exchange information.

A memorandum by the Minister of Foreign Affairs regarding the request for approval of an MoU between the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Government of the Republic of Seychelles on the mutual recognition of COVID-19 certificates of vaccination and recovery, to facilitate the movement of citizens and residents between the two countries whilst ensuring the health and safety of all.

A memorandum by the Minister of Finance and National Economy regarding the signing of the GCC agreement on the cross-border payment system link the GCC countries, in line with decisions of the Supreme Council at its forty-first session, to ensure the rapid, unified and safe transfer of financial payments, and to enhance bilateral trade between the countries of the Council.

A memorandum by the Minister of Finance and National Economy regarding Bahrains participation in an International Monetary Fund initiative to provide debt relief to the Republic of Sudan under the Enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative, which aims to support Sudans efforts to reduce its poverty, support sustainable growth and address development challenges.

A memorandum by the Ministerial Committee for Legal and Legislative Affairs regarding the government's responses to 10 proposals submitted by the Council of Representatives.

Secondly: The cabinet reviewed the following topic:
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

The Health Ministry has referred four restaurants and cafes to the competent legal authorities for flouting the mandatory precautionary measures recommended by the National Medical Taskforce for Combating Covid-19 and approved by the Executive Committee.

During inspection visits to 70 restaurants and cafes yesterday, the Ministrys inspectors stressed the need to fully comply with the precautionary measures recommended by the national task force, including mainly the closure of those outlets except for delivery and takeaway services.

The Ministry said that the restaurants and cafes facing legal action had flouted the procedures and terms stipulated in the ministerial edict 51 of 2020 on mandatory health protocols at restaurants and cafes to curb COVID-19 infections.

The restaurants and cafes and which were found in breach of the mandatory precautionary measures were referred to competent legal authorities.

Owners of outlets with minor violations were warned to address their irregularities immediately in compliance with the mandatory precautionary measures.

The Public Health Directorate at the Health Ministry called on everyone to continue their commitment and spirit of high responsibility and to immediately report any violations they may spot.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

The Cabinet yesterday welcomed the World Health Organisations adoption of Manama Healthy City 2021. It is international recognition of government plans, programmes and efforts in the area of health and social development.

During its weekly meeting held remotely yesterday, the Cabinet  chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister  stressed ongoing efforts and programmes to expand the number of health-promoting locations in the Kingdom.

The Cabinet also reviewed the latest updates on the COVID-19 Delta variant and highlighted the importance of adhering to all precautionary measures, getting vaccinated and receiving a booster dose, in line with the National Medical Taskforces recommendations.

The Cabinet welcomed the Kingdoms adoption of the second follow-up report on combating money laundering and terrorist financing, and on implementing international standards, during the Middle East and North African Financial Action Task Force (MENAFATF) meeting. It noted that these steps reflect the Kingdoms efforts and the role played by the Committee for combating extremism, terrorism, money laundering and its financing.

The Cabinet extended congratulations to the leadership, government and citizens of the UAE, on its election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the period 2022- 2023, acknowledgement by the international community of its contribution to strengthening global security and stability.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrains value of exports of national origin has increased by 60% to reach BD283 million during May 2021, up from BD176 million for the same month of the previous year. The value of imports increased by 6%, reaching BD402 billion during May 2021 compared with BD378 million for the same month of the previous year.

This was according to the Information and eGovernment Authority (iGA) foreign trade report of May 2021, encompassing data on the balance of trade, imports, exports (national origin), and re-exports.

The trade balance, the difference between exports and imports, recorded a deficit totalling BD65 million during May of 2021 compared with BD162 million for the same month of the previous year, a decrease of 60%.

The top 10 countries in terms of the value of exports of national origin purchased from Bahrain accounted for 75% of the total value, with the remaining countries accounting for 25%.

Saudi Arabia ranked first among countries receiving Bahraini exports of national origin, importing BD52 million from Bahrain. The UAE was second with BD45 million and China third with BD20 million. Agglomerated iron ores and concentrates emerged as the top products exported during May 2021 with BD60 million, unwrought aluminium alloys was second with a value of BD48 million, and semi-finished iron and steel third with BD24 million.

According to the report, the top 10 countries accounted for 66% of the value of imports, with the remaining countries accounting for 34%.

Brazil ranked first with BD52 million, followed by China with BD46 million and Australia with a BD31million.

Non-agglomerated iron ores and concentrates was the top product imported into Bahrain with a total value of BD89 million, while aluminium oxide was second with BD28 million, and four-wheel drive cars third with BD13 million.

The total value of re-exports increased by 38% to reach BD55 million during May 2021, compared with BD40 million for the same month of the previous year.

The top 10 countries accounted for 89% of the re-exported value, while the remaining countries accounted for 11%.

The UAE ranked first with BD14 million, followed by Saudi Arabia with BD12 million, and Singapore with BD6 million.

Four-wheel drive cars were the top product re-exported from Bahrain with BD9 million, parts for plane engines were second with BD6 million, and gold ingots third with BD5 million.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Eligible Filipino voters residing and working in the Kingdom of Bahrain are urged to register for the May 2022 Philippine national elections. The overseas voting registration is continuing at the Philippine Embassy located in Mahooz.

The process is part of the embassys efforts to gradually shift back to normal consular operations while strictly following the required safety precautions and protocols within its premises.

All qualified Filipino citizens residing and working abroad  better known as the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs)  who have not yet registered should visit the embassy as a personal appearance is required. In October last year, the embassy resumed the activity following a five-month suspension due to the onset of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Overseas registration started in December 2019 and will run until September 30, 2021.

The next Philippine general elections  set to take place on May 9, 2022  will select the successor of current President Rodrigo Duterte. According to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Manila, overseas voters may cast their votes in Philippine embassies, consulates, and other posts for one month, from April 10 to May 9 next year.

Qualified Filipino voters residing and working abroad will choose the next president, vice-president, 12 senators and a party-list representative. Details or biometrics will be captured and those who want to register must bring along a photocopy of a valid passport. For seafarers, a seamans book is required aside from a copy of the Philippine passport.

Today, more than 60,000 Filipinos live and work in Bahrain, including professional, skilled and semi-skilled, and household service workers.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

The High Criminal Court sentenced a Bahraini man to three years behind bars for stealing two cars and damaging their tyres. The defendant was already held guilty in a similar case a year ago, for which he was handed down an imprisonment sentence. He reportedly stole the car from a local man after the latter parked behind a public bus station.

The defendant robbed the second car after its owner stopped in front of a pharmacy. Both cars were recovered later, but the defendant is alleged to have destroyed them and stole their components.

His fingerprints were found in both cars that led to his arrest. The defendant was handed down six months in prison in the first case. He was given a heavier punishment in this case because he committed a similar crime after he was released from jail.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

MP Sayed Falah Hashim confirmed that the Monday-announced financial aid package for the private sector is similar to the second economic-stimulus package the Government provided to the Bahrain-based companies last year following the Coronavius "Covid-19" outbreak, stating MPs have discussed with the Cabinet providing a special mental and financial support to those who lost their parents. Mr Hashim also revealed to DT that the Government's representatives during Monday's meeting listened to several suggestions shared with them by the House of Representatives members who were present during the meeting.

"The Government, under the leadership of HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince Prime Minister, discussed with us several items listed on the meeting agenda, including giving much-needed financial and psychological aids. We have many children who are facing an unknown future because some of them lost their fathers. In some cases. we have families, whose mothers and fathers demised because of Covid-19. This is a serious situation that everyone has to consider seriously."

When asked are they expecting a decision on this point any time soon, he explained: "We are expecting our suggestions to be discussed next week during the next Cabinet's meeting,"


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DANBURY  For Glenda Armstrong, Juneteenth shouldnt be something to celebrate for just a day.

Instead, the Greater Danbury NAACP is using this time to collaborate with local groups on initiatives to better address systemic racism and equity problems in the community.

It should not just be a celebration of what did happen, said Armstrong, the president of the Greater Danbury NAACP. It should be an inspiration of what were going to do to do better.

Juneteenth honors the end of slavery in the United States and recognizes the anniversary of June 19, 1865, when Union solders arrived in Galveston, Texas, and ordered the enslaved people there be freed.

The local NAACP chapter is hosting a soul food breakfast to kick off Juneteenth from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Carter L. Marshall Elks Lodge in Danbury. Attendees may pick up their order or eat there. A $12 payment must be made at the event or in advance to a member of the NAACP executive committee, according to a flyer.

The event is being held in collaboration with the lodge. Those partnerships are key part of what the NAACP is trying to do, Armstrong said.

The NAACP planned to meet Tuesday night with nonprofits, grassroots organizations and other partners to discuss how to collaborate on initiatives, she said.

Education, policing, labor and health issues are expected to be the main focus. The coronavirus pandemic further highlighted the inequities in these areas, she said.

The murder of George Floyd last year kicked off local and nationwide protests over racism and policing, while COVID-19 vaccination rates in the state have shown racial disparities.

We have a whole country who is looking at the last 14 to 15 months and saying, We can do better, Armstrong said.

Armstrong said she sees Juneteenth as a chance for everyone  not just people of color  to reflect on how to do just that.

We look as this as an opportunity to commemorate, inspire, check in on our own affairs and an opportunity to move forward, she said.

Part of the work will build off of the state legislatures approval of a bill declaring racism a public health crisis, Armstrong said. The organization plans to work with the health framework in the city address racial disparities there.

One of the things COVID did was unmask the level of need that is in our medical community and our medical needs that we have, she said.

The organization also expects again to do events like the back-to-school backpack giveaway, which was held in 2020, she said.

Already, the NAACP has worked with the Danbury education board and officials to discuss equity within the schools and the budget. The schools plans for federal coronavirus relief funds and how that money supports students and communities of color are the next steps, Armstrong said.

We try hard to impact change that is systemic, she said. Its great to help a single person, but its more important to impact systems, so more people can have the impacts of change.
NEW MILFORD  The state medical examiners office has ruled one of the deaths of the two Danbury men who slipped and fell into the Housatonic River last week as an accidental drowning.

Chief Medical Examiner Dr. James Gill said in an email Monday that Johnny Sanchezs death was ruled an accident.

Gill said the second victim is still pending formal identification, but authorities identified the other man as Wilson Pacheco, NBC Connecticut reported. Sanchez was 23, while Pacheco was 35, the TV station reported.

A posting on a local Facebook group, Maria Purificacion Granito de Esperanza, identified the two men as Jhonny Patricio Sanchez Malla and Wilson Pacheco Malla, and said that they were Ecuadorian nationals.

The spellings for the deceased mens names in the posting were slightly different from those the police provided.

Gill said he did not have any information about the two mens nationalities.

The post, which has been shared 306 times since it was published on June 12, asked the community to support a fundraiser that would help send the mens bodies to their home country.

Police said the two men were fishing at Bleachery Dam last Thursday evening when one of the men slipped and fell in, a witness told them. When the second man tried to reach him, he also fell in.

Authorities searched the waters that evening before suspending their search and returning the following day.

In a Facebook post, New Milford Mayor Pete Bass said the second body was recovered on Saturday. Please keep your thoughts and prayers for those that passed and their families, he wrote, without identifying either of the men.

The body of Sanchez was found Friday morning, according to police. His remains were found downstream of the area just south of the dam, between the dam and Addis Park, police said. Authorities have not said where Pacheco was found.

The Bleachery Dam is New Milford town property, according to Will Healey, a spokesman for the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, but the waters below the dam are considered the northern part of Lake Lillinoah. That body of water is a hydroelectric impoundment on the Housatonic River owned by FirstLight Power, he said.

The dam can be accessed on the east side through an open gate in a chain-link fence that opens to a dirt road leading to the waters edge. Numerous signs caution visitors about the dam, and buoys are strung across the length of the river on a wire.

On the west side of the river, the dam is accessible by a right of way through private property, but Healey said the route is for DEEP use only.

The agency owns the land on the west side of the river from where the dam meets the river bank to a short distance downstream.

The area is a popular spot for fishing.

No one should go on the dam, to fish or otherwise, as it is extremely dangerous to do so, Healey said.
NEWTOWN - At the spot where the iconic Main Street flag has flown for 145 years, enough motorists have crashed, rear-ended, or smashed right into the 100-foot steel pole to make the intersection one of the top three spots for accidents in Newtown.

But given the potential remedies - from installing a traffic light on historic Main Street to building a traffic circle around the cherished flagpole, Newtowns best option may be to nothing.

Thats the key takeaway from a five-year-study of accidents at the intersection of Main Street, Church Hill Road and West Street by Newtown police Capt. Christopher Vanghele.

The case for doing nothing includes: speed is not a major factor in the crashes, there have been no serious accidents or pedestrians hit, most accidents are due to driver error and not road design, and there is no current push from the public, to alter the landmark intersection.

I agree with the police captain that we should do nothing, said Chris Gardner, a member of the Newtown Borough Board of Burgesses and Newtowns volunteer flagpole keeper. That intersection has been studied up and down for years - the state has looked at it, the town has looked at it - and what people need to do is take their time and use common courtesy instead of us digging the whole thing up and building a traffic circle.

Vanghele noted during a presentation earlier this month to the towns Police Commission that even though the 86 crashes that have happened at the flagpole intersection since 2017 make it one of Newtowns top collision locations, the average works out to only 1.6 accidents per month for an intersection that sees an average monthly volume of 450,000 vehicles.

Doing nothing costs nothing and therefore will not affect (the) budget, Vanghele noted in his report.

Vangheles analysis includes a cost-benefit analysis of an option to install a traffic light, should the state Department of Transportation agree. He calls the traffic light and other options such as a flagpole barrier the best alternative next to doing nothing.

Traffic accidents at the flagpole may be reduced as much as 55 percent with a traffic light, Vangele estimated, although traffic backups would increase, among other drawbacks.

The volunteer five-member Police Commission, which ordered the study after a resident complained about the intersection, will continue its discussion about the study over the summer.

The flagpole is an iconic part of our community, so any intervention that would change the beauty of that location is going to take a lot of input, said Neil Chaudhary, a member of the Police Commission. Maybe something simple can be done.

The crash analysis, which breaks down the location and nature of the accidents, indicates where the town might try improvements, Chaudhary said.

Most of the crashes - 27 percent - happened when a driver is turning from the stop sign on Church Hill Road onto Main Street. The next most frequent types of accidents are rear-end collisions on Main Street, and passing on the right on Main Street.

Driving into the flagpole itself accounted for 10 accidents since 2017, or 12 percent.

The release of the accident analysis follows a two-year fundraising effort to improve the flagpole lighting and hire a steeplejack to sand and refinish the pole with glossy white metal-adhesive paint.

The $6,000 project was completed just before Memorial Day.

The flagpole keeper Gardner has not had to go out with his white paint bucket to patch up nicks since then.

It hasnt been dinged since the paint job, Gardner said on Monday. I dont want to jinx it.

rryser@newstimes.com 203-731-3342
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP)  A proposal by Louisiana's education superintendent to overhaul how the state rates public schools has sparked controversy and prompted leaders of the state's top school board to delay a debate that had been planned for Tuesday.

Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley's plan would change the way letter grades are calculated for schools and school districts, reducing the number of D- and F-rated schools.

The Advocate reports that the idea triggered pushback from critics who said the changes would water down academic standards in a state that has long been near the bottom for student achievement.

Any changes to mask true student achievement is a disservice to the students of Louisiana, said Kelli Bottger, director of political strategy for the education policy group American Federation for Children.

Amid the controversy, the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education yanked the item from consideration on Tuesday's agenda, saying it will be rescheduled at "a future date. No specific date was provided.

Board President Sandy Holloway said in a statement that the board wanted to allow for additional discussions about this important topic. She cited her own questions and the comments received from advocates, stakeholders and other board members.

Under current rules, 25% of a school's annual performance score  which helps generate the school's letter grade  is tied to whether students meet learning targets regardless of the actual test scores and how they compare to their peers. Brumley's proposal would increase that to 38% of the score.

Brumley said the proposal is in line with what other states do. It won support from the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents and the Council for a Better Louisiana, which tracks education issues.

Critics said the change would inflate student scores, suddenly making schools and students appear to be performing better than they are. They said Louisiana already differs from many states by giving schools points for student growth compared to peers, not just based on a student's individual improvement.

The growth piece needs more consensus, Brumley told The Advocate. I am not disputing that at all.

However, he said the proposal stemmed from a recommendation of an education advisory panel called the Accountability Commission that wanted to have academic growth count for an even more generous 47% of school scores.

Another point in dispute is the superintendents plan to give schools credit for students who score 17 on the ACT college readiness exam, which gives scores of up to 36. A 17 score means students have scored better than 35% of their peers on the ACT. Under current rules, schools don't start getting points for ACT scores until students score an 18 or better.

Brumley said the new policy is aimed at aligning scores with higher education benchmarks. He noted students who score a 17 on the ACT can qualify for free tuition at community and technical college through the state's TOPS Tech program.

But the conservative Pelican Institute for Public Policy asked: Why would we move ACT standards backward to a level beneath competency while we are all working to raise the bar for student outcomes?"

Other parts of Brumleys plan sparked little controversy, including ideas for creating the states first K-2 accountability system and taking steps to strengthen the high school diploma.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Justice Department will tighten its rules around obtaining records from members of Congress, Attorney General Merrick Garland said Monday, amid revelations the department under former President Donald Trump had secretly seized records from Democrats and members of the media.

Consistent with our commitment to the rule of law, Garland said in a statement, we must ensure that full weight is accorded to separation-of-powers concerns moving forward.

Garlands statement came as a Justice Department official said the top national security official, John Demers, planned to leave by the end of next week. Demers, who was sworn in a few weeks after the subpoena for the Democrats records, is one of the few Trump appointees who has remained in the Biden administration.

The Justice Department is struggling to contain the fallout over revelations that it had confiscated phone data from House Democrats and reporters as part of an aggressive investigation into leaks. The disclosure is also forcing Biden administration officials to wade back into a fight with their predecessors  something they've wished to avoid.

News outlets reported last week that the Justice Department had secretly subpoenaed Cupertino, California-based Apple Inc. in 2018 for metadata from two Democratic members of the House Intelligence Committee  California Rep. Adam Schiff and California Rep. Eric Swalwell  as their committee was investigating Trumps ties to Russia. Schiff, at the time, was the top Democrat on the panel, which was led by Republicans.

Now the House Intelligence Committee Chair, Schiff said Monday that he had spoken with Garland, who had given his commitment to an independent investigation by the inspector general. Schiff said he had every confidence that Garland will also do the kind of top-to-bottom review of the degree to which the department was politicized during the previous administration and take corrective steps.

The intelligence panel initially said 12 people connected to the committee  including aides, former aides and family members  had been swept up, but more have since been uncovered, according to a person familiar with the matter who also was not authorized to discuss it publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.

Some people might not know they were targeted because the Apple notification was by email and showed up in the spam filters of some of those who were contacted, the person said.

House Judiciary Committee Chair Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., announced an investigation into the subpoenas on members of Congress and journalists. Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., demanded a copy of the subpoena and other records about the decision to obtain the order.

Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., lambasted a demand by Democrats that former attorneys general William Barr and Jeff Sessions testify before a committee on the subpoenas, saying his Democratic colleagues had given into the urge to pick at the scab of politically-motivated investigations. He defended Barr, saying the move was a witch hunt in the making.

There is no need for a partisan circus here in Congress," he said.

The subpoena, issued Feb. 6, 2018, requested information on 73 phone numbers and 36 email addresses, Apple said. It also included a nondisclosure order that prohibited the company from notifying any of the people, and it was renewed three times, the company said in a statement.

Apple said that it couldnt challenge the warrants because it had so little information available and that it would have been virtually impossible for Apple to understand the intent of the desired information without digging through users accounts.

Although Apple says it contests legal requests that it believes are unfounded, the company challenged or rejected just 7% of the U.S. demands it received during the 2018 period when it received the subpoena for the information about Schiff and Swalwell. Apple was even less combative during the first half of last year, challenging just 4% of the U.S. legal requests.

Apple has been turning over some customer data in 80% to 90% of the legal requests it has received in the U.S. in recent years, though the information often excludes the content of text, email or photos.

Like other major technology companies, Apple has been dealing with a steadily escalating torrent of legal requests for account and device information from around the world as its products and services have become more deeply ingrained in peoples lives.

During the first half of last year, for instance, U.S. law enforcement agencies sought information on 18,609 Apple accounts  nearly seven times the number of accounts requested during the same time in 2015.

The demands are becoming more broad, too. During the first half of 2018, when Apple received the subpoena affecting Schiff and Swalwell, the 2,397 U.S. legal requests that Apple received covered an average of seven accounts, according to the companys disclosures. That was up from an average of roughly three accounts per request during the first half of 2015.

The department's inspector general has launched a probe into the matter after a request from Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. Inspector General Michael Horowitz said he would examine whether the data subpoenaed by the Justice Department and turned over by Apple followed department policy and whether any such uses, or the investigations, were based upon improper considerations.

In addition, Monaco has been separately tasked with surfacing problematic matters deserving high level review, Garland said.

Garland emphasized in his statement Monday that political or other improper considerations must play no role in any investigative or prosecutorial decisions.

Demers has been in charge of the departments national security division since late February 2018, and his division has played a role in each of the leak investigations. He leaves as questions swirl over his potential involvement in the effort.

He had planned for weeks to leave the department by the end of June, a second person familiar with the matter said. The two could not discuss the matter publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity.

He will be temporarily replaced by Mark Lesko, the acting U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of New York, the official said, until President Joe Biden's official pick, Matthew Olsen, is approved by the Senate.

Olsen is an Uber executive with experience in the Justice Department. He has served as director of the National Counterterrorism Center and as general counsel for the National Security Agency. Demers had remained in place while Olsen awaits a confirmation hearing.

___

Liedtke reported from San Francisco. Associated Press writer Colleen Long in Washington contributed to this report.
Connecticut officials studied laws and outcomes from around the country to arrive at what marijuana advocates are calling a new national standard for the adult use of cannabis.

When Gov. Ned Lamont signs the bill this week to join the 18 other states and the District of Columbia that legalized recreational marijuana, provisions to provide opportunities for inner-city neighborhoods that were decadeslong targets in the failed war on drugs could be the best in the nation.

One of the advantages of not being first is seeing what other states have done and tweaking it, said Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney, D-New Haven, who along with Sen. Gary Winfield, also D-New Haven, led the successful third and final legislative vote on the bill Thursday.

Connecticuts extensive rules focusing on Black and brown communities would be groundbreaking in scope, said Karen OKeefe, director of state policies for the Marijuana Policy Project, an advocacy group.

I am incredibly encouraged and proud, she said in a recent phone interview. Diversity and equity have come a very long way.

With half of new licenses for cannabis businesses aimed at social equity, applicants, Connecticut would easily exceed other states in racial and economic set-asides, and a license lottery would take away the taint of local political connections that have delayed early attempts at equity in the Massachusetts adult-use market. OKeefe also likes Connecticut's three-tiered licensing system, as well as the phase-in of allowing recreational homegrowers by July 1, 2023.

Connecticuts social-equity program, based on targeted neighborhoods with low incomes and disproportionate criminal cases between 1982 and the end of 2020, should help make businesses successful, OKeefe said.

One of the keys to the program will let the four growers of the states medical marijuana program, through the state Department of Consumer Protection, expand their licenses to enter the adult-use market. But they would be required to either pay $500,000 million to the governing Social Equity Council, or go into contract with a social equity partner from an impacted census tract, to let the new licensees operate five percent of their existing growing space for their own new business.

New cultivators under social equity provisions would not have to participate in planned license lotteries, but would have to pay $3 million and site their growing facilities within a low-income neighborhood affected by the war on drugs.

The Social Equity Council would also develop and provide technical assistance for new business owners, as well as a new training program for jobs in the industry. In addition, two new funds would be created for supporting the new businesses. Also, 40 percent angel investor tax credits would be offered to those who help social-equity applicants.

Fifty million dollars in state borrowing would also be available to help social equity applicants get started in the capital-dependent business, and to train workers.

I would say that Connecticuts legalization bill is poised to be one of the strongest and possibly the strongest equity-and-comparative justice legislation, OKeefe said, stressing the accompanying broad justice reforms that would erase criminal records for people with lower-level possession convictions. There will also be start-up funds so inclusion and ownership in business can truly be successful.

She pointed out that New Yorks recent approval of adult-use legislation did not flesh out details of its equity program. And while adult-use cannabis was approved in Massachusetts in a statewide 2016 referendum, and sales began two years later, equity licenses have only recently been awarded for under-served neighborhoods. The slow rollout hurt people who paid leases on properties in anticipation of winning licenses.

Last week, Vermont Gov. Phil Scott signed a bill that would create a retail industry after the original law allowed for only homegrown cannabis for the three previous years. But equity rules for adult sales in Vermont will be developed in the future.

The Marijuana Policy Project recently reported that since 2014, legalized retail, non-medical marijuana has generated $7.9 billion in tax revenue, including $2.7 billion in 2020. And while direct equity participation in the cannabis was late in arriving, particularly in early adoption states such as California, many states are using revenues in a variety of ways.

Alaska used half its cannabis revenue to support reentry and recidivism reduction for incarcerated people. California has distributed more than $100 million to nonprofit groups that help neighborhoods that were targets of the drug wars.

Washington state funnels six-tenths of every cannabis tax dollar into public health measures, including a health insurance fund for low-income families, the Marijuana Policy Project reported.

Twenty percent of revenue in Illinois is invested in mental health services, and 25 percent goes to under-served communities.

Connecticut officials estimate that if adult-use sales can begin by next next spring, more than $4 million in tax revenue could be generated by June 30, 2022. The second year would produce $26.3 million in taxes, and by the end of the budget year on June 30, 2026, the industry would generate $73.4 million in direct receipts for the state. A social equity and innovation fund would get an estimated $26 million of the revenue by June 30, 2026. Other revenue would go to the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and the General Fund.

We want to built wealth in communities of color, she said, stressing that very little in upfront payments have to be made, unlike states where big money was required to apply, without any assurances that equity candidates would win licenses. Hopefully, Connecticut will have a quicker rollout, she said.

kdixon@ctpost.com Twitter: @KenDixonCT
WASHINGTON (AP)  Senate Democrats pledged Tuesday to forge ahead with a likely doomed vote on their sprawling elections and voting bill next week, even as it faces universal opposition from Republicans, as well as from a key senator in their own party.

Democrats have made the elections bill a major focus, touting it as the best way to counteract voting restrictions that have advanced in Republican-controlled statehouses across the U.S. in the wake of Donald Trump's false claims about a stolen 2020 election. With a vote nearing, a delegation of Texas state legislators met with senators Tuesday to make the case for congressional action.

The legislators talked about their dramatic walkout last month, which effectively blocked Republicans in the Texas legislature from approving new voting limits. Carol Alvarado, a Texas state senator from Houston, said she hoped the visit gave Congress some fight, some strength. Democrats gave the group multiple standing ovations.

Yet Sen. Joe Manchin, a key holdout on the elections legislation, did not attend the lunch. And with Republicans united against the measure, Democrats seemed to be careening toward a failed vote next week that is certain to add to the frustrations of liberal activists and others in the party who fear that a chance to safeguard access to the ballot is slipping away. Many of them say Democrats should change the Senates filibuster rules to muscle the bill through, but Manchin and others are against taking that step.

Sen. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., vowed to press ahead. He said Democrats will hold a special meeting later this week to discuss the path forward. We have to get it done, Schumer said.

Schumer said Republican legislatures are passing the most draconian restrictions since the beginning of Jim Crow, potentially disenfranchising tens of millions of Americans."

The Democrats' bill would bring about the largest overhaul of U.S. voting in a generation, touching nearly every aspect of the electoral process. It would remove hurdles to voting erected in the name of election security, like voter ID laws, while curtailing the influence of big money in politics. It would create a nonpartisan process for redrawing congressional districts, while expanding mail voting and early voting, while restoring the rights of felons to cast a ballot, among scores of other provisions.

Passing the bill was always going to be a huge lift in an evenly split 50-50 Senate, where Vice President Kamala Harris can cast tie-breaking votes. Senate procedural rules require 60 votes to overcome a filibuster, and Republicans are united against the bill, calling it a power grab.

The core desire they have is to federalize all elections to try to achieve a benefit to the Democrats at the expense of the Republicans, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Tuesday. Not surprisingly, there will not be a single Republican who supports it.

Manchin, a moderate West Virginia Democrat, has also said he would vote against the bill because it doesn't have bipartisan support.

What exactly will be palatable to Manchin, however, remains unclear. He supported previous versions of the bill and has said that action on voting rights is needed. He is also supposed to provide a list of criteria that he would support or oppose to Senate leadership, though it's unclear if he has done so.

Manchin has pushed for Democrats get behind a narrower piece of legislation that updates the Voting Rights Act to reinstate a requirement that new voting laws and legislative districts be subject to federal approval. His proposal would for the first time impose those requirements on all 50 states. But that bill also lacks support from Republicans, with only Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski supportive of the effort.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said both bills must pass.

The voting rights bill protects us in the current elections and must pass now," Pelosi said in a letter to colleagues. The update to the Voting Rights Act, she wrote, is the foundation for future elections and must be passed in a way that is constitutionally ironclad. Any premature passage could be very damaging to its success.

Pelosi spoke several times with Manchin about the bill over the weekend, according to a senior Democratic aide who was granted anonymity to confirm the private calls. An aide to Pelosi declined to comment on their discussions.
RIDGEFIELD  As he spoke before a crowd of maskless residents, First Selectman Rudy Marconi reflected on the seesaw year that was 2020 during his annual State of the Town address at Lounsbury House Thursday afternoon.

Working without a script, Marconi recalled the highs and lows Ridgefield experienced amid the pandemic. And while he acknowledged that the town made it through an unprecedented year, he said, We have a lot of work to do going forward.

Some of this work could be accomplished with federal dollars, as Ridgefield is expected to receive its first tranche of American Rescue Plan monies within the next 30 days.

On Monday, members of the towns Tri-Board met virtually to discuss how to best allocate the $7.3 million in stimulus funds, and it was decided that a sub-committee of the collective boards would be established to work on the project.

The future is still uncharted waters, so we have to move forward cautiously, Marconi said. When we spend the money from ARP, we need to be sure that we spend it in a way that's going to help everyone for the future.

The group will make determinations on where to distribute the funds based on guidance from the U.S. Treasury Department and may receive additional assistance from a Western Connecticut Council of Governments consultant, Marconi said.

At the meeting, Marconi said he wants to ensure full transparency during the process.

To start his address, Marconi thanked the workers and volunteers at RVNAhealth for their efforts to get shots in the arms of residents earlier this year. He also acknowledged local COVID data scientist Rick Lawrence, whose daily reports on the towns website have provided fresh information during uncertain times.

Recognizing the Ridgefielders who lost their lives to the coronavirus over the past year, Marconi said the town recorded zero cases and a zero percent positivity rate as of last week.

This is wonderful news for us, he said.

The bad news regarding COVID, Marconi said, is that the town is almost $1 million over what it had budgeted in conveyance taxes for the current fiscal year. And while COVID reimbursements have remained steady, the two-person team fulfilling the paperwork has been inundated.

Ridgefield has maintained its Triple A Moodys rating, however, as well as its stellar pension funding, which remains at 97 percent.

(We have) one of the best-funded  municipal pension funds in the state of Connecticut, Marconi said.

Considering local home sales from May alone totaled $52.8 million, Marconi predicted that Ridgefield could see a population increase of about 300 to 400 hundred people moving forward, which would thus cause an uptick in school enrollments.

My belief is the enrollments are going to go up - there's no question, he added.

Next spring, the town hopes to put a shovel in the ground to begin work on Branchvilles downtown project, which will include renovated sidewalks, decorative street lamps and designated crosswalks.

Marconi rounded up his address by unveiling considerations to establish a public safety administration building on Old Quarry Road, which would serve as headquarters for Ridgefields Police and Fire Departments.

His final remarks were ones of thanks in praise of the towns volunteers, who do the work without receiving a paycheck.

The reward is what you see for your efforts, what you're giving back makes us all feel so great, he said, and I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart.

alyssa.seidman@hearstmediact.com
Investigations launched into the event and its backround discovered that China had deployed tanks and artillery near Galwan and constructed fortifications just a month earlier, hinting to the possibility that the "Galwan clash" was not a blind skirmish caused by the individual zeal of the patrolling soldiers but rather, an attempt at a pre-planned incursion.

Today marks the one-year anniversary of the Galwan clash wherein 20 Indian soldiers laid down their lives in the defence of Indias sovereign territory. NewsX also spoke to 3 of the families of Indias Galwan martyrs about their stand on the current India-China situation.

To avoid violence from escalating, the soldiers stationed along the Indo-Chinese borders are unarmed and this led to the clash taking the form of a hand-to-hand melee, with the involved soldiers attacking each other using fists and improvised weapons. This incident highlighted Chinese aggression and expansionism even clearer.

Investigations launched into the event and its backround discovered that China had deployed tanks and artillery near Galwan and constructed fortifications just a month earlier, hinting to the possibility that the Galwan clash was not a blind skirmish caused by the individual zeal of the patrolling soldiers but rather, an attempt at a pre-planned incursion.

China had likely expected the Indian soldiers to be shocked by so sudden and organised a Chinese assault and retreat, ceding ground as they did so. However, the martial spirit of the Indians urged them to resist, and resist they did, inflicting roughly twice as many casualties than they suffered, according to the reports of the American intelligence agency CIA and Russian media association TASS. This is despite the fact that the Chinese were armed with spiked clubs they had prepared beforehand, which were used to slash at Indian soldiers. The Chinese Communist Party also hesitated in giving a proper number on their casualties, initially acknowledging several wounded but no fatalities. However, new revelations slowly pressured them into claiming that they suffered only 4 dead, and several unofficial sources claiming that the number is higher.
Shi Zhengli is a leading Chinese virologist, has been at the centre point of conflicting narratives regarding her coronavirus study at a governmental lab in Wuhan, the place where the epidemic initially burst out. She has tried to defend her Wuhan Lab in the face of demand for an investigation into the origins of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), which has been linked to a leak from a WIV laboratory.

Even though the world has been continuously combating the COVID-19 pandemic since the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in 2019, Chinese researchers claimed to have discovered a set of new Coronaviruses in bats. According to sources, one of the viruses detected in the new batch is the second-closest virus to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. With 96 percent similarity, the RaTG13 virus found by Chinas Bat Woman Shi Zhengli remains the biologically closest virus to SARS-CoV-2.

Shi Zhengli is a leading Chinese virologist, has been at the centre point of conflicting narratives regarding her coronavirus study at a governmental lab in Wuhan, the place where the epidemic initially burst out.

She has tried to defend her Wuhan Lab in the face of demand for an investigation into the origins of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), which has been linked to a leak from a WIV laboratory. She claimed there had been no evidence and bemoaned the rumours heaped on an innocent scientist.

According to some US experts, Shi did dangerous experiments with bat coronaviruses in laboratories that were not safe and reliable. Others seek further information about statements quoting US intelligence that indicate some staff of the Wuhan Institute of Virology was infected with COVID-19 earlier on. There is still no concrete proof to support the lab leak hypothesis, according to scientists. However, many of them now claim that the hypothesis was dismissed too quickly and without adequate research, creating some troubling problems.

Shi stated in a Scientific American article published in March 2020 that the genetic structure of the virus that causes Covid-19 does not match any of her labs samples. She also informed a World Health Organization (WHO) delegation which visited China to determine the reason for Covid-19s origin, found that none of the personnel had tested positive for Covid-19 antibodies.
Leaders are seen unhappy with China for rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal, its opaqueness in modernising its forces. They are expected to tag China as a security risk at the critical summit. The expected move comes after G7 nations admonished Beijing for its alleged human rights abuses against the minority Uighur population in the Xinjiang region.

NATO, North Atlantic Treaty Organisation also called North Atlantic Alliance, would soon call out Chinas behaviour a systematic challenge in its final summit statement. As per a report the leaders of western military organisations meeting held in Brussel on Monday, including US President Biden, will blame China for its various unexpected and inhuman activities. They seemed to criticize Chinas military cooperation with Russia.

Chinas stated ambitions and assertive behaviour present systemic challenges to the rules-based international order and to areas relevant to alliance security., NATO leaders expected to address in their communique to be published after the summit, Reuters informed.

The leaders are seen unhappy with China for rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal, its opaqueness in modernising its forces. They are expected to tag China as a security risk at the critical summit. The expected move comes after G7 nations admonished Beijing for its alleged human rights abuses against the minority Uighur population in the Xinjiang region.

As a reaction to all these, Beijing on Tuesday has become critical of NATO. It accused NATO of overstating the threat from China and creating Confrontation.

View Chinas development rationally, stop exaggerating various forms of China threat theory and not to use Chinas legitimate interests and legal rights as excuses for manipulating group politics (while) artificially creating confrontations., responded a statement from the Chinese Mission to European Union.
MILFORD  Heres something to lift the spirits of young people interested in following in the footsteps of renowned ghost hunters Ed and Lorraine Warren: a paranormal summer camp experience is coming to the city.

Cindy Wolfe Boynton, creator of the popular Spirits of Milford Ghost Walks, is offering Ghost Camp, three-hour, one-day sessions for children ages 11-18, to explore two sites in Milford that are believed to be haunted.

There will be plenty of ghost stories, history lessons and scientific tools to measure paranormal activity.

Its an introduction to the supernatural, the only one of its kind in the state, she said.

If you want to be a ghostbuster, this is the summer program to go to, she said. Just like a Spirits of Milford Ghost walk  its not scary  some people may find it spooky.

Melissa Okwuosa said she signed up her daughter, Olivia, 13, because its something different and fun for her to try.

It can be hard to find activities that appeal to young teens. We have an interest, belief and have had experiences with the paranormal/supernatural so this seemed like it would be something fun as well as a learning experience, Okwuosa said. The kids learn the history of our area and of the energies around us and get a mystic adventure at the same time. We share the world with our ancestors, so I am sure spirits are all around us more than we know.

Boynton, a college professor and author of books that include Connecticut Witch Trials: The First Panic in the New World and the new  Conjuring the Devil: My Terrifying True Story About Working with Paranormal Investigators Ed & Lorraine Warren on the Devil Made Me Do It, said campers will explore Wilcox Park, where the Paugussett Indians are believed to haunt their former village.

There are many ghosts stories associated with that area, she said.

They also will walk to Milford Cemetery to visit two sites  the grave of Andrew Sanford, who was accused of being a witch during Connecticuts Colonial witch trials, and the monument that pays tribute to Revolutionary War Capt. Stephen Stow, whose more than 300-year-old spirit is said to have been captured in photos.

Sanfords late son is known to pace back and forth there  and the White Lady is known to roam. There have been many sightings of each.

Campers will use professional ghost-hunting tools such as EMF detectors, EVP recorders and dowsing/divining rods, to be provided. They also will make their own ghost-hunting pendulums and learn how to use them, as well as a good luck evil eye bracelet thats said to provide spiritual protection.

Harnessing the energy from ones brain and nervous system makes the objects move, and learning to use those tools is extremely empowering, Boynton said.

Its all based on science. Its about physics, not hocus pocus, Boynton said. It really requires them to quiet their mind, focus on a goal, to tap into what science has proven. I tell people, you are doing this, tapping into this.

There is spiritual energy, as well, she said.

As someone who is a college professor Im always looking for new tools and strategies to help my students believe in themselves, Boynton said. I say if you can make this dowsing rod move by using your mind, what other amazing things can you do using your mind?

She said they will look at the science versus the supernatural, as is the case when any paranormal investigation is done.

Melanie Olson is making the trek from Woodstock to bring her son Nathan, 18. She signed up immediately when she found out about the program because he will be aging out.

I looked it up and thought it would be a great time for Nathan, who has been interested in ghost hunting for a few years now, she said.

One of Boyntons favorite things about her ghost walks is that she points out historical sites in Milford and will do so in the camp. Some of those include a cannon from the War of 1812 on the corner of Broad and High streets, and a grinding stone used in the 1600s in Fowlers Mill, on the corner of New Haven Avenue and Daniel Street next to the Memorial Tower.

Campers also will hear stories about the infamous Captain Kidd and how the time he spent in Milford led to Charles Island being cursed three times.

Signed-up camper Brady Funk, 14, is a third generation born and raised in Milford. I find ghosts fascinating and I am interested in the history of Milford, Brady said.

His mother, Jennifer Funk, said Brady loves the unknown, and has always been fascinated with such thing  ghosts, Bigfoot. Asked whether she thought Brady could get scared at the camp, Jennifer Funk said, He watched Stranger Things and was fine.

Boynton said the camp is during the day, as opposed to the ghost walks at night, and thats huge in terms of scare potential.

While Spirits of Milford Ghost Camp is for the younger ones only, there is an adult Spirits of Milford Ghost Hunt at Milford Cemetery June 25 for all ages from 8-10:30 p.m.

As for the camp, attendees must be at least 11 years old, the sessions are three hours each and the times of the sessions vary  10 a.m. to 1 p.m., 2 to 5 p.m. and 5 to 8 p.m. The sessions will take placebetween June 22 and Aug. 7 and will begin near the entrance of Wilcox Park.

Each session will be limited to 10 participants, so early registration is recommended. Cost is $75 per person. Refunds will only be given if severe weather forces cancellation.

For more information, contact Spirits of Milford at milfordspirits@gmail.com, 203-214-7554 or www.spiritsofmilford.com.
CAIRO (AP)  Arab foreign ministers on Tuesday backed calls for the United Nations Security Council to intervene in a lingering dispute between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia over a massive dam Addis Ababa is building on Nile Rivers main tributary.

The move, announced at a meeting in Qatar, was the latest push by Cairo and Khartoum to reach an agreement on the filling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit said the Arab countries will press for the Security Council to hold an urgent session on the decade-long dispute.

Aboul Gheit spoke at a joint news conference with Qatars Foreign Minister Mohammad bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Doha, following the meeting of Arab ministers.

The three nations had been close to reaching a U.S.-brokered accord last year, but Ethiopia walked out of a signing meeting in Washington, accusing former President Donald Trumps administration of siding with Egypt.

Cairo and Khartoum have repeatedly called for the U.S., the European Union, and the U.N. to join the talks as mediators, along with the African Union. Addis Ababa has rejected the idea.

The agreement would spell out how the dam is operated and filled, based on international law and norms governing cross-border rivers.

The dam is now 80% complete and is expected to reach full generating capacity in 2023, making it Africas largest hydroelectric power plant and the worlds seventh-largest, according to reports in Ethiopias state media.

The dispute now centers on how quickly Ethiopia should fill and replenish the reservoir and how much water it releases downstream in case of a multi-year drought. The latest round of African Union-brokered negotiations in April failed to make progress.

Tuesdays development came amid diplomatic and political pressure by Egypt and Sudan on Ethiopia ahead its planned second phase of filling the dam. They argue that Ethiopias plan to add 13.5 billion cubic meters of water in 2021 to the dams reservoir is a threat to them.

There is a united Arab position, Al Thani, the Qatari foreign minister, said. Water security is about survival for mankind, and for the peoples of Sudan and Egypt.

A final communique of the meeting called on the U.N. Security Council to take necessary measures to launch an active negotiating process aiming at reaching a deal within a specific timeframe.

Egypt and Sudan said they had sent letters to the Security Council this month, explaining their positions on the dam. Both warned about dire repercussions to peace and stability of the Horn of Africa without a deal.

They accused Ethiopia of failing to help reach a fair, balanced and legally binding agreement in previous talks overseen by the African Union.

Ethiopia's Foreign Ministry issued a statement late Tuesday denouncing the Arab League communique. It said the 22-member bloc's approach unhelpful and misguided on the dispute. Addis Ababa has maintained that the dam will help pull millions of its nearly 110 million citizens out of poverty and make the country a major power exporter.

Dohas hosting of the meeting marks a new beginning for the Egypt-Qatar ties and Qatars reemergence on the regional diplomatic stage after years of relative isolation. Egypt, along with other Gulf countries, was party to a boycott of Qatar that was based largely on its ties to Turkey and Iran.

A January declaration put an end to the diplomatic crisis that began in 2017 with a rift between Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain on one side and Qatar on the other.

The four countries had jointly boycotted Qatar and hoped an embargo and media blitz would pressure it to end its close relations with Turkey and Iran. Egypt and the UAE have viewed the support by Qatar and Turkey of Islamist groups like the Muslim Brotherhood as a security threat. Saudi Arabia and Bahrain were primarily concerned about Qatars ties with Iran.

The countries accused Qatar of cozying up to Iran and financing extremist groups in the region, though Doha denied the charges. Qatar-based satellite news network Al Jazeera was at the center of the dispute. The four nations demanded its closure, among other measures, which Qatar rejected.

Al-Thani and Aboul Gheit also said ministers discussed the Israel-Palestinian conflict and discussed steps to stop what Al-Thani described as Israeli violations in Jerusalem. Egypt and Qatar have played a significant role in the conflict between Israel and Gazas ruler Hamas, because they maintain diplomatic ties with the militant group.
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP)  The Maine Legislature has voted to close the state's only youth detention center, but the governor hasn't said whether she'll sign the bill.

The proposal would direct the Maine Department of Corrections to make a plan to close the Long Creek Youth Development Center in South Portland by 2023. The facility's $18.6 million in annual funding would be redirected elsewhere.
The state Medical Examining Board voted Tuesday to discipline two physicians with fines and ordered a Newington woman to stop providing injections for a fee without a medical license.

In the first case, Dr. Richard Kravitz, who works at the Veterans Affairs medical center in West Haven and a private office in Hamden, came under scrutiny in August 2018 after a female patient in his private practice reported that he had failed to inform her about side effects from the medication he prescribed, according to a consent order approved by the board.

The woman contended in a letter to the board that Kravitz prescribed toxic levels of Lithium for three years but never sought blood tests, even though she complained of neurological symptoms. He also prescribed a cocktail of five other drugs, leaving the woman with side effects that changed her personality and appearance, she said.

An investigation into the allegations revealed that Kravitz had failed to order laboratory testing for the woman and failed to document her treatments for three years, beginning in December 2015, documents said.

Under a consent order, Kravitz must pay a $10,000 fine and follow the stipulations of an 18-month probation period including attending classes in proper documentation and laboratory monitoring of prescriptions.

Kravtiz admitted to the allegations but contested the boards requirement that his work at the VA be monitored by an independent third party during the probation period on the grounds the incident was related to is private practice, according to letter sent to the Department of Public Health.

The board also fined a Madison physician for violating the terms of a consent order issued in 2013 barring him from examining female patients without a chaperone present.

Dr. Si-Hoi Lam was disciplined by the board in 2013 after a female patient testified that he had massaged her genital area inappropriately during a medical examination prior to a lumpectomy in 2008, documents said.

At the time, the board issued Lam a $5,000 fine and placed his license under a permanent restriction barring him from examining female patients alone.

A medical student reported to DPH in August 2020 that Lam had examined four female patients without a chaperone on July 22 and 23, 2020, documents said.

Lam asked the board in a May 2020 letter to remove the restriction, saying that he had fulfilled all the requirements of the discipline and the restriction was impacting his ability to practice medicine in Connecticut and New York, where he also holds a license.

The board agreed in June 2020 to Lams request for a hearing on whether the restriction could be removed. But Lam voluntarily submitted a withdrawal of the request on Feb. 2 after learning about the new investigation.

On Tuesday, Lam was issued a $5,000 fine and ordered not to violate the restriction on his license again.

The board also ordered a Newington woman to cease and desist practicing medicine without a license after the Central Connecticut Health District reported she was giving Botox injections for a fee.

Ermelinda Rrumbullaku was providing shots of Lidocaine, a pain reliever, Botox and Belotero, both cosmetic fillers to reduce wrinkles and lines, to people for compensation in 2018 and 2019, according to DPH documents. Rrumbullaku does not have a license to practice medicine or surgery, officials said.

Under a consent order, Rrumbullakus name will be submitted to the National Practitioner Data Bank and she must stop giving the shots unless she has a valid medical license.

This story was reported under a partnership with the Connecticut Health I-Team (c-hit.org), a nonprofit news organization dedicated to health reporting.
BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP)  Lawmakers in Hungary approved legislation Tuesday that prohibits sharing with minors any content portraying homosexuality or sex reassignment, something supporters said would help fight pedophilia but which human rights groups denounced as anti-LGBT discrimination.

Fidesz, the conservative ruling party of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, introduced the legislation, which is the latest effort to curtail the rights of gay men, lesbians, bisexual and transgender people in the European Union nation located in central Europe.

Hungary's National Assembly approved the bill in a 157-1 vote. Fidesz has a parliamentary majority, and lawmakers from the right-wing Jobbik party also endorsed the measure. One independent lawmaker voted against it.

Csaba Domotor, the Fidesz state secretary, described the goal as the protection of children, noting that the changes include the introduction of a searchable registry of convicted pedophiles.

Pedophiles wont be able to hide any more  there are similar solutions in other countries, too. The criminal code will be even more strict. Punishments will be more severe. No one can get away with atrocities with light punishments and parole, he said.

All other opposition parties boycotted the voting session in protest. Human rights groups had denounced the measure strongly, saying it was wrong to conflate LGBT people with pedophilia. They argued that the law could be used to stigmatize and harass residents because of their sexual orientations and gender identities.

On this shameful day, the oppositions place is not in the parliament but on the streets, Budapest Mayor Karacsony wrote on Facebook.

Orbans government in the past has depicted migrants as a grave threat to Hungary and the nations Christian identity, a theme the prime minister has successfully used to win past elections. With the next elections scheduled for 2022, and fewer migrants entering Europe, the ruling party has increasingly depicted the LGBT rights movement as a threat, in an attempt to shore up its conservative base.

Yet more than a dozen local organizations, including Amnesty International Hungary and LGBT rights organizations, argued in a statement after the vote that the legislation is not in line with Hungarian society, which is largely accepting of LGBT people.

(It) also clearly infringes the right to freedom of expression, human dignity and equal treatment, the statement said.

Lawmaker Gergely Arato, of the Democratic Coalition parliamentary grouping, said the changes violate the standards of parliamentary democracy, rule of law and human rights.

The legislation, presented last week by Fidesz, was on its face primarily aimed at fighting pedophilia. It included amendments that ban the representation of any sexual orientation besides heterosexual as well as sex reassignment information in school sex education programs, or in films and advertisements aimed at anyone under 18.

Thousands of LGBT activists and others held a protest in Budapest on Monday in an unsuccessful effort to stop the legislation from passing.

Dunja Mijatovic, the commissioner for human rights at the Council of Europe, the continents leading human rights body, also had asked Hungarian lawmakers to reject the legislation, saying it reinforced prejudice against LGBT people.

The Fidesz party also successfully championed a law last year making it impossible for transgender people to legally change the gender markers on their identity documents. Human rights officials say that puts them at risk of humiliation when they need to present identity documents.

Todays decision in #Hungarys parliament represents another severe state discrimination against #LGBTIQ people, Deputy Foreign Minister Michael Roth of Germany tweeted Tuesday after the new legislation passed. This law goes against everything we regard as our common European values. Full solidarity and support for LGBTIQ people in Hungary.
NEW HAVEN - Reginald Mayo was superintendent of schools when the late Jeffie Frazier was principal of Helene W. Grant School, yet he always wore his best shirt and tie when he visited the school  he didnt want to catch any flack for not looking good enough.

She was a no-nonsense type of person, Mayo, now retired, said of the late Frazier. Jeffie didnt work for me - I worked for her.  Working for Jeffie, I became a better person, superintendent.

Mayo said Frazier took the school, and turned it around - students, parents and teachers alike. Mayo said Frazier never needed to be led herself, and so, he never did, as, She was way ahead of most of us in knowing what kids needed to succeed.

Arnold Gold / Hearst Connecticut Media file

Frazier was known throughout the state for her positive effect on education and recognized at the state level with a prestigious award, Mayo said.

Shell be missed in this community - believe me, he said.

Frazier, whose death was announced over the weekend, was remembered locally as being fierce in advocating for her students, tapping every resource possible for success, including parents, school officials, the Board of Education, social service agencies and community leaders.

As fierce as she was, she also brought her maternal side to the job, quietly visiting the homes of students with suspected problems or who were missing school - knowing something might be amiss at home.

Hearst Connecticut Media file

She connected families with social service agencies before they became unraveled, intervening to keep mothers from losing their children, those who knew her said.

Frazier washed school uniforms if thats what kids needed, she styled their hair in her office if needed and even kept a kid-friendly food stash ready for those who arrived late and hungry after school breakfast had been served.

She was ahead of her time.  She really ruled with love, but she had high expectations, said longtime friend Doris Dumas, who knew Frazier as an educator, sorority sister and friend. Some people take (the word) legendary lightly, but she really was. She wears that crown well as legend.

Contributed /

The Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Community announced over the weekend that Frazier had died. They said she was a Louisiana native who came to New Haven and taught in the citys public schools beginning in 1966. She eventually became principal of Helene W. Grant School on Goffe Street, which later became the combined Wexler-Grant School.

Former Mayor John DeStefano Jr. said principals are the most important people in running a school because theyre the on the ground leaders, and Frazier excelled at that, creating expectations and accountability.

She was fierce, DeStefano said.

She was fiercely passionate about giving kids in her school every opportunity to succeed, fiercely passionate about rallying the community for support, and fierce in the expectation of staff, as well as students - that students would work hard, treat each other with respect and treat themselves with respect, he said.

Peter Casolino / Hearst Connecticut Media file

City Librarian Diane X Brown, New Haven Free Public Library Stetson branch manager, said Frazier became a mentor and dear friend through the years and often worked quietly together for the benefit of kids in the community, Frazier recognizing the neighborhood library as a great resource.

Were all serving the same Dixwell Village.  She pushed everyone for the common cause of getting every child in the village educated, Brown said. She modeled the behavior that we as Black people should have in the community. She didnt talk about it - she did it.

Peter Hvizdak / Hearst Connecticut Media file

Frazier, who has a street named after her - Jeffie Frazier Way - did so much quietly, including visiting the homes of children, and in some of those cases, helping moms keep their children by finding interventions for problems, Brown said.

Frazier did whatever was needed, Brown said, recalling once when Brown came in one day and Frazier was doing the hair of a little girl who was receiving services, with the mothers permission.

She cared, she really, really cared, Brown said. A lot of it was behind the scenes.

Dumas said people in the community always respected Frazier, once president of the sorority.

Hearst Connecticut Media file photo

She said Frazier visited childrens homes to knock down personal barriers to success.

She knew a student wasnt acting out or missing school for no reason, Dumas said. She was ahead of her time. If a person was falling off, she made personal visits.

Frazier instituted uniforms in her school before uniform policies were common, to make it more of a level playing field.

She wanted them to have pride, dignity, Dumas said. She poured pride and love into the students. It made a difference and everyone in the community knew.

Dumas, president of the Greater New Haven Branch of the NAACP, also praised Frazier for highlighting to students African Americans doing great things.

In the sorority, as in the schools, Frazier would do anything and everything she could to uplift, Dumas said.

She will be missed. Shes touched so many lives, Brown said.
SHELTON  The six police officers terminated last year have filed a suit against the city, charging Mayor Mark Lauretti and Police Chief Shawn Sequeira with, among other things, defamation and violating their Constitutional rights.

The suit, which named Lauretti and Sequeira, was filed June 9 in U.S. District Court by Lt. Dave Moore and officers John Napoleone, Michael McClain, Dan Loris, Caroline Moretti and Roger Falcone.

The six allege that Lauretti and Sequeira violated their Constitutional rights of free speech and assembly, defamed them, and intentionally inflicted emotional distress.

Three officers  Moore, Napoleone and McClain  were fired after an internal affairs investigation related to a sexual assault investigation. The three other officers were fired for allegedly staging photos of officers changing clothes in the department parking lot, related to the departments use of portable toilets for officers.

The suit states the termination letters contained false and inflammatory statements written with malicious intent about the officers, and that Lauretti and Sequeira then reiterated these charges to various media outlets.

The mayor and the chief made very public defamatory statements about these officers which is unheard of in our police departments across Connecticut, said attorney Michelle Holmes, who is representing the six plaintiffs in the suit.

As a result of the pairs actions, the suit states the officers suffered lost career and promotional opportunities, emotional injury and loss of income. Loris has since been hired as a police officer in Fairfield.

The officers are seeking lost wages  only one (Loris) of them has been hired by another police department  the rest cannot find employment in their chosen field, Holmes said. They are seeking damages for harm to their reputation and emotional distress. We are also requesting that a jury award punitive damages against Lauretti and Sequeira.

All six officers have filed grievances over their terminations. Those cases remain pending.

Sequeira told Hearst Connecticut Media the suit is a desperate attempt to deflect attention and responsibility from themselves.

The lawsuit is not based on any facts, Sequeira said. The facts and circumstances support those disciplined and terminated were based on just cause. We continue to hold our officers accountable as the majority do their job. Police officers are held to a specific standard supported by the police accountability bill.

Lauretti said he was not surprised by the suit.

We have been talking about the firings and the reasons for the firings since this all started, Lauretti told Hearst Connecticut Media, adding that the circumstances surrounding the six terminations will be before the state labor board and the courts.

All the facts will come out, he said.

Sequeira said an internal affairs investigation led to the termination of then-union president Napoleone, McClain and then-union vice president Moore for dereliction of duty.

Sequeira said Moores initial internal affairs investigation began in August 2019 and was completed in November 2020. The chief said the report, in which Moore cleared Napoleone and McClain, was found to be incomplete, leading to the additional internal affairs investigation.

The chief said Napoleone and McClain were fired for not properly investigating a complaint at the apartment of since-fired Bridgeport police officer Steven Figueroa. Moore was fired, according to Sequeira, for attempting to cover up Napoleone and McClains mishandling of the incident.

The victim in that incident this week filed suit against the city.

The terminations of Loris, Moretti and Falcone resulted from a separate internal affairs investigation that began months prior in connection with photos of officers apparently changing their clothes in the department parking lot that appeared on the Support the Shelton Police Union Facebook page in July 2020.

The suit states the officers actions were to illustrate to the community the impact of closing all police headquarters bathrooms to officers in April 2020.

The defendants then arranged for two porta-potties to be delivered to the Shelton Police Department parking lot. There were no hand-washing stations or any place to change your clothes other than in the parking lot, the suit states.

Although union representatives wanted the issue to be bargained under the contract, the defendants did not acknowledge any requests nor was the unsanitary, humiliating, and unsafe conditions ultimately ever part of a formal union labor dispute, the suit states.

The three officers, according to Sequeira, were terminated on allegations of staging the photos and lying about them.

The officers were all fired within one month from the time that the photos were posted on Facebook and the public rally took place which is very strong evidence that their discharge was because of their speech, Holmes said.

Holmes is referring to a public rally organized to support Sheltons police officers held July 2, 2020.

The mayor and the chief targeted these officers because they spoke out about the police department and then went even farther by publishing defamatory statements to the press with total disregard of the truth, Holmes added.

brian.gioiele@hearstmediact.com
An Ansonia woman claims in a federal civil rights lawsuit that Shelton police officers responded to a complaint she was being beaten but then walked away. After the officers left, the woman claims she was sexually assaulted by a former Bridgeport police officer at his Shelton residence.

City officials and police officers have an affirmative duty to preserve law and order and protect the personal safety of persons in the community, states the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Bridgeport by the woman, referred in the lawsuit as Jane Doe, against her alleged assailant, Steven Figueroa, and former Shelton officers Michael McClain and John Napoleone, Shelton Police Chief Shawn Sequeira, Mayor Mark Lauretti and the city of Shelton.

She is seeking unspecified damages.

Her lawyers, Robert Berke and Audrey Felsen, declined comment.

In August 2019, Figueroa, who the lawsuit states had been arrested four times for domestic violence before the alleged assault that June, was fired from the Bridgeport Police Department. His lawyer, Christian Young, declined comment on the lawsuit because the criminal charges against his client are pending.

Last July Sequeira fired McClain and Napoleone in connection with the incident. A third officer, who conducted the internal affairs investigation that cleared the two men, was also fired.

The officers have all filed grievances over their terminations. Those cases remain pending.

The three were also among six that recently filed a lawsuit against Lauretti and Sequeira, alleging the public officials violated their Constitutional rights of free speech and assembly, defamed them, and intentionally inflicted emotional distress.

Domestic violence should not be ignored  and I sincerely apologize to the reported victim, Sequeira said at the time.

The Shelton Police Department recognizes the seriousness of the situation and took the appropriate action. We must set a standard of accountability, Sequeira said on Monday.

Asked Monday about the lawsuit, Lauretti said people should pay attention to what the victim has to say.

McClain and Napoleone could not be reached for comment.

On June 26, 2019, according to the lawsuit, a woman notified Shelton Police that she and her daughter heard a loud fight from the apartment directly above hers, occupied by Figueroa. The woman reported that she distinctly heard sounds of domestic abuse and heard a woman screaming and crying, and also heard sounds that led her to believe that a woman had been thrown to the ground several times, the suit states.

The lawsuit states that McClain and Napoleone responded to the domestic abuse complaint made by Figueroas neighbor, and when no one answered the door they failed to conduct any further investigation into the domestic violence complaint.

The lawsuit states that three days later Shelton Detective John Hubyk received a complaint from Jane Doe who stated that before the arrival of officers McClain and Napoleone at Figueroas apartment, she had been assaulted by Figueroa, struck in the face and head, and dragged from one room to another. The woman stated that upon McClain and Napoleones arrival, Figueroa covered her mouth and warned her to keep quiet. When he was sure the officers had left, Figueroa sexually assaulted the woman, the suit states.

She claims in the lawsuit that McClain and Napoleone knew or should have known it was Figueroas apartment when they responded to the scene and that he had previously been arrested.

Figueroa, who joined the Bridgeport Police Department in 2016, was first arrested in November 2017 on charges of third-degree criminal mischief and disorderly conduct after an incident in Stratford. The charges were dropped when the victim opted not to pursue the case.

His second arrest was April 8, 2018, by Bridgeport police on charges of second-degree stalking, second-degree breach of peace and second-degree harassment after an incident involving the same victim from the Stratford incident, according to court records. He was granted a pretrial probationary program which he was still completing at the time of his arrest by Shelton police.

On June 22, 2018 Milford police charged Figueroa with second-degree breach of peace and violation of a protective order. Figueroa pleaded no contest to the charges, meaning he did not either admit to or deny them.

Figueroa was arrested by Shelton police on June 29, 2019 on the June 26 incident described in the lawsuit and charged with third-degree assault, unlawful restraint, threatening and risk of injury to a child. On July 20, 2019 Figueroa was again arrested and charged by Shelton police for the same incident that led to his June 29 arrest. He was charged with first-degree sexual assault.

Those charges are pending in Milford Superior Court.

Brian Gioiele contributed to this story.
BOSTON (AP)  The first of five drawings for the Massachusetts coronavirus vaccine lottery is scheduled for July 26, state officials announced Friday.

Additional drawings for either a $1 million prize or a $300,000 college scholarship will be held on the four Mondays following that date through the end of August, according to a statement from the office of Gov. Charlie Baker.

The winners will be announced three days after each drawing.

Registration for the Massachusetts VaxMillions Giveaway will begin this upcoming Thursday.

Residents must be fully vaccinated before registering, but if they are not vaccinated by the registration date for a certain drawing, they can still complete vaccination and register for subsequent drawings. Residents will only have to enter once to qualify for all drawings after their registration date.

Residents age 18 and older are eligible for the $1 million prizes, while residents ages 12 to 17 are eligible for the scholarships, which are in the form of grants via a 529 College Savings Plan managed by the Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority.

The state is using federal coronavirus relief funds to pay the winners.

The lottery is designed to spur more people into getting vaccinated, Baker has said. Already more than 4 million state residents have been fully vaccinated.

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VIRUS BY THE NUMBERS

The number of new daily cases of COVID-19 increased by 60 on Friday while the number of newly confirmed coronavirus deaths in Massachusetts rose by one.

The new numbers pushed the states confirmed COVID-19 death toll to 17,623 since the start of the pandemic, while its confirmed caseload rose to more than 663,500.

The true number of cases is likely higher because studies suggest some people can be infected and not feel sick.

There were about 100 people reported hospitalized Friday because of confirmed cases of COVID-19, with about 30 in intensive care units.

The average age of those hospitalized was 60. There were an estimated 1,500 people with current active cases of COVID-19 in the state.

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IMMUNIZATIONS

More than 8.5 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Massachusetts as of Friday.

That includes nearly 4.4 million first doses and more than 3.8 million second doses of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines.

There have been nearly 273,000 doses of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine administered.

More than 4.1 million people have been fully immunized.

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Follow APs coverage of the pandemic at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic.
NEW YORK (AP)  Rita Moreno emigrated with her mother from Puerto Rico at age five. By six, she was dancing at Greenwich Village nightclubs. By 16, she was working full time. By 20, she was in Singin in the Rain.

In the documentary Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It, Norman Lear says: I cant think of anyone Ive ever met in the business who lived the American dream more than Rita Moreno."

In the decades that followed, Moreno won a Tony, a Grammy, an Emmy and and Oscar, for West Side Story. (Her entire acceptance speech: I can't believe it. ) With seemingly infinite spiritedness, she has epitomized the best of show business while also being a victim to its cruelties. That has made Moreno, who co-stars in Steven Spielberg's upcoming "West Side Story remake, a heroic figure to Latinos, and to others. I have never given up, she said in a recent interview by Zoom from her home in Berkeley, California.

The reason for the conversation was Mariem Perez Riera's intimate and invigorating documentary, which opens in theaters Friday after playing virtually at the Sundance Film Festival and in an outdoor premiere at the Tribeca Festival. The film opens with Moreno preparing a Cuban themed party for her 87th birthday. And I demand costumes, the screen legend says with a smile.

But as upbeat as Moreno remains, Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It also deals frankly with the many turbulences of Moreno's life: being positioned as the Spanish Elizabeth Taylor and the stereotyped casting that followed; a long and painful relationship with Marlon Brando; the abuse of her agent; a confining marriage.

Moreno was likewise forthright in an interview with The Associated Press while occasionally reaching for a tissue for springtime allergies. All that cocaine, the 89-year-old joked. Remarks have been lightly edited for clarity and brevity.

AP: What struck me most watching the film is that despite going through what would defeat or embitter most, you seem to have emerged with such joy and appreciation for life.

MORENO: I have a very strong constitution. Maybe you inherit it. Maybe its due to learning how to cope with my tumultuous life through psychotherapy. I really credit that for helping me through some really, really bad times. My mom was like that, too. And you know what? I have a feeling that a lot of people who are outliers have strong constitutions because its either sink or swim, right? And I think you learn early on in life that swimming is preferable to sinking.

AP: How early did you learn that?

MORENO: The first test, I think, was learning English in kindergarten when I didnt know a word, not a word. Thats the first thing that happened to me literally when I came to this country. Children are impressively resilient. And then, in a way, theyre also extremely tender and fragile. I think the reason I ending up having such a hard time in life is that I ran into a racial bias very early on. When youre young  I mean 5, 6, 7  and people call you bad names like spic or garlic mouth or gold tooth, like in West Side Story, youre tender, youre a child. You believe these things. You believe that youre not worthy. You dont know why, but you know that theres something wrong with you.

AP: Do you remember the first time you performed?

MORENO: Oh, yeah. It was for my grandpa in Puerto Rico to a rhumba record. Shaking my little booty. And he loved it. He was clapping in time to the music. And I was thinking: Wow, this is fun. And hes loving this. I like this a lot. I mean, I was born to be a performer. I think some people are just wired that way. I was just born to perform and please people  and that got out of hand, too.

AP: You said you wanted to be completely honest in the film but were there some things that were difficult to be candid about? You speak about being raped by your agent.

MORENO: Oh, yeah. That was difficult. And talking about my husband (cardiologist Lenny Gordon, who died in 2010) was difficult in a different way. In so many ways he was a remarkable man. He was loving. Ive never seen a more devoted grandfather and father and husband. But what happened with us is that he was a controlling person. I have a theory that when some people have relationships, they make a contract with each other that is never spoken or verbalized. In our case, it was Ill be the little girl and Ill be charming and I will please you. But you have to be my daddy and take care of me and protect me. That was our agreement. It was never spoken. But thats what it was. I didnt realize it until one day I wanted to start growing up and the marriage was not working. Its so much not a part of who I am. Plus, I was brought up that way. You have to please the man. But I suffered a lot. I remember times when Id say I was going to go to the grocery store and Id go somewhere to park the car and cry.

AP: Your life seems to be this long process of unlearning the wrong things you were told about yourself.

MORENO: What a wonderful way to put it. Youre absolutely on the money. I had to learn that I was a person of value like all other people. But its very difficult when you learn something from childhood. Its not as though I came to this country when I was 20 and learned something different. I was a little girl and youre very impressionable. You believe that you dont have value. You dont know why you dont have it, but you believe it. And, man, that is so hard to get rid of. You know, theres still a little girl with me, but the difference is that I can now send her to her room. Theres still a nasty little girl in me who says, I told you that couldnt happen. And Im now able to say: Go to your room!

AP: Your central therapy session followed years with Marlon Brando. In your memoir, you spoke about him as your greatest lover but your time with him was torturous.

MORENO: Heres whats hilarious to me. It was he who said to me: You need help. You need therapy. So the lunatic is telling the crazy woman that she needs help! (Laughs). But he was right! He was right. I remember the day he said that to me, I thought: Yeah, but hes crazy as a loon!

AP: Its not everyone that dates Elvis just to make Brando jealous, as you did. Are you sometimes amazed by the life youve led?

MORENO: Yes. But I have to say that after I saw the documentary for the very first time  my daughter and I saw it together  I left the screening room saying, Wow, thats quite a life Ive led! (Laughs) But you dont think that way about yourself. Very likely, if you had something like this done about you, you would also say the same thing about yourself.

AP: In watching what has and hasn't changed in that time, what stands out to you? You were there when Martin Luther King Jr. gave his I Have a Dream speech.

MORENO: I feel extremely fortunate that Im still around to see the sea changes that are taking place. Ill be 90 in December and I dont think Im going to see the womens movement really progress more because I wont be around. But Ive seen it change. Ive seen a change in such meaningful ways and Im grateful for that. What still concerns me mightily and profoundly is that Hispanics havent gotten their hold on our profession, I dont know what the hell is wrong. I dont know what is not working right. The Black community has done incredibly and I have nothing but the deepest admiration for the Black professional community. Theyve done it and I think we can take some lessons from them. But where is our Moonlight? Why are we not advancing?

AP: Do you have any answers?

MORENO: We tend in this country to silo ourselves. We are Puerto Rican and then we are also Mexican. We are also Argentinian. We are Spanish Spain. And somehow those twains havent really met and coalesced the way we need to. That may be the answer. But its very complicated. People forget that were not just Hispanic. We are from other countries. Maybe the answer, or the beginning of the answer, lies in a summit, some kind of summit. Im not going to see that. My age forbids it. But I sure as hell hope something happens. I cant believe were still struggling the way we are. And when we do something thats Latino, it doesnt do as well. One Day at a Time (a Netflix sitcom begun in 2017) was hilarious. It was marvelous. It was no accident because it had Norman Lear who chose the writers. And we lasted three and a half seasons. You wonder: Why didnt that happen?

AP: Many would attribute it to the entrenched biases in Hollywood.

MORENO: Its one of the very few things about my career that really makes me sad. A lot of the reviews for this documentary were fabulous. A number of the critics said something to the effect of: Its sad to think that this woman might have had a real career in films had she not had this career when she had it. And I think thats true. I think its very, very true. I want to say Ive been robbed. But you know, what good does that do?

AP: After West Side Story, youve said you were offered only similar, stereotypical roles for years.

MORENO: Those were brutal. Brutal! When I got the Oscar and the Golden Globe, I thought: OK, finally. And thats not what happened at all. In fact, it was the opposite. I was offered more Anita-type roles when I was offered something, which was not that frequent. I made a decision not to accept any more of those kinds of roles. It was a lot of coffee pourers, housewives and stuff. I said Im not going to do them anymore. Ha-ha, I showed them. I didnt make a movie for seven years. I mean, how stubborn can you get?

AP: You recently revisited West Side Story with Spielberg. How was that?

MORENO: It was just grand. Ive been a fan of Stevens work for years. When he called, he offered me a part in West Side Story. I nearly peed my pants because this is Steven Spielberg, one of my idols. I said to him that I would love to do a cameo, but I said, You dont really want me to do that, do you? And he said, Oh, no, no. Its a part. Its a real part. Tony Kushner wrote it for you. First of all, Tony Kushners writing the script? What! I was thrilled. I was excited the way a child would be excited. Tony kept adding to the part. Its a wonderful part. It was one of the best experiences of my life.

AP: I dont imagine you do, but do you have any regrets?

MORENO: If I cant have all the movies I always wanted to be in  which are all the Meryl Streep movies, I wanted to be her  but if I cant do that, Ive done pretty well, considering. And I think Ive left an important legacy in a very, very meaningful sense and that is: That I have never gave up. I have never given up. I just cling and hang on to what is important to me. A great deal of that has to do with self-respect and earning respect.

AP: I know its early, but have you picked out a theme for your 90th birthday in December?

MORENO: I think its going to be Puerto Rico. (Laughs.) It means the food. It means people have to dress a certain way. Im probably going to say Puerto Rico in the 30s. Ill make them wear Panama hats.

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Follow AP Film Writer Jake Coyle on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/jakecoyleAP.
BANGKOK (AP)  Prosecutors in the trial of deposed Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi presented arguments on Tuesday that she incited public disorder and flouted coronavirus restrictions, part of a package of charges the ruling military junta is seen as using to discredit her and consolidate its control.

Suu Kyi and other members of her government and party were arrested by the military after its Feb. 1 coup, and criminal charges were brought against some of the top figures on a litany of charges that their supporters and independent observers say are bogus.

The coup reversed years of democratic reforms following decades of harsh military rule and sparked widespread protests and international condemnation. Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy party had been due to start a second five-year term in office after winning a landslide victory in a general election last November.

Suu Kyi has not been seen in public since her arrest, and her lawyers say they don't know exactly where she is currently being held. She has also had only limited time to consult with her legal team.

Her lawyers declined to tell journalists many details of the proceedings on the second day of the trial Tuesday in the courtroom in the capital, Naypyitaw, but said Suu Kyi was very strong and followed the process with close interest.

She carefully listens to what the prosecutor says and she even discusses some points with us during the session, said one of her lawyers, Min Min Soe.

Suu Kyi wore a dress in the traditional style of the Kachin ethnic minority and was in good health after having complained about a toothache a day earlier, the lawyer said.

Tuesdays session covered a sedition charge brought against Suu Kyi, along with a second count of violating COVID-19 restrictions.

The sedition charge, which is sometimes described as incitement, provides for up to two years imprisonment for anyone found guilty of causing fear or alarm that could create an offense against the state or public tranquility. Ousted President Win Myint and the former mayor of Naypyitaw, Myo Aung, who are her close political allies and co-defendants, were also in court.

The plaintiff. a local Naypyitaw official, cited two statements posted on the Facebook page of Suu Kyi's party as evidence supporting the sedition charge, said another defense lawyer, San Mar La Nyunt.

She said the defense raised an objection to the evidence, noting that all members of the party's central executive committee, including Suu Kyi, had already been arrested before the statements were posted.

The prosecution and defense will both file arguments on the matter at the next court session, she said. The court is scheduled to meet every Monday and Tuesday.

The sedition charge has been law since Myanmar was a British colony, and has been criticized as a catch-all statute that infringes on freedom of speech and is used for political repression.

The trial, which is closed to the public and media, began Monday with police outlining several of the cases against her.

They covered charges she had illegally imported walkie-talkies that were for her bodyguards use; the unlicensed use of those radios; and violation of the Natural Disaster Management Law by allegedly breaking pandemic restrictions during last years election campaign, her lawyers said.

Suu Kyi faces additional charges that have yet to be tried, among them accepting bribes, which carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison, and violating the Official Secrets Act, which carries a maximum prison term of 14 years. But a conviction on virtually charge any could result in Suu Kyi being banned from running in any future election, which many believe is the militarys goal.

One of the reasons the military gave for conducting the coup was that last year's election was marred by fraud, an assertion rejected by independent poll watchers.

Suu Kyi's trial has renewed calls for her release and return to civilian rule.

U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq, responding to a question on Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reaction to the trial, said Monday the U.N. position is clear: We want her and all of the senior members of her administration to be freed.

The secretary-general has called for and continues to call for a reversal of the Feb. 1 coup and the restoration of the legitimate government of Myanmar, of whom Aung San Suu Kyi is a member, Haq said.

Rights groups have said there is little chance that Suu Kyi will receive a fair trial.

Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director of Human Rights Watch, said the pandemic charges are related to instances during the campaign in which crowds came to see Suu Kyi or she greeted them, and noted that the military had not enforced such regulations for its own gatherings.

Public health measures should not be applied in an arbitrary fashion, he said. Clearly there are double standards being applied in the prosecution of Aung San Suu Kyi.
WEST HAVEN  Mayor Nancy Rossi helped celebrate at promotion ceremonies for several city schools recently, according to a release.

Rossi joined Savin Rock Community School fourth-graders on June 8 as they prepared to move on to Carrigan Intermediate School, where the mayor on June 11 took part in that schools promotion ceremony for sixth-graders, who will attend Bailey Middle School.

On June 9, Rossi spoke at Bailey, where the schools eighth-graders were celebrating their promotion to high school in fall.

Rossi was set to attend an outdoor promotion ceremony for Haley Elementary School fourth-graders on Tuesday, the release said.
Niagara Falls, NY (14301)

Today

Rain likely. High 72F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall near an inch..

Tonight

Showers in the evening, then partly cloudy overnight. Low 59F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
Inter Milan right wing-back, Achraf Hakimi, has ruled out any possibility of leaving the club for Chelsea this summer. According to the Expr...





Inter Milan right wing-back, Achraf Hakimi, has ruled out any possibility of leaving the club for Chelsea this summer.

According to the Express, Hakimi would instead prefer to seal a move to Paris Saint-Germain ahead of Chelsea this summer.

The 22-year-old is keen to work with PSG manager, Mauricio Pochettino, in turn snubbing a move to Chelsea.

Hakimi had drawn the interest of Chelsea in the past few days.

He scored seven goals and registered eight assists for Inter Milan last season.

The Morocco international joined Inter Milan from Real Madrid last year.

Inter Milan are expected to demand around 66million in order to sell Hakimi.
The First Lady, Aisha Buhari, has urged appropriate authorities to conclude the employment of more security officers to address the intracta...





The First Lady, Aisha Buhari, has urged appropriate authorities to conclude the employment of more security officers to address the intractable security problems facing the nation.

According to a statement by her Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Aliyu Abdullahi, she made the call while receiving wives of service chiefs during a courtesy visit at the State House on Monday.

The statement was titled Aisha Buhari charges wives of service chiefs.

Highlighting the role of women in nation-building, Buhari said as wives of senior public servants, they should support their husbands in realising the mandate to secure Nigeria and its citizens.

She also appealed that they uphold the spirit of camaraderie characteristic of families of security forces that is demonstrated during periods of joy and sorrow.

Buhari also called for regular and timely payment of benefits of retired and deceased soldiers so that the affected families get their benefits as and when due.

This, she says, will serve as motivation for the security forces.

Speaking on behalf of the wives of service chiefs, the wife of the Chief of Defence Staff, Victoria Irabor, commended Buhari for her motherly role and constant support to the families of security officers and personnel.

Irabor recollects how much the First Lady has supported families of injured or deceased security officers through regular empowerment programmes.

She conveyed the gratitude of those who have benefitted from the First Ladys efforts, adding that the officers and their families are encouraged by her kind gesture.

Irabor also charged her colleagues to emulate the gesture of the First Lady by remaining in touch with the soldiers families.

The courtesy visit took place at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. In attendance were the wives of service chiefs, Inspector-General of Police, Director-General, Department of State Services, and the National Security Adviser.
President Muhammadu Buhari has said the Boko Haram menace in Nigeria is due to the instability in Libya. Buhari made the remark whil...

President Muhammadu Buhari has said the Boko Haram menace in Nigeria is due to the instability in Libya.

Buhari made the remark while urging countries in the West African sub-region and the Sahel to team up against insecurity.

He spoke while receiving the new Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Mr Mahamat Saleh Annadif, a Chadian, at the State House on Tuesday.





A statement forwarded quoted the president as saying: You are our neighbour. You have vast experience on matters affecting the Sahel, having served for five years in Mali. I hope you will get the countries to work together to confront the issues affecting them.

Describing the problems as enormous, Buhari noted that Boko Haram has exerted a heavy toll in terms of lives and resources on Nigeria and some neighbouring countries, while Mali equally has a large swathe of the country occupied by militants.

He added: I hope under the auspices of UNOWAS, you will help get the problems sorted out. Most of them have to do with the instability in Libya, and it affects all of us.

Buhari promised Nigerias support to the Special representative to help him succeed in his assignment.

On his part, Mr Annadif said he was visiting shortly after his appointment because he recognized the crucial role of Nigeria in West Africa.

He said he was quite familiar with the problems of the Sahel region and would depend on the help of Nigeria to succeed.
Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) says the 72-hour ultimatum issued to Delta state by an unknown group to reverse the ban...

Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) says the 72-hour ultimatum issued to Delta state by an unknown group to reverse the ban on open grazing is from mischief makers.

On Sunday, an unknown group threatened to attack Asaba and Agbor in Delta if Ifeanyi Okowa, governor of the state, fails to withdraw the resolution to ban open grazing within 72 hours.

The unsigned letter containing the threat was published in some locations across the state.

We hereby demand the Governor of Delta State to immediately withdraw his earlier stand on the call to ban open grazing in 17 regions (referring to 17 southern states) in not less than 72 hours from the above date, and also withdraw his position as the leading voice for the governors, the letter said.

In May, southern governors met in Asaba and resolved to ban open grazing in their region  a decision that elicited divergent views.

The threat did not go down well with some socio-cultural groups like Southern and Middle Belt Elders Forum (SMBLF) and Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) who threatened to fight back.

Speaking on the development, Othman Ngelzarma, national secretary of MACBAN, in an interview on Channels TV on Monday, said such statements from an unknown group should not be given consideration.

Ngelzarma said the resolution against open grazing is targeted at the Fulani staying in the southern part of the country.

He said northern governors should discuss with their southern counterparts in order to protect the rights of pastoralists.

Such statement that comes from faceless unknown groups shouldnt be given any serious consideration. I believe this statement must be coming from mischief makers, People who are out to tarnish the image of the Fulanis and pastoralists, he said.

It is because of such negative profiling by the media that makes us believe that the anti-open grazing laws being intended to be promulgated by the southern states are not laws stopping open grazing, but I believe these laws are laws against Fulanis living in the southern part of the country.

The Northern governors must be up and doing and they must also begin to open discussions with their southern counterparts for them to put their heads together and come up with a solution that can work for both the north and the south.

Respecting the fundamental human rights of the pastoralists as citizens. Their right to movement, their right to pray, their right to trade, their right to liberty.
Uche Secondus, national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has tackled Ben Ayade, governor of Cross River state, saying his ...

Uche Secondus, national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has tackled Ben Ayade, governor of Cross River state, saying his food-on-the table policy impoverished the people.

Secondus said this on Monday while inaugurating the caretaker committee of the party in Calabar.

Ayade left the PDP for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in May.

The governor said he joined the ruling party to help President Muhammadu Buhari in building a country we can be proud of.

Speaking at the event, Secondus said Cross River will remain the stronghold of the PDP despite the governors defection.

The PDP would work to retain the confidence the people of Cross River State repose in our party and thus retain its dominance in the state, he said.

The hard-working people of Cross River State, with rich intellectual base, deserve more than mere food-on-the table rhetoric; they deserve to be taught to fish that is empowerment and manpower enhancement, rather than just being given cheap fish, which is no economic solution.

He asked the party supporters to remain resolute, adding that the party remains strong and firm in the state.

Liyel Imoke, former governor of Cross River and leader of the party in the state, said the PDP will remain a dominant party in the state, being the only party known to our people.

Imoke said the leadership of the party will work to ensure that it retains power in 2023.

Dignitaries at the event include Bukola Saraki, former senate president; Udom Emmanuel, governor of Akwa Ibom state; Aminu Tambuwal, governor of Sokoto state; Mahdi Gusau, deputy governor of Zamfara state, and Donald Duke, former governor of Cross River who recently defected to the party.
Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

Periods of rain. High near 70F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Considerable cloudiness with occasional rain showers. Low 57F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
Construction begins Thursday on the $6 million Benson Jesuit Center, a multi-faith sanctuary at Loyola University's Uptown campus that will be open to the public when it is completed sometime next year.

The project was originally proposed over a decade ago when New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson, a long-time donor to his alma mater, pledged to build the center on the site of the now-demolished library at the heart of the campus. Over time, the plans for the center were scaled back and its location changed in order to preserve walkways, green spaces and to accommodate other development plans at the university.

The funding for the project, including $4.8 million from the Tom and Gayle Benson Foundation, also was incorporated into the university's broader "Faith in the Future" drive, which raised over $100 million by the end of 2019 in order to put the 117-year-old Catholic university on a firmer financial footing.

Last year, the university tapped New Orleans-based firm Trahan Architects to design the 7,000-square-foot center, located at the Monroe Hall end of the academic quad, near the corner of Loyola Avenue and Calhoun Street.

Justin Daffron, who is in charge of Loyola's Jesuit community, said a driving principle was to make the center a place where people from the surrounding neighborhood would feel they could drop in, including people from different faiths. He said the university formed a committee with Muslim and Jewish members to advise on aspects of the center.

"We see this as an asset not only for Loyola but for the whole neighborhood. It's nice to see folks walking through the campus on their way to Audubon Park in the mornings and so we want them to see this as a place for creating cohesion," Daffron said.

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To that end, Victor "Trey" Trahan, the founder of Trahan Architects, said that the concept of overlapping communities was incorporated into the space in terms of the series of circles that make up the design of the cylindrical building. It is there literally, too, in the interfaith gathering space that has been set aside to the right of the center as one enters.

Trahan said also that the building was designed to connect it to the natural world, including the circular and inter-connecting circles, the long glass slit on the side of the building that will look out on a live oak, and particularly the choice of cast-in-place concrete as the main building material. The latter will be formed using cypress and other types of wood to give the cylindrical building a variegated and natural look.

"Different woods absorb moisture differently and imprint grain on concrete," said Trahan. "It will create little incremental ledges, shadow lines and light reflects off it in a most beautiful way. It gives the concrete a skin-like quality."

The project is expected to take 12-15 months but the timing is made somewhat unpredictable by the pandemic, which has disrupted supply chains and sent some building material prices -- especially for steel and related products -- sky high, said Pat Tobler, CEO of The Tobler Company, which will be doing the construction.
A hotly debated bill that would have allowed nurse practitioners to practice without a doctors oversight was killed without going to a vote when the legislative session ended last week, but nursing groups say they will continue to pursue independence, according to a representative from the Louisiana Association of Nurse Practitioners.

We feel very passionate about this, said Kathy Baldridge, a nurse practitioner in Shreveport and president of the LANP. I know that when you cut through the red tape that has bound nurse practitioners, that we will see improved access to care for the citizens of Louisiana. And for that reason, we will continue to fight this battle until its won.

The measure, House Bill 495, sought to make permanent an emergency order put into place during the pandemic that allowed nurse practitioners to practice without having a doctor available on site or by phone.

Nurse practitioners can already own practices, prescribe some medication and refer patients to other providers independently in Louisiana, but they have to do so with a doctor available by phone at all times. The arrangement is known as a collaborative agreement.

Louisiana House OKs bill to let nurse practitioners work without doctors 60-41 vote sends Senate a bill that physicians say will compromise patient safety

The debate over removing the agreement spanned several legislative hearings, most recently in the Senates House and Welfare Committee, where it passed through to the Senate with a vote of 4 to 3 after a three-hour debate. Prior to that, it was debated on the House floor, passing 60 to 41. This is at least the fourth time such a bill has come forward since 2012. Ultimately, support for the bill lost steam as a flurry of amendments were added and removed.

This bill has fallen short and it does not have the votes to move forward, said Sen. Fred Mills, R-Parks, the chair of the Senate health and welfare committee, on June 7. It absolutely makes no sense for a vote to be taken on this floor that would maybe cause more abrasion within the system.

At each legislative hurdle, doctors and nurses were pitted against each other. Doctors said keeping a collaboration in place protects patients. They also criticized the language of the bill and said it would not necessarily increase access to care for patients who live hours away from the nearest hospital.

The bill came to a standstill over which state board would regulate independent nurses: the Board of Medicine, which oversees doctors, or the Board of Nursing, which oversees nurses.

The way it was written does not increase access to care in rural areas, said Dr. Lisa Casey, a family medicine physician in New Orleans who was against the bill. Also, there is a dilemma of the definition of the practice of medicine. If the nurses are actually practicing medicine, that needs to be under the purview of the Board of Medicine.

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+5 Late legislation to help pay state's $1.2 billion bill for New Orleans area levees A years worth of state sales taxes paid in New Orleans and four suburban parishes, combined with money from a future state budget surplus, wo

But nursing associations said the agreement was unnecessary. Doing away with the requirement, they argued, would allow nurse practitioners to address a critical provider shortage that currently leaves Louisianas rural areas without adequate medical care. They said they would continue to practice within their scope and refer patients to specialists when necessary. Proponents of the bill said it would help improve health care in Louisiana, which is ranked near the bottom of all states.

The Senate Health and Welfare committee took about a week to rewrite the bill as the end of the legislative session neared.

Obviously, we were able to get it out of the House committee, House floor and Senate committee with a lot of wind in the sail, said Rep. Barry Ivey, R-Central, the author of the bill. That extra delay gave them the opportunity to influence.

In his statement, Mills called for doctors and nurses to work together on a solution in the future.

Everybody would agree, from nurses to physicians, that the collaborative practice agreement needs some work on it, said Mills.

The Louisiana State Medical Society, which advocates on behalf of physicians, declined to comment.

At least 23 other states give nurse practitioners full practice authority. Another eight states offer nurse practitioners some degree of independence.
A high school student who was working at her first job to save for college says she was coerced into performing oral sex at the company's Mandeville office by her 23-year-old supervisor, who made her sign a form promising to never disclose what had happened.

The girl, who was 16 at the time, later told her mother what happened, and her former boss, Jeremy Schake, pleaded guilty earlier this month in 22nd Judicial District Court to felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile. Under Louisiana law, that's consensual sex between someone 17 or older and a person 13 to 16 when the difference in age is four years or more.

The maximum punishment is 10 years in prison, but Schake, now 25, will not serve any prison time. Instead, Judge Billy Burris gave him a suspended sentence and three years of active probation. He'll also have to register as a sex offender for 15 years.

+2 Money running out, St. Tammany Parish Council puts sales tax for jail, courthouse back on ballot St. Tammany Parish voters will be hearing a lot over the coming months about why parish government needs a 4/10ths-cent sales tax, which the P

The victim and her parents met with District Attorney Warren Montgomery last week to discuss asking the judge to reconsider the sentence. Montgomery said he is awaiting the family's response, and the victim's mother said last week they will probably ask him to file a motion to reconsider.

Schake's attorney, Vincent Wynne, said it "would not be appropriate for us to comment."

For the victim and her family, the sentence handed down June 1 came as a shock. "It's an injustice," her mother said. The family had not pushed for a maximum sentence but thought Schake would spend some time in prison.

"He listened to my daughter and then slapped her in the face," the mother said of the judge's decision, which came immediately after her daughter made an emotional statement in the courtroom about her continued struggles, including difficulty forming relationships and trusting those in authority.

"I will never be able to get over this, no matter how much therapy I get, no matter how many happy memories," the victim told the court. "I will always have that in the back of my mind that I was at work, that I was trying to save up money for college so I could make my parents proud. Instead of doing that, I get trauma and nightmares and everything bad. And it hurts."

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Now an 18-year-old college student, the victim says she's blocked out many details of the day. She was shaken, she said, and doesn't remember how she got home.

She had been eager to get professional guidance and improvement tips from Schake, and that was the pretext for her to stay at the office on March 13, 2019, after the rest of the sales staff had gone home. She says Schake pulled her onto his lap, took off her dress and put her on her knees, demanding that she perform oral sex.

About two weeks later, Schake, whom she considered to be a mentor, insisted she sign a form that he had written by hand promising to never disclose the events of that day. He told her he would notarize his copy and she would go to jail if she violated the agreement.

She didn't tell her mother until the following summer. Her mother called the Sheriff's Office, and Schake was arrested on Aug. 15.

"I was scared of getting in trouble. I didn't want anyone to be disappointed in me," she said.

Her mother says the girl changed after what happened. "She quit being as outgoing, started being scared of things. ... I've watched the impact on her trying to develop friendships and trusting people."

Her parents have filed a lawsuit against Cutco, the company their daughter worked for, and against Schake - who was promoted shortly after the crime - and the supervisor who took his place. The victim says she informed her new supervisor about what had happened.

Cutco did not return a call for comment.
A man was wounded in an interstate shooting on the Interstate 10 high-rise bridge Monday evening. The shooting closed all westbound lanes from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. and snarled rush hour traffic for hours.

A spokesperson for Emergency Medical Services said a man in his 20s was shot in the leg on I-10 West at the bridge and was taken to the hospital by paramedics. He is in stable condition.

CORRECTION I-10 West is closed to traffic on the Highrise Bridge due to an accident. Traffic is being diverted off at Chef Menteur Highway.  New Orleans Traffic (@NOLA_Traffic) June 14, 2021

The Louisiana DOTD traffic camera showed a long line of stopped cars from the high rise to the I-10 Franklin Avenue exit soon after the 5:30 p.m. closure that had cars exiting at Chef Menteur Highway. The NOPD announced just before 8 p.m. that the lanes were reopened.

Police have investigated multiple shootings on New Orleans interstates since 2020, with the two most recent cases occurring on May 28 and injuring two people. In an April press conference, NOPD Superintendent Shaun Ferguson said the rash of gun violence on New Orleans' major roadways was a troubling trend.

Stay with NOLA.com for more updates.
A 37-year-old man was carjacked by two men who crashed into his vehicle Monday night in the 6900 block of Downman Road in the Pines Village area of New Orleans East (map), police said. The carjacking was one of three robberies to occur in New Orleans in the past 24 hours.

The victim was driving when the suspects hit the back of his car around 11:42 p.m. Two men got out of the car with guns, and the victim fled, police said.

Both men drove off in the victim's 2016 Blue Land Rover with the license plate 720 CYY, NOPD said.

Earlier Monday night, a woman was also carjacked in the 4100 block of South Carrollton Avenue (map) in Mid-City.

The woman was getting out of her car around 8:30 p.m. when a man with a gun approached. The man stole the woman's vehicle, a 2019 Red Nissan Altima, which has since been recovered, police said.

A robbery also took place Monday at 4:46 p.m in the 800 block of Bienville Street (map) in the French Quarter. A 51-year-old man said the suspect approached and demanded he give him money. The suspect then attacked the man, took his money and ran away, according to police.
Sharon Lavigne never imagined herself an environmental activist. The retired teacher had spent much of her life working with special education students in the St. James Parish public school system.

But the idea of another chemical plant being built in her parish, after she had lost acquaintances to cancer that she blames on industrial pollution, spurred her into action in 2018. She began organizing and educating neighbors on the risks, an effort that gained global recognition Tuesday when she was named the North American recipient of the 2021 Goldman Environmental Prize.

Lavigne, 68, had never heard of the award before she learned of her selection in December. She was in disbelief.

"I'm doing this to save our community. I'm doing this to breathe clean air and drink clean water. I wasn't looking for recognition," the Welcome resident said. "I had no idea people could win awards for this."

Winners receive grant and networking opportunities through the Goldman Environmental Foundation. The foundation also elevates their campaigns and offers legal assistance. A virtual awards ceremony was set Tuesday evening.

Lavigne's group, RISE St. James, claimed its first victory in 2019 when Wanhua Chemical abandoned plans to build a $1.3 billion plastics complex near Romeville. The 10-mile stretch of the Mississippi River between Convent and Lemannville already boasts 17 industrial plants.

She and RISE St. James have worked with environmental groups to protest and sue several other plants proposed in the area, such as the $9.4 billion Formosa Plastics complex and $2.2 billion South Louisiana Methanol plant. In 2019, a joint investigation by The Advocate, The Times-Picayune and ProPublica, using U.S. Environmental Protection Agency data, found that Formosa and other new industry in St. James since 2015 posed an acute risk for predominantly poor, Black residents along the river.

Democrats urge Biden to revoke permits for big Louisiana plastics plant; Cassidy says butt out The chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources and one of his committee colleagues urged President Joe Biden on Wednesday to "p

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When the governor of Louisiana came to St. James Parish and announced Formosa Plastics was coming to town, Sharon Lavigne was brave enough to stand up and say no. Sharon said she had a different vision for her historic Black community, said Anne Rolfes, director of the Louisiana Bucket Brigade. Her leadership, courage and vision are rewarded today by the Goldman Prize. And she would be the first to say that this is just the beginning.

Lavigne was selected by an international jury for her leadership in addressing "environmental injustice," said Ilan Kayatsky, the Goldman Environmental Prize's communications director, "and spearheading a fight that needed to be fought."

"With the founding of her organization, RISE St. James, the defeat of Wanhua and a growing community campaign to prevent the encroachment by Formosa Plastics, Sharon has demonstrated - profoundly - why grassroots leadership is so important."

When people see she's won this award, Lavigne said, she hopes it shows people to "stand up for what is right."

"If you're right, everything will fall into place," she said.

Lavigne is the first Louisiana recipient of the Goldman prize since Norco resident Margie Richard won it in 2004 for her work to reduce emissions at Shell Chemical's plant. She joins five other regional recipients across the world:

Africa - Gloria Majiga-Kamoto, who fought single-use plastics pollution in Malawi

Gloria Majiga-Kamoto, who fought single-use plastics pollution in Malawi Asia - Thai Van Nguye, who founded the Save Vietnam's Wildlife nonprofit to rescue animals from illegal wildlife trade

Thai Van Nguye, who founded the Save Vietnam's Wildlife nonprofit to rescue animals from illegal wildlife trade Europe - Maida Bilal, whose protest led to the cancelation of two hydropower dam projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Maida Bilal, whose protest led to the cancelation of two hydropower dam projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina Island nations - Kimiko Hirata, who leads a campaign to shut down Japan's coal-burning power plants

Kimiko Hirata, who leads a campaign to shut down Japan's coal-burning power plants South and Central America - Liz Chicaje Churay, who worked with partners to create Yaguas National Park in Peru and protect more than 2 million acres of the Amazon River basin rainforest.
A tropical disturbance brewing in the Gulf of Mexico could bring up to 8 inches of rain to metro New Orleans, forecasters said Tuesday.

The main threats with this storm, forecasters said, are the possibility of heavy rainfall and the potential for flooding. Now is the time to prepare and review your storm plans.

UPDATE: Disturbance in Gulf to begin moving toward coast on Thursday; likely to become tropical depression

The rain is expected to start Friday and stick around through Sunday, according to forecasters at the National Weather Service in Slidell.

Preliminary rainfall forecasts on Tuesday call for 4 to 10 inches throughout south Louisiana, but forecasters emphasized that the estimates could shift lower or higher depending on the exact track, size and speed of the tropical system.

"The local area should at least be aware of the potential for heavy (and potentially very heavy) rainfall over the weekend," Mike Efferson, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Slidell, said in the morning update. "A few inches to well over a foot of rain are certainly a possibility but confidence isn't very high at this time" about where the rain will fall.

"Now is the time to be thinking about how to prepare," he wrote.

Rainfall estimates for south Louisiana

Here are the rainfall estimates for south Louisiana as of Tuesday morning:

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Houma: 8 to 10 inches

Parts of St. James, Assumption, St. John the Baptist, St. Martin, St. Mary, Lafourche, Plaquemines parishes: 8 to 10 inches

New Orleans: 6 to 8 inches

Covington: 6 to 8 inches

Slidell: 6 to 8 inches

Baton Rouge: 6 to 8 inches

Boothville: 6 to 8 inches

Lafayette: 4 to 6 inches

Where is the tropical disturbance?

As of 7 a.m., the low pressure area was over southern Mexico and the Bay of Campeche. It's expected to start moving north on Thursday, and a tropical depression is likely to form then.

It has a 70% chance, which is considered high, of developing into a tropical depression within five days.

The shaded area on the graphic is where a storm could develop and is not a track. The National Hurricane Center releases a track when a tropical depression forms or is about to form.

With hurricane season starting, take some time to assess the trees in your landscape TREE CHECK: Now that hurricane season has begun, its time to check all of the larger trees in your landscape. A tree that is sickly, low in v

The categories, in order of increasing strength, are tropical depression, tropical storm and hurricane (categories 1 through 5). Systems are named when they develop into a tropical storm.

If it strengthens into a tropical storm, it will be named Claudette.

It's one of three disturbances the National Hurricane Center is tracking, including Tropical Storm Bill in the Atlantic.

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30.

Don't miss a storm update this hurricane season. Sign up for breaking newsletters. Follow our Hurricane Center Facebook page.
A system off the coast of North Carolina strengthened into Tropical Storm Bill, the second named storm of the 2021 hurricane season, the National Hurricane Center said Monday.

Update: Tropical Storm Bill strengthens overnight in Atlantic

The tropical storm is forecast to move away from the East Coast and therefore doesn't pose an immediate threat to land.

The storm's center was about 335 miles miles east-northeast of Cape Hatteras North Carolina as of 9:40 p.m., according to the National Hurricane Center. It has winds of 45 mph and is moving northeast at 23 mph.

Forecasters said Bill is only expected to strengthen slightly in the next 24 hours before dissipating by Wednesday south of Nova Scotia.

"Depression strengthens into Tropical Storm Bill," forecasters said. "Likely to be short-lived."

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Bill is the second-named storm behind Tropical Storm Ana, which formed near Bermuda in late May and also dissipated before it was a threat to land.

Forecasters are also monitoring two disturbances, including one in the Gulf of Mexico that has a high chance of development. Read more here.

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30.
Hurricane forecasters were monitoring a disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico that has a high chance of developing into a depression and is expected to bring several inches of rain to the region.

According to the 7 p.m. Monday update from the National Hurricane Center, the disturbance has a 70% chance of becoming a tropical depression within the next five days. It's also one of three systems forecasters were tracking on Monday evening, including a tropical depression off the East Coast.

UPDATE: Tropical depression expected to form in Gulf of Mexico: What to know Tuesday

Here's what we know from the National Hurricane Center about the tropics as of 7 p.m. Monday.

Gulf of Mexico disturbance

Forecasters said a low pressure system will likely develop into a tropical depression late in the week in the Gulf of Mexico.

On Monday evening, an area of disorganized storms was over the Bay of Campeche and is expected to gradually strengthen while it meanders near the coast of Mexico.

By midweek, the system should begin to move north.

The NHC has not said if and where the system will hit the Gulf Coast, but Louisiana could get up to 4 to 10 inches of rain on Friday, with some areas seeing more than 10 inches, regardless of development.

With hurricane season starting, take some time to assess the trees in your landscape TREE CHECK: Now that hurricane season has begun, its time to check all of the larger trees in your landscape. A tree that is sickly, low in v

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The shaded area on the graphic is where a storm could develop and is not a track. The National Hurricane Center releases a track when a tropical depression forms or is about to form.

The categories, in order of increasing strength, are tropical depression, tropical storm and hurricane (categories 1 through 5). Systems are named when they develop into a tropical storm.

Tropical depression in the Atlantic

A system off the coast of North Carolina strengthened into a tropical depression earlier Monday and will likely develop into the second named tropical storm of the year by tonight, forecasters said. It will be named Bill.

The tropical depression is forecast to move away from the East Coast and therefore doesn't pose an immediate threat to land.

The storm's center was about 200 miles east of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, as of 7 p.m., according to the National Hurricane Center. It has winds of 35 mph and is moving northeast at 18 mph.

Forecasters said the system is only expected to strengthen slightly after becoming a tropical storm. It will dissipate by Wednesday south of Nova Scotia.

A strong tropical wave off of Africa's west coast was also being monitored Monday evening. It has a 20% (low) chance of developing into a depression within the next five days.

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30.

Don't miss a storm update this hurricane season. Sign up for breaking newsletters. Follow our Hurricane Center Facebook page.
The Treasure Chest could be coming ashore.

The floating casino, which opened in 1994 in a berth off Lake Pontchartrain at the north end of Williams Boulevard, could move onto land after the Kenner City Council unanimously approved a new lease agreement with the casino. The move is made possible by a 2018 law passed by the legislature that created a process for the state's casinos to shrug off their riverboat origins.

The lease the council approved June 3 is for 25 years, but carries five possible renewals of 10 years each. It also gives Boyd Gaming, operator of the Treasure Chest, the right to build a new facility on what is currently the casino's parking lot, Kenner Mayor Ben Zahn said.

The move could benefit the city, which relies on Treasure Chest revenue to help cover its budget, Zahn said.

Senate action means St. Tammany Parish voters will decide Slidell casino question in October St. Tammany Parish voters in October will decide whether to approve a casino in Slidell after the state Senate on Monday gave final legislativ

"The numbers of passengers and visitors will go up, the amount of people will go up," Zahn said. "That helps capital projects in the city, that helps the police."

Before the pandemic, the city's annual Treasure Chest revenue was about $3.6 million. It took a dip over the last two years, but in the latest proposed city budget, leaders are anticipating $3.7 million for 2021-2022.

Under the terms of the ordinance passed June 3, revenue coming to the city from the Treasure Chest will be split, with roughly one quarter going to the Police Department, a little more than one-third going to capital projects, and the remainder split equally between City Council districts and debt reduction.

Casinos in Louisiana see major gains in March revenue; here are the biggest winners New Orleans-area gambling establishments brought in $51.6 million during March, a 119% increase over what the properties brought in during COV

An uptick in Treasure Chest traffic could provide a boost to Williams Boulevard, especially at its northern end, Zahn said.

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The area on which the casino is located, which includes the Pontchartrain Center and an adjacent hotel as well as boat launches and a fishing pier, is known as Laketown.

"It makes Laketown more inviting," he said. "It changes Williams Boulevard."

More than 636,000 gamblers have visited the Treasure Chest so far during the fiscal year beginning July 1, state Gaming Control Board data shows.

How Louisiana sports betting would work, and when, if governor signs this bill Legislation detailing the framework of how Louisiana adults will be able to wager on sporting events  perhaps as early as football season  c

A message left of an executive with Boyd Gaming was not returned.

Due to the city's reliance on gaming revenue, Kenner leaders have been fiercely protective of the casino's business. That included earlier this year, when they urged the Jefferson Parish legislative delegation to vote against a move to allow St. Tammany voters to consider a proposed casino in Slidell.

Any such competition, city officials argued, could impact their own revenue. Despite Kenner's position, the measure passed, and St. Tammany voters will see the issue on a fall ballot.

When casino gambling was legalized in Louisiana in the early 1990s, the boats by law had to be operated on the water, with only Harrah's in New Orleans being land based. Initially, the boats were required to sail. That was changed in 2001 when they were allowed to remain at port.

Then in 2018 the legislature amended the casino law to allow the state's 15 floating casinos to move onto land up to 1,200 feet away from their floating berths. Supporters of the move said it would allow Louisiana's casinos to better compete with nearby states.
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards has signed a legislative bill removing legal deadlines for child sex abuse victims to sue for damages, awarding a major victory to survivors of the Roman Catholic Churchs clerical molestation scandal.

The law, which takes effect Aug. 1, creates a three-year window for all unresolved child molestation allegations - no matter how old - to be pursued in civil court.

The scars of childhood sexual abuse may stay with survivors long term, and they deserve more time to report these devastating crimes, Edwards spokesperson Christina Stephens said.

+2 Louisiana Legislature passes bill removing filing deadlines for child sex abuse lawsuits In the final hours of the state legislative session that ended Thursday, lawmakers unanimously approved a bill that removes deadlines for chil

Sponsored by state Rep. Jason Hughes, D-New Orleans, House Bill 492 changes a 28-year-old law that gave Louisiana child sex molestation victims until their 28th birthday to initiate litigation. Hughes cited research showing that the average age for child sex abuse victims to come forward and report their ordeals is 52.

Although the new law applies to a wide range of victims, Hughes bill received key support from a coalition of people who say they were abused by Catholic priests and deacons, from their attorneys and from a national advocacy group that took up their cause and specializes in strengthening child protection laws.

A series of amendments proposed to earlier versions of Hughes bill delayed the final vote on it until Thursday, the last day of the 2021 legislative session. But after all the amendments were incorporated, the House and Senate voted unanimously to advance the bill to Edwards desk.

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Sen. Cameron Henry, R-Metairie, introduced amendments to Hughes bill to eliminate filing deadlines, rather than simply extend them, and to open the three-year lookback window. Hughes had initially omitted a provision for a lookback window because he said he wanted to avoid a fight with the insurance lobby.

+2 Bill giving some child sex abuse victims more time to sue passes Louisiana House The Louisiana House on Tuesday unanimously passed a bill that would give victims of child molestation who are not yet 28 years old significant

But the amended bill ultimately sailed through both the House and Senate. And Edwards signature on Monday made Louisiana the 22nd state to adopt such a lookback window.

Not only will this afford victims of horrific child sexual abuse justice, but it will also make the children of Louisiana safer, said Child USAdvocacy Director Kathryn Robb, who helped Hughes draft the bill. The light of truth is both healing and protective. Bravo to Louisiana.

Despite the role that the church's clerical molestation crisis played in mobilizing support for Hughes' bill, the states largest Catholic institution, the Archdiocese of New Orleans, has mostly insulated itself from future lawsuits over the scandal. The archdiocese filed for bankruptcy protection last year. As part of that case, people alleging that archdiocesan priests and deacons sexually preyed upon them before the bankruptcy's filing had to file a claim for compensation by March 1 or forever lose the right.
BEIJING (AP)  As the World Health Organization draws up plans for the next phase of its probe of how the coronavirus pandemic started, an increasing number of scientists say the U.N. agency it isnt up to the task and shouldnt be the one to investigate.
Lock Haven, Pa. - UPMC in North Central Pa. will partner with Lock Haven University, Clinton County and Keystone Central School District to host drive-thru COVID-19 vaccine clinics on Friday, June 25 and Monday, June 28 from noon to 4 p.m. at Lock Haven Universitys Student Recreation Center, 550 Railroad St., Lock Haven. Both clinics are free and open to the public.

The Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines will be available to community members ages 12 and over.

The clinics will be held in conjunction with LHUs orientation events held on the same days. All incoming students attending the events on June 25 or 28 who would like to receive a vaccine can do so. Second dose appointments for Pfizer will be scheduled for individuals prior to leaving the clinic.

Adults 18 and older will have their choice of which vaccine they would like to receive. Children ages 12-17 will only receive the Pfizer vaccine, which has been approved for that age group.

We all need to work together to continue making progress against the pandemic, said Ron Reynolds, president, UPMC Lock Haven and UPMC Muncy.

This unique collaboration highlights how community leaders and organizations can work together to ensure lifesaving COVID-19 vaccines are readily accessible for anyone who wants one.

LHU is proud to partner with UPMC, Clinton County Commissioners and the public school system in a collective mission of keeping our campus community, area businesses and the entire local community safe, healthy and on track to getting back together doing the things we love, said Dr. Beth McMahon, LHU COVID-19 response team coordinator.

Our LHU family is looking forward to returning to face-to-face classes in the fall and partnering to provide easy access to COVID-19 vaccinations is an important tool in ending this global pandemic and getting us back to normal.

Registration is not required. Individuals who would like to receive the vaccine will need to wear a mask, bring their driver's license or state issued ID and be prepared to be monitored for 15 minutes after the administration of the vaccine. Community members will receive the vaccine while remaining in their vehicles. Students may choose to receive their vaccine while in their vehicles or inside the Student Recreation Center.

For more information on UPMCs community vaccination clinics.
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Harrisburg, Pa.  As Republican lawmakers advance bills to limit access to abortion in Pennsylvania, Gov. Tom Wolf has once again vowed to veto any such legislation that comes across his desk.

House Republicans passed a bill last week that would ban abortions on the basis of a prenatal Down syndrome diagnosis. The legislation requires doctors to submit documentation affirming an abortion was not performed for this reason.

If breached, the person who sought the abortion would not face criminal charges, but the doctor would face a third-degree felony and lose their medical license.

Whenever an anti-choice bill comes to my desk, I will veto it, Wolf said Thursday at a press conference in Philadelphia alongside state House and Senate Democrats as well as advocates from Planned Parenthood.

Wolf vetoed a similar bill in 2019, saying it was a restriction on women and medical professionals and interferes with womens health care and the crucial decision-making between patients and their physicians.

Despite Wolfs past rejection, Rep. Kate Klunk (R., York), the prime sponsor of the bill, said in a memo seeking support she will continue to push the legislation because every child deserves and has the right to life and children with Down syndrome are no exception.

House lawmakers this week also advanced a bill that requires health-care facilities to bury or cremate fetal remains after a miscarriage or abortion. Families can still make their own arrangements but must cover the cost.

Both bills passed after intense floor debates that involved Democrats and Republicans sharing personal stories. In Philadelphia, Wolf and the lawmakers assembled stressed that abortion is a personal choice.

It is the right of women to decide whether or not they want to give birth to a baby, Sen. Sharif Street (D., Philadelphia) said at the press conference. Its pretty simple.

Wolfs time in office is coming to an end, as he is term-limited, and Republicans are lining up to be the one to take the job. The Cook Political Report currently has the race listed as a toss-up, meaning Pennsylvanias next governor could potentially be a member of the GOP who would sign abortion restrictions into law.

When asked about the possibility, Wolf said, My hope is that Pennsylvania continues to have people in Harrisburg ... who recognize that politicians have no place in the doctors office, making decisions for women.

WHILE YOURE HERE... If you learned something from this story, pay it forward and become a member of Spotlight PA so someone else can in the future at spotlightpa.org/donate. Spotlight PA is funded by foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results.




Selinsgrove, Pa.  State police are looking for a driver who fled early Monday morning in Monroe Township, Snyder County, when troopers attempted to pull him over.

Troopers from Pennsylvania State Police at Selinsgrove attempted to pull over a 2021 Toyota Corolla with Texas plates at 8:38 a.m. at N. Susquehanna Trail and Victor Lane.

The driver did not stop and led police on a chase that took them through N. Susquehanna Trail and onto Routes 11/15 South, according to state police. The vehicle then came to a stop in Selinsgrove Borough approximately 100 yards west of the roadway. The driver then exited the vehicle and fled on foot, police said.

Police describe the driver as being a 24-year-old black male, approximately 61. He was last seen wearing black pants, navy shirt and no shoes.

The investigation continues. There is no immediate concern for public safety, according to state police. Anyone with information may contact PSP Selinsgrove at (570) 374-8145.
With the assistance of the Fire Dept. and EMS, the individuals and dogs were successfully rescued.

Sgt. Fioretti and PFC. Fera arrived on scene along with Lycoming County Domestic Relations Detective Cody Lepley (who is also a part-time officer for TVRPD).

Porter Township, Pa. -- The Tiadaghton Valley Regional Police were called today to the area of the Black Bridge in Porter Township for a dog hanging off the bridge over the water, according to a Facebook post.

"On the afternoon of June 14, 2021, Stations 3, 45 and MICU 1-94 were dispatched to the area of the Black Bridge for a reported rope rescue. A woman and her teenage son were walking their 2 dogs when they fell down a 20-foot embankment.

"The son and 1 of the dogs were able to get back up the embankment prior to our arrival. The woman and the other dog were at the bottom of the 20-foot embankment against the ledge of a 20-foot drop-off into Pine Creek.

"The woman was using her legs to prevent the dog from going over the ledge. Officers Fera and Lepley, without regard for their own wellbeing, proceeded down the embankment to render assistance.

"Officer Fera was able to get a hold of the dog while Officer Lepley was able to grab hold of the woman. Once Fire and EMS arrived on scene, we were able to assist the woman and the dog up the embankment followed by Officers Fera and Lepley.

"It is my professional opinion that if Officers Fera and Lepley had not intervened when they did that there could have been a tragic outcome for the woman or her dog. I believe these officers deserve recognition for their brave actions for this event. On behalf of Citizens Hose Company of Jersey Shore/Jersey Shore Area EMS, I would like to extend our profound appreciation for the good job that they did."
Harrisburg, Pa.  Pennsylvania State Police troopers made 18,412 driving under the influence (DUI) arrests in 2020, which reflects a 17% decrease from the total number of DUI arrests (22,139) in 2019. In addition, troopers investigated 4,157 DUI-related crashes in 2020.

"The Pennsylvania State Police has a zero-tolerance approach toward driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs," said Colonel Robert Evanchick, commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police. "Impaired driving is a serious crime that continues to impact our roadways. Troopers were tasked with additional duties during the COVID-19 pandemic, but they continued to work with our law enforcement partners to keep our roadways safe through a combination of DUI education and enforcement."

In Pennsylvania, a driver is guilty of DUI if they are impaired by any substance. Troopers certified as drug recognition experts (DREs) receive specialized training to identify the physiological signs of impairment caused by a wide range of controlled substances. State police DREs conducted 1,192 drug influence evaluations in 2020.

A list of 2020 state police DUI arrest totals, DUI crash investigations, and DRE drug influence evaluations broken down by troop is available here. These figures reflect information from the Pennsylvania State Police and do not include information from other law enforcement agencies in the commonwealth.

State police community services officers regularly speak about DUI prevention and other traffic safety topics at schools, community events, and businesses. Their presentations are offered at no charge and may be requested by contacting your local state police station.

"PSP Community Services Officers were tasked with inventing new ways to educate audiences during the pandemic," said Colonel Evanchick. "The troopers utilized virtual classrooms and completed over 1,300 traffic safety presentations in 2020 for a variety of audiences to help prevent DUI with age-appropriate education."

Penalties for a DUI conviction in Pennsylvania are based on several factors, including an individual's criminal history, blood alcohol content level, and whether injuries or property damage occurred. Potential consequences include thousands of dollars in fines, license suspension, and prison time.

Memorial Day 2021 stats

There were 844 traffic crashes during the four-day Memorial Day holiday driving period, from May 28 through May 31, 2021, according to Pa. State Police.

The crashes resulted in eight fatalities and 183 injuries. Alcohol was a factor in 63 of the crashes, but it was not a factor in the fatal crashes.

Troopers made 596 arrests for driving under the influence and issued 9,624 speeding citations over the holiday weekend. State police also cited 1,025 individuals for not wearing seat belts and issued citations to 144 motorists for not securing children in safety seats.
Updates on campus health guidelines

Dear students, faculty and staff,

Weve made it through the Spring Term and the majority of the 2020-2021 academic year. It has been a challenging year for all, but the local pandemic situation continues to improve, with the State of Illinois now in Phase 5 of its reopening plan.

As we continue to align with guidance from federal, state and local public health agencies, Northwestern is updating its protocols on:

On-campus masking requirements

COVID-19 testing

Capacity limits for gatherings, meetings and events

Symptom Tracker requirements

The following updates are effective today.

Campus Masking

Those who are fully vaccinated are no longer required to wear masks in most indoor spaces or outdoors when on campus. Anyone who is not fully vaccinated, regardless of the reason, is required to continue masking indoors. While masks are no longer required for those who are vaccinated in most indoor spaces on campus, many will choose to continue wearing a mask for their own personal comfort, and the community is expected to support their choices.

There may be indoor campus events during which masks will be required more broadly. We will make informed decisions about any such requirements as we monitor campus and local health trends and adjust policies where appropriate.

In alignment with Northwestern Medicine practice, masks still will be required at our health facilities and testing sites, regardless of vaccination status. This means masking protocols will continue to be enforced and required on the Evanston campus at Health Services (Searle Hall) and the Jacobs Center, and on the Chicago campus at 345 E. Superior.

COVID-19 Testing

Fully vaccinated students are no longer required to complete recurring asymptomatic COVID-19 testing. Students who are not fully vaccinated are required to take two Abbott rapid antigen tests every week. This testing will continue to take place at the Jacobs Center (Evanston) or 345 E. Superior (Chicago).

Testing also remains available at these locations for faculty and staff. Those who are not fully vaccinated should complete regular testing.

Capacity Limits

Capacity limits and restrictions for meetings and events have been lifted. Everyone (including vaccinated individuals) might be required to wear masks at specific types of indoor events. As noted above, unvaccinated individuals must continue to wear masks at all indoor events and meetings.

Symptom Tracker

All unvaccinated students, faculty and staff are required to use the Symptom Tracker application whenever visiting campus. This requirement is lifted for vaccinated people. Anyone may continue using the Symptom Tracker to initiate a case with the COVID Response Team if they have symptoms or exposures.

We will continue to update the COVID-19 website in the coming days and weeks to reflect our evolving response to the pandemic. Thank you for your diligence as we adapt to the changing landscape.

Sincerely,

Luke Figora

Vice President for Operations
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Police say one woman died and an officer was injured during a shooting at the Big Bear Supermarket at South DeKalb Mall that allegedly stemmed from an argument over the shooters face mask.
Napoleon, OH (43545)

Today

Except for a few afternoon clouds, mainly sunny. High 76F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

A mostly clear sky. Low 54F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
Warren Gosnell said his top three areas of focus will be public safety, public education and public service.
"We are celebrating a new era for the iron and steel industry in the United States," Cleveland-Cliffs Chairman, President and CEO Lourenco Goncalves said. "This event formally marks the culmination of our $1 billion investment to build and operate the worlds most modern and environmentally friendly direct reduction plant, and the first plant of its kind constructed for the present and for the future. Natural gas-based iron reduction is the future of our industry. The production and use of HBI within our operations has catalyzed what has been a phenomenal year for us and, very importantly, has supercharged our greenhouse emissions reduction program. It has also boosted our profitability through enhanced productivity in our blast furnaces and the avoidance of prime scrap purchases from third parties for use in our EAFs and BOFs."
Phillips Chevrolet, a car dealership with lots in Lansing, Frankfort and Bradley, was named DealerRaters 2021 Dealer of the Year for Chevrolet.

Out of about 3,000 Chevrolet dealerships across the United States, Phillips was honored by Cars.com subsidiary DealerRater for having the highest customer satisfaction rate.

Car buyers have spoken and have identified Phillips Chevrolet as the best Chevrolet dealer to do business with in United States, DealerRater General Manager Jamie Oldershaw said.

Founded more than 50 years ago, Phillips Chevrolet boasts that it has Illinois's largest selection of Chevy vehicles. It sells new, used and commercial vehicles, including the Bolt, Blazer, Equinox, Suburban, Tahoe Trailblazer, Traverse and Trax.

The dealership was started in 1968 by Philip Pascarella in what's now the Frankfort Historical Society Building in downtown Frankfort with 12 employees, a two-car showroom and about 40 vehicles. After decades of growth, Phillips Chevrolet now has three locations, 150,000 square feet, more than 300 employees and more than 1,000 vehicles in its inventory.
Indiana Ballet Theater will perform its popular annual contemporary dance performance "Kaliedoscope" at the historic Hoosier Theatre in Whiting this month.

Northwest Indiana's ballet company will stage the show at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. on June 19th at the Hoosier Theatre at 1335 119th St. in downtown Whiting.

Indiana Ballet Theatre has performed the Chicago-style modern dance concert showcasing a variety of dances, music and performers every year since 1999.

Contemporary dance is a diverse and dynamic form of expressive dance. Audiences return year after year to enjoy IBTs contemporary showcase that connects movement to the human experience, said Amanda Tuohy, director of "Kaleidoscope" and Indiana Ballet Theatre associate artistic director.

This year's concert includes a full-length contemporary ballet choreographed by Lindsey Lanham, a former Indiana Ballet Theatre company member and guest teacher who's now studying law in New York. Entitled "Opal Rey Trinity," it's a tribute to her sister Molley Lanham, who died in 2019.

Molley Lanham danced at the Indiana Ballet Theatre with her sisters Lindsey and Lauren Lanham since they were in grade school. The sisters have long been considered a key part of the Indiana Ballet Theatre family.
CROWN POINT  An Illinois man could face up to 26 years in prison for fatally shooting an 18-year-old girl during an attempted robbery of her boyfriend in 2019 in Griffith, court records show.

Elrice L. Williams, 27, of Park Forest, pleaded guilty Thursday to attempted robbery resulting in serious bodily injury, a level 2 felony, and attempted armed robbery, a level 3 felony.

Giovante M. Galloway, 23, of Gary, and his uncle Juarez E. Rogers, 51, of Park Forest, already have accepted plea agreements in the case. They could face sentences of three to 16 years, records show.

Co-defendant Joe C. Pittman Jr., 28, of Chicago, recently was granted permission to represent himself. He's pleaded not guilty and is scheduled for trial starting Sept. 27.

A fifth suspect, Joshua Wright, was killed in a homicide Feb. 5, 2019, in Markham, police said.

Williams admitted in his plea agreement he, Galloway, Rogers, Pittman and Wright planned to rob Alayna Ortiz's boyfriend, William Michael Hawkins, the night of Ortiz's homicide.

The defendants followed a red SUV occupied by Ortiz, Hawkins and another couple from a home in Gary to the Park West Apartments parking lot, court records state.
NEW BUFFALO, Mich.  A 60-foot boat stolen from New Buffalo Harbor has been recovered, adrift in shallow water about 20 miles north of the marina.

According to New Buffalo police, the suspect, a 37-year old man, was being held in the Berrien County Jail on a preliminary charge of possession of stolen property.

Police did not release the name of the suspect, who is from Syracuse, Indiana.

The boat, owned by a Chicago family, was taken from New Buffalo Marina on June 10.

Police said the suspect boarded the vessel while a maintenance worker was cleaning it for the owners.

The suspect reportedly told the employee he was the nephew of the owner and was there to take the boat for a ride. He powered the boat up and took off, police said.

The owners called police June 11 after they showed up at the marina and discovered it was gone.

According to police, the U.S. Coast Guard and authorities at other marinas in the Great Lakes were notified to be on the lookout for the boat.
MUNSTER  A man dressed in a white hazmat suit fled after robbing a Munster bank on Calumet Avenue, implying to the teller he was armed, police said.

Around 3:20 p.m. Tuesday Munster police were called to a robbery at Fifth Third Bank at 8007 Calumet Avenue.

The suspect was described as a tall, slender black man who was wearing a white hazmat suit, said Munster Police Department Lt. John Peirick. The man also wore a blue hard hat, goggles and a mask covering his face from his nose to his chin.

The man went up to a bank teller and presented the teller with a note and demanded cash, Peirick said.

During the robbery, the man inferred he had a weapon but it has not been confirmed whether there was a weapon actually in his possession, police reported.

He then fled the scene on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash. It is unknown what direction he fled in.

Police released surveillance images of the suspect. Anyone with information on the suspect or incident is asked to call Munster Police Department Detective Mark Ashcraft at 219-836-6678 or email him at mashcraft@munster.org.
An explosion at a chemical plant near the northern Illinois community of Rockton sparked a massive fire that sent flames and huge plumes of thick black smoke high into the air Monday morning.

An Indiana man who traveled to Wisconsin multiple times two years ago for sex with a 12-year-old Cottage Grove girl was sentenced Tuesday to 25 years in federal prison for sexual exploitation of the girl that included taking videos of some of their encounters.

U.S. District Judge William Conley told Adrian C. Gardiner, 42, that he did incredible harm to the girl, whom he met online and convinced he was an 18-year-old man who had foster siblings in order to relate to the girl, who was herself in foster care.

"Seldom has the court seen a defendant engage in a more repeated horrendous conduct at the age of 41," Conley said. "I'm having a great deal of trouble not finding him to be a continuing danger to society."

Gardiner, of Hammond, Indiana, met the girl online and traveled repeatedly to Wisconsin to have sex with her in parks and motels. The girl said he was physically and verbally abusive at times. He took video of some of the encounters and sent one of those videos to the girl's iPad. Gardiner claimed he did not know the girl's age when he first came to Wisconsin, but returned to the area multiple times for sex with the girl despite knowing she was 12.
HAMMOND  The convicted child molester and founder of a pedophile-friendly organization is pleading guilty to federal obscenity charges.

Michael Christianson, 51, of LaPorte, appeared Tuesday before U.S. District Court Judge Philip P. Simon to admit he authored, in the summer of 2019, three books containing dozens of photos of naked children.

Prosecutors say Christianson, a convicted child molester who promoted an organization supporting adults interested in sexual relations with children, had been awaiting trial on the charge of dealing in child pornography.

He had previously fired his defense attorneys and was preparing to act as his own lawyer at trial until he  and his standby defense attorney Arlington Foley  signed an agreement Tuesday with the U.S. attorneys office.

Christianson is agreeing to give up his right to a jury trial in return for federal prosecutors dropping the child pornography count.

He is now pleading guilty to three counts of interstate transportation of obscene materials.

The agreement, made public Tuesday, states Christianson will accept a 15-year sentence, followed by a lifetime of supervision by the courts probation staff.
The number of homes would create a density of 1 units per acre in the development, Kleven said, adding there will be more than 43 acres of open space in the development.

The subdivision would have two entrances on West 125th Avenue and one on Cedar Lake Road, Kleven said.

Walking paths, nature preserves, wetland areas and oak woodlands would be featured throughout the subdivision, Kleven said.

"It's not our intent to disturb Hidden Lake, nor do we want the home sites to have ownership up to the edge of the water. We would want to use that as an amenity, so everybody will have access to that lake, the walking path," Kleven said.

"That would avoid any type of future docks being installed behind people's houses, paddle boats and that kind of stuff. It will be amenitized as far as the use for those type of activities, but there would be one entrance area and one exit area, rather than everybody just going out their back door."

Kleven said he wanted to take the Commission's temperature before moving forward with annexation process for Hidden Grove. Currently, the land is located in unincorporated Lake County.
MICHIGAN CITY  A police raid of a suspected drug house in Michigan City resulted in two arrests and meth dealing charges.

Police in LaPorte County got multiple complaints over the last few months about a possible drug house on the 300 block of South Street in Michigan City. Detectives Dana Ford and Dan Kesling opened an investigation into the suspected drug activity that resulted in a search warrant.

The LaPorte County Drug Task Force, the Fugitive Apprehension Street Team, the Michigan City Police Department, the Michigan City SWAT team, and the LaPorte County Sheriffs Department Emergency Response Team arrested two men during the raid. They also found suspected methamphetamine, controlled substances and narcotics paraphernalia.

Police arrested Daniel Will on outstanding warrants and Michigan City resident Justin Henry, who has been charged with a count of dealing in methamphetamine as a level 3 felony, two counts of dealing in methamphetamine as a level 4 felony and one count of dealing in a schedule I controlled substance as a level 3 felony.

Henry is in the LaPorte County Jail on $25,000 bond with an initial court hearing set in LaPorte County Superior Court #1 on Tuesday.
LOWELL  An Indiana State Police K-9 is retiring after his handler was promoted and assigned to the Lowell Post.

Indiana State Police Senior Trooper Christopher P. Eagles was promoted by Indiana State Police Superintendent Douglas Carter to the rank of senior trooper detective. The Carmel High School and Purdue University graduate was assigned to the Lowell Post.

Eagles joined the Indiana State Police in 2011 and was assigned to the Toll Road Post in Bristol. He led the post in DUI arrests in 2012 and was named Trooper of the District there in 2017.

Now a Lake County resident, he has worked as a field training officer and drug recognition expert.

"In 2015, Eagles became a K-9 handler and was partnered with Axel. The two have become well known for their work together the past six years making several large seizures," Indiana State Police Sgt. Glen Fifield said. "Their most notable arrest was this past December when they seized 33.65 pounds of fentanyl during a traffic stop."

Eagles was promoted as a result of passing a written test and completing a competitive interview.
VALPARAISO  A man has been charged with murder in the beating death of his friend in March.

The Porter County Prosecutor's Office charged 29-year-old Valparaiso resident Matthew D. Castro in connection with the death of 42-year-old Valparaiso resident Michael Overton on March 21. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.

Valparaiso police responded to 250 block of Michigan Avenue late that Sunday night after a relative called 911 to report Castro called and said he may have killed his friend.

Castro was arrested on preliminary charges police initially said were unrelated to the investigation. He was first charged with three counts of battery with bodily injury to a public safety official, two counts of battery against a public safety official, two counts of intimidation and one count of resisting law enforcement, according to court records.

When police arrived at the scene, they found Castro outside the residence with blood on him, according to a probable cause affidavit. He told officers "my friend tried to beat ..." and then made a gagging sound, according to the affidavit.

Police found a bruised and bloody Overton inside, according to the probable cause affidavit. He was non-responsive and pronounced dead at the scene.
For the second time in the last few weeks, a local locale has been featured in a major Hollywood movie.

Just a few weeks after Gary was a setting in the new "Mortal Kombat" movie, Netflix's "The Mitchells vs. The Machines" featured a billboard from Redamak's.
MICHIGAN CITY  Family Advocates Community Youth Advocate (CYA) Program has launched a new program to support middle school students through community-based mentorship and advocacy.

The CYA Program will initially partner with Barker Middle School in Michigan City, receiving referrals from the school to work with students in need of support outside of school hours. Mentor/advocates will also provide support throughout the summer and serve as a bridge into the next school year, which is especially important for eighth grade students transitioning into high school.

These students may be facing attendance challenges or other barriers interfering with academic and personal progress, said Brenda Stellema, CYA Director for Family Advocates.

Our goal is to strengthen social-emotional learning, re-engage students in academics, and decrease truancy. Our trained advocates will work with these students to identify their strengths and skills, helping them understand traits of healthy relationships.

According to Stellema, the mentoring/advocacy program was developed in partnership with Michigan City Area Schools in response to needs identified as students moved to virtual learning platforms during the pandemic.
CALUMET TOWNSHIP  A suspect has pleaded not guilty to a charge of murder in the shooting death of a security guard during a bank robbery.

James A. King, a 24-year-old-Miami, Florida, resident, made his first appearance in court Monday after being charged with murder in perpetration of a robbery and armed robbery of the First Midwest Bank on Ridge Road in Calumet Township on Friday.

His initial court hearing was in Lake County Superior Court.

"An initial plea of not guilty was entered," Lake County Sheriff's Department spokeswoman Pam Jones said.

The FBI is the lead investigative agency in the case, as it has jurisdiction over bank robberies. Bank security guard Richard Castellana, a 55-year-old Tinley Park resident who served as a Cook County Sheriff's Office Deputy for 35 years before retiring from law enforcement a few years ago, was fatally shot after being ambushed during the robbery of the bank at 1975 W. Ridge Road.
2. Infrastructure

Momentum is building in the Senate behind a $1.2 trillion infrastructure proposal. After some rocky negotiations last week, new pressure to get a deal done has led some liberal leaders to warm to a possible smaller package with some assurances from more moderate Democrats that an expanded package could be passed later. Republican leaders say there could be enough support from their side to avoid a filibuster attempt. Details of this plan, announced by a bipartisan group of senators last week, are still not publicly known. Meanwhile, it's no secret that supply chain issues are snarling commerce across the country, and retailers are pleading with the Biden administration to address major logjams at US ports.
Bears Ears is named for a pair of towering buttes that dominate much of the landscape of southeast Utah, and is the site of ancient Native cliff dwellings and sacred burial grounds. It is the ancestral homeland of five tribal nations  the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, Ute Indian Tribe, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and Pueblo of Zuni.

Environmentalists applauded the recommendation from Ms. Haaland, although they noted Mr. Biden has yet to make a final decision.

We welcome this news after years of litigation aimed at restoring the much needed protections for these lands and waters, said Dan Hartinger, director of government relations for The Wilderness Society. Secretary Haaland received input from near and far about the importance of restoring protections and there is no doubt she heard overwhelming support that led to her recommendations. We now must see the president act based on the facts and not be side tracked by those who have failed to identify any other viable path forward.

The recommendation to restore the boundaries of the monuments comes on the heels of the G7 meeting in the United Kingdom, where Mr. Biden and leaders of the six other wealthiest nations committed to conserving 30 percent of the worlds lands and waters.

Mr. Cox, the Republican governor of Utah, said in a statement that he was disappointed. I think theres a better way, and I look forward to talking with the president about how to find a lasting solution thats better for the land and everyone involved, he said.

But there are also some political risks in any decision by Mr. Biden to restore the original borders of the monuments. Senator Mitt Romney, the Utah Republican, has said that he doesnt want any president to determine the footprints of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante, but rather that the borders should be determined by Congress. He is also a key member of a bipartisan group negotiating with the White House to win passage of a major infrastructure bill that is a legislative priority for Mr. Biden.
But the relationship soured for Americans as Mr. Putins Russia annexed Crimea, launched military operations against Georgia and Ukraine and became increasingly authoritarian and intolerant of opposition. Then came Russias entry into the Syrian fray and the brazen meddling in the 2016 election campaign in support of Donald Trump, followed by four years in which Mr. Trump pursued a bizarre personal relationship with Mr. Putin while a special counsel was investigating Russias machinations and government-to-government relations tanked.

The rosy days of two decades ago are hard to imagine now, when Mr. Putins image among most Americans is of an irredeemable thug, when all consulates outside the respective capitals are closed, both ambassadors are home for consultations, and Mr. Bidens meeting with Mr. Putin is assailed in some hawkish quarters in Washington as appeasement of a malign autocrat. In American eyes, Russia is an irritant, a country in decline but still capable of major mischief under a leader whose stripes cannot be changed and who is entrenched for many more years.

It may come as a surprise to some Americans, but in many Russian eyes, it is the United States that is the mischief-maker and needs to change; the United States that needs to acknowledge that its unipolar moment is over and it cannot impose its will around the world; the United States that preaches democracy and human rights and scatters sanctions against those who defy it while its own democracy is in polarized disarray.

Though a struggling economy and too many years in power have eroded Mr. Putins standing at home, and dissidents like Aleksei Navalny have shaken his rule, he remains popular  in part for managing to remind the Biden administration, whether through cybermeddling or threatening troop movements on Ukraines borders, that Russia will not be taken for granted.

The meeting in Geneva will not reconcile these visions nor find either leader peering into the others soul. Both have made that clear. But both also have pressing reasons to make their relations more stable and predictable.

After years of conflicts and sanctions, Mr. Putin probably welcomes some evidence that he still carries weight in the world. His apparent readiness to deal seriously on cybersecurity suggests he does want to emerge from the meeting with something to show.

Mr. Biden, for his part, is probably keen to lower the temperature with Russia if only not to be distracted from his domestic agenda, and from the more important joust with China. China, indeed, will be the elephant in the Genevan lakeside villa, a gathering force that worries Moscow as much as it worries Washington.
There is a saying in Silicon Valley that when a product is free, the user is the product.

Thats a diplomatic way of describing what amounts to tech companies cynicism toward their own customers. Time was, companies worked to meet customer needs, but tech businesses have turned that on its head, making it the customers job to improve their products, services, advertising and revenue models.

With little regulatory accountability, this pursuit is a particular fixation for the biggest tech companies, which have the unique ability to pinpoint customers every online move. As part of this economy of surveillance there is perhaps nothing more valuable than knowing users locations.

So it was that Google executives were dismayed over a most inconvenient discovery: When they made it simpler to halt digital location tracking, far too many customers did so. According to recently unredacted documents in a continuing lawsuit brought by the state of Arizona, Google executives then worked to develop technological workarounds to keep tracking users even after they had opted out. So much for the customer always being right.

Rather than abide by its users preferences, Google allegedly tried to make location-tracking settings more difficult to find and pressured smartphone manufacturers and wireless carriers to take similar measures. Even after users turned off location tracking on their devices, Google found ways to continue tracking them, according to a deposition from a company executive.
Israels new government must be a puzzle for anyone who thinks of the Jewish state as a racist, fascistic, apartheid enterprise.

Issawi Frej is Arab and Muslim and used to work for the Peace Now movement. Now hes Israels minister for regional cooperation. Pnina Tamano-Shata is Black: The Mossad rescued her, along with thousands of other Ethiopian Jews, from hunger and persecution when she was a small child. Shes the minister for immigration and absorption. Nitzan Horowitz is the first openly gay man to lead an Israeli political party. Hes the health minister. At least one deputy minister, as yet unnamed, is expected to be a member of the Raam party, which is an outgrowth of the major Islamist political group in Israel.

As for Benjamin Netanyahu, King Bibi has finally left office  churlishly, bitterly, pompously  but in keeping with the normal democratic process. He faces criminal indictments in multiple cases. His immediate predecessor as prime minister, Ehud Olmert, spent 16 months in prison on corruption charges.

Its some fascist state that subjects its leaders to the rule of law and the verdicts of a court. Meanwhile, Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority, postponed elections in April. Hes in the 17th year of his elected four-year term of office.
President Biden, however, is still a believer. He wants to restore Americas international leadership, although without constantly projecting military force. When he chose Power to helm U.S.A.I.D.  a job that has not, in the past, been particularly high profile  he sent a message to the world that humanitarian aid would be central to his foreign policy. Power is by far the best-known person ever to serve as U.S.A.I.D. administrator, and because Biden has elevated her position to the National Security Council, shell likely be the most powerful.

Don Steinberg, a deputy U.S.A.I.D. administrator during the Obama administration, said he was delighted when Power was named. For the first time, he said, the head of the agency would be able to talk to senior government officials as equals. None of Powers predecessors could pick up the phone and call the president of the United States at that time, he told me. None of them could walk into an N.S.C. meeting and not have to clear what he or she said with State Department. None of them, he said, would be able to stand up to a four-star general or an intelligence officer saying, You guys just dont get it. And Samantha can.

Not that Power wants to start fights. When I spoke to her in Washington this month, she was more interested in talking about American know-how than pontificating about American values. Power believes that Trump made the United States look hapless as well as callous, and that at a time when people around the world are losing faith in democracy, America needs to prove it has not just the willingness but also the competence to help other countries. Shes known as a crusader, but the chastening catastrophe of the Trump years turned her into a technocrat.

Im at an agency that is about advancing citizens prospects for economic development, for being able to send their kids to school, for being able to get vaccinated, so almost inevitably Im focused on those things, she said. But as it happens, as a citizen, I think thats what America can best be focused on now. Because weve still got it.

The first big test of this lies in what America does to help vaccinate the rest of the world against Covid-19. This is the place where you can show tangible results on the ground, said Power. Its not about saying democracy is better. Its not about an expressive agenda. Its about a very, very tangible results-based agenda, and coming in after people have felt the absence of that leadership, the absence of that catalytic power and the absence of that belief that our fates are connected.
Even as the pandemic recedes and cities reopen, local leaders across the United States face another crisis: a crime wave with no signs of ending.

Mayors are trying to quell a surge of homicides, assaults and carjackings that began during the pandemic and has cast a chill over the recovery. Homicide rates in large cities were up more than 30 percent on average last year, and up another 24 percent for the beginning of this year, according to criminologists.

Some city officials have touted progressive strategies focused on community policing in neighborhoods where trust between officers and residents has frayed. Others have deployed more traditional tactics like increasing surveillance cameras in troubled areas and enforcing curfews in city parks to clear out crowds, as the police did in Washington Square Park in Manhattan in recent days.

In Chicago, which fully reopened on Friday, Mayor Lori Lightfoot made clear that her focus was on reducing violence over the summer, and that her administration would focus resources on 15 high-crime pockets of the city as part of that effort.
A customer who argued about wearing a face mask at a Georgia supermarket shot and killed a cashier on Monday and wounded a sheriffs deputy who was providing security at the store, law enforcement officials said.

The gunman was shot by the deputy, and both are expected to survive their injuries, according to law enforcement officials.

A suspect, identified as Victor Lee Tucker Jr., 30, of Palmetto, Ga., was arrested by DeKalb County Police Department officers as he was attempting to crawl out the front door of the supermarket, according to a statement from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

The gunfire occurred just after 1 p.m. inside a Big Bear supermarket about 10 miles east of downtown Atlanta, officials said. That is when Mr. Tucker was checking out of the supermarket and got into an argument with a cashier about his face mask, the bureau said in its statement. Mr. Tucker left the store without purchasing his items but immediately returned.
Rabies is fatal in both humans and animals, and the importation of even one rabid dog could result in transmission to humans, pets, and wildlife, the agency said on its website on Monday.

Health officials said that the number of dogs from high-risk countries that were denied entry into the United States in 2020 rose by 52 percent compared with the previous two years. Many of the dogs, which mostly came from Russia, Ukraine and Colombia, were rejected because the paperwork submitted for them was fraudulent and overstated their age, according to the C.D.C. Before the ban, dogs from the high-risk countries had to be at least four months old to be brought into the United States, giving them enough time for their rabies vaccinations to take effect.

The dogs, health officials said, had to wait longer to be returned to the countries where they came from because of reduced flight schedules, putting them at greater risk for illness or death.

Dr. Douglas Kratt, the president of the American Veterinary Medical Association, said in an interview on Monday that the temporary ban was the right step.

This is a deadly virus, said Dr. Kratt, who owns an animal hospital in Onalaska, Wis. I think that is a great concern, not just for rabies but for any number of diseases, to protect the health and welfare of the animals.
That means virtually no chance of an Israeli annexation of occupied West Bank territory of the sort recently contemplated by Mr. Netanyahu, a step that would have provoked a diplomatic crisis with the Biden administration.

At the same time, the new Israeli government has little interest in or capacity for new peace initiatives with the Palestinians.

Mr. Bennett has publicly opposed the two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians long favored by the United States. American foreign policy experts have been told that Mr. Bennett has been referring to a book called Catch-67, by the Israeli author Micah Goodman, who argues that there is no possibility of any comprehensive final peace deal between the Israelis and the Palestinians. His prescription is to reduce the friction around the issue rather than try to solve an intractable problem.

While Mr. Biden supports a two-state solution, he does not consider one realistic in the short term. Intent on shifting Americas focus from the Middle East to restoring alliances with Europe and countering a rising China, he has not actively pursued one and, unlike his past few predecessors, has not named an envoy to mediate a peace deal.

But Biden administration officials, who have called for the swift reconstruction of Gaza after the conflict that erupted last month between Israel and Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza, could soon find themselves frustrated by the slow pace at which international aid is moving into that area, whose infrastructure was badly damaged.

At the same time, any new burst of internecine violence between Jews and Arabs within Israel, like the one that set off last months Gaza conflict, could test relations between Mr. Biden and Mr. Bennett, a strong supporter of Israeli nationalist and settler groups that Biden officials see as an obstacle to peace.

Yousef Munayyer, a Palestinian-American analyst and a fellow at Arab Center Washington DC, said that both Israeli and U.S. officials may hope to put a new face on old policies and return to a situation where Palestinian issues are not commanding global attention as they did this spring.
But on Monday, Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the minority leader, denounced those calls, saying that an investigation by the Justice Departments independent inspector general was sufficient. By calling for a congressional inquiry, he said, top Democrats gave in to the urge to pick at the scab of politically motivated investigations.

The Department of Justice is empowered to investigate criminal conduct by members of Congress and their staff  necessarily, this sort of investigation is subject to strict procedural protections, Mr. McConnell said. The departments inspector general is fully equipped to determine whether these procedures were followed. Im confident that the existing inquiry will uncover the truth.

He also said that it was particularly disappointing that our colleagues are attacking Bill Barr over investigative decisions that occurred when he wasnt there yet.

The grand jury subpoena that swept up congressional information was dated February 2018, when Mr. Sessions and Mr. Rosenstein were still the top two officials in the Justice Department.

Still, after Mr. Barr was sworn in the following year, The Times has reported, he brought in a trusted prosecutor with little relevant experience to help reinvigorate several leak cases, including the one that involved congressional Democrats and their staff.

Eventually, it was closed without charges.

Senator Richard J. Durbin of Illinois, the No. 2 Democrat who has supported calling the former attorneys general to testify, pushed back at Mr. McConnells suggestion that there was nothing amiss, asking, How would he know that?

Mr. Durbin, who is also the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, sent a letter signed by the other 10 Democrats on that panel to Mr. Garland on Monday asking for a copy of the subpoena and internal emails and other records related to it, and posing questions about its basis and purpose.
Mr. Barr argued in court that Mr. Trump had been acting as an employee of the federal government when he made the comments, and was therefore shielded from charges of slander and libel.

The case was still pending when President Biden took office. And this month, Mr. Garlands Justice Department lamented Mr. Trumps crude and disrespectful remarks, but it said that his administration had been right to argue that he could not be sued over them.

Muellers findings and the Barr memo

Prominent Democrats had also urged Mr. Garland not to fight a federal judges ruling demanding that a classified report that Mr. Barr had requested be made public. Known as the Barr memo, the document argues that he should tell the public that Mr. Trumps efforts to impede the Russia investigation  as lain out in the report by the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III  cannot be charged as obstruction of justice, and offers legal analysis in support of that claim.

Mr. Trumps foes scored a major victory last month, when, in a blistering decision, Judge Amy Berman Jackson of the U.S. District Court in Washington ordered the memo to be made public, accusing the Trump administration of disingenuous reasoning. In a public letter last month, Democrats on the Judiciary Committee asked Mr. Garland not to appeal Judge Jacksons decision, in order to help rebuild the nations trust in the Justice Department.

But Mr. Garland soon announced that he would indeed appeal it, seeking to keep secret most of the memo  the portion laying out the legal analysis for why none of potential obstruction episodes in the Mueller report rose to a chargeable crime  and citing the irreparable harm that would be caused by the release of the redacted portions of the document.

Much like Barack Obamas choice, in 2009, not to systematically pursue accountability for members of the Bush administration over their invasive surveillance policies, or the mistreatment of military prisoners during the war on terror, the Biden administrations move on the Barr memo was seen as an attempt to protect the narrow institutional interests of the Justice Department and to move on.

Gun prosecutions in D.C.

Many proponents of racial justice were dismayed this spring when Mr. Garlands Justice Department announced it would continue Mr. Trumps policy of using the federal courts to prosecute gun crimes in the District of Columbia, not the citys own justice system.
Heaths 23-minute Crypts of Civilization begins by telling us about a room-size time capsule that has lived at Oglethorpe University in Atlanta since 1940. Filled with a sampling of records and objects from (mainly white, Christian, American) civilization, it is meant to stay sealed until the year 8113. The story of the Oglethorpe vault is narrated by Paul Hudson, co-founder of the International Time Capsule Society, who goes on to talk about other capsules hes known.

Heaths video has the look and appeal of a fine documentary, with one big difference: Because its being presented as art, theres a temptation to question every fact that it offers. Are the clips from 1930s films seen in Crypts the same clips that Oglethorpe included in its sealed vault? How could Heath know, or have gained access to them? Is the films narrator really Hudson, the T.C.S. co-founder, or is he a hired actor? Are we witnessing real truth-telling or is this a Borgesian fiction dolled-up as truth? Once the commonplace gets put on display as art, we cant trust what its up to: Whod want to try urinating in Marcel Duchamps Fountain?

The other video at Subal, called Last Will and Testament, suggests that Heath might not always feel a need to be truthful. It presents a phone call between someone we assume is Heath  it turns out his part is being voiced by an actor  and a real lawyer, in which the Heath character asks for advice on how he might arrange for the disposal of his bodily remains according to all 13 methods hes heard of, from cannibalism to burial at sea. Heaths funeral wishes are so unlikely that you start to suspect that, in everything he does, hes less a master of facts than of deadpan comedy.

BLAKE GOPNIK

Liz Magor

Through July 2. Andrew Kreps Gallery, 22 Cortlandt Alley, Manhattan; 212-741-8849, andrewkreps.com.
Lisa Banes, a versatile actress who came to prominence on the New York stage in the 1980s and went on to a busy career that also included roles on television and in the films Cocktail and Gone Girl, died on Monday of head injuries she sustained 10 days earlier when she was struck by a scooter in Manhattan. She was 65.

Her death, at Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital, was confirmed by the New York Police Department, which said she had been struck by the scooter on June 4 as she was crossing Amsterdam Avenue near West 64th Street in Manhattan.

The operator of the scooter had driven through a red light before crashing into Ms. Banes and then fled, said Sgt. Edward Riley, a police spokesman. Sgt. Riley said on Tuesday that no arrests had been made.

Ms. Banes lived in Los Angeles and had been in New York visiting friends, her wife, Kathryn Kranhold, said.
It took Stephen Colbert 15 months to get back in front of a full, live audience telling jokes.

Then it took a minute or two more.

Colbert took the stage at the Ed Sullivan Theater Monday after a song-and-dance cold open in which the host reunited with his work trousers. But before he could start his monologue, there was a big hug with his bandleader, Jon Batiste, and there was the audience, standing, cheering, chanting his name.

When the noise died down, he asked: So how ya been?

The ovation was the answer. Wed been away. Wed been cooped up. Wed been a little stir crazy, frankly, and it felt good to let it all out.

There was a monologue, of course, just as there had been to crowd upon crowd before Colbert and his peers on other networks delivered rushed goodbyes to empty rooms. There were jokes about the vaccine and working remotely and the hosts rustiness: I dont know if I even remember how to pander to the most beautiful crowd in the world.
In addition to the books by Mr. Meadows and Mr. Navarro, All Seasons will publish Rush on the Radio, by James Golden, who goes by Bo Snerdley, a longtime producer of Mr. Limbaughs radio show. The company said it plans to release at least 10 books this year and, unlike many independent publishers, would handle its own distribution.

Whether or not a Trump memoir is coming remains a hot topic in publishing. The former president poses a significant challenge to many book executives, who have said they would be reluctant to work with him because of the potential for a revolt by their employees and the accuracy concerns his words would raise.

Mr. Trump said in a statement last week that he had turned down two book deals, but offered no proof. Ms. Hartson and Ms. Burke said that they would be honored to publish him.

Like much of the rest of the media business, the publishing industry has become increasingly polarized in the post-Trump era, with firmer ideological lines being drawn in the wake of the riots at the Capitol in January.

If you are an author who appears in any way to be defending Donald Trump, or were in any way affiliated with him, you are facing very rough seas among the major publishers, said Matt Latimer, one of the founders of Javelin, a literary agency that specializes in political books. Its not impossible to get a book deal, but its not easy.

Earlier this year, Simon & Schuster dropped a book by Senator Josh Hawley, one of several members of Congress who attempted to overturn the results of the presidential election. Mr. Hawley, who accused the publisher of violating his First Amendment rights, later got a deal with the conservative publisher Regnery.

In a pointed statement in the All Seasons news release, Ms. Burke said: We established All Seasons Press to be a publishing house that stands by our authors, rain or shine. We arent fair-weather friends.
STRANGE FLOWERS

By Donal Ryan

Donal Ryans first and widely acclaimed novel, The Spinning Heart (2012), wove a story of everyday struggles  during Irelands economic depression  out of a chorus of narratives around two disquieting events: a mans murder and a childs abduction. Ryan surpassed that exceptional debut with From a Low and Quiet Sea (2018), in which the bereft voice of Farouk, a refugee, resonates amid the harsher tones of the Irish community into which, by an almost too neat chain of coincidences, he has been drawn.

Strange Flowers, Ryans sixth book, shows an exceptionally gifted novelist distancing himself from his characters. Previously, Ryan allowed his subjects to speak for themselves of their hatreds, their hopes and  heartbreakingly, in the case of Farouk  their reluctance to confront reality. Here, however, we see them through the writers eyes.

The novel, as with all Ryans work, is tightly compressed, skillfully whittled down to the point where each word carries far more than its weight. All the light left Paddy Gladneys eyes when his daughter disappeared, the books opening words declare, in a paragraph that, while tenderly evoking the untroubled world of Ryans own childhood in Tipperary, describes the modest stone cottage in which the Gladney family  a prayerful mother, father and their lost, beloved child, Moll (a good, good little girl)  had once been happy:

And they had a radio and a dresser and a yard of hens, and a green and yielding world around them in every direction: the Arra Mountains behind them and, beyond the brow of Ton Tenna, the shallow valley that dipped across to the Silvermines Mountains, which stretched away as far as the eye could see, to the ends of the earth, it seemed, on a bright day.
At Amazon, workers sometimes find out about a new shift only the day before, scrambling their family routine. When workers want to get in touch with human resources by phone, they must navigate an automated process that can resemble an airline customer-service department during a storm. Employees are constantly tracked and evaluated based on their amount of T.O.T., or time off task. One employee who had earned consistent praise was fired for a single bad shift.

Even so, work at an Amazon warehouse is often better than the alternative. JFK8 now pays at least $18.25 an hour, which translates to about $37,000 a year for a full-time worker. After decades in which pay has failed to keep pace with economic growth  except for the upper middle class and above  many blue-collar workers do not have a better option.

There is no reason to think American workers lack of bargaining power is on the verge of changing. Labor unions have a long track record of giving workers more power, but most Amazon employees have shown little interest in joining a union. A booming economy can also help workers, but its effects tend to be more fleeting.

Earths best employer

In recent months, as Bezos has prepared to step down as chief executive, he has suggested that he wants to change Amazons workplace culture. We have always wanted to be Earths most customer-centric company, he wrote to shareholders in April. Now we are going to be Earths best employer and Earths safest place to work.

In response to The Times, Amazon said employee turnover was only one data point and that its internal surveys show high worker satisfaction. The company also said it was changing its policy so that workers would never be fired for one bad day.

Still, it is not at all clear that Amazon will change its basic approach to blue-collar work, because that approach has brought the company many advantages. The constant churning of workers has helped keep efficiency high and wages fairly low. Profits have soared, and the company is on pace to overtake Walmart as the nations largest private employer. Bezos has become one of the worlds richest people.

Many people want to believe that being a generous employer is crucial to being a successful company. But that isnt always true.
Asia was the pandemic champion. What went wrong?

Across the Asia-Pacific region, the countries that led the world in containing the coronavirus are now languishing in the race to put it behind them.

While the U.S. and some Western nations are cramming airplanes with vaccinated passengers, the countries praised for their early handling of the pandemic are stuck in cycles of restrictions and isolation.

In southern China, the spread of the Delta variant led to a recent lockdown and an effort to test tens of millions. Similar outbreaks reversed progress in Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand and Australia. Borders are still mostly closed.

The tolerance for constrained lives is thinning, and one main factor is contributing to the uncertainty: a lack of vaccines, with campaigns barely underway in many countries. Its like were waiting in the glue or mud, said a vaccine expert in Melbourne. In Asia, just 21 percent of people have received at least one vaccine dose.
NATO eyes potential threats from China

NATO leaders locked arms against China and Russia at their summit on Monday, as President Biden reaffirmed his commitment to the alliance. Chinas growing influence and military might present challenges, the 30-nation alliance said.

This escalation of rhetoric from summits past reflected a new concern over how China intends to wield its rapidly growing military might and offensive cybertechnologies in the coming years.

NATO countries warned that China increasingly posed a global security problem, as well, signaling a fundamental shift in the attentions of an institution devoted to protecting Europe and North America, not Asia.

Putin: At the end of the summit, Biden discussed his approach to the Kremlin. What Ill convey to President Putin is that Im not looking for conflict with Russia but that we will respond if Russia continues its harmful activities, said Biden, who will meet with Vladimir Putin on Wednesday in Geneva. And we will not fail to defend the trans-Atlantic alliance or stand up for democratic values.
1. A return to life as we know it.

With 70 percent of adults in New York having received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, Gov. Andrew Cuomo lifted nearly all restrictions on businesses and social gatherings. That includes ending capacity limits, social distance requirements, disinfection protocols and health screenings. Above, the restaurant Juliette in Brooklyn on Tuesday.

It was also reopening day in California, as Gov. Gavin Newsom called it. He, too, lifted nearly all of the states restrictions, with 72 percent of adults having received at least one dose of the vaccine. As the economy fully reopens, our California restaurant critic said the most exciting place to eat in Los Angeles is Chinatown.
The Australia deal is a gateway for Britains broader trade ambitions, the government said, including joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, the trade pact signed by 11 countries after President Donald J. Trump pulled the United States out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Australia is a founding member of that agreement, and Britains process for joining began in early June.

In parts of Britain, the trade deal has had a frosty reception.

One of the main concerns for farmers in Scotland is that Australians use a cattle farming system that allows for larger-scale production, with more cattle in a smaller space than is permissible in Britain, said Scott Walker, the chief executive of the National Farmers Union Scotland. This could undercut Scottish beef farmers. He said that the Australian trade deal alone was not the biggest problem, but the fear that subsequent deals with New Zealand and the United States would grant those countries the same level of access.

We see this as just the start of what could be huge difficulties ahead for the industry in the United Kingdom, Mr. Walker said.

The free-trade agreement has been entirely negotiated since Britain formally left the European Union in January 2020. Britain has signed scores of other trade agreements recently, but these, such as one with Japan, mostly replicated pre-Brexit market access.

Our big concern at the moment is that weve got a process of the U.K. government signing trade deals in the dark, said James Withers, the chief executive of Scotland Food & Drink, an industry association. We bear deep scars of that process with Brexit.

British trade with the European Union has slumped this year, and the food industry and textile sectors, in particular, have complained that cumbersome paperwork, costly veterinary checks and rules-of-origin requirements are still impeding businesses.

This trade deal revives one of the tensions in Britain since it left the European Union: how much time should be spent easing frictions with its old trading bloc versus forging new relationships further afield. For Britains financial services sector this has been a key question.
He also said the company was still actively seeking new funding to increase production.

Its a new day at Lordstown Motors, and there is no and will be no disruption to our plans to start production, the companys new executive chairwoman, Angela Strand, said. She had previously served as the lead independent director on Lordstowns board.

Lordstowns stock had climbed to nearly $31 a share earlier this year, but fell to about $7 in May, after Mr. Burns acknowledged that the thousands of pre-orders the company had been touting were not binding orders. Some large orders the company had announced had also come from influencers who did not plan to buy the trucks themselves, the company said on Monday.

Mr. Schmidt, who joined Lordstown in 2019 after a stint at Tesla, said on Tuesday that the company had binding orders for all the trucks the company is likely to make in 2021 and 2022. But he declined to disclose the total number, name specific customers or say whether they had paid deposits to secure their orders.

Those are firm orders, Mr. Schmidt said. They have been reconfirmed last week.

Lordstown shares jumped more than 10 percent on Tuesday.

He said production would start in September even though the companys Endurance truck has not passed all the required crash and engineering tests needed to be cleared for sale in the United States. Trucks that roll off its assembly line would be held until the testing is complete and then modified, if necessary, before being shipped to customers, a highly unusual practice in the auto industry.
Charitable giving in the United States rose in 2020, fueled in part by a rising stock market and government stimulus checks, with organizations focused on civil rights and the environment seeing big increases in donations, according to a report released Tuesday.

Total charitable donations rose 5 percent to $471.4 billion, a record level, according to the annual Giving USA Foundation report. It helped, the report said, that the S&P 500 rose more than 16 percent by the end of the year and that personal income rose as the government rolled out stimulus spending, including checks sent directly to Americans. The backdrop of a national conversation over race, in the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer, also fueled fund-raising.



In some ways, 2020 is a story of uneven impact and uneven recovery, said Amir Pasic, dean of Indiana Universitys Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, which released the report in partnership with the Giving USA Foundation. Many wealthier households were more insulated from the effects of Covid-19 and the ensuing economic shock, and they may have had greater capacity to give charitably than households and communities that were disproportionately affected and struggled financially.

Foundations increased giving the most, a 17 percent jump to a record $88.6 billion. Giving by companies fell 6.1 percent to $16.9 billion, which the report attributed to a decline in corporate profits and the economic slump.

Individuals increased giving by 2.2 percent, while bequests, planned giving after someone dies, rose by 10.3 percent.
Southwest Airlines flights within the United States were temporarily suspended on Tuesday afternoon, the second major disruption to the companys operations in less than 24 hours.

The F.A.A. said in a statement that the airline had requested the nationwide grounding as it resolved a reservation computer issue. In a separate statement, Southwest said it had canceled nearly 500 flights and, it blamed the disruption on intermittent performance issues with our network connectivity.

Teams are working quickly to minimize flight disruptions and customer impact, the airline said. We appreciate our customers patience as we work to get them to their destinations.

The airline experienced a similar outage late Monday, which it had blamed on a third-party provider of weather data. Both disruptions prompted widespread complaints on social media from frustrated travelers. A spokesman, Dan Landson, said the company was investigating the root cause of each event. The airline does not believe the disruptions on Monday and Tuesday were related, and there was no indication that they were the result of a breach or a hack, he added.
Things had not looked so troubled earlier in the year. The North American Electric Reliability Corporation, which helps ensure reliability of the power grids, expected above average reserves in Texas this summer, at 15.3 percent for the year, up from 12.9 percent in 2020.

But the agency warned in a report last month that extreme weather can affect both generation and demand and cause energy shortages that lead to energy emergencies for Ercot.

The problem is urgent, but not new. Every summer, everyone holds their breath to see if theres going to be enough generation in Texas to keep the lights on, said Bernard L. McNamee, a former member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and a partner in the law firm McGuire Woods.

At times, some power producers simply choose not to offer electricity into the market because it might not prove economically beneficial, leaving customers short on energy and paying high prices for the power they do get.

Arnie Gundersen, chief engineer at Fairewinds Energy Education, a nonprofit focused on nuclear power, said the Comanche plant suffered a transformer fire. But why other units were offline in the middle of June is a mystery. Any seasonal repair or upkeep on power plants is usually performed in April and May, Mr. Gundersen said. They should be out of maintenance now. Texas has not done enough to reform its grid regulators, even after a measure of housecleaning after the winter crisis, said Robert McCullough, of McCullough Research, an energy research and consulting firm based in Portland, Ore. Were talking about a fragile system, Mr. McCullough said, adding Were basically seeing the exact same system we were seeing four months ago.

Worse, Mr. McCullough said, the system invites abuse. During emergency declarations, the power producers that can get 300 times the price they get when there is no emergency.
The simple bowl of superbly chewy boon boon noodles dressed in sesame sauce and chile oil would be reason enough to visit. I couldnt explain how the noodles were so pristine, every single time, not just when I had the dish in the courtyard, with a cup of tea, under the shade of a sail, but even when I carried it home, and it sat covered in a hot car for 10 minutes or longer.

On the phone, Ms. Lin explained that the kitchen cooks the noodles for various amounts of time, depending on whether theyre ordered to go. If youre eating in, youre also likely to form a close relationship with your kettle (assigned to you, and only you, and kept at temperature) and your timer, which comes with notes depending on what youre brewing. Steep excels at comfort, warmth and informality, but its never at a cost to the details.

Though many of the plazas other businesses are still sleepy, the shops immediate neighbor is Angry Egret Dinette, Wes Avilas thrillingly anomalous sandwich shop, where the menu can change daily. I got attached to the flautas filled with beef and potatoes and covered with salsa macha, only for them to disappear, then welcomed the spring tart of squash blossoms and zucchini, glazed with duck pan drippings, and the sea urchin-capped scramble.
HILLSBOROUGH, Calif.  Live from his home kitchen in the Bay Area, Martin Yan flashed a smile, raised his cleaver and chanted the catchphrase that the 150 or so people watching him online were clamoring to hear: If Yan can cook, so can you!

For Mr. Yan  who over a four-decade career has played the roles of television personality, cookbook author, restaurateur and now YouTube host  this longtime slogan is more than just a shtick. Its a summary of all he believes in. If a soft-spoken boy from Guangzhou, China, can make it big in America cooking stir-fries and dumplings, he figures, anyone can do just about anything.

Mr. Yan doesnt have an enormous social media following or a list of viral recipes to his name. But his impact on the culinary sphere is immeasurable. In 1982, at age 33, Mr. Yan became one of the first people of Asian descent to host a cooking show in the United States. Yan Can Cook, on public television, was a contemporary of programs like Julia Child & More Company and later on, Todays Gourmet, starring Jacques Pepin. His show is still syndicated around the world, making it one of the longest-running American cooking programs.
When did the coronavirus arrive in the United States?

The first infection was confirmed on Jan. 21, 2020, in a resident of Washington State who had recently returned from Wuhan, China. Soon after, experts concluded that the virus had been in the country for weeks.

A study published on Tuesday offers new evidence: Based on an analysis of blood tests, scientists identified seven people in five states who may have been infected well before the first confirmed cases in those states. The results suggest that the virus may have been circulating in Illinois, for example, as early as Dec. 24, 2019, although the first case in that state was confirmed a month later.

But the new study is flawed, some experts said: It did not adequately address the possibility that the antibodies were to coronaviruses that cause common colds, and the results could be a quirk of the tests used. In addition, the researchers also did not have travel information for any of the patients, which might have helped explain the test results.

This is an interesting paper because it raises the idea that everyone thinks is true, that there were infections that were going undiagnosed, said Scott Hensley, an immunologist at the University of Pennsylvania.
Times Insider explains who we are and what we do, and delivers behind-the-scenes insights into how our journalism comes together.

In the first years of the war in Afghanistan, Guantanamo Bay was off limits to lawyers seeking to represent the detainees there, and the Bush administration refused to disclose the prisoners names. Commanders would brief reporters regularly, and guards would come forward to speak with pride about their service there but were not allowed to name the men in the orange uniforms.

In time, the Bush administration bowed to pressure from the courts and released the names of many of the men and boys who were brought to the U.S. military detention center as enemy combatants. But by the time the Pentagon let the lawyers visit, hundreds of the detainees were already gone, many of them sent back to Afghanistan and Pakistan.

In the minds of many people, the roughly 780 men and boys who were held at remote Guantanamo are still nameless, identically clad men locked behind razor wire. Forty remain there today, while the rest have been repatriated or dispersed around the world.

But in the tug of war for transparency there, time does win out.

The latest testament to that can be found in The New York Timess online database of prisoner profiles called The Guantanamo Docket, which recently underwent not just a redesign but also an update of nearly a decade of developments and documents  a herculean effort undertaken during the pandemic by a far-flung group of Times software engineers, editors and journalists.
Fast forward to 2019: 80 percent of tenants supported the decision to sell the complex to developers, and one politician even called it a vertical slum. Pragmatic and aesthetic considerations make it compelling to say that buildings like this should be destroyed. But hear me out, they shouldnt: Theres certainly more to them than their looks.

The buildings architectural style, Brutalism, became popular in Singapore during the 1970s. Brutalism is well known for its heavy reliance on exposed blocks of concrete and angular shapes, which has garnered polarizing opinions from many. However, the architecture embodies the rapid growth of Singapore during this period, right after the country attained independence in 1965. These buildings reflect the hard work and resilience of that era and have come to represent Singaporean identity itself. Now, many Brutalist structures are under threat: The Pearl Bank Apartments, built in 1976, were demolished last March despite conservation efforts.

I believe that looking at buildings is one of the easiest ways to understand a citys identity. Two years ago, when I moved to Singapore, I immediately fell in love with the citys modern architecture and learned how it expressed the island nations identity as a high-tech global hub. But there seems to be an obsession with modernity and cleanliness, only creating an artificial veneer of the city. These Brutalist buildings add layers to Singapores history. To simply destroy and replace them with new structures would make the city seem shallow.

Moreover, massive urban renovation isnt only the case for Singapore. Many cities  both Asian and Western  focus too much on redevelopment, sacrificing their heritage for the sake of modernization. Buildings dont only shape the citys looks, but also its heritage; more people need to know this. Ive noticed a similar trend in my hometown, Seoul. The cookie-cutter apartments, while pragmatically sound, take away from the citys unique atmosphere.

So, you might ask, What can I do? Personally, Im not asking for much. Next time you pass by an ugly building, take a moment before you frown. Look at it closely; you might learn something beautiful about where you live.

Works Cited

Golden Mile Complex to be proposed for conservation, incentives will be offered: URA. Channel News Asia, 09 Oct. 2020.

Ives, Mike. Box or Gem? A Scramble to Save Asias Modernist Buildings. The New York Times, 27 Dec. 2020.

Ives, Mike. Too Ugly to Be Saved? Singapore Weighs Fate of Its Brutalist Buildings. The New York Times, 27 Jan. 2019.
In a recent interview, the films writer, Quiara Alegria Hudes, spoke about the decision to make Nina an Afro-Latina character in the film version. I wanted to consciously make Nina Afro-Latina in this version of In the Heights. Since we opened the show on Broadway, this national conversation has happened around microaggressions and really interesting stuff that I feel like would be applicable to Ninas situation.

Corey Hawkins, who plays Ninas love interest and an employee of her fathers cab service, is Black but not Latino (some also criticized the filmmakers for removing a plot point, which had existed in the musical, in which Hawkinss character says Ninas father doesnt think hes good enough for her).

Felice Leon, a video producer with the Root, addressed the issue in a recent interview with the films director, Jon M. Chu, and some of the films lead actors, saying, As a Black woman of Cuban descent, specifically from New York City, it would be remiss of me to not acknowledge the fact that most of your principal actors were light-skinned or white-passing Latinx people.

Leon acknowledged that there were a number of Black background dancers and Black women in the scenes located in the hair salon, a sort of social hub for the women of the neighborhood, but that Black performers in leading roles were lacking.

We want to see Afro-Panamanians, Black Cubans, Black Dominicans, she said. Thats what we want to see, and thats what we were yearning for.

Chu said that it was a subject that the filmmakers had discussed but that in the end, when we were looking at the cast, we tried to get the people who were best for those roles.
The horror genre has long been a space for cultivating creativity and pushing boundaries  often early in a filmmakers career. George A. Romeros first feature Night of the Living Dead kicked off the modern zombie film genre, Robin Hardys name became synonymous with his cult classic, The Wicker Man, Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sanchez shook the film industry with their bare-bones found-footage-style film, The Blair Witch Project and Jordan Peele spoke to the horrors of racism with his groundbreaking Get Out. This summer, a new trio of directors who chose the horror genre for their first features hope to make an impact.

Prano Bailey-Bonds Censor (now in theaters), which was a breakout at this years Sundance Film Festival, is about a by-the-book censor in 1980s London who starts seeing parallels between a disturbing video and her own life. In exploring Britains video nasty era, which launched intense public debate around the notion that slasher films would poison minds, Bailey-Bond wondered: If a movie could be considered so terrible that it drives society to commit crime, what effect would it have had on the censors in the room? The premise allowed her to create a handful of original video nasties for her film, one of which was inspired by 1970s folk horror, like The Blood on Satans Claw, and another that emulated the work of the Italian giallo director Lucio Fulci.

By the time Bailey-Bond turned to filmmaking, after studying performing arts, she had already internalized many of the classics, like The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, The Evil Dead and Basket Case, the latter of which was also a feature directing debut. I was drawn to darker characters, or trying to understand the parts of ourselves that we push away, she said. I hadnt come to the genre thinking, Im making horror. It was almost like horror chose me.
And so Senors personal narrative shifts in and out of focus  his relationship to the musical and to his Cuban heritage are detailed just enough to leave us wanting more history, more background, more reflection and more depth. Similarly, the brief glimpses into the lives of its cast members, some queer and many impoverished, are compelling, but inconsistent and over too soon.

For a documentary about a substantial staging of a beloved musical, Revolution Rent also skimps on the scenes of the final product itself. The productions Roger singing an impassioned Spanish translation of One Song Glory; Senor pushing a cast member into an emotional reckoning with the meaning of the word freedom; the conversations about performing a queer musical in a country that hasnt had a great track record for its treatment of L.G.B.T.Q. people: These are the kinds of moments that most resonate but are overshadowed by the films sporadic approach.

The show Rent gave us an onstage revolution, while Revolution Rent often gives us an underwhelming translation.

Revolution Rent

Not rated. Running time: 1 hour 40 minutes. Watch on HBO.
Mr. Cuomo once described Mr. Percoco as my fathers third son, who I sometimes think he loved the most. But Mr. Percoco played an even larger role in Andrew Cuomos orbit, serving as the governors ultimate loyalist.

Mr. Percoco was found guilty in a federal trial of taking more than $300,000 in bribes, mostly from Competitive Power Ventures, a Maryland-based power company with state business. The bulk of that was in the form of a low-show job given to Mr. Percocos wife, Lisa Toscano-Percoco.

The case  one in a series of corruption convictions won by federal prosecutors in Manhattan  roiled Albany, especially because it centered on someone so close to the governor. Mr. Cuomo was never accused of wrongdoing.

When Mr. Percoco was arrested in 2016, Mr. Cuomos campaign committee paid $80,000 for his legal fees. But the governor has long maintained that he has not had any other involvement. The legal bills have totaled well over $1 million, according to several people who have been asked to contribute.

The revelations of the fund-raising effort help answer a question that has vexed the State Capitol for years: Who has been paying for the top-dollar lawyers who have represented Mr. Percoco? Before he was sentenced to six years in prison, his lawyers said he was facing impending bankruptcy.

Some of the same group of longtime allies and friends who received Ms. Cuomos email were also asked to donate to the trust fund for Mr. Percocos daughters, according to several of them.

Those donations exceeded $75,000, according to one person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to discuss the fund-raising.
[Live N.Y.C. mayoral race primary results.]

With concerns rising over violent crime in New York City, the Rev. Al Sharpton posed a sensitive question to several mayoral candidates at a recent forum in Harlem: Would they consider embracing the stop-and-frisk policing tactic as part of their public safety strategy?

Is that a serious question, Rev.? said Maya Wiley, a civil rights lawyer. We are not going backward to what beat us, what broke our ankles, busted our jaws and put our kids in jail for poverty.

But Eric Adams, a former police officer who, like Ms. Wiley, is Black, saw the issue differently.

Its a constitutional policy given to law enforcement officers, he said, while quickly acknowledging that the police had been allowed to abuse it by stopping people without probable cause.

The sharp increase in shootings and homicides in New York has made crime the No. 1 issue for voters this year, polls show, but that concern is being felt even more deeply in predominantly Black neighborhoods that have struggled with both gun violence and the effects of overly aggressive policing.
[Live N.Y.C. mayoral race primary results.]

One week until the end of a bitterly contested mayoral primary, and a day before the races final debate, Kathryn Garcia and Maya D. Wiley both tried on Tuesday to establish themselves as voters best alternative to the races apparent leader, Eric Adams.

Ive been a public servant, and that means that I have been serving the people of New York City, Ms. Garcia, a former sanitation commissioner, said in an interview at noon at her campaign office in Brooklyn. And thats what we need right now, not a politician who has curried favors.

New York wants a different kind of leadership, Ms. Wiley, a former counsel to Mayor Bill de Blasio, said in front of the Brooklyn Public Librarys central location an hour later. No tinkering around the edges of problems that we have failed to solve, but actually stepping up and being bold and transformational.

The messages echoed the pitches the two candidates, both seeking to be the first woman elected mayor of New York, have been making to voters for months. But they have taken on a new urgency as time to court supporters is running out and polls show more city residents coalescing around Mr. Adams, the Brooklyn borough president.
The Manhattan district attorneys office appears to have entered the final stages of a criminal tax investigation into Donald J. Trumps long-serving chief financial officer, Allen H. Weisselberg, setting up the possibility he could face charges this summer, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

In recent weeks, a grand jury has been hearing evidence about Mr. Weisselberg, who is facing intense scrutiny from prosecutors as they seek his cooperation with a broader investigation into Mr. Trump and the Trump Organization, the people with knowledge of the matter said. The prosecutors have obtained Mr. Weisselbergs personal tax returns, the people said, providing the fullest picture yet of his finances.

Even as the investigation has heated up, it remains unclear whether the prosecutors will seek an indictment of Mr. Weisselberg, which would mark the first criminal charges stemming from the long-running financial fraud investigation into Mr. Trump and his family company.

The investigation into Mr. Weisselberg focuses partly on whether he failed to pay taxes on valuable benefits that Mr. Trump provided him and his family over the years, including apartments and leased cars as well as tens of thousands of dollars in private school tuition for at least one of his grandchildren. In general, those types of benefits are taxable, although there are some exceptions, and the rules can be murky.
In recent years, under steady pressure from the pharmaceutical industry and the patient groups it funds, the F.D.A. has progressively lowered its standards of effectiveness and safety required for drug approvals. New drugs are now more likely to be supported by fewer studies and less adequate clinical trial designs than in the past. Worse, more than half of new drugs are now approved based on whats called surrogate endpoints  changes in the body measured by lab tests that may not reflect clinical benefit  rather than requiring that the drug affect how a person feels, functions or survives.

For aducanumab, the evidence that its manufacturer, Biogen, submitted to the F.D.A. showed no convincing effect on patients cognitive decline. Its two main trials were stopped early in 2019 because the company concluded its drug did not work. But the company later reanalyzed its data and concluded that some patients in one arm of one of the trials seemed to show some benefit from the drug, even though the other trials did not show any improvement.

The F.D.A. worked closely with the company to study the data. But after careful review, an outside advisory committee for the agency was nearly unanimous in its ruling that the drug had failed to show strong evidence that it worked. Committee members were also concerned about the drugs safety, since about a third of patients taking a higher dose had evidence of brain swelling. One of us, Dr. Kesselheim, was a member of that committee and has resigned as a result of the F.D.A.s inexcusable decision to approve the drug anyway.

In approving aducanumab, the F.D.A. shifted the goal posts. It unexpectedly approved the drug based on a theory that it could affect amyloid protein levels in the brain. Some researchers think that amyloid buildup in the brain is a cause of Alzheimers disease, though others dispute this link. But lowering amyloid levels with a drug has never been shown to slow cognitive decline. Many investigational drugs have targeted amyloid levels without affecting the progression of this terrible disease.

Even worse, although aducanumab was tested only in patients with mild disease, the F.D.A. inexplicably approved it for use in any person with Alzheimers, regardless of severity. It enters the market now as a monthly intravenous infusion with a $56,000 annual price tag and the need for regular M.R.I. scans to monitor for the possible brain swelling it can cause.
ezra klein

Im Ezra Klein, and this is The Ezra Klein Show. [MUSIC PLAYING] Ive always been fascinated by the period in the 20th century when the American mind just seems to have opened up. Its an explosive period in which people were willing to consider radically new political structures and ideas and liberation movements and new forms of art, new forms of culture, and new kinds of technology, and all at once, compared to when I grew up in the 90s, the end of history period, this period when it felt like the imagination of politics had become sharply constrained. It always felt like such a time of really different and intellectual ferment. So much more was up for grabs. People felt society could be shaped into such radically different forms. I think a bit of that is returning. I think this era is different than the 90s or aughts era. But even so, I dont think its like it was then. I think we feel our path is more set, whether or not it really is. Louis Menand is a New Yorker staff writer. Hes a professor of English at Harvard and the author of a really fascinating and expansive new survey of arts, politics, and culture in the post-war period called The Free World. And one thing he takes super seriously in the book and that I really appreciated about it was this interplay between art and politics, the way ideas of freedom began driving the arts into new directions and how those new directions helped create the world politically, culturally, socially, that we live in now, both for better, by the way, and for worse. As always, my email is ezrakleinshow@nytimes.com. Heres Louis Menand. So let me begin here. Whats the difference between how Americans understood the practice of freedom in the 1950s and how we understand it today?

louis menand

The big difference really is that freedom today is become more of a right-wing slogan, less of a left-wing slogan. I wouldnt say things were the opposite in the 50s and 60s. I would say that everybody used the term freedom to justify whatever it was they were doing. So, for example, Martin Luther King, Jr. used the term freedom all the time in his civil rights speeches. In fact, in the I Have a Dream speech, he uses the word freedom 20 times. Of course, thats the refrain of the speech, as you remember. Uses the word equality only once. But George Wallace, the segregationist Alabama governor, used the term freedom to justify states rights and resistance to enforced integration. John F. Kennedy used the term freedom all the time. But so does Barry Goldwater. I think one of the most famous sayings of the 1960s is Barry Goldwater saying at the Republican National Convention 1964, extremism and the defense of liberty is no vice. So one of the things that I learned in writing about this period, which is roughly 20 years after the Second World War, is that basically, its used to justify everything by everybody. Today, as I said, its a little bit more, we think of it more as a right-wing slogan. So freedom means not having to wear a mask. Freedom means being allowed to carry a gun. And on the left or liberal left, the slogans are much more about equality and social justice, considerably less about freedom. So I think thats a major shift.

ezra klein

So let me take the left-wing side of this and try to challenge that. There was certainly a need to cloak every political demand in this era in the language of freedom. Because you have the Soviet Union there as the opposite. The equity becomes totalitarianism opposite. But theres certainly been, in recent years, an effort to say that the sanitized version of Martin Luther King, Jr. we have now is wrong, that if you look at what he was saying, he took equity very seriously, that a lot of what he was demanding from universal basic income to recognizing that if you ask a man whos starting 200 yards behind in a race to catch up, youre simply asking him to fail, was demanding a level of government involvement and a pursuit of actual fairness that many people would say should be understood as in pursuit of freedom, but certainly in the way we talk about it now isnt. So is part of this simply that you had to say more things were freedom because of the Soviet Union creating a pressure on that, but maybe the battle lines werent all that different than they are now?

louis menand

Youre totally right about King. And the reason that you give I think is the correct reason, which is that the language of freedom just had a lot more resonance in the Cold War period than the language of equality did. Because Americans tend to think of equality as implying redistribution. And thats not a very popular concept in American political culture, whereas they think of freedom as something you can spread without losing anything yourself. You just create more  its like lighting candles or something. So King, as you said  its totally correct  believed in equality. Thats really what the civil rights movement, his civil rights movement, was about. The pre-King civil rights movement as well was about equality. But I think he understood that in Washington, DC, and that period in the early 1960s that freedom was the language that people would listen to. So some of it is just trying to get the attention of politicians and so on. So from that point of view, youre totally right. But on the other hand, I think that we tend to think of freedom and equality as trade-offs today, such that if we want to promote a progressive agenda that creates more equal conditions for people, we want to create conditions of anti-racism and so forth that the considerations of freedom have to take second place to those imperatives. I think in the 60s and the 50s, people who thought that way thought that those were compatible goals. That is to say, you could have equality. You could have an active government. You could correct the injustices and inequities of free market capitalism in a proactive way. But you could do that consistent with maintaining individual liberties.

ezra klein

What someone like the composer John Cage viewed as freedom, its really, really different from our political definitions of freedom. Its like not the freedom of Freedom Fries and the Freedom Caucus and Pete Buttigieg speeches. So tell me about the John Cage approach to freedom. Who is he? And why is he in your book under this rubric?

louis menand

Yeah, so John Cage was an avant garde composer. And probably everybody knows his most famous piece. The title of it is 433 [four minutes and 33 seconds] but you probably know it as the silent piece for piano in which the musician  its usually a pianist, but could be basically performed by any musician  is silent for four minutes and 33 seconds. So thats the piece. He composed that piece in 1952. John Cage believed in freedom not of the artist, but of sound. So he was very influenced by Arnold Schoenberg, who he studied with in California in the 1930s when Cage was a young man, who created the 12-tone system of composition. So in the regular scale, theres 12 tones, right? And in normal classical music that Western ears are accustomed to, theres a tonic that is said  theres a key that the piece is composed in. And eventually, everything resolves to that key. So it starts in the key of C. It will end up in the key of C. And the ear expects that to happen. In 12-tone music, all the notes of the scale, all 12 of them, are treated equally. Theres no dominant note or dominant key or dominant chord. So to Western ears, that sounds atonal. And thats what people used to call it. So what Cage thought was that, well, Schoenberg has freed up musical sound so that theyre all treated equally and none as dominant. Im going to do the same thing for all sounds and silence. So Im going to treat musical sounds, noises, and silence as all equivalent in my compositions. So he made these very zany pieces, which incorporated musical sounds, noises  sometimes they were recorded on tape  and silences, which were all programmed into the music so that you would be listening to all those things and giving equal attention to all of them. So his notion of freedom had to do with freeing up the materials of music so that none of them would be subordinate to another one.

ezra klein

To ask the obvious question here, but who cares? So I happen to be fascinated by John Cage for all kinds of reasons. Im a sort of a John Cage stan. But I definitely think that you could hear this conversation about a guy holding piano concerts where somebody only pretends to play the piano or just doesnt play the piano and say, thats just a curiosity for intellectually masturbatory elites. But so you write about him in this book about American post-war power and cultural influence. So what matters here? Hes establishing a kind of equality of sound within his own work, but what role does he have to play in the evolving American conception or exported conception of freedom?

louis menand

So hes the one who pushed the boundaries farther than anybody else was comfortable pushing them. So when I started writing about him, I didnt really grasp how important he is. But hes really an important figure all through this entire period. So lets just take the silent piece for piano because its true, and you could say this about a lot of the art in this period: that it was very shocking when it was first performed or first exhibited. Now it seems rather banal to us. So the silent piece for piano, it can seem like a gimmick or can seem almost like a joke. But actually, Cage had a very serious intention with it, which is that when youre in a concert  so lets just say you go to Carnegie Hall to hear Lang Lang playing the piano. You are concerned that you have a good seat so that you could hear the sounds that the piano is making. Youre completely focused on the performer and the instrument and the sound thats coming out of it. You screen out everything else in your aural and visual fields to focus on this. We go to classical music concerts. People sit as though theres kind of a broom up them because they dont want to move at all because theyre completely focused on the music. So Cage is saying, suppose you could just silence the music. What else would you hear in that environment? We hear all kinds of other sounds that you dont think of as interesting to the ear, but actually, they are if you start paying attention to them. So the first performance of silent piece for piano was in Woodstock, New York, at an outdoor concert hall called Maverick Concert Hall. It had a kind of corrugated metal roof on it. But it was exposed. The walls were exposed. And there was a concert of avant garde musical pieces. And the silent piece was one of the pieces performed. And during the piece where the piano is silent, you could hear the wind in the trees. There was a brief patter of rain on the roof of the shed that it was inside of. You could hear noises of other people in the audience. By the time the piece was almost over, people were starting to leave. They were really annoyed by it. So Cage was saying, all this is like music. He was saying, all of this in your environment that youre not paying attention to most of the time is actually going on without you. And if you could just refocus, youd be amazed at what you can hear.

ezra klein

One thing that it struck me your book was about was this 20-ish year period where the American mind, psyche, culture, freed itself to take a much wider range of ideas and movements and people seriously, from liberatory movements politically to unusual forms of art like John Cage or Jackson Pollock or the Beat poets, to different kinds of literature, to very, very different political structures, right, all the way from socialism and communism to totalitarianism to more intense forms of libertarianism and democracy. And that theres something going on in this moment, where a collective mind, the collective psyche that had been pretty straitlaced in what it was willing to take seriously, what it was willing to admit into consideration, explodes open. And you get all these things that sometimes they look weird when people look at them now or looked at them then. But there was a willingness to bring it in, Andy Warhol being another example. Is that right? And if so, what was the condition for that? Why did the American mind open up all at once for this period?

louis menand

Thats exactly what the book is about, Ezra. And as you say, its about two kinds of opening up. One is cultural or artistic, expanding the range of things that you take an interest in. And the other is social, which is personified by the civil rights movement and then the womens movement. And its the opening up of American life, really, that you see in this period. Why did that happen? I think theres two reasons for it. One is the Cold War because geopolitics put a lot of pressure on the United States to demonstrate its true commitments to freedom and equality. Thats what we were standing for. Then we had to address the problem of race relations. We had to address the problem of gender relations. We had to address the problem of censorship. We had to show that we were serious about equality and liberty. So Im one of many scholars who think that the civil rights movement would not have been as effective as it was if not for the geopolitical pressures put on the American government by the fact of decolonization. So around the world, all these former colonial states are becoming independent. Theyre all being governed now by people of color for the first time in history almost, in our modern history. And the United States has to show that its committed to the same values as these new independent states are. So that geopolitical pressure I think helps to explain a little bit of whats going on. But the other part of it is that this is a period when, after 1945, the United States was actively engaged with the rest of the world. There was very little isolationist sentiment in the United States in that period. And that engagement with the rest of the world had its good sides and its bad sides, obviously, politically and economically. But it was very beneficial to the United States culturally. Because we were open to the influence of thinkers from other countries, of artists from other countries, of entertainment products from other countries that helped to pollinate American culture itself and really transform it into something very interesting. So one of the things I try to emphasize in the book is the extent to which all the things we think of as American culture in this period really was the result of influences from all over the world.

ezra klein

How much do you think that the two world wars figure in here? And theres something very specific I have in mind, that the single best art exhibit Ive ever seen, I took a vacation in Spain once. And I went to the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. And they had this exhibit on how modern art develops. And what they did in it was they tracked all of these artists from before particularly World War II to after. And I actually get emotional just talking about it. You watch the representational nature of art melt. You watch people making the most beautiful, classical, crisp paintings. It almost looks like scribbling, but you begin to realize its trying to get at an unrepresentable level of horror. Its like the first time I understood some of these changes like cubism ever. And one question I always have with it is part of what happens here is that so many people have seen now that the world can become so much darker, so much more savage than they possibly imagined. The strictures on civilization are so much weaker than so many people thought at that time that, well, whos to say what does and doesnt need to be taken seriously? Whos to say what can and cant happen? That the imagination of the possible has been blown out towards the dystopic, but that also blows it out in all directions kind of simultaneously.

louis menand

Yeah, I think in 1945, the world had been through a depression that lasted almost 10 years and that it had been through a World War that lasted almost six years. And the Germans called 1945 zero hour. Its just everybody wanted to turn the page. And everybody felt theres an opportunity for a fresh start, but we dont know where its going to go. Thats a very exciting moment to be in. I have to say that when I finished the book, which was about a year ago a few months after that, Biden was elected. And I felt  and I still feel that to some extent  that this is a fresh moment for the United States. We could really think about ourselves differently as a country. We could really think about the role government plays differently from the way weve been thinking about it for the last 30 or 40 years. We could really create public programs that help people. We could really be tolerant of people from other places and welcoming to them and ideas from other places. Or we could go back to the closed world of Trump. And I think people felt something like that right after the Second World War, particularly in the United States. They didnt know where history was going to go because history had been in a terrible place for almost 15 years. And now they were looking at an opportunity to make the future for themselves. And those were exciting moments as sort of moments of feeling a new dawn. And I think that persisted really up through the period of the Civil Rights Act.

ezra klein

Why do you think culture mattered so much during this period? You have a sequence in the book where you write, Most striking was the nature of the audience. People cared. Ideas mattered. Painting mattered. Movies mattered. Poetry mattered. The way people judged and interpreted paintings, movies, and poems mattered. I think implicitly, youre saying there that these things, these movements, dont matter as much to the American mass audience as they did then. So I can understand in the aftermath of the world wars, of the depression, the opening up of the political imagination. But why was cultural production so intermingled here, artistic ideas so intermingled here? Thats such a big part of your book. Why was the audience different then?

louis menand

So this whole period is a period of great economic growth all over the world in Western Europe and the United States. And that creates all kinds of opportunities for people to paint, to publish and exhibit art and watch movies and so forth. Because theres a kind of built-in structure for that thats developing. So those are very exciting things. And along with that are people who say that doesnt count as art. That doesnt count as poetry. That doesnt count as cinema. And then you get arguments about it. So thats just part of how culture kind of works dialectically, is that something new provokes a backlash or reaction to it. And then theres an argument about what counts and what doesnt count. Another issue, though, I think has to do with the fear that people had, which I think we discount a little bit today. Because we think of it as kind of a vulgar anticommunism. But the fear that intellectuals had, regardless of their politics, that the future would be totalitarianism, thats the image that George Orwell creates in 1984. Hes not saying this is what communism is like. Hes saying this is what the future is like. Everybodys going to be living this way in the future because thats the tendency of modern history. People took that seriously. And I think for good reason, they were very worried about that. So if the future could be 1984, the world that Orwell depicts in that novel, this kind of dystopic world, what could cause us to get there faster than something else? That could have to do with any kinds of choices that we make as a society. So its very important, in other words, that art not be a form of brainwashing. Thats a big concern in this period. So people want to think about an art that allows people to be free and not an art that brainwashes them or propagandizes them to the dictates of a state. So those become really live issues. Ill put it this way. The atmosphere is very charged. Everything seems to matter. Every choice that we make in society  behavioral, cultural, political  seems to have potential repercussions that could be very bad. So I think we feel that way today, but about different things. I dont think we worry today about what kind of art you like. I just think thats not much of an issue. People like to argue about their favorite movie. But thats not quite the same thing as what was going on here. But with the other things that we do think, we take very seriously and we do worry about.

ezra klein

So I want to go back to Jackson Pollock here. You have an interesting set of readings of Pollack, of the Beat writers. I think people look back on them now. And its all spontaneous. Pollock is just flinging paint at a canvas. The Beats are all taking acid and hanging out. But you make this argument that Pollocks drip paintings are these very technically sophisticated and very meticulously planned projects. Allen Ginsberg is this cultured Columbia man, to some extent, performing the role of beat. Kerouac is this intense workaholic  very, very, very type A, in a way. So what do we miss about them in the way theyve come to be culturally narrativized?

louis menand

Yeah, theyre serious artists and writers. I mean, thats what they do. Andy Warhol, too. Knew a huge amount about art history. I mean, they get portrayed in a kind of popular way as not really serious. But they were very serious people. I think the thing thats misleading about people like Pollock and Kerouac has to do with the kind of mythology that grew up around their famous works. So in Pollocks case, he was a very ambitious painter. And he struggled for quite a while in New York City, trying to get a gallery interested in his work and get people to buy it and to write about it. And he got married in 1945 and moved to Long Island with his wife. Lee Krasner is also an important abstract painter. And the story is that he found the wall of the house was too small to stretch a canvas. Because he was starting to paint big canvases, like mural-sized canvases. So he put it on the floor. And then he started dripping paint on it. He used a stick. So hed have a can of paint, get paint on a stick, and then he kind of waved the stick over the canvas. And that would create the drips. Sometimes he would use a brush or other things. And he liked it. So they converted a barn on the property into a studio. And he started repeating that and putting the canvas on the floor of the studio and throwing paint on it. And these works became known  I think his first drip show was 1948 or 49. And people started noticing that this guy was making paintings out of drips. And the show failed. Nobody bought any of the work. People couldnt quite get what it was about. But photographers were interested in his technique. So they would go out to Springs, and they would photograph him painting in his studio. And his photographs got printed in Life Magazine, so Pollock became very famous for these images of himself throwing paint on the canvas. And Pollock became identified as this painter who approached the canvas and then kind of impulsively flung paint on it. And thats very misleading about Pollocks actual technique, which is that he very carefully meditated about what he wanted to do with whatever was on the canvas and what the next move was going to be before he did it. And if you look at these paintings very closely, if you see it at a museum, they are incredibly intricate, elaborate works. And theyre inimitable. If you think its just easy, try making one yourself. You cant do it. Theyre very hard to imitate. So Pollock really was a craftsman. He knew what he was doing. And he took his time doing it. He was upset, I think, that in these images of himself painting, it gave the impression that it was spontaneous. But it wasnt any more spontaneous than any other painters work would be. Its just he applied the paint in a different way. So Kerouacs a similar story because  or the story about the composition of On the Road, which is, of course, his big novel, which was published in 1957. He actually wrote that novel in 1951. Hed been struggling for a long time, trying to create a novel based on these trips hed taken across the country with his friends. And hed had big notebooks. He tried writing a conventional novel based on the stories. And he was very frustrated. And then, in 1951, for various reasons, he got inspired. He taped together rolls of architects paper. He was staying in an apartment that an architect had lived in. And so it was one continuous scroll. And he put the scroll in a typewriter, and he just kept typing and didnt go back. And he typed the whole novel on this scroll, which still exists. Sometimes its exhibited. Its quite interesting to look at it, just this huge piece of paper. And that, too  and Kerouac actually use this term, unfortunately, to describe how he did it  is referred to as spontaneous composition. But that also is extremely hard to do. Its very hard to write when you cant erase what youve just written, just as its very hard to paint when you have to deal with wherever the paint fell the last time you waved your stick on the canvas. Its a discipline to create that way. Not many people can do it. Now, Kerouac, once he finished it, retyped it and edited it and so on. Its not like that was the finished product. But just to create a whole novel without ever going back is the opposite of spontaneous. Its very hard to do. So, Ginsberg as well, the manuscript for Howl exists. Its full of corrections and changes and so forth. Its not like they just spewed it out of their minds when they were writing it. So a lot of the stories about the cult of spontaneity, same thing is true of jazz. Its hard to play jazz solo. Its not like you just push any note, unless youre Ferris Bueller on the saxophone. You have to know what youre doing. So theres a kind of myth of spontaneity thats associated with the culture of this period. It actually doesnt describe very well how it was created. Even I think of example of Cage. The 4 Minutes and 33 Seconds, he actually composed that. So there was a score. And the pianist who performed it at this concert hall in Woodstock had a score on the music stand that he turned the pages of while he was timing the music. It was all written out with measures and everything. Its just that there werent any notes on it. So it took Cage a long time to actually compose it using his various techniques that he used to compose it. So all of the silences are a particular length that add up to 4 minutes and 33 seconds. So that also is not easy to do.

ezra klein

Its wild. This is a little bit touchy, but one thing I was thinking about reading the book is, today we dont culturally code, I think, poetry or painting or some of these other disciplines as particularly masculine pursuits. Not to say men dont do them, I just dont think theyre coded that way, particularly poetry. But they were then. Its all these  in your book, its all these alcoholic, philandering men smoking cigarettes and getting into fights and flipping over cars. Im curious what you think changed there.

louis menand

I think the big change happens in the early 1960s, just focusing now on American culture. And that has to do with two critics who I think are just crucially important to understanding what happened in what were describing as the opening up of American life. One is Susan Sontag, and the other is Pauline Kael. And what Susan Sontag, what shes famous for, among other things, what shes famous for in this period, is calling for what she called an erotics of interpretation. So what shes trying to say there is that people tend to appreciate art in a cerebral way. They try to figure it out. And what we should be responding to is a much more bodily way. We should be experiencing it in a sensory way rather than just an intellectual way. And Pauline Kael said the same thing about the movies, is that people are worried too much about theories of film and so on. They should just enjoy the movies. Actors are great to look at. Theyre sexy. Movies are exciting. Theyre entertaining. Theyre funny. Those are the values that we should have about that. We shouldnt worry about what they mean in some kind of intellectual way. I dont think its insignificant that both of those critics were women. So I think they were saying something that no male critic could say in that period. They didnt speak as feminists. In fact, both of them were rather hostile to the womens movement and not like to think of themselves as women writers at all. But I dont think men could have said that. At the same time that Sontags writing these essays  were talking about 1964, 1965  theres a whole burst of art movements that are all body based, so works in which the artist squirms around on the floor, covered in mud and paint, works in which the artists body is included in the artwork and so on. And a lot of those artists also are women. So I think some of this has to do with a kind of switch in the role that gender plays in intellectual life that I associate that with the birth of the womens movement, with Betty Friedans book, The Feminine Mystique, in 1963. [MUSIC PLAYING]

ezra klein

You have an interesting argument that you make kind of quickly in the book, that there was a big shift in this period from intellectual and culturally critical life, where it moved from journals and small circulation magazines into universities, and that that had to do with the expansion of the universities and them opening up to other kinds of people like Jews. But that you really did lose this more informal, slightly more popular, somewhat less professionalized space. And I was trying to think about whether or not I agree with that. Because when I think about even recent decades, when I think about blogs in the oughts or Twitter now or even small circulation journals like The New Republic in the 90s, that they still felt very influential to me. But I wanted to hear you make the case here at a bit more length.

louis menand

Well, no, they are still influential. And I think, obviously, with the digital revolution, the whole critical economy has changed, which we could talk about separately. But I think in this period, one feature of the post-war years is the expansion of higher education. It just, in sheer numbers, the number of undergraduates doubled in the 1960s, and the number of doctorates awarded tripled. And new campuses are being created all the time, mostly public universities. And thats a big shift in intellectual culture because it creates more opportunity for people who are interested in, lets say, art or literature to pursue an academic career and follow up their interests in an academic setting. So thats a good thing, in a lot of ways, as you suggest, because the university opens itself up to certain kinds of people who basically would have been excluded  Jews for a long time, women for a long time  and then other groups that were underrepresented. And thats a big shift. Thats a good thing. It means that more Americans are going to college than had gone to college in the 50s or the 40s. And that creates a bigger educated class of cultural consumers who go to museums and buy novels and argue about movies and read little magazines. But I think it also had the effect in the 70s and 80s of creating a kind of class of critical writers who spoke only to each other. I think my field is English. I feel its largely the case that English professors write for English professors. They dont really write for anybody else. And thats something that you see starting to happen in the 70s and 80s. So the university kind of colonizes that, the world of criticism and small magazines, and colonizes the world of creative writing by creating all of these MFA programs, such that now, most American writers have gone through an MFA program. Many of them teach in MFA programs. I think it colonized, to a certain extent, the world of dissident political opinion. So now those people tend to be housed in English departments and academic departments, as opposed to bohemian enclaves. So theres a shift that you see in this period. It doesnt mean  youre completely right  that little magazines dont have cultural influence or arent important. A lot of the contributors those magazines now are professors, but not all of them. And they do play a role. But of course, since the internet, thats all completely changed because now everybodys in the game. Everybodys a critic. When I started out writing for magazines in the 1980s, there were only a few magazines where, if you wrote something critical about a book or a movie or something, you got a lot of readers. There were maybe a handful of things that people read. So there was a very narrow gate to get into that critical conversation. Today, everybodys in the conversation. Theres no dominant medium. Theres no dominant journal. Theres no dominant set of opinions. I think thats a good thing. But its not something that you see in the immediate post-war period.

ezra klein

You have an extremely cynical take on English literature departments. You argue in the book that the whole style criticism that emerges, like New Criticism, where youre really taking the text on its own terms and not trying to read into the moment or the artists intentions, you really argue its functionally a protection racket to make it clear that English literature departments are needed. And so that we are all kind of sitting in the aftermath of something that looked like an intellectual movement and was actually just an occupational protection scheme. Id like to, one, hear you talk a bit about that idea and then, two, hear how your English literature faculty colleagues reacted to that idea.

louis menand

OK, and I dont call it a protection racket, and I dont think Im cynical about it. But its true that a way of thinking about understanding poetry that arises with the modernists like T. S. Eliot around 1920, lets say, was not an academic, had no interest in English departments  a way of thinking about poetry as being about poetry. And it should be discussed as poetry rather than as either social commentary or reflection of the feelings of the poet or the historical period in which its written, but just as a poem. And there are corresponding ways of thinking about art and so forth. We call this formalism. Now that does get taken up by critics in the 30s and 40s, who are professors. And it becomes a justification for English departments to focus on teaching poetry separately from other areas of knowledge. So one of the premises of this kind of criticism, which we call the New Criticism, is that people dont naturally know how to read a poem. Because they dont understand how poetic language works. They tend to read poems literally. They dont understand how to read language figuratively. And they tend to think of poems as some kind of unmediated expression of the feelings of the poet. They dont think of the poem as a kind of independent artifact. Its created by a poet, but does not necessarily reflect that poets own feelings or biography and so on, so that people make these mistakes when they read, and they need to be taught how to read properly. So my point is just that for 3,000 years, nobody thought you needed to be taught how to read a poem until these professors came along and said, you dont know how to do it. So to that extent, it is a justification for English departments. Because it says, heres something that people need to be taught how to do. We are equipped to teach them how to do that. We have various techniques for doing that. We have various vocabulary that we use to explain how poems work. And thats a justification for having literature departments. I dont have an objection to teaching people how to read literature. My objection is just that I dont think literature should be separated from context or biography. I just think thats part of what makes it what it is. So just in general, in my book, I try to contextualize everything. I try to say, here are the reasons why it was possible for this person with this life history under these social conditions to produce a drip painting or On the Road or Elvis Presley. It doesnt mean that the person doesnt have talent. Of course, they have talent. They have something they could do that other people cant do as well. But the conditions have to be the right conditions for that talent to emerge. And then how people understand what those people have done is also a function of the social and historical moment that the work is produced in.

ezra klein

Let me move to something else going on, on campuses during this period. Im very curious how you compare campus radicalism today and in the 60s. So you write about the Berkeley Free Speech Movement. Its called, of course, the Berkeley Free Speech Movement. Today, the cultural fear that you get everywhere is that campus radicals, they dont care that much about free speech. Theyve subordinated that idea to other concepts of justice. Do you see these movements? Do you see left campus radicalism in that era and in this era as really in opposition? Or is there more throughline than some of the branding would suggest?

louis menand

Yeah, thats a good question. As you suggest, its pretty complicated. On the one hand, its true the Berkeley Free Speech Movement was literally about free speech. So this happens in 1964. And the administration at University of California at Berkeley banned political tables on campus. Political tables were like card tables that students would set up with political literature on them to promote civil rights or other causes. And the university banned those from campus. And the students revolted and occupied the administration building, Sproul Hall, and basically forced the university to back down. And it was called the Free Speech Movement because thats really what the stakes were in that particular protest. But for a lot of the people who were involved in the protest, for a lot of the students involved in the protest, there was a bigger issue, which was the nature of the post-war university. And they regarded the university as treating them as basically human material to be manufactured to serve the needs of government and industry. They felt that they werent being given any say in their own educations. They felt the questions about values that they wanted to raise in the classroom were ruled as not empirical or not important. They felt stifled by the intellectual environment of the post-war university. So those students do have something in common with students today. Because what the students today are often protesting is something about the nature of the institution itself that say the modern university is perpetuating or failing to address problems of social injustice and racial inequity and that they want to hold the university to account for that failure, as they see it, and also, in many cases, like at Harvard, for its own history of complicity in the regime of white supremacy. So to that extent, theres a similarity. I think in the free speech thing, obviously, the balance has shifted in the other direction.

ezra klein

One thing that struck me as a continuity, although in a complicated way, is, you quote one of the critiques being made by the Berkeley Free Speech Movement as the universities become soulless, that it has no values, right? Partially, this, youre trying to make me a cog in the machine idea. I dont think that critique would hold as much today. I think its clear that universities do have value so that particularly, they want to be antiracist. Their broad values are left, even if not always as left as some of the students may want. And then, in many ways, the critique of the universities. like the fight on the universities, is whether or not theyve gotten too into their own values. Now, of course, these things coexist with STEM education and a very, very heavy commercialization of the universities and a customer focus. But is there a way in which the modern fights reflect the campus radicals of the 50s, 60s, 70s, somewhat getting what they wanted, and now you have universities that try much more to be at least somewhat value oriented institutions, although in ways that end up being then complicated in practice?

louis menand

I think they are much more value oriented. And I think thats a good thing. And it is complicated. But universities, particularly elites, which is often what were talking about here, want to be inclusive. And they go to enormous lengths to make students feel welcome and comfortable, regardless of their backgrounds, and faculty as well. And that has become a big focus of universities in a way that probably people didnt even care about in 1960 or so. So that is a big change. And I think thats a change that grows out of those student movements, as you suggest it does. So to the extent the university is more soulful, has got more soul, thats true. I think on the other hand, that elite universities tend to turn out people who are very good at doing things in the corporate economy that make a lot of money. And they go to Wall Street, and they go to Silicon Valley. And they go into consulting and so forth. And they become well-off. And their values may be progressive or not progressive. But its not as though the university is persuading them that there are more important things in life than being successful. So I think theres a tension there. And students feel it, too. I think they feel conflicted about what they know is important in life on the one hand, and on the other hand, what their education is funneling them towards. And thats something that faculty often feel with students, too. Its frustrating because especially where I teach, the students are unbelievable. I mean, theyre incredibly talented people. Im astonished talking to these 18-year-olds and think what a callow nitwit I was when I was 18 years old. And theyre very articulate. And they have great values. But whats the outcome of this education that theyre getting is basically an opportunity to do well in an economy, which is grossly unequal. But these are all just tensions, just like the inclusion question is a tension. Inclusion makes some people feel excluded and so on. Yeah, theyre hard things to work out. But universities are designed to accommodate those tensions ideally. [MUSIC PLAYING]

ezra klein

I want to talk a bit about how markets and freedom can be in tension. And let me use modern cultural production as an example. Today, like the industries that you write about in the book, theyre unbelievably huge global exports. But also, youre seeing ways in which that reduces freedom. I mean, we create lots of movies for the Chinese market that are functionally censored here in America because were worried about Chinese backlash. I mean, we just saw John Cena, the wrestler and actor, give this groveling apology in Mandarin because while promoting the Fast and Furious 9, he said Taiwan is a country. And I think it gets at this way in which we frame the markets as carriers of freedom, as, in some ways, in the Soviet Union period, is synonymous with freedom. But they actually have their own incentives. And theyre not free. So Id like to hear you talk a little bit about that tension in culture between potentially markets overwhelming the kinds of freedom of action and freedom of production that maybe were flowering in this earlier period.

louis menand

I would say a couple of things. One is that its true that this period Im writing about is the great triumph of consumerism. And consumerism means consumer choice, what they used to call consumer sovereignty. So when I go online to buy a pair of headphones for this interview, I can immediately comparison shop every available headphone on whatever company Im buying it from. And theres all kinds of ratings and so forth to enable me to make the best choice. And thats something that you see starting in mid 20th century and these economies is consumer choice. People experience that as a good thing. They experience that as freedom. I get to decide what kind of car I want and what kind of a washing machine I want, what kind of headphones I want. And the economy is giving me more and more choices. So from that point of view, I think consumerism and freedom are compatible. Now, the issue that you raise  this is an important one  which is that theres something about the dynamic in which neither party is completely free. Because Im caught in that web of comparison shopping, whether I want to be or not. And Im forced to make certain choices that I might not want to make or not be competent to make. And then the supplier is also caught in the web of trying to understand what my demands are. Now they do it by algorithms, figuring out what exact product they want to show on my computer screen. Because thats the kind of thing Im likely to buy. So it does become this kind of self-consuming artifact. In the case of the cultural industries, I think a slightly different way of putting it is that its true that the book ends exactly at the moment, in my view, when culture becomes global. And the United States went from being a country in 1945  people did not think of it as a major player in world culture. People liked American movies and jazz and so forth, but not really a major player in world culture, to being at the center of an increasingly international world of art and ideas. What that means is that social media, music, movies, literary fiction, all these art forms go around the world, but they pass through Los Angeles and New York. Those are the financial distribution centers for world culture. And thats the role of the United States now. Its not like we generate culture thats American. What we do is distribute culture thats global. And as you suggest, thats a tricky business because to the extent that theres a big market in China or India, which are huge markets, I understand, for a lot of these companies, they have to tailor the product for that market. And they have to make sure that theyre dealing with the sensitivities of those regimes. And thats a price thats paid for expanding these markets. I would say still, on the whole, its better that culture circulates globally even with some constraints on it than it not. And its better that we think of culture in international rather than nationalist terms. So I think on the whole, those are positive developments.

ezra klein

I think it might be better the culture circulates globally. Im not sure I think its better that it circulates globally quite so commercially, if that makes sense, that the weight of market expectations and need to make billions back on your movies, thats a lot of pressure. Something I was thinking about reading through the book, was the way in which our idea of freedom was warped by our competition with the Soviet Union. And I think this is true in culture, but I think this is generally true for how we think about markets. I mean, you have this whole chapter on the philosopher Isaiah Berlin and the way he tries to argue that freedom from certain kinds of deprivations, freedom from not having health insurance, or freedom from being impoverished leads to forms of tyranny. And I do think the big blind spots in the American conception of freedom, at least, in part, come from wanting to create this version of freedom that was a very sharp ideological counter to the Soviet Union. But that then gets picked up by the market. And its like, yeah, now freedom is being able to buy consumer goods. And I mean, obviously, there is real freedom in this country in profound ways. But theres also a lot of ways in which people are profoundly unfree, but theyre mostly because of, in my view, at least, the way our needs are subordinated to the market or manipulated by the market. And thats a complexity. I do think weve over associated freedom with a kind of hyper individualism and consumerism that does not leave people feeling all that free today. I dont think if you look around in political theory, people are just sitting here marveling over how free everybody feels and really is. And so I wonder how you think about that. I mean, is there a little bit of a poisoned legacy here?

louis menand

Yeah, well, youre describing neoliberalism. In the 19th century, liberalism meant free markets and individual freedom. Those two things went together. And the crisis of the Great Depression, which caused a lot of these anxieties about what the future might hold, was the conclusion a lot of people reached in Western Europe and the US that capitalism had failed. This is the crisis that Marx had predicted. So, a lot of the politics of that period, the immediate pre-war period, is wrapped up with this idea something has to replace free market capitalism because it doesnt work. And then as we know, Roosevelt saved capitalism through the New Deal, changed the relationship between markets and the state somewhat. But he enabled it to survive. And then theres a period right after, the period I write about, when I think theres a pretty good balance between the government or the public sector and the private sector. And this is also a period of historically unprecedented income equality. So the levels of income inequality and wealth inequality that were familiar with were much reduced in that 20-year period. So theres a good balance. And then, as you know, the free market gets revived. Its kind of what Reaganism is about, among other things. And we get what we call now neoliberalism, which is a revival of this old idea that free markets and individual liberties somehow always go together. Youre right in saying that they obviously dont and that that creates a bit of a conundrum for us because were so, I think even still, wedded to this idea of the free, that we have a hard time coping with the fact that a free market doesnt necessarily conduce to individual liberty. But I think thats the inheritance that youre talking about.

ezra klein

But this is why I bring up China and culture in this context. Because I think that one of the  you could call it more optimistic theories. But certainly one of the theories was that market choice and market values really do lead to freedom. And we would export this, and it will lead to more freedom in other places, too. And I think China particularly shows how thats not working out, how the market ends up being a lever that others can use, whether thats China or whether its just people with a lot of economic power to make other people act in ways they want. I mean, Fast and Furious 9 is by no means the only example. Look at the contortions of the NBA over the past couple of years, as people occasionally say something about overwhelming levels of political repression in China and then have to apologize or shut up or whatever it might be. And so thats, I think, one example. But I think it speaks to something that is failing a little bit. I mean, its really interesting to me how much culture is a weaponized ideological export in the 20th century. Part of the point of exporting our culture is not that its going to make a bazillion dollars. Its that its going to prove the supremacy of our values. Now, though, because the point of the exporting of our culture is to make a bazillion dollars, we often curb those values. Theres much less, I think, weaponized culture in that way. And maybe thats good in certain ways. Certainly, the culture is just propaganda. It has its own set of problems, just geopolitical propaganda. But its hard not to feel like youre seeing something a little dangerous here. But this is also evident in a lot of other areas of life that we did a really good job, or at least, somewhat of a good job, freeing ourselves from different kinds of government dystopias and government restrictions on freedom, although, of course, not all of them, but that we dont even have a very good language for the way the market affects freedom. I mean, because its still a choice we ended up making, isnt that free as long as you make a choice? And yeah, I mean I think youre right that this is broadly sort of neoliberalism reasoning. But its also a way in which it just kind of failed, in which it, over time, the theory that it would lead to more and more freedom is, it seems to me, is sort of beginning to turn back on itself. And thats where we get to I think some of what we were talking about right at the beginning of the conversation. The ways in which freedom and equity got cleaved apart from each other as sort of opposites, as opposed to things that you needed in some rough equilibrium in order for both of them to work strikes me as real wreckage of this era. So I mean, the left doesnt maybe talk enough about freedom. But the equity, at least it sometimes talks about, does strike me as a prerequisite for it, whereas the right talks a lot about a kind of freedom that has very little equity in it. And so it doesnt end up being very much of a real freedom. And thats true in the individual realm as much as it is in the commercial and political ones.

louis menand

I think youre right that one feature of the Cold War era over this 20-year period that I write about is what youre calling the weaponization of culture. I wouldnt quite put it that way. But lets just say, using cultural exports and circulating cultural goods as a way of promoting the ideals of American society and that that was self consciously done. Historians who write about this tend to take a very negative view of that, of using culture as a kind of propaganda. I dont have a problem with it. Its better than bombing people, sending Louis Armstrong over on a goodwill tour. And its healthy to circulate culture. And of course, when you use cultural diplomacy, youre branding the cultural good with your national identity. Thats why you do it. Louis Armstrong is an American jazz musician. Thats why we sent him around the world. And people like the music. So there was a belief that this was a good way to win the hearts and minds of people in other countries by exporting our products. And with exporting them, we were exporting our values as well. I dont see that now as a motivation for cultural distribution. I think it is about money. And there are so many platforms now that lots of different kinds of cultural products can be distributed and consumed on the internet, all kinds of streaming services and social media, and you name it. So theres a lot of opportunity for stuff to get out there, but I dont think any more that we think of it as a form of converting people to liberal democracy. Thats stopped. And people did think that in the 50s and 60s.

ezra klein

The book is so much about this incredibly explosive period in American cultural creation. Do you think right now were in a period that is as rich culturally? Or are we in a more fallow one?

louis menand

I think were in an interesting place because the world of artistic expression has gotten so large. And the barriers to entry have gotten so much lower that theres, I would say, a kind of democratization of art and ideas that didnt exist 50 years ago. More people have access to those media. And they can express their views. We may be sorry about some of those peoples views. But there is an opportunity to do that. So its a little hard to say that things are different in a bad way. Theyre just different. I would say even the same thing is true of criticism. I think criticism is in great shape because people like to consume criticism. The internet is filled with criticism. A lot of it is very learned, educated, interesting, sophisticated criticism of movies, music, whatever  TikTok, whatever is going on. And thats a good thing. The fact that there are very few dominant critics or critical voices is also probably a good thing. So I just think were in a different political and cultural landscape than we were before. I think some things, we could look back on and say, well, things were more interesting then. Maybe things were more unpredictable then. Maybe arguments were sharper, more significant then than they are now. But we have our own things that we argue about today.

ezra klein

I think thats a good place to come to a close. Let me ask you always our final question, which is what are three books that have influenced you that you recommend to the audience?

louis menand

OK, so I do have some books to recommend. One of them is a pretty old book. And its a book I talk about in The Free World is Tristes Tropiques by Claude Levi-Strauss. Claude Levi-Strauss was a French anthropologist who went to Brazil in the 1930s when he was young. He was teaching at the University of Sao Paulo, and he made these field trips into the interior and studied these indigenous peoples. And eventually, he developed whats known as structural anthropology from these studies. So Tristes Tropiques is basically a memoir of his trip to Brazil when he was a young man and then his lessons that he learned there. The reason I recommend it is, A, its just a beautifully written book. Its just a huge pleasure. Ive read it several times. Its really a huge pleasure to read. B, because its interesting. He has kind of a mordant take on his field trip, field work that he did. Its interesting about the peoples he met. Its also an introduction to structural anthropology if youre interested in understanding what that was all about. But the most important thing is that its actually about the Anthropocene. Levi-Strauss is interested in the idea of the human race as a kind of species that will die out inevitably that comes into existence in a certain moment in history and will disappear and that the Earth is kind of this abiding place. So what he has to say about the Anthropocene, about decolonization, about globalization, is 1955, he writes this book. Its still very relevant today. So I recommend it to your listeners. A book thats about the period I write about, but from a different point of view, point of view of political history and European political history, is a book called Postwar by Tony Judt, published in 2005. And its filled with fresh insights. Its amazingly comprehensive. It covers all the European countries. And its a great way to understand where Europe is today, to understand where it came from after 1945. And the big theme of Judts book is central European nations coming to terms with the Holocaust and what we would call kind of national memory. So thats also really, its a great book. And then a book that I happened to read when I was working on Cage that I was infatuated is by Carolyn Brown. And its called Chance and Circumstance, published in 2007. Thats also a memoir. And Carolyn Brown was a dancer with the Merce Cunningham Dance Company. So Merce Cunningham was the partner of John Cage. He was a choreographer and dancer, a great dancer. And he formed his company in 1953 at Black Mountain College in North Carolina. She was one of the original members of the company. She toured with Merce Cunningham, who took company all over the world for 20 years. And this is a memoir thats basically about that community of avant garde figures. Cage, Cunningham, and two painters they were very closely associated with, both of them worked for the Merce Cunningham Dance Company, Robert Rauschenberg and Jasper Johns. I knew very little about dance when I read it. I was starting to work on my chapter on Cage. And I found it really an absorbing memoir, Chance and Circumstance by Carolyn Brown.

ezra klein

Louis Menand, your book is The Free World. Thank you very much.

louis menand

Thank you, Ezra. [MUSIC PLAYING]

ezra klein
Alas, Irans ruling clerics are shrewd survivors. They can guess your might from 100 miles away. And when they concluded that no one would actually dare to try to topple them or destroy their nuclear facilities  no matter how often American or Israeli leaders said that nothing is off the table  these savvy and ruthless clerics found a way to never fully give up their nuclear capacity. The negotiations always came down to the same thing: trying to get the best from Iran that money or covert action could buy.

For all of Trumps tough talk, and even with his assassination of Irans top underground warrior, Qassim Suleimani, Trump had no diplomatic strategy to leverage his maximum pressure campaign into attainable objectives that would improve the Iran nuclear deal or limit Irans regional activities, said Robert Litwak, senior vice president of the Wilson Center and author of Managing Nuclear Risks. He was not ready to use maximum force. So, the Iranians just waited him out.

Im glad for that. I do not support forcing regime change in Tehran from outside. That is a project only the Iranian people have the right and the power to do. Thats why I support all these different ways of getting the best deal money and covert action can buy  but I have no illusions that they will make Iran a good neighbor.

As the saying goes, Problems have solutions, but dilemmas have horns. And managing the struggle with this Iranian regime is to permanently shift back and forth on the horns of a dilemma.

This reality, though, is now causing a quiet but serious rift between the U.S. and Israel. And while the post-Bibi Netanyahu Israeli government will handle it more quietly, it already knows that Joe Biden is a different cat.

Its not only that Biden wont grant Israels new prime minister his every whim the way Trump did Bibi. It is that Biden is tightly focused on securing what he thinks is Americas primary strategic interest in the Middle East  preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon that would force Turkey and all the Arab states to get nukes, thereby blowing up the global nuclear nonproliferation order and making the region a giant threat to global stability.

The Biden team believes that Trumps maximum-pressure campaign did not diminish Irans malign behavior in the region one iota (it will show you the data to prove it). So, Biden wants to at least lock up Irans nuclear program for a while and then try blunting its regional troublemaking in other ways. At the same time, Biden wants to put more focus on nation-building at home and on countering China.
To the Editor:

Re Joe Manchin Has a Point About Voting Reform (Opinion guest essay, June 12):

Christopher Caldwells attack on the For the People Act and other attempts to allow as many citizens as possible access to the ballot boils down to this: The simpler the election, the more it will be trusted; the more complicated an election, the more prone to chicanery and fraud.

He neglects to note that in the last presidential election we had just the kind of apparatus he criticizes: mail-in voting, absentee voting, early voting, late vote counting, curbside voting, drop boxes, harvesting and all the rest. Yet Mr. Trumps director of cybersecurity at the Department of Homeland Security, Christopher Krebs, said the election was the most secure in American history.

This unpleasant fact undermines Mr. Caldwells folderol.

Leslie Epstein

Brookline, Mass.

To the Editor:

Christopher Caldwell writes, Absent a pandemic, there is a coherent case that there should never be absentee or mail-in balloting. Oh, really? Tell that to all those people living in nursing homes or who are shut in and cannot physically get to a polling place. Tell that to the millions of college students who have classes on Tuesdays and simply cannot get home to vote in person. And tell that to all the members of our military who are currently serving overseas to protect our right to vote.

Ann Galler

Garrison, N.Y.

To the Editor:

Republican efforts to pass voting restrictions might make sense if Republicans lost most of their elections in 2020, but in fact they made gains in the House and won eight out of 11 contests for governor. Making voting more accessible and easier for all is the only bipartisan strategy!
The Mr. Bennett I met with over the next three days in Buenos Aires was an engaged leader with a supple, sophisticated mind. The gap between his private and public personas seemed vast and mystifying. My respect for Mr. Bennett the man grew even as my esteem for Mr. Bennett the politician waned. It seemed that something prevented him from sharing his full complexity with the Israeli public.

Mr. Bennett cemented his reputation for extremism with a vicious Knesset campaign in 2015, which included a racist attack ad targeting a left-wing candidate, Yossi Yonah, who is of Iraqi origin. Packed with misleading or fabricated quotes, it depicted Mr. Yonah, a professor of philosophy at Ben Gurion University, as a Hamasnik who viewed the Holocaust and Palestinian suffering as indistinguishable.

Two years later, Mr. Yonah also saw the other side of Mr. Bennett. He sponsored a bill guaranteeing state funding for educational services for homebound sick children as young as 3 and had to meet with Mr. Bennett to ask for government support. He was charming and deep, Mr. Yonah told me last week, noting that Mr. Bennett had publicly apologized to him for the offensive ad. He was interested in my academic work. He asked about my thesis. We discussed Aristotelian philosophy. Mr. Yonah said he doesnt believe that Mr. Bennetts racist stance is genuine.

Over the years, Ive asked many people who know him about the two Naftali Bennetts. Yohanan Plesner, who heads the Israel Democracy Institute and has known Mr. Bennett since their army days, describes him as torn between pleasing his right-wing settler base and his more pragmatic instincts.

Mr. Plesner predicted that as prime minister, Mr. Bennett will act as the pragmatic national leader most Israelis expect him to be.

Israelis may have been able to glimpse some of this pragmatism in his calm demeanor during Sundays raucous session. But his most consequential declaration so far came on May 30, when he announced his alliance with Mr. Lapid to a nation worn down by more than two years without a stable government, four inconclusive elections and a recent bout of war. Thats the day he sealed Mr. Netanyahus fate.

The unity government, Mr. Bennett said, will be not about me but about us. His message reminded me of our encounter in Buenos Aires. However outlandish it may seem to describe him as the man who can bring Israelis together, in unguarded moments he has long described himself as a unifier.
FRONT PAGE

An article on Monday about a meeting between the Group of 7 leaders in England misstated the year of the groups last in-person meeting. It was in France in 2019, not in Canada in 2018.

INTERNATIONAL

An article on Monday about President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey and his countrys membership in NATO rendered incorrectly a remark from Soner Cagaptay of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. He said President Biden knows he may have to choose between Erdogan and democracy, not between Turkey and democracy.

NATIONAL

An article on Sunday about failures at a southeastern Baltimore plant producing doses of the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine misstated the date that the report detailing the problems was published. It was published on Saturday, not Friday.

BUSINESS

An article on Monday about a labor dispute at The New Yorker misidentified a New Yorker writer who attended a meeting to discuss union issues. She is Jane Mayer, not Jane Kramer.
Alex Da Corte planned to become an animator for Disney until he determined that he lacked the chops. Still, he never truly abandoned his youthful dream. It wasnt until I went to school that I thought, Im not a good animator, he told me. I couldnt draw very well. It was a winding road to figure out what telling stories through cartoons might be for me. The spirit of Walt hovers over the Day-Glo hues of Da Cortes installations, the adorability of his Muppet figures and the gentle empathy of his video impersonations of characters as divergent as Fred Rogers and Eminem. He once constructed a sculpture of a rampant viper with scales that were brightly colored artificial fingernails. He has a penchant for transmuting anger and danger into cartoon jokiness. His art soothes.

You can take pain or fear or sadness and turn it into something new, he said in his northeast Philadelphia studio, a vast space flooded with light through industrial casement windows, where he directs half a dozen assistants to craft costumes, props, puppets, masks and whatever else is needed for his videos and sculptures. His attitude of determined optimism made him an inspired choice to construct this years rooftop installation at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which was unveiled in April, soon after the yearlong pandemic lockdown eased up. It was a really sad time and a really sad year, he said. I keep thinking of it as four seasons in hell.
On an early evening this spring, as the city stuttered back to life, a mix of dealers, artists and adjacent types streamed into Cortlandt Alley and up to a new rooftop bar for a party marking the return of Frieze Art Fairs New York edition. Though the fair was 30-something blocks away in Midtown, there was a sense that it was happening here, in TriBeCa, in deference to the neighborhoods compounding centripetal force. Lately, a flush of art galleries, both new enterprises and transplants from elsewhere around the city, have moved in  at first in a trickle and then all at once  and now each announcement of an opening in the neighborhood feels less like speculation than like Manifest Destiny. As with most stories in New York, this shift of the art worlds center of gravity, which for decades has been firmly nestled in far west Chelsea, is mostly about real estate.

In March, Alexander Shulan relocated Lomex, the gallery he opened in 2015 in a top-floor apartment on the Lower East Side, to a floor-through space on Walker Street. When he started the gallery, Shulans idea was not just to make space for his friends, recently out of art school, but to respond to the changing shape of the city, which was fully in its luxury commodity period, its rougher edges being smoothed into glassy condos and fast-casual salad stores. In a turn of sardonic reclamation, he named it after the Lower Manhattan Expressway, Robert Mosess defeated plan to cleave a highway between TriBeCa and SoHo, which would have decimated much of downtown.
An employee at a fire hydrant plant in Alabama opened fire during a shift early on Tuesday, killing two co-workers and wounding two more, the police said.

The gunman, Andreas Deon Horton, 34, left the scene of the shooting at the plant in Albertville, about 80 miles northeast of Birmingham, and was later found in a town nearby, dead of what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to Albertvilles police chief, Jamie Smith.

Its a sad day, Chief Smith said at a news conference Tuesday afternoon.

He identified the people who died as Michael Hobbins and David Lee Horton. The two people who were injured were hospitalized, and their conditions were not immediately known, Chief Smith said. The victims ages were not immediately available.

Chief Smith said he had no knowledge of any ties between the gunman and his victims.

The chief said investigators were trying to determine a motive in what appeared to be an unprovoked shooting. He said that the police knew very little about Mr. Horton, although they had had previous encounters with him that did not involve anything malicious.
Employees at Berkeley Bowl Marketplace, a supermarket known for its aisles of fresh produce, put out a sign on Tuesday informing shoppers that it was OK to enter maskless if they were fully vaccinated.

But the vast majority of people entering the store around midday on Tuesday ignored the option and shopped fully masked, pushing carts past the craft beers, the piles of cherries and the bulk bins of spices and loose tea.

This is Berkeley, said Mitch Capor, a retired probation officer who was loading his groceries into the trunk of his car, a surgical mask tightly fitted over his mouth and nose. Its going to take a little time for people to relax and take off their masks.

The San Francisco Bay Area, the first part of the country to order residents to stay home when the coronavirus began spreading out of control last year, has been among the most diligent in complying with mask orders. Bay Area residents have generally covered up even when outdoors, whether it was hiking on trails in the hills above the Pacific Ocean or chatting with a neighbor outside a suburban house.
Within 20 minutes of opening, Portal, a popular brunch spot in Oakland, Calif., had already seated eight tables  not bad for a Tuesday afternoon, and exactly what the owner, Kevyn Johnston, said Portal needed.

As California lifted most of its pandemic-related restrictions for restaurants and other businesses on Tuesday, Portal was one of many restaurants expecting to get robust traffic.

What were looking for at this point is to dig ourselves out of the hole, Mr. Johnston said. We dont expect the business to bring us back to prepandemic anytime soon.

Mr. Johnston said Tuesdays early turnout at the restaurant was already at least 40 percent better than a typical day over the past year, and he hoped the trend would continue for the rest of the day at his restaurant, where a 90-minute wait for a table used to be common on weekends.
The Girl Scouts are struggling to sell a heaping pile of extra cookies: 15 million boxes of them, to be exact.

Troops with armfuls of cookies used to be a fixture outside grocery stores and on peoples doorsteps. But this year, those cookies are stuck in warehouses after Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. was confronted with two major obstacles during the pandemic: membership has declined, and the scouts had to abandon their usual in-person selling methods.

Those problems left the national organization with millions of extra Thin Mints, Samoas and other signature treats. Around 12 million of the 15 million surplus cookies never left the bakery warehouses in Kentucky and Indiana, the Girl Scouts said in a statement on Tuesday.

Given that a majority of cookies are sold in person by girls at booths or other face-to-face methods, a decrease in sales was to be expected, Kelly Parisi, a Girl Scouts spokeswoman, said in the statement.
With crowds at the Disneyland entrance, traffic jams on the Los Angeles freeways and triple-digit heat from Sacramento to the San Fernando Valley, Californias governor celebrated the reopening of the states economy on Tuesday, raffling off 10 prizes of $1.5 million each to people who had been vaccinated against Covid-19.

We are here today, June 15, to turn the page, said Gov. Gavin Newsom, hosting the event from Universal Studios Hollywood with an assortment of Minions from the Despicable Me movie franchise and the Transformers robot hero Optimus Prime.

Speaking without a face covering, the governor said it was time to move beyond capacity limits, to move beyond these color codings, move beyond social distancing and physical distancing, and  yes, as you saw me walk up to the stage  to move beyond mask coverings.

The nations most populous state officially ended most of its coronavirus health restrictions just after midnight, lifting gathering limits on bars and restaurants, and largely dropping face-mask requirements for vaccinated people.
The lifeguards in Orange County, Calif., brought the injured brown pelicans to the veterinarian one at a time, the birds large wings mutilated, their bones twisted and fractured.

Debbie Wayns and her colleagues at the Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center, a nonprofit organization that works with injured wildlife, examined the birds and came to a conclusion about a likely cause: Someone had done it deliberately.

It was just wrong on every level, said Mrs. Wayns, the centers operations manager. There was no question that a person or persons did this.

Since March, more than 30 pelicans have been attacked and injured along Orange Countys coastline, according to the Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center. The attacks have spurred an investigation by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, which is working with the local authorities to find the person or people responsible, Mrs. Wayns said.
Biden Names Ambassadors for Mexico and Israel The president made the appointments in Europe, where he is trying to show global leaders that America is back at the table. The Senate approved making Juneteenth a federal holiday, sending the measure to the House. Follow the latest politics news.

Biden names his picks for ambassador to Mexico and Israel. Ken Salazar, who served as interior secretary in the Obama administration, was nominated by President Biden to be ambassador to Mexico. Credit... David Zalubowski/Associated Press President Biden on Tuesday announced his long-awaited first slate of ambassadors, including his nominees for key posts in Mexico and Israel, as he made his first trip abroad since taking office. As was expected, Mr. Biden announced he was nominating Ken Salazar, a former senator of Colorado who served as secretary of the Interior Department in the Obama administration, as ambassador to Mexico, and Thomas R. Nides, a vice chairman at Morgan Stanley who served as a deputy secretary of state under President Barack Obama, as ambassador to Israel. The official announcements of the long-rumored nominations came as Mr. Biden traveled to Europe with the goal of demonstrating to global leaders that America is back at the table. Mr. Nidess nomination also came just days after a new government took power in Israel, opening up the possibility of a less contentious relationship with the Biden administration. Middle East experts praised the selection of Mr. Nides. He has the relationships to quickly get access to the very top of the administration at the White House and the State Department, said Ilan Goldenberg, a former Obama administration official who is now director of the Middle East Security program at the Center for a New American Security. Tuesdays announcement was expected to be the first batch of a multiweek rollout of nominees. Some of Mr. Bidens selections for the most significant posts abroad  including R. Nicholas Burns, a veteran Foreign Service officer and a former ambassador to NATO, to serve as ambassador to China, and Mayor Eric Garcetti of Los Angeles to serve as ambassador to India  were not announced on Tuesday, even though several people familiar with the process said their nominations had been finalized internally.

A bill to make Juneteenth a federal holiday clears the Senate. A 5,000-square-foot mural seen on the facade of a building in Galveston, Texas, on the spot where Gordon Granger, a Union general, brought news of emancipation to the states enslaved Black people in 1865. Credit... Montinique Monroe for The New York Times The Senate on Tuesday passed a bill to recognize Juneteenth, which commemorates the emancipation of slaves in the United States, as a federal holiday. Many states have recognized Juneteenth for decades, but only some observe it as an official holiday. The holiday is already celebrated in 47 states and the District of Columbia. In the wake of protests against police brutality last year, dozens of companies moved to give employees the day off for Juneteenth, and the push for federal recognition of the day as a paid holiday gained new momentum. I just put a bill on the floor of the Senate from @SenMarkey and @SenTinaSmith to make #Juneteenth a federal holiday.



It passed the Senate!



Next up: It should pass the House. Then to President Bidens desk for signature.  Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) June 15, 2021 The day, which is also known as Emancipation Day, recalls June 19, 1865, when Gordon Granger, a Union general, arrived in Galveston, Texas, to inform enslaved African-Americans that the Civil War had ended and that they had been freed under the Emancipation Proclamation, which had been signed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863. The proclamation ended slavery only in states that had seceded; an end to slavery in the entire country waited until December 1865, when the 13th Amendment was adopted into the Constitution. Texas was the first state to observe Juneteenth as an official holiday, starting in 1980. BREAKING: The Senate just unanimously passed #S475 to establish Juneteenth National Independence Day (June 19) as a legal public holiday.



Juneteenth is one step closer to becoming a federal holiday.  The Leadership Conference (@civilrightsorg) June 15, 2021 The latest effort to commemorate the day as a federal holiday came through a bill which the Senate passed unanimously on Tuesday. It heads to the House next. If it becomes law, it would be the 11th national holiday recognized annually by the federal government.

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A federal judge blocks Bidens suspension of new leases for drilling on public lands. The Biden administration suspended oil and gas leases in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge on June 1. Credit... U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, via Associated Press A federal judge in Louisiana has blocked the Biden administrations suspension of new oil and gas leases on federal lands and waters, in the first major legal roadblock for President Bidens quest to cut fossil fuel pollution and conserve public lands. Judge Terry A. Doughty of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana granted an injunction on Tuesday against the administration, pending the outcome of a separate legal challenge led by Jeff Landry, the Republican attorney general of Louisiana. Mr. Landry and attorneys general from 12 other states, all Republicans, sued to lift a White House executive order issued in January that temporarily halted new oil and gas leases on federal lands and waters. Mr. Biden, who has made climate action central to his agenda, signed the order during his first week in office, a controversial act that he said would provide time to review leasing. Judge Doughty ruled that Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and her agency are hereby enjoined and restrained from implementing the pause of new oil and natural gas leases on public lands or in offshore waters until the states legal case against the administration is decided. He wrote that the pause on new leasing should end nationwide and noted that such sweeping preliminary injunctions against federal actions were exceedingly rare. But he concluded that the 13 states had demonstrated that their economies could be irreparably harmed by the pause on drilling. The 13 states have argued that the pause was illegal because it was issued without a formal public comment period. Joining Louisiana were Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia.

Biden taps Chesley Sullenberger to serve as aviation ambassador. Chesley Sullenberger III, who safely landed a stricken plane in the Hudson River in 2009, is President Bidens nominee as ambassador to the United Nations Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization. Credit... Andrew Harnik/Associated Press Chesley B. Sullenberger III gained fame in 2009 as Sully, the pilot whose nimble maneuvers safely landed a malfunctioning plane in the Hudson River. On Tuesday, President Biden, in a likely nod to Mr. Sullenbergers past, selected him as his nominee for ambassador to the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization, a United Nations agency governed by 36 member states that develop policies and standards for global aviation. (An earlier version incorrectly conflated the membership of the organization and the council, a smaller group of members that makes the policies.) Mr. Sullenberger was one of nine ambassador nominees Mr. Biden announced on Tuesday. On Jan. 15, 2009, after his USAirways jetliner smacked into a flock of geese and lost power in both engines, Mr. Sullenberger deftly avoided densely populated areas, calmly warned passengers to brace themselves, and glided into the Hudson. All 155 aboard survived. Witnesses and officials at the time were incredulous. Weve had a miracle on 34th Street, Gov. David A. Paterson of New York said at a news conference afterward. I believe now weve had a miracle on the Hudson. The landing inspired the 2016 movie Sully, directed by Clint Eastwood, and featuring Tom Hanks as the pilot. Last September, Mr. Sullenberger urged people to vote against President Donald J. Trump, in an advertisement paid for by the Lincoln Project, an anti-Trump group created dissident Republican consultants. From my service as an Air Force officer and a fighter pilot, I knew that serving a cause greater than oneself is the highest calling, Mr. Sullenberger said. And its in that highest calling of leadership that Donald Trump has failed us so miserably.

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House lawmakers question top security officials about the failure to stop the Jan. 6 riot. Supporters of President Donald J. Trump were met with teargas outside the Capitol on Jan. 6. Credit... Kenny Holston for The New York Times The F.B.I. is pursuing potentially hundreds more suspects in the Capitol riot, the agencys director told Congress on Tuesday, calling the effort to find those responsible for the deadly assault one of the most far-reaching and extensive investigations in the bureaus history. Weve already arrested close to 500, and we have hundreds of investigations that are still ongoing beyond those 500, Christopher A. Wray, the F.B.I. director, told the House Oversight Committee. His assurances of how seriously the agency was taking the attack by a pro-Trump mob came as lawmakers pressed him and military commanders on why they did not do more to prevent the siege despite threats from extremists to commit violence. The threats, I would say, were everywhere, said Representative Carolyn B. Maloney, a New York Democrat who is the chairwoman of the Oversight Committee. The system was blinking red. Ms. Maloney confronted Mr. Wray with messages from the social media site Parler, which she said referred threats of violence to the F.B.I. more than 50 times before the attack on Jan. 6. One message, which Ms. Maloney said Parler had sent to an F.B.I. liaison on Jan. 2, was from a poster who warned, Dont be surprised if we take the Capitol building, and Trump needs us to cause chaos to enact the Insurrection Act. I do not recall hearing about this particular email, Mr. Wray replied. Im not aware of Parler ever trying to contact my office. In hearings before two congressional committees on Tuesday, lawmakers sought new information about the security failures that helped lead to the violence. At one hearing, Ms. Maloney presented her committees research into the delayed response of the National Guard, which showed that the Capitol Police and Washington officials made 12 urgent requests for their support and that Army leaders told the National Guard to stand by five times as the violence escalated. That response took far too long, Ms. Maloney said. This is a shocking failure. Emily Cochrane contributed reporting.

Confrontation, but not lunch, is on the menu of Wednesdays Biden-Putin meeting in Geneva. President Biden arriving in Geneva, where he will meet with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia on Wednesday. Credit... Doug Mills/The New York Times President Bidens meeting on Wednesday with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia is tightly choreographed, with no planned breaking of bread  underscoring a sharp departure from the chummy, unscripted, unsupervised interactions between Mr. Putin and President Donald J. Trump. One of the main topics of the meeting in Geneva is the future of the New Start treaty, which limits the United States and Russia to 1,550 deployed nuclear missiles each, according to a senior administration official who briefed reporters on the flight from Brussels. Mr. Biden plans to confront Mr. Putin, whom he has referred to as a killer, about recent ransomware attacks on U.S. companies and government agencies, and he will demand that Moscow stop harboring criminal hacking groups operating on Russian soil. He will also outline responses if state-directed or private hacks emanating from Russia continue, the official said. Mr. Biden is also likely to raise the issue of the detention of Aleksei A. Navalny, the ailing opposition leader. Nothing is off the table, said the official, who cautioned that the White House was not expecting a big set of deliverables from the meeting. No meals are planned, so there will be no breaking of bread, the official said. Mr. Bidens detailed itinerary  or even the existence of a detailed public schedule at all  is a contrast from Mr. Trumps unscripted conversations with Mr. Putin, which included a lengthy chat with the Russian leader in Hamburg in 2017, which was not disclosed until after the fact. On Monday, Mr. Biden set a sober tone for the meeting, warning Mr. Putin that the death of Mr. Navalny, one of the Russian presidents most outspoken opponents, would hobble Russias already strained relationships with world leaders. Navalnys death would be another indication that Russia has little or no intention of abiding by basic fundamental human rights, Mr. Biden said at a news conference following the NATO summit. It would be a tragedy, he added. It would do nothing but hurt his relationships with the rest of the world, in my view, and with me.

Cyberweapons are the new nukes at international summits. People walk under Russian and American flags on a bridge in Geneva prior to a meeting between U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Tuesday. Credit... Sean Gallup/Getty Images For 70 years, meetings between American presidents and Soviet or Russian leaders were dominated by one looming threat: the vast nuclear arsenals that the two nations started amassing in the 1940s, as instruments of intimidation and, if deterrence failed, mutual annihilation. Now, as President Biden prepares to meet with President Vladimir V. Putin in Geneva on Wednesday, for the first time cyberweapons are being elevated to the top of the agenda. The shift has been brewing for a decade, as Russia and the United States, the two most skilled adversaries in the cyberarena, have each turned to a growing arsenal of techniques in what has become a daily, low-level conflict. But at summits, that sort of jousting was usually treated as a sideshow to the main superpower competition. No more. The rising tempo and sophistication of recent attacks on U.S. infrastructure  from petroleum pipelines running up the East Coast, to plants providing a quarter of Americas beef, to the operations of hospitals and the internet itself  has revealed a set of vulnerabilities no president can ignore. Aides to Mr. Biden say he and Mr. Putin will spend a good amount of time debating strategic stability, shorthand for containing nuclear escalation. But the more immediate task, Mr. Biden told his allies at a Group of 7 summit in Cornwall, England, last week and a NATO meeting in Brussels, is to convince Mr. Putin he will pay a high price for playing the master of digital disruption. It will not be easy. If a decade of intensifying cyberconflict has taught anything, it is that the traditional tools of deterrence have largely failed. Mr. Biden has made clear that he intends to give Mr. Putin a choice: Cease the attacks, and crack down on the cybercriminals operating from Russian territory, or face a rising set of economic costs and what Mr. Biden calls a set of moves by the United States to respond in kind. But on Sunday, while still at the Group of 7 summit in Cornwall, he acknowledged that Mr. Putin may well ignore him.

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The White House will host a large July 4 event, marking Bidens promise of a return to normalcy. The White House on the Fourth of July last year. Credit... Pete Marovich for The New York Times The White House will host a 1,000-person gathering on the South Lawn on the Fourth of July, a celebratory display meant to signal that President Biden delivered on a promise that Americans could expect to return to some semblance of normal life by the holiday. Essential workers and military families will be invited to participate in the South Lawn event, and administration officials have encouraged local leaders to hold their own celebrations: America is headed into a summer dramatically different from last year. A summer of freedom. A summer of joy. A summer of reunions and celebrations, an email circulated to local leaders by the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs said. The National Parks Service announced that visitors are encouraged to attend a holiday fireworks display on the National Mall and that all nearby monuments will be open. (Last year, attendees were advised to stay socially distanced and to avoid traveling into the capital.) Mayor Muriel Bowser of Washington also issued a statement that D.C. is open and ready to welcome back visitors for the holiday. We thank President Biden and his team for acting with urgency to get the vaccine to the American people so that we could save lives, get our country open, and celebrate together once again, Ms. Bowser said. The large celebration goes well beyond the scope of what Mr. Biden had promised three months ago. In a televised address in March to mark the anniversary of the World Health Organization declaring the spread of the coronavirus a pandemic, Mr. Biden said the country could expect to celebrate with friends and family on the Fourth of July, as long as they took the chance to get vaccinated and did not prematurely abandon mask wearing, social distancing and other measures to contain the virus. July 4th with your loved ones is the goal, he said. This is not the time to let up. The modest expectations Mr. Biden laid out in his speech have given way to the largest planned event of his presidency, one designed to emphasize the speed with which the Biden administration has gotten shots in arms. Still, with a recent slowdown in vaccination rates, particularly in Southern states, Biden may not reach his goal of 70 percent of Americans vaccinated by July 4. If the pace of adult vaccination continues on the seven-day average, the nation will come in just shy of Mr. Bidens target, with roughly 67 percent of adults partly vaccinated by July 4, according to a New York Times analysis. In recent days, administration officials have subtly started to shift their responses when asked if that goal will still be met. Theres no question its a bold and ambitious goal, Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary told reporters last week. Regardless of where we are on July 4th, were not shutting down shop. On July 5th, were going to continue to press to vaccinate more people across the country. Still, Mr. Biden has acknowledged the tremendous loss that Americans had endured during the pandemic, as the United States neared 600,000 virus deaths. I know that black hole that seems to consume you, that fills up your chest when you lose someone thats close to you, that you adored, he said Monday in Brussels. He continued: Please get vaccinated as soon as possible. Weve had enough pain. Lazaro Gamio and Daniel E. Slotnik contributed reporting.

Lina Khan, a critic of Big Tech newly confirmed to the F.T.C., is expected to be named the agencys chair. Lina Khan, 32, was confirmed to a seat on the Federal Trade Commission on Tuesday, and is expected to be named as its chairwoman. Credit... Pool photo by Graeme Jennings President Biden has named Lina Khan, a prominent critic of Big Tech, as the chairwoman of the Federal Trade Commission, according to two people with knowledge of the decision, a move that signals that the agency is likely to crack down further on the industrys giants. Ms. Khan did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Earlier in the day, the Senate voted 69 to 28 to confirm Ms. Khan to a seat at the commission, which investigates antitrust violations, deceptive trade practices and data privacy lapses in Silicon Valley. Mr. Bidens decision caps an unusually rapid ascent for Ms. Khan, 32. She graduated from Yales law school in 2017 and was the first full-time hire at a think tank program that became the Open Markets Institute, a group of writers and researchers that helped elevate concerns about corporate consolidation into a mainstream issue in Washington. In her new role at the F.T.C., Ms. Khan will lead efforts to regulate the kind of behavior highlighted for years by critics of Amazon, Facebook, Google and Apple. She told a Senate committee in April that she was worried about the way tech companies could use their power to dominate new markets. She first attracted notice as a critic of Amazon. The F.T.C. is investigating the retail giant, and filed an antitrust lawsuit against Facebook last year.

The Pentagon is considering sending scores of troops back to Somalia. Many of the buildings in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, still show scars from the countrys 1990s civil war. Credit... Tyler Hicks/The New York Times The Pentagon is developing a proposal to send dozens of Special Forces trainers back to Somalia to help local forces combat Al Shabab, the terrorist group affiliated with Al Qaeda  a step that would partly reverse President Donald J. Trumps abrupt pullout of nearly all 700 American troops from the country in January. Mr. Trumps order to withdraw ground forces from Somalia underscored his desire to end long-running military engagements against Islamist insurgencies in dysfunctional states in Africa and the Middle East, a grinding mission of low-intensity warfare that has spread since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. The desire by some military policymakers to return to Somalia offers a glimpse into the challenges the Pentagon could face in advising Afghan forces from a distance after carrying out President Bidens order to withdraw the last 3,500 American troops from Afghanistan, especially if the Taliban then make serious gains there. John F. Kirby, the Pentagon spokesman, declined to comment on the Somalia proposal. The proposal has not yet been presented to Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III, officials said, and it is not clear whether Mr. Biden will approve such a plan. President Bidens administration placed new limits on such strikes when he took office on Jan. 20, to allow time to develop a permanent policy. A confluence of events in Somalia, including political infighting among factions and the withdrawal of most American troops, has emboldened Al Shabab in the past several months and worsened what tenuous security existed in many parts of the country, senior American officials said. In the latest attack, at least 10 people were killed and 20 injured on Tuesday when a suicide bomber struck a military camp in Mogadishu, partly run by Turkey, where dozens of young recruits had gathered. Eric Schmitt and

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The U.S. and the E.U. end a long dispute over subsidies to aircraft companies. President Biden at a news conference at the Group of 7 summit in Cornwall, England, on Sunday. Credit... Doug Mills/The New York Times President Biden on Tuesday announced the end of a bitter, 17-year dispute with the European Union over aircraft subsidies for Boeing and Airbus, suspending the threat of billions of dollars in punitive tariffs on each others economies for five years and shifting their focus to Chinas growing ambitions in the aircraft industry. The breakthrough came as Mr. Biden met top European leaders in a U.S.-E.U. summit meeting. European officials said that two days of negotiations in Brussels between Katherine Tai, the U.S. trade representative, and Valdis Dombrovskis, the E.U. trade commissioner, had finally produced an agreement that member countries approved overnight. After the meeting, Mr. Biden flew to Geneva, where he will meet President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia on Wednesday. Mr. Biden will be able to present himself there as the leader of the Western democracies, having first been to summit meetings of the Group of 7, NATO and now the European Union, where he has consulted extensively with allies. At these meetings, he said, Ive been making the case that the U.S. and Europe  and democracies everywhere  are stronger when we work together to advance our shared values like fair competition and transparency, Mr. Biden said in a statement. Todays announcement demonstrates exactly how that can work in practice. The agreement comes at a critical moment for both companies, which are struggling to overcome a slowdown caused by the pandemic. Both sides had already begun unwinding the subsidies, with Washington repealing a state tax break for Boeing last year, while Airbus had said that it would increase repayments of low-cost loans it received from multiple E.U. countries. Steven Erlanger and

Trump pushed the Justice Department to investigate his false claims of voter fraud. Then Attorney General William P. Barr with Mr. Trump on September 1st, 2020. Credit... Anna Moneymaker for The New York Times An hour before President Donald J. Trump announced in December that William P. Barr would step down as attorney general, the president began pressuring Mr. Barrs eventual replacement to have the Justice Department take up his false claims of election fraud. Mr. Trump sent an email via his assistant to Jeffrey A. Rosen, the incoming acting attorney general, that contained documents purporting to show evidence of election fraud in northern Michigan  the same claims that a federal judge had thrown out a week earlier in a lawsuit filed by one of Mr. Trumps personal lawyers. Another email from Mr. Trump to Mr. Rosen followed two weeks later, again via the presidents assistant, that included a draft of a brief that Mr. Trump wanted the Justice Department to file to the Supreme Court. It argued, among other things, that state officials had used the pandemic to weaken election security and pave the way for widespread election fraud. The draft echoed claims in a lawsuit in Texas by the Trump-allied state attorney general that the justices had thrown out, and a lawyer who had helped on that effort later tried with increasing urgency to track down Mr. Rosen at the Justice Department, saying he had been dispatched by Mr. Trump to speak with him. The emails, turned over by the Justice Department to investigators on the House Oversight Committee and obtained by The New York Times, show how Mr. Trump pressured Mr. Rosen to put the power of the Justice Department behind lawsuits that had already failed to try to prove his false claims that extensive voter fraud had affected the election results. They are also the latest example of Mr. Trumps frenzied drive to subvert the election results in the final weeks of his presidency, including ratcheting up pressure on the Justice Department. And they show that Mr. Trump flouted an established anticorruption norm that the Justice Department act independently of the White House on criminal investigations or law enforcement actions, a gap that steadily eroded during Mr. Trumps term. The documents dovetail with emails around the same time from Mark Meadows, Mr. Trumps chief of staff, asking Mr. Rosen to examine unfounded conspiracy theories about the election, including one that claimed people associated with an Italian defense contractor were able to use satellite technology to tamper with U.S. voting equipment from Europe.

Republicans call Biden soft on Russia, leaving out Trumps defense of Putin. Former President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin walked together at the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan, in 2019. Credit... Susan Walsh/Associated Press Ahead of President Bidens summit on Wednesday with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia in an 18th-century villa, Republicans in Congress and conservative media outlets like Fox News have coalesced around a succinct line of attack: Mr. Biden is weak when it comes to dealing with the Russian leader. Some of Mr. Bidens most prominent critics, however, neglect to mention their backing of President Donald J. Trump as he spent four years seeking to befriend Mr. Putin, dismissing Russias aggressive behavior and complaining that a Deep State and other Washington actors were preventing him from striking deals with Moscow. On Tuesday, shortly before Mr. Biden departed on Air Force One from Brussels for Geneva, where he will meet with Mr. Putin for the first time in more than a decade, the website of Fox News published an opinion essay by Mike Pompeo, who served as secretary of state under Mr. Trump, arguing that Mr. Biden shows up with a self-dealt weak hand. The idea that Mr. Biden is no match for the Russian has been a regular theme on the networks programming in recent weeks. On his prime-time program Monday night, the Fox host Sean Hannity declared that Mr. Putin will see firsthand how weak Joe is, adding that Putin loves a weak America and a weak American president. During the Trump years, both men  along with many other prominent conservatives  to varying degrees defended or excused Mr. Trumps approach to Mr. Putin, whom U.S. intelligence concluded had ordered a campaign to interfere in the 2016 American election. We are the toughest administration ever on Russia, Mr. Pompeo insisted during Senate testimony last July, citing sanctions that were imposed on Moscow, often with Mr. Trumps grudging approval at best. In recent weeks, many other Republicans, not all of whom defended Mr. Trumps approach, have charged that Mr. Biden has been soft on Russia. Many have cited Mr. Bidens decision last month to waive Congressional sanctions on the Russian company behind the Nord Stream 2 oil and gas pipeline and the companys German chief executive. Opponents of the pipeline say that it gives Mr. Putin needed new revenues and dangerous control over Europes energy supplies. Mr. Biden had opposed the pipeline, but in the end gave in to the arguments of supporters, including Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, who contend that the risks are overblown. The pipeline, mostly built during the Trump era, was about 95 percent complete by the time Mr. Biden took office, and it was unclear whether he could have stopped it even if he tried. In explaining his decision, Mr. Biden said that imposing the sanctions would be counterproductive in terms of our European relations. Were rewarding Putin with a summit? Instead of treating Putin like a gangster who fears his own people, were giving him his treasured Nord Stream 2 pipeline and legitimizing his actions with a summit, Senator Ben Sasse, Republican of Nebraska, said in a May 25 statement. Mr. Sasse was a harsh critic of Mr. Trump. But his critique reflected wide sentiment within the Republican Party and among allies of Mr. Trump. Biden is weak. Putin knows it, Senator Tom Cotton, Republican of Arkansas, tweeted on June 2. The White House rejects the notion that the meeting with Mr. Putin amounts to a concession, and privately officials say the problem with Mr. Trumps meetings with the Russian leader was not that they took place but what they said was Mr. Trumps obsequious approach. In a briefing this month, the White House press secretary, Jen Psaki, said that Mr. Biden is never one to hold back on areas where he has concern, areas where he feels the actions of the Russian government or Russian leadership are hurting the United States. And he certainly has no intention of holding back during this meeting, publicly or privately.

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Manchin stays away from a lunch at which Texas lawmakers urge Senate Democrats to pass a broad voting rights bill. Senator Joe Manchin III, above right, skipped a lunch on Tuesday during which Texas Democrats described their fight to ward off a state bill that would restrict voting. Credit... Stefani Reynolds for The New York Times Tuesdays Senate Democratic lunch was supposed to be a homecoming of sorts  but an uncomfortable one for Senator Joe Manchin III of West Virginia. He didnt show up. For the first time in a year, Senate Democrats  newly freed from pandemic precautions that prevented their weekly lunch for more than a year  convened in the ornate room in the Capitol named after a former majority leader, Mike Mansfield, just off the Senate floor, to hash out the issues facing the caucus. Front and center was the escalating pressure from Democrats nationwide to push forward with a far-reaching congressional voting-rights bill to counter restrictive ballot access laws that are streaming through Republican-held state capitals. Mr. Manchin, as the only Democrat in the Senate who has refused to sign on to the bill, was supposed to be in the hot seat. His absence suggested that he was sticking by his opposition. As part of a series of meetings designed to rally support for the legislation, Senate leaders had brought in Democratic members of the Texas Legislature to make the case for why the bill, known as the For the People Act, is urgently needed. The Texans managed to stave off passage of a state voter restriction bill last month with a dramatic late-night walkout, but that stunt cannot stave off the bills eventual passage if the Republican majority in Austin remains united. Many Democrats argue that only the enactment of superseding federal legislation mandating extended voting hours and mail-in balloting, as the partys bill would do, could accomplish that. Texas Democrats pleaded for the federal cavalry to ride in. We heard really moving testimony from five Texas state lawmakers about the vicious, nasty and bigoted attacks aimed at voting rights in their state, Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the majority leader, said afterward. These Texas Democrats bravely fought against voter suppression. They briefed our senators on whats happening in their state and why passing legislation is so important. The Texans were largely preaching to the converted. Forty-nine Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents have signed on as co-sponsors of the measure, also known as S1. The bill, which also covers presidential ethics and campaign finance, is slated to face a test vote in the Senate later this month. The 50th vote is the problem; Mr. Manchin has said in no uncertain terms that he will not vote for the bill, nor will he vote to end the legislative filibuster in the Senate, an equally necessary step, since Democrats have no hope of getting enough Republican support to come up with the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster. Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader, said no senator from his party would vote for what they see as a power grab by Democrats to seize control of election laws from the states. The core desire they have is to federalize all elections, to try to achieve a benefit for the Democrats, at the expense of the Republicans, he said. Some senators on the Democratic side have expressed qualms at the bills scope. Senator Angus King of Maine, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, said he had issues with the breadth of the bill, and would favor jettisoning some parts of it, especially a provision that would begin taxpayer financing of elections. But Democrats say first things first, and the first step is to try to get Mr. Manchin to co-sponsor the bill and present at least the veneer of a united Democratic front.

The F.B.I. warns that some QAnon believers could turn to violence as predictions fail to bear fruit. A QAnon flag in the crowd along the National Mall on July 4, 2019. The conspiracy theory has grown in popularity. Credit... Samuel Corum for The New York Times The F.B.I. said this month that QAnon adherents could turn to violence as some of the conspiracy theorys major predictions, including that Democrats would be subject to mass arrest and detention, have not come to pass. The conspiracy theory holds that a corrupt cabal of global elites and career government employees who run a Satan-worshiping, child sex-trafficking ring will soon be rounded up and punished for their misdeeds; and that former President Donald J. Trump will be restored to the presidency. QAnon has grown online, with believers watching message boards for new information and directives from Q, an anonymous figure who posts predictions and tells adherents to trust the plan. But the arrests have not happened and Mr. Trump did not return to the White House as predicted this spring, sowing doubts among some believers whose once decentralized community is now a large, real-world and global movement. The F.B.I. said in a June 4 threat assessment that as people increasingly believe that they can no longer trust the plan, they could be compelled to shift towards engaging in real-world violence  including harming perceived members of the cabal such as Democrats and other political opposition  instead of continually awaiting Qs promised actions which have not occurred. The two-page bulletin was compiled by the F.B.I. and the Department of Homeland Security, and was earlier reported by The Associated Press. It said that other QAnon adherents may disengage from the movement or reduce their involvement now that several long-promised QAnon predictions had failed to materialize. And it said that major tech companies also helped people to disengage from the movement after they began to remove QAnon content. The F.B.I. detailed instances when QAnon believers have turned to violence, noting that it had arrested more than 20 self-identified QAnon adherents who participated in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. A popular belief within QAnon was that the election had been stolen from Mr. Trump and that true patriots would fight to keep him in office. The F.B.I. emphasized that believing in QAnon or consuming materials related to the conspiracy theory was activity protected by the First Amendment, and that the conspiracy theory falls under the purview of law enforcement only when adherents engage in violent or other illegal activity. But the F.B.I. also said that the fact that some of the domestic violent extremists who participated in the Jan. 6 attack identified as QAnon adherents underscores how the current environment likely will continue to act as a catalyst for some to begin accepting the legitimacy of violent action.

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The Biden administration, the G.A.O. found, has shown that the use of funds is delayed in order to perform environmental reviews and consult with various stakeholders, as required by law, and determine project funding needs in light of changes that warrant using funds differently than initially planned.

Delaying the wall funding was permissible because of the time required to meet applicable statutory requirements and develop plans for the use of the funds that consider current circumstances, the G.A.O. said in its decision.

Last week, the administration announced that $2.2 billion in funds for the wall would be redirected to the Defense Department for military construction projects. And Mr. Biden did not ask for any funding for wall construction in his 2022 budget request.

Republicans have pointed to the record numbers of migrants who have been arriving at the southern border in the spring as a crisis of Mr. Bidens own making  in part because he stopped construction of the border wall.

G.A.O.s decision today makes clear that there are two sets of rules when it comes to executing funds appropriated by Congress: one for Democrat administrations and one for Republican administrations, Ms. Capito said in a statement with Senator Richard Shelby, Republican of Alabama, on Tuesday.
Vice President Kamala Harris threw a private dinner party at the Naval Observatory on Tuesday night for the 16 Democratic and eight Republican women serving as U.S. senators, a gathering that came at a tense moment in negotiations on a number of the Biden administrations biggest ambitions.

The bipartisan dinner was the first social event Ms. Harris had hosted since coming into office five months ago  her move to the official vice-presidential residence was delayed for three months because of renovations  and the outreach to her former Senate colleagues came as Ms. Harris has taken the lead on the administrations push to pass voting rights legislation.

All 24 women in the Senate were invited, according to an administration official. All but three  Cindy Hyde-Smith, Republican of Mississippi; Cynthia Lummis, Republican of Wyoming; and Kyrsten Sinema, Democrat of Arizona  attended.

Photos posted online after the event by Senator Debbie Stabenow, Democrat of Michigan, showed about 20 of the senators seated together.
Al Shabab has had more freedom to maneuver, Maj. Gen. Dagvin R.M. Anderson, who commands American Special Operations forces in Africa, said in an interview. In recent Senate testimony, General Anderson called Al Shabab the largest, wealthiest and most violent Al Qaeda-associated group in the world.

Proponents of stepping up counterterrorism activities in Somalia say it is important for the United States to continue strikes on militants and to help train government forces to prevent their territory from becoming a haven for planning terrorist attacks. But some analysts expressed pessimism about what could be accomplished there, citing Somalias deep-seated political, economic and security problems.

Absent a more comprehensive overhaul to the U.S. approach, neither military trainers nor drone strikes will be sufficient to change the trajectory of the conflict, which weighs heavily in Al Shababs favor, said Tricia Bacon, a Somalia specialist at American University in Washington and a former counterterrorism analyst for the State Department.

Unfortunately, there is no military solution to the conflict, she said.

Under the Trump-era rules, the United States carried out 52 drone strikes in Somalia in 2020 and 63 the year before, almost all against Al Shabab with a handful of attacks against the Islamic State in Somalia. The military conducted six more strikes in the final days of the Trump administration, but it has not carried out any since Mr. Biden became president.

When the Biden administration imposed the new limits on such strikes, it initially envisioned devising a new set of rules for drone strikes as part of a 60-day review of counterterrorism policy. The talks have now extended for almost five months.

The delays have been driven by a number of factors, including uncertainty about how far away drones that can carry out strikes in Afghanistan will be based  where the new rules will also apply after American ground forces pull out  and competing priorities for the use of surveillance craft used to watch who is coming and going from a strike zone.

Policymakers are wrestling with questions like whether to tighten a requirement of near certainty that no civilians will be killed so that it always protects adult men, not just women and children. They are also considering whether a newly appointed leader of an Islamist militant group can be targeted based on his position alone and without knowing much else about that person, or whether more should be learned about his actions and intentions first.
Ahead of President Bidens summit on Wednesday with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia in an 18th-century villa, Republicans in Congress and conservative media outlets like Fox News have coalesced around a succinct line of attack: Mr. Biden is weak when it comes to dealing with the Russian leader.

Some of Mr. Bidens most prominent critics, however, neglect to mention their backing of President Donald J. Trump as he spent four years seeking to befriend Mr. Putin, dismissing Russias aggressive behavior and complaining that a Deep State and other Washington actors were preventing him from striking deals with Moscow.

On Tuesday, shortly before Mr. Biden departed on Air Force One from Brussels for Geneva, where he will meet with Mr. Putin for the first time in more than a decade, the website of Fox News published an opinion essay by Mike Pompeo, who served as secretary of state under Mr. Trump, arguing that Mr. Biden shows up with a self-dealt weak hand.

The idea that Mr. Biden is no match for the Russian has been a regular theme on the networks programming in recent weeks.
Tuesdays Senate Democratic lunch was supposed to be a homecoming of sorts  but an uncomfortable one for Senator Joe Manchin III of West Virginia.

He didnt show up.

For the first time in a year, Senate Democrats  newly freed from pandemic precautions that prevented their weekly lunch for more than a year  convened in the ornate room in the Capitol named after a former majority leader, Mike Mansfield, just off the Senate floor, to hash out the issues facing the caucus. Front and center was the escalating pressure from Democrats nationwide to push forward with a far-reaching congressional voting-rights bill to counter restrictive ballot access laws that are streaming through Republican-held state capitals.

Mr. Manchin, as the only Democrat in the Senate who has refused to sign on to the bill, was supposed to be in the hot seat. His absence suggested that he was sticking by his opposition.

As part of a series of meetings designed to rally support for the legislation, Senate leaders had brought in Democratic members of the Texas Legislature to make the case for why the bill, known as the For the People Act, is urgently needed. The Texans managed to stave off passage of a state voter restriction bill last month with a dramatic late-night walkout, but that stunt cannot stave off the bills eventual passage if the Republican majority in Austin remains united. Many Democrats argue that only the enactment of superseding federal legislation mandating extended voting hours and mail-in balloting, as the partys bill would do, could accomplish that.
MOGADISHU  At least 10 people were killed and 20 wounded in an attack on a Somali Army training camp where new recruits were gathering on Tuesday morning, the authorities said, the latest in a series of assaults targeting the site, which is jointly run by Turkish and local forces.

Brig. Gen. Odowa Yusuf Raage, Somalias army chief, attributed the attack to the Shabab militant group. He said a suicide bomber had set off an explosion as dozens of new recruits lined up for military enrollment.

Ten people seeking to join the new army recruits were killed and 20 others wounded when a terrorist suicide bomber blew himself up at the entrance of General Dhagabadan army training center in Mogadishu, he told the state news media, referring to the intake area where troops are processed before being brought to the main facility, known as Camp Turksom.

Al Shabab later claimed responsibility for the attack, citing a much higher death toll of 40. The militant group often carries out suicide attacks in Somalia and has targeted Camp Turksom several times before.
SYDNEY, Australia  All across the Asia-Pacific region, the countries that led the world in containing the coronavirus are now languishing in the race to put it behind them.

While the United States, which has suffered far more grievous outbreaks, is now filling stadiums with vaccinated fans and cramming airplanes with summer vacationers, the pandemic champions of the East are still stuck in a cycle of uncertainty, restrictions and isolation.

In southern China, the spread of the Delta variant led to a sudden lockdown in Guangzhou, a major industrial capital. Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand and Australia have also clamped down after recent outbreaks, while Japan is dealing with its own weariness from a fourth round of infections, spiked with fears of viral disaster from the Olympics.
MOSCOW  Sixty-three years ago, the Soviet Union put the first satellite in space. Nearly four years later, it sent the first man into orbit, Yuri Gagarin. It fell behind NASA in the space race that followed, but even after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia remained a reliable space power, joining with the United States to build and operate the International Space Station for the last two decades.

Now, the future of the Russian space program rests with the worlds new space power, China.

After years of promises and some limited cooperation, Russia and China have begun to draw up ambitious plans for missions that would directly compete with those of the United States and its partners, ushering in a new era of space competition that could be as intense as the first.

They have teamed up for a robotic mission to an asteroid in 2024. They are coordinating a series of lunar missions intended to build a permanent research base on the south pole of the moon by 2030. The first of those missions, a Russian spacecraft with the revived Soviet-era name Luna, is scheduled to launch as soon as October, aiming to locate ice that could provide water to future human visits.
It is very common for the police to ask for free food, Mr. Iqbal, of Johnny & Jugnu, said. But what was worrying, in this case, was that the demands kept on increasing, culminating in the Friday night episode.

Last Friday night and into early Saturday, according to Mr. Iqbal, a group of police officers showed up at a Johnny & Jugnu outlet in an upscale neighborhood of Lahore intent on scoring a free meal. When they didnt get what they wanted, the police took the 19 workers into custody for several hours, saying they had violated coronavirus protocols. Video showed the police going to the counter, entering the kitchen and then escorting workers away. Business in the restaurant ground to a halt.

The food was inside the fryers, the cash in the tiller was left unattended and customers were waiting when the police hauled the crew to the police station, Mr. Iqbal said.

For almost seven hours, he and other senior employees of his fast-food chain lingered outside the police station trying to figure out what happened. The police told them that the restaurant workers had not been respectful during a previous visit, in addition to denying the officers free burgers.

The restaurateurs decided to post a statement on social media, primarily on Instagram and Facebook, protesting the highhandedness of the police. They also sent a statement to small-restaurant owners, asking, How much longer will we be blackmailed?

The workers were released the next day, after the posts prompted a social media uproar.

On Tuesday afternoon, Mr. Ghani, the provincial police chief, invited Mr. Iqbal to his office in Lahore to assuage concerns. The police chief said he was happy that we spoke up, Mr. Iqbal said. He has promised strict action against such practices. We are very encouraged by his response.
GENEVA  For 70 years, meetings between American presidents and Soviet or Russian leaders were dominated by one looming threat: the vast nuclear arsenals that the two nations started amassing in the 1940s, as instruments of intimidation and, if deterrence failed, mutual annihilation.

Now, as President Biden prepares to meet with President Vladimir V. Putin here in Geneva on Wednesday, for the first time cyberweapons are being elevated to the top of the agenda.

The shift has been brewing for a decade, as Russia and the United States, the two most skilled adversaries in the cyberarena, have each turned to a growing arsenal of techniques in what has become a daily, low-level conflict. But at summit meetings, that sort of jousting was usually treated as a sideshow to the main superpower competition.

No more. The rising tempo and sophistication of recent attacks on American infrastructure  from gasoline pipelines running up the East Coast, to plants providing a quarter of Americas beef, to the operations of hospitals and the internet itself  has revealed a set of vulnerabilities no president can ignore.
GENEVA  When President Biden, standing at NATO headquarters on Monday, referred to President Vladimir V. Putin as a worthy adversary, ears perked up in Moscow.

The Russian leader, who will meet his fifth U.S. president since taking power in 1999, has long sought the Wests respect. When Mr. Putin sits down with Mr. Biden in Geneva on Wednesday, he will have a rare opportunity to get it.

Putins goal is to transition to a respectful adversarial relationship from the disrespectful one we have today, said Vladimir Frolov, a Russian foreign affairs columnist. That seems to be in line with Bidens objectives for a predictable and stable relationship.

In Moscow, wounds are still raw from the tumult of the previous administration, when hopes for a thaw in U.S.-Russia relations stemming from President Donald J. Trumps friendly approach were dashed by mounting sanctions and rising tensions. Now, Russian officials hear Mr. Bidens emphasis on predictability and stability, and see a renewed opportunity for changing the course of a relationship that is plumbing its post-Cold War depths.
BUDAPEST  Hungarys Parliament voted on Tuesday to adopt legislation that would increase sentences for sex crimes against children, but critics say the law is being used to target the countrys L.G.B.T. community ahead of crunch elections for Prime Minister Viktor Orban next year.

Last-minute changes to the bill, which was prompted by public outrage after a series of sex scandals involving governing party and government officials, included restrictions against showing or popularizing homosexuality and content that promotes a gender that diverges from the one assigned at birth.

Mr. Orbans critics say the changes were made to target the countrys L.G.B.T. community in an effort to rally support from his conservative base and shift the focus away from the failures of his administration ahead of elections in 2022.

The new rules, unexpectedly added to the bill by government-aligned lawmakers last week, require the labeling of all content that might fall into that category of not recommended for those under 18 years of age. Such content would be restricted for media like television to the hours between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. The restrictions extend to advertisements and even sexual education, which the law would restrict to teachers and organizations approved by the government. The bill would also create a public database of sex offenders.
The Indian authorities launched an investigation after an internal government report concluded that some private agencies responsible for coronavirus testing on pilgrims at a sprawling Hindu festival forged at least 100,000 results.

The festival, Kumbh Mela, which ran throughout April, is widely believed to be responsible for a coronavirus surge in many parts of India, as the pilgrims returning from the festival tested positive days after returning to their villages.

The festival drew millions of faithful to the town of Haridwar on the banks of the river Ganges in the northern state of Uttarakhand.

We have constituted a four-members committee that will submit its report in two weeks, Dr. Arjun Singh Sengar, a Haridwar health officer who was in charge of testing for Kumbh Mela, said in an interview. Initial investigations are pointing toward lapses and fake results.
GAZA CITY  The Israeli military said early Wednesday that it had conducted airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, after officials said that the militant group Hamas had sent incendiary balloons into southern Israel from Gaza, in the first eruption of hostilities since an 11-day air war between Israel and Hamas ended last month.

The Israeli military said that it struck military compounds belonging to the Hamas terror organization, which were used as facilities and meeting sites for terror operatives in Hamas Khan Yunis and Gaza Brigades. Palestinian news reports said that one of the strikes caused property damage, but there were no immediate reports of casualties in Gaza, a densely populated urban strip.

The day of rising tensions was the first test of a new Israeli coalition government just three days into its term. It started when the government permitted a far-right Jewish march to pass through Palestinian areas of Jerusalem on Tuesday night, over the objections of Arab and leftist parties in the coalition, and despite threats from Hamas that it would retaliate.

The march was a scaled-down version of an aborted far-right procession originally planned for last month, which Hamas cited to justify firing rockets toward Jerusalem on May 10, setting off the latest air war between the militants and Israel.
Israel will no longer require people to wear masks indoors, removing one of the countrys last remaining coronavirus restrictions as infections continue to decline there, Israels health ministry announced on Tuesday.

Hezi Levi, the ministrys director general, delivered the news as he removed his mask on a morning television show.

Masks will still be required in some cases, including for passengers and crews on airplanes, and for unvaccinated people in care facilities. The decision comes only about two weeks after Israel lifted capacity restrictions and retired its Green Pass System, allowing vaccinated and unvaccinated people equal access to cultural and economic activities. The main limitations that remain concern travel into and out of Israel, which involves strict testing and quarantine rules.

Israels vaccine rollout began in December and was remarkably swift, spurred by an ample supply of doses and the Green Pass, which granted vaccinated Israelis more freedoms than people who did not get a shot.
When the coronavirus shut down New York last spring, many residents came to rely on a colossal building they had never heard of: JFK8, Amazons only fulfillment center in Americas largest city. What happened inside shows how Jeff Bezos created the workplace of the future and pulled off the impossible during the pandemic  but also reveals whats standing in the way of his promise to do better by his employees. The Manager

An ambitious leader, Traci Weishalla saw the crisis as both a mission and an opportunity. The Objector

Derrick Palmer was a strong frontline performer but lost trust in the company. The Missing Worker

After Alberto Castillo fell severely ill, his wife wondered if Amazon had fully registered what happened. The Data Leader

Paul Stroup, studying the warehouse work force from headquarters, wanted to improve conditions for employees.

Amesse Photography; Sarah Blesener for The New York Times; Ruth Fremson/The New York Times; Chang W. Lee/The New York Times

Last September, Ann Castillo saw an email from Amazon that made no sense. Her husband had worked for the company for five years, most recently at the supersize warehouse on Staten Island that served as the retailers critical pipeline to New York City. Now it wanted him back on the night shift.

We notified your manager and H.R. about your return to work on Oct. 1, 2020, the message said.

Ms. Castillo was incredulous. While working mandatory overtime in the spring, her 42-year-old husband, Alberto, had been among the first wave of employees at the site to test positive for the coronavirus. Ravaged by fevers and infections, he suffered extensive brain damage. On tests of responsiveness, Ms. Castillo said, his score was almost nothing.

Mr. Castillo with his wife, Ann, and their children. via Castillo family

For months, Ms. Castillo, a polite, get-it-done physical therapist, had been alerting the company that her husband, who had been proud to work for the retail giant, was severely ill. The responses were disjointed and confusing. Emails and calls to Amazons automated systems often dead-ended. The companys benefits were generous, but she had been left panicking as disability payments mysteriously halted. She managed to speak to several human resources workers, one of whom reinstated the payments, but after that, the dialogue mostly reverted to phone trees, auto-replies and voice mail messages on her husbands phone asking if he was coming back.

The return-to-work summons deepened her suspicion that Amazon didnt fully register his situation. Havent they kept track of what happened to him? she said. She wanted to ask the company: Are your workers disposable? Can you just replace them?

Mr. Castillos workplace, the only Amazon fulfillment center in Americas largest city, was achieving the impossible during the pandemic. With New Yorks classic industries suffering mass collapse, the warehouse, called JFK8, absorbed hotel workers, actors, bartenders and dancers, paying nearly $18 an hour. Driven by a new sense of mission to serve customers afraid to shop in person, JFK8 helped Amazon smash shipping records, reach stratospheric sales and book the equivalent of the previous three years profits rolled into one.

That success, speed and agility were possible because Amazon and its founder, Jeff Bezos, had pioneered new ways of mass-managing people through technology, relying on a maze of systems that minimized human contact to grow unconstrained.

But the company was faltering in ways outsiders could not see, according to a New York Times examination of JFK8 over the last year.

In contrast to its precise, sophisticated processing of packages, Amazons model for managing people  heavily reliant on metrics, apps and chatbots  was uneven and strained even before the coronavirus arrived, with employees often having to act as their own caseworkers, interviews and records show. Amid the pandemic, Amazons system burned through workers, resulted in inadvertent firings and stalled benefits, and impeded communication, casting a shadow over a business success story for the ages.

Amazon took steps unprecedented at the company to offer leniency, but then at times contradicted or ended them. Workers like Mr. Castillo at JFK8 were told to take as much unpaid time off as they needed, then hit with mandatory overtime. When Amazon offered employees flexible personal leaves, the system handling them jammed, issuing a blizzard of job-abandonment notices to workers and sending staff scrambling to save them, according to human resources and warehouse employees.

After absences initially soared and disrupted shipping, Amazon left employees mostly in the dark about the toll of the virus. The company did not tell workers at JFK8 or other warehouses the number of cases, causing them to worry whether notifications about individuals testing positive meant two or 22. While Amazon said publicly that it was disclosing confirmed cases to health officials, New York City records show no reported cases until November. The company and city officials dispute what happened.

Amazon continued to track every minute of most warehouse workers shifts, from how fast they packed merchandise to how long they paused  the kind of monitoring that spurred a failed unionization drive led by frustrated Black employees at an Alabama warehouse this spring. If productivity flagged, Amazons computers assumed the worker was to blame. Early in the pandemic, the online retailer paused its firing of employees for low output, but that change was not announced clearly at JFK8, so some workers still feared that moving too slowly would cost them their livelihoods.

It is very important that area managers understand that associates are more than just numbers, an employee wrote on JFK8s internal feedback board last fall, adding: We are human beings. We are not tools used to make their daily/weekly goals and rates.

The company touted breathtaking job-creation numbers: From July to October 2020 alone, it scooped up 350,000 new workers, more than the population of St. Louis. Many recruits  hired through a computer screening, with little conversation or vetting  lasted just days or weeks.

Even before the pandemic, previously unreported data shows, Amazon lost about 3 percent of its hourly associates each week, meaning the turnover among its work force was roughly 150 percent a year. That rate, almost double that of the retail and logistics industries, has made some executives worry about running out of workers across America.

In documenting the untold story of how the pandemic exposed the power and peril of Amazons employment system, reporters interviewed nearly 200 current and former employees, from new hires at the JFK8 bus stop to back-office workers overseas to managers on Staten Island and in Seattle. The Times also reviewed company documents, legal filings and government records, as well as posts from warehouse feedback boards that served as a real-time ticker of worker concerns.

JFK8 footprint Most of Times Square could fit inside the footprint of the JFK8 fulfillment center. 46TH ST. Bronx Manhattan Times Square Queens 44TH ST. Brooklyn JFK8 7TH AVE. Staten Island JFK8 footprint Most of Times Square could fit inside the footprint of the JFK8 fulfillment center. 46TH ST. Bronx Times Square Manhattan Queens 44TH ST. Brooklyn JFK8 7TH AVE. Staten Island JFK8 footprint Most of Times Square could fit inside the footprint of the JFK8 fulfillment center. Bronx 46TH ST. Manhattan Times Square Queens 44TH ST. Brooklyn JFK8 7TH AVE. Staten Island Source: New York City Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications

This April, Mr. Bezos said he was proud of the companys work culture, the achievable productivity goals, the pay and benefits. In interviews, the head of human resources for warehouses and the general manager of JFK8 said that the company prioritized employee welfare, noted that it had expanded its H.R. staff and cited internal surveys showing high worker satisfaction. Some managers from JFK8 and beyond described building deep relationships with their teams.

Amazon acknowledged some issues with inadvertent firings, loss of benefits, job abandonment notices and leaves, but declined to disclose how many people were affected. Kelly Nantel, a spokeswoman, suggested that those problems and some others chronicled in this article were outliers.

Ofori Agboka, the H.R. leader, noted that social distancing and masking had made it harder to engage employees in personal ways during the pandemic. Still, he said, 98 percent of everythings going great  people are having the right experiences, getting the help they need when they want it.

But several former executives who helped design Amazons systems, and still call themselves admirers of the company, said the high turnover, pressure over productivity and consequences of scaling up have become too critical to ignore. The company has not ambitiously addressed those issues, said Paul Stroup, who until recently led corporate teams devoted to understanding warehouse workers.

Amazon can solve pretty much any problem it puts its mind behind, he said in an interview. The human resources division, though, had nowhere near the focus, rigor and investment of Amazons logistical operations, where he had previously worked. It felt like I was in a different company, he said.

David Niekerk, a former Amazon vice president who built the warehouse human resources operations, said that some problems stemmed from ideas the company had developed when it was much smaller. Mr. Bezos did not want an entrenched work force, calling it a march to mediocrity, Mr. Niekerk recalled, and saw low-skilled jobs as relatively short-term. As Amazon rapidly grew, Mr. Niekerk said, its policies were harder to implement with fairness and care. It is just a numbers game in many ways, he said. The culture gets lost.

Even Mr. Bezos, in his final lap as chief executive of the company he created, is now making startling concessions about the system he invented. In a recent letter to shareholders, he said the union effort showed that we need a better vision for how we create value for employees  a vision for their success.

We have always wanted to be Earths most customer-centric company, he wrote. Now, he added, we are going to be Earths best employer and Earths safest place to work.

Amazon is also on pace to become the nations largest private employer within a year or two, as it continues expanding. About a million people in the United States, most of them hourly workers, now rely on the companys wages and benefits. Many describe the job as rewarding. Adama Ndoye had supported her family on her JFK8 pay while attending college remotely. Lights on, food, clothes, everything, she said. Dawn George, a chef, said she was grateful to JFK8 for taking her in after hotel kitchen jobs disappeared last spring. Im willing to work my socks off just for an hourly income, she said.

Some admire Amazons ambition. It was like being a pitcher on a team that had a game every night, said Dan Cavagnaro, who started at JFK8 when it opened in 2018 and worked with Mr. Castillo.

Dan Cavagnaro, who was enthusiastic about his job at JFK8, was fired in error. Sarah Blesener for The New York Times

But Mr. Cavagnaro was mistakenly fired in July while trying to return from leave, and could not reach anyone to help.

Please note the following, he wrote in his final, unanswered email plea. I WISH TO REMAIN EMPLOYED WITH AMAZON.

JFK8s thousands of workers cycle in and out nearly 24 hours a day. Dave Sanders for The New York Times

Like a Ghost Town

In late March 2020, Traci Weishalla walked the length of JFK8, forgoing the fluorescent vest that marked her as a manager. She wanted an unfiltered look at what she would soon be helping to oversee: a warehouse the size of 15 football fields, serving Americas largest metropolis just as it was becoming the national epicenter of the pandemic.

The noise, from conveyor belts whipping around packages, was like the roar of an oncoming subway train. Built to conquer the most lucrative market in the country, the facility ran almost 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Ms. Weishalla had helped open the warehouse a year and a half earlier, and now  as homebound customers across the nation clamored for thermometers, disinfectant and puzzles  she saw opportunity and purpose in her return as assistant general manager. For an organization that dealt in logistical miracles, the coronavirus was just another obstacle to overcome, she said.

Thats what we do, Ms. Weishalla, 38, explained later. We work to figure out the impossible problems.

Overtime Notifications JFK8 announced workers would have mandatory extra time, or M.E.T. in March, a message in direct conflict with its policy of unlimited unpaid time off during this period. March 18, 2020 Hello Amazonians This is a reminder that All Departments will be on MET For the week of March 22nd. More than ever our customers are relying on us. Please utilize A to Z to check your schedule. Also dont forget to report ALL absences, so that we can make sure your time is documented correctly and there are no issues.

But Amazons mighty system was lurching. Semi trucks sat at warehouses around the country, without enough workers to unload them. Customers discovered that items the company had deemed nonessential might take a month to arrive  an eternity for a business that had routinely delivered within two days.

One critical reason: Warehouse laborers were not showing up.

Delays Plagued Deliveries to Customers in New York City With the warehouses short-staffed and the company prioritizing essential items, Amazons typically fast deliveries took longer to reach customers. In April 2020, 28% of Amazon packages took more than a week to arrive. 100% 02 days 37 days 50 12 weeks 2 weeks+ 0 Jan. 2020 Feb. March April May June July 100% 02 days 37 days 50 12 weeks 2 weeks+ 0 Jan. 2020 Feb. March April May June July 100% 02 days 37 days 50 12 weeks 2 weeks+ 0 Jan. 2020 Feb. March April May June July Source: Rakuten Intelligence

To lure them back, Amazon offered a temporary $2-an-hour raise, double pay for overtime and, for the first time, unlimited unpaid time off. Executives thought that workers should be able to stay home without fear of being fired, and that with greater flexibility, some might still come in for part of a shift, according to two people familiar with the decision. (Like some other senior leaders in this article, they spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment.)

We work to figure out the impossible problems, Ms. Weishalla said. Amesse Photography

Across the country, almost a third of Amazons 500,000 workers were staying home. Some new hires abandoned jobs before they even began, according to former recruiters. JFK8 was like a ghost town, recalled Arthur Turner, a worker who remained.

Even Alberto Castillo considered staying home. The numbers on the news were unfathomable: at least 20,000 New Yorkers already infected, city hospitals jammed, as many as 1.7 million deaths projected nationwide.

But this was no time to go without his income: The Castillos, immigrants from the Philippines, yearned to buy a house. He worked nights, troubleshooting and training with gentle mastery, frequent jokes and Star Wars references, colleagues said, and he had just applied for a promotion.

JFK8 was also giving contradictory instructions: Despite Amazons promise of unpaid time off, workers were alerted that every department would be on mandatory overtime.

When Mr. Castillo arrived on March 24, he heard the warehouse had its first positive case. He messaged his boss, who replied, Yes, forgot to bring that up, and added that everyone who worked with the employee had been notified. Mr. Castillo called his wife to discuss whether to head home. They decided he would finish out his shift.

On the dawn drive back to New Jersey, his throat began itching.

Chris Smalls led a protest in March 2020 that attracted national attention. Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Organized Labor

That morning, two workers drove in the opposite direction, beelined to JFK8s break room and told dozens of colleagues: The virus had breached the warehouse, Amazon could not be trusted to tell them the truth and the facility should be shut down.

Derrick Palmer and Chris Smalls, Amazon teammates and best friends, werent part of any formal effort. Their employer considered unionization a dire threat, and had even backed out of building a second headquarters in New York in part over potential labor-organizing plans. A retail workers union had once boldly declared that JFK8 would become the first unionized Amazon warehouse in the country, but the effort had died.

Both men had been at Amazon since 2015 and knew the company from the lowest rungs. Mr. Palmer, then 31, was observant and deliberate, so fit that he often headed to the gym after a 10-hour shift. After dropping out of community college, he worked in a string of warehouses, joined Amazon and was now a picker at JFK8, pulling products off robotic shelves. He often produced top numbers on the software that tracked productivity, and had been selected to train others and help open a warehouse in Illinois.

He also felt let down, believing that Amazons towering success didnt accrue to workers like him. Employees felt managed largely by app, algorithm and strict but poorly explained rules, he said. When he met Ms. Weishalla at a 2019 session for workers to share feedback, he said, he requested more human interaction from management and told her he aspired to a job like hers. But he saw no changes. If we go beyond the requirements, theres no reward, he said in an interview.

After five years at Amazon, Mr. Palmer felt the companys success did not accrue to workers like him. Sarah Blesener for The New York Times

When Mr. Palmer last sought a promotion, in early 2020, he was among 382 people who applied for the position. Though he didnt know it, the odds were steep by design, an outgrowth of Mr. Bezos management philosophies.

Amazon intentionally limited upward mobility for hourly workers, said Mr. Niekerk, the former H.R. vice president who retired in 2016 after nearly 17 years at the company. Dave Clark, then head of operations, had shot down his proposal around 2014 to create more leadership roles for hourly employees, similar to noncommissioned officers in the military, he recalled.

Instead, Mr. Clark, who is now chief executive of Amazons consumer business, wanted to double down on hiring wicked smart frontline managers straight out of college, Mr. Niekerk said. By contrast, more than 75 percent of managers in Walmarts U.S. stores started as hourly employees. Following a pattern across Amazon, JFK8 promoted 220 people last year among its more than 5,000 employees, a rate that is less than half of Walmarts.

Amazons founder didnt want hourly workers to stick around for long, viewing a large, disgruntled work force as a threat, Mr. Niekerk recalled. Company data showed that most employees became less eager over time, he said, and Mr. Bezos believed that people were inherently lazy. What he would say is that our nature as humans is to expend as little energy as possible to get what we want or need. That conviction was embedded throughout the business, from the ease of instant ordering to the pervasive use of data to get the most out of employees.

So guaranteed wage increases stopped after three years, and Amazon provided incentives for low-skilled employees to leave. Every year, Mr. Palmer saw signs go up offering associates thousands of dollars to resign, and as he entered JFK8 each morning, he passed a classroom for free courses to train them in other fields.

Mr. Agboka, the H.R. leader, said while the company offered training and careers at Amazon to those interested, it was proud to also provide people short-term employment for the seasons and periods of time they need.

As the virus arrived at JFK8, Mr. Palmer worried about how Amazon would protect and communicate with workers. Notification about the warehouses first positive case had been uneven. A colleague working near Mr. Smalls had appeared sick, her eyes bloodshot as she struggled through her shift.

The two men saw only one solution: for JFK8 to pause, clean and reassess, as an Amazon facility in Queens had briefly done. Unpaid leave wasnt enough, they said  a company run by the richest man on earth shouldnt force workers to choose between safety and a paycheck.

Mr. Palmer invited dozens of workers to share concerns on an Instagram chat.

This is why my ass been staying home, one wrote.

Health before wealth honestly, kiss your loved ones daily, another replied.

Are you guys actually just picking essential items? one asked, referring to Amazons early-pandemic efforts to ship only necessary merchandise.

Man, Im stowing dildos, another responded.

Nearly all the workers in the group were Black, like Mr. Palmer and Mr. Smalls, or Latino. So were more than 60 percent of associates at JFK8, according to internal Amazon records from 2019. Management, the documents show, was more than 70 percent white or Asian. Black associates at JFK8 were almost 50 percent more likely to be fired  whether for productivity, misconduct, or not showing up for work  than their white peers, the records show. (Amazon said it could not confirm the data without knowing more specifics about its source.)

Workers of Color Fuel Amazons Operations A vast majority of the companys warehouse workers in the U.S. are included in the first group in the 2018 data below. These employees are largely people of color, while higher levels of the company tend to be majority white. White 32% Hispanic 22% Others 5% Laborers and Helpers 235,986 employees Black 33% Asian 8% Professionals 59,937 46 3 5 43 3 First/Mid-Level 21,843 61 8 7 20 4 Operatives 16,668 52 19 18 5 6 Administrative Support 13,738 57 16 13 7 7 57 10 10 17 6 Technicians 3,116 61 12 12 9 6 Sales Workers 2,835 74 2 3 19 2 Executive/Senior Level 1,913 White 32% Hispanic 22% Others 5% Laborers and Helpers Black 33% Asian 8% 46 3 5 43 3 Professionals First/ Mid-Level 61 8 7 20 4 52 19 18 5 6 Operatives Administrative Support 57 16 13 7 7 57 10 10 17 6 Technicians 61 12 12 9 6 Sales Workers 74 2 3 19 2 Executive/ Senior Level White 32% Hispanic 22% Others 5% Laborers and Helpers Black 33% Asian 19% 46 3 5 43 3 Professionals First/ Mid-Level 61 8 7 20 4 Operatives 52 19 18 5 6 Administrative Support 57 16 13 7 7 Technicians 57 10 10 17 6 Sales Workers 61 12 12 9 6 Executive/ Senior Level 74 2 3 19 2 Source: Amazon's 2018 report to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission  Note: Bar heights are scaled by the total number of employees in each category. Others includes Native Hawaiians, Native Americans, Alaskan Natives and employees belonging to two or more groups.

Between the constant monitoring, the assumption that many workers are slackers, and the lack of advancement opportunity, a lot of minority workers just felt like we were being used, Mr. Palmer said later.

Were the heart and soul of that building, he wrote in the chat. Nothing gets done without us.

The two men continued their break-room warnings for several more days, and confronted JFK8 managers. If, God forbid, somebody in this building passes away, or somebodys loved one passes away, thats going to be on your hands, not mine, Mr. Smalls, the firecracker of the pair, told the warehouses top leader, according to an audio recording of one conversation.

On March 30, they demonstrated in the parking lot with a small group of other employees. Mr. Palmer carried a sign that read, Treat your workers like your customers.

In Seattle, executives still grappling with cratering attendance sought to minimize the protest but instead drew more attention to it. Amazon fired Mr. Smalls, saying his demonstration had violated a quarantine order based on his contact with the sick co-worker. (Mr. Palmer received a warning for violating social-distancing rules.) Meeting notes taken the next day by the companys top lawyer and leaked to Vice News called Mr. Smalls not smart or articulate.

Though the lawyer soon said he didnt know Mr. Smallss race, a group of Black corporate employees wrote a letter calling the smear part of a systemic pattern of racial bias that permeates Amazon. The New York attorney generals office and Senator Elizabeth Warren asked if the firing was retaliation, which Amazon denied.

Mr. Palmer chose to stay at JFK8, determined to change it from the inside. Mr. Bezos, who had been holing up at his ranch in West Texas, made a rare visit to an Amazon warehouse near Dallas on April 8, flashing a thumbs-up to employees.

Packing boxes at JFK8. Chang W. Lee/The New York Times

Summoning Workers Back

With so many employees staying home  because of family needs, fear of contracting the coronavirus and reluctance to use public transit  the unthinkable was happening to Amazon: Its customers were turning to competitors.

By mid-April, Walmart, Target and other retailers were clearly gaining ground. To reverse the trend and serve its customers, Amazon would have to find a way to bring back workers. Any decision the company made would affect the lives of hundreds of thousands of employees.

The task of sweating out the scenarios fell to Paul Stroup, who ran data science teams in Seattle. Mr. Stroup had been a veteran of what he described as the brain of Amazon operations  a division of thousands of employees finding tiny efficiencies to optimize for cheaper, faster and more predictable deliveries  when, in 2019, he made an unusual switch to Human Resources. Some shocked colleagues teased that joining H.R. would be like going on sabbatical.

Mr. Stroup hoped to use data to improve the lives of Amazon workers. Ruth Fremson/The New York Times

But he had once been a low-wage worker himself, unloading trucks part time at a Home Depot store for $9 an hour. Home Depot had also paid half his college tuition. Soon after graduating, he moved to the corporate office.

If I wanted to help as many people as I could, being at H.R. at Amazon, which is one of the largest employers in the world, has a huge impact, Mr. Stroup said. He hoped to help improve life not just at Amazon, he said, but for hourly employees at companies that look to its example.

As he evaluated the return-to-work options, he felt confident that Amazons warehouses were growing safer, thanks to billions of dollars spent on virus safeguards.

On Staten Island, Ms. Weishalla piloted a process for spraying disinfectant between shifts that was later rolled out across the United States and Europe. Thermal temperature scanners were installed at JFK8 and other warehouses. Colored tape marking one-way paths crisscrossed the floors. Artificial intelligence engineers built a program that projected virtual six-foot circles around employees to help them keep their distance.

We cant wait three months, Ms. Weishalla said. This is priority No. 1.

Mr. Stroup also helped data scientists and epidemiologists assemble tools to spot potential outbreaks, creating a centralized source to track cases. While a few Amazon buildings had concerning spikes, he said, the analysis showed that most, including JFK8, had infection rates at or below the known levels  testing was initially limited  in communities where their workers lived. There were no large reported outbreaks in the warehouses like those at meatpacking plants, but Covid deaths around the country were swiftly climbing.

Amazon Lost Market Share Early in the Pandemic Competitors cut into Amazons substantial market share in the U.S., in part because the company was showing customers long delivery times. Amazon competitors 60% Amazon 40 20 0 Jan. 2020 Feb. March April May June July Amazon Amazon competitors 60% 40 20 0 Jan. 2020 Feb. March April May June July Amazon competitors 60% Amazon 40 20 0 Jan. 2020 Feb. March April May June July Source: Rakuten Intelligence

Mr. Stroup worried how Amazon would summon workers back. The company needed to know who didnt intend to return so that it could replace them. But forcing employees too abruptly could result in firing tens of thousands of people. Mr. Stroup knew the work offered a lifeline: The cleanliness, the procedure, the pay, the benefits  all of that is very competitive, he said.

David Niekerk spent almost 17 years building Amazons human resources operations and culture. Ruth Fremson/The New York Times

He prepared surveys and data for Mr. Clark, the operations chief, who would make the final decision. Id heard Dave was saying: Lets just move faster. This isnt helping people not knowing if they are coming back to work or not. Weve created a safe place to work  weve proven that people arent getting Covid at work  so lets just find out if they want to come back or not, he said.

In a virtual meeting, Mr. Stroup told Mr. Clark that if employees were brought back gradually, over a month or two, only 5 to 10 percent were projected to stay home and lose their jobs. Under the faster plan, many more were likely to be fired for not showing up. The cold-turkey example was pretty bad, Mr. Stroup said, like it was 20 to 30 percent of people would be let go in the month.

Within days, he heard Mr. Clark had chosen that route. My team took it hard, Mr. Stroup said. Even so, he understood Mr. Clarks predicament. Theres a lot of pressure when your website normally says one or two days, and now it says 28 days to get something, he said.

Ms. Nantel, the spokeswoman, said the decision was about supporting customers and communities in a time of need while providing safe jobs for people who wanted them. Amazon declined to make available several of its most senior executives for interviews, including Mr. Clark; Beth Galetti, the head of human resources; and Mr. Bezos.

In late April, Amazon told workers that unlimited unpaid time off would not be extended into May. The company eased requirements for personal leaves; to remain home without penalty, workers had a week left to apply. That decision created chaos.

Human Resources by App

Immediately, leave applications flooded into an Amazon back office in San Jose, Costa Rica. The system couldnt keep up.

Dangelo Padilla, a Costa Rican case manager who started at Amazon in 2016, woke up every morning to confront what he described as insurmountable tasks before him and his colleagues. They had already been overwhelmed by a backlog of almost 18,000 cases in early March, emails show, and over the last week in April got 13,500 more requests.

Panicked workers trying to take leaves found phone lines busy and got auto-replies warning of delayed responses. Some who applied for leaves were being penalized for missing work, triggering warning notices and then terminations. When their messages reached Mr. Padilla and his colleagues, workers were distraught.

This is impacting the employees and impacting us, Mr. Padilla said he entreated their managers. You have to fix this.

The V.O.A. Board Workers turn to the internal Voice of Associates (V.O.A.) board with issues large and small, including overtime, which can be mandatory (known as M.E.T.) or voluntary (V.E.T.). Employee names have been redacted for privacy reasons. worker Oct.16, 2020 How can MET be called with no notification, no text, no email nothing. You just put it on our schedule. Once I finish my shift today ill be at 55hrs. I would only be able to work 5hrs tomorrow im not going to travel 3hrs to work 5hrs that makes no sense at all

managerOct.19, 2020 Hey [name redacted], thank you for reaching out! Based on risk to customer orders this past weekend and limited VET acceptance for Saturday, the decision was made to call MET just for the DC7 cohort to ensure we could meet these customer commitments. The JFK8 team is generally very proactive in calling MET as to give our teams plenty of time to plan ahead, however due to increased customer orders on Prime Week and that impact on the weekend, it was necessary to call at that time. MET notification was sent out prior to lunch on Friday, which is within the allotted time to announce for those on site. A to Z was then adjusted a few hours after that. For instances such as this, our HR team is able to work with those that have extenuating circumstances. Thank you!

The team that vetted leaves had long struggled with rickety technology, according to Mr. Padilla and eight other current and former employees in Costa Rica. Right before the pandemic, they started using a new case-management system called Dali to address the problems and provide flexibility, but it was buggy. Staff members were constantly encountering problems. We were lost, Mr. Padilla said. Not even our managers knew how to handle it.

Faxes and emails that were supposed to be automatically sorted ended up in a massive inbox that had to be manually triaged. Approved leaves that were supposed to be directly reflected in worker attendance programs instead had to be input by hand at another back office, in Pune, India.

When that wasnt done on time, warehouse employees with approved leaves got notices warning that they would be fired for abandoning their jobs. I saw those situations every day  people getting U.P.T. deducted for no reason, people being terminated for no reasons, Mr. Padilla said.

In interviews, more than 25 current and former Amazon employees who dealt with the disability and leave system  executives, human resources personnel from JFK8 and other warehouses, and back office staff in the United States and abroad  bemoaned its inadequacy, calling it a source of frustration and panic. For years, they said, it had been prone to the kinds of errors Mr. Padilla described. Amazon catches many of the mistakes; some employees fight their own cases and prevail. Others give up and quit.

Ms. Nantel, the spokeswoman, said that the company quickly approved personal leaves during this period, hiring 500 people to help process the increased volume. She said Amazon received more than a million leave requests in the first year of the pandemic, twice its forecast, and worked hard to contact employees before they were fired to see if they wanted to keep their jobs.

Amazon tracks how many seconds it takes workers to process each item they handle. Chang W. Lee/The New York Times

Workers turned to H.R. teams in the warehouses for help, though they werent primarily responsible for leaves. Even under normal circumstances, they were stretched thin. In interviews, veterans from Staten Island and across the country described long hours trying to fix errors, enforce Amazons rules fairly and respond to the problems that plague any low-income work force  transportation breakdowns, lack of child care. At JFK8, some employees said they had spent an entire 30-minute break waiting in line for H.R. without getting to speak to anyone.

In the warehouses, self-service kiosks performed many traditional human resources functions. An app called A to Z handled everything from payroll to schedule changes.

Many workers said they found the app easy to use. It has a 4.7-star rating in Apples App Store, but even some of those who praise it see broader problems. App is awesome, very helpful. BUT!!!!!!!!! begins one five-star review users have designated as most helpful. Associates should be able to speak to a person, not a virtual chat bot to get individual help.  Especially when many say they were fired because the chat reps forget sometimes or it doesnt get through.

The technology is designed to give workers many ways to communicate and was not meant to replace live interactions, Ms. Nantel said. She added that the H.R. staff for warehouse workers had grown by 60 percent since 2019  a rise that parallels that of the hourly work force. At JFK8, the human resources team for the more than 5,000 employees has increased from 25 to 34 staff members since the start of the pandemic.

Mr. Padilla resigned from Amazon last summer, but returned this May, grateful to join a team that has nothing to do with managing leaves. Being there, he said, basically destroyed my mental health and my stability.

JFK8 is the size of 15 football fields. Chang W. Lee/The New York Times

Record Profits, Halted Raises

On Staten Island, workers began getting the dreaded warnings.

Mr. Cavagnaro, who had worked with Alberto Castillo, had taken a leave from Amazon. He suggested a June return date on a doctors note, but couldnt reach the company to ask questions or discuss coming back. Amazons attendance systems recorded him as a no-show, and he began getting job-abandonment notices. Unable to get a reply, he threw his hands up and allowed himself to be fired.

After The Times asked Amazon about his situation, the company offered him his job back. (His case should have been handled better, Ms. Nantel said.)

By the time Mr. Cavagnaro was struggling in late spring to return to JFK8, Mr. Castillo had severely declined. Doctors told his wife that he would never again speak, eat or work. Unable to visit him because of virus restrictions, Ms. Castillo created a mural in their small apartment, showing the family of four celebrating church festivities, doing martial arts and wearing matching Halloween costumes. On Fathers Day, the couples two children stood outside the medical center where he was being treated, with posters declaring their devotion.

Covid-19 left Mr. Castillo incapacitated. His wife brought him home for hospice care in December. Sarah Blesener for The New York Times

Health insurance that Amazon provided covered most of the medical bills, but Ms. Castillo discovered that her husbands short-term disability payments had stopped. I kept sending in medical forms but couldnt tell if anyone on the other end was actually receiving them, she said. The house they had hoped to buy was a vanished dream; now she was counting every penny and accepting donations from friends.

JFK8s human resources manager apologized and set the 10 weeks of missed payments right. Amazon said the documents Ms. Castillo had submitted never made it to his case manager, a systems issue that had affected others as well.

As workers returned, Amazon informed employees nationwide that it was ending the $2-an-hour raise and double overtime pay. The extra wages had not been hazard pay, officials said, but an incentive to show up.

The V.O.A. Board worker March 2, 2021 It would be nice if there were more advancement opportunities for jobs inside amazon that are outside the FC. Most jobs at higher level require experience that people don't have and will not get an opportunity to get. Thanks

human resourcesMarch 3, 2021 Hi [name redacted], thank you for your comment. We do have numerous job opportunities posted, which can be found on Jobfinder.com. [name redacted], your manager will be following up with you to discuss in more detail, help you find what you are looking for and answer any questions you may have. Update 3/4/21: Thank you for speaking with [name redacted]. Please let us know if you have any additional questions or concerns. Thank you!

The decision to force workers back ushered the company into the most profitable era in its history. By late May, JFK8 was a top-performing warehouse, bringing in 1.68 million items in a single week, Christine Hernandez, who worked in human resources, boasted on Twitter. Yasss!!! she cheered.

In July, Amazon announced $5.2 billion in earnings for the quarter  a record, until the next quarter brought $6.3 billion.

Amazon had been running pretty much full out since the beginning of May when more people were back at work, Brian Olsavsky, the companys finance chief, explained on a call with reporters. That let the online retailer meet the enormous demand more efficiently, working at full capacity around the clock. It was like Black Friday every single day.

Stowing items on a robotic shelf at JFK8. Chang W. Lee/The New York Times

The Power of the Metrics

For Traci Weishalla and her peers, a key to boosting thousands of employees to that level of performance was setting the pace. Speed was essential, but so was keeping the whole warehouse in rhythm. If new items were unpacked more quickly than they could be prepared for shipping, all of JFK8 could jam. The fulfillment center was one organism in an even bigger ecosystem of warehouses, and to coordinate with them and the fleet of delivery drivers, Ms. Weishalla had to maintain a quick, consistent pulse.

Two measurements dominated most hourly employees shifts. Rate gauged how fast they worked, a constantly fluctuating number displayed at their station. Time off task, or T.O.T., tracked every moment they strayed from their assignment  whether trekking to the bathroom, troubleshooting broken machinery or talking to a co-worker. The company pioneered new ways to calculate both metrics in the mid-2000s, when a smaller, scrappier Amazon set out to revolutionize warehouses.

Mr. Niekerk, the former H.R. chief for operations, said the emphasis on productivity tracking, alluring in a company as analytical as Amazon, was debated from the start. He had been skeptical, arguing that a productivity metric is always a frightening thing, conveying One slip-up and I will fall behind.

I lost that battle, he said. Eventually, he said, promises of firmer, faster delivery created a multiplying effect on the demand for higher productivity.

In newer, robotics-driven warehouses like JFK8, those metrics were at the center of Amazons operation. A single frontline manager could keep track of 50, 75, even 100 workers by checking a laptop. Auto-generated reports signaled when someone was struggling. A worker whose rate was too slow, or whose time off task climbed too high, risked being disciplined or fired. If a worker was off task, the system assumed the worker was to blame. Managers were told to ask workers what happened, and manually code in what they deemed legitimate excuses, like broken machinery, to override the default.

Internal documents show that managers were instructed to address only the top offender for time off task in each department per shift. Less than 1 percent of terminations in 2019 were over rate or time off task, according to Ms. Nantel.

But workers didnt know that. The goal, JFK8s internal guidelines state, is to create an environment not where we are writing everyone up, but that associates know that we are auditing for T.O.T. Workers could not readily see their T.O.T. totals, increasing anxiety. Word spread that Amazonians couldnt take bathroom breaks  a misperception rooted in real apprehension. Some employees chronicled their workday down to the minute in a notebook, just in case.

The V.O.A. Board worker Oct. 21, 2020 It is very Important that area managers understand that associates are more than just numbers or just our logins but that we are human beings. We are not tools used to reach their daily / weekly goals and rates but that we need their support in becoming better employees.

managerOct. 22, 2020 Hi [name redacted], let's meet in person to discuss your concerns in further detail.

Mr. Agboka said time off task was intended to identify impediments a worker may face. We dont want people working with the mind-set of loss of employment versus being productive and being successful, he said.

Some employees, like Arthur Turner, found the systems fair: If you come here and do the right thing, you follow all the protocols that they want you to, you cant get in any trouble.

Dayana Santos, 32, who started at JFK8 in June 2019, appreciated the metrics. How can I do my job efficiently if the next person isnt doing theirs? asked Ms. Santos, who sometimes raced with colleagues for fun. Why does everything have to be a competition with you, Santos? her boss would tease.

After months of praise from her managers, Ms. Santos had one very bad day. She had been working in robotics, but because her bus was late, she was sent to picking. She was offered a different assignment after lunch, but it never came through, and her station in picking was occupied. She traversed the warehouse looking for another one, racking up more time off task. That afternoon, she was stunned to discover that she was being fired.

Stories like that intimidate workers even before their first day, a human resources team at Amazon headquarters found. Everyone in your community, every third person, has worked at Amazon, Mr. Stroup said. You have pieces of information that youve been told at the dinner table or with friends.

Experiments by one of Mr. Stroups teams found that prodding workers did not make them productive enough to be worth the anxiety. The team joked that giving a worker $5 probably would have a better impact than a manager going and telling you, You did a bad job last week. Work on the issue stalled when the pandemic created more pressing priorities.

But over the summer, resistance to the policies was rising. With the extra Covid pay gone and Black Lives Matter protests spreading across the nation, a small group of Black workers at a new warehouse in Bessemer, Ala., on the outskirts of Birmingham, were bristling at how Amazon micromanaged their time. Frustrated, one of them in an online search hit upon the retail workers union that once had ambitions to organize JFK8.

In New York, Ms. Santos was making her own small stand. Amazon had contested her unemployment benefits, arguing that she had been fired for cause. She fought back, and an administrative court judge sided with her, noting that she had never received a warning and that Amazon hadnt proved she was off task.

In midsummer, a message from Ms. Weishalla landed in JFK8 workers email inboxes and was posted inside bathroom stalls, saying that productivity feedback was suspended because of the pandemic. That meant no one would be fired for being too slow. Confusingly, the message, which also noted extra minutes for hand-washing, said the changes had been in effect since March.

Until the notices, many workers had no idea Amazon had relaxed one of its most controversial employment policies. Rates were still displayed at workstations, and initial instructions to managers had been marked verbal guidance only. Ms. Nantel said that managers were supposed to tell each worker individually, calling it a high-touch approach. The building-wide notices from Ms. Weishalla had been prompted by a lawsuit  later dismissed  challenging pandemic working conditions at JFK8. The lead plaintiff was Derrick Palmer.

Though workers couldnt be punished for low rates, managers still encouraged speed. One late summer day, Thalia Morales, then 28, was limiting bathroom trips to improve her productivity. She finally couldnt wait any longer  and found the nearest ladies room closed. Ms. Morales exploded in anger at a cleaner, who said she couldnt enter. She was fired for the verbal altercation, she recalled in an interview, and told she could never reapply.

Soon, to her shock, the app pinged her for missing work. She returned to the warehouse with trepidation, completed her shift and still works there today. It turned out her termination hadnt been processed properly  Amazon had erred in her favor.

By the end of September, word traveled around JFK8 and other warehouses: The reprieve on rate was over. The holiday season was coming, and it was expected to be like none other.

Last year, Amazon made a record-breaking $21 billion in profits. Chang W. Lee/The New York Times

Burning Through the Work Force

On Oct. 13, the bus stop outside JFK8 was flooded with workers hired in a surge without parallel in American corporate history. It was Prime Day, the invented Amazon shopping holiday that kicked off the Christmas season. To meet the moment, the warehouse was absorbing entire friend and family units without job interviews, and in most cases, little to no conversation between employer and applicants.

As dusk settled and trucks rolled by, Tiara Mangroo, a high school student just off her shift, embraced her boyfriend. He worked for Amazon on Staten Island too, as did her father, uncle, cousins and best friend. Keanu Bushell, a college student, worked days, and his father nights, sharing one car that made four daily trips between Brooklyn and JFK8. A mother and daughter organized containers of meals for their middle-of-the-night breaks; others packed Red Bull or Starbucks Frappuccinos in the clear theft-prevention bags that workers carried. Most said they were grateful just to be employed.

Kevin Michelus, 60, and retired after a lifetime of odd jobs, had been drawn in by a postcard advertising work. No resume, no job experience required, he said. Ive never heard of a job like that. He and the other newcomers had been hired after only a quick online screening. Internally, some describe the companys automated employment process as lights-out hiring, with algorithms making decisions, and limited sense on Amazons part of whom it is bringing in.

Mr. Niekerk said Mr. Bezos drove the push to remove humans from the hiring process, saying Amazons need for workers would be so great, the applications had to be a check-the-box screen. Mr. Bezos also saw automated assessments as a consistent, unbiased way to find motivated workers, Mr. Niekerk said.

Amazon boasted about the jobs it created, calling itself a force for growth and sustenance. What the numbers masked was that many workers cycled out of Amazon within months or even days.

Amazons Turnover Outpaces Its Peers Amazon is so large, and its churn so high, it affects the industry turnover rate where it operates, according to a Times analysis. In the two years after Amazon opened a new facility, the county turnover rate of warehousing and storage employees rose an average of 30 percentage points compared with two years prior. Yearly turnover rate for warehousing and storage employees 150 % Multnomah County, Ore. Quarterly employment in warehousing and storage by county Cuyahoga County, Ohio 1,000 10,000 30,000 In Richmond County, N.Y., home to JFK8, the turnover rate increased to more than 100 percent in the year after the new center opened. 100 83% Average in counties with Amazon fulfillment and distribution centers 53% 50 0 4 3 2 1 Warehouse opens 1 2 3 4 Years before Amazon warehouse Years after Amazon warehouse Yearly turnover rate for warehousing and storage employees 150 % Multnomah County, Ore. Quarterly employment in warehousing and storage by county Cuyahoga County, Ohio Richmond County, N.Y., home to JFK8 1,000 10,000 30,000 100 Average in counties with Amazon fulfillment and distribution centers 83% 53% 50 0 4 3 2 1 Warehouse opens 1 2 3 4 Years before Amazon warehouse Years after Amazon warehouse Yearly turnover rate for warehousing and storage employees Quarterly employment by county in warehousing and storage Multnomah County, Ore. 1,000 30,000 Cuyahoga County, Ohio 150% Richmond County, N.Y., home of JFK8 100 Average in counties with Amazon centers 53% 83% 50 0 4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 Years before Amazon warehouse Warehouse opens Years after Amazon warehouse Yearly turnover rate for warehousing and storage employees Multnomah County, Ore. 150% Quarterly employment in warehousing and storage by county Cuyahoga County, Ohio 1,000 10,000 30,000 Richmond County, N.Y., home to JFK8 100 Average in counties with Amazon fulfillment and distribution centers 83% 53% 50 0 4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 Years before Amazon warehouse Warehouse opens Years after Amazon warehouse Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Quarterly Workforce Indicators; MWPVL International. Read more about the analysis.

As the weeks wore on, hints of trouble were cropping up, according to interviews and posts on JFK8s internal feedback board viewed by The Times. Several said workers should get more warning about mandatory overtime, that schedules changed with no call, no text, no email, nothing. H.R. representatives were hard to find, not trained, and not able to handle genuine complaints. Others wondered why they had to go find an H.R. representative to fix errors in unpaid time off deducted by the A to Z app. Look at all the technology we have now, one employee wrote. Im sure this can be corrected.

Some of the workers faltered immediately or just seemed wrong for the job. Ms. Mangroo wasnt even supposed to be there; Amazons hiring policies dont allow for high schoolers. She was fired for time off task problems, after what Amazon called repeated coaching attempts. Soon her best friend and uncle were gone too. Mr. Michelus, the retiree recruited by postcard, had a low productivity rate. Stressed, he quit 11 days after he began.

A JFK8 employee commuting on the Staten Island ferry. Sarah Blesener for The New York Times

Keanu Bushell, half of the father-son commuting tag team, didnt trust Amazons systems to tally his time correctly and resigned. With limited hours on public transit, some newcomers were struggling with 2 or 3 a.m. wake-ups in far corners of the city, three-hour odysseys to the warehouse and nearly 12-hour shifts. Others were washouts  stealing merchandise, playing games on their phones for long stretches in the bathroom, abusing the leave policy.

In 2019, Amazon hired more than 770,000 hourly workers, even though the company, including corporate staff, grew by just 150,000 that year, John Phillips, the former head of mass hiring, wrote on LinkedIn. That meant the equivalent of Amazons entire work force  roughly 650,000 people at the start of the year  left and were replaced that year. The company declined to provide numbers for 2020.

For some, the short-term relationship worked. Stephen Ojo, a dancer in Brooklyn, joined JFK8 in the spring. It was a good way for me to make extra money, it wasnt clashing with my schedule, it fit with my life at the time, he said. But he also knew that Amazon wasnt his future. He was a star dancer in Beyonces film Black Is King, which would stream to viewers in the summer. By then, he was done at Amazon.

Others needed the work. Days after Mr. Michelus quit, he was back at the bus stop. Ive got to learn to deal with the pressure, he said. Amazon took him back, and soon he was picking items again.

The V.O.A. Board worker Feb. 28, 2021 I don't have any complaints today is just my final day working here. I want to say, from the bottom of my heart, thank you. It is because of Amazon that i was able to make friends, learn, grow, and pay off my college bill. I thank the incredible stow team and their leaders and everyone that made this place what it is. Thank you amazon for everything.

managerMarch 1, 2021 [name redacted] we wish you all the best and thank you for your service here at JFK8! Although it's a big team it really does feel like a family here and we will miss having you here on the team but all the best in your new endeavors! :)

With the high churn, multiple current and former Amazon executives fear there simply will not be enough workers. In the more remote towns where Amazon based its early U.S. operations, it burned through local labor pools and needed to bus people in.

Six to seven people who apply equals one person showing up and actually doing work, Mr. Stroup explained. If Amazon is churning through its entire work force once or twice a year, he said, You need to have eight, nine, 10 million people apply each year. Thats about 5 percent of the entire American work force.

Ms. Nantel responded to multiple questions about Amazons turnover by repeating, Attrition is only one data point, which when used alone lacks important context.

Many newcomers were in impractical situations, whether because of schedules or commutes. Sometimes, its simply not a good fit, said Ms. Weishalla, the JFK8 manager.

Mr. Stroup says he is forever an Amazon fanboy. But over time in human resources there, he became disappointed that he didnt hear long-term thinking about the companys quick cycling through workers. He likened it to using fossil fuels despite climate change.

We keep using them, he said, even though we know were slowly cooking ourselves.

He left Amazon too. After almost nine years at the company, he joined Shopify, another e-commerce business, where he hoped his insights might have more impact.

Billions, Bonuses, Bananas

Ann Castillo stood outside her New Jersey apartment complex in early December, about to take on the responsibility of a lifetime. She had decided to bring her husband, now on hospice care, home and tend to him herself. Even with Amazons long-term disability insurance, she might have to move into low-income housing.

If hes going to go, then at least hes with us, she said.

She saw no sign that anyone in charge at JFK8 knew what was going on. They never called and asked to follow up on how hes doing, she said.

A moment later, a procession of emergency vehicles flooded the small parking lot, lights flashing in salute. The drivers, town officials who were strangers to Ms. Castillo, told her to call day or night. When the ambulance arrived, it took all of the visitors to maneuver Alberto Castillo into the apartment.

Ms. Castillos own employer, a nonprofit home health care provider, overwhelmed her with support, arranging twice as many hospice nurse visits as usual, donating the extra nursing time and giving money from an emergency fund. Nearly everyone else in their lives, and even some strangers, had pitched in too, Ms. Castillo said: teachers, fellow parents, soccer teammates and coaches, church members, and old friends from the Philippines sent groceries, meals, gift cards and checks.

Months later, after inquiries from The Times, an H.R. official and a JFK8 staff member reached out to Ms. Castillo. A spokeswoman expressed regret that Ms. Castillo did not feel properly supported. Mr. Agboka, the H.R. leader, said in a statement, We have her, her husband, and their loved ones in our thoughts and prayers.

Inside the warehouse, Ms. Weishalla, who had been promoted to general manager, tracked nearly every conceivable metric about JFK8s demand, attendance and inventory. But she said she did not keep tabs on how many workers were infected. Its not a daily thing I track  its hard to quantify that, she said in an interview. No one is sending me a number.

(Ms. Nantel said Ms. Weishalla had access to cases via an online portal and was well informed of JFK8s case count.)

The holiday-season sprint known as Peak arrived just as a second wave of the virus slammed into the region. The true measure of infection among JFK8 workers was hard to know. Amazon was providing free on-site testing by October. But it did not share with the general work force the names of those infected, for privacy reasons, or offer guidance on where or what shifts they worked.

As a result, many employees learned about positive cases informally, setting the rumor mill running. When Derrick Palmer realized the company never sent a notification about a colleague who told him she was sick, he confronted managers, who could not explain why. (Ms. Nantel said it was an error, adding that the warehouse has since found only one other missing notification.) To him, that lapse, along with the lack of clarity about Covid numbers, underscored his belief since March that Amazon was not being transparent about the virus threat.

For months, Amazon had said publicly that it was reporting confirmed cases at JFK8 and other warehouses to local health authorities, as required of employers. But New York City health department records show no reports until November.

Ms. Nantel said that Amazon had regularly reported cases since March 2020, and attributed the lack of records to the city health departments being overwhelmed early in the pandemic. A spokesman for the agency, Patrick Gallahue, acknowledged that its reporting system was not set up until July, but said there was no reason that cases reported later would not be documented.

According to city data and records disclosed by Amazon in a lawsuit, the warehouse had at least 700 confirmed cases between March 2020 and March 2021. Given the limited testing in the New York metropolitan area last spring, that may well be an undercount.

As Christmas approached, JFK8 was setting an Amazon record for volume. Huge congrats to the team hitting over 1 Million units in 24 hours kicking off Peak 2020! Ms. Weishalla cheered on LinkedIn. The workers achieved the unachievable, echoed another manager. Soon Ms. Weishalla was promoted again, supervising multiple warehouses in the Midwest.

JFK8 was just a small part of Amazons success. From October through December, Amazon brought in $125.6 billion in sales. In the pandemic year of 2020, it spent $44 billion leasing airplanes, constructing data centers, and opening new warehouses  and still produced more than $21 billion in profit. Globally, it spent $2.5 billion on the extra pandemic pay in spring and seasonal bonuses; for the holidays, warehouse employees got $300, $150 for part-timers.

Amazon Is Building Warehouses Faster Than Ever 80 Includes fulfillment and distribution centers that are under construction or planned to open 60 40 20 0 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 80 60 Includes fulfillment and distribution centers planned and under construction 40 20 0 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 Source: MWPVL International

In Facebook groups, warehouse workers across the country shared photos of the messages their managers sent to motivate and reward them. Some won air fryers or Fire TV Sticks. In Connecticut, a manager messaged employees at their workstations that if they handled 400 items an hour, or about one every 10 seconds, you WIN CANDY. At another, a sign went up during the holidays: Todays Snack: A Banana *Available 9 a.m. until 7 p.m.* In Ohio, workers got scratch-off cards to win prizes.

One employee scratched off two with the same message: Please try again.

Workers piling into a bus outside JFK8. Dave Sanders for The New York Times

Looking for Signs of Change

A few weeks into the new year, Derrick Palmer took a 16-hour road trip with Mr. Smalls to Bessemer to witness the most serious push workers had ever made to challenge their status at Amazon. The employees galvanizing Amazons first-ever unionization vote framed their treatment as an issue of racial justice. Above all, they objected to the time off task system and other productivity monitoring, and called their campaign a quest for respect in the workplace.

Amazon waged a ground war, warning  through posted signs, texts and mandatory meetings  that union negotiations could risk the good jobs and benefits workers already had. In the end, the election was not even close: The retail union lost by more than 2 to 1.

Mr. Smalls and Mr. Palmer held barbecues in the JFK8 parking lot as part of their unionization drive. Dave Sanders for The New York Times

Back on Staten Island, Mr. Palmer and Mr. Smalls embarked on a new mission anyway. As legal fights continued over whether JFK8 was safe during the virus and how Amazon handled the March 2020 protests, they began collecting hundreds of workers signatures in a quest to unionize JFK8. Amazon pulled out its Bessemer playbook and fought back, posting discouraging signs in bathrooms and at the buildings entrance. Mr. Palmer, still packing boxes as the company countered his efforts, felt the pressure on him grow.

But at the same time, the Alabama rout was leading to an unexpected moment of recognition by the company. The complaints heard in Bessemer were echoed by workers at multiple warehouses across the country. A new, labor-friendly president was in the White House. The virus had magnified fundamental questions about Amazons relationship with its employees, and the reopening economy presented workers with other options  a potential problem for a business whose growth ambitions are larger than ever.

In the final months of Jeff Bezos tenure as chief executive, his high-turnover model looked riskier, and the concerns about how Amazon treated the workers who powered its rise were tarnishing his legacy. During the pandemic, Mr. Bezos personal wealth exploded from $110 billion to more than $190 billion. He had also been building a $500 million superyacht, according to the new book Amazon Unbound, and preparing for his first spaceflight after investing billions in his rocket company, Blue Origin.

Mr. Bezos commitment in April to become Earths best employer raised questions  about what exactly that meant, and how far he and his successors would go.

Amazon soon rolled out more raises. Starting wages at JFK8 went up 50 cents, to $18.25. The company announced safety initiatives and diversity plans, including a goal to retain employees at statistically similar rates across all demographics  an implicit admission that the numbers had been uneven across races. Ms. Weishallas successors on Staten Island were holding weekly talent review meetings to ensure that Black and Latino workers, among others, were finding advancement opportunities.

In an interview, Mr. Agboka, the head of warehouse human resources, acknowledged that the company had relied too heavily on technology to manage workers. Were recognizing that in many times, where we thought self-service was good, self-service was not the only  cant be the only  solution, he said. Every experience matters. And when the experiences arent right, weve got to find a way to fix it.

But it wasnt clear how much the company was willing to reconsider the sacrosanct systems of productivity, automation and high turnover that propelled it to dominance. Are they going to address the issue of an expendable work force? asked Mr. Cavagnaro, the fired worker who was returning to JFK8. Are there going to be any changes?

After repeated inquiries from The Times about the time off task policy and Dayana Santos, the JFK8 worker who challenged her termination, Amazon this month announced an immediate change: No longer could someone be fired for one bad day. All those who had been were now eligible for rehiring. The company said it had been reconsidering the policy for months.

In Seattle, Paul Stroup, whose teams studied Amazons hourly work force, watched the recent events and read Mr. Bezos letter. He felt caught between skepticism and hope that the company would finally deploy what he considered its best qualities  a penchant for fresh, open-minded thinking and tackling ambiguous, hard problems  in service of its workers.

It would be an amazing thing for hourly employment across industries, he wrote in a note on LinkedIn. Jeffs comment makes me think things could change, but it may be too late to reverse the damage it has done.

Now, he said, lets see if they can innovate their way out of this.
A Brazilian young man recently got a rather humiliating birthday party thrown for him by police after being arrested for theft right on the day that he turned 18.

Celebrating your 18th birthday should be a joyous occasion, but for one Paulo Rodrigo das Neves, from Brazils Rio Grande do Norte region, the event was anything but. Arrested on his birthday after being caught on camera stealing sound equipment and other parts from peoples cars, the birthday boy got to enjoy a humiliating celebration at the police station, with staff there singing him Happy Birthday and even serving cake and soda in his honor. To make matters worse, the whole thing was filmed and posted online.

We cant pass up a date like this, the police officer filming can be heard ironically saying, as two of his colleagues at the 5th Civil Police Precinct of Macau help set the table for the birthday boy. Paulo Rodrigo das Neves doesnt seem to happy with the situation, though, and who can blame him. He is spending his 18th birthday in police custody, being made fun of.

The police involved in the celebration eventually sing Happy Birthday for Paulo, pour Coca Cola, and even have him cut a cake they bought for him ,and serve the second slice to his mother, who is watching the humiliating scene unfold.



After the video of the bizarre celebration went viral on social networks, Brazils Military Police issued a statement informing the public that it would conduct an investigation, and threatened disciplinary action against the police staff who participated in the shameful display.

According to several comments on social media, the police were actually celebrating the fact that Paulo Rodrigo das Neves would have to answer for his crimes as an adult, and potentially spending times behind bars, which only makes the whole thing sound even crueler.
Fraser Seitel

Heres whats likely to emerge from this months historic showdown summit between Presidents Biden and Putin: nothing.

Nothing has become something of a watchword for the Biden Administration, which is stocked with bland political lifers long on promises and pronouncements and task forces but short on actual accomplishments.

And thats not all bad; in fact, doing less may be exactly what the nation needs after four years of daily bitterness, braggadocio and bombast. Unlike his predecessor, Joe Biden seems a decent, dedicated, down-to-earth plodder, who will try his best to do no harm to the country he leads. And thats all good.

The Presidents problem, beyond his advanced age and not-ready-for-prime time Vice President, is his party.

The Democrats, and Biden among them, have been hijacked by a small group of progressive zealots who, if allowed to continue to steer the Democrat Partys direction and dominate their public relations narrative, will likely hand the Houseand maybe the Senateback to the Republicans in the 2022 elections.

At this point, in fact, the only thing standing in the way of a Republican reemergence is a strange, orange-tufted beach creature lurking in the sands of Mar-a-Lago.

And if Republicans choose to return to a slavish devotion to Donald Trump, theyll find themselves upending the entire Republican comeback applecart.

Betting against Trump a few years ago was a bad idea, but this time its different. After refusing to acknowledge his successors legitimacy, bad-mouthing his most loyal subordinate Mike Pence, and getting caught knee-deep in the Capitol riots, Trump has lost his political mojo with most of those who voted for himfrom moderates to business leaders to Mitch McConnell. His only strength now lies with fraidy-cat Republicans, who fear theyll lose Trumps face painted, horn-headed right wing loyalists in next years elections.

Nonetheless, the fact remains that having alienated most of the people who voted for him once, theres no way Trump can win the presidency again in 2024, which brings us to todays Democrats.

As much as Trump may be reviled by those who once supported him, so too are the so-called progressives who are forcing Biden and his partys leaders into an untenable corner, out of which theyre unlikely to escape.

And while youd never know it watching MSNBC or reading The New York Times, Democrat elders are petrified that Republicans will win with a public relations platform based on three wrongheaded notions that misguided progressives have handed them.

First, dont defund the police

The progressive position to defund the police, which grew out of post-George Floyd protests, has already proved disastrous.

Clueless city councils in many cities have been unable to translate the anti-police battle cry into any meaningful action. As politicians bungle their way through defunding, police forces in left-wing cities have been decimated. Police retirements nearly doubled in New York City and Seattle, quintupled in Portland, and in Minneapolis, where the actions of one sadistic cop led to George Floyds death, applications to join the police force have been cut in half.

Meanwhile, of course, the people who will continue to suffer most from diminished policing are poorer people who live in high-crime urban areas; in other words, the very people that protestors set out to protect.

Like it or not, Democrats are associated with this catastrophic anti-police movement, and Republicans wont let them forget it.

Second, dont politicize education

Equally calamitous for Democrats is the widespread shift to focus childhood education more directly on race and gender.

The spate of African American deaths in the custody of police has triggered a national dialogue on race. Such dialogue to improve racial harmony is a good thing. But one outgrowth that hasnt been helpful is the progressive push to introduce controversial critical race theory into the curricula of Americas elementary, junior high and high schools.

Technically, critical race theory is a 40-year-old academic concept that suggests racism is embedded in the systems legal practices and business policies; for example, red-lining in mortgage lending leading to segregated housing.

The controversy surrounding critical race theory, like many other issues today, lies in how its perceived. Left-leaning advocates hail it as shining a light on systemic racism, while right-leaning critics condemn it for dividing people into oppressors and oppressed.

What isnt debatable is that most Americans believe that coming out of a largely lost academic year, the last thing the nations students need is yet another political controversy to distract teachers and administrators from fulfilling their primary academic mission of teaching.

The same is true with the heightened focus among public and private schools on gender issues. Progressive advocates argue that its important for children to have an understanding of various genders at an early age, to learn to be accepting of others and not to pre-judge. Conservative critics argue that such studies are age-inappropriate, unscientific and clearly political. Which side is right? Take your pick.

Once again, whats indisputable is that Democrats are associated with this push toward early gender studies, and that most Americansincluding, importantly, moderate voters who can influence next years electionsare opposed to force-feeding the gender agenda into their childrens or grandchildrens early education.

Third, dont knock capitalism

The reason Trump was palatable to many who found him personally odious was that he was an unabashed pro-business capitalist.

Democrats, fairly or unfairly, are perceived as neutral, at best, in terms of supporting business and socialist at worst. Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, for example, readily identify as democratic socialists. And its true that in recent years American opinions about capitalism, particularly among Millennials, have deteriorated.

Accordingly, the concept of free enterprise needs to be reinvigorated, and inequities in the system need to be repaired. But the reality is that most Americans still believe in big business, working to earn as much as you can and the merits of free enterprise. And most Democrats dont.

All of which bodes well for Republicans winning back the House in next years electionsjust as long as they stay away from embracing the poisonous Trump.

***

Fraser P. Seitel has been a communications consultant, author and teacher for 40 years. He is author of the Pearson text The Practice of Public Relations, now in its 14th edition, and co-author of Rethinking Reputation and "Idea Wise. He can be reached directly at yusake@aol.com.
Where theres smoke there usually is fire. On the day that Lordstown Motors announced the immediate resignations of CEO Steve Burns and chief financial officer Julio Rodriguez, the company issued another release that received less media attention.

That June 14 release disputed the findings of a Hindenburg Research Report that charged the company made various misstatements about demand for its Endurance pick-up truck, the viability of the technology utilized in the Endurance, and its ability to start production of the Endurance in September 2021.

Lordstowns board created a special committee to investigate the charges brought forth by Hindenburg and hired law firm Sullivan & Cromwell to investigate.

That probe found the Hindenburg Report is, in significant respects, false and misleading. It said Hindenburgs claims about the viability of its technology and timeline to start production are not accurate, though it raised some accurate questions about pre-orders for the Endurance.

Lordstown plans to produce the Endurance in a plant that had been abandoned by General Motors.

Former president Trump used the Endurance for a White House photo op on Sept. 28, 2020, as a symbol of his effort to bring jobs to Ohios Mahoning Valley. Weve been working on this very long and very hard, said Trump. The ex-president's boast may have been nothing but hot air.

Lordstown Motors pitches itself as a manufacturer with the purpose of transforming Ohios Mahoning Valley and Lordstown into the epicenter of electric-vehicle manufacturing.

With the resignation of its CEO and CFO, that lofty goal looks iffy. We will see if the Hindenburg prediction of a September meltdown happens. Lordstown Motors may need some divine intervention to regain its momentum.

James Tough Guy Gorman tells it like it is.... The Morgan Stanley CEO told employees skittish about reporting to work to buck up. If you can go into a restaurant in New York City, you can come in to the office and we want you in the office, he said June 14 during a financial services conference.

Gorman also threw cold water on the idea of tele-commuting from Florida or from any other remote location. If you want to get paid New York rates, you work in New York, he said.

The CEO, who came down with COVID-19 at the very beginning of the pandemic, will be very disappointed if the old gang isnt back at the companys 1585 Broadway headquarters by Labor Day.

Those who do not report to duty may find themselves facing a chilly Fall season.

PwCs decision is to add 100K people to the payroll over the next five years in a ringing endorsement for the potential of environmental, social and governance PR.

The Financial Times reports that PwCs commitment is the strongest signal yet that the Big Four accounting firms expect ESG advice to become a core part of all of their business lines, just as digital capabilities have become the norm over the past decade.

Source Global Research estimates the market for counsel on pure sustainability issues topped the $1B mark in 2020.

Let the hiring spree for PR pros schooled in the ways of ESG begin.
Powerful Offaly Green Party Minister Pippa Hackett has gone on the offensive against criticism of the future of bogs in the region.

The Senator who sits at the Cabinet table with Micheal Martin and Leo Varadkar issued a press release after speaking on this subject in Seanad on Monday.

The statement said people in the Midlands are embracing opportunities to regenerate bogs for tourism and to generate renewable energy

They want to bring tourism to the area, they want to work in renewable energy, and they want to create people-first, town-centre first' futures for towns like Portlaoise and Tullamore, she said.

Senator Hackett said nostalgic memories could not be allowed to hold the Midlands back. She accused fellow politicians of wanting to keep counties like Laois and Offaly in the past, forever suppressed, for a few populist, self-serving headlines.

As a progressive, pragmatic, green politician, I refuse to accept the destructive story that decarbonising this important region means we are losing something valuable, she said.

We are not and Im calling that out  because what we are actually doing is gaining.

Minister Hackett said the younger generation is well aware of the need for change.

The fact is our children will not be heating their homes with turf or coal, or even oil or gas. They will be using electricity and that vital energy will be generated from renewable sources  of which we have an abundance.

Our children know this. They are environmentally and socially aware. As policymakers and legislators, it is our responsibility to be so, too, she said.

The statement said the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture said she was focused on a clean, green future for the next generation.

And when they want to come home, come home they will...to good jobs, to a place where they can settle and rear their families, and to an area which has rejuvenated itself into the vibrant and modern region it deserves to be," she said.

Among those who have been vocal in criticism is Offaly County Councillor Ken Smollen, who, like Minister Hackett, was not elected to the Dail when he contested the 2020 General Election in Laois Offaly.

He posted in recent days his memories of the bog in which he took a swipe at current policy.

"While it was all very hard work, I still look back on those great times and wonder how we've allowed men and women in city offices, many of them not ever having set foot in Ireland, never mind having stood on a bog to dictate to us in 2021.

"The problem is that many of our own homegrown city boys and girls know little or nothing about country life, nor do they care as they willingly allow the money men and women of the world to drown all of us in bureaucracy...Retrofitting (a new political buzzword) your home is supposedly the future for home owners at the small cost of anything between 15,000 - 70,000 - but shur isn't there a 50% grant available.

"And there's yer man again in his plush city office rubbing his hands together at the thought of the millions in profits he's shortly going to pocket with the help of his many politician friends who are totally compromised by their connections to the Renewable Energy Industry," he said.
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Bailey McCann, Opalesque New York:

Zurich-based Aquis Capital has launched a new fund of funds focused on ESG. The Leo - Impactis Fund invests in ESG focused hedge funds globally. The fund will target returns of 8-12% per year.

Aquis Capital AG is a boutique asset manager with a focus on hedge funds and emerging Asia opportunities.

The Leo-Impactis fund will rely on the EU Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation and the EU Taxonomy for sustainable investment products as a guideline for identifying managers. Aquis Capital has also partnered with ESG specialist firm WaVeritas to build out the due diligence and performance evaluation process through an ESG lens.

The fund of funds will be strategy agnostic provided that each fund meets the ESG criteria developed by WaVeritas. The mix of strategies in the fund of funds is expected to have a variety of risk exposures in order to avoid overlaps within the group of strategies. The correlation of the fund to the equity market is expected to be low to medium depending on the market environment. Ultimately, the fund of funds will be representative of ESG specialist managers who have identified structural winners and losers across all sectors that will emerge as the world transitions to a lower carbon, more sustainable economy.

The launch of Leo-Impactis comes on the heels of Aquis' announcement in March that the firm had hired Mike Meier as its CEO and Head of Hedge Funds. Meier was previously Deputy of the H......................

To view our full article Click here
Laxman Pai, Opalesque Asia:

BlackRock Real Assets has raised $1.67bn for its inaugural global infrastructure debt strategy to finance data centers, toll roads, wind energy, and other infrastructure projects around the world.

BlackRock wrapped up its Global Infrastructure Debt (GID) Fund at more than three times its initial goal, the New York firm said. The total amount raised includes $150 million in capital for co-investment deals.

The fund has seen commitments from over 20 institutional investors, including leading global insurance companies, public and private pension funds, and family offices, from the United States, Canada, Japan, and Korea, representing more than three times the initial fundraising target.

BlackRock Real Assets established its infrastructure debt investment capability in 2013 and has an extensive track record across both investment grade and high yield infrastructure debt. Today, the GID team manages US$16.6 billion in global client commitments, which represents approximately one-quarter of BlackRock Real Assets' total client commitments.

According to a press release from the American multinational investment management corporation, GID is BlackRock's first commingled fund offering in the high-yield infrastructure debt market, complementing the firm's existing capabilities across the capital structure in senior debt and equity. The fund sits alongside US$1.3 billion managed through investment-grade commingled funds.

GID targets infra......................

To view our full article Click here
Ashik Ul Haque is an iconic Bangladeshi digital entrepreneur, IT analyst, author, e-business strategist, digital creator and researcher, paved his way to versatile influencer. He was born on 22nd June 1984 in Narayanganj, Bangladesh; known as dandy of the west. He is a true inspiration for all the people who want to persuade their career in e-business and digital entrepreneurship industry. He has emerged as a versatile digital entrepreneur as 
Palm Desert, CA: June 15, 2021 - Mobile Notary Kim Flanagan is looking forward to June 15 with more anticipation than most  the ability to meet and offer clients critical document handling services. The date is eagerly awaited as California will no longer require social distancing and will allow full capacity for businesses when the state reopens. From powers of attorney to loan documents, health care directives and living 
FILE - Shown in this Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017, file photo is State Rep. Ras Smith, D-Waterloo, at the Statehouse in Des Moines, Iowa. Smith, a state representative from eastern Iowa, is the first Iowa politician to announce a run for Iowa governor as Democrats organize in hopes of gaining traction among voters to counter Republican domination of the legislature and governor's office. Smith launched an ad campaign Tuesday June 15, 2021, and set a formal announcement for Tuesday evening.
Police in western Iowa say they have arrested a woman accused of setting another woman on fire and hitting the victim in the face as a third person tried to put out the flames
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The Boy Scouts of America has officially recognized Jacob Hansen, Samuel Longlet, Bennett Veith and Nathan Witt's achievement of earning the rank of Eagle Scout, the Boy Scouts of America's highest advancement rank.

Only 7% of eligible Scouts earn the Eagle Scout award. These new Eagle Scouts are members of Troop 763, chartered by First Baptist Church. Troop 763 has been in existence for over 90 years and has accounted for 144 Eagle Scouts to date.

The Eagle Scout Court of Honor took place earlier this month at Emerson Park in Midland. Assistant Scoutmaster Eric Joffre led the ceremony, which included special guest State Rep. Annette Glenn.

Hansen joined Pack 3721 at Siebert Elementary School as a Tiger Cub in first grade and continued through Webelos II in fifth grade earning the Arrow of Light Award. He crossed over to Boy Scouts and became a member of Troop 763 in 2014. He filled the leadership positions of den chief for Cub Scout Pack 3791, web master, and troop guide. He will be capping of his Boy Scout career by attending the Philmont High Adventure Backpacking Camp in New Mexico in June. His Eagle project was the construction of a GaGa ball pit on the Siebert Elementary School playground. He worked closely with Principal Paul Schroll and PTA President Annalisa Christensen to plan the project. He received help from numerous Scouts and parents from Troops 763 and 767 during project construction. The pit was installed in October of 2018 and has been enjoyed by many students. Son of Matt and Denise Hansen, Hansen will attend the University of Michigan to study Engineering beginning in August.

Longlet began his scouting career in the first grade, where he became a Tiger Scout at Sieberts pack 3721. He crossed over into Boy Scout Troop 763 in 2013. Longlet earned 22 merit badges alongside the Arrow of Light, as well as spending four years as patrol leader. He is also a member of the Order of the Arrow. For his Eagle Scout Project, Longlet refurbished the back patio at St. Francis Home in Saginaw, in honor of his late uncle, Ronald Martin. The patio was completed in summer of 2018. Son of Tim and Rebecca Longlet, he is studying political science and German at Western Michigan University, where he is currently a sophomore.

Veith joined Cub Scouts in third grade while living in Dubai, U.A.E. He moved to Midland and joined Troop 763 as a Boy Scout in 2013. Veith earned 29 merit badges as well as the Catholic Emblem of Faith (Ad Altare Dei). His leadership position in Troop 763 was the Chaplains Aide. Veiths Eagle Scout project involved designing and building a stone labyrinth for the Childrens Grief Center of the Great Lakes Bay Region (CGC). He worked closely with Camille Gerace Nitschky of the CGC while planning the project. He built the labyrinth with the help of scouts and parents from Troops 763 and 767. The labyrinth was completed in 2019, and has been used as a place of reflection for grieving children. Son of Pattie Veith-Powers and Brian Powers, Veith is an incoming sophomore at The University of Michigan.

Witt began his scouting career as a Tiger Cub in first grade with Pack 3721 at Siebert Elementary School and continued through Webelos II in fifth grade. He crossed over to Boy Scouts and became a member of Troop 763 in 2014. Witt earned 28 merit badges, a bronze palm, and the Arrow of Light Award. He attended High Adventure Summit Bechtel Reserve Camp in West Virginia in 2017 and Northern Tier High Adventure Camp in the Boundary Waters of Minnesota in 2019. His leadership positions in Troop 763 included patrol leader and troop guide. Witt's Eagle project replaced the dilapidated 150 foot-long "Boy Scout Bridge," first built in 2005 by another Eagle Scout, with a newly-designed bridge. Witt worked closely with Jim Crissman and the City of Midland's Parks and Recreation Department to plan and orchestrate the project. He received help from numerous Scouts and parents from both Troops 763 and 767 during bridge construction. The bridge was installed in October of 2019 and has been enjoyed by many runners, bikers and hikers since. Son of Paul and Heather Witt, Witt will attend the United States Air Force Academy beginning in June 2021.
The Midland County Board of Commissioners met for a regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, June 15.

At the Tuesday meeting, all of the items from committees that were up for approval were approved by the commission.

One item includes reimbursing United Way of Midland County for its efforts in COVID-19 mitigation. The commissioners voted 7-0 to reimburse the nonprofit organization with $94,216.94 in CARES Act funding to help recover from unexpected costs during the pandemic.

During public comment, Coleman resident Kelly Bax said she doesnt understand why the county is providing money to United Way.

Ive been frugal with my money to have it being spent ridiculously (and) given to a nonprofit charitable company that doesnt benefit me, Bax said. I dont understand why its our responsibility in this county to reimburse them for a COVID issue.

In response, Administrator/Controller Bridgette Gransden explained the county is reimbursing United Way of Midland County with federal CARES Act dollars.

We were very fortunate to be approved for almost $300,000 worth of CARES Act money through the MEDC (Michigan Economic Development Corporation), Grandsden said. The eligible expenditures that we were able to be reimbursed for, some of those things were not services that the county provided, but United Way did. The state of Michigan approved that.

District 1 Commissioner Jeanette Snyder said with the rigid CARES Act guidelines, this was one way the county was able to give back to the community through United Way of Midland County.

Other items that were approved in the Tuesday meeting included a Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding grant agreement with the Michigan State Police. The $40,881.40 grant will allow the prosecutor's office to hire a temporary position to assist with backlog cases due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The commissioners unanimously approved the agreement.

Prior to the regularly scheduled meeting, the Executive Committee of the Whole met at 9 a.m.

Grandsden said there has been a slight increase in the number of inmates at the Midland County jail, particularly on the federal marshal side.

Town & Country Group, a local vendor, has been chosen to install the intercom and security system at the jail, a half-million-dollar project.

There are currently 18 active participants in drug court and community corrections. There is no budget yet. Gransden said once the state has a budget, the local programs will be able to put together an operating budget.

As far as we know, there are no attempts at cutting community corrections or there shouldnt be with the surplus of funds that the state of Michigan has, Grandsden said. So, fingers crossed well be getting that (budget) soon.

A few months ago, the American Rescue Plan Act federal legislation passed. This act allocates monies to counties and other local jurisdictions, including Midland County. Recently, Midland County received $8 million from the federal government. Right now, this money is in the general fund, making revenue appearing much higher than the typical amount.

Next year, Midland County anticipates receiving an additional $8 million from the federal government as part of the American Rescue Plan Act.

In the meantime, the county is working to understand how the funds can be used. One of the areas the county is potentially looking at is broadband, an issue the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted across the state.

Midland County is still waiting to confirm the allocation of funds.

In other business, 4-H Clubs with MSU Extension are starting to meet in person outside at Camp Neyati. As of now, MSU Extension is planning day camps without overnight visits.

COVID-19 vaccination update

Midland County Health Officer Fred Yanoski provided a COVID-19 update at the commissioners meeting. Based on the data from June 4-11, he said Midland County is averaging 2.7 COVID-19 cases each day.

Yanoski said Midland County is averaging vaccination rates at just over 60%.

With the most vulnerable population having a high vaccination rate, Yanoski said the health department can shift its focus to the school-aged population before they return to school in the fall. He said last school year, the health department and schools learned a lot about how the virus works within the school population and ways to mitigate the spread in schools. Yanoski said quarantine and isolation measures were powerful tools in helping these groups prevent the spread of COVID-19.

While older adults are more likely to already be vaccinated, Yanoski said vaccines are still available through local providers and pharmacies. The health department is continuing to host clinics every Tuesday from 10 a.m. through 5 p.m. on the second floor of the Midland County Services Building at 220 West Ellsworth Street.

Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are available without an appointment or cost.

District 7 Commissioner (Vice-Chair) Scott Noesen asked Yanoski about vaccination supplies, Have we thrown any of these (vaccines) away?

Yanoski responded that he expects some unused vaccines will be thrown away due to a dropoff in demand. He said some of the unopened vaccination supplies may expire in July.

There's going to be some waste, unfortunately, in the state, Yanoski said. We had to produce so much and demand went down, I think there's going to be some expirations.

Yanoski also said the Food and Drug Administration could adjust expiration dates for pharmaceuticals. He explained that similar to an over-the-counter medication, it might not be unsafe to take the COVID vaccine after the expiration date; however, there could be less efficacy.
The following list includes recent reports from the Midland County Sheriffs Office and the Midland Police Department. Compiled by reporter Andrew Mullin.

Saturday, June 12:

11:47 p.m.  Deputies checked M-20 in Greendale and Lee townships for a report of several cars driving reckless. The deputies did not observe any cars driving recklessly.

10:09 p.m.  A 65-year-old Warren Township male called 911 to report a verbal argument he had with two unknown individuals at a Warren Township gas station. The caller wanted to inform deputies in the event the other party called to 911.

10:03 p.m.  Deputies were dispatched to a Lincoln Township apartment complex regarding a civil complaint between a 20-year-old Lincoln Township female and her 54-year-old grandmother. Both parties were advised how to handle the situation.

7:50 p.m.  Officers responded to a two-vehicle crash in the area of West Buttles Street and Fitzhugh Street.

4:33 p.m.  Officers responded to aggravated and felonious assault in the area of Eastman Avenue and Harcrest Drive.

4:20 a.m.  A deputy assisted Lee Township Fire with a car fire in Greendale Township.

3:32 a.m.  A deputy was dispatched to a Jerome Township residence about a possible domestic that occurred in the city of Midland. The suspect and victim were reported to be headed home. The deputy located the vehicle and made a traffic stop. The male had let the female out in the City of Midland. MPD officers located her. Both parties denied any physical altercation.

12:46 a.m.  Officers responded to a case of aggravated domestic violence and a personal protection order violation on Fitzhugh Street. Officers also made a warrant arrest.

12:20 a.m.  Deputies were dispatched to a Lincoln Township residence regarding an argument between a 12-year-old female and her 41-year-old mother. Counseling numbers were provided to the mother.

Friday, June 11:

11:33 p.m.  Officers made a warrant arrest in the area of South Saginaw Road and Eastlawn Drive.

11:31 p.m.  Deputies were dispatched to a Jasper Township residence reference an unwanted subject. Upon arrival, deputies contacted a 74-year-old Jasper Township female. The female advised the girlfriend was gone before the deputies arrival. She said her sons ex-girlfriend consistently comes to the residence and harasses the family. The female stated she wanted her to stop and didnt know what to do. The female was advised on the process to obtain a personal protection order against the ex-girlfriend.

10:58 p.m.  Deputies were dispatched to a Edenville Township location for a report of a reckless driver. Dispatch advised they received a call regarding a white Camaro tailgating and driving aggressively. Deputies patrolled the area but were unable to locate the vehicle.

9:45 p.m.  A deputy was dispatched to a Warren Township business reference a disorderly subject stealing an energy drink. The 32-year-old man did pay for the drink prior to the deputys arrival but was highly intoxicated and uncooperative.

9:34 p.m.  Officers responded to a weapons violation on East Patrick Road.

8:41 p.m.  Officers responded to a third operating while intoxicated offense at Joe Mann Boulevard and Eastman Avenue.

7:22 p.m.  Officers responded to a traffic hazard in the area of East U.S. 10 and East Patrick Road.

6:18 p.m.  Officers responded to a vehicle crash in the area of Eastman Avenue and Airport Road.

12:54 p.m.  Officers responded to a vehicle crash on Fitzhugh Street.

2:22 a.m.  Officers responded to a drivers second case of operating under a suspended license in the area of East Patrick Road and Illinois Street.

11:48 a.m.  A 57-year-old Lee Township male reported he was assaulted by his boss, a 41-year-old Lee Township male, three days prior to reporting the incident. The male advised he was not injured but would like to press charges. Deputies interviewed both parties involved, and report will be forwarded to the Midland Prosecuting Attorneys Office for review.

10:38 a.m.  A 24-year-old Lee Township male was issued citations after a traffic stop for speeding in the Village of Sanford.

9:13 a.m.  A 43-year-old Lincoln Township female reported an unknown male pulled in her driveway driving a blue pickup, looked around from inside of his vehicle, and left. The female stated she has never seen the male before, and believes the male was scoping out her residence. Deputies searched the for blue pickup, but it was not located. The female said she plans on putting security cameras up throughout her property.

8:40 a.m.  A 64-year-old Porter Township male reported he is missing his heart medication. The male advised he reported the same thing a few days ago to the Midland County Sheriffs office, but believes someone is continuing to take his medication.

1:44 a.m.  Deputies were dispatched to an Ingersoll Township residence reference a breaking and entering complaint. The complainants, a 21-year-old Ingersoll female and a 20-year-old Ingersoll male, reported someone came into their residence while they were gone. The couple reported a military uniform missing and a ring. The ring was valued at roughly $200 and the female believes a family member is the primary suspect. The case is pending further investigation.

1:09 a.m.  Deputies were dispatched to a single vehicle property damage accident in Porter Township. The driver, a 22-year-old, Porter Township male was arrested for operating under the influence of liquor because of the crash. The male was transported to the Midland County Jail, where he was lodged without incident. A report has been forwarded to the prosecutors office for review.
With LGBTQ Pride Month well underway, K-12 students in Midland were celebrating before the school year ended, including now former 13-year-old Jefferson Middle School student Audra Segura.

A friend of hers decided to wear a pride flag to school earlier in the month, but was told by the vice principal that the student needed to remove it, citing capes as a distraction. Segura, who identifies as pansexual, said she wanted to show support for her friend by wearing a pansexual pride flag on Tuesday, June 8. She was also told to remove her cape.

However, Segura responded, No, I cannot do that.

After sitting in the principals office for an hour or two, Segura was given the choice of removing her flag, staying in the principals office, or being sent home. She decided to go home.

The day after this incident, Segura helped organize a protest of students wearing pride flags at Jefferson Middle School to protest this rule. This incident has some parents questioning how the school district handles student expression in the school.

What (the school) said we were not allowed to (do) was wrong, Segura said. We would understand if there was a political statement, but since sexualities are personal identities, it should not be a problem.

After looking into the schools dress code, Audra and her father, Daniel Segura, found nothing against capes or flags being worn as capes in the dress code. Daniel said he saw in a private Facebook group that the same rule was not being enforced at Northeast Middle School.

They also found the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in the past that freedom of speech and expression was not restricted in public schools, if it was not a disruption. Audra Segura said she was not given any proof the flag was a learning distraction.

The principal called Audra the night she was sent home to apologize and to say students can wear pride flags in school. The school was allowing students to wear pride shirts and symbols, with some teachers even wearing pride related shirts, Daniel Segura said.

Midland Public Schools Superintendent Michael Sharrow said over email the school does allow students to wear clothing with pride symbols but does not allow 3x4 flags to be worn as capes in school. He said the capes are disruptive to learning and it had nothing to do with Audras pride expression.

Sharrow said the principal did not apologize. The Midland Daily News reached out to Jefferson Principal Tiela Schurman about the incident but did not immediately receive a response.

When 14-year-old Jefferson Middle School student Ana Drake, who identifies as queer, heard about Audra Segura being sent home, she felt it was unfair because Audra was just expressing herself. She wanted to show support for Audra and her ability to wear her pride flag.

So, Anas mom, Cindy, helped buy 30 pride flags for students that did not have them to help show support. On Wednesday, June 9, Audra and Ana passed out pride flags to students, although some brought their own. At around 11 a.m., between 40-50 eighth graders and seventh graders put on their pride flags during class.

Audra Segura being sent home was not the first pride-related incident that has happened this month at Jefferson. Daniel Segura said students put up pride posters around the school, but they were taken down by other students, with some students taunting and cursing the ones who put them up.

Audra Segura reportedly was told by the principal they were required to be a part of an official club to use a club bulletin board that other students couldn't deface. So, the schools first ever Gay-Straight Alliance at Jefferson was formed to do so.

To Audra Segura, the school likes to avoid conflict, which is what she feels likely led to her being told to remove the flag cape.

Midland Public Schools is very risk averse, Daniel Segura said. They are concerned about letting students rock the boat.
Paramedics were called regularly to treat children suffering from panic attacks so severe their hands would constrict into balls and their bodies would shake. The outbursts often occurred after other children were taken away to be reunited with families, dashing the hopes of those left behind at the largest emergency shelter set up by the Biden administration to hold minors who had crossed the U.S.-Mexico border alone.

The conditions described by a federal volunteer who spent two weeks in May at the shelter at Fort Bliss Army Base in El Paso, Texas, highlight the desperation and stress of thousands of children held at unlicensed facilities, waiting to reunite with relatives.

Some had marks on their arms indicating self-harm, and federal volunteers were ordered to keep out scissors, pencils or even toothbrushes that could be used as a weapon. While girls made origami and braided friendship bracelets, a large number of the children spent the day sleeping, the volunteer said. Some had been there nearly two months.

The volunteer spoke on condition of anonymity because she was not authorized to talk publicly about what she witnessed on the base from May 12 to May 25. She said she was compelled to speak out because of the despair she observed. Much of what she described mirrored what advocates who visited the shelter recently recounted to The Associated Press and what children there told them.

The conditions raise concerns about why it is taking more than a month on average to release the children when most have family in the United States. More staffing has been added since the emergency shelters were opened this spring amid an unprecedented arrival of migrant children, and the flows have subsided.

I think there is a general consensus that no child should be in these emergency shelters for more than two weeks, said Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, policy counsel for the advocacy group American Immigration Council.

Lawyers and advocates question why most of the children are at unlicensed shelters.

As of May 31, nearly 9,000 children were kept at unlicensed sites, compared with 7,200 at licensed shelters, court filings by the U.S. government said. While the unlicensed facilities were running at near capacity in May, the licensed facilities were only about half full, according to a report filed by the agency tasked with the children's care.

Advocates say the government should be pouring more resources into the safe release of children, and those without relatives or a family friend, known as a sponsor, should be immediately going to licensed facilities that are required to have a care worker for every eight children during the day and a mental health clinician per every 12 children.

The volunteer was one of more than 700 at the time, when Fort Bliss housed more than 4,600 children in giant, air-conditioned military tents filled with cot-style bunkbeds. The number of children there is now down by nearly half, at fewer than 2,500.

The volunteer said she met children who had been there 54 days. She saw bubbly girls grow angry and quiet and sleep so much they had to be woken to eat.

Several had panic attacks after seeing friends leave to join their families. One day, ambulances were called four times, the volunteer said.

Paramedics would come into the tent and take them away on a stretcher because their hands would constrict up, their heads would sometimes go to one side, and their limbs would shake and it was obvious that it was very uncontrolled, she said.

The children could call their families twice a week.

An official from the Department of Health and Human Services did not comment specifically on the allegations regarding first responders treating children suffering from panic attacks and other concerns about the minors safety, but said the administration was working on expanding indoor recreation space, mental health support, wellness activities and educational services. The official said mental health services and counseling are available to everyone at the emergency facilities.

The record arrivals of migrant children have tested the Biden administration, with the U.S. government picking up nearly 60,000 children traveling without their parents across the Mexican border from February to May.

The governments goal is to unite every child safely and swiftly with their parents or sponsors, but it takes time to do the extensive screening that includes interviews, background checks and sometimes home visits, the government official said.

The administration has maintained it followed best practices when it opened 14 emergency intake sites this spring to respond quickly to overcrowding at Customs and Border Protection facilities, and said improvements are being made constantly.

They include the addition of virtual case managers to assist staff on the ground to expedite the release of children, and efforts to identify complicated cases or children without relatives or sponsors to move them to licensed facilities.

The number of children in the shelters has dropped from a high of more than 23,000 to 16,000. Four emergency shelters have closed, while two more are slated to close soon.

The government is no longer anticipating Fort Bliss will need to expand to 10,000 beds, the official said.

Attorneys and advocates say the Fort Bliss shelter should be shuttered as soon as possible.

Advocates say better options are being underutilized like the convention center in Long Beach, California, where immigration attorneys meet with children regularly, and musical performers and yoga instructors have been invited in.

A Pomona, California, facility is housing about 500 children but has space for more than 2,000. It has consistently met its goal of reunifying 20% of the children by the end of each week, said Lindsay Toczylowski, executive director of Immigrant Defenders Law Center in California.

One of the questions I have is why are children continuing to be held in places like Fort Bliss, where conditions are being reported as so dire, when there are places like Pomona? she said.

The government said every shelter offers mental health care, and it has added more behavioral health, spiritual and educational services, including at Fort Bliss, which also opened more indoor recreational space.

Even so, none of the emergency shelters can properly care for children with the trauma of fleeing violent homelands, said Leecia Welch, an attorney at the nonprofit National Center for Youth Law who monitors the care of immigrant children in U.S. custody to ensure the facilities adhere to conditions set out by a long-standing court settlement.

There is not enough focus on releasing children to their families," said Welch, whose team visited Fort Bliss on June 3 and 4.

Releasing children in U.S. custody has become more critical since Texas Gov. Greg Abbott this month directed a state agency to discontinue licenses for facilities sheltering migrant children.

Advocates fear shelters could close and result in more minors in unlicensed shelters like Fort Bliss.

The volunteer said she could see the toll it was taking.

With more than 900 girls there at the time, the volunteers divided them into pods to better care for them. Her pod watched over 25 girls. Some required one-on-one supervision 24 hours a day after showing a tendency to harm themselves, she said.

Weeks after she was admitted to Fort Bliss, a shy 13-year-old girl was finally given a new pair of shoes to replace the tattered ones she wore when she left Guatemala and walked for days, the volunteer said.

When she got them, she held them to her chest, she said.

The government notified the volunteers on May 24 that they were no longer needed because the contractor had hired enough staff to have one worker for every 15 children.

I know that this is very upsetting news to many of us and that we all have concerns about the children being treated humanely after we leave, the email stated, assuring the volunteers they would be let go gradually.

The contractor, Rapid Deployment Inc., declined to comment, referring questions to the administration.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Navy never had to look too hard to fill its elite SEAL force. For years, eager recruits poured in to try out for naval special warfare teams  but they were overwhelmingly white.

Now, Naval Special Warfare Command leaders are trying to turn that around, developing programs to seek out recruits from more diverse regions of the country.

We have been passive in the way that we recruit, Were SEAL Team. Come find us, said Rear Adm. H. Wyman Howard III, top commander for Naval Special Warfare, in an interview with The Associated Press. Now, he said, we have to go where diversity lives."

Army leaders have been doing some of the same things. Lt. Gen. Fran Beaudette, head of Army Special Operations Command, said they have loosened some restrictions on who can try out for special forces units  which included requirements on the amount of time in the service or in rank a soldier had done. And the Army has created new, specialized teams to better reach out to more diverse populations.

The effort comes as the military  and the nation  struggles with racism, extremism and hate crimes. Leaders see greater diversity as a way to combat extremism in the ranks, even as they increase other training and education programs.

Commando forces  particularly the officers  tend to be far less diverse than the military as a whole. While only a small percentage of those who try out eventually pass the grueling, years-long training for special operations, leaders hope that bringing in a wider array of recruits will lead to a more diverse force.

As of March 2021, a full 95% of all SEAL and combatant-craft crew (SWCC) officers were white and just 2% were Black, according to Naval Special Warfare statistics provided to the AP. The officers corps of Army Special Forces is 87% white, and also 2% Black.

The enlisted ranks are only slightly more diverse. About 84% of the Navy SEAL and SWCC enlisted troops are white, and 2% are Black. The greater diversity comes in the number of American Indian, Alaskan Native and those who say they are multiple races. The Armys enlisted special forces are also 84% white, but the percentage of Blacks goes up to 4.

When all members of Naval Special Warfare and Army Special Operations Command are included  which would add combat support, civil affairs and psychological operations personnel  the diversity grows slightly. But it still doesnt match the overall Army and Navy statistics. For example, 40% of the Navys enlisted force and 24% of its officers are non-white.

Senior leaders have few answers when asked why minority recruits havent gravitated to special operations jobs in larger numbers. Some suggest that minority youth in urban areas may not be exposed to troops who do the more elite jobs, or that they tend to go where they see a greater ethnic mix.

For the SEALs in particular, leaders say young minorites may have less access to pools or be less focused on swimming and may not be attracted to jobs that require high levels of water expertise.

Most troops who join SEAL teams or Special Forces want to concentrate on combat missions, not recruiting. With fewer minorities overall, that leaves a tiny number that can be recruiters.

That will be changing. Howard has set up an outreach command that will send troops to cities like Chicago and Detroit to reach out to populations that otherwise may not think about special warfare as a potential choice.

Meanwhile, Beaudette said Special Forces Command has supercharged its marketing. Weve become less shy about advocating for ourselves and explaining what it is we do and how we do it,  he said.

One of the more effective efforts, he said, is having a diverse group of young non-commissioned officers go to Army posts and stations, talking about their experiences.

Already, he said, he's seen results from loosening some application requirements and boosting recruiting. For some of the special operations jobs, as much as 20% more applicants have expressed interest in going through the selection process. The standards for passing the course havent changed, he said, but at least the applicant pool is more diverse.

More broadly, Army Recruiting Command has set up two nine-member teams representing various ethnicities, ranks, jobs and gender to reach out to a wider array of recruits online and through community outreach. Their job is to tell their stories, so that others understand the opportunities in the military.

Maj. Gen. Kevin Vereen, who heads the command, said Army and special operations leaders are all in agreement that diversity is good. Its not necessarily what you look like  we do agree that thats important  but its also diversity of thought and experiences that really add to making the Army so much better.

Howard and Beaudette say they hope that attracting a wider pool of applicants will eventually expand diversity, and help build a more inclusive force that can better protect America.

I think, in a republic, its a foundational point  you have to reflect the people you defend, Howard said.

One of his first moves when he took command was to change his recruits' initial military experience.

For years, when SEAL and special warfare recruits arrived at boot camp they were quickly funneled into a separate training group to hone their skills. But that specialized training had an unintended result: The mostly white recruits had little interaction with a more diverse force.

The separate training was designed, Howard said, to quickily build the special operations force during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, and better prepare recruits as they moved into the selection process for special warfare. But as he looked around, he realized it also enclosed them in a nearly all-white bubble.

It made sense at the time. Doesnt make sense now, said Howard, who took command last September and had eliminated the separate training by December. Now, all special warfare recruits go through boot camp with the other sailor-trainees.

Sitting in the Pentagon recently, Howard reflected on the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, and the racial discord that has wracked the nation. A number of former and current military members were among those who stormed the Capitol.

He pulls a small, red, hard-bound copy of the U.S. Constitution from his pocket. After the riot, Howard bought 10,000 copies, and he and Navy Master Chief Bill King have been giving them to troops. Inside is a card with a message to his force.

Serving the nation, it says, requires we remain strictly apolitical and non-partisan to maintain the trust and confidence of all our fellow citizens.

Handing out the books, he said, reminds troops of their oath, and that we have an obligation to be inclusive, it's how we solve problems. And that's what we're doing.
Palestine, TX (75801)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms in the morning, then mainly cloudy during the afternoon with thunderstorms likely. High 86F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Variable clouds with scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly overnight. Low 72F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
Palestine, TX (75801)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms in the morning, then mainly cloudy during the afternoon with thunderstorms likely. High 86F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Isolated thunderstorms during the evening becoming more widespread overnight. Low 72F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%.
Tripoli, Libya (PANA )- A total of 338 illegal migrants of various African nationalities, heading for European shores on board five boats, were rescued by a Libyan coast guard patrol, a spokesperson for Libyan naval forces said
CHARLESTON  Leaders emerged at Jefferson Elementary School this year, even through the coronavirus pandemic.

The Charleston Rotary Club, in partnership with the teachers and administration of Jefferson, recently awarded the Jefferson Rotary Leadership Awards for 2020-21.

Since 2009, a committee of Rotary members and Jefferson teachers have selected the Leadership Award winners from nominations by the schools teachers. This year, teachers nominated 20 students from the fourth, fifth and sixth grades as school leaders who shined during a year of classes that were in-person part of the year and online for other class times.

From the nominees, seven students were selected for the awards. They are:

Davalyn Bowers, daughter of Chris and Christina Bowers, fourth grade.

Tyler Wayne, son of Mike and Sheryl Wayne, fourth grade.

Mallory Homann, daughter of Brad and Ellen Homann, fifth grade.

Kennedy White, daughter of Amanda White and Jake Luttrell, fifth grade.

Brayden Cobb, son of Paul and Ashley Cobb, fifth grade.

Kayla Schmieder, daughter of David and Melissa Schmieder, sixth grade.

Joshua Peterson, son of Jennifer Messer Peterson and Douglas Peterson, sixth grade.

Among the traits the students are expected to demonstrate throughout the school year are helpfulness, respect, understanding, assisting others, service to others, motivating others, time management, teamwork, ethics, planning, being a mentor and being accountable.

Those are pretty impressive skills for anyone, let alone fourth, fifth and sixth graders, said Rick Hunt, who coordinates the awards program for the Rotary Club.

Rob Ulm, principal at Jefferson Elementary, said award recipients can be counted on for doing the right thing and offering to help without being prompted.

In addition to the awards ceremony with the Rotary Club, the students also were recognized at an all-school assembly.

One of Rotarys five avenues of service is youth. Charleston Rotary has contributed more than $125,000 to the Charleston schools and students since 2000 through I Like Me books for kindergarten pupils, annual college scholarships, technology assistance, Top Ten Student Luncheon, Jefferson Leadership Awards, CHS Interact Club, Rotary Youth Exchange students and more.

Charleston Rotary has returned to in-person meetings at the Charleston Public Library at noon each Tuesday. New members are welcome. More information is at Charlestonrotary.wordpress.com.

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A northern Illinois chemical plant that was rocked by an explosion and massive fires that prompted evacuations was inspected by a federal agency less than a month before the blast sent debris raining down onto nearby areas.

Inspectors from the U.S. Labor Department's Occupational Health and Safety Administration on May 20 investigated a complaint at Chemtool Inc., a plant near the Wisconsin border, WLS-TV reported. Fires continued to burn Tuesday following Monday's explosion.

A summary record of that inspection does not explain what was being inspected at the Rockton-area plant that manufactures lubricants, grease products and other fluids. That record states only that the complaint involved safety and health, and the case remains open, the station reported.

OSHA officials said they have six months to complete their investigation involving the plant, and no further information will be made public until that work is finished, WLS-TV reported. There are no other outstanding cases or any violations in U.S. records pertaining to the plant.

A company spokesperson said that Chemtool has been safely operating since 2008, employing about 200 employees, and Chemtool said all employees on site "at the onset of the fire got out without anyone getting hurt."

Chemtool has no U.S. Environmental Protection Agency violations during at least the last three years, the station reported.

Fires continued burning Tuesday at the ruins of the plant, where helicopter footage showed plumes of dark smoke still rising as fire crews directed water onto a portion of the smoldering site. Blackened and collapsed portions of the plant were visible along with fire-damaged semi-trailers.

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A message seeking an update on fire crews' efforts was left Tuesday for a spokeswoman with the Rockton Fire Department.

Fire Chief Kirk Wilson said Monday that about 70 employees were evacuated safely from the plant, and that one firefighter suffered a minor injury following the explosion. Chemtool's parent company, Lubrizol Corp., later said there were closer to 50 employees present when the plant was evacuated.

Fire officials had ordered a mandatory evacuation of homes and businesses near the plant, but later in the day, Gov. J.B. Pritzker's office expanded the evacuation zone from a 1-mile radius to a 2-mile radius from the plant "out of an abundance of caution." Pritzker's office also encouraged people within that zone to wear masks to prevent them from inhaling soot.

Rockton is located in Winnebago County, near the Wisconsin border, about 95 miles northwest of Chicago. Trisha Diduch, the planning and development administrator for Rockton, said Monday that she estimated that about 1,000 people were affected by the evacuation order.

A message seeking an update on the evacuations was left Tuesday for Rockton officials.

Chemtool, which touts itself as the largest manufacturer of grease in the Americas, has been in business since 1963. Its was purchased nearly eight years ago by the global chemical firm Lubrizol, owned by Berkshire Hathaway.

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MICHIGAN CITY  A man drowned Sunday after saving his girlfriend from drowning in Lake Michigan at a Michigan City beach.

Donald Turner, a 28-year-old Portage resident, was out swimming in Lake Michigan with his girlfriend Sunday afternoon at the Washington Park beach at the lakefront city in LaPorte County. She started to struggle in the water.

Turner swam over to help her. He was able to bring her back to safety before going under the water, according to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division.

He did not resurface.

First responders were dispatched to the beach at about 4:38 p.m. Sunday after a person was reported missing in the water.

"A nearby swimmer located Turner's body a short distance away from where he was last seen," the Indiana Department of Natural Resources said in a news release. "Michigan City Fire Department immediately rendered life-saving measures."

Paramedics were not able to revive Turner.

He was taken by ambulance to Franciscan Health Hospital in Michigan City, where he was pronounced dead.

Indiana Department of Natural Resources Conversation Officers are investigating the drowning. The Michigan City Police Department, Michigan City Fire Department, Indiana State Police, United States Coast Guard and LaPorte County EMS assisted with the case.

Last year was the deadliest for drownings on Lake Michigan with 56 drownings, according to the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project. More than 965 people have drowned in the Great Lake since 2010.

The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project encourages people to flip over, float and follow the current to avoid drowning.

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Indiana's Legislature is expanding their budget to increase the voucher program from 37,000 to 48,000 students per year. These provisions lift the income gap from $96,000 to $145,000, which would make 90% if the population eligible for the program. Another provision would increase grants per students for this program, which makes the teacher's union very unhappy. Their beef is that money to expand choice is taken from traditional public schools; which is not true. We as Illinois taxpayers need to ask our local politicians and school board members why we pay on an average twice the amount of money to educate one student compared to Indiana.
I became appalled and enraged recently upon learning of Amazon primary-owner Jeff Bezo's building of a $500 million ocean yacht as well as a second yacht for the helipad needed for his guests' private helicopters.

This, in the ongoing midst of a pandemic which has left millions of Americans unemployed, lacking adequate income, and even dead. During that same time, Bezo's wealth has increased over $6 billion, because he knows "how to play the financial game."

Where is our outrage?

Wealth gives power. No citizen in a democracy should have the amount of power such extreme wealth confers. Recent studies have shown that the wealth of the top 1% of American households now exceeds the combined wealth of the bottom 80% of households. Democracy cannot survive with such extreme wealth in the hands of so few.

This reality has been brewing and getting worse ever since the Reagan/Gingrich years when regulation of wealth inequality was addressed with tax rates on the wealthiest citizens as high as over 90% being gutted as well as many other regulations being vetoed. This was all part of buying into economist Milton Friedman's theory that the sole priority of corporations was to line the pockets of their stockholders, regardless of the human or environmental cost. When the crash came in 2008, Friedman admitted to having made some false assumptions about the wisdom of Wall Street!

My rage is based on my deep valuing of a democratic society for my children and grandchildren. The wealth-gap, exemplified by Bezos, is a real threat to democracy's survival. Its survival depends on our being passionate enough to see that steps are taken now to pass new laws and close loop-holes which aid this threat.

Let's turn our rage into positive acts for sustaining democracy.

Charline Watts, Bloomington

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100 years ago

June 15, 1921: The county board has named local evangelist Billy Shelper as chaplain in the McLean County jail. Shelper is well-known here, and is active in feeding the poor at Christmas and Thanksgiving. He also maintains a downtown mission for their spiritual nourishment.

75 years ago

June 15, 1946: Aldermen voted to vacate the south end of Maple Street, clearing the way for Eureka-Williams to expand its plant along Croxton Avenue. It was a reversal of the council position. Approval had been held up by lack of agreement to the plans by fire underwriters.

50 years ago

June 15, 1971: David K. Stanczak, 25, will be Bloomingtons first full-time attorney. City Council selected Stanczak last night in a closed session after its regular meeting. Mayor Bittner says none of the nine applicants was local. Stanczak is from Waukegan.

25 years ago

June 15, 1996: Its been 36 years since John Warren parted company with his fifth graders at Eugene Field School in Normal. Warren, 65, now lives in Arkansas. But this weekend hell return to Normal because his old students are throwing him a reunion party at Jumers Chateau.

Compiled by Jack Keefe; jkeefe@coldwellhomes.com.
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It's being reported today that Europes top court on Tuesday endorsed the power of national data watchdogs to pursue big tech firms even if they are not their lead regulators, in a setback starting with Facebook, Of course the ruling is likely to spill over to other cases against high profile Silicon Valley companies such as Apple, Microsoft and others over time.

The EU Court of Justice got involved after a Belgian court sought guidance on Facebooks challenge against the territorial competence of the Belgian data watchdogs bid to stop it from tracking users in Belgium through cookies stored in the companys social plug-ins, regardless of whether they have an account or not.

Under certain conditions, a national supervisory authority may exercise its power to bring any alleged infringement of the GDPR before a court of a member state, even though that authority is not the lead supervisory authority with regard to that processing, the EU Court of Justice (CJEU) said.

Under landmark EU privacy rules known as GDPR, Facebook faces oversight by the Irish privacy authority because it has its European head office in Ireland.

The EU Court of Justice ruling could encourage national agencies to act against U.S. tech companies such as Google, Twitter and Apple, which all have their European Union headquarters in Ireland. For more, read the full Financial Post report.

Reuters quoted BEUC Director General Monique Goyens as saying that "Most Big Tech companies are based in Ireland, and it should not be up to that country's authority alone to protect 500 million consumers in the EU, especially if it does not rise to the challenge."

Several national watchdogs in the 27-member EU have long complained about their Irish counterpart, saying that it takes too long to decide on cases. Ireland has dismissed this, saying it has to be extra meticulous in dealing with powerful and well-funded tech giants.

Ireland's cases in the pipeline include Facebook-owned Instagram and WhatsApp as well as Twitter, Apple, Verizon Media, Microsoft-owned LinkedIn and U.S. digital advertiser Quantcast.

Europe's high court further stated that "Under certain conditions, a national supervisory authority may exercise its power to bring any alleged infringement of the GDPR before a court of a member state, even though that authority is not the lead supervisory authority."
Rim Country is home to the largest stand of ponderosa pine trees in the world. But the majestic beauty of the forest can also be extremely dangerous. The region's two newspapers, The White Mountain Independent and Payson Roundup have teamed up to produce Catastrophe: A Forest in Flames - a six months-long, in-depth series that will focus on how the largest and deadliest wildfires in Arizona history happened, what has been done since then, and what could be done to have a healthier forest. We believe we have the responsibility of educating the community on the vital issues facing the forests, and take that role seriously.
Payson, AZ (85541)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Partly cloudy skies after midnight. Low 66F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Partly cloudy skies after midnight. Low 66F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.
Chief Executive Officer of Engineers & Planners, Michael Ibrahim Mahama, has shared the story of how he moved from a place of nothing to become the big businessman he is today.



According to Mr Mahama, it was only through Gods intervention and destiny that he met a man he called Uncle Seth who helped him to start his business.



The businessman made the revelation while giving a testimony in church recently. He was at the Grace Chapel for the launch of a book called Destiny.



I believe in destiny because if it wasnt for destiny I wouldnt have met Uncle Seth, he said. Speaking to the congregants and other guests, Mr Mahama recounted that he returned to Ghana from the United Kingdom in 1997.



Upon his return, the only property he had was a motorbike but he was bent on setting up a business which required some vehicles. Though he did not have the money to buy the vehicles, he went to town to make some enquiries and got to meet Uncle Seth by chance.



By providence, Uncle Seth, whose business was in the same building as that of Mr Mahamas late mother, Joyce Tamakloe, liked him and even treated him like an adopted son.



Through the new relationship, Uncle Seth gave him three pickup vehicles to start his business with.



I came from the UK in 1997 to start a small business and all I wanted to do was to rent one, two machines.



When I came I didnt have a car. I had a motorcycle. I dont know what took me to some corner to look for a vehicle to buy and I met Uncle Seth.



So when I go I will laugh and talk with him. He will do me a favour by giving me the car, he said. And the business has not looked back since that time, he said, adding that: The business has grown so big that I cant even manage it alone.

Source: yen.con









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The Accra Regional Police Command has blocked all major roads in the metropolis and peripheral roads in pursuit of a grand security operation in the Accra metropolis following the shooting of a policeman on a bullion van at James Town.



In line with the operation, police personnel has been deployed to man checkpoints at vantage points.



The operation started a few minutes after some yet to be identified suspected robbers on three motorbikes attacked a Man-tran bullion van, used for the collection of daily sales from traders, at Adedenpo, James Town.



The robbers who are said to have fired indiscriminately shot a policeman on escort duty and killed him, instantly.



A woman of about 30 years, who is yet to be identified was also shot and killed while she was in her shop.



The driver of the bullion van also sustained gunshot wounds and is currently receiving treatment at the Police Hospital while a woman who is a teller on the bullion van has also been taken to the same hospital as she was traumatised.



The suspected robbers made away with the policeman's weapon and also took a safe with an unspecified amount of money after breaking the padlock used to lock the rear of the bullion van.



Operation



"This is the first-ever in Ghana for such a grand security operation to be carried out. We are pursuing a grand operation as we look out for the perpetrators of this heinous crime. We are also looking out for the booty," said the head of the Accra Regional Police Operations Unit, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Mr Kwesi Ofori.



He said the police are on the lookout for a Haagine motorbike which was used by the suspects.



"We are checking all motorbikes. The operation will not affect the free movement of people and vehicles," he said.



Mr Ofori said the police would pursue the suspects until they are arrested and urged the public to assist the police with information.













Source: graphiconline.com









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Academic work at the technical universities were disrupted yesterday when members of the Technical University Teachers Association of Ghana (TUTAG) embarked on a sit-down strike to press home their demand for improved conditions of service.



The fate of academic work now hinges on a meeting in Accra today between TUTAG and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission to discuss the conditions of service of TUTAG members.



Apart from the Accra Technical University (ATU), where officials said lectures were ongoing, the rest of the institutions across the country were hit by the action.



Checks from the university indicated that lectures were ongoing, and members of TUTAG were still attending to students and going about their regular duties, writes Felicia Kwarteng.



The Public Relations Officer of ATU, Mrs Foster Killian Ganaa-Kodua, told the Daily Graphic that the school had not received any official letter from TUTAG about the strike.



Efforts to reach the local TUTAG Chairman proved futile, but he sent a message to the media through the PRO that he was not ready to make a comment on the strike because TUTAG members at ATU were not on strike.



Empty lecture halls



Kwadwo Baffoe Donkor reports that most of the lecture halls at the Kumasi Technical University (KTU) were empty.



Some students were seen in front of their halls of residence chatting among themselves, while others remained stationed in the alleys doing private learning.



Some of the students, who spoke to the Daily Graphic, were of the view that the strike could affect their academic calendar, if not resolved on time.



The lecture theaters of the Takoradi Technical University were without the usual busy atmosphere, reports Augustina D. Dzodzegbe.



Some of the students contended that the strike had come at the wrong time because final year students had a short time left to submit their project works.



A final year student, Ms Matilda D. Eshun, said the situation was frustrating since some of the lecturers, who were their supervisors, could not be found.



Vincent Amenuveve reports that some students of the Bolgatanga Technical University (BTU) appealed to government and TUTAG to go back to the negotiation table in order to reach a compromise.



They observed that should the strike fester, it would ultimately affect the academic calendar after the disruption caused by COVID-19 related interventions.



When contacted, the BTU Chapter Chairman of TUTAG, Mr Oswald Atiga, explained that the strike had become an option because of governments failure to address their conditions of service.



Students loitering



At the Tamale Technical University (TaTU), some students loitered around the campus in the absence of lectures, writes Samuel Duodu.



Some of the students told the Daily Graphic that the strike was most unfortunate, saying they had only reopened about three weeks ago.



The TUTAG President, Dr Michael A. Brigandi, who is also a senior lecturer at TaTU, said the leadership of the association was in a meeting with the government in Accra to resolve the issue.



He said the National Labour Commission had also called for a meeting on June 26, 2021, to resolve the issue, and had, therefore, asked TUTAG to call off the strike.



He, however, stressed that until they saw something practical from the government, TUTAG would not call off the strike.



Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah reports that the president of the Sunyani Technical University chapter of TUTAG, Dr Samuel Yeboah Asuamah, told the Daily Graphic that the government was not serious about technical education.



He explained that no member of the association, including non-teaching workers of the university, would be allowed to teach or carry out any responsibility, stressing also that until the government provided them with good conditions of service, they would not resume work.



Edith Mensah reports that students at the Cape Coast Technical University (CCTU) have appealed to parties in the impasse to expedite action on a resolution for lectures to resume.



On campus yesterday, students sat in groups in apparent self studies in the absence of lectures, with some students saying the strike took them by surprise.









Source: graphiconline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Madina Adutwumwaa Asare, a teacher at Diamond State Academy at Kumasi in the Ashanti region, has committed her life to make sure that children love school.



The young female teacher used her social media handles to raise money to provide for the overlooked and underprivileged at the school.



Known for her creative way of welcoming her pupils to school every morning and called teacher Ewuraama, the kindhearted teacher has been impacting the lives of her pupils in her own special way.

She raised over GH4500 to pay the fees for the children because their parents lost their jobs to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Not only is teacher Ewuraama imparting knowledge to the next generation, but she is also shaping the paradigm of her pupils about what true leadership is about.



In an interview with Kojo Emmanuel of Pulse.com.gh, she said "I find it very sad and worried when I see kids stay home because of school fees so I put it to myself to create a project called #helpmepaymyfees. This was shared on my Instagram and help needy children who cant pay their fees.



"Through my social media platform, I was able to raise over gh4500 to pay for the needy school children to be able to learn.



"I would also like to say a big thank you to everyone who was able to donate to me we appreciate and may God bless them.



"With a pandemic happening around the globe, to which Ghana wasn't left out. Some parents weren't able to pay the fees of their children. Most of them lost their jobs.



"I find it very sad and worried when I see kids stay home because of school fees so I put it to myself to bring on board a project called #helpmepaymyfees. This was shared on my Instagram and the motive was to help the needy children who can't pay their fees.



"Through my social media platform, I was able to raise over GH4500 to pay for the needy school children to be able to learn."











Source: KOJO EMMANUEL









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Ghana yesterday joined the rest of the world to mark World Blood Donor Day (WBDD) with a call on eligible blood donors to donate blood to bridge the countrys present demand-supply gap.



Marked on June 14 every year, the day is to raise awareness globally of the need for safe blood and blood products for transfusion.



It is also to highlight the critical contribution that voluntary unpaid blood donors make to the health delivery system.



This years commemoration was on the theme; Safe blood saves lives with the slogan Give blood and keep the world beating.



Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Blood Service (NBS), Dr Justina Ansah, in a remark at a brief event to celebrate the day, noted how young people had been at the forefront of voluntary blood donation over the years, globally.



She indicated that in Africa and Ghana, young people (less than 30 years) constituted about 75 per cent of blood donors saying, In Ghana, blood donor recruitment drives are more effective in educational institutions and faith-based organisations where the youth make up majority of the membership.



I therefore wish to call on all persons who are eligible to donate blood; that is, 17 to 60 years to heed the humanitarian call to donate blood regularly to save lives and encourage friends and relatives to do same, she appealed.



Most hospitals across the country at present are reportedly running on low blood to save patients in need of emergency care.



Data points to the fact that voluntary blood donation dropped from 33 per cent in 2019 to 17 per cent by end of 2020 partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic.



As a result, Dr Ansah said the Service had put in place adequate precautionary measures to prevent spread of the virus in its blood donation exercises and advised other organisations and institutions to do same to encourage more people to donate blood.



Moreover, the CEO said the NBS would leverage on digital technology, moving forward, to grow its voluntary blood donor base and improve availability of safe blood for transfusion in the country.



Currently, the blood donation tracker app developed by the Kwaaba Foundation in collaboration with the NBS with support of the Ghana Education Service (GES) enables us to track blood donations by educational institutions.



The Minister of Health, Mr Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, in a speech read on his behalf announced that the NBS had attained agency status under the Ministry of Health (MoH).



The Ministry has been able to secure the needed Legal Backing for the Agency Status of the National Blood Service, this has subsequently resulted in the passing of the National Blood Service Bill by the Parliament of Ghana, he said.



Country Representative for the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr Francis Kasolo also said The average blood donation rate dropped by 17 per cent and the frequency of blood drives reduced by 25 per cent, demand for blood also decreased by 13 per cent which has suspended routine of surgeries in some countries and fewer people seeking care in health facilities.



Dr Kasolo urged the media to help whip up interest in blood donation to save lives.

Source: The Ghanaian Times









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John Alex Hamah, a veteran Trade Unionist, Politician and Author, and father of the former deputy Communications Minister Victoria Hamah has died.



John Alex Hamah has passed on at the age of 84. Family sources say the sad incident occurred on June 11, 2021 at the Tema General Hospital after a short illness.



John Alex Hamah had been in Ghanaian public life for over six decades, a period during which he held various positions at different periods.



These include serving as;



Senior Industrial Relations Officer of the Industrial and Commercial Workers Union - ICU Ghana;

The Accra Regional Secretary of Trades Union Congress, TUC, Ghana;

Accra Regional Secretary of the CPP;

Education Officer of the Young Pioneers Movement, the Youth Wing of the CPP;

Secretary-General of the Re-constituted Ghana National Youth Council;

Head of the Education and Training Department of the TUC; Rector of the Ghana Labour College;

Secretary-General of the African Democratic League led by Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka;

Editor-in-Chief of Taxi Magazine of the Nigerian Taxi Drivers Union, catering for the Oil, Transport and Tourism industries;

Editor-in-Chief, The Comet.

Alex Hamah went into voluntary exile in 1972 and returned to Ghana to form and lead the Ghana Democratic Party (GDP).



On the 12th of January, 1974, a day which happened to be his 37th birthday, Alex Hamah was sentenced to death by firing squad by the National Redemption Council for allegedly plotting to overthrow the Military Regime. After serving five years in jail, he was released on the orders of General Akuffo, Chairman of the Supreme Military Council (SMC) in 1978 and later given free, absolute, and unconditional pardon by the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council led by Flt.Lt. Rawlings in 1979.



John Alex Hamah authored three books: "Farewell Africa- Life and Death of Nkrumah"; "Too Young to Die  My Ordeal in Nsawam Condemned Cell"; and "Dynamics of African Tyranny  A Theory of the One-Party State".



John Alex Hamah was a recipient of two prestigious awards of the Trades Union Congress for his invaluable contribution towards the building of a free, strong and democratic Trade Union Movement in Ghana.



John Alex Hamah was born on the 12th of January, 1937 at Agona Abodom in the Central Region of Ghana.



He is survived by a wife and five children.



Family sources say funeral arrangements will be announced later.











Source: graphiconline.com









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In an enigmatic message, Twitter boss Jack Dorsey has tweeted three Nigerian flags with no other comment.



Local media have interpreted the message as showing support for Saturday's protests against poor governance and the suspension of the microblogging platform.







Mr Dorsey's tweet attracted comments from Nigerians who are using virtual private networks (VPNs) to access the app.Twitter is in discussions with the Nigerian government after it was banned in the country on 4 June.The ban came after the app deleted President Mohammadu Buhari's tweet but the presidency said the ban was not connected with that action.Mr Dorsey has attracted the ire of the authorities in the past when he appeared to back last year's #EndSARS protests against police brutality.Nigerians on Saturday took to the streets to demonstrate over what they see as poor governance, lack of democracy and the Twitter ban.Police fired teargas at the protesters and several were arrested, according to local media.In his speech on Saturday, to mark Democracy Day in the country, the president admitted that he has failed to end insecurity in the country, a promise he made when he was elected in 2015.

Source: BBC









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Ghana will, from today, host the Mid-Year Statutory Meetings of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Accra, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, has announced.



The meetings will include the 59th ordinary session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government scheduled for June 19.



It will be preceded by the 46th ordinary meeting of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council at the ministerial level and the 86th ordinary session of the ECOWAS council of ministers.



Ms Ayorkor Botchwey, who made the announcement at a press briefing in Accra yesterday, explained that the meetings were being held following the successful completion of the 29th ordinary session of the Administration and Finance Committee (AFC) of ECOWAS, which was also held in Accra.



The AFC is made up of experts from the ministries of Foreign Affairs and Finance of ECOWAS member states and the outcome of their session, which was held on June 8-12, this year, will inform deliberations at the session of the Council of Ministers on Wednesday and Thursday.



Participation



Ms Botchwey intimated that with the exception of Mali, which has been suspended from the sub-regional grouping, all Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS were expected to participate in the summit.



It is expected that all Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS, with the exception of Mali, will participate in the summit, she said.



A former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and ECOWAS Special Envoy and Mediator for Mali, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, will also participate in the summit.



He is expected to present a report on the current situation in Mali at the summit.



Already, the Foreign Minister said, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, the Vice-President, commissioners and support staff had arrived in Accra ahead of the meetings.





Deliberations



In line with the practice of ECOWAS, Ms Botchwey said, the sessions this week would deliberate on important regional matters germane to the community, including recent political and security developments that threaten the peace and stability of the region.



She said the agenda for the sessions would focus on the progress of institutional reforms in ECOWAS, ECOWAS Vision 2050, the Status of Tasks assigned by the 85th Ordinary Session of the Council of Ministers, the ECOWAS African Research and Innovation Forum (FARI), as well as the humanitarian situation in West Africa.



The Council of Ministers, Ms Botchwey indicated, would also consider and adopt a report of the activities of the ECOWAS Ministers of Trade and Industry and a report of the Ministerial Committee on Single Currency and a New Convergence Pact.



Also up for discussion would be the Regional Flood Risk Initiative Management Strategy and the Gender Strategy and Action Plan for Disaster Reduction, she said.



Security situation



Ms Botchwey further explained that the deliberations would also be on Ghanas election to the UN Security Council and the expectation of its role and responsibilities as the representative of the sub-region.



As you know, Ghana was the uncontested ECOWAS candidate to the Security Council. Our sessions this week will have significant inter-linkages with our role and responsibilities on the Security Council, she said.



She said the theme chosen for Ghanas term on the UN Security Council: Enhancing Global Peace and Security for Sustainable and Inclusive Development, reflected the vision of ECOWAS to ensure a peaceful and resilient environment for the economic well-being of all our peoples.



It is expected that the summit will afford West African leaders the opportunity to further discuss the response of ECOWAS to Mali's second coup which has sparked deep concerns over stability in the volatile Sahel region.



Ms Botchwey further indicated that a communique would be issued at the end of proceedings on the decisions reached at the summit.



Preparations



Ahead of the summit, the Daily Graphic observed yesterday that pavements along ceremonial streets in Accra were being beautified with fresh coat of whitewash paint.



Also, flags of the various member countries had been hoisted along those streets.





Source: graphiconline.com









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The UN Security Council has called for free and fair elections in Mali in the wake of a military takeover of the government.



The majority of the 15-member council said that the military leaders should not participate in the elections scheduled for February next year - while underscoring the need to ensure they were free and credible.



French ambassador to the UN Nicolas de Riviere said at the forum that "the absolute priority must be the organization of the presidential election in February 2022".



"The Malian political class must now show responsibility," he said.



It came as the UN's special envoy for Mali El-Ghassim Wane called for strong international support amid a "deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in the country".



Mr Wane said the new president and prime minister of the transition had reassured international partners that they would respect the transitional calendar.



He however said that immediate action was required for critical reforms in preparation for a credible electoral process.



"We cannot allow [Mali] to slide into further instability with drastic consequences for the subregion and beyond," Mr Wane said, according to a statement from the UN.



Mali has had two coups in nine months with the military junta leader Col Assimi Goita recently declaring himself transitional president.



He named opposition leader Choguel Maiga as prime minister of his transitional government.

Source: BBC









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The Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, has stated that planting five million trees will protect the environment from climate change.



Mr Kyerematen said this in an interview with the media after he planted a tree at East Legon in Ayawaso West Municipality.



The Forestry Commission, through the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, has launched the Green Ghana Project to plant five million trees across the country tomorrow Friday, June 11, 2021, as part of effort to re-Green Ghana and protect the countrys forest reserves.



The project forms part of activities to mark this years International Day of Forest.



The Green Ghana initiative will officially commence on June 11, 2021, to encourage Ghanaians to plant more trees to preserve and protect the countrys forest cover and the environment.



He announced that tree-planting, as part of the Green Ghana Project, is an initiative that aims at planting five million trees in a single day across the country.



He added that planting trees will help protect watersheds, reduce erosion, moderate climatic conditions, provide habitats for fauna and provide food for birds and other wildlife.



He explained the Green Ghana initiative, form part of effort to encourage Ghanaians to plant more trees to preserve and protect Ghana's forest cover and the environment.



He said the rationale for more trees in Ghana formed part of a strategy and a programme to embark on an aggressive aforestation to protect forests and the environment in Ghana.



He said the initiative was a joint responsibility for which more broad-based support was needed to address the adverse degradation of Ghanas forests and ecosystem.



He indicated that this programme was an initiative of President Akuffo Addo to restore the countrys forest reserve since half of the countrys forest reserves have been destroyed by human activities.



The Minister, who was on Friday named to be a cabinet Member called on Ghanaians to continue planting trees.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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A 34-Member delegation from Rwanda, comprising government officials and relevant stakeholders in the private sector, is in the country to explore bilateral opportunities in business, tourism and economic development.

The visit is in response to a Ghanaian delegation that toured Rwanda in March this year to promote regional tourism and bilateral trade, in anticipation of greater collaboration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement.



As part of the visit, the Ghana Tourism Federation (GHATOF), in partnership with the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) and the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), organised a business breakfast meeting in Accra yesterday to escalate previous efforts at encouraging business-to-business (B2B) linkages and institutional collaboration between the two countries.



Meeting



The Rwandan High Commissioner to Ghana, Dr Aisa Kirabo Kacyira, said at the meeting that the two countries could learn from each other, particularly in the tourism sector.



For instance, she said, three choices that had shaped the development of Rwanda's tourism industry could be adopted by Ghana, while observations made by the Rwandan delegation would serve as the foundation for further discussions on the sector.



We have unity of purpose and engagement and will not allow anyone to divide us. It's our choice to decide to unite or remain divided, but we want to see our people, especially women and children, work together, so we have to learn from each other, the high commissioner said.



According to Dr Kacyira, another important factor that helped in the development of her countrys tourism sector was thinking big, saying: There are so many opportunities in Africa and we have to think big to realise that.



Rwanda-Ghana trade



The Deputy CEO of the GEPA, Mr Samuel Dentu, said trade between Ghana and Rwanda was still low.



He, however, expressed the hope that the coming into force of the AfCFTA would reverse the trade gap between the two countries and foster deeper relations for the mutual benefit of their people.



Its time to improve on our trade relations and take advantage of the AfCFTA, Mr Dentu added.



The Director of Investor Services at the GIPC, Mr Edward Ashong-Lartey, who made a presentation on Doing business in Ghana, said there was a conducive environment in the country for business growth, adding that connecting to any part of the world is not a big challenge.



He shared insights on the minimum requirements needed to establish a company in Ghana, adding that the GIPC had plans to review the requirements to make business competitive to attract more investors.



The Head of trade, manufacturing and services at GEPA, Mr Banda Abdallah, said Ghana had made significant in-roads in West Africa, and that by 2029, it expected to make over $25 billion from non-traditional exports.



He added that the country had outlined 15 products, including cocoa powder and malt extracts, for export to Rwanda and other parts of Africa.



For his part, the General Manager of the Labadi Beach Hotel, Mr Rene Vincent-Ernst, welcomed the delegation and assured them of a memorable stay in the country.



Speaking on behalf of GHATOF, he urged the delegation to feel at home and explore business opportunities in the country.



Expectations



Some members of the Rwandan delegation, including Mr Eugene Nshimiyimana, who runs a travel and tour company, told the Daily Graphic that he was in Ghana to explore opportunities available for Rwandas tourism sector.



We are hoping to strengthen the relationship with stakeholders here in Ghanas tourism and for intra-African trade to increase, he said.



Another member, Mr Chetan Gina, who works with Rickshaw Travels Rwanda Limited, said by visiting Ghana, his company, which has branches in Tanzania and Kenya, was seeking to explore opportunities that could complement its operations in both East and West Africa.

Source: graphiconline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Member of Parliament for Wa West in the Upper West Region, Supt. Rtd. Peter Lanchene Toobu has poured scorn on threats by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mr. James Oppong-Boanuh, to withdraw policemen from escorting money carting vehicles, should the Association of Bankers fail to provide fortified armoured vehicles for the purpose by the close of June 2021.



According to him, an acceptable statement by the IGP following the killing in Accra of a police escort on Monday by robbers, should have been the immediate withdrawal of policemen from providing the escort duties since the Bank of Ghana, whose responsibility it is to see to the provision of bullion vans that better protect occupants, has reneged on its duties.



But the IGP saying that they should still be using these makeshift vehicles that we now call bullion vans by the end of June is a statement that he cannot stand for, its a statement that will expose him because December 2021 will come and this issue will still be pending, they will not have enough bullion vans to operate at all these places, so it is not a statement to make at all. Well, dont take that statement serious, thundered the Member of Parliaments Committee on Defence and the Interior.



Policeman, trader shot dead in daylight attack on bullion van in Accra



In a no holds barred outpour with Bernard Avle on Citi FMs Breakfast show a day after armed robbers ambushed a pick-up vehicle conveying cash at James Town and shot and killed Lance Corporal Emmanuel Osei of the National SWAT Unit who was escorting the vehicle while a trader was also hit and killed by bullets from the robbers who were said to have been shooting indiscriminately, the MP said the security situation is worrying.



Following the incident, the Police Service issued a statement in which the IGP reminded the Association of Bankers of an earlier agreement to provide fortified bullion vans for carting money and threatened that should they fail to honour the agreement by close of June, 2021, the Police would withdraw the escort service.



However, Supt. Rtd. Toobu said such knee-jerk approaches are unhelpful as they result in the needless deaths of policemen and demoralises officers. He expressed condolences to the bereaved families and said this is one death too many and we appear not to be taking the requisite actions.



The truth of the matter, from my experience, what is happening to this country has to do with the fact that we have a lot of square pegs with favourable political colours in round holes, let me repeat that, . And if you do this in the area of security, listen, the outcome will just expose you. That is why we are all suffering this kind of violence that we see, because the police have lost grips. We can issue all the statements and look flowery and look like you are in charge, well if you are in charge we are happy to hear that, but by tomorrow another thing happens and what do you come to say, another statement? We are tired of statements.



Asked if a recent decision by the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Mr. Henry Quartey to strictly enforce regulations on the use of motorbikes be given the needed attention to help combat crimes, Supt. Rtd. Toobu said security matters should be left in the hands of professionals to handle.



He said while it is not wrong for a politician to speak to the issues, it is better for a policeman on the regional security council to speak as he can better answer questions of strategy.



The Regional Minister made a political statement, but the police would even add more colour. Look at what happened in February 2018, that the Vice President after we lost one of our officers in Dome-Kwabenya, Atomic Police Station, they shot and killed then Chief Inspector Emmanuel Ashilevi, the Vice President made an emphatic statement. My brother this is the chairman of the Police Council, the vice chairman of the national security council, he says that this was uncalled for and it must stop and immediately government was going to install cctv cameras in all police stations, I am talking about February 2018 up to date, go check the next police station around you to see whether they have cctv cameras, and this is the second gentleman of the land. So if you take police for granted like this, this is how we are going to be dying recklessly and it will demoralise the police officers and gradually we will wake up one day see that the moment you go to office and your close from work, you remove your uniform, put it in a polythene bag and find a T-shirt to wear and go home because it will be embarrassing to be in the uniform. Lets pray not to get there.



In the meantime, he said he and his colleagues in the Defence and the Interior committee would need to play their oversight role more effectively to ensure peace and security in the country.









Source: graphiconline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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A deputy Minister-designate, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, has said that the government is living no stone unturned in its pursuit of modern programmes in education that are tailored to the advancement of the human race.



Programmes such as Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics, Mechatronics and Internet of Things among others, he noted, have been prioritized by the government, believing that they are critical skills required in the fourth industrial revolution era.



Rev. Fordjour who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin South Constituency in the Central Region made this observation when he addressed the First Lego League Robotics Competition organized by the Ministry of Education in collaboration with Coderina EdTech at the University of Ghana, Legon, on Friday, June 11, 2021.



The Assin South lawmaker represented the Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum.



Students from 25 Senior High Schools and 15 basic schools across the country aged 5-17 years were selected to participate in the Robotics Competition.



Rev Ntim Fordjour commenting further, commended all the participating schools and students for the enthusiasm exhibited competition and urged them to remain focused bearing in mind that whatever they do will contribute in defining their path towards attaining high goals in their educational life.



"I am thrilled by the enthusiasm of the young teams to embrace STEM. Indeed the future is promising for Ghanaian children. We shall deepen collaboration with partners to promote STEM, robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Mechatronics, the Internet of Things and such other disciplines critical for learning in the 4th Industrial revolution era, he told journalists moments after inspecting the stands of the competing students.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Practitioners in the pest and vector control business have launched their Association to regulate their activities.



The Association termed Pest and Vector Control Association of Ghana (PEVAG) which was formed in March 2020 and currently has over 150 member companies nationwide aims to bring together the various industry players, ensure standardization, help improve their operations through capacity building, and solidify the efforts of state agencies to combat the increasing spate of pest and vector infestation in our cities.



Over the years, there has been an overwhelming increase in pests and vectors in our major towns and cities due to urbanization and globalization which sometimes leads to overcrowding. This has contributed significantly to the spread of preventable diseases and deaths.



Against this background, the PEVAG was officially unveiled on Tuesday, June 25, 2021, in Accra by the Jospong Group of Companies/ Zoomlion to deal with the challenges associated with pests and vector control in the country.



Speaking at the ceremony the Mayor of Accra Nii Adjei Sowah emphasized that today is a very important day for those of us who manage many markets and big towns in the country where often time we have had to fumigate the markets.



According to him, the Association would go a long way to help regulate the services of pest and Vector control officers in the country.



Pest and vector control is good but as we dont Know the chemical used in their work there is the need for standardization and regularizations of their services, the Mayor stressed



He indicated that he was at the forefront with Zoomlion during the disinfection exercise adding that he is optimistic about the formation of the Association and the benefits that will be derived from it.



Nii Adjei Tawiah, therefore, expressed his commitment to support the work of the PEVAG in order for them to achieve their goal.



On his part, the Executive Chairman of Jospong Group of Companies/ Zoomlion Dr Joseph Siaw Agyepong explained that the Associations ultimate goal is to protect the interest of Ghanaians.



He said the Association will enable members to be equipped with all the pest and Vector control rudiments as they go about their activities.



He said all members will be trained and certified as well as linked to institutions for businesses.



Dr Agyepong later commended President Akufo Addo for having faith in the private sector adding that the Covid-19 is subsiding due to the effort of the government in getting the local companies to disinfect.



The covid situation has immensely improved. This achievement is due to the remarkable effort by the government by using the local companies. I want to commend the President for this, Dr Agyepong stressed.



He also commended the Health Minister for his efforts at combatting the covid-19 pandemic.



Today the evidence is that the disease is under control due to the hard work of the health Minister he averred



The Minister for Health Hon. Kwaku Agyeman Manu on his part called on all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to prioritize the pest and vector control management in their respective Assemblies.



He said the current happenings in the global arena warrants the prioritization of pests and Vector control before it gets out of hand.



The Health Minister emphasized however that there was the need to regulate the work of the Association in order to get the desired results.



He indicated that the formation of PEVAG is in furtherance with governments commitment to curb the increase of the pest and pathogens in the country.



He later expressed optimism about the capacity building of the members which he said will help in streamlining their activities.



Mr Agyemang Manu, therefore, commended the Association for its objective adding that the Ministry is ready to work with all stakeholders to create an enabling environment to increase public-private partnerships.



The launch was graced by the Ministry of Local government and Rural Development and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) represented by Mr Frank Rajja and Mr Ebenezer Appah Sampong respectively who all expressed their commitment to support PEVAG achieve their utmost objective of fighting pest and vectors to protect the citizenry.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt has supported the call by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to bankers to provide armoured bullion vehicles for transporting money.



The IGP, James Oppong-Boanuh has reminded the Association of Bankers to provide fortified armoured vehicles for carting currencies by the close of June, 2021 or the Police will withdraw its officers from escort duties.



The call follows Monday mornings armed robbery attack on a bullion van at Adedenkpo, a suburb of James Town in Accra, that resulted in the death of a Police man and a trader.



Armed robbers on motorbikes crossed the van and shot sporadically at the Police officer, Emmanuel Osei and the driver killing the Police officer instantly while the latter survived with gunshot wounds.



Two other ladies on the van escaped unhurt.



A statement issued by the Police Service Monday evening said the IGP has directed the Director-General of the Police Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to take over investigation into the attack.



The account of the Police read; Preliminary investigation shows that unidentified armed men on a number of motorbikes crossed the bullion van which was on a pay/collection errand at about 1100 hours and shot at the police officer who was on escort duty on the van, killing him instantly. The armed men also fired sporadically in the air and on the driver, who sustained gunshot wounds and is responding to treatment."



"A hawker was also killed by the armed men when one of two ladies on the bullion van stepped out of the van and run towards the deceased seller's direction. Both ladies on the van, tellers of Mon-tran escaped unhurt but were sent to the hospital to be treated for trauma. Crime scene experts have already visited the scene of crime and are going through the necessary procedures.



The Police have classified the killing of the Policeman as murder.



They have asked any person with information on the incident to contact the nearest Police station or call the investigative team on 0262122086, 0244994564 or 0244280001 or on Toll Free Police Emergency Numbers 191 or 18555.



Reacting to the robbery incident, Kwesi Pratt bemoaned the kind of bullion vans used by banks in the nation.



He expressed worry over the risk involved in using pickup vans to cart currencies, wondering why the banks are not purchasing armoured vans to secure the lives of those in the vans.



"The lack of proper van plays a part in encouraging the robbers to do what they do," he said, agreeing with the IGP that all banks must by the end of June this year have armoured vans.



He also charged the IGP to ensure all Police personnel on operation or patrol are well-secured by wearing bulletproof vests and using other security equipment to guard themselves against any attacks.



''Do you remember the government recently promised us that every Police who will go on operation will have a bulletproof vest? Where did it go? We see the Police all the time without bulletproof vest.''



Mr. Pratt made these submissions on Tuesday edition of Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo'.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Ministry of Health has described false reports that the government has contracted another company to purchase 5 million Sputnik V vaccines at $26 per dose.



This follows a Joy News report purporting that the government is set to pay $26 per dose to procure 5 million Sputnik V vaccines to continue its expanded vaccination programme against the coronavirus pandemic in the country.



However, in a statement released by the Ministry of Health and signed by Chief Director, Kwabena Boadu Oku-Afari debunking the report, the Ministry explained that the only agreement it has entered into for the procurement of Sputnik vaccines is the agreement with SL Global.



According to the statement, the agreement between Ministry of Health and SL Global was priced at $18.5 after final negotiations on 14th April 2021.



This was to become effective on condition that Ghana order per the delivery schedule and Letters of credit issued to underwrite the transactions. No orders have been made, and no such letters of credit have also been issued to date, the statement said.



This the Ministry says considering the global supply shortages in vaccines and the inability of diplomatic channels to yield results, it views procuring the vaccines from SL Global as a viable option in order to help vaccinate the targeted 20 million Ghanaian population giving the assurance that government will continue to work diligently to ensure that adequate vaccines are procured despite these constraints.



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Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Recently, the stretch of road at GIMPA has become a hub of robbery as drivers who use the road are attacked by unknown assailants lurking around.



There have been series of complaints about drivers having their cars smashed with stones and valuables stolen.



Videos have surfaced to prove it is not safe to use the GIMPA road and even more worrying is that the streetlights are not working.



Speaking on Peace FM's ''Kokrokoo'', the State Transport Corporation (STC) CEO, Nana Akomea has appealed to the government to fix the streetlights in the country.



To him, the darkness in the country, particularly in the Capital City, contributes to the high rate of crime in the country.



He believed should the streetlights be fixed, it will help in clamping down on the rampant armed robbery.



"The country is too dark. Ghanaians pay streetlight levy but government come and government go, Minister go, Minister come but we're swallowed by darkness. It's time for us to resolve that issue. It will also help the job of the Police personnel," he said.







Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo Tuesday bade farewell to two envoys whose duty tour in the country has ended.



They are Ian Walker, High Commissioner of the United Kingdom and Ambassador Christoph Retzlaff of Germany.



At separate events at the Jubilee House Accra, President Akufo-Addo commended both envoys for their sterling performance during their tour of duty of Ghana.



He said relations between their respective countries and Ghana had grown stronger during their tenure, and hoped that they would promote strong active relations with Ghana in whichever capacity they found themselves in the future.



When he met Mr Walker, President Akufo-Addo congratulated him on his outstanding duty tour of the country, saying, Youve been an extremely successful High Commissioner and I think everybody who has had the opportunity.



"We appreciate very much the work you have done here," he said, noting that very important officials from the UK who had visited Ghana during his tenure, including Prince Charles and his wife and, various ministers, and most recently, the UK Home Secretary, Priti Partel.



"The energy and the concern that you brought to bear on your work here has made it clear to us that you have the best interest of our country at heart," he said, and hoped his successor would live up to the high standards that he had set.



The President told the High Commissioner that the Ghanaian government was committed to bringing new energy and strength into developing its new trade relations with the UK.





He said the new agreement, forged between Ghana and the UK following the exit of the UK from the European Union (EU), had reinforced the bilateral and trade relations between the two nations and created a better condition for Ghana to trade effectively with the European nation.



Mr Walker said it had been a privilege to represent his country in Ghana and to work so well with the institutions and Government of Ghana and was appreciative of the support he got from government and the people throughout duty tour.



He stressed that he looked forward to building a stronger future between Ghana and UK, saying, Although I leave after four years, I will remain committed to seeing that relations between our two nations waxes stronger.



The outgoing German Ambassador Christoph Retzlaff, thanked the President for the trust and support extended to him and the mission over the years.





He said it had been an honour to serve in Ghana as the German envoy for the last five tears.



Mr Retzlaf said relations between Germany and Ghana which had always been strong over the last decade and dating back to the years of independence, had become more robust during President Akufo-Addos time in office.



With the visits of Germanys Federal President and Chancelor Angela Merkel and the launch of other state-of-the-art projects across Ghana, including the siting of the Volkswagen Plant in the country, the outgoing envoy told the President that, I think it is fair to say that during your time in office in the last five years, the relations between our countries have even become stronger.



I would like to thank you for your commitment to the Ghana-German partnership and I am happy to say that I was able to commit to the strengthening of these relations, Retzlaf said.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Nigerias government holds Twitter and its CEO Jack Dorsey indirectly liable for the losses the country suffered during the EndSars protest, the countrys information minister has told a call-in programme.



Mr Dorsey and the social media firm have not yet responded to the allegations.



Tens of thousands of Nigerians took to the streets last October in protests against police brutality.



They became known as the EndSars demonstrations as they were sparked after a video went viral of a man allegedly being killed by the notorious Special Anti-Robbery Squad (Sar).



Information Minister Lai Mohammed alleged Mr Dorsey had launched a fund for the protests, asking people to donate via Bitcoin.



Twitter had further fuelled the crisis by launching an EndSars emoji, he alleged.



If you ask people to donate money via Bitcoin for EndSars protesters then you are vicariously liable for whatever is the outcome of the protest, the News Agency of Nigeria quotes the minister as saying.



We have forgotten that EndSars led to loss of lives, including 37 policemen, six soldiers, 57 civilians while property worth billions of naira were destroyed.



He went on to list the property destroyed as:



164 police vehicles

134 police stations burnt

265 private firms looted

243 public properties looted

81 warehouses looted

More than 200 new buses bought by the Lagos State government burnt.

Twitter is in discussions with the government after it was banned Nigeria on 4 June - this followed its deletion of a tweet by President Mohammadu Buhari which had breached the site's rules.



Mr Mohammed reportedly told the Politics Nationwide phone-in show that he had no apology to offer to those unhappy over the suspension of Twitters operations in the country.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Moderator of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana (EPCG), Rt Rev. Dr Col Bliss Divine K Agbeko (retd), has condemned what he describes as get rich quick pastors.



He said there was nothing wrong with a pastor becoming rich, and that God would continue to bless his servants, but stressed that a pastor who cuts corners or uses his position to dupe people in order to become rich was not a true servant of God.



The craze of get rich quick in ministry is not of God. It is worldliness. Start simple, and let God uplift and bless you. You can only do this through genuine ministry, and not through fraudulent ministry, such as giving false prophecies, he admonished.



New pastors



Rt Rev. Dr Col. Agbeko was delivering a sermon during the commissioning of 17 new pastors of the EPCG at the churchs Trinity Parish, Madina, Accra, yesterday.



The new pastors, trained at the Trinity Theological Seminary in Accra, and the EPCG Seminary, Peki, comprised 13 males and four females.





They included Eric Kobla Edem Miz, David Eli Kwame Alonu, Precious Mawuse Boafo, Courage Paemka, Cephas Jones Anyomi, Philip K. Avudoahor, Michael Kwame Akortia, Patience Hottor, Sally Seyram Osei-Abotsi, Noah Akpagana Brown and Samuel Folikumah.



The rest were Emmanuel Kodzo Gbadegbe, Francis Adjei, Frank Kwasi Azorlibu, Olivia Mawusi Soglo, Raphael Kwabla Kpormegbey, and Smith Vancyril Freemann.



Word of God





The Moderator said many people had abandoned the true tenets of Christianity, and were rather following things which were not of God.



He said instead of seeking for their salvation and the blessings of God as prescribed by the Bible, people were following all sorts of things, which had made them prey to some unscrupulous people who called themselves men of God.





He called on pastors to sow the seed of faith and be steadfast in God, and not indulge in things which were not of God.



Pastors do not sell prayers, and Christians must also not buy prayers. That is not what is written in the Bible, he said.



According to him, people mostly falsely believed in anointing oils, water and other things as representing the anointing from God.



The most powerful anointing is the word of God. Yield your mind in serving God, and demonstrate deeper devotion to God, he said.



Advice



The EPCG Moderator advised the newly commissioned pastors to live exemplary lives by depicting the life of Jesus Christ in order to effectively shepherd their congregations.



For instance, he said, the pastors must be punctual, and obey rules and regulations to encourage the congregants to also follow suite.



You must lead by example. Work for God and also see to the welfare of your congregants. Do not be known as someone who only takes from them, he added.

Source: graphiconline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The T.B Joshua Ministries has released a statement disclosing his funeral arrangement. According to the statement, a week-long service of songs will be held from Monday, July 5 to July 11. The statement revealed that he will be buried at the premises of the Synagogue Church of All Nations Church in Lagos.



The clergyman died on June 5.



Read the statement below



''SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!



Good Morning and Win Today! Dear SCOAN and Emmanuel TV family all over the world, we appreciate your continued prayers, love and support.



We know you are aware that our father in the Lord, Prophet TB Joshua, has been taken home to be with the Lord. We want to assure you that nothing will stop the work of God at The SCOAN from moving on. Prophet TB Joshua may be absent in the body but he is present in the spirit (Colossians 2:5). Indeed, God is even more powerful at distance!



We are currently preparing for the week-long service from Monday 5th to Sunday 11th July 2021 in honour of Prophet TB Joshuas life and legacy. He will be laid to rest at The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations (SCOAN) in Lagos, Nigeria.



All services will be broadcast live on Emmanuel TV. The services which will be open to the public will be communicated to you at the appropriate time.



As our father in the Lord, Prophet TB Joshua says, When we close our eyes to all things in this world, we shall open them in a world of glory.



Emmanuel  God is with us. Jesus is Lord!''

















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NIGERIA: The Osun State Police Command says it has arrested two more persons in connection with the gruesome murder and dismembering of a young lady, Toyin Adewale, at the Agunla junction on Thursday, June 10.



The police last week paraded Kabiru Oyeduntan, pictured above, who was arrested with her body. Oyeduntan had alleged that his friend, Akin, brought the victim to his house to have sex but later killed her and fled the scene. Akin has since been arrested in Ibadan.



Giving an update on Monday, June 14, the state Commissioner of police, Wole Olokode, said two more persons have been arrested over the incident.



Two other suspected ritualists have been arrested in connection with the murder. They are Ramoni Rilwan, 27, and Najeem Ayeloja, 30, both from Apomu.



The identity of the victim is now known through her father. One Ayinla Adewale, said to be father of the deceased, identified her as Toyin Adewale, 18. We are assuring members of the public that the remaining ritualists will be arrested.he said

Source: LIB









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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A daylight gruesome murder of a Police officer escorting a bullion van and a by-stander at James Town, in Accra on Monday, has elicited a reaction from the Minority Caucus in Parliament.



As Police proceed with investigations, with threats to withdraw their officers for escort duties if fortified armoured vehicles are not provided for their duties, the Minority at a presser in Parliament House, Osu-Accra, on Tuesday, called on the Government to deal with the rampant attacks by armed robbers on security officers accompanying bullion vans.



Apart from the Monday incident, armed robbers attacked a Forex Bureau located close to the Police Headquarters in Accra, and shot dead the security officer in Accra New Town, among other cases in recent times.



With soaring rates of armed robbery cases and security personnel under threat from armed robbers, the Minority Caucus on Tuesday called for urgent steps to bring the situation under control.



Mr James Agalga, Ranking Member of the Defence and Interior Committee, addressing journalists accused the Police authorities of failing to enforce the law to ensure that bullion vans in use meet the legal and Bank of Ghanas specifications.



He said a bullion van is supposed to be a bullet-proof vehicle that would ensure the safety and security of escorts as well as the money being carried.



He referenced a directive of the Bank of Ghana on 24th December 2020 which gave an ultimatum up to July 2023, where all make-shift vehicles operating as bullion vans shall be phased out.



According to Mr Agalga, who is also a former Deputy Minister of Interior, the July 2023 deadline was against what the Inspector General of Police (IGP), through a statement issued by the Director of the Public Affairs Department on the James Town robbery gave as June 2021.



Mr Agalga, said the directive from the IGP was in direct contravention to that of Bank of Ghana (BoG).



He, therefore, called on the IGP and the Governor of the BoG to reconsider their conflicting positions and work as a team in the interest of national peace and security.



Mr Agalga also stated a known fact in Policing that there is an inverse relation between morale of officers and crime rate, and indicated that the continuous attack on Police officers and civilians by armed robbers had demoralized the personnel.



This he said, had occasioned violent crime becoming a daily affair and that Ghanaians no longer feel safe compared to their immediate past.



He said currently the Ghana Police Service had signed on many retired officers on contract or extension of service, but those contracts had not produced the desired results of peace and security.



Mr Agalga also questioned the state and condition of security cameras to monitor crimes, wondering why it had become challenging to identify armed robbers if the cameras were really functioning.



The Minority called on President Nana Akufo-Addo to demonstrate leadership and ensure that violent crime-related cases, particularly armed robbery, which he described as shaking the foundations of the nation were brought under control.

Source: GNA









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Professor Ransford Gyampo, an associate professor in the political science department of the University of Ghana says the National Identification Authority (NIA) boss, Professor Ken Attafuah should not be made to apologise over claims that the president had ordered him not to employ any NPP executive.



Professor Kenneth Agyemang Attafuah has been facing a heavy backlash from some leading members of the NPP, including the vociferous MP Ken Agyapong, after claiming he has been ordered by the president not to employ any NPP executive at the NIA.



The President, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has charged me that I should make sure no party executives are hired in the process, Attafuah told Angel FM.



He added, He does not want to leave a legacy of employing his party members and packing them into a particular sector. No.



But reacting to the development, Gyampo said Our battle against poverty and underdevelopment has been fought and lost partly because oftentimes we have recruited square pegs into round holes in our appointments.



Appointments over the yearshave been driven by partisan considerations. Ive had the opportunity to engage with appointees and you ask yourself so how did this person land this particular appointment or this job because they demonstrate quite a shallowness and lack of depth in their grasp over the issues. So some of us have always been saying that appointment to ministries, departments and agencies must always be driven by meritocracy.



He said, I was pleased to hear that Professor Attafuah said the president had given him those marching orders not be making appointments on partisan consideration. I thought it was something good that the president said. If for nothing at all, the president wants to leave a certain legacy.



My position is that the president may have given those instructions to Attafuah, in my view, he should have just implemented these instructions on the quiet. But coming out publicly to make these pronouncements would also necessarily infuriate those through whose support you got your job. So that is how come he is suffering this kind of backlash. I think that he shouldnt be made to apologise.



Gyampo added, The thing had already been thrown out in the public domain. The politically wise thing the NPP can do is to turn it into their advantage; calling on party foot soldiers to try to improve themselves



Basic sensitivity

Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, a leading member of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), is admonishing supporters of the party to be measured in their criticism of the executive secretary of the National Identification Authority (NIA).



In a Facebook post, Otchere-Darko said party supporters must rather see the positive aspect of the statement instead of launching a scathing attack on the NIA boss.



We should go easy on Kenneth Agyemang Attafuah. He clearly could have phrased his words intelligently and with basic sensitivity, Otchere-Darko said.



NPP should not fight this, NPP should rather see the positive spin in what he meant to say which is that for this party it is Ghana first. If you are good at what you do and can be trusted to work in accordance with the mandate and direction of the government and specifically the said institution, dont think only a party card can get you in. Thats how we build a nation.



He also advised the NIA boss to apologise for his comment to put the matter to rest.

Source: asaaseradio.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Foreign Affairs Minister, Shirley Ayokor Botchway has justified the decision by the government to use a middleman to procure the Sputnik V Vaccine.



She said at a press conference in Accra on Monday June 14 that it has not been easy to get the vaccines directly from the manufacturers.



It has not been easy at all. Not just for Ghana, but for any of our country and not just for Africa but also for other countries around the world.



Whether we were involved. Yes we were involved and I can assure you that it is difficult to procure vaccines directly from manufacturers, she said.



It is difficult, extremely so even if you have money to procure vaccines from the source. It is almost impossible and so we made contact and we still continue to pursue getting the vaccines. It has not been easy.



Whether we were involved? Yes from the beginning we were involved but I can assure you that it is difficult to procure vaccines directly from manufacturers but whatever decision government takes, the responsibility is all of us. It is a collective responsibility and it is a collective decision that was taken. Government will only take that decision if all avenues are closed to it.



Ghana has been cited in an investigative report in a Norwegian newspaper Vergens Gang for agreeing to procure the Sputnik V vaccines from a businessman at a unit price of $19 instead of $10.



The Ministry of Health has justified the purchase of Sputnik V vaccines at almost double the factory price, emphasising the negotiations were held at a time of scarcity of the products across the globe.



But a statement issued by the Ministry of Health on Wednesday, June 9 said: We were torn between accepting the price to enable us have access to the vaccine or facing the situation of the seller withdrawing from the negotiations, to the extent that the 15,000 doses that had been shipped to Ghana were going to be rerouted to other countries.



The statement signed by the Chief Director of the Ministry, Kwabena Boadu Oku-Afari, noted that the government was unable to obtain direct supplies of the vaccines from the Russian government and so had to resort to one Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the supplies.



According to the Ministry, $10 was the ex-factory price but the Emirati offered to sell the vaccines at $25 per dose.



This was slashed by $6 after negotiations, according to the statement.



This is the result of the cost build-up to the ex-factory price of US$10 per dose, taking into account land transportation, shipment, insurance, handling and special storage charges, as explained by the seller.



These are the factors which led us to agree the final price of US$19 per dose, the Ministry stressed.



It has assured Ghanaians that it will endeavour to secure vaccines for the Ghanaian people, despite global shortages and cognisant of price and legal considerations.





Source: 3news.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Rachel Appoh, the former Deputy Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, has expressed gratitude to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for seeing to the birth of her political career.



She stated that due to the efforts of the political party, the Gomoa Central Constituency in the Central Region had its first legislator being a female.



If not for the NDC, I would not have served as a representative on the Public Accounts Committee for the 6th Parliament as well as become a deputy Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection and I celebrate you today for giving me the opportunity to serve on your ticket as the youngest female Member of Parliament (MP) at the Majority on the 6th Parliament and the Deputy Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection of the 4th Republic.



At least I can now boast of being the first MP for Gomoa Central Constituency, the first woman to represent on public account leadership in the history of our country, the youngest among the Executives/Ministers of State, the first woman to become a minister in the history of the two constituencies under one district, that is, Gomoa East and Gomoa Central respectively, she touted.



Ms Appoh, the former appointee of the erstwhile John Mahama-led administration further testified that as a member of the Executive, she had the privilege to partake in several engagements with international bodies and countries including the UK, USA, Switzerland, Turkey, Holland, Nigeria, Mexico, France, Japan, Canada.



She lauded the partys leadership for the feat chalked saying thanks to the partys leadership for their motivation, I really appreciate our formidable NDC party as we celebrate our 29th anniversary, and for the first time, the party celebrated the event without our founder and former President Jerry John Rawlings.

Source: The Ghanaian Times









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Featured Video
Sony Music has cancelled the debts of thousands of artists who signed to the record label before the year 2000.



It means that many will now, for the first time, earn money when their songs are streamed on services like Spotify and Amazon Music.



Sony said it could not name the eligible acts due to confidentiality agreements, but a source said it would "include household names".



It said some artists stood to receive "many thousands of dollars per year".



Why are recording artists in debt in the first place?



Musicians typically take on debt when they first sign to a record label. They are given a lump sum, known as an advance, to pay for recording studios, video shoots, distribution and other expenses. The money is then paid back when they sell their music.



However, many artists never earn enough to repay their advances, often because they get unfavourable royalty rates from their own record companies. Heritage black artists have been particularly affected.

Source: BBC









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
Premier John Horgan looks through documents about B.C.'s plan to restart the province during a press conference at Legislature in Victoria, Tuesday, May 25, 2021. Horgan and a slew of his cabinet ministers and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry will attend a news conference to announce the next steps in B.C.'s plan to safely restart the province. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
The Pornhub website is shown on a computer screen in Toronto on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020. International womens rights advocates call on Canada to apply existing laws to hold tech giants like Pornhub to account in stopping the violence and exploitation of women, saying this is no longer a Canadian issue, but a global issue. THE CANADIAN PRESS
Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, and Belgium's Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, right, sign a banner during a working visit to the Pfizer pharmaceutical company in Puurs, Belgium, Tuesday, June 15, 2021. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau paid a visit to the Belgian Pfizer factory on Tuesday to thank employees making the COVID-19 vaccine. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frederic Sierakowski, Pool via AP
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St. Eleanor Parish to host clothing drive to benefit the work of the St. Vincent DePaul Society
Ian Steinman Wins South Points 2021 Benny Binion Summer Shootout

June 14, 2021 Chad Holloway

Over the weekend, the $2,200 buy-in Benny Binion Summer Shootout took place at South Point Casino in Las Vegas. The tournament, which attracted 94 players, ended in a three-way deal that saw a triumvirate of players secure mid-five-figure paydays.

With the trio holding nearly identical chip stacks, a deal was struck that saw Patrick Gunraj and Kyle Grosshanten each lock up $55,000, while poker pro Ian Steinman took top honors and $65,000 in prize money. Originally, first place was to receive $100,000 while second and third place would have received $50,000 and $25,000 respectively.

Steinman, who last summer claimed his first World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet and won the WSOP.com bracelet points leaderboard, has in excess of $900,000 in live tournament earnings according to The Hendon Mob.

The table was great to grind on, Steinman told the Las Vegas Review-Journals Jim Barnes after the win.  I knew I could survive on the short stack because of the great structure.

South Points unique twist on the Shootout format saw players participate in five sessions, with half the field being eliminated in each. Put another way, rather than the winner of each table advancing, the players started each table eight-handed and played until four were left. Therefore, until the final table, the goal for each player was to accumulate as many chips as possible while surviving through the eliminations of four opponents.

Steinman also told PokerNews: "It felt great to win, especially in a unique format that I hadn't ever played before. Having to think about and adjust to the format and the unique and changing dynamics is why I love tournament poker in general so this was fun and exciting for me to play. I'm happy I could come out on top."

2021 Benny Binion Summer Shootout Final Table Results

Place Player Prize 1 Ian Steinman $65,000* 2 Patrick Gunraj $55,000* 3 Kyle Grosshanten $55,000* 4 Zachary Andrews $18,000 5 Ryan Laplante $14,000 6 Joseph Baranowski $11,000 7 Nellie Park $8,000 8 Dustin Dirksen $6,000

*Denotes three-handed deal.

Last December, the inaugural $2,050 buy-in Benny Binion Shootout, which was capped at 128 runners, saw William Firebaugh defeat Nick Pupillo in heads-up play to claim a $100,000 top prize. Pupillo received $50,000 for finishing as runner-up.

Tournaments at South Point continue through June 22 as part of the Summer Tournament Mini Series, which features bigger guarantees on their usual daily tournaments. Every day at 6 p.m. local time for the next week, players can enjoy a $250 buy-in, $50K GTD No-Limit Holdem Mega Stack tournament.

The final three players struck a deal.

*Images courtesy of South Point.
Natural8 to Host Second Online Edition of the Asia Poker League

June 15, 2021 Natural8

Until the 27th June, Natural8 will be back to host the second online edition of the Asia Poker League Series.

This APL Online Series will feature CN80,000,000 in guarantees, which is equivalent to approximately $12.5 million. Although the festival is geared towards the Asia Pacific region, tournaments will be open to all players.

What is the Asia Poker League?

Founded by Korean games promoter Judic Kim, the Asia Poker League came to life in 2016. The first live edition took place at the Beijing Poker Club (BPC), with the Main Event attracting a field of 465 entries. In April 2017, attendance grew to 911. For their second live festival in November 2017, APL headed to Shanghai.

While predominantly focused on the central Asian region, APL has also headed to the Star Casino in Australia on three occasions. Further stops have also been hosted in Vietnam, South Korea, Taiwan, and the Philippines.

Earlier this year, Natural8 played host to the APL festival for the very first time in the virtual arena. Due to positive response, the second edition of this online series is back just four months later.

APL Online Series Highlights

Runs from June 11th - 27th

CN80 million in guarantees (~ $12.513 million)

20 Jade Trophy events, with plenty of side events

CN10,000,000 Main Event

Special Edition APL Speed Racers

The festival features a range of buy-ins, with the lowest starting from approximately $7. The most expensive tournament is Event #19 Super Stars Challenge with a buy-in of CN8,000 (~$1,250) and a guaranteed prize pool of CN1,500,000 (~ $234,635).

The CN1,888 (~ $295) Main Event will conclude the festival, with players able to jump into multiple flights to earn a big stack for the final day on June 27th. At least CN10,000,000 (~ $1.564 million) in prize money will be awarded.

The first trophy event of the APL Online Series festival will play down to a winner on June 11th. Plenty of satellites will also be available, giving players with smaller bankrolls a shot at winning one of the unique APL jade trophies.

Sponsor-generated content by Natural8
While Vice President Kamala Harris visited the Greenville area Monday to promote the federal governments COVID-19 vaccination campaign, South Carolina Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette was in Aiken where she discussed how the state has been dealing with pandemic issues.

After Evette spoke to the Rotary Club of Aiken at Newberry Hall, a member of the audience asked her what Gov. Henry McMaster and his administration were going to do to increase the vaccination rate in the Palmetto State.

President Joe Bidens goal is for 70% of adults in this country to have received at least one vaccine dose by July 4.

In South Carolina, 46.3% of residents 12 years of age and older are fully vaccinated or have gotten one shot, according to the states Department of Health and Environmental Control.

Evette said McMasters administration had worked hard to make sure that vaccines were available and also had encouraged and would continue to encourage South Carolinians to get vaccinated.

In addition, we have done a really good job of letting people know who is in the vulnerable groups, Evette said.

But there aren't any plans for stronger measures, such as requiring proof of vaccination to participate in certain public activities or visit public places.

Personally, I think its something you have to consult your doctor about, Evette said. So many people ask me, What do you think? What should you do? I think that its such a personal thing. I think that when you ask your doctor, thats the best way to know.

One thing the governor wont do, and hes said it over and over again, is he will not have vaccine passports here in South Carolina, Evette continued. He will not make anybody show any vaccine kind of card to get into a public building or a public learning institution, anything like that. We are not going to trample on peoples freedoms when it comes to health choices.

Evette praised the performance of the accelerateSC task force, which the McMaster administration created to develop economic revitalization plans for the Palmetto State during the novel coronavirus pandemic.

She said the task force was the thing that Im most proud of that we did in response to COVID-19.

Because of its efforts, Evette believes, South Carolinas immediate future is bright.

Businesses are up and running, having some of the best years theyve ever had coming out of 2020, she said. The hospitality industry is humming. Their reservations are skyrocketing.

In Evettes opinion, the state should use the additional money it will receive from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act to improve infrastructure. In particular, she wants South Carolina to complete the initiative that is underway to bring high-speed internet service to all rural areas in the Palmetto State.

We need to focus on broadband, Evette said, because it will help bring new businesses and amenities to those locations.
Pre-construction issues found on Buena Vista Avenue and Riverside Boulevard made creating a new Public Safety headquarters difficult and costly for the city of North Augusta.

However, City Council members learned during their Monday night study session that the controversial Flythe property on Georgia Avenue could be the new location for a combined Public Safety headquarters.

The original proposed location was one property away from the current location of the North Augusta Department of Public Safety. This project has been in the works since the Capital Project Sales Tax IV was approved in 2018.

The Flythe property became more attractive due to its ability to expand down the line. The design would not have citizens enter from Georgia Avenue but instead from side roadways.

Council member Kevin Toole said this wasnt the update they were hoping for but appreciated the transparency and what the next steps might be to continue.

I generally support at least exploring that option and taking the next steps appropriately, Toole said. I can think of about 840-some-odd-thousand reasons that would make East Buena Vista a whole lot less unattractive now than it did before.

Part of the delay for the project came from a "strategic pause" as well as an increase in price for building materials.

Mark Chostner of the project management firm Capstone agrees with the recommendation from North Augusta City Administrator Jim Clifford and staff on building at Georgia Avenue. Building off Georgia Avenue would also be significantly cheaper in site preparation costs.

Were going to need some time to pivot; and once a decision is made, if we are going with Georgia Avenue from foundations and up, we are going to be in good shape, Chostner said.

Weve been talking about it for two and a half years, and I know that Pat (Carpenter) and David (McGhee) and Bob (Brooks) have been talking about it for longer, Council member Eric Presnell said. Our police officers and firemen deserve better.

Historic North Augusta and Punch and Judy Players are two local groups that are interested in the property. If sold, the city would have no control over what goes on the property. However, the council is looking for public engagement on how to proceed.

Were gonna ask the neighbors, North Augusta Mayor Briton Williams said. Were going to reach the community engagement and get the reviews.

Other business:

 Mayor Briton Williams discussed his 100 Day Plan, which included Third Thursday.

 Council will vote for the final time on an updated noise ordinance in Riverside Village on June 21.
Moncks Corner, SC (29461)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms in the morning, then mainly cloudy during the afternoon with thunderstorms likely. Potential for heavy rainfall. High 83F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Variable clouds with scattered thunderstorms. Low 68F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
Charleston, SC (29403)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms in the morning, then mainly cloudy during the afternoon with thunderstorms likely. High 86F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Thunderstorms likely in the evening. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms later on. Low 71F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
Carnival has delayed its return to the Port of Charleston by another 62 days, extending its high-seas hiatus to more than 17 months.

The company said cruises from Union Pier Terminal on its locally based Sunshine ship remain suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic until at least Sept. 1, as it prepares to relaunch operations in select U.S. locations in early July.

Carnival previously had pegged June 30 as its tentative return date to the Holy City, according to an update issued in April. By last month, the company's website deleted all sailings from the South Carolina coast through August.

The earliest cruise from Charleston to the Bahamas that was available online June 14 is a four-day trip that leaves Nov. 17.

The global health crisis shut down the nation's pleasure ship business in March 2020. Carnival said last week that it plans to resume U.S. sailings July 3, when the Texas-based Vista is set to depart from the Port of Galveston with vaccinated passengers and crew members.

The company said in a follow-up announcement a few days later that seven other U.S.-based ships in its fleet will be back in service by late August. Their cruises will originate from ports in Texas, Florida, Washington and California.

"We are working with state and local officials to finalize the necessary plans," said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.

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The Sunshine is among eight Carnival vessels that will remain idled through August. All are based along the East and Gulf coasts, from Baltimore to Texas.

Without elaborating, the company said it will continue "to ramp up more ships and homeports in September and beyond, bringing hundreds of crew on board each week to be vaccinated, complete CDC-mandated quarantine and then begin work to prepare for guests and the return to guest operations."

"Our focus remains on the health and safety of our guests, crew and the communities we serve and visit," Duffy said. "We are taking a deliberate approach so we can execute with excellence and deliver a fun experience to our guests, who have been tremendously patient and supportive throughout this pause."

Carnival did not respond to a request for further comment.

The last time the Sunshine pulled into Charleston Harbor with paying passengers on board was March 12, 2020. The 3,002-guest vessel was moved to the Bahamas about six weeks later, and its return to Union Pier has been pushed back at least a dozen times.
In another sign of normality returning in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, a monthly downtown Charleston gathering that's been on hiatus for the better part of the past year and a half will return in the fall.

Second Sunday on King Street will be back on its once-a-month schedule starting Sept. 12 after what will be an 18-month absence, according to Susan Lucas, president of the Charleston Peninsula Preservation Trust, the nonprofit that manages and produces the event.

"Were very excited to restart 2nd Sunday," Lucas said. Its been sorely missed by the downtown retail and dining establishments and the thousands of local and regional visitors who come to stroll, shop, dine and enjoy Charlestons 'Main Street' on a vehicle-free, pedestrian-only afternoon.

The event began in October 2010 and will mark its 11th anniversary this year of closing King between Calhoun and Queen streets to all vehicular traffic from noon to 5 p.m.

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Lucas estimates event attendance has ranged from 12,000 to 18,000.

"Its the most popular and most regularly attended event on the peninsula," said Karl Krull, vice president and director of operations for the nonprofit. "More than 1.5 million guests have patronized 2nd Sunday since its inception. We cant wait to get it rolling again."
GREENVILLE  Invoking the scripture that says to "love thy neighbor," Vice President Kamala Harris promoted the government's vaccination campaign in the Upstate.

The visit was part of a nationwide push toward President Joe Biden's goal of vaccinating 70 percent of the U.S. population by July 4. The national rate of vaccination is 63 percent. South Carolina ranks near the bottom of vaccination rates among states, with less than half of residents having received at least a first dose.

The vice president's motorcade, beginning after Air Force Two touched down at Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport about 11:30 a.m. on June 14, shut down parts of Interstate 85 and city streets as she headed to the Phillis Wheatley Community Center to speak to a crowd of supporters.

Inside the center, Harris told the crowd of about 170 that she understands skepticism over the expedited development of COVID-19 vaccines, but that they are the result of years of research into variants of coronavirus.

I know it seems like it happened overnight, but it didnt, Harris said.

Harris told the crowd that getting a vaccine is a form of community service.

"This act  is a projection of love thy neighbor," she said.

As Harris toured from the center to the Caine Halter YMCA branch for a pop-up clinic, state Republicans roundly criticized her visit, saying she should be headed to the U.S. border with Mexico to address illegal immigration.

Gov. Henry McMaster tweeted over the weekend that South Carolina didn't need help in its vaccination push and that Harris should be at the border.

The day of Harris' visit, Lowcountry Republican U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace tweeted that the vice president's help wasn't needed.

"Stop making up problems just to avoid real ones," Mace posted. "We can vaccinate our citizens just fine without you stopping by."

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The vice president's motorcade passed both supporters filming with cellphones and protesters holding signs claiming that former President Donald Trump won the 2020 election. It was her first visit to Greenville since dropping out of the Democratic presidential primary last year

At Phillis Wheatley, state Department of Health and Environmental Control epidemiologist Dr. Linda Bell  a prominent figure next to McMaster during a year of COVID-19 news briefings  preceded Harris and asked the crowd of mostly Black supporters to consider the long-term effects of contracting COVID.

Rev. J.M. Flemming, president of the NAACP Greenville chapter, implored the audience not to see the vaccine as another Tuskegee experiment.

Around midafternoon, Harris participated in a closed "listening session" at the YMCA to hear from local leaders about voting rights and registration, according to a White House statement.

Late in the afternoon, Harris stopped to talk to reporters on the tarmac before boarding Air Force Two. Harris said more employers need to provide paid leave for vaccinations, which can require a short recovery period for side effects, a need for child care and adequate transportation.

"These are some of the barriers, in addition to bad information and false information," she said.

The visit was the beginning of more planned across the U.S., including a stop in Atlanta on Friday.
On June 15, the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control confirmed no new COVID-19 cases in Charleston County, and only three total in the tri-county area.

Across the state, just 53 cases of the coronavirus disease were reported. No new deaths from COVID-19 were reported.

Though case counts are at a low point, the numbers have still not reached low points seen at the beginning of the pandemic. Charleston County has seen 113 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the past two weeks, compared to a low of 37 over a two-week span in early May 2020, according to DHEC data.

Statewide numbers

New cases reported: 53 confirmed, 34 probable.

Total cases in S.C.: 492,985 confirmed, 102,300 probable.

Percent positive: 2.1 percent.

New deaths reported: 0 confirmed, 0 probable.

Total deaths in S.C.: 8,623 confirmed, 1,167 probable.

Percent of ICU beds filled: 66 percent.

S.C. residents vaccinated

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DHEC's vaccine dashboard shows that 46 percent of the state's residents have received at least one shot of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Hardest-hit areas

In the total number of newly confirmed cases, Greenville County (12), York County (10) and Spartanburg County (6) saw the highest totals.

What about tri-county?

Charleston County had no new cases on June 15, while Berkeley County had two and Dorchester County had one.

Hospitalizations

Of the 164 COVID-19 patients hospitalized as of June 15, 42 were in the ICU and 24 were using ventilators.

What do experts say?

DHEC is continuing to urge eligible South Carolinians to get vaccinated. People ages 12 and older can receive the Pfizer vaccine. The Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are available for people 18 and older. Go to vaxlocator.dhec.sc.gov to find a nearby vaccine provider.
Summerville, SC (29483)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms in the morning, then mainly cloudy during the afternoon with thunderstorms likely. Potential for heavy rainfall. High around 85F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Low 69F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
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CONWAY  Even as one of the fastest growing counties in the nation, Horry County is getting a 1,000-acre plot of land along the Waccamaw River called River Oaks to be managed as a heritage preserve and wildlife management area.

While this will offer great habitat for a variety of wildlife in an area otherwise booming with development, it will also work to protect some of the county's wetlands and other natural flood mitigation infrastructure as forest land can absorb significantly more run-off than pavement.

"Flooding and water quality issues will continue to worsen in South Carolina in the near future absent proactive measures to conserve forested lands along our rivers, marshes and creeks," said Tom Mullikin, state floodwater commission chairman.

"While that alone will not prevent all future weather-related disasters in South Carolina, it is one of the most cost-effective and immediate methodologies we can employ to become more resilient to them," he said.

Environmental nonprofit Ducks Unlimited plans to donate the land to the S.C. Department of Natural Resources within the next six months. Funding is coming from an award from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, a grant from National Coastal Wetlands Conservation, contributions from the South Carolina Conservation Bank and a discount on the land purchase.

Though there is no set timeline for DNR to open the park to public access, spokesperson Greg Lucas said it would hopefully be by the end of 2022, if all goes according to plan.

Flooding, and ways to not only mitigate its effects but protect homes from it, has been a topic of conversation across the county for some time. Horry County Council is currently considering tightening restrictions on building in flood zones as 500 homes have been built in Special Flood Hazard Areas, an area that has a 26 percent chance of flooding in a 30-year span, since 2015.

Solving flooding altogether is a nearly impossible feat, according to Raleigh West with the state conservation bank, but River Oaks will be a step in the right direction to relieving some of its effects.

"Dealing with flooding is going to require all sorts of programs and efforts ... that are beyond the scope of this project, but one of the things we can do at least to keep it from getting worse in the short term is to save forests and wetlands along the rivers," West said.

This land acquisition is part of a group of four other federally funded conservation projects in the state that were awarded in February. The other projects, all awarded up to $1 million, include plots of land in Georgetown, Williamsburg, Jasper and Charleston counties.
MONCKS CORNER  A police officer was charged on June 14 with having criminal sex with a Berkeley High School student while working as the school resource officer, according to the State Law Enforcement Division.

Zedrick Maurice Smalls, 50, who was fired by Moncks Corner police, was charged with four counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor, along with one count of third-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor, according to the Berkeley County Clerk of Court.

Second-degree criminal sexual misconduct means that the victim was threatened with violence to make them comply. Third-degree criminal sexual misconduct means that the victim was forced or coerced to comply in the sexual act.

SLED will investigate the charges. The request for the investigation was made by the Moncks Corner Police Department, SLED spokesman Tommy Crosby wrote in a June 14 news release.

Smalls was booked about 12:40 p.m. in the Berkeley County jail. Bond has not yet been set.

The case will be prosecuted by the 9th Circuit Solicitors Office, Crosby wrote.
One of the Pockoy Island shell rings, archaeological sites that researchers have been trying to rapidly catalogue in recent years, may be entirely washed into the ocean by fall.

That's according to a presentation given by archaeological officials with the S.C. Department of Natural Resources during a June 14 conference in Charleston on preserving historic sites in the midst of climate change.

The shell rings date back 4,300 years, and are locations where Archaic era peoples in coastal South Carolina deposited shells, pottery fragments and pins made of bone, which were sometimes highly decorated. They were only discovered in 2016 when that section of the coast was surveyed with LiDAR, a type of elevation-sensing laser. Researchers studying these and similar sites suggest they were used as trash piles, or potentially later as large monuments.

Pockoy Island was once surrounded by marsh at the edge of larger Edisto Island, but in recent years it has been eroding at roughly 50 feet a year. Archaeologists working to study the two shell rings there are racing against the clock to collect materials before the ocean claims it. Programs in 2019 brought hundreds of volunteers, including children visiting with families or on school trips, who came in to help sort artifacts; hundreds more were scheduled to help again in May 2020.

But the coronavirus pandemic canceled it, said Meg Gaillard, an archaeologist with SCDNR. At that point, about a third of the first ring was left, but that portion should be gone the next time site work commences in the fall.

A second ring further from the ocean on the island still remains. The entire island and the second ring with it may be gone by 2050, Gaillard said, but she added that estimate may even be optimistic based on the frequency of storms that have caused worse erosion at the site, even when they pass offshore.

Still, Pockoy Island is one of the closest-studied sites of its kind and has produced mountains of data already.

"Were still going through those artifacts today," Gaillard said.

The problem of oceans threatening significant coastal sites is not exclusive to South Carolina, and is projected to get worse as sea level rise continues. In all, more than 13,000 archaeological sites along the south Atlantic and Gulf coasts are potentially at risk with just 3 feet of sea level rise, according to a 2017 study.

"In the ground, archeological resources cannot simply be moved inland, raised on piers or in many cases buttressed with sea walls or groins," said Karen Smith, another DNR archaeologist who also spoke at the conference.

At the Spanish Mount site about 5 miles away from Pockoy, state officials had tried to build a retaining wall to keep the mound in place in the early 2000s. The shell mound is also in the Edisto Island area, opposite Edisto Beach, on Scott Creek. It was built between 100 and 300 years after the Pockoy rings were constructed.

But the 2015 flood that affected much of South Carolina ruptured the protective wall, Smith said, and today most of Spanish Mount has been overwashed by the tidal creek.

On Pockoy, high tides have dealt blows beyond the already rapid clip of erosion. In September of 2018, Smith said, a king tide event sent the ocean washing over the entirety of the first shell ring and filled in some of the excavation areas.

The team built a berm after that to keep the highest waves at bay, but it only lasted for a short time.
WALTERBORO  Maggie and Paul Murdaugh were both shot multiple times on June 7, the Colleton County coroner said on June 14.

Maggie Murdaugh, 52, and her son, Paul, 22, were found fatally shot shortly after 10 p.m. at the familys property at 4147 Moselle Road. The investigation of their deaths is led by the State Law Enforcement Division.

That is all the information we are releasing at this time, the coroner, Richard Harvey, said. They were both shot multiple times and SLED will take it from here.

Harvey did not provide more information regarding the autopsy results. However, sources familiar with the investigation have said that two different firearms were used in the crime: a shotgun and a military-style rifle.

The Post and Courier has made several attempts to obtain incident reports produced by SLED and the Colleton County Sheriffs Office surrounding the investigation, which are public records in South Carolina.

Colleton County provided a one-sentence report on June 9 but did not release any other information, claiming SLED was custodian of the records as the lead investigative agency.

SLED spokesman Tommy Crosby has told The Post and Courier the agency would not release the records. Crosby said the number of redactions necessary to release the documents would make the reports unreadable. But he refused to release even those redacted records.

Harvey said the coroners office would know more information when the full autopsy report is completed in approximately six weeks, he said.

The family is seen as a legal dynasty in South Carolina, with three generations serving as 14th Circuit solicitor covering the state's southern tip.
Biologists and researchers have discovered that half of a declining shorebird species on the Atlantic is being supported by a nighttime roost off the coast of South Carolina.

About 20,000 whimbrel were confirmed roosting at night at the Deveaux Bank Seabird Sanctuary, off Seabrook Island 20 miles south of Charleston, during their annual journey north.

The S.C. Department of Natural Resources said it is rare that someone discovers a new-to-science bird migration spectacle, but it is even more rare that an encounter would be so close to a metropolitan area such as Charleston.

Whimbrels are large shorebirds known for their long, curved bills. They migrate yearly across the Western Hemisphere while facing threats of habitat loss and overhunting.

These birds spend winters on South American coasts and then fly thousands of miles north to nest and raise their young across the subarctic regions of Canada and Alaska.

They usually make one stop along the way to rest and feed in places like South Carolina to fuel their breeding season, DNR said.

In the past 25 years, the whimbrel species has declined by two-thirds across the Atlantic Flyway, so the discovery of such a largest roost  the largest known for this species  is important for protecting this rare shorebird.

DNR Biologist Felicia Sanders and a team of researchers confirmed that about 20,000 whimbrel were roosting at night on the island during their spring migration. In 2020, the team documented similar numbers.

Findings were published in Wader Study, a peer-reviewed scientific journal. And a team from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology documented the discovery.

"A lot of people were skeptical, but after tallying results from coordinated surveys by fellow ornithologists and video documentation we are certain of the magnitude of the flock," Sanders said.

She said finding so many whimbrels on Deveaux Bank gives her hope that the tide can be turned for the species and other declining shorebirds.

Sustaining shorebird species involves protecting seabird sanctuaries such as Deveaux Bank. Seabirds seek large, isolated offshore refuges where there are minimal disturbances from people and predators. Few remain on the Atlantic Coast.

Deveaux Bank is closed year-round above the high-water line, apart from areas designated for limited recreation use. Some of the island's beaches are also closed for seasonal nesting of coastal birds from March 15 to Oct. 15.

Sanders said it takes a village to protect places as important as Deveaux.

"The discovery at Deveaux Bank really shows the need for conservation efforts to deal with the pressures of growth along our coast and a changing climate," said Laura Cantral, executive director of the Coastal Conservation League. "South Carolina is lucky to have the experts at DNR so that conservation decisions stem from good science."

Dr. J. Drew Lanham, a professor of wildlife ecology at Clemson University, said when people think of the shifting nature of the barrier islands, they realize that nothing is ever permanent.

"And so it's important for us to realize, to understand this discovery on Deveaux and to protect beyond Deveaux, to have these other landing spots," Lanham said.

A roost so large stands as a testament to the state's commitment to coastal habitat conservation, DNR said.
It pooled in the City Market, sending patrons scrambling to sit on tables.

It swallowed careless motorists' cars. It turned streets into rivers. The swirling soup rose up, covering curbs and sidewalks, and crept perilously close to homes.

After a rain bomb soaked Charleston on June 12-13, officials said it's more important than ever for residents to heed warnings and stay home when heavy rain is in forecast.

Although the storms broke no rainfall records, their ferocity is something anyone living in the Lowcountry needs to be prepared for, said Steven Taylor, a lead forecaster with the National Weather Service's Charleston area office.

"We didn't even have tides that came into play," Taylor said. "This was basically a function of how heavy rain fell over a short period of time."

Rainfall totals for June 12 show downtown Charleston had 3.8 inches, while Charleston International Airport recorded 1.91 inches. The totals for June 13 were 1.73 inches in downtown and 1.18 inches at the airport.

The amounts are modest, but the rainfall totals don't account for how the water fell  seemingly all at once in a torrential downpour.

Around the storms' height on June 12, a gauge in downtown Charleston recorded 1.15 inches of rain in 15 minutes, according to the Weather Service.

It doesn't take long at such rainfall rates to flood large parts of the peninsula and surrounding areas.

Forecast models had been showing increased chances of a strong storm in the area, but meteorologists weren't able to pinpoint where the strongest rain would fall until about an hour before the downpour, Taylor said.

At that point, they notified authorities, he said.

Shannon Scaff, Charleston's emergency management director, said he's already drawn some important lessons from the weekend's rapid flooding.

During previous flooding events, city staff were able to station portable pumps in flood-prone areas, but such equipment wasn't available for this storm.

Scaff now plans to figure out how to secure funding for city-owned and operated pumps.

"That's going to be job No. 1 for me this week," he said.

Over the past year and a half, city leaders and the public have concentrated on enduring the coronavirus pandemic. In that time, Scaff said, the Charleston area experienced a period of relatively calm weather.

There were storms and some flooding, but no major impact from a tropical system or other very strong storm.

"It creates complacency," Scaff said. "This is something we really pay attention to. We're working at a feverish place. It never goes away for us."

The emergency management director said he hopes for a day when everyone stays home when it floods.

"Too many people got themselves in harm's way," Scaff said of the number of calls for service related to flooding.

City officials are also looking at changing zoning laws to limit development in flood-prone areas and encourage future growth in less-vulnerable parts of the city.

As Charleston dried out just in time to begin the week, a new system spun to life off North Carolina's Outer Banks.

Dubbed Tropical Depression Two, the system is expected to strengthen into a Tropical Storm before fading in the open ocean.
North Augusta, SC (29841)

Today

Thunderstorms likely. Potential for heavy rainfall. High 83F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Variably cloudy with scattered thunderstorms. Low 68F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
Its not hard to imagine a new variant of COVID-19 developing  in India, or sub-Saharan Africa or  anywhere  thats impervious to our vaccines. Perhaps one thats even more deadly. One that puts us right back where we were before December, when masks were our most powerful weapon (other than isolation) for reducing our own risk of infection and community spread.

Likely? No. More than a theoretical possibility? Absolutely.

Now imagine the S.C. House gets its way in negotiations that begin Tuesday, and the state budget that takes effect July 1 includes a proviso that prohibits public schools from requiring students or anyone else to wear masks.

The governor could declare a new state of emergency, but even if he wanted to, he wouldnt be able to require masks in school, because a proviso has the same effect as a regular state law, and even the governors emergency powers dont allow him to override state law.

Although it appears that kids dont spread COVID as easily as adults do, the main reason schools didnt turn into COVID factories this year was that nearly everybody was required to wear masks. And although everyone 12 and older is now eligible to be vaccinated, it's quite possible that half the kids in public schools still wont even be allowed to be vaccinated when the fall semester starts in August.

Of course reasonable parents will require their unvaccinated children to wear masks to school in the fall even if theres not a more dangerous, vaccine-impervious variant around, just as they continued doing after the governor made masks in schools optional last month.

But remember that the main thing masks do isnt protect the people who wear them. They protect other people, by keeping large droplets inside the mask. And the children whose parents dont take COVID-19 seriously would go to school without masks, like they did the last few weeks of this year, only with more dangerous consequences, since no one would have any immunity against this new variant.

The only way schools could protect the masked children and their vulnerable family members would be to send them home for online classes or else sequester the unmasked children in separate classes. But another state law  which makes all the sense in the world when we have mask mandates and far less when we dont  requires schools to offer in-person classes five days a week. So the online option, or even sequestration, wouldnt protect teachers and staff from the unmasked students whose parents insist on sending them to class in person.

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Heres a more likely scenario: We head into the fall with 40% of South Carolinians still unvaccinated, and as the weather cools down, COVID does what viruses do when people cluster inside: It starts to infect more people. This year, colleges required students to get tested regularly and to quarantine if they tested positive. But another proviso the House passed last week would prohibit colleges from requiring anyone to take the test.

Colleges could require masks, but under yet another anti-mask proviso, they would have to require them of the vaccinated and unvaccinated alike. Thats not as big a problem as the two other provisos, since wearing a mask is simply not an onerous burden, but its still a solution in search of a problem, created by the idea that anti-vaxxers are so fragile  like snowflakes, perhaps?  that it would be somehow unfair to single them out by forcing them to wear masks.

A proviso the Senate inserted into the budget would prohibit colleges from requiring students to be vaccinated in order to attend in-person classes. There might not be anything wrong with prohibiting colleges from requiring the vaccine as long as its being administered under emergency-use authorization.

But were not aware of any S.C. public colleges that plan to require COVID vaccinations  recall that S.C. colleges already allow pretty much everybody to opt out of the mumps, measles and rubella vaccine by claiming they have a religious objection, by which nearly all of them mean they just dont want to take it. So even a prohibition on requiring the vaccine before it receives full FDA approval would be another solution in search of a problem.

We understand that there are people who never believed that COVID was a threat or that masks helped reduce its spread, despite all the evidence to the contrary. We also realize that most of our legislators know better, even if they don't always act like it.

While the vaccines have reduced the danger tremendously and allowed many of us to return to nearly normal, the pandemic is still raging in most of the world, which leaves us susceptible. So we urge our lawmakers not to make changes to state law that will put innocent lives at risk by making it more difficult to fight a resurgence.
I drive a Prius (3,000 pounds) and therefore pay an additional biennial tax because I consume less gas.

I get it, and I support it.

Now, state lawmakers are considering an additional tax on electric vehicles.

With that in mind, I want our legislators to also consider charging heavy pickup trucks (7,500-12,000 pounds) for the wear and tear these vehicles have on our roads.

Since I drive fewer than 4,500 miles a year, I assure you my car is not the cause of the sorry state of our roads. Neglect is.

Please spread the joy of an extra tax to those who do the most damage.

The gas tax alone is not enough.

V.G. THOMAS

St. Andrews Boulevard

Charleston

Accountablility needed

Kudos to the writer of the June 9 letter Thats no defense.

The letter makes a compelling case for accountability for all contributing entities to the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. However, misinformation, individual loyalty and political party domination have arguably replaced logic and integrity in todays United States.

The good news is, based on the November 2020 presidential election results, there are 82 million-plus American voters who agree with the writer.

JAMES WALKER

Club Course Drive

North Charleston

Biden fails on D-Day

After days of reflection on the 77th anniversary of the D-Day landings at Normandy and some research, I learned six former presidents have traveled to France to honor the memory and sacrifices of those who served.

Normandy was the pivotal battle of World War II that not only liberated France and the rest of Europe, but also hastened the end of the war.

Presidents who have visited Normandy were Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump.

President Joe Biden failed to even mention the 77th anniversary of Normandy and the White House did not bother to make a statement on June 6.

Jill Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris both issued tweets and the administration was reportedly represented by a delegation led by Army Col. Kevin Sharp along with three others from the 101st Airborne Division.

As a Navy surface warfare officer who served at sea on six ships, was assigned to four embassies, served on the Joint Chiefs of Staff and studied at the Air War University, I understand something about military history, politics, diplomacy and protocol.

This administrations failure to honor the memory of those brave souls who gave the last full measure of devotion was appalling.

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Whether the commander in chiefs snub was thoughtless omission or design doesnt matter.

All American military veterans, particularly the dwindling number of World War II veterans, know theyre revered every June 6 in Normandy, France.

RITCHIE H. BELSER

Bromwich Drive

Goose Creek

Support job training

Thank you for the Sunday editorial for rightfully praising Gov. Henry McMasters use of COVID-related federal funds for education, and specifically much-needed job training opportunities for unemployed citizens.

I appreciate your use of the give a fish vs. give a fishing pole adage.

May we also add our policy and funding efforts in support of those who have been historically denied, or had a harder time for, the chance to own their own dock properties where fishing is by right.

Charleston is newly dedicated to taking action to support economic empowerment of African American entrepreneurs. One key ingredient is property ownership.

I hope the governors administration will help provide the funds needed to support that work.

CAROL JACKSON

Charleston City Council member

Patterson Avenue

Charleston

Magistrates treatment

On May 8, Cody T. Mitchell, a municipal judge, was arrested and charged with DUI and driving with an open container.

Six days after he resigned from office, the charges were dismissed and his record was wiped clean with no trace of the infraction in the records.

No one is commenting.

Sound suspicious? It shouldnt. Mr. Mitchell is a law partner with Republican Jay Lucas, the powerful South Carolina House speaker.

If this was anybody else in the state who didnt have connections, he would still be facing charges.

Just another example of the good old boy system in our great state.

CHARLIE POANDL

Sunstone Court

Charleston
Mark Sanford  the former South Carolina governor, congressman and one-time Republican presidential opponent to Donald Trump  announced he has written a book that doesn't pull any punches when it comes to his thoughts on the former president, the GOP and where he believes America is headed.

The book is titled "Two Roads Diverged: A Second Chance for the Republican Party, the Conservative Movement, the Nation  and Ourselves." Sanford announced the release on June 14 in a Twitter post.

The blurb for the book says the former politician "analyzes the immense harm he believes Trumps presidency of lies, cronyism, shady dealings, and bullying caused to our country, and especially to the Republican Party" but also "what fellow conservatives can do to help calm todays political waters and build a better future for both the party and the country."

Sanford, who is now working for the lobbying firm Shumaker Advisors in Charleston, told The Post and Courier that he wanted to not only reflect on what post-Trump America looks like but also wants to lay out a political path for making the country successful again.

"We're at a remarkable crossroads not just for the party but for the conservative movement and the country as a whole," Sanford told the newspaper.

"Conservatism is not in vogue these days," he added. "But it is, to the core of my being, something I believe it is something that is very important."

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The 336-page book is being released by Charleston-based Vertel publishing.

Sanford served eight years as South Carolina governor from 2003 to 2011 in a role where his service was overshadowed by an affair with his Argentine mistress. He served two stints representing Charleston and the Lowcountry in Congress, including in the 1990s and beginning again in 2013. He was defeated in the 2018 GOP primary after speaking out against Trumps conduct as president.

He later launched a weekslong bid to take on Trump for the 2020 GOP presidential nomination but gave up in New Hampshire after failing to gain any following.

Last year he started a nonprofit aimed at combating runaway spending in Washington, D.C., saying that without serious attention, the country is on a path to economic collapse. The project was called Americans for Debt and Deficit Reduction.

Sanford has done a lot in politics, but he said  excluding a small manuscript on term limits  that this was his first real experience writing a book.

"It's cathartic, getting that stuff off your chest," Sanford said. "It's a chance one more time to say that if we don't change paths here, we're setting ourselves up for a fall that will have severe implications."

The book will be released Aug. 24 and is available for pre-order on Amazon.com.
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This column was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance site NerdWallet. The content is for educational and informational purposes and does not constitute investment advice. Liz Weston is a columnist at NerdWallet, a certified financial planner and author of "Your Credit Score." Email: lweston@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @lizweston.

RELATED LINK :

NerdWallet: How to Achieve Early Retirement http://bit.ly/nerdwallet-calculator-retirement
Like Joe Biden, I didnt pay attention to the G-7 meeting. (Heh.) Who needed to follow it when you knew that its chief product would be the brave declaration that well all be carbon-neutral by 2050. The only thing missing was one of these clowns holding up the piece of paper saying, I give you [climate] peace in our time.

Lets check in on some actual energy news:

 G7 Nations Invest More In Fossil Fuels Than Clean Energy Despite Pledges

The G7 nations have been pumping more in fossil fuels than in clean energy since the start of the pandemic, despite headline-grabbing pledges for building back greener, a new report found on Wednesday. . .

The Group of Seven most industrialized nationsCanada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the U.S.committed between January 2020 and March 2021 more than US$189 billion to support coal, oil, and gas, while clean forms of energy received only $147 billion, the analysis showed.

 Global fossil fuel use similar to decade ago in energy mix, report says

The share of fossil fuels in the worlds total energy mix is as high as a decade ago, despite the falling cost of renewables and pressure on governments to act on climate change, a report by green energy policy network REN21 showed on Tuesday.

 Asia coal prices surge

Thermal coal prices across Asia have surged to multi-year highs amid strong demand and some supply constraints, but some types of the fuel have done better than others.

 Asia snubs IEAs call to stop new fossil fuel investments

Asian energy officials on Wednesday disputed the International Energy Agencys (IEA) call for no new oil, natural gas and coal investments for the world to be able to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, viewing that approach as too narrow.

 China economic blueprint signals more coal investment

China will invest more in coal to power its economy over the next five years, according to a government plan released Friday that only modestly increased renewable ambitions.

 Europe turns to coal-fired generation as gas prices rise

Europe is so short of natural gas that the continent  usually seen as the poster child for the global fight against emissions  is turning to coal to meet electricity demand that is now back to pre-pandemic levels.

Coal usage in the continent jumped 10% to 15% this year after a colder- and longer-than-usual winter left gas storage sites depleted. . .

The return of coal is a setback for Europe ahead of the climate talks in Glasgow later this year. Leaders of the worlds biggest economies failed to set a firm date to end coal burning at the meeting of the Group of Seven at the weekend in Cornwall, U.K.

 Worlds coal producers now planning more than 400 new mines -research

The worlds coal producers are currently planning as many as 432 new mine projects with 2.28 billion tonnes of annual output capacity, research published on Thursday showed, putting targets for slowing global climate change at risk.

China, Australia, India and Russia account for more than three quarters of the new projects, according to a study by U.S. think-tank Global Energy Monitor. China alone is now building another 452 million tonnes of annual production capacity, it said.

While the IEA (International Energy Agency) has just called for a giant leap toward net zero emissions, coal producers plans to expand capacity 30% by 2030 would be a leap backward, said Ryan Driskell Tate, Global Energy Monitor research analyst and lead author of the report.

 How a Polish coal mine risks derailing the EUs climate strategy

Polands particular reliance on coal is becoming a major concern for the EU in its attempts to reach its emissions targets. The bloc has agreed to cut emissions by 55 percent by 2030 and achieve net-zero by 2050, but Polish politicians are lashing out at what they see as a blatant disregard for Polands energy security and economic prosperity.
Instead of granting the petition to hear Students for Fair Admissions vs. Harvard, the Supreme Court has asked the U.S. Solicitor General (in this case, the acting one) for her views on the matter.

Theres no doubt as to what the Biden Justice Department thinks about Harvards policy of granting extreme race-based preferences to Blacks and Latinos at the expense of Asian-Americans and Whites. Nor is there any doubt as to its view on whether this Court should grant the Asian students petition. Nor is the DOJ likely to think of any arguments in favor of preferences or denying cert that are unknown to the Justices.

Thus, the Courts request makes little sense to me unless the goal is to delay hearing the case until, at the earliest, the term following the 2022 elections. This, I believe, is the goal.

Amy Howe at Scotusblog lays out the timing here:

There is no deadline for the solicitor general to file her brief, but the government is unlikely to file its brief before late November or early December, which would allow the justices to consider the petition again at a conference in early January  and, if they granted review, hear argument in the 2021-22 term. If the government does not file until 2022, the case would almost certainly not be argued until the 2022-23 term, by which time the court would have already issued the high-profile opinions in the abortion and gun rights cases on its docket for 2021-22.

(Emphasis added)

By that time, too, the mid-term elections will have been held before the Court decides the case (probably in June 2023). Also, by that time many thousands of applicants who could have been spared of racial discrimination by colleges and universities will instead have been victimized by it.

And there is no guarantee that, when it finally gets around to deciding, the Court will grant cert in this case or, if it does, strike down the college quota regime.

The decision to seek the DOJs views means that there were neither the votes to grant the petition at this time nor, thankfully, the votes to deny it. Some Justices apparently wanted to do neither.

I imagine (but of course do not know) that the Chief Justice is part of that bloc. Presumably at least two of the three Justices appointed by Donald Trump are also part of it (otherwise, with Justices Thomas and Alito very likely favoring a cert grant, the four votes needed to grant it would have been present). Brett Kavanaugh is probably one of them.

To put it simply, if just two of Trumps three appointments had voted to grant cert, the Court would be in a position next year to end, or at least curtail, the evil of race discrimination in college admissions.

But it looks like Trump didnt select two Justices with enough courage to do so. And he selected one (Justice Gorsuch) who contrived to join with the Courts left-wingers to find that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act somehow outlaws discrimination against gays, lesbians, and transgendered individuals.

Title VII does no such thing, as Justice Alito demonstrated in his dissent. But Title VI straightforwardly bans race discrimination by colleges like Harvard. The Constitution bans it, too.

Unfortunately, even with the addition of three Trump nominees, the Supreme Court cant yet muster the votes to say so.
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In the 1950s and 1960s, oil palm farming was a key sector of the Nigerian economy.

The sector generated about 43 per cent of the worlds total production. Nigeria was considered as the leader in the world palm oil market. The production of palm oil went beyond domestic consumption, with the excess produce exported to the world palm oil market.

However, in the past decades, the country has become an importer of palm oil due to the negligence of the sector. Today, Nigeria produces only less than two per cent of global output.

PREMIUM TIMES assessment of the palm oil market shows that most farmers sell their products at available market price, as prices continue to fluctuate.

In 1965, the World Bank injected nearly $2 billion into over 45 projects in Southeast Asia, Africa, and parts of Latin America to support the growth of the palm oil industry. Indonesia received $618.8 million, the highest; Nigeria received $451.5 million, while Malaysia got $383.5 million.

READ FULL STORY HERE:
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Digital banking platform provider, Layer on Tuesday announced it is partnering with United Bank for Africa (UBA) to fuel its digital transformation aimed at providing greater access to a wider range of financial services for its Nigerian customers. Layer is a digital transformation platform that enables large financial institutions to rapidly revolutionize their customer and back-office digital experiences.

This new partnership will see the company add an additional 18 million users across 25 different countries to its platform. Through its collaboration with Layer, the financial conglomerate will be able to provide seamless banking services in different jurisdictions from one central platform without altering core banking systems. Layers proprietary platform enables banks to offer their customers a blend of traditional and neobank capabilities through one single platform that sits on top of core banking systems and connects through open source technology (APIs). UBA has implemented all of the capabilities available on the Layer platform, to provide end to end digitalisation of their banking services, delivered through a new mobile app and website across 18 markets in 4 different languages.

The company is one of the only European fintech firms to work directly with an African bank in rolling out a fast-paced, collaborative platform that aims to transform how data is utilized across the banking sector. Layer hopes to accelerate financial inclusion and digital transformation processes across the world through similar partnerships. The digital banking platform currently delivers banking services to over 25 million consumers through its existing collaborations.

With the smartphone revolution gathering pace in Sub-Saharan Africa, the digital banking sector on the continent is primed to boom. While only 4 in 10 people in Nigeria have access to smartphones at present, sales are accelerating with Africa expected to account for 7.1% of the total smartphone marketplace by 2023. As a result mobile transactions in Nigeria surged by 82.6% in 2020 to stand at 1.69 billion compared to 928.86 million recorded in the previous year, according to the 2020 instant payment annual statistics, recently released by the Nigerian Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS). The report also revealed that 78% of total instant payments carried out in Nigeria in 2020 were done through the use of mobile devices.

However, Nigeria is only beginning its journey to reinvent the payment experience with figures from McKinsey showing a growing demand for digital banking services. According to the report, 46% of bank customers expect to use digital or mobile services more in the post-pandemic world. To help meet this demand Layer is assisting UBA to position itself to revolutionise the way it does business across Nigeria and the African continent by becoming the go-to bank that ensures a seamless experience for staff and customers.

Commenting on how UBA choose Layer as their digital banking platform, UBA Group MD Mr. Kennedy Uzok said: We conducted a very thorough digital banking vendor/platform evaluation process across the global market considering the advancement in technology, richness of features, ownership cost-effectiveness and smooth implementation approach.

Speaking about the significance of the partnership, Roy Zakka, Founder and CEO of Layer commented: This is an exciting and ambitious partnership in spirit and scale. We are delighted to work with UBA to accelerate the arrival of digital banking services across the continent of Africa and Europe. We are helping position UBA as a digital first leader across Africa while also helping reduce their annual spend by more than 40% for mobile applications alone.
It has been two years since the Ninth Assembly was inaugurated and members of the chamber took their oaths of office.

The inauguration was sequel to a proclamation by President Muhammadu Buhari of the termination of the Eight Assembly and commencement of the Ninth, after which lawmakers of both chambers elected their leaders.

Ahmad Lawan and Femi Gbajabiamila were elected as Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives respectively on June 11, 2019.

Following his election, Mr Lawan made many promises, all of which are aimed at making the country better. What has followed, however, are two years of struggling to keep the promises and lawmaking  most of which some will consider a success, and others, a failure.

Mr Lawan had said the Ninth Assembly would be different and characterised by fewer controversies and more positivity.

While the struggle to do things differently, especially in the Senate, is visible (with some successes recorded) some old and bad habits have crawled back into this assembly.

One of such is the delay in submission or consideration of committee reports despite deadlines and ultimatum  an act many political watchers have described as deliberate, unprofessional and a major failure of the Senate.

In this article, PREMIUM TIMES examines some important deliberations that have been referred to various committees in the Senate that are yet to see the light of day.

Elisha Abbo

A senator. One of them. The youngest. Formerly of the Peoples Democratic Party and now a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

He was caught on camera assaulting a lady in a sex toy shop in Abuja.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how he admitted his wrong publicly and apologised; only to deny the act later in court.

His action triggered outrage among Nigerians especially youth who looked up to him as a representative.

At first they did not want to discuss the matter, then came a motion by Uba Sani (Kaduna Central) asking the Senate to set up a panel and probe Mr Abbo.

An ad-hoc committee was set up and the probe began. A little controversy occurred between Mr Abbo and the panel. Later, there was a request for more time from the committee. Then came the excuse that the panel had to put the probe on hold because the case was in court.

By this time, the two weeks deadline had elapsed.

Then came the report which the panel submitted to the Senate three months after. Noting has been heard of it since then.

For those not familiar with the workings of the Senate, whenever a report from a committee is presented, recommendations in the report are usually discussed on another legislative day  in most cases, the next legislative day.

It has been eight months since the report was submitted and the outcome of the probe has not been disclosed.

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On the contrary, lawmakers seem to have forgotten the matter. Mr Abbo has been very vibrant in the Senate. He was also properly welcomed by APC lawmakers when he announced his defection.

One could liken the Senates lackadaisical attitude towards this case to their failure to check themselves.

Special job slots allocated to senators

When the news broke that lawmakers were given numerous job slots in different agencies in December 2019, many of the senators indicted  including Mr Lawan  were quick to issue press statements denying the reports.

This was another case that stirred controversy among Nigerians, many of whom said it was nothing new.

As expected, the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Intergovernmental Affairs was tasked to investigate the case by grilling the indicted agencies.

The memory is still very clear of how the chairman of the panel, Danjuma Laah, swore and vowed to make sure that lawmakers culpable are dealt with accordingly.

It has been over 18 months. No word. No report. No feedback. Not even an excuse or request for an extension of time for the committee. Nothing.

Attempts to reach Mr Laah and ask how his promises are coming have not been successful either as he did not return calls to his phone.

Court invasion

The Federal High Court in Abuja was invaded by officials of the State Security Service when a former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, was arrested for the second time in December 2019.

A week later, the Senate discussed the matter in plenary and directed its Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters to investigate the case. The panel was given one week to report back to the Senate.

It took the panel six months to carry out its investigations and prepare the report  which was submitted to the Senate in July last year. Eleven months after, the Senate is yet to disclose, debate or adopt the report.

For a Senate that vowed to fight for human rights and uphold the rule of law, their silence on the matter has been very loud.

Victims of police brutality

Just as discussions on insecurity dominated most part of plenary sessions in the last two years, the lawmakers also took time to consider assault and extra-judicial killings of innocent Nigerians by officers of the Nigeria Police Force and the now defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

But the conversations tend to die there despite resolutions taken to ensure that justice is served.

An example is the motion on the rape and killing of a member of the National Youth Service Corps, Ifeoma Abugu, allegedly by SARS officials in September 2020.

In a sober mood on September 29, 2020, Enugu senator Chukwuka Utazi moved a motion on the matter and resolutions were adopted  one of which was to mandate the Senate Committees on Police Affairs and Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters to investigate the arrest, detention, rape and murder of Ms Abugu.

The committee was to report back after two weeks. Nine months later, no word from the committee.

FCC boss accused of abuse of office

This is one of the many probes started by the Ninth Senate.

This involves allegations of office abuse levelled against the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Muheeba Dankaka, by over 20 commissioners of the FCC who petitioned the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs.

They accused Mrs Dankaka of committing offences that bordered on abuse of office.

She was accused of misrepresentation and misapplication of section 2(1) of the Establishment Act, and unwholesome arrogation of power which led to alienating commissioners, plenary, and the commission from the activities and operation of the FCC.

An investigative hearing on February 9, which saw tempers flare, forced the panel to enter into an executive session.

Although Mr Laah had told journalists that the panel would get to the root of the matter the following week, four months later, nothing has been heard.

MDAs culpable too

Delayed or forgotten reports like these are also caused by Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) involved, legislative expert and political analyst, Desmond Akinloye, noted.

He referred to instances where MDAs will be invited to either submit necessary documents or attend a hearing and they fail to do so. Many times, lawmakers have queried MDAs who are culpable of such.

And this happens because most of the heads of these agencies are close to Buhari or the presidency. When Abba Kyari was alive, many who were close to him didnt show up. So these affect the work of the panel and their reports.

Its both ways. Both of them are culpable. We consultants normally would advise them to seek extension of time when they are having setbacks as such. But sometimes, you see them acting sluggishly.

He said lawmakers fail to sanction faulting MDAs because of the kind of political system we run.

How many resolutions taken by the lawmakers have been executed by the executive? The executive is not looking into it and the lawmakers cannot do more than resolutions expect they want to impeach.

Normally when resolutions are taken and the executive, whether president or minister does not act on it, they can ask the person to leave office because it is a ground for misconduct and a valid reason to call for impeachment but it is difficult in this system.

It also based on the kind of leadership of the National Assembly. Look at Saraki, in his time, Magu was not cleared as EFCC chairman and the executive kept him uncleared for years.

All of this, he added, started when the National Assembly allowed the executive to meddle into the affairs of choosing its leadership.

The way forward is to have an independent National Assembly, he said.

Look at the National Assembly under Saraki, under Ken Nnamani and the House of Reps under Ghali Naabba. Those people stood against the executive and did not let the executive meddle in their affairs. They turned down many requests from the executive.

The way forward is to have a National Assembly that is not attached and not been put there by the executive.

Ninth assembly, the worst since 1999

For Sam Amadi, a legal and policy analyst, the ninth assembly is the worst since 1999.

Mr Amadi who has chaired several Senate technical committees faulted the workings of the Lawan-led assembly as he said the lawmakers have failed in their basic responsibilities like lawmaking and oversight.

If the National Assembly was an accountable organisation, like a company with shareholders taking assessment, they would have sacked all the management staff because it is thoroughly inefficient and ineffective.

This is the poorest since 1999. From Ken Nnamani to David Mark to Saraki.

Mr Amadi, a former chairman of the electricity regulator, NERC, questioned the number of laws made by the ninth assembly that have the capacity to improve democracy and ensure fair distribution. He also wondered how well the lawmakers have performed with regards to oversight especially in the wake of the pandemic.

Take insecurity for instance. I am not sure of any rigorous hearing on insecurity, all you hear is lame invitation of army chiefs who end up sending representatives and having meetings behind closed doors.

If there was no National Assembly in the last four years, Nigeria would not have been any worse. There has been no impact.

These things happen because they have always played politics with these issues. Also there are no competent background staff. No one to question irregularities in the system. This National Assembly is thoroughly incompetent and inactive that if it disappears now, Nigerias democracy will not suffer, he said.

On the way forward, Mr Amadi stressed the need to recover our politics from transaction people.

How many of them are former governors? It has become like a royalty, a retirement home irrespective of whether they have legislative expertise or not.

It starts with parties giving tickets to those who have the attitude for legislative work. And retire those governors with their pensions. They are polluting the legislative chamber with those who cannot do the work.

We also need to rebuild the bureaucracy of the National Assembly.

An unbothered Senate

The highlighted cases are a few of the numerous resolutions charged to committees whose reports are either yet to be submitted or considered. Many of them will not see the light of the day.

Apparently, the Senate Committee on Legislative Compliance has not been effective either because one of its functions is to check the workings of other committees and ensure they comply with rules and deadlines.

The chairman of the committee, Adelere Oriolowo, could not be reached for his comments for this report. His deputy, Sabi Abdullahi, was unavailable as well. Both men did not return calls nor reply text messages.

New Senate, old habits

The attitude towards compliance to deadlines and report submission by lawmakers has lingered for years  from past assemblies.

The eight Senate had its share of this attitude, prompting the former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, to issue queries and warnings to affected committees.

About 14 ad hoc committees were named by Mr Lawan in November 2019 as failing to meet deadlines for reports, yet there has been no compliance.
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Israel was bracing Tuesday for a controversial flag march through Jerusalem, with fears of a fresh outbreak of violence in the contested city prompting a massive security presence.

Some 5,000 right-wing nationalists were due to parade through Jerusalems Old City waving Israels blue and white flag, with 2,000 police officers present.

Palestinians see the late afternoon march, which passes through the Muslim quarter of the Old City, as a provocation.

Fatah and Hamas, the two largest Palestinian organisations, issued a call for a day of rage.

The Israeli army has deployed additional forces to the West Bank, where there was a potential for any unrest spreading, according to a report in the Jerusalem Post.

The march has been organised by supporters of former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who continues to put pressure on the new government, headed by Naftali Bennett of the pro-settler Yamina party.

The fragile eight-party coalition was sworn in by a margin of just one vote on Sunday, marking the end of the era of Netanyahu, at least for now.

There are concerns about a fresh escalation of violence due to the march.

The Palestinian Authoritys deputy governor of Jerusalem, Abduallah Siam, had earlier warned of an explosion in the city, according to local media reports.

The march was originally due to be held on May 10 to mark Jerusalem Day but was broken off due to rocket attacks on the city by Gazas ruling Hamas, after tensions escalated in the region at the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

Airstrikes and rocket attacks followed violent clashes over access to the Jerusalem holy site known as the Temple Mount to Jews and the Noble Sanctuary to Muslims.

Palestinians were also angered by forced evictions in the East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah.

Israel captured the Arab-majority eastern part of Jerusalem in 1967.

Palestinians see it as their future capital, while Israel claims all of Jerusalem as its own capital.

In Gaza, 255 people died in the recent violence, while 13 died in Israel.

(dpa/NAN)
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State governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have given reasons President Muhammadu Buhari should consider lifting the suspension on Twitter.

The Nigerian government recently suspended Twitter after the microblogging site deleted Mr Buharis tweet which it said violated its rules.

Since then Nigerians have been denied access to Twitter, except those who are using VPN and other means to bypass the Nigerian governments restriction.

The PDP governors in a communique issued after their meeting on Monday in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, said the reasons given for the government action was personalised.

The mere ego of Mr President is not enough for such a drastic action that deprives millions of Nigerians from such an affordable means of expression and communication, the governors said.

The governors said the ban would hurt Nigerian youth who do not have adequate access to employment and have been relying on Twitter to earn legitimate income.

This will further worsen Nigerias 33% unemployment rate which is the highest in the world, improve Nigerias ranking as the country with second highest poverty rate in the entire world, all of which happened under APCs unfortunate stewardship, the governors said.

The PDP governors appealed to Mr Buhari to review the ban in the national interest.

The governors, who expressed fear that Mr Buharis administration may be sliding into dictatorship, said social media regulation can only be done within the existing laws on the subject and should not be used as an attempt to punish or gag Nigerians from enjoying constitutionally guaranteed rights.

The Uyo meeting was attended by Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, who is the chairman of the forum, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, who is the vice chairman, and Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State who hosted the meeting.

Douye Diri, Bayelsa; Samuel Ortom, Benue; Ifeanyi Okowa, Delta; Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Enugu; Nyesom Wike, Rivers; and Oluseyi Makinde of Oyo State also attended the meeting.

Others were Ahmadu Fintiri, Adamawa; Godwin Obaseki, Edo; Bala Mohammed, Bauchi; Darius Ishaku, Taraba, and Mahdi Mohammed, the Deputy Governor of Zamfara State.
The governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have condemned the way top government agencies like the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) have been managed under President Muhammadu Buharis administration.

The governors, under the aegis of the PDP Governors Forum, said the agencies have been run with complete disregard to true federalism and against the interest of the Nigerian people.

They also mentioned others like the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), Federal Inland Revenue Services, the Nigerian Customs Service.

These are the agencies that bring in huge revenue to the Nigerian government.

The governors said NNPCs operations, for instance, have been so opaque.

The PDP governors made their position known in a communique issued on Monday after their meeting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

According to the communique, the governors decried the recent NNPCs decision not to make its statutory contributions to the Federation Account, thereby starving the States and Local Governments and indeed Nigerians of funds needed for employment, development and general wellbeing.

NNPC, the governors said, is bound by the Nigerian Constitution to pay the proceeds of sale of petroleum into the Federation Account for onward sharing to the three tiers of government.

They said the NNPC rather prefers to use its discretion to decide how much to spend, how to spend it and how much to remit to the Federation Account, contrary to the letters and even the spirit of the 1999 Constitution.

The PDP governors described the operations of NNPC and other agencies as ugly trends that should be reversed in our practice of democracy, constitutionalism and federalism.

The NNPC, NPA, NIMASA, NCC and others government agencies required by the constitution to contribute money into the Federation Account should endeavour to do so, the governors said.

The governors said, The federating States should, going forward now have a say in the determination of operating costs to ensure transparency and accountability (in these agencies).

CBN now a leviathan, Father Christmas

The PDP governors also criticised the way the Central Bank of Nigeria has been run, describing the apex bank as acting like an independent government within a government.

A situation where CBN creates money, decides how much of it to spend, on what to spend it on without any form of controls or supervision is patently subversive of our constitutional order.

It has become not just a leviathan, but also a father Christmas of sorts, dabbling into every sphere and scope of governmental activity, not just as a lender of last resort, but as a full executing agency of government.

The meeting observed that the CBN has become such an octopus that it threatens state governments publicly, without decorum, about sanctions on any attempt to question its modus operandi, the governors said, while also calling on the bank to take immediate steps to halt the depreciation of the naira.

The Uyo meeting was attended by Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, who is the chairman of the forum, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, who is the vice chairman, and Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State who hosted the meeting.

Douye Diri, Bayelsa; Samuel Ortom, Benue; Ifeanyi Okowa, Delta; Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Enugu; Nyesom Wike, Rivers, and Oluseyi Makinde of Oyo State also attended the meeting.

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Others were Ahmadu Fintiri, Adamawa; Godwin Obaseki, Edo; Bala Mohammed, Bauchi; Darius Ishaku, Taraba; and Mahdi Mohammed, the Deputy Governor of Zamfara State.
The Nigeria LNG held a ceremony Tuesday to mark the commencement of the construction of its Train 7 project, aimed at boosting Nigerias liquefied natural gas output by some 35 per cent.

The long-expected $10 billion project is expected to add around 8 million tonnes a year of liquefied natural gas to NLNG, taking the total to around 30 million tonnes per year. Nigerias LNG production has been declining in recent years.

It will create 12,000 direct jobs, NLNG managing director Tony Attah said at the event Tuesday.

President Muhammadu Buhari, who did the groundbreaking via video conference, urged that the project be delivered on time so that the Train 8 project can commence.

The president said the NLNG has earned revenues of $114 billion over the years, paying $39 billion in taxes and $18 billion in dividends to the federal government.

NLNG, a consortium between the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Shell, Eni, and Total, signed its final investment decision on the Train 7 processing unit late 2020.

Mr Buhari urged the Board of Directors, management and staff of NLNG, the host communities, the Rivers State Government and other Agencies of the Federal Government to continue to collaborate to ensure completion and eventual commissioning of the Train 7 project safely and on time.

As we flag off the Train 7 project today, I look forward to the development and execution of more gas projects by the International Oil Companies (IOCs) and indigenous operators, and more Trains from Nigeria LNG to harness the over 600 trillion cubic feet of proven gas reserves we are endowed with.

Let me use this opportunity to commend the shareholders of NLNG, the Federal Ministry of Petroleum, NNPC and the NCDMB and other stakeholders for very exemplary collaboration which has culminated in this great opportunity for Train 7.

I want to thank the foreign investors for the confidence reposed in Nigeria, and assure all Nigerians and potential investors in the Oil and Gas sector that the Federal Government will continue to create the enabling environment in order to develop the sector and bring the full benefits of Gas closer to our people, he said.

President Buhari recounted that the story of Nigeria LNG was one he had been passionately associated with during the formative years of the project.

He said: As Minister of Petroleum Resources, I kicked off our first foray in LNG Business in 1978. At the time it was already apparent that Nigeria was mainly a gas-rich country with a little oil!

It therefore gives me great joy to see the organization transform from just a project in the early 90s to a very successful company with over 20 years of responsible operations and steady supply of Liquefied Natural Gas, Liquefied Petroleum Gas and Natural Gas Liquids into the global market.

This is proof that Nigeria has great capacity to deliver value to the world by harnessing our natural resources.

In his address, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva described NLNG as a blessing to the nation, noting that it has positively complemented crude oil exploration by monetising flared gas and yielding huge revenue to the nation and investors.

Mr Sylva added that since NLNG became operational in 1999, the nation has recorded a drastic reduction in operational flare status from 65 per cent to 12 per cent.

READ ALSO: FG threatens to sanction expatriates over Train 7 gas project

I boldly say that the groundbreaking of Train 7 is a guarantee to every stakeholder of more dividends in terms of further reduction in gas flaring, more revenue to the nation and shareholders, more job opportunities especially at the construction phase and more social investments for the society,  he said.

Mr Attah, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NLNG, said the project would stimulate inflow of about $10 billion FDI into Nigeria.

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He said the project would also further the development of local capacity and businesses through the 100 per cent in-country execution of construction works, fabrications and major procurement.

Nigeria has ridden on the back of oil for over 50 years, but with this Train 7 project Nigeria is now set and I believe it is now time to fly on the wings of gas, he said.
Nigerian government has revealed that it is expecting to receive additional 3.92 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines through the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Assess Facility (COVAX).

The Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Faisal Shuaib, disclosed this during a media briefing in Abuja on Tuesday.

Mr Shuaib said the doses of vaccines are expected in the country latest by August, 2021.

We now have information that Nigeria will get 3.92m doses of Oxford/Astrazeneca by the end of July or early August, he said.

Nigeria had commenced COVID-19 vaccination on March 5, 2021, having received approximately four million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccines from COVAX, a UN-backed effort that promises access to vaccines for up to 20 per cent of participating countries population

Nigeria on March 21 received another 300,000 doses of the same vaccine from telecom giant, MTN. On April 6, the government of India also delivered 100,000 doses of Covishield vaccines to Nigeria bringing the total number of vaccines in stock to about 4.4million.

Due to limited doses of vaccine, the Nigerian government announced a pause in the vaccine rollout once half of the about 4.4million doses in stock were exhausted to forestall out-of-stock situation when those already vaccinated start coming back for their second doses.

The AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is given in double doses. A person is required to come back for a second shot, some weeks after taking the first jab.

Vaccination so far

Mr Shuaib said 1,978,808 of the targeted eligible Nigerians have so far received their first dose of the Oxford-Astrazeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

He noted that 680,345 people have also proceeded to receive the second dose of their vaccines.

He said; I will once again remind those listening that we are advising all Nigerians who have received their first dose to check their vaccination cards for the date of their first dose and ensure that they receive the second dose between 6-12 weeks after their 1st dose to gain full protection against COVID-19.

Please note that in some cases the location of your second dose may be different from your first dose, so please be sure to confirm this.

As of June 15, Nigeria has recorded 167,078, COVID-19 cases. Out of which 2,117 fatalities had so far been registered in the country.

First dose vaccination

Mr Shuaib said the administering of the first dose of vaccines officially resumes Tuesday after it was initially closed on May 24,2021 due to shortage of vaccines.

He added; Recall that we officially closed the vaccination for the first dose on 24th May 2021. Since then, we have been inundated with requests by Nigerians to be vaccinated.

In response, we have decided to reopen vaccination for the first dose from today. This means anyone 18 years and above who has not been vaccinated should visit the nearest vaccination site for the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

For such persons, their second dose will be due in 12 weeks and by then we would have received the next consignment of vaccines.

Mr Shuaib also said research from Public Health England (PHE) shows that the Indian (Delta) variant B.1.617.2 is 92 per cent susceptible to Oxford-Astrazeneca vaccines.

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He said it is comforting to know that the vaccine used in Nigeria can protect against this variant that is causing high morbidity and mortality in India.

However, it underscores the need for us to ramp up our vaccination to more Nigerians, he said.
The farmer in Ekiti State who was kidnapped from his farm in Ikole Local government area has regained his freedom.

Jimoh Olodan was reportedly abandoned by his abductors on Monday after a search party comprising the police, Amotekun, and local hunters closed in on the kidnappers hideout.

Mr Olodan was found around 5.30 a.m. in the forest.

He was kidnapped on Friday, at Elegure farmstead near Iyemero, after bandits numbering 18, stormed the community.

The bandits later called on Saturday and demanded for a N30 million ransom from the family.

A source told journalists in Ado Ekiti on Monday, that the farmer was released due to efforts by local hunters, Vigilante Group of Nigeria, Oodua Peoples Congress, and Amotekun Corps .

He said N2 million was paid as an instalment, adding that the security men were able to close in on the kidnappers through a thorough combing of the sprawling forest along Ekiti, Kogi, and Kwara borders.

The family had on Sunday paid a sum of N2 million out of the ransom requested for with a mission to continue with negotiation after getting the first tranche of the money, the source said.

But the search team in Iyemero Ekiti who went on combing the entire forest to the borders of Ekiti with Kogi and Kwara states went deep into the forest and pursued them to the night time.

Upon realising that the search party was closing in on them, they abandoned the man and ran away.

We thank God that the man was released unhurt and he was in good and sound health.

No ransom paid

The Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti Command, Sunday Abutu, confirmed the development, saying that the police led the search team that recovered the farmer from bandits .

I think I told you on Saturday that the police immediately swung into action upon hearing that the farmer was kidnapped, he said.

So, we led the search team that chased the bandits into the forest to ensure that the victim was freed.

Mr Abutu, however, said the command was not aware of the N2 million earlier paid by the family as a part payment of the ransom demanded.

Mr Abutu later issued a statement where he maintained that no ransom was paid to the kidnappers.

We thank God that the man was released unhurt and he is in good and sound health, he said.

The rumours that the family agreed to make instalmental payments for the balance of the N30 million ransom demanded by the kidnappers is also not true.

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The Police Command in Ekiti on Monday, said a suspected armed robber, Sunday Oluwasola, who was rescued from a mob attack had died of complications in the hospital.

The command in a statement by its spokeperson, Sunday Abutu, in Ado-Ekiti, said Mr Oluwasola allegedly belonged to an armed robbery gang that attacked a students hostel opposite Ekiti State University (EKSU) in Iworoko-Ekiti.

According to him, Mr Oluwasola was captured by the students and beaten to stupor while his other gang members fled the scene of the robbery.

He said the commands Rapid Response Squad (RRS) had earlier received a distress call that an armed robbery was going in a hostel apartment opposite the Ekiti State University (EKSU) campus in Iworoko-Ekiti.

Mr Abutu said that, though Mr Oluwasola was rescued by the operatives on getting to the scene and rushed to a nearby hospital for medical treatment, he later developed complications and died in the process.

He said that Mr Oluwasola upon interrogation before his death had confessed to the crime.

According to him, Mr Oluwasola mentioned some of his gang members that fled the scene of the robbery operation to include: Tochukwu, Michael and Tomiwa whose surnames are unknown.

Mr Abutu, however said that efforts are on to arrest his other gang members that fled with valuables such as laptops, phones and cash.

He said that the body had been deposited in a morgue of an unnammed hospital.

Mr Abutu listed items recovered from the suspects to include: two locally made barrel guns, two cutlasses, two pliers and two human images calved with wood.

(NAN)
The President of the UN General Assembly, Volkan Bozkir, says stepping up global efforts to combat land degradation is the only way to safeguard health and the environment against future threats.

Mr Bozkir spoke on Monday at the UN headquarters in New York at a high level dialogue on desertification, land degradation and drought.

According to him, stepping up global efforts to combat land degradation is the only way to safeguard food and water security, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and ward off future threats to health and the environment.

While outlining the cost of inaction, Mr Bozkir described restoring nature as the test of our generation.

Our planet is facing an environmental crisis that encompasses every aspect of the natural world, land, climate, biodiversity and pollution on land and at sea.

Our existence and ability to thrive in this world is entirely dependent upon how we reset and rebuild our relationship with the natural world, including the health of our land, he said.

The General Assembly dialogue, the first of its kind in a decade, is being held at a time when half of all agricultural land is degraded, threatening livelihoods and also driving extinction and intensifying climate change.

Without a change in course, this will only get worse. By 2050, global crop yields are estimated to fall by 10 per cent, with some suffering up to a 50 per cent reduction.

This will lead to a sharp 30 per cent rise in world food prices, threatening progress on hunger and nutrition, as well as a myriad of associated development goals.

The fallout could also see millions of farmers pushed into poverty, while some 135 million people could be displaced by 2045, upping the risk of instability and tension, he said.

Mr Bozkir brought countries together to galvanise international cooperation to avert further degradation and revive degraded land, ahead of UN summit this year on the topics of land, biodiversity and climate.

The organisation has been clear on what steps they need to take. First, countries should adopt and implement land degradation neutrality targets, which revive land through sustainable land and water management strategies, and restore biodiversity and ecosystem functions, he advised.

Ecosystem restoration

As the world embarks on 10 years of action on ecosystem restoration through 2030, Bozkir said countries should also apply lessons learned over the decade to fight desertification.

Land restoration must be at the heart of existing international processes, such as the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to combat climate change, the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, and COVID-19 recovery and stimulus plans, he added.

With unsustainable agriculture being a main driver of desertification, the assembly president called for governments to conduct national dialogues on agricultural reform ahead of the UN Food Systems Summit in September.

He also emphasised the need for greater synergy between peace, development and humanitarian action, with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) serving as a roadmap.

Cooperation here can be achieved through universal implementation of a UN framework on disaster risk reduction which, he said, would enhance prevention efforts.

He further stressed the need to devote a greater share of climate finance to forests and agriculture.

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For an estimated 2.7 trillion dollars per year, we could transform the worlds economies by restoring natural ecosystems and rewarding agriculture that keeps soils healthy.

Also, we could transform the economies with incentivising business models that prioritise renewable, recyclable or biodegradable products and services.

Within a decade, the global economy could create 395 million new jobs and generate over 10 trillion dollars, he said.

He said the rights of the worlds more than one billion agricultural workers must also not be forgotten.

Most do not own the lands on which they work; currently, one per cent of farmers control more than 70 per cent of the worlds farmlands.

Investing directly in land workers is an investment in our land and our planets future.

When we enable workers to invest in their land, we support agricultural productivity, Mr Bozkir stated. (NAN)
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Christiane Amanpour, a popular international anchor for CNN, has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, she told viewers on Monday.

Ms Amanpour said the past four weeks, during which she has not appeared on CNN, has been a bit of a roller coaster.

During that time, like millions of women around the world, I have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, she said.

The world-renowned journalist added she has had a successful major surgery to remove it and that she is undergoing several months of chemotherapy, hoping for the very best possible long-term prognosis.

Im confident, she announced from her hometown, London.

Ms Amanpour, 63, said she feels fortunate to have health insurance through work and incredible doctors who are treating me in a country underpinned by, of course, the brilliant NHS, referencing the National Health Service in the UK.

She noted that ovarian cancer affects millions of women around the world and her decision to share the news of her condition was in the interest of transparency.

Im telling you this in the interest of transparency but in truth really mostly as a shoutout to early diagnosis.

She urged women to educate themselves on this disease, to get all the regular screenings and scans that you can, to always listen to your bodies.

And of course to ensure that your legitimate medical concerns are not dismissed or diminished, she said.

Ovarian cancer is one of the deadliest cancers for women. It is the eighth-most commonly occurring cancer in women and the 18th-most commonly occurring cancer overall according to the World Cancer Research Fund.

The announcement prompted an outpouring of support and encouragement on social media from colleagues at CNN and from countless journalism personalities wishing her a full recovery and commending her public announcement.

After her brief announcement, Ms Amanpour carried on with her programme.

Thats my news, now lets get to the news, she said.
Benue State judiciary is not on first-line charge, the workers union has said, countering a claim by the states Commissioner for Finance, David Olofu.

Mr Olofu had told our reporter that the states judiciary was on first-line charge, in his reaction to a PREMIUM TIMES report which turned the spotlight on the handling of the judiciarys salaries in Benue State and three others.

The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) , which recently ended an over-two-month-old strike, had accused the states governor, Samuel Ortom, and his counterparts in Plateau, Kaduna, and Bayelsa States, of withholding or deducting the judiciarys salaries.

First-line charge, JUSUN strike

JUSUN had embarked on a nationwide strike on April 6 to press for the implementation of constitutional provision placing the judiciary on first-line charge in the budgets of the various states.

Placing the judiciary on the first-line charge as demanded by the union will enable it to receive its funds directly from the Federation Account and ultimately make it independent of the executive arm of government.

After a series of meetings with officials and an agreement signed with the state governors, the union, on June 9, suspended the strike which had crippled courts across the country for 64 days.

The courts finally reopened on Monday.

In its communique announcing the suspension of the strike, JUSUN accused four states, including Benue, of allegedly withholding or deducting the salaries of judiciary workers.

PREMIUM TIMES got across to each of the states, consisting of Benue, Plateau, Kaduna and Bayelsa, to react to JUSUNs claim.

Benue finance commissioners reactions

When contacted by our reporter, Benue States finance commissioner, Mr Olofu, declined to speak on the issue, but when pressed further, told our reporter to ask the Chief Judge, (Benue State) if the judiciarys salaries are being withheld or not.

Following our report on the JUSUNs claim which reflected the reactions and attempts by our reporter to get the comments of the representatives of the four states, Mr Olofu, called our reporter to say, I meant to say that the judiciary, since we came on board, has been receiving their allocations as first-line charge.

First-line charge assertion untrue

But the chairperson of the Benue State chapter of JUSUN, Aba Terlumun, denied the commissioners claim.

Mr Olofus claim is only on paper, Mr Terlumun told our reporter in a phone interview.

The union leader lamented that the judicial arm of government was in dire financial straits in the state.

He said, We have not been paid till now. Now we are approaching another FAAC (Federal Account Allocation Committee) meeting, yet we have not been paid our salaries for the month of May.

The overhead fund for the daily running of the judiciary is not being paid. Its painful.

He said the efforts by the union to meet with the finance commissioner and the governor to find a solution to the crisis had been futile.

It is only the Accountant General of the state that gives us an audience as to what efforts he is making at his end towards getting the judiciary paid.

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The assertion that Benue state judiciary is on first-line charge is only on paper, Mr Terlumun said.

He added, The Chief Judge has nothing to do with salaries of judiciary workers. It is the Chief Registrar that receives the alert of payment and onward disbursement to workers.

Meagre, irregular allocation

A top official of the Benue State judiciary , who asked not to be named because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, also denied the claim that the state judiciary was already on a first-line charge.

The official said the overhead released to the state for the daily running of the judiciary has been irregular and meagre.

So, if anyone says we are being placed on a first line charge, the person is lying! the official said, adding, We dont know when we will receive our May salary.

Another official , who also pleaded not to be named, said, The payment of overheads is not regular.

He said with 23 judges, two chief registrars, and a number of magistrates, chief magistrates, and directors, the judiciary usually finds it hard to cope with its financial constraints.

The money is between N13 million and N15 million, he said.

He added, The overhead is used to run offices; from call cards, cable television subscriptions, sitting allowances, traveling expenses of judges, vehicle repairs and so many other official responsibilities.

Sometimes, for two months, it wont be given. Then the government would skip and pay for the third month.

Finance commissioner declines comment

All efforts to speak with the Benue State Commissioner for Finance, Mr Olofu, were unsuccessful as calls placed to his phone since Monday rang out.

As of the time of filing this report on Tuesday, Mr Olofu had not responded to a text message sent to his phone requesting his comment on the counter-claims of JUSUN and the judiciary officials.
A doctor with Premier Medical Specialist Centre, the hospital accused of professional misconduct leading to the death of a Lagos chef, Peju Ugboma, Tuesday failed to appear before a public hearing instituted by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).

The FCCPC had opened an inquiry into possible violation of patient and consumer rights in the death of the popular pastry chef.

The deceaseds family had earlier accused the hospital of being responsible for the death of Mrs Ugboma during a fibroid surgery.

The legal counsel for the hospital, Abimbola Akeredolu, informed the panel that the summoned doctor, identified as Osinowo, had travelled abroad and requested to appear by virtual means.

However, Babatunde Irukera, Chairman of the FCCPC said the doctors absence undermines the system and violates the summons.

Each medical practitioner is here to testify under summons, in consonant with the law, he must have the prerogative to inform the regulator that he is not available that the regulator to set up an alternative platform, no, we recognise that it is not impracticable, it is not optionalDr Osinowo proceeds to travel in violation of the existing summons.

He noted that Mr Osinowo was served the summons on June 7, before he travelled abroad but replied on June 12 around 6:44 p.m.

However, Ms Akeredolu argued that the testimonial was a breach of the patients confidentiality. Mr Irukera, however, argued that the deceaseds husband had given his consent.

Ms Akeredolu also pointed out that some doctors from the health facility were present earlier but received specific instructions to leave this proceedings or lose their medical licenses, from the Medical and Dental Association of Nigeria (MDAN) and the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA).

But Mr Irukera said the regulatory process and legal process would progress, while stating that a full medical record on the deceased was yet to be released by the health facility.

Members of the panel include Moyosore Onigbanjo, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Lagos State; Afolabi Solebi; Bernard Onigah, representative of the Nigerian Bar Association; Komolafe Olanrewaju; Joan Oluyemi; and others.

The deceased

Earlier in the hearing, the deceaseds husband, Ijeoma Ugboma, recounted how the hospitals negligence led to his wifes death in April.

He explained that his wife had gone for an elective surgery and after it was done, she complained of intense abdominal pain and discomfort but he thought it was normal and temporal since she had just come out of surgery.

The father of two noted that before the surgery, she had done all the tests recommended by the hospital and had no pre-existing condition to have developed post-surgery complications.

Mr Ugboma claimed that he got no information from the hospital, noting that his wife was the one who told him that the doctors were going to bring in a nephrologist because her kidney wasnt working properly.

If I was told my wife was in distress early enough, we would have acted faster.

Some days later, after Mrs Ugboma was transferred to another health facility, Evercare, where she was declared dead.

He said Premier Medical Specialist Centre sent him an unsigned and unnamed  medical record which is unacceptable.

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Mr Irukera commended staff of the Evercare hospital for coming to give their testimony.

He, however, said they cannot testify in the absence of Premier hospital.
Nigerians took to the street last Saturday in peaceful rallies to protest against bad governance and insecurity across the country.

The protest, organised by some Nigerian youth and civil society organisations, was billed to hold simultaneously in various states across the federation.

The protest held in many parts of the country including Abuja, Lagos, Oyo, Ondo Osun and Ogun, to mention but a few. The protest, however, did not hold in most parts of the North.

The June 12 protest, deliberately planned by civic groups and activists to coincide with Nigerias Democracy Day, aimed at pressuring the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to address the worsening state of governance and the alarming rate of insecurity in the country.

June 12 is celebrated as Democracy Day in Nigeria in remembrance of the June 12, 1993, presidential election that was presumably won by, Moshood Abiola.

The election, said to be the fairest and freest in Nigeria, was annulled under controversial circumstances by the military regime of Ibrahim Babangida.

Mr Abiola later died under controversial circumstances in detention in 1998 after he was arrested by the military regime for declaring himself president of Nigeria.

The federal government and the authorities in various states had indicated their disapproval of the protest.

However, a counter-protesting group emerged in Abuja, protesting in solidarity with the president.

Civic groups, including the #RevolutionNow movement, led by Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, were prevented from protesting in Abuja and Lagos.

While the right to peaceful assembly is a fundamental human right, the Nigerian government, under Mr Buhari, has the reputation of cracking down on such gatherings deemed confrontational by state officials.

Here are 10 things we learnt from the protest:

Hiring of pro-government protesters

In a desperate move to overshadow the mainstream protests, hundreds of protesters wearing branded T-shirts with pro-Buhari inscriptions also trooped to the streets of Abuja on Saturday.

Most of them were recruited to join a rally aimed at countering the mainstream June 12 protests on Saturday.

Some of them, who randomly spoke to PREMIUM TIMES at Unity Fountain, Abuja, said they were promised to be paid between N1,500 and N2,500 to attend the counter-protest.

Militarisation to prevent protest

There was a heavy police presence in the countrys two major cities, in order to prevent citizens from protesting.

Abuja and Lagos saw police shooting their guns into the air and firing teargas into the crowds to disperse the demonstrators, who held placards and chanted Buhari must go.

Police fired teargas and detained several demonstrators in the two major cities. Officers were also seen smashing mobile phones confiscated from protesters.

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No protests in the North

The widely publicised protest failed to hold in most of Nigerias 19 northern states.

Aside from Plateau State and the FCT in North-central Nigeria, protests did not hold in all the entire 18 other states.

Instead of protests, official ceremonies and political rallies organised by some governors to commemorate the June 12 Democracy Day took the centre stage in most of the states, with citizens in most of the states in the northern region going about their routine business.

Social media mobilisation

One of the core components of the protests has been the seamless transition between online and offline campaigns.

Mainly using the outlawed Twitter, WhatsApp and Facebook, young people have rallied and mobilised waves of protests to locations across the country with pretty simple formulas.

For instance, when dozens of people converge on a location to host their own protests, they share their location on social media asking for reinforcements, a move that has seen crowds go from a few dozens to hundreds within hours in some places.

Strategic locations were pre-identified online with people encouraged to come out and protest.

Protests abroad

Aside from the protests held in Nigeria, different groups held another at the Trafalgar Square in London demanding that Buhari must go and calling for Biafra and a Yoruba nation.

Some others staged a peaceful solidarity protest in Washington D.C. to demand an end to insecurity and bad governance in Nigeria. The protests held across many cities in the country.

The protesters who wore branded T-shirts with the inscription Yoruba Nation Now! held placards showing pictures of some of the victims of recent killings by armed bandits in the country.

No death recorded

Despite the harassment, shootings and intimidation by the police and DSS, no cases of death were recorded across the country.

According to some of the protesters, the only mission of the security agents was to thwart the protest.

Sources said commissioners of police in various states were warned not to shoot at any protesters to avoid escalating violence.

Arrested protesters released within hours

Due to the militarisation of the protest, many protesters were arrested and detained briefly by the police.

Some of the arrested protesters were manhandled and subjected to inhuman environments.

However, despite all the odds, no protester was detained for up to 24 hours as all the detainees were released within hours.

Well-coordinated pro-government protest

The counter-protest organised by agents of government was well-coordinated, with the organisers operating from the field.

The organisers were seen delegating various protesters to speak to journalists and also telling them what to say.

Most of the organisers who look older physically declined speaking to the media as they claim their delegates were in charge of the protest.

Free use of unity fountain

While the anti-government protesters were denied access to the Abuja unity fountain, pro-government protesters operated freely at the fountain.

They spent several hours while the security agents looked by, forcing the anti-government protesters to find an alternative venue.

Police protection

While anti-government protesters were bullied and harassed by security agents, pro-government protesters were given police protection.

The police moved along with them to wherever they were going within the unity fountain axis.

Due to harassment and intimidation, anti-government protesters were forced to end their protest abruptly.
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The House of Representatives joint committees on Defence and Army have commenced the screening of Farouk Yahaya, a major general, as the chief of army staff (COAS).

President Muhammadu Buhari had last week requested the House to confirm the nomination of Mr Yahaya.

The new chief of army staff was appointed by Mr Buhari to replace Ibrahim Attahiru, a lieutenant general, who died in an air crash alongside 10 other officers and men of the army, on May 21, while on an official trip to Kaduna State.

The screening was co-chaired by the Chairman of Defence Committee, Babajimi Benson (APC, Lagos) and Chairman Committee on Army, Abdulrasak Namdas (APC, Adamawa) on Tuesday.

The Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly matters, Umar El-Yakub, introduced Mr Farouk to the lawmakers.

In his address, the chairman of the committee on defence said the panel would be thorough and transparent with the screening.

He noted that the army needs innovative means to tackle the security challenges facing the country.

Details to follow..
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President Muhammadu Buhari has emphasized the need for countries rocked by security challenges in the West African sub-region and those in the Sahel to team up to confront the menace.

Femi Adesina, the Presidents spokesman, said Buhari stated this when he received the new Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Mahamat Saleh Annadif, at the State House, Abuja, on Tuesday.

The president said: You are our neighbour. You have vast experience on matters affecting the Sahel, having served for five years in Mali.

I hope you will get the countries to work together to confront the issues affecting them.

While describing the problems as enormous, Mr Buhari noted that Boko Haram had exacted heavy toll in terms of lives and resources in Nigeria and some neighbouring countries.

He added that Mali equally had a large swathe of the country occupied by militants.

He submitted: I hope under the auspices of UNOWAS, you will help get the problems sorted out. Most of them have to do with the instability in Libya, and it affects all of us.

The president pledged the assistance of Nigeria to the Special Representative, so that he could succeed in his assignment.

Mr Annadif, a Chadian, said he was visiting shortly after his appointment, because he recognised the crucial role of Nigeria in West Africa.

He said he was quite familiar with the problems of the Sahel region, and would depend on the help of Nigeria to succeed.

(NAN)
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Former Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, has returned to public attention with the launch of DashMe Foundation.

This appears to be her first public outing since the acceptance of her resignation by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2018.

Mrs Adeosun disclosed the launch of her new foundation on Monday via a post on her Facebook account.

According to her, the social enterprise was created to transform the lives of orphans and vulnerable children, disadvantage youths and victims of domestic violence.

The launch was attended and chaired by the Vice President of Nigeria, Yemi Osinbajo.

Resignation

An investigation by PREMIUM TIMES in July 2018 revealed that Mrs Adeosun, did not participate in the mandatory one-year national youth service scheme but instead forged an exemption certificate many years after graduation.

This action breached the National Youth Service Corps law which provides a jailable punishment.

Following sustained pressure from several quarters, Mrs Adeosun tendered her resignation letter to Mr Buhari on September 14, 2018 which was accepted by the President.

Thereafter, the following day, the former minister departed the country for the United Kingdom and had since stopped public interactions.
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A civil organisation and residents of Akwa Ibom State have decried high estimated billing to customers by the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC).

Clifford Thomas, rights activist and director, Foundation for Civic Education, Human Rights and Development Advancement in Uyo said electricity distribution companies must ensure that all customers were metered so as to guarantee justice and fairness in the billing and pricing of electricity.

Mr Thomas, who spoke to reporters in Uyo on Tuesday, said PHEDC personnel in the state were deliberately refusing to supply meters to customers. He also accused the officials of the power distribution company of impunity, arrogance, and insensitivity to the feelings of customers.

He said PHEDC was taking undue advantage of the people to force high bills on them instead of providing them with prepaid meters to control their energy usage.

PHEDC has been stealing from the people because they know the people dont know their rights and very unfortunately the people themselves dont want to fight for their rights.

I cant also tell if they are enjoying the suffering. How can someone who has been paying a bill of N6,500 before and suddenly PHEDC brought a bill of N45, 000 and you agree to pay, yet you are complaining.

We have received several complaints and in the next two weeks, we are going to convene a stakeholders forum to address the issues.

We are sending letters to the police, the DSS and many other groups and the management of PHEDC will be invited, the public should come out and air their grievances, Mr Thomas said.

Patricia Inyang, a resident in Uyo, said estimated billing was a major problem that PHEDC must have to address.

She said the electricity company was giving her estimated bill of N7,500 monthly in a one-room apartment.

She appealed to the PHEDC to supply consumers with prepaid meters to avoid the outrageous billing.

Reacting to the complaints, the PHEDC said it had increased efforts to address many of the challenges faced by its customers regarding unavailability of prepaid meters, overbilling and epileptic power.

Chioma Aninwe, the acting manager, Corporate Communications, PHEDC said in addition to the Asset Provider Scheme, the company had also taken part in the National Mass Metering Programme to make prepaid meters available to customers.

Our Systems Operation Unit is thereby constrained to proactively manage the available load to create a balance in the interim.

Some of the challenges being faced are constraints from the transmission end which are not limited to infrastructural issues. Power supply will improve and stabilise as soon as these challenges are rectified, she said.

(NAN)
No fewer than 5,014 residents of Enugu State have, so far, received a second dose of COVID-19 vaccination since its commencement in June 1, within 13 days of the commencement of the exercise in the state, a top official has said.

A medical doctor and the executive secretary of Enugu State Primary Health Care Development Agency (ENS-PHCDA), George Ugwu, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Enugu.

ENS-PHCDA started giving the second dose of the vaccine on June 1 to health workers at the states COVID-19 Isolation Centre in Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Enugu.

The agency had successfully administered the first dose to 33,800 residents, which included health workers, security men, the elderly and critical leaders in the state.

Mr Ugwu said the ongoing exercise has continued smoothly, with more people coming out daily to Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) and other sites of the vaccination.

He said the state government through the agency had opened more vaccination sites to make for ease of access and reach for residents partaking in the ongoing first phase of the vaccination.

There are three fixed posts within three PHCs and two mobile posts for the vaccination in each of the 17 council areas in the state, according to him.

We have at least one additional site, called supersite, in each council area.

The supersite is located in a public place in the most populated centre or area of the council area.

We have two more supersites within Enugu metropolis due to the overwhelming population within the metropolis.

The concept of the supersite is meant to get the COVID-19 vaccination closer to where the bulk of the population of the people live and they can easily access the service, Mr Ugwu said.

The executive secretary said the state recently opened a state supersite or special supersite at the office of the ENS-PHCDA within Enugu metropolis.

He explained that the special supersite is where the agency has a special NPHCDA website internet service that monitors and access the national COVID-19 vaccination registration real-time.

The special supersite is where we attend to those coming from other states that have taken their first jab (dose) but wish to take their second jab within Enugu State.

With the help of the internet monitoring of the vaccination website, we will be able to ascertain the COVID-19 vaccination status of the visitor, who must have his or her green card.

When we ascertain that he or she has certainly taken his or her first jab through the internet via the PHCDA website for the vaccination, we can comfortably administer the second jab to such a person.

Thus, saving the personality the time, cost and inconvenience of travelling back to his or her point of first jab in his the previous state, he added.

NAN reports that the state government, on March 8, received 65,400 doses of the Oxford AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine from the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Abuja.

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The state-wide COVID-19 vaccination began across the state on March 19.

The ENS-PHCDA had deployed 102 trained vaccination teams for the exercise.

(NAN)
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The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra, Ndubuisi Nwobu, said the party remains focused to take over the state in the upcoming governorship poll.

Mr Nwobu said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka on Tuesday, adding that he would not be distracted by those trying to destabilise the party in the state.

He lauded the National Executive Committee of the party for organising successful ward congresses in the state which he said was a sure step to the partys free, fair and credible primary election.

We want to conduct our primary election, where party people will freely vote and produce a candidate that will be acceptable to Anambra people at the November 6 poll.

This is not (the) time for distractions. We are focused on taking over the government from the All Progressives Grand Alliance.

The party has shortchanged millions of Anambra people in terms of governance.

Mr Nwobu said he remained the valid chairman of PDP in Anambra, having emerged from a valid process that was upheld by a Federal High Court in its May 24, 2018 judgment.

He said the judgment had not been reversed by any higher court and that he was unfazed by any court judgment which purportedly removed him.

My leadership is still subsisting, no superior court has set that judgment aside and a court of coordinate jurisdiction cannot do that.

Our team of legal experts is taking care of that. The decision to appeal will be advised, the PDP chairman said.

NAN reported that Chukwudi Umeaba, at the weekend, announced that he had taken over the party in the state as the Acting Chairman of the Caretaker Committee.

Mr Umeaba, who announced the suspension of the ward congresses, said his action was predicated on a judgment of an Abuja Federal High Court.

According to him, the judgment delivered on June 9, nullified the process that produced Mr Nwobus leadership.

(NAN)
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Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) has urged police and other security agencies to secure the release of seven children abducted by suspected hoodlums at Enyigba community, Ebonyi State.

The children were abducted from their respective homes at Enyigba community in Abakaliki Local Government Area by unknown persons, following a renewed conflict over land dispute with Enyibichiri community in Ikwo Local Government Area.

A statement signed by Jeremiah Oyibe, the state secretary of CDHR, on Tuesday in Abakaliki, urged the police to ensure safe and unconditional release of the seven abductees.

The CDHR added that the police and the state government should ensure the arrest and trial of those involved in the criminal abduction of the innocent children.

The group expressed displeasure that children had become targets of attack in armed conflicts and extreme violence.

It said that abduction of children in armed conflicts for whatever reason was not only condemnable and disturbing but heartbreaking.

Ensuring accountability for such crimes along with crimes against humanity and genocides is an essential part of upholding responsibility to protection as well as establishing a basis for sustainable peace and reconciliation.

Not bringing perpetrators to book is tantamount to evading accountability and such impunity not only denies victims justice and reparations, it equally produces an environment conducive for continuous perpetration of such crimes, the group said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that the Ebonyi State Government in conjunction with Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Ebonyi chapter, had waded into the boundary dispute involving the two communities and settled it.

NAN reported that a peace agreement was signed by the two communities and the boundaries clearly demarcated.

CDHR, however, expressed sadness over the recent crisis that led to the abduction of the seven children whom their mothers left at home when they went to the market to buy food stuff.

We, therefore, wish to urge the Inspector General of Police, Nigeria Government, Ebonyi State Government to, as matter of urgency, facilitate safe return of the abducted children from Enyigba community, the CDHR added.

NAN recalled that Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi at a recent expanded security meeting in Abakaliki promised to ensure that all the abducted children were released unhurt and reunited with their families.

(NAN)
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Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State has announced the introduction of a policy that will insure the lives of police personnel in the state.

Mr Uzodinma disclosed this, Tuesday, during a visit to the police headquarters in Owerri to commiserate with the police authorities over the officers who lost their lives in the attacks by unknown gunmen in the state.

The governor presented six operational vehicles to the police, and reiterated his commitment to ridding the state of crimes.

He charged the officers to brace up, tackle insecurity and restore peace and stability in the state.

Mr Uzodinma said a social welfare package would be launched to motivate them and enhance their individual and collective service delivery.

I want to assure you that the Imo State Government will not let you do this work alone. Government will partner with the Nigerian Police to ensure that our people sleep with their two eyes closed.

I want to extend my condolences to the immediate families of those officers who lost their lives during this ugly period.

Government is putting together a programme that will encourage the children, wives and husbands of the slain officers.

Imo government will bring an insurance policy, in addition to what the Nigerian Police Force has, that will insure lives of men and women of the Nigerian Police working in Imo State.

In case of any casualty, palliative measures alone will not be provided by the government.

Insurance companies will also take responsibility of making sure that the liabilities and obligations of those who died will be contained and taken care of through that policy, he said.

The state Police Commissioner, Abutu Yaro, in his remarks, appreciated the governor for the visit, saying that it would boost the morale of the officers to do their best.

He stated that through the governors support and gallant efforts of police operatives, peace and normalcy had been restored to the state.

Today, Imo is safe again and secure for businesses and social lives. We shall continue to do our best to maintain a safe state for citizens and residents of Imo State, he said.

(NAN)
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A 45-year-old man, Kayode Adeyanju, has been arrested in Lagos for allegedly raping his 14-year-old daughter.

Muyiwa Adejobi, the police spokesperson, said in a statement on Monday that the victim reported the case to the police.

The suspect was arrested last week at Tinubu Estate, Ibeshe, Ikorodu area of Lagos.

The survivor personally reported the case at Ipakodo Police Station, Ikorodu on the 7th June, 2021, after her horrible ordeal in the hands of her father and the Police operatives arrested the suspect, the police said.

It is unclear for how long the suspect has been raping his daughter before the minor made a complaint to the police.

There have been several reports of rape and sexual abuse cases in the past, one of the most recent involving a popular nollywood actor, Olanrewaju Omiyinka popularly known a Baba Ijesha.

PREMIUM TIMES also reported how over 91 rape cases were recorded in Lagos State between January and February, amongst other gender based violence.

The Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, condemned the act and directed that the case be transferred to the Gender Unit of the Command for further investigation.

In another operation, the police said they arrested seven suspected cultists at a hotel in Igbekele Morogbo, Lagos State.

Mr Adejobi said the police received a tip-off that some boys suspected to be cultists were holding a meeting in the hotel.

The suspects include Hameed Salami, 35; Ogunlade Adewale, 30; Sunday Ogbemudia, 36; Okekunle Segun, 26; Imole Kingsley, 23; Rasak Lekan, 26; and Osuya Innocent, 23.

Items recovered from them include one locally made pistol, two live cartridges, one axe, and assorted charms, police said.

The statement added that the case has been transferred to the Commands Special Squad, Ikeja, for investigation.
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The Ondo State Government has commended the technology-driven Edo State Internal Revenue Service, (EIRS), describing it as top notch.

Segun Enikuomehin, Director Ondo State Internal Revenue, who made the commendation on Monday in Benin, said he led his team to Edo to understudy the seamless EIRS revenue administration system.

Mr Enikuomehin said members of his team were in the state to gain knowledge from the EIRS blueprint on tax reforms and management, with plans to create our own seamless revenue administration.

Ondo State Internal Revenue Service team is here to understudy how to run a seamless tax process.

Alhough the process is still ongoing and open for improvement, we are building upon use of technology to drive the revenue process which follows best global practices for both establishments and allows taxpayers to pay from the comfort of their homes, he said.

He praised the EIRS Executive Chairman for having a dedicated and versatile management team which satisfactorily took them through the Edo Revenue Administration Service (ERAS) process.

Receiving the tax experts, EIRS Executive Chairman, Igbinidu Inneh, gave insight into the workings of Edo ERAS.

According to him ERAS is a technological process which birthed owing to the need to efficiently manage revenue administration using technology.

It is a system that seamlessly warehouses different revenue solutions across different revenue streams which helps to capture, profile, assess, notify and enables individual or corporate taxpayers settle taxes.

Mr Inneh noted that ERAS which was ranked one of the best in sub Saharan Africa, was 100 per cent intellectual property of the EIRS built to manage and automate the entire revenue generation spectrum in Edo.

He added that the IT solution which has further improved IGR performance, consists of central system, revenue system and mobile system, all geared towards ease of data tracking, tax settlement, electronic treasury receipting and MDAs certificate approvals.

On hand to share the Services experiences and successes achieved thus far with the deployment of ERAS were the Secretary to the Revenue Service, Lilian Giwa-Amu; Executive Director, Other Revenue, Okodugha Emmanuel; and the Head, ICT Department, Aliu Ehizojie.

They variously respectively shared insights on the informal sector, consumption tax, enforcement activities, local government harmonized taxes/ levies and a complete understanding of the ERAS process.

(NAN)
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The Sango-Ota Unit Command of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ogun has advised motorists to consider alternative routes in the axis due to the ongoing rehabilitation works on Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.

Akeem Ganiyu, the Sango-Ota Unit Commander of FRSC, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) ,on Tuesday,in Ota,Ogun.

Mr Ganiyu advised motorists going to Abeokuta from Lagos to take Kola to Command Road -Navy Road, to come out at Oju-Ore axis and link Sango-Ota bridge.

The motive is to decongest the old Toll-Gate area to avoid gridlock and unnecessary time-wasting in traffic jams.

The FRSC enjoins motorists to exercise patience and adhere strictly to all traffic regulations to ensure sanity at toll gate axis, he said.

The unit commander said those coming from Abeokuta should take Sango-Ota under bridge to Oju-Ore, link Command Road, and come out at Kola Bus-Stop, Abule Egba or Ijaye, depending on their destination.

He said that Julius Berger was beginning construction work from Dalemo U-Turn, to old Toll-Gate.

The unit commander said that traffic had been diverted to Lagos inward Ogun State section of the expressway.

Mr Ganiyu said FRSC would always interface with the construction firm to provide adequate signage for safety of highway and road users at all times.

He reiterated the commitment of FRSC personnel to collaborate with others sister agencies to ensure free flow of traffic in the axis.

(NAN)
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An Abeokuta Magistrates Court on Tuesday ordered that a 15-year-old boy be remanded in a correctional centre for allegedly killing a female student.

The police charged the minor with murder.

Dehinde Dipeolu, the magistrate, who did not take the plea of the minor, ordered that he be remanded for 30 days in the Boaster Home Correctional Centre pending legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).

The magistrate adjourned the case until July 16 for mention.

Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Olu-Balogun Lawrence, told the court that the minor committed the offence on February 24 at about 1:30 p.m., at Nawair ud-deen Grammer School area in Abeokuta.

Mr Lawrence said the 15-year-old beat a 14-year-old girl to death.

He said the boy and the deceased were students of Rev. Kuti Memorial Grammer School and Nawiar ud- Deen Grammer school.

Mr Lawrence said the minor accosted the victim on her way home from school and asked her to be his girlfriend but she refused.

As a result of the beating, the victim was taken to the General Hospital at Ijaye for treatment and was later transferred to the Federal Medical Center Abeokuta, where she died, he said

Mr Lawrence said the offence contravened the provisions of sections 316 and, 319(1) of the Criminal Code, Law of Ogun, 2006.

(NAN)
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos on Tuesday inaugurated the Yaba Bus Terminal, located along the Murtala Mohammed Way, Yaba Local Council Development Area in Lagos.

Mr Sanwo-Olu said the bus terminal was necessary for the daily transportation of the teeming population in the state, adding that the government was satisfied with the project.

He added that the project was also in the interest of his administrations drive to consistently provide ultramodern infrastructure to meet the transportation needs of residents.

According to him, Yaba features prominently in the Lagos State Transportation Master Plan because of its peculiar nature as a melting pot of various commercial and academic activities making it a tech hub.

Its evolution over the years places a lot of responsibility on government to ensure that its dynamism and growth are sustained through balanced development.

The facility being commissioned today is a world-class terminal from which buses will originate and terminate.

I am happy to inform you that in the next 18 months, the Yaba Bus Terminal will be integrated with the Red Line Yaba Rail Station that is being constructed a few metres from this place.

Once the rail line is completed, passengers will be able to choose the transportation mode they prefer to get to their destinations.

Yaba Bus Terminal reflects our vision for regulated bus services, which the Lagos State Government currently champions, he said.

The governor said that the goal of the administrations Bus Reform Initiative (BRI) was to bring the bus transport system to international standard.

I appeal to our esteemed citizens to protect this bus terminal and all other projects that are being provided for our good. It is our collective responsibility to protect our infrastructure.

If you notice any abnormality, do not hesitate to say something about it. It is your civic duty to report wrongdoing and the destruction of our public assets/infrastructure to the security agencies and government officials for prompt action, he said.

The Commissioner for Transportation, Frederic Oladeinde, said the Yaba Bus Terminal would be the third to be inaugurated by the governor in the life of the administration.

Mr Oladeinde said that though the contract was awarded in March 2017, but there was no significant construction activity on the project until recently.

Since the governor is an affirmed apostle of continuity, he gave the marching order for the completion of this imposing terminal.

Previously, the governor had commissioned the Oyingbo Bus Terminal and recently the MMA Mafoluku Bus Terminal.

Other terminals at Ifako-Ijaiye, Ojota and Ajah are at different stages of completion but we are optimistic that they would be completed before the end of this year, he said.

Abimbola Akinajo, managing director, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), said the Yaba Bus Terminal was the most modern of all bus terminals in terms of design and physical attractiveness. (NAN)

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Plattsburgh, NY (12901)

Today

Cloudy with periods of rain. High 64F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a half an inch..

Tonight

Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers late. Low 56F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
OCEANSIDE [mdash] Joseph T. Velsini, 78, of Oceanside, NY passed away on June 28, 2021 after a brief illness. He was born in Port Henry, NY on May 18, 1943, the son of Joseph A. and Thomasina Velsini. He graduated from Port Henry High School and SUNY Cortland. He was a Physical Education tea
Southbury, CT (06488)

Today

Rain. Cooler. High 73F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Cloudy with periods of rain. Low 58F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a half an inch.
Strategic acquisition of FES Ghent (FESG) expands Jensen Hughes' global market leadership via strengthening its ability to serve clients in Belgium and Continental Europe.

BALTIMORE, June 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Jensen Hughes, a global leader in safety, security and risk-based engineering and consulting, announced today its acquisition of FES Ghent (FESG). The market leader in fire protection engineering in Belgium, FESG specializes in code compliance, risk assessment, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), evacuation analysis and performance-based design in complex commercial, infrastructure, transportation and tunnel projects.

"FESG owner Xavier Deckers and his team have built an impressive business focused on providing high-quality client service. We are honored to have their world-class specialists join us in supporting our clients' fire and life safety requirements wherever they operate in the world with integrated, end-to-end solutions," says Raj Arora, CEO, Jensen Hughes.

FESG is the most recent strategic acquisition by Jensen Hughes, a portfolio company of Gryphon Investors, that reflects the company's long-term commitment to deliver its integrated, end-to-end services to the global market. The acquisition enhances Jensen Hughes' robust, European fire protection and global tunnel ventilation capabilities. It also strengthens Jensen Hughes' ability to help clients in the fire, building and safety industry and implement global best practices to manage these in a prevention-oriented and cost-effective manner.

In addition to its investments worldwide, Jensen Hughes' focus on the European market includes its 2018 acquisition of the UK and Ireland firm Jeremy Gardner Associates (JGA), 2019 acquisition of International Fire Investigators and Consultants (IFIC) and 2020 acquisition of L2 Fire Safety based in Finland.

FESG was founded in 2009 and is owned and managed by Xavier Deckers, who holds ties to the University of Ghent, a rich source of talent feeding into the company. "For over a decade, we have built a scalable business around our clients' need for code compliance, risk assessment, CFD analysis, evacuation analysis and performance-based design." said Deckers. "Jensen Hughes is just as deeply committed to technical excellence as FESG has been since our founding. Its market leadership, global scale and deep bench of scientists, engineers and consultants opens up tremendous opportunities to provide an even more holistic solution for our clients."

For more information, visit jensenhughes.com, jensenhughes.com/europe or https://www.fesg.be/en.

About Jensen Hughes

Jensen Hughes is the global leader in safety, security and risk-based engineering and consulting. Every day, our international teams of 1,400+ engineers, technical experts, architects and consultants partner with clients in 100+ countries to make our world safe, secure and resilient. Since 1939, we have earned trust among our clients, people and communities by bringing integrity to our relationships, innovation to our industry and technical excellence to many of the most complex challenges in the world. Our major business lines include fire protection engineering, risks and hazards, security risk consulting, emergency management and planning, and forensic engineering. For more information, visit www.jensenhughes.com .

About FESG

Founded in 2009 as a spinoff of Ghent University, FESG is a market-leading fire protection engineering firm comprised of a highly experienced and passionate team committed to delivering technical excellence for clients across the full spectrum of services. Operating in Belgium, our clients trust us to design creative solutions through a performance-based approach and provide the optimum safety measures. For more information, visit https://www.fesg.be/en.

About Gryphon Investors

Based in San Francisco, Gryphon Investors (www.gryphoninvestors.com) is a leading private equity firm focused on profitably growing and competitively enhancing middle-market companies in partnership with experienced management. The firm has managed over $5.0 billion of equity investments and capital since 1997. Gryphon targets making equity investments of $50 million to $300 million in portfolio companies with enterprise values ranging from approximately $100 million to $600 million. Gryphon prioritizes investment opportunities where it can form strong partnerships with owners and executives to build leading companies, utilizing Gryphon's capital, specialized professional resources, and operational expertise.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1044200/Jensen_Hughes_Logo.jpg

Related Links

https://www.jensenhughes.com



SOURCE Jensen Hughes
MUMBAI, India, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Netcore Cloud, the leading global full-stack martech company today announced that Sendo, one of the leading e-commerce brands in Vietnam, has increased sales on their website and mobile app by over 51%, with its AI-led multi-channel customer engagement platform.

Sendo is the largest home-grown Vietnamese e-commerce retailer and one of the top-10 online commerce platforms in Southeast Asia, connecting over 30 million buyers and 500,000 sellers nationwide.

As an app-first e-commerce brand, Sendo needed a robust multi-channel marketing platform to personalize customer engagement across their website and mobile app. Additionally, since Sendo offered multiple limited time-bound sales promotions, they also needed to craft and deliver personalized communication to relevant customer segments without delay.

This tied right back to Netcore's core competency, having been a formidable player in the 1:1 customer engagement space for over 20 years. In fact, 75% of Asia's unicorns leverage Netcore to effectively engage and retain their customers at scale.

In response to Sendo's challenges, Netcore's advanced customer engagement platform helped them analyze and engage with their customers across email, website, and mobile app. These personalized and contextual onsite notifications were triggered based on specific user events on their website and mobile app - helping them deliver seamless e-shopping experiences while also driving 26% of web traffic to their mobile app.

In addition, Sendo leveraged Netcore Smart Push, an industry-first technology to increase app push notification delivery which resulted in a 21% increase in app launches. Their time-sensitive app push notification campaigns were also delivered at 2X speed; positively impacting engagement and conversions.



Duc Pham, Buyer Engagement Director at Sendo, commented, "Netcore Cloud has helped us increase app engagement by 21% and overall online transactions by 51%. Their team has always ensured excellent service levels and has consulted us to leverage the best solution for all our business leads."

Abithab Bhaskar, CEO - International Business at Netcore Cloud, further elaborated, "The e-commerce industry is witnessing tremendous growth in terms of customer acquisition; especially in Southeast Asia. The pressing need to engage intelligently with customers to magnify CLTV and retention through hyper-personalized experiences is something that Netcore Cloud has excelled in over the years. We are delighted to be playing a vital role in Sendo's incredible growth story and look forward to helping them scale new heights in customer and revenue growth in the future as well."

About Netcore Cloud

Netcore Cloud is a globally recognized martech SaaS company. It offers full-stack martech products that help product and growth marketers deliver AI-powered intelligent customer experiences across all customer touchpoints. The platform is an all-in-one solution for building unified views of customers, orchestrating omnichannel communication journeys, personalizing the apps and websites, optimizing user experience, real-time reporting and actionable analytics. All the products are designed to scale, with a focus on ROI. Netcore Cloud delivers 12+ billion emails, and tracks 100+ billion marketing events every month for world's top marketers.

Netcore Cloud serves 5000+ clients across 18 countries. Industry leading brands like Celcom, TNG Digital, Fave, Standard Chartered Bank, Star Media, AirAsia BIG, PizzaHut Malaysia, McDonalds Malaysia, Malindo Air, Hermo, MPH Online, and FlowerChimp, Thi Truong Si,, YHL, and Hnammobile trust Netcore Cloud to power their customer acquisition, engagement, and retention goals.

Netcore Cloud has been in business for 20+ years, is a leader in Asia and is expanding its presence in the US, EU, and South America. It operates out of India, USA, Germany, Nigeria, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, and UAE.

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1495164/Netcore_Cloud_Logo.jpg



SOURCE Netcore Cloud
SAN DIEGO, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A California public advocacy group is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to answer a specific question -- Can private parties impacted by a private company with a license from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) sue those licensees in federal court? The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled that such claims could only be brought before the NRC itself even though the agency is not equipped to handle those kinds of claims. The attorney for Public Watchdogs, Chuck La Bella, says, "The Ninth Circuit's reasoning in effect slams the courthouse door on private parties' claims in court against NRC license holders, no matter how egregious their conduct may be."

If that decision is upheld, safety advocates say potentially life-threatening and environmentally damaging practices could go unchecked. La Bella believes the court made a misstep that could have sweeping implications for future cases. "If used as a precedent, the circuit court decision effectively strips federal district courts of all jurisdiction over private litigation against any company covered by a NRC license."

The issue evolved as Public Watchdogs pushed for the safe storage of spent nuclear waste during the decommissioning process at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) in California. The group petitioned the NRC to stop the work of a private company, Holtec International, at SONGS but the agency denied the request. Separately, the group also filed suit against Holtec and the operators of SONGS.

The nonprofit called into question Holtec's disposal practices and the operators' oversight of Holtec during the plant's decommissioning. The group asked for a work stoppage, based on concerns about the methods used to move and bury millions of pounds of deadly radioactive waste and the integrity of the "thin-walled" canisters the company used to store it. However, the district court said it could not hear their claims. The Ninth Circuit agreed, shutting down the challenge without even looking at the merit of the argument. It ruled that federal courts didn't have jurisdiction over the case.

Citing the Hobbs Act, the circuit court said that the only way the group could challenge the actions of any company that holds a NRC license is before the NRC itself. Attorneys for Public Watchdogs claim the district court and the Ninth Circuit misinterpreted the purpose of the Hobbs Act and ignored the precedents of multiple circuit court decisions, as well as those of the Supreme Court, that have allowed for review in federal court.

This legal question could have important environmental, public health and safety implications for affected citizens as well as the states that house 70 nuclear power plants around the country. The states have mounting caches of spent nuclear fuel stockpiled on their land and no long-term plan for removing or storing the waste. The Attorney Generals in more than a dozen states have called into question the experience, transparency and resources of the same private company tapped to perform the decommissioning process in California. Attorneys General from states such as New York and Washington have voiced their concerns directly to the NRC about its approval of various licenses granted to Holtec. When the NRC failed to act, many states followed with lawsuits.

At least one group of environmental advocates is writing an amicus brief in support of having the Supreme Court hear this pressing legal question that has critical public health and safety implications nationwide. Other entities and states may follow. La Bella says, "If the Hobbs Act precludes district courts from hearing private party litigation, then a host of suits aimed at protecting the public's health and safety may be barred wholesale. We hope the highest court in the land will send the issue back to the ninth circuit for another look."

Interviews Are Available Upon Request

Contact:

Lynn Stuart

8582436988

[email protected]

SOURCE Public Watchdogs
DALLAS, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Nonprofit organization, Texans Lil Fragile Voices, announces today that Medicaid Managed Care reform activist Linda Badawo has launched a campaign to end Superior HealthPlan's contract with the state of Texas for the management of a health program for foster children.

The campaign, Sick of Superior, will spotlight Superior HealthPlan's track record of putting profits before patients and will encourage additional Texas families to share their stories about Superior. It will also seek to pressure lawmakers to hold the company accountable and make needed reforms to the managed care system.

The campaign begins as Linda marks the fifth anniversary of a tragedy at the hands of Superior that left her adoptive son with serious brain damage. In 2016, Superior repeatedly refused to provide then 1-year-old D'Ashon Badawo with one-on-one 24-hour nurse care as prescribed by D'Ashon's doctors. Linda, as well as D'Ashon's doctors and nurses, feared that D'Ashon would pull out his breathing tube when a nurse was not present to reinsert it, threatening his life. Following Superior's repeated denials of 24-hour nurse case, D'Ashon dislodged his tube while he did not have a nurse and suffered irreparable brain damage.

Superior, a subsidiary of Centene Corporation, has been awarded the contract to run Texas's foster care health program known as STAR Health since 2008. In exchange for a flat monthly payment per person, Superior controls and manages the medical care of Texas foster children. But in August, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) will be accepting proposals from other providers. It is expected to award the next contract for the program in February 2022.

"There needs to be accountability for companies like Superior," said Linda. "We can't continue to allow Superior to operate with impunity. Texas families and taxpayers deserve better."

Linda, a pediatric nurse who immigrated to the United States from Nigeria when she was 19, started fostering children with complex medical needs from her home in Mesquite, TX in 2013. She is a founder of Texans Lil Fragile Voices, a nonprofit with a global mission to relieve the plight of impoverished children, mandate health care for all, provide tools to end poverty, enhance the laws that govern the foster care system and provide adequate and timely health care for medically dependent children around the world. In December 2020, Linda published a book about her experience with Superior, "Double Trauma: Mismanaged Health Care in the Parent Foster System."

The Sick of Superior campaign brings renewed attention to an ongoing lawsuit in which Linda has sued Superior alleging, among other claims, negligence and gross negligence over its denials of care for D'Ashon. The suit is proceeding in Texas state court, with the CEO of Centene scheduled to be deposed June 30th, and a trial expected to start September 13th.

The campaign also comes amid increasing scrutiny of Superior's parent, Centene Corporation, nationwide. One of the chief aims of the Sick of Superior initiative is to continue gathering stories in Texas, and across the United States, from families who have had medically dependent children suffer as a result of Centene's acts or omissions.

Beyond ending Superior's contract in Texas, Linda is seeking broader changes to the managed care system. She wants lawmakers to create a fair appeals system or a separate appeals system for Medicaid recipients who are denied care; increase oversight of managed care organizations; and identify, assess, and penalize corporations for misconduct.

"The system has failed so many families," said Linda. "We must and can do better."

SOURCE Texans Lil Fragile Voices
HONOLULU, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Alii Animal Hospital & Resort, Honolulu's first pet resort and full-service animal hospital, is now opening a new clinic location in Kailua.

Left: Shawna Lee, Patient Services Manager, Dr. Joanna Cook, Veterinarian & Owner, Dr. Judy Yasunaga, Veterinarian, Matt Malta, Resort Director & Owner (PRNewsfoto/Alii Animal)

The grand opening celebration will be held on Tuesday, June 15, 2021 at their new facility at 201 Hamakua Drive A104 in Kailua. Alii Animal's co-founder Matt Malta, born and raised in Kailua, always dreamed of bringing Alii Animal's superior veterinary care to his hometown. The opening will begin with a traditional Hawaiian blessing. Following the blessing, guests will be able to meet the doctors and staff, Resort Director and Owner, Matt Malta, Veterinarian and Owner, Dr. Joanna Cook, Medical Director, Dr. Whitney Pressler, and Veterinarian, Dr. Judy Yasunaga from 10:00am to 12:00pm. The event will be held outside of the Kailua location and will be following COVID-19 social distancing guidelines.

A casting call for a chance to become Alii Animal's pet stars will take place at the event from 11:00am  1:00pm on Tuesday, June 15, 2021. Dogs and cats of all ages and breeds are welcome to join us.

Alii Animal Hospital & Resort was founded by Dr. Joanna Cook and Matt Malta on the value of "Helping Pets Live Their Best Lives." This vision translates to providing unparalleled veterinary care to dogs and cats. The state-of-the-art hospital and resort location in Kakaako, opened on September 24, 2019, and is the best choice for superior veterinarian care, pet boarding, daycare, training, and grooming services.

View our virtual tours of our hospital & resort.

https://aliianimal.com/hospital/

https://aliianimal.com/boarding/

We're accepting pet patients, call (808) 840-0505 or visit our website www.AliiAnimal.com/appointment to book an appointment.

Alii Animal is a full-service animal hospital providing unparalleled veterinary care to dogs and cats of Oahu, helping them to live their best lives. Alii's pet resort offers dogs superior boarding, daycare, and grooming experiences, all under the watchful eye of veterinarians and medically-trained staff.

If you'd like to schedule an interview with Joanna Cook and Matt Malta, please contact Melinda Mullis at [email protected] or 808-284-2011

SOURCE Alii Animal
SANFORD, Fla., June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- If we learned anything from 2020, it's that the healthcare industry is more important than ever, especially as Florida's aging population seeks ways to remain healthy and active. Given the increasing need for quality healthcare services that focus on the whole person, IMA Medical Group, a leading independent provider of high-quality primary care physician services in Central Florida, proudly announces the grand opening of the IMA Sanford Center located at 2432 French Avenue Sanford, Florida. The new facility marks the 20th center opening in IMA Medical Group's 10-year history.

"The past year has been a confusing, and often isolating one for Florida's aging population, and IMA Medical Group aims to safely and conveniently bring patients back to truly living  with a renewed focus on their overall health and well-being," stated Dr. Mark Leenay, Chief Executive Officer, IMA Medical Group. "We aim to challenge the expected to deliver the exceptional to our members and are thrilled to have the opportunity to be opening the 20th location of IMA Medical Group and bring our comprehensive and patient-centered health care services to the growing senior population in Sanford and surrounding communities."

"IMA Medical Group's approach focuses on the entire person, their physical health as well as their social and emotional health," added Leenay. "We provide a unique patient experience through our concierge approach that truly resonates with the senior population, and it is an honor to continue to expand throughout the state to bring the quality of our service and breath of programs to more patients."

The new IMA Medical Group Sanford center will encompass 8,500 square feet, where physicians, nurses, specialists, and other clinical staff will provide patients with preventive care services in addition to chronic disease management and many convenient in-house services, including diagnostic testing, dispensaries (pharmacy), and labs among others.

Under the leadership of Medical Director Dr. Juan Carlos Escandon, the center in Sanford will also be supported by on-site physicians Dr. Candice Rivera and Dr. Edgar George, as well as additional care team members.

Understanding that our patients make it a priority to stay healthy and active, IMA Medical Group continues to focus on the whole person, building facilities that also feature wellness centers on the premises. These centers focus on helping patients take control of their physical, mental and emotional health, featuring health education classes, physical fitness classes, arts and crafts, and other social engagement activities. IMA Medical Group also provides our personal transportation services to and from appointments for patients qualify for it.

In addition to standard telemedicine appointments, IMA Medical Group takes a hybrid approach to ensure patients have access to a variety of health professionals, outfitting centers with private audio-visual pods where patients may consult with specialists and off-site providers who are part of their care team. IMA Medical Group offers patients physician-guided virtual house calls via tele-health, with 24/7 access to their doctor, most who are bilingual in English, Spanish, Filipino or Haitian Creole ensuring easy communication and improving the patient experience no matter the time of day or night.

The IMA Medical Group Sanford center opens on June 14, 2021. To make an appointment, schedule a tour or to request more information, call 407-768-4464.

As Baby Boomers mature, 10,000 are becoming eligible for Medicare every day. To meet the needs of this expanding population, as well as individuals moving into Florida, IMA is adding additional clinics and well have over 30 open by the end of 2022. We will be expanding into additional counties soon, including Two facilities in Orlando will open during the summer and early fall at 3333 S Conway and 2285 S Semoran, and will have urgent care capabilities. IMA is also opening two Innovation Centers in early 2022 including a 20,000-square-foot center in South Lakeland and a 12,000-square foot center in Tampa, which will include IMA's traditional healthcare services, as well as an expanded wellness center facility, yoga, Pilates, educational opportunities, arts & crafts, a cafe, and other soon to be announced capabilities. In addition IMA is expanding its facilities in North Lakeland and Poinciana and adding a second facility in Clermont. The Sanford location opening comes quickly on the heels of a new center in Brandon, Fla., which opened on May 15, 2021.

About IMA Medical Group

IMA Medical Group provides high quality primary medical and wellness services focusing on improving patient care, reducing costs, and offering convenient services for patients, their families and caregivers. Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, IMA serves patients in 20 medical centers across Central Florida including Orlando, Lakeland, Davenport, Winter Haven, Lake Wales, Clermont, Oviedo, Kissimmee, St. Cloud, and Tampa, where over 70 physicians and nurse practitioners provide comprehensive medical services to over 40,000 members in partnership with all leading Medicare Health Plans. For more information, please visit www.imamedicalgroup.com .

* IMA Medical Group earned the Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) recognition by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) for the fourth consecutive year. The NCQA Patient-Centered Medical Home standards emphasize the use of systematic, patient-centered, coordinated care that supports access, communication, and patient involvement.

SOURCE IMA Medical Group
COMMERCE, Calif., June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ASC Engineered Solutions, a leading producer and supplier of precision engineered pipe connections, valves, support solutions and related services, has acquired Trenton Pipe Nipple Company, LLC of Federalsburg, Maryland.

Trenton Pipe Nipple Company produces and supplies brass and stainless nipples, fittings, and pipe to industrial pipe, valve and fittings markets. In addition, the company's custom fabrication capabilities will enable ASC Engineered Solutions to handle special customer requests for certain pipe nipples.

ASC Engineered Solutions' CEO Jason Hild noted, "We expect that the addition of Trenton Pipe Nipple will strengthen our organization's ability to provide differentiated solutions to our customers."

"We are excited to have the additional product breadth, knowledgeable team members, and distribution partners that Trenton Pipe Nipple brings to us," said Dean Taylor, Executive Vice President. He added, "I would personally like to thank Steve Holloway, past owner of Trenton, for his dedication to our industry and wish him well as he transitions into retirement. Steve will provide consultative support through the integration."

About ASC Engineered Solutions

ASC Engineered Solutions is defined by qualityin its products, services and support. With more than 1,400 employees, the company's portfolio of precision-engineered piping support, valves and connections provides products to more than 4,000 customers across industries, such as mechanical, industrial, fire protection, oil and gas, and commercial and residential construction. Its portfolio of leading brands includes ABZ Valve, AFCON, Anvil, Anvil EPS, Anvil Services, Basic-PSA, Beck, Catawissa, Cooplet, FlexHead, FPPI, Gruvlok, J.B. Smith, Merit, North Alabama Pipe, Quadrant, SCI, Sharpe, SlideLOK, SPF and SprinkFLEX. With headquarters in Commerce, CA, and Exeter, NH, ASC also has ISO 9001:2015 certified production facilities in PA, TN, IL, TX, AL, LA, KS, and RI. www.asc-es.com

SOURCE ASC Engineered Solutions
NEW YORK, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- AXA XL Insurance today announced the appointments of Rafael Docavo-Malvezzi as Global Chief Underwriting Officer (GCUO) for Political Risk, Credit & Bond (PRCB) and Lian Phua as Head for PRCB, Americas.

Mr. Docavo-Malvezzi, who is based in New York, will report to Stephen Ashwell, GCUO for Specialty Risks. "With more than 20 years working in the financial and insurance sectors, Rafael brings in-depth knowledge and firsthand experience across all areas of the business. From underwriting to risk analysis and client management, he is a true expert in the field and will be a strategic member of the GCUO Specialty Leadership team," said Mr. Ashwell.

Mr. Docavo-Malvezzi will drive global governance, underwriting guidelines and pricing standards across all Political Risk, Credit and Bond products. Additionally, he will lead and support the team in product development, innovation and client and broker engagement across all geographies and markets.

Mr. Docavo-Malvezzi has been at AXA XL for a decade during which he helped build and lead the global political risk and credit team. He most recently served as Head of Risk for AXA XL's PRCB business. Previous roles include leadership at the risk practice at QBE, Director of Risk Management at a boutique Credit Insurer and Senior Consultant at MasterCard Advisors.

As the new head of the Americas for PRCB, Ms. Phua who is based in New York, will lead the PRCB underwriting teams in New York, Washington DC, Toronto, and Bermuda. She will report to both Alex Blanco, Chief Underwriting Officer for Specialty, Americas and to Mr. Docavo-Malvezzi.

Commenting, Mr. Blanco said: "It is wonderful to see talent promoted from within our ranks. Lian is an experienced underwriter who has also mastered client development and team management in different markets and countries. As part of the Americas Specialty leadership team, she will help us drive innovation to ensure AXA XL continues to be a partner of choice for a wide range of clients and brokers."

Ms. Phua has been with AXA XL since 2013 when she joined as an underwriter for political risk and trade credit working in Singapore and the U.S. She most recently held the role of Underwriting Manager for Global PRCB, working with some of the company's largest clients across the financial and governmental sectors.

AXA XL underwrites PRCB coverages to large organizations on a global basis. This class includes Political Risk insurance, Credit insurance covering the non-payment of debt obligations and providing commercial bonding requirements around the globe.

Follow AXA XL on Twitter and on LinkedIn.

ABOUT AXA XL[1] AXA XL1, the property & casualty and specialty risk division of AXA, provides insurance and risk management products and services for mid-sized companies through to large multinationals, and reinsurance solutions to insurance companies globally. We partner with those who move the world forward. To learn more, visit www.axaxl.com ABOUT AXA XL1 INSURANCE AXA XL1 Insurance offers property, casualty, professional, financial lines and specialty insurance solutions to mid-sized companies through to large multinationals globally. We partner with those who move the world forward. To learn more, visit www.axaxl.com

1AXA XL is a division of AXA Group providing products and services through four business groups: AXA XL Insurance, AXA XL Reinsurance, AXA XL Art & Lifestyle and AXA XL Risk Consulting.

SOURCE AXA XL

Related Links

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As the backbone of the residential real estate transaction, MLSs provide the most efficient marketplace for showing services to do business. Leaders from Bright MLS, California Regional MLS (CRMLS), and Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED) recognized growth in the showing service space and have come to the shared realization that an underlying API for service providers would create the best experience for real estate professionals, MLSs, and showing services alike.

The project will define a set of guidelines to simplify the real-time exchange of information between showing services, MLSs, brokerages, and other data consumers. Its goal is to create a standard that serves as an agreement on how to structure information, as well as standards on how providers and consumers will send and receive information. All three organizations are heavily involved with RESO and supportive of data standardization across the industry via the RESO Data Dictionary.

Leaders from each MLS stressed that this is neither a consolidation nor an attempt to own any showing service provider. Rather, it is a collaborative effort to offer brokers and agents options in how they handle showings via the MLS.

"We want to offer an API to unite showing solutions across the entire residential real estate industry in North America," said Art Carter, CEO of CRMLS. "Whether a broker subscribes to one or more than one MLS, their challenge is working with numerous showing platforms that don't talk to each other."

"This project gives showing services a Rosetta stone," Carter added. "It enables easy translation between different showing service 'languages.'"

"In the end, it's all about offering options," said Brian Donnellan, President and CEO of Bright MLS. "The one thing we don't want is a monolithic solution to this pain point. We want our community of professionals to make their own decisions on their showing providers."

"Our brokerages have told us that they want the ability to have more choices when it comes to what showing service platform they want to use," said Rebecca Jensen, president and CEO of MRED. "By working together, we can better address a challenge confronting brokerages nationwide."

After gathering feedback from the broader real estate community, the three MLSs plan to unveil the API in Q3 2021.

About Bright MLS Bright MLS's real estate service area spans 40,000 square miles throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, including Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia. As a leading multiple listing service (MLS), Bright supports over 95,000 real estate professionals who in turn serve the more than 20 million homeowners in our footprint. In 2020, Bright's customers facilitated $116.3B in real estate transactions through our system. For more information, please visit www.brightmls.com.

About California Regional Multiple Listing Service (CRMLS) California Regional MLS is the nation's largest and most recognized subscriber-based MLS, dedicated to servicing more than 100,000 real estate professionals from 40 Associations, Boards, and MLS organizations. CRMLS is the industry powerhouse and thrives on providing the most relevant products and services to its subscribers. For more information on CRMLS, visit www.crmls.org.

About MRED Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED) is dedicated to serving more than 47,000 real estate professionals in more than 7,500 offices. The MLS serves Illinois and portions of southern Wisconsin and northwestern Indiana. MRED is a member of the Real Estate Standards Organization (RESO), MLS Grid and the Broker Public Portal. For more information, please visit MREDLLC.com

Contacts

Christy Reap I Bright MLS I 203-309-9362 I [email protected]

Art Carter I CRMLS I [email protected]

Jon Broadbooks I MRED I 217-836-1958 I [email protected]

SOURCE Bright MLS, CRMLS and MRED
Through this partnership, California Giant will share its industry-leading berry expertise with OnePointOne and together collaborate on data and research that will ultimately result in delicious, nutrient-dense strawberries that meet California Giant's rigorous quality standards.

To start, this partnership will focus on developing an exclusive strawberry cultivar. With California Giant's participation and data, OnePointOne will grow the berries in its automated, aeroponic, vertical-wall indoor farm.

"OnePointOne's plant scientists, robotics and AI will identify the ideal moment for planting, pollination, flowering and picking that will result in strawberries of the highest quality and brix levels," said Sam Bertram, OnePointOne CEO and Co-founder. This data paves the way for improved nutrient values, taste and availability, all while minimizing environmental impact.

The outcomes learned within the indoor, data-rich setting will then be shared with California Giant's greater operations and applied to traditional field-grown techniques in the future. The vertical farming structures are currently located in California and Arizona with the goal of expanding them throughout the country to improve the availability and accessibility of fresh berries.

"One of California Giant's strategic goals is to have berries when and where our customers need them," said Joe Barsi, president of California Giant Berry Farms. "We have been watching OnePointOne's progress for some time and are excited at the possibility of this partnership allowing us to have locally grown berries in various U.S. markets as a supplement to our current production."

"Plants are the basis of human nutrition, and berries are a fundamental piece of the equation," said Bertram. "By augmenting the current supply chain with OnePointOne's technology and California Giant's knowledge and mission, we truly believe we can build healthier humanity where access and availability are greater than ever."

"I am excited to be continuing California Giant's 40 years of industry leadership by partnering with OnePointOne to employ the very best technology run by a strong team of experts who share our core values of mutual respect and fairness in all we do, especially as we farm for the future," Barsi concluded.

ABOUT CALIFORNIA GIANT BERRY FARMS

California Giant Berry Farms started small. Cousins Pat Riordan and Bill Moncovich teamed up with best friend Frank Saveria to sell strawberries from a simple trailer in Watsonville, CA. Nearly 40 years later, California Giant has grown into a global family of people passionate about delivering the best strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries. Quality, consistency and community inspire the mission and values. Community, quality, philanthropy, fairness in all we do and mutual respect is what continues to sustain us. Because the bigger the smile, the better.

ABOUT ONEPOINTONE

Founded in Silicon Valley, OnePointOne is revolutionizing vertical farming by building the most technologically advanced plant cultivation platform on the planet through innovations in automation, AI and plant science. OnePointOne launched Willo (willo.farm), the world's first personalized vertical farming program designed to amplify human health.

SOURCE California Giant Berry Farms
NEW YORK, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Patrons of Liberty Fairs' upcoming trade show slated for July 10-12, are in for a fantastic treat, with the launch of two new initiatives- the Style-ISH in partnership with Fashion Snoops and a morning run with Adidas.

The Style-ish Live Panel is a celebration of the celebrity stylists that are setting the trends in the fashion industry. Set for Saturday July 10 from 3:00  4:00 pm, Style-ISH Live Panel offers a unique opportunity for patrons to connect and learn from the industry's top celebrity Stylists. Wardrobe Stylist, Rachel Johnson, Celebrity Wardrobe Stylist, Kwasi Kessie and Creative Fashion Director, TV Personality and Designer, Jeff K. Kim will make up a diverse panel, who have both styled men and women celebrities. Johnson has styled household names including Jay-Z, Lionel Messi, Lebron James and Victor Cruz. Kim has dressed stars such as Michael B. Jordan, Zoe Kravitz, Taylor Hill and Charlotte Le Bon. Kessie has styled celebrity clients including Asap Ferg, Diddy, Deem Spencer, Big K.R.I.T and PnB Rock. Together the panelists will discuss trends with moderator Michael Fisher, Vice President/Creative Director of Menswear at Fashion Snoops, as well as what it takes to get celebrities to wear a brand. Liberty Fairs' partner Fashion Snoops, a global trend forecasting agency, will provide a trend report post-show.

Sunday, July 11 will kick off with a morning run on the beach, spearheaded by Celebrity Stylist and Adidas Co-Captain, Kwasi Kessie. Adidas will provide running gear for the key influencers, buyers and press who will be participating. Then in the afternoon from 3:00-4:00, Kessie and industry insiders will take center stage discussing the importance of communities, and the power of collaboration in today's fashion industry. Kessie will also share highlights from his partnership with Adidas and his leadership role as a Captain of Adidas Runners NYC as well as offer advice on how to foster a long-lasting relationship with brands.

Commenting on the motivation for launching the initiatives, Vice President of Liberty Fairs, Edwina Kuelgo, said, "After all the challenges of the pandemic, we were determined to introduce an exciting element to this year's trade show. We believe that the expertise of our panellists and the information they will provide will educate and equip our patrons to become more strategic and successful in their post-pandemic businesses."

The live panel discussions will take place daily on the Liberty Live Stage. For further information, visit https://libertyfairs.com/liberty-live-mi21/.

Media contact: Frances Armand (Armand Consulting)

212.729.0547

[email protected]

SOURCE Liberty Fairs
BOSTON, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- CrunchTime! Information Systems, Inc., the leading back-of-house operations platform provider for the restaurant industry, has announced the promotion of Rob Mueller to Chief Financial Officer.

Mueller, who joined the organization in May of 2018 as Vice President of Finance, has built a best-in-class finance function during a period of record growth, according to Bill Bellissimo, president and founder of CrunchTime.

Robert Mueller, CFO at CrunchTime!

"Rob earned this well-deserved promotion by providing a strong vision for our financial operations, then instituting disciplines that enable us to scale in a fast-paced, dynamic environment," Bellissimo said. "He's an exceptional professional and operator who embodies what being a leader at CrunchTime is all about."

Mueller is responsible for CrunchTime's accounting, finance, billing, human resources, business systems, data engineering, and reporting and analytics functions. Prior to joining CrunchTime, he held several positions, including Vice President of Finance at SingleHop, a leading hosted IT infrastructure and cloud computing services company based in Chicago. Mueller has a BA in Finance from The Ohio State University.

With the hospitality industry on the rebound following the pandemic, Bellissimo noted that the CrunchTime team remains laser-focused on execution. "Our mission is to help our customers improve their operations, drive efficiencies and increase profits" he said. "Having strong leaders like Rob on our team is absolutely critical as we continue to transform the way business gets done in the restaurant industry."

About CrunchTime! Information Systems, Inc.

CrunchTime! Information Systems, Inc., a Battery Ventures company, provides a comprehensive restaurant back office solution that simplifies and automates food and labor operations. By driving the flow of information throughout the organization, CrunchTime ensures operators make timely, fact-based decisions that help brands reduce food and beverage costs, drive labor efficiencies, and better manage the quality and consistency of their foodservice operations. For over 25 years, CrunchTime has enabled restaurant chains of all sizes to scale efficiently and save money. For more information, visit https://www.crunchtime.com/.

Press contact:

Paul Molinari

CrunchTime! Information Systems, Inc.

[email protected]

Related Images

robert-mueller.jpg

Robert Mueller

Robert Mueller, CFO at CrunchTime!

SOURCE CrunchTime!
DEARBORN, Mich., June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Detroit Quality Staffing has announced a new outreach program launching in August called Pop's Program, designed to provide a support system and tools to help Detroit's homeless population to find meaningful employment.

Pop's Program will provide transportation, clothing, hygiene packages, and other help such as resume building, public housing assistance, and setting up bank accounts and identification as necessary. Pop's Program is intended to spearhead a community effort in partnership with local businesses to provide long-term support for those experiencing homelessness by providing jobs and opportunities.

Joshua Morris, founder of Detroit Quality Staffing, was inspired to start Pop's Program due to the experiences of his grandfather. "My grandfather fought in Vietnam. During the war, he became an addict like many. When he returned from the war, he got a job as a police officer, but was unable to stay clean and he eventually ended up homeless," said Morris. While Morris' grandfather was an extremely hard worker, he ran into barriers that left him unable to get his life back  he couldn't get a state ID without an address, and without a state ID, he was unable to find employment.

Witnessing firsthand the barriers that those experiencing homelessness face when trying to find employment led to the idea behind Pop's Program. "Through my other charitable work, I'm able to solve the problem of helping people get an address. Through Detroit Quality Staffing's connections, we will offer mini subsidies that will pay for the cost of an ID, transportation to get the ID and a Social Security card, and transportation to and from work. We will also have on-site supplies including work clothes, suits, grooming products, and more," continued Morris.

Phase one of Pop's Program will assist anyone who needs help by providing clothing as well as transportation to the job interview site. Phase two will provide continued assistance with personal hygiene, resume building, and resources to learn about public housing options in Detroit. Phase three concerns the long-term growth of Pop's Program, involving the community and partnering with local businesses to donate vouchers for haircuts, donate suits and clothing, and conduct other efforts to help end homelessness in Detroit.

The United States Interagency Council on Homeless reported that as of January 2020, 8,638 people in Michigan were experiencing homelessness on any given day. Detroit Quality Staffing and Pop's Program is working to provide this population with the tools and support they need to get back on their feet and find long-term employment  and hopefully, eventually become a part of the Detroit Quality Staffing network for finding quality employment in the automotive, manufacturing, and logistics industries, and a wide variety of other industries looking for workers.

About Detroit Quality Staffing:

Detroit Quality Staffing is a staffing agency based in Detroit that connects companies in a variety of industries with quality staff. The agency specializes in finding staff for the automotive, manufacturing, and logistics industries, as well as other labor and skilled trade positions, and seeks to help people find long-term work placements. To learn more, visit detroitqualitystaff.com .

Media Contact:

Joshua Morris

(313) 406-9404

[email protected]

SOURCE Detroit Quality Staffing
SANTA BARBARA, Calif., June 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Igor Mezic, CTO and Chief Scientist at MixMode and world renowned AI researcher, has joined the Forbes Technology Council, an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs and technology executives.

Mezic was selected by a review committee based on the depth and diversity of his achievements and experience in AI, network security, and complex mathematics. Mezic holds 10 patents, is best known for his contributions to operator theoretic, data driven approach to dynamical systems and was recently awarded the prestigious J.D. Crawford prize in applied mathematics by the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM).

We are honored to welcome Dr. Mezic into the community," said Scott Gerber, founder of Forbes Councils, the collective that includes Forbes Technology Council. "Our mission with Forbes Councils is to bring together proven leaders from every industry, creating a curated, social capital-driven network that helps every member grow professionally and make an even greater impact on the business world."

As a member of the Council, Dr. Mezic will work with Forbes to share expert insights in original business articles on Forbes.com, and to contribute to published Q&A panels alongside other experts.

"I'm honored and excited to join the Forbes Technology Council and look forward to sharing my experience in the AI field with the Forbes community," said Mezic. "It has been great to use the developments in AI for cybersecurity needs over the past few years. There is clearly a customer need for AI to do the heavy lifting on identifying zero day threats and making life simpler for SOC teams. I look forward to moving all of these conversations forward."

ABOUT IGOR MEZIC

Igor Mezic is CTO and Chief Scientist at MixMode. He has spent his career developing complex algorithms and artificial intelligence for data analytics. He graduated with a doctorate from Caltech, holds 10 patents, and is a professor of mechanical engineering and mathematics at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Media Contact: Christian Wiens, [email protected]

SOURCE MixMode

Related Links

mixmode.ai


WASHINGTON, June 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In response to a domino effect that first began in the State of Georgia earlier this year, faith leaders from around the country will join together in Washington, D.C., this week for a series of events promoting the need for voting rights legislation. African Methodist Episcopal Church announces that the "My Vote is Sacred" events will occur on Tuesday, June 15 through Thursday, June 17 , and include worship services, rallies, legislative briefings, and advocacy meetings with congressional officials.

Event flyer

"My Vote is Sacred" was first anchored and organized by a contingent of Georgia faith leaders, including AME Georgia Bishop Reginald Jackson; Rev. Dr. Cynthia Hale, founder and Senior Pastor of the Ray of Hope Christian Church; Rev. Dr. Bernice King, CEO, The King Center; Reverend Timothy McDonald III, Senior Pastor of the First Iconium Baptist Church, founder of the African American Ministers Leadership Council, and President of the African American Ministers In Action of People for the American Way; Dr. Jamal Bryant, Senior Pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church; and Reverend Lee May, Lead Pastor at Transforming Faith Church. Earlier this year, Republican Governor Brian Kemp made Georgia the first state in the country to sign into law legislation explicitly aimed at making it less likely for people of color to vote. In the weeks that have followed, Republican-elected leaders from around the country have proposed or passed voter suppression bills in forty-seven states.

This week events in Washington, D.C., will include faith leaders from around the country, and buses of parishioners and activists will be traveling to participate.

TUESDAY, JUNE 15 - "MY VOTE IS SACRED" EVENING WORSHIP SERVICE

7:00 p.m. at the Mayflower Hotel, 1127 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20036

An evening service of worship and prayer will welcome parishioners and voting activists. In addition to the Georgia Faith Leaders, others confirmed include Dr. William Lamar , Metropolitan AME Church; D.C.; Dr. George Holmes , First Rising Mt. Zion Baptist Church; Rev. Dr. Leslie Copeland Tune , CEO National Council of Churches; Dr. Deborah Taylor King , International President, Women's Missionary Society, AME Church; Dr. Yolanda Pierce , Dean Howard Divinity School; and Rev. DeLisha Davis , People for the American Way.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16 - "MY VOTE IS SACRED" MORNING RALLY

10:00 a.m. at the Mayflower Hotel, 1127 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20036

A day of events that will include strategy sessions, meetings with congressional offices, and legislative briefings will begin with an all-participant rally supporting voting rights. The rally will be led by faith leaders from around the country and will also include Members of the Congressional Black Caucus ; Dr. Barbara Williams-Skinner , Co-Convener, National African American Clergy Network; Mr. Jim Winkler , President, National Council of Churches; Rev. DeLisha Davis , People For the American Way; and Sherrilyn Ifill , NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Southern Poverty Law Center. Immediately following the rally, faith leaders and those in attendance will march in unity from the Mayflower Hotel to the White House gates for a Kneel in Protest Prayer.

IMPORTANT LOGISTICAL EVENT INFORMATION :

All events are open to the media. Media with questions or wishing to speak to faith leaders may contact Matthew Frankel, [email protected], or (917) 617.7914.

Related Images

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Faith Leader DC Rally

Event flyer

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Faith Leader D.C. Event This Week

Event Flyer

SOURCE AME
TEL AVIV, Israel, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Meron Capital announced today the closing of Meron II, its second $50 million fund to invest in early-stage deep-technology software startups led by Israeli entrepreneurs. The new fund will target 18-20 pre-seed and seed investments in startups that are building software-based solutions for enterprise, cybersecurity, digital health, fintech, DevOps and more.

Liron Azrielant and Daniel Roditi, Managing Partners at Meron Capital Photo Credit Meron Capital, by Nir Laksman

Meron Capital launched its inaugural fund in 2017 and has invested in 16 startups to date. Four have already made successful exits; AIOps startup Loom Systems was acquired by ServiceNow, API integration platform Reshuffle was acquired by Twitter, digital health company Clear Genetics was purchased by Invitae and IoT startup Axonize was acquired by Planon. In addition, 10 more have so far raised further financing with startups Immunai, Solugen and Armory alone disclosing combined investments in excess of $300 million to date.

"We see ourselves as a startup investing in startups - we are creative, scrappy and move fast," said Liron Azrielant, Managing Partner at Meron. "We share the same spirit as our founders and that's why we founded our own firm and chose to face the challenges of being an emergent in a market of incumbents."

Liron Azrielant graduated from MIT's LGO dual degree program with a computer science and electrical engineering Masters and an MBA and was the youngest-ever applicant accepted. She earned a degree in Mathematics and Physics at the Hebrew University and served in the IDF 8200's most elite technological unit. She started her career as a software engineer but then moved over to the business side as a consultant, advisor and then investor at Bain, PwC and finally, Blumberg Capital. After leaving Blumberg In 2017, she and Daniel Roditi launched Meron Capital. Liron also manages the Young Venture Capital Forum, an education non-profit connecting over 250 young VC professionals from all firms in Israel.

Daniel Roditi was born and raised in Switzerland and started his career - as one might expect - in finance and banking, before joining a commodity trading software startup as one of the first employees. He then came to Israel in 2015 to pursue an MBA at Tel Aviv University, and joined Blumberg Capital as part of their Tel Aviv-based investment team. He left together with Liron to build Meron Capital at the inception, is now an equal Managing Partner and, at 29, the youngest VC in Israel to found a fund.

In the current Israeli climate of record-breaking fundraising and exits, the Meron Capital team works with talented founders, helping them ideate their early conceptions and build out their teams. "We don't necessarily expect our founders to be in a position yet to sell us on their idea. We will take a bet on their team, and work with them to crystallize their idea and help them approach customers, prospective employees, and later stage VC firms," explained Roditi.

What are Liron and Dani looking for in founders? "Our typical founders are either tech superstars or an established expert in their space," says Azrielant, while Roditi adds "The most important quality is tremendous resilience and fortitude. You have to be able to push back against negative or distracting feedback but at the same time, be perceptive and pick up on subtle criticism by experts who might be sugarcoating their true thoughts."

Meron II has already invested in four companies; LendAI, operating in the market of mortgage lending, where Meron was joined by Israel's third-largest bank, Sorbet, the first PTO clearinghouse, in a deal they closed together with Viola, Firmbase, a Fintech startup in which top angels have invested, and Laminar, the first Data Protection platform for cloud-native applications, where they invested alongside TLV Partners and Insight Partners.

Media Contact

Lazer Cohen

WestRay Communications

[email protected]

347-753-8256

SOURCE Meron Capital
SOUTH COAST METRO, Calif., June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Golden State Wealth Management, an investment advisor registered with the SEC, is pleased to announce its expansion into Montana with the addition of Ryne Mading of Switchbacks Capital Advisory. Located in Missoula, Ryne's client-centric and technology-driven practice focuses on high-net-worth families and business owners. Understanding that each client is unique, he develops a personalized investment strategy that emphasizes retirement, tax, and investment planning to achieve their financial goals. Ryne received a bachelor's degree in Marketing with minors in Finance and Psychology from the University of Montana. He later received his designations of Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA).

"As we continue to grow our national footprint, we are excited about the addition of Ryne Mading of Switchbacks Capital Advisory, our first office in Montana. Ryne's transition to independence from a top-tier wirehouse is why we created Golden State," says John Nahas, Founder and President of Golden State. "We give financial advisors the independence to build and manage a practice that they deem best for their clients, while providing them with the stability of infrastructure and community to help grow and strengthen their practice."

A resident of Missoula, Ryne and his family enjoy spending time together outdoors in the greater Western Montana region. For more information about Ryne Mading and Switchbacks Capital Advisory visit www.switchbackscapital.com.

About Golden State

The Golden State family of companies, comprised of Golden State Wealth Management, Golden State Equity Partners and Golden State Asset Management, are investment advisers registered with the SEC dedicated to financial professionals and their clients. The firm's initial company was founded in 2013 by a group of executives who collectively contribute over 50 years of industry experience and has partnered with advisors serving over $1.3 billion in advisory assets. Golden State's infrastructure provides an extensive support network through succession planning, compliance oversight, dedicated transition support, and a Turnkey Asset Management Program. The Golden State family of companies maintain business alignments with LPL Financial, the nation's largest independent broker/dealer, Raymond James, TD Ameritrade Institutional and Charles Schwab, some of the nation's largest independent custodians, who provide comprehensive tools and research necessary in today's complex markets.

Recognized as one of Orange County's largest RIAs, Golden State's flagship office is located in South Coast Metro, California. With a goal to continue expanding offices across the country, Golden State is committed to creating an atmosphere that benefits both advisors and their investors. For more information about Golden State, visit www.teamgoldenstate.com.

As of April 2021.

As reported in Financial Planning magazine, June 1996-2021, based on total revenue.

As reported in Orange County Business Journal, June 1, 2021, based on assets under management.

Investment advice offered through Golden State Wealth Management, an investment adviser registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Media Contact:

Jennifer Nahas

(949) 433-6860

[email protected]

SOURCE Golden State Wealth Management

Related Links

http://www.teamgoldenstate.com/


"As a busy athlete training for the 2022 Winter Olympics my schedule is stacked with training, traveling and balancing career demands. Rest and recovery are essential to optimize performance as I continue to push my own physical limits," said Gus Kenworthy, two-time Olympic Skier and Olympic Silver Medalist. "beam's recovery and sleep lines are vital to that process and, now as an investor, I can support their mission to improve physical and mental wellness by prioritizing rest and recovery in a culture that glorifies overworking ourselves."

Kenworthy joins a world class roster of high-performing athletes and Olympians working with beam alongside two-time CrossFit champion, Katrin Davisdottir; Olympic Gold-medalist, Gwen Jorgensen; and 2021 Summer Olympian, Molly Seidel. The brand's organic growth has been accelerated by their athlete ambassador network, counting Danica Patrick, Baker Mayfield, Billy Horschel and Mat Fraser within their tribe as brand evangelists and agents.

"Gus joining our roster of athlete ambassadors will continue our mission to diversify our partners that are at the top of their sport. We pride ourselves in partnerships that happen organically -- beam is committed to working with community leaders that truly use our products to enhance their overall wellness," said Kevin Moran and Matt Lombardi, co-founders of beam.

Not only is Gus gearing up for his debut on Great Britain's team in the 2022 Winter Olympics, he has secured a spot on NBC's on-air talent roster to cover the 2021 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Kenworthy's alignment with beam naturally assists him to find balance for an array of upcoming projects for this year, in addition to continuing his support of a variety of humanitarian causes.

beam gives back

Core to beam's philosophy is to align with and support organizations working to make positive change in the world. In alignment with the partnership and Pride Month, beam will donate 1% of net sales from the month of June to Greater Boston PFLAG . Greater Boston PFLAG (GBPFLAG) works to create environments of understanding so that all people can live with dignity and respect through support, education, and advocacy. GBPFLAG provides opportunities for dialogue about sexual orientation and gender identity, and acts to create a society that is healthy and respectful of human diversity. For more information about beam's give back initiatives visit beam gives back .

To download hi-res images click HERE.

ABOUT BEAM

Founded by former professional athletes, beam is a Boston-based wellness company with a mission to help people experience what better feels like through all-natural functional products that use rigorously-tested THC-free CBD, adaptogens, nootropics and electrolytes. The company was recently honored by Inc. as one of the Best Workplaces for 2021 . For more information visit beamtlc.com .

ABOUT GREATER BOSTON PFLAG

Greater Boston PFLAG works to create environments of understanding so that all people can live with dignity and respect through support, education, and advocacy. GBPFLAG provides opportunities for dialogue about sexual orientation and gender identity, and acts to create a society that is healthy and respectful of human diversity. For more information about Greater Boston PFLAG call 781.891.5966, find us on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram @GBPFLAG or visit www.gbpflag.org .

MEDIA CONTACT

Jack Taylor PR

Morgan Kilmer

[email protected]

816-868-5229

SOURCE beam

Related Links

http://beamtlc.com


CHICAGO, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Hightower today announced that it has received conditional approval from the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to convert its Texas-based trust company into a nationally chartered trust company, Hightower Trust Company, National Association ("Hightower Trust Company"). Based in Houston with an office in Chicago, the national trust company will provide Hightower advisors nationwide with corporate and administrative personal trust services to support their clients' holistic planning and wealth-transfer needs across generations.

Hightower Trust Company will offer a traditional mix of personal trust investment management and custody and safekeeping products. This includes discretionary investment management services for managed accounts and non-managed accounts, custody and escrow services, and agency services such as administrative support to other fiduciaries, principals of partnerships, limited liability companies and other legal entities.

The President of Hightower Trust Company will be Tanya D. Simpson, who was formerly Managing Director at Charles Schwab Trust Company and Charles Schwab Trust Company of Delaware. During Ms. Simpson's tenure at Charles Schwab, her management strategies contributed to unprecedented asset growth. Earlier in her career, Ms. Simpson practiced trusts and estates law and held leadership positions in the legal and financial services industries. She holds an MBA from the University of San Diego and a Juris Doctorate from Florida State University. She is also a Certified Financial Planner and Certified Wealth Strategist.

"Hightower is thrilled to be providing comprehensive personal trust capabilities exclusively to our advisors through our new, nationally chartered trust company. Hightower Trust Company is a key part of our strategy to leverage our size and scale to provide our current advisory businesses, and those who join us in future, with a broad range of holistic services for their clients and their families," said Bob Oros, Hightower Chairman and CEO. "As Hightower continues to expand beyond the 33 states in which we currently operate, the trust services will give our advisors the opportunity to serve clients in a more intimate and efficient way, while expanding their ability to attract and retain business."

The trust company will be led by a Board of Directors chaired by Stephen Strake, Senior Managing Director of Hightower Texas. Internal Board members are Cat Davies, Hightower Chief Solutions Officer; Scot Kees, Hightower Chief Administrative & Legal Officer; and Tanya Simpson, President of Hightower Trust Company. Independent Board members are Cathy Lemieux, former head of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago's Department of Regulation and Supervision; Dawn Causey, retired General Counsel of the American Bankers Association; and Tim Divis, retired Regional Counsel for the FDIC's Chicago Regional Office.

"The launch of the Hightower Trust Company on a national level represents Hightower's deep understanding of this marketplace and what advisory businesses need to gain a competitive edge and accelerate organic growth," said Cat Davies, Hightower Chief Solutions Officer. "Hightower advisors who utilize the trust company will be able to provide coordinated and consistent service to more high net worth and ultra-high net worth clients across multiple generations of families."

Drew Nordlicht, Managing Director at Hightower's Crest Capital Advisors, commented: "We have now added a meaningful new value proposition to offer our valued clients, which is to be able to operate under one roof as a true fiduciary, combining untethered investment advisory with trust administration, record keeping and tax reporting that can reach across generations."

"As advisors, having the choice to use Hightower Trust Company provides us with the opportunity to gain a deeper connection with the professionals who handle trust and estate matters for our clients," said Moss Crosby, Managing Director and Partner at Hightower's Twickenham Advisors and a member of Hightower's Board of Managers. "Utilizing our own trust company will give us greater oversight and clarity, enabling us to feel confident that our clients and their families will be in good hands for many years to come."

About Hightower

Hightower is a wealth management firm that provides investment, financial and retirement planning services to individuals, foundations and family offices, as well as 401(k) consulting and cash management services to corporations. Hightower's capital solutions, operational support services, size and scale empower its vibrant community of independent-minded wealth advisors to grow their businesses and help their clients achieve their vision of "well-th. rebalanced." Based in Chicago with advisors across the U.S., the firm operates as a registered investment advisor (RIA). Learn more about Hightower's collaborative business model at www.hightoweradvisors.com.

Securities offered through Hightower Securities, LLC member FINRA/SIPC. Hightower Advisors, LLC is a SEC registered investment advisor.

Media Contact:

Patty Buchanan

JConnelly

(973) 567-9415

[email protected]

SOURCE Hightower

Related Links

www.hightoweradvisors.com


AURORA, Ill., June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Shorr Packaging is proud to announce its continued expansion with the addition of a new facility in West Chicago, Illinois. This facility marks the packaging giant's second, national SQF facility (its first being located in Atlanta Metro).

As a part of Shorr's ongoing commitment to excellence and customer success, Shorr brings to both the Atlanta and Chicagoland SQF facilities an elevated level of quality assurance via its newly attained level-2 SQF certification.



Shorr's President, Rob Onorato, explains the significance of the certification to the organization's current and future food packaging customers: "Investing in all variables that ultimately led to us being recognized by an industry-revered food safety and quality program, like SQF, has been a priority of Shorr's for years. Our commitment to our customers' brands, buyers, and, most importantly, their bottom lines, made advancing our SQF certification a top priority. We are thrilled to offer this level of assurance to our customers, and I take great pride in saying that our customers can feel confident knowing they are working with the absolute best partner in the industry when they make the decision to partner with Shorr."



SQF outlines the high-level benefits of certification to buyers*:



By choosing to work with SQF Certified Suppliers, you will gain confidence in the companies you work with while lessening the likelihood and impact of a recall

SQF Certification is a rigorous, accredited, global program that is benchmarked to GFSI and fulfills most regulatory requirements

The SQF program assesses suppliers by focusing on critical food safety and quality elements such as hazard analysis, risk assessment, and proactive prevention strategies

The SQF Program helps reduce assessment inconsistencies and costs of multiple audits

A critical component of Shorr's commitment to customer success is ensuring all Shorr facilities are staffed with the best talent in the industry. As such, Shorr is proud to announce the hiring of Moses Plomero, SQF Practitioner. Moses joined the organization with over 10 years of experience and a wealth of knowledge across the food packaging vertical. Shorr is confident that Moses will help maintain, and indeed augment, the organization's position as a true best-in-class food packaging supplier.



For all of your organizational food packaging questions and needs, contact Shorr Packaging a call at 888.885.0055 or [email protected]

* https://www.sqfi.com/why-get-certified/



Shorr Packaging is an industry-leading distributor of packaging products, equipment and services. Shorr delivers strategic solutions to complex packaging challenges. To learn more, visit www.shorr.com.

This press release was issued through 24-7PressRelease.com. For further information, visit http://www.24-7pressrelease.com

SOURCE Shorr Packaging

Related Links

https://www.shorr.com/


ZUG, Switzerland, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Republic of Djibouti has embraced global demand for hybrid and remote workspaces with the launch of a new Regus centre in the country's capital, Djibouti City.

Part of leading international workspace provider IWG, the new centre opened on June 3rd in Salaam Tower, one of Djibouti's most prominent landmarks, located just a 10-minute drive from Ambouli International Airport and a five-minute walk from the bustling city centre.

Overlooking the Gulf of Aden, the centre offers sprawling views from the corniche, plus a range of facilities including round-the-clock access to some 61 private offices, five co-working desks and two high-specification meetings rooms.

A major gateway and international trade hub, Djibouti City is ideally situated to host flexible workspace solutions for emerging business communities in the area. The East African region represents a growing opportunity for IWG as the group seeks to expand its range of coworking brands across the continent.

IWG has announced a record 2021 start, adding more than one million new customers this year, including the group's largest ever deal with NTT, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, which offers the company's 300,000 employees access to IWG's 3,300 worldwide workspaces The pandemic has accelerated the desire for hybrid working arrangements, with companies of all sizes demonstrating that this model is both productive and profitable for all parties.

Contact:

Simon Condon

Group Head of Communications

IWG

[email protected]

+44 (0)800 060 8703

SOURCE IWG Plc

Related Links

https://www.iwgplc.com


SEATTLE, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Jason W. Burnett is being recognized by Continental Who's Who as a Top Attorney for his years of outstanding service in Probate and Trust Litigation.

In his current capacity at Reed Longyear Malnati Corwin & Burnett, Mr. Burnett works tirelessly to help clients apply effective strategies from beginning to end. He brings 21 years of experience in creative problem solving and real-world analysis to identify and maximize cost-effective and favorable solutions.

Jason W. Burnett (PRNewsfoto/Continental Who's Who)

Mr. Burnett's work is focused on litigation matters, with an emphasis on real estate, probate, trust, and will litigation. He counsels clients on pre-litigation strategies, dispute resolution, and identifying critical issues as they analyze the risk of alternative courses of action. He has repeatedly demonstrated his ability to win trial verdicts of large sums of money for his clients. Mr. Burnett has also represented clients in personal representative and estate claims, winning arbitration decisions of zero dollars against his clients.

He graduated from the University of Washington in 1995 and earned his Juris Doctor from Seattle University in 2000. Mr. Burnett clerked for the Honorable Elaine Houghton on the Division II Court of Appeals and the Honorable Charles W. Johnson on the Washington Supreme Court. He provided speaking engagements at the Annual Probate Administration (2015-2017).

He has been honored as a Washington Super Lawyer (2016-2020). Mr. Burnett is an editor of the Washington Bar Association and the Real Property Probate and Trust Section newsletter. He also brings his expertise to the Washington State Real Property Desk Book Series as a member of their editorial board.

Contact: Katherine Green , 516-825-5634 [email protected]

SOURCE Continental Who's Who

Related Links

http://www.continentalwhoswho.com


"We're incredibly honored to be recognized by Ernst & Young as a 2021 Entrepreneur Of The Year finalist," said Tricia D'Cruz. "Joe and I believe deeply that the power of entrepreneurship changes the world for the better  driving new ideas, technology, jobs and inspiration for future generations. Catalyze Dallas is the epitome of that belief, acting as a literal catalyst to commercialize underutilized technology, continuing to create new companies and careers while fulfilling the promise of good engineering."

Building scalable businesses by commercializing promising innovations developed by major defense contractors, Joe and Tricia D'Cruz have already launched two successful companies through Catalyze. One Catalyze company, Alpine Advanced Materials, delivers high-performance lightweight custom-engineered parts to the aerospace, defense, commercial space and recreation industries using Lockheed Martin-developed nanocomposite technology. Another, Metro Aerospace, is a leader in delivering certified 3D printed components to the aerospace industry, reducing carbon emissions by utilizing drag reduction technology licensed from the defense industry.

"In a year that brought many businesses to their knees, our model struck a chord," added Joe D'Cruz. "When times are hard for other businesses, we're presented with real opportunities. Heightened pressure on the bottom line makes the prospect of spinning out technology more appealing. We've probably had more conversations about potential spinouts in the last six months than ever before, so this recognition in this year is particularly gratifying."

Now in its 35th year, the Entrepreneur Of The Year program honors business leaders whose ambition, ingenuity and courage in the face of adversity help catapult from the now to next and beyond. One of the preeminent competitive award programs for entrepreneurs and leaders of high-growth companies, since its launch, the program has expanded to recognize business leaders in more than 145 cities in over 60 countries around the world.

Nominees are evaluated based on six criteria: entrepreneurial leadership; talent management; degree of difficulty; financial performance; societal impact and building a values-based company; and originality, innovation and future plans. Award winners will be announced during a special virtual celebration on August 4, 2021, and will join the ranks of a lifelong community of esteemed Entrepreneur Of The Year alumni from around the world.

About Entrepreneur Of The Year

Entrepreneur Of The Year is the world's most prestigious business awards program for unstoppable entrepreneurs. These visionary leaders deliver innovation, growth and prosperity that transform our world. The program engages entrepreneurs with insights and experiences that foster growth. It connects them with their peers to strengthen entrepreneurship around the world. Entrepreneur Of The Year is the first and only truly global awards program of its kind. It celebrates entrepreneurs through regional and national awards programs in more than 145 cities in over 60 countries. National Overall winners go on to compete for the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year title. Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards are nationally sponsored by SAP America and The Kauffman Foundation. In the Heartland Region sponsors also include Colliers International, Padilla, PNC Bank, SALO, LLC, and Twin Cities Business. Visit ey.com/us/eoy for more information.

About Catalyze Dallas

Catalyze Dallas works with defense companies to unleash the full value and potential of their investments in innovation. Commercializing these products using a proven turnkey model developed through decades of experience and with a dozen clients, Catalyze helps partners see their innovations commercialized and more widely applied with an expert touch.

The Catalyze model accelerates time-to-market for key technologies, which then helps inspire and retain innovators as they realize the fulfillment of their products in actual commercial applications. Creating scalable businesses to launch intellectual property into broad markets, Catalyze Dallas ultimately facilitates technological proliferation and accretive profit with low financial and reputational risk. For more information, visit www.catalyzedallas.com.

Media Contact: Ariel Herr, 4692352708, [email protected]

SOURCE Catalyze Dallas

Related Links

http://www.catalyzedallas.com


CHICAGO, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Lyda Hill Philanthropies and Lever for Change announced Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute as the recipient of the $10 million Lone Star Prize, a Texas-based competition launched in early 2020 to improve the lives of Texans and their communities. The Meadows Institute's "Lone Star Depression Challenge" will improve quality of life and mental health care access for communities across the state. The Prize, sponsored by Lyda Hill Philanthropies and managed by Lever for Change, was designed to find and fund bold solutions focused on building healthier, stronger communities.

After reviewing the finalist teams' ideas, Lyda Hill Philanthropies is planning to award approximately $2 million in additional grants among the four projects proposed by the other finalists  JUST, Merit America, Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy, and Texas Water Trade. All five finalists were previously awarded $200,000 in planning grants, bringing the combined total to approximately $12.2 million to bold solutions in the Lone Star state. Some of these grants require matching funds from other philanthropists to be fully realized.

"Despite the challenges Texas has faced this past year, the future is bright," said Lyda Hill, founder of Lyda Hill Philanthropies. "We were delighted by the response to the Lone Star Prize, which we launched last year to encourage local leaders to think big, inspire collaborations, and challenge the status quo. The Lone Star Depression Challenge has the potential to effect transformational change in our state  and potentially beyond. After rigorous evaluation, we can unequivocally state that the Lone Star Prize has been a resounding success."

More than 172 proposals were submitted for the Lone Star Prize. Over 200 peer applicants, philanthropic and civic leaders, and subject matter experts with experience in health, workforce, and the environment among other issue areas evaluated the applications during a rigorous three-month review process. They evaluated applications based on four criteria: whether they were transformative, scalable, feasible, and evidence-based. The five top proposals were named finalists in January and each received $40,000 to work with a team of technical experts to strengthen, revise, and re-submit their proposed solutions.

"The challenges of the past year have highlighted the impact that untreated mental health and depression have on our great state and its people," said Nicole G. Small, President & CEO of Lyda Hill Philanthropies. "We are excited to award $10 million to accelerate the vital work of the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute. It was by far, the highest rated proposal reviewed by our external expert evaluation panel."

According to the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, fewer than 1 in 15 of the more than 1.5 million Texans suffering from depression each year receive sufficient care to recover. Tragically, nearly 4,000 people in the state die each year from suicide. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these problems: symptoms of depression have increased four-fold and the number of people seriously considering suicide has doubled.

The "Lone Star Depression Challenge" is led by Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute in collaboration with the Center for Depression Research and Clinical Care at UT Southwestern, Harvard Medical School's Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, and The Path Forward for Mental Health and Substance Use.

The program will improve quality of life and mental health care access for communities across the state, particularly for people of color, people with disabilities, and people living in poverty. It will reduce barriers for all Texans with depression, detect their needs earlier, and care for them more effectively through community-based care.

"The Lone Star Prize will make possible the first-of-its kind, wide-scale expansion of three proven initiatives to improve the lives of Texans living with depression," said Andy Keller, President/CEO of Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute. "Our partnership with the Center for Depression Research and Clinical Care at UT Southwestern will catalyze an unprecedented statewide and national effort to put depression care in Texas on par with care for heart disease and cancer, freeing millions more Texans from the cloud of depression and saving hundreds of lives over the next five years."

Lyda Hill Philanthropies partnered on the Lone Star Prize with institutions that share its commitment to building a resilient Texas, including Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation, Advance Together (an initiative of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas), Texas 2036, and The Texas Tribune. These partners provided a variety of strategic support and additional promotional platforms for the top applicants.

The Prize was managed by Lever for Change, a nonprofit affiliate of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation that helps donors find and fund solutions to the world's greatest challenges, including racial and gender equity, economic development, and climate change.

"We couldn't be more pleased to partner with Lyda Hill Philanthropies in announcing the awardee of the Lone Star Prize," said Cecilia Conrad, CEO of Lever for Change. "The unique nature of Texas  diverse in its demographics, economics, and geography  make it a wonderful testing ground for great ideas, and an incubator for getting them to scale."

Lever for Change is featuring all of the awardees of the Lone Star Prize in its Bold Solutions Network. This Network seeks to match nonprofits and social enterprises  whose solutions to significant social challenges were highly ranked after rigorous evaluation in one of the Lever for Change competitions  with additional donors and funding. Interested donors may contact Dana Rice, Vice President of Philanthropy at Lever for Change.

Learn more about the Lone Star Prize and the awardee: https://lonestarprize.org.

Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute

Launched in 2014, the Meadows Institute helps Texas legislators, state officials, members of the judiciary, and local leaders identify equitable systemic solutions to mental health needs and has become Texas's most trusted source for data-driven mental health policy. The Meadows Institute is making a significant impact in multiple areas, helping Texas leaders expand the mental health workforce, improve access to care for veterans and their families, shift the focus of new investments toward early intervention, and address the mental health crisis in our jails and emergency rooms. Learn more at mmhpi.org.

Lyda Hill Philanthropies

Lyda Hill Philanthropies encompasses the charitable giving for founder Lyda Hill and includes her foundation and personal philanthropy. The organization is committed to funding transformational advances in science and nature, empowering nonprofit organizations and improving the Texas and Colorado communities. Because Miss Hill has a fervent belief that "science is the answer" to many of life's most challenging issues, she has chosen to donate the entirety of her estate to philanthropy and scientific research.

Lever for Change

Lever for Change, a nonprofit affiliate of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, helps donors to find and fund solutions to the world's greatest challenges, ranging from racial and gender equity to economic development and climate change. Building on the success of the MacArthur Foundation's $100 million competition, 100&Change, Lever for Change customizes and manages open and transparent competitions for donors. In addition, the organization matches donors with nonprofits and social enterprises in its Bold Solutions Network , which includes solutions to significant social challenges that were highly ranked after rigorous evaluation in one of Lever for Change's competitions. The organization has developed and managed nine competitions, ranging in size from $10 million to $100 million, unlocking $582 million in funding for high-impact solutions and strengthening dozens of top organizations. For more information, visit www.leverforchange.org.

CONTACT:

Jeanne Culver, 214.352.5980, [email protected]

Marc Moorghen, 773.789.1714, [email protected]

SOURCE Lyda Hill Philanthropies
DENVER, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Denver-based healthtech leader Eon announces the launch of its latest Essential Patient Management (EPM) module, Eon EPM Breast. Eon leads the industry in incidental abnormality findings technology, and is now the only vendor with advanced technology to capture and track incidental breast findings in radiology reports done outside of breast screening programs. EPM Breast also enables the management of both breast screening patients and patients with incidental findings on the same dashboard, making it a single comprehensive solution that can power a facility's total efforts in the early identification and treatment of breast cancer.

Market Leader Eon Rolls Out A First-Of-Its-Kind Breast Software Solution

Eon is the only market available vendor to offer the necessary technology to identify patients with incidental breast findings from radiology examswith 95% accuracyand track their follow-up. EPM Breast also segments all breast patients into different risk populations based on BI-RADS scores, and automates the longitudinal tracking of patients in the low-risk categories. Facility staff can efficiently manage all patients through the same EPM dashboard, saving valuable time that they can better spend on patient care.

Considering only 50% of all incidental breast patients are screening-eligible, the incidental identification and patient management capabilities of EPM Breast set it apart as healthcare's only software option for a comprehensive breast program.

Dr. Erika Scheider, Vice President, Product and Chief Science Officer at Eon, explains the importance. "Our Computational Linguistics models identify women with breast abnormalities who may be outside traditional breast screening programs, as well as those rare male breast cancer patientsthey need follow-up care and attention as well."

To identify incidental breast abnormalities with such superior accuracy, EPM uses advanced Computational Linguistics, a discipline of Artificial Intelligence (AI) that extracts information from radiology reports and identifies these patients. The industry-best technology does not disrupt radiology workflow and enables providers to identify and capture patients outside of breast screening who may be at risk for breast cancer.

Dr. Schneider adds, "Breast screening has proven to be a huge life-saver and is the model for screening programs of other disease states. EPM technology allows breast teams to focus on the follow-up care of critical, high-risk patients as we work together to fight breast cancer."

Eon EPM Breast also enables compliance with MQSA and the mammography EQUIP requirements including technologist review, equipment QA, reporting, and preparation for FDA audits.

Eon EPM is an intuitive cloud-based platform, developed by a team of physicians, clinicians, and data scientists to ensure patient capture and improve outcomes. Eon EPM Breast is the latest EPM solution for multiple disease states, including breast, lung, aneurysms, pancreas, thyroid, adrenal, renal, and liver. Eon also offers Centralized Management, a full team of care coordinators to help hospitals offload resource-intensive tasks and focus solely on patient care.

Eon is constantly innovating and enhancing its products to arm facilities with the latest tools to help with early diagnosis and improved patient outcomes. The company is live in over 230 facilities and offers its disease-defying technology to hospitals across the country. Eon's dedication and drive are fueled by the positive outcomes of early identification and intervention of catastrophic disease.

About Eon

Eon is a Denver-based healthtech company dedicated to revolutionizing the way healthcare data is gathered, curated, and shared among industry professionals. We are on a mission to ensure the right data reaches the right people at the right time to identify disease early and stop it in its tracks. We believe together we can defy disease.

For more information, please contact Fahad Siraj at 416-518-4936 or [email protected] and follow Eon on LinkedIn and Twitter.

SOURCE Eon
MANDEVILLE, La., June 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Military.Finance is breaking new ground by releasing the first-ever Bitcoin AR-15. The AR-15 has become one of the most popular semi-automatic rifles and is known as "America's Rifle."

"The AR-15 was selected because it's well known, and it really symbolizes the fight veterans face every day in battle, and when coming home," says Brad Dahl, founder of Military.Finance. "We wanted a symbol that represented our cause, and it's simply an awesome gun."

First Bitcoin AR-15 (Actual Rifle Released on July 4th). Military.Finance works to support veterans.

The unique rifle will have a locked digital wallet embedded directly on it that includes a full Bitcoin, currently valued at $40,7013 USD. "We're hoping the fact that it's the world's first of its kind will increase interest and the value during the auction," says Dahl. "With all proceeds going directly to veterans, having this one-of-a-kind trophy to display would be impressive."

Several well-known veterans and celebrities are already involved with the AR-15 auction and are excited about supporting Military.Finance's mission...to become the biggest contributor to the veteran community in history.

Military.Finance has already backed its mission by donating $20,000 to Major Ed Pulido at the Heart of a Lion Foundation on June 2, just 21 days after the token was developed. "These guys are the real deal," stated Major Ed. "We have an opportunity to change a lot of lives."

For your chance to bid on the world's first Bitcoin AR-15, be sure to visit www.military.finance or follow Military.Finance on all of their social media outlets, as those are updated regularly. Details regarding the auction will be released soon.

REFERENCES

Heart of a Lion Foundation: https://www.jdme.org/

SOCIAL LINKS

Telegram: https://t.me/Military_Finance

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/militaryfinancetoken

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3_W7lrw22HQEmgzRyvTIUA

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/Mil_Finance

Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/Military_Finance/new/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/military.finance/

Discord: https://discord.com/channels/841495645801283584/841495645801283587

Chart: https://charts.bogged.finance/?token=0xf5015995376a35b10dcBD96BA6B6e9de1c9f87c5

TechRate Audit: https://github.com/TechRate/Smart-Contract-Audits/blob/main/Military%20Finance%20Token.pdf

MEDIA CONTACT

Company: Military.Finance

Contact Name: Don Dahl

E-mail: [email protected]

Website: https://www.military.finance/

Contact Name: Brad Dahl

Phone: 703-496-9425

E-mail: [email protected]

SOURCE Military.Finance
The plaintiff is the owner-developer of the beloved property on the corner of Nicollet and 7th Avenue. For the past four years, 601 Minnesota executed a $350 million dollar redevelopment of the historic property. The 1.2 million square foot building, that has been transformed by 601 Minnesota Mezz, offers 9 floors of offices plus nearly 300,000 sf of retail space on the lowest 3 floors, including restaurants on the first and second floor. It offers first-of-their-kind features such as a library on the rooftop--alongside a gym and park. The Dayton Project has provided over 1,500 construction jobs; there likely will be thousands more jobs generated by occupants of the extensive office and retail space.

"This will be the first space of its kind in Minnesota," said Mark Karasick, one of two managing partners of 601 Minnesota Mezz. "We will be supporting the local business community with a designated area for small retail shops and kiosks, specializing in products made here in Minnesota, including those made by local artisans and minority-owned businesses."

The project has been largely complete since February 2020, the beginning of the COVID pandemic. Prior to the pandemic and the local civil unrest over the tragic death of George Floyd, 601 Minnesota had firm lease commitments from two significant tenants and was in advanced negotiations with various others. According to the complaint, in the past 16 months "the Minneapolis leasing market has been virtually frozen as a result of COVID-related lockdowns and widespread civil unrest, resulting in and the shutdown of retail and office operations citywide."

Defendant Monarch Alternative Capital LP describes itself on its website as a New York "opportunistic credit and distressed situation" investment fund. According to the complaint, Monarch is claiming that even though 601 Minnesota is completely current in its debt service obligations, it is in technical default, and therefore subject to massive additional potential penalties under the mezzanine loan documents, for not leasing up the project by various "leasing hurdle" dates. The complaint explains that those leasing hurdles were set before anyone understood how severe and long lasting the dual crises impacting Minneapolis would be. The mezzanine loan involved is not in monetary default, nor is the mortgage loan on the property.

The complaint alleges that Monarch is looking to profit from the crisis confronting Minneapolis and its business community by seeking to compel 601 Minnesota to adhere to lease-up projections established at a time when no one could reasonably have predicted the unprecedented extent to which the pandemic and civil unrest would paralyze office and retail leasing downtown. The filing goes on to state, "By refusing to cooperate with 601 Minnesota in addressing the Leasing Hurdles, and instead trying to capitalize on the current crisis to foreclose the mezzanine loan and steal the Property, Monarch has ensured that no other lender will refinance the Dayton's project."

601 Minnesota Mezz seeks declaratory and injunctive relief and $270 million in damages from Monarch. As the complaint states, "a predatory lender...is seeking to drive the owner-developer of a local Minneapolis real estate project out of business and take over the project for itself."

SOURCE 601 Minnesota Mezzanine
WASHINGTON, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA is launching Mission Equity, a comprehensive effort to assess expansion and modification of agency programs, procurements, grants, and policies, and examine what potential barriers and challenges exist for communities that are historically underrepresented and underserved.

"NASA is a 21st century agency with 22nd century goals. To be successful, it's critical that NASA takes a comprehensive approach to address the challenges to equity we see today," said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. "The agency's new Mission Equity is a bold and necessary challenge for NASA to ensure our programs are accessible to all Americans and, especially, those living in historically underserved communities across the country. Because when NASA opens doors to talent previously left untapped, the universe is the limit."

NASA issued Tuesday a request for information (RFI), entitled Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities in NASA Programs, Contracts and Grants. To this RFI, the agency is seeking public feedback as it conducts a thorough review of its programs, practices, and policies to assess:

Potential barriers that underserved and underrepresented communities and individuals may face in agency procurement, contract, and grant opportunities.

Whether new policies, regulations, or guidance may be necessary to advance equity and opportunities in agency actions and programs.

How agency resources and tools can assist in enhancing equity, including advancing environmental justice.

Areas in which the agency would like to receive comments include:

Diversity and Equal Opportunity at NASA and in the STEM Community

Opportunities for NASA to Leverage its Data, Expertise, and Missions to Help Underserved Communities

Barriers/Gaps to Accessing Current NASA Grants, Programs, and Procurements

Engagement and Outreach with Organizations and Individuals from Underserved and Underrepresented Communities

Underserved and underrepresented communities include: Black, Latino, and Indigenous and Native American persons, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other persons of color; members of religious minorities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) persons; persons with disabilities; persons who live in rural areas; and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality.

Through the RFI process, NASA hopes to initiate vibrant, meaningful, and ongoing dialogues that will help the agency build and improve current agency policies, practices, and programs. The deadline for public comments to this RFI is Monday, July 12, but we encourage submission of comments as soon as possible to enable early analysis and follow-up discussions.

NASA will host a virtual public meeting on June 29, during which NASA officials will discuss the RFI and corresponding agency goals. More information on this meeting will be made available.

For more information on the RFI, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/mission-equity

SOURCE NASA

Related Links

http://www.nasa.gov


WASHINGTON, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --

News Advisory:

Event: National Press Club Headliner news conference with U.S. Rep. Al Green (D-TX) and U.S. Rep Michael McCaul (R-TX)

When: Thursday, July 1  11:00 a.m. Eastern

Where: Holeman Lounge, National Press Club 529 14th Street NW

Washington, DC 20045 (13th Floor)

Details:

Congressman Green represents the Houston District where the family of Award-wining journalist and Marine veteran Austin Tice lives. Congressman McCaul is the ranking member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Tice has been held in Syria for nearly nine years. He was working as a freelance journalist for McClatchy and The Washington Post at the time he was abducted. No U.S. journalist has been held overseas longer than Tice.

Last fall, meetings occurred between the Trump administration and Syrian officials in Damascus -- despite the lack of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The Syrians, according to news reports, raised the broad issues of: reducing or withdrawing U.S. troops from Syria; access to Syrian oil fields currently being held by the U.S.; lifting of some sanctions against Syria; and reestablishment of a U.S. Embassy in Syria. It is unclear how the U.S. responded to these opening suggestions, but US Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens  originally a Trump appointee and one of the officials who took the fall trip to Syria --has been held over by the Biden Administration.

The Syrian government has consistently declined to publicly confirm they are holding Tice.

While there is often a pause in diplomatic initiatives between Administrations, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has been outspoken in his calls for Tice's safe return including most recently on World Press Freedom Day (May 3). President Biden has yet to mention Tice's name as President. Trump first said Tice's name publicly in March 2020 at an event in the White House Briefing Room. One of the first steps in obtaining freedom for journalists being held hostage in the past has been for the President to speak the name of the hostage and call publicly for their release.

The National Press Club has led several campaigns to call attention to the case of Austin Tice. In 2015 the Club named Tice one of its honorees for the John Aubuchon Award For Press Freedom. In 2018 the Club held a news conference with then Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs Robert O'Brien in which the US government said publicly for the first time of Tice, "we have every reason to believe he is alive." In 2019 the Club led an ambitious project -- Night Out For

Austin Tice where 80 restaurants in 16 states used the same evening to host discussions of Tice's case and raise money to supplement the $1 million reward offered by the FBI for information leading to Tice's safe return. In 2020 the Club created a Freedom Clock to display the time Tice is being held in a dynamic countdown. The Clock is in the lobby of the Club. Recently, NPC President Lisa Matthews interviewed Tice's 11-year-old niece about her passion for her uncle's freedom.

Green and McCaul have been steadfast advocates for Tice, speaking out for him on the floor of the House on several occasions and helping to lead Dear Colleague letters circulated at the House. They are passionate and effective speakers on behalf of their fellow Texan. They will give remarks on the current situation and call on the Administration to bring Tice home and will take questions from the press.

National Press Club Headliner events are open to credentialed journalists, members of the National Press Club and their guests. Those wishing to attend this in-person event should register online. Attendees will be expected to have a vaccination card on their phone or recent negative COVID test to enter the Club.

The National Press Club is the world's leading professional organization for journalists . The Club has more than 2,900 members worldwide representing nearly every major news organization and is a tireless advocate for press freedom.

Contact: Bill McCarren, [email protected], 202-725-7787 for the National Press Club

SOURCE National Press Club

Related Links

http://press.org


PITTSBURGH, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- North American Dental Group (NADG), a leading dental support organization, has hired Julie Penn for the newly created role of Chief Growth Officer. In this position, Penn will be responsible for patient engagement and retention marketing and communication efforts for NADG's network of 250-plus supported dental practices across 15 states.

Penn will oversee patient engagement, branding strategy, marketing analytics, field marketing, and communications. Tweet this Julie Penn

NADG provides non-clinical administrative support for its affiliated practices including human resources, information technology, marketing, payroll, and accounting services. The organization's clinical approach is determined by its doctor-led Professional Dental Alliance, which also provides career advancement and research development opportunities.

"We have built a company with an empathetic culture whose ultimate North Star is exceptional, uncharted patient satisfaction and retention," said NADG CEO Ken Cooper. "Julie brings a wealth of marketing experience in the health care field which I believe will help us better the patient experience in our offices, support our teams in the field, and drive our overall growth strategy. We're pleased to have her join our team."

Penn comes to NADG from MedExpress, a leading national urgent care platform, where she most recently was executive vice president, chief strategy and growth officer overseeing marketing, communications, strategy and innovations. During her tenure at MedExpress, Penn held a variety of roles with increasing responsibility focused on creating a best-in-class patient experience. She previously held marketing and brand strategy positions at SmartBuilder and RB and has served as an adjunct marketing professor at West Virginia University.

At NADG, Penn will be responsible for facilitating patient awareness and engagement, branding strategy, marketing analytics, field marketing, and communications.

"I am excited and honored to join the NADG family and to work alongside a talented, dedicated and compassionate team," Penn said. "NADG truly is a mission-driven organization, authentically striving every day to provide best-in-class dental care to every patient, at every visit. I look forward to helping the organization grow to provide unparalleled oral care to more communities and patients across the country."

Penn earned a bachelor's degree from Emory University and a Master of Business Administration in Marketing from New York University's Stern School of Business. She lives in Morgantown, WV with her husband, Mark, and their daughters, Annabel and Rebecca.

About North American Dental Group

North American Dental Group (NADG), based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was co-founded in 2008 by Ken Cooper and Dr. Andrew Matta. NADG was created to transform the dental experience for patients, clinicians, and support teams and today consists of a network of 250-plus supported dental practices across 15 states. The values of maintaining an emotionally intelligent approach, being thoughtful educators, and displaying a healthy bravado fuel its day-to-day patient care and operations. These founding values are alive and well as NADG celebrates its pioneer spirit by solidifying its partnership with Jacobs Holding AG. For more information, please visit: www.NADentalGroup.com.

SOURCE North American Dental Group
Umbria's 'Narni' bridge will facilitate quick, frictionless and cost-effective cross-chain transactions thereby removing the barriers associated with many other bridges. Initially enabling the transfer of UMBR (Umbria's governance token) between the Ethereum Mainnet and Matic Mainnet, the second stage of Narni's development will see it compatible with other assets, and integrating with other blockchains such as Binance Smart Chain and subsequently any EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine) compatible chain.

The Umbria development team is focused on creating a supreme user experience and promoting blockchain interoperability and compatibility. Currently anyone moving assets from Ethereum to the Polygon network (previously Matic) can experience slow transaction speeds, high fees and the confusing technical challenge of configuring their cryptocurrency wallet to work with multiple chains. By using a different transfer mechanism to comparable bridges, the Narni 'insta-bridge' will ensure users can quickly and economically migrate assets from one network to another in just a few clicks. The Narni insta-bridge will also automatically suggest the correct configuration for Metamask to track assets on the pertinent networks.

Narni will make the superior features afforded by the Umbria DEX and Umbria farms much easier to access and will open up the platform to a wider audience. Another key feature will be the ability to provide liquidity to the bridge to earn high APY. On launch, this facility will be available for UMBR on both the Ethereum and Polygon networks and will be quickly extended to other assets.

Liquidity provision on the Narni bridge will be a compelling proposition for stablecoin farmers, who usually generate low APY when pooling. The developers of Narni expect the majority of bridged assets to be stablecoins such as USDT and USDC - subsequently earning a large volume of fees for the liquidity providers. These fees will potentially generate far greater APYs than those offered in traditional DeFi farming as liquidity is used more efficiently than in traditional AMM pools.

Umbria's Narni bridge, which is named after the famous Bridge of Augustus, a Roman arch bridge in the Italian city of Narni in the Umbria region, is due to launch in a few weeks time for transfers between Polygon-ETH chains.

"The release of Narni will be a watershed moment in providing our community with an improved user experience across our DeFi products and services. Narni will be a hub for transferring between chains and solve the current issue of lack of blockchain interoperability and scalability," commented Barney Chambers, co-lead and co-founder of Umbria Network. "We are moving towards being blockchain agnostic; ultimately Umbria's bridge will realise full frictionless interoperability between a universe of chains."

The Umbria team will be hosting an Ask Me Anything event on its Discord server to answer any questions from the community. The date and time will be announced soon via Umbria's social media channels ( Discord , Telegram , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook . Anyone interested in participating can also send an email to [email protected] and will be notified once the time has been finalised.

See the latest data on UMBR on CoinMarketCap and CoinGecko: https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/umbria-network/news/

https://www.coingecko.com/en/coins/umbria-network

About Umbria

Umbria is a decentralized protocol that is creating low-cost and easy-to-use DeFi applications by leveraging Layer 2 technology on Ethereum.

It aims to demystify and simplify DeFi and get people accessing innovative financial services and products as well as earning income on their crypto. Using Polygon's (formerly Matic) Ethereum scaling solution, Umbria is developing a suite of popular DeFi features at fractional on-chain cost of many current DeFi platforms with greater transaction speed while maintaining all the cryptographic security provided by Ethereum.

Umbria is forking the best features of current DeFi projects and simplifying the over-complicated user-experience, which currently acts as a barrier to entry for those with limited experience and knowledge of cutting-edge cryptocurrency technologies.

The Umbria governance token is available on Uniswap as well as Umbria's DEX (Decentralised Exchange). Users can deposit cryptocurrency as liquidity in liquidity pools on the Umbria DEX and earn fees from token swapping and earn additional Umbria as an incentive for providing liquidity to certain pairs. UMBR-MATIC LP tokens can be staked in the UMBR-MATIC farm, which is currently paying 248% APY (as of June 7th, 2021).

The Umbria token will also enable users in the network to take control over decision-making and have voting power over the development and governance of Umbria's protocol.

Other facilities will continue to come online (via developers and community initiatives) which will utilise the Umbria protocol and its governance token.

UK-publicly listed Online Blockchain plc (LSE: OBC) acts as Umbria's coordinator, administrator and advisor.

Francesca De Franco, [email protected], +44 794 125 3135

SOURCE Online Blockchain plc
NEW YORK, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM), operator of financial markets for 11,000 U.S. and global securities, today announced Freegold Ventures Limited (TSX: FVL;OTCQX: FGOVF), a company focused on exploration in Alaska, has qualified to trade on the OTCQX Best Market. Freegold Ventures Limited upgraded to OTCQX from the Pink market.

Freegold Ventures Limited begins trading today on OTCQX under the symbol "FGOVF." U.S. investors can find current financial disclosure and Real-Time Level 2 quotes for the company on www.otcmarkets.com.

Upgrading to the OTCQX Market is an important step for companies seeking to provide transparent trading for their U.S. investors. For companies listed on a qualified international exchange, streamlined market standards enable them to utilize their home market reporting to make their information available in the U.S. To qualify for OTCQX, companies must meet high financial standards, follow best practice corporate governance and demonstrate compliance with applicable securities laws.

"Freegold welcomes the accessibility and exposure the OTCQX Market offers to our investors based in the United States and the high standards it demands. We look forward to our increased investment exposure as we continue to develop and advance our projects," said Kristina Walcott, President and CEO of Freegold Ventures Limited.

Securities Law USA, PLLC acted as the company's OTCQX sponsor.

About Freegold Ventures Limited

Freegold is a TSX listed, OTCQX cross traded company focused on exploration in Alaska and holds through leases the Golden Summit Gold Project, near Fairbanks as well as the Shorty Creek Copper  Gold Project near Livengood.

About OTC Markets Group Inc.

OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM) operates the OTCQX Best Market, the OTCQB Venture Market and the Pink Open Market for 11,000 U.S. and global securities. Through OTC Link ATS and OTC Link ECN, we connect a diverse network of broker-dealers that provide liquidity and execution services. We enable investors to easily trade through the broker of their choice and empower companies to improve the quality of information available for investors.

To learn more about how we create better informed and more efficient markets, visit www.otcmarkets.com.

OTC Link ATS and OTC Link ECN are SEC regulated ATSs, operated by OTC Link LLC, member FINRA/SIPC.

Subscribe to the OTC Markets RSS Feed

Media Contact:

OTC Markets Group Inc., +1 (212) 896-4428, [email protected]

SOURCE OTC Markets Group Inc.

Related Links

http://www.otcmarkets.com


NEW YORK, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Owkin announces Dr. Joseph Lehar will join the scale-up pioneering Federated Learning and AI technologies for medical research and clinical development.

A profile photo of Joseph Lehar next to text.

As an SVP Strategy & Business Development, Dr. Lehar will help reimagine Owkin's approach to new partners and industry sectors. He brings over 20 years of experience as an innovator and executive, focused on using data and digital medicine to transform healthcare. Before his current activity advising ventures, small companies, and incubators, Joseph led cross-functional teams and drove scientific projects at J&J/Janssen (as VP of Data Science), Google/Verily, Novartis, and CombinatoRx. He is deeply committed to boosting the careers of those around him and is proud to serve on the board of WEST, a leading women's empowerment organization in Boston. Joseph brings an unusual perspective from his first career as an astrophysicist at MIT, Cambridge University, and Harvard.

Gilles Wainrib, Owkin Co-founder and Chief Science Officer said: "We are very excited to welcome Joseph to the Owkin team. His unique background and depth of industry experience align perfectly with Owkin's mission to leverage AI and Federated Learning to transform Pharma R&D."

About Owkin:

Owkin is a French-American startup that specializes in AI and Federated Learning for medical research. It was co-founded in 2016 by Dr. Thomas Clozel, MD, a clinical research doctor and former assistant professor in clinical hematology, and Dr. Gilles Wainrib, PhD, a pioneer in the field of artificial intelligence in biology. Owkin has recently published groundbreaking research at the frontier of AI and medicine in Nature Medicine, Nature Communications and Hepatology.

The Owkin Platform connects life sciences companies with world-class academic researchers and hospitals to share deep medical insights for drug discovery and development. Using federated learning and breakthrough collaborative AI technology, Owkin enables its partners to unlock siloed datasets while protecting patient privacy and securing proprietary data. Through sharing high-value insights, the company powers unprecedented collaboration to improve patient outcomes.

Owkin has raised over $70M from leading VC funds and is now working with the most prominent cancer centers and pharmaceutical companies in Europe and the U.S. Key achievements to date have been HealthChain and MELLODDY; two Owkin-led federated learning consortia fueling unprecedented collaboration in academic research and drug discovery, respectively.

Press Contacts:

Talia Lliteras - Tel. +33 7 87 21 81 90 - [email protected]

Related Images

owkin-welcomes-dr-joseph-lehar-to.jpeg

Owkin welcomes Dr. Joseph Lehar to the team!

A profile photo of Joseph Lehar next to text.

SOURCE Owkin
LOS ANGELES, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Pacific Oak Capital Advisors, LLC, a sponsor of real estate-focused alternative investment programs, today announced the closing of two credit facilities, providing up to $120 million in financing for single-family rental properties.

An affiliate of MetLife Investment Management is the lead lender for both facilities, which are a $60 million senior credit facility to a subsidiary of Pacific Oak Residential Trust, Inc., and a $60 million senior acquisition facility.

"The team at MetLife Investment Management helped us finance our business for the next five years, while providing critical flexibility to help manage our business," said Ben Aitkenhead, managing director of Pacific Oak Capital Advisors. "We are pleased to be partner with such a highly regarded financial institution and look forward to working with them again."

Pacific Oak and its affiliates now own and asset manage approximately 1,800 median income, single-family homes throughout suburban centers in the Midwest and Southeast.

Amherst Pierpoint Securities LLC provided structuring and advisory services to Pacific Oak, while Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP served as legal counsel. Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP served as legal counsel for MetLife Investment Management.

About Pacific Oak Capital Advisors

Pacific Oak Capital Advisors is an alternative investment company that sponsors and manages quality real estate-based investment opportunities for clients of financial advisors and registered investment advisors as well as institutional investors. Formed in 2018, the company is advisor to Pacific Oak Strategic Opportunity REIT and Keppel-Pacific Oak REIT, and sponsor to numerous private real estate investment programs. In total, Pacific Oak Capital Advisors and its affiliated companies currently manage a diverse portfolio of real estate valued in excess of $4 billion. For additional information, please visit www.PacificOakCapitalAdvisors.com.

Contact: Jennifer Franklin

Spotlight Marketing Communications

(949) 427-1385

[email protected]

SOURCE Pacific Oak Capital Advisors

Related Links

http://www.PacificOakCapitalAdvisors.com


Previously, Lester was the CEO of Alaska Aerospace Corporation, where he provided comprehensive space launch capabilities, including operating the Pacific Spaceport Complex - Alaska (PSCA) on Kodiak Island, Alaska. Prior, he provided consulting services to aerospace and defense companies, and held several executive leadership roles at Doss Aviation, including CEO, COO and Vice President of Business Development. Lester also served as the Vice President for Business Development & Marketing at Modern Technology Solutions, Inc. (MTSI), and was a Principal at Booz Allen Hamilton in Business Development and Program Management roles.

Lester is a United States Air Force veteran, and his military background includes extensive work in space operations, engineering, and intelligence analysis. He has a Masters of Engineering in Space Operations from the University of Colorado, a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) from Norwich University.

"Space transportation is at the same nascent evolution point as air transportation was in the early 20th century  it's constrained by few options, largely experimental and novelty in nature, and inaccessible by most," says Lester. "My aim is to propel Phantom Space and the overall commercial space launch industry into a new era of safe, routine, and on-demand access to space for the masses. By creating a diverse network of US and global launch sites operated in an airport-like manner, we enable more industries, entrepreneurs, researchers, public organizations, and everyday people to participate in and expand the space economy. Phantom's team of experienced and dedicated professionals provides the right culture and focus to make this a reality, and I'm excited to be joining them."

Phantom, who recently raised $5M in seed investment funding, together with its revenue generating satellite programs, is using this influx of capital to expand and further develop their operations, including growing their team and physical space. As the VP of Launch Operations, Lester will be overseeing Phantom's launch efforts, including the launch of the Phantom Daytona, which will be the first fully US built mass manufactured launch vehicle. Lester will be heavily focused on deploying Phantom's global launch strategy, with a target of enough global launch capability to reach a cadence of 100s of launches per year. Currently, Phantom is building four launch vehicle development units. The trajectory for Phantom's first orbital launch is Q1 2023.

The first of Phantom's rockets will be built at a newly acquired 32,000 square foot facility in Tucson, Arizona. This site will host the build of the Daytona rocket, several satellite programs, as well as several other space related classified and unclassified projects. Launch operations are currently being established at the Vandenburg Space Force Base in California.

"We have a lot to look forward to right now  new facilities, launch preparations, and a constantly growing team," says Jim Cantrell, CEO of Phantom Space Corporation. "We've made it known that our goal is to become the Henry Ford of space transportation. With someone like Mark, a seasoned space technology executive, we are one step closer to achieving this. Having his expertise will be essential for the continued development and execution of our launch operations, especially as we continue to grow and set our sights on even broader horizons."

For more information about Phantom Space Corporation and their development and manufacturing of space transportation technologies, please visit https://www.phantomspace.com/.

About

Founded by inventors and entrepreneurs Jim Cantrell, Michael D'Angelo, and Michal Prywata, Phantom Space Corporation is a space transportation company democratizing space access by mass manufacturing launch vehicles, satellites, and space propulsion systems. Phantom's vision is to become the "Henry Ford of Space Transportation" through the opportunity to mass manufacture and launch 100s of rockets. A 100% US controlled and operated enterprise, headquartered in Tucson, Arizona, with multiple launch operations centers. Learn more at https://www.phantomspace.com/.

SOURCE Phantom Space

Related Links

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MUMBAI and TORONTO, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - QYOU Media Inc. (TSXV:QYOU;OTCQB: QYOUF) is pleased to announce that it has completed its closing to acquire 97% of Chatterbox Technologies Private Limited (brand name: Chtrbox), a leading award-winning influencer marketing company based in India. Details of the transaction were released on June 1, 2021.

Founded in 2016 out of Mumbai and Delhi, Chtrbox is a leader in data-driven influencer marketing, powering India's top brands to tell great stories at scale. Chtrbox offers brands a massive diverse pool of over 300,000 influencers, from top celebrities, digital stars, to micro influencers, mom bloggers and campus-based creators. Chtrbox has delivered campaigns for many of the top brands in India including P&G, Amazon, Flipkart, HP and dozens more.

As part of the acquisition, Pranay Swarup and Julie Kriegshaber will continue to act as Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer of Chtrbox, respectively.

While leading to a substantial expansion of QYOU Media's influencer marketing business in India, the addition of Chtrbox will deliver immediate and accretive capabilities to QYOU Media's India broadcast operations, accelerating plans to leverage India's burgeoning creator economy and further supporting the channel's content, advertising and e-commerce initiatives.

Curt Marvis, CEO and Co-Founder of QYOU Media Inc. commented, "We could not be more thrilled about welcoming Chtrbox into the QYOU Media family. The acquisition of Chtrbox's strong influencer business and team in India has advanced our business ahead by several years in terms of capabilities resulting from the acquisition. The future is bright for our combined businesses".

About QYOU Media

QYOU Media operates in India and the United States producing and distributing content created by social media stars and digital content creators. In India, we curate, produce and distribute premium content including television networks and video on demand ("VOD") for cable and satellite television, over-the-top ("OTT") and mobile platforms. In the United States, we manage influencer marketing campaigns for major film studios and brands. Founded and created by industry veterans from Lionsgate, MTV, Disney and Sony, QYOU Media's millennial and Gen Z-focused content reaches young consumers around the world. Experience our work at www.qyoumedia.com and www.theq.tv .

About Chtrbox

Chtrbox is a leading data-driven influencer marketing solution, powering India's top brands to tell great stories at scale. They enable visionary marketers to discover and collaborate with thousands of content creators, social media influencers, bloggers and passionate fans of their brand. Brands benefit by gaining customer attention, real engagement and growth in their business. Chtrbox (Chatterbox Technologies Pvt Ltd) was founded in 2016 in India, and is backed by experienced entrepreneurs and media personalities. Their work can be found at www.chtrbox.com.

Forward-looking Statements

This press release may contain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements'' within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including, without limitation, QYOU Media's expectations regarding the completion of the acquisition and the follow-on closings, statements relating to the business and future activities of Chtrbox and QYOU Media and the sectors in which they operate. All information contained herein that is not clearly historical in nature may constitute forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, although considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive risks, uncertainties and contingencies that may cause actual financial results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the estimated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements and the forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, including, without limitation, risks associated with the acquisition and acquisitions generally, risks related to failure to satisfy the closing conditions contained in the Share Purchase Agreement, the absence of material adverse changes or other events which may give a party a basis to terminate the Share Purchase Agreement and the ability of the parties to obtain the requisite approvals and consents. Additional risks and uncertainties regarding QYOU Media are described in its publicly available disclosure documents, filed by QYOU Media on SEDAR at www.sedar.com except as updated herein. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release represent QYOU Media's expectations as of the date of this news release, or as of the date they are otherwise stated to be made, and subsequent events may cause these expectations to change. Except as required by law, QYOU Media undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE QYOU Media Inc.

Related Links

http://theqyou.com/


NEW YORK, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- North Equity LLC announced today that it has launched Recurrent Ventures as a new operating business for its digital media portfolio. Recurrent is now the parent company to well-known brands such as Popular Science, The Drive, Domino, Field & Stream, SAVEUR, Outdoor Life, Task & Purpose.

Founded in late 2018 to purchase The Drive, North Equity has since acquired 15 brands. Recurrent will continue to be backed by the venture equity firm as it scales the digital media portfolio, fosters editorial talent, and helps its brands expand and diversify.

"We've been growing at a rapid pace since inception. We're now at the point where we can unveil the digital media business and tell our story," North Equity Managing Partner, Andrew Perlman says. "While North will continue to be focused on digital mediarelated investments and M&A, this change will also allow us to expand and diversify our investment portfolio."

Lance Johnson, who was previously the Operating Partner of North Equity and General Manager of Popular Science, Field & Stream, and Outdoor Life, has been named Recurrent's CEO. Lance brings a wealth of digital media and executive experience from Naspers, Nokia, and Yahoo. Matt Young, a revenue and operations veteran who previously held executive roles at Motorsport Network, Yahoo, and Verizon Media, joins Recurrent as CRO. "We pride ourselves on hiring great people and being as transparent with them as possible, and are excited to welcome Matt to the team," Johnson says.

Recurrent's business strategy will continue to include best practices from the venture capital, media, sustainability, and technology sectors while expanding on the core values that North set to differentiate itself in a crowded media landscape."Having all of our brands under the umbrella of one digital-focused company better positions them for alignment, collaboration, and strategic growth," Johnson says. "This transition allows us to create a new type of digital media company, giving editorial teams the freedom to create and the capital, support, and innovative technology they need to grow. However, Recurrent is not just another media company: We're intent on being a creator-friendly company, committing to sustainability coverage and eco-friendly business decisions, and providing an equity structure that makes everyone an owner."

Visit recurrent.io to learn more. Recurrent is engaging TANK Design to provide brand development.

ABOUT RECURRENT VENTURES

Recurrent is an innovative digital media company that empowers brands to grow, and connects consumers with media in a way that is enjoyable, sustainable, inspiring, and profitable--while maintaining editorial integrity. Its best-in-class brands like Popular Science, Domino, Outdoor Life, The Drive, Field & Stream, SAVEUR, and Task & Purpose, engage a combined audience of more than 45 million monthly unique visitors. Initially founded in 2018 with the acquisition of The Drive, the portfolio rapidly expanded under the ownership and backing of North Equity LLC to include more than 15 digital media brands across automotive, home, outdoors, specialty, and military verticals. Recurrent is headquartered in Miami, with offices in New York and San Francisco, and a virtual-first workforce across the United States.

ABOUT NORTH EQUITY

North Equity LLC is a venture equity firm that specializes in acquiring and investing in digital brands with high growth potential. North's investment team has extensive experience as private investors and operators at the intersection of technology, data, and digital media. Its investment portfolio includes Recurrent Ventures, the parent company of best in class digital brands such as Popular Science, The Drive, and Domino, and Empire Software, a SaaS platform. Since it was founded in late 2018, North has managed the acquisition of 15 digital media brands for Recurrent and will continue making strategic acquisitions and investments across the digital media and technology landscape. North is headquartered in Miami.

SOURCE Recurrent Ventures

Related Links

http://recurrent.io


MIAMI, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL) announced today that Rosanna Fiske has joined the company as Global Chief Communications Officer. She reports to Donna Hrinak, Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs.

Fiske will lead Royal Caribbean Group's global communications strategy and will be responsible for developing and executing all communications with internal and external stakeholders.

Rosanna Fiske, VP, Global Chief Communications Officer

"Ro's strong communications experience, along with her core values and leadership style, make her uniquely suited to step into this role," said Hrinak. "By leading our communications globally, Ro will be a big part of our return to cruising -- once again showing people the world and helping them make great memories."

Fiske joins the Group from Wells Fargo & Co., where she was Senior Vice President and Corporate Communications Leader. With more than 30 years of experience developing strategic communications initiatives both nationally and internationally including crisis communications and issues management, Fiske previously was the Chair and CEO of the Public Relations Society of America based in New York and headed the master's program in Global Strategic Communications at Florida International University (FIU).

She has worked in public relations agencies leading initiatives with a number of multinational brands including Charles Schwab, American Airlines, Anheuser-Busch Companies, Visa USA and MTV Networks. In 2019, she was honored with ColorComm's Circle Award, as one of the top diverse women leaders in communications and was also named the industry's "Diversity Champion" by PRWeek in 2014.

"I am excited to join Royal Caribbean Group, one of the best companies to work for and one that has collaborated extensively with globally recognized scientific and medical experts to resume travel stronger and healthier than ever," Fiske said. "I am really looking forward to telling our story worldwide and to demonstrate our commitment to operate as a financially, environmentally, and socially accountable business."

Fiske earned a Master of Science in Integrated Communications: Advertising & PR from Florida International University (FIU) and was recently inducted into FIU's College of Communication, Architecture and the Arts Hall of Fame. She has led several teams throughout her career to win four Silver Anvils  the Oscars of the PR industry  among other internationally recognized honors in advertising and public relations.

About Royal Caribbean Group

Royal Caribbean Group is the operating business name for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Royal Caribbean Group is the owner and operator of three global cruise vacation brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea Cruises. Royal Caribbean Group is also a 50% owner of a joint venture that operates TUI Cruises and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. Together, our brands operate 59 ships with an additional 15 on order as of March 15, 2021. Learn more at www.royalcaribbeangroup.com or www.rclinvestor.com.

SOURCE Royal Caribbean Group

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SANTA CRUZ, Calif., June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Santa Cruz County Bank (OTCQX: SCZC), with assets over $1.5 billion, is a top-rated community bank headquartered in Santa Cruz County. Today the bank announced its Board of Directors declared a 25% increase in quarterly cash dividend rate from $0.10 per share to $0.125 per share. The dividend is payable on July 6, 2021 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on June 25, 2021.

Chairman William J. Hansen stated, "We continue to reward our shareholders with another increase in our quarterly dividend. The management team and Board of Directors continue to balance capital retention while supporting our shareholders through the distribution of increasing dividends."

For the quarter ended March 31, 2021, Santa Cruz County Bank reported a record $5.8 million in net income, a 32% increase over the same period in 2020.

Return on average equity was 13.66% for the quarter ended March 31, 2021. The book value per share of Santa Cruz County Bank's common stock at March 31, 2021 was $44.95, an increase of $4.73 from the same period in 2020. Shareholders' equity grew to $173.5 million, a $18.6 million increase compared to the same period in 2020.

ABOUT SANTA CRUZ COUNTY BANK

Santa Cruz County Bank was founded in 2004. It is a top-rated, locally-owned and operated, full-service community bank headquartered in Santa Cruz, California. The bank has eight branchesAptos, Capitola, Cupertino, Monterey, Santa Cruz (2), Scotts Valley and Watsonville. Santa Cruz County Bank is distinguished from "big banks" by its relationship-based service, problem-solving focus and direct access to decision makers. The bank is a leading SBA lender in Santa Cruz County and Silicon Valley and a top USDA lender in the state of California. As a full-service bank, Santa Cruz County Bank offers competitive deposit and lending solutions for businesses and individuals; including business loans, lines of credit, commercial real estate financing, construction lending, agricultural loans, SBA and USDA government guaranteed loans, credit cards, merchant services, remote deposit capture, mobile and online banking, bill payment and treasury management. True to its community roots, Santa Cruz County Bank has supported regional well-being by actively participating in and donating to local not-for-profit organizations.

Santa Cruz County Bank stock is publicly traded on the OTCQX marketplace under the symbol SCZC. Stock purchase orders may be placed online, through a brokerage firm, or through Market Makers listed in the Investor Relations section of the bank's website. For more information about Santa Cruz County Bank, visit www.sccountybank.com.

NATIONAL, STATE, AND LOCAL RATINGS AND AWARDS

American Banker Magazine Top 200 Community Banks and Thrifts: The Bank is ranked 29th in the Top 200 Community Banks and Thrifts in the United States based on 3-year return on average equity and 4th in the state of California.

S&P Global Top 100 Community Banks: The Bank has ranked in the Top 100 Community Banks in the nation for performance for banks under $3 billion in assets for 5 consecutive years.

Financial Management Consulting (FMC) Group: Santa Cruz County Bank has ranked in FMC's top ten banks in California for the past 6 years.

The Findley Reports, Inc.: The Bank has received the top ranking of Super Premier by Findley for 11 consecutive years.

Bauer Financial Reports, Inc.: Santa Cruz County Bank is rated 5-star "Superior" based upon its financial performance.

The Bank ranked 11th in the Silicon Valley for the number of SBA loans lent to Silicon Valley businesses for the SBA's 2020 fiscal year.

SOURCE Santa Cruz County Bank

Related Links

https://www.sccountybank.com


CANTON, Mass., June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- School of Rock is amping up its exclusive GearSelect program by offering U.S. students the ability to purchase a wide assortment of professional musical instruments and accessories from 40 of the world's most innovative and recognizable music brands. Launched in 2019, the elevated program includes a new GearSelect catalog  an impressive print and digital portfolio of more than 1,000 high-quality musical products that can be purchased by students at their local School of Rock. Their purchase orders include free shipping to their schools for pickup or directly to the students' homes.

"Our GearSelect portfolio is another way we are driving substantial growth and differentiation for School of Rock and our breakthrough patented curriculum," said Rob Price, CEO of School of Rock. "We also aim to help our students obtain the gear that inspires, encourages and complements their musical aspirations. School of Rock will continue to build on this exclusive program fueled by a passionate community of artists, curriculum innovation, and new partnerships around the world."

The new GearSelect program shopping experience is integrated into the students' school experience. School of Rock students can access the GearSelect print or digital catalogs to browse instruments and music gear from the following categories: drums; microphones and wireless; recording; guitar and bass accessories; effects pedals; live sound; amplifiers; guitars; bass guitars; keyboards; IOS gear; DJ equipment; music accessories; ukuleles; music books; and lifestyle and gifts. This comprehensive catalog also includes products from top brands such as Fender, Zildjian, Roland, Boss and more.

"Finding the right instrument or piece of gear is an integral step in a musician's personal journey," said Elliot Baldini, Chief Marketing Officer of School of Rock and head of the GearSelect program. "Thanks to our strong partnerships with the industry's biggest instrument and gear brands, students have access to the tools needed to express their unique, individual voices."

School of Rock provides students of all ages an exciting and engaging learning environment for taking guitar lessons , drum lessons , bass lessons , keyboard lessons , and singing lessons . Drawing from all styles of rock and roll, School of Rock students learn theory and techniques via songs from legendary artists such as Aretha Franklin, Lenny Kravitz and Led Zeppelin.Thanks to the school's patented performance-based learning approach, students around the world have gained superior instrumental skills and confidence on the big stage, with some moving on to record deals and larger platforms such as American Idol, The Voice and Broadway.

About School of Rock

School of Rock helps aspiring musicians master skills, unleash creativity, and develop tools they need to thrive in life. Founded as a single school in Philadelphia, Pa. in 1998, School of Rock has become a rapidly growing international franchise with over 350 schools open and in development across 15 global markets. Since 2009, School of Rock has grown its student count from 4,000 to over 40,000. School of Rock offers a wide variety of music lessons , including guitar lessons , singing lessons and piano lessons . School of Rock was awarded US Patent 10,891,872 in 2021 for its innovative music education method. School of Rock also has garnered the following industry awards: 2021 Global Franchise Awards Best Children's Service and Education Franchise; 2021 Entrepreneur Magazine's Franchise 500 Top Children's Music Enrichment Brand; Franchise Business Review's Top 200 Franchises of 2021; 2020 Entrepreneur Magazine's Top 200 Franchise and the #1 Child Enrichment Franchise; and 2018 Forbes # 2 Best Franchise Medium-Level Investment Award and the #1 Music Franchise in America.

Follow School of Rock on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SchoolofRockUSA and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/SchoolofRockUSA .

For more information on School of Rock, please visit www.SchoolofRock.com or call 866-695-5515. To learn more about School of Rock franchise opportunities head to http://franchising.schoolofrock.com/ .

SOURCE School of Rock
TSX.V: VIPR, OTC:VIPRF

VANCOUVER, BC, June 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Silver Viper Minerals Corp. (the "Company" or "Silver Viper") (TSXV: VIPR) is pleased to announce that the Company has filed on SEDAR an independent technical report (the "Report") prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") supporting the maiden mineral resource estimate for its La Virginia Precious Metal Project, previously reported in the Company's news release dated May 3rd, 2021. The Mineral Resource Estimate was prepared in accordance with the guidelines of the Canadian Securities Administrators National Instrument 43-101; and have been estimated in conformity with generally accepted CIM "Estimation and Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve Best Practices" guidelines.

The full technical report dated May 30th, 2021, with an effective date of May 1st, 2021 is entitled "Technical Report for the La Virginia Precious Metal Project, Sonora, Mexico". The report was prepared for Silver Viper Minerals Corp by Arseneau Consulting Services Inc. and can be found under the Company's issuer profile at www.sedar.com.

About the Project

La Virginia is located 220 kilometres east-northeast of Hermosillo, Sonora and is prospective epithermal style precious metal mineralization. Gold and silver mineralization at La Virginia occurs within breccias, veins and stockworks, hosted primarily by andesitic volcanics, often in close spatial association to, or cross-cutting pre-mineral dacite dykes and controlled by fractures and faults that define the regional structural trend. Silver Viper's reconnaissance program identified key targets and trends which are of primary interest and subsequently filed strategic reductions in claims to attain the current project surface area of 6,882 hectares.

At the completion of the 2020 phase of work at La Virginia, Silver Viper had completed a total of 100 drill holes for a combined meterage of 27,021 metres across the project. Exploration drilling continues at La Virginia using a single diamond drill supplied by Hermosillo-based drill contractor, Globexplore Drilling Corp. Drilling by the Company to date builds upon a sizeable database of recent historical work including 52,635 metres of drill core from 188 diamond drill holes, generated by the efforts of previous operators between 2010 and 2013. Silver Viper is expanding upon this work by continuing exploration north and south into prospective untested ground.

QA/QC

Analytical results of drilling intercepts reported by Silver Viper represent samples of halved HQ or NQ2 diameter diamond drill core submitted directly to Bureau Veritas, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. Samples were crushed, split and pulverized as per Bureau Veritas method PRP70-250, then analyzed for gold by lead collection fire assay fusion on a 30 gram split with AAS finish, and for a multi-element suite including silver by multi-acid digestion with ICP-ES/MS finish. Samples triggering precious metal over-limit thresholds of 10g/t Au or 200g/t Ag were re-tested by lead collection fire assay fusion with gravimetric finish (method code FA530. Silver Viper monitors QA/QC using commercially sourced standards and locally sourced blank materials inserted within the sample sequence at regular intervals.

Silver Viper has possession of all current and historical diamond drill core and sample pulps as generated on the property since 2010. The Company has conducted a review of the historical drilling data by physical checks of existing drill pads and drill core and verified the tenor of mineralized intervals by portable XRF on core and sample pulps. Silver Viper has further confirmed the veracity of historical data by diamond drilling of ten core holes at Las Huatas, Con Virginia, and the northern extension of El Oriental target areas. This work confirms the accuracy of location and ranges of mineralization as indicated by the 2010-2013 database.

Dale Brittliffe, P.Geo., Vice President of Exploration, is the 'Qualified Person' under National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release. Ongoing verification of scientific and technical information is achieved by direct involvement in the exploration work, the most recent site visit was conducted in November 2020.

About the Company

Silver Viper Minerals Corp. is a Canadian-based junior mineral exploration company focused on precious metals exploration in the northwestern Mexican state of Sonora. The Company currently operates the La Virginia Gold-Silver Project. Silver Viper has 100% ownership of the La Virginia concessions acquired from the most recent operator, Pan American Silver Corp., and has an option to acquire a 100% interest in the Rubi-Esperanza group of claims internal to those concessions. Silver Viper is under management provided by the Belcarra Group, which is comprised of highly qualified mining professionals.

On behalf of the board of directors,

Steve Cope

President and CEO

Forward Looking Information

Information set forth in this press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations; they are not guarantees of future performance. The Company cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to exploration and development, the ability of the Company to obtain additional financing, the need to comply with environmental and governmental regulations, fluctuations in the prices of commodities, operating hazards and risks, competition and other risks and uncertainties, including those described in the Company's financial statements available on www.sedar.com. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

SOURCE Silver Viper Minerals Corp.

Related Links

https://www.silverviperminerals.com/


CHICAGO, June 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In-depth analysis and data-driven insights on the impact of COVID-19 included in this Spain data center market report.

Spain data center market size is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 5.86% during the period 20202026. Spain data center market research report includes market size in terms of area, investment, power capacity, and colocation revenues. Get insights on 42 existing data center and 4 upcoming facilities spread across 12 locations, including Madrid, Barcelona, and other locations.

Key Highlights Offered in the Report:

Spain is an emerging market in Western Europe , where Madrid is the leading data center market, with 23 unique colocation data center facilities accounting for over 75% of the existing power capacity. The increase in the adoption of cloud-based services, and the enterprise digitalization drive, involving migration from on-premises to colocation facilities is likely to drive the colocation services market during 20212026. The market will witness an increase in new entrants building data centers in Spain , such as the entry of NTT Global Data Centers and EgdeConneX in 2020. Also, the entry of real estate and equity firms such as Merlin Properties and I Squared Capital through acquisitions and development of data centers will increase investments in Spain . The Barcelona Synchrotron Park is a major data center cluster in Spain , with four operational facilities, and offering an additional 400,000 square feet of land for development, with access to 42MW of power capacity in May 2020 . In 2020, Spain generated over 43% of its electricity via renewable energy, with wind and solar energy sources contributing over 2,500MW power. The government aims to install 50 GW of renewable energy by 2030 as part of its National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan.

Key Offerings:

Market Size & Forecast by Area, Power Capacity, Investment, and Colocation Revenue | 2020-2026

Impact of COVID-19 on Data Center Market

Snapshot of existing and upcoming third-party facilities in Spain

in Facilities Covered (Existing): 42



Facilities Identified (Upcoming): 4



Coverage: 12 Cities



Existing vs. Upcoming (Data Center Area)



Existing vs. Upcoming (IT Load Capacity)

Data center colocation market in Spain

in Market Revenue & Forecast (2020-2026)



Retail Colocation Pricing



Wholesale Colocation Pricing

Market Dynamics  Leading trends, growth drivers, restraints, and investment opportunities

Market Segmentation  A detailed analysis by IT infrastructure, electrical infrastructure, mechanical infrastructure, general construction, and tier standard

Key Market Participants  List of 9 IT infrastructure providers, 10 construction service providers, 13 support infrastructure providers, and 8 data center investors

Get your sample today! https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/spain-data-center-market-investment-analysis-report

Spain Data Center Market  Segmentation

The demand for servers suitable for the cloud environment will continue to grow during the forecast period as service providers are expanding their presence across the country. The procurement of ODM servers by hyperscale data center operators and other enterprises is likely to grow on the YOY basis in the market.

The growth of lithium-ion UPS systems is likely to grow in the market with the gradual replacement of VRLA batteries. The application of lithium-ion UPS systems is growing as they offer benefits such as reduced OPEX through low maintenance costs and decreased UPS battery failures.

Several data center operators in Spain have adopted free cooling techniques in facilities. Increasing data center development will be a major source for heating communities in Spain through waste heat recovery/district heating technique.

Market Segmentation by IT Infrastructure

Servers

Storage Systems

Network Infrastructure

Market Segmentation by Electrical Infrastructure

UPS Systems

Generators

Transfer, Switches & Switchgears

Rack PDUs

Other Electrical Infrastructure

Market Segmentation by Mechanical Infrastructure

Cooling Systems

Rack Cabinets

Other Mechanical Infrastructure

Market Segmentation by General Construction

Building Development

Installation & Commissioning Services

Building Design

Physical Security

Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM)

Market Segmentation by Tier Standard

Tier I & Tier II

Tier III

Tier IV

Market Segmentation by Geography

Madrid

Other Cities

Spain Data Center Market  Dynamics

In 2021, the Internet penetration in Spain stands at 91%. The percentage of Internet users in Spain has increased by 3% from 2020 to 2021. The percentage of social media users in the country has increased by over 8 million users, growing at a rate of over 25% from 2020 to 2021. As of 2021, the number of mobile connections in Spain stands at over 54 million. With over 85% people's participation, WhatsApp was the most used social media in Spain, followed by Facebook YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram in 2020. The increasing use of internet facilities is aiding the growth of data center facilities in Spain.

Key Drivers and Trends fueling Market Growth:

Cloud Computing driving Data Center Demand in Spain

Big Data and IoT boosting Data Center Investments

5G Deployment to boost Data Center Growth in Spain

Increased use AI-based Infrastructure to aid Data Center Growth

Spain Data Center Market - Existing Vs. Upcoming Data Centers

Existing Facilities in the region (Area and Power Capacity)

Madrid



Barcelona



Other Locations

List of Upcoming Facilities in the region (Area, Power Capacity, and Cities)

Get your sample today! https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/spain-data-center-market-investment-analysis-report

Key Market Participants

IT Infrastructure Providers

Atos



Broadcom



Cisco System



Dell Technologies



Fujitsu



Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)



IBM



Juniper Networks



Lenovo

Data Center Construction Contractors & Sub Contractors

Arup



ARSMAGNA



EYP Mission Critical Facilities



Ferrovial



IDOM



ISG



Mercury Engineering



Quark



PQC Power Quality Control



Aeon Engineering

Support Infrastructure Providers

ABB



Caterpillar



Cummins



Delta Electronics



Eaton



Gesab



Legrand



Piller Power Systems



Rolls-Royce Power Systems



Rittal



Schneider Electric



STULZ



Vertiv Group

Data Center Investors

Aire Networks



DATA4



AWS (Amazon Web Services)



Digital Realty



EQT Infrastructure (EdgeConneX)



Equinix



NTT Global Data Centers



Nabiax

Explore our data center knowledge base profile to know more about the industry.

Read some of the top-selling reports:

About Arizton:

Arizton Advisory and Intelligence is an innovation and quality-driven firm, which offers cutting-edge research solutions to clients across the world. We excel in providing comprehensive market intelligence reports and advisory and consulting services.

We offer comprehensive market research reports on industries such as consumer goods & retail technology, automotive and mobility, smart tech, healthcare, and life sciences, industrial machinery, chemicals and materials, IT and media, logistics and packaging. These reports contain detailed industry analysis, market size, share, growth drivers, and trend forecasts.

Arizton comprises a team of exuberant and well-experienced analysts who have mastered in generating incisive reports. Our specialist analysts possess exemplary skills in market research. We train our team in advanced research practices, techniques, and ethics to outperform in fabricating impregnable research reports.

Mail: [email protected]

Call: +1-312-235-2040

SOURCE Arizton Advisory & Intelligence
SACRAMENTO, Calif., June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce (CHCC) has announced the recipients of its LGBTQ+ Awards. The Business Awards pays tribute to the achievements and advancements that have made a measurable impact on the economic development of our Hispanic communities and is part of the CHCC's Business Initiative (LGBT+ Initiative) which was launched earlier this month. The initiative is designed to promote an inclusive ecosystem at the CHCC through regional collaboration, maximizing resources, and leadership development.

"The LGBTQ+ community has made a significant contribution to advancing California's business climate and prosperity over the past decade," said Julian Canete, President & CEO, California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce. "The CHCC wanted to recognize individuals who are leading the many contributions and accomplishments through our first ever LGBTQ+ Business Awards. I would like to personally congratulate each of this year's recipients and look forward to many more such recognitions."

The recipients of the 2021 CHCC LGBTQ+ Awards are:

Central Region: Jose Suarez , President & General Manager: KCSO/KNSO/KULX, Telemundo, Sacramento, CA





, President & General Manager: KCSO/KNSO/KULX, Telemundo, Northern Region: Elizabeth Owens , Board Member Rainbow Chamber of Commerce of Silicon Valley, Sunnyvale, CA





, Board Member Rainbow Chamber of Commerce of Silicon Valley, Inland Empire Region: Rosa Diaz , CEO, Imperial Valley LGBT Resource Center, El Centro, CA





, CEO, Imperial Valley LGBT Resource Center, Southern Region: Daniel Morales , Founder, Tapiz Media Group, Los Angeles, CA

The CHCC has committed to building bridges between its regional Hispanic Chambers, affiliates, and the regional LGBTQ+ chambers or business associations and their members in launching its initiative. The CHCC also recognizes that the inclusion of LGBTQ+ chambers of commerce, business associations, and their members is essential for delivering the CHCC's core mission and improving economic prosperity for all Latinos in California.

About the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce

The CHCC, through its network of over 103 local Hispanic chambers and trade associations, represents the interest of over 815,000 Hispanic businesses in California. For over forty years, the CHCC has served as the nation's leading regional Hispanic business organization. The CHCC works to bring the issues and needs of Hispanic-owned businesses to the forefront of the California and national economic agendas.

SOURCE California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce
WILMINGTON, Del., June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Chemours Company (Chemours) (NYSE: CC), a global chemistry company with leading market positions in Titanium Technologies, Thermal & Specialized Solutions, Advanced Performance Materials, and Chemical Solutions today announced that it will host an investor webinar on June 28th, 2021 at 10 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The event will focus on the recently created Advanced Performance Materials segment highlighting business fundamentals, segment specific strategy and secular growth opportunities. Presenters will include Mark Newman, President and Chief Executive Officer as of July 1, 2021, Denise Dignam, President Advanced Performance Materials, and Jonathan Lock, VP Corporate Development & Investor Relations.

The event is open to the public and can be accessed via live webcast through the Chemours Investor Relations website, or via this link.

This event will also be accessible by teleconference by dialing 833-502-0453; conference ID: 1463478 (inside the U.S.) or +1-778-560-2539; conference ID: 1463478 (outside the U.S.).

A webcast replay will be available following the presentation via this link.

About The Chemours Company

The Chemours Company (Chemours or the Company) (NYSE: CC) is a global leader in Titanium Technologies, Thermal & Specialized Solutions, Advanced Performance Materials, and Chemical Solutions providing its customers with solutions in a wide range of industries with market-defining products, application expertise and chemistry-based innovations. We deliver customized solutions with a wide range of industrial and specialty chemicals products for markets, including coatings, plastics, refrigeration, and air conditioning, transportation, semiconductor and consumer electronics, general industrial, mining and oil and gas. Our flagship products include prominent brands such as Ti-Pure, Opteon, Freon, Nafion, Krytox, Teflon, and Viton. In 2019, Chemours was named to Newsweek's list of America's Most Responsible Companies. The company has approximately 6,500 employees and 30 manufacturing sites serving approximately 3,300 customers in approximately 120 countries. Chemours is headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware and is listed on the NYSE under the symbol CC.

For more information, we invite you to visit chemours.com or follow us on Twitter @Chemours or LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements provide current expectations of future events based on certain assumptions and include any statement that does not directly relate to a historical or current fact. The words "believe," "expect," "will," "anticipate," "plan," "estimate," "target," "project" and similar expressions, among others, generally identify "forward-looking statements," which speak only as of the date such statements were made. These forward-looking statements may address, among other things, the outcome or resolution of any pending or future environmental liabilities, the commencement, outcome or resolution of any regulatory inquiry, investigation or proceeding, the initiation, outcome or settlement of any litigation, changes in environmental regulations in the U.S. or other jurisdictions that affect demand for or adoption of our products, anticipated future operating and financial performance for our segments individually and our company as a whole, business plans, prospects, targets, goals and commitments, capital investments and projects and target capital expenditures, plans for dividends or share repurchases, sufficiency or longevity of intellectual property protection, cost reductions or savings targets, plans to increase profitability and growth, our ability to make acquisitions, integrate acquired businesses or assets into our operations, and achieve anticipated synergies or cost savings, all of which are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and expectations of future events that may not be accurate or realized. These statements are not guarantees of future performance. Forward-looking statements also involve risks and uncertainties that are beyond Chemours' control. In addition, the current COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the national and global economy and commodity and financial markets, which has had and we expect will continue to have a negative impact on our financial results. The full extent and impact of the pandemic is unknown and to date has included extreme volatility in financial and commodity markets, a significant slowdown in economic activity, and increased predictions of a global recession. The public and private sector response has led to significant restrictions on travel, temporary business closures, quarantines, stock market volatility, and a general reduction in consumer and commercial activity globally. Matters outside our control have affected our business and operations and may or may continue to limit travel of employees to our business units domestically and internationally, adversely affect the health and welfare of our personnel, significantly reduce the demand for our products, hinder our ability to provide goods and services to customers, cause disruptions in our supply chains, adversely affect our business partners or cause other unpredictable events. Additionally, there may be other risks and uncertainties that Chemours is unable to identify at this time or that Chemours does not currently expect to have a material impact on its business. Factors that could cause or contribute to these differences include the risks, uncertainties and other factors discussed in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020. Chemours assumes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement for any reason, except as required by law.

CONTACT:

INVESTORS

Jonathan Lock

VP, Corporate Development and Investor Relations

+1.302.773.2263

[email protected]

NEWS MEDIA

Cassie Olszewski

Media Relations and Financial Communications Manager

+1.302.219.7140

[email protected]

SOURCE The Chemours Company

Related Links

www.chemours.com


Request a Free Sample Report to Know More

This report is the perfect purchasing guide on the Supply Chain Insurance that answers all your key questions on price trends and analysis:

Is my Supply Chain Insurance TCO (total cost of ownership) favorable?

How is the price forecast expected to change? What is driving the current and future price changes?

How to know which pricing models offer the most rewarding opportunities?

Am I paying/getting the right prices?

According to this procurement report, the growing need for weight management and occurrence of celiac diseases have prompted the demand for gluten-free food. Quinoa, also categorized as a superfood, is one of the chief ingredients in gluten-free foods. This has consequently increased the global category spend for the quinoa market.

Insights Offered in this Supply Chain Insurance Market Report

Understand the spend potential within the quinoa market

Analyze supply cost structure

Identify major category growth enablers

Analyze the global and regional spend opportunity

Understand the impact of cost and volume drivers on pricing

Download the free sample market report to get detailed insights on the trends and challenges: www.spendedge.com/report/quinoa-procurement-report

Related Reports on Agro Commodities and Raw Materials Market:

Egg and Poultry Category - Sourcing and Procurement Market Intelligence Report: According to SpendEdge, one of the best procurement practices is to engage with suppliers that offer a widespread local sourcing network leading to savings on logistics and transportation costs. They can also save on delivery and procurement timelines and minimize the defect rate of products.

Ginkgo Biloba Extract - Sourcing and Procurement Market Intelligence Report: This ginkgo biloba extract procurement report predicts an increase the spend growth momentum for this category in the coming years. The use of ginkgo biloba extract in beverages, especially energy drinks, is increasing due to its ability to boost cognitive ability, memory, and blood circulation.

Feed Enzymes - Sourcing and Procurement Intelligence Report: The report identifies Royal DSM, DuPont de Nemours, Inc., and BASF SE among the top most important suppliers for feed enzymes procurement. Suppliers have moderate bargaining power in a market that is set to grow at 5.68%.

Some of the top Supply Chain Insurance suppliers listed in this report:

This Supply Chain Insurance procurement intelligence report has enlisted the top suppliers and their cost structures, SLA terms, best selection criteria, and negotiation strategies.

Cargill Inc

Archer-Daniels-Midland Co

Bunge Ltd

Olam International Ltd

Quinoa Foods Co

Northern Quinoa Production Corp

Regional Analysis

Further breakdown of the market segmentation at requested regions.

Market Player Information

Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players, vendor segmentation, and vendor offerings.

Know the strategies adopted by vendors during the COVID-19 Recovery Phase.

Table of Content

Executive Summary

Market Insights

Category Pricing Insights

Cost-saving Opportunities

Best Practices

Category Ecosystem

Category Management Strategy

Category Management Enablers

Suppliers Selection

Suppliers under Coverage

US Market Insights

Category scope

Appendix

About SpendEdge:

SpendEdge shares your passion for driving sourcing and procurement excellence. We are the preferred procurement market intelligence partner for 120+ Fortune 500 firms and other leading companies across numerous industries. Our strength lies in delivering robust, real-time procurement market intelligence reports and solutions.

To know more https://www.spendedge.com/request-for-demo

Contact

SpendEdge

Anirban Choudhury

Marketing Manager

Ph No: +1 (872) 206-9340

https://www.spendedge.com/contact-us

SOURCE SpendEdge

Related Links

https://procurement.spendedge.com/talk-to-us?report=IRCMSTR21167&type=sample&src=report&utm_source=PRnewswire&utm_medium=Pressrelease&utm_campaign=T4_Week23_rfs11&utm_content=IRCMSTR21167


PORTLAND, Ore., June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Nearly 500 travel and tourism professionals -- ranging from tour guides and outfitters to regional destination marketing organizations, chambers of commerce, lodging establishments to wineries and microbreweries -- will gather virtually tomorrow for Oregon's annual Governor's Conference on Tourism to reflect on the impacts of COVID-19 and wildfires, gain valuable insights and tools to amplify tourism businesses and destinations, and set the stage for a statewide economic recovery.

The pandemic and stay home orders impacted traditional tourism related businesses such as restaurants and lodging immediately during the spring and summer of 2020, which are prime travel months for many communities in Oregon. These communities felt the impact in other indirect spending from retail shops, coffee and grocery stores, outdoor guides and outfitters and wineries and small locally owned Oregon companies, which all make up the tourism economy. The most recent Dean Runyan Associates 2020 Economic Impact Report shows total direct travel spending in Oregon declined to $6.5 billion, the lowest since 2003.

This spring, in response to industry needs, Travel Oregon released a suite of investments totaling $4.5 million to provide direct economic recovery investments through grants and direct investments to each tourism region of the state.

The latest in this suite of economic recovery investments by Travel Oregon includes a statewide advertising campaign, Welcome to Oregon Again, designed to promote in-state travel, support local tourism businesses, and keep Oregonians traveling locally. Welcome to Oregon Again launched on June 1 and prioritizes safe travel, responsible recreation and local business support throughout the summer season.

"I am so proud of how each of us in Oregon's travel and tourism industry, from every corner of the state have shown up, cared deeply and supported one another in these trying times," said Todd Davidson, CEO of Travel Oregon. "We continue to actively listen to the needs of Oregonians, communities and businesses to be as responsive as possible. And I am excited to build on that information and lessons learned from this last year to chart our strategy going forward."

To continue supporting economic recovery efforts as the state reopens to travel, Travel Oregon is first launching the agency's Rebuild Strategic Plan on July 1, 2021. This plan includes current activities in support of the state's economic recovery and places equity and inclusion at the forefront of its strategic vision.

The second, longer-term effort is the Transformational Plan. To further develop this plan, the agency will seek input and guidance from the people and communities at the heart of the tourism industry to develop a roadmap that will extend to 2025. The plan will serve Oregon's entire travel and tourism industry based on the priorities set by these community stakeholders. Already, stakeholders have expressed a need for additional grants and funding resources, as well as marketing and promotion as priorities.

About Travel Oregon The Oregon Tourism Commission, dba Travel Oregon, works to enhance visitors' experiences by providing information, resources and trip planning tools that inspire travel and consistently convey the exceptional quality of Oregon. The commission aims to improve Oregonians' quality of life by strengthening the state's tourism economy that employs thousands of Oregonians statewide. Visit traveloregon.com to learn more.

SOURCE Travel Oregon

Related Links

https://traveloregon.com


DUTCH HARBOR, Alaska, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Bering Select, manufacturers of wild caught Alaskan cod liver and salmon derived omega-3 ingredients, has announced the attainment of KSA (Kosher Supervision of America) status for their cod liver oil. The premium cod liver oil is also Marine Stewardship Council Certified sustainable and NON-GMO Project Verified.

Rabbi Yechezkel Auerbach of KSA commented that "not many fish oil ingredients are Kosher certified, and that is mainly because the supply chains are often disconnected, which implies uncertain supply chain transparency. Bering Select was a straightforward process for us as they are involved in the entire supply chain, from harvesting the fish to making the final products."

Bering Select has a direct relationship with the fishing operations that harvest cod in the Bering Sea. Manufacturing is conducted at their custom-built processing facility in Dutch Harbor, Alaska. According to company President Joel Watson, "by building our processing facility in Dutch Harbor, the epicenter of the Bering Sea fisheries, we can access fresh, abundant, line caught cod that we can process as soon as the fishing vessels return to port. This is a tremendous advantage that is reflected in the freshness and quality of our omega-3 ingredients."

Cod liver oil is currently being studied by the Norwegian government to assess the various ways that this material may support healthy immune activity. Cod liver oil made from fish caught in the Bering Sea contains the highest food source levels of vitamins D and A available and is an excellent source of full spectrum omega-3 fatty acids.

Press Contact:

Todd Parker

Phone: 949-278-7733

Email: [email protected]

For additional information about Bering Select, please visit us at beringselect.com

SOURCE Bering Select
MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis., June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hounds & Tap has opened for dogs and dog lovers in Menomonee Falls, WI. It's the first business of its kind to open in the Midwest that is built with hounds and humans in mind. As a locally owned small business, it seeks to promote other local small businesses and serve it's Midwest community.

"Our mission is to connect Hounds & Humans to make every day a play day. This is at the core of everything we do".  Leah Neuroth - Owner

Hounds and Tap Beautiful Location The Owners: Leah and Jeffrey

The 12,000 sq. ft. facility offers daycare, boarding, grooming, a self serve dog wash, a tavern, indoor dog park as well as an additional 8,000 sq. ft. of outdoor play areas.

"We wanted to create a space where dogs and their humans can come together in a safe, clean environment that is grounded in our community."  Jeffrey Wilgus - Owner

With a focus on safety in the facility, the owners Leah Neuroth, Jeffrey Wilgus, along with their trained and experienced staff, require all dog owners to provide proof of up-to-date hound vaccinations. In addition, all hounds must be at least 4 months of age, be spayed or neutered if over 6 months of age, and be hound & human friendly.

For the ultimate pampering experience, the dog spa professional stylists will make sure each hound's specific grooming needs and breed characteristics are taken into account. If a dog parent prefers to bathe and dry their dog themselves, the facility also has a self-wash station.

When clients bring their dogs in for daycare, the dogs will enjoy ample indoor/outdoor play time, as well as hourly relaxing breaks. All dogs start with a compatibility assessment and will be placed into groups based on age, size, and temperament.

When boarding a hound, they will be on their own vacation with soothing music and aromatherapy. The facility has spacious kennels, temperature-controlled rooms, soft lighting, a sleeping cot, and upgradable luxurious suites.

The Tavern and dog park, with a separate entrance, features TV's, free WIFI & a fully stocked bar with local crafted beers in cans and on tap, as well as wine and cocktails. The indoor and outdoor secure off-leash park is the perfect place for hounds to play while their humans enjoy a drink, regardless of the weather or the time of year. If guests are hungry, the facility offers a variety of local food trucks.

The Hounds & Tap caters to dogs and dog lovers, but all humans are welcome, whether they own a dog or not!

The Hounds & Tap "The Hangout for Hounds & Humans"

Media Contact:

Leah Neuroth & Jeffrey Wilgus

(262) -293-6100

[email protected]

Social: @thehoundsandtap

www.thehoundsandtap.com

SOURCE Hounds and Tap

Related Links

http://www.thehoundsandtap.com


As frequency for online shopping has increased, the importance for merchants to expand their inventory and efficiently fulfill orders is crucial to managing and growing an eCommerce business today. Dropshipping marketplaces have been a game-changer for both suppliers and retailers and is evident in the success of the existing partnership between Wix and Modalyst through the Wix App Market . On average, Wix Stores that add dropshipping products increase AOV (Average Order Value) by 40% and sales revenues by 79% within the first four months.

With the acquisition of Modalyst, Wix business owners can seamlessly connect their online store to an established marketplace of thousands of suppliers, manufacturers and wholesalers where they have access to products spanning name brands, trending items and independent labels with the option to white-label products with their own branding. Merchants then import the products directly to their online store, including details and image options from the supplier, which continually update with the suppliers' pricing and inventory. When a purchase is placed, orders are packaged and fulfilled by the supplier and can be fully branded for a full white-label solution. The merchant receives tracking numbers and is updated on the fulfillment status of each order via their Wix dashboard.

"We're proud to welcome Modalyst to expand the infrastructure of Wix eCommerce," said Arik Perez, Head of Wix eCommerce. "Connecting merchants directly to a full supplier hub allows them to expand their own product offering and helps new businesses establish themselves by connecting with vetted suppliers with access to private labels and dropshipping. This offers merchants a convenient way to sell a large variety of products, test new and trending markets and ultimately expand their reach. Merchants can significantly scale their businesses and in providing them with a native solution, we can help them continue to maximize their store footprint, all in one place from the Wix platform."

The Wix eCommerce platform powers businesses of all types, including online stores, service providers, restaurants, fitness, events and more. It provides merchants with a full omnichannel solution to create, manage and grow their eCommerce business to sell online and offline. Using Wix, merchants can sell through multiple sales channels including web and mobile storefronts, Wix Point of Sale, social media, online marketplaces, as well as manage and track inventory, orders and fulfillment to payment and brand marketing.

"As a dedicated partner of Wix, we're thrilled to officially join the team and continue our vision to help merchants grow their stores," said Jill Sherman, CEO of Modalyst. "Our solution reduces the hassle for merchants to manage inventory, fulfill and ship on their own, while ensuring they are connected with reliable, vetted suppliers who will provide high quality products. This empowers businesses to truly invest in their brand, community and broader strategic goals. We look forward to helping take Wix eCommerce to new heights."

Modalyst was founded in 2012 by Jill Sherman and Alain Miguel, both of whom will join Wix. Modalyst has been one of the most successful eCommerce applications in the Wix App Market and is a portfolio company of Wix Capital , a fund dedicated to investments in early stage companies that share Wix's vision of technology, innovation and development shaping the future of the web.

About Wix.com, Ltd

Wix is leading the way with a cloud-based website development platform for over 200 million registered users worldwide today. The Wix website builder was founded on the belief that the Internet should be accessible to everyone to develop, create and contribute. Through free and premium subscriptions, Wix empowers millions of businesses, organizations, artists, and individuals to take their businesses, brands and workflow online. The Wix Editor, Wix ADI, Editor X, a curated App Market, Ascend by Wix and Velo by Wix enable users to build and manage a fully integrated and dynamic digital presence. Wix's headquarters are in Tel Aviv with offices in Austin, Be'er Sheva, Berlin, Cedar Rapids, Denver, Dnipro, Dublin, Kiev, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Phoenix, San Francisco, Sao Paulo, Tokyo and Vilnius.

Visit us: on our blog , Facebook , Twitter , Instagram , LinkedIn and Pinterest .

Download: Wix App is available for free on Google Play and in the App Store .

For more about Wix please visit our Press Room

Media Relations Contact:

[email protected]

SOURCE Wix.com Ltd.

Related Links

https://www.wix.com


COLUMBIA FALLS, Maine, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Wreaths Across America Radio is proud to announce the second in its series of four roundtable discussions focused on Veteran Healing through sharing stories of resilience, purpose and success. This live discussion will take place on Thursday, June 24, 2021, at 7PM EST, and can be heard exclusively on Wreaths Across America Radio.

The discussion will focus on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (note, June 27 is National PTSD Awareness Day) and will look to recognize the scope of this trauma and how to turn it into purpose. Guest panelists  listed below  will be interviewed by Wreaths Across America's Executive Director Karen Worcester and Director of Military & Veteran Outreach Joe Reagan, United States Army Capt. (ret).

Panelists:

Amy Looney serves as Vice President of Travis Manion Foundation, and leads a national movement focused on empowering veterans and families of the fallen to foster the next generation of leaders in the mission to unite communities to strengthen America's national character. As a Gold Star Wife  her late husband, LT (SEAL) Brendan Looney was killed in Afghanistan on September 21, 2010, and awarded the Bronze Star with Valor  Amy has served as an inspirational champion for families of fallen service members, military families, veterans, and American troops.

Also joining the discussion from the Travis Manion Foundation is Josh Jabin, who serves as the organization's Chief Operating Officer, responsible for leading staff and developing strategy. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2001 and served twelve years active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2001 to 2013 and eight years in the Marine Corps Reserves.

Dr. Nicholas (Nick) Polizzi is a licensed clinical psychologist and the Acting Psychological Health Promotion Branch Chief and Government Action Officer for the inTransition program and the Real Warriors Campaign at the Defense Health Agency's Psychological Health Center of Excellence (PHCoE).

"A veteran myself, I know that there is healing in hearing stories from other veterans and learning different approaches to care," said Joe Reagan, Director of Military & Veteran Outreach, Wreaths Across America. "Our hope is that this discussion will help break down some of the stigma surrounding PTSD and provide an opportunity to share stories of resiliency and purpose."

The goal of the Wreaths Across America Radio roundtable series on Veteran Healing is to help reduce barriers for veterans by:

Supporting generational bonds between service veterans through stories of service and success;

Destigmatizing issues faced by veterans and asking for help;

Combating inaccurate perceptions of veterans by discussing the diverse experiences, challenges, and success of service members, veterans, and their families; and

Connecting veterans with valuable resources.

You can listen to Wreaths Across America Radio's 24/7 stream anywhere at www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/radio, and via the iHeart Radio app, or download it at the App Store or on Google.

This is the second broadcast in this series, with subsequent broadcasts on Thursdays, September 23 and December 23, 2021. All panel discussions will be held LIVE, exclusively on Wreaths Across America Radio.

About Wreaths Across America Radio

Wreaths Across America Radio is a 24/7 Internet stream. Its unique format provides informational and inspiring content about members of the U.S. armed forces, their families, military veterans, and volunteers throughout the country and overseas who support the mission to Remember, Honor and Teach. Along with the inspiring content, Wreaths Across America Radio plays a variety of music with roots firmly planted in patriotism and a country music thread running through the core of the stream. Wreaths Across America Radio has a live morning show every weekday morning from 6 am to 10 am eastern, along with a variety of special programs that support the mission.

Listen live at www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/radio and most recently, via the iHeart Radio app, or download it at the App Store or on Google!

About Wreaths Across America

Wreaths Across America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded to continue and expand the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery begun by Maine businessman Morrill Worcester in 1992. The organization's mission  Remember, Honor, Teach  is carried out in part each year by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies in December at Arlington, as well as thousands of veterans' cemeteries and other locations in all 50 states and beyond.



For more information or to sponsor a wreath please visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.

Press contacts:

Amber Caron Sean Sullivan Communications Director Public Relations Liaison [email protected] [email protected] (207) 513-6457 (207) 230-4599

SOURCE Wreaths Across America

Related Links

http://www.WreathsAcrossAmerica.org


With the continuing spread of the coronavirus pandemic, organizations across the globe are gradually flattening their recessionary curve by leveraging technology. Many businesses will go through response, recovery, and renew phases. Building business resilience and enabling agility will aid organizations to move forward in their journey out of the COVID-19 crisis towards the Next Normal.

Key Considerations for Market Forecast:

Impact of lockdowns, supply chain disruptions, demand destruction, and change in customer behavior

Optimistic, probable, and pessimistic scenarios for all markets as the impact of pandemic unfolds

Pre- as well as post-COVID-19 market estimates

Quarterly impact analysis and updates on market estimates

The point of care diagnostics market is driven by the growing geriatric population. In addition, the shift from conventional testing methods to rapid diagnostics is expected to trigger the point of care diagnostics market toward witnessing a CAGR of over 10% during the forecast period.

Explore a wide range of statistics relating to point of care diagnostics market. Gain competitive intelligence and regional opportunities in store for vendors:

www.technavio.com/statistics/point-of-care-diagnostics-market-insights

Major Five Point of Care Diagnostics Market Participants:

Abbott Laboratories: The company offers POC diagnostics under the brand, i-STAT System.

Becton, Dickinson and Co.: The company offers POC diagnostics under the brand, BD Veritor.

Danaher Corp.: The company offers POC diagnostics under the brand, HemoCue.

F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.: The company offers POC diagnostics under the brands, Accu-Chek, Accutrend, CoaguChek, cobas, Reflotron, and other brands.

PerkinElmer Inc.: The company offers the point of care Preeclampsia Detection Kit which provides fast aid in diagnosis for women with suspected pre-eclampsia.

Point Of Care Diagnostics Market 2020-2024: Segmentation

Point of care diagnostics market is segmented as below:

Product

Hematology Diagnostics



Infectious Disease Diagnostics



Rapid Cardiovascular Diagnostics



Rapid Coagulation Diagnostics



Others

Geography

North America



Europe



Asia



ROW

End-user

Hospitals And Clinics



Homecare Settings



Clinical Diagnostic Laboratories

Get more insights about the global trends impacting the future of point of care diagnostics market, Request Free Sample @ https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR45755

Related Reports on Healthcare Include:

Global Clinical Reference Laboratory Services Market - Global clinical reference laboratory services market is segmented by end-user (hospitals and private clinics, corporate offices and companies, and government entities), service (stand-alone reference laboratories, hospital-based reference laboratories, and clinic-based reference laboratories), application (clinical chemistry, human and tumor genetics, medical microbiology and cytology, and other esoteric tests), and geography (North America, Europe, Asia, and ROW).

Request a Free Sample Report

Global Laboratory Automation Systems Market - Global laboratory automation systems market is segmented by end-user (pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, clinical and reference laboratories, and academic institutes and research organizations) and geography (North America, Europe, Asia, and ROW).

Request a Free Sample Report

Market Drivers

Market Challenges

Market Trends

Vendor Landscape

Vendors covered

Vendor classification

Market positioning of vendors

Competitive scenario

About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contact

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

Report: www.technavio.com/report/point-of-care-diagnostics-market-industry-analysis

SOURCE Technavio

Related Links

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STAMFORD, Conn., June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- 3D Corporate Solutions, a leading manufacturer of specialty proteins and fats used in premium pet food, has acquired Colorado-based specialty protein manufacturer All American Pet Proteins ("AAPP"). AAPP is a leading manufacturer of fresh and frozen proteins such as beef, lamb, bison, and buffalo serving premium pet food brands in North America. The combined company is set to offer a full range of proteins and processing capabilities.

"John and Craig (co-founders of AAPP) have built an impressive business and the acquisition is very complementary to the products and capabilities we currently offer" said Scott Clawson, CEO of 3D. "We are excited to partner with the AAPP team to grow the combined business".

"We are excited for this next chapter in AAPP's growth and believe 3D will be a great partner to continue to serve our customers" said John Landers, co-founder of AAPP. "We look forward to building on our long term success as a part of 3D" said Craig Broughton, co-founder of AAPP.

AAPP was founded in 2014 by John Landers and Craig Broughton. The business operates a fresh and frozen protein processing facility in Greeley, Colorado. The Company offers a range of value-added and customized solutions to customers with deep expertise in supply chains and value-added manufacturing.

3D is a leading manufacturer of specialty proteins and fats to the premium pet food sector. The Company operates a network of six facilities in the U.S. that provide processed proteins and palatants to premium pet food brands and co-manufacturers. The Company is owned by management, its founders, and Olympus Partners.

About Olympus Partners

Olympus Partners is a private equity firm focused on providing equity capital for middle market management buyouts and for companies needing capital for expansion. Olympus manages funds in excess of $8.5 billion on behalf of corporate pension funds, endowment funds and state-sponsored retirement programs. Founded in 1988, Olympus is an active, long-term investor across a broad range of industries including business services, consumer products, healthcare services, financial services, industrial services and manufacturing.

SOURCE Olympus Partners
SAN FRANCISCO, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Serving the San Francisco Bay Area and California, Rouda Feder Tietjen & McGuinn has been met with industry recognition for its skilled legal representation. The latest recognition is from the publication of 2021 Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers, which has listed four partners at the highly acclaimed firm:

It is a great achievement to have four trial attorneys from the same firm listed in Lawdragon 500, as only the "best of the best" are recognized each year. Lawdragon, the legal media company behind the 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers list, selected 2021 listees via nominations, journalistic research, and a review conducted by a board of their peers. Being listed denotes a high level of respect from one's peers and an impressive legal career; thus, it is considered among the highest distinctions in the legal profession.

"The remarkable 500 lawyers featured here are the warriors who fight the good fight for consumers who have been injured or had family killed through accidents," Lawdragon stated in the list's introduction. "These lawyers stand up against the worst, seeking justice and providing hope."

At Rouda Feder Tietjen & McGuinn, June Bashant, John Feder, Cynthia McGuinn, and Tim Tietjen have taken a highly personalized, one-on-one approach to legal representation. The result has been over $500 million recovered for clients through thousands of personal injury cases, and some of the largest settlements and verdicts in California. Their genuine care and compassion for the firm's clients are unquestionable.

Rouda Feder Tietjen & McGuinn is a boutique personal injury law firm in San Francisco. Founded in 1980, it represents clients in cases involving birth injuries, brain injuries, spine injuries, traffic collisions, catastrophic injury, wrongful death, etc. Learn more about the award-winning firm at rftmlaw.com.

SOURCE Rouda Feder Tietjen & McGuinn

Related Links

https://www.rftmlaw.com


LONDON, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- 9fin, the leading platform for intelligence on the leveraged finance markets, is pleased to announce further additions to its content and analytics team. Caitlin Carey joins as Senior Covenant Analyst while Jack David joins as ESG Analyst.

Caitlin's focus is expanding 9fin's Legals product offering. She will leverage 9fin's existing technology platform, comprehensive database of source documents and powerful search tools to broaden coverage of primary high yield and leveraged loan markets, as well as providing secondary event-driven analysis and covenant trends insights.

9fin's Legals offering already includes market-leading Legal QuickTakes, which are available to subscribers shortly after a new deal launches, and powerful tools for side-by-side and redline comparisons of covenant terms. 9fin is currently the covenant partner for the European Leveraged Finance Association.

Caitlin is a New York-qualified lawyer specializing in European high yield and leveraged finance documentation. Caitlin holds a J.D. from Harvard Law School and an LL.M. from the University of Cambridge. Before joining 9fin, she was a Senior Covenant Analyst at Covenant Review. Prior to that, she was a Senior Associate at Allen & Overy in London, where she advised issuers, sponsors and underwriters on a wide range of high yield and leveraged finance transactions.

Jack's focus will be producing independent ESG analysis and developing the ESG capabilities of the 9fin platform. Jack was most recently a Senior Associate at PwC, where he worked within ESG research and due diligence, specialising in social and governance factors.

9fin has boosted its ESG coverage to meet the growing needs of issuers, investors and advisers. 9fin already offers tags to quickly find, analyse and compare Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) instruments and news. 9fin subscribers can also access a comprehensive document database which includes ESG Framework and Second Party Opinions for ESG Issues as well as a monthly 'Sustainable Junk' Newsletter.

Steven Hunter, Co-founder and CEO of 9fin commenting on the hires said:

"We're delighted to have Caitlin and Jack join 9fin to develop our product offering. They bring a wealth of expertise at a time when ESG and covenants are at the forefront of our subscribers' minds."

For more information contact [email protected]



About 9fin

9fin is the faster, smarter way to find leveraged finance intelligence.

Through an AI-powered data & analytics platform 9fin centralises everything that's needed to analyse a credit or win a mandate in one place. Helping subscribers win business, outperform their peers and save time.

Product offerings include: News Alerts, Financials, Covenants, Comparables, Deal Predictions, ESG and Search.

9fin is trusted by seven of the top 10 Investment Banks, Funds managing over 52bn of High Yield AUM and award winning advisory and law firm franchises.

To find out more about 9fin's offering across the high yield, leveraged loan and distressed debt market, or to trial the 9fin platform, visit 9fin.com, follow @9finHQ on Twitter, or subscribe to 9fin's newsletter.

Logo- https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1436759/9fin_Logo.jpg

SOURCE 9fin
"Ten years is a long time, but it's dwarfed by the achievements of our HPCC Systems open source community." Tweet this

"Back in 2000, we were pushing the envelope on what could be done with the commercially available solutions at the time," said Flavio Villanustre, vice president, Technology and CISO, LexisNexis Risk Solutions. "The complexity of our processing requirements made existing solutions non-viable, so we invented, from the ground up, a data-intensive supercomputer which ultimately became the HPCC Systems platform."

Today, the open source HPCC Systems platform has adopted a number of standards and developed capabilities in a broad range of areas, including machine learning and analytics and an improved security model. The most recent 8.0 version release has made the platform fully capable of running on virtualized and containerized environments as its users drive their respective moves towards the public cloud.

"Ten years is a long time, but it's dwarfed by the achievements of our HPCC Systems open source community," said Villanustre. "It has been a wild ride but a worthwhile one and I personally look forward to our next milestone."

Visit the HPCC Systems website for more information and listen to the special edition podcast series featuring stories from the HPCC Systems community commemorating this event.

About LexisNexis Risk Solutions

LexisNexis Risk Solutions harnesses the power of data and advanced analytics to provide insights that help businesses and governmental entities reduce risk and improve decisions to benefit people around the globe. We provide data and technology solutions for a wide range of industries including insurance, financial services, healthcare and government. Headquartered in metro Atlanta, Georgia, we have offices throughout the world and are part of RELX (LSE: REL/NYSE: RELX), a global provider of information and analytics for professional and business customers. For more information, please visit www.risk.lexisnexis.com and www.relx.com.

About HPCC Systems

Discover HPCC Systems, an end-to-end data lake management solution. HPCC Systems is a mature platform that has been heavily used in commercial applications for almost two decades, predating the development of Hadoop. Created by LexisNexis Risk Solutions, an innovative pioneer in big data processing, and open source for a decade, HPCC Systems features a vibrant development community that continues to push the boundaries of big data.

This powerful, versatile platform makes it easier for developers to see the data they're working with and manipulate it as needed. Flexible information delivery makes it easier for your clients to query and find the data they need  and it runs analysis and queries faster than other platforms such as SQL or Hadoop.

Read our blog or connect with us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn

Media Contacts:

Jennifer Grigas Richman

678.906.9073

[email protected]

SOURCE LexisNexis Risk Solutions

Related Links

http://www.lexisnexis.com


SAN FRANCISCO, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Boston-based Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. was highly commended for "Harnessing the Power of Technology" in Treasury Today's Adam Smith Awards last week, using ICD, an independent portal provider of institutional money market funds and other short-term investments.

Alexion's treasury team transformed its cash management and investment workflow using ICD Portal, 360T, Kyriba and SAP, among other technologies. The resulting efficiency not only saves them time and reduces risk, but it also enables the team to minimize their uninvested cash.

"Alexion's business is centered on innovation and working collaboratively with external partners. It is in this spirit that we chose the right technology partners to help us fulfill our vision. The requisites for success included the best in functionality, ease of use, reporting and proven integration experience," says Stacy Liparidis, Associate Director, Treasury at Alexion.

"We're thrilled for the Alexion team and their success in advancing their own organization and the industry itself," says ICD CEO Tory Hazard. "ICD is proud to have our portal be part of their transformative workflow for cash and investments."

Alexion is a $5 billion global biopharmaceutical company focused on serving patients and families affected by rare diseases and devastating conditions through the discovery, development, and commercialization of life-changing medicines.

Details of the transformational technology project will be profiled in Treasury Today and featured in the online magazine's podcast series in the coming weeks.

To learn more information about ICD, visit www.icdportal.com or contact [email protected].

About ICD

ICD is treasury's trusted, independent portal provider of money market funds and other short-term investments. We provide intuitive technology and unbiased access to over 300 investment products through ICD Portal, a model in the industry for trading, reporting and analysis. Through our Global Trade Desk, located in London, Boston and San Francisco, we offer follow-the-sun support and expert service.

ICD Media Contact

Zoe Sochor

+1 646.581.3277 [email protected]

SOURCE Institutional Cash Distributors, LLC

Related Links

http://www.icdportal.com


Alcantara covers the dashboard, door panels, headliner, side pillars and the central trim on the seats of the GTA. The GTAm features an even more extensive use of the premium "Made In Italy" material. In place of rear seats, for example, the GTAm has Alcantara-lined compartments to store helmets and fire extinguishers.

Body-colored contrast stitching and an embroidered GTA logo in classic Alfa Romeo red complements the Alcantara dark upholstery and underlines Alfa Romeo's racing heritage.

Alcantara material is resistant to fading due to sunlight and abrasion. Applied to the GTA and GTAm dashboard, Alcantara's non-reflective surface also reduces glare and unnecessary driver distractions.

Non-slip Alcantara seating surfaces provide for lateral support during performance driving maneuvers. Alcantara also provides significant weight savings, when compared to other materials, as well as breathability.

Like Alfa Romeo, Alcantara is known as a "Made in Italy" brand that applies advanced technology without neglecting a love for detail in Italian craftmanship.

The Giulia GTA and GTam were developed in collaboration with Sauber Engineering and Alfa Romeo's Formula 1 drivers, Antonio Giovinazzi and Kimi Raikkonen. Weight savings of 220 - 529 pounds (100 - 240 kg) compared to their mid-range rivals allow the Alfa Romeo models to accelerate to 100 mph in 3.6 seconds. ZF supplies an eight-speed automatic transmission with driver selectable driving.

About Alcantara S.p.A. -- www.alcantara.com

Founded in 1972, Alcantara represents one of the leading Made in Italy brands. A registered trademark of Alcantara S.p.A. and the result of unique and proprietary technology, Alcantara is a highly innovative material offering an unparalleled combination of sensory, aesthetic, and functional qualities. Thanks to its extraordinary versatility, Alcantara is the chosen material for leading brands in numerous specialist fields: fashion and accessories, the automotive industry, interior design, home decor and consumer-electronics. These characteristics, together with a serious and proven commitment to the use of sustainable materials, allow Alcantara to express and define contemporary lifestyle: the lifestyles of those who love to enjoy everyday products to the full while respecting the environment. Since 2009 Alcantara is certified "Carbon Neutral", having defined, reduced and offset all the CO 2 emissions deriving from its activity ("from cradle to grave"). To document the company's journey in this field, Alcantara conducts and publishes an annual Sustainability Report, certified by BDO and available for consultation on the company website. Headquartered in Milan, Alcantara also has production facilities and a research department in Nera Montoro in the heart of Italy's Umbria region (Terni).

For further information:

www.alcantara.com

twitter.com/alcantaraspa

facebook.com/alcantara.company

youtube.com/alcantaracompany

Instagram.com/alcantara_company

SOURCE Alcantara S.p.A.
As part of the collaboration, Next Meats Co. and Wayback Burgers will give away FREE samples of its East M eats Next  slider and The Pioneer slider at the Sacramento Vegan Food Festival on Saturday, June 19. The East Meats Next  slider features the NEXT short rib, grilled and topped with fresh kimchi & ponzu cucumbers, and The Pioneer includes an all-plant NEXT short rib patty, topped with ketchup & pickles.Though only a one-day trial, both brands believe that the innovative sliders will be well-received by the festivals attendees and they are looking forward to introducing its Japanese-style vegan meats with an American application to foodies in the area while getting to know Wayback Burgers, which is opening a new location soon in Sacramento.

Next Meats Co. will launch its online ecommerce platform in the Los Angeles area on June 23, where customers looking for vegan-friendly meatless alternatives will finally be able to purchase NEXT Yakiniku Short Rib for themselves, which is a tremendously popular item in Japan.

Ryo Shirai, Chief Executive Officer of Next Meats Holdings (OTC Pink: NXMH), voiced his respect and enthusiasm for the Wayback Burgers collaboration, noting he is "excited for people to taste this innovative meatless creation between a long-established American restaurant brand and a food-tech venture from the other side of the world. We are equally excited to announce the launch of our online store on June 23, making our products available to people seeking healthier meat alternatives in the United States."

Next Meats' NEXT Yakiniku Short Rib is packed with benefits: it is high in protein, contains no cholesterol, and has a delicious, light Japanese barbecue flavoring which makes it perfect by itself over rice, or in any other imaginable dish of the world. Thus, while there are many established competitors in this field, it is most definitely a notable, new and unique item on the market.

This month, Next Meats celebrated its first full year of operation since its establishment on June 1. Over the past year, the Company has launched its products in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Vietnam and Singapore. Next Meats Co. is currently preparing for expansion in 6 additional countries. With the U.S. launch and collaboration with such famous restaurant chains as Wayback Burger already in place, the day that we see NEXT products available in supermarkets is just around the corner.

For more information, please visit Next Meats Co. at www.nextmeats.us, and Wayback Burgers at www.waybackburgers.com. To purchase tickets to the Sacramento Vegan Food Festival, please visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sacramentos-spring-vegan-food-festival-tickets-86200212155?aff=ebdssbdestsearch .

SOURCE Next Meats Co., Ltd.
CHICAGO, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, new support is being announced for the landmark American Lung Association Lung Health Cohort, the first federally-funded, community-based cohort study of millennials in the nation. Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., is funding a supplement to this study, which aims to determine factors - whether biomarkers, environmental or genetic - that contribute toward lung disease development in hopes of preventing it altogether.

Led by Northwestern Medicine scientists, in partnership with the American Lung Association, the Lung Health Cohort is a pioneering nationwide study that will track 4,000 young adults at the age of peak lung health, between the ages of 25 and 35. Scientists will follow these individuals for approximately five years after their initial interviews to evaluate how their environment, lifestyle and physical activity habits affect their respiratory health.

"The Lung Health Cohort is an ambitious effort to discover what biomarkers as well as genetic and environmental factors lead to the development of lung disease, so we might ultimately prevent the disease," said American Lung Association President and CEO Harold Wimmer. "Support from partners like Boehringer Ingelheim is critical to ensure we can advance our work and uncover how we might stop the development of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pulmonary fibrosis, lung cancer and other lung diseases to potentially help save more lives."

The longitudinal study is made possible through a $24.8 million grant from the National Institutes of Health. The goal is to renew the grant so the scientists can continue to follow the study participants for the rest of their lives. The new support of $1 million from Boehringer Ingelheim will provide supplemental resources to support aspects such as cohort recruitment and retention, site specific infrastructure and home spirometry (lung function testing) to track changes in lung health.

"This study represents a paradigm shift toward improving lung health rather than always reacting to lung disease," said principal investigator Dr. Ravi Kalhan, professor of medicine and preventive medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and a Northwestern Medicine pulmonologist. "We want to come up with a framework to intercept chronic lung disease before it becomes a problem. Just as primary care doctors can prevent heart attacks by proactively checking patients' cholesterol levels, we hope this study helps us find the equivalent of 'cholesterol' for the lung so that we may react to prevent the disease."

Recruitment efforts will begin later this year at 37 recruitment sites across the country led by many of the best lung disease researchers at top institutions. The scientists will leverage the national infrastructure of the American Lung Association's Airways Clinical Research Centers, the largest national non-profit clinical network dedicated to asthma and COPD research.

"This landmark study has the potential to improve the health and lives of millions of Americans," said Craig S. Conoscenti, M.D., FCCP, ATSF, Executive Director/Therapeutic Area Head, Respiratory IPF/ILD, Clinical Development and Medical Affairs, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. "We're proud to support this groundbreaking work to uncover the development of respiratory disease, a pivotal step forward for the lung health and lives of all Americans."

To learn more about the American Lung Association Lung Health Cohort or to speak with a lung health expert or the principal investigator, contact Elizabeth Cook at [email protected] or 312-801-7631.

About the American Lung Association

The American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through education, advocacy and research. The work of the American Lung Association is focused on four strategic imperatives: to defeat lung cancer; to champion clean air for all; to improve the quality of life for those with lung disease and their families; and to create a tobacco-free future. For more information about the American Lung Association, a holder of the coveted 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and a Gold-Level GuideStar Member, or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) or visit: Lung.org.

American Lung Association  55 W. Wacker Drive, Suite 1150  Chicago, IL 60601

1331 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Ste. 1425 North  Washington, D.C. 20004

1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) Lung.org

Contact:

Elizabeth Cook

American Lung Association

P: 312-801-7631

E: [email protected]



SOURCE American Lung Association

Related Links

www.lung.org


Evan Geiselman, pro surfer and winner of the 2016 Ichinomiya Chiba Open , will be part of the commissioning team putting PerfectSwell  through the paces. New in Japan are software platform innovations like 'Temporal Distortion', a wave design parameter that will bring additional levels of control. "Temporal Distortion will lead to an entirely new selection of waves for both high-performance and learning applications," said William McFarland, AWM Surf Programmer. "It will add shifting elements to the surf creating a more dynamic wave overall." Other new features include upgrades to the system's power response. "Start-up test results confirm that the enhanced performance response has been achieved," said Lead Engineer Miquel Lazaro.

PerfectSwell Shizunami demonstrates how high-performance surf can be achieved in urban, surf-centric, relatively smaller footprint locations, referred to as 'surf arenas'. This scalability demonstrates how PerfectSwell Surf Technology can be deployed globally in varied applications. "Surfing is in the Olympics for the first time only once. This is a watershed moment for the sport," said Bruce McFarland, AWM Founder. "Starting July 12, PerfectSwell Shizunami will provide a consistent platform for athlete training, exhibitions, and events leading up to the Olympic Games."

About American Wave Machines

American Wave Machines, Inc. surf technology is protected by 39 patents in 11 jurisdictions. SurfStream venues have capacity of 100's while PerfectSwell surf pools are 1 acre plus with capacity in the 1,000's. Since 2007 over 4,000,000 sessions have been enjoyed at American Wave Machines locations around the globe.

About Surf Stadium Japan

Surf Stadium Japan is a Corporation founded on principals of community and giving back. Surf Stadium Japan will further the strong surfing spirit that is already thriving in Shizunami.

SOURCE American Wave Machines, Inc.

Related Links

http://americanwavemachines.com/


PLANTATION, Fla., June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Florida Bar Foundation has announced that Anthony J. (Tony) Karrat, Esq. executive director of Legal Aid Service of Broward County and Legal Aid Service of Collier County, will receive the 2021 Jane Elizabeth Curran Distinguished Service Award during the Foundation's Virtual Award Ceremony on June 17.

The prestigious award recognizes Karrat's more than four decades of ensuring low-income communities have access to the judicial system. It also acknowledges his strong and steady leadership, professionalism, and integrity leading the charge for those individuals and families who would otherwise have no voice and no access to the judicial system.

"It is truly an honor to receive such a prestigious award from an organization that has provided tremendous support to the legal community for so many years," said Tony Karrat, Executive Director of Legal Aid Service of Broward County. "It is especially meaningful to receive an award named for Jane Curran who pioneered the Interest on Trust Account (LITC) Program in Florida and throughout the United States. IOTA funds have made civil legal services available to hundreds of thousands across the country."

Legal Aid Service of Broward County is a non-profit organization founded in 1973 that provides free legal services to under-privileged residents of Broward County. Tony Karrat has been with the organization for 46 years and has more than 50 years of legal experience as an attorney. As Executive Director, Karrat has been responsible for overseeing all program operations in both Broward and Collier Counties.

Karrat joined Legal Aid Service of Broward County in 1975 as a branch office supervising attorney prior to being named Executive Director in 1976. Under his direction, Legal Aid has grown from a three-attorney office with a $250,000 budget to a regional law firm of 73 attorneys with a budget of $12 million. During these years, the program has had a significant impact on the low-income community of Broward County in areas as diverse as housing conditions for the poor to protecting victims of domestic violence, to helping the homeless, elderly, children and people living with HIV/AIDS.

In 1981, he led the development and creation of Broward Lawyers Care (BLC) which is a pro bono project administered by Legal Aid and enables over 1,230 private attorneys to donate services to the poor each year. Today, BLC is the recognized pro bono program for Broward County. In 2011, the BLC Advice and Counsel Hotline was established to provide telephone advice and counsel. In 2012, Karrat led the creation of a special project to provide pro bono representation to veterans and their families through United Way of Broward County's MISSION UNITED. More than 4,240 Broward lawyers have participated in BLC and roughly 18,450 clients/families have received legal assistance during the past 36 years.

Karrat is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and the George Washington University Law Center.

In light of the ongoing pandemic, the Foundation's award ceremony will be held virtually on June 17, 2020 at 12 p.m. Registration is open now at https://thefloridabarfoundation.org/annual-dinner/.

CONTACT: Aimee Adler Cooke 561-302-6902 (or)

[email protected]

SOURCE Legal Aid Service of Broward County
AUSTIN, Texas, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, AppSumothe leading digital marketplace for entrepreneursannounced the launch of its very first Sumo Day, an annual customer appreciation event. Throughout the 72-hour festivities, AppSumo will release special, limited-time deals on tools to help entrepreneurs at any stage in their business. Customersalso known as Sumo-lingswill enjoy added discounts on their purchases, with chances to win AppSumo swag each day, plus brand new iMacs. The complete Sumo Day deal lineup will be unveiled on a later date. Entrepreneurs can sign up to be the first to hear the latest at https://appsumo.com/sumo-day-2021/.

"AppSumo has come a long way since we first launched in 2010, but our mission to empower every entrepreneur remains the same," said AppSumo CEO Ayman Al-Abdullah. "The community of Sumo-lings has continued to grow with the recent rise of the creator economy, as more people discover that anyone and everyone can be an entrepreneur. We are excited to launch Sumo Day as an annual celebration of the people that fuel us, and to give back to them for all of the hard work they put in year-round."

Sumo Day will run for 72 hours, from July 13, 2021 at 12 p.m. CDT through July 16, 2021 at 12 p.m. CDT. Each day of the event, new giveaways will be rolled out, which include branded AppSumo stickers, hats, and t-shirts. On the fourth and final day, seven winners will be selected to score a sleek new 24" iMac in the color of their choice, along with a set of all the branded AppSumo swag. To enter, guests can sign up with their email address one time to automatically be entered into all four giveaways. Entrants can only be selected as a winner once. Sumo Day Swag is currently available on Shopify for those who want to snag it early.

About AppSumo

AppSumo is the marketplace 1M+ entrepreneurs trust to discover, buy, and sell the products they need to take the guesswork out of growth. With AppSumo products, you can scale beyond your skill set, earn extra income, and automate with ease.

As tech curators, AppSumo also keeps a close eye on what's out there, offering the most cutting-edge digital products available today. With 3,000+ partners helped, $45M+ in profit paid out to its partners, and over 11 years of operation, AppSumo is open for your business.

You focus on building the best product you can. Let AppSumo be your engine for growth.

AppSumo Media Contact: Julie Richter | 480-818-8022 | [email protected]

SOURCE AppSumo
ROLLING MEADOWS, III., June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. today announced that it has acquired the remaining shares of Zurich, Switzerland-based Hesse & Partner AG and Hesse Consulting GmbH from founder, Guido Hesse. Gallagher entered a partnership with Hesse and Partner three years ago when it acquired a majority interest of the business. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Founded in 1997, Hesse and Partner develops risk management and insurance solutions for companies of all sizes in the industrial and service provider sectors, with particular expertise in the growing waste-to-energy sector. Founder Guido Hesse will become Chairman and Stephan Bachmann, previously Head of International Clients and Property Insurance, will lead the operations going forward.

"Bringing this business fully into Gallagher is another important step as we expand our footprint in Europe," said J. Patrick Gallagher, Jr., Chairman, President and CEO. "The team shares our vision, client focus and entrepreneurial spirit, so this is great news for both our clients and employees."

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE:AJG), a global insurance brokerage, risk management and consulting services firm, is headquartered in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. The company has operations in 56 countries and offers client service capabilities in more than 150 countries around the world through a network of correspondent brokers and consultants.

Investors: Ray Iardella Media: Linda J. Collins VP  Investor Relations VP  Corporate Communications 630-285-3661/ [email protected] 630-285-4009/ [email protected]

SOURCE Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

Related Links

http://www.ajg.com


MINNEAPOLIS, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Avisen Legal is pleased to announce attorney Bill Egan was elected to serve as Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the firm. A lawyer with over 30 years of business and employment law experience, Egan assumes management of the firm's operations and will be part of the firm's Executive Committee.

"I am honored to be asked to serve this important role for my law firm and know my background and experience in business will help guide me in my new role," said Bill Egan.

Egan is an employment lawyer who has successfully served executives, business owners, private enterprises, and small-to-midsized companies on all matters related to employment matters. Egan also serves clients as outsourced employment law counsel, assisting clients with day-to-day business and employment legal matters including employment and equity agreements, codes of business conduct, non-compete agreements and every aspect of employment law.

"Bill brings a wealth of solid business experience to his new role as COO at Avisen Legal. More than an employment law attorney, Bill understands the inner workings of successful companies and brings that experience to Avisen Legal," said Todd Taylor, CEO of Avisen Legal. "We look forward to Bill's guidance and leadership in the years to come," he added.

Avisen Legal is a boutique business law firm located in Minneapolis, MN. The lawyers at Avisen Legal are entrepreneurs themselves who have built successful businesses, served as in-house general counsel in some of the top companies in the country, and average over 20 of big law experience. The firm serves clients in the areas of employment law, entrepreneurial business law, estate and succession planning, impact counsel, intellectual property transactions, mergers and acquisitions, social enterprises and nonprofits, private funds, and real estate. The firm regularly serves as outside general counsel for its clients, and serves entrepreneurs, business owners, and licensed professionals in Minnesota and across the country.

Media Contact:

Todd Taylor, CEO

Avisen Legal

901 Marquette Avenue South, Suite 1675

Minneapolis, MN 55402

Email: [email protected]

Direct: 612-325-5036

Web: www.avisenlegal.com

SOURCE Avisen Legal
VANCOUVER, BC, June 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - B2Gold Corp. (TSX: BTO) (NYSE AMERICAN: BTG) (NSX: B2G) ("B2Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the voting results from its Annual General and Special Meeting of Shareholders (the "Meeting") held on Friday, June 11, 2021. A total of 791,677,859 common shares were voted at the Meeting, representing 75.26% of the votes attached to all outstanding common shares.

Shareholders voted overwhelmingly in favour of all items of business before the Meeting. The nine director nominees listed in B2Gold's Management Information Circular ("the Circular") dated May 7, 2021, were elected as directors of B2Gold to hold office for the ensuing year or until their successors are elected or appointed. Detailed results of the vote for each director are set out below:

Name Total Votes

in Favour Total Votes Withheld Outcome of

Vote Clive Johnson 709,837,249 94.91% 38,048,615 5.09% Approved Robert Cross 568,142,838 75.97% 179,743,026 24.03% Approved Robert Gayton 560,281,328 74.92% 187,604,536 25.08% Approved Jerry Korpan 560,293,514 74.92% 187,592,350 25.08% Approved Bongani Mtshisi 643,661,542 86.06% 104,224,322 13.94% Approved Kevin Bullock 647,475,221 86.57% 100,410,643 13.43% Approved George Johnson 646,962,761 86.51% 100,923,103 13.49% Approved Robin Weisman 712,914,301 95.32% 34,971,563 4.68% Approved Liane Kelly 693,360,753 92.71% 54,525,111 7.29% Approved

The resolutions to set the number of directors of the Company at nine and to appoint PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as auditor of the Company were approved with 99.83% and 99.20%, respectively, of votes cast in favour.

The resolution to confirm the Company's Amended Advance Notice Policy was approved with 99.87% of the votes cast in favour. The resolution to approve certain matters related to the 2018 Stock Option Plan as set out in the Circular was approved with 93.38% in favour, and the resolution regarding the Advisory Vote on Company's approach to Executive Compensation was approved with 93.84% of votes cast in favour.

A report on all items of business voted on at the Meeting has been filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Webcast/Dial-in Playback Details

A playback of the Meeting will be available until Friday, June 25, 2021, on B2Gold's 2021 Annual General & Special Meeting webpage by clicking here for the webcast or by dialing +1 416-849-0833 (local  Toronto) or +1 855-859-2056 (toll free  North America) (passcode 8154257).

About B2Gold Corp.

B2Gold is a low-cost international senior gold producer headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. Founded in 2007, today, B2Gold has operating gold mines in Mali, Namibia and the Philippines and numerous exploration and development projects in various countries including Mali, Colombia, Burkina Faso, Finland and Uzbekistan. B2Gold forecasts total consolidated gold production of between 970,000 and 1,030,000 ounces in 2021.

On Behalf of B2GOLD CORP.

"Clive T. Johnson"

President & Chief Executive Officer

For more information on B2Gold, please visit the Company's website at www.b2gold.com or contact:

Ian MacLean Katie Bromley VP, Investor Relations Manager, Investor Relations & Public Relations +1 604-681-8371 +1 604-681-8371 [email protected] [email protected]

The Toronto Stock Exchange and NYSE American LLC neither approve nor disapprove the information contained in this news release.

Production results and production guidance presented in this news release reflect total production at the mines B2Gold operates on a 100% project basis. Please see our Annual Information Form dated March 30, 2021 for a discussion of our ownership interest in the mines B2Gold operates.

This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation, including: projections; outlook; guidance; forecasts; estimates; and other statements regarding future or estimated financial and operational performance, gold production and sales, revenues and cash flows, and capital costs (sustaining and non-sustaining) and operating costs, including projected cash operating costs and AISC, and budgets on a consolidated and mine by mine basis; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on B2Gold's operations, including any restrictions or suspensions with respect to our operations and the effect of any such restrictions or suspensions on our financial and operational results; the ability of the Company to successfully maintain our operations if they are temporarily suspended, and to restart or ramp-up these operations efficiently and economically, the impact of COVID-19 on the Company's workforce, suppliers and other essential resources and what effect those impacts, if they occur, would have on our business, our planned capital and exploration expenditures; future or estimated mine life, metal price assumptions, ore grades or sources, gold recovery rates, stripping ratios, throughput, ore processing; statements regarding anticipated exploration, drilling, development, construction, permitting and other activities or achievements of B2Gold; and including, without limitation: total consolidated gold production of between 970,000 and 1,030,000 ounces in 2021. All statements in this news release that address events or developments that we expect to occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, although not always, identified by words such as "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "project", "target", "potential", "schedule", "forecast", "budget", "estimate", "intend" or "believe" and similar expressions or their negative connotations, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could", "should" or "might" occur. All such forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made.

Forward-looking statements necessarily involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond B2Gold's control, including risks associated with or related to: the duration and extent of the COVID-19 pandemic, the effectiveness of preventative measures and contingency plans put in place by the Company to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, including, but not limited to, social distancing, a non-essential travel ban, business continuity plans, and efforts to mitigate supply chain disruptions; escalation of travel restrictions on people or products and reductions in the ability of the Company to transport and refine dore; the volatility of metal prices and B2Gold's common shares; changes in tax laws; the dangers inherent in exploration, development and mining activities; the uncertainty of reserve and resource estimates; not achieving production, cost or other estimates; actual production, development plans and costs differing materially from the estimates in B2Gold's feasibility and other studies; the ability to obtain and maintain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required for mining activities; environmental regulations or hazards and compliance with complex regulations associated with mining activities; climate change and climate change regulations; the ability to replace mineral reserves and identify acquisition opportunities; the unknown liabilities of companies acquired by B2Gold; the ability to successfully integrate new acquisitions; fluctuations in exchange rates; the availability of financing; financing and debt activities, including potential restrictions imposed on B2Gold's operations as a result thereof and the ability to generate sufficient cash flows; operations in foreign and developing countries and the compliance with foreign laws, including those associated with operations in Mali, Namibia, the Philippines, Colombia and Burkina Faso and including risks related to changes in foreign laws and changing policies related to mining and local ownership requirements or resource nationalization generally, including in response to the COVID-19 outbreak; remote operations and the availability of adequate infrastructure; fluctuations in price and availability of energy and other inputs necessary for mining operations; shortages or cost increases in necessary equipment, supplies and labour; regulatory, political and country risks, including local instability or acts of terrorism and the effects thereof; the reliance upon contractors, third parties and joint venture partners; the lack of sole decision-making authority related to Filminera Resources Corporation, which owns the Masbate Project; challenges to title or surface rights; the dependence on key personnel and the ability to attract and retain skilled personnel; the risk of an uninsurable or uninsured loss; adverse climate and weather conditions; litigation risk; competition with other mining companies; community support for B2Gold's operations, including risks related to strikes and the halting of such operations from time to time; conflicts with small scale miners; failures of information systems or information security threats; the ability to maintain adequate internal controls over financial reporting as required by law, including Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act; compliance with anti-corruption laws, and sanctions or other similar measures; social media and B2Gold's reputation; risks affecting Calibre having an impact on the value of the Company's investment in Calibre, and potential dilution of our equity interest in Calibre; as well as other factors identified and as described in more detail under the heading "Risk Factors" in B2Gold's most recent Annual Information Form, B2Gold's current Form 40-F Annual Report and B2Gold's other filings with Canadian securities regulators and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), which may be viewed at www.sedar.com and www.sec.gov, respectively (the "Websites"). The list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect B2Gold's forward-looking statements.

B2Gold's forward-looking statements are based on the applicable assumptions and factors management considers reasonable as of the date hereof, based on the information available to management at such time. These assumptions and factors include, but are not limited to, assumptions and factors related to B2Gold's ability to carry on current and future operations, including: the duration and effects of COVID-19 on our operations and workforce; development and exploration activities; the timing, extent, duration and economic viability of such operations, including any mineral resources or reserves identified thereby; the accuracy and reliability of estimates, projections, forecasts, studies and assessments; B2Gold's ability to meet or achieve estimates, projections and forecasts; the availability and cost of inputs; the price and market for outputs, including gold; foreign exchange rates; taxation levels; the timely receipt of necessary approvals or permits; the ability to meet current and future obligations; the ability to obtain timely financing on reasonable terms when required; the current and future social, economic and political conditions; and other assumptions and factors generally associated with the mining industry.

B2Gold's forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management and reflect their current expectations regarding future events and operating performance and speak only as of the date hereof. B2Gold does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's beliefs, expectations or opinions should change other than as required by applicable law. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that any events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do, what benefits or liabilities B2Gold will derive therefrom. For the reasons set forth above, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements.

SOURCE B2Gold Corp.
CHARLOTTE, N.C., June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Barings, one of the world's leading investment managers, today announced it has provided a $48.3 million mortgage to finance the purchase of an office property in Burbank, California.

A joint venture between Pendulum Property Partners and Long Wharf Capital is acquiring The Link, a 125,000 square foot 7-story office property, located in one of the nation's strongest office markets.

"We are excited to close on an acquisition financing of a high quality office building in one of the country's best office submarkets," said Jack Cheng, Barings Originations for Western U.S. "We believe that the strong sponsorship consisting of Pendulum Property Partners and Long Wharf Capital will be able to execute their business plan in an ever tightening, high demand office market."

The mortgage from Barings, with a five-year term, closed in conjunction with the acquisition and includes funding for TI/LC and some slight capital work.

Newmark Knight Frank advised the sellers on the property transaction as well as helped the partnership line up the financing.

The Link is located at 2901 W Alameda and is situated in close proximity to the Warner Brothers' headquarters and Disney. Most of the tenants in the property provide post production services to all the major studios.

About Barings

Barings is a $326+ billion* global investment manager sourcing differentiated opportunities and building long-term portfolios across public and private fixed income, real estate, and specialist equity markets. With investment professionals based in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific, the firm, a subsidiary of MassMutual, aims to serve its clients, communities and employees, and is committed to sustainable practices and responsible investment. Learn more at www.barings.com.

*Assets under management as of March 31, 2021

Contact

Cheryl Krauss, Barings, 980-417-5858, [email protected]

21-1675240

SOURCE Barings

Related Links

www.barings.com


AVON, Conn., June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Voluntary sales were $7.463 billion in 2020, according to Eastbridge's annual U.S. Voluntary/Worksite Sales Report. Despite a challenging year disrupted by the pandemic, Benefit Brokers fared the best, increasing their market share and posting the smallest decrease relative to other segments.

Benefit Brokers generated over $4.8 billion in sales in 2020 and accounted for 65% of all voluntary sales, up from 61% in 2019. Career Agents continue to have the second highest share with just over $1 billion. Voluntary Brokers (Classics and Worksite Specialists) accounted for just under $1.5 billion.

While all distribution segments experienced sales declines in 2020, the extent of the decreases varied by distributor. Employee Benefit Brokers fared the 2020 pandemic best with just a 10% decrease. Career Agents and Classic Worksite Brokers saw the largest sales declines at 28% each. Worksite Specialists and Occasional Producers saw moderate declines of 12% and 14% respectively.

The following chart shows the market share by distributor segment.

Segment 2020 Market Share Inc/Dec Over '19 Employee Benefit Brokers 65% -10% Career Agents 14% -28% Classic Worksite Brokers 11% -28% Worksite Specialists 9% -12% Occasional Producers 1% -14%

The annual U.S. Voluntary/Worksite Sales Report estimates sales for the entire voluntary industry, with detailed data on the performance of 69 carriers, both group and individual, and represents the largest number of carriers included in any sales report for the industry.

Carriers interested in participating in next year's study should email Eastbridge at [email protected]. All participants receive a free copy of the complete findings, including company-specific results.

Eastbridge Consulting Group, Inc. is a marketing advisory firm serving companies focused on the voluntary/worksite benefits market in the United States and Canada.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Erin Marino ([email protected])

SOURCE Eastbridge Consulting Group

Related Links

eastbridge.com


LOS ANGELES, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Black AIDS Institute (BAI), the nation's only Black HIV organization focused on ending HIV in Black communities, welcomes Harold J. Phillips, as the new Director of the White House Office of National AIDS Policy, which has been recently reinstated by President Biden. Mr. Phillips' selection, based on his extensive HIV/AIDS policy experience across federal agencies and his lived experience as a Black, gay man living with HIV for the past 15 years, is a strong indicator of the Biden-Harris Administration's approach to tackling an epidemic that disproportionately impacts Black Americans. His appointment announced on the 40th anniversary of AIDS, is in complete alignment with the Black AIDS Institute's " We The People: A Black Strategy To End HIV ," that advocates for elevating Black leaders in the HIV community and addressing HIV as a racial justice issue.

Harold J. Phillips. (photo: HIV.gov)

40 years since the discovery of the AIDS virus, we have proven medical options like a daily pill called PrEP that provides over 90% protection and daily HIV treatment that can keep a person healthy and prevent them from passing on HIV. But direct outcomes of systemic racism such as stigma and lack of healthcare access have prevented Black communities from benefiting from lifesaving HIV interventions in the same way white Americans have. Therefore, during the Black AIDS Institute's Heroes In The Struggle Virtual Gala on June 5, it was encouraging to hear Mr. Phillips address the need to "begin reviewing and redesigning systems including policies, laws, programs and institutions that exacerbate inequities and do not advance equity for all including Black people who have been historically underserved, marginalized and adversely affected by systemic and structural racism."

"As a uniquely and unapologetically Black organization that has led the fight to end HIV for 22 years, Harold is just as much a part of our community as he is the highest-ranking Black HIV leader in the federal government. His aforementioned professional experience, such as leading the federal government's "Ending The HIV Epidemic'' initiative, as well as his personal understanding of intersecting stigmas experienced by Black and LGBTQ people living with HIV, are critical for this juncture in the HIV crisis. I am hopeful that Harold's leadership and the Biden-Harris administration's recognition of racism as a public health issue will be a catalyst to finally center Black lives," said Raniyah Copeland, President and CEO, Black AIDS Institute.

ABOUT BLACK AIDS INSTITUTE

Founded in 1999, Black AIDS Institute (BAI) is the only uniquely and unapologetically Black think and do tank in America. Our mission is to stop the AIDS epidemic in Black communities by engaging and mobilizing Black institutions and individuals to confront HIV. Black Empowerment is our central theme and we are led by people who represent the issues we serve. We source our capacity building, mobilization, and advocacy efforts from Black leaders and communities across the country, and provide culturally respectful, high-quality, HIV prevention and care services for Black people in Los Angeles. Learn more at https://blackaids.org

PRESS CONTACT

James DeMarco

Strategic Heights Media

212-634-7176

[email protected]

SOURCE Black AIDS Institute
TORONTO, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - BMO congratulates Deland Kamanga, who has been named a Catalyst Honours Champion (Business Leader Champion) for 2021 in recognition of his transformational contributions to advancing women and championing inclusion in the workplace.

A role model for inclusive leadership, Deland Kamanga has a deep passion for advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. As Head of Global Markets at BMO Capital Markets, he encourages senior leaders to be inclusion and diversity advocates and inspires all employees to live these values. He has been instrumental in enhancing programs and policies that nurture a more inclusive culture, including returnships, parental leaves, and hiring procedures that directly affect women. This has led to an increased presence of women at all levels in Global Markets and more women with the potential to advance to senior roles across the firm.

"Del embodies BMO's Purpose  to Boldly Grow the Good in business and life  and takes to heart our bank's commitment to zero barriers to inclusion," said Darryl White, CEO, BMO Financial Group. "As a long-time and active member of BMO's Leadership Committee for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and Co-Chair of the BMO Capital Markets Diversity Steering Committee, Del has helped unify teams and galvanize them into action focused on the vision of an inclusive and equitable workplace."



Since 2010, Catalyst has annually celebrated individuals who advance women and advocate for inclusive workplaces in Canadian business. Nominees are evaluated in a rigorous process. The 2021 Champions exemplify Catalyst research findings linking diverse, inclusive workplaces to innovation, team citizenship, productivity, and stronger business results. Champions will receive their awards at Catalyst Honours 2021, a dynamic virtual conference taking place on October 27-28, 2021.

About Catalyst

Catalyst is a global nonprofit working with some of the world's most powerful CEOs and leading companies to help build workplaces that work for women. Founded in 1962, Catalyst drives change with pioneering research, practical tools, and proven solutions to accelerate and advance women into leadershipbecause progress for women is progress for everyone.



About Catalyst Honours

Catalyst Honours recognizes exceptional role models who are accelerating progress for women in the workplace. Launched in Canada in 2010, Catalyst Honours has recognized 48 outstanding individuals as representing the gold standard for inclusive leadership.

About BMO Financial Group

Serving customers for 200 years and counting, BMO is a highly diversified financial services provider - the 8th largest bank, by assets, in North America. With total assets of $950 billion as of April 30, 2021, and a team of diverse and highly engaged employees, BMO provides a broad range of personal and commercial banking, wealth management and investment banking products and services to more than 12 million customers and conducts business through three operating groups: Personal and Commercial Banking, BMO Wealth Management and BMO Capital Markets.

SOURCE BMO Financial Group

Related Links

www.bmo.com


BOSTON, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Boston Children's Hospital is the number one pediatric hospital in the nation for the eighth year in a row according to U.S. News & World Report's 2021-22 Best Children's Hospitals Honor Roll.

"In a year full of tough times and many challenges, we are extremely honored to be named the top children's hospital in the nation," said Boston Children's CEO and President, Kevin B. Churchwell, MD. "This ranking is a testament to our deeply committed Boston Children's family, who never wavered as we moved forward through the pandemic together. Despite all the unknowns, our team remained focused, strong and safe, supporting our patients and families, near and far, remotely and in-person. They did whatever it took to get the job done, and I am enormously proud of them."

Boston Children's ranked first in Nephrology, Neurology & Neurosurgery, Pulmonology and Lung Surgery and Urology; second in Cancer, Diabetes & Endocrinology, Gastroenterology & GI Surgery and Orthopedics; fourth in Cardiology & Heart Surgery; and seventh in Neonatology.

U.S. News introduced the Best Children's Hospitals rankings in 2007 to help families of children with rare or life-threatening illnesses find the best medical care available in consultation with their doctors and other medical professionals.

The Best Children's Hospitals methodology includes objective measures such as patient outcomes, including mortality and infection rates, as well as available clinical resources and compliance with best practices. To calculate the Best Children's Hospitals rankings, U.S. News gathered data from children's hospitals in early 2020 and from pediatric physicians and other healthcare organizations in 2021; because of the pandemic, data collection from children's hospitals was not repeated in 2021.

This year's rankings will be published in the U.S. News & World Report's "Best Hospitals 2022" guidebook available in stores October 5.

Boston Children's Hospital is ranked the #1 children's hospital in the nation by U.S. News & World Report and is the primary pediatric teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School. Home to the world's largest research enterprise based at a pediatric medical center, its discoveries have benefited both children and adults since 1869. Today, 3,000 researchers and scientific staff, including 9 members of the National Academy of Sciences, 23 members of the National Academy of Medicine and 12 Howard Hughes Medical Investigators comprise Boston Children's research community. Founded as a 20-bed hospital for children, Boston Children's is now a 415-bed comprehensive center for pediatric and adolescent health care. For more, visit our Answers blog and follow us on social media @BostonChildrens, @BCH_Innovation, Facebook and YouTube.

Media Contact: Erin Tornatore, 617-919-3110, [email protected]

SOURCE Boston Children's Hospital

Related Links

www.childrenshospital.org


CANTON, Mass., June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Boston Mutual Life Insurance Company, a national provider of insurance solutions for individuals and at the workplace, announced today the launch of its Small Business Solutions program to support small businesses. This first-of-its-kind program for the national life insurance carrier will be coordinated through select local producer partners in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, targeting small businesses in the communities it has been serving for 130 years. The program is the first project from the company's new Market Strategies area introduced last year and the company's first program designed specifically for small businesses.

"The past year has had a tremendous impact on small businesses and their communities, and we understand that attracting employees is a key part of their re-emergence out of the pandemic," said Joshua Police, Vice President of Market Strategies at Boston Mutual Life Insurance Company. "Offering benefits that appeal to employees is critical, especially life insurance, which can provide peace of mind to both small businesses and their employees. With this program, we can begin offering more insurance solutions for the working Americans of today and tomorrow."

With this program, we can begin offering more insurance solutions for the working Americans of today and tomorrow Tweet this

The purpose of the program is to offer small businesses in select markets a turnkey portfolio of options to help meet their and their employees' needs. The Small Business Solutions program will feature streamlined, standard insurance portfolio options through key strategic enrollment partner firms as part of the launch, including whole life insurance, critical illness/specified disease insurance, and group accident coverage.* The program's launch aligns with general increase in life insurance as a result of the pandemic. According to LIMRA, nearly one third of consumers (31%) say the pandemic has made it more likely they will purchase life insurance within the next 12 months.**

"We are very excited about this new initiative, which is giving us the opportunity to help small businesses and their employees, especially those affected by the pandemic and in need of support as the economy begins to open back up," said Paul A. Quaranto, Jr., Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President at Boston Mutual Life Insurance Company. "The program aligns with Boston Mutual's core values, our long-term plans, and our strategic future focus as our company continues to evolve, and we're proud to support the small businesses in our communities."

To learn more about Boston Mutual Life Insurance Company, please visit http://www.bostonmutual.com.

About Boston Mutual Life Insurance Company

Founded as a progressive life insurance company in 1891, Boston Mutual Life Insurance Company is a national carrier that provides insurance solutions designed for working Americans and their families, as well as enrollment and billing options at the workplace. With its home office based in Canton, Massachusetts, as a mutual company, Boston Mutual Life is dedicated to acting in the best interests of its policyholders, producers, employees, and its communities. For more information, please visit www.bostonmutual.com or contact your Boston Mutual Life representative. Follow the company on Facebook (/BostonMutualLifeIns) or LinkedIn (/company/boston-mutual-life-insurance).

Media Contact:

Meredith D'Agostino, Boston Mutual Life Insurance Company

[email protected]

(800) 669-2668 x276

*Policy series: ICC18 END-95 (ESO)(6/18), WS-CI 4/12 and WPS-ACC 07/15. Offerings as described in this Small Business Solutions program currently only available in MA and RI (critical illness coverage offered as specified disease coverage in MA).

**Source: 2021 Insurance Barometer Study, LIMRA and Life Happens

SOURCE Boston Mutual Life Insurance Company

Related Links

www.bostonmutual.com


VICTORIA, BC, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The challenges of providing quality healthcare have evolved and there is a growing change in the industry within America that is trying to intelligently evolve along with it. Take for example, One Medical's ambitious vision for subscription medical care for medical care that is increasingly more technologically driven and patient friendly. Adoption of these kinds of subscription user-pay plans could mean lower drug prices too. But until then, we continue to rely on pharmacies like Canada Pharmacy to pay less for necessary medication and treatments.

Canadian pharmacy

There is a real need for this. In addition to all the people who have difficulty seeing a medical professional in a timely manner and may not get the extent of the care they need, the American per person average is more than $1000 out of pocket on Rx meds each year. The amount paid is significantly higher than other countries. The need to provide smarter and more affordable healthcare is growing ever more evident.

A big part of the subscription model for healthcare proposed by One Medical is telehealth services, and the COVID pandemic has sped up the trend of meeting virtually. It's something that is promising, and Canada Pharmacy is on board in helping anyone who continues to choose to pass less for their medication when they order from Canada.

The reason this has the potential to be a 'fix' for inadequate healthcare access in America is because it is merging technology with professionally staffed brick-and-mortar clinics. Subscribers can go in for any type of care.

Subscription healthcare may also mean more affordable prescription medication because employers are the largest single source of extended healthcare coverage in the country. Employers providing healthcare benefits routinely pay upwards of 25% of their overall health spending on employee drug costs.

Having a more effective healthcare provision resource like the one at One Medical would mean lower operating costs for employers, and eventually lower drug prices through their providers. In the interim continue to order Rx medications from a Canadian Pharmacy which is able to fill your prescription and use the CIPA certified pharmacy checker to confirm whether or not your pharmacy is accredited.

About the Company

Canada Pharmacy is a Canadian online pharmacy among those recommended for Americans who shop at a pharmacy in Canada to save money on medications. They source medications in a way that allows for the best prices on prescription drugs from Canada. All orders require a prescription and are dispensed by a licensed pharmacist, in the same way it would be with any pharmacy in America. Pay less when you order drugs online from Canada.

Contact Canada Pharmacy:

https://www.canadapharmacy.com

Toll Free: 1-800-891-0844

[email protected]

Related Images

canadian-pharmacy.jpg

Canadian pharmacy

Canadian pharmacy



SOURCE Canada Pharmacy
WATERLOO, ON, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- SkyWatch Space Applications Inc. ("SkyWatch"), a Waterloo-based space technology startup, announced today the completion of a $17.2M USD Series B round of financing to further democratize access to Earth observation data. Drive Capital led the investment round with participation from existing investors Bullpen Capital, Space Capital, Golden Ventures, and BDC Ventures.

The Series B financing builds on an exceptional first half of 2021 for SkyWatch, which is seeing revenue growth in excess of 450% over the same period last year, highlighting the appetite for Earth observation data from the private sector. SkyWatch also announced the launch of the first TerraStream-enabled satellite earlier this month, which further advances the company's mission of making commercial Earth observation data more available and accessible. With 40 satellites under contract for launch by SatRevolution (Poland), SpaceJLTZ (Mexico), and Wyvern (Canada), and others, SkyWatch is enabling the future of the global commercial satellite launch market and removing the barriers to entry typically present in the space industry.

"Over the past couple of years, SkyWatch has built key enabling technologies for the future of Earth Observation capture and distribution, through the EarthCache and TerraStream platforms. Today, we are excited to announce that we'll be able to scale that technology globally, to both consumers and providers of satellite data, with the closing of our Series B financing," said James Slifierz, SkyWatch's CEO and co-founder. "We're thrilled to welcome Drive Capital, a firm with deep experience in scaling technology companies, to the SkyWatch team. We're also happy to have the continued support from our earliest investors, who continue to believe in our ambitions to change the Earth Observation industry."

"Space privatization is leading to an entirely new infrastructure in the sky," said Nick Solaro, Partner at Drive Capital. "As with platform shifts in the past, like the Internet, this infrastructure will yield new categories of world-changing companies. We believe SkyWatch is one of them."

About SkyWatch

SkyWatch is on a mission to make Earth Observation data accessible to the world. Our team is building the infrastructure to connect satellite data operators and application developers, with EarthCache, the simplest way to get satellite data for an application, and TerraStream, a turnkey data management and distribution platform for satellite data operators.

Media Inquiries

Kelly Winter

Director, Marketing

[email protected]

SOURCE SkyWatch
CHICAGO, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cboe Global Markets, Inc. (Cboe: CBOE), a market operator and global trading solutions provider, today announced it plans to extend global trading hours (GTH) for its S&P 500 Index (SPX) options and Cboe Volatility Index (VIX) options to nearly 24 hours each business day on Cboe Options Exchange, beginning Sunday, November 21, 2021, subject to regulatory review.

The planned extension of Cboe's GTH session aims to cater to growing customer demand globally for expanded access to trade Cboe's flagship SPX and VIX options, which are designed to help enable investors to hedge or gain exposure to the broad U.S. market and global equity volatility. With the ability to execute SPX and VIX options trading strategies around the clock, market participants are expected to be able to adjust their positions and manage risk more efficiently, particularly in response to global macroeconomic events as they are happening.

"The launch of our extended GTH session comes at an exciting time as Cboe continues to grow as a global markets operator and enter new markets, asset classes and regions around the world," said Arianne Criqui, Senior Vice President, Head of Derivatives and Global Client Services at Cboe Global Markets. "The extended GTH session is designed to be aligned to further expand investor access to our markets and meet global customer demand for SPX and VIX options to help hedge positions and potentially capitalize on changes in volatility well before and after regular U.S. trading hours."

The lengthened GTH session is expected to complement Cboe's upcoming planned launch of Cboe Europe Derivatives, subject to regulatory approvals, a new Amsterdam-based futures and options market, and Cboe's planned acquisition of Chi-X Asia Pacific, subject to regulatory review and other customary closing conditions. In both regions, Cboe sees opportunity to further broaden its distribution network and offer a wide range of its core product offerings, including its unique proprietary products, to customers in the regions.

SPX and VIX options are currently available in a GTH session that runs from 3:00 a.m. ET to 9:15 a.m. ET. The planned expanded GTH session would begin at 8:15 p.m. ET and run until 9:15 a.m. ET the following morning. Regular trading hours (RTH) then run from the U.S. market open at 9:30 a.m. ET until the market close at 4:15 p.m. ET. For each Monday business day, trading in GTH would begin Sunday evening.

In addition, the RTH session will be followed by a new curb session  an extra half hour session for electronic trading beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday  beginning September 27, 2021, subject to regulatory review. The curb session will be limited to SPX and VIX products and is intended to maximize the overlap in time that SPX and VIX options are open alongside the related futures contracts. Certification to the curb session will be available for customers beginning August 2, 2021, with test symbols available in the production environment beginning August 30, 2021. Additional information on the curb session can be found in the Tradedesk Notice.

SPX and VIX options are exclusively listed on Cboe Options Exchange and are among the most actively traded index options products in the world. SPX options are designed to help investors gain efficient exposure to the U.S. equity market and execute risk management, hedging, asset allocation and income generation strategies. VIX options are designed to help market participants to hedge portfolio volatility risk distinct from market price risk and trade based on their view of the future direction or movement of volatility.

For additional information on the extended global trading hours for SPX and VIX options, see the technical FAQ.

About Cboe Global Markets, Inc.

Cboe Global Markets (Cboe: CBOE) provides cutting-edge trading and investment solutions to market participants around the world. The company is committed to defining markets through product innovation, leading edge technology and seamless trading solutions.

The company offers trading across a diverse range of products in multiple asset classes and geographies, including options, futures, U.S., Canadian and European equities, exchange-traded products (ETPs), global foreign exchange (FX) and volatility products based on the Cboe Volatility Index (VIX Index), recognized as the world's premier gauge of U.S. equity market volatility.

Cboe's subsidiaries include the largest options exchange and the third largest stock exchange operator in the U.S. In addition, the company operates one of the largest stock exchanges by value traded in Europe, and owns EuroCCP, a leading pan-European equities clearing house. Cboe also is a leading market globally for ETP listings and trading.

The company is headquartered in Chicago with a network of domestic and global offices across the Americas, Europe and Asia, including main hubs in New York, London, Kansas City and Amsterdam. For more information, visit www.cboe.com.

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Cboe, Cboe Volatility Index, CFE, and VIX are registered trademarks and Cboe Global MarketsSM and Cboe Futures ExchangeSM is a service mark of Cboe Exchange, Inc. Standard & Poor's, S&P, and S&P 500 are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services, LLC, and have been licensed for use by Cboe Exchange, Inc. All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners.

Any products that have the S&P Index or Indexes as their underlying interest are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Standard & Poor's or Cboe and neither Standard & Poor's nor Cboe make any representations or recommendations concerning the advisability of investing in products that have S&P indexes as their underlying interests. All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners.

Futures trading is not suitable for all investors and involves the risk of loss. That risk of loss can be substantial and can exceed the amount of money deposited for a futures position. You should, therefore, carefully consider whether futures trading is suitable for you in light of your circumstances and financial resources. You should put at risk only funds that you can afford to lose without affecting your lifestyle. For additional information regarding futures trading risks, see the Risk Disclosure Statement in Appendix A to CFTC Regulation 1.55(c).

Options involve risk and are not suitable for all market participants. Prior to buying or selling an option, a person should review the Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options (ODD), which is required to be provided to all such persons. Copies of the ODD are available from your broker or from The Options Clearing Corporation, 125 S. Franklin Street, Suite 1200, Chicago, IL 60606.

Cboe Global Markets, Inc. and its affiliates do not recommend or make any representation as to possible benefits from any securities, futures or investments, or third-party products or services. Cboe Global Markets, Inc. is not affiliated with S&P. Investors should undertake their own due diligence regarding their securities, futures and investment practices. This press release speaks only as of this date. Cboe Global Markets, Inc. disclaims any duty to update the information herein. Nothing in this announcement should be considered a solicitation to buy or an offer to sell any securities or futures in any jurisdiction where the offer or solicitation would be unlawful under the laws of such jurisdiction. Nothing contained in this communication constitutes tax, legal or investment advice. Investors must consult their tax adviser or legal counsel for advice and information concerning their particular situation.

Cboe Global Markets, Inc. and its affiliates, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, make no warranty, expressed or implied, including, without limitation, any warranties as of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, accuracy, completeness or timeliness, the results to be obtained by recipients of the products and services described herein, or as to the ability of the S&P 500 index to track the performance of its strategy, and shall not in any way be liable for any inaccuracies or errors. Cboe Global Markets, Inc. and its affiliates have not calculated, composed or determined the constituents or weightings of the securities that comprise the third-party indices referenced in this press release and shall not in any way be liable for any inaccuracies or errors in any of the indices referenced in this press release.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. You can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as "may," "might," "should," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential" or "continue," and the negative of these terms and other comparable terminology. All statements that reflect our expectations, assumptions or projections about the future other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements, which are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions about us, may include projections of our future financial performance based on our growth strategies and anticipated trends in our business. These statements are only predictions based on our current expectations and projections about future events. There are important factors that could cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.

We operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible to predict all risks and uncertainties, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements.

Some factors that could cause actual results to differ include: the impact of the novel coronavirus ("COVID-19") pandemic, including changes to trading behavior broadly in the market; the loss of our right to exclusively list and trade certain index options and futures products; economic, political and market conditions; compliance with legal and regulatory obligations; price competition and consolidation in our industry; decreases in trading or clearing volumes, market data fees or a shift in the mix of products traded on our exchanges; legislative or regulatory changes; our ability to protect our systems and communication networks from security risks, cybersecurity risks, insider threats and unauthorized disclosure of confidential information; increasing competition by foreign and domestic entities; our dependence on and exposure to risk from third parties; fluctuations to currency exchange rates; our index providers' ability to maintain the quality and integrity of their indices and to perform under our agreements; our ability to operate our business without violating the intellectual property rights of others and the costs associated with protecting our intellectual property rights; our ability to attract and retain skilled management and other personnel; our ability to minimize the risks, including our credit and default risks, associated with operating a European clearinghouse; our ability to accommodate trading and clearing volume and transaction traffic, including significant increases, without failure or degradation of performance of our systems; misconduct by those who use our markets or our products or for whom we clear transactions; challenges to our use of open source software code; our ability to meet our compliance obligations, including managing potential conflicts between our regulatory responsibilities and our for-profit status; our ability to maintain BIDS Trading as an independently managed and operated trading venue, separate from and not integrated with our registered national securities exchanges; damage to our reputation; the ability of our compliance and risk management methods to effectively monitor and manage our risks; our ability to manage our growth and strategic acquisitions or alliances effectively; restrictions imposed by our debt obligations and our ability to make payments on or refinance our debt obligations; our ability to maintain an investment grade credit rating; impairment of our goodwill, long-lived assets, investments or intangible assets; and the accuracy of our estimates and expectations. More detailed information about factors that may affect our actual results to differ may be found in our filings with the SEC, including in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 and other filings made from time to time with the SEC.

We do not undertake, and we expressly disclaim, any duty to update any forward-looking statement whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof.

SOURCE Cboe Global Markets, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.cboe.com


NORTHVILLE, Mich., June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cooper-Standard Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CPS) (the "Company") is pleased to announce the addition of Christine M. Moore to its Board of Directors (the "Board"). The Board approved the election of Moore as a director effective August 1, 2021 for an initial term that will expire at the Company's 2022 annual meeting of shareholders.

"With almost 30 years of accounting and auditing experience, Moore's proven leadership and background in internal audit and information systems will assist the Board with risk oversight and further drive sustained value for the Company," said Jeffrey S. Edwards, chairman and CEO, Cooper Standard. "We welcome her to the Board and are eager to incorporate her new perspective into our strategy going forward."

Moore currently serves as executive vice president and general auditor at Comerica Bank in Detroit, where she oversees the strategy, direction and management of internal audit and asset quality review. She is also responsible for establishing and maintaining effective communication and working relationships with external auditors, regulatory examiners, and senior and executive management. She previously held positions of increasing responsibility throughout her more than 20-year career at Comerica.

She has also served as controller at Jordan Services Inc. in Detroit from 2000 to 2004, where she established the company's accounting department. Moore began her accounting and auditing career at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Detroit in 1986.

Moore holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Marygrove College in Detroit and a Master of Business Administration degree from University of Detroit Mercy. She has participated in the Leadership at the Peak, a Center for Creative Leadership Executive Leadership Program, Inforum's Center for Women's Leadership Executive Leadership Program, as well as earned: the Certified Public Accountant (CPA); Certified Information System Auditor (CISA); Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (CAMS); and Certified Fiduciary and Investment Risk Specialist (CFIRS) designations.

Active in her local and business community, she currently serves as the chair and executive board member of the Alternative for Girls organization and is a member of the Michigan Association of CPAs, Information Systems Audit & Control Association, Institute of Internal Auditors, Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists, the Executive Leadership Council, and is the executive sponsor for Comerica's African American Network employee resource group.

About Cooper Standard

Cooper Standard, headquartered in Northville, Mich., is a leading global supplier of systems and components in diverse transportation and industrial markets. Products include sealing, fuel and brake delivery and fluid transfer systems. Cooper Standard employs approximately 25,000 people globally and operates in 21 countries around the world. For more information, please visit www.cooperstandard.com.

CPS_G

Media Contact

Chris Andrews

Cooper Standard

(248) 596- 6217

[email protected]

Analysts Contact

Roger Hendriksen

Cooper Standard

(248) 596-6465

[email protected]

SOURCE Cooper-Standard Holdings Inc.

Related Links

http://www.cooperstandard.com


MIAMI, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cinq , the North American brand of Dextra, a nearshore agile custom software development company in Brazil, today announced a partnership with Verus Technology Solutions ("Verus"), a San Francisco Bay Area-based leading IT service provider, to help healthcare providers meet the new 21st Century Cures Act requirements.

Under the partnership, Cinq and Verus will work together on select client projects to build customized digital solutions that enable providers to quickly implement interoperability standards in electronic health records (EHR) software to meet 21st Century Cures Act regulations.

The new regulations, which went into effect on April 5, 2021, require healthcare providers to make patients' medical information available to them and to enable different information systems, devices, and applications to access and transfer patient data. A recent survey of 4,000 healthcare leaders demonstrated a broad lack of awareness and readiness to comply with these rules.

"We have been working closely with Verus over the past ten years, and have completed hundreds of successful projects together," said Juan Hoyos, Chief Commercial Officer of Cinq. "While the rules around interoperability and information blocking have been in effect for more than a month, healthcare providers are still facing significant challenges complying with them. Bringing our two teams together to develop and execute new interoperability solutions can help the industry cost-effectively meet these new standards."

"Cinq brings extensive technology expertise and large numbers of skilled, agile engineers who respond quickly and effectively to enterprise-level needs," said Chris Reid, Owner of Verus Technology Solutions. "Our teams are a great fit culturally, and we're excited to take our relationship to the next level supporting companies navigating the Cures Act."

Cinq's agile software experience and nearshore convenience enables North American companies to deliver quality digital solutions faster with real-time, top-talent collaboration . Cinq has deep experience applying AI, Machine Learning, Robotic Process Automation, and other advanced technologies to complex development projects across healthcare and other industries.

About Cinq

Cinq, the North American brand of Dextra, helps companies accelerate digital business growth with nearshore agile custom software development. Cinq has almost two decades of experience working with North American companies to deliver better digital solutions and fulfill the tech talent shortage. Dextra, a South American company, has five delivery centers and more than a decade of experience applying agile methods. Visit www.cinqtechnologies.com to learn more.

Media Contacts:

Ariana Nikitas, Crystal Clear Communications

773.490.5657

[email protected]

Joe LoBello, LoBello Communications

516.902.2694

[email protected]

SOURCE Cinq Technologies

Related Links

https://www.cinqtechnologies.com/


DENVER, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Clough Capital Partners L.P. ("Clough") will host a market update conference call for the Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund (GLV), the Clough Global Equity Fund (GLQ), and the Clough Global Opportunities Fund (GLO) on Thursday, June 17th at 2:30 PM EDT. The call will feature Chuck Clough, Chairman, Co-CIO, and Portfolio Manager, along with Rob Zdunczyk, Head of Fixed Income and Portfolio Manager.

When: Thursday, June 17th, 2:30 PM EDT Where: Dial in (888) 632-3385

PW 61721

Each of the funds listed above (collectively, "the Funds" and each a "Fund") are currently conducting a one for three transferrable rights offering. The rights offering will be made pursuant to each Fund's currently effective shelf registration statement on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and only by means of a prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus. A final prospectus supplement has been filed with the SEC. Each Fund has mailed subscription certificates evidencing the subscription rights and a copy of the prospectus supplement for the rights offering.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or constitute a solicitation of an offer to buy.

An investor should consider investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. To obtain an annual report, semi-annual report or prospectus which contains this and other information visit www.cloughglobal.com or call 1-877-256-8445. Read them carefully before investing.

The Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund

The Fund is a closed-end fund with an investment objective of providing a high level of total return and current income. The Fund seeks to pursue this objective by applying a fundamental research-driven investment process and will invest in equity and equity-related securities as well as fixed income securities, including both corporate and sovereign debt, in both U.S. and non-U.S. markets. The Fund's portfolio managers are Chuck Clough and Rob Zdunczyk. As of May 31st, 2021, the Fund had approximately $166 million in total assets.

The Clough Global Equity Fund

The Fund is a closed-end fund with an investment objective of providing a high level of total return. Having a global, flexible mandate, the Fund will invest at least 80% in equity and equity-related securities in both U.S. and non-U.S. markets, and the remainder in fixed income securities, including corporate and sovereign debt, in both U.S. and non-U.S. markets. The Fund's portfolio managers are Chuck Clough and Rob Zdunczyk. As of May 31st, 2021, the Fund had approximately $367 million in total assets.

The Clough Global Opportunities Fund

The Fund is a closed-end fund with an investment objective of providing a high level of total return. The Fund seeks to achieve this objective by applying a fundamental research-driven investment process and will invest in equity and equity-related securities as well as fixed income securities, including both corporate and sovereign debt in both U.S. and non-U.S. markets. The Fund's portfolio managers are Chuck Clough and Rob Zdunczyk. As of May 31st, 2021, the Fund had approximately $720 million in total assets.

More information, including the Funds' dividend reinvestment plans, can be found at www.cloughglobal.com or by calling 877-256-8445

Clough Capital Partners L.P.

Clough Capital, a Boston-based investment advisory firm which manages approximately $2.2 billion in assets as of May 31st, 2021, serves as investment adviser to the Funds.

The Funds are closed-end funds and closed-end funds do not continuously issue shares for sale as open-end mutual funds do. Since the initial public offering, the Funds now trade in the secondary market. Investors wishing to buy or sell shares need to place orders through an intermediary or broker. The share price of a closed-end fund is based on the market's value.

Forward-looking statements are based on information that is available on the date hereof, and neither the Funds' manager nor any other person affiliated with the Funds' manager has any duty to update any forward-looking statements. Important factors that could affect actual results to differ from these statements include, among other factors, material, negative changes to the asset class and the actual composition of the portfolio.

ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc., FINRA Member Firm.

1290 Broadway, Suite 1000

Denver, CO 80203

Contact: Fund Services Group at 877-256-8445

SOURCE Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund; Clough Global Equity Fund; Clough Global Opportunities Fund

Related Links

http://www.cloughglobal.com


PLANO, Texas, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year as the nation's leading resource in advancing community healthcare, Community Hospital Corporation (CHC) has achieved and continues to play an integral role in improving the financial and operational performance of U.S. community hospitals amid a rapidly changing and increasingly complex healthcare environment.

Changing government regulations on healthcare practices, declining reimbursement rates, an ongoing trend of populations relocating from small towns to urban or suburban areas, and financial and other uncertainties due to the COVID-19 outbreak are among the factors adversely affecting hospitals' operations.

These factors have led hospitals to seek outside expertise. CHC currently owns, manages and consults with hospitals across the country, helping them improve decision-making and grow the bottom line despite challenges across the industry. CHC was created in 1996 by a group of not-for-profit and community-operated healthcare systems dedicated to the sustainability of community hospitals. Since its inception as an organization focused primarily in the Southwest, CHC has broadened its mission to become one of the nation's largest and highly trusted healthcare services firms.

Highlights of CHC's achievements include:

CHC forged its long-term relationship with community hospitals in 1998, when it aligned with Yoakum ( Texas ) Community Hospital and soon after, with Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas - Beaumont , creating a path of performance improving community and rural hospitals across the country.

( ) Community Hospital and soon after, with Baptist Hospitals of - , creating a path of performance improving community and rural hospitals across the country. CHC's growth has been driven by its highly skilled and knowledgeable leadership and staff that have substantial expertise from both for-profit and not-for-profit healthcare organizations.

CHC ContinueCARE, created in 2004, has improved operations of Long-Term Acute Care Hospitals (LTACHs), fulfilling a vital function in the care continuum. They also effectively managed patient overflow from at-capacity hospitals throughout the pandemic. CHC-owned LTACHs are predicted to represent a 12 percent gain in net revenue (consolidated) for the current fiscal year ending June 30, 2021 , compared with the prior year.

, compared with the prior year. Launched in 2005, CHC Consulting, CHC's management and consulting arm, completed the first of many Community Health Needs Assessments (CHNAs) in 2012, to help hospitals review and meet compliance and federal regulations. Since then, CHC Consulting has produced more than 100 compliant CHNAs in 16 states.

CHC has placed 60 field executives, including CEOs, CFOs and CNOs, over the past three years.

CHC Consulting recently signed a new management agreement with Rehoboth McKinley Christian Health Care Services, a Gallup, NM -based private, not-for-profit integrated delivery system.

-based private, not-for-profit integrated delivery system. CHC Supply Trust, the supply chain services arm of CHC Consulting created in 2015, recently reached a major milestone of serving 100+ hospitals by providing group purchasing organization (GPO) access, supply chain management support, and strategic insight to client hospitals.

During the pandemic, CHC experienced an increase in consulting engagements from hospitals seeking to enhance their performance. In addition, CHC Supply Trust demonstrated innovative ways to provide critical medical supplies to hospitals facing shortages during the outbreak.

CHC has helped hospitals reduce IT costs and maximize system efficiency. Examples include providing cloud-based solutions, thwarting potential security breaches, and providing technology support for hospitals requiring additional IT staff.

"CHC has steadily gained recognition for its mission in improving the performance of community hospitals. For more than two decades, our industry-leading revenue-enhancement and cost-reduction services have helped enable our clients to offer the highest-quality and most-efficient healthcare to patients and their communities," said CHC President and CEO Jim Kendrick. "Throughout our existence, our extremely talented and dedicated staff and partners have collaborated with struggling hospitals to avoid closures and overcome other industry challenges. We plan to continue offering best-in-class performance-improvement solutions to community hospitals and other healthcare providers in the years ahead."

About Community Hospital Corporation  HELP WHERE HOSPITALS NEED IT

Community Hospital Corporation owns, manages and consults with hospitals through CHC Hospitals, CHC Consulting and CHC ContinueCARE, with the purpose to guide, support and enhance the mission of community hospitals and healthcare providers. Based in Plano, Texas, CHC provides the resources and experience community hospitals need to improve quality outcomes, patient satisfaction and financial performance. For more information about CHC, please visit http://communityhospitalcorp.com

Media Contact:

Anne Block

[email protected]

972-943-6470

SOURCE Community Hospital Corporation
CHICAGO, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Copado, a leading DevOps platform powering the world's largest digital transformations, today announced a milestone release as it opens up its platform for true multi-cloud DevOps for enterprise SaaS and low-code development. The Summer 21 release delivers open connectivity to any SaaS platform, a universal CI/CD engine, and will support more than 12 clouds by the end of 2021, including SAP and Veeva.

Increasingly, Copado is being deployed by enterprises that engage their customers across multiple clouds and require DevOps automation and alignment across these disparate platforms. While DevOps has transformed the way software is delivered it has been slow to be adopted across the major SaaS platforms where most of digital transformation is happening. With Summer 21, Copado now brings the speed, quality and business value of traditional DevOps to any enterprise cloud.

Gartner forecasts that 70% of new applications developed by enterprises will use low-code or no-code technologies by 2025, up from less than 25% in 2020. Forrester says that low-code platforms help developers to build and deliver custom apps up to 10 times faster than traditional coding does. Copado is the first low-code DevOps platform to address the needs of enterprise SaaS customers who need to optimize and secure the delivery of transformation projects across large, non technical teams.

"This is a milestone event for Copado as we bring 7 years of DevOps innovation accelerating the delivery of quality of innovation on the #1 CRM platform in the world to any enterprise SaaS cloud," said Federico Larsen, CTO and co-founder of Copado. "Every customer-facing process now crosses multiple clouds and the ability to connect and orchestrate cross-cloud processes is an important value driver for our customers and partners."

2020 accelerated the digital imperative for every company and CIOs are using multiple cloud platforms to transform their businesses to meet executive expectations on speed, quality and visibility. Copado enables large digital teams to move fast, at scale, with the quality and governance required to safely connect and master a multi-cloud network.

Along with the launch of this platform, Copado is working closely with SoftBank Robotics, leveraging DevOps with robotics/automation to help optimize their clients' businesses. Both Copado and SoftBank Robotics believe that this is the right path to build effective Artificial Intelligence (AI) for enterprise.

"We teamed up with Copado to deliver robotics that make people's lives easier, safer, and more connected," said Brady Watkins, General Manager and Senior Vice President of SoftBank Robotics America. "Copado helps us accelerate and govern the digital side of our business including mission critical, shared and secure data. We're excited to continue working with Copado to help bring enterprise-grade AI to life for our partners by integrating their business and data strategies through robotics/automation and the DevOps supply chain."

With the launch of Summer 21, Copado is bringing together the largest global ecosystem of SaaS DevOps with new partnerships with industry leaders including IBM and Veeva. To date, more than 50,000 people have been certified on Copado DevOps.

Copado is redefining how to achieve success with enterprise SaaS and low-code platforms with its data-driven approach to delivering faster, higher quality releases and improving trust across customer transformation projects. Organizations that implement DevOps best practices have been shown to deploy more often, fail less often and recover faster.

Follow Copado:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/copado-solutions-s.l/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CopadoSolutions

Blog: https://www.copado.com/learning/blog/

About Copado

Copado is the leading DevOps platform enabling the world's largest digital transformations in the cloud. Backed by Insight Partners and Salesforce Ventures, Copado accelerates cloud deployments, simplifies the release process, increases developer productivity, automates security and compliance, and maximizes return on cloud investments. Copado DevOps 360 includes Value Planning, Continuous Delivery, Automated Testing, Security and Compliance. More than 1,000 companies run on Copado including Boston Scientific, Coca-Cola, Fair Trade, Linde, MassMutual, Schneider Electric and Shell. Copado processes over 50 million DevOps transactions per month and is rated with a 100% score on the Salesforce AppExchange. More information can be found at: http://www.copado.com.

SOURCE Copado

Related Links

www.copado.com


PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa., June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A U.S. clinical trial of a COVID-19 rapid test approved by an institutional review board found the Specificity of confirmed negative Covid-19 patients by RT-PCR was 100% (95% CI, 88.4%-100.0%); meaning there was 100% agreement between a negative RT-PCR and negative Clungene serological test result. There was over 90% agreement between the Clungene SARS-CoV-2 Virus IgG/IgM 15-minute rapid test and a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test in patients who tested positive for the virus after 13 days. The results suggest these tests could be an effective tool for detecting the presence of antibodies in people who have contracted the virus. The trial was conducted by Sharp Healthcare in San Diego, California, and included patients at both in- and out-patient facilities. The trial was carried out before vaccines were widely available. The peer-reviewed original research results were published in the LymphoSign Journal (https://lymphosign.com/journal/lpsn).

"These results are incredibly encouraging because they show that the CLUNGENE SARS-COV-2 VIRUS (COVID-19) IgG/IgM Rapid Test Cassette is highly effective at identifying individuals with an adaptive immune response indicating recent or prior infection as intended under the US FDA's current Emergency Use Authorization policy" said Dr. Fadi Haddad, an infectious disease expert with the Sharp Medical Community Group who helped conduct the study. "This is incredibly important at a time when millions of people remain unvaccinated and the potential for infection is still a very real concern."

"We are extremely proud of the results of the trial," said Proven CEO Scott Wise. "The trial confirms the role of tests like the Clungene SARS-CoV-2 Virus IgG/IgM 15-minute rapid test to assist health care professionals. Its simplicity and ease of use make it a useful diagnostic tool."

The Clungenea SARS-CoV-2 Virus (COVID-19) IgG/IgM Rapid Test Cassette produces results in 15 minutes. The test does not require complicated laboratory equipment to process readouts.

ABOUT PROVEN PHARMA

Established in 2012, Proven Pharma is a service provider to the healthcare and life science industries. The company offers a wide range of solutions that include specialty distribution, comparator sourcing for clinical trials, dedicated inside sales teams, marketing support, digital transformation, and technology consulting. Their solutions are informed by more than two decades of extensive experience across many areas of the healthcare landscape.

In an industry full of uncertainty, Proven Pharma provides confidence to its customers. The company delivers on-time, every time  using recognized best practice and process to ensure safety and compliance every step of the way. Proven Pharma is dedicated to constantly improving its customers' experience so those customers can improve the lives of their patients. The company's success results from the honesty, integrity and dependability of its team.

About Hangzhou Clongene Biotech

Hangzhou Clongene Biotech is a high-tech, leading manufacturer of biological raw materials and in vitro diagnostic products. The company has a solid reputation for offering diversified services and superior flexibility to professional distributors and partnering affiliates in the global market.

Founded in 2004, Hangzhou Clongene Biotech is equipped with state-of-the-art ISO 13485:2016 accredited China GMP compliant R&D and manufacturing facilities covering 19,000 square meters in Hangzhou, China. Their products have obtained CE certificates, FSC certificates, and US FDA 510(k) Clearances (FDA Registration number: 3009414546).

The CLUNGENE SARS-COV-2 VIRUS (COVID-19) IgG/IgM Rapid Test Cassette is available under the FDA EUA guidance: https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-emergency-use-authorizations-medical-devices/in-vitro-diagnostics-euas-serology-and-other-adaptive-immune-response-tests-sars-cov-2

Any use or claim other than what is stated in the Instructions For Use (IFU) is strictly prohibited. Visit www.proven.com website or call 1-855-678-7768 for more information.

Media contact:

Scott Wise

President & CEO

[email protected]

SOURCE Proven Pharma
TEL AVIV, Israel, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- CropX, the Israel-based company that produces the world's first and do-it-yourself ("DIY") farm management platform based on real-time soil data, was selected among hundreds of candidates as one of the World Economic Forum's "Technology Pioneers". CropX is an Ag-analytics company that revolutionized and automated the farm decision-making process by developing the world's first and only farm management platform based on real-time soil data measured by proprietary self-installable soil sensors.

The World Economic Forum's Technology Pioneers are early to growth-stage companies from around the world that are involved in the use of new technologies and innovation that are poised to have a significant impact on business and society.

With their selection as Technology Pioneer, CEO Tomer Tzach of CropX will be invited to participate at World Economic Forum activities, events and discussions throughout the year. CropX will also contribute to Forum initiatives over the next two years, working with global leaders to help address key industry and societal issues.

"We're excited to welcome CropX to our 2021 cohort of Technology Pioneers," says Susan Nesbitt, Head of the Global Innovators Community, World Economic Forum. "CropX and its fellow pioneers are developing technologies that can help society solve some of its most pressing issues. We look forward to their contribution to the World Economic Forum in its commitment to improving the state of the world."

"It's great to be acknowledged as pioneer by the World Economic Forum," said CropX's Tomer Tzach. "It is a confirmation our technology is among the most unique in the world and can improve the lives of many people. Our technology can help feed a growing population in the face of environmental concerns and we look forward to contributing to the Forum dialogues on this challenge."

For the first time in the community's history, over 30% of the cohort are led by women. The firms also come from regions all around the world, extending their community far beyond Silicon Valley. This year's cohort includes start-ups from 26 countries, with UAE, El Salvador, Ethiopia and Zimbabwe represented for the first time.

The diversity of these companies extends to their innovations as well. 2021 Tech Pioneer firms are shaping the future by advancing technologies such as AI, IoT, robotics, blockchain, biotechnology and many more. The full list of Technology Pioneers can be found here.

Technology Pioneers have been selected based on the community's selection criteria, which includes innovation, impact and leadership as well as the company's relevance with the World Economic Forum's Platforms.

All info on this year's Technology Pioneers can be found here: http://wef.ch/techpioneers21

More information on past winners, information on the community and the application link can be found here.

About CropX: CropX is an AgAnalytics whose vision is to revolutionize & automate the farm and the decision-making process by combining above-ground data sets with real-time soil data measured by proprietary in-house-developed soil sensors that transmit the data to a cloud-based platform, and analyzed by AI-based algorithms, to provide insights & automations via the CropX app.

Serving over 1,200 paying customers with almost 8,500 installations since its launch in 2017, CropX has demonstrated over 40% water savings across different crop types, with 10% yield increase. Backed by a world-class syndicate of strategic partners & investors and having raised over $20M in funding rounds including a recent B-round, CropX is determined to continue its global expansion, acting as the Big-Data North star for the entire global AgFood value chain.

For more information, visit https://cropx.com

About World Economic Forum: The World Economic Forum, committed to improving the state of the world, is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. (www.weforum.org).

About the Technology Pioneers:

The World Economic Forum believes that innovation is critical to the future well-being of society and to driving economic growth. Launched in 2000, the Technology Pioneer community is composed of early to growth-stage companies from around the world that are involved in the design, development and deployment of new technologies and innovations, and are poised to have a significant impact on business and society.

The World Economic Forum provides the Technology Pioneers community with a platform to engage with the public- and private-sector leaders and to contribute new solutions to overcome the current crisis and build future resiliency.

SOURCE CropX
CHANTILLY, Va., June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Corbett Technology Solutions, Inc. ("CTSI"), a portfolio company of Wind Point Partners ("Wind Point"), today announced the acquisition of Collaborative Technology Solutions, LLC ("CTS" or the "Company"), a provider of audiovisual, security and other highly engineered low-voltage solutions.

Founded in 2015, CTS designs, engineers and supports customers across a wide range of low voltage solutions. The Company's offerings include audiovisual, security infrastructure, sound masking, mass notification systems, structured cabling networks, public safety and cellular enhancement solutions.

"Our core values of excellence, reliability and integrity align perfectly with those of CTSI," said Tom Livolsi, CTS President and Partner. "We're thrilled to continue providing our customers with the excellence they've come to expect while beginning to support CTSI customers with the same care and attention we've brought to market for years."

"CTS's reputation in the industry is well established," said Joe Oliveri, CTSI President and CEO. "They're known for quality engineering and robust, attentive and individualized service. It's that commitment to customers that excites us here at CTSI; our customers are our top priority and I'm confident that existing and new customers alike will see that commitment reflected in our work."

Nathan Brown, Managing Director at Wind Point Partners, commented, "CTS is an important addition to CTSI's leading platform as we expand into the Research Triangle and Charlotte markets. Tom, Allan and the entire CTS team have built an outstanding business, and we look forward to investing behind the Company as it enters its next stage of growth."

CTS represents the third acquisition for CTSI since partnering with Wind Point in June 2020. CTSI's acquisition strategy will continue to focus on acquiring leading communication, collaboration, life-safety and security solution providers with complementary employee-focused cultures and a trusted commitment to customers.

About Collaborative Technology Solutions, LLC

CTS exists to provide well-planned proven technology solutions that support its clients' successes in business through the flow of information, communications and collaboration in a secure and safe environment. CTS designs, engineers and supports technology solutions that work at the speed of your business and beyond what you have imagined.

Additional information about CTS is available at www.cts-av.com

About CTSI

For over five decades, CTSI has been at the forefront of technology integration and innovation with critical communications, collaboration, audiovisual and security solutions for enterprise, government, healthcare and education customers. With an engineering-driven culture, we deliver best-in-class solutions and services with highly trained, lean-certified user experience practitioners, programmers, technicians, engineers and customer care representatives. CTSI delivers unmatched design, installation, integration, managed services, and subscription services that deliver high-quality, end-to-end results tailored to customers' unique needs and challenges.

Additional information about CTSI is available at www.ctsi-usa.com

About Wind Point Partners

Wind Point Partners is a Chicago-based private equity investment firm with approximately $3.5 billion in assets under management. Wind Point focuses on partnering with top caliber management teams to acquire well-positioned middle market businesses where it can establish a clear path to value creation. The firm targets investments in the consumer products, industrial products and business services sectors. Wind Point is currently investing out of Wind Point Partners IX, a $1.5 billion fund that was initiated in 2019.

Additional information about Wind Point is available at www.windpointpartners.com



Media Contact:

Alan Rosenkoff  703.633.1464, [email protected]

Connect with us: LinkedIn, Twitter or please visit CTSI-USA.COM

SOURCE CTSI

Related Links

www.ctsi-usa.com


With a strategic goal to impact, empower and elevate black business owners, Mahisha Dellinger and CURLS are passionate about educating, equipping and empowering Black business owners, and remain committed to giving back to the black community. The educational platform will have MBA style courses, seminars, workshops and mentorship from key industry leaders.

Only 4% of us will make it to millionaire status because of a lack of resources and there's something wrong with that.

"I'm excited about this initiative because it's about opening doors and building our communities. Black woman owned businesses are up over 300% but only 4% of us will make it to millionaire status because of a lack of resources and there's something wrong with that," said CURLS Founder and CEO Mahisha Dellinger. "I am starting the Black Women Making Millions Academy with the support of Beauty by Imagination because giving back is essential to who I am as a business leader, woman, wife and mother. I've had so many women reach out to me through email, DM and text asking for advice so I'm happy to be able to offer this program which will empower over 25,000 businesses  including their employees and families  and open new doors for so many. 'To whom much is given, much is expected' is a quote I strongly believe in and have always felt it's important to share what I've learned building and leading CURLS for over 19 years. I have chosen to partner with Beauty by Imagination because they wholeheartedly support my vision to bring more education and resources to black businesses."

CURLS recently announced their historic partnership with leading manufacturer and marketer Beauty by Imagination (BBI), which will bring increased awareness, product accessibility, innovation and opportunities to give back to the community while focusing on the next generation of Black women business owners.

For more information and to sign up, visit the Black Women Making Millions Academy website at: https://blackwomenmakingmillions.com.

For all media inquiries, please contact First and Last PR:

Stephanie Scott-Bradshaw

Deanna Williams

Amber Sabri

[email protected]

ABOUT CURLS

Founded in 2002 by Mahisha Dellinger, CURLS has developed into a leader in the haircare market, creating innovative natural hair care products and collections that cater to the diverse needs of curly and textured hair across all age groups. In addition to leading CURLS, Dellinger authored the memoir "Against All Odds: From the Projects to the Penthouse" and starred in "Mind Your Business with Mahisha" on the OWN network. Visit curls.biz or follow us @CURLS on Instagram.

ABOUT BEAUTY BY IMAGINATION

Beauty by Imagination ("BBI") is one of the leading manufacturers and marketers of beauty products. Based in New York, BBI develops some of the industry's most recognizable and innovative brands such as Goody, WetBrush, Bio Ionic, Ouidad, Twist, Solano and Ace. These brands promise quality and innovation to provide beautiful results to professionals and consumers alike. For more information, visit www.bbicompany.com .

SOURCE CURLS

Related Links

https://blackwomenmakingmillions.com


VANCOUVER, BC, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cybernetic Technologies Ltd (the "Company") (OTC: HPIL) announces that it has joined forces with a group led by L. Ferrox Tutinean to launch Apogee Dynamics Ltd a company that Cybernetic Technologies is a majority owner. The Company was founded for the purpose of developing a unique and disruptive battery/power source that will need utility-dependent charging only for yearly diagnostics and repairs while in use for such vehicles as Automobiles, Boats, and many other forms of transportation.

The Company quotes: "WE MANUFACTURE POWER TRAINS THAT BUILD THEIR ENERGY RESERVES WHILE IN USE INSTEAD OF PLUGGING THEM INTO A POWER OUTLET." To have Mr. Tutinean the developer of such ground-breaking technology brings an amazing background with the US Navy and Marines covering a combined 22 years, along with being employed within the USA Military industrial Complex. Mr. Tutinean furthermore worked at the Naval Weapons Laboratory, Material Science division. He was involved in the construction of the B-One Bomber. His experience and work history are vast and includes investment technology analyst. Mr. Tutinean is registered with MENSA an organization wherein only 2% of the population qualify. Mr. Tutinean will act as the President", said Stephen Brown who will act as the CEO of Apogee Dynamics Ltd.

Safe Harbor: This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (The "Act"). In particular, when used in the preceding discussion, the words "pleased," "plan," "confident that," "believe," "expect," or "intend to," and similar conditional expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Act and are subject to the safe harbor created by the Act. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties and actual results could differ materially from those expressed in any of the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, market conditions, general acceptance of the Company's products and technologies, competitive factors, the ability to successfully complete additional financings and other risks described in the Company's SEC reports and filing.

For more information:

Cybernetic Technologies Ltd

1720 650 West Georgia St

Vancouver, BC V6B 4N8

Contact: Stephen Brown, CEO

www.cybernetictech.ca

[email protected]

Ph: (778) 819-1956

SOURCE Cybernetic Technologies Ltd
Dedrone's continued participation and certification with CPNI reflects Dedrone's efficacy and performance in detecting, tracking, and identifying different drone types for its customers. Dedrone technology was evaluated to detect drones within a specific launch time, consistent and reliable tracking, timely alerts, and notifications, with DedroneTracker software showing reliable information on drone heights, speeds, and ranges.

"Dedrone is pleased to report that DedroneTracker platform has successfully met CPNI's rigorous testing standards for the second time in row," shares Amit Samani, Vice President of Enterprise Sales, Americas & UK at Dedrone. "The challenge of unwanted drones at critical infrastructure sites is complex and unique and will continually evolve as more drones come to market and as drone regulations and laws advance. CPNI has set the standard for global counter-drone technology testing, and any organization protecting against drone threats can take comfort in knowing that Dedrone's technology has successfully been evaluated, tested, and proven to deliver smart airspace security."

DedroneTracker 4.5 automatically synthesizes sensor data and provides immediate alerts of unauthorized drone activity, enabling security providers to safeguard their premises. Dedrone's software and radio frequency sensors provide detection, identification, and drone flightpaths. Additional, third-party sensors may be added to the Dedrone system, including Pan-Tilt-Zoom cameras and radar systems providing additional layers of drone information, enabling the user to visually verify the drone and its payload.

About Dedrone

Dedrone is the market leader in smart airspace security. Dedrone's counter-drone system is trusted by hundreds of commercial, government, and military customers globally to protect against unauthorized small drones. With flexibility to host on premise, in the cloud or access via Dedrone's Airspace Security-as-a-Service (ASaaS), Dedrone customers can detect, classify, locate and, where authorized, mitigate unauthorized drone threats. Established in 2014, Dedrone is headquartered in San Francisco, with operations in the Washington, D.C.-area, Columbus, Ohio, London, and Germany. For more information about Dedrone and to reach our counter-drone subject matter experts, visit dedrone.com and follow @Dedrone on Twitter, Vimeo, and LinkedIn.

SOURCE Dedrone

Related Links

http://www.dedrone.com/


ANNAPOLIS, Md., June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Deep Water Point announced the creation of an alliance partner relationship with Winning Strategies Washington (WSW) to help inform clients of activities on Capitol Hill that may have a direct impact on their business. WSW specializes in health care, defense, transportation, education, telecommunications and energy policy and funding issues and has particular expertise in the federal budget and appropriation s processes.

"We've worked with WSW over the years and find them to be outstanding. This relationship builds upon the trust and confidence our two firms have with one another. WSW will be posting legislative updates on our website for clients and others to benefit from and we will point to WSW on the occasion our clients need that kind of support. It's a win-win for everyone," said Kathleen Cowles, a Partner at Deep Water Point. For more about DWP and WSW visit: https://www.deepwaterpoint.com
A FedEx flight arrived today at Toluca International Airport near Mexico City with 1.35 million doses of Johnson & Johnson's single-dose COVID-19 vaccine. The U.S. government sent the vaccine to Mexico with support from Direct Relief, which arranged to fly the doses from the U.S. to Mexico via its longstanding relationship with FedEx.

"I am deeply grateful to Direct Relief as well as to Eddie Mendoza, Director of Direct Relief Mexico, for cold chain donations to Belize, Bolivia and Paraguay, as well as the support to bring vaccines from the United States," said Martha Delgado Peralta, Undersecretary for Multilateral Affairs and Human Rights at Mexico's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "With your help, lives are being saved!"

"We thank FedEx and Direct Relief for generously supporting the transportation of vaccines," the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City said today on Twitter.

Mexican officials have said the shots would be used along Mexico's border with the U.S. as part of an effort to fully reopen border crossings that are currently restricted to essential travel, according to the Associated Press.

Direct Relief, as a registered charity in both the U.S. and Mexico, has unique capabilities in arranging and conducting cross-border donations of cold-chain pharmaceuticals  including its commercial-grade licensing and infrastructure for pharmaceutical distribution, its ability to transport refrigerated and frozen medication safely, its customs clearance expertise, and its network of logistics and public health partnerships.

"It's a privilege for Direct Relief to join FedEx and help execute this critical provision of COVID-19 vaccine from the government of the U.S. to the government of Mexico, and we are profoundly grateful to FedEx for making it possible," said Direct Relief President and CEO Thomas Tighe. "As we move into a period when large volumes of COVID-19 vaccines are expected to be shared between countries, Direct Relief stands ready to help whenever needed."

As the U.S. provided vaccines to its southern neighbor, the government of Mexico was sharing vaccines with countries to its south. Mexico's Air Force flew 100,000 doses of the Astra Zeneca vaccine to Belize on June 12 and 150,000 doses each to Bolivia and Paraguay on Sunday. Direct Relief secured the specialized shipping containers needed to keep the vaccines from Mexico cold and arranged for the medicine to be safely packed.

Paraguay and Bolivia are experiencing the worst surges in COVID-19 infections since the pandemic began last year. On Friday, June 11, Paraguay saw 390 new cases per million people, while Bolivia reported 203 per million, vs. 46 per million in the U.S., according to ourworldindata.org. In Paraguay, less than 5% of the population has received at least one COVID-19 vaccine shot, vs. about 13% in Bolivia.

As a crucial part of the global supply chain for donated medical resources, Direct Relief is delivering COVID-19 therapies, medications, and supplies throughout the U.S., Mexico, and to more than 100 countries worldwide.

Since the pandemic began, Direct Relief has delivered more than 4,850 tons of medical aid via 38,600 humanitarian shipments, with support from FedEx and others. Contained in those shipments were more than 2,076 tons of personal protective equipment (PPE) and nearly 300 million doses of medication, including COVID-19 antibody treatments and other medications.

Direct Relief has extensive experience working with the world's largest medical manufacturers to distribute cold-chain prescription medications connected with humanitarian and emergency-response efforts. Since January 2020, Direct Relief has provided 38 million doses of temperature-sensitive medication requiring refrigerated shipping to 60 countries.

As COVID-19 remains a global threat, Direct Relief will continue providing vital medical resources such as vaccines, personal protective equipment and supplies needed for patient care, health worker safety, and addressing the pandemic's long-term effects.

About Direct Relief

A humanitarian organization committed to improving the health and lives of people affected by poverty or emergencies, Direct Relief delivers lifesaving medical resources throughout the world to communities in needwithout regard to politics, religion, or ability to pay. For more information, please visit https://www.DirectRelief.org.

SOURCE Direct Relief
CHARLOTTE, N.C., June 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Disctopia today announces the launch of a brand-new dashboard to help creators in the music industry effectively upload podcasts and music and sell merchandise in one cohesive location. This new dashboard will perform deep reporting and analytics for musicians and podcasters, all while making their creative content easily accessible through a streamlined user interface.

With the capacity for users to manage their content in new ways, this intuitive platform will help to reduce time and effort needed to promote audio content. The new dashboard will allow creatives to access a patent-pending system that accurately calculates streams and downloads based on the all-encompassing participation of the listener, known as the Disctopia "True Play" metric. Other applied metrics include total plays in a time period, geographic locations of streams and user engagement retention, alongside the basics such as daily listeners.

Creatives can explore all these metrics through the tailored dashboard to understand listener engagement and create pertinent marketing strategies.

Creatives can upload podcasts and music directly onto Disctopia's platform and then distribute further to popular streaming networks such as Spotify and Apple. This newly refurbished outlet will enable creatives in the music industry to build their individual brands via an ad-free, commission-free platform.

On the other hand, Disctopia's "explore page" makes it even easier for fans to know what their favorite artists are up to  presenting a landing page where music and podcasts are displayed when first uploaded by artists. Encouraging the delivery of various kinds of media to listeners far and wide, interested parties can access everything an artist has to offer with one single subscription, which only requires them to pay a single flat fee.

"The new dashboard is intended to improve the user experience of Disctopia creative users while better connecting them to their target audience," said Patrick Hill, the founder of Disctopia. "As the music industry moves into the next generation of listening, Disctopia aims to become a leader of the content creator economy whether it is a garage band, podcaster or even an organization."

About the company

Disctopia is a company on a mission to revolutionize the independent creators industry. We hope to build a future where fair play is the norm, fans fuel the culture, and everyone can prosper  not just record labels and corporations, but the artists and creatives themselves. Our mobile app delivers indie content from Disctopia to fans and creatives worldwide. Even if you have already purchased content from another platform, you can easily use the Disctopia app to access it all.

CONTACT

Name: Patrick Hill

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 1-704-780-4707

https://disctopia.com

Related Images

disctopia-logo.png

Disctopia Logo

SOURCE Disctopia
HAUPPAUGE, N.Y., June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- President and Founder of DKM Risk Advisors, Lisa Muroff, will be honored as a Woman of Distinction at the Virtual 6th Annual Women's Leadership Awards on June 17th. Hosted by Friends of Assemblymember Rebecca Seawright, who is a Champion and Advocate for Women in Business for the public and private sector.

Lisa joins the 2020 and 2021 awards recipients in a virtual reception Honoring Women with Power and Purpose.

Woman of Distinction: the Virtual 6th Annual Women's Leadership Awards on June 17th. Hosted by Friends of Assemblymember Rebecca Seawright Lisa Decina-Muroff, began her career in the Insurance industry in 1985 working for National and Regional companies. In 1999 she started DKM Risk Advisors as Long Island based Insurance and Risk Management Company. The cornerstone of her company is working with Women Owned and Diverse Businesses in all Verticals, through Insurance and Risk Management, helping change the way business is done in our communities for a better future.

"I am humbled and grateful to Rebecca Seawright," Lisa says, "and I would like to ask my valued clients and colleagues to share in celebrating this honor with me as a Sponsor, Co-Chair, Host, Supporter or a Friend."

Lisa Decina-Muroff, began her career in the Insurance industry in 1985 working for National and Regional companies.

In 1999 she started DKM Risk Advisors as Long Island based Insurance and Risk Management Company. The cornerstone of her company is working with Women Owned and Diverse Businesses in all Verticals, through Insurance and Risk Management, helping change the way business is done in our communities for a better future.

Her experience and commitment to excellence as well as her professional designations make her a coverage expert in the Insurance industry on New York Construction matters and Labor Law requirements.

DKM Risk Advisors is a New York State and City Certified WBE (Women Owned Business) and DBE (Disadvantaged Business Enterprise).

Mrs. Decina-Muroff has received her "CRIS", Certified Construction Risk Insurance Specialist, "CPIA" Certified Professional Insurance Agent, "CIC" Certified Insurance Counselor Designation and her Management and Advanced Leadership from Yale School of Management Professional Studies.

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Media Contact:

DKM Risk Advisors

dkminsurance.com

631.363.5200

[email protected]

SOURCE DKM Risk Advisors

Related Links

http://www.dkminsurance.com


SAN FRANCISCO, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Doximity, Inc. ("Doximity") today announced that it has launched the roadshow for its initial public offering of 23,300,000 shares of its Class A common stock. The offering consists of 19,010,750 shares of Class A common stock offered by Doximity and 4,289,250 shares of Class A common stock to be sold by an existing stockholder. Doximity will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the shares by the selling stockholder. The underwriters will have a 30-day option to purchase an additional 3,495,000 shares of Class A common stock from Doximity at the initial public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions. The initial public offering price is expected to be between $20.00 and $23.00 per share. Doximity's Class A common stock is expected to trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "DOCS."

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC are acting as joint lead book-running managers for the proposed offering. Piper Sandler & Co. and William Blair & Company, L.L.C. are acting as joint book-running managers for the proposed offering. Canaccord Genuity LLC, Needham & Company, LLC, Raymond James & Associates, Inc. and SVB Leerink LLC are acting as co-managers for the proposed offering.

The proposed offering will be made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of the preliminary prospectus relating to the proposed offering, when available, may be obtained from: Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, 180 Varick Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10014 or by email at [email protected] ; Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, 200 West Street, New York, NY 10282, by telephone at (866) 471-2526 or by email at [email protected] ; and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, by telephone at 866-803-9204 or by email at [email protected] .

A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) but has not yet become effective. These securities may not be sold, nor may offers to buy be accepted, prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

About Doximity

Founded in 2010, Doximity is the leading digital platform for U.S. medical professionals. The company's network members include over 80% of U.S. physicians across all specialties and practice areas. Doximity provides its verified clinical membership with digital tools built for medicine, enabling them to collaborate with colleagues, stay up to date with the latest medical news and research, manage their careers and conduct virtual patient visits. Doximity's mission is to help doctors be more productive so they can provide better health care for their patients.

For investors:

Perry Gold

[email protected]

For media:

Jim Rivas

[email protected]

SOURCE Doximity

Related Links

http://www.doximity.com


Market Segmentation by Application:

Based on the segmentation by application, the market generated maximum revenue in the onshore segment in 2019. The market is driven by the growth in oil and gas demand. The growth of the market will be significant over the forecast period.

Market Segmentation by Geography:

North America held the largest market share of 38% in 2019. The growth of the market in North America can be attributed to the growing demand for new-generation automated drilling rigs over the forecast period. The US is a key market for drilling rigs in the North American region.

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Major Three Drilling Rig Market Participants:

China Oilfield Services Ltd.

China Oilfield Services Ltd. owns and operates several drilling rigs for onshore and offshore drilling. For offshore applications, the company operates and manages thirty-six jack-up rigs, twelve semi-submersible rigs, six modular rigs, and five modular rigs. For onshore applications, the company operates and manages two workover rigs and three land rigs.

Helmerich & Payne Inc.

Helmerich & Payne Inc. owns and operates land drilling rigs in North America, South America, and MEA; and offshore drilling rigs in the Gulf of Mexico.

Nabors Industries Ltd.

Nabors Industries Ltd. owns and operates a drilling rig fleet for land drilling, offshore drilling, and specialty drilling applications.

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Drilling Rig Market 2020-2024: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2020-2024

Detailed information on factors that will assist drilling rig market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the drilling rig market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the drilling rig market

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of drilling rig market vendors

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Available Customization:

Along with the market data, Technavio offers customizations as per the specific needs of the companies. The following customization options are available for the drilling rig market report.

Further breakdown of the market segmentation in requested regions.

Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players, vendor segmentation, and vendor offerings

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Contact

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

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UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Report Page: https://www.technavio.com/report/drilling-rig-market-industry-analysis

SOURCE Technavio
COLUMBIA, S.C. , June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Governor Henry McMaster and the S.C. Department of Commerce today announced that E. & J. Gallo Winery (Gallo), a global wine and spirits company, will build a new state-of-the-art production facility and distribution center in Chester County to support future business growth and its long-term innovation plans. The $423 million investment will create 496 new jobs over the next eight years.

"Gallo's investment will transform Chester County and contribute greatly to South Carolina's economic prosperity. Creating a business environment in which world-class brands can grow and thrive is critical to South Carolina's long-term economic success, especially in our rural communities," said Governor Henry McMaster. "We are glad for their partnership and look forward to a long and fruitful relationship."

Providing bottling and canning capacity as well as warehousing and distribution for the company's growing portfolio of wine and spirit brands, the new South Carolina facility will allow Gallo to better meet customer demand on the East Coast, while reducing its overall carbon footprint. Given Chester County's proximity to the Port of Charleston, this new location will also serve as a hub for Gallo's import and export business.

"We could not be more appreciative of the collaboration and support shown by the state of South Carolina, the South Carolina Department of Commerce, and those in Chester County along with all of the public and private entities who have embraced this project throughout the planning process and have welcomed us to the community," said Gallo CEO, Ernest J. Gallo.

Construction on the new facility is set to begin almost immediately, with the first phase of the project on track to be completed in October of 2022. Gallo is working closely with readySC to prepare for hiring and various workforce training needs. Individuals interested in joining the Gallo team should visit www.gallocareers.com/southcarolina for more information.

The Coordinating Council for Economic Development has approved job development credits related to this project. A $16 million Rural Infrastructure Fund grant was also awarded to Chester County to assist with costs of the project.

Last month, the S.C. Department of Commerce went before the Joint Bond Review Committee and the State Fiscal Accountability Authority and received authorization for $8 million in bonds to offset costs of off-site mitigation under the Economic Development Bond Act.

QUOTES

"Cheers to E. & J. Gallo Winery on today's big announcement that the company is establishing operations in South Carolina. We often say economic development is a team sport in S.C., and this project demonstrates the true collaboration on the local and state levels and beyond. Gallo's $423 million investment and the 496 new jobs in Chester County will transform the region. We take pride in our state's business-friendly environment, and we welcome Gallo to our roster of world-class companies within our borders." -Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt

"We are delighted that E. & J. Gallo selected Chester County as the home for their new East Coast operation. This is a project of regional significance, and Gallo selected us after an extensive search by J.M. Mullis Inc. They determined that our strong manufacturing base and proximity to talent were the key determining factors. Chester County is in a great strategic location along the I-77 corridor between two metros: Charlotte and Columbia. We are honored to have this company locate in Chester County." -Chester County Council Chair Dr. Wylie Frederick

"E. & J. Gallo Winery is a first-rate, world-class, family-owned company. The city of Lancaster is thrilled to partner with E. & J. Gallo Winery and our across-the-river neighbors to bring good jobs, fine wines and spirits and economic vitality to our region." -City of Lancaster Mayor Alston DeVenny

"The town of Fort Lawn is very excited that E. & J. Gallo Winery has chosen our area for this expansion of their operations. We are looking forward to working with them as they continue to grow and develop this distribution network. Gallo's rich family history and sense of community are just what we need here in Fort Lawn and Chester County. E. & J. Gallo Winery has shown that they are a great neighbor and supporter of their community, and they are making a substantial investment and commitment that will benefit Fort Lawn and the surrounding region. We are confident this will help attract other companies to join in what is sure to be great things for the Fort Lawn community." -Town of Fort Lawn Mayor Carlton Martin

"South Carolina Ports is thrilled to be an integral part of E. & J. Gallo Winery's global supply chain. This family-owned, California-based company has seen sustainable growth with both wine and spirits. Gallo's $423 million investment to open a wine bottling and distribution plant in Chester County relies on the ability to import through the Port of Charleston. SC Ports' efficient operations and reliable service meet the needs of this global wine industry leader." -SC Ports President and CEO Jim Newsome



"The proposition of the I-77 region as an ideal location for corporate investment is truly validated when E. & J. Gallo, the nation's largest winemaker, selects it for their East Coast operations hub. Distribution will be a priority component of this expansion and fortunately the I-77 region is within a single day's truck drive of 42% of the U.S. market, including five of the 10 fastest-growing U.S. metro areas. This location, coupled with the region's tremendous transportation infrastructure and South Carolina's pro-business climate, creates a truly compelling opportunity for a company's sustainable growth." -I-77 Alliance Interim President and CEO Christopher Finn

"The Lancaster & Chester Railroad (L&C) is thrilled to partner with E. & J. Gallo Winery, supporting the continued growth of their impressive wine and spirits business. Knowing the selection criteria for this project required access to both Class I rail networks and excellent daily service, we were pleased to help them locate a great site. Celebrating its 125-year anniversary, L&C is honored that E. & J. Gallo Winery has chosen Chester County for this generational investment. As part of the Gulf & Ohio Railways family of short lines, L&C welcomes E. & J. Gallo Winery to one of the best economic development regions on the East Coast." -Gulf & Ohio Railways Chief Business Development Officer Matt Gedney

"Duke Energy is happy to have played a pivotal role in helping E. & J. Gallo Winery understand everything Chester County and South Carolina have to offer. For more than a century, Duke Energy has powered the state and its economy through significant business recruitment and retention efforts, and we look forward to serving our new neighbors in Fort Lawn for many years to come." -Duke Energy South Carolina President Mike Callahan

About S.C. Department of Commerce

As South Carolina's leading economic development agency, the Department of Commerce works to recruit new businesses and help existing business grow. S.C. Commerce has recruited world-class companies to South Carolina such as BMW, Boeing, Continental, Giti Tire, LPL Financial Holdings, Mercedes-Benz Vans, Samsung, Toray and Volvo Cars and also supports startups, small and existing business, innovation and rural development initiatives. S.C. Commerce partners with the S.C. Technical College System via readySC to support workforce training and recruiting, and with the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce, which provides worker training and employment opportunities within the state. With a strong international footprint, the Palmetto State has consistently been among the top in the nation for attracting jobs through foreign direct investment on a per capita basis  recognized by multiple economic development publications for its pro-business climate. For more information, visit www.SCcommerce.com.

About E. & J. Gallo Winery

Founded in 1933 by brothers Ernest and Julio Gallo, E. & J. Gallo Winery is a family-owned company and global wine and spirits industry leader. The hallmark of E. & J. Gallo Winery is their lasting commitment to sustainability and quality, and consistently providing wine and spirits for every occasion. Gallo's range of offerings includes Apothic, Barefoot Wine, Black Box, J Vineyards and Winery, La Marca Prosecco, Orin Swift, New Amsterdam Vodka, RumChata, High Noon, along with partnerships with esteemed family-owned brands such as Allegrini, Argiano, The Dalmore, Diplomatico, Don Fulano, and Gruppo Montenegro.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Alex Clark, CMP

Director of Marketing & Communications

South Carolina Department of Commerce

(803) 737-1998

[email protected]

www.SCcommerce.com

E. & J. GALLO WINERY MEDIA CONTACT:

Natalie Henderson

(209) 341-6479

[email protected]

SOURCE E. & J. Gallo Winery

Related Links

https://www.gallo.com/


Based on the price, Eastroc Beverage's market value rose to a new high of 76.04 billion yuan (approx. US$11.8 billion). For investors who had won the right to purchase at the IPO price of 46.27 yuan (approx. US$7), the allotment that they were able to acquire yielded a profit of 140,000 yuan (approx. US$21,000), an unusually high return on investment. At the same time, the turnover rate is very low, indicating that investors are reluctant to sell their shares.

Early investors have done very well. Since inception, the company received 357 million yuan (approx. US$53.6 million) in strategic investment from Harvest Capital in June 2017. At the same time, Alan Song (also known by his Chinese name Song Xiangqian), founder and chairperson of Harvest Capital, also served as a director of the investment firm.

Mr. Song, on many occasions, has spoken highly of the firm's main product: "Eastroc Vitamin Functional Beverage was able to establish a position in the market quite rapidly, with a growth rate higher than many peers, something which is quite rare in the market today."

Eastroc Beverage's largest shareholder pre-IPO is its chairperson, Lin Muqin, who holds a 55.27% interest, while the second largest shareholder, Junzheng Investment (on behalf of Harvest Capital), has 10%. Harvest Capital is the only strategic investment institution besides the Lin Muqin family.

Following the listing, Harvest Capital holds 36 million shares, some 9% of all shares issued and outstanding. Based on the June 11 closing price, Harvest Capital's share value topped 6.843 billion yuan (approx. US$1.03 billion), representing a 19-fold jump in floating book profit over a four year period, equivalent to an increase of more than 6 billion yuan (approx. US$902 million) in value.

The continued rise in stock price and market value is inseparable from the strong results achieved by the company. Eastroc Beverage achieved revenue of 3.037 billion yuan (approx. US$457 million), 4.208 billion yuan (approx. US$631 million) and 4.959 billion yuan (approx. US$745 million), respectively in 2018, 2019 and 2020, maintaining steady growth throughout.

In Mr. Song's opinion, the listing is just a beginning for Eastroc Beverage, the numbers 10 billion and 100 billion acting simply as benchmarks to remind company executives to constantly challenge themselves.

There is a Chinese idiom, xing xing xiang xi, which means that people with the same personality, interests, and circumstances love, sympathize, and support each other. Mr. Lin, the chairperson, revealed previously that he is a strong believer in this concept, and, on its basis, has rejected dozens of investment requests from external investors, and finally chose Harvest Capital who has brought in not only ordinary investors who supply the funds, but like-minded and vision matching business partners.

Once Harvest Capital became an investor, they provided much assistance to Eastroc Beverage. For example, their executives' rich experience and well-developed relationship networks were key drivers in arranging the strategic cooperation between Eastroc Beverage and China's leading retailer Chacha Food. Harvest Capital also assisted Eastroc in getting Eastroc Jiaqi, a new energy drink, placed in the 300,000 convenience stores of Meiyijia, a leading Chinese convenience store network.

Eastroc's core mission is to reach more consumers and make a single product a sustainable hot item. According to data released by Euromonitor International, among all categories, energy drinks maintained a high compound sales growth rate of 15.02% between 2014 and 2019.

In addition to Eastroc Beverage, Harvest Capital has also been a key investor in many food producers, including Babi Food, Chacha Food, Xiao Guan Tea, Shanghai Laiyifen and Jiajia Soy Sauce. Among them, shares for Chacha Food, Shanghai Laiyifen, Jiajia Food Group (Jiajia Soy Sauce), Babi Food (Babi Steamed Bread) and Aimer, and investment outside of the food sector, have performed well in China's A share market.

Overall, the firms that Harvest Capital has chosen to invest in have withstood the test of the market. Over time, most of the chosen firms have long been the leaders in their respective industry segments as a result of having followed the law of market development. This has allowed Harvest Capital to gain a reputation in China as an ideal partner for the country's leading firms.

Song had earlier said that as Chinese manufacturers continue to grow and expand, it behooves the country's private equity sector to provide value-added services, including empowering the enterprise from the inside through value chain restructuring and finding untapped value in existing resources while, from the outside, through value realization.

"Only in this way, can we serve big companies," Song further explained. "The philosophy that Harvest Capital adheres to is to invest in leaders in different industries. Our goal is to invest in local leaders by benchmarking the world leader in each sector." Harvest Capital is now putting that philosophy into practice.

SOURCE Harvest Capital
ST. LOUIS, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- On the one-year anniversary of Edward Jones issuing its Five-point Commitment to address racism and positively impact opportunities for people of color, the financial-services firm today announced its diverse representation goals for 2025, along with an update and progress on previously set commitments.

In 2020, Edward Jones committed to a meaningful increase in the diversity of its home office leaders and financial advisors. Currently, 8% of the firm's financial advisors are people of color and 21% are women. Within its home office senior leadership roles, 9% are people of color and 30% are women.

Having now defined what and by when the firm will strive to achieve greater diversity among financial advisors and home office leadership, the firm has committed to the following human capital aspirations by the end of 2025:

20% people of color and gender parity among leaders in the firm's U.S. headquarters

15% people of color and 40% women among U.S. home office general partners

15% people of color and 30% women among U.S. financial advisors

"We are holding ourselves and each other accountable for meaningful progress in addressing racism and creating opportunities for people of color and women in our workplaces and our communities," said Edward Jones Managing Partner Penny Pennington. "In sharing our goals and reporting our progress thus far, we recognize the importance of listening, learning, taking responsibility and acting in accordance with our purpose to partner for positive impact to improve the lives of our clients and colleagues, and together, better our communities and society. We realize that there's still a lot of work to be done, but it is work that we're willing to do  to become an ever-better version of ourselves, in service to current and future generations."

In addition, Edward Jones has committed to raising awareness of the issues of racism and creating a path to greater diversity and equity as well as economic opportunity for people of color in the community. The firm believes that it can make meaningful, positive systems-change toward inclusive growth for even more associates and community members in the years to come. In the spirit of transparency and accountability, the firm provided an update on its Five-point Commitment, including:

POINT ONE: Giving everyone a voice. As one of the first signatories of the CEO Action for Diversity pledge in 2017, which aims to rally the business community to advance diversity and inclusion within workplaces, Edward Jones committed to engage associates in honest dialogue as a tool to create change. To date, the firm has hosted hundreds of sessions for our associates on topics like deepening the conversation on race, as well as focus months such as Hispanic Heritage, Disability Awareness and Honoring Our Veterans. Since June 2020, more than 11,500 associates have participated in Courageous Conversations to build understanding and create empathy among colleagues. Edward Jones has taken these conversations into the business community as well, partnering with the American Business Journals to host Community Courageous Conversations in Kansas City, Raleigh-Durham and St. Louis.





POINT TWO: Continuing the focus on equitable hiring, training, promotional practices and policies, including specificity around diverse representation goals within the firm's U.S. home office leadership team and financial advisors. By the end of 2025, the firm has committed to the following human capital aspirations:

20% people of color and gender parity among leaders in the firm's U.S. headquarters

15% people of color and 40% women among U.S. home office general partners

15% people of color and 30% women among U.S. financial advisors

POINT THREE: Conducting an analysis of pay. Committed to equal pay for equal work, Edward Jones is currently conducting an analysis of pay in our home offices in the U.S. to assess how associates are compensated. The firm will share results and take any necessary actions when the data is available.

POINT FOUR: Continuing racial-equity training and anti-racism personnel policies.

Edward Jones, which has been on the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For list for 22 years, seeks to create an even more inclusive workplace culture. In 2020, the firm enhanced its learning program, Inclusion and Diversity 365, to provide training and development opportunities for all colleagues. Hosted in collaboration with our Business Resource Groups (BRGs), I&D 365 highlights a specific dimension of diversity each month (i.e., Black History, Women's History, Native American/Indigenous Peoples, etc.) through focused resources offering experiences that will build understanding and skills to create a more diverse, equitable and inclusive society. I&D 365 is supplemented by a strengthened array of racial-equity, unconscious bias and allyship courses, and all colleagues are encouraged to take at least one every year.

POINT FIVE: Supporting organizations and programs important to our clients, colleagues and communities. In 2020, Edward Jones committed $1.2 million to continue fostering our 40-year partnership with the National Urban League and St. Louis Urban League. Investments in the Save our Sons program helped 300 African American men find jobs and careers lost during the pandemic. Edward Jones is helping to make it possible for the St. Louis Urban League to offer skill building and job placement services, and to provide a professional look for interviews, all at the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis' new headquarters in north city. In 2021, Edward Jones financial advisors will provide financial education to Urban League clients at that location.

Edward Jones has also expanded its Financial Fitness program for 2021 committing to provide financial literacy education and greater economic inclusion for 20,000 high school students in 575 schools, more than half of which are high-need city schools.

"I want there to be no question about whether our firm is doing enough to positively impact opportunities for people of color," continued Pennington. "Our commitment to inclusion and diversity transcends platitudes and promises. We know that progress depends on the hard work and everyday actions all of us take as we work together toward a more diverse, inclusive and equitable firm, and society."

The firm's complete Five-point Commitment is available here.

About Edward Jones

Edward Jones, a FORTUNE 500 firm headquartered in St. Louis, provides financial services in the U.S. and, through its affiliate, in Canada. Every aspect of the firm's business, from the investments its financial advisors offer to the location of its branch offices caters to individual investors. The firm's nearly 19,000 financial advisors serve more than 7 million clients with a total of $1.6 trillion in assets under care. The Edward Jones website is www.edwardjones.com, and its recruiting Web site is www.careers.edwardjones.com. Member SIPC.

"From FORTUNE  2021 Fortune Media IP Limited. All rights reserved. Used under license. FORTUNE and FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For are registered trademarks of Fortune Media IP Limited and are used under license. FORTUNE and Fortune Media IP Limited are not affiliated with, and do not endorse the products or services of, Edward Jones & Co., L.P."

SOURCE Edward Jones

Related Links

www.edwardjones.com


PARIS, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Eligo Bioscience SA, a Paris, France-based microbiome engineering company, today announced that the Company presented preclinical data on its lead drug candidate, EB003, for the treatment of severe diarrhea induced by shiga-toxin (Stx) producing E. coli (STEC, leading to Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome), at the 14th Annual CRISPR 2021 meeting held June 1-10, 2021. The data presented further supports development of CRISPR-Cas antimicrobial strategies against STEC and other microbiome bacterial targets utilizing Eligo's proprietary Eligobiotics platform. Eligo's proprietary technology is protected by over 20 patent families, including the 2013 foundational IP on CRISPR antimicrobials. EB003 has been granted Orphan Drug Designation by the EMA.

"The data presented virtually this year at the CRISPR meeting continues to support the potential of our lead candidate EB003 and the use of the Eligobiotics platform to modulate bacterial populations of the microbiome with unprecedented precision," said Xavier Duportet, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Eligo Bioscience. "EB003 demonstrated efficacy across multiple in vitro and in vivo models. Moreover, we observed significantly reduced STEC colonization and alleviated symptoms in 100% of treated animals in a disease model representative of the intended patient population. We are very excited about these findings, how they support progression of EB003, and the clear demonstration of effective application of our proprietary platform."

Dr. Duportet continued, "This is indeed the first time that symptom alleviation has been achieved via the delivery of exogenous nuclease in a gut infection model, building on the foundational invention of this technology. Even more exciting is the fact that bacterial killing is solely achieved by the nuclease activity as opposed to the lytic cycle of the phage, therefore enabling a true modulation at the strain level based on the sole presence of a deleterious gene in bacteria. We are looking forward to advancing EB003 into the clinic next year."

The virtual presentation describes efficacy data in in vitro collections of epidemiologically relevant STEC strains, and in two animal models. Efficiency was first demonstrated in vitro on a collection of epidemiology relevant STEC strains where EB003 was able to efficiently kill E. coli strains harboring Stx genes. The EB003 CRISPR-based killing mechanism also abolished Shiga-toxin production, compared to antibiotic treatment, which can on the contrary lead to Shiga-toxin overproduction. Additionally, EB003 was able to reduce STEC colonization by multiple orders of magnitude in both a mouse gut colonization model and an infant rabbit disease model. In the latter model that recapitulates STEC infection associated symptoms, treatment with EB003 demonstrated statistically significant symptom alleviation.

The results provide strong support for further development of the company's CRISPR-Cas antimicrobial strategy and Eligobiotics platform. Eligo is planning to initiate its first clinical trial for EB003 for the treatment of STEC in the second quarter of 2022.

About EB003

EB003, Eligo's lead drug candidate, was developed using the Company's proprietary Sequence-Specific Anti-Microbials (SSAM) platform. SSAM relies on the delivery of a non-replicative DNA payload encoding an exogenous Cas nuclease, guided towards specific genomic sequences. This modality leads to targeted lethal DNA double strand-breaks only if such sequences are present in the bacterial genome. This strategy enables precise engineering of the microbiome by killing only the strains harboring genomic sequences targeted by the nuclease. EB003 is being developed for the treatment of severe diarrhea induced by shiga-toxin (Stx) producing E. coli (STEC, leading to Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome) and is expected to enter Phase 1 in the second quarter of 2022. EB003 has been granted Orphan Drug Designation by the EMA.

About Eligobiotics

Eligobiotics is a first in class microbiome gene therapy that can change the microbiome composition and function with unprecedented precision. Eligobiotics can be designed, built, and optimized to target the microbiome species of choice with the automated proprietary platform that leverages Eligo's unique expertise in synthetic biology, phage biology, genetic engineering, and bioinformatics. Eligobiotics can be used to precisely and selectively remove unwanted bacterial strains carrying deleterious genes while leaving beneficial bacterial strains intact through the targeted delivery of a payload encoding an RNA-guided CRISPR-Cas nuclease. Alternatively, Eligobiotics can deliver to target bacteria the necessary genetic instructions to produce, display or secrete therapeutic proteins of interest in close proximity to the host's cells. Eligo is utilizing its Eligobiotics platform to build a pipeline of drug candidates in inflammation, autoimmunity, and oncology.

About Eligo Bioscience

Eligo Bioscience is the world leader in microbiome gene therapy to address microbiome-associated diseases. Eligo was founded by scientists from The Rockefeller University, where CRISPR-based antimicrobials were invented, and by scientists from MIT. Eligo was named a Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum in 2017. With venture capital funding from Khosla Ventures and Seventure Partners, and non-dilutive funding from the GlaxoSmithKline, European Commission, CARB-X, and Bpifrance, Eligo has built an extensive pipeline of drug candidates using its Eligobiotics platform.

Through its novel technology platform and robust intellectual property positions, Eligo is poised to be a catalyst for the growth anticipated across the microbiome-associated diseases industry.

For more information about Eligo visit https://www.eligo.bio/ .

Follow us at https://www.twitter.com/EligoBio and https://www.linkedin.com/company/eligo-bio .

Eligo Contact:

Argot Partners

Kevin Murphy / Troy Neubecker

[email protected]

+1-212-600-1902

SOURCE Eligo Bioscience SA
BOSTON, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Enel X, the Enel Group's advanced energy services business line, was awarded the delivery of 2,900 MW for the 2022-2023 delivery period following the completion of the latest capacity auction, or Base Residual Auction (BRA), held by PJM, the largest grid operator in North America. Enel X's award is comprised largely of distributed energy resources that will accelerate the transition to a cleaner, more affordable, and more resilient electric grid.

"After a three-year postponement, this auction is significant because it shows continued momentum for the transition to clean energy resources," said Surya Panditi, Head of Enel X North America. "The award bolsters our steadfast commitment to our customers in the mid-Atlantic region and continued innovation in delivering sustainable energy solutions that generate economic value. We're empowering more companies to reap the many benefits of proactive energy management while providing essential grid stability and enabling lower electricity costs for ratepayers."

A significant majority of Enel X demand response customers in PJM have different nominations between summer and winter seasons. Enel X, leveraging its large and diverse customer portfolio, is pairing customers with excess summer capability with customers with excess winter capability to maximize revenue streams.

Enel X pioneered demand response in the US and offers no-risk and no-cost revenue opportunities for commercial and industrial clients, such as hospitals, universities and manufacturing facilities, to receive payments in exchange for reducing demand on the grid. In recent years, it has expanded its portfolio to include resources that push power to the grid. As a result, participating companies save on overhead costs, create new revenue streams and ultimately operate with more confidence and efficiency.

The 2022-2023 auction cleared an overall total of 144,477 MW of capacity resources at a clearing price of $50/MW-day. This represents a 64% decrease from the price cleared at the previous PJM capacity auction for the 2021-2022 delivery year, which was held in May 2018. The clearing price for this year's 2022-2023 capacity auction was lower than the previous 2021-2022 delivery period auction which benefits all ratepayers with lower energy costs.

Through the award, Enel X will continue to manage electricity demand from customers connected to the PJM Interconnection transmission grid, informing companies when the network needs them to reduce their power consumption, while providing enhanced grid flexibility and stability. PJM serves more than 65 million customers in 13 states across the mid-Atlantic region, including Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

Enel X holds the leading position in demand response globally, with over 6 GW of capacity managed in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Oceania.

About Enel X

Enel X is Enel Group's global business line offering services that accelerate innovation and drive the energy transition. A global leader in the advanced energy solution sector, Enel X manages services such as demand response for around 6 GW of total capacity at global level and around 100 MW of storage capacity installed worldwide, as well as 195,000 electric vehicle charging points made available around the globe1. Through its advanced solutions, including energy management, financial services and electric mobility, Enel X provides each partner with an intuitive, personalized ecosystem of tech platforms and consulting services, focusing on sustainability and circular economy principles in order to provide people, communities, institutions and companies with an alternative model that respects the environment and integrates technological innovation into daily life. Each solution has the power to turn decarbonization, electrification and digitalization goals into sustainable actions for everyone, in order to build a more sustainable and efficient world together.

1Public and private charging points. It includes interoperability points.

In North America, Enel X has around 4,500 business customers, spanning more than 35,000 sites and representing approximately $10.5B in energy spend under management. Enel X North America has approximately 4.7 GW of demand response capacity, over 70 battery storage projects that are operational and under contract, and more than 70,000 smart EV charging stations. Enel X advises large energy users on energy procurement, sustainability, and risk management, and has completed 65,000 energy procurement events including 3,000 MW of long-term renewable energy contracts. The company's intelligent DER Optimization Software is designed to analyze real-time energy and utility bill data, improve performance, and manage distributed energy assets across a number of different value streams and applications. JuiceNet, Enel X's smart EV charging platform, delivers energy services to utilities, businesses, drivers and automotive manufacturers.

Media Contact:

Enel X North America

Krista Barnaby

T +1 978 965 0062

[email protected]

enelx.com

SOURCE Enel X North America
The joint initiative has identified 18 ready-to-build projects across 10 Brazilian states. Each project involves building a solar power plant to supply energy to local commercial and industrial customers as well as large global corporations with operations in Brazil. It has a dual effect of improving secure, localised access to clean energy and helping to lower energy prices.

Mike Silvestrini, Energea's managing partner, said: "Brazil is one of the most exciting markets in the world when it comes to renewable power and we are proud to have the backing of the expert team at GSEO to further develop distributed power generation across the country. Right now, Brazil has the perfect combination of supportive policy, strong energy economics, foreign exchange, and customer adoption, marking it a prime opportunity for investors looking for attractive returns on investment while helping to slow down climate change."

Eduardo Monteiro, co-chief investment officer of Victory Hill Capital Advisors LLP ("Victory Hill"), investment advisor to GSEO, added: "As promised to investors, this funding commitment marks the beginning of a very exciting journey for the company in Brazil, where we can support real and lasting improvements in the country's energy infrastructure. Brazil is experiencing rapid growth in its energy sector and there is significant potential for investors with the right expertise to help contribute to the country's growth with cleaner and reliable sources of power."

Notes to editors

*The ten states targeted by GSEO for distributed power generation projects: Sao Paulo; Rio de Janeiro; Minas Gerais; Para, Piaui; Rio Grande do Norte; Mato Grosso do Sul; Bahia; Sergipe; and Paraiba.

Distributed power generation: Distributed generation refers to the use of technology such as solar panels to generate electricity close to where it will be used. It can serve either a single home or business, or form part of a 'microgrid' tied into a larger electricity network which can be used to serve multiple homes and businesses. Distributed generation can help support delivery of clean, reliable power to additional customers and reduce electricity losses along transmission and distribution lines and help lower energy prices.

About Energea

Energea is a renewable energy portfolio manager that connects investors to premium projects in select global markets. The company manages capital from individual, corporate and institutional investors. Energea currently has over 70 megawatts of projects under construction across three continents. Over the last 15 years, Energea's experienced team has managed more than a billion dollars of solar energy projects.

The company has developed an online investment platform that makes investing in renewable energy accessible to any U.S. investor, unlocking a crucial source of capital to combat climate change.

To learn more visit https://www.energea.com

About Victory Hill Capital Group LLP

Victory Hill Capital Advisers LLP is the investment-focused subsidiary of Victory Hill Capital Group LLP

Victory Hill is based in London and was founded in May 2020 by an experienced team of energy financiers that spun-out of a large established global project finance banking group. The team have an established track record built over five years while working together in their previous roles and participating in more than $37.1 billion in sustainable energy project transaction values, generating more than 24.2 per cent equity returns. In addition, the team has also participated in more than $200 billion in transaction values across 91 conventional and renewable energy-related transactions in more than 30 jurisdictions worldwide, throughout their individual careers. The average experience per individual is 21 years of relevant energy finance experience. Victory Hill Capital Advisors LLP is the Investment entity of the Victory Hill group.

VHCA is a signatory of the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investing (UN PRI), the United Nations Global Compact (UN GC) and is a formal supporter of the Financial Stability Board's Task-Force on Climate-related Disclosures (TFCD).

SOURCE Energea

Related Links

https://www.energea.com


CINCINNATI, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Prosource, the region's leading business technology solutions provider, has been awarded a Top Workplaces 2021 honor by Enquirer Media. The list is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by employee engagement technology partner Energage LLC. The anonymous survey uniquely measures 15 culture drivers that are critical to the success of any organization, including alignment, execution, and connection, just to name a few.

"During this very challenging time, Top Workplaces has proven to be a beacon of light for organizations, as well as a sign of resiliency and strong business performance," said Eric Rubino, Energage CEO. "When you give your employees a voice, you come together to navigate challenges and shape your path forward. Top Workplaces draw on real-time insights into what works best for their organization, so they can make informed decisions that have a positive impact on their people and their business."

"Amid the adversity of the past year, I have been so proud of the adaptability, spirit, and grit of this company and team," said Brad Cates, President & CEO of Prosource. "To again be named a Top Workplace is a testament to our team's commitment to our customers and to one another, no matter the circumstances. I have always said that our people and the culture we have built are what make Prosource special, and it is because of them that we emerge from these times an even stronger organization."

ABOUT PROSOURCE

As a trusted technology partner, Prosource helps businesses of all sizes optimize processes, reduce costs, and enhance their bottom linesall with an unmatched customer experience. From managed IT, cybersecurity, enterprise content management, and digital transformation solutions to top-tier office and production equipment and managed print services, Prosource delivers powerful, secure solutions to help organizations leverage technology for strategic advantage.

With offices in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and West Virginia providing a depth and breadth of expertise, products, and services throughout the Midwest, Prosource offers personal service and support while leading the way in the region in business technology. For more information, visit www.totalprosource.com.

ABOUT ENERGAGE

Energage is a purpose-driven company that helps organizations turn employee feedback into useful business intelligence and credible employer recognition through Top Workplaces. Built on 14 years of culture research and the results from 23 million employees surveyed across more than 70,000 organizations, Energage delivers the most accurate competitive benchmark available. With access to a unique combination of patented analytic tools and expert guidance, Energage customers lead the competition with an engaged workforce and an opportunity to gain recognition for their people-first approach to culture. For more information, visit energage.com .

Prosource

Amy Mersch

[email protected]

513.769.0606 ext.1213

www.totalprosource.com

SOURCE Prosource
Mr. Stephen Scott, Entree's President and CEO comments, "We are pleased to report updated information that aligns Entree's disclosure with that of other Oyu Tolgoi project stakeholders on development of the first lift of the underground mine. Even more exciting is that, based on OTLLC's 2020 Oyu Tolgoi Feasibility Study, first Lift 1 development production on the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property is expected to commence in 2022. What has historically seemed like a long way out is very fast becoming a reality. Coincident with receiving first development production, Entree will retain 10% of the available cash flow from the sale of its share of production until its share of joint venture costs is repaid in accordance with the terms of the Joint Venture Agreement**. We are also looking forward to completion of Panel 1 optimization studies currently underway that have potential to further improve Lift 1 economics for the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV."

The updated Feasibility Study (the "2021 Reserve Case") is based on mineral reserves attributable to the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV from the first lift ("Lift 1") of the Hugo North Extension deposit. Lift 1 of Hugo North (including Hugo North Extension) is currently in development by project operator Rio Tinto as an underground block cave with first development production from Hugo North Extension expected in 2022. By 2030, Oyu Tolgoi is expected to be the fourth largest copper mine in the world. The 2021 Reserve Case aligns the Company's disclosure with that of Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd. ("Turquoise Hill Resources") with respect to OTLLC's 2020 Oyu Tolgoi Feasibility Study ("OTFS20") completed on Hugo North (including Hugo North Extension) Lift 1 (see Turquoise Hill Resources' press release dated July 2, 2020).

Entree is also reporting the results of a Preliminary Economic Assessment ("2021 PEA") on a conceptual second lift ("Lift 2") of the Hugo North Extension deposit. The 2021 PEA is based on Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resources from Lift 2, as the second potential phase of development and mining on the Hugo North Extension deposit. Lift 2 is directly below Lift 1 (see Figure 2 below). There is no overlap in the Mineral Reserves from the 2021 Reserve Case and the Mineral Resources from the 2021 PEA. Development and capital decisions will be required for the eventual development of Lift 2 once production commences at Hugo North Extension Lift 1.

LOM highlights of the production and financial results from the 2021 Reserve Case and the 2021 PEA are summarized in Table 1.

Table 1. Summary LOM Production and Financial Results  Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property

Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property Units 2021 Reserve Case 2021 PEA Attributable Financial Results





Cash Flow, pre-tax US$M 381 1,982 NPV(5%), after-tax US$M 160 541 NPV(8%), after-tax US$M 114 306 NPV(10%), after-tax US$M 91 213







LOM Recovered Metal





Copper Recovered Mlb 1,249 4,564 Gold Recovered koz 549 2,025 Silver Recovered koz 3,836 15,067







LOM Processed Material





Probable Reserve Feed

40 Mt @ 1.53% Cu, 0.53 g/t

Au, 3.6 g/t Ag ---- Indicated Resource Feed

---- 77.9 Mt @ 1.35% Cu, 0.49 g/t

Au, 3.6 g/t Ag (1.64% CuEq) Inferred Resource Feed

---- 87.8 Mt @ 1.35% Cu, 0.49 g/t

Au, 3.6 g/t Ag (1.64% CuEq)

Notes: Long term metal prices used in the net present value ("NPV") economic analyses for the 2021 Reserve Case and the 2021 PEA are: copper $3.25/lb, gold $1,591.00/oz, silver $21.08/oz.

Mineral Reserves in the 2021 Reserve Case, and Mineral Resources in the 2021 PEA mine plan are reported on a 100% basis.

Entree has a 20% interest in the above processed material and recovered metal.

The Mineral Reserves that form the basis of the 2021 Reserve Case are from a separate portion of the Hugo North Extension deposit than the Mineral Resources in the 2021 PEA.

Copper equivalent ("CuEq") is calculated as shown in the footnote to Table 11  Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property Mineral Resources in this press release.

2021 Reserve Case cash flows are discounted to the beginning of 2021.

2021 PEA cash flows are discounted to the beginning of 2027, the beginning of Hugo North Lift 2 development. Attributable Entree JV production begins in 2031 and ramps up to stable production in 2043. Final Entree JV attributable production concludes in 2056.

The 2021 Reserve Case and 2021 PEA are exclusive of each other.

Indicated and Inferred Resource average expected run-of-mine feed grade of 1.35% copper, 0.49 g/t gold, and 3.6 g/t silver (1.64% CuEq) includes dilution and mine losses.

The economic analysis in the 2021 PEA is based on a conceptual mine plan and does not have as high a level of certainty as the 2021 Reserve Case. The 2021 PEA is preliminary in nature and includes Inferred Mineral Resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as Mineral Reserves, and there is no certainty that the 2021 PEA will be realized. Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability.

In both the 2021 Reserve Case and the 2021 PEA, Entree is only reporting the production and cash flows attributable to the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property, not production and cash flows for other Oyu Tolgoi project areas owned 100% by OTLLC. The production and cash flows from the 2021 Reserve Case and the 2021 PEA are from separate parts of the Hugo North Extension deposit and there is no overlap of the mineralization.

Both the 2021 Reserve Case and the 2021 PEA are based on information supplied by OTLLC or reported within OTFS20. OTFS20 discusses the mine plan for Lift 1 of the Hugo North (including Hugo North Extension) underground block cave on both the Oyu Tolgoi mining licence and the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property. Rio Tinto is managing the construction and eventual operation of Lift 1, as well as any future development of Lift 2 or other deposits on the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property.

The results of the 2021 Reserve Case and the 2021 PEA will be summarized by Wood Canada Limited ("Wood") in a National Instrument ("NI") 43-101 Technical Report that will be filed under the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com within 45 days of this news release and on the Company's website.

The Lift 1 mine design presented in OTFS20 and the 2021 Reserve Case are subject to future refinements and updates. Hugo North (including Hugo North Extension) Lift 1 surface and underground drilling programs are ongoing to support the evaluation by OTLLC of different design and sequencing options for Panels 1 and 2 as part of OTLLC's planned Pre-Feasibility and Feasibility level work. The Hugo North Extension deposit is located at the northern portion of Panel 1.

Neither OTFS20 nor the results of the 2021 Reserve Case and 2021 PEA reflect the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, which are ongoing and continue to be assessed by OTLLC. In particular, progress on Shafts 3 and 4 has been delayed and the overall impact of these delays is under review by OTLLC. Shafts 3 and 4 are required to support production from Panels 1 and 2 during ramp up to 95,000 tonnes per day ("tpd").

On December 18, 2020, Turquoise Hill Resources announced that a Definitive Estimate that refines the analysis in OTFS20 and broadly confirms the economics and assumptions presented therein has been completed and delivered to OTLLC by Rio Tinto. The Company has not received a copy of the Definitive Estimate and it was not reviewed or relied upon in the preparation of the 2021 Reserve Case or the 2021 PEA. According to Turquoise Hill Resources, the Definitive Estimate assumes COVID-19 related restrictions in 2021 that are no more stringent than those experienced in September 2020. Should COVID-19 constraints continue beyond 2021, should the COVID-19 situation escalate in 2021 leading to additional restrictions, or should COVID-19 related restrictions or other non-technical criteria result in a delay in commencement of the undercut, which is currently scheduled for mid-2021, the development costs and schedule in OTFS20 and the 2021 Reserve Case and 2021 PEA could be negatively impacted.

Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property

The Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property comprises a significant portion of the overall Oyu Tolgoi project area, including the Hugo North Extension copper-gold deposit on the Shivee Tolgoi mining licence, the Heruga copper-gold-molybdenum deposit on the Javhlant mining licence and a large prospective land package with numerous priority exploration targets (Figure 1). Entree has a 20% participating interest in the currently defined mineralization within the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV with OTLLC holding the remaining 80% interest. Entree has a 30% participating interest in any new mineralization that could be discovered between surface and a depth of 560 metres ("m"). OTLLC has a 100% interest in other Oyu Tolgoi project areas, including the Oyut open pit, which is currently in production, and the Hugo North and Hugo South deposits on the Oyu Tolgoi mining licence.

Notes: Entree has a 20% carried interest in the Hugo North Extension and Heruga mineral resources. Shivee West is subject to a License Fees Agreement between Entree and OTLLC and may ultimately be included in the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property. Outlines of mineral deposits are projected to surface.

The Hugo North Extension deposit (Lift 1 and Lift 2)

Lift 1 is the upper portion of the Hugo North Extension copper-gold porphyry deposit and forms the basis of the 2021 Reserve Case. It is the northern portion of the Hugo North Lift 1 underground block cave mine plan that is currently in development on the Oyu Tolgoi mining licence. Starting in 2022, initial development production is scheduled to start on the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property. Hugo North Extension Lift 1 Probable Mineral Reserves include 40 million tonnes (" Mt ") grading 1.53% copper, 0.53 grams per tonne (" g/t ") gold, and 3.6 g/t silver.

is the upper portion of the Hugo North Extension copper-gold porphyry deposit and forms the basis of the 2021 Reserve Case. It is the northern portion of the Hugo North Lift 1 underground block cave mine plan that is currently in development on the Oyu Tolgoi mining licence. Starting in 2022, initial development production is scheduled to start on the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property. Hugo North Extension Lift 1 Probable Mineral Reserves include 40 million tonnes (" ") grading 1.53% copper, 0.53 grams per tonne (" ") gold, and 3.6 g/t silver.

Lift 2 is directly below and extends north beyond Lift 1 and is the next potential phase of underground mining on the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property, once Lift 1 mining is complete. Mineral resources from Lift 2 form the basis of the 2021 PEA mine plan, which include: 78 Mt (Indicated) and 88 Mt (Inferred). The average expected run-of-mine feed grade of 1.35% copper, 0.49 g/t gold, and 3.6 g/t silver (1.64% CuEq) includes dilution and mine losses.

is directly below and extends north beyond Lift 1 and is the next potential phase of underground mining on the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property, once Lift 1 mining is complete. Mineral resources from Lift 2 form the basis of the 2021 PEA mine plan, which include: 78 Mt (Indicated) and 88 Mt (Inferred). The average expected run-of-mine feed grade of 1.35% copper, 0.49 g/t gold, and 3.6 g/t silver (1.64% CuEq) includes dilution and mine losses. The Heruga copper-gold-molybdenum deposit is at the south end of the Oyu Tolgoi trend of porphyry deposits. Approximately 93% of the Heruga deposit occurs on the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property where Inferred Mineral Resources include, 1, 448 Mt grading 0.41% copper, 0.40 g/t gold, 1.5 g/t silver and 120 parts per million ("ppm") molybdenum (0.68% CuEq*). While Heruga is not included in the 2021 PEA, it provides opportunity for future exploration and potential development.

*CuEq for Hugo North Extension and Heruga is calculated as shown in the footnote to Table 11 in this press release.

Figure 2 shows a north-south oriented, west-looking cross section through the 12.4 kilometre ("km") trend of porphyry deposits that comprise the Oyu Tolgoi project. The Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property is to the right (north) and left (south) of the central portion, the Oyu Tolgoi mining licence, held 100% by OTLLC. The mineralization that is included in the mine plans for the 2021 Reserve Case and the 2021 PEA, is shown on Figure 2.

Note: The infrastructure shown for Heruga is conceptual and was used only to assess reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction.

Below are some of the key financial assumptions and outputs from the 2021 Reserve Case and the 2021 PEA. All figures shown for both cases are reported on a 100% Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV basis, unless otherwise noted. Both cases assume long term metal prices of $3.25/lb copper, $1,591/oz gold, and $21.08/oz silver.

2021 Reserve Case Outputs:

Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property development production from Hugo North Extension Lift 1 scheduled to start in 2022 with the first draw bell in 2026, peak production in 2034, and final production in 2038

17-year Lift 1 mine life (" LOM ") production (includes 4-years development production followed by 13-years block cave production; Figure 3)

") production (includes 4-years development production followed by 13-years block cave production; Figure 3) Maximum production rate of approximately 25,000 tpd, which is blended with production from OTLLC's Oyut open pit deposit and Hugo North deposit to supply a maximum mill throughput rate of 125,000 tpd

Total recovered metal over the LOM of Hugo North Extension Lift 1: 1,249,000 lbs copper, 549,000 oz gold, 3,836,000 oz silver

Total direct development and sustaining capital expenditures of approximately $275.7 million ( $55.1 million attributable to Entree)

( attributable to Entree) Entree LOM average cash cost $1.74 /lb payable copper

/lb payable copper Entree LOM average cash costs after credits (" C1 ") $0.85 /lb payable copper

") /lb payable copper Entree LOM average all-in sustaining costs ("AISC") $1.36 /lb payable copper

Note: Year 2 represents approximately 2022.

2021 PEA Outputs:

Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property development production from Hugo North Extension Lift 2 scheduled to start in approximately 2034 with the first draw bell in 2038, peak production in 2047 and final production in 2055

22-year Lift 2 mine life (4-years development production and 18-years block cave production; Figure 4)

Maximum production rate of approximately 40,500 tpd, which is blended with production from OTLLC's Oyut open pit deposit and Hugo North deposit to supply a maximum mill throughput rate of 125,000 tpd

Total metal production over the LOM of Hugo North Extension Lift 2: 4,564,000 lbs copper, 2,025,000 oz gold, 15,067,000 oz silver

Total direct development and sustaining capital expenditures of approximately $1,589.6 million ( $319.7 million attributable to Entree)

( attributable to Entree) Entree LOM average cash cost $1.10 /lb payable copper

/lb payable copper Entree LOM average C1 $0.30 /lb payable copper

/lb payable copper Entree LOM average AISC $0.92 /lb payable copper

Note: Year 1 represents approximately 2021.

The mineral deposits on the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property will be developed, operated and processed by Rio Tinto on behalf of OTLLC, the manager of the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV.

Note, the 2021 Reserve Case and the 2021 PEA are mutually exclusive; if the 2021 Reserve Case is developed and brought into production, the mineralization from Hugo North Extension Lift 2 is not sterilized or reduced in tonnage or grades. In addition, the Heruga deposit, which is not included in either the 2021 Reserve Case or the 2021 PEA, provides a great deal of future potential and with further exploration and development could become a completely standalone underground operation, independent of other Oyu Tolgoi project underground development, and provide considerable flexibility for mine planning and development.

Processing and Metallurgy

Various phases of metallurgical testing have been completed on samples of drill core from Hugo North Extension and Heruga. For Hugo North Extension this work has consisted of mineralogical characterization, grindability testing, and batch and locked cycle flotation testing. Locked cycle flotation testing has demonstrated that a conventional flotation flow sheet with moderate grinds, two stages of cleaning, and low reagent additions are able to generate a saleable copper concentrate, with levels of potential penalty elements identified that can be managed through blending or occasional penalty charges. Payable by-product levels of gold and silver are present in the copper concentrates.

Metallurgical predictions for the recovery of copper, gold and silver from Hugo North Extension Lift 1 are based on formulas developed by OTLLC for each element and for each of five defined metallurgical domains. The formulas for copper, gold and silver are based on mill head grades and by applying several other parameters. Average copper, gold and silver recoveries over the life of the 2021 Reserve Case and the 2021 PEA are shown in Table 2.

New equations for predicting copper grades in concentrate were also developed by OTTLC for Hugo North Extension Lift 1 and 2 mineralization types. Average copper, gold and silver grades in the copper concentrate for both Lift 1 and Lift 2 are summarized in Table 2.

In addition, copper, gold and silver recoveries and respective grades in the copper concentrate for Heruga mineralization, previously reported on January 15, 2018 is provided in Table 2.

Table 2. Summary of Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property Metallurgical Results

Deposit Copper Concentrate Grades Recovery (%)

Cu (%) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Cu Au Ag HNE1 - Lift 1 (2021 Reserve Case) 33.4 10.32 71.6 92.5 81.0 82.7 HNE1 - Lift 2 (2021 PEA) 34.1 10.39 77.3 92.3 77.6 77.8 Heruga  Resource 25 24 87 86.2 78.6 81.9

1HNE = Hugo North Extension.

The process plant will be fed by a mix of mineralization from the Entree/Oyu Togoi JV Property and from other Oyu Tolgoi project deposits and will consist of conventional SAG mill / ball mill / grinding circuit (SABC) followed by flotation. A fifth ball mill will be added to the current plant to achieve a finer primary grind P 80 of 150160 m for mineralization from Hugo North and Hugo North Extension. The additional ball mill, together with additional flotation, regrind, cleaning and concentrate handling capacity, will provide a maximum rated plant capacity of 42.6 Mt/a (124.8 kt/d) during the period when Hugo North Extension ores are to be processed. Copper concentrate will be bagged on site and trucked to a smelter in China.

2021 RESERVE CASE

2021 Reserve Case Mining Methods

Underground mining on the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property is planned to be by large-scale panel caving, which is a variation of block caving. The size, geotechnical characteristics and depth of mineralization at the deposits on the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property make block caving the best suited mining method, and although the method has large, early capital investment requirements, it is highly productive and has low operating costs.

The overall Hugo North and Hugo North Extension mine design in OTFS20 for Lift 1 consists of 211 km of lateral development, five shafts (for access for mining personnel and equipment, for production, and for intake and exhaust ventilation) and a decline tunnel from surface. None of this infrastructure occurs on the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property, except for approximately 15.4 km of lateral underground development. The caved material will primarily be transported to surface along conveyors in the decline tunnel, however a portion may be hauled to surface through one of the shafts. The underground mine will operate at a nominal 95 ktpd, which will be a blend of mineralization from other Oyu Tolgoi project deposits with mineralization from the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property at rates averaging approximately 6,404 tpd over the life of the 2021 Reserve Case (note this average feed production rate includes the years of low-tonnage development production for Lift 1).

2021 Reserve Case Capital and Operating Costs

Under the terms of the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV, OTLLC is responsible for 80% of all costs incurred on the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property for the benefit of the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV, including capital expenditures, and Entree is responsible for the remaining 20%. In accordance with the terms of the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV, Entree has elected to have OTLLC debt finance Entree's share of costs for approved programs and budgets, with interest accruing at OTLLC's actual cost of capital or prime +2%, whichever is less, at the date of the advance. Debt repayment may be made in whole or in part from (and only from) 90% of monthly available cash flow arising from the sale of Entree's share of products. Available cash flow means all net proceeds of sale of Entree's share of products in a month less Entree's share of costs of Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV activities for the month that are operating costs under Canadian generally-accepted accounting principles.

The following is a description of how Entree recognizes its share of Oyu Tolgoi project capital costs, specifically, the timing of recognition under the terms of the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV and generally accepted accounting principles.

Under the terms of the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV, any mill, smelter and other processing facilities and related infrastructure will be owned exclusively by OTLLC and not by Entree. Mill feed from the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property will be transported to the concentrator and processed at cost (using industry standards for calculation of cost including an amortization of capital costs). Underground infrastructure on the Oyu Tolgoi mining licence is also owned exclusively by OTLLC, although the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV will eventually share usage once underground development crosses onto the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property. As a result of this, Entree recognizes those capital costs incurred by OTLLC on the Oyu Tolgoi mining licence as an amortization charge for capital costs that will be calculated in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles determined yearly based on the estimated tonnes of concentrate produced for Entree's account during that year relative to the estimated total life-of-mine concentrate to be produced (for processing facilities and related infrastructure), or the estimated total life-of-mine tonnes to be milled from the relevant deposit(s) (in the case of underground infrastructure). The charge is made to Entree's operating account when the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV mine production is actually milled.

For direct capital cost expenditures on the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property, Entree will recognize its proportionate share of costs at the time of actual expenditure.

The capital and operating costs in the 2021 Reserve Case are based on estimates prepared for OTFS20.

A summary of the amortization charges for capital costs incurred by OTLLC on the Oyu Tolgoi mining licence for the 2021 Reserve Case is shown in Table 3. A summary of the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV capital expenditures, including expansion and sustaining capital for the 2021 Reserve Case is shown in Table 4. The 2021 Reserve Case has incorporated a capital expenditure contingency of 15.1%. The overall accuracy of the capital cost estimates is within 20%.

Table 3. Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property  2021 Reserve Case Amortized Capital Costs





2021 Reserve Case

Description Unit Entree/Oyu

Tolgoi JV Entree 20%

Attributable



Amortization Charges for OTLLC Capital Costs(1)(2)







Hugo North Lift #1 U/G Construction $ M 574.5 114.9

Infrastructure & Central Heating Plant $ M 58.9 11.8

Tailings Storage Facility and Infrastructure Sustaining Capital $ M 39.0 7.8

Concentrator Sustaining Capital $ M 8.0 1.6

Concentrator Expansion $ M 17.0 3.4

Total Facilities Capital $ M 697.3 139.5



Notes: (1) OTLLC capital costs are inclusive of indirect costs, Mongolian custom duties and VAT and contingency. Figures have been rounded as required by reporting guidelines and may result in apparent summation differences.

Table 4. Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property - 2021 Reserve Case Mine Development and Sustaining Capital





2021 Reserve Case

Description Unit Entree/Oyu

Tolgoi JV Entree 20%

Attributable



Underground Mine Development $ M 275.7 55.1



Note: Capital costs are inclusive of indirect costs, Mongolian custom duties and VAT and contingency.

The average LOM operating costs for the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property 2021 Reserve Case (including amortization charges for capital costs incurred by OTLLC on the Oyu Tolgoi mining licence) are shown in Table 5.

Table 5. Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property - 2021 Reserve Case Average Operating Costs

Description Unit 2021 Reserve

Case Mining $/t processed 8.75 Processing $/t processed 7.44 Infrastructure and Other Operating $/t processed 2.32 Amortized Mining Costs $/t processed 15.93 Amortized Process Costs $/t processed 0.63 Amortized Tailings Costs $/t processed 0.98 Total Refining & Transportation Costs $/t processed 7.33 Total Operating Expenditure $/t processed 43.39 Administration Charge (2% during development; 2.5% during

production) and annual licence fees $/t processed 1.50 Total $/t processed 44.89

Note: Figures have been rounded as required by reporting guidelines and may result in apparent summation differences.

Mine site cash costs are shown in Table 6. Cash costs are those costs relating to the direct operating costs of the mine site, including mining, concentration, tailings, operational support costs, infrastructure, smelting and refining and administration fees. Total cash costs after credits (C1 costs) are the cash costs less the revenue from the gold and silver by-products. The all-in sustaining cost (AISC) is calculated according to World Gold Council guidance. It is the C1 costs plus mineral royalty and capital costs. AISC costs exclude income tax and financing charges. The underground mining operating cost estimates have incorporated a 5.6% contingency. The sustaining capital costs includes a 7.45% contingency.

Table 6. Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property Mine Cash and All-in Sustaining Costs for Entree's 20% Attributable Portion

Description Unit 2021 Reserve

Case Average Mine site cash cost $/lb payable copper 1.45 TC/RC, royalties and transport $/lb payable copper 0.28 Total cash costs before credits $/lb payable copper 1.74 Gold credits $/lb payable copper (0.82) Silver credits $/lb payable copper (0.07) Total cash costs after credits $/lb payable copper 0.85 Total all-in sustaining costs after credits $/lb payable copper 1.36

Notes: TC/RC = treatment and refining charges; Figures have been rounded as required by reporting guidelines and may result in apparent summation differences.

2021 PEA

The 2021 PEA is a second lift done at the conceptual level based solely on Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resources from Hugo North Extension Lift 2, directly below Lift 1 from the 2021 Reserve Case (see Figure 2 above).

The 2021 PEA mine plan is partly based on Inferred Mineral Resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as Mineral Reserves, and there is no certainty that the 2021 PEA based on these Mineral Resources will be realized. Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability.

The current level of knowledge regarding Lift 2 suggests that block/panel caving is appropriate for the deposit, similar to that proposed for Lift 1.

The existing Hugo North Extension Lift 1 infrastructure will be used to support the Lift 2 mine. It is anticipated that access to the Hugo North Extension Lift 2 area will be by a decline system from Lift 1, an extension to Shaft 4, and internal ventilation shafts or raises to provide ventilation. Mineralization would be crushed and conveyed to surface by a two-leg extension to the Lift 1 incline conveyor system.

Current Hugo North Extension mine planning and optimization indicates that the ideal elevation for Lift 2 is approximately 400 m below Lift 1 (~1,700 m below surface).

Initial mill feed delivery from the Hugo North Lift 2 is assumed to begin in 2027 when development commences in the Hugo North Lift 2 area on the Oyu Tolgoi mining licence. Development of Hugo North Extension Lift 2 on the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property is anticipated to begin in 2031 with stable production in 2043. The peak production from Hugo North Extension Lift 2 is expected to be approximately 40,500 t/d in 2047, and the average life of mine production rate (20312056) is planned at about 17,500 t/d.

2021 PEA Capital and Operating Costs

Capital cost and sustaining cost estimates were prepared as separate and independent estimates by OTLLC. Wood reviewed the estimates and accepts them as reasonable. The same assumptions regarding the treatment of the capital and operating expenditures and debt repayment, as described above under the 2021 Reserve Case, also apply for the 2021 PEA.

A summary of the amortization charges for capital costs incurred by OTLLC on the Oyu Tolgoi mining licence for the 2021 PEA is shown in Table 7. A summary of the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV capital expenditures, including expansion and sustaining capital for the 2021 PEA is shown in Table 8.

Table 7. 2021 PEA Amortized Capital

Amortization Charges for OTLLC Capital Costs Unit Entree/Oyu

Tolgoi JV Entree 20%

Attributable Tailings storage facility & infrastructure sustaining capital US$ M 169.0 33.8 Concentrator sustaining capital US$ M 32.3 6.5 Total Facilities Capital US$ M 201.2 40.2

Notes: Capital costs are inclusive of indirect costs, Mongolian custom duties, VAT, and contingency. Figures have been rounded as required by reporting guidelines and may result in apparent summation differences.

Table 8. 2021 PEA Mine Development and Sustaining Capital

Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property Mine Development & Sustaining

Capital Unit Entree/Oyu

Tolgoi JV Entree 20%

Attributable Underground Development Capital US$ M 1,173.7 234.7 Underground Sustaining Capital US$ M 424.9 85.0 Total Development & Sustaining Capital US$ M 1,598.6 319.7

Notes: Capital costs are inclusive of indirect costs, Mongolian custom duties, VAT, and contingency. Figures have been rounded as required by reporting guidelines and may result in apparent summation differences.

The average LOM operating costs for the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property 2021 PEA (including amortization charges for capital costs incurred by OTLLC on the Oyu Tolgoi mining licence) are shown in Table 9.

Table 9. 2021 PEA Average Operating Costs

Description Unit 2021 PEA Mining $/t processed 9.21 Processing $/t processed 7.47 Infrastructure and Other Operating $/t processed 2.32 Amortized Mining Costs $/t processed 0.00 Amortized Process Costs $/t processed 0.19 Amortized Tailings Costs $/t processed 1.02 Total Refining & Transportation Costs $/t processed 7.17 Total Operating Expenditure $/t processed 27.40 Administration Charge (2% during development; 2.5% during

production) and annual licence fees $/t processed 0.85 Total $/t processed 28.25

Note: Figures have been rounded as required by reporting guidelines and may result in apparent summation differences.

Mine site cash costs are shown in Table 10. Refer to the text pertaining to Table 6 (2021 Reserve Case) for a description of how these costs are calculated.

Table 10. 2021 PEA Mine Cash and All-in Sustaining Costs for Entree's 20% Attributable Portion

Description Unit 2021 PEA Average Mine site cash cost $/lb payable copper 0.82 TC/RC, royalties and transport $/lb payable copper 0.28 Total cash costs before credits $/lb payable copper 1.10 Gold credits $/lb payable copper (0.73) Silver credits $/lb payable copper (0.07) Total cash costs after credits $/lb payable copper 0.30 Total all-in sustaining costs after credits $/lb payable copper 0.92

Notes: TC/RC = treatment and refining charges; Figures have been rounded as required by reporting guidelines and may result in apparent summation differences.

The cash flows in the 2021 Reserve Case and 2021 PEA are based on information provided by OTLLC, including mining schedules and annual capital and operating cost estimates, as well as Entree's interpretation of the commercial terms applicable to the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV, and certain assumptions regarding taxes and royalties. The cash flows have not been reviewed or endorsed by OTLLC. There can be no assurance that OTLLC or its shareholders will not interpret certain terms or conditions, or attempt to renegotiate some or all of the material terms governing the joint venture relationship, in a manner which could have an adverse effect on Entree's future cash flow and financial condition.

The cash flows also assume that Entree will ultimately have the benefit of the standard royalty rate of 5% of sales value, payable by OTLLC under the Oyu Tolgoi Investment Agreement. Unless and until Entree finalizes agreements with the Government of Mongolia or other Oyu Tolgoi stakeholders, there can be no assurance that the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV will not be subject to additional taxes and royalties, such as the surtax royalty which came into effect in Mongolia on January 1, 2011, which could have an adverse effect on Entree's future cash flow and financial condition. In the course of finalizing such agreements, Entree may have to make certain concessions, including with respect to the economic benefit of Entree's interest in the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property, Entree's direct or indirect participating interest in the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV or the application of a special royalty (not to exceed 5%) to Entree's share of the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property mineralization or otherwise.

Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves  Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property

The Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property Mineral Resource estimate for the Hugo North Extension deposit has an effective date of March 31, 2021. Mineral Resources are reported inclusive of those Mineral Resources that were converted to Mineral Reserves. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.

The Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Mineral Resource estimate for the Heruga deposit has an effective date of March 31, 2021.

The Mineral Resources on the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property are provided in Table 11.

Table 11. Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property Mineral Resources

Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property Mineral Resources Classification Tonnage (Mt) Cu (%) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Mo (ppm) CuEq (%) Contained Metal Cu (Mlb) Au (Koz) Ag (Koz) Mo (Mlb) Hugo North Extension (0.41% CuEq Cut-Off) Indicated 120 1.70 0.58 4.3 n/a 2.04 4,500 2,200 16,000 n/a Inferred 167 1.02 0.36 2.8 n/a 1.23 3,800 1,900 15,000 n/a Heruga (0.41% CuEq Cut-Off) Inferred 1,400 0.41 0.40 1.5 120 0.68 13,000 18,000 66,000 370

1 Mineral Resources have an effective date of 31 March, 2021. Mr. Christopher Wright, P. Geo, a Wood employee, is the Qualified Person responsible for the Mineral Resource estimate. 2 Mineral Resources are reported inclusive of those Mineral Resources that were converted to Mineral Reserves. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. 3 Metal prices used for copper equivalent and cut off grade calculation for both Hugo North Extension and Heruga are: $3.08/lb copper, $1,292.00/oz gold and $19.00/oz silver. Metallurgical recoveries used for copper equivalent and cut-off grade calculation at Hugo North Extension are 93% for copper, 80% for gold and 81% for silver. Metallurgical recoveries used for copper equivalent and cut-off grade calculation at Heruga are 82% for copper, 73% for gold, 78% for silver and 60% for molybdenum. 4 Mineral Resources at Hugo North Extension are constrained within a conceptual mining shape constructed at a nominal 0.50% copper equivalent (CuEq) grade and above a CuEq grade of 0.41% CuEq. The CuEq formula is CuEq = Cu + ((Au * 35.7175) + (Ag * 0.5773)) / 67.9023 taking into account differentials between metallurgical performance and price for copper, gold and silver. 5 The overall geometry and depth of the Heruga deposit make it amenable to underground mass mining methods. Mineral Resources are stated above a copper equivalent (CuEq) grade. The CuEq formula is CuEq = Cu + ((Au * 37.0952) + (Ag * 0.5810) + (Mo * 0.0161)) / 67.9023 taking into account differentials between metallurgical performance and price for copper, gold, silver and molybdenum. 6 A CuEq break-even cut-off grade of 0.41% CuEq for Hugo North Extension mineralization and covers mining, processing and G&A operating cost and the cost of primary and secondary block cave mine development. 7 A CuEq break-even cut-off grade of 0.41% CuEq is used for the Heruga mineralization and covers mining, processing and G&A operating cost and the cost of primary and secondary block cave mine development. 8 Mineral Resources are stated as in situ with no consideration for planned or unplanned external mining dilution. 9 Mineral Resources are reported on a 100% basis. OTLLC has a participating interest of 80%, and Entree has a participating interest of 20%. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in respect of products extracted from the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property pursuant to mining carried out at depths from surface to 560 m below surface, the participating interest of OTLLC is 70% and the participating interest of Entree is 30%. 10 Numbers have been rounded as required by reporting guidelines and may result in apparent summation differences.

Entree/Oyu Tolgoi Mineral Reserves

Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property Mineral Reserves are contained within the Hugo North Extension Lift 1 block cave mining plan (Table 12). The mine design work on Hugo North Lift 1, including the Hugo North Extension, was prepared by OTLLC and was used as the basis for the OTFS20. The Mineral Reserve estimate is based on what is deemed minable when considering factors such as the footprint cut-off grade, the draw column shut-off grade, maximum height of draw, consideration of planned dilution and internal waste rock.

The Mineral Reserve estimate only considers Mineral Resources in the Indicated category and engineering that has been carried out to a Feasibility level or better to state the underground Mineral Reserve. There is no Measured Mineral Resource currently estimated within the Hugo North Extension deposit. Copper and gold grades for the Inferred Mineral Resources within the block cave shell were set to zero and such material was assumed to be dilution. The block cave shell was defined by a $17.84/t net smelter return ("NSR"). Future mine planning studies may examine lower shut-offs.

Table 12. Hugo North Extension Lift 1 Mineral Reserves Statement





Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property  Mineral Reserve Hugo North Extension Lift 1 Classification Tonnage NSR Cu Au Ag Contained Metal (Mt) ($/t) (%) (g/t) (g/t) Cu (Mlb) Au (Koz) Ag (Koz) Probable 40 96.97 1.5 0.53 3.6 1,340 676 4,613

1 Mineral Reserves were estimated by OTLLC personnel. Piers Wendlandt, P.E., a Wood employee, is the Qualified Person who reviewed and accepts responsibility for the Mineral Reserve estimate. The estimate has an effective date of 15 May, 2021. 2 For the underground block cave, all Indicated Mineral Resources within the cave outline were converted to Probable Mineral Reserves. No Proven Mineral Reserves have been estimated. The estimation includes low-grade Indicated Mineral Resource and Inferred Mineral Resource assigned zero grade that is treated as dilution. 3 A column height shut-off NSR of $17.84/t was used to define the footprint and column heights. The NSR calculation assumed metal prices of $3.08/lb Cu, $1,292.00/oz Au, and $19.00/oz Ag. The NSR was calculated with assumptions for smelter refining and treatment charges, deductions and payment terms, concentrate transport, metallurgical recoveries, and royalties using OTLLC's Base Data Template 38. Mineral Reserves are reported on a 100% basis. OTLLC has a participating interest of 80%, and Entree has a participating interest of 20%. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in respect of products extracted from the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property pursuant to mining carried out at depths from surface to 560 m below surface, the participating interest of OTLLC is 70% and the participating interest of Entree is 30%. 4 Numbers have been rounded as required by reporting guidelines and may result in apparent summation differences

Exploration Potential

The areas to the north of Hugo North Extension and to the south of Heruga remain under-explored and are attractive prospects for future exploration. In addition, early-stage exploration has been continuing by OTLLC on other parts of the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property and has included reconnaissance evaluation, geological mapping, rock and soil sampling, geophysics and limited amounts of shallow reverse circulation drilling. The work has outlined strong prospects at the West Mag, Castle Rock, Bumbat Ulaan and Southeast IP exploration areas and indicates the potential for near-surface porphyry and epithermal-style copper and/or gold mineralization to occur in areas outside the main Oyu Tolgoi trend. OTLLC will continue to evaluate these prospects during 2022. Entree retains a 30% participating interest in any new mineralization identified between surface and 560 m depth.

Data Verification - Technical Discussion

Chris Wright, P.Geo from Wood visited the Oyu Tolgoi site three times between August 2017 and June 2018 while he was an employee of Rio Tinto. Site visits included an overview of the district geology, exposures in the South Oyut open pit, review of drill core, core storage and sampling facilities. Over 11 months from August 2017 to June 2018 Mr. Wright did extensive work with South Oyut and Hugo North Mineral Resource and metallurgical databases and block models in the construction of geometallurgical models for South Oyut and Hugo North. In March 2021, as a Wood employee, Mr. Wright conducted a review of the Heruga drilling and block model and carried out interviews with OTLLC staff to confirm the database cut-off dates, block model estimation dates and that there are no material changes to the Mineral Resource databases since the database closure and model estimation for either the Heruga or Hugo North deposits.

The data verification completed by Mr. Wright, which is consistent with data verification by personnel from OTLLC and its predecessor companies, and the independent data verification completed by others, are sufficient to conclude the drill hole database is reasonably free of errors and suitable to support Mineral Resource estimation.

TECHNICAL REPORT

Further technical information supporting the disclosure in this news release, including data verification, key assumptions, parameters, risks and other factors, will be provided in the NI 43-101 Technical Report that the Company will file under the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com within 45 days of this news release and on the Company's website.

NON-IFRS PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT

Non-IFRS Performance Measurement: "Cash costs after credits" (C1) and all-in sustaining cost (ASIC) are non-IFRS performance measurements. These performance measurements are included because these statistics are widely accepted as the standard of reporting cash costs of production in North America. These performance measurements do not have a meaning within IFRS and, therefore, amounts presented may not be comparable to similar data presented by other mining companies. These performance measurements should not be considered in isolation as a substitute for measures of performance in accordance with IFRS.

ABOUT THE ENTREE/OYU TOLGOI JV PROPERTY

The Oyu Tolgoi project includes two separate land holdings: the Oyu Tolgoi mining licence, which is held 100% by OTLLC (66% Turquoise Hill Resources; 34% Government of Mongolia), and the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property, which is a partnership between Entree and OTLLC. Rio Tinto is managing the construction of Lift 1 of the Hugo North underground block cave on both the Oyu Tolgoi mining licence and the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property. The portion of the Hugo North copper-gold deposit that lies on the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property is known as Hugo North Extension. The Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property also includes the Heruga copper-gold-molybdenum deposit and a large prospective land package.

QUALIFIED PERSONS

Chris Wright, P.Geo, Kirk Hanson, P.E., Piers Wendlandt, P.E, Dean David, FAusIMM, Greg Henderson, FAusIMM, and Peter Yuan, P.E from Wood are all Qualified Persons as defined by National Instrument 43-101, and have approved the scientific and technical information in this release.

ABOUT ENTREE RESOURCES LTD.

Entree Resources Ltd. is a well-funded Canadian mining company with a unique carried joint venture interest on a significant portion of one of the world's largest copper-gold projects  the Oyu Tolgoi project in Mongolia. Entree has a 20% or 30% carried participating interest in the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV, depending on the depth of mineralization. Sandstorm Gold Ltd., Rio Tinto and Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd. are major shareholders of Entree, holding approximately 24%, 9% and 8% of the shares of the Company, respectively. More information about Entree can be found at www.EntreeResourcesLtd.com.

This News Release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws with respect to corporate strategies and plans; requirements for additional capital; uses of funds and projected expenditures; the value and potential value of assets and the ability of Entree to maximize returns to shareholders; timing and status of Oyu Tolgoi underground development; the expected timing and amount of production from Lifts 1 and 2 of the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property, potential production delays and the impact of any delays on the Company's cash flows, expected copper and gold grades, liquidity, funding requirements and planning; the re-design studies for Panels 1 and 2 of Hugo North (including Hugo North Extension) Lift 1 and the possible outcomes, content and timing thereof; the future prices of copper, gold, molybdenum and silver; the potential impact of COVID-19 on Oyu Tolgoi underground development and the Company's business, operations and financial condition; the estimation of Mineral Reserves and Resources; the realization of Mineral Reserve and Resource estimates; projected mining and process recovery rates; estimates of capital and operating costs, mill throughput, cash flows and mine life; capital, financing and project development risk; mining dilution; discussions with the Government of Mongolia, Rio Tinto, OTLLC and Turquoise Hill Resources on a range of issues including Entree's interest in the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property, the Shivee Tolgoi and Javhlant mining licences and certain material agreements; potential actions by the Government of Mongolia with respect to the Shivee Tolgoi and Javhlant mining licences and Entree's interest in the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property; the potential for Entree to receive the benefits of the Oyu Tolgoi Investment Agreement or another similar agreement; the potential for the Government of Mongolia to seek to directly or indirectly invest in Entree's interest in the Hugo North Extension and Heruga deposits; potential size of a mineralized zone; potential expansion of mineralization; potential discovery of new mineralized zones; potential metallurgical recoveries and grades; plans for future exploration and/or development programs and budgets; permitting time lines; anticipated business activities; proposed acquisitions and dispositions of assets; and future financial performance.

In certain cases, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budgeted", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "does not anticipate" or "believes" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". While the Company has based these forward-looking statements on its expectations about future events as at the date that such statements were prepared, the statements are not a guarantee of Entree's future performance and are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies; the correct interpretation of agreements, laws and regulations; local and global economic conditions and negotiations and the environment in which Entree will operate in the future, including commodity prices, projected grades, projected dilution, anticipated capital and operating costs, anticipated future production and cash flows, and the anticipated location of certain infrastructure and sequence of mining within and across panel boundaries; the construction and continued development of the Oyu Tolgoi underground mine; and the status of Entree's relationship and interaction with the Government of Mongolia, OTLLC, Rio Tinto and Turquoise Hill Resources.

With respect to the construction and continued development of the Oyu Tolgoi underground mine, important risks, uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and information include, amongst others, the timing and cost of the construction and expansion of mining and processing facilities; the timing and availability of a long term domestic power source for Oyu Tolgoi (or the availability of financing for OTLLC or the Government of Mongolia to construct such a source); the willingness of third parties to extend existing power arrangements; the potential impact of COVID-19, including any restrictions imposed by health and governmental authorities relating thereto; the implementation and successful execution of the funding plan that is the subject of a Heads of Agreement between Rio Tinto and Turquoise Hill Resources and the amount of any additional future funding gap to complete the Oyu Tolgoi underground project as well as the amount and potential sources of additional funding required therefor, all as contemplated by the Heads of Agreement; the impact of changes in, changes in interpretation to or changes in enforcement of, laws, regulations and government practices in Mongolia ; delays, and the costs which would result from delays, in the development of the underground mine; the status of the relationship and interactions and discussions between OTLLC, Rio Tinto and Turquoise Hill Resources with the Government of Mongolia on the continued operation and development of Oyu Tolgoi and OTLLC internal governance (including the outcome of any such interactions or discussions); the willingness and ability of the parties to the Oyu Tolgoi Investment Agreement and the 2015 Oyu Tolgoi Underground Mine Development and Financing Plan to amend or replace either such agreement; the nature and quantum of the current and projected economic benefits to Mongolia resulting from the continued operation of Oyu Tolgoi; the anticipated location of certain infrastructure and sequence of mining within and across panel boundaries; projected commodity prices and their market demand; and production estimates and the anticipated yearly production of copper, gold and silver at the Oyu Tolgoi underground mine.

The 2021 PEA is based on a conceptual mine plan that includes Inferred resources. Numerous assumptions were made in the preparation of the 2021 PEA, including with respect to mineability, capital and operating costs, production schedules, the timing of construction and expansion of mining and processing facilities, and recoveries, that may change materially once production commences at Hugo North Extension Lift 1 and additional development and capital decisions are required. Any changes to the assumptions underlying the 2021 PEA could cause actual results to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking statements and information relating to the 2021 PEA.

Other risks, uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results, performance or achievements of Entree to differ materially from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking statements and information include, amongst others, unanticipated costs, expenses or liabilities; discrepancies between actual and estimated production, Mineral Reserves and Resources and metallurgical recoveries; development plans for processing resources; matters relating to proposed exploration or expansion; mining operational and development risks, including geotechnical risks and ground conditions; regulatory restrictions (including environmental regulatory restrictions and liability); risks related to international operations, including legal and political risk in Mongolia; risks related to the potential impact of global or national health concerns, including the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic; risks associated with changes in the attitudes of governments to foreign investment; risks associated with the conduct of joint ventures; inability to upgrade Inferred Mineral Resources to Indicated or Measured Mineral Resources; inability to convert Mineral Resources to Mineral Reserves; conclusions of economic evaluations; fluctuations in commodity prices and demand; changing foreign exchange rates; the speculative nature of mineral exploration; the global economic climate; dilution; share price volatility; activities, actions or assessments by Rio Tinto, Turquoise Hill Resources or OTLLC and by government authorities including the Government of Mongolia; the availability of funding on reasonable terms; the impact of changes in interpretation to or changes in enforcement of laws, regulations and government practices, including laws, regulations and government practices with respect to mining, foreign investment, royalties and taxation; the terms and timing of obtaining necessary environmental and other government approvals, consents and permits; the availability and cost of necessary items such as water, skilled labour, transportation and appropriate smelting and refining arrangements; unanticipated reclamation expenses; changes to assumptions as to the availability of electrical power, and the power rates used in operating cost estimates and financial analyses; changes to assumptions as to salvage values; ability to maintain the social license to operate; accidents, labor disputes and other risks of the mining industry; global climate change; title disputes; limitations on insurance coverage; competition; loss of key employees; cyber security incidents; misjudgments in the course of preparing forward-looking statements; and those factors discussed in the section entitled "Critical Accounting Estimates, Risks and Uncertainties" in the Company's most recently filed Management's Discussion & Analysis and in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2020 filed with the Canadian Securities Administrators and available at www.sedar.com. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

SOURCE Entree Resources

Related Links

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Serial entrepreneur and co-founder of Canada's largest healthcare focused private equity firm closes first fund to scale digital health innovation globally

MONTREAL, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Esplanade HealthTech Ventures ("Esplanade" or the "Fund") announced today the closing of its oversubscribed inaugural venture fund, Esplanade HealthTech Ventures I ("Fund I"), with commitments totaling more than C$21M. As Canada's leading digital health venture capital firm, Esplanade seeks to empower digital health entrepreneurs around the world through capital as well as strategic advisory and distribution support.

Esplanade focuses on Seed to Series A investments in companies located in the US, Canada, Europe and Israel that serve the global healthcare market. To date, Fund I has made investments in 13 companies  among them binah.ai, BrainBox AI, Cleerly and Lumen, representing a diverse global portfolio. In just over a year since its first close, Esplanade has seen several of its portfolio companies' valuations increase to over $100M with strong regulatory traction including several breakthrough designations and approvals from the FDA.

The HealthTech market has seen funding grow by 80% in the last five years, with 440 transactions in 2020 alone and over 36 VC-backed digital health unicorns, according to Rock Health. The gap in access to care, continued innovation and achieving optimal health outcomes requires the help of digital solutions. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, the future of healthcare was digital; and the pandemic has materially accelerated this transition. Technology-driven innovation holds the potential to improve patient understanding, enable more convenient, individualized careand create $350$410 billion in annual value by 2025 according to McKinsey.

"With the growing challenges in healthcare, we believe that investors like Esplanade can support founders in driving transformative and scalable change to patient care while continuing to generate strong returns." said Martin Brunelle, VP Growth, Acquisitions and Development at Desjardins Group, an investor in the fund.

Esplanade was founded and seeded in February 2020 by Dr. Sheldon Elman, co-founder of Persistence Capital Partners, serial entrepreneur, and experienced investor in the healthcare space. Esplanade's leadership team also includes Josh Blair, General Partner, and CEO of the Canadian/Israeli tech startup, Impro.ai, and Chairman of TELUS International. Jeffrey Kadanoff, Managing Director and Ella Seitz, Partner bring years of experience from Knight Therapeutics Inc., Bain & Company, McKesson Corporation and Kearney. The firm expects its next fund, Fund II, to have its first close later this year.

Dr. Sheldon Elman, Chairman of Esplanade HealthTech Ventures, shares, "As a practicing physician for over 40 years, my goal has always been to treat health issues before they become medical problems and to empower patients in their own care through innovation. Esplanade's unique investment thesis and strategic capabilities position us to realize this goal while also delivering strong financial returns to our LPs."

About Esplanade HealthTech Ventures

Esplanade HealthTech Ventures is a venture capital firm focused on digital health. Based in Montreal, with offices in Toronto, the company invests globally and actively partners with early-stage and high growth digital health companies shaping the future of healthcare delivery. Esplanade has deep entrepreneurial, investment and industry experience to provide its portfolio company founders with privileged access to the firm's partners, experts, and broader global ecosystem.

Learn more at www.esplanadeventures.com

SOURCE Esplanade Ventures
CHICAGO, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- On June 15, 2021, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois certified a class action challenging the constitutionality of the excessive use of extreme isolation (various forms of solitary confinement) by the Illinois Department of Corrections ("IDOC). The Court certified a class of all state prisoners (over 28,000) represented by Winston & Strawn LLP and the Uptown People's Law Center. Accordingly, the ruling expands the case from the six named plaintiffs to a class of all state prisoners seeking declaratory and injunctive relief against the IDOC's policies and procedures resulting to the excessive use of extreme isolation.

In certifying the class action, the Court cited voluminous documentary and testimonial evidence showing that thousands of inmates have been held in "restrictive housing," that hundreds have been in solitary confinement for multiple years on end, and that 78 prisoners had been held in solitary confinement for at least ten years. The Court cited evidence from national experts showing that such excessive use of restrictive housing causes severe mental illness. The Court also cited evidence that IDOC excessively used solitary confinement as punishment for minor infractions and that IDOC disciplinary hearings resulting in the imposition of this punishment were "bogus," meaning that inmates were afforded meaningless due process.

The Court also cited evidence that the conditions of solitary confinement often are horrific." Some cells have nothing but a bed, toilet, and sink, and are "extremely small" according to experts who toured IDOC facilities. The Court cited evidence that most cells fail to meet American Correctional Association standards (minimum of 80 square feet ) and are so small that prisoners have little or no ability to move about their cells. The Court noted evidence that these conditions are concerning because inmates are confined nearly around the clock in their cells, many of which lack windows and adequate ventilation. The evidence showed that many prisoners eat, sleep, and defecate in the same tiny, windowless cells for extended periods of time. The Court observed that the conditions described by experts and inmates were "disturbing, and quite frankly distressing."

Co-lead class counsel at Winston & Strawn LLP, Kimball R. Anderson, observed that the Court's ruling is an important step in reforming Illinois' prison system, which experts cite as one of the worst in the nation. Co-lead class counsel at Uptown People's Law Center Alan Mills concurred: "Illinois' prison system locks up too many people, for too long, in horrific conditions. And as solitary confinement is prison within prison, it, too, is overused. The UN states that over 15 days of solitary is torture, yet sometimes people in Illinois spend decades there. And everyone who spends more than a couple of weeks ends up traumatized."

Winston & Strawn LLP is global law firm that for more than 160 years has served as a trusted advocate and advisor to clients, including those who cannot otherwise afford access to justice. Uptown People's Law Center (UPLC) is a nonprofit legal services organization concentrating in prisoners' rights, Social Security disability, and tenants' rights and eviction defense.

SOURCE Winston & Strawn LLP
WASHINGTON, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- With gun violence again on the rise, including four mass shootings in a six-hour period last weekend alone, the U.S. Conference of Mayors is calling on President Biden to prioritize action on gun violence prevention. The U.S. Conference of Mayors applauded President Biden in March of this year when he announced important executive actions through the Department of Justice to address ghost guns and stabilizing braces that alter firearms to make them more accurate and deadly while still concealable, as well as "red flag" legislation for states.

Today, 27 mayors sent a letter to the Biden administration urging immediate action on a variety of fronts to prioritize investment in community violence interventions, expand research related to gun violence causes, enforce existing laws related to gun trafficking and support passage of legislation to establish universal background checks once and for all.

In their letter, the mayors write, "As a nation, we need to take concrete, tangible steps and as our leader, your voice is critically important in this fight So many cities and towns are now dots on a map of mass shootings that could have been prevented if there were a federal web of uniform laws on background checks, eliminating access to guns for those who have a demonstrated history of mental illness or other disqualifying conditions, just to name a few."

The full text of the letter can be found here and below:

The President

The White House

Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

We write to congratulate you and your Administration on the steps you have already taken to address the scourge of gun violence we face in cities across America. These include the Department of Justice's proposed rules to stop the proliferation of ghost guns and clarify that when individuals use accessories to convert pistols into short-barreled rifles, they must comply with the heightened regulations on those dangerous and easily concealable weapons; the Department's publication of a model state red flag law; and the prioritization of gun violence intervention efforts in the various grant programs and increased funding to carry them out. We also applaud the actions announced by the Justice Department on May 26th that will bring together and enlist U.S. Attorneys, the Department's law enforcement agencies and other relevant Department components in a coordinated and comprehensive violent crime reduction initiative.

We believe there are other steps that the federal government is uniquely qualified to take to enhance the efforts already underway. These steps will help to reduce the epidemic of gun violence that we face daily in our cities:

Continue to use the platform of the Presidency to make reducing gun violence not just a law enforcement priority, but truly a public health imperative. Stressing the importance of root cause analysis and supporting investments in mental health, community health initiatives, our youth  particularly efforts to help them reconnect to school and community in the aftermath of the pandemic  as well as support for proven efforts to help returning residents transition back into communities from incarceration are all crucial. These and other efforts to build peaceful and vibrant neighborhoods are essential and the effective use of soft power interventions. As you know well, we cannot police our way out of this problem, but saying it is not good enough. As a nation, we need to take concrete, tangible steps and as our leader, your voice is critically important in this fight.



It is important that your Administration continue to take a leadership role in enacting meaningful and common-sense gun control legislation. We are clear-eyed about the political challenges, but now more than ever, we need to continue this hard but necessary work. So many cities and towns are now dots on a map of mass shootings that could have been prevented if there were a federal web of uniform laws on background checks, eliminating access to guns for those who have a demonstrated history of mental illness or other disqualifying conditions, just to name a few. The challenges that cities and states face around the proliferation of crime guns do not respect geographic boundaries and require a federal set of laws. Here are some specific steps that must be taken:

We need universal background checks and closure of simple loopholes, a ban on assault weapons, and policies that keep guns out of the hands of people who are dangerous to themselves and others as well as promote gun safety.

Additionally, adequate federal enforcement of existing laws is critical, including supporting federal efforts to investigate federally licensed gun dealers, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) which has been constrained by the gun lobby. Illegal gun trafficking market originating in other states and ending up on the streets of cities like Chicago , Detroit , Baltimore , St. Louis and others is a significant source of the gun violence in these and other cities. Interstate gun trafficking requires a federal focus. It can never be adequately addressed by local law enforcement alone and requires sufficient staffing.

Additionally, every day, on social media platforms, illegal gun sales are happening among criminals. Here again, local law enforcement has limited tools to address this significant threat. There needs to be both regulatory and enforcement actions to bring accountability to these social media platforms that often ignore the problem entirely and make it difficult for local law enforcement to stop these illegal sales. The weight of the federal government is needed to elevate this issue and demand a level of accountability that will keep our residents safe.

Finally, we urge this Administration to authorize the provision of resources for the purchase of National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBN) machines and staffing for more firearms examiners. These two elements would be important and worthwhile investments.

We stand ready to work with you and Vice President Harris, Ambassador Susan Rice and Attorney General Merrick Garland to see these actions implemented as quickly as possible and this administrative and legislative agenda achieved.

Sincerely,

Nan Whaley

Lori E. Lightfoot

Tom Cochran Mayor of Dayton

Mayor of Chicago

CEO and Executive Director President

Chair, Criminal and Social







Justice Committee













Steve Adler

Muriel Bowser

London Breed Mayor of Austin

Mayor of Washington, DC

Mayor of San Francisco









Jane Castor

Bill de Blasio

Jenny Durkan Mayor of Tampa

Mayor of New York City

Mayor of Seattle









Greg Fischer

Kate Gallego

Eric Garcetti Mayor of Louisville

Mayor of Phoenix

Mayor of Los Angeles









Todd Gloria

Michael B. Hancock

Frank G. Jackson Mayor of San Diego

Mayor of Denver

Mayor of Cleveland









Kim Janey

Eric Johnson

Van Johnson Mayor of Boston

Mayor of Dallas

Mayor of Savannah









Tishaura Jones

Tim Keller

Jim Kenney Mayor of St. Louis

Mayor of Albuquerque

Mayor of Philadelphia









Keisha Lance Bottoms

Sam Liccardo

Quinton Lucas Mayor of Atlanta

Mayor of San Jose

Mayor of Kansas City (MO)









Vi Lyles

Ron Nirenberg

Sylvester Turner Mayor of Charlotte

Mayor of San Antonio

Mayor of Houston









Ted Wheeler







Mayor of Portland (OR)









About the United States Conference of Mayors -- The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are more than 1,400 such cities in the country today, and each city is represented in the Conference by its chief elected official, the mayor. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

SOURCE U.S. Conference of Mayors

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CHICAGO, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Fyllo, the leader in compliance-first solutions for highly regulated industriesincluding cannabishas appointed Wes Chaar as Chief Data & Analytics Officer. With a background in data strategy, data fusion, mathematical modeling, machine learning and artificial intelligence, Chaar will lead Fyllo's rapidly growing Data Solutions team, which provides access to cannabis consumers for both endemic and non-endemic brands.

Fyllo's data set is the industry's largest and most trusted source of cannabis and CBD purchase data, now widely available for use across today's leading Demand Side Platforms, Data Management Platforms, Supply Side Platforms and Social Platforms.

Chaar joins Fyllo from Catalina USA, where he served as Chief Data & Analytics officer for three years, overseeing Catalina's global efforts to extend their data and insights division. At Catalina, Chaar was responsible for bringing value to hundreds of millions of shoppers worldwide while increasing the efficiency, predictability and responsiveness of retailer and brand marketing initiatives.

"Brands like Uber and Clorox leverage Fyllo Data Solutions to reach the highly influential and motivated cannabis consumer. As this part of our business continues to grow, it was critical to find a data leader that could expand upon what we have built while ensuring data quality, efficacy and scalability," said Chad Bronstein, CEO, and co-founder of Fyllo. "With over two decades of expertise in the Analytics, Data and Decision Sciences fields, Wes's expertise will prove invaluable."

In addition to his position at Catalina, Chaar has served in various roles at Delta Air Lines, Turner / TimeWarner and Sabre Holdings. He holds a doctorate of philosophy from The University of Texas at Austin. His work has been published in various journals and proceedings, including IEEE Transactions, M&SOM, AAS, Interfaces and others, and he has presented at various conferences spanning various industry sectors. Chaar is also a member of various professional associations including IEEE, INFORMS and I-COM.

"Fyllo has built a very strong data business in just a short time, appealing to some of the most prestigious and innovative brands in the world," said Chaar. "I look forward to bringing my experience across industries to cannabis, and enabling marketers to find and reach this coveted audience."

About Fyllo

The Fyllo Compliance Cloud is a suite of software and services built to overcome the complexities of highly regulated industries. We deliver data, media, retail and regulatory solutions that enable organizations to streamline compliance, increase efficiencies, and scale with speed. Mainstream brands also seek out Fyllo's Data Marketplace to target previously inaccessible cannabis and CBD consumers.

SOURCE Fyllo
Corporate governance reforms completed, subject to shareholder approval

BRUSSELS, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Euroclear is pleased to announce the appointment of Francesco Vanni d'Archirafi as Chairman of the Euroclear group boards, subject to shareholder approval at the company's General Meeting of Shareholders on 1 July 2021.

Mr Vanni d'Archirafi joins Euroclear from Citigroup where he has been the New York-based Chief Executive Officer of Citi Transaction Services - the global provider of cash management, trade and securities services to multinational corporations, financial institutions and the public sector around the world - and Citi Holdings, where he profitably managed the biggest portfolio of non-core assets and businesses in the industry. Most recently, he was the Vice Chairman of Banking, Capital Markets and Advisory for EMEA based in London.

Mr Vanni d'Archirafi has led many businesses, committees and boards in a global career that spans 38 years at Citi, including that of long-serving Chairman for Citibank Europe plc and Chairman and CEO of Citibank International plc. He serves on the Boards of Verti Spa and Citibanamex, and was a non-executive director of the LCH Group from 2005 to 2011. He was a longstanding member of the Board of Mapfre International and is the Chairman of Junior Achievement Worldwide as well as trustee of several not-for-profit enterprises in the UK and Europe, including The Felix Project and the Voluntary Solidarity Fund. He is the Vice Chair of the Advisory Council for The Kogod School of Business at American University and is a member of the International Advisory Board of IESE.

Mr Vanni d'Archirafi will join the boards of Euroclear Holding and Euroclear SA/NV as a non-executive director. Additionally, the General Meeting of Shareholders is expected to approve proposed reforms that will further strengthen Euroclear's corporate governance, including the alignment of membership of the two boards. All requisite regulatory approvals regarding the appointment of Mr Vanni d'Archirafi and the reforms to the group's governance structure have been received.

A period of transition will follow the general meeting in order to ensure a smooth handover. During this transition period, Harold Finders and Franco Passacantando will continue to perform their duties as interim Chairs of the Euroclear Holding and Euroclear SA/NV boards, respectively.

The Euroclear boards would like to express their gratitude to Mr Finders and Mr Passacantando for their efforts to successfully deliver the corporate governance reforms and for their continued leadership during the transitionary period.

Commenting on the announcement, Mr Vanni d'Archirafi said:

"It is a great honour to be asked to lead the boards of the Euroclear group. The role of resilient, robust, efficient and reliable digital financial market infrastructure has never been more important to enable the trusted operation and continued innovation of the capital markets and the global economy. I look forward to working with shareholders, board members, Lieve Mostrey and the Euroclear management team to continue enhancing the value that Euroclear brings to clients, stakeholders across the post-trade ecosystem and society."

Harold Finders and Franco Passacantando jointly stated:

"Over the past year, we have conducted an extensive and thorough process to identify the right candidate for this important role. Francesco brings a unique combination of expertise and knowledge combined with extensive board level experience that will prove invaluable to the organisation. We look forward to working with him in the months and years ahead."

Lieve Mostrey, Euroclear group Chief Executive Officer, added:

"We are very pleased to welcome Francesco Vanni d'Archirafi to the Euroclear group. On behalf of all the Euroclear teams, we look forward to working with him closely in the next phase of Euroclear's journey."

About Euroclear

Euroclear group is the financial industry's trusted provider of post trade services. Euroclear provides settlement and custody of domestic and cross-border securities for bonds, equities and derivatives to investment funds. Euroclear is a proven, resilient capital market infrastructure committed to delivering risk-mitigation, automation and efficiency at scale for its global client franchise.

The Euroclear group includes Euroclear Bank - which is rated AA+ by Fitch Ratings and AA by Standard & Poor's - as well as Euroclear Belgium, Euroclear Finland, Euroclear France, Euroclear Nederland, Euroclear Sweden and Euroclear UK & Ireland. The Euroclear group settled the equivalent of EUR 897 trillion in securities transactions in 2020, representing 276 million domestic and cross-border transactions, and held EUR 32.8 trillion in assets for clients by end 2020. For more information about Euroclear, please visit www.euroclear.com .

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/832898/Euroclear_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Euroclear

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NASHVILLE, Tenn., June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Frist Art Museum presents Kara Walker: Cut to the Quick, From the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation, an exhibition that offers a broad overview of the artist's career and explores racial and gender exploitation, abuse, and inequity. Co-organized by Frist Art Museum executive director and CEO Dr. Susan H. Edwards and Nashville-based poet Ciona Rouse, Cut to the Quick will be on view in the Frist's Upper-Level Galleries from July 23 through October 10, 2021.

A leading artist of her generation, Kara Walker (b. 1969) works in a diverse range of media, including prints, drawings, paintings, sculpture, film, and the large-scale silhouette cutouts for which she is perhaps most recognized. Her powerful and provocative images employ contradictions to critique the painful legacies of slavery, sexism, violence, imperialism, and other power structures, including those in the history and hierarchies of art and contemporary culture. Through more than 80 works created between 1994 and 2019 from the collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and the Jordan Schnitzer Family Foundationpremier collectors of works on paper in the United StatesCut to the Quick simultaneously demonstrates Walker's fluency in medium and power in message.

"Her hard-hitting, unorthodox depictions of taboo subjects expose the raw flesh of generational wounds that have never healed," writes Dr. Edwards in an introduction to the exhibition. "Intentionally unsentimental and ambiguous, the works can be disturbing yet also humorous, always exploring the irreconcilable inconsistencies that mirror the human condition."

This is Walker's first solo exhibition at the Frist Art Museum; her work Camptown Ladies appeared in the Frist's presentation of 30 Americans in 201314. Cut to the Quick includes several of the artist's most renowned series: The Emancipation Approximation (19992000), Testimony (2005), Harper's Pictorial History of the Civil War (Annotated) (2005), An Unpeopled Land in Uncharted Waters (2010), and Porgy & Bess (2013). The earliest work in the exhibition is Topsy (1994), which depicts a figure from Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin (1852). The most recent work is a bronze replica of Fons Americanus, the 43-foot-tall allegorical monument installed in Tate Modern's Turbine Hall in 2019. Walker's original and the version coming to the Frist, both based on the Queen Victoria Memorial in front of Buckingham Palace, address the interconnectedness of governments and private enterprise in generating American and European wealth through the transatlantic slave trade.

Walker's process involves extensive research in history, literature, art history, and popular culture. Her groundbreaking room-sized installations of silhouette tableaux were inspired additionally by mythology and fantasy and emerged from her study of colonial portraiture, animated films, and cut-paper silhouettes (a domestic craft popular in nineteenth-century America).

"Controversial at the beginning of her career, Walker's unwavering vision places her, more than twenty-five years later, at the forefront of centuries-old outcries against injustice, articulated most recently in the international groundswell of support for the Black Lives Matter movement," writes Dr. Edwards. "Walker's art demands attention. Can the discomfort, disgust, tension, anxiety, and titillation provoked by these images explode stereotypes?"

In addition to her curatorial responsibilities, co-curator Ciona Rouse composed poems inspired by Walker's works that will be displayed in the gallery, with QR codes directing guests to audio versions of the poems. "Rouse's words coalesce genre within genre, expanding our understanding of the visual, verbal, oral, and performative complexity of the artist's rhetoric," writes Dr. Edwards. "She gives voice to the absent and makes connections across time and between the viewer and the artist."

Exhibition Advisory Committee

In the summer of 2020, the Frist formed an advisory group of local community members, academics, artists, theologians, and writers in preparation for the presentation of Cut to the Quick. This group met periodically over the past year, and their feedback helped shape the exhibition's interpretation and public programming. Their advice was essential in formulating a sensitive and empathetic installation design. On the advisory group's recommendation, a video at the exhibition entrance will give guests a brief introduction to Kara Walker in addition to encouraging mindfulness and respectful responses to the works on view. Areas for confidential or public responses will provide respite throughout the exhibition, and a room for quiet reflection will be available.

Read more about the exhibition.

Exhibition Credit

Co-curated by Susan H. Edwards and Ciona Rouse

Supporter Acknowledgment

Silver Supporter: The Sandra Schatten Foundation

The Frist Art Museum is supported in part by The Frist Foundation, the Metro Nashville Arts Commission, the Tennessee Arts Commission, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Connect with us @FristArtMuseum #TheFrist #FristWalker

About the Frist Art Museum

Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, the Frist Art Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit art exhibition center dedicated to presenting and originating high-quality exhibitions with related educational programs and community outreach activities. Located at 919 Broadway in downtown Nashville, Tenn., the Frist Art Museum offers the finest visual art from local, regional, national, and international sources in exhibitions that inspire people through art to look at their world in new ways. Information on accessibility can be found at FristArtMuseum.org/accessibility. Gallery admission is free for visitors ages 18 and younger and for members, and $15 for adults. For current hours and additional information, visit FristArtMuseum.org or call 615.244.3340.

SOURCE Frist Art Museum

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If you are concerned that you might be facing tax evasion or fraud charges from the IRS, you will need the advice of skilled criminal tax defense counsel. The experienced Tax Attorneys and CPAs at The Tax Law Offices of David W. Klasing can break down your situation and put your mind at ease. For more information about how our services could benefit you, give us a call at (800) 681-1295 or schedule online .

Negligence

If you have made an honest mistake in failing to pay taxes or file appropriately or timely, the IRS may feel that your conduct is enough to civilly penalize but not enough to criminalize. Negligence requires that the taxpayer has made a careless mistake. There is no intent requirement for negligence in tax evasion.

If an IRS auditor has determined that you were negligent in failing to file in compliance with the Internal Revenue Code, they will most often assess a monetary penalty which correlates with the nature of the noncompliance. Considerations will include the size of the amount improperly underpaid, and the circumstances of the negligence involved. Usually, the penalty will work out to be roughly 20% of any additional tax liability assessed because of the negligent filing.

Civil Tax Fraud Explained

The government may impose more severe penalties for taxpayers who willfully engage in fraudulent conduct with the purpose of defrauding the IRS or avoiding paying taxes that are rightfully owed. To prove fraudulent dealing by a taxpayer, the IRS must demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence that at least some portion of the taxpayer's failure to meet their responsibility is due to their fraudulent conduct.

The IRS may impose a penalty of 75% of the underpayment that is attributed to the taxpayer's fraud. If the entire tax return is proven to be influenced by fraud, then the penalty may be 75% of the entire additional balance due. The taxpayer through counsel may be able to argue this down to a 20% negligence penalty through a showing by a preponderance of the evidence that not all the underpayment was influenced by the fraud. The truly scarry reality of the civil fraud penalty is if the government has the evidence to support a civil fraud penalty, it has the evidence to criminally prosecute. If you find yourself facing the possibility of a civil fraud penalty you would be best served hiring competent criminal tax defense counsel to mitigate the possibility of facing a criminal tax prosecution.

Criminal Tax Fraud Explained

The statutes governing criminal tax fraud, or tax evasion, contain elements that are like those found in the statutes governing civil tax fraud. There are three key differences between the two. The first is that the burden for proving criminal tax fraud is much higher than for proving civil tax fraud. Secondly, criminal tax fraud often results in prison time. Third, there is an applicable statute of limitations that governs when criminal tax fraud charges may properly be brought.

To prove criminal tax fraud in a court, the government must demonstrate beyond a reasonable doubt that there was a willful evasion of tax liability on the part of the defendant. This could occur either be in the form of fraudulent tax assessment or fraud surrounding the duty to pay the taxes that were duly assessed.

Key Differences Between Criminal and Civil Tax Fraud

Whether the government will decide to press charges under civil or criminal statutes in each case depends on their assessment facts and circumstances each individual case. Below is an explanation of the rationale that divides criminal and civil tax fraud charges.

Burden of Proof for Civil and Criminal Tax Fraud

The burden of proof is a legal burden that the prosecution must meet in making their arguments to win the case. The burden of proof varies depending on the case law at issue in the case at bar. For civil tax fraud, the government is merely required to prove their case with "clear and convincing evidence." In non-legal terms, this means that the IRS must convince a jury that the defendant is more likely than not guilty of the criminal charges brought by the IRS and prosecuted by the Income Tax Division of the Department of Justice.

In contrast, the criminal tax fraud statutes require that the government prove their arguments "beyond a reasonable doubt." This is the highest evidentiary burden on the prosecution available. It means that, to convict the defendant, the jury cannot have a reasonable doubt in their mind over the defendant's guilt as to the criminal charges levied against the defendant. This difficult burden is required for criminal tax fraud cases because the resulting sentence often includes significant prison time & restitution.

Statute of Limitations in Civil and Criminal Tax Fraud

The statute of limitations is the time limit imposed by law on the length of time during which the government may bring a particular civil or criminal case against someone. If a case is brought after the appropriate statute of limitations has expired, the court will most likely throw the case out at least to any criminal charges outside of the statute.

If you are ever approached by the criminal investigation of the IRS or find yourself under an eggshell or reverse eggshell audit, beware of the concept of the "last affirmative act". If the last affirmative act of a tax crime occurs within the statute of limitations the crime falls within the statute of limitation ever if most of the crime took place prior to the expiration of the statute of limitations. Lying about a crime that took place before the statute of limitations ran qualifies as the last affirmative act of the crime that occurred prior to the running of the statute of limitations. This will effectively bring the entire crime back to within the statute of limitations.

For most civil tax fraud cases, there is no applicable statute of limitations. This means the government is unrestricted by time in their ability to bring civil tax fraud cases. However, most criminal tax fraud laws carry either a five or six-year statute of limitations depending upon the type of crime charged. In other words, the government has five or six years from the time that the noncompliance is discovered to bring their case. If an otherwise criminal case of tax evasion occurred outside of the statute of limitations, the government will often instead attempt to bring a civil tax fraud case. Additionally, once tax fraud is established, the statute of limitations becomes open back to the dawn of time to go back and civilly collect on prior tax fraud even where it occurred in a "closed" tax year.

Have Questions About Degrees of Tax Evasion? Call Us for Answers

The Tax Law Offices of David W. Klasing have the experience necessary to educate you on the finer points of civil and criminal tax law and to successfully mitigate the enforcement actions of the federal and state taxing authorities while protecting your liberty and net worth. To set up a reduce rate initial consultation, give our offices a call at (800) 681-1295 or schedule online here.

See the full version of this article HERE

Public Contact: Dave Klasing Esq. M.S.-Tax CPA, [email protected]

SOURCE Tax Law Offices of David W. Klasing, PC

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WELLESLEY HILLS, Mass., June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Gulf unveiled a new brand platform 'It All Starts Here'. The platform reinforces Gulf's dedication to evolving with the ever-changing demands of today's consumer.

Gulf Unveils New Consumer Brand Platform 'It All Starts Here' Gulf Unveils New Consumer Brand Platform 'It All Starts Here'

With the new brand platform, Gulf is drawing on over a century of quality, convenience and trust while modernizing elements of its brand iconography, including an update to the famous Gulf disc, a refreshed font and the introduction of new vibrant colors. When approaching from the street, the overall image has shifted to boldly feature orange as the primary color to brighten the lot and present a welcoming look and feel.

"We continue to make significant improvements to our brand offering, ensuring an all-encompassing experience and new ways to keep our customers moving well beyond the pump," said Chief Marketing Officer of Gulf, Sue Hayden. "This platform focuses on owning a new value, one of being a locally-connected brand that understands how to make the travel experience reliably easy."

Visually, 'It All Starts Here' signals a change for the brand, with a look and feel that conveys friendliness and ease. The branding embodies Gulf's tradition of customer service, building upon past innovations and appealing to a more diverse consumer base with a much broader set of needs.

"'It All Starts Here' is a unified, action-oriented message that carries with it an entirely new energy to a cross-generational audience," says Nikki Fales, director of marketing at Gulf. "People of all ages will connect with the real-life and aspirational elements the new campaign radiates."

The campaign will feature 30- and 15-second commercial spots airing on connected television throughout the summer driving season. The spots focus on the everyday lives Gulf fuels and demonstrates that opportunities are endless if they begin with a great start.

In addition to the commercial spots, the campaign will deliver messaging through channels at the intersection of today's busy commuters and families. Advertising will be featured on station signage, billboards, social media and in digital ads on platforms including YouTube, Waze and GasBuddy.

To learn more about the Gulf brand, visit www.gulfoil.com

About Gulf Oil

Gulf is a Massachusetts-based company fueling consumers through approximately 1,400 Gulf branded locations across 36 states and Puerto Rico. The company also distributes unbranded products to 1,000 private label locations nationwide. More information can be found at www.gulfoil.com

Media Contact: Nikki Fales, Gulf Oil, [email protected]

SOURCE Gulf Oil

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SHANGHAI, June 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A workman must sharpen his tools if he is to do his work well. Eastroc Beverage (Group) Co., Ltd., a China-based company principally engaged in the R&D, production and sales of beverages, recently marked a major milestone and entered a new and exciting chapter with its successful initial public offering.

The IPO serves as a starting point for the company to turn the unknown into the known, by using what is already known as a basis for uncovering new growth opportunities, by raising the bar for entry into the sector as a way of dealing with competition, and by providing consumers with a better experience. As one moves beyond the IPO, the Harvest Capital chairperson reminds everyone that we must never lose sight of the original goal, forge ahead with determination, honor every creation, and remain practical in one's approach with each step that is taken.

In the mid-19th century, Charles Darwin, the famous biologist, explained his theory of evolution by natural selection in his On the Origin of Species, opening a new era in the history of the discipline. The theory soon impacted every aspect of human society.

The same theory also finds application in today's world of business. On May 27, 2021, Eastroc Beverage, the parent company of the Chinese functional drink brand Eastroc Super Drink, began trading on the Shanghai Stock Exchange. It is the first Chinese energy drink producer to go public.

Eastroc Beverage's stock has performed strongly since. As of June 11, Eastroc Beverage had surged to 190.09 yuan per share after rising by the exchange's permitted daily limit during 12 consecutive trading sessions, consolidating the firm's leadership position with a market valuation exceeding 76 billion yuan.

In view of the ongoing momentum, Eastroc Beverage's market valuation is on its way to soon brushing past the 100 billion yuan mark. By creating the first Chinese drink brand with a potential valuation exceeding 100 billion yuan, Eastroc Beverage continues to cement its reputation as a leading Chinese drink brand and reward hundreds of millions of Chinese consumers for their loyalty, while reaffirming their rising purchasing power amid changes in the consumption culture.

The success is driven by Eastroc Beverage's decades of effort in creating the best imaginable products. During the event organized in celebration of the milestone, Eastroc Beverage chairperson Lin Muqin expressed his gratitude to six stakeholders led by partners, shareholders and employees.

Mr. Li said, in all sincerity, "I'm particularly grateful to Dr. Chanchai Ruayrungruang (also known as by his Chinese name Yan Bin) from Reignwood Group as it was he who introduced Red Bull to China, opening the path to the raising of awareness of energy drinks among early adopters of the product category and boosting the development of the category throughout the country."

Many firms were chomping at the bit to seize the business opportunities brought about by the launch of energy drinks in China, including Eastroc Beverage, a company founded in 1987 and known for its functional drink brand Eastroc Super Drink, and Dali Foods, which had expanded its presence with the rollout of the Hi-Tiger brand. Another major player, Henan Zhongwo Industry, focused on growing the sales of its drink Ti Zhi Neng Liang.

According to data from Euromonitor International, among China's top 6 functional drink brands each boasting a market share over 1% in 2019, Eastroc Beverage represented 15% of the total energy drink sales in the country's domestic market, consolidating its leadership position in the sector and among Chinese brands.

The modest bamboo has bowed leaves, but the proud plum has no upward flowers. This line from a well-known Chinese poem is indicative: although having led Eastroc Beverage to achieve strong performance, Mr. Lin remains a modest man. He continues to improve his leadership skills with the aim of taking the company to the next level.

The quality of humility was also reflected in Mr. Lin's entrepreneurial journey. In the 1990s, Eastroc Beverage faced bankruptcy. In 2003, Mr. Lin, who, at the time, was general manager of sales, took over the management of the firm's brands and production, and launched the pioneering Eastroc Super Drink brand. He revitalized the firm and transformed it into a leader in the energy drink market.

When commenting on Mr. Lin's respect for Mr. Chanchai, Eastroc Beverage investor and partner and Harvest Capital founder and chairperson Alan Song (also known by his Chinese name Song Xiangqian) commented, "I'm impressed with Mr. Lin's vision." Mr. Song said that in an era that requires a company to stay prepared for potential challenges, show respect for rivals and do business with integrity, success depends on an entrepreneur's broad-mindedness and foresight."

On several occasions, Mr. Song repeated his belief that China has entered the era where honesty defines success. He indicated that an entrepreneur who adopts a code of ethics will be treated graciously and respected in the world of business. Achieving success by conducting business with integrity will help generate everlasting assets rather than only short-term profit gains.

According to Mr. Song, a successful business is all about product, while a successful entrepreneur is all about moral quality. It is also reflected in his attitude towards life. In 2019, Mr. Song stated in an article that he had penned, "Common sense tells us that we have to adapt to the changing times. Today, a new trend in the world of business has emerged: those who do business honestly are being recognized in the market."

Mr. Song indicated that an approach with a focus on the business model, channel structure and brand management can be constantly upgraded as the business evolves, however, not all founders who create a profitable business deserve being recognized as an entrepreneur. An entrepreneur should know what defines real success and how to choose a successful business strategy. Entrepreneurs seem to be born with an ability that impacts strategic decision making.

This ability refers to "helping create a better world." In November 2019, Tencent chairperson and chief executive Pony Ma and president Martin Lau determined the firm's new mission with the words "Value for Users, Tech for Good" in an internal letter.

Industry analysts pointed out that Tencent's new concept aligned with Mr. Lin's and Eastroc Beverage's beliefs. As an early adopter of new retail solutions, Eastroc Beverage is committed to taking a user-oriented approach to building a world-class beverage business by addressing consumer expectations for consistent quality in healthy and functional drinks.

Mr. Lin said previously that over the last 32 years, he had devoted himself to the beverage sector with the goal of better serving Chinese consumers with the best products. He commented, "It is not easy to expand our presence in the market segment dominated by one single product category. We usually have to put 8 years, 10 years or even longer into it before succeeding."

Under Mr. Lin's stewardship, Eastroc Beverage has accumulated years of experience and expertise in the beverage market, which, in turn, helped to give birth to the Chinese energy drink brand Eastroc Super Drink. In 2009, the company took the lead in introducing bottled energy drinks, and continued to increase the popularity of the product with the brand proposition that young people need to wake up and fight. Today, Eastroc Super Drink is the No. 1 brand in the Chinese energy drink market in terms of sales.

In 2017, Harvest Capital invested 357 million yuan in Eastroc Beverage as an expression of its confidence in the drinks producer's growth potential and in Mr. Lin's entrepreneurial spirit. It is the only external financing that Eastroc Beverage has to date received.

When looking back on the investment in Eastroc Beverage, Mr. Song said during a media interview that he had met Mr. Lin in 2012. Following numerous on-site visits and exchanges over a five-year period, Eastroc Beverage and Harvest Capital, which share the same mission and vision, finally reached an agreement in 2017.

In addition to the direct investment, Harvest Capital also facilitated the Eastroc Beverage's partnership with Chinese snack food companies Lyfen and Qiaqia Food in a move to create more value by building an industry-wide ecosystem. In the beverage sector, Eastroc Beverage works to make a difference from strategy development to efficient implementation.

Mr. Song believes that a well-respected company should focus on addressing consumer expectations and treating employees, consumers and the wider community with honesty and integrity. In the world of business, the concept of doing everything for the betterment of society is described as part and parcel of the entrepreneurial spirit and it deserves being recognized.

Chinese business culture is largely influenced by Confucianism, which helps define the code of ethics designed to help companies conduct business with integrity and earn a profit that contributes to the betterment of mankind.

SOURCE Harvest Capital
PHILADELPHIA, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Health Union , the leader in building online health solutions for people living with chronic conditions, today announced that it has acquired WEGO Health, the world's largest network of patient leaders - advocates, community leaders, creators and influencers. Combining Health Union's targeted scale and depth in the condition experience with WEGO Health's breadth of patient leaders in nearly all health conditions, Health Union aims to change the face of social health, connecting people in meaningful and innovative ways.

With the addition of WEGO Health's Patient Leader Network, Health Union will become the largest team of experts, patient advocates and healthcare leaders, reaching scale that has never before been achieved in social health. In addition to expanding opportunities within its online health communities, the company will create and deliver unique solutions that impact all people on their health journey, from patients who passively seek health information to patient advocates and influencers who actively share health information on multiple social media platforms.

The combined teams will provide the healthcare industry with disruptive solutions that bring value  in new ways  to patients, sponsors and partners. By activating patients on a massive scale through Health Union's expanding portfolio of online health communities and WEGO Health's Patient Leader Network, Health Union will serve as a cohesive source for the healthcare industry's patient-centered marketing needs.

"For more than 10 years, both Health Union and WEGO Health have been committed to advocating for patients, in complementary ways," said Olivier Chateau, Health Union's co-founder and CEO. "To me, WEGO Health joining the Health Union family represents the natural next step in the evolution of our companies, built on our shared commitment to patients and the future of social health."

The entire WEGO Health team will become part of Health Union with Jack Barrette, CEO and founder of WEGO Health, joining Health Union's executive leadership team.

"Both companies have done a remarkable job of making their shared mission  to empower patients  the core of our successful businesses," said Jack Barrette, CEO and founder of WEGO Health. "WEGO Health and Health Union have both won awards as best places to work for our teams. We've each elevated the patient voice and built trust over more than a decade by staying true to our values. With the combined experience and knowledge of our two organizations, we look forward to defining the future of social health."

Since the launch of its first online health community, Migraine.com, in 2010, Health Union has grown exponentially. Today, Health Union maintains 33 condition-specific communities  with more launching in the near future  that provide safe and supportive environments for people to learn, connect with others and share the experiences of life with chronic health conditions.

Founded in 2007, WEGO Health connects the healthcare industry with the experience, skills and insights of patient leaders across virtually all health conditions and topics. Powered by its Patient Leader Network of more than 100,000 individuals, WEGO Health has combined the science of influencer marketing with the power of patient-driven content to deliver engagement across patient communities at scale.

For more information about Health Union's acquisition of WEGO Health, visit health-union.com/wego-health .

About Health Union

Health Union encourages social interactions that evolve into valuable online health conversations, helping people with chronic conditions find the information, connection, and validation they seek. The company creates condition-specific online communities  publishing original, daily content and continuously cultivating social conversation  to support, educate and connect millions of people with challenging, chronic health concerns. The Health Union family of brands currently includes 33 online health communities , including LungCancer.net, ParkinsonsDisease.net, MultipleSclerosis.net and Migraine.com.

SOURCE Health Union
The round included participation from Eutopia , a distinguished Paris- and New York-based early-stage venture capital fund. They invest in consumer startups with a purpose who are rethinking the way people eat, dress, exercise, and feel.

Yellowpop's funding builds upon a tremendously successful two years since its launch for the young brand, which has partnered with creators, designers, and artists on limited-edition collections like Jonathan Adler, Sarah Bahbah, Andre Saraiva, Susan Alexandra, Clara Bergel, David Elia, Emily Eldridge, Girl Knew York, and Jean Andre.

"We're both super passionate about art, fashion, and lifestyle. That's why we created a brand that combines them all! Yellowpop is about helping people create spaces that bring joy and are uniquely theirs. We can't wait to keep working with incredible creative minds and create even more exciting products and collaborations in the years to come." said Jeremy Cortial and Ruben Grigri, founders of Yellowpop, "We are thrilled that Eutopia shares our vision and we can't wait to see what we will create together."

Beyond the brand's signature LED neon signs, Yellowpop plans to use the funding to expand and develop its product line into a holistic home decor brand, beginning with new partnerships featuring blue-chip artists and brick-and-mortar retail locations in cities like New York, Paris, and London. Yellowpop will also be adding over a dozen new roles to their team - many of which will focus on improving product quality and fostering more sustainable practices.

"With innovative products and an engaging brand story, Yellowpop is redefining the home decor space by offering consumers something that expresses their individuality and unique sense of self," said Antoine Regis of Eutopia. "We're excited to see Yellowpop's continued momentum in the market with offerings that speak to such a broad range of people."

In addition to working with a broad range of creatives and brands across the world, Yellowpop also specializes in customized B2B applications whether it be for interior designers, event planners, and retail brands to bring an attention-grabbing pop to their projects. From Google to Snapchat and Saint Laurent to Kiehl's - some of the world's most recognized brands have entrusted Yellowpop to create custom pieces that elevate their activations and exceed their expectations.

Unlike other home decor brands on the market, Yellowpop places cutting-edge design, technology, and innovative thinking at the forefront. For more information on the brand or to view their current collaborations, please visit www.yellowpop.com.

@yellowpop

About Yellowpop

Yellowpop is a home decor brand that's on a mission to change the way we decorate our homes. Instead of simply filling it with commodities, we want to inspire our community to think more about design and the role our products play in their lives. It's your home. The objects inside of it should be a reflection of you. Our LED neon signs are designed to inspire boldness and bring joy. They speak to each person differently, and we love them because of the way they make us feel. At Yellowpop, our values are simple: Be bold, be bright, have fun. We believe everyone should have the chance to brighten their day with a neon sign. And we're sharing the joy, one neon sign at a time. Together, with the global art and design community, we're using the power of art to make the world a brighter place.

About Eutopia

Eutopia is a European early-stage investment fund dedicated to consumer startups with a purpose. Eutopia's investment thesis is driven by current shifts in consumer behavior. We back founders who are rethinking the way we eat, shop, sleep and feel through a "good for me, good for the communities, good for the planet" approach. The team manages 170 million euros (including 90M Eutopia II fund) and has invested in 26 companies including Oh My Cream!, Hari&co, Hapik, Tediber, or Tiptoe. For more information please visit:www.eutopia.vc

PRESS CONTACT

PURPLE:

[email protected]

SOURCE Yellowpop

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NEW YORK, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Hospital for Special Surgery's (HSS) Lerner Children's Pavilion is named the best pediatric orthopedic hospital in the tri-state region, ranking among the nation's finest in the 2021-2022 U.S. News & World Report's "Best Children's Hospitals" list.

"We are proud to provide the most advanced and comprehensive care for young patients with musculoskeletal conditions," said Louis A. Shapiro, president and CEO of HSS. "This recognition demonstrates the commitment of our pediatric specialists to do what's best for each patient and their family, so they can get back to what they need and love to do with confidence."

The 15th annual Best Children's Hospitals rankings are the only comprehensive source of quality-related information on pediatric centers in the country. These rankings recognize the top 50 pediatric facilities across the U.S. in 10 pediatric specialties: cancer, cardiology and heart surgery, diabetes and endocrinology, gastroenterology and gastrointestinal surgery, neonatology, nephrology, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopedics, pulmonology and lung surgery, and urology.

The U.S. News Best Children's Hospitals rankings rely on clinical data and on an annual survey of pediatric specialists. The rankings methodology factors in patient outcomes, such as patient safety, and infection rates, as well as available clinical resources and compliance with best practices.

"When selecting a hospital for pediatric orthopedic care, safety, quality and personalized treatment are the greatest importance for families," said Roger F. Widmann, MD, chief of the Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery Service at HSS. "These measures remain at the center of all that we do, when diagnosing and caring for children with musculoskeletal conditions, to get them back to the activities they enjoy the most."

Select measures driving the compilation of this year's list where HSS performed at the forefront include:

Adoption of Health Information Technology

Advanced Technology

Engagement in Research

Commitment to Quality Improvement

Steps to Engage Families

Fulltime Subspecialist

Patient and Family Services

Nurse Staffing

Nurse Magnet Recognition

Specialized Clinics and Programs

Use of Infection-preventing Measures

Speed and Success with Complex Fractures



"HSS is focused solely on providing the safest and most advanced musculoskeletal care," said Bryan T. Kelly, MD, surgeon-in-chief and medical director at HSS. "Our team of pediatric specialists is dedicated to performing, researching, and teaching the latest techniques and treatments for children, in a safe and healing environment."

There were more than 44,000 pediatric visits to the HSS Lerner Children's Pavilion to be treated by dedicated surgeons, physicians, anesthesiologists, radiologists, nurses and social workers. Its Leon Root MD, Motion Analysis Laboratory and Child Life program are among unique features.



About HSS

HSS is the world's leading academic medical center focused on musculoskeletal health. At its core is Hospital for Special Surgery, nationally ranked No. 1 in orthopedics (for the 11th consecutive year), No. 4 in rheumatology by U.S. News & World Report (2020-2021), and the best pediatric orthopedic hospital in NY, NJ and CT by U.S. News & World Report "Best Children's Hospitals" list (2021-2022). HSS is ranked world #1 in orthopedics by Newsweek (2020-2021). Founded in 1863, the Hospital has the lowest complication and readmission rates in the nation for orthopedics, and among the lowest infection rates. HSS was the first in New York State to receive Magnet Recognition for Excellence in Nursing Service from the American Nurses Credentialing Center five consecutive times. The global standard total knee replacement was developed at HSS in 1969. An affiliate of Weill Cornell Medical College, HSS has a main campus in New York City and facilities in New Jersey, Connecticut and in the Long Island and Westchester County regions of New York State, as well as in Florida. In addition to patient care, HSS leads the field in research, innovation and education. The HSS Research Institute comprises 20 laboratories and 300 staff members focused on leading the advancement of musculoskeletal health through prevention of degeneration, tissue repair and tissue regeneration. The HSS Global Innovation Institute was formed in 2016 to realize the potential of new drugs, therapeutics and devices. The HSS Education Institute is a trusted leader in advancing musculoskeletal knowledge and research for physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, academic trainees, and consumers in more than 130 countries. The institution is collaborating with medical centers and other organizations to advance the quality and value of musculoskeletal care and to make world-class HSS care more widely accessible nationally and internationally. www.hss.edu.

SOURCE Hospital for Special Surgery

Related Links

https://www.hss.edu


CAMBRIDGE, Mass., June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- IBM (NYSE: IBM) Security today announced the results of a global survey examining consumers' digital behaviors during the pandemic, as well as their potential long-term impact on cybersecurity. With society becoming increasingly accustomed to digital-first interactions, the study found that preferences for convenience often outweighed security and privacy concerns among individuals surveyed  leading to poor choices around passwords and other cybersecurity behaviors.

IBM Report: 82% of consumers admit to reusing online credentials (such as passwords) at least some of the time.

Consumers' lax approach to security, combined with rapid digital transformation by businesses during the pandemic, may provide attackers with further ammunition to propagate cyberattacks across industries  from ransomware to data theft. According to IBM Security X-Force, bad personal security habits may also carry over to the workplace and can lead to costly security incidents for companies, with compromised user credentials representing one of the top root sources of cyberattacks reported in 2020.1

The global survey2 of 22,000 individuals in 22 markets, conducted by Morning Consult on behalf of IBM Security, identified the following effects of the pandemic on consumer security behaviors:

Digital Boom will Outlast Pandemic Protocols: Individuals surveyed created 15 new online accounts during the pandemic on average, equating to billions of new accounts created around the world. With 44% reporting that they do not plan to delete or deactivate these new accounts, these consumers will have an increased digital footprint for years to come, greatly expanding the attack surface for cybercriminals.

Account Overload Led to Password Fatigue: The surge in digital accounts led to lax password behaviors among those surveyed, with 82% of respondents admitting to reusing credentials at least some of the time. This means that many of the new accounts created during the pandemic likely relied on reused email and password combinations, which may have already been exposed via data breaches over the past decade.

Convenience Often Outweighed Security & Privacy: More than half (51%) of millennials surveyed would rather place an order using a potentially insecure app or website, rather than call or go to a physical location in person. With these users more likely to overlook security concerns for the convenience of digital ordering, the burden of security will likely fall more heavily on companies providing these services to avoid fraud.

As consumers lean further into digital interactions, these behaviors also have the potential to spur adoption of emerging technologies in a variety of settings  from telehealth, to digital identity.3

"The pandemic led to a surge in new online accounts, but society's growing preference for digital convenience may come at a cost to security and data privacy," said Charles Henderson, Global Managing Partner and Head of IBM Security X-Force. "Organizations must now consider the effects of this digital dependence on their security risk profile. With passwords becoming less and less reliable, one way that organizations can adapt, beyond multi-factor authentication, is shifting to a zero trust approach  applying advanced AI and analytics throughout the process to spot potential threats, rather than assuming a user is trusted after authentication."

Consumers Report High Expectations for Ease of Access

The survey shed light on a variety of consumer behaviors impacting the cybersecurity landscape today and moving forward. As individuals increasingly embrace digital interactions in more realms of their lives, the survey found that many have also become primed with high expectations for ease of access and use.

5 Minute Rule: According to the survey, most adults (59%) expect to spend less than 5 minutes setting up a new digital account.

According to the survey, most adults (59%) expect to spend less than 5 minutes setting up a new digital account. Three Strikes, You're Out: Globally, respondents would attempt 3-4 logins before resetting their password. These resets not only cost companies' money, but they can also pose security threats if used in combination with an already compromised email account.

Globally, respondents would attempt 3-4 logins before resetting their password. These resets not only cost companies' money, but they can also pose security threats if used in combination with an already compromised email account. Committed to Memory: 44% of respondents store online account information in their memory (most common method,) while 32% write this information on paper.

44% of respondents store online account information in their memory (most common method,) while 32% write this information on paper. Multi-factor Authentication: While password reuse is a growing problem, adding an additional factor of verification for higher risk transactions can help reduce the risk of account compromise. The survey found that around two-thirds of global respondents had used multi-factor authentication within the past few weeks of being surveyed.

Diving Deeper into Digital Healthcare

During the pandemic, digital channels became a crucial component to address massive demands for COVID-19 vaccines, testing and treatment. Consumers' adoption of a wide variety of digital channels for COVID-19-related services may spur greater digital engagement with healthcare providers moving forward by lowering the barrier for entry among new users, according to IBM Security analysis.4 According to the survey:

63% of respondents engaged with pandemic-related services 5 via some form of digital channel (web, mobile app, email, and text message).

via some form of digital channel (web, mobile app, email, and text message). While websites/web apps were the most common method of digital engagement, mobile apps and text messages also received significant usage  with 39% and 20% engaging via these channels, respectively.

As healthcare providers push further into telemedicine, it will become increasingly important for their security protocols to be designed to withstand this shift  from keeping critical IT systems online, to protecting sensitive patient data and continued HIPAA compliance. This includes data segmentation and implementing strict controls so that users can only access specific systems and data, limiting the impact of a compromised account or device. To prepare for the event of ransomware and extortion attacks, patient data should be encrypted, preferably at all times, and there must be reliable backups in place so that systems and data can be quickly restored with minimal interruption.

Paving the Way for Digital Credentials

The concept of digital health passes, or so-called vaccine passports, introduced consumers to a real-world use case for digital credentials, which offer a technology-based approach to verify specific aspects of our identity. According to the survey, 65% of adults globally say they are familiar with the concept of digital credentials, and 76% would be likely to adopt them if they became commonly acceptable.

This exposure to the idea of digitized proof of identity during the pandemic may help spur wider adoption of modernized systems of digital identity, which could potentially replace the need for traditional forms of ID like passports and driver's licenses, offering a way for consumers to provide the limited information required for a specific transaction. While leveraging a digital form of identity has the potential to create a sustainable model for the future, security and privacy measures must be put in place to help protect against counterfeiting  calling for the capabilities of blockchain solutions to verify and provide the ability to update these credentials in the event they are compromised.

How Organizations Can Adapt to Shifting Consumer Security Landscape

Businesses that have become increasingly reliant on digital engagement with consumers as a result of the pandemic should consider the impact this has on their cybersecurity risk profiles. In light of shifting consumer behaviors and preferences around digital convenience, IBM Security suggests that organizations consider the following security recommendations:

Zero Trust Approach: Given increasing risks, companies should consider evolving to a zero trust security approach, which operates under the assumption that an authenticated identity or the network itself may already be compromised, and therefore continuously validates the conditions for connection between users, data and resources to determine authorization and need. This approach requires companies to unify their security data and approach, with the goal of wrapping security context around every user, every device and every interaction.

Given increasing risks, companies should consider evolving to a zero trust security approach, which operates under the assumption that an authenticated identity or the network itself may already be compromised, and therefore continuously validates the conditions for connection between users, data and resources to determine authorization and need. This approach requires companies to unify their security data and approach, with the goal of wrapping security context around every user, every device and every interaction. Modernizing Consumer IAM: For companies that want to continue leveraging digital channels for consumer engagement, providing a seamless authentication process is important. Investing in a modernized Consumer Identity and Access Management (CIAM) strategy can help companies increase digital engagement  providing a frictionless user experience across digital platforms and using behavioral analytics to help decrease the risk of fraudulent account use.

For companies that want to continue leveraging digital channels for consumer engagement, providing a seamless authentication process is important. Investing in a modernized Consumer Identity and Access Management (CIAM) strategy can help companies increase digital engagement  providing a frictionless user experience across digital platforms and using behavioral analytics to help decrease the risk of fraudulent account use. Data Protection & Privacy: Having more digital users means that companies will also have more sensitive consumer data to protect. With data breaches costing companies $3.86 million on average among those studied, 6 organizations must put strong data security controls in place to protect against unauthorized access  from monitoring data to detect suspicious activity, to encrypting sensitive data wherever it travels. Companies should also implement the right privacy policies on-premises and in the cloud in order to help maintain consumer trust.

Having more digital users means that companies will also have more sensitive consumer data to protect. With data breaches costing companies on average among those studied, organizations must put strong data security controls in place to protect against unauthorized access  from monitoring data to detect suspicious activity, to encrypting sensitive data wherever it travels. Companies should also implement the right privacy policies on-premises and in the cloud in order to help maintain consumer trust. Put Security to the Test: With usage and reliance on digital platforms changing rapidly, companies should consider dedicated testing to verify that the security strategies and technologies they've relied on previously still hold up in this new landscape. Re-evaluating the effectiveness of incident response plans and testing applications for security vulnerabilities are both important components of this process.

To view the full report, please visit: http://ibm.biz/IBMSecurity_ConsumerSurvey

About IBM Security

IBM Security offers one of the most advanced and integrated portfolios of enterprise security products and services. The portfolio, supported by world-renowned IBM Security X-Force research, enables organizations to effectively manage risk and defend against emerging threats. IBM operates one of the world's broadest security research, development and delivery organizations, monitors 150 billion+ security events per day in more than 130 countries, and has been granted more than 10,000 security patents worldwide. For more information, please check www.ibm.com/security, follow @IBMSecurity on Twitter or visit the IBM Security Intelligence blog.

Report Methodology: A global survey was conducted by Morning Consult on behalf of IBM in March 2021. The study was conducted among 22,000 adults in 22 markets (1,000 respondents per market) including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Peru, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, UK, US, Middle East, Central & Eastern Europe, Nordics, and BNL (Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg).

###

Media Contact:

Cassy Lalan

IBM Security Communications

319-230-2232

[email protected]

____________________ 1 IBM X-Force Threat Index 2021: Compromised user credentials were #3 initial attack vector for cyberattacks in 2020, representing 18% of incidents reported. 2 Global survey was conducted by Morning Consult on behalf of IBM in March 2021. The study was conducted among 22,000 adults in 22 markets. 3 Prediction based on IBM Security insights 4 Prediction based on IBM Security analysis 5 Includes COVID-19 financial relief, testing, treatment and vaccinations 6 2020 Cost of a Data Breach Report, benchmark study conducted by Ponemon Institute, analyzed and sponsored by IBM Security

SOURCE IBM

Related Links

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DUBLIN, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Medical Electrodes Market Size, Market Share, Application Analysis, Regional Outlook, Growth Trends, Key Players, Competitive Strategies and Forecasts, 2021 to 2029" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global medical electrodes market accounted for a value of US$ 1,317.3 Mn in 2020, and expected to attain US$ 2,806.9 Mn by 2029. Factors characterizing the growth of this market are globally growing elder population base, along with increasing adoption of medical electrodes for the diagnosis and treatment of various conditions, technological advances in medical electrodes, and rising preference for minimally invasive procedures.



The older population is highly prone to develop cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and neurophysiological/neurological disorders. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that global population aged 60 years and older has surged from 841.0 Mn in 2013 to 962.3 Mn in 2020, and projected to surpass 2.0 Bn by the end of 2050. Rising prevalence of diseases such as CVDs, circulatory disturbances, sleep disorders, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease (PD), brain disorders, Trigeminal Neuralgia (TGN), sinusitis, tinnitus, Raynaud's disease, gout, and fibromyalgia are propelling the usage of medical device electrodes.

Parkinson's Foundation, a nonprofit organization, stated that currently, 10.0 Mn individuals across the globe are living with Parkinson's disease. The WHO reported the global burden of neurological disorders accounted for a total of 94.6 Mn deaths in 2015, which is anticipated to cross 103 Mn by the end of 2030. The American College of Cardiology (ACC) Foundation reported that in 2015, around 422.7 Mn patients were suffering from CVDs and about 17.9 Mn patients died from same in 2016, accounting 31.0% of all worldwide deaths. Additionally, change in lifestyle across the world is causing sleep disorders wherein 20.0% of the global population is sleep deprived, thereby expected to propel the demand for medical device electrodes over the forecast period.



The Diagnostics Segment to Command the Market from 2021 to 2029



Worldwide rising need for early diagnosis of CVDs, neurophysiological/neurological disorders, and sleep disorders coupled with mounting adoption of various diagnostic tests such as electrocardiography (ECG), electromyography (EMG), electroencephalography (EEG), electroretinography (ERG), and electronystagmography (ENG) are fuelling the demand for medical electrodes. Electrocardiography electrodes are portable, conductive, and adhesive in nature, thereby are highly used in capturing and storing patients' heartbeats. Globally growing burden of CVDs along with a major focus on early diagnosis of CVDs is also supporting the dominance of the ECG electrodes among the diagnostics' segment.



North America Led the Market in 2020 due to the Presence of Supportive Healthcare Infrastructure and Domicile of Key Market Players



North America would continue to dominate the market throughout the forecast period owing to the presence of key market participants, favorable healthcare infrastructure, higher adoption of medical electrodes, and availability of technologically developed electrodes including hydrogel & dry electrodes, which offers enhanced adhesion capability and better conduction features in comparison with gel-based electrodes.



On the other hand, implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST) by the Indian government to avoid the double taxation/cascading effect, thus making it easier to start & expand businesses and comply with tax regulations is contributing to the significant growth of Asia Pacific. Large patient pool in Japan and China are also supporting the quick pace of Asia Pacific market. In addition, the supportive role of various governments across South Asia in practicing Government Reforms and Infrastructure Development (GRID) would assist in market growth in the near future.



The Presence of International Market Players Creates Market Penetration Challenging for New Entrants



Key participants in this industry are GE Healthcare, Boston Scientific Corporation, Medtronic plc, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., Philips Healthcare, 3M Healthcare, C. R. Bard, Inc., CONMED Corporation, Asahi Kasei Corporation, and Natus Medical Incorporated. These manufacturers are adopting growth strategies such as new product launches, collaborations & partnerships, divestitures, mergers & acquisitions (M&As), and operational & geographical expansion. In March 2016, Natus Medical Incorporated acquired the assets of NeuroQuest, LLC; a U.S.-based neurodiagnostic services provider in order to strengthen its division namely Global Neuro-Diagnostics (GND).



Key questions answered in this report

What are the current market trends and dynamics in the medical electrodes market and valuable opportunities for emerging players?

Which electrode type segment contributes to the maximum market share?

Which segment accounts for the fastest CAGR during the forecast period?

Which diagnostics sub-segment holds the highest market share?

Which therapeutics sub-segment accounts for the largest market share?

What is the impact of high cost medical electrodes on the market?

Are low and middle-income economies investing in the medical electrodes market?

What is the market trend and dynamics in emerging markets such as Latin America and Middle East & Africa ?

Key Topics Covered:



Chapter 1 Preface



Chapter 2 Executive Summary

2.1 Market Snapshot: Global ME Market

2.2 Global ME Market, by Type, 2020 (US$ Mn)

2.3 Global ME Market, by Geography, 2020 (US$ Mn)



Chapter 3 Market Dynamics

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Market Dynamics

3.2.1 Market Drivers

3.2.1.1 Globally Growing Elderly Population Coupled With Rising Prevalence of Chronic and Other Diseases

3.2.1.2 Driver 2

3.2.2 Challenges

3.2.2.1 Challenge 1

3.2.2.2 Challenge 2

3.2.3 Opportunities

3.2.3.1 Opportunity 1

3.2.3.2 Opportunity 2

3.3 Attractive Investment Proposition, by Geography, 2020

3.4 Market Positioning of Key Players, 2020



Chapter 4 Global Medical Electrodes (ME) Market, by Type, 2019-2029 (US$ Mn)

4.1 Overview

4.2 Diagnostics

4.2.1 Electrocardiography (ECG) Electrodes

4.2.2 Electroencephalography (EEG) Electrodes

4.2.3 Electromyography (EMG) Electrodes

4.2.4 Electroretinography (ERG) Electrodes

4.2.5 Fetal Scalp Electrodes (FSEs)

4.2.6 Others [Electronystagmography (ENG) Electrodes, Needle Electrodes, Ion-selective Electrodes (ISEs), and Textile Electrodes]

4.3 Therapeutics

4.3.1 Pacemaker Electrodes

4.3.2 Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulator (TENS) Electrodes

4.3.3 Defibrillator Electrodes

4.3.4 Electrosurgical Electrodes

4.3.5 Others [Electrical Muscle Stimulator (EMS) Electrodes and Functional Electrical Stimulator Electrodes]



Chapter 5 Global Medical Electrodes (ME) Market, by Geography, 2019-2029 (US$ Mn)

5.1 Overview

5.2 North America

5.2.1 North America ME Market, by Type, 2019-2029 (US$ Mn)

5.2.2 North America ME Market, by Country, 2019-2029 (US$ Mn)

5.2.2.1 U.S.

5.2.2.2 Canada

5.3 Europe ME Market, 2019-2029 (US$ Mn)

5.3.1 Europe ME Market, by Type, 2019-2029 (US$ Mn)

5.3.2 Europe ME Market, by Country/Region, 2019-2029 (US$ Mn)

5.3.2.1 U.K.

5.3.2.2 Germany

5.3.2.3 Rest of Europe

5.4 Asia Pacific ME Market, 2019-2029 (US$ Mn)

5.4.1 Asia Pacific ME Market, by Type, 2019-2029 (US$ Mn)

5.4.2 Asia Pacific ME Market, by Country/Region, 2019-2029 (US$ Mn)

5.4.2.1 Japan

5.4.2.2 China

5.4.2.3 Rest of Asia Pacific

5.5 Latin America ME Market, 2019-2029 (US$ Mn)

5.5.1 Latin America ME Market, by Type, 2019-2029 (US$ Mn)

5.5.2 Latin America ME Market, by Country/Region, 2019-2029 (US$ Mn)

5.5.2.1 Brazil

5.5.2.2 Mexico

5.5.2.3 Rest of Latin America

5.6 Middle East & Africa ME Market, 2019-2029 (US$ Mn)

5.6.1 Middle East & Africa ME Market, by Type, 2019-2029 (US$ Mn)

5.6.2 Middle East & Africa ME Market, by Region, 2019-2029 (US$ Mn)

5.6.2.1 GCC

5.6.2.2 Rest of Middle East & Africa



Chapter 6 Company Profiles

6.1 GE Healthcare

6.2 Boston Scientific Corporation

6.3 Medtronic plc

6.4 Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.

6.5 Philips Healthcare

6.6 3M Healthcare

6.7 C. R. Bard, Inc.

6.8 CONMED Corporation

6.9 Asahi Kasei Corporation

6.10 Natus Medical Incorporated

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/tbs788

Media Contact:

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SOURCE Research and Markets

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Theodore Group is in good company with insurance legends nationwide who have joined Integrity's fast-growing network. Since their 2009 inception, Theodore Group has experienced rapid growth and recognition by focusing on providing exceptional service and support to agents. In 2021, the company expects to place more than $15 million in annual paid premium, meeting the life insurance needs of thousands of Americans.

"The Integrity platform is tailor-made for agencies like Theodore Group. It's a place where they can collaborate with other industry icons, share best practices and grow their business even faster," said Bryan W. Adams, Co-Founder and CEO of Integrity Marketing Group. "When you are working hard to change the industry for the better, you can never have enough great team members like Nick and Cindi, and I'm honored to welcome them to the Integrity family."

"No one in the industry has more extensive resources than Integrity," said Barry Clarkson, President and CEO of Equis Financial and Managing Partner at Integrity. "It was built to take great companies and turn them into phenomenal companies  what we call the 'Integrity Effect.' Theodore Group has laid the groundwork for this level of growth, and I'm thrilled to see them join Integrity."

"The 'Integrity Effect' for us means joining forces with a large company that shares the same values as we do, while still putting the client first every time," said Nick Theodore, CEO of Theodore Group. "When I found a company as impressive as Integrity, that has stayed true to its values and philosophy, I knew we had to be a part of it. We've achieved record-breaking growth already, but we're ready to add Integrity's fuel to what we have built and double or triple in size from here. With Integrity, I am confident we will be able to scale our business faster than we ever could on our own  and I couldn't be more excited."

Bolstering Theodore Group's growth will be Integrity's full suite of proprietary resources, including CRM, market research capabilities, online quoting and data tools, and a world-class advertising and marketing firm. Theodore Group will utilize Integrity's administrative infrastructure to centralize accounting, human resources, IT, product development and legal support.

In addition, Theodore Group will join the impressive collective of industry leaders within Integrity's partner network, all of whom share their vast knowledge, experience and expertise. They include CSG Actuarial, ThomasARTS, Deft Research, Access Capital, Brokers International and Insurance Administrative Solutions' third-party administrator, as well as Connexion Point, SeniorCare Benefits and Unified Health call centers.

Theodore Group will now offer its employees meaningful company ownership through the Integrity Employee Ownership Plan.

"Integrity has all the resources and relationships Theodore Group needs to reach new heights," said Cindi Theodore, COO of Theodore Group. "They operate their business using the same values we do, which makes this partnership feel like a seamless fit. From the cutting-edge software to the marketing resources and back-office support, we can completely lean on Integrity to unleash the levels of success we know we're capable of achieving."

For more information about Integrity's partnership with Theodore Group, view a video at www.integritymarketing.com/TheodoreGroup.

About Integrity Marketing Group

Integrity Marketing Group, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is the leading independent distributor of life and health insurance products focused on meeting Americans wherever they are  in person, over the phone and online. Integrity is innovating insurance by developing cutting-edge technology designed to simplify and streamline the healthcare experience for everyone. In addition, Integrity develops exclusive products with insurance carrier partners and markets these products through its distribution network that includes other large insurance agencies throughout the country. Integrity's almost 5,500 employees work with over 370,000 independent agents who service more than eight million clients annually. In 2021, Integrity expects to help insurance carriers place over $7 billion in new sales. For more information, visit www.integritymarketing.com.

About Theodore Group

Theodore Group, headquartered in Kissimmee, FL, is one of the nation's fastest growing life insurance agencies. Founded in 2009, they specialize in mortgage protection, final expense and advanced markets. Theodore Group serves thousands of Americans, with more than $15 million in premium expected in 2021. They take great pride in helping their expanding network of agents protect American families. For more information, visit www.theodoregroup.info.

SOURCE Integrity Marketing Group, LLC

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Dr. Nikhil Munshi will receive the Robert A. Kyle Lifetime Achievement Award, named for the world-renowned myeloma expert and honoring those whose work has resulted in significant advances in research, treatment, and care of myeloma patients. Dr. Shaji Kumar will receive the Brian G.M. Durie Outstanding Achievement Award, named for the IMF Chairman, Dr. Brian Durie, in recognition of excellence in myeloma research.

"Our honorees have continued to build on the work of Dr. Kyle, which has resulted in so many promising advances," Dr. Durie said. "We applaud their accomplishments and important contributions to improving the lives of myeloma patients. We hope that they and their work inspire the researchers who attend the IMWG Summit to aim even higher to help us understand and ultimately find a cure for this disease."

Dr. Nikhil Munshi is the Kraft Family Chair and Professor of Medicine at the Harvard Medical School and the Director of Basic and Correlative Science, and Associate Director of the Jerome Lipper Myeloma Center at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. He is an attending physician at the Brigham and Women's Hospital.

"It is an incredible honor to receive this award named after the pioneer in myeloma and leader of clinical studies, Dr. Robert Kyle," said Dr. Munshi. "It recognizes the contributions of manymost importantly the patients. With their help and motivation, I think a cure is on the horizon."

Dr. Munshi's research focuses on understanding genomic changes in myeloma and molecular mechanisms driving cancer, as well as improving diagnosis, prognosis and therapeutics. His clinical interests include CAR T-cell therapy and novel targeted therapeutics.

Dr. Shaji Kumar is a consultant in the Division of Hematology and the Mark and Judy Mullins Professor of Hematological Malignancies at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He is Chair of the Myeloma, Amyloidosis and Dysproteinemia Disease Group, and an Associate Chair for research in the Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic.

"The myeloma community has been a second family to me, and I am deeply honored to be receiving this recognition," said Dr. Kumar. "It has been my privilege to work with my colleagues all these years to improve the outcomes of patients with myeloma and related disorders, and I am very grateful for the opportunity to be part of this journey."

Dr. Kumar is the principal investigator of clinical trials exploring new drugs and combinations for newly diagnosed and relapsed myeloma. His laboratory focuses on understanding the role of bone marrow microenvironment in the development and progression of myeloma.

"These two extraordinary researchers have made tremendous impacts on the diagnosis and treatment of multiple myeloma," said Dr. Durie. "While the disease is as yet incurable, the extraordinary efforts of Dr. Munshi and Dr. Kumar are getting us closer to a cure."

ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL MYELOMA FOUNDATION

Founded in 1990, the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) is the first and largest foundation focusing specifically on multiple myeloma. The Foundation's reach extends to more than 525,000 members in 140 countries worldwide. The IMF is dedicated to improving the quality of life of myeloma patients while working toward prevention and a cure by focusing on four key areas: research, education, support, and advocacy. The IMF has conducted more than 250 educational seminars worldwide, maintains a world-renowned InfoLine, and in 2001, established the International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG), a collaborative research initiative focused on improving myeloma treatment options for patients. In 2012, the IMF launched the Black Swan Research Initiative, a groundbreaking research project aimed at curing myeloma. The IMF can be reached at (800) 452-CURE (2873). The global website is www.myeloma.org. Follow the IMF on Twitter @IMFmyeloma.

CONTACT:

Debra Gendel [email protected] (310) 710-1903

Sapna Kumar [email protected] (818) 487-7455

SOURCE International Myeloma Foundation

Related Links

http://www.myeloma.org


BRUSSELS, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, FleishmanHillard announced that Jim Brunsden will join its Brussels-EU office as a senior vice president, Financial Services, beginning 1st July 2021.

Brunsden has worked as a journalist reporting on EU policy and politics for more than 15 years, most recently with the Financial Times and previously with Bloomberg News. His coverage included some of the most important debates and dossiers of the past decade such as the 2008 financial crash, the eurozone debt crisis and Brexit.

John Saunders, president and CEO, FleishmanHillard, said:

"At FleishmanHillard we endeavour to look at the world around us with an analytical eye, to understand its developments and trends so we're able to guide our clients through them in the most informed and compelling way. Talent and expertise are critical to achieving this, and I have always considered these as our prime riches. Jim Brunsden will bring a unique perspective to our clients, to our Brussels office and to the whole network around the globe, and it will be precious."

Brunsden said:

"It is a real honour to join this great team. I have come across FleishmanHillard's professionals often

during my career as a journalist, and I know this is the best place to open this new exciting chapter in my career. It is a new perspective on policymaking that I am keen to explore, moving from my previous position of reporter, commenting on and analysing EU policymaking, to that of consultant. I am looking forward to new challenges and supporting our clients."

About FleishmanHillard

FleishmanHillard specializes in public relations, reputation management, public affairs, brand marketing, digital strategy, social engagement and content strategy. FleishmanHillard was named 2019 PRWeek U.S. Outstanding Large Agency; 2019 Holmes Report North America Large Agency of the Year; ICCO Network of the Year  Americas 2017-2020; PRovoke Media Greater China Consultancy of the Year 2020; PRWeek UK Best Places to Work 2020; Human Rights Campaign Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality 2018-2020; and NAFE's "Top Companies for Executive Women" 2010-2020. The firm's award-winning work is widely heralded, including at the Cannes International Festival of Creativity. FleishmanHillard is part of Omnicom Public Relations Group, and has 80 offices in more than 30 countries, plus affiliates in 50 countries.

About Omnicom Public Relations Group

Omnicom Public Relations Group is a global collective of three of the top global public relations agencies worldwide and specialist agencies in areas including public affairs, marketing to women, global health strategy and corporate social responsibility. It encompasses more than 6,300 public relations professionals in more than 370 offices worldwide who provide their expertise to companies, government agencies, NGOs and nonprofits across a wide range of industries. Omnicom Public Relations Group delivers for clients through a relentless focus on talent, continuous pursuit of innovation and a culture steeped in collaboration. Omnicom Public Relations Group is part of the DAS Group of Companies, a division of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC) that includes more than 200 companies in a wide range of marketing disciplines including advertising, public relations, healthcare, customer relationship management, events, promotional marketing, branding and research.

SOURCE FleishmanHillard Inc.

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CAMBRIDGE, ON, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Dimplex is excited to be partnering with TV designer and host Kortney Wilson. Recently, after having installed Dimplex products in her Nashville home, Wilson partnered with Dimplex to continue to merge electric heat and fireplaces into unique spaces and designs.

Kortney Wilson playing the acoustic guitar in a hanging chair in a beautifully decorated living room featuring the Dimplex logo in one corner, and Kortney's name in another.

Wilson will be working with radiant outdoor heat and noise-free indoor zone heating products from the Glen Dimplex Americas brands: Dimplex and Convectair. Using her eye for design, Wilson intends to create warm and inviting spaces in and around her Nashville home and Kentucky Lake House. Watch and engage with Wilson as she continues to share her design journey online - follow along on Instagram: @allthingskortneywilson and @dimplex_northamerica. To learn more, see the full product line, and a few of Wilson's favourite products, visit https://shop.dimplex.com/collections/kortneys-favorites.

"As a designer, I'm always looking for great products for my home and was thrilled to see the end results after adding Dimplex fireplaces several months ago. This evolved into my branded partnership once they saw my Instagram posts and loved what was done!" - Kortney Wilson

Wilson is a familiar face to the Home Decor, Renovation, and Real Estate industry, having co-starred in several TV series over the past 12 years. Wilson juggles her time between Canada and the U.S., as the owner of a successful real estate company in Nashville, Tennessee, and filming her shows in Toronto, Ontario.

About Dimplex

North American leaders in design and innovation, Dimplex continually challenges the status quo on a global scale to create electric flame and heat products for the discriminating buyer. With dozens of patented technologies, Dimplex fireplaces dazzle the senses and their heaters make spaces more efficient and comfortable no matter the need. Appreciate the energy efficiency and smaller eco-footprint, all while taking a deep breath as you relax in front of a welcoming Dimplex fireplace.

For Media Enquiries

Digital Marketing

Cass Goulding | [email protected]

905-718-4212

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Dimplex and Kortney Wilson Partner for Success

Kortney Wilson playing the acoustic guitar in a hanging chair in a beautifully decorated living room featuring the Dimplex logo in one corner, and Kortney's name in another.



SOURCE Dimplex
SACRAMENTO, Calif., June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Luis Cardenas, a former delivery driver, has now filed suit against the complaint. In his complaint filed on March 5, 2021, in Sacramento Superior Court, Cardenas also claims that his former supervisor, Rich Orr, engaged in a pattern of unwanted harassment on the basis of his disability, in addition to his need for medical leave.

In the lawsuit, Cardenas claims that he requested medical leave for a necessary operation that was scheduled for June of 2020. He further alleges that he went out of his way to schedule necessary doctor's visits so as to minimize interference with the business operations. Despite the reasonable efforts he alleges he engaged in during his time of employment, Cardenas also states in his lawsuit that Rich Orr, his supervisor, would berate him, belittle him, and would even give him less favorable assignments as a result of his requests for reasonable accommodation and necessary medical leave.

Cardenas further alleges that Defendant Orr would inappropriately discuss the sensitive and private details with his co-workers surrounding his planned surgery. Adding to these allegations, Cardenas also alleges that the company and his supervisor made it clear that they did not appreciate the exercise of his leave rights as it pertained to and resulted from COVID-19 related childcare loss. Ultimately, Cardenas alleges that the company discouraged the exercise of his leave rights, doing so through the date of his planned and necessary medical surgery.

Finally, Cardenas alleges that he underwent his long-planned surgery on or about June 23, 2020. The situation, as Cardenas alleges, would only worsen, with his supervisor insisting on a return date, doing so in an unlawful and harassing fashion. What is more, Cardenas alleges that the defacto human resources representative, Serita Baker, would harass him with text messages regarding his recovery status. On July 13, 2020, and just one week prior to his scheduled return date, Cardenas' lawsuit alleges that he was wrongfully and unlawfully fired for exercising his rights to job-protected medical leave.

Cardenas is represented by attorney Kyle Todd, Esq. of Kyle Todd, P.C., as well as Preston Lim, Esq. of Lim Law Group, P.C. Requests for comment can be directed to Mr. Todd, at (323) 208-9171.

SOURCE Kyle Todd, PC

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LAS VEGAS, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Las Vegas Sands (NYSE: LVS) today announced it will contribute $163,000 through Sands Cares to close out phase one of The LGBTQ Center of Southern Nevada's $400,000 capital campaign to expand the Arlene Cooper Community Health Center in Downtown Las Vegas. Funding enables The Center to move forward with plans to provide full onsite health and wellness care for LGBTQIA+ and low-income downtown residents and supports the organization's long-term goal of generating recurring revenue through the clinic to sustain its LGBTQIA+ programming in Southern Nevada.

"The generous support of Sands Cares and all of our capital campaign partners will deliver tremendous impact on the wellbeing of vulnerable and marginalized people throughout our community as we are able to meet their healthcare needs," said John Waldron, CEO of The Center. "Sands' closeout of our phase one funding brings us closer to realizing our vision of creating a full-service medical clinic that addresses our clients' unique needs and overcomes the many challenges experienced by the LGBTQIA+ community in obtaining medical care."

According to The Center, LGBTQIA+ people are often unable to find healthcare services in their area, encounter discrimination or refusals of service in healthcare settings, and may delay or forego care because of mistreatment concerns. In addition to meeting the needs of LGBTQIA+ people, the clinic will provide vital medical care for low-income Downtown residents, veterans, people with disabilities and the transient homeless population.

With the closeout of the capital campaign's first phase, The Center plans to launch a comprehensive program of services in 2022, which initially entails delivering primary medical care to complement the clinic's existing HIV and STI testing and mental health services. In phase two, The Center is soliciting funding to add a pharmacy, which is also targeted to open in 2022, to complement the clinic's medical treatment services. The capital campaign's final phase will raise funds to upgrade the clinic to be a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC).

Beyond better serving the LGBTQIA+ community and Downtown low-income residents, the clinic's expansion with additional services and federal-designation will create a new revenue stream to aid The Center in providing programming and better delivering on its mission to serve as the heart and home of the LGBTQIA+ community.

"The opportunity to help The Center reach its funding goal for a full-service medical clinic is squarely in line with two of our primary Sands Cares strategies  removing systemic barriers faced by diverse groups and investing in capacity building for nonprofits to help them deliver greater community impact," said Ron Reese, senior vice president of global communications and corporate affairs at Sands. "The Center's vision for the clinic's multi-faceted impact is a vital necessity for Southern Nevada. Our intention with the Sands Cares investment is not only to cap this first funding phase, but to stimulate momentum and rally community support for the campaign's next phase focusing on the pharmacy addition."

Sands' donation to The Center follows the recently announced Sands Cares funding for the Asian Community Development Council (ACDC) to establish a language bank and hotline to assist Asian American Pacific Islander community members who face hurdles in accessing critical social services. The partnerships with The Center and ACDC are strategic investments in line with Sands' mission to empower nonprofits serving diverse communities by strengthening their core offerings and helping them better address systemic issues. Combined, the $238,000 in funding to these two groups follows the company's $400,000 investment in nonprofits serving diverse populations announced at the end of 2020 and represents Sands' accelerated focus on better addressing the needs of ethnic and minority communities.

About Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE: LVS)

Las Vegas Sands is the world's preeminent developer and operator of world-class Integrated Resorts. We deliver unrivaled economic benefits to the communities in which we operate.

Sands created the meetings, incentives, convention and exhibition (MICE)-based Integrated Resort. Our industry-leading Integrated Resorts provide substantial contributions to our host communities including growth in leisure and business tourism, sustained job creation and ongoing financial opportunities for local small and medium-sized businesses.

Our properties include The Venetian Resort and Sands Expo in Las Vegas, and the iconic Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. Through majority ownership in Sands China Ltd., we have developed the largest portfolio of properties on the Cotai Strip in Macao, including The Venetian Macao, The Plaza and Four Seasons Hotel Macao, The Londoner Macao and The Parisian Macao, as well as the Sands Macao on the Macao Peninsula.

Sands is dedicated to being a good corporate citizen, anchored by the core tenets of serving people, planet and communities. We deliver a great working environment for our team members worldwide, drive social impact through the Sands Cares community engagement and charitable giving program and lead in environmental performance through the award-winning Sands ECO360 global sustainability program. To learn more, please visit www.sands.com.

About The LGBTQ+ Community Center of Southern Nevada

For more than 25 years, The Center has cared for, championed, and celebrated LGBTQIA+ individuals and those who are underserved in Nevada. We function as the heart and home of the LGBTQIA+ community by making connections, delivering programs, and providing a safe space for health and wellness, social services, arts and culture, advocacy, and community building. Ongoing Center programs support LGBTQIA+ youth, adults, families, seniors, vets, people with disabilities, those living with HIV, and underserved populations. Additionally, we are proud to offer the Center Advocacy Network, the first nationally accredited program of its kind, focusing on LGBTQIA+ issues for victim advocacy. For more information on how The Center empowers everyone to thrive in Nevada, please visit The LGBTQ Center of Southern Nevada.

Contacts:

Las Vegas Sands The Center Kristin Koca Pamela Puppel [email protected] [email protected] 702.414.3218 702.561.9975

SOURCE Las Vegas Sands Corp.

Related Links

http://www.sands.com


SELBYVILLE, Del., June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Market Insights Inc. has recently added a new report on the legal process outsourcing market, which estimates the market valuation for LPO will cross US$ 30 billion by 2027. The high demand for specialized legal services to ensure compliance with the changing regulations is likely to drive the industry's growth.

Legal Process Outsourcing (LPO) Market size is set to surpass USD 30 billion by 2027, according to a new research report by Global Market Insights, Inc.

Drafting accurate and precise contracts is an integral part of a company that enables it to avoid redundant litigations caused due to minute mistakes by amateur contracts. LPO service providers ensure that they offer high-quality precise contracts that cover all the important and necessary points without any errors.

Contract drafting service providers also focus on offering contract review & renewal process to capture a large market share and attract more consumers. There will be an increasing demand for contract drafting services including development, licensing, procurement, distribution or transfer, financing, review & comment against client form or standard positions, and review & comment against client parameters. With legal process outsourcing service providers drafting precise contracts that specify the obligations and rights of different parties, the market will witness increasing demand.

Request for a sample of this research report at https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/179

The high cost of legal services in developed countries, such as the U.S. and UK, is supporting the trend of outsourcing legal activities to countries such as South Africa, the Philippines, and India. Outsourcing legal process outsourcing services to these countries enables them to gain access to high-quality legal professionals with technical expertise in specific market fields. Outsourcing also helps them to realize significant monetary benefits by reducing the expenses of expanding in-house legal teams. Offshore outsourcing also helps them to work post office hours due to differences in the time zones across different regions. For instance, a 12-hour difference between India the U.S. helps law firms in the U.S. to complete projects overnight after work hours by outsourcing their legal work to a law firm in India.

The Middle East & Africa will emerge as an expanding LPO market through 2027 due to rising number of law firms coupled with improving literacy rates in countries such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia. The government focus on digitalization technologies will support internet penetration, in turn, boosting the LPO market growth. South Africa is emerging as a lucrative market with several law firms in Europe outsourcing their legal activities to the region. The similarities with the regulatory and legislative framework in the UK make it a preferable destination for legal process outsourcing.

South Africa is becoming one of the most preferred offshore destinations for law firms and organizations situated in Australia, Europe, the UK, and the U.S. due to the similarities in the legal system, advantageous time zone, and varied selection of qualified lawyers.

Some major findings of the LPO market report are:

The high rates of hiring legal services in developed countries, such as the U.S. and the UK, have boosted the legal process outsourcing market growth. Law firms and organizations in the region are focusing on outsourcing their legal work to countries that serve their requirements at affordable costs.



The rising number of corporate organizations, coupled with changes in the regulatory landscape, has boosted the demand for LPO services. Organizations seek help from third-party legal process outsourcing service providers to ensure strict compliance with changing regulations.



Large multinational organizations expanding their market presence globally will outsource their legal work to ensure compliance with laws. With an increasing number of organizations focusing on global expansion, they will outsource their legal activities to LPO providers for contract drafting, litigation support, patent support, and compliance assistance.



The rising number of SMEs over recent years will spur the demand for LPO services. SMEs will rely on LPO service providers for legal assistance due to budgetary constraints. Partnering with a legal process outsourcing service provider enables them to relieve the stress on the company's legal department.



The growing need for accurate compliance with both regional and international laws is compelling organizations to outsource their legal works. By outsourcing, they gain the advantage of legal help provided by experienced lawyers working in an LPO firm. This ensures that the organization is protected from unnecessary litigations.



India and the Philippines have emerged as leading LPO service providers due to the availability of highly skilled personnel and a large English-speaking population. The Asia-Pacific market will witness growth, which is attributed to the increasing number of professional legal process outsourcing service providers hiring lawyers with specific legal expertise.

Request for customization of this research report at https://www.gminsights.com/roc/179

Partial chapters of the report's table of contents (TOC):

Chapter 3 Legal Process Outsourcing Industry Insights

3.1 Industry segmentation

3.2 Impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic

3.2.1 Global outlook

3.2.2 Regional outlook

3.2.2.1 North America

3.2.2.2 Europe

3.2.2.3 Asia Pacific

3.2.2.4 Latin America

3.2.2.5 MEA

3.2.3 Industry value chain

3.2.4 Competitive landscape

3.3 Industry ecosystem analysis

3.3.1 Hardware suppliers

3.3.2 Technology/software providers

3.3.3 Cloud service providers

3.3.4 Service providers

3.3.5 Telecom operators

3.3.6 End-use landscape

3.3.7 Vendor matrix

3.4 Technology & innovation landscape

3.4.1 Evolution of LPO

3.4.2 LPO vs BPO

3.4.3 Technology Assisted Review (TAR)

3.4.4 Artificial Intelligence (AI)

3.4.5 Automated Meta-Data Contract Abstraction

3.5 Regulatory landscape

3.5.1 SRA Code of Conduct 2011

3.5.2 The Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008

3.5.3 Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA)

3.5.4 EU Data Protection Directive (Directive 95/46/EC)

3.5.5 Information Technology Act, 2000

3.5.6 ISO 9001 Certification Achieved for Quality Management System

3.6 Outsourcing industry landscape

3.6.1 North America

3.6.2 Europe

3.6.3 Asia Pacific

3.6.4 Latin America

3.6.5 MEA

3.7 Cost savings overview

3.8 Industry impact forces

3.8.1 Growth drivers

3.8.1.1 Cost savings to companies in North America

3.8.1.2 Focus on core competencies in Europe

3.8.1.3 Growth of the outsourcing and offshoring services in Asia Pacific countries

3.8.1.4 Development of broadband and communication infrastructure in Latin America

3.8.1.5 Rise in number of SMEs in the MEA

3.8.2 Industry pitfalls and challenges

3.8.2.1 Potential security breaches

3.8.2.2 Lack of quality and supervision

3.9 Growth potential analysis

3.10 Porter's analysis

3.10.1 Supplier power

3.10.2 Buyer power

3.10.3 Threat of new entrants

3.10.4 Threat of substitutes

3.10.5 Internal rivalry

3.11 PESTEL analysis

3.11.1 Political

3.11.2 Economic

3.11.3 Social

3.11.4 Technological

3.11.5 Environmental

3.11.6 Legal

About Global Market Insights

Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.

Contact Us:

Arun Hegde

Corporate Sales, USA

Global Market Insights, Inc.

Phone: 1-302-846-7766

Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688

Email: [email protected]

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Legal Process Outsourcing Market size worth $30 Bn by 2027

Legal Process Outsourcing (LPO) Market size is set to surpass USD 30 billion by 2027, according to a new research report by Global Market Insights, Inc.

SOURCE Global Market Insights Inc.

Related Links

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LONDON, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --

Lawrence A. Rosen (Chairman of the Supervisory Board)

Elizabeth E. Tallett (Supervisory Board Director)

Dr. Metin Colpan (Supervisory Board Director)

Stephane Bancel (Supervisory Board Director)

Prof. Dr. Ross Levine (Supervisory Board Director)

Prof. Dr. Elaine Mardis (Supervisory Board Director)

Thomas Ebeling (Supervisory Board Director)

Dr. Toralf Haag (Supervisory Board Director)

Hulsterweg 82, 5912 PL Venlo, Netherlands

Dear Members of the Supervisory Board,

Davidson Kempner European Partners, LLP's ("DKP") funds remain a significant shareholder in Qiagen (the "Company") and are engaged with the Company, the Executive Management, the Supervisory Board as well as many industry leaders and advisors. Post the lapsed deal, DKP worked with consultants and advisers to help lay out a series of operational and strategic objectives that we believe would put the Company on a path to success. These objectives were communicated to Lawrence Rosen. A critical issue that we identified was the need for a new Chairman to improve corporate governance and rebuild trust with stakeholders.

We are pleased with the progress on the operational side and the Executive Management team, led by Thierry Bernard and Roland Sackers, has performed strongly in executing on these key objectives. In particular, setting and meeting expectations, driving growth in new products and increasing transparency through improved financial reporting. Despite the Executive Management team performing strongly and successfully meeting these objectives, the Company's share price continues to underperform and trades at a discount to its historic P/E trading range and that of its peers. We believe this to be a function of historic corporate governance issues and a discount for the level of trust and confidence in the effectiveness of the Supervisory Board.

Following the failed Thermo Fisher Scientific sales process in August 2020, we expressed to Mr. Rosen our strong belief that in order for the Company to realise its potential and address historic issues with regards to the effectiveness of the Supervisory Board, there was a need to appoint a new external Chairman. A new Chairman, with a strong & pedigreed executive healthcare background is necessary to guide the Company in the innovative, fast changing and dynamic healthcare industry it competes in. We had expressed to Mr. Rosen and the Board that this was necessary given Mr. Rosen's long tenure on the Board (8 years), his complete lack of executive healthcare experience and his intimate involvement in the series of multi-year governance shortcomings culminating in the failed sales process. We had hoped and expected Mr. Rosen to act as an interim Chairman and assist in the process of finding a suitable appointment. Unfortunately, Mr. Rosen chose to pursue a different approach, and retained his position as Chairman while turning down highly qualified candidates for the Chairman role. While we welcome the appointment of the two additional NEDs, who we believe are strong additions to the Supervisory Board, this does not go far enough in addressing the key governance concerns. Elizabeth E. Tallett has been on the Board for 10 years, was likewise intimately involved in the same multi-year governance shortcomings, has many other commitments and lastly, in her role on the Nomination Committee should not have allowed Mr. Rosen to unduly influence the search for a Chairman.

We believe appointing a new external Chairman with a strong executive healthcare background would go a long way in rebuilding trust and confidence, which will allow the Executive Management team's strong execution and improved performance and prospects to be properly reflected in the Company's valuation.

DKP intends to vote against the reappointment of Lawrence Rosen (Chairman) and Elizabeth E. Talett (Supervisory Board Director) at the upcoming Annual General Meeting of Shareholders ("AGM"). We understand other shareholders share our concerns and we encourage all shareholders to exercise their right and vote against Lawrence Rosen and Elizabeth E. Tallett.

cc: Risto Koivula (Partner)

For media enquiries:

Greenbrook

Andrew Honnor, Rob White, Fanni Bodri

Email: [email protected]

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7952-2000

SOURCE Davidson Kempner
Industry leading LG Energy Solution to hold its inaugural forum on next-generation battery on June 22 nd

Nobel Laureate Michael Stanley Whittingham to join in on battery-related discussion

SEOUL, South Korea, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- LG Energy Solution announced it is hosting an international battery forum on June 22nd, aimed at fostering discussions in the global battery industry to further exchange and discuss business opportunities as well as the status of technological advancements. The 'LG Energy Solution Innovation Forum 2021' is the first such event to be held by the newly-minted battery affiliate, amid the exponential surge in demand for sustainable energy.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, LG Energy Solution said the inaugural forum will be held via webinar, inviting scholars from the U.S., Europe and elsewhere around the world.

The 'LG Energy Solution Innovation Forum 2021' will foster discussions on the next-generation batteries as well as the lithium-ion battery cells. The demand for the next-generation batteries have been on a steady rise over its key features of light weight and greater energy density. Lithium-ion batteries are widely being used as the power source for electric vehicles around the world.

Forum participants include a number of acclaimed scholars in the electrochemical energy and battery sector like Michael Stanley Whittingham, a 2019 Nobel Laureate for "pioneering research" leading to the development of the lithium-ion battery. Panel of speakers also include Jeff Dahn of Dalhousie University, Linda Nazar of University of Waterloo, Y. Shirley Meng of University of California San Diego, Hee-Tak Kim of KAIST, Sang-Young Lee of Yonsei University, Martin Winter of University of Munster and Peter Bruce of Oxford University.

"The inaugural LG Energy Solution Innovation Forum 2021 will introduce a comprehensive insights on the battery-related research front through the eyes of world-renown industry specialists," said Myung-Hwan Kim, Chief Production & Procurement Officer of LGES. "We hope findings presented by keynote speakers will greatly contribute to the development and the expansion of battery industry."

LGES says it will hold second such forum next year with the hope of creating an engaging discussion on time-appropriate battery related topics.

The open forum invites general public into the discussion on the newest trends, product developments and solutions. For more information on the 'LG Energy Solution Innovation Forum 2021,' visit www.lgesinnovationforum2021.com.

About LG Energy Solution

LG Energy Solution is a global leader delivering advanced lithium-ion batteries for Electric Vehicles (EV), Mobility & IT applications, and Energy Storage Systems (ESS). With 30 years of experience in advanced battery technology, it continues to grow rapidly towards the realization of sustainable life. With over 23,000 employees working within its robust global network that spans the U.S., Europe, Asia and Australia, LG Energy Solution is more committed than ever to developing innovative technologies that will bring the future energy a step closer. For more information, please visit https://www.lgensol.com.

Contact:

Ashlee Semin Shin

Global PR Team / LG Energy Solution

[email protected]

SOURCE LG Energy Solution

Related Links

https://www.lgensol.com/en/index


BOSTON, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Liberty Mutual Insurance is taking an innovative approach to keeping customers and their vehicles safe when a hailstorm is coming. Using Accuweather forecast data and SMS text capabilities, the nation's sixth-largest auto insurer alerts customers that damaging hail in their area is expected and encourages moving vehicles to a protected location. Liberty Mutual auto customers in 21 states can opt-in for this free, proactive service.

Hail is a leading cause of car and property damage in many states and produced more than 2.8 million insurance claims from 2017-2019, according to a National Insurance Crime Bureau review of Insurance Services Office claims data. In 2020 alone, the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration recorded more than 4,600 major hailstorms.

Developed by Liberty Mutual's innovation center, Solaria Labs, the hail alert program has grown from a pilot activity in Texas to now include 30,000 customers who have requested to receive a text message notifying them in real time when hail is forecasted in their area. Its effectiveness is evident through a recent survey in which nearly half of respondents (44%) said an alert prompted them to move their car to a safe, covered location, negating the risk of hail damage.

"We are constantly testing new digital insurance offerings and services that expand protection to our customers in ways beyond insurance," said Liberty Mutual's Head of Global Retail Markets Innovation and Solaria Labs, Adam L'Italien. "A value-added service like our Hail Alerts helps to create deeper connections with our customers by keeping them and their property safe from the unexpected."

Liberty Mutual offers Hail Alerts in in Ala., Ark., Colo., Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kans., Ky., La., Minn., Mo., Miss., Mont., N.D., Neb., N.M., Okla., S.D., Texas, Tenn., and Wyo.

About Liberty Mutual Insurance

At Liberty Mutual, we believe progress happens when people feel secure. By providing protection for the unexpected and delivering it with care, we help people embrace today and confidently pursue tomorrow.

In business since 1912, and headquartered in Boston, today we are the sixth largest global property and casualty insurer based on 2020 gross written premium. We also rank 71 on the Fortune 100 list of largest corporations in the U.S. based on 2020 revenue. As of December 31, 2020, we had $43.8 billion in annual consolidated revenue.

We employ over 45,000 people in 29 countries and economies around the world. We offer a wide range of insurance products and services, including personal automobile, homeowners, specialty lines, reinsurance, commercial multiple-peril, workers compensation, commercial automobile, general liability, surety, and commercial property.

For more information, visit www.libertymutualinsurance.com.

About Solaria Labs

Solaria Labs, Liberty Mutual's Innovation Center founded in 2016, is a global team that explores how trends will shape the future and develops new products to protect our customers in a rapidly changing world. In partnership with teams across Liberty Mutual, we develop new products that solve unmet customer needs and expand Liberty's protection offerings. Solaria Labs is located in Boston, Singapore, and Sao Paulo. Additional details on Solaria Labs can also be found at www.solarialabs.com.

SOURCE Liberty Mutual Insurance

Related Links

www.libertymutual.com


"Our vibrant community deserves an equally vibrant symbol of who Lincoln is  past, present, and future," said Whitney Hansen, AMA Lincoln President. "The time is right to unite the community through the process of designing and selecting a new flag to showcase our city. Our city flag should be our rallying cry and a visual representation of Lincoln  something people are excited to show off in their offices, on their baseball caps, and in our city."

Submissions will be accepted on the AMA Lincoln website beginning July 1 through August 1. The contest is open to all Nebraska residents and is limited to one submission per person. Additional design criteria will be listed on the site. The design criteria are being determined by a committee of community representatives who will also serve as contest judges. A cash prize will be awarded to designers of the final three flag designs.

"The new flag design will capture the unique identity of Lincoln, branding our community as a great place to live, work and play," said Kayla Meyer, Lincoln YPG Coordinator. "The new design will be an important tool that we can use to effectively represent who we are as a city in our ongoing efforts to attract and retain talent."

Following the August 1 submission deadline, the committee will narrow down the submissions to three final designs to be released for public comment. After reviewing public feedback, the committee will propose a final design to the City of Lincoln for consideration.

The flag redesign competition and cash prizes are sponsored by Nelnet, the Abel Foundation, Ameritas, Assurity, Lincoln Journal Star, and Talent Plus. If you or your organization would like to be involved in the flag redesign project, please contact Whitney Hansen at [email protected].



More information about the contest can be found beginning July 1 at AMALincoln.org/ReFlagLNK and updates will be provided regularly via Facebook and Twitter (@ReFlagLNK), also launching in July.

SOURCE American Marketing Association - Lincoln

Related Links

www.amalincoln.org


TEL AVIV, Israel, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- BLEND , the leading AI-powered multi-market enabler, announced its acquisition of Atlanta-based GM Voices , a global leader in professionally-recorded voice, audio localization, and Voice Branding solutions. The rapid rise of social audio and voice-based communications, valued in billions, generates demand for multilingual voice localization among global brands. This acquisition allows BLEND to expand its offering and cater to all localization verticals and markets.

BLEND's first acquisition is part of the company's strategy to offer enterprise-grade, technology-based localization services with a one-stop-shop approach. The company announced a Series B funding round and its new brand in March 2021. BLEND, formerly known as OneHourTranslation, was founded in 2008 and has over 120 employees, 25,000 linguistic experts and eight offices around the world. The company offers managed localization services to enterprises as well as a self-service, on-demand localization platform .

"We're thrilled to welcome GM Voices to the BLEND family," said Yair Tal, BLEND's CEO. "Working with Fortune 500 companies, we know that Voice Localization is an essential ingredient for their global growth, and they can't blend locally without it. Now, we're even better poised to serve the increasing demand for video and audio localization, with the best technology and the most professional voice-over artists available. We look forward to serving GM Voices' long-term customers and leading LSPs at the highest industry standard. This acquisition is the first of many that will help us fulfill all of our customers' localization needs."

Most well-known for recording the original Siri and other famed virtual assistants and smart speakers, GM Voices is a leading provider of voice recording and localization services for IVR/telephony, AI, eLearning, explainer and marketing videos, podcasts, subtitling, dubbing and more. With thousands of voice actors in more than 100 languages and dialects, the company provides clients a consistent voice for any application.

"In joining forces with BLEND, we're excited to have the opportunity to strengthen their robust localization platform with our top-notch voice services and talent," added Marcus Graham, Founder and CEO of GM Voices. "We couldn't think of a better partner to merge with as we share the same customer-centric approach of striving for customer success while delivering excellent services and products to our clients."

About BLEND

BLEND (getblend.com) is a leading AI-powered localization company (formerly known as OneHourTranslation), founded in 2008. As an end-to-end multi-market enabler, BLEND empowers global brands to establish a native presence in fundamentally different markets, worldwide. BLEND's strength lies in the power of its AI-driven technology stack, its team diversity, and the strength of its global linguist and voice talent community. Alongside its enterprise-grade all-in-one localization platform, BLEND also provides self-service on demand translation services via onehourtranslation.com . BLEND is a privately held company with offices in Tel Aviv, Atlanta, Los Angeles, San Francisco, London, Shanghai, Kyiv, and Bucharest.

A link to our Media Kit

About GM Voices

Since 1985, GM Voices , Inc. has emerged as the global leader in professionally-recorded voice, language localization, persona development and Voice Branding solutions for automated voice technologies. Dozens of voice actors record in their studios each week, providing clients a consistent voice for any application. More than 100 languages and dialects are offered, with more than 1,000 voice actors comprising a global roster. GM Voices coined the term 'Voice Branding," the concept of a single-voice user experience consistent with a company's brand image.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Sarah Evans

Sevans PR

[email protected]

SOURCE BLEND
NIMBUS, a strategic marketing firm headquartered in Downtown Louisville, was named Ad Age's 2021 Multicultural Agency of the Year. The Ad Age editorial staff selected NIMBUS based on criteria including excellence, marketing effectiveness, account wins/losses, strategic thinking, management strength, and financial performance.

Ad Age noted two considerable changes which transformed the industry in 2020: diversity and social justice becoming a business imperative and the nearly ubiquitous pivot to digital platforms. Like many 2021 A-List winners, NIMBUS excelled on both fronts last year. But their expertise in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI), success in developing multicultural marketing strategies, and capacity for building meaningful connections between brands and consumers in the digital space was being cultivated well before becoming hot topics last year.

Stacey Wade, NIMBUS CEO & Chief Creative Officer, launched his agency as a sole-proprietorship in 2002. Ultimately, he expanded to become a full-service creative, experiential, and strategic marketing communications powerhouse. As one of the few minority-owned agencies in the region, Wade recognized his unique position for articulating the business case for DE&I and speaking to diverse audiences through multicultural marketing strategies.

"I'm particularly gratified to be recognized not only for the work we do at NIMBUS, but also because our thought leadership is inspiring awareness and change for companies and their brands as well as within our community," said Wade. "We're known for challenging convention and digging deep to identify what we call 'Brand Resonance.' Uncovering that level of authenticity isn't always easy, but the results deliver, and I appreciate our clients trusting us through the process."

The agency's portfolio of local, national, and global clients testifies not only to the depth of talent at the agency, but also the team's diversity of experience, insights into market trends, and cultural perspectives. NIMBUS relationships include: Brown-Forman, HUMANA, KFC, Metro United Way, Papa John's International, Swisher International, TOYOTA, and Tradewater among others.

"Introducing clients to our 'Contextual Ambidexterity' approach expedites their ability to more effectively navigate cultural complexities within the marketplace," according to Dr. Dawn Wade, NIMBUS Chief Strategy Officer & Managing Partner. "We use it at NIMBUS, tooleveraging data to exploit the present by improving current business activities while simultaneously exploring the future through disruptive and new opportunities."

Case in point: NIMBUS will soon open their new Louisville office while also pursuing additional client relationships and continuing agency expansion into the Atlanta market.

For more information about NIMBUS, visit them online at www.hellonimbus.com. And you'll definitely want to be sure your speakers are on when you do.

About NIMBUS | hellonimbus.com

NIMBUS is an independent strategic marketing and communications agency with a focus on identifying cultural relevance and developing inclusive marketing engagement. By integrating data intelligence with innovation, the NIMBUS team crafts strategies which generate and nurture authentic connections between their client's brands and targeted audiences in today's complex and multicultural marketplace. Clients benefitting from NIMBUS' expertise include Brown-Forman, HUMANA, KFC, Metro United Way, Papa John's International, Swisher International, TOYOTA, and Tradewater among others.

SOURCE NIMBUS, Inc.

Related Links

hellonimbus.com


SALT LAKE CITY, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- USANA Health Sciences, a global leader in nutrition, is proud to announce its brand-new USANA Active Nutrition product line. Launched to the public on June 15, 2021 in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, Active Nutrition features seven new products formulated to give customers the most positive and fulfilling health journey possible. From weight management to digestive health to energy and hydration, Active Nutrition has your body covered.*

Introducing USANAs new Active Nutrition line--seven science-based products for whole-body health Introducing USANAs new Active Nutrition line--seven science-based products for whole-body health Introducing USANAs new Active Nutrition line--seven science-based products for whole-body health Introducing USANAs new Active Nutrition line--seven science-based products for whole-body health Introducing USANAs new Active Nutrition line--seven science-based products for whole-body health Introducing USANAs new Active Nutrition line--seven science-based products for whole-body health

Experience the interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8470352-usana-launches-active-nutrition-product-line-for-whole-body-health/

To find USANA's Active Nutrition line, please go to USANA.com.

"Active Nutrition is one of USANA's biggest launches, and I can't wait for the public to see, firsthand, how amazing these products are," says Dan Macuga, USANA's chief communications and marketing officer. "Our vision for Active Nutrition is to move away from the specific goal of weight loss and instead focus on the way a healthy body feelsnot just the way it looks. We are giving customers science-based, high-quality products, along with positive community support and helpful information to inspire them along the way. Our goal was to create one of the finest dedicated wellness systems accessible to anyone looking for a lifestyle changeour research and development team certainly delivered."

Featured Products

Nutrimeal Active Meal Replacement

A non-GMO, gluten-free, and low-glycemic meal-replacement shake made with single-sourced whey protein to give your body balanced micronutrients and macronutrients, including 20 grams of protein and 8 to 9 grams of fiber. Nutrimeal Active comes in two delicious flavors, chocolate and vanilla, and is great way to shake up a healthy meal or snack on the go.

Digestive Health Protein Drink

Formulated with water lentil and chickpea protein, the Digestive Health Protein Drink is an ideal choice for those looking to meet their digestive health goals. With 10 grams of protein, 5 grams of fiber, inulin for a prebiotic, and the digestive enzyme bromelain, this drink is a microbiome powerhouse. It comes in plain and lemon ginger flavors and is only 80 calories per serving.

Fibergy Active

A hearty addition to your favorite shake or smoothie, Fibergy Active is packed with prebiotics and phytonutrient-rich fruit fibers to help support healthy digestion, satiety, and regularity. With 9 grams of soluble and insoluble fiber, it helps promote a healthy and diverse microbiome.

Detox Tea Mix

Made from licorice root, peppermint extract, dandelion root, cinnamon bark, and ginger root, this stimulant-free tea is designed to support regularity and promote proper digestion. Sip a cup of Detox Tea to help soothe occasional digestive discomfort, reduce feelings of bloating and gas, and support your body's natural digestive process.*

Peanut Butter Snack Bar

A delicious, convenient snack for the whole family, the Peanut Butter Snack Bar is made with all natural ingredients like peanuts, peanut butter, peanut oil, peanut powder, and apple cider vinegar powder. This healthy bar has just 3 grams of added sugar, only 110 calories, and 4 grams of fiber to help reduce cravings while satisfying your sweet tooth.

Electrolyte Replacement Mix

Replacing electrolytes is vital before, during, and after any workout. With an optimal ratio of sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium, USANA's Electrolyte Replacement Mix helps to replenish electrolytes lost through sweat and reduce the feeling of overworked muscles. This refreshing watermelon-flavored mix comes in convenient stick packs for on-the-go hydration anytime, anywhere.*

Metabolism+

Supporting your metabolism has never been easier. USANA's Metabolism+ is made with green tea extract, citrus bioflavonoids, and Platycodon grandiflorus root extract to support a healthy metabolism, aid healthy and normal fat accumulation, and support optimal energy levels throughout the day.*

"USANA was built on a foundation of science, and that's exactly how we approached the development of our Active Nutrition line," says Dr. Rob Sinnott, USANA's chief scientific officer. "A major focus in our Active Nutrition research and development came from the idea that health starts with your gut. These products are all uniquely designed to work with and optimize the health of your gut microbiome, which can lead to a positive effect on your overall health and wellness. We're confident this new approach to health and weight management will be a game changer for USANA and its customers."*

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

No gluten-containing ingredients are used in this product. Produced on equipment that also processes milk, peanuts, and tree nuts.

About USANA

USANA (NYSE: USNA) prides itself on providing consumers the highest quality nutritional products in the world. From its award-winning supplements to its innovative skincare line, USANA has proven for more than 25 years why it's a company you can trust. How about giving us a try? Shop at USANA.com or learn more at whatsupUSANA.com.

Media Contact: Ashley Collins

Executive Vice President of Marketing

(801) 954-7629

media(at)usanainc(dot)com

SOURCE USANA

Related Links

http://www.usana.com


NEW YORK, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Lument Securities (Lument) recently advised Sherer Management, a multi-generational seniors housing and care owner and operator in Iowa, on the sale of two businesses as well as their exit from the industry.

Sherer Management is a family-owned business that operated continuing care retirement communities in western Iowa, Rose Vista in Woodbine and Longview Home in Missouri Valley, which offer skilled nursing, assisted living and independent living services, in addition to hospice services through Generations Hospice. The businesses, operated by the company for over 60 years, have built a strong reputation of quality care in the local community.

"The decision to sell our family business was very difficult and emotional, but we are confident this was the best path forward," said Noel Sherer, president of Sherer Management. "Lument was an outstanding partner in facilitating this transition, and they stuck with us through extraordinarily difficult circumstances, such as the effects of COVID-19. The Lument team exceeded our expectations in every way and provided the hands-on support and attention to detail we needed every step of the way."

Lument ran a targeted marketing process and assisted the sellers in navigating multiple factors impacting the process, including COVID-19. A regional operator partnered with a private capital provider to purchase the businesses. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Kevin Laidlaw and Dominic Porretta led the transaction for Lument Securities, which served as exclusive financial advisor to Sherer Management in connection with the transaction. Dorsey & Whitney served as legal counsel to Sherer Management.

About Lument

ORIX Real Estate Capital Holdings, LLC, d/b/a Lument, is a subsidiary of ORIX Corporation USA. Lument is a national leader in commercial real estate finance. As the combined organization of legacy industry experts Hunt Real Estate Capital, Lancaster Pollard, and RED Capital Group, Lument delivers a comprehensive set of capital solutions customized for investors in multifamily, affordable housing, and seniors housing and healthcare real estate. Lument is a Fannie Mae DUS, Freddie Mac Optigo, FHA, and USDA lender. In addition, Lument offers a suite of proprietary commercial lending, investment banking, and investment management solutions. Securities, investment banking, and advisory services are provided through OREC Securities, LLC, d/b/a Lument Securities, member FINRA/SIPC. For more information, visit www.lument.com.

MEDIA CONTACT

Michael Ratliff | Marketing Director

[email protected]

SOURCE Lument
AUSTIN, Texas, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Magpul Industries Corp. ("Magpul" or "the Company"), announced today that it launched an offering to sell $300.0 million aggregate principal amount of its Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2028 (the "Senior Notes") in a private offering in reliance upon an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), subject to market and other conditions.

The net proceeds from the offering will be used to (i) repay in full all outstanding secured term loans under Magpul's existing senior credit facility; (ii) pay fees and expenses incurred in connection with the offering and the refinancing of its senior credit facility; (iii) and pay a dividend to the existing shareholders of Magpul.

The Senior Notes will be offered and sold only to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers in reliance on the exemption from registration set forth in Rule 144A under the Securities Act and outside the United States, only to non-U.S. persons in reliance on the exemption from registration set forth in Regulation S under the Securities Act. The Senior Notes and the related guarantees have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act or the securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction and may not be offered or sold in the United States without registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements or a transaction not subject to the registration requirements of the Securities Act or any state securities laws.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security, nor shall it constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale is unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. Any offers of the Senior Notes will be made only by means of a private offering memorandum.

About Magpul Industries Corp.

Magpul Industries Corp. is the defining brand in modern shooting accessories. The Company designs and manufactures a variety of products for a highly loyal and enthusiastic consumer base, including magazines, stocks, grips, sights, apparel, knives, storage / organization solutions, and a variety of other firearm accessories and outdoor products. The Company's target market includes (i) hunting and shooting enthusiasts, from casual users to elite competitors, (ii) military and law enforcement users who increasingly seek high performance customization and premium upgrades with good value, and (iii) avid outdoorspeople who seek reliable, rugged accessories and branded apparel consistent with their lifestyle. Magpul sell its products through a diverse network of wholesalers, original equipment manufacturer partners, big box retailers and e-commerce portals, including our website, www.magpul.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements and information included in this release may constitute "forward looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. You can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as "anticipates", "believes", "contemplates", "estimates", "expects", "plans", "intends", "projections" "may," "will," "should," "would," "could," "seeks," "approximately" and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company and our business. Prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to make any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Such statements or information, including, but not limited to, those regarding the offering and the use of proceeds therefrom, are based on currently available information and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from Magpul Industries Corp.'s present expectations. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the overall level of consumer demand for our products; general economic conditions and other factors affecting consumer confidence, preferences, and behavior and the offering; disruption and volatility in the global currency, capital and credit markets; the financial strength of the Company's customers; our ability to implement our business strategy, including continued product innovation; our ability to access sufficient capital to maintain our business operations; changes in public opinion relating to the manufacture, sale, and use of firearms and related accessories by our customers; the impact of political or legislative changes relating to firearms, ammunition, and related accessories, including without limitation, executive orders, executive actions, enactment of restrictive state or federal laws; our exposure to product liability or product warranty claims and other loss contingencies; disruptions and other impacts to our business, as a result of government actions and restrictive measures implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic; stability of our manufacturing facilities, contract manufacturers, and suppliers; the impact that extreme weather or global climate change trends may have on Magpul and its suppliers and customers; our ability to protect patents, trademarks and other intellectual property rights globally; any breaches of, or interruptions in, our information systems; the ability of our information technology systems or information security systems to operate effectively, including as a result of security breaches, viruses, hackers, malware, natural disasters, vendor business interruptions or other causes; our ability to properly maintain, protect, repair or upgrade our information technology systems or information security systems, or problems with our transitioning to upgraded or replacement systems; the impact of adverse publicity about Magpul and/or its brands, including without limitation, through social media or in connection with brand damaging events and/or public perception; fluctuations in the price, availability and quality of raw materials and contracted products; banking and/or insurance discrimination against companies that work in the firearms industry; and changes in tax laws and liabilities, tariffs, legal, regulatory, political and economic risks.

We caution you that the important factors referenced above may not contain all of the factors that are important to you in making a decision to invest in the Senior Notes. Undue reliance should not be placed on such forward-looking statements, as such statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and Magpul Industries Corp. undertakes no obligation to update such statements, except as required by law.

SOURCE Magpul Industries
DUBLIN, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Mallinckrodt plc (OTCMKTS: MNKKQ), a global biopharmaceutical company, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved StrataGraft (allogeneic cultured keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts in murine collagen  dsat) for the treatment of adults with thermal burns containing intact dermal elements for which surgical intervention is clinically indicated (deep partial-thickness burns). Please see Important Safety Information for StrataGraft below.

Experience the interactive Multichannel News Release here:

https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8801751-mallinckrodt-stratagraft

This project was funded in part with $86 million from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), under contract HHSO100201500027 for Stratatech Corporation, a Mallinckrodt company, to develop StrataGraft.

The FDA approval is supported by data from the pivotal Phase 3 STRATA2016 clinical trial of a single application of StrataGraft in patients with acute thermal burns containing intact dermal elements (deep partial-thickness burns) involving 3%-37% total body surface area, which was conducted at U.S. burn centers. Results, which were recently published in Burns, showed a significantly smaller area of burn wounds treated with StrataGraft required autografting by 3 months compared to the area of burn wounds treated exclusively with autograft (p<0.0001).

"While autografting is effective in providing closure of the original wound in patients with deep partial-thickness burns, it can lead to donor site complications, including pain, itching, increased risk of infection and scarring," said Tracee Short, M.D., burn surgeon and burn unit medical director at the Regional Burn Center at Baton Rouge General. "The approval of StrataGraft represents an important advancement in the treatment of patients with deep partial-thickness burns. Burn surgeons will now have a new biologic treatment to eliminate or reduce the need for autografting."

Each year, approximately 40,000 patients in the United States require hospitalization for the treatment of severe burns.1 Autograft is the current standard of care for deep partial-thickness burns  complex skin injuries in which the damage extends through the entire epidermis (outermost layer of skin) and into the lower part of the dermis (innermost layer of skin). Autograft involves the surgical harvesting of healthy skin from an uninjured site on the patient and transplanting the skin graft to the injury, creating a donor site wound and leaving the patient with more wounded areas requiring care.

"Today's FDA approval of StrataGraft marks a significant milestone for the burn care community and underscores our unwavering commitment and ability to bring paradigm-changing treatment options to patients with severe and critical conditions," said Steven Romano, M.D., Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer at Mallinckrodt. "We are deeply appreciative of the patients who participated in the StrataGraft clinical trials, the physicians and study investigators involved in the clinical development program, and our employees, who have worked tirelessly over the last 20 years to help us bring StrataGraft to burn surgeons and the patients they treat."

In the pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial, 96% (68 of 71) of the StrataGraft-treated burn sites across all participants did not require autografting. The difference in the percent area of StrataGraft and control autograft treatment sites that required autografting by 3 months was 98% (p<0.0001). The proportion of patients achieving durable closure of the StrataGraft treatment site at 3 months without autograft placement was 83% (95% CI: 74, 92). The proportion of patients achieving durable closure of the autograft control treatment site at 3 months without additional autograft placement was 86% (95% CI: 78, 94).

"Multiple health security threats can result in severe burn wounds, and, to save lives in a public health emergency, healthcare providers need products that are effective and easy to use," said BARDA Director Gary Disbrow, Ph.D. "Having new products available on the commercial market to improve routine care for burn patients gives healthcare providers a level of familiarity and comfort in using the products. This improves our healthcare response during a national emergency and reduces the long-term cost of national preparedness."

Clinical trials demonstrated that the safety profile of StrataGraft with regard to wound-related events, including erythema, swelling, local warmth and wound site infections, was comparable to that of autografting in clinical studies. The most common (>2%) adverse reactions were pruritus (itching), blisters, hypertrophic scar and impaired healing. There were no reports of rejection to StrataGraft in the clinical studies, and no patients discontinued study participation due to adverse reactions.

About StrataGraft

StrataGraft is a viable, bioengineered, allogeneic, cellularized scaffold product derived from keratinocytes grown on gelled collagen containing dermal fibroblasts. StrataGraft is designed to deliver viable cells to support the body's own ability to heal. StrataGraft contains metabolically active cells that produce and secrete a variety of growth factors and cytokines. Growth factors and cytokines are known to be involved in wound repair and regeneration. The product is designed with both dermal and epidermal layers composed of well-characterized human cells. StrataGraft is intended to be applied in appropriate aseptic conditions, such as the operating room, and can be sutured, stapled or secured with a tissue adhesive.

The FDA granted StrataGraft orphan drug designation, and it was among the first products designated by the Agency as a Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (RMAT) under the provisions of the 21st Century Cures Act. At the time of approval, the FDA awarded Stratatech Corporation, a Mallinckrodt company, a Priority Review Voucher (PRV).

Mallinckrodt is currently conducting a StrataGraft continued access clinical trial (StrataCAT, NCT04123548) under an Expanded Access Program (EAP). The trial sites involved in the pivotal Phase 3 trial (STRATA2016, NCT03005106) have the opportunity to participate in this multicenter, open-label study. The company is planning to evaluate StrataGraft for the treatment of adults with full-thickness burns (also referred to as third-degree burns).

Additionally, Mallinckrodt plans to conduct a study evaluating StrataGraft in the treatment of pediatric populations. The safety and effectiveness of StrataGraft in pediatric patients (<18 years) have not been established.

BARDA expressed interest in StrataGraft as a medical countermeasure in response to large-scale burn incidents, and provided funding and technical support for the continued development of StrataGraft. These efforts are part of BARDA's strategy to build emergency preparedness in response to mass casualty events involving trauma and thermal burns by developing novel medical countermeasures for adult and at-risk populations. In the case of a mass casualty thermal burn event, the Government Accountability Office estimates that more than 10,000 patients might require thermal burn care.2 The limited number of specialized burn centers and related medical infrastructure in the United States creates a public health need for therapies that could be deployed quickly for use in these and other care sites.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

INDICATION

StrataGraft is an allogeneic cellularized scaffold product indicated for the treatment of adults with thermal burns containing intact dermal elements for which surgical intervention is clinically indicated (deep partial-thickness burns).

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Contraindications

Do not use in patients with known allergies to murine collagen or products containing ingredients of bovine or porcine origin.

Warnings and Precautions

StrataGraft contains glycerin. Avoid glycerin in patients with known sensitivity (irritant reaction) to glycerin.



Severe hypersensitivity reactions may occur. Monitor for both early and late symptoms and signs of hypersensitivity reaction following StrataGraft application, and treat according to standard medical practice.



StrataGraft contains cells from human donors and may transmit infectious diseases or infectious agents, eg, viruses, bacteria, or other pathogens, including the agent that causes transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE, also known as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease [CJD or variant CJD]).



StrataGraft is a xenotransplantation product because of an historic exposure of the keratinocyte cells to well-characterized murine cells. The cell banks have been tested and found to be free of detectable adventitious agents, and mouse cells are not used in the manufacture of StrataGraft; however, these measures do not entirely eliminate the risk of transmitting infectious diseases and disease agents.



Transmission of infectious diseases or agents by StrataGraft has not been reported.



StrataGraft is a xenotransplantation product because of an historic exposure of the keratinocyte cells to well-characterized murine cells. The cell banks have been tested and found to be free of detectable adventitious agents, and mouse cells are not used in the manufacture of StrataGraft; however, these measures do not entirely eliminate the risk of transmitting infectious diseases and disease agents. Transmission of infectious diseases or agents by StrataGraft has not been reported. Because StrataGraft is a xenotransplantation product, StrataGraft recipients should not donate whole blood, blood components, plasma, leukocytes, tissues, breast milk, ova, sperm, or other body parts for use in humans.

Adverse Reactions

The most common adverse reactions (incidence 2%) were itching (pruritus), blisters, hypertrophic scar, and impaired healing. Other adverse events reported are included in the full Prescribing Information.

Pediatric Use

The safety and effectiveness of StrataGraft in pediatric patients (<18 years) have not been established.

Please see full Prescribing Information.

About Mallinckrodt

Mallinckrodt is a global business consisting of multiple wholly owned subsidiaries that develop, manufacture, market and distribute specialty pharmaceutical products and therapies. The company's Specialty Brands reportable segment's areas of focus include autoimmune and rare diseases in specialty areas like neurology, rheumatology, nephrology, pulmonology and ophthalmology; immunotherapy and neonatal respiratory critical care therapies; analgesics and gastrointestinal products. Its Specialty Generics reportable segment includes specialty generic drugs and active pharmaceutical ingredients. To learn more about Mallinckrodt, visit www.mallinckrodt.com.

Mallinckrodt uses its website as a channel of distribution of important company information, such as press releases, investor presentations and other financial information. It also uses its website to expedite public access to time-critical information regarding the company in advance of or in lieu of distributing a press release or a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) disclosing the same information. Therefore, investors should look to the Investor Relations page of the website for important and time-critical information. Visitors to the website can also register to receive automatic e-mail and other notifications alerting them when new information is made available on the Investor Relations page of the website.

Cautionary Statements Related to Forward-Looking Statements

This release includes forward-looking statements concerning StrataGraft, including anticipated launch timing, its potential impact on patients and anticipated benefits associated with its use, and future clinical trial plans. The statements are based on assumptions about many important factors, including the following, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements: satisfaction of regulatory and other requirements; actions of regulatory bodies and other governmental authorities; changes in laws and regulations; issues with product quality, manufacturing or supply, or patient safety issues; and other risks identified and described in more detail in the "Risk Factors" section of Mallinckrodt's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and other filings with the SEC, all of which are available on its website. The forward-looking statements made herein speak only as of the date hereof and Mallinckrodt does not assume any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events and developments or otherwise, except as required by law.

CONTACTS

For Trade Media Inquiries

Ben Rickles

Real Chemistry

404-502-6766

[email protected]

For Financial/Dailies Media Inquiries

Ron Bartlett

H+K Strategies

Senior Vice President

813-545-2399

[email protected]

Investor Relations

Daniel J. Speciale

VP, Restructuring and Investor Relations

[email protected]

Government Affairs

Mark Tyndall

Senior Vice President, US General Counsel & Government Affairs

[email protected]

Mallinckrodt, the "M" brand mark and the Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals logo are trademarks of a Mallinckrodt company. Other brands are trademarks of a Mallinckrodt company or their respective owners.

2021 Mallinckrodt. US-2001740 06/21

________________________

1 American Burn Association. Burn Incidence Fact Sheet. http://ameriburn.org/who-we-are/media/burn-incidence-fact-sheet/. Accessed May 15, 2020.

2 United States Government Accountability Office. National Preparedness: Countermeasures for Thermal Burns. https://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588738.pdf. Accessed February 12, 2020.

SOURCE Mallinckrodt plc

Related Links

http://www.mallinckrodt.com


As part of the collaboration, Mars Petcare's BETTER CITIES FOR PETS Program and PEDIGREE Foundation will host adoption events in Nashville and Charlotte during the race weekend and cover all adoption fees at participating shelters for any pets that find loving homes from June 18-20. To drive awareness for the events, Kyle Busch will visit the Humane Society of Charlotte to meet some adoptable pets before heading to Nashville for the NASCAR Cup Series race. Busch will also raise awareness for the need for pet adoptions by "hosting" life-size cutouts of adoptable dogs from local shelter partners on top of his pit box, acting as his honorary pit crew during Sunday's race.

"I'm a huge dog lover, so having PEDIGREE Foundation choose to feature shelter pets that are in need of homes on our No.18 Camry this weekend is really cool," said Kyle Busch. "This week I'll be meeting some of the dogs firsthand in Charlotte and have some special friends up on our pit box too. With the BETTER CITIES FOR PETS Program and PEDIGREE Foundation covering adoption fees in Charlotte and Nashville this weekend, our hope is that these pets are welcomed into the loving homes they deserve."

Participating shelters include Williamson County Animal Center and Nashville Humane Association in Nashville and the Humane Society of Charlotte in Charlotte, home of NASCAR HQ. Courtesy of Mars Petcare and PEDIGREE Foundation, each adopter will receive a starter kit for their new furry family member that includes food from PEDIGREE, CESAR and IAMS brands, treats from DENTASTIX and TEMPTATIONS brands, as well as coupons and swag from BANFIELD Pet Hospital, VCA Animal Hospitals, WISDOM PANEL test kits, PEDIGREE Foundation and the BETTER CITIES FOR PETS Program.

"We're delighted to be working alongside NASCAR, Joe Gibbs Racing and Kyle Busch who support our goal of ending pet homelessness," said Kimberly Spina, President of PEDIGREE Foundation. "To celebrate the return of the NASCAR Cup Series to Nashville, we're thrilled to host adoption events with partner shelters in our hometown of Nashville and NASCAR's hometown of Charlotte, in an effort to make a real difference in both communities and give more pets the chance at loving homes."

The adoption events will follow local market COVID-19 guidelines. For more information about PEDIGREE Foundation and its mission to end pet homelessness, please visit www.pedigreefoundation.org

About the PEDIGREE Brand

The PEDIGREE Brand is the number one brand of dog food and treats in the world, feeding more dogs than any other brand. The PEDIGREE Brand offers a wide variety of products and formats for dogs at every life stage. The PEDIGREE Brand is built on an unwavering love for all dogs and a commitment to dog adoption. For more information, please visit www.Pedigree.com.

About PEDIGREE Foundation

We believe every dog deserves a loving, forever home. PEDIGREE Foundation is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization working to help end pet homelessness. Nearly 3.5 million dogs end up in shelters and rescues every year, and nearly half never find a home. The foundation was established in 2008 by Mars Petcare, maker of PEDIGREE food for dogs, to help increase dog adoption rates. We've awarded more than 5,700 grants and over $9 million to U.S. shelters and rescues that help dogs in need. At PEDIGREE Foundation, we're working toward a day when all dogs are safe, secure, cared for, fed well and loved. See how you can help at PedigreeFoundation.org.

About Mars Petcare

Part of Mars, Incorporated, a family-owned business with more than a century of history making diverse products and offering services for people and the pets people love, the 85,000 Associates across 50+ countries in Mars Petcare are dedicated to one purpose: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS. With 85 years of experience, our portfolio of almost 50 brands serves the health and nutrition needs of the world's pets  including brands PEDIGREE, WHISKAS, ROYAL CANIN,NUTRO, GREENIES, SHEBA, CESAR, IAMS and EUKANUBA as well as the WALTHAM Petcare Science Institute which has advanced research in the nutrition and health of pets for over 50 years. Mars Petcare is also a leading veterinary health provider through an international network of over 2,000 pet hospitals and diagnostic services including BANFIELD, BLUEPEARL,VCA, Linnaeus, AniCura and Antech. We're also active in innovation and technology for pets, with WISDOM PANEL genetic health screening and DNA testing for dogs, the WHISTLE GPS dog tracker, and LEAP VENTURE STUDIO accelerator and COMPANION FUND programs that drive innovation and disruption in the pet care industry. As a family business and guided by our principles, we are privileged with the flexibility to fight for what we believe in  and we choose to fight for our Purpose: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS.

SOURCE Mars Petcare
MADRID, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Matrix Renewables, the TPG-backed renewable energy platform, leader and global investor in renewable energy, has entered into an agreement with Alten Renewable Energy, to acquire a 300 MW solar portfolio across Spain and Portugal.

The portfolio, which comprises 5 different assets with a capacity of 300 MW, includes 210 MW of solar PV in Spain and 90 MW in Portugal. Construction on the first phase of these projects is expected to begin in 2021. In addition, Matrix Renewables has also reached an agreement with the Alten management team to develop 2 GW of solar and storage projects in Spain and Portugal.

Inigo Asensio, Head of M&A at Matrix Renewables, said: "These agreements will allow Matrix to become a relevant renewable energy platform in the Iberian Peninsula. We are confident that it will boost our presence in Spain and Portugal, and we will continue to further explore additional opportunities in Europe, Latin America and the US in our quest to expand, globally."

Carlos Castellanos, Alten co-founder, said: "All members of the Alten team are very excited with this opportunity that allows us to contribute our experience in the Iberian Peninsula and other geographies with Matrix Renewables, one of the most important global renewable energy players."

The new deal will build on Matrix Renewables' existing portfolio in Spain. This consists of late-stage Solar PV projects of 125 MW, which were acquired from Trina Solar in 2020 and 150 MW acquired from Rolwind in 2021, the construction for which is expected to begin later this year. Another 1 GW partnership with Rolwind Group has also been signed to develop several additional assets.

About Matrix Renewables

Matrix Renewables is a renewable energy platform created and backed by global alternative asset manager TPG and its $5 billion impact investing platform The Rise Fund. Matrix Renewables has a 1.5 GW existing portfolio and is focused on growth across Europe, the United States and Latin America. Matrix Renewables benefits from TPG's extensive investing and business building experience, global network, and deep infrastructure and renewable energy expertise. For more information, visit www.matrixrenewables.com or send an email to [email protected]

About Alten Energias Renovables

Alten Energias Renovables ("Alten"), founded in 2006, is a developer and Independent Power Producer (IPP) with a proven track record in the solar PV industry and a team with great expertise in the development, financing, construction and operation of PV power plants in competitive environment. Alten has developed and invested in 13 PV plants (c850 MW), with total investment of c750m in Spain, Mexico and Sub-Saharan African countries where has also developed a relevant pipeline. www.alten-energy.com

SOURCE Matrix Renewables

Related Links

http://www.matrixrenewables.com


GAITHERSBURG, Md., June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- MaxCyte, a leading provider of platform technologies for cell engineering, today announced the appointment of Rekha Hemrajani and Yasir Al-Wakeel, BM BCh, to the company's board of directors as non-executive directors with immediate effect. Ms. Hemrajani is appointed as a non-executive member of the Compensation Committee and Dr. Al-Wakeel is appointed as a non-executive member of the Audit Committee.

"With their expertise in business and corporate development as well as finance combined with deep life sciences industry experience, Ms. Hemrajani and Dr. Al-Wakeel bring valuable insights and perspective to our board," said Doug Doerfler, president and CEO of MaxCyte. "We are honored to have them join us as we advance the next-generation of cell therapy discovery, development and commercialization."

Ms. Hemrajani is a senior executive with more than 20 years of biopharmaceutical industry experience and has extensive expertise in all aspects of corporate strategy, corporate and business development, financing, and strategic planning. She currently serves as chief executive officer (part time) and director of Jiya Acquisition Corp, where she led the $100 million initial public offering (IPO). Ms. Hemrajani has held senior management positions at numerous listed biopharmaceutical companies, including president, chief executive officer and director of Aravive, Inc, chief financial officer and chief operating officer of Arcus Biosciences, Inc., and chief operating officer of FLX Bio, Inc,. Previously, she was vice president, head of Licensing and Mergers & Acquisitions Group for Onyx Pharmaceuticals (sold to Amgen for $10.4 billion), vice president of business development of Exelixis, and on the healthcare investment banking teams of Lehman Brothers, Inc. and Credit Suisse First Boston. She is currently a non-executive director of ALX Oncology Holdings.

Ms. Hemrajani received a Master of Management from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University, and a B.S. in economics and computer science from the University of Michigan.

Dr. Al-Wakeel currently serves as chief financial officer and head of corporate development for Kronos Bio, where he oversees the company's financial planning and accounting, investor relations, and business development activities. He was instrumental in the company's $288 million IPO. He previously served as chief financial and strategy Officer at Neon Therapeutics where he played a key role in the company's public and private financings as well as its eventual sale to BioNTech. Prior to that, he was chief financial officer and head of corporate development at Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, where he helped shape and execute the company's refocused business strategy, culminating in a $1 billion asset sale to Ipsen. Prior to those roles, Dr. Al-Wakeel served in senior roles in equity research and corporate finance at Credit Suisse focused on the biotechnology sector. During his tenure in corporate finance, he was involved in more than $30 billion in strategic and financial transactions for the firm.

Dr. Al-Wakeel, began his career as a practicing physician, holding both clinical and academic medical posts in the United Kingdom. He holds a BM BCh (Doctor of Medicine and Surgery) from Oxford University and an M.A. in theology from Cambridge University.

Grant of options

As is customary for US companies, upon appointment, Ms. Hemrajani and Dr. Al-Wakeel have each been granted 80,700 options over common stock, $0.01 par, of the Company ("Options"). These Options vest over three (3) years, with initial vesting of 1/3rd of the total after twelve (12) months, and the remainder vesting monthly over the following twenty-four (24) months. The Options have an exercise price of 8.92, equal to the closing price of MaxCyte's stock on 14 June 2021.

Ms. Hemrajani, 52, is, or has been in the previous five years, a director or partner of the following companies:

Current appointment Past appointment Jiya Acquisition Corp Aravive, Inc ALX Oncology Holdings Inc Adverum Biotechnologies, Inc Ravinia Consulting Inc

Hemmo Pharma LLP

Hemmo Pharmaceuticals Private Limited







Dr. Al-Wakeel, 39, is, or has been in the previous five years, a director or partner of the following companies:

Current appointment Past appointment Taha Collective, Inc Boston Life Sciences, LLC

About MaxCyte

MaxCyte is a leading commercial cell-engineering company focused on providing enabling platform technologies to advance innovative cell-based research as well as next-generation cell therapeutic discovery, development and commercialization. MaxCyte's existing customer base ranges from large biopharmaceutical companies, including all of the top 10, and 20 of the top 25, pharmaceutical companies based on 2020 global revenue, to hundreds of biotechnology companies and academic centres focused on translational research. MaxCyte has granted 13 strategic platform licenses to commercial cell therapy developers. Including these strategic platform licenses, MaxCyte has granted pre-clinical and clinical licenses to academic and industry customers covering over an estimated 140 programs, of which an estimated 100 programs are for clinical use. MaxCyte was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Gaithersburg, Maryland, US. For more information, visit www.maxcyte.com.

SOURCE MaxCyte, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.maxcyte.com


MONTEBELLO, Calif., June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of the Mexican American Opportunity Foundation (MAOF) has announced a Request for Proposal (RFP) to retain a consultant, firm or organization to assist the board to recruit and hire the organization's next President & CEO. The RFP outlines the expectations and timeline for the scope of work. The selected individual/firm should possess capacity and competencies on a full range of services, including experience with conducting successful executive searches for similar-sized nonprofit organizations and implementing equitable and inclusive recruiting and hiring processes. The MAOF Board looks forward to working with the individual/firm to attract a qualified and diverse set of candidates to hire its next executive leader to carry forth MAOF's mission-based work.

The services that will be required shall include:

Solicit input from MAOF's Search Committee, through meetings and/or interviews to understand the role, responsibilities, qualifications, and appropriate experience needed for the position.

Develop a recruitment strategy, process and timetable for completion of the work in consultation with the MAOF's Search Committee.

Review of the current job description to evaluate its attractiveness and assist in developing one that will entice the right candidate.

Source job candidates through a number of different channels including advertising in locally and nationally recognized publications likely to attract qualified candidates, proactively reaching out to candidates in the marketplace that may not be actively seeking the position, accessing the firm's network of qualified C-level candidates and other best practice recruitment strategies utilized in the industry.

Assess the qualifications of interested candidates against those required in the job description and recommend potential candidates for interview to the MAOF's Search Committee.

Support the Council's Search Committee in engaging in a rigorous interview, reference checking and hiring process to select the best candidate.

Assist and provide guidance to the MAOF Selection Committee in the final selection of the candidate. Assist MAOF representatives in structuring the job offer, the employment package and relocation (if applicable) with the finalist.

Interested firms/individuals can download a copy of the RFP at the following link: http://www.maof.org/beta/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/MAOF-DRAFT-RFP-.pdf

About the Mexican American Opportunity Foundation:

The Mexican American Opportunity Foundation (MAOF) is a non-profit, state-wide community-based organization that was established in 1963 by Founder Dionicio Morales to serve disadvantaged individuals and families in the Los Angeles area. MAOF is one of the largest family services organizations in the United States and has achieved this status by providing high quality social services and programs to diverse communities where the need is the greatest. It currently operates in seven California counties with over 60 service locations and over 900 employees. The annual budget exceeds $120,000,000. MAOF Website; http://www.maof.org/

Contact: Robert Alaniz

Milagro Strategy Group

(626) 437-3354

[email protected]

SOURCE Mexican American Opportunity Foundation
DORADO, Puerto Rico, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The iconic personal finance brand Money is launching a comprehensive rebrand, the first major overhaul to the brand in over 20 years. The updated identity better represents the brand's current suite of content, products, and tools on Money.com , while celebrating its rich heritage and culture.

"Our goal is to honor Money's heritage by adopting a digitally remastered interpretation of our original 1972 print masthead. Our team is excited to nourish Money for the next 50 years and beyond," said Melissa Powel, Head of Product at Ad Practitioners.

With the launch of the brand refresh, Money reaffirms its commitment to leading people to financial victories. Tweet this

Money was acquired in 2019 by Ad Practitioners, a Puerto Rico-based digital media platform that brings original content to a monthly audience of over 10 million people. Since then, the company continues to invest significantly behind high-quality content, interactive user experiences, and overall site performance. With the launch of a redesigned Money.com , Ad Practitioners reaffirms its commitment to helping Money lead people to financial victories through up-to-date news, information, and other educational resources.

The Ad Practitioners team, in consultation with international design leaders, spent over a year crafting and refining the next iteration of the Money brand. Each element was carefully considered  from drop cap letters, which reference magazine layouts; to lined textures that mimic security features of currency; to the skeuomorphic badges Money will award to the winners of their "Best" series in which it reviews, ranks, and honors the best companies across personal finance categories.

"The logotype we selected draws on the original classic serif typeface modified to reproduce at small scale and across digital touchpoints, with a more approachable, friendly tone and personality that aligns with Money's purpose of helping people achieve financial success," said Joshua To, founder at design firm The Curious Company.

Money has also expanded the scope of resources on the site, adding handy calculators that help calculate whether a refinance is cost-effective , your debt-to-income ratio , or if you can afford that house you've been eyeing ; and buyer guides covering mortgage lenders and refinance companies. car insurance , pet insurance , and credit repair services .

For an in-depth and behind-the-scenes look at the evolution of the Money brand, read the full story on the blog.

CAREERS

Money is hiring! If you'd like to join the team, you can apply for an open role .

ABOUT AD PRACTITIONERS

Ad Practitioners is a data and technology company that has built a digital media platform to syndicate original content, tools, and news to reach audiences through its portfolio of brands, which include Money.com and ConsumersAdvocate.org .

ABOUT MONEY

Money has a nearly 50-year legacy of guiding people to financial victories with up-to-date information, education, and tools. Now an exclusively-digital destination, Money helps create richer lives for everyone  in every sense of the word.

SOURCE Money

Related Links

https://money.com/


CEDAR KNOLLS, N.J., June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- MYOS Corp ("MYOS" or the "Company"), a research-based advanced nutrition company with divisions that address both Human Nutrition and Animal Health, announced today that researchers from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine presented a poster titled, "Evaluating the Safety and Tolerability of Fortetropin in Cats" at the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) Forum which took place June 9-12, 2021. First established in 1983, the ACVIM Forum is a conference that brings information about cutting edge research to thousands of veterinarians from around the world.

Although Fortetropin has been studied extensively in humans and dogs, the nutrition product was never studied in cats up until now. The poster that was presented at the ACVIM Forum highlights that Fortetropin is safe and well tolerated by felines at doses ranging from 1 gram/day (~200 mg/kg/day) to as high as 4 gram/day (~800 mg/kg/day) when studied over a two-week duration in a placebo-controlled study. This study forms the basis of MYOS' entry into the feline supplement market with the launch of MYOS Feline Muscle Health Formula.

"I am very excited about the launch of MYOS Feline Health Formula," said MYOS CEO Joe Mannello. "Since the launch of MYOS Canine Muscle Formula, we have been overwhelmed with a positive response from the marketplace. Dog owners and veterinarians alike have shared with us their stories of incredible animal recoveries from injury or surgery, as well as the overall increase in vitality in elder dogs consuming the product. We felt entering the feline market was the logical next step for MYOS CORP as we continue to aggressively grow our Animal Health Business."

"I am optimistic that this product has the potential to be transformative for cats," said Albert Ahn, D.V.M., Chief Veterinary Adviser, MYOS CORP. "There are very few high-quality nutrition products on the market that address feline sarcopenia and are supported by results from clinical trials. Because Fortetropin is an all-natural nutrition product, we expect it to be well received by feline practitioners, particularly those that belong to the Holistic Veterinary community."

Manufactured from fertilized chicken egg yolk using a patented, low temperature process, Fortetropin is a proprietary ingredient that has been shown to accelerate gains in muscle mass in multiple human and veterinary clinical studies. In a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical study conducted at Kansas State University that assessed the impact of Fortetropin on muscle atrophy following TPLO surgery, it was found that dogs that consumed Fortetropin daily did not experience statistically significant decreases in muscle mass following surgery at 8 weeks following surgery. In contrast, dogs in the placebo group that were given a macronutrient-matched nutritional supplement did experience statistically significant decreases in mass muscle at this time point.

A form of age-related muscle loss known as sarcopenia is a major problem for both dogs and cats. Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania reported that geriatric cats (~15 years of age) have much lower muscle mass scores relative to middle-aged cats (~8 years of age). Sarcopenia impacts the health of cats in multiple ways. For example, chronic kidney disease (CKD) is one of the most common diseases that afflicts cats. Researchers at Tufts University reported that cats that are 2 kilograms underweight have greater than twice the mortality risk relative to cats with average weight (5 kilograms).

One industry that managed to remain unscathed since the onset of Covid-19 is the U.S. pet food industry. For the past decade, the pet food and treat sector has managed to remain a growth sector. During the first seven months of 2020, it was reported by Nielsen that pet food and treat sales had increased by 4.3% relative to the same period in 2019. During the Covid-19 pandemic, pet adoptions soared with many rescue centers running out of dogs and cats for people to adopt. According to the American Pet Products Association (APPA), 41% of cat owners buy premium pet food products. As quoted in The Guardian, Matt Michaelson, founder of cat food company, Smalls, said, "Cat parents want to give their cats the absolute best, but the majority of what's available is effectively junk food, disguised as health food."

Investor Relations

Dante Carnevale

848-565-8163

[email protected]

About MYOS CORP

MYOS CORP (MYOS), "The Muscle Company  ", is a Cedar Knolls, NJ-based advanced nutrition company that develops and markets products that improve muscle health and performance. MYOS is the owner of Fortetropin, a fertilized egg yolk-based product manufactured via a proprietary process to retain and optimize its biological activity. Fortetropin has been clinically shown to increase muscle size, lean body mass, and reduce muscle atrophy. MYOS believes Fortetropin has the potential to redefine existing standards of physical health and wellness and produces muscle health support products featuring Fortetropin under the names of Yolked, Physician Muscle Health Formula, and MYOS Canine Muscle Formula (Original & Vet Strength). For more information, please visit www.myoscorp.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Any statements in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those projected or implied in any forward-looking statements. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those relating to product and customer demand, market acceptance of our products, the ability to create new products through research and development, the successful results of strategic initiatives, the success of our products, including Yolked, Physician Muscle Health Formula, MYOS Canine Muscle Formula, and MYOS Enteral Nutrition Formula, the success of our research and development, the results of the clinical evaluation of Fortetropin and its effects, the ability to enter into new partnership opportunities and the success of our existing partnerships, the ability to generate revenue and cash flow from sales of our products, the ability to increase our revenue and gross profit margins, the ability to achieve a sustainable, profitable business, the effect of adverse economic conditions, including as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ability to protect our intellectual property rights, competition from other providers and products, risks in product development, our ability to raise capital to fund continuing operations, and other factors. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement for events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made except as required by law.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Our products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

SOURCE MYOS CORP

Related Links

https://myoscorp.com


PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa., June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) hosted a virtual NCCN Policy Summit examining the impact of the past year on oncology policy in America. The program, "Defining the 'New Normal' 2021 and the State of Cancer Care in America Following 2020," brought together a diverse group of experts to discuss the resumption of recommended screening and clinical trials, how to apply health innovations from the COVID-19 pandemic to cancer treatment, and what concrete steps can be taken to address the systemic inequalities that lead to disparities in outcomes.

"The medical community has proven that rapid, extraordinary progress can be made when we respond to a threat like the COVID-19 pandemic with the urgency, focus, and collaboration it demands," said Crystal S. Denlinger, MD, FACP, Senior Vice President, Chief Scientific Officer, NCCN. "We have the opportunity to improve cancer treatment and research by not just reverting to pre-pandemic standards, but reimagining how we move care forward. We've learned a lot over the past year about how to do better when it comes to providing health care; now we must apply that knowledge to oncology."

"Partnership drives equitable care, and the CMS Office of Minority health is committed to advancing collaboration for all our beneficiaries and consumers," said LaShawn McIver, MD, MPH, Director, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Office of Minority Health. "The current public health emergency illuminates the barriers we've broken down, and those we still must overcomeparticularly for people hard hit by health disparities. Opportunities like the NCCN Policy Summit underscore both the importance and breadth of collaboration needed across healthcare to advance equitable solutions."

The speakers and panelists presented some of the latest data on health trends over the past year, while cautioning that much of that research is still early and ongoing. Some key areas of focus included:

Reducing barriers that prevent people from getting recommended health screenings and care in a timely fashion;

Maintaining telehealth options wherever beneficial to patients (e.g. survivorship care);

Utilizing electronic health records (EHRs) as a patient/provider portal for communication;

Funding the resumption of the basic science research pipeline for clinical trials;

Leveraging real-world evidence to broaden knowledge beyond the typical clinical trial population;

Recognizing and addressing bias and lack of diversity in medical care providers; and

Addressing the social determinants of health that result in disparities in outcomes.

"Cancer Care in the United States has evolved in the face of a global pandemic," said Timothy Kubal, MD, MBA, Senior Medical Director, Moffitt Cancer Center, Co-Chair of the NCCN Best Practices Committee. "Despite this evolution in practice and process, each day we continue to lose the lives of people we love. The purpose of policy change is to lead us somewhere different; to take us to a better place where those lives are saved instead of lost. Our world has changed; our policy cannot stay the same."

NCCN is actively involved in several initiatives addressing some of the issues discussed, such as:

Cancer Won't Wait and Neither Should You: An endorsement of the safe resumption of cancer screening and treatment, jointly with the American Cancer Society and 75 other cancer organizations.

Elevating Cancer Equity: Recommendations to Reduce Racial Disparities in Access to Guideline Adherent Cancer Care, in collaboration with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, and the National Minority Quality Forum

NCCN Best Practices Webinar Series: A series on COVID-19 and Cancer Center operations

Additional speakers included :

Murray Aitken , MBA, Executive Director, IQVIA Institute for Human Data Science

IQVIA Institute for Human Data Science Jeff Allen , PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer , Friends of Cancer Research

Friends of Cancer Research Keysha Brooks-Coley , Vice President, Federal Advocacy and Strategic Alliances , American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network

American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Jennifer Malin , MD, PhD, Chief Medical Officer, Oncology & Genetics, UnitedHealthcare

Additional quotes :

Sarah Alwardt, Vice President of Operations at Ontada says:

"Although we do not yet know the full impact of COVID-19, one clear outcome has been the massive public education on the importance of real-world evidence in clinical trials. We have now reached the tipping point in using real-world data to accelerate trial design and populations. We've demonstrated that this real-world evidence can be trusted and I hope that we ensure this momentum carries forward."

Shonta Chambers, MSW, Executive Vice President of Health Equity Initiatives and Community Engagement, Patient Advocate Foundation says:

"As we think about elevating cancer equity, we can't ignore the impact of the social determinants of health hindering people's ability to access and adhere to cancer care. These determinants have political underpinnings that continue to perpetuate disparate outcomes among populations of color. We have to systematically assess social needs gaps in the content of healthcare delivery for all patients, and create sustainable partnership and collaborations with entities best positioned to respond to them locally and nationally. Healthcare outcomes are not limited to the four walls of the healthcare systems, we must account for the social context of one's healthcare and act on tangible solutions to respond to them. That is how we elevate cancer equity for everyone."

Jennie Crews, MD, Vice President and Medical Director, SCCA Community and Network Programs, at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance says:

"The COVID-19 pandemic is driving rapid innovation in cancer care delivery which will continue to influence how cancer care evolves going forward. Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, like many of our peers across the nation, quickly adapted to incorporate the rapid pace of knowledge and data around COVID-19, modified clinical care and clinical trials, and addressed issues such as disparities in access to care. We experienced rapid and widespread adoption of virtual care for patient visits and monitoring, allowing SCCA to continue to provide care in ways that met patient needs through nearly 30,000 virtual visits."

Gwen Darien, Executive Vice President for Patient Advocacy and Engagement, National Patient Advocate Foundation says:

"Two years ago, we were all talking about personalized medicine. As a result of the pandemic, I'm increasingly interested in talking about personal medicine. How do we create and maintain personal connections when the modern office visit is only 15 minutes? I spent much of my childhood waiting in the car while my dadan internist in Milwaukeemade house calls. He knew his patients so well. Telehealth is still in its nascent form, so we have the opportunity to sculpt it into a contemporary house call, allowing health care providers to see the challenges and barriers patients face and the social context of their health."

Pamela Kunz, MD, Vice Chief, Diversity Equity and Inclusion, Medical Oncology, Director for the Center for Gastrointestinal Cancers, Yale Cancer Center and Smilow Cancer Hospital says:

"In order for us to provide equitable patient care, we also need to achieve diversity and equity in our professional workforce. These are inextricably linked."

Christopher Lathan, MD, MS, MPH, Chief Clinical Access and Equity Officer, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute says:

"What we've learned from the COVID experience is when we want to, we are able to recruit diverse patients to clinical trials. This shows that these barriers can be overcome with resources and willpower. If we really want to ensure our vulnerable patients are reengaging with preventive and diagnostic services, we must have the will and resources to support them appropriately."

Andrea D. Willis, MD, MPH, FAAP, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee

"The COVID crisis taught us that we can make things happen when we all rally around a cause. The call to reduce health disparities when it comes to cancer treatment and prevention is not a new one but the momentum we currently have to realize health equity requires a stronger response."

The next NCCN Virtual Policy Summit will take place on Thursday, September 9, and focus on 'The Impact of Technology on Cancer Care in 2021.' For more information, visit NCCN.org/summits and join the conversation with the hashtag #NCCNPolicy.

About the National Comprehensive Cancer Network

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) is a not-for-profit alliance of leading cancer centers devoted to patient care, research, and education. NCCN is dedicated to improving and facilitating quality, effective, efficient, and accessible cancer care so patients can live better lives. The NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) provide transparent, evidence-based, expert consensus recommendations for cancer treatment, prevention, and supportive services; they are the recognized standard for clinical direction and policy in cancer management and the most thorough and frequently-updated clinical practice guidelines available in any area of medicine. The NCCN Guidelines for Patients provide expert cancer treatment information to inform and empower patients and caregivers, through support from the NCCN Foundation. NCCN also advances continuing education, global initiatives, policy, and research collaboration and publication in oncology. Visit NCCN.org for more information and follow NCCN on Facebook @NCCNorg, Instagram @NCCNorg, and Twitter @NCCN.

Media Contact:

Rachel Darwin

267-622-6624

[email protected]

SOURCE National Comprehensive Cancer Network

Related Links

www.nccn.org


Highlights include:

Hole No. From (m) To (m) Interval

(m)* Au (g/t) Zone NFGC-21-94B 169.75 173.55 3.80 11.69 Keats Main NFGC-21-141 238.00 245.00 7.00 11.17 Keats Main NFGC-21-165 296.45 298.50 2.05 20.74 Keats Main NFGC-21-204 244.45 252.50 8.05 21.36 Keats Main And 283.15 296.00 12.85 14.92

Table 1: Highlights

*Note that the host structures are interpreted to be steeply dipping and true widths are generally estimated to be 60% to 80% of reported intervals. Infill veining in secondary structures with multiple orientations crosscutting the primary host structures are commonly observed in drill core which could result in additional variability in true width. Intervals are calculated at a 1 g/t Au cut-off grade; grades have not been capped in the averaging. This table shows highlight intervals, a number of these holes returned additional intervals of gold mineralization as reported in Table 2 below.

The intervals of 21.4 g/t Au over 8.05m and 14.9 g/t Au over 12.9m in NFGC-21-204 is a 40m down-plunge step-out to the south from the previously furthest south high-grade intercept (hole NFGC-21-182, 146.2 g/t Au over 25.6m , see New Found news release dated May 21, 2021 ) and is the deepest assay interval returned to date at Keats (see Figure 1).

and 14.9 g/t Au over in NFGC-21-204 is a down-plunge step-out to the south from the previously furthest south high-grade intercept (hole NFGC-21-182, 146.2 g/t Au over , see New Found news release dated ) and is the deepest assay interval returned to date at Keats (see Figure 1). The high-grade zone at Keats has now been drill defined over 465m in the down-plunge direction. The zone remains open and step-out drilling is continuing to the south, vertically above and below this zone, and to the north.

Greg Matheson COO of New Found, stated: "The two intervals in NFGC-21-204 of 21.4 g/t Au over 8.05m and 14.9 g/t Au over 12.9m in a further 40m step-out down plunge demonstrates that the zone of high-grade gold at Keats is continuing and remains open to depth. The intervals in holes NFGC-21-94B, 141 and 165 provide further evidence of the continuity of the high-grade gold mineralization at Keats. The style of mineralization and spatial distribution of the high-grade gold continues to demonstrate features consistent with the emplacement of high-grade gold in an epizonal event. We now have four drills running at Keats continuing step-out drilling to the south as well as infilling the high-grade zone defined to date."

*With reference to Figures 1 and 2 and the accompanying highlight table above, note that the host structures are interpreted to be steeply dipping and true widths are generally estimated to be 60% to 80% of reported intervals. Infill veining in secondary structures with multiple orientations crosscutting the primary host structures are commonly observed in drill core which could result in additional variability in true width. Intervals are calculated at a 1 g/t Au cut-off grade; grades have not been capped in the averaging.

Drillhole Details

Hole No. From (m) To (m) Interval

(m)* Au (g/t) Zone NFGC-21-91 143.00 145.50 2.50 1.30 Keats Main NFGC-21-94B 169.75 173.55 3.80 11.69 Keats Main Within 166.45 176.35 9.90 6.18 NFGC-21-95 19.15 21.70 2.55 1.50 Keats FW And 48.20 53.20 5.00 2.36 NFGC-21-125 82.60 84.90 2.30 4.92 Keats FW NFGC-21-127 37.00 39.00 2.00 6.11 Keats Main Within 37.00 51.00 14.00 1.47 NFGC-21-135 209.45 223.90 14.45 2.77 Keats Main And 295.10 298.15 3.05 1.40

NFGC-21-141 219.60 232.30 12.70 1.87 Keats Main And 238.00 245.00 7.00 11.17 And 248.55 251.25 2.70 2.01 And 301.55 304.25 2.70 1.61 NFGC-21-165 266.70 268.80 2.10 1.09 Keats Main And 296.45 298.50 2.05 20.74 NFGC-21-204 244.45 252.50 8.05 21.36 Keats Main And 283.15 296.00 12.85 14.92

Table 2: Summary of results reported in this release

*Note that the host structures are interpreted to be steeply dipping and true widths are generally estimated to be 60% to 80% of reported intervals. Infill veining in secondary structures with multiple orientations crosscutting the primary host structures are commonly observed in drill core which could result in additional variability in true width. Intervals are calculated at a 1 g/t Au cut-off grade; grades have not been capped in the averaging.

Hole No. Azimuth () Dip () Interval (m)* UTM E UTM N NFGC-21-91 299 -46 186 658169 5427376 NFGC-21-94B 300 -45 234 658201 5427357 NFGC-21-95 300 -45 230 658272 5427606 NFGC-21-125 300 -45 107 658257 5427527 NFGC-21-127 300 -45 122 658246 5427534 NFGC-21-135 300 -45 336 658179 5427269 NFGC-21-141 300 -45 318 658190 5427263 NFGC-21-165 300 -45 345 658181 5427196 NFGC-21-204 297 -56 404 658145 5427194

Table 3: Location details of drill holes reported on in this release

Sampling, Sub-sampling and Laboratory

True widths of the intercepts reported in this press release have yet to be determined but are estimated to be 60% to 80% of reported core lengths. Infill veining in secondary structures with multiple orientations crosscutting the primary host structures are commonly observed in drill core which could result in additional variability in true width. Assays are uncut, and calculated intervals are reported over a minimum length of 2 meters using a lower cut-off of 1.0 g/t Au. All HQ split core assays reported were obtained by either complete sample metallic screen/fire assay or standard 30-gram fire-assaying with ICP finish at ALS Minerals in Vancouver, British Columbia, or by entire sample screened metallic screen fire assay at Eastern Analytical in Springdale, Newfoundland. The complete sample metallic screen assay method is selected by the geologist when samples contain coarse gold or any samples displaying gold initial fire assay values greater than 1.0 g/t Au. Drill program design, Quality Assurance/Quality Control and interpretation of results is performed by qualified persons employing a Quality Assurance/Quality Control program consistent with National Instrument 43-101 and industry best practices. Standards and blanks are included with every 20 samples for Quality Assurance/Quality Control purposes by the Company as well as the lab. Approximately 5% of sample pulps are sent to secondary laboratories for check assays.

Qualified Person

The technical content disclosed in this press release was reviewed and approved by Greg Matheson, P. Geo., Chief Operating Officer, and a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Matheson consents to the publication of this news release dated June 15, 2021, by New Found. Mr. Matheson certifies that this news release fairly and accurately represents the information for which he is responsible.

About New Found Gold Corp.

New Found holds a 100% interest in the Queensway Project, located 15km west of Gander, Newfoundland, and just 18km from Gander International Airport. The project is intersected by the Trans-Canada Highway and has logging roads crosscutting the project, high voltage electric power lines running through the project area, and easy access to a highly skilled workforce. The Company is currently undertaking a 200,000m drill program at Queensway. Eight rigs are currently in operation at Queensway with the drill count planned to increase to ten rigs by Q2 2021. With a current working capital balance of approximately $86 million, New Found is well funded for this program.

Please see the Company's website at www.newfoundgold.ca and the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com.

Acknowledgements

New Found acknowledges the financial support of the Junior Exploration Assistance Program, Department of Natural Resources, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Contact

To contact the Company, please visit the Company's website, www.newfoundgold.ca and make your request through our investor inquiry form. Our management has a pledge to be in touch with any investor inquiries within 24 hours.

New Found Gold Corp.

Per: "Craig Roberts"

Craig Roberts, P.Eng., Chief Executive Officer

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (604) 562 9664

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statement Cautions

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, relating to further exploration and drilling on the Company's Queensway gold project in Newfoundland, interpretation of results of the drilling program and funding of the drilling program. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts; they are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "aims," "potential," "goal," "objective," "prospective," and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "can," "could" or "should" occur, or are those statements, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions that forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made, and they involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Except to the extent required by applicable securities laws and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include risks associated with possible accidents and other risks associated with mineral exploration operations, the risk that the Company will encounter unanticipated geological factors, the possibility that the Company may not be able to secure permitting and other governmental clearances necessary to carry out the Company's exploration plans, the risk that the Company will not be able to raise sufficient funds to carry out its business plans, and the risk of political uncertainties and regulatory or legal changes that might interfere with the Company's business and prospects. The reader is urged to refer to the Company's Annual Information Form and Management's discussion and Analysis, publicly available through the Canadian Securities Administrators' System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) at www.sedar.com for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects.

SOURCE New Found Gold Corp.

Related Links

https://newfoundgold.ca/


"We cannot emphasize enough how significant these gains are," said Andrea Silbert, President of Eos . "Bringing attention to the underrepresentation of women and BIPOC leaders in 2018 and working in partnership with a dedicated group of college and university presidents over the past three years has led to significant gains, particularly for Black women leaders. We are trending in the right direction, but there is still much work to be done."

The progress report is an update from the Women's Power Gap first report which ranked all colleges and universities in Massachusetts according to gender and racial representation in top leadership positions.

Among the gains made during the past three years:

Women of color presidents have more than doubled from 6% to 13%

presidents have more than Number of women presidents has increased overall from 33% to 36%

overall from 33% to 36% 40% of community college presidents are women ; 33% are people of color

of community college presidents are ; 33% are people of color Six schools welcomed their first women presidents

While work needs to be done to boost female leadership in the Commonwealth's higher education landscape, the Eos Foundation and its partners believe power parity is within reach and attainable with conscious, concerted efforts and an intentional shift in outreach, recruitment, and hiring practices.

"Having spent more than 30 years in academia, including the past 10 years as President of Emerson College, I've been proud to partner with Eos on the Women's Power Gap Initiative since its beginning," said Lee Pelton, who co-hosted a 2019 summit on gender parity in higher education with the Eos Foundation, and who recently became President and CEO of The Boston Foundation. "This is a critical issue, not just for school leadership, but also for its present and future stakeholders."

The findings were shared during a private virtual summit on Monday among college and university presidents, provosts, and board chairs. Titled "Meeting the Moment - Higher Education's Opportunity to Lead the New Workplace," leaders discussed the progress made in the leadership landscape. The group also talked about reimagining a more equitable workplace for women and men who are balancing demands of work and home, and how they might utilize the information gained from the summit.

"Higher education has the opportunity to seize this moment and assume a leadership role in shaping the post-pandemic workforce," said Simmons University President Lynn Perry Wooten. "It is crucial that we design enhanced support systems that help with employee reentry, retention, and promoting a sustainable work-life balance. This includes initiatives such as flexible work arrangements, mentoring programs, alternate career paths for tenure and promotion, and support for diverse types of scholarship."

"The pandemic unearthed numerous equity issues across all sectors," said Holyoke Community College President Christina Royal. "We responded during this pandemic by providing all employees the flexibility of reducing hours, taking leave of absences and also a remote work environment. As Holyoke Community College transitions back to campus, we will continue to re-evaluate the needs of the students and the employees and engage in conversation with the respective units to determine the ways in which we will adjust to a post-pandemic environment."

The 2018-2021 Progress Report can be found here.

About the Women's Power Gap Initiative of the Eos Foundation: The Women's Power Gap Initiative aims to dramatically increase the number of women from diverse backgrounds among CEO and C-suite leaders nationally. We conduct and commission actionable research on prominent sectors of the economy and measure the extent of the power and pay gaps at the company or institutional level to highlight those making fast progress, and those falling behind.

Contact:

Lealah Fulton

[email protected]

617.980.6391

SOURCE Eos Foundation
DENVER, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- CirrusMD today announced results of a recent six month study of telemental health services delivered by its physician network. The study found that integrated telebehavioral healthcare, provided by healthcare professionals to patients with general anxiety and depression, materially improved health and wellbeing, as measured by standardized assessment tools.

Rising Demand for Access to Telebehavioral Health Services

As demand for mental healthcare services surged during the COVID-19 pandemic and continues to climb, access to qualified behavioral therapy professionals has not kept pace. To help bridge gaps in mental health access, CirrusMD began formally delivering telemental health services in June 2020.

This new research study contains the first six months of results for telepsychiatry patient encounters conducted on the CirrusMD platform related to depression and anxiety disorders. Analysis of the data found that patients receiving behavioral healthcare and actively engaged in teletherapy treatment realized clinically meaningful changes in their mental health outcomes as measured in reductions to Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scores.

Integrated Care That Starts with Primary Care Physicians

CirrusMD healthcare services are delivered via a secure, text-based, HIPAA-compliant platform that connects patients with physicians who comprise an integrated telehealth network of multi-specialty doctors.

In this integrated care model, clinicians identify potential mental health issues through targeted questions. Based on patient responses, physicians may administer standardized assessment tools  such as the GAD-7 and PHQ-9  to determine what treatment interventions are needed. During a single telehealth encounter, a CirrusMD physician may provide patients guidance on medications, confer with a CirrusMD psychiatrist, and make a recommendation for follow-up care.

Continuity of Care Shows Results

After an initial telepsychiatry encounter, CirrusMD Primary Care and Specialty team doctors, including family medicine and psychiatry physicians, follow up with the patient to ensure that symptoms are improving. CirrusMD physicians track GAD-7 and PHQ-9 data, and if needed, adjust medications and refer patients to additional behavioral health services.

PHQ-9

PHQ-9 scores were used to measure longitudinal change in patient depression levels. The initial PHQ-9 score was 16.723, which falls within the moderately-severe range. Over an average of 8.1 weeks and 4.41 behavioral health encounters, patients in this study experienced a 7.71 reduction in PHQ-9 levels, lowering their final mean PHQ-9 score to 9.017, which falls within the mild range. This reduction represents a clinically significant change.

GAD-7

GAD-7 scores were used to measure longitudinal change in patient anxiety levels. The initial GAD-7 mean score among patients diagnosed with anxiety was 15.06, indicating severe anxiety. Over an average of 8.1 weeks and 4.41 telemental health encounters, patients in this study experienced a 6.9 point decrease in their GAD-7 scores, a clinically meaningful reduction. Over 68% of patients saw a GAD-7 point reduction of at least 5 points, and nearly 27% of patients reached full remission during this 8 week period.

Immediate Care Helps Patients Feel Better Sooner

"In the time it usually takes to get an appointment with a traditional brick & mortar mental health professional, patients using our telemental health services are already getting better," said Dr. Elishia Oliva, MD, psychiatrist and specialty medical director at CirrusMD. "My role is focused on creating innovative ways to expand access to care and provide effective mental health services to more patients. What's exciting about this study is that we're able to demonstrate that by receiving care sooner  from qualified physicians via a well-designed virtual program  patients can get better faster."

"With access to mental health providers continuing to be a challenge, we're showing that CirrusMD physicians can address the needs of many patients seeking behavioral health support, helping to quickly improve their lives and mental wellbeing," concluded Dr. Oliva.

CirrusMD provides telehealth services spanning a broad range of health conditions, including chronic condition management, medication management, women's health, pediatrics, behavioral health, and answers to general health information questions.

View the study here .

About CirrusMD

CirrusMD is a different kind of telemedicine company. In less than a minute, patients reach a licensed physician via text, then conduct a care encounter at their pace and convenience. Available 24/7/365, CirrusMD's integrated care is delivered via multi-specialty, board-certified clinicians who can treat a broad range of conditions, from acute to chronic, and from primary care to specialty areas, including behavioral health. CirrusMD is available to nearly 10 million users across all 50 states, and exclusively offered through employers, brokers, health plans (including medicaid and medicare) and reseller partners.

Learn how CirrusMD is transforming telehealth: cirrusmd.com

SOURCE CirrusMD

Related Links

http://cirrusmd.com


Although many patients recover from COVID-19 within a few weeks, some exhibit persistent or new symptoms more than four weeks after first being diagnosed. Names for such post-COVID conditions include not only long-haul COVID but long COVID, post-COVID syndrome or post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 or of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC).

Findings about long-haul COVID reported in FAIR Health's white paper include:

The five most common post-COVID conditions across all ages, in order from most to least common, were pain, breathing difficulties, hyperlipidemia, malaise and fatigue, and hypertension.

The odds of death 30 days or more after initial diagnosis with COVID-19 were 46 times higher for patients who were hospitalized with COVID-19 and discharged than patients who had not been hospitalized. Of COVID-19 patients who were hospitalized and discharged, 0.5 percent died 30 days or more after their initial diagnosis.

Among COVID-19 patients with preexisting conditions, intellectual disabilities were associated with the highest odds of death 30 days or more after initial COVID-19 diagnosis.

In addition to asymptomatic patients, those presenting with post-COVID conditions included 27.5 percent of COVID-19 patients who were symptomatic but not hospitalized, 50 percent of hospitalized patients and 23.2 percent of all patients who had COVID-19.

The ranking of the most common post-COVID conditions varied by age group. For example, in the pediatric population (0-18), pain and breathing difficulties were the top two conditions, as in the all-ages cohort, but intestinal issues, rather than hyperlipidemia, were the third most common.

Most of the post-COVID conditions that were evaluated were associated more with females than males. In the case of 12 conditions, however, males more commonly had the condition diagnosed than females. For example, of patients who had post-COVID cardiac inflammation, 52 percent were male and 48 percent female. By age, the largest share (25.4 percent) with this cardiac condition was found in a young cohortindividuals aged 19-29.

Of the four mental health conditions evaluated as post-COVID conditions, anxiety was associated with the highest percentage of patients after COVID-19 in all age groups. Depression was second, adjustment disorders third and tic disorders fourth.

FAIR Health President Robin Gelburd stated: "Even as the COVID-19 pandemic wanes, long-haul COVID persists as a public health issue affecting many Americans. The findings in our new study shed significant light on this emerging issue for all individuals who have long-haul COVID, as well as for policy makers, providers, payors and researchers."

This is the eighth in a series of studies released by FAIR Health on the COVID-19 pandemic. The first study examined projected US costs for COVID-19 patients requiring inpatient stays, the second the impact of the pandemic on hospitals and health systems, the third the impact on healthcare professionals, the fourth key characteristics of COVID-19 patients, the fifth the impact on the dental industry, the sixth risk factors for COVID-19 mortality and the seventh the impact on pediatric mental health.

For the new white paper, click here.

Follow us on Twitter @FAIRHealth

About FAIR Health

FAIR Health is a national, independent nonprofit organization that qualifies as a public charity under section 501(c)(3) of the federal tax code. It is dedicated to bringing transparency to healthcare costs and health insurance information through data products, consumer resources and health systems research support. FAIR Health possesses the nation's largest collection of private healthcare claims data, which includes over 34 billion claim records and is growing at a rate of over 2 billion claim records a year. FAIR Health licenses its privately billed data and data productsincluding benchmark modules, data visualizations, custom analytics and market indicesto commercial insurers and self-insurers, employers, providers, hospitals and healthcare systems, government agencies, researchers and others. Certified by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) as a national Qualified Entity, FAIR Health also receives data representing the experience of all individuals enrolled in traditional Medicare Parts A, B and D; FAIR Health includes among the private claims data in its database, data on Medicare Advantage enrollees. FAIR Health can produce insightful analytic reports and data products based on combined Medicare and commercial claims data for government, providers, payors and other authorized users. FAIR Health's systems for processing and storing protected health information have earned HITRUST CSF certification and achieved AICPA SOC 2 compliance by meeting the rigorous data security requirements of these standards. As a testament to the reliability and objectivity of FAIR Health data, the data have been incorporated in statutes and regulations around the country and designated as the official, neutral data source for a variety of state health programs, including workers' compensation and personal injury protection (PIP) programs. FAIR Health data serve as an official reference point in support of certain state balance billing laws that protect consumers against bills for surprise out-of-network and emergency services. FAIR Health also uses its database to power a free consumer website available in English and Spanish, which enables consumers to estimate and plan for their healthcare expenditures and offers a rich educational platform on health insurance. An English/Spanish mobile app offers the same educational platform in a concise format and links to the cost estimation tools. The website has been honored by the White House Summit on Smart Disclosure, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), URAC, the eHealthcare Leadership Awards, appPicker, Employee Benefit News and Kiplinger's Personal Finance. FAIR Health also is named a top resource for patients in Dr. Marty Makary's book The Price We Pay: What Broke American Health Careand How to Fix It and Elisabeth Rosenthal's book An American Sickness: How Healthcare Became Big Business and How You Can Take It Back. For more information on FAIR Health, visit fairhealth.org.

Contact:

Rachel Kent

Senior Director of Marketing, Outreach and Communications

FAIR Health

646-396-0795

[email protected]

1 The classification of patients as asymptomatic in FAIR Health's analysis is based on claims data. Patients listed as asymptomatic may have experienced symptoms but not have incurred a claim regarding those symptoms.

SOURCE FAIR Health

Related Links

http://www.fairhealth.org


The inaugural Field Forged Series lineup features 26 total hybrids, including 10 new NK corn hybrids and 4 new Enogen corn hybrids, and 20 new NK soybean varieties, each carefully evaluated and hand-selected for top performance.

"This is a big moment for NK, but an even bigger one for farmers," said Quinn Showalter, NK head of sales. "This isn't just another product launch. The introduction of our first Field Forged Series is the culmination of many years of research and development, testing and working alongside farmers to deliver meaningful innovations for their fields."

With challenges in agriculture constantly evolving, Syngenta Seeds is accelerating innovation to keep farms running, structuring the organization's entire R&D process around the farmer. The company's innovations include the Stalk Crusher, a unique sensor-based technology that's delivering better-standing hybrids, and investments in trait introgression that are empowering breeders to pair the newest traits with the strongest genetics, faster than ever.

In NK corn, Syngenta Seeds R&D has powered a portfolio of hybrids that reflect both yield and agronomic excellence. Each Field Forged hybrid had to meet a number of strict requirements to be included in the launch class, including strong root rot resistance, stalk strength, tolerance of critical diseases and broad adaptation.

"Our standards were high. To join the Field Forged Series, these NK hybrids had to outperform key competitors in their areas of adaptation not just once, but repeatedly across multiple years," said Joe Bollman, NK corn product manager. "They're proven winners."

The new NK hybrids also offer industry-leading trait choice, with Agrisure Duracade, Agrisure Viptera and Agrisure Artesian traits to help farmers meet a variety of needs in their fields. Similarly, the lineup of Field Forged soybean varieties features a diverse selection of the latest in-demand traits, including both proprietary Enlist E3 soybean and proprietary XtendFlex soybean varieties.

"The days of one-size-fits-all soybeans are long gone. That doesn't mean we can't help keep management relatively simple," said Eric Miller, NK soybean product manager. "With our Field Forged soybeans, farmers can manage their fields with the traits they prefer while still benefiting from the powerful, proven NK genetics they've come to expect."

All varieties in the Field Forged Series launch class have shown consistently outstanding yield performance in variable environments, offer resistance to Soybean Cyst Nematodes, and provide strong resistance to Phytophthora root rot through one or more genes.

To learn more, visit www.NKFieldForged.com and follow NK on Facebook (@NKSeeds), Twitter (@NKSeeds) and Instagram (@NKSeeds_US). Join the conversation online  connect with Syngenta at Syngenta-us.com/social.

About Syngenta

Syngenta is one of the world's leading agriculture companies, comprised of Syngenta Crop Protection and Syngenta Seeds. Our ambition is to help safely feed the world while taking care of the planet. We aim to improve the sustainability, quality and safety of agriculture with world class science and innovative crop solutions. Our technologies enable millions of farmers around the world to make better use of limited agricultural resources. Syngenta Crop Protection and Syngenta Seeds are part of Syngenta Group. With 26,000 people in more than 100 countries we are working to transform how crops are grown. Through partnerships, collaboration and The Good Growth Plan we are committed to accelerating innovation for farmers and nature, striving for regenerative agriculture, helping people stay safe and healthy and partnering for impact.

To learn more visit www.syngenta.com and www.goodgrowthplan.com. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Syngenta, www.twitter.com/SyngentaUS and on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/syngenta.

Web Resources:

NK Seeds

NK Field Forged Series

NK corn

NK soybeans

Stalk Crusher Technology

HI-Edit Technology

Agrisure Duracade

Agrisure Viptera

Agrisure Artesian

Enogen

Know More, Grow More

Syngenta Newsroom

Syngenta U.S.

Thrive

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This document may contain forward-looking statements, which can be identified by terminology such as 'expect', 'would', 'will', 'potential', 'plans', 'prospects', 'estimated', 'aiming', 'on track' and similar expressions. Such statements may be subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from these statements. For Syngenta, such risks and uncertainties include risks relating to legal proceedings, regulatory approvals, new product development, increasing competition, customer credit risk, general economic and market conditions, compliance and remediation, intellectual property rights, implementation of organizational changes, impairment of intangible assets, consumer perceptions of genetically modified crops and organisms or crop protection chemicals, climatic variations, fluctuations in exchange rates and/or commodity prices, single source supply arrangements, political uncertainty, natural disasters, and breaches of data security or other disruptions of information technology. Syngenta assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changed assumptions or other factors.

 2021 Syngenta, 2001 Butterfield Road, Downers Grove, IL 60515. Important: Always read and follow label and bag tag instructions; only those labeled as tolerant to glufosinate may be sprayed with glufosinate ammonium-based herbicides.

LibertyLink, Liberty and the Water Droplet logo are registered trademarks of BASF. GT27 is a trademark of M.S. Technologies and BASF. HERCULEX and the HERCULEX Shield are trademarks of Dow AgroSciences, LLC. HERCULEX Insect Protection technology by Dow AgroSciences. ENLIST E3 soybean technology is jointly developed with Dow AgroSciences LLC and MS Technologies LLC. The ENLIST trait and ENLIST Weed Control System are technologies owned and developed by Dow AgroSciences LLC. ENLIST and ENLIST E3 are trademarks of Dow AgroSciences LLC.

Roundup Ready 2 Yield, Roundup Ready 2 Xtend, XtendFlex and YieldGard VT Pro are registered trademarks used under license from the Bayer Group.

Under federal and local laws, only dicamba-containing herbicides registered for use on dicamba-tolerant varieties may be applied. See product labels for details and tank mix partners. NK Soybean varieties are protected under granted or pending U.S. variety patents and other intellectual property rights, regardless of the trait(s) within the seed. The ENLIST E3 traits, LibertyLink, Roundup Ready 2 Xtend, Roundup Ready 2 Yield and XtendFlex traits may be protected under numerous United States patents. It is unlawful to save soybeans containing these traits for planting or transfer to others for use as a planting seed. Only dicamba formulations that employ VaporGrip Technology are approved for use with Roundup Ready 2 Xtend and XtendFlex soybeans. Only 2,4-D choline formulations with Colex-D Technology are approved for use with ENLIST E3 soybeans. The trademarks or service marks displayed or otherwise used herein are the property of a Syngenta Group Company. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. More information about Agrisure Duracade is available at http://www.biotradestatus.com/.

SOURCE Syngenta

Related Links

https://www.syngenta.com


SECAUCUS, N.J., June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Northstar Meetings Group today launched its second annual Convention Cities Index (CCi), the only tool that uses extensive research and a weighted system to help meeting and event professionals identify the best destinations for large events. Northstar's CCi, sponsored by Visit Orlando, one of the world's leading convention destinations, provides comparative data for 25 convention cities in the United States and 25 cities globally.



Planners can use the Convention Cities Index to short-list and compare destinations by category, based on the needs and priorities of each event.



According to this year's composite data, the highest-indexed global cities across all metrics are Frankfurt, Germany; Las Vegas; Shenzhen, China; Shanghai; and Cologne, Germany. The top five U.S. convention cites are Atlanta; Anaheim, Calif.; Houston; Las Vegas; and Dallas.



"The beauty of this index is its aggregation of data representing the fundamental elements of an event organizer's buying decision," said David Blansfield, executive vice president and group publisher of Northstar Meetings Group. "Based on the characteristics of the business event, the budget and the priorities of the organizers and the attendees, the CCi provides in one place a relative comparison of all the key variables in all the major convention cities to help planners short-list the best destinations to host their events."



Overall, the CCi assesses convention center districts across six weighted categories: total exhibit space; number of hotel rooms within a 15-minute walk of the convention center; average hotel cost; travel time to the nearest international airport; the city's safety level for travelers; and the city's "lift" as defined by the number of direct flights to the destination monthly. The inclusion of direct air service was added to this year's CCi at the request of industry planners.



The 2021 CCi is featured in the May/June issue of Meetings & Conventions. To view the indices and compare destinations, download the full report here at NorthstarMeetingsGroup.com/CCI-2021. Profiles for the top 25 convention cities in the United States and the top 25 in the world are also included in the report.



"The index is a simple, unbiased and easy-to-use guide for the world's top destinations, and the inclusion of the number of monthly flights is a great addition," noted David Peckinpaugh, president of Maritz Global Events.



CCi Methodology

To determine the rankings, Northstar Meetings Group conducted research based on the following sources:

Exhibit space based on published figures from convention venues and/or convention and visitor bureaus.

Number of hotel rooms near the convention center, determined by using Google Maps to identify hotels within a 15-minute walk (as estimated by Google Directions); followed by Northstar Meetings Group research on the current number of guest rooms in each qualifying hotel.

Average travel time to the nearest international airport, based on Google Maps. Travel times were recorded for 7 a.m. , without traffic.

, without traffic. Average hotel cost, from Business Travel News' 2021 Q1 Corporate Travel Index; The Corporate Travel Index uses aggregated data on hotel costs, taxes and fees from Advito, DVI and Prime Numbers to calculate the average hotel rate (the country or state average was used for a few cities not included in the Index).

2021 Q1 Corporate Travel Index; The Corporate Travel Index uses aggregated data on hotel costs, taxes and fees from Advito, DVI and Prime Numbers to calculate the average hotel rate (the country or state average was used for a few cities not included in the Index). Safety scores are from GeoSure, an app that synthesizes data from sources like the CDC and the World Health Organization. Among factors considered: health and medical concerns (including Covid-19 data), nighttime safety, LGBTQ+ safety, women's safety, theft and basic freedoms.

Flights per month are from Cirium, an aviation analytics provider, which collects flight data from more than 2,000 sources, including airlines, airports and regulators. All direct flights into the area's airports were considered. CCi data is for May 2021 .

CCi Webinar: June 23, 2021

To learn more about this year's CCi, join the key research team behind the index  Loren Edelstein, vice president and content director for Northstar Meetings Group; Elise Schoening, associate editor for Northstar Meetings Group; and Michael Becker, CEO of GeoSure  for a webinar, "Choosing the Best Convention Destinations for 2021," on Wednesday, June 23, 2021, at 2 p.m. ET. Registration and details for the webinar can be found at NorthstarMeetingsGroup.com/Events-Calendar/Convention-City-Index-Best-Meeting-Cities-webinar.



About Northstar Meetings Group

Northstar Meetings Group is the leading B-to-B information and marketing solutions company serving all segments of the business meetings, events, sports and incentives market  including full- and part-time meeting planners, as well as corporate, association, sports and not-for-profit decision-makers, and incentive professionals, facilitating their professional development and achievement of business goals. The company's influential brands  Meetings & Conventions, Successful Meetings, Associations Meetings International, M&C Asia, Meetings & Incentive Travel, M&C China, Meeting News, Incentive and SportsTravel  currently serve over 400,000 active meeting and event planners and incentive professionals, across an integrated suite of data, digital, events and print products. For more information, please visit NorthstarMeetingsGroup.com.

SOURCE Northstar Meetings Group
COPENHAGEN, Denmark, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Novo Holdings A/S, a leading global life sciences investor, today announced it has acquired BBI Group ("BBI"), a leading supplier of products and services to the global diagnostics and life sciences industries, from Exponent for an enterprise value of over GBP 400 million.

Novo Holdings will be the majority shareholder of the company.

Founded in 1986, BBI provides critical reagents and immunoassay development, lateral flow development, diagnostic manufacturing services, and smartphone reader technologies to a global blue-chip customer base that includes Thermo-Fisher, Merck and Siemens. The company's market-leading brand, BBI Solutions, provides a range of products, including antibodies, antigens, labels, complementary reagents and point of care tests.

BBI is headquartered in South Wales and employs over 400 employees across its sites in seven countries and four continents.

"We are proud to be the next owners of BBI. Diagnostics is a very attractive space which, with an enhanced global focus on preventative medicine, will play an increasingly important part in improving health outcomes for patients around the world. We see tremendous opportunities for both organic and inorganic growth for the company. Novo Holdings is looking forward to contributing its considerable industry expertise and extensive network in supporting the talented team at BBI," said Johan Hueffer, Senior Partner at Novo Holdings.

Mario Gualano, Group CEO of BBI, said: "We are delighted to be working with Novo Holdings, a team with a strong track record and a shared vision for growth and innovation. In the last five years, we have grown revenues and profitability considerably through investing in our products and services, people, and world-class infrastructure. We now have a fully invested and scalable platform to deliver future growth in a large and fast-growing market."

Headquartered in Copenhagen, with a presence in San Francisco, Boston, London and Singapore, Novo Holdings is a world-leading life science investor with a focus on creating long-term value. The company has a portfolio of more than 120 life science companies and total assets of EUR 61 billion at the end of 2020. The company is fully owned by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, one of the world's largest foundations. Through its investments, Novo Holdings aims to make a growing and positive impact on health, science and society by generating attractive long-term returns on the assets of the Foundation. Since 2010, the Foundation has donated more than DKK 30 billion (4 billion) for projects improve the lives of people and the sustainability of society.

Novo Holdings' investment in BBI is part of its Principal Investments strategy targeting investments in well-established life science companies with leading positions in attractive market segments and strong underlying growth drivers.

In addition to capital and engagement, Novo Holdings provides access to an extensive network within the life science industry and uses its experience and expertise to actively support management in realizing its strategic ambitions.

Lazard served as financial advisor to Novo Holdings. Kromann Reumert, Latham & Watkins, and Linklaters served as legal advisors.





About BBI

BBI is a leading supplier of products and services to the global diagnostics and life sciences industries. The business has manufacturing sites spanning four continents and is headquartered in Crumlin, Wales. The Group's brand, BBI Solutions, has served the global diagnostics industry for over 30 years, offering lateral flow development and manufacturing services with a core focus on antibody development, gold conjugation, lateral flow test manufacture and mobile diagnostic solutions with Novarum technology.



About Novo Holdings A/S

Novo Holdings A/S is a private limited liability company wholly owned by the Novo Nordisk Foundation. It is the holding company of the Novo Group, comprising Novo Nordisk A/S and Novozymes A/S, and is responsible for managing the Novo Nordisk Foundation's assets.



Novo Holdings is recognized as a leading international life science investor, with a focus on creating long-term value. As a life science investor, Novo Holdings provides seed and venture capital to development-stage companies and takes significant ownership positions in growth and well-established companies. Novo Holdings also manages a broad portfolio of diversified financial assets. Further information: www.novoholdings.dk.



About the Novo Nordisk Foundation

The Novo Nordisk Foundation is an independent Danish foundation with corporate interests. It has two objectives: 1) to provide a stable basis for the commercial and research activities of the companies in the Novo Group; and 2) to support scientific, humanitarian and social causes.



The vision of the Foundation is to contribute significantly to research and development that improves the lives of people and the sustainability of society. Since 2010, the Foundation has donated more than DKK 30 billion (4 billion), primarily for research at public institutions and hospitals in Denmark and the other Nordic countries. Read more at www.novonordiskfonden.dk/en

SOURCE Novo Holdings
NEW ORLEANS, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Ochsner Hospital for Children has been named #1 in Louisiana in the new Best Children's Hospitals for 2021  22 rankings published online today by U.S. News & World Report  the global authority in hospital rankings and consumer advice. Ochsner Hospital for Children was also recognized in pediatric cardiology and heart surgery in the new rankings. This is the fifth consecutive year Ochsner Hospital for Children has been recognized as a top Children's Hospital. Ochsner Hospital for Children is once again the only children's hospital in Louisiana to receive this prestigious honor.

Dr. William Lennarz, MD, System Chair of Pediatrics, Ochsner Hospital for Children said, "From schools closing to social distancing, we recognize a lot has changed for kids (and adults too) over the past year. What remains the same, however, is Ochsner Hospital for Children's unwavering commitment to providing high quality care to kids across the state of Louisiana. We are proud of our team's commitment to always putting patients first and making Ochsner Hospital for Children a destination for pediatric care in our region."

The 15th annual Best Children's Hospitals rankings recognize the top 50 pediatric facilities across the United States in 10 pediatric specialties: cancer, cardiology & heart surgery, diabetes & endocrinology, gastroenterology & gastrointestinal surgery, neonatology, nephrology, neurology & neurosurgery, orthopedics, pulmonology & lung surgery and urology. New this year, the Best Children's Hospitals rankings included state rankings with Ochsner Hospital for Children securing the coveted top spot in Louisiana.

U.S. News & World Report introduced the Best Children's Hospitals rankings in 2007 to help families of children with rare or life-threatening illnesses find the best medical care available. The rankings are the most comprehensive source of quality-related information on pediatric hospitals in the United States and rely on clinical data and on an annual survey of pediatric specialists. The rankings methodology factors objective measures such as patient outcomes, including mortality and infection rates, as well as available clinical resources and compliance with best practices.

"When choosing a hospital for a sick child, many parents want specialized expertise, convenience and caring medical professionals," said Ben Harder, chief of health analysis and managing editor at U.S. News. "The Best Children's Hospitals rankings have always highlighted hospitals that excel in specialized care. As the pandemic continues to affect travel, finding high-quality care close to home has never been more important."

The multidisciplinary team at Ochsner Hospital for Children has been recognized as a national leader in pediatric care before. Accolades include:

Over the past year, Ochsner Hospital for Children has been at the forefront of the COVID-19 response, serving as a key resource for the Louisiana Department of Education as well as more than 160 schools across the state as they navigated reopening safely. Additionally, Ochsner Hospital for Children continues to play a vital role in COVID-19 research. It is one of two locations in Louisiana to participate in the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials for adolescents, which recently began enrolling children volunteers ages 5  11, with the goal of enrolling children as young as six months old in the near future.

Warner Thomas, CEO and President, Ochsner Health said, "It takes a lot of dedication, innovation and passion to be named one of the best Children's Hospitals in the country and the best Children's Hospital in the state of Louisiana. This amazing accomplishment is the result of our physicians and multidisciplinary care team working hand in hand to provide the best possible care for our smallest patients every single day. The work we do here and now is an investment in the health and wellbeing of our children and will lay the foundation for a healthier state for generations to come."

With a footprint spanning the state of Louisiana and into Mississippi, Ochsner Hospital for Children brings high quality pediatric care close to home, reducing barriers to healthcare  a key component of Ochsner's 10-year vision to transform Louisiana into a healthier state by 2030. Ochsner Hospital for Children has a dedicated pediatric emergency department in New Orleans is growing with new pediatric specialties anticipated to come online and more than a dozen new providers slated to join the team this year. Earlier this year, Ochsner announced the expansion of Ochsner Medical Complex  The Grove in Baton Rouge, LA to include a pediatric super-clinic as well as a multi-disciplinary Autism Clinic housed within the Michael R. Boh Center for Child Development at Ochsner Hospital for Children.

Ochsner Hospital for Children has offered exceptional pediatric care for more than 75 years. Ochsner Hospital for Children offers the only pediatric heart and liver transplant program in the state, serving over 76,000 children every year with more than 140 physicians specializing in more than 30 pediatric specialties and sub-specialties. Its flagship facility is in New Orleans, with subspecialty clinics across Louisiana and in Mississippi.

For more information about Ochsner Hospital for Children, please visit www.ochsner.org/pediatrics. For more information, visit Best Children's Hospitals and use #BestHospitals on Facebook and Twitter.

About Ochsner Health

Ochsner Health is a system that delivers health to the people of Louisiana, Mississippi and the Gulf South with a mission to Serve, Heal, Lead, Educate and Innovate. Ochsner Health is a not-for-profit committed to giving back to the communities it serves through preventative screenings, health and wellness resources and partnerships with innovative organizations that share our vision. Ochsner Health healed more than 900,000 people from across the globe in 2020, providing the latest medical breakthroughs and therapies, including digital medicine for chronic conditions and telehealth specialty services. Ochsner Health is a national leader, named the top hospital in Louisiana and a top children's hospital by U.S. News & World Report. As Louisiana's leading healthcare educator, Ochsner Health and its partners educate thousands of healthcare professionals annually. Ochsner Health is innovating healthcare by investing in new technologies and research to make world-class care more accessible, affordable, convenient and effective. Ochsner's team of more than 32,000 employees and 4,500 providers are working to reinvent the future of health and wellness in the region. To learn more about Ochsner Health, please visit www.ochsner.org.

About U.S. News & World Report

U.S. News & World Report is the global leader in quality rankings that empower citizens, consumers, business leaders and policy officials to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting their lives. A multifaceted digital media company with Education, Health, Money, Travel, Cars, News and 360 Reviews platforms, U.S. News provides rankings, independent reporting, data journalism, consumer advice and U.S. News Live events. More than 40 million people visit USNews.com each month for research and guidance. Founded in 1933, U.S. News is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

SOURCE Ochsner Hospital for Children
Held June 06-11, 2021, the virtual event featured a dynamic plenary session, nearly 100 invited speakers, four Symposia, three Special Sessions, ten Workshops, seven Panels, 49 Short Courses, and top-tier businesses presenting live technical showcases with industry-leading product announcements. The event drew over 6,500 registrants from 83 countries.

"OFC 2021 saw technology announcements and technical presentations spanning the optical communications ecosystem, including advancements in optoelectronic devices, packaging and digital signal processing that are all rapidly evolving to achieve 800G and beyond, as well as those in architectures and algorithms towards more intelligent optical networking," said Jun-ichi Kani, OFC General Chair, NTT, Japan. "OFC is the only event where attendees can access the full spectrum of trends shaping the industry and the way we connect across the globe."

"I've been attending OFC as an analyst for over 20 years now, but this year was extremely important as there are major disruptions going on in the industry," said Sterling Perrin, principal analyst  optical networking and transport, Heavy Reading. "It was the place to be for the latest technologies and significant research addressing challenges in the field."

Conference Program and Special Events

Industry luminaries Nancy Shemwell, COO, Trilogy Networks, USA; Young-Kai Chen, program manager, Microsystems Technology Office, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), USA; and Yiqun Cai, vice president, Alibaba Group, China, shared their insights on the evolution of networking, photonics and Artificial Intelligence and deployment of edge cloud for rural communities during the plenary session. Towards the end of the program, each speaker joined OFC General Chairs Jun-ichi Kani, Po Dong and Chongjin Xie, OFC Program Chair Ramon Casellas and attendees for a live audience Q&A. The session recording is available here.

Speakers presented breakthroughs in many areas, including 400/ZR+, 800G, co-packaged optics, embedded optics, next-gen optical access, silicon photonics, space-division multiplexing, data center networks, automation and intelligence in networks and more. Sessions on quantum science and technologies, sensor applications and free space optics appealed to a large audience and enriched the OFC experience. Recorded sessions are available to registrants as on-demand content for 60 days following the close of the event.

"OFC is the go-to event for the optics industry," said Jimmy Yu, vice president, Dell'Oro Group. "From the thought-provoking panel discussions to the product announcements, OFC has always been the place where I learn about emerging technologies."

Driving Business Solutions

Technology experts from global leaders II-VI, Broadcom, Ciena, Cisco, Corning, Innolight, Intel, Juniper Networks, Lumentum, NeoPhotonics, Nokia and Ribbon discussed developments in hardware and software-based networking solutions in daily briefings with leading analysts, Sterling Perrin, Heavy Reading; Ian Redpath, OMDIA; Andrew Schmitt, Cignal AI; Jimmy Yu, Dell'Oro Group and Vladimir Kozlov, LightCounting. The videos can be viewed here.

Technology Showcases from 3M, AIM Photonics, Corning, EFFECT Photonics, Infinera, Jabil, Juniper Networks, Keysight Technologies, Lumentum, Luna Innovations, Murata, Nokia, Pi, Renesas, Ribbon, Samtec, Sicoya, Synopsys, Tektronix, Telescent and Xilinx gave deep dives into their cutting-edge products.

OFC 2021 exhibitor news announcements are posted to the OFC Newsroom.

Innovations in Optics

Leading researchers from around the world presented technical peer-reviewed papers, including:

Post Deadline Papers looked to the future with developments in high-speed individual LEDs, modulated lasers, record low loss in hollow core fibers for applications in power delivery and sensing and other topic areas important to industry.

OFC 2022 will be held 06 - 10 March at the San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, CA.

About OFC

The 2021 Optical Fiber Communication Conference and Exhibition (OFC) is the premier conference and exhibition for optical communications and networking professionals. For more than 40 years, OFC has drawn attendees from all corners of the globe to meet and greet, teach and learn, make connections and move business forward. OFC includes dynamic business programming, an exhibition of global companies and high impact peer-reviewed research that, combined, showcase the trends and pulse of the entire optical networking and communications industry. OFC is co-sponsored by IEEE Communications Society (IEEE/ComSoc), IEEE Photonics Society, The Optical Society (OSA) and managed by OSA. OFC 2021, an all-virtual event, was held 06  11 June 2021. Follow @OFCConference, learn more at OFC Community LinkedIn, and watch highlights on OFC YouTube.

Media Contact:

[email protected]

SOURCE The Optical Fiber Communication Conference and Exhibition (OFC)
OAKLAND, Calif., June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- OhmConnect , the leading customer-response program for residential energy use, today announced its new " EndCABlackouts " campaign, which will offer the first 1 million California residents free smart thermostats to help prevent blackouts in California this summer. This giveaway supports the recent launch of OhmConnect's City Energy Challenge , a competition between California cities that encourages residents to save energy, prevent blackouts and get paid for their efforts. Kristen Bell can be seen on EndCABlackouts.com explaining how this campaign can help Californians save money and avoid blackouts this summer.

OhmConnect EndCABlackouts Life's Moments - Haircut & Dumplings :30s OhmConnect

During the unprecedented heat waves in August 2020, OhmConnect's network of energy savers helped limit blackouts in California by saving almost 1GWh of energy  the equivalent of taking 600,000 homes off of the grid for an hour. Ultimately, their efforts helped prevent six additional days of blackouts and earned them $1.3 million in cash and prizes from OhmConnect. With 1 million smart thermostats connected to OhmConnect, residents will be able to save four times more energy to help prevent blackouts during what experts say will be the hottest summer on record.

"Thank you to OhmConnect for making these thermostats free to anybody who joins the program," said Mayor Libby Schaaf. "Not only will you get a free smart thermostat, but you will save money on your electricity bill, and you can get paid to become, essentially, part of a virtual power plant. Talk about people power. I love the idea that together, by taking collective action, we can prevent the turning on of one of these dirty peaker plants."

EndCABlackout campaign ads will run in major California media markets, including billboards on major highways, a comprehensive digital advertising campaign, and a grassroots, community-focused statewide outreach effort. California households using Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric for their electricity are eligible to join OhmConnect and participate in EndCABlackouts to receive either a free smart thermostat or two free smart plugs and $25. A smart thermostat or other device is not required to participate.

OhmConnect recently announced its partnership with Google. This program also includes partnerships with Ecobee and Emerson, which altogether represents the most popular smart thermostats on the market. The first 1 million households that sign up, qualify, and connect to the OhmConnect platform will receive a smart thermostat of their choice.

OhmConnect's City Energy Challenge was unveiled by San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer, Bakersfield Mayor Karen Goh and California Energy Commissioner Andrew McAllister last month. This neighborly competition will award the community that installs the greatest number of smart thermostats or smart plugs and connects them to the OhmConnect platform with $50,000 in educational scholarships ($5,000 to 10 winners) and the title of "Energy Saving Superhero."

"We saw this work last year when the OhmConnect community of 150,000 homes responded to state-issued Flex Alerts by making deep cuts in their energy use," said Cisco DeVries, CEO, OhmConnect. "Participating OhmConnect residents helped to prevent blackouts in 2020, and this campaign will dramatically increase the number of participating households -- and dramatically decrease energy use to help prevent blackouts this summer. Working together, Californians can make a huge difference."

By syncing energy use across homes and operating as a virtual power plant, OhmConnect's innovative platform helps Californians reduce their collective electricity usage when the grid needs it most. Adjusting thermostats by just a few degrees at times of peak energy use can deliver 680 MW in savings to the grid, about twice the energy generated by a conventional power plant.

"We won't reach our goals without including everyone in California," said Andrew McAllister, Commissioner of the California Energy Commission. "The grid needs resources to be as flexible and as responsive as they can possibly be, in order to support the reliability that we need. And OhmConnect is providing just that."

Register to EndCABlackouts here and learn more about OhmConnect's City Energy Challenge, which runs through September 30, here .

About OhmConnect

OhmConnect, winner of the 2021 Fast Company World Changing Ideas Award , was founded in 2014 with the vision of becoming the world's largest supplier of clean energy. It has a mission to improve the lives of people and the health of the planet by reimagining the way energy is (collectively) used. Today, OhmConnect enables hundreds of thousands of customers to reimagine how they use energy, to choose clean energy over dirty energy when required, and to be rewarded for timely, smarter, home energy use. OhmConnect makes it possible for customers to use clean energy without buying expensive solar-powered systems or changing energy providers. The company pays its users for saving energy when the grid is at risk of using dirty power. OhmConnect has paid Californian consumers nearly $14 million to save energy. Customers of the three major California electricity suppliers  Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric  can sign up with OhmConnect for free at ohmconnect .com. Follow OhmConnect on Twitter @OhmConnect, see the OhmConnect blog or check it out on Facebook and LinkedIn .

Media Contact:

Alexandra Pony

[email protected]

250.858.0656

SOURCE OhmConnect
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Ohza , the ready-to-drink cocktail brand best known for its convenient premade mimosas, recently closed a round of funding worth just over $4 million. This will allow the company to support its newly inked partnerships with some of the largest distributors in the country, including Southern Glazer's and Breakthru Beverage, as well as double-down on its direct-to-consumer efforts. The round was led by CircleUp Growth Partners with participation from Branch Venture Group, Ruttenberg Gordon Investments, Riverside Ventures, individuals like Elliot Grainge, Founder of 10K Projects and existing investors such as Austin Rosen, Founder of Electric Feel Management.

Ohza Mimosas and Bellini Ohza Mimosas and Bellini, summertime

Ohza, which was ranked a 'Top four canned cocktail company' nationally by USA Today in 2020, has recently launched a retail-exclusive variety pack, and began rolling out distribution to key states such as California, Arizona, Georgia, and Florida with its new distribution agreements. It also brought on industry veterans to lead its sales team, including Matt Giese as EVP of Sales, formerly at Constellation and Diageo, and Jeff Janisse as National Accounts Director, formerly at Press Hard Seltzer.

"I'm thrilled to have such a strong team of investors and employees behind Ohza as we build it into the leading canned cocktail brand in the US," said CEO and Founder of Ohza, Ryan Ayotte. "When you factor in our unique capabilities, omni-channel presence, market positioning, and portfolio strategy, it's clear we've only just begun to scratch the surface of Ohza's capabilities."

Launched just two years ago in June 2019, the funding and distribution expansion comes on the heels of lightning-fast growth for Ohza and the greater ready-to-drink cocktail category, with the brand seeing strong sales in traditional retail as well as its direct-to-consumer platform.

"CircleUp seeks to partner with entrepreneurs building innovative, disruptive products primed for growth," said Pat Robinson, General Partner at CircleUp Growth Partners. "Ohza uniquely delivers on what consumers are looking for in the emerging ready to drink cocktail category - better for you ingredient attributes while retaining a full flavor experience. We are excited to partner with Ryan and Ohza as they rapidly expand distribution and build a leader in the ready-to-drink cocktail category."

While Ohza is known for making classic sparkling wine cocktails in a convenient, accessible format, the company believes it is much more than that.

"Consumers love that we're making authentic, portable mimosas and bellinis, but the magic really lies in the fact that we've created a 'better-for-you' version that's allowing them to trade up on flavor compared to hard seltzer, yet have a relatively similar calorie count," said Ayotte. "This is what's really enabling us to scale and garner such excitement in a competitive category. Ohza enables consumers to trade up on quality and flavor, without any of the tradeoffs."

Ohza's products have only 130-140 calories per 12-ounce serving, yet almost an entire third of each serving is real juice, which can be a higher percentage than some bottled juice products on grocery shelves. Despite all the juice, Ohza contains up to 80-percent less sugar than the homemade alternative, with no preservatives, zero added sugar, and no artificial flavoring or sweeteners of any kind.

For more information about Ohza, please visit www.ohzamimosas.com and follow Ohza on social media at @OhzaMimosas.

About Ohza

Ohza was founded in June 2019 by Ryan Ayotte after attempting to mix mimosas with his friends on a tippy boat off of Cape Cod, MA. As a "champagne cocktail" company, Ohza uses the same ingredients as you would yourself with quality sparkling wine and 100% real juice, but with fewer calories, less sugar, and in a ready-to-drink format. Now available in four flavors in both can and keg formats, Ohza is considered one of the fastest-growing ready-to-drink cocktail companies in the industry. Ohza is available online in 42 states at ohzamimosas.com, as well as at 2,500+ retailers including Whole Foods, Hannaford, Wegmans, Total Wine & More, Market Basket, and many more independent retailers. Follow Ohza on Instagram at @ohzamimosas and like on Facebook .

Media Contact:

Cara Zizzo

702-592-2234

[email protected]

SOURCE Ohza
NEW YORK, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM), operator of financial markets for 11,000 U.S. and global securities, today announced Euro Manganese Inc. (TSX-V: EMN) (ASX: EMN) (OTCQX: EUMNF), a battery materials company, has qualified to trade on the OTCQX Best Market. Euro Manganese Inc. upgraded to OTCQX from the Pink market.

Euro Manganese Inc. begins trading today on OTCQX under the symbol "EUMNF." U.S. investors can find current financial disclosure and Real-Time Level 2 quotes for the company on www.otcmarkets.com.

Upgrading to the OTCQX Market is an important step for companies seeking to provide transparent trading for their U.S. investors. For companies listed on a qualified international exchange, streamlined market standards enable them to utilize their home market reporting to make their information available in the U.S. To qualify for OTCQX, companies must meet high financial standards, follow best practice corporate governance and demonstrate compliance with applicable securities laws.

"Over the past eight months we have witnessed a transformation in the global automotive industry, as carmakers accelerate their transition to battery electric vehicles," says Euro Manganese CEO, Marco Romero. "Without raw materials, there are no batteries. High-purity manganese is an essential battery metal. By joining the OTCQX, we are making it easier for U.S. investors to gain exposure to this growing sector, enabling them to more easily trade in our shares."

McMillan LLP acted as the company's OTCQX sponsor.

About Euro Manganese Inc.

Euro Manganese Inc. is a battery materials company whose principal focus is advancing the development of the Chvaletice Manganese Project, in which it holds a 100% interest. The proposed Project entails re-processing a significant manganese deposit hosted in mine tailings from a decommissioned mine, strategically located in the Czech Republic. The Company's goal is to become a leading, competitive and environmentally superior primary producer of ultra-high-purity Manganese Products in the heart of Europe, serving both the lithium-ion battery industry, as well as other high-technology applications.

About OTC Markets Group Inc.

OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM) operates the OTCQX Best Market, the OTCQB Venture Market and the Pink Open Market for 11,000 U.S. and global securities. Through OTC Link ATS and OTC Link ECN, we connect a diverse network of broker-dealers that provide liquidity and execution services. We enable investors to easily trade through the broker of their choice and empower companies to improve the quality of information available for investors.

To learn more about how we create better informed and more efficient markets, visit www.otcmarkets.com.

OTC Link ATS and OTC Link ECN are SEC regulated ATSs, operated by OTC Link LLC, member FINRA/SIPC.

Subscribe to the OTC Markets RSS Feed

Media Contact:

OTC Markets Group Inc., +1 (212) 896-4428, [email protected]

SOURCE OTC Markets Group Inc.

Related Links

http://www.otcmarkets.com


LAKEWOOD, Colo., June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning, one of the nation's greenest and fastest-growing carpet cleaning franchises, has donated over $128,000 to the non-profit Water.org since 2015. Over the years, Oxi Fresh's contributions have empowered more than 13,000 people with long-term access to safe water. This access to water is key to further economic opportunity, education, and improved health.

"Every company should give back. Philanthropy sends an important message that a business is more than an earnings machine  it's a part of the global community. Giving shows that we care  that we truly want to make a difference," said Oxi Fresh Founder and CEO Jonathan Barnett. "We couldn't be more proud of our contributions to such an important and worthwhile cause."

Hundreds of millions of people lack access to clean water and sanitation, but Water.org is changing lives with every dollar donated. Through partnerships with in-country financial institutions, the organization connects people in need with small, affordable loans to get access to safe water at home. Water.org doesn't merely give out water  they empower local people and communities so that they can have sustainable, long-term water and sanitation solutions.

"They're a revolutionary organization," said Mr. Barnett. "We're amazed by what they've been able to accomplish with our donations."

Water and Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning

Water is important to Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning. In fact, water conservation has been one of the company's highest priorities since it was founded in 2006. To date, the carpet cleaning brand has saved many tens of millions of gallons of water with its innovative, low-moisture cleaning process. This method requires only two gallons of water to clean a home instead of the 40-60 gallons required by many traditional steam cleaners.

"One of our goals at Oxi Fresh is to provide our clients with not only a world-class cleaning experience but also unexpected convenience and a green method," said Mr. Barnett. "Many people expect their carpets to take forever to dry, but our water-conserving system dries quickly and greatly reduces water usage. On top of that, we give back."

Oxi Fresh donates to Water.org with every appointment that customers schedule through the brand's Online Scheduler. The proceeds go towards Water.org's efforts to help families in Africa, Asia, and Latin America get access to safe water and sanitation solutions.

About Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning

Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning offers green carpet cleanings and exceptional results through innovative products and modern technology. The company's powerful combination of knowledgeable people, innovative technology, and robust processes has landed the brand in Entrepreneur magazine's Franchise 500, ranked in Inc. magazine's Inc. 500|5000, and saw them named as one of "America's Best Franchises to Buy," by Forbes magazine. Oxi Fresh has hundreds of locations throughout the United States and Canada, with more locations currently in development. For more information, visit oxifresh.com.

About Water.org

Water.org is an international nonprofit organization that has positively transformed more than thirty-six million lives around the world through access to safe water and sanitation. Founded by Gary White and Matt Damon, Water.org has been pioneering market-driven financial solutions to the global water crisis for 30 years  giving women hope, children health, and communities a future. Learn more at http://water.org and www.facebook.com/water, or join them at www.twitter.com/water.

SOURCE Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning
CHICAGO, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Treasurer Maria Pappas and ABC 7 Chicago will host her third "Black and Latino Houses Matter" phone bank on Wednesday, June 16, 2021 to keep helping Cook County homeowners find refunds, apply for property tax exemptions and avoid the Tax Sale.

"I am grateful to ABC 7 for teaming up with me again after we found more than $15.2 million owed to taxpayers since March," Pappas said. "While the Tax Sale disproportionately impacts Black and Latino homeowners, all Cook County homeowners are welcome to call the phone bank."

The following are the phone bank details:

Date: June 16, 2021

Time: 12:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Location: Cook County Treasurer's Office

Phone Number: 312- 603 - 5105

Samantha Chatman, a consumer investigative reporter with ABC 7's I-Team, will report on the phone bank throughout the day. A team from the Treasurer's Office, fluent in Spanish, Polish, Chinese and English, will:

Search $76 million in available property tax refunds

in available property tax refunds Check if you are eligible for $46 million in missing tax exemptions

in missing tax exemptions Verify if your property is on the Tax Sale list with delinquent taxes

SOURCE Cook County Treasurer's Office

Related Links

www.cookcountytreasurer.com


Pipeline Pigging Systems Market Segmentation: Application

Natural gas is recorded as the largest application segment in 2019, as it is the natural source of energy across the world. Factors such as the increasing natural gas production worldwide and the increased support from governments contribute to the growth of the pipeline pigging systems market. The market growth will be significant over the forecast period.

Pipeline Pigging Systems Market Segmentation: Geography

Based on the segmentation by geography, North America held the largest market share of 71% of market growth in 2019, and the region will offer several growth opportunities to market vendors. The market is influenced by factors such as the booming rise in shale oil and gas production which will drive the growth of the market. The US and Canada are the key markets for pipeline pigging systems in North America.

Get more insights about the global trends impacting the future of the market,

Buy Technavio's Research Methodology Analysis Report

Pipeline Pigging Systems Market 2020-2024: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2020-2024

Detailed information on factors that will assist pipeline pigging systems market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the pipeline pigging systems market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the pipeline pigging systems market

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of pipeline pigging systems market vendors

Major Three Pipeline Pigging Systems Market Participants:

3P Services GmbH & Co KG

3P Services GmbH & Co KG offers Pipe scanner-HandyScan, Smart pigs, and In-line inspection.

Alpha Pipeline Integrity Services Inc.

Alpha Pipeline Integrity Services Inc. offers Above Ground Marker (AGM) Setting & Pig Tracking.

Baker Hughes Co.

Baker Hughes Co. offers flexible pipe systems, rigid jumpers, and spools.

Enquire to know more about factors impacting the growth of the pipeline pigging systems market:

https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR45065

Related Reports on Energy Include:

Global Sand Control Systems Market - The sand control systems market is segmented by application (onshore and offshore, geography (APAC, North America, Europe, MEA, and South America), and key vendors.

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Further breakdown of the market segmentation in requested regions.

Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players, vendor segmentation, and vendor offerings

About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contact

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

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UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Report Page: https://www.technavio.com/report/pipeline-pigging-systems-market-industry-analysis

SOURCE Technavio
LONDON and OXFORD, England, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- PQShield, the Oxford-based cybersecurity company specialising in post-quantum cryptography, was selected among hundreds of candidates as one of the World Economic Forum's "Technology Pioneers".

While quantum computers offer huge potential benefits to society, they also pose a significant risk to information security, as they will be able to easily break the public-key encryption widely relied upon today to protect sensitive data. PQShield is pioneering the development and commercial roll-out of advanced, quantum-ready cryptographic solutions for hardware, software and communications, and helping organisations across the globe prepare for the quantum threat.

The World Economic Forum's Technology Pioneers are early to growth-stage companies from around the world that are involved in the use of new technologies and innovation that are poised to have a significant impact on business and society.

With their selection as Technology Pioneer, CEO and Founder Dr. Ali El Kaafarani will be invited to participate at World Economic Forum activities, events and discussions throughout the year. PQShield will also contribute to Forum initiatives over the next two years, working with global leaders to help address key industry and societal issues.

"We're excited to welcome PQShield to our 2021 cohort of Technology Pioneers," says Susan Nesbitt, Head of the Global Innovators Community, World Economic Forum. "PQShield and its fellow pioneers are developing technologies that can help society solve some of its most pressing issues. We look forward to their contribution to the World Economic Forum in its commitment to improving the state of the world."

"We are thrilled to be acknowledged by the World Economic Forum as a Technology Pioneer", said Dr. Ali El Kaafarani, CEO and Founder of PQShield. "Our inclusion is testament to the huge potential impact of the quantum threat, which is truly global in scale, and to the critical need for action across industries and governments as a new cybersecurity landscape looms large. We look forward to contributing to the Forum's dialogues on this critical issue, as we continue our mission to develop and integrate post-quantum cryptographic solutions that will help society secure its sensitive information now and for years to come."

For the first time in the community's history, over 30% of the cohort are led by women. The firms also come from regions all around the world, extending their community far beyond Silicon Valley. This year's cohort includes start-ups from 26 countries, with UAE, El Salvador, Ethiopia and Zimbabwe represented for the first time.

The diversity of these companies extends to their innovations as well. 2021 Tech Pioneer firms are shaping the future by advancing technologies such as AI, IoT, robotics, blockchain, biotechnology and many more. The full list of Technology Pioneers can be found here .

Technology Pioneers have been selected based on the community's selection criteria, which includes innovation, impact and leadership as well as the company's relevance with the World Economic Forum's Platforms .

All info on this year's Technology Pioneers can be found here: http://wef.ch/techpioneers21

More information on past winners, information on the community and the application link can be found here .

About PQShield

PQShield is a quantum security company that specialises in post-quantum cryptography, protecting information from today's attacks while readying organisations for the threat landscape of tomorrow. It is the only cybersecurity company that can demonstrate quantum-safe cryptography on chips, in applications and in the cloud, by providing ready-made and tailored IP for secure elements, IoT firmware, PKI and server technologies, and end-user applications.

Headquartered in Oxford, with additional teams in the Netherlands and France, its quantum-secure cryptographic solutions work with companies' legacy systems to protect devices and sensitive data now and for years to come. PQShield is principally backed by Kindred Capital, Crane Venture Partners, Oxford Sciences Innovation, and Innovate UK. Its latest white papers are available to read here . www.pqshield.com

About World Economic Forum

The World Economic Forum, committed to improving the state of the world, is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. ( www.weforum.org ).

About the Technology Pioneers

The World Economic Forum believes that innovation is critical to the future well-being of society and to driving economic growth. Launched in 2000, the Technology Pioneer community is composed of early to growth-stage companies from around the world that are involved in the design, development and deployment of new technologies and innovations, and are poised to have a significant impact on business and society.

The World Economic Forum provides the Technology Pioneers community with a platform to engage with the public- and private-sector leaders and to contribute new solutions to overcome the current crisis and build future resiliency.

Press contact

[email protected]

[email protected]

SOURCE PQShield

Related Links

.


PHILADELPHIA, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- PRECISIONscientia , a Pennsylvania-based full-service medical communications agency dedicated to science and its ability to transform lives, today announced it is an honoree in the Philadelphia Business Journal's 2021 Best Places to Work Awards in the large company category. Voted by the people who know them bestits employeesthe award celebrates the top companies in the Greater Philadelphia area. This marks the second consecutive year that PRECISIONscientia made the annual list.

The Philadelphia Business Journal Best Places to Work Awards honor superior organizations where voices are heard, cultures are thriving, and employees are engaged. A Quantum Workplace online survey measures each company's culture and takes into consideration compensation, benefits, and trust in senior leadership.

Employees rate their company's work environment, personal growth, professional environment, people, and ability and willingness to embrace new change and ideas. Winners are chosen based on the results of the survey and, in essence, by the employees themselves.

"We are dedicated to maintaining a culture of continuous learning, growth, and development for our staff that relies heavily on teamwork, collaboration, and mutual respect," said Nate Wible, managing director of PRECISIONscientia. "Our team members are what make this such a great place to work, and we are grateful to have such wonderful people who enjoy supporting each other, delivering superior results, and contributing to improving the care and lives of patients."

Winners were announced in the Philadelphia Business Journal online and will be featured in a special July supplement in the print edition.

About PRECISIONscientia: "Your Science Is Our Responsibility"

Founded in 2002, PRECISIONscientia is an authority in interpreting and communicating the science of today's cutting-edge therapies. With more than 200 employees who have experience in virtually every therapeutic area, PRECISIONscientia provides scientific and medical marketing, medical affairs, and training solutions to pharmaceutical and biotech clients. PRECISIONscientia was founded with the simple belief that the scientific story is the foundation of every pharmaceutical brand. As a result, it seeks out business professionals who deeply understand science and are committed to perfection, superior results, and relationships that transcend brands and companies. To learn more, visit www.precisionscientia.com or follow us on LinkedIn. To learn more about current openings, visit our careers page .

About the Philadelphia Business Journal

American City Business Journals (ACBJ) is the largest publisher of metropolitan business newsweeklies in the United States, with 44 business publications across the country reaching more than 3.6 million readers each week. The Philadelphia Business Journal is a regional business news publication that covers the latest business news and happenings in the Greater Philadelphia Area.

SOURCE PRECISIONscientia
TAMPA, Fla., June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Primo Water Corporation (NYSE: PRMW) (TSX: PRMW) (the "Company" or "Primo"), a leading provider of water direct to consumers and water filtration services in North America and Europe as well as a leading provider of water dispensers, purified and spring bottled water, and self-service refill drinking water in the U.S. and Canada, today announced the appointment of Shayron Barnes-Selby as Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, effective immediately. Ms. Barnes-Selby will report directly to Tom Harrington, Primo's Chief Executive Officer.

In this role, Ms. Barnes-Selby will be responsible for overseeing the implementation of the end-to-end diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) framework and program across Primo's global footprint. She will lead Primo's DEI Committee and partner with the executive leadership team to develop, implement and promote DEI strategies and best practices and embed them into the culture and operations of the business.

"We are excited to announce the promotion of Shayron into this new and crucial role for the organization," said Mr. Harrington. "At Primo, we are committed to creating a truly inclusive work culture that empowers diversity of thought and background. True to our values, our focus is on creating an environment that recognizes and embraces the whole person and respects and celebrates our differences. Shayron has a proven track record of success in our industry, and as Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer she will play a pivotal role in ensuring that Primo's culture and operations reflect the diversity of people, perspectives and experiences of the communities we serve across the globe."

Ms. Barnes-Selby previously served as Vice President  Environmental Social Governance (ESG). "I want to thank Shayron for her instrumental role in standing up our Environmental Social Governance (ESG) program at Primo," said Jay Wells, Chief Financial Officer. "Under her leadership, we have made significant progress in our cornerstone ESG initiatives, water stewardship and carbon neutrality  achieving carbon neutral certification for U.S. and European operations, receiving multiple certifications from the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) and remaining on target to reach full AWS compliance of all key owned spring sources by 2025. ESG is a core strategic pillar of our business and we will launch a global search for a new Vice President of ESG who will drive the execution of policies, processes and programs across the business."

Ms. Barnes-Selby brings over 30 years of service in the bottled water industry to the role. As Vice President, Government Affairs and Quality Services, she represented and promoted Primo's interests with regulators and legislators at the state and federal levels. For many years, she has been an active advocate on behalf of the bottled water industry. In 2006, Ms. Barnes-Selby was awarded the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) Directors' Award for her advocacy efforts and commitment to the bottled water industry. In 2016, she was elected to serve as IBWA chairwoman, becoming the second woman to hold this position in the trade association's 60-year history. Ms. Barnes-Selby was inducted into the IBWA Hall of Fame in 2018.

ABOUT PRIMO WATER CORPORATION

Primo Water Corporation is a leading pure-play water solutions provider in North America, Europe and Israel and generates approximately $2.0 billion in annual revenue. Primo operates largely under a recurring razor/razorblade revenue model. The razor in Primo's revenue model is its industry leading line-up of sleek and innovative water dispensers, which are sold through major retailers and online at various price points or leased to customers. The dispensers help increase household penetration which drives recurring purchases of Primo's razorblade offering. Primo's razorblade offering is comprised of Water Direct, Water Exchange, and Water Refill. Through its Water Direct business, Primo delivers sustainable hydration solutions across its 21-country footprint direct to the customer's door, whether at home or to commercial businesses. Through its Water Exchange and Water Refill businesses, Primo offers pre-filled and reusable containers at over 13,000 locations and water refill units at approximately 22,000 locations, respectively. Primo also offers water filtration units across its 21-country footprint representing a top five position.

Primo's water solutions expand consumer access to purified, spring and mineral water to promote a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle while simultaneously reducing plastic waste and pollution. Primo is committed to its water stewardship standards and is proud to partner with the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) in North America as well as with Watercoolers Europe (WE), which ensure strict adherence to safety, quality, sanitation and regulatory standards for the benefit of consumer protection.

Primo is headquartered in Tampa, Florida (USA). For more information, visit www.primowatercorp.com.

SOURCE Primo Water Corporation

Related Links

https://primowatercorp.com/


SAN DIEGO and PERTH, Australia, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- PYC Therapeutics (ASX: PYC), a biotechnology company developing a new generation of precision RNA therapeutics to change the lives of patients with inherited diseases, today announced residency at Johnson & Johnson Innovation, JLABS at San Diego (JLABS @ SAN DIEGO) after a successful application and selection process. This new U.S. location will serve as the Company's U.S. headquarters which will house preclinical and clinical development, regulatory, manufacturing, business development and general corporate operations. The Company's drug discovery and laboratory operations will remain in Perth, Australia.

"The establishment of a U.S. headquarters is critical for the sustained execution of PYC's preclinical, clinical development and business development strategic priorities. We are pleased to join and contribute to the thriving biotech community in San Diego as we continue to drive momentum for our evolution into a clinical-stage company," said Sahm Nasseri, U.S. Chief Executive Officer of PYC Therapeutics. "We look forward to further growing our cross-functional team with experienced, top-tier talent in the U.S. who will collaborate closely with our foundational scientific and discovery team members in Perth as we develop next-generation RNA therapeutics that hold the potential to change the lives of patients with inherited diseases."

PYC has appointed several key team members based at the new U.S. headquarters who will build out capabilities related to preclinical and clinical development, such as chemistry, manufacturing and controls and toxicology, and other corporate activities. The U.S. based team will remain focused on these activities to support the advancement into clinical development of PYC's two lead drug candidates, VP-001 for the treatment of retinitis pigmentosa type 11 and VP-002 for the treatment of autosomal dominant optic atrophy caused by mutations in the OPA1 gene together with engagement with key stakeholders, such as institutional investors and potential BD partners.

JLABS @ SAN DIEGO is a 30,000 square-foot life science innovation center, located in San Diego. The labs provide a flexible environment for start-up companies pursuing new technologies and research platforms to advance medical care. Through a "no strings attached" model, JJI does not take an equity stake in the companies occupying JLABS and the companies are free to develop products - either on their own, or by initiating a separate external partnership with JJI or any other company.

About PYC Therapeutics

PYC Therapeutics (ASX: PYC) is a development-stage biotechnology company pioneering a new generation of RNA therapeutics that utilize PYC's proprietary library of naturally derived cell penetrating peptides to overcome the major challenges of current genetic medicines. PYC believes its PPMO (Peptide conjugated Phosphorodiamidate Morpholino Oligomer) technology enables a safer and more effective RNA therapeutic to address the underlying drivers of a range of genetic diseases for which no treatment solutions exist today. The Company is leveraging its leading-edge science to develop a pipeline of novel therapies including three preclinical stage programs focused on inherited eye diseases and a preclinical discovery program focused on neurodegenerative diseases. PYC's discovery and laboratory operations are located in Australia, and the Company recently launched an expansion into the U.S. for its preclinical, clinical, regulatory and business development operations. For more information, visit pyctx.com, or follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Forward looking statements

Any forward-looking statements in this ASX announcement have been prepared on the basis of a number of assumptions which may prove incorrect and the current intentions, plans, expectations and beliefs about future events are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside the Company's control. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from assumptions or expectations expressed or implied in this ASX announcement include known and unknown risks. Because actual results could differ materially to assumptions made and the Company's current intentions, plans, expectations and beliefs about the future, you are urged to view all forward-looking statements contained in this ASX announcement with caution. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

CONTACTS:

INVESTORS

Deborah Elson/Matthew DeYoung

Argot Partners

[email protected]

[email protected]

MEDIA

Leo Vartorella

Argot Partners

[email protected]

SOURCE PYC Therapeutics

Related Links

https://pyctx.com/


STERLING, Va., June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- REI Systems has completed a Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) to team with Norfolk State University (NSU) to strategically supplement REI's capabilities and offerings. REI will collaborate with this leading Historically Black College and University (HBCU) to better serve current and future REI customers and to strengthen the diversity of our company's staff. The MOU with NSU will provide REI's federal customers access to NSU's Cybersecurity Complex.

REI Senior Director Jeff Myers stated, "We believe federal agencies need access to the best expertise and research from institutions of higher learning. We are pleased that Norfolk State has agreed to team with REI to strengthen our customers' cybersecurity posture. This relationship will also help advance the diversity of REI's workforce."

Dr. Aurelia Williams, Executive Director of NSU's Cybersecurity COE, said, "NSU's faculty, staff, and students are excited to offer our expertise together with REI Systems to federal agencies who may need services such as cyber modeling, simulation, analysis, and experimentation  our COE's core focus."

About REI Systems

REI Systems has delivered innovative solutions that empower people and impact millions of lives since 1989. Our 600+ problem-solving technologists and consultants are passionate about modernizing the government to fulfill its missions more effectively. Our customers include healthcare, national security, science and technology, and government operations in the federal, state, local, and non-profit sectors. We take a Mindful Modernization approach in providing Application Modernization, Government Data Analytics, Grants Management Systems and Products, and Advisory Services. Delivering domain expertise, best-fit technologies through agile execution, and a commitment to customer service is the REI Way.

About Norfolk State University

Norfolk State University is a comprehensive urban public institution committed to transforming students' lives through exemplary teaching, research, and service. Offering a supportive academic and culturally diverse environment for all, the University empowers its students to turn their aspirations into reality and achieve their full potential as well-rounded, resourceful citizens and leaders for the 21st century. With annual operating revenues exceeding $196 million, and more than 1,200 employees and more than 30,000 alumni, NSU plays a vital economic and social role in Norfolk, the Hampton Roads region, and across Virginia.

Contact

Jeff Myers

Senior Director

[email protected]

SOURCE REI Systems

Related Links

http://www.reisystems.com


PLANO, Texas, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ResMan, a leading property management SaaS platform provider, today announces that it has acquired Investor Deal Room, an investor portal and investor management SaaS solution that helps real estate syndicators automate investor subscriptions and improve reporting, communication and transparency with investors. This acquisition continues ResMan's focus on providing property management companies with the technology solutions they need to grow and operate their businesses more efficiently.

"Managing relationships with investors is a critical aspect of business operations for many of our customers and we're excited to add this capability to our offering," said Paul Bridgewater, ResMan CEO. "Investor Deal Room aligns so well with ResMan's focus because the technology is powerful, yet easy to use so it drives efficiency and cost savings around raising capital and communicating with investors."

Investor Deal Room offers the multifamily industry an alternative to traditional investor management platforms  one that is full-featured, intuitive and easy to use for both fundraisers and investors. The solution supports all phases of the investment lifecycle  from marketing a new investment opportunity to onboarding investors, receiving capital, storing documents, providing updates and managing distributions.

"ResMan's focus on helping property management companies increase efficiency and facilitate growth with innovative property management capabilities aligns really well with what Investor Deal Room is doing for the investor management side of the business," said Josiah Mann, Investor Deal Room CEO. "Now as part of ResMan's offering, Investor Deal Room customers will have access to a much broader set of innovative business management capabilities and ResMan customers will benefit from an investor management solution that will help them manage deals more efficiently and support their investors with a seamless experience throughout the deal cycle."

ResMan will continue to market, sell, develop, operate, and support Investor Deal Room as a brand and SaaS solution separate from the ResMan platform. Those interested in learning more about Investor Deal Room can register for a webinar being held on Tuesday, June 29th at 2pm CT.

ABOUT RESMAN

ResMan is the preferred growth partner that drives profitability and efficiency for nearly a thousand property management companies across the U.S. ResMan delivers the property management industry's most innovative technology platform, making property investments and operations more profitable and easier to manage. ResMan's platform unlocks a new path to growth for property management companies that deliver consistent NOI improvement and brilliant resident experiences easier than ever before. For more information, visit us at www.myresman.com or engage with us on Twitter, LinkedIn, or Facebook.

ABOUT INVESTOR DEAL ROOM

Investor Deal Room is an investor management software that helps commercial real estate sponsors raise capital more efficiently, report to investors, and manage documents. The Investor Deal Room platform is known throughout the industry for its intuitive investor experience and best-in-class fundraising process that save sponsors more time through better design.

SOURCE ResMan

Related Links

http://www.myresman.com/


LOS ANGELES, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- RLH Equity Partners (RLH) is pleased to announce a variety of notable honors received by our firm and its family of portfolio companies since the beginning of 2021.

RLH was named one of 2021's Top 50 PE Firms in the Middle Market by Grady Campbell. This is the second consecutive year that RLH has earned this honor, which recognizes private equity firms that demonstrate excellent leadership, a strong track record, and a trusted reputation with business owners.

Our portfolio company Utegration has been selected for a 2021 Top Workplaces USA award from among over 1,100 participating companies. In addition, Utegration was recognized for specific areas of its company culture: Clued-In Leaders, Top Leaders, and Communication and Innovation.

Our portfolio company Clearview Healthcare Partners ranked #7 in the highly regarded Vault.com list of the best consulting firms to work for in 2021. This is the sixth consecutive year that ClearView has earned a place on that list, moving up from #13 in 2020. ClearView also earned 2021 recognition as #1 in Vault's lists for Best Consulting Firms for Innovation and Best Consulting Firms for Firm Leadership.

Our portfolio company CrossCountry Consulting was honored for the second consecutive year with a Glassdoor Employees' Choice Award, recognizing the best places to work in 2021 in the United States from more than 1,000,000 employers reviewed. The Employees' Choice Awards program, now in its 13th year, is based solely on the input of employees, who elect to provide anonymous feedback on their jobs, work environments and companies.

Our portfolio company Inspirage has again been recognized by Gartner, most recently in two new reports. Inspirage was named in the 2021 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Oracle Cloud Applications Services, Worldwide and, in a companion report titled "Critical Capabilities for Oracle Cloud Application Services, Worldwide", Inspirage was selected as the top-ranked company for the mid-size enterprise transformations use case.

Our portfolio company Silverado, a national leader in compassionate, personalized memory care, was certified as a Great Place to Work for the fourth consecutive year. This recognition, awarded by an independent employee satisfaction research consulting firm, reflects work experiences shared by employees from throughout the company. We are especially pleased that 91% of Silverado employees surveyed said that their work has special meaning and is not "just a job."

About RLH



RLH Equity Partners is a leading private equity firm that partners with entrepreneurs to help them build distinctive high-growth businesses and realize their aspirations. RLH provides experienced strategic guidance to its portfolio companies while embracing the entrepreneurial spirit of those companies' founders. The RLH investment team, which averages over 15 years of private equity experience, has developed proven processes to enhance organic growth and drive enterprise value. With a 35+ year history of successful investing, RLH is uniquely able to help fast growing, profitable enterprises with revenue of $30-150 million in the business services, healthcare, and government services sectors achieve their goals. The firm currently manages over $1 billion of assets and is actively seeking new portfolio company investments.

Contact

For more information please contact:



Jessica Bramwell, Director of Communications

RLH Equity Partners

949-428-2205

[email protected]

www.rlhequity.com

SOURCE RLH Equity Partners

Related Links

https://www.rlhequity.com/


DE PERE, Wis., June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- De Pere, WI metal fabricator's strategic growth meets customer demand



Robinson Inc. moved up two spots on The Fabricator magazine's FAB 40 list, landing in the No. 10 position based on self-reported revenue for 2020. It was the eleventh consecutive year in which Robinson has appeared on the list of North America's top metal fabrication firms.

"Some projects were delayed by the pandemic in 2020, but we rebounded quickly and did not experience dramatic fluctuations in our business," comments Sam Thomas, Robinson's general manager. "Our single point of contact is a significant factor in the ease with which our customers are able to work with us."

The Fabricator is North America's leading magazine for the metal forming and fabricating industry. The magazine enables fabricators to do their jobs more efficiently by featuring news, technical articles and case histories. The Fabricator turns 50 years old in 2021 and has published its FAB 40 list since 2010. Robinson has made the list every year.

Robinson invested $4.5 million in capital equipment in 2020, giving the company greater control and flexibility in the manufacturing process. Its ability to complete all aspects of a fabrication in-house means customers can simplify their supply chain with a single purchase order for a multi-faceted project.

"We have increased our cutting and forming capacities on the front end of the process, and our new booth-style powder coat system on the back end allows us to provide high-quality finishing services as well," Thomas says. "The more tasks we can complete with our team, the better the quality control and the quicker we can deliver projects to our customers."

About Robinson, Inc.

Robinson, Inc., is a single-source metal solutions provider based in De Pere, Wisconsin. Robinson offers manufacturing and design expertise in fabrication and machine; pipe and vessel; custom enclosures; product handling; and portable fuel solutions. The company employs more than 500 people at three locations comprising 500,000 square feet of manufacturing space.

For more information about Robinson's capabilities or to request a quote, please call (920) 494-7411, or visit https://www.robinsoninc.com.

View original post on Robinson, Inc. Fab 40 ranking here.

Contact:

Robinson, Inc.

(920) 494-7411



Photo(s):

https://www.prlog.org/12873731

Press release distributed by PRLog

SOURCE Robinson, Inc.

Related Links

https://www.robinsoninc.com/


CROSSMARK Team to Launch Sales and Marketing Campaign to Rritual's 57 Targeted National and Regional Retail Chains

VANCOUVER, BC, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Rritual Superfoods Inc. ("Rritual" or the "Company") (CSE: RSF) (FSE: 0RW) (OTC: RRSFF) is excited to announce the Company has conducted and completed multiple training sessions with CROSSMARK Account and Business Executives, a prerequisite designed to empower the CROSSMARK team in advance of their mobilization.

The sessions have been designed to educate the CROSSMARK team on Rritual's full line of premium brand of functional superfoods so that they are fully prepared with product knowledge, benefits and applications as they begin the process of setting up sales appointments with 57 targeted national and retail chains throughout the USA.

Highlights of the CROSSMARK Advancement:

Rritual has completed 3 training sessions with all CROSSMARK Account and Business Executives

Deploying CROSSMARK's proprietary Accelerator  program, the team has identified 57 target retail chains for Rritual

program, the team has identified 57 target retail chains for Rritual CROSSMARK's sales team is armed and ready, beginning to schedule sales appointments for Q3, for products to be shipped in Q4

"The CROSSMARK team has a highly sophisticated approach, and through their Accelerator program, they have analyzed proprietary syndicated data to help us identify the size of the category and the best retail targets for the upcoming sales campaign," said Mr. David Kerbel, Rritual CEO. "The training program we have just completed with the CROSSMARK team has completed the internal process, making them armed and ready to accelerate our full launch strategy."

Rritual product offerings are all USDA-certified organic and are a caffeine-free option that can be mixed with other beverages or enjoyed by itself. Rritual's proprietary Immune-Synergy Six Mushroom Blend is the only functional health product on the market that contains a daily prebiotic blend which nourishes a healthy gut microbiome and facilitates balanced digestive function.

About CROSSMARK

Today CROSSMARK accelerates brands throughout nearly every category of the consumer goods industry. Their team of 25,000+ employees are responsible for servicing all major retailers throughout North Americafrom buying desks to consumer baskets. Additionally, their unparalleled eCommerce and omnichannel expertise continue to innovate the industry, well beyond brick and mortar. Their newly launched proprietary CROSSMARK Accelerator platform delivers state-of-the-art insights and analytics through advanced modeling and artificial intelligence. The results are smarter, faster growth.

About Rritual

Rritual is a functional superfood company that creates plant-based elixirs, which support immunity, focus and relaxation. The company is poised to dominate a segment where demand and sales are growing exponentially. Under the executive leadership with over 100 years of CPG pedigree, Rritual is launching in North America in Q2 2021 as the company positions itself as a leader in the functional health and wellness industry. Rritual's superfood elixirs can be found online at www.rritual.com.

Follow Rritual on Twitter , LinkedIn , Facebook , and Instagram .

Functional Foods Market

According to Grandview Research*, it is estimated that the global functional food market is projected to reach $275 billion by 2025, growing at 7.9% each year with consumers putting more emphasis on health and wellness.



*https://www.grandviewresearch.com/press-release/global-functional-foods-market



Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking statements") that relate to Rritual's current expectations and views of future events. Any statements that express, or involve discussions as to, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, through the use of words or phrases such as "will likely result", "are expected to", "expects", "will continue", "is anticipated", "anticipates", "believes", "estimated", "intends", "plans", "forecast", "projection", "strategy", "objective" and "outlook") are not historical facts and may be forward-looking statements and may involve estimates, assumptions and uncertainties which could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. No assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this news release should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this news release. In particular and without limitation, this news release contains forward-looking statements relating to the Company's plans to leverage third party manufacturing and logistics, the Company's broader retail distribution plans and the Company's other plans, focus and objectives.

Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Rritual's control, which could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those that are disclosed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the impact and progression of the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors set forth under "Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" in the final long form prospectus of the Company dated February 26, 2021 and available under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Rritual undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for Rritual to predict all of them or assess the impact of each such factor or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Any forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

SOURCE Rritual Superfoods Inc.
SAN FRANCISCO, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- TMT investments venture fund invested $2M as a lead investor in a late seed round into Synder - an easy accounting solution for e-commerce businesses.

Ilya Kisel & Michael Astreiko

Synder is a SaaS product for businesses in the US, which is designed to automate bookkeeping processes and sync multi-channel sales in one single ecosystem for businesses selling online. A detailed sync process gives an opportunity to track multi-channel sales per product, client, currency or location and provides users with clear reporting on their business health. A smart rule engine opens unlimited customization and automation of business and accounting workflows taking into consideration all peculiarities of each particular business use case.

In 2020 Synder reached the milestone of $1B transactions in amounts processed for several thousands of companies.

Michael Astreiko, CEO of Synder:

"We are living in the era when having just one source of income for commerce businesses, be it offline or online, is limiting business growth. Skyrocketing Shopify, Amazon and Etsy are clearly illustrating this new long-lasting trend. The diversity of sales channels, payment methods and sales geography, puts entrepreneurs in front of a new challenge - how to aggregate inventory and sales data across channels into a single system? You can either practice in folding an Excel spreadsheets puzzle or start using smart online solutions. We are standing for the second path and believe that Synder can deliver easy accounting for e-commerce businesses."

Synder is integrated with the most powerful sales and payment systems like Shopify, Amazon, WooCommerce, Etsy, Stripe, PayPal, Square and others. The flexibility in approach and sensitivity to market trends drives the Synder team to add new platforms and extend the services available to users on a monthly basis.

Founded in 2019 and headquartered in San Francisco, CA, Synder has become a top-rated solution on the market with hundreds and thousands of customer reviews on the marketplaces like QuickBooks App Store, Capterra, g2, Trustpilot, and Shopify App Store. Last fall the company raised angel investments from Smart Partnership Capital.

Founders of Synder Michael Astreiko (CEO) and Ilya Kisel (COO) have more than 15 years overall experience in the IT and e-commerce spheres.

Artyom Inutin, co-founder and managing partner of TMT Investments venture fund:

"Accounting automation is a very important trend which tends to show sustainable acceleration. The Synder team managed to create a perfect product for e-commerce and we are glad to support their activity in a new investment round the main goal of which is market expansion."

Contact:

Ilya Kisel

(469) 629-7891

[email protected]





SOURCE Synder
Saint Leo University is one of the largest Catholic universities in the nation, offering 57 undergraduate and graduate-level degree programs to more than 18,200 students each year. It offers a residential campus in the Tampa Bay area, 16 education centers in five states, and an online program for students anywhere. Saint Leo's education centers and online programs provide the same quality and depth of the courses offered at the traditional campus in Florida. The only difference is that they are delivered in a way in which adult learners study, participate, and thrive.

To support convenient and flexible programs to meet all its students' unique needs, Saint Leo runs diverse program calendars and academic years  specifically a standard academic year (SAY) and a borrower-based academic year (BBAY). The ability to efficiently scale both is why Saint Leo turned to Regent Education, which offers the only independent financial aid solution to automate traditional and non-traditional enrollment programs concurrently.

"Financial aid plays an important role in helping all of our students attend the university," said Dr. Melinda Clark, associate vice president of Student Financial Services. "We are excited about our partnership with Regent for implementation of the full Regent Financial Aid suite. By using Regent's automated process, students will receive crucial financial information quickly in a student-friendly format."

"Our comprehensive financial automation suite will enable Saint Leo to automate both its SAY and BBAY enrollment programs to increase efficiency, support enrollment growth, and improve the student experience," said Jim Hermens, CEO of Regent Education. "We couldn't be happier to be partnering with Saint Leo. It's for institutions like Saint Leo that we built and continue to enhance our financial aid solutions."

Saint Leo rolled out phase 1 of the new application this month to support the upcoming financial aid year processing.

About Saint Leo University

Saint Leo University is one of the largest Catholic universities in the nation, offering 57 undergraduate and graduate-level degree programs to more than 18,200 students each year. Founded in 1889 by Benedictine monks, the private, nonprofit university is known for providing a values-based education to learners of all backgrounds and ages in the liberal arts tradition. Saint Leo is regionally accredited and offers a residential campus in the Tampa Bay region of Florida, 16 education centers in five states, and an online program for students anywhere. The university is home to more than 98,000 alumni. Learn more at https://www.saintleo.edu.

About Regent Education

Regent Education is a leading provider of SaaS solutions that simplify the financial aid process for higher education institutions offering traditional and nontraditional enrollment models. Regent offers a suite of solutions encompassing the automation of financial aid management, verification processes, student financial planning, and state financial aid application. Regent's financial aid management solutions offer institutions an unprecedented ability to automate the financial aid process to increase efficiency, mitigate compliance risks, expand enrollment, improve the student experience, and enhance financial management and financial aid lifecycle visibility. To learn more about Regent Education, visit https://regenteducation.com.

Contact

Regent Education

Diane Eves, Marketing Director

(301) 662-5592 or [email protected]

SOURCE Regent Education

Related Links

http://regenteducation.com


OREM, Utah, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- For banks and acquirers who provide PCI Programs to help increase PCI DSS compliance and data security among their merchants, the management of program compliance, communication, and education can quickly become complicated and costly. Additionally, sometimes merchant compliance numbers can get stuck for a number of reasons. Common roadblocks include a long and technical compliance process, lack of security awareness and education, and communication gaps.

Most importantly, merchants need a 360 view of PCI DSS compliance that includes education on how PCI requirements affect payment data security. The goal is that PCI DSS compliance should be a familiar requirement and simple to achieve.

With over 20 years in PCI compliance, SecurityMetrics' focus on customer feedback and continuous improvement has led to SecurityMetrics Managed PCI Program a proactive outbound, comprehensive merchant compliance program that improves portfolio compliance percentages and keeps merchants happy by focusing on the following areas:

Simplified enrollment process

Proactive outbound assistance with PCI validation and vulnerability scanning

Ongoing monitoring of merchant compliance and next steps

PCI advisor overseeing PCI compliance needs

Ongoing merchant communication campaigns

Compliance and technical support team

Regular webinars and education

"We work with banks and acquirers from the beginning of their program creation to educate, set goals, and pinpoint possible roadblocks," said SecurityMetrics Director of PCI Programs, Scott Robinson. "Then we manage client communication, education, and compliance in a way that takes the burden off of the acquirer and also increases compliance and security."

Download the 2021 SecurityMetrics Guide to PCI DSS Compliance here.

To learn more about SecurityMetrics, PCI DSS compliance , or for help with a PCI audit , please call 801.705.5656 or email [email protected].

For press inquiries, email [email protected]

About SecurityMetrics

SecurityMetrics helps customers close data security and compliance gaps to avoid data breaches. They provide managed data security services and are certified to help customers achieve the highest data security and compliance standards.

As an Approved Scanning Vendor , Qualified Security Assessor , Certified Forensic Investigator, and Managed Security provider SecurityMetrics guides organizations through data security testing and compliance mandates (PCI, HIPAA, GDPR, HITRUST). With over 15 years of forensic investigations, penetration testing, vulnerability assessments, and compliance audits, SecurityMetrics has tested over 1 million systems for vulnerabilities. The privately held company is headquartered in Orem, Utah where it maintains a Security Operations Center (SOC) and 24/7 multilingual technical support.

SOURCE SecurityMetrics, Inc.
DALLAS, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Sheraton Boston Needham Hotel, a 247-room full-service hotel located in Needham, Massachusetts on the I-95 Corridor today announced that Providence-based StepStone Hospitality was appointed as property manager. The appointment of StepStone Hospitality, a best in class hotel management company, follows the acquisition of the Sheraton by an affiliate of Paceline Equity Partners, LLC ("Paceline"), a Dallas-based private equity manager.

The hotel reopened in May and is poised to re-emerge as a sought-after destination for corporate, social, education, and sporting groups, as well as business and leisure travelers. Function facilities at the hotel comprise 18,751 square feet of flexible meeting space, including two ballrooms that can accommodate events for up to 600 people and are equipped for hybrid meetings. For travelers' safety and peace of mind, the hotel follows Marriott's rigorous Commitment to Clean protocol.

Later this year, the hotel is scheduled to undergo significant renovations to all guest rooms, lobby, restaurant, and meeting space. Planned guest room renovations include updated furniture, bedding and carpeting. Bathrooms in the rooms will also receive updated fixtures, and shower conversions in all King rooms. Other upgrades include a renovation and reconcepting of the common areas and Food & Beverage offerings, which will be in-line with the updated Sheraton brand image. The renovation is expected to be completed in spring of 2022, with construction to be executed in a minimally disruptive manner during the winter of 2021.

"We are excited to continue to expand our portfolio with the addition of the Sheraton Boston Needham Hotel," said Tom Russo, Founder and Executive Chairman of StepStone Hospitality. "We look forward to working with ownership and the Sheraton brand to achieve the successes we have previously achieved in New England and the Boston area."

"The Paceline team is excited to work with StepStone to support the Sheraton Needham during this market recovery period, and we are encouraged by recent favorable trends in the Boston hospitality market," said Sam Loughlin, Chief Executive Officer of Paceline. "The planned renovations will cement the Sheraton Needham's position as both a destination hotel for travelers visiting the Boston suburbs and a local event venue of choice," said Leigh Sansone, Chief Investment Officer of Paceline.

ABOUT THE SHERATON BOSTON NEEDHAM HOTEL

Sheraton Boston Needham Hotel, located 17 miles from Boston and less than five minutes from I-95 and the Needham Heights MBTA station is the perfect vantage point from which locals and visitors alike can explore and enjoy all the area has to offer. The hotel is adjacent to the N-Squared Innovation District, which boasts 6.4 million square feet of office space, including the offices of TripAdvisor, NBC Universal, IDG, and SharkNinja. The hotel is offering a re-opening promotion which includes a discount off best available rates and complimentary parking.

ABOUT PACELINE EQUITY PARTNERS

Paceline is a Dallas-based private equity manager focused on value-oriented, opportunistic, and special situations investments across corporate credit, real assets, and private equity. Paceline's senior leadership team members average 20 years of professional experience. Prior to the formation of Paceline, the senior leadership team worked together for approximately 10 years at a global private equity manager and its affiliates. To learn more, please visit pacelineequity.com.

ABOUT STEPSTONE HOSPITALITY

Rhode Island-based StepStone Hospitality specializes in management of boutique, full, and select-service hotels and restaurants, to maximize value to StepStone clients. The company provides a unique combination of strong, hands-on operations, strategic management, and food and beverage expertise, while maintaining a balanced focus between revenue enhancement, margin expansion, and guest satisfaction. To learn more, please visit stepstonehospitality.com.

PRESS CONTACTS:

For StepStone & Sheraton Needham

Lori Moretti

CM Communications

781.849.8117

For Paceline Equity Partners

Nathaniel Garnick

Gasthalter & Co.

212.257.4170

SOURCE StepStone Hospitality & Sheraton Boston Needham
Trading Symbol TSX: SVM

NYSE American: SVM

VANCOUVER, BC, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Silvercorp Metals Inc. ("Silvercorp" or the "Company") (TSX: SVM) (NYSE American: SVM) is pleased to report results from its 2021 exploration programs at the HPG mine. Extensive exploration drilling and tunneling are ongoing at the HPG mine, and all other mines at the Ying Mining District, Henan Province, China.

From November 1, 2020 to May 31, 2021, 23,977 metres ("m") from a total of 133 diamond drill holes, including 66 underground holes and 67 surface holes, were completed at the HPG mine. Assay results for 127 holes have been received, with 51 holes intercepting mineralization. Currently, 11 rigs are drilling at the HPG mine.

Drilling Intersected High-Grade Veins in the Production Areas

The diamond drilling programs at the HPG mine targeted blocks of known silver-lead-zinc and gold veins in the production areas that were previously missed due to limited drilling and tunneling, changes in the strikes and dips, and/or pinch-swelling of the pay-zones in the veins. Since access tunnels are already in place, any discovered high-grade blocks can quickly be converted to reserves and mined.

The high-grade intercepts for this period are associated with parallel silver-lead-zinc veins H5, H5W, and H5_2, and gold veins H16, H16_3, and H171W. Other veins include H10_1, H10_1a, H11, H12_1, and H13.

Highlights of high-grade intercepts at the HPG mine production area:

Hole ZK01N03 intersected a 1.94 m interval ( 1.58 m true width) of silver-lead-zinc vein H5 grading 719 grams per tonne ("g/t") silver ("Ag"), 13.09% lead ("Pb"), 5.09% zinc ("Zn"), 1.77 g/t gold ("Au"), and 0.19% copper ("Cu") at the 373 m elevation, which includes a 1.23 m interval ( 1.00 m true width) grading 1,051 g/t Ag, 20.11% Pb, 7.58% Zn, 1.71 g/t Au, and 0.25% Cu at the 373 m elevation;





intersected a interval ( true width) of silver-lead-zinc vein H5 grading 719 grams per tonne ("g/t") silver ("Ag"), 13.09% lead ("Pb"), 5.09% zinc ("Zn"), 1.77 g/t gold ("Au"), and 0.19% copper ("Cu") at the elevation, which includes a interval ( true width) grading 1,051 g/t Ag, 20.11% Pb, 7.58% Zn, 1.71 g/t Au, and 0.25% Cu at the elevation; Hole ZK01N04 intersected a 2.89 m interval ( 2.36 m true width) of Ag-Pb-Zn vein H5W grading 150 g/t Ag, 2.91% Pb, 9.36% Zn, 0.50 g/t Au, and 0.05% Cu at the 362 m elevation, which includes a 0.76 m interval ( 0.62 m true width) grading 420 g/t Ag, 8.33% Pb, 30.93% Zn, 0.56 g/t Au, and 0.14% Cu at the 362 m elevation; and





intersected a interval ( true width) of Ag-Pb-Zn vein H5W grading 150 g/t Ag, 2.91% Pb, 9.36% Zn, 0.50 g/t Au, and 0.05% Cu at the elevation, which includes a interval ( true width) grading 420 g/t Ag, 8.33% Pb, 30.93% Zn, 0.56 g/t Au, and 0.14% Cu at the elevation; and Hole ZK2736 intersected a 1.16 m interval ( 1.01 m true width) of Au vein H16_3 grading 8 g/t Ag, 0.06 % Pb, 0.03% Zn, 11.80 g/t Au, and 0.01 % Cu at the 498 m elevation.

Surface and Underground Drilling Intersected High-Grade Gold Veins at Near Surface at the HPG Mine Resource Area

Surface and underground diamond drilling tested some artisanal workings in the northeast part of the HPG mining permit area and intersected high-grade Au veins. A follow-up drilling program will further test this discovery.

Highlights of high-grade, near-surface intercepts of Au vein H17 and H17_1 in the resource area:

Hole ZK3817 intersected a 1.45 m interval ( 1.27 m true width) of Au vein H17_1 grading 64 g/t Ag, 0.26% Pb, 0.05% Zn, 20.78 g/t Au, and 0.01% Cu at the 730 m elevation;





intersected a interval ( true width) of Au vein H17_1 grading 64 g/t Ag, 0.26% Pb, 0.05% Zn, 20.78 g/t Au, and 0.01% Cu at the elevation; Hole ZK2410 intersected a 4.98 m interval ( 2.53 m true width) of Au vein H17 grading 16 g/t Ag, 0.06% Pb, 0.04% Zn, 9.86 g/t Au, and 0.01% Cu at the 774 m elevation, which includes a 1.06 m interval ( 0.67 m true width) grading 21 g/t Ag, 0.08% Pb, 0.02% Zn, 26.38 g/t Au, and 0.01% Cu at the 775 m elevation;





intersected a interval ( true width) of Au vein H17 grading 16 g/t Ag, 0.06% Pb, 0.04% Zn, 9.86 g/t Au, and 0.01% Cu at the elevation, which includes a interval ( true width) grading 21 g/t Ag, 0.08% Pb, 0.02% Zn, 26.38 g/t Au, and 0.01% Cu at the elevation; Hole ZK4401 intersected a 2.24 m interval ( 1.92 m true width) of Au vein H17 grading 8 g/t Ag, 0.01% Pb, 0.02% Zn, 11.39 g/t Au, and 0.01% Cu at the 696 m elevation, which includes a 1.30 m interval ( 1.11 m true width) grading 12 g/t Ag, 0.01% Pb, 0.01% Zn, 18.19 g/t Au, and 0.01% Cu at the 695 m elevation; and





intersected a interval ( true width) of Au vein H17 grading 8 g/t Ag, 0.01% Pb, 0.02% Zn, 11.39 g/t Au, and 0.01% Cu at the elevation, which includes a interval ( true width) grading 12 g/t Ag, 0.01% Pb, 0.01% Zn, 18.19 g/t Au, and 0.01% Cu at the elevation; and Hole ZK2019 intersected a 1.81 m interval ( 1.68 m true width) of Au vein H17 grading 37 g/t Ag, 0.31% Pb, 0.05% Zn, 10.15 g/t Au, and 0.03% Cu at the 756 m elevation.

Table 1: Selected intercepts from the 2021 drill programs at the HPG Mine



























Hole ID From

(m) To

(m) Elevation

(m) Interval

(m) True

Width

(m) Ag

(g/t) Pb

(%) Zn

(%) Au

(g/t) Cu

( %) Vein Ore Type ZK01N03 44.83 46.77 373 1.94 1.58 719 13.09 5.09 1.77 0.19 H5 Ag-Pb-Zn incl. 44.83 46.06 373 1.23 1.00 1051 20.11 7.58 1.71 0.25 H5 Ag-Pb-Zn ZK01N04 75.10 77.99 362 2.89 2.36 150 2.91 9.36 0.50 0.05 H5W Ag-Pb-Zn incl. 76.41 77.17 362 0.76 0.62 420 8.33 30.93 0.56 0.14 H5W Ag-Pb-Zn ZK02N11 28.09 28.70 358 0.61 0.29 25 0.83 0.60 6.56 0.02 H5E Au ZK03N03 66.53 67.57 323 1.04 0.48 68 3.70 1.09 0.07 0.07 H5 Ag-Pb-Zn ZK07N10 24.58 26.10 368 1.52 1.20 407 1.36 3.99 0.66 0.06 H5 Ag-Pb-Zn ZK09N02 143.86 145.38 469 1.52 1.18 5 0.02 0.01 1.68 0.05 H5 Ag-Pb-Zn ZK09N03 207.58 208.82 402 1.24 0.95 8 0.10 0.05 2.73 0.01 H5 Ag-Pb-Zn ZK09N04 25.20 25.81 501 0.61 0.36 314 0.85 2.31 0.13 0.05 H5_2 Ag-Pb-Zn ZK09N11 26.97 28.80 543 1.83 1.19 164 0.18 0.03 0.96 0.07 H5 Ag-Pb-Zn ZK09N12 40.54 41.51 862 0.97 0.83 42 0.94 0.09 0.93 0.09 H5_2 Ag-Pb-Zn ZK09N14 19.21 20.89 552 1.68 1.45 14 0.03 0.02 1.62 0.05 H5_2 Ag-Pb-Zn ZK10N15 99.26 102.02 623 2.76 1.40 35 2.69 0.09 1.73 0.05 H32E1 Ag-Pb-Zn ZK10N15 110.46 111.44 621 0.98 0.80 85 6.19 0.08 0.48 0.08 H15W Ag-Pb-Zn ZK1122 43.05 47.55 714 4.50 2.01 28 4.20 0.24 0.11 0.03 B1 Ag-Pb-Zn ZK1122 114.49 120.04 646 5.55 1.61 156 5.18 0.15 0.35 0.03 H10_1 Ag-Pb-Zn ZK1122 275.47 276.43 491 0.96 0.35 26 5.63 1.36 0.04 0.04 H11 Ag-Pb-Zn ZK1132 2.80 4.04 660 1.24 0.63 108 1.21 0.18 0.15 0.03 H14a Ag-Pb-Zn ZK1132 132.16 133.37 622 1.21 0.78 235 0.65 0.07 3.33 0.07 H11 Ag-Pb-Zn ZK1132 172.78 174.13 611 1.35 0.90 138 1.82 0.30 0.29 0.17 H9 Ag-Pb-Zn ZK11N02 107.06 108.59 501 1.53 0.90 6 0.04 0.04 1.68 0.01 H5_3 Au ZK12202 110.53 111.51 628 0.98 0.73 7 0.21 0.26 1.48 0.01 H12_1 Au ZK12203 139.70 140.91 586 1.21 0.75 3 0.12 0.09 5.10 0.03 H12_1 Au ZK1325 109.67 111.59 654 1.92 1.60 137 0.65 2.60 0.90 0.03 H16 Ag-Pb-Zn ZK1326 174.61 175.50 604 0.89 0.67 64 3.10 2.48 0.03 0.01 H9 Ag-Pb-Zn ZK1327 183.00 184.08 623 1.08 0.77 15 0.16 0.27 2.01 0.01 H10_1 Ag-Pb-Zn ZK13N02 57.49 58.72 704 1.23 0.67 19 3.75 0.36 0.07 0.03 H10_1W Ag-Pb-Zn ZK13N02 224.37 225.99 551 1.62 0.88 123 0.03 0.01 1.02 0.00 H11 Ag-Pb-Zn ZK13N03 110.59 111.57 676 0.98 0.77 120 0.06 0.08 0.33 0.00 H9 Ag-Pb-Zn ZK13N05 4.20 5.14 664 0.94 0.64 20 0.45 0.47 1.15 0.02 H14a Ag-Pb-Zn ZK13N05 41.42 44.83 669 3.41 2.33 421 0.79 1.77 2.47 0.08 H11_1 Ag-Pb-Zn ZK1413 433.50 438.09 484 4.59 2.89 13 0.36 0.16 1.40 0.01 H21 Ag-Pb-Zn ZK14N09 115.47 116.47 624 1.00 0.70 31 2.48 0.09 0.29 0.10 H15Wa Ag-Pb-Zn ZK1639 34.49 35.99 794 1.50 1.12 110 0.19 0.09 1.08 0.01 H17_1 Au ZK1639 56.81 57.83 776 1.02 0.76 6 0.04 0.09 4.59 0.01 H17 Au ZK1710 83.02 84.22 702 1.20 1.06 13 2.01 2.59 0.03 0.00 H10_1 Ag-Pb-Zn ZK1812 72.17 73.42 748 1.25 0.78 367 12.33 0.42 1.42 0.09 H18 Ag-Pb-Zn ZK1816 122.49 123.63 727 1.14 1.11 15 0.15 0.05 1.64 0.00 H18 Ag-Pb-Zn ZK1819 119.47 119.98 715 0.51 0.49 452 0.46 1.12 0.44 0.08 H17 Au ZK1824 32.42 33.43 778 1.01 0.78 13 0.06 0.04 6.08 0.01 H17 Au ZK1952 85.47 86.22 609 0.75 0.34 21 0.15 0.20 3.52 0.03 H10_1a Au ZK1952 185.96 186.84 559 0.88 0.65 47 2.30 0.17 0.28 0.01 H11 Ag-Pb-Zn ZK2019 80.80 82.61 756 1.81 1.68 37 0.31 0.05 10.15 0.03 H17 Au ZK2118 101.24 102.05 695 0.81 0.79 3 0.02 0.02 1.85 0.01 H11 Ag-Pb-Zn ZK2132 88.76 89.81 617 1.05 0.76 23 6.30 0.22 0.14 0.01 H39_2 Ag-Pb-Zn ZK2132 110.21 111.41 613 1.20 0.87 1 0.03 0.02 2.19 0.01 H12_1 Au ZK2136 204.35 205.70 573 1.35 1.33 5 0.06 0.10 1.66 0.01 H10_1 Ag-Pb-Zn ZK2137 39.75 41.26 599 1.51 0.90 2 0.01 0.01 3.65 0.00 H12Ea Au ZK2214 124.48 127.20 749 2.72 1.53 132 0.17 0.15 0.92 0.02 H17 Au ZK2335_1 224.93 226.93 611 2.00 1.43 149 4.64 0.96 1.45 0.53 H12_1 Au ZK2335_1 453.34 454.29 427 0.95 0.68 8 0.14 0.20 6.85 0.01 H16 Ag-Pb-Zn ZK2335_1 457.34 460.03 423 2.69 1.94 60 0.47 0.33 1.20 0.01 H16a Ag-Pb-Zn ZK2335_1 551.74 552.19 349 0.45 0.36 136 5.71 0.04 0.98 0.11 H15 Ag-Pb-Zn ZK2337 80.78 82.33 705 1.55 1.27 47 4.49 3.06 0.81 0.11 H9 Ag-Pb-Zn ZK2337 171.77 172.34 641 0.57 0.47 2 0.11 0.42 3.35 0.01 H14 Au ZK2337 182.89 185.10 633 2.21 1.82 11 1.12 1.21 0.81 0.07 H16a Ag-Pb-Zn ZK2345 169.12 169.86 575 0.74 0.67 5 0.04 0.08 7.74 0.00 H13 Au ZK2410 101.35 106.33 774 4.98 2.53 16 0.06 0.04 9.86 0.01 H17 Au incl. 101.35 102.41 775 1.06 0.67 21 0.08 0.02 26.38 0.01 H17 Au ZK2411 119.48 120.50 770 1.02 0.65 8 0.53 0.04 3.72 0.00 H18 Ag-Pb-Zn ZK2541 79.84 81.60 710 1.76 1.42 200 2.73 4.04 0.59 0.12 H9 Ag-Pb-Zn ZK2541 191.12 193.07 637 1.95 1.74 18 0.61 0.77 1.74 0.11 H16 Ag-Pb-Zn ZK2541 250.58 251.30 599 0.72 0.54 2 0.16 0.25 2.35 0.01 H17_1 Au ZK2729 4.71 6.25 652 1.54 0.93 1 0.00 0.00 2.47 0.00 H39_1 Au ZK2729 145.58 146.23 630 0.65 0.48 7 2.11 0.12 1.71 0.02 H11 Ag-Pb-Zn ZK2736 51.22 51.87 759 0.65 0.51 240 9.34 0.16 0.23 0.07 H39_2 Ag-Pb-Zn ZK2736 355.40 356.31 540 0.91 0.78 14 0.54 0.16 1.46 0.01 H16 Ag-Pb-Zn ZK2736 417.01 418.17 498 1.16 1.01 8 0.06 0.03 11.80 0.01 H16_3 Au ZK2736 547.95 549.04 409 1.09 0.48 148 0.61 0.06 0.06 0.19 H20W Ag-Pb-Zn ZK2739 73.18 73.91 710 0.73 0.40 1 0.03 0.06 4.95 0.01 H39_1 Au ZK2739 333.61 334.54 528 0.93 0.56 14 4.07 0.15 0.24 0.03 H12E Ag-Pb-Zn ZK3620 207.87 210.18 760 2.31 2.11 33 0.07 0.02 2.30 0.00 H17_1 Au ZK3624 366.14 366.86 635 0.72 0.65 3 0.05 0.09 2.57 0.04 H22 Au ZK3625 238.47 239.48 707 1.01 0.89 39 0.18 0.11 3.45 0.01 H17_1 Au ZK3625 265.31 266.04 686 0.73 0.65 65 0.27 0.10 3.58 0.03 H17 Au ZK3816 200.84 203.36 705 2.52 1.74 31 0.41 0.12 1.98 0.01 H17 Au ZK3817 129.92 131.16 774 1.24 0.70 3 0.04 0.02 1.63 0.00 H17_1W Au ZK3817 187.33 188.78 730 1.45 1.27 64 0.26 0.05 20.78 0.01 H17_1 Au ZK3817 193.98 199.21 725 5.23 4.71 33 0.30 0.11 1.33 0.02 H17 Au ZK3818 119.20 120.41 782 1.21 1.05 2 0.05 0.02 2.49 0.00 H17_1W Au ZK3818 183.39 184.57 733 1.18 1.07 56 0.12 0.01 2.01 0.02 H17 Au ZK4013 143.68 144.51 776 0.83 0.57 659 0.06 0.01 1.77 0.01 H17 Au ZK4014 173.28 174.12 731 0.84 0.70 74 0.06 0.08 0.90 0.01 H17 Au ZK4016 189.85 192.66 707 2.81 2.23 52 0.77 0.54 3.71 0.02 H17 Au ZK4401 195.07 197.31 696 2.24 1.92 8 0.01 0.02 11.39 0.01 H17 Au incl. 196.01 197.31 695 1.30 1.11 12 0.01 0.01 18.19 0.01 H17 Au

Quality Control

Drill cores are NQ size. Drill core samples, limited by apparent mineralization contacts or shear/alteration contacts, were split into halves by saw cutting. The half cores are stored in the Company's core shacks for future reference and checks, and the other half core samples are shipped in securely sealed bags to the Chengde Huakan 514 Geology and Minerals Test and Research Institute in Chengde, Hebei Province, China, 226 km northeast of Beijing, the Zhengzhou Nonferrous Exploration Institute Lab in Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China, and the Analytical Lab of the Inner Mongolia Geological Exploration Bureau in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China. All the three labs are ISO9000 certified analytical labs. For analysis, the sample is dried and crushed to minus 1 mm and then split to a 200-300 g subsample which is further pulverized to minus 200 mesh. Two subsamples are prepared from the pulverized sample. One is digested with aqua regia for gold analysis with atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), and the other is digested with two-acids for analysis of silver, lead, zinc and copper with AAS.

Channel samples are collected along sample lines perpendicular to the mineralized vein structure in exploration tunnels. Spacing between sampling lines is typically 5 m along strike. Both the mineralized vein and the altered wall rocks are cut by continuous chisel chipping. Sample length ranges from 0.2 m to more than 1 m, depending on the width of the mineralized vein and the mineralization type. Channel samples are prepared and assayed with AAS at Silvercorp's mine laboratory (Ying Lab) located at the mill complex in Luoning County, Henan Province, China. The Ying lab is officially accredited by the Quality and Technology Monitoring Bureau of Henan Province and is qualified to provide analytical services. The channel samples are dried, crushed and pulverized. A 200 g sample of minus 160 mesh is prepared for assay. A duplicate sample of minus 1 mm is made and kept in the laboratory archives. Gold is analysed by fire assay with AAS finish, and silver, lead, zinc and copper are assayed by two-acid digestion with AAS finish.

A routine quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) procedure is adopted to monitor the analytical quality at each lab. Certified reference materials (CRMs), pulp duplicates and blanks are inserted into each batch of lab samples. QA/QC data at the lab are attached to the assay certificates for each batch of samples.

The Company maintains its own comprehensive QA/QC program to ensure best practices in sample preparation and analysis of the exploration samples. Project geologists regularly insert CRM, field duplicates and blanks to each batch of 30 core samples to monitor the sample preparation and analysis procedures at the labs. The analytical quality of the labs is further evaluated with external checks by sending approximately 3-5% of the pulp samples to higher level labs to check for lab bias. Data from both the Company's and the labs' QA/QC programs are reviewed on a timely basis by project geologists.

Guoliang Ma, P. Geo., Manager of Exploration and Resource of the Company, is the Qualified Person for Silvercorp under NI 43-101 and has reviewed and given consent to the technical information contained in this news release.

About Silvercorp

Silvercorp is a profitable Canadian mining company producing silver, lead and zinc metals in concentrates from mines in China. The Company's goal is to continuously create healthy returns to shareholders through efficient management, organic growth and the acquisition of profitable projects. Silvercorp balances profitability, social and environmental relationships, employees' wellbeing, and sustainable development. For more information, please visit our website at www.silvercorp.ca.

CAUTIONARY DISCLAIMER - FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain of the statements and information in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian provincial securities laws. Any statements or information that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects", "is expected", "anticipates", "believes", "plans", "projects", "estimates", "assumes", "intends", "strategies", "targets", "goals", "forecasts", "objectives", "budgets", "schedules", "potential" or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements or information. Forward-looking statements or information relate to, among other things: the price of silver and other metals; the accuracy of mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates at the Company's material properties; the sufficiency of the Company's capital to finance the Company's operations; estimates of the Company's revenues and capital expenditures; estimated production from the Company's mines in the Ying Mining District; timing of receipt of permits and regulatory approvals; availability of funds from production to finance the Company's operations; and access to and availability of funding for future construction, use of proceeds from any financing and development of the Company's properties.

Forward-looking statements or information are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements or information, including, without limitation, risks relating to: social and economic impacts of COVID-19 fluctuating commodity prices; calculation of resources, reserves and mineralization and precious and base metal recovery; interpretations and assumptions of mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates; exploration and development programs; feasibility and engineering reports; permits and licenses; title to properties; property interests; joint venture partners; acquisition of commercially mineable mineral rights; financing; recent market events and conditions; economic factors affecting the Company; timing, estimated amount, capital and operating expenditures and economic returns of future production; integration of future acquisitions into the Company's existing operations; competition; operations and political conditions; regulatory environment in China and Canada; environmental risks; foreign exchange rate fluctuations; insurance; risks and hazards of mining operations; key personnel; conflicts of interest; dependence on management; internal control over financial reporting as per the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act; and bringing actions and enforcing judgments under U.S. securities laws.

This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company's forward-looking statements or information. Forward-looking statements or information are statements about the future and are inherently uncertain, and actual achievements of the Company or other future events or conditions may differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements or information due to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors, including, without limitation, those referred to in the Company's Annual Information Form for the year ended March 31, 2020 under the heading "Risk Factors". Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, described or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.

The Company's forward-looking statements and information are based on the assumptions, beliefs, expectations and opinions of management as of the date of this press release, and other than as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements and information if circumstances or management's assumptions, beliefs, expectations or opinions should change, or changes in any other events affecting such statements or information. For the reasons set forth above, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information.

CAUTIONARY NOTE TO US INVESTORS

The disclosure in this news release and referred to herein was prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 which differs significantly from the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The terms "proven mineral reserve", "probable mineral reserve" and "mineral reserves" used in this news release are in reference to the mining terms defined in the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Standards (the "CIM Definition Standards"), which definitions have been adopted by NI 43-101. Accordingly, information contained in this news release providing descriptions of our mineral deposits in accordance with NI 43-101 may not be comparable to similar information made public by other U.S. companies subject to the United States federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.

Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of mineral resources will ever be converted into reserves. Pursuant to CIM Definition Standards, "Inferred mineral resources" are that part of a mineral resource for which quantity and grade or quality are estimated on the basis of limited geological evidence and sampling. Such geological evidence is sufficient to imply but not verify geological and grade or quality continuity. An inferred mineral resource has a lower level of confidence than that applying to an indicated mineral resource and must not be converted to a mineral reserve. However, it is reasonably expected that the majority of inferred mineral resources could be upgraded to indicated mineral resources with continued exploration. Under Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, except in rare cases. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource is economically or legally mineable. Disclosure of "contained ounces" in a resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations; however, the SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute "reserves" by SEC standards as in place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures.

Canadian standards, including the CIM Definition Standards and NI 43-101, differ significantly from standards in the SEC Industry Guide 7. Effective February 25, 2019, the SEC adopted new mining disclosure rules under subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "SEC Modernization Rules"), with compliance required for the first fiscal year beginning on or after January 1, 2021. The SEC Modernization Rules replace the historical property disclosure requirements included in SEC Industry Guide 7. As a result of the adoption of the SEC Modernization Rules, the SEC now recognizes estimates of "Measured Mineral Resources", "Indicated Mineral Resources" and "Inferred Mineral Resources". In addition, the SEC has amended its definitions of "Proven Mineral Reserves" and "Probable Mineral Reserves" to be substantially similar to corresponding definitions under the CIM Definition Standards. During the period leading up to the compliance date of the SEC Modernization Rules, information regarding mineral resources or reserves contained or referenced in this news release may not be comparable to similar information made public by companies that report according to U.S. standards. While the SEC Modernization Rules are purported to be "substantially similar" to the CIM Definition Standards, readers are cautioned that there are differences between the SEC Modernization Rules and the CIM Definitions Standards. Accordingly, there is no assurance any mineral reserves or mineral resources that the Company may report as "proven mineral reserves", "probable mineral reserves", "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" and "inferred mineral resources" under NI 43-101 would be the same had the Company prepared the reserve or resource estimates under the standards adopted under the SEC Modernization Rules.

SOURCE Silvercorp Metals Inc

Related Links

www.silvercorp.ca


NEEDHAM, Mass., June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- SNA Event Productions ("SNAEP"), a division of Safety NetAccess, Inc. (SNA), is excited to announce the creation of a strategic partnership with Xpodigital to better serve the needs of the conference and events industry.

This new partnership will combine SNA's vast guest room technology experiences and SNAEP's innovation with Xpodigital's robust managed network and digital signage services to provide event locations, guests, and attendees with a cohesive, unified experience from the guest room to the convention center.

Safety NetAccess, Inc.

"With the conference industry in a state of evolution, these properties will be looking for innovative ways to attract new meetings and events," said Gabe Gilligan, President of Xpodigital. "Keeping the guest engaged with an end-to-end experience regardless of their location is going to be a real game-changer."

Martin Kwitschau, President of SNAEP, added, "Xpodigital's experience and product offering complement our own. From our guest internet and AV equipment to their conference facility-managed networks and digital signage, this is a partnership that brings enhanced value and significant competitive advantages, across the board, to any property."

Properties now have one solution they can rely on for end-to-end connectivity, AV production, and conference delivery. Currently, the industry does not have a one-provider solution to handle problem resolutions regarding issues with their managed network and conference solutions. The combined resources of SNAEP and Xpodigital offer the industry a complete, comprehensive platform.

About Safety NetAccess | SNA is a leading national high-tech solutions company that has been providing a broad range of technology products and services since 2001. All SNA products and services are exclusively designed for the most selective client and include visitor-based Wi-Fi networks, telecom, security camera solutions, energy management, television and casting solutions, low-voltage cabling, and Broadcom/telecom circuits. Our networks are managed, monitored, and maintained with 24/7/365 live support. Our support team is made of experienced engineers to ensure superior service for our clients and their end-users. Today SNA has installed a variety of network environments including hotels, resorts, open-air venues, multiple dwelling units, military bases, coffee shops, restaurants, universities, high schools, campsites, and marinas. For more information, please visit www.safetynetaccess.com or www.snaeventproductions.com and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn , Instagram , YouTube, and Twitter.

About XpoNet Corporation dba Xpodigital | Xpodigital provides businesses and government agencies with an array of managed custom communications technology solutions. Xpodigtal's Managed Network Services provide resilient, secure communications networks for permanent and temporary applications. Xpodigital's Event Managed Network Services provide superior network support for in-person, remote, and hybrid events with its HelloHybridSM services and Xpodigital Managed Digital Signage Services with cutting-edge visual technology solutions to include LED walls, menu boards, touchscreens, and non-touch interactive screens. Custom agency design services and content management is delivered through a proprietary and robust cloud-based CMS system. Xpodigital is a privately held company based in Orlando, Florida. For more information, please visit www.xpodigital.com and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter.

Media Contact: Steven Bronken

Related Images

image1.png

SOURCE Safety NetAccess, Inc.
Given the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, Luke's Wings made the difficult decision to cancel its annual Heroes Gala, set for April 18, 2020. The funds raised at the gala allow Luke's Wings to remain a vital resource for emergency and long-term travel needs for beneficiaries and their families year-round. As a nonprofit organization, Luke's Wings depends on the generous donations of others, such as Spartan Medical, to help support its mission. Luke's Wings' partnership with Spartan Medical continues to help fund these critical programs which were greatly affected by the pandemic. In 2020, Spartan Medical's generous donation was able to fund an entire month of flights, helping transport service members to vital appointments and procedures.

With the world beginning to slowly open back up again safely, Luke's Wings is excited to be hosting the 2021 Heroes Gala on Saturday, September 18, 2021! "We are grateful for the continued support from sponsors like Spartan Medical during this time, as they are one of the many reasons we can continue to support our service members and their families as flights are rapidly picking up again," said Mary Scott, Luke's Wings Chief of Staff.

Vince Proffitt, President of Spartan Medical, stated, "Luke's Wings is an incredible organization, laser focused on a mission that makes an incalculable difference to our Wounded Warriors and their families. They put the pieces together during a family's toughest time to directly support our injured American Heroesthis is how healing happensphysically, emotionally, and surrounded by loved ones. We are here to support you Luke's Wings, it's part of our DNA and we are proud to be associated with you!"

Luke's Wings is a 501(c)3 military non-profit based in Washington, D.C. With the support of donors across the country, Luke's Wings provide complimentary airfare to wounded, ill and injured service members and their loved ones to keep them physically connected during recovery and rehabilitation. Since its founding in 2008, Luke's Wings has provided more than 6,000 flights to military families across the country and has developed program lines serving wounded and injured service members, veterans in hospice care, special operations community, and those battling major illnesses, including mental health issues. To learn more about Luke's Wings visit www.lukeswings.org.

Spartan Medical Inc. was founded in 2008 by a former Air Force Intelligence Officer to provide an extensive portfolio of advanced medical devices and technologies from premier partners, focused on the needs of the VA and DoD surgeon. Spartan Medical is considered a top priority vendor in the VA as a CVE certified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) and has been awarded 600+ Federal Government contracts including multi-year Blanket Purchase Agreements at over 30 major military treatment facilities with 13+ years of flawless performance. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Spartan Medical has assembled a Comprehensive COVID-19 Testing Solution providing best-in-class products and services for K-12 schools, universities and local, state and federal governments. To learn more about Spartan Medical visit us at https://spartanmedspine.com/.

Spartan Medical Inc. Contact:

Nicholas Goebel

1-888-240-8091

[email protected]

SOURCE Spartan Medical Inc.

Related Links

http://www.spartanmedspine.com


A Contrarian Bet On A Modern Dress Watch Revival: "At a time when so many of us have spent so long without formal social interaction, the end of the pandemic represents a return to normal life and the luxury of social gatherings. Our introduction of a dress watch is an expression of that hope for the future" said Serge Michel, co-founder. "A dress watch may seem contrarian right now, but we've learned to trust our instincts. Years ago, we were told that there was no economic model to justify a low-volume independent watchmaker bringing all of its fabrication in-house; because the equipment is expensive and requires a lot of space. We did it anyway - and that decision paid off. Today we have the luxury of continuing to follow our passion. The 'Tribute 1' isn't just a manifestation of that passion, it's a 'tribute' to it. It's also our tribute to the classic haute horology dress watch, updated from a modern perspective."

Exceptional Haute Horology Finishing:

"I've been obsessed with this timepiece, particularly its finishing" said Greisler. "Just hand-polishing the white gold barrel bridge takes us over 12 hours to complete. The polishing of the hands is similarly time-consuming. The gear chain bridge is beveled and polished in 60 - a complex process demands twice the effort. The barrel is also hand-polished. The movement is adorned with Cotes de Geneve; with a circular-grained mainplate and jewel sinks that are polished to gleaming perfection. It's also more classic than my recent designs," said Greisler, "with a diameter of 38mm and a height of just 9mm. The crown is located at 2 o'clock; a nod to modern design that enhances wearer comfort."

Technical Distinction:

The motor barrel is unusual as its arbor turns around the mainspring within the barrel itself; making it more efficient while conserving space. It provides 100 hours of operation.

Pricing And Availability:

Priced at an intentionally-accessible price of CHF 13,900, this inaugural limited-edition of 25 watches is distinguished by its white gold barrel bridge and 10-year warranty.

System 78 Collection:

The 'Tribute 1' is the latest offering in the 'System 78' collection, the entry point to the Armin Strom brand. It embodies the sensibilities of the co-founders of the revitalized Armin Strom, who were both born in 1978.

About Armin Strom AG

Armin Strom AG is an independent watch brand based in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland. Its timepieces represent a unique fusion of the Swiss-German horological tradition, avant-garde 'transparent mechanics' and an unwavering commitment to horological innovation. The hallmark of Armin Strom's low-volume, artisanal approach to watchmaking is a commitment to exposed dial-side movement mechanics, with every part hand-finished to the highest haute-horology standards.

Established in 1967 by Mr. Armin Strom, stewardship of the brand was transferred to Master-Watchmaker Claude Greisler and Businessman Serge Michel in 2006. They established Armin Strom AG's first fully-integrated Manufacture in 2009; enabling the brand to bring even its most complicated ideas to life without any of the compromises that typically stem from reliance on a supply chain.

For more information visit http://bit.ly/Press_Tribute1





Contact:

Sonja Voutat-Hagmann

[email protected]

+41 32 343 33 41

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1531790/Armin_Strom.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1532299/Armin_Strom_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Armin Strom
CHICAGO, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In-depth analysis and data-driven insights on the impact of COVID-19 included in this Switzerland data center market report.

Switzerland data center market size is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 3.44% during the period 20202026. Switzerland data center market research report includes market size in terms of area, investment, power capacity, and colocation revenues. Get insights on 52 existing data center and 5 upcoming facilities spread across 21 locations.

Key Highlights Offered in the Report:

Switzerland contributed to around 5% of the overall revenue generated across Western Europe in 2020, with over 50% of the demand for data centers coming from IT companies, followed by telecommunications companies at over 20%. Zurich is the leading data center market in Switzerland , with 15 unique colocation data center facilities accounting for around 37% of the existing power capacity. Switzerland does not come under EU GDPR, but the law covers most GDPR data privacy provisions, along with additional data privacy policies, including the classification of both private individuals and federal companies as eligible for data protection. The average construction cost of a data center building in Switzerland is among the highest in the world, with the average core and shell cost in Zurich ranging from USD 1.2 to USD 1.4 per watt. The Energy Strategy 2050 is focused on boosting the generation of renewable energy in Switzerland , and it aims to add around 11,400 GWh (excluding hydroelectric) of renewable energy in its electricity generation mix by 2035. The Swiss Datacenter Efficiency Association and Swiss Data Center Association are some organizations helping achieve the goal of improving data center sustainability in Switzerland . Switzerland also has an Asut Data Center Infrastructure Panel that deals with issues such as power supply, location development, energy efficiency and facility management, and data center operations.

Key Offerings:

Market Size & Forecast by Area, Power Capacity, Investment, and Colocation Revenue | 2020-2026

Impact of COVID-19 on Data Center Market

Snapshot of existing and upcoming third-party facilities in Switzerland

Facilities Covered (Existing): 31



Facilities Identified (Upcoming): 9



Coverage: Over 11 Regions



Existing vs. Upcoming (Data Center Area)



Existing vs. Upcoming (IT Load Capacity)

Data center colocation market in Switzerland

Market Revenue & Forecast (2020-2026)



Retail Colocation Pricing



Wholesale Colocation Pricing

Market Dynamics  Leading trends, growth drivers, restraints, and investment opportunities

Market Segmentation  A detailed analysis by IT infrastructure, electrical infrastructure, mechanical infrastructure, general construction, and tier standard

Key Market Participants  List of 10 IT infrastructure providers, 9 construction service providers, 13 support infrastructure providers, and 6 data center investors

Get your sample today! https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/switzerland-data-center-market-size-analysis

Switzerland Data Center Market  Segmentation

In Switzerland , cloud-based services, IoT, and AI are the major driving factors for the growth of data centers and the adoption of high-power computing servers. Vendors such as Atos, NetApp, Lenovo, IBM, and HPE have a strong presence in the market.

, cloud-based services, IoT, and AI are the major driving factors for the growth of data centers and the adoption of high-power computing servers. Vendors such as Atos, NetApp, Lenovo, IBM, and HPE have a strong presence in the market. VRLA battery-based UPS systems will be slowly replaced by lithium-ion batteries in Switzerland to decrease data center OPEX. Hyperscale data center projects designed according to Tier IV standards will procure UPS systems with 2N+1 redundancy.

to decrease data center OPEX. Hyperscale data center projects designed according to Tier IV standards will procure UPS systems with 2N+1 redundancy. Data center facilities open and under construction from 2020 to June 2020 added over 2,000 rack cabinets. Service providers have also installed 46U, 47U, and 48U rack units in their data centers.

Market Segmentation by IT Infrastructure

Servers

Storage Systems

Network Infrastructure

Market Segmentation by Electrical Infrastructure

UPS Systems

Generators

Transfer, Switches & Switchgears

Rack PDUs

Other Electrical Infrastructure

Market Segmentation by Mechanical Infrastructure

Cooling Systems

Rack Cabinets

Other Mechanical Infrastructure

Market Segmentation by General Construction

Building Development

Installation & Commissioning Services

Building Design

Physical Security

Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM)

Market Segmentation by Tier Standard

Tier I & Tier II

Tier III

Tier IV

Market Segmentation by Geography

Zurich

Other Cities

Switzerland Data Center Market  Dynamics

The adoption of cloud computing technology has experienced considerable growth in Switzerland over the last few years. The adoption of cloud-computing technology in 2020 grew by around 30% from 2019. The revenue from public cloud is expected to be over $4 billion in 2021 and reach over $10 billion by 2026. SaaS will be the leading revenue generator in 2021, expected to generate over $2.5 billion. Local cloud providers in Switzerland include Exoscale, Radity, astarios, and Swisscom, among other companies. Global cloud service providers such as Microsoft, Google, and Oracle have a strong presence in Switzerland and will expand further within the forecast period. In November 2020, Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced a new cloud region in Zurich with three availability zones, which will be operational in 2022.

Key Drivers and Trends fueling Market Growth:

 Big Data and IoT Surge to Fuel Demand for Data Centers

 Colocation Providers to Dominate Data Center Investments

 Smart Cities and 5G Deployment Leading Edge Data Center Deployments

 Growing Investments in Artificial Intelligence

Switzerland Data Center Market - Existing Vs. Upcoming Data Centers

Existing Facilities in the region (Area and Power Capacity)

List of Upcoming Facilities in the region (Area and Power Capacity)

Get your sample today! https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/switzerland-data-center-market-size-analysis

Key Market Participants

IT Infrastructure Providers

Arista Networks

Atos

Broadcom

Cisco Systems

Dell Technologies

Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)

Huawei Technologies

IBM

Lenovo

NetApp

Construction Service Providers

Arup

Basler & Hofmann

cpcm (construction project cost management)

DPR Construction

ffbk Architekten

Gruner

ISG

Steiger Concept

Turner & Townsend

Support Infrastructure Providers

ABB

Caterpillar

Cummins

Eaton

KOHLER-SDMO

Legrand

Rittal

Rolls-Royce Power Systems

Schneider Electric

Socomec

STULZ

Trane Technologies

Vertiv

Data Center Investors

Digital Realty

Equinix

ewl (energie wasser luzern)

Green Datacenter

Safe Host

Vantage Data Centers

Explore our data center knowledge base profile to know more about the industry.

Read some of the top-selling reports:

About Arizton:

Arizton Advisory and Intelligence is an innovation and quality-driven firm, which offers cutting-edge research solutions to clients across the world. We excel in providing comprehensive market intelligence reports and advisory and consulting services.

We offer comprehensive market research reports on industries such as consumer goods & retail technology, automotive and mobility, smart tech, healthcare, and life sciences, industrial machinery, chemicals and materials, IT and media, logistics and packaging. These reports contain detailed industry analysis, market size, share, growth drivers, and trend forecasts.

Arizton comprises a team of exuberant and well-experienced analysts who have mastered in generating incisive reports. Our specialist analysts possess exemplary skills in market research. We train our team in advanced research practices, techniques, and ethics to outperform in fabricating impregnable research reports.

Mail: [email protected]

Call: +1-312-235-2040

SOURCE Arizton Advisory & Intelligence
OMAHA, Neb., June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading natural gas marketer Tenaska Marketing Ventures (TMV) and its Canadian business Tenaska Marketing Canada (TMC) are celebrating 30 and 25 years, respectively, of meeting evolving market needs and delivering value to customers.

"After 30 years in a cyclical business, TMV has demonstrated stable and consistent growth and we have a platform today that is stronger than ever," said Fred Hunzeker, CEO, Tenaska Marketing Group. "TMV's longevity is a testament to our customers, employees and owners who have all enabled this to happen."

"These anniversary milestones are a tribute to what we have built here, providing an opportunity to look both backward and forward," said TMV President Mark Whitt. "We celebrate and learn from our experiences, and we leverage past accomplishments to expand our team's deep expertise. But one thing that does not change is our customer-focused service and steady approach to business, as well as our ongoing commitment to being a strong, stable advisor to our customers."

Founded in April 1991, TMV was a natural business progression for Tenaska, Inc., an industry leading energy company, and started by people who were highly experienced in natural gas markets, completing its first transaction nearly 30 years ago and, only a few years later breaking into the ranks of the top 25 marketers in North America.

TMC was the first regional office opened by TMV with one employee. TMV shared the same office with Tenaska, Inc., which had established a presence in Calgary, Alberta, in 1996. A second office was opened in Vancouver, British Columbia, in 2012 to capture new opportunities in the province.

"It was a small midwestern company that I joined from Calgary, Alberta and to contribute to the growth is truly something I am proud to be a part of," said Kristen Gould, executive vice president of TMC.

TMV and TMC have grown an extensive network of contracted pipeline and storage assets and a team of more than 180 industry experts across seven office locations that, today, support its ability to manage market disruptions, respond effectively and maintain reliable service.

Ranked among the top 5 natural gas marketers in North America since 2013 (Platts Gas Daily), TMV's presence in the industry is rooted in its customer-focused approach. The company has built its history of solid performance and service to customers by remaining both flexible and focused.

TMV's Chief Marketing Officer, Lori Bruck, attributes the success of the company to the loyalty of its customers, as well as its strong employee base.

"TMV's and TMC's anniversary milestones are very special and quite unique in our market segment," Bruck said. "One thing we have remained committed to over the past 30 years is customer service, and I am proud of being part of and seeing an evolution of employees come together to form a team that is best-in-class in the natural gas industry."

TMV's anniversary year was marked with industry accolades, including being named the 2020 winner in the Major Marketer Category of Mastio & Company's 24th Natural Gas Marketer Customer Value & Loyalty Study. Mastio & Company measures customer perceptions by conducting comprehensive studies in the natural gas, electric power, transportation and many other industries. TMV has ranked in the top 5 of the Mastio & Company survey since 2007.

Additionally, TMV ranked No. 1 in gas pipeline capacity release trading for the 12th year in a row. The ranking came from Capacity Center, which monitors and collects capacity and operational information on all interstate pipelines.

About Tenaska Marketing Ventures

Tenaska Marketing Ventures / Tenaska Marketing Canada (TMV) is an affiliate of Omaha, Nebraska-based energy company Tenaska. TMV offers tailored solutions to meet wholesale customers' needs for natural gas buying and selling, price hedging, asset management and supply and demand volume swing management. TMV is among the top five largest natural gas marketers in North America and is the top-ranked natural gas pipeline capacity trader. TMV manages 10% of the natural gas consumed in the United States and Canada.

More information about TMV's anniversary milestones is available at TMVdeliversforyou.com and TMVdelivers.com.

About Tenaska

Tenaska is one of the leading independent energy companies in the United States, with a well-earned reputation for high ethical standards and expertise in natural gas and electric power marketing, energy management, development and acquisition of energy assets, operation of generating facilities and much more. Forbes magazine consistently ranks Tenaska among the 50 largest private U.S. companies. Gross operating revenues were $7.7 billion in 2020.

Tenaska is a 2021 U.S. Best Managed Company, an honor bestowed on private companies that demonstrate excellence in strategic planning and execution, corporate culture and financial results.

Tenaska Power Services Co. is the leading U.S. provider of energy management services to generation and demand-side customers.

More information is available at www.tenaska.com. Connect with Tenaska on LinkedIn and Facebook.

SOURCE Tenaska

Related Links

www.tenaska.com


FUNO was the first Fibra in the BMV, which facilitated other property managers and developers to join the market. Investors have a wide range of options, as the company's portfolio possesses real estate and development projects in a variety of real estate segments, primarily the office, commercial, and industrial segments. FUNO concentrates on the acquisition of properties, property management, and operation and development of real estate in strategic locations.

In its lifetime, FUNO's occupancy levels reached some of the highest in the industry at 93.3 percent. Weathering the convoluted times of the pandemic, FUNO reports occupancy at 92.5% for the first quarter of 2021; still a remarkable figure. The drop in the occupancy percentage was found mostly in the office and industrial segments as so many people were quarantined.

The El-Mann Arazi family leads Fibra Uno. Andre El-Mann Arazi, Max El-Mann Arazi, and Moises El-Mann Arazi have considerable experience in all areas of the real estate sector making them invaluable heads of the company. FUNO is now recognized as the largest FIBRA in Latin America, despite the challenges faced during the pandemic this past year.

El-Mann Arazi's impact on the company, its employees, and the country of Mexico is evidenced by a quote from the deputy director-general of FUNO, Gonzalo Robina. He asserts, "Working at Fibra Uno means following the example that the El-Mann family gives us every day, which is professionalism, struggle, leadership, vision, passion, but above all tireless work and love for Mexico". FUNO and the El-Mann Arazi Family have much to be proud of as they celebrate this momentous occasion of ten years on the Mexican Stock Exchange.

About the El-Mann Arazi

Andre El-Mann Arazi has served as the CEO and Director of Fibra Uno since 2014 and boasts 30 years of experience in the real estate sector. He successfully acquires properties and projects, and he raises capital to develop large-scale real estate projects. Additionally, Andre El-Mann is co-founder of Grupo E, one of Mexico's most prominent real estate groups. He also serves as a member of the board for each of the companies that comprise Grupo E.

Max El-Mann Arazi is the director of the company. His past experiences in the retail sector have made him a very valuable component of the team. He has proven his ability to meet specific customer needs in the industrial and retail segments. Max El-Mann's focus is managing industrial properties, managing real estate projects in residential, industrial, office, and retail segments, and acquiring new properties at various stages.

Moises El-Mann Arazi possesses forty years of real estate experience and serves as Chairman of the Board of FUNO and is President of the Technical Committee. Moises El-Mann is also co-founder of Grupo E. He is a proven leader, assuming the role for all of Grupo E's projects. He also developed over 170 real estate projects in Mexico. Moises El-Mann has played a critical role as he has cultivated funds for expansive projects in Mexico and abroad.

SOURCE El-Mann Arazi
NEW YORK, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- 1 in 20 American students have sought medical treatment after reckoning with payment expectations for their student loans1 - according to new research which has been further investigated by Student Beans . In surveying over 1,300 students, the new student discount app found that 88% feel stressed due to their overwhelming loans, and 45% push their worries to the back of their minds to avoid thinking about it.2 Because of this, Student Beans has decided to spring into action by calling on its corporate brands around the country to pledge support to a joint letter to President Joe Biden, urging him to prioritize government policy on the cancelling of student debts.

"Student Beans softly launched in the United States just over a year ago, and we've used that time to not only bolster our audience to just over two million users, but to really understand the American student population," says William Harris, Chief Strategy Officer at Student Beans. "Time and time again, they tell us that what keeps them up at night isn't exams or papers - but their overwhelming and ever-growing student debt. So much so that it's having a detrimental impact on their mental wellness."

The discussion of student loans in the United States is not new; it is a long, painful and triggering topic for many. But, with President Joe Biden bringing renewed hope to the United States, he stated he would cancel $10,000 of debt per student, as he courted his candidacy. However, as we pass the halfway mark throughout the year, student debt remains. Over 400 organizations from the non-profit sector have voiced their support of federal debt cancellation, but where is the opinion of other businesses and corporations on the matter? That's where Student Beans steps in.

With 92% of US students believing that President Joe Biden should roll out student loan forgiveness, Student Beans took their words to heart by penning a joint letter to the White House. Student Beans, a top-rated student discount app with exclusive offers from the likes of Uber Eats, Walmart, Door Dash and ASOS, today calls on its brand partners and users to sign the joint letter to stand behind all US students and support the elimination of these federal loans in hopes of paving the way to a brighter future.

Students feel so passionately about this that it's the number one campaign promise they want President Joe Biden to focus on, above other issues that would impact their lives such as minimum wage, taxes and even education itself.

What the students say

"Following my college acceptance at 19 years old, I and many students are now faced with growing student debt that will grow to, equal or exceed the price of an upper-class family home," says undergraduate student, Julia Caldara, "If the majority of US citizens are unable to have comfortable lives because of the mounting student debt, which also prevents many from seeking higher education in the first place, as a country we won't be able to succeed." - Julia Caldara, 19 years old; identifies as female; and is studying Chemical Engineering at Rutgers University.

Student Beans today submitted the letter to President Joe Biden and will now wait with the rest of the country on an update concerning federal loan forgiveness.

"We exist to better the lives of the student population around the globe. We're fiercely dedicated to establishing a more financially secure student body and we're firm believers that US students deserve to thrive with lessif not zero debt," concludes William Harris, Chief Strategy Officer at Student Beans.

Amidst the waiting period, the student discount app continues to collate and encourage discounted shopping to better serve students and their bank accounts. They encourage brands and US students to get in touch if they'd like to sign their declaration letter and can reach out to [email protected] to learn more.

About the research

1-https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2021/03/01/global-student-survey-focuses-mental-health-and-financial-and-other-pressures

2-Student Beans surveyed over 1,300 university students across the USA in May 2021.

Contact

For any media or PR related enquiries, please contact the Student Beans press office team at:

E: [email protected]

T: 410-274-5954

About

Student Beans exists to help students thrive. Established in the United Kingdom in 2005, today it is the world's largest student loyalty network, connecting 650 of the biggest brands to 163 million students, across 52 countries. Its student verification technology integrates into websites, apps and stores and has so far enabled companies such as Google, DoorDash, Apple and Footlocker to increase student customers through student specific incentive and onsite or in-app optimization.

Student Beans' rigorous research and data capabilities provide the company with an innate understanding of the student population. Its frequent surveying, analysis and reporting enables Student Beans to empower its brand partners to better serve the student population.

www.studentbeans.com/us

SOURCE Student Beans

Related Links

https://www.studentbeans.com/us


LA JOLLA, Calif., June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In an effort to expand its sustainability leadership in the Western Hemisphere, the Institute of the Americas (IOA) announced the merger of the University of California's Gulf of California Marine Program (GCMP) as a new special programmatic initiative of its organization's Environment & Climate Change (EC2) Program. Catalina Lopez-Sagastegui will continue in her role as the Program's Director as an employee of the Institute.

Humpback whale off the coast of the Gulf of California

With the integration of GCMP into its EC2 program, IOA will work to expand its research and programming on emerging coastal and marine policy issues of importance to Mexico, including fisheries management, impacts of land-based and seaborne pollution on coastal and marine ecosystems, marine biodiversity conservation, and blue carbon sequestration. Through the Institute, there will be the potential to leverage research undertaken in Mexico and work to apply lessons learned and knowledge exchange throughout Latin America, with the objective of supporting the region's sustainability and climate change commitments.

Established in 2008 as a research program at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, GCMP was a part of the University of California Institute of Mexico and the United States (UCMEXUS) based at UC Riverside since 2017. Since its establishment, GCMP has developed a successful track record of promoting conservation and sustainable management through multidisciplinary approaches, focusing on generating, analyzing and sharing scientific information to key stakeholders and policymakers involved in shaping coastal and marine policy in Mexico.

A cornerstone of GCMP is its work to solve pressing environmental problems impacting coastal and marine ecosystems in Mexico by guaranteeing access to data and by sharing it in simple and user-friendly formats through its various science communications initiatives, including: dataMares, Numeros Naturales and Mares Mexicanos. Recent research efforts supported have included ecological monitoring with a focus on mangroves, seagrass and mega-fauna, fisheries monitoring, and ecosystem-wide analysis of marine protected areas.

Historically, GCMP has supported the research of the Aburto Lab at UC San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the Ezcurra Lab at UC Riverside, and the Centro para la Biodiversidad Marina y la Conservacion (CBMC) in La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico. With the merger, the collaborative binational work between the GCMP and the research labs that it supports will continue over the coming years.

According to Richard Kiy, President & CEO of the Institute of the Americas, "The integration of the Gulf of California Marine Program offers the Institute a chance to step up its thought leadership on emerging coastal and marine policy issues of importance both for Mexico and across the Americas."

About the Institute of the Americas:

Established in 1981, the Institute of the Americas is an independent, nonpartisan Inter-American institution devoted to encouraging social and economic reform in the Americas, broadening communication and strengthening political and economic relations between Latin America, the Caribbean, the United States and Canada. For more information visit: https://www.iamericas.org.

Contacts:

Richard Kiy, President & CEO, Institute of the Americas: [email protected]

Catalina Lopez-Sagastegui, Director, Gulf of California Marine Program, Institute of the Americas, [email protected]

Related Images

humpback-whale.jpg

Humpback whale

Humpback whale off the coast of the Gulf of California

SOURCE Institute of the Americas
"The dedicated activist and equity investment group at Olshan 'knows the finer points of activist procedure cold'" Tweet this

The firm has also been named as a Tier 3 Leading Firm in Advertising and Marketing: Transactional and Regulatory and Chair Andrew Lustigman and partner Tamara Carmichael were recognized as Recommended Lawyers.

The Legal 500 commented that, "The dedicated activist and equity investment group at Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP 'knows the finer points of activist procedure cold'; it utilizes this knowledge in representing prolific activist shareholders in some of the most significant campaigns in the market." And, "Further, the department's work gains additional credibility through the expertise of its founder Steve Wolosky, who is one of the best-known pioneers in this space with three decades of activism experience under his belt. Wolosky shares leadership of the practice with Andrew Freedman," who "is laser sharp and a fighter by nature, which is exactly what you want in an activist attorney." Additionally, Legal 500 noted that," Another highly regarded figure in the team is Elizabeth Gonzalez-Sussman, who has a strong track record of delivering successful results to clients in the fields of investment and asset management."

Legal 500 notes that the Advertising, Marketing and Promotions practice group is, "Highly skilled in sweepstakes and contests law, as well as promotional marketing campaigns, promotional agreements and general compliance" and that "Andrew Lustigman leads the practice and advises marketers, advertisers and agencies and is supported by Tamara Carmichael, an expert in digital media, privacy and IP lawWe find their knowledge of our area of advertising and marketing to be superb. That is certainly understandable based on their decades of experience."

Olshan's Shareholder Activism Practice has consistently received top rankings across the board in every influential league table and publication that covers shareholder activism, most recently having been named by Chambers 2021 USA Guide as a Leading Law Firm in Shareholder Activism (Band 1) with five of the practice's lawyers named as Leading Lawyers. The practice was also named as the leading legal adviser to activist investors around the globe in the Refinitiv 2020 Global Shareholder Activism Scorecard, a position it has held since the inception of the rankings. Additionally, the practice achieved top rankings in FactSet's Flashwire Advisor Quarterly, the Bloomberg Activism Advisory League Tables and the Activist Insight Activist Adviser Awards, all naming Olshan's Shareholder Activism Practice as the leading legal advisors for shareholder activism.

Olshan has been consistently recognized as one of the premier mid-sized law firms in the country, including recognition as a leading law firm in four of the firm's key practice areas in Chambers USA 2021 Guide: Corporate/M&A Shareholder Activism (New York); Advertising: Transactional & Regulatory (Nationwide); Litigation: General Commercial: (New York) and Real Estate: Mainly Dirt (New York), and naming seven Olshan lawyers as Leading Lawyers; selection of nine of the firm's lawyers as The Best Lawyers in America 2021 along with the selection of one lawyer to the "Ones to Watch" list; named as a Best Law Firm by U.S. News-Best Lawyers for Securities/Capital Markets, Real Estate, Advertising, Trusts & Estates and Employee Benefits; and the selection of 35 attorneys to the Super Lawyers 2020 New York Metro list. The National Law Journal has honored Olshan twice as a top 20 midsize law firm in its "Midsize Hot List" and has included the firm in its "NLJ 500" list.

For 30 years, The Legal 500 has been analyzing the capabilities of law firms across the world with a comprehensive research program that each year brings the most up-to-date vision of the global legal market. The Legal 500 assesses the strengths of law firms in over 100 jurisdictions, with rankings based on a series of criteria and research based on feedback from 300,000 clients worldwide, submissions from law firms, and interviews with leading private practice lawyers.

About Olshan

Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP, a law firm based in New York, represents major businesses and entrepreneurs in their most significant transactions, problems and opportunities. Olshan's clients range from public companies, hedge, venture capital, private equity and other investment funds to entrepreneurs and private companies worldwide. Clients choose Olshan for innovative strategies and sophisticated, game-changing advice in corporate, securities law, equity investment and shareholder activism, complex commercial, corporate and securities litigation, white collar defense & government Investigations, real estate, intellectual property, bankruptcy and creditors' rights, and advertising. Since its founding, Olshan has offered an alternative to the AmLaw 50 law firm business model with responsive, independent and client-focused legal counsel provided by the firm's senior lawyers.

Contact:

Madelaine Miller Strauss [email protected] 646.331.2691

SOURCE Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP

Related Links

http://www.olshanlaw.com


The Mather will include two residential buildings, one with 186 apartment homes (Phase 1 projected to open in 2023) and Phase 2 (projected opening in 2024) with 114 apartment homes, which will be connected by a multi-story concourse with amenity spaces. These spaces include a fitness center, spa, indoor pool, multiple restaurants, outdoor terraces, art studio, and more.

Pre-sales for Phase 1 are currently at 80 percent. "We're very pleased that demand is so high," said Mather CEO and President, Mary Leary. "Boomers are intentionally redesigning their lifestyle and The Mather provides them the opportunity for luxury living while maximizing wellness and cultural experiences, and also gives them peace of mind having planned for the future. Future residents recognize that we're extremely unique in our design, wellness-focused operational model, and quality experiences we provide residents  all coupled with our excellent urban, walkable location."

Julie Coons, President and CEO of the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce said, "Tysons is quickly becoming the place to be for a broad demographic of people who want an active, green, urban lifestyle with a neighborhood feel. We're thrilled to have The Mather as part of the mix and look forward to a long, valued partnership with one of the industry's leading providers in senior living."

Life Plan Communities like The Mather offer a continuum of living should residents ever need it. "While long-term care was the driving force behind our decision to move to a retirement community, a social network is a very healthy thing! I have seen that people who make their own decision to move are happier  and the earlier the better," says future resident Susan Kaul.

The Mather's apartment homes are designed with modern, open floor plans, expansive views, luxury finishes, and innovative smart home technology including lighting, solar shades, as well as a home automation hub integrated with smartphones, tablets, and home computer systems. Pricing starts at $646,700, with sizes ranging up to 3,300 square feet. Prices are dependent upon apartment size, location, service package, and health plan selected.

As a result of the pandemic, overall design of The Mather now includes enhancements to HVAC systems, as well as touch-free, motion-activated design for doors, faucets and other elements of the building, including elevators, amenity spaces, and more.

Priority reservations are being accepted for Phase 2 of The Mather through June 30, 2021. Priority Members have best choice in selecting apartment home and view, can secure preconstruction prices, and can customize and upgrade home finishes. Interested individuals can become Priority Members by providing a fully refundable $1,000 deposit.

For more information about The Mather, please visit www.TheMatherTysons.com, call (703) 348-8522, or email [email protected]

ABOUT MATHER

Based in Evanston, Illinois, Mather is an 80-year-old, unique, not-for-profit organization that enhances the lives of older adults by creating Ways to Age WellSM. To learn more about Mather Institute, or Mather senior residences and community-based initiatives, find your way to www.mather.com.

SOURCE Mather
LOS ANGELES, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Arcview Group, the world's first and largest group of high-net-worth investors in the cannabis sector, forms strategic alliances with Zuber Lawler and GrowFlow. Zuber Lawler, a top law firm consisting of the highest caliber cannabis-focused attorneys and GrowFlow, an all-in-one business compliance solution for cannabis wholesalers and retailers, team up with The Arcview Group to ease the complexity of starting a business in cannabis amidst vastly different state-to-state legislation.

The Arcview Group + Zuber Lawler + GrowFlow

"Although it may still be in its infancy, the potential for growth in the legal marijuana sector has many personal and business investors taking notice," says Jeff Finkle, CEO of The Arcview Group. "With the goal of supporting marijuana-related startups and expanding companies, The Arcview Group is innovating and linking together with established cannabis leaders, such as Zuber Lawler and GrowFlow, in order to meet the growing need."

Globally recognized and established in seven cities across the country, Zuber Lawler is one of the few legal solutions firms in transactions and litigation for the nascent industries of cannabis, psychedelics, blockchain, etc. Having assisted cannabis clients for over 15 years when cannabis was taboo, Zuber Lawler is a pioneer in the industry with extensive experience and diversity that will continue to positively benefit businesses.

"As two of the oldest companies in the industry, we have worked alongside Arcview many times and have found the collaboration immensely beneficial to our firm and its clients," says Tom Zuber, Managing Partner at Zuber Lawler. "We look to continue making waves together by collaborating on groundbreaking webinars and offering legal solutions to the everchanging cannabis space."

Providing an integrated software company for all license types - municipal, federal, state - in every jurisdiction from inventory and point of sale, to analytics and state reporting, GrowFlow has helped thousands of cannabis businesses reach the next level of success. GrowFlow supports operational growth with personalized seed-to-sale tools for propagation, harvesting, waste management, nutrient feeding, testing, and selling.

"The cannabis industry is growing larger each year as more and more states declare it legalized," says Travis Steffen, CEO of GrowFlow. "Our software is designed to help licensed cannabis businesses manage their operations and grow their bottom line. Among the many solutions we offer are our compliance tools, which are designed to help our customers better understand the ins and outs of cannabis licensing and remain in compliance. This collaboration will further aid in simplifying the process of starting a business within the industry. We're excited to be a part of it."

The Arcview Group Strategic Alliance Program was formed to enable companies to be part of an inner circle of industry leaders, chosen for their unique, trusted position in the cannabis sector to work in unison to evolve the industry while elevating exposure and reach of each Alliance Partner. If interested in connecting with a Strategic Alliance Partner or becoming one, please contact [email protected].

About The Arcview Group:

The Arcview Group is a vertically integrated firm servicing the cannabis and hemp industry, built with social justice and responsibility at its core. Arcview has been a trusted global leader for over ten years and a nexus for investors, companies, entrepreneurs, and community, providing a broad spectrum of programs and services to the industry. The Arcview Group's ecosystem of companies includes Arcview Capital, Arcview Consulting & Market Research, Arcview Ventures. Connect with us: Website | LinkedIn | Instagram

About Zuber Lawler:

Zuber Lawler was recently named Cannabis Law Firm of the Year by Marijuana Venture Magazine, the #1 business magazine in cannabis. Zuber Lawler, one of the most selective law firms in the United States, represents clients throughout the world from offices in Austin, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, New York, Phoenix, and Silicon Valley. In addition to representing a long list of Fortune companies, as well as funds and government entities, Zuber Lawler has represented leading cannabis clients for 14 years. The firm is uniquely situated to manage cannabis IPOs; M&A and other deals; intellectual property; FDA and other regulatory work; and litigation. Zuber Lawler's attorneys work in languages covering 90% of the world's population. Learn more at www.zuberlawler.com.

About GrowFlow:

Seattle-based GrowFlow is a customer-obsessed, B2B SaaS platform dedicated to helping their customers grow their cannabis businesses. They provide compliance, inventory management, point of sale, analytics and sales tools for cannabis and hemp businesses at various points in the supply chain. Founded in late 2016, GrowFlow is run by experienced technology founders and executives with management experience from organizations like Google, Microsoft, Expedia, TenCent, and others, and boasts over 1,200 customers in 7 states - including some of the largest operations in the world. For more information, visit https://growflow.com.

Media Contact:

Christia Brockman, Sunday Brunch Agency

[email protected]

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The Arcview Group + Zuber Lawler + GrowFlow

The Arcview Group + Zuber Lawler + GrowFlow

SOURCE The Arcview Group
NEW YORK, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In these challenging times, TIAA remains steadfastly committed to supporting historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) in fulfilling their inspiring missions. Writing on behalf of TIAA, president and CEO Thasunda Brown Duckett recently sent Congressional leaders a letter in support of the bipartisan Institutional Grants for New Infrastructure, Technology and Education for HBCU Excellence Act ("IGNITE HBCU Excellence Act"). In the letter, Brown Duckett encourages Congressional leadership to include the proposal in any infrastructure legislation that will be considered in the coming months.

Co-sponsored by Representatives Alma Adams (D-NC) and French Hill (R-AR), and Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Tim Scott (R-SC), the legislation aims to allow HBCUs to renovate, repair, modernize, or construct new campus facilities; leverage private partnerships; preserve historical buildings; procure research equipment; install high-speed broadband internet; and more.

"We applaud Representatives Adams and Hill, and Senators Coons and Scott for their bipartisan work on this bill," said Brown Duckett. "Further, we appreciate their leadership as co-chairs of the Congressional Bipartisan HBCU Caucus and the HBCU Challenge, of which TIAA is a proud partner. We are hopeful the IGNITE HBCU Excellence Act will be enacted in the near future and again encourage you to include it as a key initiative in the ongoing infrastructure discussions."

In the letter, Brown Duckett notes that TIAA's long history of collaboration with HBCUs has led to a firm understanding of the role they play in ensuring that students of color, as well as low-income and first-generation college students, can attain a degree from a four-year college or university. HBCUs continue to develop the diverse leaders of tomorrow:

25% of Black graduates with STEM degrees come from HBCUs

of Black graduates with STEM degrees come from HBCUs More than 80% of all Black Americans with degrees in medicine and dentistry graduated from an HBCU

50% of Black faculty at traditionally white research universities received their degrees from an HBCU

Despite the successes they've had in preparing students of color to meet the workforce demands of the future, HBCUs consistently struggle to acquire adequate public and private funding. HBCUs need support to ensure they can undertake capital projects that will allow them to continue to develop the diverse leaders of tomorrow, equipped with the skills needed to meet the workforce demands of the future. TIAA supports the IGNITE HBCU Excellence Act because it takes steps to provide these important institutions with the resources and investment necessary to thrive in the years ahead by utilizing important public and private investment opportunities.

As the leading provider of retirement services for those in the non-profit sector, including colleges and universities across the country, TIAA serves over 70% of all HBCUs. Brown Duckett notes TIAA's commitment to these institutions can be traced back to its founding in 1918 by Andrew Carnegie, who served as a significant benefactor of these institutions. TIAA continues this commitment today through programs like the annual HBCU Early Career Insights Program, which allows HBCU students to interact with TIAA executives, talk to HBCU alums, attend skill-building workshops and learn about TIAA's summer internship opportunities.

About TIAA

With an award-winning1 track record for consistent investment performance, TIAA (TIAA.org) is the leading provider of financial services in the academic, research, medical, cultural and government fields. TIAA has $1.3 trillion in assets under management (as of 3/31/20212) and offers a wide range of financial solutions, including investing, banking, advice and education, and retirement services.

1 The Refinitiv Lipper Fund Awards are based on the Lipper Leader for Consistent Return rating, which is a risk-adjusted performance measure calculated over 36, 60 and 120 months. Lipper Leaders fund ratings do not constitute and are not intended to constitute investment advice or an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security of any entity in any jurisdiction. For more information, see lipperfundawards.com. The Award is based on a review of risk-adjusted performance of 39 companies for 2016, 36 for 2017, 35 for 2018 & 2019, and 30 for 2020. The award pertains only to the TIAA-CREF mutual funds in the mixed-asset category. Certain funds have fee waivers in effect. Without such waivers ratings could be lower. Past performance does not guarantee future results. For current performance, rankings and prospectuses, please visit TIAA.org.

2 Based on approximately $1.3 trillion of assets under management across Nuveen affiliates and TIAA investment management teams as of 3/31/2021.

Investment, insurance and annuity products are not FDIC insured, are not bank guaranteed, are not deposits, are not insured by any federal government agency, are not a condition to any banking service or activity, and may lose value.

TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC, FINRA Member, distributes securities products. Annuity contracts and certificates are issued by Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America (TIAA) and College Retirement Equities Fund (CREF), New York, NY. Each is solely responsible for its own financial condition and contractual obligations.

 2021 Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America-College Retirement Equities Fund, 730 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017

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SOURCE TIAA
LOS ANGELES, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Township Capital and Cabot, Cabot & Forbes (CC&F) announce the acquisition of a 66,964 square-foot industrial building located at 67 Smith Place in the thriving innovation hub of Cambridge, Mass. The facility is located on more than 4 acres of property space in the up-and-coming Alewife neighborhood. It is currently occupied by the City of Cambridge Police Department, with space for additional tenants. Final development plans for the property are pending and will be announced in the coming weeks. The site is connected to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's (MBTA) Red Line, which is commonly referred to as the "Brain Train," as the line makes direct stops at top universities such as Harvard and MIT. The property is also four stops away from Cambridge's Kendall Square, the life science hub of the nation.

"It's been an incredible experience working with CC&F on this deal given their expertise in the Cambridge market," said Matthew Gorelik, CEO of Township Capital. "This was the perfect fit for our current appetite, as the development possibilities are endless in this fast-growing neighborhood within the highly coveted city of Cambridge."

The site is adjacent to CC&F's master-planned development located on Mooney Street, a mixed-use life-science campus currently planned with 575,000 square feet of lab space, 250 multifamily units, and 6,000 square feet of ground-floor retail.

"The proximity of this property to our Mooney Street master-planned development provides some great synergies between the two projects and makes 67 Smith Place an attractive investment," said Daniel Nagler of Cabot, Cabot & Forbes. "We look forward to further growing our relationship with Township Capital through this deal -- and as additional opportunities arise in the market."

Township Capital specializes in deploying programmatic, passive co-GP equity alongside institutional commercial real estate sponsors. The company uses funds to provide a streamlined and highly efficient solution to the co-GP piece of the capital stack.

About Township Capital, Inc.

Township Capital, LLC is a leading co-GP real estate investment firm headquartered in Beverly Hills, CA. Founded by CEO Matthew Gorelik in 2014, the firm has experience investing across all major property types with a specialty in student housing, senior living, multifamily, and industrial. For more information on Township Capital, visit townshipinc.com.

About Cabot, Cabot & Forbes

Established in 1904, CC&F has been a leader in the development of Greater Boston. CC&F pioneered transit-oriented development (TOD), in the region, beginning in the 1980s. In recent years, CC&F developed over 2.5 million square feet of TOD in Greater Boston. CC&F is also known for creating Boston landmarks such as 60 State Street, One Boston Place, 28 State Street, and over 100 million SF developed nationwide. CC&F continues to develop TOD projects throughout the area with projects underway in Brighton, the Fenway, Cambridge and Woburn.

For more information, visit www.ccfne.com.

Media Contacts:

Kyle Kappmeier

JConnelly for Township Capital

973-850-7366

[email protected]



SOURCE Township Capital
SAN FRANCISCO, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Underground Cellar , the wine company that reimagined the way consumers discover, buy and experience wine through their gamified upgrade platform and state of the art, virtual "CloudCellar," announced today it has raised $12.5M to complete its Series A just as its millionth bottle of wine is sold. The round was led by Accomplice, with participation from Golden Ventures and Bling Capital.

"Our physical and digital worlds are colliding together like never before, changing commerce forever. I invested in Underground Cellar because they are on the forefront of this change, and are well-equipped to become the catalyst that drives it to new levels," says Ryan Moore, Co-founder of Accomplice.

Underground Cellar is the ultimate community marketplace for wine lovers that rewards consumers with free upgrades to rare and private-stash bottles from prestigious wineries across the nation through its innovative upgrade model and AI algorithms. "CloudCellar" gives consumers unparalleled access and ability to store up to 500 bottles of wine allowing users to buy bottles now and ship them later. Consumers' wine collection can be managed virtually, with users taking physical possession at any time by selecting specific bottles and having them delivered on-demand with free shipping.

The company has reinvented the wine industry with its innovative "gamification" technology integrated at the core of the platform, allowing customers to rely on the company's panel of leading wine experts to curate collections of wines together by varietal, theme, or region. Leveraging their proprietary AI models and data engines, customers receive variable upgrades to create a fun and new way to reward customers with premium wines worth at least the same or more than they paid, with rare bottle upgrades being awarded every day often worth up to $10,000.

"People don't actually want the lowest price or biggest discount when they buy a bottle of wine, what they actually want is the greatest value," says Jeffrey Shaw, Underground Cellar's Founder & CEO. "After seeing the harm that discounts were causing to wine brands I knew that the solution would be to drive excitement by upgrading customers' purchases to more expensive, rare, and large-format bottles. We bridged the gap between the way people purchase and experience wine through Underground Cellar's innovative gamified bottle upgrade technology. Not only does this create an exciting customer experience, but it allows wineries of luxury brands to sell bottles online to influential tech-savvy buyers without resorting to brand-damaging discounts."

To further integrate the technology-first wine platform, successful tech start-up leader and former Google executive, Jeff Hardy joins the team as COO and takes a seat on the board.

"This new infusion of capital will allow us to enhance our unique gamified platform, further deepen our relationships with the world's most coveted and prestigious wineries, and unlocks our ability to triple the size of our team by the end of the year," says Jeff Hardy, Underground Cellar COO.

ABOUT UNDERGROUND CELLAR

Underground Cellar is a leading wine e-commerce company that is changing the way wine is bought and sold in the $70B consumer US wine market through 'gamification'. The company provides a unique and exciting experience that gives wine buyers a great value by using upgrades instead of discounts. Wine sellers love Underground Cellar too as it allows them to quickly sell bottles while protecting their brand. The company features new wine deals every day on its homepage at UndergroundCellar.com

ABOUT JEFFREY SHAW

Jeffrey Shaw is a successful entrepreneur and digital commerce expert with over 15 years experience leading b2c companies. As the Founder & CEO of Underground Cellar, Shaw brings his deep experience modernizing otherwise archaic industries through technology-first innovation. Prior to founding Underground Cellar, Shaw was a security-industry innovator having founded and led his prior company, ID Creator, to a successful acquisition. He has also held an elected public office in his home-state of Arizona, and is a two-time "in-the-money" winner at the World Series of Poker, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

ABOUT JEFF HARDY

Jeff Hardy is Underground Cellar's Chief Operating Officer and has spent time leading teams and driving strategy at both growth stage start-ups and large tech companies. Prior to joining Underground Cellar, Hardy was Tapingo's Chief Business Officer, where he led the company's growth to a successful exit when it was acquired by Grubhub in November of 2018. Post-acquisition, Hardy took on the role of Vice President of Business Development and Strategic Partnerships at Grubhub. Prior to this successful exit, Hardy served as Google's Head of Product Partnerships and worked with Yahoo's chief executive Marissa Mayer as Vice President of Global Partnerships.

SOURCE Underground Cellar

Related Links

https://www.undergroundcellar.com


CINCINNATI, June 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Union Institute & University (UI&U) has officially launched The Institute for Social Justice (TISJ) along with its new website at tisj.myunion.edu. The Institute was founded to provide innovative and practical solutions for the challenges to social justice around the world.

TISJ is the result of a multi-year initiative and creation of UI&U President Dr. Karen Schuster Webb. Envisioned in 2018, the Institute is officially open for global engagement after careful planning, development and funding.

"There has never been a time when the call for social justice has been louder or the world has been more ready to commit than today," Webb said. "We see the opportunity to provide tools to make much-needed changes and we're answering the call."

TISJ Programs focus on the theme "One Just World" promoting access to excellence in all areas of society, especially regarding economic, healthcare, educational, and criminal justice disparities. 2021 programs include:

One Just World Global Social Justice Certificate

One Just Workplace Organizational Resources, Marketplace, and Certification

One Just Response First Responder Innovation Lab & Certification

One Just Action Community Task Force & Action Board supported by microdonations with current focus on providing "community sinks" washing stations for high traffic homeless areas.

TISJ has brought together thought leaders and experts to formulate, lead and advise on the program development and execution including formation of an Advisory Board and naming Union Alumna, Betsy Martin, as Executive Director.

Ms. Martin is an advocate of women's and minority entrepreneurship, and is the founder and CEO of Vaya Ventures, which owns, licenses, and consults with high-growth companies that provide a meaningful impact to people and the planet. She has led the creation of digital education strategies for The University of Michigan and West Clermont Local School District and is the founder of REALWellness local and virtual wellness center. An internationally recognized eCommerce leader, Ms. Martin has defined and implemented growth strategies for brands that include Nutrisystem, WebMD/Healtheon, Visa International and many more. Ms. Martin's giving and community projects include Veterati (Veterans Employment), KD New York (Dance Theatre of Harlem collaboration) and Women in Technology.

"Our program theme of One Just World represents our goal to provide community support and solutions to take Social Justice into action," said Martin. "Today, we are learning to look at measures which define access to excellence and structures which support the experience of excellence: justice, equality, dignity, and safety for all."

The mission of TISJ is to apply theory to practice through a coalition of thought leaders who are scholar-practitioners, philanthropists, policymakers, community advocates and others who are committed to promoting social justice and equity in the U.S. and globally through research, education and policy. Since its founding in 1964, UI&U has focused on academic excellence, creativity, diversity and integrity. TISJ aims to reach significant and clear progress toward social justice by advocating for equality, valuing diversity and committing to an innovative teaching and learning environment that shrinks economic disparities and eliminates racism.

TISJ connects programs and individuals that are committed to providing "innovative and pragmatic solutions" globally.

Goals include:

Researching and proposing public policies and programs that reduce economic disparities while quickening steps to reduce racism.

Promoting international policies and programs that increase civic engagement.

Fostering policies that advocate economic and social equity.

Eliminating social disparities through committed avenues of excellence by way of education, economic policies and programs, housing, health care and criminal justice.

Programs will launch in June 2021 including certification, marketplace, and community action as well as a free community education series featuring online events, podcasts, and creating a platform for voices promoting social justice.

For media inquiries regarding The Institute for Social Justice, please contact Rita Tennyson at (310) 779-9747 or [email protected].

About Union Institute & University

Founded in 1964, Union Institute & University has been a pioneer in educating adults through distance learning. Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, Union Institute & University offers undergraduate, master's, and doctoral degree programs and certificates designed for those seeking to make a difference in their own lives and within their communities. The university offers specialized online and low residency degree programs with high-touch faculty attention, designed for students regardless of where they live and work. Union's flexible delivery models emphasizes relevant and transformative coursework taught by a national faculty of scholar-practitioners. Union graduates, including two dozen college presidents, leaders in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, members of the United States Congress, and the first female prime minister of Jamaica, promote Union's legacy of utilizing education to transform lives and communities.

To learn more about Union Institute & University, visit www.myunion.edu or call 1-800-861-6400.

SOURCE Union Institute & University

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DUBLIN, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "The US Post-Acute Care (PAC) Market: Size & Forecasts with Impact Analysis of COVID-19 (2021-2025 Edition)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

"The US Post-Acute Care (PAC) Market: Size & Forecasts with Impact Analysis of COVID-19 (2021-2025 Edition)" provides an in-depth analysis of the post-acute care market in the US including detailed description of market sizing and growth.

The report provides an analysis of the US post-acute care market by value, by spending, by number of providers and includes detailed segment analysis as well.

Post-acute care is divided into institutional-based programs and home and community-based services. Institutional-based programs are further segmented into inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs), skilled-nursing facilities (SNFs) and long-term acute care (LTAC). Home and community-based services are divided into home health and hospice care.



The COVID-19 pandemic acted as a headwind for the post-acute care market in the country in 2020. The pandemic led to overwhelmed healthcare systems. Hence, many patients suffering from non COVID diseases patients were denied admissions in post-acute care settings.



The US post-acute care (PAC) market has witnessed continuous growth in the past few years and is projected to grow even further during the forecast period (2021-2025). The market is expected to be driven by various growth enhancing factors such as aging population, growing prevalence of chronic diseases, rising healthcare expenditure, etc. However, the market is not free from challenges that are hindering its growth. Some of the major challenges faced by the market are tight labor supply and changes in reimbursement policies.

Moreover, the report also assesses the key opportunities in the market and outlines the factors that are and will be driving the growth of the industry. Growth of the overall post-acute care market in the US has also been forecasted for the period 2021-2025, taking into consideration the previous growth patterns, the growth drivers and the current and future trends.

The competition in the US post-acute care market is highly fragmented due to the presence of large number of players competing with each other.

The major players dominating the US post-acute care (PAC) market are Kindred Healthcare, Amedisys, Inc., LHC Group, Inc. and Genesis Healthcare, Inc. The four companies have been profiled in the report providing detailed analysis of their financial information and business strategies.



Company Coverage

Kindred Healthcare

Amedisys Inc.

LHC Group Inc.

Genesis Healthcare Inc.

Key Topics Covered:

1. Executive Summary

2. Introduction

2.1 Post-Acute Care (PAC): An Overview

2.2 Post-Acute Care (PAC) Segmentation: An Overview

2.2.1 Post-Acute Care (PAC) Segmentation

3. The US Market Analysis

3.1 The US Post-Acute Care (PAC) Market: An Analysis

3.1.1 The US Post-Acute Care Market by Value

3.1.2 The US Post-Acute Care Market Value by Segments (Home Health, Inpatient Rehablitation Facilities, Skilled Nursing Facilities and Long Term- Acute Care)

3.1.3 The US Post-Acute Care Market by Spending

3.1.4 The US Post-Acute Care Market Spending by Segments (Home Health, Inpatient Rehablitation Facilities, Skilled Nursing Facilities and Long Term- Acute Care)

3.1.5 The US Post-Acute Care Market by Number of Providers

3.2 The US PAC Market: Segment Analysis

3.2.1 The US Home Health PAC Market by Value

3.2.2 The US Home Health PAC Market by Spending

3.2.3 The US Home Health PAC Market by Number of Users

3.2.4 The US Home Health PAC Market by Episode per User

3.2.5 The US Home Health PAC Market by Number of Providers

3.2.6 The US Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities PAC Market by Value

3.2.7 The US Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities PAC Market by Spending

3.2.8 The US Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities PAC Market by Number of Users

3.2.9 The US Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities PAC Market by Number of Providers

3.2.10 The US Skilled Nursing Facilities PAC Market by Value

3.2.11 The US Skilled Nursing Facilities PAC Market by Spending

3.2.12 The US Skilled Nursing Facilities PAC Market by Number of Users

3.2.13 The US Skilled Nursing Facilities PAC Market by Number of Providers

3.2.14 The US Long-Term Acute Care PAC Market by Value

3.2.15 The US Long-Term Acute Care PAC Market by Spending

3.2.16 The US Long-Term Acute Care PAC Market by Number of Providers

4. Impact of Covid-19

4.1 Impact on the US post-acute Care (PAC) Market

4.1.1 Pandemic Induced Challenges

4.1.2 Impact on Skilled Nursing Facilities Market

4.1.3 Expected Trends

5. Market Dynamics

5.1 Growth Drivers

5.1.1 Aging Population

5.1.2 Growing Prevalence of Chronic Diseases

5.1.3 Rising Healthcare Expenditure

5.1.4 Rapid Urbanization

5.1.5 Rising Affordability

5.2 Challenges

5.2.1 Tight Labor Supply

5.2.2 Changes in Reimbursement Policies

5.3 Market Trends

5.3.1 Integration of CMMI in Payment Models

5.3.2 Growing Emphasis on Home-based Services

6. Competitive Landscape

6.1 The US Home Health PAC Players by Market Share

6.2 The US Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities PAC Players by Market Share

6.3 The US Skilled Nursing Facilities PAC Players by Market Share

7. Company Profiles

7.1 Kindred Healthcare

7.1.1 Business Overview

7.1.2 Business Strategy

7.2 Amedisys, Inc.

7.3 LHC Group, Inc.

7.4 Genesis Healthcare, Inc.

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/e0l72

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



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SOURCE Research and Markets

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U.S. News introduced the Best Children's Hospitals rankings in 2007 to help families of children with rare or life-threatening illnesses find the best medical care available. The rankings are the most comprehensive source of quality-related information on U.S. pediatric hospitals.

Miller Children's & Women's is among 50 pediatric centers in the nation ranked for care of serious respiratory problems in children. Successful management of diseases such as asthma, cystic fibrosis and neuromuscular weakness disorders were recognized during the ranking process.

"Respiratory diseases affect millions of children and include known conditions, such as asthma and premature lung disease, to less known rare diseases," says Inderpal Randhawa, M.D., medical director, Children's Pulmonary Institute, Miller Children's & Women's. "These conditions require clinical research, long-term treatment and monitoring by physicians and specialized centers focused on specific lung diseases. Our Children's Pulmonary Institute is dedicated to this mission and the U.S. News national ranking reflects our Institute's desire to advance the care of children afflicted by the spectrum of lung disease."

In addition to being nationally ranked, Miller Children's & Women's is the only free-standing children's hospital in California, and only one of 13 hospitals in the nation, to receive the Disease Specific Certification in Pediatric Asthma from The Joint Commission - the leading health care accreditor in the U.S.

Miller Children's & Women's also has one of only four Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD) Clinic's in the Western U.S. and the only one in Southern California. Primary ciliary dyskinesia is a rare, inherited, genetic disorder characterized by chronic respiratory tract infections.

"The past year has been a challenging one for children's hospitals, as many patients delayed care due to the COVID-19 pandemic," says Graham Tse, M.D., chief medical officer, Miller Children's & Women's. "In the face of those challenges, our Children's Pulmonary Institute continues to excel and establish Miller Children's & Women's as a regional destination for thousands of children who need specialized pediatric pulmonary care."

In addition to a national ranking for pediatric pulmonology, Miller Children's & Women's was ranked among the top children's hospitals in the Pacific Region.

The Best Children's Hospitals methodology factors objective measures such as patient outcomes, including mortality and infection rates, as well as available clinical resources and compliance with best practices. To calculate the Best Children's Hospitals rankings, U.S. News gathered relevant data from children's hospitals in early 2020 and from pediatric physicians and other healthcare organizations in 2021; because of the pandemic, data collection from children's hospitals was not repeated in 2021.

"When choosing a hospital for a sick child, many parents want specialized expertise, convenience and caring medical professionals," said Ben Harder, chief of health analysis and managing editor at U.S. News. "The Best Children's Hospitals rankings have always highlighted hospitals that excel in specialized care. As the pandemic continues to affect travel, finding high-quality care close to home has never been more important."

About MemorialCare Miller Children's & Women's Hospital Long Beach:

MemorialCare Miller Children's & Women's Hospital Long Beach provides specialized pediatric care for children and young adults, as well as maternity care for expectant mothers. Only five percent of hospitals are children's hospitals, making them unique not only to children's health care needs in the community, but across the region. Miller Children's & Women's is one of only eight free-standing children's hospitals in California  treating more than 14,000 children each year  and has become a regional pediatric destination for more than 65,000 children, who need specialized care in outpatient specialty and satellite centers. With maternal-fetal medicine specialists and neonatologists available 24/7, Miller Children's & Women's cares for women with high-risk pregnancies and premature infants under one roof. Learn more at millerchildrens.org.

About U.S. News & World Report

U.S. News & World Report is the global leader in quality rankings that empower citizens, consumers, business leaders and policy officials to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting their lives. A multifaceted digital media company with Education, Health, Money, Travel, Cars, News and 360 Reviews platforms, U.S. News provides rankings, independent reporting, data journalism, consumer advice and U.S. News Live events. More than 40 million people visit USNews.com each month for research and guidance. Founded in 1933, U.S. News is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

SOURCE MemorialCare Miller Childrens & Womens Hospital Long Beach

Related Links

https://www.millerchildrenshospitallb.org


WASHINGTON, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. News & World Report today published the 2021-22 Best Children's Hospitals rankings to help families facing complex and rare conditions find the best medical care for their children. This year, the Best Children's Hospitals rankings feature expanded offerings that include state rankings and multi-state regional rankings.

"When choosing a hospital for a sick child, many parents want specialized expertise, convenience and caring medical professionals," said Ben Harder, chief of health analysis and managing editor at U.S. News. "The Best Children's Hospitals rankings have always highlighted hospitals that excel in specialized care. Now, this year's new state and regional rankings can help families identify conveniently located hospitals capable of meeting their child's needs. As the pandemic continues to affect travel, finding high-quality care close to home has never been more important."

The regional hospitals are broken down into state rankings, which reflect hospitals in most states and Washington D.C., and multi-state regional rankings which reflect seven regions encompassing multiple states. Each list compares hospitals on overall performance across all pediatric specialties with the aim of providing insights into targeted areas of care at hospitals closest to home. To be ranked regionally, a Best Children's Hospital must rank well in at least one pediatric specialty and must be a hospital or pediatric unit offering general pediatric services.

Top Hospital by Region

Mid-Atlantic - Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Midwest - Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

New England - Boston Children's Hospital

Pacific - Children's Hospital Los Angeles

Rocky Mountains - Children's Hospital Colorado

Southeast - Children's Hospital of Atlanta and Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital of Vanderbilt (tie)

Southwest - Texas Children's Hospital

This year, ten hospitals earned a place on the Honor Roll  a distinction awarded to pediatric centers that deliver exceptionally high-quality care across multiple specialties. For the eighth consecutive year, Boston Children's Hospital claimed the top spot on the Honor Roll. It also landed at No. 1 in four of the 10 specialties; pediatric nephrology, pediatric neurology & neurosurgery, pediatric pulmonology & lung surgery and pediatric urology.

This year's edition highlights the top 50 centers in each of these 10 pediatric specialties : cancer, cardiology & heart surgery, diabetes & endocrinology, gastroenterology & gastrointestinal surgery, neonatology, nephrology, neurology & neurosurgery, orthopedics, pulmonology & lung surgery and urology.

The 2021-22 Best Children's Hospitals Honor Roll

Top Five Children's Hospitals in Selected Specialties

Pediatric Cardiology & Heart Surgery

Texas Children's Hospital UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh Children's Hospital Los Angeles Boston Children's Hospital Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health

Pediatric Cancer

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center Texas Children's Hospital Children's National Hospital

Neonatology

Children's National Hospital Children's Hospital Los Angeles Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals, San Francisco and Oakland Rady Children's Hospital

The Best Children's Hospitals methodology factors objective measures such as patient outcomes, including mortality and infection rates, as well as available clinical resources and compliance with best practices. To calculate the Best Children's Hospitals rankings, U.S. News gathered relevant data from children's hospitals in early 2020 and from pediatric physicians and other healthcare organizations in 2021; because of the pandemic, data collection from children's hospitals was not repeated in 2021. For more information about the 2021-22 rankings and methodology, please visit the FAQ . These ratings help individuals and their families begin their search for pediatric care and should be used in consultation with a medical professional.

RTI International, a North Carolina-based research and consulting firm, collected and analyzed data from 118 children's hospitals and surveyed thousands of pediatric specialists. More than 100 pediatric specialists and other experts provided input through methodology working groups.

This year's rankings will be published in the U.S. News & World Report's "Best Hospitals 2022" guidebook (ISBN 9781931469975), available in stores October 5.

For more information, visit Best Children's Hospitals and use #BestHospitals on Facebook and Twitter .

ABOUT U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT

U.S. News & World Report is the global leader in quality rankings that empower citizens, consumers, business leaders and policy officials to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting their lives. A multifaceted digital media company with Education, Health, Money, Travel, Cars, News and 360 Reviews platforms, U.S. News provides rankings, independent reporting, data journalism, consumer advice and U.S. News Live events. More than 40 million people visit USNews.com each month for research and guidance. Founded in 1933, U.S. News is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

SOURCE U.S. News & World Report

Related Links

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CHAPEL HILL, N.C., June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Value Colleges ( www.valuecolleges.com ), an independent online guide to the best values in undergraduate and graduate education, is pleased to share a new ranking of the Top 50 Best Online Community Colleges for 2021 ( https://www.valuecolleges.com/rankings/best-online-community-colleges/ )

Value Colleges features only fully accredited institutions that have proven their value for graduates on the job and on the job market. Value Colleges rankings are based on verified data from sources including IPEDS and Niche. Programs are ranked according to factors including cost and student satisfaction, so students can feel certain their choice of program will have a positive impact on their career.

The Top 10 Best Online Community Colleges are:

1. Northcentral Technical College - Wausau, WI

2. Minnesota State Community and Technical College - Fergus Falls, MN

3. Minnesota West Community and Technical College - Worthington, MN

4. Fox Valley Technical College - Grand Chute, WI

5. Alexandria Technical & Community College - Alexandria, MN

6. Northwest Iowa Community College - Sheldon, IA

7. Lake Area Technical Institute - Watertown, SD

8. Mitchell Technical College - Mitchell, SD

9. Lake Superior College - Duluth, MN

10. Northland Community and Technical College - East Grand Forks, MN

The full list will appear below this release in alphabetical order.

"The US economy has changed in major ways in the last couple of decades, with manufacturing and industrial jobs giving way to a professional and technical workforce," according to the editors at Value Colleges, "and community colleges have been the key force in educating and preparing working adults for the new world of work." As the editors of Value Colleges explain, "For working adults already in a career, online community college degree programs are the most important innovation of the century."

The full ranking of the 50 Best Online Community Colleges (in alphabetical order):

Alexandria Technical & Community College - Alexandria, MN

Alvin Community College - Alvin, TX

Anne Arundel Community College - Arnold, MD

Central Lakes College - Brainerd, MN

Century College - White Bear Lake, MN

Chandler-Gilbert Community College - Chandler, AZ

Chippewa Valley Technical College - Eau Claire, WI

The Community College of Baltimore County - Baltimore, MD

De Anza College - Cupertino, CA

Fox Valley Technical College - Grand Chute, WI

Hudson Valley Community College - Troy, NY

Hutchinson Community College - Hutchinson, KS

Iowa Central Community College - Fort Dodge, IA

Iowa Lakes Community College - Estherville, IA

Ivy Tech Community College - Indianapolis, IN

Johnson County Community College - Overland Park, KS

Kansas City Kansas Community College - Kansas City, KS

Lake Area Technical Institute - Watertown, SD

Lake Superior College - Duluth, MN

Lakeshore Technical College - Cleveland, WI

Manchester Community College - Manchester, NH

Minnesota State Community and Technical College - Fergus Falls, MN

Minnesota West Community and Technical College - Worthington, MN

Mitchell Technical College - Mitchell, SD

Montgomery College - Montgomery County, MD

Normandale Community College - Bloomington, MN

North Dakota State College of Science - Wahpeton, ND

North Hennepin Community College - Brooklyn Park, MN

Northcentral Technical College - Wausau, WI

Northeast Wisconsin Technical College - Niagara, WI

Northeastern Junior College - Sterling, CO

Northern Virginia Community College - Annandale, VA

Northland Community and Technical College - East Grand Forks, MN

Northwest Iowa Community College - Sheldon, IA

Oakton Community College - Des Plaines, IL

Ocean County College - Toms River, NJ

Ridgewater College - Willmar, MN

Riverland Community College - Austin, MN

Rochester Community and Technical College - Rochester, MN

San Jacinto Community College - Pasadena, TX

San Joaquin Delta College - Stockton, CA

Santa Rosa Junior College - Santa Rosa, CA

Sheridan College - Sheridan, WY

Shoreline Community College - Shoreline, WA

South Central College - Faribault and North Mankato, MN

Southeast Community College Area - Lincoln, NE

Southwest Wisconsin Technical College - Fennimore, WI

St Cloud Technical and Community College - St. Cloud, MN

Western Iowa Tech Community College - Sioux City, IA

Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College - Rice Lake, WI

Value Colleges is independent and unbiased, ranking degree programs, providing guides for the complex financial and professional questions of college students, and offering honest facts about the potential and pitfalls of a college education.

Media Contact:

Rhonda Corey

Media Manager, Value Colleges

[email protected]

(919) 864-2220

SOURCE Value Colleges

Related Links

http://www.valuecolleges.com


HOUSTON, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Hicks Thomas LLP is pleased to announce that veteran labor and employment lawyer Teresa D. Hudson has joined the firm as Of Counsel in its Houston office. The addition of Ms. Hudson, who is known for her unique blend of skill, experience and poise, will help further bolster the firm's already robust labor and employment practice.

"We are so pleased to formalize our relationship with Teresa. We have worked with her on two prior occasions and each time we were blown away with her knowledge and skill," said Hicks Thomas Partner John Thomas. "Not only is she a fantastic employment lawyer, but her 25 years in human resources management brings to our clients a wealth of knowledge from her very unique point of view."

Ms. Hudson is an accomplished executive, certified mediator and attorney who has spent nearly 30 years as a trusted adviser and consultant to senior leadership, board members and business partners. Having spent decades as a human resources executive and in-house counsel, she focuses her legal practice on the resolution of employment and labor disputes while maintaining a close eye on a client's overall business objectives.

Ms. Hudson's practical and firsthand knowledge include serving as a senior human resources executive and a strategic partner for Fortune 500 companies, Tier 1 institutions of higher education, and various non-profit organizations.

Ms. Hudson's new affiliation with Hicks Thomas will also provide her the opportunity to offer her clients access to the firm's team of battle-tested and highly skilled litigators.

"I am honored to be working with lawyers of such high caliber," said Ms. Hudson. "I know my clients will benefit from this affiliation, and I am looking forward to working more closely with Hicks Thomas to assist their clients in navigating the challenges that labor and employment regulations often bring."

Founded in 1997, Texas-based Hicks Thomas LLP is a premier litigation firm representing plaintiffs and defendants across the nation. With offices in Houston, Austin, Beaumont, Amarillo, and Sacramento, California, the firm provides in-depth experience in cases involving oil and gas, environmental, complex commercial, toxic tort, construction, products liability, corporate governance, securities, banking, insurance coverage, transportation, trade secrets and business litigation. Visit the firm at http://www.hicks-thomas.com .

SOURCE Hicks Thomas LLP

Related Links

https://www.hicks-thomas.com


GOTHENBURG, Sweden, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Vicore Pharma Holding AB (publ) ("Vicore"), a rare disease pharmaceutical company developing innovative medicines for fibrotic lung disorders such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), today announces the participation in two upcoming investor meetings in June 2021.

Date: Wednesday, 23 June, 2021

Presentation: 16:40 CET (10:40 AM EDT)

Event and registration: NewYorkBIO/NYSE Emerging Biotech Company Showcase

CEO Carl-Johan Dalsgaard will present an overview of the company's business strategy at the joint NewYorkBIO and New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) Emerging Biotech Company Showcase to be held virtually on 23 June 2021. The presentation is followed by a Q&A session.

Date: Tuesday, 29 June 2021

Presentation: 14.30 CET (8:30 AM EDT)

Event and registration: Nordic Biotech Summit

CEO Carl-Johan Dalsgaard will also present the company's business strategy at the Nordic Biotech Summit organized by LifeSci Advisors on 29 June 2021. The meeting will take place virtually. The presentation is followed by a Q&A session and Carl-Johan and CFO Hans Jeppsson will be available for one-to-one investor meetings throughout the day.

For further information:

Carl-Johan Dalsgaard, CEO

Tel: +46 70 975 98 63

E: [email protected]

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/vicore-pharma-holding-ab/r/vicore-announces-participation-in-investor-meetings-during-june-2021,c3366424

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/15668/3366424/1431525.pdf Vicore announces participation in investor meetings during June 2021

SOURCE Vicore Pharma Holding AB
LOS ANGELES, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Viking (www.viking.com) welcomed American guests on board for the first time in 15 months today in Bermuda, as the company continues its successful restart of operations. Guests boarded the award-winning Viking Orion in Hamilton and will sail the new Bermuda Escape itinerary. Offered as part of Viking's Welcome Back collection, exclusively available for vaccinated guests, this is the first of eight roundtrip sailings from Hamilton planned for summer 2021. After departing the capital city, the eight-day journey continues with scenic sailing around the British island territory and an overnight call in King's Wharf.

"Today is an extraordinary milestone as the world continues to reopen for international travel. On behalf of the entire Viking family, we are delighted to welcome our loyal American guests back on board," said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. "We applaud the government of Bermuda for its collaboration and support as we have restarted our operations. Bermuda has been a favorite destination among our guests since our ocean ships began calling there in 2017, and we look forward to introducing even more Viking guests to the island's history, culture and phenomenal natural beauty."

Viking successfully restarted operations in May and has been sailing in England with British guests since May 22. Later this month, Viking will launch Welcome Back sailings around Iceland and in the Mediterranean  and will restart its European river operations in July 2021 with select itineraries in Portugal, France and along the Rhine.

Those who sail Welcome Back voyages will also experience Viking's industry-leading health and safety program. Grounded in scientific research, the Viking Health & Safety Program was developed in partnership with an international team of medical advisors, including Raquel C. Bono, M.D., Viking's Chief Health Officer. Dr. Bono is a board-certified trauma surgeon and retired Vice Admiral of the United States Navy Medical Corpsand most recently led Washington State's medical and healthcare systems response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Utilizing a full-scale laboratory installed on every Viking ocean shipand a strong network of dedicated shoreside labs for Viking river ships in Europeall guests and crew will receive frequent quick and easy non-invasive saliva PCR tests. New air purification technology has also been installed on all Viking ships, which have always featured independent air handling units for all guest staterooms. And additional health checks, sanitization and physical distancing measures will provide further protection for Viking guests and crew at all points of the journey. A complete overview of the Viking Health & Safety Program can be found at: www.viking.com/health-safety.

Booking Details

Limited space is still available on 2021 summer sailings. Call Viking toll free at 1-855-8-VIKING (1-855-884-5464) or contact a travel agent.

Media Assets

For more information, images and b-roll for Viking, contact [email protected].

About Viking

Viking was founded in 1997 and provides destination-focused journeys on rivers, oceans and lakes around the world. Designed for experienced travelers with interests in science, history, culture and cuisine, Chairman Torstein Hagen often says Viking offers guests The Thinking Person's Cruise in contrast to mainstream cruises. In its first five years of operation, Viking has been rated the #1 ocean cruise line in Travel + Leisure's 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 "World's Best" Awards. In addition to the Travel + Leisure honors, Viking has also been honored multiple times on Conde Nast Traveler's "Gold List" as well as recognized by Cruise Critic as "Best Overall" Small-Mid size ship in the 2018 Cruisers' Choice Awards, "Best River Cruise Line" and "Best River Itineraries," with the entire Viking Longships fleet being named "Best New River Ships" in the website's Editors' Picks Awards. For additional information, contact Viking at 1-800-2-VIKING (1-800-284-5464) or visit www.viking.com. For Viking's award-winning enrichment channel, visit www.viking.tv.

# # #

SOURCE Viking

Related Links

https://www.viking.com/


NORFOLK, Va., June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Dominion VUE DMS, a cloud-native solution providing dealers the confidence to break free with digital security, flexibility and efficiency to meet today's rapidly changing market, announces the appointment of industry veteran Patricia Hobby as Executive Director of DMS Services. She brings nearly 40 years of experience in automotive retail, particularly with client services and dealer management system implementation.

"Patricia's proven experience of leading client services and DMS implementation programs will help dealerships quickly adopt VUE DMS to help our clients drive productivity and profits," said Dominion DMS President Sharon Kitzman. "Her forward-thinking approach and record of success will enable our services team to deliver world-class implementations, training and support to our dealer clients."

Patricia will be responsible for VUE's implementation, deployment, training and support in dealerships. Her extensive experience in this industry contributes to the company's decades of experience serving dealers. Previously, she managed the client services team for Experian Automotive. Before that, she was the Director of a Process Transformation Team at CDK Global and Program Director at ADP Dealer Services. She led various teams, including business solution consultants, implementation, client training and support. She began her automotive career at ADP in client support and training.

"I am honored to lead such a highly talented and experienced services team at VUE DMS," said Patricia. "We will continue to build on VUE's dealer-focused culture while identifying innovative ways to help dealerships more efficiently deliver a superior experience, reduce costs and protect their business."

Patricia and the services team will continue to collaborate with the product team to deliver new features and functionalities, providing dealerships with the most modern digital security, flexibility and efficiency to drive business continuity and growth. For more information, visit VUEDMS.com .

About Dominion DMS:

Dominion DMS' new cloud-native dealer management system solution, VUE, gives US-based retail automotive dealers the digital security, flexibility and efficiency to meet today's rapidly changing market. Built on Microsoft Azure Cloud and decades of experience serving dealerships, Dominion VUE enables dealers to deliver a superior buying experience, reduce costs and protect their business. Learn more at VUEDMS.com .

About Dominion Dealer Solutions:

Dominion Dealer Solutions prides itself on providing the automotive industry's most innovative technology. Products include the new cloud-native dealer management system solution offering modern digital security, flexibility and efficiency (VUE DMS), inventory management and merchandising (Dealer Specialties) and vehicle data solutions (DataOne), vehicle registration reporting (Cross-Sell), and AI-powered Customer intel platform for sales and service, (Activator Dealer Solutions). Every OEM and more than 6,000 dealer partners depend on Dominion's foundation of innovation, integrity, excellence and teamwork to deliver outstanding results. For more information, visit our website , like us on Facebook , LinkedIn or Youtube , or follow us on Twitter .

MEDIA RELATIONS:

Robert J. Gorincen

Marketing Director

Dominion DMS

r[email protected]

C: 219.973.5803

SOURCE Dominion DMS

Related Links

https://www.vuedms.com/


SAN FRANCISCO, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Vungle ( www.vungle.com ), a leading mobile performance marketing platform, announced today it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire JetFuel ( www.jetfuel.it ), an influencer marketing platform headquartered in San Francisco. JetFuel enables app developers and other advertisers to scale marketing campaigns across a network of over 15,000 fully-verified influencers, with a combined reach of over 4 billion Instagram followers, 1.5 billion TikTok followers, and 100 million daily Snapchat views.

The global influencer market is expected to be worth $13.8 billion in 2021, up from $1.7 billion in 2016, a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 52%. Advertisers continue to invest a larger share of their marketing budget in influencer marketing each year. JetFuel has innovated in this space by automating campaign management and execution, removing the need for the time-consuming manual work that is characteristic of traditional influencer marketing. The company charges advertisers on a cost-per-action (CPA) basis, ensuring that advertisers achieve measurable outcomes with high ROI. JetFuel also empowers influencers to create authentic, custom promotions that drive strong results.

As Vungle continues to expand the breadth of its mobile performance marketing platform, JetFuel enables Vungle to offer advertisers even greater reach in acquiring high-value users and the ability to target the increasingly valuable Gen Z market through engaging, influencer-owned viral content that drives action.

"JetFuel brings strong technical expertise and commercial success in social media and influencer marketing, creating a unique and valuable extension to our performance marketing platform that will empower not only our current customers but the next generation of digital entrepreneurs," said Jeremy Bondy, CEO of Vungle. "We've been in awe of the company's innovative, market-leading platform and the forward-thinking vision that makes the combination of Vungle and JetFuel so natural."

"During our conversations, it became clear that there'd be huge benefits to pairing up with an ad tech leader like Vungle. There's a lot of similarities between our businesses," said Tim Lenardo, CEO of JetFuel. "Many of the problems we're solving in influencer marketing now are the problems that they've spent the past 10 years solving in mobile. It's amazing how closely Vungle's capabilities line up with our product roadmap! Tapping into their expertise will supercharge our development and drive further differentiation in how we can serve our customers."

1: "The State of Influencer Marketing 2021: Benchmark Report," Influencer Marketing Hub, Feb. 15, 2021, https://influencermarketinghub.com/influencer-marketing-benchmark-report-2021/

About Vungle

Vungle is the trusted guide for growth and engagement, transforming how people discover and experience apps. Mobile application developers partner with Vungle to monetize their apps through innovative in-app ad experiences that are inspired by insight and crafted with creativity. Advertisers depend on Vungle to reach, acquire, and retain high-value users worldwide. Vungle's data-optimized ads run on over 1 billion unique devices to drive engagement and increase returns for publishers and advertisers ranging from indie studios to powerhouse brands, including Rovio, Pandora, and Microsoft. The company is headquartered in San Francisco and has offices around the world in London, Berlin, Beijing, Tokyo, Seoul, Singapore, Los Angeles, New York, and Helsinki.

About JetFuel

JetFuel's mission is to empower creators by building the tools that they need, starting with monetization. JetFuel's flagship influencer product, The Plug ( www.theplug.co ), offers a self-serve monetization for anyone with an online following and aims to be a comprehensive platform for influencer success. Simultaneously, JetFuel enables advertisers to scale influencer campaigns without time-consuming, manual work. JetFuel operates like a programmatic ad network, allowing advertisers to bid on results and optimize towards downstream metrics. To date, the company has delivered over 60M app installs to it's mobile partners and is the only influencer network ever recognized as a leading ROAS partner in AppsFlyer's Performance Index. The company is based in San Francisco.

For more information, visit vungle.com or follow the company on LinkedIn .

SOURCE Vungle
NEW YORK, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Westgate New York Grand Central released details today of its expansive, $20 million renovation as the hotel announced its official opening date of Tuesday, June 22. Located in the heart of Tudor City, this iconic Midtown East NYC hotel celebrates the art deco period of the 1930s with a comprehensive period-specific renovation of its 299 Luxe guest rooms and suites, along with a completely reimagined lobby and a brand-new European inspired Tudor City Tavern.

Each of the newly renovated and redesigned guest rooms at Westgate New York Grand Central feature Herringbone wood flooring, refreshed painting, all-new, period-specific art deco furniture and artwork throughout, as well as updated lighting. The legs of the in-room desk are even made to look like an old radiator. The goal of the renovation was to provide modern amenities while maintaining the charm of Tudor City circa 1930. A true rarity in the city, the Luxe King Balcony rooms allow guests to step outside for fresh air and experience unparalleled views of the city and Manhattan's East River.

"The goal of the comprehensive renovation of this historic hotel was to modernize the property's amenities while staying true to the art deco design and paying homage to the rich history of Tudor City, Manhattan," said Mark Waltrip, Westgate's Chief Operating Officer. "By incorporating industrial design elements, the property maintains a timeless and classic aesthetic that is newly revitalized with a modern touch of luxury."

To commemorate the grand reopening of Westgate New York Grand Central, Westgate has invited back as its first guests a couple who honeymooned at the property in 1945 to help them celebrate their recent 75th wedding anniversary. After meeting in Brooklyn, Maurice and Sally Goller tied the knot at a NYC delicatessen in 1945, and enjoyed their honeymoon at the legendary Hotel Tudor (now Westgate New York Grand Central) that same year. The hotel bill was $6.25 per night  a rate that Westgate will be honoring each year the couple returns to celebrate their nuptials.

Additionally, Westgate is extending the opportunity to experience Westgate New York Grand Central for the 1945 rate of $6.25/night to twenty (20) guest parties, for stays (up to three nights) and parties of up to two guests in a Luxe Queen Room by entering the official NYC: A Love Story Contest. Entrants will also be eligible for a special grand prize of a 4-day/3-night stay, including a $200 resort credit, to Westgate New York Grand Central.

Westgate New York Grand Central adheres to the comprehensive protocols outlined in WestgateCARES, an all-encompassing health and safety program the company developed to safely run its resorts, hotels, restaurants, retail outlets, spas, casinos and other amenities. Information can be found by visiting www.WestgateCares.com. For more information about Westgate New York Grand Central, visit www.westgatenyc.com.

ABOUT WESTGATE RESORTS

Westgate Resorts is the largest privately held timeshare company in the world and one of the largest resort developers in the United States. Founded in 1982 by David Siegel, the company is headquartered in Orlando with seven Orlando hotels, and 27 themed destination resorts nationwide, featuring more than 15,000 luxury villas and hotel rooms in popular vacation destinations throughout the United States such as Miami, Orlando and Cocoa Beach, Florida; New York City, New York; Park City, Utah; Las Vegas, Nevada; Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Williamsburg, Virginia; Branson, Missouri; Mesa, Arizona; and Tunica, Mississippi. Most Westgate Resorts locations feature a variety of unique restaurant, retail and spa concepts, including Drafts Burger Bar, Edge Steakhouse, Westgate Marketplace & Deli and Serenity Spa by Westgate. For more information about Westgate Resorts, visit www.westgateresorts.com.

ABOUT THE GOLLER FAMILY

Sally & Maurice Goller's legacy of travel is carried forward by their granddaughter and grandson, Abigail Lehman & David Lehman, co-founder of PhotoStart, an organization committed to making a difference in the lives of children in distressed areas by teaching them life skills through photography. Learn more about PhotoStart's mission here.

MEDIA CONTACT:

The Zimmerman Agency

Jessica Murray

Vice President

[email protected]

(850) 309-3743

SOURCE Westgate Resorts
SAN JOSE, Calif., June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- As the economy recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic and businesses start to open back up, don't be shocked if you notice something new when you're completing transactionsa surcharge.

For more loan and credit education, visit myFICO's blog at https://www.myfico.com/credit-education/blog

What Is a Surcharge and Why Do Businesses Charge It?

Before we dive into surcharges, having a little background on credit card processing can provide some context. One of the ways credit card networks, like Visa and MasterCard, make money is by charging fees to businesses. Every time you swipe your credit card, the business has to pay a percentage of your transaction to all the companies who help make that transaction happen. These fees range from 1.5% to 3.5% of the transaction, depending on the network. With small-ticket purchases especially, processing fees can make it difficult for businesses to make a profit.

Rather than absorbing processing fees as a cost of doing business, some retailers and restaurants are choosing to pass those fees along to customers. This is known as surcharging.

There's a reason why you haven't really seen much surcharging before nowit wasn't always legal. A string of court decisions, including a 2017 U.S. Supreme Court decision , made it legal for businesses to tack on credit card surcharges in every state except Colorado, Connecticut, Kansas, Massachusetts, and Puerto Rico.

While it's legal to add on a surcharge, businesses still have some rules to follow. They're required to display a notice of the surcharge, so customers are aware of it before completing a transaction. Businesses must also include the surcharge on your receipt.

Besides state legislation, businesses also have to comply with card network rules. These generally require businesses to uniformly apply any surcharges across all credit cards. Additionally, businesses must limit surcharges to actual costs onlythey aren't allowed to profit from surcharges. Finally, the surcharge can't exceed 4% of the transaction. For example, that means a $1 surcharge on a $10 transaction is above the allowed amount.

Should You Use Your Credit Card Anyway?

Having to pay an additional fee is enough to make you tuck your credit card away or even take your business elsewhere. Sometimes that's not an option, or maybe you're willing to pay the fee if it means enjoying your favorite stores and restaurants.

For rewards enthusiasts , it may be worth it to pay the additional fee, especially if you can still out earn the surcharge. For example, if you're getting 5% cashback and the surcharge is only 3%, you'll still come out ahead. However, if the surcharge is 3% and your credit card pays 2% rewards, it's not worth it. And using a credit card that doesn't pay rewards at all means that you're the one absorbing credit card costs.

Surcharges can only be applied to credit cards, so carrying your debit or a prepaid card with you as backup is a smart move. You can opt to use your backup payment method anytime you're not willing to pay the surcharge. Some businesses even offer a cash discount rather than directly imposing a surcharge.

As you're weighing your options, don't forget about the other perks of using a credit card . Benefits like extended warranty, purchase protection, and zero fraud liability may justify using your credit card and just dealing with the fee. While we may be nostalgic for the days of straightforward pricing with our purchases, surcharges may become part of the new normal.

About myFICO

myFICO makes it easy to understand your credit with FICO Scores, credit reports and alerts from all 3 bureaus. myFICO is the consumer division of FICO get your FICO Scores from the people that make the FICO Scores. For more information, visit https://www.myfico.com.

SOURCE myFICO

Related Links

https://www.myfico.com


ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Most travelers who had trips impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic weren't forced to cancel their trips due to contracting the virus, according to travel insurance comparison site, Squaremouth .

Less than 30% of the Covid-related claims the company saw were due to travelers contracting the virus.

The other 70% were from travelers unable to reach their destination, or leave their residence, due to other factors related to the pandemic, including border closures, quarantine requirements, and canceled flights and cruises.

Despite the widespread vaccine rollout, these types of travel interruptions are still happening.

Squaremouth reports hearing from travelers who are still facing lasting impacts of the pandemic, including flight changes and cancellations, rental car shortages, and vaccine and Covid testing requirements.

Furthermore, new variants of the coronavirus mean the travel industry is not out of the woods yet. The uncertainty around the effectiveness of vaccines on these strands may cause borders to remain closed, and destinations to continue to enforce restrictions, like negative test results and enforced quarantines at the destination.

"The Covid-19 pandemic proved the vulnerability of the travel industry, and it hasn't recovered yet," says Squaremouth CMO, Megan Moncrief, "We are still hearing from travelers whose trips are impacted."

For the types of impacts travelers have been facing throughout the pandemic, Squaremouth recommends a Cancel For Any Reason insurance policy. While the company is typically slow to recommend this upgrade, it provides travelers with the biggest blanket of coverage, including the Covid-related impacts travelers face today.

Travelers can search the large portfolio of travel insurance products that offer coverage related to the Covid-19 pandemic, including cancellation and emergency medical benefits for contracting the virus, and Cancel For Any Reason coverage on squaremouth.com here .

Data on travel trends since the vaccine rollout: https://www.squaremouth.com/press-room/covid-19-vaccine-changing-traveler-behavior

Helpful guide for travelers looking for a travel insurance policy for Covid-19 coverage: https://www.squaremouth.com/press-room/travel-insurance-coronavirus

About Squaremouth: Squaremouth compares travel insurance policies from every major travel insurance provider in the United States. Using Squaremouth's comparison engine and third-party customer reviews, travelers can research and compare travel insurance policies side-by-side. More information can be found at www.squaremouth.com .

Available Topic Expert: Megan Moncrief, Squaremouth CMO, is available for comment. [email protected]

SOURCE Squaremouth

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DUBLIN, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Sperm Bank Market by Donor Type and Service Type: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global sperm bank market size was valued at $4,741.51 million in 2019, and is projected to reach $4,860.39 million by 2027, registering a CAGR of 5.2% from 2020 to 2027.



Sperm bank (cryo-bank or semen-bank) is a specialized repository that purchases and stores the sperms under scientifically controlled conditions to keep them viable for a longer period of time. These stored sperms are sold to clinics and hospitals across the globe for artificial insemination, which involves introduction of the sperm directly into the female's uterine cavity to fertilize the egg for the purpose of achieving pregnancy. Thus, sperms donated at the sperm banks help achieve pregnancy similar to the pregnancy achieved by sexual inter-courses. However, sperm donors generally must fulfill specific requirement regarding age and medical history to donate their sperm. Likewise, numerous countries have laid down different rules and regulations for sperm bank donors. Therefore, favorable and supportive criteria's for sperm donation is anticipated to have a positive impact on the growth of the sperm bank market over the next few years.



One of the major factors driving the growth of the sperm bank market include upsurge in the incidences of infertility among both males and females within the population globally. For instance, according to a report published by the World Health Organization (WHO), one in every four couples in developing countries are affected by infertility. Poor sperm fertility & motility, lower sperm count, and abnormally shaped sperm are some of the few concerns related to infertility in males. As a result, demand for various infertility and artificial insemination techniques such as In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and donor insemination are expected to rise, ultimately driving the market growth.



In addition, favorable government initiatives related to reproductive assistance services, such as IVF, artificial insemination & surrogacy, and rise in access & adoption of infertility treatments using donor sperms are further expected to boost the growth of the market. Similarly, innovation in cryopreservation techniques, advancements in surgical technology, higher rates of miscarriages, overall augmenting investments in healthcare facilities, and increase in acceptance of LGBTQ community are some of the other factors predicted to impel the market growth in near future. On the contrary, higher costs associated with infertility treatment coupled with lesser success rate of achieving pregnancy are anticipated to obstruct the growth of the sperm bank market during the analysis period. Conversely, surge in technological innovation and advancements with respect to improvisation of infertility treatments such as in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and intrauterine insemination (IUI) is likely to provide growth opportunities for the key market players operating in the sperm bank industry.



The sperm bank market is segmented on the basis of donor type, services type, and region. By donor type, the market is bifurcated into known donor and anonymous donor. By services type, the sperm bank market is categorized into sperm storage, semen analysis, and genetic consultation. By region, the market is analyzed across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA. The key market players profiled in the report include Androcryos, Babyquest Cryobank, California Cryobank, Cryos International, European Sperm Bank, Fairfax Cryobank, New England Cryogenic Center, Nordic Cryobank Group, Xytex Sperm Bank, and Indian Spermtech.



Key Benefits

This report provides a detailed quantitative analysis of the current market trends and future estimations from 2020 to 2027, which assists in identifying the prevailing market opportunities.

An in-depth analysis of various regions is expected to provide a detailed understanding of the current trends to the stakeholders to formulate region-specific plans.

Comprehensive analysis of the factors that drive and restrain the growth of the sperm bank market are provided.

Key regulatory guidelines for the sperm bank market are critically dealt with according to region.

A deep dive analysis of various regions provides insights that will allow companies to strategically plan their business moves.

Key Topics Covered:



CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER 2: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

2.1. Key findings of the study

2.2. CXO perspective



CHAPTER 3: MARKET OVERVIEW

3.1. Market definition and scope

3.2. Key findings

3.2.1. Top investment pockets

3.2.2. Top winning strategies

3.3. Porter's five force analysis

3.4. Top player positioning

3.5. Market dynamics

3.5.1. Drivers

3.5.1.1. Increase in incidences of male and female infertility

3.5.1.2. Government initiative to support sperm banks

3.5.1.3. Surge in acceptance of sperm bank across the globe

3.5.2. Restraint

3.5.2.1. High cost and low success rate of treatment

3.5.3. Opportunity

3.5.3.1. Technological advancement and development in sperm bank industry

3.6. Covid-19 Impact analysis on sperm bank market



CHAPTER 4: SPERM BANK MARKET, BY SERVICE TYPE

4.1. Overview

4.1.1. Market size and forecast

4.2. Sperm storage

4.2.1. Key market trends, growth factors, and opportunities

4.2.2. Market size and forecast, by region

4.2.3. Market analysis, by country

4.3. Semen analysis

4.3.1. Key market trends, growth factors, and opportunities

4.3.2. Market size and forecast

4.3.3. Market analysis, by country

4.4. Genetic consultation

4.4.1. Key market trends, growth factors, and opportunities

4.4.2. Market size and forecast

4.4.3. Market analysis, by country



CHAPTER 5: SPERM BANK MARKET, BY DONOR TYPE

5.1. Overview

5.1.1. Market size and forecast

5.2. Known donor

5.2.1. Key market trends, growth factors, and opportunities

5.2.2. Market size and forecast, by region

5.2.3. Market analysis, by country

5.3. Anonymous donor

5.3.1. Key market trends, growth factors, and opportunities

5.3.2. Market size and forecast, by region

5.3.3. Market analysis, by country



CHAPTER 6: SPERM BANK MARKET, BY REGION



CHAPTER 7: COMPANY PROFILES

7.1. ANDROCRYOS , INC.

7.1.1. Company overview

7.1.2. Company snapshot

7.1.3. Operating business segments

7.1.4. Product/Service portfolio

7.1.5. Key strategic moves and developments

7.2. BABYQUEST CRYOBANK, INC.

7.2.1. Company overview

7.2.2. Company snapshot

7.2.3. Operating business segments

7.2.4. Service portfolio

7.3. CALIFORNIA CRYOBANK

7.3.1. Company overview

7.3.2. Company snapshot

7.3.3. Operating business segments

7.3.4. Service portfolio

7.3.5. Key strategic moves and developments

7.4. CRYOS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

7.4.1. Company overview

7.4.2. Company snapshot

7.4.3. Operating business segments

7.4.4. Service portfolio

7.4.5. Key strategic moves and developments

7.5. EUROPEAN SPERM BANK, INC.

7.5.1. Company overview

7.5.2. Company snapshot

7.5.3. Operating business segments

7.5.4. Service portfolio

7.5.5. Key strategic moves and developments

7.6. FAIRFAX CRYOBANK, INC.

7.6.1. Company overview

7.6.2. Company snapshot

7.6.3. Operating business segments

7.6.4. Service portfolio

7.7. INDIAN SPERMTECH

7.7.1. Company overview

7.7.2. Company snapshot

7.7.3. Operating business segments

7.7.4. Service portfolio

7.8. NEW ENGLAND CRYOGENIC CENTER, INC.

7.8.1. Company overview

7.8.2. Company snapshot

7.8.3. Operating business segments

7.8.4. Service portfolio

7.9. NORDIC CRYOBANK GROUP, INC.

7.9.1. Company overview

7.9.2. Company snapshot

7.9.3. Operating business segments

7.9.4. Service portfolio

7.10. XYTEX SPERM BANK, INC.

7.10.1. Company overview

7.10.2. Company snapshot

7.10.3. Operating business segments

7.10.4. Service portfolio

7.10.5. Key strategic moves and developments



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/903txq

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

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KISSIMMEE, Fla., June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Give Kids The World (GKTW) has announced the appointment of five young community leaders to its newly-established national Youth Council. Alyssa Pietruszka (Hartland, WI), Robert Flaschner (Jackson Hole, WY), Ryan Elliott (Seal Beach, CA), Grace Callwood (Harford County, MD) and Elizabeth Charney (Chapel Hill, NC) were selected based on their leadership experience and passion for philanthropy. The announcement was made by Give Kids The World President & CEO Pam Landwirth.

Give Kids The World Village (GKTW) in Kissimmee, FL, has announced the appointment of five young leaders to its national Youth Council. They include Grace Callwood (Harford County, MD); Elisabeth Charney (Chapel Hill, NC); Ryan Elliott (Seal Beach, CA); Robert Flaschner (Jackson Hole, Wyoming); and Allysa Pietruszka (Hartland, WI.) GKTW is an 89-acre, whimsical nonprofit resort that provides critically ill children and their families with magical weeklong wish vacations at no cost. gktw.org Give Kids The World Village has announced the appointment of five young leaders to its national Youth Council. Founding members include Grace Callwood; Elisabeth Charney; Ryan Elliott; Robert Flaschner; and Alyssa Pietruszka. Give Kids The World is an 89-acre storybook resort in Central Florida that provides critically ill children and their families with magical weeklong wish vacations at no cost. Youth Council members will serve as catalysts for local fundraising and awareness. www.gktw.org

"All of these talented individuals have demonstrated remarkable servant leadership in their communities, and we are thrilled to have them join the Give Kids The World Youth Council as founding members," said Landwirth. "Their passion and enthusiasm will be invaluable in engaging young leaders nationwide to support our mission of creating the happiness that inspires hope for critically ill children and their families."

GKTW Village is an 89-acre, whimsical nonprofit resort in Kissimmee, FL, that provides critically ill children and their families with magical weeklong wish vacations at no cost. Tragically, 27,000 children in the U.S. are diagnosed with a critical illness each year, and half of those eligible for a wish choose to visit Central Florida. GKTW is the nonprofit that fulfills these wishes, providing every child and his/her family with an all-inclusive dream vacation. Since 1986, GKTW has spread happiness and hope to more than 176,000 families from all 50 states and 76 countries.

Alyssa Pietruszka, 23, experienced the magic of GKTW in 2001. Diagnosed with a stage three Wilms tumor at the age of three, Pietruszka arrived at the Village as a hospice patient  but her visit changed everything. Upon returning home to Wisconsin, a CT scan revealed that her tumor had shrunk; and against all odds, a few months later, she was declared cancer-free. Since then, Pietruszka has traveled the country as a GKTW Ambassador and devoted time volunteering at the Village. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater with a degree in Marketing and Communications, she currently works as a marketing coordinator for Fresh Midwest. Her many philanthropic activities including serving as a crew captain with Love Your Melon; conducted fundraising for nonprofits including the Ronald McDonald House; and volunteering on behalf of Camp One Step for children battling cancer.

Robert Flaschner, 24, has been giving back and helping to change lives from an early age  including volunteering at GKTW for more than 14 years. Among his many charitable activities, Flaschner served as philanthropy chair for Sigma Nu Fraternity and as a Clemson LIFE mentor for students with disabilities at Clemson University, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Management. He has also volunteered on behalf of nonprofits including K9s For Warriors, the PGA TOUR's Birdies for the Brave military outreach program, the Greenville Chamber Foundation and Operation Shower. A graduate of the Disney College Co-Op program, Flaschner is currently the resort assistant manager at the Four Seasons Resort & Residence in Jackson Hole, WY.

Ryan Elliott, 20, is a junior at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he is majoring in biopsychology and minoring in clinical counseling  with a goal of pursuing a career in pediatric oncology. He serves as vice president of Sigma Chi Fraternity at UCSB, and is the recipient of the Huntsman Cancer Foundation Horizons Leadership Scholarship. Elliott is also past president and founding Board member of the nonprofit National League of Young Men South Coast Chapter. He has volunteered on behalf of nonprofits including the Long Beach Rescue Mission, Ronald McDonald House Children's Charities, Second Harvest Food Bank, St. Baldrick's Foundation and Samaritan's Purse.

Grace Callwood, 16, enjoyed a life-changing visit to Give Kids The World in 2013 during her treatment for stage IV cancer. Shortly after her diagnosis at the age of seven, Callwood founded the nonprofit We Cancerve Movement, Inc., to bring happiness to homeless, sick and foster youth. Since then, she has recruited more than 10,000 young people to volunteer more than 25,000 hours for nonprofits that serve vulnerable children including Ronald McDonald House Children's Charities, Casey Cares Foundation and GKTW. Callwood is the 2019 World of Children honoree, a 2019 CNN Heroes Young Wonder, and a 2020 Hormel Foods 10 Under 20 Food Hero. She is a sophomore honors student enrolled in the Global Studies International Baccalaureate program at Edgewood High School, with plans to study international law.

Elisabeth Charney, 17, is a senior at Chapel Hill High School, and will begin her freshman year at the University of Wisconsin, Madison in the fall  with plans to study journalism. Charney is a student government senator and a member of the Tigerlink student leadership group, and has volunteered her time as a camp counselor at Camp Robin Hood in New Hampshire  where she was involved with the Camp Robin Hood Gives Back program. She is also the founder and president of the Give Kids The World Club at Chapel Hill High School.

Members of the Give Kids The World Youth Council will assist the nonprofit in creating alumni wish family reunions across the U.S.; serve as catalysts for local fundraising; and help communicate the Village's mission on social media and during community events.

For the 15th consecutive year, Give Kids The World Village has been honored with Charity Navigator's prestigious 4-star rating  the highest rating bestowed upon a nonprofit. Less than 1% of all nonprofits in the U.S. have received at least 15 consecutive 4-star evaluations.

For more information, visit www.gktw.org.

CONTACT: Cindy Elliott

[email protected]

(562) 896-1177

SOURCE Give Kids The World

Related Links

http://www.gktw.org


Securities will remain halted until Thursday, June 17, or when an announcement is released to the market.

( ) (FRA:N9F) has been granted a trading halt by the ASX pending an announcement regarding a development partner for the companys Goulamina Lithium Project in the Bougouni Region of southern Mali.

The halt will remain in place until the beginning of regular trade on Thursday, June 17, or when an announcement is released to the market, whichever occurs earliest.

Plans to demerge Goulamina

Firefinch plans to demerge Goulamina into a separate ASX-listed entity.

In the March quarter, its focus was largely on supporting the Macquarie Capital (Australia) Limited-led process to identify funding and partnership opportunities.

The process is well underway with numerous parties engaging in a review of the Project data room.

The company is hopeful of being in a position to announce a definitive outcome to the Macquarie-led process during the June quarter.

The move will allow Firefinch to focus fully on the Morila Gold Mine, also in Mali.
Coal may become a diplomatic and global flashpoint in years to come

Handy for the UK that it destroyed its own coal industry in the 1980s and has a significant offshore wind resources already up and running. In that context its easier for Boris Johnson to sign up to ambitious climate change targets than it is for, say Germany, which still generates significant amounts of its power from coal and which still mines significant quantities of the stuff in its eastern regions.

The US too has been putting the squeeze on coal for years, and even President Trumps pro-mining and pro-coal initiatives have done little to arrest the decline of a once-mighty industry.

In the west, although climate change protestors might lament the slow pace of change, there is at least an acknowledgement that the problem is real and a certain amount of momentum in tackling it.

But for all the talk of targets for the end of sales of gasoline-powered cars, it remains nevertheless the case that on the current trajectory were going to end up with much cleaner air in a world thats still relentlessly heating up.

Why?

Because all the climate change initiatives in the world wont make sense unless China is also signed up to them.

If an environmental campaigning group heralds as a major victory the cancellation of a new coal-fired power plant inside the G7, they should also know that Chinas building plans for new coal-fired power plants continue unabashed, and also that China finances most of the new coal-fired plants that are being built globally anyway.

In a sense, then, its an easy win for the G7. They can virtue signal on coal all they want, safe in the knowledge that for real change to happen, its China that must take the pain.

But to the degree that such things are possible amongst such disparate nations, there may be a longer term plan here. The G7 struck a broadly anti-China tone this year, and if it can line up against coal its conceivable it might be willing to line up against coal in China too. Or put it another way, if the world wants China to act on coal, it first has to get its own house in order. That process appears to be underway under the umbrella of a broad international consensus.

Yes, countries like China and India remain outliers in terms of coal-fired power, but they are also more susceptible to US influence. China wont mind being isolated per se. The country has regained enough of its self-confidence to brush that aside.

But if the G7 and their allies are united against climate change, the charge will start to be levelled that any climate change that is ongoing is Chinas fault. The wider world, dragging its own hesitant media behind it, has already effectively laid the blame for coronavirus at Chinas door  a PR disaster that will take several decades to unravel.

How much worse would it be if charges of climate recklessness and climate catastrophe could be laide directly at Chinas door?

Such a scenario will certainly help western governments sleep more easily at night. Whether its enough to get the Chinese to go much beyond President Xi Jinpings vague claims about 2060 is another matter.
New Delhi, June 15 : The Indian authorities have described fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi, who is wanted in India in the Rs 13,500 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case as an Indian citizen in its affidavit filed in Dominican High Court, saying that his application for renunciation of citizenship was "rejected".

And noted that he is therefore erroneously claiming renunciation of citizenship under the Citizenship Act, 1955.

The 14-page affidavit filed on June 8 said "the Indian citizenship of Mr MC (Mehul Choksi) has still not ceased as on date and therefore, his claim of renunciation of Indian citizenship is contrary to the laws in India as is completely erroneous", adding, "the claim of Choksi being bogus, this Honourable court may kindly reject the said erroneous claim at the threshold".

It further pointed out that Choksi had submitted his Indian passport to Indian High Commission in Georgetown, Guyana, for renouncing his Indian citizenship on December 14, 2018.

"Under Section 8 of the Indian citizenship act, 1955 the declaration of renunciation should be registered and only then a person shall cease to be a citizen of India. Read with Rule 38 of the act, the declaration of registration has to be made to India's Ministry of Home Affairs through the Indian mission," it said.

The affidavit further stated that while Choksi did submit his passport, the Indian Home Ministry on January 29, 2019 "found deficiencies in the declaration" and also "noted that Choksi was an economic fugitive offender" advising Indian mission in Guyana to "consider the rejection of his declaration of renunciation".

The affidavit also pointed out that the Ministry of External Affairs had also in a letter dated October 15, 2019, confirmed that his application of renunciation stood rejected by the Indian High Commission in Guyana and had communicated him on March 15, 2019.

The affidavit stated, "no entries regarding the application for surrender of Indian nationality were made in the consular register of the mission". This was further confirmed by the MHA in its official memorandum on May 31, 2021.

It said that Choksi's Indian Passport, number--Z3396732 was issued on September 10, 2015 from Mumbai. He acquired his Antigua and Barbuda nationality on November 16, 2017 with passport number B007713.

The affidavit also said that "concerned authorities may be directed to immediately transfer/deport/handover Choksi to the Indian authorities".

It also said that India has already raised the issue of cancellation of citizenship of Choksi granted by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda on the grounds that citizenship was fraudulently obtained by Choksi.

The affidavit was filed by consular officer at the High Commission of India to the Commonwealth of Dominica.

It said Choksi is wanted by Indian law enforcement agencies for investigation of the crime committed by him in India.

The Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) are probing the PNB bank fraud case against Choksi and his nephew Nirav Modi.

Choksi went missing from Antigua and Barbuda on May 23, sparking a massive manhunt. He was captured in Dominica on May 26, and faces charges of illegal entry.

He had taken the citizenship of Antigua in 2017 and left India on January 4, 2018 days before the case came to light.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Beirut, June 15 : Lebanese President Michel Aoun said that his country hopes to continue indirect US-mediated negotiations with Israel on maritime border demarcation.

Aoun made the remarks on Monday during his meeting here with John Desrocher, head of the US delegation mediating in the indirect border talks between Lebanon and Israel, reports Xinhua news agency.

He urged Desrocher to push for fair and impartial talks, noting that the formation of a new Israeli government may cause further delay in the negotiations.

The negotiations between Lebanon and Israel had been over maritime border demarcation in a disputed area of about 860 square km.

The Lebanese government recently signed a document that will formally lay claim to an additional 1,430 square km on top of the Exclusive Economic Zone in disputed waters in the Mediterranean.

Indirect negotiations between Lebanon and Israel to demarcate the maritime borders kicked off on October 14, 2020, but they were later suspended.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Jakarta, June 15 : The Indonesian government has extended its micro-scale restrictions for another 14 days to June 28 to prevent the further spread of Covid-19, according to a senior minister.

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said on Monday that offices located in the red zone are only allowed to accommodate a maximum of 25 per cent of employees, while the rest should work from home, reports Xinhua news agency.

The risk of Covid-19 transmission in different parts of the country were tagged red, orange, yellow and green colours, in which the red zone refers to an area with a high risk, and the green zone means being free of new cases.

"Offices in the orange or yellow zones are allowed to be occupied by a maximum of 50 percent of employees," added Hartarto, who also heads the Covid-19 Handling and National Economic Recovery Committee.

The operation of shopping centres and restaurants is only allowed until 9 p.m. with a maximum of 50 per cent of visitors under strict health protocols.

Schools in the red zone are not allowed to hold face-to-face classes, and all students should take classes online.

The government also asked people in the red zone to worship at home for the next two weeks.

The Covid-19 cases in Indonesia rose by 8,189 within one day to 1,919,547, with the death toll increasing by 237 to 53,116, the Health Ministry said.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Tel Aviv, June 15 : Israel's first government in 12 years without the country's longest-serving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has started work.

The country's new prime minister Naftali Bennett and his predecessor Netanyahu met on Monday afternoon for a transition meeting, Xinhua news agency.

The formal handover ceremony that accompanies a change of Prime Ministers was not held.

David Bitan, a lawmaker with Netanyahu's Likud party, told state-owned Kan news TV that Netanyahu would not hold the ceremony because he feels "cheated" by the establishment of the new government and "doesn't want to give even the slightest legitimacy to this matter".

Bennett, a nationalist and leader of the pro-settler Yamina party, and Yair Lapid, a centrist and leader of the Yesh Atid party, were sworn in on Sunday after Parliament narrowly approved their new coalition government.

Under a coalition agreement, Bennett and Lapid will rotate as Prime Ministers.

Bennett, also a former Defence Minister, will serve as Prime Minister for the first two-year term and Lapid as alternate Prime Minister and Foreign Minister before rotating for the latter two-year term.

On Monday morning, President Reuven Rivlin hosted Bennett, Lapid and the ministers at his official residence in Jerusalem for the official photo of the new government.

Later, the government's 28 ministers entered their offices and handover ceremonies were held.

The establishment of the eight-party coalition government ousted Netanyahu, the longest-serving leader who is facing a criminal trial over corruption charges.

It also ended a lingering political crisis that has seen four rounds of elections in two years.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Mumbai, June 15 : A retired Assistant Sub-Inspector of Navi Mumbai Police was arrested early Tuesday on charges of allegedly shooting two of his sons, of whom one has succumbed, officials said here.

The incident happened on Monday evening at their Airoli home, where the accused -- retired ASI Bhagwan Patil, 73, lives with his oldest son and other family members.

On Monday, he had invited his two other sons Vijay, 33, living in Vasai in Palghar and and Sujay, 31, living nearby in Navi Mumbai, to discuss certain family issues.

Just then, during some argument, the retired policeman whipped out his licensed revolver and fired at least three rounds at his sons.

While Vijay took 2 bullets one each in his abdomen and shoulder, one grazed past Sujay, even as the incident created a sensation in the area.

Vijay was rushed to Indravati Hospital in a critical condition where he succumbed late last night during treatment.

The Navi Mumbai Police, which had detained the accused and confiscated the weapon, on Tuesday arrested Patil and invoked charges of murder, attempt to murder under Indian Penal Code, besides the Arms Act, etc.
Aden, June 15 : The bodies of scores of migrants were recovered after their boat capsized off the waters of Yemen, a government official said.

"The boat that was carrying nearly 200 migrants on board capsized two days ago, leaving scores of bodies floating off the waters of Ras al-Ara area in the southern province of Lahj," the official told Xinhua news agency on Monday.

He confirmed that most of the migrants came from the Horn of Africa and died as a result of the accident.

Local Yemeni authorities, including the coast guards troops, are still working to retrieve more bodies, according to the official.

The region has recorded several tragic accidents as a result of overturning of overloaded smuggling boats.

In most of the cases, desperate East African migrants attempted to cross the dangerous route to reach the Middle East, mainly Saudi Arabia, via war-torn Yemen.

According to the International Organization for Migration, 5,100 immigrants have arrived in Yemen so far this year, compared to 35,000 in 2020 and 127,000 in 2019 before the coronavirus outbreak that reduced the demand for labour in Gulf states.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Copenhagen, June 15 : Denmark has started to phase out the requirement to wear face masks in all public areas before lifting it entirely by September 1.

As of Monday, the wearing of face masks is mandatory on public transport only during rush hours, reports Xinhua news agency.

Customers in shops and supermarkets, and those visiting hairdressers or nail salons, are exempt from the face mask rule.

"The vast majority of people at increased risk have been fully vaccinated, and this also applies to a large part of the rest of the population and employees in the health care system," said Helene Probst, deputy director of the Danish Health Authority, in a statement.

The relaxation came after a new agreement was reached by the political parties in the Danish Parliament on June 10.

Accompanying the agreement, the Danish Health Authority has published a new set of guidelines that detail where face masks are now required, specifically "where there exists a perceived increased risk of infection".

Therefore, face masks will remain mandatory in hospitals, doctors' waiting rooms, coronavirus test sites, vaccination centres and on flights in and out of Denmark.

The Statens Serum Institut (SSI), the country's infectious diseases agency, registered 237 new Covid-19 infections in the past 24 hours, the lowest number since last September, bringing the overall caseload to 290,111.

The death toll stands at 2,526.

To date, 2,725,559 people, or 46.6 per cent of the population, have received at least a first shot of a coronavirus vaccine, and 1,501,788 of them, or 25.7 per cent of the population, are fully vaccinated, the SSI reported on Monday.
Chennai, June 15 : Even as the fishing ban in Tamil Nadu ended on Monday midnight, less fishing boats are likely to venture into the sea for deep-sea fishing. Around 1,200 fishing boats are attached to the Kasimedu fishing harbour and only about 350 of these are likely to venture into the sea on Tuesday.

Officials with the fishing harbour said that most of the fishing boats require maintenance and repair and hence these cannot go into to sea. Most of the boats will complete the maintenance work and take to the sea in a fortnight, officials said.

Another issue faced by the fishing harbour and fishermen is that there is no money for maintenance as most of the fishermen have not been working since lockdown commenced.

Most of the fishermen who frequent Kasimedu market are from Andhra Pradesh and Odisha and a large number of these fishermen have left for their home states following lockdown and lack of jobs.

At present the wholesale fish stalls of the Kasimedu market are functioning and with the lockdown getting lifted the retail market will also be opened as the fishermen community is expecting a government announcement on the opening of the retail market soon.

Rajesh Thomas, a software engineer with an MNC while speaking to IANS said, "We were regulars at the Kasimedu market where most of the Chennai populace go to purchase fish. However, the market was shut down and fish was a rarity and we expect things to be normal, maybe in a week's time." The market will be abuzz once the number of fishing boats ventures into the sea increases and even if a boat goes into the deep sea, it will return back in more than a week's time and only then the market will normalize.
Tel Aviv, June 15 : Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to topple the new eight-party diverse coalition government which brought an end to his stint as the longest-serving premier of the country.

Netanyahu made the remark during a meeting on Monday, which he convened for the first time as the new leader of the opposition following his ouster a day earlier, reports Xinhua news agency.

The "deceit government will soon be toppled", Netanyahu said, referring to a government by his opponents, nationalist Naftali Bennett and centrist Yair Lapid, which was sworn in on Sunday.

He urged lawmakers with his allied parties to show cohesion and "iron discipline" to paralyse the coalition in the parliament, saying ending the rule of the new government will "bring redemption to the people and the State of Israel".

Lawmakers with the Likud, Netanyahu's right-wing party, heckled Bennett when he addressed Parliament on Sunday to present his new government.

They shouted insults and interrupted almost every sentence he said.

Bennett, leader of the pro-settler Yamina party and Netanyahu's former chief of staff, and Lapid, leader of the Yesh Atid party and former finance minister, were sworn in after the parliament narrowly approved their new coalition government.

Under a coalition agreement, Bennett, 49, and Lapid, 57, will rotate as Prime Ministers.

Bennett will serve as Prime Minister for a first term of two years while Lapid will serve as alternate premier and Foreign Minister.

They will then rotate for the latter two-year term.

The establishment of the eight-party coalition government ended Netanyahu's record 12-year-long rule.

He is facing a criminal trial over corruption charges.

It also ended a lingering political crisis that has seen four rounds of elections in two years.
Brussels, June 15 : The European Union Digital Covid Certificate (EUDCC) was officially signed here, after the three EU institutions worked hand-in-hand for the health pass to be ready on time for the summer holidays.

President of the European Parliament David Sassoli, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, and Prime Minister of Portugal Antonio Costa representing the Council of the EU, appended their signatures on the document on Monday, reports Xinhua news agency.

"Now we can travel in a safe way. Safe for ourselves, for those who host us, and for our families, neighbours and colleagues when we come back," said Costa.

"With the success of our European vaccination campaign and this new EU certificate, we can all look forward to the summer. To travel safely. And we are bringing back the spirit of an open Europe," said von der Leyen.

The EUDCC will enable the bloc's residents to travel safely during summer within the borders, without additional restrictions.

Travel restrictions may be applied if deemed necessary, for example in the case of a variant of concern, but must be proportionate.

However, the EUDCC will not be a prerequisite to travel within the Schengen area, and will not be considered a travel document.

The health pass will be proof that the holder has either been vaccinated, passed a negative Covid-19 test, or has recovered from the disease.

It will be either digital or can be printed on paper.

It will be available to all EU residents as of July 1, although some countries have already started using it.

A gateway has been put in place for countries to verify the validity of the EUDCC.

Four non-EU countries, namely, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Iceland, and Norway, are also connected to the gateway.

The idea of the certificate was proposed in March by the European Commission.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Srinagar, June 15 : The Indian Army on Tuesday paid glowing tributes to its fallen soldiers at Galwan Valley on the first anniversary of their martyrdom while fighting the Chinese at the Line of Actual Control on June 15, 2020.

Army's Fire and Fury Corps paid homage to the martyrs of Galwan. In the face of unprecedented Chinese aggression, the 20 Indian soldiers laid down their lives defending Indian land and inflicted heavy casualties on the PLA.

In a solemn ceremony, Major General Akash Kaushik, COS, Fire and Fury Corps, laid a wreath at the iconic War Memorial in Leh on the occasion.

"The nation will remain eternally grateful to these gallant soldiers who fought in the most difficult high altitude terrain and made the supreme sacrifice in service of the nation," army said.
New Delhi, June 15 : The trial of the fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi, who is wanted in India in the Rs 13,500 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case has been adjourned to June 25 due to decline in his health condition, local media reported.

The trial was expected to begin in the Roseau Magistrate court on Monday, Dominica News Online, a news outlet in Caribbean island said.

At the hearing, two of Dominica's top criminal attorneys were added to Choksi's legal team for this matter. Zena Moore-Dyer and her daughter Gina Dyer-Munro have joined Julien Prevost, Wayne Norde and Cara Shillingford-Marsh.

The defence attorneys presented to the court a medical document which stated that Choksi is incapacitated and as a result, he was unable to attend the proceeding, it said.

It further said that the prosecution team also saw the addition of Harpreet Singh Giani, an Indian-born lawyer based in London, who said he appears as a consultant to the prosecution on the matter.

The States case is led by the acting Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Sherma Dalrymple, with assistance from attorney-at-law Lennox Lawrence, Jodie Luke and Heather Felix Evans.

On June 2, the 62-year-old diamantaire pleaded not guilty to illegal entry in Dominica.

According to the charges of the police, Choksi entered Dominica illegally on May 24, 2021, at Toucari Beach. However his attorneys alleged that he was kidnapped, beaten and unwillingly brought to Dominica from Antigua.

Choksi is remanded in police custody at the Dominica China Friendship Hospital (DCFH) where he has been a patient since May 29, 2021.

On June 11, a high court judge denied bail to the alleged fugitive on the basis that he is a "flight risk." Choksi had gone missing on May 23 from Antigua sparking a massive manhunt. He was reportedly captured in Dominica.

On June 8, the Indian authorities described Choksi as an Indian citizen in its affidavit filed in Dominican High Court, saying that his application for renunciation of citizenship was "rejected".

It also noted that he is therefore erroneously claiming renunciation of citizenship under the Citizenship Act, 1955.

He had taken the citizenship of Antigua in 2017 and left India on January 4, 2018 days before the bank loan fraud case came to light.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Lucknow, June 15 : In a major damage control exercise, all ministers in the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh have been asked to reach out to people ahead of the 2022 assembly elections in the state.

The ministers have been asked to camp in development blocks in districts under their charge in June and July 2021, connect with party workers at the grassroots level, obtain feedback about government schemes, attend International Yoga Day programmes there on June 21 and join the booth level workers in listening to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Maan Ki Baat" programme at booths on June 27.

The directives were communicated to them at a meeting of the council of ministers, chaired by Yogi Adityanath.

UP BJP president Swatantra Dev Singh, who was present at the meeting, briefed the ministers about the details of the outreach programme.

The ministers have also been asked to review the preparations for the speculated third wave and visit the families of those who may have died of Covid-19. He said ministers would take feedback whether the government relief had reached them.

The exercise is also being seen as a move to muster support for the BJP in the upcoming zila panchayat elections.

According to UP minister Siddhartha Nath Singh, "Minister in charges will camp at the blocks in districts under their charge in June and July 2021. The ministers will try to cover most of the blocks in the districts under their charge and will cover about two blocks every day. The ministers will visit ration shops, PHCs (primary health centres), CHCs (community health centres) and hospitals, attend plantation drives, along with making spot visits, and reviewing implementation of development schemes." Singh said ministers have been asked to hold organisational meetings in smaller groups, keeping in view the Covid protocol. He said there would also be programmes, especially plantation drives from June 23 to July 6.

During the meeting, minister for medical education Suresh Khanna and minister for health Jai Pratap Singh made a presentation on the state government's Covid management.

Animal husbandry minister Chaudhary Laxmi Narain spoke about the arrangements made at the cow shelters in the state.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Chennai, June 15 : The Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) has sold liquor worth Rs 164 crore in the state in just one day.

All liquor outlets and bars opened in the state on Monday.

According to reports from the TASMAC, Madurai zone accounted for the maximum sales of Rs 49.54 crore followed by Chennai region with sales worth Rs 42.96 crore, Salem Rs 38.72 crore, and Trichy region accounting for the sale of Rs 33.65 crore worth of liquor.

However there was no sale in the Coimbatore region as the shops are closed in the area following the higher number of Covid-19 cases. Shops in Nilgiris, Erode, Salem, Tiruppur, Karur, Namakkal, Thanjavur, Tiruvavur, Nagapattinam, and Myladuthurai remain closed as the number of cases are high.

Of the 5,338 shops in Tamil Nadu, 2,900 reopened on Monday.

The founder president of Pattali Makkal Katchi(PMK), Dr S. Ramadoss has called upon the state government to rework its policy on liquor and to enforce a total prohibition in the state for the health of the people of the state. He has also said that the claims of Chief Minister Stalin that TASMAC shops were allowed to function following the brewing of illicit liquor in the state as well as to prevent smuggling of liquor from neighbouring states.

Ramadoss has in a statement said, "Stalin should work his way to enforce total prohibition in the state of Tamil Nadu for the sake of the health of the people of the state, both mental and physical."
New Delhi, June 15 : Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information and Technology has asked Twitter to appear before it on June 18 and put its views on prevention of misuse of its platform.

The meeting will be held in Parliament complex where safeguarding of citizens' rights will be discussed in the presence of representatives from Twitter, officials of Ministry of Information and Technology and the committee members that include 31 parliamentarians, both from the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.

"There is special emphasis on women security in digital space," the schedule of the meeting mentions.

In the meeting, the Parliament committee will hear the views of representatives of Twitter followed by evidence of representatives of Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology on the subject 'Safeguarding citizens' rights and prevention of misuse of social or online news media platforms.

The agenda papers for the sitting will be uploaded at Members' e-portal and also e-mailed at sansad.nic mail of the members. Members are requested to attend the sitting as the issue is very sensitive in the backdrop of misuse of social networking sites.

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor is the chairperson of the Information Technology committee, which comprises 31 members including 21 from Lok Sabha and 10 from Rajya Sabha.

Taking congnisance of misuse of social networking sites, the National Commission For Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) on Monday sought a report from Twitter, WhatsApp, Facebook, and Telegram regarding posts on these social networking sites offering illegal adoption of children orphaned amid ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

The apex child rights body has also directed these four social media entities to submit their report within 10 days, and also warned them to take strict action against them if they fail to report about such posts.

In a letter written to these social networking sites, the NCPCR suggested if any person posts any such content, an immediate report should be sent to the commission or law enforcement authorities or state commission with detailed IP address of the user.
New Delhi, June 15 : The Delhi High Court on Tuesday granted bail to Natasha Narwal, Devangana Kalita and Asif Iqbal Tanha, in a Delhi Riots case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

A bench comprising of Justices Siddharth Mridul and Anup J. Bhambhani held that prima facie, no offence under sections 15, 17 or 18 of the UAPA is made-out on the basis of the material on record in the present case against the three.

Granting bail to Narwal, the court said: "we can discern no specific or particularised allegation, much less any material to bear-out the allegation, that the appellant incited violence, what to talk of committing a terrorist act or a conspiracy or act preparatory to the commission of a terrorist act as understood in the UAPA." The court noted that it is constrained to express, that it seems, that in its anxiety to suppress dissent, in the mind of the state, the line between the constitutionally guaranteed right to protest and terrorist activity seems to be getting somewhat blurred. "If this mindset gains traction, it would be a sad day for democracy", said the court.

While granting bail to Tanha, the court said: "Foisting extremely grave and serious penal provisions engrafted in sections 15, 17 and 18 of the UAPA frivolously upon people, would undermine the intent and purpose of the Parliament in enacting a law that is meant to address threats to the very existence of our Nation. Wanton use of serious penal provisions would only trivialise them." The court said bail to three was subject to personal bond of Rs 50,000 and two local sureties. And the conditions also include the three surrendering their passports and not indulging in activities, which could hamper the case.

Tanha is a student pursuing graduation at Jamia Millia Islamia. He was arrested in the Delhi riots case under UAPA in May 2020 and has been in continuous custody since then. Narwal and Kalita are PhD scholars at Jawaharlal Nehru University, who are associated with the Pinjra Tod Collective. They have been in custody since May 2020.

The case pertains to Delhi police investigation into the "larger conspiracy", which led to the riots in February 2020. According to police, the three accused along with other accused persons, conspired to cause disruption, which could lead to disturbance in law and order at an unprecedented scale.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Rome, June 15 : Over half of Italy or about 40 million of the country's 60 million inhabitants are now in the Covid-19 "white zone", meaning that most restrictions in these regions have been lifted following a new ordinance issued by Health Minister Roberto Speranza.

The only remaining Covid-19 regulations are social distancing and wearing mask both indoors and outdoors, reports Xinhua news agency.

In the ordinance issued on June 12, the regions of Emilia-Romagna, Lazio (whose capital is Rome), Lombardy (whose capital is Milan), Piedmont, Puglia and the Autonomous Province di Trento can now join Abruzzo, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Liguria, Molise, Sardinia, Umbria, and the Veneto whose capital is Venice, in the white zone.

According to the latest weekly Covid19 monitoring report issued on June 11 and data from the National Institute of Health (ISS), "the incidence (of viral transmission) continues to drop," from 36 cases per 100,000 inhabitants on May 24-30 to 26 cases between May 31 and June 6.

"No region or autonomous province is above the critical threshold in terms of ICU or hospital bed occupancy," the ordinance stated.

Italy's seven remaining regions are in a yellow or low-risk zone, with some restrictions still in place, including a midnight to 5 a.m. curfew for people who have not been fully vaccinated.

Figures released on Monday by the Ministry of Health showed that there were a total of 907 new infections nationwide and 36 fatalities.

The overall caseload and death toll currently stood at 4,245,779 and 127,038, respectively.

In a bid to contain the second wave of the pandemic, Italy has been using a colour-coded system for Covid-19 situation in different regions in the country since late last year -- white for almost zero risk, yellow for low risk, orange for medium risk, and red for high risk -- with varying restrictions according to the level of virus transmission.

The new ordinance did not specify until when the latest regulations will remain in place.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Maharajganj : June 15 (IANS) His inability to pronounce Urdu words correctly, cost him his marriage.

A man masquerading as a Muslim to marry a girl, was caught and handed over to the police when he failed to pronounce Urdu words correctly during the marriage.

The incident took place in Kolhui police station area in Maharajganj district on Monday.

The accused, who belongs to Siddhartha Nagar, was in a relationship with a girl from the Kolhui area. They met on social media platform.

The girl knew that the boy was not a Muslim but she decided not to reveal the same to her family.

The girl persuaded the boy to marry her according to Muslim customs.

During the marriage, the groom could not pronounce some Urdu words correctly and this made the girl's family suspicious.

When the groom fumbled over Urdu words, the girl's family checked his PAN card and his true identity was revealed.

The bride's family and the villagers caught hold of the accused and his friends while they were trying to flee.

After this, he was handed over to the police.

The marriage has been called off for now.

Inspector in charge, Dilip Shukla said that the groom and the bride were brought to the police station and were being interrogated. The girl has admitted that she was aware of the boy's religion.

He said the further action would be decided later.
Ramallah, June 15 : Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Ishtaye has called on the new Israeli government to end the occupation and recognise the Palestinian people's legitimate rights.

"What is needed from the new Israeli government is to start acting on ending the occupation and settlement in Palestine," Ishtaye said at a meeting of the Palestinian cabinet held in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Monday.

He added that the new Israeli government headed by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett "will have no future if it doesn't recognise the Palestinians' future".

Meanwhile, Ishtaye warned the "serious consequences that would be resulted from the Israeli occupation's authorities to allow the right-wing extremists to participate in the flag march in Jerusalem on Tuesday".

"Organising the flag march in East Jerusalem is a provocation to the Palestinian people and aggression on the city and our holy places," he said, adding that "the international community has to intervene to stop it".

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict in East Jerusalem has been mounting since April, which led to more tension between the two sides in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

On May 10, tit-for-tat violent fighting broke out in the besieged coastal enclave between the two sides.

It ended on May 21 after Egypt brokered a ceasefire.

Official figures said that during the 11 days of fighting, more than 250 Palestinians and 13 Israelis were killed, and hundreds were injured.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Thiruvananthapuram, June 15 : The million dollar question on the lips of those who follow Congress politics in Kerala is -- can Kannur strongman K. Sudhakaran who assumes his office as the new state Congress party president on Wednesday morning, revive the party's fortunes in the state? The Congress party is going through its worst ever crisis period, ever since it was humbled by the Pinarayi Vijayan government in the April 6 assembly polls, when he single handedly retained power, a thing that has not happened in the state, for a long time.

Sudhakaran is presently the Kannur Lok Sabha member and was also a former State Minister in the A.K. Antony cabinet (2001-4) and is one personality which the CPI-M in the state especially in Kannur dread, his bold styled approach, which is uncommon among Congress leaders in the state.

A media critic on condition of anonymity said it's not going to be easy for Sudhakaran, if you look into his predecessors and the way they ran the show.

"All know that Congress politics in Kerala has always been cantered around factions and his immediate two predecessors- V.M. Sudheeran and Mullapally Ramachandran never got the full support of the faction managers -- Oommen Chandy and outgoing Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala and to a large extent, it was the primary reason for them to have an early exit," said the critic.

"But one difference between those two and Sudhakaran is the latter is not a push over personality and that's best known to the CPI-M in Kannur. Even his detractors will admit, had it not been Sudhakaran, the party would have been wiped out in Kannur. So things will unfurl, once Sudhakaran hits the road for reviving the party," added the critic.

Sudhakaran, though not the choice of the Chandy-Chennithala combine, has gone on record to say that he will do nothing on his own and will always take the advice of the two before he makes any major changes to the style and functioning of the party.

Chandy has also said, "now that the party high command has selected Sudhakaran, all will rally behind him and will go forward with him at the helm," said Chandy.

It's just going to be a matter of time for all to see on the strategy of Sudhakaran, as one will be able to see if he downsizes the massive size of the state and district level committees and if he does that, it would be a clear signal to the senior party veterans, that he means business, as all along such committee's hitherto were parking bays for the close aides of the two.

AICC general secretary in charge of Kerala-Tariq Anwar will be present when Sudhakaran assumes office and the former's first task is a one-on-one meeting with the two veterans, who continue to be miffed in the way they were kept in the dark, not just when Sudhakaran was named, but also, when three deputies of the president were chosen arbitrarily by the high command.

The high command perhaps for the first time made its own selection and appointed V.D. Satheesan as Leader of Opposition and then came Sudhakaran's appointment.

There is one more post to be filled and it's that of the UDF convenor and when Anwar winds up his present visit, that post also will be announced and none knows who is going to take over and it could well be another surprise from the high command, to prove that they will not succumb to pulls and pressures and if this happens, then Sudhakaran could well be the winner, as he has been handpicked by the high command.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Amman, June 15 : Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and a top official from the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) discussed preparations for the international conference organised by the Kingdom and Sweden to rally financial and political support for organisation.

During the meeting on Monday, Safadi, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister, and Commissioner-General of the UNRWA Philippe Lazzarini stressed the importance of the conference, which is expected to be held by the end of 2022, Xinhua news agency reported.

The conference aims to adopt effective strategies and plans to ensure the UNRWA's continuous role to provide vital services to Palestinian refugees on health, education and relief, according to a statement by the Foreign Ministry in Amman.

They also highlighted the urgency of the process of reconstruction in the Gaza Strip and meeting its needs.

Lazzarini appreciated Jordan's efforts to rally international support for the UNRWA, emphasising the role the Kingdom plays and its cooperation with the international community to help the Agency bridge the financial deficit it is facing.

According to the UNRWA, more than 2 million registered Palestine refugees live in Jordan.

Most Palestine refugees in Jordan, but not all, have full citizenship.

There are 10 recognised Palestine refugee camps throughout the country, which accommodate nearly 370,000 refugees, or 18 per cent of the country total.

Jordan hosts the largest number of Palestine refugees of all of the UNWRA fields.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Bengaluru, June 15 : Global professional services company Accenture will acquire umlaut, an engineering consulting and services firm headquartered in Aachen, Germany for an undisclosed amount.

The acquisition will scale Accenture's deep engineering capabilities to help companies use digital technologies like cloud, artificial intelligence, and 5G to transform how they design, engineer and manufacture their products as well as embed sustainability.

The acquisition of umlaut will add more than 4,200 industry-leading engineers and consultants across 17 countries to Accenture's Industry X services, and expand the company's capabilities across a range of industries, including automotive, aerospace & defense, telecommunications, energy and utilities, Accenture said in a statement.

Industry X combines Accenture's powerful data and digital capabilities with deep engineering expertise to offer clients the broadest suite of services for digitizing their engineering functions, factory floors and plant operations, improving productivity, speeding up the transformation of hardware into software-enabled products, and allowing for faster and more flexible product development.

"We predicted that digital would ultimately be applied at scale to the core of a company's business - the design, engineering and manufacturing of their products. And, for nearly a decade Accenture has been building the unique capabilities and ecosystem partnerships to combine the power of digital with traditional engineering services," said Julie Sweet, chief executive officer, Accenture.

"COVID-19 has accelerated the need for companies to transform these core operations, and umlaut's leading and highly-specialized engineering services will enhance our ability to meet the accelerating demand and also continue innovating for our clients." Accenture is expanding Industry X at a time when software increasingly determines the market success of platforms, products and services across industries that require intelligence to be embedded. However, in a survey of more than 1,500 industry executives, Accenture research found that only 38 per cent of companies have deployed at least one project to digitize their engineering and manufacturing.

"Bringing world-class digital engineering and manufacturing expertise to our clients helps them rapidly scale, accelerate growth, improve productivity and safety, and embed sustainability across their operations," said Nigel Stacey, global lead of Accenture Industry X.

"From consumers to R&D to the supply chain and factory floor, and back again, companies that use the power of data and digital to build value will become - and remain - relevant, resilient and responsible." The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that most companies' operations and supply chains are far from resilient or flexible enough to respond to crises. Digital technologies can help mitigate disruptions by, for example, enabling a fast switch to operate factories remotely or providing near real-time insights about changing market demands. In addition, companies are increasingly expected to operate more responsibly and contribute to a circular economy through the development of more sustainable products.

Umlaut's capabilities span traditional and digital engineering services; testing and validation of smart connected products; strategy, process and organizational consulting; and hardware product development as well as software development.

"Business leaders across many industries who face the convergence of the digital and the product world are looking for a trusted partner that understands their language and can really help navigate each step of the journey to bring tangible outcomes in engineering and manufacturing," said Marc Peter Althoff, chief technology officer, umlaut.

"We are excited to bring our unique engineering and consulting culture, deep industry know-how and subject matter expertise to Accenture Industry X and jointly create the capabilities and scale to help clients successfully transform." Umlaut will be next in a series of 22 acquisitions Accenture has made since 2017 to build its Industry X capabilities. More recent acquisitions include operations technology provider Electro 80 (Australia), industrial robotics and automation services provider Pollux (Brazil), operations consultancy Myrtle (US) and technology consultancy SALT Solutions (Germany).

Completion of the acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Prayagraj, June 15 : The Allahabad High Court has refused to give the custody of the minor husband to his wife on the ground that the marriage was voidable and allowing so would amount to sanctioning the same between a major and a minor.

As the husband, who is 16 years of age, was not willing to live with his mother, the court also did not give his custody to her either.

The court directed the authorities concerned to arrange for the boy's stay in a state facility like a shelter home till February 4, 2022, till he attains the age of majority.

It clarified that after February 4, 2022, he can stay with whomsoever he likes, including his wife.

Justice J.J. Munir passed the order while allowing the petition filed by the boy's mother, a native of Azamgarh, who had claimed her son's custody.

The petitioner mother pleaded that the minor boy did not have the legal competence to marry the girl and the marriage was void, as per law.

Earlier, the boy was produced before the court on September 18, 2020, in the matter. The court, while recording his statement, had then observed, "No doubt that the boy was never under any kind of coercion to stay with his wife or the other respondents, who are claimed to be detaining him illegally. He also does not appear to have been enticed away." However, the court went on to refuse the request of the minor boy to allow him to remain in the custody of his wife. The wife had also given birth to a child of the minor boy.

The court said, the POCSO Act makes cohabitation of a minor boy with a major girl an offence, which would certainly be committed, if the boy is in the custody of his wife.

The custody or care of a minor, that inherently makes or has the potential of making the minor the victim of an offence and his adult guardian an offender under the Act of 2012 (POCSO Act), cannot be regarded as a custody or arrangement made to ensure the welfare of the minor, it added.

The court gave the judgment on May 31, 2021, but it was uploaded on its website on Monday.
San Francisco, June 15 : The US Supreme Court has granted Microsoft-owned LinkedIn another chance to prevent a rival recruitment data company from scraping personal data from its platform.

A couple of years ago, LinkedIn was told by a US federal judge that it can't block rivals like hiQ Labs from scraping personal data from public profiles. But this week, the US Supreme Court threw out that ruling, sending it back to the 9th Circuit of Appeals.

This is due to a recent June 4 decision that restricted the scope of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, a federal anti-hacking law that blocks access to a computer without authorisation, reports Engadget.

In that particular ruling, the Supreme Court had decided that a person can't be guilty of misusing information if they had permission to use the computer in question.

This all started in 2017 when LinkedIn accused hiQ of scraping LinkedIn's public profiles. hiQ would then use the data to create algorithms that could predict when employees might leave their jobs.

LinkedIn said that hiQ violated the anti-hacking law above, while hiQ accused LinkedIn of being anti-competitive. hiQ sued LinkedIn, stating that public data must remain public.

As mentioned, the 9th US Circuit of Appeals prevented LinkedIn from blocking hiQ, stating that the law does not apply in situations where the data is already publicly available.

Since then, however, LinkedIn had made its case to the Supreme Court that hiQ's bots can harvest data on a scale beyond what a person can do. Additionally, some of that data had been posted for sale.
New Delhi, June 15 : Though there is no official word on Union Cabinet expansion or reshuffle so far from the Centre, there is speculation as the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has held two continuous meetings with party's top brass and two separate groups of Ministers in a span of four days.

Some in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), requesting anonymity, mentioned that PM's meetings with his Cabinet colleagues are nothing more than routine affairs only to know what is going on in their ministries and the future growth plan amid the Covid-19 crisis.

The Prime Minister is learnt to have taken stock of the work done by the government in the last two years and discussed various other issues, said a source.

Both the brainstorming sessions -- one on Friday last week and the second on Monday --were held at the Prime Minister's 7, Lok Kalyan Marg residence.

The sources said that both interactions of Cabinet Ministers with the Prime Minister lasted for nearly five hours each.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, along with BJP President J.P. Nadda and General Secretary in-charge of the saffron party B.L. Santhosh met Modi in the latest session he has held to gather suggestions on improvements needed in the functioning of the government and how to achieve synergy between the government and the organisation.

Union Ministers Sadananda Gowda, V.K. Singh and V. Muraleedharan were among others who reportedly joined the deliberations.

The Friday meeting featured Home Minister Amit Shah, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, Jitendra Singh, BJP chief Nadda and Santhosh.

Although the party has maintained that such meetings were a regular affair and had attracted attention now only because physical meetings were happening after a long gap, they have been seen as part of an exercise to seek views of top party leaders over crucial issues, including pandemic management and how different departments managed to perform when the country was hit by Covid-19 and restrictions were in place.

Political observers and party insiders feel that this could be an exercise before an expected Cabinet expansion and reshuffle, but there has been no official word yet.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
Brussels, June 15 : The in-person NATO Summit has concluded with leaders of the 30-member alliance agreeing on a new agenda to address future challenges.

The Summit was the first for US President Joe Biden after the tumultuous four years seen under his predecessor Donald Trump, who called the military alliance "obsolete", reports Xinhua news agency.

The gathering was part of Biden's first foreign trip since he took office, as he aimed to rebuild the transatlantic relations after the Trump era.

He joined the G7 summit on June 11-13 in Britain where his repeated message was "America is back".

A communique issued on Monday following the conclusion of the Summit said leaders agreed on the "NATO 2030" agenda, a comprehensive initiative about making sure the alliance remains ready today to face tomorrow's challenges.

According to the agenda, NATO will strengthen political consultation and the resilience of society, reinforce defence and deterrence, sharpen the technological edge, and develop its next Strategic Concept in time for the summit in 2022, said the communique.

The leaders also took decisions on the newest operational domains: cyber and space.

The bloc agreed on a new cyber defence policy, which recognizes that cyberspace is contested at all times and ensures that the bloc has strong technical capabilities, political consultations, and military planning in place to "keep our systems secure".

In terms of Russia, NATO leaders said that they were open to a political dialogue but remained "clear-eyed" about the challenges it allegedly poses, the communique added.

Also for the first time, NATO had placed China at the centre of its agenda.

According to the communique, China's "stated ambitions and assertive behaviour present systemic challenges to the rules-based international order and to areas relevant to Alliance security", the BBC reported.

"We remain concerned with China's frequent lack of transparency and use of disinformation," it said.

Addressing reporters late Monday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said: "We're not entering a new Cold War and China is not our adversary, not our enemy.

"We need to address together, as the alliance, the challenges that the rise of China poses to our security".

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Kolkata, June 15 : On the one hand there is Mukul Roy, the Kanchrapara MLA from BJP who joined Trinamool Congress recently and on the other, there are Sisir Adhikari and Sunil Mondal, the TMC MPs from Kanthi and East Burdwan who had joined the BJP before the Lok Sabha polls. Both Trinamool Congress and the BJP are now desperate to take steps against their turncoat leaders.

When BJP Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari asked Roy to resign by Tuesday, else will inform the Speaker to take steps against him, Trinamool Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Sudip Bandopadhyay called up Om Birla and urged him to initiate action against turncoat leaders Sunil Mondal and Sisir Adhikari.

Speaking to the media after meeting Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday evening, Adhikari said, "If Mukul Roy doesn't resign by Tuesday we will give a letter to the Speaker and if that also doesn't work then we will go to the court". Adhikari even held a meeting with 50 BJP MLAs in the assembly to decide the future course of action. However, 30 MLAs were absent in the meeting on Monday.

Slamming the Trinamool Congress for their 'todna-jodna politics', Adhikari asserted that action will be taken against the defectors this time. "Todna-Jodna is part of TMC's dirty politics. They have been doing this for the past 10 years & nobody opposed it. But it is being opposed now & action will be taken under anti-defection law. I had called all the MLAs. We have 30 more MLAs to come. A total of 50 MLAs joined us today to meet Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar at Raj Bhawan," the BJP leader had said.

Interestingly, Dhankhar while speaking to media regarding the same, said that Bengal is not an exception to anti-defection law and that he being the Constitutional head of the state would ensure its implementation.

On the other hand, Sudip Bandopadhyay has already written to Speaker Om Birla to take steps against the MPs. "I have called up Om Birla, Lok Sabha MP and urged him to begin action against turncoat leaders Sunil Mondal and Sisir Adhikari," Bandopadhyay said.

TMC had earlier filed petitions, seeking the disqualification of the two leaders under anti-defection law for having joined the BJP and asked Om Birla to disqualify MPs Sisir Adhikari and Sunil Mondal under anti-defection law for having joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) just ahead of the West Bengal Assembly Polls.

When asked about the details of the conversation, Bandopadhyay said, "The speaker told me that he will form a committee to review the petitions for disqualification and ask the two MPs to appear before it."

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, June 15 : An online exhibition presenting a selection of Sandesh covers, illustrated by Satyajit Ray, is on view from June 14-27, as part of the centenary year celebrations of the legendary filmmaker, writer, illustrator and music composer. Sandesh (meaning both information as well as sweetmeat), is the iconic Bengali children's magazine started by Ray's grandfather, Upendrakishore Raychaudhury in 1913.

Presented by India International Centre, the exhibition is titled 'Aap Kya Sandesh Laya'.

A prolific illustrator, as Editor of the magazine, Ray painted and designed each of the covers in addition to contributing his own stories, creating riddles, puzzles, and editing and illustrating other contributors' works.

Satyajit Ray and Sandesh Satyajit Ray was a multifaceted genius who will be remembered as much for his graphic designing and illustrations as for his storytelling prowess. He was a great artist first, well before he made his name as a filmmaker. He designed book covers, film posters, illustrated children's books and had a mastery over calligraphy and typography creating numerous new fonts in Bengali and four Roman fonts, receiving an award for designing the typeface for Ray Roman.

Ray's artistic work reflects a sophisticated experimentation with various artistic styles and traditions, both local and foreign, without compromising on aesthetic or authenticity. Throughout his career, sketching, graphic design and calligraphy merged seamlessly with his filmmaking.

In 1961, Satyajit Ray relaunched the children's magazine Sandesh that was originally founded by his grandfather. To make the magazine more appealing to children, Ray created all the illustrations, including the covers. The cover designs incorporated colourful geometric and floral patterns in saturated primary colours with lines and textures similar to wood block printing.

Often using different folk motifs, motifs from traditional day-to-day rangolis (in Bengal, alpana) or the 'pattachitra' style of narrative painting. Experimenting with creative illustrations, he created four comic strips for Sandesh. However, these comic strips were 'silent', the characters did not converse with each other, leaving the narrative to the readers imagination.

Constantly experimenting, using ink and pen, pencil, watercolours and ordinary poster paint in different stylisations, Ray's illustrations are striking in the way they marry playfulness with strong lines. For readers, every cover of the magazine was a constant source of surprise and delight, as with each issue, Ray played around with the word 'Sandesh' using different calligraphic and typographical styles.

Since the time of its publication, Sandesh was usually printed in the standard size of 7.5 inches x 9.5 inches. However, for a few years from 1970 to 1973, Ray experimented with a new size as an innovation to try and inspire a child's imagination. For these three years, it was published as a bimonthly magazine and for the first time in the history of juvenile periodicals in the large format of 13 inches x 10 inches.

In subsequent years, the magazine reverted back to the original size. Since Satyajit Ray's passing in 1992, Sandesh continues to be published with his son Sandip Ray at the helm and is now also available online. The covers remain those created and designed by Satyajit Ray during his lifetime.

To mark Ray's 100 years, a series of programmes will be organised in virtual and physical mode throughout the year. The programmes will include exhibitions, films -- documentary and features, talks and discussions to try to present both the known and lesser known aspects of Satyajit Ray.

(Siddhi Jain can be contacted at siddhi.j@ians.in)
New Delhi, June 15 : In a bid to expand affordable internet access for the public, Facebook India on Tuesday announced new partnerships with internet service providers (ISPs) D-Vois and Netplus.

The ISPs will use Facebook Connectivity's Express Wi-Fi platform to launch public Wi-Fi hotspots across Bengaluru and several cities in Punjab.

"From Dharavi in Mumbai to Shillong, Aizawl, Vadodara, Rajkot, and many other towns and cities, the Express Wi-Fi platform is helping expand internet connectivity in the country, enabling economic opportunities, innovation, and expression for people, businesses, and communities alike," said Manish Chopra, Director and Head of Partnerships, Facebook India.

Express Wi-Fi is a software platform that enables mobile operators, satellite operators, and ISPs to build, grow, and monetise their Wi-Fi businesses in a sustainable and scalable way.

The platform is used by partners in more than 30 countries, connecting millions of people around the world.

In India, the platform has already been deployed by eight partners, providing public Wi-Fi options to people across 12 states.

D-VoiS has a presence in 60 cities and operates its broadband services under the brand ION.

"ION plans to expand public Wi-Fi to thousands of hotspots at restaurants, bus-stands, malls, cafes, hospitals, and other public spaces," said Ramesh Sathyanarayana, Founder, D-vois Communications.

Netplus Broadband, the internet arm of Fastway Group, is another leading ISP in the country.

"The Express Wi-Fi services will be available at several high footfall public areas such as malls, hospitals, bus stands, and market complexes across the cities of Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandar, Patiala, and Bhatinda," informed Prem Ojha, Fastway Group CEO.

During the current Covid crisis in India, Facebook also leveraged the Express Wi-Fi partner networks to share Covid-related information from credible sources with micro communities and towns across the country.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Phoenix, June 15 : Multiple wildfires were raging across the US state of Arizona, and authorities have warned of very high fire danger this week due to hot temperatures and thunderstorms.

Arizona already witnessed two massive fires from early this month, including Telegraph and Mescal fires, which burned down more than 160,000 acres of forest and grassland, reports Xinhua news agency.

According to InciWeb, an interstate incident information system, Telegraph Fire, which started on June 10 in Pinal County, less than 1 mile from the 250-person community Top-of-the-World, was estimated at 88,589 acres with 74 per cent containment as of Monday.

"Active fire activity burning in timber with grass and understory, brush and timber with litter and understory, has warranted numerous evacuation status alerts." InciWeb said of the blaze, which has been listed as one of the biggest wildfires in the state's history.

Meanwhile, Mescal Fire, which started on June 1, has spread to 72,250 acres with 88 per cent containment, the InciWeb said Monday, adding there had been no increase in size for the fire for the last four days.

However, a new fire, called Gravel Fire, was reported near the scene on Sunday.

Another new wildfire, dubbed Cornville Fire, was also reported on Sunday about 160 m north of state capital Phoenix, and scorched 1,200 acres as of Monday, according to the InciWeb.

One outbuilding was destroyed in the blaze and several other structures were threatened, a tweet from the Arizona State Forestry said, adding evacuations were prompted by the wildfire.

"The fire continues to move to the east/northeast with fire activity expected to increase as temperatures warm up. Extreme temperatures and dry winds, along with rugged terrain will challenge firefighters today," InciWeb said on Monday.

Arizona State Forestry also said that critical fire weather would have the potential for "rapid fuel ignition and fire spread with very erratic and extreme fire behaviour".

It added that the state had already seen 208,190 acres burned due to 848 wildfires this year, compared to 138,443 acres burned in 902 wildfires over the same time period last year.
Lucknow, June 15 : Nine suspended Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) legislators, on Tuesday, met Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav.

Led by rebel BSP MLA Aslam Raini, the BSP legislators are believed to have discussed the issue of Samajwadi party tickets for the upcoming assembly elections.

The rebel BSP MLAs made a quiet entry into the Samajwadi Party office and left from the rear gate to avoid the media.

SP sources said that the party president had assured the rebel leaders that they would be accommodated in the SP and given tickets.

Meanwhile, the two senior BSP MLAs, Lalji Varma and Ram Achal Rajbhar, have still not disclosed their future plans. They have not met any SP leader so far.

A senior SP functionary, said, "It is clear that the Samajwadi Party is emerging as the only viable alternative to the ruling BJP in the 2022 assembly and leaders from various parties are coming to us which indicates the people's mood."

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Minneapolis, June 15 : A woman was killed and three people were injured when a car rammed into protesters in the US city of Minneapolis, where an African-American man was fatally shot this month during an attempted arrest, police said.

In a statement on Monday, the Minneapolis Police Department said that at 11,39 p.m. on Sunday, a person drove his vehicle into a crowd of demonstrators in the Lake Street and Girard Avenue South area who were protesting the fatal police shooting of 32-year-old Winston Smith Jr. on June 3, reports Xinhua news agency.

The crash resulted in one woman being killed and three others suffering non-life threatening injuries, the Department added.

The suspect was pulled out of the vehicle and struck by protesters before being taken into custody, it said, adding "preliminary investigation indicates that the use of drugs or alcohol by the driver may be a contributing factor in this crash".

Minneapolis has been the scene of multiple protests since the death of George Floyd under police custody more than a year ago.

Tensions further escalated after another black man, Daunte Wright was shot to death on April 11 during a traffic stop when the trial of Floyd's murderer was underway.
Amaravati, June 15 : The Coronavirus positivity rate in Andhra Pradesh has fallen to 6.58 per cent in a month's time, from 25.56 per cent on May 16.

At a Covid review meeting by Chief Minister Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy, officials said the positivity rate in all the districts is below 17.5 per cent, including less than 9 per cent in seven districts and between 10 - 19 per cent in six districts.

Likewise, active Covid caseload dropped to 80,013 while the recovery rate rose to 94.61 per cent.

Meanwhile, the 104 Covid helpline number received five lakh calls from April 15, including making 6.41 lakh outgoing health advisory calls to people while 2,700 calls were being made at the time of the review meeting.

Until Monday, the southern state reported 2,303 black fungus cases, out of whom 157 victims succumbed to the disease.

As per the directions of Reddy, officials released an order to support the families of health department staff who succumbed to Covid while discharging Covid duties.

"The Chief Minister directed officials to ensure they receive financial assistance soon and (told them) to plan to provide financial assistance to health staff of private hospitals who were treating Covid patients and succumbed to Covid," said an official.

Reddy has been apprised of the treatment facilities being readied for children in government hospitals, including an action plan on increasing ICU beds and providing oxygen to infants and children.

Preparations are being made to raise the number of ICU beds to 1,600 and oxygen beds to 3,777 for children, including recruiting paediatricians, staff nurses and other supporting staff even as the CM instructed to complete the recruitment process in a month's time.

According to officials, some children are facing post Covid health problems related to the lungs and kidneys for which Reddy directed officials to provide treatment under the Arogyasri scheme.

Incidentally, the CM told officials to fix treatment charges under Arogyasri, considering the realistic situations so that hospitals won't suffer while the government is paying bills to network hospitals within three weeks.

On the establishment of health hubs, the Chief Minister suggested that they need to be set up near habitations to ensure hospitals are set up in all the directions in towns and cities.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Mumbai, June 15 : A new reunion special titled "Chale Chalo Lagaan: Once Upon" celebrates 20 years of Aamir Khan's iconic blockbuster "Lagaan". The film was released on June 15, 2001.

"We broke our backs while making Lagaan, but our hearts were full of joy. Lagaan has showered us all with so much love. I am so grateful to all my fellow travellers on this magical journey," said Aamir of the film, which marked his production debut besides casting him in the central role, and was nominated for an Oscar in Best Foreign Film category.

"Lagaan is something I am extremely grateful for and I will always cherish every memory of this ongoing journey. It is also so wonderful to see that the journey of Lagaan continues, and I am really looking forward to reconnecting with the Lagaan gang thanks to this initiative by Netflix. Re Bhaiyya chhuttey Lagaan!!" Aamir added, about the reunion special.

The film's director Ashutosh Gowariker said: "My ultimate dr eam was to create something that will linger in the audience's mind. That it would be appreciated 20 years down the line is something that is unimaginable." Gowariker added: "It is overwhelming for me as well as the entire te am of the film that this dream became a reality. Lagaan is the story of people coming together and standing united against all odds." "Lagaan is one of the most iconic creations of Indian cinema. It is an epic tale that won hearts everywhere and showed the brilliance of Indian storytelling on the global stage. It's an honour for Netflix to celebrate 20 years of Lagaan with the incredible team behind this film," said Moni ka Shergill, VP, Content, Netflix India. The special by Aamir Khan Productio ns, Ashutosh Gowariker and Netlflix will stream on Netflix India's YouTube channel.
Tel Aviv, June 15 : Israel's Ministry of Health announced that the mandate to enforce wearing of face masks indoors will be lifted from Tuesday onwards.

On June 6, then-Health Minister Yuli Edelstein said that if there was no unexpected increase in the number of infections, the mandate would be lifted on June 15, reports Xinhua news agency.

In a statement, the Ministry said its Director-General Hezi Levi had signed the change in the rules cancelling the obligation to wear a mask from Tuesday.

The change will not apply to welfare, prolonged hospitalization and elderly institutions, regarding non-vaccinated or non-recovered people.

Also, people who are on their way to start quarantine, and flight passengers will still have to wear the mask.

Israel had already lifted the obligation to wear a face mask outdoors since April 18, following the decline in Covid cases in the country.
Gaza, June 15 : The Palestinian Islamic Hamas movement said that organising an Israeli flag march in East Jerusalem on Tuesday will ignite a new round of tension.

Hamas spokesman in Gaza Abdulatif al-Qanou'a said in a statement that organising "the so-called flag march is just a detonator for the breaking out of a new battle in Palestine", reports Xinhua news agency.

"The so-called flag march that is intended to be organised by the settlers on the streets of Jerusalem will lead to a new battle to defend the holy city and al-Aqsa Mosque," he said.

Ahmad al-Mudalal, a senior Islamic Jihad leader in Gaza, said that if the settlers' flag march enters the Islamic neighbourhood in Jerusalem on Tuesday, "it will lead to a state of rage and uprising in the entire Palestinian territories".

According to the organisers, the march will begin on Tuesday at HaNevi'im St. and head toward Damascus Gate, The Times of Israel reported.

The participants will not enter through that Old City entrance, but instead will head toward the Jaffa Gate, the organisers said in a statement.

Participants will then march from Jaffa Gate toward the Western Wall through the Old City, they added.

The annual event brings together thousands of Jews march through Muslim-majority parts of Jerusalem toward the Western Wall, in a show of sovereignty to mark the Hebrew anniversary of the city's east side being captured by Israel during the Six Day War of 1967.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Tripoli, June 15 : The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said that more than 2,000 illegal migrants were rescued off the Libyan coast and returned to the country last week.

"In the period of June 6-12, 2,083 migrants were rescued or intercepted at sea and returned to Libya," the IOM said in a statement on Monday.

According to the UN agency, a total of 12,794 illegal migrants, including women and children, have been rescued so far this year, reports Xinhua news agency Meanwhile, 190 of them have died and 487 went missing off the Libyan coast on the Central Mediterranean route.

Libya has been plagued by insecurity and chaos since the fall of the late leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, making it a preferred point of departure for illegal immigrants wanting to cross the Mediterranean Sea toward European shores.

Rescued migrants end up inside overcrowded reception centres across Libya, despite repeated international calls to close them.

The IOM Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) identified and located 348,372 internally displaced persons in Libya.
Addis Ababa, June 15 : The National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) said that it has given badges to more than 45,000 local observers for the polls scheduled to take place on June 21.

More than 167 local civic organizations have been given recognition by the board to conduct voters training programs, Solyana Shimelis, the NEBE spokeswoman, told the media late Monday.

"NEBE has also prepared 44,372 polling stations which are expected to be used to cast votes," Xinhua news agency quoted the spokeswoman as saying.

More than 8,200 candidates have registered for the upcoming sixth national general elections scheduled for June 21, the NEBE has said.

Under Ethiopia's parliamentary government system, the Prime Minister, who is the highest authority of the country, is selected from the party that wins the most seats at the federal parliament level, and will be sworn in after the parliamentary vote.

Last week, the African Union (AU) deployed its long-term observers for the elections.

Drawn from various AU member states, eight long-term observers arrived in the capital Addis Ababa on June 2 and 3 to undertake observation and analysis of key aspects of the electoral process.

The long-term observers, deployed in teams to cover different locations in the country, will be joined later by short-term observers, who will arrive in Ethiopia's capital, approximately a week before the election day, according to the AU.

More than 31.7 million Ethiopians including more than 1.2 million prospective voters in Ethiopia's capital city, Addis Ababa, have registered to cast their ballots.
New Delhi, June 15 : Taking forward its electric vehicles policy in the city, the Delhi government is set to start a single window facility for installation of charging points for electric-run vehicles in private and semi-public spaces in the city.

The upgraded scheme for installation of charging facilities will involve private and semi-public spaces as well as cooperative group housing societies (CGHS), high rises, Residents Welfare Associations (RWAs) etc.

Delhi Dialogue Commission of Delhi Government, which has been supervising the electric vehicle policy after a series of discussion with various representatives involved, including transport and power departments, Delhi Municipal Corporations (MCD), New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), power Discoms etc, has decided to implement upgraded scheme.

"Delhi will soon get an innovative, single-window process for installation of slow and fast EV chargers. The decision was taken at the charging infrastructure working group to empanel vendors through discoms for smooth roll-out of EV chargers in private and semi-public places," said Jasmine Shah, vice-chairperson of DDC, a think tank of the Delhi government.

Delhi government further informed that institutional buildings like hospitals and commercial spaces like malls and theatres will also be involved in the policy. The government said the initiatives have come considering the growing demands of electric charging stations in individual houses and residential apartments and other private sectors.

The electric vehicles scheme of Delhi government was launched last year aiming to reduce fuel-running vehicles up to 25 per cent by 2024. To promote the scheme, the government in February this year had ordered all its departments, autonomous bodies and grantee institutions to replace their existing fleet of hired conventional fuel vehicles to electric vehicles.

To encourage the people of Delhi to adopt e-vehicles instead of fuel-run vehicles and has also offered a subsidy of 10,000 per kWh to the first 1,000 e-cars or electric four wheelers, with a capping of Rs 150,000 per vehicle.

A subsidy of Rs 5,000 per kWh of the battery capacity up to Rs 30,000 is also to be given on the purchase of each electric two-wheeler, auto-rickshaw, rickshaw and freight vehicle.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Houston, June 15 : The power grid operator in Texas has asked the residents of the US state to reduce energy use as much as possible due to the record high temperatures.

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) issued a conservation alert on Monday, asking people and businesses to reduce their electric use as much as possible for the rest of the week to avoid power outages, reports Xinhua news agency.

ERCOT predicted a peak demand of energy on its system of 73,000 megawatts, far above the June record of 69,123 megawatts set on June 27, 2018.

However, about 11,000 megawatts of the grid's 86,862 megawatts of generating capacity was offline on Monday, ERCOT said, leaving a margin of reserve capacity of about 3,000 megawatts.

Much of Texas is experiencing record high temperatures as temperatures in cities like Austin and Houston are over 37 degrees Celsius.

Monday's conservation request comes at a time of heightened anxiety around electricity after the state's catastrophic February power outages left millions without power for days, The Texas Tribunes reported.

Those outages were prompted by a severe winter storm.
Bengaluru, June 15 : Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa on Tuesday announced that the last rites of noted Kannada actor Sanchari Vijay will be performed with police honours.

Vijay, who met with an accident on June 12, was declared brain dead on Monday. He was 38. He had been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Apollo Hospital here where he was being treated.

The actor's family has decided to donate his organs in the light of the irreversible brain damage.

Taking to Twitter, Yediyurappa said that cremation of the national Award-winning actor Sanchari Vijay will be held with police honours.

"I am thankful to his family, who came forward to donate the organs, I offer my condolences to such a talented artist," he said.

Vijay's family members have decided to perform his last rites in their home town at Kaduru in Chikkamagaluru district, where he will be buried as per Lingayat community's rituals.

Kaduru is 250 km away from Bengaluru.

The actor will be laid to rest at a farm owned by his friend Raghu in Panchanahalli, near Kadur of Chikkamagaluru district.

His mortal remains were kept for public viewing at Ravindra Kalakshetra in Bengaluru.

Actors Dhananjaya, Ninasam Sathish, director Guru Deshpande, Nagathihalli Chandrashekhar, among many other others paid their last respect to Vijay.

Vijay's death had surfaced on Monday afternoon. This was after his brother Siddhesh Kumar told the media that the family had decided to donate his organs as the doctors had informed them about a very 'little' chance of his revival.

Vijay's elder brother Virupaksha and younger brother Siddesh have given a written consent for the organ donation while his cousin brother Srikanth N. S was the witness.

Subsequently, Jeevasarthakathe, a state government appointed body to oversee the implementation of the Transplantation of Human Organs Act of 1994, informed the police and the permission was obtained.

Once these procedures were completed, the organ harvesting process from the donor was started intervening night of Monday and Tuesday.

Vijay donated two kidneys, liver, heart valves and corneas and became the first Sandalwood celebrity to donate all organs, though many celebrities have been part of eye donation campaigns and even donated too.

Actor Vijay, who was associated with the Usire (Breathe) team to provide oxygen for Covid patients, was also doing his bit for the needy by amplifying information about Covid resources through his social media pages.

Vijay had met with an accident while riding pillion on a motorcycle with his friend Naveen on June 12. They had set out to buy medicines when their bike skidded due to rains and hit the pole at J. P. Nagar's 7th Phase.

Naveen has also suffered a leg fracture, while Vijay was taken for surgeries of the brain and leg at the hospital.

Vijay started his career in theatre, before making his film debut with Rangappa Hogbitna in 2011.

He then made headlines for his National Award Best Actor win for Naanu Avanalla...Avalu in 2015 for reprising a role of transgender. Dasavala, Oggarane, Harivu, Killing Veerappan and Nathicharami were some of the other films he starred in.

The actor has also given his voice for the Aadaadta Aayushya (This Life at Play), audiobook, which is the autobiography of Jnanpith awardee Girish Karnad, for the first time. The audiobook runs for about 15 hours.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Tokyo, June 15 : Japan's lower house of Parliament on Tuesday voted down a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's Cabinet jointly filed by the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ) and three others.

The motion was filed after the ruling coalition turned down the opposition camp's request that the conclusion of the current parliamentary session should be pushed back by three months to allow time for more debate on matters related to the Covid-19 pandemic and the Tokyo Olympics, reports Xinhua news agency.

The session is scheduled to end on Wednesday.

The request for the extension came as the CDPJ and other opposition parties have been critical of the government's response to the pandemic, saying that its efforts to curb the spread of the virus have been inadequate, particularly the slow pace of its vaccination campaign.

They have also taken issue with Suga's pledge that holding the Olympics in Tokyo from July 23 will be "safe and secure" as the pandemic is yet to be brought under control.

The parties believe more time is needed in Parliament to debate these highly pressing topics.

CDPJ leader Yukio Edano has accused Suga of being an unfit leader for not allowing the current parliament session to be extended during a national crisis.

Edano lambasted the Japanese leader for "stopping the highest institution of the state from functioning for an extended period during the worst crisis since the end of the (Second World) War".

"On that point alone, he is unfit to be a leader during an emergency," Edano said before the vote on the no-confidence motion was held.

Besides the three other parties - the Japanese Communist Party, the Democratic Party for the People and the Social Democratic Party, the opposition camp is also concerned the capital is currently under the third Covid state of emergency, along with nine other prefectures, due to the spread of the virus and its highly contagious variants, as the entire nation continues to grapple with the fourth wave of infections.

Suga has said that bringing the Covid situation under control remained his top priority but he could dissolve the lower house and call a snap election at any time.

The general election must be held before the current four-year term of lower house members ends on October 21.

Ruling Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Toshihiro Nikai said, however, he did not think Suga would dissolve the lower house and call a snap election during the current parliamentary session.

"We need to stay on our guard and make sure the remaining bills are enacted," Suga himself said in a meeting between the government and the ruling coalition.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Chennai, June 15 : The Post graduate medical students and medical interns across Tamil Nadu wore black badges during work demanding hike in their stipend, complaining that the state is paying the lowest amount as stipend to PG Medics and medical interns.

The PG students and medical interns staged peaceful demonstrations wearing black badges under the umbrella of the Resident Doctors Association, Tamil Nadu. The protest affected the services of several government hospitals in the state.

The main demand of the protesters was to increase the stipend for non-service post graduates, super-specialty doctors, and interns.

Medical Post graduate student association president, Tamil Nadu, M. Keerthy Varman told IANS, "Tamil Nadu is the best in medical care in the country and we PG students and Medical interns are doing 24-hour work. Most of the PGs have crossed the age of 25 years and are married and stipend is the only source of income. We are not asking for more pay but on par with other states in the country." Dr Rajani Arun who is doing Post graduation in gynaecology at a Government Medical College said, "MD and MS students are paid Rs 37,000, Rs 39,500, and Rs 42,000 in the first, second and third year respectively while in Gujarat Medical PGs are paid Rs 84,000, Rs 85,400 and Rs 87,000 a month for the first, second and third year respectively. We demand that we are also paid on par with the PG Medicos of Gujarat." Doctors also said that even the DM students are paid less and with high living expenses in Chennai they are not able to meet both ends. Dr Bijoy Subramanian, a DM student in a prestigious Government Medical College in Chennai said, "I am now 35 and have a family to look after, I am getting a paltry sum with which I cannot manage. If I had gone to a private hospital quitting my studies I would well be getting more than 1.5 lakh a month. This is the main reason why most of the doctors are not continuing to pursue DM or MCh as they will not be able to support their family with the meagre sum and in the long run, the health system of the state will suffer." The Doctors are demanding a stipend of Rs 70,000, Rs 75,000, and Rs 80,000 a month for the first, second and third year respectively for MD/MS doctors while Rs 80,000, Rs 85,000 and Rs 90,000 for the first, second and third-year for DM/MCh students.

The stipend of house surgeons or the Medical interns be raised to Rs 30,000 a month from the existing Rs 21,200 a month. There is also demand for an annual increase of 10 per cent.
Manila, June 15 : The Philippines on Tuesday rejected a request of the International Criminal Court's (ICC) chief prosecutor to call for a full investigation into alleged crimes against humanity committed by the government in Manila during its anti-drug campaign.

Government spokesperson Harry Roque said the move of prosecutor Fatou Bensouda to seek judicial authorisation from the pre-trial of the ICC to investigate President Rodrigo Duterte formally is "legally erroneous and politically motivated", reports Xinhua news agency In a televised press conference, Roque said Duterte will not participate in the investigation.

"The President already said that we will not cooperate because we are not a member of the ICC anymore," he said.

Roque said the government did not commit crimes against humanity because the law enforcers never targeted civilians in their operations, adding the law enforcers acted in self-defence.

Duterte's single six-year presidential term ends on June 30, 2022.

"We do not know what the policy will be after 2022. That will be answered by whoever is the next president of the Philippines," Roque added.

The Philippines' Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it found the "midnight announcement" of Bensouda "deeply regrettable".

The DFA said that Bensouda, whose term ends this week, "undercuts the attractiveness of the Rome Statutes to States" and pre-empts the prerogative of her successor to make a complete evaluation of the cases.

The DFA said the Philippine government "has taken concrete and progressive steps to address concerns in the conduct of the anti-illegal drugs campaign".

The Philippines officially informed the UN in March 2018 about its decision to withdraw from the Rome Statute of the ICC after the body launched a probe into the alleged extrajudicial killings related to Duterte's anti-drug campaign.

Duterte at that time said the ICC accusations are "baseless, unprecedented and outrageous attacks".

According to Philippine government data, more than 6,000 people were killed in the war on drugs that Duterte launched after he took office in 2016.
Chennai, June 15 : Arappor Iyakkam, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), on Tuesday alleging huge under-reporting of Covid fatalities, urged the Tamil Nadu government to audit and correctly report the death numbers.

The NGO in its report also called for issue/reissue of medical certificates for cause of death as per the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) guidelines.

Arappor Iyakkam came out with its study report based on the data released by six government hospitals - Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai, Coimbatore Medical College Hospital, AMahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College and Hospital, Trichy, Vellore Medical College, Karur Medical College and ATirupur Government Headquarters Hospital-in Tamil Nadu.

These hospitals geographically cover the northern, western, central and southern parts of Tamil Nadu.

Data for the number of death certificates issued for male and female were collected for each day of the months of January to May 2021 for each of these six hospitals for the years 2019, 2020 and 2021. The data collected is as of June 13 from the website.

According to Arappor Iyakkam, an analysis of death data of six hospitals that is available online revealed that the total number of deaths for which death certificates have been issued in the months of April and May together stand at 4,437 and 3,261 for 2019 and 2020 respectively.

The number has shot up to 11,699 in April and May months of the year 2021.

On the other hand, the Arappor Iyakkam's report finds that the total death of patients declared as Covid deaths in the months of April and May 2021 by the media bulletin of the Department of Health and Family Welfare is only 863 in these 6 hospitals, Arappor Iyakkam said.

In its report, the NGO said there is likely underreporting of Covid deaths in these six hospitals is at least 8.4 to 9.8 times more than the declared fatalities in the media bulletin for the months of April and May 2021.

As per the report, the pattern of death data is similar in the six hospitals.

"Approximating the same underreporting factor of 8.4 to 9.8 times for the entire state, the likely number of deaths due to Covid in TN (Tamil Nadu) may be between 108,721 and 126,841 against the reported number of 12,943," the Arappor Iyakkam's report states.

According to the report, the current scenario will greatly affect those who are eligible for compensation as the state government has said that having Covid in cause of death is mandatory for claiming compensation.

"Therefore, unless this massive underreporting is corrected, thousands and thousands of families will stand ineligible even though their family member died due to Covid," the report said.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Wellington, June 15 : New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Tuesday opened the country's first meeting on countering terrorism and violent extremism, which is being held in Christchurch over the next two days.

The meeting of "a country at peace" will look at "how we can all contribute to making our country more inclusive and safe", Ardern was quoted as saying by the Xinhua news agency.

The meeting will be held annually, promoting public conversation, understanding and research on radicalisation.

It will look at ways to challenge hate-motivated extremist ideologies and discuss priorities to address issues of terrorism and violent extremism, she said.

"This inaugural hui (meeting) brings together community, civil society, academia, the private sector and government to listen, share and learn - both knowledge and experiences," the Prime Minister added.

New Zealand witnessed one of its worst terrorist attacks on March 15, 2019, when a gunman killed 51 people at two mosques in Christchurch.

The attacker, Australian self-declared white supremacist Brenton Tarrant, has been sentenced to life in prison without parole, the first person in New Zealand's history to receive the sentence.

His sentencing marked the first terrorism conviction in New Zealand's history.

The massacre also prompted New Zealand to reform its gun laws.
June 15 : Varun Dhawan talks about fatherhood in a new post and says that he has not been able to name his boy yet. Taking to his Instagram handle, Varun shared a video clip in which the Kalank actor can be seen playing with his little boy.

In the video, Varun can be seen in a white sleeveless T-shirt lying on the floor as a cute little puppy beagle is seen jumping around him, trying to lick his face. Phil Collins' In The Air Tonight can be heard playing in the background. Captioning the post, Varun wrote, "FATHERHOOD Still havent been able to name my boy. Help me out."

Fans loved the post and dropped comments reacting to the video. One of them wrote, "The hair bounce on that swing." Another said, "Hot chocolate fudge! The puppy have my whole heart." Yet another wrote, "You'll indeed be the best Father!" "You're the Bestest Father," wrote another. "This had made my day for sure," said another.

Image Source: Instagram/varundvn Varun Dhawan talks about 'fatherhood'

Several celebs also dropped comments on the post. Sophie Choudry commented, "Omg adorable. Sonakshi Sinha wrote, "Omg!!! Whats his naaaaame????" Nushrratt Bharuccha wrote, "awww". " Filmmaker Zoya Akhtar wrote, "when am I meeting him?" to which Varun replied, "soon soon will set up a play date," and Zoya responded again, "yes! Lucky will go nuts with him". Tara Sutaria wrote, His ears are bigger than his face awww. While Varun asked his fans to help him give his puppy a name, Urvashi Rautela suggested several names for Varuns boy. KOBE, OREO, BELLA OR Moti Sheru, BADRI, BOXER, she wrote.

While Jacqueline Fernandez wrote, Thats it! Im arranging play dates with my cats and him! Tiger Shroff wrote, Sooo cuute. Saif Ali Khans sister Saba Pataudi wrote, Adorable. Happy Father's Day! Soon.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Varun was in Arunachal Pradesh for two months, where he was shooting for his upcoming horror comedy film Bhediya along with Kriti Sanon. Owning to the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, the team had to return to Mumbai after wrapping it. Varun was also shooting for Jug Jugg Jeeyo with Kiara Advani, Anil Kapoor, and Neetu Singh when shooting was halted as he and Neetu Singh tested positive for Covid-19.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
New Delhi, June 15 : The supply price of Covaxin to the government of India at Rs 150 a dose is a non-competitive price and clearly not sustainable in the long run. Hence a higher price in private markets is required to offset part of the costs, Bharat Biotech said on Tuesday.

It said there are live examples of such pricing policies where Human Papilloma virus vaccine is priced for GAVI supplies at $4.5/dose (Rs 320), but is also available in the private market at Rs 3,500.

Rotavirus vaccines are supplied to the Govt of India at Rs 60/dose, but is also available in the private market at Rs 1,700/dose. The prices for COVID-19 vaccines internationally have varied between $10 to $37/dose, (Rs 730 - Rs 2,700/dose).

On why Coaxin is more expensive for the private sector, Bharat Biotech said another key point of discussion has been about pricing our vaccines for private sector players which is significantly higher than that given to governments and large procurement agencies. This is purely due to fundamental business reasons, ranging from low procurement volumes, high distribution costs and retail margins among few others.

As directed by the Govt of India, less than 10% of our total production of Covaxin to date has been supplied to private hospitals, while most of the remaining quantity was supplied to State and Central Governments. In such a scenario the weighted average price of Covaxin for all supplies realized by Bharat Biotech is less than Rs 250/dose. Going forward, 75% of the capacity will be supplied to State and Central Governments with only 25% going to private hospitals.

Unlike most medicines and therapeutics, vaccines are provided free of cost by the Govt of India to all eligible Indian citizens. "Thus, the procurement of vaccines by private hospitals is optional and not mandatory, albeit it gives a choice to citizens who are willing to pay for better convenience. In our view, the question of product pricing is only of extraneous interest to all concerned, especially when the same vaccine is made available free of cost", Bharat Biotech said that for the private sector it is optional.

Bharat Biotech has so far invested over Rs 500 crores at risk from its own resources for product development, clinical trials and setting up of manufacturing facilities for Covaxin. The support from The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) was with respect to provision of the SARS CoV2 virus, animal studies, virus characterization, test kits and partial funding for clinical trial sites. In return for this valuable support, Bharat Biotech will pay royalties to ICMR and the National Institute of Virology (NIV), based on product sales. Royalties are also payable to Virovax towards the licensure of IMDG agonist molecules, it said.

Bharat Biotech is investing in new facilities and repurposing existing ones across several states in India for enhancing the production of Covaxin.

It is pertinent to mention here that the urgent need to set up a significant number of manufacturing facilities and to divert existing ones for Covaxin has resulted in reduced production of other vaccines at our facilities, leading to loss in revenues.

It added that low product price realization dispirits domestic R&D. Companies such as Bharat Biotech, which are innovators with specialized expertise in product development, and large scale manufacturing, should be allowed to maintain a differential pricing strategy for Governments and private hospitals. It is distressing to see that a large country like India has a very basic level of innovation in vaccines and pharmaceutical products, it added.

It may well be argued that the low-price realization for home-grown innovators constraints innovation and product development in India. In the absence of a dual pricing system, Indian vaccine and pharmaceutical companies risk being reduced to mere contract manufacturers with intellectual property licensed from other nations, the company said.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, June 15 : The Congress has questioned the silence of NSDL, SEBI and the Finance Ministry in the alleged investments in the Adani-owned companies.

Addressing a press conference on Tuesday Congress spokesperson Gaurav Vallabh said: "What are the findings of the NSDL and SEBI in the investment and if there is something dubious the case should be handed over to Enforcement Directorate." He said as per the news report, National Securities Depository Ltd (NSDL), which is an Indian central securities depository under the jurisdiction of Ministry of Finance, Government of India, has frozen the accounts of three foreign funds: Albula Investment Fund, Cresta Fund and APMS Investment Fund.

These three funds together own over Rs 43,500 crore worth of shares in four Adani Group companies.

Vallabh alleged that the aforementioned funds are all registered at the same address in Port Louis, Mauritius, and do not have websites.

These funds together hold 6.82% in Adani Enterprises, 8.03% in Adani Transmission, 5.92% in Adani Total Gas and 3.58% in Adani Green.

The aforementioned funds derive more than 95% of their net worth from their investments in the Adani Group companies.

The Congress spokesperson said as per SEBI guidelines, a Foreign Portfolio Investor (FPI) can't hold more than 10% equity stake in any listed Indian firm.

"It is important to understand the ultimate beneficial ownership of these funds as these funds have the same address and don't even have websites that raises suspicion further," he added.

The Congress party demanded that the SEBI and NSDL come out with a complete disclosure about the nature of these funds, ultimate beneficial ownership of these funds, the findings of their enquiry (if any), what securities these funds hold and why were their accounts frozen? "Based on the findings of the news report, we also demand that if SEBI's ongoing investigation has revealed any irregularities with regards to price manipulation of Adani group stocks, Government of India should transfer the investigation to Enforcement Directorate to investigate the entire matter and come out with the truth for everyone to understand." "Also, there has been a meteoric rise in the share prices of the Adani Group companies in the last 12 months. As the news report suggests, in the last 12 months, Adani Transmission shares have gone up by 669%, Adani Total Gas shares have gone up by 349%, Adani Enterprises shares have gone up by 972% and Adani Green has gone up by 254%. The two Adai group companies where these 3 funds do not have investments: Adani Ports and Adani Power have soared 147% and 295%, respectively, in the last 12 months." In the middle of all the confusion, Adani Enterprises Limited came out with a statement on Monday, saying that the Demat account in which the aforesaid funds hold the shares of the company are not frozen.

Certain other reports suggest that the accounts frozen by NSDL were depository accounts.
Kabul, June 15 : Amid an increase in the ongoing intense fighting, Afghan forces have retaken two districts in the north of the country which were overrun by the Taliban, a media report said.

According to security sources, Khan Abad district in Kunduz was retaken on Monday, while Chah Ab district in Takhar was seized last week, TOLO News reported.

"Over 50 militants were killed in face-to-face fighting and by airstrikes in Khan Abad. Some commanders are also among them," said Kunduz Police Chief Farid Mashal.

However, other districts continue to fall to the Taliban.

On Monday, security forces evacuated the centre of Sayyad district in the northern province of Sar-e-Pul and Oba district in the western province of Herat.

Data collected by TOLO News reveal that centres of at least 30 districts have fallen to the Taliban since the beginning of the official withdrawal of the US and other NATO troops on May 1.

"The root causes of why districts started to fall suddenly should be determined. Some districts were handed over to the Taliban in the west without resistance and their equipment was left for militants," the news outlet quoted Sadiq Qaderi, an MP from Herat, as saying.

First Vice President Amrullah Saleh said that the recent advancements by the Taliban are narrow and this "will soon be changed into a graveyard" for the group.

"Their sequence has no depth or width. Those who are familiar with the fight know that this narrow line will turn into a mass grave for this group of horror and ignorance," Saleh said in a Facebook post.

Meanwhile, Defence Ministry spokesman Rohullah Ahmadzai said there were "areas in districts where we made retreats. New forces were sent, they were equipped and the enemy will soon be removed from there".

At least 40 security force members have been either killed or wounded in clashes over the past 24 hours, but the Defence Ministry said Taliban casualties are higher than those of the government forces.

The Taliban has rejected figures provided by the Ministry.
Hyderabad, June 15 : Telugu Desam Party national general secretary and Andhra Pradesh opposition leader Nara Lokesh called the High Court's judgment to rescind the state government's orders on Maharaja Alak Narayana Society of Arts and Science (MANSAS) and the reinstatement of Ashok Gajapathi Raju as its chairman, as the ultimate victory of law and justice.

"With the High Court cancelling the government's GOs on Mansas Trust, it has been proved that law and justice are the ultimate winners," said Lokesh.

He claimed that this ruling is a slap in the face of the government which is allegedly issuing undemocratic and unconstitutional dark orders at midnight.

The TDP leader exhorted that the judgment brought more glory to the Pusapati family which donated land and assets worth thousands of crores of rupees.

"This is the victory of public love, law, justice and the Constitution with the blessings of Simahachalam Appanna," said Lokesh and congratulated Raju.

Likewise, TDP supremo and former chief minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu welcomed the judgment and termed it as a slap in the face of 'Tughlaq CM', hinting at Chief Minister Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy.

"Finally, the long arm of the law and the inexorable wheels of justice have put a full stop to Reddy's nefarious plans to plunder thousands of acres of prime lands and multi-crore properties belonging to the temples that are run by the Mansas Trust," claimed Naidu.

According to the TDP chief, the Court's order would give a new lease of life to thousands of students and employees.

However, AP Endowments Minister Vellampalli Srinivas said the government will appeal in the Supreme Court against the judgment.
Agra, June 15 : With some respite on the Covid-19 pandemic front, after steep decline in numbers, the district authorities are all set to welcome domestic tourists to the historical monuments in Agra.

In the wake of alarming rise in the number of Covid patients, the Taj and other monuments were shut down for visitors, two months ago.

The Archaeological Survey of India has in a circular announced reopening of monuments from June 16.

The tourism industry captains in Agra have welcomed the decision and have asked for resumption of international flights. Hoteliers have also demanded sops and a special package to help the industry steer out of the crisis. "At least some relief can be considered in taxes and electricity bills," said senior hotelier Surendra Sharma.

Hotels in Agra have been either shut or partially opened since March 2020. The Covid-19 pandemic has virtually crippled the hospitality and travel industry, which have been demanding special schemes and sops to ease the pangs from continued shut down.

Though the reopening of the monuments would help to some extent, but until international flights were resumed, there could be no positive turn around, feel the hoteliers.

The 17th century monument of love, the Taj Mahal attracted more than seven million tourists annually, before the pandemic.

District officials indicated that visitors to the monuments would need to take appropriate precautions before they are allowed entry. Care would be taken to ensure there was no crowding. Initially tickets would be issued online.

For the past one week, there has been a welcome decline in the daily numbers of Covid-19 patients. In the past 24 hours only six cases were reported.

Health department officials said the city's medical infrastructure had been streamlined, and necessary follow up measures were being taken in the rural areas.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
New Delhi, June 15 : Wherehouse.io has raised an undisclosed amount of seed capital led by Better Capital to build advanced solutions and capabilities for the country's e-commerce industry.

Besides Better Capital, the other key investors were Java Capital, Titan Capital, First Cheque, and Upsparks. The first round of funding validates the rapid progress and the significant market opportunity for Wherehouse.io and shall enable it to meet the market demand that would help new age e-tailers drive revenue, said a statement by Wherehouse.io.

Started by Vaibhav Chawla, Jeevan Prakash and Lavelesh Sharma, in October 2020, Wherehouse.io helps D2C (direct-to-consumer) brands to predict and place inventory across a wide network of flexible warehouses and offer excellent last-mile connectivity to deliver their products to their customers in the shortest possible time.

Wherehouse.io has scaled a network of over 2,500 warehouses across more than 12 cities to help brands accelerate the customer experience with a simple and powerful fulfilment technology platform.

Wherehouse.io co-founder Vaibhav Chawla said: "We are extremely delighted to share that our investors have shown immense faith in us. With Covid induced lockdowns in the last few months, each and every brand is looking for a way to build reach and scale. This has resulted in a healthy seller acquisition for us in the last four-five months." "Customer experience is a core ingredient for success in the D2C category and that's exactly what Wherehouse.io enables for new and growing brands with its on-demand warehousing and fulfilment platform," he said.

"We believed in the innovative approach of Wherehouse in helping D2C brands align their customers in an efficient way. The team has built an amazing business and we look forward to helping them in their journey," said Bipin Shah, Partner at Titan Capital.
New Delhi, June 15 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the 5th edition of VivaTech on Wednesday -- one of the largest digital and startup events in Europe.

The event is held in Paris every year since 2016. The 5th edition of VivaTech is scheduled to be held between June 16 and June 19.

The Prime Minister will deliver a keynote address at the VivaTech event at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, said a statement issued by Prime Minister's Office.

The Prime Minister has been invited as a Guest of Honour to deliver the keynote address.

Other prominent speakers in the event include Emmanuel Macron, President of France, Pedro Sanchez, Prime Minister of Spain and Ministers/MPs from various European countries.

The event will also witness participation of corporate leaders like Tim Cook, CEO, Apple, Mark Zuckerberg, Chairman and CEO, Facebook and Brad Smith, President, Microsoft among others.

VivaTech is the world's rendezvous for startups and leaders to celebrate innovation. It's a gathering of the world's brightest minds, talents, and products. It is jointly organized by Publicis Groupe -- a prominent advertising and marketing conglomerate and Les Echos -- a leading French media group.

The event brings together stakeholders in technology innovation and the startup ecosystem and includes exhibitions, awards, panel discussions and startup contests.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
San Francisco, June 15 : As the next version of Windows is expected to be unveiled on June 24, Microsoft has revealed that it will end support for Windows 10.

The company quietly announced the news in a support page update, as spotted by Thurrott.

Previously, the page noted when Microsoft would end support for certain versions of Windows 10, reports Engadget.

It now states Microsoft started supporting Windows 10 Home and Pro on July 29, 2015 and reveals the operating system's "retirement date".

The end-of-support timeline puts the Windows 10 lifecycle at a hair over 10 years, similar to previous iterations of the OS.

Microsoft recently cancelled Windows 10X, which was initially going to be for dual-screen devices. It said it would bring some features planned for that OS into the standard version of Windows.

"Soon we will share one of the most significant updates to Windows of the past decade to unlock greater economic opportunity for developers and creators," Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said recently.

The executive went on to say he's been personally testing the latest iteration of the OS for the past several months.
New Delhi, June 15 : As barbaric military clash with China at Galwan valley at Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh completes a year, the Indian Army gets a dedicated freight corridor for faster mobilisation of tanks, big guns and other military equipment.

"The Indian Army on Monday conducted a successful trial by moving a military train loaded with vehicles and equipment from New Rewari to New Phulera, validating the efficacy of the dedicated freight corridor," the Army stated.

These trials herald the first step in this process to pave the way for enhancing the operational readiness of Armed Forces.

The intricate and synchronised coordination by the Indian Army with Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Ltd (DFCCIL) and Indian Railways will significantly enhance the mobilisation capability of the Armed Forces.

"These trials were part of the "Whole of the Nation Approach" for optimising national resources and achieve seamless synergy among various ministries and departments," the force stated.

Interactions by the Indian Army with all stakeholders including DFCCIL and Indian Railways will now assist in leveraging the Dedicated Freight Corridor and allied infrastructure into the mobilisation matrix of Armed Forces.

Development of infrastructure at certain locations to support mobilisation and trials to validate move of defence owned rolling stock on Roll On-Roll Off (RO-RO) service is being formalised and modalities are being evolved.

"This initiative would set in place processes to ensure that military requirements are dovetailed in the national infrastructure development at the planning stage itself," the force added.

Since May 2020 when standoff with China in eastern Ladakh started, the Indian Army started ramping up road and transport infrastructure for fast mobilisation of the men and equipment.
New Delhi, June 15 : The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to entertain a plea by former Himachal Pradesh Inspector General of Police (IGP) Zahur Haider Zaidi seeking restoration of bail in a custodial death case.

Zaidi is one of the accused in the case connected with the custodial death of a man who was among those arrested on charge of gang raping a minor school girl in Kotkhai in Shimla district in 2017.

A bench comprising justices Indira Banerjee and M.R. Shah observed that Zaidi, who was a senior IPS officer, attempted to influence a witness, which is a serious charge.

The bench said: "You have been the highest IPS officer (of the state). How can you issue threats to another IPS officer..." The bench further added that if he can attempt to influence an IPS officer then he could influence and tamper with other witnesses too.

Counsel appearing for Zaidi submitted that all other accused are on bail and his client has been in jail for over a year even after the IPS officer made the statement of being pressurised by him.

The counsel argued that many witnesses are yet to be examined in the trial.

The bench responded as far as criminal trials are concerned, influencing a witness is an important thing. "We are not on the merits of the case, we are on how you did not follow the bail conditions imposed by the trial court," said the bench.

Later, Zaidi's counsel withdrew the plea challenging cancellation of bail from the court.

In April 2019, he was was granted bail by the top court, and transferred the case from Shimla to Chandigarh.

In January 2020, the trial court cancelled Zaidi's bail after an IPS officer Soumya Sambasivan, a prosecution witness, alleged she was being pressured by Zaidi to influence the trial.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court declined to interfere with the trial court's order cancelling Zaidi's bail.

In July 2017, Zaidi and seven others were arrested in the custodial death case of Suraj, who was found dead at the Kotkhai police station.
Chennai, June 15 : MDMK leader Vaiko has urged the Tamil Nadu government to revoke its ban on comorbid workers aged above 55 years from the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme.

Vaiko said in a statement that the government's order excluding comorbid workers from the MGNREGA scheme is totally uncalled for and has to be immediately revoked.

He further said that the order banning workers aged above 55 years with comorbidities was issued by the then Commissioner for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department, KS Palanisamy on April 20 when Covid -19 cases were on the rise.

The MDMK leader said that the scheme was the only solace for a large number of rural folk which includes destitute, widows, and elderly citizens who were struggling for day-to-day living.

He added that banning comorbid workers from the MGNREGA scheme would lead to a situation wherein the starvation deaths would outnumber the Covid fatalities.

The lawmaker said that government should revoke the order so that all old aged people come benefit from the scheme.

The MDMK chief said that with the number of Covid-19 cases on the decline, it is high time that the order is revoked and include people above 55 years of age with comorbidities.

He also called upon the health department to expedite the vaccination drive for MGNREGA scheme with immediate effect.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Thiruvananthapuram, June 15 : A day after explosive materials consisting of two gelatine sticks, four detonator batteries and wires were recovered from a cashew plantation under the control of the State Forest department near Pathnapuram in Kollam district, various departments of the Kerala Police have begun a probe into this.

A police official from the district on condition of anonymity said various teams of the Kerala Police have arrived and have started the probe.

"The explosive materials were recovered by the Forest officials who immediately alerted the local police. Soon a team of police officials reached the spot. The items recovered have now been sent for scientific examination and results are awaited," said the official.

Among those who have started the probe include the local police, intelligence, Anti-terror Squad and the national probe agencies are also looking into the incident.

Two months back the Q branch Police of Tamil Nadu was in the area based on information gathered from a person hailing from Tamil Nadu who was arrested from Uttar Pradesh.

The probe agencies are now waiting to get the scientific reports of the explosive materials.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, June 15: Pakistan is increasing its capacity to produce plutonium for use in nuclear weapons in tune with an increase in global stockpiles of atomic weapons, missiles and aircraft delivery systems, led by the United States and Russia who appear locked in competition to modernise their nuclear warheads.

The raw material for nuclear weapons is fissile material, either highly enriched uranium (HEU) or separated plutonium. China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the USA have produced both HEU and plutonium for use in their nuclear weapons. The Indian and Israeli arsenal is mainly plutonium based. So far Pakistan has mainly relied on HEU for its stockpile of around 165 nuclear weapons as per the latest estimates. But Islamabad appears to be diversifying, by enhancing its ability to produce weapon-grade plutonium, according to the findings of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

Released on Monday, the SIPRI Yearbook 2021 assesses the current state of armaments, disarmament and international security. A key finding is that despite an overall decrease in the number of nuclear warheads in 2020, more have been deployed with operational forces.

While the US and Russia continued to reduce their overall nuclear weapon inventories by dismantling retired warheads in 2020, both are estimated to have had around 50 more nuclear warheads in operational deployment at the start of 2021 than a year earlier, says the report.

The report said that at the start of 2021, nine states - the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, Israel and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK, or North Korea) - possessed approximately 13,080 nuclear weapons, of which 3825 were deployed with operational forces. Approximately 2000 of these are kept in a state of high operational alert.

While it marked a decrease from the 13,400 that SIPRI estimated these states possessed at the beginning of 2020, the estimated number of nuclear weapons currently deployed with operational forces increased to 3825, from 3720 last year. Around 2000 of these - nearly all of which belonged to Russia or the US -were kept in a state of high operational alert, the report mentions.

The institute said that three emerging trends in the Asia and Oceania region remained a cause for concern - the growing Chinese-United States rivalry combined with an increasingly assertive Chinese foreign policy; the growing violence related to identity politics, based on ethnic or religious polarization (or both); and, the increase in transnational violent jihadist groups, some of the most organized groups of which are active in South East Asia, most notably in Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.

"The overall number of warheads in global military stockpiles now appears to be increasing, a worrisome sign that the declining trend that has characterized global nuclear arsenals since the end of the cold war has stalled," the report quotes Hans M. Kristensen, Associate Senior Fellow with SIPRI's Nuclear Disarmament, Arms Control and Non-proliferation Programme and Director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), as saying.

Pakistan nuclear stockpile growing According to the International Panel on Fissile Materials (IPFM), an independent group of arms-control and non-proliferation experts from both nuclear weapon and non-nuclear weapon states, Pakistan - a nuclear weapon state outside of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty - continues production of fissile materials for weapons.

The Princeton-based panel said that, as of the beginning of 2020, Pakistan had an accumulated stockpile estimated as about 410 kg of plutonium which has been produced at four production reactors in Khushab in the Sargodha Division of the Punjab province.

It further mentions that, as of the beginning of 2020, Pakistan is estimated to have a stockpile of 3.9A0.4 tons of HEU and continues to produce HEU for its nuclear weapon programme.

"Uncertainty about Pakistan's uranium resources, and the operating history and enrichment capacity of its centrifuge plant at Kahuta and a possible second plant at Gadwal (which may be dedicated to HEU production) limits the reliability of the estimate," the panel says in its country report on Pakistan.

Last year, in a detailed research done on the basis of recent and historic public domain satellite imagery, Washington's Institute for Science and International Security identified a significant and previously undocumented extension to the Chashma reprocessing plant and considerable development of co-located infrastructure over the last decade.

"At a minimum, the extension to the plutonium separation plant and associated facilities at Chashma demonstrates an on-going commitment to invest in and operate plutonium separation technology at industrial scale," the institute revealed in a detailed report.

(This content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative/
Agartala, June 15 : Experts, lawmakers, academicians and traders have advocated for more waterway connectivity and development of related infrastructures to boost trade and economy between India's northeastern states and the neighbouring Bangladesh.

There are more than 300 rivers in Bangladesh of which 57 are transboundary rivers. Out of the 57 transboundary rivers, 54 rivers, including Ganga, Brahmaputra and Teesta, are common with India and the remaining three with Myanmar.

Industry and trade body FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry) has suggested developing the required infrastructure to facilitate and enhance waterway connectivity between Bangladesh and the northeastern states, which share 1,880 km borders with Bangladesh,including riverine frontiers.

FICCI Director (northeast chapter) Biswajit Chakraborty said: "Lives and livelihoods of the people dwelling across the Meghna basin could positively benefit from transportation and trade through waterways. Improvement in factors owing to predictability, cost, convenience and technical infrastructure would largely help businesses to flourish in the short and medium term." He, however, said that the rate of siltation has vastly increased due to deforestation in the upstream of Meghana.

"Comprehensive approaches of large-scale afforestation, coupled with larger river training exercises and building of the required infrastructure could result in long-term benefits for the region," Chakraborty said while speaking at a virtual discussion on 'Engaging the private sector in reviving waterways in the Meghna Basin for trade and transit'.

The Meghna river basin is shared by Bangladesh and India and it includes 29 transboundary rivers originating from India and flowing into Bangladesh.

The transboundary tributaries of Meghna river basin include Feni, Khowai, Gumti, Manu and Muhuri rivers originating from Tripura; Myntdu (Shari) and Umgot (Piyan) originating from the Meghalaya plateau; and Barak-Surma rivers originating from Assam.

More than 50 million people depend on the ecosystem provided by the Meghna river basin.

Founder and incumbent President of Dhaka-based Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BWCCI), Selima Ahmad, said: "Historically, the Meghna basin served as a rich hinterland for northeast India and the plains. Given the excellent relationship between the present governments of India and Bangladesh, these traditional trade routes need to be revived and enhanced." Ahmad, who's also a member of Parliament, suggested that the Bangladesh government should now look at investing in developing infrastructure and ancillary services like betterment of roads, Information Technology connections etc.

Participating in the discussion, BWCCI's Sylhet division leader Reshma Sharmin Juthi said that promoting and handholding of small and medium women entrepreneurs in the fields of cosmetics and handloom could facilitate the involvement of more women, paving the way for their positive and fruitful engagement in the Meghna river basin region.

The virtual discussion was organised by CUTS International, a Jaipur-based think-tank and NGO, in collaboration with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and a number of other global institutions under the BRIDGE GBM project, funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) through the Oxfam Transboundary Rivers of South Asia (TROSA) programme.

The initiative intends to bring together traders and business communities from both Bangladesh and India to discuss issues concerning cross-border trade via inland waterways.

Senior Vice-President of Sylhet Chamber of Commerce, Chandan Saha, said that in the early 80s, coal and stone boulders were regularly exported from India to Bangladesh through the riverine routes connecting Sonamura (Tripura) with Daudkhandi (Bangladesh.

"Trade has stopped majorly due to the unavailability of the required LAD (Least Availability Depth). Dredging of rivers is required despite gradual shifts in the course of river Gomati," he said.

Deepalaya Dey, a representative of New Delhi-based NGO Jukto Organisation, said: "The private sector should be incentivised with lucrative business models and a wider array of commodities through these stretches for a regular course of operation.

"Medicinal plants and the handicrafts sector can be thought of as the possible sectors for trade between northeast India and Bangladesh." The President of Tripura Chamber of Commerce and Industries, M.L. Debnath, said that considering the navigability problems, smaller vessels can be operated as a viable alternative.

"Also, in order to increase the volume of business through the waterway stretches, one has to clearly define the key commodities of trade for both the countries," Debnath said.

India and Bangladesh share 2,979 km land borders and 1,116 km riverine boundaries. The five Indian states of West Bengal, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Assam and Tripura share the 4,096 km borders with Bangladesh.

(Sujit Chakraborty can be contacted at sujit.c@ians.in)
New Delhi, June 15 : There has been sharp decline in both new and active Covid-19 cases across India for the last few days, the Union Health Ministry said on Tuesday.

Addressing a digital press conference on current situation, Joint Secretary, Health, Lav Agarwal said that in the 24 hours, India has reported 86,490 new cases, while on May 7, daily cases were at 4.14 lakh, but had come down to 2.67 lakh on May 19 and had come down below the 2 lakh mark.

"Observing the decline of Covid cases per day, we have analysed that India has witnssed around 79 per cent reduction in daily cases, which is a big development for all of us but, we have to continue work on strict Covid behaviour," he said.

According to the Health Ministry, the daily Covid positivity rate has declined by 33 per cent.

India has also witnessed a sharp decline in active cases in the last few days. As per the ministry, active cases, as on May 10, were reported at an average of 37.45 lakh, but now have reduced to 13 lakh, or a dip of around 65 per cent.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, June 15 : With the onset of monsoon in Kerala, Ministry of Jal Shakti has again accelerated the ongoing "catch the rain" campaign, requesting all the Members of Parliament (MPs) to take part in the drive.

Minister of State for Jal Shakti Rattan Lal Kataria has written personal letters to all the MPs, both from the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, to support "Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch The Rain" campaign in their respective constituencies and states.

The letter gives the details about the campaign and also informs the MPs about the progress made already. It seeks their support and contribution in sensitizing people to conserve rainwater during the upcoming monsoon season.

Kataria informed that the aim of sending the letter is to urge each MP to turn as a brand ambassador for this campaign in their respective constituencies.

"We all must come together and rise above the party lines to address the common problem of depleting ground water levels and water scarcity, in public interest." Kataria said.

The campaign with the theme-- "Catch the Rain where it falls, when it falls" -- was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the occasion of world water day on March 22 this year.

The campaign aims at tapping rainwater by constructing artificial recharge structures, revitalizing existing ponds and water bodies, creating new water bodies, provisioning check dams, rejuvenating wetlands and rivers before the onset of monsoon. It is also planned to create a database of all water bodies in the country by geo tagging them and using this data to create scientific and data-based district level water conservation plans.

The campaign covers all rural and urban areas of all districts of the country, unlike the Jal Shakti Abhiyan-1 of 2019, which covered only 1,592 water stressed blocks out of 2,836 blocks in 256 districts of the country.

Ministry of Rural Development has reported completion of construction of 1.64 lakh water conservation and rainwater harvesting (RWH) structures, incurring an expenditure of Rs 5,360 crore, while work is in progress on 1.82 lac additional structures.

A total of 37,428 traditional structures and existing water bodies have been renovated till date with an expenditure of Rs 2,666 crore and 42,000 additional structures are expected to be rejuvenated shortly.

A total of almost Rs 14,000 crore water conservation related work is completed or ongoing under the MNREGS of Department of Rural Development. Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has renovated 1,258 RWH structures while adding 1.02 lakh new RWH structures.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Chandigarh, June 15 : Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Badal along with several legislators and leaders were detained by Punjab police on Tuesday when they were marching towards the residence of Chief Minister Amarinder Singh near here to lodge their protest.

The Akali Dal-BSP combine was demanding the dismissal of Health Minister Balbir Sidhu and a CBI probe into irregularities in sale of vaccines and medical kits for Covid patients.

"There is a scam in Covid-19 vaccination, there is a scam in Fateh Kit, there is a scam in SC scholarship, there is a scam in SC scholarship. Farmers' land is being acquired," Badal told the media.

During the protest, the police detained several protesters before using water cannons against them when they were on the way to the Chief Minister's farmhouse at Siswan, on the outskirts of Chandigarh, and sent them to the nearby police station.

The Akali workers were joined by BSP activists as the two parties have forged an alliance ahead of the 2022 Assembly elections.

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) state president Jasbir Singh Garhi was also detained from the protest site along with Akali legislators, including Bikram Singh Majithia.

A day earlier, the Aam Aadmi Party staged a protest in front of the residence of Amarinder Singh against the alleged scam in the post-matric scholarship scheme for Dalit students.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Thane : , June 15 (IANS) A small-time Marathi actor has been arrested in Thane for allegedly posting objectionable posts on the Facebook page of Maharashtra Urban Development Minister Eknath Shinde, officials said on Tuesday.

The accused, identified as Mayuresh Kotkar, who has acted in some Marathi serials and films, was nabbed following a complaint lodged by Shiv Sena corporator Yogesh Jankar.

Jankar, in his complaint last Friday, said that Kotkar posted allegedly defamatory and inciteful content on the Facebook page of the minister which could have triggered violence between communities.

Following the plea, the Shreenagar police station investigated the matter and nabbed Kotkar. He was produced before a Thane court which sent him to judicial custody.

The ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi has been criticised over Kotkar's arrest by several prominent personalities on social media.

The posts pertained to the proposal for the naming of the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport after the Shiv Sena founder-patriarch, Balasaheb Thackeray, who passed away in 2012.

Local villagers, comprising the Agri community, are strongly opposed to the proposal and have demanded that the airport should be named after a prominent local leader, Peasants & Workers Party (PWP) senior functionary and parliamentarian, Dinkar B. Patil, who had passed away in 2012.

Last week, the villagers protested by forming a 12-km-long human chain and have now threatened to lay a siege of the Konkan Bhavan on June 24 if their demand is not conceded.

Kotkar had joined the Agri protests and had also made several posts on social media networks, but after the Sena complaint, police deleted some of the objectionable content.
New Delhi, June 15 : After the panel set up by the Congress on Punjab submitted its report on the factionalism in its state unit, a change of guard looks imminent with the All India Congress Committee (AICC) looking for a suitable replacement for current Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) President Sunil Jakhar.

Sources said that former Union minister and Anandpur Sahib MP Manish Tewari is the frontrunner for the top post in Punjab, while the names of Vijay Inder Singla and Raj Kumar Verka are also being considered.

Tewari is a known face in Delhi and Punjab's political circles and has the backing of Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh. Moreover, he can be appointed to woo the non-Sikh voters in the state, as he has been an MP from Ludhiana which has a large number of non-Sikh and migrant electorate.

AICC Secretary Vijay Inder Singla is a minister in the Punjab government, who is known to be close to the set up in former Congress President Rahul Gandhi's office.

The dark horse is Raj Kumar Verka, a Dalit leader from the Valmiki community. Verka is an MLA from Amritsar and has been the Vice Chairman of the SC Commission.

The probability of Verka being elevated to the top post in Punjab Congress has gathered momentum after the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) recently formed an alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) to contest the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections together.

Meanwhile, the panel for Punjab has submitted its report and met Rahul Gandhi to brief him about the situation in the state.

Sources said that the panel has not recommended the removal of Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, who is likely to lead the party in next year's Assembly elections. Instead, a slew of reforms have been suggested in the party's state unit.

While the fate of Navjot Singh Sidhu is still not clear, sources said the panel wants him back in the Punjab cabinet. Though Amarimder Singh is averse to Sidhu being elevated to the post of Deputy Chief Minister, he is ready to accommodate him in the cabinet, sources said.

The panel headed by senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge and comprising the party's Punjab in-charge Harish Rawat and former MP J.P. Aggarwal met all the stakeholders recently. Amarinder Singh too had met the three-member panel in the national capital.

After the meeting, Amarinder Singh had said, "The meeting was to discuss the preparations for the Assembly elections scheduled early next year. These are our inner party discussions and I don't propose to share them with the media." The rift in Punjab Congress had surfaced after former cabinet minister Sidhu along with Pargat Singh had opened a front against Chief Minister Amarinder Singh.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, June 15: India and Indonesia, two major democracies in Asia are moving fast to strengthen their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Despite Covid-19 bringing the world to a halt, the two have been working on improving defence, maritime and security related issues since Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit in May 2018.

Recently, V. Muraleedharan, India's Minister of State for External Affairs discussed cooperation on regional issues with Mahendra Siregar, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia.

In an exclusive interview to India Narrative, Prof. Baladas Ghoshal, former chairman of the Centre for South and Southeast Asian Studies, JNU, and former General Secretary at the Society for Indian Ocean Studies says: "Much is happening between India and Indonesia in defence and maritime arenas. The two nations have been discussing the sale of Brahmos and India's role in capacity building Indonesia's maritime forces".

Indonesia, a prominent South East Asian nation, is also discussing the possibility of joint patrolling in the strategic strait of Malacca which connects the Andaman Sea in the Indian Ocean with the South China Sea in the Pacific Ocean. This is a maritime route through which a large percentage of the global trade crosses. The two nations have also been discussing increased access for India to Indonesia ports including Sabang and Aceh.

Prof. Ghoshal says: "If we get access to Indonesia ports, we look into the Pacific. France already has a presence there. If we put ourselves there, we can put China in great difficulty". He adds that the Aceh and Andaman link could be established for trade and financial purposes. "The Aceh port is only 80 km from Nicobar. The two countries are discussing creating a regional economic zone in this region".

There is a convergence of interests between the two nations who share civilization links and take pride in a common cultural heritage. What also brings Delhi and Jakarta closer is the fact that both pursue an independent foreign policy doctrine. Located strategically, Indonesia as a matter of policy, does not allow foreign military bases on its territory.

Modi's visit in 2018 led to a strategic engagement in which the nations decided to hold annual summit meetings and framed a "robust architecture of dialogue in place, including the Ministerial and Working Group Mechanisms". They also agreed to enhance mutual trust through regular interactions between the defence forces of the two countries.

A joint statement by Modi and Indonesian President Joko Widodo led to the adoption of a 'Shared Vision on Maritime Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific between India and Indonesia', with the belief that the two nations can cooperate in the maritime sector and be a force of stability in the region. The two are engaged comprehensively on this.

Despite the restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Delhi and Jakarta have made progress on the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership through regular discussions. Prof. Ghoshal says: "A lot is happening in terms of foreign policy--dialogues, visits and discussions. But India will have to up its game by walking the talk and reducing its bureaucratic tape. The ASEAN nations, including Indonesia, look for clear objectives. India will have to move faster on the discussions".

Analysts point out China's assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region is also providing the subtext for spurring stronger New Delhi-Jakarta ties. China has been intruding in the direction of the Natuna islands claimed by Indonesia. India, on its part, has still not seen the restoration of status quo ante following China's ingress in Ladakh.

Indian strategic planners fully understand Indonesia's importance in ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific region. Indonesian archipelago hosts at least four major choke points, which can be leveraged to counter Beijing, as some of them are critical for China's seaborne trade.

Foremost among these channels is the Malacca strait-a narrow, 890 km stretch of water between the Malay Peninsula and the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The vast majority of China's oil imports, from the Gulf, Venezuela and Angola, passes through this route, which is also the lifeline for Japan and South Korea - the other major industrial economies of the region.

Indonesia also hosts the Sunda Strait-the channel between the islands of Sumatra and Java. It is an important waterway for ships travelling along the Cape route in Africa to East Asia. Australian vessels setting course to destinations in Southeast or East Asia, also make active use of this passage.

The third channel, the Lombok Strait, also a part of the Indonesian archipelago, is deep and wide. It is therefore ideal for transiting huge oil tankers and other monster ships with 100,000 dead weight tonnage or more. The Ombai-Wetar Straits, also in Indonesia, play a unique military role. Because they are extremely deep, they provide undetected passage for submarines traveling between the Pacific and Indian Ocean. Consequently, there is considerable interest in these straits among the strategic communities of the Indo-Pacific countries, who are wary of the transit of Chinese submarines from the Pacific to the Indian Ocean.

(This content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative/

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
New Delhi, June 15 : Vietnam has started the final stage phase III trials of its domestically developed coronavirus vaccine candidate that the country expects to roll out for mass use by the end of the year, according to a NikkeiAsia report from Hanoi.

Nanocovax, developed by startup Nanogen Pharmaceutical Biotechnology in collaboration with Vietnam Military Medical University, started the final trials on Thursday, the company said. About 13,000 people will participate in the trials, and the results will be compiled by September, Nanogen said.

The development of the vaccine comes as a major breakthrough, as Vietnam will not have to be dependent on China for Covid vaccines amid the acute shortage of doses worldwide. Vietnam has fought a bloody war with China in the past and is constantly facing problems over its ownership of the Spratly Islands, its maritime limits and offshore oil and gas assets with its aggressive neighbour.

The sudden surge in coronavirus cases in India led to restrictions in the export of Indian vaccines in March this year which came as a major setback for countries like Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Vietnam's ambassador to India, Pham Sanh Chau had opted for Bharat Biotech's Covaxin dose at Delhi's Dr Ram Manohar Lohia hospital and paid tributes to India's achievement on the vaccine front at the time.

China had made a big push for its vaccines in the south-east Asian region as part of its gunboat diplomacy, but the countries were wary on the offer because transparent data was not available on the doses being provided. The vaccine offer was also seen as a part of China's coercive foreign policy with an eye on the adjoining territories and exclusive economic sea zones of its neighbours.

Countries such as Thailand, the Philippines and Malaysia had rejected China's offer and finalised deals for procuring COVID-19 vaccines from US pharma giant Pfizer and Britain's AstraZeneca which also has a collaboration with Pune-based Serum Institute of India.

The first phase of the Nanocovax trials started in December. Everyone injected with the candidate during the second-phase trials produced antibodies, and the vaccine so far has been found to be safe, the report said.

Vietnam has been more successful than its neighbours in containing the spread of the coronavirus. With a population of 100 million people, the country has a total caseload of around 10,000.

But the number of infections has shot up in recent weeks, raising the possibility that the government will allow Nanocovax to be administered on an emergency basis.

Nanogen is preparing to mass-produce Nanocovax. The company has capacity to produce roughly 100 million doses a year at facilities in Ho Chi Minh City, the NikkeiAsia report said.

However, due to the acute shortage Vietnam had, on June 4, authorised emergency use of the vaccine made by China's Sinopharm. But it still remains to be seen whether Vietnam will go in for the import of the doses.

(This content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative/

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
New Delhi, June 15: Amid the deadly Covid 19 pandemic, when the Galwan Valley clash between India and China took place exactly a year ago resulting in the death of 20 Indian soldiers, many pundits had predicted that the bloody episode would lead to a complete breakdown in economic relations between the two countries.

Within days of the clash, India, concerned over privacy and security threats, banned 59 Chinese apps including the popular TikTok, WeChat, UC Browser and Weibo among others resulting in huge losses for the companies. India also decided to bar Chinese tech giants-- Huawei and ZTE to participate in the country's 5G rollout.

"The apps were banned because of security threats but beyond that India has not taken any step which is not practical. It is true that New Delhi will remain watchful..that cannot be held against us," an insider told India Narrative.

External affairs minister S. Jaishankar said that border tensions cannot be taken in isolation while continuing to co-operate with China in other areas.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave a clarion call for making India Atmanirbhar and boost Make In India. Though Modi said that India must be the world's factory and even manufacture for domestic market, the person pointed out that the government maintained that the country needed to be integrated in the global supply chain management.

"India has been importing raw materials and other critical goods from China, that has continued but again we must understand that boosting domestic manufacturing is beneficial to the country and is the need of the hour," the person said.

But did the Galwan Valley incident bring India-China economic ties to a halt? No, Since Galwan, India has shifted gears in terms of economic diplomacy with China.

On one hand India has strongly defended certain areas of economic engagements but on the other, has continued to deal with China. In a major decision, India also pulled out from the mega trade deal Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), driven by China primarily to protect its own manufacturing industry.

However New Delhi, which assumed a greater role on the global political stage with an unprecedented focus on the Indo Pacific region and a heightened pitch against Beijing back home, it has also carefully balanced its economic relations refraining from any knee jerk reaction against its populous neighbour.

Despite the rising tensions between the two neighbours and a clarion call to boycott China-made goods by the traders, China remained India's largest trade partner in 2020. The two-way trade between the Asian giants stood at $77.7 billion, albeit lower than $85.5bn clocked in the previous year.

Notably, the Narendra Modi government revised its foreign direct investment (FDI) policy to bar any "opportunistic" takeover or acquisition in domestic companies by its neighbouring countries. But the announcement was made before the Galwan Valley incident. The move was aimed at protecting domestic companies from hostile takeovers amid dropping valuations due to the Covid 19 pandemic. "The decision was the need of the hour as there have been instances of hostile takeovers by foreign companies amid the Covid induced financial stress, it was not linked to Galwan, contrary to the narrative," the person said.

Several reports had suggested that China-backed funds including Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) and China Investment Corporation (CIC) were aggressively looking for investment opportunities in Indian companies in various sectors as their valuations had taken a hit with the spread of the pandemic.

Since April 2020, India has received over 120 FDI proposals of about $1.63 billion from China. According to India Briefing, most of these investments are for brownfield projects. The authorities have started clearing pending proposals which are smaller in size.

Post Galwan clash, India has carefully re-chartered its economic relations with China

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, June 15: While the stand-off between India and China was at peak in the Galwan Valley, after a lethal but unarmed clash on June 15 last year, the wheels of diplomacy, and more, began to swiftly turn between Islamabad and Beijing.

The public response was muted from the Pakistani side but as an "All weather friend" of China, it was obvious that Pakistan would show its support for China--less overtly but more covertly.

This was evident in the statement by foreign Minister Shah Mahmoud Qureshi when he said that China cannot remain ignorant towards India's "illegal" construction of roads in Ladakh. Pakistan was obviously trying to cash in on the situation. It chose the line that its confrontation with China was another illustration that India was destabilizing the entire South Asian region.

Qureshi therefore flagged India's so-called aggressive behaviour towards its neighbours that could put regional peace and security at stake. The Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan also criticised the Modi government and his "expansionist policies" while stating that India's aggressiveness is a threat to India's neighbours. India has border disputes with Nepal, China, and Pakistan and is being constantly threatened with false flag operations. Such continuous arrogant behaviour will not be tolerated, he said, while trying to drive a wedge between India and its South Asian neighbourhood, in its bid to undermine New Delhi's status as a rising regional power.

In slamming India post-Gawan, Khan was following up on his earlier steps of downgrading diplomatic ties with India by withdrawing its High Commissioner after India abrogated Article 370 in August 2019.

India-Pakistan ties were already going steeply south ahead of the Galwan incident. After abrogating Article 370 and Article 35A, India reasserted its claims over PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan in accordance with the February, 1994 Parliament resolution. The Survey of India's new map depicted Gilgit-Baltistan and Aksai China within the UT Ladakh boundary. Another move was the India Meteorological Department including areas in PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan in its daily weather forecasts, starting May 6 last year.

Post-Gawan, the future of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project under the Belt and Road Initiative blipped ever-more strongly on the China-Pakistan radar.

China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a multi-billion dollar project that serves as the flagship of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), from the very outset. As CPEC passes through Pakistan Occupied Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, both China and Pakistan have a joint interest in protecting the area that India energetically claims. China and Pakistan appear to have been worried that India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has become strategically confident. The Doklam standoff, cross LoC surgical strikes, Balakot air strike,Operation All Out in Kashmir and the abrogation of Article 370, further gave rise to the perception of India's strategic confidence.

It is understood that the Chinese have conveyed their concerns over CPEC to its all-weather ally Pakistan as India has very strongly objected to Beijing exploiting the ecologically sensitive Gilgit-Baltistan area and PoK.

Last year, according to a US intelligence report, China had a much better understanding of Indian troop positions and movements ahead of the June 15 Galwan Valley clash in Ladakh, thanks to Pakistan.

Some analysts say that the revival of the ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan, and the blow-hot blow-cold noises towards normalisation of India-Pak ties serve China's interests. Any breakthrough between India and Pakistan is likely to secure CPEC, China's too-big-to-fail flagship project under its BRI.

(This content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative/
Chandigarh, June 15 : Categorically rejecting the Opposition's allegations on supply of vaccines to some private hospitals and procurement of 'Fateh Kits' as "politically motivated", Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday said that there was no question of the government making profits amid the pandemic.

Hitting out at the Akalis and the Aam Aadmi Party "for spreading misinformation to further their political ambitions", he charged both the parties with making a motivated hue and cry to push their electoral agendas with an eye on the 2022 Assembly elections.

Asserting that the state has not indulged in any wrongdoing, the Chief Minister said quick and unusual decisions have to be taken in an emergency war-like situation.

All protocols were strictly followed and emergency rules were invoked to meet the crisis, he added. All decisions were taken in the interest of the people of the state, and all due procedures were followed, he said, terming media reports on alleged scams as nothing but "sensationalism".

Amarinder Singh said he was with his officials 100 per cent on these issues, adding that all right steps were taken and "no amount of Opposition hullaballoo can undermine the true intent of his government, which was focused on protecting the lives of the people".

The state's doctors and bureaucrats had been doing an excellent job in fighting the war with their backs against the wall, he said, declaring that Punjab would beat the virus.

The Chief Minister also took serious note of the large-scale gatherings being organised by the Shiromani Akali Dal against the state government in brazen violation of the Covid safety protocols and the curbs in place.

In their desperation for power, Sukhbir Badal and his party colleagues were endangering the lives of the people through such gatherings, he added.
Kolkata, June 15 : Thousands of people who have fallen victim to the 'war on drugs in the Philippines are now a step closer to justice, if a recommendation for a full investigation into the suspected crimes against humanity by International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda is accepted by the courts judges.

The ICC Prosecutor's decision to recommend opening of this investigation provides hope to thousands of victims of the government's 'war on drugs' campaign.

"It is a welcome step towards holding (Rodrigo) Duterte and all other perpetrators accountable for the actions they took in this long-drawn 'war on drugs'," eight Filipino and Asian human rights organisations said in a joint statement.

These are Philippines-based organisations Balaod Mindanaw, DAKILA - Philippine Collective for Modern Heroism, Karapatan Alliance Philippines, In Defense of Human Rights and Dignity Movement (iDefend), Purple Action for Indigenous Women's Rights (LILAK), Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA), Task Force Detainees in the Philippines (TFDP), and regional organisation, the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA).

On Monday, Bensouda requested for an investigation into the Philippines government's 'war on drugs' as there was "reasonable basis to believe that crime against humanity had been committed within the context of the country's war on drugs".

He observed that the available information has indicated that members of the police force "unlawfully killed between several thousand and tens of thousands of civilians".

"As human rights organisations in the Philippines, we have been witnesses to the unspeakable damage brought on not only by the government's 'war on drugs', but also the relentless reprisals against individuals and groups who criticised and fought against this campaign.

"We call on the ICC to move towards this investigation, and to ensure that the victims and the civil society are made part of this process," the groups said in the statement.

Documentation by civil society groups in the Philippines has demonstrated systematic use of violence by the police in the 'war on drugs' campaign, a state policy enforced by President Rodrigo Duterte and his government.

The number of killings and other violations have varied, but they are estimated to be in tens of thousands. Amid international scrutiny, the government has denied responsibility for these killings.

The eight organisations further called for the UN Human Rights Council to remedy its flawed approach on the situation in the Philippines and mandate a comprehensive international investigation into the extrajudicial killings as well as the broad range of serious human rights violations committed in the context of the 'war on drugs'.

"The decision by the ICC Prosecutor further validates the stories of the victims -- often poor and marginalised families whose suffering have been ignored by the government, and who have been deprived of justice for so long," said the statement.

Meanwhile, domestic mechanisms for accountability remain lacking.

A review by the country's Department of Justice following a damaging report by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has been criticised for its lack of progress.

The OHCHR report, released on June 4, 2020 had detailed widespread violations and impunity on the part of the Philippines National Police and other state apparatuses.

Duterte has repeatedly assured police officers protection from their crimes, while inciting violence against human rights defenders and journalists who have criticised the campaign.

The groups also called on the Philippines government to refrain from obstructing ICC proceedings and to ensure the safety and security of the families of the victims who cooperate with the possible investigation.

Others subjected to harassment and intimidation for assisting the victims' families vowed to continue their work despite dangers of reprisals.

"The ICC Prosecutor's decision is a message to the world that mass atrocities anywhere cannot be tolerated, and that perpetrators must eventually face justice. In the Philippines, this is a welcome step towards ensuring that the grave violations and the countless victims under the Duterte administration will not be forgotten," said the statement by the eight rights groups.
New Delhi, June 15 : India's merchandise exports in May rose to $32.27 billion, higher by 69.35 per cent over $19.05 billion recorded in May 2020, official data showed on Tuesday.

The exports last month recorded a 8.11 per cent growth over the May 2019 levels.

The country's merchandise exports in April 2021 had risen to $30.63 billion.

As per the data, the value of non-petroleum and non-gems and jewellery exports in May 2021 was $23.97 billion, as compared to $16.36 billion in May 2020, registering a positive growth of 46.50 per cent.

"As compared to May 2019, non-petroleum and non-gems and jewellery exports in May 2021 registered a positive growth of 11.51 per cent," an official statement on foreign trade said.
Chennai, June 15 : The Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) has urged the education department of the Tamil Nadu government to speed up filling of backlog vacancies of Scheduled Castes (SCs) in higher educational institutions across the state.

Villupuram MP and senior VCK leader D. Ravikumar, in a letter to the Tamil Nadu Higher Education Minister, K. Ponmudi, urged him to speed up filling of backlogs for SC teaching and non-teaching staff in government colleges and government-aided colleges with immediate effect.

Ravikumar in the letter said a report on the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) which was released on June 10 has found that there is a huge backlog of vacancies for SCs in higher educational institutions.

The survey points out that the number of teaching posts has increased to 2,02,085 for 2019-20 as compared to 1,68,959 posts during 2011-12. The VCK leader said even after 33,126 teaching posts were created in the last nine years there is a huge backlog of vacancies in teaching positions in the SC category. The letter said this was a matter of grave concern.

Ravikumar said if the stipulated quota of 18 per cent for the SC community was implemented regarding the teaching posts in Tamil Nadu, as many as 36,375 persons should have been appointed out of 2,02,085 posts. The senior VCK leader said, however, there are only 22,058 faculty positions in the state and nearly 14,317 teaching posts have been denied to SCs and are lying vacant.

He said the same situation is prevailing in the case of non-teaching staff for SCs and 4,643 non-teaching posts were denied to SCs.

He called upon the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government to bring out a detailed list of backlog vacancies for SC communities in government colleges of Tamil Nadu and said a special drive must be conducted to fill these vacancies for SCs.
Lucknow, June 15 : With Covid cases declining steadily in Uttar Pradesh in the recent weeks, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has decided to further ease restrictions from June 21.

According to a government spokesman, shopping malls and restaurants will be allowed to open from June 21 with 50 per cent capacity and strict adherence to Covid protocols.

Parks will also be open from June 21 while street vendors will be allowed to do business as usual. However, a Covid helpdesk will be set up at all these places.

Adityanath also said that the night curfew hours will be reduced from June 21 onwards, from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m.

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New Delhi, June 15 : The new Delta Plus mutation of coronavirus is "a variant of interest", not "a variant of concern", the government said on Tuesday.

"Delta variant played a major role in the second wave. An additional mutation of this variant, known as Delta Plus, has been detected and submitted to the global data system. It has been seen in Europe since March and was brought into the public domain two days ago on June 13," NITI Aayog's Member Health, Dr V.K. Paul, said at a Health Ministry press meet.

"Delta Plus is a variant of interest, but not a variant of concern. It has not yet been classified as a variant of concern, in which there is adverse consequence to humanity. As per data available in the public domain, this variant nullifies the use of monoclonal antibody. We will scientifically study and learn more about this variant.

"The new variant was found outside India and we have to found out its presence, spread and way of spread in the country. INSACOG (Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomic Consortia) will keep a constant watch on the new variant and find out its harmful effects," he added.

Paul emphasised that it is important to continue to follow Covid appropriate behaviour.

"We are dealing with a highly transmissible variant this year than we were in 2020, hence we exercise greater caution and strictly abide by Covid appropriate behaviour," he said.

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San Francisco, June 15 : The independent Oversight Board on Tuesday said it has accepted a policy advisory opinion request from Facebook on the sharing of private residential information.

According to Facebook, residential addresses can be relevant to journalism and civic activism, but "exposing this information without consent can create a risk to residents' safety and infringe on an individual's privacy." While there have been several high-profile instances recently where Facebook has removed this type of content, this request for a policy advisory opinion is not linked to a specific post, the Board said in a statement.

In its request, Facebook noted several potential harms linked to releasing personal information, including residential addresses.

These include "doxing" (which refers to the release of documents, abbreviated as "dox").

Facebook claimed that "justice" and "revenge" are common motivations for doxing behaviour and that this can have negative real-world consequences such as swatting (a wrong-premises police raid) and being targeted for harassment or stalking.

As part of this, the Board has issued a call for public comments till July 9.

Facebook highlighted that both human rights and tech experts indicate that doxing and other forms of online harassment disproportionately impact women and girls, as well as other vulnerable users.
Chandigarh, June 15 : Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday directed the health authorities to start vaccination of teachers, non-teaching staff and students in 18-45 age group from all schools and colleges from June 21, to enable educational institutions in the state to open safely.

He also directed the department to ensure that all persons with co-morbidities as well as disabilities, and government employees, are vaccinated on priority.

Staff in hospitality industry, parlours, service outlets, including shops, restaurants, gyms, etc, should also be vaccinated at the earliest, he said, at the Covid review meeting.

Judicial officers and lawyers should also be prioritised so that normal court functioning can safely resume, directed Amarinder Singh, while asking the Health Department to reach out proactively to nursing mothers, who have been clarified to be eligible for vaccination.

Expressing concern over the gender gap in vaccination, he directed the health experts to identified the reasons and rectify the situation.

The Chief Minister also ordered ward wise and village wise campaigns in cities, towns and rural areas that saw higher positivity and mortality in order to prioritise them for vaccination.

Pointing out that Punjab was perhaps the only state in the country to have put in place a vaccination strategy for the 18-45 age group that prioritises the poor and the vulnerable, the Chief Minister expressed happiness that almost one lakh co-morbid youth and 3.5 lakh young construction and other workers, had been vaccinated free of cost by the state government.

Over 70,000 young family members of healthcare workers have been prioritised, while 'rehriwalas', bus drivers, shop workers and other deserving categories are also receiving vaccination from the state supplies, he noted.

Health Secretary Hussan Lal said the number of Covishield doses received by the state so far for the 18-45 age group stood at 586,000, of which 530,610 had been used and the state has a balance stock of 55,390.

Covaxin doses received were 150,850, with 66,040 utilised.
Hyderabad, June 15 : A statue of Colonel B. Santosh Babu, who was martyred in the bloody clash with the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) in the Galwan Valley in eastern Lakadakh on June 15 last year, was unveiled in Telangana's Suryapet town on Tuesday.

State Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development, K.T. Rama Rao, along with Energy Minister, G. Jagdish Reddy, unveiled the statue on the Court Chowrasta in Suryapet on Tuesday.

Santosh's parents, wife and other family members were also present at the ceremony held to mark his first death anniversary.

The ministers paid tributes to the late Colonel by garlanding his statue. The authorities also declared that the Court Chowrasta will henceforth be called Colonel Santosh Babu Chowrasta.

The Colonel and 19 other Indian soldiers of the 16 Bihar Regiment were killed in the clashes with Chinese troops in Galwan Valley on June 15 last year.

He is survived by his wife Santoshi, nine-year-old daughter Abhigna and four-year-old son Anirudh.

Santosh, who was the Commanding Officer of 16 Bihar Regiment, had been serving on Indo-China border for the last one-and-a-half years, and his family was looking forward to his transfer to Hyderabad.

An alumni of Sainik School Korukonda and National Defence Academy, Santosh got commissioned into the Bihar Regiment from the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun and went on to complete the prestigious Defence Service Staff Course from Wellington before taking over the command of his Battalion.

On the eve of Republic Day this year, the government of India had posthumously awarded the Mahavir Chakra, the second highest wartime gallantry medal, to the Colonel.
New Delhi, June 15 : Dalmia Bharat Sugar & Industries Ltd on Tuesday said that it plans to augment its ethanol manufacturing capacity to 15 crore litres per annum from January 2022, from eight crore litres currently.

The move is in line with the government's decision to raise ethanol blending in auto fuels to 20 per cent by 2025 from around eight per cent currently.

With this capacity expansion, Dalmia Bharat Sugar will divert around 1,50,000 tonne of sugar for ethanol production compared to 60,000 tonne now, the company said in a statement. The expansion will happen at the company's Jawaharpur, Nigohi (Uttar Pradesh) and Kolhapur (Maharashtra) plants. One new distillery will be set up at Ramgarh (UP).

The company firmly believes that the recent announcement by the Central government to advance an ethanol blending programme of 20 per cent to 2025 is a step in the right direction as it will be beneficial for both the country and the sugar manufacturers, the statement said.

The move will allow the industry to cut carbon emissions and reduce the outflow of foreign exchange as crude oil imports will come down. Alongside, as the government cannot provide subsidies on sugar exports after 2023 due to WTO norms, the sugar manufacturers will now be able to divert that sugar for ethanol purposes.

The sugar industry will get benefit from this move as the industry was also looking to find ways to balance sugar production with consumption as the opportunity to exports will come down. The advancement of the ethanol blending programme means that in the next four to five years, the industry will be able to balance its output with consumption, which will translate into reasonable prices for the sweetener and keep inventory under control.

In the ongoing sugar season, Dalmia Bharat Sugar has exported 66KMT of sugar so far (till May 31). The sugar exports were at 192 KMT in the previous season.

Dalmia Bharat Sugar has three sugar factories located in Uttar Pradesh -- Ramgarh, Jawaharpur and Nigohi -- and two in Maharashtra -- Kolhapur and Sangli. As of now, the company has aggregate sugarcane crushing capacity of 34,000 TCD, distillery and co-generation operation of 240 KLPD and 119 MW, respectively.
New Delhi, June 15 : The Delhi High Court on Tuesday held that the fundamental right to protest is not outlawed and cannot be termed as a "terrorist act" within the meaning of the stringent anti-terror law UAPA.

It made this observation while granting bail to JNU student and Pinjra Tod activist Devangana Kalita in a case of larger conspiracy related to the northeast Delhi riots last year, in which 53 people were killed while more than 400 were injured.

A bench of Justices Siddharth Mridul and Anup Jairam Bhambhani said: "Right to protest is a fundamental right that flows from the constitutionally guaranteed right to assemble peaceably and without arms enshrined in Article 19(1)(b) of our Constitution, surely the right to protest is not outlawed and cannot be termed as a 'terrorist act' within the meaning of the UAPA, unless of course the ingredients of the offences under Sections 15, 17 and/or 18 of the UAPA are clearly discernible from the factual allegations contained in charge sheet and the material filed therewith." The High Court emphasised that offences under the UAPA are treated as extremely serious, inviting very severe punishment; and therefore, the formation of an independent judicial view by the court at every step of the way, is imperative.

The bench added that it is constrained to say, that it appears, that in its anxiety to suppress dissent and in the morbid fear that matters may get out of hand, the state has blurred the line between the constitutionally guaranteed "right to protest" and "terrorist activity".

"If such blurring gains traction, democracy would be in peril," said the bench.

Kalita was arrested for allegedly hatching a conspiracy to orchestrate riots in Delhi, the capital's first since 1984's anti-Sikh riots. She was accused of calling people to come out and block roads against the Centre's contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). The police claimed this resulted in violence, which broke out between anti- and pro-CAA protesters, leading to death of 53 people and leaving more than 400 injured. On January 29, a trial court dismissed bail applications of Kalita.

Citing allegations contained in charge sheet and the material adduced therewith, the court said: "We do not think that the accusations made against the appellant under sections 15, 17 and/or 18 of the UAPA are prima facie true." The court added that inflammatory speeches, 'chakka jams', instigation of women protesters and other actions, to which Kalita was alleged to have been party to, crossed the line of peaceful protests permissible under the constitutional guarantee, but, would yet not amount to commission of a "terrorist act" as understood under the UAPA.

"We are afraid, that in our opinion, shorn-off the superfluous verbiage, hyperbole and the stretched inferences drawn from them by the prosecuting agency, the factual allegations made against the appellant do not prima facie disclose the commission of any offence under Sections 15, 17 and/or 18 of the UAPA," said the court.
Mumbai, June 15 : Producer Prernaa V. Arora will direct a couple of songs in her upcoming production, "Rosie: The Saffron Chapter".

The horror film directed by Vishal Mishra marks the return of Mallika Sherawat and the big screen debut of Shweta Tiwari's daughter Palak Tiwari, and also features Vivek Oberoi, debutant Shivin Narang and Arbaaz Khan.

Talking about Prernaa directing songs in the film, director Mishra says: "I was extremely happy with the vision of Prernaa as she conceptualised the song in a very contemporary way but at same time keeping in mind the sensibility of nineties' melodies of the song. We head to Lucknow for the final schedule of the film, for 18 days." The film is said to be based on true events at Saffron BPO, reportedly one of the most haunted places in Gurugram. The story revolves around a girl called Rosie who was an employee in this BPO.
Kolkata, June 15 : Mukul Roy was the first one to leave the BJP and rejoin the Trinamool Congress but he is not the last because several frontline leaders who had joined the BJP before the election are re-establishing contact with the Trinamool top brass, clearly indicating their disillusionment about the saffron brigade and giving it a tough time to stem the impending exodus.

In the last few days, after Roy's switchback, several high-profile leaders including Rajib Banerjee and Sovan Chatterjee, along with Baisakhi Banerjee, have met Trinamool Secretary General Partha Chatterjee whose mother died a few days back. Though both of them termed it to be a courtesy visit, insiders in the party indicated that the return of Rajib Banerjee or Sovan Chatterjee is only a matter of time.

Asked about it, Chatterjee said: "Today I came here to express my solidarity with Partha Chatterjee. I came when his wife died. So don't mix it up with politics." However, he added: "The day I was arrested by CBI... it was black day for me but our Chief Minister despite all the differences called me and stood firmly behind me along with the other three who were also arrested by CBI. I am grateful to her from the core of my heart." "Our Chief Minister considers him (Sovan) to be a part of her family and so it is hard to understand their relationship. We are grateful to her for her kindness," Baisakhi Banerjee said. "We have left a place and now we are in the present state. We have neither lost any election nor we were a part of the election campaign," she added.

Interestingly enough a day before the duo met Partha Chatterjee, former Trinamool minister Rajib Banerjee, who had joined the BJP before the election, met Partha Chatterjee. However, both of them were tight-lipped about the meeting but quite some time, Rajib Banerjee came in open protest against BJP's criticism of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and said that the party should accept the mandate and work for the people of the state.

Another turncoat Prabir Ghosal, who went to the BJP along with Rajib Banerjee was in high praise for party supremo Mamata Banerjee and her nephew and new national General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee.

Similarly, several former Trinamool MLAs like Sonali Guha and others have expressed their willingness to return back to the Trinamool.

The situation is such that state BJP President Dilip Ghosh had to come out with an open statement. "BJP is the largest party in the world and we have accepted the people who wanted to come to our party. We never insisted them to join and now if they feel that they will leave the party, it is their choice. But one thing everyone should understand, that if you want to stay in this party, you will have to sacrifice. If someone comes only for post and power, they cannot stay," Ghosh said.

But it is true that the long queue in the BJP to rejoin the Trinamool is worrying the state BJP leaders.

"Our party should have been more careful in accepting people from other parties. We don't belong to the same culture. Our ethics and ideology are completely different from other political parties and so it was a mistake to accept them without any kind of orientation. It will create a bad impression on the people. Next time we should be more careful," a senior BJP leader said.

Meanwhile, there have also been protests in several areas against taking back these "traitors" back into the Trinamool. There were protests in Domjur in Howrah and several areas in Hooghly against Rajib Banerjee and Ghosal, and it is certain that it wouldn't be easy for these leaders to return back to the party.

"The Chief Minister has made it very clear that those who used foul language against the party will not be accepted. She will take the final call but one thing is certain that it will be decided on a case to case basis," Trinamool state General Secretary Kunal Ghosh said.
Patna, June 15 : LJP chief Chirag Paswan, who is facing a massive rebellion in the party, alleged that his uncle Pasupati Kumar Paras was conspiring against him since his father and LJP founder Ram Vilas Paswan was in ICU in a Delhi hospital last year.

He also alleged that during Paswan senior's last rites, his mother Reena Paswan had given Rs 25 lakh but not a single penny was expended by Paras.

He also uploaded a letter written on March 29 on Twitter where he made serious allegations against Paras.

Chirag Paswan said that Lok Jan Shakti Party is like his mother but Paras is involved in cheating the party.

"I wrote this letter on March 29, the day of Holi. It was my first Holi when my father was not with me. As Paras was thinking against the party, I wanted a meeting with him but he refused. Party leaders Abdul Khaliq and Suraj Bhan Singh tried their level best to sort out this problem but he did not agree," he said.

"When Nitish Kumar came to power in 2017, Paras established a mutual understanding with him on an important ministry portfolio. This was against the wish of my father, who was wanting a ministry for MLA Raju Tiwari, Raj Kumar Shah or MLC Nutan Singh. When Paras expressed his view to get a ministry for himself, Ram Vilas Paswan turned silent then," Chirag Paswan said.

"When Ram Vilas Paswan was in ICU, he learnt about the anti-party activities of Paras. He called him on phone and said that he should stop the activities that may go against the party.

"In the Bihar Assembly election 2020, my father directed us to contest the election without any coalition with other parties but Paras openly gave statements in favour of Nitish Kumar. He had not campaigned for the party in that election even once. Moreover, he has taken 5 tickets for himself," Chirag Paswan said in the letter.
Mumbai, June 15 : The beleaguered Hotel & Restaurant Association of Western India (HRAWI) - founded by J.R.D. Tata - on Tuesday urged Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to allow them to reopen for business in Mumbai.

HRAWI President Sherry Bhatia said that though Mumbai has achieved a Level 2 status as per the latest norms, restaurants and bars in the city have still not been permitted to function as usual, though they are reeling under huge losses.

"The industry with 210,000 restaurants and around 10,500 hotels in the state is under a lockdown in Mumbai practically for 15 months since March 2020, barring a brief period of around 4-5 months, but with several restrictions. Besides no relief has been granted in terms of statutory charges that have led to closure of almost 40 percent of the establishments in the state," Bhatia said.

Senior Vice President Pradeep Shetty said that the hospitality industry scrupulously adheres to all the SOPs and norms prescribed by the state, Centre and other agencies or local authorities and are the safest in terms of Covid-19 protocols as compared to any other industry.

"There was no known case or data of spread of the Covid-19 from restaurants making them among the safest type of businesses to function even during strict lockdown conditions," Shetty said.

Bhatia and Shetty called upon Chief Minister Thackeray and Tourism Minister Aditya Thackeray to give due consideration to all these aspects and permit reopening of all eateries in the city to save the livelihoods of millions of owners, employees and others engaged in the business, and prevent them from closing down.

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Patna, June 15 : The Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) MP from Samastipur in Bihar, Prince Raj, landed in an alleged sex scandal on Tuesday after his cousin brother and ousted LJP chief Chirag Paswan revealed a letter dated March 29 mentioning the involvement of the former in a sexual act with a woman leader of the party.

Chirag Paswan revealed that Prince Raj was involved in a sexual act with a woman leader of the party who was later blackmailing him.

"When this matter came to my knowledge, I suggested Prince Raj to register a complaint with the police. I have discussed this with Pasupati Kumar Paras, who is an elder in my family, but he did not take it seriously," Chirag Paswan said in the letter.

The woman had reportedly alleged that Prince Raj had sexually exploited her.

Prince Raj is the son of late Ram Chandra Paswan, the brother of late Ram Vilash Paswan, the founder of LJP.

After the death of Ram Chandra Paswan, Prince Raj contested from Samastipur with Chirag Paswan campaigning for him.

The LP is witnessing high drama since Monday after Chirag Paswan was unseated as the leader of the party in the Lok Sabha by his uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras.

Five out of the six LJP MPs in the Lok Sabha went against Chirag Paswan, including Prince Raj, leaving him isolated in his own party, which was formed by his father 21 years ago.

Besides Paras and Raj, Mahmood Ali Kaiser, Veena Devi and Chandan Singh were among the rebel MPs.

On Tuesday, Chirag Paswan was removed as LJP President in an emergency meeting convened by five rebel MPs. Soon after that, Chirag Paswan held a parallel executive committee meeting virtually, where it was decided to expel the five rebel MPs for 'anti-party' activities.
Hyderabad, June 15 : The Hyderabad police have summoned Pradeep Agarwal, senior sales director in Oracle India, to appear before it for questioning in a case of cheating lodged against him and three others earier this year.

The police on Monday served the notice to Pradeep, who is also said to be the mentor and former Managing Director of MADS Creations, a Gurugram-based interior design service provider.

S. Naveen Reddy, sub-inspector of police, Jubliee Hills Police Station, has asked Agarwal to appear before him within seven days for questioning.

The officer told IANS that the case was registered against Agarwal, his wife Meenu Agarwal and two others, all residents of Gurugram, on February 2, 2021, under Sections 406 (criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The case was booked on a complaint filed by a Telugu television channel, which alleged that it was duped to the tune of Rs 2 crore by the accused persons, who were given project for interior designing of its office.

Pradeep reportedly claimed to be country head of Oracle India. The police official earlier said this was not confirmed yet.

Meanwhile, Oracle clarified on Tuesday that Agarwal is not its India head. "Oracle has zero involvement in this matter. We would also like to state that Pradeep Agarwal is not the Oracle India Head," the company said.

However, he is a senior sales director in the IT firm.

In the notice, the officer said that during investigation, the police found that there are reasonable grounds to question Agarwal to ascertain the facts and circumstances.

The accused has been directed not to tamper with the evidence or threaten any person.

"Failure to attend/comply with the terms of the notice can render you liable for arrest under Section 41-A (3) and (4) of CrPC," the notice said.

The complainant alleged that Agarwal and the other accused persons duped their clients by taking advance money for executing inferior quality work and in some cases vanishing from the site without completing the project.

They were also unilaterally increasing the project cost on their own without consent from the client, it was alleged.

In order to coerce their clients into paying the higher amount, they were also allegedly threatening them with implication in false cases, the complainant said.
Mumbai, June 15 : Govinda's wife Sunita Ahuja turned 50 on Tuesday and the actor celebrated with a party for their children and a few family members.

Sunita says she is touched by hubby's gesture, although she missed partying with friends due to the pandemic. "Thank God that I completed Golden Jubilee. I am spending the day at home with family. The presence of Govinda, Tina and Yash (their children), my mother Savitri and brother Debu ensured we had a gala time. I dropped the plan of having an extravagant celebration amidst the pandemic. This is my second lockdown birthday and it's a bittersweet feeling. While the love and warmth make me feel good, I feel bad for not being able to meet my friends and loved ones," she told IANS.

Govinda said: "May God bless Sunita with a long and healthy life and give her all the happiness in the world. I thank everyone for keeping me and Sunita in their prayers, always."
New Delhi, June 15 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) said on Tuesday that it has filed a charge sheet against Syed Ali, an ISIS terrorist, for supplying SIM cards for terror activities.

An NIA spokesperson said that the agency filed the charge sheet against Ali, a resident of Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, on Monday before a Special NIA Court in Chennai under several sections of the IPC, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Explosive Substances Act.

The case was registered on December 28, 2019 in Chennai relating to the arrest of a few persons who had conspired at Salem and Chennai and fraudulently activated Airtel and Vodafone SIM cards by using multiple identity documents of various persons without their knowledge or consent.

Upon investigation, it was found that the accused had used the SIM cards for terrorist activities. The NIA had re-registered the case on January 21 last year.

The official said that investigation has revealed that these SIM cards were supplied to ISIS terrorists Liyakath Ali and Khaja Moideen.

The official said that Moideen, along with his co-conspirators, had used these SIM cards to "organise conspiracy meetings, recruit persons, collect prohibited arms and ammunition, procure jungle camping equipment, raise funds and harbour associates".

"They were also making and testing IEDs, using dark web for secret communications with foreign-based handlers, as part of the preparations to wage jihad, after establishing a Wilayah (province) of ISIS/Daesh in the forests of South India," the official said.

The NIA had earlier filed a chargesheet against 12 accused persons under various sections of IPC and UAPA.

The official said that during further probe, it was revealed that Ali was highly tech-savvy.

"Ali had assisted Moideen in using the dark web, encrypted communication to communicate with a foreign-based handler and had also participated in conspiracy meetings and arranged safe hide-outs. In order to further this conspiracy, he had also procured explosive materials and gadgets to experiment with IEDs," the official added.
Jaipur, June 15 : Six Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLAs in Rajasthan, who had defected to the Congress, extended their full support to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Tuesday, and questioned the loyalty of the Sachin Pilot camp, alleging that the latter had tried to topple the state government and hence should not be rewarded.

Ex-BSP MLA Sandeep Yadav, who had joined the Congress around two years back along with five other party MLAs, said that they had saved the government and brought stability in the state and hence they should be rewarded.

The party high command should not come under pressure from those who had tried to topple the state government, he said.

Yadav also said that the 19 MLAs who had rebelled against Gehlot were 'traitors', as the government was about to fall because of them.

"What right do they have to put pressure on the Congress high command," he askes, adding that the party high command should not tolerate indiscipline and action should be taken against the Pilot faction.

Another ex-BSP MLA, Rajendra Guda, said that the Congress high command will have to identify the 'real' and 'fake' leaders.

"We are the real ones who had saved the government. The high command will have to understand that instead of listening to the 19 MLAs who betrayed us, it should listen to us," he said.
Mumbai, June 15 : A Mumbai court on Tuesday sentenced three Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists to 10 years rigorous imprisonment in the Nanded LeT module case, officials said on Tuesday.

An NIA spokesperson said that a Special NIA Court here sentenced Mohammad Muzammil to 10 years rigorous imprisonment under the relevant sections of IPC and UA(P)A, and five years under several sections of Arms Act besides slapping a fine of Rs 5,000. The court also sent Mohammad Sadiq and Mohammad Akram to 10 years rigorous imprisonment.

The case was initially registered at by ATS Mumbai on Auguat 31, 2012 under Arms Act relating to the arrest of the accused persons and the subsequent recovery of firearms.

The official said that initial investigation had revealed that the accused were members of the banned terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba and Harkat-ul-Jihad-e-Islami (HuJI).

NIA had taken over the probe on June 24, 2013.

The spokesperson said that the probe has revealed that Akram went to Saudi Arabia under the guise of seeking employment as a driver with the help of wanted acused Mohammed Abdul Majeed, a native of Hyderabad presently settled in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

"During his stay in Saudi Arabia, Akram was introduced to various LeT members and operatives, including absconding accused Siddique Bin Usman aka Abu Hanzala, a native of Hyderabad, and Mohamed Shaeed Faisal aka Ustad, a native of Bengaluru," the official said.

He said the probe further revealed that Akram and the other accused persons had held conspiracy meetings in Riyadh and Dammam in Saudi Arabia to carry out targeted killings of prominent Hindu leaders, journalists, politicians and police officers in various parts of India.

"Akram was then sent back to India for executing these killings in different cities, including Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Nanded, to unleash terror in the society. Akram was assigned the task of identifying the suitable targets for his old associates from Nanded, Muzzamil and Sadiq," the official said.

He further pointed out that they all had travelled to Hyderabad in June 2012 to meet Obaid-Ur-Rehaman, an associate of Akram and one of the charge-sheeted arrested accused, for the identification of suitable targets for carrying out terror acts.
Bengaluru, June 15 : With BJP's Karnataka in-charge Arun Singh set to land in Bengaluru on Wednesday amid rumblings of discontent against Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, the party's Karnataka unit is bracing for a rise in political temperatures.

However, the Karnataka Chief Minister remained confident of his strong position.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Yediyurappa maintained that there is no uncertainty about his continuation as the Chief Minister of the state.

"We are united and working together. There is absolutely no confusion in the party," he asserted.

During his three-day visit to the southern state, BJP national General Secretary Arun Singh is expected to give a patient hearing to the ministers and legislators, many of whom had recently expressed dissent over the CM's functioning.

However, Yediyurappa said that the disgruntled party members are very few in number. He also didn't seem to have a problem with the dissatisfied elements meeting Singh.

Singh, who will be attending a BJP core committee meeting on June 18, had last week ruled out replacing the Chief Minister.

Periodic dissent has been a constant feature of the Yediyurappa dispensation, with ministers and legislators raising concern over his allegedly autocratic style of functioning, and the interference of his sons in government matters.
Chandigarh, June 15 : Punjab Police have registered a criminal case against unknown persons for impersonating political strategist and Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh's Principal Advisor Prashant Kishor and using his name to incite some political leaders against the Chief Minister.

Police had received information that some persons had been making phone calls to political leaders and public representatives over the last five-seven days in the name of Kishor, according to a police spokesperson.

These unknown caller(s), pretending to be Kishor, had been reportedly encouraging the politicians to make public statements against the Chief Minister and to criticise his leadership, said the spokesperson, citing confidential sources.

The spokesperson said the callers, claiming to be Kishor, had also apparently been giving assurances to the political leaders, etc, that he would take up their case with the Congress high command in Delhi, if they act on his (purportedly Kishor's) advice.

A criminal case has been registered at the Commissionerate of Police in Ludhiana against the callers, added the spokesperson.
Jaipur, June 15 : BSP-turned-Congress MLA Sandeep Yadav using the term 'traitor' to describe the Sachin Pilot faction in Rajasthan has not gone down well with the former Deputy CM's camp, which has countered the claims by saying that "these are the people who changed three parties in three years and now they are the ones calling others traitors".

Six Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLAs in Rajasthan, who had defected to the Congress around two years back, extended their full support to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Tuesday, and questioned the loyalty of the Sachin Pilot camp, alleging that the latter had tried to topple the state government and hence it should not be rewarded.

Yadav also said that the 19 MLAs who had rebelled against Gehlot were 'traitors', as the government was about to fall because of them.

Reacting to Yadav's remark, Congress MLAs Mukesh Bhakar and Rakesh Pareek, both from the Pilot camp, said, "They are now calling Congress workers traitors. These are the same people who were lathicharged for their party's sake." "On whose behalf are these former BSP MLAs commenting," the duo asked while addressing a press conference here.

"Only time will tell who stands with whom. The BSP turncoats who joined the Congress are now teaching us the lesson of self-respect and are talking of saving the government.

"These are the people who are hungry for power. The Congress had won 100 seats and hence they are here. Had the BJP won 100 seats, they would have been with them," the Congress leaders added.

Earlier, another ex-BSP MLA, Rajendra Guda, said that the Congress high command will have to identify the 'real' and 'fake' leaders.

"We are the real ones who had saved the government. The high command will have to understand that instead of listening to the 19 MLAs who betrayed the party, it should listen to us," he said.
New Delhi, June 15 : The completion of the first Central Solenoid module, the most powerful magnet that is sometimes called the 'beating heart' of the ITER machine, is a major milestone for the world's largest first-of-its-kind upcoming science project in southern France for which India is among the 35 partner nations.

After a decade of design and fabrication, US-based General Atomics on Tuesday announced that it is ready to ship the first module of the Central Solenoid. It will become a central component of ITER, a machine that replicates the fusion power of the sun.

ITER's mission is to prove that energy from hydrogen fusion can be created and controlled on Earth. Fusion energy is carbon-free, safe and economic.

Despite the challenges of Covid-19, ITER is almost 75 per cent built. For the past 15 months, massive first-of-a-kind components have begun to arrive in France from three continents.

When assembled together, they will make up the ITER Tokamak a "Sun on Earth" to demonstrate fusion at industrial scale.

ITER is a collaboration of 35 partner countries -- the European Union (plus the UK and Switzerland), China, India, Japan, Korea, Russia and the US.

Most of ITER's funding is in the form of contributed components. This arrangement drives companies like General Atomics to expand their expertise in the futuristic technologies needed for fusion.

The Central Solenoid, the largest of ITER's magnets, will be made up of six modules. It is one of the largest US contributions to ITER.

When fully assembled, it will be 18 metres (59 feet) tall and 4.25 metres (14 feet) wide, and will weigh a thousand tonnes. It will induce a powerful current in the ITER plasma, helping to shape and control the fusion reaction during long pulses.

How powerful is the Central Solenoid? Its magnetic force is strong enough to lift an aircraft carrier two metres (six feet) into the air. At its core, it will reach a magnetic field strength of 13 Tesla, about 280,000 times stronger than the Earth's magnetic field.

The support structures for the Central Solenoid will have to withstand forces equal to twice the thrust of a space shuttle lift-off.

Earlier this year, General Atomics had completed the final testing of the first Central Solenoid module. This week it will be loaded onto a special heavy transport truck for shipment to Houston, where it will be placed on a vessel for shipment to southern France.

The Central Solenoid will play a critical role in ITER's mission to establish fusion energy as a practical, safe and inexhaustible source of clean, abundant and carbon-free electricity.

"This project ranks among the largest, most complex and demanding magnet programmes ever undertaken," said John Smith, GA's Director of Engineering and Projects.

"I speak for the entire team when I say this is the most important and significant project of our careers. We have all felt the responsibility of working on a job that has the potential to change the world. This is a significant achievement for the GA team and US ITER," Smith said.

The Central Solenoid modules are being manufactured at GA's Magnet Technologies Center in Poway, California, near San Diego, under the direction of the US ITER project, managed by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).

Five additional Central Solenoid modules, plus one spare, are at various stages of fabrication. Module two will be shipped in August.

Hydrogen fusion is an ideal method of generating energy. The deuterium fuel is readily available in seawater, and the only by-product is helium.

Like gas, coal or fission plant, a fusion plant will provide highly concentrated baseload energy around the clock.

Yet fusion produces no greenhouse gas emissions or long-lived radioactive waste. The risk of accidents with a fusion plant is very limited -- if containment is lost, the fusion reaction simply stops.
Kolkata, June 15 : Just before his visit to Delhi to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah, West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar wrote a strongly-worded letter to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, criticising her silence over the "post-poll retributive bloodshed, violation of human rights, outrageous assault on dignity of women and wanton destruction of property" in the state.

Dhankhar, who is also likely to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, would brief both of them regarding the 'deteriorating' law and order situation in West Bengal.

In a two-page letter addressed to the Chief Minister, Dhankhar wrote, "With heavy heart, I am constrained to observe your continued silence and inaction over the post-poll retributive bloodshed, violation of human rights, outrageous assault on dignity of women, wanton destruction of property, perpetuation of untold miseries on political opponents - worst since Independence and it ill augurs for democracy." "Suffering people are in fear of police, and the administration in turn is at the beck and call of ruling party harmads who like loose cannons are on rampage with no fear of law - 'law unto themselves'. Constitutional essence and spirit are being outraged. I beseech you to reflect and ponder over the premise of ongoing violence, i.e., punishing and disciplining those who 'dared' to vote out of volition and for the opposition," he added.

Criticising the Chief Minister for maintaining a stony silence on the issue and not even discussing it in the cabinet meetings, the Governor wrote, "Your studied silence, coupled with absence of any steps to engage in rehabilitation and compensation to alleviate the unimaginable suffering of people, force an inevitable conclusion that all this is state driven. Your stance is plunging vast suffering populace in a state of hopelessness and helplessness. Such 'punitive' decimation of human rights and dignity shames democracy." "In spite of your attention having been drawn to the enormity of situation, huge exodus of people in search of cover for life and destruction of property worth crores, there has only been stunning silence at your end and you did not deem it necessary to even deliberate this grave human tragedy in any of the cabinet meetings so far," he added.

Alleging that the police and the administration have also taken a partisan attitude, the Governor wrote, "The administration and police in such alarmingly grim situation were expected to act in stern manner and according to law. However, nothing of this kind has happened. Their role suffers from partisan stance as also abandonment of lawful obligations." "In this situation, I urge you to deliberate the issue of post-poll retributive violence in the cabinet, take all steps to restore law and order, provide much-needed succour to the suffering people by engaging in compensation and rehabilitation and hold police and administration duly accountable in exemplary manner for their partisan stance and failure in containing violence," he wrote.

"It will be greatly appreciated that keeping in view our respective constitutional positions, an interaction fructifies on these issues at the earliest. I am sure you will accord priority to this," he concluded.

Reacting strongly to the Governor's letter, the state home department said in a series of tweets, "The government of West Bengal has observed with dismay and distress that the Governor has suddenly made public a letter of his to the Chief Minister, with contents that are not consistent with real facts. The communication format is violative of all established norms." "The letter has been written to the Chief Minister and released to the public through tweets simultaneously, which disrupts sanctity of such communications. The unusual step of going public in this manner has abruptly and unilaterally shocked the government of West Bengal, all the more because the contents are fabricated," it said.

"While the post-poll violence in the state was somewhat unabated when the Election Commission of India was in charge of the law and order machinery, after the swearing-in, the state cabinet has reigned in the situation, restored normalcy and established full command over anti-law elements. The state police has been firmly directed to bring to book all anti-social elements and the government remains committed to maintain the basic fabric of society and uphold law and order," it said.

State BJP President Dilip Ghosh said, "The Governor has been reaching out to the people where the administration and the police should have gone. He is listening to them and reacting according to the purview of law and that is why the Trinamool Congress is so critical about him."
Andhra prepares to face third Covid wave, to hire more doctors Image Source: IANS News

Andhra prepares to face third Covid wave, to hire more doctors Image Source: IANS News

Andhra prepares to face third Covid wave, to hire more doctors Image Source: IANS News

Andhra prepares to face third Covid wave, to hire more doctors Image Source: IANS News

Amaravati, June 15 : The Andhra Pradesh government is making preparations and readying itself to tackle the possible third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, including by hiring more doctors.

In an effort to provide better pediatric treatment, the state is making arrangements to train the healthcare professionals for this purpose.

On Tuesday, a group of senior ministers headed by Health Minister Alla Kali Krishna Srinivas met to brainstorm on this issue, including state ministers Botcha Satyanarana, Buggana Rajendranath Reddy, Kurasala Kannababu, advisor to state government Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy, among others.

The ministers discussed Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy's advice of setting up health hubs across the state near human settlements.

Likewise, they decided to offer medical treatment to children at all government hospitals, including offering free treatment under the Arogyasri scheme.

Similarly, the ministers resolved to hasten the vaccination drive, especially for mothers with children below 5 years of age.

Senior health officials have been directed to be prepared to face any kind of situation during the possible third wave, including keeping all kinds of medicines handy.

The health officials have also been instructed to focus on providing better treatment to all those suffering from the black fungus infection.

Despite the number of Covid cases coming down in the state, the Health Minister and others sounded caution, noting that more than 2,000 black fungus cases have been reported fromacross the southern state.

Steps are also being taken to recruit more doctors to treat children.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Dhaka, June 15 : A Dhaka court on Tuesday sent Uttara Club Ltd's former President Nasir Uddin Mahmud and his associate Tuhin Siddique Omi to seven days police custody on a case of attempted rape and murder filed by cine star Pori Moni and a narcotics case filed by the police.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Nivana Khair Jesi also sent three associates of Mehmud, identified as Lipi Akter, Sumi Akter, and Nazma Ameen Bristy, to three days police custody in the same cases.

Investigation Officer Udoy Kumar Mondol, a Detective Branch Inspector, had sought 10 days remand as all the five were produced in court.

All five were arrested on Monday afternoon based on a case filed by Pori Moni over attempted rape and murder, and also under the Narcotics Control Act, after 1,000 pieces of contraband yaba tablets, foreign liquor and beer were recovered from them.

Meanwhile, Pori Moni appeared at the Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Detective Branch in the afternoon to give her statement on the attempted rape and murder on being summoned.

"It is a regular process to know the facts from the plaintiff of a case," Deputy Commissioner, Detective Branch, DMP's Gulshan Division, Mashiur Rahman, told IANS.

In a press conference on Sunday night, Pori Moni broke down as she alleged that Mehmud had attempted to rape and threatened to murder her at the Dhaka Boat Club on Wednesday (June 8) night, after Omi, her dress designer, and some others trapped her.

Pori Moni said that she, along with her younger sister Boni, was heading towards Uttara from her Banani residence around 11.30 p.m., but said Omi took her to the club with bad intentions.

She said that on the way, Omi said that he needed to go to Dhaka Boat Club for a two minute task. When they reached the club around 12.20 a.m., it was found closed. However, Omi had a conversation with someone over the phone and made arrangements to have it opened.

She said that as they went in and Boni went to the washroom beside the club bar, Mehmud appeared there, and requested them to sit at the bar for a while and offered liquor and coffee. But as she refused to drink and also sought to go, Mehmud turned violent and forced her to drink liquor, and began touching her inappropriately, she said. Other companions, including costume designer Jimmy, came forward but failed to deter Mehmud.

At one stage, Pori Moni said that she tried repeatedly to call the national emergency service at 999 but Mehmud snatched away her phone. Pori Moni alleged some four people, including her costume designer Omi, abetted his assault. She said that somehow, she managed to get out of the club around 3 a.m., helped by the staff, and ran to the Banani police station.

But as police chief Benazir Ahmed is the President of the Boat Club, police allegedly refused to attend to her or even file a case against Mehmud for 4 days, she said.

A case was finally filed at the Savar police station under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act and Section 307 of the Penal Code on Monday night, and the five accused arrested by the Detective Branch.

Earlier on Monday, in a virtual meeting, the Boat Club's Executive Committee decided to expel Mehmud from the committee. Dhaka Boat president, Inspector General of Police, Benazir Ahmed presided over the meeting held in wake of the sexual assault complaint filed by Pori Moni against him.

A press note signed by Boat Club Secretary, Lt Commander Mohammad Ahsan Amin said that a three-member probe committee has also been formed in this regard.
Puducherry, June 15 : BJP leader and first-time MLA Embalam R. Selvam is all set to become the new Speaker of the Puducherry Assembly unopposed, as the opposition DMK-Congress did not field any candidate by the Tuesday afternoon deadline.

The election for the Speaker was to be held on Wednesday.

Protem Speaker K. Lakshminarayanan is expected to proclaim Selvam as the Speaker, when the Assembly session commences at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, as there is no rival candidate.

Selvam will be the second first-time lawmake to become Speaker in the Puducherry Assembly after Congress' V.P. Sivakozhunthu in the previous house. This is the first major post held by any BJP MLA in the Puducherry Assembly.

Ever since the swearing-in of All India NR Congress leader N. Rangasamy as the Chief Minister on May 7, there was no confirmation on the formation of the new cabinet after there were differences between the AINRC and the BJP.

The AINRC and BJP have now entered into a consensus with the former having four ministers including the Chief Minister while BJP will have two. The BJP will be given the Speaker's post and the AINRC, the Deputy Speaker's post.

In the 30-member assembly, the AINRC won 10 seats, the BJP 6, the DMK 6, the Congress 2 and Independents a whopping 6 seats. Of the six Independents, one joined with the BJP. The saffron party also nominated three BJP leaders as legislators and this took the number of seats of the BJP to 10.
Guwahati, June 16 : The BJP-led Assam government would adopt the Gujarat model and follow its technological solutions in metering, billing, collection of electricity bills besides improving the functioning of various power companies, officials said on Tuesday.

According to the top officials of the power department, Assam is suffering a loss of Rs 300 crore every month due to unpaid power bills.

The Assam government would soon send a team led by Power Minister Bimal Bora to Gujarat to study the power reforms of Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (GUVNL).

An official statement said that in a bid to infuse qualitative development along with empowering the three power companies -- APDCL, APGCL, AEGCL -- economically, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday held a video conference with Gujarat Energy Minister Saurabh Bhai Patel and senior officials of the GUVNL.

During the virtual conference, the GUVNL gave a powerpoint presentation encompassing all the best practices adopted by the agency for a power surplus Gujarat.

Patel during the conference gave a brief overview of the power sector in his state and a series of initiatives that the GUVNL has been taking since the time Narendra Modi was the Chief Minister of Gujarat.

He also requested Sarma to send a delegation from Assam to Gujarat to witness the innovative and progressive steps taken for the development of the energy sector in Assam.

"Sarma said that in spite of the steps taken so far, the power companies in Assam could not turn themselves into profitable ventures. Therefore, steps have been undertaken to share the expertise of an energy-rich state to help the three power companies in Assam turn into profit making entities," a statement said.

The Chief Minister has also asked the officials to recover the unpaid power bills of government officials directly from their salaries.

He stressed on the need to make all the three companies in Assam -- Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL), Assam Electricity Grid Corporation Limited (AEGCL) and Assam Power Generation Corporation Ltd (APGCL) -- profit making ventures within the next five years.

Power Minister Bimal Bora, Chief Secretary Jishnu Baruah, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Samir Kumar Sinha, Principal Secretary for Power Neeraj Verma were present during the conference, among others.
New Delhi, June 16 : BJP Chief J.P. Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday discussed next year's Punjab Assembly polls with party state unit chief Ashwani Sharma.

The meeting, held at the BJP national headquarters here, was called to discuss plans for the Assembly polls amid the changed political situation in the state after the Shiromani Akali Dal, one of the oldest alliance partners of BJP but which had parted ways last year over the farm laws, joined hands with Mayawati's BSP.

"The meeting was called to discuss the poll strategy. Farmers' agitation in Punjab was also discussed in the meeting," a party leader said.

Contesting alone, the BJP performed poorly in local bodies polls in Punjab held earlier this year.

Sources said that plans to expand the party in new areas were also discussed, especially in rural parts of the state which the party ignored while in alliance with the SAD for decades.

"While in alliance with the SAD, the BJP focused in urban pockets and to establish as a political force, the party needed to make inroads to rural parts of Punjab," a BJP leader said.
Haveri : , June 16 (IANS) Karnataka has prepared a roadmap to tackle the possible third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic that is likely to affect the children more.

As per its plans, the state government is going to strengthen its nutrition programmes to enhance the nutrition level of the children in the state, Women and Child Welfare Minister, Shashikala Jolle, said on Tuesday.

After reviewing the child nutrition programme here, Jolle told reporters that there are around 4.47 lakh malnourished children in the state and among these, 7,751 are severely malnourished.

"Currently our focus is to streamline and improve the ways to tackle malnourishment, as these programmes have been severely affected due to the prolonged lockdowns and severe restrictions on transport movement. We are trying to address these issues on a case by case basis," she explained.

The minister added that malnutrition is a major public health emergency during the pandemic.

"Malnutrition per se may not lead to death but in these pandemic times, we need to refocus and reenergise ourselves to tackle this issue, not only by focussing just on the 7,751 children who are severely malnourished, but also those 4.47 lakh children who are bordering on malnutrition level in the state," Jolle said.

The minister added that the state government is committed to adopt all the children who have been orphaned by Covid-19.

"The state government will take care of all such children who have lost either or both their parents due to the pandemic. So far, the state has 43 such children," she said.

Answering a question, the minister said that the state government has also taken steps to reserve beds exclusively for the treatment of children in all the hospitals across the state.

"In Haveri district itself, we have reserved 119 beds to treat the children in the wake of a possible third wave hitting the state, as experts have been predicting," she said.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Bengaluru, June 16 : As a sign of breaking the chain, Covid test positivity rate declined to 3.8 per cent in Karnataka, while only 115 succumbed to the infection during the day, said the state health bulletin on Tuesday.

"Covid test positivity rate declined to 3.80 per cent on Monday from 4.56 per cent on Sunday across the state," said the bulletin.

Out of 1,32,600 tests conducted across the state during the day, 48,428 were through rapid antigen detection and 84,172 through RT-PCR method.

The case fatality rate, however, rose to 2.28 per cent on Monday from 1.75 per cent on Sunday across the state, with the virus claiming 115 lives, including 16 in Bengaluru, taking the state's death toll to 33,148 and the city's toll to 15,385 since the pandemic broke out in mid-March a year ago.

With 5,041 new cases registered on Monday, the state's Covid tally shot up to 27,77,010, including 1,62,282 active cases, while 25,81,559 recovered, with 14,785 patients discharged in the last 24 hours.

As epi-centre of the pandemic in the state, Bengaluru reported 985 fresh cases on Monday, taking its Covid tally to 11,99,143, including 83,195 active cases, while recoveries rose to 11,00,612, with 2,818 patients discharged in the day.

Meanwhile, 1,59,426 people, including 79,101 above 45 years and 72,014 in the 18-44 years age group were vaccinated across the state during the day.

"Cumulatively, 1,74,07,993 beneficiaries, including senior citizens, healthcare workers and frontline warriors have received the jab since the vaccination drive was launched across the southern state on January 16,"added the bulletin.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Aizawl, June 16 : Chief Minister of Myanmars Chin state, Salai Lian Luai has taken shelter in Indias Mizoram from the military coup hit neighbouring country while 9,250 myanmarese, including women and, have already took refuge in the bordering state, officials said on Tuesday night.

Bordered with Bangladesh, Chin, a state in Western Myanmar, shares its Western border with the northeastern state of Mizoram.

A senior official of Mizoram Home Department said on Tuesday night that the Chin state Chief Minister came to Champhai town in eastern Mizoram on Monday night.

The official on condition of anonymity said that 24 lawmakers, including Luai, of Aung San Suu Kyi's party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), have taken shelter in different districts of Mizoram, specially in the bordering areas.

"The 9,250 Myanmarese nationals are provided shelter and food by various civil society, student and youth organisations and NGOs. Many of the Myanmarese are also being sheltered by the locals," the official said.

A majority of those who have taken shelter in the bordering state belong to the Chin, also known as the Zo community who share the same ancestry, ethnicity and culture as the Mizos of Mizoram.

According to Mizoram police's CID (Crime Investigation Department), around 9,250 Myanmar nationals, who fled their country since the military seized power in the neighbouring country on February 1, are currently staying in 10 of the state's 11 districts with Champhai housing the largest number of around at 4,160.

Six Mizoram districts - Champhai, Siaha, Lawngtlai, Serchhip, Hnahthial and Saitual - share a 510 km long unfenced border with Myanmar.

Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga had earlier urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to provide asylum, food and shelter to those refugees who have arrived in the state since the military coup in Myanmar on February 1.

Referring to Union Home Ministry's advisories to the Chief Secretaries of the four northeastern states bordering Myanmar and also to the Assam Rifles and Border Security Forces for taking action to prevent illegal influx from Myanmar into India, Zoramthanga said, "This is not acceptable to Mizoram." A Mizoram government delegations comprising state's comprising Mizoram's Lok Sabha member C. Lalrosanga, Rajya Sabha member K. Vanlalvena, the State Planning Board Vice-Chairman H. Rammawi had already met separately with Vice-President and Rajya Sabha Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu, Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai, Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla and others in Delhi and persuade them to impress upon the government not to forcefully push back the Myanmar nationals sheltered in Mizoram.

Meanwhile, the MHA had earlier given directions to the chief secretaries of four northeastern states -- Mizoram, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur -- sharing borders with Myanmar to not entertain Myanmar refugees. It also instructed Assam Rifles to seal the border and prevent entry from the neighbouring country, the statement said.

The MHA letter reiterated that the state governments and UT administrations have no power to grant "refugee" status to any foreigner and India is not a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention of 1951 and its 1967 Protocol. The four northeastern states share a 1,643 km unfenced border with Myanmar.

A one-year state of emergency has been declared in Myanmar where power has been transferred to Senior General Min Aung Hlaing after President U Win Myint and State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi were detained by the military on February 1.
Kolkata, June 16 : In a bizarre incident six persons were arrested for stripping and parading a woman naked for having an extra-marital love relationship in Paschim Chengmar village in Alipurduar district on Tuesday. Five other persons were absconding and search is on for them, police said.

According to the police, the incident took place on Thursday night at Paschim Changmari village under Kumargram police station limits in West-Bengal's Alipurduar district when a group of villagers belonging to the tribal community tortured a tribal woman, tore open her clothes and paraded her naked. It has been alleged that the woman left her husband and went away with another man but came back to her husband on Thursday after six months. The woman, after the incident left for her parental home and police had no clue about the whole incident.

Police learnt about it on Sunday when a video of the incident was widely circulated on social media. Upon her return to the village, she was cornered by villagers, a police officer said. In a Kangaroo court, village elders decided stripping as a form of "punishment" for her alleged extramarital affair with a man from a neighbouring village.

"Mariya na kitna mariyega (beat me as much as you can)," the woman is heard saying in the video. A team from West Bengal police went to Assam and brought the woman back home and then she registered a complaint against the incident. According to the complaint there were 11 people involved in the whole incident and six of them have been arrested so far. "Search is on for the rest of the culprits," a senior police officer said.

"A group of villagers belonging to a tribal community tortured a tribal woman on Thursday night. We acted immediately and informed the Officer in Charge, Khamakhaguri under Kumargram police station, and arrested six persons. We applied for 14 days remand, got 12 days for further investigation. Raids are on to arrest the other accused persons and action will be taken as per law," a senior police officer said.
Twitch Streamers Go For Stream Record for Charity This Stream Record was about giving back to the hospital that saved my brother's life.

Three brothers from Florida are on pace to break one of the longest livestreams in history. The family friendly streamers Austin, Hunter, and Dylan Hamawy, collectively known as Boneymeal, are members of Optimal Ambition Esports organization. The trio has been streaming live for over 35 straight days (840+ hours), on livestreaming platform Twitch. Boneymeal has cooked, eaten, exercised, and even slept on stream.

The race for the record will be completed on Friday, June 18th.

Boneymeal has decided to donate revenue from its final record-breaking days to Nicklaus Childrens Hospital, a renowned specialty pediatric facility. The hospital is credited with saving one of the brothers lives when diagnosed with a rare brain tumor. "We cant do enough to give back to the hospital. They have done so much for our family and thousands of other families," said Austin Hamawy, Twitch Streamer.

For donation information or to support Boneymeals race to the record visit https://www.twitch.tv/boneymeal

About Boneymeal

Boneymeal are three brothers that began streaming several years ago. They provide family friendly content to nearly 100,000 followers and a community of all ages. Stay up to date by following at https://www.twitch.tv/boneymeal, Twitter at Boneymeal, Youtube Boneymeal, and Instagram Boneymeal. For additional information or to contact Boneymeal directly email Boneymeal@gmail.com.
We are truly honored to be recognized by the AMA Baltimore MX AWARDS. As the entire country adjusted to the new normal during the COVID-19 pandemic, we saw a tremendous need for our clients to communicate effectively with their customers.

Alliance Franchise Brands is thrilled to be honored by the American Marketing Association Baltimore Chapter (AMA Baltimore) for the Best Marketing Collateral Campaign of the Year during its 36th annual MX Awards on Thursday, May 20, during a virtual event.

For 36 years, the MX Awards have celebrated local organizations that demonstrate outstanding creativity, implementation, and results in their marketing campaigns. Awards are presented for outstanding overall campaigns as well as the best campaigns in specific channels or elements.

Alliance Franchise Brands received the accolade for its Back to Business Campaign which created informational and marketing collateral for a wide variety of industries from healthcare organizations, grocery stores, restaurants and auto dealerships to name a few. To help businesses continue functioning or reopen safely during the pandemic, a variety of marketing support was created, including direct mail postcards, sell sheets, videos, sales presentation, social media posts and graphics, email campaigns, and more.

We are truly honored to be recognized by the AMA Baltimore MX AWARDS, said Burke Cueny, Vice President of Marketing for Alliance Franchise Brands. As the entire country adjusted to the new normal during the COVID-19 pandemic, we saw a tremendous need for our clients to communicate effectively with their customers. The Back to Business Campaign allowed local business to reopen their doors with confidence knowing that they were clearly communicating health and safety guidelines to ensure customer confidence. Being named Best Marketing Collateral Campaign of the Year is a testament to the excellence of our team and our customers during these challenging times.

The American Marketing Association Baltimore Chapter is Marylands leading provider of networking, educational programming, and resources for marketing professionals. AMA Baltimore provides extensive opportunities for marketers to expand their networks, grow professionally, and learn about current industry trends.

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Given the incredible natural properties of cork, it makes sense that the majority of the premium wines in the United States are sealed with cork, says Carlos de Jesus, Operational Director of the InterCork program of APCOR."

According to recent research commissioned on behalf of The Portuguese Cork Association (APCOR), cork closures continue to be the market leader for the premium wine market in the US, highlighted by significant growth in both sales and market share over the past decade. Between 2010 and 2020, case sales of cork finished wines among the top 100 premium brands increased 97 percent, compared to 6 percent for alternative closures, according to Nielsen. During the last ten years, market share of premium cork finished wines jumped from 47 percent to 67.6 percent.

The latest Nielsen yearly data of the Top 100 Premium Brands from the period ending December 26, 2020, showed that US wine consumers held a strong preference for natural cork when it came to buying premium domestic wines (defined as wine priced at $6 or more per bottle), with the median price of cork finished wines sitting $3.48 higher than those finished with alternative closures (an advantage of roughly 32 percent). By the end of 2020, the Top 100 Premium Brands sold in the US included nearly 72 percent sealed with cork. Cork finished wines led alternatives in every price category, particularly in wines that were priced above $10 per bottle, with cork used by 90 percent of domestic wines over $20.

As a renewable and natural product, cork is harvested without damaging or cutting down the trees, which live for 200 years or longer. During its lifetime a cork oak tree can absorb 20 tons of CO2 from the atmosphere while producing up to 65,000 corks. Through sustainable harvesting, the cork industry is helping to fight climate change by preserving Europes largest oak forests from deforestation, while also providing high-paying jobs for agricultural farmers.

Given the incredible natural properties of cork, it makes sense that the majority of the premium wines in the United States are sealed with cork, says Carlos de Jesus, Operational Director of the InterCork program of APCOR. Its lightness, elasticity, carbon sequestration, and ability to provide consistent oxygen transfer to help with the aging process, are all part of corks unique combination of characteristics that make it unlike any other material on the market.

For nearly two decades, APCOR has been at the forefront of promotional efforts advocating on behalf of natural cork closures and the use of cork in everyday products. It is the cork industry, through its products, that makes the cork oak ecosystem viable, contributing to the maintenance of forests and the populations that depend on them.

For more information about APCOR, visit http://www.apcor.pt and http://www.100percentcork.org. You can follow APCOR on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. For questions about APCOR, please contact Paul Yanon or Augustus Weed.

About APCOR

Associacao Portuguesa da Cortica (APCOR) exists to promote natural cork and its products. APCOR is the employers association of the cork sector that represents, promotes and carries out research in the Portuguese cork industry. It was created in 1956 and is based in Santa Maria de Lamas, in the council of Santa Maria da Feira, at the heart of the cork industry around 30 kilometers from Porto, Portugals second largest city. Membership of the association is open to all companies operating in the fields of production, marketing or export of cork products. The organization advocates on behalf of the Portuguese cork industry worldwide and is the driving force of an industry based on tradition, innovation and sustainability.

About Colangelo & Partners

Colangelo & Partners (http://www.colangelopr.com) is the leading fine wine and spirits integrated communications agency in the United States, sought after by top brands and industry players for the quality of their results, creativity, and return on investment. The professionals at Colangelo & Partners work with integrity and passion to influence how US audiences perceive their clients: Earning consistent, high-quality positive media coverage; organizing signature events; strategizing and executing standout digital campaigns; and implementing trade programs that strengthen relationships within the industry. Colangelo & Partners' clientele includes global, instantly-recognizable brands and passionate, up-and-coming vignerons and distillers; regional and national institutions; and technology and e-commerce companies innovating in the beverage alcohol sector.


For example, the research page for Lifted Ram 1500 models goes over potential features, possible drivetrain configurations and other similar information. Each page will also include a carousel of pre-sorted inventory models that are currently available for purchase at Trucks Only Lifted.

Trucks Only Lifteda used truck dealership in Mesa, Arizona, that specializes in lifted trucks and SUVshas a wide variety of tools on its website to help visitors find the lifted truck they want quickly. Whether it be a specific make or model, the Trucks Only Lifted website has a research page dedicated to most major brands and models.

These research pages focus either on specific makelike Ford, Toyota or Ramor a specific modellike Silverado 1500, F-250SD or Wrangler. For example, the research page for Lifted Ram 1500 models goes over potential features, possible drivetrain configurations and other similar information. Each page will also include a carousel of pre-sorted inventory models that are currently available for purchase at Trucks Only Lifted.

There are also multiple research pages dedicated to helping users lift a truck they already own. Topics covered include how to choose bigger brakes, lift kit sizes and tire sizes, among others.

Trucks Only Lifted is also seeking to expand its pre-owned vehicle selection. Those looking to sell their lifted truck or SUV can get quote by visiting the Trucks Only Lifted Sell Us Your Truck page. Potential sellers will need to provide basic info about their vehicle like year, model and mileage. Afterwards, the seller will receive a market value quote based on the specs given.

Interested parties are encouraged to visit liftedtrucksonly.pro or call the dealership at 602-354-7623 for more info. Trucks Only Lifted is located at 550 S Country Club Drive, Mesa.
Craig Georgeff, a former federal special agent who served most of his thirty-six years covering northern Michigan, where he can still be found today when not visiting friends and family in Florida and Texas, has completed his new book Hidden Within: Nine Riveting Short Stories: an engrossing collection of tales inspired by actual events and investigations.

Nine riveting stories filled with twists and turns that keep the reader enthralled and wanting to read another. Something ideal for that long flight or that evening read, each story offering actual settings and strangely familiar facts because they are based on actual events and criminal cases in the life of the author. Two accounts, Respect and Liar, Liarclosely chronicle criminal cases easily recognizable to those involved and setting forth the gritty realism of investigations and criminal trials and the resulting effects on those impacted.

Something Remembered is a touching story of lost loves that bring forth the feelings that scar the human spirit, but that somehow makes us whole. Hidden, Alibi, Mountain Man, and A Coincidence are intriguing stories that are wound into twisting plots that keep the reader guessing until the very conclusion. Each of these four stories incorporates actual occurrences and events, some recognizable to the public, and some known only to the few involved that brings suspense and intrigue to each in a unique way.

The Widow is a touching story based on lost love set in a dying town and in the bleakness of winter. The setting for each of these stories is in Northern Michigan where the events actually occurred and incorporated the authentic and hardy attitudes of those who inhabit the backwoods, villages, and towns in the great forests and around the deep lakes well north of Detroit or Grand Rapids. African Doctor is loosely based on events in Eastern Africa involving a dedicated doctor in a refugee camp and the CIA operative assigned to rescue her.

The distinct story line in each of these nine selections offers the reader a kaleidoscope of characters and plots that make this book appealing form cover to cover.

Published by Page Publishing, Craig Georgeffs engrossing book is a fantastic choice for avid fiction readers.

Readers who wish to experience this engaging work can purchase Hidden Within: Nine Riveting Short Stories at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes Store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708.

About Page Publishing:

Page Publishing is a traditional, full-service publishing house that handles all the intricacies involved in publishing its authors books, including distribution in the worlds largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing understands that authors should be free to create, not mired in logistics like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and so on. Pages accomplished writers and publishing professionals allow authors to leave behind these complex and time-consuming issues and focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com.
Craytonia Saunders, a Phoenix, Arizona native who fell victim to the lure of street culture as a youth and served time in prison, has completed his new book Heavens Devil: How It Began: a poignant cautionary tale charting the vicious cycle of street life, crime, incarceration, and murder for a group of young boys in the south side of Phoenix, Arizona.

AOD and the fellas were hanging at the minipark, gambling and watching the girls. One of the crew members got enough money to feed the group. They decided to head to Gabes for sloppy bags. But things didnt go as planned. The BWGs were already there, and things got out of hand quickly.

AOD saw the gun and picked it up, aimed it into the crowd, and fired off one shot. The bullet hit Mike-G in the face. He stood still and then dropped to the pavement. Hearing sirens, the CC Live boys ran toward the MLK school field, where they split up and ran their own ways. AOD hid under a car for a while. When he decided to come out, he threw the gun on the roof of the elementary school and started walking as if nothing happened.

Once on the streets, he heard, Get down before I shoot your little a**.

While riding to the police station, the officer kept saying, So you like to shoot people, huh?

AOD knew enough to keep his mouth closed. Because that was the CC Lives way of doing things.

Published by Page Publishing, Craytonia Saunderss engrossing book is a riveting story based on a fictional tale of growing up in an inner city hood.

Readers who wish to experience this engaging work can purchase Heavens Devil: How It Began at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes Store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708.

About Page Publishing:

Page Publishing is a traditional, full-service publishing house that handles all the intricacies involved in publishing its authors books, including distribution in the worlds largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing understands that authors should be free to create, not mired in logistics like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and so on. Pages accomplished writers and publishing professionals allow authors to leave behind these complex and time-consuming issues and focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com.
Carols Christmas Request: an inspiring tale of renewal. Carols Christmas Request is the creation of published author, Mariliz Ischi, a native of Missouri who spent a year in an orphanage before going to college and joining the USMC. The author retired after years of service following a significant injury.

Ischi shares, Mark is devastated that his longtime girlfriend has spurned his marriage proposal. Upon graduating from college, she moves to California for a job opportunity, and he is left behind in Missouri. Unable to get a job, he joins the US Marine Corps. During deployment in Iraq, he is injured and returns to St. Louis, Missouri, where he is assigned to recruit future Marines. As the new guy, he is tasked to play Santa Claus at the local orphanage. During this activity he is captivated by a young girl who is saddened by being separated from her mother. This chance encounter will alter the course of his life forever.

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Mariliz Ischis new book is an engaging story of love, faith, and Gods grace.

Inspired by moments in the authors life, Ischi invites readers to enjoy this emotional tale of hope. This encouraging narrative is certain to tug at your heartstrings as you become invested in the relatable characters found within.

View a synopsis of Carols Christmas Request on YouTube.

Consumers can purchase Carols Christmas Request at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about Carols Christmas Request, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
We are focused on solutions for Covid-19 response, services for MSMEs and new digital offerings for India's last mile. This investment round will help us scale up our core platforms and reach our goal of ensuring 100 million citizens get access to government financial services by 2030.

Beyond Capital Fund, an impact investment fund that invests in companies that seek to improve the lives of people living in low income communities in India and East Africa, is pleased to announce its recent investment in Haqdarshak Empowerment Solutions. Haqdarshak is an early-stage enterprise that is increasing access to government and private welfare services for last-mile individuals throughout India. Beyond Capital joins a group of investors for this pre-Series A investment round, which was kicked off in July 2020 by Acumen Fund and Upaya Social Ventures.

Haqdarshak Empowerment Solutions was founded in 2016 by Aniket Doegar, PR Ganapathy, Mayank Garg, and Asha Krishnan. The company provides tech-enabled support services for government welfare benefits using a web and mobile platform complemented by a network of field workers, a majority of whom are female, known as Haqdarshaks. The company has trained more than 10,000 independent agents who have unlocked benefits for more than 654,000 citizens throughout India, totaling an aggregate value of $72 million. Haqkarshak has partnered with foundations such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation, and the Hindustan Unilever Foundation to further its important initiatives.

Access to social welfare and financial inclusion services at the last mile has been a critical challenge in India. Currently, only 40 percent of Indians are able to apply for the government services and goods that they need, as a 2017 World Bank study concluded. Haqdarshak plays a critical role in this ecosystem, acting as the bridge between national welfare offerings and their intended beneficiaries, thereby making the worlds largest democracy operate more efficiently and ensure the bottom 300 million Indians receive the benefits they are entitled.

With a robust tech platform as its base, Haqdarshak can customise its products for multiple use cases relating to welfare and access. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Haqdarshak narrowed its focus on migrant and daily wage workers, supporting them with acquiring essential identity documents, registrations, and direct relief benefits. Haqdarshak also launched a Covid-19 Resource Center to support vaccine registration, insurance coverage, and more in Indias most rural communities.

"Our commitment and vision of ensuring every citizen and small business in India gets access to government schemes and services is strengthened with this investment. We are focused on our solutions for Covid-19 response, services for MSMEs and new digital offerings for our last mile. This investment round will help us scale up our core platforms and reach our goal of ensuring 100 million citizens get access to government financial services by 2030, said Aniket Dogar, Haqdarshak Founder and CEO. We are extremely happy and excited our investors have shown faith in this vision especially in the current pandemic business environment. Their expertise in scaling businesses will help us build core teams going forward.

Haqdarshak has differentiated itself from its competition by focusing on providing an integrative tech-assisted application support system, added Beyond Capital Fund CEO Eva Yazhari. The companys approach to democratizing healthcare and financial inclusion, by ensuring the neediest individuals receive access to public and private services, strengthens communities and improves individual well-being, the core tenet of Beyond Capitals mission.

This investment, which is being matched by Beyond Capital Funds co-investing partner the Eckenstein Geigy Stiftung, will allow Haqdarshak to expand Covid-19 vaccinations, as well as health insurance coverage to more than 100 million citizens with a strategic digital push and investment in open source tools. The investment will be used for technology enhancement (B2C and B2B offerings), hiring quality talent in execution and tech teams, and strengthening the current evaluation and monitoring process.

ABOUT HAQDARSHAK EMPOWERMENT SOLUTIONS

Haqdarshak Empowerment Solutions designs and implements agent-based and direct-to-beneficiary welfare scheme linkage programs for corporates, NGOs, philanthropies, and government departments.

Please visit https://haqdarshak.com/ for more information.

ABOUT BEYOND CAPITAL FUND

Beyond Capital Fund is an impact investment fund that invests in for-profit early-stage companies throughout East Africa and India. The fund invests in businesses that are focused on greater access to health care, food security, sanitation, financial inclusion, and energy, which can increase the quality of life for consumers living in low-income communities. Though the fund seeks market-rate financial returns, Beyond Capital Fund is structured as a nonprofit, which permits the organization to emphasize fidelity to its social mission alongside its financial mandate.

Please visit http://www.beyondcapitalfund.org for more information.
Cavelo The drastic increase in remote users, endpoints and cloud applications makes knowing where your data resides challenging."

Cavelo Inc. today announced the launch of its flagship automated data discovery, classification and reporting platform. The Cavelo Discover Platform uses the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) data privacy framework and is configurable for alignment to additional regulatory compliance acts including General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA).

A remote workforce and lack of perimeter is the new normal, said James Mignacca, CEO at Cavelo. The drastic increase in remote users, endpoints and cloud applications makes knowing where your data resides challenging. The Cavelo platform is purpose-built to help IT administrators and compliance professionals identify and classify data while improving their data hygiene, thereby reducing their risk of data exposure and costly fines.

Powered by machine learning, Cavelo is a cloud compatible endpoint agent that continuously scans cloud hosted servers and applications, on-premises servers, desktops and laptops to identify, classify, track and manage sensitive data. The platform seamlessly integrates with common workflow and security tools like ticketing systems, Security Information and Event Monitoring (SIEM) and business intelligence tools for comprehensive data catchment.

Its intuitive dashboard allows administrators to create custom policies and alerts based on a number of factors including users, geo locations, access times and system access controls, while real-time data risk assessments align businesses to rolling compliance requirements.

Platform features include:



Data discovery  identify, classify and tag sensitive data, wherever it lives.

Data tracking  build an audit trail to track data travel, access and modification.

Alerting  create notifications for unapproved data activity or movement to unapproved locations.

Reporting  align to global, national and industry-based standards and requirements such as GDPR, NIST, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and more.

End-to-end encryption  safely process metadata through Cavelos cloud-hosted servers, keeping data on-premises.

Policy alerting  create rules to trigger alerts when sensitive data types are discovered on specific and unpermitted machines.

Real-time risk assessment  understand risks unique to the organization with Cavelos risk benchmarking and scoring.

IT staff or other roles responsible for compliance reporting generally aim to tick the box in terms of compliance, said Richard Stiennon, Chief Research Analyst at IT-Harvest. But the reality is that if a business cant demonstrate how they map their data in the auditing process they risk non-compliance and the fines that come with it. The prime directive for security teams is to protect data. How do you know what to protect if you don't know what and where the data is?"

In North America all businesses have an obligation to understand the data they keep and how its monitored and reported. Non-compliance and regulations violation consequences vary based on the scale of data exposure and the issuing regulatory body. Global regulations like GDPR, national regulations like Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and regional regulations like the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) issue fines that start at $2,500 for non-intentional violations and climb to a maximum of millions of dollars or 3% of global revenue.

To learn more about the platform or to schedule a demo please visit: http://www.cavelo.com/product

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About Cavelo

Cavelo helps businesses proactively reduce cybersecurity data risk and stay compliant with automated data discovery, classification and reporting. Its cloud compatible data risk management platform continuously scans, identifies and classifies sensitive data across machines, servers and cloud applications, simplifying compliance reporting and risk remediation. For more information visit http://www.cavelo.com and follow @Cavelo_Inc.
Clearcover, the smarter car insurance choice, has named Elan Mosbacher Chief Business Officer. The well-known and respected Chicago executive has nearly fifteen years of experience scaling venture capital backed technology businesses. In this newly created position, Mosbacher will focus on launching new and accelerating existing key strategic initiatives to help Clearcover scale.

Elan and I have known each other for years and I couldnt be more excited to welcome him to the team, said Kyle Nakatsuji, Founder and CEO at Clearcover. Given Elans diverse skill set, his role here at Clearcover will be unique with the goal of helping accelerate success in key areas of our business as we scale.

Prior to joining Clearcover, Mosbacher held a variety of executive leadership roles at SpotHero where he built and led the marketing, product strategy, business development, vertical general management and executive teams as the company grew from seed funding into one of the biggest consumer marketplace businesses in North America. Before SpotHero, Elan was an early employee at both Sandbox Industries portfolio company Doggyloot (acquired by GreaterGood) and DialogTech (acquired by Invoca). Mosbacher holds an MBA from Northwestern and a BS in Finance from the University of Maryland.

Im thrilled to join the Clearcover team and help continue to accelerate the companys momentum. said Mosbacher, CBO at Clearcover. Having known Kyle for quite some time, Im excited to work with such a talented team. Clearcover is poised to be one of Chicagos next big technology businesses and helping make that happen will be my goal from day one.

Mosbachers hire comes on the heels of an exciting start to 2021 for Clearcover. The company closed $200 million in Series D funding in April, raising $329 million in total funding to date. Mosbacher joins Clearcover as its third newest addition to the C-suite, following recent additions Chief Financial Officer Norman Smagley and Chief Insurance Officer Vandana Venkat.

In the past four years, Clearcover has grown from 30 employees to more than 245. This year Clearcover plans to hire close to 200 more people across engineering, product, and insurance. For more information, visit Clearcover.com/Careers.

About Clearcover

Clearcover is the smarter car insurance choice, offering better coverage for less money. Clearcovers customer-first, service-focused model powered by advanced technology delivers a convenient, reliable and affordable experience. Built for todays driver, Clearcover takes the guesswork out of car insurance, making it easy to save money and get insured in minutes. Learn more at https://clearcover.com/ and view open job postings at https://clearcover.com/careers/. Keep in touch at @clearcover or https://www.facebook.com/Clearcoverinc/.

Media Contact

press@clearcover.com
www.elev8cg.com Helping others learn to navigate an unstable environment and emerge with a competitive advantage is a key component to success in business, entrepreneurship and leadership, says Angela Delmedico, CEO and founder of Elev8 Consulting Group.

Elev8 Consulting Group CEO and founder, Angela Delmedico, was selected by Stetson University to join the Advisory Board of the Disruptive Leadership Program. The course helps students learn to innovate through disruption by identifying the value in emerging technologies, business models and organizational resources. The program combines industry thought leaders and top academic faculty. Membership is by invitation only and is based upon personal and professional accomplishments. The Advisory Board is comprised of a diverse, innovative, and well-connected network of top-flight executives.

We are honored to welcome Angela Delmedico to our Advisory Board, said Catherine Kelly, program manager of the Stetson University Disruptive Leadership program. The Disruptive Leadership Program focuses on teaching innovative thinking as a means of advancing technical, analytical, and communication skills to combat todays innovative landscape and drive ROI. With today's disruptive technologies and ever-changing customer expectations, the need to create new, valuable customer experiences has never been greater.

Delmedico has 15 years of entrepreneurial experience and a background in corporate, nonprofit, military, and government sectors. She has been published in nationwide media on marketing, publicity, branding, and business development. She presents on best practices at numerous conferences and expert panels each year. She also serves as a Board Member for Renewable Envoy, a movement to utilize renewable energy for public art. Committed to giving back, Angela and the Elev8 team donate to a variety of charitable organizations each year through volunteerism and sponsorships.

Advisory Board Members provide ongoing feedback on the Disruptive Leadership program curriculum, along with mentorship, speaking engagements, roundtable discussions, and expert panels. The program helps students innovate by identifying the value in emerging technologies, business models, and organizational resources.

Im honored to be a member of the Disruptive Leadership Advisory Board at Stetson University. Helping others learn to navigate an unstable environment and emerge with a competitive advantage is a key component to success in business, entrepreneurship and leadership,says Angela Delmedico, CEO and founder of Elev8 Consulting Group.

About Elev8 Consulting Group

Elev8 Consulting Group specializes in marketing, publicity, branding and business strategy development. With over 15 years of experience, Elev8 Consulting Group helps businesses, non-profits and government entities launch and implement strategic, engaging campaigns and maximize on ROI. Elev8 Consulting Group is dedicated to building brands from concept to company, every step along the way. CEO and founder Angela Delmedico is a proud member of the Forbes Business Council and has been published in numerous media outlets including Forbes, Medium, Tech.co, The Huffington Post, All Business, Recruiter.com, and Business Collective. Elev8 Consulting Group is a detail-oriented, max performance driven, veteran-owned business. Learn more at http://www.elev8cg.com or call 386.24.ELEV8.

About Stetson University

Founded in 1883, Stetson University is the oldest private university in Central Florida. Stetson focuses on intense learning experiences in a supportive community that allows students to develop their voice in a connected, inclusive environment. Stetson University ranks No. 4 on U.S. News & World Reports 2021 list of Best Regional Universities (South), and has been recognized as one of The Princeton Reviews 386 Best Colleges, 2021 edition. Learn more at https://www.stetson.edu/home/.

Media Inquiries:

Alexis Bott

Elev8 Consulting Group

Ph: 386.243.5388

Web: http://www.elev8cg.com

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Over 88% of families in the Denver area see the value of planning ahead for their own funeral or cremation, and they cite taking care of their loved ones as the number one reason to do it. But oddly, less than 9% of people in Denver have made their arrangements ahead of time.

Everdays, a death tech startup that since its launch just a few years ago has helped three million grieving families across the country, is now launching its platform in Denver for people to buy their own funeral or cremation in a digital, consumer-friendly way.

Since COVID hit the U.S. over a year ago, increased usage on the Everdays platform and higher demand across the country than ever before clearly reflect the new and urgent desire people have to plan ahead for the unexpected.

New research by Centiment validates these trends for Denver families: Over 88% of families in the Denver area see the value of planning ahead for their own funeral or cremation, and they cite taking care of their loved ones as the number one reason to do it. But oddly, less than 9% of people in Denver have made their arrangements ahead of time.

Its very obvious from our user activity that people know they should be planning ahead, but they havent been able to make their arrangements in a way that works for them. The overwhelming result before now had been to do nothing, said Mark Alhermizi, Everdays Founder & CEO. While the funeral industry remains focused on products like caskets and urns, we give consumers an approachable and easy way to purchase the funeral they want to leave behind for their loved ones, 100 percent online.

From a full funeral service that allows family and friends to pay their final respects, to covering the basics and allowing loved ones to celebrate in their own way, Everdays digital services and planning tools help families instantly and seamlessly share, connect, and communicate all of the important details. Everdays helps consumers get started however is best for them, with instant price quotes, live care team support, or an online quiz that matches someone to the right funeral or cremation package.

According to Centiment, a staggering 90 percent of people in Denver have distinct preferences about their final arrangements, though nearly 75 percent of people rarely, if ever, discuss these preferences with loved ones. Now, with Everdays, there is a friendly, convenient way for Denverites to plan, purchase and share those preferences with friends and family.

Everdays unique packages are available through a robust network of the best funeral service providers in each market across the country. In the Denver market, they are launching with Horan & McConaty because of the companys commitment to excellence for serving families at their time of need.

Our funeral home has had the honor of serving thousands of Denver families over the past 100 years, and weve seen a new sense of urgency in the last year for people who want to plan their own arrangements, said Daren Forbes, Vice President of Horan & McConaty Funeral and Cremation in Denver. Everdays has updated and modernized a process that we all need to take care of, and theyve made it accessible for the way we live our lives today. Having been in the funeral profession for 25 years myself, its clear that consumer preferences are now driving us in the direction of digital planning and online purchasing.

About 70% of Americans 65 and older have some sort of an estate plan, but only 10% have planned their funeral or cremation.

Americans see the value of having an estate plan that settles your affairs for the sake of your family after you die, said Alhermizi. Even though everyone has that intent and desire, theres been a failure to achieve it fully  because unless youve purchased your funeral or cremation, youre still not prepared. Were here to make it easier for people to finish their plans so more families can live with peace of mind knowing theyre ready for whatever comes next.

Based in metro-Detroit, Everdays was founded by accomplished entrepreneur Mark Alhermizi, who was inspired following the passing of his own parents to build technology that helps people embrace life while they are dealing with death.

To learn more about planning ahead with Everdays, visit http://www.everdays.com.

About Everdays

Everdays is the first national, direct-to-consumer company to offer a simple, helpful way to buy your own funeral or cremation 100% online. Based in metro-Detroit, the company provides an ecommerce platform that gives people everywhere the confidence & control they need to take care of their end-of-life planning long before they pass.
Weve been updating our technology and fulfillment capabilities across the company. For software investments, there is probably not a better ROI than a good labor management system.

FST Logistics, a world-class provider of temperature-controlled warehousing and transportation solutions has chosen Easy Metrics, the leading provider of Operations Financial Management (OpsFM) solutions to support the next steps in their growth strategy in the food and grocery 3PL market. Easy Metrics integrates with Cadre Technologies Warehouse Management System ( Cadence WMS) that enables FST Logistics distribution centers to rapidly fulfill food and grocery orders for both retail and e-commerce customers.

During the pandemic, online grocery sales grew 54 percent in 2020. Grocery e-commerce is predicted to push past $100B for the first time in 2021. Established and emerging brands alike are turning to FST Logistics to scale their e-commerce operations. As a cold storage and fulfillment provider, FST Logistics stands out with its seamless integration with most large retailers, including Amazon, Walmart, and Target.

FST Logistics has significantly improved operational efficiencies with the technology upgrades. Despite the market changes due to COVID-19, their optimized operations enable them to deliver 3PL services in food and grocery categories reliably and cost-effectively. By using Easy Metrics to analyze operational cost and efficiencies and Cadence WMS to handle higher volumes and multi-channel fulfillment distribution, FST Logistics is taking the next step in delivering a world-class customer experience. Armed with the data they need to drive value and on-time delivery to their customers; they are ready to continue to scale to meet the demands of the market.

Easy Metricss flexible data model, which allows for full network visibility across multiple facilities, as well as the benefit of a fast and robust integration with Cadres Cadence WMS, were instrumental in FST Logistics decision to select Easy Metrics.

Zak Hancock, Executive VP, FST Logistics Warehousing

Weve been updating our technology and fulfillment capabilities across the company. For software investments, there is probably not a better ROI than a good labor management system.

Jill Keto, Chief Marketing Officer, Easy Metrics

Food brands require adaptable, flexible fulfillment solutions. And thats really driven by the modern consumers behavior and expectations of immediate availability. Order fulfillment is a highly complex business, because each retailer has unique requirements, and e-commerce is a large volume of one-off orders. FST offers an exceptional customer experience, and continuously makes it easier for food brands to get their products delivered. Easy Metrics is excited to support this effort with cost and performance analytics of their operations so their team can drive efficiencies and continue their customer-focused innovation.

About Easy Metrics

Easy Metrics fuels operational excellence in distribution operations. Operations and finance leaders use Easy Metrics API integration platform and machine learning to analyze, plan, and forecast their labor spend so they can drive operational speed and efficiency, price their products and services profitably, and drive employee engagement. With Easy Metrics, they translate raw activity, facility, people, and equipment data from multiple data sources into actionable reporting that help their operation optimize labor and equipment spend, plan facility investments, and drive employee engagement strategies that ultimately fuel the growth of their business. For more information, please visit http://www.EasyMetrics.com.

About Cadre Technologies

Cadre Technologies is a leading innovator of warehouse management software for distribution and 3PL, 4PL logistics operations and online collaboration. Products include: LogiView, SaaS-based supply chain control tower; Cadence Warehouse Management System; and Accuplus, 3rd Party Logistics WMS. The company is based in Denver, Colorado with offices in Lenexa, Kansas and Baltimore, Maryland. Cadre is a FOG Software Group company, part of Constellation Software Inc. (TSX:CSU). For more information, visit https://www.cadretech.com.

About FST Logistics, Inc.

Based in Columbus, Ohio, FST Logistics first opened its doors in 1991 with 11 committed employees and a business model that solely focused on shipping and transportation efforts. FST Logistics now employs over 400 staff members at any given time and provides the best temperature-controlled transportation services and warehousing capabilities. They have over one million square feet of dry, refrigerated and frozen space and specialize in assisting emerging food brands. As an employee-owned company, they have a reputation of unsurpassed customer service and a clear knack for communication; their goal is to continue to grow by employing the best minds and talent the industry has to offer.
Get Your Nest has one goal: to change the way homes are bought. We are solving the problem of access and affordability for home buyers, especially in a world where consumers expect brand experiences to be on-demand.

GetYourNest.com, a new app-based home buying experience launched in Phoenix today, providing on-demand home viewings and an industry-leading credit back at close: 50 percent of the agents commission goes back to the buyers.

Following a successful $1.2 million pre-seed capital raise, GetYourNest.com has already invested nearly $2.4 million in the technology and the marketing for the platform. The start-up chose Phoenix as its initial market and spent three and a half years developing the proprietary technology prior to going live with a goal of solving the problem of access and affordability for todays buyer who expects on-demand experiences.

GetYourNest.com instantly connects savvy home buyers with a network of available real estate agents who are able to show a home on the buyers schedule. While the buyer is touring the home, the tech is set up to generate the necessary paperwork to allow an interested buyer to make an offer on the home instantly - a critical factor in a hot market. GetYourNest.com professionals provide in-app guidance on market comps and price to ensure success.

Research from the National Association of REALTORS (NAR) illustrates that buyers independently search for an average of three weeks before even calling an agent. In 2019, there was $200 billion in residential brokerage revenue with six million homes sold. Millennials make up nearly 40 percent of home buyers, yet the majority of millennials have regrets about purchasing their current home with the top reason being the hidden costs associated with buying a home.

The real estate process is antiquated and we want to give the control and power back to its users. Real estate agents are paid too much, especially given the fact that buyers are doing most of the work. Buyers are forced to work around the agents time and schedule - it makes zero sense, said Eugene Quackenbush, designated broker, co-founder and COO of GetYourNest.com. Get Your Nest has one goal: to change the way homes are bought. We are solving the problem of access and affordability for home buyers, especially in a world where consumers expect brand experiences to be on-demand.

While the founders know the technology is disruptive and exposes the traditional agent relationship, it lets consumers get back to basics when buying a home and simplifies the process. In addition, the companys no-strings-attached rebate program allows the buyer to leverage the rebate without having to jump through hoops. The rebate isnt capped so the savings can be significant, for example, a $500,000 home could yield as much as a $7,500 rebate.

GetYourNest.com was created by Quackenbush, along with Brandon LaVallee, co-founder and CTO and a team of real estate and technology professionals with over 20 years of experience in the valley. Quackenbush was a founding Opendoor employee on the development and expansion team, responsible for scaling Opendoor to 24 markets. He is also a licensed real estate broker and worked in asset acquisitions and management for one of the largest single family REITs, American Residential Properties. LaVallee was also on the acquisitions team at Opendoor, helping them purchase over 1,300 homes through agent and REIT partnership channels. He is a licensed real estate broker in N.C. and a licensed agent in Ariz., Fla., Nev., and Ore. He was also an early Yelp employee through the companys IPO in 2011.

The company plans to roll out nationally, with an immediate plan to be in three U.S. markets by year end. The GetYourNest iOS app is now available in the Apple Store and will be available for Android devices in the near future.

For more information, please visit http://www.GetYourNest.com.

About GetYourNest.com

GetYourNest.com is a Phoenix-based home buying app that was born out of a desire to help people buy homes on-demand and with the lowest fees possible. Through its proprietary and easy-to-use app, home buyers can browse, view on-demand, make an offer and close on a home quickly and on their own time. GetYourNest.com also offers an industry-leading credit back of 50 percent of the commission at close. Download the iOS app in the Apple Store or visit http://www.GetYourNest.com.


Anuj Jain Im looking forward to working with an inspiring founder like Som and team Assiduus to help further accelerate their strong momentum and provide the best counsel for fuelling their well deserved growth.

Assiduus Global has invited Anuj Jain, Co-Founder and CEO of Singapore based Startup-O, to the companys Board of Advisors to help guide the company through its next stage of rapid growth in D2C brand marketplaces.

Anuj specializes in engineering growth, scaling technology ventures and enabling transitions. He will leverage his strong roots in FMCG industry, his understanding of brand building, supply chain & GTM strategy coupled with his deep experience in the technology and venture space, where he is involved in enabling founders to build world-class companies at Startup-O.

With over 20 years of overall experience with Go-To-Market strategy and execution roles across 14 countries in Asia, Anuj has held leadership positions and managed multi-cultural commercial teams for FMCG institutions like Procter & Gamble, Glaxo SmithKline Beecham, Wipro& BIC. His last corporate tenure at BIC saw the company grow its presence in over 50,000 retail stores and his legacy involved establishing this iconic brand into some of the toughest North Asian markets such as Japan and South Korea.

In the last 8 years, Anuj has reinvented himself in the technology innovation industry with cross-border scaling& venture investments specialization. He has developed a strong connection with the founder community and various institutional players of the startup ecosystem in Asia.

Assiduus Founder, CEO, Dr Somdutta Singh adds, "We are pleased to welcome Anuj to the Assiduus Board. Anuj's deep experience in high-technology global businesses with strong oversight will be invaluable to Assiduus as we grow our business and pursue our mission across the globe. As a trusted advisor, Anuj will provide strategic guidance on Assiduus' solutions, products, strategies and technology innovations."

Prior to executing the vision of the Startup-O platform that brings in a systematic, data-driven, and inclusive approach to investing & scaling promising startups, Anuj has led the successful expansion of an F&B SaaS product across the SE Asian markets. He has also formally trained over 200+ Asian startups via a series of structured bootcamps and actively speaks to founders at leading forums and institutions.

When asked about joining Assiduus Global, Anuj stated, "Im looking forward to working with an inspiring founder like Som and team Assiduus to help further accelerate their strong momentum and provide the best counsel for fuelling their well deserved growth."

Originally from India, Anuj resides in Singapore with his family since 2002. He holds an MBA degree from SP Jain Institute of Management and Research in India, an executive program from INSEAD along with his graduation degree with honors in Physics from the University of Delhi. He firmly holds the belief in Paying it Forward and is passionate about enabling deserving founders reach their potential.

About Assiduus Global

Assiduus Global is a seamless platform powered by data backed insights, cutting-edge technology that offers end-to-end cross border E-commerce supply chain solutions for D2C brands globally. Assiduus is the worlds fastest growing cross border, multi-platform E-commerce supply chain solutions company. Founded in 2018 by serial entrepreneur, Dr Somdutta Singh, Assiduus is redefining the global E-commerce landscape. Today, Assiduus is the only player in world offering an end-to-end E-commerce solutions suite. With Dr Som's tech acumen and experience in building and scaling D2C brands at the helm, Assiduus is propelled by a team that is young, passionate and most importantly understands how global E-commerce marketplaces function.
Granite Earns Platinum Partner Status for Poly Communications Solutions "Achieving Poly Platinum Partner status means that Granite is more closely aligned with Poly so that we can provide our business and government customers with more knowledgeable recommendations and better support."

Granite Telecommunications LLC, a $1.65 billion provider of communications services to multilocation businesses and government agencies, today announced that it has achieved Poly Platinum Partner status, the highest tier for partners offering Poly's premier line of enterprise audio and video communications solutions.

"Granite Telecommunication's attainment of Poly's highest partner tier exemplifies their commitment to delivering the very best products and services to their customers," said Shawn Puddester, Vice President of Global Service Providers for Poly. "Granite offers the full suite of Poly Products. Granite also holds Poly's Federal/NATO certification and is deploying our secure TAA-compliant devices to a growing number of U.S. Federal Agencies. They are truly an outstanding partner to Poly."

Since 2015, Granite has partnered with Poly to deliver the market leader's full suite of business communications endpoints and edge devices along with Granite's POTS, Hosted PBX, SIP Trunking and Cloud Contact Center Services. Poly's gear ranges from desk phones and headsets to Microsoft Teams Rooms appliances, video conferencing equipment, analog telephone adapters (ATAs) and more.

"We value our long relationship with Poly as our go-to provider for top-of-the-line business communications devices," said Christopher Chapin, Chief Information Officer and Senior Vice President of Information Technology for Granite. "Achieving Poly Platinum Partner status means that Granite is more closely aligned with Poly so that we can provide our business and government customers with more knowledgeable recommendations and better support."

As a Poly Platinum Partner, Granite has earned designated account management, priority access to market development funds and partner councils, and more. Granite's certifications also provide the company with preferred access to Poly support, online ticketing and returns.

About Poly

Poly (NYSE: POLY) creates premium audio and video products so you can have your best meeting -- anywhere, anytime, every time. Our headsets, video and audio-conferencing products, desk phones, analytics software and services are beautifully designed and engineered to connect people with incredible clarity. They're pro-grade, easy to use and work seamlessly with all the best video and audio conferencing services. With Poly (Plantronics, Inc.  formerly Plantronics and Polycom), you'll do more than just show up; you'll stand out. For more information, visit http://www.Poly.com.

Poly, the propeller design, and the Poly logo are trademarks of Plantronics, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

About Granite

Granite delivers one-stop communications solutions to multilocation businesses and government agencies throughout the United States and Canada. The $1.65 billion company serves more than two-thirds of the Fortune 100 companies in the United States and has 1.75 million voice and data lines under management. Granite launched in 2002 and has grown quickly by helping businesses simplify sourcing and managing local and long-distance phone services with one point of contact and one invoice for all their office locations nationwide. Today, Granite is the leader in aggregating Plain Old Telephone Services (POTS) and has extended its unique value proposition  "one company, one contact, one bill"  to include a range of advanced business communications services, including SD-WAN, wireless WAN, hosted PBX, SIP trunking, POTS replacement, mobile voice and data, mobile device management, managed security, network integration and more. Granite employs more than 2,400 people at its headquarters in Quincy, Mass., and nine regional offices nationwide. For more information, visit http://www.granitenet.com.
If someone wants to start their own business, its important to understand all of the different moving parts that need to be executed from idea to fruition.

To lead a successful startup business takes dedication, belief and complete loyalty to seeing an idea through to completion. This June, Peter Ord, founder and CEO of Utahs premier client onboarding unicorn, GuideCX, along with his wife, Megan, will take attendees of the annual StartFEST behind the scenes of what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur both professionally and personally.

Ord will kick off Utahs original grassroots festival on Wednesday, June 16 with his Get Outside Your Network talk, which will spotlight his tried-and-true approach to starting a business from the ground up. From bootstrapping to series A funding to the critical importance of networking, attendees will walk away with a clearer map of their own path to unicorn status.

If someone wants to start their own business, its important to understand all of the different moving parts that need to be executed from idea to fruition, said Ord. I want people to recognize that networking is such a crucial component to growing a company through not only developing personal contacts but valuable advice, funding, and assistance as a whole.

Likewise, the devotion to entrepreneurship shouldnt have to come at the sacrifice of a significant other. To further highlight that point, Peters wife, Megan, will appear on a panel focusing on the need for intertwined success in entrepreneurs work and personal lives on Thursday, June 17. Megan will discuss the trials, tribulations, and unwavering support needed in relationships between entrepreneurs and their spouses.

Married to Peter for 11 years and mom to their four daughters, Megan will offer her personal insight into the hard work that goes into a startup business on the panel, hosted by Dr. Amy Osmond Cook, the chief marketing officer of Simplus. The candid discussion will focus on the pleasures, pitfalls, and potential of a relationship with an entrepreneur. GuideCX was founded in 2018 and has become the premier client onboarding project management platform, simplifying workflows for businesses across the nation. The company now boasts over 60 employees with plans for additional hiring this summer.

Entrepreneurs and their partners need to know what theyre getting into when they initially start their own company including the toll that it takes along with the around-the-clock hours to build something from nothing, said Megan Ord. Through my own experience, I would love to offer any bit of advice that can help someone down this same path.

This years StartFEST will be conducted over two days of virtual sessions that are designed to educate, entertain, and inspire attendees. Peter Ords Get Outside Your Network talk will take place at 9:30 am MDT on June 16 while Megans participation in the You Dont Have to Choose Between a Successful Business and a Successful Relationship panel will take place at 2pm MDT on June 17.

Tickets for StartFEST are available for $49. For more information, visit http://www.StartFestival.com.

ABOUT GUIDECX

GuideCX is a client onboarding and project management platform that keeps your clients at the center of every project by providing complete visibility into the work. Invite everyone to the projectinternal resources, customer teams, and third-party vendors. Guide each step and stay on track with automated tasks, reminders and updates. Engage teams by enabling them to interact with the project in the way they prefer. They can complete tasks, view status, send updates, make notes and more  through the portal, the mobile app, or email. GuideCX helps you deliver projects faster with fewer issues and accelerate time to value for your customers.

ABOUT BEEHIVE STARTUPS

Beehive Startups spotlights Utah startups, organizes events tailored to the startup and small business community, and reports on Utah entrepreneurs  focusing on their latest ventures, lessons learned, and greatest achievements. For more information, visit http://www.BeehiveStartups.com.
Harris Teeter is proud to recognize the LGBTQ+ community and celebrate Pride month. During the month of June, the Company will honor the LGBTQ+ communitys past and reflect on the inspiring successes that have advanced equality for all.

The Companys celebration of Pride month furthers its commitment to building an environment of inclusion where every associate and shopper is treated with respect and appreciation for the qualities that make each of us unique.

Through supplier programs and partnerships, including Pride-themed product packaging and supplier-sponsored donation programs, Harris Teeter is increasing visibility and support for advocacy organizations to advance equality for the LGBTQ+ community.

P&G Cant Cancel Pride

Harris Teeter is partnering with P&G to support Cant Cancel Pride, a program established in 2020 and dedicated to promoting visibility and raising funds for diverse LGBTQ+ communities impacted by COVID-19. Harris Teeter has also partnered with P&G to donate $25,000 to CenterLink, a nonprofit serving LGBTQ+ organizations worldwide.

Johnson & Johnson CARE WITH PRIDE

Additionally, through Johnson & Johnsons CARE WITH PRIDE initiative, for every Johnson & Johnson Consumer Health CARE WITH PRIDE item purchased at participating retail stores, Johnson & Johnson will donate $1* to Family Equality, a nonprofit organization committed to advancing legal and lived equality for LGBTQ families, and for those who wish to form them, through building community, changing hearts and minds, and driving policy change.

*Minimum donation of $85,000; maximum donation of $100,000.

Vizzy Human Rights Campaign

In its beer and wine department, Harris Teeter will offer limited edition Vizzy Hard Seltzer Pride Pack, made in partnership with the Human Rights Campaign, the nations largest LGBTQ civil rights organization. To celebrate all LGBTQ+ identities, Vizzy will also donate $1 million to support the Human Rights Campaign.

Barefoot Bubbly Pride Package

As a proud ally of the LGBTQ+ community for 30+ years, Barefoot continues to show love, support, and strive for equality, greater representation and inclusiveness of the LGBTQ+ community. $1 proceed per case sold of the Barefoot Bubbly Pride Package is donated to Free Mom Hugs and the National Center for Transgender Equality**.

Free Mom Hugs is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating families, church and civic leaders, encouraging them to not only affirm the value of the LGBTQ+ community but celebrate with them.

The National Center for Transgender Equality advocates to change policies and society to increase understanding and acceptance of transgender people.

**To be divided equally between the two charities up to $100,000 for cases sold between March 1, 2021 and January 31, 2022; excluding California.

About Procter & Gamble

P&G serves consumers around the world with one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Always, Ambi Pur, Ariel, Bounty, Charmin, Crest, Dawn, Downy, Fairy, Febreze, Gain, Gillette, Head & Shoulders, Lenor, Olay, Oral-B, Pampers, Pantene, SK-II, Tide, Vicks, and Whisper. The P&G community includes operations in approximately 70 countries worldwide. Please visit https://www.pg.com/ for the latest news and information about P&G and its brands. For other P&G news, visit us at https://www.pg.com/news.

About Johnson & Johnson

At Johnson & Johnson, we believe good health is the foundation of vibrant lives, thriving communities and forward progress. Thats why for more than 130 years, we have aimed to keep people well at every age and every stage of life. Today, as the worlds largest and most broadly-based healthcare company, we are committed to using our reach and size for good. We strive to improve access and affordability, create healthier communities, and put a healthy mind, body and environment within reach of everyone, everywhere. We are blending our heart, science and ingenuity to profoundly change the trajectory of health for humanity. Learn more at http://www.jnj.com. Follow us at @JNJNews.

About Vizzy Hard Seltzer

Vizzy is the first hard seltzer that contains antioxidant vitamin C from acerola superfruit, and it comes in two delicious variety packs in addition to the lemonade flavors. Vizzy Variety Pack 1 and Variety Pack 2 flavors are 5% ABV, have 100 calories and 1 gram of sugar per 12 oz serving, and are certified gluten-free. Vizzy Lemonade flavors are 5% ABV, have 100 calories and 0 gram of sugar per 12 OZ serving, and are certified gluten-free. To learn more about Vizzy Hard Seltzer, visit vizzyhardseltzer.com or follow the brand on Instagram and Facebook @vizzyhardseltzer and Twitter @vizzyseltzer.

About Barefoot

Barefoot, the #1 selling wine brand in the world with a long history of inclusivity, has remained a proud ally of the LGBTQ+ community since 1988, making its first donation to an LGBTQ+ charity, the Golden Gate Business Association of San Francisco. Each year, Barefoot sponsors over 200 LGBTQ+ events around the globe. Additionally, Barefoot is continually recognized as one of the best places to work for LGBTQ+ equality. To learn more about how purchases support #MarchOnward for equality, visit barefootwine.com/lgbtq.

Barefoot, the most awarded wine and bubbly brand in U.S. competitions, can be found worldwide bearing the fun and iconic footprint label. Barefoot offers 20 types of still wine available for an SRP of $6 for 750 mL bottles, $11 for 1.5-liter bottles, $19 for Barefoot On Tap 3L Box, and $5 for Barefoot Wine-To-Go. Barefoot Bubbly sparkling wine offers 11 different styles of bubbly and special packaging collections, with an SRP of $9. Barefoot also offers wine-based spritzer cans made in a fizzy and light wine style with added hints of fruit flavor. Barefoot Spritzer has seven flavors  available in 8.4 oz. cans nationwide, with an SRP $8 for a four-pack and $2 for singles. Barefoot Hard Seltzer comes in 6 flavors and is one of the only wine-based hard seltzers on the market! With 70 calories per 8.4 oz can, and an SRP of $8 for a four-pack.

http://www.harristeeter.com

Harris Teeter, with headquarters in Matthews, N.C., is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR). The regional grocery chain employs approximately 35,000 associates and operates stores in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Maryland, Delaware, Florida and the District of Columbia.

Media Contacts:

Harris Teeter: Danna Robinson, drobinson@harristeeter.com, 704-844-3904

Nicole Case, ncase@harristeeter.com, 704-844-3209

P&G: Brent Miller, miller.br.4@pg.com, 917-423-5338

Johnson & Johnson: Holly Derrick, hderrick@its.jnj.com, 215-479-8632

Zach Langway, zlangway@its.jnj.com, 202-642-1563

Vizzy: Rachel Dickens, Rachel.Dickens@molsoncoors.com

Barefoot Bubbly: Chelsea Berardicurti, Chelsea.Berardicurti@ejgallo.com, 332-999-7593
Hellenic Senior Living of Mishawaka was a nominee for Business of Year. Hellenic Senior Living of Mishawaka was nominated for Business of the Year for being, A business that displays a strong commitment to the elderly.

REAL Services offers services in 12 counties across Northern Indiana. They provide caregiver support, household assistance, transportation, nutritious meals to homebound individuals and much more. This year, they celebrated 55 years of service.

REAL Services hosted its 25th Annual Age of Excellence Luncheon on May 5, 2021, at The Century Center in South Bend, IN. The luncheon honors caregivers and support organizations. Over 200 nominees were celebrated for their commitment, dedication and help to those in our community who need it the most  the elderly and low-income individuals. Nominees must live or work in one of the Indiana counties served by REAL Services.

Hellenic Senior Living of Mishawaka was nominated for Business of the Year for being, A business that displays a strong commitment to the elderly.

To qualify for Business of the Year, someone nominates the facility to REAL Services. Then REAL Services Board of Directors select the winners based on who they feel has made the biggest difference in the lives of senior citizens for the year. There is only one winner per year.

REAL Services sponsors and presents the awards.
The HerdDogg Traceability Program tracks and preserves the true value of locally grown livestock so that ranchers can retain a larger percentage of the profits. Everyone wants to know where their food comes from, what care was given to the animal, the food miles it traveled, and how locally that meat was raised. Its clear that informed consumers will pay a premium for a product they can trust.

HerdDogg, the agtech innovator that focuses on shifting the value of meat back to the producer, announced the availability of the HerdDogg Traceability Program. By offering a solution that includes premise-based Bluetooth 5 animal sensor tags, wireless readers, and easy-to-develop data sets linked to a physical QR code, HerdDogg enables the QR code of custody that tracks local producers livestock from pasture to plate. With this solution, HerdDogg aims to increase transparency and trust of American beef and bison for consumers while empowering producers to build brand and animal valueand boost their margins.

Everyone wants to know where their food comes from, what care was given to the animal, the food miles it traveled, and how locally that meat was raised. Its clear that informed consumers will pay a premium for a product they can trust, said Melissa Brandao, HerdDoggs founder and chief revenue officer. The problem is that the Big Meat industry is not set up to provide that information. The system in place today is structured to channel all meat through a monolithic operation that obscures provenance details from consumers and diverts profit from ranchers. We want to fix that.

HerdDogg is on a mission to introduce innovation, traceability and transparency to meat production by supporting the interests of quality-focused producers. The HerdDogg Traceability Program, which is currently being piloted in Wyoming, tracks and preserves the true value of locally grown livestock so that ranchers can retain a larger percentage of the profits.

In Wyoming, for example, just one-third of the beef supply needs are met by local producers, the remainder is trucked in from out-of-state suppliers. Paradoxically, while beef is the #2 industry in Wyoming, 50% of the economic value of that industry leaves the state. By working shoulder-to-shoulder with Wyoming producers, HerdDogg is aiming to create a model for food traceability and transparency that can deliver value for ranchers and consumers nationwide.

HerdDogg tags generate automated data sets onto which is layered additional data collected by the producers, protocols, and programs within the ranch. That dataalong with insights into the region, breed, and flavor profilesare encapsulated in a QR code, which can then be accessed in much the same way today as you access a restaurant menu using your phone," added Brandao.

HerdDogg is perfecting the system in Wyoming to ready it for national release, and has been working closely with the Lockhart Cattle Company, a sixth-generation, family-owned and family-operated ranch located in Wyoming. Lockhart produces top-quality, grass-fed beef to sell locally with an operation that looks a lot like it did in 1950, according to Chase Lockhart.

The key to our business is to increase buyer awareness by telling the story of our family legacy and our commitment to the welfare of our animals here in Jackson Hole. When people pick our meats in the grocery store, the QR code tells that story by providing details about our operation and the care we put into sustainably raising grass-fed beef. That message reaches beyond our region and builds customer loyalty because they know that the Lockhart brand means quality, said Lockhart.

The HerdDogg Traceability Program is currently open to Wyoming producers, packers, processors and sale barns, if you would like to learn more please contact us at herddogg.com/traceability.

How HerdDogg works

HerdDoggs patented technology is a small, lightweight tag designed for easy installation on cattle, bison, and other livestock. The HerdDogg TraceTag reports identification and location and lasts up to five years, while the HerdDogg WelfareTag tracks animal biometrics and lasts up to two years. HerdDoggs portable tag reader, the DoggBone, is a Bluetooth-to-cellular bridge engineered for remote monitoring of livestock that can read tags at a distance of 100 yards or more. Sensor data is stored and forwarded from the hardware into the HerdDogg SaaS cloud platform, which can be accessed from any device, including smartphones and desktop web browsers. Animal data is captured and transmitted in real time, and producers can augment animal records with their own insights and reporting.

About HerdDogg Inc.

HerdDogg is passionate about livestock. Its innovative data platform sits at the intersection of agtech, the internet of things, and global food security. Our patented DoggTags and DoggBone, together with our Animal Traceability Platform, help producers make more money from every animal they raise. The HerdDogg system enables animal tracking, welfare monitoring and traceability in an easy-to-use application. For more information, visit herddogg.com.
Its clear that HomeLight is building the future of real estate  and is in a perfect position to revolutionize the industry. Im thrilled to join the team and be an integral part of the company's promise to help make real estate more simple, certain, and satisfying for all."  Sean Aggarwal

HomeLight, the real estate technology platform transforming the home buying and selling process for top real estate agents and their clients, announced today that it has appointed Sean Aggarwal to its board of directors, effective immediately. Mr. Aggarwal is the former Chief Financial Officer of Trulia and is currently the Chair of the Board of Directors at Lyft, Inc., as well as a board member at Thumbtack, Inc., Arlo, Inc., and Yatra Online, Inc.

We conducted an exhaustive search for an outstanding leader to add to our board of directors and couldnt be happier to welcome Sean, said Drew Uher, Founder and CEO of HomeLight. Hell be a valuable resource and sounding board for our team, bringing his deep experience scaling both private and public companies as we continue to expand HomeLights products and services to top agents, homebuyers, and sellers across the United States.

Mr. Aggarwal is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Soar Capital, LLC, where he focuses on investments in early-stage technology companies. Previously, he served as the Chief Financial Officer at Trulia, which he helped take public in 2012. In 2015, he played a pivotal role orchestrating Trulias sale to Zillow for five times the IPO valuation. Prior to Trulia, Mr. Aggarwal held executive and senior finance positions at PayPal, eBay, Amazon, PepsiCo, and Merrill Lynch. He earned an MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management and a Bachelor of Arts from the College of Wooster.

Mr. Aggarwals appointment to the board comes on the heels of rapid growth for HomeLight, spurred by the coronavirus pandemics impact on residential real estate in the United States. Since launch in January 2020, HomeLight Cash Offer and HomeLight Trade-In  two of HomeLights flagship financial products  have experienced 800% growth.

Joining the board of a trailblazing company like HomeLight is a unique opportunity to help transform the real estate transaction process for homebuyers and sellers everywhere, said Mr. Aggarwal. "I've followed HomeLight's evolution from a single data-driven product to a dynamic, end-to-end platform for top agents, all in the name of delivering better outcomes to homebuyers and sellers at any step of the transaction journey. Its clear that HomeLight is building the future of real estate  and is in a perfect position to revolutionize the industry. Im thrilled to join the team and be an integral part of the company's promise to help make real estate more simple, certain, and satisfying for all."

About HomeLight

HomeLight is building the future of real estate  today. Our vision is a world where every real estate transaction is simple, certain, and satisfying for all.

The best real estate agents rely on HomeLights platform to deliver better outcomes to homebuyers and sellers during every step of the real estate journey, whether that's enabling an all-cash offer, unlocking liquidity of their existing home to buy a new one, or creating certainty through a modern closing process. Each year, HomeLight facilitates billions of dollars of residential real estate business on its platform for thousands of agents.

Founded in 2012, HomeLight is a privately held company with offices in Scottsdale, San Francisco, New York, and Seattle, with backing from prominent investors including Zeev Ventures, Menlo Ventures, Group 11, Crosslink Capital, Bullpen Capital, Montage Ventures, Citi Ventures, Google Ventures, and others.

For additional information and images: homelight.com/press
Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo Partners with INTELITY to Deliver Mobile-First Guest Experience Between the self-service technology and convenience it provides to guests and the operational automation it offers team members, well be able to exceed expectations and elevate the guest experience in a new way.

INTELITY, the developer of hospitalitys most comprehensive guest experience and staff management platform, announced today a new deal with Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo in Monaco. The renowned Mediterranean property will deliver contactless service for guests through a branded mobile app with robust capabilities including mobile check-in, that adds another layer of convenience and safety for guests and team members.

Built on land once owned by Pope Leon XIII, the Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo debuted in 1886 and offers 125 rooms and suites. The Belle Epoque palace embodies the old-world glamour and modern allure of Monte-Carlo and combines an elegant heritage with Mediterranean freshness. Renowned for impeccable service, the hotels new app will enable guests the ability to tailor their experience before, during, and after their stay. The app will allow guests to check in before they arrive, enabling a more modern arrival experience for both the guest and hotel team members.

At Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo, weve long prided ourselves on delivering a thoroughly luxurious, exceptional standard of service, but implementing the INTELITY platform will allow us to raise the bar even higher, said Serge Ethuin, General Manager at Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo. Between the self-service technology and convenience it provides to guests and the operational automation it offers team members, well be able to exceed expectations and elevate the guest experience in a new way.

Using the mobile app, guests will have access to an array of digital amenities and services throughout their stay. Theyll be able to find hotel and amenity information, make dining, spa, and activity reservations, order food, schedule touchless deliveries, communicate with hotel team members, and morefurther elevating the entire guest experience.

We couldnt be more excited to partner with Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo, said Benjamin Keller, INTELITY SVP of Sales. This glamourous property is known for their innovative and personalized service and has so much to offer guests. Now travelers will be able to access it all in just a few taps thanks to the INTELITY app. Thats exactly the kind of modern, contactless experience guests are coming to expect in 2021.

In addition to receiving a four-star rating from the prestigious Forbes Travel Guide, the property is also a member of the Leading Hotels of the World collection of luxury hotels and resorts. In tandem with Leading Hotels Healthy Stays commitment to provide enhanced cleanliness standards and protocols for more than 400 worldwide members, the mobile app developed by INTELITY will enable Hotel Metropole to continue to deliver the highest standards for guests.

For more information on this partnership or the INTELITY platform, visit http://www.intelity.com.

About INTELITY

INTELITY is the global leader in contactless guest experience technology, uniting mobile, in-room, and operational tools into one fully integrated hospitality platform. Built for the hotel, casino, and luxury residential markets, INTELITY has been named the Official Mobile and In-Room Technology Provider by the distinguished Forbes Travel Guide for five consecutive years and is in use at boutique properties, casino-resorts, and global hotel brands, including Marriott, Fairmont, Hard Rock, and more. For more information, visit http://www.intelity.com.

About Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo

Ideally located in the Carre d'Or, within walking distance of the Casino, the Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo was awarded in 2019 by Conde Nast Traveler Best hotel in France and Monaco. The 2019 edition of the Villegiature Awards recognized the hotel as Best Hotel Service and Best Hotel Spa in Europe. It was fully renovated in 2004 by famous French designer Jacques Garcia, who transformed it into a palace of 125 rooms and suites with a Mediterranean charm in keeping with its era, combining chic, glamour, and sophistication. The gastronomy, orchestrated by Christophe Cussac, offers a unique and varied culinary experience for the discerning palate. Yoshi, the only Japanese one Michelin Star on the French Riviera, features traditional Japanese cuisine in a bold and contemporary setting designed by Didier Gomez. Glamorous, elegant, and warm, the Lobby Bar is the place for all gourmet pleasures. The architect and designer Jacques Garcia reinvented the bar and lobby areas to create a living space where you can sit, read, or meet up with friends. Finally, Odyssey unveils its charming setting by the pool, with an Haute Couture decor designed by Karl Lagerfeld, and a menu inspired by the Mediterranean that celebrates fresh seasonal produce and light cuisine. In collaboration with the House of Givenchy, the Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo opened the third spa of the brand in the world, Spa Metropole by Givenchy in April 2017. Designed by architect Didier Gomez, it embodies the same philosophy shared in the Houses venues: exceptional location, luxurious spaces, sophisticated care treatments, and absolute pleasure and well-being. https://metropole.com/en/


Hiley Hyundai of Burleson, Tx, offers a comprehensive Hyundai Complimentary Maintenance Program to its customers.

The Complimentary Maintenance Program is one of the highlights of customer service offered at Hiley Hyundai of Burleson. The dealership encourages its customers to utilize this to ensure their Hyundai gets regular care and maintenance. The customer service and vehicle maintenance programs at the dealership have always been customer-focused. The dealership is known for its highly trained staff and customer service team. The package offered by this program is sufficient to help customers maintain their vehicles at the peak of their health.

The program has numerous benefits such as Engine Oil and Filter Changes, Tire Rotation, Factory Scheduled Maintenance for 3 years/36,000 miles (whichever comes first), Hyundai Filters and Quaker State Oil and Supplemented/Extended Hyundai Protection Plans to name a few. This Complimentary Maintenance Program offer is valid only for new Hyundai models purchased or leased after February 1, 2020.

Customers who want to use the Complimentary Maintenance Program are encouraged to visit hileyhyundaiofburleson.com for more details. In case of any queries or concerns, customers can visit us at 320 N Burleson Blvd, Burleson, TX, or reach out to us by phone at (817) 945-9900.


The State of Church Giving through 2018, Fig. 21 And empty tomb has concluded that these extraordinarily rich people are in a position to give leadership to the regular rich toward tapping their power for good.

The new empty tomb book finds never-before-available power for good among church people in America.

The State of Church Giving through 2018 finds that member giving to churches was 2.05% of after-tax income in 2018, far below the classic "tithe" or 10%.

For every additional percent of income church members increased toward the tithe, those members would give $69.7 billion more.

Church members in the U.S. are not aware of this power for good. For example, 1.2 million children under the age of five are dying each year around the globe from treatable causes readily addressed in much of the world (see Fig. 21). In a calculation from available data, empty tomb estimates it would take $16 billion a year to stop these deaths between now and 2025. If church members were to combine their donations, it would take less than one-quarter of a percent of each church member's income to provide the necessary money.

Yet the individual church member asks, "What difference would my giving make?"

And so the children continue to die.

What to do?

The research of empty tomb documents the existence of the affluence spread among Americans, including church members. And Mission Match is a tool designed by empty tomb to act on this hidden power for good on a scale with global need.

The affluence in the U.S. and the rest of the world is a relatively recent development, according to the analysis of Angus Maddison, in The World Economy: A Millennial Perspective. Beginning with the year 0 A.D., only in 1820 did countries' economies begin to grow at more than 0.5% a year, and in 1870 at more than 1%.

Further, in the U.S., the growing affluence spread broadly after World War II. An empty tomb analysis using available data calculated that 40% of U.S. urban consumer units lived below what would have been the poverty level in 1941. By 1960, the figure was 13%.

Still, while most Americans are what might be called the regular rich, who now enjoy benefits of this widespread affluence  air conditioning, vehicles, the variety of foods available, travel  there are some who are the extraordinarily rich, having access to many times the 2018 average U.S. per capita income of $48,147.

And empty tomb has concluded that these extraordinarily rich people are in a position to give leadership to the regular rich toward tapping their power for good.

Back in the first century, when the disciples were faced with 5,000+ people, they told Jesus to send the crowd away. Jesus instead gave the responsibility back to them: "You feed them." The disciples protested that it would take eight months of a person's wages. Then Jesus told them to find out what they had to work with. When they presented the five loaves and two fish, Jesus expanded that resource to feed the entire group (Mark 6:30-44).

Today, the church, also referred to as the body of Christ, is supposed to carry on the work of Jesus. Unlike the disciples who traveled with Jesus who had no place to lay his head (Luke 9:58), church people in the U.S. are often the regular rich, compared to much of the world.

Yet, when faced with the 1.2 million children under age five dying each year from treatable causes, church members seem to echo the early disciples: "Are we to go and spend that much  and give it to them ?" (Mark 6:37).

Back then, Jesus gave the original disciples the responsibility of feeding the crowd of 5,000+. Today, it's reasonable to think that this same Jesus is giving the many more and richer disciples the responsibility to heal the under-5 children. The potential is there among church members. It needs to be mobilized.

And empty tomb has a suggestion through its tool, Mission Match. A list of the extraordinarily rich is compiled each year in the Forbes 400. This list does not indicate whether a person considers himself or herself a disciple of Jesus. Names on the list include Warren Buffett, MacKenzie Scott, Alice Walton, Charles Koch, and Lukas Walton, among others.

A group on this list, who consider themselves disciples of Jesus and acting as venture philanthropists, could provide the leadership needed to encourage church people to take action through empty tomb's Mission Match. By providing the first-year amount of $9.412 billion, these leaders can set a direction for the 300,000+ historically Christian congregations in the U.S. When congregations match up to $8 billion of the first-year donations, 85% of the venture philanthropists' donations would be doubled and provide the needed $16 billion. In following years, the support base for the matching contributions is scheduled to expand, requiring less from the original donors.

Through Mission Match, congregations design mission projects to target one of the 22 treatable causes of death in children under five in one of 40 countries. According to empty tomb calculations, these 40 countries were not on target to help meet the 2015 target reduction goal set for reducing the global Under-5 Mortality Rate deaths. The congregations also propose the delivery channel through which they want to work, in Jesus' name, to help prevent these deaths.

At this point, each congregation can apply for up to $3,000 for their project. Once approved, the congregation raises, from those within their local church, at least an equal amount, and then the congregation spends the combined money on the project named in their application.

Churches can learn more about how to apply for these matching contributions at missionmatch.org.

Venture philanthropists interested in providing leadership for church members to act on their power for good on behalf of the dying children can contact empty tomb directly.

The discussion of the potential numbers appears in The State of Church Giving through 2018: What If Jesus Comes Back in 2025? (30th edition, Dec. 2020), available at Wipf and Stock Publishers.

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Reference Resources:

Economic growth analysis by Angus Maddison: Angus Maddison; The World Economy, A Millennial Perspective; OECD; 2001; p. 263, accessed 5/30/2021.

Forbes 400 List of Richest Americans: "The Forbes 400: The Definitive Ranking Of The Wealthiest Americans in 2020"; edited by Kerry A. Dolan with Chase Peterson-Withorn and Jennifer Wang

This release is the latest in the recent empty tomb series. Previous releases in this series can be searched on PRWeb by the following titles:

April 13, 2021

Long-Term Declines in Church Giving and Membership Can Be Addressed: New empty tomb Book

April 20, 2021:

Global Racism Means About 80% of 1.2 Million Child Deaths Are in Africa, Numbers in New empty tomb Book Suggest

April 27, 2021:

Progress on Reducing Global Child Deaths Shows Goals Are Reachable, New empty tomb Book Finds

May 4, 2021:

It's Chocolate AND Children, Says empty tomb, inc.'s Mission Match

May 11, 2021:

Whither Philanthropy? Young People Learn Giving in Church and the Church Is Weakening, empty tomb Book Finds

May 18, 2021:

empty tomb Book Facts Raise Question: Will 3-10 Venture Philanthropists Launch Movement Now to Protect in Jesus' Name 1.2 Mil. Dying Kids Via 300K Congs. in Dying Church?

May 25, 2021:

Numbers in New empty tomb Book Locate the Heart of the Dying Church's Choice: Serve God, in Jesus' Name, With Money on a Scale with Global Need  or Serve Money

June 1, 2021:

Mission Match Seeks 10 Congregations and Three to 10 Venture Philanthropists to Help Mobilize Church in the U.S. and Counter Trends Found in empty tomb Book

June 8, 2021

St. Augustine and John Wesley Would Not Be Happy with Numbers in empty tombs 30th Edition
Rarely is it all right to let someone else make decisions for you, said People. Claim your right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Its yours to have. Hold on closely to it.

Los Angeles based author and artist Frieda People worked to rekindle her hope and passion for living. In her recently published illuminating memoir, Essential Outtakes: Spin Lifes Sequence of Events Your Way with Time-tested Results, she outlines tidbits and tools for finding complete self-awareness that she has gathered throughout her personal growth journey.

In Essential Outtakes, People establishes a conversational tone as she weaves stories from her powerful narrative with introspective questions for the reader. These questions help them to unpack and heal what is plaguing them, in order to encourage them to see not only their life but the world around them with new vision. One example of this is People urges readers to take a step back from the technology that is dominating society in order to slow down, become more in tune with their surroundings and think for themselves. Being true to her own beliefs, People has never needed to own a cell phone.

As a strong believer in ones inner strength, she argues that some give up their divine powers too easily and become submissive in nature. By empowering those who come across her book, People wishes to switch this current paradigm and foster deeper thinking and consciousness.

Rarely is it all right to let someone else make decisions for you, said People. Claim your right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Its yours to have. Hold on closely to it.

People teaches readers that even the slightest changes can bring about a big impact in their lives. She aims to ignite their intuition and illuminate pathways for personal development and encourages them to utilize their own innate powers. By sharing her story, People hopes that others will find their own clarity, set clear intentions for their lives and think on their own two feet.

Essential Outtakes: Spin Lifes Sequence of Events Your Way with Time-tested Results

By Frieda People

ISBN: 978-1-9822-6035-4 (softcover); 978-1-9822-6037-8 (hardcover); 978-1-9822-6036-1 (e-book)

Available at the Balboa Press Online Bookstore, Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

About the author

With greater understanding and purpose of her own being, Frieda People was able to overcome a difficult and abusive childhood through inspiration, finding passion in creating various forms of art. People is both a recorded songwriter with gold records and a media specialist for a dance foundation. As a magnetic speaker and consultant, she utilizes her gifts to help people create righteousness in their own lives. People encourages individuals to do the work, move through the discomfort and find freedom on the other side. Over the years, she found that forgiveness was a sterling example of how to move forward and achieve success. People believes in a holistic, stylized way of living and self-healing. In her debut book, Essential Outtakes, she shares her natural evolution from her varied and established writing credentials. Currently, she resides in Los Angeles. To connect with the author, please visit her website: https://www.friedapeople.com/.

For Interview Requests & Review Copies, Please Contact:

LAVIDGE  Phoenix

Meghan Bowman

480-306-6597

mbowman@lavidge.com
"Corservs program enables Machias Savings Bank to make the credit decisions for our customers and keep the loans in our local community bank, said Matt Walsh, Chief Financial Officer at Machias Savings Bank.

Machias Savings Bank, a $2.0B in assets bank in Machias, Maine, selected Corserv, a company that empowers banks and fintechs with payment programs, as their partner to provide a market-leading credit card program to their commercial, business, and consumer customers. The bank selected Corserv after a nationwide search for a solution to provide a more robust commercial card platform to support virtual cards, purchase cards and comprehensive card controls.

After analyzing their Agent Bank program, Machias Savings Bank knew they needed a more complete program that would allow them to better serve their customers while continuing to grow their lines of income. With Corservs credit card program, Machias will be able to service their customers needs locally with top tier technology and services.

Machias Savings Bank has been fostering long-lasting customer relationships throughout Maine since 1869. Corservs program enables Machias Savings Bank to make the credit decisions for our customers and keep the loans in our local community bank, said Matt Walsh, Chief Financial Officer at Machias Savings Bank. Unlike our previous Agent Bank program, Corserv allows Machias to keep the interchange, interest, and fees while also providing access to cardholder data and tools that make it possible for us to provide exceptional service to our customers while advancing their financial health.

We are thrilled that Machias Savings Bank chose Corserv to provide a unique credit card issuing solution that enables the bank to own the assets without having to invest in credit card specific technology, people and regulatory compliance, said Jerry Craft, CEO of Corserv. Machiass analysis of the proposals from the market validated that Corservs program provides better credit card products, service, and financial returns for community banks like Machias Savings Bank and their customers.

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About Machias Savings Bank

Machias Savings Bank is Maines fifth largest community bank with $2.0 billion in assets and 15 branches from Portland to Caribou. Based in Machias since 1869, Machias Savings Bank seeks to move Maine forward through financial health, one person, one business and one community at a time. More details about Machias Savings Bank can be found online at machiassavings.bank. Member FDIC.

About Corserv

Corserv provides payment services including a turnkey issuing program for credit cards, P-cards, and virtual cards that enables Banks and Fintechs to deliver competitive, branded payment services to their customers. Corservs secure hosted programs combine our credit, compliance and marketing expertise with our modern online solution and open APIs  everything clients need to quickly build a successful card-issuing business. Our Bank and Fintech clients increase their earnings per share by benefitting from loan interest, interchange, fee income and economies of scale from Corservs client base. Most importantly, they deepen their customer relationships. For more information, please visit http://www.corservsolutions.com.
Bear Hunting with Chihuahuas: Caza de osos con Chihuahuas: an amusing take on the classic David and Goliath story. Bear Hunting with Chihuahuas: Caza de osos con Chihuahuas is the creation of published author, Mark Jensen, a loving father, adventurous spirit, passionate creator, and USAR veteran.

Bear Hunting written by Mark Jensen is reminiscent of the David and Goliath story found in the Bible. The little guy taking on the big bully, working together to solve a problem, growing up, and other life lessons are uniquely illustrated in this childrens book. Written to be read and animated by the parent, older children will also enjoy reading this story.

The story begins with a found pile of lost Chihuahua puppies. As the puppies grow and learn their way in the world, a bully bear enters the scene. The Chihuahuas and owners gather together to talk about the bully and how to overcome this problem. Working together, they form a plan to rid themselves of this bully. The plan is set into motion, and the problem is solved.

This will be a very fun read that I am sure your children will ask for nightly. The subtle life lessons learned from reading this book will carry on in the imagination of your child. A great read I am sure you will enjoy regardless of your age. Bullies beware!

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Mark Jensens new book is an entertaining narrative for children that encourages even the smallest among us to stand up for themselves.

With an engaging story and colorful imagery, readers of any age will appreciate this bilingual offering to childrens literature.

View a synopsis of Bear Hunting with Chihuahuas: Caza de osos con Chihuahuas on YouTube.

Consumers can purchase Bear Hunting with Chihuahuas: Caza de osos con Chihuahuas at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about Bear Hunting with Chihuahuas: Caza de osos con Chihuahuas, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
Melanie Neumann When you talk with Melanie, people instantly understand she has a full grasp of what is emerging in food safety and where the risks and opportunities are, Robert Wiebe, CEO of Matrix Sciences

Matrix Sciences, a market leader in the food safety industry, is proud to announce that Melanie Neumann, J.D., M.S., Executive Vice-President and General Counsel at Matrix Sciences, has been awarded the Harold Barnum Industry Award from the International Association for Food Protection (IAFP). This award is given to recognize an individual for outstanding service to the food industry, the public and IAFP.

It is my honor to accept this recognition, and I am grateful for the opportunity to dedicate my career to helping the food industry produce safe quality food. It has been my personal mission to educate and assist the food industry in placing appropriate emphasis on food safety and food safety culture as enterprise risks for the purpose of protecting consumer health and safety, as well as protecting companies brand reputation and bottom line, states Neumann.

The Harold Barnum Industry Award is awarded to individuals that are nominated by members of IAFP and voted on every year.

Past recipients of the Barnum award put Melanie Neumann in rare company of executives in the food industry and this reflects Melanies expertise and value she provides the food industry and the customers of Matrix Sciences, states Robert Wiebe, CEO of Matrix Sciences. When you talk with Melanie, people instantly understand she has a full grasp of what is emerging in food safety and where the risks and opportunities are.

The award will be formally accepted at the IAFP 2021 Annual Meeting July 18-21, 2021 in Phoenix Arizona.

Matrix Sciences is a growing network providing analytical and advisory services to address the core technical needs of agri-food producers and processors. Its network of 19 facilities provides support from cultivation to consumer and ideation to successful product launch.
With our Lexile and Quantile certification courses, teachers can leverage the measures their students are likely already receiving through a state or classroom assessment and learn about strategies and resources for implementing individualized instruction.

Today MetaMetrics unveiled its new Lexile & Quantile Educator Academy. The Lexile Certification Course and Quantile Certification Course help teachers integrate the measurement frameworks and accompanying tools and resources into instruction, student career planning and parent engagement. Each year, more than 35 million students receive Lexile measures and 20 million receive Quantile measures.

Both the Lexile and Quantile courses offer an interactive curriculum featuring direct instruction, knowledge checks, summative assessments and performance tasks. Each course is 10-hours, self-paced and asynchronous. Upon completion of the professional development courses, teachers become Certified Lexile or Quantile Educators. In addition, in more than 20 states, teachers will be awarded CEUs or professional development hours on completion of each course.

Summer has long been the time for teachers to take advantage of professional development opportunities, particularly options that are self-directed. A recent study by Rands American Teacher Panel revealed that 99 percent of teachers surveyed said they participated in professional learning activities over summer break.

After facing the challenges of the 2020-2021 school year, teachers tell us they are looking for professional development opportunities to help individualize instruction when they return to the classroom in the fall, said Malbert Smith, CEO and co-founder, MetaMetrics. With our Lexile and Quantile certification courses, teachers can leverage the measures their students are likely already receiving through a state or classroom assessment and learn about strategies and resources for implementing individualized instruction. .

Teachers who complete the courses will gain a deeper understanding of how to make the Lexile and Quantile frameworks actionable for learning and discover award-winning tools and resources on the Lexile or Quantile Hub to support their efforts. They will also learn strategies for communicating effectively with parents about student performance and growth and ways to use the universal measures with their colleagues.

Educators who participated in a preview of the Quantile Certification Course had high praise. This has been a very valuable course. I had zero background in all things related to Quantile measures, said Laura Graham, elementary teacher at Pender County Schools in North Carolina, This will help me better plan for my students, sharing with my colleagues, and communicating with parents. The myriad resources allow me to expand my knowledge of teaching mathematics.

Each course is $99. For information about volume discounts, contact support@lexile.com. To enroll or learn more, go to EducatorAcademy.Lexile.com.

About MetaMetrics

MetaMetrics is an award-winning education technology organization that offers the only scientifically valid, universal scales for measuring silent and oral reading and listening (Lexile) and math (Quantile) with plans to develop measures for writing. The Lexile and Quantile Frameworks measure student ability and the complexity of the content they encounter. Lexile and Quantile measures and related technologies link assessment to instruction and provide next steps for students of all ages and abilities. The measures also provide valuable insights about students potential for growth. MetaMetrics measures, products and services are licensed to dozens of education product companies to help achieve that growth. For 35 years, MetaMetrics work has been increasingly recognized for its research-based approach to improving learning. For more information, visit metametricsinc.com.


"In an industry that is sorely lacking resources, we are delighted to deliver a tool for parents and educators that reaches the lifespan," stated Anne Johnson-Oliss, CEO

Minds Untapped, LLC is pleased to announce today its inaugural application, Blue Hope for autism. This intuitive and user-friendly application uses evidence-based methods and technologies to deliver quality content to families and educators. Focused on families and people with autism, Blue Hope features rich video content, audio, blogs, photos, and strong social components for support and connection in the autism community. It is a dynamic digital hub filled with information, resources, interpersonal connections, and daily living skills lessons for individuals with autism.

In an industry that is sorely lacking resources, we are delighted to deliver a tool for parents and educators that reaches the lifespan, stated Anne Johnson-Oliss, CEO. Blue Hope features a growing set of video and virtual reality resources, offering unlimited viewing anywhere, anytime, equipping users with a high-quality set of tools.

Blue Hope content, which is being offered at no charge for a limited time, is all digital, streaming, and ready for viewing on any WiFi device. Users can consume high-quality content and materials from anywhere they use the Internet. The Blue Hope App can be downloaded for free from the Google Play Store at http://bitly.ws/e4Dp or Apple Store at http://bitly.ws/e4D5.

Content is designed as a resource for parents and educators and includes a growing set of video and virtual reality resources. The application is organized by collection so that videos are easy to find, watch, remember and use. Viewers can also participate in chats under each video about topics and strategies.

About Minds Untapped, LLC

Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Orlando, Florida, Minds Untapped was founded as by successful entrepreneurs who recognized the scarcity of resources and opportunities available to people living with chronic conditions to which there is no cure. They researched the existing challenges and contemplated the future. Together, the Minds Untapped group envisions many affordable solutions utilizing advanced technologies and clever design.

The Blue Hope application and platform was designed for anyone who interacts with people who have autism and need require regular assistance. People are different. Some autistic people do not require daily assistance while others need more pervasive supports. The Company offers the most contemporary, trusted information source that is centered around autism.

Unlike other resources out there, Blue Hope understands how autism can affect lives and wants to provide trusted information and resources to caregivers, therapists, doctors, parents, teachers, and others in positions of authority by providing a curated, trusted source of information. The Company takes pride in offering its audiences support for different therapies.

For more information, please visit https://www.mindsuntapped.com/ or https://www.bluehopeapp.com/.
Nadav Ben-Dov, CEO at phenofAST With a new take on a problem that continues to plague healthcare systems worldwide, phenofAST is an exciting addition to further strengthen MindUPs growing portfolio

MindUP, a leading Israeli digital health incubator, is pleased to welcome phenofAST to its family of portfolio companies. phenofAST is bringing a unique, bio-convergent AST solution that combines cutting edge technologies in engineering and microbiology. MindUP has a strong interest in this type of multidisciplinary project that can shape the future of health care.

phenofAST is taking on the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), fueled by the inability of clinicians to get definitive results of antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) when they need it. Today, clinical teams must wait days for lab results and, as a result, the patient may end up receiving the wrong antibiotic. This elevates the incidence of AMR, prolonging length of hospital stay, and increasing costs.

phenofASTs first product addresses urinary tract infections (UTI), the most prevalent hospital acquired infection. Using its proprietary optical technology and AI, phenofAST will be able to produce definitive AST results directly from raw urine samples in only 4 hours. This game-changing turnaround time means that the clinical team can get the results and prescribe the right antibiotic in the same shift.

AST methods available today have a 2-3 day turnaround, even though the patient requires treatment now, noted Dr. Nadav Ben-Dov, CEO and co-founder of phenofAST. It often leads to a cascade of events that include further complications, extended post-acute care and even death. Naturally, these adverse events also increase the cost of care.

Dan Shwarzman, CEO of MindUP, said With a new take on a problem that continues to plague healthcare systems worldwide, phenofAST is an exciting addition to further strengthen MindUPs growing portfolio. We are pleased to provide founder Nadav Ben-Dov with the support to make his vision a reality.

To learn more:

phenofAST: Nadav Ben-Dov, CEO at nadav.bd@phenofast.com

MindUP: Maura Rosenfeld, CBO at maura@mindup.co.il

About MindUP

MindUP, Israels first dedicated digital health incubator, is a joint venture of Medtronic, IBM, Pitango Venture Capital and Rambam Medical Center, in collaboration with the Israel Innovation Authority. MindUP funds, supports and nurtures early-stage digital health companies. MindUP offers its portfolio companies a platform that provides 360 degree support from its team, shareholders, and partners, leveraging their combined knowledge, resources, and contacts to significantly increase their chances for success.
Mingle Mask Launches First-to-Market Invisible Mask for Consumers Looking for Protection in a Post-Pandemic World Mingle Mask is perfect for consumers who want to reduce health concerns, protect themselves from new COVID variants, attend large social gatherings or prefer to gradually adjust to going back to normal.

Mingle Mask, the worlds first-to-market invisible face mask, officially launched today in the United States. The new eco-friendly masks are already hugely popular in Canada because of their ability to show peoples smiles, facial expressions and emotions at an affordable price.

Mingle Mask is extremely comfortable to wear all day long. The one-size-fits-all face mask has an innovative chin guard that comfortably rests against the face, ensuring eyeglasses never fog up and smiles are always visible. The chin guard also helps keep material away from the face, making it easy to wear lipstick, lip balm and lip gloss and keeping the face cooler.

As states and businesses relax their rules and lift mandates, Mingle Mask is the ideal transitional mask for consumers who still want protection but dont require a medical-grade mask, said Rick Sutton, founder and CEO of Mingle Mask. Mingle Mask offers a transparent plastic barrier that stops the wearer from spreading droplets to other people. The mask covers the face and nose, making it easy to breathe and talk without sacrificing safety.

In addition to making communication easier, the highly breathable masks use Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved reusable and recyclable materials. Each mask is lightweight, includes comfortable ear hook holders designed for long-term wear and easy to clean and sanitize in-between uses.

Mingle Mask is perfect for consumers who want to reduce health concerns such as pollution and flu exposure, protect themselves from new COVID variants, attend large social gatherings or prefer to gradually adjust to going back to normal, said Sutton. They also solve the problem for businesses who are not ready to eliminate the mask mandate for fear of exposing their workforce, such as employees at restaurants, schools, foodservice venues, hotels and more.

Mingle Mask is available in a 10-pack for an SRP of $22.99, 25-pack for an SRP of $42.99 or 50-pack for an SRP of $62.00 at https://theminglemask.com. There is also a limited-edition six-pack with colored adjustable strings for an SRP of $17.99. To meet the needs of retailers, businesses and organizations throughout North America, Mingle Mask offers a bulk purchase program.

For more information about Mingle Mask, please visit here. To stay up to date on other news and information from Mingle Mask, visit Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.

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Note to editor: Samples, photos and interviews with Rick Sutton available upon request
Monroe College celebrates the Class of 2021 I am so proud of our graduates for staying focused on their goals and not letting anything  including a global pandemic  stop them. They are ready, resilient, and inspired  and I cannot wait to see what they do next. -- President Marc Jerome

Monroe College, a national leader in educating urban and international students, held Commencement today to celebrate the academic achievements of its exceptional Class of 2021. More than 2,400 students participated.

The Colleges 88th annual Commencement was held at 5:00 pm, with a virtual procession of the graduates organized by academic school following at 6:00 pm. Among this years graduates are five high school seniors from Gotham Collaborative High School who had taken college-level dual enrollment classes through Monroe as juniors and seniors. The students  Amir Bernard, Beenie Garcia, Gabriela Henry, Precious Jackson, and Nicholas Maisonet  each graduated today with an Associate degree in Human Services, making them both high school AND college graduates this year.

Todays Commencement was filled with great joy, pride, and admiration for our Class of 2021, said Marc Jerome, president of Monroe College. I am so proud of our graduates for staying focused on their goals and not letting anything  including a global pandemic  stop them. They are ready, resilient, and inspired  and I cannot wait to see what they do next.

Hill Harper, renowned actor from shows such as The Good Doctor and CSI: NY opened the virtual program with stirring words that paid tribute to the graduates significant accomplishments, while also reminding them that they had only just begun their promising life journeys. Other celebrities offering congratulatory words during the program were actor and rapper Ice-T; actor, comedian, and game show host Anthony Anderson; and popular recording artists Ginuwine, Shenseea, Kes the Band, and Machel Montano.

Kathy Martinez of Brooklyn, New York, is also among this years graduates. In 2017, she participated in an episode of Celebrity Undercover Boss that featured world-renowned chef Marcus Samuelsson seeking to help promising culinary talents achieve their professional dreams. His search quickly came to Monroe College, which partnered with him to offer a full tuition scholarship to Ms. Martinez so that she could attend the Colleges award-winning Culinary Institute of New York. Chef Kathy was preparing meals at a homeless shelter and dreaming of attending culinary school when Chef Samuelsson  disguised at the time  learned about her incredible culinary talents, creativity, and passion.

Graduates in the Class of 2021 represented 45 countries. In addition to students from the U.S. and its territories, there were sizable contingents from Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, China, Dominica, Dominican Republic, India, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Lucia participating in todays ceremonies.

The College today conferred 357 Masters degrees; 1,119 Bachelors degrees; and 910 Associate degrees this year, as well as awarded 70 professional certificates.

The Colleges three-semester academic calendar enables Monroe students to earn 45 or more college credits per year (compared to the 30 credits college students typically earn per year at other institutions). That means that many of the graduates today earned their Bachelors degree in three years or their Associate degree in less than two years.

Todays Commencement celebration was held virtually to safeguard the health and wellness of the graduates, their families, and College faculty and staff. The College hopes to hold in-person celebrations for each of its academic schools later in the year should COVID conditions further improve.

ABOUT MONROE COLLEGE

Founded in 1933, Monroe College is a recognized leader in urban and international education. The College is proud of its innovative programs to increase college access, affordability, and completion outcomes, especially among first-generation students.

Monroe educates 8,000 students each year, offering Certificate, Associate, Bachelors, and Masters degree programs from New York campuses in the Bronx and New Rochelle, as well as in the Caribbean nation of St. Lucia. Students may also pursue degree programs through Monroe Online.

Programs are offered through Schools of Allied Health Professions, Business and Accounting, Criminal and Social Justice, Education, Hospitality Management, Information Technology, and Nursing, as well as through its King Graduate School. Liberal arts and continuing education programs are also available. For more information and admissions criteria, please visit http://www.monroecollege.edu.
We believe fresh ideas must be accessible to all within the industry. Thats why we wanted our conference to be free to all educators and higher ed professionals who might benefit from it. This is just one of the many ways we support the higher ed community. - Capture CEO Leonard Napolitano

This week, Capture Higher Ed is bringing together nearly 1,000 enrollment, marketing and other higher ed leaders and professionals from across the country for its national, two-day virtual conference, INNOVATE 2021. With the theme, Clarity and Creativity, the conference  Wednesday, June 16, and Thursday, June 17, 1-4 p.m.  will offer a unique variety of sessions and panel discussions on innovative enrollment and marketing practices.

Higher ed professionals from 457 higher ed institutions in 48 states have registered for INNOVATE, which will stream live on five platforms: YouTube Live, LinkedIn Live, Facebook Live, Twitch and Periscope.

We believe fresh ideas must be accessible to all within the industry, said Capture CEO Leonard Napolitano. Thats why we wanted our conference to be free to all educators and higher ed professionals who might benefit from it. This is just one of the many ways we support the higher ed community.

INNOVATE 2021 agenda was designed to provide insights, strategies, tools and resources for todays recruitment and marketing challenges as well as plenty of professional inspiration and motivation.

Natalie Nixon, Ph.D., a creative strategist and president of Figure 8 Thinking, will kick-off the conference with her opening keynote, Navigating Uncertainty. A global speaker and author of "The Creative Leap: Unleash Curiosity, Improvisation and Intuition at Work," Nixon encourages leaders and organizations to apply creativity and foresight for transformative results.

Dr. Wesley R. Fugate, president of Wilson College in Chambersburg, Pa., will open the second day of the conference with the moderated discussion, A Presidential View on DEI and its Impact on Enrollment Management. Fugate is a frequent presenter on higher education issues and the recipient of numerous recognitions, most recently the Centre College Distinguished Young Alumni Award.

Matt Blevins, a global brand director at Brown-Forman, will close the event with his session, The Art & Science of Brand Building. A long-time marketer, Blevins is vice president and global brand director for Jack Daniels Tennessee Whiskey and has held a range of management roles that include brand positioning and communication across several labels.

Other sessions during the conference will include:

What New Virtual Methods Will You Keep Post Pandemic? a panel discussion with enrollment leaders from the University of Memphis, University of South Carolina, University of Toledo and George Mason University;

Using Data Clarity to Inform Your Creativity, presented by the University of Toledo and Capture;

Enroll More: Case Studies Combining Behavioral Intelligence and Continuous Content, presented by PlatformQ Education and Capture;

Putting Your New Brand to Work for Student Recruitment presented by enrollment leaders from University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy at St. Louis;

Building a Strong Inquiry Pool for Graduate Programs Using Multi-Channel Marketing, presented by enrollment leaders from Jacksonville University.

There will also be a philanthropic component to INNOVATE 2021. Throughout the conference, Capture will match attendee donations (up to $5,000) to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America and the National Urban League.
Dine-in or on-premises restaurant orders/visits have improved since the beginning of the pandemic but, as a basis for comparison, were still down -85% in April 2021 compared to April 2019.

Canadians were anxiously awaiting COVID lockdowns and restrictions to be eased and lifted, and so were restaurant operators. Its been a long 15 months and 46% of Canadians told The NPD Group that they plan to physically eat at a restaurant, bar, or coffee shop now that COVID-19 restrictions have been eased. Restaurant operators are eager to greet them back and pick-up their dine-in business, which was most impacted by mandated pandemic restrictions.

Dine-in or on-premises restaurant orders/visits have improved since the beginning of the pandemic but, as a basis for comparison, were still down -85% in April 2021 compared to April 2019. Off-premises orders and visits, which include carry-out, drive-thru, and delivery, the ordering modes most used during the pandemic, were up +28% in April compared to two years ago. Total commercial foodservice orders/traffic across Canada was down -23 in April compared to April 2019, according to NPDs continual tracking of the Canadian foodservice industry.

In addition to the restaurant industry impact, these declines also reflect another aspect of life the pandemic took away  a place to interact with friends and family socially. Spending time with friends is what 46% of consumers told NPD they miss the most about visiting restaurants and foodservice outlets. Spending time with family and relatives was what 36% of Canadians miss. Over a third of consumers said they miss eating something special that they cant cook at home, one of the primary reasons restaurants are in business. Since the pandemic isnt over, 50% of Canadians say that good hygiene at restaurants will be more important to them than before the pandemic, which is particularly important to older consumers. Supporting local and independent restaurants and the local economy was important to 44% of consumers.

As we approach our 1 Dose Summer with some provinces already re-opening, Canadians will have the opportunity to socialize with their family and friends at their favourite restaurants, says Vince Sgabellone, NPD foodservice industry analyst. We can also expect to see these traffic deficits shrink in the coming months. Although even with restrictions lifting, the growth in digital will continue now that some consumers are accustomed to ordering online.
Screener 18 makes tremendous strides in eliminating the workflow bottlenecks that come with the new wave of complex assays.

Genedata, the leading provider of enterprise software solutions for biopharmaceutical R&D, today announced Genedata Screener 18.0, the latest version of its enterprise software for the automated analysis, visualization, and management of screening data from all in-vitro screening assay technologies. Advancing end-to-end automated data analysis workflows, Screener 18 makes tremendous strides in eliminating the workflow bottlenecks that come with the new wave of complex assays, noted Dr. Othmar Pfannes, CEO of Genedata. The new version will debut in the Whats New in Screener 18 Webinar (June 30, 2021).

Screener 18: New Technologies at Any Scale  Support for Next-generation Therapeutics

The new version of Genedata Screener continues to support a broad range of therapeutic modalities, including novel proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs), and the latest state-of-the-art technologies such as antibody characterization by surface plasmon resonance (SPR). Genedata Screener efficiently automates complex assay data analysis processes thereby eliminating the need and associated cost of assay-specific data experts. For example, Screener 18 automates the analysis of slow-binding assays to determine mechanism of action (MoA) of drug candidates, enabling fully unattended workflows. The value of automation is realized in other ways as well as Genedata Screener automates the validation of data quality, which effectively eliminates interpretation bias to improve decision making.

Independent of the instrumentation used, Screener 18 now leverages the rich output and cost-efficiency of mass spectrometry-based screening. Screener unifies fragmented workflows and consolidates analysis into a single end-to-end solution  from import of raw MS spectra to reporting to final results. Scalable and optimized algorithms for MS-specific analyses deliver excellent performance even with the largest screens and high specificity with information-rich MS assays. These unique capabilities can effectively expand MS screening across the entire R&D organization in a highly efficient way.

Support for PROTAC screens, a new R&D modality at top biopharmas and CROs, is promoted as well in version 18. Using highly advanced calculation methods, rapid and automatic analysis of PROTAC assays can easily be upscaled to high throughput. Uniquely analyzing these molecules in an automated manner, this new method reduces analysis time significantly while improving data quality for PROTAC optimization in the research process.

Additional new features in Screener 18 include:



Extended support for electrophysiology-based screening with deep integration of Screener with Sophion Bioscience Qube 384 and QPatch II.

New SPR analysis capabilities for faster experiments in the characterization of antibodies by binding strength.

Easy compliance with FAIR data principles as the Assay Catalog now enables full capture and versioning of assay definitions while the Hit Profiler module consolidates all assay information on the screened molecules for hit triage.

In-application configuration and deployment of custom calculations and integrations allow data scientists and IT personnel to easily adapt Screener to evolving R&D needs.

Screener 18 reflects Genedatas deep commitment to supporting innovative R&D organizations that are digitalizing their processes and fully automating highly complex analysis workflows, said Pfannes. We continually raise the bar on automated data analysis by breaking down barriers and eliminating workflow bottlenecks to accelerate the pace of discovery for new life-saving therapies.

Editorial Note: New features and capabilities in Screener 18 will be discussed in the Genedata webinar  Whats New in Screener 18. Registration is open for Session 1 and Session 2 on June 30, 2021.

About Genedata

Genedata transforms data into intelligence with innovative software solutions that incorporate extensive biopharma R&D domain knowledge. Multinational biopharmaceutical organizations and cutting-edge biotechs around the globe rely on Genedata to digitalize and automate data-rich and complex R&D processes. From early discovery all the way to the clinic, Genedata solutions help maximize the ROI in R&D expenditure. Founded in 1997, Genedata is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland with additional offices in Boston, London, Munich, San Francisco, Singapore, and Tokyo.

http://www.genedata.com

LinkedIn | Twitter | YouTube

Contact

Helena Bonin

Genedata

Public Relations

pr@genedata.com

Disclaimer

The statements in this press release that relate to future plans, events or performance are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including risks associated with uncertainties related to contract cancellations, developing risks, competitive factors, uncertainties pertaining to customer orders, demand for products and services, development of markets for the Company's products and services. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

All product and service names mentioned are the trademarks of their respective companies.
Orange EV Pure Electric Terminal Trucks With the addition of Zack and Joe, Orange EV is positioned well to accelerate adoption of our industry leading pure electric terminal trucks and expand our impact on the heavy-duty freight hauling market.

Orange EV, the leader in innovative, heavy duty electric vehicle (EV) solutions that are commercially available today, announced the appointment of Zack Ruderman to the role of Vice President (VP) of Sales and Marketing, and Joe Marsh to the role of Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Mr. Ruderman will spearhead Orange EVs sales, marketing and evolution of the brand. Mr. Marsh will be responsible for the companys finance, accounting, IT and human resources.

Mr. Ruderman is a proven sales and marketing leader with over 20 years of experience. He has successfully transformed high-profile brands to drive significant sales growth in very competitive categories. Mr. Marsh brings extensive experience in investment banking, private equity and corporate finance. He has been instrumental in leading high growth businesses at inflection points.

Prior to joining Orange EV, Mr. Ruderman served as the VP of Marketing at Heartland Food Products Group. Previously, he was the VP and General Manager at Jarden, and held leadership roles at General Mills guiding their brands such as Honey Nut Cheerios. Mr. Ruderman holds multiple degrees from Michigan State University and earned his MBA from Harvard Business School.

Prior to joining Orange EV, Mr. Marsh was the CFO at Pronghorn Logistics where he joined at its commencement of operations and helped scale the business until its sale to Hi-Crush. Previously, he served as the Vice President of Finance for RockPile Energy. Mr. Marsh graduated from the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia.

We are extremely pleased to further expand our senior leadership team with these two talented and experienced leaders, said Wayne Mathisen, CEO of Orange EV. With the addition of Zack and Joe, Orange EV is positioned well to accelerate adoption of our industry leading pure electric terminal trucks and expand our impact on the heavy-duty freight hauling market.

These leadership roles support tremendous growth and customer acceptance of Orange EVs best-selling EV terminal trucks, with more than 90 fleets now benefiting from the efficiency, safety, and reliability of all-electric solutions. Innovation continues to fuel growth, including from the recent introduction of a tandem axle solution.

About Orange EV

Orange EV, headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, is the leading OEM providing industrial fleets with heavy duty electric vehicle solutions that are proven to save money while being safer, more reliable, and preferred by drivers and management. Orange EV trucks meet the most rigorous duty cycles and 247 shift schedules while eliminating diesel fuel and emissions. Building both new and re-powered terminal trucks, Orange EV was the first manufacturer offering 100% electric Class 8 vehicles to be commercially deployed and re-ordered into logistics operations. Orange EVs commercially deployed trucks, chosen by more than 90 fleets across 19 states, Canada, and the Caribbean, are approaching 1 million hours of duty and 3 million miles of operation. For more information: orangeev.com.


Orleans County Joins the Empire State Purchasing Group Registered vendors can access bids, related documents, addendum and award information.

Orleans County officially announced today it has joined the Empire State Purchasing Group, an e-sourcing solution from bidnet direct that provides nearly 275 local government agencies throughout New York a solution for bid and vendor management. Orleans County invites all potential vendors to register online with https://www.bidnetdirect.com/new-york/orleanscountyny to access its upcoming solicitations.

Prior to joining the Empire State Purchasing Group, Orleans County published solicitations directly to their own website. This process will continue with notices, but all vendors must register to the Empire State Purchasing Group to download documents and view the full solicitation details. By publishing future solicitations on the Empire State Purchasing Group, Orleans County will be able to track every step of the process and have a much more transparent bid process. Participating government agencies using the Empire State Purchasing Group can track full business details of the vendors who view an RFP, which ones download the related documents, and if needed, whether they saw an addendum.

With the Empire State Purchasing Group we can even see whether or not a vendor downloading our bids is a minority business, small business, or local, says John C. Welch, Jr., Chief Administrative Officer of Orleans County. This level of tracking, both pre-and post-award, was just not possible from our website and is very helpful for auditing and showing due diligence.

Orleans County invites all local vendors to receive access to its upcoming solicitations by joining the Empire State Purchasing Group Vendor benefits of registering on http://www.bidnetdirect.com/new-york include:



Centralized Location to Opportunities from nearly 275 Participating Agencies

Notification of Term  Contract Expiration

Bid Alerts Customized to the Vendors' Products or Services Provided

Full Customer Service Support

About Orleans County:

Orleans County is blessed with natural beauty, quaint Victorian villages and a rich history. From the Erie Canal and the Seaway Trail, to railroading history and world class sportfishing, Orleans County is a popular destination with small town USA appeal.

Agriculture is our number one industry and you may sample guaranteed fresh fruits and vegetables at a roadside farm market. Bring a basket to pick your own! Learn about our farming heritage with a tour of the Country Barn Quilt Trail. Over 50 quilt blocks each tell a story of farm families. And we celebrate the harvest with family-oriented festivals in the summer and fall.

Railroading history thrives in Orleans County. In the quaint Victorian village of Medina step back in time to the heydays of the rail era at the Medina Railroad Museum showcasing the New York Central Railroad. Hop aboard at the Museum for a vintage train excursion along the Erie Canal. At Albions historic Courthouse Square visit a church built by George Pullman, inventor of the rail sleeping car, or take a ride through an apple orchard aboard a trolley train.

The Cobblestone Museum features an architectural style popular from 1830 to 1860. A narrated tour of seven buildings shows how this wave washed stone from Lake Ontario was used to enhance homes unique to the Great Lakes region.

Our maritime history along the coast is presented at the Oak Orchard Lighthouse Museum at Point Breeze. The light is an exact replica of the original 1871 that was the beacon to the shipping industry on Lake Ontario.

Another of our watery destinations is the Erie Canal, built in 1825. Today it is a linear park, offering an easy paddle by canoe or kayak. The hard-surfaced Canalway Trail is popular with bicyclists and threads its way through three villages with lots of services and amenities.

And for trophy trout and salmon sportfishing Lake Ontario and the Oak Orchard River will thrill the angler all year long. Summer deep water trolling produces monster Chinook salmon. And tributary fly fishing for brown trout is a unique fall angling experience. Anglers and pleasure boaters alike enjoy the full-service, yet secluded port of Oak Orchard Harbor. Set your GPS waypoint to 43 22.5N 78 11.36W and explore our waterfront restaurants, lodging, marinas, and public parks.

About bidnet direct:

bidnet direct, powered by mdf commerce, is a sourcing solution of regional purchasing groups available at no cost to local government agencies throughout the country. bidnet direct runs regional purchasing groups, including the Empire State Purchasing Group, across all 50 states that are used by over 1,600 local governments. To learn more and have your government agency gain better transparency and efficiency in purchasing, please visit https://www.bidnetdirect.com/buyers
From the first conversation beyond onboarding, our professional search consultants tailor services to create an exceptional recruiting experience, shorten hiring timelines and fuel both organizational and career growth.

As businesses across the country struggle to find qualified talent, PrideStaff is pleased to announce that their East Bay Tri-Valley office has added a G.A. Rogers & Associates division to its existing operations. A natural extension of PrideStaff's staffing and placement franchise, G.A. Rogers & Associates addresses clients' direct hire needs for executive, managerial and supervisory roles in PrideStaff's core areas of focus.

Building on the tremendous success of PrideStaff East Bay Tri-Valley, Owner/Strategic-Partner Robert Johnson will be heading his office's new executive and professional recruiting division. "As the economy continues to improve, we're seeing employers throughout our market struggle even more to hire the leaders, managers, and professionals they need to capitalize on the upturn," said Johnson. "G.A. Rogers & Associates was created to help these organizations proactively source top talent and direct-recruit professionals who may not be actively searching for a job."

While G.A. Rogers & Associates is new, the group will be led by industry veterans. "Our leadership team combines more than 40 years of executive and professional recruiting experience, one of the nation's most successful hiring infrastructures and proven processes to ensure the success of each search," said G.A. Rogers & Associates Vice President, Karen Cowan. "From the first conversation beyond onboarding, our professional search consultants tailor services to create an exceptional recruiting experience, shorten hiring timelines, and fuel both organizational and career growth."

For job seekers throughout the East Bay Tri-Valley area, working with G.A. Rogers & Associates means access to higher level positions across the country, many of which won't be advertised elsewhere. Experienced managers, supervisors, business professionals and executives are encouraged to explore and apply to job opportunities at jobs.ga-rogers.com.

About G.A. Rogers & Associates

A division of PrideStaff, G.A. Rogers & Associates specializes in executive and professional recruiting. The parent company was founded in the 1970s as 100 percent company-owned units and began staffing franchising in 1995. They operate over 80 offices in North America to serve over 5,000 clients. With over 40 years in the staffing business, headquartered in East Bay Tri-Valley, CA, all PrideStaff brands offer the resources and expertise of a national firm with the spirit, dedication and personal service of smaller, entrepreneurial firms. For more information on G.A. Rogers & Associates services, visit our website.

PrideStaff and G.A. Rogers & Associates shared Mission: Consistently provide client experiences focused on what they value most.
RED Chocolate Were amazed at the reception our chocolates have received, even during a pandemic when so many brands suffered, says Glenn Gardone, President & CEO. This invigorates us to look for ways to perfect our exclusive recipes so that our customers get the best chocolate without the guilt.

RED Chocolate announces an update to its guiltlessly indulgent no sugar added recipes that provides decadent flavor and fewer calories. Consumers will still enjoy the smarter snacking options, now with an improved taste and nutritional content.

The Master European Chocolatier's offerings include no added sugar, reduced calories, and less fat. The new recipe deliciously makes the dark chocolate 40% less in calories and the milk chocolate 30% less compared to other popular chocolates on the market. One-third of the dark chocolate bar has the same amount of calories as an apple slice and is keto-friendly.

Were amazed at the reception our chocolates have received since arriving in the U.S. even during a pandemic when so many brands suffered, says Glenn Gardone, President and CEO. This invigorates us to look for ways to perfect our exclusive recipes so that our customers get the best chocolate without the guilt. Its a healthier lifestyle choice that chocoholics can feel good eating. It makes a convenient on-the-go snack for hiking and being outside this summer, too.

RED Chocolate is made with cocoa from the Ivory Coast of Africa, whose farmers select, roast and grind the cocoa beans to perfection. The European brand is one of the first to masterfully use the natural sugar from the cocoa bean itself as well as naturally occurring sugars from fruits such as melons to lightly sweeten their recipe, receiving more than 10 invention patents in the process. Ethically sourced and produced in a custom-designed environmentally-conscious facility, the brand is one of the fastest-growing confectionaries in the industry.

Chocolate lovers have discovered the ideal way to satisfy their chocolatey cravings without refined-sugar-regret that we have learned in recent years can lead to multiple health risks when heavily consumed. The full bars and grab-n-go come in classic dark, classic milk and delicious flavors such as orange and almond. The diamond-shaped pralines are available in either a smooth nut or a coconut filling. RED is Weight Watchers-friendly, keto-friendly, gluten-free, kosher, palm oil-free, and non-GMO.

For more information, visit https://red-chocolate.com.


Regenerative Outcomes LLC, a Tennessee-based company providing regulatory application and translational development services to regenerative medicine biotechnology companies, expands operations outside of Nashville facilitates to its new location at popular South Beach, Miami, Florida.

Doug Oliver, MSW, Founder and President of Regenerative Outcomes, LLC, describes Regenerative Outcomes Miami as an extension of our strategy in meeting the needs of a client base that would otherwise not have access to both domestic and foreign clinical trial capabilities, or the highly-specialized team to manage next steps in bringing their cell-based therapeutics and device innovations to help patients.

Oliver also announced the appointment of Vidya Maharaj, MPH, as VP of Clinical Services and Development of Regenerative Outcomes Miami, who will lead the team, and continue Regenerative Outcomes mission of helping clients easily navigate the complex regulatory pathways in the niche industry of regenerative medicine.

Florida was a sensible choice for us and our clients, says Maharaj, Doug and I already have a pipeline of prospective clients local to the Florida market. Miami is an optimal physical location to allow for us to meet these prospects face-to-face, building trust and a deeper personal connection. Miami is also known strategically and geographically as a hub for international expansion.

This feels like it is just the beginning of the next leg of the journey to get as many safe treatments out there to patients as we can, as quickly as possible, and Vidya has both the experience and skills to take it there, says Oliver.

Clinical trial management is both costly, and competitive, and these financial challenges can dissuade smaller to mid-size regenerative medicine biotechnology companies from introducing potentially life-saving treatments to those in need.

Our aim has always been to give a voice to those that cant compete with the pricing standards set by Big Pharma contends Maharaj. It is unfortunate when a company is financially stranded and doesnt have the adequate funds necessary to conduct a trial. Our collaborative model brings efficiencies and proprietary methods that will provide these companies an opportunity to do so by using an all means possible approach. We need to help small stakeholders with big ideas bring their dreams to fruition.

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ABOUT REGENERATIVE OUTCOMES, LLC

Regenerative Outcomes, LLC, info@regenerativeoutcomes.com, is located in Nashville, Tennessee, and is comprised of a global regenerative medicine team possessing deep subject matter expertise, FDA insight and scientific acumen.

The company has a finger directly on the pulse of regulatory reform and uses a full spectrum approach to provide turn-key regulatory services, indication and translational research assistance, IND preparation and submission, clinical protocol development, patient informed consent review, IRB matching, and more.

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ABOUT REGENERATIVE OUTCOMES MIAMI

Regenerative Outcomes Miami, info@regenoutcomesmiami.com, is based in Miami, Florida, and is committed to leading the way for small to mid-size biotechnology companies that seek affordable management and support services for domestic and foreign early phase clinical trials in regenerative medicine technologies.

The company initiates sponsors and manufacturers into trial preparation and related activities, and provides comprehensive oversight, site monitoring, data management, patient recruitment and retention, as well as other services.

Regenerative Outcomes Miami utilizes a collaboration model to bridge gaps in moving companies from regulatory application development and submission to conducting early phase clinical trials. The companys management and support strategies brings unique and proprietary efficiencies, and measurable financial savings associated with that approach.
Removery announces rebrand of Absolute Tattoo Removal in Hermosa Beach and San Diego. We are thrilled to establish Removery in Southern California, one of the most vibrant tattoo scenes in the world," -- Tom Weber, CEO of Removery.

Removery, the world leader in laser tattoo removal, change, and fade services, announced that it has completed the rebranding of Absolute Laser Tattoo Removal in Southern California. Removery acquired the two studios in March of 2021 and has been working with the teams to refresh the studios and rebrand them as Removery. Absolutes two studios, located at 7308-B Clairemont Mesa Blvd in San Diego and 1601 Pacific Coast Highway in Hermosa Beach, will now become Removery studios. Founded in 2015 by Diane Korsh, Absolute Laser Tattoo Removal has served over 8,000 clients using the Candela PicoWay Laser.

We are thrilled to establish Removery in Southern California, one of the most vibrant tattoo scenes in the world, said Tom Weber, CEO of Removery. We are excited to build upon the foundation Absolute Laser Tattoo Removal has set here in San Diego and Hermosa Beach. Our team of tattoo enthusiasts, with decades of collective tattoo removal experience, understand the need for high quality and effective fade, change and removal services whether its to make room for new art or a whole new lifestyle.

Diane Korsh said, We had been watching Removerys growth over the last 12 months and are very happy to become part of the leading tattoo removal provider in North America. We are very excited about the plans for further expansion and the career opportunities this will provide our staff. Cole Korsch has joined Removery as the Regional Manager for California.

With plans to grow to 200-plus locations across North America and Australia over the next five years, Removery is working to normalize laser tattoo removal and fading. In addition to acquiring Absolute Laser Tattoo Removal, Removery recently acquired Disappearing Ink in Pittsburgh and Hawaii, UNInked in Greater Cincinnati, Take It Off Tattoo Removal in Louisville and Indianapolis, and just opened a brand new studio in Knoxville.

Trained in the most advanced laser tattoo removal equipment and procedures, the tattoo removal specialists at Removery use PicoWay laser technology that makes the process as fast, effective, and comfortable as possible. In addition to reducing the number of treatments, PicoWay enables Removery technicians to target any tattoo no matter the ink colors used or skin type.

Removery was formed in 2019 through the merger of four leading tattoo removal brands that have been operating since 2011. Removery's trusted laser specialists collectively have completed more than 250,000 safe and effective laser tattoo removal treatments.

About Removery

Removery is the largest specialized provider of tattoo removal services in the world with 48 locations across the U.S., Australia and Canada. Its laser specialists are highly trained in Candelas state-of-the-art PicoWay lasers. To learn more about Removery and tattoo removal, see before-and-after pictures, or schedule an in-person or virtual consultation, visit Removery.com.


A recent brief from the School Choice Demonstration Project at the University of Arkansas is being used by voucher advocates to argue that increasing school choice can spur broad test score improvements.

However, T. Jameson Brewer of the University of North Georgia and Joel Malin of Miami University reviewed Education Freedom and Student Achievement: Is More School Choice Associated with Higher State-Level Performance on the NAEP?, and found significant methodological weaknesses and flaws that render the report useless for guiding policy.

The report ranks states based on their expansion of market-oriented school policies such as vouchers, charters, homeschooling, and inter-district choice. It then constructs a regression model using this education freedom ranking along with per-pupil spending and student/teacher ratio, and using each states combined math plus reading NAEP scores as the dependent variable.

This creative approach yields an unexpected negative relationship between higher spending and the combined NAEP levels. The student/teacher ratio variable does show the expected inverse relationship to outcomes (the more students per teacher, the lower NAEP scores). Oddly, while the two variablesspending and student/teacher ratiowould be expected to be highly correlated, the study does not explore or address this concern by, for example, exploring alternative modeling choices.

The reports main finding is that, after controlling for spending, student/teacher ratio, household income, and percent White students, the model shows a positive correlation between freedom and these scores (as well as NAEP score gains since 2003). While repeatedly stating that their data and methods cannot establish conclusively whether education freedom caused those changes, the authors also repeatedly trumpet the association teased out by their model and urge policymakers to embrace school choice policies. Readers are ultimately informed of the reality that [s]chool choice has its best chance to influence NAEP scores and gains across an entire state by delivering competitive pressure to district-run public schools.

Professors Brewer and Malin point out, however, that the reports data and methods can, at best, suggest a relationship that should then be examined using a stronger research design. They also explain that the report, by ignoring relevant peer-reviewed research that has found negative consequences of school choice reforms, does not engage meaningfully with the larger body of research. Indeed, the reviewers identify significant methodological flaws that cast doubt on the reports findings. Major faults include issues related to independent variable construction, the use of an unusually combined dependent variable, and the inclusion of a student group that is untested via the NAEP.

Moreover, the methodology fails to scrutinize dubious findings emerging from their modelsparticularly with regard to spending on education. Instead, the report uses such findings to buttress its concluding claim that a package of school choice reforms is desirable and beneficial.

These shortcomings undermine the reports conclusions and render the study, as currently presented, useless for purposes of guiding policymaking.

Find the review, by T. Jameson Brewer and Joel Malin, at:

http://nepc.colorado.edu/thinktank/education-freedom

Find Education Freedom and Student Achievement: Is More School Choice Associated with Higher State-Level Performance on the NAEP?, written by Patrick J. Wolf, Jay P. Greene, Matthew Ladner, and James D. Paul and published by the School Choice Demonstration Project at the University of Arkansas, at:

https://cpb-us-e1.wpmucdn.com/wordpressua.uark.edu/dist/9/544/files/2018/10/education-freedom-and-naep-scores.pdf

NEPC Reviews (http://thinktankreview.org) provide the public, policymakers, and the press with timely, academically sound reviews of selected publications. NEPC Reviews are made possible in part by support provided by the Great Lakes Center for Education Research and Practice: http://www.greatlakescenter.org

The National Education Policy Center (NEPC), a university research center housed at the University of Colorado Boulder School of Education, produces and disseminates high-quality, peer-reviewed research to inform education policy discussions. Visit us at: https://nepc.colorado.edu
InScribe's digital communities cut across the traditional support silos in higher education, giving students a single place to turn when they need help. "Collaborating with the InScribe team has been an exciting process. We've been able to merge a proven community approach with our own students' ideas and insights," said Elias.

Rio Salado College and InScribe have partnered to launch a pilot series of innovative digital communities that will allow Rio Salado Colleges students to easily connect with their peers, advisors, and faculty to promote engagement and improve outcomes. These interactive spaces were designed in partnership with Rio Salados student leaders, incorporating their experience and feedback to ensure that each community is engaging, impactful, and relevant.

The decision to adopt a digital community strategy aligns with Rio Salado College's commitment to flexible, on-demand student support and to creating an inclusive culture across the institution. Rio Salado is creating these virtual spaces so students from across the country can connect to get help, share ideas, build relationships, and find encouragement from each other.

"Student input is a powerful tool; when our student and alumni groups told us that they wanted an easier means of on-boarding, peer mentoring, and connecting, we involved student leaders in the design of these communities to increase their sense of ownership and ensure that the content is student-centered," said Rio Salados Interim Vice President of Strategy, Advancement and National Division Janelle Elias. "Collaborating with the InScribe team has been an exciting process. We've been able to merge a proven community approach with our own students' ideas and insights. Since the platform is not prescriptive, it allows us to be more intentional about our outcomes and create spaces that resonate with students."

Students have been participating in the college's "sandbox" pilot initiative where they have practiced and experimented with the intuitiveness, functionality and multimedia capabilities of InScribe's technology.

When Rio Salado asked students for input on how to improve the student experience, the first thing that came to mind is more employee-student engagement, especially early on, to help those who are new to college and the enrollment process, which can be extremely overwhelming, said Cordero Holmes, who served as Rio Salados 2020-2021 student senator, and is the current Arizona Phi Theta Kappa Regional Development Officer. I was invited to join faculty and staff to create this InScribe pilot program as a way of improving that engagement, which will hopefully inspire and instill confidence in students to continue and complete their educational endeavors. I believe earlier and more frequent employee-student interactions will help them greatly. Plus, the staff and faculty at Rio are all awesome with minds of treasurable information."

Rio Salado College and InScribe were brought together through the College Innovation Network (CIN), an extension of WGU Labs that connects institutions with a rich source of EdTech innovations and helps them identify, launch and evaluate essential tools. Rio Salado's digital community is grant-funded through CIN, which also is preparing an in-depth research study of the digital community's impact.

"Today's students are asked to navigate a maze of information and websites, which often leaves them feeling overwhelmed, especially when learning at a distance," said Katy Kappler, CEO of InScribe. "Rio Salado's digital community simplifies the way students find answers and get support, but it also builds upon the human connection that is so important to their educational experience and success. The Rio Salado team has been open and inquisitive since our partnership began, and it's been inspiring to see all of this come together, especially with such a high level of student attention and contribution."

About Rio Salado College

Rio Salado College is one of ten Maricopa Community Colleges and one of the largest online public community colleges in the nation, serving nearly 50,000 students annually with more than 28,000 online in 50 states and internationally. Founded in 1978 and headquartered in Tempe, Arizona, Rio Salado offers 600+ online classes, 135+ degree and certificate programs and general education courses. The college also provides support for dual enrollment, military and incarcerated students and serves as the largest provider of adult education in Arizona.

About InScribe

InScribe is a digital student support platform that leverages the power of community and artificial intelligence to connect students with the answers, resources, and individuals they need to succeed. InScribe's digital communities cut across the traditional support silos in higher education, giving students a single place to turn when they need helpno matter the topic or time of day. Students benefit from on-demand, peer-to-peer, and student-to-expert collaboration that helps them feel more connected, increasing student engagement, satisfaction, and retention. Learn more about InScribe at https://www.inscribeapp.com/.
ROOMDEX and Marcus Hoetls The best part of ROOMDEX is how quickly we went from decision to real revenue results, said Rajiv Castellino, CTO Marcus Hotels. It literally took us a couple of hours per hotel to configure our preferences and start the system. Within 24 hours, we saw a full return on our investment (ROI).

ROOMDEX, the leader in hotel upselling automation, is happy to announce that Marcus Hotels & Resorts has activated ROOMDEXs Upgrade Optimizer software in two hotels: The Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee, WI and The Grand Geneva Resort & Spa in Lake Geneva, WI. The hotels are the first ROOMDEX customers to take advantage of the new ROOMDEX integration with Oracle Hospitalitys OPERA PMS via OXI.

Upgrade Optimizer is an automated hotel upsell tool that generates revenue directly to a hotels bottom line. ROOMDEX intelligently calculates the best upgrade offer price and ensures that only available rooms will be offered. Along with the upgrade, guests have the chance to purchase early check-in or late check-out. Late check out is offered automatically pre-arrival and during stay.

With the rapid recovery in leisure travel post pandemic we have been looking for ways to recover revenue as efficiently as possible, while simultaneously increasing our service to guests said Rajiv Castellino, CTO at Marcus Hotels. We have used a number of different upsell solutions in the past, but the seamless integration between ROOMDEX and OPERA, made this an easy decision.

The best part of ROOMDEX is how quickly we went from decision to real revenue results, Rajiv continued, It literally took us a couple of hours per hotel to configure our preferences and start the system. Within 24 hours, we saw a full return on our investment (ROI).

Were very pleased that the activation of our first full 2-way integration with Oracle Hospitalitys OPERA PMS hotels went so smoothly, said Jos Schaap, CEO and Co-Founder of ROOMDEX, The Marcus Hotels engagement exemplifies the new approach hotels are now taking toward technology innovation that prioritizes easy integration, automation and quick ROI.

About ROOMDEX

ROOMDEXs hotel upsell software, Upgrade Optimizer, automates, monetizes and ultimately simplifies the hotel room upgrade process by putting the power of choice in the hotel guests hands. Automation is the cornerstone of our pioneering hotel optimization platform. ROOMDEX uses hotel reservation, guest data and its proprietary persona and price algorithms to deliver personalized digital offers, greatly enhancing the guest experience. The hotel upsell tool relieves hoteliers of the labor time required by other upselling solutions while delivering high margin revenue and a substantial ROI.

The company was founded by Jos Schaap, Pierre Boettner and Denis Bajet, three industry veterans (Ex. MICROS-OPERA (now Oracle Hospitality), StayNTouch, Shiji and Nor1) who together bring over 90 years of hotel software innovation experience in PMS, integrations, revenue management, BI, mobile, self-service and upgrade optimization software. Since founding in spring of 2020, ROOMDEX has signed on more than 70 hotels with 6,000+ rooms across the U.S., U.K. and Europe. Find more details on https://www.roomdex.io

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About Marcus Hotels & Resorts

Marcus Hotels & Resorts owns and/or manages 18 hotels, resorts and other properties in the U.S. The companys distinctive portfolio includes city-center meeting hotels, upscale resorts, historic properties, and premium branded and independent first-class hotels. Marcus Hotels & Resorts is an approved operator for all major lodging brands. A leader in the hospitality industry since 1962, Marcus Hotels & Resorts creates asset value for hotel owners through its expertise in management, development and product repositioning. This includes hotel food and beverage concepts developed by its Marcus Restaurant Group, featuring premier brands such as Mason Street Grill, ChopHouse, Miller Time Pub & Grill and SafeHouse Restaurants.

For more information, please visit: http://media.marcushotels.com and follow the company on Facebook and Twitter (@MarcusHotels).
Before electrical engines power traditional or even radically new design aircraft, these engines will be required to demonstrate both endurance and durability. The ARP8689 recommended practice will help the industry achieve this requirement and that is needed in the near future. Richard Ambroise

SAE International announced today that its E-40 Committee on Electrified Propulsion has introduced an important new work in progress, SAE ARP8689: Endurance Tests for Aircraft Electric Engines. ARP8689 will provide guidance on testing durability and integrity requirements of electric engines.

As new technologies, architectures and aircraft designs emerge, the need to demonstrate safe operation under all operational limits as well as the service life duration of an electric engine becomes critical. A recommended practice for a normalized test procedure ensures that failure modes are properly addressed and manufacturers can rely on durable engines.

Before electrical engines power traditional or even radically new design aircraft, these engines will be required to demonstrate both endurance and durability, said Richard Ambroise, chair of SAEs E-40 Committee and head of propelling at Airbus. The ARP8689 recommended practice will help the industry achieve this requirement and that is needed in the near future.

Recent regulatory activity, including EASAs recently published special condition for electric/hybrid propulsion systems and the FAAs proposed rulemaking, address endurance and durability demonstration. The ARP8689 recommended practice will help the industry achieve these requirements.

Since the SAE E-40 Committees inaugural meeting in March 2019, the committee has brought together more than 240 experts from industry, regulatory authorities and research, with expertise and skills across the spectrum. Diverse segments include representation from automotive, general aviation, eVTOL, commercial aviation, rotorcraft and engines. ARP8689 adds to the committees portfolio of documents in work, which include:



ARP8676: Nomenclature & Definitions for Electrified Propulsion Aircraft

AIR8678: Architecture Examples for Electrified Propulsion Aircraft

ARP8677: Safety Considerations for Electrified Propulsion Aircraft

An ARP8689 working group, led by Yves Cousineau from Transport Canada, meets bi-weekly to advance this important document, with an aggressive schedule to publish by the end of 2021. To find out more and get involved, please contact SAE Committee Manager, Nicole Mattern at nicole.mattern@sae.org, or visit: https://www.sae.org/standards/content/arp8689/.

About SAE International

SAE International is a global association committed to advancing mobility knowledge and solutions for the benefit of humanity. By engaging nearly 200,000 engineers, technical experts and volunteers, we connect and educate mobility professionals to enable safe, clean, and accessible mobility solutions. We act on two priorities: encouraging a lifetime of learning for mobility engineering professionals and setting the standards for industry engineering. We strive for a better world through the work of our philanthropic SAE Foundation, including award-winning programs like A World In Motion and the Collegiate Design Series. More at http://www.sae.org.

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Scope Concepts is about finding the right ones for the right opportunity that will reward our partners and deliver excellence for our hospitals, perioperative colleagues, and anesthesia teams.

Scope Concepts, LLC of North Carolina is excited to announce the release of their new, comprehensive website which provides details of their integrated resources into one site.

Scope Concepts was built by Dr. Thomas Wherry to meet the growing need of modern hospital systems, both in the United States and internationally.

Dr, Wherry explains the purpose behind founding Scope Concepts: For all anesthesia organizational delivery challenges, from the complex to the seemingly simple, there are solutions. Scope Concepts is about finding the right ones for the right opportunity that will reward our partners and deliver excellence for our hospitals, perioperative colleagues, and anesthesia teams.

Scope Concepts new website users will find easy links to:



Scope Anesthesia: Bringing together anesthesia providers and hospital administrators to create integrated solutions, practice models and processes for providing superior perioperative care

Scope Analytics: A proprietary tool created by anesthesia and data experts to save time and money by gathering and interpreting raw data on anesthesia and perioperative lines

Scope Consulting, USA: A multidisciplinary team of experts working together to provide progressive, common-sense solutions customized for each physician groups or hospital needs in the United States

Scope Consulting, International: Providing key strategies for success in hospital systems and perioperative teams world-wide

Scope Concepts focuses on adherence to best-practices through advanced data analytics, while encouraging individuals to exercise their initiative by working together to solve operational challenges. This new website launch will make it even easier for teams to access the resources they need to meet the challenges of the multidisciplinary culture in modern medicine.

About Scope Concepts

Scope Concepts helps anesthesia practices and hospital systems to stabilize the disruptive landscape they find themselves in and to manage the growing demands of perioperative care. We provide anesthesia solutions on a very local basis to counteract the complexities of large national groups and we have done away with the extensive use of non-competes. The model used by Scope Concepts secures a promising future for anesthesia providers, develops local leaders within effective systems which enable our doctors to perform better and care for their patients and the local community.

For more information about Scope Concepts, contact info@scopeconcepts.com.
Brad Schmidt - Chief Financial Officer Im intensely proud of how our team rallied to make sure that patients continued to have safe access to care and keep dental emergencies out of the ER.

Smile Brands Inc. was honored to receive the Spotlight Award at the 26th annual Association of Corporate Growth Awards last week. ACG supports middle-market dealmakers and business leaders who invest in growth and build companies. The Spotlight Award is given in recognition of outstanding growth and above-average financial performance.

Smile Brands, a leading dental support organization with nearly 700 affiliated practices across 30 states, has a deeply rooted culture founded on the companys mission to deliver Smiles for Everyone. Despite facing severe limitations on the ability to deliver dental care, Smile Brands persevered in 2020, delivering record earnings and nearly doubling the number of affiliated offices with the acquisition of Midwest Dental.

We faced a near existential crisis in 2020 when the pandemic forced the closure of much of the dental industry, explains CEO Steven C. Bilt. Im intensely proud of how our team rallied to make sure that patients continued to have safe access to care and keep dental emergencies out of the ER. Our ability to quickly adapt when the crisis hit put us in a position to make strategic acquisitions that are proving to be very beneficial. Its an honor to be recognized by ACG for beating the odds in a crazy year.

ACG Orange Countys Annual Awards celebrate the best middle-market companies in the OC and Inland Empire - as evaluated by a respected panel of independent judges. The theme of this years awards was Excellence Reimagined, reflecting the need for all member organizations to re-imagine success in a pandemic year.

About Smile Brands

Smile Brands Inc., based in Irvine California, is one of the largest providers of dental support services in the United States. The company supports nearly 700 affiliated practices, with more than 8,200 dedicated team members across 30 states. Smile Brands supports a portfolio of over 75 brands including well-known regional brands Bright Now! Dental, Castle Dental, Merit Dental, Midwest Dental, Monarch Dental, and Mondovi Dental. The company provides comprehensive business support services through exclusive long-term agreements with affiliate dental groups, allowing affiliated practices to spend more time caring for patients and less time on the administrative, marketing, and financial aspects of operating a dental office. The organization receives frequent recognition for its award-winning culture and has been on Glassdoors Best Places to Work for three straight years. Smile Brands is a portfolio company of Gryphon Investors, a leading middle-market private equity firm based in San Francisco, CA. Visit smilebrands.com for more information.

About ACG Orange County

The Association for Corporate Growth  Orange County chapter is part of a global organization that includes 60 chapters involved in corporate growth, corporate development, and mergers and acquisitions. ACGs nearly 15,000 members include professionals from private equity firms, corporations, and lenders that invest in middle-market companies, as well as from law, accounting, investment banking and other firms that provide advisory services.
Image courtesy Shutterstock Our partnership with ST Engineering iDirect enables us to remain at the cutting edge of satellite communications technology so that we can reach and meet the high demand of our rural customers in the most efficient and cost-effective way possible." - Miguel E. Rodriguez, President, AXESS Americas

ST Engineering iDirect, a global leader in satellite communications, has been awarded a contract to provide its long-term partner, satellite solutions company AXESS Networks, with the first Newtec Dialog XIF hub deployed in Mexico to connect remote communities and businesses. The hub will be utilized by AXESS Networks customer, mobile operator Altan, to deliver highly sought-after 4G mobile services to rural sites across the region.

A current user of the iDirect Evolution platform, AXESS offers a range of VSAT services across the Americas and EMEA regions and is a leading regional operator. In expanding its portfolio with Dialog, the company can now tap on more solutions from ST Engineering iDirects portfolio to execute its growth plans across many different markets.

AXESS will leverage ST Engineering iDirects renowned Mx-DMA return technology, a core feature of the Dialog platform, to extend 4G cellular backhaul connectivity services to remote parts of Mexico, reaching 100Mbps/30Mbps throughput per site. Mx-DMA is the industrys most efficient and dynamic return technology that will enable AXESS to seamlessly share satellite capacity very efficiently among their terminals, while satisfying the most demanding throughput requirements in markets such as cellular backhaul, trunking and high-end enterprise. This patented waveform technology delivers the highest quality connectivity experience for end-users, and will empower AXESS to offer the widest range of cellular backhaul applications to expand their market share.

We are always striving to improve our technological offering to our customers and therefore we always look for the best possible solutions available, said Miguel E. Rodriguez, President of AXESS Americas. Our partnership with ST Engineering iDirect enables us to remain at the cutting edge of satellite communications technology so that we can reach and meet the high demand of our rural customers in the most efficient and cost-effective way possible. We are thrilled to be the first to implement a Dialog platform in Mexico as it will enable us to continue on our path of growth and to advance our business and corporate objectives. We now have the best combination of a certified teleport, the best platforms and high performance HTS technology. With ST Engineering iDirect, we look forward to further building our capabilities and expanding our reach to remote users that require mobile services.

We are delighted that AXESS has selected our comprehensive portfolio, enabling them to offer their customers every possible range of service with the best possible return and lowest total cost of ownership, said Darren Ludington, Regional Vice President of Sales, Americas, ST Engineering iDirect. Communities are often difficult to connect in rural areas of the country, but mobile connectivity is a necessity, enabling people and businesses to access critical services such as mobile banking and to stay in touch with friends and family. Through our platform range, we are able to help customers like AXESS scale their networks to extend highly efficient, reliable and cost-effective services to people in harder-to-reach areas, driving our vision of connecting global cities.

ST Engineering North America is the U.S. headquarters of ST Engineering, a global technology, defense and engineering group with a diverse portfolio of businesses across the aerospace, smart city, defense and public security segments. Based in Alexandria, VA, it has major operations across 16 cities in 12 states and employs about 5,000 people providing innovative products and solutions to commercial and government customers across diverse market segments.

ST Engineering iDirect, a subsidiary of ST Engineering North America, is a global leader in satellite communications (satcom) providing technology and solutions that enable its customers to expand their business, differentiate their services and optimize their satcom networks. Through the merger with Newtec, a recognized industry pioneer, the combined business unites over 35 years of innovation focused on solving satellites most critical economic and technology challenges and expands a shared commitment to shaping the future of how the world connects. The product portfolio, branded under the names iDirect and Newtec, represents the highest standards in performance, efficiency and reliability, making it possible for its customers to deliver the best satcom connectivity experience anywhere in the world. ST Engineering iDirect is the worlds largest TDMA enterprise VSAT manufacturer and is the leader in key industries including broadcast, mobility and military/government. In 2007, iDirect Government was formed to better serve the U.S. government and defense communities. For more information on our platforms please visit http://www.idirect.net.

Media contacts:

Julie Bettinger

Vice President, Corporate Marketing

ST Engineering iDirect

Phone: +1 703 648 8155

Email: jbettinger@idirect.net

Guy Shields

Director, Corporate Communications

ST Engineering North America

Phone: +1 703 739 2610

Email: guy.shields@stengg.us
The Supplier Diversity Training Institute welcomes Dr. Fred McKinney, award winning supplier diversity economist, consultant, former CEO of the Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council and Managing Director of the Tuck School of Business Minority Business Programs, as lead instructor and program executive.

Launched 2020, the Supplier Diversity Training Institute (SDTI) is a pedagogy-based supplier diversity training program that provides practitioners and stakeholders with tools to develop an effective, results-driven supplier diversity program by exploring key competencies that support diversity objectives and drive performance within their organizations while encouraging economic inclusion within the community. The program offers continuing education credits through the University of Central Florida.

We are thrilled to expand our professional team with respected industry leader, Dr. Fred McKinney, says Kathey Porter, SDTI founder/lead instructor and CEO of Porter Brown Associates. He is one of the foremost economic historians in the world on supplier diversity and minority business development. His expertise will be a great addition to enrich our curriculum and expand the depth and breadth of content offerings and programs, allowing us to become an even greater professional resource to this community, adds Ms. Porter.

I am excited to join the Institute and contribute to the growth and expansion of the supplier diversity industry as it continues to evolve and become an even more relevant function within organizations, says Dr. Fred McKinney, Principal at BJM Solutions. We look forward to impacting the next generation of supplier diversity leaders, adds. Dr. McKinney.

For more information, go to: https://www.ce.ucf.edu/Program/supplier-diversity-training-institute

About Porter Brown Associates

Porter Brown Associates is a veteran, woman and minority-owned, DBE training solutions, professional services and management consultancy based in Florida, supporting clients across a variety of sectors including the federal government, state/local governments, higher education, k-12, corporations and public agencies. Kathey is the author of two books and a frequent speaker on supplier diversity, entrepreneurship and minority business development.

About BJM Solutions

With over 35 years of experience in corporate supplier diversity and minority business development, BJM Solutions is a leading supplier diversity and economic research consultancy for Fortune 500 firms and leading supplier diversity organizations. Dr. McKinney has authored four books and numerous articles on minority business development and corporate supplier diversity. In 2017, he received the Ronald H. Brown Leadership Award from the Department of Commerce - Minority Business Development Agency.
We are proud to introduce TekLink's Cloud Nucleus to Provide Stress-Free IaaS Support and Services to Medium and Large Organizations.

TekLink International Inc., (TekLink) a respected leader in Cloud Platforms, Planning Solutions, and Data Analytics, is proud to announce the launch of Cloud Nucleus. TekLinks Cloud Nucleus innovative service and platform enables companies to migrate the management of their IT infrastructure to the Cloud with ease and peace of mind.

Our clients came to us asking for help optimizing their infrastructure to be scalable, resilient, and agile. They complained of expensive hardware upgrades, the loss of valuable office space for their on-premises hardware, and the difficulties in providing career paths for their more technical infrastructure staff. I am glad to see my team put this solution together to address these key pain points for our clients and prospective companies, says TekLinks CEO and co-Founder, Pankaj Gupta.

Cloud Nucleus 24x7 support allows companies to manage their infrastructure stress free. Typically, companies can free up precious capital expenses with lower operating expenses providing liquidity and flexibility to manage their core business. More importantly, companies leveraging Cloud Nucleus will be able to scale their IT infrastructure up and down to address seasonal demand, standardize security compliance and vulnerability with industry-leading cloud security protocols, and mitigate on-premises IT retention.

More specifically, TekLink specializes in migrating their clients infrastructure to a Cloud of Choice and then optimizes the platform for near real time data movements and to ensure the highest degree of Cloud-based security and compliance.

TekLink is headquartered just outside of Chicago in Warrenville, Illinois, with other locations across North America, EMEA, and Asia. TekLink is among the elite managed Gold partners at Microsoft and a Gold partner with SAP. TekLink also partners with AWS and supports key technologies such as Google Cloud Platform, Dell Boomi, Tableau, Qlik, Theobald, and others.

Our rich and deep history in working with companies using SAP, Teradata, Oracle Net Suite, and other ERP platforms enables us to efficiently and cost-effectively migrate and manage their infrastructure on their behalf. We have demonstrated and proven our capabilities to add value in this critical IT space,  says Seth Rudin, TekLinks AVP in charge of Cloud Nucleus clients.

The demand for Cloud service and migration away from on-premise solutions is growing exponentially. We are excited to help clients with their journey to the Cloud and even connecting two or more Cloud Platforms in a secure and efficient manner, as said by Madhu Bommala, TekLinks Cloud Nucleus Technical Practice Director.

For additional details about Cloud Nucleus, please contact TekLink at cloudanalytics@teklink.com. You can also reach out to TekLink by calling Seth Rudin at 512-672-9713.

About TekLink:

TekLink International, Inc., headquartered in Warrenville, Illinois, is a leading implementer and thought leader offering services in support of SAP, Microsoft, Teradata, AWS, Google Cloud Platform, Anaplan, Tableaus, and other solutions to many Fortune 500 companies, public agencies, and universities. Founded in 2003, TekLink specializes in services in support of business intelligence, planning, analytics, Cloud IaaS, and data warehousing. TekLink has international offices in Asia, Europe, and North America. TekLinks implementation services enable enterprises to harness the power of Business Intelligence, Cloud Analytics, Business Planning and Forecasting across an organization providing invaluable insights to drive critical business decisions across many lines of business. TekLinks track record of over 1,700+ projects underscores its commitment to excellence in technology and consulting services

To learn more, visit us at: http://www.cloud.teklink.com/

All other product and service names mentioned are the trademarks of their respective companies.
Our search for a new management company throughout the Sacramento valley region ended when we found FirstService Residential, said Pat Patterson, board president at The Club at Westpark.

FirstService Residential, North Americas leading association management company, was awarded the management contract for The Club at Westpark Community Association in Roseville, California. FirstService Residential began managing the 55+ active adult community on June 1, 2021.

The Club at Westpark Community Association consists of 704 single-family homes that range from 1,645 to 2,815 square feet with attached garages. The association offers nine different floor plans with some homes featuring libraries, breakfast nooks, back porches and extra storage space in the garage. The community is located two hours from Lake Tahoe, the Bay Area and Napa Valley.

Our search for a new management company throughout the Sacramento valley region ended when we found FirstService Residential, said Pat Patterson, board president at The Club at Westpark. FirstService Residential has what we believe to be the best combination of experience, personnel and resources to help guide The Club at Westpark to our preferred future.

Residents at The Club at Westpark have access to a 10,000-square-foot clubhouse called The Retreat. The recreational center features a 24-hour fitness center, billiards, kitchen and lounge areas. Outdoor amenities include a pool and spa, bocce courts and barbecue grills. The community also includes a patio area with a fireplace and seating, which hosts the associations popular Jazz By the Fire event.

About FirstService Residential

FirstService Residential is North Americas property management leader, partnering with 8,500 communities across the U.S. and Canada, including low-, mid-and high-rise condominiums and cooperatives; single-family communities; master-planned, lifestyle and active adult communities; and mixed-use and rental properties. HOAs, community associations, condos and strata corporations rely on their extensive experience, resources and local expertise to maximize property values and enhance their residents lifestyles. Dedicated to making a difference every day, FirstService Residential goes above and beyond to deliver exceptional service. FirstService Residential is a subsidiary of FirstService Corporation (FSV), a North American leader in the property services sector.

For more information, visit http://www.fsresidential.com/california.
If were going to build a Heartland region that includes all communities and voices, we need to start with focusing on growing an inclusive economy that centers entrepreneurship and innovation - Chris Harris, Senior Program Officer, Kauffman Foundation.

The Employee Ownership Expansion Network (EOX), a non-profit organization dedicated to expanding employee ownership in the United States through the establishment of a network of State Centers for Employee Ownership, has been awarded a $300,000 grant from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation as part of its Central Standards funding program to support entrepreneurs in Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, and Kansas. The grant will support the launch of EOXs newest state center, the Missouri Center for Employee Ownership (MOCEO), and help to provide resources and education to Missouri and Eastern Kansas business owners, their advisors, and community leaders on the benefits of employee ownership.

According to data analysis completed by the non-profit organization Project Equity (https://project-equity.org/), there are more than 44,000 privately-owned businesses in Missouri owned by individuals over the age of fifty-five. These businesses employ nearly 500,000 workers receiving almost $17 billion in payroll. Over the next 10 years, many of these business owners will retire, yet more than half do not have a succession plan. Historically, only 15 percent of businesses are passed down to family members and only 20 percent of the remaining businesses will find a buyer. As a result, many of these businesses will be sold and potentially leave Missouri or close their doors permanently, resulting in widespread job loss and community impact. It is the mission of EOX and the MOCEO to help lessen the effects of this Silver Tsunami of baby-boomer business owners in Missouri and Eastern Kansas.

This funding from the Kauffman Foundation will support our outreach program to educate economic development leaders, business owners, and many others about our growing succession crisis in Missouri and to generate awareness of employee ownership as a valuable, flexible succession tool that enables owners to sell their businesses to their employees while generating wealth for their employees and helping their communities to thrive, said Roy Messing, Interim Executive Director of the MOCEO (https://moceo.org/), one of a growing numbers of EOX state centers dedicated to providing education and resources around employee ownership.

If were going to build the Heartland that includes all communities and voices, we need to start with focusing on growing an inclusive economy that centers entrepreneurship and innovation. As difficult as that work will be, it will be made even more difficult if we try to do it alone and disconnected. Central Standards grantees are partnering and collaborating to build thriving entrepreneurial ecosystems in the Heartland while also connecting the region to the most innovative practices from across the country. said Chris Harris, Senior Program Officer in Entrepreneurship for the Kauffman Foundation.

EOX is grateful to the Trustees of the Kauffman Foundation for their early investment in EOX and the MOCEO. We are pleased that they see employee ownership as a valuable addition to the tools they are using to accomplish their mission of boosting entrepreneurship, and helping Heartland communities and individuals thrive, said Steve Storkan, EOX Executive Director.

To support the work of EOX or to inquire on how you might become involved in this grass roots movement in your state, visit https://eoxnetwork.org/.

About the Kauffman Foundation

The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a private, nonpartisan foundation based in Kansas City, Mo., that seeks to build inclusive prosperity through a prepared workforce and entrepreneur-focused economic development. The Foundation uses its $3 billion in assets to change conditions, address root causes, and break down systemic barriers so that all people  regardless of race, gender, or geography  have the opportunity to achieve economic stability, mobility, and prosperity. For more information, visit http://www.kauffman.org and connect with us at http://www.twitter.com/kauffmanfdn and http://www.facebook.com/kauffmanfdn.

About The Employee Ownership Expansion Network

The Employee Ownership Expansion Network is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in Philadelphia, PA in 2018. Its mission is to significantly expand employee ownership in the United States by establishing and supporting a network of independent non-profit Centers for Employee Ownership. EOX has provided funding and technical assistance to support the opening of seven state centers for employee ownership. The organization aims to help create one million new employee owners by 2025 by having at least 70 percent of the US population living in a state with a center for employee ownership. Learn more at http://www.eoxnetwork.org.

Media Contact

Shannon Wojcik

585-831-6267

shannon@rkgcomms.com
Tide Cleaners, the nations leading on-demand dry cleaning and laundry service franchise, is proud to recognize the outstanding community contributions of Texas-area franchisee Brandt Stravlo, whose recent Tide Loads of Hope initiatives provided relief to hundreds of Texans faced with hardship in communities across the Lone Star State.

Winter storms in February damaged homes, disrupted the water supply to millions of families, and left thousands of residents without power. To help lighten the load for families facing challenging times, Stravlo mobilized Tide Loads of Hope Powered by Tide Cleaners, which offers free laundry services at Tide Cleaners locations when communities need relief.

Together, Stravlo and his team manage more than 50 Tide Cleaners locations, most of which are in the state of Texas. As a multi-unit developer, Stravlo uses his expansive business footprint to make a positive impact on communities across the state during unprecedented times.

At the end of the day, were all Texans. We have to take care of each other, Stravlo, a Lubbock native, says. Its the way I was raised. We open doors for people. We say hi. We help each other out when a neighbor needs support.

Founded in 2005 to respond to Hurricane Katrinas devastation in Louisiana, Tide Loads of Hope is committed to helping people rebuild their lives after disaster strikes. The program has provided 68,000 loads of clean laundry to more than 90,000 people.

This isnt the first time Stravlo and his business partners have activated Tide Loads of Hope when Texans needed a helping a hand.

In April 2020, Tide Cleaners across the country, including locations in Texas, offered free laundry services to frontline workers and their families as they battled the initial outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only did this provide needed support to local families, but Stravlo also says the effort allowed him to keep employees on the payroll as government-mandated shutdowns and restrictions shuttered businesses and limited demand for some services.

We are proud to say the Tide Cleaners family of franchisees is made up of dedicated community leaders like Brandt Stravlo who are motivated to answer the call when their neighbors need a boost, says Tide Cleaners Director of Franchising Clare Moore. We hope providing clean laundry during challenging times takes an unnecessary stress off a familys shoulders, so they can focus on more pressing concerns and the priorities that matter most.

During the most recent Tide Loads of Hope initiative during the aftermath of the winter storms in Texas, Tide Cleaners assisted more than 10,000 families and returned more than 60,000 pieces of dry cleaning and more than 95,000 pounds of laundry.

During last years nationwide initiative to help first responders and their families, Tide Cleaners assisted more than 69,000 frontline workers and returned more than 527,000 pieces of dry cleaning and more than 366,00 pounds of laundry.

For 75 years, Tide has been changing the way we do laundry and continually helping deliver the cleanest clothes possible. Tide Loads of Hope Powered by Tide Cleaners continues that tradition, helping ensure the wellbeing of local communities in need of support.

Learn more here: https://tide.com/en-us/our-commitment/loads-of-hope.

About Tide Cleaners

Tide Cleaners represents Tide, Americas number-one laundry detergent, that has been a trusted brand for more than 70 years. Agile Pursuits Franchising, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Procter & Gamble, launched Tide Cleaners, a brick-and-mortar dry cleaning and laundry concept, in 2008 with headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio. Tide Cleaners is currently the second-largest dry cleaner in the United States based on number of units and is tracking to be number one by the end of 2020.

The Tide Cleaners business model provides numerous solutions to make getting clean clothes more convenient for busy people. Based in Cincinnati, Ohio, the company has 180 locally-owned and operated locations in more than two dozen states and over 1,800 locker locations across the U.S.

About Procter & Gamble

P&G serves consumers around the world with one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Always, Ambi Pur, Ariel, Bounty, Charmin, Crest, Dawn, Downy, Fairy, Febreze, Gain, Gillette, Head & Shoulders, Lenor, Olay, Oral-B, Pampers, Pantene, SK-II, Tide, Vicks, and Whisper. The P&G community includes operations in approximately 70 countries worldwide. Please visit https://www.pg.com/ for the latest news and information about P&G and its brands.


We are fortunate to have a leadership team of this caliber and experience to lead Velosio

Velosio, a technology partner specializing in business management solutions for small- and medium-sized companies and larger enterprises, today announced the expansion of its senior leadership team through both promotion and new team member acquisition.

We are fortunate to have a leadership team of this caliber and experience to lead Velosio, said Joe Longo, President and CEO of Velosio. In an effort to continue our substantial year-over-year growth and meet our strategic plans across the entire portfolio of solutions, practices, and channels, we are at a critical moment. Velosio desired to broaden our executive leadership team to successfully implement our strategy while also taking advantage of the market opportunities ahead. This team, along with our other SLT members, have a proven track record of execution, are client-focused, and have deep leadership capabilities.

Velosio has named Dominic Cristelli as Chief Sales Officer.

It is a privilege to be part of an organization that delivers high-quality services and innovative solutions to its clients. The sole intent of Velosio is to serve our clients better than any other partner in the business. I am honored to be part of such a high-energy leadership team, Cristelli said.

The company also promoted Robbie Morrison to Chief Technology Officer.

As the pace of business continues to accelerate, we are positioned to make it easier for companies to take advantage of the reliability, scalability and security of cloud solutions, Morrison said.

Velosio added new hire Dan Petschke as Chief Financial Officer, allowing Ray Cardonne to move into a dedicated Chief Operating Officer role.

As an experienced financial executive, Dan Petschke joins Velosio from Dwellworks and brings significant finance and accounting expertise to our expanding leadership team, Cardonne said. With Dan on the team, I am excited to focus on Velosios operational processes to support our growth.

Petschke added, I am excited to be joining an organization that delivers superior services and solutions to its customers and career opportunities for its employees.

About Velosio

Velosio is a leader in deploying business applications through the cloud and delivering unparalleled client experiences for small and medium-sized businesses, and larger enterprises. One of the largest Microsoft partners in North America, Velosio supports the entire Microsoft Dynamics portfolio, Microsoft Office 365 family, and Azure services. Our solutions portfolio includes ERP, CRM, Productivity, Business Intelligence, and Power Platform with industry expertise and solutions for Professional Services, Field Service, Agribusiness, and Distribution. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Velosio serves over 4,000 clients across US and Canada.


Zeigler Auto Group Earns Its Third Consecutive Best And Brightest Companies To Work For In The Nation Award We pride ourselves on Zeiglers world-class culture and our ability to solidify it, even as we grow at a fast rate. I am proud of the customer service our teams provide across Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois

The National Association for Business Resources has released its list of Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in the Nation for 2021, with Zeigler Auto Group among its winners.

We are honored at Zeigler to be amongst the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in the Nation for the third year in a row! We pride ourselves on Zeiglers world-class culture and our ability to solidify it, even as we grow at a fast rate. I am proud of the customer service our teams provide across Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois, said Aaron Zeigler, president and owner of Zeigler Auto Group.

The announcement came via press release on Wednesday, June 9, 2021 with the winners selected from over 1,000 nominations by an independent research firm. The firm evaluated organizations on key metrics that included communication, work-life balance, employee dedication, diversity, recognition, retention and more.

Winning the National Best and Brightest Companies to Work For award a third time is an honor for us. This is a huge tribute to the culture our teams continue to build each day; and the high level of service we provide for our customers, said Mike Van Ryn, director of talent development at Zeigler Auto Group.

From there, 113 national winning organizations were chosen across the US with Zeigler Automotive Group as the only automotive dealership group on the list. According to the National Association for Business Resources, the program's purpose is to give companies an opportunity to benchmark their human resource efforts against other high-performing organizations across the US.

The Best and Brightest is a powerful community of elite leaders who share ideas and practices, and have proven they are employers of choice. Best and Brightest winning companies have also been a voice for important actions in creating a sustainable culture that works, ensuring the wellbeing of their employees comes first, said Jennifer Kluge, president and CEO, Best and Brightest Programs.

Zeigler will be honored during two virtual Illuminate Business Summit weeks, which will take place in November 2021 and spring 2022. During these summits, the National Association for Business Resources will announce the 101 highest scoring national winning companies. From these 101 companies, a select group of top winning companies will be recognized with the organization's Elite award.

The Elite categories include: Compensation, Benefits and Employee Solutions; Employee Enrichment, Engagement and Retention; Employee Education and Development; Recruitment, Selection and Orientation; Employee Achievement and Recognition; Communication and Shared Vision; Diversity and Inclusion; Work-Life Balance; Community Initiatives; Strategic Company Performance, and the Best of the Best: Small Business, Medium Business, and Large Business.

Zeigler Auto Group along with the other 2021 Best and Brightest Company to Work For winners will also be featured in the online edition of Corp! Magazine.

This is the third time Zeigler has received the national accolade, previously winning in 2019 and 2020. The automotive dealer group has also won multiple state-wide awards from Best and Brightest Companies to Work For competitions, taking home 7 wins since 2013 for Chicago, and 15 wins since 2007 for Michigan.

The organization also announced that it is currently hiring, specifically looking for the best and brightest that the Midwest has to offer.

CLICK HERE TO SEE CURRENT OPENINGS

CLICK HERE TO WATCH ZEIGLERS RECRUITMENT VIDEO

As one of the largest privately-owned dealer groups in the nation, Zeigler currently employs over 1,800 people within 31 dealerships representing 76 franchises in Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan.

About The Best and Brightest Companies to Work For

The Best and Brightest Companies to Work For is a program that provides the business community with the opportunity to gain recognition, showcase their best practices and demonstrate why they are an ideal place for employees to work. This national program celebrates those companies that are making better business, creating richer lives and building a stronger community as a whole. It is presented annually in several markets including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Milwaukee, San Diego, San Francisco Bay Area, West Michigan and Nationally.

About Zeigler Automotive Group

Zeigler Automotive Group is one of the largest privately-owned dealer groups in the U.S. with 76 automotive franchises across 31 locations in Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. Vehicle brands represented include all of the domestic and the majority of the imported manufacturers.

Besides its extensive automotive portfolio, the organization owns and operates Zeigler Motorsports, an 85,000-square-foot motorsports dealership and action park, offering 15 different powersports brands, plus its own onsite restaurant: Trak Houz Bar & Grill. Additionally, Zeigler Motorsports houses the Elevate Leadership & Team Building Academy, an executive training company.

The Kalamazoo-based dealer group also owns and operates Zeigler Pre-Owned of Chicago, a Carquest Auto Parts store, three Byrider franchises, three finance companies, several insurance firms, and a leasing firm.

Founded in 1975, the organization employs over 1,800 people with annual sales of $1.7 billion, ranking among the top 1% of automotive dealers in the nation. The family-owned and operated company is well known for its commitment to both customer service and employee satisfaction. Zeigler is regularly recognized as one of the Best and Brightest Companies to Work for in the Nation, also earning similar accolades in Chicago and Michigan.
Prolific childrens book author-illustrator and fine artist Robert M. Quackenbush died on May 17, 2021. He was 91.

Quackenbush was born on July 23, 1929 in Hollywood, Calif., and grew up in Phoenix, Ariz. In his autobiography, Quackenbush recalled a childhood love of drawing, painting, and listening to stories and noted that his was a family of storytellers and readers. He continued with his art and enjoyed copying the paintings of famous artists like Diego Rivera and some of the WWII art that ran in Life magazine at the time. He also found creative outlet in his early teens by building furniture for his bedroom as well as painting and decorating the space.

Following his high school graduation in 1947, Quackenbush used money he had saved from a part-time job and went to New York City to study art for the summer at Parsons School of Design. Back home after the Parsons program, Quackenbush enrolled in Phoenix College, but soon knew it wasnt a good fit and decided to find a way to pursue a career in art. He headed to Oregon the following summer where he earned enough money working in the lumber mills to enroll in the Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles by the fall of 1948. But after completing two years of art school, Quackenbush was drafted into the army, during the Korean War. He never stopped working on his art, however, and even earned some extra money by painting watercolor portraits of soldiers and officers when he was stationed in South Carolina and Indiana. He also served as a Troop Information and Education lecturer.

In 1953 Quackenbush received an honorable discharge and headed back to the Art Center where the G.I. Bill helped him complete his studies and earn a bachelor of professional arts degree in 1956. With that, he was off to New York, eager to begin an art career. Quackenbushs early work was in advertising where one of his main accounts was the Scandinavian Airlines System. During a summer assignment working at the SAS offices in Stockholm, Quackenbush discovered the graphic arts of woodcuts, etchings, and lithography. He especially enjoyed crafting woodcuts and once back in New York quit his corporate job and worked solely as a printmaker, exhibiting his prints in such venues as the Whitney Museum of Art and landing major commissions from the New York Hilton and the National Parks Division and the Air and Space Museum at the Smithsonian.

Some magazine illustration came next, and then, in 1962 Quackenbush brought his portfolio to art director Robert Craven at Holt, Rinehart and Winston. He was soon hired to illustrate Hans Christian Andersens The Steadfast Tin Soldier (Holt, 1962). More book illustration contracts followed from a variety of publishing houses, and after completing 62 books by other authors, Quackenbush wanted to write and illustrate his own work. First out of the gate was Old MacDonald Had a Farm (Lippincott, 1972). It was during this project that Quackenbush met Margery Clouser, a fashion designer, who walked into his storefront art gallery/studio. The couple married in 1971.

Quackenbush wrote and illustrated more than 200 books in all, creating such popular early reader series as those starring Detective Mole, Henry the Duck, Miss Mallard, and Pete Pack Rat, as well as an extensive series of biographies, whose subjects were often inspired by the interests of Quackenbushs son, Piet. Quackenbush received several citations from the Society of Illustrators and an Edgar Allan Poe Special Award in 1982 for best juvenile mystery, which was given to Detective Mole and the Halloween Mystery. The A Miss Mallard Mystery animated TV series was produced by Cinar and released in 2000.

Though he was most widely known for his childrens book work, Quackenbush was also a psychotherapist. Shortly after their marriage, both Robert and Margery Quackenbush enrolled at the Center for Modern Psychoanalytic Studies in New York, and in 1991 they graduated as certified analysts. Quackenbush went on to earn a masters degree in social work and a Ph.D. in childhood development and childrens education. He founded the Gradiva Awards in 1994 to honor the best published, produced, or publicly exhibited work that advances psychoanalysis. In addition, he taught illustration and writing classes for children and adults at his New York City studio for more than 40 years. And in the wake of 9/11, Quackenbush drew from his combined areas of expertise to form the Liberty Avenue Program, which helps children overcome emotional stress in their life by expressing their feelings through art.

Karen Nagel, executive editor of Aladdin Books and Simon & Schuster Childrens Publishing, and Quackenbushs editor, offered these words of tribute. Having first met Robert Quackenbush when he was well into his 80s, nothing could have prepared meor anyone else on our teamfor the exuberant force of nature that was Robert. His passion for books was utterly infectious, and his creativity, insight, and grace made him a one-of-a-kind creator and collaborator. Robert was particularly thrilled that his iconic Miss Mallard, Henry the Duck, and Sherlock Chick booksmany published more than 30 years ago!were embraced by a new generation of eager readers.
New York City, NY (11385)

Today

Cloudy with occasional showers. Cooler. High near 80F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

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Rain showers in the evening becoming a steady light rain overnight. Low 63F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Published on:

8 June 2021



A schoolgirl wearing a face covering studies in a classroom A schoolgirl wearing a face covering studies in a classroom

Girls education also reduces the instances of child marriages, sexually transmitted diseases, malnutrition, and child mortality. A girls income in the future will increase on average by 10 to 20 percent for every additional year of education so creating better and healthier living conditions for them, their children, and families, creating a lasting chain of improvement. However, with the closure of schools during the coronavirus pandemic, an estimated 11 million girls will not return to education, losing this lifeline and changing the course of their lives.

Pregnancy, marriage and sexual exploitation

School closures caused by pandemics are linked to a spike in teenage pregnancies. The time normally spent in school is spent with increased interaction with men and boys, leaving girls vulnerable to sexual exploitation. The protective environment of a school is often lost when girls take jobs to help with the financial impact of the pandemic, or in everyday situations where they encounter pressure to engage in intercourse and transactional sex, leaving them more vulnerable to sexual violence. The link between school closures and early pregnancy was evidenced in Sierra Leone during the Ebola outbreak of 2014-2015 when schools closed, leading to a spike in teenage pregnancies. For example, reports show that during Ebola school closures in Sierra Leone, teenage pregnancies which doubled (11,000 teenagers). In addition, 16% fewer girls went back to school once they reopened. Furthermore, a World Vision Ebola report found that, in some communities, there was up to a 65% increase in teenage pregnancies. Similarly, in Zimbabwe, it has been estimated that after Covid-19 measures, half the girls in their exam classes are not going back to school because of teenage pregnancy and marriage.

The devastating effect on girls education caused by the teenage pregnancies during the pandemic is further exacerbated by discriminatory policies of banning pregnant girls from attending school. Upon reopening of schools after the Ebola outbreak, Sierra Leone and Tanzania were among the countries which committed to their pre-existing policy of banning visibly pregnant girls from continuing their education. These policies, not only condemn girls and their children to a more difficult, poorer, and unhealthy life path, but also severely damage the economy of countries, further exacerbating the consequences of pandemics in LMICs.

In addition, the economic impact on families of pandemics sometimes force girls into transactional sex, as well as premature marriage, which parents sometimes choose for their daughters as a way of coping with their financial pressures. For example, in Indonesia, the rate of child marriages doubled in the first six months of 2020 (to 33,000 child marriages), in comparison to 2019.

Furthermore, health education taught in schools is vital for the health and long-term well-being of girls. It reduces the chances of contracting sexually transmitted diseases and creates awareness of practicing safe sex. Research from Uganda shows that an increase in girls secondary education resulted in a sharp decline of HIV infections as well as greater abstinence.

Domestic and care work

While women on average put in three times as many hours of domestic and care work compared to men even before the pandemic, both men's and womens amount of work has increased. However, women are still bearing the brunt, and the daughters are the ones contributing significantly more than the sons. UNICEF finds that girls between the ages of 5 and 14 spend 40 percent more time on these types of tasks (including collecting water and firewood). This means that girls spend approximately 160 million more hours a day doing chores than boys their age. With the closure of schools and stay-at-home measures, additional unpaid domestic work such as cleaning, cooking, and care, has disproportionately fallen on girls so reducing the time and energy they have for education. During the pandemic, these disparities are only exacerbated. Their World reports that in the UK 66% of girls and women aged 14 to 24 spent more time cooking since the outbreak of COVID-19 compared to 31% of boys and men. In LMICs the burden of unequal unpaid work distribution has even more of an effect on girls, their education and future income, financial independence, and drop-out rates, creating a vicious circle. The disparities are even higher in the poorest and most marginalised communities and slums, where girls, who would benefit the most from staying in education are required to perform care work for sick and the elderly who are most susceptible to COVID-19 and other diseases.

Moreover, when primary caregivers are not present, due to increased workload outside of the household due to pandemic-related financial hardship, illness or death, girls take on these responsibilities neglecting their education. This often increases drop-out rates during and after the pandemic.

Policy responses and the role of education in changing attitudes

For 111 million girls living in the worlds poorest countries, in conditions of extreme poverty, conflict and crisis, accessing and receiving quality education is already a struggle. The Ebola pandemic provided an indication of the likely impact of COVID-19 on girls and the measures needed to counter the worsening gender inequalities. Some countries like Sierra Leone have responded by abandoning policies of banning pregnant girls from continuing education. Furthermore, it is important to note that significant progress has been made in LMICs in narrowing the gender gap in education. However, the COVID-19 pandemic may set back progress towards womens equality in LMICs by decades. To prevent that from happening, there is an urgent need for adequate policy response. Governments must realise the gendered aspect of the pandemic and commit to gender equality in their response. Girls needs, particular obstacles, stereotyping and stigma, protection and safety must be recognised in the education recovery plans, as well as other sectors of government. There needs to be an economic support system and a system of food distribution, during and after the pandemic, which will alleviate the financial problems that lead girls to abandon school and seek work. During lockdowns, distance learning practices, materials, and programmes must take into consideration the digital gender gap and the needs of the most marginalised that may not have access to digital education at all. In addition, measures that incentivise return to school such as fee-waivers and fully free education, meal opportunities, transportation links, and abandoning policies that ban pregnant girls from continuing education, are of crucial importance.

The aforementioned policies, and experiences from previous crises, if implemented and applied properly should help in mitigating some of the major issues of COVID-19. However, the underlying problem lies with gender stereotypes and the still widely held view of women as the lesser being, as an object for procreation, and the one who is naturally fit for domestic work. In the described circumstances, the woman is the one bearing the responsibility, the shame of pregnancy, she is the one denied education and the one whose life course is altered because of it. The woman is the one who is dogmatically inclined to take care of the housework and care-work, and the one to abandon her education or paid work to do so. These circumstances leave them financially dependable, less likely to strive for better living conditions, and more likely to be susceptible to violence.

For the education system to be built back equal, education should be free, the socio-economic conditions of both girls and boys living in LMICs should be drastically improved, but most importantly there needs to be a systemic shift in perception of the equal value of boys and girls. This could possibly be best achieved through the education system which, rather than being based on regurgitation, ought to be used to correct broader inequalities and malpractices in societies (a positive example of this is Kenyas Consent classes ); on teaching values of non-discrimination, tolerance, and human rights. It has a vital role to play in educating the next generation of feminist women and men who can help address the underlying values and attitudes which give rise to the inequalities now faced by girls as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemics.

Nina Prusac is an LLM Human Rights student at Queen Mary University of London and a Policy Fellow of the Institute. She got her first degree in General Laws from University of Split, Croatia and conducted her Master thesis research on the topic Refugees in International Law at Universita Europea di Roma, Italy. Some of her current professional work includes internships at the International State Crime Initiative, and an externship at Cosmonauts. Her research interests revolve around critically examining human rights and humanitarian law and their misuse and appropriation, grave violations of human rights and their societal, economic and political contexts, corporate and state crime, and the concept of state exceptionalism.
The mobile network performance benchmark firms study aims to provide insights into the most typical end-user 5G experience in the leading UK cities looking at everyday performance using both 5G-only technology and 5G mixed-mode, that is the everyday common experience of switching between 5G and 4G LTE networks.Overall, the June scorecard revealed that competition among the UKs four main 5G network providers is intensifying and showed that while Vodafone and O2 delivered strong Everyday 5G median download speeds in the first half of 2021- with Vodafone clocking the single-fastest Everyday 5G median download speed of any operator at 192.2 Mbps in Glasgow - EE was still the leader when it came to providing the combination of consistently broad availability plus fast speeds for UK mobile users.EE had the highest Everyday 5G availability in all four cities tested, and its Everyday 5G median download speeds were consistently strong. EEs lowest speed clocked was 113.5 Mbps in Glasgow, while its fastest Everyday 5G median download speed was 135.3 Mbps in Cardiff. RootMetrics said that in short EE customers should find both widespread access to 5G plus fast speeds in all four cities featured in the June 5G Scorecard.The newly created Virgin Media O2 was found to have pleasing Everyday 5G speeds, with the provider clocking the fastest Everyday 5G median download speed in Edinburgh at 163.3 Mbps, along with good speeds in the other cities tested. Threes fastest Everyday 5G median download speed in the June 5G Scorecard was recorded in Glasgow at 92.2 Mbps, whereas EE, O2, and Vodafone all posted Everyday 5G median download speeds above 100 Mbps in all four cities.Although RootMetrics didnt record any 5G for Vodafone in Nottingham, the operator performed well in the three cities where it did offer 5G. Vodafone was also recorded to have shown encouraging progress and improvements since the second half of 2020. In fact, Vodafones Everyday 5G availability and median download speeds improved in all three of its cities with 5G since 2H 2020. Vodafone registered particularly notable gains in Cardiff: Vodafones Everyday 5G availability in Cardiff nearly doubled since 2H 2020, moving from 23.4% to 44.2%, while its Everyday 5G median download speed jumped from 106.9 Mbps to a strong 140.2 Mbps in 1H 2021, the fastest in the city.The best 5G experience is built on both strong availability and fast speedsnot just one or the other, said RootMetrics chief marketing officer Patrick Linder commenting on the June 5G Scorecard. The good news is that all four providers have improved their Everyday 5G availability since our previous round of testing, and 5G speeds are also steadily climbing.The newly created Virgin Media O2 was found to have pleasing Everyday 5G speeds, with the provider clocking the fastest Everyday 5G median download speed in Edinburgh at 163.3 Mbps, along with good speeds in the other cities tested. Threes fastest Everyday 5G median download speed in the June 5G Scorecard was recorded in Glasgow at 92.2 Mbps, whereas EE, O2, and Vodafone all posted Everyday 5G median download speeds above 100 Mbps in all four cities.Vodafone was also recorded to have shown encouraging progress and improvements since the second half of 2020. Its 5G availability and median download speeds improved in three of the cities - except Nottingham where it has no 5G since the second half of 2020 with 5G median download speed jumping from 106.9 Mbps to 140.2 Mbps in the first half of 2021.
Juneteenth 2021 Reading will commemorate the emancipation of enslaved people in the U.S. with a three-day celebration this month.
City Council passed three ordinances that allow police to destroy confiscated off-road vehicles if no one claims ownership.
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Politicians and activists should stop ratifying the fiction that Omar Mateen was motivated by anti-LGBT hatred. It dishonors the victims and obscures the real motive.
A recent legal proceeding in Florida proves the cheap, theatrical partisanship driving nationwide Democrat attacks on election integrity. Priorities USA, a Democrat super PAC, sued the state of Florida, claiming it made voting-by-mail too difficult. One of the plaintiffs, a Yale graduate student, was asked in a deposition to explain why returning his ballot was difficult. He explained it was a 30-minute walk to his nearest post office. He was then asked if he knew of Google and if he had used it to look for a closer mailbox. He stated that he had not used Google or done any other research to find closer mailboxes. The student was unaware of the USPS mailbox six blocks away from his apartment or that he could use the mailbox at his apartment complex. This disastrous deposition could have been the reason the Democrats gave up on the case, walking away before the trial even began.

Such a comprehensive failure in a single instance would be embarrassing enough. However, this kind of floundering isn't an isolated event for those Democrats engaged in dishonest attacks on election integrity. Failure is a pattern.

The COVID-19 pandemic breathed new life into the Democrat voting offensive that before the crisis seemed out of ideas. Their showcase voting rights litigation pre-pandemic was an unsuccessful and petty attack on state rules for the order in which candidates appear on the ballot. Bad actors on the left leveraged the pandemic in order to attack established voting processes. The cynicism in these theatrics is matched only by their ineffectiveness: Despite using COVID as a pretense to launch a nationwide attack on our election laws, Republican-led litigation efforts largely blunted their assault. Democrats struck out completely in Arizona, Florida, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, Ohio, South Carolina, and Wisconsin. Judges of all stripes rightfully saw through the cynical and speculative nature of the Democrats claims. Republican National Committee attorneys have also actively intervened to thwart settlements and defend state laws on those rare occasions when states refused to do so. The RNC remains committed to protecting election integrity nationwide, especially when Democrats attack the security of your ballot.

Democrats are simply unable to prove that election integrity laws make voting harder. Consider their challenge to Arizonas ballot harvesting ban, where the Democratic National Committee was unable to show that the ban stopped even a single person from voting. While Arizonas law is currently under consideration by the Supreme Court, almost every court has seen through the charade and upheld similar bans. A recent Democrat challenge to Michigans absentee application harvesting ban failed miserably, with the court noting the plaintiffs ha[d] not come forward with evidence that any voters had been impacted by the ban.

The same goes for the Democrats challenges to voter ID laws, as demonstrated by their lawsuit against Virginias photo ID requirement (which the Democrats there have since regrettably repealed). There, the court found that none of the voter witnesses provided by the Democrats was actually denied his or her right to vote.The trend is clear: Democrat lawsuits are all "style" and no substance. Their theatrics wilt under scrutiny because they have no substantive reason for attacking election integrity other than cheap political gain.

With their track record of failure, the only conclusion is that their efforts are merely for show and their claims are lies. These unsuccessful lawsuits have real world consequences. First, the mainstream media amplifies Democrat lies, misleading the public even though most Americans support stronger election integrity measures that protect the security of their ballots. Second, even nonpartisan election lawyers have complained that Democrats' litigious theatrics are counterproductive and risk evisceration of voting rights laws. While Republicans may frequently disagree with these lawyers on voting issues, its a legitimate point. They fear, like the boy who cried wolf, that Democrat scaremongering may lead courts to overlook legitimate voting rights claims. Fortunately, citizens and courts alike can see through the Democrat charade, rendering their attacks on our democratic system a master class in failure.
We have seen unthinkable atrocities committed by the U.S., Hamas, Israel, Afghanistan, and the Taliban, Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota tweeted last week to her 1.2 million followers. They responded with warm support. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was cooler. Although the speaker lives in San Franciscos progressive echo chamber, she heads a national party and understands that most voters do not think our country is similar to the Taliban or Hamas. They have noticed a few small differences. Nor do they see a moral equivalence between Israel, which tries to avoid civilian casualties, and terrorist organizations, which use human shields and bomb pizza parlors. They wonder if a representative who thinks America is so evil should sit on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, as Omar does.

Pelosi pressed Rep. Omar for a clarification and received a half-hearted one. That was good enough for the speaker, who stressed that she was not rebuking Omar, whom she called a valued member of our caucus.

Pelosi walked gingerly because she has only a tiny House majority and relies on several hard-left members and dozens of very progressive ones. She doesnt want to lose them, but she doesnt want to endanger her more centrist members, either. Omars tweet put her between the dog and the hydrant. Jewish members issued an outraged statement denouncing the tweet, while Omars left-wing colleagues, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, criticized Pelosis tepid request for clarification.

Another member of the Squad, Rashida Tlaib, chose to portray Pelosis request as an attack on all Muslims -- on all women of color in Congress: Freedom of speech doesn't exist for Muslim women in Congress. The benefit of the doubt doesn't exist for Muslim women in Congress. House Democratic leadership should be ashamed of its relentless, exclusive tone policing of Congresswomen of color. Tlaibs claim that she and Omar are being silenced was sent to 1.4 million Twitter followers. Apparently, Tlaib has been fully inoculated against irony. Pelosi responded by saying that she had never meant anything as a rebuke. Not in the slightest.

The problem here goes well beyond Ilhan Omar, a Somali refugee who was welcomed to American and now sits in Congress, seething with contempt for her adopted country, its tolerant values, and those of its allies. The Democrats are stuck with a whole Squad of like-minded representatives and thousands, perhaps millions, of young supporters eager to promote these socialist attacks on America. Thats not just a problem for the Democrats. Thats a problem for the country.

Ordinary Americans are finally waking up to the danger. They see the pernicious impact of these ideas, which routinely condemn the police, demand they be defunded, support lax prosecutors (Justice Democrats), and say our prisons should be dismantled because they are the products of systemic racism. The predictable result is a sharp rise in violent urban crime. The consequences can be seen in the nightly riots in Portland, Ore., and the breakdown of civic order in cities like Seattle, Minneapolis, Chicago, and New York.

They can also see the Squads ideas, which are now mainstream in universities, dividing the country by race, religion, and income and pitting those angry factions against each other. In the name of anti-racism, they are proposing policies based squarely on racial discrimination.

Its most prominent spokesman is Ibram X. Kendi, who says the answer to previous racism is more racism. The only remedy to past discrimination, he says, is present discrimination. The only remedy to present discrimination is future discrimination. In a paroxysm of hyperbole, he wants severe punishments for even small acts he deems unacceptable. What other people call racial microaggressions, I call racist abuse. And I call the zero-tolerance policies preventing and punishing these abusers what they are: antiracist.

It is bad enough for feckless institutions like Boston University to award tenure and lucre for such drivel and for every university to stock its administration with dozens of deans of diversity, equity, and inclusion. It is far worse for that ideology to suffuse compulsory K-12 education. Parents are shocked to see their children coming home from elementary and middle schools indoctrinated with these ideas about race, oppression, and the pervasive evils of American history. Parents want to see their children taught, not indoctrinated. They dont want to see first-graders told that they are the oppressors simply because they are white, or the oppressed simply because they are black or Hispanic. We are already seeing a hard pushback against local school boards that adopt this curriculum.

Yet the Biden administrations political appointees are reflexively parroting these racialist ideas, and weaving them into federal policy. Expect to see more from the Department of Education and the Department of Justices Office of Civil Rights, now stocked with ideologues eager to issue discriminatory new regulations. Last week, a federal judge slapped down one of the administrations new policies, which recompensed black farmers strapped by the pandemic with more funds than whites received, solely because of their race.

This kind of explicit racial discrimination violates Americas principles as well as a hard-fought consensus forged during the civil rights movement. It is no less noxious or unconstitutional now than it was decades ago when white farmers received such benefits. Those preferences ended well over 50 years ago. Returning to them now is a grave mistake.

The proper remedy, which won overwhelming support in the mid-1960s, was to adopt a race-blind legal regime. Almost immediately, however, federal bureaucracies, universities, corporations, and others transformed those race-neutral laws into a system of racial preferences. Liberal courts approved most of the changes, despite explicit legislative language to the contrary. Some of the new discrimination had to be tweaked. When quotas were ruled unconstitutional, they were changed to affirmative action. These preferences have lasted for over half-a-century and developed powerful constituencies, including large corporations, to perpetuate them.

Public reactions have gradually changed. Several decades ago, as the Old South emerged from Jim Crow and the North from its own forms of invidious discrimination, most voters were willing to provide extra benefits to historic victims of bias and prejudice. But the widely shared ideal was to gradually eliminate those preferences, not to lock them in permanently. These pragmatic policies were meant to move past the damage of systematic bias and reaffirm the principle of equality under the law. That principle states that laws should be administered without bias, without regard to race, religion, social status, or country of origin. It is foundation of all Western law, at least since the American and French revolutions.

That is not the only foundational value under attack. We are witnessing the left denigrate the very idea of love of country, somehow equating it with exclusionary nationalism. American patriotism has always been based on civic pride, not on European ideas of blood and soil. Yet a member of the New York Times editorial board, Mara Gay, told a television audience last week that "I was on Long Island this weekend visiting a really dear friend, and I was really disturbed. I saw, you know, dozens and dozens of pickup trucks with expletives against Joe Biden on the back of them, Trump flags, and in some cases just dozens of American flags, which is also just disturbing.  Essentially the message was clear. This is my country. This is not your country. I own this."

As usual, it helps to make a few distinctions. Cursing the president is disturbing. Displaying the American flag is not. Nor is singing the national anthem, despite Colin Kaepernicks objections. Mara Gay is welcome to fly the flag, sing the anthem, and say the Pledge of Allegiance  or not. Its a free country, and she can do what she wants. It is her country, too.

Its time to remind Ilhan Omar that America is not like Hamas or the Taliban. Its time to remind Mara Gay that the American flag does not mean This is not your country. It is time to remind kneeling athletes that our The Star-Spangled Banner is not the emblem of white supremacy. It is time to reject Ibram Kendis terrible idea that the answer to past discrimination is to apply reverse discrimination into a never-ending future. It is an indelible stain on our history that African Americans suffered centuries of slavery and seven decades of segregation on these shores. That cruelty should be taught in school without sugarcoating. So should the displacement of Native Americans by an expanding population of white settlers. But we should also teach that America ended chattel slavery with the costliest war in its history, and that, after the failure of Reconstruction, our country has made enormous racial progress over the past six decades. It is reasonable to debate laws that tighten voting rules in Georgia and Texas, but it is wildly distorted to call them Jim Crow 2.0, as President Biden himself has done. That demeans everyone who suffered through the reality of legalized segregation  and everyone who fought to end it.

These exaggerated, mean-spirited attacks poison our civic discourse. They treat political adversaries as mortal enemies, not the loyal opposition. They divide the country along racial lines. It is time to condemn these attacks in plain language and find better ways forward. We need to restore our commitment to tolerance, equal treatment, and democratic debate. Those are Americas finest values. They belong to all of us.
Last week, West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin pushed back against his partys power grab when he made clear he wants to keep the Senate filibuster. Manchin was showered with praise by level-headed Americans for saving the Senate. But if we really want to be honest here, saving the Senate is necessary to save our very republic from the dangers of direct democracy.

A friend of mine who also happens to be a Mountaineer, David Hoinski, is a philosophy professor at West Virginia University. Weve been close friends since our freshman year in high school, but weve gone our separate ways when it comes to politics. David teaches philosophy and is an expert on Plato.

A couple of years ago, David encouraged me to read Platos Republic. The thing that hit me most was Platos observation that right before you have tyranny you have a pure democracy. Thats part of what Benjamin Franklin meant with the famous line he uttered after the 1787 constitutional convention: What the framers had come up with, he said, was a republic, if you can keep it.

We throw around the term democracy so loosely in reference to America, but were actually a republic. There is a big difference between the two. A pure democracy ends up becoming mob rule. A republic has an entire system of checks and balances to prevent that. Its our republican form of government that makes America so durable.

What I worry about today is that were finally devolving into the breakup of the republic that the Founding Fathers warned us about. James Madison described this as the problem of faction. Writing in 1787 as New York was deciding whether or not to ratify the Constitution, Madison explained that the benefit of a republican form of government was that it would undercut faction.

Madison described faction as a number of citizens, whether amounting to a majority or a minority of the whole, who are united and actuated by some common impulse of passion, or of interest, adversed to the rights of other citizens, or to the permanent and aggregate interests of the community. He surmised that there were two methods of curing the mischiefs of faction. The first was removing its causes, which he rejected because that meant destroying the liberty which is essential to its existence and giving to every citizen the same opinions, the same passions, and the same interests. This solution, he noted, was worse than the disease.

The other method of curing the mischiefs of faction was controlling its effects. This is why Madison and the framers of the Constitution chose to make America a republic. In fact, Madison explicitly rejected direct democracy.

If we take that road, youre going to see a significant step toward the Founders nightmares. This kind of hyper-democratization of society used to be far-left, pie-in-the-sky thinking. Such conversations werent remotely considered part of the mainstream debate. No longer. Many Americans were talking about socialism seriously before the global pandemic and that event has encouraged some of them to push even harder for a more collectivist and pure democratic system.

Now were actually talking about universal basic income. Its not a punchline. Thats where our country is. When she served in the Senate, Kamala Harris introduced a proposal that was very similar to UBI. If you combine direct democracy with universal basic income, the republic is over. If we devolve into such a sad state, the main and perhaps only purpose of the government at that point will be redistributing free stuff and suppressing those who disagree with the whims of the mob. Thats when you have a tyranny of the majority.

When you empower the mob in such a fashion, it actually brings about violence. So we are at risk. Its disturbing. Our republic is a constant balance. If you have checks and balances, you have a system that is capable of fixing problems. If you do away with them, were in deep trouble.
It is an unlovely and overused expression, but sausage making may soon be the defining cliche of the Biden administration, at least insofar as infrastructure is concerned.

Reporters always press for the latest developments in the slow-moving bipartisan negotiations to fix roads and bridges (and fund other things that Republicans complain have nothing to do with the traditional definition of infrastructure). While Jen Psaki politely declines to negotiate in public, the White House press secretary reminds her questioners that the president never thought getting a deal on infrastructure deal would be easy, let alone neat and tidy.

Well, I would say the president has a benefit of 36 years in the Senate, where he has seen that the sausage making is messy, Psaki told reporters last week before Biden left Washington for the G-7 Summit in Falmouth, England. It takes time, she said of the proposal with a trillion-dollar price tag. Were right in the middle of the sausage making right now.

This is familiar territory. Before infrastructure, the White House was managing a COVID-relief sausage-making machine that almost always  spits out a different package than what is proposed initially, Psaki lamented in March. In the end, though, that clunky contraption produced the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan.

The White House hopes the machine has yet another deal it can spit out  this one to make make good on Bidens promise to build back better. Officials know it will be slow. They dont seem to care that the process will be ugly. They are not overly concerned with progressives fears that Bidens relentless focus on infrastructure jeopardizes other priorities or invites a summer slump.

Well, this is the first time I've ever heard that Congress and the administration can only do one thing at a time, joked Ben LaBolt, a former Obama official who is close to the current White House. President Biden can certainly focus on two pieces of legislation at the same time, he told RealClearPolitics, and I think that the call to abandon his focus on infrastructure is completely nuts.

LaBolt was responding to a growing number of impatient progressives who would like to see Biden shift gears away from infrastructure and towards voting rights legislation.

Time is running out for the administration to get big, significant things done, former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro told the Washington Post. Infrastructure deserves attention, but they need to be putting their energy and their attention more on voting rights right now than I believe they are. Added former Hillary Clinton spokesman Brian Fallon: The infrastructure bill  its status is up in the air, but its long-term prognosis is okay. You have another patient thats dying on the table, and thats the one you need to triage.

A bristling former Biden campaign aide summed up the response of many moderates who feel that kind of criticism is counterproductive. There tends to be a direct relationship, the aide told RCP, between how wildly and demonstrably off base certain Democratic [strategists] have been about American politics over the last half decade, and how much advice they have now for the leader whos gotten the most right during that period.

But those impatient progressives are alarmed by a number of Republican changes to state voting laws. They believe that passing the For the People Act, a bill setting national election standards -- which the House has approved and the White House supports -- is more urgent. But clearing the Senate isnt so simple. The GOP uniformly opposes that legislation, and Joe Manchin has pledged to vote against it. The West Virginia Democrat also promised to oppose changing upper chamber rules to allow his party to pass the legislation with a simple majority.

I don't understand that, LaBolt said of the calls to swap infrastructure for voting rights. If he is setting aside his top legislative package for something that doesnt have the votes today, well, then he's just setting it aside for an up-or-down vote on a package that's not prepared to pass.

The suggestion that the White House would somehow succeed by deprioritizing infrastructure is not grounded in reality, according to Matt Bennett, co-founder of Third Way, the center-left think tank that helped produce a comprehensive report on why congressional Democrats didnt do as well as they had hoped in 2020. They seem to have some theory by which Joe Biden or Chuck Schumer can force Joe Manchin to do something that Joe Manchin doesn't want to do, he told RCP. There is no evidence to support those theories.

It is not like the White House has not been courting Manchin either. The president often calls the two-term lawmaker, has invited him to the Oval Office, and even appointed his wife, Gayle, to a plum spot on the Appalachian Regional Commission. But the moderate is not alone in his stance. Sens. Mark Kelly of Arizona and Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, for instance, havent taken a position on reforming the filibuster, a step that would have to be taken to pass the voting reforms that progressives want. Both freshmen are up for reelection in swing states next year.

The White House insists it can work on both priorities simultaneously, though that hasnt quieted the partys clamorous left flank. I understand the impulse, Bennett said of that simmering disagreement, because there's no question that protecting our democracy is the paramount issue. But again, he added, progressives well know that there is no path forward on the democracy bills at the moment.

The moderate theory is that success begets success, that if Democrats focus on infrastructure, as tiresome of that process might be, a tangible win there could grease the skids for bigger congressional majorities in 2022 and thus bigger reforms, including the For the People Act. If Biden gets done what he has proposed, Bennett said, that is what Democrats will be able to take home with them.

The president has been involved in the negotiations, but so far has avoided publicly getting his hands too dirty in the complicated sausage-making process. He did address the progressive criticism earlier this month, and delivered a glancing rebuke to Manchin and Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema.

I hear all the folks on TV saying, Why didnt Biden get this done? the president said after promising to fight like heck against GOP changes to state voting laws. Well, because Biden only has a majority of, effectively, four votes in the House and a tie in the Senate with two members of the Senate who vote more with my Republican friends.

But that kind of wrangling doesnt bother the president, said Moe Vela, a senior adviser to Biden during his vice presidency. I've never seen him be repelled by criticism. He kind of takes it in stride, but he respects it.

If anything, Biden understands it is part of a messy process.
Almost exactly a year ago, race riots paralyzed more than a dozen of America's great cities, from New York to Seattle. The smoke hasn't gone away.

As we should have learned from the last episode of urban rioting during the late 1960s, the devastating adverse effects from rage and lawlessness are long-lasting and borne mostly by minorities, immigrant communities and the poor.

Amazingly, the media had rarely investigated what really happened last summer when criminal gangs seized control of cities under the guise of racial justice. The politicians cynically celebrated the violent protests as "mostly peaceful" and gave cover to the assailants by glorifying them as "social justice warriors."

Thankfully, four reporters at the Chicago Tribune have investigated what really happened in the once great "city that works" and the devastating effects that still are felt. It's harrowing and Pulitzer-worthy material.

Written and reported by Todd Lighty, Gary Marx, Christy Gutowski and William Lee, we urge a full reading, but here are the lowlights:

In just a few days, there were 15 homicides and 53 shooting victims. More than 2,100 businesses were looted, 71 buildings were set on fire and looters stole more than 700,000 prescription pills from drug stores.

Businesses suffered more than $165 million in damages, "though the true cost is certainly much higher."

Mayor Lori Lightfoot had no clue what was coming, and her response was indefensibly feeble. She did not want the National Guard, even as the city burned.

The city's inspector general issued a scathing report, which portrays Lightfoot as woefully unprepared, as were other mayors. Downtown businesses were destroyed.

"I thought, 'I'm a Black-owned business. They're not going to bother me,'" said Howard Bolling, owner of the Roseland Pharmacy at 11254 S. Michigan Ave.

No such luck.

The riots even forced families at the Ronald McDonald House, where parents' sick children are cared for, to flee for their safety. Protesters used hammers to smash windows and doors.

The Ronald McDonald House is a cancer facility.

Here is what is most infuriating. Throughout that first wave of rioting, looting, arson and murder, only about 170 rioters were charged with felonies. It should have been 1,000 or more. Why hasn't Chicago law enforcement looked through the videos and tracked down these violent criminals?

Based on the property damage, the homicides, the injuries and the financial losses to the residents, this insurrection was many times worse than the indefensible actions at the U.S. capital by pro-Trump protesters on Jan. 6.

Why is no one paying attention to and amplifying the Tribune story of what happened in Chicago? Why is no one writing similar accounts of the carnage in Minneapolis, Milwaukee, New York, Kenosha, Portland and Los Angeles? Why isn't the local law enforcement and the FBI hunting down the perpetrators and putting them behind bars? We have video evidence of who they are and what they did. President Joe Biden seems only interested in putting the pro-Trump protesters behind bars.

Who and how will we stop the fires next time? The left's response has been to deluge these cities with hundreds of billions of federal dollars. It seems highly unfair to force people in Omaha, Nebraska, and Boise, Idaho, to pay for the failure of "progressive" Democratic mayors and blue-state governors to ensure public safety. You broke it; you fix it.

Money won't fix the damage to the civil infrastructure of these low-income neighborhoods that were ransacked. It will take many years and perhaps decades to undo the damage to these communities. These Black and Hispanic families deserve justice.

Can we at least, please, stop calling the Black Lives Matter rioters "social justice warriors?"

COPYRIGHT 2021 CREATORS.COM
Donald Trump is no longer president. COVID-19 is no longer the threat it was. And Dr. Anthony Fauci, America's top infectious disease expert, is back to more routine briefings on vaccination rates and such. So why does Fauci remain so much in the news?

Because the Trump camp can't stop bashing him. And why is that? Why does the right continue to portray this mild-mannered public official as the enemy?

It may be that Fauci publicly refuted some of Trump's ignorant musings during that presidency, but that's not really it. Republicans such as Texas Sen. Ted Cruz hit at Trump in the past. During the 2016 campaign, Cruz called Trump a "sniveling coward."

The difference is that Cruz later came crawling on his belly to praise Trump, a man who insinuated that his father helped kill JFK and that his wife was ugly. Fauci never made that kind of round trip. Nor would he.

And what surely riles the right even more than Fauci's refusal to cave is that he didn't care. Fauci saw Trump as a politician to manage rather than to fear. The lack of abject submission punched a few holes in the Trumpian myth centered on an all-powerful authority.

Fauci met the attacks on him with sighs. He responded to nutty declarations on science with patient correction. The right wants angry conflict, and Fauci never delivered on his end.

We now have the sad sight of another Texan sacrificing his good family name to appease Trump. George P. Bush is campaigning to be the Republican nominee for Texas attorney general on the wings of Trump's remark that he was "the only Bush who got it right." It's printed right on George P.'s campaign beverage sleeves.

George P. is the son of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, whom Trump demeaned as "Low-Energy Jeb." Trump tweeted that Jeb "has to like the Mexican Illegals because of his wife," who immigrated from Mexico. That Mexican immigrant would be George P.'s mother.

George P. is the nephew of former President George W. Bush, whom Trump maligned after George W. put out a video applauding health care workers but not praising him. He is the grandson of former President George H.W. Bush, who found Trump so appalling he voted for Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016. And Trump wasn't invited to speak at the grandfather's funeral as presidents traditionally do.

If George P. Bush's name had been George P. Jones, his political rise undoubtedly would have been less smooth. But now he's shocking a lot of Bush family admirers in his quest to receive a pat on the head from Trump -- or at least not a swat. Sure, a lot of Texas Republican primary voters worship Trump, but is winning a nomination for state office worth losing one's honor?

It's a guarantee that Fauci would not kiss the rear end of anyone who insulted his family. What we have here is a short guy from Brooklyn basically brushing off Trump's menacing antics while swaggering Texas Republicans collapse at the sign of a New Yorker's displeasure.

And there's one other reason for Trump's continued obsession with Fauci: envy. Trump is fading from national prominence. Even Fox News no longer carries all his speeches live.

But Fauci goes on. He's still respected by the sort of people whose respect serious leaders want. His polls numbers remain high.

As the virus threat recedes, not every pronouncement Fauci makes will grab headlines, but he's not there for that. He's there to do the science. The right-wing attacks on him can't be pleasant, but Fauci will end his long career with a legacy of public service and, importantly, his dignity intact.

COPYRIGHT 2021 CREATORS.COM
Apple TV+ is giving a glimpse of Central Park Season 2.

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The streaming service shared a trailer for the musical animated series Tuesday featuring Stanley Tucci as the voice of Bitsy Brandenham, a real estate developer who wants to replace Central Park with condos and retail space.

The preview features the return of the Tillermans -- mom Paige (Kathryn Hahn), dad Owen (Leslie Odom, Jr.), daughter Molly (Emmy Raver-Lampman) and son Cole (Tituss Burgess) -- a family living in Central Park. Bitsy is seen scheming and plotting to buy the park and enact her plans.

The voice cast also includes Daveed Diggs as Bitsy's assistant, Helen, and Josh Gad as the narrator, Birdie.

Central Park is created by Gad, Loren Bouchard and Nora Smith. Bouchard is also known for creating the series Bob's Burgers and Home Movies.

Season 2 will premiere June 25 on Apple TV+. The series was renewed for a third season in March.

"In Season 2 of Central Park, the Tillerman family continues to navigate living in and caring for the world's most famous park," Apple TV+ said in a press release.

"Molly experiences the trials and tribulations of adolescence, Cole is challenged by a truly embarrassing moment at school, Paige continues to chase down the Mayor's corruption story, and Owen juggles managing the park, his staff, and his family all with a smile on his face."
Kentucky-based 11th grader Milo Golding has won the 2021 Doodle for Google contest.

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Googles homepage will feature Golding's artwork for 24 hours. The piece shows a young child handing a balloon to another child who is wearing Google's letter "g" as a scarf.

Golding says he wants his Doodle to inspire hope. The artwork was inspired by his father, who died when Golding was 13-years-old due to a heart attack.

"I am strong because I have hope. I once asked my father how he overcame obstacles and became who he wanted to be. He replied, 'Hope, hope keeps me strong,'" Golding said.

The high schooler also runs charity Sanguine Path, where he serves children under 18-years-old who have lost loved ones by providing them with holiday gifts and school supplies.

Golding found out he won the annual contest for students from Google CEO Sundar Pichai.

Golding earned a $30,000 college scholarship and a $50,000 technology package for his school.
56, of Traverse City, died, June 25, 2021. He is the son of Elizabeth Yates and brother of Marcia Emery. Scott was preceded in death by his brother, James McCann. Services will be held 11 a.m., Friday, July 2, 2021 at the Greensky Hill Indian Methodist Church, 8484 Greensky Hill, Charlevoix.
FILE - In this April 28, 2021 file photo, Ketanji Brown Jackson, nominated to be a U.S. Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit, testifies before a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on pending judicial nominations, on Capitol Hill in Washington. The Senate is expected to narrowly confirm Ketanji Brown Jackson for the powerful U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. She is widely expected to land on President Joe Biden's short list should a Supreme Court vacancy arise.
FILE - In this May 24, 2021 file photo, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer speaks at Steelcase in Grand Rapids, Mich. The Michigan Supreme Court on Friday, June 11 unanimously ordered the state elections board to certify a veto-proof initiative that would let Republican legislators wipe from the books a law Whitmer used to issue sweeping pandemic orders.
Michigan State Police told motorists to expect long delays to cross the Mackinac Bridge on Saturday after a fatal motorcycle wreck. At least one of two gun-related incidents later that day was connected to the traffic backup, authorities said.
This image provided by General Motors shows the GM Logo. General Motors will raise spending on electric and autonomous vehicles and add two U.S. battery factories as it gambles that consumers will eagerly switch from gasoline to the new technology. The announcements, Wednesday, June 16, 2021 came as crosstown rival Ford said its entire Lincoln luxury brand lineup would be electric or gas-electric hybrid by 2030, including four fully electric vehicles. .
Scientology Volunteer Ministers: Help to an Island in Need
A rally participant smiles for a photo at the southeast corner of Alps Road and Baxter Street in Athens, Georgia on Monday, June 14, 2021. Indivisible Georgia District 10, Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement and the Economic Justice Coalition organized the rally to urge the Senate to pass the For the People Act. (Photo/ Jessica Gratigny; @jgratphoto)
Protesters organize at City Hall on Wednesday, April 14, 2021 at a Justice for Daunte rally in Athens, Georgia. Organized by District 2 Commissioner Mariah Parker, the event called for an end to mass incarceration and policing as it is used today and instead fighting for more community resources. (Photo/Taylor Gerlach; taylormckenziephotography.com)
Greenville, NC (27833)

Today

Thunderstorms. Potential for heavy rainfall. High 77F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

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Scattered thunderstorms in the evening. Cloudy skies overnight. Low around 65F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
AP: Some stolen US military guns used in violent crimes

An Associated Press investigation has found that at least 1,900 U.S. military firearms were lost or stolen over the last decade
Members of the Brattleboro Fire Department visit the St. Michaels Preschool and Youth Summer Camp during the Community Heroes week on Wednesday, June 30, 2021. The members of the fire department went through fire safety with the children and then showed them the equipment that is stored on
BRATTLEBORO  Andrew Skarzynski intended to "hit the ground learning" when he started as superintendent on July 1. "Unfortunately, we had to hit the ground running with the reopening 
Former Putney and Westminster resident Rick Cowan now lives in Rockingham where he serves on the select board. Hes also an active volunteer for Protect Our Wildlife, VT. The opinions expressed by columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of the Brattleboro Reformer.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

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Rain likely. High 66F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch..

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Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers late. Low around 55F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.
Beckley, WV (25801)

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Showers in the morning, then partly cloudy in the afternoon. High around 70F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

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Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower throughout the evening. Low 52F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph.
Beckley, WV (25801)

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Rain showers early with some sunshine later in the day. High near 70F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

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Partly cloudy skies. Slight chance of a shower throughout the evening. Low 52F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph.
WASHINGTON (AP)  During the last weeks of his presidency, Donald Trump and his allies pressured the Justice Department to investigate unsubstantiated claims of widespread 2020 election fraud that even his former attorney general declared without evidence, newly released emails show.

The emails, released Tuesday by the House Oversight Committee, reveal in new detail how Trump, his White House chief of staff and other allies pressured members of the U.S. government to challenge the 2020 election over false claims.

Officials at Homeland Security and the Justice Department, as well as Republican election leaders across the country, repeatedly said there was no pervasive fraud. Former Attorney General William Barr, a longtime Trump loyalist, was among those who said there was no evidence of such fraud.

The emails also show the extent to which Trump worked to enlist then-acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen in his campaigns failing legal efforts to challenge the election result, including suggesting filing a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court.

Those sent to Rosen include debunked conspiracy theories and false information about voter fraud. Trump's lies about the election helped spur on the mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 in a failed effort to stop the certification of Joe Biden's victory.

Several times, for example, Trump allies wrote about Dominion Voting Systems' potential voter fraud, a conspiracy theory now the subject of a billion-dollar defamation lawsuit by the voting company. Trump's chief of staff, Mark Meadows, asked about investigating allegations of voter fraud caused by satellites from Italy.

Meadows tried to have Rosen investigate the conspiracy theories and pushed the acting attorney general to meet with an ally of Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani who was pitching unfounded election conspiracies that Italy was using satellites and military technology to change votes.

After Rosen forwarded Meadows email, Rich Donoghue, the acting deputy attorney general, sent a note to Rosen that said, pure insanity. Rosen wrote back that he was asked to have the FBI meet with Giulianis associate and he said no, insisting the man could follow the FBIs normal protocol for tips and just call the public tip line or take his information to an FBI field office. But Rosen said Giuliani was insulted by the answer.

Asked if I would reconsider, I flatly refused, said I would not be giving any special treatment to Giuliani or any of his witnesses, and re-affirmed yet again that I will not talk to Giuliani about any of this, Rosen wrote.

On Dec. 14, the day that Electoral College votes were certified and that Barr said he would be resigning later that month, a Trump White House assistant sent a note to Rosen with the subject From POTUS, an acronym for president of the United States. The email to Rosen, a deputy attorney general who became acting attorney general after Barr left, included talking points on alleged voter fraud in Antrim County, in a key battleground state, Michigan, Those included claims like a Cover-up is Happening regarding voting machines in Michigan and Michigan cannot certify for Biden.

Just moments after the Trump assistant sent the documents, Donoghue sent the same documents to the U.S. attorneys in the Eastern and Western districts of Michigan.

On Dec. 29, the Trump assistant emailed Rosen, Donoghue and Acting Solicitor General Jeffrey Wall and included a draft legal brief for the Supreme Court, with a phone number where they could contact the president directly. The proposed complaint asked the court to "declare that the Electoral College votes cast in the six battleground states that Trump lost cannot be counted. It asked for the court to order a special election in those states.

One of Trump's private attorneys then emailed senior Justice officials urging them to file the complaint. The emails show he repeatedly called Rosen's senior advisers and others in the Justice Department demanding meetings, saying he was driving from Maryland to Justice Department headquarters in Washington to meet with Rosen because he couldn't reach him.

As I said on our call, the President of the United States has seen this complaint, and he directed me last night to brief AG Rosen in person today and discuss bringing this action," he wrote in one email. I have been instructed to report back to the President this afternoon after this meeting.

The Associated Press reported late last year on the effort within the Trump administration to pressure government employees to adopt the false narrative of 2020 election fraud. Trump asked the Justice Department to investigate instances of voter fraud, and Justice leaders sent a memo to the states prioritizing the effort. Trump also asked that a special prosecutor be named to investigate the false voter fraud claims.

And the official serving as Trumps eyes and ears at the Justice Department tried to pressure staffers to give up sensitive information about election fraud and other matters she could relay to the White House. She was banned from the building.

Trump considered replacing Rosen with a more loyal ally, Jeffrey Clark, and even looked into whether the White House could appoint a special counsel without the Justice Departments approval. On Jan. 1, for example, Meadows asked Rosen to have Clark investigate signature match anomalies in Fulton county, GA.

It didn't happen, and on Jan. 3 another Justice official wrote that the cause of justice won.

Three days later, hundreds of pro-Trump rioters broke into the Capitol, attacking police and causing dozens of injuries, causing $1.5 million in damage and sending lawmakers fleeing for their lives. Five people died, including a police officer who collapsed that day. At least 400 people have been arrested in connection with the riot, the largest Justice Department prosecution in history.
HONOLULU (AP)  Police on the Big Island said an officer shot and killed a man who came out of a house and opened fire on officers responding to a domestic violence call.

When patrol officers arrived at the Hilo home Sunday night, a man came out of the rear of the residence and opened fire on the officers, the Hawaii Police Department said in a news release.

One officer returned fire and hit the man several times, police said.

The man was identified as Ryan Y. Santos, 34. He died at the scene, police said, and an autopsy will be conducted.

Santos fired more than 30 rounds from two different rifles, Chief Paul Ferreira said Monday. Some rounds hit four police vehicles and a neighboring home, he said.

Ferreira said in an email he anticipates releasing on Tuesday footage from the camera worn by the officer who fired, which is the most relevant and is being reviewed first.

Footage from the other officers' body cameras will available as they are reviewed and redacted, he said. The redaction involves blocking out the facial features of other family members and officers involved, also the mentioning of any officers' names.

This was the department's first officer-involved shooting this year and the first fatal one since 2018, Ferreira said.

During the shooting, a 91-year-old relative of Santos appeared to go into cardiac arrest, police said. He was taken to the Hilo Medical Center emergency room, where he was later pronounced dead. An autopsy will determine the exact cause of death.

The officers involved have been put on administrative leave and have not yet been publicly identified. The department is investigating.
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP)  Democrat-backed efforts to expand voter access in New Mexico are coming to fruition, with the rollout of same-day voter registration this month.

The first trial run took place in a low-turnout special congressional election on June 1, allowing voters to register at early voting centers in the final weeks of balloting and Election Day.

In all, 2,012 residents took advantage of the opportunity to register during the final four weeks of the election, according to the New Mexico secretary of state's office.

Late-registering voters flocked primarily to the Democratic Party, accounting for about 53% of those registrations  and 50% of registrations on Election Day. About 32% of the later registrations aligned with the Republican Party.

U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury, a Democrat, won the June 1 election with 60% of the vote to fill the 1st Congressional District seat held previously by Deb Haaland, now serving as secretary of the U.S. Interior Department.

Same day registration is likely to be an option in future New Mexico elections, but it requires approval every two years by a panel of voting systems regulators. Approval is pending for the November local election to pick mayors in cities including Albuquerque and Santa Fe.

Previously, voter registration was halted 28 days before any election as a precaution against possible double-voting while county clerks updated registration rolls painstakingly by hand with paper and ink, said Mario Jimenez, a policy campaign manager with the progressive good-government group Common Cause New Mexico.

That is no longer necessary with advances in electronic record keeping and technology that synchronizes voter registration records with state motor vehicle databases.

Jimenez believes the switch to same-day registration, if adopted in future elections statewide, will expand voter access and participation in elections and improve the accuracy of voter registration rolls.

The changes were brought on by a 2019 bill, approved on a party-line vote with Republicans in opposition, that opened the door to same-day registration on a delayed timeline.

Same-day registration is clearly a tool that allows more New Mexicans to participate, and its use would be even wider in a statewide election, said Alex Curtas, a spokesman for the secretary of state's office.

Future governors could attempt to reverse same-day registration through a vote of the state Voting Systems Certification Committee.

Democrats currently hold all statewide elected offices in New Mexico and majorities in the state House and Senate. The GOP flipped a congressional seat in southern New Mexico in 2020 with the election of U.S. Rep. Yvette Herrell.

Democrats account for 47% of registered voters statewide while 28% are registered Republicans. Unaffiliated voters hold a 23% share.

Separate New Mexico election reforms this year were aimed at ensuring access to polling sites in Native American communities and providing public financing to state district court campaigns in the future.

Pandemic lockdowns at many of the state's 23 federal recognized Indigenous tribes during the June 2020 primary election triggered the closure or consolidation of some voting sites.

That ensured outside voters would not be turned away, but also made it harder or nearly impossible for some tribal residents to vote.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP)  A Democratic state representative from eastern Iowa who chaired the Legislative Black Caucus and advocated for the safety of meatpacking plant workers early during the pandemic became the first person to announce a run for governor next year.

Rep. Ras Smith launched an ad campaign Tuesday morning, hours before he was expected to formally announce his bid.

I have faith that when we work together, when we use new eyes to look at old problems, we can build a state where everyone can succeed, Smith says in his new ad, which launched on social media.

Smith is serving his third term representing an area of Black Hawk County that includes his hometown of Waterloo.

The 33-year-old lawmaker was a strong advocate for meatpacking workers in his county last year when hundreds were sickened by the coronavirus and several died of COVID-19. He criticized plant officials and state inspectors, saying they failed to respond quickly to the disaster.

Smith also was chairman last year of the Legislative Black Caucus and helped write a bill that banned most police chokeholds and required bias prevention and de-escalation training for officers following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. It passed unanimously and was signed by the governor last June.

The victory turned to disappointment, however, when Republican legislative leaders declined to follow through on promises that theyd consider further criminal justice reform measures this year. Instead, they pushed through a bill guaranteeing new rights and privileges for police and increased penalties for protesters.

Would it have been too hard to do the right thing? Smith asked during the House floor debate in May on the police bill, which Gov. Kim Reynolds will sign into law this week.

Smiths campaign also is likely to call attention to Reynolds handling of the pandemic, including her resistance to mask mandates and insistence on schools meeting in person. She frequently claims that Iowa had one of the fastest economic recoveries in the nation, but the state also has had more than 6,000 COVID-19 deaths.

Reynolds has not formally announced shes running for another term, but she has signaled her intentions to do so and is expected to make an announcement soon.

Smiths announcement comes as House Democrats announced the election of Rep. Jennifer Konfrst as the first woman to lead their caucus.

Konfrst, an associate professor of journalism at Drake University from the Des Moines suburb of Windsor Heights, is serving her second term. She succeeds Todd Prichard who has decided to leave the leadership role.

For too long, Republicans have put the needs of special interests ahead of Iowans needs. Its time for a change in the Iowa House, and Im ready to get to work, she said.

Republicans have controlled the Iowa House and governors office since 2011 and the Iowa Senate since 2017.
POTTSVILLE  A Pottsville man will spend more time behind state prison bars after admitting Friday to a Schuylkill County judge that he fled from police while driving with a suspended license in September 2020.

Jeffrey A. Taylor, 53, must serve six to 24 more months in a state correctional institution, Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin ruled. Dolbin made the sentence consecutive to the one Taylor already is serving.

Taylor pleaded guilty to fleeing or eluding police and driving under suspension-DUI related. Prosecutors withdrew charges of driving unregistered vehicle and using improper class of license.

State police at Frackville alleged Taylor fled from them on Sept. 13, 2020.

Taylor already is an inmate at SCI/Chester in Delaware County, and Dolbin conducted Fridays hearing by videoconference.

Also on Friday, Dolbin revoked the parole of Christopher M. Pate, 41, of New Ringgold, and recommitted him to prison for three months.

Pate originally pleaded guilty on Oct. 3, 2019, to flight to avoid apprehension or trial, fleeing or eluding police and driving under suspension-DUI related. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of abandoning vehicle on public or private property.

At that time, Judge Charles M. Miller sentenced Pate to serve nine to 23 months in prison, pay costs, a $2,500 fine, $100 to the Substance Abuse Education Fund, $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account and a $50 bench warrant fee, and submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities.

New Philadelphia police charged Pate with fleeing from them while driving with a suspended license on Dec. 8, 2018, in the borough.

Pate already is an inmate at the county prison, and Dolbin conducted the hearing by videoconference.

In another county court case, President Judge William E. Baldwin on Monday sentenced Jonathan E. Zamudio, 37, of Shenandoah, to serve one to seven years in prison, pay costs, a $2,500 fine and a $100 SAEF payment, and submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities.

Zamudio pleaded guilty to driving under the influence. Prosecutors withdrew charges of failure to keep right and no rear lights.

State police at Frackville alleged Zamudio was DUI on Sept. 21, 2020.

Also in the county court, Haley N. Meyer, 21, of Saint Clair, recently pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of a controlled substance and one of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Baldwin promptly placed her on probation for 12 months, and also sentenced her to pay costs, a $100 SAEF payment, a $50 CJEA payment, a $50 bench warrant fee and $113 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Bethlehem.

State police at Frackville alleged Meyer possessed drugs and paraphernalia on July 4, 2020.

In another recent county court case, Fallon M. Sincavage, 26, of Pottsville, pleaded guilty to possession of drug paraphernalia. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of simple assault.

Baldwin sentenced Sincavage to serve three to 12 months in prison and pay costs and a $100 SAEF payment.

Pottsville police charged Sincavage with possessing a hypodermic needle on Oct. 20, 2020, in the city.

Sincavage already is an inmate at the county prison, and Baldwin conducted the hearing by video conference.
POTTSVILLE  After deliberating five hours over two days, a Schuylkill County jury could not reach a verdict Tuesday in the case of a Berks County woman whom police allege assaulted, set fire to and tried to strangle a Pottsville woman in June 2020 in the city.

Zakiya I. Jordan, 27, of Wyomissing, did not react as the jury of nine men and three women announced it could not agree on whether she was guilty of committing the crimes against Fallon Sincavage.

That makes this jury a hung jury, said Judge Christina E. Hale, who presided over Jordans two-day trial. I am going to declare this a mistrial.

Jordan still faces two counts each of aggravated arson and simple assault and one count each of aggravated assault, strangulation, possessing an instrument of crime and recklessly endangering another person.

Because there was no verdict, prosecutors can retry Jordan on all charges without violating the constitutional ban on double jeopardy. First Assistant District Attorney Michael J. Stine, who prosecuted the case, said that is a possibility.

Ill consult with (District Attorney Michael A.) OPake, and come to a decision after we confer, Stine said.

Stine otherwise declined to comment on the case.

Jordan, who did not testify or offer any other evidence, remains free on $100,000 straight cash bail pending further court proceedings.

Pottsville police charged Jordan with assaulting Sincavage, 26, of Pottsville, around 8:30 a.m. June 2, 2020, in the attic of the house at 403 W. Arch St. Police said Jordan set fire to Sincavage, leaving a permanently burned area on her scalp, and then tried to strangle her.

After a few moments, I could smell smoke. I realized I was what was on fire, Sincavage testified Monday. She grabbed onto me, pulled her tight to me and started choking me.

Sincavage said she escaped through a boarded-up window from which she tore the board. She said she crawled onto the roof and yelled for help; eventually, police got her down.

Pottsville police Detective Joseph R. Welsh testified he found Sincavages two sweatshirts in the attic, and that one had burn marks.

They were singed together, he said.

Welsh also said a surveillance video from nearby Trinity Lutheran Church showed Jordan walking away from the scene.

Corey S. Chwiecko, Reading, Jordans lawyer, declined to comment on the case after Hale dismissed the jury.
POTTSVILLE  A Schuylkill County jury will return to court this morning to decide the case of a Berks County woman charged with setting a Pottsville woman on fire on June 2020 in the city.

Zakiya I. Jordan, 27, of Wyomissing, neither testified nor offered any other evidence Monday as prosecutors sought to prove eight charges stemming from the fiery incident at the house on 403 W. Arch St.

Jurors deliberated about 1 hours Monday afternoon before Judge Christina E. Hale sent them home for the evening. She instructed the nine men and three women to return at 9 a.m. Tuesday after warning them not to read about or discuss the case.

Jordan faces two counts each of aggravated arson and simple assault and one each of aggravated assault, strangulation, possessing instrument of crime and recklessly endangering another person.

Pottsville police charged Jordan with setting Fallon Sincavage, 26, of Pottsville, on fire, and also trying to strangle her, around 8:30 a.m. June 2, 2020, in the houses attic.

After a few moments, I could smell smoke. I realized I was what was on fire, Sincavage testified. I was in a lot of pain and shock because of what happened to me.

Sincavage, who showed the jurors the bald spot where her hair has not grown back, said she took off the two hoodies she was wearing and then noticed her hair was on fire. Her ordeal was not over by any means, she said.

She grabbed onto me, pulled me tight to her and started choking me, Sincavage said of Jordan, whom she identified as her attacker.

Were you scared? First Assistant District attorney Michael J. Stine asked Sincavage.

Yes, she answered.

When cross-examined by Corey S. Chwiecko, Reading, Jordans lawyer, Sincavage said she had smoked marijuana that morning. She denied that Maurice Porter, whom she said also was in the attic, was her boyfriend and said he was in front of her when Jordan set her on fire from behind.

In his closing argument, Chwiecko said prosecutors had not ruled out Porter as the criminal and that Sincavages testimony was too inconsistent to be believed.

Theres no evidence beyond her word that Zakiya did anything wrong, he said.

Furthermore, Porters absence from the trial should be held against prosecutors, said Chwiecko, who also noted police never interviewed him.

In his closing argument, Stine said Sincavages testimony was more than enough to convict Jordan.

She didnt do this to herself, Stine said.

He reminded jurors that a surveillance camera showed Jordan walking from the scene, while Porter tried to help Sincavage. He also said Sincavage never wavered from identifying the defendant as the perpetrator.

Without a hesitation, she says, Zakiya Jordan did it  to police, Stine said.

Defendant: Zakiya I. Jordan

Age: 27

Residence: Wyomissing

Charges: Two counts each of aggravated arson and simple assault and one each of aggravated assault, strangulation, possessing instrument of crime and recklessly endangering another person.
POTTSVILLE  A Shenandoah man faces more prison time after a jury convicted him Monday of two crimes resulting from failure to comply with Megans Law registration requirements.

Richard A. Ziff, 55, is guilty of failing to register with the Pennsylvania State Police and failure to provide accurate registration information, the jury decided after deliberating about an hour.

Judge James P. Goodman, who presided over the one-day trial, ordered preparation of a presentence investigation and scheduled Ziffs sentencing for Aug. 10.

Shenandoah police alleged Ziff failed to comply with Megans Law on Feb. 20, 2020, in the borough.

Police said Ziff obtained a new job but failed to report that within three business days and then did not provide truthful information when he did so. Anyone subject to Megans Law reporting requirements in the state must inform police of any change in employment.

Borough police Patrolman Leo R. Luciani Jr., the prosecuting officer, testified Ziff obtained a job a month before reporting his new employment.

State police Trooper Shawn P. Tray testified Ziff had not reported any employment on his existing registration. The coronavirus pandemic did not relieve Ziff of his duties under the law, said Tray, a former West Mahanoy Township police chief.

Assistant Public Defender Kent D. Watkins, Ziffs lawyer, reminded jurors in his closing argument that while Megans Law offenders must follow the prescribed requirements, the government also must make their obligations clear.

The government is running the show, he said.

However, Assistant District Attorney Julie D. Werdt successfully argued that Ziff was the one who broke the law.

Mr. Ziff had to register in Pennsylvania, she said. That did not happen. Hold the defendant to the law.
TAMAQUA  Tamaqua Area school board directors are in line to adopt the districts 2021-22 budget with no tax increases.

The boards Finance Committee last week OKd the addition of the final budget to Tuesdays voting meeting agenda.

Real estate taxes will remain at 39.85 mills.

The budget, prepared by Business Manager Connie Ligenza, shows the district will begin the fiscal year July 1 with about $3.14 million.

The budget projects about $33.5 million in revenue and $36 million in expenses. The ending fund balance as of June 30, 2022, is estimated at $571,000.

Per capita taxes are set at $5 and assessed occupation tax is $225.

In an unrelated matter, the board will likely vote to take its high and middle schools away from solar power.

Directors spoke to representatives from GreenWorks Development, a Harrisburg solar energy company that connected the districts four schools to solar power in October.

Since then, GreenWorks officials said PPLs transmission fees increased by 74% due to COVID and other factors. PPL also changed the districts rate classification. While the rate is higher, GreenWorks officials said the rate change resulted in a net benefit.

West Penn and Tamaqua elementary schools will remain solar powered.

With the high and middle schools going off solar, additional power generated by the district grids can be sold. For each megawatt hour of solar electricity created, the district receives a Solar Renewable Energy Certificate, or SREC.

Just like market stocks, SRECs fluctuate. GreenWorks had sold 840 of Tamaquas SRECs at an average of $28.50 each but asked directors if they had a minimum threshold for SREC sales. Directors recommended a rate of at least $50 per SREC.

Directors will also vote on the following during the 7:30 p.m. Tuesday meeting in the middle schools large group instruction room:

 Set pay to participate fees at $40 for first sport, $30 for second sport and $20 for third sport. Fees will decrease by $10 each if annual donations are received.

 Schedule a faculty flu shot clinic sometime during the fall.

 Set the date for the Class of 2022 prom at Capriottis in Kline Township as May 7.

 Establish tuition rates for out-of-district students at $9,378 for elementary and $10,709 for secondary.
100 years ago  1921

The First Annual Field Day of Troop C State Police Force, Pottsville was held Wednesday at Connor Field. Twenty events were scheduled. For more than four weeks, the police have been rehearsing for this demonstration. No admission was charged and tickets were distributed free.

75 years ago  1946

Highlight of the 28th Annual Dauphin County Firemens Convention at Lykens will be the firemens parade this afternoon. Seven divisions including fire companies from every section of the county will participate. The Williamstown Fire Company, Hegins Fire Company, Valley View Band and Valley View Fire Company will be in the fifth division.

50 years ago  1971

The Mahlon H. Boyer Memorial Tract, 10 acres on Blue Mountain along Route 901 between Bethel and Pine Grove, was dedicated Sunday.

25 years ago  1996

Agway Inc. is using an Internet Web site to market farm equipment and reports sales have jumped. Farmers are tracking commodity prices via satellite feeds. Sterman-Masser Inc., the Hegins Valley potato operation, plans to use radar tracking to pinpoint where to put fertilizer in its fields. Instead of grabbing a pitch-fork these days, Schuylkill County farmers are as likely to clasp mouse to scroll across the World Wide Web in search of commodity prices or reasonable hauling fees before loading up the wagon with produce.
Gadar: Ek Prem Katha starring Sunny Deol and Ameesha Patel released 20 years ago on June 15 and is one of the biggest blockbusters of Indian cinema. The movie was set during the Partition of India in 1947 and followed a love story between a Sikh man from India and a Muslim woman from Pakistan.

Throughout the years, there have been several speculations about the movie, the one that stood out was of Govinda and Kajol being the original choices to play lead roles. To clear the air, director Anil Sharma came forward to talk about it.

Anil Sharma talks about the casting process of Gadar

On the occasion of 20 years of Gadar - Ek Prem Katha, director Anil Sharma told Bollywood Hungama that Govinda was never signed up for the movie. He talked about how he was working with him for Maharaja that was released in 1998. He narrated the story of Gadar to the actor. The director then revealed that it was not that he never considered Govinda for the role but when the actor heard the story, he was taken aback and was scared. The actor wondered how can someone pull off a film of this kind and scale.

The director added that during that time there was no way of creating Pakistan and no one did it before on such a large scale. So, Sunny Deol was always his first choice. Talking about the female lead of the film, he said that he spoke to various actors and not just Kajol. He revealed that some of them did not like the story, others didn't listen to it and some did not understand the script. He added that they tried to get 4-5 top female actors but when that didn't work out, they looked for another option. After which, they got over 400 entries for the leading lady and they auditioned over 40 actors and finally decided to cast Ameesha Patel.

A look at Anil Sharma's movies

Gadar was the first movie where Sunny and Anil worked together. After the success of the movie, the two went ahead and worked in movies like The Hero: Love Story Of A Spy (2003), Apne (2007) and Singh Saab The Great (2013). After so many years, Sunny Deol is reuniting with Anil Sharma in Apne 2, a sequel to Apne. The shoot is expected to start in the next few months.

IMAGE: Govinda and Anil Sharma's IG

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The legacy of Sushant Singh Rajput was marked with tributes across India on his first death anniversary on Monday. Not just India, the late actor was celebrated even outside India. Tribute events were held in countries like Sri Lana and the United States of America and people close to SSR expressed their gratitude.

Sushant tribute events in Sri Lanka, USA

Some fans of Sushant arranged a charity event on the occasion of SSRs death anniversary in Sri Lanka. Calling it the feed food 4 SSR, they conveyed their love from the neighbouring country. The late actors family friend Smita Parikh shared photos of the gifts for the people, which included fruits and other essential food items. Smita thanked the organisers, while also using hashtags like Immortal Sushant and Sushant Justice Matters, which had gained prominence in the run-up to the anniversary.

Thank you Srilanka for hosting this in memory of our @itsSSR  thanks #trashalidesilva  #ImmortalSushant SUSHANT JUSTICE MATTERS pic.twitter.com/vnIiVqlxU2  Smita GLK Parikh - SSR  (@smitaparikh2) June 14, 2021

A couple from California marked SSRs death anniversary by decorating a hall with his photos and his memories, flowers, food and candles. This was along with flags of both India and USA.

Reacting to the post, Smita wrote that the world was not 'giving up' and they had their hopes high. Sushant's brother-in-law Vishal Kirti too reacted to it and called it beautiful.

Thank you Srilanka for hosting this in memory of our @itsSSR  thanks #trashalidesilva  #ImmortalSushant SUSHANT JUSTICE MATTERS pic.twitter.com/vnIiVqlxU2  Smita GLK Parikh - SSR  (@smitaparikh2) June 14, 2021

Thank you Srilanka for hosting this in memory of our @itsSSR  thanks #trashalidesilva  #ImmortalSushant SUSHANT JUSTICE MATTERS pic.twitter.com/vnIiVqlxU2  Smita GLK Parikh - SSR  (@smitaparikh2) June 14, 2021

In India too, a group donating sewing machines and tricycles to the specially-abled and a group led by Sushant's friend Ganesh Hiwarkar, protested at the office of CBI in Delhi.

The family remembered Sushant by hosting a prayer for him. His elder sisters Rani, Meetu and Priyanka gathered and penned strong notes too. In heartening news for fans, the CBI informed that they had not closed the case of SSRs mysterious death and were looking into all angles.

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Kanye West is one of the most popular artists in the world. The rapper has several hit tracks and albums under his belt. One such popular Kanye West's album is My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy AKA MBDTF. The 2010 album is still considered as one of the best works by the rapper and it is also considered as one of the greatest albums in modern history. Several fans must be knowing that the majority of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy was recorded in Honolulu, Hawaii. According to a report by hiphopdx.com, the rapper is once again in Hawaii and is currently recording an album.

Kanye West in Hawaii sparks MBDTF nostalgia

Hawaii has been a fertile ground in terms of creativity for Kanye West. In 2010, he had famously worked on his album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy from Honolulu, Hawaii. During that time, he flew in several of his favourite producers and artists from the music industry like Q-Tip, Kid Cudi, Pusha T, Mike Dean, No I.D. and RZA. He had immersed himself in the process of making the album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy there and it also turned out to be great. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. It also sold almost 500,000 copies in its opening week and is often heralded as some of Kanyes best work.

The report reveals that he is now in Hawaii and recording an album. Kanye is currently in the middle of a legal battle with MyChannel. The report mentioned that he is recording an album in Honolulu Hawaii and does not want to be bothered by such a paltry lawsuit of $63,000. A report by hotnewhiphop.com has shared that Kanye West's latest base was in Wyoming. He had worked on the majority of his recent musical ventures like the Surgical Summer from that base.

Kanye Wests fans have been eagerly waiting for the release of his new album for quite some time now. The details about Kanye West's album being recorded in Hawaii are not out yet. It remains to be seen if he will be able to recreate the magic of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy with his new album. It is also not clear if any rappers or artists will be joining Kanye West in Hawaii for the album. However, his return to Honolulu, Hawaii has surely sparked off the excitement around the album and nostalgia about My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.

Image: Kanye West's Instagram

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Doha, Jun 15 (PTI) In a surprise move, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday met US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad here in Qatars capital and exchanged perspectives on the war-torn nation and the region during his second visit to the key Gulf nation in a week.

India, a major stakeholder in the peace and stability of Afghanistan, has been supporting a national peace and reconciliation process which is Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled.

"Met with @US4AfghanPeace Zalmay Khalilzad in Doha. Continued our exchange of perspectives on Afghanistan and the region," Jaishankar tweeted.

The meeting with Khalilzad was not previously announced by the External Affairs Ministry.

The US and the Taliban signed a landmark deal in Doha on February 29, 2020 after multiple rounds of negotiations to bring lasting peace in war-torn Afghanistan and allow US troops to return home from America's longest war.

India has been keenly following the evolving political situation after the US signed the peace deal with the Taliban. The deal provided for the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan, effectively drawing curtains on Washington's 18-year war with Taliban in the country.

In early March, Jaishankar and Khalilzad spoke over phone and discussed the developments pertaining to the Afghan peace talks. In the same month, Jaishankar attended the 9th Heart of Asia Ministerial Conference in Tajikistan's capital, Dushanbe, where he voiced "grave concern over violence and bloodshed in Afghanistan and said that there is need for a genuine double peace in and around the war-torn country.

The negotiating parties should engage in good faith, with a serious commitment towards reaching a political solution, he told the conference which was also attended by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.

Jaishankar also said that India has been supportive of all the efforts being made to accelerate the dialogue between the Afghan government and the Taliban, including intra-Afghan negotiations.

India remains committed to steadfastly supporting Afghanistan during its transition. Its development partnership of USD 3 billion, including more than 550 Community Development Projects covering all 34 provinces, is aimed at making Afghanistan a self-sustaining nation, he said.

In November also, Jaishankar and Khalilzad had held talks during the latter's India visit on the historic peace negotiations between the Taliban and the Afghan government and related issues.

On September 12, 2020, an Indian delegation attended the inaugural ceremony of the intra-Afghan negotiations in Doha while Jaishankar joined it through a video conference.

Jaishankar also met his Jordanian and Palestinian counterparts Ayman Safadi and Dr Riyad al-Maliki at Doha airport on Tuesday.

Earlier in the day, Jaishankar met Qatars foreign and defence ministers and discussed bilateral cooperation with them and exchanged views on global and regional issues.

"Good to meet DPM & FM @MBA_AlThani of Qatar in Doha today. Appreciated Qatar's solidarity during the Covid second wave. Discussed our bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on regional issues," he tweeted.

He also met another Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah and discussed global and regional developments with him.

On his way to Kuwait, Jaishankar had a brief stopover in Doha on June 9 during which he met Qatar's National Security Advisor Mohamed Bin Ahmed Al Mesned and thanked him for the Gulf nation's support and solidarity in Indias fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jaishankar arrived here from Kenya where he was on a three-day visit to strengthen India's relations with the major East African country. He called on Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and handed over a letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to him. PTI ZH AKJ ZH ZH

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
On Monday, the MHA clarified that its notification dated May 28 pertaining to citizenship for non-Muslim refugees had no relation with the Citizenship Amendment Act whatsoever. In a counter-affidavit filed by MHA Under Secretary Ashutosh Anand before the Supreme Court, it opposed the Indian Union Muslim League's plea to quash the notification. Arguing that the Citizenship Act, 1955 does not allow the classification of applicants on the basis of religion, the IUML alleged that this notification was an attempt to circumvent this assurance.

As per the notification under challenge, the MHA invited applications for citizenship from Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Christians and Buddhists hailing from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh who are currently residing in 13 districts of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Haryana and Punjab. While the rules under the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019, are yet to be framed, the Ministry invoked the provisions of the Citizenship Act, 1955. The IUML was also the first petitioner to challenge the CAA in the apex court.

Clarifying that the Centre has merely delegated its powers to grant citizenship to District Collectors, the MHA maintained that the notification applies only to foreigners who have entered the country legally. Delving into the different amendments to the Citizenship Act through the years, it revealed that similar delegation of power has been permitted by the Union government in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2016 and 2018 as well. Moreover, it pointed out that senior Congress leader and Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot had himself requested on multiple occasions that Collectors should be allowed to grant citizenship to minority migrants from Pakistan.

What is the CAA?

The CAA seeks to provide citizenship to the minority communities namely Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan. This will be applicable to the members of these communities having arrived in India on or before December 31, 2014. Moreover, they shall not be considered illegal migrants. Additionally, the mandatory residence period for naturalised citizenship for these communities would be reduced to 5 years.

Several parties in the North East such as the (AASU) have been vehemently opposed to this legislation. To ameliorate their concerns of organizations such as the All Assam Students Union, the Centre has exempted a major part of the North East from the ambit of the Act. The opposition contended that the Act discriminates on the basis of religion, which might go against Article 14, which guarantees the right to equality. After an hours-long debate in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, the legislation was cleared by a majority of the members voting in the favour of the Centre in December 2019.
Indians Reject 'Made In China' Post Galwan, Whopping 43% Turn Back On Chinese Products

Indian consumers have strongly rejected 'Made in China' products and approximately half of the people surveyed have not brought any products manufactured in the country in the aftermath of the Galwan clash, a survey revealed. According to a report by online firm LocalCircles on Monday, nearly a year after the LAC standoff which resulted in the death of 20 Indian soldiers, a whopping 43% of people have rejected Made in China products.

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Galwan Valley Clash: Homage Paid To Martyrs On First Anniversary Of Faceoff With China

On Tuesday, June 15, the Ministry of Defense Public Relations Unit (PRO), Srinagar, informed that on the first anniversary of the violent clash between the Armies of India and China in the Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh, the Fire and Fury corps paid homage to the soldiers killed in the face-off.

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Twitter Summoned By Parliamentary Committee On IT Over 'safeguarding Citizens Rights'

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information & Technology on Tuesday directed social media giant Twitter to appear before them in the Parliament Complex on June 18. The parliament has summoned Twitter officials to discuss how the platform was working towards safeguarding citizens rights and prevention of misuse of social/online news media platforms including special emphasis on women security in digital space.

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Sputnik V Vaccine More Efficient Against The Delta Variant Of COVID-19: Study

In a breaking development, Russia's SPUTNIK V vaccine has been found to be highly effective in neutralizing the aggressive COVID Delta variant, according to Russia's Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and a study conducted by The Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Moscow.

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Ram Mandir Trust Puts Out Facts & History Of Under-lens Ayodhya Land Deal; Says It's Prime

Two days after land-grabbing allegations were levelled against them, the Ram Janmabhoomi Theerth Kshetra Trust put out 'facts' about the land purchase deal done by the trust at Bagh Bijaisi in Ayodhya on Tuesday. On Sunday, AAPs Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh and SP's ex-MLA Pawan Pandey had accused the Trust's chief Champat Rai of buying a piece of land worth Rs 2 crore at an inflated price of Rs 18.5 crore for the Ram temple premises.

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Mulakkal Rape Case: Justice Saldanha Says, Charges Of Misconduct Against Sr Lucy 'absurd'

After the Apostolica Signatura - the highest judicial authority in the Catholic Church in the Vatican - turned down Sister Lucy's appeal against her congregation's decision to strip her of sisterhood after her protest against rape-accused ex-Bishop Franco Mulakkal, she was dismissed from the church with finality.

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Centre Acknowledges One 'vaccine Product Related' Death In India; Busts Related 'myths'

The Union Government on Tuesday clarified that deaths & hospitalization after vaccination could not be immediately attributed to the inoculation process until it was investigated & inferred to be so by the Adverse Event Following Immunization (AEFI) committee. It refuted media reports from certain quarters which claimed India had witnessed 488 deaths related to post-COVID complications after vaccinations between 16 January & 7 June.

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Indian Army Conducts Successful Trials On Dedicated Freight Corridor

The Indian Army on June 14, conducted a successful trial by moving a military train loaded with vehicles and equipment from New Rewari to New Phulera validating the efficacy of the recently developed Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) by the Indian Railways. The Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India (DFCCIL) provides faster movement of freight across the country and the project sporadically gained momentum as more trains have been operating.

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Bengaluru: Watch Republic TV Expose Rampant Illegal Immigration In Karnataka's Capital

In an important investigation, Republic TV has unearthed startling facts about the extent of illegal immigrants thronging Bengaluru which is going unchecked. For instance, there are more than 1000 alleged illegal immigrants hailing from Bangladesh in only one area of Bengaluru. It also came to light that these persons did not possess any identity documents.

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COVID-19: Wuhan Institute Of Virology Kept Bats In Cages, Reveals Video After WHO's Denial

While the World Health Organization (WHO) has repeatedly dismissed the Wuhan lab leak theory as the origin of COVID-19, new footage from the Wuhan Insitute of Virology in China has purportedly revealed that bats were kept in cages. The SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19 and was discovered for the first time in China, is determined to have its roots in animals such as bats.

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Nairobi, Jun 14 (PTI) The rise of modern Africa is a "long awaited expectation", External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Monday, underlining that the decisions made by the international community will be really global only when the continent's voice is adequately heard and reform made in the leading bodies like the UN Security Council.

Jaishankar said that both as a solidarity and a strategy, India stands with Africa. "Within our capacities, we have partnered with as much a large heart as with an open mind. Your priorities guide our initiatives," he said.

Jaishankar made the comments during the inauguration of the renovated Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Library in the prestigious University of Nairobi here. He arrived in Kenya on Saturday on a three-day visit to strengthen India's relations with the major East African country.

"The rise of modern Africa is not just a noble sentiment, it is a long awaited expectation, even a profound calculation. It is only when this continent of more than a billion people takes its rightful place, that a full diversity of our planet will find proper expression.

"It is then that we can justifiably declare that the world is truly multi polar. Decisions made by the international community will be really global only when Africa's voice is adequately heard. And that must happen most of all by reform in leading bodies like the UN Security Council where today India and Kenya have seats as non-permanent members for two years," he said.

"As UNSC members currently serving together, we have taken our closeness onto the larger global stage," Jaishankar said in a tweet.

During the event, Jaishankar said that this is also a time to reflect on the larger significance of the relationship between India and Kenya.

"Real partnerships are those that promote development and build capacities. Indias record speaks for itself," he tweeted, adding that the post-Covid era warrants deeper cooperation.

"India's association with this university goes back decades and the very memory of Mahatma Gandhi was meant to underline our strong solidarity. It also reminds us of the Kenyans with Indian heritage who have contributed so much for this university's growth and success," he said.

The minister said that the sentiment has not diminished in the decades that have passed but has taken the form of practical South-South cooperation of which this project is one small example.

There are numerous other activities that involve human resources and nurturing talent that stand as testimony to the deep bonds between the two countries, he said.

Highlighting the initiatives taken by the two countries to strengthen the bilateral relationship, including in the educational sector, Jaishankar said these illustrations should evoke a discussion on how to refashion the relationship for contemporary times. "I believe that the core continues to be the solidarity forged by our shared struggle last century. But they must also take into account the new challenges that have emerged since," he said.

Jaishankar said that the pandemic has brought home the dangers of relying on limited geographies. When supply chains are disrupted and demand outstrips supply, the more vulnerable will inevitably get short changed.

"Africa cannot afford that to continue. And this goes against the very spirit of South-South cooperation. The direct lesson from the pandemic is the need today, pressing need I would say, for decentralised globalisation," he said.

Underlining that due to the pandemic, health and food security have become far more central which makes a compelling case for enhancing capacities in Africa.

"And that would only happen when partnerships genuinely aimed at Africas welfare deliver more extensively on development projects. Indeed, development itself will only unfold when it is based on deeper capacities," Jaishankar said.

He said that his visit has contributed to a new agenda of cooperation that is now in the making and which is shaped by the vision that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Kenyan President President Uhuru Kenyatta have of the relationship.

"In 1956, the statue of Mahatma Gandhi was unveiled at this University. Six decades later, the modernisation of this library is a reminder of what brings us together. "It is only by greater international cooperation and stronger capacities that result from it, that we can, in the Mahatmas words, bring about the change we seek. India and Kenya have the opportunity to demonstrate that their partnership can make a difference," he said. PTI RS AKJ RS

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Boosting its COVID-19 vaccination drive, India is likely to start administering Russia's Sputnik V from the end of this week for the general public. At least two hospitals in Delhi are expected to begin administering Sputnik V vaccine after the consignment arrives in the weekend. The first consignment of 500 doses of the vaccine arrived in Delhi on June 13 and was administered to Dr. Reddys employees in the city.

List of hospitals administering Sputnik V in Delhi

Delhi's Indraprastha Apollo Hospital

Sputnik V is expected to be available for the general public at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital in Delhi from the end of this week. Earlier reports suggested that the vaccine deployment was expected on June 15 (Tuesday); however, as per the latest update, vaccines will reach hospitals by end of this week. Depending upon the consignment received by the hospital, the administration of the vaccine will begin.

Delhi's Madhukar Rainbow Children's Hospital

According to the ANI report, Delhi's Madhukar Rainbow Children's Hospital will start administering Sputnik V by June 20.

"Delhi's Madhukar Rainbow Children's Hospital will start administering Russia's COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V tentatively by June 20. The appointment slots can be booked via CoWIN portal," hospital officials told ANI.

The exact quantity of doses will be ascertained only by the end of this week based on Sputnik V availability once the supply of consignment is delivered.

Russia's COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V in India

The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and Dr Reddy's had signed an agreement in 2020 to collaborate on clinical trial and distribution of Sputnik V vaccine in India. Dr Reddy's has exclusive marketing and distribution rights for the first 250 million dosesof Sputnik V vaccines in India. The first phase of a limited pilot vaccination programme was conducted by Apollo Hospitals and Dr. Reddys Laboratories on May 17 in Hyderabad and on May 18 in Vishakhapatnam.

The Central Government has capped the price of Sputnik V at private hospitals at Rs 1,145. The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), earlier on June 10, announced that the efficacy of the Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine based on a vaccination campaign by Bahrain's Ministry of Health was estimated to be 94.3 per cent. According to the analysis of data from 3.8 million vaccinated persons in Russia, Sputnik V has demonstrated 97.6 per cent efficacy.

(Inputs from ANI)
In a long-overdue proceeding before the Supreme Court against two Italian Marines accused of killing two Indian fishermen off the coast of Kerala in 2012, on June 15, the apex court ordered the closure of all proceedings in India. The two accused are namely, Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone.

The Supreme Court of India heard the Centre's application to close criminal cases against two Italian marines. SC has earlier stated that it will close the case only after the Indian government deposited a compensation amount of 10 crores (as received from Italy) with the top court. The two Italian soldiers were accused of killing two fishermen but an international tribunal decided that that duo must be tried in Italy.

The compensation is a mutually agreed amount between India and Italy in terms of the award fixed by an international tribunal.

The Court ordered, "This is a fit case to close all proceedings in India under Article 142 of the Constitution."

Advocate for Italy, Suhail Dutt submitted that India's jurisdiction ended as soon as Italy paid the compensation amount.

The Court informed its decision to quash all proceedings against the marines after being informed that the compensation amount for the family of the deceased has been deposited in the registry of the Supreme Court by the Republic of Italy. The Court said that Italy shall now resume the criminal proceedings in compliance with the UN tribunal.

A Division Bench of Justice Indira Banerjee and MR Shah said in the order, "Considering the tribunal order, Republic of India has agreed to the compensation of 10 crores. Republic of Italy has deposited it and it is now transferred to this court's registry. We are satisfied with the compensation and the ex-gratia paid over and above earlier. This is a fit case to close all proceedings in India under Article 142 of the Constitution."

What is the Italian Marines Case?

The two Kerala fishermen- Valentine Jalastine and Ajesh Binki were allegedly shot dead in February 2012 by the aforementioned Italian marines. They allegedly mistook the Kerala fishermen's boat 'St. Antony' for a pirate boat when it passed through the "Erica Lexie", a tanker flying with Girone and Latorre and the Italian Flag.

India was entitled to get compensation from Italy on the death of fishermen however the country could not conduct a prosecution due to Marines' sovereign immunity. On permission of the families of the victims who accepted the compensation, the Centre asked Supreme Court for the hearing.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration had in July, last year (seven years later), given its finding that two marines had immunity and would not be tried in India. The apex court had previously urged the Centre to set up a Special Court to try Italy's breach of India's freedom of navigation. Before the Supreme Court verdict, the Kerala High Court too found that the marines had no such immunity.

Now both countries await the verdict from the International Tribunal under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
In a development in Kerala's tree felling scam, Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan, on Tuesday, pointed the silence of Pinarayi Vijayan-led Kerala government after reports of rampant tree felling in the State's ecologically fragile districts.

Meanwhile, Muraleedharan visited Muttil in Wayanad (one of the tree felling sites) said the timber mafia conspired with officials and politicians to loot forest wealth.

V Muraleedharan said, "We visited many districts where hundreds of trees have been cut against the rules. Government is silent on this issue. Person(s) responsible for such acts is not limited to officers. It means that political leadership is the culprit."

Rahul Gandhi - the MP from Wayanad District

Adding that the State government was hand in glove with the timber mafia Muraleedharan questioned the silence of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, a member of parliament from Wayanad, over the incident

"Those who condemned authorities in Brazil for fire in Amazon forests a few months ago were conspiring here to cut large tracts of forest land that will cause irreparable damage to the environment, the Union minister said.

After reports of extensive tree felling across Kerala, Union Minister Prasad Javadekar sought a report into the unreasonable practice worth crores of rupees in ecologically sensitive areas of Wayanad and other districts. The government estimated that large-scale timber looting has taken place across the state under the guise of the revenue department order. Therefore, a comprehensive investigation is required, including on corruption and the role of officials. Earlier, it was clarified that talented officers from the Vigilance and Forest Departments would be deployed in the investigation team.

Whistleblower cop transferred; reinstated

The whistleblower divisional forest officer (DFO) of Wayanad, P Dhanesh Kumar, who exposed the role of forest officials in the Muttil tree felling case was shockingly transferred after the case came to light. The DFO was transferred to Kozhikode Flying Squad after the accused in the case alleged the official had taken their bribe.

Dhanesh, known to have a track record of being an able guardian of the forest, it is learned, received support from the higher ranks within the forest department. Previously, Dhanesh had led Operation Clean Nelliampathy that helped forest reclaim 6000 acres of land. He is also been bestowed with many awards for being a vigilante who stood his ground against the timber mafia.

After the media highlighted the ill-timed transfer, Dhanesh was given the task of investigation in the North Zone. Dhanesh was reinstated after the Forest Minister AK Saseendhran intervened.
The Delta coronavirus variant doubles the risk of hospitalisation compared with the Alpha variant, first identified in the UK, according to research from Scotland. The study, published in a research letter in the Lancet, said that early evidence suggested the protection from vaccines against the Delta variant might be lower than the effectiveness against the Alpha variant. The research looked at 19,543 community cases and 377 hospitalisations among 5.4 million people in Scotland and found that 7,723 cases and 134 hospitalisations were found to have Delta variant.

While speaking at a press briefing, Chris Robertson, professor of public health epidemiology at the University of Strathclyde informed that the Delta variant has become dominant in Scotland since mid-May and now accounts for around 75 per cent of all positive cases. He said that more younger people are among those hospitalised. Robertson added that adjusting for age and comorbidities, the Delta variant roughly doubled the risk of hospitalisation, but vaccines still reduced that risk.

In a separate statement, Jim McMenamin, COVID-19 National Incident Director for Public Health Scotland, said, The Delta variant does increase the risk of hospitalization. However, what we are able to see from the information available to us is that our vaccines are still highly effective.

As per the study, the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine provided 79 per cent protection against infection from the Delta variant, compared with 92 per cent against the Alpha variant, at least two weeks after the second dose. The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, on the other hand, offered 60 per cent protection against the Delta variant compared with 73 per cent for the Alpha variant. The researchers said that the different efficacy rates may reflect that it takes longer to develop immunity with the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab. However, they also cautioned it is not possible to directly compare the vaccines since they have been prioritized for different groups of people.

Concern over Delta variant

Its vital people receive their second dose, since protection shortly after the first dose is limited, the authors stressed. The study comes after UK PM Boris Johnson confirmed that the fourth stage of the lockdown roadmap dubbed 'Freedom Day' will be delayed by 4 weeks. While all legal lockdown restrictions were set to end on June 21, they will now remain in place until July 19 owing to concerns that COVID-19 infections have doubled in the worst-affected areas of the nation owing to the Delta variant. Amid experts predicting a rise in hospitalizations owing to this strain, Johnson said, "It is sensible to wait a little longer".

He added, We will now accelerate the second jabs for the over-40s, just as we did for over-50s, to give them all maximum protection". According to the UK PM, the month-long delay would give the National Health Service "extra time" to grapple with Delta variant infections. Recently, the Zimbabwe government too declared a two-week localized lockdown in Hurungwe and Kariba districts after detecting this strain.

(Image: PTI/Unsplash)
The Thailand Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has recently released a new digital asset marketing regulation that has banned digital asset exchanges and crypto exchanges from trading non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Meme Coins like Dogecoin, Shiba Inu, Safemoon and other similar coins have also been banned from trading in crypto exchanges. These new rules that have been introduced banning the trading of NFTs cover all forms of NFT trading from physical collectables to digital NFT artworks and tokens. Read on to know more about Thailand's new NFT and meme coin bans.

Thailand Bans Memecoins and NFT Trading

As per a report released by Ledger Insights, the Thai Securities and Exchange Commission imposed new digital asset marketing regulations amid increasing reports of scams involving NFTs and meme coins and fan tokens. While the SEC has not given a specific reason behind the bans, the inherent instability that comes with meme coins and the inflated prices of NFTs are cited to be the reason behind the bans.

Ledger Insights also reports that there have many scams involving scammers selling fake NFTs and fan-tokens to unsuspecting investors, which brings down the reputation of the crypto industry as a whole. Moreover, the NFTs market blew up over the past year, and many experts believe the NFT market is currently highly overvalued and in a bubble. NFTs are pieces of digital artwork where the ownership is proven by the Non-Fungible Tokens, which works similar to a blockchain, and is a highly secure form of proof of ownership.

The new bans also amidst reports of Thai business group Jay Mart launching their own NFTs and their own token JFin. While the NFT market is past its peak, NFTs are essentially computer files embedded with proof of authenticity, but that's all they are -- just digital artwork/computer files. NFTs serve no inherent functions, just like meme coins serve no purpose. It should be noted making NFTs has not been banned, only trading of NFTs has been banned. These bans appear to be set in place to protect the interests of investors from huge losses.

This ban seems like a step in the right direction to protect investors against unmitigated risks that come with investing in overvalued NFTs with no inherent purpose and meme coins that experience extreme price fluctuations. However, the Dogecoin ban will likely anger a lot of residents, as Dogecoin is one of the most loved and largest cryptocurrencies. Stay tuned for more updates on cryptocurrencies.

IMAGE: UNSPLASH AND SHUTTERSTOCK
Nearly 19 million years ago, more than 90 per cent of the world's open-ocean sharks died. A new study by scientists from Yale and the College of the Atlantic has revealed the massive die-off of sharks. The recent discovery has stunned the scientists as the reason for the deaths of the sharks remains unknown.

90 per cent of the world's sharks died?

It came at a period in history when there were more than 10 times as many sharks patrolling the worlds oceans than there are today. Scientist Elizabeth Sibert and her team were trying to learn more about the fish and shark abundance over the last 80 million years when they stumbled upon this. Elizabeth Sibert, a postdoctoral associate in Yale Universitys earth and planetary sciences department and the Yale Institute for Biospheric Studies, lead author of the study has said that extinction happened almost by accident.

"I study microfossil fish teeth and shark scales in deep-sea sediments, and we decided to generate an 85-million-year-long record of fish and shark abundance, just to get a sense of what the normal variability of that population looked like in the long term", Sibert said in the press release.

"What we found, though, was this sudden drop-off in shark abundance around 19 million years ago, and we knew we had to investigate further", added Sibert.

Sibert said more than 70% of the world's sharks died off -- with an even higher death toll for sharks in the open ocean, rather than coastal waters. It was twice the level of extinction that sharks experienced during the Cretaceous-Paleogene mass extinction event 66 million years ago that wiped out three-quarters of the plant and animal species on Earth.

According to Sibert, the interval is not known for any big changes like climate calamity or ecosystem disruption in the earth's history that led to the steep drop in shark's population.

Leah Rubin, co-author and an incoming doctoral student at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, who was a student at the College of the Atlantic at the time of the research said that the decline in shark population is a matter of concern and this study helps to find the decline in population of shark for last 40 million years.

"This work could tip-off a race to understand this time period and its implications for not only the rise of modern ecosystems, but the causes of major collapses in shark diversity," said Pincelli Hull, an assistant professor of Earth and planetary science at Yale, who was not part of the study.

IMAGE: Unsplash
A crocodile named after Osama Bin Laden killed over 80 people including adults and children in Uganda, Africa is now being used for purposes of breeding by officials. The crocodile is believed to be more than 75-years-old and between 1991 and 2005 Bin Laden wiped off a tenth of the population in the small village of Luganga.

The ferocious 16 ft long reptile used to snatch children while they collected water at the lakeshore or even swim under fishing boats and capsize them knowingly. In fact, villagers reported that the beast sometimes jumped into fishermen's wooden vessel boat before capturing individuals to kill them. According to their narration, a victim's tattered clothes were witnessed floating on the water after Bin Laden's attack. Very few have nearly survived encounters with the dangerous predatory reptile.

Osama Bin Laden- the crocodile's survivor narrates

The Sydney Morning Herald conversed with a survivor Paul, who was rowing a boat while his brother Peter fished from the fore when the crocodile leapt in and grabbed him away.

He explained how he attempted to seek aid but Osama had latched onto Peter's leg with his massive jaws and pulled him in the waters.

"The crocodile just came out from the water vertically and flopped into the boat. The back of the boat where I sat was flooded. Peter was clutching to the side screaming. They fought for about five minutes until I heard a tearing sound. Peter shouted, hes broken my leg and was dragged into the lake. A few days later we found his head and his arm, he recalled.

Osama is given to breeding programme

The locals started to seek aid in this regard and in 2005 Osama was captured with the assistance of 50 men and wildlife officials. They decided to not kill the beast "with impunity".

So, the reptile has been given to the owners of Uganda Crocs to be used in a breeding programme. The locals hope that he will father hundreds or even thousand more fierce crocodiles like him. The farm has become a tourist attraction now and the public visit to see crocodiles.
Zambia's first president Kenneth Kaunda, 97, has been admitted to hospital, his office announced on Monday, as the southern African country battles a surge in COVID-19 cases.

Kaunda asked for all Zambians and the international community to pray for him", according to a statement issued by Kaunda's administrative assistant.

"The medical team is doing everything possible to ensure that he recovers, it added.

The short statement did not specify the cause of Kaunda's illness.

Zambia is experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases and the country's founding president was admitted to Maina Soko Medical Center, a treatment center for the disease in the capital, Lusaka.

Zambia, with a populattion of about 18 million people, has seen a dramatic rise over the past two weeks in the seven-day rolling average of daily new cases.

It reported 1.44 new cases per 100,000 people on 30 May, compared to 8.91 new cases per 100,000 people on 13 June.

Zambia has a cumulative total of nearly 108,000 confirmed cases, including 1,348 deaths, according to figures released by the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday.

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China on Tuesday denounced the Group of Seven's communique expressing concerns about Beijing's economic behavior and alleged human rights abuses, and condemned a NATO statement that declared Beijing a "security challenge".

China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian described the G-7 communique as "deliberately slandering China" and "interfering in China's internal affairs".

Zhao was speaking at a daily briefing of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday afternoon.

"It exposes the bad intention of the U.S. and a few other countries to artificially create confrontation and widen differences," Zhao said.

"The U.S. is ill, very ill, and the Group of Seven had better take its pulse and give it a prescription," Zhao added.

The G-7 leaders released its communique on Sunday, following a summit meeting in Britain.

On China's economic behavior, the group said it would "consult on collective approaches to challenging non-market policies and practices which undermine the fair and transparent operation of the global economy."

The leaders also said they would promote their values by calling on China to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms in Xinjiang, where Beijing is accused of committing serious human rights abuses against the Uyghur minority, and in the semi-autonomous city of Hong Kong.

Zhao also responded to a statement that declared Beijing a "security challenge," saying the NATO has double standards about national defense spending.

He added that NATO "is making irresponsible remarks on China's normal buildup and modernisation of national defense".

NATO allies joined the United States on Monday in formally scolding Beijing as a "constant security challenge."

Washington has singled out China as a particular threat, especially in the South China Sea, where it has built and militarised artificial islands, as well as over its attempts to intimidate self-governing Taiwan, which it claims as its own territory to be annexed by military force if necessary.

The Chinese mission to the European Union said Beijing's spending on its military is considerably less than that of NATO members and it accused the organisation of conjuring up a military threat from China in order to justify its own agenda.

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Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias said on Tuesday the European Union will not allow itself to be "blackmailed" over migration, whether by Turkey or Belarus.

The EU has had a series of spats with Turkey over migrants seeking to enter Greece, while Lithuania has noted an increase in new asylum seekers crossing the border from Belarus.

Dendias was speaking during a news conference with Lithuania's foreign minister Gabrielius Landsbergis in Vilnius.

He also commented on Belarus forcing a Ryanair flight from Greece to Lithuania to land in Minsk, where a Belarus journalist was arrested.

He described it as an act of piracy.

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Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and US President Joe Biden spoke briefly at the NATO summit in Brussels on Monday.

The two leaders chatted as they walked side by side after a group photo-call.

Speaking afterwards at a news conference with NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, Sanchez said the encounter was a "first contact" and that Biden was an "inspiration" for progressive governments around the world.

Stoltenberg also confirmed that Madrid would host next year's NATO general assembly.

He said it would be a great opportunity to improve ties with NATO's southern neighbours.

"When our neighbours are stable, we are more secure," he said.

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A year ago, Geneva was largely down on its diplomatic luck: The Trump administration had an "America First" policy that shunned the internationalism the Swiss city epitomizes, and blasted some of its top institutions like the World Health Organization, Human Rights Council and World Trade Organization.

That is all in the past.

The lakeside city, known as a Cold War crossroads and a hub for Swiss discretion, neutrality and humanitarianism, is set to return to the world stage spotlight as U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin come to town for a summit on Wednesday.

It will mark the third time that Geneva has hosted United States and Russian leaders' talks.

The first was a multilateral meeting involving U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev in 1955.

The second came 30 years later when President Ronald Reagan met Mikhail Gorbachev  an important icebreaker that some say paved the way toward the end of the Soviet Union.

Both times, the two sides made progress toward defusing tensions  and hopes loom for even a modest improvement on the current U.S.-Russia chill over issues like Ukraine, human rights and cyber attacks.

Putin has lamented the collapse of the Soviet Union as the "greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century," and has sought to rebuild Russia's Soviet-era global clout and prestige.

He has often been critical of Gorbachev's legacy, saying that the U.S. and its Western allies have cheated the Soviet Union by pledging not to expand NATO eastward following the reunification of Germany  and then breaking the promise.

Today's Geneva is not the den of Cold War espionage and intrigue that it once was.

While Switzerland has in many ways cleaned up its reputation as a hub for the rich and powerful to squirrel away funds and avoid taxes, experts say many autocrats are still drawn to the discretion and stability of Swiss banking.

Nevertheless, the city has painstakingly built a reputation for diplomacy, humanitarianism and multilateralism.

The International Red Cross was founded there in 1863 to help victims of conflict. U.S. President Woodrow Wilson helped set up the League of Nations -- the U.N. predecessor that the U.S. Congress shunned -- to foster dialogue. The Geneva Conventions set rules about humanitarian conduct in war.

More recently, Geneva has been home to the United Nations' European headquarters, its human rights office and scores of U.N.-affiliated bodies, multilateral institutions and humanitarian and advocacy groups  often with U.S. support.

Trump cast a long shadow during his term as President. He pulled the U.S. out of the U.N.-backed Human Rights Council. He also criticized the WTO and largely stripped it of its ability to settle trade disputes.

Just over a year ago, Trump paused U.S. funding for the WHO and threatened to pull the U.S. out over the health agency's alleged missteps and kowtowing to China early in the COVID-19 crisis.

Biden kept the U.S. in  and restored U.S. funding.

"(The) Biden administration is not as unilateral as the Trump administration and it is a very good thing" for Geneva's organizations and for "global governance", said Nicolas Levrat, Director of the Global Studies Institute at the University of Geneva.

Thomas Greminger, a former secretary-general of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which counts both Russia and the U.S. as participating states, said the choice of Geneva for the summit was "highly symbolic" and hoped it would signal an important U.S. role in multilateralism.

For Putin and Biden, amid tensions between their two countries, Greminger suggested the summit offers a neutral venue that could help reduce polarization.

"Safe spaces are again becoming very important -- that is, places where people that are not like-minded can meet, discuss and try to establish bridges," said Greminger, now director of the Geneva Center for Security Policy. Geneva, he said of its diplomatic and security infrastructure, "has a track record for this."

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Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau paid a visit to the Belgian Pfizer factory on Tuesday, on the last day of his first international trip in more than a year.

Trudeau's visit following a NATO summit "was mostly to say thank you," his Belgian counterpart Alexander De Croo said. "It's a source of pride for our country."

The two premiers walked through the Pfizer plant, from which Canada has received some 10 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

The factory in the small town of Puurs is currently producing 100 million doses a month.

Inside it, thousand of freezers are keeping the temperature-sensitive vaccines at -75 degrees Celsius (-103 degrees Fahrenheit).

IMAGE: AP

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Iran's presidential election on Friday is likely to be a coronation for a hardline candidate long cultivated by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Irans clerical vetting committee has allowed just seven candidates on Friday's ballot, nixing prominent reformists and key allies of President Hassan Rouhani.

Hopefuls are running to replace the term-limited Rouhani, whose promises of a bright economic future withered as Tehran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers collapsed.

The backlash of disappointment in his relatively moderate administration has given hardliners an edge this time, even as Iran and world powers now negotiate a return to the landmark accord.

And the presumed frontrunner has become Ebrahim Raisi, the hardline judiciary chief whos closely aligned with Khamenei and has vowed to combat poverty and corruption.

Sanam Vakil is the deputy head of Chatham House's Middle East and North Africa Program, and is its Iran expert.

She says Raisi is seen as a conservative who "ticks off a lot of boxes" for hardliners within the Islamic Republic.

Khamenei appointed Raisi in 2016 as head of the Imam Reza charity foundation, which manages a vast conglomerate of businesses and endowments in Iran.

He called Raisi a "trustworthy and highly experienced" person, causing many to wonder if he might also be a possible successor to the supreme leader himself.

He lost his 2017 presidential challenge to Rouhani, though he earned over 15 million votes in the contest.

After the loss, Khamenei appointed the former law professor to be the head of the country's judiciary.

There, he's waged a televised anti-corruption campaign that resonated with a public frustrated by graft.

But his candidacy has revived the controversy surrounding the 1988 execution of thousands in Iran, a dark moment of Iran's post-revolution history still not recognised by its government.

Raisi served on a panel involved in sentencing the prisoners to death.

He hasn't commented publicly on the accusation.

Vakil points out that Raisi has also been sanctioned by the US government and the European Union for human rights abuses after the November 2019 protests.

If he became president, "it would be really quite awkward" for Raisi to be sanctioned for human rights violations "and be unable to engage with heads of state in Europe or beyond".

The elections take place as efforts continue to revive the nuclear deal, which collapsed after the Trump administration withdrew the United States from the pact.

The accord limited Irans uranium enrichment programme in exchange for an easing of sanctions

Vakil says "putting the nuclear programme back into a box is critical" for the international community and specifically for the United States.

"Negotiators are ultimately hoping to lengthen and strengthen the deal. And so you can't even get there until the current deal is stabilised," she explains.

Iranian envoys have been holding negotiations with international delegations in Vienna.

But whereas EU coordinators suggested that differences had narrowed further, Iran's deputy foreign minister said a deal was unlikely to emerge in the coming week.

A diplomat from Russia also said more time was needed to work out details.

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Brussels, Jun 14 (AP) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Turkey would expect diplomatic, logistical and financial assistance from the United States if it's to maintain a presence in Afghanistan following the withdrawal of NATO troops.

Turkey is reported to have offered to operate and protect Kabul's international airport after the departure of the NATO force.

Erdogan did not say if an agreement was reached on the issue but said Turkey wanted Pakistan and Hungary to be involved in a possible new mission.

The Turkish leader also said he had a constructive meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the NATO summit and has invited him to visit to Turkey. Biden said he had a heavy schedule but could pay a visit, according to Erdogan.

Erdogan signalled that the two leaders failed to find a way to overcome differences over Turkey's purchase of the S-400 advanced Russian missile defense systems. The U.S. says the technology is a threat to NATO and has removed Turkey from its F-35 fighter jet program.

Our thoughts on the S-400 are the same as before, I relayed our same thoughts to Mr. Biden, Erdogan said.

Erdogan also called for an end to U.S. support to Syrian Kurdish militia, which Turkey considers to be terrorists affiliated to a Kurdish insurgency. (AP) RS RS

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday said his country would need "diplomatic, logistic and financial assistance" from the United States if it were to maintain troops in Afghanistan to protect and run Kabul's international airport, following the withdrawal of NATO troops.

Speaking to reporters at the end of a series of meetings with NATO leaders on the sidelines of the alliance summit, Erdogan also said Turkey was seeking Pakistan and Hungary's involvement in a new mission in Afghanistan following the departure of the U.S.-led NATO force.

Turkey is reported to have offered to guard the airport as questions remains on how security will be assured along major transport routes and at the airport, which is the main gateway to Kabul.

Turkey currently has some 500 soldiers in Afghanistan.

Erdogan also said he had a constructive meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden and had invited him to visit Turkey.

The two leaders have known each other for years, but it was their first face-to-face meeting as heads of state and came at a difficult time in the two NATO allies' relations.

Turkey has been angered by the Unites States' support for Kurdish fighters in Syria while the U.S. has sanction Turkey over its purchase of a Russian weapons system.

In April, Biden infuriated Ankara by declaring that the Ottoman-era mass killing and deportations of Armenians was "genocide".

Turkey denies the deportations and massacres that began in 1915 and killed an estimated 1.5 million Armenians was genocide.

Erdogan said the Armenian issue was not discussed during the meeting.

The Turkish leader, however, renewed a call for an end to U.S. support for the Syrian Kurdish fighters, who Ankara argues are inextricably linked to a decades-long Kurdish insurgency in Turkey.

"I openly stated that the support given to the (Syrian Kurdish fighters) should be ended," Erdogan said.

Erdogan signalled that the two leaders failed to find a way to overcome difference over Turkey's purchase of the S-400 advanced Russian missile defence systems which Washington says is a threat to NATO.

It has removed Turkey from its F-35 fighter jet program and imposed sanctions on defence industry officials.

It has demanded that Ankara abandons the $2.5 billion system.

"Our thoughts on the S-400 (Russian missile system) are the same as before, I relayed our same thoughts to Mr. Biden," Erdogan said.

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After the vote to install the new government took place in the Israeli parliament, Benjamin Netanyahu sat back down in the Prime Ministers seat but was asked to move place. The Israeli PMs seat no longer belonged to Netanyahu after 12 years of premiership as the thin majority vote gave the power of hodgepodge coalition formed mainly by his rivals and making Naftali Bennett the Prime Minister of the country. The video from Knesset that went viral shows Netanyahu sitting back on PMs seat after the winners of the vote celebrated. However, he was then asked to move. According to several internet users, the video elaborates how old habits die hard.

When Benjamin Netanyahu was unseated as Israel's prime minister by a vote in the Knesset (parliament), he forgot to leave the premier's seat after he greeted Naftali Bennett, the new Israeli PM.



Credit: The Knesset Channel#DialoguePakistan #NaftaliBennett #BenjaminNetanyahu pic.twitter.com/qa6BraGTGe  Dialogue Pakistan (@DialoguePak) June 14, 2021

As Benjamin Netanyahus 12-year leadership as Israels Prime Minister ended on June 13 with the eight party-coalition swearing-in ceremony, he skipped a photoshoot alongside his successor Naftali Bennett. As per reports, Netanyahu allowed the photographers to capture the kickoff of his Monday meeting with the right-wing party leaders who backed him and are now part of the opposition.

Netanyahus bashes the coalition

During the latest meeting on June 14, the former Israeli PM said that the new government will not be successful in holding power for too long. Netanyahu, 71, reiterated his last message that the coalition was founded on fraud, hatred and the quest for power and noted that it was too fractured to last long.

Further, without pronouncing Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennetts name, the 71-year-old called for iron discipline and cohesion within the opposition to increase the challenges for the coalition and to bring redemption to the people and on the State of Israel. Netanyahu has also said that similar meetings of opposition will take place every Monday at 2:30 PM before the weekly faction meetings. Netanyahu was introduced by Israeli MP Miki Zohar as prime minister and added, for me, you will always be Prime Minister.

Benjamin Netanyahu said, We have a very strong opposition and we will work together to overthrow this fraudulent government very quickly.

Netanyahu pledged in Knesset, the Israeli parliament of 120 members, Well be back. Even as the former Israeli PM lost, reportedly he shook hands with his successor who was also a former ally and will now lead the government of change. The coalition government which has now ended the deadlock in the country is of eight parties including, Bennetts Yamina, Yair Lapid's Yesh Atid, New Hope, Labor, Meretz, United Arab List, Kahol Lavan, and Yisrael Beiteinu.

IMAGE: AP/Twitter
A group of police officers in Pakistan detained 19 workers of a fast-food restaurant after they refused to give free burgers. The employees of the Johnny & Jugnu restaurant were locked up for almost 7 hours in the night. The restaurant released a statement on Facebook, which said, "This is not the first time something like this has happened with our kitchen teams at our restaurant, but we want to make sure this is the last."

Police detain 19 workers of a restaurant in Pakistan

The food joint Johnny & Jugnu in a Facebook post on June 12 said that police officers had gone to the restaurant two days before the incident and asked for free burgers. The staff rejected their request for free burgers after which the police officers threatened the managers. The police officers on June 11 emptied the entire branch and took all of the kitchen crew including the managers of the restaurant. The restaurant also said the staff were not allowed to close down the kitchen, leaving "fryers still running, customers waiting for their orders". The employees were locked up and harassed for 7 hours for not meeting their request, the restaurant said in a statement.

According to the statement from Police, the police officers involved in the incident have been suspended. Punjab Police Official on his official Twitter handle announced that the IG Punjab Inam Ghani has taken notice of the Johnny and Jugnu restaurant incident. He has suspended the SHO Defence C and the staff of the police station involved. The post further mentioned that "no one is allowed to take law into his own hands."

IG Punjab Inam Ghani have taken notice of the Johnny and Jugnu restaurant incident and have suspended the SHO Defence C and the staff of the police station involved. No one is allowed to take law into his own hands. Injustice will not be tolerated. All of them will be punished.  Punjab Police Official (@OfficialDPRPP) June 12, 2021

The food joint published another statement after the action was taken against the police officers. The restaurant in the statement said that they were ''relieved and happy'' that IG and DIG took cognizance of the incident. They further said that the action has helped them in restoring the faith in the system. They hoped that no one is allowed to misuse their power against people especially small and local businesses who work hard.

IIMAGE: AP/Johnny&Jugnu/Facebook
Islamabad, Jun 14 (PTI) Pakistan President Arif Alvi on Monday said that Prime Minister Imran Khan's apparent change of statements on Kashmir was "not a U-turn" as he could judge better considering the "evolving situation".

Prime Minister Khan had last month said that Pakistan normalising relations with India unless it restored Kashmir's semi-autonomy would be a major "betrayal" to the people of Kashmir.

Earlier this month, he said in an interview with a Western news agency that Pakistan was ready to restart talks with India if Delhi provided a roadmap towards restoring the previous status of Kashmir.

India has repeatedly said Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and the country is capable of solving its own problems.

India has also told Pakistan that it desires normal neighbourly relations with Islamabad in an environment free of terror, hostility and violence. India has said the onus is on Pakistan to create an environment free of terror and hostility.

Defending Khan's remarks, President Alvi told DawnNewsTV that the Prime Minister was the one who could judge better considering the "evolving situation", citing the developments in Afghanistan and new international alliances.

When asked whether the two statements did not reflect a shift in the premier's stance, President Alvi said: "At times, people term a shift as a U-turn, but one should change their judgement according to changing situations and new reasons." He said it was not justified for a leader to see their spoken words as written in stone, adding that the key was not to compromise on the principles.

"Even I have reviewed many of my life's decisions, the president remarked. PTI SH RS AKJ RS

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Bhutan's King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk trekked for five days along the eastern border of the country to inspect the COVID regulations and illegal border crossing which might add up to the COVID-19 cases in the country. Bhutan is the neighboring country to India which is in the second position in the worldwide COVID reports list, whereas Bhutan with a total population of 763,092 has only 1,863 confirmed COVID cases with just one death reported since the pandemic started.

The number of confirmed COVID cases in Bhutan has been low in comparison to the other countries of the world, yet the administration has been continuously pushing its efforts to prioritize its citizen's health. King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk started his five days long trek to ensure that the pandemic stays in control. During the journey on foot, the king kept a check on the illegal movements in the borders that could possibly increase the number of COVID cases in the country. The king took to his Instagram account and shared the updates of his journey.

King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk's trek

King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk started the trek from Merak on June 8, along with his Royal Highness Gyaltshab Jigme Dorji and the Prime Minister, Lyonchen Dasho Dr. Lotay. King Wangchuk visited the border points-of-entries and outposts manned by Desuups, RBP personnel, and in one case, retired police personnel. The entire route, from Merak to Tshothang, was over 67 kilometers long. Apart from inspecting the border outposts, the King also expressed concerns about the impact that the pandemic and border closure has had on the livelihoods of the people. King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk reached Jomotshangkha on June 13, after his five days of the long trek and he is presently staying there.



Image Source- Instagram-kingjigmekhesar
During a stopover in Doha, External Minister S Jaishankar, on Tuesday, met his Qatari counterpart Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani during his second visit to the key Gulf nation in a week.

EAM Jaishankar met Mohammed who is also Qatar's Deputy Prime Minister to discuss the global and regional issues, including the security situation in the Indo-Pacific region with Kenya's leadership.

He lauded Qatar's support to India during trying times of the COVID pandemic and maintained bilateral cooperation. Jaishankar took to Twitter to establish his Qatar visit.

Good to meet DPM & FM @MBA_AlThani_ of Qatar in Doha today. Appreciated Qatar's solidarity during the Covid second wave. Discussed our bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on regional issues. pic.twitter.com/igHvdDA2J6  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) June 15, 2021

Last week, Jaishankar had met Qatari National Security Adviser Mohammed Bin Ahmed Al Mesned during a stopover while on his way to another Gulf nation, Kuwait.

Kenya Visit

S Jaishankar arrived in Kenya on Saturday on a three-day visit to strengthen relations with the major East African country. According to reports, he called on Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and handed over a letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to him.

"Assured the President that his focus on deeper people-to-people and business-to-business ties are also ours. Our defence partnership contributes to the safety and security of the Indian Ocean Region. Look forward to closer collaboration, Jaishankar tweeted after the meeting.

He also met senior Kenyan ministers at the Ministerial Roundtable during which the two sides reviewed all aspects of the bilateral relationship and discussed building a comprehensive partnership between the two countries. The two sides "expressed their concern at the growing radicalisation and the increase in international terrorism and violent extremism in parts of Africa and Asia" and noted that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations is a "common threat to humanity", said a joint statement issued after the meeting.

India and Kenya reaffirmed their commitment to a rules-based multilateral system and underlined the important role of the United Nations in addressing global challenges.
The Ever Given is no longer blocking the Suez Canal, but the issue is far from over for businesses who have been forced to endure months of court battles in the hopes of reclaiming products worth hundreds of millions of dollars that have been held on the confiscated container ship. IKEA and Lenovo (LNVGF) are two of the companies whose items were stranded on the Japanese-owned ship that blocked the Suez Canal for six days in March. Smaller businesses, such as Pearson 1860, a British bicycle manufacturer, and Snuggy UK, a developer of wearable blankets, are also facing delays.

Companies still have products stuck in the Suez Canal

After the Suez Canal Authority filed an initial $916 million compensation claim against Japanese shipowner Shoei Kisen Kaisha for damages and losses incurred when the ship ran aground in a narrow section of the canal, blocking traffic, an Egyptian court impounded the Ever Given and its 18,300 cargo containers. During the legal dispute, the Ever Given and its cargo is being kept in the canal's Great Bitter Lake.

According to reports, several companies with products on the Ever Given said that they have been kept in the dark about the status of their wares while legal actions are ongoing and that they have been excluded from discussions concerning their release. Even if a settlement is made, the firms or their insurers will almost certainly be responsible for a share of the payment.

Suez Canal blocked

The corporations could be compelled to pay under a maritime law principle known as "general average," which requires all parties involved in a voyage to bear costs proportionally in the case of a loss. The idea has its origins in marine trade restrictions established by the people of Rhodes over a millennium ago in what is now Greece.

Reportedly, if someone, in this case, the ship owners, incurs an extraordinary expense for the common good, then everyone is expected to contribute, said Jai Sharma, the head of a cargo casualty at Clyde & Co., a law firm that represents companies and insurers with cargo worth more than $100 million on the Ever Given. According to the corporation, the overall value of products onboard is estimated to be between $600 million and $700 million. As per reports, Shoei Kisen Kaisha did not respond to a request for comment for this piece. Multiple requests for comment to the Suez Canal Authority went unanswered.

Picture Credit: AP
Under the ambitious government-led "Green Ghana" program, at least 5 million trees were planted by the citizens in Ghana in just one single day to conserve the depleting forest reserves and combat climate change and deforestation. President Akufo-Addo was also seen planting the lignum vitae, or Tree of Life famous for its medicinal qualities at the forecourt of Jubilee House, as well as Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor planted a tree with his daughter under the green Ghana project. By 3:30 pm, the West African country had planted close to 3 million trees encouraging everyone to do the same, according to the states tree-planting tracker.

Members of the Danquah Institute plant a tree in support of #GreenGhana. Join in the campaign to plant #5milliontrees across the country.#LetsGoPlanting #GreenGhanaDay #GreenGhanaProject pic.twitter.com/6hmZj0lY4Z  Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources-Ghana (@mlnrgovgh) June 11, 2021

Ghana launched the replantation campaign as the country has faced massive environmental degradation with its lush green forest covers depleting from 8.2 million in 1900 to 1.6 million hectares in 2021, according to Ghanas Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources. At a speech marking the Green Ghana Day inaugural ceremony, Akufo-Addo said, The exploitation of forest resources for national development has not been sustainable over the years. We dont have tomorrow or the day after tomorrow to do this. We have to act now. President Akufo-Addo also vowed to crack down the illegal small-scale mining, locally termed galamsey" that degrades the environment.

The President of the Republic, H.E. @NAkufoAddo and the Honorable Minister of @mlnrgovgh, Hon. Samuel Abu Jinapor, address gathering towards #GreenGhana. Join in the campaign to plant #5milliontrees across the country.#LetsGoPlanting #GreenGhanaDay #GreenGhanaProject pic.twitter.com/day0VsjcPv  Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources-Ghana (@mlnrgovgh) June 11, 2021

Speaker of Parliament, Rtd. Hon. Alban Bagbin, leads MPs to plant in support of #GreenGhana. Join in the campaign to plant #5milliontrees across the country today.#LetsGoPlanting #GreenGhanaDay #GreenGhanaProject pic.twitter.com/uKbmtueHDN  Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources-Ghana (@mlnrgovgh) June 11, 2021

Free seedlings distributed across 16 regions

At least 7 million free seedlings were distributed to Ghanaians for planting a tree, which included military personnel, celebrities, government officials, MPS and parliamentarians, traditional leaders and school and college children, and senior citizens. The plantation campaign aims to save the environment for future generations by saving Ghanas deteriorating forest belts. Diplomatic envoys and MPS were seen gathered at Accra, the capital, led by the speaker of Parliament, Rtd. Alban Bagbin to plant trees.

In order to replenish the forest reserves, Ghanas Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel A. Jinapor, has banned the issuance of permits for mining in forest reserves. He told a presser that the forest reserves are what they are, and should be protected. He asked the Forestry Commission to coordinate with security forces to enforce the directive. He then launched the Green Ghana Project in Accra and planted a Mahogany and rosewood tree.

On Friday, 11th June 2021, the President of the Republic, H.E @NAkufoAddo planted a tree at the forecourt of Jubilee House, as part of #GreenGhana, a day that has been set aside to plant some #5milliontrees across the country.#GreenGhanaDay #LetsGoPlanting #GreenGhanaProject pic.twitter.com/NpUi4fKOyo  Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources-Ghana (@mlnrgovgh) June 11, 2021

As part of the program, we are seeking to work out a formula where the trees to be planted will be economic trees. We are talking about the Timber, Wawa, Nim, Rosewood, Shea trees. The rationale for this intervention is so that in planting the trees, we are also investing for the future, Ghanas Lands Minister Samuel Abdulai Jinapor said.

The minister ordered the Forestry Commission to adopt a comprehensive strategy to prohibit illegal activities in the forestry sector such as the harvesting of rosewood, as well as illegal logging. He also launched a ceremony to restore 4 million hybrid oil palm seedlings in support of the Green Ghana Project at Atkwatiakwaso in the Eastern Region as he called for curbs on illegal mining. Thousands of bags of seedlings were distributed across Ghanas 16 regions to restore Ghanas forest areas that have depleted by a whopping 80 percent since 1900, according to Forestry Commission figures.
In Mama, the hometown of Former Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo, people are preparing to welcome home the "son" of the village. Gbagbo plans to return home on Thursday following his acquittal on charges of crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Gbagbo has been unable to return to the West African nation since his January 2019 acquittal under the terms of his release, which had him remain in Belgium after having handed over his passports while awaiting a ruling on an appeal. The return of Gbagbo from Brussels to Ivory Coast became possible in March when the ICC appeals judges upheld the acquittals of the former president and former minister Charles Ble Goude on charges of involvement in deadly post-election violence.

Both were acquitted in 2019 of responsibility for crimes including murder, rape and persecution following disputed presidential elections in 2010, with judges saying prosecutors failed to prove their case. The expectations for the arrival of the former president are high among his supporters.

"(Gbagbo is) a son arriving in his village. We will give him a warm welcome", said Mama village chief Bertin Kouassi Ouraga. "Respect the arrival of Gbagbo", sang a group of young men wearing Gbagbo t-shirts in the village. However, for Diaby Issiaka, President of the Collective of Victims in Ivory Coast, it's necessary to first bring justice to the families of the victims.

"Laurent Gbagbo, instead of going to live in a big villa with air-conditioning and everything at his disposal, should stay at the prison," Issiaka said during an interview with The Associated Press. More than 3,000 people were killed after Gbagbo refused to accept defeat by his rival, current Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara, in 2010.

Both men held inauguration ceremonies and a months-long standoff ensued until pro-Ouattara forces captured Gbagbo. Gbagbo was the first former president to go on trial at the global court and his case was seen as a milestone in efforts to bring to justice even the highest-ranking leaders accused of atrocities.

Ouattara, who has been in power for nearly a decade, was re-elected last year for a controversial third term strongly contested by opposition leaders. He maintains that the two-term limit for presidents does not apply to him because of a constitutional referendum passed in 2016.

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Police officers in Kampala detained several people who had gathered at a bar in violation of a nightly coronavirus curfew on Sunday.

Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire said the suspects were found drinking at the establishment at 10 p.m., three hours after the beginning of the curfew.

The ongoing crackdown comes as Uganda battles a new uptick in coronavirus cases.

Recently, the country has reported over 1,000 new cases of COVID-19 per day, which are among the nation's highest figures over the pandemic.

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World UFO Day: Significance, new findings & declassified reports; all you need to know
President Joe Biden says he had a "very productive day" at the NATO summit in Belgium.

Biden was speaking to reporters after a long day of meetings, including a private discussion with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The two leaders spent in total more than an hour together.

Biden thanked NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg for leading "a very sucessful NATO summit."

But he warned, the "democratic values that undergird our alliance are under increasing pressure, both internally and externally."

"Russia and China are both seeking to drive a wedge in our transatlantic solidarity," Biden said.

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US President Joe Biden will be meeting with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on June 16 after calling the latter a killer just weeks into his presidency. While relations between both the countries have continued to soar due to a range of issues, it is also the first time that Biden and Putin will meet face-to-face in Geneva as US President concludes his eight-day Europe visit, first after acquiring White House in January. While Bidens predecessor Donald Trump wished the POTUS good luck in dealing with Putin, heres what previous US presidents had to say about the Russian President who has been in power since 2012, after previously being in the office from 1999 until 2008.

Donald Trump

45th US President Donald Trump, who caused a stir in the global political landscape with his America First ideology appeared to go along with Putin fairly well than other US Presidents. Trump was also open about his admiration of the Russian leader which fueled the speculation if the former US President had been compromised by the Kremlin spy agencies that Putin once led.

Just last year, Donald Trump said, I like Putin, he likes me. Bidens predecessor also said that the tougher and meaner leaders were, the better I get along with them. Following a summit in 2018, Trump said that he was more inclined into believing what the Russian President said than over the FBI of his own country with regards to meddling with the 2016 US presidential election. He said, President Putin says it's not Russia. I don't see any reason why it would be.

Barack Obama

As per reports, US-Russia relations reached an all-time low since Cold War under Americas first black president. The 44th US President Barack Obama didnt veil his suspicion regarding Vladimir Putin and said in 2013, I don't have a bad personal relationship with Putin. Obama also said, When we have conversations they're candid, they're blunt... and constructive. I know the press likes to focus on body language and he's got that kind of slouch, looking like the bored kid in the back of the classroom

In his memoir A Promised Land released last year, Obama described Russian President as physically unremarkable. Obama also wrote that Putin reminded him of tough, street-smart ward bosses that ran the Chicago political machine. He also explained that the relationship that was shared with the Russian President was cordial, something that Putin had also said.

Bill Clinton

The 42nd US President Bill Clinton reportedly said in 1999 that he hung up after congratulating Putin on becoming Russian President that year thinking he was tough enough to hold Russia together." Clinton was also the first US President to deal with Putin and the duo met for the first time in 1999 at the Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation gathering months.

On a phone call with then UK Prime Minister Tony Blair in November 2000, Clinton referred to Putin as a guy with a lot of ambition for the Russians but also expressed concern that Putin could get squishy on democracy.

Georg W. Bush

The 41st US President, George W Bushs relationship with Putin started cordial but suffered blows on the way. Reportedly, even before Bush was elected, he called the Russian leader one cold dude. However, as per the Associated Press report, Bush tried mightily to charm Putin by hosting the Kremlin leader at his ranch in Crawford, Texas and even bringing Putin to his fathers estate in Maine.

In 2001, following Bushs meet with Putin in Slovenia, the former US President claimed that he had looked the man in the eye and was able to get a sense of his soul. Bush also said of Putin, He's a man deeply committed to his country. However, Putin ultimately flummoxed Bush and the relationship between the two deteriorated after Russias 2008 invasion of its neighbour Georgia after Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili ordered his troops into the breakaway region of South Ossetia.

At the time, Bush said that he warned Putin about Georgian President being hot-blooded to which Putin replied, Im hot-blooded too. To this, Bush said, No, Vladimir, You're cold-blooded."

IMAGE: AP
Washington, Jun 15 (AP) A small study offers the first hint that an extra dose of COVID-19 vaccines just might give some organ transplant recipients a needed boost in protection.

Even as most vaccinated people celebrate a return to near normalcy, millions who take immune-suppressing medicines because of transplants, cancer or other disorders remain in limbo  uncertain how protected they really are. It's simply harder for vaccines to rev up a weak immune system.

Monday's study tracked just 30 transplant patients but it's an important step toward learning if booster doses could help.

It didn't help everybody. But of the 24 patients who appeared to have no protection after the routine two vaccinations, eight of them  a third  developed some virus-fighting antibodies after an extra shot, researchers from Johns Hopkins University reported in Annals of Internal Medicine. And six others who'd had only minimal antibodies all got a big boost from the third dose.

It's very encouraging, said Dr Dorry Segev, a Hopkins transplant surgeon who helped lead the research. Just because you're fully negative after two doses doesn't mean that there's no hope. Next up: Working with the National Institutes of Health, Segev's team hopes to begin a more rigorous test of a third vaccination in 200 transplant recipients this summer.

For transplant patients, powerful immune-suppressing drugs prevent rejection of their new organs but also leave them extremely vulnerable to the coronavirus. They were excluded from initial testing of the COVID-19 vaccines, but doctors urge that they get vaccinated in hopes of at least some protection.

Some do benefit. The Hopkins team recently tested more than 650 transplant recipients and found about 54% harboured virus-fighting antibodies after two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines  although generally less than in otherwise healthy vaccinated people.

It's not just a concern after organ transplants. One study of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and other autoimmune disorders found 85% developed antibodies, said Dr Alfred Kim of Washington University in St Louis. But those who used particular kinds of immune-suppressing drugs produced dramatically lower levels that are a cause for concern.

We tell our patients to act like the vaccine is not going to work as well as it does for their family and friends, said Kim, who would like to test a third dose in autoimmune patients, too. This is very frustrating news to them. Doctors sometimes give extra doses of other vaccines, such as the hepatitis B shot, to people with weak immune systems.

And guidelines issued in France recommend a third COVID-19 shot for certain severely immune-suppressed people, including transplant recipients, Segev noted.

The US hasn't authorised extra COVID-19 vaccinations. But around the country, a growing number of immune-compromised patients are seeking third doses on their own  the people Hopkins sought to test.

In San Francisco, Gillian Ladd agreed to blood tests before and after an extra dose. The recipient of a kidney and pancreas transplant, Ladd, 48, was terrified to leave her house after learning she had no measurable antibodies despite two Pfizer shots.

With the additional dose, "I had gotten what I needed in order to survive, Ladd said, but she's still is sticking with masks and other precautions.

I am being as careful as I possibly can while acknowledging that I'm coming back into the world of the living, she said.

Further research is needed to tell if a third dose really helps, who's the best candidate and if there are brand differences  plus whether the extra immune stimulation could increase the risk of organ rejection.

But Segev cautions boosters aren't the only possibility. In addition to antibodies, vaccinations normally spur other protections such as T cells that can fend off severe illness. He and several other research groups are testing whether immune-compromised patients get that benefit.

For now, the best way to protect these people is for others to get vaccinated so they're less likely to get exposed to the coronavirus, stressed Washington University's Kim. (AP) SCY SCY

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
Villagers cite earlier cases of injuries and deaths of humans and livestock caused by polluted water sources.

A river polluted by toxic run-off from a gold mine in Cambodia is shown in a file photo.

News that an industrial-scale gold mine will launch operations this month in eastern Cambodias Mondulkiri province has raised local fears in a region already hit by widespread pollution from toxic waste, sources say.

In a June 10 statement, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen announced that Australian-owned Renaissance Minerals will begin manufacturing gold in Mondulkiri starting June 21, producing an average of three tonnes of pure gold per year in its first eight years of operation.

Cambodia is expected to generate gross revenue of $185 million per year from the project, with an estimated $40 million in excise and other taxes going each year into the national treasury to be used for the development of the nations economy and society, Hun Sen said.

Indigenous people living in Mondukiri are urging government authorities to be cautious in granting concessions for mining in the province, though, citing a May 2018 incident in which hundreds of villagers were sickened and more than a dozen killed when toxic substances including cyanide used to flush gold mines were improperly handled and seeped into a local river. Hundreds of cattle also died.

Rong Cheng, a Chinese-owned company located in Mondulkiris Keo Seima district and still in operation, was among the companies blamed for the pollution, sources told RFA in earlier reports.

Speaking to RFA on June 14, Roeung Phloma member of Mondulkiris Phnong ethnic minority community networksaid that Cambodias government should carry out thorough studies before allowing companies to mine in the province.

I request the government to conduct proper studies and research so that mining will not affect local residents with regard to their water consumption or the natural resources in the forest that people rely on, Roeung Phlom said.

In the past, mining operations have resulted in landslides, and people were poisoned by drinking water that was poisoned by waste from the gold mines, she said.

The government should guarantee there will be no polluting of the soil or air.

Roads blocked, sanctuaries threatened

Some of the mining companies invested in Mondulkiri have now blocked key roads in the Keo Seima district, creating obstacles to traffic, Kroeung Tolaan advisor to the Phnong ethnic community networksaid, also speaking to RFA.

Areas now being explored for minerals also lie between the Keo Seima wildlife sanctuary and the Phnom Penh wildlife sanctuary, posing possible hazards to wild elephants and other animals in their own habitat and natural surroundings, Kroeung Tola said.

Mining companies and Cambodian authorities should release social and environmental impact assessments for projects to the public, and should allow local residents to take part in decision-making processes, he said.

The government should take stringent measures rather than intermittent ones and should form specific plans, because these things affect local livelihoods, Kroeung Tola said, adding, I remain concerned over the safety and health of our local people.

Attempts to reach Sorn Sarom, spokesperson for Mondulkiri province, and Svay Sam Eang, provincial governor, were unsuccessful on June 14.

Svay Sam Eang has said in the past that gold mining investments will create more revenue for the countrys economy and for Mondulkiri, and that two companies in particularthe Chinese-owned Rong Cheng and Australianowned Renaissance Mineralshave helped build wells, hospitals, roads, and bridges in the province.

Call for transparency

Cambodias government should be transparent in its handling of revenue from the mining industry, though, said Heng Kimhong, program manager for research and advocacy for the Cambodia Youth Network.

The government should release information to the public so that people know how much revenue, either from taxes or excise or from its own investment sharing, is being generated by the mining industry, Heng Kimhong said.

Environmental activists have voiced doubt over Hun Sens description of the Renaissance Minerals deal as a victory for Cambodias gold mining industry, though, saying his June 10 announcement closely followed the news that KrisEnergya Singapore-based oil company with projects in Cambodiahad gone bankrupt, embarrassing the government.

Alejandro Gonzalez-Davidson, founder of the local environmental group Mother Nature, called Hun Sens announcement on the Renaissance Minerals deal an attempt to divert attention from the collapse of KrisEnergy, with which the government had partnered to produce oil from Cambodias offshore reserves.

This could be a tactic by the Hun Sen regime after experiencing such a major embarrassment over its offshore oil production. Hun Sens government is trying to divert public attention now by focusing on its gold mining industry, Gonzalez-Davidson said.

Reported and translated for RFAs Khmer Service by Sovannarith Keo. Written in English by Richard Finney.
The blogger first shared programming tips, later launching a campaign to counter government brainwashing and censorship.

A man uses a computer in an internet cafe in Beijing in a file photo.

Authorities in China have detained the anonymous author of the Program-Think politics blog, who evaded government surveillance for around 12 years, subjecting him to brutal interrogations in a bid to gain a "confession," RFA has learned.

"Program-Think's family is asking for help," a comment posted to his blog dated May 24 said.

"Last week, he went on a business trip to a big city in East China, and lost contact with us the next day," the comment said. "There were no unusual messages before he lost contact."

"It has been almost a week now. At first, I was not sure if something happened, or if there was an accident, I didn't call the police," the comment said.

"Last night, the police gave us an official response [to our missing persons report], saying that they were processing his case, but ... without giving any information on the progress of their investigation," it said.

Twitter account @GFWfrog cited a source inside the state security police on June 14 as saying that Program-Think was detained by Shanghai police in early May, and that his last post on May 9 had been a scheduled posting.

"He is currently undergoing brutal interrogations to ensure a conviction," the account tweeted, adding that the case would be "a gift to the CCP on its centenary."

A person familiar with the matter who gave only his surname, Xu, told RFA that the anonymous blogger was now in police custody.

"Recently, through my own credible sources, I learned that they have detained Program-Think, and are putting him through harsh interrogation," Xu said.

"I can't accept the persecution of a person of such conscience and outstanding ability ... so I have to make this information public despite the risks," he said.

Exposing hidden wealth

Xu said Program-Think was likely detained for exposing the hidden wealth of high-ranking members of the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and his political theorizing and anti-brainwashing campaigns, conducted via his blog on the overseas-based Blogger.com platform.

Xu said he had himself been transformed from an uncritical supporter of the CCP to a person with doubts, and then to someone who longs for freedom and democracy, after reading Program-Think's blog.

The blogger had continued an in-depth analysis of CCP leaders' wealth following the publication of the Panama Papers in 2016, Xu said.

"I think Program-Think had a bigger impact than anyone on the Chinese internet," Xu said. "Particularly his posts laying out very complete evidence to refute [government] propaganda."

"He would convert Little Pinks [CCP supporters]. He is a hero, and totally irreplaceable," Xu said.

A legendary figure

Zhou Fengsuo, of the U.S.-based NGO Humanitarian China, agreed.

"Program-Think is a legendary figure; an anonymous Chinese rebel," Zhou told RFA. "He had advanced anti-censorship technology."

"A lot of people learned how to circumvent the Great Firewall [of government censorship] through his blog," he said. "He posed a huge threat to the CCP's totalitarian rule."

"I am very worried about him, as we haven't heard from him in a very long time, and it is very likely that he has been detained," Zhou said.

Repeated attempts to contact Program-Think's family members were unsuccessful.

Program-Think was nominated for best Chinese blog in the 2013 Deutsche Welle International Best of Blogs awards, or BOBs.

The author told the station at the time that he had never set out to write political content to begin with, but just wanted to share his years of experience in programming.

But the blog gradually become popular with people wanting ways to get around government censorship, and later branched out into information security tips and political analysis, the station reported at the time of the blog's nomination.



Reported by Yitong Wu and Poon Ka Ching for RFA's Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
Authorities at a university in Shanghai have suspended a lecturer from teaching duties after he spoke out against favoritism and poor management in Chinese universities in the wake of the murder of a ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) official at Fudan University's School of Mathematics.



CCP officials who manage teaching staff at the East China University of Political Science and Law said they had suspended lecturer Bao Yinan, an associate professor in the School of International Law.



"One of our lecturers, Bao Yinan, recently made false statements on the internet, and the school immediately established a special working group to verify the situation," the teaching work division of the departmental party committee said in a statement posted online on . "All of his teaching has been suspended for the time being."



"The school will deal with the matter in accordance with relevant regulations and laws," the statement said.



Bao's suspension came after he commented about academic hiring practices on social media in the aftermath of the stabbing death of Fudan party official Wang Yongzhen as he was in the process of firing researcher Jiang Wenhua.



Police in Shanghai are investigating Wang's murder, and have confirmed they arrested a lecturer surnamed Jiang for allegedly stabbing a colleague, surnamed Wang, who died at the scene. Jiang reportedly told police that he had been "unjustly blamed and hugely mistreated" over a long period of time.



Poor treatment of researchers

Academics who spoke to RFA blamed a recruitment policy among top Chinese universities, which try to attract overseas-based academics with jobs back home in China, but then fire them if they don't attract enough research funding.



Bao, who took his PhD in Diplomatic Law at the University of Sussex in 2014 and an LLM in Public International Law at the University of Leicester in 2010, had commented that the murder came as "no surprise," given the poor treatment of early career researchers and academics by Chinese universities.



"In recent years, there has been a widespread phenomenon in Chinese colleges and universities," he said, hitting out at university and departmental managers who "have a habit of using administrative power to monopolize hiring processes and to grind down promising young academic staff."



"They seem to think it's fun to use their administrative position to intervene in ensuring these promising young staff get no classes to teach, or even preventing them from being hired ... and doing everything in their power to install their own students," Bao wrote.



He said the academics who take on management roles are often second-rate scholars themselves, and their failure to improve their scholarship was affecting the reputation of their schools.



Zhang Jianping, a rights activist based in the eastern province of Jiangsu, said Bao should never have faced retaliation for his comments.



"Mr Bao's views and remarks are a matter of personal opinion, and they weren't illegal," Zhang told RFA. "Now, the [university] is punishing him."



"Actually, this will have the opposite effect of making people suspect that there is a lot more to the Fudan University murder than meets the eye," he said. "The strangest thing is that they aren't letting people talk about it."



Guangdong-based rights lawyer Sui Muqing said he agreed with Bao's comments.



"I don't think there is any problem with his comment," Sui told RFA. "It was a pretty run-of-the-mill comment, and yet they are silencing him."



Freedom of speech fears

"It really does show how bad the current environment is in China for freedom of speech right now," he said. "If lecturers aren't even allowed to express opinions on this sort of thing, it really doesn't bode well for the future development of China's universities."



"I think everyone can see that there are some huge problems in higher education right now."



Beijing-based dissident Zha Jianguo said there should be some lessons to be learned from the homicide case, but that public debate should be allowed.



"Regardless of the conclusions people reach on the matter, if we aren't talking about rumor or slander, then people should be allowed freedom of speech as set down in law," Zha said.



"It is wrong to suppress discussion that blames issues at the university, or that diverges from the official view," he said.



Calls to the principal's office at the East China University of Political Science and Law rang unanswered during office hours on .



Reported by Qiao Long for RFA's Mandarin and Cantonese Services. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
A report on the impact on air quality of the Banshkhali S. Alam coal power project contains inconsistent data and omissions, raising serious legal questions.

A Bangladesh government-cleared environmental impact report on a Chinese-funded coal power plant contains false information and plays down how the project will affect air quality when it becomes fully operational, said a report released Tuesday by three green groups.

The parts of the report about the impact on air quality of the first unit of the Banshkhali S. Alam coal power project contain inconsistent data and omissions, raising serious legal questions, said a study by a trio of environmentalist NGOs.

The air quality modeling is flawed, resulting in predicted pollution levels multiple times lower than would be obtained with appropriate modeling, said a study of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) on the Chittagong project done by the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), Bangladesh Environment Lawyers Association (BELA), and the Bangladesh Working Group on External Debt (BWGED).

There is absolutely no mention of the health impacts of air pollutant emissions under the impact assessment. The impacts of the plants mercury emissions are completely omitted.

The fact that the government cleared this EIA is an alarming indication of lack of oversight, the groups said in their joint report. It also shows the disregard for guidelines and standards by those involved in the project, they said.

Its evident from the EIA analysis that the Chinese financiers and companies have knowingly allowed such a project which they wouldnt allow in their own country, BELA Chief Executive Syeda Rizwana Hasan said in a press statement.

Bangladesh authorities are equally responsible for allowing such a project, which raises concern on their oversight and enforcement capacity.

The plants EIA is not publicly available, which also shows the lack of transparency around the project the three groups said. The groups, however, did not say how they managed to obtain a copy of the EIA.

Will take necessary measures

In response to the three groups study, the Bangladesh government said it would look into their findings.

The Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources will share the findings with the Department of Environment, if necessary, said Mohammad Hossain, director general of power at the ministry.

We will ask the authorities concerned to take necessary measures based on the findings, if needed, Hossain told BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news agency.

An official at the Banshkhali S. Alam coal power project  also called SS Power I  declined to comment.

I am not in a position to talk to the media, Ebadat Hossen, chief financial officer of SS Power Plant, told BenarNews.

The Banshkhali S. Alam coal power project is scheduled to begin producing 1,320 MW of power in 2023. Seventy percent of the U.S. $2.49 billion cost of the facility was financed by China, according to information on S. Alam Groups website.

The plant is being built by Shandong Electric Power Construction Corporation (SEPCOIII), a subsidiary of PowerChina, a Chinese central government enterprise, according to the three groups.

Coal power plants need to be strictly assessed and cleared due to their potential environmental impact, according to Bangladeshs Environmental Conservation Rules, the groups said.

Emissions five times higher than China allows

EIAs generally use models that project an estimate of the maximum air quality impact when a plant is running as designed, but the Banshkhali EIA shows average estimates, the three environmentalist groups said.

There are similar inconsistencies in the numbers on particle emissions from the project, the groups said.

This flawed assessment has been used to justify emissions limits for the plant that are five times higher than China allows for Sulphur dioxide and three times what it allows for oxides of Nitrogen.

In addition, coal-fired power plants are the main source of mercury emissions into the air globally, the three groups noted, but Banshkhalis EIA has no data whatsoever on these emissions.

The Banshkhali coal power plant has been controversial since March 2016, when 30,000 local residents protested the planned project. Since then, 12 people have been killed in clashes with police, either for protesting the plants construction, or while agitating for allegedly unpaid wages.

The approval of the Banshkhali plant reveals systemic problems in the process involved in allowing energy projects, said Lauri Myllyvirta, lead analyst at CREA and the author of the study released by the three groups.

Bangladesh lacks meaningful environmental regulation, as do many other countries hosting China-backed energy projects.

Yet the Chinese government and state-owned financiers have failed to put in place environmental and social safeguards that would prevent project developers from exploiting weak or non-existent regulatory oversight.

Meanwhile, China, the worlds biggest coal user, said in April that the fossil fuel would play a less dominant role in its energy production, the Associated Press reported. Even though the country plans to build new coal-fired power plants, it wont use them on a wide scale, China said.

Bangladesh, too, said something similar.

Nasrul Hamid, Bangladeshs power minister, said last August that the country would review plans for 26 out of 29 coal-fired power plants.

Banshkhali was not on the initial list of exempted plants, but has continued construction nonetheless, the three groups said in a press statement.

In addition, Bangladesh is set to construct another coal-fired power plant. China will bear 75 percent of the $2.06 billion cost of this plant, BenarNews reported last September.

Reported by BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service.
The National People's Congress passes a data security law preventing the transfer of 'important' data with hefty fines for non-compliance.

The National People's Congress is shown in session in Beijing, March 11, 2021.

A new law passed this week by China's National People's Congress (NPC) will give the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) the power to shut down companies in possession of user data deemed important or critical by officials.

China's Data Security Law, passed June 14, gives the government a far greater degree of control over user data held by both state organizations and private companies, including foreign companies.

The law, which takes effect from Sept. 1, says user data will be classified into "core state" data -- pertaining to government operations and the "public interest" -- and "important data."

But it gave no precise definition for those terms, suggesting that officials and law enforcement agencies will have broad powers to interpret the law's measures as they see fit.

Companies or organizations that send "important data" overseas will face fines of 100,000 to 10 million yuan, and could have their business licenses revoked.

"Core state" data covers any data collected for "public purposes," even if it is a private company doing the collecting.

The move will enable Chinese officials to control more closely user data in the hands of private technology companies, which are currently facing a slew of investigations and regulatory measures aimed at reining in their growing power: much of which stems from their vast banks of user data.

The law bars any company operating inside China from providing data stored in China to overseas agencies without government approval, potentially creating a huge barrier for foreign companies with branches in China.

New regulatory moves

Emily de La Bruyere, a senior researcher at the Washington-based Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, said the law is the latest in a slew of regulatory moves aimed at controlling data.

"What it does, to my mind ... is it creates a legal architecture for Chinese state control over data," La Bruyere said. "[It] creates ... a legal basis according to which the Chinese government can claim and claim oversight over private companies' data."

"It has a section in it that refers specifically to data localization and export regulations that says that data transfer has to be done in accordance with those," she said.

"That ... gives the framework for Beijing to control what it sees as the critical resource for the next generation."

In practice, the CCP has regarded information about its energy security, transportation networks, financial intelligence, telecommunications, and other key parts of the economy as "critical information."

The data security law comes after U.S.-based electric carmaker Tesla announced it would move Chinese user data to a new center in China. The company will expand its network of data centers and store all data generated by the cars it sells in China within the country's borders, according to Reuters.

Analysts told RFA that the move would normalize demands on foreign investors that they hand over core technology and data to the CCP as the price of doing business in China.

Data localization for foreign companies operating in China was first laid down in the 2017 cybersecurity law as a prerequisite for permission to do business.

U.S. tech giant Apple promised to relocate all of its Chinese customers cloud service data to China in the same year. That data is now stored at a data center in China, owned by a state-owned company.

Growth in surveillance

Daniel Gonzales, a senior researcher at the Rand Corporation, says the data security law shows how valuable user data is to the CCP under Xi Jinping, who has presided over an unprecedented growth in technological mass surveillance of Chinese citizens.

"The data that the technology companies have, the Chinese government has realized it's very valuable for government control purposes, for surveillance purposes," Gonzales said. "And so ... they put in place this new law to provide them access to this information."

"Unfortunately, it's a reduction in the privacy of Chinese citizens ... it will undoubtedly increase the level of control over ... surveillance in China, by the government," he said.

The Wall Street Journal quoted a government source as saying that the law represents a move away from a tendency to outsource data collection to the private sector in recent years, to encourage innovation.

That approach is now being overridden by fears over the power wielded by big technology companies, the paper said.



Reported by Mia Ping-chieh Chen for RFA's Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
FILE PHOTO: Doses of the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) are seen at the Biblioteka kod Milutina restaurant in Kragujevac, Serbia, May 4, 2021.

North Korea has begun clandestinely importing Chinese COVID-19 vaccines since early May, but sources on both sides of the Sino-Korean border told RFA they were unsure how much vaccine is entering the reclusive country.

The World Health Organization approved the Sinopharm vaccine for emergency use on May 7, allowing the vaccines to be distributed widely in lower income countries, like North Korea, through the COVAX initiative. Shortly after, North Korea began receiving shipments of the vaccine in Sinuiju, North Pyongan province, which lies just across the Yalu River border from Chinas Dandong.

In early May, the COVID-19 vaccine produced in China arrived as an emergency item through the Dandong-Sinuiju Customs Office. I know that the vaccines that came through this time were made by Sinopharm, a North Pyongan provincial official told RFAs Korean Service Sunday.

The vaccines were loaded onto a Chinese refrigerated vehicle and delivered directly to a refrigeration facility in Sinuiju. The authorities kept the whole operation strictly confidential, so it isnt really clear exactly where they were subsequently transported, said the source, who requested anonymity to speak freely.

An official from a trade agency in the province confirmed to RFA that shipments of vaccine have been going through the Dandong-Sinuiju entry point since early May.

No one knows how much vaccine is being sent over because the state keeps it under wraps I know that our side didnt pay foreign currency for the vaccines that came from China last month. Instead, China is providing them for free, the second source said.

I dont know the exact details because the authorities are keeping everything a secret. I dont know who will get vaccinated and how much vaccine there is to go around. But people say that the high-ranking officials are not the ones who will be vaccinated, said the second source.

It is common in North Korea for high-ranking government officials to receive preferential treatment, but a North Korean trade worker living in Dandong told RFA Monday that he had heard that the vaccine shipments are not for the ruling class.

We know that the high-ranking officials arent the ones getting vaccinated, because these were not made in the pharmaceutical companys headquarters in Beijing, but somewhere in another region of China, the third source said.

The WHO in June approved a second Chinese COVID-19 vaccine produced by Sinovac, adding to the list of vaccines that can be used in the COVAX initiative

COVAX has already allocated to North Korea nearly 2 million doses of the British-Swedish AstraZeneca vaccine, produced in India.

The first batch of AstraZeneca doses was supposed to have been supplied in May, but a spokesperson for the Global Vaccine Alliance (GAVI) told RFA last month that the specific date of delivery could not be determined, and likely would be pushed back to the second half of the year due to North Korea lacking the necessary technology to effectively transport and store the vaccine.

Outbreak of suspected cases

Though North Korea maintains to the international community that it is one of the only countries in the world untouched by COVID-19, sources last month told RFA that authorities are internally keeping a tally of suspected cases, numbering in the tens of thousands.

There are patients suffering from suspected coronavirus symptoms all over the country, and the emergency quarantine command in each region is supervising quarantine and disinfection, an official in the countrys northwestern North Pyongan province told RFAs Korean Service May 22.

Since the start of the pandemic in January 2020, North Korea has taken extensive measures to stop COVID-19, including the complete shutdown of the Sino-Korean border and the suspension of all trade with China, lockdowns of entire counties and cities, and a ban on travel between provinces.

Observers immediately doubted the claim, citing North Koreas crumbling medical infrastructure, the relative ease by which people could cross the Sino-Korean border, and the secrecy with which Pyongyang conducts its relations with the outside world, even with ally China.

Additionally, RFA reported in April 2020 that the government warned the public through health lectures that COVID-19 had at that time been spreading in three areas of the country, including in the capital Pyongyang.

A survey conducted by the Ministry of Health in March, which compiled data of suspected coronavirus patients and those who died from related symptoms, revealed some 13,000 cases in North Hamgyong province, the most in the country. Since then, each province has been keeping a tally of suspected cases, according to the North Pyongan official.

The North Pyongan official said that by late May, the suspected case total in North Hamgyong increased by about 4,000, with most of the cases in the provincial capital Chongjin, and Rason, a city within a Special Economic Zone near the Chinese and Russian borders.

In Rason alone, there were 6,355 suspected cases, 20 of whom died. I heard from a quarantine official that these numbers of suspected cases of respiratory pneumonia symptoms are the numbers that were reported by the local quarantine authorities to the Central Committee [of the Korean Workers Party], said the fourth source.

Other provinces also had suspected caseloads numbering in the thousands.

By the end of April there were about 2,400 people who had suspected symptoms, which put authorities here in North Pyongan on alert. About 50 of the patients died many without being tested for exactly what kind of disease they have, said the fourth source.

There were also a lot of patients with suspected coronavirus symptoms in South Pyongan province. In just the city of Pyongsong, there were 400 suspected cases through the end of April and about a dozen of them died, the fourth source said.

The North Pyongan official said the government is not only striving to limit the spread of the disease, but also the spread of information about the situation.

Authorities threatened to punish those who cause anxiety by talking about the virus, saying those with loose lips could be sent to a labor camp for five years, or 10 years if they were the originator of the information, according to the fourth source.

Actions against the countrys coronavirus quarantine posture are defined as treason that threatens the system and because of the stern punishments, residents are wary of each other.

Another source, from Kangwon province on the east coast, told RFA that through the end of April there were more than 2,000 suspected cases there with an unspecified number of deaths.

The World Health Organization (WHO) in its COVID-19 Weekly Situation Report published May 21 said that a total of 27,446 people were tested for the disease through May 13, with no confirmed cases reported.

Sources told RFA that North Korean authorities are doing everything they can to prevent positive cases from being reported to the WHO.

Internally, even minor remarks related to the coronavirus are considered very political remarks and are strictly monitored, the North Pyongan official said.

When a suspected coronavirus patient appears, the hospital unconditionally must diagnose it as pneumonia without testing for the virus, and they immediately isolate the patient. If a patient dies after showing suspected coronavirus symptoms, they say the cause of death was acute respiratory disease without specifying which disease, and they cremate the body in a hurry.

W. Courtland Robinson of Johns Hopkins Universitys Bloomberg School of Public Health told RFA in May that there was not enough evidence to conclusively say that North Korea is deliberately hiding positive coronavirus tests from the WHO.

I know that the government can be deceptive if it chooses to be, whether about COVID or other issues. That said, it is difficult to assess whether the number of suspected cases and deaths as reported by RFA sources is a measure of COVID cases or of other symptoms and illnessesinfluenza, respiratory infections, pneumonia, etc.that may look somewhat like COVID but are not, he said.

Whatever the truth is, I do hope that vaccines will be available to the population to provide the protection needed to prevent infection and spread, Robinson said.

Reported by Hyemin Son, Jeongeun Ji and Myungchul Lee for RFAs Korean Service. Translated by Leejin Jun. Written in English by Eugene Whong.
A Uyghur entrepreneur in Chinas Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) was jailed for 20 years for supporting terrorists for donations he gave to the wives and children of Uyghur prisoners, sources inside and outside the region told RFA.

Iminjan Rahmitulla founder of a shopping mall and one of the founders of the famous Grand Bazaar in Kashgar (in Chinese, Kashi) city, was one of four ethnic Uyghur billionaires tried and sentenced in Atush (Atushi) in April, the Norway-based Uyghuryar Foundation told RFA.

The other three billionaires  Rehmutulla Semet, Abdusopur Semet, Musajan Imam  were sentenced for engaging in separatist activities, with the two Semet brothers receiving 20-year jail terms, and Musjan jailed for 17 years.

Iminjan was reported detained in late 2018, and after a two-year investigation, he was tried and sentenced, said Uyghuryar founder Abduweli Ayup.

Iminjans sister, Nurgul Rahmitulla, and his daughter also were detained with him, according to Abduweli and an official who works in politics and law in Atush, the main city of the XUARs Kizilsu Kirghiz (Kezileisu Keerkezi) Autonomous Prefecture.

The official, who declined to be named, confirmed that Iminjan was one of four prominent entrepreneurs tried in April and said that he owned two buildings under the name of Bughra Commercial Market, which were in operation up to the time he was tried.

The official also said that Iminjan had been sentenced to 20 years in prison, but he was unable to provide any details about his sister and daughter.

Iminjan confessed to a number of crimes in exchange for his daughters release, Abduweli said.

Initially, under duress from torture, Iminjan said that if they let his daughter go, he would agree to sign [a confession for crimes], he told RFA. However, there is information suggesting that even after he signed and admitted to all these crimes, his daughter was  sentenced to prison herself.

Officials at the Atush Intermediate Peoples Court and the Kizilsu Provincial Intermediate Peoples Court said they were aware of Iminjans trial and sentence, but declined further comment.

Born in 1962, Iminjan Rahmitulla graduated from the Xinjiang Finance University and later started a career in the fruit business, according to Abudweli.

After that, he worked for the government for a period, and then he began engaging in business, he said.

Iminjan invested 50 million yuan (U.S. $7.8 million) to establish the Fujiang Fruit Company, Abudweli told RFA. He also founded other companies, including Bughra Agricultural Products and Bughra Real Estate Company.

Bughra Agricultural Products had a market by the same name in Atush. He also built the Grand Bazaar in Kashgar, similar to the bazaar in the XUARs capital Urumqi, and the Bughra shopping mall in Atush.

In all, Iminjan owned nine companies, which created job opportunities for residents of local Uyghur communities, Abudweli said. In addition to working in several different fields, he played a leading role in introducing agricultural and other products from the southern XUAR to markets in Central Asia.

Bughra Agricultural Products was recognized as a leading company among companies in the Uyghur Autonomous Region, Abudweli said.

He made commodities out of the things used by Uyghur farmers and got them into external markets in Central Asia, and brought great profit to Uyghurs, he said. In addition to this, the bazaars he built in Kashgar and Atush created jobs for many young Uyghurs.

Like other Uyghur business people in the XUAR, Iminjan was arrested because of his charity work, Abduweli Ayup said. Chinese authorities tried him on charges of supporting terrorists and preparing for terrorism because he had donated money to the wives and children of Uyghur prisoners, though Iminjan did so as a form of paying zakat, or a tithe, on his property.

We heard from his friends and acquaintances about how he helped others, particularly about how grateful his neighbors and members of Uyghur society were for the help he had given to the sick, to people who couldnt pay for their own medicine, and to orphans, Abduweli said.

Reported by Shohret Hoshur for RFAs Uyghur Service. Translated by RFAs Uyghur Service. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
Nguyen Tuong Thuy has contracted scabies while in jail, his wife says.

Vietnamese bloggers Nguyen Tuong Thuy (L), Le Huu Minh Tuan (3rd L), and Pham Chi Dung (R) face trial on anti-state charges at the courthouse in Ho Chi Minh City, Jan. 5, 2021.

A jailed Vietnamese blogger serving an 11-year prison term for writing articles criticizing Vietnams government has contracted scabies because of poor hygiene and a lack of access to clean water in his detention facility, the mans wife told RFA on Tuesday.

Nguyen Tuong Thuy, an independent journalist and former RFA blogger, and many other inmates confined in the Bo La detention center in Binh Duong province have contracted the contagious skin infestation caused by burrowing mites that produces an itchy red rash, said Thuys wife, Nguyen Thi Lan.

Thuy informed her of his condition on June 4 when authorities at the An Phuoc detention center in Binh Duong province, to which he had been transferred in mid-April, allowed him to all home, Lan said.

Its very itchy after taking a shower as the water there isnt filtered, said Lan bout her husband.

Chung Hoang Chuong, a fellow inmate of Thuys at An Phuoc detention center who was released last week, said Tuesday that Thuy and other prisoners got scabies at Bo La detention center due to poor hygiene there.

I met many prisoners transferred from Bo La to An Phuoc detention center, and almost all of them had scabies, Chuong said.

Though the hygienic conditions are better at An Phuoc detention center, inmates like Thuy who already have scabies do not get better because of a lack of medicine, Chuong said.

Many complain about the health care services at An Phuoc detention center, he told RFA. Those who have scabies are only given anti-itch medications, not the ones specifically for treating scabies.

Prisoners at the An Phuoc facility have been petitioning for better health care and more time spent out of their cells, Chuong said. T

They have submitted at least two requests for more recreation time, but detention center officials have not yet given their approval, he added.

Thuy, 71, showed signs of poor health and mental decline in the An Phuoc detention center a week after he had been transferred, his wife told RFA in an earlier report.

Despite his health problem and strict detention conditions, Thuy has kept his spirits up and is still strong and stable, Chuong said.

Vietnamese authorities arrested Thuy in May 2020 and indicted that November along with two leaders of the Vietnam Association of Independent Journalists for making, storing, and disseminating documents and materials for anti-state purposes under Article 117 of Vietnams Penal Code.

After he was sentenced to 11 years in prison in January, Thuy refused to appeal his sentence, tearing up a petition form given to him after prison guards told him what to write on it, Thuys lawyer told RFA at the time.

Reported by RFAs Vietnamese Service. Translated by Anna Vu. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
Lawyers for Uyghur groups have given new evidence to the International Criminal Court (ICC) that allegedly shows the Tajik government is cooperating with Beijing to send Uyghurs to China, where they face detention and often much worse.

Tajikistan is not the only country targeted in the complaint submitted to the ICC's Office of the Prosecutor. Cambodia is reported to be another country that allegedly succumbed to Chinese pressure to detain and illegally extradite Uyghurs.

Numerous reports have claimed that the Chinese authorities have put more than 1 million Uyghurs and thousands of other mostly Muslim indigenous minorities in so-called reeducation camps, located mainly in the Uyghurs' traditional homeland in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in western China.

The Chinese say the camps are for vocational training and deny mistreatment of its occupants, despite testimony of detainees and other evidence suggesting otherwise.

Some rights groups say the involuntary incarceration and other more sinister acts against Uyghurs, ethnic Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, and ethnic Chinese Hui are part of a campaign to eradicate Islam and the cultures of these ethnic minorities from Chinese society.

Tajikistan and Cambodia are included in the official complaint because they are members of the ICC.

China is not an ICC member and so is outside the ICC's jurisdiction. "China is not a signed-up member of the ICC...[and believes it] cannot be investigated for what is happening," says Rodney Dixon, one of the lawyers handling the legal process for the Uyghur groups. "The fact is that we are now in a position where there is a very clear legal pathway to allow for the ICC to commence its investigations."

One of the places this investigation could begin is in Tajikistan.

According to a press release from the East Turkistan Government in Exile, one of the Uyghur groups trying to bring the case before the ICC, "Chinese authorities have committed unlawful acts including arrests, enforced disappearances, abductions, and deportations in Tajikistan, an ICC State Party."

The evidence that legal consul for the East Turkistan Government in Exile, the East Turkistan National Awakening Movement, and individual Uyghur victims handed to the ICC prosecutor on June 10 purports that "members of the Chinese Public Security Bureau who are present in Tajikistan direct local Tajik police to carry out raids on the areas where Uyghurs live and work." It adds that those Uyghurs who did not have "correct paperwork" were "then deported back into China by Chinese authorities in small groups of up to 10 to avoid international attention."

The press release also provides a shocking figure, stating that "evidence gathered to date shows that over the past 10-15 years the number of Uyghurs living in Tajikistan has been reduced from an estimated 3,000 to approximately 100" and that most of these Uyghurs left Tajikistan "from 2016 to 2018."

There is also evidence that Tajikistan has played a role in facilitating the extraordinary rendition of Uyghurs from Turkey.

Radio Free Asia reported in August 2019 that "at least three ethnic Uyghurs have recently been deported to China from Turkey via Tajikistan."

Those three were Zinnetgul Tursun "and her two toddler daughters," all of whom were detained in Izmir, Turkey, and put on a July 31, 2019, flight from Istanbul to Dushanbe. Two Tajik passengers on that same flight said they saw how Tursun and her young children were taken into custody by Chinese police at the Dushanbe airport.

And they were not alone. The Tajik passengers said they saw five other people on the flight -- four women and a man -- who appeared to be Uyghurs on the flight.

Tursun's family in China later confirmed Zinnetgul and her children had been brought to China.

The identities and the fate of the other five people on the plane from Istanbul to Dushanbe, whom the Tajik passengers said looked to be Uyghurs, is unknown.

RFE/RL's Tajik Service, known locally as Ozodi, sent a request for information to Tajikistan's Foreign Ministry and Prosecutor-General's Office about the accusations that Uyghurs were being brought from Turkey and handed over to Chinese security officials in Dushanbe, but did not receive a reply.

The legal team for the Uyghur groups originally submitted their complaint to the ICC prosecutor in July 2020, but it said it required further evidence to initiate an investigation.

According to the East Turkistan Government in Exile's website, the new evidence handed over on June 10 establishes "that the court has jurisdiction to open an investigation into the crimes being committed against Uyghurs by Chinese authorities."

Dixon said after handing over the new evidence that it "shows a highly organized and systematic plan by the Chinese authorities to round up Uyghurs living in an ICC State Party and deport them back into China, where they are never heard from again."
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has visited a part of Nagorno-Karabakh that is under Azerbaijan's control along with one of the seven districts adjacent to the breakaway region that Baku regained control over last autumn as a result of a six-week war against Armenian forces.

Erdogan's June 15 visit, which was condemned by the Armenian Foreign Ministry as an "an outright provocation against regional peace and security," came a day after he met with U.S. President Joe Biden on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Brussels.

Upon his arrival in Baku, Erdogan traveled to the decimated town of Fuzuli to the southeast of Nagorno-Karabakh -- the first town that Azerbaijani forces recaptured last autumn from ethnic Armenian forces who'd controlled it since the early 1990s.

Erdogan was met in Fuzuli by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and his wife. They then traveled into Azerbaijani-controlled territory within Nagorno-Karabakh to visit the strategic city of Susa, which is known in Armenian as Shushi.

Azerbaijan's seizure of the mountain fortress city in early November was a key moment in the war. It gave Baku a tactical advantage over the Armenian forces and led to a Russian-brokered cease-fire that brought an end to the fighting.

Erdogan was honored there on June 15 with an official greeting ceremony. Afterward, he and Aliyev signed a document called the Susa Declaration on Allied Relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey.

Turkey provided Azerbaijan with both diplomatic and military support during the recent conflict.

Nagorno-Karabakh is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan. But ethnic Armenians who make up most of the region's population and still control part of the territory there reject Baku's rule.

During the early 1990s, ethnic Armenian fighters forced out some 750,000 Azerbaijanis from Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent districts of Azerbaijan in a war that claimed the lives of some 30,000 people.
Spectacular historical photos of the fiery, fortune-making oil fields of the Caucasus that once supplied half of the worlds "black gold."

This photo of an oil blowout near Baku is one of several pictures held by Zurichs ETH Library that capture the oil boom in the Caucasus city in the early 1900s.

When these photos were taken in 1912, in today's Azerbaijan, the area was part of the Russian Empire.

The region was long known for being rich in oil. The explorer Marco Polo is believed to have described Baku when he wrote "Near the Georgian border there is a spring from which gushes a stream of oil in such abundance that a hundred ships may load there at once. This oil is not good to eat; but it is good for burning and as a salve for men and camels affected with itch or scab." Around the time these photos were taken, the Baku oil fields supplied approximately half of all the world's oil.

The derricks are covered by wood panels to protect workers from rain and snow, and built tall enough for long drilling tools and well casings to be hoisted up and lowered into the wells.

The spectacular oil rush was driven largely by Russian and foreign entrepreneurs such as two of Swedens Nobel brothers, Robert and Ludvig, who founded the Branobel oil company in Baku in 1878.

The Branobel company name is an abbreviation of the Russian "Bratyev Nobel" -- Nobel Brothers.

The Nobels grew spectacularly wealthy from the Baku oil fields after solving transportation problems by installing oil pipelines and building the worlds first oil tanker (above), in 1878.

In 1906, the world's longest pipeline was completed, funneling kerosene 885 kilometers westward from Baku on the Caspian Sea to Batumi in today's Georgia.

The main oil extraction method at the time was "cable tool" or "percussion" drilling in which a chisel-like impact tool was lowered into the well and then repeatedly slammed into the rock below.

When the stone-cutting tools were lifted out to be sharpened, steel baskets lifted the broken rock to the surface.

The lifting and dropping of the impact tools was powered by steam engines (above), making Bakus vast "forest" of oil derricks a noisy and immensely dangerous place.

Cable tool drilling often resulted in sudden blowouts, or "gushers," when workers cracked into a pressurized reservoir of oil deep below the surface.

Sizzling-hot steam engines inside the derricks meant that explosions were commonplace. The violence of a blowout is portrayed in the 2007 film There Will Be Blood.

It is unknown how many workers died in the oil fields of Baku in the early years. In 1905, six laborers were killed in clashes over working conditions. A news report noted that, after widespread violence in the oil fields, workmen were granted "a nine-and-a-half-hour day, with an eight-hour day preceding holidays."

Baku was known at the time as a rough corner of the Russian Empire. Ludvig Nobel described Baku as "a rather disagreeable hole."
Katsyaryna Barysevich of Belarus is among four "courageous" journalists from around the world to receive the Committee to Protect Journalists' (CPJ) 2021 International Press Freedom Awards.

The New York-based media-freedom watchdog said on June 15 it will honor the "commitment and sacrifice" of Barysevich and journalists from Guatemala, Mozambique, and Burma, also known as Myanmar, for having reported "during a historically turbulent time, covering protests and political upheaval in their countries."

"In the midst of a battle over the control of information, these journalists are on the side of the people, covering events, informing communities, and ensuring accountability," CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon said in a statement.

Barysevich, along with Anastasia Mejia (Guatemala), Matias Guente (Mozambique), and Aye Chan Naing (Burma) "have paid a price, confronting violence, harassment, repression, and persecution but refusing to back down."

Barysevich is a correspondent for the Belarusian popular outlet Tut.by, whose staff members are facing detentions and harassment by the authorities amid a brutal crackdown on dissent and media following a disputed presidential election in August.

She has spent six months behind bars for her reporting on the death of a protester, Raman Bandarenka, during an unprecedented wave of open opposition to authoritarian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka.

Barysevich's articles included medical details that contradicted official claims that Bandarenka was drunk at the time of his death.

The winners of the 2021 International Press Freedom Awards will be honored during an annual ceremony in New York on November 18.
Russian police have removed Belarusian opposition politician Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya from their wanted list at the initiative of the Belarusian authorities, Russia's RIA Novosti news agency reports.

The report on June 15 comes a day before U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin are due to meet in Geneva for their first face-to-face talks since Biden was inaugurated in January.

Tsikhanouskaya was the main challenger of authoritarian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka in Belarus's August 2020 presidential election.

She left Belarus immediately after the vote, fearing for her family's security. She currently lives with her children in Lithuania, where she has continued to oppose the official election results as being rigged in favor of Lukashenka.

Authorities in Minsk placed her on a "most wanted list" after she called for her supporters to stage mass demonstrations against the official election results -- which gave Lukashenka a landslide victory widely seen as fraudulent.

Crisis In Belarus Read our coverage as Belarusians continue to demand the resignation of Alyaksandr Lukashenka amid a brutal crackdown on protesters. The West refuses to recognize him as the country's legitimate leader after an August 9 election considered fraudulent.

The European Union and the United States refuse to recognize the results and do not consider Lukashenka the country's legitimate president.

Russia, a key ally of Belarus, added Tsikhanouskaya to its wanted list in solidarity with Lukashenka's regime.

Lukashenka has since overseen a violent crackdown against those who've answered Tsikhanouskaya's calls to protest the results.

Thousands of people have been detained, including journalists working to cover the developments.

Most leading opposition figures have been driven from the country, while many of those still in Belarus have been detained by the police.

Belarusian authorities have filed more than 1,800 criminal cases against protesters.

Based on reporting by Reuters and RIA Novosti
MINSK -- A court in Belarus has set June 24 as the date for the start of a trial of Belarusian video blogger Syarhey Tsikhanouski, a leading opposition figure who was arrested after expressing his willingness to challenge Alyaksandr Lukashenka in last year's disputed presidential election.

Tsikhanouski is married to Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who took over the election campaign after her husband's detention and ran against Lukashenka but has since been forced to flee Belarus out of concern for her safety.

Several opposition figures and political prisoners charged in Tsikhanouski's high-profile case are also going on trial on June 24 inside a detention center in the southeastern city of Homel on charges widely considered to have been trumped-up.

They include popular blogger and RFE/RL consultant Ihar Losik, as well as Mikalay Statkevich, Uladzimer Tsyhanovich, Artsyom Sakau, and Dzmitry Papou.

Relatives of Tsikhanouski and the other defendants told RFE/RL on June 15 that they had been officially informed of the date and location of the trial.



Tsikhanouski is accused of organizing mass disorder, inciting social hatred, impeding the activities of the Central Election Commission, and organizing activities that disrupt social order. If found guilty, he faces up to 15 years in prison.

Tsikhanouski was the owner of a popular Belarusian YouTube channel called The Country For Life when he announced his willingness to run against Lukashenka early in 2020. He had used the channel to challenge and criticize the Belarusian authorities.



He was arrested in May 2020 shortly after election officials rejected his candidacy. He has remained in pretrial detention since then.

His wife took over the election campaign and ran as a candidate in the August 2020 presidential poll. She became the main challenger to Lukashenka, who has been the autocratic ruler of the country since 1994.



The European Union and the United States refuse to recognize Lukashenka as the legitimate president of Belarus after he claimed a landslide victory in the August 9 election.



The official election tally has been widely criticized as fraudulent. Tsikhanouskaya and her supporters claim that she won the vote.



The official results sparked months of mass protests.

Lukashenka has overseen a violent crackdown on the protesters which has seen thousands of people detained, including journalists working to cover the developments.



Many have been injured by baton-wielding riot police. There are also widespread allegations of systemic torture by authorities within Belarusian detention centers.



More than 1,800 criminal cases have been filed against demonstrators.

Tsikhanouskaya and other leading opposition figures have been forced from the country. She currently lives in Lithuania with her children.

Losik, who is among hundreds of political prisoners caught up in the crackdown, has been in pretrial detention since June 2020. He was initially charged with allegedly using his popular Telegram channel to "prepare to disrupt public order" ahead of the August election.

In April, he tried to slit his wrists and launched a four-day hunger strike after being informed of new, unspecified charges. He had previously launched a six-week hunger strike to protest the original charges.

RFE/RL President Jamie Fly on June 15 reiterated his call for Belarusian authorities to immediately release Losik and cease their "systematic targeting of journalists."

"On June 25, a year will have passed since Ihar Losik was unjustly seized in his own home by Belarusian authorities," Fly said.

"Since then, Ihar has endured mistreatment and psychological torture while in pretrial detention, which is about to be compounded by what can only be termed a show trial."
U.S. President Joe Biden says if jailed Russian opposition leader Aleksei Navalny were to die, it would be a tragedy that would damage Russias relationship with the United States and the rest of the world.



Biden was asked about the potential death of Navalny on June 14 during a news conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels that covered several other topics ahead of his upcoming summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Earlier this month, in a U.S. television interview by NBC News, Putin was asked whether he was willing to "personally ensure that Aleksei Navalny will leave prison alive" after completing his 32-month prison sentence.

Putin was unable to do so, saying "such decisions in this country are not made by the president," and claiming that Navalny will not be treated "any worse than anybody else who happens to be in prison."

Biden on June 14 said: "Navalny's death would be another indication that Russia has little or no intention of abiding by basic fundamental human rights, it would be a tragedy, it would do nothing but hurt relations with the rest of the world, and me."



Navalny was the target of a poisoning attack last year that he and his supporters have said was ordered by Putin. The Federal Security Service (FSB) and the Kremlin have denied any role in the poisoning.

In April, Navalny went on a 24-day hunger strike that raised fears he could die, and at one point he described himself as looking like a "skeleton staggering around his cell. He ended the hunger strike on April 23 and last week was transferred from a prison hospital back to his cell.



During the news conference Biden was asked about the specifics of the agenda of the June 16 summit with Putin in Geneva, Switzerland, but he declined to provide any or assess how hell measure the success of the summit.



He suggested he would be looking for areas of agreement with Putin, while also warning him against continued aggression toward the United States and its allies.



Im gonna make clear to President Putin that there are areas where we can cooperate, if he chooses, and if he chooses not to cooperate and acts in a way that he has in the past relative to cybersecurity and other activities, then we will respond, we will respond in kind, Biden said.



Biden described Putin as bright, tough, and a worthy adversary. But he indicated he would remain wary of any commitments coming out of their meeting, saying he would verify first and then trust.



Biden also said the NATO leaders he had spoken with about his meeting with Putin thanked him for planning it. Biden has faced questions about the possibility that it would only elevate Putins stature.



That sentiment also was brushed aside in the communique issued by the NATO leaders, which said Russia "continues to breach the values, principles, trust, and commitments outlined in agreed documents that underpin the NATO-Russia relationship."



Mentioning Russia more than 60 times, the lengthy document said there can be no return to business as usual" until Russia demonstrates compliance with international law and its international obligations and responsibilities.



The statement also included language about updating Article 5 in relation to major cyberattacks, which have become a significant and growing concern after a number of intrusions of U.S. government and corporate networks by hackers who U.S. officials have said are based in Russia.



The communique also took China to task for assertive behaviour that challenges the rules-based international order. It noted that China is rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal and is also cooperating militarily with Russia.



The leaders called on China to uphold its international commitments and to act responsibly in the international system, including in the space, cyber, and maritime domains, in keeping with its role as a major power.



Biden began his trip to Europe -- his first since becoming president -- at the Group of Seven (G7) summit in England over the weekend. The two meetings with America's closest allies ahead of the summit with Putin was intentionally designed to show the Russian president that democracies of the world are once again aligned against Russian aggression.

With reporting by Reuters, AP, and CBS
The top European diplomat coordinating international talks to revive a 5-year-old deal to limit Iran's nuclear activities has urged patience but says he thinks "the obstacles [are]...something that I think can be bridged."

Enrique Mora said on June 15 that progress had been made in Vienna, where the nuclear talks involving U.S., Iranian, and other negotiators began a fifth round last weekend.

The U.S. and Iranian delegates aren't meeting directly, but through envoys from Russia, China, France, Germany, and Britain.

"This is why we are here: to negotiate these different approaches, and I think we will succeed," Mora said.

U.S. President Joe Biden has been seeking unity on the Iranian issue among European allies during the past week of summits in the United Kingdom, Belgium, and now Switzerland.

Switzerland's foreign minister, Ignazio Cassis, meanwhile said after Biden's arrival there on June 15 that the U.S. president had expressed support for accelerating mechanisms for getting more food and medicines to Iran via a Swiss humanitarian "channel."

Cassis's country has spent decades as a diplomatic messenger between the United States and Iran, and he reportedly met with Biden for around 30 minutes.

Iran has been badly hurt by trade and economic sanctions since then-President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the 2015 nuclear deal that traded international sanctions relief for curbs on Tehran's disputed nuclear activities.

"The situation is very difficult at the moment," Cassis said, referencing this week's carefully vetted election in Iran to select a new president to replace relative moderate incumbent Hassan Rohani. "You know that [presidential] elections will be held in Iran very soon, and I think one should not have too high expectations."

Hard-line cleric and judiciary head Ebrahim Raisi is widely regarded as the front-runner among seven candidates cleared by election authorities from among hundreds of applicants to run for a five-year term as Iran's president.

"However it is clear that the intention of this American administration is to try to find a new path, which won't be easy, because there has been a long history of feuds," Cassis added.

Biden is on the final leg of a European tour that has included a Group of Seven (G7) meeting in Britain, NATO and EU meetings in Belgium, and concludes with a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin at Lake Geneva on June 16.

Critics of Trump's "maximum pressure" policy to change Iran's behavior in the region frequently criticized its failure to effectively distinguish between medicine and humanitarian goods and other kinds of imports.

"The trouble is it hasn't been used enough," Cassis said of the Swiss mechanism for getting such goods to Iran, "and why? Because there are transfers of funds that still require approval, and I think on this the U.S. is willing to accelerate their decisions so that this channel can be used to its full effect."

Historically nonaligned Switzerland has represented U.S. interests in Iran since the U.S. Embassy in Tehran was overrun by revolutionaries in 1979.

Cassis said Biden discussed with Swiss President Guy Parmelin the ongoing negotiations that are in a fifth round over Biden's publicly stated desire to revive the so-called Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), whose signatories also include Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia, and the support of the European Union.

"We talked about this nuclear agreement, about the intention of the United States to do everything it can to move things forward," he said.

With reporting by Reuters and AP
BUDAPEST -- The European Union and United States have issued separate warnings to Budapest after Hungary's parliament approved a controversial bill that bans discussions and dissemination of information in schools that is deemed by authorities to promote homosexuality and gender change.

Critics have slammed the legislation as an attack on the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people.

A total of 157 lawmakers backed the legislation on June 15 in the 199-seat parliament, which is controlled by Prime Minister Viktor Orban's ruling Fidesz party.

Opposition lawmakers boycotted the vote with the exception of those from the right-wing Jobbik party, which supported the bill.

After passage, Washington warned against the imposition of such laws on a free society.

U.S. State Department spokeswoman Jalina Porter said the new law "raises concerns" about "freedom of expression" and included restrictions that "have no place in democratic society."

European Commissioner for Equality Helena Dalli warned shortly before the bill's approval that the European Union could withhold funding over Hungary's move, echoing moves after six Polish regions declared themselves "LGBT-free."

"The message is that if you don't uphold the values of democracy or equality of the European Union, you are not entitled to take money for your project," Dalli was quoted by Reuters as saying in a video call earlier on June 15.

Asked if the bloc might take steps to block funding to Hungary if the legislation becomes law, Dalli said: "Yes, of course. Definitely."

In a reference to the Polish example, she said that "we think that if we extrapolate that to what is happening in Hungary, there might be also the same effect."

On June 14, thousands of protesters gathered in Budapest to condemn the legislation. It calls for a ban on books, films, and other content that are accessible to children and young people and in which sexuality is depicted other than heterosexuality.

The ban also applies to advertising in which homosexuality or transgender people are presented as being normal.



It was not clear what punishments could be meted out for those convicted of breaking the new law.

Orban's government has said that the legislation is needed to protect the "right of children to their gender identity received at birth."

Associations of the LBGT community and human rights advocates have said the law will "trample on the rights of homosexual and transgender youth."

They compared the ban to a discriminatory 2013 Russian law banning so-called "gay propaganda," which is viewed by human rights defenders as a tool of discrimination.

The legislation also has been criticized by the European Parliament's rapporteur on the situation in Hungary, French lawmaker Gwendoline Delbos-Corfield from the Group of the Greens.

"Using child protection as an excuse to target [LGBT] people is damaging to all children in Hungary," she has said.

Orban's government has backed a strongly conservative social agenda and stepped up anti-LGBT measures during the coronavirus pandemic.

His government has already embedded language in the constitution stating that marriage can only be between a man and a woman. It also has banned adoptions by same-sex couples.

Hungary's government has also retroactively prohibited legal status for transgender people, in a move ruled unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court.

With reporting by AFP, dpa, and Reuters
BUDAPEST -- Hungary's parliament has approved a proposal to donate state land to build a controversial Chinese university in Budapest despite a storm of local protests and criticism that the government is getting overly cozy with Beijing.

Lawmakers of Prime Minister Viktor Orban's ruling Fidesz party on June 15 voted overwhelmingly to donate several plots along the Danube River to the Fudan Hungary University Foundation.

That group will be in charge of the campus, which is slated to be built at a cost of around $1.8 billion at a site where affordable housing for Hungarian students had previously been planned.

The law requires the government to present the final plans of the project to parliament by the end of 2022, following a general election.

Orban said last week that the project would be put to a referendum.

The plan is unpopular in Budapest and nationally, with thousands of demonstrators taking to the streets of the capital this month to protest against it.

The decision to build the campus by 2024 using a $1.5 billion loan from a Chinese bank has raised concerns about the long-term impact of such a project on the country's higher-education system.

The government has argued that having a campus of the Shanghai-based Fudan University would allow Hungarian and international students to acquire high-quality qualifications.

But critics fear a lack of transparency and academic freedom.

Orban, who has notched three successive election landslides since 2010, faces stiff opposition for the first time in more than a decade, especially from Budapest's liberal mayor, Gergely Karacsony, who is eyeing a run against the right-wing nationalist in April 2022.

Earlier this month, Karacsony renamed streets surrounding the project site "Free Hong Kong Road", "Dalai Lama Road," and "Uyghur Martyrs Road" to highlight Chinese human rights sore points.

Orban has dismissed accusations that allowing a Chinese campus would open the door to greater influence for Beijing, which has also defended the project.

The Hungarian prime minister has built friendly ties with China, Russia, and other illiberal governments, while repeatedly clashing with the EU by curbing the independence of the Hungarian judiciary and media.

Orban's government this month blocked a proposed EU text criticizing Beijing's recent actions in Hong Kong, where it has dramatically boosted its reach on political and security affairs and cracked down hard on a major pro-democracy movement.

With reporting by Reuters
Both sides have downplayed the chances of breakthroughs at a summit between U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Switzerland, as the U.S. leader arrived in Geneva on the third leg of a major European trip.

The meeting at Lake Geneva on June 16 is their first since Biden became president, as the bilateral relationship is at what both men said this week was its lowest point in years.

A Kremlin aide said on June 15 that he still thought the summit would be useful, while a Biden administration official cautioned against expecting a lot of "deliverables."

"We're not expecting a big set of deliverables out of this meeting," the unnamed Biden team member said as Air Force One landed.

During a news conference on June 14 in Brussels, Biden was asked about the specifics of the agenda of the summit, but he declined to provide any or assess how he'll measure success.

He suggested he'd be looking for areas of agreement with Putin, while also warning him against continued aggression toward the United States and its allies.

Putin's foreign policy adviser, Yury Ushakov, told reporters on June 15 that the agenda -- apart from the final communiques -- was confirmed in his phone call with White House national-security adviser Jake Sullivan on June 14.

Nuclear stability, climate change, cybersecurity, and the fate of U.S. and Russian nationals who are in prison in each other's countries would be on the agenda, Ushakov said.

"I'm not sure that any agreements will be reached. I look at this meeting with practical optimism," Ushakov told reporters in comments cleared for publication on June 14. TASS also quoted Ushakov as saying the meeting was set to start at 1 p.m. local time.

"I'm gonna make clear to President Putin that there are areas where we can cooperate, if he chooses, and if he chooses not to cooperate and acts in a way that he has in the past relative to cybersecurity and other activities, then we will respond, we will respond in kind," Biden said.

Biden who in March said he believed Putin was a "killer," described the Russian president on March 14 as "bright," "tough," and a "worthy adversary."

But he indicated he would remain wary of any commitments coming out of their meeting, saying he would "verify first and then trust."

Russian-U.S. ties reached a post-Cold War low following Russia's seizure of Ukraine's Crimea region in 2014. Washington also accuses Moscow of interference in the 2016 presidential election and has imposed sanctions on Russian companies and individuals.

"The situation is just close to critical. Of course, something should be done in this context," said Ushakov, who was the Russian ambassador to the United States from 1998 to 2008.

With reporting by Reuters and TASS
MOSCOW -- Lyubov Sobol, a lawyer for jailed Russian opposition leader Aleksei Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), says she is quitting her bid to become a member of parliament in order to protect her campaign team from being prosecuted under a draconian law that targets Navalny's associates.

Her announcement follows a move by Russian authorities last week that banned all organizations associated with Navalny and labeled them as extremist groups.

Sobol told reporters in Moscow on June 14 that she cannot ensure the safety of her campaign team or sponsors in the run-up to September's elections for Russia's lower chamber of parliament, the State Duma.

Sobol said the banning of Navalny's organizations was politically motivated. She said Russian authorities are "scared" to allow her to take part in the elections because recent polls show her popularity among Moscow residents is much higher than the candidate representing Russian President Vladimir Putin's ruling United Russia party.

Sobol also said Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation will fight in all available courts, including the Strasbourg-based European Court of Human Rights, to reverse the June 10 decision by the Moscow City Court that labels the group as extremist.

On June 4, six days before the Moscow court's ruling, Putin signed a bill into law that bans supporters and members of organizations deemed by authorities as "extremist" from being elected to any public post.

Many in Russia see the law as an attempt to make it impossible for anyone connected with Navalny to gain public office.

While Russian authorities have been ramping up pressure on dissent ahead of the September election, public opinion polls have shown that support for Putin's United Russia party is at the lowest level ever.

Navalny's regional headquarters has been instrumental in implementing a so-called Smart Voting strategy -- a project designed to promote candidates who are most likely to defeat those from United Russia.

Navalny is currently serving a prison sentence on embezzlement charges that he says were trumped up because of his political activity and criticism of Putin.

Navalny has been in custody since January when he returned to Russia following medical treatment in Germany for a nerve-agent poisoning he suffered last August.

Navalny and his associates say the poisoning was carried out on orders from Putin by agents of the Federal Security Service (FSB). The Kremlin denies any role in the poisoning.

Since Navalny was jailed, the Kremlin has stepped up a crackdown against his associates. Many have fled the country in fear of being arrested.
MOSCOW -- Eight years ago in Moscow, 40-year-old Denis adopted Aleksei, who was two years old at the time. The abused baby of a teenage alcoholic, Aleksei had behavioral problems from the beginning of their life together -- orphanage staffers told Denis that Aleksei would hide under tables, wouldn't speak, and would generally act "wildly." It took months of rehabilitation and massage for him to learn to walk properly.



"It was strange to me that he never asked for anything like other children do," Denis, who asked that his real name and the name of his child not be used for this article for fear of repercussions, told RFE/RL. "He never paid attention to the television. When we went to the store at the beginning, he didn't seem to understand that you could buy things there."



Their time together has been full of challenges, but none has been as terrifying as what they have endured this year. In February, the authorities took Aleksei away and handed him over to Moscow child-protective services. Denis found himself being questioned -- albeit as a "witness" -- in a criminal investigation into alleged physical abuse. After prosecutors hinted that he might soon be charged as a suspect, Denis fled Russia on the advice of his lawyers. From abroad, he continues to fight to get Aleksei back.



An investigator told Denis's lawyer that the two men in plainclothes who attended Denis's interrogation before he left Russia were Federal Security Service (FSB) agents who had long been monitoring what the investigator described as this "strange" family: Denis is gay and his partner, who is also Aleksei's godfather, is a German who splits his time between Germany and Moscow.



The family's nanny, Lyudmila Abramova, said the accusation that Aleksei was subject to physical abuse is absurd.



"In eight years, he has been told to stand in a corner two or three times," Abramova told RFE/RL. "He was normally punished by being deprived of treats. He loves ice cream and candy."



"Every day Denis would come home from work and, tired or not, he took Alyosha for a bike ride," Abramova added. "They had two nice bicycles that are still hanging on the wall."

"I will never believe that his father beat him," agreed one of Aleksei's teachers, who asked not to be identified. Aleksei's swimming instructor, Aleksandr Kaluzhsky, told RFE/RL the same.



Aleksei's behavioral issues became really problematic when he made the transition from kindergarten to elementary school, his adoptive father said.



"He didn't want to study," Denis said. "He would throw school things around, wander around the classroom, take things from other kids. The complaints started from the very first day."



After two months in first grade, Aleksei was sent home for the rest of the year. Denis tried to hire tutors, but Aleksei's behavior drove most of them away. He enrolled Aleksei in three private schools but he never lasted more than three months.



"Intellectually, Aleksei is fine," Denis said. "He keeps up with the program. But he has social problems."



A school commission recommended Aleksei be enrolled in a special program for children with speech issues, although Aleksei did not have any such problems. But the program had more resources and smaller classes.



However, Aleksei continued to act up, throwing things out the window and once biting a teacher. He was put on a part-time schedule, completing half of his classes at home and half in a one-on-one situation with a school instructor.

The Moscow Education Department and the administration of Aleksei's school declined to be interviewed for this story.



Aleksei did somewhat better when the school was forced to go to distance learning in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But his problems continued as soon as in-person classes resumed. He went through four instructors, Denis said, and was often sent home from school early by the fifth.



'Looking For An Excuse'



"I had the impression that she had run out of patience with him," Denis said. "She began criticizing Alyosha very harshly because of his behavior and the disruptions he caused. At the end of 2020, the school began asking parents if they intended to continue sending their kids to the school the next year. Of course, we told them we did."



"They began strenuously recommending that Alyosha be sent to a special school for dangerous children," Denis continued. "We went there and met with the administrators, butwe didn't want to send my son there. I think our school was looking for an excuse to get rid of us."



It didn't take long to find one, Denis added.



In addition to his academic program, Aleksei had a full schedule of physical activities aimed at helping him develop his attention span and patience. His behavioral issues were a problem in this area as well. Denis said they went through numerous swimming pools and gyms.



"Sometimes it took a month, sometimes three months," he said, "but they always asked us to leave."



In February, Aleksei got into a conflict during a swimming lesson and cut himself on a lane divider. The instructor complained to Denis, but he took it as just another in a long line of similar incidents.



But soon after a school administrator noticed the bruise on Aleksei's neck and contacted Denis. He told her about the incident at the pool, but three hours later, a school counsellor called and asked Denis to come in for a meeting. At the same time, the school summoned a doctor and child-protective services. Alyosha was taken to a police station.



When Denis went to find his son, he was taken into the criminal-investigations unit and questioned.



The police were particularly interested in who lived at home with Aleksei and asked about his "second papa."



When Denis was sent back to the juvenile-affairs department, Aleksei was gone. Police told him that he had been taken to a hospital. When Denis asked why, they said: "Because we can't hand him over to you."



Police told him that Aleksei had told them not only that he was being raised by "two papas" but also that he was frequently beaten and often went hungry.

"The child has a tendency toward pathological fantasy," said psychologist Natalya Volgina, who has worked with Aleksei. "The family makes an excellent impression. The father is actively involved and participates in everything, in all the consultations. We can see that he has been doing everything correctly."



Initially, social workers told Denis, the Investigative Committee was considering charges of physical and sexual abuse. But the latter charge was dropped because of a complete lack of evidence. Officially, Denis has been classified as a witness.



Investigators questioned all of Aleksei's teachers and relatives, as well as Denis's friends. Only the swimming instructor who saw how Aleksei was injured has not been questioned, Denis said.



Investigators and a representative of child-protective services searched the family's apartment. After the search, Denis was summoned again to investigators. His phone was confiscated. He was asked if he had particularly adopted a child "with issues" because he "wouldn't understand what they were doing to him." The two FSB officers in plainclothes observed the questioning.



Later, investigator Vitaly Martynov told Denis's lawyer that the men were with the FSB and had been monitoring the "strange" family for a while. He said that they "know" that the two "fathers" have valuable assets abroad and take yachting vacations. Denis said these assertions are not true and that neither man owns significant property or a yacht.



'I Told Him We Love Him'



According to the lawyer, Martynov hinted that investigators don't believe Denis did anything wrong but want him to testify against his partner.



Shortly thereafter, Martynov asked Denis to take a lie-detector test. From this, Denis's lawyer concluded that Denis was likely to be named a suspect in the case and could even be charged. He advised Denis to leave the country. Around the same time, investigators indicated to Denis that the whole matter could be dropped for 9 million rubles ($125,000). With no guarantee of success, Denis was unwilling to get caught up in an illegal bribery scam.



Aleksei was handed over to the central Moscow Center for Support of Families and Children. Denis said that his son's condition has deteriorated significantly, and his behavior has become more erratic. At one point, he was hospitalized.

Nonetheless, authorities have either rejected or failed to respond to requests from Denis's mother, Aleksei's godmother, Denis's brother, and the family nanny that they be allowed to care for Aleksei while the case proceeds. Denis's mother and others applied repeatedly to be allowed to visit Aleksei, but none of their requests was granted.



Denis and the nanny were able to speak with the boy a couple of times by telephone, to assure him that they were fighting to get him back.



"They had told him that his father went away on a business trip," Abramova said. "He was crying and told me, 'I want to come home. It hurts.' When I asked where it was hurting, he said: 'There, where my heart is, granny. As if a bee stung me."



Authorities have also refused to allow the family to send Aleksei any packages. He is forced to wear institutional clothing. During one phone call he requested wet wipes to use in the toilet. An RFE/RL correspondent was present when officials agreed to take a package from Aleksei's godmother on the occasion of his birthday.



Abramova sometimes goes to the orphanage to watch Aleksei as he plays.



Recently "I went to the orphanage and was watching the children play through the fence," she told RFE/RL. "He came out with a social worker and saw me. He ran to the fence, calling 'Granny! Granny!' He latched onto the fence and the social worker had to pull him away. I told him that we would definitely get him back and that he needs to be patient and that we love him."



Nowhere To Turn?



After numerous requests, Denis was allowed to speak with the facility's doctor. "The doctor's answers were monosyllabic," Denis recalled. "Everything is fine. He's studying."



In the weeks since Denis left Russia, the case has stagnated.



"I think that I spoiled their fun by leaving," Denis said. "Apparently they haven't collected any evidence of guilt except for the child's words about the two fathers and stuff. The child was always in view. He went to school every day. He went swimming three or four times a week and was even monitored there in the showers. If he was being beaten, someone would have seen something. They can't proceed with the criminal case. They can't name me as a suspect. But they also can't return my child and close the case."

Denis's lawyer, Artyom Lapov of the LGBT-rights group Stimula, has filed several court requests asking investigators to turn over the document under which they ordered Aleksei removed from his home.



Because the office of the Investigative Committee that is handling the case is in a different district than where Denis lives, the courts have refused to hear his cases on jurisdictional grounds.



"We don't know where to appeal," Denis said. "We tried to appeal the refusals, but the Moscow City Court refused to hear both of the appeals."



Psychologist Alyona Sinkevich, of the NGO Volunteers for Child Orphans, told RFE/RL that Aleksei's fate in a state institution would likely be unhappy.



"When such a child ends up inside the system, he will likely be hospitalized," she said. "Most likely, he'll end up in an orphanage where they will try  to use a euphemism  to 'calm' him. In reality, that means keeping him on psychotropic medications so that he will be less dangerous to those around him."



"That is absolutely the wrong thing to do in such cases, but I can't throw stones at anyone," she added. "When you have a lot of children living in a group situation and there is one child like that and the adults who are responsible for everyone's health can't keep him under constant control, that is the only alternative. But will that alternative be good for Alyosha? No, it won't."



In the end, she predicted, such a person would end up spending his life in a psychiatric facility for adults.

Written by RFE/RL senior correspondent Robert Coalson based on reporting from Moscow by RFE/RL Russian Service correspondent Sergei Khazov-Cassia
MOSCOW -- In September 2000, just months after his inauguration to a first presidential term in Russia, a stiff and skittish Vladimir Putin sat in a New York studio across from legendary TV anchor Larry King.

"What happened with the submarine?" King asked about the Kursk, the nuclear-powered vessel that had sunk in the Barents Sea a month earlier after explosions on board, killing all 118 crew members.

"It sank," Putin replied. The clumsy line would dog him for years, as journalists in Russia and abroad continued to scrutinize his government's failed response to the tragedy.

Almost 21 years later, in an interview with the U.S. network NBC ahead of a June 16 summit with U.S. President Joe Biden, a more polished and media-savvy Putin avoided such gaffes.

Biden is the fifth U.S. president to serve since Putin came to power, and many of the questions Keir Simmons posed may have sounded familiar: The NBC correspondent probed allegations of Kremlin complicity in the killings of its critics, the issue of NATO expansion, and the government's treatment of opposition leaders like imprisoned Putin foe Aleksei Navalny, among other things.

Putin, who has now had years of practice honing his narratives and handling such questions, sought to dismiss the query about killings as an offensive against him, saying that he had "gotten used to attacks from all kinds of angles" and that "none of it surprises me."

And in his first major interview with a U.S. news outlet since 2018, Putin tried to turn the tables on the United States, talking up Russia's ties with China, accusing Washington of acting hypocritically on the world stage, and flatly rejecting concerns about Moscow's human rights record even as it continues a sweeping political crackdown ahead of parliamentary elections in September.

But analysts say Putin is less concerned during such interviews about persuading the U.S. public than he is about playing to his own domestic audience, while providing fodder for obedient Russian news outlets that portray him as an unflappable leader for whom no Western reporter is a match.

"They're not taking the opportunities to use foreign media exposure to actually change the conversation in the West," Sam Greene, director of the Russia Institute at King's College London, said of Putin and his Kremlin aides. "But what it does produce is a pretty picture, of Western journalists being respectful, being broadly unable to shake Putin, and being caught off-guard periodically or at least unable to come up with the right follow-ups."

That picture is widely broadcast within Russia, where TV stations prioritize video excerpts in which Putin challenges reporters or seeks to expose a lack of knowledge about international affairs.

On occasion, Putin has even been afforded a live audience for his sparring matches with American journalists. "Give her a pill or something," he said after being questioned by NBC's Megyn Kelly on a panel at an annual investment forum in 2017, provoking raucous laughter from a room filled predominantly with Russian officials and business leaders.

The drumbeat of triumphalist coverage that followed the latest interview, which was released in full on June 14 after excerpts were aired days earlier, was by now par for the course for the state-run and Kremlin-allied media in Russia.

"Putin knocked the NBC correspondent down a peg," ran a headline in the pro-Kremlin newspaper Izvestia on June 14. "The Chinese are delighted by Putin's interview with NBC," state news agency RIA Novosti declared. "Did you notice how many times Putin stuck it to him?" prominent host Vladimir Solovyov asked during his talk show on June 13.

But how convincing Putin's responses are to audiences in the United States and the West is another matter, and one that analysts say the Kremlin seems less concerned about. Some Western journalists who have interviewed Putin have come away saying he is difficult to corner, even if one doubts the truth of his remarks.

"You should not try to outwit Vladimir Putin -- I don't think that's going to happen. But you can try to box him in a bit," Kelly said after her NBC interview with Putin in March 2018. "He wasn't telling the truth about the matters that I was examining him on. He knew it, and I knew it."

Greene suggested that ultimately, that may not matter much to Putin and the Kremlin.

Since the disastrous Larry King interview after the Kursk disaster, Kremlin handlers have "learned how to spin it at home, and they've probably learned how to stop caring about how it plays overseas," he said. "There's a sense that more and more of what they do from a foreign-policy standpoint is being done for domestic consumption."
A first round of talks between the leaders of Serbia and Kosovo on June 15 in Brussels failed to make progress towards normalizing relations between the two Balkan neighbors.

Within hours of the meeting, the United States and European Union reiterated that they would keep up joint efforts at reconciliation between the bitterly divided former Yugoslav republics.

"We intend to further strengthen our joint engagement in the Western Balkans, including through the EU-facilitated dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina on normalization of their relations, and by supporting key reforms for EU integration," said a combined statement following a summit among U.S. President Joe Biden, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and European Council chief Charles Michel.

Serbian and Kosovar leaders last met a year ago as part of decade-long negotiations aimed at resolving disputes that continue to taint relations more than 20 years after the 1998-1999 Kosovo War.

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, nearly a decade after the war between ethnic Albanian separatists and the forces of rump Yugoslavia. The war ended after a 78-day NATO bombing campaign that drove Belgrade's troops out.

For nearly a decade, a NATO-led peacekeeping force (KFOR) provided security while a United Nations administration temporarily ran Kosovo.

Kosovo's independence has been recognized by more than 100 countries including the United States and all but five of the European Union's 27 member states. But Serbia still considers the territory a southern province, and is supported by Russia and China.

The meeting in Brussels on June 15 was also the first since Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti, a left-wing reformist, claimed a landmark victory in February's parliamentary elections -- pledging to take a new tack in talks with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.

The two leaders gave slightly differing accounts of the meeting, although both acknowledged the lack of progress.

Vucic said Kurti had "demanded" Serbian recognition and refused to discuss a 2013 deal to establish 10 Serbian-majority "municipalities" in Kosovo that has never been implemented

"I've never attended this kind of a meeting in my life. Complete lack of responsibility," Vucic said in televised comments.

"The man [Kurti] came to ask me -- when are you going to recognize independent Kosovo. I told him, 'Never,' and he exploded."

For his part, Kurti called the talks "constructive."

"We will take part in this process which is difficult," he told Kosovar media, adding: "The Serbian side talked about old proposals, we brought four new proposals which were refused by the Serbian side."

Despite EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell's initially optimistic assessment that "there is a new momentum" in discussing the unsolved issues of the Western Balkans, EU envoy Miroslav Lajcak admitted that "it was not an easy meeting."

"Both leaders had a very open and frank exchange on what they each want from the dialogue," Lajcak said.

Both sides agreed to push ahead with the talks and Lajcak said a new round would happen before the end of July.

Both Washington and Brussels insist that normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina is essential for their further integration into Euro-Atlantic institutions.

With reporting by AFP
The United States and European Union have announced an agreement to "establish an EU-U.S. high-level dialogue on Russia" to better coordinate policies and actions.

The pledge came after a summit between President Joe Biden and the heads of two major EU institutions, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council chief Charles Michel.

"We stand united in our principled approach towards Russia and we are ready to respond decisively to its repeating pattern of negative behavior and harmful activities, which Russia must address to prevent the further deterioration of relations including on the list of so-called unfriendly states," the declaration said.

Russia's government last month approved a list of "unfriendly countries" that included two states: the United States and the Czech Republic, the latter of which recently traded diplomatic expulsions with Moscow over evidence that Russian agents were behind a deadly explosion at an ammunition depot in 2014.

At a trio of international summits over the past five days -- with the Group of Seven (G7), NATO allies in Brussels, and senior EU officials -- Biden has sought to gather widespread European support for his efforts to counter Russia ahead of a key summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Geneva on June 16.

Biden has pledged to more directly challenge Putin on Russian actions like cyberattacks emanating from Russia, security issues like Ukraine and other European hot spots, and election meddling, while leaving a door open to cooperation in areas like climate change, arms control, and strategic security.

The European Union has shown divisions in its approach to Moscow, which is the bloc's biggest natural-gas supplier and a key player in international issues such as the Iran nuclear deal and conflicts in Syria and Libya.

The joint U.S.-EU statement includes a long list of warnings on topics like "continued actions to undermine Ukraine's and Georgia's sovereignty," where Russia has aided armed separatists or has troops.

They offered support for the "sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity" of Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova, which also has a contingent of Russian troops in its breakaway region of Transdniester.

The message also urged Russia's cooperation to ensure diplomatic protections, and demanded that Russia "stop its continuous crackdown on civil society, the opposition and independent media and release all political prisoners."

Moscow and the West have locked horns over the fate of jailed Russian opposition leader Aleksei Navalny since his near-fatal poisoning last summer with a Soviet-era nerve agent, after which he was medically evacuated to Germany.

"At the same time," the statement said, "we keep channels of communication open and possibilities for selective cooperation in areas of common interest."

With reporting by AP
ONTARIO  The Ohio District 5 Area Agency on Aging, Inc.s Vice President of Development, Teresa Cook is retiring after a 21-year career with the organization.

Teresa has been a leader since day one with a can-do attitude and a strong knack for innovation, said CEO Duana Patton.

Cook joined the Agency on Jan. 18, 2000 as a Service Coordinator. On Feb. 1, 2010, she became Community Programs Manager and on Jan. 23, 2014, was promoted to Chief of Marketing and Development. She leaves a legacy of programs, partnerships and projects that she helped implement.

Most recently, Cook led the Agencys development of Ritters Run Senior Apartments, which is in process, and will be completed next year. While she moved through several positions during her 21 years with the Agency, one thing remained consistent - her unwavering commitment to the mission and those served by the Agency.

Teresa was hired by Diane Ramey, Vice President of Medicaid Services.

Teresa will be most remembered for her passion and commitment to help older and disabled adults have available housing options," Ramey said. "By addressing tenant concerns and making individuals aware of housing options, she ensured many individuals had a safe place to live.

AREA AGENCY ON AGING

The Ohio District 5 Area Agency on Aging, Inc., located at Hawkins Corner in Ontario, serves the North Central Ohio area including Ashland, Crawford, Huron, Knox, Marion, Morrow, Richland, Seneca and Wyandot Counties, providing assistance to aging individuals and disabled individuals. Contact the Area Agency on Aging at 419-524-4144 or 1-800-560-5799. Find us on Facebook.
ONTARIO  Avita Health System has resumed its volunteer program and is welcoming current and new volunteers to roles at Bucyrus, Galion, and Ontario Hospitals.

We had to postpone the use of in-house volunteers in the spring of 2021 due to the pandemic, explained Tina Martin, Volunteer Manager for Avita Health System.

Many of our loyal volunteers were at high-risk for critical illness of COVID-19. In an effort to protect them, we stopped our volunteer program and closed the gift shops. It was a challenge to operate without their daily support, but we knew it was the right thing to do to keep everyone safe.

Recently, Avita lifted volunteer restrictions and is recruiting individuals 18 years of age and older for open positions. Volunteer opportunities are available Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. at all three Avita hospitals. Some of the volunteer duties include: hospital greeter, patient transporter, mail sorter, gift shop support, and cafeteria cashier.

We are excited to welcome our volunteers back into our hospitals and they are excited to come back," Martin said. "Im so impressed with their resilience, creativity, and dedication throughout 2020 and today.

"Even when we couldnt have them in the hospitals, many of them were at home sewing cloth masks for our employees and the community. They have giving hearts."

Some of the most important benefits of volunteerism are fellowship with others and contributing to the greater good. Volunteering is good for mental health and can improve ones mood, promote healthy physical activity, and provide an enriched sense of purpose. Volunteers at Avita often make meaningful social connections with other volunteers, employees, and patients.

Safety measures are in place to help protect our volunteers," Martin said. "Per guidance from the Ohio Department of Health, we still require masking, screening, and social distancing for volunteers, as well as employees, patients, and visitors."

To become a volunteer at Avita Health System, call Tina Martin at 419-468-0727 or fill out a volunteer application at https://avitahealth.org/services/auxiliary-volunteers/#application.
MADISON TOWNSHIP -- Madison Adult Career Center had its annual graduation for students completing Career Development Programs during the 2020-2021 school year on Friday, June 11.

Madison Adult Career Center holds its annual graduation ceremony to recognize students upon successful completion of their training programs. Special recognition was given to students earning perfect attendance and outstanding attendance.

Seven graduates were nominated by their instructors for Student of the Year: Whitney Arms, Dental Assisting; Lajonta Cameron, Medical Assisting Technologies; Amy Hanna, Medical Assisting Technologies; Joseph Honaker, Industrial Electrical Maintenance; Carol Tompkins, Medical & Legal Office Management; Cameron Voyik, Welding Technology; Alex Wells, Phlebotomy/EKG. Joseph Honaker was selected as the 2020-21 Student of the Year.

Students graduated from the following Career Development Programs: Advanced Cosmetology, Cosmetology, Dental Assisting, Industrial Electrical Maintenance, Medical & Legal Office Management, Medical Assisting Technologies, Phlebotomy/EKG, Precision Machining/CNC Technology, State Tested Nurse Aide, Welding Technology, and the Adult Diploma Program. Programs range from 96 to 1800 clock hours of training.

Graduates earn or soon will earn industry-recognized certifications, such as: OPAC certification in Word and Exel; Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA); Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS); Registered Phlebotomy Technician (RPT); Registered Medical Assistant (RMA); Registered Dental Assistant (AMT); Dental Radiography certification; Ohio State Board of Cosmetology Licensure in Cosmetology and Advanced Cosmetology; State Tested Nurse Aide (STNA); American Welding Society (AWS); National Institute for MetalWorking Skills (NIMS); The National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER); and Basic Life Support (BLS) and HeartSaver First Aid certifications.

All graduates earn an ACT WorkKeys National Career Readiness Credential (NCRC).

Madison Adult Career Center graduated 98 adult students this school year from the above Career Development Training Programs with 12 of them also earning their adult diploma.

Students graduating from Career Development programs who successfully meet graduation requirements receive a Certificate of Completion and a Career Passport in addition to their industry credentials.

To qualify for graduation, students must:

 Complete at least 90% of scheduled hours and 100% of required coursework.

 Achieve a 2.0 minimum grade point average

 Complete required externship, clinical, or job shadow

 Complete employability/work ethic curriculum

Madison Adult Career Centers disclosures as reported on their 2020 accreditation annual report include a completion rate of 79% with 79% of completers working in the related field of their training, and 96% of completers earning industry certification.

Madison Adult Career Center provides training to individuals who are unemployed, underemployed, dislocated workers, and employed individuals gaining new skills and/or upgrading their current skills.

Programs enable students to complete their training, earn certifications and enter the workforce quickly.

Madison Adult Career Center is

 accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC).

 an approved provider of post-secondary career technical education by the Ohio Department of

Higher Education.

 a member of the Ohio Association of Career Technical and Adult Education (ACTE).
MANSFIELD -- Michelle Swank admitted to a bit of fear Tuesday when talking about the loosening of COVID-19 restrictions at Dayspring, the county's assisted living center.

"Honestly, it's scary," the facility's executive director told Richland County commissioners. "Everything that we do to move forward, you're always bringing the possibility that someone could bring (the virus) in.

"It's a partial re-opening. But I think it's time we move forward," Swank said.

The facility at 3220 North Olivesburg Road, which currently has 52 residents, has not had a single case of COVID-19 since the pandemic reached Ohio 15 months ago. That's a remarkable achievement given how the virus spread and impacted nursing homes and assisted living centers around the county, the state and the nation.

Across Ohio, such facilities have reported 51,364 cases among residents and 38,069 among staff members, according to the Ohio Department of Health website.

"There has been a lot of prayer from everyone inside of Dayspring," Swank responded when asked how the site remained COVID-free. "We've had a little bit of luck, but it's been a lot of hard work and a lot of sacrifice by the residents and staff.

"We have asked (residents and staff) to do things to keep everyone safe. And by the grace of God, we have."

Swank said Dayspring will continue to follow Centers for Disease Control guidelines for assisted living centers and will it will remain closed, for now, to the general public.

Swank asked, and commissioners approved, to allow fully vaccinated residents to interact with the public when they are not under the supervision of a Dayspring employee. Swank said only six of the facility's residents have chosen not to receive the vaccine.

This change will allow residents to leave the building to do things like attend church, go shopping, visit family members and return to work. Swank said five residents had jobs outside Dayspring when the shutdowns occurred in March 2020 and four still have outside employment.

Residents who exercise these new freedoms must wear facial coverings in Dayspring common areas when they return, according to Swank, adding that unvaccinated residents will still only be able to leave the site for medical needs.

She said facial coverings are still required for Dayspring employees, vendors and visitors that need to come inside the building.

The changes take effect Tuesday, according to Swank, adding that residents and staff are excited about the loosening of rules.

"They have been waiting for this moment since the entire pandemic began," Swank said.

"We're going slowly. We do a lot of talking," she said. "Consistency is very important in any group of people."

Also on Tuesdays, commissioners:

-- approved a school resource officer for Lucas Local Schools for the 2021-2022 school year. The district pays 100 percent of the deputy's salary for school-related work and the Richland County Sheriff's Department pays when the district is not in session.

-- opened two bids for road salt to be used next winter. The bids were from Compass Minerals in Overland Park, Kansas, for $54.82 per ton and $697,858.60 total; and Cargill Deicing Technology in North Olmstead, Ohio, for $72.90 per ton and $928,017 total. Richland County Engineer Adam Gove will review the bids and make a recommendation to commissioners at a later meeting.

-- authorized CARES Act reimbursements for the engineer's office for $5,508.64 and $12,290.78 for the building maintenance department.

It's the only public commissioners' meeting this week. No session is planned Thursday, which is the board's other normal meeting day.
MIFFLIN  A resident of Mifflin has filed a petition to recall the villages mayor with the Ashland County Board of Elections  the first such petition its director of 22 years has ever seen.

Fred Craig, 64, filed the petition with the Ashland County Board of Elections on Tuesday.

If approved, the petition will appear on a ballot as a question: shall Vickie Shultz be removed from the office of mayor by recall?

Shultz did not respond to requests for comment.

In Ohio, all elected officials are subject to recall if they have served at least one year in office, according to state law. Petitioners are required to gather signatures equal to at least 15% of the total votes cast in the last regular, municipal election within 90 days.

In Mifflin, that number was 11, because 69 people voted in the last election, Craig said. His petition gleaned 14 signatures.

Ashland County Board of Elections Director Shannon Johnson said those signatures still need to be verified. The protocol for verifying signatures includes confirming the signer is a registered voter, verifying his or her address and doing a signature match.

But Ive never had a petition to recall filed, she said. So I cant elaborate much on the process yet.

Johnson said she has asked Ashland County Prosecutor, Chris Tunnell, for guidance on how to move forward.

Tunnell was not immediately available to comment.

Craig, a former mayor of the village, said Mifflins voters in November elected to reduce the yearly $2,200 stipend down to $2 a year. Council members pay decreased from $40 to 60 per meeting to $1 a meeting, he said.

But the solicitor found some sort of loophole and theyre still being paid, Craig said, citing information he obtained through a public records request.

Another issue he cited in the petition was the fact the villages sewage facility received 122 violations from Jan. 1, 2017 through Aug. 1, 2019. The violations were revealed by an April 2019 inspection report from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.

An EPA official visited the facility in early June to investigate the cause of a 5,000-gallon sewage dump into an unnamed creek that happened in May.

We never heard anything about those 122 violations, Craig said.

Craig served as village mayor from 2012 to 2016. Shultz was elected November 2015. Craig then ran against Shultz in 2019 but lost to a vote of 38-22.

Since 2009, there have been 45 recall campaigns in Ohio, according to BallotPedia. Of those, seven have resulted in approved recalls and three ended with resignations.

The majority of petitions from 2009 to date have either resulted in failed attempts or the petitions have failed to go to a vote.
HAYESVILLE -- Custom Hoists workers, represented by United Steelworkers Local 7008, went on strike outside the facility beginning Monday evening to demand higher wages, improved working conditions and lower insurance premiums.

Custom Hoists Inc. is a hydraulic cylinder manufacturing company in Ashland County, near Hillsdale Elementary School. The company also has a facility in Tianjin, China.

The strike began during the 6 p.m. work shift Monday, said Ray Bowman, who is a part of the union negotiating team. The union voted down the most recent Custom Hoists contract with 66 no votes and two yes votes, he said.

Custom Hoists president Mike Kuharik said the company is working with a lawyer to resolve the contract dispute. The company was in the process of drafting a response to the union as of Tuesday morning, Kuharik said.

We made an offer. They turned it down. So we continue to work on a resolution, Kuharik said.

Kuharik declined to comment on the specific demands of the workers on strike.

The workers concerns about facility conditions include poor air quality and cleanliness, Bowman said. They are also frustrated with Custom Hoists' employment of temporary workers.

(Temporary workers) will be here for 60 days and theyre supposed to let them go, but they end up staying and taking full-time jobs, Bowman said.

Approximately 70 people are participating in the strike overall, Bowman said. Small groups of workers are taking turns, in four-hour shifts, sitting outside the facility with lawn chairs next to a sign that reads "Local 7008 on Strike."

Bowman has worked for Custom Hoists since 1983, he said. He participated in an earlier strike in 2000 but said conditions have worsened in recent years.

Many of those striking have worked at Custom Hoists for 30 to 40 years, according to those striking during the 6 a.m. shift Tuesday.

Mike Frymier, who struck during his 6 a.m. shift Tuesday, has worked for Custom Hoists for over 37 years, he said.

Frymiers main frustration is a lack of compensation for working during the COVID-19 pandemic.

We were deemed essential during the pandemic, Frymier said, explaining the facility did not cease operations aside from two days when the company closed because of potential positive COVID-19 cases among the employees.

Then, in return for that, we got literally nothing, Frymier said.

In addition to demanding higher wages, the workers expressed frustration with the companys two-tier pay scale.

Average pay is approximately $25/hour, Frymier said, but some employees are paid less for the same work.

Someone who has been with the company for a few months or a few years, for example, can make $6 less an hour for doing equal work under the tiered system, he said.

Bowman said he and others were not satisfied with the past three contracts, but the majority ultimately voted to approve those contracts.

Now, he said, the union has collectively decided to demand better conditions and compensation.

Security was stationed in vehicles outside the Custom Hoists facility. The workers gathered, standing and sitting in lawn chairs they brought, within a perimeter sectioned off by caution tape in front of the facility.

No timelines or deadlines for negotiations have been established.
Decades after we learned of the dangers of lead exposure, too many children in Ohio continue to be poisoned by the homes they live in and the water they drink.

In 2018, more than 3,800 Ohio kids tested positive for lead levels. And we know the real number of children exposed is likely much higher  many children who are at-risk of lead poisoning never get tested. Sadly, many Ohio families learn only that their children have been exposed to toxic levels of lead after they begin to experience symptoms.

Early detection is key to getting kids the treatment they need to avoid the worst long-term health outcomes. Lead poisoning is a serious health threat for children that can lead to decreased cognitive performance, weight loss, and delayed growth. And children under age six are at the greatest risk.

Thats why I joined a bipartisan group of my colleagues, including Senator Portman, to introduce the Preventing Lead Poisoning Act. This legislation would ensure children enrolled in Medicaid or the Childrens Health Insurance Program are tested for lead poisoning. Right now, only 38 percent of kids on Medicaid receive their required lead screening tests.

Not only does testing ensure that children get the follow-up care they need, it also helps us identify and remove lead hazards where we find them. The best way to protect our kids is to prevent lead poisoning before it happens.

According to the Ohio Housing Finance Agency, more than two-thirds of homes in Ohio are old enough to contain at least some lead-based paint. And we all know the dangers of lead pipes. Ohioans remember the crisis in Sebring a few years ago, when families worried their drinking water was unsafe and the city spent tens of thousands of dollars on bottled water for residents.

We need a transformative infrastructure investment that puts Ohioans to work replacing lead pipes and doing lead mitigation in homes. It will create jobs, and it will protect kids health. No parent should have to worry that their children are being poisoned by their home or their drinking water.
Written By

Joe Schulz served as the reporter of the Green Laker in 2019 and 2020, before being hired as a reporter for the Commonwealth in October 2020. He is from Oshkosh and graduated from UW-Oshkosh in December with a bachelor's degree in journalism.

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Rocky Mount, NC (27804)

Today

Thunderstorms likely in the morning. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon. High 78F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near an inch. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Isolated thunderstorms during the evening, then partly cloudy overnight. Low 64F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.
Rutland, VT (05701)

Today

Rain. High 64F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall may reach one inch..

Tonight

Overcast with rain showers at times. Low 54F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
Danvers, MA (01923)

Today

Steady light rain in the morning. Showers continuing in the afternoon. Cooler. High 66F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Cloudy with occasional rain showers. Low 57F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
SANFORD POLICE DEPARTMENT

Theft of a 9mm Glock pistol reported at 4:10 p.m. Sunday in the 4300 block of Lee Avenue.

Jose Alberto Laboy, 30, of the 400 block of Dudley Avenue, Sanford, was arrested at 1 a.m. Sunday in the 2000 block of South Horner Boulevard on charges of possessing a controlled substance with intent to sell, possessing a controlled substance and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.

Luis Fernando Moreno, 27, of the 900 block of South Vance Street, Sanford, was arrested at 6:30 p.m. Saturday in the 300 block of Fields Drive on a misdemeanor charge of assault on a child under age 12.

Theft of two packs of fake fingernails reported at 12:06 p.m. Saturday at Family Dollar, 910 N. Horner Blvd.

Theft of laundry detergent reported at 12:53 p.m. Saturday at Family Dollar, 1935 S. Horner Blvd.

Jesse James Walters, 31, of Deep River Road, Sanford, was arrested at 3:10 a.m. Saturday in the 400 block of Carthage Street on misdemeanor charges of assault on a female and resist/delay/obstruct an officer.

Theft of $600 reported at 7:47 p.m. Friday in the 100 block of Humber Street.

Damage to two private road gates belonging to the City of Sanford reported at 11:08 a.m. Monday in the 100 block of North Sixth Street.

William Abel Yates, 24, of the 900 block of Clark Circle, Sanford, was arrested at 2:33 p.m. Friday in the 900 block of North Horner Boulevard on charges of failing to appear in counts in Lee and Durham counties.

Emily Anne Jackson, 32, of Deep River Road, was arrested at 11:30 a.m. Friday in the 400 block of Carthage Street on a misdemeanor charge of simple assault.

Jose Carlos Dimas, 33, of the 800 block of Oddfellow Street, Sanford, was arrested at 10:31 a.m. Friday in the 1400 block of South Horner Boulevard on a misdemeanor charge of failing to appear in court.

Shaw Page Dunlap, 23, of the 100 block of Anna Street, Lillington, was arrested at 3 a.m. Friday in the 400 block of Trotter Drive on a misdemeanor charge of being drunk and disruptive.

Theft of a 2002 tan Honda CR-V Ex sport utility vehicle, NC license plate JET 4029, reported at 3:12 a.m. Friday in the 1500 block of Winslow Drive.

LEE COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE

Lindsey Jolynn Eaton, 38, of the 600 block of Rocky Ford Road, Sanford, was arrested Sunday on a charge of failing to appear in court.

Rashaahn David Watkins, 24, of the 600 block of Chelsea Drive, Sanford, was arrested Sunday on a charge of violating a domestic protective order.

Dion Laquan Johnson, 29, of the 900 block of Louise Circle, Fayetteville, was arrested Sunday on charges of being a fugitive from justice in Virginia, breaking into coin-operated machines and obtaining property by false pretense in Wilkes County.

Bacilio Manuel Perez, 37, of the 5000 block of South Plank Road was arrested Friday on a Montgomery County charge of failing to pay child support.

Brandon Shaquan Palmer, 34, of the 500 block of Tempting Church Road, Sanford, was arrested Friday on a charge of failing to appear in court.

Jamar Hundley Terrell, 29, of the 2100 block of Kildaire Circle, Sanford, was arrested Friday on a charge of failing to appear in court.

D-Erik Trovelle Crump, 29, of Keystone Lane, Sanford, was arrested Friday on charges of harassing phone calls, misdemeanor breaking and entering, first-degree trespassing, injury to real property and a probation violation.

The theft of DVDs and a floor jack was reported Saturday in the 1900 block of Rice Road.
Fathers Day is coming up on Sunday, June 20th. Even though its an important holiday, its still a Sunday, which means you may have errands to run before the workweek begins. If you usually complete your financial transactions over the weekend, you may be wondering, are banks open on Fathers Day 2021?

Banks dont close for Fathers Day specifically. But they may still be closed on June 20th because Fathers Day falls on a Sunday this year. Heres everything you need to know about bank and credit union hours so you can plan ahead.

Are Banks Open on Fathers Day 2021?

Unfortunately, most banks probably wont be open this Fathers Day. However, this has nothing to do with the holiday, so dont blame dad for the inconvenience!

Many banks will be closed on Fathers Day because it falls on a Sunday. Financial institutions are usually open Monday through Saturday but shut their doors on Sunday.

However, there are always exceptions. Some banks do open for a limited number of hours on Sunday. TD Bank, for example, is usually open from 11 AM to 3 PM. But hours can vary by location, so make sure you call your local branch to confirm theyll be open before you make the trip.

Here are some other banks that may be open on Sunday to assist you with your financial needs:

Bank of America

Chase

Huntington Bank

PNC Bank

Sterling National Bank

Banks inside grocery stores are also more likely to be open on Sundays. So if you need to make a deposit this Fathers Day, check to see if your local supermarket has a branch inside of it.

If you cant find a bank near you thats open, dont panic. You can use the ATM and your banks website or mobile app to take care of important tasks that cant wait till Monday. Even if your preferred bank is closed on Fathers Day, youll still be able to pay your bills, check your balance, initiate transfers, and more online.

Will Credit Unions Be Open?

Credit unions usually follow the same operating schedule as banks. Most credit unions are open Monday through Saturday and are closed on Sundays and federal holidays.

But if your favorite credit union is located in a retail store like Walmart, you may be in luck. Like banks, credit unions inside retail stores and supermarkets are more likely to be open on Fathers Day.

Here are a few credit unions inside Walmart locations throughout the country that are known to be open on Sundays. As always, call to confirm their hours before you drive all the way there.

Denali Federal Credit Union in Alaska

First Community Credit Union in Missouri

L&N Federal Credit Union in Louisville and Crestwood, KY

Service Credit Union in Amherst, NH

Plan for Limited Hours and Delayed Transactions

Even if your bank is open on Sunday, there are still a few things you need to keep in mind.

Sunday isnt a business day, so your bank wont be able to start processing certain transactions like check deposits until Monday. Make sure you plan for those transaction delays so youre not caught off guard.

Another thing to keep in mind is that banks and credit unions have limited Sunday hours. Usually theyre only open during the morning and early afternoon from around 10 AM to 1 PM. This may conflict with your Fathers Day brunch plans. So instead of visiting the bank on Sunday, it may be better to go on Saturday or save the trip for Monday.

Are you planning to visit your bank this Fathers Day, or are you going to take care of your financial transactions online? Let us know in the comments section below.

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NEW YORK (AP)  The tragedies of Brian Wilson's life is a rock n roll story well told.

The postscript  that he's a survivor nearing age 80 who appears to be supported personally and professionally in a way he never really had before  is less familiar.

Despite some uncomfortable moments in Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road, that important update is the point of the documentary that premieres Tuesday at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York.

The film's heart is a series of drives around southern California, where Wilson and Rolling Stone magazine editor Jason Fine talk, listen to music and occasionally stop at restaurants. There's a comfort level between the two; Fine is a journalist who has become a friend.

Wilson, the creative force behind the Beach Boys, has dealt with an abusive, hard-driving father, the mental illness Schizoaffective disorder where he'd hear voices berating and belittling him, and band members often resistant to where he was going musically. Add in years of drug abuse, a quack psychologist who effectively held him prisoner for a decade and the younger brothers who died early, and it's a lot to endure.

He doesn't deserve the accolades about his music, Elton John says in the film. He deserves the accolades about his personal life.

John, along with Bruce Springsteen, Don Was and Linda Perry, are eloquent in describing what made Wilson's work unique and enduring, crucial to making the film appeal to more than just his fans.

Film director Brent Wilson (no relation) contacted Fine after his own attempts to interview Wilson bore little fruit. Fine said his own experiences with the musician have taught him that being there when he's ready to talk has always been a big thing with Brian.

So they hit the road, eventually filming some 70 hours.

Wilson's importance to southern California is evident at some of the stops along their drive. A sign now marks the spot where a Beach Boys album cover was shot. While the boyhood home of Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson in Hawthorne no longer stands, a plaque marks that location, too.

I didn't feel that Brian's story, Brian's third act now, had been done properly, Fine said in an interview with The Associated Press. I think that Brian is often seen as a recluse, as a victim, as someone who burned out (and)... lost his way, he said. That's not how I see Brian at all. Ever since I've known him I see him as a hero, a courageous person, who gives everybody who goes to his shows strength and inspiration.

Fine said that I wanted to show people Brian's humanity, his decency, his kindness, his humor, his curiosity.

In the film, Fine stops the car outside of the former home of Wilson's brother Carl, who died of lung cancer at 51 in 1998. Fine gets out; Wilson wants to stay in the passenger seat. The camera catches Wilson wiping away a tear.

At another point, as they passed a spot where he once owned a health food store, Wilson says that I haven't had a friend to talk to in three years.

They are moments that are deeply discomforting, bordering on exploitive. Wilson is clearly a damaged soul and, for his sake, you wonder at times in Long Promised Road if he would have been been better served by the dignity of privacy.

Fine doesn't see it that way.

All of it is done on Brian's terms and on Brian's comfort level, so I don't see it as exploitive, he said.

Wilson himself, in a Zoom call with reporters, said little. Asked why he agreed to participate in the film, he said, I dont know. I just made up my mind.

Fine said it appears that the level of fandom that Wilson inspires is sometimes intimidating. He was struck once, following a show where Wilson and his band performed the Pet Sounds album, when Wilson told him that he'd always doubted it, but that now he thought that people loved his music and that he was doing what he was supposed to be doing.

You'd think that was something he would felt over the last 60 years or so, being onstage with people singing and screaming for his music, he said. But what you feel inside is different than what comes from the external sources. I think that he feels the love and I think that's huge.

After all the years where his life was dominated by negativity, Wilson now has a positive, supportive personal life with wife Melinda and their family. He's also surrounded by musicians who clearly revere him and are devoted to bringing what Elton John called the orchestra in Wilson's head to life.

Nerves drove Wilson off the concert circuit at the height of the Beach Boys' success. Now he loves performing, Fine said.

Perhaps, within himself, Wilson has accepted that he's done things that mean so much to others, he said.

That sort of simple message he really wanted to give people through his music going back to the 60s  a sense of warmth, a sense that its going be OK in the same way that music lifted him up from his darkness, he'd try to do for other people, he said. "I think now, more than earlier in his career, he accepts that he does that and that's a great comfort to him.
A SeaTac woman is facing felony charges on allegations that she threatened to blow up a school bus, then called middle school students cowards as they fled.

In court documents, King County prosecutors claim Ubax Gardheere boarded the Highline School District bus on Jan. 12 as it made its morning rounds. Once aboard the Chinook Middle School-bound bus, Gardheere allegedly demanded the driver tell his dispatcher "that a national security incident was going on."

Gardheere, 29, then began yelling at the children, berating them about America's relationship with Somalia, according to police reports. When the children and driver told Gardheere to leave the bus, authorities alleged the incident took a violent turn.

"You need to calm yourselves down 'cause I could have a bomb," Gardheere said, according to a police recounting of an audio recording of the incident. "Look how loose my clothes are."

Children began fleeing from the rear door of the bus, which was stopped near South 208th Street and International Boulevard South. As they did so, Gardheere began screaming that they were "cowards" for abandoning their classmates, police allege.

Approached by police, Gardheere allegedly told the arresting officer she was "prepared to die," a King County Sheriff's Office detective told the court. No weapons were found on her.

Asking that Gardheere be held on $50,000 bail, Deputy Prosecutor Gretchen Holmgren noted that the woman's threats left students afraid for their safety.

"While speaking with the middle school students, the defendant stated that she might have a bomb and might have a gun," Holmgren wrote the court. "When students attempted to escape out the back of the bus, she called them cowards and told them they would be responsible if something happened to their classmates.

"Several students believed she had a weapon of some kind and many feared for their lives."

Jailed immediately after the incident, Gardheere was released Friday after posting bond, according to jail records. She has been charged with threats to bomb or injure property.
BRUSSELS (AP)  The leaders of Serbia and Kosovo on Tuesday resumed EU-brokered negotiations aimed at resolving a long-lasting dispute that remains a source of tensions in the volatile Balkans.

But the meeting in Brussels between Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovo's new Prime Minister Albin Kurti appeared to produce little progress in the negotiations that first started in 2011 and have been stalled since last year.

It was not an easy meeting, but it was important that it happened, said the EU's special envoy for the talks, Miroslav Lajcak. What is important for the European Union is that both leaders confirmed that there is no other way forward but to normalize relations between Kosovo and Serbia.

Both countries have been told that they cannot hope to move forward in their efforts to join the EU before resolving the decades-old rift that exploded in a conflict in 1998-99, leaving more than 10,000 people dead and triggering a NATO intervention.

Kosovo, formerly a province of Serbia, declared independence in 2008 but Belgrade has refused to accept that. While Kosovo has been recognized by the United States and most EU nations, Belgrade has relied on support from Russia and China in its bid to retain claim on the territory.

Both Vucic and Kurti criticized each other's positions in separate statements after Tuesday's meeting. Vucic said Kosovo wanted to hear when we will recognize independent Kosovo ... and I said never." He complained that Kosovo's approach "had nothing to do with reality and responsibility."

Kurti said on Facebook that he has proposed a joint Kosovo-Serbia peace statement in which we commit as states that will not attack each other and thus impact on peace and security in the region. The other side proposed only old ideas, he said.

We expressed our readiness for a constructive dialogue on reciprocal recognition, Kurti wrote.

Since the start of the EU-brokered negotiations, delegations from Belgrade and Pristina have agreed on a number of issues, tackling everyday problems such as free travel or trade. But they remained far apart on Kosovos independence.

Lajcak said talks will continue by the end of July. He insisted that the European Union as well as the citizens of Kosovo and Serbia have high expectations from the two leaders to overcome the legacy of the past and steer Kosovo and Serbia to their common European future by being able to normalize relations between them in a comprehensive way. 

European Commission Vice-President Josep Borrell earlier urged leaders of the rival Balkan nations to seize the opportunity of a new momentum and move forward in the negotiations that have been stalled since last year.
BRUSSELS (AP)  The deal the United States and the European Union reached Tuesday to end their long-running rift over subsidies to Boeing and Airbus will suspend billions in punitive tariffs. It will ease trans-Atlantic tensions. And it will let the two sides focus on a common economic threat: China.

But the breakthrough still leaves some trade friction between the U.S. and the EU unresolved. Most prominently, President Biden kept in place import taxes that President Donald Trump imposed on European steel and aluminum, a move that infuriated some of Americas closet allies three years ago.

For now, Tuesdays truce in the Boeing-Airbus dispute goes a long way toward repairing a huge commercial relationship  $933 billion in two-way trade last year despite the pandemic  that came under enormous strain during the Trump years. Among other things, the former president angrily charged the Europeans with using unfair trade practices to sell more products to the United States than they bought and of shirking their responsibility to pay for their own national defense.

No trade dispute between the two sides has raged longer than their aviation conflict. Since 2004, the U.S. and the EU have accused each other of unfairly subsidizing their aircraft-building giants  Americas Boeing and Europes Airbus. Over the past two years, the World Trade Organization, which adjudicates such disputes, declared both sides guilty. It allowed the United States to impose up to $7.5 billion in tariffs and the EU up to $4 billion' worth.

The tit-for-tat duties victimized companies that have nothing to do with aircraft production, from French winemakers and German cookie bakers in Europe to spirits producers in the United States, among many others. Tuesday's agreement brought a measure of relief to companies on both sides of the Atlantic.

For about 20 years, we have been at each others throat, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai said. We have been too busy fighting each other.

In March, weeks after Biden took office, the two sides agreed to suspend the tariffs. That suspension, which began March 11, was to last for four months. The agreement announced Tuesday will officially take effect July 11 and will put the tariffs on hold for five years.

Its obviously a good sign  they agreed to something, said William Reinsch, a former U.S. trade official who is now an analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

The truce, he said, will add an element of certainty and sanity to trans-Atlantic trade.

But Reinsch notes that the two sides kind of kicked the can down the road, by leaving unsettled some issues in the aircraft dispute, such as whether Airbus must repay the government subsidies it received over the years. Instead, the U.S. said in a fact sheet, the two sides had agreed to establish a group "to analyze and overcome any disagreements that may arise.

The deal might help solidify the duopoly of Airbus and Boeing, which together dominate the global market for airline jets. Both companies have struggled recently with declining orders and deliveries at a time when the pandemic devastated air travel and led airlines to cancel or delay purchases.

Tuesdays agreement made clear that the United States and the EU recognize that Boeing and Airbus face an external threat far bigger than each other: As part of its aggressive drive to become the world's dominant industrial power, China is intent on developing its own plane-making industry with heavy government support.

It will be a classic Chinese game plan," Reinsch said. The government in Beijing will force all the Chinese airlines to buy theirs. Theyll create a market. Their planes will get better, and once theyve gotten better and cheaper, theyll start flooding the global market."

The U.S. and EU have agreed to work together to counter Beijing's efforts to obtain foreign aviation technology. They plan to take joint action against unfair trade practices that appear intended to give Chinese plane manufacturers unfair advantages.

Richard Aboulafia, an aerospace analyst with Teal Group, suggested that the agreement will help the U.S. and Europe pivot to present a united front against China. He noted that Chinese airlines delayed deliveries from Boeing and Airbus during the pandemic but continued to take deliveries from Chinas own aircraft manufacturer, COMAC.

The Chinese want to close their market and go their own way, and the biggest export market on the planet for Airbus and Boeing just goes away, Aboulafia said.

The U.S.-EU agreement wont stop China from doing that, he predicted, but at least they can prevent a scenario where China divides the West and plays the U.S. and its allies off against each other.

In another sign of a trans-Atlantic reconciliation, the Group of Seven wealthy countries, including France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom, agreed this month to a Biden administration proposal for a 15% global minimum tax on the earnings of multinational corporations.

The idea is still a long way from taking effect. But a global corporate tax could potentially resolve another dispute between Washington and Europe: Several European countries, frustrated that big tech companies are so deft at avoiding taxes, have imposed digital services taxes aimed at American companies such as Google and Apple.

Calling the taxes unfair, the U.S. has prepared tariffs in retaliation. But a global tax rate that hits a broader range of multinationals could defuse the issue by raising tax revenue without discriminating against U.S. companies.

Washington and its European trading partners remain sharply at odds over Trumps 2018 steel and aluminum tariffs. What the Europeans found especially galling was the justification for the import taxes: Trump declared the foreign metals a threat to U.S. national security, even though many of the countries hit hardest by the levies were Americas NATO allies.

What's more, the tariffs did not directly address the biggest problem that steel and aluminum manufacturers face: Vast overproduction from China keeps global metals prices lower than they would otherwise be.

Despite pledging to mend relations with Europe, Biden has so far kept the Trump tariffs in place. They are popular with American trade unions and metals manufacturers in the U.S. Midwest, a region politically crucial to Biden and his Democratic Party.

Still, in a goodwill gesture last month, the EU agreed to suspend plans to escalate tariffs against U.S. products in the metals dispute. And in a joint statement, the two sides said they would address overproduction of steel and aluminum and hold countries like China that support trade-distorting policies to account."

The answer is a global arrangement in which everybody else forces the Chinese to eat their surplus steel and aluminum, Reinsch said.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed cautious optimism that a deal on the metals tariffs could be reached by years end.

___

Wiseman reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Samuel Petrequin in Brussels, Jamey Keaten in Geneva and David Koenig in Dallas contributed to this report.
President Joe Biden will seek to stave off another surge of civilian suffering in the devastating war in Syria when he meets President Vladimir Putin this week, appealing to Putin to drop a threat to close the last aid crossing into that country.

Russian forces have helped Syrian President Bashar Assads regime survive the more than 10-year conflict and Putin hopes to be a broker for Assad in any international reconstruction effort for that country. Russia holds the key veto on July 10 when the U.N. Security Council decides whether to extend authorization for the aid crossing from Turkey.

Putin meets with the American president in Geneva on Wednesday in their first face-to-face since Biden took office. The Russian leader already has pressed successfully for shutting down all other international humanitarian crossings into Syria, and argues that Assad should handle the distribution of any aid.

The aid crossing from Turkey into rebel-held northwest Syria serves up to 4 million people in Syrias last remaining rebel stronghold. A decade of civil war in the Middle East country has killed a half-million people, displaced half of the population, drawn in foreign armies and extremist groups and left the economy in ruins.

Shutting down the international aid corridor and putting Assad's government in charge of any humanitarian distribution would help position Assad as the winner in the war and Syrias rightful ruler in the aftermath, and deepen the regional influence of Assads ally, Russia, in any rebuilding of Syria.

Assistance should be given through the central government, Putin told NBC News in an interview ahead of his meeting with Biden.

If there are fears that the assistance would be stolen, aid groups can post observers, the Russian leader said.

Opponents say Assad's regime has not hesitated to use civilian starvation and siege as a weapon in the war, and fear a destabilizing surge of refugees into neighboring Turkey if the crossing shuts down.

The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, visited the threatened Bab al-Hawa border crossing between Turkey and rebel-held northwest Syria earlier this month to warn that closing it would bring senseless cruelty.

Turkey, which already holds close to 4 million Syrian refugees, joins the U.S. in opposing closure of the crossing.

Mona Yacoubian, a senior adviser for the U.S. Institute of Peace think tank, said closing the Bab al Hawa aid crossing could precipitate this humanitarian catastrophe and a destabilizing surge of refugees.

Bidens possible points of leverage with Putin, Yacoubian said, could include stressing the harm that a new round of civilian suffering in Syria could do to Russias image as it positions itself to oversee hoped-for Arab and other international aid to rebuild Syria.

There also could be consideration of granting humanitarian waivers on sanctions that the United States and others have levied on the Assad regime, Yacoubian said.

Russia argues that U.S. support for what started out as a peaceful uprising in Syria, and condemnation of Assad's and other repressive governments during the Arab Spring, fostered instability and violence and boosted Islamic extremist groups.

Many in Biden's administration were also in the Obama administration when it considered, but held back from, military intervention to stop Assads chemical attacks on civilians. They have since expressed regret that the United States' overall handling of the conflict failed to stop the bloodshed.
CLAIRE MAULDING, SPECIAL TO THE SEATTLEPI

SEATTLE (AP)  The bodies of a woman and man were found after a fire at a Seattle homeless camp, fire officials said.

Crews responded to the city's Mount Baker neighborhood at around 3 a.m. Monday after receiving reports of smoke and flames at the encampment, Kristin Tinsley of the Seattle Fire Department said on the department's blog.
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Keene, NH (03431)

Today

Cloudy with periods of rain. High 67F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers late. Low 54F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
Sara Gobets / Special to The Chronicle

Crews continue to clear wreckage from last years historically destructive wildfire season, even as the state braces for another onslaught of fires.

Ash, contaminated soil and burned metal have been removed from more than 93% of the homes and businesses enrolled in a state program to clear damage from the 2020 wildfires, California Office of Emergency Services said in a statement Monday. But most of those 3,500 properties still require soil testing, erosion control, and hazard tree removal before families can rebuild, officials said.
The day is here: California is lifting many restrictions on businesses including restaurants  which now can seat diners to full capacity, the first time theyve been able to do so since March 2020.

For those of you who are ready to go to eat and drink in full force again, The Chronicles food and wine team has a lot planned for you. Look out this week for recommendations on wineries to visit, outdoor restaurants to try and cool new bars that have slowly been gaining steam over the last year.

Until then, here are some restaurants and bars that our staff plan to put on their personal to-do lists as businesses reopen. The pandemics not totally over, but with high local vaccination rates, were ready to embrace hope and get back inside restaurants and bars, whether its a place that weve gone a million times or one that weve been fantasizing about for months (or even years).

House of Prime Rib

Sometimes I think Im a terrible Bay Area native for having never gone to the House of Prime Rib. Growing up, my family wasnt particularly interested in steakhouses, generally choosing something like sushi or pasta for a special night out. Then, as an adult, my job necessitated that I constantly seek out the newest restaurants instead of visit a beloved classic.

In 2019, when a few San Francisco institutions like Lucca Ravioli Company permanently closed, I pledged to right my wrongs and finally eat at the House of Prime Rib. I set an alarm in my phone to book a reservation for my birthday six months ahead and eagerly awaited May 2020. You all know what happened next. Now, Im scanning OpenTable and see that I cant get a reservation to the House of Prime Rib until January 2022. So I guess Ill spend the next seven months dreaming of those cushy red booths and agonizing over my order: English Cut? City Cut? I cant possibly finish the King Henry VIII  or can I? 1906 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco  Janelle Bitker, staff writer

Kelsey McClellan / Special to The Chronicle

Mister Jius

I didnt get a chance to visit San Francisco again before moving during the pandemic for this job, and took a real leap of faith that I would like it here. Thankfully, I visited for fun in 2019 and was charmed by both the Bay Area and its restaurants, most notably Mister Jius and its upstairs bar, Moongate Lounge. I recalled being awed by the whole experience  the seductive design of the bar, the familiar Chinese flavors in unexpected forms. It felt like artistry, a culimination of the Chinese American experience through dining that Id never quite seen. Though this team is not the only one in the country to open a contemporary and upscale Chinese American restaurant, it was in my opinion the most succesful.

Now, many months into living here, I see that the Bay Area is adept at this kind of cross-cultural culinary endeavor, in spots like Breadbelly and Viridian. Yet I am itching to return to Mister Jius to relive that memory. Since its finally opened its interior once again, its at the top of my special-occasion dining list. 28 Waverly Place, San Francisco.  Serena Dai, senior food & wine editor

Jen Fedrizzi / Special to the Chronicle

Off the Grid

On June 15, Off the Grids food truck events will be coming back to some locations, including San Francisco and Menlo Park, and Im so thrilled to be able to double fist a bowl of noodles and quesabirria tacos for lunch again. Im a sucker for open-air markets where I can pace the length of the stalls and trucks, all so I can strategize about what Im going to get and how much stomach room I need to allot for it.

When we were working at The Chronicle building every day, I was thrilled to be able to stop into the Off the Grid event near the office to get dishes like a whole fried milkfish or loaded Oaxacan-style nachos for lunch. It was the kind of stuff that was a bit absurd to bring to your desk, especially because I got fish bones all over my keyboard, but a part of me delighted in the impracticality of it all. Visit the website for locations.  Soleil Ho, restaurant critic

Jen Fedrizzi/Special to the Chronicle

SingleThread

Yes, I know youre probably going to say, damn that East Coast transplant (I recently left New York to move to San Francisco for this job) just picked one of the swankiest restaurants to visit in the area, but hear me out: My husbands family is from the Bay Area and his cousin first told us about SingleThread shortly after it opened toward the end of 2016. Ive been trying to score a reservation ever since, and it just never quite lined up with our visits out west; no surprises there, given most of our visits happened during the holidays.

Now that we live here permanently, Im more determined to visit than ever before. And a large part of that is the fact that weve essentially been at home for more than year. Given that Im not planning to go on any grand vacations anytime soon, Im ready for a truly transportative, blowout dining experience, much like what Soleil described in her review of the restaurant in March. SingleThread appears to be booked up solid through the end of July for parties of two, but maybe Ill finally snag a reservation just in time for my birthday in September. 131 North Street, Healdsburg  Tanay Warerkar, assistant food & wine editor

Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more.

Tenroku and the Social Study

One of my favorite Saturday night itineraries became impossible during the pandemic. Wed take the bus to Japantown, gorge ourselves on sushi at Tenroku, catch a movie at the Kabuki (or, on the occasions we had tickets, a concert at the Fillmore), then get a nightcap at the Social Study on Geary. I miss each of these activities  and I still have some pre-pandemic Fillmore tickets whose reschedulings I am eagerly awaiting  but lately Ive especially had a hankering for Tenroku. This conveyor-belt sushi restaurant on the second floor of the Japantown mall always felt homey and welcoming, and the closely spaced stools around the circular bar meant that we were always making new friends with whom to clink our sake glasses. I miss the spicy, crimson-red squid salad piled into a loosely wrapped nori sheet, the barely-torched hamachi nigiri topped with slivers of ankimo (monkfish liver) and the slippery unagi coated in a sweet, salty glaze. Its going to feel strange to return to this style of dining, with tight seating and communal plates, but I think Im finally ready.

As for the Social Study, a bar that remained closed for much of the pandemic due to the fact that it doesnt have outdoor seating, I cant wait to return to its dark, cozy lounge seating and order my regular: the Yellow Diamond ($9), a simple concoction of sparkling wine, Lillet Blanc and a mandarin peel. 1825 Post St. #215, San Francisco; 1795 Geary Blvd., San Francisco  Esther Mobley, wine critic

Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle

Viridian

If the Chronicle food team Slack channel is any indication, I should have gone to eat and drink at Viridian like, yesterday. The technicolor Oakland bar sounds like exactly the kind of place I want to celebrate an optimistic, semi-fantastical return to normalcy, from the clubby neon lighting and allium milk bread to cocktails that sound so fun they make me, a socially anxious introvert even sans a global pandemic, want to rush out for a seat at the bar.

I already know Ill be ordering the tomato beef cocktail and Thai tea boba bowl dessert. Like critic Soleil Ho wrote in her recent review of Viridian: There is next to nothing about this place that you can do at home. And thats the point. 2216 Broadway, Oakland  Elena Kadvany, staff writer

Serena Dai is The San Francisco Chronicles senior food & wine editor. Email: serena.dai@sfchronicle.com
In an about-face, the University of California will require all students, staff and faculty to be vaccinated against the coronavirus this fall, even though the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the vaccines only for emergency use.

UC President Michael Drake does plan to move forward with the vaccine mandate, Regent Eloy Oritz Oakley told The Chronicle.

The decision reverses a proposed policy UC announced in April to require vaccinations only after the FDA fully approves at least one of the three vaccines now being administered to Americans under emergency authorization. Its not clear when the FDA will give full approval.

Instead of enacting that policy, UC consulted faculty and student health directors, who expressed strong support for a way to maximize the safety of all campuses, UC said in a statement late Monday.

In light of that, and because the FDA is expected to fully approve the vaccines eventually, UC made vaccinations mandatory now to give everyone time to comply before the start of the fall semester, UC said.

These vaccines have undergone and will continue to undergo the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. history, the university said.

Drake, a physician, expressed strong support in the spring for the vaccines, even as UC was proposing to hold off on requiring vaccinations for employees and students.

Receiving a vaccine for the virus that causes COVID-19 is a key step people can take to protect themselves, their friends and family, and our campus communities while helping bring the pandemic to an end, Drake said in April.

UC has more than 280,000 students and 227,000 faculty and staff, and expects to return to mostly in-person instruction at its 10 campuses this fall. Start dates vary throughout August and September.

UC has said it would exempt students from the vaccination requirement if they have medical or religious reasons.

Union leaders said all such requirements for staff need to be negotiated through collective bargaining rather than imposed by the university.

Having said that, we are very pro-vaccination and have encouraged it for our members, said Todd Stenhouse, spokesperson for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299. It represents health care workers, custodians, food service workers, gardeners and other employee groups.

Yet, AFSCME and the University Professional & Technical Employees union, which also represents health care workers as well as researchers and pharmacists, filed an unfair labor practice charge against UC in the fall over the universitys mandated flu vaccinations. The unions accuse UC of making it difficult for employees to receive exemptions.

Joaquin Chavez, vice president of the University Professional & Technical Employees, said the union wants to ensure that employees with immunocompromised relatives at home can be exempted from the vaccine without losing their jobs.

At least 70% of UC employees were vaccinated against the coronavirus by spring, Jamie McDole, a nurse case manager at UC Davis and the unions president, told The Chronicle in April.

California State University officials said Monday that they still plan to wait for full FDA approval before mandating COVID vaccinations. But that could change.

We will continue to evaluate the situation as we get closer to the fall term, CSU spokesperson Michael Uhlenkamp told The Chronicle.

Stanford University plans to require vaccinations for its students this fall.

Nanette Asimov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: nasimov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @NanetteAsimov
The Rev. Amos Brown is the embodiment of history. A champion of the American civil rights movement, Brown has experienced firsthand what most have read in books.

Born in 1941 in Jackson, Miss., Brown was a few months older than 14-year-old Emmett Till, who was brutally killed in Money, Miss., in 1955  an hour away from Browns home. The anger surrounding Tills murder sparked a movement for justice among the Black community, and magazine images of the boys mutilated face led a terrified Brown to the Mississippi field office of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and its new field secretary, Medgar Evers.

I told him how upset I was, and just how evil those men were, Brown said. And he said to me, Amos, dont just be sad, mad and upset. Lets be smart.

Now 80, Brown has dedicated his life to following Evers advice and to the enrichment and liberation of not only Black Americans, but Black people around the world. At age 15, he started the first NAACP Youth Council in Jackson, and in 1960 Brown was arrested alongside the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. at an Atlanta lunch counter sit-in. Two years later, as a student at Morehouse College in Atlanta, he was one of eight students in the only college class taught by the civil rights leader.

Today, Brown is the president of the NAACPs San Francisco branch, and has served as pastor of Third Baptist Church of San Francisco in the Fillmore district since 1976, advocating for the rights of all people regardless of race, religion and sexual orientation. In 2008, when a measure to ban same-sex marriages was on the California ballot, he was one of the few Black ministers to oppose the measure. Recently, he was also appointed to the citys African American Reparations Advisory Committee.

They say in Mississippi, God gave us two eyes to see, two ears to hear and one mouth to speak, Brown says. And the more you look, listen, speak less and do the right thing, the better we all will be.

This interview is part of Lift Every Voice, a series that connects young Black journalists with Black elders in our communities to celebrate and learn from their life experiences. The San Francisco Chronicle has joined Hearst newspapers, magazines and television stations to publish dozens of profiles as part of the project.

Now Playing: Video: Caron Creighton

Q: After all the violence against Black people and trauma youve witnessed both during your childhood in the South and more recently, how are you able to carry such violent memories without being paralyzed by them?

A: How do I do it? Because I know America. America is a racist country. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints did a family search on me. They (went back) five generations (and found) my great-great-grandfather, Patrick Brown. He was born enslaved in 1821 in Roxie, Miss., and even in spite of that cruel, evil system of enslavement, that didnt make him bitter. It made him a man to respond to the oppression of Blacks by defining his own reality. What was that reality? To be a learned man and to own some land.

These documents I received verified that Patrick Brown in 1882 bought 150 acres of land in Franklin County, Miss. He didnt let having been a slave define him. He and two other African American gentlemen were able to acquire land and to build a church and a school. I have the documentation that Patrick Brown, who was chair of the trustee board of what became Bethlehem Baptist Church, received that land and established those two institutions.

Q: Would you say youre inspired by Patrick Browns work?

A: It did verify the things Ive done in my years on this Earth had to happen because it was in my DNA. So as Alfred, Lord Tennyson said in his writing of Ulysses, I am a part of all that I have met. And its a blessing to me that even in my genealogical chart there was a meeting of self-determination, of enlightened piety, social justice, and high and noble respect for education.

Q: What was it like to personally learn from the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.?

A: That was fulfilling what my name meant, what my ancestry demanded of me. Dr. King was a very regular, down-to-earth person. He was not haughty and arrogant at all. In fact, in physical stature, he was only 57  a short man  but the thing that made him bigger than life was his intellect and his commitment to the welfare and advancement of others. And the other thing that I learned, sitting at his feet there at Morehouse, was the idea of personalism. What is personalism? Every person should be viewed as having dignity regardless of how different they may be. We should respect them.

Q: Black people have long distrusted police, but other communities, including white people, are voicing distrust today. Can we improve the relationship police have with our communities?

A: The police need to understand that to wear that badge is not license for you to beat up on human beings. No. 2, you are human, and as a human being, deserving of respect and safety, you should want the same thing for others. Thirdly, you always need the right kind of police. Because we live in a world in which everybody who is taking advantage of the least of those, or everybody who has lost his or her manners and is causing pain and destruction for others, must be checked. Policing should be done with common sense, compassion, courage and high professionalism. And you do that by working with people, not working at them, around them or over them. In communities where that kind of principle is lived out, you are developing what Dr. King called the beloved community.

Q: As a San Franciscan, do you believe that the Bay Area is a safe haven for Black people and other people of color?

A: No. The Bay Area and specifically San Francisco has been living a lie. The city does not deserve the brand and image that it has of being liberal and progressive. The only thing San Francisco is liberal and progressive on is sex. Thats it. And there should be no restrictions on persons on how they express their sexuality, but theres a problem for Black people to get quality education in San Francisco. (Statewide assessments show a stark achievement gap between Black students and other students in the San Francisco Unified School District.) Since 1970, we have lost Black people who were pushed out of this city. The 70s Black population was between 15-16%. Well now its down to about 4%. (According to the U.S. Census, the 2019 Black population of San Francisco was 5.2%.) That didnt happen by accident and it wasnt just economics. This happened because of public policy.

Q: How can young Black activists keep our history alive?

A: First of all, what Im sharing with you needs to be a story thats told every month, every week, every day. We need to have rituals of remembrance. There should always be intergenerational gatherings of the elders regularly sitting down with the younger generation and telling the story of how, even in spite of persecution, their ancestors excelled. Thats whats missing.

And that its important for people to read, and to know history. To have whats called a Sankofa Experience. Theres a bird in Ghana, West Africa, the Sankofa bird. The bird that looks back with the egg in its mouth to go forward. The moral behind that symbolism is you cannot go forward to a bright future unless you know history, you know your history and you have wisdom. The wisdom to weigh that history and know what things represent wisdom, common sense and the good for all humankind.
There may be no one on Earth who knows the words and writings of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. better than Clayborne Carson. In 1985, Coretta Scott King handpicked Carson to edit and publish her late husbands archive of sermons, speeches and correspondence.

Carson took on the challenge and brought it to Stanford University, where he is the director of the Martin Luther King Jr. Research and Education Institute and has spent the past decades on the King Papers Project, turning the civil rights leaders archives into a series of books, with seven volumes published so far and plans for 14 in all. Carson, 76 and now retired, is dedicated to activism and promoting change regarding Black lives and the freedom struggle. Today he spends his time educating young activists by holding office hours at the Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Center in Oakland.

This interview is part of Lift Every Voice, a series that connects young Black journalists with Black elders in our communities to celebrate and learn from their life experiences. The San Francisco Chronicle has joined Hearst newspapers, magazines and television stations to publish dozens of profiles as part of the project.

Now Playing: Video: Caron Creighton

Q: Do you remember your first thoughts back in 1985 when Coretta Scott King asked you to take on and edit Dr. Martin Luther Kings papers? Did you set any goals after accepting this challenge?

A: My first thought (was), do I really want to do this now? Because King was not the center of my research. That was rather a broader topic of the freedom struggle, and I focused on young people, the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. Young people in SNCC thought that they were ahead of King; they were the vanguard that King was trying to catch up with, rather than the other way around. I kind of had that attitude.

I admire King a great deal, but I wasnt a follower. I felt that the work that I started doing in Los Angeles when I was at UCLA, organizing in South Central Los Angeles, was at least as important as what King was doing in the South, taking on part of the problem, but there was still another part of the problem that was more national. Deeper-rooted problems. He was trying to overcome a particular system of segregation, but I felt even once that was done, it really wouldnt change things very much outside the South or even inside the South. People would still be poor, they would still need jobs, and they still wouldn't have political power.

I first said there might be some other people, and I remember suggesting David Garrow, who wrote a book about King. There was another aspect to this, and that is that she wanted someone willing to move to Atlanta. At that point in my career, I wasnt about to leave a tenured job and especially with my kids in school to go to Atlanta to work on a project that might go on for a while. Well, it has gone on for 35 years.

Q: What have you learned about King through receiving those papers that you did not expect?

A: I think learning more about his relationship with Coretta has been exciting. The love letters he wrote to her when they were dating back in 1952, and discussing things like socialism. Coretta was much more of a political activist than he was at that time. She was two years older than he was. She had been politically active since 1948 with the Progressive Party. That was the third party in the 1940s that was set up and it was kind of socialistic; it was against the Cold War. She knew people like Paul Robeson, for example, who was a major figure in the Progressive Party, and Martin had none of that kind of experience. He was much more sheltered. He lived at home through his years at Morehouse (College), and then he went out to a small seminary in Pennsylvania, Crozer Theological Seminary, in a very isolated small town. Then he went off to Boston University, and thats where he met Coretta.

Q: How important is it to have archives like the King Papers Project as a resource for movies, books and movements today?

A: Well, if you dont know your history, how are you going to move forward? If you don't know where you are, how can you know where youre going in the future? (If you) dont know anything about the past, how do you even know where you are?

Its kind of like saying, Where are you geographically? without knowing the geography of the world. And then the only way you know that youre in the United States is that somebody tells you that theres a map and youre here. History is kind of like that too. You have to know something about what happened before ... before you can figure out where I should be heading or at least what I should be escaping from.

Q: Did you see the film One Night in Miami, which depicts Cassius Clay, Jim Brown, Sam Cooke and Malcolm X all in conversation one night during the civil rights movement? Who are four people youd like to sit in a room with to have a conversation with each other and why?

A: Yeah, I watched it. I think all of us who are into ideas and studying and reading books, all kind of think, Gosh, itd be nice to sit down and have a conversation with XYZ and have them all together around a dinner table. Some of them I have already met, like I met Jim Brown, who came by the institute one day.  I wrote a book about Malcolm X, so obviously it would be wonderful to have a conversation, but I feel privileged because I have had conversations with some of the people that would be on my wish list. I had the Dalai Lama come by. Ill be talking probably in about an hour with Bernard Lafayette, one of the Freedom Riders and one of the people who worked very closely with Martin Luther King.

A lot of those kinds of people  Andrew Young and Dorothy Cotton, Bob Moses  each of us has our list of people who weve learned from, fascinating people to talk to, and I guess one of the things that I think has been very fortunate in my life is that I can tick off at least 20 or 30 of those types of people who I have had extended conversations with. You always have those regrets that I never got a chance to have a personal conversation with Martin Luther King. But on the other hand, I had 20 years of conversations with Coretta King, and lots of other people around Martin Luther King. So in a way, I kind of know him now.

Q: Youve taught at Stanford, Morehouse College, Emory University and UC Berkeley, just to name a few. What drives you when teaching young students around the work of Martin Luther King?

A: When I see myself as a teacher, I see that as part of the process of learning. You cant teach and you cant write unless you first learned. When I walk into the classroom, I try to be one step ahead of my students. Now, a lot of times Im like 12 steps ahead, but I want to be at least one step ahead.  If I walk into a classroom and some students in there know more than I do, then we should exchange places. It has to be a constant process of trying to keep learning. The lecture I would give today is hopefully better than the lecture that I would have given a year ago.

I have heard about teachers who write out their lectures, and they come in and its the same as they gave the year before. And I just despise that. Whats the point of that? It seems like itd be the worst kind of boring. I want to come in and try to say something new every time I go into the classroom. Of course, now Im going into the virtual classroom.

Q: What brings you joy today, and what do you look forward to in the future?

A: Keeping busy, doing things I like to do now. Im at a stage in my life where I dont have to go to an office ever again. Im at a stage where I dont have a job; I have titles. None of my titles require me to go to an office to do any specific thing. Thats ideal, just being able to spend each day doing something that you think is interesting. Either reading or writing or talking with someone and teaching online, which is nice since I dont even have to go someplace to teach. I can just sit here at the same place where Im sitting right now and, in exactly an hour, I will be teaching.
As California officially, fully reopens, signs continue to mount that San Francisco and the Bay Area are moving toward a post-pandemic reality. Most Bay Area counties have said they will follow the state guidelines rolling out today. See how COVID rules will change near you here. Still, many across the region seemed inclined to keep their masks on, at least for the time being. Despite the momentous occasion in California, the nations death toll crossed 600,000. The grim milestone came as 14 states and Washington D.C. reached President Bidens goal of administering at least one shot of a COVID vaccine before July 4.

Resources on COVID-19 and Californias reopening: For detailed maps and new city-by-city Bay Area data, check out The Chronicles Coronavirus Tracker. Follow live updates on Californias June 15 reopening here. See a visual guide to what will and wont change here. To get regular updates on our coverage, sign up for our coronavirus newsletter.

Arizona governor bans vaccine requirements, masks for students: Gov. Doug Ducey signed an executive order Tuesday stating that students at Arizonas public universities and community colleges cannot be mandated to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, forced to show proof of inoculation or wear masks in order to participate in learning. They also cannot be required to be tested for the coronavirus. The vaccine works, and we encourage Arizonans to take it, Ducey said in a statement. But it is a choice and we need to keep it that way. He added, Public education is a public right, and taxpayers are paying for it. We need to make our public universities available for students to return to learning.

Fireworks return to Disney parks in July: Nightly fireworks shows will return to Disneyland starting July 4, according to a blog post from Disney. Walt Disney reportedly called the nightly shows, a tradition since 1957, the Southern California amusement parks kiss goodnight to guests. The shows will also return to Walt Disney World in Florida beginning July 1. Beginning in July, just in time for the nations Independence Day celebrations, our incredibly popular nighttime fireworks spectaculars are returning to Disney parks, the post said.

Solano County Fair plans in-person return: The Solano County Fair Association on Tuesday announced that in addition to its previously planned virtual The Fair is on the Air programming, organizers have added three days of onsite music and food to this years festivities. The fair will offer a drive-in concert format, with the Delfonics on Friday, a Juneteenth celebration on Saturday and a car show on Sunday.

14 states hit Bidens 70% vaccination goal: So far, 14 states and D.C. have reached President Bidens goal of administering 70% of adults with at least one shot of coronavirus vaccine ahead of July 4. New York became the latest state to hit the milestone. A dozen states have fully vaccinated at least half of their population against COVID-19, according to data published Tuesday by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Oregon, which has yet to hit the 70% threshold, became the latest state on Tuesday to report more than 50% of its residents are fully vaccinated. The states that have hit both marks are Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington state.

Pakistan ramps up pressure for population to get vaccinated: Officials in Pakistan are resorting to fairly drastic measures in an effort to get their citizens vaccinated. Two provinces are blocking cellphone service for unvaccinated residents, and some government employees who havent gotten a shot are seeing their pay suspended, The New York Times reported.

Marin County resident among $1.5 million vax drawing winners: A Marin County resident was among the winners of Californias $1.5 million drawing for those who are vaccinated. A majority of the 10 winners were from Southern California, with four winners from Los Angeles County alone. Riverside, Santa Barbara, Sacramento, Stanislaus and Ventura counties also had winners. The winners were not identified by name, only by county of residence.

American Express will let employees work from home two days a week: American Express will allow most employees to work from home for up to two days a week permanently, Reuters reports. Most of the U.S. and U.K. staff of the credit card issuer will have the choice to work remotely on Mondays and Fridays starting October, AmEx Chief Executive Officer Stephen Squeri said in an internal memo. AmEx will begin bringing back employees to the office starting Sept. 13, with an aim to fully adopt the hybrid model in the week of Oct. 4.

CDC labels delta a variant of concern: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has upgraded the delta coronavirus variant (B.1.617.2, first discovered in India) as a variant of concern. That means there is evidence of an increase in transmissibility, more severe disease, significant reduction in neutralization by antibodies generated during previous infection or vaccination, reduced effectiveness of treatments or vaccines, or diagnostic detection failures. Experts believe the variant caused the devastating surge in coronavirus infections in India over recent months. United Kingdom Health Secretary Matt Hancock recently said the variant accounts for 91% of new cases seen in the U.K. and is replacing the alpha (B.1.1.7) variant as the dominant version there. It has now been reported in at least 60 countries including the U.S. The CDC previously considered the Delta variant a variant of interest.

U.S. death toll tops 600,000: COVID-19 elevated its deadly toll Tuesday  to more than 600,000 American lives claimed since the start of the pandemic  men, women and children of all ages and races  according to tracking by Johns Hopkins University. Even as vaccinations have sent infections plunging across the country, new coronavirus strains are emerging and many Americans are refusing vaccination. Globally, more than 3.8 million have died from COVID-19 related causes.

More evidence suggests COVID-19 was in U.S. by Christmas 2019: A new analysis of blood samples from 24,000 Americans taken early last year is the latest and largest study to suggest that the new coronavirus popped up in the U.S. in December 2019  weeks before cases were first recognized by health officials, the Associated Press reports. Federal health officials are increasingly accepting a timeline in which small numbers of COVID-19 infections may have occurred in the U.S. before the world ever became aware of a dangerous new virus erupting in China. The studies are pretty consistent, said Natalie Thornburg of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There was probably very rare and sporadic cases here earlier than we were aware of. But it was not widespread and didnt become widespread until late February.

Nearly 900 got expired doses at Times Square site: Nearly 900 people received expired COVID-19 vaccine doses at a vaccination site in Times Square this month, the Associated Press reports. The 899 individuals who received doses of the Pfizer vaccine at the former NFL Experience building in Times Square between June 5 and June 10 should schedule another Pfizer shot as soon as possible, the New York City Health Department said. ATC Vaccination Services, the company that administered the shots under contract to the city, said in a statement, We apologize for the inconvenience to those receiving the vaccine batch in question and want people first and foremost to know that we have been advised that there is no danger from the vaccine they received.

6 Bay Area restaurants The Chronicles food and wine team is excited to visit now that COVID restrictions are lifted: For those of you who are ready to go to eat and drink in full force again, The Chronicles food and wine team has a lot planned for you. Look out this week for recommendations on wineries to visit, outdoor restaurants to try and cool new bars that have slowly been gaining steam over the last year. Until then, here are some restaurants and bars that our staff plan to put on their personal to-do lists as businesses reopen.

Biden plans July 4 virus freedom day: President Joe Biden wants to imbue Independence Day with new meaning this year with nationwide celebrations to mark the effective return to normalcy after 16 months of coronavirus pandemic disruption. Even as the U.S. is set to mark 600,000 COVID-19 deaths on Tuesday and is likely to fall a little short of Bidens goal of having 70% of adults vaccinated by July 4, the White House is expressing growing certainty that Independence Day will serve as a breakthrough moment in the nations recovery.

Californias reopening arrives with the pandemic subdued but not done: California will wake up Tuesday to what could be the beginning of the highly anticipated end of the pandemic. Reopening day has arrived. Vaccines have proved powerful foes to the coronavirus. And California is as prepared to lift most pandemic restrictions as anyone could hope, public health experts said. Read the full story here.

UC reverses course, will require all students, faculty and staff to be vaccinated this fall: In an about-face, the University of California will require all students, staff and faculty to be vaccinated against the coronavirus this fall, even though the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the vaccines only for emergency use. Read the full story here.

Is it over? How California will know when the pandemic ends: Tuesday is an official turning point in California, the day doors are thrown open and most pandemic rules take a back seat to normalcy. But is the pandemic really over just because its June 15? If not, then when? Read the full story here.

Employers can let workers take off masks: California workplaces can allow vaccinated workers to go mask-free starting Thursday, thanks to an expected executive order from Gov. Gavin Newsom. The board of Cal/OSHA is expected to vote Thursday to approve new regulations allowing for vaccinated workers to ditch masks. The rules were to take effect 10 days later. Newsoms order, confirmed Monday, will mean no wait is needed once the Cal/OSHA board votes. Read more here.

Self attestation will be Californias vax verification: The honor system will rule the issue of who is vaccinated, or not, when California reopens its economy Tuesday, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday in San Francisco. Asked at a news briefing how anyone could know if another is truly vaccinated for purposes of masking and entry to certain activities, he said, Its a self attestation ... You gotta believe poples veracity. He acknowledged they system is not perfect.

S.F. closes COVID Command Center: In another sign that San Francisco is fast barreling toward to a post-pandemic world, the citys COVID Command Center is transitioning from a multi-agency unified command structure to a standard emergency operations center, city officials announced Monday. The center, in place by a June 30 target date, will coordinate city agencies on continuing COVID-19 response, focusing on maintaining situational awareness, supporting vaccine programs and supporting health and safety guidance, a city statement said.
The San Francisco planning departments recent push to encourage landlords to convert common spaces into housing units has resulted in nearly 500 new or legalized units as property owners carve basement apartments out of what used to be storage lockers, laundry rooms or garages.

But while the new accessory dwelling units help the city meet its housing goals  about 1,500 ADUs have been approved by the city, some of which are backyard cottages and some in apartment buildings  the new inventory often comes with a price, according to current tenants. Backyard common spaces disappear. Bike storage is gobbled up. Parking spaces vanish and storage lockers are removed.

The elimination of common areas to make way for ADUs has been an increasing complaint among renters, according to Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, who Tuesday introduced legislation that would protect tenants against loss of what the city calls housing services  storage, bike rooms, parking spots, laundry rooms.

The ordinance would require landlords to file a declaration to the Rent Board stating that their ADU project will either not impact existing housing services or that they have a just cause to do so. In addition, building owners would have to notify tenants of ADU application and extend legal remedies  including triple damages and attorney fees  to tenants in cases of wrongful severance of housing services.

Mandelman said there have been three cases of housing services being eliminated to make way for ADUs since the start of the year in his district, and he knows of 10 others outside of District 8.

ADUs were conceived of as a useful tool for increasing density, Mandelman said. That is all cool except that some landlords are doing it by cannibalizing space used by existing tenants. We are trying to make it clearer that adding new units is not a valid just cause for taking away housing services.

At 700 Church St., property owner Ballest Investments is proposing to add four new units, sacrificing 12 of 17 current parking spots, and getting rid of storage space. For retired letter carrier David Massen, who has lived in the building for 43 years, it all adds up to a bad deal.

They want to invade our home, disturb the heck out of it and leave us worse off, Massen said. Thats what it amounts to.

Mandelman also said that eliminating services is used as a tactic to force longtime tenants out of their rent control units.

Amy Yu, a television producer who lives at 530 Stockton St., said one-third of the residents in the building have moved out because of construction noise and the prospect of the ADUs being added. The ADU project there would add two apartments but eliminate a current laundry room, bike storage and backyard access.

It has not been excellent, she said. I dont think its right to add two units while losing one-third of the residents. They are using this as a tactic to drive out long-term tenants and make more profit any way they can.

But the legislation likely will elicit pushback from housing groups that see ADUs as the fastest and cheapest way to add units. San Francisco Apartmhent Association Deputy Director Charley Goss said the legislation would simply make it harder to add housing. He said the common spaces that are being converted are often cavernous and little used.

I think its unfortunate, he said. We have an unprecedented housing crisis. We have a housing shortage. I think what the ADU program was about was realizing that housing is a better use for that space.

He said the citys rent control laws require landlords to pay tenants for services taken away. I understand that people dont want amenities taken away, but they are being compensated.

Housing Action Coalition Director Todd David also said his group likely would oppose the legislation.

David said the citys ADU program has been successful in creating new housing units for far less than it costs to build from the ground up.

Any legislation that makes adding ADUs more difficult is something we would have a problem with, he said.

He said the legislation seems aimed at the worst actors rather than landlords who treat their tenants with respect.

Is this an enforcement issue or is it a new problem that we have not addressed? he said.

Mandelman said he doesnt have a problem with landlords not offering parking or other services to new tenants.

We are just saying dont take something away from a tenant that already has that thing, he said. There is value in creating new housing but also value in keeping people happily living in the unit they have now.

J.K. Dineen is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jdineen@sfchronicle.com
Dangerously hot conditions are expected to blanket Northern California this week, prompting meteorologists to issue heat wave warnings for Wednesday and Thursday.

Onshore breezes and a shallow marine layer are likely to shield San Francisco and the coast from the searing heat, but inland areas could record triple-digit temperatures during Thursday's peak, according to the National Weather Service.

A heat advisory will go into effect Wednesday morning and last through Friday evening for most of the inland Bay Area. Temperatures in some areas could reach up to 108 degrees Thursday, according to the NWS.

The North Bay valleys, East Bay hills and Santa Clara valley are most likely to reach the high 90s and low 100s. Parts of the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys could top 112 degrees, meteorologists said.

Officials said the heat advisory is expected to be upgraded midweek to an excessive heat warning for the North Bay mountains, the East Bay hills, the interior valleys, and the San Benito and Santa Lucia mountains.

Santa Clara County has announced that at least nine cooling centers will be open beginning Wednesday at 1 p.m. All locations will require visitors to wear masks and maintain 6 feet of social distance.

Hot and dry conditions this week may elevate fire weather concerns, but the lack of stronger winds will likely prevent widespread critical fire conditions, meteorologists said.

San Francisco will remain pretty cool, however, and temperatures are unlikely to rise above mid-70s, said NWS meteorologist Jeff Lorber.

The heat waves comes as the summer solstice approaches and as a high pressure system arrives from the Desert Southwest, pushing warmer air into California, meteorologists said. Temperatures in central Arizona reached the 115 degrees on Monday, while Las Vegas hit 110 degrees at midday.

The dangerous heat wave is expected to dissipate by Friday afternoon, with a gradual cool-down leading into next weekend, Lorber said.

We will see some relief by Friday, he said.

Chronicle staff writer Vanessa Arredondo contributed to this report.

Nora Mishanec is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: nora.mishanec@sfchronicle.com
The U.S. Supreme Court took a step Monday toward allowing San Francisco and Oakland to sue major oil companies in state court for their role in emissions that increase global warming.

The companies will have another chance, however, to try to keep the cases in federal court, where they are more likely to be dismissed than if they were returned to the state courts where they were filed.

The suits, filed in 2017, seek billions of dollars in damages against five oil giants: Chevron, BP, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil and Shell. The cities, and local and state governments that later filed similar cases, say the companies have profited from products they knew were causing dangerous rises in temperatures and sea levels, forcing higher government expenditures on sea walls and other protections.

The critical issue at this stage of the proceedings is whether the cities can sue in state court, where they rely on Californias law against public nuisances, private actions that cause public harm.

After the oil companies transferred the suits to federal court, U.S. District Judge William Alsup rejected the cities request in 2018 to return them to state court, saying any attempt to limit air pollution affects other states and nations and therefore is subject to nationwide regulation under federal law. He then dismissed the suits, saying emissions controls were up to policymakers, not judges.

But the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco ruled in May 2020 that the cities public nuisance claim was unrelated to federal air pollution laws and could be pursued in state court. The court said the cities were not accusing the oil companies of violating federal law, only of harming local governments and residents with their practices.

The court said Alsup could reconsider the case and decide whether there were any other grounds to hear it in federal court, which could allow him to dismiss the suits for a second time. But first, the companies asked the Supreme Court to overturn the Ninth Circuit ruling, saying it endangered national energy development and regulation.

A patchwork of conflicting state-law tort rules would inevitably result if a states courts could decide the issue, the companies lawyers told the high court. Californias courts would thus use California law to make energy policy for, and impose liability for conduct occurring in, the other 49 states and many foreign nations.

But the court denied review in a one-line order Monday. Justice Samuel Alito did not participate in the case, for unstated reasons.

Although the appeals court ruling is now final, the issue is far from resolved.

Last month, the Supreme Court ordered another San Francisco federal judge, Vince Chhabria, to reconsider a challenge by oil companies to separate suits filed by the counties of San Mateo, Marin and Santa Cruz and the cities of Richmond, Santa Cruz and Imperial Beach (San Diego County).

Chhabria had ruled, and the Ninth Circuit court agreed, that the local governments had sued under state laws unrelated to federal pollution control. But the Supreme Court ordered reconsideration based on its ruling earlier last month allowing oil companies to present additional arguments against a similar suit in Baltimore.

But the two Bay Area cities in Mondays case applauded the high courts latest order.

In a joint statement, city attorneys Barbara Parker of Oakland and Dennis Herrera of San Francisco said, It is now past time to move the cases forward on behalf of our residents and taxpayers to hold these fossil fuel companies accountable for their decades of deception and disinformation.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko
Californias mask-wearing rules dropped Tuesday morning, but at many places around the Bay Area, people kept their masks pulled up over their mouths and noses.

Mask mandates, along with social-distancing requirements, capacity limits and other restrictions that have upended ordinary life for much of the past 15 months mostly disappeared Tuesday, but people making their morning rounds were still mostly masked, some out of habit, others out of caution.

With the states coronavirus case rates falling, and the number of people getting vaccinated against the virus rising, Gov. Gavin Newsom decided to go along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations and eliminate the masking requirement in most places for vaccinated people.

As Petaluma Market got busy at 8 a.m., a sign at the entrance reading masks are no longer required for vaccinated customers greeted those entering. But a healthy majority of people still kept them on, mirroring the staff inside, either because they didnt feel safe yet, werent vaccinated, or simply didnt notice the rules had changed.

I think, even with the reopening, we still want to protect others and be safe, said a masked Leilani Siclot, a 26-year-old project manager from San Francisco who was visiting her boyfriend in the Sonoma County city. Theres still a virus out there. Also, its a habit. And I dont feel 100% comfortable indoors with people.

Radiating comfort at the market, though, was Robin Lorentz, an unmasked, 60-year-old nanny from Freestone.She said shed had a painful year, losing 10 family members to COVID-19, but was ready for big changes.

Im so excited to be able to smile at people! she said. I didnt know if my eyes were always smiling.

Nearby, Irvin Mendez, a 29-year-old construction worker, was masked, unvaccinated, and still smiling with his eyes. I havent had time, he said of getting his shot. Im going to.

In Lafayette, it was a sweet reopening day at the locally legendary Johnnys Donuts.

Francis Wong decided to charge into the newly reopened era of California life by buying a box full of sugar and maple donuts for his dentist. The shop was pulling a steady stream of happy customers. Everyone but the staff was allowed to ditch the masks, but most people kept them on, including Wong, 72.

I feel very good about this - Im relieved, but not really relaxed yet, he said. Its a good day, but were all going to have to get used to this. I think a lot of people are still going to be careful.

At Walgreens in Morgan Hill, masked employees went about their normal preparations just before the store opened. Just outside the front door, one employee fielded questions from a masked woman asking about drive-through COVID testing. Another worker set up a sidewalk sign advertising COVID vaccinations

As the clock ticked past 8 a.m., a handful of shoppers  all wearing masks  entered the store. Inside, plastic barriers still separated customers from cashiers, and it seemed like just another day during the pandemic.

Inside G Hotel, just off Union Square, employees were required to wear masks even if customers were not. Jose Lara works as a houseman at the hotel, cleaning the public spaces and working with the housekeeping staff.

Im still a little nervous about people not wearing masks, Lara said, speaking though a light blue medical mask of his own. Lara said just about all the guests hes seen since the hotel reopened last year have worn masks. A sign on the hotels door Tuesday read No mask, no entry. Three guests inside the hotel lobby, and all of the employees, wore masks.

Demian Bulwa, Kevin Fagan, Michael Bolden and Michael Cabanatuan are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: dbulwa@sfchronicle.com, kfagan@sfchroniclecom, michael.bolden@sfchronicle.com and mcabanatuan@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @demianbulwa, @KevinChron, @michaelbolden and @ctuan
As California reopened this week, freeing people fully vaccinated for COVID-19 from most pandemic restrictions, Gov. Gavin Newsom signaled again that the state would soon introduce an electronic vaccination verification program.

Such digital health certificates, also referred to as vaccine passports, have become a hotly debated issue. Opponents raise privacy and equity concerns, while supporters say the digital certificates will enhance public safety and speed economic recovery.

The Biden administration has said it will not develop a federal vaccine passport system, but allow the private sector or local jurisdictions to develop verification systems or require proof of vaccination at their own discretion.

Some states, including Florida and Texas, have placed bans or limits on vaccination certificates, such as prohibiting their issuance or use, forbidding businesses or government from requiring them, or barring mandatory use by individuals. Most neither forbid nor require them.

Newsom worded his announcement carefully Monday.

Its not a passport, its not a requirement, its just the ability now to have an electronic version of that paper version, so youll hear more about that in the next couple of days, he said.

Heres what we know about the plans for a vaccination verification system in California:

What will Californias vaccine verification system look like?

The details wont be available until at least later this week, but Newsom said Monday that the system would essentially provide people with an electronic version of their vaccine cards.

Programs currently in use or in development usually have users download an app on their phones, create an account with biometric data, upload vaccination information or coronavirus test results, and show a QR code upon entry into an event or at checkpoints.

This system would replace the need to carry around vaccine cards, which are 3-by-4-inch pieces of cardstock that can easily be lost or damaged, and do not fit in traditional wallets.

Would I be required to use the vaccine verification system?

California officials say signing up for the program would be voluntary, and the state is not requiring individuals to show proof of vaccination to engage in activities. But some employers and businesses may require verification for workers and patrons.

As the country reopens, more sporting arenas and concert venues are requiring proof of vaccination. In California, indoor mega events defined as more than 5,000 people require either proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test for entry, and the requirement is strongly recommended for outdoor events with more than 10,000 people.

Some cruise lines require passengers to be fully vaccinated before boarding, and a number of companies are testing health passport apps for international travel including VeriFLY, the IATA Travel Pass and CLEAR Health Pass.

Where are vaccine passports required if I want to travel?

Among U.S. states, only New York and Hawaii have implemented verification programs. New Yorks voluntary program allows businesses to scan a QR code on smartphones that verify full vaccination or a recent negative COVID-19 test. It is not yet known what Californias verification system will look like on smartphones.

In Hawaii, the state has an inter-island passport program that allows residents to skip testing and quarantine requirements if they are traveling to another island. Domestic travelers can skip quarantine if they get tested at a trusted partner site. When the state reaches 60% immunization, it will lift pre-testing and quarantine requirements for domestic travelers who are vaccinated and upload their status to the Safe Travels website.

A number of countries have introduced or are developing passport systems that would allow citizens to enter businesses, travel, attend sporting events and do other activities. Israel introduced an internal program called the Green Pass in February, allowing fully vaccinated citizens into certain places and events.

The European Union recently endorsed a new electronic vaccination travel certificate allowing people to travel between European countries without quarantine or extra testing. It will be recognized by all 27 member nations starting July 1, and several countries have already started using it. Travelers will receive their passes from their own country, not from a centralized European system.

Kellie Hwang is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kellie.hwang@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @KellieHwang
Californians are on a gun-buying spree. In 2020, 1.26 million guns were purchased in the state, a 56% increase from the previous year, and the most since at least 2000. Sales data through May show gun purchases in California remain well above pre-pandemic levels. Research suggests this increased circulation of firearms could foreshadow more gun violence.

The most significant spikes in gun sales happened at the beginning of the pandemic, in the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd, and around the U.S. presidential election in November, according to sales estimate data from journalism nonprofit the Trace. These estimates are based on FBI data on the number of criminal background checks conducted after gun purchases. The data is probably an undercount since it does not capture purchases not made at a store, which are estimated to account for 13% of all sales.

The last time California saw gun sales on a scale similar to 2020 was in 2016, another election year, when Californians also bought more than 1.2 million guns. In 2019, Californians bought about 810,000 guns.

Many Californians may have been first-time gun buyers last year. California Department of Justice data filed in federal court shows about 370,000 people were processed through the states Dealers Record of Sale background check system for the first time in 2020.

The California Department of Justice data shows that more than 94,000 revolvers, 585,000 semiautomatic pistols, and 317,000 rifles were sold with background checks in California last year.

Experts said the primary drivers of the surge in sales were fears surrounding the coronavirus, the political and social unrest across the country, and the election.

I think that when people fear that Democrats are going to be elected, more people buy guns  in part because people fear that Democrats will support gun control, said Adam Winkler, a gun expert and law professor at UCLA.

Californias surge in gun sales last year was not unusual. The U.S. saw a 68% increase in gun sales overall.

What could the long-term implications of the higher volume of guns now in circulation in the state and across the country be? Dr. Garen Wintemute, an emergency room physician and gun expert at UC Davis, told The Chronicle he believes this means the U.S. is likely to experience a large increase in gun violence. His team determined that, controlling for other variables, the larger the increase in firearm purchases in a state early in the pandemic, the greater the firearm violence increase in that state in 2020. The research suggests these additional guns may have contributed to the 25% increase in homicides in the U.S. in 2020.

Even though gun sales soared last year, they were already on an upward trend before that, both statewide and nationwide. In 2017, the Small Arms Survey estimated that there were 393 million civilian-owned firearms in the U.S.  more firearms than people in the country.

Methodology: Gun sales data for this story came from the Trace, which compiles estimates based on National Instant Criminal Background Check System data, published by the FBI. Though background checks dont correspond one to one with sales, they can serve as a proxy, since licensed firearms dealers initiate background checks at the point of sale. Sales estimates may be undercounts because of state-level permit laws. Data used for this story is seasonally adjusted to account for factors such as cyclical changes in demand, holidays and the number of days in a month. The Trace used the U.S. Census Bureaus X-13-ARIMA-SEATS software to calculate seasonal adjustments.

Abhinanda Bhattacharyya is a San Francisco Chronicle news developer. Twitter: @abhinanda_b
A San Francisco firefighter died after fighting a fire at San Francisco International Airport last week, department officials said Tuesday.

Longtime firefighter Christopher Yock, 58, died after responding to a fire involving six cars at an airport parking garage around 6:30 a.m. on June 8, the fire department said in a statement.

Yock suffered an apparent cardiac arrest at his San Rafael home after returning from the incident, said fire department spokesperson Lt. Jonathan Baxter.

It was not immediately clear whether Yock died as a result of injuries sustained in the fire.

Paramedics from the San Rafael Fire Department attempted life-saving measures, Baxter said, but Yock died at his home. A representative for the Marin County coroners office said the cause of death remains unclear, pending an autopsy.

Born in the Westborough neighborhood of South San Francisco, Yock worked as a firefighter in Alameda and the Presidio before joining SFFD in 2000. He spent most of his career at Station 10 in the Richmond District before transferring to the airport in January 2019, the department said.

A world traveler with a passion for food, Yock is survived by one son, according to his obituary.

A vigil will be held at St. Ignatius Church on Thursday.

Nora Mishanec is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: nora.mishanec@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @NMishanec
Two Stanford mental health counselors, both Jewish, are accusing the university of promoting anti-Semitism in a staff anti-racism program that placed them in a group with other white employees and allegedly ignored their complaints of religious bias.

Among other things, the counselors said in a complaint to state and federal civil rights agencies, after a Stanford town hall meeting in May 2020 was Zoom-hijacked with racist messages and Nazi swastikas, the next weekly session of the anti-racism group addressed the racism but not the swastikas. When one of the Jewish counselors raised the subject, he said he was told that Jews can hide behind their white identity.

Likewise, the complaint said, the anti-racism group never discussed swastikas that were found in Stanfords Memorial Church last July. The counselors also said a speaker at a meeting this January referred to connections between Jews and white supremacy, and another speaker recommended a book that accuses Israel of racist behavior.

The program, known as Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, has created and fostered a hostile work environment for Jewish staff due to severe and persistent harassment, Dr. Ronald Albucher and Sheila Levin said in their complaint to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing.

The complaint, filed last month and made public Tuesday, seeks financial damages and policy changes in the Stanford program, including adoption of a statement that equates anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism. The U.S. government and 30 other nations endorsed that statement in 2016.

Albucher was director of Stanfords Counseling and Psychological Services student program from 2008 to 2017 and now works there as a psychiatrist while also teaching at Stanford Medical School. Levin has been the clinical care manager and eating disorder specialist at the counseling program, known as CAPS, for 13 years.

Stanford said it is investigating their complaints. The university also said it was reorganizing its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs, which had been managed separately by individual units such as Counseling and Psychological Services, into a single university-wide program this summer and fall aimed at recognizing and addressing bias and discrimination.

Stanford forcefully rejects anti-Semitism in all its forms, a university spokesperson said.

Albucher and Levin said they and other Jewish employees of CAPS had been pressured last year to join the diversity programs whiteness accountability group.

The program relies upon a narrative that presumes all white people are consciously or unconsciously to blame for system racism in the workplace and in society at large, and perceives all Jews as white, the complaint said. It said participants at the May 2020 meeting portrayed Jews as wealthy and powerful business owners, and accused Albucher of derailing the proceedings by raising anti-Semitism as an issue.

Albucher stopped attending the weekly meetings after that, and Levin did so in October, the complaint said. It was filed by the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko
The California water board has approved a plan for water releases into the Sacramento River that could kill off an entire run of endangered chinook salmon and put at risk another population that is part of the commercial salmon fishery.

The State Water Resources Control Board has informed the federal Bureau of Reclamation it would accept its final plan for managing water flows from Shasta Lake into the Sacramento River, which is both the main source of water for Central Valley farms and the spawning habitat for chinook salmon. Because the bureaus plan involves releasing water to irrigation districts earlier in the season, the river will be lower and warmer during salmon spawning season and could result in killing as many as 88% of endangered winter-run chinook eggs and young fish, according to the plans scientific models.

The plan is the latest and final step in ongoing negotiations between federal water managers and the state water board over management of critical salmon habitat. The projected salmon die-off that could result from the plan is the worst-case scenario for environmental, tribal and fishery groups, who have been calling on the state to do more to protect the fish.

State Water Resources Control Board Executive Director Eileen Sobeck acknowledged the impact the water temperature plan could have on salmon in a letter to the bureau.

Given very low survival levels of winter-run chinook salmon for the past two years and the fact that winter-run chinook salmon have a three-year life cycle, high temperature-dependent mortality this year could increase the risk of extinction significantly, she wrote. She added that the mortality outlook of the plan is also concerning for fall-run chinook salmon protection, referring to the fish that are part of the commercial fishery.

Winter-run chinook salmon spend about three years in the Pacific Ocean before migrating in winter up the Sacramento River to spawn between April and August just downstream from Shasta Lake. The fall-run chinook start spawning soon afterward.

The bureau is legally required to maintain river temperatures below 56 degrees in salmon spawning habitat. When it cant, which is the case this year, it must create a temperature control plan, which the state has the authority to reject or accept.

As the states dry conditions worsen, with the Sacramento Valley in the exceptional drought category, the outlook for salmon also continues to deteriorate. But salmon advocates say the bureau and state could improve conditions for the endangered species rather than prioritize farming interests.

Its bizarre to me that the water board will approve this plan that puts winter-run chinook salmon in grave danger of extinction and decimates the fall-run chinook, given that the bureau has the ability to do more to protect these fish, said Jon Rosenfield, senior scientist at San Francisco Baykeeper, an environmental advocacy nonprofit.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

The amount of water that gets held back in Shasta Lake each September influences how cold the river will stay during salmon spawning season. While conservationists had called for the bureau to reserve 1.47 million acre feet, the final plan includes 1.25 million acre feet of storage, a difference of 220,000 acre feet. To put that amount in perspective, senior water rights holders in the Central Valley, mostly irrigation districts, were allocated around 3 million acre feet.

Bureau of Reclamation spokeswoman Mary Lee Knecht said the agency received input from the water board and other agencies when making its temperature plan.

Reclamation coordinates closely with federal and state fishery agencies on species protection, Knecht said. That includes supporting habitat restoration projects and hatcheries that augment wild-spawned fish populations.

Tara Duggan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tduggan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @taraduggan
One of them fought the opening of a chemical plant. Another worked to fend off illegal logging in the Amazon. A third prevented the construction of 13 new coal power plants.

Different stories but each with a similar mission: to keep harmful industrial activities or illegal trade out of their communities. Theyre three of the six winners of this years Goldman Environmental Prize, which honors grass-roots environmental activists around the world. The awards were announced Tuesday.

The winners of the prize, established in 1989 by the late Rhoda and Richard Goldman of San Francisco to honor environmental work they felt was overlooked by the Nobel Prize and other major awards, are from each major continent. Usually presented at San Franciscos War Memorial Opera House, this years prizes will be announced in a virtual ceremony at 4 p.m. Tuesday. Winners receive a monetary prize and are eligible to apply for additional grants to continue their activism.

The North American winner, Sharon Lavigne of Louisiana, successfully fought the opening of a Chinese chemical plant in St. James Parish, a county of 22,000 people between Baton Rouge and New Orleans on the Mississippi River. It is known as cancer alley because of residents high rates of disease amid 200 petrochemical facilities.

Lavigne, 68, grew up in the parish, where her grandparents fished and grew food, and she drank fresh milk from the family cow each morning. But as more chemical plants moved in over the years, she and family members and neighbors started getting sick.

I keep telling people we were not sick then, she said, referring to her childhood. But now I have so many ailments in my body. So many sicknesses, so many people are dying. The former schoolteacher has been diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis and precancerous conditions on her cervix. Two of her brothers have cancer and a sister-in-law died from it.

The risk of cancer in the parish is as high 50 times the national average in certain census tracts, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, but it wasnt until 2015 that Lavigne learned about the connection between disease and harmful airborne chemicals from the nearby plants. Thats when she got involved with a local group opposing the construction of a new plant from the Chinese company Wanhua. But she soon grew frustrated with what she saw as a lot of talk and no action.

Thats when I prayed, Lavigne said. And thats when He gave me my answer. And that put a fight in me.

In 2018, she founded a group called Rise St. James, leading marches and door-to-door walks. Surprisingly, the next year Wanhua withdrew its application to build the $1.25 billion plant. Shes now trying to block another plant from opening.

In Peru, Goldman prize winner Liz Chicaje Churay was up against similarly well-funded opponents, in her case illegal loggers and miners in Loreto, a region of the Amazon rain forest home to her Bora tribes ancestral lands.

Illegal mining and logging disrupted the habitat for the fish the Bora depend on, thousands of types of plants, as well as birds and mammals like river dolphins and woolly monkeys. Now 38, Chicaje first got involved in activism as a teenager and later became president of the Federation of Indigenous Communities of the Ampiyacu River.

I live in a community in front of the river and I could see a lot of wood going down the river, she said in Spanish through an interpreter.

Illegal logging and mining not only caused environmental harm but was also a type of slave trade, she said  workers from the tribe were paid in bags of rice or sugar and often were forced to take out large loans from the loggers for the equipment they used. Chicaje said it was difficult to confront the loggers and miners.

Sometimes I had to have conversations with them only and explain to them why the work they do is so harmful to the community, she said.

Chicaje traveled to remote regions of Loreto to try to convince tribal members to protect their land within a national park, and eventually 23 of the 29 local communities agreed.

I was the only woman of all these leaders, Chicaje said. I had to shake off the nerves and the shyness.

In 2018, Peru announced the establishment of Yaguas National Park, which protects 2 million acres of Amazon forest. Chicaje was to share her Goldman prize for that accomplishment with fellow activist Benjamin Rodriguez, but he died last year from complications of COVID-19.

Here are the other 2021 winners of the worlds largest environmental prize:

Maida Bilal, Bosnia and Herzegovina: Bilal, 39, created an environmental group in her home village of Kruscica to protest proposed hydropower dams on the Kruscica river, which would jeopardize a pristine wildlife habitat. In July 2017, she and fellow activists staged a blockade that prevented the dams builders from moving in heavy equipment.

Mostly comprised of women, the blockade lasted 18 months, through winter weather and a violent attack from police, until permits for the dams were finally canceled.

Goldman Environmental Prize

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

Kimiko Hirata, Japan: After the meltdown of the Fukushima nuclear plant following Japans catastrophic 2011 earthquake and a subsequent energy crisis, the nations coal industry geared up to build 50 new coal power plants, which produce twice as much carbon dioxide as the production of other fossil fuels.

A longtime climate activist, Hirata, 50, created a network of citizens, media contacts and NGOs to bring international attention to the proposed plants. In the end, her activism fought off the construction of 13 of the plants, which would have been responsible for 40% of the new plants potential carbon emissions.

Goldman Environmental Prize

Gloria Majiga-Kamoto, Malawi: Large-scale plastic manufacturing in Malawi  at around 75,000 tons a year  has led to many problems for the country. That includes clogging up waterways and therefore increasing the risk of malaria and making livestock sick when they ingest small pieces of plastic.

As part of her work with an environmental NGO, Majiga-Kamoto, 30, brought the issue to public attention, bringing pressure on the government to uphold a ban on thin plastics that had been bitterly fought by manufacturers.

Goldman Environmental Prize

Thai Van Nguyen, 39, Vietnam: The founder of Save Vietnams Wildlife, Nguyen worked to protect the critically endangered pangolin, a scaly mammal that is heavily trafficked for its use in traditional Chinese and Vietnamese medicine.

Nguyens work involved creating a rehabilitation center for rescued pagolins and a Vietnamese anti-poaching unit. Overall, his activism resulted in the rescue of over 1,500 pangolins and decreased illegal poaching by 80%.

/Save Vietnam's Wildlife

Tara Duggan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tduggan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @taraduggan
Remember the summer of 2021? Everyone was thrilled that COVID was largely contained and that California was reopening. But that sense of relief didnt last long.

Housing was too expensive. It was obvious that only the wealthiest would soon able to afford to live anywhere near the coast. More people were falling into homelessness. Workers moved further and further away from job centers to find affordable housing, only to spend four hours a day in traffic getting to and from work. That is when they werent escaping from terrifying wildfires, which were on the verge of befouling the air for six months out of the year. Coastal cities were just beginning to realize the gravity of their battles with ever-rising seas. Inland cities were experiencing terrible heat waves. Drought was everywhere.

Well, dont worry. By 2070 we were able to create an amazing Bay Area. We turned a region on the precipice of dystopia into a sustainable, affordable and equitable place to live.

How did we do it?

It began way back in 2022, when Californians passed state and local laws to build more apartments near transit and along commercial corridors. By 2037, taller apartment buildings with stores on the ground floor lined Bay Area streets next to BART and Caltrain routes and along commercial corridors like El Camino Real. Hundreds of thousands of families moved in. Now they catch trains or hop aboard electric buses to get where they need to go instead of driving.

Just reshaping areas near transit wasnt enough, of course. In 2023, NIMBYs, YIMBYs and everyone in between finally agreed to set aside their differences and dismantle the structural racism that was driving so many bad land-use decisions. We agreed that the government unfairly helped white families purchase homes through federally backed mortgages in the 1940s and 1950s, while excluding Black families. These racist decisions were never remedied, and had dire consequences for public health and equitable wealth distribution, even in the 2020s.

To help undo these past wrongs, California passed legislation to allow more housing to be built in exclusive suburbs. Small apartment buildings, granny flats and affordable housing became the new suburban norm. Cities too started welcoming more neighbors, in part because the state restructured its outmoded property tax system to provide financing for the new parks, libraries and street improvements. These extra amenities helped make denser neighborhoods welcoming and inviting.

By 2032, affordable housing was everywhere. Other countries like Denmark had been building this housing for years by making it faster and easier to build. So we learned from them by expanding funding mechanisms and streamlining the permitting system.

There was, however, still the problem of climate change.

In 2021, the Bay Area was still built around the car  even thought that was already an outdated and unsustainable way of living. Electric cars were fine for some, but what we really needed were alternatives to driving alone. This would mitigate climate change while also making sure people could get where they needed to go efficiently and cheaply.

As we started building more concentrated housing, we planned and built out a comprehensive network of efficient electric buses, with exclusive lanes so they could easily move through cities. Many urban freeways became obsolete. So we removed them in 2027, reconnecting long-disrupted neighborhoods. We invested in rail in the areas that needed it the most. The second Transbay rail tube, which finished construction in 2040, further helped connect San Francisco and the East Bay.

To combat rising seas, we started restoring the wetlands that provide natural buffers to ocean intrusion. Communities across the Bay pooled their resources to target areas most at risk, instead of those with the most money. We also added parks and street trees to protect lower-income neighborhoods from extreme heat waves.

Then there were the wildfires. Those presented an enormous challenge to the entire state. First, we stopped adding new housing and jobs near wilderness areas and created open space buffer zones to protect our communities. By 2030 we had a new protective park system, which we nicknamed the Bay Areas green necklace. We also started doing more sustainable controlled burns and retrofitting existing housing in wildfire areas to limit the damage.

In 2035 we decided to switch all new buildings from fossil-fuel burning furnaces to electric heat pumps, which act as a heater or air conditioner as needed. We also ditched our dirty gas-burning stoves. In 2038, we completed construction on a series of recycled water plants, and mandated drought-tolerant landscaping, which left more freshwater in the Delta.

This future may sound unattainable. It isnt. But we are going to have to make significant changes to in order to make it a reality, starting right now.

The first step is going to be hardest, but also the most important: changing our mind-set about what is possible. Achieving sustainability and equity demands a willingness to adapt, and to find better ways to work with one another.

We can live in a region that is affordable, sustainable, racially just and easy to get around. But to get there, we have to believe such a future is possible and insist that our elected leaders make that vision a reality.

Sarah Karlinsky is a senior advisor at SPUR, a public policy think tank committed to creating an equitable, sustainable and prosperous Bay Area. Read SPURs 50-year vision for the Bay Area at www.spur.org/regionalstrategy.
Supervisor Aaron Peskin issued an emotional apology for his past behavior and expressed remorse for his conduct at Tuesdays board meeting, days after he announced plans to enter alcohol treatment.

Peskins behavior, which included aggressively berating a department head during last weeks board meeting, exacerbated existing tensions between the board and the mayor. During Tuesdays meeting, board President Shamann Walton and Mayor London Breed accused each other and their respective staffs of bullying, and called for more respect.

Peskin  one of the most powerful members of the board  said Thursday that he would seek alcohol treatment, a decision applauded by many colleagues and constituents. He apologized then, and again Tuesday, for behavior that several colleagues, department heads and city staff characterized as aggressive, belligerent and inappropriate at times.

With or without alcohol, with or without stress, I am accountable for my behavior and I am profoundly sorry for, and frankly embarrassed by, the tenor that I have struck at times in my work, he said. I own that. I have a problem and Im taking serious steps to address it. Im sorry, colleagues, and Im sorry, San Francisco citizens.

Peskin said he has entered alcohol treatment under the guidance of health professionals, who he said recommended he continue working as a supervisor while in recovery for as long as it takes to address my issues.

Walton said the board would support Peskin in his recovery.

Peskins announcement and apology came after The Chronicle interviewed more than two dozen people and asked the supervisor about his alleged behavior, which included using profane language in private conversations and appearing intoxicated in public and private meetings.

Earlier on Tuesday, the mayor criticized the board for what she called mistreatment of her staff. She also said Walton should manage this board appropriately and not be someone whos also inflicting harm on city staff and other people who are coming forward to testify with the board.

Walton responded during Tuesdays meeting that several staff members and some of her department heads are the true bullies.

This is the pot calling the kettle black, Walton said. Our board meetings have never been more efficient and respectful, including when the mayor was president of the board.

In the wake of Peskins announcement, some supervisors said theyd support updating their official rules to discourage inappropriate behavior at City Hall.

Supervisor Hillary Ronen said the board is revising its code of conduct to be clearer about whats appropriate in public meetings, but the details were not available. Ronen said she doesnt support bullying but she does value tough questioning of departments, which she said is part of a supervisors job.

Thats the fine line thats always been really difficult to decide: if someone is going past that line and being abusive and bullying, or just challenging strongly and passionately a department that isnt doing its job, Ronen said.

Peskins announcement also came after several colleagues, department heads and other city staffers became increasingly frustrated with the supervisors behavior, which they said had disrupted public meetings and even left some staff members in tears. Though several colleagues said they were concerned about the way the supervisor was acting The Chronicle could not locate any formal complaints against him.

Now, several supervisors are discussing whether more needs to be done.

A section of the boards code of conduct states that no supervisor should act in any way that is unworthy or unbecoming of a supervisor. Another gives the board president the right to remove any person from a meeting for disorderly, contemptuous or insolent behavior.

If a supervisor was concerned about Peskins behavior, they could have invoked these codes. It does not appear that either Walton or former Board President Norman Yee ever used that power.

Supervisor Matt Haney previously said he would support updating the code of conduct. Supervisor Myrna Melgar said she would also support an update to give the board more leverage to address aggressive behavior.

There is definitely a difference between holding people accountable and treating them with disrespect, said Melgar, one of the newest members of the board.

Other supervisors dithered on whether clearer policies were needed.

Supervisor Gordon Mar said Monday he didnt believe the problem was a lack of formal recourse, although he is considering more official policies in light of the current situation. He said issues are best addressed through direct communication and ultimately the voters will hold us accountable for our actions.

Mar said he is not sure if legislative action is needed.

Mar added he had raised concern about Peskins behavior to Yee, who is now retired, but didnt request any specific action be taken. Mar now regrets not addressing the issue directly with Peskin.

Yee said that he talked privately to Peskin a few times, and even encouraged him to seek professional help. After one particularly tense meeting last year, he asked the clerk to send each board member a memo reminding them that they can stop an unruly debate with three votes and also admonish a colleague for poor conduct.

That helped a little bit for a little while, he said.

Breed said Tuesday that the boards code of conduct has sadly not worked so far. She said a formal training for all supervisors would help and accountability is essential.

Its important that there are consequences and not just a blanket policy that wont lead to anything, Breed added. Id like to see a policy that has teeth.

Breed also said she is in conversations with the City Attorney and Department of Human Resources about how to address what she considers inappropriate behavior and hopes to have more details this week.

Its unclear what consequences Peskin could face, if any. The citys official staff policy prohibits drinking in the workplace and notes that seeking treatment doesnt excuse prior conduct subject to discipline or dismissal. The policy applies to elected officials, but the process for removing them is different than other employees and not within the scope of the Department of Human Resources.

The mayor has the power to suspend Peskin upon a finding of official misconduct under the City Charter. The charter defines official misconduct as willful, wrongful behavior including failure to perform duties, ethics or conflict of interest violations and conduct that falls below the standard of decency, good faith and right action.

If charges were filed, the Ethics Commission would review and recommend whether to sustain charges. Three-fourths of the board would then have to vote to remove him.

Such charges are rarely used: In 2012, the board voted not to remove then-Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi, a former supervisor, after a guilty plea in a domestic violence case.

If an official is suspended or removed, the mayor appoints a replacement until the next election.

Mallory Moench and Trisha Thadani are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Emails: mallory.moench@sfchronicle.com tthadani@sfchronicle.com
Hundreds of Southwest Airlines planes were grounded across the country Tuesday amid a computer glitch, triggering countless delays and stranding passengers.

The Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement posted on Twitter at 12:24 p.m. that Southwest requested a temporary nationwide ground stop while the airline resolved a computer issue.

About an hour late, the FAA said the ground stop was lifted.

Southwest said in a statement that 500 flights were cancelled Tuesday, and it's in the process of resuming normal operations. The airline said the issue was the result of "intermittent performance issues with our network connectivity."

"Our Teams are working quickly to minimize flight disruptions and Customer impact," Southwest said. "We appreciate our Customers patience as we work to get them to their destinations. We ask that travelers use Southwest.com to check flight status or consult a Southwest Airlines Customer Service Agent at the airport for assistance with travel needs."

Tuesday's fiasco came after the airline was forced to cancel a handful of flights on Monday night due to connectivity problem with a third-party weather data provider.

On social media, many travelers expressed frustration over the delays and cancelled flights.

"Cancelled flights for my family and me and now were stuck," wrote one Twitter user. "Long line at airport in Vegas. This is crazy!"
NEW YORK (AP)  Stocks that traded heavily or had substantial price changes Tuesday:

FedEx Corp., up $6.31 to $299.30.

The package delivery company raised its quarterly dividend.

Spirit Airlines Inc., down 1 cent to $33.99.

The airline gave investors an encouraging update on its operations and finances.

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Inc., down $2.86 to $150.51.

The restaurant operator announced a private offering of senior notes to institutional investors.

T. Rowe Price Group Inc., up $2.62 to $195.25.

The financial services company declared a special cash dividend of $3 per share.

Ocugen Inc., up 13 cents to $6.26.

The biotechnology company picked Jubilant HolisterStier for its U.S. manufacturing partner for its COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin.

Cytokinetics Inc., up 43 cents to $22.28.

The biotechnology company said it expects to ask for regulatory approval of a potential heart failure drug in the second half of 2021.

Sage Therapeutics Inc., down $14.06 to $58.80.

Investors were disappointed with the biotechnology company's study results for a potential depression treatment.

Washington Real Estate Investment Trust, down $1.74 to $25.09.

The real estate company agreed to sell its portfolio of office properties to Brookfield Asset Management.
A Scottish street vendor and busker who raped multiple women and then flew across the world with his son to fake his own death has been sentenced to 15 years jail time, reports the BBC.

Monastery Beach in Carmel is one of the most dangerous places to swim in California. Drowning caused by the high surf and strong undertow is so common there it has locally taken on the morbid nickname "Mortuary Beach." But Kim Avis' reported death there in February 2019 didn't quite add up.

The waters were calm and flat that night, and why would a swimmer enter the cold waters in only their shorts, carrying their passport with them?

It was Avis' son who reported Kim missing nine days after the supposed tragedy, telling the authorities that his dad had gone for an evening swim.

After a three-day search for the body, the Monterey County Sheriff's Office's suspicions proved true when it was revealed that the "victim" Kim Avis had planned the "death" with his son while on bail for a series of rapes in the Scottish Highlands.

After discovering during a call to a family member in Scotland that the fake victim was on the lam, Avis quickly went from missing person to wanted person.

The authorities teamed up the U.S. Marshals, Interpol and the Scottish police to secure an arrest warrant, and tracked Avis through bank account activity 1,300 miles east to Colorado Springs, where he was found alive and well, and arrested.

U.S. Marshall

The 57-year-old was extradited back to Scotland, and last month the High Court in Glasgow found him guilty of raping three women, attempting to rape a 12-yeaar-old and sexually assaulting an 11-year-old. Avis denied all charges, but was sentenced last week to 15 years jail time.

"It was impressive how everyone played a part, including the Scottish authorities - and how the U.S. Marshals tracked him half way across the country," Commander Simpson of the Monterey Sheriff's Office told the BBC.

The Scottish police praised Avis' victims for the "courage, strength and dignity" they had shown throughout the case.
After collecting dust for the last 15 months in your closet, its time to break out those dancing shoes.

California is set to open fully Tuesday, with no more mask mandates. Restaurants and bars seem to be getting most of the attention when it comes to our return to normal, but music venues, which hold a historical significant importance to San Francisco, will be allowed to reopen as well. San Franciscans, who have been at the center of cultural movements like the jazz era in the Fillmore, dubbed the Harlem of the West, and psychedelic rock during the Summer of Love in the Haight, have always championed the arts, especially concerts. The end of the pandemic should be another moment for us to fall in love, once again, with live music.

It seems, however, that most venue owners are being extra cautious because they understand the risks of having so many people close together with alcohol in the mix. Some venues have updated their calendars, and if you are looking to buy tickets to your first live music event after an awful year, check out our recommendations below.

Makeout Room

June

People cant wait to start making out with strangers again, and the Makeout Room, located at 3225 22nd St., cant wait to play that funky music. Starting on June 15, their calendar shows a full slate of great dance music from DJs spinning Funk 45s to reggaeton and even local legend DJ Primo with some Sweet '60s Soul.

Public Works

June

Public Works got creative during the pandemic and began hosting outdoor events, called PW Parks, whenever they could. On June 18, they are ready to give the people what they want: the return to the dance floor. The calendar is still spotty, but its likely to fill up as the summer progresses.

Michelle Robertson/SFGATE

The Valencia Room

June

Takeover Thursdays are coming back to The Valencia Room. With two floors of hip hop and top 40 hits, theres plenty of room to sweat with strangers once again. Check the calendar for more upcoming shows.

Rickshaw Stop

June

This small, eclectic music venue is hosting its first show on June 25, offering limited seating for fully vaccinated people only. According to the calendar, it looks as though they will be slowly phasing back into a full venue in August.

Monarch

June

Located at 101 6th St., this Victorian steampunk and art nouveau inspired venue with a craft cocktail lounge upstairs and basement-level dance floor has shows lined up on weekends for the rest of June.

DNA Lounge

June

Since 1985, DNA Lounge has been one of San Francisco's liveliest dance clubs. The SOMA hotspot reopens in full force on June 18 with Turbo Drive, a set of synth and cyberpunk. Don't forget a slice of pizza next door from DNA Pizza to sober up.

Mr. Tipples Recording Studio

June

This loungey jazz club with expert cocktails and a full food menu is currently open and hosting performances on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

Courtesy of 1015 Folsom via Yelp

1015 Folsom

July

The strobe lights are almost back at this club, located in the heart of SOMA. A great scene for DJs, 1015 Folsom will be reopening in mid July.

The Independent

July

Emerging and indie acts have always been the speciality at The Independent. With live shows beginning in late July, look ahead for tickets to Arlo Parks in October.

Bottom of the Hill

August

Bottom of the Hill prides itself on showing a wide array of musical acts. Opening up again in August, the club is celebrating its 30-year anniversary with performances by Hot Lunch, Pushy and Psychic Hit all on September 18.

Stian Rasmussen

Great American Music Hall

August

One of San Franciscos oldest performance venues, Great American Music Hall will feature reopening shows such as Mac Sabbath in August, Marian Hill in September and black midi in October.

The Chapel

August

Currently open for outdoor concerts, indoor performances plan to be in full swing by the end of August. Located in a renovated building that was once  you guessed it  a chapel this Mission venue plans to kick off their indoor reopening with a concert called Petty Theft, a San Francisco tribute to Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers.

Bill Graham Civic Auditorium

August

One of the largest venues in San Francisco and named after the legendary music promoter, Bill Graham Civic Auditorium plans to host CHVRCHES on Dec. 16.

Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images

Chase Center

September

The Chase Center plans to start their concert calendar with a bang. Check out Celine Dion, Tame Impala and Michael Buble all in the month of September.

The Fillmore

September

The Fillmore, one of San Franciscos most historic venues, has hosted many of the worlds top musical talents from The Grateful Dead to Arcade Fire. Located in the Western Addition, shows plan to resume in September with local San Francisco rapper Watsky performing two nights in mid-November.

August Hall

September

Joined at the hip with restaurant/bowling alley Fifth Arrow, August Hall is a historic venue reborn near Union Square. To kick off their reopening in September, August Hall plans to feature Chromeo and Digable Planets as part of the BottleRock concert series.

Clayton Call/Redferns

The Warfield

September

A San Francisco institution for 86 years, The Warfield will open its doors in September with performances by Alec Benjamin and Kevin Gates.

The Masonic

September

Located atop Nob Hill, the venue website shows that Alicia Keys will be performing on Sept. 2.

Brick & Mortar Music Hall

September

This small venue that has carved a niche for itself in the up-and-coming hip hop scene (and more) will begin concerts again September. Devin the Dude is scheduled to perform in January 2022.

SF Jazz Center

December

Having transitioned to successful virtual concerts during the pandemic, SF Jazz Center, in Hayes Valley, plans to open the Miner Auditorium again in December.
Its the day many Californians have been waiting for: June 15, our states grand reopening. At last, fully vaccinated folks can rejoice and rip their masks off (in most situations).

While businesses have a few options  requiring everyone to still wear masks or implementing a vaccine verification system among them  many are choosing the third option: the honor system. Self-attest that youre vaccinated and continue forth, mask-free. But even though 80% of eligible San Franciscans have now received at least one vaccine dose, the element of doubt created by the honor system has some grocery and restaurant workers wary.

We're just really anxious about being around people who say theyre vaccinated but we don't know for sure, said an employee at a San Francisco Trader Joes who was granted anonymity in accordance with Hearst Bay Areas anonymous source policy. ... Not all of our family members are able to get vaccinated, and so we feel like we're still at risk.

While customers are no longer required to mask up at the likes of Whole Foods and Trader Joes, all workers  vaccinated or not  must remain masked and physically distanced on the job for the time being.

This discrepancy may be temporary  after much back-and-forth, the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board is expected to vote to approve a new proposal for vaccinated workers to ditch masks June 17. Normally, new regulations would take 10 days to kick in, but an expected executive order from Gov. Gavin Newsom would allow the new Cal/OSHA rules to take effect as soon as they are approved. Even still, the delay has some workers frustrated.

That would make me very impatient, said Ricky Olmos, an employee at the SoMa location of Whole Foods, regarding the prospect of still being required to wear a mask while customers arent. Because we as grocery workers were among the first people who got offered a vaccine ... if I saw an unvaccinated customer coming in without a mask, and I still have to wear my mask, I would be a little peeved about that.  That's the person with an A on the group project that they did no work for.

Another San Francisco Whole Foods employee, also granted anonymity in accordance with Hearst's policy, echoed this sentiment.

We're the ones who have been going through it and wearing a mask, day in and day out, and we were the first ones to get vaccinated, said the employee. ... So now that there is this opportunity for some people who are excited to not wear masks, all of a sudden, its putting us back into this other class of person where its like, OK, youre a worker, so you still have to wear a mask. Thats a kind of frustrating double standard.

Some workers are more than ready to greet unmasked customers and rip their own masks off as soon as they can (I feel very confident in going back to normal since Im vaccinated, said Olmos), but others are more hesitant.

I think me and a lot of my co-workers will want to wear masks for a while.  A lot of us here arent in the right spot with our mental health and a lot of us feel really uncomfortable, said the Trader Joes employee, who says having to constantly police customers mask use throughout the pandemic has caused them to inherently distrust customers. ... We've put certain guards up, and all of a sudden, to not really address how our mental health has been affected this whole year and to all of a sudden be like, 'OK, this is how it is now, its a free-for-all of a sudden'  I think it's a lot for people at once.

The possibility for conflict to arise over new masking guidelines also has one grocery store worker nervous.

I don't really know what to expect  but I just feel like there's going to be so many customers with masks on and there's going to be customers without masks and there's going to be fights in the store, predicted another San Francisco Trader Joes employee granted anonymity in accordance with Hearst's policy. ... I just hope Im not in the middle of that.

For some restaurant workers, though, the changes that come with Tuesdays reopening are negligible, especially when it comes to indoor dining.

I am not nervous about it because I feel like my vulnerability or ability to be exposed wont actually go up by all that much, said a bartender at a pub in San Francisco, who was granted anonymity in accordance with Hearst's policy. ... On busy nights when we have tables of six people sitting 10 feet from me, they don't have their masks on, and I don't know how many of them are vaccinated.  It just doesn't feel like it's going to be that much of a jump.

The only real difference, they said, is that capacity will go up, and people will no longer have to wear masks when entering the restaurant or heading to the restroom.

And how many people are actually upholding that to begin with right now, with this deadline already on the horizon? they added. And then also, like, what difference does that actually make?

Still, some restaurant owners are choosing to err on the side of caution and keep requiring masks for customers, whether or not they are vaccinated.

Our sort of feeling and the feeling of my staff is if my staff have to wear them, then wed like the customers to wear them, said Gillian Lundgren, the owner of Black Jet Baking Company in Bernal Heights. That feels the most comfortable for us.

But others will no longer ask customers to wear masks, relying on the honor system to verify that they are vaccinated  in some cases, out of fear of pushback from customers.

I dont think we have a choice, said Sergio Monleon, the owner of Berkeley tapas restaurant La Marcha. I think that if I have to put my staff in a position to police that its going to make a lot of really uncomfortable situations and confrontations that none of us want to deal with. So if California lifts the mandate on masks, I don't feel like we have a choice but to allow people to do whatever they want.  Customers are entitled already.

E. Saltman, the social media manager at Mission District bakery Reems, says that Reems still wants customers to wear masks, although it might end up being complicated to enforce that.

It's kind of a tricky situation where the government is telling people one thing and then restaurants aren't put in the best position because there's not a lot of things that are upholding the validity of the regulations that restaurants can do, they said.

Even if state officials say its OK to ditch your mask, customers entering a business should keep in mind both the mental state of those working as well as the physical health of those who are most vulnerable to COVID-19, some of whom arent able to get vaccinated, said Saltman.

I would just hope that people come to restaurants with a sense of compassion, patience and understanding for people who have been throughout the past year literally putting their bodies on the line, they said. There's a lot of fear that people have been working through, and that doesn't just go away on June 15.
Its an otherwise unremarkable afternoon in the Mission District, save for a familiar figure in a baseball cap bellowing on the sidewalk.

He tried to kill me! Danny Glover cries out, flailing his arms for good measure as he paces across the pavement.

On a cloudless Friday afternoon in mid-June, the actor stands on his mark with a furrowed brow. Hes wearing a blue paisley button-down shirt, dark wash jeans and New Balance sneakers with no socks, and his expression falls somewhere between scorn and bewilderment.

A couple of curious passersby pause on Valencia Street to observe the scene. Some grin knowingly, others gawk. Glover turns to them with a pleading look in his eyes and continues to recite his lines.

I dont ever want to see that man again in my life, he yells, jabbing a finger in the air as he appears to take on the persona of perhaps his most iconic role, Roger Murtaugh from Lethal Weapon. More people are beginning to stop and stare. Hes crazy!

Nicola Parisi/Special to SFGATE

The source of Glovers feigned ire is none other than Toriano Gordon, the owner of Vegan Mob, who has just taken him on a wild joyride in his food truck. Theyre in the middle of filming a second commercial inspired by the 1987 blockbuster franchise in promotion of the restaurants San Francisco location, which is kicking off a monthly slate of community-oriented events, Hella Frisco Fridays. Just as quickly as the camera stops rolling, Glover returns to his usual, wisecracking manner.

I better stop before I embarrass myself, he says between takes, laughing.

The production crew escorts Glover over to the food truck for the next scene, and he softly smiles to himself as he takes in the atmosphere. Longtime Bay Area DJ Chuy Gomez nods his head in recognition as he queues up the playlist for the evening. Street vendors are setting up clothing racks and booths displaying airbrushed designs. About a dozen people mill about, taking bites of foil-wrapped barbequitos while a mellow beat plays over the speakers.

Glover tells me that over the past five years, hes gradually made the transition to a meat- and dairy-free lifestyle, and it was a recommendation from a close friend that led him to visit Vegan Mobs brick-and-mortar location in Oakland last October.

By the time he arrived, it was raining and the restaurant had just closed, but a staff member called Gordon and he immediately rushed over to bring the actor a bag of food. From there, they started chatting, and Glover realized that Gordon was the son of two of his longtime friends who also lived in the Haight and the Fillmore.

Of course Im of a different generation, but we all grew up in the same neighborhood, said Glover, who now visits Vegan Mob nearly every week. He's also signed on as a lead investor for the restaurant's crowdfunding campaign and expansion, and plans to be a partner at Vegan Mob's Los Angeles location, which is slated to open next summer.

Nicola Parisi/Special to SFGATE

Long before he became known for roles in The Color Purple and Places in the Heart, Glover was a student attending Daniel Webster Elementary School and George Washington High School. In college, he participated in a 134-day strike led by his peers at San Francisco State University that eventually resulted in the nations first Black studies department.

Glover lived in a commune in the Haight during the late 1960s and frequented gigs at Both/And, the legendary jazz club formerly at 350 Divisadero. I loved the old Fillmore when it was the old Fillmore, he quipped. He worked on the docks as a longshoreman and performed in an improv troupe called Bantu at the Bayview Opera House. In the 1970s, he also had stints at the citys Office of Community Development as well as the Mission Hiring Hall, just two blocks away from where were standing.

I dont know whats possible, but I know Im going to be here for as long as I can. And stay here, said Glover. Theres a dynamic in San Francisco that hasnt changed. Its a beautiful city, and I just have so many great memories. I think all of them shaped me in some way, and I want to see that for the next generation, too.

He did leave the city for stretches at a time: to New York, where he pursued theater, and to Portland, where he once fell in love.

But I always knew I was going to find my way back here to San Francisco, he said.

Nicola Parisi/Special to SFGATE

And the city seems to feel just as lucky to count him as a resident. Every so often, Glover is greeted with a Hey Uncle Danny! or a Whats up, Unc? He pauses at each one to shake someones hand or offer a hug.

One of them is Basem Sam Manneh, a former delegate for the Democratic National Committee and a union steward at San Francisco International Airport who tells me hes known Glover for the past 25 years.

Hes not our abuelito, our tio, but Uncle Danny is what we call him, explained Maneh. What he did in the world and what hes done locally  not just as an actor, but as a human being  has meant so much to the people of San Francisco.

As he catches up with the people around him, the actor clearly appears to be in his element, and these pockets of community are what he hopes to keep alive in San Francisco.

I only live 12 blocks from where I grew up as a kid, right near the Panhandle, he tells me later that night. When I drive down Central Avenue, the guys sitting on their porches out front are the same guys I saw sitting on their porches 50 years ago. Its nice to have those people in the neighborhood, and be remembered by the neighborhood.

Nicola Parisi/Special to SFGATE

Although hes clearly nostalgic for old San Francisco, Glovers still keeping busy. In recent years, hes appeared in locally filmed hits Sorry to Bother You and The Last Black Man in San Francisco. He chipped in to save the Roxie Theaters 47-seat Little Roxie and joined scores of San Francisco pasta lovers to mourn the loss of Lucca Ravioli. Though he was sick and unable to attend in person, Glover called in to last years Juneteenth protest and historic port shutdown in Oakland to express his support. At the demonstration, his voice crackled over the speakers as he urged the crowd to keep marching, keep organizing.

My whole life Ive worked in San Francisco and worked on behalf of citizens in San Francisco. Thats just a part of what I do, said Glover. The city aint perfect, but its wonderful to live in, a place that youre glad you grew up in and youre happy to still be a part of.

Nicola Parisi/Special to SFGATE

The night is coming to an end, and were leaning against the side of Glovers Toyota Highlander as we watch Valencia Street come to life with activity. An increasing number of people begin to spot him and ask for a photo. Among them is a drunk man in his 20s, who sways a bit as he walks toward us.

Just know you raised a whole generation! he says.

Glover laughs, unfazed by the flattery. You raised me too, brother, he responds.

Once the fan moves on, I ask Glover about his hopes for the future of the city, and he pauses thoughtfully for a moment.

Ive watched my dad come of age here as a young man, and a young father. And Ive watched working class people like him get pushed to the fringes of the city. You see a lot of them went from here to Oakland, or Antioch, or Pittsburg, just to have a house and living and everything like that.

He stops to find his words again as crowds of people fill the street.

I think because of the COVID-19 pandemic, people are slowly beginning to understand that were vulnerable in so many different ways, and the people who are most vulnerable are those people who are marginalized, and have historically been marginalized, whether theyre women or mothers; whether theyre people of color or poor people. I would hope that in this rush to get back to what is considered to be some sort of normalcy, that we take that into consideration.

Nicola Parisi/Special to SFGATE

As we prepare to go our separate ways, a Street Sheet vendor approaches us and asks if were interested in buying a paper. Glover digs into his pocket and hands him a $5 bill. The man grins and thanks him. Then he does a double take.

Wait a minute. Youre like some kind of  youre like a famous movie star. He squints his eyes, sizing Glover up. Youre Danny Glover, right?

Whats up, baby? Glover responds before offering him a friendly wave.

The man persists. Are you really him?

Yes, I am, Glover says, almost shyly.

He takes the paper and heads back to his home, which will always be in San Francisco.

Nicola Parisi/Special to SFGATE

Nicola Parisi/Special to SFGATE

Nicola Parisi/Special to SFGATE
You shouldnt need an excuse to stop by any one of San Franciscos historic ice cream shops.

However, a heat wave is poised to sweep the Bay Area this week, and two of the citys most sought-after scoops have been featured on a recent round-up of the nations best frozen treats, and rightfully so.

If no one else will, Im here to tell you: Its time to go get some ice cream.

Per the recommendation of TODAY.com, the Fillmores historic Miyako Ice Cream (which we profiled last summer) and registered legacy business Joes Ice Cream in the Inner Richmond are surefire ways to relieve yourself from the sweltering temperatures, satisfy a sugar craving, or both.

A beloved San Francisco institution equally recognized for its friendly proprietors Tom and Teresa Bennett as well as its unmatched $3.95 lunch deals, the neighborhood rallied to save Miyako Ice Cream when it was burglarized in April 2020, amounting to $2,000 in damages. In response, the community raised over $10,000 overnight before reaching $19,750 in total donations to keep the citys only Black-owned ice cream shop afloat.

It made me feel very good, to know that so many people noticed and cared and wanted to support me, Tom Bennett told SFGATE at the time.

The 62-year-old Joes Ice Cream, run by Alice and Sean Kim, touts an excellent burger in addition to Korean-inspired flavors like sweet red bean and black walnut. The shop also boasts a colorful, newly-built parklet out front, which was also the result of a community crowdfunding effort and was designed by local artist Alec Hawley in partnership with Kobuksan Construction.

This is mind blowing to us!! We were so happy and excited when we saw this feature, read an update from Joes on its Instagram account. "We hope that as an SF legacy business, we can continue to serve you our ice cream for many, many years!" 

Check out the full list of ice cream shops here.
ninjaMonkeyStudio/Getty Images

Last Sunday, on a sunny afternoon in Hawaii, three F-22 stealth fighter jets from the Pacific Air Forces took to the skies on an alert scramble, but details on why have been cryptic at best.

The military confirmed the incident was not a training exercise, but did not provide any details on why the fighter jets hit the skies on alert, though they did confirm that the "irregular air patrol" came in response to an FAA request, reports Hawaii News Now.
Douglas Zimmerman/SFGate

SFGATE's politics section California Issues welcomes op-ed submissions from individuals who want to weigh in on California politicians, policy or culture.

Specifically, SFGATE seeks out op-eds that challenge conventional wisdom on a given topic, highlight an insufficiently discussed issue in the state, or elevate a viewpoint not typically represented in mainstream discourse. You do not need to be a politician, expert or activist to submit an op-ed; a submission only requires a compelling personal tie to the issue you choose to write about.
SOUTH PARIS, Maine (AP)  The state's third murder trial since courts began reopening during the pandemic got underway Tuesday in Oxford County.

Rondon Athayde, 49, is charged in the death of his longtime girlfriend, Ana Cordeiro, who was 41 when she died at their Hartford home on Dec. 13, 2018 in western Maine.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP)  Arkansas will give the federal government next month the state's overhauled Medicaid expansion proposal after federal officials blocked a work requirement, Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Tuesday.

The state on Sunday began accepting public comment on t he proposed Medicaid plan and will hold two public hearings next week on the proposal. Hutchinson said the state planned to submit the proposal to President Joe Biden's administration on July 14 and hoped for federal approval by November or December.
A customer who argued over wearing a mask at a Georgia supermarket shot and killed a cashier Monday before engaging in a shootout with an off-duty sheriff's deputy that left the deputy and a second cashier wounded, officials said.

Police later identified the cashier as 41-year-old Laquitta Willis.

The shooting unfolded just after 1 p.m. Monday at the Big Bear Supermarket in Decatur, Ga., when investigators say a customer, later identified as 30-year-old Victor Lee Tucker Jr., left the store after the mask dispute without making his purchase. But he immediately returned.

"Tucker walked directly back to the cashier, pulled out a handgun and shot her," the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) said. After killing Willis, Tucker opened fire on the off-duty DeKalb County sheriff's deputy who tried to intervene during his shift as a security guard, the GBI said.

Tucker's bullets struck the deputy twice and grazed a second woman, who was also a cashier; neither of their wounds was considered life-threatening. The deputy fired back and hit Tucker at least once. Police arrested Tucker as he was "attempting to crawl out the front door of the supermarket," investigators said.

Tucker was arrested and accused of murder and two counts of aggravated assault, according to court records. He remained hospitalized for his injuries Tuesday and is expected to survive.

The name of the cashier who was injured and survived was not released. The officer was identified as Danny Jordan, 54, who serves as a reserves deputy, a unit of mostly retired law enforcement officers who provide support services and community outreach. Jordan works security while off-duty, as he was during Monday's shooting, the sheriff's department said.

Ray Kim, who owns the store, described Willis as a kind and loving woman whose family he had known for 15 years. Kim told Atlanta's 11 Alive News before the shooting that she asked Tucker to pull up his mask and did nothing to provoke him.

"He had a mask" on his face, Kim told 11 Alive News. "She is just a very cautious person, so she had asked him to pull up his mask. He refused and walked out, came back in, and did that."

Terrified customers described hearing gunshots and diving to the floor, fearful that the shooter might kill everyone inside.

"My life flashed before my eyes," customer Ashley Cheek told 11 Alive News. "And I said, 'I'm in a grocery store buying groceries and I might never see my kids again.' "

DeKalb County Sheriff Melody Maddox credited Jordan, the off-duty deputy, for saving lives with his quick intervention.

"That is what he's trained to do, that's part of his 30-year career in law enforcement," Maddox said during a Monday news conference. "All of us here are trained to intervene and to respond."

The shooting at Big Bear Supermarket came less than three months after shootings at three Atlanta-area spas killed eight people, and after an attacker killed 10 people at the King Soopers grocery store in Boulder, Colo. - the beginnings of troubling shooting trends for 2021.

The first six months of the year have seen a rise in fatal shootings that is already outstripping the pace of such attacks from 2020 - which was the deadliest year for gun violence in two decades.

The shooting also comes after more than a year of supermarket employees working through the pandemic as they faced dual threats of the coronavirus and angry customers who often grow irate - and sometimes violent - over safety restrictions such as social distancing and mask-wearing.

When states significantly relaxed or eliminated pandemic restrictions around Memorial Day, some cities and individual businesses opted to keep some measures in place. Decatur's mask ordinance, which requires face coverings while indoors at grocery stores and other buildings, was in effect during Monday's shooting. It expires next Monday.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  A bankruptcy trustee's search to recover assets linked to one of the largest financial crimes in Minnesota's history has netted $722 million.

Doug Kelley says his work to collect assets from Tom Petters' $1.9 billion Ponzi scheme is nearly done 13 years after the search began.

A motion filed in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis last week shows the amount recovered and returned to victims and creditors, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported.

We can see the light at the end of the tunnel here, Kelley said. It has been a long and arduous process that was at times bumpy, but I am quite pleased with the collective return of $722 million.

Petters, now 63, was indicted in 2008 on multiple counts of mail fraud, wire fraud, money laundering and conspiracy for operating the scheme which spanned 26 countries, including the the Cayman Islands, Germany and Switzerland.

A federal jury found him guilty on all counts and he was sentenced to 50 years in prison. He is currently an inmate at the federal prison in Leavenworth, Kansas.

Kelley said just four or five cases remain, including one filed against the Bank of Montreal in Canada.

As part of his sentence, Petters was ordered to forfeit assets gained through the Ponzi scheme, including bank and investment accounts, vehicles and real estate. More than 300 lawsuits were filed to recover other profits.
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP)  Gunmen on Tuesday targeted an anti-polio drive in eastern Afghanistan, killing at least five members of two vaccination teams in separate attacks, officials said.

No militant group immediately claimed responsibility for the attacks that took place in the city of Jalalabad and the nearby districts of Khoyani and Surkhrud, according to Attaullah Khogyani, spokesman for the governor in Nangarhar province. Jalalabad is the provincial capital.

Along with the five killed, at least four members of the polio vaccination teams were wounded, said Dr. Jan Mohammad, who coordinates the anti-polio drive for the country's east. Khogyani called the attacks cowardly, adding that two of the wounded were in critical condition.

The polio vaccination campaign in Nangarhar province was suspended later Tuesday, said Najibullah Kamawal, operational chief for the eastern provinces. It wasn't clear when or if it would resume.

Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan are the only two remaining countries in the world where polio is endemic, after Nigeria was last year declared free of the virus.

In March, the Islamic State group said it shot and killed three women who were part of a polio vaccination team, also in Jalalabad, the capital of Afghanistan's Nangarhar province.

The IS affiliate is headquartered in eastern Afghanistan and while the Sunni militant group's numbers are believed to have gone down after recent government offensives and clashes with the rival Taliban, IS militants have lately stepped up attacks on minority Shiite Muslims.

IS has also taken responsibility for several targeted killings that have taken aim at the country's nascent civil society, as well as journalists and legal professionals.

Though struggling with a new, third surge in coronavirus cases, the Afghan government has in recent months sought to inoculate 9.6 million children against polio with the help of UNICEF. In 2020, Afghanistan reported 54 new cases of polio.

The latest surge in COVID-19 infections has overwhelmed Afghanistan's war-ravaged health care system, with oxygen supplies running out and well behind on vaccine supplies. As of Monday, Afghanistan has recorded more than 93,000 cases  with more than 3,600 new cases in the past 24 hours. There have also been 3,683 deaths. It's widely accepted that the numbers are massively underreported because Afghanistan conducts barely 8,000 tests a day and often much less.

The increased violence and chaos comes as the U.S. and NATO are completing their military withdrawal from Afghanistan. The estimated 2,500-3,500 U.S. soldiers and 7,000 NATO allied troops are to be gone by Sept. 11 at the latest, though there are projections they may be gone by mid July.

Though not uncommon in Afghanistan, attacks on polio vaccination teams are more frequent in Pakistan, where the Pakistani Taliban and other militants regularly stage attacks on polio teams and security forces escorting them. They also target vaccination centers and health workers, claiming that anti-polio drives are part of an alleged Western conspiracy to sterilize children or collect intelligence.

Last week, two policemen who were providing security to polio vaccinators were shot and killed in northwest Pakistan.

These attacks increased after it was revealed that a fake hepatitis vaccination campaign was used as a ruse by the CIA in the hunt for al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden. Bin Laden was killed by U.S. commandos in 2011 in Pakistan.

___

Gannon reported from Islamabad. Associated Press television producer Fazel Rehman Faizi in Kabul, Afghanistan, contributed to this report.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP)  A federal inmate imprisoned on drug charges has escaped from a minimum security facility in Tennessee, authorities said Tuesday.

Cecil Corey Haggins was discovered missing from Federal Correctional Institution Memphis satellite camp in Millington on Monday night, the Bureau of Prisons said in a news release. The FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service and other law enforcement agencies were informed of the escape, the bureau said.

Millington is located just north of Memphis. The satellite camp is a minimum security facility and currently houses 84 male offenders, the bureau said.

Haggins has been sentenced 10 years in federal prison for possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.

Over the past 18 months, at least 29 prisoners have escaped from federal lockups across the U.S., and nearly half still have not been caught, The Associated Press reported last week. At some of the institutions, doors are left unlocked, security cameras are broken and officials sometimes dont notice an inmate is missing for hours.

The details of Haggins' escape have not been released by the bureau.

Prisoners have broken out at lockups in nearly every region of the country. Their crimes include racketeering, wire fraud, bank robbery, possession of methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and other drugs.

Twelve of the inmates who escaped in 2020  from prisons in Florida, California, Louisiana, Texas and Colorado  remain at large. Haggins and two others who escaped since January this year have also not yet been caught.

All of the escapes happened at minimum-security federal prison facilities and house inmates the Bureau of Prisons considers to be the lowest security risk.
ATLANTA (AP)  Georgia's secretary of state says his office is reviewing the handling of paperwork related to ballot drop boxes in the state's most populous county during last year's election.

New revelations that Fulton County is unable to produce all ballot drop box transfer documents will be investigated thoroughly, as we have with other counties that failed to follow Georgia rules and regulations regarding drop boxes. This cannot continue," Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger wrote in a tweet on Monday.

Temporary rules passed by the State Election Board last year allowed voters to return absentee ballots by putting them in secure drop boxes. The rules required the county to collect ballots from each drop box location at least once every 24 hours and have each collection team complete and sign a transfer form upon removing the ballots. The form was supposed to include the date, time, location and number of ballots.

Fulton County spokeswoman Jessica Corbitt said in an email Tuesday that the county followed procedures for the collection of absentee ballots from the drop boxes.

Secretary of state's office spokesman Ari Schaffer said Raffensperger's tweet referred to comments made by a Fulton County elections employee in a report on The Georgia Star News, a conservative website. The report says that some drop box transfer forms were missing when Fulton County produced forms in response to an open records request.

The report quotes a statement from Mariska Bodison, with Fulton County Registration and Elections, saying that officials noticed a few forms are missing. She said that when a COVID-19 outbreak happened at a county elections warehouse in October "some procedural paperwork may have been misplaced.

We maintain a large quantity of documents and are researching our files from last year, Corbitt said Tuesday. The majority of the ballot transfer forms have already been produced and we are continuing to research a handful.

She said the county has been in touch with the secretary of states office to update them on its progress.

The investigation comes as some Republicans and supporters of former Republican President Donald Trump continue to perpetuate Trump's false claim that he lost the November election to President Joe Biden because of widespread fraud, including in Georgia.

Georgia was one of several states to pass a sweeping new elections law this year, prompting numerous lawsuits from voting rights advocates who say it is aimed at limiting minority and other voters who helped Democrats win.

Raffensperger announced in April that his office had referred three counties for investigation after they failed to fill out the transfer forms when collecting ballots from drop boxes. Those three counties had a combined population of about 76,000 people, according to 2019 estimates by the U.S. Census.

Raffensperger said at the time that his office had confirmed with the other 120 counties that had drop boxes during the November election that they had completed the ballot transfer documents.

The drop box rule was a temporary measure implemented in response to the increased demand for absentee ballots driven by fears about the coronavirus pandemic. The state's new election law requires each county to have at least one drop box but also puts stricter limits on where they can be and how many a county can have.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Biden administration says it will enhance its analysis of threats from domestic terrorists, including the sharing of intelligence within law enforcement agencies, and will work with tech companies to eliminate terrorist content online as part of a nationwide strategy to combat domestic terrorism.

The National Security Council on Tuesday released the strategy, which comes more than six months after a mob of insurgents loyal to President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol as Congress was voting to certify Joe Bidens presidential win.

Domestic terrorism  driven by hate, bigotry, and other forms of extremism  is a stain on the soul of America, Biden, who's traveling in Europe, said in a statement. It goes against everything our country strives for and it poses a direct challenge to our national security, democracy, and unity."

A report from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence found that domestic violent extremists posed an increased threat in 2021, with white supremacist groups and anti-government militias posing the highest risk, officials said.

The new strategy includes enhancing the governments analysis of domestic terrorism and improving the information that is shared between local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. Administration officials said the Justice Department had also implemented a new system to methodically track domestic terrorism cases nationwide within the FBI.

In the FBI's view, the top domestic violent extremist threat comes from racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists, specifically those who advocated for the superiority of the white race, Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a speech Tuesday.

The Justice Department was also evaluating whether the administration should recommend Congress pass a specific domestic terrorism law, which does not currently exist. In the absence of domestic terrorism laws, the Justice Department relies on other statutes to prosecute ideologically motivated violence by people with no international ties.

But that has made it harder to track how often extremists driven by religious, racial or anti-government bias commit violence in the U.S and complicates efforts to develop a universally accepted domestic terror definition. Opponents of domestic terrorism laws say prosecutors already have enough tools.

Still, there is a delicate balancing act for prosecutors between disrupting violence and not infringing on free speech.

We are focused on violence, not on ideology, Garland said. In America, espousing a hateful ideology is not unlawful. We do not investigate individuals for their First Amendment protected activities.

The governments new plan also includes an effort to identify government employees who may pose a domestic terrorism threat, with a number of federal agencies working on new policies and programs to root out potential domestic extremists in law enforcement and in the military.

A senior administration official said the Office of Personnel Management was considering updating forms to assist in improving screening and vetting of government employees to make sure people who could pose a threat are identified before being put in sensitive roles. The official spoke to reporters on the condition of anonymity to detail the internal tools.

Officials said the Justice Department had also formally made domestic terrorism a top priority and had been reallocating resources at U.S. attorneys' offices and at FBI field offices across the U.S. to combat the threat from domestic extremists. The Justice Departments proposed budget for next year includes $100 million in additional resources related to domestic terrorism to be used for analysts, investigators and prosecutors.

The U.S. and four other countries joined onto an effort to stop extremist violence from spreading online. The effort, known as the Christchurch Call, involves some 50 nations plus tech companies including Google, Facebook, Twitter and Amazon, and is named for the New Zealand city where worshippers at two mosques were killed by a white supremacist gunman.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden on Tuesday installed an energetic critic of Big Tech as a top federal regulator at a time when the industry is under intense pressure from Congress, regulators and state attorneys general.

The selection of legal scholar Lina Khan to head the Federal Trade Commission is seen as signaling a tough stance toward tech giants Facebook, Google, Amazon and Apple. Khan was sworn in as FTC chair just hours after the Senate confirmed her as one of five members of the commission on a 69-28 vote.

Khan has been a professor at Columbia University Law School and burst onto the antitrust scene with her massive scholarly work in 2017 as a Yale law student, Amazons Antitrust Paradox. She helped lay the foundation for a new way of looking at antitrust law beyond the impact of big-company market dominance on consumer prices. As counsel to a House Judiciary antitrust panel in 2019 and 2020, she played a key role in a sweeping bipartisan investigation of the market power of the tech giants.

At 32, she is believed to be the youngest chair in the history of the FTC, which polices competition and consumer protection in industry generally as well as digital privacy.

Lina brings deep knowledge and expertise to this role and will be a fearless champion for consumers," Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., who has called for tech industry breakups, said in a statement. Giant tech companies deserve the growing scrutiny they are facing, and consolidation is choking off competition across American industries. With Chair Khan at the helm, we have a huge opportunity to make big, structural change by reviving antitrust enforcement and fighting monopolies that threaten our economy, our society and our democracy.

Khan also was a legal adviser to Rohit Chopra, an FTC commissioner, and was previously legal director of the Open Markets Institute, an organization that advocates against corporate concentration.

It is a tremendous honor to have been selected by President Biden to lead the Federal Trade Commission, Khan said in a statement. I look forward to working with my colleagues to protect the public from corporate abuse.

Biden said as a presidential candidate that dismantling the big tech companies should be considered. He also has said he wants to see quickly crimped the social media companies long-held legal protections for speech on their platforms.

Biden in March appointed Tim Wu, also an academic expert on antitrust and industry critic, as a special assistant to the president for technology and competition policy within the National Economic Council. Wu, like Khan a Columbia law professor, has been a senior adviser to the FTC and a senior enforcement attorney in the New York attorney generals office.

The tech industry, once lionized by lawmakers and presidents as an engine of innovation and jobs, has seen its political fortunes eroded in recent years. Calls have been rising to break up the Silicon Valley giants.

Lawmakers of both parties champion stronger oversight of the tech industry, arguing that its massive market power is out of control, crushing smaller competitors and endangering consumers privacy. They say the companies hide behind a legal shield to allow false information to flourish on their social media networks or to entrench bias.

Last fall the Trump Justice Department, joined by states, filed a ground-breaking antitrust lawsuit against Google, accusing the search giant of abusing its market dominance to stifle competition. That was followed in December by another big antitrust suit against Facebook, brought by the FTC and an array of states.

Amazon and Apple are under scrutiny by antitrust enforcers at the Justice Department, now in Bidens purview, and the independent, bipartisan FTC. Twitter has joined Facebook and Google in facing frequent run-ins with lawmakers over its policies for moderating content on its platform.

A bipartisan group of House lawmakers, animated by the results of the Judiciary panel investigation of Facebook, Google, Amazon and Apple, proposed sweeping legislation Friday to rein in Big Tech, possibly forcing the giants to break up their businesses while making it harder for them to acquire others. Those kinds of mandated breakups through a legislative overhaul would be a radical step for Congress to take and could be a bridge too far for some Republican lawmakers.

Some Republican lawmakers have denounced the new school of antitrust thought, championed by Khan and Wu and gaining currency among Democrats, that looks beyond the impact of big-company market dominance on consumer prices to its broader effects on industries, employees and communities.

The school is called hipster antitrust by its detractors. With this approach, Democrats are seeking to use antitrust law not to promote competition but to advance social or environmental goals, the Republicans contend.
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP)  The Maine Senate effectively ended an attempt to eliminate the states secretive state police fusion center that came under under scrutiny after a whistleblower lawsuit.

The bill to close the fusion center was rejected 29-6 in the Senate on Monday, just hours after House voted 88-54 to eliminate the center.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP)  Philadelphians would be able to hold an election to remove elected officials under a bill the House State Government Committee advanced Tuesday on party lines.

Until the meeting, the Republican-sponsored bill had applied to the state's governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, auditor general and treasurer, and all mayors and district attorneys.

But a Republican-sponsored amendment took out nearly all of those officials and applied it only to Philadelphia, notably its district attorney and mayor. The proposal passed on party lines, with Republicans in support. Philadelphia has long been an overwhelmingly Democratic city.

The bill's author, Rep. Martina White, R-Philadelphia, said after the amendment that she still supported the proposal, which would change the state constitution. White said it was not targeted at Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, a Democrat.

The GOP lawmaker who wrote the amendment limiting the bill to Philadelphia, Lebanon County Rep. Frank Ryan, said his goal was to provide a recall power that should exist under the city's home rule charter.

Philly legislators objected to Ryan penning bills for their city.

Proposed constitutional amendments affecting Philadelphia should only come from Philadelphia lawmakers, said Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, D-Philadelphia.

To recall a city official, one-fourth of the number of voters who cast ballots for that position in the last election would have to sign a petition to get it on the ballot. Voters would have the final say.
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP)  New Jersey lawmakers are considering a law that would fast-track offshore wind energy projects by removing the ability of local governments to control power lines and other onshore components.

The bill, introduced last week and advanced on Tuesday, would give wind energy projects approved by the state Board of Public Utilities authority to locate, build, use and maintain wires and associated land-based infrastructure as long as they run underground on public property including streets. (The BPU could determine that some above-ground wires are necessary.)

It appears to be an effort to head off any local objections to at least one wind power project envisioned to come ashore at two former power plants, and run cables under two of the state's most popular beaches.

At a virtual public hearing in April on the Ocean Wind project planned by Orsted, the Danish wind energy developer, and PSEG, a New Jersey utility company, officials revealed that the project would connect to the electric grid at decommissioned power plants in Ocean and Cape May Counties.

The northern connection would be at the former Oyster Creek nuclear power plant in Lacey Township; the southern connection would be at the former B.L. England plant in Upper Township.

Cables running from the wind farm, to be located between 15 and 27 miles (24 to 43 kilometers) off the coast of Atlantic City, would come ashore at one of three potential locations in Ocean City: 5th Street, 13th Street or 35th Street. They would then run under the roadway along Roosevelt Boulevard out to Upper Township and the former power plant, which closed in 2019.

Cables also would need to cross Island Beach State Park in Ocean County, running under the dunes and beach and existing parking lots, out into Barnegat Bay, coming ashore either directly at the Oyster Creek site in the Forked River section of Lacey, or at either Bay Parkway or Lighthouse Drive in Waretown, also known as Ocean Township in Ocean County.

An Orsted spokesperson said the company supports the bill, which he said establishes a mitigation process for qualified offshore wind projects approved by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities if talks break down at the local level. This is critical for keeping timelines and schedules not only for the developer, but for the supply chain and workforce dedicated to the project.

Orsted also proposes a second project off New Jersey, and Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind, a joint venture between EDF Renewables North America and Shell New Energies US LLC, also proposes an offshore wind farm off the state's coast.

In addition, a Massachusetts company plans to build a high-voltage line to bring electricity from a future New Jersey offshore wind farm onto land, and connect it to the power grid. Anbaric, of Wakefield, Massachusetts, has already obtained several permits from New Jersey environmental regulators for what it calls its Boardwalk Power Link project.

The bill entitles a qualified wind energy project to obtain easements, rights-of-way or other property rights from any level of government that are necessary to build the project. The BPU would make a final decision if such approvals are withheld by governments.

No state, county or local government would be able to prohibit or charge a fee for the use of a street or other public property other than a road opening permit. If these governments refuse the permit for any other reason than legitimate public safety concerns, the state utilities board would be required to issue an order granting the necessary approval.

The wind energy developer would have to pay fair market value for easements or property rights it is awarded.

The bill was approved by a state Senate committee on Tuesday, and requires several additional approvals before being sent to Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy. It is to be considered Wednesday by an Assembly committee.

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Follow Wayne Parry at http://twitter.com/WayneParryAC
Christiane Amanpour, CNNs chief international anchor, revealed that she has ovarian cancer and is now undergoing treatment.

The 63-year-old journalist, who had been off the air for about a month to treat the disease, broke the news at the start of her TV show Monday.

She called the past four weeks a bit of a rollercoaster for me.

Ive had successful major surgery to remove it, and Im now undergoing several months of chemotherapy for the very best possible long-term prognosis, Amanpour said. And Im confident. Im also fortunate to have health insurance through work and incredible doctors who are treating me.

Amanpour, who is based in London, has covered conflicts around the world during her time at CNN.

Im telling you this in the interest of transparency but in truth, really, mostly as a shoutout to early diagnosis, Amanpour said Monday.

She added that she wants to urge women to educate themselves on this disease, to get all the regular screenings and scans that you can, to always listen to your bodies, and of course, to ensure that your legitimate medical concerns are not dismissed or diminished.

After sharing her personal news with viewers, Amanpour then went right into covering international news, including discussing the upcoming meeting between President Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin, happening in Geneva on Wednesday.

The journalist also took time to thank Bianna Golodryga, CNNs senior global affairs analyst, for filling in for her on the show while she was out.

Ovarian cancer is the second most common gynecologic cancer in the U.S., according to the countrys Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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SEATTLE (AP)  The Seattle City Council has approved a law that will require meal-delivery apps to sign agreements with restaurants instead of listing restaurants on the apps and taking orders without permission.

Council President M. Lorena Gonzalez, who sponsored the law, said it will protect restaurants, simplify work for delivery-app drivers and give customers more reliable service, The Seattle Times reported.

The vote was 8-0 on Monday. Mayor Jenny Durkan hasnt reviewed the law yet to determine whether shell sign it or let it become law without her signature, her office said.

Council staff noted the law could result in some restaurants paying delivery fees theyre not paying now, possibly less work for drivers and fewer options for customers.

Gonzalez said restaurant-industry groups such as Seattle Restaurant Alliance backed the measure and labor groups and delivery apps were consulted. Delivery apps Grubhub, Postmates and Uber Eats didnt immediately comment.

Brianna Megid, a spokesperson for the delivery app DoorDash, said restaurants should have the power to make choices affecting their businesses. DoorDash removes restaurants, when requested, she said.

Under the status quo, delivery apps can use online menus and other information to list restaurants without permission. Restaurants may not even know theyre listed. App drivers place orders on the behalf of customers, who pay the apps delivery fees, the council said.

Under the new law there must be agreements, which restaurants can end at any time, that authorize the apps to coordinate deliveries.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP)  A cyberespionage campaign blamed on China was more sweeping than previously known, with suspected state-backed hackers exploiting a device meant to boost internet security to penetrate the computers of critical U.S. entities.

The hack of Pulse Connect Secure networking devices came to light in April, but its scope is only now starting to become clear. The Associated Press has learned that the hackers targeted telecommunications giant Verizon and the countrys largest water agency. News broke earlier this month that the New York City subway system, the countrys largest, was also breached.

Security researchers say dozens of other high-value entities that have not yet been named were also targeted as part of the breach of Pulse Secure, which is used by many companies and governments for secure remote access to their networks.

Its unclear what sensitive information, if any, was accessed. Some of the targets said they did not see any evidence of data being stolen. That uncertainty is common in cyberespionage and it can take months to determine data loss, if it is ever discovered. Ivanti, the Utah-based owner of Pulse Connect Secure, declined to comment on which customers were affected.

But even if sensitive information wasnt compromised, experts say it is worrisome that hackers managed to gain footholds in networks of critical organizations whose secrets could be of interest to China for commercial and national security reasons.

The threat actors were able to get access to some really high-profile organizations, some really well-protected ones, said Charles Carmakal, the chief technology officer of Mandiant, whose company first publicized the hacking campaign in April.

The Pulse Secure hack has largely gone unnoticed while a series of headline-grabbing ransomware attacks have highlighted the cyber vulnerabilities to U.S. critical infrastructure, including one on a major fuels pipeline that prompted widespread shortages at gas stations. The U.S. government is also still investigating the fallout of the SolarWinds hacking campaign launched by Russian cyber spies, which infiltrated dozens of private sector companies and think tanks as well as at least nine U.S. government agencies and went on for most of 2020.

China has a long history of using the internet to spy on the U.S. and presents a "prolific and effective cyber-espionage threat," the Office of the Director of the National Intelligence said in its most recent annual threat assessment.

Six years ago Chinese hackers stole millions of background check files of federal government employees from the Office of Personnel Management. And last year the Justice Department charged two hackers it said worked with the Chinese government to target firms developing vaccines for the coronavirus and stole hundreds of millions of dollars worth of intellectual property and trade secrets from companies across the world.

The Chinese government has denied any role in the Pulse hacking campaign and the U.S. government has not made any formal attribution.

In the Pulse campaign, security experts said sophisticated hackers exploited never-before-seen vulnerabilities to break in and were hyper diligent in trying to cover their tracks once inside.

The capability is very strong and difficult to defend against, and the profile of victims is very significant, said Adrian Nish, the head of cyber at BAE Systems Applied Intelligence. This is a very targeted attack against a few dozen networks that all have national significance in one way or another.

The Department of Homeland Securitys Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency, or CISA, issued an April alert about the Pulse hack saying it was aware of compromises affecting a number of U.S. government agencies, critical infrastructure entities, and other private sector organizations. The agency has since said that at least five federal agencies have identified indications of potential unauthorized access, but not said which ones.

Verizon said it found a Pulse-related compromise in one of its labs but it was quickly isolated from its core networks. The company said no data or customer information was accessed or stolen.

We know that bad actors try to compromise our systems, said Verizon spokesman Rich Young. That is why internet operators, private companies and all individuals need to be vigilant in this space.

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, which provides water to 19 million people and operates some of the largest treatment plants in the world, said it found a compromised Pulse Secure appliance after CISA issued its alert in April. Spokeswoman Rebecca Kimitch said the appliance was immediately removed from service and no Metropolitan systems or processes were known to have been affected. She said there was no known data exfiltration.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York also said theyve not found evidence of valuable data or customer information was stolen. The breach was first reported by The New York Times.

Nish, the BAE security expert, said the hackers could have broken into networks but not stolen data right away for any number of operational reasons. He compared it to a criminal breaking into a house but stopping in the hallway.

Its still pretty bad, Nish said.

Mandiant said it found signs of data extraction from some of the targets. The company and BAE have identified targets of the hacking campaign in several fields, including financial, technology and defense firms, as well as municipal governments. Some targets were in Europe, but most in the U.S.

At least one major local government has disputed it was a target of the Pulse Secure hack. Montgomery County, Maryland, said it was advised by CISA that its Pulse Secure devices were attacked. But county spokesman Scott Peterson said the county found no evidence of a compromise and told CISA they had a false report.

CISA did not directly respond to the county's statement.

The new details of the Pulse Secure hack come at a time of tension between the U.S. and China. Biden has made checking Chinas growth a top priority, and said the country's ambition of becoming the wealthiest and most powerful country in the world is not going to happen under my watch.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)  Prosecutors in Tennessee who are preparing for the first-degree murder trial of a Nashville police officer next month may try to call a law enforcement expert witness who served similarly in the case against Derek Chauvin in George Floyds death.

A judge will consider whether to let Jody Stiger, a Los Angeles Police Department sergeant, take the stand to testify against Officer Andrew Delke. The white officer, now 27, is to stand trial next month in the fatal shooting of Daniel Hambrick, a 25-year-old Black man who was shot from behind in July 2018 while fleeing from the officer on foot and while carrying a gun.

Delke's attorney, David Raybin, in a hearing Tuesday accused the prosecutors of wanting to inject that case into this case and called it a bait and switch to try to introduce Stiger past a scheduling deadline, after seeing him take the stand during the Chauvin trial in April. The Delke trial is scheduled to start July 12.

Daniel Hambrick is no George Floyd. Officer Delke is no Derek Chauvin," Raybin said. "(District Attorney Glenn) Funk says he wants to be transparent. And we can see right through him.

Deputy District Attorney Roger Moore said that though prosecutors became aware of Stiger from the Chauvin trial, they will make no mention of George Floyd, (Stiger's) participation in that trial, or anything that would bring that into the purview of the jury." Raybin raised questions about how that case would go unmentioned, since Stiger has only testified in the Chauvin trial.

We get his testimony from that case and start to ask him questions, the jurors are not stupid, theyre going to know what that is, Raybin said.

Moore said there is plenty of time until the trial, adding that they may or may not actually call Stiger as a witness.

Moore added that he thinks a jury shouldn't need any expert testimony when they see video footage of the shooting. But if there are expert witnesses, Moore said, Stiger should be allowed to testify.

The back-and-forth came as the prosecution and defense made their late-game arguments about what should or shouldn't be revealed to a jury. The jurors will be picked the week before the trial starts.

After Moore said prosecutors don't think experts are needed because of the video available, Raybin argued the opposite. Raybin asked the judge to exclude all video evidence because of additional footage that the defense argued could have shown a key, unseen blip in the chase, but was not retained in the investigation. Moore countered that it's unlikely that the additional, unreviewed video would show anything new.

In the surveillance footage available, there is a blip of a blind spot in the angles seen, a point the defense has focused on. The defense has said the weapon became pointed at Delke during the chase, and prosecutors have cast doubt about that.

Raybin has asked to include evidence about Hambrick's felony criminal record to argue that he ran from Delke because he didn't want to get arrested again and be caught with a gun. Judge Monte Watkins replied, We don't know why he was running; it could have been any number of reasons.

I have some difficulty with allowing prior arrests and warrants to be brought in (as evidence), Watkins said. Circumstances may change to such an extent that certain things may come in.

Delkes attorneys have argued the officer acted in line with his training and Tennessee law in responding an armed suspect who ignored repeated orders to drop his gun. Funk has argued Delke had other alternatives, adding that the officer could have stopped, sought cover and called for help.
DOVER, Del. (AP)  Democratic Gov. John Carney announced Tuesday that the state of emergency he imposed in Delaware more than a year ago because of the coronavirus will be lifted next month.

Carney said in a news release that the state of emergency, which he declared in March 2020, will expire July 13.
The grassy property surrounding a charred trailer had grown wild over the past six months with no one living there anymore to mind the lawn. Its former occupant, Kristina Michelle Jones, had been found dead in her scorched bedroom in the early hours after Christmas Day.

So last weekend, Jones's sister-in-law - former Mississippi Republican state legislator Ashley Henley - went to the Northern Mississippi property with a weed whacker to tidy up.

Henley, 40, and her husband, Brandon Henley, had transformed the place into a makeshift shrine, including an oversize wooden sign that read "I WAS MURDERED" - a visual reminder of the couple's insistence that Jones had been deliberately killed and their claims that police haven't taken the investigation seriously.

But those words also soon became a chilling harbinger of Henley's fate.

She was shot Sunday as she rid the grass of weeds, police told the North Mississippi Herald. Her death is being investigated as a homicide, the Yalobusha County coroner confirmed to The Washington Post.

Henley's husband told local news that his wife was shot in the back of the head.

It is unclear whether Henley's and Jones's cases are connected. But Brandon Henley said he believes the same person killed both women.

"I have my own theory, and the police do too," he told WREG, adding that police have already interviewed a suspect. "I'd like for them to do their job because this is the second person someone down there has taken from me. My son doesn't have a mother."

Henley was a teacher until winning the 2015 election to represent DeSoto County in the state House; she lost to a Democrat by 14 votes in the 2019 election.

Jones died after midnight on Dec. 26 in her bedroom in the trailer, which was owned by her father. The home was set ablaze around 1:30 a.m. The county coroner told the Mississippi Free Press that there were no signs of gunshot wounds and that the investigation is ongoing. Police have not ruled out homicide as the cause of death.

But in recent months, Henley and her husband had repeatedly criticized the sheriff's office over its work on Jones's case.

"We will find out who did this, with or without help from Yalobusha County," Henley wrote in a comment on a Facebook post from April 6. "She's not the first to die like this down there, but I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure she's the last. Her death will not be [in] vain."

Brandon Henley posted several pictures of the burned trailer, pointing out that the fire seemed to occur mainly in Jones's bedroom. In an April 6 post, he said that investigators had ruled the fire as arson and found that there was no smoke in Jones's lungs, signaling that she had died before the fire. Neither the Yalobusha County Sheriff's Office nor local fire officials immediately returned messages from The Post early on Tuesday to respond to his claims.

Ashley Henley also wrote about a tense confrontation with sheriff's deputies around that same time. She was bringing flowers to the memorial outside the trailer, she said, when officers stopped her and "attempted to intimidate" her, she wrote, and threatened to arrest her for not handing over her "lawfully holstered, concealed firearm without probable cause."

"We will not be intimidated," she wrote. "We are not going away. We will not back down. We will not be silent any longer. My sister-in-law deserves #JUSTICE."

She then added in a comment on the post: "I know the law, and I also know how quick people disappear down here. I'm not going down like that."

On Sunday, Henley left her home in Southaven, Miss., around 10 a.m. to go to Jones's trailer in rural Water Valley, Miss., her husband told WREG.

Brandon Henley said he grew concerned after not hearing from his wife for hours and called a neighbor near the Water Valley property around 8 p.m. to check whether she was still there. The neighbor spotted Henley's truck but couldn't find her.

Police arrived at the scene around 10 p.m. and soon after found Henley's body. Authorities believe she was killed while tending to the lawn, according to the Herald, which first reported on the case.

Republican State Rep. Dan Eubanks, Henley's close colleague during her time in the state House, told WLBT that she had grown increasingly frustrated in recent weeks and feared that Jones's case would go cold. So she had taken it upon herself to look further into her death.

"I really believe that what happened was, she continued to pursue certain leads and she ruffled some feathers and somebody wanted to put an end to that search," Eubanks said. "It's obvious that it was an execution-style murder. Somebody wanted her dead. They didn't rob her, they didn't take any of her stuff. . . . They killed her and just moved on."
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP)  Alaska budget negotiators reached a tentative agreement on a spending package that would keep state government running and allocate federal recovery aid dollars.

But the proposal ties strings to funding for programs like the annual dividend paid to residents, a move meant to entice support including from minority lawmakers whose backing is needed to access a budget reserve fund that would be used in part to pay for this year's checks.

House Minority Leader Cathy Tilton, a Wasilla Republican, referred to the approach as bully tactics. Sen. Bert Stedman, a Republican and one of the lead budget negotiators, said it "certainly encourages some folks to seriously consider what  position theyre going to take on the constitutional budget reserve fund.

The House and Senate could vote on the plan as early as Tuesday. Lawmakers have until Friday to finish their work in this special session.

Here is a look at some of the plan's complexities:

BUDGET RESERVE FUNDS

Dividends traditionally have been paid using earnings from the states oil-wealth fund, the Alaska Permanent Fund. But the constitutional and statutory budget reserve funds play key roles in the dividend proposal that advanced from the budget conference committee on Sunday.

Accessing the constitutional budget reserve requires three-fourths support in each the House and Senate. That vote has sometimes been seen by minority legislators as leverage to draw attention to concerns they want addressed. It has been a point of contention in recent years as lawmakers have used the reserve fund to fill budget gaps and as numbers have tightened between the House majority and minority caucuses.

This year, 21 of the House's 40 members belong to the bipartisan majority. Tilton's Republican caucus has 18 members. One Republican, Rep. Sara Rasmussen, is not part of either caucus.

The vote also will be watched in the 20-person Senate. Those in the 14-member, Republican-led majority are not bound to vote for the budget, Daniel McDonald, with the Senate majority press office, confirmed. That is a break from the practice of prior years.

Under the state constitution, funds taken from constitutional budget reserve are to be repaid. The budget plan includes language that has been used in prior budget cycles meant to prevent a long list of funding pots used for such things as student scholarships and rural electric costs from being swept into the constitutional budget reserve. The so-called three-quarter vote is needed to do this.

The statutory budget reserve is among the pots subject to the sweep. At the start of the current fiscal year, it was empty, according to the Legislative Finance Division. But the budget proposal resuscitates it, in part with money previously authorized to be spent but not needed in the current year, the division's director, Alexei Painter, said.

About $320 million of the $739 million allocated in the budget for dividends would come from the statutory budget reserve, with $48 million from the constitutional budget reserve and the rest from the state general fund. If approved, dividends would be around $1,100, Stedman said.

Checks would drop to $525 if the three-quarter threshold in each chamber is not attained, a Legislative Finance Division analysis showed.

The proposal also ties other budget items to a three-quarter vote, including money for oil and gas tax credits and some infrastructure projects.

PERMANENT FUND

A longstanding formula for calculating dividends was last used in 2015, with lawmakers since then largely setting an annual amount and the dividend becoming an ongoing and politically charged debate that overshadows other issues.

In 2018, lawmakers began using permanent fund earnings, long used to pay dividends, to help cover government expenses, and they sought to limit withdrawals for dividends and government costs.

One of the biggest debates this year has been whether to exceed that limit.

The version of the budget that passed the Senate last month would have. It proposed a dividend of about $2,300, in line with a 50/50 split between what is drawn for government and dividends. The version of the budget that passed the House did not address this year's dividend.

Painter said the withdrawal limit would be adhered to under the conference committee proposal.

Some lawmakers argued that if ever there was a time to pay a larger dividend, it was this year, following a trying time for many Alaskans because of the pandemic. Some expressed openness to exceeding the draw if it led to a fiscal package and long-term change to the dividend program.

But others said exceeding the draw limit of about $3.1 billion could set a worrying precedent and make it easier for future Legislatures to use the earning reserve as a crutch and delay tough fiscal decisions.

The conference committee also proposed moving $4 billion from permanent fund earnings, which are spendable, to the fund's constitutionally protected principal. Such transfers aren't subject to the withdrawal limit.
DOVER, Del. (AP)  A former Delaware political candidate who unsuccessfully sought the Republican nominations for governor and U.S. Senate has been charged with mailing death threats to a lawyer who represented his wife in a divorce case, according to federal court documents unsealed Monday.

Authorities allege that Michael Protack, who now lives in Seal Beach, California, mailed a death threat to Delaware lawyer Patrick Boyer in January. Protack allegedly followed up with a March letter containing a graphic image of a mutilated body, they said.

The unsigned January letter was addressed to Boyer, Little Boy, with a return address of the Viper Association at a Wilmington post office box, according to an FBI affidavit accompanying a search warrant application filed last week.

The VIPERS are coming for you. We all have military experience and have no fear of the outcome, the letter states. You are a coward who will regret his actions. Count on being dead by June 2021. You wont know when, where or how but your end has been written. Take the time and put your affairs in order because they will not find your body for weeks.

Protack, who unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for governor in 2004 and 2008 and narrowly lost the GOP primary for U.S. Senate in 2006, did not immediately respond to email and phone messages Monday. A telephone message left with the federal public defenders office in Delaware also was not immediately returned.

In an email to The Associated Press, Boyer thanked law enforcement officials for their skill and dedication in addressing this matter but declined further comment.

According to the affidavit, Boyer began representing Mary Ann Protack in divorce proceedings in 2018 and helped her obtain protection from abuse or PFA, orders against Protack.

I could shoot you in the head and spend the rest of my life in jail happy about it, Protack allegedly told his wife at one point. The affidavit added he also allegedly once told her, Someone is going to die today.

The divorce proceedings appear to have started around the same time that Protack, an airline pilot who served in the Marine Corps, was notified that Delta Airlines intended to terminate him. In a federal lawsuit filed in January 2018, Protack claimed that Delta had harassed and bullied him for years over his union activity and repeatedly questioned his physical and mental fitness after he was injured in a hit-and-run incident in 2012. The lawsuit also claims Delta unfairly portrayed Protack as obstructionist for refusing to submit to a psychiatric examination.

The case was dismissed early last year after being transferred from California to Georgia. Protack filed a similar lawsuit, without an attorney, earlier this year. A federal magistrate in Georgia recommended last Friday that the second lawsuit also be dismissed because of Protacks failure to properly serve the defendants.

Meanwhile, according to the FBI affidavit, Protacks estranged wife began receiving demeaning post cards in August 2018.

Following a trial on July 31 last year, Protack was found in contempt of court for violating a PFA order by harassing his estranged wife with anonymous communications. The court entered a lifetime PFA order against Protack, declaring him an immediate and ongoing danger to his estranged wife.

Federal officials say the harassing letters to Mary Ann Protack coincide with the delivery of anonymous, harassing letters to Boyer and his law partners, usually coinciding with adverse court rulings or proceedings against Protack. Weeks before receiving the death threat, for example, Boyer filed a contempt motion against Protack regarding the marital residence, authorities said.

Authorities said the death threat and a harassing letter received by Protack's estranged wife that same day were postmarked out of Wilmington on Jan. 5, and that rental car records indicate that Protack was in Delaware from Jan. 2 to Jan. 4. Investigators said they determined that the postage stamps used had been purchased at a Wilmington post office in August 2019 with a debit card issued to Protacks girlfriend, Candace Anzaldo.

Authorities obtained an indictment against Protack last Thursday charging him with two counts of mailing threatening communications, once in early January and again in late February. Less than an hour after the indictment was filed, authorities filed an application for a warrant to search Anzaldos home in historic New Castle and to seize computers, electronic storage media, bank records, papers and other potential evidence.

Anzaldo took a message from an AP reporter trying to contact Protack on Monday but did not immediately respond to a later telephone message seeking any comment she might have.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)  Larry Householder has found himself under the cloud of a federal investigation before.

The last time it happened, the once-powerful Ohio state lawmaker was ultimately never charged, bided his time and then returned to the House and eventually to his second stretch as House speaker.

In politics, sometimes what's past is prologue. If he manages to prevent the bipartisan effort to remove him now, it could set the stage for yet another political comeback by the Perry County Republican.

The difference this time is that Householder is under federal indictment. And while he has pleaded not guilty, two co-defendants and an involved nonprofit have all pleaded guilty in the case and FirstEnergy, the energy company at the heart of the latest scandal, has acknowledged in court filings making the bulk of the payments in an alleged $60 million bribery scheme.

Householder made an impassioned case Tuesday for not being expelled as a House member while he awaits the outcome of his criminal case, declaring his innocence and asserting that charges against him do not constitute disorderly conduct warranting removal.

I have not nor have I ever taken a bribe or solicited or been solicited for taking a bribe, Householder told a House committee weighing an expulsion resolution, saying he was in complete shock when charges were leveled against him.

Before Republican and Democratic colleagues, Householder made references to the Civil War and how that was the last time the Ohio House expelled a sitting lawmaker, John P. Slough for punching a fellow legislator.

To say the resolution pending before this committee is unprecedented is an understatement, Householder said. Ohioans were traveling around in buggies and carriages the last time the House exercised its authority to expel a member."

Householder suggested that physical acts like Slough's are appropriately defined as disorderly conduct, while his criminal charges are not. He declined upon repeated questioning to provide any precedent for his legal argument, calling one such question preposterous.

In the U.S. Congress, which has a disorderly behavior threshold for expulsion, members have been expelled for violations of criminal law and abuses of office, according to the U.S. House's historical website.

Householder also made an impassioned speech about the many reasons why he would not respond to bipartisan calls to resign, making references to the tens of thousands of voters in his 72nd district who reelected him in an uncontested election last November.

"Just think of the precedent this will set: allegations are enough to remove anyone from office," Householder said. That's absurd."

Then Householder went on to compare the bipartisan efforts to remove him to the attempts by Congressman Adam Schiff and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to impeach former President Donald Trump earlier this year. This is clearly politically motivated and I think everyone in this room knows that, he said.

He and four associates were arrested in July in an investigation connected to legislation containing a ratepayer-funded bailout of two Ohio nuclear power plants. The $1 billion rescue would have added a new fee to every electricity bill in the state and directed over $150 million a year through 2026 to the plants near Cleveland and Toledo.

Federal prosecutors allege Householder and his allies took FirstEnergy money in exchange for orchestrating a scheme to elect Householder speaker, put his allies into House seats, then to pass the bailout bill and thwart a subsequent ballot effort to repeal it.

If he is convicted of the federal charges against him, he could face up to 20 years in prison and automatic removal from the House.

In 2004, Householder left the House the first time due to term limits while he and several top advisers were under federal investigation for alleged money laundering and irregular campaign practices. The government later closed the case without filing charges.

He surprised state political observers by launching plans to return to the chamber in 2015. Householder told The Associated Press ahead of that successful campaign that he had unfinished business involving the district.

And its just something I love, he said at the time. "Its in my blood.

After a nasty battle, Householder was again elected speaker in 2019.

Tuesdays committee hearing was the first time Householder spoke publicly since being reelected to his House seat in November.

During the hearing, his colleagues said Householder's continued presence in the chamber continues to be a distraction from the legislative work, especially around energy policy, and has cast a dark, long shadow on the Statehouse as a whole.

This isnt about his innocence and his guilt. This is about regardless of his criminal or noncriminal activity, Democratic Rep. Kristin Boggs, a member of the committee, told The Associated Press early Tuesday. While he was leading the Ohio House of Representative the largest corruption scheme in state history happened under his watch, that cannot be disputed.

The resolutions introduced to expel him from the chamber represent a rare bipartisan move for the House after a year-long war of words to address the disgraced lawmakers continued presence in the House.

Speaker Bob Cupp, a fellow Republican, said in a May 26 statement that his members are divided on the question of Householder's political future. Some prefer to see the criminal proceedings play out first, while others want him removed right away. Those lawmakers believe Householder's conduct was, at minimum, grossly unethical, Cupp said, and egregious enough to warrant a declaration of probable cause by a grand jury.

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Farnoush Amiri is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
BOSTON (AP)  Harvard University professor Danielle Allen pledged to accelerate the pace of change" Tuesday when she officially kicked off her campaign for the Democratic nomination for governor of Massachusetts.

Allen is the first Black woman to run for governor in a major political party in state history.

Imagine one Commonwealth where those who are in power recognize their responsibility for the greater good, and for those who feel powerless are reconnected to their own agency for communal action. Thats what democracy is about, she said standing near the Shaw and 54th Regiment monument on Boston Common that commemorates one of the first Black regiments in the Civil War.

She was joined by several dozen supporters.

The Cambridge resident has never held political office. She is a political theorist at Harvard, where she is director of the Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics.

Allen, who announced in December that she was exploring a run and has been traveling the state since to talk to residents, said addressing transportation, education, social justice, criminal justice reform and climate change would be her priorities. She did not share specifics.

Former state Sen. Ben Downing is the only other Democrat to announce a run. State Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz and Attorney General Maura Healey are seen as possible candidates.

On the Republican side, Gov. Charlie Baker has not yet announced whether he will seek a third term. If he does not, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, would likely run.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP)  State officials are proposing to build a new laboratory to replace the one run by the Health Department, which is the only Level 3 biosafety facility in the state.

Director Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott is advocating for spending $82 million to replace the State Health Lab that she said had limited capacity to expand testing needed during the coronavirus pandemic because the building's systems are outdated, The Providence Journal reported on Tuesday.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP)  Hundreds of demonstrators outraged with Sen. Joe Manchin's opposition to a sweeping overhaul of U.S. election law marched through West Virginia's capital city on Monday evening.

Rev. William Barber, co-chair of the Poor People's Campaign, denounced the influential moderate Democratic senator and called for a diverse coalition of working people to apply pressure on Manchin, who recently opposed a $15 minimum wage and the price tag of President Joe Biden's initial $2 trillion infrastructure plan.

"West Virginia needs a real senator, he thundered at a Charleston park in front of a festive crowd.

Then they marched a mile to Manchin's office. Unable to meet with the senator  an aide told Barber that he was in Washington  leaders of the demonstration affixed a poster-sized protest letter to the front doors of the office building. Rally-goers took turns signing their names on it.

When Manchin's aides offered comment cards to collect protestors' grievances, Barber waved them away: We don't want to talk to the staff."

An email to Manchin's office about the protest was not immediately returned.

The protest was spurred by Manchin's decision to oppose a landmark reform of U.S. election law, a proposal known as For the People Act. Manchin said last week passing reform on a party-line vote risked further stoking partisan divides.

As a key senator in a divided chamber, Manchin has frustrated progressive Democrats with his reluctance to support several key agenda items.

Many people from neighboring states, including Kentucky and Maryland, drove and rode on buses to make it to the protest. They held signs and charged Manchin with enabling voter suppression.

He supports a narrower piece of legislation known as HR4 that updates the Voting Rights Act to reinstate a requirement that new voting laws and legislative districts in certain states be subject to federal approval.

Crucially, Manchin opposes eliminating the 60-vote requirement to break a filibuster in the Senate, a step that would allow Democrats to pass top agenda items without Republican votes. That has turned the West Virginia Democrat into a kingmaker in the evenly divided chamber.

With our senator pretty much controlling this thing, we want to be here to say we're not on the same page, said Chuck Overstreet, a Charleston resident who joined the march.
NEW DELHI (AP)  Indias Supreme Court on Tuesday closed criminal proceedings against two Italian marines in the shooting deaths of two Indian fisherman in 2012 after Italy paid $1.3 million in damages, ending one chapter in a long-simmering case that has strained relations between the two countries.

In its ruling, the two-judge panel said Italy should resume its own proceedings against Salvatore Girone and Massimiliano Latorre.

The two marines were accused of firing on the fishermen after mistaking them for pirates off the coast of Kerala while assigned to the merchant ship Enrica Lexie. Italy had long argued that it should have jurisdiction in the case, as both were active duty military personnel at the time of the shooting.

Italys foreign minister, Luigi Di Maio, welcomed the decision, which he said was the result of a major diplomatic effort.

Thanks to those who worked with perseverance on the case, thanks to our tireless diplomatic corps, the final word has been said on this long affair, Di Maio said on Twitter.

The court ruling followed a decision last year by an international arbitration court in the Netherlands that ruled that India did not have jurisdiction in the case.

It also ruled that India was entitled to compensation. The two countries agreed to $1.3 million, which Indias solicitor general said had been received last week. It will be divided, with the families of each fisherman getting 40% and the fishing vessel owner receiving 20%.

Latorre returned to Italy for treatment after a stroke in 2014, while Girone was permitted to return in 2016.

Latorres wife, Paola Moschetti, expressed bitterness over the case, saying her husband has been banned from making any public comments or risk heavy penalties.

Now its time to ask why the military authorities want to maintain silence on what he knows and wants to recount, she told the Italian news agency ANSA.

Both men are expected to be questioned by Rome prosecutors in the coming weeks in the Italian case. The investigation, part of the formal process to reach a preliminary hearing that would set charges, is expected to finish by the end of the summer.

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Associated Press writer Colleen Barry in Milan, Italy, contributed to this report.
BEIJING (AP)  An investigation has begun into the cause of a gas line explosion at a market in central China where the death toll has risen to 25.

Rescuers climbed over smashed bricks and slabs of concrete to find victims following the blast early Sunday that ripped through the market in the Hubei province city of Shiyan as residents were buying breakfast and fresh vegetables.
JERUSALEM (AP)  Israeli aircraft carried out a series of airstrikes at militant sites in the Gaza Strip early Wednesday, the first such raids since a shaky cease-fire ended the war with Hamas last month.

The airstrikes targeted facilities used by Hamas militants for meetings to plan attacks, the Israeli military said, blaming the group for any act of violence emanating from Gaza. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

On Tuesday, hundreds of Israeli ultranationalists, some chanting Death to Arabs, paraded in east Jerusalem in a show of force that threatened to spark renewed violence. Palestinians in Gaza responded by launching incendiary balloons that caused at least 10 fires in southern Israel.

The march posed a test for Israel's fragile new government as well as the tenuous truce that ended last month's 11-day war between Israel and Hamas.

Palestinians consider the march, meant to celebrate Israel's capture of east Jerusalem in 1967, to be a provocation. Hamas called on Palestinians to resist the parade, a version of which helped ignite last month's 11-day Gaza war.

With music blaring, hundreds of Jewish nationalists gathered and moved in front of Damascus Gate. Most appeared to be young men, and many held blue-and-white Israeli flags as they danced and sang religious songs.

At one point, several dozen youths, jumping and waving their hands in their air, chanted: Death to Arabs! In another anti-Arab chant, they yelled: "May your village burn.

In a scathing condemnation on Twitter, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said those shouting racist slogans were a disgrace to the Israeli people, adding: The fact that there are radicals for whom the Israeli flag represents hatred and racism is abominable and unforgivable.

The crowd, while boisterous, appeared to be much smaller than during last month's parade. From the Damascus Gate, they proceeded around the Old City to the Western Wall, the holiest place where Jews can pray.

Ahead of the march, Israeli police cleared the area in front of Damascus Gate, shut down roads to traffic, ordered shops to close and sent away young Palestinian protesters. Police said that officers arrested 17 people suspected of involvement in violence, some of whom threw rocks and attacked police, and that two police officers needed medical treatment. Palestinians said five people were hurt in clashes with police.

The parade provided an early challenge for Israel's new prime minister, Naftali Bennett, a hardline Israeli nationalist who has promised a pragmatic approach as he presides over a delicate, diverse coalition government.

Though there were concerns the march would raise tensions, canceling it would have opened Bennett and other right-wing members of the coalition to intense criticism from those who would view it as a capitulation to Hamas. The coalition was sworn in Sunday and includes parties from across the political spectrum, including a small Arab party.

Mansour Abbas, whose Raam party is the first Arab faction to join an Israeli coalition, said the march was an attempt to set the region on fire for political aims, with the intention of undermining the new government.

Abbas said the police and public security minister should have canceled the event. I call on all sides not to be dragged into an escalation and maintain maximum restraint, he said.

In past years, the march passed through Damascus Gate and into the heart of the Muslim Quarter, a crowded Palestinian neighborhood with narrow streets and alleys. But police changed the route Tuesday to avoid the Muslim Quarter.

Instead, the route went around the ancient walls of the Old City and through Jaffa Gate, a main thoroughfare for tourists, and toward the Jewish Quarter and Western Wall, the holiest site where Jews can pray.

Damascus Gate is a focal point of Palestinian life in east Jerusalem. Palestinian protesters repeatedly clashed with Israeli police over restrictions on public gatherings during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in April and May.

Those clashes spread to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, a flashpoint site sacred to Jews and Muslims. Tensions at the time were further fueled by protests over the threatened eviction of dozens of Palestinian families by Jewish settlers, also in Jerusalem.

At the height of the tensions, on May 10, Israeli ultranationalists held their annual flag parade. While it was diverted from the Damascus Gate at the last minute, it was seen by Palestinians as an unwelcome celebration of Israeli control over what they view as their capital.

In the name of defending the holy city, Hamas fired long-range rockets at Jerusalem, disrupting the march and sparking the Gaza war, which claimed more than 250 Palestinian lives and killed 13 people in Israel.

After capturing east Jerusalem in 1967, Israel annexed the in a move not recognized by most of the international community. It considers the entire city its capital, while the Palestinians want east Jerusalem to be the capital of their future state. The competing claims over east Jerusalem, home to Jewish, Christian and Muslim holy sites, lie at the heart of the conflict and have sparked many rounds of violence.

Hamas had called on Palestinians to show valiant resistance to the march. It urged people to gather in the Old City and at the Al-Aqsa Mosque to rise up in the face of the occupier and resist it by all means to stop its crimes and arrogance.

In the afternoon, Hamas-linked Palestinians launched some incendiary balloons from Gaza, setting off at least 10 blazes in southern Israel, according to Israel's national fire department.

Abu Malek, one of the young men launching the balloons, called the move an initial response to the march.

Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh, of the internationally backed Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, called the march an aggression against our people. In neighboring Jordan, the Foreign Ministry issued a statement condemning the march as unacceptable, saying it undermined efforts to reduce friction between Israel and the Palestinians.

Israeli media reported the military was on heightened alert in the occupied West Bank and along the Gaza frontier. Batteries of Israel's Iron Dome rocket-defense system were seen deployed near the southern town of Netivot, near the Gaza border, as a precaution.

Defense Minister Benny Gantz met with the military chief of staff, the police commissioner and other senior security officials. He underscored the need to avoid friction and protect the personal safety of ... Jews and Arabs alike, his office said.

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Associated Press writer Joseph Krauss contributed.
NEW YORK (AP)  Jack B. Weinstein, a former federal judge who earned a reputation as a tireless legal maverick while overseeing a series of landmark class-action lawsuits and sensational mob cases in New York City like that of the Mafia Cops, has died. He was 99.

A federal courthouse official, Eugene Corcoran, confirmed Weinstein's death on Tuesday. The judiciary has lost a national treasure," Corcoran said in a statement.

Weinstein, a World War II veteran appointed by President Lyndon Johnson, had spent more than five decades on the bench in Brooklyn before retiring last year. In a 2012 interview with The Associated Press, he said his longevity had its advantages.

You dont care really what people think of you, the judge said. Youre not going anyplace. Youre doing it for the joy. And as a public service.

Weinstein was known for championing class-action litigation as the little guys remedy for alleged injustices by big industry.

He made headlines in 1984 by approving a settlement requiring herbicide makers to pay $180 million to Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange. He also presided over a 1999 trial ending in an unprecedented verdict finding handgun makers liable in shootings and negligent in their marketing practices. And in 2006, he gave the green light to a class-action suit brought by tens of millions of smokers seeking up to $200 billion from tobacco companies for allegedly duping them into buying light cigarettes.

His rulings often upset conservatives, who accused him of sacrificing judicial restraint to promote liberal causes. In many cases, appellate courts found that his decisions had overreached.

In a book about mass tort litigation, Weinstein espoused a belief in humankinds obligation to create a just society.

Weinstein was born in Wichita, Kansas, but grew up in Harlem and Brooklyn. As a teenager in the 1930s, he played bit parts in Broadway shows and worked on the docks to put himself through school.

He later served in World War II before launching his legal career at Columbia Law School, where he graduated in 1948. He briefly went into private practice before serving as Nassau County Attorney from 1963 to 1965. He had returned to Columbia to teach when President Johnson named him to the federal bench in 1967.

The 6-foot-2 Weinstein was a stately presence in court, where he favored business suits over robes and sometimes ventured off the bench in the middle of trials to get a jurors-eye view of the proceedings. He was impatient with long-winded lawyers, critical of sentencing guidelines he felt were too harsh on low-level criminals and concerned about judges falling prey to hubris.

One danger that every judge must guard against is ego, he wrote in his book. The court must control its own sense of importance  sometimes a very difficult chore.

He also expressed a faith in juries ability to tackle complex and contentious civil cases.

Should a jury "be permitted to decide a vexing private litigation ... when the decision has so many important overtones, or should the judges themselves decide by holding that the matter is beyond the ken of a reasonable jury? he wrote in the light cigarette case.

In 1997, Weinstein added his scholarly touch to a ruling affirming a 12-year prison term for Vincent Chin Gigante, the Mafia Oddfather. The boss of the Genovese organized crime family had escaped prosecution for years by wandering the streets in a ratty bathrobe like a madman.

Quoting Shakespeares As You Like It, the judge wrote: And one man in his time plays many parts. ... Last scene of all, that ends this strange eventful history, is second childishness.

Weinstein also put his unique stamp on perhaps the most stunning police corruption case in city history: the trial of two detectives accused of moonlighting as hitmen for the mob. After defendants Louis Eppolito and Steven Caracappa were convicted in 2006, the judge declared that they deserved life sentences for the most heinous series of killings ever tried in this courthouse.

A month later, he stunned prosecutors by throwing out the convictions based on defense arguments that the statute of limitations for the eight murders had expired. An appeals court overturned the decision.

Weinstein made news as late as 2019 by sentencing an American woman who admitted supporting the Islamic State group to four years in prison over the objection of prosecutors who wanted her locked up for decades.

True to form, he said the lenient sentence had the potential to save her as a human being.
CHICAGO (AP)  Legislators returned to Springfield to take up a massive overhaul of energy policy that includes a bailout for nuclear plants and closing coal-fired plants, but negotiations stalled Tuesday.

Proposals on energy and an elected school board in Chicago are outstanding following a whirlwind legislative session that ended June 1 and resulted in a $42 billion budget.

Here's a closer look at where things stand:

THE BACKGROUND

Gov. J.B. Pritzker wants to make Illinois a completely renewable-energy state by 2050 with tighter controls on utilities, following a bribery scandal involving electric company Commonwealth Edison. Last August, the first-term Democrat released an extensive plan with goals for addressing climate change, pollution and sustainable jobs.

Legislators left Springfield weeks ago without an agreement on a proposal seeking to close coal-fired power plants by 2035, including Prairie State Generating Station in southern Illinois. Some lawmakers and unions sought a exemption over concerns about jobs and communities that invested in Prairie State and would have to pay off bonds after its closure.

There's also urgency because Exelon, parent of Illinois' largest electric utility ComEd, has said that without a state bailout, it will shut down two nuclear plants later this year.

ON THE TABLE

The Senate was scheduled to take up the issue Tuesday, but negotiations didn't produce a bill. The Senate adjourned after approving Pritzkers proposed changes to the state budget that effective date errors.

The governor's energy proposal  pitched as one that protects consumers and the climate  calls for nearly $700 million in state subsidies over five years to bail out three nuclear plants. It would also close coal plants by 2035 and natural gas-fired plants by 2045, according to an outline from Pritzker's office.

Illinois would invest more in solar and wind energy, offering a $4,000 rebate for electric vehicle buyers and overhaul how consumer rates are set, according to the outline that shows average residential customers would pay nearly $3 more each month.

Pritzker's also wants more ethics and accountability measures, including an investigation of how rates were used in connection with a ComEd bribery scandal that led to charges against multiple people and implicated former House Speaker Michael Madigan.

Senate President Don Harmon, a Democrat, said Tuesday evening that environmental activists and labor leaders were still far apart on negotiations, including a timeline to close plants and labor protections.

We came up a little short today but we will get it done," Harmon told reporters.

He said the Senate was ready to meet whenever there was an agreement. Options could include a paired down bill.

OPPONENTS AND SUPPORTERS

Business groups have rejected the energy proposal, saying it will hurt consumers and communities due to higher consumer bills. Unions' concerns include job losses.

More than 50 lawmakers sent Pritzker a letter warning of devastating consequences for communities including the possibility that the closures could make the electric grid less reliable.

However, environmentalists say the plan would lead to reduced pollution and back the commitment to renewable energy.

Dozens of legislators supporting the plan issued a May statement saying utilities have dictated energy policy and that they wouldn't support a bill that was simply a handout for utilities.

Pritzker's office said his plan helps consumers and the environment.

Illinois can and must lead on clean energy, and it must lead in the light of day  ethically, honestly, and toward the collective goal of empowering Illinoisans to lead the U.S. in transitioning to a clean energy economy, his office said.

ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD

Also pending was a proposal to create a 21-member elected school board in Chicago starting in 2027. The House was scheduled to consider it Wednesday, along with the budget fix. The Senate has already approved the school board measure. Pritzker supports the idea.

The plan calls for phasing out current practice where Chicago's mayor appoints board members. Starting in 2025, there would be 10 appointed members with others elected in November 2024. Two years later, all 21 members  20 from specific districts plus one board president elected at large  would be chosen by voters and sworn in by January 2027.

Supporters, including the Chicago Teachers Union, say an elected board gives residents more say and better represents a diverse city. Mayor Lori Lightfoot has rejected it as unwieldy.

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Follow Sophia Tareen on Twitter: https://twitter.com/sophiatareen
DENVER (AP)  A lawyer for one of the teens accused in a fatal attack at a suburban Denver high school in 2019 suggested Monday that he accidentally shot and killed a student who rushed him after being manipulated into participating by the other gunman.

During closing arguments in the trial of Devon Erickson, David Kaplan told jurors the shooting that killed Kendrick Castillo, 18, unfolded without a plan and happened only after Erickson, sent by a teacher to the nurse's office because he looked pale and sick, was threatened into returning to the targeted classroom by his alleged accomplice, Alec McKinney.

The prosecution disputed that the killing of Castillo and the wounding of two other students who also tackled Erickson and struggled to get his gun was accidental but, even if it was, said that Erickson would still be responsible for Castillo's death.

Prosecutors also stressed that Erickson and McKinney attacked a classroom filled with only Erickson's classmates as they sat in the dark watching a movie at the end of their senior year, entering through separate doors to maximize the number of students they could kill and removing magnetic strips on the doors to prevent anyone from leaving.

They created a kill box. No one was going to get out alive, Chief Deputy District Attorney George Brauchler said.

Eight others in the classroom at STEM School Highlands Ranch were also wounded in the shooting.

Prosecutors allege that Erickson and McKinney planned the shooting together and concocted a victim-hero strategy in which McKinney would either kill himself or be killed by Erickson  a plan they say the gunmen tried to bolster with faked Snapchat videos before the shooting.

Those plans were stymied after Castillo and two other students rushed Erickson and McKinney was apprehended by an armed security guard, prosecutors said.

The defense, meanwhile, described McKinney, who pleaded guilty last year, as schizophrenic and unreliable, saying he was the sole source of the victim-hero plan.

A defense expert, toxicologist Wanda Guidry, testified that Erickson had become such a chronic drug user that he likely couldnt think, concentrate or understand events around him on the day of the shooting.

Erickson, now 20, was 18 at the time of the shooting. Since he was an adult, he could face life in prison without parole if he is convicted.

McKinney will become eligible for parole because, at 16, he was a juvenile at the time of the attack.
Billionaire MacKenzie Scott announced Tuesday another massive round of donations, totaling hundreds of millions of dollars, to colleges and universities that are not the usual beneficiaries of big-time philanthropy in higher education.

Scott wrote in a blog post that her latest gifts, in consultation with her husband, Dan Jewett, and a team of researchers and advisers, totaled more than $2.73 billion. The money was distributed, she wrote, to "286 high-impact organizations in categories and communities that have been historically underfunded and overlooked."

The recipients spanned a broad swath of the nonprofit sector, including arts and cultural institutions and other organizations focused on a range of causes such as racial equity and community engagement.

Thirty colleges and universities made the list. One was the public University of Central Florida in Orlando, Fla. The university, with 69,000 students, said it had received an unrestricted gift from Scott and Jewett of $40 million, the largest in its history.

"We are honored by Ms. Scott and Mr. Jewett's trust and confidence in the University of Central Florida," UCF President Alexander Cartwright said in a statement. "Their transformational gift validates the work of our faculty and staff to foster student success and these funds will enable us to further increase our impact for generations of students. This unrestricted investment will accelerate our trajectory toward becoming the world's leading public metropolitan research university and inspire others to invest in building a better future for our students and society."

Scott and Jewett also gave a combined $135 million to four schools in the California State University System, Cal State spokesman Michael Uhlenkamp said: $15 million to the Channel Islands campus and $40 million each to campuses in Pomona, Northridge and Fullerton.

Scott, an author and philanthropist, was married from 1993 to 2019 to Amazon founder and Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos. She is one of the world's wealthiest people. Word of her marriage to Jewett became public in March.

Last year, Scott gave more than $800 million to higher education institutions that serve large numbers of Black, Latino and Native American students. Those gifts set records at numerous historically Black colleges and universities.

The latest list of education recipients ranges from community colleges to public universities.

"Higher education is a proven pathway to opportunity, so we looked for 2- and 4-year institutions successfully educating students who come from communities that have been chronically underserved," Scott wrote.

Scott did not disclose how much each school received, leaving it up to school officials to handle how they would publicize the matter.

San Jacinto College, a public community college in Texas, said it received a record $30 million. Some of the funding will support scholarships for students enrolling next fall, and plans are underway for other uses. "For now, we are stunned by this unbelievable gift and excited about the opportunities it provides for us to serve our community in new ways," said San Jacinto Chancellor Brenda Hellyer.

Eloy Ortiz Oakley, chancellor of California Community Colleges, said his system was still totaling up tens of millions of dollars in donations to several of its schools announced Tuesday. "The impact is huge," he said. "This is so critical for us and for lifting up the importance of community colleges."

Here are colleges and universities that Scott said had received donations. Also noted, where known, is the size of the donations:

Amarillo College ($15 million)

Brazosport College

Broward College

California State Polytechnic University at Pomona ($40 million)

California State University at Channel Islands ($15 million)

California State University at Fullerton ($40 million)

California State University at Northridge ($40 million)

Chaffey College ($25 million)

City University of New York's Hostos Community College

College of the Desert

El Paso Community College

Florida International University ($40 million)

Kennedy-King College

Long Beach City College ($30 million)

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College

Odessa College

Pasadena City College

Porterville College ($7 million)

Renton Technical College

San Antonio College

San Jacinto College ($30 million)

Santa Barbara City College ($20 million)

Southwest Texas Junior College

University of California at Merced

University of Central Florida ($40 million)

University of Illinois at Chicago ($40 million)

University of Texas at San Antonio ($40 million)

University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley

West Hills College Lemoore

William Rainey Harper College ($18 million)
BOSTON (AP)  The Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives was fitted with a pacemaker at a hospital during a recent trip to Florida, according to a statement released by his office.

While in Florida for a few days I was admitted to the hospital after experiencing some medical discomfort," Ronald Mariano, 74, said in a statement. I have taken statin medication for some time but have never had an incident before. After some tests I was fitted with a pacemaker and remained in the hospital to monitor and adjust it.
Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., the minority leader, threatened Monday to block any Supreme Court nominee put forward by President Joe Biden in 2024 if Republicans regain control of the Senate next year.

I think in the middle of a presidential election, if you have a Senate of the opposite party of the president, you have to go back to the 1880s to find the last time a vacancy was filled, McConnell said in a radio interview with conservative commentator Hugh Hewitt. So I think its highly unlikely.

His position is no surprise since it is line with his refusal in 2016 to consider President Barack Obamas high court nomination of Merrick Garland, now the attorney general, saying it was too close to the presidential election even though the vacancy occurred in February.

As for what would happen if a seat became open in 2023 and Republicans controlled the Senate, McConnell did not declare that he would prevent Biden from advancing a nominee, but left the door open to the possibility. Well, wed have to wait and see what happens, said McConnell.

Stonewalling a nominee in the year before a presidential election would amount to a significant escalation in the judicial confirmation wars.

McConnells pronouncements will probably amplify calls from progressive activists for Justice Stephen Breyer to retire while Democrats still hold the Senate and can move through a successor. Breyer, 82, an appointee of President Bill Clinton's, has resisted calls to step aside. Justices often time their retirements to the end of the court's term, which comes in two weeks.

On Sunday, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., joined those urging Breyers retirement, saying on CNN that she was inclined to say yes to the question of whether the justice should leave the bench while Democrats were still assured of Senate control.

McConnells position in 2016 stood in stark contrast to last year when Senate Republicans, still in control of the Senate, rushed through the confirmation of Justice Amy Coney Barrett just days before the presidential election after the death in September of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

What was different in 2020 was we were of the same party as the president, McConnell told Hewitt. And thats why we went ahead with it. McConnell also gave himself a pat on the back for the way he handled the Barrett nomination, saying that it took a great deal of priority and, I think, skill to get Amy Coney Barrett through.

He also again called denying Obama a third pick on the court the most consequential thing Ive done in my time as majority leader of the Senate.

McConnells decision to block Obama from filling the vacancy caused by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia was widely credited with encouraging conservatives to rally around Donald Trump for the presidency, allowing Trump to ultimately name three justices to the court, which now has a 6-3 conservative majority.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) 

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster on Tuesday signed into law a long-awaited bill to overhaul state-owned utility Santee Cooper, but said he would rather sell off the debt-burdened company.

The utilitys future had been uncertain since July 2017, when construction of a pair of nuclear reactors in which the utility was a minority partner stopped before completion, leaving the company billions of dollars in debt. Though lawmakers debated for years about whether to sell or reform the company, Santee Cooper's supporters ultimately won out in the effort to keep the company public.

McMaster said in a Tuesday signing statement that although the new reforms would help rehabilitate Santee Cooper, the seemingly endless debates on how to best reform the utility shows politicians shouldn't own or run the company.

South Carolina no longer has a need to provide, and never had the legal obligation to own, a state-owned utility, and the political process does not include the private-sector expertise nor the means necessary to effectively oversee Santee Coopers operations, McMaster wrote to House Speaker Jay Lucas.

The bill would have become law regardless of McMaster's signature. Lawmakers approved the legislation unanimously in both chambers, making it veto-proof.

Santee Cooper embraces reform as provided in this legislation, utility spokeswoman Mollie Gore said in a statement. Throughout this process, we have listened to the concerns of legislators and others, and we have already begun preparing to meet these new requirements that will increase our transparency and accountability.

The new law ousts nine of the 10 members on the utilitys board, all of whom were serving before the nuclear reactors were abandoned by majority partner South Carolina Electric & Gas in 2017. It also restricts severance packages for any executives who lose their jobs.

The proposal gives state regulators more power over the utility. It allows them to review the utilitys future plans to generate power and their forecasts for power, and to require public hearings and a watchdog to question utility executives about rate increases.

Lawmakers decided this year that selling the company was off the table because there were no interested buyers left. The legislators had rejected an offer from NextEra Energy of Florida that they deemed underwhelming.
LANSING, Mich. (AP)  The Michigan Senate voted unanimously Tuesday to allocate nearly $4.4 billion in federal COVID-19 aid to K-12 schools after Republican lawmakers and Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's administration reached an agreement.

The supplemental budget bill  one of two to advance in the Legislature  would account for all but about $362 million in unallotted school funding from U.S. rescue packages approved in March and December.

The House, meanwhile, voted to release $2.2 billion in coronavirus aid designated for food and rental assistance, and local governments. Final legislative votes are expected Wednesday.

The action was a sign of progress weeks after Whitmer and GOP legislative leaders announced the framework of a deal to open budget talks following Republicans' attempts to tie the allotment of some federal funding to curbs on her emergency pandemic powers. She had vetoed some proposed spending as a result. Negotiations continue over the 2021-22 budget and how to use billions in other virus funding.

I appreciate the movement and there is a lot more work to do, state budget director Dave Massaron said.

House Appropriations Committee Chairman Thomas Albert, a Lowell Republican, said the measures are time-sensitive because of federal deadlines to distribute aid.

This is another significant step to get families, communities and students the help they need after an extremely difficult year and a half, he said.

Under federal law, school districts and charter schools with higher numbers or portions of poor students will automatically get a large share of $4.2 billion. The Senate removed a House-passed provision that would have directed an additional $362 million to districts with higher percentages of children from middle-class and wealthy families  a bid to ensure all schools receive an increase of at least $1,093 per student regardless of the federal formula.

The status of that funding was not immediately clear, leaving roughly one-third of 537 traditional districts and about 20 of 275 charters in limbo. Nearly $180 million would go to private schools, as designated under federal law.

The K-12 Alliance of Michigan, which represents superintendents, said schools need lawmakers to quickly finalize the next school aid budget so they can adequately plan for the upcoming academic year.

Executive director Robert McCann said not including all federal dollars in the bill means that many districts will receive little support from this package due to inequity in the formula the federal government used for the money allocated today. We're hoping they rethink that and reinsert the equalization funding to ensure every school district receives these badly needed resources.

Districts receiving $3.3 billion from the March rescue law must use at least 20% to address learning loss with interventions such as summer learning and afterschool programs.

___

Follow David Eggert at https://twitter.com/DavidEggert00
WATER VALLEY, Miss. (AP)  A former Mississippi lawmaker was found shot to death during the weekend in a rural area outside the burned home where her sister-in-law was found dead after Christmas.

Ashley Henley, 40, was a Republican who served in the state House from January 2016 to January 2020 from a district in DeSoto County.

The North Mississippi Herald was first to report that Henley's body was found Sunday night in rural Yalobusha County, about 70 miles (115 kilometers) south of DeSoto County.

Her body was outside the home where the body of her sister-in-law Kristina Michelle Jones was found Dec. 26. The Herald published a photo of a homemade sign at the site with photos of Jones under the phrase, I was murdered.

Yalobusha County coroner Ronnie Stark told the Commercial Appeal on Monday that the time of Henley's death had not yet been determined. Stark told WMC-TV that Henley had been mowing grass at the home before she was killed.

Henley was a teacher before she was elected to the state House, and she often took her young son to the state Capitol during legislative sessions. She sought a second term in November 2019 and lost by 14 votes to a Democrat. Henley challenged the outcome, saying she believed she had found voting irregularities. A committee in the Republican-controlled House held a hearing and denied Henley's petition to overturn the election result.

Republican state Rep. Dan Eubanks of DeSoto County wrote in a Facebook post Monday that he was heartbroken and angry about Henley's death.

What an absolute loss to our state, county, me personally, and most importantly her dear family, Eubanks wrote. Please pray for her husband and son and their extended family.and that Gods justice will be served on those responsible.
GULFPORT, Miss. (AP)  A Mississippi grand jury says it found no criminal conduct by a deputy sheriff who shot and killed a man outside a courthouse.

The Sun Herald reported the Harrison County grand jury reached a decision Monday and issued a brief statement that did not reveal the name of the deputy, which has not been released by investigators. The grand jury also provided no new information about events before the Jan. 15 shooting death of Reginald RJ Johnson outside the Biloxi courthouse.

After full and deliberate consideration of all the facts and circumstances leading up to the Jan. 15, 2021, shooting of Reginald Michael Johnson, and the circumstances as they existed at the time of the shooting, the Grand Jury finds no criminal conduct on behalf of the deputy involved from the Harrison County Sheriffs Department," the grand jury said in a statement.

The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation examines shootings involving law enforcement officers. The MBI said the shooting happened after Johnson displayed a knife and began to advance on the deputy.

Johnson's family and friends have demanded transparency in the investigation. The Sun Herald filed a public records request for police body camera footage and other information soon after the shooting. It is unclear whether the footage will be released.

The newspaper learned through public records requests that the shooting happened after Biloxi police received a report of someone, later identified as Johnson, spitting on vehicles outside the courthouse. A Harrison County deputy shot and killed Johnson in the parking lot.

The Sun Herald filed a public records request with the Harrison County Sheriffs Department for its report on the shooting. County Attorney Tim Holleman said at the time that the report had not been completed because the deputy who fired the fatal shots was home recovering from stab wounds. The newspaper still has not received that report.

Mississippis public records law allows law enforcement to withhold most information about the investigation of a case, other than incident reports, which may be heavily redacted. However, the law gives an agency the discretion to release investigative files and video footage. While other U.S. cities and states release names of officers and other details in high-profile shootings, Mississippi agencies typically do not.
GENEVA (AP)  There was a bare-chested man in a Vladimir Putin mask doling out fake bills as mock corruption payments, and a Czech fitness instructor, who endured eight hours of tattooing to put a likeness of Putin critic Alexey Navalny on his chest.

They were among a couple of dozen supporters of Navalny, the jailed Russian opposition leader, who staged a colorful, cheeky rally Tuesday on a sunny Geneva square  a day before Putin arrives in the Swiss city for a high-profile summit with U.S. President Joe Biden.

Despite the tiny turnout  with possibly more journalists there than demonstrators  the protest was well-orchestrated with banners and gimmicks, in a show of dissent that participants said might garner a crackdown by security forces in Putins Russia.

U.S. officials have said Biden was expected to discuss the war in Ukraine and human rights in Russia, including Navalnys case, among an array of topics on the table Wednesday.

Across town in recent days, a mural of a smiling Navalny holding his fingers in a heart shape with the words Hero of our time in French mysteriously popped up  in reference to a similar mural in Saint-Petersburg, Russia, that was quickly covered up by authorities.

At the demonstration, banners called for the liberation of political prisoners generally and for Navalny himself. Protesters chanted for a Free Russia!

Czech national Petr Pavelec said he had long planned to have his chest tattooed with the likeness of Navalny  and moved it up to last weekend to make the protest.

Pavelec said he deeply admired Navalny's courage.

I believe what hes doing is not just for Russia, but the rest of the world. This incredible guy sacrificed himself by returning to Russia after being poisoned, he said. That was a reference to Navalnys poisoning with a nerve agent similar to Soviet-era Novichok, for which he was transported to Germany for medical care before returning home -- only to be arrested.

Andrey Zaitsev, a Russian who was one of the protest organizers, said he and colleagues had traveled from Berlin for the rally, and planned to make a film about Putins trip to Geneva.

We are the fruits of the labor of Vladimir Putin. If Russia had a working civil society, we wouldnt even exist as civil activists. We would have a democracy and we would merely be working for the betterment of our society, he said.

All of us are united in one matter or another, chiefly because of Vladimir Putin, Zaitsev said.

The rally, which took place on a square that the Swiss have authorized for any protests during the summit, marked just one effort to leverage public attention on some of the more hot-button issues that Putin and Biden were likely to address  human rights and arms control among them.

Beatrice Fihn, executive director of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, or ICAN, highlighted the Treaty on the Prohibition for Nuclear Weapons which the U.S. and Russia have both shunned. She said they account for nearly 90% of the worlds nuclear arsenals.

I think we need to have moderate expectations on success of the meeting itself, said Fihn, whose group won the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize. But hopefully this will set up a process where they can hand over to diplomats to actually start negotiating reductions of nuclear weapons.

Speaking in an interview on a dock across Lake Geneva from the summit site, Fihn insisted that Putin and Biden could really drive progress on nuclear weapons reductions.

Theres a lot of issues on the agenda for the U.S. and Russia to discuss, of course, she said. But I do think that when it comes to nuclear weapons, its really THE issue  because these two individuals have the power to end the world as we know it.
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump's staff began sending emails to Jeffrey Rosen, the No. 2 at the Justice Department, asking him to embrace Trump's claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election at least 10 days before Rosen assumed the role of acting attorney general, according to new emails disclosed Tuesday by the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.

On the same day the electoral college met to certify the election results - which was also the day Trump announced that William Barr would be stepping down as attorney general - the president's assistant sent Rosen an email with a list of complaints concerning the way the election had been carried out in Antrim County, Mich.

The file included a so-called"forensic analysis" of the Dominion Voting Systems machines the county employed, alleging they were "intentionally and purposefully" calibrated to create fraudulent results. It also included "talking points" that could be used to counter any arguments "against us."

"It's indicative of what the machines can and did do to move votes," the document Trump sent to Rosen reads. "We believe it has happened everywhere."

The claims were false, based on a report compiled by Allied Security Operations Group, a company led by a Republican businessman who pushed baseless allegations that the 2020 election was stolen.

The email - one of several previously undisclosed records released by the Oversight Committee - sheds light on the type of pressure Trump put on the Justice Department to take up his crusade against Joe Biden's 2020 victory.

The documents show how the president's allies contacted multiple Justice officials as part of a campaign to reverse the outcome of the race, and how Trump sought to influence Rosen even before he stepped into the top role at the Justice Department. Once in that post, he contended with repeated attempts by the White House to use the department's power to challenge the election results - efforts he resisted - before the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol.

Rosen did not respond to messages seeking comment. A spokesman for Trump did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The email about Antrim County was sent by the White House to Rosen shortly before 5 p.m. on Dec. 14. Two minutes later, a Justice Department official forwarded the materials to the U.S. attorneys for the Eastern and Western districts of Michigan, according to the documents released by the House Oversight Committee.

Trump and his allies were focused on Antrim County because of an error not long after polls closed caused the county to briefly report that Biden was leading Trump in the heavily Republican area. Election officials quickly established that the issue was caused by human error, saying a clerk's failure to update software just before the election was responsible for the incorrect tally, which was rapidly updated to reflect Trump's victory. Still, a local resident filed suit, and a judge in early December ordered that Allied Security Operations Group be given access to the county's voting machines to analyze on the resident's behalf.

ASOG, based in Texas, produced a report that asserted a vast conspiracy to rig the election. But an expert analysis of the report conducted on behalf of Michigan's attorney general and secretary of state - as well as multiple reviews by other experts in recent months - found ASOG's work was riddled with inaccuracies. A subsequent hand recount of Antrim County's ballots confirmed the county's voting machines had tabulated results correctly.

The campaign to have Rosen take up Trump's cause swiftly accelerated once he was appointed acting attorney general, according to the emails the committee disclosed. On Dec. 30, Mark Meadows, then White House chief of staff, forwarded Rosen a petition from attorney Cleta Mitchell alleging voter fraud in Georgia, asking him point-blank: "Can you have your team look into these allegations of wrongdoing. Only the alleged fraudulent activity."

Mitchell, who also participated in a call in which Trump pressured Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to "find 11,780 votes" to help Trump win, later resigned from her law firm after it said it was concerned she played a role in the conversation.

On Jan. 1, Meadows forwarded Rosen a YouTube link with a subject line suggesting it was a video in which a retired CIA station chief argued that the 2020 election totals were altered by the Italians. Rosen appeared to forward the email to his acting deputy, Richard Donoghue, who responded simply: "Pure insanity."

Nonetheless, the pressure campaign from Trump's White House staff continued unabated, as aides sent Rosen purported evidenceof fraud in states from New Mexico to Pennsylvania during the week between Christmas and New Year's, and in the earliest days of 2021.

The emails also show that at the same time, Justice Department officials were continually strategizing how to resist or at least work around the "antics" coming from the Oval Office, as one official put it in an email.

During that period, Trump contemplated firing Rosen and replacing him with a more sympathetic deputy, Jeffrey Clark, who had been pushing the department to allege publicly there had been fraud in Georgia and that the state lawmakers should replace the electors. Trump was ultimately persuaded not to proceed by Rosen and other Justice Department officials and White House lawyers at a high-stakes meeting on Jan. 3.

Before the meeting, top Justice Department officials had agreed to resign en masse if Trump carried out the plan. That night, an official in the deputy attorney general's office emailed colleagues the group that "Rosen and the cause of justice won," according to the emails released Tuesday.

"Amazing," responded John Demers, the head of the national security division.

The episode appears to be connected to the departure of one Justice Department official. The president wanted to fire the U.S. attorney in Atlanta, Byung Pak, because Trump believed he had not been aggressive enough on voter fraud, according to people familiar with the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the discussions.

The emails show Donoghue asked to have a call with Pak that night. The next morning, Pak told his staff he was stepping down.

"You are a class act, my friend," Donoghue wrote to Pak after his resignation letter went out. "Thank you."

The emails also show that a White House official and a lawyer, who both claimed to be acting on directions from Trump, sought at the end of December to get Justice Department officials to explore filing a Supreme Court challenge to the election results in six states.

On Dec. 29, Molly Michael, an assistant to Trump, emailed Rosen, Donoghue and then-acting solicitor general Jeffrey Wall a draft of a Supreme Court brief seeking to make the challenge.

"The President asked me to send the attached draft document for your review," Michael wrote, adding that she had also shared the document with Trump's chief of staff and the White House counsel.

Earlier that month, the Supreme Court had thrown out an effort by the state of Texas to sue Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin over how they conducted their elections, asserting that Texas had not shown a legal interest "in the manner in which another state conducts its elections." The brief would have essentially had the U.S. government take Texas's place, and also challenge elections in Arizona and Nevada.

That same day, the emails show, a lawyer named Kurt Olsen, who had represented Texas, separately wrote to Wall about the matter, saying the president had "directed me to meet with AG Rosen today to discuss a similar action to be brought by the United States." Olsen wrote that he had called and texted the attorney general multiple times but had not been able to reach him.

"This is an urgent matter," Olsen wrote.

The emails suggest that John Moran, Rosen's chief of staff, soon got in touch with Olsen, and Olsen shared with him a draft complaint.

"As I said on our call, the President of the United States has seen this complaint, and he directed me last night to brief AG Rosen in person today to discuss bringing this action," Olsen wrote. "I have been instructed to report back to the President this afternoon after this meeting."

An email from Moran indicates Olsen said he was driving to D.C. from Maryland in hopes of meeting with Rosen. A person familiar with the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the interactions, said an in-person meeting never happened, but Olsen somehow got Rosen's private cellphone number, and Rosen picked up after he got a call from an unknown number. The person said Rosen gave Olsen a polite "brush off."

Later that evening, Olsen emailed to Moran a past Supreme Court case that he said Rosen had asked him for, and he reached out again to Moran the following day to ask him to give Rosen another document.

Moran declined to comment.

Olsen asserted in an email to The Washington Post Tuesday that he and Rosen had "cordial back and forth phone call exchanges," in part about whether the U.S. had legal standing to pursue his complaint.

"The emails released today regarding my communications with Messrs. Rosen and Moran and what the President asked me to do speak for themselves," he said, adding later, "With respect to the DoJ's decision to not pursue the case, you would need to speak to them."

- - -

The Washington Post's Amy Gardner, Rosalind S. Helderman and Josh Dawsey contributed to this report.
CAIRO (AP)  Sudans transitional government and the country's main rebel group failed to reach a peace deal to end a decades-long conflict in the East African country, officials said Tuesday.

The latest round of talks between the Sudanese government and the Sudan Popular Liberation Movement  North, led by Abdel-Aziz al-Hilu, began last month in South Sudans capital, Juba.

Sudans transitional government has been engaging in peace talks with rebel groups over the past two years. Its looking to stabilize the country and help its fragile path to democracy survive following the militarys overthrow of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir in April 2019. It reached a peace deal with another rebel alliance in October.

Sudan and the PLM-N agreed Tuesday to end negotiations and conduct further consultations over their disputed points, said Tut Galuak, a security adviser to South Sudans president who led mediation efforts.

He said the two sides have reached significant understandings of the disputed issues, and that only four out of 19 points remain unsolved. He did not elaborate.

Galuak's comments came in a statement released by Sudan's ruling sovereign council.

Also in the statement, Gen. Shams Eddin Kabashi, a member of the sovereign council and the government's chief negotiator, said the sides would return to the negotiating table once conditions are more favorable.

The rebel groups chief negotiator, Ammar Amount, said they have agreed on between 75% to 80% of the deal and the remaining issues need further consultations with their leaders.

Neither side gave a time frame for a return to the talks.

Al-Hilus movement is Sudans single largest rebel group and is active in the Blue Nile and South Kordofan provinces, where it controls significant chunks of territory.

The most recent round of talks came less than two months after the government and the al-Hilu movement signed a declaration of principles detailing a roadmap for the talks.

Al-Hilus group participated in negotiations leading up to that agreement but did not sign the final deal. It called for a secular state with no role for religion in lawmaking, the disbanding of all of al-Bashirs militias and the re-vamping of the countrys military. Al-Hilus group said if its demands arent met, it will call for self-determination in areas it controls.

Another major rebel group, the Sudan Liberation Movement-Army, led by Abdel-Wahid Nour, rejects the transitional government and has not taken part in talks.

Sudanese rebels for years fought al-Bashirs loyalists in Darfur but also in the southern provinces of Blue Nile and South Kordofan. The fighting has often fallen along religious and ethnic lines.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)  A new state highway patrol website provides details about distracted driving in Ohio in the latest effort to reduce the number of crashes and fatalities attributed to not paying attention while driving, usually because of a focus on electronic devices like cell phones.

Ohio has experienced more than 70,000 crashes attributed to distracted driving since 2016, with more than 2,000 involving serious injuries or fatalities, according to the patrol. Troopers issued more than 24,000 distracted driving tickets during the same period.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP)  Sunsets across Florida in the coming days could become even more spectacular, as clouds of dust from the Sahara desert sweep in across the Atlantic coast.

The plume is expected to dampen storm activity but worsen air pollution, causing trouble for some people with allergies and other respiratory problems. Some health experts say symptoms could mimic those from COVID-19.

NASA is monitoring the dust, which was swept off Africa by strong winds swirling across the deserts of Mali and Mauritania. Trade winds are carrying the plume across the ocean, with the leading edge expected to arrive in Florida in the coming days.

Its going to be a major dust outbreak," Joseph Prospero, professor emeritus at the University of Miamis Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Prospero pioneered research into African dust clouds.

Dry winds carrying the particles could help smother storm systems by drying out the humid tropical air that feeds turbulent weather across a well-traveled route for hurricanes, experts said.

Its been moving across the Atlantic for the past several days, and its expected to be in the area around Friday or Saturday, Sammy Hadi, meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Miami, told the paper. It acts to prevent widespread showers and thunderstorms. You could still have showers and thunderstorms, but the coverage would be much less if you didnt have Saharan dust.

Scientists and health experts have long monitored the plumes for their effect on weather, the climate and the oceans. It's unclear how severely the incoming plume of dust will affect human health.

WOFL reports that winds last summer carried nearly 24 tons (22 metric tons) of dust from the Sahara Desert across the Atlantic to North and South America. The 2020 dust storm was so massive that it was nicknamed Godzilla and astronauts at the International Space Station could see it.
MANILA, Philippines (AP)  Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will never cooperate with a possible International Criminal Court investigation into the thousands of killings under his anti-drugs crackdown, his spokesman said Tuesday, calling an international inquiry insulting to the countrys justice system.

But human rights activists welcomed the possible investigation as a long-awaited step toward justice and accountability. A leading Duterte critic, jailed opposition Sen. Leila de Lima, said the Philippine leader may now be harboring fears of being dragged in chains to the Hague to be tried as an enemy of mankind.

Outgoing ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said Monday that a preliminary examination found reason to believe crimes against humanity had been committed during Duterte's crackdown on drugs between July 1, 2016, and March 16, 2019.

The dates cover the period between when Duterte launched his police-enforced crackdown shortly after winning a six-year presidential term and when he withdrew the Philippines from the court. Critics said at the time he was trying to avoid accountability.

More than 6,000 mostly poor drug suspects have been killed, according to government pronouncements, but human rights groups say the death toll is considerably higher and should include many unsolved killings by motorcycle-riding gunmen who may have been deployed by police.

Duterte has denied condoning extrajudicial killings of drug suspects although he has openly threatened suspects with death and has ordered police to shoot suspects who dangerously resist arrest.

In comments late Monday, Duterte again threatened drug dealers who he said were endangering the country's young people.

My personal guideline: Do not destroy my country. I will kill you, Duterte said. Thats the way it is. I will kill you to end the problem.

The ICC's Bensouda said she has sought authorization to open a formal investigation. The court's judges have 120 days to decide on her request.

Dutertes spokesman, Harry Roque, blasted Bensoudas move as legally erroneous, saying the ICC, as an international court of last resort, could only intervene if a countrys judiciary and prosecutorial system fail to work and investigate domestic crimes. Roque cited many pending murder and other cases involving the governments campaign against illegal drugs which were being tried by Philippine courts.

Its an insult to all Filipinos for a foreigner like Bensouda and fellow Filipinos to say that our legal institution in the Philippines are not working and not dispensing justice, Roque told a news conference. How dare you say that the Philippine legal system is not working.

Roque said political enemies of Duterte and his administration filed the complaints before the ICC, adding we will never cooperate because we are no longer a member.

Bensouda, however, stressed the court has jurisdiction over crimes alleged while the Philippines was still a member of the court.

Rights activists welcomed Bensoudas conclusion. Amnesty International said her announcement is a much-awaited step in putting murderous incitement by President Duterte and his administration to an end.

Duterte said Monday that past investigations into the antidrug campaign, including by de Lima when she led the Commission on Human Rights and later the Department of Justice, did not produce any incriminating evidence.

De Lima has said that witnesses were scared of the backlash if they openly testified against Duterte, who carved a political name as a city mayor with an extra-tough approach to crime before rising to the presidency.

Duterte on Monday again maintained that those killed had fought back and endangered police. He said law enforcement officers were not fools who would kill for the sake of killing.

A retired police officer, Arthur Lascanas, publicly stated in 2017 that when Duterte was mayor he had paid him and other members of a hit squad to kill criminals and opponents. Duterte's team have denied the allegations.
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP)  A Philadelphia man wanted in the deadly stabbing of his girlfriend at an Atlantic City casino last week has turned himself in, authorities announced Tuesday.

Frankie Lane, 59, faces murder and weapons charges stemming from the death of Sharon Whaley, 57, of Philadelphia. Her body was found Friday night inside a room at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, according to the Atlantic County Prosecutors Office.
WARSAW, Poland (AP)  A closed-door session with lawmakers that Poland's prime minister requested to discuss a number of cyberattacks on Polish government officials will take place Wednesday, the speaker of the country's parliament said.

The hacks include one last week on the private email and social media accounts of Michal Dworczyk, the head of Prime Minister Mateusz Morawieckis office, and Dworczyk's wife.

Morawiecki has called such cyberattacks the new face of contemporary warfare and said there were signs they were launched from beyond Polands eastern border.

Prosecutors are investigating.

Parliament speaker Elzbieta Witek said Tuesday lawmakers will attend the closed session in person as opposed to recent sessions that took place partly remotely.

Government spokesman Piotr Mueller, said the session was necessary for the government to present a report on the scale of these very broad attacks that are affecting Poland.

Mueller suggested the attacks concerned other officials besides Dworczyk.

The prime minister has stressed that Polands politicians should draw a lesson from the attacks and be very attentive to how they use various communication channels and what level of security they have.

Polish security officials often highlight disinformation and hacking that is aimed at weakening Poland's position internationally or straining its ties with Western partners. That is widely seen in Poland as a strategic aim of the Kremlin as Warsaw backs sanctions against Russia for its 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine and its support for the authoritarian president of Belarus.
MADISON, Wis. (AP)  Postcards are being mailed this week to about 187,000 voters in Wisconsin who have not cast a ballot in the past four years, informing them that they will have their registration deactivated unless they take action within 30 days.

If the voter does not take action, or the mailing is undeliverable, the voter will have to reregister in order to vote. To remain registered, voters must sign and return the postcard indicating that is their intention by July 15.
EVERETT, Wash. (AP)  Authorities say a rape suspect was arrested Tuesday morning after an hours-long standoff at a motel in Everett, Washington.

KOMO reports deputies initially responded to the scene about 5:50 a.m. after receiving reports of a sexual assault.
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP)  Escalating gang violence has pushed nearly 8,500 women and children from their homes in Haitis capital in the past two weeks, according to a UNICEF report.

Officials say the gangs' fight over territory in Port-au-Prince has forced hundreds of families to abandon burned or ransacked homes in impoverished communities, with many of them staying in gymnasiums and other temporary shelters that are running out of water, food and items like blankets and clothes.

Bruno Maes, Haitis representative for the U.N.s children agency that issued the report late Monday, compared the effect to guerrilla warfare, with thousands of children and women caught in the crossfire.

Nearly 14,000 people in Port-au-Prince have been displaced by violence in the past nine months, according to the U.N. office overseeing humanitarian coordination. Families with young children have been sleeping on concrete floors of a gymnasium in the Carrefour neighborhood, with only a sheet serving as a bed and their scant belongings stuffed into bags nearby.

Many expect the violence to increase as Haiti prepares for general elections scheduled for September and November: They accuse gangs of trying to boost support for certain candidates and of targeting neighborhoods that organize protests against President Jovenel Moise.

Pierre Esperance, executive director of the Haitian National Human Rights Defense Network, said gangs control about 60% of the countrys territory and that 12 massacres have been reported since 2018 in disadvantaged communities. However, he said he is especially worried about the most recent upswing in violence.

Its the worst weve seen, he said. Gangs have so much power, and they are tolerated. ... Each day that passes with Jovenel in power, the situation is going to deteriorate.

A spokesman for Moise could not be immediately reached for comment.

Last week, Leon Charles, general director of Haitis National Police, said gangs are fighting over territory and called on people to rise up against them: The moment has arrived for the collaboration of all sectors.

In addition to infiltrating rival shantytowns, gangs have targeted police stations in recent weeks, killing several officers. They also have raided businesses and fired on a car dealership on Monday as customers and employees fled. Hours later, Haitis National Police said they had the situation under control and were collaborating with citizens to thwart the attempts of these armed gangs wanting at all costs to create a climate of terror in the country.

The United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti said it was deeply concerned about the upsurge in gang violence and called for it to end so humanitarian aid could reach those in need.

Businesses and schools have closed and public transportation ceased in communities most affected by the violence, including Martissant and parts of Delmas, with few entering or crossing the area for fear of being killed.

Doctors Without Borders said its emergency center in Martissant received more than 40 patients with gunshot wounds from June 2-4 alone, and that its employees have had to take cover from stray bullets.

We are witnessing an extremely worrying deterioration in the security situation, the mission said. At a time when we should be scaling up because of COVID-19 and other needs, we are struggling to keep our existing facilities open due to insecurity.

The mission and other health experts say they worry people arent seeking medical help for fear of being injured or killed if they leave their homes as Haiti struggles with a spike in COVID-19 cases while still awaiting its first shipment of vaccines.

Meanwhile, Esperance, the human rights activist, said he doesnt foresee a quick solution: It will be absolutely impossible to hold elections in Haiti in 2021.

___

Coto reported from San Juan, Puerto Rico.
ISLANDTON, S.C. (AP)  State police have released a brief timeline of events as part of their investigation into the shooting deaths of a mother and son from one of South Carolinas prominent legal families.

On Tuesday, the State Law Enforcement Division released an update into their probe of the deaths of Paul Murdaugh and his mother, Maggie Murdaugh.

At around 10 p.m. on June 7, police say Alex Murdaugh called 911, saying he had found the bodies of his son and wife on the family's property.

According to SLED, Colleton County sheriffs deputies were dispatched and found the bodies, both of which had been shot multiple times.

By 10:30 p.m., sheriff's deputies had contacted state police for help investigating the case.

Just after midnight, SLED said its agents had arrived on-scene and have been working on the case since. The day after the bodies were discovered, crime scene investigators collected and submitted various items to the state police forensic lab for examination, police said.

Up until Tuesday, state police had released little information about the shootings.

A police report by Colleton County deputies said almost nothing, other than two people were shot. South Carolina law requires police agencies to release any of their crime reports within 14 days, and they must include details such as the nature and substance of the incident.

SLED is further committed to transparency and will release any additional information, including additional information provided during the 911 call, at the appropriate time, state police said Tuesday in a release. However, we cannot and will not do anything that could jeopardize the integrity of this investigation or that would violate the due process afforded to all in our constitutional system of justice.

Paul, 22, and Maggie, 52, were found shot near dog kennels at the familys home near Islandton on June 7. A county coroner has said they both died between 9 and 9:30 p.m.

Paul Murdaugh was awaiting trial on a charge of boating under the influence causing death in a February 2019 crash that killed 19-year-old Mallory Beach. The womans body was found seven days after the crash.

The Murdaughs are one of South Carolinas most prominent legal families.

The patriarch of the family, 81-year-old Randolph Murdaugh III, a former South Carolina prosecutor, had been ill prior to the shooting deaths of his grandson and daughter-in-law and died days later.
HELENA, Mont. (AP)  The state Department of Corrections will pay $250,000 to settle claims from a guard who claimed he was retaliated against after reporting rape allegations at Montana Women's Prison.

Daniel Root claimed he was passed over twice for a promotion after reporting in 2017 allegations of his supervisors sexual misconduct with inmates. The results of an investigation into the claims have not been released, but the lieutenant accused of having sex with an inmate resigned in 2019, the Montana State News Bureau reported.
DALLAS, Ore. (AP)  A Dallas High School teacher has been accused of sexually abusing another teacher at the school and has been placed on administrative leave.

Dallas police and Polk County court records show Matthew Lenoue, 56, of Dallas faces charges for inappropriately touching another teacher at the school on Friday, The Statesman Journal reported.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  A militia leader and nephew of Yemen's late strongman president has acknowledged that his Emirati-backed troops are stationed on an island in a crucial maritime chokepoint where a mysterious air base is now under construction.

The comments by Tariq Saleh come as ship-tracking data show that at least two Emirati-owned vessels have traveled to Mayun Island since an Associated Press story in May highlighted the base's construction.

The United Arab Emirates has not responded to repeated requests for comment about the base. However, a Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen against the Houthi rebels who hold its capital, Sanaa, later acknowledged having equipment on the island in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

While no country has claimed the air base, shipping traffic associated with a prior attempt to build a massive runway across the 5.6-kilometer (3.5 mile)-long island years ago links back to the UAE as well. Officials associated with Yemen's internationally recognized government have demanded a formal investigation into the base.

Speaking in an interview published Monday by the Arabic service of Russia's state-owned Sputnik news agency, Saleh acknowledged the presence of troops from his National Resistance Forces militia on Mayun Island.

We have forces affiliated with the Yemeni Coast Guard ... present on the island of Mayun, and there is also a small force of the Arab coalition forces present on the island represented by the Saudi forces, Saleh said, according to Sputnik. The runway was built to provide future logistical support for the joint forces on the western coast, or for any other parties.

He added that Mayun Island is a Yemeni island and will remain in Yemen."

Saleh, like his late uncle, once fought alongside the Iranian-backed Houthis and then switched sides in late 2017 as the Houthis killed his uncle, Ali Abdullah Saleh. Now based in the Yemeni city of Mokha, Saleh is believed to have as many as 20,000 troops under his command, said Gregory D. Johnsen, a Yemen analyst.

In May, Saleh told the Sanaa Center for Strategic Studies that his militia was in a partnership with the UAE.

A U.N. panel of experts report this year, quoting Yemen's internationally recognized government, described Saleh's forces as being backed by the UAE and (they) do not come under the General Staff or Ministry of Defense. Other UAE-backed forces have even battled other government troops in the past.

Military officials with Yemens internationally recognized government, which the Saudi-led coalition has backed since 2015, earlier told The Associated Press that the UAE is building the runway. They spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly to journalists.

Mayun, also known as Perim Island, is located about 3.5 kilometers (2 miles) off the southwestern edge of Yemen. World powers have recognized the islands strategic location for hundreds of years, especially with the opening of the Suez Canal linking the Mediterranean and Red Seas.

A runway the length of the one built on Mayun can accommodate attack, surveillance and transport aircraft.

Since June 1, at least two Emirati-flagged vessels have traveled to Mayun, according to ship-tracking data the AP analyzed from the website MarineTraffic.com. One, the landing craft Hawaya, came at night on June 1. The other, the cargo vessel Naayem, docked there twice on June 4, and once on June 10.

Both vessel also have shuttled to Mokha and Mukalla, a city in eastern Yemen associated with the Emirati military campaign in the country, before returning to the UAE.

Both the Hawaya and the Naayem are associated with Abu Dhabi-based Khalid Faraj Shipping, a firm that's part of Liwa Marine Services. The companies did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday.

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Follow Jon Gambrell on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jongambrellAP.
UNITED NATIONS (AP)  The U.N.'s outgoing special envoy for Yemen expressed deep regret Tuesday that he failed to mediate a cease-fire and peace talks between Yemens warring parties, but said he hoped a recent diplomatic effort by Oman will bear fruit.

Martin Griffiths, who painted a bleak picture of the Arab worlds poorest country, said in his final briefing to the U.N. Security Council that Yemen is in the throes of the worlds worst humanitarian crisis.

Griffiths said Yemenis are forced to live under violence, insecurity and fear, with limits to their freedom of movement, religion and free expression. He blamed the lack of courage of leaders on both sides  the government and Houthi rebels  for failing to choose a path to peace over continuing conflict.

Yemen is a tale of missed and then lost opportunities, he said. And perhaps most tragically, we have seen the hopes and aspirations of a generation of young Yemenis for a peaceful future dashed.

But Griffiths said he thinks the recent diplomatic entry of Oman  which on other Mideast issues has played a neutral, bridging and sometimes mediating role  is more hopeful than his efforts.

Oman sent officials to meet with the Houthi leadership to try to advance negotiations and Griffiths said he thinks the Houthi leader would want to reach his hand out to Oman in a way thats different from to the U.N.

Yemen has been embroiled in a civil war since 2014, when the Iranian-backed Houthis swept across much of the north and seized the capital, Sanaa, forcing the internationally recognized government into exile. A Saudi-led coalition entered the conflict the following year on the side of the government to try to restore it to power. But more than six years later, the war has killed over 130,000 people and fighting continues.

Griffiths, who will start his new job as the U.N.s humanitarian chief sometime in July, said that in a lifetime of dealing with conflicts and trying to restore peace, the opportunities are often there but that courage needed to take it is rare and Yemen is no different.

During his recent visit to Sanaa, Griffiths said, the Houthis religious and military leader, Abdel-Malek al-Houthi, said there must first be an agreement on reopening Sanaa Airport and key Hodeida ports and only after that is implemented would the Houthis begin negotiations on a cease-fire, a first step toward reviving peace negotiations.

The government, he said, insists that an agreement on the ports and airport and the start of a cease-fire be implemented as a package.

With the focus on getting that cease-fire started, we have offered different solutions to bridge these positions, Griffiths said. Unfortunately, as of now, none of these suggestions have been accepted.

He told a news conference after briefing the council that the king of Saudi Arabia asked the sultan of Oman to help advance negotiations. The sultan said yes" and sent a team to meet with Houthi leaders. He said the outcome of that meeting isnt known, but he expects to hear in the next few days when he visits the Saudi capital of Riyadh on Wednesday and from the Omanis themselves.

Griffiths told the council he hopes efforts by the Sultanate of Oman, following his own visits to Sanaa and Riyadh, will bear fruit and that we will soon hear a different turn of fate for Yemen.

He told reporters the crucial focus is a cease-fire agreement by the Houthis and the opening of the airport and ports, especially to desperately needed fuel shipments.

Griffiths said time is not on Yemens side, pointing to the multiplication and fragmentation of armed and political actors since the conflict began.

Foreign interference has grown, he added. What was possible in terms of conflict resolution years ago is not possible today. And what is possible today may not be possible in the future.

Griffiths raised the possibility of holding an international conversation to restate realistic goals for peace negotiations. But he said his worry is not so much about a cease-fire as it is the future of Yemen.

Yemen needs a pluralistic political future, and the U.N.-facilitated political process must pave the way for them to achieve just that, he said.
In the first public accounting of its kind in decades, an Associated Press investigation has found that at least 1,900 U.S. military firearms were lost or stolen during the 2010s, with some resurfacing in violent crimes. And that's certainly an undercount.

Government records covering the Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force show pistols, machine guns, shotguns and automatic assault rifles have vanished from armories, supply warehouses, Navy warships and elsewhere. These weapons of war disappeared because of security failures that, until now, have not been publicly reported, including sleeping troops and a surveillance system that didnt record.

In one case, authorities linked an Army pistol stolen from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to four shootings in New York before it was recovered. Another stolen Army pistol was used in a Boston street robbery.

Weapon theft or loss spanned the militarys global footprint. In Afghanistan, someone cut the padlock on an Army container and stole 65 Beretta M9s -- the same type of gun recovered in New York. The war zone theft went undetected for weeks, when empty pistol boxes were discovered in the compound. The weapons were not recovered.

While APs focus was firearms, military explosives also have been lost or stolen, including armor-piercing grenades that ended up in an Atlanta backyard. In that incident and many others, military investigators closed the case without finding the person responsible.

The Pentagon used to share annual updates about stolen weapons with Congress, but that requirement ended years ago and public accountability has slipped. The Army and the Air Force couldnt readily tell AP how many weapons were lost or stolen from 2010 through 2019.

On Tuesday, in the wake of the AP investigation, Army Secretary Christine Wormuth told a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee she would be open to new oversight over weapons accountability.

For this reporting, the AP built its own database by reviewing records including hundreds of military criminal case files and data from registries of small arms, as well as internal military analysis. In its accounting, whenever possible AP eliminated cases in which firearms were lost in combat, during accidents such as aircraft crashes and similar incidents where a weapons fate was known.

From the start of this reporting 10 years ago, armed services have been reluctant to share information. For years, the Army suppressed the release of information. Unlike the other branches, the Air Force has released no data at all.

Military weapons are especially vulnerable to corrupt insiders responsible for securing them. They know how to exploit weak points within armories or the militarys enormous supply chains. Often from the lower ranks, they may see a chance to make a buck from a military that can afford it.

Its about the money, right? said Brig. Gen. Duane Miller, the Armys No. 2 law enforcement official.

Theft or loss happens more often than the Army has publicly acknowledged. During an initial interview, Miller significantly understated the extent to which weapons disappear, citing records that report only a few hundred missing rifles and handguns. An internal Army analysis that AP obtained tallied 1,303 firearms.

In a second interview, Miller said he hadnt been aware of the memos, which had been distributed throughout the Army, until AP pointed them out. Army officials later said the total is imperfect because it includes some recovered guns and may include some duplicates.

Like Miller, top officials within the Marines and Secretary of Defenses office said weapon accountability is a high priority  and when the military knows a weapon is missing, it does trigger a concerted response to recover it. The officials also said missing weapons are not a widespread problem.

We have a very large inventory of several million of these weapons, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said in an interview. We take this very seriously and we think we do a very good job. That doesnt mean that there arent losses. It doesnt mean that there arent mistakes made.

Weapons accountability is part of military routine. Armorers are supposed to check weapons when they open each day. Sight counts, a visual total of weapons on hand, are drilled into troops whether they are in the field, on patrol, or in the arms room. But as long as there have been armories, people have been stealing from them.

In the absence of a regular reporting requirement, the Pentagon is responsible for informing Congress of any significant incidents of missing weapons. That hasnt happened since at least 2017.

Stolen military guns have been sold to street gang members, recovered on felons and used in violent crimes.

The AP identified eight instances in which five different stolen military firearms were used in a civilian shooting or other violent crime, and others in which felons were caught possessing weapons. Federal restrictions on sharing firearms information publicly mean the case total is certainly an undercount.

The military requires itself to inform civilian law enforcement when a gun is unaccounted for, and the services help in subsequent investigations. The Pentagon does not track crime guns, and spokesman Kirby said his office was unaware of any stolen firearms used in civilian crimes.

The closest AP could find to an independent tally was done by the FBIs Criminal Justice Information Services. It said 22 guns issued by the U.S. military were used in a felony during the 2010s. That total could include surplus weapons the military sells to the public or loans to civilian law enforcement.

Those FBI records also appear to be an undercount. They say that no military-issue gun was used in a felony in 2018, but the AP found that at least one was.

Back in June 2018, police in Albany, New York, were searching for a young man theyd placed at an April shooting that involved the Beretta M9 stolen from the Army. By the time authorities found him two months later, bullet casing analysis would link the gun to two other shootings, plus a fourth in 2017.

The Army still doesnt know who stole the gun, or when.

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Hall reported from Nashville, Tennessee; LaPorta reported from Boca Raton, Florida; Pritchard reported from Los Angeles; Myers reported from Chicago. Also contributing were Jeannie Ohm in Arlington, Virginia; Brian Barrett, Randy Herschaft and Jennifer Farrar in New York; Michael Hill in Albany, New York; and Pia Deshpande in Chicago.

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Contact Hall at https://twitter.com/kmhall; contact LaPorta at https://twitter.com/jimlaporta; contact Pritchard at https://twitter.com/JPritchardAP; contact Myers at https://twitter.com/myersjustinc.

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Email APs Global Investigations Team at investigative@ap.org or https://www.ap.org/tips/. See other work at https://apnews.com/hub/ap-investigations
SALT LAKE CITY (AP)  The family of a womens rights activist from Uganda sued the National Park Service this month after she was decapitated last year by a gate at Utahs Arches National Park.

The gate had been left unlatched against federal policy for two weeks before it struck Esther Nakajjigo in June 2020, according to the lawsuit filed in Denver.

She and her husband were newlyweds traveling in the well-known park when the wind caught the gate as they drove out, Fox13-KSTU in Salt Lake City reported.

The lawsuit does not specify the amount of damages being sought, but Nakajjigo's family has previously filed a $270 million notice of claim. Notices of claim must be filed ahead of lawsuits against government agencies and the lawsuit was filed June 8 in federal court.

The gate sliced through the side of their rented car, striking Nakajjigo in the head and neck and killing her, the lawsuit said.

Her husband Ludo Michaud witnessed his wife's death, something he has called the worst thing I hope I will ever see.

Nakajjigo, 25, was born in Kampala, Uganda, and used her university tuition money to start a nonprofit community health care center for girls and young women when she was a teenager.

She earned numerous humanitarian awards and created a popular reality television series aimed at empowering young mothers. She was attending a social-entrepreneurship program in Colorado at the time of her death.

A National Park Service spokesperson declined comment Monday on the lawsuit, Fox13-KSTU reported. The park service previously issued a statement expressing sympathy to her family.
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP)  Weeks after announcing that U.S. aid to El Salvador would be steered away from government institutions because of deep concerns over the ousting of judges and the attorney general, the director of the U.S. development agency delivered a message about the fragility of democracy while visiting the Central American nation.

Even the site of U.S. Agency for International Development Administrator Samantha Powers speech Monday was laden with symbolism. She spoke on the campus of Central American University, the countrys premier university led by Rector Andreu Oliva, an outspoken critic of President Nayib Bukeles government.

Power started her speech to students by mentioning a tour she had on the campus. She spoke of the massacre of six Jesuit priests, their housekeeper and her daughter in 1989 by a military commando unit in what became a turning point in the countrys civil war.

Power did not mention Bukele by name and many of the points in her speech could apply to Guatemala and Honduras  others stops on her trip  but the fact that she chose to make it in El Salvador sent an unmistakable message.

The United States believes that governments everywhere must earn the trust and goodwill of their people, she said. If corruption is allowed to run rampant, if judicial independence is not respected, if anticorruption institutions are dismantled as we have seen too often in Honduras, Guatemala and here in El Salvador then local governments will end up stymying the aspirations and the potential of their own people.

Earlier this month, El Salvadors new attorney general announced that he would end the cooperation agreement between his office and an anti-impunity mission from the Organization of American States that was supporting the countrys justice system. Leaders in Honduras and Guatemala made similar moves in recent years when outside anti-corruption missions pursued government officials.

Bukele has used his high popularity ratings to consolidate power and aggressively attack critics. His party dominated mid-term elections and won a supermajority in congress. When the new Legislative Assembly was seated May 1, it ousted the five justices of the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court who Bukele had clashed with and then replaced the attorney general, another Bukele adversary.

Critics, including Oliva, have recognized that Bukele and the new congress won their elections, but say that democracy currently does not exist in El Salvador.

Biden administration officials expressed concern and White House Special Envoy to the Northern Triangle Ricardo Zuniga visited in May and said the U.S. government would prefer the changes be reversed. Bukele said that wouldn't happen.

The shift in USAID funding away from the government was the first U.S. penalty. Power said the funding shifted from the government would be used to promote transparency, combat corruption and monitor human rights.

Democracy, a free press, an unrestrained civil society, the separation of powers, free and transparent elections, basic human rights as we have heard are what guarantee prosperity and stability, Power said Monday. Now lets be honest, democracies are fragile things, I fully acknowledge that.

Power noted that the United States had seen recent attacks on judges, journalists election officials and institutions. But that experience has shown us exactly why it is so important to stand up against corruption, to stand up against autocratic behavior wherever it occurs because these actions can quickly grow to threaten stability, to threaten democracy, to threaten prosperity.

Bukele, uncharacteristically, did not immediately respond via Twitter, his preferred method of communication.
BENNINGTON, Vt. (AP)  A Vermont man charged with illegally possessing large-capacity rifle magazines will file a second motion to have his case dismissed, this time arguing for his rights under the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

Max Misch faces two misdemeanor charges for two 30-round rifle magazines found in his home in February 2019, the Bennington Banner reported.
MADISON, Wis. (AP)  The superintendents of Wisconsin's five largest school districts told members of the Legislature on Tuesday that they're dismayed that $2.3 billion in federal aid is at risk because of low funding for K-12 schools.

Superintendents of the Milwaukee, Madison, Racine, Kenosha and Green Bay school districts urged lawmakers in a letter to set aside partisan differences and to do what is best for the state's schools.

The state budget being written by the Legislature's Republican-controlled Joint Finance Committee does not include enough funding for K-12 schools to ensure that Wisconsin would be able to keep $2.3 billion in federal coronavirus relief money. Republican leaders have repeatedly said they will ensure the funding wouldn't be lost. The budget committee plans to complete its work this week.

As it stands, the new budget would include $128 million more in state funding for K-12 schools than the current one, which is about one-tenth of what Democratic Gov. Tony Evers requested. Evers and Democrats have urged lawmakers to spend more on K-12 schools, especially in light of rosier projections showing the state will collect $4.4 billion more in taxes than originally expected.

We are dismayed that the legislatures Joint Finance Committee voted to place ESSER dollars at risk, the superintendents wrote, referring to the name of the federal aid bill.

The committee's decision to date has led school districts to halt their planning efforts, as they do not know whether the expected federal resources will be forthcoming, the superintendents wrote. This is regrettable and will adversely affect Wisconsin students.

Budget committee co-chair, Rep. Mark Born, reiterated Tuesday that Republicans were working on a solution to not lose the money.

Were confident well be in compliance," he said.

Evers responded to the letter with a message on Twitter.

Whats best for our kids is whats best for our state, which is why investing in education is a no-brainer, he tweeted. Republicans gutted my #BadgerBounceback investments in our kids and are jeopardizing $2.3 billion in federal funds. Enough politics. Do whats best for our kids.

The superintendents said the federal money would provide a unique opportunity to work with our community partners to address inequities in our school communities. The five districts serve more than 150,000 students combined, or nearly 20% of the state's students. Of those, more than 104,000 are in poverty and the COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated the problems they face, the superintendents wrote.

The federal money would not only help schools meet expenses caused by the pandemic, it would also have a positive economic impact on the state, they wrote.

The letter was written by Milwaukee Superintendent Keith Posley, Madison Superintendent Carlton Jenkins, Green Bay Superintendent Stephen Murley, Kenosha Superintendent Sue Savaglio-Jarvis and Racine Superintendent Eric Gallien.
Driving into San Francisco from the South Bay on Highway 101, its impossible to miss the giant, concrete white letters that command attention from the side of a grassy hill. But if you peer really closely at the sign that reads SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO THE INDUSTRIAL CITY along the slope of the aptly named Sign Hill, you may spot some of your fellow humans crawling around on those letters, angling for a selfie that is impossible to achieve.

Unlike the archetypal Hollywood sign in Los Angeles, where Angelenos can't get too close without dangerously trespassing, South San Franciscos welcome sign is extremely accessible. While sitting at the bottom of the Y in City, my first thought was, "I cant believe its not vandalized more often." The dirt-stained white concrete is laid within the hill itself, allowing visitors to lay among the brush-bordered letters, with only a very short (though at times, steep) hike to reach them. Each 60-foot-high letter is surrounded by a parched grassy landscape, with a few wildflowers and bushes punctuating the terrain. That accessibility to the letters means you cant actually take a photo of the whole thing at once, but theres something oddly charming about sitting on the lower curve of an S and gazing down upon the bay as low planes soar overhead to or from SFO.

Patricia Chang/Special to SFGATE

Visitors have been able to stroll near a South San Francisco sign since 1923, when the citys Chamber of Commerce built the original whitewashed version of the slogan for just $300. While the Hollywood(land) sign was constructed the same year to attract buyers to a luxury housing development, the South San Francisco sign was designed to attract new people and companies to an already burgeoning city.

Buoyed by a robust meatpacking industry, the town was also home to companies like W. P. Fuller Paint, Western Pipe and Steel, the Metal and Thermit Corporation when the sign went up. But by 1928, it was crumbling, and the Chamber of Commerce proposed a new $5,000 tax to fund a concrete version. The ballot proposition initially failed to win the two-thirds majority needed from voters, and only after aggressive campaigning did the Chamber of Commerce call for a second special election later that year. The bill finally passed, cementing (pun intended) the signs legacy.

On May 15, 1929, the current concrete letters debuted. Since the city today isnt the industrial town it once was, its attempted to rebrand since, calling itself the birthplace of biotechnology. Multiple biotechnology companies call the town home, and today Genetech is the towns top employer, shuttling Bay Areans from all over to its office pre-pandemic.

Still, that giant sign isnt going anywhere, even if over the years there have been efforts to remove or change it. Constructed from four-inch-thick concrete, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996, thanks to Edna Harks, a founding member of the South San Francisco Historical Society.

Patricia Chang/Special to SFGATE

Locals' enthusiasm for the sign has waxed and waned over the years, but today, Im told its mostly a beloved local icon. South San Francisco is very attached to it and they are proud of their industrial history, said South San Francisco Parks and Recreation Director Sharon Ranals.

Patricia Chang/Special to SFGATE

One favorite pastime for visitors is to slide down the letters with pieces of cardboard. Its not clear when nearby residents figured out the letters made a pretty good makeshift concrete slide, but the F and the two Ts are said to be particularly well designed for a quick, low-budget thrill ride.

While youre climbing or sliding down the letters, you also may realize theyre not all the same size  they were designed in perspective so that theyd appear that way from a distance. Theyre repainted about every other year, and its a pretty big undertaking, said Greg Mediati, the Deputy Director of the South San Francisco Parks and Recreation, as each letter uses about 10 gallons of paint.

Patricia Chang/Special to SFGATE

Patricia Chang/Special to SFGATE

The 65-acre park also provides critical habitat for wildlife like hummingbirds, red-tailed hawks, California scrub jays, and dark-eyed juncos. In 2019, the Parks Division launched the Sign Hill Habitat Restoration Project and staff and volunteers have spent the last few years restoring native grassland plants and removing invasive plants. Since the restoration began, Natural Resource Specialist Emma Lewis said shes seen the return of two endangered butterflies to the hill, the mission blue butterfly and the callippe silverspot butterfly.

Even the vandalism, when it does happen, is mostly harmless. After the Giants won the World Series, the S in San and the F in Francisco were painted bright orange, and in 2019, a prankster managed to alter the sign to read The Industrial Tity, instead of The Industrial City.

The sign did face danger in 2020, when two teenagers allegedly sparked a four-alarm fire that burned 16 acres, killed 1,500 trees and evacuated nearby homes. The damage is evident if you do the full 1.2 mile loop around the sign, where a section displays the destruction in charred tree stumps. Mediati said the fire could have been much worse if they hadnt been working to build defensible space and reduce the fuel load in recent years.

Patricia Chang/Special to SFGATE

Patricia Chang/Special to SFGATE

If you want to hike to do the loop yourself, you can either enter Sign Hill Park into your favorite maps app on your phone, or, if youre an AllTrails fan, find the hike on the app. Either way, its a short trek to the letters, though the 1.2 mile loop that AllTrails suggests  which connects the Letters Trail to the Seubert Trail to the Ridge Trail  is a nice way to get your heart pumping. The hike is steep, with lots of loose gravel and narrow paths, so hiking shoes with a good tread are recommended.

The hike is also dog-friendly and not frequently crowded. The South San Francisco Parks and Recreation Department estimates around 20,000 people visit the hill per year, which is actually rather low compared to many trails around the Bay. When my pup Archer and I walked the loop on a recent Monday afternoon, we didnt encounter a single person the entire time.

But next time Im zooming by on the highway, Ill be sure to search for the little dots exploring the sign.

Patricia Chang/Special to SFGATE

Patricia Chang/Special to SFGATE
California officially reopens Tuesday after 15 months of restrictions and lockdowns for the COVID-19 pandemic.

California has done a great job in vaccine distribution and uptake, surpassing President Joe Bidens desired metric of 70% eligible residents receiving their first dose on May 31. However, the general perception that more restrictive measures throughout the pandemic kept Californians safe is not reflected in our difficult third surge, nor the mental health effects on Californias children of prolonged school closures. On this reopening day, it is important to reflect on three mistakes California made in the hopes that more data-driven approaches can be applied to guide us safely out of the pandemic completely.

School closures

California to this day officially has the lowest number of children back to full in-person learning of all 50 states. We have not budged from this last-place position despite data from multiple countries and places in our own (Wisconsin, North Carolina, Utah, Chicago, New York City) demonstrating the safety of in-person learning with mitigation procedures for children and staff. Even in households, children have a threefold lower chance of catching COVID-19 than adults and, if they do, are about half as likely to spread it. Unfortunately, despite article after article by California-based scientists on the safety of in-person learning (in local and national periodicals), almost 80% of our students have not seen the inside of a classroom since March 2020.

The depressing contrast of watching Californias private schools reopen safely for nearly the entire year while public schools remained shuttered underscored the inequities that were deepened by basing decisions off models and metrics that did not reflect the true risk to students and educators. California students with the means to pay tuition or form private learning pods had a school year that approached normal. Those families who did not went without.

The most recent article we wrote from UCSF last week in the Wall Street Journal about school closures detailed the tragic mental health costs of this mistake California made towards our children. Data from hospitals in the Bay Area showed a 66-75% increase among 10- to 17-year-olds screening positive for active or recent suicidal ideation from last year. California Department of Public Health (CDPH) data showed 134 youth under age 18 in California died by suicide in 2020, up 24% from 108 in 2019, and well above totals from 2017 and 2018. Adult suicide rates were down by 11% concomitantly, speaking to additional stressors among children beyond the pandemic from losing support structures in schools. Our data was reflected in national CDC data released last week showing a 50% increase in emergency department visits for suicide attempts among American adolescents (mainly girls) during the pandemic.

Despite publishing a blueprint that detailed metrics for normal school openings for the fall in the New York Times  which are metrics that we have already reached in California  the Los Angeles Unified School District proposed this week twice weekly testing and masking of children and teachers in the fall. Asymptomatic testing of children is not recommended in the yellow tier in California, and we exited the tier-based system in our state today. The CDC recommends masking indoors only in areas of high community transmission and already indicated a plan to likely discontinue mask requirements for children indoors in the fall if community transmission stays low. California continuing the same mistakes around schools for the fall and signaling abnormal to our children may lead to ongoing mental health effects.

Closing the outdoors

On Dec. 3, during our third surge, California issued another stay-at-home order which closed large areas of the outside, including outside playgrounds and outdoor dining. However, closing the outdoors, based on how this virus disseminates, is not scientifically based. In fact, SARS-CoV-2 viral particles disperse effectively in the outside air.

A study in Wuhan, China, which utilized careful contact tracing, discovered that just one of 7,324 infection events investigated was linked to outdoor transmission. An extensive review reported that the risk of outdoors transmission of the coronavirus is about 20 times lower than inside. In another analysis of over 232,000 infections in Ireland, only one case of COVID-19 in every thousand was traced to outdoor transmission. And an extensive review from the University of Canterbury last fall concluded that outdoor transmission is rare, citing the opportunity costs of not encouraging the public to congregate outdoors for the potential impact on physical and mental health and wellbeing.

Closing events like outdoor dining may have driven people inside during the holiday season, and California had a terrible third surge over the winter holiday. Many places, like British Columbia, kept the outside open as much as possible to allow for congregation and socialization. The principle of harm reduction is to reduce infections from a contagious pathogen by also acknowledging the real-world conditions that may require essential work to continue or people to want to see loved ones. California took a lockdownist approach, rather than one of harm reduction, which may have harmed small business owners and increased social isolation in our state more than others.

Unmasking and embracing the effectiveness of vaccines

The revised CDC mask guidance May 13 stated that vaccinated people no longer needed to mask, inside or out. Although not messaged well, the backlash to this response and the hesitation by the public to embrace it is partially the fault of Californias messaging around vaccines and masks.

Masks, distancing, ventilation, testing and contact tracing are tools for COVID-19 mitigation. Vaccines and increasing population immunity are the solution. California not only has one of the highest rates of vaccination in the country, but, unfortunately, has natural immunity from our terrible third surge. One of the most comprehensive seroprevalence studies performed in the U.S. was performed by the CDPH and showed a 38% seroprevalence rate after our winter surge and before vaccines were being rolled out to the general population. Natural immunity and vaccinations are contributing to population immunity in our state, which is keeping our case and hospitalization rates low even as we graduate to less restrictive tiers. Low community transmission keeps our unvaccinated children safe, although our summer camp and school guidance has children down to the age of 2 still masking with low cases and hospitalizations for months across our state.

Despite having some of the most amazing immunology-related research coming out of California (at La Jolla Institute for Immunology and UCSF) showing the durability of the immune response to COVID-19 and the effectiveness of the immune response against variants, California continues to message alarm over variants and test asymptomatic individuals after vaccination, despite the CDC recommending following symptomatic breakthroughs. The way through this communication challenge in California around the CDC guidance on May 13 was to message simply and with optimism. Vaccines work. Continuing to message fear undermines trust in the data we have around vaccine effectiveness, even against variants, and prevents people from returning to pursuing normal lives.

The signaling of abnormal will continue to have effects on our schools and personal anxieties and California should step forth with optimism and confidence on the power of immunity to get us through this pandemic on this day of opening.

Interested in submitting an op-ed to SFGATE? Click here.
Jeff Chiu / Associated Press 2020

Two passengers on a flight departing from San Francisco International Airport were escorted off the plane after an alleged disagreement over armrests devolved into fighting.

The incident took place on a United Airlines flight Friday at around 1:30 p.m., and was initially shared on Twitter by Google product director Jack Krawczyk, who said this incident took place on his first flight in 15 months. A United spokeswoman told SFGATE that the incident took place right before takeoff.
You are now listening to the sounds of the New Generation. A podcast created for those who desire a new way of gaining information rather than reading a traditional newspaper. In our show we will discuss everything from sports, pop culture, politics, and local news. To stay up to date on our latest episodes every week be sure to follow us on your favorite podcast service. And dont worry, we keep it short.
CHICAGO (AP)  An explosion at a northern Illinois chemical plant Monday morning sparked massive fires that sent flames and huge plumes of thick black smoke high into the air and debris raining onto the ground, prompting evacuations.

After 7 a.m., emergency crews rushed to the scene of the fire near Rockton, northwest of Chicago, at Chemtool Inc., a company that manufactures lubricants, grease products and other fluids, and is, according to the company, the largest manufacturer of grease in the Americas.

Rockton Fire Department Chief Kirk Wilson said about 70 employees were evacuated safely from the plant, and that one firefighter suffered a minor injury. Chemtool's parent company, Lubrizol Corp., later said there were closer to 50 employees present when the plant was evacuated.

The plumes became so big they were being picked up on weather radar. Wilson said there was no danger to air quality at ground level.

The Rockton Police Department posted an alert at 8:46 a.m. warning that fire officials had ordered a mandatory evacuation of homes and businesses near the plant. Later in the day, Gov. J.B. Pritzker's office expanded the evacuation zone from a 1- to a 2-mile radius from the plant out of an abundance of caution, and encouraged people within that zone to wear masks to prevent them from inhaling soot.

I am monitoring this situation closely and will make all resources available to the surrounding communities as we work to keep people safe, Pritzker said in a statement.

Wilson said firefighters had stopped using water to extinguish the blaze to prevent an environmental nightmare if the runoff were to enter the nearby Rock River.

It could be several days before the fluids that caught fire burn out, he said.

We cant speculate how long it will take to put out the fire, he said. We ask that the public be patient with us.

Crews from the 40 or so fire departments were fanning out to respond to spot fires, grass fires, and burning debris that the wind pushed into the community. Wilson said those fires were caused by burning pieces of cardboard boxes and chunks of wooden pallets, not chemicals falling from the sky.

Trisha Diduch, the planning and development administrator for Rockton, said she estimates about 1,000 people were affected by the evacuation order.

One of those residents was 29-year-old Alyssa King. She said after she walked outside to see black smoke and what appeared to be pieces of cardboard boxes and small chunks of the building falling from the sky, she called a police non-emergency line. You gotta go, she said she was told.

There were no immediate reports of injuries.

John Kim of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency said the quality of the air near the burning plant is a primary concern for his agency. He said both the state and federal EPA will be monitoring the air quality to make sure it remains safe for nearby residents. Officials recommended people within a three-mile radius wear masks as a precaution.

Dr. Sandra Martell of the Winnebago County Health Department also warned residents not to handle waste from fire with bare hands, noting the possibility it could be contaminated by chemicals used at the plant.

We have confirmed all on site are safe and accounted for. Our concern right now is for the safety of all our employees and the surrounding community," Chemtool said in a statement, adding that it will share more details as they become known.

We do not yet know what caused this incident, but we will be working with local authorities and with our own risk management team to determine what happened and identify any corrective actions, it said.

King, who lives in an apartment less than a mile from the site, said she woke up to what sounded like slamming doors.

It woke me up. It was shaking the whole apartment building, said King, who had been at home with her 8-year-old daughter.

They went to her mothers house about 2 miles (3 kilometers) away. King then returned to the apartment to collect the familys rabbit, Oreo. As she drove near the plant, King saw smoldering embers along the roadway, and there was burned material all over the yard of the apartment building, she said. The air had a chemical smell, she added.

It was awful, she said. Im terrified I wont have a home to go back to.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency staffers have arrived at the site and will conduct air monitoring and sampling, spokeswoman Rachel Bassler said Monday afternoon. They were coordinating with the Illinois EPA, which also was sending a team, according to spokeswoman Kim Biggs.

The governor's office said Pritzker had activated the State Emergency Operation Center to mobilize the emergency response, including the Illinois National Guard, State Fire Marshal, Illinois State Police, American Red Cross, Salvation Army and the state's health and transportation departments.

Rockton is located in Winnebago County, near the Wisconsin border, about 95 miles (150 kilometers) northwest of Chicago.

___

Associated Press writer John Flesher in Traverse City, Michigan, contributed.
To the Editor:

Congratulations to Shelton school nurses for their recent acknowledgment from the Board of Education and the City.

School nurses are a seldom-recognized specialty for their many contributions to the health of school children from preschool to high school and for special education students as old as 21. Not only during COVID but every day, they care for the sick and injured. More than that, they deal with complex physical, mental and socioeconomic issues on a daily basis.

School nurses require a myriad of knowledge related to individual needs as well as a realm of ever-changing technology students bring to school with them. Kudos to the long overdue notice of their contribution to Shelton's students, staff and community.

Donna Kosiorowski MS RN NCSN-E

Retired School Nurse Supervisor Association of School Nurses of Connecticut
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His tweet comes in reaction to a news piece which claims that the actor has reduced his fees by Rs 30 crore for "Bell Bottom".

Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar took to social media on Monday to deny reports claiming he has reduced his fees by Rs 30 crore for the upcoming spy thriller "Bell Bottom".

Vashu Bhagnani, one of the producers of the film, also denied all such reports. Reacting to the news piece, Bhagnani tweeted: "No Truth to this news at all."

Directed by Ranjit M. Tewari, "Bell Bottom" also stars Vaani Kapoor, Lara Dutta and Huma Qureshi. The period espionage thriller is set in the eighties.

Rumours seem to be hounding Akshay lately. Recently, the actor had taken to social media to refute speculations over the release date of his forthcoming films "Sooryavanshi" and Bell Bottom". Akshay issued a statement reacting to unconfirmed reports claiming that both films would arrive on Independence Day in August.

The statement read: "I'm humbled at the excitement and eagerness of my fans regarding the release of Sooryavanshi and Bell Bottom, and want to thank them from the bottom of my heart for all their love. However, at this point, it is purely speculative to say that both films will release on Independence Day. The producers of both films are working out the release dates and will make announcements at the right time."

For more stories click here: Kollywood l Malayalam l Bollywood l Telugu
The massive success of The Family Man 2 has made Samantha Akkineni a big name in the world of OTT space. The web series was Amazon Primes original.

Now, another global streaming company Netflix has approached Samantha.

The strong buzz is that Netflix is in talks with Samantha Akkineni to seal a deal with her for another web series. She will headline this drama. Netflix is said to have offered Samantha a record price. Samantha also aims to work on diverse projects that allow her to showcase her acting skills and enhance her stardom.

At the present, Samantha is acting in Shaakuntalam, being directed by Gunashekar.

Text: Telugucinema.com

Images: Samantha on Instagram
The CR3 file is an exclusive Canon Raw format with high-quality scene capture. The format offers a lossless image and pixels compression that can process later using editing software. Canon employs this distinctive file extension to separate its digital photo files from competitors.

In mirrorless camera DIGIC 8, Canon launched a new processor, which allows an array of functions and enhanced shooting performance. The new processor is also equipped with advanced Canon DSLR cameras like the EOS90D or the 250D. Besides, the new processor Canon introduced their patented CR3 Raw file extension. The format retains exact resolution from original RAW files and even maintains the small size.

For the edition of the CR3 file, you will need compatible editing software, which will convert the new format into JPG, PSD, TIFF, PNG, etc. If you are using Adobe Photoshop then the CR3 file will be forced to open Camera RAW [plug-in] that is a CR3 to JPG converter. However, Lightroom is a better alternative as it opens the CR3 format automatically.

RAW versus JPG

For photographers shooting in CR3 format outweighs JPG advantages. Nowadays, storage is cheap and file size is less of an issue even for backups. There are image culling, post-processing, and cataloging software available to choose things to edit and that too in batches. You dont need to worry about time wastage and just concentrate on the photos that matter most.

Storage and time issues are small in comparison to the awesome ability to recover information from the CR3 photos. Photographers experience badly exposed images often or can mess up with the white balance on important photos that are too crucial to discard like pictures from a corporate or wedding shoot.

If they captured images in JPG then in such bad exposure the image quality cannot be managed. However, with RAWs capability to recover, the white balance exposure errors are easy to make right. RAW makes a huge difference while capturing rare and special moments, which cannot be replicated ever again.

JPGs are lousy file format, which means quality is lost every time the photo is edited. Pot-processing RAW file is non-destructive as high quality is retained. As the format is new many applications cannot open or process the CR3 file extensions. You will need to employ an external program like reaConverter to handle it. Its exclusive features are 

Millions of folders and files can be converted with this highly efficient program in one operation.

Plenty of rare and archaic formats can be read and written.

Alteration & orientation, adjustments, creative retouching, and watermarking is simple and applied in batches.

Uber-powerful tools offer advanced image tuning and processing solutions like file management and conversion tuning.

Reuse the setting with configured and action files.

Photographers preferring RAW mode to capture images will not need the latest graphic software to edit and convert images to another format. A few clicks using the Reaconverter software will allow adjusting brightness and white balance applying the denoise-filter as well as customized interpolation.

Download the free trial version and upgrade to a Pro package!

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Embattled technology company Nuix has announced the departure of its chief financial officer and chief executive officer as it attempts to move on from a damaging disclosure and governance scandal.

As foreshadowed by The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age this week Nuix announced to the market on Tuesday morning that its CFO Stephen Doyle was being terminated by mutual agreement. Only half an hour later, a second bombshell followed with the announcement that CEO Rod Vawdrey had given notice of his decision to retire.

Nuix CEO Rod Vawdrey ringing the bell to announce Nuixs public listing on the ASX. Credit:Ben Rushton

Their departures follow a joint investigation by The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and The Australian Financial Review which exposed serious culture and governance issues, missed sales forecasts and a previous attempted coup to oust Mr Vawdrey.

Nuix provides the software platforms that regulators, police investigators and tax officials around the world use to run top-sensitive investigations.
Creating joy in a world thats gone dark  something we could all use some insight into  is one of the ideas explored at this years Emerging Writers Festival.

Poet and writer Anthea Yangs essay is titled Tending to joy at the end of the world.

Anthea Yang, one of the 400-odd writers at the event, will discuss the idea in a session on June 17 alongside Caitlin McGregor, Lou Garcia-Dolnik, Brooke Scobie and Ruby Hillsmith. Yangs essay Tending to joy at the end of the world, which inspired the session, is on literary magazine Overlands longlist for the Kuracca Prize.

Yang, in her second year of a masters in writing and publishing at RMIT, says it will be interesting to see what joy means to different people. I was thinking about the past couple of years and crises  climate and political crises, ongoing racism both in Australia and abroad  and on top of that weve got the pandemic. I asked myself how can we be joyful in moments like this when it seems like everything is quite dark, and quite bleak? When I talk about the end of the world ... I mean the end of what we know, what is normal.

For her, poetry, like joy, is hard to quantify. It functions outside the economy and asks for attentiveness to the body, to the form, the environment and each other, she says. Poetry is a bridge to new worlds: how can we use poetry and joy to build the future in a time like this when were going through so much? Ive been reading some poems about how to create joy, envisioning a future where people of colour can be safe, and that in itself is a sort of joy.
Plans for a movie depicting New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arderns widely lauded response to the Christchurch terrorist attacks suffered a blow on Monday when a producer pulled out of the project following a public backlash.

Criticism emerged on social media after plans for the production, to be called They Are Us and directed by New Zealander Andrew Niccol, were announced late last week. Objections centred on the movies focus on the prime minister, to be played by Australian actress Rose Byrne, rather than victims of the massacre on March 15, 2019.

A new movie about the 2019 Christchurch terror attack would centre on the response of NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern (pictured here days after the shooting). Credit:AP

Speaking over the weekend, Ardern said she felt that she should not be the films focus, and added in a television interview Monday that it felt very soon and very raw for the country. A petition organised in part by members of the Muslim community, calling for the film to be scrapped, received tens of thousands of signatures.

In a statement on Monday explaining her decision to withdraw, producer Philippa Campbell condemned the way the early promotion of the movie was focused on film business, and did not take enough account of the political and human context of the story.
For too long, its looked as though the ABC has been afraid of the arts. Over the years, Aunty has marginalised and axed arts programs, shunting them off its main channel or consigning them to obscure timeslots, like 10pm Tuesdays. Early in 2021, The Mix, which ran unheralded for seven years on ABC News, was quietly retired.

The short-lived Art Nation was terminated in 2011 and were now a long way from the days when magazine-style overviews such as Express and Review occupied prime-time slots, and when Sunday Afternoon offered hours of interviews, documentaries, films and feature stories. More recently, whenever the ABC has produced arts programs, its discomfort has been evident. One indication of a lack of confidence has been the push to insert comedians at any opportunity. Its as if the operative thinking is that, unless attention to books, film, theatre, visual arts, opera and music comes with a few laughs, no one will be interested.

Arts coverage is seen as an eat-your-veggies undertaking that viewers must be baited into consuming. So with Anh Do, Aunty struck gold: a comedian who can paint and interview. Bingo, win-win for Anhs Brush With Fame.

Arts coverage is seen as an eat-your-veggies undertaking that viewers must be baited into consuming. So with Anh Do (pictured with Archie Roach), Aunty struck gold; a comedian who can paint. Credit:ABC

With that in mind, remember Critical Mass, Vulture, Mondo Thingo or Screen Time? Theres a good reason why you might not: they were deservedly brief embarrassments as the ABC attempted to apply an upbeat spin to an area it has been reluctant to tackle without gimmickry. Meanwhile, proven programs with dedicated audiences  The Book Club, At the Movies  were axed and not replaced.
Membership to the elite Australian Club on Macquarie Street will remain a male-only privilege following a historic vote on Tuesday which failed to open up full participation to women.

A brief statement from the club said: The Australian Club today held a Special General Meeting to consider a specific resolution for the purpose of amending the Clubs Constitution to allow women to be Members. There was a record turn-out of members to consider and vote on the resolution. The meeting determined that the 75 per cent threshold to pass the resolution was not met.

Only 37 per cent voted in favour of letting women become members. Credit:Kate Geraghty

The club, which allows women to visit as guests of male members, refused to share the final numbers. However, the Herald can reveal 693 member votes were cast, with 62 per cent against allowing women members, 37 per cent in favour and 1 per cent abstaining.

Potential member Daisy Turnbull, whose father and ancestors have long been members of the club, was dismayed by the result, which she predicted would put the club on the wrong side of history.
Millennials are leading the charge in cryptocurrency investing, piling their savings into bitcoin and other digital currencies in ever-growing numbers.

One-in-five Millennials  those aged between 25 and 40  now own cryptocurrency, a new survey reveals. Almost half of those polled also made their first investment in the sharemarket last year, fuelled by soaring interest by younger people during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The pandemic has seen a spike in the number of younger people investing

More free time during lockdowns and the increasing prevalence of social media driven meme investing are cited as contributing to the surge in young investor interest.

Just over one-third of the Millennials polled revealed that family and friends are their largest sources of investing information.
Mathew Dunbar had a reputation for being generous. Perhaps too generous.

The sheep grazier from Walcha in the NSW Northern Tablelands had a tendency to offer money and expensive gifts to friends, family, former lovers, even tradies who worked on his property, Pandora. It left some on the receiving end embarrassed, while others tried to make him stop.

It was Mr Dunbars generosity that his partner Natasha Beth Darcy would seek to exploit in 2017, with a plan to murder him for an inheritance worth $4.65 million that she convinced him to sign over to her within months of their meeting. On Tuesday, she was found guilty of his murder.

Walcha sheep grazier Mathew Dunbar with partner Natasha Beth Darcy, who has been found guilty of murdering him.

During the two-month murder trial, Mr Dunbars generosity would be used again as Darcy deployed it in her defence  to lend weight to the suggestion her victim was in dire financial straits, mentally unstable and depressed to the point of suicide.
Daniel Taylor, the son of Kings Cross identity John Ibrahim, should get substantial damages in his defamation case against Sydney newspaper The Sunday Telegraph, a court has been told.

Mr Taylor is suing the Telegraph, owned by News Corp, and one of its journalists in the Federal Court over a 24-page newspaper spread in June 2019 titled Inside the House of Ibrahim: Unauthorised.

Daniel Taylor arrives at the Federal Court on Tuesday. Credit:Louise Kennerley

Mr Taylor alleges the stories about himself and his family, which were based on police phone taps, wrongly suggest he is a mobster, a member of the mafia, and a criminal involved in organised crime.

The newspaper has denied any of the defamatory meanings about Mr Taylor were conveyed, arguing in a fall-back defence it is substantially true to say Mr Taylor is involved in organised crime.
It is amongst the lowest-carbon sources of LNG globally that can be delivered to our north Asian customers, she said. Carbon-neutral energies are not yet ready to meet the worlds energy needs. This is particularly apparent for our customers in Asian countries where hundreds of millions of people still rely on more carbon-intensive fuels, or lack access to modern essentials like refrigeration and heating. There was no confusion about gas role from protesters outside. We understand the imperative to act to address climate change and we are playing our part. We know our community and our investors expect this. Our plans are aligned with the goal of net zero by 2050  a goal that is shared by Woodside, Western Australia and a number of our Asian neighbours. Woodside will be progressing new energy technologies, like hydrogen, ammonia and renewables, that can help our customers accelerate the transition to a lower carbon future.

Santos managing director and chief executive Kevin Gallagher said on Tuesday that Dr Forrest was entitled to his views, which seemed to change from time to time. Weve got a pathway to 2040 that gets us to net zero and I havent seen any other company in the sector that has got something equivalent to that, he said. We are very proud of the efforts we made on Barossa. The design changes Santos drove on that project over the course of the times since we owned it and turned it around prior to taking FID [final investment decision] resulted in a 25 per cent emissions reduction from that project. Its now in line with other LNG projects in the region and other planned LNG projects in the region so it is very consistent with those types of projects. Andrew McConville, chief executive of event organiser the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association, said Dr Forrest was himself trying to build a gas import terminal at Fort Kembla in New South Wales, and a gas power station.

It sounds as though he would prefer to have no competition from other projects, Mr McConville said. Mr Forrests comments make no sense given the majority of experts agree that natural gas is a pathway to a large-scale hydrogen industry. Australias LNG export success means the Australian upstream oil and gas industry has the technology, expertise, commercial and trade relationships to make hydrogen exports a reality. Santos managing director and chief executive Kevin Gallagher at the conference. Credit:Peter de Kruijff Developing a local hydrogen industry could enable lower emissions both in Australia and internationally, reduce energy costs, deliver energy security, together with new employment and manufacturing opportunities.

Squadron Energy, part of Dr Forrests Tattarang group, owns Australian Industrial Energy which states on its Port Kembla project web page that a secure, affordable supply of natural gas is fundamental to Australias economy. Emissions from Dr Forrests Fortescue Metals Group in 2019-20 were just under 2 million tonnes, more than Arrow Energy, Beach Energy, and only just behind ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips. When FMG moved from diesel to gas in 2014, it advocated for the development of more gas reserves in Australia. But in January, Dr Forrest gave a lecture titled confessions of a carbon emitter in which he was upfront about Fortescues carbon emissions. Further, FMG has outlined a range of initiatives to support its 2030 carbon neutrality target.

WAtoday asked Dr Forrest for more information on his stance on gas role in the global transition to a greener economy. Meanwhile, there was no confusion from protesters outside the APPEA conference. They waved signs bearing quotes from a recent International Energy Agency report recommending no new fossil fuel projects go ahead. Lock the Gate Alliance WA spokeswoman Claire McKinnon said the conference was like the tobacco industry holding a love-in. The simple fact is the industries APPEA represents threaten communities and water, they threaten intact, healthy ecosystems, they threaten sustainable industries like farming and tourism, and they threaten humanity itself because extracting more fossil fuels is inconsistent with keeping global warming to a minimum, she said.

350 Perth campaigner Anthony Collins said the discussions held and deals made at the conference would undoubtedly result in plans for more fossil fuel extraction. This is despite an ever-closing net beginning to constrict this industry and the financial means to get their projects off the ground, he said. Mr Collins said without drastic change the companies would lose their social licence to operate. As if in anticipation, APPEA also on Tuesday unveiled the industrys first social licence report. Mr McConville said it showed support for Australias oil and gas industry was 47 per cent, opposition at 19 per cent and strong opposition such as that from activists at just 7 per cent of Australians.
If Brisbane wins the right to host the 2032 Olympic Games next month, billions will start to flow in an accelerated timetable involving all levels of government, lord mayor Adrian Schrinner said as he prepared to hand down his council budget.

The money is needed to improve infrastructure, upgrade venues and improve transport links in south-east Queensland before the Olympics.

Major infrastructure works can take five years to take shape after decisions are made.

The way the funding flows will be guided in part by the complex South East Queensland City Deal, the same type of funding deal that allowed Townsville to acquire a new football stadium and city facilities.
An owner of Brisbanes Whiskey Au Go Go nightclub told an employee the club is going to be bombed  there is not much I can do about a week before 15 people died in a firebomb attack.

Linette Davis, who was a waitress at a different venue run by the Whiskey Au Go Go owners, recounted to the coronial inquest into the 1973 tragedy a conversation she had with Brian Little.

Linette Davis leaves Brisbane Magistrates Court on Tuesday evening after testifying at the Whiskey Au Go Go inquest. Credit:Toby Crockford

A fresh coronial inquest into the firebombing in the inner-city suburb of Fortitude Valley on March 8, 1973, started this week at Brisbane Magistrates Court.

It was order in 2017 by then attorney-general Yvette DAth and focuses on identifying any other key players who were not charged, and if the police investigation at the time was adequate.
Former special forces soldier Ben Roberts-Smith has told a court that he hired a private investigator to follow a woman with whom he had been having a relationship to check whether she had an abortion because he suspected she was lying about being pregnant.

Mr Roberts-Smith, a Victoria Cross recipient, is suing The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald for defamation over stories in 2018 that he says accuse him of being a war criminal and of punching a woman, with whom he was having an extramarital affair, in the face after a dinner in Canberra on March 28 that year.

Ben Roberts-Smith outside the Federal Court in Sydney on Tuesday. Credit:Louise Kennerley

Giving evidence in the Federal Court in Sydney on Tuesday, Mr Roberts-Smith replied absolutely not when asked by his barrister, Bruce McClintock, SC, if he had hit the woman.

That particular allegation, I feel, coupled with being called a war criminal, has ruined my life, he said. For a long time I found it very difficult to leave the house after that.
The former chief of staff at the US Department of Homeland Security, Miles Taylor, told the ABCs Four Corners that QAnon conspiracy theories could jump the tracks into violence very, very easily.

Speaking about Prime Minister Scott Morrisons friend, Tim Stewart, a QAnon follower, Taylor said: I think its important for the Prime Minister and any other national leader to disavow individuals either within their orbit or outside of their orbit who harbour these types of extremist views ... We all have friends and family members that have unorthodox views, but when youre put in a position of trust you have to maintain the publics trust.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison with Tim Stewart. Credit:Rhett Wyman, Facebook

So we all have that certain friend or relative: you know, the kind with unorthodox views. That friend who has a heart of gold, but also one or two loopy ideas. Like maybe this friend believes a cabal of Satan-worshipping, deep-state elites are running a paedophile ring that harvests childrens blood.

Or that Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and the organs of state are covering up the truth about his accident on March 9. Or perhaps this friend is just one of those well-intentioned but slightly misguided types who reckon COVID-19 is a psy-op, or that someone other than Martin Bryant carried out the Port Arthur massacre, or that Joe Biden is US President because of The Big Lie and there should be a Myanmar-style coup to reinstate Donald Trump  which is, admittedly, an idea even Trumps former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, endorses.
But of course, China is huge too. Even if we accept all the pessimistic prognoses about Chinas economic future  ageing population, ballooning debt, environmental disasters  it is safe to assume that a country which already boasts the worlds second-largest economy will hold on to that mantle, and might even ascend to first place.

Its important to stress that this is not an argument about Western decline, which is a vastly overstated prospect. The European Union is a massive and vibrant economic actor, and NATO is one of the most successful alliances in modern history. The United States remains fantastically powerful, and that wont change in our lifetime. It has a resilient and growing economy, favourable demographics (lots of young people), tremendous capacity for innovation, a huge military, and it is surrounded by vast oceans to the east and west and friendly neighbours to the north and south.

Lets hope the Australian government is not taking these headlines too seriously, because the harsh truth is that there will be no Western alliance to contain China, and no united democratic front against Beijings authoritarianism. The sooner we realise this and build it into our foreign and defence policies, the safer we will be.

The summits of the G7 group and the NATO alliance over the past few days have produced an avalanche of headlines about a growing anti-China mood among Western nations and an appetite to stand up to Beijings assertiveness.

That in turn raises the stakes of any geopolitical contest between China and the West, especially for Europe, which has no obvious reason to get involved. Why would NATO deal itself into such a high-stakes contest when China poses no conceivable military threat to Europe? You might argue that Europe has economic interests to protect, but European nations have not had a substantial military presence in Asia for decades, while their economic ties to Asia have grown.

Doesnt Europe have an interest in protecting democracy from the rise of authoritarianism? Perhaps, but China is not an ideological exporter. While it certainly wants to defend its own political system from Western liberal influences, it shows no signs of wanting to impose its model on the world as the Soviet Union once tried.

Many of these same arguments apply to the United States, but the difference is that Washington already has a substantial security presence in Asia and a network of alliances. It is trying to defend a position of leadership which it has held for decades. That is a powerful motivation. The United States may decide that holding on to leadership in Asia is so important that it ought to engage in a fierce contest of economic and political systems in order to defend its status.

But is leadership alone enough of a motivation? Will the US engage in such a costly contest, and risk a potentially catastrophic war, just to preserve its status? Because there really is no other pressing reason for the US to go all-in. China is no more of a threat to Americas cherished democratic principles than it is to Europes political systems. America is also one of the most secure nations in the world  it cannot be invaded or militarily coerced. And as for protecting its economic interests: well, if Europe can grow its economic ties with Asia even though it has no military presence there, why cant the US do the same?

None of this is to say Australia is friendless and that our alliance with the US is worthless. An American withdrawal from Asia is a very distant prospect. But while the US will remain an important partner, the Morrison government should assume that the credibility of Americas alliance commitments in Asia will diminish over time. Chinas rise means the costs to America of meeting its commitments to allies have risen sharply, while the incentives for doing so are diminishing. And that means allies will no longer believe, deep in their bones, that the US will be there for them in a military emergency.
Trees crashed through John Carlyles loungeroom roof and destroyed much of his Kalorama house, yet he has chosen to remain among the devastation left by Wednesday nights storm.

Despite being warned it is unsafe to stay, Mr Carlyle has no plans just yet to leave the Dandenongs house he built himself over seven years even though it is virtually uninhabitable.

John Carlyle in his Kalorama home, which was partly destroyed by five falling trees. Credit:Joe Armao

Until its locked up and safe my plan is to stay, he said.

Mr Carlyle is one of thousands of Victorians whose homes and properties were devastated when wild weather lashed large parts of the state last Wednesday night.
The parents of a missing Melbourne woman who was allegedly killed by her partner are still holding out hope she is alive as police launch a new search for the young mother.

Officers on Tuesday began searching a landfill site in Melbournes north as part of their investigation into the suspicious disappearance of Ju Zhang, also known as Kelly, who was last seen at her home on Winchester Avenue in Epping on the evening of February 1.

Her boyfriend, Joon Seong Tan, 35, was charged with her murder on February 11. Despite several significant searches, Ms Zhangs body has not been found.

The head of the missing persons squad, Detective Inspector Andrew Stamper, said on Tuesday police remained committed to finding Ms Zhang.
A prominent senior police officer was the subject of rumours he was in big trouble with Victoria Polices sexual misconduct taskforce before he was charged with leaking details about a secret corruption investigation, a court has heard.

The suspended Commander Stuart Bateson, a former gangland investigator, is before Melbourne Magistrates Court this week contesting three charges that he told a junior policewoman about a secret Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission investigation in 2018.

Commander Stuart Bateson in 2019. Credit:Eddie Jim

The commissions probe, dubbed Operation Horton, was assessing claims of improper influence in a Victoria Police Taskforce Salus investigation. The taskforce was set up to investigate sexual misconduct, sex crimes and predatory behaviour in the force.

At the time, as Commander Batesons lawyer Marcus Dempsey told the court, Commander Bateson was rumoured to be in big trouble with Salus.
For too long, big technology companies the world over have been given a free pass allowing them to operate in ways that benefit their bottom line rather than the safety and wellbeing of their users.

There have been persistent failures by Big Tech in consistently and transparently enforcing their own policies and standards, often turning a blind eye to violent online threats, hate speech, racism, misogyny, misinformation, political polarisation and targeted abuse.

Harm to Australians also takes place on video gaming platforms. Credit:iStock

This failure has led to an internet more akin to dystopian nightmare than the Utopian ideal many of the founders of these platforms likely envisaged, as we see the fragile fabric of our society starting to fray.

The big platforms have known the harms for decades and with almost limitless financial and intellectual capital at their disposal, they have always possessed the means to tackle them.
As the most powerful premier in the country, Mark McGowan swiftly appointed himself as the luckiest treasurer in the western world at a time when the iron ore price is hovering above $US200 per tonne and his governments surplus is approaching $5 billion.

He also controls both houses of WA Parliament. There is almost nothing now that stands in his way other than the laws themselves.

WA Premier Mark McGowan enjoys a crushing majority in both houses of Parliament. Credit:Marta Pascual Juanola

He is busy changing those laws, among them the Electoral Act, to reduce the number of regional members in the upper house. This move contradicts his repeated election pledge that such a change was not on the governments agenda.

Regional and rural communities of WA who respected the Premier during the COVID pandemic had every reason to take him at his word during the campaign. He has quickly betrayed that trust and made a mockery of his election night commitment to govern for all Western Australians.
The state government will close a loophole which allowed WA Police to access data from the SafeWA app as part of their investigation into the shooting death of former Rebels boss Nick Martin.

Legislation to be introduced to Parliament on Tuesday afternoon aims to stop anyone other than WA Health being able to access the data and requires the destruction of digital and hard copy registrations within 28 days.

The SafeWA app and mandatory hard copy contact registers were introduced in December to help contact tracers find close contacts of COVID-positive people in the public.

Since the programs introduction there have been more than 238 million check-ins on both the app and paper registers.
Embattled data analytics outfit Nuix stunned absolutely no one on Tuesday by announcing that its chief financial officer Stephen Doyle had been terminated by mutual agreement.

Half an hour later, chief executive Rod Vawdrey had decided to retire after a months-long joint investigation by the Herald and The Age exposing serious problems with Nuixs governance and the quality of its financial accounts. And while Doyle hasnt responded to requests for comment on Tuesday, its apparent that when the going got tough at the embattled data company, Doyle got going and hit the pavement.

Stephen Doyle Credit:John Shakespeare

A profile on Strava, which tracks physical activity, shows that when Nuix announced it wouldnt meet forecasts on April 21, Doyle left the office for a mid-morning trot from Nuixs CBD office on Market Street to Mrs Macquaries Chair. Chances are, it wasnt an ideal time to leave the desk but Doyle did the 7.55km round trip at a decent clip - 35 minutes. Did anyone notice his absence? He finished the day with a strength and condition session.

A month later, when our investigation described the firms growth prospects as anaemic at best, Doyle shook off the day with a late-night 10km run - again, around the Mrs Macquaries Chair.
A Tamil family who fled civil war in Sri Lanka by boat in 2012 and 2013 and have been in immigration detention on Christmas Island since 2019 have been released into community detention in Perth.

The Murugappan family, whose two daughters were born in Australia, were removed from the Queensland town of Biloela following unsuccessful asylum claims and had remained on Christmas Island until their youngest daughter, Tharnicaa, became ill.

The family will now undertake detention in the community while Immigration Minister Alex Hawke considers what to do next in regards to permanent settlement.

Today on Please Explain, federal political reporter Katina Curtis joins Nathanael Cooper to share the latest in this protracted battle between the asylum seeker family and the government.
With a stroke of a pen, Immigration Minister Alex Hawke allowed a Tamil family to leave Christmas Island, where they have been in detention for almost two years.

It was the culmination of months of quiet words into ministerial ears, away from the public view.

Immigration Minister Alex Hawke moved the Murugappan family from Christmas Island. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

But whether Mr Hawke will make another stroke of a pen and allow the family to stay in Australia is far less certain  and the subject of far less lobbying from his colleagues.

Most MPs who were pushing to get the family off Christmas Island were largely reluctant to speak publicly, seeing a behind-the-scenes effort as more effective.
The heated diplomatic relationship between the Chinese and Australian governments is not impacting liquefied natural gas exports from Woodside, according to acting chief executive Meg ONeill.

Ms ONeills commentary came after West Australian Premier Mark McGowan used his speech at a national gathering of 1700 delegates from the oil and gas industry in Perth to call for a reset on the China relationship and not endanger Australias economy.

Woodside acting chief executive Meg ONeill at the APPEA conference in Perth. Credit:Peter de Kruijff

The Woodside boss told reporters on the sidelines of the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Associations conference on Tuesday it was not having any issues with Chinese customers despite political tension around some elements of international trade.

For our products and the business relationships we have were not seeing any spillover, Ms ONeill said.
Former Labor Party state secretary Sam Rae has been preselected for the coveted federal seat of Hawke amid a bitter internal factional war that has spilled into the courts and divided the Right.

A group of Labor women, aligned to former opposition leader Bill Shorten, had been pushing for the party to choose a female candidate for the new seat on Melbournes western fringe, but an overwhelming majority of Labors national executive endorsed Mr Rae on Tuesday, 18 votes to three.

Sam Rae has been preselected for the new federal seat of Hawke.

In May, Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese demanded the partys top decision-making body fast-track the preselection for safe Victorian seats. The state branch is in administration following branch-stacking allegations, with local members and unions stripped of their voting rights in preselection processes.

Mr Albaneses intervention sparked a backlash and prompted 12 unions to launch legal action seeking an injunction on preselections. The unions argue the national executive gave itself overarching power over the Victorian division after the branch-stacking allegations were levelled last year against powerbroker and MP Adem Somyurek.
Singapore: Australia is to reinforce the critical nature of its relationship with Indonesia  amid growing ties between the south-east Asian nation and China  during a planned visit to Jakarta by Trade Minister Dan Tehan next month.

Tehans trip has been arranged as Prime Minister Scott Morrison, US President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson vowed to work more closely together on combating Chinas economic coercion and aggression in the Indo-Pacific during a meeting on the sidelines of the G7-plus summit in Cornwall.

Trade Minister Dan Tehan visited the UK in April ahead of this weeks signing of an Australia-UK trade deal. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

The planned visit is particularly noteworthy in that it would be the first in-person meeting between a minister or leader of the two neighbouring countries since Indonesian President Joko Widodo addressed the Australian Parliament in February last year.



The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age reported last week that during Australias pandemic-induced high-level absence in Jakarta, the city had played host to a procession of international leaders and ministers. They have included China Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Japan Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, then US secretary of state Mike Pompeo, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and most recently US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell.
The G7 summit in Cornwall was a predictable and even dull event but that is not a bad outcome compared with the fiascos of the Trump era.

Once the council of the worlds economic superpowers, the G7 gathering of Canada, the US, Japan and the four biggest European economies, turned into a farcical rabble under US President Donald Trump. In 2018, Mr Trump refused to sign a final communique because of a trade spat with the European Union and the summit was abandoned altogether last year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The two days of talks over the weekend gave encouraging signs that the grouping is discovering a new mission  a union of the worlds most powerful democracies to counterbalance the rising power of China.

The leaders said in their final communique that they would pursue a collective approach to Chinas unfair trade policies and called on China to respect human rights in Xinjiang and Hong Kong and to keep its hands off Taiwan.

European countries have, until recently, been reluctant to antagonise China because they have trade interests they want to protect.
PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):--- The Ministry of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning, and Infrastructure (Ministry of VROMI), announces that one lane will be closed to motorized traffic on the Causeway Bridge.



On Thursday, June 17, and Friday, June 18, the traffic lane leading from the Airport road to Cole Bay, will be closed to motorized traffic from 10:00 PM to 7:00 AM.



On Saturday, June 19, and Sunday, June 20, the traffic lane leading from Union Road, Cole Bay to the Airport, will be closed to motorized traffic from 10:00 PM to 7:00 AM.



The closures are in connection with the maintenance works that have to be carried out on the dividers between the road and the sidewalk. One lane will be closed at a time as noted above.



Motorists are advised to be vigilant and observant of the workmen that will be carrying out the civil works on the dividers, and therefore drive with caution.



Ministry VROMI apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Independent Member of Parliament Christophe Emmanuel on Monday said that if the Prime Minister and her government were truly serious about cutting costs, they perhaps could have shown some empathy and act in good conscience, and paid civil servants a small percentage of their vacation allowance instead of telling them they are getting nothing at all.

The MP was reacting to the Prime Ministers' online group call with civil servants on Monday in which she finally brought some clarity to the government workers who have been asking for weeks whether parts or all of their due vacation pay would be paid. Government also owes its workers 50% of this allowance from 2020. The clarity the PM brought, the MP said, was to inform the workers that they will not be getting the allowance at all this year.

The MP said he finds it astonishing that government can so casually announce that civil servants are not getting any percentage of the allowance considering governments gross bad and over-spending when it is supposedly cutting costs to make ends meet. I do not believe this government thinks it is speaking to real people, with real problems and real common sense, the MP said.

He explained that government continues to make its apparatus bigger and more expensive by hiring new workers every week. You can barely pay the workers you have and are denying them benefits that are due, but every week you are hiring people. Why are you hiring under the current financial crisis? How does this make any sense? The MP asked, adding that the financial cost for new employees hired since the beginning of 2020 is reportedly in the range of Naf. 360,000 per year.

He went on to re-iterate that government also somehow found an extra two million guilders for garbage contracts for the next five years totaling Naf 6 million for the last nine months of 2021. So are you saying that garbage is worth more than people? Two million more for garbage, but zero for workers. Its a shame, he stressed.

These are not normal times, the MP said, further suggesting that management and workers with government-issued cellphones should use their office phones and government WIFI while on the job. He reminded that phone usage cost government some Naf. 19 million over the past 5 to 6 years and a serious effort to limit the usage overall could save some Naf. 2 million. He said in times of emergencies such as the aftermath of a hurricane, emergency cell phone services could be activated.

Additionally, he pointed out that the 34 SUVs, 17 pick-up trucks received via the Trust Fund also come with a cost. The government could have realized that only one school has been repaired and handed over since 2018 and could have said to the NRPB to direct the funds for those vehicles to the schools. But no, government took on extra cost again, the MP said.

He said those vehicles will have to be insured with the minimum third-party coverage (but probably more comprehensive) which could total Naf 950,000 per year considering the standard coverage for brand new suvs and pick-ups. They will also have to be serviced and maintained, fueled to the tune of approximately Naf 50 per week, which amounts to approximately Naf 133,000 per year. Moreover, inspections for the vehicles, road tax, number plates are all services that government actually has to pay for.

The MP also mentioned that Ministers are still traveling first class through Miami to other destinations and to Holland to talk about nothing and bring home nothing. Taking these examples alone, the government is spending almost Naf 10 million when it didnt have to or money that could have gone towards paying at least a percentage of the vacation allowance for civil servants.

As usual, the Prime Minister and this government showed no empathy at all and told civil servants that nothing is forthcoming to help them with school fees, school uniforms, hurricane preparedness, insurance, nothing. Not 10%, not 15%, nothing from the allowance. And as expected, when asked by civil servants when they will get their money, the Prime Minister had no answer to provide just like she has no Plan B for the country. At this point it should be painfully clear to everyone that this government is 100% dependent on Dutch aid as a result of its lack of ideas and solutions to solve the countrys problems, the MP concluded.
Adventus and Salazar announce drilling results at the El Domo deposit highlighted by 26.78% copper equivalent over 9.06 metres

Posted by Publisher Internet

Adventus Mining Corporation (?Adventus?) (TSX-V: ADZN, OTCQX: ADVZF  https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/adventus-mining-corp/) and Salazar Resources Limited (?Salazar?) (TSX-V: SRL, OTCQB: SRLZF) (collectively the ?Partners?) are pleased to announce its final infill drilling results from the El Domo volcanogenic massive sulphide deposit (?El Domo?) located within the 21,537-hectare Curipamba project in central Ecuador.

Highlights ? Drill Results from the El Domo Deposit at Curipamba:

CURI-385 intersected 9.06 metres of 3.25% copper, 19.08 g/t gold, 30.56% zinc, 242.5 g/t silver, and 3.19% lead for 26.78% CuEq ? including 3.48 metres of 2.37% copper, 35.13 g/t gold, 39.51% zinc, 470.7 g/t silver, and 7.50% lead for 41.22% CuEq

CURI-382 intersected 30.86 metres of 2.05% copper, 0.92 g/t gold, 0.16% zinc, 9.2 g/t silver, and 0.02% lead for 2.74% copper equivalent (?CuEq?) ? including 3.81 metres of 6.56% copper, 1.48 g/t gold, 0.07% zinc, 13.4 g/t silver, and 0.02% lead for 7.60% CuEq

Drill hole CURI-382 intersected a thick section of massive sulphide from 92.95 to 123.81 metres, grading 2.05% copper, 0.92 g/t gold, 0.16% zinc, 9.2 g/t silver, and 0.02% lead (2.74% CuEq). Two higher-grade subsets were intersected from 92.95 to 96.69 and 120.00 to 123.81 metres, respectively. The first interval graded 3.77% copper, 1.60 g/t gold, 0.47% zinc, 21.7 g/t silver, and 0.08% lead (5.08% CuEq) and the second interval graded 6.56% coper, 1.48 g/t gold, 0.07% zinc, 14.1 g/t silver, and 0.02% lead (7.60% CuEq).

CURI-384 intersected mineralized grainstone with massive sulphide clasts in the immediate hanging wall of the massive sulphide mineralization, grading 0.06% copper, 0.62 g/t gold, 0.56% zinc, 50.3 g/t silver and 0.24% lead (1.10% CuEq).? A thin interval of massive sulphide mineralization was intersected from 86.93 to 87.54 metres, grading 1.46% copper, 25.90 g/t gold, 21.76% zinc, 686.0 g/t silver and 9.32% lead (31.76% CuEq). A section of mineralized footwall felsic autoclastic volcanic rocks was intersected from 87.54 to 95.60 metres, grading 0.13% copper, 0.28 g/t gold, 1.29% zinc, and 12.1 g/t silver and 0.12% lead (0.82% CuEq).

Drill hole CURI-385 intersected mineralized fine-grained sediments in the immediate hanging wall of the massive sulphide mineralization from 85.85 to 90.48 metres, grading 0.07% copper, 1.40 g/t gold, 0.75% zinc, 27.3 g/t silver, and 0.10% lead (1.41% CuEq). Massive sulphide mineralization was intersected from 90.48 to 99.54 metres, grading 3.25% copper, 19.08 g/t gold, 30.56% zinc, 242.5 g/t silver, and 3.19% lead (26.78% CuEq). A higher-grade subsection occurs from 90.48 to 93.96 metres, grading 2.37% copper, 35.13 g/t gold, 39.51% zinc, 470.7 g/t silver and 7.50% lead (41.22% CuEq). A section of mineralized footwall felsic autoclastic volcanic rocks was intersected from 99.54 to 106.47 metres, grading 0.13% copper, 0.40 g/t gold, 1.25% zinc, and 4.8 g/t silver and 0.02% lead (0.79% CuEq).

Drill holes CURI-386, CURI-387, and CURI-389 were designed were designed to test the outer margins of the Indicated category material and to further assess the pit wall geology. These drill holes confirmed modelling previously done along the margins of the deposit and provide excellent geological control for future modelling studies. Both CURI-386 and CURI-387 intersected low-grade sections of footwall mineralized felsic autoclastic volcanic rocks 73.06 to 82.49 and 80.60 to 85.40 metres, respectively. CURI-386 graded 0.13% copper, 0.78 g/t gold, 0.30% zinc, 17.3 g/t silver and 0.09% lead (0.86% CuEq) for an approximate true thickness of 6.13 metres and CURI-387 graded 0.02% copper, 0.30 g/t gold, 0.13% zinc, 10.4 g/t silver and 0.03% lead (0.34% CuEq) for an approximate true thickness of 4.56 metres. CURI-389 did not yield any significant results.

All results from the completed infill definition drilling program are to be used in updating the Mineral Resource estimate for El Domo in 2021. The updated Mineral Resource estimate will be part of the ongoing feasibility study for the development of the El Domo (see December 2, 2020 news release). Figure 1 illustrates the drill locations for the results of the six drill holes outlined in this news release. Drill collar location coordinates are summarized for the infill and geomechanical drilling programs in Table 1 at the end of this news release.

For reference, the last Mineral Resource estimate completed in accordance with NI 43-101 for El Domo was published as part of the preliminary economic assessment report titled: ?Technical Report on the Preliminary Economic Assessment for the Curipamba Project ? El Domo Deposit, Central Ecuador?, with an effective date of June 14, 2019 on SEDAR.

Technical Information and QAQC

The Curipamba project work program is being managed and reviewed by Vice President Exploration, Jason Dunning, M.Sc., P.Geo., a Qualified Person within the meaning of NI 43-101. Salazar staff collect and process samples that are securely sealed and shipped to Bureau Veritas (?BV?) in Quito for sample preparation that includes crushing and milling to prepare pulps that are then split for shipment to their facility in Lima, Peru or Vancouver, Canada for analysis. All assay data have undergone internal validation of QAQC; noting there is an established sampling control program with blind insertion of assay blanks, certified industry standards and sample duplicates for the Curipamba project. A QAQC program is also in place at BV and includes insertion of blanks, standards, and duplicate reanalysis of selected samples.? BV?s quality system complies with the requirements for the International Standards ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 17025: 1999. At BV, samples from the El Domo infill drilling have gold analyzed by classic fire assay techniques with an AAS finish, while silver and base metals are analyzed by a 44-element aqua regia technique with ICP-AES finish. For regional drilling, silver and base metals are analyzed by a 45-element 4 acid technique with ICP-MS finish. Overlimit protocols are in place for gold, silver, copper, lead, and zinc.

Qualified Person

The technical information of this news release has been reviewed and verified as accurate by Mr. Jason Dunning, M.Sc., P.Geo., Vice President Exploration for Adventus, a non-Independent Qualified Person, as defined by NI 43-101.

About Adventus

Adventus Mining Corporation is an Ecuador focused copper-gold exploration and development company. Its strategic shareholders include Altius Minerals Corporation, Greenstone Resources LP, Wheaton Precious Metals Corp., and the Nobis Group of Ecuador. Adventus is advancing the El Domo copper-gold project through a feasibility study, while exploring the broader Curipamba district. In addition, Adventus is engaged in a country-wide exploration alliance with its partners in Ecuador, which has incorporated the Pijili and Santiago copper-gold porphyry projects to date. Adventus also controls an exploration project portfolio in Ireland with South32 Limited as funding partner as well as an investment portfolio of equities in several exploration companies. Adventus is based in Toronto, Canada, and is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol ADZN and trades on the OTCQX under the symbol ADVZF.??

About Salazar

Salazar Resources Limited is focused on creating value and positive change through discovery, exploration, and development in Ecuador. The team has an unrivalled understanding of the geology in-country and has played an integral role in the discovery of many of the major projects in Ecuador, including the two newest operating gold and copper mines. Salazar Resources has a wholly owned pipeline of copper-gold exploration projects across Ecuador with a strategy to make another commercial discovery and farm-out non-core assets. The Company actively engages with Ecuadorian communities and together with the Salazar family it co-founded The Salazar Foundation, an independent non-profit organization dedicated to sustainable progress through economic development.? The Company already has carried interests in three projects. At its maiden discovery, Curipamba, Salazar Resources has a 25% stake fully carried through to production.? At two copper-gold porphyry projects, Pijili and Santiago, the Company has a 20% stake fully carried through to a construction decision.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

This press release contains ?forward -looking information? within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, identified by words or phrases such as ?believes?, ?anticipates?, ?expects?, ?is expected?, ?scheduled?, ?estimates?, ?pending?, ?intends?, ?plans?, ?forecasts?, ?targets?, or ?hopes?, or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results ?may?, ?could?, ?would?, ?will?, ?should? ?might?, ?will be taken?, or ?occur? and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking information herein includes, but is not limited to, statements that address activities, events, or developments that Adventus and Salazar expect or anticipate will or may occur in the future. Although Adventus and Salazar have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events, or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Adventus and Salazar undertake to update any forward-looking information except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

For further information from Adventus, please contact Christian Kargl-Simard, President and Chief Executive Officer, at +1-416-230-3440 or christian@adventusmining.com. Please also visit the Adventus website at www.adventusmining.com and LinkedIn page at https://www.linkedin.com/company/adventus-mining-corporation.

For further information from Salazar, please contact ir@salazarresources.com

In Europe:

Swiss Resource Capital AG

Jochen Staiger

info@resource-capital.ch

www.resource-capital.ch
It is with heartfelt sadness that we announce the passing of Walter John Jarusiewicz, Jr. on June 28, 2021. He is survived by his wife of 58 years; Judith Vrablic Jarusiewicz, his four children; Jill, Jody Judy and Walter, III, 9 grandchildren, and 13 great grandchildren. Walter had a great 
As lockdown restrictions ease and public mobility increases, new research reveals three-quarters (75%) of people have health, safety, and security concerns when visiting their nearest city, signaling a need for new security innovations and greater public reassurance on their return to UK cities.

Following high profile cases such as the disappearance of Sarah Everard, the London Bridge terror attack, and recent road cyclist deaths, the public has a heightened awareness of the safety and security issues cities present, according to a new report into public perception of smart cities by video management solution provider Milestone Systems.

Security concerns in the city

Despite ONS reporting a total crime reduction of 4% in England and Wales in the 12 months ending in June 2020, more than a third (37%) of the British public cited petty crime, such as mugging and pickpocketing, as a security concern when in a city setting.

One in four (25%) Britons stated vandalism is a primary concern for them, and a similar proportion (24%) listed pedestrian safety as a worry when navigating their nearest city.

Terrorism threat

Although the UK's terrorism threat level was downgraded from "severe" to "substantial" in February 2021 by Home Secretary Priti Patel, following a "significant reduction" in the momentum of attacks in Europe, terrorist activity remains a worry for almost a fifth (17%) of the public.

Terrorism was of markedly less concern to those over 65 than any other age group (8% vs average of 17%), but for all other safety concerns, there was a surprising consistency across both age groups and genders.

Improving safety and security

The existence and benefits of smart technology in cities needs to be better communicated to the public

To mitigate these concerns, smart technology is already being deployed in cities across the world to improve safety and security. Increased bandwidth afforded by the rollout of 5G and the internet of things has given local authorities new tools to improve public services such as crime-fighting.

In Glasgow, for example, there is an effective multi-faceted state-of-the-art traffic and public safety management system that uses data and video analytics to improve responses to issues in the city, but Milestones research suggests that the existence and benefits of smart technology in cities needs to be better communicated to the public.

Smart city technology

Neil Killick, UK General Manager at Milestone Systems said, Many local authorities have been investing heavily in recent years in cutting-edge smart technology to improve public services and tackle safety and security concerns highlighted by our report. However, the research found that less than a third (29%) of people say that they believe smart city technology could contribute to enhanced safety and security.

This demonstrates a need for more public education around how smart technology improves safety in cities and also suggests that local authorities need to continue to find new ways to improve day to day life for their citys residents and visitors.

The sector is advancing rapidly and products are available to tackle a wide range of city-based safety concerns so it is important to improve understanding so that citizens give their full support to smart city technology and feel safer and more confident when in urban areas.

Public awareness

Increasing the publics awareness of technology advancements for safety purposes must be done in a way that demonstrates its benefits.

Developments such as limiting video network blind spots, improving poor-quality images, and supplementing visuals with data collected from interconnected devices, give law enforcement more reliable and thorough data to use in investigations. Thus, enabling instances of theft and civic disturbances to be monitored, reacted to more rapidly, and prevented, curbing the safety concerns of the public.

Traffic management systems

Department for Transport figures reveal the vast majority of accidents occur in towns and cities Also among the top five concerns for the public when returning to UK cities was driver safety (17%). Department for Transport figures reveal the vast majority of accidents occur in towns and cities, with 2,881 accidents per 1 million people happening in the capital city region, higher than any other region.

One in six (14%) Britons cite cyclist safety within their top concerns when returning to the UKs busy cites, supporting London Mayor Sadiq Khans plans for 160 miles of 'safer cycle routes. However, Londons low-traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) have come under criticism from the emergency services who state the new traffic management systems have reduced response times.

This suggests that alternatives are needed to balance the needs of the public and of emergency services, such as smart sensors and cameras that collate real-time data to detect the quickest and most traffic-free route for emergency vehicles to take.

Smart video and sensor technology

Neil Killick continued, As well as helping to protect the public in the context of crime, smart video and sensor technology can be used to manage traffic and roads within cities, reducing congestion and providing local authorities with constant, real-time analytics, as seen in Glasgow.

This enables relevant authorities to identify potential danger spots, manage roads and bike lanes within a city and plan optimal emergency service routes. The use of interconnected devices, sensors, and video technology allows for a deeper understanding of how the city is being used so that necessary improvements can be implemented based on data-driven decisions to better public safety.
Over a third, (36 percent) of employees say they have picked up bad cybersecurity behaviours and found security workarounds since working remotely, according to a new report from Tessian, the human layer security company.

Cybersecurity behaviours

The report, which analysed Back to Work security behaviours, also revealed that nearly a third of employees (30 percent) believe they can get away with riskier security behaviours when working remotely, with two in five (39 percent) admitting the cybersecurity behaviours they practice while working from home are different to the behaviours practiced in the office.

Shockingly, nearly half (49 percent) say the reason for this is because they feel they arent being watched by IT. Furthermore, the data revealed that over a quarter of employees have made a mistake that has compromised company security that they have never told anyone about, due to fear of disciplinary action or having to take part in more security training.

Therefore, 70 percent of IT leaders think that the return to office will encourage staff to follow company security policies around data protection and privacy.

Increased risks of malware

69 percent of IT leaders believe that ransomware attacks will be a greater concern in a hybrid workplace

The report revealed other security concerns IT leaders could face when staff return to the office.

For example, over half of IT leaders (54 percent) are worried that staff will bring infected devices and malware into the workplace when businesses transition back to the office, while 69 percent of IT leaders believe that ransomware attacks will be a greater concern in a hybrid workplace.

Whats more, 67 percent predict an increase in targeted phishing emails in which cyber criminals take advantage of the transition back to working in the office.

Hybrid work-related scams

Tessians platform data revealed a spike in hybrid work related scams when lockdowns eased in the UK in May 2021.

In the week commencing 10th May 2021, Tessian found that the number of suspicious emails related to hybrid work was 39% higher than the overall weekly average of back to office themed emails flagged by Tessian since the start of 2021.

Cybersecurity risks and challenges

Lastly, six in 10 IT leaders said the return to business travel will pose greater cybersecurity challenges and risks for their company.

These risks could include a rise in phishing attacks whereby threat actors impersonate airlines, booking operators, hotels, or even senior executives supposedly on a business trip. There is also the risk that employees accidentally leave devices on public transport or expose company data in public places.

Building a security culture

The transition to a hybrid work model is challenging, particularly when it comes to employees behaviours"

Tim Sadler, CEO, Tessian comments, The shift to an all-remote workforce was one huge challenge for IT leaders, but the next transition to a hybrid work model is poised to be even more challenging - particularly when it comes to employees behaviours.

Employees are the gatekeepers to data and systems, but expecting them to be security experts and scaring them into compliance wont work.

IT leaders need to prioritise building a security culture that empowers people to work securely and productively, and understand how to encourage long-lasting behavioural change over time if theyre going to thrive in this new way of working.
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This article was originally published at The Conversation. The publication contributed the article to Space.com's Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights.

Xuejian Wu, Assistant Professor of Physics, Rutgers University - Newark

Above our heads there is a powerful energy source created by nature, the Sun. Because the Sun is 93 million miles from us, only one-billionth of the Sun's total energy output reaches the Earth, creating a world blooming with life. The energy that the sun gives the Earth's surface every second is more than the total electricity generated from all power plants in the world in the entire year of 2018.

Here on Earth, humans power machines mostly by harvesting energy: for example, harvesting the energy of falling water and converting it to electricity in hydroelectric power plants. To create energy, you have to convert matter to energy.

Chain reactions

One way to do that is to split atoms, the basic building blocks of all matter in the universe. Do so controllably and you can produce a steady flow of energy. Lose control and you release a lot of energy all at once in a nuclear explosion.

The core of every atom, the nucleus, is made up of even smaller particles, protons and neutrons. The force holding the nucleus together stores a huge amount of energy. To obtain energy from the nucleus, scientists came up with a process of splitting a heavy atom into lighter atoms. Because the lighter atoms don't need as much energy to hold the nucleus together as the heavy atoms, energy is released as heat or light. This process is called nuclear fission.

When one atom is split, a chain reaction starts: The split atom will trigger another atom to be split, and so on. To make the chain reaction controllable, scientists developed ways to slow down the splitting, such as absorbing some of the split particles.

Nuclear power

Nuclear power plants harvest the energy released by splitting atoms controllably. The world's largest nuclear power plant is the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Station in Japan. It consists of seven nuclear reactors, with a maximum capacity of about 8,000 megawatts. The world's largest single nuclear reactor is a tie between the two reactors at China's Taishan Nuclear Power Plant. Each Taishan reactor has a capacity of 1,750 megawatts.

This amount of power is much smaller than uncontrolled nuclear reactions, such as atomic bombs. Nowadays, the energy output from detonating an atomic bomb is equivalent to the electricity the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant generates in half a year.

A downside of fission is nuclear waste. The split atoms are usually unstable and emit dangerous radiation. Nuclear waste needs to be stored properly for many years.

Nuclear fusion

Scientists have also discovered another type of nuclear reaction, one that produces energy without nuclear waste. As two lighter atoms combine into a heavy atom, the lost mass converts into energy. This process is called nuclear fusion. Fusion is happening in the core of the Sun. Every second, the sun burns about 600 million tons of hydrogen into about 596 million tons of helium, yielding energy equivalent to trillions of atomic bombs.

However, it is very difficult to achieve nuclear fusion on Earth. Fusion happens only at extreme conditions, such as the very high temperatures and pressure of the Sun. Scientists have yet to effectively demonstrate controllable nuclear fusion that produces more energy than it consumes, but they are working hard to do so. One way is to shoot high-power lasers from different directions at a tiny speck of hydrogen isotopes.

Nuclear fusion energy would be a promising energy solution in the future. But don't forget, we have a huge nuclear fusion reactor above our heads, the Sun. With the improving efficiency of solar energy, we don't even need to create energy, just capture more of what the Sun gives us every day.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
New York (United Nations) 15 June 2021 (SPS)- The Permanent Representative of Algeria to the United Nations, Amb. Sofiane Moumni, declared in his countrys statement on Monday before the UN General Assembly Committee on Decolonisation that No fait accompli, nor any attempt to change the demography of Western Sahara can affect its legal status.

In a word, no fait accompli, nor any attempts to change the demographic composition of the population of Western Sahara, and certainly no unilateral declaration or action can rewrite these facts or have a legal effect on a principle of Jus cogens. he said.

He further urged the Committee to fulfill its mandate and to use all the existing tools, including visiting mission, to ensure the protection of the political, economic, social and cultural rights of the people of Western Sahara and support the successful completion of the process of decolonization for the sake of the people of Western Sahara and for the wider benefit of our region.

Following is the full text of the statement:



75th Session of the General Assembly

Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the implementation of the Declaration on granting of Independence to colonial countries and peoples

Statement of H.E. Amb. Sofiane MIMOUNI Permanent Representative of Algeria to the United Nations

On The issue of Western Sahara

New York, 14 June 2021

Mrs. Chairperson,

At the outset, I would like to congratulate you and the new members of the bureau for the renewed trust of the Committee in your leadership and to assure you of the active and productive contribution of my delegation.

Since the last meeting of the C24 in 2019, we have commemorated several milestone events in the history of the emancipation of the people under colonial ruling starting from the 75th anniversary of the United Nations Charter, the 60th anniversary of the adoption of resolution 1514 (XV), and the proclamation of the 4th decade for the elimination of colonialism, and yet the records of the decolonization remain unchanged for the last 2 decades.

This calls for a genuine political will among the members of the Committee and the broader membership of the United Nations to preserve and support the rights of the people of the non-self-governing territories, and to bring the process of decolonization of those territories to a successful conclusion.

Mrs Chairperson,

The issue of Western Sahara has always been and remains an issue of decolonization. The landmark 1975 Advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, on the question concluded, at that time the Court has not found legal ties of any nature that might affect the implementation of Resolution 1514 (XV) in the decolonization of Western Sahara and in particular of the principle of self-determination through the free and genuine expression of the will of the peoples of the territory.

Furthermore, all the UN General Assembly and Security Council resolutions reaffirmed the need for the free exercise of the right of self-determination of the People of Western Sahara, to the very recent resolution adopted by the Security Council in October 2020 which maintained the MINURSO mandate with all its components, primarily the organization of a referendum of self-determination.

In a word, no fait accompli, nor any attempts to change the demographic composition of the population of Western Sahara, and certainly no unilateral declaration or action can rewrite these facts or have a legal effect on a principle of Jus cogens.

Mrs Chairperson,

It is regrettable that in the 58 years that the General Assembly has been seized with the Question of Western Sahara, there has been little progress in the process of holding a free referendum to allow the people of this non-self-governing territory to exercise its right to self-determination. The same applies to the UN Security Council. For three decades, the MINURSO which was established with the primary mandate of the holding of a free and fair referendum on self-determination, has and is stilll struggling to fulfill this mandate.

There have been too many hampered initiatives and missed opportunities to secure a just and definitive solution to the question of Western Sahara. To name a few: the UN-OAU settlement plan in 1991, the Houston negotiations in 1997, the Baker peace plan in 2003 and then Horst Kohlers glimpse of hope that soon lapsed. The African Union has also contributed to peace efforts. The recent Summit of the Peace and Security Council held in March 2021 is a clear example of this commitment. Unfortunately, the unilateral procrastination and deliberately created obstacles still impede the UN and the AU from holding the referendum of Western Sahara.

Worse still, this obstruction of the peace efforts has led to the deterioration of the situation on the ground. The cease fire has collapsed, the peace process sees no prospect with the position of Personal envoy vacant for more than two years, the Security Council is at stalemate and your esteemed committee is either unable or unwilling to fulfill its responsibility.

Meanwhile, in a context of a pandemic, the Sahrawi people are still struggling and enduring grave violations of their human and political rights, deprived from their right to decide, while their natural resources are being systematically plundered.

This situation calls for more efforts to break this deadlock and a greater engagement of the Committee on decolonization, as well as the General Assembly, and above all the Security Council in the implementation of their own resolutions.

Mrs Chairperson,

Let me recall that in its most recent resolution on Western Sahara, Resolution 2548 (2020), the Security Council reaffirmed its commitment to assist the parties to achieve a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution, based on compromise, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.

The resumption of direct substantial talks between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Frente Polisario is the obvious path to achieve a just, lasting solution. In this vein, we urge the Secretary-General to swiftly appoint a new personal envoy with the hope that it would contribute to relaunch the dialogue between the two parties.

It is also critical for the General Assembly and the C24, to step up their efforts to fulfill its responsibility of promoting and upholding the exercise of the right to self-determination and to bring a substantive contribution in order to carry the peace process forward. We urge the Committee to fulfill its mandate and to use all the existing tools, including visiting mission, to ensure the protection of the political, economic, social and cultural rights of the people of Western Sahara and support the successful completion of the process of decolonization for the sake of the people of Western Sahara and for the wider benefit of our region.

For its part, Algeria, in its capacity as a neighboring observer country which places the principles of self-determination and freedom at the core of its foreign policy, will continue to fulfill, in full transparency, its duties towards the refugee population in Tindouf and the People of Western Sahara, and will carry on its support to the efforts of the Secretary-General as well as those of C24 to bring the process of decolonization of Western Sahara to its long overdue conclusion.

I wish to end my statement with a quote by Nelson Mandela who so eloquently reminded us of the essence of the mandate of this committee, "for to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others. I thank you. (SPS)

090/500/60 (SPS)
For 48-year-old Canton resident and robotic engineer Paras Patani, LEGO goes beyond the boxes found in the toy aisle.

LEGO has been a fantastic tool to teach, Patani said. We use it for one reason only: it is the best way to translate technical information to a child.

The engineer and founder of Farmington's NextGen SmartyPants, a center for STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) education programs for children, is the latest Connecticut contestant on Foxs LEGO Masters.

Last season, Reddings Jessica Ewud represented the Nutmeg State in the competition with a third place finish in the shows inaugural season.

Patani looks to replicate Ewuds success with his STEAM-focused approach to LEGO bricks.

I try to draw from my own life experiences, Patani said about his builds. I have found engineering to be a great way to experience life and understand the world around me. I dont like not knowing how something works.

Patani said that he was first contacted in December regarding auditioning for the show. After passing a series of preliminary building challenges and other LEGO-related obstacles, Patani found himself on the set of LEGO Masters.

I hadnt even thought to apply, Patani said. I didnt believe it even after I got there. It was incredible

Patani is joined by Michael Moto Kanemoto, of Colorado, to form one of the twelve teams competing in the second season of the show.

While Patani admits to not being known for his builds, he believes that he was picked for this approach to building.

Despite his deep knowledge of the LEGO, Patani has only recently come into the building world through playing with his daughter.

My introduction was when I had my little girl, said Patani. We started playing [with] LEGO. We started to build and create different models and I found it to be a great way to communicate with each other.

Patani said his passion for LEGO took off when his daughter asked him to attach lights to a LEGO set they were building. This allowed Patani the opportunity to combine his love for engineering with his newfound passion for LEGO.

It was an epiphany for me, Patani added.

Contributed by Paras Patani

For kids looking to elevate their LEGO building further, Patani recommends playing around with sets in order to foster new ideas with the bricks.

I would encourage parents to definitely help get LEGO sets, help build [the] LEGO and then take those sets, change them and encourage the child to build something different, Patani said. The key is to look at the child and engage with them on a level that they are interested in.

In his work, Patani combines his passion for STEAM and LEGO in order to teach children how to use technology while also teaching them to question how things work around them.

Through NextGen SmartyPants, Patani has taught over 4,000 students from upwards of 30 schools across the state.

Patani said that LEGO comprises between 80 and 90 percent of the work he does with NextGen SmartyPants, which involves everything from coding and circuits to computer-aided design and photoshop.

Due to his preference to teach with LEGO, Patanis students have affectionately named him Mr. LEGO.

These kids in these programs  they will be the leaders of tomorrow, Patani said of his students.

"LEGO Masters," featuring host Will Arnett, airs on Fox on Tuesdays at 8 p.m.
STAMFORD  Leigh Shemitz looked out at a crowd of donors, politicians and staff. They all wore rain gear and SoundWaters-branded baseball caps while attempting to stay dry.

Despite the threat of a downpour, all the maskless movers and shakers had arrived to celebrate.

Were here, as we know, for a groundbreaking, Shemitz, the maritime education nonprofits president, said from under a canopy. For a building: the Cohen SoundWaters Harbor Center. And yet, this project is about more than a building. Its about community, access and opportunity.

Surrounded by whos who of Fairfield County, the Long Island Sound-centric organization on Monday broke ground on its $8 million education complex at Boccuzzi Park, which will house a handful of SoundWaters educational and workforce development initiatives.

Shemitz stood surrounded by a smattering of some of Stamfords most recognizable faces. Mayor David Martin and Stamford Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Tamu Lucero sat neatly under a canopy, joined by Gov. Ned Lamont, Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz and Cynthia Blumenthal, wife of Sen. Richard Blumenthal.

The programs SoundWaters will run out of the harbor education center all focus on equitable access to the waterfront. The Young Mariners program teaches middle school students how to sail. Harbor Corps gives young adults maritime career skills, and the SoundWaters Research Initiative gives college-bound students a way to hone their marine biology research abilities.

The public will also be able to rent kayaks and paddleboards out of the new harbor center.

Funding for the newly-christened Steve and Alexandra Cohen Harbor Education Center came, in large part, from its wealthy namesakes. The Greenwich residents  who own the New York Mets  donated $3 million to SoundWaters to jumpstart the project. The state government provided another $2 million grant for the 12,000-square-foot campus.

This building is about helping kids better understand the environment they live in, and its about learning in a different way, the governor said. Lamont stressed that the education kids can get at the new SoundWaters facility could provide reprieve for students still recovering from the pandemics academic and emotional side effects.

My job, Susan (Bysiewicz)s job, is to make sure these resources we get are invested in a way that helps us continue to heal, help our kids continue to heal, Lamont added.

On top of the millions from donors and Lamonts administration, the city of Stamford is also playing a hand in creating a newer Boccuzzi Park.

While we are focused on this great new part of SoundWaters continuing life, I would say its not just whats happening in this building, Martin told the crowd. We are changing what were doing at the waterfront.

Though the city has yet to approve its final capital budget, Martin allocated $700,000 in capital project funds for improvements to the surrounding park, including changes to the parking lots within the park and the nearest intersection at Southfield Avenue. Another $750,000 of city cash will go towards building the Harbor Education Center itself.

SoundWaters expects construction for the new building will run until April 2022. The organization estimates that Harbor Education Center will open formally in June of that year.

veronica.delvalle@hearstmediact.com
Unions representing workers at Connecticuts prisons want state lawmakers to pay them what is being called heroes pay because of the level of exposure they had to COVID-19.

Sal Luciano, president of the Connecticut AFL-CIO, said this is for workers at all of the prisons, whether they come in direct contact with inmates or not. For every hour Department of Correction employees have worked since the start of the pandemic, Luciano said, $1 should be added to their paycheck.

If you worked $20 hours in a week, an additional $20 should be added, he said. If you worked 60 hours, you should get an additional $60.

Luciano and the others who participated in the virtual press conference Monday urged lawmakers to take up the issue in the legislative special session.

Ginny Ligi is a corrections officer at the Cheshire Correctional Institution who contracted COVID-19 and was out of work for about three weeks. She also is a member of AFSCME Local 387

We deserve to be treated as heroes, not zeros, Ligi said. During the COVID-19 crisis, corrections facilities became a petri dish for infection. Corrections employees, like myself, had a one-in-four chance of contracting COVID.

She said many corrections employees continue to suffer from long-term health impacts and will never be the same.

Millie Brown is the president of the corrections supervisors union that is part of CSEA-SEIU Local 200. Brown said the sacrifices our members took can not be repaid. But Ligi said pandemic pay signifies more than just compensation.

It is an affirmation of our importance and value as workers, she said.

Debbie Williams works as an identification records specialist at the Bridgeport Correctional Center. And though Williams works in a clerical position, COVID doesnt differentiate between workers on the front lines and those who work in the office.

Funds for the proposed lump-sum payments to essential workers would come from federal American Rescue Plan resources allocated to the state.

A total of 19 prisoners have died from COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, according to state DOC officials. A total of 4,546 inmates have tested positive for COVID-19; 4,495 of them have recovered.

None of the staff at any of the prisons have died from COVID-19, but 1,690 have tested positive for the virus. All but four have returned to work, according to DOC officials.

Among inmates, 4,828 have received one dose of the vaccine, according to Andrius Banevicius, a DOC spokesman. A total of 2,697 corrections staffers have received one dose of the vaccine, although Banevicius said it is likely that additional staff members have received the vaccine outside of work.

But due to HIPAA privacy laws we have no way of knowing how many may have been vaccinated, he said.

luther.turmelle@hearstmediact.com
A Stamford man who was found with more than 2 kilograms of heroin during a lengthy investigation was sentenced Tuesday to more than six years in prison, federal prosecutors said.

Joaquin Veras, 46, pleaded guilty last September to a heroin trafficking offense, according to federal authorities. U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley also ordered Veras to serve five years of supervised release once he leaves prison.

According to federal court records, investigators twice made controlled purchases through a confidential informant of roughly 100 grams of heroin from Veras in the spring of 2019.

Following the two purchases, investigators arranged to buy $58,000 of a kilogram of heroin from Veras, court records show.

After that deal was made, authorities arrested Veras in Stamford with more than a kilogram of heroin, according to federal prosecutors.

When they later raided a Stamford apartment used as his stash house, federal prosecutors said they found another kilogram of heroin, some cocaine, and about $7,000 in cash.

In a sentencing memorandum filed ahead of Veras appearance Tuesday, federal prosecutors wrote: There is no dispute that Veras knowingly possessed 2.1 kilograms of heroin, which he intended to distribute, and from which he expected to profit in excess of $100,000.

The prosecutors acknowledged the ongoing opioid epidemic, which accounted for hundreds of deaths during the time frame in which they believe Veras was dealing heroin.

And while Veras has not been linked to any specific opioid deaths, the sale of multi-kilogram quantities translates to tens-of-thousands of individual doses, federal prosecutors wrote.

In asking for leniency, Veras attorney wrote in a sentencing memorandum: There is no doubt that Mr. Veras understands the seriousness of his offense and the result his criminal conduct has had upon his family. Mr. Veras is viewing his current situation as a learning experience and will continue focused on improving as a person.

Veras was previously convicted of conspiracy to distribute heroin in New York in 2011, according to federal prosecutors.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administrations Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force and the Stamford Police Department, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Vizcarrondo, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office.
The good news: Something is finally normal again. The bad news: Its mosquito activity.

According to an expert from the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, Connecticut is on track for a normal mosquito season, judging from the first batch of mosquito testing results.

The results were released Tuesday and show that, since trapping and testing began earlier this month, 5,312 mosquitoes have been tested. Of those, none has tested positive for West Nile Virus or Eastern Equine Encephalitis, two of the main mosquito-borne viruses circulating in the state.

At this point, I would predict a relatively normal mosquito season, said John Shepard, assistant scientist with the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station. We will typically expect overall mosquito collections to increase state-wide over the next four to five weeks.

The only mosquito-borne virus to pop up so far is Jamestown Canyon virus, which was found in mosquitoes trapped in Canaan and Somers. But this, too, is normal, as the illness is usually the first of these viruses to make an appearance.

Jamestown Canyon virus is an early season virus that is transmitted by mosquitoes that develop in vernal pools, which are abundant in the spring, Shepard said.

The mosquitoes that transmit West Nile  Culex pipiens and Culex restuans  favor hot, dry weather. Shepard said that that virus usually pops up in early- to mid-July, and he expects to see the same this year.

West Nile occurs every summer in the Northeast and has become the main cause of mosquito-borne illness in this region since it was first introduced into the New York City area in 1999.

Last season, West Nile was detected in 143 mosquito pools from 21 towns in Fairfield, Hartford and New Haven Counties and there were eight confirmed human cases of West Nile infection statewide.

Shepard said he expects Eastern Equine Encephalitis, the other major mosquito-borne illness, to not have a lot of traction this season. EEE is a rare but serious illness in humans with four to eight cases reported in a typical year in the U.S.

During 2020, EEE was detected in mosquitoes collected from two towns in New London and Windham Counties. There were no EEE infections reported in humans or horses.

Its likely that EEE activity will be low again this year, Shepard said. Populations (of the) mosquito species Culiseta melanura, which is primarily responsible for EEE transmission among birds associated with red maple and white cedar swamp habitats, have been below normal thus far. However, populations of this mosquito species can rebound if we have a wet summer.

Shepard said EEE isnt typically detected in mosquitoes in Connecticut until August or September.
DARIEN  The 201st birthday of the town was celebrated on Saturday, June 12, with a special ceremony that also honored its pivotal founding leader Thaddeus Bell, Jr.

Various town and state officials took part in an Anniversary Day event at Slawson Cemetery on Hanson Road, hosted by the Darien 2020 Bicentennial Committeeone year after the original ceremony was suspended because of the pandemic.

Its a bicentennial plus one, Al Miller, committee chair, said. In 1820, June 12, Darien seceded from Stamford and we became a town.

Bell  whose ancestors include his great, great grandfather Frances Bell, a settler of Stamford, and his great grandfather Jonathan Bell, who was the first recorded birth in Stamford in 1641  was buried at the cemetery on Oct. 31, 1851, at the age of 92.

Scott Sherwood, a 13th-generation descendant of Frances Bell, who grew up in New Canaan, was at the ceremony.

When we were little kids we would drive by here, Sherwood, who now lives in South Dartmouth, Mass., said of Thaddeus Bell, Jr. And growing up we were always told about the family history.

That history includes not only Bells appearance in a range of Revolutionary War-era events, including battles in Ridgefield, Westport and Danbury, but his filing of the town charter that made Darien an independent municipality.

Miller said the 200-year-old document shows that the town was originally set to be called Bellville, but Bell crossed out the name before filing it with the state and wrote in Darien.

There is no firm explanation as to why that name was chosen, but he said one of the legends is that it was a reference to the Darien Gap  the region between Colombia and Panama that separates North and South America. Its possible that Bell meant it to reference the town being between two larger bodies  namely Norwalk and Stamford.

Along with music by the Spirit of Black Rock Fife and Drum Corps, and a moment of silence commemorating the day, a new plaque was unveiled by Bells grave, presented by members of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

He didnt leave anything on the table, Katherine Love, honorary regent of the DAR said of Bell. He was thoughtful and persistent, and despite many doors closed in his face, he prevailed.

He was a remarkable man for his time, Sherwood said.
Milton, PA (17847)

Today

Partly cloudy in the morning. Increasing clouds with periods of showers later in the day. High 78F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower throughout the evening. Low 56F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
Ogden jazz icon Joe McQueen may be gone, but his memory and legacy live on. One physical reminder of his life, McQueen's lifelong home at 3158 Grant Ave., has now become available for sale. The house received extensive remodeling, but as investor Richard Casperson has said, "Joe's energy is 
Ashtabula, OH (44004)

Today

Rain showers in the morning becoming a steady light rain in the afternoon. High 68F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Showers in the evening, then partly cloudy overnight. Low 61F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
A more recent publication of this set of statistics is available. Latest publication: Turnover of trade 2021, May

Published: 15 June 2021

Turnover and sales volume increased in all industries of trade in April

According to Statistics Finland, turnover in total trade adjusted for working days grew in April by 16.9 per cent from April 2020. Over the same period, the working day adjusted volume of sales in total trade, from which the impact of prices has been eliminated, increased by 11.4 per cent. The positive development in total trade that started in January of the current year also continues in April. The development of trade industries was partly affected by the exceptionally weak growth one year ago caused by the corona pandemic. This is now visible as high growth figures for some trade industries.

Annual change in working day adjusted turnover and sales volume in total trade (G), %

Motor vehicle trade shows strong growth in April as well

Adjusted for working days, turnover and sales volume increased in all industries of trade in April. Among the industries of trade, motor vehicle trade grew most. Motor vehicle trade has developed briskly throughout the early part of the year. In April turnover in motor vehicle trade rose by as much as 46.2 per cent and sales volume by 43.2 per cent from one year back. The growth in motor vehicle sales was considerably affected by the weak development one year ago caused by the corona pandemic.

The positive development in the biggest industry in trade, wholesale trade, which started in February, also continued in April. Turnover grew by 13.3 per cent and sales volume by 5.0 per cent year-on-year. The more favourable development in turnover than in sales volume in wholesale trade is explained by risen prices especially of processed petroleum products.

In retail trade, working day adjusted turnover grew in April in total by 11.7 per cent and sales volume by 11.0 per cent. The biggest growth among retail trade industries was seen in department store trade and specialised store trade. Turnover in department store trade rose by 17.9 per cent and sales volume by 17.1 per cent. In specialised store trade, turnover increased by 18.2 per cent and sales volume by 18.5 per cent from April 2020. Among retail trade industries, the development was weakest in daily consumer goods trade, where turnover rose by 4.7 per cent and sales volume by 2.0 per cent from a year ago.

Annual change in working day adjusted turnover and sales volume in industries of trade, April 2021, % (TOL 2008)

Both turnover and sales volume increased compared to March

Seasonally adjusted turnover in total trade grew by 1.0 per cent in April compared to March. Seasonally adjusted sales volume grew by 0.9 per cent during the same period. In March, turnover rose by 1.2 per cent and sales volume by 0.4 per cent from the month before.

Change in seasonally adjusted turnover and sales volume in total trade (G) from the previous month, %

Trend of turnover and sales volume in total trade

The calculation of indices of turnover of trade is based on the Tax Administrations data on self-assessed taxes, which are supplemented with Statistics Finlands sales inquiry. The volume index of sales is calculated by removing the effect of price changes from the value index series.

The factors caused by the variation in the number of weekdays are taken into account in adjustment for working days. This means taking into consideration the lengths of months, different weekdays and holidays. In addition, seasonal variation is eliminated from seasonally adjusted series, on account of which it makes sense to compare observations of two successive months as well.

The data for the latest month are preliminary and they may become significantly revised particularly on more detailed industry levels in coming months.

Source: Turnover of trade, Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Suvi Kiema 029 551 3509, Mauri Niiniaho 029 551 3409, palvelut.suhdanne@stat.fi

Head of Department in charge: Katri Kaaja

Publication in pdf-format (289.8 kB)

Updated 15.06.2021

Referencing instructions: Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Turnover of trade [e-publication].

ISSN=1799-0939. April 2021. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 2.7.2021].

Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/klv/2021/04/klv_2021_04_2021-06-15_tie_002_en.html
A more recent publication of this set of statistics is available. Latest publication: Index of turnover in industry 2021, May

Published: 15 June 2021

Turnover in manufacturing grew by 11.4 per cent in April

According to Statistics Finland, working day adjusted turnover in industry (TOL BCD) increased in April by 11.4 per cent year-on-year. Turnover grew in all main industries. The development was partly due to the exceptional situation caused by the coronavirus one year earlier. Among main industries, turnover growth was strongest in the textile, clothing and leather industry, up by 24.5 per cent from one year ago. Seasonally adjusted turnover in manufacturing (TOL BCD) grew by 2.1 per cent in April compared with March.

Annual change in working day adjusted turnover in manufacturing (BCD), % (TOL 2008)

Turnover in mining and quarrying was 15.5 per cent higher in April than one year earlier. The turnover of the chemical industry decreased by 14.7 per cent and that of electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply by 13.2 per cent. The metal industry grew by 12.7 per cent, the forest industry by 11.9 per cent and the electrical and electronics industry by 11.0 per cent. Turnover in the food industry increased by 3.7 per cent year-on-year.

Annual change in working day adjusted turnover in manufacturing by industry, April 2021, % (TOL 2008)

Export turnover growing in all main industries in April

Export turnover increased in all main industries in April. Export turnover grew most in mining and quarrying, by 81.8 per cent and in the textile, clothing and leather industry, by 31.9 per cent from one year back. Export turnover grew in the chemical industry by 14.6 per cent, in the metal industry by 13.7 per cent and in the forest industry by 13.5 per cent. In the electrical and electronics industry, export turnover was 11.6 per cent higher and in the food industry 3.2 per cent higher than one year earlier.

Annual change in working day adjusted export turnover and domestic turnover in manufacturing by industry, April 2021, % (TOL 2008)

Domestic turnover increased in April in nearly all main industries. Most growth was recorded in the textile, clothing and leather industry, 20.2 per cent, and in the chemical industry, 14.8 per cent. Domestic turnover grew in the metal industry by 10.1 per cent and in the forest industry by 8.9 per cent from one year ago. The domestic turnover of the electrical and electronics industry increased by 7.7 per cent and that of the food industry by 4.6 per cent from one year previously. Domestic turnover decreased only in mining and quarrying and was 3.9 per cent lower than twelve months back.

Trend series of turnover, export turnover and domestic turnover in manufacturing (BC), 1/2007 to 4/2021, % (TOL 2008)

The index of turnover in industry describes enterprises whose main industry is manufacturing. The calculation of the indices is based on the Tax Administrations self-assessed tax data which are supplemented with data obtained with Statistics Finlands sales inquiry. The monthly turnovers of manufacturing enterprises can vary considerably, especially in the metal industries. The variation is mainly due to invoicing practices. The final invoice for major machinery deliveries and projects may be recorded in the sales of one month, even if the delivery had required the work of several months or years.

The factors caused by the variation in the number of weekdays are taken into account in adjustment for working days. This means taking into consideration the lengths of months, different weekdays and holidays. In addition, seasonal variation is eliminated from seasonally adjusted series, on account of which it makes sense to compare observations of two successive months as well.

The data for the latest month are preliminary and are released at a delay of around six weeks. The data may become significantly revised particularly on more detailed industry levels in coming months. Revisions to the data may be particularly significant on the more accurate industry levels of export turnover and domestic turnover.

Source: Index of turnover in industry 2021, April, Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Maija Sappinen 029 551 3348, Heli Suonio 029 551 2481, myynti.teollisuus@stat.fi

Head of Department in charge: Katri Kaaja

Publication in pdf-format (328.2 kB)

Updated 15.6.2021

Referencing instructions: Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Index of turnover in industry [e-publication].

ISSN=1798-596X. April 2021. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 2.7.2021].

Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/tlv/2021/04/tlv_2021_04_2021-06-15_tie_001_en.html
The senators and the deputies rejected on Tuesday, in a joint session, the activity reports for the last three years of the Ombudsman.

Thus, activity report of the Ombudsman for the year 2018 was rejected with 245 votes "for" and one against, the report for the year 2019 with 187 votes "for" and 23 votes against and the one for the year 2020 - with 242 votes "for" and 35 against.

PSD MP Gabriel Zetea announced that the social-democrats will notify the Constitutional Court.
Businessman Alexander Adamescu, son of Dan Adamescu, was sued by National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) for committing two bribery offenses, being accused that in 2013 he had remitted sums of money to some judges at the Bucharest Tribunal in order to obtain favorable solutions in insolvency cases in which his father's companies were involved.

Bogdan Alexander Adamescu fled Romania and settled in the United Kingdom, from where the Romanian authorities are trying to extradite.

According to a DNA statement, Alexander Adamescu is in the process of being extradited, based on a European arrest warrant. He was arrested by the British authorities, but has not yet been handed over to Romania.

Alexander Adamescu fled Romania, being located and arrested in the UK in March 2018.

Subsequently, a British court ordered his extradition, but Adamescu requested permission to ask a question before the Supreme Court of the UK and he cannot be extradited until this request is resolved.
Romania is on schedule with the procedures for implementing the digital green certificate on July 1, the Secretary of State in the Ministry of Health Andrei Baciu said on Tuesday.

"We are on schedule for the objective assumed on July 1. Even before this press conference, we had another working meeting with all the institutions involved - the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, STS, INSP, just to complete in the best possible conditions all the necessary things on July 1, the announced deadline for the implementation of this digital certificate in Romania as well," Baciu stated.

He said the regulation on the certificate was published in the EU's official gazette on Tuesday morning, saying some regulations would likely be adopted next week.The STS representative at the press conference indicated that it is a "very complex" computer system, which will have the two components."At the moment, my colleagues are working for the development of the secure portal component, it will practically be the site where all vaccinated people, but also those from other categories will be able to download their digital certificates. The system is complex because this portal is just a simple site, it will have interconnections with the vaccination register, it will have interconnections with the Corona Forms application, where you can find people who have been tested positive or negative at some point. (...) We expect it to be a system accessed by a lot of people, and that's why we have to ensure all the time necessary for the development, testing phase, before it is implemented," he explained.On the other hand, the president of CNCAV, Valeriu Gheorghita, specified that over 997,000 electronic immunization certificates were downloaded from the platform of the National Electronic Vaccination Register."Almost a quarter of those vaccinated have downloaded their electronic certificates," he said.
The simple motion initiated by Social Democratic Party (PSD) against the Minister of Investments and European Projects, Cristian Ghinea, was rejected on Tuesday by the plenum of the Chamber of Deputies.

There were 143 votes in favor, 171 against and one abstention.

On Monday, the deputies debated the motion entitled "Cristian Ghinea - from zero to the abyss", signed by 82 deputies from PSD.
A container from Germany, loaded with over 25 tons of waste - rubber, which were about to be imported in Romania without respecting the legal provisions, was discovered in the Constanta Sud-Agigea Port.

"On June 14, following information-operative activity, the customs police, in cooperation with border workers and commissioners from the National Environment Guard - the Constanta County Commissariat, identified a container, arrived from Germany, for a company based in the county of Valcea that is carrying out import activities in Romania," according to a press release sent by the Coast Guard to AGERPRES on Tuesday.

Upon additional checks, the control team noticed that the container was filled with 25 tons of rubber waste, goods that did not correspond with the declared data and documents used at the border authority.

In this sense, the container was not granted permission to enter Romania's territory by the Constanta Environment Guard commissioners, because the cargo was waste.

Thus, it cannot be placed in circulation on Romania's territory, nor can they be marketed, as they jeopardize the lives and health of consumers in the event of their use.

In cause, the border police are continuing the investigation, under the coordination of the prosecutor with the Prosecutor's Office attached to the Constanta Court, under the crime of using unreal identification and violating waste ordinances, and the cargo will be returned to the German company.
Head of the National Coordinating Committee for Vaccination Activities against COVID-19 Valeriu Gheorghita on Tuesday said that, so far, 13,391 children between 12 and 15 years old have been immunised, most of them in Bucharest - 3,152 and in the counties of Cluj - 1,173, Ilfov - 631 and Timis - 615.

The vaccination campaign for this age group started on June 2.

Valeriu Gheorghita also told a press conference at the Victoria Palace that the vaccination at the family doctors, started on May 4, is taking place in all counties and in Bucharest.

According to him, 129,102 people were vaccinated with the first dose, in the week of June 7-14, of which over 88.7pct showed up at the respective vaccination centre without an appointment.

Also, 26,585 foreign citizens were vaccinated against COVID in Romania with the first dose and 15,594 with both doses.

The head of CNCAV also mentioned that 2,132 patients were vaccinated in 127 public hospitals in 34 counties, and 365 patients in 27 private hospitals, in 14 counties.

As of this week, 17 other public hospitals will have vaccination centres.
The Minister of Labor, Raluca Turcan, is carrying out a two day work visit in Brussels, during the period of June 15-16, during which she will have meetings with European officials, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection (MMPS) announces.

The minister's agenda includes official meetings with the European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Elisa Ferreira, the European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, Nicolas Schmit, the European Commissioner for Transportation, Adina Valean, the European People's Party secretary general, Antonio Lopez-Isturiz, and with Romania's ambassador to the European Union, Luminita Odobescu.
Minister of Health Ioana Mihaila participates on Tuesday in the meeting of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Protection Council (EPSCO), taking place in Luxembourg, informs the relevant Ministry.

The topics addressed by the Ministerial Council include strengthening the role of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the digitization of health systems and pandemic control measures.

According to the cited source, Minister of Health Ioana Mihaila will have a meeting in Luxembourg on Wednesday with representatives of the European Investment Bank (EIB) on the topic of strategic investments in the Romanian health system.

The Secretary of State in the Ministry of Health with duties on investment projects, Andra Migiu, is also participating in the meetings.
The quantity of over 62 tons of aluminum and polystyrene, transported on four tractor-trailers by Bulgarian drivers from Bulgaria and Greece towards Bucharest, was stopped by border policemen at the Giurgiu Border Crossing Point (PTF Giurgiu) because they did not fulfill the legal conditions for transfer.

"In the past 24 hours, border policemen with the Border Crossing Point in Giurgiu conducted, on the inbound traffic lanes, specific controls on four road assemblies, which were driven by Bulgarian citizens, with ages between 42 and 67 years old. The drivers were transporting, according to documents accompanying the freight, a total quantity of 62,420 kilograms aluminum and polystyrene. The waste was loaded in Bulgaria or Greece and had as a destination, companies in Bucharest," shows a press release sent on Tuesday by PTF Giurgiu.

Because there were suspicions regarding the legality of transports, border policemen requested authorized support from the Giurgiu County Commissariat of the National Environment Guard, and following checks it was established that the notification documents for cross-border circulation presented by the four drivers were incomplete according to EC Regulation no. 1013/2006 on shipments of waste.

In this case, the authorities did not allow access on Romanian territory for the tractor-trailers.

In the past two and a half months, border policemen have denied entry to Romania, through the Giurgiu-Ruse PTF, for 308 tons of steel, plastic, aluminum, zinc, other metallic materials, metallic dust, brass shavings, and polystyrene waste materials that 14 Bulgarian drivers and 5 Romanian drivers were trying to bring into Romania with incomplete paperwork.
Prime Minister Florin Citu conveyed at the meeting with the representatives of the Coalition for the Development of Romania (CDR) on Tuesday, that the Government will maintain fiscal stability, will implement structural reforms postponed for many years in Romania and will annually increase its budgetary resources allocated to investments.

"My priority, as Prime Minister, and of the Government I lead is to develop an investment plan by 2028, which should include measures to prepare for the implementation of these development projects. Romania will benefit from 76 billion euros by 2027, representing the amounts allocated through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan and other European funds, to which are added national resources, respectively at least 60 billion lei annually. There are substantial funds, and the economy must be prepared to attract and implement the investment projects. I discussed these things with the representatives of the Coalition for the Development of Romania. I was glad to see the interest and involvement of business people and to see that they are partners we can rely on in what we intend to do," Florin Citu affirmed in a message posted on the Government's Facebook page.

"I am a supporter of the business environment, I conveyed that we are solving the things broken by the former governments. I said that we will not tamper with taxes and that is the best decision. And the investment plan is long-term: until 2028. Moreover, at the Government level, we are considering measures that will lead to the expansion of production capacity and the elimination of legislative bottlenecks in the implementation of investment projects. We are preparing the modification of the public procurement legislation, the simplification of the insolvency legislation and the implementation of the e-invoicing project, for the efficiency of the economic system and of the productivity," said Citu.

According to him, the government will work together with the specialists of the Coalition for the Development of Romania for the preparation, implementation and monitoring of these projects.

"The CDR representatives will be part of the inter-ministerial committees that will monitor the National Recovery and Resilience Plan and the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027," Citu added.
National chairman of the National Liberal Party (PNL) Ludovic Orban said on Tuesday that the motion of censure tabled by the opposition Social Democratic Party (PSD) against the Citu government will not get any votes from the coalition's lawmakers, adding that any of his colleagues endorsing him in the competition for the leadership of the party deciding in favour of the Social Democrats' approach is out of the question.

"Out of the question; anyone who knows my career knows very clearly that I have never made any deal with PSD and I will not do it as long as I am in public life. (...) That is out of the question. This is ridiculous. In fact, we have already made a decision at the coalition level. The motion will not have any votes from the coalition MPs," Orban said in remarks to the media at the Diplomatic Club, where he attended an event.

He added that he always considered PSD as "the successor to the Communist Party" and a "harmful" party to Romania.

"I have always considered PSD and, in fact, not only PSD, FSN, FDSN, PDSR, as they were called, I considered them to be the avatars of the Communist Party harmful to Romania and I have always fought against the project of regress, poverty and underdevelopment that the successor to the Communist Party has embraced irrespective of name," said Orban.
President Klaus Iohannis will carry out, on Wednesday and Thursday, a state visit to the Republic of Estonia, in Tallinn, the Presidential Administration announced.

According to the source, the visit is taking place in the context of the centennial of Romanian-Estonian diplomatic relations and 30 years since re-establishing diplomatic relations, as well as a result of the constant high-level Romanian-Estonian dialogue in the last years.

Within the visit, president Iohannis will have political consultations with his Estonian counterpart, Kersti Kaljulaid. Furthermore, the head of state will have meetings with the Prime Minister of the Government of Estonia, Kaja Kallas, as well as with the president of the Estonian Parliament, Juri Ratas.

Among the topics on the agenda of discussions between president Klaus Iohannis and high-ranking Estonian officials there is also the consolidation of the bilateral relations, including the economic and sectorial cooperation between the two states, with an emphasis on the digital sector, combating the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as topics on the European agenda: the future of the European Union, the European plan for recovery, the green and digital transition, the Union's enlargement process and the Eastern Partnership of the EU, evolutions in the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine and Belarus.

Discussions will also target the Romanian-Estonian cooperation within NATO, including the security situation at the Black Sea and the Baltic Sea, but also in the context of the NATO summit results on June 14, as well as the cooperation between the two countries within the Bucharest 9 Format and the Three Seas Initiative.

President Iohannis will lay a wreath at the Monument of the Independence War and will visit the Tallinn City Hall, the e-Estonia center and the Unicorn Squad start-up, a professional robotics school.
Romania has requested the suspension of the delivery of COVID-19 vaccine doses in June, and it will receive 2,635,680 out of a total of 7,103,160 scheduled for the month, senior official with the Romanian Health Ministry Andrei Baciu announced on Tuesday.

"A procedure is already underway to align the legal framework, the legal rules that allow the resale of doses by the Ministry of Health, but for the period immediately ahead, given the fact that there is a surplus of doses and precisely to have an as effective as possible management of stockpiles a suspension was considered and a request was submitted for the delivery of some doses," he explained at a news conference.

According to Baciu, Romania should have received this June 4,366,444 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine produced by Pfizer BioNTech, but, as a result of the request to keep them on stand-by for a time, only 1,928,162 will be delivered.As many as 835,200 doses were to be received from Moderna and the delivery of some batches has been suspended, so that only 128,400 will be delivered. At the same time, only 167,200 doses of the Astra Zenecca vaccine will be received in June."The weekly doses and batches of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine are not suspended; they will be carried out as announced. We received 144,000 in the first week, in the second week we received 61,800, 48,800 come this week, the following week 41,400 and in the last week 115,920, adding up to a total of 411,920 of the Johnson & Johnson doses," said Baciu.He added that a total of 7,103,160 doses of vaccine had to be delivered this month, but in order to have an efficient management of the existing stockpiles only 2,635,680 will be actually delivered.To date, Romania has received almost 15 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines.
The National Student Council considers that the solution to school violence is not the creation of anti-bullying working groups, as the Education Ministry plans, but the training of teachers and school counsellors in this regard.

"The National Student Council deeply disapproves of the Education Ministry's attitude about this increasingly serious problem. We consider that the solution to this phenomenon is not setting up an anti-bullying working group in every educational institution (as per Article 71, paragraph (2), point e) of the Framework Regulation on the Organisation and Functioning of Pre-university Educational Units, each such institution already has a permanent anti-violence commission in place), but the training of teachers to detect cases of school violence in their early form, and training school counsellors for them to be capable of an efficient case management regarding the rehabilitation of the aggressor and the victim, for not extremely serious cases," the National Student Council said in a release today.

The Council calls on the Education Ministry to publicly assume the students' mental health and well-being in school as a priority, so as to ensure in each Romanian educational institution a favorable environment for learning and the harmonious development of the students.

"Unfortunately, the Education Ministry's solution in the face of the problem of school violence, of burying the educational units in a host of new committees, commissions and working groups, cannot have any chance of success. There is already a committee responsible for the combat of violence in each school, but most of the time the members do not take their duties seriously, either because they do not have the necessary skills or because they do not consider school violence to be a serious phenomenon that needs to be addressed, in the country where 20 percent of parents consider corporal punishment to be an education method. It is the duty of the Education Ministry to take responsibility for, and the duty of each principal to actually implement policies to increase safety in school and further the well-being of each student, by creating safe spaces for education," said president of the National Student Council Rares Voicu.

Most teachers are not prepared from a psycho-pedagogical point of view to detect school violence in its early forms, before it becomes an acute phenomenon at class/school level, the National Student Council underscores.

A recent survey by World Vision Romania shows that 71 percent of students have witnessed or were victims of violence either on the way to school, during breaks or even during classes. Moreover, according to the World Health Organization, Romania is ranked third in terms of bullying, as per a study conducted in 42 states, the National Student Council adds.

Education Minister Sorin Cimpeanu declared on Saturday that anti-bullying action groups will be set up in all schools until September 13, at the beginning of the new school year.
Ten migrants have been caught in the last 24 hours by the Arad border police as they tried to cross the border illegally into Hungary, hiding in a truck or walking in the field.

According to a press release sent on Tuesday by the Arad Border Police, a truck driven by a Bulgarian carrying furniture to Italy was checked at the Varsand crossing point. Yet, eight migrants were hidden in the trailer.

"The persons were picked up and transported to the headquarters of the border sector for investigation where, following checks, the border police determined that they were citizens from Afghanistan, aged between 14 and 20, asylum seekers in Romania," the release said.

In the area of the border town of Nadlac, a patrol noticed two people walking in the field.

"Since they did not justify their presence in the area, they were taken to the border sector headquarters to carry out the checks. The investigation has established that they are Afghani citizens, aged 18 and 19 respectively," the source added.

In both cases, border police are conducting checks.
The chairman of the GTG 3010 Colectiv Association, Eugen Iancu, is criticising the Bucharest Court of Appeal's decision of splitting in two the Colectiv criminal case, appreciating that "there are judges willing to release the guilty, because their actions were made without intention".

"No judge, no prosecutor, has said in almost 6 years since the Colectiv fire that the state's clerks (mayor, city hall employees, firemen) would be innocent. Corruption was identified, the mistake, wilful or not. So, we are not discussing about guilt, but the intent to kill. Still, 64 people have died, and a few dozens still bear their wounds in the operating rooms. The lives of hundreds of people were affected, some lost their only child, and are now living without living, other have already died, affected by the trauma of losing their child. Despite all this, there are judges willing to release the guilty, because although there is guilt, there is no intention," the association's chairman wrote on Facebook.

He asked rhetorically who would be to blame if the number of casualties were to be much higher.

"But what if 300 or 1,000, or 10,000 were killed by accident, because we all know that "only he who doesn't work makes no mistakes"?! What if when the first earthquake that will come, 50 newly built buildings by "large investors", loan sharks and pimps, which became investors over night and hundreds of people will die under the wreckage, who will answer for that?! What is the purpose of justice?! 64 people have died in a fire caused by corruption, and you, the people of justice, mean to say that the corrupt need to be free because they did not plan the crime during their morning coffee?" the Colectiv Association chairman added.

In a post on Monday, on the same social media network, Eugen Iancu appreciated that the severance of the case "is likely urging to steal".

"The severing of the state employees case (mayor, city hall directors and the two firemen), the exact clerks accused of corruption, is the solution found by the judges, clerks of the same state, paid to dish out justice. The judges' decision looks like urging to steal. No clerk pays, regardless of how many victims they leaves behind. Mr. President Iohannis, I know, you are proud of the Romanian Justice," he wrote.

The Bucharest Court of Appeal decided on Monday to form two Colectiv criminal files, where the former mayor of Sector 4, Cristian Popescu-Piedone, city hall clerks and the two firemen, to be judged separately from the club owners.
Chairman of the Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania (UDMR) and Deputy Prime Minister Kelemen Hunor said on Monday that he proposed at the government coalition meeting a differentiation of child allowances according to families' incomes.

"We talked about child allowances, the Senate's version stays. This means that the 20 percent increase will be operational starting with January 1. We proposed a change of philosophy for child allowances, to link them to income and be deductible from income tax. It is therefore a proposed change, which we will discuss this year, so that we can try to introduce it from 2023," Kelemen Hunor said in a statement to the press at the Palace of Parliament.

In his turn, Deputy Prime Minister Dan Barna, co-chair of USR PLUS, said that the version proposed by UDMR will be analyzed.

"The subject was not very detailed in this meeting. It was indeed agreed that we have the increase from the beginning of next year, as it has already been communicated in the public space, and then we will see according to the budget what the next framework will be like. There was also the alternative that Mr. Hunor presented, that of coming up with an improved version, through which to create a mechanism in which resources are directed towards those children who need it. (...) It is a subject that was opened by colleagues from UDMR and we said that we will discuss such a formula, no further progress was made, we are also analyzing such an alternative," said the USR PLUS leader.
Im looking forward to a really strong summer, and to seeing more outside tourists, he said.

Tourism was among the hardest-hit industries during the pandemic, and businesses want to make up for lost time.

Disneyland on Tuesday welcomed back out-of-state visitors for the first time since it closed in March 2020. It was shut down for months until opening this spring to California residents only.

The famed park is also dropping many of its other restrictions, such as temperature checks and face coverings for vaccinated guests.

Among the many mask-less at Disneyland was Dominique Vazquez, who was on Day 2 of visiting the park and liked the change.

The no mask, its great. Its great," said Vazquez. It was very hard yesterday walking in the park with the mask on. Youre sweating. You cant breathe."

At a bagel shop in Huntington Beach, customers poured in and out for breakfast Tuesday  most still wearing masks  as employees doled out juice and bagels from behind a plastic divider.
Dunagan said BJC understands some will be hesitant to get the vaccine.

Its not lost on me that this is a tough decision for many people, he said.

BJC already requires the whooping cough, measles, and chickenpox vaccines for employees, and the annual flu shot.

Some have argued that COVID-19 vaccines cannot be required in the same way as other vaccines because they do not have final approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, but rather they are available under emergency use authorization. But the shots have also been tested in large, clinical trials, and have been administered to nearly 175 million people in the U.S. alone.

As of last year, BJC employed 29,300 in the St. Louis area. The system has 15 hospitals, and spans the greater metropolitan area, Southern Illinois and southeast Missouri.

So far, 75% of employees have been vaccinated, BJC President and CEO Rich Liekweg said Tuesday.

As a health care provider, major employer and a community leader, BJC wants to ensure we are doing everything we can to keep our patients, our valued workforce, and our communities safe, Liekweg said in a statement. The available vaccines are among the most effective and safest ever developed.
NEW YORK (AP)  U.S. health officials Monday announced a one-year ban on bringing in dogs from more than 100 countries where rabies is still a problem.

Dogs coming in from those countries already needed proof of rabies vaccination. The ban is being imposed because of a spike in the number of puppies denied entry because they weren't old enough to be fully vaccinated, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

The ban goes into effect July 14.

Douglas Kratt, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association, applauded the decision.

We want to make sure were bringing healthy dogs into the country  especially if they are going to be pets, said Kratt, a veterinarian in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

The ban applies to dogs coming into or returning to the country, including pets or those brought in for sale or adoption. For example, if an American couple took their dog to Belize, they wouldn't be able to bring the dog back to the U.S. unless the dog first spends six months in a country that is not at a high risk for rabies.
Three months later, shortly after the legislative session ended, Kenny found herself out of a job. She was fired by the archdiocese, she and others say, because shes not Catholic. Kenny grew up Catholic, and she has been ingrained in the church her entire life, but she no longer attends Catholic Mass. Catholic Charities knew that when it hired her five years ago. A lawyer and social worker by training, Kenny believes in the social teaching of the Catholic church, and, according to Catholic parishioners who worked with her in advocacy, she was very good at her job.

I felt like she was exceptionally good at her job, says Kathy McGinnis, who worked with Kenny as a member of the Mission Integration and Advocacy Council. There was so much information she was giving to us all the time. I thought that she had a very deep understanding of Catholic social teaching, which I think is core to what you do at Catholic Charities.

Kenny said that after years of excellent performance reviews, she was fired on the spot on May 27 with no warning and escorted out of the building. Beyond that, she declined further comment.
Its manageable because its within our capacity to oversee, Carson said. If they arrest 20 (murderers), now it becomes a crisis, it becomes a problem. ... Were right at the threshold where we can manage, but its tight.

I havent had any public tell me they wanted to close MSI, Alderwoman Marlene Davis said. Now, I have one of the top 10 neighborhoods with crime. ... I dont foresee how (this) is going to work.

Fear for their own safety

Jeff Hantz, with the St. Louis-Kansas City Carpenters Regional Council, which represents St. Louis corrections officers, said officers are retiring or transferring to different jobs because they fear for their own safety when working at the CJC.

When they designed the CJC, they thought it was a great idea for whoever manages the cells to be in an open space where anybody could reach out and touch them, Alderman Boyd said. Its mind-boggling to me to put a control board in the middle of the unit where somebody might decide to be a knucklehead and overtake a guard.

Carson said the control panel will be moved outside of the units, adding that Public Safety Director Dan Isom is helping us to get the funding. But those fixes could be a year off from completion.
Jason Goran, another passenger who was traveling from San Diego, California, to Houston, said he sat on the plane for two hours because of the weather system outage.

"@SouthwestAir captain said we can't take off because weather system for entire company is down?" Goran tweeted during the ordeal.

Goran said the flight was scheduled to take off at 5:50 p.m. PT. By the time he spoke with CNN, it was 8:17 p.m. PT.

"It feels like we are about to take off," he said at the time. "They called us back to the plane but we haven't pushed back yet."

Patrick Miller said after boarding his flight from Phoenix to Portland, Oregon, passengers had to deplane and then reboard. "From boarding to deplaning, it (took) two hours," Miller told CNN.

He also tweeted about his delay, saying "Lots of hate being thrown at @SouthwestAir right now, but my flight attendants have been giving out water and people are allowed to deplane."

People were losing their patience because of the delay, he said.
NEW YORK (AP)  "Gone Girl" actor Lisa Banes died 10 days after being injured in a hit-and-run accident in New York City, police said.

The 65-year-old Banes, who was struck by a scooter or motorcycle while crossing a street on June 4, died Monday at Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital, a police department spokesperson said.

Banes appeared in numerous television shows and movies, including "Gone Girl" in 2014 and "Cocktail" with Tom Cruise in 1988. On television, she had roles on "Nashville," "Madam Secretary," "Masters of Sex" and "NCIS."

She acted on stage regularly, including Broadway appearances in the Neil Simon play "Rumors" in 1988, in the musical "High Society" in 1998 and in the Noel Coward play "Present Laughter" in 2010.

Her manager, David Williams, said Banes was hit as she was crossing Amsterdam Avenue on the way to visit the Juilliard School, her alma mater.

Banes lived in Los Angeles and was married to Kathryn Kranhold, a contributing reporter for the Center for Public Integrity.

Friends and colleagues mourned Banes on Tuesday on Twitter.
President Joe Biden will seek to stave off another surge of civilian suffering in the devastating war in Syria when he meets President Vladimir Putin this week, appealing to Putin to drop a threat to close the last aid crossing into that country.

Russian forces have helped Syrian President Bashar Assads regime survive the more than 10-year conflict and Putin hopes to be a broker for Assad in any international reconstruction effort for that country. Russia holds the key veto on July 10 when the U.N. Security Council decides whether to extend authorization for the aid crossing from Turkey.

Putin meets with the American president in Geneva on Wednesday in their first face-to-face since Biden took office. The Russian leader already has pressed successfully for shutting down all other international humanitarian crossings into Syria, and argues that Assad should handle the distribution of any aid.

The aid crossing from Turkey into rebel-held northwest Syria serves up to 4 million people in Syrias last remaining rebel stronghold. A decade of civil war in the Middle East country has killed a half-million people, displaced half of the population, drawn in foreign armies and extremist groups and left the economy in ruins.
There's also urgency because Exelon, parent of Illinois' largest electric utility ComEd, has said that without a state bailout, it will shut down two nuclear plants later this year.

ON THE TABLE

The Senate was scheduled to take up the issue Tuesday, but negotiations didn't produce a bill. The Senate adjourned after approving Pritzkers proposed changes to the state budget that effective date errors.

The governor's energy proposal  pitched as one that protects consumers and the climate  calls for nearly $700 million in state subsidies over five years to bail out three nuclear plants. It would also close coal plants by 2035 and natural gas-fired plants by 2045, according to an outline from Pritzker's office.

Illinois would invest more in solar and wind energy, offering a $4,000 rebate for electric vehicle buyers and overhaul how consumer rates are set, according to the outline that shows average residential customers would pay nearly $3 more each month.
Editorial: Compassion and conservativism dont have to be mutually exclusive

One of the worst crimes any government can commit is to imprison an innocent person. The unjust denial of liberty formed a pillar of the conservative tea party movement during the previous decade and inspired conservatives in the Texas Legislature to get solidly behind bills designed to free the innocent, compensate them for their losses and to punish wayward prosecutors.

In Missouri, however, Gov. Mike Parson cant bring himself to recognize an egregious injustice when he sees it and then take corrective action. The case of Kevin Strickland, 62, is one where a judge, prosecutors, witnesses and the defense all seem to agree: He did not commit the 1978 triple murder for which he is serving a life sentence. The fact that he is Black appears to have weighed heavily in the judicial railroading that landed him in prison.
Grant said the current structure represents taxation without representation and violates the state's Hancock Amendment, which limits state revenues and local taxes. She said it also violates the U.S. Constitution's equal protection clause.

Enough is enough," Grant said. "Kansas Citians cannot be made to write a blank check to a Board that does not answer to us, is unrepresentative of our needs, and sues our elected officials when they dont acquiesce to the Boards every demand.

The lawsuit filed by the commissioners argues that state law gives the board exclusive authority over the police department and its budget, which must be at least 20% of the city's general revenue. Opponents of the ordinances have painted them as being an effort to defund the police.

This is not about defunding the police, Grant said Monday. This is about the police being accountable to the city that they serve. This is about taxation without representation. This is about taking our fight to court to seek remedy after decades upon decades of injustice.

Commission member Nathan Garrett's resignation was announced Monday. Garrett, one of the strongest backers of the police department and a vocal critic of Lucas and the proposed budget changes, said he was resigning because he was moving to Smithville, a Kansas City suburb.
An independent report last week on last summers violent crackdown on protesters at Washingtons Lafayette Park gives a misleading and inaccurate portrayal of events culminating in President Donald Trumps silly photo-op outside an adjacent church. The National Park Service might have a valid claim of innocence for having planned to clear the area well before Trumps escapade, as an Interior Department inspector generals report found. But there were plenty of other actors on the scene  ordered up by the Trump administration  with the specific, predetermined mission of using force to clear protesters out so Trump could stand in front of St. Johns Church holding a Bible.

The government action was excessive. The Black Lives Matter protesters were not engaged in violence at the time, although some protesters had previously engaged law enforcers, injuring 49 U.S. Park Police officers. At the time of the confrontation on June 1, 2020, nonviolent protesters were exercising their First Amendment right to express outrage over the police murder, days before, of George Floyd in Minneapolis. They were actually moving away from the park when law enforcers other than U.S. Park Service police deployed chemical irritants against them.
As city officials are making good-faith efforts to boost vaccinations, the states Republican leaders are doing exactly the opposite. Parson on Tuesday signed into law a measure that will take public-health decisions regarding the pandemic out of the hands of doctors and give it to local politicians. Worse, the measure prevents city and county officials from requiring proof of vaccination as a condition for use of public transportation or other public accommodations. Such a requirement would be perfectly reasonable  no one has a constitutional right to spread a virus among MetroLink or bus riders, and city officials have every right to protect those riders. But as usual, the lip service that Parson pays to the conservative concept of local control goes out the window the moment he feels the need to pander the hard right.
In my opinion, the editorial "Missouri GOP lawmakers ignore farmers at their peril" (June 4) mischaracterizes an issue known as right to repair that will negatively affect our agriculture industry.

Outside activists push for right-to-repair legislation to force manufacturers to turn over their proprietary information so they can illegally tamper with sophisticated pieces of machinery. Illegal tampering is dangerous to farmers, the public, and unpredictably shortens the lifespan of equipment.

New tractors are self-driving and use precision agriculture technology, revolutionizing how farmers operate, resulting in reduced downtime and increased efficiency. Yes, its true that modern-era tractors arent as simple to fix as in previous decades. Thats why equipment manufacturers also offer repair and diagnostic information for equipment owners for the vast majority of the tractor and combine market.
I was actually planning to live in Paris for a month, something that Ive always wanted to do as a sort of Eat Pray Love era for myself, before settling down with a family, said Megan Batoon, one of the three hosts of the new Netflix travel series, The World's Most Amazing Vacation Rentals. I saw a notification pop up on my phone as I was doing the dishes the other day and just laughed as I loaded the dishwasher and fell asleep in my bed, which was not in France. Based out of Los Angeles, the 30-year-old social media influencer shares her travels on Twitter (https://twitter.com/meganbatoon), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/MeganBatoonFP/) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/meganbatoon/).

Q: What have you learned about traveling from your experience shooting "The Worlds Most Amazing Vacation Rentals"?

A: Ive learned that there is always more to see. We traveled and shot so ambitiously that it was nice to be able to see so much of the world in such a short time. But some of the most memorable moments were walking around and discovering small gems and coffee shops that arent on any travel guide and you could only find if you strolled around town aimlessly.

Q: This pandemic has made everyone think differently about how we spend our vacation time. Besides this Netflix series, what have you been up to travel-wise?
Grasp Wonder Womans magic lasso during the new Warner Bros. Studio Tour, and it begins to glow.

In the same tour, you can sit under the sorting hat from the Harry Potter books and movies, and it will assign you to a house in the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Aquaman fans can take a selfie as they hold the superheros gold trident.

The new interactive movie memorabilia, along with film mementos nearly as old as Hollywood itself, are now in a new building that Warner Bros. Studios plans to open June 26  an investment in the future of Southern Californias once-thriving tourism industry.

It also comes as the 98-year-old film and TV studio enters a new chapter of its own: Warner Bros. learned last month that it would be merged with Discovery, the home of HGTV, Food Network and Animal Planet, after a tumultuous three years of being owned by AT&T.

The seven-story, 483,000-square-foot building across the street from Warner Bros. corporate offices in Burbank had been scheduled to open in May 2020 but was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The tours were previously launched from the first floor of the corporate office building, which offered less than half the display and visitor space of the new venue.
Shares is the leading weekly publication for retail investors. It is packed with investment ideas, news and educational material to help build and run portfolios and get more from your money.

Shares puts on free Investor Events throughout the year across the country. They provide an opportunity for investors to learn more about companies on the stock market and hear from a range of investment experts including fund managers and Shares journalists.
German truck manufacturer Rheinmetall recently introduced a new line of HX3 heavy-duty trucks designed to meet military requirements, especially for export customers worldwide. That is a big business and for decades American manufacturers have had most of it.

The HX2 series incorporates many of the new features that military users have been asking for and makes it easier to adapt HX3 trucks to a wide range of military uses. This increasingly involves replacing tracked (as in bulldozers) vehicles to transport and operate artillery and missiles. More of these military trucks are being used for mobile SAM (Surface to Air Missile) systems and electronic warfare systems. Heavy truck technology has been improving faster than for tracked vehicles and users want new military trucks that are easier to adapt to weapons and other mobile battlefield systems that previously used tracked tech to operate off roads.

The HX3 trucks are easier to equip with new tech that makes them easier for the drivers to use, like ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control), LDW (Lane Departure Warning) and future developments in this area. Modern military trucks use improved technology to make them a preferred alternative to tracked vehicles not just for off-road mobility but because wheeled vehicles are easier to maintain and cheaper to operate. The new driver-assist tech makes it easier to train new drivers as well as reducing driver fatigue when operating at night or off roads.

HX3 is a direct threat to the American Oshkosh Corporation, which pioneered the development of modern military trucks in the 1980s and has dominated the American and export markets ever since. The Oshkosh FMTV (Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles) trucks were developed at the request of the U.S. Army in the 1980s to replace older designs that did not take advantage of all the post-World War II improvements in heavy trucks. The 2.5-ton FMTV quickly replaced the Vietnam era M35 models in the 1990s, which in turn replaced World War II era vehicles. Most of the Vietnam era models could carry 2.5 tons, and tow six tons. The FMTV were basically the third generation of American trucks specifically designed for military use. FMTV was the most successful generation and kept improving to keep pace with new truck technology. The army acquired nearly 100,000 of FMTVs before the next generation MTVR (Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement) vehicles entered production in 2000. Oshkosh also produced heavier (10-20 ton) military vehicles, including those tractor-trailer systems that could transport tanks or any type of cargo. Oshkosh also produced MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected) armored trucks that were widely used in Iraq and Afghanistan. The new HX3 vehicles aim to introduce a lot of new truck tech for military vehicles before American manufacturers can.

Meanwhile Oshkosh had plenty of work because the army needed thousands of MRAP armored trucks and spare parts for FMTV vehicle refurbishment, and deal with FMTV trucks and trailers wearing out faster than expected because of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Many vehicles have nearly 100,000 kilometers of use, often on bad roads or cross country. As a result, Oshkosh supplied the U.S. Army $4 billion worth of MRAPs and spare parts and refurbishment services for the heavily used FMTV vehicles.

The FMTV vehicles, consisting of several dozen different models, have about 80 percent common parts, which makes it easier to stock spare parts and keep vehicles running. The FMTV trucks are more reliable, and have higher availability rates, than the ones they replaced. The same was true with the larger (ten ton and up) trucks and tractor-trailer tank-transporters. The German HX3 line of vehicles now compete with all of these.

After the peak combat in Iraq and Afghanistan ended in 2010 the army was still buying more FMTV vehicles (about 3,000 a year). Production was over 7,000 a year in 2010 and peaked at about 8,000 a year before new models like MTVR began replacing FMTV. Before that several thousand heavily used FMTV trucks were, at a cost of about $100,000 each, refurbished to nearly new status. Most of the refurbished trucks were worn down by hard use, while others were damaged in combat or accidents. The need for more trucks is also driven by the need to equip a ten percent expansion in the size of the army. Reserve units also need FMTV vehicles to replace Vietnam era vehicles that are falling apart.

Many nations worldwide are seeking a new generation of military trucks and the HX3 is an example of the kind of competition pioneer Oshkosh has to face.
It is becoming fashionable to compare the current situation with an aggressive China with what happened in the 1930s, during the worldwide Great Depression, when Germany suddenly went from a non-threatening democracy to a very threatening socialist dictatorship that ended the economic depression in Germany and began rebuilding its armed forces. The rearmament was a violation of the agreement Germany signed to end World War I, which Germany ultimately lost. Twenty years after the 1919 defeat restrictions were imposed, Germany was again at war and for several years was winning,

The situation with China is different and worse. China went from an international socialist communist government taking over in 1949 and, after two decades realizing that this communist economic system and its state-controlled economy was not working. Unlike Russia, China found a solution by retaining the communist police state but allowing a market economy to function. China also dropped all the talk of international socialism and went with a nationalist approach. This is what the Nazis did, even though the German National Socialist Workers Party was never interested in socialism, but it was a very popular concept during the Great Depression and as long as the Nazis could provide jobs and prosperity Germans did not care what their new government actually was. Both the 1930s Nazis and the current Chinese police state are both examples of what came to be known as fascism, a police state with a market economy. Both the Nazis and China justified their aggression by describing it as righting past wrongs and obtaining more resources for their people. The worst aspect of this is that fascist dictatorships are notoriously difficult to deal with diplomatically. They keep grabbing more territory from neighbors and making peace deals they have no intention of complying with. There are some important differences between Nazi Germany and China, which may or may not prevent the current situation ending badly for all concerned.

Like the 1930s Germans, Chins is seeking to use bluff and bluster to obtain domination of the East Pacific region. This includes credible threats of a war in which China would inevitably win. If these threats were convincing China would dominate the East Pacific and confirm its claims to the South China Sea. The Chinese military is modernized and the Chinese fleet has more warships in service than the United States. The modernized Chinese army is larger than any other in the region.

The reality is that these war threats are a bluff, which in Chinese terms is an acceptable strategy if potential enemies believe it and act accordingly. China does not address their own weaknesses and vulnerabilities if such a war actually broke out. These vulnerabilities exist in terms of economics as well as their ability to fight and win.

Economically China is extremely vulnerable to having its overseas trade disrupted, even for a short period. Compare this to 1930s Japan, where their only vulnerability was dependence on oil imports from the United States and the newly developed oil fields of the Dutch East Indies colonies (modern Indonesia). Other natural resources were imported from Japanese controlled Korea and northern China.

Today China is, like 1930s Japan, a dictatorship but one that maintains control by increasing living standards and fears another slide back into the regional separatism that has been a major problem for thousands of years.

China must, like World War II Japan, win quickly or at least compel a battered United States to cede control of the West Pacific and Indian Ocean to China. Unlike the 1930s, China faces a United States with powerful local allies in the form of Japan, South Korea and India. The Americans and Indians have nukes. So does Russia, now a Chinese client because China does not have allies. Russia is dependent on the Chinese economy for survival.

China is far more economically vulnerable now than Japan was then. China cannot feed itself and is much more dependent on oil imports. China maintains a 90-day oil reserve, but most of it is stored above ground and very vulnerable to non-nuclear ballistic missile attack. China has a lot of these missiles aimed at Taiwan and American bases in the West Pacific, but the Americans have more ABM (anti-ballistic missile) systems than China. Another problem is determining how China would carry out another surprise attack, with an impact greater than what Japan hoped to achieve. During the December, 1941 surprise attack on the main American fleet base in Hawaii (Pearl Harbor) Japan ignored the more important, to the U.S. fleet, logistic and maintenance facilities at Pearl Harbor. Their attacks on other bases and territories in the West Pacific were meant to solve their own supply problems, without realizing that the U.S. had similar vulnerabilities when it came to sustaining a large military effort in the Pacific.

Today China has weapons that could disrupt economic activities via attacks on the Internet and enemy (American and its local allies) space satellites. The Americans can also cripple Chinese satellites and are increasingly able to do so.

In the 1930s Japanese navy leaders told the army, which controlled the government, that the fleet could go on the offensive for about six months and if that did not induce the Americans to cede the West Pacific to Japan, the remainder of the war would have to be defensive against a rapidly growing American fleet. The reality was worse, as Japan failed to attack key logistical targets at Pearl Harbor, where they found none of the American aircraft carriers but plenty of oil storage sites and fleet maintenance facilities that were left alone as not worthy of a warriors attention.

World War II Japan was run by what was described as a fascist government. This came about after World War I when nationalist Japanese army leaders replaced the constitutional monarchy that had been in place since the late 19th century. While the Japanese dictatorship disdained socialism they revived and embraced a way of the warrior philosophy which had dominated Japanese culture and politics until the militarily superior Westerners showed up and presented a superior system (the industrial revolution) that Japan quickly adopted. This new Japan was successful but after World War I turned on the West for not treating Japan as an equal.

During World War II Japanese strategy did not involve using submarines against vulnerable American shipping that was needed to supply Australia, New Zealand and other areas Japan was unable to grab quickly. At the end of the predicted six-month Japanese naval superiority was gone and Japanese carrier capability crippled by the loss of half its carrier force during the Battle of Midway. The Americans could replace lost ships, aircraft and pilots much more quickly than the Japanese so those heavy losses early in the war were fatal for Japanese naval power.

Roles are reversed today, where China has greater ship building capability than the United States. To make that work China has to keep the sea lanes open for foreign imports. Maintaining sea access against hostile airpower, submarines and trading partners that see China as the aggressor is a daunting task.

The availability of nuclear weapons to both sides, as well as the increased importance of EW (Electronic Warfare) and long-range guided missiles makes preparations for a 21st century version of the December 1941 Japanese surprise attack more complicated. China puts more emphasis on developing, testing and in some cases using new hacking weapons in the U.S. by doing it through third parties, in this case criminal hackers based in China or Russia. Using sabotage as part of the surprise military attack is nothing new, but with Internet hacking tool now available, along with the ability to attack clandestinely in peacetime, China believes it now has a decisive weapon for surprise attack that will weaken the United States without angering it sufficiently to trigger a nuclear response. Yet China is also vulnerable, more so than the United States, to electronic attacks via networks or wireless means. China is seeking to deal with this by modifying Chinese links to the international Internet so that China can quickly sever those international links and survive as a China-only Internet for a short period. The main reason for international Internet access is economic and Internet isolation cannot be maintained if it cripples the economy.

All this puts Chinas new military bases in the South China Sea, which China is now claiming to own, into perspective. China wants control of the South China Sea to protect about 20 percent of its sea lanes to the Middle East. Since the South China Sea also carries a large percentage of world trade, especially between East Asia and the Middle East and Europe, China is not the only one seeking to control who can do what in the South China Sea.

China has its own plans for dealing with foreign threats and allows open discussion of these plans in China, especially in military journals. The open discussions are necessary to get useful ideas from a wider audience of military and civilian experts. There are often references to Japanese mistakes during their war with the United States. Less often do these discussions mention the main reason for the American threats to Japan was efforts to get Japan to halt its violence against China. This is not considered relevant to the current Chinese situation where the government justifies the military buildup and threats of war as necessary to restore Chinas traditional role as the mightiest nation in East Asia. China lost that to the West by not modernizing while the West surpassed it militarily, economically and in all other areas that mattered. China did not undergo the industrial revolution until the 1970s when it decided to adopt a market economy and that meant dependence on imports of raw materials and finding foreign markets for Chinese goods. That introduced vulnerabilities that China has not come to terms with yet and which make any talk of war more bluff than reality.

Meanwhile more Russians were noting that China, for the first time, has a larger and more modern military than Russia. The mighty Soviet era Red Army lost 80 percent of its manpower in the 1990s and nearly as much of its budget. That meant the 1990s Russian army was also smaller, for the first time, than the peacetime American army. This came at a time when China is quietly taking over the Russian Far east. The official lie is that the Russian Far East is prospering because of massive investments in infrastructure and local businesses. What the government plays down is that all of that is for turning the Russian Far East economy into something that serves and benefits only China. The new roads, pipelines, electric power production and railways are mainly to supply China. The Far East is still unable to attract Russians and more and more of the workforce consists of Chinese and North Koreans, including many there illegally or, in the case of North Koreans, as slave-labor. Chinese merchants and suppliers dominate the local economy and Russians fear that eventually the Chinese will act on the centurys old claims to the Far East and simply tell the Russian government; it is ours and Russian will not be able to do anything about it.

June 14, 2021: In the south, a Chinese four-engine ASW (anti-submarine warfare) aircraft (similar to the American P-3) entered the Taiwan ADIZ (air defense identification zone) without warning and forcing Taiwan to send up fighters to doublecheck. ADIZ intrusions have increased sharply in 2021 and this is the third time in June that an ASW aircraft was the culprit.

June 3, 2021: The U.S. believes they have spotted a new Chinese ASAT (anti-satellite) system in orbit. This one, Shijian-17, has a grappling arm that enables the ASAT to maneuver into position and grab another satellite for closer examination or to put it in another orbit that will cause it to plunge earthward and burn up in the atmosphere. China also has high-powered, ground-based lasers that can disable a satellite at the lower end of low orbits for satellites that could not be forced low enough to be drawn into the atmosphere.

This is one of many Chinese ASAT weapons being developed, tested and ready for a major wartime use of ASAT weapons that could destroy over a hundred enemy satellites and create a much larger threat to any surviving satellites or space vessels passing through orbital space. This is part of a Chinese plan to carry out a Pearl Harbor type surprise attack on American space-based sensors, navigation and communications systems. This would make Chinese surface or air-based attacks more effective.

Chinese ASATs like Shijian-17 were not unexpected but China claims Shijian-17 is there for peaceful purposes, to find and destroy orbital debris. China has also developed and put into service powerful arrays of radars and optical systems for spotting and determining the orbit of LEO (low earth orbit) satellites at the same time it was getting easier to develop and build other types of ASAT systems.

Back in 2008, Russia and China urged the UN to outlaw the development or testing of ASAT systems. The impetus for this was the 2008 destruction of a broken U.S. spy satellite using a ship-based anti-aircraft missile modified to intercept ballistic missiles. What upset China and Russia was that this feat put all their satellites in a low earth orbit (160-2,000 kilometers up) at risk. A Pearl Harbor in space is not as effective if the enemy can quickly retaliate against Chinese satellites.

May 31, 2021: China has enacted a new law that allows couples to have as many as three children. This supersedes the 2016 law that allowed two children. The latest change comes in response to the recent delayed release of the details of the seventh national census. Conducted during the last two months of 2020, the official results showed that population increased 72 million since the 2010 census. That meant that the annual growth rate during the last decade was o.53 percent versus 0.57 percent during the previous decade. Chinese population experts expect the population to show annual decline sometime in the 2020s. That puts the year of peak population to be somewhere between 2022 and 2027.

The census results were supposed to be released by early April 2021 but that did not happen. There were news leaks that the delay was due to indications that the population decline had accelerated and population had actually declined since 2010. This was not unexpected, nor was the subsequent government assertion that the leaks were false and that the delay was because of the need to further analyze the results and prepare a suitable announcement.

Tweaking official data to meet government expectations has been a major problem in China, at all levels, for a long time. Those problems began with the provincial government mishandling the financing of new businesses, infrastructure and home building and faking data sent to the central government to hide their crimes.

The population decline was expected, but sometime in the late 2020s, not by 2020. The government delayed releasing the 2020 census until May 11th and released the details by May 20. The impact of the population decline has been visible, no matter what the rate of decline actually is. The labor shortage began to show up a decade ago as it drove up wage costs. This reduced the cost advantage of producing goods in China. That led to other nations in Asia taking Chinese manufacturing jobs because they had more workers and lower wages. China knew it would have a growing labor shortage because of the smaller generations of Chinese produced after the one child per family program was instituted in the 1980s. That policy was officially eliminated five years ago but before that enforcement efforts were visibly declining. It was too late and China failed to pay attention to how this worked out in other newly affluent countries. Many more affluent (than 30 years ago) Chinese women do not want to have more than one or two (or any) children and the government, like their counterparts elsewhere, has not yet found a way to compel obedience. This is a common problem with affluence and has already hit Japan and South Korea and every other industrialized nation that does not allow many foreigners to become permanent residents, much less citizens. China has always seen non-Chinese as lesser creatures, a designation many neighbors and adversaries do not appreciate. China has become increasingly alarmed at the impact of its one-child policy, its inability to keep things from getting worse. Chinese leaders never discussed how they would handle the obvious demographic implications of the one-child policy while several successive supreme leaders preferred to play political musical chairs and leave the problem unaddressed for their successors. Eventually one of those successors ends up the loser. But at least he can blame his weak predecessors for not doing what had to be done.

Time is not on Chinas side. The negative impact of the one-child policy began showing up in unmistakable ways more than a decade ago and there were numerous very obvious indicators. One of the more obvious was fewer Chinese available to fill the growing number of jobs. For example, the overall population increased 7.1 million in 2014, to 1.37 billion while the working age population declined 3.7 million. The number of Chinese over 60 increased 10 million to 212 million. All this very visible evidence was obvious in 2014 and will continue for decades. The biggest problem, though, is the growing shortage of workers. As the population ages, all those one child families mean there will be more elderly than the economy, and its shrinking workforce can effectively support. In 2015 there were eleven working age Chinese for every retiree. By 2050, if not earlier, there will only be two for each retiree. At that point, retirees will comprise 30 percent of the population versus over 15 percent now. Traditionally, children cared for their parents in multi-generation households. That model is dying out, and China is faced with huge pension cost increases at the same time they expect their economy to be the mightiest on the planet. In reality the largest single government expense will be the care of the elderly, and this will impose crushing taxes on those of working age and stifle economic growth. It will be more difficult to get workers for unpopular jobs. For example, the military, especially the navy, is already having problems obtaining enough qualified recruits for its smaller but far more high-tech force. The new navy spends a lot of time at sea and most young Chinese see that as an extreme hardship.

Many working age Chinese are worried about this, for there is no easy solution in sight. The population shrinkage is accompanied by another problem. Since the 1980s many of those couples forced to have only one child aborted a child if it was a female, because much more importance is attached to having a male heir. The result became obvious about fifteen years ago when the first one-child generation started looking for wives. At that point there were 38 million more males than females in China, and the disparity is growing. The competition for wives is causing problems.

Women are taking advantage of their scarcity, but men are also going to neighboring countries to buy, or even kidnap, young women to be wives. This is causing ill will with neighbors, where females are enticed or coerced (kidnapped by criminal gangs) to become wives of Chinese men who have no other options. Its not just brides who are moving to China, millions of workers move to China each year. Its these migrants that will become increasingly important in the next few decades for dealing with the labor shortage, but they cannot become Chinese citizens unless they can marry Chinese. China, Korea and Japan are all hostile to integrating other east Asians into their populations. It happens, but there is a social stigma for having a foreign parent or ancestor.

The government knew that once a census report made official the decline of the population, a lot more unwanted attention would be paid to the population problems. This will lead Chinese to take a closer look at South Korea and Japan, who enjoyed rapid economic growth a decade or more earlier than China. Japan got there first and now faces inexorable population shortages with no solution in sight. Integrating migrants into the culture is still forbidden although Japan has been forced to at least consider allowing qualified migrants to become citizens, although socially second-class ones. That will change Japanese culture, but that already happened in the aftermath of World War II and Japan thrived because of it.

South Korea is another matter, because the population decline is a decade behind Japan and the South Koreans are more open to accepting qualified foreigners. Many South Koreans believe Korea will become united soon and hope this will somehow solve the population problem for a while. Unification is unlikely unless China agrees to cooperate and tolerate a unified democratic Korea as a neighbor. China does not want more affluent Koreans on its borders.

Europe and especially the former British colonies that became the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand all thrived by accepting migrants from everywhere and urging them to adapt to the new culture and become citizens. With a few exceptions, that population growth model was not widely accepted in Europe. But it was much more acceptable than in East Asia.

Elsewhere, in the South China Sea, an American warship conducted another FONOP (freedom of navigation operations) in the South China Sea. This is the second American FONOP in the South China Sea for 2021. In 2020 the U.S. carried a record 13 FONOPS in the South China Sea. This was up from nine in 2019. Even more FONOPS were carried out in the South China Sea by other nations opposing the Chinese claims. In addition to more FONOPS, in mid-2020 the Americans took a stronger stand against Chinese aggression by declaring Chinese claims to offshore resources across most of the South China Sea as completely unlawful. This included the Chinese campaign of bullying other nations to gain exclusive control of these resources. In 2016 an international court ruled against China and stated that occupying uninhabitable rocks and building artificial islands did not confer an EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone). Ownership of rocks gets, at best, 22 kilometers of territorial waters from the edge of each rock rather than 360 kilometers for EEZ rights. Before this change the U.S. merely called for China to comply with the court ruling, something China said it would not do even before the court completed its deliberations. The Americans did continue to carry out aerial and naval FONOP with warships to assert the right of innocent passage. This annoyed the Chinese, who claimed most of the South China Sea was under Chinese control and no foreign ship or aircraft could enter without permission. China has been claiming areas long recognized as belonging to Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan and the Philippines. That has caused all these nations, plus the United States, Japan and South Korea to form an alliance to halt Chinese aggression.

May 30, 2021: China has apparently decided to undertake a major operation to force the Philippines out of Pagasa Island, the second largest of the Spratly Islands and also claimed by China, Taiwan and Vietnam. The Philippines is the only claimant with a settlement and military garrison on the island. The Chinese are using non-lethal (most of the time) force to drive everyone else out the South China Sea islands they claim. The last time China used force (against Vietnam) was in the 1970s, before China became dependent on the sea lanes that pass through the South China Sea to the Middle East, Africa and Australia.

While the South China Sea combat is non-lethal, the economic damage to other nations with legal claims to portions of the South China Sea is very real. As this shoving match escalates, other major trading nations, especially the United States, Japan and South Korea, as well as more distant industrialized nations, are lending military support. While everyone is under orders to not open fire, unless facing a lethal threat, the risk of the shoving match turning into a shooting match increases.

China created the current crisis over who controls Pagasa Island and nearby sandbars. Since 2019 China has sent a record number of ships to block access to disputed islands, especially, Pagasa. Most of these are Chinese fishing boats pretending to be fishing but in reality, are members of the Chinese naval militia which is now composed of about a thousand ships that are paid regularly to be available when called upon to carry out paramilitary duties, usually in the South China Sea. China insists it has not ordered its naval militia fishing boats to physically block Filipino commercial or military ships from getting to Pagasa. Despite that pledge it has become more difficult for Filipino fishing boats to operate in areas they had long worked. China has been threatening to cut off access to Pagasa since 2014 but has never followed through, possibly because the Philippines has often stationed a warship off Pagasa. China claims ownership, despite Pagasa being closer to the Philippines than China and long occupied by Filipinos. Also called Thitu Island, Pagasa is the second-largest (37.2 hectares/93 acres) of the Spratly Islands and is inhabited by 200 Filipinos civilians and a few military personnel.

The Philippines has played nice with China for over a decade while also upgrading its naval and air forces. The Filipino rearmament program has been aided by American, Japanese and Australian donations of warships and aircraft as well as offers of low-cost military equipment. Because of that the Philippines now has enough warships and patrol aircraft to maintain constant patrols of disputed areas. China responds with larger (often over a hundred at a time) unarmed ships as well as a growing number of armed ships and aircraft. Despite the military buildup, Filipino leaders still have to face the fact that they cannot use force to oppose the Chinese. More powerful allies are needed for that.

May 28, 2021: The Philippines sent its 100th diplomatic protest to China over illegal Chinese actions in the South China Sea. China has ignored them all, although some result in a diplomatic protest from China. The Filipino protests have been happening nearly every day since early April when the Philippines announced it would seek a peaceful solution to the dispute over Whitsun Reef. President Duterte deliberately used the international name for the reef, which is also known as Julian Felipe Reef because that is what Filipinos call it and until China came along the Philippines had the strongest claim on the, until recently underwater, reef. Such a reef is valuable because it is prime fishing grounds and does provide some shelter from large waves during bad weather. Duterte has tried playing nice with the Chinese but so far has been burned more often than benefitted from this approach.

May 25, 2021: Despite rumors to the contrary, use of the cross-border railroad to move goods into North Korea has still not happened. North Korea hinted at resuming freight train service earlier in the year but it hasnt happened yet and there is no indication of when it will. What freight that has arrived in North Korea from China or Russia was moved by boat.

May 21, 2021: The American and South Korean leaders met in the United States and the American leader agreed to lift all the remaining restrictions on the range of ballistic missiles that South Korea could develop and build as well as the size of their non-nuclear warheads. This enables South Korea to proceed with plans to develop missiles with ranges of up to 5,000 kilometers, providing South Korea with something to confront the similar Chinese missiles that have long been aimed at South Korea. The only restriction left is the one against South Korea developing nuclear weapons. These restrictions are an artifact of the Korean War (1950-53). In 1953 the fighting ended with an armistice, which is still in force. A permanent peace treaty would involve recognition by the UN and elimination of the outlaw status North Korea achieved by invading South Korea in 1950 and triggering a UN sponsored effort to push the North Koreans out. The U.S. troops still in South Korea are the last remnant of the multi-national force that fought the war. The armistice gave the UN/U.S. authority to restrict South Korean weapons development, to prevent an arms race with North Korea.

The restrictions were popular in South Korea until about a decade ago, when increased North Korean violence against the south resulted in a major shift of South Korean public opinion against North Korea and calls for lifting restrictions on what weapons South Korea could have. This has led to a lot of new South Korean weapons. In 2017 South Korea revealed a successful test of a locally made solid fuel ballistic missile with a range of 800 kilometers. This enabled South Korea to hit targets anywhere in North Korea with weapons (ballistic missiles) that North Korea is not equipped to stop. In 2015 South Korea did the same with a ballistic missile with a range of 500 kilometers tested. The 2015 test ended decades of most restrictions on South Korean ballistic missile development for weapons to be used against North Korea. The United States began lifting these range restrictions in 2012. South Korea tried for over a decade to develop warmer relations with North Korea and all efforts failed. The 2010 North Korea attacks, using artillery against a South Korea's offshore island and a torpedo to sink a South Korean warship changed a lot of attitudes in South Korea, and the United States. North Korea was considered an incorrigible threat and the U.S. agreed to South Korea being free to try whatever new weapons and tactics it believed would work. This included lifting all restrictions on what types of weapons South Korea could import.

North Korea responded with accusations that South Korea was now the aggressor and North Korea was only defending itself. South Koreans rejected that and a lot of other lies North Korea had been trying to hide behind since 1950 when they invaded South Korea in self-defense.
Latin American AVOD provider Riivi chooses Norigin Media

Oslo( )

Riivi, the OTT streaming service provider in Latin America, has chosen Norigin Media for quality assured Smart TV applications. The Chilean based TV streaming apps that are currently accessible on web browsers and mobile devices, will soon launch on several connected TV devices.

The on-demand TV streaming service provider offers a catalogue of over 200 titles from the biggest of Latin production companies including Fabula, Andrea Films, Shoreline, Ceneca, among others. Nordic TV technology solutions company; Norigin Media has been commissioned to validate the TV Apps that are planned to be launched soon.

Riivi is the first Latin-American ad-based (AVOD) platform that offers free movies, documentaries and series in the region. With ambitious plans to launch in multiple countries, the OTT streaming platform has already acquired a sizable audience who expects availability on many Connected TV models. Norigin Media will help verify and fast-track the certification of the TV Apps, including popular Smart TV devices like Samsung Tizen and LG WebOS, among others.

Norigin Medias Testing as-a-Service (OTT Testing-aaS) helps quality assure premium streaming TV Apps from broadcasters for efficient device manufacturer certification. The testing lab facilities and world class QA engineering from Norigin Media ensures good quality streaming apps that consumers will use.

Ilan Oliel, Co-Founder and CTO of Riivi says As Latin Americas first free streaming service of local productions, we have grand ideas to create new TV experiences for our viewers. For us, that means having top quality and smooth user-experience, and hence look forward to working closely with Norigin Media who have many years of developmental expertise on Connected TV Apps

Ajey Anand, CEO of Norigin Media adds We are extremely happy to announce our foray and new partnership in South America. It is a pleasure to work with the team at Riivi and we intend to help launch many such great streaming services in the region. Large screen TV models are fragmented and require a lot of specific attention, which we are confident to provide so that their consumers can be soon excited to stream Riivi on Connected TVs

Riivi is headquartered in Las Condes in Chile and Norigin Media is based out of Oslo in Norway. To access or demo streaming TV services from Norigin media Testing labs: contact@noriginmedia.com
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Applied Real Intelligence (A.R.I.), a venture debt investment firm that provides innovative financing solutions to successful VC-backed companies, announced the hiring of Jeffrey Sokolowski as Managing Director, Investments. Mr. Sokolowski will report to Zack Ellison, A.R.I.s Founder and Managing General Partner, and will be based in Dallas, Texas, where he will lead A.R.I.s regional expansion.

We are thrilled to welcome Jeff to A.R.I.s senior leadership team as we continue expanding access to innovation as an asset class for institutional investors and family offices while creating access to non-dilutive, less expensive capital for innovative founders of early-stage companies, said Ellison.

Mr. Sokolowski will have a primary role in managing A.R.I.s portfolio, lending policies, and investment risk management practices, including oversight of credit analysis, due diligence, transaction structuring, and loan underwriting. He joins the firms Executive Committee, Investment Committee, and Risk Committee and has responsibility for building and maintaining strategic partnerships with A.R.I.s portfolio companies and sponsors, including venture capital firms, private equity firms, bank lenders, and non-bank lenders.

A.R.I. is primed for tremendous success given the firms robust operational infrastructure, systematic transaction sourcing capabilities, and strength in credit risk underwriting. Venture debt is experiencing explosive growth and A.R.I.s process-based approach is perfectly suited to deliver results for borrowers and LPs alike, said Sokolowski.

Prior to joining A.R.I., Mr. Sokolowski achieved an outstanding investment track record in venture debt and middle market lending, built over two decades across multiple economic cycles. From 2004 to 2021, he worked at ORIX USA, the North American subsidiary of ORIX Corporation, a diversified Japanese financial services group with assets over $125 billion.

For the past decade, Mr. Sokolowski was a Director at ORIX Growth Capital, a global leader in venture debt. ORIX Growth Capital has successfully deployed over $2 billion to more than 175 companies, while generating outstanding risk-adjusted performance. At ORIX Growth Capital, Mr. Sokolowski was responsible for oversight and risk management of its venture debt portfolio, consisting of debt facilities ranging from $5 million to $50 million, along with equity co-investments and warrant positions. In this role, he managed the full credit life cycle from inception to exit, and developed deep underwriting, credit risk, and portfolio management expertise in key industry verticals. His sectors of focus included enterprise software, healthcare IT and services, financial technology, digital media and internet, consumer and mobile, technology infrastructure, and tech-enabled services.

During his 17 years at ORIX, Mr. Sokolowski was also a founding member of the firms Leveraged Finance Group, successfully restructured troubled credits, and was instrumental in third-party capital raising efforts.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Sokolowski was an Audit Manager at KPMG, where he qualified as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). He later joined Bank of America Business Capital as a Vice President, where he focused on underwriting and structuring credit facilities for middle market borrowers. He holds a BSBA in Accounting from West Virginia University.

About Applied Real Intelligence LLC (A.R.I.)

A.R.I. is a venture debt investment manager focused on providing financing solutions to high-growth, VC-backed companies in North America. A.R.I.s investment strategy aims to provide limited partners with superior risk-adjusted returns, security of capital, and strong portfolio diversification benefits.

To learn more, please visit www.arivc.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005419/en/

Zack Ellison, Managing General Partner, zellison@arivc.com, 310-881-3893

Source: Applied Real Intelligence LLC
Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board leads Series D round, through its Teachers Innovation Platform

Participation from existing investors such as Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC, BDC, Harmonic, Index Ventures, Blue Cloud Ventures, and Garage Capital, also participated

New capital will be used to meet the pent-up demand of international students looking to study abroad through new product offerings, destination countries, and expanded support teams at scale

KITCHENER, Ontario--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- ApplyBoard, the online platform that empowers students around the world to access top quality education, today announced it has raised C$375 million (US$300 million) in Series D funding at a post-money valuation of C$4 billion (US$3.2 billion).

The round was led by Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board (Ontario Teachers), through its Teachers Innovation Platform (TIP). TIP focuses on late-stage venture and growth equity investments in companies developing innovative technologies. Existing investors Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC, BDC, Harmonic, Index Ventures, Garage Capital, and Blue Cloud Ventures also participated in the round. Since its founding, ApplyBoard has raised C$600M (US$475M).

"Education has the power to change lives and bring peace to the world, and ApplyBoard is more committed than ever to helping the millions of students who are dreaming of studying abroad," said Martin Basiri, Co-founder and CEO, ApplyBoard. "With limited international travel over the past year, we are seeing pent-up demand from students looking to study abroad. We are excited for what this new investment will allow us to accomplish to help our students, partner institutions, and recruitment partners, so that our industry can build back better in a post-COVID world."

Built upon the fundamental belief that education is a right and not a privilege, ApplyBoard is on a mission to educate the world by democratizing access to international educational opportunities. ApplyBoard has grown in six years to be the online market leader in the study abroad industry, helping more than 200,000 students with their application journey, and plan to support millions in the coming years.

ApplyBoards rapid growth continued this past year, expanding to offer access to international educational programs in the UK, Australia, and the US and doubling the number of global team members to more than 1,000. ApplyBoard has also added new products and services over the past year, including ApplyProof, which enables stakeholders in the student journey (including admissions officers and immigration officials) to trust the authenticity of documents, such as English test scores, letters of acceptance, and more.

At Ontario Teachers, we have a fundamental belief in the value of a top quality education, said Olivia Steedman, Senior Managing Director, TIP. ApplyBoards technology platform is simplifying the process of connecting students and educational institutions and creating greater opportunities for education globally.

ApplyBoard was founded in 2015 by brothers Martin, Meti, and Massi Basiri. They were international students who came from Iran to Canada for their education and after seeing and experiencing the challenges of the application process they decided to start ApplyBoard to make it easier for others.

About ApplyBoard

ApplyBoard empowers students around the world to access the best education by simplifying the study abroad search, application, and acceptance process to more than 1,500 institutions across Canada, Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom. ApplyBoard, headquartered in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, has helped more than 200,000 students from more than 125 countries along their educational journeys since 2015. To learn more, visit: www.applyboard.com

About Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board

The Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Board (Ontario Teachers') is the administrator of Canada's largest single-profession pension plan, with C$221.2 billion in net assets (all figures at December 31, 2020). It holds a diverse global portfolio of assets, approximately 80% of which is managed in-house, and has earned an annual total-fund net return of 9.6% since the plan's founding in 1990. Ontario Teachers' is an independent organization headquartered in Toronto. Its Asia-Pacific region offices are located in Hong Kong and Singapore, and its Europe, Middle East & Africa region office is in London. The defined-benefit plan, which is fully funded, invests and administers the pensions of the province of Ontario's 331,000 active and retired teachers. For more information, visit otpp.com and follow us on Twitter @OtppInfo.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005210/en/

David Tubbs

david.tubbs@applyboard.com, 226-972-4349



Hugh Christopher

hugh_christopher@otpp.com

Source: ApplyBoard
Insurance industry heavyweights join Abacai CEO, Mark Wilson, at pivotal time for the industry

Abacais integrated platform will provide a better insurance experience to customers powered by AI and contextual data technology

Abacai intends to disrupt the industry on behalf of the customer

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Abacai Group (Abacai or the Group), the next generation insurtech disruptor, today announces the appointment of six senior leadership hires. Hand-picked from across the insurance industry, the new leadership team joins Abacai CEO, Mark Wilson, as the Group eyes the significant opportunity to better serve customers created by the FCA's general insurance pricing practices market study.

Abacai's AI-based platform intends to deliver a better, cheaper and fairer insurance experience to customers. The new leadership team, who will head up Abacai Technologies, will help deliver these objectives by bringing industry-leading expertise across four key verticals: pricing, technology, artificial intelligence, and product design.

James Ockenden will join as Chief Actuary. James was previously Chief Actuary of Sabre Insurance, and prior to that Head of Motor Pricing at AXA Insurance. At Sabre, James has been instrumental in delivering a net loss ratio which has averaged 48.8% since the business was listed in 2017.

will join as Chief Actuary. James was previously Chief Actuary of Sabre Insurance, and prior to that Head of Motor Pricing at AXA Insurance. At Sabre, James has been instrumental in delivering a net loss ratio which has averaged 48.8% since the business was listed in 2017. Jonathan Hill , joins as VP of Pricing. Jonathan was previously Head of Pricing at Covea Insurance where he was responsible for technical and retail pricing across both personal and commercial lines.

, joins as VP of Pricing. Jonathan was previously Head of Pricing at Covea Insurance where he was responsible for technical and retail pricing across both personal and commercial lines. Matt Fothergill will join as Deputy CEO of Abacai Capital. Matt was previously Pricing and Underwriting Area Lead for all Motor brands at Direct Line Group. Prior to that he held senior leadership roles within insurtech businesses Darwin Insurance and Stabilis MGA, as Head of Pricing and Underwriting and Pricing Director, respectively. Matt started his career in actuarial consultancy and brings over 15 years of personal lines insurance experience.

will join as Deputy CEO of Abacai Capital. Matt was previously Pricing and Underwriting Area Lead for all Motor brands at Direct Line Group. Prior to that he held senior leadership roles within insurtech businesses Darwin Insurance and Stabilis MGA, as Head of Pricing and Underwriting and Pricing Director, respectively. Matt started his career in actuarial consultancy and brings over 15 years of personal lines insurance experience. Chris Payne joins as Chief Technology Officer. Chris was previously Avivas UK Digital CIO and Digital Engineering Director, and has twenty-four years experience in key IT and change management positions, working across global markets. Chris was responsible for delivering the UK Digital and Quotemehappy IT platforms whilst at Aviva.

joins as Chief Technology Officer. Chris was previously Avivas UK Digital CIO and Digital Engineering Director, and has twenty-four years experience in key IT and change management positions, working across global markets. Chris was responsible for delivering the UK Digital and Quotemehappy IT platforms whilst at Aviva. Pierre du Toit joins as Chief AI Officer. Pierre was previously Chief Analytics Officer at Vitality, and prior to that the Head of Analytics for Business Banking at First National Bank. At Vitality, Pierre built the Data Science function and helped pioneer the application of behavioural economics and machine learning models to attract, retain and incentivise customers to live healthier and longer lives.

joins as Chief AI Officer. Pierre was previously Chief Analytics Officer at Vitality, and prior to that the Head of Analytics for Business Banking at First National Bank. At Vitality, Pierre built the Data Science function and helped pioneer the application of behavioural economics and machine learning models to attract, retain and incentivise customers to live healthier and longer lives. Will Faulkner will join as Chief Product Officer. Will was previously Digital Product & Design Director at Aviva, where he helped pioneer the design of MyAviva, an industry leading digital customer proposition.

Mark Wilson, CEO and Co-Chairman of Abacai, said:

We have assembled a first-rate team with a wealth of expertise in insurance and the foresight to understand the opportunity AI and contextual technology has to play in transforming the customer's experience. Our industry has lagged other sectors. That is about to change.

"The FCAs announcement last month emphasises just how much the industry has taken the customer for granted and how loyalty to your insurer is penalised. We believe that is fundamentally unfair. Our intention is to drive product driven disruption in this industry, on behalf of both our B2B and B2C customers."

About Abacai

Abacai is a vertically-integrated, next-generation insurance distribution and underwriting Group, operating across the non-standard, short term, and prime segments of the UK motor market.

Abacais mission is to disrupt the industry for the benefit of the customer, through providing cheaper, fairer and better insurance products, built using an entirely new AI-based insurtech platform.

Abacai Capital, formerly Mulsanne, is the Groups B2B service offering, providing a range of underwriting, claims management, and capital provision services to many of the UKs leading insurtechs. Abacai benefits from the support of Munich Re, one of the worlds leading reinsurance companies, as a long-term strategic partner for data analytics, underwriting and reinsurance.

For further information please visit: www.abacai.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005067/en/

Chatsworth Communications

Nick Murray-Leslie

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7 440 9780

abacai@chatsworthcommunications.com

Source: Abacai
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- smartTrade Technologies has won Best Managed Services Solution for Trading for its LiquidityFX platform at the TradingTech Insight Awards USA 2021.

The TradingTech Insight USA Awards are made on the basis of votes from the readership of the Trading Tech Insight platform. The Awards recognise excellence in trading solutions and services for capital markets, focusing on the challenges facing market practitioners and suppliers in the rapidly changing North American marketplace.

LiquidityFX is an end-to-end solution with connectivity to over 130 liquidity providers and includes aggregation, smart order routing, order management, pricing, risk management, distribution and post-trade. LiquidityFX supports a range of instruments including FX Spot, Forwards, Swaps, NDFs and Options.

LiquidityFX constantly evolves to meet the ever more demanding needs of its global customer base. Recently enhancements include FX options, Money Market, BlockTrade, Benchmark Orders, Portfolio trading.

Andrew Delaney, President and Editor-in-Chief at A-Team Insight said, Congratulations to smartTrade for winning Best Managed Services Solution for Trading. The TradingTech Insight USA Awards showcase vendors which provide exceptional trading infrastructure, trading technology and data solutions. This Award is confirmation of smartTrades reputation as a best-in-breed provider of FX trading technology.

David Vincent, CEO of smartTrade Technologies said, We would like to thank everyone who voted for Liquidity FX. The Award further supports the FX industrys recognition of our position as a market leader. smartTrade relentless commitment to providing outstanding service to our customers through constant innovation and the continued enhancement of our technology in line with market fast changing evolutions.

About smartTrade Technologies:

smartTrade Technologies, pioneer of multi-asset electronic trading solutions, offers innovative technology allowing you to focus on your trading and grow your business while quickly adapting to changing market requirements.

smartTrade provides agile end-to-end trading solutions supporting Foreign Exchange, Fixed Income, Equities, Derivatives (including Options), Cryptocurrencies and Money Markets. Our solutions offer connectivity to over 130 liquidity providers, aggregation, smart order routing, order management, pricing, distribution, risk management and fully customizable HTML5 user interface.

smartTrade works with a variety of clients ranging from banks, brokers and asset managers to corporate firms. LiquidityFX for Foreign Exchange and smartFI for Fixed Income are provided as a fully managed and hosted service, colocated in all the main marketplaces globally.

smartAnalytics, our multi-asset Big Data analysis solution, allows the creation of historical or real time dashboards and reports to interact more effectively with markets and end customers.

For more information, visit www.smart-trade.net

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005081/en/

Lara Michel  Head of Marketing smartTrade Technologies  lmichel@smart-trade.net

Source: smartTrade Technologies
New Solution Will Improve Spectrum Efficiency for Mobile Networks by as Much as 2x

PALO ALTO, Calif. & SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- As communication service providers (CSPs) move to open radio access network (O-RAN) architectures, the door to innovation opens. Partnering to accelerate this innovation, Cohere Technologies and VMware (NYSE: VMW) today announced they are developing an O-RAN solution to help CSPs improve network and spectrum efficiencies and deliver new and differentiated services and experiences for their customers.

The RAN is by far the most costly and complex part of a CSP network as workloads that run there require ultra-low latency and high performance, said Stephen Spellicy, vice president of product marketing and solutions, Service Provider and Edge, VMware. Our ongoing work with Cohere Technologies shows the value of disaggregating hardware functions and moving them to the telco cloud. Our solution is designed to help accelerate RAN automation, optimization, and monetization by enabling CSPs to deploy intelligent, cloud-native RAN applications created by a growing xApp developer community.

The solution will bring together:

VMwares RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC) Platform

Coheres Spectrum Multiplier and Cloud Scheduler xApps

The RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC) is a new function introduced by the O-RAN Alliance that enables CSPs to deploy cloud-native control and management apps in the RAN. Essentially, it virtualizes the RAN Centralized Units (CUs) and Distributed Units (DUs), where complex RAN intelligence was previously embedded. VMware has designed its RIC platform keeping developer experience at the center and offers a RIC Software Developer Kit (SDK) to any third-party developer to build apps that can be deployed in the RAN. Today most of these apps are geared toward making the network faster, including Coheres Spectrum Multiplier xApp.

Coheres Spectrum Multiplier and Cloud Scheduler xApps improve spectral efficiency for CSPs by as much as 2x by enabling existing mobile networks to communicate with multiple users simultaneously on the same time and frequency resources. This is achieved by using dynamic and smart pairing as well as precoding techniques. The result is improved spectral efficiency and network latency that helps CSPs deliver a better user experience and ease capacity bottlenecks when demand is high. It makes their network better equipped to deliver bandwidth-sensitive services like AR/VR streaming, 360/4K videos, and immersive gaming, among others.

CSPs are spending tens of billions of dollars on 5G spectrum and being able to get the most out of that investment is critical, said Ray Dolan, Chairman and CEO of Cohere Technologies. Cohere is the first company to overcome the latency challenges of moving critical intelligence from the RAN to the cloud using VMwares RIC Platform. Our software, when running on VMwares RIC platform, provides CSPs with a powerful solution to extend spectral efficiency and deliver a great user experience to customers accessing 5G services.

The solution is expected to be available by the end of the calendar year. To learn more about the VMware and Cohere Technologies partnership, as well as VMwares plans for its RIC platform:

About Cohere Technologies

Cohere is the innovator of massive MIMO scheduler and Delay-Doppler channel software for mobile and enterprise networks, and the developer of the Orthogonal Time Frequency Space (OTFS) 6G wireless system. Cohere is a member of the Next G Alliance, the O-RAN Alliance, the Open RAN Policy Coalition, the Open Networking Foundation (ONF) and the National Spectrum Consortium (NSC). Cohere is headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif. For more information, please visit: www.cohere-technologies.com and follow us on Twitter: @Cohere_4G_5G.

About VMware

VMware software powers the worlds complex digital infrastructure. The companys cloud, app modernization, networking, security, and digital workspace offerings help customers deliver any application on any cloud across any device. Headquartered in Palo Alto, California, VMware is committed to being a force for good, from its breakthrough technology innovations to its global impact. For more information, please visit https://www.vmware.com/company.html.

VMware makes no guarantee that services announced in preview or beta will become available at a future date. The information in this release is for informational purposes only and may not be incorporated into any contract.

VMware and VMware Telco Cloud Platform are registered trademarks or trademarks of VMware, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and other jurisdictions.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005164/en/

Angela Leaf

VMware Global Communications

Phone: +1 860 480 3367

aleaf@vmware.com

Ronny Haraldsvik

Cohere Technologies

Phone +1 831 224 5043

Source: VMware, Inc.
SAN FRANCISCO, June 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Augmedix, Inc. (OTCQX: AUGX), a leading provider of virtual medical documentation and live clinical support, announced that Margie Traylor, CEO and co-founder of Audacious Studios, will join its board of directors. Traylor will immediately begin serving as chair to the board audit committee in addition to her role as a corporate director.

Audacious Studios is the parent company to: August United, an influencer marketing agency; Tailwind, a performance media consultancy; Cast & Hue, an experience design consulting firm; and Interobang, a technology incubator. They are a collection of uniquely talented marketing and customer service agencies who revel in uncovering actionable opportunities. Each of the agencies is equipped to serve distinct, business-imperative needs including business transformation, customer experience and digital strategy for Fortune 500 B2B and B2C clients.

Traylor is the co-founder of Audacious Studios and has served as its chief executive officer for the last 22 years. She is also a board member of HonorHealth, a non-profit healthcare system. At HonorHealth, Traylor is a member of the Strategic Planning, Executive and Compensation Quality, Audit and Medical Staff Planning and Partnership Committees. Traylor has extensive experience in corporate finance for public and private companies with $500M to $5B in revenues. Traylor holds a Master of Healthcare Innovation from the Arizona State University College of Nursing and Health Innovation and a bachelors degree in Accounting from the Arizona State University, W. P. Carey School of Business.

"Margie brings unique knowledge and perspective to the Augmedix board," said Manny Krakaris, Chief Executive Officer at Augmedix. "Her entrepreneurial approach to healthcare marketing and extensive corporate finance experience will add an invaluable voice to the board as we continue to develop and launch leading-edge solutions in medical documentation. Having Margie as chair of the audit committee adds a seasoned expert to ensure our financial reporting and internal controls meet the high standards that our various stakeholders expect."

About Augmedix Augmedix, Inc. (OTCQX: AUGX) converts natural clinician-patient conversation into medical documentation and provides live support, including referrals, orders, and reminders, so clinicians can focus on what matters most: patient care. The Augmedix platform is powered by a combination of proprietary automation modules and human-expert assistants operating in HIPAA-secure locations to generate accurate, comprehensive, and timely-delivered medical documentation. Augmedix services are compatible with over 35 specialties and are trusted by over one dozen American health systems and hundreds of independent clinicians supporting medical offices, clinics, hospitals and telemedicine. We estimate that our solution saves clinicians 23 hours per day, increases productivity by as much as 20%, and increases clinicians' satisfaction with work-life balance over 40%. To learn more about Augmedix, visit augmedix.com.

Investors:Caroline PaulGilmartin Groupinvestors@augmedix.com

Media:Kaila GrafemanAugmedixpr@augmedix.com

Source: Augmedix Inc
Good morning,

Please find below the press release issued today.

Best regards,

____________________________________________________________________

Marishka Martins

Group Press Office

Capgemini India | Mumbai

www.capgemini.com

Tel.: +91 9930835325

Email: marishka.martins@capgemini.com

_____________________________

Despite high sustainability ambitions, only half of manufacturers worldwide are on track to reach Paris Agreement goals

Paris, June 15, 2021  Manufacturing organizations are setting ambitious sustainability targets for the coming decade with 20% aiming for carbon-neutral operations and two in five (40%) setting their sights on 100% renewable operations by 2030. This is according to a new report from the Capgemini Research Institute entitled, Sustainable operations: A comprehensive guide for manufacturers, which reveals that only 51% of manufacturing organizations globally are aiming to align with the temperature contribution target of the Paris Agreement. Within this cohort, Germany (68%) and France (67%) are leading the pack with respect to their manufacturers being on track to achieve the targets.



The report also reveals that manufacturers are boosting their sustainability agenda with technology, as more than half (56%) of organizations are currently prioritizing the deployment of digital technologies for sustainability.

According to the report, strong progress in sustainable manufacturing is helping organizations realize the benefits of sustainability initiatives. 89% of organizations implementing sustainability initiatives see an enhanced brand reputation and 81% noted an improved environmental, social and governance (ESG) rating of their company. 79% achieved improved efficiency and productivity and more than half reduced packaging costs and boosted employee motivation levels. The report also finds that 9 in 10 organizations have seen a reduction in waste (98%) and greenhouse gas emissions (94%) as a result of implementing sustainability practices  both of which are top priorities for manufacturers.

However, despite high ambitions, only a few are on track to becoming sustainable manufacturers1. According to the report, the manufacturing sector lacks a comprehensive focus on sustainability, and the maturity of sustainability practices remains low: only 10% of organizations employ a holistic approach to sustainable manufacturing. Across industries, consumer products is the most sustainable sector (15%), followed by industrial and capital goods (11%) and automotive (10%). Furthermore, only 11% of sustainability initiatives are actively being scaled across organizations and just one in five agree that sustainability is fully integrated into their manufacturing strategy. While 38% of organizations are prioritizing Scope 1 emissions (direct emissions that the organization owns or controls), even fewer are focusing on Scope 2 (indirect emissions such as generating the electricity used by the organization) and Scope 3 (all other indirect emissions that occur in a companys value chain), neglecting other carbon drivers beyond internal processes.



There is a paradox in the fact that only 11% of green sustainability initiatives are actively being scaled across organizations, while the benefits realized by companies adopting sustainability initiatives are huge, comments Corinne Jouanny, Chief Innovation Scaling Officer at Capgemini Engineering. Technologies and data are critical to accelerating the sustainability agenda. Were seeing growing investments in digital technologies by manufacturers who are forming partnerships with established technology firms and startups to further develop their sustainable solutions. This is leading organizations to a full range of opportunities to reconcile profitable growth and sustainability.

Addressing the barriers to success

Less than one in three manufacturing organizations have alignment between sustainability executives and business executives on their sustainability priorities.

According to the report, manufacturers need to go beyond existing lean and green practices  reduce, reuse, recycle - to a more comprehensive approach, one that incorporates recover, redesign and remanufacture. While most organizations focus on direct emissions to achieve their carbon-neutrality goal, much of the carbon footprint for manufacturers lies within the indirect emissions of their organization, and that of their value chain.

The report concludes with the top sustainability practices or applications within each of the six R areas and outlines the critical success factors for organizations to reach their sustainability goals:

Align business teams and sustainability executives to explain synergies between performance and sustainability, and anchor the joint agenda Work with customers and suppliers to reduce indirect emissions Build transparency through effective reporting and ensure accountability Incorporate sustainable ways-of-working and operating culture Invest in technology and data-driven innovation to ensure sustainability goes hand in hand with profitable growth.

Research methodology

The Capgemini Research Institute surveyed 1,000 executives among large manufacturers across business functions and regions. Out of these, 480 organizations surveyed were represented by an executive from the business-facing side and one from sustainability functions. In addition, the researchers conducted one-on-one interviews with 15 senior sustainability executives from the industrys major players.

The full report can be downloaded here.

About Capgemini

Capgemini is a global leader in partnering with companies to transform and manage their business by harnessing the power of technology. The Group is guided everyday by its purpose of unleashing human energy through technology for an inclusive and sustainable future. It is a responsible and diverse organization of 270,000 team members in nearly 50 countries. With its strong 50-year heritage and deep industry expertise, Capgemini is trusted by its clients to address the entire breadth of their business needs, from strategy and design to operations, fueled by the fast evolving and innovative world of cloud, data, AI, connectivity, software, digital engineering, and platforms. The Group reported in 2020 global revenues of 16 billion.

Get The Future You Want | www.capgemini.com

About the Capgemini Research Institute

The Capgemini Research Institute is Capgeminis in-house think-tank on all things digital. The Institute publishes research on the impact of digital technologies on large traditional businesses. The team draws on the worldwide network of Capgemini experts and works closely with academic and technology partners. The Institute has dedicated research centers in India, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States. It was recently ranked #1 in the world for the quality of its research by independent analysts.

Visit us at https://www.capgemini.com/researchinstitute/







1 This research defines sustainable manufacturers as those organizations that have a comprehensive focus on all

6Rs  Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover, Redesign and Remanufacture and are incorporating sustainability into their entire value chain.





Attachments
LAKEWOOD, Colo., June 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FirstBank, one of the nations largest privately held banks with a focus on banking for good, announced that for every FirstBank Bloom Package opened from June 1- Aug. 31, the bank will plant five trees in partnership with global reforestation nonprofit, One Tree Planted.

The bank is hoping to plant up to 50,000 native trees throughout Colorado, Arizona and California in an effort to improve air quality, filter and conserve water, support wildlife and more.*

Trees play an important role in the long-term health and vitality of our neighborhoods and our planet, said Jim Reuter, CEO of FirstBank. This campaign is one of many ways were bringing banking for good to life by helping our communities thrive, supporting our employees passion for green causes, and empowering our customers to make a positive impact.

FirstBank, which has helped raise over $337 million for nonprofit groups through its partnership with Colorado Gives Day and Arizona Gives Day, has made giving back a hallmark of its company. The bank not only does this through corporate donations and cause related partnerships, but by encouraging its Officers to join nonprofit committees/boards and providing all employees two days of paid Volunteer Time Off (VTO) to support causes theyre passionate about.

Were thrilled to work with businesses like FirstBank, who really care about the planet and their communities, and are enabling their customers to help make a difference, too, said One Tree Planted Canopy Director, Diana Chaplin. Planting trees is one of the most effective ways to help reforestation efforts, sequester carbon, create healthier climates and protect biodiversity. Luckily, we make it easy for individuals and companies to do just that. Were looking forward to the longstanding impacts of this campaign and are proud to call FirstBank a partner.

The FirstBank Bloom Package is a linked checking and savings account with autosave functionality, no minimum balance and no monthly service fee** -- that helps make saving money, and the planet, easy.

Learn more, or open a FirstBank Bloom Package at efirstbank.com/green.

About FirstBank

FirstBank began providing banking services in 1963. Today, its known as an industry leader in digital banking and has grown to be one of the largest privately held banks in the United States, maintaining more than $25 billion in assets and 110 branch locations across Colorado, Arizona and California. FirstBank offers a variety of consumer deposit accounts, home equity loans, mortgages, rental property loans and a full range of commercial banking services, including business financing, commercial real estate loans, treasury management and more. Since 2000, FirstBank has been recognized as a top corporate philanthropist, contributing nearly $75 million and thousands of volunteer hours to charitable organizations. The company is also unique in that a large portion of its stock is owned by management and employees, giving employees a financial stake in the banks success through its Employee Stock Ownership Program. For more information, visit www.efirstbank.com.

About One Tree Planted

One Tree Planted is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit on a mission to make it simple for anyone to help the environment by planting trees. Their projects span the globe and are done in partnership with local communities and knowledgeable experts to create an impact for nature, people, and wildlife. Reforestation helps to rebuild forests after fires and floods, provide jobs for social impact, and restore biodiversity. Many projects have overlapping objectives, creating a combination of benefits that contribute to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. To learn more, visit onetreeplanted.org.

*FirstBank will donate $5 (or 5 trees) per FirstBank Bloom Package opened online or in-person, up to $50,000 (50,000 trees), towards One Tree Planted. Offer is available to new and existing customers. Offer is only valid from June 1, 2021 through August 31, 2021.

**Certain restrictions and requirements apply. Online Banking is free with eStatements or $3 per month with paper statements.

MEMBER FDIC

###

Attachment

Chandra Brin FirstBank 303-235-1402 chandra.brin@efirstbank.com

Source: FirstBank
LOS ANGELES, June 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GBT Technologies Inc. (OTC: GTCH) (the Company), a technology company focused on developing a portfolio of Intellectual Property targeted on the IoT (Internet of Things), mesh technology and integrated Artificial Intelligence (AI), today announced that on June 10, 2021, the Company and GTX Corp (OTC: GTXO) (GTX), a pioneer in the fields of health & safety wearable GPS human and asset tracking systems and personal protective medical equipment and supplies, entered into a Letter of Intent (LOI) to develop a framework of cooperation between the companies to evaluate the viability and market size of the Companys Intellectual Property and product line for worldwide exclusive licensing rights to manufacture, sell and distribute their products.

We believe this proposed relationship with GTX can improve our go to market efforts for our IP and products. GTXs proven extensive Global reach, experience in getting innovative products to market and understanding of our technology were critical factors in our decision to enter into this agreement, stated the Companys Chief Technology Officer, Danny Rittman.

GBT has previously announced products including:

Guardian Sphere  Multi Purpose Tracking Device

Guardian MESH  Private Data Network

qTerm  Medical Device for vitals

Avant!  Artificial Intelligence Platform

Patrick Bertagna, GTX Chief Executive Officer, stated my team and I are excited to have the opportunity to expand our product line and capabilities with GBTs existing portfolio of products. I believe their products have the ability to enhance our existing offerings to our worldwide customers and distribution partners.

Any relationship between the parties as contemplated by the LOI is subject to the parties coming to an acceptable commercial agreement, finalizing due diligence, entering into a material definitive agreement and other items.

About GBT

GBT Technologies, Inc. (OTC PINK: GTCH) (GBT) (http://gbtti.com) is a development stage company which considers itself a native of Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Enabled Mobile Technology Platforms used to increase IC performance. GBT has assembled a team with extensive technology expertise and is building an intellectual property portfolio consisting of many patents. GBTs mission, to license the technology and IP to synergetic partners in the areas of hardware and software. Once commercialized, it is GBTs goal to have a suite of products including smart microchips, AI, encryption, Blockchain, IC design, mobile security applications, database management protocols, with tracking and supporting cloud software (without the need for GPS). GBT envisions this system as a creation of a global mesh network using advanced nodes and super performing new generation IC technology. The core of the system will be its advanced microchip technology; technology that can be installed in any mobile or fixed device worldwide. GBTs vision is to produce this system as a low cost, secure, private-mesh-network between any and all enabled devices. Thus, providing shared processing, advanced mobile database management and sharing while using these enhanced mobile features as an alternative to traditional carrier services.

Contact:Mansour Khatib, CEOpress@gopherprotocol.com

About GTX Corp

GTX Corp (OTC: GTXO) is a pioneer in smart, mobile and wearable GPS tracking and recovery location-based solutions, supported through a proprietary IoT enterprise monitoring platform and intellectual property portfolio. GTX offers a global end-to-end solution of hardware, software and connectivity and develops two-way GPS tracking technologies, which seamlessly integrate with consumer products and enterprise applications. GTX utilizes the latest in miniaturized, low power consumption GPS, Cellular, RF, NFC and BLE technology, enabling subscribers to track in real time the whereabouts of people or high value assets. GTX is known for its game-changing and award-winning patented GPS SmartSole -- think Dr. Scholls meets LoJack, the worlds first invisible wearable technology tracking device created for those at risk of wandering due to Alzheimers, dementia, autism and traumatic brain injury. GTXs business model is built around technology innovation and holds over 85 patents, with many issued patents in the area of GPS tracking. The company has international distributors servicing customers in over 35 countries and is a U.S. Military Government contractor. Other customers include public health authorities and municipalities, emergency and law enforcement, private schools, assisted living facilities, NGOs, small business enterprises, senior care homes, and consumers.

GTXCorp.com

Track My Workforce

GPS SmartSole.com

Social Media Hashtags 

#withyou #smartsole #connectedandprotected #trackwhatyoulove #iot #smartproducts #nfc #ble #safety #healthcare #veritap #exceptionmonitoring #assettracking #coronavirus #face mask #covid19

GTX Blog https://gtxcorp.com/press/

https://www.facebook.com/gtxcorpcom

https://www.twitter.com/gtxco

https://www.linkedin.com/in/gtxcorp

https://www.pinterest.com/GTXCorp/

https://instagram.com/gtxcorp

General information, investor relations, wholesale licensing, consumer purchase:

213.489.3019Info@GTXCorp.comIR@GTXCorp.comContact Us

GTX Corp United Kingdom

In the UK, GTX Corp operates from its London office. Please contact: Nelson Skip Riddle

Email: NSRiddle@GTXCorp.com Tel: +44 7785 364100

Disclaimer: GTX Corp does not warrant or represent that the unauthorized use of materials drawn from the content of this document will not infringe rights of third parties who are not owned or affiliated by GTX Corp. Further GTX Corp cannot be held responsible or liable for the unauthorized use of this documents content by third parties unknown to the company.

GTX Corp is a For-Profit with Purpose Company which has an extensive line of health & safety products, patent portfolio, is a proud U.S. military contractor and has multiple wearable tracking products sold through its online store, Amazon and authorized resellers and distributors servicing customers across the globe.

Forward-Looking Statements - GBT

Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements provide current expectations of future events based on certain assumptions and include any statement that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors as disclosed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission located at their website ( http://www.sec.gov). In addition to these factors, actual future performance, outcomes, and results may differ materially because of more general factors including (without limitation) general industry and market conditions and growth rates, economic conditions, governmental and public policy changes, the Companys ability to raise capital on acceptable terms, if at all, the Companys successful development of its products and the integration into its existing products and the commercial acceptance of the Companys products. The forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company's views as of the date of this press release and these views could change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company's views as of any date subsequent to the date of the press release.

Source: GBT Technologies Inc.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Macarthur Minerals Limited (ASX: MIO) (TSX-V: MMS) (OTCQB: MMSDF) (the Company or Macarthur) is pleased to announce that it has signed a Cooperation Agreement (Agreement) with diversified Singaporean-based conglomerate Jin Sung International Pte Ltd (Jin Sung), paving the way for a potential strategic investment into Macarthurs iron ore and non-iron ore assets.

Established in 1967, the Jin Sung Group is a large, diversified producer of construction products with a procurement and trading business. Jin Sung is headquartered in Singapore and has diversified interests in a range of producing businesses and is also involved in the procurement and trading of coal, clinker, aggregate, molybdenum concentrate, copper cathodes, gold and silver. Jin Sung is now partnering with Macarthur under a non-binding Co-operation Agreement to explore the potential to bring high grade iron ore and battery minerals into its diverse portfolio of investments.

The Jin Sung Groups interests had a total sales turnover of some USD700 million in 2020. The majority of the Groups 2020 turnover was attributable to its construction interests, predominantly in concrete products which have formed an integral part of a post Covid-19 infrastructure-led recovery. The Groups significant international operations are focused in south-east Asia, and include Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Myanmar and Bangladesh.

The non-binding Cooperation Agreement sets out the terms and conditions upon which the Parties intend to progress discussions on the development of a transaction involving a strategic equity investment in Macarthurs iron ore and non-iron ore assets (at the project level). Following completion of further due diligence, a strategic investment into Macarthur by Jin Sung would be subject to the execution and closing of definitive transaction documentation. The Agreement also facilitates a continuation of potential investment discussions between Jin Sung and Infinity Mining Limited with respect to Macarthurs Australian non-iron ore assets following a successful spin-out of those assets on into that entity and its intended listing on ASX later this year (see the Companys recent announcement regarding the Infinity Mining Limited transaction dated 11 June 2021 (here).

A potential transaction between the parties may take the form of a strategic equity investment by Jin Sung into Macarthurs iron ore assets or non-iron ore assets, or provision of direct project financing.

Mr Jung Sung Chun, Director of Jin Sung commented:

We are very glad to have established a long-term perspective win-win partnership with Macarthur Minerals through the Signing Ceremony for the Cooperation Agreement, and we look forward to deepening our strategic relationship with them.

Richard Moon, General Manager, International Sales & Marketing for Macarthur Minerals commented:

Macarthur has worked collaboratively with Jing Sungs management over several months, and this Agreement represents a material step forward in the relationship between our two organisations.

Jin Sung has a significant business presence in Korea as well as Southeast Asia and I have been particularly pleased to have led the development of this engagement for Macarthur over here in Seoul.

Andrew Bruton, CEO of Macarthur Minerals commented:

Macarthur is very pleased to be co-operating with Jin Sung. We look forward to building a strategic relationship with them into the future and to working with them on a mutually beneficial investment as the Company exciting transition into production continues.

On behalf of the Board of Directors, Mr Cameron McCall, Chairman

For more information please contact:

Joe Phillips Managing Director +61 7 3221 1796 communications@macarthurminerals.com Investor Relations  Australia Investor Relations - Canada Advisir Investor Cubed Sarah Lenard, Partner Neil Simon, CEO sarah.lenard@advisir.com.au +1 647 258 3310 info@investor3.ca

Company profileMacarthur is an iron ore development, gold and lithium exploration company that is focused on bringing to production its Western Australia iron ore projects. The Lake Giles Iron Project mineral resources include the Ularring hematite resource (approved for development) comprising Indicated resources of 54.5 million tonnes at 47.2% Fe and Inferred resources of 26 million tonnes at 45.4% Fe; and the Lake Giles magnetite resource of 53.9 million tonnes (Measured), 218.7 million tonnes (Indicated) and 997 million tonnes (Inferred). The JORC reporting tables and Competent Person statement for the magnetite and hematite mineral resources have previously been disclosed in ASX market announcements dated 12 August 2020 and 5 December 2019. Macarthur has prominent (~721 square kilometer tenement area) gold, lithium and copper exploration interests in Pilbara region of Western Australia. In addition, Macarthur has lithium brine Claims in the emerging Railroad Valley region in Nevada, USA.

About Jin Sung International Pte LtdJin Sung International Pte Ltd was established in 1967. It has large, diversified holdings in construction products, and has a commodity procurement and trading business that is presently focused on coal, clinker, aggregate, molybdenum concentrate, copper cathodes, gold and silver. Jin Sung is headquartered in Singapore and has operations in Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Myanmar and Bangladesh.

This news release is not for distribution to United States services or for dissemination in the United States

Caution Regarding Forward Looking StatementsCertain of the statements made and information contained in this press release may constitute forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (collectively, forward-looking statements) within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements herein, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including but not limited to statements regarding expected completion of the Feasibility Study; conversion of Mineral Resources to Mineral Reserves or the eventual mining of the Project, are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this press release reflect the current expectations, assumptions or beliefs of the Company based upon information currently available to the Company. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct as actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include but are not limited to: unforeseen technology changes that results in a reduction in iron or magnetite demand or substitution by other metals or materials; the discovery of new large low cost deposits of iron magnetite; the general level of global economic activity; failure to complete the FS; inability to demonstrate economic viability of Mineral Resources; and failure to obtain mining approvals. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty thereof. Such statements relate to future events and expectations and, as such, involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release and except as may otherwise be required pursuant to applicable laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available athttps://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5f9173b8-faf8-4b1c-9280-cceb4614773c

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/38a8e581-fc33-42ac-ae0f-3329e2f3c621

Figure: Signing Ceremony between representatives of Jin Sung International Pte Ltd and Macarthur Minerals Limited in Seoul, Korea Figure: Signing Ceremony between representatives of Jin Sung International Pte Ltd and Macarthur Minerals Limited in Seoul, Korea Figure: The breadth of Jin Sungs business operations and commodity interests Figure: The breadth of Jin Sungs business operations and commodity interests

Source: Macarthur Minerals Limited
MONTREAL, June 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ora Graphene, the worlds first commercial producer of free-standing graphene membranes, announced the closing of its $3 million Seed financing round today. The deal was led by Ecofuel Fund along with Export Development Canada (EDC), BDC Capital and certain members of New York Angels. Existing investors TandemLaunch, and BoxOne Ventures also participated in the round. In conjunction with the financing, the company was recently awarded a Sustainable Development Technology Canada grant to explore new areas of graphene applications for its technology.

Ora has produced the largest sheets of free-standing graphene demonstrating incredible new material properties for multi-purpose commercial utilization. GrapheneQ membranes have already been proven to significantly improve sound quality and reduce energy consumption for global manufacturers of consumer electronics, with applications being developed for exciting new markets opportunities.

Diminishing energy consumption is one target around the world that will have a direct and rapid environmental impact. Ora has quickly established themselves as one of the most exciting new material startups in the industry to achieve this goal, commented Richard Cloutier, Managing Partner at Ecofuel Fund.

We were attracted to Ora not only because of their early traction with audio applications but also their plans to expand into other markets with their very unique intellectual property and experience with graphene production, added Bill Pertusi of the NY Angels. As part of our 2017 cohort, Ora has demonstrated clear technological advancements and market viability, said Helge Seetzen, General Partner of TandemLaunch Ventures. We are thrilled to see their market traction and provide continuous support.

Graphene has a multitude of differentiated properties which repeatedly earn it the title wonder material. Due to its unprecedented strength and conductivity, the range of applications for graphene spans from solar panels and new composites to headphones. Graphene was first isolated at the University in 2004 by two Russian scientists - Andre Geim and Kostya Novoselov - who subsequently won the Nobel Prize for Physics in 2010 for their work on this new material. Novoselov himself added, I have known the team at Ora for years and was always impressed with their ingenious solutions of very challenging technological and scientific problems. Ora is a great example of a truly innovating company and I expect to see more real graphene products now come to market.

With this early capital infusion Ora can build upon the groundbreaking technology we invented at McGill and begin to deliver on our mission of being the global leader in graphene commercial applications, noted Robert-Eric Gaskell, cofounder and VP of Product as well as the original inventor. We began by solving a single vertical problem of improving sound quality and now look to exploit that knowledge and experience into broader markets.

About Ora Graphene Founded in 2017 and based in Montreal, Ora develops and manufactures advanced graphene materials for a variety of applications. Oras core product GrapheneQ is patent protected and exploits the incredible mechanical properties of graphene combined with advanced proprietary production techniques. The company was founded by a joint effort between McGill University and TandemLaunch Ventures.

About TandemLaunchTandemLaunch creates, incubates and accelerates early-stage technology start-ups based on inventions from the worlds top universities in the areas of artificial intelligence, computer vision, IoT, audio and advanced sensors. The Company scouts thousands of technologies every year from a network that spans over 600 universities worldwide. Having successfully executed over 50 technology transfer agreements, TandemLaunch is a spinout foundry with an international scope, producing high-impact, IP-focused companies with an unprecedented rate of success.

Contact

Ari PinkasOra Graphenepress@ora-sound.comwww.ora-sound.com

Source: Ora Graphene
Splash Beverage (NYSE American: SBEV), a portfolio company of leading beverage brands, is now distributing its SALT (SALT) Tequila throughout Florida by Bernie Little Distributors. Distribution is centered on Highland, Hardee, Polk and Okeechobee counties, which collectively have a potential of approximately one million. An Anheuser Busch distributor of brands, Bernie Little also distributes Splashs Copa di Vino. SBEVs SALT Tequila is a naturally flavored, 100% blanco agave tequila. The beverage offers a clean and sweet taste. SALT ingredients are grown in the Jalisco, Mexico, region, where the drink is also distilled and bottled. SALT is available in berry, citrus and salted chocolate flavors. Thought to be the first agave 80 proof flavored tequila available, SALT is a unique choice in one of the fastest-growing alcoholic beverage categories. According to the announcement, tequila consumption in the United States increased 14% annually, with flavored versions reaching 10 times that of unflavored. With the addition of Bernie Little, SBEV now has five Anheuser Busch distributors in Florida alone. Were excited to see SALT tequila sold into central Florida, a high-growth region, by Bernie Little, a top Anheuser Busch distributor with which weve developed a strong relationship based on our acquired Copa di Vino brand, said Splash Beverage CEO Robert Nistico in the press release. When we purchased Copa di Vino, a key asset was its network of distributors with reach into over 13,000 retail locations. As a result, we are very well positioned to offer Splashs innovative and high visibility brands through this established network of high-performing distributors.

To view the full press release, visit https://ibn.fm/DuiQs

About Splash Beverage Group Inc.

Splash Beverage Groupspecializes in manufacturing, distribution, sales and marketing of various beverages across multiple channels. SBEV operates in both the nonalcoholic and alcoholic beverage segments, which the company believes leverages efficiencies and dilutes risk. SBEV believes its business model is unique because it only develops and accelerates brands it perceives to have highly visible pre-existing brand awareness or pure category innovation. For more information about the company, please visit www.SplashBeverageGroup.com.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to SBEV are available in the companys newsroom at https://ibn.fm/SBEV

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Airman 1st Class Josh Hegemann, an F-16 crew chief, installs an engine on the 162nd Fighter Wing flightline wearing newly issued coveralls in 2009. Airmen working in maintenance and other labor-intensive jobs will soon be able to wear a grey-green, service-issued coverall on the job, the Air Force has said. (Gabe Johnson/Air National Guard)

RAF LAKENHEATH, England  Airmen working in maintenance and other labor-intensive jobs will soon be able to wear grey-green, service-issued coveralls on the job, the Air Force said this week.

The new maintenance duty uniform is expected to be available by August, the Air Force said in a statement published Monday.

Its hoped it will instill a sense of culture and inclusivity for our maintainers who work to keep the mission going 24/7, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass said.

Christian Santiago, a maintainer with the 493rd Aircraft Maintenance Unit out of RAF Lakenheath, said the new uniform is going to make life a lot easier for us maintenance folk who wear coveralls the majority of the time.

We wont have to change our uniform two, three, four times a day and we can just focus on what we are doing, he said.

Airmen can wear the new uniform item between their home and work and at all installation locations, but not in an office or non-industrial setting, the statement said.

Local coverall variants will continue to be allowed, but only in the workplace and on the flight line.

Tactical caps with an operational camouflage pattern, or OCP, can be worn starting immediately, although the Army & Air Force Exchange Service does not yet have them in stock, the statement said.

Airmen from the 436th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron work on a C-5M Super Galaxy in March 2020, at Dover Air Force Base, Del., wearing approved Operational Camouflage Pattern (OCP) bump caps. The Air Force on June 14, 2021, authorized airmen to wear camouflage tactical caps but said none are in stock at Army & Air Force Exchange Service outlets. (Roland Balik/U.S. Air Force)

The caps must be made entirely of camouflage material or of camo fabric with a coyote brown mesh back. A Velcro or sewn-on name tape will be centered on the back of the caps and the only item authorized for wear on the front of the caps is the rank of officers. Only a name tape on the back of the cap is authorized for enlisted members  they will not wear rank insignia or a subdued flag on the caps.

Women are authorized to pull their bun or ponytail through the back of the cap.

Once the acquisition process for the camouflage caps has been completed, all other caps will be unauthorized, the statement said.

The coveralls will be worn with a coyote brown T-shirt, green or brown socks and boots, and a camouflage patrol or tactical cap, the statement said. They will have a name tape, service tapes and rank along with the higher headquarters patch on the left sleeve and a subdued U.S. flag and organization patch on the right sleeve.

The career fields authorized to wear the coveralls are 2A, 2F, 2G, 2M, 2P, 2S, 2T, 2W, 3E, 3D, and 1P. Commanders have to authorize the new uniform piece, which will be funded by individual units.

Guardians will follow Air Force uniform rules until the Space Force develops its own policy.

The Air Force changed over to the Armys uniform pattern starting in 2018, replacing its gray, blue and green tiger stripe uniforms. The new OCP became mandatory for all airmen as a utility uniform starting April 1.

alvarez.kyle@stripes.com

Twitter: @Kal2931
U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagles assigned to the 493rd Fighter Squadron fly a missing man formation over RAF Lakenheath, England, June 15, 2021, to mark the one-year anniversary of the death of 1st Lt. Kenneth "Kage" Allen, who was killed when his F-15C crashed into the North Sea. (Cedrique Oldaker/U.S. Air Force)

RAF LAKENHEATH, England  Air Force pilots from the 48th Fighter Wing flew a missing man formation over RAF Lakenheath Tuesday in memory of 1st Lt. Kenneth Kage Allen, who was killed a year ago when his F-15 crashed into the sea off the coast of England.

One F-15C pitched away from a four-ship formation as it flew over the base, leaving a symbolic gap where an aircraft should be. People on the ground observed a moments silence just ahead of the flyover.

The missing man formation more than symbolizes the absence of Lt. Allen and countless other aviators lost in the service of our country, said Lt. Col. Todd Pearson, commander of the 493rd Fighter Squadron. Kage was a great aviator and airman, and he is sorely missed around the squadron.

Allen, 27, was killed when his plane plunged into the North Sea about 140 miles northeast of Lakenheath during an exercise on June 15 last year.

He was flying as the No. 4 jet in a four-against-six air-to-air exercise when he crashed.

U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagles assigned to the 493rd Fighter Squadron fly a missing man formation over RAF Lakenheath, England, June 15, 2021, to mark the one-year anniversary of the death of 1st Lt. Kenneth Kage Allen, who was killed when his F-15C crashed into the North Sea. (Koby Saunders/U.S. Air Force) Only three U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagles assigned to the 493rd Fighter Squadron remain in formation after one peeled away during a missing man formation over RAF Lakenheath, England, June 15, 2021. The formation was flown a year to the day after 1st Lt. Kenneth "Kage" Allen, was killed when his F-15C crashed into the North Sea during an exercise. (Cedrique Oldaker/U.S. Air Force) 1st Lt. Kenneth ''Kage'' Allen, an F-15 pilot with the 493rd Fighter Squadron out of RAF Lakenheath, England, was killed June 15, 2020, when his fighter jet crashed into the North Sea. (Facebook)

An Air Force investigation said the accident was caused by pilot error and poor visibility. Allen was considered an inexperienced pilot with only about 271 total flight hours, more than half of them clocked in a simulator.

He is survived by his wife, Hannah, and his parents.

alvarez.kyle@stripes.com

Twitter: @Kal2931
A programmable fiber developed with Army and other funding at the Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, can pass through a needle and be sewn into fabrics, the Army in a statement published June 14, 2021. (Roni Cnaani/Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

STUTTGART, Germany  A programmable fiber that can sense, store and analyze data could be stitched into soldiers uniforms in the future and be used to monitor their movements, vital signs and exposure to toxins, Army researchers say.

This groundbreaking research  could revolutionize soldier uniforms, James Burgess, program manager of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, said in a statement released Monday. We could outfit our soldiers with uniforms that could generate power  all of this could be done with very little increase in weight carried by the soldier.

The fiber with digital capabilities was developed by researchers at the Armys Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, with Army funding. The thin, flexible material can pass through a needle, be sewn into fabrics, and washed multiple times before it breaks down, the Army said.

Soldiers of the 4th Infantry Division provide security in Afghanistan in 2018. In the future, a digital fiber could be stitched into uniforms and used to monitor soldiers' movements, vital signs and exposure to toxins, Army researchers said in a statement released June 14, 2021. (Christopher Bouchard/U.S. Army)

Sewing the fiber into clothing worn by soldiers could give Army commanders a better sense of the effects the environment on their troops. Wearables containing the fiber could be used to indicate a soldier's exposure to toxins, including on deployments where they have been in contact with contaminants from burn pits.

When it was sewn into the armpit of a shirt, the fiber collected 270 minutes of surface body temperature data from the person wearing the shirt and analyzed how the data corresponded to different physical activities, the statement said. The fiber was able to determine with 96% accuracy what activity the person wearing the shirt was taking part in, it said.

The fiber also has the potential to alert soldiers in real-time to health changes like a respiratory decline, an irregular heartbeat or changes to heart rate data during training exercises, the Army said.

The fiber is currently controlled by a small external device. The next step will be to design a chip to serve as a microcontroller that can be connected within the fiber itself.

When we can do that, we can call it a fiber computer, MIT doctoral student Gabriel Loke, one of the authors of a study published in Nature Communications that looked at how the fiber was developed, said in the statement.

The U.S. Army established the MIT Institute for Nanotechnologies in 2002 to conduct interdisciplinary research to improve the protection, survivability and mission capabilities of soldiers and the platforms and systems that support them. In addition to the Army, the, National Science Foundation, the MIT Sea Grant and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency supported the research to develop the smart fiber.

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WASHINGTON  Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., on Tuesday called on Army leaders to investigate a blood curdling news report that found nearly 2,000 military firearms went missing during the 2010s and demanded greater accountability for lost or stolen weapons.

This report is absolutely blood curdling. The idea that pistols, assault weapons, grenade launchers are missing from armories of the United States military, because they have been lost or stolen without any apparent accounting, without any reporting to Congress  is just incredibly alarming and astonishing, Blumenthal said during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the Armys budget.

The Associated Press released the results of a yearslong investigation Tuesday that found at least 1,900 military firearms were lost or stolen during the 2010s, some of which turned up at the scene of violent crimes.

Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force government records revealed pistols, machine guns, shotguns and automatic assault rifles have disappeared from armories, supply warehouses and other places where they were used, stored or transported, according to the AP report.

Blumenthal asked newly appointed Army Secretary Christine Wormuth and Gen. James McConville, the Army chief of staff, whether they would commit to investigating the issue.

My understanding is that the cases of weapons from any branch of the services being unaccounted for and getting into the hands of civilians is likely to be a small number, but particularly given these reports, I commit to you that this is something that we will look into, Wormuth said.

Blumenthal responded 1,900 firearms is not exactly a small number.

The senator also pressed whether the Army would commit to regularly reporting annual updates to Congress about missing weapons, as the Pentagon used to do. However, the requirement to do so ended years ago, according to the AP.

I think wed be open to a reporting requirement, Wormuth said.

Cracks in accountability have emerged since the end of the requirement. The Army and Air Force, for example, couldnt readily tell the AP how many weapons were lost or stolen from 2010 through 2019.

Blumenthal, quoting from the report, said: The Army sought to suppress information on missing weapons and gave misleading numbers that contradict internal memos. Will you report back to us about that claim?

Wormuth said she would look into how the issue has been handled in the past. The secretary, a few weeks into the job, added later that she is not familiar with the details of the AP report.

I would certainly commit to collecting the facts, she said.

The AP investigation, which started a decade ago, found the Army gave conflicting information, if the service gave any information at all. They pushed back against inquiries from the AP since the beginning of their investigation in 2011.

Lt. Col. Brandon Kelley, an Army spokesman, told the AP that the services property inventory systems dont readily track how many weapons have been lost or stolen.

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BATON ROUGE, La. (Tribune News Service)  Descendants of the late LSU leader Troy H. Middleton filed a lawsuit Monday seeking return of his collection, which is being displayed at the LSU Military Museum, but also asked for money for being embarrassed by the university's disavowal of him as a racist.

Though the lawsuit seeks monetary damages for "extreme humiliation and embarrassment," the Middleton family's attorney Jill Craft, of Baton Rouge, said the real point is to get back Troy Middleton's papers and memorabilia, rather than punish the LSU Board of Supervisors for its June 2020 decision to remove his name from the main library on the Baton Rouge campus because of statements and efforts Middleton made as LSU president from 1951 to 1962.

"It's not as related to that as it is to the whole notion that LSU took a position to vilify General Middleton, said they wanted no reminders of him on campus and they said, 'Come get your stuff,'" Craft said Monday. "If the family cannot peacefully retrieve their property, then obviously their entitled to (monetary) damages,"

The family arrived at the LSU A&M campus in Baton Rouge several times to collect the Middleton Collection, but couldn't. LSU raised "several differing excuses" about why, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit was filed by Bingham Middleton Stewart, Emily Middleton Serrano and Troy Houston Middleton III.

The family made arrangements to transfer the collection to the U.S. Army 45th Infantry Museum in Oklahoma City and formally asked on Feb. 23 for its return.

LSU responded on April 14, advising that the university, "would be keeping approximately one-half" of the collection.

"Earlier this year, LSU offered to return the parts of the collection constituting General Middleton's personal belongings and memorabilia. However, LSU, as a state institution, cannot simply give away the parts of the collection that constitute historical government records and documents that may properly belong to the university and/or the federal government. We have explained this to his heirs," said Ernie Ballard III, LSU Media Relations Director. "The university hopes that their lawsuit will give the court an opportunity to provide guidance on ownership of the historical records and bring this matter to a prompt resolution. In the interim, as we have advised the family, General Middleton's personal belongings and memorabilia are available to be retrieved at any time."

The university is displaying many of the items in its William A. Brookshire LSU Military Museum, which opened earlier this month in the newly renovated Memorial Tower.

The list of Middleton items is 26 pages long. The items include a bayonet from 1917, a Russian saber, his Distinguished Service Medal, two bronze stars and a silver star. Also included is personal correspondence with iconic Generals George S. Patton, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Omar Bradley along with huge collections of photos, even a Christmas Card list from the war years.

LSU cannot find a deed, loan or any other paperwork concerning the collection, which was loaned to LSU by Middleton himself on March 23, 1972, Craft said. Middleton died in 1976.

"You can't give the state property without formalities," Craft said.

Middleton was a hero in World War I and World War II.

He traded fire with Pancho Villa, the Mexican revolutionary, then went to Europe and fought in the Second Battle of the Marne, and was promoted to colonel at the age of 29. He received the Distinguished Service Medal.

After World I, Middleton joined LSU for six years as Commandant of Cadets at the Ole War Skule. Later he returned to LSU as an administrator and helped LSU weather a scandal that sent its president and others to prison.

After Pearl Harbor, Middleton returned to the U.S. Army and was involved in the invasion of Sicily and then Italy as part of the 45th Infantry. He then took over as head of the VIII Corps, which became part of George Patton's Third Army upon breaking out of the Cotentin Peninsula in France after D-Day. He led troops in the Battle of the Bulge, captured Koblenz, Germany, discovered death camps, and logged 480 days in combat, more than any other American general,

After the war, Middleton returned to LSU as comptroller and in 1951 was named president.

The LSU Board of Supervisors came across archived minutes from a Board of Supervisors meeting in which Middleton, as LSU president, said the university has "repeatedly made it clear it does not want Negro students," said then Board Chairman James Williams, of New Orleans.

During the June 2020 meeting, during which the Board voted to strike Middleton's name from the main library and remove his statue, Williams said Middleton's legacy is more than "just a few stray comments," most notably in a letter on desegregation he wrote to former University of Texas Chancellor Harry Ransom in 1961 that said LSU still kept black students "in a given area."

Williams cited a letter from Middleton dated May 1, 1956, which said: "I do not want Negro students at LSU. I believe in segregation of races, and, no matter what may come, I shall not associate with Negroes." Gov. John Bel Edwards, who had addressed the Board at the meeting, agreed that "it is time for the name of the library to be changed."

Nineteenth Judicial District Court Judge William Morvant, of Baton Rouge, was assigned to hear the lawsuit.

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Cpl. Douglas A. Mott,shown here in an undated photo posted to social media, died June 8 from injuries he received after being hit by a vehicle nine days earlier. (Facebook)

FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii  The Marine Corps confirmed Monday that a 21-year-old who died last week after being hit in a Honolulu pedestrian crosswalk was a corporal at Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

Cpl. Douglas A. Mott, an air traffic control communications technician, died June 8 at Queens Medical Center from injuries he received after being hit by a vehicle nine days earlier.

We wish to express our deepest condolences to the Mott family and friends during this difficult time, the Marine Corps said in a statement Monday. We share in their sorrow as we mourn the loss of our Marine brother.

Mott was walking in a marked crosswalk shortly after midnight on May 30 in the Kaimuki neighborhood of Honolulu when a passenger van driven by a 52-year-old man struck him, according to a report by the Honolulu Police Department. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition.

Speed and drugs did not appear to be contributing factors, the police report said. It appears that alcohol may have been a contributing factor for both the driver and pedestrian.

The incident is still under investigation.

The Honolulu Medical Examiners Office notified the police departments Vehicle Homicide Section on June 8 that Mott had died.

Mott joined the Marines in September 2017 and was promoted to corporal in August 2020, according to his Marine Corps biography. Marine Corps Base Hawaii had been his sole duty station, and he had never deployed.

Mott was the recipient of the National Defense Service Medal and Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal.

He is survived by his parents, Nancy and Douglas Mott, and his brother, Daniel, according to a brief obituary posted online by Marinello Funeral Home in Coram, N.Y.

A funeral mass is scheduled for June 21 at St. Margaret of Scotland Church in Selden, N.Y.

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Col. Robert A. Long, Space Launch Delta 30 commander, assumes command June 11, 2021, Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif. As the new commander of SLD 30, Long will command spacelift and range operations in support of national and combatant commander requirements, and support operational and developmental missile system testing for the Department of Defense. (Hanah Abercrombie/U.S. Space Force)

VANDENBERG SFB (Tribune News Service)  A change-of-command ceremony was held at Vandenberg Space Force Base parade grounds on Friday, with a new leader taking the reigns of a military unit thats responsible for space launch and missile testing operations along the West Coast.

Col. Robert A. Long relieved Col. Anthony Mastalir as the new unit commander of Space Launch Delta 30, which is the unit that also controls Vandenberg SFB and also supports intercontinental ballistic missile tests for the Air Force.

Change of command ceremonies are a tradition meant to boost morale and preserve military tradition while formally introducing the units new leader, according to officials. U.S. Space Force Lt. Gen. Stephen N. Whiting, commander of Space Operations Command, presided over the ceremony.

It took an extraordinary amount of effort to transition Vandenberg, one of the departments largest installations and 30th Space Wing, into Space Launch Delta 30, but your team made it look easy, said Whiting, who gave credit to Mastalir for the bases renaming to the Space Force. In reality, even at the best of times large-scale organizational transformations are difficult. Add in the unique demands presented by a worldwide pandemic, and I think we can all agree that the accomplishments of Team Vandenberg are truly impressive.

Prior to assuming command of Space Launch Delta 30, Long was the deputy commander of Space Delta 5, a unit that works with allied forces at the Combined Space Operations Center, where objects in space are monitored 24/7, and where data is gathered for the purposes of maintaining global awareness and making command and control decisions over space forces.

Initially joining the Air Force before the creation of the Space Force, Long graduated high school in Nebraska and graduated with a bachelors of science in electrical engineering from the University of Washington in 1997.

Its been a special place since I first drove through the front gate 23 years ago, Long said. To the men and women of Space Launch Delta 30, you are experts at generating and delivering combat power from this entral California outpost and you have my commitment to expend every ounce of energy making sure you have the tools to succeed.

As the commander of Space Launch Delta 30, Long has responsibility over Vandenberg installations 118,000 acres and more than 11,000 military and civilian personnel, including contractors. Additionally, Vandenberg also houses several thousand family members of military personnel stationed at the base.

Mastalir first took command of the unit on July 12, 2019.

In addition to ushering in the Space Force on the Central Coast, Mastalir was at the forefront of the bases response to the COVID-19 pandemic, keeping the community informed of base operations and leading the effort to promote the coronavirus vaccine in Operation Fight Back.

After leaving Vandenberg, Mastalir will deploy to Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar to begin the process of establishing the U.S. Space Force Central Command, according to base officials.

Mastalir recalled what it was like in the initial months of the coronavirus pandemic.

I found myself signing a public health emergency declaration and unbelievably signing a directive stating that you cannot shake each others hands, Mastalir said. I vividly remember the rows of sewing machines lined up staffed by volunteers around the base. Anyone who knew how to sew active duty, civilians and dependents, it didnt matter; and you came together and produced and distributed thousands of masks for our community, our base. When our supply channels were empty, we beat the pandemic because you chose to fight back.

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An airman inspects a CV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft at Yokohama North Dock, Japan, April 5, 2018. (Joseph Pick/U.S. Air Force)

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan  An issue forced a pair of Air Force CV-22 Ospreys to land Monday at a civilian airport in northern Japan, according to Yokotas 374th Airlift Wing.

The helicopter-plane hybrids from the Tokyo bases 21st Special Operations Squadron made the precautionary landing just after 5 p.m. at Yamagata Airport in Higashine city, wing spokeswoman Kaori Matsukasa said in an email Tuesday.

Both aircraft were conducting routine training when an issue was detected, and the decision to land at Yamagata Airport was made as a standard precaution, she said, without providing details about the problem.

A crowd gathered at the airport when the aircraft landed, the Yamagata newspaper reported Monday.

There were no damages or injuries and the incident had no impact on airport operations, a Tohoku Defense Bureau spokeswoman said Tuesday. Its customary in Japan for some government officials to speak to the media on condition of anonymity.

One of the Ospreys left the airport on Monday but the other was still there on Tuesday morning, she said.

The aircraft experiencing the issue will be assessed thoroughly before departing, Matsukasa wrote in her email.

Recent training has focused on ensuring aircrew proficiency, she said.

Meanwhile, the Marine Corps has identified a problem that prompted a UH-1Y Venom helicopter to land in a private field on Tsuken Island in Okinawa prefecture on June 2.

The pilots chose to land because a mechanical issue on the aircraft  assigned to Marine Light Attack helicopter Squadron 169 out of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma  was causing speed fluctuations in the engines that they couldnt correct manually, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing spokesman Maj. Ken Kunze said in an email Tuesday.

The maintainers on the ground determined that the main drive shaft should be replaced out of an abundance of caution, he said. Five days after they landed they were able to fly the aircraft back to Futenma where it was determined to be fully operational and safe to fly.

Logistics, weather and an analysis of data from the aircraft by service representatives in the U.S. were factors that contributed to the delay in returning the helicopter to its home base, Kunze said.

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Col. Michael Tremblays two-year tenure as Camp Humphreys commander came to a close Tuesday, June 15, 2021, during an emotional ceremony at a base fitness center. (Matthew Marcellus/U.S. Army)

CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea  The U.S. militarys largest overseas base has bid farewell to a leader whose swift and strict response in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic reverberated to installations worldwide.

Col. Michael Tremblays two-year tenure as Camp Humphreys commander came to a close Tuesday during an emotional ceremony at a base fitness center. His next assignment is at Fort Benning, Ga., where hell serve as chief of staff.

Humphreys, 40 miles south of Seoul, is home to about 35,500 personnel and headquarters for U.S. Forces Korea, Eighth Army and the 2nd Infantry Division.

The garrisons new commander, Col. Seth Graves, comes to the peninsula from Brussels, where he served as deputy chief of staff, support, for the U.S. military delegation to NATO.

Buy Photo A 2nd Infantry Division soldier checks for a temperature at Camp Humphreys, South Korea, Feb. 26, 2020. (Matthew Keeler/Stars and Stripes)

Tremblays term began seven months before South Korea reported its first COVID-19 patient on Jan. 20, 2020. A month later, the U.S. military confirmed its first-ever positive case, a soldier assigned to Daegu Garrison, about 100 miles southeast of Humphreys.

This might be a larger problem, Tremblay told Stars and Stripes on Friday, recounting conversations with other senior leaders at the pandemics start. When we first got a positive service member, which was the first in the world, we said, OK, its really, really serious.

Tremblay oversaw Humphreys lockdown as the garrison took unprecedented steps to mitigate the virus spread.

In the early days of the pandemic, several quarantine facilities were built on base and thousands of soldiers duties were reassigned to support the response. For example, about 1,000 troops manned the front gates to provide testing and redirect traffic.

Everybodys singular focus from then on was, How do we get this from getting inside, Tremblay said. We quickly ramped up the things that we were doing. For those three months, we did nothing but 24-hour operations, continuously coming up with new processes.

Tremblay said he did not leave Camp Humphreys for the first 102 days of the pandemic.

We were just trying to keep up, he said.

Excluding military personnel who tested positive soon after arriving in South Korea, only 43 local cases at Camp Humphreys have been recorded so far, U.S. Forces Korea spokesperson Col. Lee Peters told Stars and Stripes in an email on Friday.

Tremblays strict, early response reverberated beyond the peninsula. USFK, with Tremblays help, drafted The Playbook, a 70-page guide on limiting COVID-19s spread, which was later submitted to the Pentagon and distributed throughout Army installations in the United States.

Command Sgt. Maj. Benjamin Lemon Jr., in an email Saturday, said Tremblays approach was exactly what Camp Humphreys needed to get our service members, civilians, and families through the toughest part of this global event.

Graves, during Tuesdays ceremony, told Tremblay he had much to be proud of and that hes leaving extremely large boots to fill.

I look forward to continuing the great work that you and this garrison team have done, he said. And rest assured, as you take your foot off the gas  Ill be right behind you to put mine on.

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Mark Iles, publican at the Royal Hotel, holds a dead mouse in Yoeval, NSW, Australia, on May 28, 2021. (Matthew Abbott/For The Washington Post)

Colin Tink, 63, has been farming all his life and has never experienced a mouse plague like the one ravaging Australia's eastern grain belt. Nor a drought like the one that preceded it, which turned fertile crop areas into dust bowls.

When the rains finally came last year, Tink thought his fortunes were changing.

The rain led to bumper crops through the spring and summer months (September to March in the Southern Hemisphere). Silos are overflowing with grain. And barns are piled high with hay. Tink grew enough hay to feed his cattle for two years.

Then the mice arrived. Thousands of them.

The vermin burrow deep into his hay. What they don't eat is ruined anyway as their urine trickles down through the bales. The smell is acrid. It sticks in your nose and lingers on your clothes.

"It breaks your heart a bit," Tink said. "We're back to square one."

Not one to give up, Tink recently fashioned a giant mouse trap out of a shipping container he uses to roll out grain for his cattle. He lures mice into the container by scattering grain on the floor.

Then, Tink, or his 5-year-old grandson, Jock, sweep the mice with a broom toward a pool of water positioned at the open end of the container. The rodents hurtle into the water. Trapped by a thin layer of dishwashing liquid, they quickly drown.

On the first evening, they caught 7,000 mice. The next night it was 3,000. Now, they're averaging about 1,000 a night.

"We won't beat 'em but we might slow them down a bit," Tink said.

Approximately 7000 mice, caught using a homemade water trap by Colin Tink, lie in a field near Dubbo, NSW, Australia on May 24, 2021. (Matthew Abbott/For The Washington Post) Dead and drowning mice float in a homemade trap near Dubbo, NSW, Australia, on May 26, 2021. (Matthew Abbott/For The Washington Post) Colin Tink, inside his giant homemade mouse trap, pushes mice into a bath to drown them, near Dubbo, NSW, Australia, on May 26, 2021. (Matthew Abbott/For The Washington Post) Farmer Greg Younghusband burns approximately 130 bales of hay that have been destroyed by mice near Gilgandra, NSW, Australia, on May 26, 2021. (Matthew Abbott/For The Washington Post) An agriculture supply shop has completely run out of mouse bait and traps in Wellington, NSW, Australia, on May 28, 2021. (Matthew Abbott/For The Washington Post)

Australia suffers a mouse plague every decade or so. Some older farmers recall an infestation during the 1970s in which the ground felt as if it was moving, it was so thick with mice.

One contributing factor is changing farming practices. To maintain moisture in Australia's arid soil, farmers are sowing new crops directly onto the old stalks that were left in the ground.

That means mice have more places to shelter - and have more food.

The New South Wales government has secured 5,000 liters (1,320 gallons) of a deadly bait called bromadiolone. Scientists worry the poison may inadvertently kill other species - wedge-tailed eagles, owls, snakes and goannas (large lizards) that are feeding on the abundant mouse prey.

The mice also carry viruses that are potentially deadly to humans. Health authorities in Queensland state say the number of cases of leptospirosis - a flu-like illness that can lead to meningitis, kidney failure, bleeding and respiratory complications - have almost doubled in 2021 compared with this time last year.

With a shortage of traps, farmers have had to come up with their own systems to catch mice.

They're crafting makeshift traps out of barrels and buckets. They're laying down treats to tempt the mice to scuttle to their doom.

Some farmers have enlisted the help of experts like Henry, a government scientist who roams the country advising people on how to deal with the rodents.

In Coonamble, west of Sydney, last month, Henry inspected a 3,000-bale haystack - worth roughly $93,000 at current prices - that had been destroyed by mice. In a drought, the straw would fetch twice that, he said.

"When I wake up in the morning I am talking about mice and then when I go to bed I am still talking about mice," he said.

At the Royal Hotel in Yeoval, about 200 miles west of Sydney, the publican, Mark Iles, said he was catching mice in his bare hands a few weeks ago as they scampered across his bar.

Greg Younghusband is a 40-year-old farmer near Gilgandra, about 270 miles west of Sydney. In dealing with the infestation, he has had to burn his own crops, and set up scores of traps.

One Saturday about a month ago, things got so bad that Younghusband had to send his wife and daughters away to a nearby town for the weekend. The mouse invasion was too much to bear.

They were in his shed. They were in the house. They destroyed his washing machine, dryer and two refrigerators. They chewed through his couch, his coffee machine and his daughter's bed sheets. They were under the oven.

He could hear them in the walls. He also smelled them. The smell of death. Everywhere.

"You can't get rid of the smell because they die in the walls. They die under the stove," Younghusband said. "It's the worst smell you've ever smelt. It's unbelievable."

He armed himself with 40 traps and between 2 p.m. and 2 a.m. he caught 450 mice, before giving up and going to bed. "I'd unload a trap and bait it again and as soon as I turned away it would go off again."

One recent evening, Younghusband lit a fire under about 130 hay bales that had been destroyed by mice and stood back to watch, beer in hand, as flames lit up the night sky. He estimates he has lost about 1,500 bales so far.

Normally a mouse plague will end apocalyptically, according to Henry, as the population grows too big to support itself. Riddled with disease and running out of food, the vermin turn on each other, starting with the sickest and weakest.

He worries that if temperatures don't drop sharply enough over the winter, many will survive the cooler months, setting up for an even more explosive outbreak next spring.
Buy Photo A sign informs customers that workers are taking coronavirus precautions at Omoide Yokocho, an alleyway lined with food stalls in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Sunday, June 13, 2021. (Aaron Kidd/Stars and Stripes)

CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa  A Japanese prefecture hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic began large-scale vaccinations Tuesday as the number of U.S. troops infected with COVID-19 continues to decrease across Asia.

Elderly residents of Okinawa, home to most of the U.S. troops stationed in Japan, began queuing up in the afternoon at the Okinawa Convention Center in Ginowan, public broadcaster NHK reported. Inoculations began before 6 p.m.

Daily case numbers on Okinawa, which is roughly the size of Tokyo, peaked at 335 on May 29, NHK said. So far this month, theyve averaged 175 infections and approximately one death per day.

On Tuesday, Okinawa reported another 107 new cases, 52 fewer than the same day last week, according to NHK.

The U.S. military in Japan had reported few new COVID-19 infections as of 7 p.m. Tuesday, while commands in South Korea announced none.

Yokosuka Naval Base, 35 miles south of central Tokyo, has had three people test positive since Friday, the base said in a Facebook post Tuesday afternoon.

One asymptomatic, immunized person, who is in Japan under the status of forces agreement, tested positive after recently arriving in the country, the post said. Two base employees also came up positive during a medical screening.

Yokosuka has had seven people test positive so far this month, compared with 10 infections in May.

Japan reported 1,418 new coronavirus cases Tuesday, 72 fewer than the same day last week, according to NHK and the World Health Organization. There were 67 deaths nationwide.

The government has counted 775,000 COVID-19 cases during the pandemic and more than 14,000 deaths, the WHO said.

Tokyo on Tuesday reported another 337 coronavirus infections and 12 deaths, according to NHK, which cited metropolitan government data. Thats 32 fewer than the same day last week.

Osaka prefecture, the nations second-largest metro area, reported 110 new infections Tuesday and four deaths, NHK said.

Though Japan has lagged other developed nations in vaccinating its population, the country is ramping up those efforts before the Tokyo Olympics begin on July 23. Prime Minster Yoshihide Suga said last week he hoped to have the lions share of Japans population inoculated by November.

Japans state-run vaccination centers plan to start inoculating people under 65 as early as Thursday, to fill in vacancies, Kyodo News reported Tuesday, citing an unnamed government source. Also Tuesday, the Japanese government partnered with local municipalities to strengthen vaccination support for the countrys foreign residents.

South Korea added 374 new cases at midnight Tuesday and four deaths, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agencys Central Disease Control Headquarters.

The government has counted 148,000 COVID-19 cases during the pandemic and just shy of 2,000 deaths, the WHO said.

Stars and Stripes reporter Yoo Kyong Chang contributed to this report.

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The destruction to Gaza during the 11-day conflict between Hamas and Israel in May was heavy and widespread, with damage afflicting hundreds of buildings and dozens of roads, an initial United Nations analysis shows.

The data, based on preliminary analysis of satellite imagery taken on May 28, and released by the U.N. Institute for Training and Research this week, underscores warnings from human rights groups and nongovernment organizations that Israeli bombings that the military said targeted Hamas militants severely impaired the territory's infrastructure, and that it could take years to rebuild.

The destruction, which can be seen across the entire 25-mile strip, was concentrated in the north, around Gaza City, and the southeast.

Rights groups decried the targeting of Gaza, which is one of the most densely populated places in the world. A strict blockade imposed by neighboring Israel and Egypt has long kept the strip in a state of economic crisis. Over 200 Palestinians died during the bombings, according to health officials in Gaza. More than 60 of them were children.

Tensions boiled over in May after Hamas fired rockets into Israel in response to Israeli police cracking down on Palestinian protesters in Jerusalem. Israel responded with airstrikes, setting off nearly two weeks of hostilities.

Thirteen people in Israel died during Hamas rocket strikes, 90 percent of which the Israeli military said were blocked by the country's antimissile defense system, the Iron Dome.

In Gaza, a territory with an impoverished and fragile infrastructure, there was little protection from the strikes.

The U.N. data shows that along some 140 square miles, 459 buildings were destroyed or damaged, some of which were near hospitals, clinics and schools. The United Nations said on May 21 that six hospitals and 11 clinics were damaged, as well as 53 schools.

Forty impact craters were detected on roads, which health-care providers say impeded efforts to efficiently get those injured to hospitals.

"It completely blocked the transportation of the patients to the clinics," said Ely Sok, the head of mission for Doctors Without Borders in the Palestinian territories. "It really hindered the access to care. They had to walk."

Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza, has estimated more than $250 million in damage to buildings and infrastructure on the strip, Haaretz reported. Damage to power grids has affected water filtration systems, leaving 800,000 people without easy access to clean drinking water, the group said.

Sok said people are laboring day and night to demolish unstable buildings and repurpose the materials for reconstruction.

International efforts to rebuild the strip are underway. Egypt has pledged $500 million and is allowing such equipment like bulldozers to enter despite its stringent blockade. Secretary of State Antony Blinken pledged to help rebuilding efforts, but no designated amount has been announced. It is against U.S. law to provide funding to Hamas, a designated terrorist group in America. President Biden in April announced he would restore funding to the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees after his predecessor, Donald Trump, cut ties with the organization.

Damage was especially concentrated on Wehda Street, a bustling commercial area of shops and cafes that Israeli airstrikes targeted on the night of May 15. The strikes killed more than 40 Palestinians and reduced high-rise buildings to rubble, marking the deadliest night of Israel's military campaign.

Another strike on May 15 hit a 12-story building that housed the Gaza bureaus of the Associated Press and Al Jazeera. The Israeli military, which gave occupants one hour of warning to evacuate, has said the strike was targeting a site where Hamas was developing technology to jam the Iron Dome.

The United Nations mapped out more than 1,100 impact craters across the strip, but it did not specify what caused them. Six hundred and eighty of the more-than 4,000 rockets fired from Gaza toward Israel fell back into Gaza, according to the Israeli military. The Israeli Defense Forces said it struck more than 1,500 targets in Gaza.

Sok said the swift mobilization to reconstruct the strip showed "the resilience of Gaza." But no amount of cement could piece together the families and lives destroyed by the violence.

"What will take the most time is the mental health," he said. "That's the most complicated part. It's the reconstruction of the population."

Satellite image shown is a composite of images taken between May 21 and 23 by SKYM50 and provided by Soar.Earth. The analysis shown was done by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research on separate imagery taken on May 28.
President Joe Biden's suspension of border wall construction does not violate congressional spending rules, the Government Accountability Office said Tuesday, a decision that rejects Republican claims the administration is legally obligated to resume building the barrier.

Biden ordered a halt to his predecessor's signature project in January, and last month his administration said it would return $2 billion in border wall funds to the Defense Department. The administration also said it would use an additional $1.9 billion in congressionally appropriated Department of Homeland Security money to prioritize environmental restoration and site cleanup, rather than adding more steel and concrete.

The GAO, the nonpartisan oversight arm of Congress, said the Biden administration's moves amounted to a "programmatic delay," rather than an impoundment of funds that would violate appropriation laws.

"DHS and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) have shown that the use of funds is delayed in order to perform environmental reviews and consult with various stakeholders, as required by law, and determine project funding needs in light of changes that warrant using funds differently than initially planned," the GAO found.

The agency drew a distinction between Biden's pause and President Donald Trump's suspension of security aid to Ukraine in 2019, a move at the center of his impeachment trial last year.

The Biden administration hasn't canceled border construction contracts or said it is ending the project outright. By meeting environmental review requirements and other procedural safeguards - which can lead to long delays - the Biden administration is technically following the law, the GAO found. That wasn't what occurred with the Ukraine funding.

"OMB did not justify the withholding of Ukraine security assistance funding by presenting evidence of any statutory prerequisites that needed to be satisfied before funds could be obligated," the GAO said. "Here, delays in the obligation and expenditure of DHS's border barrier appropriations stem from the time required to meet applicable statutory requirements and develop plans for the use of the funds that consider current circumstances."

Abdullah Hasan, a spokesman for the OMB, said in a statement that Biden's border wall proclamation in January "directed Federal agencies to comply with appropriations law at every step."

Trump completed more than 450 miles of new steel barriers along the Mexico border at a cost of more than $11 billion. His administration planned to build nearly 300 additional miles, and the halt to construction left unfinished gaps in the barrier, as well as segments that have been blasted and bulldozed through mountains and cut a swath through the desert.
Airman 1st Class Mervale Abraham is originally from Grenada and is in the process of becoming an American citizen. (Christian Sharpe/U.S. Air Force)

FORT BRAGG  Airman 1st Class Mervale Abraham has multiple reasons for why he wants to be an American.

Its respect for country, family and occupation, Abraham said.

Theres also his 6-year-old son, who he wants to ensure has better opportunities.

Abraham, who is in his mid-30s, is originally from the Caribbean island of Grenada and moved to the U.S. when he was 33 years old, about two years ago.

Definitely youre afforded an opportunity by coming here, he said. You get a chance to more or less reach or attempt more than what youre limited to in a smaller region or islands.

The path to coming to America started with his brother, he said.

The process for Abraham and his sister to obtain their green cards was a 13-year wait to become a legal immigrant.

Then when the opportunity came, even though it was 13 years, I just had to go with it, he said. I had to accept it for what it is and use it as the next chapter in my life.

He left his job teaching math and geography at an all-boys school during those 13 years and arrived in the U.S. in June 2019.

He joined the Air Force in May of last year and is currently an air freight technician with the 43rd Air Mobility Squadron responsible for loading and offloading cargo and personnel from aircraft at Pope Army Airfield on Fort Bragg.

When I sat down and even before I came here, I was of the mindset that Im not just going to come here and get caught up in the lifestyle like the bling or hip-hop syndrome kind of stuff, Abraham said of why he joined the Air Force. And I was like, What would give me a chance to achieve equally as someone who was probably born here or someone who came here at a young age?

Abraham said his job with the Air Force is one of the reasons why he decided he wanted to become an American citizen.

If you want to go further in this occupation or you want to do everything that the occupation entails, then you have to have all those requirements checked, he said.

In December, he submitted his application.

You submit those forms and its a waiting game, Abraham said. They will then update the process as times go on and they need anything from you.

Abraham has completed the interview portion of his citizenship test and is awaiting official approval to become an American.

He said the interview seemed like a similar experience to when he enlisted in the Air Force.

The way I felt then when I went into the service, Im sure Ill pretty much feel the same way  knowing that Im representing something that is bigger than myself, he said of becoming an American.

His immediate family  his sister and brother, who is in the Army  has been supportive, he said.

My son doesnt understand the process, but hes a big part of the reason why Im doing this, as well, because I want to give him a chance at a young age and not have to wait 13 years.

Abraham said hes been able to maintain communication with friends and family back in Grenada.

He thinks hes able to maintain his culture when he visits family in New York or Florida.

North Carolina right now doesnt really have a strong cultural presence that Im aware of from Grenada, he said. It does have some Caribbean culture, so that is good.

Being at Fort Bragg and in the military, he said hes also been able to be exposed to other cultures, too.

We have downtime for lunch or break, and we will discuss things from our culture, whether that be food or certain celebrations, music, Abraham said. In fact, those who cook when they cook something thats unique to them, you get a taste of that as well.

Chicken is an example, he said.

He said he is interested in learning how other cultures cook it, and said he sees curiosity amongst cultures and being able to bounce ideas across each other.

People want to know, What do you guys do (where youre from), and they can experience that, and it creates more appreciation for each other, he said.

As he is optimistic about counting down the days to being an American, Abraham said hes seen others before him go through a process that he described as evolving and may be different for those wanting to become citizens after him.

Remain on the ball and be efficient as you can, he said of his advice to others wanting to become citizens.

___

(c)2021 The Fayetteville Observer (Fayetteville, N.C.)

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SAN DIEGO, Calif. (Tribune News Service)  An insurance agent was sentenced Monday to 357 days of house arrest and ordered to pay $500,000 in restitution for running an insurance scheme that defrauded more than 4,000 Navy sailors in San Diego County, state and local authorities said.

Paul Flanagan, 56, pleaded guilty in August to a felony count of conspiracy to commit a type of insurance fraud known as twisting.

Flanagans sentencing in San Diego Superior Court was the latest development in the case. Co-defendant Ranjit Kalsi, 54, pleaded guilty to a felony count of identity theft and was sentenced Feb. 10 to 358 days in custody and ordered to pay $500,000 in restitution. A third defendant, Gregory Martin, 51, pleaded guilty Dec. 7 to a misdemeanor count of grand theft. He received credit for 517 days in custody.

Prosecutors said Flanagan owned Go Navy Tax Services, which Kalsi and Martin ran out of a trailer located near the main gate of Naval Base San Diego. The trailer was decorated with military flags, which prosecutors said was an effort to make sailors believe the business was affiliated with the military.

The defendants lured sailors into the trailer under the pretext of free tax preparation services, then persuaded them to purchase retirement accounts. But instead of opening the accounts, the defendants used the sailors personal information to open life insurance policies without their knowledge or consent, prosecutors said.

The victims of this scam were Navy sailors serving our country and were tricked into signing up for something they didnt need and couldnt afford, District Attorney Summer Stephan said in a statement. Working with our law enforcement partners, we were able to shut down the scam, prosecute the offenders, and put money back into the pockets of our hard-working military members. It is particularly satisfying to see these sailors receiving restitution payments, some in the thousands of dollars, to make a positive difference in their lives.

Prosecutors said the defendants earned more than $2 million in commissions off the sales of nearly 5,000 insurance policies and annuity contracts. Prosecutors previously said the fraud dated to 2010.

Our military service members and their families contribute so much to our nation  yet there are people without honor who want to cheat our American heroes, California Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a statement. We hope that todays announcement helps right the wrongs that were committed by the malicious scammers of Go Navy Tax.

Navy Region Southwest spokesman Brian ORourke applauded the outcome of the case.

Restitution is a positive and fitting result, one which will be appreciated by sailors who have been victimized, he said. Financial predators are sadly a reality for many junior military men and women and their families, even in areas as traditionally supportive to the troops as San Diego. Service members who suspect they may be the victims of fraud are encouraged to contact their local military legal assistance office.

The fraud was investigated by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Navy Region Southwest Office of the Inspector General Investigators, the California Department of Insurance and the California Department of Justice.

Prosecutors brought evidence to a San Diego County grand jury, which heard testimony from 40 witnesses over a two-week period. The grand jury indicted Flanagan, Kalsi and Martin in July 2019.

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SANTA ANA, Calif. (Tribune News Service)  A 22-year-old Michigan man was sentenced to six years in prison Monday, June 14, for a drunken, wrong-way crash on Beach Boulevard in Stanton that killed another driver.

Christian Alejandro Vasquez, who was in the U.S. Marines at the time of the collision, pleaded guilty last year to a felony count of gross vehicular manslaughter and a misdemeanor count of driving without a license related to the Aug. 16, 2020, crash that took the life of 70-year-old Jerry Duplesse.

Vasquez, during Mondays hearing, told Judge Cheryl Leininger, as well as Duplesses family, that he never considered denying responsibility for the drunken crash. In return for his guilty plea, two additional DUI charges tied to the same collision were dismissed.

No one should have to go through what you and your family is going through, Vasquez said. I am so profoundly sorry.

Judge Leininger said the case was tragic on so many levels, with a Marine with no criminal record taking the life of a man who was an absolute treasure to his family and friends.

The judge noted that Vasquez pleaded guilty early in the court process, expressed remorse and has stated a desire to atone for his actions.

That does not excuse this act or justify it, but the court must consider all those things, Leininger said.

I know there is no sentence that will be sufficient for the heartbreak you are feeling, the judge said to the family.

Vasquez, then 21, was driving the wrong way on Beach with his headlights off when he crashed into a vehicle driven by Duplesse, who was taken to a hospital where he died five days later.

Vasquez  driving without a license  had a blood-alcohol level of .26 at the time of his arrest, more than three times the legal driving limit.

Two weeks before the fatal crash, prosecutors said, Vasquez had an alcohol-related incident on a military base where he allegedly tried to physically assault two other Marines and was disrespectful to a command duty officer.

A defense attorney told the judge that Vasquez didnt plan to drive the night of the crash, but he had been kicked out of a hotel room where he was visiting other Marines.

Vasquez opted for an open plea, meaning he was given no assurances of what punishment he would face. The judge had the option of sentencing Vasquez to up to 10 years in prison.

___

(c)2021 The Orange County Register (Santa Ana, Calif.)

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Justice
WASHINGTON  The new National Strategy to Combat Domestic Terrorism calls for ramping up the screening processes for military recruits and implementing training for troops leaving the services to ensure they are not lured into domestic terrorist organizations seeking new members.

This strategy is narrowly tailored to focus specifically on addressing violence and the factors that lead to violence  violence that violates the law, threatens public safety, and infringes on the free expression of ideas, President Joe Biden said in the strategy document.

The National Security Councils plan, which was released Tuesday, comes about six months after the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol during which a mob of supporters of former President Donald Trump broke into the building and rampaged through the halls as Congress voted to certify Bidens presidential win. More than 40 veterans, four reservists and one active-duty Marine were arrested in the attack, according to the Pentagon.

An Office of the Director of National Intelligence report in March found domestic violent extremists threats increased in 2021  with white supremacists and anti-government militias posing the highest risk, officials told reporters on condition of anonymity during a teleconference Monday.

Newer sociopolitical developments  such as narratives of fraud in the recent general election, the emboldening impact of the violent breach of the U.S. Capitol, conditions related to the [coronavirus] pandemic, and conspiracy theories promoting violence  will almost certainly spur some [domestic violent extremists] to try to engage in violence this year, according to the report, which was included in the strategy document.

The document includes many lines of effort in battling domestic terrorism, including several geared toward the Defense Department.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in a Tuesday statement called the first-ever federal strategy to combat domestic terrorism a milestone in our countrys efforts to address a serious and growing security threat.

While domestic law enforcement agencies take the lead, the Department of Defense will do our part to support this important strategy, Austin said in his statement. That includes maintaining the departments robust relationship with federal law enforcement as well as refining our policies to better address this issue within the department.

For example, in an effort to root out potential domestic terrorists applying for federal work or joining the military, the government is considering changes to federal employee and applicable military screening questionnaires, according to the strategy.

This effort can help to ensure that new applicants and employees undergoing re-investigations are abiding by legal obligations, including in providing candid and forthright representations, and to prevent individuals who pose domestic terrorism threats from being placed in positions of trust, the NSC wrote in its strategy document.

The strategy also includes efforts to identify current government employees who pose potential domestic terrorism threats, with federal agencies developing new policies and programs to screen for domestic extremists in law enforcement and in the military.

The Department of Defense, for example, is reviewing and updating its definition of prohibited extremist activities among uniformed military personnel and will consider appropriate policy recommendations and options to address such activity by and among civilian employees and contractors, the National Security Council wrote in its strategy document.

As part of the plan, the Pentagon is also incorporating training for service members separating or retiring from the military on potential targeting of those with military training by violent extremist actors, according to the strategy document.

The new strategy additionally calls for several non-DOD initiatives, such as enhancing domestic terrorist threat analyses, improving communication between law enforcement agencies, thwarting online terrorist recruitment and mobilization, and assessing potential legislative reforms that could help in the fight against domestic terrorism.

doornbos.caitlin@stripes.com

Twitter: @CaitlinDoornbos

Rioters break into the Capitol in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. (John Minchillo/AP)
Former senator Joseph Lieberman, a political independent from Connecticut known for building relationships with members of both parties, will speak at a June 22 Senate committee hearing in support of D.C. statehood - offering a moderate voice as bitter partisanship overshadows the debate.

Lieberman will join Democrat Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, the District's nonvoting delegate in the House, in providing opening remarks. D.C. Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser and a host of legal and civil rights experts will serve as witnesses, Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., chairman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, announced Tuesday.

Statehood advocates are hoping to break new ground with a favorable vote out of committee, even though odds are steep that the Washington, D.C. Admission Act can clear the Senate filibuster to pass the full chamber.

Odds are also somewhat tough on the evenly divided committee: Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., one of seven Democrats on the panel, has not revealed her position on the legislation.

Lieberman, then, is coming in as a relief pitcher of sorts for Democrats, returning to address the committee he once chaired. The former four-term lawmaker and vice-presidential candidate supported voting rights for D.C. while in the Senate and introduced a D.C. statehood bill when he was on his way out.

Sen. Thomas Carper, D-Del., the Senate sponsor of this year's bill, has sought advice from Lieberman about how to push the bill forward, describing him as the ideal independent voice to present statehood as a civil rights issue without partisan baggage.

Republicans have repeatedly framed D.C. statehood as a Democratic "power grab" intended to solidify a Democratic majority in the Senate and facilitate a "radical" liberal agenda.

Democrats frame the issue as a matter of basic civil and voting rights for a plurality Black city of nearly 700,000 people.

"I know a lot of people think this is just an effort to add a couple Democratic senators, but people who know Joe Lieberman remember Joe Lieberman - he was not a partisan Democrat," Carper said in an interview just before the statehood bill passed the House. "I don't think he ever got up in the morning thinking, how can we pass a D.C. statehood bill and elect a couple more Democratic senators? That was just not his motivation."

D.C. statehood legislation last got a Senate committee hearing in 2014, not long after Lieberman left office. But the committee did not hold a vote on the bill.

Democrats want to make more headway in the Senate this year after obtaining narrow control of the evenly divided chamber. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has said he will try to find a way to advance the bill, which passed the House for the second year in a row in April, with no GOP support.

But Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., scuttled much of the optimism among statehood advocates when he revealed earlier this spring he did not support D.C. statehood legislation. Still, Carper said Tuesday the record number of Senate co-sponsors made him "more confident than ever that we can make D.C. statehood a reality this Congress."

The other witnesses on June 22 will include Richard Primus, a professor at the University of Michigan Law School; Marc Morial, president and chief executive of the National Urban League; Derek T. Muller, a professor at the University of Iowa College of Law; and Roger Pilon of the Cato Institute, who has long argued that D.C. statehood is unconstitutional.
The main entrance sign to Carlisle Barracks and the U.S. Army War College. (Scott Finger/U.S. Army War College Public Affairs)

CARLISLE, Pa. (Tribune News Service)  This week, the U.S. Army will conduct the fourth project to disinter the remains of Native Americans who attended the Carlisle Indian Industrial School and were buried at the Carlisle Barracks.

The effort will start Saturday at the cemetery.

The Army said Tuesday it anticipates bringing closure to one Alaskan Native family and nine Native American families whose children died after being sent to the school, which opened in 1879 and closed in 1918.

The Armys commitment remains steadfast to these nine Native American families and one Alaskan Native family. Our objective is to reunite the families with their children in a manner of utmost dignity and respect, said Karen Durham-Aguilera, executive director of Army National Military Cemeteries.

The Office of Army Cemeteries will disinter the remains and transfer custody to families who are able to establish the closest family link between the decedent and the requestor. The transfer will enable families to return the children to cemeteries of their choice.

The Army will also reimburse families for their travel to participate in a ceremony, as well as fund the cost for transport and re-interment of the children.

The Carlisle Barracks post cemetery will be closed to visitors this week during set-up and until the effort is complete, which is estimated to be around July 17. The cemetery will also be closed off with privacy fencing during this time.

The children who will be disinterred during the latest effort are Dennis Strikes First (Blue Tomahawk); Rose Long Face ( Little Hawk); Lucy Take The Tail ( Pretty Eagle); Warren Painter (Bear Paints Dirt); Ernest Knocks Off (White Thunder); Maud Little Girl (Swift Bear); Alvan, aka Roaster, Kills Seven Horses, One That Kills Seven Horses; Friend Hollow Horn Bear; and Dora Her Pipe (Brave Bull), all from the Rosebud Sioux Tribe; and Sophia Tetoff, an Alaskan Aleut.

(c)2021 The Sentinel (Carlisle, Pa.)

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WASHINGTON  Two congressional lawmakers are urging the Pentagon to approve requests from transgender veterans to change their name on a key discharge document within 90 days, as some wait up to 18 months for approval due to inefficient processes.

Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Calif., and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., wrote in a letter Monday to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin that veterans who transition after serving can be especially vulnerable to discrimination if the name on their DD-214  a document that verifies a service member's proof of service  does not match their current legal name.

This may lead to a demoralizing experience, or open the door to discrimination, if a veteran is put in the position of explaining to a potential new employer why the name on their military records is not aligned with their current name and gender, the lawmakers wrote.

Only some of the services have expedited procedures for military record corrections and review, the lawmakers write. The Air Force and Navy do not require an advisory opinion, or input from additional board staff members before the cases head to the full board, which has caused shorter wait times compared to the other branches that do require it.

For example, the Board of Corrections of Naval Records averages less than five months from request to completion for these changes, whereas the Army Review Board Agency averages 18 months, the lawmakers wrote.

The Armys goal is to get to an average of 10 months, but that is still simply too long for such a routine action, especially when other government agencies are able to update records in weeks, using simple and streamlined processes with clear documentation requirements, the lawmakers wrote.

The Army said some applications have been delayed further because the coronavirus pandemic shuttered the National Personnel Records Center. About 40 cases are pending completion, said Lt. Col. Junel Jeffrey, an Army spokeswoman.

We are focusing specific attention on completing those [cases] as quickly as possible, she said.

Jeffrey said the Army Review Boards Agency expects all DD-214 name-change requests will soon be adjudicated within 10 months.

Advocates said some transgender veterans have waited more than two years, including Sue Robbins, a 20-year transgender Army veteran who sits on Equality Utahs Transgender Advisory Council, which works to advise the state's top LGBTQ civil rights and advocacy organization on issues facing the Utah transgender community.

Robbins, a 60-year-old government contractor, said she applied to change her name on her DD-214 in 2016 and it took slightly more than two years to be approved. She is not certain what caused the delay.

Advocates said many transgender veterans are forced to come out repeatedly if they have outdated records that dont align with other legal documents.

The goal is to be able to have all the legal paperwork proper, so that way we don't have to be outed when we produce paperwork. We can just show that DD-214  then we just move on with that effort instead of getting into this long discussion about why we're transgender or whether a person may not approve of what I've done, Robbins said.

That long discussion  one that Robbins calls tedious and tiring  can cause negative health impacts and harmful outcomes depending on the situation.

You never know who you're coming out to [or] how they feel about the transgender community. So then you open yourself up to discrimination in places where that can cause real harm, Robbins said.

Jennifer Dane, executive director of the Modern Military Association of America, said a veteran who she is working with was denied a home loan because the person was waiting to get their record corrected and their names did not align on paperwork.

In general, transgender and gender nonconforming people are at risk of discrimination in schools, workplaces, doctors offices and emergency rooms at the hands of police officers, health care providers and landlords, according to a report from the National Center for Transgender Equality and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force that surveyed just less than 6,500 individuals.

Nearly one in five of all survey respondents reported being refused medical care outright because they were transgender or gender nonconforming, according to the report.

Speier and Gillibrand thanked Austin for his support of President Joe Bidens move to reverse the ban on transgender people serving in the military implemented during the administration of former President Donald Trump. Yet, inclusive policies must apply to transgender veterans too.

We cannot forget about the service of transgender veterans who have served honorably and ask that they be afforded the recognition and respect they deserve, they wrote.

Speier and Gillibrand want the Pentagon to work with the service secretaries to ensure that name change requests will happen within 90 days if a veterans records are digitally available.

These straightforward cases should not carry the administrative burden of full board consideration and associated lengthy timeline. We owe it to veterans not to drag out injustice, they wrote.

The lawmakers asked Austin to reply to the letter to share whether their timeline is feasible and whether any other action must be taken to expedite the requests.

Cammarata.Sarah@stripes.com

Twitter: @sarahjcamm
Eldert J. Beek (Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency)

GEORGE, Iowa (Tribune News Service)  Eldert Beeks family waited for more than 70 years for him to come home.

Killed during the Korean War, the Iowa natives body was not recovered after the Chinese attack at the Chosin Reservoir on Dec. 1, 1950. All the Army could tell the family was that he was reported killed in action.

On Monday, an Iowa National Guard honor guard walked past dozens of American flags fluttering in the breeze on this Flag Day and returned Army Cpl. Eldert J. Beeks remains to his family, to his home, for burial next to his parents, John and Minnie Beek, at Evergreen Cemetery in George.

Weve had a gravestone for him, but hes never been buried, said ElDon Maxwell, a nephew who was born after Beeks death and was named for the uncle he never met. Im not sure if grandma and grandpa ever got that closure. You can always put out a headstone, but without physical evidence, that closure is so important.

Beek enlisted in the Army at age 19. He was killed at age 20, a young man with a whole life yet to live.

Niece Cindy Brey said her grandpa always believed the youngest of his three children would return home alive someday. That didnt happen, but her grandparents and their children are all reunited now, Brey said with a glance to the sky. Eldert Beek may not have returned alive to Northwest Iowa, but his homecoming on Monday was just as significant.

We found him, Brey said. Thats whats important.

Beek was a member of Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division when his unit was attacked at the Chosin Reservoir and fought the Chinese while withdrawing from its position. The Army declared his remains unrecoverable in 1956.

In 2018, the North Korean government turned over 55 boxes of American service members remains. John Maxwell, a nephew of Beek, supplied a DNA sample to the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System, which notified Brey in August that Beeks remains had positively been identified.

Brey said last month that the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the return of her uncles remains to Iowa. That didnt diminish the turnout for the military services Monday.

Honor guards from veterans organizations across the area showed up to honor a fallen comrade. The Iowa National Guard carried Beeks remains to his grave and, after the playing of taps, crisply folded an American flag and presented it to Brey, who in turn handed it to her cousin ElDon, saying that since he bears their uncles name, the flag and Beeks service medals belonged to him.

Maxwell said after the solemn ceremony that it choked him up a bit, but he was happy to see his uncle home, next to family, while receiving a heros welcome.

He finally gets the recognition he deserved, Maxwell said.

A few feet away, Brey told stories about her few memories of her uncle and other tales that her father, Arnold, had shared through the years. He died two years ago at age 95, nearly living long enough to hear the news that his brother had been found. It would have been nice, Brey said, had Beek been found earlier, so his parents, brother and sister could have had the closure they never received.

Taking another glance at the sky, Brey said they know Eldert has returned.

Hes home. Hes at rest. Hes a hero, she said.

(c)2021 Sioux City Journal, Iowa

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Jacob Dalton Payne passed away June 25, 2021.Visitation is from Thursday-Saturday at Strode Funeral Home. Services will be 2:00pm Saturday, July 3, 2021 at the Strode Funeral Home Chapel. Reception to follow at the Stillwater Community Center.
2 arrested in fatal shooting of Terre Haute high school girl

CARLISLE, Ind.  State police said over the weekend that two men have been arrested in a recent shooting that killed a 15-year-old high school girl in a small town in western Indiana.

The fatal shooting of Mezmariah L. Wilson, of Shelburn, occurred around midnight Thursday as two large groups gathered at an intersection in Carlisle, 40 miles south of Terre Haute, according to Indiana State Police.

Matthew T. Earle, 23, and Kyle R. Johnson, 20, are charged with criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon and obstruction of justice, though officials say additional charges are possible.

State police said the groups had gathered in anticipation of a fight when someone pulled a gun and began firing from one group to the other, striking Mezmariah, a student at Terre Haute South Vigo High School.

Mezmariah died later at an Indianapolis hospital from a gunshot wound to her upper body, Terre Hautes Star-Tribune reported.

Earle, of Terre Haute, and Johnson, of Coal City, were arrested Saturday morning after a search warrant was executed at a Terre Haute residence, the newspaper reported. They both remained jailed on a $30,000 bond.

NW Indiana man drowns while rescuing woman in Lake Michigan

MICHIGAN CITY, Ind.  A northwestern Indiana man drowned in Lake Michigan after rescuing his girlfriend, conservation officers said Monday.

Donald Turner, 28, of Portage, was swimming with his girlfriend at the Washington Park beach in Michigan City when she began to struggle in the water, officers said.

Turner went to her aid and was able to get her to safety before going underwater and not resurfacing, officers said.

A nearby swimmer located Turners body a short distance away from where he was last seen, officers said. The Michigan City Fire Department immediately rendered lifesaving measures, and Turner was transported to a Michigan City hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The drowning happened shortly after 4:30 p.m. Sunday.

Judge rejects new trial for Indiana man in murder-for-hire

MUNCIE, Ind.  A central Indiana judge has rejected a new trial for a man convicted in the 1993 murder-for-hire slaying of a woman found shot to death in her garage.

Jess David Woods was convicted in 2009 of murder and conspiracy to commit murder in Teresa Frenchs May 1993 killing and sentenced to 100 years in prison.

Woods was hired by the Muncie womans estranged husband to kill the 29-year-old mother of three, The Star Press reported.

In his bid for post-conviction relief, Woods and his attorney claimed authorities had not pursued evidence suggesting Anthony French could have fatally shot his wife.

Woods, 69, also said last year that his hearing problems had prevented him from understanding witness testimony at his 2009 trial.

But in a ruling released Thursday, Delaware County Judge Wolf said that Woods had failed to prove how any of the alleged claims, even if true, individually or collectively would have changed the outcome of the trial.

Delaware County Prosecutor Eric Hoffman said Friday in a statement that society is much safer given the fact that Woods will spend the rest of his natural life in prison.

Anthony French, 60, was convicted of murder and conspiracy to commit murder in his wifes death by a Delaware County jury in 2008 and sentenced to 80 years in prison.
Toi Ohomai culinary arts student, Samantha Warena, has been crowned the North Island winner of the Nestle Golden Chefs Hat award, which recognises the exceptional talent of New Zealand budding chefs.

After a tense cook-off against students from around the North Island, Samantha took home the golden hat with her delectable three course meal made from seasonal, local ingredients.

Samantha will now spend the next two months refining her skills as she prepares to take on the best young chefs from New Zealand and Australia at the Grand Final in Sydney.

Samantha is four weeks from finishing her Culinary Arts course at the Toi Ohomai Mokoia Campus, however a year ago couldnt picture being in this position as she faced a Covid-19 enforced redundancy.

This time last year Covid meant Id just been made redundant from my kitchen job but I wanted to continue to learn and grow as a chef so I chose to upskill by studying. I would never have imagined being able to have these opportunities but with the support and encouragement of my tutors meant I had the confidence to enter this competition.

During the Golden chefs Hat regional cook-off, Samantha had two and a half hours to prepare and present a main and dessert; using a limited seasonal local ingredient and Nestle professional products.

Samanthas menu was made up of seared ginger stuffed sous vide chicken breast, a braised chicken lollipop on sweet potato puree and vegetables, while dessert was a chilli infused chocolate mousse on a crispy orange shortbread served with spiced rhubarb.

I had been practicing my main and dessert dishes three or four times a week for two weeks. Each time I did it I improved in time and accuracy

She says she was shocked to win the regional competition but shes thoroughly enjoyed being part of the competition.

It's been a wonderful experience the other contestants and I got along well and have promised to keep in touch.

For now, Samanthas focus is on completing her course and practising for the final of the competition.

I was given good feedback from each of the judges that will be helpful for me to improve and do better before the Sydney finals.

Samantha says she was always told that working in the hospitality industry can be challenging and takes a lot of hard work.

I believe that your attitude and work ethic both in and out of the industry can get you far. Passion takes you places. Look where it's gotten me.

Samantha will compete at the Nestle Golden Chefs Hat finals in Sydney on between September 4 and 9.
Health authorities say there hasnt been a single case of influenza in the Bay of Plenty for 12 months.

Medical Officer of Health Phil Shoemack says the short answer is that the flu has not been affecting New Zealanders.

Theres been virtually no influenza anywhere in the world and certainly in the Bay of Plenty, where weve had no confirmed cases of influenza for over a year.

The whole of New Zealand has had no confirmed cases of influenza so far this year, says Phil.

There may be some people who have had the flu that havent had a test done but its one of the strange phenomena associated with this pandemic, there has been a decrease in other illnesses and influenza is definitely one of them, he says.

Although the absence of influenza throughout the country is a positive thing, Phil says the threat of the influenza virus getting into the community is still very real.

Were still very keen for people to take up the influenza vaccine, says Phil.

At a personal level, good personal hygiene definitely helps to prevent the spread from one person to another, but of course, for the virus to get into New Zealand it needs to come with people.

One of the theories to why theres been a dramatic decline in influenza globally in the last 18 months is because theres been so much less travelling.

Dr Phil Shoemack.

Even though we now have quite a few people coming into New Zealand we still have not yet had any transmission of influenza.

Phil says these complex issues have equally complex solutions that all add up.

It is important to get vaccinated with less people in the country and to carry on with personal hygiene practises as it adds to further levels of protection.

As for the rest of the world, Phil says its a global phenomenon with almost no influenza activity at all in a lot of countries.

Ive looked both on websites from Europe and America and last year was the lowest level of influenza activity since decent data was recoded  about 40 years.

What weve got to make sure is people dont become complacent and that is why were promoting the vaccine and hand washing.

If people continue with their good personal hygiene practises staying home if unwell that leads to further protection.
Pongakawa has one final rural recycling drop-off this weekend.

Saturday, June 19, will see Western Bay of Plenty District Councils fortnightly mobile recycling drop off at Pongakawa BP finish up, after a successful 18 months of providing alternative recycling options for the more remote parts of the Eastern end of the District.

The trial started in November 2019, and the fortnightly drop-off has allowed council to test whether a rural recycle drop-off would be feasible in the future once Councils new kerbside rubbish and recycling collection service starts on July 1.

Councils deputy CEO and group manager infrastructure services, Gary Allis, says this fortnightly option has been extremely worthwhile and proved that an alternative drop-off diverted recyclables from landfill for those who currently did not receive a service in this part of the district.

He says the new kerbside collection service starting on July 1 will now give Maketu and Pukehina residents, and some of the surrounding areas, the opportunity to recycle at the kerb.

We are still investigating the possibility of unmanned rural drop-off areas for this and other remote rural residents but have not decided on any sites yet. The feasibility of such drop-off sites still needs to be determined once we have the kerbside collections implemented.

In the meantime the Te Puke Recycle Centre will remain open to provide a place for these remote residents to take their recycling to when theyre in town. Councils Community recycle centres were initially started to cater for our residents that did not have access to private kerbside collections.

Between November 2019 and May 2021, the fortnightly drop-off has seen an average of 75 vehicles each morning it operated with the following total recyclables collected (in kilograms):

Glass - brown 3673 Glass - clear 4444 Glass - green 5106.5 Paper 1473.5 Cardboard 1305 Plastics - clear 299 Milk (Anchor) 55.5 Milk Clear 95 Steel cans 223.5 Aluminium cans 355 Total Weight (kg) 17030

Similarly the glass collection service that was provided to Omokoroa residents will be removed from the FreshChoice supermarket in Omokoroa at the end of June 2021.

Omokoroa will receive a kerbside glass collection when the service starts.

Gary says both these recycling collection initiatives were implemented to encourage diversion of recyclables from landfill, especially glass, for communities that did not have easy access to the three community recycle centres and are funded through the Waste Minimisation Levy.
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Lawton, OK (73501)

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Thunderstorms likely in the morning. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon. High 82F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

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Shipping industry welcomes Nigerias Deep Blue to stamp out piracy in the Gulf of Guinea

The Round Table of Shipowner Associations and OCIMF have expressed their full support for the launch of Nigerias Deep Blue Project.

Nigeria has announced a significant investment in military and law enforcement infrastructure to secure its maritime domain as part of a stepping up of actions to address the ongoing piracy issue in the Gulf of Guinea. Managed by the Nigerian Maritime Safety Agency (NIMASA), the multi-agency project will significantly increase maritime security in the region, an area blighted by piracy, armed robbery, and other maritime crimes. A central command and control centre based in Lagos will oversee a network of integrated assets including two special mission vessels, two special mission long- range aircraft, 17 fast-response vessels capable of speeds of 50 knots, three helicopters, and four airborne drones, providing 24/7 cover for the region. These complement the Yaounde ICC structure offering real capability to both Nigeria and the region. It is the hope of the industry organisations that Deep Blue, coordinated with other navies and programmes through the mechanism of the GOG - Maritime Collaboration Forum/SHADE, will seriously impact on the ability of pirate groups to prey on merchant shipping. Katharina Stanzel, Managing Director of INTERTANKO, said: INTERTANKO believes that the launch of the Deep Blue Project is a tangible demonstration that the tide has turned against the scourge of piracy. This project has the potential to greatly contribute to seafarers being once again able to carry out their duties without fear for their safety. We thank the Nigerian authorities for recognising the issue and putting these measures in place  all within the constraints of the ongoing Covid-19 situation. David Loosley, BIMCO Secretary General, said Deep Blue becoming operational represents a significant opportunity to expand law and order at sea in cooperation with international forces in the area. We look forward to seeing Nigeria make the best of these assets to the benefit of Nigeria, its citizens and economy, and of course the seafarers from all over the world going about their daily business in the Gulf of Guinea. Guy Platten, ICS Secretary General said, The Deep Blue Project can be a game-changer in the fight against piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, and we congratulate Nigeria in launching the project despite the significant difficulties presented by COVID. We look forward to continuing our close cooperation with NIMASA and the Nigerian Navy to realise our shared vision of a region free from the threat of piracy and armed robbery. Kostas Gkonis, Secretary General of INTERCARGO, said Along with our sincere congratulations to the Nigerian authorities on the launch of this important initiative, on behalf of the dry bulk shipping sector, we very much anticipate that the Deep Blue Project will make a significant impact in reducing piracy and armed robbery, protecting seafarers, ships, and the essential trade that serves the peoples of countries in the region. Robert Drysdale, Managing Director of OCIMF, said the launch of the Deep Blue Project marks a milestone of delivering state of the art, multi-faceted, maritime capability. It presents a great opportunity to protect seafarers and the maritime domain. The collaborative approach by all stakeholders to deliver Deep Blue is commendable and proves what can be achieved when all work together. OCIMF congratulates Nigerian authorities and welcomes this historical moment, Deep Blue will benefit, Nigeria, the region and all those who trade in the Gulf of Guinea waters.




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Seminole, FL (33772)

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Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms mainly in the morning. High 84F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

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Partly cloudy with late night showers or thunderstorms. Low 79F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
As the spat between Google and Roku over the YouTube TV app continues, Google is making good on a promise to hand out free 4K streaming video players to some YouTube TV subscribers.

9to5Google reports that a number of YouTube TV users are receiving offers from Google for a free TiVo Stream 4K or a Chromecast with Google TV. The giveaway is so popular that the TiVo store (where users must go to redeem the emailed offer for a TiVo Stream 4K) is apparently buckling under the load.

The TiVo Stream 4K player and the Chromecast with Google TV, which both came out last year, normally cost $50 each.

The move comes about six weeks after Roku, which is embroiled in an ugly contract dispute with Google over YouTube TV, abruptly pulled the YouTube TV app from its channel store. YouTube TV users who already had the app installed on their Roku devices have been allowed to continue streaming, at least for now.

9to5Google notes that Google has previously given away Chomecast with Google TV players to YouTube TV subscribers, including during a promotion last winter. However, in an early May post on the YouTube blog about the Roku standoff, Google said it was in discussions with other partners to secure free streaming devices in case YouTube TV members face any access issues on Roku.

The feud between Google and Roku erupted nearly two months ago, when Roku accused Google of discriminatory and anticompetitive behavior in its contract negotiations with the streaming device manufacturer.

Specifically, Roku claims Google wants to manipulate your search results while demanding devices use pricier chipsetsmost likely those that support the open-source AV1 video codecthat would boost the cost of its streaming players.

Google has denied the charges, adding that it is having ongoing, long-term conversations with Roku to ensure a consistent and high-quality YouTube experience across different devices.

Besides giving away free TiVo Stream 4K and Chromecast with Google TV players to at least some YouTube TV subscribers, Google also built a back door for YouTube TV into the main YouTube app.


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Microsoft quietly edited a document on its website over the weekend to reveal it's planning to end support for Windows 10 Home and Pro on October 14, 2025.

The revelation comes just before Microsoft's "What's Next Windows" event scheduled for June 24 and amidst hints from CEO Satya Nadella that a major new version of Windows is in the wings.

Windows 10 was originally released in 2015, so 2025 would be in the typical 10-year time frame Microsoft allots to supporting an operating system version.

A new version of Windows could be Microsoft's way of stoking a PC market made hot by the pandemic.

"With more people working remotely, and likely to continue to do so in the future, there may be increased interest in replacing existing PCs or acquiring new PCs, and a new major release of an operating system can keep people interested in new hardware," observed Michael Cherry, a Windows analyst at Directions on Microsoft, an independent IT advisory service focused exclusively on Microsoft based in Kirkland, Wash.

"But it requires compelling features, such as improvements to security or enabling a new class of applications to really drive momentum to change an OS," he told TechNewsWorld. "It cannot merely be change for the sake of change."

Windows by Any Other Name

In the old days, the name of the next version of Windows would be simple: Windows 11. But when Windows 10 was introduced, Microsoft declared it would be the last version with a number. That's led to speculation about whether Microsoft will drop Windows as the name for its operating system.

"I wouldn't be surprised if they did. It's probably time for a branding update," Jim McGregor, founder and principal analyst at Tirias Research, a high-tech research and advisory firm in Phoenix, told TechNewsWorld.

Since there is significant value in the Windows trademark, Cherry believes Microsoft will retain it in some form.

"They could possibly benefit from just dropping the 10, and making Windows the sole name of the OS, with some other name or code name designating a particular release or version," he said.

Apple did that when it ditched OS X and went to macOS. Versions of macOS are designated by place names, like Sierra and Monterey.

"Keep in mind, that there are versions -- Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10 -- and editions -- Home, Pro, and Enterprise -- to keep the naming more confusing than it needs to be," he added.

"It would be great if they would drop the editions, but editions are used to create a feature and pricing differential," he added.

Paying for Windows?

Pricing could be an issue for the new Windows.

"Microsoft has retained the same business model because it's been a cash cow, but as Microsoft moves on toward more cloud services, their model has been changing, so it's not surprising to see their Windows model change as well," observed McGregor.

"I would try to roll it into a package where it includes other products," he suggested. "So you're not just paying for Windows. You're paying for Office and a bunch of other apps."

"You're paying for a suite, much like you pay for cable TV today," he continued. "You get a whole bunch of crap you don't want, but if you want cable, you're going to pay the monthly fee. I would be surprised if that isn't what ends up happening."

If the OS is preinstalled on a PC, then the cost of the OS is built into the purchase price, Cherry explained.

"For people who have an existing device, capable of running the new OS, then it becomes a function of whether the intent is to spur new sales of the OS, or keep people on an OS versus switching to a competing OS," he said.

"Likely there will be some mix of free to people who are on a currently supported version, and potentially a cost for laggards who are not on a currently supported version," he added.

Windows Subscription Service

Although Microsoft will continue to charge PC makers who preinstall Windows on their machines because that remains a significant source of revenue to Microsoft, chances are upgrades to the new OS will be free, maintained Ross Rubin, the principal analyst at Reticle Research, a consumer technology advisory firm in New York City.

Even the fee for preinstalling the OS may be averted in some cases. For example, Microsoft waived the fee for installing Windows on tablets in an attempt to cut into the iPad market.

"It wouldn't be surprising if there were a fee waiver for certain PC designs that were more Chromebook-like," Rubin told TechNewsWorld.

He added that Microsoft might try a hybrid approach to pricing the new OS.

"Microsoft has a lot of versions of Windows -- home, professional, enterprise -- so a possibility is they could make a baseline version of Windows available for free and if you want more capability, then they would charge you for that," he said.

Since many companies, including Microsoft, have become obsessed with charging monthly fees for software, might that be a pricing alternative for the new Windows?

"It would be very difficult for them to compete against Apple and Google, if they forced a subscription fee just for Windows," Rubin asserted.

Flexible Sunset

Although the official sunset date for Windows 10 is in October 2025, there may be some wiggle room in that deadline.

"After a Windows version is officially retired, they usually support it for two years or so to give enterprises time to change," McGregor noted. "Consumers, though, may never convert over."

Rubin explained that Microsoft has a history of extending support for versions of Windows many years beyond the announced sunset date.

"Given the amount of time Windows 10 has been the flagship operating system -- it's a got a huge installed base -- it wouldn't be surprising to see that date pushed out," he said.

"Sometimes it has to do with the uptake of whatever comes after it," he continued. "If the next version doesn't resonate, then Microsoft would be inclined to keep Windows 10 around longer."

"If it is a good solid release, supports existing applications, and enables new applications or workflows, it will likely follow a similar trajectory to Windows 7 and Windows 10," added Cherry. "If the OS is unstable or the changes are too drastic or uninteresting then it will likely follow Windows 8."

John P. Mello Jr. has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2003. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, IT issues, privacy, e-commerce, social media, artificial intelligence, big data and consumer electronics. He has written and edited for numerous publications, including the Boston Business Journal, the Boston Phoenix, Megapixel.Net and Government Security News. Email John.


QAnon's threat assessment from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has shown that they are likely to be more violent as "digital soldiers" compared to when they operate in the real world. The report was passed unto Congress and was revealed to other lawmakers to give them a sense of what is currently happening with QAnon.

QAnon Threat Assessment

The conspiracy theory group known as QAnon, and led by a mysterious figure known as "Q," have been silent ever since the January 6 Capitol storming event. Particularly because followers have been arrested and sentenced to criminal charges against their names, and that they are all branded as criminals for inciting violence amongst the public.

Initially, the events of the Capitol siege were attributed to QAnon, and that massive entity among the ranks of the organization was linked to the attack which led to Parler being kicked off the app stores and AWS.

Additionally, the conspiracy theory group has flocked to far-right social media, especially as massive companies like Facebook and Twitter have banned most of their content.

Read Also: Trump Shuts Down 'Social Media' a.k.a. Wordpress Blog Due to Lack of Readers

QAnon is Becoming More Violent as 'Digital Soldiers'

According to the recent report by CNN (obtained last Monday, June 14), the FBI has warned lawmakers and members of Congress regarding a believed threat that is looming with regards to QAnon. Currently, there are no significant actions done by the group, and they remain in the shadows of social media platforms, but are believed to still be a threat amongst the public.

The FBI has also branded them to be "more violent" as "digital soldiers," compared to when they were still working in person and carrying out their beliefs amongst the public. This is because QAnon is "asleep" now and that there are no ideas as to when it would go back and present its conspiracy theories which may push people into action.

The real threat of QAnon is its looming ideals and legacy that it left the public, which would then inspire followers and "digital soldiers" into carrying out their own different plans.

This was due to New Mexico Senator Martin Heinrich which has requested the FBI to reveal threat assessments in December 2020, before the Capitol riot, including the most recent this June.

Is QAnon Returning Soon?

Currently, there are no signs of QAnon among massive and major social media websites, but the conspiracy theory group is not necessarily "dead" or extinct. The group was believed to be massive far-right extremists and pro-Trump supporters, which has campaigned for the former President of the United States.

The movement seemingly fanned down, particularly as Trump was de-platformed and stepped out of office, and has been dormant in social media. There are still no clues as to who "Q" is and the next agenda of the movement. The only thing that is sure for now is that QAnon may become more violent compared to who it was before, especially with its digital soldiers.

Related Article: Debunked QAnon Conspiracy Theories Return On The Internet Again; Watch Out For The Key Elements

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Written by Isaiah Richard

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
China successfully freed four new satellites and a commercial asteroid "hunter" on Thursday, June 10 aboard the Long March 2D rocket.

The liftoff started at around 11:03 PM EDT (3:03 GMT or 11:03 Local Time) at its origin in Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center located in North China.

China Sends Long March 2D Rocket in Space

In a YouTube video uploaded by VIdeoFromSpace on June 11, the footage displayed the presence of white insulation tiles which would stabilize the fuel's temperature as China's Long March 2D rocket flew off.

Inside the mega rocket is Origin Space's Yangwang-1 spacecraft, which is known to house the country's "first optical space telescope. It is used for gathering the clear, ultraviolet light used to spot asteroids near the planet.

Furthermore, the company is also preparing for the development of the "treasure map" in space in hopes of discovering new space resources via Yangwang-1.

In the last two months, Origin Space has also released the NEO-1 satellite which is best at containing small asteroid remnants. Apart from space travel, the company shares that it also has some plans to explore the moon for the NEO-2 mission.

Aboard, Long March 2D rocket, three satellites, Hisea-2, TKSY01-TJ, and Beijing-3 were also launched last week.

Read Also: NASA Completes Creating SLS Rockets For Moon-Bound Trip--What's Inside It?

What Are The Three Satellites Attached to Long March 2D?

For the first satellite, Hisea-2, DFH Satellite Co. has led its creation. The optical remote-sensing satellite is Xiamen University's tool when making observations on the marine ecosystem. Its predecessor, Hisea-1 was launched last December aboard the Long March 8.

The second satellite, TKSY01-TJ is said to be useful equipment for the People's Liberation Army Strategic Support Force( PLASSF). According to Xinhua, the state-sponsored media, this remote-sensing satellite would be used in universities in the future.

The third and last satellite, Beijing-3 will be primarily utilized as a delivery tool. It would also be used to run monitoring in the environment, as well as aiding for disaster prevention and reduction, and managing urban conditions.

For the space mission, the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST) has developed the Long March 2D rocket to house the four satellites.

This was the 17th orbital mission that China has accomplished this year. So far, the country is preparing for the launch of the Shenzhou-12 spacecraft on Wednesday, June 16 (EDT), Space.com reported.

On June 2, China's Fengyun-4B flew into orbit, as the state contractor said. The weather satellite was aboard the Long March 2B rocket which traced its starting point in Southwest China, specifically in Xichang Satellite Launch Center at around 12:17 PM EDT.

The satellite has joined the growing network of Fengyun satellites. In 1988, China released the first Fengyun machine, FY-1A to demonstrate its movement for a moment.

Related Article: China's State Media Responds to NASA, US Scientists Over Long March 5B's Plunge Near Maldives

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Joseph Henry

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 and Watch Active 4 FCC certification revealed some technical details even before their actual launch sometime in August. The filing leaked the connectivity connections, batteries, and wireless chargers of the upcoming device.

However, the actual date remains confusingly unknown, but leaks agree on what month it is likely to unveil. As of writing, the rumored dates are August 3, 6, 13, or 27  no one knows for sure.

The said launch will also be announcing Samsung's foldable phones, namely Galaxy Z Flip 3 and Z Fold 3, and wireless Galaxy earbuds.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 4, Watch Active Wireless Charging

SamMobile has seen the FCC certification that the South Korean giant filed for its upcoming smartwatches.

The filing confirmed the report that the Watch 4 and its Active variant will be charged wirelessly. The earlier information from a separate filing on China also noted that the power adapter will be a thing of the past.

Additionally, a 247mAh battery powers the smartwatches, according to the previous filing. The FCC certification, on the other hand, does not mention the battery capacities.

Due to wireless charging, the smartwatch will be powered by China's Amperex Technology Limited, according to a separate report by SamMobile.

Connectivity Specs

The documents also stated that there are two versions of the Galaxy Watch 4: a Wi-Fi only with model number SM-R880, and SMR885 with LTE connectivity.

Meanwhile, the Watch Active 4 is also getting similar variants with model numbers SM-R870 for WiFi, and SM-R875 for LTE.

Model numbers aside, it only means that the 4 series is still getting the options that its predecessors had. Additionally, Apple Watch also introduced its LTE variant in 2017.

On top of the WiFi and LTE connectivity, all four of them are getting Bluetooth 5.0 and NFC.

Tizen Replaced by Wear OS

The collaboration of Google and Samsung has forced the Galaxy Watch 4 Series to bid farewell to the Tizen OS of the South Korean giant. Wear OS will power the wrist devices instead.

The major merger competes with Apple as it remains atop the smartwatch market since it launched in April 2015, as per Wired. To add, the older installations of the Galaxy Watch will still receive three years of support from Tizen. Until then, users will have to switch to the latest wearable offering.

Read Also: Samsung Galaxy S22: Plastic Back Cover Prevails, Except for Ultra Variant, Report Says

Galaxy Watch 4 Other Leaks

Rumors suggest that the new series of Samsung watches will sport circular Super AMOLED screens, and more health tracking options, such as heart rate monitors and sleep tracking.

A similar rumored feature for Apple Watch Series 7 is likely to come to the South Korean smartwatch: blood sugar or glucose monitoring.

It could also feature an added support for Samsung Pay, alongside an IP68 rating.

Related Article: Samsung's Sam Virtual Assistant to Arrive Soon and Here's the New 3D Version's First Look

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Written by Teejay Boris

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The Inventor of the World Wide Web, Tim Berners-Lee, is selling its source code as a non-fungible token. Sotheby's auction house is spearheading the bidding, which starts at $1,000.

The auction house said that the proceeds will go to the causes that Berners-Lee and his wife have chosen beforehand. Berners-Lee surprisingly decided to allow the source code to remain unpatented, despite the recognition that it received, as per BBC.

World Wide Web

Reuters reported that Berners-Lee founded the Web way back in 1989. Since then, people's lives have completely changed due to it.

The revolutionary invention has been heralded as one of the most noteworthy ever since the 15th century.

In December 11, 2014, Berners-Lee said that the internet should be considered as a human right, away from interference of politicians.

Additionally, the Web founder also built the first-ever web browser and server in the same year. And, of course, the inventor also made the first web page. However, it does not function like what most sites complexly do now. It only informed its users that it is "aiming to give universal access to a large universe of documents."

Initially, Berners-Lee attempted to create an application named "WorldWideWeb" on a NeXT computer founded by Steve Jobs, Reuters added to its report. But later on, it has become something bigger than a software.

Why NFT?

In hindsight, non-fungible token (NFT) allows its owners to take ownership of all sorts of digital items. In the past, it has also sold a famous YouTube video, and mostly memes that flooded the internet for some time.

Critics of NFTs are worried about the environmental impact of the technology. It is also looked down on as a mere scheme to create a fortune.

So, why was it sold as an NFT?

Berners-Lee explained that "it's a natural thing to do as when you're a computer scientist and when you write code and have been for many years."

He also added in a statement that it is only befitting to digitally sign a "digital artefact." To the founder, it is "it's a natural thing to do as when you're a computer scientist and when you write code and have been for many years."

Also, Sotheby's claimed that the carbon footprint from the sale is insignificant.

Read Also: World Wide Web Inventor Tim Berners-Lee: To Save The Web, These Three Things Must Be Changed

Included FIles

The signed digital NFT includes four digital items: the original time-stamped files, animated visualization of the code, the process of it as written by the founder, and a digital poster by Tim Berners-Lee himself.

The auction opens on June 23 and closes on June 30. Moreover, the sale of the source code does not automatically transfer its copyright to the owner.

Related Article: Happy 25th Birthday World Wide Web And Thank You Tim Berners-Lee

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Written by Teejay Boris

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
OG confirms Sumail's return to the team as replacement for Ana. This could be a great update for the professional "Dota 2" group since they had a rough time during TI 2021.

"In pure OG fashion, our road to qualify to TI this year is not the smoothest. A king's help will be more than welcomed," said OG via its official Facebook page.

"Sumail has accepted to once again hop on our train and give us a royal hand. Welcome back, king," added the team.

As of the moment, the post was able to generate more than 43,000 reactions, 4,100 comments, and 24,000 likes.

Some were very happy about Sumail's return. On the other hand, various fans shared their thoughts regarding his comeback. One of them said that it would be great if Sumail can play position 1 or 2 since OG really needs his flexibility.

OG Sumail's Return

According to OG's Redbull website, Sumail will be playing position one in the team. This means that he will be the carry-player or safe-laner.

Since he will be the main carry of the team, Sumail will be responsible for earning the most gold and experience so that he can push more enemy turrets and deal tons of damage.

Also Read: JerAx Will Return to 'Dota 2': Here's What Actually Happened to Him and Other Major Details

The "Dota 2" pro team said that Sumail already played as position one for the past few years. The team added that Sumail helped them to qualify for a "Dota 2" Major, saying that his commitment makes him one of the most valuable players of OG.

JMR Luna, OG eSports' CEO, said that he and his team are thrilled to have him back in OG. He even confirmed that Sumail has always been one of his favorite professional players.

Since Sumail has replaced Ana, here is the current lineup of OG:

Sumail "SumaiL" Hassan

Martin "Saksa" Sazdov

Johan "N0tail" Sundstein

Sebastien "Ceb" Debs

Topias "Topson" Taavistainen

Did OG Kick Sumail Out Of the Team?

Win GG reported last August 2, 2020 that OG removed Sumail because of some issues. This information was confirmed by Sebastian "Ceb" Debs, which is also the one who replaced Sumail.

He claimed that since Sumail is an American, he will not be allowed to enter Europe still. Aside from this, Ceb didn't disclose other sensitive details.

For more news updates about "Dota 2" and the professional teams, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: OG Ana No Longer to Compete in DOTA 2, Leaving OG Roster

This article is owned by TechTimes

Written by: Griffin Davis

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
(Photo : Pixabay/kc0uvb) Amazon Just Walk Out technology

Amazon's Just Walk Out is a cashierless technology that is scheduled to come to Amazon's full-size grocery store for the first time.

Amazon has announced that the new 25,000 square foot Amazon Fresh store is bigger than the Amazon Go Grocery store, which is only 10,400 square foot. This is a minor milestone as Amazon continues to expand its technology.

The new Amazon Fresh will be the company's 14th Fresh location in the United States when it opens on June 17 in Bellevue, Washington.

Amazon Just Walk Out

In 2020, Amazon opened a 35,000 square foot Amazon Fresh store that used its high-tech Dash Carts. It started the speculation that the company's Just Walk Out technology is not suited for larger stores.

However, Amazon has always maintained that Just Walk Out, which uses a series of overhead cameras and pressure-sensitive shelves to automatically detect what the shoppers put in their respective cards, can scale up stores of any size.

Also Read: Amazon to Open a New Grocery Store with Smart Carts, Alexa Assistant

Amazon's Vice President of Physical Retail and Technology, Dilip Kumar, said that bringing Just Walk Out technology to a full-size grocery space with the Amazon Fresh in Bellevue showcases the technology's ability to adapt to new selection and new environments.

Kumar added that the new technology will help even more customers enjoy a faster and easier way to shop in their stores and the company is open to feedback on its latest offering.

Amazon stated that when customers arrive at the new store in Bellevue, Washington, they will be prompted to choose a checkout option. Traditional checkouts will still be there for the customers who are more comfortable using them.

If customers decide to use the Just Walk Out technology, they can enter the store by scanning a QR code in the Amazon app, inserting a linked debit or credit card, or scanning their palm, according to CNBC.

As soon as they leave the store, they are automatically billed for the items in their virtual cart, and a receipt is sent digitally to them.

The new store uses of Just Walk Out. However, it won't feature the Dash shopping carts that Amazon released in its first Fresh grocery store in 2020, according to The Verge.

Amazon declined to say whether it would be bringing Just Walk Out tech to its pre-existing Amazon Fresh stores in the United States.

Meanwhile in the United Kingdom, the technology appear in Fresh-branded locations that are similar in size to Amazon's Go stores in the U.S.

In addition to Amazon's own stores, the company also provides Just Walk Out to third-party retailers. Amazon stated that Hudson markets, OTG CIBO Express, and Delaware North are three external retailers that have started to roll out the technology at various locations.

What is Next for Amazon Go?

According to CMSWire's interview with Akram Assaf, Co-Founder & CTO at Bayt, Amazon could continue to roll out the technology to more Amazon Go stores and license the technology to retailers.

Amazon will try its best to conquer the market, depending on how good or convenient the Just Walk Out technology is.

As soon as the world goes back to normalcy after the pandemic, Amazon will be able to see just how impactful this technology is and whether or not customers want it.

Related Article: Amazon Launches First Physical Store Without Cashiers Outside US, Taking it a Step Further as Shoppers Won't Need to Pay With Cash

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Written by Sophie Webster

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Elon Musk confirmed that he is now selling his last house in San Francisco, even though it is a very special place for him.

"Decided to sell my last remaining house. Just needs to go to a large family who will live there. It's a special place," said Elon Musk via his official Twitter account.

Some of his fans were very happy since he kept his promise, which he announced back in May 2020. This all started when he said that he already planned to remove all of his physical possessions, including his houses.

Although this is the case, some people still criticized his decision, especially since he already has a son with Grimes, Elon Musk's girlfriend for around three years now.

"Where will Grimes & X  A-12 live if you don't own any houses?" said @KaylaHungerfor2 in the comment section.

"Seems a bit early to be selling your house(s) if you plan on moving to Mars. Not asking for an address, just curious," added the Twitter user.

Why does Elon Musk want To Sell All His Properties?

According to The US Sun's latest report, Elon Musk explained in an interview the reason why he wants to sell all his possessions. SpaceX's CEO said that he believes that physical properties only weigh his incomes down.

Also Read: Elon Musk: Tesla to Allow Leading Cryptocurrency Transactions if Mining is 50% Clean Energy, Confirms Only Selling 10%

Musk even described these things as an attack vector. Because of his belief, he already declared that two of his homes in California are already being sold on the market.

Aside from this, Tesla's CEO also sold his Bel-Air mansion back in 2020, which costs more than $29 million. Meanwhile, Elon Musk also estimated that he was able to sell six of his properties for the last 13 months, which is a total of $114 million.

Because of this, the tech giant CEO decided to move to Texas in a house that costs roughly $50,000. This is exactly located in Boca, Chica, Texas.

Other Activities Of Musk

Aside from selling his properties, Elon Musk is also getting involved in the rise and fall of cryptocurrencies' values. Fortune reported that one of his Bitcoin tweets was able to increase Tesla's holdings to around $143 million.

This is not surprising since he already improved Dogecoin's value with just one SpaceX tweet. Who knows what will happen in the following days.

For more news updates about Elon Musk and other activities that surround him, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: Tesla's Elon Musk Mocks 'Anonymous' Hacktivist, Reveals Miley Cyrus' 'Real Identity' [UPDATE]

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 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Artificial intelligence has a lot of valuable jobs these days. And now, it's going to be working in real estate.

The popular real estate site Zillow is employing an artificial intelligence network to improve their home value estimates, according to WIRED. They have updated their current algorithm that gives out automatic cash offers to buy homes according to a price estimate. With the update to their AI algorithm, Zillow believes they have improved the accuracy of price estimates, allowing them to buy more properties.

Before, owners of around 900,000 properties were the only ones eligible for cash offers. But the upgraded artificial intelligence network, Zillow states that the aforementioned market has been improved by as much as 30 percent. Furthermore, company representatives also claimed that the company can close an entire sale in as little as a single week, which is proof of the efficiency increase.

This artificial intelligence network upgrade is one of the largest that Zillow has gotten through the years. One may remember that the real estate company's "Zestimate" program (which launched almost two years ago after undergoing a major rework) was its most recent big attempt at AI-powered real estate valuation, as reported by GeekWire.

Zillow says that their upgraded neural network has led to an 11.5 percent decrease in price estimate errors covering 30 regions all across the US. Phoenix experienced the greatest error decline, with San Antonio, Tampa, and Houston following close behind.

Zillow's artificial intelligence escapades aren't really the first time that the real estate industry has tapped the services of AI. Last year, there were clamors for a lot more realtors to use artificial intelligence to generate better leads, which illustrates the massive value of neural networks in this type of business.

Read also: The Benefits of Artificial Intelligence in Our Day to Day Lives

Artificial Intelligence: Not Really a Technological Boogeyman

AI has a bit of a bad reputation that it really doesn't deserve. While there are potential security threats that may arise from rushing to commercialize AI as a whole, a lot of people fail to realize just how incredibly useful artificial intelligence really is. And Zillow is taking full advantage of the processing power it affords.

Real estate is an industry that deals with a TON of data, even more so than others. It's crazy how much information is being processed in this industry alone: various pricing estimates, trends, buyer information, the whole shebang. Merely relying on human capabilities isn't going to keep most deals afloat, let alone make them more efficient.

With the power of AI, realtors and buyers will be able to go through their deals with as little hassle as possible. And this is always a welcome reality because purchasing a home can be an extremely stressful endeavor, especially for first-time buyers. This is where the age-old adage "you need all the help you can get" applies--even if the "helper" is a machine.

Related: Is 2030 the Year You Buy Your Home by Clicking Online?

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Written by RJ Pierce

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The new NASA Minotaur 1, the latest spacecraft of the international space agency, is about to lift off.



Although NASA might have delayed its space launch for more than two hours on Tuesday, June 15, some sources still claimed that the Minotaur 1 rocket's launch is still being prepared from the Wallops Flight Facility.

Once NASA sends it off to space, the new rocket will be visible along the East Coast. On the other hand, Northrop Grumman Corporation, the developer of the Minotaur 1 rocket, confirmed that the new spacecraft will lift off at exactly 9:35 a.m. in Wallops Island, Virginia.

Although lift-off is confirmed, NASA explained that its visibility will still depend on the weather. However, the international space agency also added that the new Minotaur 1 could also be visible from many eastern states. These specifically include New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.

NASA Minotaur 1 Launch Guide

According to NJ True Jersey's latest report, Minotaur 1 rocket will carry three national security payloads, which the National Reconnaissance Office will use.

On the other hand, the new space activity of NASA was also supported by the U.S. Space Force and the Missle System Center's Launch Enterprise.

Also Read: NASA Spacesuits To Be Used by NASCAR, Race Drivers to Keep their Seats Cool-How Does it Work?

NASA stated that once the rocket reaches Earth's atmosphere, it will be visible from anywhere in New Jersey, New York City, and eastern Pennsylvania. However, those who are interested in watching it should quick since it will only be visible for 60 seconds after its take-off.

But, if you want to watch it within the comfort of your house, all you need to is visit Wallops' official YouTube channel or you can easily click this link. Aside from Wallops, NASA is also expected to release launch updates on its official Twitter and Facebook accounts.

NASA Is Also Working On A New Space Telescope

SpaceX, Blue Origins, and other space companies are becoming more active than ever. But, NASA is also joining their hype since it is also working on a space telescope.

SciTech Daily reported that this new space tool is believed to have the ability to detect asteroids. Once it is finished, this could really help the world prepare if a massive heavenly body is approaching the planet.

For more news updates about NASA and its space technologies, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: China Releases Batch of Satellites,Near-Earth Asteroids in Space Aboard Long March 2D Rocket

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ADA [ndash] Jesse G. Denslow, 93, of Ahloso, passed away Saturday, June 26, 2021, in Shawnee. He was born to Leslie Earl Denslow and Poca Vanderpool Denslow in 1927 in Scullin, Oklahoma, "a wide place in the road". He claimed that his secret to long life was that he never drank, never smoked
Tremaine Devine has no problem taking the heat in the kitchen. It was the Louisiana heat that took some getting used to.

That's understandable for a guy who grew up in Chicago, where his grandmother made him spend Sunday afternoons watching her cook. He was 10 at the time and would have liked to be outside playing in the snow.

Now Devine is grateful for spending those cold days in his grandmother's warm kitchen. It fueled his love for food, and that love has led to his own Tre's Street Kitchen.

Devine opened his food truck in November, at 12333 Jefferson Highway, with his business partner and fiancee, Kristen Smith. They knew they were taking a chance in opening in the midst of the pandemic, but they didn't let that stop them.

"It was scary, but we knew this was the time to do it," Devine said. "Our faith is strong, and we knew this would be our opportunity."

Devine, who had been the chef at The Little Village downtown location, already had a loyal customer base that appreciated his cooking. While he liked the job, Devine wanted to create his own concept: "Where Midwestern Cuisine Meets Southern Soul."

The menu includes such customer favorites as the Street Burger and Fries, the Jerk Salmon Burger on brioche and Wings and Waffles. His Midwestern roots come out in the Chicago Style Italian Beef Sandwich.

The overwhelming No. 1 order is the Street Burger, an 8-ounce prime beef patty, topped with, among other things, Chipotle mayo, red onions, fried jalapenos, fried egg, bacon, American cheese and Devine's Street Sauce.

"We make our own sauce," Devine said. "And customers love it. They ask me if they can buy it, so we're planning on marketing it in the near future."

The Fried Catfish Poboy is also a favorite, as are the Wings and Waffles, combining three fluffy, buttery waffles with four crispy, fried wings.

Devine hopes to turn Tre's Street Kitchen into a brick-and-mortar restaurant and eventually franchise it. But that's in the future.

For now, he's focusing on the present, which is built on a past that led him to start his own business.

He was reared by his grandparents in Chicago, and his grandmother wanted to make sure he knew how to cook and clean.

"She said, 'You need to know these things in case you don't get married," Devine said, laughing. "I thought, 'I'm only 10 years old, and she's telling me I'm going to be a loser."

But, through her, Devine developed a genuine interest in cooking, watching as she made fluffy biscuits and pies from scratch.

He later worked in restaurants in Chicago, then, upon meeting Smith, moved to Baton Rouge and enrolled in the Louisiana Culinary Institute.

"I was moving to Baton Rouge for my job with Teach for America," Smith said. "So, Tre started checking out culinary schools."

"I learned that one of the most prestigious schools in the South is the Louisiana Culinary Institute," Devine added.

He worked in several area restaurants, finally becoming chef at The Little Village downtown. He said many customers encouraged him to open his own business.

Now, they are regulars of Tre's Street Kitchen, where Devine said he strives to serve up a "high-quality culinary experience."

That experience also includes Saturday brunch. Since it's a food truck, there's no seating, but customers line up for take-home dishes. The business also caters.

In Louisiana, he's learned to use more spices and, though he loves cooking meat, he's had fun creating seafood dishes.

But, like with the heat, he's adjusting.

"And now we have our own business. I learned, I put my head down and I just went for it," Devine said. "I enjoy what I do, and I enjoy the experience that my customers have. It's been great."
GONZALES The East Ascension drainage district has "acted in a way that is manifestly arbitrary and unreasonable" when it refused for years to maintain roadside ditches in the town of Sorrento, even though the city's residents paid drainage taxes, a state judge has found.

Judge Jason Verdigets ruled that the drainage district has a legal duty to perform ditch and culvert maintenance inside the town limits under ballot language voters have approved and renewed since the 1980s.

The ruling hands the town and its outgoing mayor, Mike Lambert, an important legal victory after a multi-year fight to have the parish drainage district acknowledge that it couldn't carve out the town from the roadside ditch maintenance conducted in the unincorporated portions of eastern Ascension.

But the ruling comes as a new Sorrento mayor and council are set to take office next month.

Chris Guidry, who will be sworn as mayor in July 1, is promising to take a less confrontational approach with Ascension. Parish President Clint Cointment says he wants to appeal the ruling but also expects a better working relationship with the new town leadership.

"I've always felt you get further with a handshake than you do with a slap on the back of the head," Guidry said.

Guidry, a town councilman who Cointment backed in his run for mayor this spring, won election in March without an opponent.

But Lambert said he "absolutely" plans to contest any appeal of the hard-won ruling, even after he leaves office June 30 and even if the new town leadership chooses not to contest any parish appeal.

Lambert, a two-term mayor who did not seek reelection this spring, is a plaintiff both as mayor and an individual property taxpayer in Sorrento.

Drainage board agrees to put up money to clean Sorrento's roadside ditches, with conditions GONZALES  The East Ascension drainage board agreed in a 6-3 vote Monday to provide $400,000 toward the first of multiple phases of work the t

Overseen by 10 of 11 Parish Council members, the drainage district is a separate legal entity in Ascension that has received sales or property taxes from the residents of Sorrento, the city of Gonzales and the rest of eastern Ascension for more than 35 years.

For years, ballot language for the 10-year, 5-mill drainage maintenance tax, which has most often funded roadside ditch work, has not differentiated between the east bank of Ascension and its cities and towns. But, in practice, parish officials who oversaw the district had left those municipalities to do their own work.

Parish officials had mostly reserved the half-cent sales tax, which voters approved in 1984, for major drainage works like pump stations, levees and large canal clearing. But the ballot language also specifically includes work on ditches and also does not carve out the municipalities.

Ascension seeks renewal of longstanding 5 mill tax for drainage system maintenance GONZALES  All voters in eastern Ascension Parish will be asked Nov. 6 to renew a 10-year property tax that has supported since the late 1950s

In July 2020, the town and Lambert sued the drainage district after a few years of negotiations and while parish drainage officials under former President Kenny Matassa had hired contractors to expedite millions of dollars in ditch clearing elsewhere in the parish following the August 2016 flood.

The suit had asked a judge to declare that the district had a legal obligation to do roadside ditch work in Sorrento.

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Parish officials had argued that that past court precedents give the district wide discretion to handle drainage matters. The courts can't interfere in their decision making without sufficient reason, they said, adding that the district has spent millions on a major pump station near Sorrento.

On June 4, Verdigets, a 23rd Judicial District judge, found the parish's actions were unreasonable enough and without a material factual dispute to warrant his ruling for Sorrento without a trial under what's known as a summary judgement.

"I'm so happy for the people of Sorrento to finally see an actual benefit from a tax they've paid for, for over 30 years that's been long overdue," Matthew Percy, the outgoing Sorrento attorney, said Monday in an interview with the mayor.

When asked if he disputed that the parish has the legal responsibility to maintain roadside ditches in municipalities, Cointment, the parish president, said he believed the district has "to treat all municipalities equal and do what we can for each one, equally."

"That's my belief, and I think you'll find this new mayor and new council is willing to work with Ascension Parish government and getting a lot of their drainage issues solved instead of filing lawsuits," he said.

The drainage district commissioners would have to have the final say on any decision to appeal.

Lambert said the ruling was long overdue. Parish officials during his tenure had refused to do ditch work in the town, he said, and even required Sorrento to reimburse the drainage district for ditch work.

In the town's final petition arguing for the ruling, town officials said online work order requests in Sorrento were either ignored or deleted.

They also provided pictures and an affidavit from outgoing Town Councilman Donald Schexnaydre showing ditch work stopping at the town's incorporated limits, which town officials called an "invisible boundary" to ditch clearing within the east bank district.

"We felt that, with the language of the ballot, this work should be done, and we put in requests, numerous requests, and they were denied. And I felt, why pay a tax when we're not getting the service," Lambert said.

Toward the end of Sorrento's negotiations with the district before the suit was filed, parish officials under Matassa had tried to have the town agree to a contract for ditch work.

Among its conditions, town officials would have had to acknowledge the district had no legal responsibility to do roadside ditch work in exchange for a one-year deal to do $400,000 in improvements.

In Verdigets' written reasons, the judge cited that proposal as an indication the drainage district was acting arbitrarily and unreasonably by holding Sorrento to a different standard than it did the rest of the east bank.

"There is no law or jurisprudence that requires such a contract," he wrote.
Gov. John Bel Edwards has signed into law a bill that takes away the possibility of jail time for possession of small amounts of marijuana, the latest shift away from Louisianas historically punitive stance on the drug.

Edwards, a Democrat who is often aligned with the states sheriffs and has long opposed legalizing marijuana, signed House Bill 652 by Rep. Cedric Glover, D-Shreveport, hailing it as a criminal justice reform effort. Edwards has signed 212 bills into law, so far, from the legislative session that ended June 10.

Glovers bill gained steam in the two-month legislative session that ended last week after a Republican-sponsored bill to legalize marijuana narrowly failed in the state House. The push indicated a growing willingness by the conservative Legislature to look at loosening the states tight laws surrounding marijuana. A task force is expected to study legalization of marijuana ahead of next years session.

Advocates said Glovers bill to decriminalize the possession of up to a half-ounce of marijuana would keep people from going to jail for a drug that is legal in 17 other states. Twenty-seven states have passed similar decriminalization laws  which are a step short of legalization  by taking away jail time as a penalty for small amounts of pot. The fines and amounts of marijuana those laws apply to vary by state.

+2 What is marijuana 'decriminalization' and how is it different from full legalization? The Louisiana House late Tuesday took a significant step toward loosening the states tough stance on marijuana possession, approving a bill t

Edwards, like some lawmakers backing the bill, disputed that the legislation amounts to decriminalizing marijuana, since violators can still be hit with penalties. Instead, anyone convicted of this crime will now be subject to a maximum penalty of $100 instead of being exposed to parish prison time, he said in a statement.

This is not a decision I took lightly. In addition to carefully reviewing the bill, I also believe deeply that the state of Louisiana should no longer incarcerate people for minor legal infractions, especially those that are legal in many states, that can ruin lives and destroy families, as well as cost taxpayers greatly, Edwards said. This measure passed Louisianas Legislature with bipartisan support following a robust discussion of the toll of over incarceration on our people and our state. Taking this action is another step forward for Louisianas criminal justice reform efforts.

The National Conference of State Legislatures, which advises lawmakers around the country and tracks legislation, defines decriminalization as making possession of small amounts of marijuana a civil infraction or the lowest class of misdemeanor, with no possibility of jail time. Louisianas law does that, making each possession offense of a half-ounce or less a misdemeanor with no possible jail time. Instead, offenders will get a summons for a fine of up to $100.

+4 Marijuana legalization effort is done for now. Here's how it was different, and its future The effort to legalize marijuana for recreational use in Louisiana, which got further than ever before this year after an unexpected bipartisa

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Advocates pushing the bill agreed it was a decriminalization measure, though many wanted lawmakers to go further in reducing the possible fine.

Louisiana just became the first state in the Deep South to significantly decriminalize marijuana possession because there was a collective realization that the current prohibition regime is serving the interests of few, if any, people in our state," said Peter Robins-Brown, policy and advocacy director at Louisiana Progress Action, which pushed the bill in the Legislature. "We hope this is just the first of many common-sense reforms to Louisianas marijuana laws, and yet another important step toward ending our states over-incarceration crisis.

The Louisiana Sheriffs Association, an influential force at the State Capitol, helped kill the bill by Republican state Rep. Richard Nelson, of Mandeville, to fully legalize marijuana. But the organization stayed neutral on Glovers decriminalization bill.

The Louisiana District Attorneys Association stayed neutral on the bill, but East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore III weighed in on its behalf. In a lengthy report sent to lawmakers on the pros and cons of legalizing marijuana, Moore's office wrote that he supports HB No. 652 to reduce criminal penalties for possession of marijuana under a certain amount (or decriminalization of possession).

+4 Louisiana lawmakers back decriminalization of marijuana; bill heads to governor's desk Louisiana lawmakers have agreed to eliminate the possibility of jail time for possession of small amounts of marijuana, a sharp change in the 

Under the previous law, people caught with a half-ounce of pot were subject to a $300 fine or 15 days in jail on the first offense. For subsequent offenses, the penalties ramped up significantly.

On the second conviction, people could be jailed for six months. On the fourth conviction, they could be jailed for up to eight years.

Under the new law, people caught with up to a half-ounce  no matter how many offenses they rack up  will be subject to a summons and a fine of up to $100. The law is similar to decriminalization ordinances already passed in Baton Rouge, Shreveport and New Orleans. In New Orleans, possession of small amounts of marijuana carries a $40 fine, though some local officials are trying to reduce penalties further.
Crime scene tape surrounds the IHOP on Siegen lane Tuesday where one IHOP employee was killed, and one injured in May. The stolen car that was used was found burning nearby.
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A company part-owned by deceased businessman Frank Costa and the Sydney-based Ross family has failed to get a green light to demolish parts of a heritage Melbourne malthouse and replace it with an eight-storey office, despite arguing the developments merits through high-profile barrister Stuart Morris, QC.

The Barrett & Burston Maltings malthouse and silos in Burnley. Credit:Eddie Jim

Mr Costas company lodged project plans to convert the inner-city Burnley site at 45 Gibdon Street, the Barrett Burston Maltings malthouse and grain silos, into an eight-storey mixed-use building, with offices, home offices and 77 residences.

The project was stalled at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal for more than a year when one of the members hearing the case was diverted to oversee a project to move the tribunals entire planning proceedings online in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

However, the tribunal ultimately ruled against the new office plans on the grounds they breached the local councils maximum three-storey building height limit for the area.
Australias stock market set a new high and topped 7400 for the first time thanks to a three-year high for oil prices and persistent interest in blue chip stocks.

The S&P/ASX 200 burst through the 7400 points just before midday on Wednesday, but drifted down in afternoon trade to close just 0.1 per cent higher at 7386.2 points. Thats still a fourth straight record high.

Oil stocks out-performed all day as the price per barrel reached levels not seen since late 2018. Global supplies were running thin amid recovery uncertainty.

The ASX 200 finished the session 0.1 per cent higher at a fresh record. Credit:Louie Douvis

Banks outperformed with Commonwealth Bank setting a new high of $104.94 before closing slightly below that level. ANZ Bank gained 0.9 per cent while Macquarie Group and NAB added 0.7 per cent.

Major miners declined despite iron ore keeping above $US220 per tonne. BHP was down 1.7 per cent, Rio Tinto declined 0.6 per cent, and Fortescue was down 1.6 per cent.

Woolworths and Wesfarmers touched new all-time highs before closing at $43.70 and $57.13 respectively.

This unprecedented growth in equity markets was making some traders anxious, with US-based hedge fund manager Michael Burry - famous for predicting the sub-prime mortgage crisis of 2007 - calling the current market the Greatest Speculative Bubble of All Time in All Things.

Markets were also nervously waiting to see if this weeks meeting of the Federal Reserves Open Market Committee delivered any surprises regarding interest rates.

Inflation remained a key concern for traders as rising prices would push central banks to lift interest rates.

Chief executive and managing director of Van Eck Asia Pacific, Arian Neiron, said stocks would continue rising because There Is No Alternative while interest rates remain at historical lows.

We dont see (central bank) policies adjusting in the short term, Mr Neiron said.

Equities will continue on an upwards trajectory.

He said traders would not know for six months if the bump in prices seen in last weeks US inflation data was real or transitory. He believed it was real inflation.

Markets will chug along and we do believe that markets will exhibit more volatility over the next three months.

The volatility index was at 17 points on Wednesday, nearly the lowest it has been since late February 2020.

The ASXs information technology was up 145 per cent since the bottom of last years crash.

However, growth has slowed this year with stocks vulnerable to guidance revisions or interest rate changes.

On Wednesday Nuix fell 5.8 per cent, Appen was down 4.4 per cent, and EML Payments was down 3 per cent.

Overall, the Australian sharemarket remained firmly in a rollicking post-COVID growth phase. But asset managers have started warning the growth spurt could soon be over.

SG Hiscock portfolio manager Hamish Tadgell said ASX growth would likely soften in the second half of 2021 as stimulus measures were wound back.

While the cyclical recovery is now clear for investors to see, the risk is we are fast approaching peak growth, and as this cycle matures, growth remains positive but slows, Mr Tadgell cautioned.

He noted the ASX200 was up 62 per cent in 15 months and business confidence and conditions were at - or close to - all-time highs in most developed countries.

And commodity prices would begin to cool as borders reopen and supply chains normalise.

On Wednesday the Fairwork Commission ruled the national minimum wage would lift 2.5 per cent to $772.60 per week or $20.33 an hour.
The Australian sharemarket pressed towards an unprecedented 7400 points on Tuesday as a host of mega-cap stocks set new records of their own.

Fresh highs for the likes of Commonwealth Bank, Wesfarmers, ResMed, Mineral Resources, Dominos Pizza, and James Hardie helped the ASX 200 add 0.9 per cent and close at a new peak of 7379.5.

A solid Wall Street session lit the way for local investors after the long weekend break, with the S&P500 and Nasdaq also hitting new peaks.

The ASX 200 rose 0.9 per cent to new highs on Tuesday. Credit:Jim Rice

That momentum helped local investors take the benchmark index up by as much as 1.1 per cent to a new intraday high of 7398.6, with blue chip stocks doing the heavy lifting

There was progress for 18 of the markets top 20 companies - with only Telstra and gold miner Newcrest missing out.

Rio Tinto was the best of the iron ore miners - up 1.2 per cent to $126.48 - while biotech CSL closed at its highest in six months in rising 1.7 per cent to $301.72.

RBC Capital Markets head of equities Karen Jorritsma said it was clear Australian equities remained in good shape, while balance sheets were as good as theyve ever been.

The number of stocks at record highs these are blue-chip names, fantastically well-understood companies that are hitting new highs, Ms Jorritsma said.

This is not being done by meme stocks or whatever. Australia is in very high-quality shape.

Tuesdays third straight record high continues a remarkable 15-month rebound from the nadir of the coronavirus crash.

The ASX 200 index has now added 62.3 per cent - or about $865 billion - to its value since tumbling in the steepest bear market in history, fuelled by an ocean of stimulus cash, low interest rates, and a better-than-expected economic rebound.

Crucially, the recovery has not been accompanied by an inflation boost that could cause the central bank to withdraw its ultra-accommodative policy settings.

Nonetheless, inflation may remains the key risk to equities markets going forward, with Thursday mornings (Australian time) meeting of the US Fed sure to add colour.

Ms Jorritsma, however, is confident the market can continue on its current trajectory.

Theres a lot of discussion around inflation and whether it is transitory or not but nonetheless in the meantime things are looking pretty solid all the data continues to be supportive, she said.

A gold price dip took the shine off the precious metal miners on Tuesday, with the likes of Newcrest, Northern Star, and Evolution defying an otherwise booming sharemarket advance.

Other notable declines included NewsCorp - down 0.6 per cent to $32.57 and property firm Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, which dropped 1.6 per cent to $6.33.

Commonwealth Bank finished 2.1 per cent ahead at $103.45 to continue its stellar two-month surge into uncharted territory.

Big Four rival ANZ gained 1.5 per cent to $28.66, while Westpac was up 1 per cent to $26.55 and NAB rose 0.8 per cent to $26.67.

The $63 billion retail behemoth Wesfarmers rose 2.4 per cent to $56.31, and hit a new intraday peak of $56.67, while Woolworths went within a whisker of its all-time high and closed 1.4 per cent ahead at $43.50.

Medical device maker ResMed was the markets best performer and led health stocks higher, adding 6.8 per cent to a new high of $30.31.

Elsewhere, a rise in investors jumping back into the housing market was noted by the Reserve Bank in board meeting minutes for June released on Tuesday morning.

Acknowledging house prices had continued to rise in all major markets, the RBA board re-emphasised the need to maintain lending standards and careful monitoring of borrowing trends in an environment with strong housing demand, rising prices and low interest rates.
Russell Crowe is backing a new film studio at Coffs Harbour on the NSW north coast.

The Oscar-winning actor, who has a property at nearby Nana Glen, is expected to announce plans for a studio at the Pacific Bay Resort that would be the shooting location for a burgeoning number of film and television productions in the region.

Deputy premier and minister for regional NSW John Barilaro is due to join Crowe at the resort on Wednesday morning to announce what is described as a family friendly film studio that can offer long-term accommodation for cast and crew.

Backing a new studio: Russell Crowe. Credit:AP

It would help ease the pressure on east coast production facilities since Australia became one of the most COVID-safe filming locations in the world.
Australia and UK sign free trade deal

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Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp said there were measures in place to manage a breach. If there is to be a breach and the power station might need to shut down theres no impact to residential homes, residential areas, or to private land, he said. Les Davidson sweeps water in the front yard of his Traralgon home. Credit:Blake Bourne Meanwhile, 17,100 Victorians remain without power. Energy providers report that the worst affected areas are Croydon, Lilydale, Mount Evelyn, Olinda, Monbulk, Mount Dandenong, Kalorama, Hoddles Creek, Silvan and Mooroolbark, according to AusNet. The Gippsland region is also affected but not as severely.

Loading AusNet spokesperson Helena Lilley says staff have been working overtime to switch the power back. Weve got additional crews here and more coming from New South Wales, so were working around the clock. Were doing everything we can to get the power back as quickly and safely as possible, Ms Lilley said. Theres more bad weather on the way around Traralgon because the ground is soggy, she said. Tree roots are also soggy and it doesnt take much wind to knock them over; its creating more difficult conditions. Low clouds had also hindered efforts, she said. Weve had helicopters trying to fly over Strzelecki Ranges but misty rain and low clouds made that difficult, but we made a bit of headway yesterday and well be up again this morning.

Olinda resident Camilla Christian told RN Breakfast she is still without power. Were very well off at our house because our neighbour has a very powerful generator and is generously sharing with us, Ms Christian said. But yeah, not so well for the rest. A lot are struggling along without [generators], she said. Some people are leaving to go and stay elsewhere but the majority are sticking to it and toughing it out. Mr Crisp said 77 hardship assistance payments had been made by Monday totalling $87,000.

About 1195 initial impact assessments have been undertaken, with 98 homes uninhabitable, and 86 homes that are habitable, but have got some fairly significant damage, he said. There are so many trees that are still likely to fall. Flooding on a farm in Launching Place forces the early sale of livestock. Credit:Little Yarra Free Range Eggs Ms DAmbrosio said a financial compensation scheme for power outages would be announced. Were talking about hundreds of dollars rather than thousands but it all depends on how many hours [each household is out of power]. An egg farmer in the Yarra Ranges has been forced to sell her chickens earlier than usual due to severe flooding.

Owner of Little Yarra Free Range Eggs in Launching Place, Sue Gemmill, said she has received over a thousand responses to her Facebook post and sold all 400 hens. It was an amazing response. We sold them all which is really, really wonderful for us to know that we dont have to be worrying about the hens welfare anymore, she said. It will be months before the farm ground recovers from the damage and the debris is fully cleared  Ms Gemmills property only recently had the power switched back on. Were pretty lucky, people in our area are going to be off power for the rest of this week. But what do you do? You just have to get back up and feed the animals, she said.

Victoria SES agency commander Mark Cattell said they have received well over 9000 requests for assistance since the storms began on Wednesday. He said many roads are still difficult to reach. In the Dandenong Ranges in particular, theres still a significant number of roads closed. Animal rescuer Manfred Zabinskas at his property in Trentham with some fallen trees after the storm last week. Credit:Eddie Jim. Our [SES] crews, roads, power crews and councils are working diligently to try to get access to those communities, he said. We do have some access to some communities but its not main road access, its barely enough room for cars.

Mr Cattell said power companies have an enormous task clearing the wreckage and the fallen trees. Unfortunately the size and the complexity of some of these trees which have come down, they really require specialist arborist and large machinery, he said. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video Authorities are now preparing for more rain. Weve got some more weather coming up on Thursday, Friday, but were not going to see hopefully the level of impact that we did last week, Mr Cattell said.
Modelled on the successful British street paper of the same name, the local version will be sold on the streets by trained homeless people who will keep $1 of the $2 cover price.

The gritty realism of street life could help fill the pockets of Melbournes homeless after the launch yesterday of a new magazine, The Big Issue.

First published in The Age on June 17, 1996

The managing editor, Mr Paul Pease, said the philosophy was to give homeless people a hand up, not a hand out while raising community awareness of social issues through hard-hitting articles by leading and emerging writers.

The UK Big Issue sells more than one million copies a month and has spawned street papers in Eastern Europe and South Africa.

The organisers of the Melbourne magazine hope to make it a national bi-monthly within a year.

The Big Issue on sale in the Bourke Street Mall in 1998. Credit:Craig Abraham

It will not be a glory rag for the nightclub venues or travel industry, but a magazine about real social issues, said Mr Jim Carden, a communications lecturer at RMIT who helped launch 10,000 copies under the Flinders Street clocks yesterday.
Efforts to reconnect thousands of homes and businesses still without power nearly a week after a storm lashed Victoria could be hampered by more rain on the way over the next few days.

Heavy falls are expected in parts of Gippsland already experiencing flooding, although the Bureau of Meteorology is not expecting similar downpours to those that caused evacuations last week.

An aerial view of flooding in Traralgon in Gippsland on June 10. Credit:Blake Bourne

However, the rain may pose a threat to the states energy infrastructure, with a coal mine at the Yallourn power station still at risk of flooding.

Authorities said there was no risk to the energy supply.
Industry heavyweights have questioned whether jobs and services will be cut following the Queensland governments announcement of the state budget, while key figures called for greater investment in healthcare.

Stakeholders did welcome several budget announcements including $1.9 billion in social housing as a beacon of hope, more than $900 million into new schools, and a continuation of $270 million towards the Great Barrier Reef.

Together Union Queensland branch secretary Alex Scott speaks to media outside Queensland Parliament after the release of the 2021-22 state budget on Tuesday, June 15, 2021. Credit:Matt Dennien

But Together Queensland secretary Alex Scott said the budget was fundamentally misleading the community.

He questioned whether $2 billion worth of savings would result in job cuts, saying the government refused to announce what services or jobs would be affected.
Moscow: Belarusian authorities have presented the detained journalist Raman Pratasevich at a news conference in an attempt to claim he is not being mistreated.

Pratasevich, who was seized last month when authorities forced a Ryanair flight to land in Minsk, said he was being treated well and cooperating with investigators.

Journalists from the BBC walked out of the event, saying it was clear he appeared under duress.

A hostage: Belarusian dissident journalist Raman Pratasevich at a news conference at the National Press Centre of Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Minsk. Credit:AP

Dozhd, a Russian TV channel, chose not to ask Pratasevich any questions because its correspondents could not be sure that he was free to speak.
Jerusalem: The Israeli military said its aircraft attacked Hamas armed compounds in the Gaza Strip early on Wednesday in response to the launching of incendiary balloons from the territory that caused fires in fields in southern Israel.

In a statement, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said that it was ready for all scenarios, including renewed fighting in the face of continued terrorist acts emanating from Gaza.

Flames are seen after an Israeli air strike hit Hamas targets in Gaza City, breaking a ceasefire agreed last month. Credit:Getty Images

Its jets struck military compounds allegedly belonging to Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza.

Hamas, the IDF said, was responsible for all events transpiring in the Gaza Strip, and will bear the consequences for its actions. The air force targeted at least one site east of the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, according to the IDF.
Tony-winning playwright and actor Harvey Fierstein (Torch Song Trilogy) has donated $2.5 million to the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts to create the Harvey Fierstein Theatre Lab. The lab will occupy what is currently a 770-square-foot meeting room and office on the Amsterdam level of the Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center. It will be designed and outfitted as a flexible space for students and teachers from middle school through graduate school, and free programming will provide a variety of educational opportunities for formal class visits, afterschool and weekend teen programs, professional teacher development, research seminars, workshops, panel discussions, interviews, and demonstrations by theater professionals.

"As the son of a librarian it's only natural that I'd be drawn to this project," says Harvey Fierstein. "The recent pandemic proved that there is no substitute for live theater but what we do onstage exists only in that moment and then is gone. The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts' collections of photos, recordings, scripts and live video capture offers a unique way to preserve a glimmer of theater's magic. My hope is that this new Theatre Lab will provide a space to not only revel in the past but inspire artists to create the theater of tomorrow."

Fierstein has also named the Library for the Performing Arts as a beneficiary of the Harvey Fierstein Trust, securing his legacy as a major supporter of the library's ongoing efforts in documenting, collecting, and preserving the performing arts, and inspiring the next generation of artists.

On June 23, Fierstein will participate in the streaming event I'm Still Here: A Virtual Benefit for the Billy Rose Theatre Division, celebrating the 90th anniversary of the library's collection. Click here for more details and tickets to the event.
In 2014, Andy Senor Jr. embarked on a journey he never expected: He would bring Jonathan Larson's beloved musical Rent to Cuba.

Then again, his entire Rent journey has been unexpected. A grad school audition for original director Michael Greif led to Senor playing Angel on Broadway and the West End, and acknowledging his desire to assist Greif on the show's off-Broadway revival led to his putting up the production throughout Asia. But the chance to take it to Cuba  his ancestral homeland, which his parents fled before landing in Miami decades earlier  was one he knew he couldn't pass up, even if it went against his and his family's better judgment.

Rent marked the first Broadway musical co-production between the United States and the Cuba in 50 years, and, in the country's thriving political theater scene, sold out for four months. Senor documented his experiences in the new film Revolution Rent, which premieres tonight at 9pm on HBO (and streams thereafter). Here, he takes us through the process, and tells us why, after certain initial misgivings, he can't wait to go back.

Andy Senor Jr. directing Rent in Cuba

( Carlos E. Gonzalez/HBO)

Take me through the evolution of your Rent journey.

The first time Rent popped into my head was watching Wilson Jermaine Heredia win the Tony for playing Angel. For a theater kid, Hispanic and in Miami, that was the first time that I saw someone Hispanic that was close to my age on the Tonys. I was like, "Whoa, what is this show?" I became obsessed with the album, when I was auditioning for graduate school at University of California San Diego, and Michael Greif was sitting there, because he was the artistic director of the La Jolla Playhouse.

I was like, "Mr. Greif, I'm obsessed with Rent," and he says, in his very Michael way, "Good. What monologues are you going to do?" He gave me a callback, and then, as he was leaving the room, I went up to him and was like, "I would really love to audition for Rent." And he's like, "Can you sing?" And I said to him, "Like a bird." And he says, "Oh. You need to call Bernie Telsey's office immediately and give them your information and make sure we know where to reach you."

Two weeks later, I was in New York City auditioning for the show. I sang "I'll Cover You" and "Today 4 U" and they're looking at me smiling. It was wonderful. I flew back home the next morning, I took a nap, and an hour later, they called and offered me the job. I did the national tour first, then I did the West End company, and then I did the Broadway company for two years, left for nine months, and came back for two years. You know how it was, we were always rotating in and out.

After we did the farewell tour with Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp, I knew that they were going to do the off-Broadway revival and I told Michael that I wanted to work with him on it. He already had an assistant, Billy Porter, so it was Billy and I. Japan bought the rights to do that production and Michael sent me to put it up in Japan. I'd never directed, much less directed a show that was double-cast, and in Japanese. That began the process of my putting the show up all over the place. I've done it in English, Spanish, Japanese, and Korean so far.

Knowing your family's history, tell me about the emotions that came with going to Cuba to put up Rent. Were you reluctant? Were they?

They were incredibly reluctant. The sane part of me was very reluctant. I grew up in Miami, and it was known in the community that you don't go to Cuba, you don't engage with the government, you don't cross that line. And for the most part, it was like, "Yeah. But Rent, we're gonna go. That's gonna happen." I'll go wherever I have to go to put up Rent. Had it been something else, then maybe I would have reconsidered or had more turmoil about it. But to put up this show? Absolutely going to happen. I think what my mom was most afraid of was...Definitely that something was gonna happen to me, but she knew that the offer to put up Rent in Cuba, there was nothing she could say that could make it go any other way. That's what her fear was. There's no argument that anyone in the world can make for me to not go.

Andy Senor Jr. with his mom, Gloria

( HBO)

At what point did you decide to make a documentary about your experiences staging the show in Cuba?

When we did that farewell tour, I filmed the entire thing and was doing a food blog. I was always filming and/or taking photos. That's just Andy doing what Andy does. That being said, when I did the show in London, the Admiral Duncan, which is a gay bar, was bombed right as we were having lunch around the corner. When I was doing the show in New York, it was 9/11. When we did an Asia tour, it was the bird flu. When I said "OK, I'm gonna go do this in Cuba," a communist country, I didn't know what's gonna happen, so I decided to take a camera and see how it goes. When I started to get to know the cast, and when things started unfolding politically with the normalization talks, I realized it was a documentary. But I was never like, "I'm gonna be a documentary filmmaker." I don't have an agenda about this. I think it's clear to everyone in the world that I love this show, and my experiences, and my culture, and my family. I'm sharing what I love. It captures what it was. I felt like Mark.

Are there other shows that you want to put up in Cuba? Is there a big theater community there?

There is no musical-theater community, but there is a huge theater community. That's what I learned when I got there. There are over 90 theater companies in Havana alone, and people go see theater. Rent was sold out the entire four months that we ran. And it's provocative theater  much more edgy than Rent, and it's political. And this is a place where you can't freely express your opinions and thoughts, so you put it inside your political pieces and then do it onstage. I'm anxious to continue to work in Cuba with the actors. I want to develop shows there that are telling Cuban stories. As far as bringing an American Broadway show over, for some reason, the one that sticks in my head is The Color Purple. I think it would be really interesting to do. People want to do Hair, but Color Purple is on the forefront of my mind there.

Why do you think that Rent, a show which is very much about a specific time and place and aspect of American history, transcends the cultural barriers with the enthusiasm that it does? First, those melodies are haunting. There's so much emotional memory that I have, just in, likethe introduction to "Halloween." But for other people, who are outside of that, I think Jonathan put so much of himself  of his pain, of his love, of his friends  in that music, in those words, and it's captured there.
2022 Infiniti QX55 Review By Larry Nutson

2022 Infiniti QX55

Coupe du jour

By Larry Nutson

Executive Editor and Bureau Chief

Chicago Bureau

The Auto Channel

Sloping rooflines are whats happening in the world of premium utility vehicles. And, Infiniti is right there in the mix with its all-new coupe-like QX55

Having arrived in U.S. dealers this spring, the QX55 is dramatically styled and comes standard with 20-inch wheels, all-wheel drive, a 268-HP turbo engine and wireless Apple CarPlay, all for your driving pleasure.

The QX55 is a new model in the Infiniti lineup, slotting in between the QX50 and QX60. Its offered in three well equipped trims, Luxe, Essential and Sensory. All are powered by Infinitis unique, and worlds first, variable compression 2.0-L turbo engine paired with a CVT that has a manual shift mode.

The sleek look is enhanced by unique grille, headlight, taillight, and wheel designs, with an overall premium and quality appearance.

The 268-hp four develops 280 lb-ft of torque across a wide RPM range giving the QX55 decent all-around performance. The VC-Turbo engine consistently varies its compression ratio between 14:1 and 8:1 to provide needed power and efficiency to meet demand. Active Sound Enhancement provides a slightly different and yet throaty and engaging sound from this engine.

Im not a big fan of CVTsthe continuous variable transmission. The unit in the QX55 did okay. As a matter of personal preference a traditional automatic with nine-speeds, like Infiniti uses in other models might just be a better match with the VC-turbo engine. However, probably for a majority of folk not a lot of thought is focused on the particular transmission in their car.

EPA fuel economy ratings are 25 mpg combined, with 22 city mpg and 28 highway mpg.

Ride quality is comfortable and smooth and yet when pushed the QX55 delivers confident and precise handling helped by Infinits Body Motion Control technology. The often rough surfaces of city streets didnt prove too disturbing even with the low-profile 255/45 tires fitted to the 20-inch wheels. The cabin is nicely quiet benefiting from active noise cancellation and laminated acoustic front window glass.

The five-seat QX55s stylish and sporty interior is nicely comfortable. Front seats provide good support. Theres decent room in the rear seat, although the sloping roof can make for headroom issues for tall folk. There is good rear-seat legroom. The second-row seat travels nearly six inches fore and aft to adjust between passenger or cargo space.

With the rear seat slid forward theres 26.9 cu.ft. of cargo space behind the second row. Fold the rear seat and you get 54.1 cu.ft.

A dual-display system with 8-inch upper and 7-inch lower touch screens, Android Auto compatibility, wireless Apple CarPlay compatibility, Wi-Fi hotspot, four USB ports, Forward Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Blind Spot Warning are standard on the QX55.

The Luxe trim has a $46,500 MSRP, Essential is $51,600, and Sensory is priced at $57,050. Destination charge is $1,025. All trims are very well equipped which makes it much easier when making a purchase selection. Majestic White, Slate Gray, or Mineral Black premium paint ($695) is the only across the board option. Dynamic Sunstone Red is a $900 option on Essential and Sensory trims.

For the Essential trim a ProAssist Package ($800) includes Intelligent Cruise Control, adaptive front lighting with cube design headlights, Blind Spot Intervention, and Lane Departure Prevention. Also for the Essential trim theres a ProActive Package ($1600) with head-up display, traffic-sign recognition, adaptive steering, and ProPILOT Assist lane-centering steering assist with stop-and-go function added to the intelligent cruise control.

The SENSORY trim is equipped with all these features and is also uniquely equipped with natural maple open-pore wood, semi-aniline leather-appointed seats, and a motion-activated power liftgate.

More information and specifications can be found at www.infinitiusa.com

My drive experience in the QX55 was in a Sensory trim finished in the optional Slate Gray and had a total MSRP of $58,770.

If I were buying I would be hard pressed to decide between the Essential or Sensory trim. I would rule out the Luxe trim since it lacks some convenience and comfort features that I value and use regularly. I might just be okay with the Essential trim with the ProAssist package because it provides all that I would want and need to fit my driving usage pattern.

The family car continues to evolve in its looks and design. Certainly today there are many very functional choices on the market that make life easier compared to the days of the 4-door sedan doing it all. Along with e QX55 other coupe-like utilities such as the Audi Q5 Sportback, BMW X4 and Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe are available. Or, more upright and box-like utility vehicles, such as Infinitis QX50 or QX60 offer much more versatility. Theres something for everyone and none of them are bad choices.

 2021 Larry Nutson, the Chicago Car Guy
I am never quite sure just where the ideas will come to me for our weekly articles, but part of enjoying this process is to see how and where God will provide me with the information that I share with you each week. This week will be in a sense doing a two-part series (first time I have done
Regional Editor

Derek Draplin is a regional editor at The Center Square. He previously worked as an opinion producer at Forbes, and as a reporter at Michigan Capitol Confidential and The Detroit News. Hes also an editor at The Daily Caller.
Up for debate:

Live legislation tracker

Check out the latest developments on bills pending before state lawmakers in four key topics.
Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron addresses the media after the return of a grand jury investigation into the death of Breonna Taylor, in Frankfort, Ky., Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks during a news conference June 15, 2021, as he announced that most COVID-19 restrictions would be lifted.
Staff Reporter

Nyamekye Daniel has been a journalist for five years. She was the managing editor for the South Florida Media Network and a staff writer for The Miami Times. Daniel's work has also appeared in the Sun-Sentinel, Miami Herald and The New York Times.
FILE - This Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021, file photo shows power lines in Houston. Unusually heavy winter storm blanketed much of Texas with snow, knocking out electricity to millions of homes and leaving many struggling to find clean water.
Staff Reporter

Tim Gruver is a politics and public policy reporter. He is a University of Washington alum and the recipient of the 2017 Pioneer News Award for Reporting. His work has appeared in Politico, the Kitsap Daily News, and the Northwest Asian Weekly.
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When Oregon achieves a first dose 70% statewide vaccination rate for residents 18 or older, Oregon will lift all risk level health and safety restrictions. Some restrictions based on CDC guidance for use of masks and physical distancing may remain in place.
Towanda, PA (18848)

Today

Rain showers in the morning will evolve into a more steady rain in the afternoon. High 74F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Cloudy with showers. Low 58F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
Oneonta, NY (13820)

Today

Showers early, becoming a steady rain later in the day. High around 70F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Overcast with rain showers at times. Low near 55F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%.
Melanie joined The Daily Times in the early 90s and has served as the Life section editor since 1993. A William Blount and UT alum, Melanie is generally the early arriver who turns on the lights in the newsroom.

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Michael Reagan is the son of the late President Ronald Reagan, a political consultant and the author of Lessons My Father Taught Me: The Strength, Integrity, and Faith of Ronald Reagan.
Traffic backs up at the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge toll plaza along Interstate 80 in Oakland, Calif., on July 25, 2019. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Americans Are Fleeing California and New York for Florida and Texas: Study

A new study revealed that Americans are continuing to flee New York and California for places like Texas and Florida in recent months.

Despite the 2020 pandemic, this year Americans are following similar moving trends as prior years. Millions of Americans are moving either to start a new job or to move home, said a report (pdf) from North American Van Lines, a trucking and moving company.

Specifically, it noted that Americans are fleeing California to Texas and Idaho, although New York, New Jersey, and Illinois are the three states with the most outbound moves. Other states that have seen a mass exodus of people, the report said, are Michigan and Pennsylvania.

The top five inbound states in 2020 are Idaho, Arizona, Tennessee, South Carolina, and North Carolina, with Tennessee overtaking South Carolina from the 2019 results, the report found.

North American Van Lines did not make mention of the widespread protests and riots last year, or the pandemic. Crime rates in some cities have also spiked amid the defund the police movement that became popular in the summer of 2020. In major cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Philadelphia, New York City, and Chicago, shootings and homicides saw upticks in 2020 and during the first six months of 2021.

But the report speculated that people might be leaving northeastern states due to the harsh winters, job availability as many firms are avoiding the region for now, and that many northeastern cities have a high cost of living that makes housing affordability more challenging.

The city that is most popular as a moving destination is now Phoenix, according to the report. The next on the list are Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, and Denver.

With Texas warm climate and low taxes its not surprising that three of the top ten MSA [Metropolitan Statistical Area] destinations are in Texas, the report noted.

Another report released this week from real estate website Zillow confirmed that there has been a significant shift in where people are living now, saying that Americans are reshuffling to larger and more-affordable homes.

The average long-distance mover relocated to a ZIP code with home values nearly $27,000 lower than where they came from last year, its report said. U.S. movers in 2020 relocated to ZIP codes with homes 33 square feet larger than where they came from, on average.

Zillow used data from North American Van Lines to find that movers that changed states in 2020 moved to areas with homes that were, on average, both larger and less-pricey than in the areas they moved from. That finding, according to the analysis, is a notable reversal of previous years trends.
Maricopa County ballots cast in the 2020 general election are examined and recounted by contractors working for Florida-based company, Cyber Ninjas, at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix, Ariz., on May 6, 2021. (Matt York/AP Photo/Pool)

Arizona AG Tells DOJ He Will Not Tolerate Efforts to Thwart Election Audit in Maricopa County

Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich told the Department of Justice (DOJ) that his office will not tolerate any efforts to thwart the 2020 election audit currently underway in Maricopa County, the states largest county.

My office is not amused by the DOJs posturing and will not tolerate any effort to undermine or interfere with our State Senates audit to reassure Arizonans of the accuracy of our elections, Brnovich told U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland in a letter on June 14. We stand ready to defend federalism and state sovereignty against any partisan attacks or federal overreach.

Garland had announced on June 11 that the DOJ will double the divisions enforcement staff for protecting the right to vote. The DOJ is also scrutinizing new laws that Garland said seek to curb voter access and will apply the same scrutiny to post-election audits.

Brnovich, citing the 10th Amendment and the election provisions in Articles I and II under the U.S. Constitution, told Garland that his statements were troubling and displayed an alarming disdain for state sovereignty.

The Republican attorney general also criticized the contents of a previous DOJ letter issued to Arizona Senate President Karen Fann. Pamela Karlan, principal deputy assistant attorney general with the DOJs Civil Rights Division, had expressed concerns on May 5 over the security of the ballots and over the potential for voter intimidation related to the Maricopa audit.

Read More DOJ Raises Concerns About Maricopa County Election Audit

Brnovich said that Karlans letter appeared more interested in supporting the hysterical outcries of leftist pundits on cable television, rather than the rule of law.

He continued to assert state sovereignty in his letter, reminding Garland that the states created the federal government, not the other way around.

There are no issues more important for states to prioritize than the integrity of our elections. This is the cornerstone of our republic, binding together the peoples trust in the whole of government, he wrote. Today, we see mistrust in our elections from Americans on all sides of the political spectrum. This should not be a partisan issue. States can and should take every opportunity to reassure all citizens that their vote counts.

My office looks for ways to work alongside the federal government to uphold our laws within the constraints of the 10th Amendment and the election provisions in Articles I and II, Brnovich said. As I have demonstrated several times, Arizona will not sit back and let the Biden administration abuse its authority, refuse to uphold laws, or attempt to commandeer our states sovereignty.

DOJ officials didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

Arizona Sen. Wendy Rogers, a Republican, told The Epoch Times that the state legislature is empowered to conduct election oversight.

When the DOJ says theyre going to come and interfere, this is a states rights issue, and they have no legal authority to do that, she said. And four courts have upheld us continuing with this audit.

The Arizona Senates liaison for the audit, Ken Bennett, a Republican who is also a former Arizona Secretary of State, said on Twitter of Brnovichs letter, Retweet if you think election audits are a state right. Thank you @GeneralBrnovich for standing up for the Arizona Audit and state rights!

But Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, said that Brnovichs letter is exactly why some state lawmakers want to give the attorney general more power over elections.

He will defend their partisan antics instead of defending Arizona voters, she said in a tweet.

Read More Arizona Senate Audit Liaison Disputes Report Claiming Hundreds of Thousands of Ballots Missing

Audit firms hired by the Arizona Senate have been examining some 2.1 million ballots cast in Maricopa County in the 2020 election since April 23 at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix. The firms are Wake Technology Services, CyFIR, Digital Discovery, and Cyber Ninjas.

The Arizona Democratic Party tried to block the audit, although a judge ruled against them saying they hadnt presented substantive proof of security and privacy allegations. Hobbs has instructed Maricopa County not to use any of the machines that were audited in future elections, saying that they may have been compromised by the auditors.

The state Senate had previously said that the broad and detailed audit will validate every area of the voting process and includes, but isnt limited to scanning all the ballots, a full hand recount, auditing the voter registration and votes cast, the vote counts, and the electronic voting system.

President Joe Biden was the first Democratic presidential nominee to win Maricopa County in decades.

Zachary Stieber contributed to this report.
Contractors working for Cyber Ninjas, who was hired by the Arizona Senate, work during a 2020 election audit at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix, Ariz. on May 1, 2021. (Courtney Pedroza/Getty Images)

Arizona Senator: State Lawmakers Prepared to Act on Findings From Election Audit

The Arizona legislature is ready to take action if the election audit taking place in the states largest county uncovers irregularities, a state senator said.

Itll be our duty to act in whatever way is appropriate, Arizona Sen. Wendy Rogers, a Republican who has been closely tracking the audit in Maricopa County, told The Epoch Times.

Auditors, led by Florida-based Cyber Ninjas, started reviewing ballots from the 2020 election at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix last month, along with machines used in the contest and other election materials. Auditors expect to finish their work by the end of this month. They will then produce a report outlining what they found.

Arizona Senate President Karen Fann, a Republican who authorized the audit, said last month that she thinks some irregularities will be uncovered.

I hope we dont find anything serious. I think well find irregularities that is going to say, you know what, theres this many dead people voted, or this many who may have voted that dont live here anymore. Were going to find those, she said.

Alexander Kolodin, who formerly represented Cyber Ninjas and remains a lawyer for the Arizona GOP, said in a recent interview that the audit is going to show that something went wrong, because something goes wrong in every election.

I think even Maricopa County would probably admit that the question is, to what degree did it go wrong? Okay, thats question one. But even that doesnt tell you so much. It went wrong, and someone caused it to go wrong. The next question is, does the audit tell you who caused it to go wrong? he said on NTDs Wide Angle.

If the audit illuminates that theres [sic] vulnerabilities in X, Y, and Z parts of our election system, state legislatures can target those with a laser beam and fix X, Y, and Z parts of our election system, he added.

Maricopa County ballots cast in the 2020 general election are examined and recounted by contractors working for Florida-based company, Cyber Ninjas, at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix, Ariz., on May 6, 2021. (Matt York/AP Photo/Pool)

If the audit reveals fraud, then there would be a referral to law enforcement authorities, according to Fann. The Arizona Senate would focus on closing any loopholes in the election system.

Speaking just hours after spokespersons for the audit shot down rumors that hundreds of thousands of ballots were found missing, Rogers said shes not sure what auditors will uncover.

As of now we do not know what the results will be, she said.

The first-term state senator, a retired U.S. Air Force pilot, has been keeping close tabs on the audit. She has been a regular presence at the coliseum, consulting with Cyber Ninjas CEO Doug Logan and helping lead tours for legislators from other states who want to see whats happening.

Delegations from over a dozen states, including Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, have visited the audit in recent weeks.

They want to come in to see what a gold standard forensic audit is and this is a real deep dive into not only counting the ballots, but looking at the machines and interestingly, examining very closely, microscopically if you will, the ballots themselves, she said. They have been blown away.

Pennsylvania Sen. Doug Mastriano, a Republican who toured the coliseum, told The Epoch Times last week that he was impressed by what he saw. He recommended lawmakers from battleground states go to Arizona to tour the facility. Pennsylvania Republicans are pushing for a similar audit in their state, but leadership has not yet decided on whether to order one.

Rogers wanted people to know that Arizonans are resolute and will never quit on election integrity efforts.

We will get to the bottom of the truth, not only for truths sake, but also to restore election integrity for 2022, she said.
Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson (R) poses for a photograph with Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison (L) on the steps of 10 Downing Street in London on June 14, 2021. (Tolga Akmen/AFP via Getty Images)

Australia, UK Inch Towards Free Trade Deal As Prime Ministers Meet

Australia and the UK are inching towards finalising a free trade deal with leaders from both countries soon to announce an in-principle agreement.

An in-principle agreement is a step-up from a Memorandum of Understanding and is legally enforceable, demonstrating the progress last-minute negotiations over the past six weeks are having.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison met with his United Kingdom (UK) counterpart Boris Johnson at the British prime ministers official residence, 10 Downing Street, to discuss outstanding issues over dinner.

Their agreement is a win for jobs, businesses, free trade and highlights what two liberal democracies can achieve while working together, a spokesman for the prime minister told AAP.

Both PMs will make a formal announcement on Tuesday morning in London and release further information.

The new Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) will open more opportunities for Australians to live and work in the UK and export opportunities for agriculture, services, and investment industries.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison pushed the UK to seize the opportunity as it looks to shore up trade relationships post-Brexit.

As the UK moves into a completely new generation of their trading relationships with the world, who better to start that journey with than Australia? he told the Australia-UK Chamber of Commerce.

Who better understands the challenges of moving in that environment, where Australia has blazed quite a trail when it has come to securing positive effective trading relationships with so many countries around the world? he added.

Britains Prime Minister Boris Johnson greets Australias Prime Minister Scott Morrison at the G7 summit in Carbis Bay on June 12, 2021, in Carbis Bay, Cornwall. (Adrian Dennis-WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Because at the end of the day there will always be hesitancy, always be hesitancy when any country enters into a trade arrangement with any other countrythat is quite normal.

The prime minister also described the devastating blow the UKs decision to join the European Union had on Australian exporters.

We remember in Australia very vividly the impact of the UK going into the common market back in the early 70s. That had a devastating blow on Australian producers, he said.

The Brexit that has occurred is an opportunity for us to pick up where we left off all those many years ago and to once again realise the scale of the trading relationship that we once had. And who better to do it than with Australia at this time,

Deputy Labor Opposition Leader Richard Marles urged the prime minister to lock in the deal.

Trade agreements are important for our country, and trade diversification is important for our country, Marles told Sky News Australia.

The government has been talking about this. What we actually want to see is for them to get this deal done. When they do, well obviously have a good look at the detail, he added.

Morrison and Trade Minister Dan Tehan has emphasised the importance of getting the right deal and not rushing to lock in an agreement.

We want to make sure that its in Australias national interest, and if we need to be patient, we will be patient, Tehan told Sky News on Sunday.

If signed-off, the deal would be one of the largest FTAs signed post-Brexit for the UK and could potentially expand the already thriving $35 billion trade relationship between the Commonwealth nations.
Workers walk by the perimeter fence of what is officially known as a vocational skills education centre in Dabancheng in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China, on Sept. 4, 2018. (Thomas Peter/Reuters)

Australian State Turns Blind Eye to Uyghur Forced Labour in Supply Chain

Victorias Shadow Public Transport Minister David Davis has accused the state government of being naive and turning a blind eye to forced labour practices in China after the states Department of Transport went ahead with the purchase of train parts allegedly linked to the morally reprehensible practice.

This comes after documents obtained by The Age via a freedom of information request revealed that Victorian Transport Minister Jacinta Allan said that she had accepted her departments advice that seeking alternative suppliers of components to the companies alleged to have used forced labour may lead to delays and additional costs.

The Transport Department advice was reportedly based on investigations done by train manufacturing company Bombardier.

Victorian Minister for Transport Infrastructure, Jacinta Allan speaks to the media in Melbourne, Australia on June 23, 2020. (Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

The Age reported that a Victorian government spokesperson said on Monday that they expected everyone working with the state to comply with modern slavery laws.

All contractors working on this program have provided the Department of Transport with written assurances that forced labour was not used in the making of parts for the trains, the spokeswoman said.

The Victorian government has taken extensive steps to investigate these allegations since they were raised last year, including repeatedly seeking assurances from suppliers that forced labour is not used in the production of Melbournes [High Capacity Metro Trains].

But the shadow public transport minister said that relying on the assurances of the train firms was a bit like asking your children to mark their own homework.

In correspondence with Bombardier, which has not been seen by The Epoch Times, Chinese state-owned company KTK Group reportedly confirmed that it had used about 80 Uyghur workers between 2018-19 through Beijings Xinjiang Aid program, according to The Age.

The Australian Strategic Policy Institute, in its Uyghurs for Sale report, estimated that around 80,000 Uyghur minorities had been transferred from their homes or detention centres to work at factories as part of the program.

On July 20, 2020, the U.S. Commerce Department added KTK, along with 10 other Chinese companies, to an economic blacklist, citing their involvement in human rights violations and abuses in the western region of Xinjiang, China.

KTK was implicated in helping the Chinese communist regime in its campaign of repression, mass arbitrary detention, forced labour, involuntary collection of biometric data, and genetic analyses targeted at Muslim minority groups, the U.S. department stated.

The inclusion of these companies on the U.S. blacklist banned their access to American goods, including commodities and technology, unless they get approval from the U.S. government.

David Davis MP speaks in Victorian Parliament in Melbourne, Australia on Nov. 21, 2017. (Michael Dodge/Getty Images)

In a statement on June 15, Davis said this meant that a government deal was struck without adequate safeguards in place to ensure Uyghur forced labour wasnt part of the supply chain.

The shadow public transport minister said Victoria had turned a blind eye to the shocking allegations that train manufacturing in China has a dark underbelly of exploitation and worse, its morally reprehensible.

The glib assurances provided by Jacinta Allan last year are worth nothing. What these damaging documents establish is there has been no independent investigation into the supply chain for Victorian rail purchases, Davis said.

Meanwhile, KTK said all of its Uyghur workers voluntarily signed labour contracts and the company had complied with Chinas labour laws.

However, Chinas laws can be ambiguous, with even the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade warning travellers against going there due to the risk of being arbitrarily detained under the national security law introduced last yearwhich could be so broadly interpreted that a person might not know theyve broken Chinese law.

Davis dubbed KTKs statement as farcical and decried their assurances were ever accepted by the Victorian government without serious scrutiny.

This group has been subject of negative reports for involvement in the use of forced Uighur labour, Davis said. Key groups like the Australian Strategic Policy group have expressed these concerns.

The U.S. Commerce Department has added KTK group to a U.S. blacklist over the alleged use of forced labour in China, he said.

Davis accused the Daniel Andrews Labor government of being so tied up with the Chinese Communist Party and its Belt and Road Initiative that it doesnt know which way to move.

Last year, Premier Andrews accepted the assurances that his state wasnt benefiting from forced labour. We dont agree with everything that is done in every country around the world but ultimately we are about getting things done, he said.
An iceberg is pictured in the western Antarctic peninsula, on March 04, 2016. Like seals and whales, penguins eat krill, an inch-long shrimp-like crustacean that forms the basis of the Southern Ocean food chain. But penguin-watchers say the krill are getting scarcer in the western Antarctic peninsula, under threat from climate change and fishing. / AFP / EITAN ABRAMOVICH (Photo credit should read EITAN ABRAMOVICH/AFP/Getty Images)

Australias National Science Agency Drops China Collaboration After Security Concerns

Australias national science body, the CSIRO, has announced it will no longer work with China on marine research following a warning from Australias intelligence bureau that the collaboration could help the Chinese navy track Australian submarines.

The CSIRO Centre for Southern Hemisphere Oceans Research (CSHOR)based in Hobart, Tasmaniawas told on June 11 that its oceans research collaboration with Chinas top marine science institute, the Qingdao National Marine Laboratory, will not be extended once it finishes in June 2022, The Australian reported.

According to the CSIRO website, CSHOR conducts research into the complex nature of the climate to better manage the impacts of climate variability and climate change, including El Nino and La Nina weather systems in the southern hemisphere.

Meanwhile, Qingdao National Marine Laboratory has strong ties to the Chinese military and leads Chinas Transparent Ocean initiative, which aims to use satellite-mounted technology to pinpoint submarines at depths up to 500m.

A Great Wall 236 submarine of the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, billed by Chinese state media as a new type of conventional submarine, participates in a naval parade to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the founding of Chinas PLA Navy in the sea near Qingdao, in eastern Chinas Shandong province on April 23, 2019. (Mark Schiefelbein/AFP via Getty Images)

The move by the top science body comes after Mike Burgess, the director-general of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), told a Senate estimates hearing last month that research organisations needed to reconsider marine research partnerships with foreign scientists, warning they could be used to support submarine operations against Australia.

Theres a great bit of activity around ocean temperature modelling and how that is modelled and computed. Thats great for climate understanding and climate modelling, Burgess said. Its also great if youre a submariner. Its great research that needs to have application over there, but it might also be useful for other things.

This includes manoeuvring submarines into Australias territorial waters.

Director-General of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) Mike Burgess speaks during a Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security hearing at Parliament House in Canberra on August 7, 2020. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch)

Burgess explained that certain climate change research was better off kept in Australias hands or it could assist another country in relation to its submariner activities against Australia.

I think we could agree that that research is badly needed to be in the hands of everyone on this planet, given the impact of climate change. Having said that, if weve got a lead on something, and there are some capability considerations, someone should probably think about that, Burgess said.

His warnings are valid because submarines often use variations in ocean temperatures to hide from surface vessels sonar systems.

Bruce Drinkwater, a professor of Ultrasonics from the University of Bristol, noted in The Conversation that understanding ocean temperatures means that submariners can hide their vessels effectively thanks to a small effect called the thermocline, which is the effect different ocean temperatures have on the density of the water the sonar sound wave travelling through it.

In the deep ocean, the water temperature varies, which causes the water density to vary. This changing density creates an effect called the thermocline, which acts as a barrier, causing sound energy to bend away, Drinkwater said. A canny submarine captain can use the thermocline to good effect, effectively shielding the submarine from view.

A CSIRO spokeswoman told The Australian that the discontinuation of the partnership was informed by science strategy and the need for CSIRO to balance its portfolio of research.

CSIRO continues to be highly cognisant of issues regarding foreign interference and has strong security arrangements and systems in place to address the associated risks, the spokesperson said.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan meets with U.S. President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Brussels, Belgium, on June 14, 2021. (Murat Cetinmuhurdar/Presidential Press Office/Handout via Reuters

Biden, Erdogan Upbeat About Ties but Disclose No Breakthrough

BRUSSELSU.S. President Joe Biden and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan sounded upbeat after their first face-to-face talks on Monday, although they did not announce major breakthroughs in the relationship between the two allies, at odds over Russian weapons, Syria, Libya and other issues.

We had a positive and productive meeting, much of it one-on-one, Biden told a news conference after their meeting in Brussels.

Our teams are going to continue our discussions and Im confident well make real progress with Turkey and the United States, he added.

Erdogan characterized his talks with Biden on the sidelines of a NATO summit as productive and sincere.

We think that there are no issues between U.S. and Turkey relationship that are unsolvable and that areas of cooperation for us are richer and larger than problems, he said.

Despite their publicly optimistic tone, neither provided any details on how exactly they would mend the relationship or lay out steps that would help ease tensions between the NATO allies.

Turkey, with NATOs second-largest military, has angered its allies in the Western military alliance by buying Russian surface-to-air missiles and intervening in wars in Syria and Libya. It is also in a standoff with Greece and Cyprus over territory in the Eastern Mediterranean.

As president, Biden recognized the 1915 massacre of Armenians as genocidea position that angers Turkeyand stepped up criticism of Turkeys human rights record.

Washington has already removed Ankara from the F-35 fighter jet program and imposed sanctions over Turkeys purchase of the Russian S-400 surface-to-air missiles.

One area where Erdogan hoped to showcase a central Turkish role in NATO is Afghanistan, where Ankara has offered to guard and operate Kabul airport after U.S. and NATO forces withdraw in coming weeks. NATO head Jens Stoltenberg said Turkey would play a key role but that no decision was made at the Monday summit.

At the start of the main leaders session at NATO, Biden spoke to Erdogan at length in a small group before they took their seats.

Later in the day, the two leaders and their top aides sat mostly silently on opposite sides of a conference table, ignoring questions shouted to them by journalists briefly invited into the room.

Erdogan also met French President Emmanuel Macron. Ankara and Paris have been at odds over Syria, Libya and Turkish criticism of the fight against what Macron calls Islamist separatism, among other issues.

President Erdogan confirmed during our meeting his wish that the foreign mercenaries, the foreign militias, operating on Libyan soil leave as soon as possible, Macron told a news conference afterwards.

By Humeyra Pamuk, Gabriela Baczynska, Ece Toksabay and Tuvan Gumrukcu
Bill C-10 a Direct Threat to Charter Rights and Freedoms, Harder Says

A controversial bill that seeks to amend the Broadcasting Act to apply to the internet is an incredibly inappropriate attempt by the Liberal government to regulate what Canadians can post or see online and jeopardizes Charter rights, a Conservative MP says.

When we look at countries like communist China, or North Korea, or Turkey, or Russia, these are examples of states that censor the content that their citizens can post and or have access to, so Canada is going in the same direction, Rachael Harder told The Epoch Times.

Were a democratic country. We believe in freedom. We have the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and in particular, under Section 2(b), we have the guaranteed right to express our opinions and our beliefs freely. This bill is a direct threat to those rights and freedoms.

Introduced by Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault on Nov. 3, 2020, Bill C-10 seeks to bring internet content providers under the regulation of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). The legislation aims to regulate YouTube, Facebook, and other platforms as well as require streaming giants such as Netflix to make financial contributions to support Canadian content.

Using the Broadcasting Act in this way is something that has never been done in a democratic country.

The bill became more controversial on April 23 after the Liberal-dominated House of Commons Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage removed a section that exempted user-generated content from regulation. Critics say the amendment would infringe on freedom of speech, as content posted on platforms such as YouTube and Facebook would be subjected to federal regulation.

On May 6, the Liberals proposed another amendment, which was adopted by the heritage committee. It limits the CRTCs power over user-generated content but grants it the power to mandate social media platforms to report their Canadian revenues, contribute part of those revenues toward creating Canadian content, and implement rules on the discoverability of Canadian contentthat is, to make those platforms recommend content by Canadian creators to users.

Harder said if the bill is passed, the CRTC will likely roll out regulations to force streaming companies, such as YouTube, to implement algorithms that give preference to Canadian content, and this would infringe on viewers rights to access the information they want online.

They will be bumping information or posts up in the queue if its what they want you to see. And they will be bumping it down in the queue if they dont want you to see it, she said, adding that this would affect net neutrality.

When the government steps in and they force the CRTC to regulate the internet and to favour some material over others, then net neutrality is lostall things are no longer equal.

The CRTC defines net neutrality as the concept that all traffic on the Internet should be given equal treatment by Internet providers with little to no manipulation, interference, prioritization, discrimination or preference given.

Minister of Canadian Heritage Steven Guilbeault speaks with the media in the foyer of the House of Commons on Feb. 3, 2020. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian press)

Another problem, Harder said, is that the heritage committee did not seek out the opinions of the digital-first creatorsartists who are most affected by the bill.

At the heritage committee meeting on May 14, NDP MP Heather McPherson asked Guilbeault if he had a plan to address Canadians concerns that the content they upload on social media would be subjected to CRTC regulations.

Guilbeault replied that Bill C-10 is not about content moderation, adding that the CRTC, in its last 50 years of existence, has never done content moderation, and Bill C-10 doesnt give the CRTC the ability to do content moderation.

The minister also noted that a long list of organizations in Quebec and in English Canada have expressed support for Bill C-10, ranging from musicians to independent producers to writers, and that he has spoken to thousands of people in the culture sector who agree with the bill.

McPherson countered by pointing out that many experts have expressed the view that there are problems within the legislation.

Everyone on this committee has met with organizations that have expressed their concern about this legislation and their support for having good legislation, she said. We all understand that this legislation is not as strong as it needs to be. This is why there are 120 amendments to the bill that the committee is trying to get through.

Guilbeault also said on May 14 that the bill is not meant to target individuals but is about restoring a balance that the arrival of the web giants has skewed very seriously in their own favour at the expense of local people and businesses.

But Harder told The Epoch Times that the level playing field the government claims the legislation can create would negatively impact digital-first creators who who use non-traditional streaming platforms like YouTube or TikTok.

Essentially, what theyre saying is, those that are digital-first creators using these non-traditional streaming platforms are being too successful, and so actually they need to be brought down a level in order to be on an equal playing field with traditional media, she said.

Why do we want to level the playing field by punishing those who have achieved success through new means? It just doesnt make sense.
Priya, her husband Nadesalingam, and their Australian-born children Kopika, 4, and Tharunicaa in an undated photo. (AAP Image/hometobilo.com)

Biloela Family to Live in Perth

A Tamil family from Biloela that has been on Christmas Island for two years will be reunited on the Australian mainland.

Immigration Minister Alex Hawke has decided to allow the Sri Lankan family to reside in the Perth community.

In making this determination, I am balancing the governments ongoing commitment to strong border protection policies with appropriate compassion involving children in held detention, he said on Tuesday.

The family will now reside in suburban Perth through a community detention placement, close to schools and support services, while the youngest child receives medical treatment.

Hawke said his decision to release the family from detention did not create a pathway to granting visas.

As required by court orders, I will consider at a future date whether to lift the statutory bar presently preventing members of the family from reapplying for temporary protection, for which they have previously been rejected, he said.

Labor deputy leader Richard Marles described the familys release as a common-sense decision.

The last place this family should be is on Christmas Island at the enormous expense to the Australian public, he told Sky News.

You have ministerial discretion, so there can be the rule of common sense applying, and thats what matters here.

Marles said showing the family compassion and exercising discretion would not erode the countrys border laws or restart the people-smuggling trade.

None of that is being altered. That regime is still absolutely there, he said.

That is the message people smugglers will be hearing, and that is the facts on the ground they will be seeing, so I dont think this is going to provide any incentive at all.

Family friend Angela Fredericks, from Biloela in Queensland, said their release had been more than three years in the making.

There will be a lot of tears, immense sense of relief, and gosh, there will be so much pure joy, she said.

It means that love wins. It means that were the town that did put people before politics.

The family has been in detention since 2018 as their fight against deportation has crawled through the courts.

Their plight re-entered the spotlight after four-year-old Tharnicaa was flown to the mainland for medical treatment last week.

Tharnicaas mother Priya is with her at Perth Childrens Hospital, but her father Nades and older sister Kopika are still on Christmas Island.

The head of the Western Australian health department wrote to the Department of Home Affairs last week to advise that the Murugappan family should be reunited in Perth.

It was not a plea for compassion but based on the clinical advice of Tharnicaas treating doctors that she must be with family.

Her treatment for pneumonia and sepsis, a life-threatening blood infection, could take up to eight weeks.

While the government is backing away from its hardline stance on the family, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has already indicated they will not be offered permanent visas.
Boris Johnson Extends Englands Lockdown for Up to 4 Weeks

Englands restrictions to curb the spread of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus have been extended until as late as July 19, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on June 14.

June 21, dubbed Freedom Day, was previously penciled into the governments road map to exit the lockdown and have all legal restrictions lifted.

Protesters demonstrated at Parliament Square throughout the day to voice their objections.

Protesters hold up placards at a demonstration against government lockdown restrictions in Parliament Square in central London on June 14, 2021. (Tolga Akmen/AFP via Getty Images)

In a televised briefing, Johnson said hes confident that July 19 will be the final date, but declined to rule out the possibility of future delay, in case there is some new variant that is far more dangerous, that kills people in a way that we currently cannot foresee or understand.

He also said that the date could be brought forward if its deemed safe enough when ministers review the data in two weeks.

Johnson said that the delay is to buy the National Health Service some extra time while the government accelerates the vaccination program to protect people against the fast-spreading Delta (Indian) variant.

The number of CCP virus cases has increased exponentially in the past weeks, according to official figures, though the number of deaths and hospitalizations has remained low.

New data from Public Health England (PHE) published on June 14 suggested that CCP virus vaccines are highly effective in preventing hospital admission with the Delta variant.

By June 13, more than 41 million people in the UK had received their first dose of a CCP virus vaccine, and almost 30 million had received their second dose.

Johnson said he aims at a double jab [for] around two-thirds of the adult population and a first dose for every adult in this country by July 19.

All the priority groups, including those over the age of 50, the vulnerable, and all frontline health and care workers will have been offered a second vaccine dose by then, as well as those over the age of 40 who received their first dose by mid-May.

Johnson said that 23- and 24-year-olds have been invited to book their vaccine shots since June 15.

There will still be some reduction of restrictions on June 21, including numbers of attendees at weddings and commemorative events following death, as well as social distancing rules in some large events pilots. Rules on care home visits and overnight trips for out-of-school groups will also ease.

According to updated government guidelines, the number of wedding guests will no longer be capped at 30, but will depend on the capacity of the venue.

The pilot events will include some UEFA EURO 2020 matches at Wembley Stadium, and a small number of other sports, arts, and music performances.

People attending these pilot events will have to produce proof of vaccinations or recent negative tests.

Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber in Doncaster, England, on Sept. 15, 2018. (Stephen Pond/Getty Images)

Londons theaters have been severely hit by the restrictions during the pandemic, with actors and musicians having to take up unskilled work to get by.

Composer and music theater impresario Andrew Lloyd Webber said on June 8 that he would fully reopen his theaters later this month with or without government say-so, and that hes willing to be arrested for it.

His 6 million pound ($8.5 million) new production Cinderella, which is due to debut on June 25, will lose money unless social distancing measures are removed.

Lloyd Webber reportedly has to spend 1 million pounds ($1.4 million) per month to keep his six theaters running, and has remortgaged his London home.

Asked about the composers pledge, Johnson said that he believes someone in the government is in talks with him to try to make it work.

As I said earlier on, there are some pilot events that we hope will be able to go ahead even in the next four weeks, Johnson said.

Reacting to Johnson mentioning Cinderella, Lloyd Webber said he was pleased and surprised, but couldnt comment further until he knows more about the plan.

Conservative MP Mark Harper speaks during the launch of his Conservative Party leadership campaign, in London on June 11, 2019. (Tolga Akmen/AFP via Getty Images)

MP Mark Harper, chair of the COVID Recovery Groupa group of Tory MPs who are skeptical about COVID-19 lockdown measuressaid on Twitter that the easing of wedding restrictions is good news for those 50,000 couples planning to marry in [the] next 4 weeks  [but] for many couples this announcement will make no difference.

While social distancing remains legally enforceable, many venues will be compelled to refuse additional guests, Harper said.

An embargoed copy of the decision to extend the lockdown was sent to the media before Parliament was informed. Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the speaker of the House of Commons, said that the move was totally unacceptable.

This House needs to know. It needs to know first. I find it totally unacceptable that once again, we see Downing Street running roughshod over members of Parliament. Were not accepting it, he said.

Claire Walker, co-executive director of the British Chambers of Commerce, said businesses will be disappointed by the setback.

This delay to the removal of restrictions will come as a hammer blow to those firms who must remain closed, and to those who continue to see their ability to trade severely restricted, Walker said in a statement.

Many firms have fought incredibly hard to stay afloat throughout the pandemic and are struggling with the damage done to their cashflow and revenue. They are desperate to play their part in the recovery. We must ensure they receive the support, and the clarity, that will give them a chance to do that.

Walker said the government must provide further cash grants, maintain furlough payments, and consider other means to alleviate burdens on businesses.

One of the many things businesses need to know is how long free testing will continue for, she said.

For reasons of business and employee confidence, as well as public health, government must guarantee free testing for all for at least the medium term.
CEO of London Stock Exchange Group David Schwimmer speaks during an event to launch the private finance agenda for the 2020 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) at Guildhall in London, Britain, on Feb. 27, 2020. (Tolga Akmen/Pool via Reuters)

Britain Urges EU to Expedite Financial Services Talks

LONDONBritains finance ministry has called on the European Union to open talks on financial services after the London Stock Exchange urged the bloc to avoid a retreat into protectionism.

Britain left the EU in December, largely cutting off the City of Londons financial services centre from the bloc.

Banks and other financial firms that used London as a gateway to Europe have set up units in the EU to avoid disruption for EU clients. Billions of euros in daily euro stock and derivatives trading have already left London for the EU.

Both sides have agreed to start a dialogue via an informal forum for discussing financial rules but it has yet to go live.

We really hope that that is expedited because once that memorandum of understanding is agreed we can get on with establishing our routine ways of engaging, Katharine Braddick, director of financial services at Britains finance ministry told TheCityUKs annual conference.

The forum would put the UKs relationship with the EU on a reliable, transparent, and understandable footing to give business certainty, she said.

The European Commission said internal work on approving the forum was ongoing.

The forum will not decide on financial market access, but it is viewed as critical for rebuilding relations after a tense Brexit divorce.

A pressing issue for Britain is that EU permission for the London Stock Exchange to keep clearing euro derivatives for EU customers expires in June next year, potentially fragmenting a major market.

The Commission is asking banks and asset managers how quickly they can shift trillions of euros in derivatives clearing from London to Deutsche Boerse in Frankfurt and if legislation is needed.

The EU wants to directly supervise euro clearing and bolster its strategic autonomy to avoid reliance on the City in financial services.

I think its critically important for the EU to remain open and to resist the protectionist temptation, London Stock Exchange Chief Executive David Schwimmer told a separate European Financial Services conference.

What has made the EU so successful is its openness to the world and being able to embed itself in global ecosystems.

EU firms should be able to access the same liquidity, services, data, and technology capabilities as their peers in respect to clearing, Schwimmer said.

I am not arguing for an absence of control by the EU over important strategic areas, he said, adding: I really hope that the dialogue and cross border access that we have today can prevail going forward.

No Flood

With Britain no longer tied to EU rules, it is reforming how it regulates the City of London to buttress its global competitiveness.

Braddick said this would mean tailoring rules to the UK market within a framework of global standards, and not ripping up the rulebook.

Any idea there is some vast philosophical gap about risk appetite or financial regulation is really misplaced, Braddick said.

The UK finance ministry will make detailed proposals for wholesale financial market reform in the final quarter of this year.

We have not seen a flood of either talent or capital out of the UK into the European Union, Braddick said.
A couple basks in the beauty of the Bow River and the Rocky Mountains in Canmore, Alta., on May 29, 2021. (The Canadian Press/Jeff McIntosh)

Celebrate Our Shared Humanity on Canada Day

Commentary

Following announcement of the discovery of the remains of more than 215 children at the site of the former Kamloops Residential School and the killing of a Muslim family in London, Ont., by a deranged young man, a number of politicians and activists have called for either the outright cancelling of Canada Day festivities or a transformation of the holiday into a day of sombre remembrance and atonement.

Victoria City Council has cancelled its virtual Canada Day celebrations and stated that July 1 should be an opportunity for thoughtful reflection and examination of what it means to be Canadian in light of recent events and what we already know from our past.

Some think that Canada Day needs to change entirely. A professor of sociology and criminology at Torontos Sheridan College told the Toronto Star that Canada Day needs to turn into a day of mourning, not celebration.  In fact, it should be the Day of Reconciliation, a day to be solemn and sad, wear your orange shirts, spread awareness about the existing inequalities.

But such calls, whether motivated by notions of punishment or atonement, are misconceived. As renowned political theorist Hannah Arendt noted, the idea of collective guilt is the quintessence of moral confusion. She wrote, Where all are guilty, no one is; confessions of collective guilt are the best possible safeguard against the discovery of culprits. To punish an entire nation for the actions of a small number of bad actors is absurd.

The theme uniting Canada Days detractors is that instead of cherishing and celebrating our nations outstanding achievements, we should spend the day reflecting on the blemishes on our historical record. Like every country that exists or has ever existed, we are not without faults. But listening to various tendentious accounts of Canadas benighted history brings to mind a line from a Charlie Pride song: When people say that life is rough, I wonder compared to what.

By what historical yardstick is Canada being measured?

So rather than taking justifiable pride in our international and well-deserved reputation for decency, fairness, and tolerance, Canadians now need to repudiate their inheritance and feel disgrace and shame. Like a Medieval pope surveying Christendom and finding nothing but unrepentant and incorrigible sinners, it turns out that we Canadians are bad to the bone. Hence the best way to celebrate Canada Day is to mortify the spirit in a countrywide auto-da-fe. July 1 should be an occasion for national self-flagellation and breast-beating mea culpas. The idea that we might be proud of our nation and our cultural inheritance or manifest any sign of patriotism is now declasse.

Only fools, scoundrels, or the terminally naive would not look askance at Canadas history of colonialism, oppression, and domination. Or so the critics tell us.

Displays of repentance and atonement might please the detractors, but ultimately, such exhibitions will only further add to social divisiveness and the unravelling of civil society. If a multicultural nation such as Canada is to succeed, it can do so only by imbuing its citizens with feelings of solidarity and mutual respect. At days end, what democratic polities most require are what Tocqueville famously labelled habits of the heartthat is, ways of being in the world that reduce social frictions and allow us to live and prosper together. During these fraught times of wokeness and identitarianism, what is most required in Canadaas indeed in every nationare ways of binding citizens to one another in acts of political friendship.

Fortunately, we have had far-sighted leaders who understood the necessity of friendship in bringing together sharply different cultures across a vast geographic region. For example, we can reference the camaraderie between John A. Macdonald and George-Etienne Cartier, Confederations guides. The bonds of mutual affection betokened by the concept of friend are reflected in the many Friendship Centres across the country, where indigenous and non-indigenous people come together to share traditions and learn from one another.

John Von Heyking, a professor of political science at the University of Lethbridge, has written extensively about the significance of friendship to political life. In his book, The Form of Politics: Aristotle and Plato on Friendship, he looks at how friendship provides a moral horizon in which politics takes place. He writes, The more we can leaven political life with our experiences of sunaisthetic friendship, the greater chance we have of bringing decency, justice, and political friendship to politics.

For von Heyking, festivity is central to the notion of political friendship. It is carnivals, fetes, celebrations, and holidays that bind citizens to one another. He cites as a paradigmatic example one of Canadas most famous civic festivals, the Calgary Stampede. The Stampede, he writes, transforms the workaday world of the ranch worker into a playful celebration of universal humanity, our relationship with the animal world, and the cosmos.

And it is this quest for a universal humanity, one that transcends ethnicity, religion, race, or gender, that best captures the aspirations of Canadians and their institutions. It is this aspiration that we celebrate on Canada Day. Moreover, our longing for universal humanityhowever imperfectly realized by imperfect Canadiansinfuses our democratic institutions, which draws immigrants to our country, all of whom arrive with justifiable excitement and expectation.

Paul Michel, special adviser to the president on indigenous matters at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, B.C., told the Star: I will always celebrate Canada Day because I know lots of our allies are non-Indigenous and they stand beside us. Itd be tragic if we say eliminate Canada Day, because then I think the ugliness, the negative and the racism rules.

Mr. Michel is right. It would be tragic if we eliminated Canada Day.

Unfortunately, the pandemic has necessitated that Canada Day festivities take place mainly at home. So on July 1, my wife and I will invite a few close friends, open a bottle or two of Merlot, and together we will toast our great nation, our absent friends, and our great good fortune of being Canadian. I suspect it is a scene that will be recurring throughout the land.

Patrick Keeney, Ph.D., is an academic, a columnist, and associate editor of C2C Journal.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during a press conference after the NATO summit at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) headquarters in Brussels, on June 14, 2021. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)

China Denounces NATO After the Atlantic Alliance Says Beijing Poses Systemic Challenge

Beijing lashed out at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) after 30 world leaders of the alliance issued a communique critical of the communist regime.

Chinas stated ambitions and assertive behavior present systemic challenges to the rules-based international order and to areas relevant to alliance security, the communique stated after leaders met for a one-day summit in Brussels on June 14.

NATO also expressed concerns about Beijings coercive policies, as well as its rapid expansion of nuclear weapons, military-civil fusion strategy, and frequent lack of transparency and use of disinformation.

Additionally, NATO called on Beijing to act responsibly in the international system, including in the space, cyber, and maritime domains.

The 30 leaders called for unity within the alliance to confront China. According to the communique, Chinas growing influence and international policies pose challenges that we need to address together as an Alliance.

In response to NATOs tough stance, a spokesperson for the Chinese Mission to the European Union said the alliances use of the words systemic challenge to describe Beijing amounted to slander to Chinas peaceful development. The spokesperson also accused NATO of holding a cold war mentality.

The spokesperson also leveled a veiled threat: If anyone wants to impose systemic challenges against us, we will not sit idly.

The Chinese regimes hawkish mouthpiece Global Times, in an editorial published on June 15, said that NATO was pushed by Washington to deliver its tough words on China.

The future of Europe is not subordinate to the United States only to get a small slice of cake from Washingtons hegemony, the article stated.

The European Union made a pivotal change in its stance with regards to China in March 2019, when the European Commission called China a systemic rival in a report on the bilateral relationship.

While members of the European Union have generally lagged behind the United States and other countries in confronting Beijings malign behaviors, there are signs that governments in the region are moving toward a new approach. For example, Lithuania recently withdrew from Chinas 17+1 cooperating platform, and Italy announced it is reviewing its participation in Beijings Belt and Road (BRI, also known as One Belt, One Road) initiative.

Both the 17+1 platform and BRI are key parts of Beijings foreign policy initiatives with the aim of enhancing the regimes geopolitical clout by offering to partner with other countries on trade and other issues.

The NATO statement came one day after the Group of Seven (G-7) criticized the Chinese regime in a statement following a summit at the British seaside resort of Carbis Bay. The G-7 groupwhich consists of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United Statescondemned Beijing over its human rights abuses in Chinas far-western Xinjiang region and Hong Kong, and its unfair trade practices.

Beijing also reacted angrily in response to the G-7 statement. A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in the UK accused the seven leaders of having sinister intentions and demanded that they stop slandering China and interfering in Chinas internal affairs.

In the United States, Rep. Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) took to her Twitter account on June 14 to applaud NATOs tough stance on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), making a distinction between the country and people of China and the totalitarian ruling regime.

I applaud #NATO for FINALLY recognizing the #CCP as the preeminent threat to western democracy and freedom in the world, McClain wrote, before adding Now, @POTUS must act!

On Monday night, Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) told Fox News that President Joe Biden did not do enough while meeting other world leaders at both the G-7 and NATO summits.

All these European leaders want Chinese money to continue to come flooding into their countries, all at the risk of our shared common security, Cotton said.

He added: And Joe Biden simply did not push hard enough for our European allies to recognize China as the leading threat that we face and that the free world faces.
China's foreign minister speaks during a press conference briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing on April 19, 2019. (Nicolas Asfouri/AFP/Getty Images)

Chinas Ambassador to Brazil Criticized by Netizens for Provoking the West With Shotgun Diplomacy

Chinas diplomat in Brazil demonstrated Beijings wolf warrior diplomacy on social media, but the post was immediately removed after it triggered backlash among Chinese netizens.

The Twitter post by Li Yang, the Chinese consul general in Rio de Janeiro, warned the West about criticizing China. He posted a photo of sleeping elephants, which he described as a species that coexist peacefully with Chinese people in southwestern China, and compared them to Western politicians.

Li wrote, Yunnan, China, elephants are sleeping. Elephants live in peace with Chinese people, so they have their own paradise there. Some Western politicians just want to provoke and suppress China, they will only encounter shotguns in China!!!

An undated screenshot of the Twitter account of Li Yang, the Chinese consul general in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Li Yang/Twitter via Liberty Times)

Many Chinese netizens criticized Lis post and responded with sarcastic comments such as:

Thank-you for showing how peaceful China is by threatening Western politicians.

As long as you are not a Uyghur or any other ethnic group, you can live in peace with China.

Chinaelephants paradise, Uyghurs hell.

In a bid to eradicate the ethnic and religious identities of nearly 11 million Muslims in Xinjiang, the Chinese regime has detained over one million Uyghurs in so-called re-education camps, according to a 2020 report (pdf) released by the U.S. Office of the Secretary of State.

On June 13, the G-7 (Group of Seven) leaders of the worlds wealthiest democracies called out Beijing for its human rights abuses in Xinjiang and Hong Kong.

We will promote our values, including by calling on China to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms, especially in relation to Xinjiang and those rights, freedoms, and high degree of autonomy for Hong Kong enshrined in the Sino-British Joint Declaration, the G-7 said.

In retaliation for criticizing the Chinese regime, Li accused the G-7 nations of not being able to handle their own problems in a June 14 Twitter post.

This small group wants to dominate the world, but ironically, they cant even solve their own problems! Do we need global leaders like this!!! pic.twitter.com/8a4L3CRism  Li Yang (@CGChinaLiYang) June 14, 2021

Li also mocked Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Twitter by calling him boy and a spendthrift in a March 28 Twitter post, after the country announced sanctions against four Chinese officials for committing human rights abuses against Uyghur Muslims.

Li is not the first Chinese diplomat to use the term shotgun.

In 2019, Gui Congyou, Chinas ambassador to Sweden, said in an interview with a Swedish public radio station: We treat our friends with fine wine, but for our enemies we have shotguns. The sharp rebuke came after Swedish citizen and author Gui Minhai was awarded the Tucholsky Prize by the literary organization Swedish PEN, in recognition for his work in upholding free speech.

Gui was one of five shareholders in the Hong Kong-based Causeway Bay Books, which published books about the scandals of the Chinese ruling elite. In February 2020, Gui was sentenced to 10 years in prison for illegally providing intelligence overseas, according to the Ningbo Intermediate Peoples Court in China.

The diplomats of the Chinese communist regime have been called wolf warriors due to their aggressive tactics in dealing with the international community.

They display a fighting spirit as they protected Chinas interests across the world, said Peter Martin, author of the new book Chinas Civilian Army: The Making of Wolf Warrior Diplomacy, during a U.S. book launch on June 7.

They will at times shout foreign counterparts if they feel cornered, or if they feel like they might not look tough enough back home, he said.
Yeonmi Park speaks onstage during The Tory Burch Foundation 2018 Embrace Ambition Summit at Alice Tully Hall in New York City on April 24, 2018. (Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images for Tory Burch Foundation)

Columbia University Graduate Who Fled North Korea Says She Sees Similarities in America

A North Korean defector who graduated from New Yorks Columbia University drew an alarming similarity between what is being taught on the American campus and the propaganda of the Kim regime.

In 2007, 13-year-old Yeonmi Park and her mother fled across the border to China, where they were sold into slavery by sex traffickers. Two years later, with the help of Christian missionaries, they escaped to Mongolia across the Gobi desert before settling in South Korea.

Park was transferred to Columbia from a South Korean university in 2016. She said she was struck by the Ivy League schools anti-West and anti-American sentiment, which brought back memories of her childhood under the communist, totalitarian regime.

At Columbia University, literally every professor was saying the problems that we have in todays world is because of white men [and] how they colonized Africa [and] Asia, thats how they mess up everything and they are the ones who needs [sic] to be blamed, Yeonmi told Fox News.

And I couldnt believe it, she continued. Am I sitting in North Koreas classroom or in Americas classroom? I couldnt believe why people were hating their own people that much.

Park told host Sean Hannity that she viewed the United States as a nation of free thought and free speech, only to find out she had to censor herself on an American campus.

I literally crossed the Gobi desert to be free and now I thought I live in a country where I can say what I believe and have my freedom to think. However, now I have to constantly censor my speech because in the name of a safe place, Park said.

Columbia told us [what] we cant talk about, and I am so concerned if America is not free, I think there is no place else left that is freethats why its really alarming to me, she added.

When asked whether she would go on a tour of American colleges to speak about her experiences, Park said she would consider it.

My used-to-be enemy was Kim Jong-un, she said. I have been on the killing list of Kim Jong-un for many years because I spoke out in the West about the suffering of North Korean people. My original family got punished but now, ironically enough, so many Marxists and Communists and Maoists, Leninists are sending me death threats.

Columbia University did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Parks claims.
An Icon for the Pulse Secure smartphone app (R) and a computer desktop info page are seen in Burke, Va., on June 14, 2021. (AP Photo)

Critical Entities Targeted in Suspected Chinese Cyber Spying

RICHMOND, Va.A cyberespionage campaign blamed on China was more sweeping than previously known, with suspected state-backed hackers exploiting a device meant to boost internet security to penetrate the computers of critical U.S. entities.

The hack of Pulse Connect Secure networking devices came to light in April, but its scope is only now starting to become clear. The Associated Press has learned that the hackers targeted telecommunications giant Verizon and the countrys largest water agency. News broke earlier this month that the New York City subway system, the countrys largest, was also breached.

Security researchers say dozens of other high-value entities that have not yet been named were also targeted as part of the breach of Pulse Secure, which is used by many companies and governments for secure remote access to their networks.

Its unclear what sensitive information, if any, was accessed. Some of the targets said they did not see any evidence of data being stolen. That uncertainty is common in cyberespionage and it can take months to determine data loss, if it is ever discovered. Ivanti, the Utah-based owner of Pulse Connect Secure, declined to comment on which customers were affected.

But even if sensitive information wasnt compromised, experts say it is worrisome that hackers managed to gain footholds in networks of critical organizations whose secrets could be of interest to China for commercial and national security reasons.

The threat actors were able to get access to some really high-profile organizations, some really well-protected ones, said Charles Carmakal, the chief technology officer of Mandiant, whose company first publicized the hacking campaign in April.

The Pulse Secure hack has largely gone unnoticed while a series of headline-grabbing ransomware attacks have highlighted the cyber vulnerabilities to U.S. critical infrastructure, including one on a major fuels pipeline that prompted widespread shortages at gas stations. The U.S. government is also still investigating the fallout of the SolarWinds hacking campaign launched by Russian cyberspies, which infiltrated dozens of private sector companies and think tanks as well as at least nine U.S. government agencies and went on for most of 2020.

China has a long history of using the internet to spy on the United States and presents a prolific and effective cyber-espionage threat, the Office of the Director of the National Intelligence said in its most recent annual threat assessment.

People use the New York City subway in New York City, on June 3, 2021. New York transit officials confirm MTAs systems were hacked in April. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Six years ago Chinese hackers stole millions of background check files of federal government employees from the Office of Personnel Management. And last year the Justice Department charged two hackers it said worked with the Chinese communist regime to target firms developing vaccines for the coronavirus and stole hundreds of millions of dollars worth of intellectual property and trade secrets from companies across the world.

The Chinese regime has denied any role in the Pulse hacking campaign and the U.S. government has not made any formal attribution.

In the Pulse campaign, security experts said sophisticated hackers exploited never-before-seen vulnerabilities to break in and were hyper diligent in trying to cover their tracks once inside.

The capability is very strong and difficult to defend against, and the profile of victims is very significant, said Adrian Nish, the head of cyber at BAE Systems Applied Intelligence. This is a very targeted attack against a few dozen networks that all have national significance in one way or another.

The Department of Homeland Securitys Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency, or CISA, issued an April alert about the Pulse hack saying it was aware of compromises affecting a number of U.S. government agencies, critical infrastructure entities, and other private sector organizations. The agency has since said that at least five federal agencies have identified indications of potential unauthorized access, but not said which ones.

Verizon said it found a Pulse-related compromise in one of its labs but it was quickly isolated from its core networks. The company said no data or customer information was accessed or stolen.

We know that bad actors try to compromise our systems, said Verizon spokesman Rich Young. That is why internet operators, private companies and all individuals need to be vigilant in this space.

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, which provides water to 19 million people and operates some of the largest treatment plants in the world, said it found a compromised Pulse Secure appliance after CISA issued its alert in April. Spokeswoman Rebecca Kimitch said the appliance was immediately removed from service and no Metropolitan systems or processes were known to have been affected. She said there was no known data exfiltration.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York also said theyve not found evidence of valuable data or customer information was stolen. The breach was first reported by The New York Times.

Nish, the BAE security expert, said the hackers could have broken into networks but not stolen data right away for any number of operational reasons. He compared it to a criminal breaking into a house but stopping in the hallway.

Its still pretty bad, Nish said.

Mandiant said it found signs of data extraction from some of the targets. The company and BAE have identified targets of the hacking campaign in several fields, including financial, technology and defense firms, as well as municipal governments. Some targets were in Europe, but most in the United States.

At least one major local government has disputed it was a target of the Pulse Secure hack. Montgomery County, Maryland, said it was advised by CISA that its Pulse Secure devices were attacked. But county spokesman Scott Peterson said the county found no evidence of a compromise and told CISA they had a false report.

CISA did not directly respond to the countys statement.

The new details of the Pulse Secure hack come at a time of tension between the United States and China. Biden has made checking Chinas growth a top priority, and said the countrys ambition of becoming the wealthiest and most powerful country in the world is not going to happen under my watch.

By Alan Suderman
A building damaged by a gas line explosion in central China's Hubei province, on June 13, 2021. (CNS/AFP via Getty Images)

Death Toll in China Gas Pipe Explosion Rises to 25: State Media

BEIJINGThe number of people killed in a gas pipeline explosion in central China on Sunday has risen to 25, state broadcaster CCTV reported on Monday.

The death toll from the blast in the city of Shiyan, in Hubei province, had stood at 12 on Sunday evening but another 13 victims without vital signs were found as of 1230 local time on Monday, CCTV cited an official from Hubeis emergency management department as saying at a press conference.

138 people remained injured, 37 of them seriously, according to CCTV.

The actual number of casualties is difficult to verify, as the Chinese regime routinely suppresses or alters information.

Industrial accidents are not uncommon in China. A series of explosions in the northern port city of Tianjin killed 173 people in 2015.

In 2013, an oil pipeline blast in Qingdao, in the eastern province of Shandong, killed more than 60 people, while an explosion on a gas pipe in Southwest Chinas Guizhou left eight people dead in 2017.

Epoch Times staff contributed to this report
Attorney General Merrick Garland delivers remarks at the Department of Justice in Washington on June 11, 2021. (Tom Brenner/Pool via Reuters)

DOJ to Tighten Rules for Obtaining Lawmakers Records

The Justice Department announced Monday that it will be tightening its policies and procedures for obtaining records of U.S. lawmakers, after it emerged that the department under the Trump administration obtained records from Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee.

As I stated during my confirmation hearing, political or other improper considerations must play no role in any investigative or prosecutorial decisions, Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement. These principles that have long been held as sacrosanct by the DOJ career workforce will be vigorously guarded on my watch, and any failure to live up to them will be met with strict accountability.

Consistent with our commitment to the rule of law, we must ensure that full weight is accorded to separation-of-powers concerns moving forward, Garland added.

Garlands statement comes as the department faces backlash, after The New York Times first reported on June 10 that prosecutors in the DOJ under the Trump administration had issued subpoenas to Apple in 2017 and 2018 seeking data from people associated with the House Intelligence Committee, as part of a probe to find out who was behind leaks of classified information related to the Russia investigation and other national-security issues.

Last month, Apple reportedly notified at least 12 people that they were being investigated via the grand jury subpoenas the DOJ had issued. Among them were Trump critics Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), now the committees chair, and Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), a committee member, as well as their aides and family members. According to the NY Times, the data Apple provided didnt establish any ties between the California politicians and the leaks.

Lawmakers didnt know they were being investigated until Apple informed them last month, after a gag order on the company secured by the DOJ had expired this year.

Schiff called for an Inspector General inquiry on June 10, and accused former President Donald Trump of having repeatedly and flagrantly demanded that the Department of Justice carry out his political will, and tried to use the department as a cudgel against his political opponents and members of the media.

In a June 10 statement, Swalwell confirmed that his Apple data was seized; he echoed Schiffs call for an OIG investigation.

Separately on June 11, two Senate DemocratsMajority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin (D-Ill.)demanded that two former U.S. attorneys general, William Barr and Jeff Sessions, testify before Congress about the reported subpoenas of records, or else face a subpoena.

On Friday, Inspector General Michael Horowitz said he directed his office to launch a review into use of subpoenas under the previous administration and to determine whether those decisions were driven by improper considerations.

There are important questions that must be resolved in connection with an effort by the department to obtain records related to members of Congress and congressional staff, Garland added.

House Judiciary Committee chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) has also said the panel will open a formal investigation into the matter.

Mimi Nguyen Ly contributed to this report.
Ducey Blasts Arizona State Universitys COVID-19 Vaccine Policy as Social Engineering at Its Worst

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey on Tuesday spoke out against Arizona State Universitys (ASU) new vaccine policy, which calls for all students to get vaccinated while requiring unvaccinated students to get daily health checks, twice weekly COVID-19 tests, and generally wear masks at all times on campus.

This is bad policy, with no basis in public health, Ducey wrote in a series of tweets. The vaccine works. But the vaccine is a choice. This policy is social engineering at its worst.

In a Monday statement, an ASU official said that as the college returns to in-person learning in the fall semester, all students enrolled in on-campus programs are expected to be fully vaccinated two weeks before Aug. 19, the first day of classes.

Students who are unable to be vaccinated for whatever reason or who dont agree to share their vaccination status will be required to undergo daily health checks, participate in twice weekly COVID-19 testing, and wear facial coverings in all ASU campus spacesboth indoor and outdoor.

Vaccinated students who provide proof of vaccination will not be subject to the above restrictions, though theyalong with everyone else on campusare encouraged to wear masks in crowded areas.

As Sun Devils, we commit to being part of the ASU Community of Care where we take care of ourselves, each other and our community, Vice President of Student Services Joanne Vogel said in the statement. Managing COVID-19 is both a matter of personal responsibility and public health, and we ask that you follow all protocols as they apply to our collective well-being.

In objecting to ASUs new vaccine policy, Ducey suggested it was unscientific.

Health policy should be based on science, not virtue signaling. In America, freedom wins, Ducey wrote.

While Ducey did not specify which aspects of ASUs new vaccine policy he finds objectionable on grounds of science, the colleges masking requirement is more restrictive than recently updated guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC), which recommend masking for unvaccinated people in all indoors scenarios but not outdoors, provided theyre outside with members of the same household or attending a small, outdoor gathering with fully vaccinated people. Fully vaccinated people need not need to wear masks under any circumstances, according to the CDC.

Ducey added that he plans to issue an executive order that will ensure this excessive policy is never enforced and that calls on state lawmakers to codify his order into law.

It is unclear what, if any, enforcement mechanisms ASU intends to have in place to verify the vaccination status of students. The Office of the President did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Duceys remarks or to a request for information on whether there would be monitors on campus, asking students to display proof of vaccination.

It comes after a failed effort by Arizona lawmakers to ban state and local governments, as well as public universities like ASU, from mandating COVID-19 vaccine passports.

Vaccine passports have been criticized by civil liberties groups, who say they would potentially violate Americans privacy rights while denying key services to people who arent vaccinated.
Facebook logo in 3D in front of the EU flag, on May 15, 2015. (Dado Ruvic/Reuters)

EU Court Backs National Data Watchdog Powers in Blow to Facebook, Big Tech

BRUSSELSEuropes top court on Tuesday endorsed the power of national data watchdogs to pursue big tech firms even if they are not their lead regulators, in a setback for Silicon Valley companies such as Facebook.

The European Court of Justice (CJEU) ruling could encourage national agencies to act against U.S. tech companies such as Google, Twitter, and Apple, which all have their European Union headquarters in Ireland.

Many national watchdogs in the 27-member European Union have long complained about their Irish counterpart, saying that it takes too long to decide on cases.

Ireland has dismissed this, saying it has to be extra meticulous in dealing with powerful and well-funded tech giants.

The CJEU got involved after a Belgian court sought guidance on Facebooks challenge against the territorial competence of the Belgian data watchdogs bid to stop it from tracking users in Belgium through cookies stored in the companys social plug-ins, regardless of whether they have an account or not.

Under certain conditions, a national supervisory authority may exercise its power to bring any alleged infringement of the GDPR before a court of a member state, even though that authority is not the lead supervisory authority with regard to that processing, the CJEU said.

Under landmark EU privacy rules known as GDPR, Facebook faces oversight by the Irish privacy authority because it has its European head office in Ireland.

The case is C-645/19 Facebook Ireland & Others.
People gather their luggage after arriving at Miami International Airport on a plane from New York in Miami, Fla., on Feb. 1, 2021. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Florida Court Rules Against County Mask Mandate

A Florida state appeals court overturned a ruling last year that allowed Alachua County to implement a mask requirement amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The First District Court ruled 2-1 to overturn last years decision by Alachua County Circuit Judge Donna Keim.

The trial court simply looked at the right asserted by Green too narrowly, relying on the wrong privacy jurisprudence, wrote Judge Adam Tanenbaum, who was joined by Judge Robert Lon, in the order handed down on June 11.

The right to be let alone by government does exist in Florida, as part of a right of privacy that [Floridas Supreme Court has declared to be fundamental.  [The Supreme Court] has construed this fundamental right to be so broad as to include the complete freedom of a person to control his own body, the ruling added (pdf). Under this construction, a person reasonably can expect not to be forced by the government to put something on his own face against his will. Floridas constitutional right to privacy, then, necessarily is implicated by the nature of the countys mask mandate.

The majority sent the case back to the lower court for reconsideration. It didnt declare the Alachua County court ruling outright unconstitutional.

But Tanenbaum said that the lower courts decision to not grant an emergency injunction was incorrect and said that any law that affects privacy is presumptively unconstitutional and must be subject to strict scrutiny and justified as the least restrictive means to serve a compelling government interest.

He added: The right of privacy is a fundamental one, expressly protected by the Florida Constitution, and any law that implicates it is presumptively unconstitutional and noted that if a challenged law implicates a privacy right, the burden shifts to the government to prove that the law further[s] a compelling state interest in the least restrictive way.

The judge also argued that the threat of government-sponsored shaming was not an idle one while noting that until recently, the face mask mandate seemed like it might never end.

Gainesville, Florida-based attorney Jeff Childers, who filed the appeal in representing nursery owner Justin Green, said last week that the courts ruling against masks may be the first of its kind in the United States.

Its great vindication, Childers told the Gainseville Sun. Ive been following this issue closely and Im pretty sure this is the first appellate ruling in the entire country against the masks. I think we have something historic here.

A spokesperson for Alachua County said on June 11 that the county kept residents privacy in mind.

The lower court last year used a rational basis and determined that privacy was not impacted by the countys masking mandate, Sexton said to the paper. This reversal suggests the constitution is impacted and that on the mandate, we would be held to a high standard. Had the mandate still been in place we would have to prove to the court that there was a compelling government interest. We feel like we could have done that.
Florida governor Ron DeSantis meets with fans during Day One of The Walker Cup at Seminole Golf Club in Juno Beach, Fla., on May 8, 2021. (Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)

Florida Gov. DeSantis Signs Bill Requiring Minute of Silence in All Public Schools

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday signed a bill requiring teachers in K-12 first-period classes to provide between one and two minutes of silence, which will allow students to pray if they want.

The Republican governor explained that many of the Founding Fathers who helped create the countrys system of government wouldnt agree with the notion that you can just push God out of every institution and be successful.

Im sorry, our Founding Fathers did not believe that, DeSantis added, speaking at a signing event in Bal Harbour.

The bill, H.B. 529 (pdf), requires the principals at public schools to require certain teachers to take a moment of silence at the start of each school day in public schools. The bill also bans teachers from making suggestions as to the nature of any reflection that a student may engage in during the moment of silence.

In todays hectic society too few persons are able to experience even a moment of quiet reflection before plunging headlong into the activities of daily life, according to the measure. Young persons are particularly affected by the absence of an opportunity for a moment of quiet reflection. The legislature finds that our youth and society as a whole would be well served if students in the public schools were afforded a moment of silence at the beginning of each school day.

The GOP-backed bill also encourages parents to talk about the designated moment of silence with their children while making suggestions about how to best use their time.

State Rep. Randy Fine, a Republican who sponsored the bill, said that its designed to combat the effects of technological and media-driven turmoil that are ever-present within society.

Our children desperately need time for quiet reflection, Fine said, according to a news release. Because it is in those fleeting moments that we find our higher purpose. Thats why I was so proud to sponsor HB 529, to ensure that each child gets a minute at the beginning of the school daywithout a TV on or a cellphone blaringto think about the world and their place in it. It is my hope that these small moments to become emotionally centered will have a big impact on their daysand their lives.

Local media noted that the moment of silence bill had been sought by the Jewish Chabad-Lubavitch movement for years.

During the same signing event at the Shul of Bal Harbour on Monday, DeSantis signed a measure that would bolster volunteer ambulance services, known as Hatzalah, which operate generally in conservative Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods.
Voters wait to cast their ballots outside a polling place in Palm Beach County in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Nov. 2, 2004. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Florida Sheriff to Migrants From Blue States: Dont Vote the Way You Did Before Or Youll Have Here What You Had There

On June 9, The Epoch Times reported how Florida was the number one state in the nation for people to move to, while New York and California took first and second place respectively for states that have the most people leaving. To those moving to Florida from blue states, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd says: Do me a favor, and dont vote the way the majority of the people voted from where you came or youll have here what you had there. Guaranteed.

One of the reasons cited by those fleeing their blue state hometowns was the rising crime rates. According to Judd, the escalation in crime rates are a direct result of the defund the police movements in many Democrat-run states.

Florida has had a Republican House, a Republican Senate, and a Republican governor for a very long time, Judd told The Epoch Times in a phone interview. So all you have to do is compare-and-contrast. You go to these areas where crime is through the roof, look at your representatives.

In April 2021, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the Anti-Riot HB1 bill into law. This new measure makes it a felony to tear down statues or monuments in the Sunshine State and provides the governor and Florida Cabinet the authority to override the efforts of any other state official to cut law enforcement spending.

Conversely, in June 2020, the Portland City Council voted 3-1 to cut at least $15 million from the police bureau. The cut effectively eliminated 84 positions in the department.

So far this year, 37 homicides have been reported in the city, an increase of more than six times compared to the same period last year.

In November 2020, the Seattle City Council cut 18 percent of the budget from their police department. By January, Seattle saw a 48 percent increase in murders, the highest number in almost 30 years. In May, 260 police officers chose to leave the Seattle police force.

Trust in Law Enforcement

The good things that are happening in Florida dont just happen, Judd insisted. If they did, those good things would be happening in Seattle and Portland. But when you create an environment where criminal conduct is acceptable thats exactly what you get.

Judd also attributes the better safety conditions in Florida to the publics connection with law enforcement and effective leadership in government.

When people lose trust and they lose faith in the government or the police they quit interacting with you, Judd explained. So you dont know how bad the crime rate is if people arent calling to tell you and people quit calling to tell you when you quit caring.

Its the same sentiment shared by Hernando County Sheriff Al Nienhuis.

Florida Sheriffs, who report directly to their citizens, are very good at holding chronic criminals accountable, while simultaneously maintaining the trust of the law-abiding citizens, Nienhuis told The Epoch Times. This has all resulted in a consistent decrease in crime during the last 4 decades. This is foundational to Floridas growth, due to the fact that, regardless of age or family status, everyone wants to live in a safe community.

Floridas great weather and beaches have always been a draw for tourists, Nienhuis added. However, low taxes, common sense leadership in state government, and the communitys support of law and order, have made those tourists realize that Florida is also a great place to live, work, and raise a family.

Changing Voting Habits

Judd agreed, saying when he asks blue state migrants if they chose to move to Florida because of the warm weather, low taxes, and low crime rates, they always answer yes.

Then do me a favor, he tells them. Welcome to Polk County. Welcome to Florida. But please dont vote like you did up north. Youll still have warm weather in the winter but you wont have low taxes or a safe community.

We are definitely seeing the trend of people fleeing blue lockdown states for the free state of Florida, state House Rep. Blaise Ingoglia, a Republican, told The Epoch Times. They are coming here because of sunshine and opportunities. I can only hope that they leave any liberal ideology at the border.

You are coming for a reason, Ingoglia reminded the blue state migrants. Please dont New York our Florida. Dont turn this great state into the state you fled from.

Asked about the fears held by some Floridians that the blue state migrants will dim the freedoms of the Sunshine State, Judd admitted their fear is well-founded because individuals casting ballots in blue states dont seem to understand that the officials they elect are the ones enacting the destructive policies that made them leave.

None of the policies and practices in place up north just happened. It happened because they voted for elected officials that created those policies or laws.

To assuage their fears, Judd advised worried Floridians to educate their new blue state neighbors and to explain that all of the good things we have in Florida didnt just happen.

It was the people we elected to the city commissions, to the county commissions and into the state legislature that made good things happen, Judd said. If you live in a high crime community, vote those officials out.

Nothing else really matters if you arent safe and you dont feel safe, Judd concluded. A community cant thrive if its eaten alive by crime.

Welcoming New Residents

The Epoch Times asked Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis what hed like to share with the migrants coming from blue states.

For the almost 1,000 people a day who are moving to Florida, DeSantis wrote in an email. Welcome to Florida, I hope we can all work together to keep our state the special place it is, an oasis of freedom in our country.

All Americans can learn from the mistakes made in lockdown states and not repeat those mistakes, he added. It wont happen in Florida.

People who come to Florida from lockdown states can see for themselves how well we are doing here. If you look at voter registration trends overall, its positive; there isnt any indication that the people of Floridanewcomers and longtime Floridiansare shifting away from the principles that helped our state succeed.

Judd also expressed goodwill to Floridas new migrants: Welcome to Florida. Youre in a safe state, youre in a healthy state, and we love people coming to our state. But dont vote the way the majority of the people voted from where you came or youll have here what you had there. Guaranteed.
Security personnel keep watch outside the Wuhan Institute of Virology during the visit by the World Health Organization (WHO) team tasked with investigating the origins of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, on Feb. 3, 2021. (Thomas Peter/Reuters)

Funding to Wuhan Lab Prompts Sen. Ernst to Propose Bill Requiring Disclosure

Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) is introducing legislation to ensure that federal grant recipients such as the EcoHealth Alliance disclose to funding agencies whenever they, in turn, pass funds to other recipients, such as the virology lab in Wuhan, China.

Despite skirting federal law and refusing to disclose how much U.S. taxpayer money was funneled to Communist Chinas Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) and the details about the coronavirus research the funding supported, EcoHealth Alliance was rewarded with another $7.5 million, Ernst said in a statement on June 15.

Iowa taxpayers shouldnt be forced to foot the bill for any organization that fails to comply with federal law. My bill would prevent federal funding from going to organizations, like EcoHealth, until they provide answers on how and where taxpayer dollars are being spent, she said.

The Ernst bill is titled Stop the Outlay of Payments Act (STOP) and it requires funding agencies to suspend grants to recipients until they provide required information about how they spend the tax dollars they receive. The recipient would have 120 days to provide the information or materials that prompted the suspension, or the grant would be canceled.

The bill also directs the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to maintain a publicly available list of all such suspensions.

Ernsts bill was prompted by the refusal of the New York-based nonprofit EcoHealth Alliance to respond to a July 8, 2020, letter (pdf) it received from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) regarding grants that it then shared with the WIV. The NIH earlier in the year had suspended a grant to EcoHealth Alliance for its failure to comply with required disclosures of how the money was spent.

The WIV is the center of the controversy over how the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, also known as the novel coronavirus, spread throughout China and around the globe, including to the United States, beginning in November 2019.

More than three million people have died from the virus, including more than 559,000 in the United States. The CCP has insisted that the virus originated with bats and somehow made the jump to infect other species, including humans.

But suspicions have surrounded the WIV from the beginning of the virus controversy because of concerns about the safety record of the lab, which is closely connected to the Chinese military. The fear is that the virus could have leaked from the lab to the general population in Wuhan and from there to the rest of the world.

Numerous investigations on the issue have been opened, including those by the World Health Organization, the U.S. government, and multiple private groups of experts, but the Chinese state has refused to cooperate with any of them.

There are also concerns that the virus was engineered in the lab as part of the gain-of-function research being conducted there, with much of the funding for it coming from the U.S. government via EcoHealth.

Gain of function refers to processes used by researchers to alter the DNA of a virus to give it additional characteristics, including greater resistance to vaccines, more rapid spread among victims, and specific symptoms they would suffer.

On June 15, Ernst released the July 2020 NIH letter, which noted that EcoHealth hadnt responded to a previous letter and pointed out that the NIH has received reports that the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV), a sub-recipient of EcoHealth Alliance under R01AI110964, has been conducting research at its facilities in China that pose serious bio-safety concerns and, as a result, create health and welfare threats to the public in China and other countries, including the United States.

The letter further noted that the NIH had concerns that WIV has not satisfied safety requirements under the award, and that EcoHealth Alliance has not satisfied its obligations to monitor the activities of its subrecipient to ensure compliance.

Moreover, as we have informed you through prior Notices of Award, this award is subject to the Transparency Act subaward and executive compensation reporting requirement in federal law. To date, you have not reported any subawards in the Federal Subaward Reporting System.

The NIH letter included seven information requests EcoHealth was required to fulfill in order to continue to receive funding. EcoHealth Alliance didnt respond to the NIH letter, but the groups head, Dr. Peter Daszak told the media that the seven informational requests were heinous.

Ernst noted that NIHs new grant worth $7.5 million to EcoHealth Alliance was awarded a month after the July 2020 letter regarding the earlier suspension was sent.

The group has collected more than $60 million in taxpayer dollars from other government agencies, including more than $5 million from the Department of Defense since July 2020, Ernst said in a separate statement announcing that the NIH was the June recipient of her monthly Squeal Award.

The Iowa Republican uses the Squeal Award to highlight examples of waste, fraud, and abuse across the federal government.

Future funding of the WIV by any U.S. grant recipient would be banned by an amendment Ernst introduced and the Senate adopted in May.
Georgia to Investigate After Fulton County Official Says Election Forms Are Missing

Georgias secretary of state said on June 14 that his office will probe Fulton County after an election official there said forms verifying the chain of custody for some mail-in ballots went missing.

New revelations that Fulton County is unable to produce all ballot drop box transfer documents will be investigated thoroughly, as we have with other counties that failed to follow Georgia rules and regulations regarding drop boxes. This cannot continue, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a Republican, said in a statement.

Raffensperger previously announced similar probes in Coffee, Grady, and Taylor Counties. In doing so, he alleged that the states other 120 counties had properly completed absentee ballot transfer forms.

Earlier on June 14, Mariska Bodison, with the countys Board of Registration and Elections, told the Georgia Star News that a few forms are missing when asked for documentation on approximately 19,000 absentee ballots that were said to have been placed in drop boxes.

The missing forms would detail the chain of custody for the ballots.

A Fulton County spokeswoman told The Epoch Times in an email that the county followed procedures for the collection of absentee ballots from Fulton County drop boxes.

We maintain a large quantity of documents and researching our files from last year to produce the ballot transfer forms. We have been in communication with the Secretary of States office to update them of our progress on this matter, she said.

Democrat Joe Biden won Georgia by less than 12,000 votes. Biden typically received more mail-in ballots in each state, and Georgia was no exception. While former President Donald Trump topped Biden by more than 254,000 Election Day votes, Biden received more than 848,000 absentee ballots compared to Trumps 450,522.

Election workers count Fulton County ballots at State Farm Arena in Atlanta on Nov. 4, 2020. (Jessica McGowan/Getty Images)

Trump has said the 2020 election was rife with fraud, particularly in swing states such as Georgia.

Whether it be voting machines, underaged people, dead people, illegal aliens, ballot drops, ballot cheating, absentee ballots, post office delivery (or lack thereof!), lock boxes, people being paid to vote, or other things, the 2020 Presidential Election is, in my mind, the Crime of the Century, he claimed in a June 12 statement.

A group of Georgia voters that alleged in a petition this past year that they witnessed an abnormal increase in Bidens vote count in Fulton County while performing election observation was slated to obtain images of the countys absentee ballots in late May.

But the judge overseeing the case decided to delay the visit to the countys ballot storage warehouse, where the images were to be taken by county workers while petitioners or their representatives watched, until he rules on motions to dismiss filed by the countys Board of Registrations and Elections and two other county agencies.

Garland Favorito, head of the Voter GA election integrity group, and a petitioner, told The Epoch Times that the new admission of missing forms could be used in the ongoing case at some point, but he would have to discuss that matter with his attorney.

Favorito believes the missing forms could explain why we saw counterfeit ballots.

Those ballots could have originated from these drop boxes that dont have chain of custody forms, he said. So I think there is a connection there.

Susan Voyles, a poll manager who worked on a recount in November 2020, has said she handled ballots she believes were fraudulent or fabricated. Her affidavit was cited in the Fulton County petition, as were affidavits from others who participated in the recount and said they saw ballots they believe were fake. Voyles was later terminated by the county.
A student holds flags of China and Germany before a welcome ceremony hosted by Chinese leader Xi Jinping for German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, on Dec. 10, 2018. (Jason Lee/Reuters)

German Industry Group Criticizes China Over New Sanctions Law

BERLINGermanys powerful BDI industry association criticized China on Tuesday for passing the Anti-Foreign Sanctions Laws, which it said sent a worrying signal to investors and companies abroad.

China is one of the most important export markets for German companies outside the European Unions single market, but concerns over human rights abuses and a crackdown in Hong Kong are putting a strain on political as well as economic ties.

Beijing passed a wide-ranging law last week to counter foreign sanctions, in an apparent move to legalize its tit-for-tat retaliation.

Instead of relying on a deescalation, the Chinese government is creating new uncertainties. This is damaging Chinas reputation as an investment location and trading partner, BDI board member Wolfgang Niedermark said.

Audis new concept AI: ME with automated driving system is presented during the media day for Shanghai auto show in Shanghai, China, on April 17, 2019. (Aly Song/Reuters)

The law was very different from similar laws in the EU as it undermined legal clarity and created a gray area that hung over any company doing business in China, he said.

Senior German government officials and business leaders are openly calling for a diversification of trade relations in Asia to become less dependent on China in the coming years.

The Chinese sanctions against members of the European Parliament and think tanks have already frozen the ratification of the EUChinese investment agreement, Niedermark said.

Instead of reacting with threatening gestures, the Chinese government would be well advised to introduce more constructive elements into the dialogue with its trading partners, he said.

The new law, effective immediately, builds upon previous administrative counter-measures against foreign sanctions issued by the Chinese foreign and commerce ministries. It also lays out the scope of Chinas counter-sanctions.

By Michael Nienaber
A cargo ship loaded with containers leaving a port in Haikou in China's southern Hainan province, on May 17, 2021. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)A cargo ship loaded with containers leaving a port in Haikou in China's southern Hainan province, on May 17, 2021. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

Global Shipping Disrupted by COVID-19 Outbreak in Chinas Southern Province

Surge in container freight rates causes Chinese businesses to cancel export orders

The recent outbreak of COVID-19 in Chinas southern province Guangdong has caused acute congestion at the regions ports. Shipments have been delayed, which has severely disrupted global supply chains. Adding to that, the surge in the cost of sea freight from China since the end of last year has caused many Chinese companies to cancel export orders.

Since the sudden COVID-19 outbreak in the province in late May, operations at the terminals at the ports in Guangdong province, including in major port Yatian in Shenzhen, have been restricted due to the shutdown measures that the Chinese regime adopted to control the spread of the disease. It has caused severe congestion.

At Yatian alone, there are dozens of ships waiting outside the port for a berth to become available, holding up shipments and containers, according to a report by BBC.

A cargo ship carrying containers is seen near the Yantian port in Shenzhen, following the CCP virus outbreak, in Guangdong province, China, on May 17, 2020. (Martin Pollard/Reuters)

Global sea freight shipping costs have continued to rise in recent months, due to a shortage of containers and the disruptions since the pandemic. Since the third quarter of last year, the phenomenon of lack of shipping containers has spread in major ports in China, and at the same time, it has continued to push up the price of containers.

Year on year, the SCFI Index (the Shanghai Containerized Freight Index), a widely used index for sea freight rates for container transport from mainland China ports, showed a 282 percent increase for the week ending June 5. In the first half of June, the cost of a 40 TEU container from Chinas eastern port Tianjin to the east coast of the United States was $14,000 to $16,000, while it has increased to $17,000 to $18,000 for the second half of June.

Zhou Ming, head of a foreign trade company in Tianjin, told Chinese media its really out of control now. He visited almost all shipping companies, but still couldnt get shipping space, so he could only ask for help from a freight forwarding company at a very high price. And the price of a 40-foot container from Tianjin to the U.S. east coast will rise to $17,000 to $18,000 in late June. Some freight forwarders even asked for more than $20,000.

Zhou said, The freight cost is now more than 60 [percent] of the value of our goods. Plus a 25 [percent] tariff, there is almost no profit at all.

In addition, international shipping companies have increased various surcharges, including GRI. A general rate increase (GRI) is an adjustment of sea freight rates across all or specific trade routes during a set time frame, according to the industry definition.

French container shipping company CMA CGM has raised the GRI for routes from Asian ports to the United States and Canada starting on June 1.

Wanhai Shipping also said that due to the recent increase in operating costs, it will increase freight rates for goods exported from China to other parts of Asia.

Hapag-Lloyd recently announced that starting from June 15th, it will increase the GRI for eastbound routes from East Asia to the United States and Canada.

A truck transports a container to be loaded onto a ship at a port in Tianjin, China. (Alexander F. Yuan/AP Photo)

Zhou said the high cost of sea freight may become an unbearable burden for small and medium-sized foreign trade companies in China. He said some companies have given up export orders for the coming peak season.

American Chinese investment strategist and Chinese foreign trade expert Mike Sun said in an interview with The Epoch Times, Due to the severe COVID-19 epidemic in Southeast Asia, especially India, many orders actually have gone to China.

He said that a large number of orders should have been a good thing, but because of the soaring container price, the transportation price has risen sharply, and a large number of goods are stuck in the ports, which has hit Chinas foreign trade badly. Because Chinese foreign trade companies profits are actually about 6 [percent]. Such a large-scale increase in shipping fees is a big blow to Chinese companies.

Sun also said that its the first time in his career that he has seen such a large increase in sea freight costs.

Ye Yifan contributed to the report.
GOP Lawmakers Unveil Bill to Defund 1619 Project in Public Schools

A group of Republican lawmakers on Monday unveiled legislation that would block federal funds for public schools from being used to teach the controversial 1619 Project published by The New York Times.

Reps. Ken Buck (R-Colo.) and Rick Allen (R-Ga.), alongside Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), reintroduced the Saving American History Act (pdf) which would ban federal funds from being used to teach the 1619 Project in K-12 schools or school districts, a news release from Bucks office states.

The 1619 Project, an offshoot of the Marxist teaching model critical race theory (CRT), has been criticized for attempting to rewrite American history as fundamentally racist and disregarding the merits of the nations founding documents. The controversial project has been panned by historians as having false information.

It is a racially divisive and revisionist account of history that threatens the integrity of the Union by denying the true principles on which it was founded, the bill states.

Critical Race Theory is dangerous, anti-American, and has no place in our nations schools, said Buck in a statement. School curriculum plays a critical role in a childs development and greatly influences the type of adult they will become.

The lawmaker added, Children shouldnt be taught that they will be treated differently or will be racist because of their skin color.

Former President Donald Trump established the so-called 1776 Commission in the final months of his presidency to combat false narratives about the American Founding, however, it was formally dissolved by President Joe Biden upon taking office.

The Biden administration has put CRT as its top priority and included equitywhich emphasizes equality of outcome, rather than equal opportunityas its focus for all legislation.

Allen said in a statement that the 1619 Project aims to indoctrinate our students into believing that America is an evil country.

U.S. Reps. Rick Allen (L) (R-Ga.) and Doug Collins (R) (R-Ga.), speak as they await the arrival of President Donald Trump in Atlanta, Georgia, on July 15, 2020. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)

There is no room for that in our classrooms, the lawmaker continued. We must teach our young folks to learn from our nations past in order to form a more perfect union. Teaching revisionist history and promoting divisive ideology will not move our nation forward.

The Georgia lawmaker said the measure will ensure federal funds are used to provide students with a historically accurate curriculum.

Activists in schools want to teach our kids to hate America and hate each other using discredited, Critical Race Theory curricula like the 1619 Project, charged Cotton. Federal funds should not pay for activists to masquerade as teachers and indoctrinate our youth.

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) questions President Joe Bidens nominee for secretary of defense, retired Army Gen. Lloyd Austin, at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 19, 2021. (Greg Nash-Pool/Getty Images)

Parents across the country have begun pushing back against the use of CRT in schools, while an increasing number of local and state governments have responded with legislation banning its use.

Georgias state Board of Education passed a resolution in May that says students should not be taught CRT in schools.

Governors from Tennessee, Idaho, Arkansas, and Oklahoma have already signed anti-CRT bills, while in Texas and Iowa, similar legislation is awaiting signatures from the governors.

Masooma Haq contributed to this report.
Republican Senator from Montana Steve Daines directs a question regarding limiting abortions to Xavier Becerra during the Senate Finance Committee hearing on Becerra's nomination to be secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), on Capitol Hill in Washington on Feb. 24, 2021. (Michael Reynolds/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

GOP Senator Reintroduces Constitutional Amendment to Ban Desecration of US Flag

Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) on June 14 reintroduced a constitutional amendment that seeks to to ban the desecration of the American Flag, commemorating Flag Day.

The American flag is a symbol of liberty and a beacon of hope. It represents the ideals that our nation was built upon and for decades, brave men and women have carried its colors into battle to defend the United States of America, Daines said in a statement.

The Stars and Stripes are a representation of freedom. We must always protect and respect the American flag.

The Montana Republican made his announcement on Monday, which was also Flag Day. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a presidential proclamation establishing a national Flag Day on June 14. The holiday was made permanent by President Harry Truman in 1949.

The amendment is co-sponsored by GOP Sens. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Mike Crapo of Idaho, Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, and Kevin Cramer of North Dakota.

Today, and every day, we remember those who have fought to defend the ideals represented by our Stars and Stripes. In honor of #FlagDay Im continuing my efforts to prohibit the burning & physical desecration of the American flag, Daines added on Twitter.

We must always protect and respect this symbol of freedom.

The Republican senator previously pushed similar amendments on June 14 in 2017, 2018 and 2019. He previously released a report (pdf) titled: American Flag burning: 50 offensive acts since 2014.

The burning of the American flag is a protected form of self expression under the First Amendment. In 1989, the Supreme Court ruled that the act was constitutionally protected as free speech.

Former Supreme Court Justice William Brennan ruled at the time that it would be odd  that the government may ban the expression of certain disagreeable ideas on the unsupported presumption that their very disagreeableness will provoke violence.

However, constitutional amendments can be made if two-thirds of both chambers of Congress agree on a proposal and it is ratified by three-fourths of states, or if a convention is called by two-thirds of state legislatures backing the proposed amendments.

Former President Donald Trump in 2019 called Daines constitutional amendment a no-brainer and said that he was all-in.

All in for Senator Steve Daines as he proposes an Amendment for a strong BAN on burning our American Flag. A no brainer! Trump wrote on Twitter.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has long argued against amending the Constitution to prohibit the burning of the U.S. flag.

Our democracy is strong because we tolerate all peaceful forms of expression, no matter how uncomfortable they make us feel or how much we disagree, the group argues. The U.S. Supreme Court has affirmed and reaffirmed that the right to desecrate the flag is included in the Constitutions protection of speech.

Flag burning and desecration is offensive precisely because it is political. Experience shows that the way to fight political expression with which one disagrees is not to outlaw it, as Congress has repeatedly sought to do, but to express disapproval, the group states on its website.
Minister of Health Patty Hajdu speaks during a news conference on the COVID-19 pandemic in Ottawa, Canada, on Dec. 4, 2020. (The Canadian press/Justin Tang)

Health Minister Defends Sending Unredacted Documents on Wuhan Lab Virus Transfer to Non-Parliamentary Committee

Health Minister Patty Hajdu defended her decision to send unredacted documents regarding the firing of two Chinese scientists from the National Microbiology Laboratory (NML) in Winnipeg to a non-parliamentary committee for review, instead of to the House of Commons Committee on Canada-China Relations. Opposition MPs criticized the move, saying she appears to be dodging accountability for a possible breach of national security.

[The] Government of Canada recognizes that the oversight provided by Parliament is essential to a well-functioning government, [and respects] the need for transparency and the importance of accountability before Canadians, Hajdu told the House of Commons Committee on Canada-China Relations on Monday.

But in this particular case, the information requested has both privacy and national security implications, she said.

The House of Commons on June 2 issued an order demanding the release of unredacted documents pertaining to the transfer of viruses. Rather than complying with the House order, Hadju told the committee earlier this month that she had sent the requested documents to the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP), a committee independent of either House of the Canadian Parliament, for review.

The documents in question pertain to the January firing of scientists Xiangguo Qiu and her husband, Kending Cheng, from their positions at the NML. The couple were escorted out of the lab building by the RCMP and stripped of their security clearances in July 2019. In March 2019, Qiu had been in charge of shipping samples of hazardous Ebola and Henipah viruses to Chinas Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV).

Conservative MP Michael Chong said Monday that several provisions in the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliaments Act that serve as the guideline for the NSICOP raises questions about the committees ability to produce an unbiased scrutiny of the federal governments role in the virus transfer.

Subsection 5 (1) of the NSICOP Act states that members of the committee are hired and fired on the recommendation of the prime minister, and that they hold office at his pleasure. The prime minister also has the power to determine the committee chair, according to subsection 6 (1) of the Act.

Meanwhile, a federal minister has the power to refuse information requested by the committee under subsection 16 (1). Under subsection 8 (1) (b), federal ministers can also block the committees review of any matter that they consider injurious to national security.

Its clearly the wrong committee to hold the government accountable for national security breaches. Its like the fox guarding the henhouse, Chong said.

He added that by sending these documents to the NSICOP, Hajdu violated two Canada-China committee orders, and one House order.

Several federal ministers whove testified before the Canada-China committee have denied connections between the shipment of viruses and the firing of the two Chinese scientists, but have not provided clear explanations as to how their removal has become an issue of national security.

Qiu had travelled several times to the Wuhan National Biosafety Laboratory, which is part of the WIV, between 2017 and 2018, including one trip to train Chinese scientists and technicians to operate in a level 4 lab, which is the highest bio-safety standard.
Brad West, mayor of Port Coquitlam, B.C., speaks at a rally protesting the Chinese Communist Party's efforts to wield influence in the province, on Sept. 25, 2019. (Tong Yu/The Epoch Times)

How the CCP and Its Engagement With Organized Crime Have Left Canada In Deep Trouble

Canada, and especially Vancouver, has become a global node of the Chinese Communist Partys efforts to infiltrate democratic societies, according to investigative journalist and author Sam Cooper.

Cooper, whose new book Wilful Blindness: How a Network of Narcos, Tycoons and CCP Agents Infiltrated the West was released in May, says the CCP pursues its goal through purchases of real estate, through efforts to get into technology companies in Western nations, through the usage of tycoons, industrialists that travel the world, playing baccarat.

In his book, Cooper reveals how the CCP has been making use of organized crime in Canada to control Chinese-Canadian communities, intimidate and silence dissidents, and cover up the spread of the CCP virus, the novel coronavirus that caused the global COVID-19 pandemic.

The book uncovers the CCPs link to criminal activity that has fuelled an opioid crisis as well as driven home prices so high as to be unaffordable for many, due to illegal cash proceeds being used to make major real estate investments especially in Vancouver and Toronto. It also exposes how in many cases there were indications that law enforcement officials hands were tied due to the wilful blindness of elite bureaucrats and politicians.

If I had a source from CSIS [the Canadian Security Intelligence Service] beside me in this interview, I believe they would say Canada is in deep trouble, Cooper said during an interview with The Epoch Times American Thought Leaders program.

CCPs United Front Toolbox

Cooper says Beijing has been using its United Front Work Department to achieve its goals overseas.

The organization consists of a network of political operations that the CCP uses to influence and control individuals, gather intelligence, and advance its interests in foreign countries. Cooper described it as being based on a racist ideology that seeks to control all ethnic Chinese people worldwide.

Cooper also found that since the earliest days of the CCPs rise to power in China, it has been employing violent gangs, crime bosses, and criminal organizationsnotably the Mafia-like Hong Kong triad societiesto further its agenda.

Before control of Hong Kong was transferred from Britain to China, Cooper said, Beijing sent emissaries to Hong Kong to tell the tycoons there: We know that youre doing business with heroin syndicates. Youre free to do your business, but as long as you work with us politically, you help us in our business, and you help us control populations.

Police detain people as they patrol the area after protesters called for a rally in Hong Kong on Sept. 6, 2020. (Dale De Lay Rey/AFP via Getty Images)

The United Front is a tool in the Partys attempts to use its friends against its enemies, to neutralize the middle, and to gain as many people on its side as possible, said Cooper.

There are speculations about the CCP co-opting triad thugs, he said. While its difficult to find proof, one example was seen in an incident during the 20192020 pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, when men in white shirts beat democracy protesters.

Its strongly suspected, if not proven, that those are triad thugs co-opted and used by the Party to fulfill the Partys political objectives, Cooper said.

Fentanyl and Social Control

When it comes to fentanyl, officials in both Canada and the United States have said that China is the main source of the drug flooding North America, fuelling an overdose crisis plaguing both countries.

Paramedics assist a man after administering the opioid-blocker Narcan to revive him from an overdose in Montgomery County, Ohio, on Aug. 3, 2017. (Benjamin Chasteen/The Epoch Times)

Cooper said the Canadian police know the CCP is capable of stopping the production of fentanyl precursors in China within a short time if it so wished, since it has full knowledge of the factory operations and its control is absolute in China. But rather than stopping the supply chains, it used them as bargaining chips with foreign countries.

In exchange for curbing the fentanyl inflow, Beijing tried to negotiate a deal with the RCMP to place Chinese police agents in Canada for the purpose of tracking allegedly corrupt fugitives under the CCPs so-called Operation Fox Hunt. The RCMP turned down this proposal, as it believes certain police liaisons may be linked to Chinese intelligence activities, including those that target overseas Chinese dissidents to stop their activism.

My book again shows cases where state actors in China are seen to be directing these drug trafficking organizations in Vancouver, intervening in gang conflicts between various Triads, Cooper said. So that is proof that someone very powerful in Beijing does control gangs, he noted, adding, I can say without a doubt that the influence of the Party comes over and above very high-level transnational gangs.

Drugs, Casinos, and Money Laundering

Cooper says that the rich tycoons and other actors used by the CCP are not just entertaining themselves but also exporting significant capital. Each citizen in communist China has a strict export limit of US$50,000 per year. Wealthy industrialists wanting to move larger sums out of China would, for example, put down a credit in a Chinese bank, then strike a deal with triads to get the cash out in casinos in Macau, and then the money would be free to go abroad.

The River Rock casino in Vancouver. (Darryl Brooks/Shutterstock)

This model has now been transplanted into Canada, particularly Vancouver, and Toronto as well, where drug trafficking organizations have to find a way to stash away the warehouses of $20 bills theyve raked in, Cooper said. The easiest way is to hire loan sharks to launder that money in casinos, he added.

On the surface, the money transacted in casinos looks like its provided by loan sharks for high rollers to gamble, but it could actually include revenues from a drug transaction or funds for political influence operations in Canada.

They provide these $20 bills$10,000 bundles wrapped in elastic bands in the manner of street drug trafficking. The VIP gamblers go to the casino cash cage. They get their chips, which have values of up to $5,000. They gamble, and they can receive  a casino cheque that the money laundering can flow from, Cooper said.

You can see how quickly you can get a down payment if you have a cheque for $500,000 to buy a home, or simply the $20 are exchanged for clean $100 bills wrapped to Canadian banking standards. And that is just the most simple and apparent way that these volumes of $20 bills are reduced to bankable $100.

The B.C. provincial governments Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch, along with the B.C. Lottery Corporation, oversees the operation of legal casinos. However, Cooper said these regulators for years did not report suspicious transactions as they should.

B.C.s government knew these transactions were occurring. They knew the loan sharks were drug traffickers. They knew of all the crime connected, the human trafficking, the prostitution, murders, extortion, and they didnt stop it. Thats the scandal, Cooper said.

The government hired lawyer and former RCMP deputy commissioner Peter German to investigate the money-laundering allegations in B.C.s casinos. When German released his report in 2018, B.C. Attorney General David Eby commented that the German found they [the government] didnt effectively detect, prevent or prosecute itthey turned a blind eye to it.

The B.C. government announced in May 2019 that it would launch a public inquirythe Cullen Commissioninto money laundering in the province.

In response to The Epoch Times request for comment, a B.C. government official, asking to be identified only as a ministry spokesperson, stated that the current government, which took office in 2017, acted quickly to disrupt financial crimes and that its probably best to ask directly those involved at that time concerning Coopers investigation.

Of the 48 recommendations German provided in his report, roughly 80 percent has been addressed, the ministry spokesperson told The Epoch Times.

PPE Stockpiling and Pandemic Coverup

As a member of the national investigations team with Global News, Cooper produced a widely circulated article in April 2020 for the news site on Chinas PPE (personal protective equipment) stockpiling operation. In the article, he said that in mid-January 2020, when the CCP virus was raging in China, the Chinese consulates in Canada and worldwide issued orders directing local United Front leaders to urge millions of overseas Chinese to bulk-purchase N95 masks and ship them to mainland China.

Staff members and volunteers transfer medical supplies at a warehouse in Wuhan on Feb. 4, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

Citing Chinese government data, Cooper wrote that in just six weeks, Beijing imported 2.5 billion pieces of PPE, including over two billion safety masks.

They knew how serious the pandemic was. They covered it up. The rest of the world was in the dark while they gathered this PPE around the world, Cooper said.

Cooper also discovered that the leaders of these United Front organizations had connections with the suspects in the Vancouver money-laundering ring. One alleged central figure is Paul King Jin. Reports (pdf) submitted to the Cullen Commission, as well as testimonies before the commission, alleged that Jin was involved in the Vancouver model money-laundering operations to benefit wealthy Chinese nationals who are trying to transfer money to Canada from China.

Cooper says that Jin was also involved in the PPE stockpiling operation. In November 2020, Cooper obtained an official Chinese state reportwhich had been filed by the Shandong Overseas Chinese Assembly Hall in February 2020stating that the Shandong organization had received another batch of donated goods from the Canada Shandong Chinese Business Association. Moreover, the report stated that Mr. Paul King Jin of the [Canada] World Champion Club enthusiastically donated CAD $20,000.

The Shandong Overseas China Assembly Halls website states that it is a branch of the Shandong United Front.

Mr. Jins sources of income allegedly come from loan sharking, large-scale money laundering.  The allegations are, hes connected to what the police called the fentanyl kingpins. This is serious organized crime, Cooper said.

The Epoch Times attempted to obtain comments from Jin and his lawyer but did not receive a response. Jin has denied wrongdoing in the past.

Follow the Big Money

Cooper quotes former Canadian ambassador to China David Mulroney as calling Canada a very sleepy and naive target with respect to United Front infiltration, Chinese espionage, and the use of organized crime to go after Canadian politicians, tech companies, and real estate. Former CSIS director Richard Fadden also warned Canadians about the level of compromise in B.C. politics in 2010.

Cooper said his own investigative journey followed what he called a cardinal rule of good journalism, which is to follow the big money, follow the big players, [who] are so prolific that they will be involved in many different activities.

The threat is clear and considerable, and I hope that this book leads to inquiries that get deeper into the facts and evidence, Cooper said of his book.
A cashier uses a credit card reader to charge a credit card from a customer for payment in a file photo. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

How Major Credit Card Networks Protect Customers Against Fraud

By Tim Maxwell

From Bankrate.com

Credit card fraud ranked as the second most common form of identity theft in 2020, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), trailing very close behind government/benefits fraud. The agency fielded 393,207 reports last year, up 45 percent from 271,823 in 2019, from consumers whose credit card accounts were compromised or who had new lines of credit opened in their name.

While statistics like these may fuel consumer fear of credit card fraud, cardholders can take comfort in the fact that the major credit card networksVisa, MasterCard, American Express and Discoveroffer $0 liability protection. That means you wont be on the hook for purchases you didnt make if youre a victim of credit card fraud.

Consumers can also be assured their banks or credit card issuers are improving security measures as well. Since banks and credit card issuers absorb much of the financial liability of credit card fraud, they have a vested interest in preventing fraud before it happens. Consequently, theyre beefing up their security networks to combat credit card fraud head-on.

No matter which network your card relies on, you can be reasonably assured that its safe, with loads of security built-in. Not to mention, your card issuer will likely shore up any security gaps through their own fraud prevention measures.

Lets take a look at what credit card networks do, how they are working to fight against credit card fraud and how you can help protect yourself against fraud.

What Are Credit Card Networks?

A credit card network is the infrastructure that works behind the scenes to process credit card transactions. When you use a credit card to make a purchase, its the credit card network that works in the background to help the store accept your payment and collect the funds from your card issuer, who then bills you for the charge.

There are four major credit card networks: Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover. Visa and Mastercard dont issue credit cards directly to consumers. Instead, they work with banks, credit unions and other financial institutions that distribute the cards to consumers. When you pay your credit card bill, you pay your card issuer, like Chase or Bank of America, not Visa or Mastercard.

By contrast, American Express and Discover are credit card networks that also act as card issuers. These two companies generallybut not exclusivelyissue cards directly without using a third party.

Visa

The Visa credit card network uses what they call Visa Advanced Authorization to fight fraudsters looking to make purchases in your name. This anti-fraud detection system uses artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to analyze hundreds of pieces of data for risk whenever a transaction takes place.

Here is a small sampling of the many risk attributes Visa Advanced Authorization seeks to identify in roughly a millisecond:

Type of transaction: Mobile, online, contactless, chip or magnetic stripe

Geo-location: Is your phone pinging in one location while your account is being used for a transaction in another area?

Spending history: Is the transaction in line with the cardholders spending patterns?

Unusual circumstances: Is a transaction occurring at an odd time of day for a significant amount of money?

After analyzing all available data, the system produces a risk score that indicates the likely probability of frauda risk score of one represents the least risk, while a score of 99 indicates the most risk.

The Visa network sends the risk score to the cardholders financial institution, which decides whether or not to approve the transaction.

According to Visa, their authorization system is so effective in spotting suspicious transactions that their global fraud rateless than 0.1 percentis now two-thirds less than it was two decades ago. The sharp decline is impressive because transaction volume has gone up over 1,000 percent during the same time frame.

Mastercard

Like Visa, Mastercard prioritizes identity verification in combating credit card fraud. The companys centerpiece for authentication is the Mastercard Identity Check program, which uses their EMV 3D-Secure 2.0 technology. EMV 3D-Secure is an industry-standard for helping merchants and card issuers authenticate card-not-present transactions.

The programs primary purpose is to help merchants and their banks assess risks and ensure legitimate transactions in real-time. Through AI and machine learning, the system checks over 150 transaction variables to help an issuer make an informative decision to approve or deny a transaction.

The variables Identity Check includes demonstrate just how far user authentication has come. Identity Check looks at screen brightness, user gestures, transaction history, and insights from the merchant and the card issuer to authenticate a payment.

If the transaction requires additional authentication to protect the buyer, Identity Check may employ biometricsfingerprint or facial recognitionor a single-use password.

Mastercard, like the other credit card networks, also uses an EMV chip and secure tokenization system. An EMV chip is the square metallic chip on the front of your credit cards and debit cards. The chip reduces fraud by providing a unique code each time you make a purchase. Since the security code is unique for every purchase, its much harder for a thief to use the card to commit fraud.

EMV compliance law, enacted in October 2015, requests all U.S. merchants to update their payment systems to accept EMV cards, or they may be potentially liable for credit card fraud that originates at their business.

Until recently, Mastercard required cardholders to keep their account in good standing to enjoy $0 liability coverage for purchases made on its network. Thankfully, the company has removed that restriction and now offers cardholders complete protection. Note that most card issuers require cardholders to notify them within 30 days when fraud occurs in order to receive $0 liability protection.

American Express

American Express also uses a multi-layered approach to protect consumers from fraud.

The company uses EMV chips on their chip and pin cards to provide a one-time encrypted code to verify your account information instantly. Thieves cannot make a counterfeit copy of your card since a unique code is generated each time you insert your card.

Card identification numbers (CIDs) are credit card security codes that add another layer of security. Your CID consists of four digits printed above your account number on the face of your American Express card. Even if a thief has your credit card number, they wont be able to authorize online or other card-not-present transactions without the CID.

According to American Express, their network facilitates $1.2 trillion in transaction value each year. To facilitate safe transactions, they use fraud protection that analyzes numerous variables for risk in real-time.

As both a credit card network and issuer, American Express directly provides payment services to cardholders and merchants. With few exceptions, they do not use third-party banks like other card issuers, which means they have more access to essential data to help them identify and prevent questionable transactions.

Discover

Like the other three credit card networks, Discovers network uses EMV chip tokenization, CIDs and AI-powered user authentication analysis to ensure transactions are coming from the account holder.

Recognizing that fraudsters are migrating to card-not-present transactions, due in part to the positive impact EMV technology is making in the card-present space, Discover is focusing its efforts on online credit card transaction security.

Discovers primary weapon against fraudulent credit card activity online is ProtectBuy, which the company describes as a Three Domain Secure (3DS) customer authentication solution. With Three Domain authentication, the merchant, network and issuer join together in a secure pipeline to validate a purchasers identity during an online transaction.

Early on, real-time risk authentication would challenge many transactions unnecessarily, leading to shopping cart abandonment while irritating consumers. Discover says they only challenge transactions with the strongest risk signals.

When a transaction warrants extra security measures, Discover texts or emails a one-time password to the cardholder. The customer can then enter the password in the ProtectBuy pop-up on the merchants page without entering login information or answering security questions.

Merchants that accept Discover are not required to enroll in ProtectBuy. Still, Discover encourages them to employ the feature to reduce card-not-present fraud risk and chargebacks.

How to Protect Yourself Against Credit Card Fraud

The methods criminals use to perpetrate credit card fraud and steal your personal information are ever-evolving. Protect your sensitive data, such as credit card numbers, account login information and your Social Security number, by taking these preventive measures:

Browse securely: Before you initiate an online purchase, look for https in the web address to verify your browser connection is secure and encrypted.

Avoid open networks: Never submit sensitive information while using a public Wi-Fi network that doesnt use passwords. Open networks give thieves easy access to monitor and steal your private data.

Consider using virtual credit cards for card-not-present purchases: A virtual credit card number is a unique one-time credit card number associated with your account but is different from the number printed on your card. Virtual credit cards provide a secure way to pay for purchases online or over the phone while safeguarding your physical credit cards information. Visa, Mastercard and American express offer virtual credit card numbers, but Discover discontinued this benefit in favor of $0 liability protection and a credit freeze feature.

Be skeptical: Exercise caution whenever a person or business asks you for personal information via email, text, phone, or instant messaging. The financial institutions and government agencies you deal with already know your account numbers and personal data and are unlikely to ask for them.

Review your financial documents: Its also a good habit to review your credit reports and account statements regularly to spot any unauthorized purchases and report credit card fraud if necessary.

2021 Bankrate.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Hungary Donates State-Owned Land to Planned Chinese University

BUDAPESTHungarys parliament approved a government proposal on Tuesday to donate state-owned land to a planned Chinese university in Budapest, despite opposition criticism and a recent protest that accused the government of cosying up to Beijing.

Opponents of nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban fear the planned $2 billion campus could undermine the quality of higher education and help Beijing increase its influence in Hungary and the European Union.

Orbans government argues that the school could help attract new research and development centres and new investments to Hungary, a central European country of 10 million people, which relies heavily on foreign investment to drive economic growth.

Lawmakers of Orbans ruling Fidesz voted overwhelmingly to donate four plots on the banks of the Danube River to a foundation in charge of the planned campus of Shanghai-based Fudan University, displacing a planned local student housing area.

The law says the government must present the final plans of the project, including its costs, to parliament by the end of 2022, after the next election in April. The issue would be then put to a referendum, Orban said last week.

Demonstrators protest against the planned Chinese Fudan University campus in Budapest, Hungary, on June 5, 2021. (Bernadett Szabo/Reuters)

However, Budapest mayor Gergely Karacsony, who is vying to become Orbans opposition challenger next year, is seeking a referendum on the campus before the election.

The citizens of Budapest have had their say about the governments plans: 96 percent do not want a Chinese communist university in place of the (local student housing area), Karacsony said in a Facebook post on Monday.

Last week Orbanwho forced the liberal Central European University, founded by financier George Soros, to move to Vienna in 2019dismissed criticism that the campus would help Beijing increase its influence in Hungary.

All such countries, including China or Vietnam, kick off each international meeting by assuring us that they are only seeking pragmatic cooperation and do not want to enforce their ideological stance on us, Orban told a news conference.

Orbans liberal opponents accuse him of cosying up to China, Russia, and other illiberal governments, while angering European allies by curbing the independence of the judiciary and media.
Italy's Prime minister Mario Draghi arrives at Cornwall Airport Newquay, near Newquay, Cornwall, for the G7 summit, on June 11, 2021. (STEFAN ROUSSEAU/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Italy Carefully Reevaluates Its Participation in Chinas Belt and Road Initiative

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi said at the Group of Seven (G-7) summit that Italy is reassessing Chinas investments in the country carefully, shifting away from the pro-Beijing policies of the previous government.

During the summit, Draghi expressed concern about the Chinese Communist regime.

Its an autocracy that does not adhere to multilateral rules and does not share the same vision of the world that the democracies have, he said at a press conference during the G-7 summit on June 13.

While the newcomer of the G-7 admitted the importance of economic cooperation, Draghi noted the difference between the Chinese regime and the West.

We also need to be frank about the things that we do not share and do not accept. The U.S. president said that silence is complicity, he said.

When asked about Italys participation in Beijings controversial Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Draghi hinted that the Chinese investment initiative would be reevaluated by Italian officials.

Regarding that specific agreement, we will assess it carefully, he said.

The BRI is a multi-trillion-dollar infrastructure plan that seeks to boost the regimes influence through global trade links and infrastructure-based development projects that have pressured participating countries to take on high debt burdens.

Italy endorsed the G-7s new global infrastructure initiative, called Build Back Better World, or B3W, a rival to the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) growing influence through the BRI in the developing world. The more than $40 trillion plan will invest in ports, roads, and other infrastructure in low- and middle-income countries worldwide.

Italy was the first G-7 country to join Chinese leader Xi Jinpings signature BRI, against the advice of the United States and other G-7 members. Former Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte signed a BRI memorandum during Xis state visit in March 2019.

The Draghi government is taking precautionary measures in dealing with China. In March 2021, the prime minister signed a decree to stop the Italian telecommunications firm Fastweb from contracting with Huawei and ZTE, companies with ties to the Chinese military.

The White House said on June 12 that Draghi agreed to work with Biden on global challenges, and the two countries shared foreign policy priorities, including China, Russia, and Libya during the meeting at the end of the G-7 summit.

In Sundays communique, the members of the G-7the United States, Canada, Britain, Germany, Italy, France, and Japancalled on the Chinese regime to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms in Xinjiang and Hong Kong, to cooperate with a probe into the origin of the COVID-19, and vowed to deter Beijings non-market policies and practices.

More EU countries have been reexamining their relationship with China, which has recently led the European Parliament to freeze a pending trade deal with Beijing after seven years of negotiations between the two parties.
Massachusetts School District Encourages Students to Report Peers, Teachers for Bias Incidents

A public school district in Massachusetts is encouraging its students and staff to report on one another for incidents of bias, according to newly uncovered documents.

The documents include Wellesley Public Schools (WPS) guidelines (pdf) on how to handle complaints of bias among students and staff, and slides from a mandatory equity protocols training course. They were obtained and released by Parents Defending Education (PDE), which describes itself as a grassroots organization working to reclaim schools from activists promoting harmful agendas.

According to Wellesleys Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, a bias incident is any conduct, speech or expression that has an impact but may not involve criminal action, but demonstrates conscious or unconscious bias against any federally protected identity group, i.e., race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion, or disability.

Students are encouraged to report incidents of discrimination or any concerning pattern of biased behavior to any district staff member or a trusted adult. Reports may be also be made anonymously online, according to the policy, although it notes that anonymous reports are more difficult to investigate and respond to.

The equity protocols training slides give examples of microaggressions, including telling a colleague Youre so articulate, saying The way youve overcome your disability is so inspiring!, mispronouncing someones name, or referring to the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, which causes the COVID-19 disease, as the China virus.

The slides also teach that telling rude jokes on social media is an example of a bias-based incident, as are using slurs, imitating someone with a disability, or imitating someones cultural norms or language. Those incidents should be reported even if they happen off-campus, according to the protocol, as long as they impact the school or work environment.

Students, staff, and even community members may face punishment if they violate the guidelines. Potential discipline for students include detention and suspension, while staff members would undergo a process of formal warnings and reprimands, suspension, or more serious consequences. Non-staff adult community members may be sanctioned by limiting or ending their participation in WPS community activities or ending their ability to be on WPS premises.

Nicole Neily, the president and founder of PDE, warned in an op-ed that anti-bias policies in public schools are being weaponized against constitutionally protected discussion on potentially controversial topics.

Students absorb more in school than simply lesson plans; theyre also learning how to interact with individuals who come from different backgrounds and viewpoints, Neily wrote. Bias response teams send a clear message not only that certain opinions are wrong but that the correct coping method, when confronted with such a situation, is to go tell the grownups.'
McCarthy: If GOP Flips House, Republicans Will Boot Omar From Foreign Affairs Panel

Republicans will kick Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) off the House Foreign Affairs Committee if the GOP regains control of the lower chamber in the 2022 midterm elections, according to House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.).

I will promise you this, McCarthy said on Fox & Friends on Tuesday. If we are fortunate enough to have the majority, Omar would not be serving on Foreign Affairs, or anybody that has an anti-Semitic, anti-American view. That is not productive and that is not right.

Republicans, and some Democrats, became upset after Omar equated the United States and Israel with designated terror groups.

We must have the same level of accountability and justice for all victims of crimes against humanity. We have seen unthinkable atrocities committed by the U.S., Hamas, Israel, Afghanistan, and the Taliban, Omar wrote in a recent tweet.

Under pressure from colleagues, Omar later issued a statement she described as clarifying her previous remarks. I was in no way equating terrorist organizations with democratic countries with well-established judicial systems, she said.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said the statement was sufficient and no action would be taken against Omar.

Congresswoman Omar is a valued member of our caucus. She asked her questions of the secretary of state. Nobody criticized those, about how people will be held accountable if were not going to the International Court of Justice. That was a very legitimate question. That was not of concern. Members did become concerned when the tweet that was put out equated the United States with the Taliban and Hamas, Pelosi said on CNNs State of the Union on Sunday.

But what Im saying is end of subject. She clarified. We thanked her. End of subject, she added later.

McCarthy expressed disbelief that Pelosi said Omar was not rebuked by top Democrats for her remarks.

I think Nancy Pelosi should remove Omar from the Foreign Affairs Committee. This is an individual that has not once but on numerous occasions been anti-Semitic. Her own entire Congress had to rebuke her in the last one. But shes just not anti-Semitic, shes anti-American now. Shes equating America to Taliban, to Hamas. Shes discrediting our greatest ally in the Middle East, Israel, the only democracy, he said.

But the Democratic party and the leader of that party, the speaker, said on her Sunday show that she did not rebuke her, she thanked her. So the Democrats believe this message? That is whats in doubt for me, he added, before promising the GOP would strip Omar of the Foreign Affairs assignment if Republicans flip the lower chamber.

Republicans recently saw Democrats strip Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) of all of her committee assignments over comments Greene made before entering office in January.

Eleven Republicans joined Democrats in the vote, though Democrats could have approved the resolution with no GOP support. Democrats currently have an eight-vote majority in the House.
Nadler Announces House Probe Into DOJs Data Seizures From Lawmakers and Journalists

House Judiciary Committee chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) said Monday that the panel will launch an investigation into the Department of Justices (DOJ) use of secret subpoenas to obtain data on members of Congress and journalists under the Trump administration.

Nadler said in a June 14 statement that, recent reports suggest that, during the Trump Administration, the Department of Justice used criminal investigations as a pretext to spy on President Trumps perceived political enemies.

Announcement of the probe comes after The New York Times reported last week that DOJ officials had issued subpoenas to Apple for information on accounts belonging to House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), along with their aides and family members, in a bid to identify sources of classified information leaks. The data handed over by Apple, as well as other evidence, did not establish any links between these individuals and the leaks, according to the report.

Former Trump-era attorneys general Jeff Sessions and William Barr, as well as former Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, have denied knowledge of the DOJ subpoenas, according to The Hill.

Earlier, The New York Times reported on the existence of a gag order that prevented the publication from revealing a court battle over efforts to obtain the email records of four of its reporters. That disclosure was soon followed by the DOJ pledging to stop using court orders to obtain reporters records as part of leak probes, marking a policy shift away from an investigative tactic used across both Democrat and Republican administrations.

While Nadler acknowledged the possibility that the subpoenas were not part of a broader pattern, he called for lawmakers to pass laws that would make it harder to conduct surveillance on members of Congress and reporters.

It remains possible that these caseswhich now include Members of Congress, members of the press, and President Trumps own White House Counselare isolated incidents, Nadler said in the statement. Even if these reports are completely unrelated, they raise serious constitutional and separation of power concerns. Congress must make it extraordinarily difficult, if not impossible, for the Department to spy on the Congress or the news media.

In separate moves, the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday launched a probe into the subpoenas, and on Friday, Inspector General Michael Horowitz said he had directed his office to launch a review into the matter and to determine whether decisions on subpoenas were driven by improper considerations. Also, Attorney General Merrick Garland said on Monday that the DOJ would be tightening its policies and procedures for obtaining records of U.S. lawmakers.
Researchers at the UW Medicine Retrovirology Research Lab at Harborview Medical Center work on samples from the Novavax phase 3 Covid-19 clinical vaccine trial in Seattle, Washington on Feb. 12, 2021. (Karen Ducey/Getty Images)

Novavax Says Could Offer COVID-19 Vaccine Together With Flu Shot for Boosters

Novavax on Monday said that co-administering its protein-based COVID-19 vaccine with an approved flu shot may be a viable immunization strategy in the future, based on preliminary findings from a recent study.

The American biotech firm made the announcement on Monday based on data from the first co-administration study of a COVID-19 vaccine candidate and an approved influenza vaccine.

Novavax said that as part of its Phase 3 clinical trials of its recombinant nanoparticle protein-based COVID-19 vaccine candidate, all 431 U.K. volunteers received an approved seasonal influenza vaccine. Roughly half the participants were co-vaccinated with the companys COVID-19 vaccine while the remainder received placebo.

Its the first clinical study to evaluate safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of a COVID-19 vaccine when co-administered with a seasonal influenza vaccine.

The study demonstrated that vaccine efficacy appeared to be preserved in those receiving both vaccines compared to those vaccinated with NVX-CoV2373 alone, the company said in a statement. Vaccine efficacy was reported at 87.5 percent compared to 89.8 percent in the main study.

The findings suggest simultaneous vaccination may be a viable immunization strategy, the company added.

The announcement came hours after the Maryland-based biotech company announced that its COVID-19 vaccine was more than 90 percent effective, including against a variety of concerning variants of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus in a large, late-stage U.S.-based clinical trial.

The protein-based vaccine was more than 93 percent effective against the more common and easily transmissible CCP virus variants that have caused concern among scientists and public health officials, Novavax said.

The company said it intends to file for emergency authorization in the United States and elsewhere in the third quarter of the year.

Protein-based vaccines are a conventional approach that use purified pieces of the virus to spur an immune response, as is the case with whooping cough and shingles vaccines.

Dr. Gregory Glenn, Novavaxs head of research and development, said in a statement that the results of the co-administration study demonstrate the promising opportunity for concomitant vaccination, which may improve the uptake of both vaccines.

As the next influenza season approaches and people still need a primary COVID-19 vaccine series or a booster, separate healthcare visits to cover both COVID-19 and influenza vaccinations will be burdensome, Glenn said.

Novavax said there were no early additional safety concerns that the company was aware of associated with co-administration of two vaccines despite the COVID-19 vaccine only having emergency authorization and not full FDA approval.

U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Director Dr. Anthony Fauci said last month that Americans vaccinated against COVID-19 will most likely need a booster shot at some point in the future to guarantee continued protection but that the timing remains unclear.

I dont anticipate that the durability of the vaccine protection is going to be infiniteits just not. So I imagine we will need, at some time, a booster. What were figuring out right now is what that interval is going to be, Fauci said during a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee hearing while testifying about the state of medical research and the NIH budget for fiscal year 2022.

Fauci said that a possible timeline for a booster is being studied by public health experts.

We know from studies following people from the original clinical trials that the protection goes out at least six months and likely a year, he said. I believe we will need a booster. Im not exactly sure when.

Reuters contributed to this report.
NSW to Fast-Track Professionals Into a Teaching Career

Mid-career professionals looking for a career change will find it easier and faster to switch to teaching as the New South Wales government tries to address the growing teacher shortage crisis.

The best and brightest from other professions must be encouraged to become teachers, and right now, there are too many barriers to entry. We are tearing down these unnecessary barriers to entry.

We have incredible teachers in our system already, enjoying fulfilling careers. We are now saying to people outside the profession that you too can be a successful teacher with a rewarding career, and we want you, NSW Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said in the announcement.

Mitchell noted that the new pathways were for experienced professionals in relevant subject areas or those with prior teaching experience in the higher education system.

A report in April found that NSW needed at least an additional 11,000 teachers, not counting existing teacher shortages, to meet the rising number of enrolments in schools. STEM and special education teachers are particularly sort after.

The education overhaul will introduce more flexible and shorter degrees for professionals and experts, depending on their existing knowledge and teaching experience. Professionals can find themselves in a classroom with a salary in as little as six months, depending on teaching experience.

Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning Sarah Mitchell talks to the media at a press conference on May 11, 2020, in Sydney, Australia. (Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the new scheme was in line with recommendations in the NSW Productivity Commissions White Paper, which found that teacher quality can boost productivity.

Were always looking for better ways of working to give our kids a brighter future, and ultimately the whole state benefits from that, Perrottet said. When we create opportunities for passionate and talented people to become teachers, were creating opportunity for our kids.

However, the NSW Teachers Federation (NSWTF) believes that no fast-track program or incentive scheme would address the existing shortages nor help employ the estimated 11,000 additional teachers required in the next decade.

Lifting the appeal of the profession by reducing workloads and significantly increasing salaries is the way to stop the shortages, not lowering standards and looking for quick fixes that dont exist, NSWTF President Angelo Gavrielatos told The Epoch Times.

Gavrielatos referred to the Gallop inquiry, which investigated the nature of a teachers work, and why fixing wages and workload problems was core to solving the shortage issue.

The Gallop inquiry warned that the current government stance on public wages undermines the standing and attractiveness of the teaching profession and that without a significant increase, the state would not be able to address teacher shortages.

Uncompetitive salaries and unsustainable workloads are making it impossible to recruit and retain the best people in teaching. The workloads of teachers have increased every year, but their salaries have fallen every year in comparison with other professions, Gavrielatos said.
Signs reminding people of social distance and wearing face masks remain at a mall in Monterey Park, Calif., on June 14, 2021. (FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)

Owner of Over 100 US Malls Files for Bankruptcy

Washington Prime Group, which owns more than 100 U.S. shopping centers and enclosed malls, has filed for bankruptcy protection, citing financial woes tied to the CCP virus pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created significant challenges for many companies, including Washington Prime Group, making a Chapter 11 filing necessary to reduce the Companys outstanding indebtedness, the Columbus, Ohio-based company said in a statement. Throughout the restructuring process, the Company remains committed to serving as a preeminent operator of retail town centers and will continue to serve its guests.

The real estate investment trust filed paperwork in federal court on June 13, court documents (pdf) show. In announcing its filing, the company said it secured $100 million in debtor-in-possession financing that will allow the company to remain in business while it restructures its debt and seeks a route to fully repay creditors.

Washington Prime Group (WPG), which was formed in May 2014 following a spinoff from Simon Property Group, owns interests in 104 malls containing 56 million square feet of leasable retail space as of Dec. 31, 2019.

The Companys financial restructuring will enable WPG to right-size its balance sheet and position the company for success going forward, Washington Prime Group CEO Lou Conforti said in a statement.

During the financial restructuring, we will continue to work toward maximizing the value of our assets and our operating infrastructure. The Company expects operations to continue in the ordinary course for the benefit of our guests, tenants, vendors, stakeholders, and colleagues.

WPG shares tumbled 30 percent on June 14. The companys share price has trended down over the course of more than four years from a per-share peak of $124.65 in August 2016. WPG reported losing more than $219 million amid the pandemic-related shutdowns in 2020, according to filings.

Last year, two other mall owners, CBL Properties and Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust, filed for bankruptcy, according to CNN. Both cited the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus, as well as shifting consumer habits, as reasons for their financial woes. The two firms owned roughly 130 malls.

Retail analysts with UBS had estimated that nearly 80,000 stores nationwide would shut down by 2025 as a result of the pandemic and shifting consumer habits.
Pennsylvania GOP Lawmakers Who Resist Election Audit Will Be Primaried, Trump Suggests

Former President Donald Trump suggested that he may support a primary challenge against at least one Pennsylvania Republican senator who he claimed is resisting election audits of the 2020 election.

In a statement on Monday, Trump named Pennsylvania GOP Sens. Jake Corman and David Argall.

Why is State Senator Jake Corman of Pennsylvania fighting so hard that there not be a Forensic Audit of the 2020 Presidential Election Scam? Corman is fighting as though he were a Radical Left Democrat, saying that a Forensic Audit of Pennsylvania not take place, Trump said. And the former president also asked: Why is Senator David Argall playing the same game? Are they stupid, corrupt, or naive? What is going on?

Its unclear why Argall was named by the former president as the senator previously announced he support[s] the call for an election audit.

For the last two weeks, I have said this many times: I support a forensic audit of PAs November 2020 elections. We are now investigating the details of how to do that, Argall said, according to his spokesperson in a comment to The Epoch Times on Tuesday when asked about Trumps statement.

On Monday, Trump further said that if Corman continues along this path of resistance, he will be primaried ostensibly by a candidate who is backed by the former president, and he will lose by big numbers.

What went on in Philadelphia and other areas of the State must be properly and legally exposed. If it is not, just like with open Borders, we wont have a Country anymore! Trump added.

Cormans office told The Epoch Times that the senator has no comment on Trumps claim he would be primaried and pointed to a recent report released by the states Special Committee on Election Integrity and Reform that would, according to the senator, strengthen Pennsylvanias election system.

Several Pennsylvania GOP lawmakers recently toured the audit of Arizonas Maricopa County earlier this month and expressed hope that a similar one would take place in Pennsylvania.

But state Rep. Seth Grove, a Republican who chairs the House State Government Committee, has categorically rejected the notion that an audit of his state is needed.

The PA House of Representatives will not be authorizing any further audits on any previous election, Grove wrote in a tweet on June 3. We are focused on fixing our broken election law to make it easier to vote and harder to cheat.

Groves tweet likely is in reference to a bill proposed by state Republicans that would allow for more stringent voter identification requirements and mail-ballot signature verification. The bill, among other measures, would eliminate the states permanent mail-in voting list, establish a new Bureau of Election Audit agency, and allow early in-person voting starting in 2025.

And rcently, a lengthy report from Wake Technology Services Inc. released after an election assessment of Pennsylvanias Fulton County uncovered five errors, including several that were linked to elections technology firm Dominion Voting Systems, after Wake TSI staffers visited the countys election offices in February. Dominion disputed some of the firms findings.

Trumps office has not responded to a request for comment.
A "Now Hiring" sign is placed on a cubicle wall in the office of the Los Angeles Police recruitment and employment division in Los Angeles, Calif., On Sept. 9, 2020. (Jae C. Hong/AP Photo)

Police Officer Retirements Skyrocket While Recruitment Slows

Law enforcement faces recruitment difficulties as retirements soar and anti-police sentiment rises in the wake of mass protests and calls to defund the police, the Associated Press reported.

Since the death of George Floyd by former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, crime has surged in Americas major cities amid Black Lives Matter protests and calls for racial reckoning in policing, the Associated Press reported.

Fewer people are entering the profession, while more are leaving through retirements and resignations, wrote Chuck Wexler the executive director for the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF). Police agencies are stretched thin, and violent crime is on the rise.

PERF research on almost 200 law enforcement agencies reported hiring slowed by 5 percent while retirements at some departments rose 45 percent compared to the previous year, the Associated Press reported.

Its hard to recruit the very people who see police as an opposition, said Lynda R. Williams, president of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, the Associated Press reported.

Big cities like New York and Philadelphia experience more difficulty recruiting than American suburbs. The Associated Press reported that departments now spend time delving into officer candidates social media in search of potential biases, while also battling record-high crime rates.

An increase in crime due to a thinly stretched force and declining recruitment isnt unique to Philadelphia. New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles have seen an increase in murder rates in 2020, according to data collected by the Philadelphia Tribune.

The past year of police reckoning has prompted lawmakers to cut budgets and reform policing and as a result, departments are looking for a different kind of recruit.

Days of old, you wanted someone who actually had the strength to be more physical, Atlanta Police Chief Rodney Bryant said, as reported by the Associated Press. Todays police officers, thats not what were looking for. Were looking for someone who can actually relate to the community but also think like the community thinks.

Wexler said the increased violence and lack of new officers pose a threat to policing and their communities.

Its creating a crisis on the horizon for police chiefs when they look at the resources they need, especially during a period when were seeing an increase in murders and shootings, Wexler said, the Associated Press reported. Its a wake-up call.

By Kendall Tietz

From The Daily Caller News Foundation
Pompeo Launches PAC to Help Elect Lawmakers Committed to Preserving Americas Founding Principles

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo launched a political action committee (PAC) on Tuesday which will work to support Republicans candidates for the 2022 election that are dedicated to conservative values upon which America was founded.

Pompeo told Politico that the mission of the organization, Champion American Values PAC, is to oppose the Biden administrations cultural and political agenda and regain majorities in both chambers of Congress.

It is unambiguously clear to me that if we dont get it right in the next 16 or 17 months, what will happen over these next four years will make it incredibly difficult for whoever is elected president in 2024. So that is my singular focus, Pompeo said.

Pompeo started as a cadet at West Point and then became an officer in the U.S. Army before going on to run two manufacturing businesses in Kansas. He then went on to represent Kansans in Congress and became CIA director before being appointed as the secretary of state under Trump.

I worked abroad to protect America from those who want to do us harm, Pompeo said in a written statement Tuesday. Today at home, our foundational ideas are under attack more than ever before, and I intend to stay in the fight.

Pompeo said he has plans to visit states like California and Iowa to fundraise and speak with conservative groups. Were going to go out, and weve started this already, but were going to go out and expand to a greater degree, helping candidates all across the country, Pompeo told Politico.

Since leaving his post in January Pompeo has been vocal about the shortcomings of the Biden administrations policies, at home and overseas, saying he was compelled to fight against the censorship of conservatives and policies that weaken Americas standing in the world.

Well, generically, when I hear the administration talk about taking America back, they are talking about back to what President Obama did for eight years, where America was weak, Pompeo said during an appearance on Fox News Sunday. We might have been likeda lot of people talk about how they are having this really fun time over at the G-7, everybody likes President [Joe] Bidenwhats important is not that they like America, but that they respect us, that we deliver good outcomes for the American people.

Pompeo also hit on the cultural issues that he is most concerned about and are seen by Republicans as crucial to winning primary voters, who care about the First Amendment and the founding principles enshrined in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

I get asked all the time, What keeps you up at night,' Pompeo said during a recent radio interview, adding that all the threats of terrorists overseas are not his chief concern.

None of that scares me as much as whats happening in our universities and on our campuses today. I watch whats taking place there and the inability for us to speak our mind, the fact that folks want to just put pressure on people who have a conservative mindset and just deny them the space to go speak, said Pompeo.

The fact that we now are accusing people, who are just saying things that are common sense about how to treat everyone equally and fairly, are being accused of being racist, he continued. Those are dangerous things in our democracy in our republic. They pose staggering risks, that if you cross that Rubicon, and we dont push back, if we dont fight for those values that we all care about ... if we lose those things, if we lose the bubble on those, you can send diplomats to 180 countries in the world and none of it will matter because if America is weak at home our capacity to influence the world is diminished.
Portlanders Struggle as Anti-Police Riots Continue Largely Unnoticed by Media

Communities and residents in Portland are still struggling as the anti-police riots continue without much coverage from the mainstream media.

Portlanders who spoke to The Epoch Times anonymously (to avoid woke retaliation) all agreed that violence is becoming worse and is unacceptable. There are brazen shootings and killings in broad daylight which did not happen before this past year, said a 44-year-old man who lives in a Portland suburb. The violence is no longer limited to nights or certain neighborhoods.

Some companies are having a hard time recruiting employees because people perceive Portland as a dangerous place and dont want to move here, said a 64-year-old woman who works in the information technology field. The violence and especially the perception of lawlessness have very much affected hiring.

Riots Continue Mostly Unnoticed

After 60 days of left-wing violence following the George Floyd killing, federal agents were sent to Portland, Oregon in early July 2020. In addition to the nightly vandalizing of the Mark O. Hatfield Federal Courthouse, rioters had blocked exits and started a fire at the Portland Police Bureaus East Precinct building, started other fires, and perpetrated looting and vandalism.

According to Jason Dunn, U.S. Attorney, District of Colorado in Portland there was widespread use of rocks, lasers, slingshots loaded with ball-bearings, explosives, and other methods to assault federal employees. There are also nightly attempts by rioters to storm federal buildings and destroy them.

Within two weeks of federal agent deployment after reports of arrest regularities, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler demanded that the agents leave the city or stay in your own [federal] buildings. Gov. Kate Brown echoed the sentiments. Members of Congress also demanded that federal agents withdraw from Portland in a letter to then-Attorney General Barr and Department of Homeland Security Acting Secretary Chad Wolf.

Almost all national coverage of the Portland riots ended when federal agents withdrew in 2020, but the violent unrest has continued unabated and often unreported. For example, while most left-wing activists welcomed the Biden inauguration, Portland activists unveiled signs that read WE DONT WANT BIDENWE WANT REVENGE and swarmed the U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement facility throwing rocks, bottles, and a pepper-like spray from paintball guns. At one point, the air was so thick with gas and smoke that it was difficult to see, reported Oregon Live. Demonstrators also smashed the windows of Oregons Democratic Party headquarters.

Less than three months later, after the killing of Daunte Wright, a black man shot by police in a Minneapolis suburb in April, rioters set the headquarters of the Portland Police Association on fire. The symbolic building had been boarded up from major destruction during the 2020 violence and the association moved in early June.

In April, protesters attempted to set up a Seattle-style autonomous zone and smashed the windows of Portland businesses, the Oregon Historical Society (which was already vandalized in 2020 on an Indigenous Day of Rage), and even the First Christian Church that feeds the homeless. The indiscriminate actions moved Acting Chief Chris Davis to remark in a Portland Police Bureau statement that our community has made it clear that it will not tolerate wanton violence and destruction.

There were even riots after the Derek Chauvin verdict, the police officer convicted of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter in the George Floyd casea ruling which most left-wing activists hailed. They smashed windows, including a Starbucks.

Who Are The Agitators?

Less than six percent of Portlands population is black and the violent activists widely appear to be young, white, and associated with Antifa and following their own agenda. Both moderate blacks and whites are afraid to speak out, Portlanders told The Epoch Times, because of the charged atmosphere in which dissent is demonized. The violent activists do not represent the feelings of the majority.

My black employees say, We want the police guarding our homes and that the violent protestors do not speak for them, said a downtown Portland employer who spoke to The Epoch Times on the condition of anonymity because of the Gestapo-like atmosphere that currently exists. Friends of mine who survived civil wars in Southeast Asia and other places are especially aghast at the brazen violence that is tolerated in Portland and how criminals are emboldened. They spend one night in jail and are bailed out the next day!

When asked why there seem to be few serious attempts to stop the violent demonstrators or unravel their funding, the employer said, there is no political will. The mayor, district attorney, and governor serve the people who are not affected by the violence because they live in a bubble. People who are brown, yellow, red, and black are the most injured by the violence which is ironic when you consider the demonstrators rhetoric.

Gregory McKelvey, a black civic leader in Portland, agreed that the violent protestors agenda diverges from that of the black community. Protesting every night or yelling in the face of police officers is an example of white privilege that would be off-limits to many others, he told the NY Times.

Aftermath of Defunding the Police Department

In June 2020, the Portland City Council, in response to anti-police activism, cut $18 million of the police budget, affecting units dedicated to schools, patrolling the public transit system, and investigating gun violence. The Epoch Times asked the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) whether the budget cuts combined with anti-police sentiment hamper law enforcement.

Certainly it has made it more difficult for members of the Bureau, Sergeant Kevin Allen told The Epoch Times. We believe the Youth Services Division (school resource officers) was a progressive program. Officers were a caring resource to students and frequently employed restorative justice principles to avoid arresting students. Likewise, we felt that having Portland officers in a dedicated Transit Police Department made the transit system safer. Our Traffic Division was dedicated to making our roads safer.

That said, we work for the community and we will be the agency that the community wants. Its difficult now because due to budgets and staffing issues, our officers spend a lot of time explaining why their responses were delayed or why they cant engage in an investigation into a crime. Even the low level crimes are important to the victim.

Brian Hunzeker, president of the Portland police union, indicted the cuts led to an increase in gun violence and slower police response times. I would say look at the data that is in front of you, he said to city leaders in January. You have reduced and taken away certain divisions of the police force that serve an integral role and you can see the data.

According to the National Police Support Fund, defunding the police can have immediate and dramatic effects on crime rates. Homicides in Minneapolis increased by 60 percent in 2020, says the fund, with many of the crimes left unsolved because there are fewer police detectives and other resources to work the cases.

Similarly, Atlantas police department investigated its highest number of homicides in 2020157, up from 99 in 2019.

Since the George Floyd killing, over 100 officers have left the police force, with most citing lack of support from local leaders and budget cuts for the reason for leaving in their exit interviews, KATU reported.

No question, morale is low at PPB, and were losing a lot of dedicated sworn personnel, Allen said. I think its fair to say the unrest and the stress it places on officers and their families is a major factor. Its a huge challenge. In 2020, the Bureau had 55 retirements and 29 resignations of sworn personnel. So far in 2021, there have been 20 retirements and 5 resignations. So since July 2020, we have had 75 retirements and 54 resignations of sworn personnel (129 total).

In June 2020, the Portland Police Bureau had 934 sworn members, compared with only 813 out of 916 sworn positions now filled, Allen said.

Local Politicians

Statements from Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler and even his career itself reflect the strange and contradictory times in the city. While nearly two-thirds of city voters viewed Wheeler negatively according to Fox News, he won reelection six months after the riots began, largely because his running opponent was seen as too extreme, said Portlanders who spoke to The Epoch Times. His opponent, Sarah Iannarone, an urban policy consultant, actually joined anti-police street protesters and encouraged violence. Peaceful protests, in my opinion, might not necessarily be moving the conversation forward, she declared.

Wheeler denounced federal agents sent to Portland by President Donald Trump in July 2020 but also said of protestors who started a fire at the Portland Police Bureaus East Precinct building in August, When you commit arson with an accelerant in an attempt to burn down a building that is occupied by people who you have intentionally trapped inside, you are not demonstrating, you are attempting to commit murder. Later that month demonstrators stormed Wheelers personal residence and set fires, angry over his lack of police reform actions.

In August 2020, Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt angered many when he announced that his office would not prosecute riot-related charges like interfering with a peace officer, second-degree disorderly conduct, and first and second-degree criminal trespass. Yet in June 2021, his office began to charge suspected Antifa rioters, indicating a possible reversal in prosecution policies.

Already, a grand jury has indicted a man accused of injuring a Portland Police Bureau sergeant by shining a high-powered laser into his eye during a protesta tactic used by violent protestors. The laser was found in the mans back pocket and caused cardboard to burn when it was tested, said police. Many hope the prosecutions will curtail the violence and restore support for the Portland police.

We all got into this work to help people, and its difficult when we cannot do that, Allen said. We just try to concentrate on the times that we can help. Portland still has many dedicated public servants wearing our uniform working every day and night.
A hooded man holds a laptop computer as cyber code is projected on him in this illustration picture taken on May 13, 2017. (Kacper Pempel/Illustration/Reuters)

Ransomware Is the Most Significant Cyber Threat to Australians

Assistance Defence Minister Andrew Hastie has launched a new cybersecurity campaign to focus on ransomware after it became one of the most significant cyber threats that Australians and Australian businesses face in the past year.

Ransomware is where cybercriminals use malicious software to deny access to files and devices, then demand the victim to pay a ransom in return for access.

The Australian Signals Directorate has used, and will continue to use, its broad range of offensive cyber capabilities to disrupt and bring cybercriminal syndicates targeting Australia to their knees, Hastie said. Offensive cyber is just one of the tools in Australias toolkit.

Hastie encourages all individuals and businesses affected by ransomware attacks to report their incidents to the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC), which uses the information to learn, warn, and protect others from attacks.

The ACSC provides vital advice and assistance to defend Australian businesses and individuals against ransomware and brings together the Australian Signals Directorates intelligence, offensive cyber and cybersecurity capabilities to defend Australias interests from malicious cyber actors.

The ACSC takes the information it learns from cyberattacks against Australian businesses and uses it to warn and protect further Australian organisations from being targeted, Hastie said.

Assistant Defence Minister Andrew Hastie addresses media as Defence Minister Peter Dutton looks on in front of the Subiaco War Memorial in Perth, Australia on April 19, 2021. (AAP Image/Richard Wainwright)

Last financial year, the ACSC found that a cybercrime had been reported every ten minutes approximately. The most common cybercrime reported was fraud.

While the numbers show that fraud is the most common category, the ACSC assesses ransomware as the highest threat, ACSC said in its report (pdf). This assessment is based on the fact that ransomware requires minimal technical expertise, is low cost, and can result in significant impact to an organisation, potentially crippling core business functions.

ACSC recommends that you do not pay the ransom if you are a victim of such an attack because there is no guarantee that paying up would fix the problems.

The warnings from Hastie and the ACSC comes weeks after meatworks giant JBS suffered a major cyberattack that left workers out of pocket and shut down operations globally.

In the case of the attack against JBS, the CEO Andre Nogueira announced on June 9 that they had paid the equivalent of $11 million in ransom to the criminals.

This was a very difficult decision to make for our company and for me personally, he said. However, we felt this decision had to be made to prevent any potential risk for our customers.

Nogueira said the FBI had called the group behind the attack one of the most specialized and sophisticated cybercriminal groups in the world.

It is speculated that a Russian-based hacking group is behind the incident.

Hastie recommends that businesses, no matter how large or small, need to implement protective measures to make it more difficult for cybercriminals to harm them.

Prevention is better than cure, and with cybersecurity, the best offence is often a strong defence, Hastie said.
Recent Attacks on the Christian Foundations of Australias Institutions

Commentary

One of the most peculiar characteristics of contemporary Australia is that opponents of religious expression often assume that Christian beliefs are irremediably divisive, bigoted, and irrational. As a result, Christian people and organisations can now be sued for merely living by their traditional religious beliefs.

Even Christian schools may not be allowed to teach students according to traditional values on matters of gender and sexuality.

The choice of the nations ruling elites to supposedly defend self-identifying victim groups has produced an undesirable confrontation between existing groups, where each group tends to deny having any obligation to the values of other groups.

This is certainly not about real diversity, but rather about government control and regulation through division and separation along the lines of religion, ethnicity and so forth.

It is simply the re-application of the Ancient Roman strategy of divide-and-conquer to destabilise rival civilisations by turning people against one another and, ultimately, turning everyone towards an all-encompassing, all-inclusive government.

As for Christianity, hostility towards its beliefs has been on a steady upward trajectory over the years. As noted by Michael Quinlan, professor and dean of law at the University of Notre Dame, Australia, Some consider that even discussing the traditional Christian position on, for example, sexual morality, abortion, euthanasia or marriage, is hateful, bigoted and offensive.

Protester Joe Mitchell, 83, holds banners against the church as he drove more than 1,000 kilometres (600 miles) from his home in Newcastle, New South Wales state, to the Victoria state Court of Appeal in Melbourne, Australia, on June 5, 2019. (AP Photo/Rod McGuirk)

According to Michael Sexton SC, the Solicitor-General of New South Wales since 1998, the nations political establishment and intellectual elites are effectively waging a war on everything that might be considered even remotely based on the traditional tenets of Christianity.

These zealous beliefs include: hostility to all forms of Christian religion but especially the Catholic Church, writes Sexton.

In this context, the idea of rights can be weaponised by anti-discrimination laws that are increasingly hostile to the expression of religious opinions rather than to challenge bad behaviour. For example, when same-sex marriage activists push for the removal of anti-discrimination exemptions for religious groups who are committed to traditional forms of marriage, they effectively seek to impose their views and beliefs on those with whom they disagree.

It is often argued that an unyielding attachment to Christian values inhibits the societys evolution. This sentiment has itself evolved and is now used to deny the participation of Christians in public life. As an example, I would cite the most recent state election result in Western Australia (WA).

The conservative party, the Liberal Party, was then led by 33-year-old Zak Kirkup, who supported an LGBTQI+ agenda, euthanasia, and extreme climate action. However, soon after suffering its worst-ever election wipe-out in March 2021, one of the few remaining members of the Liberal Party in WAs Parliament, David Honey (who is now leader), reportedly blamed the Christian Right for the partys loss.

Apparently, now one can be even denied membership to the Liberal Party for simply daring to express Christian values and principles. As reported by Sky News contributor Caleb Bond, the South Australian Liberal Party has denied the membership of about 150 Christians who applied to join the party.

Now these people have committed no crime, apart from being Pentecostal Christians, Bond said. The message would seem to be clear: If youre conservative, or youre a Christian, the Liberal Party doesnt want you.

This grievous example of religious discrimination would horrify Sir Robert Menzies, Australias longest-serving prime minister, who once declared:

[I]t is right that we should all in a country like this constantly test our politics  but that doesnt mean that we cant disagree about politics. That doesnt mean that to be a good Christian you have to be a good Liberal or a good Country Party man, or a good Labor man. Im saying exactly the opposite. To be a good Liberal, to be a good Labor man, to be a good Country Party man, you will be all the better if you are a Christian.

Father James Collins holds a service in the yard of St Pauls Anglican Church in Burwood with seating observant of social distancing in Sydney, Australia, on March 22, 2020. (Jenny Evans/Getty Images)

There is room in every political party for Christian men and women of all schools of Christian thought, Menzies also stated.

Apparently no longer, as the South Australian Liberal Party is almost entirely run by those who objectively oppose schools of Christian thought.

Bit by bit, they have taken control of every facet of the party  there are almost no conservatives left in the parliamentary Liberal Party in SA, Bond added.

By seeking to marginalise or silence Christians who take their faith seriously, these political and cultural elites are basically rejecting the values and traditions of their own once liberal-democratic society. As noted by Dyson Heydon AC QC, who served on the High Court of Australia from 2003 to 2013, said the ruling elites were rejecting a large part of the entire life and history of the nationbecause Christianity is so integrated with the national life and history that to annihilate it is to also destroy that national life, which can live only in memory.

Perhaps another example should be given. Stephen Chavura is an accomplished political theorist and historian who has never been accused of racial discrimination, abuse or inflammatory speech. In 2017, however, LGBTQI+ activists publicly pressured Sydneys Macquarie University to fire him because he was also working for the Macquarie Institute, a well-known Christian political training organisation.

Activists claimed that Chavuras position was untenable because it conflicted with the universitys official support of the LGBTQI+ agenda. He received no support from university governance and management. On the contrary, a hostile academic environment and administration eventually forced him to resign from his academic job and look for another position.

Here is another example. Byron and Keira Hordyk are a Christian couple from Western Australia (WA). They applied to become foster carers for children between the ages of zero to five. However, Byron and Keira were rejected by the foster care agency and labelled as unsafe due to their traditional beliefs about gender and sexuality.

Carefree children. (Sv Svetlana/Shutterstock)

As this was a clear instance of discrimination, the couple lodged a complaint with the Equal Opportunity Commission. In 2019, the Commission dismissed their complaint, arguing their claim was misconceived and not substantiated.

In Queensland, Bernard Gaynor has endured a decade-long legal battle over his conservative internet blogging and promotion of Christian views on marriage, gender, and family. An LGBTQI+ activist in New South Wales (Garry Burns) filed over 40 complaints of discrimination (36 of them within a 32 month-period) against Gaynor for the views expressed in his blog.

Defending these accusations has been deeply distressing for Gaynor, who has been forced to sell his home and has incurred over $400,000 in legal fees.

Remarkably, Gaynor has been unable to have complaints dismissed as vexatious harassment, despite the fact that not a single discrimination action against him has even been successful. (pdf)

The phenomenon that has emanated across Australia in recent years has been described as the new sectarianism, where religious values and beliefsparticularly Christianityare deemed as meaningless, irrelevant, or even harmful in consideration of key social issues.

It is certainly not easy to be an outspoken Christian in contemporary Australia, a country where illiberal ruling elites have effectively declared war on the more traditional aspects of this historical religion.

Augusto Zimmermann is a professor and head of law at Sheridan Institute of Higher Education in Perth, Australia. He is also president of the Western Australian (WA) Legal Theory Association, editor-in-chief of the WA Jurist law journal, and a former WA law reform commissioner (20122017). Zimmermann is the author of Recent Attacks on Religious Freedom in Australia, an academic review available on the website of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Poland (pdf).

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) speaks at a news conference after visiting the Holocaust Museum, outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington on June 14, 2021. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Rep. Greene Apologizes After Comparing Mask Mandate to Treatment of Jews in Nazi Germany

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) on Monday apologized for making a comparison between how members of the House of Representatives are being treated and the treatment of Jews in Nazi Germany.

The Holocaust is, theres nothing comparable to it. It happened and over 6 million Jewish people were murdered, Greene said during a press conference in Washington.

There is no comparison to the Holocaust. And there are words that I have said, remarks that Ive made, that I know are offensive and for that I want to apologize, she added.

During an appearance on a Real Americas Voice program last month, Greene condemned House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) for making members wear masks and for suggesting that vaccinated members be separated from unvaccinated ones.

You know, we can look back at a time in history where people were told to wear a gold star, and they were definitely treated like second class citizens, so much so that they were put in trains and taken to gas chambers in Nazi Germany, Greene said at the time. And this is exactly the type of abuse that Nancy Pelosi is talking about.

The remarks drew condemnation from a number of groups and people, including the American Jewish Congress.

You can never compare health-related restrictions with yellow stars, gas chambers, and other Nazi atrocities. Such comparisons demean the Holocaust and contaminate American political speech, the group said in a tweet last month. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene must immediately retract and apologize.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) walks outside the U.S. Capitol following a private visit to the Holocaust Museum in Washington on June 14, 2021. (Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters)

Greene later said that she was not making a comparison to the Holocaust, but to discrimination against Jews in early Nazi years. She also posted a tweet that said vaccinated workers at a grocery store chain being allowed to stop wearing masks was similar to when the Nazis forced Jewish people to wear a gold star.

But after a visit to the Holocaust Museum in Washington, which she said reminded her of how terrible the policies were in Nazi Germany, Greene offered an apology.

I believe that if were going to lead, we need to be able to lead in a way where if weve messed up, its very important for us to say were sorry. And thats why I wanted to come and talk to you all today. Because I wanted to say that I know that words that Ive stated were hurtful. And for that I am very sorry, she said.

Im truly sorry for offending people with remarks about the Holocaust. Theres no comparison. There never ever will be.

Greene was previously stripped of her committee positions for remarks she made before being sworn into office.

Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.) plans to introduce a resolution this week that would censure Greene over her comments if it passes, while Republicans introduced a censure resolution against Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) for her equating the United States and Israel with the terrorist group Hamas.

Omar issued what she termed a clarification last week, which satisfied most of the Democrats who had criticized her remarks. Democrats hold an eight-vote majority in the lower chamber.
Chicken wings are on display at a food festival at Pier 97 in New York City, N.Y., on Oct. 10, 2019. (Noam Galai/Getty Images for NYCWFF)

Restaurant Owner Blames Labor Shortage for 99 Percent Increase in Chicken Wings Prices

A restaurant owner from Buffalo, New York, told Fox Business on Monday that chicken wings are getting more expensive because farms are struggling to deal with a national labor shortage.

Greg Duell, the co-owner of Duffs Famous Wings, told Fox Business that wing prices from his supplier were up 99 percent and that they couldnt keep up with his customers demand for chicken.

The chicken wing farms in America, theyre having trouble retaining and recruiting employees, Duell told Fox Business. When that happens, they cant process the birds fast enough, they have to feed them more, the feed costs have gone up, the birds are getting bigger and they cant process and get them out, he said.

Dan Ponton, president and chief executive of Roosters, an Ohio chicken restaurant, told the Dayton Daily News that the prices of wings are the highest they have ever been in the 33 years hes been in the industry.

A couple of years ago, in an earlier shortage, prices for chicken wings rose to $2.25 a poundand that was just unheard of in the industry, the CEO told Dayton Daily News. Today, prices have reached $2.75 a pound, according to Dayton Daily News.

Some restaurants, struggling to staff themselves as pandemic restrictions begin to lift, have offered incentives for employment in an effort to combat the labor shortage. Reported benefits have included free iPhones and monetary bonuses.

The Federal Reserve said the labor shortage could last months, according to Business Insider. Bank of America also predicts the job market will recover by early 2022.

Duell called the recent expansion of unemployment benefits a problem and said it was definitely causing the labor shortage in his industry, according to Fox Business.

Unfortunately, I couldnt possibly keep up with an additional $300 on top of an unemployment benefit, he told Fox Business. The menu prices would be skyrocketing more than they already are.

By Steven Hall

From The Daily Caller News Foundation
The Ryanair plane with registration number SP-RSM, carrying opposition figure Raman Pratasevich which was traveling from Athens to Vilnius and was diverted to Minsk after a bomb threat, lands at the International Airport outside Vilnius, Lithuania, on May 23, 2021. (Mindaugas Kulbis/AP Photo)

Ryanair Flight Under Considerable Covert Pressure to Land in Belarus: Airline Boss

The pilot of the Ryanair passenger aircraft that was diverted to lank in Minsk, Belarus, was put under covert but considerable pressure, Michael OLeary, the CEO of the Irish airline said on Tuesday.

Ryanair Flight 4978 was on its way to Vilnius, Lithuania, from Athens, Greece, when it was alerted to a bomb threat and diverted to the Belarusian capital on May 23.

According to Belaruss presidential press service, President Alexander Lukashenko personally ordered that a MiG-29 fighter jet accompany the plane, which was carrying opposition figure Raman Pratasevich, to the airport in Minsk.

Pratasevich, 26, and his girlfriend, 23-year-old Russian student Sofia Sapega, were arrested in Minsk after their landing. Three other passengers also didnt return to the flight when it was eventually allowed to leave for Vilnius after eight hours.

Belarus police detain journalist Raman Pratasevich (C) in Minsk, Belarus, on March 26, 2017. (Sergei Grits/AP Photo)

Speaking to the Transport Committee in the UKs Parliament, OLeary said that he sees this incident as a state-sponsored hijacking.

Theres no other way to explain it, the airline boss said.

The aircraft was spoken to by Minsk ATC [air traffic control], who claimed that they had received a reliable or credible security threat to the aircraft which they had received from the Belarusian security authorities, OLeary told lawmakers.

OLeary said Minsk ATC told the pilot that a bomb on board would be detonated if the aircraft entered Lithuanian airspace or attempted to land at Vilnius airport.

According to OLeary, diverted Ryanair flights in that location would normally land in Poland and the other Baltic states, but the captain was put under considerable pressure to land in Minsk.

The pilot was put underI would sayconsiderable pressure. Not overtly but covertly, with the suggestion that he really should divert and land in Mink. He wasnt instructed to do so, but he wasnt left with any great alternatives.

OLeary said that the pilot asked for other alternate diversion airports, but was only given Minsk.

He also explained that the pilot repeatedly asked Minsk ATC to provide an open line of communication back to Ryanairs operations control center in Warsaw, but was told, Ryanair werent [sic] answering the phone, which was completely untrue.

Ryanairs chief executive Michael OLeary on Aug. 31, 2016. (Nick Ansell/PA)

OLeary told the lawmakers that a number of unidentified persons boarded the aircraft who were carrying video cameras in Minsk, and repeatedly attempted to get the crew to confirm on video that they had voluntarily diverted to Minsk, but the crew refused to confirm that.

He also added that while passengers and crew were unboarded into a terminal building, the captain remained on board the aircraft but was accompanied by an armed guard every time he left his cockpit.

OLeary said Ryanair still hasnt heard from the other passengers who disappeared in Minsk.

We understand from the security agencies that it is likely that they were three KGB types, he said.

Now whether that was Russian KGB or Belarusian KGB, we dont know. And were not sure theres much of a difference anyway.

Undated 2019 photo showing student Sofia Sapega in Gothenburg, Sweden. (Stringer via Reuters)

Belarusian ambassador to the UK Maxim Yermalovich was also invited to give evidence to the Parliamentary committee, but he wrote to decline the invitation.

The letter, read out ahead of the evidence session by the committee chair, MP Huw Merriman, said that the embassy had conveyed all relevant information to the British aviation authorities and the Foreign Office right after the incident, including an explanation of the sequence of events that led to the emergency landing, audio recording, and transcription of radio traffic between the planes crew and air controller.

Yermalovich said these materials proved that the authorities of Belarus took all necessary measures to ensure the safety of the passengers of flight FR 4978 in full compliance with the international aviation law.

He went on to say that Belarus is concerned about the unfortunate decision of the British authorities to suspend Belavias permits to operate commercial services from and to the UK, referring to the national airline of Belarus.

One day after Flight 4978 was diverted, the UKs Transport Secretary Grant Shapps suspended the Belarus national airlines operating permit and told UK airlines to avoid Belarusian airspace.

Yermalovich said the sanctions against Belavia went far beyond the spirit of cooperation and mutual assistance.

The European Union on June 4 banned Belarus Airlines from flying over European Union territory or having access to its airports, two days after the blocs Aviation Safety Agency issued a safety directive saying all EU aircraft should also avoid Belarus air space unless in an emergency.

The EU is also discussing more sanctions on Belarus, possibly targeting the countrys financial, potash, or oil sectors.

PA, Reuters, and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Orange County Fire Authority and partners Ventura and Los Angeles County fire departments gather for the release of a new Cu-47 Helitanker twin rotor helicopter capable of releasing 3,000 gallons of fire retardant upon wildfires. Los Alamitos, Calif., on June 14, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

SoCal Prepares for Bad Fire Season With Worlds Largest Helitankers

Three Southern California counties are joining forces to operate the worlds largest water-dropping helitankers prior to the start of a bad fire season.

The cooperative, dubbed Quick Reaction Force, was initiated June 15 after Southern California Edison (SCE) donated $18 million to the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA), Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD), the Ventura County Fire Department, Coulson Aviation, and Perimeter Solutions.

This is a game changer, LACoFD Chief Daryl Osby told The Epoch Times on June 14.

The partnership allocates one Chinook CH-47 helitanker to be stationed at the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos, and another at the Van Nuys Air Tanker Base. Each aircraft has the ability to drop 3,000 gallons of water or fire retardant.

A smaller Sikorsky S-61 helitanker will be stationed in Camarillo, with the capacity to drop 1,000 gallons of water or fire retardant.

The aircrafts are not limited to these three counties and can be allocated to other counties in the region if necessary.

The partnership will run for a 180 day periodabout the duration of the fire season.

OCFA used a Chinook helitanker last year and made more than 100 water dumps in December alone.

Prior to the Chinook, no aircraft had the capacity to drop 3,000 gallons of water or fire retardant, nor have large helitankers been able to fly at night, which the Chinook can do. Firefighting aircraft were previously limited to dropping 1,000 gallons of water.

OCFA Chief Brian Fennessy said with the Chinook helitankers large water capacity, it can pass through the canopy of leaves and brush that smaller-capacity helitankers cant reach.

Its hard for that water sometimes to get down into the base  [with] 3,000 gallonsyoure making mud, Fennessy told The Epoch Times.

There are no other helitankers that are fighting fire at night. None are dropping retardant.

Wayne Coulson, chief executive and owner of Coulson Aviation, which provided the helitankers, said the Chinook is an ex-military aircraft that was repurposed for firefighting.

Thats kind of the magic; where we can put a retardant line in at night, versus no other aircraft can do that, Coulson told The Epoch Times.

Chinooks will cost $32,000 per day, per aircraft. The Sikorsky S-61 helitanker will cost around $22,000 per day.

The fire-retardant provider, Perimeter Solutions, is providing mobile tanks filled with the red fire retardant that will be carried on trucks to locations with fire outbreaks.

The fire retardant consists mostly of fertilizer, and highly engineered performance additives that give it the red color, making it visible to firefighter pilots, Wes Bolsen, director of wildfire prevention at Perimeter Solutions, told The Epoch Times.

Mobile retardant base (MRB) can be transported near the site of a fire to allow a helitanker to refill with fire retardant in a matter of minutes.

Orange County Fire Authority and partners Ventura and Los Angeles County fire departments gather for the release of a new Cu-47 Helitanker twin rotor helicopter capable of releasing 3,000 gallons of fire retardant upon wildfires. Los Alamitos, Calif., on June 14, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Perimeter Solutions has 12 MRBs that will be driven to and stationed near fire activity. Containers can hold about 6,500 gallons of fire retardant, allowing the Chinook helitanker multiple refills.

Each county will also have several dip tanks placed in fire-prone areas, holding about 5,000 gallons of fire retardant.

U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Michael Leeney, who oversees the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos, said Fennessy contacted him about storing Orange Countys helitanker and other firefighting aircraft at the base.

Its just a very convenient location, Leeney told The Epoch Times.

Its also a large runway; we have a lot of space. Its really the only military airfield left in the L.A. basin, after all the [military base] closures.

The base was used to store Orange Countys first Chinook in 2019, when the state and federal governments declared a wildfire emergency.

They needed somewhere to bring these birds in to operate because they hadnt used them yet, he said. Were expecting to have a bad fire seasonlike weve had in the past four or five years. But, right now, were going to be better prepared to deal with that if things get bad.

SoCal Edison donated to the cause in an effort to keep the community safe, chief executive Kevin Payne told reporters.

Our top priority is the safety of our community, Payne said during a June 14 press conference. Its really a proud moment for us to be able to partner with our fire agencies to bring this new technology so that we can more effectively fight fires.
A 100-foot monument to former U.S. vice president and slavery advocate John C. Calhoun towers over a downtown square in Charleston, S.C., on June 23, 2020. (Meg Kinnard/AP Photo)

Southern Slaveholders: The Inventors of Cancel Culture

Commentary

Theres a prevailing orthodoxy and its opponents are branded insurrectionists. Nonconformists are banned from social media outlets. Theyre threatened and they lose their livelihoods. Street mobs attack them and destroy their property. Government officials not only refuse to protect their rights, but also sometimes even conspire with the oppressors.

The foregoing paragraph could describe modern woke cancel culture. Or it could describe its direct American ancestor: cancel culture imposed by slaveholders on the pre-Civil War South.

Despite what you may have heard, slavery wasnt universal in 19th-century America. In 1850, less than 10 percent of American families held slaves (pdf). However, in the relatively sparsely populated Southern states, the percentage of slaveholding families was higher, and they exercised disproportionate influence in political life. That influence came to be called the Slave Power.

Unlike most slaveholding societies, a large part of the American population opposed slaverysuch as, for example, most of the Founding Fathers. Those favoring prompt emancipation were called abolitionists.

In 1835, abolitionist groups started a major campaign to promote their agenda. They printed and spread their newspapers and pamphlets throughout the countryparticularly in the South. They urged whites and African Americans to support emancipation.

Slaveholders were furious at this attempt to interfere with their property. They responded by trying to suppress the message.

Slaveholders organized boycotts against business people who opposed human bondage. The goal was, as one scholar writes (pdf), to starve them out. The abolitionist leader Arthur Tappan, among others, was forced into bankruptcy.

Pro-slavery groups held raucous street demonstrations denouncing their opponents as insurrectionists who were promoting sedition and incendiary behavior. They threatened nonconformists with violence and ostracism. Mobs attacked dissenters and destroyed their property and businesses. In Mississippi, an anti-slavery man named Robert Bell was hanged as an insurrectionist.

But the most significant pro-slavery response was what we now call deplatforming.

Its hard to believe it today, but in the 19th century, the leading social media platform was the U.S. post office. The initial reasons for the post office were the same in this country as in Britain: to facilitate government communication, promote trade and commerce, raise revenue, and facilitate official spying on suspicious characters (pdf). However, soon after the American founding, that view of the post office began to change.

By 1835, both the public and government officials saw the U.S. post office as primarily a social medium. It was a way for people to exchange news and ideasincluding political ideas. The postal service continued to convey government communications and business information, but ever more of its traffic consisted of personal letters, pamphlets, broadsides, newspapers, and magazines. The postal system had become the town hall for the young continental nation.

Pro-slavery forces were alarmed by this development. They also were frightened by advanced printing technology that made mass mailings easier. As another scholar has noted, slaveholders thought the new technology meant that abolitionists had a new and unnatural tool for spreading their detestable villainy, and that the abolitionists use of it was an intentional and coordinated act of aggression. (pdf) (Note the parallel to the lefts practice of labeling interactions they dont like as micro-aggressions.)

Thus, slaveholders responded by deplatformingthat is, by denying abolitionists access to the media. In the summer of 1835, a pro-slavery mob in Charleston, South Carolina, seized the mail and confiscated and burned abolitionist literature. Southern postmasters such as Thomas Scott of Raleigh, North Carolina, refused to deliver Northern fanatical publications. Postmasters not personally inclined to screen the mail felt forced to do so because of pressure from the Slave Power. People who chose to receive pro-emancipation literature were ostracized or shunned.

Recently, some progressive lawmakers have introduced bills to censor the internet. Theyre the political descendants of lawmakers serving the Slave Power. In 1836, the Virginia Legislature enacted a measure forcing postmasters to notify justices of the peace whenever they received publications denying the right of masters to property in their slaves and inculcating the duty of resistance to such right. Under the law, the justice of the peace would censor any writings he deemed dangerous. Those publications were burned in his presence. He also could arrest people who subscribed to them.

Similarly, in 1841, Maryland lawmakers ordered censorship of the mail through grand jury proceedings.

President Andrew Jacksona slaveholderasked Congress to enact legislation federalizing this kind of censorship. South Carolina Sen. John C. Calhoun opposed the measure, but only because he wanted to see the job done at the state rather than at the federal level.

To a considerable extent, this deplatforming worked: Slaveholders and their government stooges were largely successful in shielding Southerners from any views on slavery but their own.

Is the parallelism between these two examples of cancel cultureone by slaveholders and one by modern progressivesjust an accident?

I think not. The Constitutions First Amendment protects freedom of speech and of the press. Americans have experienced episodes of political censorship, although mostly in times of war or imminent foreign threat. However, in instances of cancel culture, censorship arose without any such threat. Cancel culture, now or then, isnt an attempt to protect the country, but a cynical effort to silence opposition.

Moreover, slaveholders and progressives both claim unlimited power over the labor of others. A socialist demanding that government enforce a right to health care is essentially asserting that health care professionals should be treated as state slaves, conscripted to work for anyone the government designates. A person asserting power to appropriate the labor of others is unlikely to care much about freedom of any kind, except as a short-term expedient.

In other words, parallels between the cancel culture of the slaveholders and that of modern progressives arent accidental at all.

Robert G. Natelson, a former constitutional law professor and historian, is senior fellow in constitutional jurisprudence at the Independence Institute in Denver and author of The Original Constitution: What It Actually Said and Meant (3rd ed., 2014).

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Steam Beer: An American Original

The number of craft breweries in the United States continues to rise, almost against reason. But while the number of beer styles being made may run over 70 (or even 100, depending on who you consult), they are almost all Old World styles, or at least an American take on them.

If you are looking for a truly American original, heres one for sure: steam beer. Also known now as California common, this brew was the result of special brewing challenges specific to the region, and a need for speed.

Special Climes Call for Special Measures

In the 19th century, cooling off a brew and keeping it at a low enough temperature for the yeast to do its work was a challenge without ice or refrigerationin particular, outside of winter, or in places that couldnt harvest and store winter ice. One could cool wort faster with coolships, which are shallow, open-top containers that would lose heat faster due to the greater surface area, but this still didnt get the temps low enough for fermentation in sunny California.

In the San Francisco Bay Area, the cooling effects of the ocean helped. The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Franciscothough falsely attributed to Mark Twain, and perhaps altogether fictional, the nevertheless popular quote bears some truth. A summer breeze off the Pacific will shiver your timbers and, in short order, put the cool in a coolship.

Nevertheless, the temperature still didnt dip down into the typical 48- to 55-degree range necessary for lager (bottom-fermenting) yeast. Ale yeasts werent completely unknown in the United States at that time, but likely were much harder to come by, or at least inconsistently available. Plus, tastes were rapidly favoring lagers. Pilsners became a sensation in Bavaria and Bohemia in the 1840s, and began conquering the world as German brewers emigrated in the 19th century. See also all the lager-style national beers throughout the warmer countries in Latin America.

Brewers compromised by using a special lager yeast strain that could ferment at warmer temperatures usually required by top-fermenting ales. In a 1912 article in the University of California Publications in Physiology, Victor Birckner suggested that while a typical lager required eight to 10 days to ferment, this steam beer only needed three. He writes of typical coolships being one foot deep and made of wood. These were called clarifiers, since the yeast settled out of the beer here. He also credits some of the fermentation speed to the increased aeration of such a large surface.

While the recipes continued to call for a bottom-fermenting yeast, the warmer fermentation changed the yeast a bit. Birckner writes, The yeast of the steam beer has accommodated itself to these conditions to such an extent that it can no longer be employed for the preparation of lager beer, while lager-beer yeast may without difficulty be used for the manufacture of steam beer.

Another problem, however, would have been the availability of quality malted barley. Brewers used whatever other cereal grains they could get to provide the sugars for fermentation. Moreover, unlike typical beers, steam beer was kegged immediately following the initial fermentation, without any conditioning time.

An open-top beer fermentation tank at Anchor Brewing Co., in this file photo. (Picardin/CC BY 4.0)

Steam Beer Is Born

The result  was probably not delicious by modern standards, nor consistent, especially with those open fermentation vessels. But it was basically a crisp, lightly hopped, lightly amber beer.

But the rushing gold miners came thirsty, and the beer could be made quickly, so in the years that followed, it became the working mans brew. Jack London drank ithe refers to it in his 1913 autobiographical novel John Barleycorn, implying it was cheap and low quality. As its characteristic quality is rapidity of preparation, we may infer that it was intended chiefly for the purpose of meeting the strong demands, writes Birckner.

The origin of the name is mostly speculation, it seems. There is an old Bavarian beer style called Dampfbiersteam beerbut this is brewed with Hefeweizen yeast (top-fermenting/ale yeast), and thus not the same. Some facilities called themselves steam breweries, but this referenced using steam to heat the kettles. A plausible explanation is that the vapor of the warm beer hitting the chilly air in the cooling process produced the steam.

A Craft Beer Icon

That might be the origin of the name, but the ownership of the moniker now legally belongs to San Francisco-based Anchor Brewing Co., which trademarked the term in 1981. Everyone else is now brewing California common.

Inside the Anchor Brewing Co. brewhouse, in this file photo. (WolfmanSF/CC BY-SA 3.0)

Anchor Brewing was founded in 1896, and while the brewery wasnt the first to make steam beer, it continued to do soregular and darkfor decades. But like many local breweries in the 1960s, Anchor had some financial troubles, and by the arrival of that decade, the brewerys production was quite small and local, only in kegs. Many other breweries were gobbled up by the bigger brewersMiller, G. Heileman, Anheuser-Busch, Schlitz, Strohs, and so forth.

But Anchor had a lucky turn when Fritz Maytagyes, that Maytag, an heir of the washing-machine empirebought control of the brewery in 1965, with the aim of bringing it back from decline. Under Maytags direction, the brewery modernized their equipment and cleaned up the beer quality with all malted grain. They discontinued the dark brew. The comparatively more flavorful and slightly amber-colored steam beer stood apart in a market of pale American pilsners, and the brewery remained local. In 1971, Anchor began bottling for distribution.

Anchor has often been referred to as the first modern craft brewery, introducing a porter in the early 1970s, and an India Pale Ale that was dry-hopped, a practice that was unknown in the American market at the time. They still use the open cooling bins, but indoors rather than on a rooftop.

The brewery is now owned by a big brewing corporation, Sapporo Breweries, and so is no longer considered craft by the Brewers Association. Be that as it may, Anchor Steam retains its place in the pantheon of American brewing.

Common Drinking

California common is a light, malty amber with a dry, crisp finish and a mildly fruity aroma. The hops bring a light bitterness, but as with the 19th-century style, they are not the citrusy sorts so popular in modern hop varieties. Anchor Steam uses Northern Brewer hops, which impart a hint of mint.

Anchor Brewings Anchor Steam is the obvious place to start if you want to try the style. California common isnt widespread in a market that seems to want bolder brews. While it does show up on beer menus from time to timeShorts Brewing in Michigan has a California Common brew in their portfolio as a specialty brew, The Village Reserveits not often a year-round or core beer.

One exception: Dorothys New World Lager by Iowas Toppling Goliath Brewery is one of the flagship brews, named for the founders grandmother. Light straw-colored and crisp, its a solid offering from a brewery better known for their hop-centric brews.

Kevin Revolinski is an avid traveler, craft beer enthusiast, and home cooking fan. He is the author of 15 books, including The Yogurt Man Cometh: Tales of an American Teacher in Turkey and his new collection of short stories, Stealing Away. He is based in Madison, Wisconsin, and his website is TheMadTraveler.com.
This Dec. 25, 2010 file photo provided by Clint Dunn shows his 13-year-old daughter, Hailey Dunn, left, poses for a photo with her mother Billie Jean Dunn, center, and her mother's boyfriend Shawn Adkins on Christmas day in Colorado City, Texas. (AP Photo/Courtesy of Clint Dunn, File)

Suspect Related to Texas Teen Who Disappeared in 2010 Arrested and Charged With Murder

A man related to the disappearance and death of a 13-year-old Texas girl is now in custody and has been charged with murder.

Hailey Dunn was a cheerleader in Colorado city and went missing in late 2010. Her body was found three years later near a lake in Scurry County and she was finally laid to rest around four years after that in early 2017.

Jail records show that Shawn Adkins, then-boyfriend of Dunns mother, was imprisoned on June 14 with a $2 million bond.

According to WWLP, a private investigator working on the case told the outlet that Adkins has been considered a person of interest for a long time, and that the arrest is related to Haily.

The only previous related arrest was of Dunns mother in 2011 after police accused her of lying about the location of Adkins.

Adkins asserted his innocence, and in 2011 he is known to have implored for Haileys return.

Hailey, I hope you come home safe really soon. Youve been gone way too long. We all miss you, and we all love you, he said.

In an audio recording obtained by WWLP, Dunns mother is heard saying that shes not surprised.

Im not surprised, and I thank God that that person has been apprehended and is gonna pay for what he did, she said.
Taiwan Reports Largest Incursion Yet by Chinese Air Force

TAIPEITwenty-eight Chinese air force aircraft, including fighters and nuclear-capable bombers, entered Taiwans air defense identification zone (ADIZ) on Tuesday, the islands government said, the largest reported incursion to date.

While there was no immediate comment from Beijing, the news comes after the Group of Seven leaders issued a joint statement on Sunday scolding China for a series of issues and underscored the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, comments China condemned as slander.

Taiwan has complained over the last few months of repeated missions by Chinas air force near the self-ruled island, concentrated in the southwestern part of its air defense zone near the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands.

The latest Chinese mission involved 14 J-16 and six J-11 fighters, as well as four H-6 bombers, which can carry nuclear weapons, and anti-submarine, electronic warfare, and early warning aircraft, Taiwans Defense Ministry said.

It was the largest daily incursion since the ministry began regularly reporting Chinese Air Force activities in Taiwans ADIZ last year, breaking the previous record of 25 aircraft reported on April 12.

The ministry added that Taiwanese combat aircraft were dispatched to intercept and warn away the Chinese aircraft, while missile systems were also deployed to monitor them.

Not only did the Chinese aircraft fly in an area close to the Pratas Islands, but the bombers and some of the fighters flew around the southern part of Taiwan close to the bottom tip of the island, according to a map the ministry provided.

Chinas Defense Ministry did not respond to a request for comment.

China has in the past described such missions as necessary to protect the countrys sovereignty and deal with collusion between Taipei and Washington.

The United States, which like most countries has no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, has watched with alarm the stepped-up tensions with Beijing.

China describes Taiwan as its most sensitive territorial issue and a red line the United States should not cross. It has never renounced the possible use of force to ensure eventual unification.

By Ben Blanchard
Texas Girds for Blackouts as Heat Bakes the Western States

By Will Wade and Brian K. Sullivan

From Bloomberg News

Texas is pushing homes and businesses to conserve electricity for a second day in a row to stave off blackouts as a punishing heat wave bakes the western U.S.

Temperatures will top 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) from Montana to Southern California Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service. Dallas will reach 99. With many power plants unexpectedly down for repairs, officials warn the grid may fall short. Its the second time since the deadly February blackouts that Texas is pleading for conservation.

These are really hot temperatures, and there is really no break for the potential record heat until Sunday, said Bob Oravec, a forecaster with the U.S. Weather Prediction Center.

The searing weather marks the first heat-related stress tests of the year for U.S. power grids as a historic drought grips the western half of the nation. It comes 10 months after California resorted to rolling blackouts last summer, briefly plunging more than a million people into darkness. In February, much of Texas was left without power for days during a frigid winter storm that paralyzed power plants and left more than 100 people dead.

Houston reached 100 degrees June 13, the earliest that mark has been reached in a decade, according to the weather service. That may signal an unusually hot summer coming as the city normally doesnt endure such heat until August.

As the heat smothers Texas, generating plants with as much as 12.2 gigawatts of capacityenough to power about 2.4 million homeshave been down for repairs. Officials warn reserve power supplies could fall short any time until 9 p.m. Prices on electricity for delivery around Texas jumped in Tuesday trading.

Texas grid operators are struggling to determine why so many plants are unexpectedly breaking down. The number of generators out of commission is triple what officials expect for this time of year.

This is very concerning, Warren Lasher, a senior director for the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, said during a briefing Monday. Its not clear why we are seeing so many units offline.

Texas lawmakers recently approved overhauls to stabilize the power market. Measures included requiring power plants ensure they can operate in extreme weather and provisions for state-backed financial assistance to the grid operator as well as utilities hit by soaring wholesale electricity prices.

Everything that needed to be done was done to fix the power grid in Texas, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott told reporters last week while signing the legislation into law.

The generators out of service have included one of two units at the 2.3-gigawatt Comanche Peak nuclear plant near Dallas, which was taken offline over the weekend following a fire at the main transformer, according to Vistra Corp., which owns the plant.

Adam Sinn, owner of power-trading firm Aspire Commodities LLC, said the number of power plants out of service was unacceptable. This is not a sustainable situation, he said. Texans deserve answers.

In addition to the scorching temperatures, overnight lows in many areas remain extraordinarily high. That keeps pressure on power suppliers, as well as often raising the risks for people and plants.

In California, the heat pushed natural gas prices sharply higher amid surging electricity demand and weak hydropower generation. Gas for next-day delivery in Southern California was up 76 percent from a week ago, traders said Tuesday.

The overnight low in Las Vegas will be in the 90s and in the 80s in Phoenix, Oravec said. In Death Valley in California, highs will likely reach 125 degrees this week, falling only to 99 at night.

In the West, heat warnings and watches from Phoenix to Northern California will be in place through Saturday evening, the weather service said Tuesday. Temperatures in Californias Central Valley could rise to 113 between Thursday and Saturday. Parts of Arizona could hit 118.

California has ordered utilities to line up extra power supplies and giant batteries to prepare for this summer, but officials warn the system could still face shortfalls.

2021 Bloomberg L.P. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC
The CCP Is Caught in a Dilemma in Downgrading Its Response to G-7 Summit

Commentary

The Group of Seven (G-7) summit communique (pdf) issued on June 13 reveals a tough stance against the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), unsurprisingly on issues including the origin of COVID-19, human rights, Hong Kong autonomy, and security across the Taiwan Strait and in the Indo-Pacific region. It also mentions economic and trade issues and the full implementation of WTO rules to integrate into the world trading system, obviously with the aim of curbing the CCPs Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

We also see that liberal democracies and open societies face pressure from authoritarian regimes, said Charles Michel, president of the European Council, following the summit in Carbis Bay, Cornwall. This challenge has prompted us to join forces during the G-7, not only to be able to respond under pressure or attack but also to spread our values of freedom, rule of law, and respect for human rights.

The CCPs top leaders should not have been surprised by the results, so they have deliberately adopted a low-profile and downgraded response. Only the CCPs embassy in London spoke out, stating that the CCP was gravely concerned and firmly opposed to this. The embassy continued to deny facts and called the G-7 leaders, together with leaders from the EU, Australia, India, South Korea, and South Africa, a small circle. The CCPs ambassador Zheng Zeguang said on June 14 that the CCP upholds principles and has its bottom line. However, the CCPs top brass had to step back from its so-called bottom line.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian packs up his notes after speaking at the daily media briefing in Beijing on April 8, 2020. (Greg Baker/AFP via Getty Images)

June 14 is Duanwu Festival, also known as the Dragon Boat Festival, and the Foreign Ministry of the CCP did not arrange for a press conference on that day. The statement from the CCPs London embassy was obviously of too low a level. It is reasonable that the CCPs official mouthpieces should play the role of the Foreign Ministry to speak up on behalf of its top leaders.

However, neither Xinhua news agency, the Peoples Daily, nor the CCPs online military outlets reproduced the embassys statement. Only Global Times published the full text.

The first thing Xinhua did on June 14 was to publish an article titled Under the Surface of United, the G-7 Group Is Divided. Then it published a second article titled Media and Personnel from Various Countries Have Commented G-7 Summit Has Come Up Short. The two articles continued to carry out the efforts of the CCP to divide Western countries and degrade the G-7 Summit, but they havent spoken up for the top members of the CCP at all. The Peoples Daily and the CCPs military online propaganda outlets have no coverage of the G-7 Summit.

The CCPs top brass changed their previous practice of responding in a high-profile wolf warrior manner, probably for two reasons. On the one hand, the CCP was trying to minimize the negative impact and keep more Chinese people in the dark. On the other hand, the CCP is probably caught in a dilemma, fearing that a high-profile response would lead to a further impasse. The CCP knows that it is not facing a small circle, but rather there is a huge disparity in strength between the CCP and the external world. Internally, there have also been continuous doubts. The CCP has no choice but to go soft for the time being.

Ouyang Yujing, director-general of the Department of Boundary and Ocean Affairs of Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs, speaks during a press briefing about Chinas South China Sea policies in Beijing on May 6, 2016. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP Photo)

Another possibility could be that the CCP wants to observe the progress of the 2021 Brussels summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the U.S.Russia summit before making an assessment of different responses.

No matter what the possibility is, this softening is a rare sight compared to the continuous high-profile assertiveness of the CCP in the past few months. The top brass of the Communist Party will not easily admit their cowardice, let alone admit their mistakes, and this backing off may be only temporary.

In any case, the top echelon of the CCP has tasted the more severe consequences of provoking the United States and posing retaliatory sanctions against the EU, and it does not have the courage to play wolf warriors again.

In order to pull wool over the eyes of the people, Xinhua continues to vigorously report on Xi Jinping and the Dragon Boat Festival, Hubei Shiyan gas explosion, and so on. It also issued four consecutive reports on the pandemic in Guangdong, including National Health Commission: 23 New Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 on June 13, Including 4 Local Cases, Guangdong Has 13 New Confirmed Cases of Local Cases, All Reported in Guangzhou, 11 Districts of Guangzhou City to Lift the Closure Management Measures, and Guangzhou Decides to Postpone High School Entrance Examinations to July.

It is rare for Xinhua to report so much negative news about the pandemic. It shows that the CCP is eager to cover up the influence of the G-7 statement at the cost of exposing the domestic epidemic. What was rarely seen in Xinhua, such as local bad weather, was also reported, such as Heavy Rainfall Peaks Tonight in Regions Between Yellow River and Huai River, and Between Yangtze River and Huai River. However, it continued to ignore issuing warnings about the risk of floods. Peoples Daily simply reprinted old news about the discovery of Sanxingdui, an archaeological site.

In contrast, the second-class party media Global Times tried much harder to hold onto its audience by reprinting the statement of the regimes embassy in the UK and publishing a commentary, G-7 Communique Creates [Anti-China] Propaganda, the Chinese Do Not Buy It. It said, the G-7 communique criticized and imposed demands on China regarding Xinjiang, Hong Kong, and Taiwan  oppose forced labor  oppose any unilateral attempts to change the status quo and increase tensions in the East and South China Seas. The article claimed: This is a summit where the Western countries most systematically criticize China  We should hold no false hope of the United States, but we must treat other countries differently from the United States  We will win in the end  Time will bring down the United States  theres no need to push it or trip it, the United States will fall by itself.

This commentary more or less spoke the minds of the top brass. The officials low-key response was a temporary restraint for fear of further stalemate with European countries; the next step is likely to be more targeted at the United States. And of course they will never admit their mistakes. However, its reliance on time for the United States to fall on its own reveals the CCPs helplessness. Theres nothing else on the plate other than its untenable wolf warrior diplomacy.

The Global Times released a commentary entitled, Foreign Media: NATO Chief Said No New Cold War with China. It deliberately distorted the fact with the intention of comforting the CCPs top officials. Such a title actually reveals the extreme insecurity within the CCP.

The CCP has not been quiet. On June 14, Taiwans Ministry of National Defense reported that the CCPs Y-8 anti-submarine warfare aircraft once again violated Taiwans air defense identification zone, after 10 days of peace in the Taiwan Strait since June 4. Obviously, the CCP saw no reason not to coerce the region during the G-7 summit. I believe that the CCP has realized that the NATO summit is likely to continue similar diplomacy against the regime, and the pretense serves none of its deceptions.

If the G-7 leaders knew the response of the CCPs top leaders, they would probably grin at the paper tigers gesture. There will be a U.S.Russia summit after the NATO summit, which will not be good news for the CCP, and the CCP will have to continue enduring embarrassment.

Zhong Yuan is a researcher focused on Chinas political system, the countrys democratization process, human rights situation, and Chinese citizens livelihood. He began writing commentaries for the Chinese-language edition of The Epoch Times in 2020.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
To Stage the Counter-Counter-Revolution, GOP Must Learn From Lenin

Commentary

What is to be done? Thats the question posed in a 1902 pamphlet by Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov, better known as Lenin, as the young revolutionary began to flesh out his weaponization of Karl Marxs principles of communism.

It wasnt enough, argued Lenin in typically turgid prose, to expect Russias nearly non-existent industrialized working classthe proletariatto come to international Socialism on its own.

Instead, he believed, the radical Populists who advocated the communization of the peasantry as a necessary first step were in fact advocating a form of capitalismand that couldnt be allowed to happen. True Socialism, said Lenin, could only be found in Marxism, and for that a strong Communist Party was needed to guide the Russian people to the correct conclusions. And so he provided one.

Two decades later, Lenin was the absolute master of the new Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Against all odds, a true communist society had come into being without ever having passed through a capitalist phase.

The horror that resulted would last until Christmas Day, 1991, when the USSR collapsed of its own internal contradictions and in the face of implacable opposition and a clear objective from Ronald Reagan. We win, they lose, he said.

Today, as the rising tide of socialism washes over most of the so-called blue states and has begun to lap at the steps of the Capitol, its wise for us to revisit the lessons of Leninism and to repeat his question. What, indeed, is to be done?

Bury Trump

For too long, conservatives have been on the back foot, constantly reacting to the Lefts ongoing provocations and, mostly fruitlessly, attempting either to resist them or roll them back. From gay marriage to transsexuals in the militaryboth long thought not only unthinkable but, in the case of the latter, unbelievablehas been but the work of a few years. During the same period, not a single major conservative policy has been enacted, in part because the Republican Party is engaged in defense, when it should be on offense.

The Trump administration managed briefly to roll back via executive order some of the most egregious excesses of the Obama administration, but it failed to finish off Obamacarethanks, John McCain!and even its legislative victories, such as tax reform, are in the process of being swiftly negated, thanks to the Democrats narrow control of both houses of Congress.

Now, under the Biden administrationwhich is by all accounts being run directly and indirectly from chez Obama in Washingtons tony Kalorama neighborhoodthe goal is to bury the Trump administration and make sure such a thing never happens again. (Why do you think Obama, alone among past presidents, broke with tradition and remained, along with his family and his advisors, in D.C. throughout the Trump administration?)

The sentient Democrats wish to make Trump an object lesson in the price of political insubordination, even to the point of trying to jail the former president as well an anathematizing his allies and supporters.

If the 2020 election wasnt a counter-revolutionary coup, abetted by unconstitutional changes in state election law justified by the non-threat of COVID-19 and assiduously promoted by the media, it certainly is beginning to look very much like one.

Counter-Counter-Revolution

So let the counter-counter-revolution begin. Over the course of the next several weeks, Ill outline here some concrete answers to Lenins question. Some of my prescriptions I first published in Rules for Radical Conservatives (writing under the name David Kahane) in 2010, including Know Your Enemy, Get on Offense and Stay on Offense, and Get Better Officers.

Thats also the book in which I coined the term, The Cold Civil War, which seems increasingly on the verge of turning hot unless we can find a political way back from the BLM/Antifa brink.

Just as I paid homage to Saul Alinskys practical wisdom in Rules, let me now advocate a strong dose of Leninist spirit as we open up a new front in our war against the radical Left. Lenin knew that his Marxist revolution could not be left to the petit bourgeois democrats of the populist left in Russia; he had to grab the country by the ears while the grabbing was good.

Similarly, conservatives cannot leave the new Resistance to the current crop of Republican leadership, including Kevin McCarthy and, until recently, Liz Cheney, who are held in contempt by a large number of House Republicans. But while the Democrats will follow Nancy Pelosi to hell and back, the GOP is still riven by the conflict between actual conservatives, represented by the House Freedom Caucus and others, and the country club wing personified by former House speaker Paul Ryan.

Thus, as we start thinking about winning the congressional elections of 2022, American patriots must first resolve to primary, defeat and replace every single Republican who voted to impeach or convict Donald Trump.

One Voice, Small Tent

This is not the place to argue the merits (non-existent, in any case) of the two bogus impeachments. Rather it is to force the GOP to act more like the Leninist/Stalinist Democrats and speak with one voice, in the pursuit of a single objective: winning.

In these fraught times, comity is luxury only congenital losers can afford, and the sooner the party purges itself the better off both it and the country will be. As Barry Goldwater famously offered: a choice, not an echo. Nows the time to take him up on it.

This is also no time for a big tent party. As the Lenin Democrats have illustrated so vividly since the planned and scripted rise of Barack Obama in 2008, a narrowly configured tent will do the job. Their party is a cozy little snuggery of woke tech oligarch billionaires with a chokehold on their media lackeys and access to more money than ever before in human history; and a seething, resentful, and violent underclass that functions as their conscience but more importantly as their street thugs and enforcers while posing as perpetual victims of their ideological opponents as they seek redress for their legitimate grievances (shopworn but still potent communist terminology).

That homogeneity has been good enough to win three of the past four presidential elections, and theres no sign they wish to change, especially now, in the third term of the former Barry Soetero. So ideologically rigid and confident are they that theyve cheerfully jettisoned their former base, the now-vilified white working class, and have never looked back.

Unlike a GOP which has taken too readily to heart William F. Buckleys famous standing athwart history, yelling Stop! maxim, the Democrats stand for something they call progress: fiscal irresponsibility, the collapse of traditional American values and virtues, sexual license, military weakness, cultural pornography, and civilizational fecklessness, all in the name of diversity, tolerance, and fairness.

What does the GOP stand for? The party fought Trump every step of the way, double-crossed him constantly, feebly supported his policy positions, undercut his authority via the media at every opportunity, and otherwise made it clear to the conservative electorate that in the GOP establishment they had an enemy every bit as dangerous as the Democrats.

Lenin won his counter-revolution against both the Tsar and his fellow radicals, and did so with just a relative handful of followers: Trotsky, Sverdlov, Zinoviev, Kalinin, Bukharin. Together, they delivered the intellectual destabilization of the Tsarist regime, created the conditions for the short-lived Kerensky government in early 1917, and then seized power for themselves later that year. They never had the majority of the Russian people behind them but they had one thing their rivals lacked: a will to power.

Theres a lesson here somewhere. About which, more next week.

Michael Walsh is the editor of The-Pipeline.org and the author of The Devils Pleasure Palace and The Fiery Angel, both published by Encounter Books. His latest book, Last Stands, a cultural study of military history from the Greeks to the Korean War, was recently published.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Former President Donald Trump addresses the North Carolina GOP state convention in Greenville, N.C., on June 5, 2021. (Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images)

Trump Announces Liz Harrington as New Spokesperson

Former President Donald Trump has hired a former Republican National Committee spokeswoman as his new spokesperson.

Liz Harrington has also worked as the editor-in-chief of Warroom.org and as a senior writer for the Washington Free Beacon.

Harrington replaces Jason Miller, who Trump said will be entering the private sector.

I greatly thank Jason for his servicehe is outstanding! Trump said in a statement.

Liz Harrington is a fighter. She was an important part of our receiving more votes than any incumbent President in U.S. history, far more than we received the first time we won, he added.

Harrington said in a statement released by Trumps office that it is an honor of a lifetime to represent President Trump and to stand for the truth.

At such a critical time for our country, President Trumps fighting spirit is needed now more than ever. We will not stand idly by and let America fall to the Radical Left-Wing Mob, she said.

Jason Miller waits for the departure of then-President Donald Trump on Marine One from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on June 17, 2017. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

Miller, who has been Trumps spokesperson since the president left office in January, sending out social media messages and appearing on a variety of cable television programs, will reportedly be joining a technology start-up.

Miller didnt return a request for comment. He had also served as an adviser to Trump during the 2016 campaign and performed strategy work for the 2020 campaign.

Honor of a lifetime to work with President Trump on his first two presidential campaigns  Im not going far, however. Exciting developments coming soon! Miller wrote in a tweet after praising Harrington.

Trump has been spending most of his time in Florida since being replaced by President Joe Biden but has said he plans on holding his signature rallies soon as he tried to help Republicans flip the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Trump is openly considering a third presidential bid, but wants to wait to see how the GOP fares in the midterm elections first.
Truth Tellers: Johannes Brahms: Finding Answers Deeper Than Beauty

Johannes Brahms might have been a genius, but he was still a man. He, like the rest of us, had to have his breakfast, make his living, and deal with adversity.

His close friend George Henschel, the English baritone, described Brahms, the man of 41 years as broad-chested, of somewhat short stature, with a tendency to stoutness, clean shaven; his thick straight hair of brownish color came nearly down to his shoulder. What, however, struck me the most  was the kindliness of his eyes.

He loved the society of intimate friends, he was given to good natured sarcasm, he was humble before his art, and he was generous to friends.

Brahms the Composer

Brahms the genius is more of a mystery. Unlike ordinary mortals, a miraculous synthesis often took place in his mind: From everyday life, common to us all, a vision would sometimes unfold. Thoughts and feelings would cast deep roots in his mind, become fragments of a melodic line, and after much labor, a piece of musical work would be born. This progeny would issue from the composer, take on a life of its own, make its way into the hearts of others, and continue to exist and cast its spell long after its creator had passed away.

Brahms spoke sparingly but candidly to friends about his creative genius. He once told Henschel that a thought, an idea, is an inspiration from above for which I am not responsible. It is a present, a gift, which I ought even to despise until I have made it my own by right of hard work.

In later years, he elaborated on this idea, asking the American journalist Arthur M. Abell to quote the opening lines of Homers Odyssey (Sing to me O Muse). After the words were spoken, Brahms continued: Homer sought inspiration from above just as I do when I compose, and just as Beethoven did.  I want to be inspired so that I can compose something that will uplift and benefit humanitysomething of permanent value. One might find such ideas slightly esoteric, having little to do with ordinary people like us, but truly, it has everything to do with us and our common lot. Especially Johannes Brahmss songs and choral works give voice to our need for love in all its forms; they give voice as well to our suffering, our happiness, and our helplessness before fate. His music gives reassurance, consolation, hope, and endows even the meanest existence with dignity.

Brahms set to music the texts of the foremost poets, addressing the significant milestones of lifes journeythe journey of Everyman, from dreams and hopes, through despair, to its spiritual destination. Youths kinship with nature, the awakening of love in all its forms, and the experience of lossthe human condition, in a phrasethese ultimately lead to the great spiritual world that unfolds before us.

For example, Die Mainacht (May Night), set to the text of 18th-century German poet Ludwig Christoph Holty, expresses our longing for union with another soul, our intimate connection to nature, and its power, through beauty, to fill us with wonder.

Treue Liebe dauert lange, by Ludwig Tieck, celebrates the achievement of such a union. Its sublime melodic lines breathe life into the poets words: True love long endures. May it ever be removed from sorrow and never disappear, this beloved, blessed, heavenly joy!

Though love remains, the beloved, in the course of time, is taken from us. When Brahms suffered the loss of his friend Anselm Feuerbach, the brilliant German painter, it was the source of profound sorrow; still it served as a catalyst for one of the composers finest works, Nanie. The text from Friedrich Schillers lament cites the deaths of the classical Greek figures Eurydice, Adonis, and Achilles: Even the beautiful must die  even the most perfect shall perish  but a song of lament on the lips of one who loves is wondrous.

A song of lament might be wondrous and beautiful, but it is of little comfort in the time of grief. Schicksalslied (Song of Destiny) looks grief straight in the eye. The poet Friedrich Holderlin wrote: To us is given no place of rest. Mankind suffers, blindly he shrinks, he falls from one hour to another, like the waters ever driven from cliff to cliff into the unknown. Although the work is short in duration, it is arguably the composers greatest choral masterpiece.

Ultimately, people come to realize that they need answers deeper than those beauty can supply. It is often at a time of crisis when a broad spiritual horizon appears, and solid ground is felt under ones feet. After the death of his beloved Clara Schumann, Brahms, in his despair, set the text from the Gospels:

And ye now therefore have sorrow;

but I will see you again,

and your heart shall rejoice,

and your joy no man taketh from you.

This was the revelation of Johannes Brahms the man, and the genius. He told his close friends that such works come directly from God. Yes, they come directly from God. They enter our hearts, and our hearts do, indeed, rejoice.



Raymond Beegle has performed as a collaborative pianist in the major concert halls of the United States, Europe, and South America; has written for The Opera Quarterly, Classical Voice, Fanfare Magazine, Classic Record Collector (UK), and The New York Observer. Beegle has served on the faculty of the State University of New YorkStony Brook, the Music Academy of the West, and the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria. He has taught in the chamber music division of the Manhattan School of Music for the past 28 years.
The UK's Prime Minister Boris Johnson greets Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison ahead of a meeting to formally announce a trade deal at 10 Downing Street, London, on June 15, 2021. (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

UK, Australia Reach Free Trade Agreement

The UK and Australia have agreed on the main elements of a free trade deal, prime ministers of the two countries have announced on Tuesday.

London said that the fundamentally liberalising deal will eliminate tariffs on all UK goods and boost jobs and businesses across the country. UK citizens under the age of 35 will also be able to travel and work in Australia more freely.

The agreement also covers collaboration on defence and technology.

Prime Ministers Boris Johnson and Scott Morrison discussed outstanding issues of the agreement over dinner at 10 Downing Street on Monday evening after Johnson hosted the Group of Seven leaders in Cornwall, England.

The deal is the first deal that the UK government has negotiated from scratch after Brexit on top of its continuity deals.

According to the UKs Department for International Trade, the deal will help expand the trade relationship between the two commonwealth countries, which was worth 13.9 billion ($19.57 billion) in 2020.

British cars, Scotch whisky, biscuits, and ceramics can be sold tariff-free in Australia.

British farmers are assured that there will be a cap on tariff-free imports for 15 years, using tariff rate quotas and other safeguards, and the government pledged to help farmers sell overseas, including to new markets in the Indo-Pacific.

London said the deal is a gateway into the fast-growing Indo-Pacific region and a boost to the UKs bid to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

CPTPP is a landmark 11-country trade deal that includes Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, Mexico, Singapore, Vietnam, Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, and Peru.

Johnson said that the deal opens fantastic opportunities for British businesses and consumers, as well as young people wanting the chance to work and live on the other side of the world, and that it marks a new dawn in the UKs relationship with Australia, underpinned by our shared history and common values.

Julian David CEO of techUK, Julian David, said the deal has the most advanced digital trade provisions of all the deals the UK has signed so far, opening up opportunities for our innovative businesses operating in emerging technologies, such as AI and cleantech.

He also applauded the free flow of data provisions and the ban on data localisation, which he said will allow the UKs small and medium enterprises to explore the market without the cost of having to set up servers.

We are looking forward to working with our industry and the government to make sure the sector takes full advantage of these state-of-the-art digital trade provisions, he said.

A final Agreement in Principle will be published soon for Parliaments to scrutinise.

Alexander Zhang contributed to this report.
Falun Gong practitioners in Vienna, Austria, stage a demonstration of organ harvesting of imprisoned practitioners in China during a protest against importing of human organs from China to Austria on Oct. 1, 2018. (Joe Klamar/AFP via Getty Images)

UN Human Rights Experts Extremely Alarmed by Forced Organ Harvesting Allegations in China

A dozen human rights experts affiliated with the United Nations on Monday expressed shock and dismay at what they said were credible allegations of forced organ harvesting at the hands of Chinas communist regime, targeting religious and ethnic minorities.

The experts, including special rapporteurs to the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and members of a working group on arbitrary detention, were extremely alarmed by reports of alleged organ harvesting targeting minorities, including Falun Gong practitioners, Uyghurs, Tibetans, Muslims, and Christians, in detention in China, the agency said in a statement.

Forced organ harvesting in China appears to be targeting specific ethnic, linguistic, or religious minorities held in detention, often without being explained the reasons for arrest or given arrest warrants, at different locations, the experts said in a joint statement. We are deeply concerned by reports of discriminatory treatment of the prisoners or detainees based on their ethnicity and religion or belief.

The experts, who are not tied to any government or organization and serve in the U.N. human rights system as independent specialists, formulated their opinion on the basis of what the OHCHR said was credible information that certain categories of detainees in China were being forcibly subjected to blood tests and organ examinations without their consent. The results of the examinations, which include ultrasound tests and X-rays, were reportedly registered in a database of living organ sources used to match organs to potential recipients, OHCHR said.

According to the allegations received, the most common organs removed from the prisoners are reportedly hearts, kidneys, livers, corneas, and, less commonly, parts of livers. This form of trafficking with a medical nature allegedly involves health sector professionals, including surgeons, anesthetists, and other medical specialists, the experts said.

OHCHR said experts have previously raised the issue with Chinese authorities in 2006 and 2007, but the response they received lacked critical data such as waiting times for organ allocation, or information on the sources of organs.

In this context, the lack of available data and information-sharing systems are obstacles to the successful identification and protection of victims of trafficking and effective investigation and prosecution of traffickers, OHCHR said, adding that a separate U.N. human rights investigation mechanism highlighted concerns about removing organs from prisoners of a certain religious minority, though it did not specify which.

Despite the gradual development of a voluntary organ donation system, information continues to emerge regarding serious human rights violations in the procurement of organs for transplants in China, the experts said.

The U.N. agency said there is persistent concern about the lack of independent oversight around consent and allocation of organs from prisoners or detainees. OHCHR called on the Chinese regime to promptly respond to the allegations of organ harvesting and to allow independent monitoring by international human rights mechanisms.

The experts included Siobhan Mullally, special rapporteur on trafficking in persons, Fernand de Varennes, special rapporteur on minority issues, Ahmed Shaheed, special rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, and Nils Melzer, special rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment. Special rapporteurs are part of the largest body of independent experts in the U.N. human rights system.

Allegations that individuals acting on behalf of the Chinese regime have been removing vital organs from prisoners, who died in the process, for transplant surgery first surfaced in 2006.

Since then, more evidence has been presented in numerous reports, including a judgment by an independent tribunal chaired by Sir Geoffrey Nice, who previously led the prosecution of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic for war crimes.

The London-based China Tribunal concluded in March 2020 that forced organ harvesting had taken place in China for years on a significant scale, with Falun Gong practitioners being the principal source of human organs. The tribunals report also noted that other minority groups such as Uyghurs, Tibetan Buddhists, and house church Christians are also subject to the abuse.

Falun Gong, a spiritual practice, consists of meditative exercises and moral teachings centered on truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance. Twenty-two years ago, the Chinese communist regime launched a campaign to eradicate Falun Gong, and subjected more than 70 million adherents to harassment, detention, forced labor, torture, and forced organ harvesting.

Dorothy Li contributed to this report.
President of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen (L) and President Joe Biden arrive for an EU-US summit at the European Union headquarters in Brussels on June 15, 2021. (Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP via Getty Images)

US and EU Reach Deal to End 17-Year Boeing-Airbus Trade Dispute

President Joe Biden agreed with European Union (EU) leaders on Tuesday to end a trade dispute over aircraft subsidies by suspending tariffs to Boeing and Airbus, officials said.

Today, the United States and the European Union made a major breakthrough in the Boeing-Airbus trade dispute, which has lasted more than 16 years, Biden said in a White House statement. Both the U.S. and EU agreed to suspend our tariffs for five years, and we committed to ensuring a level playing field for our companies and our workers.

The transatlantic dispute over aircraft subsidies was already set to reach an agreement earlier this year. The deal will officially become effective on July 11phasing out tariffs worth $11.5 billion for a period of five years.

The dispute over aircraft subsidies has dragged on since 2004 and intensified last year after the U.S. Trade Representatives Office (USTR) said in February 2020 it would increase tariffs on aircrafts imported from the EU by 5 percent.

U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai told reporters the United States could reimplement the tariffs if companies are not able to compete fairly with those in Europe.

U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai speaks during a hearing with the House Ways and Means committee at Capitol Hill on May 13, 2021 in Washington DC. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Todays announcement resolves a long-standing irritant in the U.S.-EU relationship, Tai said, as Biden met with EU leaders in Belgium. Instead of fighting with one of our closest allies, we are finally coming together against a common threat, she added, referring to China.

We agreed to work together to challenge and counter Chinas non-market practices in this sector in specific ways that reflect our standards for fair competition. This includes collaboration on inward and outbound investment and technology transfer.

Besides the talking point over aircraft subsidies, Biden also discussed with the leaders of the three Baltic countriesEstonia, Latvia, and Lithuaniathe emerging security challenge posed by China, and expressed his gratitude to the leaders for the steps that they have taken to support a trusted 5G platform and to not accept Chinas Huawei technology in their systems.

The U.S. and EU will work together in specific ways that reflect our high standards, including collaborating on inward and outbound investment and technology transfer, Biden said. Its a model we can build on for other challenges posed by Chinas economic model.

The European Union also mentioned to Biden during the NATO Summit it wants to reach a deal on metal tariffs, but European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen noted that the priority was aircraft subsidies.

President of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen (L), President Joe Biden and European Council President Charles Michel arrive for an EU-US summit at the European Union headquarters in Brussels on June 15, 2021. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)

Biden hasnt mentioned any plans so far to lift tariffs on steel and aluminum in the EUwhich were imposed by his predecessor, President Donald Trump. Trump said at the time the tariffs are part of an effort to protect American industry and workers from what he described as unfair international competition.

Airbus, which is headquartered in France but also has centers in Germany and Spain, welcomed the agreement.

This will provide the basis to create a level playing field which we have advocated for since the start of this dispute. It will also avoid lose-lose tariffs that are only adding to the many challenges that our industry faces, an Airbus spokesperson said in a statement.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

From NTD News
Russia's President Vladimir Putin (front L) and China's President Xi Jinping (C) arrive for the welcome banquet for leaders attending the Belt and Road Forum at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, on April 26, 2019. (Nicolas Asfouri/Pool/Getty Images)

Why Xi Jinping Demanded the CCP Tone Down Its Aggressive Foreign Policy

Commentary

Chinas wolf warriors may have to start behaving. Xi Jinping recently delivered a speech to senior Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials, calling on them to create an image of a credible, lovable and respectable China, according to a report by state-run media Xinhua.

Xi told the officials to get a grip on their diplomatic tone, be modest, humble, and more friendly to other nations.

It is necessary to make friends, unite and win over the majority, and constantly expand the circle of friends [when it comes to] international public opinion, Xi said.

A few days ago, three U.S. Senators visited Taiwan and arrived in Taipei on a U.S. military aircraft, rather than a private jet. Chinas defense ministry denounced the visit and the use of the military aircraft, and demanded that the United States handle the Taiwan issue cautiously. Compared with remarks made by CCP officials amid recent conflicts with the United States, this tone is much softer.

Now that the United States is truly mobilizing to combat the CCPs growing influence, the pressure may be too much for the CCP to handle. There are a number of reasons that could explain why Xi is directing the CCP to tone down its aggressive approach in dealing with other nations. Lets take a look at it from a geopolitical perspective.

Which Side Is Russia On?

Russia is a key factor within the CCPs strategy to grow and maintain its global power geopolitically. The United States and China are aware of Russias power as the third player amid rising tensions between Washington and Beijing.

U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin are scheduled to meet at a hotel in Geneva on June 16, a meeting that makes the CCP very nervous. The CCPs relationship with Russia is a key factor in the Chinese regimes ability to maintain pressure against the United States.

The president of Xinhua News Agency asked Putin to address China-Russia relations at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on June 4. Putin responded that the relationship between the two nations is very good, hailing the recent $270 billion supply contract between Russian oil giant Rosneft and Chinese state firm CNPC, set to last for the next 25 years. In his remarks, Putin called the oil agreement absolutely unprecedented.

CCP state media quickly took advantage of Putins praise of the oil deal and reported the Russian leader as saying that the bond between the two nations is the best in the history of Sino-Russian relations. In June, Xinhua ran numerous articles exalting the strength and unity of the friendly ties between China and Russia.

Many of Chinas leading scholars on Sino-Russian relations recently released high profile statements glorifying the friendship between both countries.

(L) President Joe Biden waits to speak as he visits the Sportrock Climbing Centers in Alexandria, Va., on May 28, 2021. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) (R) Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers a speech during a meeting with members of the Council of Legislators of the Federal Assembly, at the Tauride Palace, in Saint Petersburg, Russia, on April 27, 2021. (Alexei Danichev/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images)

China and Russia need to work together to maintain regional stability, said Sun Zhuangzhi, a Sino-Russia expert from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, in a Global Times article.

Xie Fuzhan, dean of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, also spoke on the issue at an international conference. China and Russia, as responsible countries, adhere to the ideas of peaceful development and are determined to form a fair world order.

Yet Russian leaders have shown restraint while publicly speaking about relations with China. Similar to Putin, Russian Foreign Minister Sergoy Lavrovs tone on Sino-Russia relations does not outwardly confirm a close alliance with the CCP.

While Russian leaders have been emphasizing cooperation in economics and trade, and pandemic prevention, they refrain from discussing strategic relations and the impression of an established China and Russian alliance.

The fact is, China and Russia do indeed work together to advance their respective national interests.

After Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, the country was jointly sanctioned by the United States and Western countries. In response, Russia took the initiative to strengthen its alliance with China in order to present a threat to Western nations, easing the pressure of Western economic sanctions.

In early June 2019, China and Russia signed a joint statement on the comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation between the two countries.

Its a fact that Russia and China have a recent history of forming strategic alliances against Western nations. In that case, why has Russia refrained from openly announcing an alliance with China?

As the rivalry between China and United States grows, Russia stands to benefit from its position in the middle. A clear partnership with China would cut Russia off from U.S. benefits. A clear partnership with the United States would cut Russia off from Chinese benefits.

The Russian government has a history of acting ruthlessly to get what it wants, and the CCP knows it. During World War II, the Soviet Union and Poland created an alliance treaty. When Germany attacked Poland, the Soviet Union sent troops and the Poles believed the Soviets would come to their aid. Instead, the Soviets seized the opportunity to occupy half of Poland. Many Poles surrendered to Soviet Russia to avoid being captured by Nazi Germany.

During World War II, the Soviet Union was also worried about a Japanese attack, so it deployed a large number of troops in the Far East. In order to deter Japan, the Soviet Union provided large amounts of aid to the Republic of China, supporting Chiang Kai-sheks resistance to Japan.

However, in 1941, the Soviet Union signed a peace treaty with Japan, permitting Japans occupation of the three eastern provinces in China. The Soviet Union immediately ceased all support to pre-Communist China, an act that enraged Chiang Kai-shek.

At the helm of Putin, Russia knows that a vague stance between China and the United States is in its own best interesta development that has evoked the CCPs anxiety about its geopolitical security.

South Koreas Shifting Loyalty

South Korean President, Moon Jae-in, recently met with President Biden. Following their meeting, the United States and South Korea released a joint statement addressing key points regarding Chinas geopolitical interests.

In the statement, Moon surprised many by agreeing that South Korea would work with the United States on peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

After Moon came to power in 2017, South Koreas foreign policy shifted to balance a relationship between both China and the United States, relying on the United States for military protection and China for economic development.

President Joe Biden (R) and South Korean President Moon Jae-in participate in a joint press conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington on May 21, 2021. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Under Moon, the relationship between South Korea and Japan soured immensely. Three-way military cooperation between the United States, Japan, and South Korea effectively ceased.

The relationship between the United States and South Korea also greatly cooled. Moon opted into the CCPs Three Nos policy: no participation in the U.S. missile defense system; no additional deployment of the THAAD system; and no joining the ROK-U.S.-Japan military alliance. Through its diplomacy with South Korea, the CCP effectively broke down the U.S.-East Asian security triangle.

South Koreas importance is in its role within the U.S.-Japan-Korea Iron Triangle in the U.S. West Pacific strategy.

In order to effectively contain China and respond to the North Korean nuclear issue, Washington is prioritizing to re-establish cooperation among South Korea, Japan, and the United States.

After Biden and Moon met at the end of May, the White House released a statement reaffirming trilateral security cooperation among South Korea, Japan, and the United States.

Why did South Korea seek U.S. reconciliation and accept the trilateral negotiation? The main reason is that the United States is redrawing its economic map, dividing the global supply chain into low- and high-end industries.

The United States is determined to decouple the supply chain of high-end technology from China, and this is reflected in the recently passed Innovation and Competition Act. The complete decoupling of advanced technology is tantamount to the reorganization of the global high-tech supply chain.

The new plans for an updated American supply chain have included Europe, India, Japan, and Taiwan. Notably, the plans leave out South Korea due to its growing relationship with China.

Without access to the U.S. technology supply chain, the South Korean economy would suffer.

Before the 1960s, South Koreas economy revolved around agriculture and farming. South Koreas pivot to technology exports and manufacturing fueled its astronomical economic growth from the 1960s to 1980s, establishing it as a top global economy. In the 1980s, it overtook other promising world economies such as Brazil, Latin Americas strongest economy. Brazils growth was propelled by exporting technology to the U.S. market.

South Korea now serves as a model for export-driven nations with technology as its biggest export, specifically, electrical machinery. In 2019, the country exported $85.2 billion in integrated circuits.

The United States and Japan remain two of its key export partners, right after China. If South Korea is excluded from technology trading developments with the United States and its allies, it stands to lose its position as a leading technology exporter. South Koreas future economic growth would certainly suffer immensely. This is why Moon visited Biden in the United States.

Soon after the meeting, Moon and Biden released a joint statement declaring shared cooperation on issues such as protecting the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea, maintaining the THAAD system, and ending the South Korea Ballistic Missile Range Guidelines signed in 1979, which would lift the 497-mile limit on the range of South Korean missiles. This is why South Korea is willing to conduct tripartite security negotiations with the United States and Japan.

One of the CCPs greatest diplomatic achievements was to successfully remove South Koreas participation in the U.S.-Japan-Korea Iron Triangle. But with these recent developments, this key achievement is lost.

In the past few years, China has strained its diplomatic relations with India, Australia, Canada, Britain, and the European Union. Only Russia remains, yet China cannot guarantee confidence from Putin. South Korea has now also announced cooperation with the United States. This is the geopolitical context for Beijing to change its foreign policy approach.

It may already be too late for the wolf warriors to backtrack now.

Alexander Liao is a columnist and journalist in research on international affairs in the United States, China, and Southeast Asia. He has published a large number of reports, commentaries, and video programs in newspapers and Chinese financial magazines in the United States and Hong Kong.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Politburo Standing Committee member Wang Yang (L), President Xi Jinping (C) and Premier Li Keqiang applaud after the result of the vote on changes to Hong Kong's election system was announced during the closing session of the National Peoples Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 11, 2021. (Nicolas Asfouri/AFP via Getty Images)

Xi Wants Officials to Get Two Faced in Spreading the CCPs Agenda to the World: Experts

As Beijing gears up for a major charm offensive to endear the West, expect no genuine change from the Chinese Communist Partyonly more cunning, analysts warn.

In late May, Chinese leader Xi Jinping convened a study session, telling top communist officials to make it a priority to create a trustworthy, lovable, and respectable Chinese image.

That, according to Xi, requires them to widen their circle of friends, win over the majority, and pay attention to the strategy and art of narrative warfare so that on key issues they can make themselves heard. They must set the tone right to present themselves as both open and confident, yet modest and humble, said Xi.

The communist leaders speech was a call to arms directed at the officialdom, said Sydney-based academic Feng Chongyi.

Hes waging a war of words to control global narratives, Feng, a China studies professor at the University of Technology, told The Epoch Times.

Xi, he said, was trying to help his minions work more effectively.

In the leaders view, the regime hasnt done enough to deceive the world with so-called positive stories coming from China, so now it needs to double down, Feng said.

A Self-Rescue Measure

While the regimes efforts to sway the global narrative are not new, the current international pressure has given it added urgency.

The Chinese regime has suffered a series of setbacks as its diplomats have sparred with countries around the world under an aggressive approach, known as wolf warrior diplomacy.

In the European Union, lawmakers have shelved a proposed EU-China trade agreement several years in the making, after Beijing imposed retaliatory sanctions on Parliament members.

Australia, which has borne the brunt of Beijings anger after last year calling for an independent investigation into the origins of the pandemic, recently teamed up with New Zealanda country that had been a reluctant critic of Chinato express grave concerns about Beijings tightening control of Hong Kong and its treatment of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang, which a growing number of countries have recognized as a genocide.

In the Philippines, the Chinese regimes amassing of hundreds of militia-manned boats in disputed reefs lying in Manilas territorial waters triggered rage from the countrys officials. Philippine foreign secretary issued an expletive-laden warning on Twitter demanding Chinese fishing vessels to stay off disputed waters. Even President Rodrigo Duterte, who has historically been friendly toward the regime, threatened to send military ships to the South China Sea to stake a claim over resources in the disputed region.

NATO Heads of the states and governments pose for a family photo during the NATO summit at the Alliances headquarters, in Brussels, Belgium on June 14. (Yves Herman/Pool/Reuters)

This week, both the Group of Seven (G-7) rich nations and NATO turned their focus to challenges posed by the Chinese regimea sign of an emerging coordinated effort by democracies to confront Beijing.

With the regimes handling of the pandemic attracting rising scrutiny, negative views of China surging in some countries, and anger mounting toward Beijings human rights abuses, the West appears to be cornering Chinas communist party, said Huang Jinqiu, a writer and dissident based in eastern Chinas Zhejiang Province. The challenge is multifaceted, from economically to militarily to ideologically, he added.

From the perspective of the ruling party, there is the danger that the cold war may turn hot, and it is eager to get out of the dilemma, Huang said.

How do you break it through? You begin by winning their hearts, he said. And this is where propaganda comes into play.

This is a self-rescue measure to improve its global image so that its not always the villain that everyone mocks, he said.

Such propaganda could come in a variety of forms and may not be as visible as people think, said Huang, who pointed to the state-funded Chinese cultural programs, popular Chinese-owned apps, and advertorials by Chinese state-run media placed in Western outlets.

A lot of Westerners may not want to have anything to do with China, but they may think highly of TikTok and, because of the product, develop a fonder feeling for China, he said, referring to the Chinese-owned video app that the Trump administration had attempted to ban over data security concerns.

Two-Faced Strategy

But Hua Po, a Beijing-based political analyst, cautioned that Chinese diplomats are unlikely to abandon their fiery rhetoric any time soon.

While Xis call for modesty and humility might seemingly contradict their aggressive style, to the regime it is only a matter of strategy, said Hua.

The so-called humility is just a tactic. You want to be a bit more tactful in some areas, such as promoting Chinese culture, so its easier for people to accept [the propaganda].

But underlying this strategy, the goal is still the same: the regime wont back down from its fight for discourse power with the West, Hua said, referring to Xis desire to control public discussion all over the world.

In the meantime, the regime may opt for a softer approach toward certain countries to get them on its side, while holding an aggressive stance toward others, according to Hua. For instance, that would mean being insistent toward America, harsh reprisals toward Australia, befriending Germany and European countries, and a combination of both for Canada.

That Beijing was not going to retreat diplomatically was evident in remarks made by scholar Zhang Weiwei, who was the only academic invited to lecture senior officials at Xis study session, in an English interview with Chinese Communist Party (CCP) mouthpiece Peoples Daily on June 1.

Journalists sit next to the screens showing Chinese Leader Xi Jinping delivering a speech via video on Nov. 4, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

The Chinese story had not yet been told very well to the outside world, especially in a language in a way that foreigners can understand, the Fudan University professor said. He blamed it as mainly a problem on the part of the West.

Zhang further declared that theres no way to contain a country like China. Doing so, he said, would only result in mutually assured destruction.

Feng, the Sydney academic, described the new approach as a two-faced strategy.

This is not to reject wolf-warrior diplomacy, but rather to complement it, he said. They are refining their deception skills and getting more cunning.

You play either the wolf or the cat depending on the circumstance, he said.

No matter how cunning the tactics, there are limits to what the regime can do, said Feng.

The CCP has gone too far, he said. Even its friends, the so-called panda-huggers, find it embarrassing to speak on their behalf.

Luo Ya contributed to this report.
WILTON  This years graduation was the final culmination of a very challenging school year, according Wilton High School Principal Robert ODonnell. And on June 12, the schools seniors celebrated on Tom Fujitani Field in front of a packed bleachers section of parents and supporters.

Initially, ODonnell gave the senior students a choice between a drive-thru graduation parade, like the one held for the Class of 2020, or a more traditional ceremony at Veterans Memorial Field. The seniors chose the latter, and last weekend many of the seniors and staff hoped the event would mark the end of a journey forced upon them by the coronavirus pandemic.

As you know, no other graduating class has experienced quite the challenges that you have, said Kristina Harvey, the faculty speaker for the Class of 2021. No class has had to grapple with and come to terms with the reality of uncertainty like you have. No class has truly learned how to appreciate the ordinary moments like you have.

She weaved through the tale of learning the school would close for a presumed two-week period in March 2020. Harvey quipped that she thought she could almost hear cheering from Wilton students all the way to her home in Westport.

Suddenly, it was as if we were floating in space on the dark side of the moon, cut off from everything familiar. The topography and landscape of our lives changed in an instant, Harvey said. Our lives were suddenly blanketed with a muting silence. We were separated, distant. So much silence and uncertainty and what we didnt realize at the time was that we were given a reset button. We were given a chance to reassess what is truly important, who is truly important, and to discover the miracle of the ordinary.

Harvey said she saw this class as a source of inspiration and strength, even when she was feeling uncertainty. She lauded the students for their adaptability and willingness to learn despite unprecedented circumstances.

The Class of 2021 valedictorian Lily Mikita, who will be attending Baldwin Wallace University in Ohio and plans to pursue a bachelors degree in acting, pointed to her struggles and detailing how she overcame them through feeling a sense of community with her peers. She spoke of how she valued her time back together with her class, even if it was different than before.

Our time apart has reinforced the importance of gathering together, like we are on this beautiful afternoon, Mikita said. When I think of my communities, I think of the relationships I have with many of the people sitting in front of me. I am reminded of the joy I get from self-expression and reaching a common goal. All of these communities help us to grow to become interesting and engaged individuals. This individuality and diversity of thought and experience is what makes our school and larger community thrive.

She finished with a focus on a common theme held throughout the ceremony  resilience.

Our brilliance comes from our bravery to adapt to new situations and support one another in the pursuit of growth and progress, Mikita said. Our educators lend us their shoulders to stand on, so we can make a brighter future, just as we will lend our shoulders to those who will come after us. So as we gather here together one last time to acknowledge our common ties, we go forth into this new world, this new normal, to explore who we are and who we will become as people and as citizens.

As a class gift, Class of 2021 Secretary Tori DiRocco presented a donation to the custodial staff for their efforts, and a donation of benches to be placed in the senior parking lot for more outdoor lunch seating.

DiRocco added a huge thank you to everyone who had helped raise funds over the past four years to make the gifts possible.

Senior Class President Neil Satsangi spoke of how the past few years have been anything but routine.

If I was to summarize my high school journey in one word, it would be unpredictable, Satsangi told the crowd. Because the truth is, each year was very different from the previous one.

He left the ceremony with one final piece of advice: As you head into the next chapter in your lives, I advise you all to embrace the unpredictability and dont be afraid to take risks.
MEXICO CITY (AP)  Mexicos president said Tuesday he plans to make the National Guard part of the army, erasing the thin pretense of a civilian-controlled force that was used to gain approval for its creation two years ago.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador dissolved the former Federal Police soon after taking office in late 2018, saying the force was corrupt. He replaced it with the National Guard under the nominal control of the civilian Public Safety Department.

The idea was that the 100,000-member guard could gradually allow the army to withdraw from law enforcement duties. But the vast majority of recruits, officers and training always came from the military, often on loan.

Lopez Obrador said Tuesday he planned to propose a constitutional amendment to make the National Guard part of the Defense Department, to ensure its budget would not be cut by subsequent administrations.

The last national law enforcement force created in Mexico  the Gendarmes created by Lopez Obrador's predecessor, Enrique Pena Nieto  suffered exactly that fate.

But the army's involvement in civilian policing has drawn complaints from the opposition and human rights groups, who say they only way out of Mexico's persistent high levels of violence is to clean up and strengthen the often corrupt, underfunded and poorly trained civilian police forces.

Critics say the army's involvement in numerous human rights abuses proves it is neither trained nor suited for law enforcement.

Lopez Obrador has vastly expanded the militarys role in Mexicos economy and policing. He has put the military in charge of seaports and customs inspections, and has given the navy part ownership of the multi-modal rail and port link across the countrys southern isthmus.

In December, he gave the army operating control and any profits from another of his pet projects, the Maya Train across the Yucatan Peninsula. The army would use any profits to finance military pensions, though it is not clear the project will make money.

Army engineers are already in charge of building many of Mexicos infrastructure projects.

While Mexican generals played leading roles in the 1910-17 revolution and post-revolutionary governments in the 1920s and 1930s, since the 1940s the army has been unusual in Latin America in that it has rigorously stayed out of politics and the general economy.

In return, a long succession of Mexican presidents made the army off-limits to outside scrutiny. By tradition, there has never been a civilian defense secretary, and the president does not directly name the person for that post, choosing from a list of acceptable generals submitted by the army.

The president is a big fan of the military, saying it is patriotic, honest institution. He does not want his pet projects to be privatized by subsequent administrations, and sees the military, which has traditionally enjoyed both respect and autonomy, as a safe place for them.
NORWALK  State officials have closed an investigation into allegations of misconduct by a Brien McMahon High School staff member, according to the state Department of Education.

Peter Yazbak, a spokesperson for the department, said on Tuesday the department did not take any action in response to the investigation. Yazbak said the probe ended after another agency resolved the issue, but he did not identify the organization.

In late April, the department, which oversees the states public schools, disclosed that it had opened an investigation into issues of concern regarding an unnamed educator at Brien McMahon.

The disclosure came just weeks after Norwalk Public Schools placed three Brien McMahon employees on administrative leave, including Scott Hurwitz, the schools principal.

Hurwitz was placed on leave in early April to allow the district to address an undisclosed personnel matter, Brenda Wilcox Williams, the districts chief of staff and communications, said at the time.

Days later the districts internal inquiry widened to include two assistant principals: Barbara Wood and Qadir Abdus-Salaam. Wood was allowed to return to work in early May, while Hurwitz and Abdus-Salaam are scheduled to return Wednesday, according to an email sent to parents Tuesday evening.

The school system has declined to offer a reason behind the decision to place the administrators on leave, but district officials have stressed that the employees have not been disciplined or fired.

In an effort to dispel rumors and to ease concerns among parents, Superintendent Alexandra Estrella has said that the ongoing probe is not related to allegations of sexual misconduct.

As a parent, I am sympathetic to the concerns and questions you all may have, and I want to assure you that the safety of all Norwalk Public Schools students is of paramount importance, Estrella wrote in an April 24 email to parents. To that end, I want to dispel those rumors that have been most upsetting to our community and clarify that we are not investigating any allegations of sexual abuse or sexual misconduct.

At the time, Yazbak also confirmed that the state probe did not involve allegations of sexual misconduct based upon the information we have at this time.

Norwalk police officials have said the department has not been notified of any issue at the school that would result in a criminal investigation.

It is unclear which agency resolved the issue that prompted the state Department of Educations investigation. It is also unclear if the educator accused of misconduct was found to have violated any state or local policies. Wilcox Williams, the spokesperson for the district, did not respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.

Hurwitz, a former teacher and housemaster, has served as principal since 2017. His lengthy absence worried parents and students who relied on his leadership for the last four years.

Tracy Gulick, the co-president of the Brien McMahon Parent Teacher Student Association and the parent of two Brien McMahon students, described Hurwitz as an ethical principal who always makes time to speak with students.

I dont need to know why hes gone. I just need him back, Gulick said. School is not the same when hes not there. You can sail a ship all you want, but without your captain, trust me, its not going the right way.

Julie Begos, the co-president of the Senators Success Fund, an independent nonprofit that raises money for Brien McMahon projects, called Hurwitz a huge advocate for the students at the school. She noted he has implemented an array of successful new projects and has helped improve the schools International Baccalaureate program.

Begos said she is worried that the confusion surrounding Hurwitzs absence might prompt teachers to look for jobs elsewhere and could cause parents to consider sending their children to a different school.

I think that the school really suffered from not having a clear leader at the helm, she said. Everything he does seems to be for the students. Just watching him in action has made me confident in his abilities.

richard.chumney@hearstmediact.com
WESTPORT  The town is set to receive about $142,000 more in state aid for the coming fiscal year under a budget passed last week.

According to information released last week, Westport is set to receive $594,745 in non-education aid, and $523,733 in education aid, for a total of $1,118,478. Westport town officials said, when grants for town aid road and the local capital improvement program are added, the total amount of state aid is $1,663,283

Both town and state officials said Westport is receiving an increase of $142,031 from the funding received during the previous fiscal year.

Because the money was received after the towns budget was completed, the additional funds will go into the towns general fund to cover any changes to the operating budget, town operations director Sara Harris said.

It will be considered additional revenue at the end of the year if there is not an expense overage of revenue reduction that needs to be covered, she said.

Both she and First Selectman Jim Marpe acknowledge that other communities  particularly big cities  received more state funding. For instance, Bridgeport is on track to receive a total of $228,787,289 from the state, representing an increase of $12,452,758 from the previous fiscal year.

We appreciate the state funding we get but realize that, as an affluent community, were going to receive less than other communities might, Marpe said.

Much more significant, Marpe and Harris said, is the roughly $8.4 million in federal funding Westport is set to receive this year and next through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, the sixth federal COVID-19 relief bill passed in the last year. Westports funds will come in two blocks  $4.215 million this year and another $4.215 million next year.

Harris said that money will be used first to offset any COVID-related expenditures or revenue losses.

Thereafter, we are considering using the funds for ADA accessibility improvements, she said. We await additional guidance before committed how those funds might be spent on other priorities.
BRUSSELS (AP)  NATO leaders on Monday expanded the use of their all for one, one for all, mutual defense clause to include a collective response to attacks in space.

Article 5 of NATOs founding treaty states that an attack on any one of the 30 allies will be considered an attack on them all. Until now, its only applied to more traditional military attacks on land, sea, or in the air, and more recently in cyberspace.

In a summit statement, the leaders said they consider that attacks to, from, or within space" could be a challenge to NATO that threatens "national and Euro-Atlantic prosperity, security, and stability, and could be as harmful to modern societies as a conventional attack.

Such attacks could lead to the invocation of Article 5. A decision as to when such attacks would lead to the invocation of Article 5 would be taken by the North Atlantic Council on a case-by-case basis, they said.

Around 2,000 satellites orbit the earth, over half operated by NATO countries, ensuring everything from mobile phone and banking services to weather forecasts. Military commanders rely on some of them to navigate, communicate, share intelligence and detect missile launches.

In December 2019, NATO leaders declared space to be the alliances fifth domain of operations, after land, sea, air and cyberspace. Many member countries are concerned about what they say is increasingly aggressive behavior in space by China and Russia.

Around 80 countries have satellites, and private companies are moving in, too. In the 1980s, just a fraction of NATOs communications was via satellite. Today, its at least 40%. During the Cold War, NATO had more than 20 stations, but new technologies mean the worlds biggest security organization can double its coverage with a fifth of that number.

NATOs collective defense clause has only been activated once, when the members rallied behind the United States following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

Former President Donald Trump raised deep concern among U.S. allies, notably those bordering Russia like Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, when he suggested that he might not rally to their side if they didnt boost their defense budgets.

President Joe Biden has been trying to reassure them since taking office and has used the summit, his first at NATO, as a formal opportunity to underline Americas commitment to its European allies and Canada.

Biden said Monday that Article 5 is a sacred obligation among allies. I just want all of Europe to know that the United States is there," he said. "The United States is there.
Heres an update on the planning for Essex Crossing, the large residential and commercial project coming to the former Seward Park urban renewal area.

First off, Community Board 3 has been asked by Delancey Street Associates, the development team, to appoint a group to provide input regarding a park-like space on Broome Street. The community-driven process is part of the agreement signed by the builders earlier this year. Last week, CB3 announced that its parks committee would be the venue for envisioning the 15,000 square foot park. Public meetings will take place in the first part of 2014 to solicit feedback from the neighborhood. Also, CB3 has appointed a point-person to work with the developers with the overall design of Essex Crossing. Gigi Li, the community boards chairperson, has given the job to Ricky Leung, who served on the committee that has spent much of the past four years developing guidelines for the Seward Park project. In addition to his role as a tenant activist in the Two Bridges Neighborhood, Leung is an architect. Hell work in tandem with a community task force advising the developers.

Also last week, the land use committee discussed the future of vendors in the Essex Street Market. As we have been reporting, longtime vendor Carmen Salvador of Three Brothers Clothing was forced from the market. She has now filed a lawsuit against the Economic Development Corp., which runs the Essex Market and is overseeing the Seward Park development project. The city did not send a representative to the meeting and has declined to discuss Salvadors situation other than to say she was given several opportunities to address issues (which  according to Salvador  concern her operating days and hours). The land use committee approved a resolution acknowledging that all the facts are not publicly known but objecting to the eviction, which Salvador said happened before the city provided any kind of written notice. The community board is calling on the EDC to provide clear procedures for terminating vendor permits. Agreements between CB3 and the city protect all merchants in good standing who wish to make the move to a new market when it opens several years for now. CB3 now wants to establish guidelines protecting the vendors between now and then. Representatives of a new Essex Street market vendor association wanted to testify last week, but they were unable to attend due to the holiday shopping rush.
An affordable housing lottery opened this morning for 99 senior apartments at 175 Delancey St., part of the Essex Crossing project.

All of the apartments, located on site 6 of the large mixed-use development, are one-bedroom units. At least one applicant must be 55 years of age or older. There are various income bands for the apartments, ranging from no income up to 90% of Area Median Income (AMI). Monthly rent will be set from $396-$1254. The largest block of apartments (75 units) are available to households earning between $21,066-$43,500/year.

Half of the apartments have been designated for residents of Community District 3. This project is, of course, rising in the former Seward Park Urban Renewal Area. Within the local set aside, former site tenants will have priority for the available units.

You can apply for these apartments through the NYC Housing Connect website. If you would like a paper application, send a request to: Essex Crossing Site 6/ Triborough Finance New Station, PO Box 2010, New York, NY 10035-9997. June 16 is the application deadline.

The Essex Crossing project will eventually include 1,078 apartments, 561 (or 52%) of them affordable. In addition to the 99 apartments, there will be a 55,000 square foot medical facility in this building from NYU Langone, a senior center and social enterprise cafe from Grand Street Settlement and an educational institution (not yet named). The 14-story building, designed by Dattner Architects, includes outdoor roof space.

Essex Crossing Project Manager Isaac Henderson said in a statement, 175 Delancey is designed specifically to meet urgent neighborhood needs  low-income seniors in particular From the outset, weve prioritized our affordable units, and now have begun construction on 313 of the projects 561 overall affordable units. Were looking forward to starting construction on the second phase of Essex Crossing later this year.

A housing lottery for another building, 145 Clinton St., got underway last month. The lotteries for two additional buildings, on Essex Crossing sites 1 and 2, will begin in the coming weeks. The project is being built by Delancey Street Associates, a consortium consisting of BFC Partners, L+M Development Partners, and Taconic Investment Partners.
Salida, CO (81201)

Today

Mostly sunny in the morning then increasing clouds with some scattered thunderstorms later in the day. High around 80F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms during the evening, then becoming mainly clear overnight. Low near 55F. SSE winds shifting to WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
News

Dunn to seek re-election as district attorney

Cindy Simpson/The Mountain Press District Attorney General Jimmy Dunn, center, announces he is running for another term. He is pictured with Allen Robbins, left, superintendent of Sevier County Electric System, who has agreed to be Dunns campaign treasurer, and, at right, Jeff Sims, who is Dunns campaign manager.

SEVIERVILLE  District Attorney General Jimmy Dunn is seeking another eight years to serve the Fourth Judicial District that includes Sevier, Cocke, Jefferson and Grainger counties.

Dunn made the announcement Monday outside the Sevier County Courthouse. During his announcement he focused on the work his office and others have done to address elder abuse.

While he discussed progress, he said his work is far from done in addressing the issue.

Im not done with my role as District Attorney General of the Fourth Judicial District, Dunn said. I am Jimmy Dunn and I will get it done.

His supporters, including campaign manager Jeff Sims, want to help Dunn continue to serve.

We are just here for you and want to support you in everything you do and we are going to make sure you get to do it, Sims said.

Dunn said as district attorney general he has focused on victims rights and continues to do so. During his time in office they have gotten funding to staff six additional victim witness coordinators.

As the population continues to age, Dunn believes elder abuse, including neglect and financial exploitation, will continue to grow as a problem.

We created the Fourth Judicial Elder Abuse Unit, Dunn said. My unit works with stakeholders in the community to not only prosecute but in coordinating resources.

I want to create a mechanism to better protect the citizens of the Fourth Judicial District. I started this unit but more needs to be done. We need a central clearinghouse for data for better access on individuals moving from county to county to avoid detection from prosecution of abuse, Dunn said.

Dunn also detailed progress in the state with new legislation that gives more teeth to prosecute elder abuse and abuse of vulnerable adults.

He also plans for his staff to get out in the community to educate people on how to identify and report suspected abuse.

Dunn has served as the District Attorney General for the Fourth District since he was first elected in 2006. Prior to that time, he served as an assistant district attorney for more than 16 years.

Dunn served in the U.S. Army as a military police officer in Germany from 1966-1968 as part of the 30th Military Police Battalion before he returned home and later became an attorney.

He graduated from the FBIs National Academy in Quantico, Virginia before later attending the Nashville School of Law. He was admitted to the Tennessee Bar in October 1986 and admitted to the Federal Bar of the Middle District of Tennessee in 1986.

Dunn and his wife Karene have a daughter, Lauren, and a son, Bruce.

Currently, Dunn serves on the Tennessee Public Safety Coalition which is comprised of the Tennessee Police Chiefs Association, the Tennessee Sheriffs Association, and the Tennessee District Attorney Generals Association. The Public Safety Coalition works together to improve legislation for the safety of all Tennesseans.

Dunn has been elected to serve as a member of the Executive Committee of the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference. As a member of the executive committee, he participates in oversights of the Conference administration, including budgeting, accounting, payroll, personnel and property management for all district attorney offices throughout the state.
Lt. Col. Alicia Rackston, left, and Maj. Rebecca Finley, discuss the Memorial Day events when they were called to bring the difficult news to a military spouse whose soldier had died.
Indonesian fisherman rescued by Phuket fishing boat after nine days adrift

PHUKET: An Indonesian fisherman was rescued by a local fishing boat and taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket Town on Sunday (June 13) after he was adrift at sea in a small boat for nine days after his boat engine failed.

marineSafety

By The Phuket News

Tuesday 15 June 2021, 01:23PM

Vice Admiral Choengchai Chomchoengphaet, Commander of the Third Naval Area Command, explained that the crew of local fishing boat Boonlaap 2 informed that Navy at 6:27pm on Sunday that they had found an Indonesian man adrift on a small boat south of Racha Noi Island, more than 30 kilometres south of Phuket.

Then at about 7:30pm, the crew informed the Navy that they would bring the man to the fishing pier on Koh Siray, Rassada, and asked for medical staff to be present when they arrived.

The man, not named in the report by the Navy, was brought ashore at about 10:30pm

The man looked exhausted and was immediately taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital, where he also would be tested for COVID-19, V/Adm Choengchai said.

In a video posted by the Navy, the man otherwise looked in good health. He was able to walk unassisted and even passed a temperature check conducted at the port.

The man told officers he had been adrift for nine days, V/Adm Choengchai said.

The mans engine had failed, and the boat was pushed across the sea by the wind until it was found by the local fishing boat, he added.

It was not reported where the man had originally put to sea.

V/Adm Choengchai said that the Navy will contact the Indonesian Consulate in Songkhla and Phuket Immigration to help get the man home.
Prayut refuses to lay vaccine blame

THAILAND: Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha refused to lay the blame for recent vaccination cancellations for individuals or state agencies when speaking to reporters at parliament yesterday (June 14), saying reports had been muddled by too many sources.

CoronavirusCOVID-19Vaccine

By Bangkok Post

Tuesday 15 June 2021, 09:30AM

Vaccines for people insured under the Social Security Act resume at the Thai-Japanese stadium in Din Daeng district, Bangkok, yesterday (June 14). The Social Security Office acted swiftly after an order from Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon. Photo: Arnun Chonmahatrakool.

Im not blaming anyone. Others may not have the same understanding of the issue because information is being passed through too many channels, Gen Prayut said while replying to questions about the stop-start nature of the national vaccination programme in some parts of the country over the past few days.

The prime minister said he has instructed the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) to reiterate his desire to balance current stocks according to demand and urgency.

He also said he wanted to see appointment numbers aligned more closely with the concept of demand so fewer people would have their appointments cancelled or be turned away.

We may have the capacity to administer 100,000 doses in a single day. But where are the vaccines for appointments on other days? he said.

Gen Prayut said he did not expect any more significant hiccups.

If any such problems still exist, [we will] do some fine-tuning, he added.

The premier reiterated that supplies are received in batches throughout the month, and the amounts are not uniform.

From now on, the appointments will be organised based on the vaccines that arrive in each batch, he said.

His remarks were made after many hospitals in Bangkok, both privately run and state-owned, announced they had suspended appointments this week because they ran out of supplies.

One city resident, who declined to be named, said she and her husband arrived at a hospital in Lat Phrao district yesterday afternoon only to be told the schedule had been deferred.

Another woman in her early 60s said that when she visited the same hospital on Sunday for a routine medical check-up the staff there had reassured her vaccinations were going ahead as planned, only to find out less than 24 hours later that her appointment had been cancelled.

We arrived at the hospital [yesterday afternoon] only to find crowds of people outside who had also had their appointments cancelled on the day. Some of them were from morning appointments.

The hospital had told them the vaccine was due to arrive within an hour or two, but that turned out not to be the case. So, after hours of waiting, we went home disappointed, she said.

Gen Prayut, meanwhile, said those who booked from the provinces via the Mor Prom application will be given priority because they made the appointments well in advance and may have made travel plans.

Certain amounts of vaccines being administered at more than 100 vaccination points in Bangkok are outside of the quota allocated to City Hall, the prime minister said.

Yesterday, the CCSA held a joint conference with Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang and Dr Opas Karnkawinpong, head of the Department of Disease Control (DDC) to explain how the rollout is being managed.

Both reiterated the aim was to procure enough vaccines for at least 70% of the population to have received both doses necessary for immunity by the end of the year.

Dr Opas said that as of June 13, 6.1 million shots had been administered, adding that 17% of the capitals residents have now had their first doses, and they included many key education personnel, public transport workers and subscribers of the social security fund.

He said City Hall is continuing to receive regular supplies of vaccine from the Public Health Ministry.
Southern Pines, NC (28387)

Today

Thunderstorms likely. High 79F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms before midnight. Low 62F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
Today

Sunshine and some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High near 95F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 62F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.

Tomorrow

Sunshine and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High near 95F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph.
Montreal, CA (H4T1V6)

Today

Steady light rain in the morning. Showers continuing in the afternoon. High 19C. Winds ENE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Cloudy in the evening, then off and on rain showers after midnight. Low 14C. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
Montreal, CA (H4T1V6)

Today

Steady light rain in the morning. Showers continuing in the afternoon. High 19C. Winds ENE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Cloudy with occasional showers late at night. Low 14C. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
Heber Springs, AR (72543)

Today

Some clouds in the morning will give way to mainly sunny skies for the afternoon. High 86F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Clear skies. Low around 60F. Winds light and variable.
Adam Gardner once said, I never really thought of community service as a movement, but it is. With this quote in mind, I recently had the opportunity to discuss with a veteran media executive the types of local content their media company provided to their local community. He mentioned typical, yet important content offerings, such as the city government happenings, school board meetings, local high school sports, the crime report, marriages, divorces, obituaries, news business openings, civic club news and a few stories about the good things going on around town.

I want to stress these are important elements to include as a part of the local coverage. That said, I also want to stress these items are the minimum point of entry for a truly local news-media company.

The community expects and needs this type of local coverage each and every week. In most cases, when your media provides that coverage, they are simply hurdling the lowest bar in the quest for community greatness. To truly win over a community and convince the community how much they need their media, the product needs to not only clear the lowest bar, they need to shoot for and clear bars much higher.

In order to work effectively with a community, the news-media company must be a community leader. Your local media is one of the few businesses within a community having the unique ability simply by their position in the community, to lead change, as well as being at the forefront of transformation.

Simply put, they can help drive the community by their actions and understanding. In their position, they are an important ingredient in the communitys quest to thrive, and not just survive, in these difficult economic times.

How might your local news-media company accomplish this and how can the community assist?

While the answer will vary by community, here are a few common traits. The media can educate the community about the value of your locally owned businesses. They can teach the community that $1 spent at a locally owned business has three to seven times the local economic impact than spending that $1 at Walmart or online.

With your help, they can be a leader in educating your entire community on this one simple element. The business community will embrace this critical message.

Does your community understand that spending $1 on your downtown district versus other areas of the community on average will return 40% more for their investment dollar? The downtown is the heart and soul of a community. By working with community leaders voicing this information, both the city and the media company are much more effective in advocating and voicing this critical information. Working together, the media and the community can conquer mountains that otherwise would be difficult, at best, to conquer.

In essence, by working together, the community and media company are much greater than the sum of each of their individual parts. By working together with the community, business owners, chambers, civic clubs and others, they can harness an army of volunteers to drive change through the dissemination of information that goes far beyond that which was mentioned at the outset of this column.

Together they can be the start of a community movement that cant be stopped. Together they can create the environment of positive change and effective, as well as productive, disruption. You can do this together, or risk being the disrupted in lieu of the disrupter. Your community will see the value of the media, especially when coupled with fellow community organizations engaged in moving forward. You will have started a movement that will only build steam as it grows.

John A. Newby is author of the Building Main Street, Not Wall Street column; contact him at john@Truly-Localllc.com.
Some poor and working-class parents buttonholed legislators at the Capitol in Springfield. Others pursued lawmakers by phone, frantic to protect their childrens chance at a rigorous education. And General Assembly members evidently got the message  even Democratic legislators whose constituents rely on the scholarship program called Invest in Kids.

We write often about these scholarships and the robust futures they offer to children whose families cant afford homes in neighborhoods with reliably strong public schools. Usually were urging lawmakers to expand Invest in Kids, one of about 20 state programs like it nationwide.

So when lawmakers do the right thing, as they did in the closing days of their spring session, we want to mass-circulate this thank-you note. We also want to congratulate all the parents who persuaded legislators not to abandon the bipartisan 2017 agreement that created this program and, in the process, benefited some two million children in Illinois public and private schools.

The quick backgrounder for readers new to this important topic: Four years ago, Democrats and Republicans agreed on a smart plan that reliably would increase future state aid to public schools. The agreement included creation of Invest in Kids to help parochial and other private schools educate thousands of students whose families cant afford to pay tuition in addition to their tax dollars for public education.

Many of those children, and their parents, were desperate to escape this states least effective public schools. Even now, the waiting list for Invest in Kids is impossibly long.

As a candidate in 2018, J.B. Pritzker had catered to teachers unions that vehemently oppose anything that smacks of school choice: He called for killing Invest in Kids.

So we were not surprised early this year when Pritzker called Invest in Kids a corporate loophole and proposed slashing the programs state tax credit from 75 cents on the donated dollar to 40 cents. Nearly halving the tax credit would violate the language and the spirit of the bipartisan 2017 agreement. We retorted in mid-May with an editorial headlined, Strengthen, rather than gut, a compromise that benefits all schoolchildren.

Insert here your own opinion of a governor calling scholarships for low-income children a corporate loophole. In the school year now ended, Invest in Kids awarded scholarships  typically about $6,300  to some 7,600 students statewide.

The Illinois General Assembly not only left the tax credit intact, but extended and expanded Invest in Kids. Legislators delayed the scheduled sunset of the tax credit by one year, through December 2023. And they permitted the awarding of scholarships not only in traditional schools, but in a new class of career and technical academies. Trade union leaders have shown an interest in the creation of these schools, which would prepare students for careers that demand specialized learning, certification or other credentials. This would be an ideal way to bring young people from disadvantaged backgrounds into trades they might not otherwise encounter.

Why did lawmakers reject Pritzkers intent to slash Invest in Kids and instead give it stronger footing? The lobbying by parents and community leaders  especially from parts of Illinois with lousy public schools  was key. The relentless message to Springfield: We only want our children to have the same choices your children have. And this tax credit costs state government and school districts less than the cost of absorbing all of these students back into public schools.

By all accounts House Republicans Jim Durkin, of Western Springs, and Tom Demmer, of Dixon, worked hard for Invest in Kids; in April, the Tribune published Demmers op-ed explaining how, after his fathers death, the financial generosity of a business owner allowed Demmer and his sister to remain in their Catholic school. And we also offer a hat tip to state Rep. Lisa Hernandez, of Cicero, a member of the House Democrats leadership team, who bucked a Democratic governor to support the program.

Also among the programs defenders: Rep. Curtis Tarver, D-Chicago, who grew up on the South Side and attended Marian Catholic High School, in Chicago Heights, a strong, diverse college prep school  until his parents couldnt afford it. He has said he is passionate about the program and allowing low-income kids to graduate from their school of choice due to that experience.

Wed like to close with an assurance that these scholarships will live happily ever after. But Invest in Kids still faces that sunset. Which is regrettable. Invest in Kids now can serve only a small fraction of the families who apply and meet the income requirements. Each year many thousands of students who want scholarships to better schools are denied.

Every Illinois child who yearns for a more effective, more challenging school should be able to afford and achieve that dream.

Chicago Tribune
ALTON  Competitive kayaker Traci Lynn Martin paddled through the Riverbend during the last 24 hours as part of her journey on the Mississippi River in a quest to set a world record for the fastest time a solo female kayaker to travel the famous waterway.

Going down the Mississippi has always been on my bucket list, said Martin, of Kansas City, Missouri.

Seeing the Mississippi Speed Record group attempt to travel the Mississippi, inspired her even more. Martin, a nurse by trade, began her journey May 17.

It sort of all fell together like a jigsaw puzzle, said Martin, who paddled into Alton Monday.

She attempted to set a world record for the first time in 2017, for the longest solo journey by a surfski and circumnavigate the five Great Lakes in less than one year. Those attempts failed. Instead, last October, she became the first person in history to circumnavigate the three largest lakes in North America  Superior, Huron and Michigan  in one calendar year.

She then went on to paddle the entire south shoreline of Lake Erie. Due to a winter storm and decreasing temperatures, she fell short of a record circumnavigating the Great Lakes. She ended the attempt with 3,592 miles traveled, 230 miles short of her goal.

Martin, diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in 2010, said the expeditions are not only for the thrill and scenic views, but also to inspire all individuals who struggle every day with a chronic health condition or disability to never give up. Earlier this year, she received an additional diagnosis of scleroderma, a rare disease that involves the hardening and tightening of the skin and connective tissues. Scleroderma affects women more often than men.

As a working nurse, she noticed that people who had chronic conditions seemingly gave up on their lives, she recalled. When she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, several co-workers and friends told her how sorry they were for her that she would never kayak again.

It was really depressing, she recalled. My attitude was, Im not going to let this keep me from living my life and doing what I love.

In her latest kayaking adventure, Martin has averaged approximately 50 river miles per day. From her hometown, Martin paddles the Missouri River frequently, and the Mississippi River has been a calmer experience, she noted.

The Mississippi River has, just, far surpassed what I ever expected, she said. Its so amazingly beautiful and stunning.

To keep up with Martin on her journey visit her Facebook page or at www.justaroundthepointe.com.
BEIJING (AP)  The Chinese mission to the European Union on Tuesday denounced a NATO statement that declared Beijing a security challenge, saying China is actually a force for peace but will defend itself if threatened.

The Chinese news release said the NATO statement was a slander on Chinas peaceful development, a misjudgment of the international situation and (NATOs) own role, and a continuation of the Cold War mentality and organizational political psychology.

NATO allies joined the United States on Monday in formally scolding Beijing as a constant security challenge.

Washington has singled out China as a particular threat, especially in the South China Sea, where it has built and militarized artificial islands, as well as over its attempts to intimidate self-governing Taiwan, which it claims as its own territory to be annexed by military force if necessary.

The Chinese mission said Beijing's spending on its military is considerably less than that of NATO members and it accused the organization of conjuring up a military threat from China in order to justify its own agenda.

China will never give up the right to maintain peace but unswervingly defend our sovereignty, security and development interests," the mission said.

NATO leaders said China is working to undermine global order, a message in sync with U.S. President Joe Bidens calls to confront Beijing on Chinas trade, military and human rights practices.

In a summit statement, the leaders said that Chinas goals and assertive behavior present systemic challenges to the rules-based international order and to areas relevant to alliance security.

The leaders expressed concern about what they said were Chinas coercive policies, the opaque ways it is modernizing its armed forces and its use of disinformation.

In response, the Chines mission said Beijings military was purely for defensive purposes and its military modernization was reasonable, rational, open and transparent.

Chinas defense budget is the second largest after the U.S., but the mission said the figure of approximately $209 billion was still more than a fifth less than what NATO countries spent combined. Observers say China spends more than it says on its military by not declaring costs for new weapons and other programs.

NATO countries also maintain bases around the world and send their aircraft carriers all over the place to display their military might, the Chinese mission said.

It also referenced the bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Serbia in 1999, which killed three state media journalists. NATO has said that was the result of faulty targeting but most Chinese believe it was a deliberate attack.

The mission also said Chinas nuclear arsenal is 20 times smaller than that possessed by NATO, and that it would never be the first to use such weapons or use them against non-nuclear nations.

We will not pose a systemic challenge to anyone, but if anyone wants to pose a systemic challenge to us, we will not sit idly by, the mission said.

NATO should expend more energy on advancing dialogue and cooperation, and do more things that are truly conducive to maintaining international and regional security and stability, it said.
Illinois Caverns is back open.

It's been a decade since the cave was open to the public for tourists and explorers, but for those looking for adventure, the wait is over.

"There is no other site like this in the state of Illinois," Colleen Callahan, director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, said. "It's a whole other experience. This is all about Illinois."

The caverns are located in Monroe County south of Waterloo.

White-nose syndrome found amongst the bats living in the cave lead to its 10-year lockdown. The syndrome effects bats' hibernation efforts and can cause them to awaken frequently. The syndrome can be passed from bat to bat and it affects their skin and wings.

"We knew this was a priority," Von Brandy, director of the Office of Land Management, said of getting the cave open again.

Beginning Wednesday, June 16, visitors will be able to venture into the cave and view the underground wonders. Helmets are available at the office on site, however, you'll also want to bring a flashlight and tall boots  it's dark and wet inside.

Illinois State Rep. David Friess attended an informal reopening ceremony on Tuesday. Waterloo officials also brought ceremonial ribbon and scissors to commemorate the festivities.

Friess expressed his excitement about the opening by telling those in attendance he plans to bring his family. "Before summer's over, we're going down here," he said.

Illinois Caverns will be open weekly Wednesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
CHICAGO (AP)  An argument in a house on Chicago's South Side erupted into gunfire early Tuesday, leaving four people dead and four more injured, police said.

The shooting happened at about 5:45 a.m. in the Englewood neighborhood, police said. No one has been arrested and police provided few details about the shooting. None of the victims appeared to be juveniles.

At a news conference Tuesday morning, Police Superintendent David Brown said three of the victims who died were female and one was male. The department earlier reported that all four were female.

Detectives were trying to determine if there was more than one shooter, police spokesman Tom Ahern said. A 2-year-old child was removed safely from the house and placed in protective custody, he said.

The Cook County Medical Examiner's office identified one of the fatal victims late Monday as Ratanya Aryiel Rogers, 28. The other victims were identified by police as a 35-year-old man, a 32-year-old woman and a 19-year-old female.

The injured included two men who were shot in the back of the head. Police were unable to provide information on their conditions. A 23-year-old man who was shot in the back and a woman who suffered an unspecified gunshot wound were both in critical condition, police said.

Brown said detectives haven't been able to interview the four surviving victims, who were being treated at hospitals. But he said a witness told police there were gunshots at about 2 a.m. and that the department's ShotSpotter gunfire detection system picked up the sound of gunfire at that time. Brown did not provide any details about whether that gunfire was related to the shooting at the house. The witness told police more gunshots rang out at about 5:45 a.m.

Brown also said the police received several calls about disturbances at the residence, but did not elaborate. He said a high-capacity magazine and shell casings were recovered from the scene and that there was no apparent forced entry.

The shooting comes a few days after a woman was killed and nine other people were injured when two men opened fire on a group standing on a sidewalk in Chatham, also on the city's South Side. Police said no one has been arrested in that shooting. Several mass shootings over the weekend have stoked concerns about a spike in U.S. gun violence heading into the summer, as coronavirus restrictions ease and more people are free to socialize.

A database compiled by The Associated Press, USA Today and Northeastern University that tracks mass killings  defined as four or more dead, not including the perpetrator  shows Tuesday's shooting in Chicago is the 18th mass killing, of which 17 were shootings, so far this year in the U.S.

Englewood has long been one of the most violent communities in Chicago, and the city has experienced more homicides this year compared with the same period last year. There were 282 homicides in Chicago as of June 13, compared with 269 during the same period last year.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot told reporters that the city needs federal help to combat violence and said the White House had reached out to offer assistance.

We must acknowledge this for what it is  a tragedy thats ripped apart families and inflicted intense trauma, Lightfoot said.

Lightfoot was one of 27 mayors to sign a letter to President Joe Biden from the United States Conference of Mayors urging immediate action to combat gun violence and the flood of illegal guns pouring into their cities.

There are too many guns on our streets and we need a federal and nationalized strategy in order to deal with this, just like the Biden administration dealt with COVID-19, said Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner during a video news conference.

They asked the White House to take a leadership role in enacting meaningful and common-sense gun control legislation, push for universal background checks and a ban on assault weapons.

Perhaps recognizing there is little chance that Congress will pass much of the legislation they support, the mayors also asked Biden to take as many steps as he can that dont require Congressional approval.

The administration has to fully empower the (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) to go after federally licensed gun dealers who we know are selling to straw purchasers, Lightfoot said, referring to the practice of buying guns legally and selling them to those who cannot legally own firearms.
WASHINGTON (AP)  A new federal intelligence report warns that adherents of QAnon, the conspiracy theory embraced by some in the mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol, could target Democrats and other political opponents for more violence as the movement's false prophecies increasingly fail to come true.

Many QAnon followers believe former President Donald Trump was fighting enemies within the so-called deep state to expose a cabal of Satan-worshipping cannibals operating a child sex trafficking ring. Trumps loss to President Joe Biden disillusioned some believers in The Storm, a supposed reckoning in which Trumps enemies would be tried and executed. Some adherents have now pivoted into believing that Trump is the shadow president or that Biden's victory was a sham.

The report was compiled by the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security and released Monday by Sen. Martin Heinrich, a New Mexico Democrat. It predicts that while some QAnon adherents will pull back, others likely will begin to believe they can no longer trust the plan referenced in QAnon posts and that they have an obligation to change from serving as digital soldiers towards engaging in real world violence.

As major social media companies suspend or remove QAnon-themed accounts, many followers have moved to less well-known platforms and discussed how to radicalize new users on them, the report says.

The report says several factors will contribute to QAnons long-term durability, including the COVID-19 pandemic, some social media companies allowing posts about the theories, societal polarization in the U.S., and the frequency and content of pro-QAnon statements by public individuals who feature prominently in core QAnon narratives.

The report does not identify any of those public individuals. But Trump, who has praised QAnon followers as people that love our country," has repeatedly refused to acknowledge the election is over and spoken baselessly of his victory being stolen, despite multiple court rulings and a finding by his own Justice Department upholding the integrity of the election. One longtime ally told The Associated Press that Trump has given credence to a conspiracy theory that he could somehow be reinstated into the presidency in August.

Heinrich and Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., requested the assessment in December. Heinrich pressed FBI Director Chris Wray during an intelligence committee hearing in April to release an assessment of how the government views QAnon. The public deserves to know how the government assesses the threat to our country from those who would act violently on such beliefs, he said then.

The movement around QAnon has already been linked to political violence, notably during the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection in which some rioters believed they would reverse Trumps defeat. At least 20 QAnon followers have been charged with federal crimes related to Jan. 6, according to an AP review of court records.

Some charged in the riot wore attire bearing the telltale letter Q when they stormed the Capitol. One of the defendants, Jacob Chansley, calls himself the QAnon Shaman and wore a furry hat with horns, face paint and no shirt that day. Others had posted about QAnon on social media before the riot.

The Justice Department has arrested more than 400 people in the insurrection, during which pro-Trump rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol, caused about $1.5 million worth of damage and sent lawmakers running for their lives. Five people died and dozens of police officers were wounded. Defendants have argued that Trump himself spurred them on, or they were just following the crowd, or law enforcement allowed them in, or they were the victims of disinformation stoked by right-wing media.

Lawyers for some of the defendants have argued their clients were specifically misguided by QAnon.

Defense attorney Christopher Davis argued that his client, Douglas Jensen, is a victim of internet-driven conspiracy promoted by very clever people, who were uniquely equipped with slight, if any, moral or social consciousness. Jensen now realizes that he bought into a pack of lies, his lawyer maintains.

For reasons he does not even understand today, he became a 'true believer' and was convinced he doing a noble service by becoming a digital soldier for 'Q.' Maybe it was mid-life crisis, the pandemic, or perhaps the message just seemed to elevate him from his ordinary life to an exalted status with an honorable goal, Davis wrote.

A witness told the FBI that another defendant, Kevin Strong, expressed a belief that Jan. 6 would usher in "World War 3" and the military would be involved. Strong, who was a Federal Aviation Administration employee in San Bernardino, California, had a flag with a QAnon slogan on his house and has declared that he had Q clearance," an FBI agent wrote in an affidavit.

He had recently purchased a new truck and believed that QAnon would cover the debt, the agent wrote.

___

Kunzelman reported from College Park, Md. Associated Press writer Jill Colvin in Washington contributed to this report.
TAYLOR  Five American kestrels called out to their mother as a biologist, who they clawed with their talons, pulled them from the only home theyve ever known.

Their protests and awareness were all signs that the baby falcons born in a bird box at Alliance Landfill just two weeks ago were healthy and thriving.

Theyre all being such good kids, said Richard S. Fritsky, a state Game Commission wildlife diversity biologist for the Northeast region.

Alliance, a part of Waste Management, participates in multiple wildlife habitat programs and placed three 10- to 13-foot-tall bird boxes across its property in Taylor and Ransom Twp. last year to provide nests for the smallest falcon in North America. Fritsky was at the landfill Tuesday to band the birds, whose population has been declining over the past 20 years.

Bird banding helps track populations and migration patterns, said Fritsky. The most common falcon in North America, the American kestrel typically lives in deserts, grasslands and meadows, which are also disappearing and could be cause for their decline, he said.

Pennsylvania is leading the program to bring back the falcons, said Adrienne Fors, Greater Mid-Atlantic Region community relations specialist for Waste Management.

Fritsky climbed a yellow ladder, carried into the wooded area by Willie Wenner, USDA wildlife biologist, to reach the box. Blocking the hole the falcons use to access the nest with his glove, Fritsky unscrewed the bottom of the box and slowly pulled out three female and two male American kestrels, one at a time. The birds were placed in empty cat litter buckets with homemade ventilation holes in the lids so Fritsky could easily carry them down to the tall grass and begin banding.

Fritsky slipped a thin metal band with their new identification numbers around each birds leg, gingerly closing it with pliers.

No other bird in the world will have that number, he said.

He then identified their gender and age by their flight feathers emerging from the soft, white fluff of newborn birds. Auburn feathers mean the bird is female; male birds have blue flight feathers.

He placed the birds in a cotton bag to weigh them with a hanging scale; almost full grown, they all weighed under a pound.

The omnivores nipped at Fritsky with their sharp hooked beaks throughout the process while their mother called out from the trees. They dont have the muscle mass yet to leave a mark, he said.

Waste Management is certified with the Wildlife Habitat Council and has worked with the group for more than 20 years. The company has wildlife programs across its 18,000 acres of preserved land, said Fors.

The American Kestrel program is one of eight wildlife programs on Alliances around 400 acres of capped landfill off Keyser Avenue in Taylor and Ransom Twp.

The landfill also has 15 songbird boxes for bluebirds, tree swallows and house wrens as well as bat boxes and roosts for mallards, which are monitored by staff from the landfill, the state and the USDA and regularly used by the animals. The facility also replaced non-native ornamental vegetation with native plants including milkweed, coneflower and butterfly bush to attract native pollinator species, particularly the monarch butterfly.

We believe in sustainability, its more than just a place to manage waste, said Fors. Were committed to that goal.

Done with his examinations, Fritsky climbed back up the ladder, placed the birds, which are uncommon in woody areas like Northeast Pennsylvania, back in their nest and screwed the box shut.

Its kind of unique to see them here, he said.
JBAS Realty LLC purchased the former Pasqualichio Brothers Inc. building at 115 Franklin Ave. for $450,000, according to a deed filed this month in Lackawanna County.

Pasqualichio Brothers Inc. bought 5 acres in the Valley View Business Park in 2007 to build a new 40,000-square-foot facility.

Four brothers, Michael, Dominick, William and Patrick, founded the company in 1980 as a meat distributor serving New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

The business operated out of the two-story building on Franklin Avenue for more than 30 years.

John Basalyga, owner of JBAS Realty LLC, said he initially hopes to lease the space for cold storage or some sort of manufacturing business.

If that doesnt work well, well turn it into apartments, he said. Its a great fit for either one.
SCRANTON  In a subdued voice, former Old Forge Borough Council President Robert Semenza on Tuesday told a federal judge he took bribes to help a business owner being sued by the borough.

Dressed in a dark suit and a blue face mask, the 47-year-old replied guilty when asked directly by U.S. District Judge Malachy E. Mannion how he pleaded to a felony charge of bribery. Nearly a decade after he was appointed to council to replace his father, who died in office, Semenzas time as a public official brought him to Courtroom 3 in the William J. Nealon Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse for pocketing between $6,500 and $15,000.

When he took the position in council in 2012, he took it very seriously and it was a heavy responsibility, said Semenzas attorney, Jason Mattioli, adding that there are some things that happened which led him down this path.

Mattioli declined to elaborate Tuesday, saying it would be inappropriate to do so before Semenza is sentenced. Asked if it was related to any medical issues, he said, not medical, but I will get into it fully. And Ill be able to comment in full after his sentence.

Semenza did not speak as he exited the courthouse. Attempts to reach him later were unsuccessful.

Federal prosecutors last week charged Semenza with soliciting, demanding and accepting cash in exchange for performing and promising official acts between January 2019 and February 2020. He resigned from council in May as part of the plea agreement. He faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, $250,000 in fines and three years of supervised release.

A criminal information filed against Semenza alleged he accepted bribes related to a unnamed business owner sued by the borough over a dispute about local zoning ordinances. In announcing the charge last week, acting U.S. Attorney Bruce D. Brandler said in a statement Semenza accepted money in exchange for agreeing to vote on the business owners behalf and to advocate for the business owners interest before council.

Semenza couched the payments as loans, according to charging documents, but Assistant U.S. Attorney Phillip J. Caraballo said in court they really were just cash bribes.

Federal prosecutors did not identify the business or its owner in court Tuesday or in charging documents; Mattioli also declined to identify either. However, county court records coinciding with information in the federal paperwork indicate it is Walter Stocki Jr., owner of Scrap Enterprises, Rear 105 N. Keyser Ave.

Around the end of July 2018, according to the criminal information, council obtained an injunction from the Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas against a business and its owner which required it cease all activity violating the boroughs zoning ordinances. The court found on or about May 9, 2019, the business owner was in violation of the July 31, 2018, injunction and ordered the owner pay a bond in excess of $5,000, according to the charging paperwork. On or about Aug. 5, 2019, council petitioned the court to hold the business owner in contempt, it stated.

On July 31, 2018, Lackawanna County Judge Thomas J. Munley ordered that Stocki cease all activity on his property. On May 9, 2019, Munley gave Stocki 100 days to cease business, clean up his property and post a $20,000 bond. The borough soon after petitioned the court to hold Stocki in contempt.

Reached Tuesday, Stocki declined to comment on the Semenza case.

Semenza took money along with an unindicted co-conspirator  referred to only as Individual No. 3  who owned and operated a consulting business in Old Forge. Individual No. 3 received thousands in dollars in payments as well and remitted a portion of it to Semenza, Caraballo said in court.

Semenza will remain free pending his sentencing, which has not been set.
Name: Sara McCormack

School: Scranton High School

Parents: Brian and Louise McCormack

Plans: Pursue a five-year, accelerated, dual degree in Marywood Universitys physician assistant program

From the school: Top of her class, Sara has taken almost every advanced course that Scranton High School offers in science and math, including five Advanced Placement courses and 11 honors courses, and has already earned 30 college credits.

She has a passion for helping others and has volunteered by cleaning for elderly individuals, singing with the schools show choir at numerous events, offering help at Lackawanna Countys Feed a Friend and through Scranton Highs Penn Serve branch. She is also employed by Josies Custard and Italian Ice. She has completed more than 600 hours in the Regional Education Academy for Careers in Health program where she has earned health certifications, learned clinical skills and was able to examine public, mental and community health. She represented Scranton High School in the Tomorrows Leaders Today program and interned at Moses Taylor Hospital. Sara is a member of the National Honor Society, president of student council, class treasurer and member of the Spanish club, link crew, spirit club and a student ambassador. Sara ran track and cross country and was a cheerleader and member of show choir.

She is devoted to helping others and is a driven, autonomous, detail-oriented and articulate student who moves easily among her peers and needs very little guidance when given a task or responsibility. She is an unassuming individual who embraces the concept of leadership.

How has the pandemic impacted your life and your future plans?

The pandemic affected my future plans by furthering my passion for health care and inspired me to go in the field even more. To better understand the global health crisis, I enrolled myself in a Harvard online class called Preventing the Next Pandemic: Lessons Learned from Ebola. I was able to learn about pandemics on an in-depth scale and further my knowledge of global health. The pandemic has affected my life by making me value relationships and be more resilient.

What lessons have you learned from growing up in Northeast Pennsylvania?

Growing up in Northeast Pennsylvania, Ive learned the importance of family and community. NEPA is a very tightknit area where family roots run deep. In addition, Ive learned that theres no limit to what we, as Northeastern Pennsylvanians, can achieve; even my small neighborhood of Green Ridge produced a United States senator, a governor and a president.

What advice do you have for younger students?

If I could speak to younger students, I would tell them to always work hard and stay true to themselves.

 Kathleen Bolus
With abortion and guns already on the agenda, the conservative-dominated Supreme Court is considering adding a third blockbuster issue  whether to ban consideration of race in college admissions.

The justices on Monday put off a decision about whether they will hear an appeal claiming that Harvard discriminates against Asian American applicants, in a case that could have nationwide repercussions. The court asked the Justice Department to weigh in on the case, a process that typically takes several months.

It would be a big deal because of the nature of college admissions across the country and because of the stakes of having this issue before the Supreme Court, said Gregory Garre, who twice defended the University of Texas admissions program before the justices.

The presence of three appointees of former President Donald Trump could prompt the court to take up the case, even though its been only five years since its last decision in a case about affirmative action in higher education.

In that Texas case, the court reaffirmed in a 4-3 decision that colleges and universities may consider race in admissions decisions. But they must do so in a narrowly tailored way to promote diversity, the court said in a decision that rejected the discrimination claims of a white applicant. Schools also bear the burden of showing why their consideration of race is appropriate.

Two members of that four-justice majority are gone from the court. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died in September. Justice Anthony Kennedy retired in 2018.

The three dissenters in the case, Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, remain on the court. Roberts, a moderating influence on some issues, has been a steadfast vote to limit the use of race in public programs, once writing, It is a sordid business, this divvying us up by race.

The courts willingness to jump into major cases over abortion and gun rights also appear to turn on the new, more conservative composition of the court because similar appeals had been turned away in the past.

Like the abortion case, the Harvard case lacks a split among appellate courts that often piques the high courts interest in a case.

The Supreme Court has weighed in on college admissions several times over more than 40 years. The current dispute harks back to its first big affirmative action case in 1978, when Justice Lewis Powell set out the rationale for taking account of race even as the court barred the use of racial quotas in admissions.

In the Regents of the University of California v. Bakke, Powell approvingly cited Harvard as an illuminating example of a college that takes race into account in achieving the educational diversity valued by the First Amendment.

Twenty-five years later, Justice Sandra Day OConnor likewise invoked the Harvard plan in her opinion upholding the University of Michigans law school admissions program.

Now its Harvard program in the crosshairs of opponents of race-based affirmative action.

The challenge to Harvard is led by Edward Blum and his Students for Fair Admissions. Blum has worked for years to rid college admissions of racial considerations.

The group claims that Harvard imposes a racial penalty on Asian American applicants by systematically scoring them lower in some categories than other applicants and awarding massive preferences to Black and Hispanic applicants.

Harvard flatly denies that it discriminates against Asian American applicants and says its consideration of race is limited, pointing out that lower courts agreed with the university.

In November, the federal appeals court in Boston ruled that Harvard looked at race in a limited way in line with Supreme Court precedents.

The class that just finished its freshman year is roughly one-quarter Asian American, 15% Black and 13% Hispanic, Harvard says on its website. If Harvard were to abandon race-conscious admissions, African-American and Hispanic representation would decline by nearly half, the school told the court in urging it to stay out of the case.

The Trump administration backed Blums case against Harvard and also filed its own lawsuit alleging discrimination against Asian Americans and whites at Yale.

The Biden administration already has dropped the Yale suit and almost certainly will take Harvards side at the Supreme Court if the case goes forward.

The lead attorney on the appeal is William Consovoy, who also represented Trump in his unsuccessful bid to shield his tax returns from the Manhattan district attorney.

When the court upheld the Michigans law school program in Grutter v. Bollinger in 2003, OConnor took note of the quarter-century that had passed since the Bakke decision.

We expect that 25 years from now, the use of racial preferences will no longer be necessary to further the interest approved today, OConnor wrote.

O'Connor's timeline set 2028 as a potential endpoint for racial preferences. A more conservative court than the one on which she served could advance that expiration date by several years.
A woman was killed and three other people were injured when a vehicle drove into demonstrators during a protest in the Minneapolis neighborhood where a Black man was fatally shot this month during his attempted arrest by members of a federal task force, police said Monday.

The crash happened at about 11:40 p.m. Sunday in Minneapolis' Uptown neighborhood. Witnesses said the driver of an SUV struck a parked car, tossing it into the crowd of demonstrators. Police spokesman John Elder did not confirm that account, and said authorities are still investigating.

Police said protesters pulled the driver from his vehicle and witnesses told police that demonstrators began striking him. The driver was taken into custody and was being treated for injuries at a hospital.

A witness told Minnesota Public Radio that the SUV was going very fast and appeared to accelerate as it got closer to demonstrators who had blocked off a street. D.J. Hooker said the driver struck a car parked across one of the traffic lanes, sending that car flying.

There was one line of barriers and then a second barrier, and he sped up. He sped up. He went even faster as he approached us. You could hear it ... start going even faster as he got close to us, Hooker said. He told Minnesota Public Radio, the car went through the air and it hit a young woman.

Another witness, Brett Williams, said the woman was thrown into a stop light.

The woman's brother identified her as Deona M. Knajdek. Garrett Knajdek told the Star Tribune his sister would have celebrated her 32nd birthday on Wednesday. He said she had 11- and 13-year-old daughters, and was actively involved in issues surrounding social justice.

She constantly (was) sacrificing herself for everyone around her, he said, no matter the cost, obviously.

Authorities have not released the names of the driver and those who were injured.

Police said the driver's motive was not immediately known, but that a preliminary investigation indicated drugs or alcohol may have been a contributing factor.

Besides the woman who died, three other protesters were injured, police said, without describing the extent of their injuries.

Other injuries and deaths have been reported involving vehicles at protests across the U.S. as people have increasingly taken to streets to press their grievances. In Minneapolis, marching onto freeways has become a common tactic in recent years. Last year, a semitrailer rolled into a crowd marching on a closed Minneapolis freeway following George Floyd's death. No one was seriously injured.

In response to such protests, Republican politicians in several states, including Oklahoma, Florida and Iowa, have sought legal immunity for drivers who hit protesters.

There had been ongoing protests in Uptown, about 2 1/2 miles (4 kilometers) south of downtown, since the June 3 shooting of Winston Boogie Smith Jr., a 32-year-old father of three, by members of a federal U.S. Marshals Service task force. The Uptown area includes a mix of trendy restaurants, shops and theaters popular with the citys younger professionals, many of whom live in apartments and condominiums in the area.

Authorities have said Smith, who was wanted on a weapons violation, fired a gun before deputies fatally shot him in Minneapolis. The city has been on edge since Floyds death under an officers knee and the more recent fatal police shooting of another Black man, Daunte Wright, in a nearby suburb.

Members of the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force were trying to arrest Smith on a warrant for allegedly being a felon in possession of a gun, authorities said. The Marshals Service said in a statement that Smith, who was in a parked vehicle, didnt comply with law enforcement and produced a handgun resulting in task force members firing upon the subject. State investigators said evidence showed he fired the gun from inside his vehicle.

Smith died at the scene. State investigators said Smiths passenger, a 27-year-old woman, was treated for injuries from glass debris. The woman, however, said she never saw a gun on Smith or in the vehicle, her attorneys said last week  contradicting investigators claims about Smith's actions.



This story has been updated to correct the name of the neighborhood to Uptown, not Upton.
A federal judge last week dismissed a partisan attempt to challenge the regulatory authority of a bureau that protects the integrity of the Delaware River.

Judge Paul Diamond in Philadelphia threw out a lawsuit filed by Pennsylvania Senate Republicans Gene Yaw, of Lycoming County, and Lisa Baker, of Luzerne County. They were joined by other Republicans who had argued that the Delaware River Basin Commission exceeded its authority and infringed upon the Legislatures domain by enacting a ban on deep natural gas drilling and fracking near the river and its tributaries.

Diamond found Yaw and Baker lacked standing to sue. He also dismissed intervention in the suit by Wayne and Carbon counties, and Damascus and Dyberry townships in Wayne County. But he allowed the municipalities several weeks to refile the suit and spell out exactly how they have been harmed by the prohibition.

The commission voted for a permanent drilling embargo in February after concluding that it would pose an unreasonable risk throughout the Delaware River watershed, which covers more than 13,000 square miles and provides drinking water to some 13 million people. The commission is a compact between the federal government and Delaware River states  Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and Delaware.

Meanwhile, another challenge in federal court continues to go forward in Scranton, where a judge has scheduled an October trial in litigation filed by Pennsylvania property owners who allege the drilling moratorium represents an illegal taking of their property.

Diamonds ruling deals a serious blow to Republicans who haul water religiously for the gas industry, along with all proponents of unrestricted drilling. They steadfastly refuse to recognize that the commission makes decisions based on its mission to conserve the Delaware River watersheds resources and assure the welfare of the public. The commissions refusal to roll over for the interests of drillers or attempts at political interference compliments that mission.
Brenda Darlene (Burnett, Witt, Bollmer) Curtin, 52, of Cincinnati, Ohio passed away June 21, 2021. She was born November 13, 1968, in Cincinnati, Ohio to the late Gladys (Jones) Napier and the late Wilburn Burnett. Brenda was preceded in death by a daughter, Jennifer Witt and sisters Alta Ru
Westerly, RI (02891)

Today

Rain showers in the morning will evolve into a more steady rain in the afternoon. Cooler. High 71F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Showers early, becoming a steady rain late. Low 58F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.
Westerly, RI (02891)

Today

Showers early, becoming a steady rain later in the day. Cooler. High 71F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Showers early, becoming a steady rain late. Low 58F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.
Port Allen, LA (70767)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms in the morning becoming more widespread in the afternoon. High 88F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms in the evening, then mainly cloudy overnight with thunderstorms likely. Low 73F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
Alan Wilkinson is a retired gas safety inspector from Lancaster. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease last year after suffering memory problems for eight years and is struggling to live independently.

His son, Oliver, has been doing his best to help take care of him. But it has since come to light that in a horrifying example of exploitation, the 71-year-old has been ruthlessly hounded by scammers.

At one point, he was receiving as many as 50 cold calls a day from crooks encouraging him to invest in everything from wine and gold to art.

Victims aged over 70 have lost a devastating 425.3m to fraud since May last year, according to reporting service Action Fraud. And those aged between 90 and 99 reported 80.8m stolen

And the relentless siege of calls has cost him his 120,000 retirement nest-egg.

Yet, devastatingly, Alan is far from alone, and thought to be one of tens of thousands of vulnerable pensioners who have been left at the mercy of fraudsters.

Money Mail is today calling on banks to bring in stronger protections to safeguard elderly customers and prevent them losing their life savings to criminals.

Alan had regularly sent 3,000 in cash to an address in London, and in just one week he made three 10,000 transactions to a company claiming to offer investments in gold.

Yet, despite a pattern of large and unusual payments, his bank NatWest made no attempt to intervene.

Oliver, 30, was only alerted to the scams when the police contacted him in March last year.

In May, he and Alan went to a NatWest branch in Lancaster, where Oliver asked the cashier if they could stop all large payments leaving his dad's account, but they refused.

He says: 'It was atrocious. I explained there was no need for him to be making these transactions; he has paid off the mortgage and I was helping him with the shopping.

'At the very least, I asked if it could alert me when these payments were coming out of his account, but I was told there was nothing it could do apart from reduce his daily cash withdrawal limit to 50. I can't believe the bank had let this go on so long and it was still refusing to help.'

Oliver applied for power of attorney so he could manage his father's affairs, but this was only granted in October.

In the meantime, NatWest continued to allow Alan to make large transfers and payments.

Fraud expert Richard Emery, from consultancy 4Keys International, says: 'NatWest should have not only looked at this customer's vulnerability, but a glance at his payments history should have been enough to warrant a conversation about these transactions.

'Banks should be looking at historical payments to assess whether their customers are being scammed by criminals.'

More than half of over-65s say they have been targeted by scams, according to National Trading Standards (NTS).

And vulnerable adults, such as those with dementia, are at even higher risk as they are unlikely to even realise they have been scammed, let alone report it.

Campaigning: Oliver Wilkinson with his dad Alan who lost about 120,000 to fraudsters who relentlessly targeted him in his retirement

There are more than 850,000 people in the UK living with dementia. The condition affects one in 14 over-65s, and one-in-six people over the age of 80.

Telephone scams are a particular problem for older people as they may live alone, are isolated, and are often at home.

Those over the age of 70 are far more likely to be preyed on by nuisance callers, says NTS. This not only puts their finances at risk, but their emotional and physical wellbeing, too.

Victims aged over 70 have lost a devastating 425.3 million to fraud since May last year, according to reporting service Action Fraud.

And those aged between 90 and 99 reported 80.8 million stolen; an average of 34,574 each.

This is despite these victims only accounting for 2,337 of the 54,832 cases reported in the over 70s age group. By contrast, those in their 20s lost 159.2 million, an average of 1,846 each.

Fraudsters often target victims by posing as someone they trust, such as their bank, the police and other authorities such as HMRC, or pretend to offer investment opportunities.

Victims can also be preyed on by ruthless businesses which repeatedly call to ask for donations or pressure them to buy goods they already have or do not need.

Those who respond to scam calls and mail are typically put onto 'suckers lists' which are traded between fraudsters and lead to the same people being repeatedly targeted. The average age of someone on this type of list is 73, according to NTS.

Pensioner Joseph, who does not want to give his surname, lost more than 250,000 to a cryptocurrency scam earlier this year.

Joseph, who is in his early 70s, had initially invested 250 with an online trading company and the crooks claimed he had made a 50,000 profit.

But whenever he tried to withdraw his money, fraudsters told him he must first pay a 10 per cent fee.

Joseph, who lives in Derbyshire, was ill with septicaemia at the time and not well enough to know what he was doing.

So he continued to hand over money and, by the time he reported the scam to his bank, he had lost his life savings.

The police are now investigating, but his bank said that it will not refund his money because he was trading in cryptocurrency.

'I can't sleep as it's always on my mind and I feel that I've not lived up to my promise to look after my wife', he says.

'We're now destitute, we haven't got a penny left for our retirement and future healthcare'.

Menace: Fraudsters often target victims by posing as someone they trust, such as their bank, the police and other authorities such as HMRC, or pretend to offer investment opportunities

Experts warn that banks are not doing nearly enough to identify vulnerable customers, enquire about suspicious payments or introduce measures that could prevent millions of pounds being lost to fraud.

Professor Keith Brown, an expert in safeguarding adults from fraud, says he has been calling for banks to introduce extra measures to protect people with dementia from scams since 2018.

His suggestions included delaying payments to give family members or the bank time to intervene. He also recommended that banks allow customers to nominate a trusted person who could receive text alerts when large payments are made so they know to step in if necessary.

He says: 'The real issue is that elderly people with dementia may not know they are being scammed, and may not know how to report it. This is a huge problem and most of it is under the radar.

We need to put pressure on banks to protect this group of people and introduce accounts that address their needs.'

Conservative MP Peter Gibson, chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Personal Banking and Fairer Financial Services, says: 'While respecting that vulnerable people must be allowed to manage their own financial affairs, I support the proposal for 'second-party notification' so that a trusted relative or friend will be aware of what the vulnerable person is doing and can intervene if necessary.

Code fails fraud victims Scam victims are being routinely failed by banks, a new report has found. A voluntary code of conduct launched in 2019 sets out how firms should detect, prevent and respond to victims of bank transfer fraud. But a damning review by the Lending Standards Board (LSB), which governs the code, has identified systemic failings. It accuses firms of unfairly blaming customers, providing inconsistent information and exceeding time limits for investigations, which should be 15 days. The LSB also found firms were holding customers liable for losses if they made a payment that triggered a Confirmation of Payee warning which ensures the name on an account matches the number. Emma Lovell, chief executive of the LSB, says: Firms must act immediately. Time-bound action plans are in place and firms are clear on our expectations. a.murray@dailymail.co.uk

'Adding a '24-hour delay' to high-value payments to new payees would allow the 'second party' time to respond to the notification, discuss the payment with the person and, if necessary, stop it before it leaves the account.'

Caroline Abrahams, director at charity Age UK, says: 'Scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated and the impact on older people's lives and finances can be devastating.

'Every year, hundreds of thousands of older people fall victim to fraud, when this could possibly have been avoided had there been increased 'friction' in the payment process.

'Features like second-party notification, or a delay for payments to new payees, would help, including for those living with dementia.'

Yet just two banks, Barclays and Nationwide, said they were considering introducing a system where customers could nominate a loved one to receive a text alert when making payments or bank transfers over a certain amount.

The customer would need to give permission for their relative to be notified and to keep an eye on their account. They would not be allowed to move money or make payments.

Lloyds claims it is not considering second-party notification because of its regulatory and legal obligations with regards to customer security. HSBC would not comment, while Santander and NatWest say they constantly review security measures.

At present, the only way to take control of a loved one's finances is to apply for a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA), which can take up to 15 weeks to register.

It also costs 82 to register in England and Wales (or 81 in Scotland and 151 in Northern Ireland), but you may be entitled to a discount or free application if you are on a low income.

If you use a solicitor, fees range between 300 and 1,000 depending on the complexity of the advice.

Experts say offering the option of second-party notifications would provide a quicker and cheaper half-way house where relatives can help look after their loved ones' finances with their consent, without taking full control of their accounts.

Introducing delays to large payments could be even more beneficial as it would not require customers to give permission.

And it would mean that they had more time to reverse the payment after speaking to friends and family.

NatWest recently introduced new rules to cap payment limits automatically to 5,000 for the 95 per cent of customers who have never paid someone more than this.

Customers can then choose to increase or decrease this limit.

Banking trade body UK Finance says: 'Banks work hard to identify vulnerable customers and help protect them from fraud and scams.

'This includes making it easier for a trusted third party to manage a customer's account using LPAs and rolling out the Banking Protocol to online and telephone banking enabling bank staff to intervene if they think a customer is being scammed.

'Anyone making a bank transfer can choose to schedule the payment for a later date, giving them time to think and speak to a trusted friend, family member or their bank before the money is sent.'

NatWest says it is still investigating Alan's case, but claims it blocked 'some' payments.

A spokesman says: 'Our community protection managers play an active role in supporting our vulnerable customers and will continue to support Mr Wilkinson with the safeguarding of his account.'

a.murray@dailymail.co.uk
The City watchdog has told High Street banks to tighten their controls in the fight against online scams.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is locked in a battle with fraudsters to stop them scamming millions of Britons every year.

It is wrangling with social media giants such as Google to get fraudulent adverts removed from the internet and has suggested that banks should be doing more to protect customers.

The FCA is wrangling with social media giants such as Google to get fraudulent adverts removed from the internet and has suggested that banks should do more to protect customers

Mark Steward, the FCA's executive director of enforcement and market oversight, said lenders must pay more attention to the 'warning list' of dodgy firms which it publishes on its website.

Speaking to MPs on the Treasury Committee, he said: 'The warning list is the cornerstone of the strategy we have to protect consumers.

'It was initially created specifically to help consumers but it's now become such a key weapon we also think it should be used by banks as well.'

He said major banks should carefully keep tabs on the list to ensure that they are not offering services to any of the firms on it.

And they should also try to prevent savers from transferring money into fraudsters' accounts, Steward added.

He said: 'We think this is something the banks need to be vigilant about and improving their systems as well.'

The FCA spends around 600,000 a year on Google adverts to warn savers about scams, which tout everything from high-return bonds to shares in firms such as Tesla.

Some even copy the branding of companies such as Aviva or Hargreaves Lansdown, tricking people into sending money.

Yet Google is also raking in cash from the fraudsters, who pay for adverts to lure victims. In front of the Treasury Committee on Monday, Steward repeated his calls for the Government to include financial harm in the Online Safety Bill.

This would put a legal obligation on social media giants to check that there is a legitimate firm behind adverts they host.

MPs on the committee are calling for Google to reimburse the watchdog for the money it has spent on adverts warning of scams.

Rushanara Ali, the Labour MP for Bethnal Green and Bow, said: 'They are basically profiting out of fraud and are costing the FCA money.'

A spokesman for banking industry body UK Finance said: 'The industry invests billions in advanced technology to protect customers and in 2020, 1.6billion of unauthorised fraud was stopped.'
A visitor from Mars trying to understand the UK trade deal with our kith and kin in Australia might receive a misleading impression.

Relentless lobbying by the National Farmers Union, assisted by the BBCs Farming Today programme, would lead them to think that such a deal was an existential threat for UK agriculture and food quality.

When, as the son of a Sussex farmer, I questioned whether so much attention to a sector accounting for 0.61 per cent of GDP deserved special treatment in the UK- Aussie trade deal, a torrent of critical (some of it abusive) correspondence landed.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, right with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, left, after agreeing the broad terms of a free trade deal between the UK and Australia

It is unpatriotic to question the UKs superior food standards. How quickly we forget BSE which haunted farming in the 1990s and the 2001 foot and mouth crisis.

Those convinced of our high-quality food production should read the just-published, stomach-churning account by author Henry Mance of working at the Forge Farm Meats abattoir just outside London.

The reality is that as much as we may value UK farming, the Australia free trade deal breaks new ground.

Until now most trade deals, including those forged by the EU, ignored services. Yet services are the lifeblood of the UK economy and financial services in particular, accounting for 7 per cent of GDP, are a critical part of the accord.

Last year the UK exported 5.4billion worth of services, representing 39.6 per cent of all exports Down Under. Financial services exports amounted to 2.2billion.

The opportunity is not just building up the relationship with Sydney but tapping into the impossibly named Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Japan is already on the bandwagon for global Britain and now Australia is too. The City UK points out that the Aussie deal is on the cutting edge of trade innovation.

As International Trade Secretary Liz Truss presses the case for the treaty, there will be much focus on physical trade including Australias appetite for our biscuits, sweets and Scotch.

It is what you dont see thats most impressive. A friend at Monash University in Australia is working flat out on the scientific biotech aspects of the deal and is encouraged. The chance for under-35s to train and work in Australia is also attractive.

None of us wants to see a deal which puts family farms out of business. Nor do we want anything which undermines food quality. But if the Red Tractor label is all that it is cracked up to be then good British produce will triumph.

After all, farming is being allowed up to 15 years to adjust to a new regime.

Fashion blunder

Boohoo is engaged in a tug of war between the public appetite for 5 frocks and the current push in the fashion industry for more sustainability.

Boosted by a host of brands bought from Arcadia, Boohoo produced a 32 per cent rise in first-quarter income to 486.1million, with UK and American sales the highlight.

After the row over slave labour conditions in its UK supply chain, it is winning plaudits from adjudicator Sir Brian Leveson over the speed of the clean-up and the adoption of a recognised factory audit. There is much about Boohoos broader governance still to be fixed.

Shareholder advisory group Glass Lewis is opposing the reappointment of co-founder and executive director Carol Kane at Fridays annual meeting.

It also objects to a bonus scheme which, if it pays out in 2023, could hand 50million each to Kane and her co-founder and chairman Mahmud Kamani.

A separate plan for chief executive John Lyttle could also end with a 50million bonus should a market value target be reached.

As a direct beneficiary of online shopping and the opportunistic purchase of failed brands in the Covid era, Boohoos bonus plans are out of touch with the zeitgeist.

Investors have no choice but to say no.

Money spinner

Here is something novel. When fintech innovator Wise is introduced to the London Stock Exchange in the next several days it will be among a handful of recently floated companies which actually makes a profit.

A value of 9billion is forecast although investors could be discouraged by the dual listing.

Founders Taavet Hinrikus and Kristo Kaarmann believe they have a fighting chance of rendering rip-off and slow lane overseas transfers by the big banks irrelevant by its offer of low cost, faster services.

Bring it on!
In September 2019, my wife and I booked with BA to fly to San Jose, California, in March 2020 to visit our grandchildren.

We paid 2,617 but our flights were cancelled because of Covid. We rebooked for last December but this was also cancelled.

BA suggested I take a voucher so I could re-book when it started flying again. Big mistake!

It then cancelled the route altogether, so I asked for my money back. By this time BA had held on to our money for 18 months and has not yet supplied what I paid for.

BA is refusing to refund a couple the 2,617 cost of tickets to California after their flight was cancelled due to the pandemic and want an additional 1,800 to re-book on the same route

It has now reinstated the route, to start again in September, but if my wife and I want to travel in the same seats/cabins again (World Traveller out, Business back) I'm required to pay an additional 1,800.

I asked if I could instead fly to San Francisco for the original cost and pay the connection to San Jose myself, but BA said no.

So, again, I asked for my money back. But it said no.

I've travelled millions of miles with BA. I'm not sure who is being unreasonable here but it's not me!

A. S., Rickmansworth, Herts.

Tony Hazell replies: I've got nowhere with your complaint but I've decided to publish this letter because I feel that BA is in the wrong here.

And I suspect many readers will be curious about these BA vouchers.

BA says there are two salient points. First, that the vouchers cover the cost of the flight, not necessarily the route or the class of travel.

So yours are worth 2,617 to travel anywhere. Fair enough.

Then there comes the issue of who originally cancelled. If BA cancelled, then you were offered the choice of a refund, vouchers or rebooking.

If you cancelled first then you must take vouchers. BA cancelled your initial flight so you could have claimed a refund, but, rather sportingly, you opted for the vouchers.

However, the airline argues that this is a once-and-for-all decision  so when you take them you are stuck with them.

It adds that the main problem with replicating your flights is that you made the original booking during a sale period and got an extraordinarily good deal.

These vouchers are valid until 2023 so the best I can suggest for now is that you look out for the next sale (in fact, one began recently) and dive in quickly. The vouchers cover any route and can be used as part-payment.

Apparently, travelling via San Francisco was do-able but you would have had to pay more.

However, I don't believe BA should be able to hang on to anyone's money for what could be more than three years - and let's not forget you did it a favour by agreeing not to press for a cash refund in the first place.

And I am not alone. The Competition and Markets Authority last week revealed that BA (along with Ryanair) is under investigation because it 'refused to give refunds to people that were lawfully unable to fly'.

It remains to be seen what happens here, but this may eventually be another route to getting your money back.

You have YOUR say Every week Money Mail receives hundreds of your letters and emails about our stories. Here are some of the best from our feature about the hidden costs of eco-proofing your home: My 'chocolate box' house was built in 1844, and on paper it's got no hope of passing these Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) thresholds. If you can't get a mortgage on it in the future, I suppose it will get knocked down and a new-build will be constructed in its place. S.E., Weston-super-Mare, Somerset. The biggest con for smaller houses is cavity wall insulation. I had it done and it made absolutely no difference to my heating costs. I never had a problem before  the house maintained a reasonable temperature the whole year round. S. Y., Derby. We've put up with poorly insulated homes for years because the cost of insulation far outweighs that of the heat lost, as your article points out. Very few homes have mould, but wall insulation can increase the chance of it developing. J .D., London. One of the EPC system's absurdities is that it does not cost just a few pounds to upgrade lighting, because low-energy bulbs don't count unless they are in fittings that only take low-energy bulbs. You end up having to replace them all. E. P., Birmingham. I don't know how the elderly or those on smaller incomes are to afford all of these alterations. The Government's agenda is ridiculous and unrealistic. T. A., Southampton. A tradesman has offered to strip and insulate my flat roof for 10,000. Where am I to find that sort of money when I'm living off a state pension? O.C., London.

Virgin Mobile set debt collectors on me for contract I know nothing about

I am being chased for 713.61 by debt agency Moorcroft on behalf of Virgin Mobile. This is apparently for a SIM contract of which I know nothing.

I have never taken out a Virgin mobile contract nor received any emails, texts, letters or telephone calls about this.

I spoke to Virgin and was directed to the fraud department but have not had a reply.

Today, I've tried five times to speak to someone at Virgin but have been cut off each time.

A. R., Newport.

Tony Hazell replies: Virgin swiftly cancelled the account and removed the debt when I got in touch. It has also contacted you to apologise.

This seems a case of your identity being used fraudulently to open an account.

It may be worth requesting your credit file from agencies such as Experian, Equifax or TransUnion.

Straight to the point I took out finance with Barclays to buy a 1,089 furniture set from The Range but later cancelled my purchase. Yet the bank still took the first 91.50 payment in May. When I called, an adviser told me they were unaware the order had been cancelled. R. R., Dagenham, East London. Barclays needed certain documents from the retailer before it could cancel your agreement, but recognises it should have asked The Range for these when you first got in touch. It has now refunded the payment, cancelled the plan and paid an extra 50 as a gesture of goodwill. *** Am I being overcharged for my TV Licence? I pay in monthly instalments and wrote five cheques for 13.50 but the cost is now going up to 20.57 a month for the rest of the year. A TV Licence costs 157.50 but I seem to be paying 211.49. E. K., Swindon, Wilts. You joined the 75+ payment plan in December to spread the cost of your licence between August 1 and July 31. TV Licensing says you have not been overcharged but are just 17.04 ahead of your payment schedule. It is writing to explain this. *** I have been trying to trade in my iPhone X with Vodafone so I can get a discount on my bill. But it won't send me a trade-in bag so I can post back the phone, and my bill is higher than it should be. L. S., via email. Vodafone apologises and has now applied the 15 discount as promised. It has also allowed you to keep the phone as a gesture of goodwill. *** Before my husband died in May he had been trying to cancel his service agreement with Currys PC World. Since then I have been back and forth with the retailer but it keeps sending cheques in my late husband's name. M.J., Lancs. Currys has apologised for the error and distress. A cheque for 68.67 has now been issued in your name.

Natwest won't refund mystery direct debit

Two withdrawals were made on our NatWest account to Enlarge Memory for 1 and then 39. My wife and I had no idea who this company was or how it was able to take our money.

NatWest said my wife's card number had been used to set up a direct debit, and a further 39 was about to be taken.

The bank sent my wife a new card but wouldn't give any assurance of a refund of the 79.

D. S., Stoke, Staffs.

Tony Hazell replies: I suspect your wife may have fallen for a free trial scam whereby a firm asks for card details to cover postage but the small print signs you up to a monthly direct debit.

NatWest has refunded your money and made sure no more will be taken.

A spokesman says: 'Customers should always be cautious when signing up for free trials as when the free trial expires, they can often result in payments being taken.'

I agree. But banks should also take greater steps to monitor direct debits being set up to dodgy overseas companies. It's not rocket science - just try a Google search.

Get in touch

We love hearing from our loyal readers, so ask that during this challenging time you write to us by email where possible, as we will not pick up letters sent to our postal address as regularly as usual. You can write to: asktony@dailymail.co.uk or, if you prefer, Ask Tony, Money Mail, Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT  please include your daytime phone number, postal address and a separate note addressed to the offending organisation giving them permission to talk to Tony Hazell. We regret we cannot reply to individual letters. Please do not send original documents as we cannot take responsibility for them. No legal responsibility can be accepted by the Daily Mail for answers given.
Travel group On the Beach has fallen to a loss after onerous travel restrictions, including temporary bans on foreign travel, caused overseas tourism to crash.

The Manchester-based firm made a 9.5million loss in the six months to March 31 compared to a 2.3million profit the year before as Covid-19 outbreaks caused holidaymakers to cancel their plans en masse.

Two national lockdowns imposed in England by the UK government in response to rising virus cases, which included prohibitions on international holidays, also sent underlying revenues plunging by over three-quarters to 12million.

The lack of demand for foreign holidays has been partly blamed on the confusing advice the government has given out over whether Britons can travel to 'amber' list destinations

The company has already extended its ban on selling foreign vacations from June 30 to the end of August following the government's introduction of the traffic light system and a lack of willingness among customers to book such holidays.

Some of this lack of demand has been blamed on the confusing advice the government has given out over whether Britons can travel to 'amber' list destinations, such as Portugal and Greece.

Travel operators and airlines are additionally concerned that the four-week extension to the lockdown will cause an even more severe impact on their bottom line and demand for international holidays.

On the Beach said there needs to be more certainty that vacations will not be cancelled or disrupted before it starts selling foreign beach excursions for this summer again.

But it stated that even if demand recovers this summer, 'any upside from capturing incremental bookings will be offset by the potential disruption and the likely loss of goodwill for those holidays that might be booked but may need to be cancelled or re-arranged.'

The firm is focusing instead on growing its long-term market share and noted that summer 2022 bookings are low, but are 'significantly ahead of normal trading patterns, partially due to the early release of flights for next year by most major airlines.'

On the Beach said though demand for summer 2021 remains low, it is 'significantly ahead of normal trading patterns, partially due to the early release of flights for next year'

On the Beach raised 65.1million of liquidity in May last year to prop up its balance sheet but warned that it would have to 'sustain further cash burn' if travel does not recover to sufficient levels this summer.

It holds customer money in a ring-fenced trust account, totalling 24.1million at the end of March, and pledges to refund customers in cash before receiving money back from airlines.

The group has called on other travel operators to offer cash refunds instead of refund credit notes - documents showing the value of a cancelled booking - for scrapped holidays to boost confidence in the industry.

Last week, it released a white paper which showed that about 851,000 consumers still have a refund credit note and that only half of around 8.1 million people who have had their package holiday cancelled had secured a cash refund.

The UK competition regulator said last week that it was investigating British Airways and Ryanair over whether they breached consumer laws by not offering refunds

Last week also saw the Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) reveal that it was probing British Airways and Ryanair over whether they breached consumer laws by not offering refunds for flights that were operating, but customers could not take due to the pandemic.

On the Beach's chief executive Simon Cooper said his company 'has long championed the rights of both its customers and wider holiday consumers' and welcomed the CMA's probes on airline refunds.

He added: 'It is pleasing to see increased regulatory scrutiny on the travel sector and I would like to see this taken one step further with other travel companies establishing Trust Accounts, similar to ours, so that all customer monies are ring-fenced and can be immediately returned should their holiday be cancelled.

'All of this will help to ensure consumers are fairly treated while also restoring confidence at a time when it is needed most.'

Shares in On the Beach closed trading 2.9 per cent lower at 348.5p on Tuesday.
Millions of savers and pensioners will be happy to hear that equipment rental firm Ashtead has raised its dividend after profits more than doubled in the last quarter of its financial year.

The FTSE 100 listed group, which is often a staple of UK investment funds and pension portfolios, said it 'returned to growth' in the three months to the end of April.

Rentals of its equipment accelerated as it picked up extra work supporting UK hospitals and testing centres, with the company saying it benefited from its business being very diverse.

A diverse business: Ashtead is the UK's biggest supplier of traffic cones

Ashtead is the UK's biggest supplier of traffic cones, but also organises the perimeter fence and crowd control at Glastonbury festival and rents out construction equipment and tools such as diggers.

Rental revenues in the quarter rose 5 per cent to around 1.1billion - or by 15 per cent at constant exchange rates - while overall revenues hit 1.3billion, an increase of 13 per cent. Pre-tax profits jumped to 220million, from 98million a year earlier.

That means that for the whole year to the end of April, total revenues fell by just 0.4 per cent to 5billion, while pre-tax profit fell 4.8 per cent to 936million.

In light of the improvement in the final quarter, the group proposed a final dividend of 35p, taking the full year total to 42.15p per share, a 3.7 per cent increase on last year.

Shares in Ashtead fell at the open but were up 3.3 per cent to 52.54 by 12:15pm on Tuesday. They have risen by 45 per cent this year as it managed to weather the pandemic better than other firms thanks to the diversity of its services.

Chief executive Brendan Horgan said: 'Our business can perform in both good times and more challenging ones.'

And added: 'The benefit we derive from the diversity of our products, services and end markets, our investment in technology and ongoing structural change, enhanced by the environmental and social aspects of ESG, enables the Board to look to the future with confidence.'

Back on track: Ashtead, which rents out equipment like diggers, said it 'returned to growth' in the three months to the end of April

The company said that in the UK, it raked in rental revenues of 362million over the year, up from 349million the year before thanks to more work for the Department of Health, which accounted for around a third of its UK revenues.

The company's biggest market, however, is the US, where it generates about 86 per cent of its turnover.

There, rental revenues from its Sunbelt arm fell by 'only' 2 per cent to $3.98billion, compared to $4.07billion the year before, which the company said it represented a 'strong market outperformance' as the pandemic continues to impact the construction business.

Ashtead's management seems confident though, which is proved by the fact that last month it launched a 1billion share buyback and pledged to supplement that with a sixteenth consecutive increase in the annual dividend.

The company also said that it had not made any staff redundant and had not claimed any Covid financial support from governments.

Shares in FTSE 100 listed Ashtead have risen by 45 per cent this year

'What is good for America is good for Ashtead, as four-fifths of the company's sales and nine-tenths of its profits are generated Stateside, and a recovery in the US economy looks to be driving a revival in the FTSE 100 firm's fortunes,' said AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould.

'Ashtead's American Sunbelt operation will benefit from higher economic output in the USA and especially from more activity in key end markets such as construction, while even the oil and gas sector is looking a lot less bad than before,' he added.

Nicholas Hyett, an equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, also believes Ashtead is well placed to benefit from large government infrastructure works in 2022.

Neil Shah, director of research at Edison, added: 'As the pandemic continues to impact large portions of the construction business across Ashtead's key markets of the USA, Canada and the UK, a resilient business model and balance sheet have meant that overall business impact has remained low.'
Tals Shannon is supposed to be moving into her dream family home next week. But with just days to go, she still doesn't know if the move will go ahead or if she will be starting her search all over again.

The mother-of-two is precariously balanced in the middle of a property chain of seven people.

If any of them pull out ahead of the stamp duty holiday deadline, the whole chain could collapse  leaving Tals and husband Dean thousands of pounds out of pocket.

Deadline date: The property market reached fever pitch this month as home buyers race to complete their process before the stamp duty holiday ends on June 30

'It's very stressful,' says Tals, 29, from Hertfordshire.

'We will lose out on 12,500 if we miss the stamp duty deadline but we've budgeted for that and can still go ahead. My worry is that the other buyers in the chain have been more reckless and the whole thing could come crashing down.'

And Tals and Dean are not the only ones.

The property market reached fever pitch this month as home buyers race to complete their process before the stamp duty holiday ends on June 30.

Conveyancers are working round the clock to meet deadlines, removal companies are booked up for weeks and buyers are overwhelmingly worried they will lose out on the savings. And with one county council, buyers face a wait time of six months to carry out basic property checks.

'It's a stressful time for movers, and solicitors have been working 24/7 to meet clients' wishes,' says Stephanie Boyce, president of the Law Society of England and Wales.

'Lots of factors came together creating a perfect storm of huge buyer demand.

'Capacity is stretched across the board, from delays receiving mortgage offers, legal searches and unforeseen hold-ups further along the chain putting people at risk of not meeting the deadline.'

It will put our home move back by years David and Laura Lister will lose 8,000 if their purchase doesnt go through before the end of the month  on top of any saving on stamp duty. The couple, who have an eight-month-old daughter, Nelle, would not be able to afford to buy the 750,000 property in Huddersfield without the 15,000 stamp duty holiday reduction. David and Laura Lister (pictured with their eight-month-old daughter called Nelle) face losing 8,000 if their purchase doesn't go through before the end of the month The Listers put their six-bedroom home in Sheffield on the market in April and found a buyer within days. But while their offer was accepted on the Huddersfield property a week later, it took eight weeks for legal work to be completed. The couple have had to shell out 7,000 on specialist searches and tests, which they wont get back  along with 1,000 in mortgage fees  if the sale falls through. David, 34, called 20 removal firms before he could find one with availability before July, and was quoted 5,000 by the firm who agreed to do the job. If youve shown youre serious about going through with the purchase, you should be allowed to benefit from the stamp duty holiday if it is delayed by something outside your control, he says. We managed to get 100,000 below the asking price on this, so it would take us years to save enough to buy a similar property again.

According to data from property website Rightmove, there are 704,000 sales going through the conveyancing process in Britain. This is over 275,000 more than the previous record of 428,633 set in May 2017.

While the process of selling a home has accelerated rapidly, the time to complete a transaction has only slowed down  with transactions now taking around 20 weeks.

Beth Rudolf, director of delivery at the Conveyancing Association, says: 'Through no-one's fault, there are a number of log-jams to be worked through. Some lenders currently have telephone hold times of two hours, and some valuers are not responding to post-valuation queries, which makes the time to get to completion lengthier.

'We understand this is a stressful time for all those seeking to complete before the deadline, but rest assured conveyancers are working flat out.'

There is a similar backlog in the workload of local authorities who are struggling with the amount of property searches being requested.

According to online mortgage broker Mojo Mortgages this has led to a postcode lottery over who will meet the stamp duty deadline.

The online broker found that Ashfield District Council in Nottinghamshire had the quickest turnaround time for searches at five working days.

However, homebuyers in Hackney will be waiting 180 working days to get a search returned.

We could lose 5,500 and our dream property Daniel Flatt and his wife Bianca have been hit by multiple delays to the homebuying process IT Manager Daniel Flatt and his wife, Bianca, risk losing out on 5,500 if they do not complete the conveyancing process ahead of the stamp duty deadline. The couple, who have one daughter and are expecting another child in the autumn, have been hit by multiple delays while buying their home. Daniel, 31, who lives in Peterborough, says: 'After numerous hiccups, including a previous sale falling through, we are now on the home stretch to buying our dream property. 'Obviously we're still hoping to complete by June 30 because the savings would really come in handy. It's frustrating that the conveyancing process is a little out of our control and is a bit uncertain. 'We know that our solicitor is doing all they can to speed everything along.' The couple say they remain 'hopeful' they can still complete the process within the next few weeks

The stamp duty holiday was introduced on properties up to 500,000 by Chancellor Rishi Sunak last July, intended to kickstart the market which was frozen during the first lockdown.

But the policy only poured fuel on to the property market which was already heating up due to a wide-spread demand for larger properties after lockdown.

The original deadline of March 31 was extended to give breathing space to those who risked missing the deadline. But the move opened the floodgates to a wave of new buyers.

After June, the stamp duty-free threshold drops to 250,000 until the end of September.

In Scotland a temporary reduction to Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT)  the equivalent of stamp duty  was introduced last year though it ended on its original deadline in March.

It is estimated that four in ten property purchases agreed before April 1 will not complete by June 30, according to property data firm TwentyCi.

This means more than 160,000 buyers could miss out on tax savings of up to 15,000.

Among them is software developer Adam Reynolds, 50.

The father-of-one, from Bath, says he is 'living on a wing and a prayer' as he hopes to reach the June 30 deadline. Adam and his wife will save 12,000 if they complete by the end of the month.

While they will still be able to go ahead with the sale even if they miss the saving, they are also worried in case somebody in their property chain pulls out.

Adam says: 'We accepted an offer on our house in January. We were hoping to have everything wrapped up and moved by March  around the time the first stamp duty holiday ended. But there have been lots of stumbling blocks right across the chain.

'Paperwork has been stalled and all these little things have added together to create a perfect storm. I really do pity everybody going through this.'

How much tax would you save? Buyers are rushing to beat the deadline that could save them a maximum of 15,000 on their tax bill - after that the saving will taper to no stamp duty up to 250,000 - and be removed completely at the end of September. Our calculator shows how much tax you would pay to move home until the 30 June 2021. > Stamp duty calculator

Adam has even been negotiating with people along his chain to let them store each other's stuff in garages to help with the move.

He says: 'The other problem is that all the removal van companies are booked up.

'We must have contacted more than 30 and not one of them had any availability.'

The chaos means a spike in removal van gazumping  companies bailing at the last minute as they've been offered more money from another client.

Fred Morpeth, who runs Bristol-based removals firm Macro Removals, says: 'One person just said to me 'name your price'.

'We wouldn't take him on but there are a lot of cowboys across the removals industry who would exploit the situation and add a zero to their price.

'If anyone is looking to move in the next month, I'd advise them now is the time to start cashing in on favours with their family and friends to help them.'

moneymail@dailymail.co.uk
Savers have pulled 24.5billion out of NS&I accounts in just eight months.

The Treasury-backed National Savings & Investments slashed its rates to as little as 0.01 per cent in November, leading to a record number of savers abandoning their accounts.

And money has continued to stream out since, with only Premium Bonds remaining popular.

Savers have invested 9.8billion into the bonds over the same period  an average of 1.6billion a month.

National Savings & Investments slashed its rates to as little as 0.01 per cent in November

This brings NS&Is total withdrawal figure between November and April down to 14.7billion.

However, the savings giant is poised to announce plans to axe Premium Bonds prize cheques in favour of paying money directly into bank accounts.

And scores of Money Mail readers have already threatened to withdraw their money if the decision goes ahead.

NS&I has previously said it would reveal a new date for phasing out cheques in the spring after a customer service meltdown forced the bank to delay the move last year. But so far, a spokesman has only said that it will announce details shortly.

Currently NS&I pays out millions of prizes  or 12 per cent of the total it sends each year  as cheques, or warrants as they are also known.

More than seven million customers aged over 50 hold 81billion worth of Premium Bonds. Of these, more than 820,000 are in their 80s and 90s, and have around 14.2billion invested.

During the meltdown, four out of ten customers gave up trying to get through on the phone to the government bank.

Those who persevered waited up to 40 minutes to get through.

Ian Ackerley, chief executive at NS&I, admits the timing of the change was a mistake because of challenges its call centre faced due to the pandemic.

This time round he says: We will have more capacity in the contact centre, and, therefore, we will be able to talk to those people who want to talk to us and do that over the phone.

NS&I has told Money Mail its customer services problems have been resolved and that it has cleared a backlog of 6,700 complaints.

A spokesman added that phone calls are answered in eight seconds on average, and that the postal service is working normally.

sy.morris@dailymail.co.uk
British financial technology star Wise is teeing up the biggest stock market float in London for a decade.

In a fresh boost for the Square Mile, the company is set to announce a listing that could see it valued at up to 9billion.

That would make it the most valuable business to float on the London stock market since Glencore in 2011  and hand its founders up to 3.6billion.

London float: Wise, which was set up by Estonian entrepreneurs Kristo Kaarmann (left) and Taavet Hinrikus (right) is set to announce a listing that could see it valued at up to 9bn

Wise is being advised by Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley and the deal could be announced this week, according to Sky News. It follows a shake-up of stock market rules designed to attract more tech firms to the UK.

Others that have listed this year include cyber security provider Darktrace, food delivery firm Deliveroo, chip designer Alphawave IP, e-cards retailer Moonpig and online marketplace provider Auction Technology Group, although the results have been mixed.

Darktrace slashed its valuation ahead of listing, while Deliveroo and Alphawave's share prices crashed when they made their debuts.

Wise was set up by Estonian entrepreneurs Kristo Kaarmann and Taavet Hinrikus in 2010 to help people send money abroad more easily and inexpensively.

The London firm has become an international payments giant, serving 10m customers and transferring 5bn every month.

It is now seen as one of Britain's most valuable fintech businesses, employing 2,100 staff, with backers including Virgin tycoon Sir Richard Branson, Paypal founder Max Levchin, Scottish Mortgage and hedge fund tycoon Dan Sundheim's D1 Capital Partners.

Kaarmann and Hinrikus are thought to control around 40 per cent of shares, and stand to become billionaires overnight if the float goes ahead.

If the firm is valued at 9billion, their stakes could be worth 3.6billion combined. However, Wise's float could be on course for controversy after it was claimed that the founders and early backers will seek to retain a tight grip.

Wise is choosing not to raise money from the float and will opt instead for a direct listing, while also using a dual class share structure, where certain shares carry more voting power than others, doing away with the traditional 'one share, one vote' principle.

This is common at big American tech companies and has been used by founders such as Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg to ride roughshod over other investors.

In a review of listing rules this year, Lord Hill recommended that firms be allowed to enter the premium segment of the London Stock Exchange even if they use dual class share structures.

Deliveroo did this, giving founder Will Shu massive voting rights but some big battalion investors shunned the float over governance fears.

Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, warned: 'Big institutions are clearly not happy about dual class arrangements.

What many will be keen to understand is whether this is a permanent arrangement or limited to a finite period of time.'

Tom Powdrill, at shareholder advisory service Pirc, has previously slammed such dual class structures. 'They are called equities, they should be equitable,' he told the Financial Times.

Wise's float timing is expected to depend upon when it secures approvals from regulators, but it could happen within days. It declined to comment last night.

Future Biogas plans London float

Clean energy group Future Biogas plans to list in London next month.

It runs ten biogas plants for investors such as Aviva and JLEN Environmental Assets and wants to build 25 more of its own by 2028.

Founded in 2008, it is looking to raise 35million to put towards new projects such as capturing carbon and storing it under the North Sea.

It will catch emissions from its plants and, working with a huge venture in Norway, inject them underground.

Future Biogas plants use micro-organisms to digest crops such as maize to generate biogas, which is much less polluting than using fossil fuels.
Big Four accountant PwC plans to hire 100,000 employees world-wide as it expands lucrative consultancy services in areas such as climate change.

The hiring spree over the next five years will take its global headcount to nearly 384,000.

It is part of a 8.5billion investment to take advantage of huge demand from businesses for advice on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues.

Expansion: Accountant PwC plans to hire 100,000 employees world-wide over the next five years which will take its global headcount to nearly 384,000

In the UK, roughly 850million will be spent over the next three to four years.

PwC is investing in recruitment, training and technology to foster expertise on subjects ranging from how firms can cut carbon emissions, to 'hybrid' working practices after the pandemic and how to hire executives from a mix of backgrounds.

Demand for this kind of advice is rapidly growing.

Many firms face a more forthright approach on ESG topics from big City investors such as Legal & General, who have vowed to name and shame firms that do not take enough action.

And consumers are increasingly 'voting with their wallets' by buying products that follow strict ethical standards.

PwC has annual revenues of about 30.5billion globally, up 20 per cent on five years ago.

It hopes to double the size of its Asia-Pacific division, which brought in about 4.6billion last year.

Its rival Big Four auditors  Deloitte, KPMG and EY  are also expanding their ESG services.
The boss of Boohoo has launched an impassioned defence of the fast fashion chains founder as she prepares to face shareholders at the annual general meeting.

Chief executive John Lyttle said Carol Kane played a fundamental role in the business and said he looked forward to her re-election on Friday.

Kane, 54, is facing a shareholder revolt because of accusations that she had a direct role in the inadequate governance practices which led to sweatshop conditions in Boohoos Leicester supply chain.

Closing ranks: Boohoo co-founders Mahmud Kamani (left) and Carol Kane (centre) with boss John Lyttle (right)

The scandal wiped 1billion off the online-only companys shares in a few days, and they are still trading 17 per cent down.

An independent report found workers doing excessive hours in life-threatening conditions, often on illegal low pay, across much of its UK supply chain.

None of the senior directors has lost their jobs over the failures, and Kane and co-founder Mahmud Kamani are still eligible for a 50million bonus if Boohoos market capitalisation hits 7.5billion by June 2023.

Shareholder advisory Glass Lewis said senior directors were aware of the serious issues regarding the treatment of Leicester factory workers for at least six months before the scandal broke, but did not move quickly enough to remedy the situation.

But Lyttle said: If you ask most shareholders and employees, they feel Carol Kane should stay. She plays a fundamental role, and is a key part of the business. We look forward to the successful re-election of Carol Kane.

The comments came as Boohoo announced it had smashed analysts forecasts in the three months to the end of May, with UK sales soaring 50 per cent to 274.6million.

Across the group, sales rose 32 per cent to 486.1million.

The figures showed that the reopening of non-essential clothes shops on April 12 failed to dampen sales.

Boohoo has relaunched the Debenhams website, after purchasing the brand from administration for 55million, with an exciting pipeline of brands for our digital department store.

The firm also announced it had agreed to sign up to a forensic supply chain initiative called Fast Forward, a sector-leading auditor that already has members including Asos and Marks & Spencer.

Boohoos founders have accumulated extraordinary wealth at the top of the company, known for selling 3 dresses and T-shirts to Generation Z.

Kane holds 33.3m shares in the company, which are now valued at 110million. Boohoo stock rose 0.2 per cent, or 0.6p, to 329.1p yesterday.
The US and the EU have agreed a truce after a 17-year trade row over Boeing and Airbus subsidies that has affected goods from cashmere jumpers to parmesan cheese.

Arch-rivals Airbus, which is part-owned by the French, Spanish and German governments, and American Boeing are the worlds two biggest aircraft manufacturers.

But a bitter feud, which started in 2004 and is the longest dispute in World Trade Organisation (WTO) history, has seen the US and EU claim the others plane maker has received unfair state support.

Arch-rivals Airbus, which is part-owned by the French, Spanish and German governments, and American Boeing are the worlds two biggest aircraft manufacturers

The row has seen 8.2billion of levies slapped on items including Scotch whisky, Spanish olives and American exercise bikes in a tit-for-tat trade war.

But a breakthrough has finally been reached at a US-EU summit following two days of talks in Brussels.

It means that a four-month suspension of tariffs that started in March will be extended for five years, buying time to settle the matter for good.

The truce is an early win for President Joe Biden who is keen to nurture a closer relationship with other Western countries as he takes on the might of Russia and China.

It also represents a significant shift from former President Donald Trumps enthusiasm for a trade war.

US trade representative Katherine Tai said the truce resolves a long-standing trade irritant.

Airbus said it will provide the basis to create a level-playing field which we have advocated for since the start.

The UK was embroiled in the saga until it left the EU  at which point it dropped its tariffs against the US.

Britain was a party to the talks as a former EU member and manufacturer of key Airbus components, as the company makes its wings in the UK.

The US only responded in kind this week.

The trade spat dates back to 2004, when the US claimed the EU had supported Airbus with 15.6billion in illegal subsidised loans to help it build aircraft.

The EU countered, alleging Boeing had received trade-distorting subsidies worth 16.3billion.

WTO officials have ruled several times over the years that both sides have unfairly aided the companies.

In 2019, the Geneva-based organisation said the US could impose tariffs on up to 5.3billion of EU goods, and in 2020 then said the EU could do the same on 2.8billion of goods.

The US later imposed additional levies, while Brussels drew up a mammoth retaliation plan.

Valdis Dombrovskis, European Commission executive vice-president, said: With this agreement, we are grounding the Airbus-Boeing dispute.

It proves that the transatlantic relationship is now moving to the next level, and that we can work with the US on tackling long-running disputes.

We now have time and space to find a lasting solution through our new working group on aircraft, while saving billions of euros in duties for importers on both sides of the Atlantic.

The progress comes as Airbus and Boeing fight for survival amid the Covid crisis, which has battered global air travel.

Airbus lost 950million last year after the number of planes it handed over to airlines fell more than a third to 566.

Commercial jet arm sales fell by 37 per cent  and total sales fell by 29 per cent to 43.3billion because turnover rose in its space and defence divisions.

Although Airbus is a European company, it employs 14,000 people in the UK.

As part of a huge restructuring to cut 15,000 of its 135,000-strong global workforce, it is letting go of 1,700 British employees.

Boeing was already in the middle of a crisis surrounding its 737 Max jets.

The worldwide fleet of best-selling planes has been grounded since March 2019 after the second of two deadly crashes which killed 346 people and were caused by a software fault.

US politicians later described the planes as flying coffins. It is cutting around 30,000 jobs from a 160,000-strong workforce.
In recent decades, it's China that has pushed hard and sold its mass-produced goods around the world.

But now one of the biggest online shopping websites is giving British businesses access to sell to its 800million-strong Chinese consumer market.

Alibaba Group's Tmall Global claims there is a strong demand for British products in China and has announced the UK and Ireland edition of the 'Go Global 11.11 Pitch Fest'  a virtual event in which business founders get to pitch their products to a judging panel, Dragon's Den style.

Attendees at the 11.11 Global Shopping Festival make use of the magic mirrors

Tmall Global says this could be the opportunity a small business needs to recover from any potential losses suffered during the pandemic.

David Lloyd, general manager of UK, Nordics & The Netherlands, Alibaba Group says: 'Given the dramatic shift to online shopping and the continued strong demand for British goods in China, a digital strategy and a China strategy are now essential to fuelling the recovery and growth of British businesses after this challenging year.

What is Pitch Fest?

The 'Go Global 11.11. Pitch Fest' see founders of business pitching their products to an Alibaba expert panel.

The deadline for submission is on 16 July 2021 and the Pitch Fest will take place virtually between the 17-31 July.

We had 103m Chinese customers tune into our livestream launch In the lead-up to last year's 11.11, Welsh beauty tech brand SmoothSkin broadcast a livestream which had more than 103million views. It was one of the top ten brands globally selling into China during 11.11 and was placed seventh. Simon Boyd, sales director for SmoothSkin says: 'Selling our products into China has completely transformed our business. 'We employed 38 people in 2017 and now have a team of over 400 staff.' Boyd says: 'It's important to go in with eyes wide open because if you are successful in China you scale more quickly than other markets. 'You have to have the structures in place to cope with that growth. 'It's a very competitive market and moves very quickly and if you don't have the structure for that you are likely to fail. 'It's a dynamic environment from a customer and marketing perspective.'

The winners will then be eligible to take part in this year's 11.11. Global Shopping Festival after being fast-tracked and launched on Tmall's cross-border marketplace, Tmall Global.

It's a sought after event for businesses. Last year, the shopping festival generated $74.1billion (52.5billion) in gross merchandise revenue.

Winners will also go on to work directly with the Tmall Global Team and receive marketing advice and tools to boost brand awareness.

It's not clear how many British and Irish businesses will be accepted this year.

Tmall held a similar event in the US where American businesses owners pitched their products.

Out of the 100 that took part, only nine were selected by the judges.

Lloyd says: 'We don't have a target this year. Not everyone can be successful.

'We want to receive a lot of applications and hopefully they're good enough that we almost have too many.

'The point is if we set an artificially high target, we may struggle to meet that and possibly add brands that aren't quite ready.

'Or if we set too low a target, we may then get a range of fantastic applications.'

The competition is tough  2020's festival, for example, saw more than 31,000 overseas brands taking part.

But not all are seasoned participants of the festival  2,600 participated in last year's 11.11 for the first time.

British brands tend to do well in China and the 11.11 festival which starts on China's Singles Day - an unofficial holiday and start of a shopping season - is a very lucrative event. Singles Day or Double 11 celebrates people that are not in relationships.

As the name suggests the 11.11 festival, which starts on the Singles Day, lasts 11 days. In 2020 during that period $494million worth of goods from UK businesses were sold.

The Tmall Cat featured at the 2020 11.11 global shopping festival event

Selected brands will also be pitched to famous Chinese influencers, such as Austin Li Jiaqi (aka Lipstick King) or China's star saleswoman Viya  potentially attracting millions of follows and millions in revenue.

Influencers could (Chinese and other international ones) could then go on to promote the products themselves.

Lloyd says: 'These influencers are paid for by the brand but the cost is variable and often based on a sales percentage.'

All brands, whether accepted or not, will receive follow up one-to-one consultation with a Tmall Global expert.

They'll also be given a bespoke report on the market opportunity with advice on how to grow their brand globally and in China.

What is Tmall?

Tmall Global was launched in 2014 and claims it is the largest cross-border e-commerce platform in China.

Several brands including Welsh beauty brand SmoothSkin, tea specialist Teapigs, Holland & Barrett, Sweaty Betty, Rude Health, Jo Loves, Creed, Molton Brown and Child's Farm operate on the online platform.

Lloyd says that there are a wide range of product categories that tend to do well with Chinese consumers, including fashion, accessories, beauty, personal care, electronics, home, food and beverage, health and wellness, baby and maternity toys and pet products.

While the consumer reach is enormous and there's a great potential to make a lot of sales, being present on the shopping mall style website is not cheap.

So, while the competition is aimed at SMEs it's likely that more established SMEs will be successful on the platform.

David Lloyd, general manager of UK, Nordics & The Netherlands, Alibaba Group says there's a strong demand for British consumer goods in China

Firstly, businesses have to stump up a deposit of around 50,000 to 300,000 RMB (between 5,000 to 30,000).

The deposit acts like an insurance and is only refunded if a company decides to no longer take part in Tmall.

That's provided it's not needed to settle disputes. Lloyd explains: 'We will take a small deposit from brands. If there is ever a dispute between brand and buyer and if we need to, we'd look at if we could use it to settle it.'

Tmall also takes a commission for sales conducted via the platform. Lloyd says: 'We take a sales commission - it's not fixed but number hangs around five per cent.'

We will take a small deposit from brands. If there is ever a dispute between brand and buyer and if we need to, we'd look at it we could use it to settle it David Lloyd, general manager of UK, Nordics & The Netherlands, Alibaba Group David Lloyd, general manager of UK, Nordics & The Netherlands, Alibaba Group

The other things businesses will have to consider when doing business through Tmall and selling to China is the marketing and local partner costs.

The marketing budget will be used to promote the digital store within Tmall and the suggested investment for this is about 20-30 per cent of GMV.

Businesses will also have to consider local partner costs which will be needed to pay for a representative on the ground  referred to as the 'Tmall Partner'.

This is a specialised and certified e-commerce operator that offers companies a one-stop solution to manage their e-commerce operations to sell to Chinese consumers.

While TPs are not compulsory they are highly recommended by marketplaces, like Tmall, as they believe it's necessary to have local experts to help boost the store's performance among Chinese consumers who could move onto the next trend swiftly.

It can be an expensive exercise to launch on Tmall and promote products in China.

But Simon Boyd, sales director for SmoothSkin which sells products on Tmall points out: 'If you were looking to scale business in a European market and a retail partner there the costs are significantly higher than working with Tmall.

'It's possible to work with strong distribution partners and great TPs in China.'

Lloyd says that language barriers pose no problem when it comes to dealing with TPs but he advises business owners to be hands on.

'There's less of a cultural and language barrier. The TPs are becoming so experienced in dealing with international brands, so they have a great deal of English brands so that is pretty manageable.

'You still have to invest in it. You have to actively manage it and it's not a question of find a product, get a TP and let it run.

'You are putting all your success in other people and it can work but those who actively manage are more successful. They tend to ask questions back and forth and are responsive to the market.'

Then there's the challenge of appealing to the Chinese consumer. Lloyd explains that Chinese consumers are different to British consumers because they prefer to shop online instead of malls and have grown up with social media and smartphones.

But they're open to most British products even if they are something that originated in China - like tea.

Lloyd says: 'You wouldn't think selling tea to china would be possible. It shows you the possibility of the market.'

It's vital for British businesses to have at least one person committed to the Chinese market. Lloyd says: 'SMEs that are successful get one person to be committed to the Chinese market and the Tmall presence.

'You have to think of it as a marketplace and that this is your web presence in China. It's not something to leave alone. It's a living thing you have to nurture.'
Tifton, GA (31794)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms in the morning, then mainly cloudy during the afternoon with thunderstorms likely. High around 85F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Thunderstorms likely in the evening. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms later on. Low 72F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%.
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Barre, VT (05641)

Today

Periods of rain. High around 65F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch..

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Cloudy with occasional rain showers. Low 56F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
Thomasville, GA (31792)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms in the morning, then mainly cloudy during the afternoon with thunderstorms likely. High near 85F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Thunderstorms likely in the evening. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms later on. Low 71F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
RECOGNITION

Blue Bell teen elected to serve in key role for Jack and and Jill of America, Inc.
featured

EDUCATION

MCCC enters educational partnership to create new pathways for students

Montgomery County Community College enters educational partnership to create new pathways for students
Colleen Price, BSN, RN, a nurse in the Cardiac Telemetry Unit at Einstein Montgomery and resident of W. Norriton Township, was honored by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation.
Washington Prime Group, which owns the Mall at Johnson City, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
WILTON - An investigation by the state Workers Compensation Board appears to have aided efforts by the state Department of Health to condemn the ramshackle Crest Inn Suites & Cottages in Wilton that was also the base of operations for Prestige Limousine, the limo service involved in the Oct. 6, 2018, crash in Schoharie that killed 20 people.

During a July 2019 hearing held to determine whether or not the DOH should revoke the Crest Inn Suite's license, Kenneth Dipple, an investigator with the Workers Compensation Board, testified that he began looking into a workers comp insurance violation at the motel shortly after the tragedy in Schoharie.

The Hussains' license for the motel was revoked, and the motel was ordered shut down.

Dipple said the workers comp inquiry was prompted by a suspicious gun-related death that happened at the Crest Inn Suites just one day after the horrific crash.

The Crest Inn Suites is owned by the Hussain family, which also owned Prestige Limousine, although none of the family members were ever implicated in the motel death, which occurred when a guest fired an illegal gun through a wall, killing another guest.

Dipple testified at the July 23, 2019, DOH hearing in Glens Falls that he did a site visit to the Crest Inn Suites after learning about the shooting in the news because he suspected that the Hussain's employed someone without workers compensation insurance.

Dipple said the worker in question was Arnie Cornett, the motel's property manager, who was frequently interviewed by reporters seeking information on the Hussains in the wake of the limo crash. The motel shared an address with the limo business.

"There was a worker on-site," Dipple said. "So we issued a stop work order."

Although health department officials testified at the hearing that the Crest Inn Suites was a frequent violator of public health, sanitation and building codes going back at least a decade and was briefly shut down in 2017, the workers comp insurance investigation appears to have to set in motion the motel's ultimate demise.

"The Workers Compensation Board has authority to issue stop work orders to businesses that do not carry the proper insurance coverage for employees," said Andrea Cyr, a spokesperson for the state agency. "The board regularly partners with other New York state agencies during investigations to keep the public, and employees, safe."

Anita Gabalski, the DOH's regional director in Glens Falls, testified that the stop work order allowed her to challenge the Crest Inn Suite's license with the approval of her supervisor. The motel had also been late in filing required water quality reports with the state.

Gabalski said that this happened because the Crest Inn Suite's operator, Shahyer Hussain, had previously filled out a license renewal form that said the motel had no employees. Gabalski said Cornett and his wife were both working for the Hussains.

"They were employed by the Hussains to manage their facility," Gabalski said.

The Times Union obtained the audio recording of the Glens Falls hearing through a Freedom of Information Law request that took DOH about 20 months to fulfill.

A DOH spokesman declined to answer questions about the investigative path of the case, saying the department does not comment on closed cases.

Shahyer Hussain, who also goes by Haris, has never been accused of any wrongdoing in the limo crash case. However, his younger brother Nauman, who ran the limo business, is facing 20 charges each of manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide in Schoharie County Court for renting out the 34-foot stretch Ford Excursion limo after the state repeatedly ordered it off the road for safety violations. His next hearing is scheduled for next month.

Records on file at the Saratoga County Clerk's office show that Shahyer Hussain owes the Workers Compensation Board $18,500 in penalties for not carrying workers compensation insurance from October 2018 to October 2019.

During the hearing, Shahyer Hussain testified that he only used subcontractors for repair work at the motel and that any issues with the motel's water were clerical in nature.

"I did not know as much as I should have," Hussain testified. "Ultimately that's my responsibility. But our water samples have never had an issue."

The Schoharie tragedy happened when the Excursion, carrying 17 friends and family members from Amsterdam to Cooperstown for a birthday party, crashed into the parking lot of the Apple Barrel Country Store at more than 100 mph after the brakes apparently failed while descending a steep section of Route 30. The driver and two bystanders were also killed.

The families of the victims have since gotten a state judge to bar the Hussains from trying to sell the Crest Inn Suites after it lost its license in October 2019. The Hussains had briefly put the motel on the market for $1 million before the court order was issued to preserve any potential assets the families might win at civil trial against the Hussains.
Vaccine maker Novavax said Monday its COVID-19 shot was highly effective against the disease and also protected against variants in a large study in the U.S. and Mexico, potentially offering the world yet another weapon against the virus at a time when developing countries are desperate for doses.

The two-shot vaccine was about 90% effective overall, and preliminary data showed it was safe, the American company said. That would put the vaccine about on par with Pfizer's and Moderna's.

While demand for COVID-19 shots in the U.S. has dropped off dramatically and the country has more than enough doses to go around, the need for more vaccines around the world remains critical. The Novavax vaccine, which is easy to store and transport, is expected to play an important role in boosting supplies in poor parts of the world.

That help is still months away, however. The company, which has been plagued by raw-material shortages that have hampered production, said it plans to seek authorization for the shots in the U.S., Europe and elsewhere by the end of September and will be able to produce up to 100 million doses a month by then.

Many of our first doses will go to  low- and middle-income countries, and that was the goal to begin with, Novavax CEO Stanley Erck said.

While more than half of the U.S. population has had at least one vaccine dose, less than 1% of people in the developing world have had one shot, according to a data collection effort run in part by the University of Oxford.

The Novavax shot stands to become the fifth Western-developed COVID-19 vaccine to win clearance. The Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are already authorized for use in the U.S. and Europe. Europe also uses AstraZeneca's formula.

Novavax's study involved nearly 30,000 people ages 18 and up. Two-thirds received two doses of the vaccine, three weeks apart, and the rest got dummy shots. Nearly half the volunteers were Black, Hispanic, Asian American or Native American, and 6% of participants were in Mexico. Altogether, 37% had health problems that made them high risk, and 13% were 65 or older.

There were 77 cases of COVID-19  14 in the group that got the vaccine, the rest in volunteers who received the dummy shots. None in the vaccine group had moderate or severe disease, compared with 14 in the placebo group. One person in that group died.

The vaccine was similarly effective against several variants, including the one first detected in Britain that is now dominant in the U.S., and in high-risk populations, including the elderly, people with other health problems and front-line workers in hospitals and meatpacking plants.

These consistent results provide much confidence in the use of this vaccine for the global population, said Dr. Paul Heath, director of the Vaccine Institute at the University of London and St. Georges Hospital.

Side effects were mostly mild  tenderness and pain at the injection site. There were no reports of unusual blood clots or heart problems, Erck said.

A study underway in Britain is testing which of several vaccines, including Novavaxs, works best as a booster shot for people who received the Pfizer or AstraZeneca formula. Industry analyst Kelechi Chikere said the Novavax shot could become a universal booster because of its high effectiveness and mild side effects.

Novavax reported the results in a news release and plans to publish them in a medical journal, where they will be vetted by independent experts. The Gaithersburg, Maryland-based company previously released findings from smaller studies in Britain and South Africa.

COVID-19 vaccines train the body to recognize the coronavirus, especially the spike protein that coats it, and get ready to fight the virus off. The Novavax vaccine is made with lab-grown copies of that protein. That's different from some of the other vaccines now widely used, which include genetic instructions for the body to make its own spike protein.

The Novavax vaccine can be stored in standard refrigerators, making it easier to distribute.

As for the shortages that delayed manufacturing, Erck said those were due to restrictions on shipments from other countries.

"That's opening up," he said, adding that Novavax now has weeks' worth of needed materials in its factories, up from just one week.

The company has committed to supplying 110 million doses to the U.S. over the next year and a total of 1.1 billion doses to developing countries.

In May, vaccines alliance Gavi, a leader of the U.N.-backed COVAX project to supply shots to poorer countries, announced it signed an agreement to buy 350 million doses of Novavaxs formula. COVAX is facing a critical shortage of vaccines after its biggest supplier in India suspended exports until the end of the year.

Novavax has been working on developing vaccines for more than three decades but hasn't brought one to market. Its coronavirus vaccine work is partly funded by the U.S. government.

Dr. Peter English, a vaccine expert previously with the British Medical Association, called the Novavax results excellent news. English said that because vaccine production is complicated, its crucial to have as many shots as possible.

Any minor imperfection in the production plant can shut down the production for days or weeks, he said in a statement. The more different manufacturers we have producing vaccine, the more likely it is we will have availability of vaccines.

He said it was also encouraging news that Novavax would be able to adapt its vaccine to any potentially worrying variants in the future if necessary.

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Follow Linda A. Johnson on Twitter: LindaJ_onPharma

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AP Medical Writer Maria Cheng contributed to this report.

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
When you hear a tour of Hudson Valley art and architecture, do you picture Victorian houses filled with age-darkened paintings of leafy landscapes? Think again.

Its true that in the late 19th century artists like Thomas Cole, Frederic Edwin Church, Albert Bierstadt and Asher B. Durand found inspiration in the misty green hills, lushly wooded forests and snaking rivers of the Hudson Valley region. These Hudson River School artists, as they came to be known, depicted a state of harmonious co-existence between man and nature, and the area is still strongly associated with them. Churchs home and studio Olana, a hilltop wonder of Orientalist architecture in Hudson, still draws thousands of visitors every year.

But while the Hudson Valley still serves as a mecca of sorts for admirers of its bucolic scenery and the art it inspired, its also possible to spend a whole weekend seeing nothing but world-class modern and contemporary art and architecture  read: minimalist buildings with straight lines and art made from industrial materials. In fact, its pretty tough to choose among all the options.

To help get you started, heres a suggested itinerary for a Hudson Valley modern and contemporary art and architecture weekend.

Saturday

First stop: The School | Jack Shainman Gallery, Kinderhook

In 2013, legendary gallerist Jack Shainman established an outpost of his New York gallery in a 30,000-square-foot former high school in Kinderhook in Columbia County. The building, which was completed in 1929 and dedicated in 1931 by none other than Franklin Delano Roosevelt, was modernized by Spanish architect Antonio Torrecillas, who retained some of the original details.

The Schools five-acre property is dotted with sculptures and installations. On view in the galleries through Oct. 30 is a group show titled Feedback, curated by former Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles Chief Curator Helen Molesworth. Featured artists include Sanford Biggers, Kerry James Marshall, Becky Suss and Lynette Yiadom-Boakye.

Jack Shainman Gallery: The School

25 Broad St, Kinderhook, NY 12106; 518-758-1628

Note: The gallery is open Saturdays only from 11 a.m.-6 p.m., and by apppointment

Nearby: Outdoor sculpture park Art Omi

Next: Check in at Hotel Tivoli and dinner at The Corner, Tivoli

Hotel Tivoli

Abstract artists Brice and Helen Marden transformed a formerly run-down, century-old hotel into Hotel Tivoli, which also features a farm-to-table restaurant called The Corner. Decorated in an eclectic mid-century style with art by the Mardens and other art-world luminaries like Kiki Smith and Julian Schnabel, The Corner serves creative, seasonal fare, locally sourced. Waiter, Ill start with the Wellfleet oysters on the half shell with horseradish, finger lime and lemon, followed by the grilled branzino with white asparagus, orange and fennel.

The Corner

53 Broadway, Tivoli, NY 12583; 845-757-2100

Next: A show at The Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson



Peter Aaron/Esto

On a sunny day, the Fisher Centers undulating stainless steel shingles put one in mind of a massive metallic beetle. While the exterior of the building seems chilly, inside the Centers Sosnoff Theater you will find wood-paneled everything, soft fabric seats and warm acoustics.

Designed by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry to the tune of more than $62 million, the Fisher Center is home to a dynamic summer season that runs this year from July 8  August 15. The programming focuses on Nadia Boulanger (1887-1979), a French-born conductor, composer and teacher who counted Daniel Barenboim, Aaron Copland and Phillip Glass among her students.

Fisher Center at Bard

Manor Ave., Annandale-on-Hudson, NY 12504; 845-758-7900

Next: Shut-eye back at Hotel Tivoli, Tivoli

The rooms here are cheerful and quirky, colorful and minimal at the same time. As in the hotel restaurant, interesting art is everywhere. Room 4 has a Richard Long piece, one of 12 artworks that make up his A 118 Mile Walk Under the Sky from 1980. CLOUD RAIN RAIN AND SUN CLOUD DRIZZLE RAIN SUN, it begins, like a chant that you can repeat instead of counting sheep.

Hotel Tivoli

53 Broadway, Tivoli, NY 12583; 845-757-2100

SUNDAY

First stop: Bringing the outside in at Manitoga/The Russel Wright Design Center, Garrison



Vivian Linares

Industrial designer Russel Wright created American Modern, still the most successful ceramic dinnerware ever made in the United States. Wright, who was influenced by his work as a stage designer in the 1920s, bought a 75-acre abandoned granite quarry in Garrison, and sculpted the landscape into outdoor settings that charm at every turn.

He also worked with architect David Leavitt to build Dragon Rock, a glass, stone and wood multi-level home and studio nestled into the largest of the quarry beds. With rough-hewn stones serving as stairs and tree trunk jutting through the living space, the house feels barely removed from its surroundings.

Wright, who was influenced by Bauhaus design, and his wife, Mary Small Einstein, published a book in 1950 called Guide to Easier Living that is credited with introducing a more modern lifestyle to American homes.

Take a guided tour the property and buildings and walk the trails.

Manitoga/The Russel Wright Design Center

584 NY-9D, Garrison, NY 10524; 845-424-3812

Next: A wealth of poor art at Magazzino Italian Art, Cold Spring



Photo by Marco Anelli. Courtesy Magazzino Italian Art.

Arte Povera, or poor art, was a term coined in the late 1960s to describe art made in post-war Italy in response to deteriorating economic conditions, domestic terrorism and student demonstrations. Artists like Giuseppe Penone, Mario Merz and Alighiero Boetti made their work from ordinary materials like steel girders, burlap sacks and cinder blocks.

What is perhaps the largest collection of Arte Povera in the U.S. has been assembled by collectors Nancy Olnick and Giorgio Spanu, who have a home in Garrison. They bought an old factory in Cold Spring and enlisted Spanish architect Miguel Quismondo to create Magazzino, a 20,000-square-foot home for their collection that includes an Arte Povera research center.

Quismondo repurposed the original building and added a new structure, both which are clad in pale gray concrete. Its as though a Chelsea gallery teleported into a green field.

Magazzino Italian Art

2700 U.S. 9, Cold Spring, NY 10516; 845-666-7202

NOTE: Many places require reservations due to the pandemic; please check websites before heading out.

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Michelle Falkenstein is a freelance journalist who writes about culture, food and other topics. mfalkenstein18@gmail.com, @michellefalkenstein.
Five years ago, Newburghs 28,000 residents discovered they had been exposed to hazardous levels of toxic chemicals called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, for more than 20 years through contaminated drinking water.

Since the revelation came to light in 2016, community activists have demanded accountability for why these chemicals  which are linked to cancer and other health issues  were in their main water source. Now, there is a renewed push in the U.S. Congress for stricter guidance on PFAS, a development some see as a positive sign for Newburgh residents who want to ensure this doesnt happen elsewhere.

I am cautiously optimistic, said Deborah Brown of the activist group Newburgh Clean Water Project. Our community is not going to get clean water unless we push for it.

The background

Newburgh residents were exposed to hazardous levels of PFAS between the early 1990s and 2016, the state learned when the Department of Health confirmed the presence of PFAS in the citys drinking water reservoir in March 2016. The states Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) identified Stewart Air National Guard Base as the source of the PFAS, connecting the contamination to firefighting foams used at the base.

These foams, the DEC said, flowed into Lake Washington, contaminating what was Newburghs original water source, as well as the groundwater from which Newburgh and New Windsor wells draw.

This 2016 discovery forced the City of Newburgh to pivot and source its water from the Catskills Aqueduct system and Browns Pond.

What are PFAS and why are they harmful?

PFAS are a family of man-made chemicals that are known for their water-resistant properties. They were once found in firefighting foams, which are no longer used today, and now the chemicals can be found in such everyday products as nonstick pans, fast-food wrappers and stain-resistant carpet.

Studies have indicated that PFAS may increase the risks of liver disease, kidney disease, some cancers, birth defects, high blood pressure and hormone imbalances.

Research by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences suggests toxicity happens at 1.0 to 0.1 parts per trillion (ppt). In 2016, the City of Newburghs water quality report found PFAS levels of 140 to 170 ppt in Lake Washington.

A recent study done by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) tested the blood of 59 Newburgh residents across 48 households for seven different PFAS chemicals. The results showed that three PFAS were detected at levels above national averages, while the other four were similar to or below national averages.

Now, the Center for Disease Control and ATSDR are evaluating the data collected to better understand exposure in the community and the health effects associated with each level.

Renewed push from Congress

Congress is reintroducing a bill, backed by U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Rep. Antonio Delgado  both from New York  that would have PFAS chemicals applied to the Clean Water Act, the primary U.S. federal law for governing water pollution.

The bill addresses the lack of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules limiting discharge levels for PFAS chemicals. With no EPA regulations, companies that manufacture products using the chemicals can release PFAS into federally regulated waters unchecked. The measure would require federal environmental regulators to develop water quality rules under the act for measurable PFAS classes within two years.

Additionally, it would identify nine industries for which PFAS standards need to be established, including organic chemicals, plastics and synthetic fibers, pulp and paper, textile mills, metal finishing and leather tanning, to name a few.

The PFAS issue is present across New York, with rural communities like Hoosick Falls and Petersburgh  home to plastics plants  also affected.

Across New York State, and in almost every state across the country, communities have had their water supplies needlessly polluted by toxic PFAS chemicals, said Senator Gillibrand in a press release. By developing effluent limitations guidelines and clear standards for all measurable PFAS, we can stop PFAS at the source and prevent contamination of our drinking water.

Steps forward

Stewart Air National Base has been accepted into the Defense Environmental Restoration Program (DERP), which will provide funding in September for a remedial investigation for Newburghs watershed. It is the first Air National Guard base remedial program to be funded under the program.

DERP is definitely helpful in terms of making it more possible for the local air base to be responsive, but the Department of Defense has an enormous problem on their hands, said Brown. Its nested in an even bigger problem of our entire society dealing with the post-industrial revolutions legacy of chemicals.

Brown and the Newburgh Clean Water Project are calling on Stewart Air National Base to be proactive in the speed of the cleanup; she is optimistic that DERP will motivate the base to ramp up the pace. The remediation process will be lengthy, with Brown estimating a five-year timeline with pressure from Congress, but it could extend past that.

Members of the Newburgh Clean Water Project sit on the Stewart Air National Guards Restoration Advisory Committee, which was formed in early 2020 to address and review remediation projects.

Thats where we push, said Brown. We work with the rest of the community to come to a resolution sooner than later  one that is complete, thorough and effective.

This isnt the first time and wont be the last that Hudson Valley residents question their water, said Brown. Since 2010, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection has released hundreds of billions of gallons of turbid water from the Ashokan Reservoir, NYCs biggest water source, into the lower Esopus when the reservoir becomes turbid or overfilled after rainstorms or snowmelts. Now, area residents are wondering about the subsequent effect on their drinking water there.
Born in South Carolina and raised in the Adirondacks, Alice Green is a social justice and prison reform advocate. In the early 1980s, she served as legislative director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, and was appointed in 1986 by Gov. Mario Cuomo as deputy commissioner of the state Division of Probation and Correctional Alternatives. In 1985, she founded the Albany-based Center for Law and Justice, a nonprofit civil rights organization in which she serves as executive director.

Q: How did you get into activism? Or how did you become who you are today?

A: I always have to go back quite a ways when I'm asked that question. I think I'm one of the few people alive today who was actually held by someone who was enslaved: My great-grandmother was born enslaved around 1859; she lived to be a ripe old age. Even though I was very young, I still have this vague memory of her. But when I realized that my great-grandmother was owned by someone, that really hit me  because she was owned the way people own cattle, pigs, cows and things like that. And something seemed to be wrong with that.

I also had a maternal grandmother who was a sharecropper in the South, and she taught me about being active. She was a leader in her community, even though she had been raised as a sharecropper. And then I had the experience of my parents who lived in the Jim Crow South, and particularly my dad, who was very fearful of the criminal justice system because, during that particular time, there were efforts to re-enslave people: There was a contract lease system that basically grabbed young men off the street, incarcerated them and then leased them out to businesses. So my dad decided to go north.

But I learned about what they had gone through. And I knew something was wrong, and they instilled in me this belief that we had to do something, to change the way we exist in this country. Racism followed us  it wasn't just in the South.

Q: There can be misconceptions about what it means to be an activist. What does it mean to you?

A: People started calling me an activist when I started working in the South End of Albany. I had gotten quite a bit of education and I was, first, an educator. I was interested not only in being in the classroom, but interested in learning more about where my students came from. And the first job I had actually was in Rochester, in what you would call the ghetto area. I went to their homes and in the community to find out more about what was going on in their lives.

I just decided to get more education, so I could learn more about society. So I became a social worker. And you couldn't escape the fact that so many of the people that I worked with were being incarcerated. I decided to study criminal justice, and I ended up actually getting three masters, and a doctorate in criminal justice. And when they first started calling me an activist, I was a little insulted because I wasn't sure what that meant  I didn't know if people just didn't want to recognize my educational background.

I got my real education in the prison system. Prisoners reached out to me; they told me about what their lives had been like. Some of them had been at Attica. And they taught me about how important it was to educate the people who were incarcerated so that they could go out when they were released in their communities, and work for the change that they thought needed to happen.

I'm someone who absolutely hates prisons. I want to get rid of prisons in much the same way that we worked to get rid of chattel slavery. We've got to get rid of incarcerating people, because incarceration looks a whole lot like enslavement.

And so that's when I decided that I am an activist. Because I don't work in academia; I don't work behind the desk; I don't work in a bureaucracy. My work is being active in the community, and working for change.

Q: You've been doing this for a long time.

A: Yes. One of the things I decided to do was to form my own organization. I'm very sensitive about being controlled by others, particularly white people.

So I started the Center for Law and Justice 36 years ago, focusing on the criminal justice system, and how it oppresses Black people and other people of color.

Q: What gives you hope  the young people you work with?

A: Absolutely. The people in my office now are young people who see things a bit differently than I did; we come from different generations. But they are extremely determined to make sure that they make a mark on the society, that they change it. And they're not afraid to. I get new ideas from them, and new ways of looking at the world. And they come with hope. And my generation, no, we didn't have as much hope. But I think the young people have allowed us to share in that feeling of hope.

Q: So what keeps you energized?

A: Probably every day, I still think about my great-grandmother. I'm convinced that she speaks to me in a way, to tell me that, you know, "You got to keep going." I hear my grandmother, who was a sharecropper, who played a leadership role in her community because she thought it was important. And my parents of course are not alive, but they guide me still, when I think about what I'm doing or not doing. I ask myself, "What would my mother say?" or "What would my mother do?" And it guides me.

And I want a different world for my grandchildren. I could sit back and do nothing, but that's not an option really for me. Because I think we all must continue to do whatever we can, as long as we can, to make the changes that we want to see happen.

This transcript has been edited.
SCHENECTADY  Critics are accusing a candidate for county legislature of engaging in dog whistle racial politics over a campaign mailer that insinuates his Black opponent is in favor of defunding the police when he is not.

Brendan Savage, a white candidate for Schenectady County Legislature, sent out a mailer touting his pro-police bonafides.

The literature did not name his challenger in the upcoming Democratic primary, Omar McGill, but states there is quite a bit of reckless talk about defunding or abolishing the police among some activists supporting my opponent.

McGill, who is Black, has not called for defunding the police.

To try to attach that to my name as a person of color is wrong, McGill said. Ive always said we need to improve the relationship between the community and the police and I stick by that. What we have to do is not defund them, but give them more resources to support them.

McGill said he supports more resources for social workers, steering crisis calls to mental health workers, as well as youth mentoring and afterschool programs.

But there also needs to be an accountability factor, McGill said. The police need to be accountable for progress, just like we need to do with ours.

Chad Putman, a state committee member for the Working Families Party who is backing McGill, called it dog whistle racist politics.

Because hes running against a person of color, hes sending this flier to cause fear in the community, Putman said.

The mailer reads, As your candidate for County Legislature District 1, I have a simple message: Do not defund the police.

The literature also depicts community police liaisons smiling with a child of color, who is wearing a police-type uniform. The reverse side depicts crime-related headlines from local media outlets, including the Times Union, as well as imagery of a body outline and yellow police tape.

Several City Council candidates also blasted the mailer.

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I think its fear mongering, Damonni Farley said. As a Black candidate in city politics, I know that when your opponents cannot win the battle of ideas, they utilize Willie Horton-style racist dog whistles. But this is a new low.

Racial schisms have long sizzled below the surface when it comes to city and county politics. Meanwhile, all but one member of the 15-member county legislature is white.

Police Chief Eric Clifford said the Savage campaign didnt reach out to ask for permission to use the photo. "Had they, we would say we would prefer not to have our images used during campaigns, Clifford said.

However, Clifford said the department shares photos of themselves often, and acknowledges when they make pictures of themselves public, they can be used by anyone  including candidates.

In a lengthy statement, Savage said he's knocked on over 1,000 doors since the flier went out four weeks ago and no one thought it had racial overtones.

"I thought it was important to make my position against defunding the police clear, after our position was asked when we interviewed with the Working Families Party," Savage said. "One panelist asked if I supported defunding the police - I stated I did not, but I supported more accountability, training, community policing and better mental health and drug treatment services."

He also called on McGill to denounce rhetoric made by activist Jamaica Miles that the police should be "abolished."

"I believe when extreme rhetoric arises we should publicly denounce it, which I have done," Savage said.

Miles, who supports McGills campaign and has called for funds to be reallocated from policing into community programming, briefly appeared with McGill at a campaign event on Saturday.

Savage has proved from the beginning he has no integrity and is simply led by the Democratic Party, said Miles, who pointed out that local policing efforts are led by the city  not the county, which does not conduct road patrols in District 1, which covers the citys Stockade, Goose Hill, Bellevue and GE Realty Plot neighborhoods, as well as parts of downtown and Mont Pleasant.

Had he stayed the course of getting a role with the city, this is a topic that would be relevant, Miles said.

Savage, who has been endorsed by the county Democratic Committee, briefly threw his hat into the ring for City Council earlier this year but pivoted to running for the county seat being vacated by veteran lawmaker Peggy King. His mother, Susan Savage, was a leader in the Democratic party, previously serving as county legislature chairwoman.

Early voting began Saturday and runs through Sunday, June 20. The Democratic and Working Families Party primary is June 22.
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP)  The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court said Monday that she has sought authorization to open an investigation into the Philippine governments deadly crackdown on drug crime.

Fatou Bensouda said that a preliminary probe she opened in February 2018 determined that there is a reasonable basis to believe that the crime against humanity of murder has been committed in the Philippines between July 1, 2016 and March 16, 2019, the date the Philippines withdrew from the court.

The suspected crimes happened in the context of the government of Philippines war on drugs campaign, Bensouda said in a statement.

President Rodrigo Duterte announced in March 2018 that the Philippines was withdrawing its ratification of the treaty that created the ICC. The decision came into force a year later.

But Bensouda stressed that the court still has jurisdiction over crimes that allegedly happened while the country was still a member of the court.

Bensouda, whose nine-year term as the courts chief prosecutor ends this week, said that information gathered in the preliminary probe indicates that members of the Philippine National Police, and others acting in concert with them, have unlawfully killed between several thousand and tens of thousands of civilians during that time.

She said prosecutors also reviewed allegations of torture and other inhumane acts, and related events dating back to Nov. 1, 2011, all of which we believe require investigation.

When he announced he was going to withdraw from the court, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte defended his drug crackdown, saying in a 15-page statement that it is lawfully directed against drug lords and pushers who have for many years destroyed the present generation, specially the youth.

Judges at the global court have 120 days to issue a decision on the prosecutors request.
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)

Chris Lamb, IUPUI

(THE CONVERSATION) President Joe Biden often talks about the close relationship he had with his father and how this influenced him growing up as the scrappy kid from Scranton, Pennsylvania.

Biden was born into wealth, the son of a polo-playing yachtsman. But his father, Joe Biden Sr., lost his job after World War II and abused alcohol, struggling financially for years before getting back on his feet and finding middle-class work selling cars near Wilmington, Delaware.

Sunday, June 20, is Fathers Day. Bidens relationship with his father contrasts with perhaps every president in the last four decades, who had either absent or distant fathers or abusive or alcoholic fathers or stepfathers.

The measure of a man is not how often he is knocked down, Joe Biden Sr. told his son, but how quickly he gets up.

His fathers support boosted young Joes political career, and offered comfort when Joe Jr.s wife and daughter were killed in a car crash.

On the 2020 presidential campaign trail, Biden remembered his late fathers belief that theres no higher calling for a woman or a man than to be a good mother or a good father.

This will be my first Fathers Day without my own father, who died in August 2020 at age 95. He, too, believed in the calling of fatherhood. My father and mother were there for us. They encouraged us to follow our own dreams and not theirs.

This sort of supportive father-child relationship is common  except perhaps in politics.

Former congressional staffer and political journalist Barron YoungSmith once wrote an article for Slate with the headline, Why Do So Many Politicians Have Daddy Issues? American politics, he wrote, is overflowing with stories of absent fathers, alcoholic fathers, neglectful fathers.

Ford, Reagan, Clinton

Gerald Fords father, Leslie Lynch King Sr., was an abusive alcoholic. Fords mother left King 16 days after the future president was born, when her husband threatened her and her infant son with a butcher knife. Fords mother married Gerald Rudolff Ford. When he was 22, Ford changed his name from Leslie Lynch King Jr. to Gerald Rudolph Ford.

Jimmy Carters father, James Earl Carter Sr., was a high school dropout who encouraged his son to read, a hard worker who urged his son to work hard, and a devoted husband and father. He served in the Georgia Legislature but died during his first term of pancreatic cancer at age 58.

Unlike other presidents, Jimmy Carter did not have to search for his father, who never left. Carters upbringing stood in contrast to both Ford, the man who preceded him in the White House, and Reagan, the one who followed him.

YoungSmith wrote that Ronald Reagan remained haunted by the moment he found his alcoholic father on the front porch  his hair filled with snow. Reagan said his father was drunk, dead to the world. Reagan, who was then 11, had to drag his father into the house. He spent the rest of life trying to connect with a man who was not there for him.

Psychologist Robert E. Gilbert said Reagan can be properly understood only as the child of an alcoholic. Alcoholic parents leave deep marks on their childrens lives; even after those children become adults, Gilbert said, adding that Reagan was aloof and distant, living in a world of make-believe where he craved approval.

Bill Clintons biological father, William Jefferson Blythe Jr., died in a car accident before his son was born. Clinton was raised by a stepfather who was an abusive alcoholic and regularly beat his wife, Clintons mother. The beatings stopped after Clinton stood up to his stepfather.

The Bushes

George H.W. Bush experienced the burden of having a great man as a father. His father, Prescott, was a Wall Street investment banker who became a U.S. senator and an influential leader in the Republican Party.

George H.W. moved to Texas to escape his fathers shadow. He then relied on his fathers influential friends to make a fortune in oil before entering politics, where he served as a congressman, ambassador to the United Nations, director of the Central Intelligence Agency, vice president of the United States and then president.

G.H.W. Bushs oldest son, George W., responded to the pressures of having a great man as a father by drinking too much before quitting drinking and using his fathers influence to help him become governor of Texas and then U.S. president. YoungSmith said that George W. spent his entire life, including his presidency, careening between attempts to live up to H.W.s impossible expectations and efforts to garishly repudiate them.

Obama and Trump

George W. Bushs failures as president contributed to the election of Barack Obama, the first Black president. Obamas parents separated when he was two, when his father left Hawaii and returned to his home country of Kenya. The father-son relationship became the basis for his autobiography, Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance, where he wrote about the difficulty of not having a father around to help him navigate the issues of being a Black man in a white-dominated country.

It hardly bears recounting that President Obama built his political persona around a search for his absent dad, YoungSmith said.

Obama was succeeded as president by Donald Trump, who once said he was so screwed up, because I had a father that pushed me pretty hard.

Fred Trump Sr., a real estate magnate, bullied and intimidated one son  Fred Jr., who died of alcoholism when he was 42. Fred rejected another son, Donald, sending him off to military school when he was 12. When Donald returned, Fred taught his son to be a killer in business, that the ends justified the means and that empathy was a sign of weakness.

Freddy just wasnt a killer, Donald said of his brother.

Mary Trump, a clinical psychologist who was the daughter of Fred Trump Jr., said this lack of empathy prevented her uncle, Donald Trump, from acknowledging human suffering, including the widespread death associated with the coronavirus pandemic.

Acknowledging the victims of COVID-19 would be to associate himself with their weakness, a trait his father taught him to despise, Mary Trump wrote.

Biden, by contrast, talked openly on the 2020 campaign trial about his love for his father and about his own grieving over the death of his son, Beau, who died from brain cancer in 2015. In doing so, he made a very human and relatable connection between his own father, himself, and his own approach to fatherhood.

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This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/joe-biden-a-fathers-love-and-the-legacy-of-daddy-issues-among-presidents-159601.
MEXICO CITY (AP)  Indigenous rebels of Mexicos Zapatista movement complained Tuesday that the Mexican government has made it hard for them to get passports to attend meetings in Spain to mark the 500th anniversary of the 1519-1521 conquest of Mexico.

Rebel leader Subcomandante Galeano, who used to be known as Marcos, said officials had told some of the Zapatistas they didnt have the right documents to obtain passports.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador ordered officials Tuesday to resolve the problem, saying, Nobody should be limited, much less our Indigenous brothers. The first part of the delegation set out by boat in May to invade Spain.

That delegation has already reached Portugal's Azores islands and will head to Vigo, Spain. The other part of the delegation was to fly to Europe, but ran into problems getting passports.

The Zapatistas have said they hope to be in Madrid by Aug. 13, the date that marks 500 years since Mexico City was captured from the Aztecs by the Spaniards and their Indigenous allies.

Galeano has said that once in Spain, the group will release the message: The invasion has started.

The Zapatistas have made no mention of demanding any apology for the invasion 500 years ago. That is unlike the Mexican government, which has asked Spain to apologize for the brutal conquest that wound up killing millions of Indigenous people.

Far from seeking a hostile encounter, the Zapatistas said, If we manage to land and embrace with words those who are in the struggle there, who resist and rebel, then there will be a party.

We are going to tell the people of Spain two simple things, the Zapatistas said in a previous statement. One, they did not conquer us; we are still here resisting, in rebellion. Second, they do not have to ask that we forgive them for anything.

The Zapatistas led a brief armed uprising to demand greater Indigenous rights in 1994, and since then have remained in their autonomous townships in the southern state of Chiapas, refusing government aid programs.
As school districts begin to plan what school will look like in the fall, New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) is strongly advocating for an end to "concurrent instruction"  teachers simultaneously teaching to students in the classroom and those attending class remotely  and a phaseout of remote learning as a primary instructional model.

When schools closed down in March 2020 to prevent the spread of COVID-19, districts pivoted to remote learning. When they welcomed students back in the fall, districts were required to provide a fully remote option to families who requested it.

Teachers were required to instruct in-person students while broadcasting lessons to students online at the same time.

The logistics of teaching two classrooms at once puts a strain on teachers and shortchanges students studying in both formats, the union said.

We need the state Education Department to set up guardrails, said NYSUT President Andy Pallotta. "Lets not have an a la carte way of teaching.

To comply with social distancing rules, most districts were unable to offer full-time, in-person instruction at the secondary levels during the 2020-2021 academic year. Most students in the upper grades were required to study remotely for some or all of the week.

If a district elects to offer remote learning next year, it can be provided separately through local BOCES organizations, the union says.

The Capital Region BOCES is working with 146 districts to create a central online elementary school for the greater Capital Region, recognizing that many students have thrived in the virtual environment this past year.

"For the secondary level, grades 7-12, there already exists a mechanism for students to take classes at different high schools in the region," said Mike Doughty, assistant superintendent for the Northeastern Regional Information Center, a Division of Capital Region BOCES. "What we are proposing is a K-6 model, a system that would be completely virtual. Teachers would be remote and students would be remote."

Districts would supply a teacher for every 24 students they refer to the program. The students would maintain a connection to their local school, working with counselors and their school principal.

Some teachers have already expressed interest in continuing to teach students remotely post-pandemic, according to Doughty.

"You can have really good in-person instruction or you can have really good remote instruction, but trying to do them simultaneously is just not effective," Doughty said.

If the program is successful during the upcoming school year, the Capital Region BOCES may continue to offer it.

Some BOCES organizations are looking to establish virtual schools on a smaller scale for their component districts. Questar III, which provides services to 23 districts in Rensselaer, Columbia, and Greene counties, is currently offering a virtual summer school for its component districts and plans to extend the program into the fall.

"Interestingly, we discussed that last year but because of the number of students with the remote option, they decided to offer (a virtual) option in-district this year," Questar III District Superintendent Gladys I. Cruz said.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced last month that all New York schools can reopen for full in-person learning for the 2021-2022 school year beginning in September provided that coronavirus rates remain low, but he did not specify whether remote schooling should continue as an option.

"We are waiting for the state or the governor to give us a 'may' or 'must,' " Watervliet City School District Superintendent Lori Caplan told the Times Union last month.

School leaders in the Capital Region say they are eager to get students into classrooms as soon as possible. A mandate from the state for students to attend in person could accelerate the transition process.

"If we are not required to have a remote option, we absolutely believe that all kids should be here learning and catching up," Rensselaer City Schools Superintendent Joe Kardash said. "Of course, we have to wait for written guidance before we do anything."

School districts are expected to retain some of their remote instruction capabilities. For the coming school year, the state Education Department has extended its "snow day pilot," which allows schools to pivot to remote learning on school days disrupted by extreme weather.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP)  South Carolina lawmakers are hammering out differences between the House and Senate versions of the state's nearly $11 billion budget ahead of the new fiscal year next month.

A conference committee of House and Senate members met briefly Tuesday to begin the process. Lawmakers emphasized the state's relative economic health as fiscal problems brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic didn't hit as hard as expected, leaving the legislature with more money to use.
SCHENECTADY - Two young social justice activists who live in the city recently resolved a case against them that earlier this year led to fencing being put up around the main entrance of the police department and city court.

Court records show that the one count of third-degree criminal tampering against Mikayla Foster, 22, and 26-year-old Kasey Charles was adjourned in contemplation of dismissal last week, as long as the pair doesn't get arrested in the next six months and the misdemeanor will be dismissed and the records sealed in early December.

Both defendants, represented by a public defender, appeared before Schenectady City Court Judge Carl Falotico on June 9,

The next day, the metal barriers were removed from around the police station, which Police Chief Eric Clifford said was coincidental.

"The fence was never intended to be long term," he wrote, adding "we are working with the city engineer on a re-design of the front of the police department that includes ornate flower beds.

He also emphasized that he is not against peaceful demonstrations but that his preference is "that those who protest request to meet to discuss their grievances if the protest is connected to policing."

Assistant Public Defender Stephan Weiss declined comment on the court case late Tuesday.

After her arrest in the chalking, Foster questioned the charge, saying the chalk was water-soluble and was removed from the building within eight minutes after she wrote it.

The criminal complaint had charged Charles and Foster with causing "substantial inconvenience" to the police when they "intentionally created graffiti by writing on the wall of the" the police station at 9:11 p.m. on Aug. 13 and that the damage had to be cleaned up by the city fire department and the bureau of services.

Police reacted to the incident by adding fencing around the front entrance of the station, leaving a walkway for people to enter.

The Schenectady protests as well as the one in Albany that started the next day erupted over the police shooting death of Daunte Wright, a 20-year-old unarmed Black man, in Minnesota.

Besides the chalking, the glass panel on the front door at the Schenectady police station was broken.

Messages included "We wont forget, Stop killing us and Blood is on your hands.
NEW YORK (AP)  U.S. health officials Monday announced a one-year ban on bringing in dogs from more than 100 countries where rabies is still a problem.

Dogs coming in from those countries already needed proof of rabies vaccination. The ban is being imposed because of a spike in the number of puppies denied entry because they weren't old enough to be fully vaccinated, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

The ban goes into effect July 14.

Douglas Kratt, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association, applauded the decision.

We want to make sure were bringing healthy dogs into the country  especially if they are going to be pets, said Kratt, a veterinarian in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

The ban applies to dogs coming into or returning to the country, including pets or those brought in for sale or adoption. For example, if an American couple took their dog to Belize, they wouldn't be able to bring the dog back to the U.S. unless the dog first spends six months in a country that is not at a high risk for rabies.

About 1 million dogs are brought into the U.S. each year, and the ban is expected to apply to 4% to 7.5%, officials said. Exceptions will be made for some situations, including guide dogs for the blind or foreigners moving to the U.S. with their pets.

Most of the dogs recently rejected came from just three countries  Russia, Ukraine, and Colombia. But numerous other denials prompted the CDC to ban dogs from all countries where the risk of rabies is also high, said Emily Pieracci, a CDC rabies expert.

Many of the rejections were due to fraudulent paperwork claiming the dogs were older than 4 months, Pieracci said. Dogs younger then 4 months aren't allowed in because rabies vaccinations dont take full effect before a dog is that age.

Rabies is usually a fatal disease in animals and humans, caused by a virus that invades the central nervous system. Its most commonly spread through a bite from an infected animal. There is no cure for it once symptoms begin, but it can be prevented through vaccination.

Dogs were once common carriers of the virus in the U.S. but the type that normally circulates in dogs was eliminated in the U.S. through vaccinations in the 1970s. In 1988, a new type of dog rabies was brought in from Mexico. It spread to wild coyotes and it took 19 years to eliminate.

Cases from that second wave highlight the impact that a single imported case of rabies can have on wildlife, domestic animals, and people, Pieracci said

Demand for dogs is believed to have been increased during the COVID- 19 pandemic, with Americans seeking furry companionship, Pieracci noted.

But some dog rabies vaccination programs had to be suspended or canceled during the pandemic, making the risk of bringing in a rabid dog higher, she added.

___

The Associated Press Health & Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Vice President Kamala Harris is hardly getting rave reviews for her first trip abroad  a thorny assignment to visit Mexico and Guatemala to tackle root causes of the border crisis. (And yes, it is a crisis.)

Republicans were bound to portray the visit as a disaster no matter what Harris said or did; they view the first female vice president, who happens to be a woman of color, as an easy target. Its also true that Harris thoughtlessly gave her critics ammunition with a flubbed response to a question. As NBCs Lester Holt pressed her, reminding her she had not visited the border as vice president, she chuckled uneasily and said, And I havent been to Europe. Conservative media outlets have played that loop endlessly.

Harris will get better at answering questions about the border, but she will not get any better at solving it. Thats because it cannot be solved. Politicians, whether Republicans or Democrats, socialists or Libertarians, dont want to admit that. They seek office promising to fix virtually every conceivable mess  whether by bringing more government resources to bear, or by paring back government resources so that philanthropic individuals will step into the breach. But there is no solution to the border crisis. There is no stopping desperate people from fleeing their dysfunctional homelands in the hope of finding something better. Former President George W. Bush pointed that out more than two decades ago. Running for president as a Republican who did not fear or resent people of color, he said repeatedly, Family values dont stop at the Rio Grande ... and a hungry mother is going to try to feed her child.

(For the record, the border crisis and the problem of comprehensive immigration reform are separate issues. Congress could fix our broken immigration system, but Republicans wont even agree to give the Dreamers, law-abiding young adults who came to this country as children, a path to citizenship.)

The hunger, the corruption and the violence south of the border have only grown worse since the Bush presidency. Violent crime is endemic; El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala have the highest rates of violent crime in Latin America, with street gangs that haunt the largest cities, recruiting young boys. Violence against women is a particular problem in those countries and helps explain why so many women are desperate to leave with their children. It also helps explain why parents would risk sending their children across the border alone.

The United States has done more than its share to make the problem of violent crime worse. Drug cartels are responsible for much of it, especially in Mexico and Guatemala. The target market for their narcotics is here in the U.S., where demand keeps the cartels in business. The majority of the guns used by those violent criminal gangs are also manufactured in the U.S.

Then there is climate change, which has made it all but impossible for poor farmers to feed their families. Drought and rising temperatures are killing crops in Honduras, one of the countries most vulnerable to global warming. In 2018, the U.N.s Food and Agriculture Organization cited a surge of migration from rural areas there because farmers had lost so much of their corn and bean crops, according to PBS. Honduras was also devastated by back-to-back hurricanes last year that left thousands homeless and infrastructure in disrepair.

Guatemala has been similarly affected by climate change. The country has suffered both drought and torrential rains with flooding. Extreme poverty may be the primary reason people leave, but climate change is intensifying all the existing factors, a climate scientist in Guatemala told New Yorker writer Jonathan Blitzer. Hurricanes, worsened by warming temperatures, have battered that country, too.

Harris angered leftist Democrats when she warned despairing Latin Americans not to seek refuge in the United States. Progressives want a more accommodationist policy from the administration of President Joe Biden. They likely wont get one, but Hondurans and Mexicans and Guatemalans and Salvadorans will keep coming anyway. For far too many of them, there is simply no choice. They may die trying to cross the Rio Grande, but they will surely die if they dont try.

Cynthia Tucker won the Pulitzer Prize for commentary in 2007. She can be reached at cynthia@cynthiatucker.com.
For a moment, it looked as if the judicial system was not going to let the Rensselaer County Board of Elections get away with a blatant act of voter suppression. Until, astoundingly, it did.

Oh, the Appellate Division will consider the case. It will just get around to it too late to make a difference to the voters disenfranchised by a political machine determined to make it as hard as possible for certain residents to vote.

Thats justice? Sounds more like aiding and abetting, however unwittingly it may be.

From the moment the state Legislature in 2019 authorized early voting, Rensselaer County, a solid Republican bastion, set about finding ways to make it inconvenient for voters in Troy, especially Democrat-leaning lower-income residents, to exercise their franchise.

The ostensibly bipartisan board put polling places in the outlying towns of Brunswick and Schodack, forcing voters from Troy without cars to get there by bus or, at no small expense, taxi.

Anyone with a clue could see through this, but theres no indication that Republican Election Commissioner Jason Schofield cared a whit about public opinion, or, curiously, that Democratic Commissioner Edward McDonough was motivated to speak out about it.

Last year, with Rensselaer County in mind, the state Legislature attempted to fix the law by requiring that an early polling place be designated in the largest municipality in each county. The Rensselaer County Board of Elections complied  putting one in South Troy, far from the citys poorest neighborhoods on the north end and well off a bus line.

And the board was poised to do this again this year, until state Attorney General Letitia James sued  and won. On June 7, state Supreme Court Judge Adam Silverman rejected the locations as too remote and said they did not provide equitable access for people of color. He ordered the board to find a new location in Troy in keeping with the spirit of the law by last Wednesday.

But rather than just do the right thing  really, who would expect it to at this point?  the board appealed and, in a head-scratching decision, Appellate Division Associate Justice John P. Colangelo set the case down for June 23  three days after early voting in the primary ends. And he denied the attorney generals request to lift a stay on the original decision, meaning that, barring a new order by the court, many voters in Troy are stuck with countys out-of-the-way location.

The decision gives no rationale for this, and we are hard pressed to find one. It essentially allows the board to get away with this clear attempt at voter suppression for another election  albeit a primary, but an election nonetheless.

This was a chance for the justice system to stop a blatant violation of the very spirit of the early voting law, by public officials no less. The Appellate Division may well uphold Judge Silvermans ruling in the end, but by then it will be too late. The damage will have been done.

From the state Capitol, one can almost hear the snickering across the river and see the gesture of contempt for the Legislature, the law, and democracy.
For the past 20 years, roughly 30 percent of deaths on New York roads were caused by drunken driving. More than a statistic, the impact of driving while impaired extends beyond the approximate 300 individual lives lost each year in the Empire State to families and communities as well. The significant progress made after the passage of the states groundbreaking STOP-DWI law in the late 1970s has plateaued for decades. A proven, evidence-based booster is needed: a .05 blood-alcohol content law.

In a June 7 Viewpoint, the American Beverage Institute argued against a lower BAC limit for DWI (Bill to lower legal bood-alcohol limit is political theater). Their reasons  from how much alcohol can be consumed to reach that limit, to data that suggests no traffic safety improvement, to branding advocates efforts as political theater  are baseless. Rather, the real drama and deception is being presented by the ABI.

The life-saving benefits are compelling and backed by research vetted by the National Transportation Safety Board, and the real road experience of the countries with BAC limits at .05 or lower. Contrary to ABIs false narrative and sarcasm, the research reveals the facts about .05 law effectiveness while unmasking the ABI charade.

It is true that most drunken driving deaths in New York involve a driver with a high BAC over .15 percent, but lowering the BAC law changes behavior at all BAC levels by reducing driving after drinking. That leads to the lower BAC being effective at helping to prevent driving by those even at higher BAC levels, according to the Wagenaar et al 2007 study.

Each year in the state, approximately 50 fatalities occur in which drivers test positive for alcohol but their BAC are lower than .08 percent, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administrations Traffic Safety Facts.

For drivers with BACs of .05 percent to .079 percent, the risk of being in a fatal crash is at least seven times higher than for drivers with no alcohol in their system, according to the Zador study of 2000.

Virtually everyone is impaired at .05 percent BAC, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as the NHTSA and the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Utahs .05 percent BAC law took effect on Dec. 30, 2018. Early data from 2019 finds the number of alcohol-impaired driving fatalities dropped 37 percent in the state. Counter to misinformation and predictions about .05 percent BAC lobbed by members of the alcohol and hospitality industry during its attempt to defeat the measure, arrests for drunken driving decreased in Utah.

It is time for New York to join Utah and more than 90 countries with limits of .05 percent BAC or lower to deter drunken driving.

New Yorks political leadership had the courage to reform DWI laws in the late 70s, thus writing the playbook for general deterrence programming. The states STOP-DWI local-option program is the gold standard for self-sustaining, comprehensive DWI countermeasure efforts. It is time once again for a bold act to ensure safer and more livable streets and communities for all roadway users.

Thomas M. Louizou of Bayside Hills is a retired Region 2 regional administrator from the U.S. DOT and NHTSA and co-founder of the .05 Saves Lives Coalition, www.05saveslives.org.
Willa L. Drake Radford of Felton, DE, died Wednesday, June 23, 2021 in Bayhealth Hospital, Kent Campus, Dover, DE. She was 89. She was born in Kingmont, WV, on January 17, 1932, a daughter of the late William Douglas and Rosa Mae Gower Drake. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, 
Officials at a pharmaceutical plant in North Carolina have launched an investigation into the discovery of two nooses at a construction site
[June 15, 2021] Apollo, Ares and Oaktree to Launch $90 Million Initiative for Students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities

Apollo Global Management, Inc. (Apollo), Ares Management Corporation (Ares) and Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. (Oaktree) today announced a 10-year, $90 million, industry-first initiative, "AltFinance: Investing in Black Futures." The initiative is designed to diversify the alternative investment industry by attracting, training and providing career opportunities for college students attending three Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). AltFinance will be launched in partnership with Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College and Spelman College, and is intended to provide students with clear pathways to careers in the alternative investment industry. The initiative has three primary components: a mentored fellowship program, a tailored virtual institute and a scholarship program. Fellowships will provide select students at the partner HBCUs the opportunity to work directly with a mentor and learn the ins and outs of finance and alternatives. The fellowship program will be run in partnership with Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT), a national nonprofit organization working to ensure that Black, Hispanic/Latino and Native American people reach and thrive at the highest levels of corporate America. AltFinance fellows will also have access to needs-based scholarship funding.The goal is to ensure money isn't a barrier to exploring and preparing for a career in alternative investments. The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, the nation's oldest collegiate school of business, has signed on to create a best-in-class virtual institute to offer educational materials and tools necessary to excel in the alternative investment industry. The virtual institute will be open to interested students at all HBCUs, and will provide participants with relevant coursework and other supplementary content developed by top professors and finance professionals. The AltFinance initiative will be administered by ALT Finance Corporation, a non-profit organization established by the three founding firms. Apollo, Ares and Oaktree will each contribute $3 million per year for 10 years, marking the first major multi-firm commitment to increase opportunities in the alternatives industry. Apollo Chief Executive Officer Marc Rowan said, "HBCUs have an incredible history of opening doors, and we are thrilled to partner with these institutions and our colleague firms to expand opportunities in alternative investing. At Apollo, we recognize that we have been the beneficiaries of opportunity, and that it's incumbent upon us to create opportunity for a broader group of talent. Together with our partner firms, we conceived AltFinance as a high-touch, comprehensive program to not only introduce talented Black students to the industry, but also to provide training, support, mentorship and a clear pathway to careers in alternative investing. Through initiatives like AltFinance, we will continue to work to break down barriers and seed, catalyze and advance opportunities for great talent from diverse backgrounds." Ares Management Chief Executive Officer and President Michael Arougheti said, "Ares is firmly committed to being an agent for positive change across our company and industry, and we believe we have the resources and passion to make a sustainable impact in the lives of others. Through our partners within AltFinance, and our groundbreaking partnership with three leading HBCUs, MLT and Wharton, we are accelerating our efforts to foster diversity both within our respective organizations and the alternative investment industy more broadly. Our objective is to provide these students with the knowledge, resources and employment opportunities needed to succeed and thrive as professionals. We are excited to be taking this momentous stride forward and hope we have inspired others in our industry to join us in our efforts in the future."



Oaktree Co-Chairman Howard Marks said, "Success in our industry requires creative, often contrarian thinking and the avoidance of groupthink. This can be tough to achieve if the workforce - and particularly those in senior roles - mostly reflect a common background. Working with HBCUs will allow alternative investment managers to tap into a deep talent pool that this industry has often overlooked. Black scholars have always possessed the ambition and skill needed to succeed in alternative investing; only broad access to opportunities has been missing." AltFinance recognizes the need to create greater access for promising HBCU students for careers in alternative investing, including opportunities with the three firms as well as within the broader financial services industry.

"The alternatives investment industry is one of the most influential industries in the world. It's a field for smart, creative and passionate people who can develop and execute ideas that break the mold. HBCU students should be prominent among the next generation of leaders for the industry," said John Rice, founder and CEO, MLT. "AltFinance will be transformational for its future participants. They will have the chance to learn about investing and apply those skills to accelerate their trajectory as well as have a positive impact on our communities. It will be a game-changer for every one of them." "We are proud to play an important role in the creation of AltFinance which, through its efforts to support HBCUs, will make an immediate and positive difference for students of color," said Erika James, dean of The Wharton School. "As the country's largest business school, with a reach from pre-college students to C-suite executives, it is Wharton's privilege to offer our world-class faculty and resources to those who are so deserving." AltFinance is expected to launch by the first half of 2022 and may expand beyond the three initial partner HBCUs in years to come. Kirkland & Ellis LLP provided pro bono legal representation to ALT Finance Corporation in connection with its formation and the establishment of the AltFinance initiative. For additional information on AltFinance, please visit altfinance.com. AltFinance AltFinance: Investing in Black Futures is a 10-year, $90 million initiative established by Apollo Global Management, Inc., Ares Management Corporation and Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. to help diversify the financial services industry. The AltFinance initiative will be administered by ALT Finance Corporation, a non-profit organization established by the three founding firms. The initiative is intended to provide clear pathways for students at partnering Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) into careers in the alternative investment industry. The program provides access to education, training, mentorship, scholarship funding, internships and full-time career opportunities. The fellowship program will be managed in partnership with Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT). The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania will create a virtual institute. Apollo Global Management Apollo (NYSE: APO) is a high-growth, global alternative asset manager. We seek to provide our clients excess return at every point along the risk-reward spectrum from investment grade to private equity with a focus on three business strategies; yield, hybrid and opportunistic. Through our investment activity across our fully integrated platform, we serve the retirement income and financial return needs of our clients, and we offer innovative capital solutions to businesses. Our patient, creative, knowledgeable approach to investing aligns our clients, businesses we invest in, our employees and the communities we impact, to expand opportunity and achieve positive outcomes. As of March 31, 2021, Apollo had approximately $461 billion of assets under management. To learn more, please visit www.apollo.com. Ares Management Corporation Ares Management Corporation (NYSE: ARES) is a leading global alternative investment manager offering clients complementary primary and secondary investment solutions across the credit, private equity, real estate and infrastructure asset classes. We seek to provide flexible capital to support businesses and create value for our stakeholders and within our communities. By collaborating across our investment groups, we aim to generate consistent and attractive investment returns throughout market cycles. As of March 31, 2021, including the acquisition of Landmark Partners, which closed June 2, 2021, Ares Management's global platform had approximately $227 billion of assets under management with more than 1,600 employees operating across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and the Middle East. For more information, please visit www.aresmgmt.com. Follow Ares on Twitter (News - Alert) @Ares_Management. Oaktree Capital Management Oaktree is a leader among global investment managers specializing in alternative investments, with $153 billion in assets under management as of March 31, 2021. The firm emphasizes an opportunistic, value-oriented and risk-controlled approach to investments in credit, private equity, real assets and listed equities. The firm has over 1,000 employees and offices in 19 cities worldwide. For additional information, please visit Oaktree's website at http://www.oaktreecapital.com/. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005477/en/

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[June 15, 2021] Bell for Better: our commitment to a thriving, prosperous and more connected world for Canadians today and tomorrow

Growing industry leadership in environmental, social and governance standards

Accelerated investment of up to $14 billion from 2020 to 2022 to connect even more Canadians

from 2020 to 2022 to connect even more Canadians Commitment of $155 million for mental health initiatives by 2025 through Bell Let's Talk

for mental health initiatives by 2025 through Bell Let's Talk Adopting Science Based Targets to reduce GHG in line with Paris Climate Agreement by 2030

Workplace diversity programs and targets to reflect the communities we serve MONTREAL, June 15, 2021 /CNW Telbec/ - Bell today announced the launch of Bell for Better, our long-term commitment to create better outcomes for all stakeholders, including Canadian communities everywhere, employees, customers and shareholders alike. With our connectivity commitments from the smallest rural communities to the largest cities, investments in mental health initiatives, environmental sustainability and an engaged workplace, Bell looks to create a thriving, prosperous and more connected world for Canadians across the country, especially as we recover from the unprecedented challenges of the COVID crisis. "For 141 years, the Bell team has been an integral part of our communities, keeping Canadians connected and informed as together we built one of the world's most prosperous countries. Today, we look to the future with Bell for Better, a purpose-driven approach to making the communities in which we live and work even better," said Mirko Bibic, President and CEO of Bell Canada and BCE. "Bell is committed to making a significant contribution to Canada's social and economic progress with a sustainable business model that accelerates our goal to advance how Canadians connect with each other and the world." Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) leadership

Environmental protection and addressing climate change are at the core of Bell's corporate responsibility approach, including adopting Science Based Targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 in line with a 1.5C emissions scenario and the Paris Climate Agreement. Today also marks the release of Bell's 2020 Purpose and Corporate Responsibility Report. With a commitment to the highest ESG standards, Bell supports the social and economic prosperity of our communities through our unparalleled community investment, leadership in international standards compliance and strong performance on sustainability indices. We are dedicated to making a meaningful contribution toward creating a sustainable future for Canadians and the world by providing our customers with access to the most innovative and efficient broadband networks and communications services. "By adhering to the highest ESG standards throughout our operations, Bell ensures every action we take is viewed through the lens of societal and environmental benefits. This includes increasing sustainability not just in our operations but across the economy, achieving a diverse and inclusive workplace, leading in data governance and protection, and building stronger and healthier communities," said Mr. Bibic. "Bell's 2020 Purpose and Corporate Responsibility Report demonstrates how the actions we are taking as a company are making a significant contribution to Canadian communities and the economy, to our customers, team members and shareholders." Bell for Better in action

With Bell for Better, Bell is formalizing its commitment to the highest in ESG standards based on these pillars: Better World Commit to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 in line with the Paris Climate Agreement and the Science Based Targets initiative, and achieve carbon neutral operations by 2025. Bell has also recycled 11.7 million devices to date and is consistently named one of Canada's Greenest Employers.

Continue to lead the industry in mental health with $155M committed to mental health initiatives by 2025 through Bell Let's Talk, Canada's largest-ever corporate commitment to mental health.

committed to mental health initiatives by 2025 through Bell Let's Talk, Canada's largest-ever corporate commitment to mental health. Invest in Canadian innovation with an industry-leading $500M in research and development spending annually. Better Communities Invest up to $14 billion from 2020 to 2022 to deliver faster and better connectivity to more Canadians.

from 2020 to 2022 to deliver faster and better connectivity to more Canadians. Connect rural and underserved communities by making fast and reliable Wireless Home Internet available to more than 750,000 households in rural communities by year-end.

Donate refurbished company computers, printers and other electronic devices to schools through the national Computers for Success Plus program.



Better Workplace Foster an inclusive culture as one of the largest and Best Employers in Canada , including one of the Best Diversity Employers, Greenest Employers, Top-Family Friendly Employers and a Montreal Top Employer.

, including one of the Best Diversity Employers, Greenest Employers, Top-Family Friendly Employers and a Montreal Top Employer. Enable the next generation of Bell leaders through our Graduate Leadership Programs as a Top Employer for Young People.

Encourage diversity at the top, targeting at least 35% women in executive positions by the end of 2021, and BIPOC representation of 40%, including at least 25% in senior leadership positions by 2025. The introduction of Bell for Better is supported by a national media campaign on television, digital and social media, out-of-home and print platforms describing the initiative.

For more information, please visit Bell.ca/BellforBetter. About Bell

The Bell team builds world-leading broadband wireless and fibre networks, provides innovative mobile, TV, Internet and business communications services and delivers the most compelling content with premier television, radio, out of home and digital media brands. With a goal to advance how Canadians connect with each other and the world, Bell serves more than 22 million consumer and business customer connections across every province and territory. Founded in Montreal in 1880, Bell is wholly owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE). To learn more, please visit Bell.ca or BCE.ca . Through Bell for Better, the company is investing to create a better today and a better tomorrow by supporting the social and economic prosperity of our communities with a commitment to the highest environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards. We measure our progress in increasing environmental sustainability, achieving a diverse and inclusive workplace, leading data governance and protection, and building stronger and healthier communities. This includes confronting the challenge of mental illness with the Bell Let's Talk initiative, which drives mental health awareness and action with programs like the annual Bell Let's Talk Day and Bell funding for community care, research and workplace programs nationwide all year round. Media inquiries Jacqueline Michelis

613-785-1427

jacqueline.michelis@bell.ca

@Bell_LetsTalk

@Bell_News Investor inquiries Thane Fotopoulos

514-870-4619

thane.fotopoulos@bell.ca Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements made in this news release are forward-looking statements, including statements relating to our business outlook, objectives, plans and strategic priorities, including in particular, our anticipated capital expenditures, network deployment plans and the benefits expected to result therefrom, including our two-year increased capital investment program to accelerate broadband network and 5G footprint expansion, as well as our corporate responsibility and ESG objectives (which include, without limitation, our objectives concerning diversity and inclusion, community investments and contributions, our commitment to the highest ESG standards, targeted reductions in the level of our greenhouse gas emissions, our plan to be carbon neutral across our operations by 2025) and the benefits expected to result therefrom, and other statements that are not historical facts. All such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the "safe harbour" provisions of applicable Canadian securities laws and of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties and are based on several assumptions which give rise to the possibility that actual results or events could differ materially from our expectations. These statements are not guarantees of future performance or events, and we caution you against relying on any of these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release describe our expectations at the date of this news release and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date. Except as may be required by applicable securities laws, we do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this news release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Our capital investment and network deployment plans, as well as our corporate responsibility and ESG objectives, and the benefits expected to result therefrom are subject to risks and, accordingly, there can be no assurance that our capital investment and network deployment plans, or our corporate responsibility and ESG objectives, will be completed or that the benefits expected to result therefrom will be realized. The value of the planned investments assumes our ability to access or generate the necessary sources of capital. However, there can be no certainty that the required sources of capital will be available with the result that the actual investments made by us could materially differ from current expectations. For additional information on assumptions and risks underlying certain of our forward-looking statements made in this news release, please consult BCE Inc.'s (BCE) 2020 Annual MD&A dated March 4, 2021, BCE's 2021 First Quarter MD&A dated April 28, 2021 and BCE's news release dated April 29, 2021 announcing its financial results for the first quarter of 2021, filed by BCE with the Canadian provincial securities regulatory authorities (available at Sedar.com) and with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (available at SEC.gov). These documents are also available at BCE.ca. SOURCE Bell Canada

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[June 15, 2021] Bid4Assets Celebrates Its 1,000,000th Online Auction

SILVER SPRING, Md., June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Online real estate auction platform Bid4Assets.com recently celebrated its one millionth auction. Bid4Assets pioneered online public auctions for federal and county governments back in 2000, when the format was relatively new and unproven. Over the last 20 years, the process has become widely adopted, with hundreds of cities and counties taking their public auctions online, including Los Angeles, King County (Seattle), Clark County (Las Vegas), and Philadelphia. Bid4Assets' millionth auction was part of Utah County, Utah's first-ever online tax foreclosure auction. "It seems fitting that our millionth auction comes as Bid4Assets helps a county to pioneer online sales in the midst of a global pandemic," said Jesse Loomis, Bid4Assets CEO. "Last year we helped a county in Utah to conduct the state's first online tax foreclosure auction. This year we are helping five counties. Next year we anticipate that the majority of counties in the state will hold their sales virtually. Counties benefit from increased sales and streamlined workflow, all at no cost to the county." Bid4Assets conducted both the first internet-based tax deed sale and the first internet-based federal forfeiture auction in the U.S., both in 2000. Since then, Bid4Assets has sold over 125,000 properties nationwide, ranging from land and homes that sell for less than $100 to multi-million-dollr properties.



Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, Bid4Assets has expanded its scope of service to include sheriff's sales, with six contracts in Pennsylvania and more sheriffs around the U.S. scheduled to move their sale online in the coming months. "The internet has changed the way people go about their lives, from making travel plans to investing to shopping and more," said Loomis. "Bid4Assets' role has been to innovate in the way that public auctions are conducted."

Bidders who wish to view available auctions can visit www.bid4assets.com/1millionmore. There are no fees to register or maintain an account on Bid4Assets. About Bid4Assets Bid4Assets (http://www.bid4assets.com) is an online auction site based in Silver Spring, Maryland. The privately held company auctions distressed real estate for the federal government, county tax-collectors, sheriffs, financial institutions and real estate funds. Bid4Assets has conducted online tax sales for over 90 counties and cities nationwide, including counties in California, Pennsylvania, Washington, Nevada, Utah and more. Since its inception in 1999, the company has sold more than 125,000 properties nationwide and grossed over a billion dollars in auction sales. Media Contact: Sean McLaughlin sean@bid4assets.com 301-562-3427 Related Images bid4assets-logo.jpg

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Bid4Assets pioneered the field of online public real estate auctions, which has been widely adopted today.

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[June 15, 2021] Cravath Announces $6 Million Donation to Support Civil Rights, Legal Services and Education

Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP today announced that it will donate a total of $6 million to the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, the Equal Justice Initiative ("EJI"), EJI's Legacy Museum, Fisk University and the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law ("national Lawyers' Committee"). The donation is funded from attorneys' fees awarded to Cravath at the conclusion of one of the Firm's hallmark pro bono matters, a nearly 40-year commitment to representing African American and female plaintiffs in employment discrimination litigation in Jefferson County, Alabama. The case was brought by the NAACP in 1974 and, at the request of the national Lawyers' Committee, Cravath took on the representation of the plaintiffs in 1983. "As we reflect on the culmination of four decades of effort to make real the promise of civil rights reforms in Jefferson County, Alabama, we feel privileged to carry forward that commitment by supporting the work of each of these remarkable organizations," said Faiza J. Saeed, Cravath's Presiding Partner. "EJI, the Legacy Museum, the national Lawyers' Committee and the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute are continuing the mission of the civil rights movement and the pursuit of justice, both in Alabama and nationally. Fisk University, one of the country's premier historically Black colleges and universities, is educating te leaders of the future," she said.



Generations at Cravath contributed more than 100,000 hours on the case in pursuit of a better future for the people of Jefferson County. "I was honored to lead this work as a Cravath partner for 25 years before joining the bench, and it remains among the most meaningful cases I worked on as a practicing lawyer. To see it conclude with a measure of justice achieved in Jefferson County is tremendously gratifying, and a testament to the longstanding commitment from the Firm to pro bono work and the difference it can make in progress and reform," said Rowan D. Wilson, Associate Judge of the New York State Court of Appeals. In supporting Fisk University, Cravath is strengthening a relationship that has endured for more than a century. In 2019, Cravath and Fisk launched the Cravath Scholars program in support of high-achieving students studying across a range of disciplines at the University. Scholars are supported with tuition assistance and a summer internship in Cravath's New York office, which includes training and mentorship opportunities.

Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP was founded in 1819 and is widely recognized as one of the world's premier law firms. The Firm has 476 lawyers in New York City and London. Birmingham Civil Rights Institute Founded in 1992, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, part of the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument and an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, is a cultural and educational research center that promotes understanding of the significance of civil rights developments in Birmingham, Alabama. Equal Justice Initiative and the Legacy Museum The Equal Justice Initiative, founded in 1989, works to end mass incarceration and excessive punishment, challenge racial and economic injustice, and protect basic human rights for the most vulnerable people in our society. In 2018, EJI opened the Legacy Museum: From Enslavement to Mass Incarceration in its base of Montgomery, Alabama, to both address the legacy of slavery and serve as an engine for education about racial inequality. Fisk University Founded shortly after the end of the Civil War, Fisk University is one of the nation's historically Black colleges and the oldest institution of higher learning in Nashville. Committed to the success of scholars and leaders from diverse backgrounds, Fisk produces graduates with the integrity and intellect required for substantive contributions to society. The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Formed in 1963 at the request of President John F. Kennedy to enlist the private bar's leadership and resources in combating racial discrimination and the resulting inequality of opportunity, the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law focuses on securing equal justice for all through the rule of law. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005762/en/

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[June 15, 2021] CSOB Insurance Selects Earnix to Implement Personalized Consumer Products and Rates

Earnix, a global provider of advanced rating, pricing, and product personalization solutions for insurers and banks, has been selected by one of the largest banking and insurance institutions in the Czech Republic, CSOB Group, to integrate Earnix's analytical personalization system into its personal lines insurance offering. Driven by cutting-edge analytics, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), Earnix's "Personalize-It" solution determines and delivers the optimum product bundle(s) for insurance customers, thereby making the purchasing experience highly personalized and increasing consumer satisfaction while improving conversion and retention rates. "With our solution, CSOB Insurance can take personalization to a higher level while meeting business objectives and maintaining a competitive advantage in the market," said Udi Ziv, CEO at Earnix. "At a time when consumers are provided with dozens of insurance options, we empower insurers to position themselves as the best choice for consumers across global markets."



Jiri Strelicky, CEO at CSOB Insurance added: "CSOB Insurance has for several years improved competitive advantage through data and analytics. Earnix's personalization system is a milestone in how we will push CSOB Insurance further ahead of its competition as we now offer more tailored products and rates based on customers' various needs in a more sophisticated and analytically driven manner. CSOB Insurance is in a strong position to continue on its path to capture greater market share and meet revenue targets both immediately and in the long-term." Peter Reynolds, Head of Insurance, International at Earnix added: "With Earnix, CSOB Insurance can now instantaneously deliver highly personalized products through a single, end-to-end system, meeting the high demand for personalized insurance offers with speed and agility."

Earnix's unique single platform offering combines highly personalized products, dynamic pricing, and contextual engagement capabilities with the ability to operationalize data and offer dynamic pricing. By combining AI with proven analytical methodologies, Earnix's unique approach delivers robust personalization by adapting rates and products while considering competitor offerings and consumer demand. Its solution has been pre-configured for rapid integration within an insurer's existing tech infrastructure, further accelerating time-to-value. ### About Earnix Earnix is a leading provider of mission-critical systems for global insurers and banks. Through Earnix, customers can provide prices and personalized products that are smarter, faster, safer and in full alignment with corporate business goals and objectives. Earnix's customers deliver over 1.4 billion quotes per year using Earnix's solutions, offering systemized, enterprise-wide value with ultra-fast ROI. Earnix has been innovating for Insurers and Banks since 2001 with offices in the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Israel. Visit: earnix.com About CSOB Group CSOB Group is a leading bank-insurer in the Czech Republic. The company is a subsidiary of bank-insurance group KBC Group providing its services to all groups of clients, i.e., retail (individuals) as well as SME, corporate and institutional clients. CSOB Group offers its clients a wide range of banking and insurance products. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005416/en/

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[June 15, 2021] Dr. Jeffrey Kamlet Internationally Recognized Expert on Cardiac Safety in Ibogaine Treatment Joins Ehave as Chief Medical Officer

MIAMI, June 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ehave, Inc. (OTC Pink: EHVVF) (the Company), a provider of digital therapeutics for the psychedelic and mental health sectors, announced today the appointment of Jeffrey D. Kamlet, MD, FASAM, DABAM to the position of Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Kamlet brings more than 30 years of Internal Medicine, Addiction Medicine and Pain Management experience to Ehave, Inc. during a dynamic time of growth and implementation of long-range strategy.

We are delighted to welcome Dr. Kamlet to Ehave as our Chief Medical Officer during this exciting time where he will serve in a mission-critical role as we advance our clinical study services on the effects of I.V. Ketamine treatments on anxiety, depression and PTSD using brain mapping technology, stated Ben Kaplan, CEO of Ehave. Dr. Jeffrey Kamlet, M.D, FASAM, DABAM is recognized as the worlds expert on cardiac safety in ibogaine treatment. He is a fellow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine, and has twice served as President of the Florida Society of Addiction Medicine. Dr. Kamlet served as the Global Ibogaine Therapy Alliance's Chief Medical Advisor, as well as Editor in Chief on the Global Ibogaine Therapy Alliance's Clinical Guidelines for Ibogaine-Assisted Detoxification. Additionally, he has worked as an Associate Director and Medical Director for several emergency departments in Southern Florida as well EMS Medical Director for the City of Pembroke Park, FL. He sat on the board of the Florida American Heart Association, where he helped update the Florida EMS/ACLS protocols. He has served as an Adjunct Professor of Medicine at several postgraduate universities and was elected professor of the year at Barry University. Dr. Kamlet has served as a Principal Investigator on over 20 major pharmaceutical clinical trials, and has achieved accolades in the fields of hormonal replacement therapy, anti-aging medicine and nutraceuticals. In 1996, Dr. Kamlet was involved in early clinical trials, conducted under the direction of Deborah Mash, Ph.D., of the University of Miami to assess ibogaines utility in the rapid-detoxification from opiate and other drug dependences and the reduction of Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndromes. Over the past 20 years he has witnessed and supervised over 1800 ibogaine treatments without a single adverse event, and continues to believe it to be one of the most important discoveries in the history of addiction medicine. Dr. Kamlet holds a degree in Medicine and Surgery from the State University of New York. He received further training in neurology and psychiatry in NYC and then Cardiology at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach Florida. He holds additional board certifications and fellowships in other specializations, including Bariatric Medicine, Forensic Medicine, Forensic Examination, and Forensic Psychology. Dr. Kamlet commented, I am thrilled to join a dedicated team with a calling to develop a mental health platform for patients with few treatment options. I plan to apply my expertise in cardiac safety of ibogaine treatment and clinical new drug development to help solve the medical problems that devastate myriad of patients who suffer from these conditions. Dr. Kamlet said, I have been offered positions like this before with other companies who claim to be on the forefront of the psychedelic renaissance in medicine. I was hesitant until I met Mr. Kaplan and saw we shared a similar visin, of applying ethical, science based, safe treatments using cutting edge medical treatments and clinical studies to prove safety and efficacy through our collaboration.



Dr. Kamlets 30 years of experience in psychedelic research has been featured in international science journals as well as radio, TV and the press including Nat-Geographics Break-through series. Additional Ehave Inc. Information

We are truly grateful for the support of EHVVF shareholders! Please join the conversation on our Ehave supporters telegram group at https://t.me/EhaveInc . The company posts important information and updates through weekly videos from the official company YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnyW1mgMd0qmYkEMq3O6FWA . Please follow Ehave on Twitter @Ehaveinc1 About Ehave, Inc. Ehave, Inc. (EHVVF) is a leader of digital therapeutics delivering evidence-based therapeutic interventions to patients. Our primary focus is on improving the standard care in therapeutics to prevent or treat brain disorders or diseases through the use of digital therapeutics, independently or together, with medications, devices, and other therapies to optimize patient care and health outcomes. Our main product is the Ehave Telemetry Portal, which is a mental health informatics platform that allows clinicians to make objective and intelligent decisions through data insights. The Ehave Infinity Portal offers a powerful machine learning and artificial intelligence platform with a growing set of advanced tools and applications developed by Ehave and its leading partners. This empowers patients, healthcare providers, and payers to address a wide range of conditions through high quality, safe, and effective data-driven involvement with intelligent and accessible tools. Additional information on Ehave can be found on the Companys website at: www.ehave.com . About Mycotopia Therapy Mycotopia Therapy focuses on helping you heal and reclaim your life. Your journey of healing is an understanding of the causes and works to mental wellness through psychedelic enhanced psychotherapy, integrated with a professional team of mental wellness practitioners and cutting-edge technology. Psychedelic therapy is a holistic and spiritual approach providing healing and has shown successful treatment for many years. Additional information on Mycotopia Therapy can be found on the Companys website at: https://www.mycotopiatherapies.com . Forward-Looking Statement Disclaimer This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements may be preceded by the words intends, may, will, plans, expects, anticipates, projects, predicts, estimates, aims, believes, hopes, potential or similar words. Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control, and cannot be predicted or quantified and consequently, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements: (i) the initiation, timing, progress and results of the Companys research, manufacturing and other development efforts; (ii) the Companys ability to advance its products to successfully complete development and commercialization; (iii) the manufacturing, development, commercialization, and market acceptance of the Companys products; (iv) the lack of sufficient funding to finance the product development and business operations; (v) competitive companies and technologies within the Companys industry and introduction of competing products; (vi) the Companys ability to establish and maintain corporate collaborations; (vii) loss of key management personnel; (viii) the scope of protection the Company is able to establish and maintain for intellectual property rights covering its products and its ability to operate its business without infringing the intellectual property rights of others; (ix) potential failure to comply with applicable health information privacy and security laws and other state and federal privacy and security laws; and (x) the difficulty of predicting actions of the USA FDA and its regulations. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date of this press release. The Company assumes no obligation to update any written or oral forward-looking statement unless required by law. More detailed information about the Company and the risk factors that may affect the realization of forward-looking statements is contained under the heading "Risk Factors" in Ehave, Inc.s Registration Statement on Form F-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on September 24, 2015, as amended, which is available on the SEC's website, http://www.sec.gov. Contact for Ehave Media Inquiries: Gabe Rodriguez Email: Gabe@Ehave.com Investor Relations: Email: Ir@Ehave.com Phone: (623) 261-9046



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[June 15, 2021] EMTECH CEO Carmelle Cadet Testifies Before U.S. House of Representatives on the Future of Blockchain and Central Bank Digital Currency

EMTECH, a first-of-its-kind fintech for central banks, announced today that Chief Executive Officer Carmelle Cadet has been selected to provide testimony about digitizing the U.S. Dollar with blockchain technology to the United States House of Representatives Committee on Financial Services and Task Force on Financial Technology. Recognized as the leading voice in the fintech space for broad innovation at the central banking level, backed by a team of innovators and former central bankers, Cadet has a history in technology and finance combined with expertise in banking, blockchain and cryptocurrency. Her testimony before the House Committee draws on her work with other central banks as EMTECH CEO, as well as more than ten years at IBM (News - Alert) , including IBM Blockchain Financial Services. Presenting before the committee on June 15, 2021, Cadet lent powerful expertise and direction on technological infrastructure, privacy, and financial inclusion implications of central bank digital currencies (CBDC). Cadet's testimony included the potential for the U.S. to revolutionize its current financial infrastructure to be modern, resilient, efficient and inclusive. Further, Cadet provided guidance on how CBDC could benefit every American and a technological framework for utilizing cryptographic technology and blockchain. "Digital Cash issued by the central bank can reflect and strengthen American values implicit in sovereign control of currency, while enhancing the competitiveness of the U.S. currency as well as U.S. financial technology," Cadet toldthe House Committee.



On June 9, 2021, the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Policy heard testimony about the use of CBDC for financial inclusion. Today, Cadet expanded on innovative concepts such as a "Fed Wallet" and a "Green CBDC" with the members of the House Committee. "To address the challenges of today and capture the opportunities of tomorrow in the era of CBDC, central banks should strategically deploy an actionable sandbox framework to solve key challenges and conduct safe innovation in order to test those CBDC concepts," said D.R. Maurice, Chief Risk and Policy Officer at EMTECH.

"The era of central bank innovation is here. The use of distributed ledger technologies (DLT / Blockchain), Application Programming Interface (APIs), and Data Analytics offer central banks new tools to be effective regulators and collaborators in innovation," added Cadet. With its Modern Central Bank Sandbox, EMTECH is targeting this market and equips central banks with a robust innovation mindset and innovation toolset to securely test their own innovation, such as CBDC. Further, the sandbox provides the ability to collaborate with the broader ecosystem of private sector innovators and established stakeholders on one platform to bring fintech technologies to market faster, while addressing key regulatory reporting, risk and innovation challenges. On February 25, 2021, the Bank of Ghana announced its pilot with EMTECH's Modern Central Bank Sandbox platform, with the goal to reduce time to market for new business models and for regulators to learn about innovation faster. Central Bank of the Bahamas, and WiPay Caribbean are currently leveraging the New York-based company's solutions and services. The U.S. House Committee on Financial Services oversees all components of the nation's house and financial services sectors including banking, insurance, real estate, public and assisted housing, and securities. This includes providing solutions to America's estimated 14.1 million unbanked and underbanked populations (FDIC). Cadet immigrated to the United States from Haiti at the age of 16 and spent her first years in America as an unbanked and underbanked person. Her experiences are the driving force of her work in financial inclusion today. For more information about EMTECH and its solutions, visit https://futuremtech.com/. About EMTECH EMTECH is a fintech company that modernizes central banks with highly secure, cloud-based software services designed for innovation and resilience in the era of open banking and digital currency. It designs and builds powerful digital-based currency solutions for central banks around the world, configured to their unique economy. The company was founded in 2019 and is based in New York, New York. For more information, visit https://futuremtech.com/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005546/en/

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[June 15, 2021] EVgo Expands Executive Leadership Team With Four New Hires

EVgo, the nation's largest public fast charging network for electric vehicles (EVs) and first powered by 100% renewable electricity, today announced four additions to its leadership team: Francine Sullivan as Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel, Christopher O'Toole as Vice President of Strategy, Analytics and Network Planning, Ted Brooks as Vice President of Investor Relations, and Karren Fink as Senior Vice President of Human Resources. "The leadership, talent and public markets expertise brought by these seasoned executives reinforce EVgo's position at the helm of the EV charging sector," said Cathy Zoi, CEO of EVgo. "I am thrilled to welcome Francine, Chris, Ted, and Karren onboard as we accelerate the shift to an all-electric future for transportation and deploy fast and convenient charging for drivers across the country." Francine Sullivan has spent the past 16 years in the clean energy sector, building an extensive international legal career focusing on major transactions, finance and mergers and acquisitions (M&A). Prior to joining EVgo, she held a variety of executive positions at REC, a publicly listed integrated solar and advanced materials company, including Chief Legal Officer and Vice President, Business Development. There, she helped build REC's EV battery business by developing strategic partnerships with battery technology companies. Previously, she was part of the energy group at Milbank's Los Angeles office. Sullivan has also held positions with leading corporate London-based law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, in its Asian and European offices, as well as Australian firm King & Wood Mallesons in its Melbourne and Sydney offices. An Australian native, she received her Bachelor of Laws (Honors) and a Bachelor of Commerce (Economics & Finance) from the University of Melbourne and is admitted to the Bar in both California and New York. With significant career experience deploying 21st century infrastructure, Christopher O'Toole will join EVgo from Comcast (News - Alert) , where he was responsible for strategic network deployment for Comcast Business. In his role, O'Toole leveraged advanced analytics and geographic information system (GIS) tools to identify attractive investments and achieve greater scale and construction efficiencies for Comcast. Previously, O'Toole spent nearly a decade in business, finance and corporate leadership roles t Level 3 Communications (News - Alert) (now Lumen), where he negotiated major acquisitions and commercial deals, helping the company build and grow its enterprise business. He received a B.A. from Yale University and earned his M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Chris starts at EVgo in early July.



Bringing over 25 years of experience in finance and investment, Ted Brooks joins EVgo from CenterSquare Investment Management, where he was the sole portfolio manager and head of the global listed infrastructure group. In his role, Ted managed strategies for investing in equities of global companies across the utilities, transportation, telecommunications and energy sectors. Previously, he served as a Director in the equity research groups at Barclays Capital and Lehman Brothers (News - Alert) , where he was responsible for covering US utilities. Ted also held prior positions at Credit Suisse First Boston in Investment Banking and Donaldson, Lufkin and Jenrette. He received his B.A. from the College of the Holy Cross and earned his M.B.A. in Finance from New York University's Stern School of Business. Ted is a CFA charterholder and member of the CFA Institute. Ted starts at EVgo later this month.

Karren Fink brings over 20 years of experience as a human resources leader for public and private companies, most recently serving as Managing Director, Global Head of Human Resources at Colony Capital, a leading global real estate investment firm which invests in private and public digital infrastructure and real estate equity and debt. At Colony Capital, she was responsible for managing human resources activities and supporting the global base of more than 350 employees. Previously, she was Chief Human Resources Officer at Edmunds.com, a provider of online automotive advice, news and reviews, where her responsibilities included employee development, staffing, and benefits for the company's 600+ employees. Fink has also held various human resources leadership roles at Westfield, LLC, Citigroup and General Mills over the course of her career. She received her B.S. in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University and earned her M.B.A. with a major in Human Resource Management from The Ohio State University College of Business. About EVgo EVgo is the nation's largest public fast charging network for electric vehicles, and the first to be powered by 100% renewable energy. With more than 800 fast charging locations, EVgo's charging network serves over 65 metropolitan areas across 34 states, owns and operates the most public fast charging locations in the U.S. and serves more than 250,000 customers. Founded in 2010, EVgo leads the way on transportation electrification, partnering with automakers; fleet and rideshare operators; retail hosts such as hotels, shopping centers, gas stations and parking lot operators; and other stakeholders to deploy advanced charging technology to expand network availability and make it easier for drivers across the U.S. to enjoy the benefits of driving an EV. As a charging technology first mover, EVgo works closely with business and government leaders to accelerate the ubiquitous adoption of EVs by providing a reliable and convenient charging experience close to where drivers live, work and play, whether for a daily commute or a commercial fleet. EVgo's parent company is LS Power, a New York-headquartered development, investment and operating company focused on leading edge solutions for the North American power and energy infrastructure sector. On January 22, 2021, EVgo announced that it entered into a definitive business combination agreement with Climate Change Crisis Real Impact I Acquisition Corporation ("CRIS") (NYSE: CLII). For more information visit evgo.com and lspower.com. About LS Power LS Power is a development, investment and operating company focused on the North American power and energy infrastructure sector. Since its inception in 1990, LS Power has developed, constructed, managed or acquired more than 45,000 MW of power generation, including utility-scale solar, wind, hydro, natural gas-fired and battery energy storage projects, and has developed more than 660 miles of high voltage electric transmission. Additionally, LS Power actively invests in businesses focused on renewable energy and renewable fuels, as well as distributed energy resource platforms, such as CPower Energy Management, Endurant Energy and EVgo. Across its efforts, LS Power has raised in excess of $47 billion in debt and equity capital to support North American infrastructure. For more information, please visit www.lspower.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005589/en/

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[June 15, 2021] Fiddle, Integrated Inventory Software Company, Raises $600,000 in First Round Funding

PROVO, Utah, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Fiddle, an inventory software company, announced today it has raised $600,000 in their first funding series led by investors Jeff Burningham, Red Giant Ventures and Ryan Treft and Brady Hansen. Previously bootstrapped, Fiddle's successful funding series promotes growth and expansion within the CPG and manufacturing industries. Fiddle was founded to help CPG brands streamline their inventory operations with modern, cloud-based software. With Fiddle, you can manage suppliers, send POs and quotes, track inventory, manage batch records, and more. This latest funding round has extended Fiddle's reach to serve even more CPG brands and manufacturers. "Thanks to our investors, we have been able to grow the breadth of Fiddle's integrated offerings making it an all-in-one solution for growing brands and manufacturers," said Ken Ojuka, Fiddle co-founder. "This funding round has allowed us to invest resources in identifying the many needs of CPG brands, manufacturers and co-packers. As we develop the next Fiddle integrations, we've been able to take real-time feedback from our customers and make an even better system for them." With the proceeds of this funding round, Fiddle has been able to expand their developmet team in order to begin work on key integrations with both Quickbooks and Shopify. These integrations will allow customers to sync their finances and sales channels with Fiddle's inventory and product management software providing accurate insights into a business's operations. A welcome tool for brand CPA's, Fiddle's new Quickbook integrations make accounting and COGS tracking easier. The Shopify integration will allow Fiddle to extracting crucial order information for more accurate inventory management and Zapier will open up integrations between Fiddle and many other software solutions.



"Running a business is hard and what's even harder is accurately tracking all the different components that make up your business," said Morgan Gilliam, Fiddle co-founder. "We are looking to help businesses succeed by streamlining these processes for them. In order to do that, we are hiring key players on our team in development, marketing, sales, and customer success that are working on customer needs on a continuous basis." With Fiddle's expansion, they have moved into a new location in Provo, UT so their growing team can work and collaborate in generating new leads and demos for interested users. Fiddle will continue to expand upon their offerings based on customer needs. For more information or to schedule a demo visit https://fiddle.io/.

About Fiddle

Fiddle is an inventory operations software solution for CPG brands. Their cloud-based software makes it a breeze to track inventory, develop products, manage POs and streamline production. It's the best alternative to clunky spreadsheets and outdated server-based software. For more information, please visit https://fiddle.io/. Contact Information:

Jennifer Reza

312009@email4pr.com

310-968-8503 View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fiddle-integrated-inventory-software-company-raises-600-000-in-first-round-funding-301312320.html SOURCE Fiddle

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[June 15, 2021] FirstVitals Health and Wellness Goes Live with Human API to Power Safe Inter-Island Hawaii Travel Using Secure COVID Test and Vaccine Data

SAN MATEO, Calif., June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Human API, the digital health data platform company that connects consumers' health data to companies they trust, announced a new customer in FirstVitals Health and Wellness, the healthcare service organization enabling safe inter-island Hawaii travel. FirstVitals Health and Wellness has built a solution that makes it easy for inter-island travelers in Hawaii to securely and digitally verify their COVID vaccination status. With Human API's vast healthcare provider network embedded, FirstVitals Health and Wellness customers can now enjoy an easy, trusted verification experience that allows them to connect and share their COVID data to verify their health status when traveling between Hawaiian islands or returning to work spaces. Human API's health data platform gives people a simple, secure, and transparent way to authorize the sharing of their health data, and is powering emerging COVID screening solutions that are helping organizations, governments, businesses and people return safely to normal operating capacities. "We value the collaboration in working with Human API in providing connectivity to electronic health records for the verification and authentication of COVID-19 health data," said Ernie Lee, CEO of VAXCheck, a service of FirstVitals Health and Wellness. "Organizations rely on us for verifying health data integrity and Human API enables authenticated access to their connected data sources, providing a seamless way for consumers to share their vaccination records and lab results. This creates a trusted verification experience for travelers, customers and employees to provide their health status when it is required for access." As the U.S. reopens, emerging digital solutions are nabling people to access and use their digital health data to verify health status and safely return to normal living. FirstVitals Health and Wellness is also actively partnering with employer organizations and local government agencies to scale the adoption of the company's health screening technology to maintain safe reopening of businesses.



"Authenticated health information screening is critical to maintaining safe travel and shared spaces going forward," said Andrei Pop, CEO of Human API. "Our platform was built to enable consumers to access and use their health data in meaningful ways, and we're very excited to be working with FirstVitals Health and Wellness to restore tourism in Hawaii and ensure people can safely travel and work again." About Human API



Human API is on a mission to radically accelerate the pace of health innovation by giving consumers a simple way to securely and privately access and share their health data with companies they trust. The company has built the modern transaction layer for digital health data; a platform that connects, normalizes, and structures data from a rapidly-growing network of hospitals, HIEs, EHR data partners, pharmacies, labs, wearable devices and fitness apps. Human API reaches 270M Americans and empowers enterprises such as insurance and health plans, corporate wellness, digital therapeutics, clinical research organizations, and digital health companies to build and deliver consumer-centric apps and services with electronic health records (EHR) and personal device data from everywhere. For more information, visit www.humanapi.co. About FirstVitals Health and Wellness

FirstVitals Health and Wellness Inc is a leading provider of software and services to facilitate Patient Centric Longitudinal Care Plans for Remote Patient Monitoring and Chronic Care Management. We achieve the CMS' Triple Aim by improving patient care, reducing healthcare costs and encouraging healthier lifestyles by implementing integrated care delivery teams. FirstVitals serves as a centralized hub with spokes to physician practices, insurance companies, and patients through health IT support services, integrating electronic clinical medical records with claims data for improved self-management of one's health. VAXCheck, a service of FirstVitals Health and Wellness Inc. For more information, visit http://www.firstvitals.com/. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/firstvitals-health-and-wellness-goes-live-with-human-api-to-power-safe-inter-island-hawaii-travel-using-secure-covid-test-and-vaccine-data-301312469.html SOURCE Human API

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[June 15, 2021] Formative Announces $70 Million Minority Growth Investment to Accelerate Impact in K-12 Classrooms

Formative, a SaaS (News - Alert) -based real-time student data platform, today announced a $70 million minority investment led by global growth investor Summit Partners, with participation from existing investors including Emerson (News - Alert) Collective, Fika Ventures, Mac Ventures and Rethink Education. The investment will further fuel Formative's product enhancement efforts, increase teacher and administrator support and expand the company's international reach. Formative's mission is to improve student outcomes and educator effectiveness by accelerating the student-teacher feedback loop and providing actionable visualizations of student comprehension and achievement. Formative's approach is designed to enable educators to identify and address learning deficiencies as concepts are being taught and, importantly, before learning is lost. Research indicates that an effective student-teacher feedback loop is among the best ways to increase learning impact. Yet, many districts and school systems often rely on high-stakes summative assessments such as final exams and standardized testing, which we believe results in a "too little, too late" approach to addressing learning deficiencies. "As a classroom teacher, I helped my students achieve record-breaking results by providing daily formative assessments, targeted intervention and quicker feedback loops. We founded Formative to apply this approach to the benefit of students around the world, with a goal to double the effectiveness of every teacher on our platform," said Craig Jones, Co-Founder and CEO of Formative. "This has been an incredibly difficult year for schools, but the silver lining is that educators have found new and better ways to reach their students that we believe will last well beyond the pandemic. At Formative, we believe that teachers are superhuman, and we come to work every day to help them unlock those superpowers." According to an independent study by the American Institutes of Research, 90% of teachers surveyed believed that Formative's platform helps to improve student achievement. Today, Formative is used by educators and administrators globally and has a presence in the majority of U.S. school districts. In the past year alone, more than four million students have engaged with the platform, and the company has dlivered annual recurring revenue growth of approximately 700%.



As classrooms shifted into virtual environments during the COVID-19 pandemic, teachers across the country and around the world searched for solutions to help organize effective digital classrooms. Formative offered a valuable resource for teachers during this challenging transition, as it helped districts to switch curriculum online in seconds and kept all stakeholders connected with student data. Approximately 5,000 schools and districts signed up for Formative's COVID-19 Assistance Program, which provided free access to its full platform. Designed for physical, virtual or hybrid classrooms with synchronous or asynchronous interactions, Formative has continued to see more students on the platform as the need for flexibility has solidified. "Formative is the most impactful e-learning tool that I have found," said Brian Lovejoy, Teacher in South Carolina. "Formative's platform offers customization, rapid feedback, and the opportunity for real-time student engagement. I can see what my students are doing while they are doing it - their mistakes, their thought processes, their successes - and leave comments while they work. I am grateful for what Formative has created and excited about the impact it's allowing me to have on my students' experiences."

Craig Jones and Kevin McFarland founded Formative as graduate students at UCLA in 2013. Today, the company is growing rapidly and plans to double headcount in 2021. The Formative team is composed largely of former educators who deeply value and empathize with the teacher experience. "We've spent nearly a decade working toward a future where a single test score no longer determines a student's potential in life. Last year forced everyone in education to make hard choices and work long hours. We were fortunate to be in a place where we could offer the COVID-19 Assistance Program and participate in the moment with the community. We had no idea how far forward certain aspects of education would be thrown. This funding and Summit Partners' deep experience in scaling founder-led growth businesses will allow us to continue pushing the envelope to help educators and students everywhere," said Kevin McFarland, Co-Founder and COO of Formative. "Formative helps to accelerate learning for students, save time for teachers and quantify results for school and district administrators," said Tom Jennings, a Managing Director at Summit Partners who will join Formative's Board of Directors. "We believe Formative has a rare combination of rapid, capital-efficient growth, innovative products, delighted customers and a humble, mission-driven team. We admire how Craig, Kevin and the team have built the business and expect our partnership to help Formative accelerate product enhancements and the continued global expansion of the business." About Formative Formative is a web-based student response platform that allows teachers to give live assignments to students, enabling instant teaching adjustments and long-term student growth tracking. Teachers use Formative to see student work in real-time, give feedback, track student progress to learning standards and collaborate around common assessment data. For more information, please see www.formative.com or follow on LinkedIn. About Summit Partners Founded in 1984, Summit Partners is a global alternative investment firm that is currently managing more than $28 billion in capital dedicated to growth equity, fixed income and public equity opportunities. Summit Partners invests across growth sectors of the economy and has invested in more than 500 companies in technology, healthcare and other growth industries. Notable e-learning and EdTech companies backed by Summit Partners include A Cloud Guru, Allego, Immersive Labs, Jamf, LearnUpon, Lingoda, Ruffalo Noel Levitz and Teaching Strategies. Summit Partners maintains offices in North America and Europe and invests in companies around the world. For more information, please see www.summitpartners.com or follow on LinkedIn. In the United States of America, Summit Partners operates as an SEC (News - Alert) -registered investment advisor. In the United Kingdom, this document is issued by Summit Partners LLP, a firm authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Summit Partners LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC388179 and its registered office is at 11-12 Hanover Square, London, W1S 1JJ, UK. This document is intended solely to provide information regarding Summit Partners' potential financing capabilities for prospective portfolio companies. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005302/en/

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[June 15, 2021] Francois Gagnon, CEO of Ecole de technologie superieure, named a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering

MONTREAL, June 15, 2021 /CNW Telbec/ - Francois Gagnon is among 52 Fellows elected into the Canadian Academy of Engineering (CAE) this year. The announcement was made yesterday, Monday, June 14, 2021, during the Academy's Annual General Meeting. Professor Gagnon was recognized for his expertise in microelectronics and telecommunication, which he has acquired over the course of the past 30 years. Fellows of the CAE are nominated and elected by their peers, who are current Fellows of the CAE. This prestigious title is awarded in recognition of outstanding achievements and service to the Engineering profession throughout their careers. Francois Gagnon earned a Bachelor of Engineering degree in 1986 and a Doctorate in Electrical Engineering in 1991 from Polytechnique Montreal. He began his career as an instructor at Polytechnique Montreal in 1989, and joined Ecole de technologie superieure (ETS) as an Assistant Professor in 1991. He was named an Associate Professor in the Electrical Engineering Department in 1994, and then served as Director of the Department from 1999 to 2001.



Professor Gagnon is a world-renowned cutting-edge Canadian Researcher who has made major contributions as both a Professor at ETS and as a Researcher working with industry. Over the past three decades, he has developed several technological advances and has created and overseen numerous initiatives, spin-offs and institutes. He has also contributed to a number of patents and helped his peers to obtain their own patents. Ranging from designing state-of-the-art radios to inventing a coding technique that has resulted in a billion dollars in economic impact in Canada, and from improving communications for rescue missions to providing remote villages with access to virtual books, his research is of inestimable value from a human, technological and financial perspective. Professor Gagnon proudly states: "Receiving this title and being a part of the Canadian Academy of Engineering is a great honour for me. It represents a wonderful testament to the work that I have accomplished over these many years".

This recognition reiterates Professor Gagnon's desire to push the envelope with a view to innovation and enhancing technology to better serve society. Even in his role as CEO, he continues to stoke his ambition of giving back to society by promoting engineering for the betterment of industry and humanity. For more information concerning the Canadian Academy of Engineering: https://cae-CAE.ca/ About ETS (etsmtl.ca)

Ecole de technologie superieure is one of ten constituents of the Universite du Quebec network. It trains engineers and researchers who are recognized for their practical and innovative approach, the development of new technologies and their skill at transferring their knowledge to companies. Almost one-quarter of all engineers in Quebec graduated from ETS, which boasts 11,000 students, including 2,650 at the graduate and post-graduate level. ETS specializes in applied training and research in engineering, and maintains a unique partnership with the business sector and with industry. SOURCE Ecole de technologie superieure

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[June 15, 2021] Getac Announces New Director of Channel Sales

Getac USA, a key subsidiary of MiTAC-Synnex Business Group, has named Kristi Bonfigt as Director of Channel Sales for operations in the U.S. based out of its Irvine, California offices. Ms. Bonfigt brings a wealth of experience in channel sales. Prior to joining Getac she held management positions for LG Electronics, Panasonic (News - Alert) and Ingram Micro. "Our partners are a vital piece of the solution as a whole. Every partner is different; different solutions, different expertise, different operations and they all have deep relationships with those end user customers. So we rely very heavily on them. My vision is to ensure that we can work closely together to help solve customer's problems. Getac products are widely used in challenging environments. Ultimately, what we want is for our customers to do their business without worrying about the technology and allow Getac to provide the reliability that they demand," Bonfigt commented. "When working with our partners, along with our sales force, relationships are key. Developing relationships on all different levels is crucial because those will move business forward. I'm going to be loking at different programs where it will be beneficial for them to work with us, for it to make sense for them to work with us and provide incentives to do so," further notes Bonfigt.



"Kristi is a results-oriented, self-motivated professional with extensive experience in profit and loss management, contract negotiations, sales and marketing strategy, business development, inventory management and vendor relations. Her background and experience will lead to accelerated sales and deepen our relationships with our channel resellers," commented Mike McMahon, president of Getac USA. Getac has made several technological breakthroughs that improve the performance and safety of using computers in challenging environments. Getac's solutions are inherently rugged, built from the ground up to thrive in extreme weather conditions. Getac offers an industry-leading three-year return to base warranty, including bumper-to-bumper accidental damage cover as standard.

About Getac Getac Technology Corporation is a key subsidiary of MiTAC-Synnex Business Group with a 2020 annual revenue of US $41.3 billion and is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TSE: 3005). Getac was established in 1989 as a joint venture with GE Aerospace to provide defense electronics. Today, Getac's business includes rugged laptops, rugged tablets, software and mobile video solutions for defense, police, firefighters, utilities, automotive, manufacturing, transport and logistics. To learn more about Getac and its products, visit getac.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005689/en/

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[June 15, 2021] Glenfarne Group and Partners Group Secure Financing for EnfraGen's Chilean Renewable Energy Growth

EnfraGen, LLC ("EnfraGen"), a developer, owner, and operator of specialized sustainable and renewable power and grid stability assets in Latin America owned by Glenfarne Group, LLC ("Glenfarne") and leading global private markets firm Partners Group, on behalf of its clients, announced today a USD 200 million non-recourse financing for EnfraGen's greenfield solar photovoltaic ("PV") portfolio in Chile, with an option of an additional USD 40 million upsizing via an accordion feature. The transaction was executed through EnfraGen's renewables division, Fontus Renewables. The proceeds from the financing will be used to fund the construction, acquisition, operations and maintenance of projects totaling approximately 237 MWdc / 175 MWac. Ed Diffendal, Managing Director of Private Infrastructure Americas at Partners Group, commented, "EnfraGen continues to transform the Latin American power sector through its premier renewable power and grid stability platforms providing both power stability and reliable clean solar power to communities across Chile. Partners Group looks forward to further supporting EnfraGen's growth and leadership in the energy transition to a more sustainable future." "The beneficial terms of this financing reflect the quality of the projects, support of our banking relationships and the market's increasing confidence in EnfraGen as a leading developer and sponsor in the region," said Bryan Murphy, President of EnfraGen and Managing Director at Glenfarne Group. "We continue to see significant growth potential in Chile in 2021 and beyond, as EnfraGen continues to support Chile's energy transition and becomes a pre-eminent power business in Latin America." Brendan Wolters, Head of Solar for Fontus Renewables said, "Chile provides consistent and reliable regulation that allows for investment in renewable energy, and we are happy to grow our platform in Chile as it continues its energy transition to renewable power." Lenders financing the transaction include Banco de Credito e Inversiones ("BCI"), BNP Paribas, DNB Bank ASA and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation ("SMBC"). White and Case and Claro (News - Alert) y Cia acted as borrower's counsel and Milbank and Garrigues represented the lenders. BCI also provided VAT financing for Fontus Prime Solar SpA, with Dentons acting as lender's counsel. About EnfraGen, LLC EnfraGen is a developer, owner, and operator of grid stability and value-added renewable energy nfrastructure businesses across Latin American investment-grade countries. EnfraGen's grid stability assets supply flexible capacity and energy to local and regional grids in support of renewable power plant intermittent energy production. EnfraGen's renewable plants are smaller scale, distributed solar photovoltaic and hydroelectric assets that take advantage of unique access points to electrical infrastructure or are located in optimized geographical locations. The business' mission is to support the transition to zero-carbon emission electric grids.



EnfraGen is jointly controlled by Glenfarne Group, LLC, and global private markets firm Partners Group, on behalf of its clients, and has operational and in-construction assets across its subsidiaries totaling over 1.7GW of installed capacity in operation. The company, including its affiliates and subsidiaries, is supported by a team of approximately 325 professionals. EnfraGen maintains offices and assets in Chile, Panama, Colombia, and the United States. About Glenfarne Group, LLC

Glenfarne is a privately held energy and infrastructure development and management firm based in New York City and Houston, Texas with offices in Dallas, Texas, Panama City, Panama; Santiago, Chile, and Bogota, Colombia. Glenfarne's seasoned executives, asset managers, and operators develop, acquire, manage, and operate energy and infrastructure assets throughout North and South America and Asia. For more information, please visit www.glenfarnegroup.com. About Partners Group Partners Group is a leading global private markets firm. Since 1996, the firm has invested over USD 145 billion in private equity, private real estate, private debt and private infrastructure on behalf of its clients globally. Partners Group is a committed, responsible investor and aims to create broad stakeholder impact through its active ownership and development of growing businesses, attractive real estate and essential infrastructure. With over USD 109 billion in assets under management as of 31 December 2020, Partners Group serves a broad range of institutional investors, sovereign wealth funds, family offices and private individuals globally. The firm employs more than 1,500 diverse professionals across 20 offices worldwide and has regional headquarters in Baar-Zug, Switzerland; Denver, USA; and Singapore. It has been listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange since 2006 (symbol: PGHN). For more information, please visit www.partnersgroup.com or follow us on LinkedIn or Twitter. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005543/en/

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[June 15, 2021] GZ6G Technologies' Green Zebra Smart Media Now Hiring for Key Marketing Positions

Hiring in West Coast Locations of Irvine, California and Las Vegas, Nevada Las Vegas, June 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire -- GZ6G Technologies (OTCMarkets: GZIC), the complete enterprise smart solutions provider for large venues and cities, is now recruiting marketing and sponsorship sales positions for its Green Zebra Smart Media division. Green Zebra Smart Media offers a full spectrum of agency services, including creative, digital marketing, advertising, public relations, sponsorship development, and more. Open positions will support accounts such as stadiums, airports, and small cities and assist with long-term client agreements for exclusive and non-exclusive Wi-Fi, Digital Signage, and IPTV advertising platform technology rights, in addition to traditional digital marketing and advertising services. As we begin to onboard new clients, we are expanding our hiring to include experienced marketing and skilled advertising teams at both our Irvine, CA and Las Vegas, NV locations in order to ensure we can cater to our enterprise clients, said Coleman Smith, CEO and President of GZ6G Technologies. Green Zebra Smart Media is all about performance advertising to drive double-digit revenue growth for our advertising clients, fueling our mandate to hire individuals who are well versed in digital marketing and advertising solutions. This skilled team will be responsible for introducing advertising brands supporting in-venue user engagement and user experience IoT technologies while leveraging 5G and WiFi 6 connectivity capabilities. If you thrive on being a part of a dynamic, forward thinking business, then wed love to hear from you! Green Zebra Smart Media open positions include:  Vice President of Marketing Sales  Marketing and Advertising Manager  Creative Designers  Copywriters Small business marketing and advertising opportunities are expected to grow this year as the country is able to resume normal activities. We see an excellent opportunity for creative teams to find their next career with us s we put talented people back to work, said Wendy Ramirez, Vice President of Human Resources for GZ6G Technologies. Relocation options, competitive salary and bonuses, healthcare benefits, opportunities to work remotely and paid vacations, are just a few of the advantages of working for Green Zebra Smart Media.



Those interested in Green Zebra Smart Medias creative, advertising and marketing positions may send their resume to: hr@greenzebra.net. For more information about Green Zebra Smart Media visit GZSmartMedia.com.

About GZ6G Technologies:

GZ6G Technologies is the complete enterprise smart solutions provider for large venues and cities. Focused on acquiring smart city solutions, developing innovative products, and overseeing smart cities and smart venues, GZ6G Technologies also assists in modernizing clients with innovative wireless IoT technology for the emerging 5G and Wi-Fi 6 marketplaces. Target markets include stadiums, airports, universities, and smart city projects. Ever evolving and innovative, GZ6G Technologies smart solutions consist of four divisions, Green Zebra Smart Networks: offers a fully integrated wireless and IT infrastructure solutions for enterprise opportunities. The Green Zebra technical teams will also provide both managed services support, and technical support for networking hardware and software for enterprise level clients. Green Zebra Smart Data: The Green Zebra Smart Data centers division will focus on safe and secure data management and cloud computing solutions for GZ6G Technologies divisions as well as co-location and hosting options for venues, cities, and customers. Green Zebra Smart Labs: IoT software applications integrated for commercial, industrial and user engagement technology, as well as artificial intelligence and analytics for historical data, operation forecasting and monetization purposes, to name a few. Green Zebra Smart Media, a majority-owned subsidiary of GZ6G Technology Corp: a full-service marketing and advertising division for clients that includes public relations, copywriting, branding, and all creative needs. Since 2017, GZ6G Technologies is the trusted, smart solutions provider for clients such as Governors Island, NY, and the city of New York, to name a few. For more information, visit www.GZ6G.com . Twitter @gz6tech MEDIA Contact: Arlene Bordinhao

Arlene.b@brandltd.com INVESTOR Contact: Coleman Smith

Cole@greenzebra.net Safe Harbor Statement:

In addition to historical information, this press release may contain statements that constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include the intent, belief, or expectations of the company and members of its management team with respect to the company's future business operations and the assumptions upon which such statements are based. Prospective investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause these differences include, but are not limited to, failure to complete anticipated sales under negotiations, lack of revenue growth, client discontinuances, failure to realize improvements in performance, efficiency and profitability, and adverse development with respect to litigation or increased litigation costs, the operation or performance of the Company's business units or the market price of its common stock. Additional factors that would cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated within this press release can also be found on the company's website. The company denies any responsibility to update any forward-looking statements.



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[June 15, 2021] iLearn Collaborative Joins StrongMind in Providing High Quality Professional Learning to Schools and Districts Across the Nation

DENVER, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- iLearn Collaborative announces a brand new partnership with StrongMind, allowing the Arizona based education solutions company to expand their services and supports for new and existing partners and provide additional high quality professional development opportunities. "This is the nation's premier educator training team," says Mary Gifford , StrongMind President. "We are excited to combine efforts to reach more educators as online and hybrid options become a mainstay of the education fabric." A key component in establishing the partnership was the strong relationship developed between iLearn Collaborative and StrongMind prior to moving forward. Both organizations share the strong belief that equipping teachers with high quality training and resources is essential for implementing blended, hybrid, and virtual learning models that let students and schools thrive. "This is a very exciting time for iLearn Collaborative!" says Judy Perez, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of iLearn Collaborative. "As our reach continues to expand, we are thrilled to begin a partnership with StrongMind. Their mission, vision, and values are very much aligned with ours which makes it an ideal partner for iLC." With this partnership, iLearn Collaborative is able to deliver unique professional development and learning to more schools and disricts across the nation, including new and existing StrongMind partners. In addition, iLearn Collaborative can now leverage StrongMind's background and expertise in technology while providing services to schools, allowing them to further innovate, grow, and optimize offerings.



"This is the nation's premier educator training team," says Mary Gifford, StrongMind President. "We are excited to combine efforts to reach more educators as online and hybrid options become a mainstay of the education fabric."iLearn Collaborative provides consulting and training services to facilitate innovation and support pedagogical best practices, helping teachers reach their full potential in delivering student-centered learning. The organization creates engaging programs with practices and resources that are immediately applicable and advance teacher knowledge, equipping them for a number of instructional scenarios  including hybrid and virtual learning. Given the recent challenges and shifting learning models due to COVID19, many schools and districts need additional support in providing professional learning and development for their teachers and staff. You can learn more about iLearn Collaborative and their services at https://www.ilearncollaborative.org/

About iLearnCollaborative Founded in 2016, iLearn Collaborative began as a grassroots effort to start a dialogue among districts building online schools and blended learning programs. With programs built by and for educators both nationally and internationally, iLearn Collaborative delivers unique professional development and learning to schools and districts around the globe. Offerings include qualified blended educator certification, micro-credentialed courses and training for teachers, and consultative services designed to create equity in education by building the capacity of schools and districts in implementing student-centered learning. Learn more at https://www.ilearncollaborative.org/ About StrongMind StrongMind partners with schools and districts to develop forward-thinking solutions that address unique school challenges. With a consultative approach, engaging digital curriculum, a suite of edtech tools, a range of services, and clear insights, we maximize student achievement and help schools thrive. A recent recipient of multiple Digital Promise Research-Design certifications and winner of more than 60 awards, StrongMind innovates into the future of education. To learn more, visit www.StrongMind.com . Contact:

Judy Perez

iLearn Collaborative

+1 (303) 748-3221

jperez@ilearncollaborative.org View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ilearn-collaborative-joins-strongmind-in-providing-high-quality-professional-learning-to-schools-and-districts-across-the-nation-301312035.html SOURCE StrongMind

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[June 15, 2021] LeddarTech Makes a Welcome Return to In-Person Events as a Lead Sponsor and Exhibitor at Tech.AD 2021 in Berlin, Germany

LeddarTech joins Tech.AD Europe as the Lead Sponsor and as both a presenter and exhibitor at this live event at the Titanic Chaussee Berlin, Germany, on July 1-2, 2021. Join LeddarTech either in person or digitally by registering today at autonomous-driving-berlin.com.

QUEBEC CITY, June 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LeddarTech, a global leader in Level 1-5 ADAS and AD sensing technology, is excited to be reigniting its physical event calendar as a lead sponsor and keynote speaker of Tech.AD. Tech.AD has long been recognized as one of Europes leading technical ADAS and AD conferences. LeddarTechs CTO Pierre Olivier will serve on the honorary jury for the 8th Annual Tech.AD Europe Awards. These awards honor individuals and organizations who have designed exceptional solutions or products that contribute to ADAS/AD automotive development. With a focus on environmental sensing that reimagines ADAS and AD solutions, the LeddarTech team will be participating in several capacities at this event. Keynote presentation: July 1, 2021, 4:45 p.m.  5:05 p.m. CET Topic : Sensing Modalities, Sensor Fusion, and Perception for Autonomous Driving. The speaker, Pierre Olivier, Chief Technology Officer of LeddarTech, will explore the challenges and exciting opportunities facing the ADAS and AD business community. World Cafe session: July 2, 2021, 1:15 p.m.  3:35 p.m. CET Topic: Sensor Cafe  Object Fusion vs. Raw Sensor Fusion  What Is the Superior Solution? Moderators: Reza Rashidi Far, PhD, and Andre Malz, PhD, of LeddarTechs Strategic Product Management division. Exhibition booth (6): July 1-2, 2021. LeddarTech will feature solutions that solve critical sensing and perception challenges across the automotive and mobility value chain. LeddarTech will present these solutions through an innovative approach of on-site and live-streaming demonstrations of: Mobility and ITS sensors, including the recently released Leddar Sight LiDAR and the award-winning Leddar Pixell;

LeddarVision, a sensor-fusion and perception solution tht delivers highly accurate 3D environmental models for L1-5 autonomy;

Special Feature: the Westfield AutoSweep, the UKs first fully autonomous pure electric road sweeper, featuring the Leddar Pixell.





Our technical teams from Israel, Germany, and Italy are excited to be joining our esteemed colleagues, peers, and partners at Tech.AD. Our much-anticipated return to in-person events is especially significant as we will be showcasing our customer Westfields autonomous AutoSweep POD, which features the Leddar Pixell, stated Daniel Aitken, Vice-President, Global Marketing, Communications, and Product Management at LeddarTech. Tech.AD provides an excellent opportunity to engage with many leaders in the industry both virtually and in person, and we look forward to demonstrating our latest technology, sharing our vision, and engaging with our customers, Mr. Aitken continued. Tech.AD is making all efforts to implement precautions to ensure a safe and fulfilling event for all delegates, and I welcome you to visit us in person or online during the event in July, concluded Mr. Aitken. For more information about Tech.AD, visit autonomous-driving-berlin.com.

Prior to Tech.AD register for the Automotive IQ Webinar: June 29, 2021, 11:00 a.m.  12:00 p.m. ET Topic: A Clean Sweep: How Adopting Autonomous Vehicle and EV Technology Is Paving the Way to Increased Road Sweeper Efficiency and Safety While Reducing Environmental Impact. Join Pierre Olivier, CTO of LeddarTech and Julian Turner, CEO of Westfield Technology Group, for this Automotive IQ hosted event. Register here. About LeddarTech LeddarTech is a leader in environmental sensing platforms for autonomous vehicles and advanced driver assistance systems. Founded in 2007, LeddarTech has evolved to become a comprehensive end-to-end environmental sensing company by enabling customers to solve critical sensing and perception challenges across the entire value chain of the automotive and mobility market segments. With its LeddarVision sensor-fusion and perception platform and its cost-effective, scalable, and versatile LiDAR development solution for automotive-grade solid-state LiDARs based on the LeddarEngine, LeddarTech enables Tier 1-2 automotive system integrators to develop full-stack sensing solutions for autonomy level 1 to 5. These solutions are actively deployed in autonomous shuttles, trucks, buses, delivery vehicles, smart cities/factories, and robotaxi applications. The company is responsible for several innovations in cutting-edge automotive and mobility remote-sensing applications, with over 95 patented technologies (granted or pending) enhancing ADAS and autonomous driving capabilities. Additional information about LeddarTech is accessible at www.leddartech.com and on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. Contact:

Daniel Aitken, Vice-President, Global Marketing, Communications, and Product Management, LeddarTech Inc.

Tel.: + 1-418-653-9000 ext. 232

daniel.aitken@leddartech.com Leddar, LeddarTech, LeddarSteer, LeddarEngine, LeddarVision, LeddarSP, LeddarCore, VAYADrive, VayaVision, and related logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of LeddarTech Inc. and its subsidiaries. All other brands, product names, and marks are or may be trademarks or registered trademarks used to identify products or services of their respective owners. Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2f336faf-ccca-4167-939e-c1dfcfc4c897 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/84aebadf-f893-466e-8144-9b31e4d79c26



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[June 15, 2021] LiveVox Hires Industry Veteran Dan DeLozier to Lead Channel Strategy & Expansion

LiveVox Holdings, Inc. (" LiveVox (News - Alert) " or the "Company"), a leading cloud-based provider of customer service and digital engagement tools, has announced the hire of Dan DeLozier as Area Vice President of Channel and Alliances. LiveVox will draw on DeLozier's 16 years of experience building and managing successful channel programs to bolster its sales and marketing efforts and capitalize on digital transformation opportunities across the massive contact center software market. Prior to joining LiveVox, DeLozier served as Regional Vice President of Channel Sales for Everbridge - a global critical event management SaaS (News - Alert) company. At Everbridge, DeLozier played a critical role in spearheading the company's expansion into the Global Channel Marketplace, including Australia and the U.K., while also overseeing cross-functional teams to create and accelerate market penetration. He has held senior positions at CenturyLink, Servion Global Solutions, and Avaya (News - Alert) - successfully building and managing global channel and sales efforts. DeLozier is also a proud U.S. Navy Veteran, having served as a search and rescue diver on the USS Enterprise (CVN-69). "LiveVox's omnichannel approach, out-of-the-box solution, and AI capabilities for the contact center are truly a game changer - it's the most comprehensive, competitive solution in the market," said DeLozier. "I'm looking forward to working with the team to advance our channel distribution strategy, build our ecosystem of partners - and ultimately, drive critical business transformation and innovation across the industry." LiveVox's technology and blended omnichannel approach to digital engagement and customer service allows the Company to secure deals over its competitors. LiveVox's platform features unified data capabilities - bolstered by the recently announced version 15 - that allow customer data to be more easily accessed across different channels and the newly announced, AI-enabled LiveVox Bot. Combine that with the built-in CRM and pre-integrated WFO capabilities and LiveVox is able to provide an improved agent and customer experience, easier configuration, and reduced total cost of ownership. "Our technology provides a cloud-based engagement platform that significantly simplifies the integration of customer data, allowing contact center managers to implement new campaigns from a single platform and easily understand and tune performance accordingly," said Erik Fowler, EVP of Worldwide Sales at LiveVox. "We are excited to have Dan join to help lead our channel strategy. He is the first of many hires we plan to bring on as we aggressively grow our channel business. Dan's proven track record, sales leadership, and passion for our technology will be a great asset for LiveVox as we expand our partnerships and strategic alliances to meet the growing demand for our solutions." To learn more about LiveVox's channel program, click here. About LiveVox LiveVox, a portfolio company of Golden Gate Capital, is a leading cloud-based contact center platform. By seamlessly integrating omnichannel communications, customer relationship management (CRM), and workforce optimization (WFO), LiveVox delivers exceptional agent and customer experiences, while helping to reduce compliance risk. LiveVox's reliable, easy-to-use technology enables effetive engagement strategies on channels of choice to help drive contact center performance. Founded in 2000, LiveVox is headquartered in San Francisco with offices in Atlanta, Denver, St. Louis, Colombia, and Bangalore.



On January 14, 2021, LiveVox announced plans to merge with Crescent Acquisition Corp ("Crescent") to become a publicly traded company (the "Business Combination"). Consummation of the Business Combination is subject to customary closing conditions, including approval by Crescent's stockholders. About Crescent Acquisition Corp

Crescent is a special purpose acquisition company formed by Crescent Capital, Robert D. Beyer and Todd M. Purdy for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or assets. About Golden Gate Capital Golden Gate Capital is a San Francisco-based private equity investment firm with over $17 billion of committed capital. The principals of Golden Gate Capital have a long and successful history of investing across a wide range of industries and transaction types, including going-privates, corporate divestitures, and recapitalizations, as well as debt and public equity investments. Notable software and services investments sponsored by Golden Gate Capital include Infor, BMC, Neustar, Ensemble Health Partners, Vector Solutions, and 20-20 Technologies. IMPORTANT LEGAL INFORMATION Additional Information about the Proposed Transaction and Where to Find It This communication may be deemed solicitation material in respect of the proposed Business Combination between Crescent and LiveVox. The Business Combination will be submitted to the stockholders of Crescent and LiveVox for their approval. In connection with such stockholder vote, Crescent filed with the SEC (News - Alert) a proxy statement on Schedule 14A and mailed a definitive proxy statement to its stockholders in connection with Crescent's solicitation of proxies for the special meeting of the stockholders of Crescent to be held to approve the Business Combination. This communication does not contain all the information that should be considered concerning the proposed Business Combination and the other matters to be voted upon at the special meeting and is not intended to provide the basis for any investment decision or any other decision in respect of such matters. Crescent's stockholders and other interested parties are urged to read the proxy statement, the amendments thereto, the definitive proxy statement and any other relevant documents that are filed or furnished or will be filed or will be furnished with the SEC carefully and in their entirety in connection with Crescent's solicitation of proxies for the special meeting to be held to approve the Business Combination and other related matters, as these materials contain important information about LiveVox and Crescent and the proposed Business Combination. The definitive proxy statement is being mailed to the stockholders of Crescent as of the record date established for voting on the proposed Business Combination and the other matters to be voted upon at the special meeting. Such stockholders may also obtain copies of the proxy statement, without charge, at the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov, at Crescent's website at http://www.crescentspac.com or by directing a request to Crescent Acquisition Corp, 11100 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 2000, Los Angeles, CA (News - Alert) 90025. Forward-Looking Statements This communication contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements may be made directly in this communication. Some of the forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words. Statements that are not historical in nature, including the words "anticipate," "expect," "suggests," "plan," "believe," "intend," "estimates," "targets," "projects," "should," "could," "would," "may," "will," "forecast" and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are based upon management estimates and forecasts and reflect the views, assumptions, expectations, and opinions of Crescent or LiveVox, as the case may be, as of the date of this communication, and may include, without limitation, changes in general economic conditions, including as a result of COVID-19, all of which are accordingly subject to change. Any such estimates, assumptions, expectations, forecasts, views or opinions set forth in this communication constitute Crescent's or LiveVox's, as the case may be, judgments and should be regarded as indicative, preliminary and for illustrative purposes only. The forward-looking statements and projections contained in this communication are subject to a number of factors, risks and uncertainties, some of which are not currently known to Crescent or LiveVox, that may cause Crescent's or LiveVox's actual results, performance or financial condition to be materially different from the expectations of future results, performance of financial condition. Although such forward-looking statements have been made in good faith and are based on assumptions that Crescent or LiveVox, as the case may be, believe to be reasonable, there is no assurance that the expected results will be achieved. Crescent's and LiveVox's actual results may differ materially from the results discussed in forward-looking statements. Additional information on factors that may cause actual results and Crescent's performance to differ materially is included in Crescent's periodic reports filed with the SEC, including but not limited to Crescent's Amendment No. 1 to its Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020. Copies of Crescent's filings with the SEC are available publicly on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov or may be obtained by contacting Crescent. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof, and neither Crescent nor LiveVox undertake any obligations to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. No Offer or Solicitation This communication is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer or invitation for the sale or purchase of securities, assets or the business described herein or a commitment to Crescent or LiveVox with respect to any of the foregoing, and this filing shall not form the basis of any contract, nor is it a solicitation of any vote, consent, or approval in any jurisdiction pursuant to or in connection with the Business Combination or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law. Participants in Solicitation Crescent and LiveVox, and their respective directors and executive officers, may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies of Crescent's stockholders in respect of the Business Combination. Information about the directors and executive officers of Crescent and of LiveVox and more detailed information regarding the identity of all potential participants, and their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, are set forth in the proxy statement for the Business Combination. Additional information regarding the identity of all potential participants in the solicitation of proxies to Crescent's stockholders in connection with the proposed Business Combination and other matters to be voted upon at the special meeting, and their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, are included in the proxy statement that Crescent filed with the SEC. Investors may obtain such information by reading such proxy statement. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005295/en/

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[June 15, 2021] LogMeIn Redefines LastPass Business with New Adoption Tool and Families Account for Employees

BOSTON, June 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As organizations consider their long-term approach to work, whether full-time remote or a hybrid remote, securing access to company data and applications while maintaining employee productivity is crucial. When 80 percent of breaches are caused by weak and reused passwords, its important to ensure they are properly managed. IT admins need a straightforward solution to increase password hygiene, drive greater end user adoption and encourage employees to use strong passwords at home. LogMeIn, Inc., a leading provider of cloud-based solutions such as GoToConnect, GoToMeeting, and Rescue, today announced a redefined LastPass Business, designed to help ensure both employees and their families are practicing safe password behavior online, provide admin tools to increase employee adoption, and enable flexibility so that an organization can use the security tools they need, at their own pace.

Built on customer feedback, LastPass Business, formerly known as LastPass Enterprise, is designed to secure access in the modern hybrid workforce. With the rise of remote work resulting in an increase in cyberthreats, recent LastPass research found that 85 percent of businesses are prioritizing strong cybersecurity practices -- and that begins with oversight of every access point in the business. The LastPass Business password management experience now provides several new customer-driven enhancements with flexibility in mind, including: New Admin Console and Adoption Dashboard LastPass Business offers a new admin console that provides a more simplified onboarding and account management experience in one, easy-to-use tool. To further aid admins in driving end user adoption across their organization, the LastPass admin console now includes a new adoption dashboard. This provides admins with the insights and tools they need to re-engage users when and how appropriate to achieve greater enrollment and eliminate lengthy adoption challenges. These updates are available now to current and new LastPass Business customers. Families as a Benefit LastPass Business also now includes Families as a Benefit at no additional cost, which provides a premium LastPass account for every employees personal use and up to 5 accounts for those closest to them, to ensure that both their professional and personal lives are protected. With LastPass Families as a Benefit, organizations can encourage good password habits beyond the workplace by providing this security perk to their entire workforce and their families. Families as a Benefit is expected to be available to all LastPass Business customers beginning in July 2021. According to the LstPass 2020 Psychology of Passwords report, people protect their work accounts at a lower rate than their personal accounts and 66 percent use poor password practices, such as reusing the same password variations, in both places. With professional and personal lives merging at an unprecedented rate, it is crucial that employees practice safe password practices across all accounts.



Simplified Single Sign-On LastPass single sign-on (SSO) apps are now fully accessible to Business customers in the LastPass browser extension and password vault to simplify access to key applications. With SSO apps living side-by-side in the LastPass extension and vault, employees have a seamless login experience whether they're accessing a traditional web login or an SSO-enabled cloud app. In addition, admins can now add an SSO app in two simple steps to quickly deploy cloud applications to employees.

Flexibility with New Business Packages Responding to customer requests for more customizable business offerings, refreshed LastPass Business packages give LastPass customers the flexibility and freedom to pay for only the technology they need, while providing additional options to meet their evolving security requirements. Businesses of all sizes now have the option to start with a base business password management package that at no additional cost includes SSO for up to three cloud applications and multi-factor authentication (MFA) to secure the LastPass vault and SSO applications. As a companys security needs mature and a customer wants to expand their identity program beyond whats included in the base package, advanced functionality SSO and MFA add-on offerings are also now available. Customer feedback is at the core of these updates to our LastPass Business offering. Over the last year, we heard their need for better visibility into end user adoption; a desire to encourage good password habits beyond the workplace, especially as everyone spends more time online; and the requests not to be forced into technology theyre not ready for, said Dan DeMichele, VP of Product Management for LastPass. Were confident our customers will be happy to see this feedback come to life with our updated LastPass Business offering. LastPass Customer Quotes

"I like how the new LastPass package already includes SSO and MFA. It's nice to know that features are built-in to scale alongside our businessit allows us to try something new and expand."  Joshua Clark, Network Specialist, Columbia Public Schools The new LastPass Business packaging provides us with more options for future growth. Knowing that there's room to expand into other areas we want, include add-ons as needed, and stick with LogMeIn as a trusted and proven partner is incredibly beneficial."  Bryan Veal, Systems Engineer, Shasta County Office of Education "The new LastPass Business package is a gamechanger, especially Families as a Benefit. It's awesome because a lot of families have shared accounts, so being able to share a password with my wife or a family member is significant. Families as a Benefit makes it a lot easier for everyone to take advantage of the security features LastPass offers.  Travis Pate, Systems Admin at Washington State Employees Credit Union Pricing and Availability LastPass Business including Freemium SSO and MFA is available at $6 per user/month

The Advanced MFA add-on is $3 per user/month and Advanced SSO add-on is $2 per user/month. Bundle pricing for purchasing all three is available for $9 per user/month.

The new admin console, adoption dashboard and SSO updates are now available in the base LastPass Business package, with Families as a Benefit coming in July 2021.

Additional Resources LastPass Business Offerings

LastPass Blog About LastPass

LastPass is an award-winning password manager which has helped more than 25.6 million users organize and protect their online lives. For more than 70,000 businesses of all sizes, LastPass provides identity and access management solutions?that are easy?to?manage and effortless to use. From single sign-on and enterprise password management to adaptive multifactor authentication, LastPass for Business gives superior control to IT and frictionless access to users. For more information, visit https://lastpass.com . LastPass is a trademark of LogMeIn in the U.S. and other countries. About LogMeIn, Inc.

LogMeIn, Inc.s category-defining products, such as GoTo, LastPass, Rescue, LogMeIn Central and more, unlock the potential of the modern workforce by making it possible for millions of people and businesses around the globe to do their best work simply and securelyon any device, from any location and at any time. A pioneer in remote work technology and a driving force behind todays work-from-anywhere movement, LogMeIn has become one of the worlds largest SaaS companies with tens of millions of active users, more than 3,500 global employees, over $1.3 billion in annual revenue and approximately 2 million customers worldwide who use its software as an essential part of their daily lives. The company is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts with additional locations in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and thousands of home offices around the globe. Media contact:

Lauren Christopherson

press@lastpass.com



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[June 15, 2021] LTCG's Annual Cost of Care Report Reveals How the Global Pandemic and Other Industry Trends Impacted Long Term Care Costs

LTCG, the leading insurance administration and claims solution provider for long term care (LTC) insurance, has just released its 2020 Cost of Care report and analysis. Now in its eighth year, this study includes national, state and regional costs of various senior care services, spanning skilled nursing facilities, adult day care, home health care and assisted living facilities. LTCG's Cost of Care study gathers tens of thousands of data points from senior care providers nationwide, with results normalized by the company's in-house actuarial and data science teams. Insurers and financial services providers rely on this data for both forecasting and stakeholder education as well as informing customers and agents about national and regional cost variations. In addition, care providers benefit from understanding the market rates for services in their area. These insights are also accessible via LTCG's What Care Costs website, which offers interactive maps and projection tools to sort, rank and evaluate average costs of LTC services across the US. The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on senior care recipients and care providers. This year's data reflects a notable shift in claims from facilities to home-based care in 2020, which accelerated an existing preference by consumers to age at home. In the face of that trend, home care providers had to compete for scarce caregivers, while facilities battled higher costs amid lower occupancy. LTCG's study found that the average hourly rate for a home health aide in 2020 was $25.62, an increae of 3.9 percent over the prior year, and above the five-year annual growth trend of 3 percent per year. Meanwhile, the average per-visit rate for a registered nurse in 2020 was $146.86, an increase of 6.3 percent over the prior year, potentially reflecting increased demand for nurses during the pandemic.



The research also shows that facility prices were mixed. Average skilled nursing facility rates increased between 2.5 and 2.8 percent in 2020 depending on room type, which is consistent with their five-year compound annual growth rate. However, assisted living facility prices reversed a five-year growth trend of between 1.5 and 2.3 percent, falling between 0.4 and 1.8 percent versus 2019. The most expensive states for home health aides were Minnesota and Washington, whereas Georgia and Florida were the least expensive. Meanwhile, the most expensive nursing home rates were found in Connecticut and New Jersey, while the highest assisted living prices were found in New Jersey and Maine.

"We are proud to leverage our 25 years of experience in senior care to provide actionable data for insurers, consumers, providers and financial institutions," said Matt Capell, LTCG's Senior Vice President of Provider Solutions. "Whether delivering new financial products, managing risk, or planning for the future, our Cost of Care survey has proven to be valuable across many different channels of the industry." The study, interactive tool and data are available for use by insurers or financial services firms on a private-labeled basis. For more information regarding LTCG's Cost of Care Study, please contact Jessica Ferg at jessica.ferg@ltcg.com. About LTCG LTCG is the leading provider of administrative solutions and clinical services to the long term care (LTC) insurance industry, with over two decades of experience. As the largest LTC insurance third-party administrator and claims payer in the country, LTCG serves all of the top 10 insurers and manages over 1.4 million policies. The company addresses many types of customer needs and requirements via its full-service actuarial consulting practice and end-to-end administrative solution that includes policy administration, new business and underwriting, claims and care management, assessments and clinical consulting. LTCG has also developed a number of industry-first innovations including fraud detection and mitigation services, electronic visit verification, white-labeled policyholder portals and provider networks as well as fall prevention and wellness programs. Together, these solutions help insurers reduce costs and manage their risk exposure while improving the overall customer experience across every touchpoint. For more information, visit www.LTCG.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005147/en/

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[June 15, 2021] MDC Partners (MDCA) and The Harris Poll Present The Covid Consumer Confidence Report, A Canadian vs. American Perspective

NEW YORK, June 15, 2021 /CNW/ -- MDC Partners agencies Veritas, Union, 6Degrees and Meat & Produce, in collaboration with The Stagwell Group's The Harris Poll, today released the results of its Canadian consumer confidence report following a year of COVID-19. Following Canada's loosening of COVID-19 restrictions starting June 11, the new research provides brands and retailers with key consumer insights to drive business strategies serving a changed consumer base. "Despite easing COVID-19 restrictions across North America, business leaders should not expect a complete return to pre-pandemic consumer behaviors and preferences. Companies must be prepared to use data, technology and creativity to reach an eager but changed  consumer," said Mark Penn, Chairman of the Harris Poll and Chairman and CEO of MDC Partners. "COVID-19 has transformed the way Canadians consume, influence and transact, and they now have evolved and heightened expectations for brands." Among the insights from the study: THE ROARING 21'S: Two-thirds of Canadians (67%) and Americans (66%) whose finances were not adversely impacted by the pandemic say they were able to save more money during the pandemic than they otherwise would have.

Two-thirds of Canadians (67%) and Americans (66%) whose finances were not adversely impacted by the pandemic say they were able to save more money during the pandemic than they otherwise would have. CV-PTSD: 73% of consumers said "COVID will change the way we shop forever"

73% of consumers said "COVID will change the way we shop forever" THE BLENDERS: Post-COVID, consumers want a hybrid of digital + in-person, across every area of life  66% of Canadians said they want a hybrid shopping experience going forward.

Post-COVID, consumers want a hybrid of digital + in-person, across every area of life  66% of Canadians said they want a hybrid shopping experience going forward. TURBO-INJECTED INFLUENCERS: 43% of the general population is using a mix of new brands and brands they are familiar with, a change forced by pandemic shortages, and 66% of Canadians are relying on online reviews or social media for decision-making.

of the general population is using a mix of with, a change forced by pandemic shortages, and 66% of Canadians are relying on online reviews or social media for decision-making. REPUTATION REVIVED: Canadians see large companies as even more vital now  59% say companies were more reliable than the government in keeping the country running during COVID. "Consumers are recognizing and giving credit to those industries that pivoted quickly to support the public through various phases of lockdowns. Those brands that are able to pave a way to a post-pandemic era and support consumers in that journey will be successful in the coming year." said Erica Parker, Managing Director of The Harris Poll. The findings are based on a survey onducted online by The Harris Poll on behalf of MDC Partners between April 12-14, 2021, among 1,080 adults ages 18+ in Canada. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact Bora Caglayan (caglayan@veritasinc.com).



About The Harris Poll The Harris Poll is one of the longest-running surveys in the U.S., tracking public opinion, motivations and social sentiment since 1963. It is now part of Harris Insights & Analytics, a global consulting and market research firm that delivers social intelligence for transformational times. We work with clients in three primary areas: building 21st century corporate reputation, crafting brand strategy and performance tracking, and earning organic media through public relations research. Our mission is to provide insights and advisory to help leaders make the best decisions possible. Learn more by visiting www.harrispoll.com and follow Harris Poll on Twitter and LinkedIn.

About MDC Partners

MDC Partners is one of the most influential marketing and communications networks in the world. As "The Place Where Great Talent Lives," MDC Partners is celebrated for its innovative advertising, public relations, branding, digital, social and event marketing agency partners, which are responsible for some of the most memorable and effective campaigns for the world's most respected brands. By leveraging technology, data analytics, insights and strategic consulting solutions, MDC Partners drives creative excellence, business growth and measurable return on marketing investment for over 1,700 clients worldwide. For more information about MDC Partners and its partner firms, visit our website at mdc-partners.com , sign up for investor-related updates and alerts , and follow us on LinkedIn . CONTACT:

Bora Caglayan

Veritas Communications

caglayan@veritasinc.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mdc-partners-mdca-and-the-harris-poll-present-the-covid-consumer-confidence-report-a-canadian-vs-american-perspective-301312622.html SOURCE MDC Partners Inc.

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[June 15, 2021] Meet Lucy - National Health Care Associates' New Virtual Admissions Assistant

VALLEY STREAM, N.Y., June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- National Health Care Associates Inc. (NHCA) has partnered with FURTHER, a conversational website-based technology tool, to offer instant virtual assistance to residents and their families. The program kicked off in March and has shown such great success that NHCA took the platform to the next level and officially gave its virtual assistant a name and face. In a world driven by technology and the need for real-time assistance, meet Lucy. She's available to digital consumers 24/7 to offer instant answers and solutions via National Health Care Associate's affiliate centers' websites, which can be found at www.NHCA.com. Lucy connects with online customers, assesses their needs and hands off the information to the center's Director of Admissions to follow-up, saving customers time. "At National Health Care Associates, we strive to find innovative ways to offer the best service to our residents and their loved ones. Our industry is one where on-demand connection has become a necessity," said Christina Fleming, Chief Marketing Officer. "Lucy plays an important role in giving people the help and answers they need, when they need it. While she does not replace the relationshis and connections we pride ourselves on building with our residents, families and referral sources, Lucy helps us put our customers first by connecting with those seeking help online in real-time."



Virtual assistants are becoming more popular as people continue to depend on technology for answers. The platform through FURTHER offers 24/7 coverage, instant answers, easy website navigation, and the ability to schedule tours online. Here's an example of Lucy's fast-tracked assistance at NHCA affiliate Hebrew Center for Health & Rehabilitation in West Hartford, Connecticut. Over a weekend, the family member of a hospitalized loved one asked Lucy about rehabilitation options. Lucy gathered some information and then handed the message off to the Director of Admissions, who quickly connected with the family member to answer their questions, put them at ease and make arrangements for their loved one.

"With over 2 million conversations and counting, FURTHER allows loved ones to feel engaged the very moment they arrive on the website," said Thomas Bierlein, SVP of Senior Living, FURTHER. "Our Virtual Sales Assistants, like Lucy, provide family members with a familiar way to find the information they want, when they want it. We are excited to partner with National Health Care Associates to deliver exceptional experiences to their entire community of patients and loved ones." Need instant answers? Go to www.NHCA.com, choose your center and ask Lucy. She's happy to help! About National Health Care Associates: National Health Care Associates (NHCA), is a leading provider of long-term care and rehabilitation. NHCA operates a post-acute network of skilled nursing and assisted-living centers throughout the Northeast. Contact: Cathy Toscano at ctoscano@NHCA.com or 516-260-0516. Related Images national-health-care-associates.png

National Health Care Associates

Logo View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/meet-lucy---national-health-care-associates-new-virtual-admissions-assistant-301309142.html SOURCE National Health Care Associates

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[June 15, 2021] Nokia WING to enable worldwide IoT connectivity for HMD Global's enterprise data solution

Press Release Nokia WING to enable worldwide IoT connectivity for HMD Globals enterprise data solution Nokia Worldwide IoT Network Grid (WING) will provide seamless connectivity as a service for HMDs global enterprise data SIM management solution  HMD Connect Pro.

HMD Connect Pro allows companies to track connected assets in real-time, wherever they are, using a single platform for greater visibility, security and productivity.

HMD Global will use Nokia WINGs multi-operator IoT solution and technology agnostic cloud IoT core network as a service to ensure low latency connectivity. 15 June 2021 Espoo, Finland  Nokia today announced it will collaborate with HMD Global using Nokias Worldwide IoT Network Grid (WING) to enable seamless global IoT connectivity for HMDs IoT solution for enterprises. The collaboration will allow enterprise customers of the HMD Connect Pro service to track and manage connected devices around the world. HMD Connect Pro provides the essential connectivity to any devices allowing businesses to remotely monitor and manage their connected assets. Logistics companies, healthcare distributors, energy providers and any other industries can gain clear visibility of thousands of their mobile assets over a single management platform with the ability to activate or deactivate SIM cards remotely. Using the Nokia WING technology agnostic IoT Connectivity Enablement as a Service, HMD Global will be able to deliver seamless connectivity across the globe. The pre-integrated infrastructure will enable HMD Global to enter new markets with limited risk and complexity whilst being regulatory compliant. The HMD Connect Pro service will use multi-operator SIMs within enterprise devices to attach to the best available network, and transmit data using the nearest Nokia Core node. This will ensure the lowest latency connectivity for real-time monitoring and a consistent level of service. Enterprises will benefit from agile and secure operations, allowing them to adjust connectivity to their needs, stay in control of costs with transparent billing and nsure they are aligned with local regulations. The consistent service experience is guaranteed by the Nokia WING IoT Command Center which operates 24 hours, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.



Janne Lehtosalo, Vice President of Services, HMD Global, said: We are pleased to leverage Nokia WING connectivity for our HMD Connect Pro service. We know that businesses want to simplify the way they manage and connect their mobile assets. Using Nokia WING, we can quickly get our customers up and running by leveraging IoT in the most effective and cost-efficient way. Ankur Bhan, Head of Network Function as a Service at Nokia, said: Working with HMD Global we will provide a superior worldwide IoT network presence for a consistent level of customer support. The HMD Pro service will leverage an ever-growing connectivity ecosystem. Nokia WING provides a borderless connected world for IoT reducing complexity for enterprises and allowing them the highest level of control over their assets wherever they are.

Resources Webpage: Worldwide IoT network grid as a service (WING) About HMD Global

Headquartered in Espoo, Finland, HMD Global Oy (HMD) is the home of Nokia phones and HMD Services. HMDs mission is providing accessible connectivity for everyone. HMD designs and markets a range of smartphones and feature phones and an expanding portfolio of innovative service s. ?With an ongoing commitment to security, durability, reliability, and quality across its range, HMD is the proud exclusive licensee of the Nokia brand for phones, tablets and accessories. For further information, see?www.hmdglobal.com. Nokia is a registered trademark of Nokia Corporation. Android is a trademark of Google LLC. All specifications, features and other product information provided are subject to change without notice. Variations on offering may apply. Check local availability. About Nokia

We create technology that helps the world act together. As a trusted partner for critical networks, we are committed to innovation and technology leadership across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. We create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs. Adhering to the highest standards of integrity and security, we help build the capabilities needed for a more productive, sustainable and inclusive world. Media Inquiries:

Nokia

Communications

Phone: +358 10 448 4900

Email: press.services@nokia.com



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[June 15, 2021] OTC:ILUS, ILUS International (Ilustrato Pictures International Inc) Announces its Strategy for the US Market

NEW YORK, NY, June 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire -- ILUS International Inc (OTC: ILUS) is a M&A company focused on acquiring and developing technology-based companies globally. The company has already completed three acquisitions in 2021 and has also reached significant progress milestones during the second quarter. Now, with key members of the ILUS leadership team currently traveling throughout the USA, visiting various strategic locations and acquisition opportunities, the company has agreed and confirmed its rollout plans for its most important market.

ILUS technology is largely focussed at the Emergency Services and Fire Safety markets, where the USA spends more than any other country. The global Emergency Services market is currently valued at $117.2 billion per annum and is expected to grow to $156.1 billion per annum by 2025, at a CAGR of 5.9%. In addition to this sector, the global Fire and Rescue market size is currently $2.1 billion and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.79% through to 2027. In the developed economy of the USA, there is currently a significant focus on research and development with a high focus on innovative technology. With its innovative, patented and sustainable solutions, ILUS is targeting both the volume of the US market and the increased spend on research and development. In terms of illustrating the US market potential for ILUS, one of its acquisitions, FireBug, was on a run rate of $5 million per year in revenue in the UK alone prior to being acquired by ILUS. The UK houses only 45 fire and rescue authorities and a total of only 255 manned fire stations whilst the USA has 29,705 fire departments and 58,150 fire stations. There are approximately 1.2 million firefighters in the USA versus only 2,533 in the UK. The growth potential for FireBug in the USA alone is astronomical given that it has delivered $5 million per year in revenue in the much smaller UK market and the USA currently spends approximately $270 billion per year on preventing and fighting fire. This growth potential in the USA is for the fire and rescue services market only and does not account for the ILUS other acquisitions, namely The Vehicle Converters (TVC) and BCD Fire, which both hold significant growth potential through the sale of TVCs ambulances and innovative vehicle conversions as well as BCD Fires soon to be launched water-mist kitchen firefighting systems. In addition to the above, ILUS expects further exponential growth in the US market with the upcoming US launch of its ERaptor electric utility vehicle (E-UTV). With increased pedestrianisation taking place in major US cities and the shift towards sustainable energy solutions and electric vehicles, ILUS is poised to take advantage of this significant growth area with its ERaptor E-UTV. The ERaptor is manufactured by ILUS and is the worlds only 6-wheeled, all electric utility vehicle that can be used for various industrial or agricultural applications. ILUS intends to roll out the ERaptor in the USA through mainstream UTV distributors who have a large national footprint. Interest in ERaptor distribution has already been expressed by two large UTV distributors in the USA. ILUS is in the midst of plans to acquire a US factory from which it will manufacture its products fr the US market. The company is currently considering three locations for a manufacturing facility. One such location that is being seriously considered is Ocala in Florida. This location provides a number of benefits to ILUS in addition to the optimal logistics of its location. The potential site in Ocala is located near to global fire and rescue industry leaders such as E-One which is owned by Rev Group, Pyrolance and IDEX which owns Hale and Godiva. In addition to the US manufacturing facility, ILUS is expecting to open two distribution centres which will be located on East and West Coasts. The team has looked at and is considering potential facilities for this.



ILUS is planning to launch a new wildfire product range in the US, with this innovative product range also to be distributed by ILUS throughout Australia, Canada, South Africa, Portugal and Spain before stretching further afield to additional regions which have a high prevalence of wildfires. ILUS is currently in discussions with one of Europes leading wildfire equipment producers and hopes to acquire a major stake in their business. Furthermore, ILUS is currently working on two acquisitions in the US market which the company hopes to conclude and announce in due course. Recent discussions have proved positive and although ILUS has more than two acquisitions in the US on the table, we expect to announce news on two acquisitions in the near future.

In conclusion, ILUS CEO, Nick Link, commented with the following: We are currently making significant progress in the US and being on the ground here with senior team members has meant that we have covered more ground in the last couple of weeks than previously. We hope to have the majority of our plans for the US market rolled out during the back half of 2021 in order for it to have maximum effect on our 2022 results. We are also recruiting key staff in the US to assist with the execution of our US market strategy and I am pleased to say that we are definitely very well positioned to deliver extraordinary growth in the US. For further information on the companies please see their communication channels: Website: https://ilus-group.com Twitter : OTC_ILUS Contact: Email: IR@Ilus-Group.com Source: ILUS Related Links https://ilus-group.com Forward-LookingStatement Certain information set forth in this press release contains "forward-looking information", including "future-oriented financial information" and "financial outlook", under applicable securities laws (collectively referred to herein as forward-looking statements). Except for statements of historical fact, the information contained herein constitutes forward-looking statements and includes, but is not limited to, the (i) projected financial performance of the Company; (ii) completion of, and the use of proceeds from, the sale of the shares being offered hereunder; (iii) the expected development of the Company's business, projects, and joint ventures; (iv) execution of the Company's vision and growth strategy, including with respect to future M&A activity and global growth; (v) sources and availability of third-party financing for the Company's projects; (vi) completion of the Company's projects that are currently underway, in development or otherwise under consideration; (vi) renewal of the Company's current customer, supplier and other material agreements; and (vii) future liquidity, working capital, and capital requirements. Forward-looking statements are provided to allow potential investors the opportunity to understand management's beliefs and opinions in respect of the future so that they may use such beliefs and opinions as one factor in evaluating an investment. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and undue reliance should not be placed on them. Such forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual performance and financial results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future performance or result expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although forward-looking statements contained in this presentation are based upon what management of the Company believes are reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable securities laws. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") has provided guidance to issuers regarding the use of social media to disclose material non-public information. In this regard, investors and others should note that we announce material financial information via official Press Releases, in addition to SEC filings, press releases, Questions & Answers sessions, public conference calls and webcastsalso may take time from time to time. We use these channels as well as social media to communicate with the public about our company, our services and other issues. It is possible that the information we post on social media could be deemed to be material information. Therefore, in light of the SEC's guidance, we encourage investors, the media, and others interested in our company to review the information we post on the following social &media channels: website: https://ilus-group.com Twitter : OTC_ILUS Note: ILUS Coin does not sit within ILUS International Inc (Ilustrato Pictures International Inc) so the public are recommended to follow the correct Media Channels relating to the public company OTC: ILUS



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[June 15, 2021] Pacific Mortgage Group Appoints Alfonso Casciato to Lead Strategic Initiatives

TORONTO, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Pacific Mortgage Group Inc, the parent of Radius Financial, one of Canada's largest independent mortgage lenders, has named Alfonso Casciato as their Executive Vice President of Strategic initiatives. "I'm excited to welcome Alfonso to our leadership team," says Alex Haditaghi, Chairman and Founder of Pacific Mortgage Group and Radius Financial. "His decisive and results-oriented leadership and proven track record leading management teams will be invaluable in managing our continued accelerated growth." Casciato brings over 25 years of experience in the mortgage industry, including more than ten years with CIBC Mortgages, one of North America's biggest banks. He was also one of the co-founders of Street Capital Bank of Canada where he held several executive positions, most recently SVP, National Sales and formerly SVP, Credit. Casciato will assist Pacific Mortgage Group and its subsidiary companies, including Radius, in spearheading with strategic initiatives to further accelerate the company's fast growth, leading the market in fintech innovation. "I am excited to be joining Pacific's team," says Casciato "I have known Alex Hadtaghi and Ron Swift for many years, and I am extremely excited to have an opportunity to work directly with them. Pacific and Radius are working on some industry-driving initiatives, and I am thrilled to play a role in redefining the mortgage industry through digital transformation".



About Radius Financial As one of Canada's leading Mortgage Fintech Companies and an approved lender with the two biggest Canadian mortgage insurance companies (CMHC, SAGEN) allows Radius to offer insured and uninsured mortgage products through a very selective and qualified mortgage broker network, that meet a broad range of residential and commercial mortgage needs while providing our investors 100% risk free ROI. The company is focused on delivering products that meet the diverse and changing mortgage needs of North American mortgage market and is dedicated to shaping the customer experience.

For More Information Please Contact: Samantha Cavanagh-Gill

416.522.9000 sam@radiusfinancial.ca Related Images alfonso-casciato.jpg

Alfonso Casciato

Alfonso Casciato Joins Pacific Mortgage Group's Leadership Team View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pacific-mortgage-group-appoints-alfonso-casciato-to-lead-strategic-initiatives-301312229.html SOURCE Pacific Mortgage Group

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[June 15, 2021] PlanetWatch, a decentralized environmental monitoring pioneer, announces a major transatlantic partnership

SAINT-GENIS-POUILLY, France, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- PlanetWatch, a French company which decentralizes and incentivizes environmental monitoring by leveraging the Algorand blockchain, is announcing a strategic partnership with EMRIT, a US-based company which is building the new IoT wireless internet. EMRIT will fund the deployment of thousands of PlanetWatch-compliant air quality monitors, boosting the deployment of the PlanetWatch network across Europe, the USA and Asia. "We at Emrit are proud to partner with PlanetWatch and expand our IoT Blockchain footprint and create exciting earning opportunities for the community. Not only can you monitor the quality of the air in your environment, but you also earn rewards as well! This is a win-win for any owner of a PlanetWatch snsor." - Jiten Varu, CEO of EMRIT.



Claudio Parrinello, the CEO of PlanetWatch said: "Our partnership with EMRIT will deliver incredible synergies between two highly disruptive and forward-looking companies which both leverage advanced technologies and the engagement of local communities. We are enabling Smart City as a Service solutions and implementing a circular economy where citizens make their city smart and reap immediate benefits from their commitment. Anybody can become a PlanetWatcher and help us look after our planet!" PlanetWatch revolutionizes air quality monitoring by using the Algorand Blockchain, IoT sensors and AI data analysis, and incentivizing citizens to operate air quality sensors and earn token rewards for data streams. PlanetWatch can then deploy dense, real-time sensor networks and deliver hyperlocal, street-level, business-grade environmental data quickly and cost effectively.

PlanetWatch's current focus is on air pollution as it causes over 7 million deaths per year (source: WHO). Also, recent studies link long-term exposure to air pollution with an increase in mortality from COVID-19 infection, and a significant risk of infection via aerosol in indoor spaces, where air quality is a proxy for infection risks. PlanetWatch is strongly supported by high-profile partners such as Algorand, the Algorand Foundation and CERN, the leading physics research lab in the world, where the Web was born. PlanetWatch was naturally led to partner with Algorand which provides a highly scalable, decentralized and secure blockchain which is also one of the "greenest" around in terms of energy consumption. With regard to CERN, PlanetWatch is the only company in the blockchain ecosystem being an official "CERN Spin-off". PlanetWatch's network is growing very fast. It is fast approaching 1,000 connected sensors, mostly in Europe and the USA. Its utility token, PLANETS, has just been listed on Bitfinex. Claudio Parrinello CEO claudio.parrinello@planetwatch.io SOURCE Planetwatch sas

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[June 15, 2021] Reliq Health Technologies, Inc. Announces New Contract in Nigeria to Provide iUGO Care and iUGO Voice to Chronic Disease Patients

HAMILTON, Ontario, June 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reliq Health Technologies Inc. (TSXV:RHT or OTC:RQHTF or WKN:A2AJTB) (Reliq or the Company), a rapidly growing global telemedicine company that develops innovative Virtual Care solutions for the multi-billion dollar Healthcare market, today announced that it has signed a paying contract with a large regional clinic in Nigeria to provide its iUGO Care Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM), Chronic Care Management (CCM) and Behavioural Health Integration (BHI) modules and its iUGO Voice automated interactive voice recognition platform to their chronic disease patients.

Nigeria has a population of over 210 Million people, said Dr. Lisa Crossley, CEO of Reliq Health Technologies. Over 4 Million Nigerians have diabetes and over 8 Million have hypertension. Healthcare resources in Nigeria are strained, and access to healthcare personnel, clinics and hospitals is extremely limited in rural Nigeria in particular. The rate of preventable complications resulting from chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension is very high in this population, leading to poor health outcomes and reduced life expectancy. Working with Just Heart Help, a philanthropic organization founded by Baltimore, MD-based cardiologist Dr. Camellus Ezeugwu and Sirlyne Ezeugwu, Reliq will be able to deploy our iUGO Care and iUGO Voice solutions in Nigeria to help cost-effectively improve health outcomes and access to care for chronic disease patients. Our softwares multilingual capabilities and our track record of successful deployment in areas with very limited infrastructure and connectivity  such as Northern Ontario and rural Texas  Reliq is uniquely positioned to meet the needs of the rural and urban Nigerian population. We expect to start onboarding in July. Just Heart Help

Just Heart Help, Inc. was founded in 2004 by Dr. Camellus Ezeugwu and Sirlyne Ezeugwu. Just Heart Help is involved in projets in the US, Nigeria, Zambia and Haiti.



Dr. Ezeugwu is an Interventional Cardiologist and Assistant Professor of Medicine at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, the Medical Director at Just Heart Cardiovascular Group in Baltimore, MD and a member of Reliqs Medical Advisory Board. Reliq Health

Reliq Health Technologies is a rapidly growing global telemedicine company that specializes in developing innovative Virtual Care solutions for the multi-billion dollar Healthcare market. Reliqs powerful iUGO Care platform supports care coordination and community-based virtual healthcare. iUGO Care allows complex patients to receive high quality care at home, improving health outcomes, enhancing quality of life for patients and families and reducing the cost of care delivery. iUGO Care provides real-time access to remote patient monitoring data, allowing for timely interventions by the care team to prevent costly hospital readmissions and ER visits. Reliq Health Technologies trades on the TSX Venture under the symbol RHT, on the OTC as RQHTF and on the WKN as A2AJTB.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Dr. Lisa Crossley

CEO and Director For further information please contact: Company Contact

Investor Relations at ir@reliqhealth.com US Investor Relations Contact

Investor Relations

Lytham Partners, LLC

Ben Shamsian

New York | Phoenix

646-829-9701

shamsian@lythampartners.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward Looking Information Certain statements in this press release constitute forward-looking statements, within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements that are not historical facts, including without limitation, statements regarding future estimates, plans, programs, forecasts, projections, objectives, assumptions, expectations or beliefs of future performance, are "forward-looking statements". We caution you that such "forward-looking statements" involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual and future events to differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to commercial operations, including technology development, anticipated revenues, projected size of market, and other information that is based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. Reliq Health Technologies Inc. (the "Company") does not intend and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements except as required by law. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties relating to, among other things, technology development and marketing activities, the Company's historical experience with technology development, uninsured risks. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. SOURCE: Reliq Health Technologies Inc.



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[June 15, 2021] Scythe Robotics Emerges from Stealth With $18.6M in Funding to Transform Commercial Landscaping With Zero-Emission, Autonomous Mower

BOULDER, Colo., June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Scythe Robotics ("Scythe"), the creator of advanced, commercial-grade autonomous robotic solutions for the landscaping industry, today emerged from stealth with its first offering: an all-electric, fully autonomous mower, designed completely in-house to be the most advanced, reliable, and sustainable commercial-grade mower in the industry. Scythe Robotics Solution Addresses the $105B Industry's Biggest Pain Points: Labor, Pollution, Growth Scythe also announced its $13.8M in Series A funding led by Inspired Capital with participation from existing investors True Ventures, Zigg Capital, and Lemnos, bringing the company's total funding to $18.6M. The new investment will be used to grow the company's existing operations in Texas, Florida and Colorado, expand with new customers, and accelerate development of further products to revolutionize how commercial landscape contractors care for outdoor environments. Founded in 2018 by Jack Morrison, Isaac Roberts and Davis Foster, Scythe's launch comes at a pivotal moment for the $ 105B commercial landscaping industry, which has been plagued for years by painful labor shortages and hasn't seen substantial technological innovation in decades.



"Mowing sits at the center of a green industry labor crisis. In full-service landscape management companies, mowing operations account for up to 40 percent of labor utilization," explains Fred Haskett, veteran landscape industry consultant with The Harvest Group and Scythe advisor. "Scythe is a game-changer, delivering a tech-forward approach for landscape contractors to reimagine their operations and bridge critical labor shortages." Sustainable solutions that empower commercial landscape contractors to further curtail the release of fossil fuel and noise emissions have also been elusive. For instance, the air pollution from just one hour using a gas-powered mower is equivalent to driving a car over 100 miles.

"To date, commercial landscape contractors haven't had a technology partner who enables them to keep up with demand and to operate emissions-free. We are that partner," said Jack Morrison, Co-Founder and CEO of Scythe. "Our autonomous mower gives them the ability to grow their business, while staying green. It's designed from the ground up to be an order of magnitude more reliable, more productive, and safer than any existing machine by incorporating state of the art autonomy with a rugged, all-electric design." The Scythe autonomous mower is designed to keep crew productivity high while also increasing the quality of cut and worker safety. The machine features eight HDR cameras and a suite of other sensors that enable it to operate safely in dynamic environments by identifying and responding to the presence of humans, animals, and other potential obstacles. Simultaneously, the machine captures valuable property and mower performance data, which helps landscape contractors improve workflow, identify upsell opportunities, schedule more efficiently, and manage labor costs. Scythe's Robot as a Service (RaaS) model aligns Scythe with its customers: instead of buying machines outright, customers are billed by acres mowed. This massively reduces contractors' expenses and eliminates the cost of equipment maintenance and downtime. Ivan Giraldo, Co-Founder and President of Austin-based Clean Scapes, one of the largest landscape companies in North America, noted, "I have been actively looking for solutions that will support our frontline employees and increase the efficiency of our operations, and Scythe's product will do just that. I've been open with employees about the opportunity autonomous mowers will bring: to get them off the mowers and onto higher value landscaping work, enabling us to take on many new contracts." "Commercial landscape professionals do an incredible job of maintaining the world around us," said Lucy Deland, Partner at Inspired Capital. "We are thrilled to partner with Jack, Isaac, and Davissome of the brightest minds in roboticsas they work hand-in-hand with their customers to invent a future for landscaping that is more scalable and sustainable." About Scythe Robotics

Scythe Robotics provides the commercial landscaping industry with powerful commercial-grade, all-electric autonomous equipment solutions for maintaining outdoor environments. The company's first commercial mower has the most advanced autonomy technology on the market, bringing greater precision, sustainability and scale. Scythe Robotics is headquartered in Colorado and has raised $18.6M in funding from Inspired Capital, True Ventures, Zigg Capital, and Lemnos. Find out more at https://scytherobotics.com Contact: Emily Porro, eporro@makovsky.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/scythe-robotics-emerges-from-stealth-with-18-6m-in-funding-to-transform-commercial-landscaping-with-zero-emission-autonomous-mower-301312666.html SOURCE Scythe Robotics

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[June 15, 2021] SIMTICS and HOSA-Future Health Professionals Ready GenZ Youth for a Career in the Health Professions

The Olympics of youth in healthcare - HOSA Virtual International Leadership Conference - will be held June 23-26 and the competitive events will be powered by SIMTICS online interactive clinic simulation-based modules. HOSA-Future Health Professionals (HOSA) and SimTutor, the maker of SIMTICS modules, have formed a partnership to ensure these future healthcare professionals can accurately test their clinical skills following HOSA's rigorous guidelines established for its annual student-led conference. HOSA members will take part in the virtual competitive events using online simulation training modules. HOSA, with over 260,000 members worldwide, is the largest career and technical student organization that prepares middle schoolers through college-aged young adults to prepare for the health professions. Endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education, the student-led conference gathers the best of the best from its chartered associations established in nearly all 50 states and several countries to advance their understanding of healthcare and health science through education, collaboration and experience. A recent study by Tallo.com, a research organization, found that 33 percent of GenZ youth plan to consider a career in healthcare.



"SimTutor shares our mission to provide students with learning experiences far beyond the basic needs for entry into the health profession," said Jim Koeninger, Ph.D., HOSA Executive Director. "The rapidly changing healthcare system requires highly trained workers. SIMTICS simulation-based learning modules provide students with real-time feedback mimicking real-life situations which can be repeated to achieve mastery. For our competition, the real-time feedback is critical for student understanding, motivation and growth." During the pandemic, deploying SIMTICS modules enabled more than 500 educational institutions the ability to graduate their students with the training hours required for certification, ensuring their successful entry into the healthcare workforce.

"Education enablement is at the heart of our company," said Clancy Marshall, CEO of SimTutor. "Just like HOSA, we work with schools, instructors and students to ensure the online simulations create a near real-life experience that furthers student understanding and leads to better patient outcomes." The 16 clinical simulation modules cover important skills including administering injections, performing lab tests and following critical protocols during infectious disease situations. The competition portion will be completed on June 25 and event champions recognized at the Awards Sessions. HOSA's mission is to empower future health professionals to become leaders in the global health community, through education, collaboration, and experience. HOSA actively promotes career opportunities in the health industry and enhances the delivery of quality health care to all people. Since its inception in 1976, the Southlake, Texas-based organization has grown steadily, reaching over 260,000 members through 54 chartered HOSA Associations, including American Samoa, Canada, China, District of Columbia, South Korea, Puerto Rico and the United States. For more information, go to www.hosa.org. SimTutor's SIMTICS online simulation modules have been helping allied health and medical students through virtual learning since 2008 and are used by more than 500 education institutions throughout North America. SimTutor Inc., the maker of SIMTICS modules, creates engaging interactive training environments to prepare students and professionals for mission-critical moments at the time they need them most. SimTutor's comprehensive family of solutions is trusted by schools, colleges and corporations. For more information about the SIMTICS library of health care simulations, go to www.simtics.com or contact sales@simtutor.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005405/en/

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[June 15, 2021] Star Alliance, NEC and SITA Sign Teaming Agreement, Paving the Way to Expand Touchless Journeys Across Member Airlines

Frequent flyer program customers of Star Alliance member airlines will soon be able to use their biometric identity across any participating airline at any participating airport following a new agreement between the world's largest airline alliance, NEC (News - Alert) Corporation and SITA. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005287/en/ Watch executives from SITA, Star Alliance and NEC discuss the announcement of the partnership at the link provided, https://youtu.be/Yg8OLzM-raM (Photo: Business Wire) The agreement announced today is aimed at accelerating the availability of biometric self-service touchpoints across Star Alliance's member airlines while delivering a faster, touchless airport experience. Connecting to SITA's Smart Path solution, the Star Alliance Biometrics platform will be able to use SITA's shared airport infrastructure already available in more than 460 airports. Together with SITA and NEC's global presence, multiple biometric projects can be delivered in parallel, speeding up the availability of biometric passenger processing to Star Alliance's member airlines globally. This will be vital in enabling Star Alliance to deploy biometrics faster. A further advantage is the NEC I:Delight platform - which allows passengers who have opted to use the service to be identified quickly and with a high-degree of accuracy, even on the move - can be easily integrated with SITA Smart Path. The I:Delight platform is also able to recognize passengers even when wearing a mask, an increasingly important feature for travel during the current pandemic. The platform is already in use by Star Alliance member airlines at several airports in Europe. Uniquely, passengers using Star Alliance's Biometric platform enroll only once. Passengers then can pass through biometrically enabled touchpoints across multiple member airlines and participating airports using just their face as their boarding pass. This speeds up the passage through the airport while making the each step completely touchless, supporting important health and hygiene safety measures in times of COVID-19 and delivering on Star Alliances' vision of a seamless customer experience. Jeffrey Goh, CEO of Star Alliance, said: "This agreement is instrumental in bringing further scale to our biometrics service, with the inherent benefits of speed and meeting customer expectations for a more touchless and hygienically safer experience across all of our member airlines. Biometrics is a key element of that experience and our strategy of leading the way in digitalizing the passenger journey." Barbara Dalibard, CEO SITA, said: "Together with NEC, SITA is pleased to be supporting Star Alliance in bringing the full benefits of biometric identity to their member airlines. Passengers have long welcomed the advantages of control and speed automation brings to the passenger journey; a trend that has been accelerated by OVID-19. With this agreement the benefits of biometric identity will be extended from a single airline or journey to a vast network of airlines. That is truly unique and demonstrates the benefits digital identity can bring to the passenger."



Masakazu Yamashina, Executive Vice President, NEC Corporation, said: "NEC is honored to join this three party partnership with Star Alliance and SITA. While the impact of COVID-19 continues, we are pleased to lead the creation of seamless and touchless travel. NEC is committed to providing a safe and comfortable customer experience through our NEC I:Delight identity management solution." Watch the announcement of the partnership here

About SITA SITA is the IT provider for the air transport industry, delivering solutions for airlines, airports, aircraft and governments. Our technology powers more seamless, safe and sustainable air travel. Today, SITA's solutions drive operational efficiencies at more than 1,000 airports while delivering the promise of the connected aircraft to more than 400 customers on 18,000 aircraft globally. SITA also provides the technology solutions that help more than 60 governments strike the balance of secure borders and seamless travel. Our communications network connects every corner of the globe and bridges 60% of the air transport community's data exchange. SITA is 100% owned by the industry and driven by its needs. It is one of the most internationally diverse companies, with a presence in over 200 countries and territories. SITA's subsidiaries and joint ventures include SITAONAIR, branded SITA FOR AIRCRAFT, CHAMP Cargosystems and Aviareto. For further information, go to www.sita.aero About NEC NEC Corporation has established itself as a leader in the integration of IT and network technologies while promoting the brand statement of "Orchestrating a brighter world." NEC enables businesses and communities to adapt to rapid changes taking place in both society and the market as it provides for the social values of safety, security, fairness and efficiency to promote a more sustainable world where everyone has the chance to reach their full potential. For more information, visit NEC at https://www.nec.com. About Star Alliance The Star Alliance network was established in 1997 as the first truly global airline alliance, based on a customer value proposition of global reach, worldwide recognition and seamless service. Since inception, it has offered the largest and most comprehensive airline network, with a focus on improving customer experience across the Alliance journey. The member airlines are: Aegean Airlines, Air Canada, Air China, Air India, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, Avianca, Brussels Airlines, Copa Airlines, Croatia Airlines, EGYPTAIR, Ethiopian Airlines, EVA Air, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, SWISS, TAP Air Portugal, THAI, Turkish Airlines, and United. Overall, the Star Alliance network currently offers more than 12,000 daily flights to almost 1,300 airports in 197 countries. Further connecting flights are offered by Star Alliance Connecting Partners Juneyao Airlines and THAI Smile Airways. Visit our homepage or connect to us on social media: https://twitter.com/staralliance https://www.facebook.com/staralliance https://instagram.com/staralliance/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/staralliance https://www.youtube.com/user/staralliancenetwork View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005287/en/

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[June 15, 2021] Startups from 21 Countries Showcase Deep Tech Innovations at #InnoVEXVirtual

Startups are the key to technology development, and they are the driver for industry transformations and evolutions. In COMPUTEX 2021 Virtual, the event organizer, TAITRA, has dedicated a special hall for #InnoVEXVirtual. With 81 startups from 21 countries, TAITRA aims to empower these startups by bridging the network and business opportunities with them and the global technology ecosystem through the digital platform. Sparking creativity with global disruptors Since its first establishment in 2016, InnoVEX, the exhibit dedicated to startups at COMPUTEX, has successively hosted National Pavilions from France, Korea and the Netherland. The National Pavilions have become one of the exhibition highlights to the visitors, venture capitalists and media. This year, La French Tech Pavilion, organized by Business France, gathers 5 teams to showcase tech strength and diversity from France in the fields including Quantum (News - Alert) Computing as a Service, Organic Photovoltaic, Wireless Charging, Processing-In-Memory and Home Tech Appliances. Starting with daily life applications, the Korea Pavilion, organized by KOTRA, demonstrates careful observation and innovations on Pet Healthcare Monitoring System, All-in-One Educational Robots and Skin Detection and Analysis. In addition, there are two AI startups to improve speech recognition accuracy and indoor auto-mapping. The Netherlands, which considers InnoVEX as its national key strategic platform, returns with a team to showcase technologies including Substitutional Reality (SR) Display, 3D Printed Lenses, Time Machine Camera, Employee Training Software, Quantum Computing Accelerator and Framework, and Mail Security. First-time participant EBRD leads a 8-country delegation of 18 exhibitors from Eastern Europe, North Africa, and Central Asia. The EBRD Pavilion features industry disruptors in Blockchain, Cybersecurity, Video Analytics, Security Robots and Automation Solutions, exploring the infinite possibilities of diverse applications. Taiwan shines as the premier base for global startups to grow business As for local startups in Taiwan, the TAcc+ Pavilion focuses on rising stars in AIoT and healthcare. #InnoVEXVirtual provides a stage for global startups looking for ways to enter the Asian market. Connecting with leading manufacturers and complete healthcare system in Taiwan, startups have a chance to scale internationally.



The TYC Startup Pavilion, co-organized by the Department of Youth Affairs of City Government of Taoyuan and Chung Yuan Christian University, has selected a total of 20 teams in the fields of AI Analytics, Smart Manufacturing, Environmental Testing, VR Applications, Computer Programming, Green Energy, and IoT, to represent innovation energy in Taiwan, including TYCommander, Andong Youth Start-up Hub, HsinMing Youth Hub, and innovation incubation centers in local colleges. Global success stories shared at InnoVEX Forum

TAITRA holds the first-ever "Taiwan-Israel Innovation Summit" and invites speakers from Taiwan and Israel to share their experiences and give insights into significant bilateral opportunities through the 2021 InnoVEX Forum. Also, key players and startups in Vietnam and Taiwan will discuss the startup scene and how to realize business potentials through strategic alliances. #InnoVEXVirtual is now open. Register for free: https://virtual.computextaipei.com.tw/index

For more forum information, please visit: https://virtual.computextaipei.com.tw/events/ For more information:

https://www.computextaipei.com.tw/zh-tw/index.html

https://www.innovex.com.tw/ For more information:

COMPUTEX : https://www.computextaipei.com.tw/

InnoVEX : https://www.innovex.com.tw/ About COMPUTEX Established in 1981, COMPUTEX is one of the leading global ICT, IoT, and startup tradeshows with a complete supply chain and IoT ecosystems. Co-organized by the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) and Taipei Computer Association (TCA), COMPUTEX, based upon Taiwan's complete ICT clusters, covers the whole spectrum of the ICT industry, from established brands to startups and from ICT supply chain to IoT ecosystems. With strong R&D and manufacturing capabilities and IPR protection, Taiwan is a strategic destination for foreign companies and investors looking for partners in global technology ecosystems. Follow COMPUTEX on its website at www.computextaipei.com.tw and Twitter (News - Alert) @computex_taipei using the hashtag #COMPUTEX. About COMPUTEX 2021 Virtual As a pioneer in technology, COMPUTEX has been at the forefront in embracing digital transformation. In 2021, the show will go online. Together with the key global technology players, the organizer of COMPUTEX,Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) introduces #COMPUTEXVirtual (including its global startups and innovations showcase #InnovexVirtual), an AI-driven virtual platform, and aims to deliver an exceptional virtual exhibition experience beyond the distance. Explore #COMPUTEXVirtual now at https://virtual.computextaipei.com.tw/. About TAITRA Founded in 1970, TAITRA is Taiwan's foremost nonprofit trade promoting organization. Sponsored by the government and industry organizations, TAITRA assists enterprises to expand their global reach. Headquartered in Taipei, TAITRA has a team of 1,300 specialists and operates 5 local offices in Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Taichung, Tainan and Kaohsiung, as well as 63 branches worldwide. Together with Taipei World Trade Center (TWTC) and Taiwan Trade Center (TTC), TAITRA has formed a global network dedicated to promoting world trade. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005525/en/

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[June 15, 2021]

Steam Boiler Market to Garner $20.0 Bn, Globally, by 2027 at 3.3% CAGR: Allied Market Research

Increase in demand for steam boilers from several end-use industries and surge in investment toward adding power generation capacity have boosted the growth of the global steam boiler market.

PORTLAND, Ore., June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research recently published a report, titled, "Steam Boiler Market by Type (Water Tube Boiler and Fire Tube Boiler), Fuel Type (Coal Fired, Oil Fired, Gas Fired, and Others), Pressure (Low Pressure and High Pressure), and End-Use Industry (Power Generation, Oil & Gas, Chemical, and Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20202027". As per the report, the global steam boiler industry was accounted for $15.6 billion in 2019, and is projected to reach $20.0 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 3.3% from 2020 to 2027.

Drivers, restraints, and opportunities

Increase in demand for steam boilers from several end-use industries and surge in investment toward adding power generation capacity have boosted the growth of the global steam boiler market. However, implementation of strict government regulations toward environmental pollution and high initial cost and development in the renewable energy sector hinder the market growth. On the contrary, advancements in technology and upgradation of aging power generation infrastructure are expected to open lucrative opportunities for the market players in the future.

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Covid-19 scenario:

The Covid-19 pandemic and followed lockdown resulted in temporary ban on import & export and hampered the manufacturing & processing activities across various industries. This reduced the demand for electricity from end-user industries.

However, the demand for steam boilers is expected to rise as the need for electricity has increased in the first quarter of 2021 from individual and commercial customers.

The gas fired segment to manifest the highest CAGR through 2027

By fuel type, the gas fired segment is estimated to register the highest CAGR of 3.6% during the forecast period, due to rise in awareness and stringent government regulations towards low emission fuels. However, the coal fired segment held the lion's share in 2019, accounting for nearly two-thirds of the global steam boiler market, owing to rise in demand for coal fired steam boilers from the various end-use industries including power, food processing, cement, sugar, and steel.

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The chemical segment held the largest share

By end-use industry, the chemical segment dominated in 2019, holding nearly half of the global steam boiler market, due to rise in demand for steam boilers from the chemical processing applications ranging from heating fluids to driving equipment. However, the power generation segment is expected to portray the highest CAGR of 3.5% during the forecast period, owing to increase in electricity demand from the various customers ranging from individual residential customers to industrial customers across the globe.

North America dominated the market

By region, the maket across North America held the largest share in 2019, contributing to more than one-third of the market, due to increase in demand for steam boilers from large-scale industries such as mining, power, healthcare, commercial, manufacturing, and data centers. However, the global steam boiler market across Asia-Pacific is projected the highest CAGR of 3.6% during the forecast period, owing to large number of key players and availability of the manufacturing facilities in these countries.







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Major market players

General Electric

IHI Corporation

Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises, Inc.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.

Forbes Marshall

Alfa Laval AB

Viessmann Limited

Hurst Boiler & Welding, Inc.

Thyssenkrup

Thermax Limited.

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[June 15, 2021] Tasker Payment Gateways LLC Releases E-Commerce Guide For Selling Both CBD and Smoke Shop Items

SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Tasker Payment Gateways LLC, accredited and A+ Rated by the BBB, has just released an updated guide for online sellers who are looking to accept credit cards online for both CBD items and smoke shop items, such as pipes and glass, on the same website. The guide details some of the different requirements involved in selling these two types of items and provides some general considerations for high-risk e-commerce. According to Matt Tasker, of Tasker Payment Gateways LLC, this guide is especially relevant now that the CBD market is expanding: "We have seen more states in the US loosen regulations in the past few years and many others have introduced legislation with that intent, and that means there are a lot more people who will now take advantage of the opportunity to buy legal CBD products and smoke shop items like pipes and glassware online. Also, banking access on a national level has opened up. If anyone has been thinking about selling CBD or smoking accessories online, now is a great time to do it." Tasker Payment Gateways LLC has spent nearly two decades helping online merchants accept credit cards for their high-risk products. One such "high-risk" category includes traditional head shop items like pipes, glassware, bongs, etc. Online merchants selling products from regulated industries usually find that their products run afoul of the prohibited products list for most of the popular online payment gatewas such as PayPal and Stripe. By using a payment gateway and merchant account that are both high-risk-friendly, merchants can avoid getting their accounts shut down.



For many e-commerce merchants who have some experience selling smoke shop items, expanding into CBD products makes sense. They already have a high-risk-friendly merchant account and payment gateway set up, as well as a website, and may expect some overlap in customers as well. However, says Matt Tasker, "One important fact that this new guide points out is that not all high-risk-friendly payment solutions are one-size-fits-all. For example, some may allow items like grinders and bongs but not CBD items. Therefore, merchants need to have a payment gateway and merchant account suitable for all of the specific types of high-risk products they are selling, and Tasker Payment Gateways LLC can help make sure that that's the case. Another potential hurdle the guide covers is that CBD items have specific sales requirements, such as COAs, that are not necessary for pipes and glass." On the other hand, some merchants who have been selling CBD items online may want to expand as well, to include smoke shop items in their store, and the Tasker Payment Gateways LLC CBD and smoke shop e-commerce guide discusses some considerations to help merchants stay within regulations when wording their marketing materials. Tasker Payment Gateways LLC can help with high-risk online store expansions like these, providing free, friendly advice about selling in both of these high-risk industries.

The guide also includes links to other valuable guides that Tasker Payment Gateways LLC has produced to help merchants sell high-risk products using specific site builders or payment solutions. In addition, merchants can find helpful tips for usage and integrations for Squarespace, Wix, WooCommerce, Shopify, and more. Whether a merchant is an experienced online seller or is just beginning an online store for CBD, pipes, glassware, and more, Tasker Payment Gateways LLC's guide is sure to be an essential resource in helping e-commerce site owners sell multiple types of high-risk products on one website and payment gateway. Says Matt Tasker, "Once you're already set up to sell high-risk products, adding another high-risk product type can be easier than getting started in the first place. We are here to help you make sure your payment solutions are the right ones for all of the products you're selling, and we will be here to support business every step of the way." Contact Tasker Payment Gateway LLC with any questions about the process of accepting credit cards online for high-risk products. You can read Tasker Payment Gateways LLC's 2021 guide to selling both CBD and smoke shop items, for free, on their website: https://taskerpaymentgateways.com/process-cbd-and-glass-pipes-payments-on-one-payment-gateway/ Contact:

Matt Tasker

207-772-8737

312128@email4pr.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tasker-payment-gateways-llc-releases-e-commerce-guide-for-selling-both-cbd-and-smoke-shop-items-301312349.html SOURCE Tasker Payment Gateways LLC

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[June 15, 2021] Turbulent Flux Announces Collaboration With Sumitomo Australia Pty Ltd

Turbulent Flux, a Software-as-a-Service flow simulation company, today announced an exclusive agency agreement with Sumitomo Australia Pty Ltd ("Sumitomo Australia"). Under this agreement, Sumitomo Australia will act as Turbulent Flux's sales agent for FLUX Solutions in Australia and New Zealand to provide regional oil and gas operators with accurate and efficient flow insights into wells and pipelines. The portfolio of Turbulent Flux's proprietary software products range from virtual flow metering and pipeline monitoring, to advisers assessing flow instabilities and depositions. "Sumitomo has a keen interest in sustainable operations and environmental code of conduct. With software-driven services like those from Turbulent Flux, we have found an excellent Norwegian partner that commits to the digital transition of optimising oil and gas production lines whilst reducing financial and environmental implications," said Siddharth Setia, Trade & Digitalisation Lead at Sumitomo Australia. Turbulent Flux's real-time, cloud-native software solutions are based on a unique hybrid modeling approach combining predictive capabilities of physical models with machine learning models that assist and self-adjust data over time. This assures an unprecedented level of accuracy and accessibility in the market. "The access to quality flow rate predictions and real-time insights, is the basis for effective production optimisation. We are excited to work with Sumitomo Australia and support the Oceanian E&P companis in their operational challenges whilst creating effective dialogues and lasting relationships going forward," said Halvard Ellingsen, CEO at Turbulent Flux.



Both companies are committed to developing and handling innovative solutions that address the needs of the global energy industry within an era of transition. Common themes include reducing operators' flaring and chemical injection needs, as well as hydrogen and CO2 transportation. The collaboration between Turbulent Flux and Sumitomo Australia supports the wider scaling of Turbulent Flux's software services within the Australian and New Zealand markets. Beginning immediately, Sumitomo Australia will represent Turbulent Flux in Australia and New Zealand, with a first representation set during this year's APPEA Conference.

About Sumitomo Australia Sumitomo Australia Pty Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sumitomo Corporation, one of Japan's leading global integrated trading and investment business enterprises. Since its establishment in the Oceania region in 1961, Sumitomo Australia trades in a wide range of products, provides integrated supply chain management services, and engages in investment and business development across various industries. With its accumulated knowledge and experience in the local market and Sumitomo Corporation's strong global presence and diverse portfolio, Sumitomo Australia seeks to drive new business opportunities and bring innovation to society. https://www.sumitomocorp.com/en/asia-oceania/sapl About Turbulent Flux Turbulent Flux provides real-time simulation software for flow insights for the oil & gas industry. Simulations undertaken are based on a hybrid model combining the predictive capabilities of physical models with the speed and self-correcting abilities of data analytics. We are a trusted software provider to clients around the world. www.turbulentflux.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005075/en/

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[June 15, 2021] Unifrax Announces SiFAB Manufacturing Line

Unifrax, a Buffalo, New York headquartered global manufacturer of high-performance specialty materials, announced plans today to build its first large-scale SiFAB (silicon fiber anode material) manufacturing line at its north central Indiana facility that could add up to 74 new jobs by the end of 2023. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005391/en/ SiFAB is a proprietary silicon anode battery technology which enables significantly greater energy density in lithium-ion battery systems than prevailing technologies. SiFAB is currently in advanced testing and has shown promising performance in multiple battery systems. The anode technology has successfully been tested with incremental Si loadings of greater than 40%. Along with greater energy density, SiFAB is expected to provide faster charges and longer battery life for applications including electric vehicles, portable electronics, power tools, energy grid storage and aerospace. Unifrax is uniquely positioned to meet customer demand and develop SiFAB at scale, due to its existing manufacturing plant and infrastructure in New Carlisle. The Indiana plant will be the first to begin building SiFAB long-term manufacturing capacity. The new line is slated to create up to 20 new jobs by the end 2022, with additional growth anticipated by the end of 2023. Unifrax will have more information on open positions later this year on its website. "SiFAB is the latest development using fiber-based technology to create step change value for customers. This transformational material represents another addition to our robust electric vehicle and battery solutions portfolio," said John Dandolph, president and CEO, Unifrax. "Unifrax is a large, global manufacturing company introducing game changing advanced silicon anode materials that can be used in existing manufacturing processes. Our track record and proven ability to develop new and unique technologies will help transform the battery industry with SiFAB. The ability to leverage our existing facility and add new infrastructure to support SiFAB manufacturing in New Carlisle will significantly accelerate the timeline for supplying this critical material to our partners. We are appreciative of the ongoing partnership between the state of Indiana and St. Joseph County as we leverage the footprint of our existing facility to bring new jobs and opportunities to the region." "We designed SiFAB from its inception to be manufactured at large scale so that we could supply all market segments (EV's, consumer electronics, power tools, and renewable storage), utilize our existing global manufacturing footprint, and deliver a product that has a high degree of quality and consistency," said Chad Cannan, senior vice president of research and development, Unifrax. The Indiana Economic Development Coporation offered Unifrax up to $1.1 million in conditional tax credits based on the company's job creation plans. These tax credits are performance-based, meaning the company is eligible to claim incentives once Hoosiers are hired. St. Joseph County has also confirmed $775K in county tax incentives.



"Indiana is a leader in manufacturing, with the highest concentration of manufacturing jobs in the nation supported by 9,000 facilities across the state," said Jim Staton, interim secretary of commerce for the state of Indiana. "As new trends and technologies change the state of today's manufacturing industry, Indiana is focused on partnering with forward-thinking companies like Unifrax to propel long-term growth in manufacturing and create quality career opportunities for Hoosiers." St. Joseph County Commissioner Andrew Kostielney also added, "The recent announcement by Unifrax is exciting news, not just for St. Joseph County, but for the entire region. Unifrax has long been an important manufacturing leader in the area, and this expansion indicates their commitment to our county for decades to come. Their new SiFAB line will not just create new jobs, it will also showcase the importance of green, sustainable technology."

After more than 75 years of experience in fiber-based technology and manufacturing, Unifrax is taking its first step into developing silicon fiber for the lithium-ion battery manufacturing market. With a decades-long track record of developing and supplying engineered inorganic materials at a large scale to advanced industries worldwide including electric vehicles, aerospace and chemical processing, Unifrax recently debuted two new fiber-based catalysis offerings for the automotive and industrial markets - Eco-lytic and FlexCat. To learn more about SiFAB, and to request a sample, Unifrax launched a new website introducing SiFAB with technical, manufacturing and application specific information. The new website can be found at sifab.com. About Unifrax Unifrax develops and manufactures high performance specialty materials used in advanced applications including high-temperature industrial insulation, electric vehicles, energy storage, filtration, and fire protection, among many others. Unifrax products are designed with the ultimate goal of saving energy, reducing pollution, and improving safety for people, buildings and equipment by delivering on our commitment to our customers of greener, cleaner, safer solutions for their application challenges. Unifrax has 37 manufacturing facilities operating in 12 countries and employs 2,700+ employees globally. More information is available at www.unifrax.com. For updates, follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. About Clearlake Clearlake Capital Group, L.P. is a leading investment firm founded in 2006 operating integrated businesses across private equity, credit and other related strategies. With a sector-focused approach, the firm seeks to partner with experienced management teams by providing patient, long-term capital to dynamic businesses that can benefit from Clearlake's operational improvement approach, O.P.S. The firm's core target sectors are industrials, technology and consumer. Clearlake currently has approximately $39 billion of assets under management, and its senior investment principals have led or co-led over 300 investments. The firm has offices in Santa Monica and Dallas. More information is available at www.clearlake.com and on Twitter (News - Alert) @ClearlakeCap. About IEDC The Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) leads the state of Indiana's economic development efforts, helping businesses launch, grow and locate in the state. Governed by a 15-member board chaired by Governor Eric J. Holcomb, the IEDC manages many initiatives, including performance-based tax credits, workforce training grants, innovation and entrepreneurship resources, public infrastructure assistance, and talent attraction and retention efforts. For more information about the IEDC, visit www.iedc.in.gov. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005391/en/

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[June 15, 2021] Unit21 Awarded as Technology Pioneer by World Economic Forum

Unit21, the San Francisco based company that is building no-code enterprise tools to fight financial crime, was selected among hundreds of candidates as one of the World Economic Forum's "Technology Pioneers". The World Economic Forum's Technology Pioneers are early to growth-stage companies from around the world that are involved in the use of new technologies and innovation that are poised to have a significant impact on business and society. With their selection as Technology Pioneer, CEO Trisha Kothari of Unit21 will be invited to participate at World Economic Forum activities, events and discussions throughout the year. Unit 21 will also contribute to Forum initiatives over the next two years, working with global leaders to help address key industry and societal issues. "We're excited to welcome Unit21 to our 2021 cohort of Technology Pioneers," says Susan Nesbitt, Head of the Global Innovators Community, World Economic Forum. "Unit21 and its fellow pioneers are developing technologies that can help society solve some of its most pressing issues. We look forward to their contribution to the World Economic Forum in its commitment to improving the state of the world." "Beyond the acknowledgement as a pioneer by the World Economic Forum, we're able to contribute as a stakeholder across artificial intelligence, digital identity, and financial and monetary systems," said Unit21's CEO, Trisha Kothari. "We are approaching the problem of a dire lack of computer science talent - by lowering the technical barriers it takes to solve complicated operational, data, workflow, and detection problems. We believe that this will be the key to empowering the next decade of companies that should no longer have to bank their success on hiring the best engineers to build operations tooling internally," said Unit21's CTO Clarence Chio. Unit21 ooks forward to contributing to the Forum dialogues on these challenges.



For the first time in the community's history, over 30% of the cohort are led by women. The firms also come from regions all around the world, extending their community far beyond Silicon Valley. This year's cohort includes start-ups from 26 countries, with UAE, El Salvador, Ethiopia and Zimbabwe represented for the first time. The diversity of these companies extends to their innovations as well. 2021 Tech Pioneer firms are shaping the future by advancing technologies such as AI, IoT, robotics, blockchain, biotechnology and many more. The full list of Technology Pioneers can be found here.

Technology Pioneers have been selected based on the community's selection criteria, which includes innovation, impact and leadership as well as the company's relevance with the World Economic Forum's Platforms. All info on this year's Technology Pioneers can be found here: http://wef.ch/techpioneers21

More information on past winners, information on the community and the application link can be found here. About Unit21:

Founded in 2018 and based in San Francisco, Unit21 helps protect businesses against adversaries through a simple API and dashboard for detecting and managing money laundering, fraud, and other sophisticated risks across multiple industries. For more information, visit: https://www.unit21.ai/ About World Economic Forum:

The World Economic Forum, committed to improving the state of the world, is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. (www.weforum.org) About the Technology Pioneers:

The World Economic Forum believes that innovation is critical to the future well-being of society and to driving economic growth. Launched in 2000, the Technology Pioneer community is composed of early to growth-stage companies from around the world that are involved in the design, development and deployment of new technologies and innovations, and are poised to have a significant impact on business and society. The World Economic Forum provides the Technology Pioneers community with a platform to engage with the public- and private-sector leaders and to contribute new solutions to overcome the current crisis and build future resiliency. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005349/en/

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[June 15, 2021] Verizon Frontline deployed to support National Guard training exercise

Verizon Frontline network and technology will provide mission-critical communication capabilities during simulated disaster response operations

The Verizon Response Team (VRT) provides on-demand, emergency assistance during crisis situations to government agencies, emergency responders, nonprofits and communities on a 24/7/365 basis.

PATRIOT is an annual exercise bringing together National Guard soldiers and airmen, civilian emergency management personnel and industry partners like Verizon Public Sector to practice incident response operations based on simulated emergency scenarios. VOLK FIELD, Wis., June 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Verizon Frontline technologies were deployed today by the Verizon Response Team (VRT) in support of PATRIOT 21, a week-long training exercise sponsored by the National Guard Bureau (NGB) at Volk Field Combat Readiness Training Center and the Fort McCoy Total Force Training Center, Wisconsin.

The annual exercise brings National Guard soldiers and airmen, civilian emergency management personnel, first responders, and industry partners like Verizon Public Sector together to practice incident response operations based on simulated emergency scenarios. The goal of the exercise is to prepare civilian and military organizations to work together as they would during an actual disaster.

Utilizing the more than 100 Verizon Frontline tehnologies on-hand, including a Verizon Response Satellite Pico-cell on a Trailer (SPOT), advanced antenna technologies, and several manually aimed satellites, the VRT will establish and support mission-critical communication capabilities for first responders and National Guard personnel during a series of simulated crisis events to include an earthquake and a mass casualty event.





After responding to more than 2,000 incidents nationwide in 2020, the VRT brings a depth of experience and disaster response expertise to the training exercise, where they will work alongside nearly 1,000 civilian and military personnel from more than 20 states as well as a number of public safety professionals.



The VRTs support of PATRIOT 21, at the invitation of the National Guard, is a continuation of Verizon Public Sectors commitment to working alongside our partners in defense, public safety and government.

Verizon Frontline ( www.verizon.com/frontline ) is the advanced network and technology built for first responders  developed over nearly three decades of partnership with public safety officials and agencies  to meet their unique needs. From network priority and preemption and a commitment to real interoperability, to developing and delivering the most innovative product roadmap, Verizon Frontline is built on Americas most reliable 4G LTE network, and will be able to harness the transformative power of 5G.

VRT provides on-demand, emergency assistance during crisis situations to government agencies, emergency responders, nonprofits and communities on a 24/7/365 basis. VRT members set up portable cell sites, WiFi hotspots, free charging stations and other devices and solutions that enable communications and/or boost network performance. Media contact:

Eric Durie

eric.durie@verizon.com

(516) 382-8219



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[June 15, 2021] Veryable Graduates from Tech Alpharetta

Tech Alpharetta, the nonprofit organization helping the City of Alpharetta to lead in innovation, announces the newest graduate from its Innovation Center, Veryable. Veryable (www.veryableops.com) becomes the 17th graduate from Tech Alpharetta's startup incubator, which opened in the City of Alpharetta in 2015, and the 3rd graduate this year. Veryable is the on-demand marketplace for manufacturing, logistics and warehousing labor. Their flexible labor solutin connects businesses with high quality workers at the click of a button, enabling higher productivity and a competitive edge. Veryable joined Tech Alpharetta's incubator in October 2018.



The company has grown from one to 11 employees during its time at Tech Alpharetta's startup incubator, and has now moved into commercial office space in the City of Alpharetta, where it will continue to expand its team. "The connections, support and resources that we've received as members of Tech Alpharetta's startup incubator have been tremendous, and it was the perfect place for us to grow," states Veryable VP of Operations Daniel Lubosco. "We look forward to continuing to scale up in our new office space in the City of Alpharetta."

Tech Alpharetta's Innovation Center is a thriving tech startup incubator in Alpharetta that provides education, mentoring and other resources to its startup members to help them to grow and succeed. "We're genuinely thrilled for Daniel and his team, and we look forward to their continued success," says Tech Alpharetta CEO Karen Cashion. About Tech Alpharetta Tech Alpharetta (previously the Alpharetta Technology Commission), the first organization of its kind in Georgia, was established in 2012 by the City of Alpharetta and is an independent, 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization today. The organization, whose mission is to help grow technology and innovation in Alpharetta, includes a strategic advisory board of Alpharetta's leading technology companies, a technology events for area tech executives, and the Tech Alpharetta Innovation Center, a flourishing tech startup incubator that is home to nearly 50 tech startups. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005051/en/

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[June 15, 2021] Willow Industries Appoints Tess Eidem, Ph.D., as Director of Science

DENVER, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Willow Industries Inc. , the leader in cannabis and hemp decontamination technology, is pleased to announce the appointment of Tess Eidem, Ph.D., as Director of Science effective immediately. In this role, Tess will help expand and standardize Willow's onboarding processes to immediately address its partners highest risk sources of contamination, and work with partners' operations and cultivation teams to ensure healthy practices are put in place. In doing so, Tess strives to improve the scientific standards within the cannabis industry by applying previously unused microbiological methods to cannabis production. Prior to Willow, Tess served as Laboratory Manager at Columbia Care where she managed the science team as they coordinated analytical testing, processing, and purification in the laboratory. During this time, Tess gained first-hand experience with the WillowPure system as she harnessed the technology to maintain quality control of cannabis products. Concurrently, Tess co-founded North Country Food Lab, a fermented foods company that encourages the health benefits of 'friendly' bacteria. Her company continues to supply grocery stoes and restaurants in Boulder, Colorado today.



Tess earned her Ph.D. in Pathology and Microbiology from the University of Nebraska Medical Center and University of Rochester, and has served as the Researcher & Associate Director of Education for STROBE Science and Technology Center at University of Colorado Boulder. Jill Ellsworth, CEO and Founder of Willow, said, "Willow was founded to promote clean cannabis and healthy plants, so expanding our science knowledge base is essential to that core mission of the company. Tess's expertise brings another layer to pinpointing where contamination is coming from, and mitigating it as much as possible before implementing a kill step. Tess will be able to give our partners the tools to implement best practices, find points for improvement, and provide the purest product - not only to pass tests, but for consumer safety and quality assurance."

"I have seen first hand how WillowPure technology effectively decontaminates cannabis to meet some of the most stringent microbial limits in the country," said Tess. "I am so excited to help other cultivators achieve the high-quality cannabis their customers and patients need." To learn more about Willow Industries, please visit www.willowindustries.com . About Willow Industries

Willow Industries, Inc. is the cannabis industry leader in post-harvest microbial decontamination technology for healthier, cleaner, and compliant cannabis to protect cultivators and consumer safety. WillowPure, the company's patented, organic ozone-based technology is scientifically proven to reduce or eliminate contaminants such as yeast, mold and bacteria from cannabis while protecting the medicinal properties of the plant. Willow's technology is environmentally friendly, non-toxic, and scalable for all types of operators. To date, Willow has saved cultivators over $100M in flower failure. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/willow-industries-appoints-tess-eidem-phd-as-director-of-science-301312564.html SOURCE Willow Industries

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[June 15, 2021] WinZip Mac 9 Pro Boosts Productivity for Secure File Sharing

OTTAWA, June 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Introducing WinZip Mac 9 Pro, the latest version of WinZips powerful encryption, compression and file management software for macOS. With enhanced compression and security workflows, updated PDF capabilities and more, WinZip Mac 9 Pro boosts productivity while empowering customers to securely manage, store and share files on a Mac.

Whether for business or personal, its never felt more important to protect your critical files and keep your private information safe, said Henry Monteiro, Head of WinZip Product Management. With our latest version of WinZip Mac, were introducing new updates that boost your efficiency and empower you to work, share and manage files confidently  all while knowing your info is secure, no matter where its stored or shared. Experience a better workflow with enhancements to file protection, PDF functionality, and file backup. ENHANCED! 256-bit AES encryption now set as default: When choosing to encrypt files, customers now benefit from the security of 256 AES encryption by default, ensuring banking-level file protection.

When choosing to encrypt files, customers now benefit from the security of 256 AES encryption by default, ensuring banking-level file protection. NEW! Watermark PDFs: Users can now easily Watermark PDFs when adding to a Zip or Zipx file, providing an extra layer of protection to documents.

Users can now easily Watermark PDFs when adding to a Zip or Zipx file, providing an extra layer of protection to documents. ENHANCED! View PDFs as icons in Files and Zip panes: Now its simple to review PDF files before unzipping them and select exactly which PDF file to extract from a compressed file containing many PDFs. View each file as a thumbnail and review the content type before extracting it, saving time and keeping files organized.

Now its simple to review PDF files before unzipping them and select exactly which PDF file to extract from a compressed file containing many PDFs. View each file as a thumbnail and review the content type before extracting it, saving time and keeping files organized. ENHANCED! Secure File Backups: With the freshen backup option, WinZip Mac 9 Pro now creates backups faster by only updating the files that have changed. Plus, when securing your backups, WinZip now defaults to 256-bit AES encryption. Create smaller files, convert multiple file types, and quickly view compression results. NEW! Create smaller Zipx files: WinZip Mac 9 Pro deduplicates files while keeping the original file and folder structure intact, significantly decreasing the Zipx file size.

WinZip Mac 9 Pro deduplicates files while keeping the original file and folder structure intact, significantly decreasing the Zipx file size. NEW! Convert compression format: Open and convert content froma wide selection of industry-standard compression file types. Instantly convert a LZH, LHA, RAR, 7Z, TAR, Z, GZ, TAZ, TGZ, BZ, XZ or Z file into a Zip or Zipx file.

Open and convert content froma wide selection of industry-standard compression file types. Instantly convert a LZH, LHA, RAR, 7Z, TAR, Z, GZ, TAZ, TGZ, BZ, XZ or Z file into a Zip or Zipx file. ENHANCED! Full visibility of compression statistics: Review the compression stats right after creating a Zip or Zipx file. This time-saving feature offers full visibility to the compressed and uncompressed file sizes, storage used, number of files added, and storage needed for the compressed files.





Explore additional features designed for macOS. ENHANCED! Mac experience: Now, save time by quickly copying and pasting files directly to a Zip or Zipx file right from the Mac clipboard. Similar to the Mac Finder, the WinZip File manager can now be resized to easily see more of what is inside a Zip or Zipx file. Plus, WinZip Mac 9 Pro offers support for Big Sur and runs on the latest Mac models with M1 chips.

WinZip Mac 9 offers support for many favorite macOS features, including Dark Mode. And with apps for iPad and iPhone, WinZip makes it safe and easy to share files on your favorite Apple hardware.

WinZips Mac product lineup includes WinZip Mac 9 Pro and WinZip Mac 9 Standard. For more information, please refer to the comparison chart. Pricing and Availability WinZip Mac 9 Pro and WinZip Mac 9 Standard are both available in English. Suggested retail pricing (SRP) for WinZip Mac 9 Pro is $49.95 USD / 51.54 / 59.44 (in Germany). SRP for WinZip Mac 9 Standard is $29.95 USD/ 31.14 / 35.64 (in Germany). Euro and GBP prices include VAT. About WinZip WinZip is trusted by millions of businesses and consumers to boost productivity, simplify file sharing, and keep information private. Offering apps for all of todays most popular platforms and devices, WinZip gives users a better way to manage and share files in the cloud, email and instant messaging. The WinZip product line also includes powerful utilities to improve system performance and help keep Mac and Windows PCs secure. WinZip is a division of Corel Corporation. For more information about WinZip, please visit www.winzip.com. Corel products enable millions of connected knowledge workers around the world to do great work faster. Offering some of the industry's best-known software brands, we give individuals and teams the power to create, collaborate and deliver impressive results. Our success is driven by an unwavering commitment to deliver a broad portfolio of innovative applications  including CorelDRAW, MindManager, Parallels and WinZip  to inspire users and help them achieve their goals. To learn more about Corel, please visit www.corel.com. 2021 Corel Corporation. All rights reserved. Corel, WinZip, the WinZip logo, CorelDRAW, and MindManager are trademarks or registered trademarks of Corel Corporation in Canada, the U.S., and/or elsewhere. Parallels is a trademark or registered trademark of Parallels International GmbH in Canada, the U.S., and elsewhere. Apple, Mac, macOS, iPad, and iPhone are trademarks of Apple Inc. All other company, product and service names, logos, brands, and any registered or unregistered trademarks mentioned are used for identification purposes only and remain the exclusive property of their respective owners. Use of any brands, names, logos, or any other information, imagery, or materials pertaining to a third party does not imply endorsement. We disclaim any proprietary interest in such third-party information, imagery, materials, marks, and names of others. For all notices and information about patents, please visit www.corel.com/patent. Media Contact

Saeed Ismail Saeed

saeed.saeed@corel.com

www.winzip.com Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/af10397e-ac27-45bf-ab14-b1ae652219c4 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c52f02bb-d2fb-4fe6-ac07-c6f2a2ca494c https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/babfe83d-4b4b-4b20-a080-fdb841912422



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[June 15, 2021] World-class tech database launches in Alberta, first of its kind in North America

The new Start Alberta Deal Flow Platform joins more than 40 other tech startup ecosystem solutions, including the UK, France, Berlin and Amsterdam CALGARY, AB, June 15, 2021 /CNW/ - Three leading organizations in Alberta's technology industry today announced that the province will be the first location in North America to join a vast network of startup ecosystems with the new Start Alberta database, powered by Dealroom. Initiated by the A100, Alberta Enterprise Corporation (AEC) and the Venture Capital Association of Alberta (VCAA) and in collaboration with a wide group of community partners, the new open-access database provides real-time data for founders, investors, corporates and government stakeholders, cataloguing the collective regional tech ecosystem from funding, work spaces and job listings, to accelerators, spinouts and exits. "The importance of tech startups to the Alberta economy has never been more acute," says Tamara Woolgar, Executive Director, the A100. "Start Alberta data will provide an understanding of the sector at a macro level, empowering stakeholders with the knowledge needed to make fact-based decisions towards achieving sustainable growth and job creation." As the most comprehensive database on startups and funding in the province, Start Alberta provides insights on the health of the regional innovation economy while showcasing the Alberta startup ecosystem to the world. "AEC has driven forward this initiative because we see it as foundational in helping Alberta companies connect with both investors and ecosystem support, while gaining critical visibility to a global investor network," says Christiana Manzocco, Director of Industry Development, AEC, and Interim Lead, Start Alberta. Start Alberta has partnered with Amsterdam-based Dealroom.co, the foremost digital SaaS data provider on startup, early stage and growth company ecosystems around the globe. Dealroom serves some of the world's most prominent venture capital funds and corporations including Sequoia Capital, Accel, Google and Microsoft, and currently manages more than 40 white label solutions for global ecosystems, providing research, data curation and AI analytics support. "As our first dedicated startup database in North America, we're excited to be partnering with Start Alberta to bing real-time data and insights, and the highest level of transparency yet to the Alberta startup and venture capital ecosystem," says Yoram Wijngaarde, CEO & Founder of Dealroom.co. "With more than 2,100 startups on the Start Alberta platform employing more than 18,000 people, startups are an important economic and job growth engine in the region and continue to attract record levels of investment."



Start Alberta data partnerships with Dealroom, Crunchbase, and Pitchbook amplify awareness of Alberta's tech scene to collectively reach more than 60 million people, including some of the most influential global corporations and investors in the world. "The launch of this platform in Alberta is a first in North America and shows how our thriving tech sector is positioned to be a leading player globally," says Doug Schweitzer, Minister of Jobs, Economy and Innovation. "Alberta's tech sector is setting new records and this platform will help showcase our companies to even more global corporations and investors. I look forward to seeing how this platform will benefit our growing tech sector."

Major players in Alberta's tech industry are putting their support behind the Start Alberta database, including the SAIT School for Advanced Digital Technology (SADT) and ATB Financial. A core group of ecosystem organizations across the province are also backing the Start Alberta initiative, including Calgary Economic Development (CED), Platform Calgary, Innovate Edmonton, Edmonton Global, Health City, and the Edmonton Screen Industries Office (ESIO). "This database is a critical tool to help our VCAA members and prospective investors discover investment opportunities in the province," says Andrea Drager, VCAA Chair and Partner, Azure Capital Partners. "We are thrilled that this world-class platform is launching in Alberta." About Start Alberta: www.startalberta.ca Start Alberta is a one-stop-shop for the Alberta startup ecosystem to connect to capital, jobs, communication, policy, and programming. It is also the go-to data source for entrepreneurs, investors, service providers, and government to best inform and fulfill their strategies. The goal is to provide high quality, up to date information on the Alberta technology ecosystem for public and private entities that need this data for planning and policy development, while expanding access and coordination to the tech ecosystem for all constituents. About the A100: www.thea100.org The A100 is a non-profit, member-funded organization of experienced tech entrepreneurs and executives. The group is dedicated to helping drive lasting diversification for Alberta's economy by supporting the province's next generation of innovative tech startups. Formed in 2010 by a group of industry pioneers who are tied to many of Alberta's biggest technology success stories to-date, the group has more than 100 members across the province. About Alberta Enterprise Corporation: www.alberta-enterprise.ca Alberta Enterprise Corporation promotes the development of Alberta's venture capital industry by investing in venture capital funds that finance technology companies. We focus on funds that have a strong commitment to Alberta  including a full-time presence in the province. In addition to capital, we support Alberta's venture capital ecosystem by connecting investors, entrepreneurs, and experienced technology executives who share our passion for building a bright, innovative Alberta. Since our inception we have committed C$231 million for investment to twenty-one VC funds including Accelerate Funds I, II and III, covering a diverse range of forward-looking industries including information technology, industrial technology and life sciences. About the Venture Capital Association of Alberta: www.vcaa.ca The Venture Capital Association of Alberta is Alberta's primary industry association for venture capital, private equity, angel investors and others interested in furthering the industry in Alberta. The VCAA generates opportunities, events, and programs on behalf of our members, while encouraging dialogue among our members, and between the VC community and related industries and economic sectors through networking events and professional development. The VCAA also acts as an advocate for the industry and will work with various stakeholders to represent the interests of our member base. About Dealroom: www.dealroom.co Dealroom.co is the foremost data provider on startups, growth companies and tech ecosystems in Europe and around the globe. Founded in Amsterdam in 2013, we now work with many of the world's most prominent investors, entrepreneurs and government organizations to provide transparency, analysis and insights on venture capital activity. Our mission is to accelerate entrepreneurship and innovation through data for governments, corporates and VCs, founders. SOURCE Start Alberta

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[June 14, 2021] Leucadia Asset Management Announces Strategic Relationship With Ken Xu and Strategic Vision Investment

Leucadia Asset Management ("LAM") today announced a strategic relationship with Strategic Vision Investment ("SVI"), a Hong-Kong based asset manager run by Ken Xu, who is Chief Investment Officer. SVI employs both a long/short and a long-only equities strategy focused on Greater China. Nick Daraviras and Sol Kumin, Co-Presidents of Leucadia Asset Management, commented, "We are excited to have Ken and the rest of the SVI team join our platform. Ken's considerable track record, combined with heightened investor interest in China, have created a timely and compelling opportunity to partner together. We look forward to working with Ken to further grow SVI." "I am thrilled to embark on this strategic relationship with Leucadia Asset Management to expand SVI and look forward to a successful long-term partnership," added Ken Xu. "We see many opportunities in China, and this partnership with LAM and its global investor base allows us to capitalize on these prospects." As part of the strategic relationship, Leucadia Asset Management is providing capital to SVI along with other support. Mr. Xu is Chief Investment Officer at SVI and has 20 years of investment management and analysis experience specializing in Asian equity markets. Previously, he was a Managing Director and Portfolio Manager at Point 72, f/k/a S.A.C. Capital from February 2011 to May 2014. Prior to S.A.C. Capital, Ken was a Managing Director and Co-Head of Greater China at Och-Ziff Asia. From 2004 to 2006, he worked for Goldman Sachs (Asia) as a member of the Asian Special Situations Group (ASSG) and the Global Investment Research Deprtment. Prior to Goldman Sachs, Ken worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers (News - Alert) (Arthur Andersen) in the corporate finance division performing advisory services in Shanghai from 2001 to 2004. Ken was born and educated in China graduating with a Bachelor of Management in Computerized Accounting from the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics in 2001. He has been a resident of Hong Kong since 2004.



About Strategic Vision Investment Strategic Vision Investment ("SVI") is an investment company based in Hong Kong focused on investment opportunities with multiple return profiles typically ranging from two to ten years. SVI's long-term horizon and investment approach aim to avoid short-term noise and to gain a deeper understanding over consensus. Through its long-term proprietary research, SVI seeks to identify structural mega trends that it believes will have a critical impact in creating significant value over the next 10-30 years (Energy Revolution (News - Alert) , Industry Consolidation, New Material, Healthcare/Biotech, AI Revolution, Cloud/SaaS). SVI focuses its research efforts and capital on high conviction investment opportunities in these mega trends through its stringent investment criteria and selection process. SVI's portfolio construction aims to maximize portfolio returns and to mitigate market downturn risk. SVI was previously known as BosValen Asset Management (BVAM), formed by Ken Xu in 2014. To better reflect the nature of its investment philosophy, the company was rebranded Strategic Vision Investment ("SVI"). This new name highlights the firm's key strength: a strategic vision to seek high-quality investment opportunities for the long-term. For the period January - December 2020, SVI's Value Multiplier Fund ("Fund") achieved a net return of 191.7%, and for the period January - May 2021 YTD the Fund has generated a net return of 16.4%. This represents net performance for Class E and is net of management fees (1.25%) and performance fees (12.5%). PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS. THERE CAN BE NO ASSURANCE THAT ANY FUND WILL ACHIEVE ITS OBJECTIVES OR AVOID SUBSTANTIAL LOSSES.

About Leucadia Asset Management Leucadia Asset Management ("LAM") is engaged in offering institutional clients an innovative range of investment strategies through its affiliated managers. LAM is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (NYSE:JEF), a diversified financial services company. About Jefferies Financial Group Inc. Jefferies Financial Group Inc. is a diversified financial services company engaged in investment banking and capital markets, asset management and direct investing. Jefferies Group LLC, our largest subsidiary, is the largest independent, global, full-service investment banking firm headquartered in the U.S. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210614005805/en/

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[June 14, 2021] Document Security Systems, Inc. Prices $43.5 Million Public Offering of Common Stock

ROCHESTER, N.Y., June 14, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Document Security Systems, Inc. (NYSE American: DSS) (the Company), a multinational company operating businesses focusing on brand protection technology, blockchain security, direct marketing, healthcare, consumer packaging, real estate, renewable energy, and securitized digital assets, today announced the pricing of an underwritten public offering with gross proceeds to the Company expected to be approximately $43.5 million, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other estimated offering expenses payable by the Company.

The public offering equates to 29,000,000 shares of the Companys common stock at a price of $1.50 per share. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from this offering, together with their existing cash, to fund the development and growth of new business lines, acquisition opportunities, and general corporate and working capital needs. The Company has also granted the underwriters a 45-day option to purchase up to an additional 15% of shares of common stock offered in the public offering to cover over-allotments, if any, which would increase the total gross proceeds of the offering to approximately $50.0 million, if exercised in full. Aegis Capital Corp. is acting as sole bookrunner for the offering. The shares of common stock are being offered pursuant to a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-256446), which was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on June 7, 2021. A prospectus supplement relating to this offering will be filed by the Company with the SEC. Copies of the prospectus supplement relating to the offering, together with the accompanying prospectus, may be obtained when available on the SEC's website, www.sec.gov, or by contacting Aegis Capital Corp., Attention: Syndicate Department, 810 7th Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10019, by email at syndicate@aegiscap.com, or by telephone at (212) 813-1010. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of, these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.



About Document Security Systems, Inc. DSS is a multinational company operating businesses focused on brand protection technology, blockchain security, direct marketing, healthcare, consumer packaging, real estate, renewable energy, and securitized digital assets. Its business model is based on a distribution sharing system in which shareholders will receive shares in its subsidiaries as DSS strategically spins them out into IPOs. Its historic business revolves around counterfeit deterrent and authentication technologies, smart packaging, and consumer product engagement. DSS is led by its Chairman and largest shareholder, Mr. Fai Chan, a highly successful global business veteran of more than 40 years specializing in corporate transformation while managing risk. He has successfully restructured more than 35 corporations with a combined value of $25 billion.

Investor Contact: Dave Gentry, CEO

RedChip Companies Inc.

407-491-4498

Dave@redchip.com Safe Harbor Disclosure This press release contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements related to the Company's ability to complete the financing, its intended use of proceeds and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are based on managements current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those projected. These risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, include: the risk that the public offering of common stock may not close; risks relating to our growth strategy; our ability to obtain, perform under and maintain financing and strategic agreements and relationships; risks relating to the results of development activities; our ability to attract, integrate and retain key personnel; our need for substantial additional funds; patent and intellectual property matters; competition; as well as other risks described in the section entitled Risk Factors in the prospectus and in our other filings with the SEC, including, without limitation, our reports on Forms 8-K and 10-Q, all of which can be obtained on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made and reflect managements current estimates, projections, expectations and beliefs. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in our expectations or any changes in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law.



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[June 14, 2021] Nium and Travelex launch new digital remittance offering in Hong Kong

HONG KONG, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Travelex, one of the market leading foreign exchange brands, alongside advanced global payments platform Nium, has today announced the launch of its new digital remittance offering ("Travelex International Money Transfer") to users in Hong Kong. Already live in Australia and Singapore, this digital remittance offering - powered by Nium's global payment rails and real-time payment capabilities - enables Travelex users in Hong Kong to remit money to more than 50 markets across the world almost instantly[1]. Over recent years, Hong Kong has developed a diversified and inclusive payment ecosystem that enables residents to make instant domestic fund transfers via the Faster Payment System (FPS)[2]. However, cross-border payment remains to be a challenge given the long processing time and high costs involved, with the local government looking at ways to enhance and speed up its cross-border bank remittance services. Cameron Hume, Managing Director, Travelex Asia Pacific said, "Expanding our Travelex digital suite to offer digital remittance services to users in Hong Kong is a natural next step for us. With social distancing measures still in place across the globe, we understand the growing need for customers to have access to faster and more convenient ways to transfer funds across borders. We are excited to offer this new service to Hong Kong users, providing them a seamless way to send funds abroad." As part of this partnership, Travelex will leverage Nium's Remittance-as-a-Service (RaaS) solution, which makes it easier for companies to become payment providers and offer remittance services on their own digital platforms. With RaaS, businesses are not required to build their own payment infrastructure. Instead, they can simply build their brand on top of an existing platform and leverage Nium's extensive portfolio of regulatory licenses in over 40 countries. Prajit Nanu, Co-Founder and CEO of Nium, said, "At Nium, we understand the difficulties for businesses to introduce remittance services at scale. This is why our RaaS solution aims to make it more accessible for enterprises of all sizes to facilitate their own payment systems. With a thriving fintech scene in Hong Kong, we're excited to introduce this remittance service to help boost the city's status as a global financial centre." A Travelex International Money Transfer mobile app will be launched in Hong Kong shortly. Travelex will also continue to expand its digital remittance offering to major markets in Asia Pacific in the coming months. Consumers in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Australia can now access Travelex International Money Transfer via their local Travelex website.







[1] In markets where Nium offers real-time services. For full details, please visit: https://www.nium.com/network/. [2] A New Trend for Fintech - Cross-border Payment, HKMA, December 2020

About Nium Nium is a next-generation financial services platform?that enables companies around the world to unlock new revenue opportunities and improve cash flow economics. Nium is a leader in its geographical and payment service breadth, owning licenses in the world's largest and fastest-growing economies. Our modular platform allows banks, payment providers, travel companies, and other businesses to collect and disburse funds in local currencies to over 100 countries, plus issue physical and virtual cards globally. Our proprietary set of APIs embeds financial services and can bring to life multiple B2B and B2C use cases in a matter of weeks. Nium is part of CB Insights Fintech 250, which highlights the most promising Fintech companies globally. Today, Nium serves over 130 million customers and enables platforms to provide access to financial services to over 3 billion people across the world. For more information, visit: http://www.nium.com . About Travelex Founded in 1976, Travelex has grown to become one of the market leading specialist providers of foreign exchange products, solutions and services, operating across the entire value chain of the foreign exchange industry in more than 20 countries. Travelex has developed a growing network of over 900 ATMs and more than 1,100 stores in the some of the world's top international airports and in major transport hubs, premium shopping malls, high street locations, supermarkets and city centres. Travelex has built a growing online and mobile foreign exchange platform, and also processes and delivers foreign currency orders for major banks, travel agencies and hotels worldwide. In addition, the group sources and distributes large quantities of foreign currency banknotes for customers on a wholesale basis - including for central banks and international financial institutions. Travelex also offers a range of remittance and international money transfer products around the world. For more information, visit:

www.travelex.com.hk SOURCE Nium

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[June 14, 2021] Vection Accelerates European Expansion Via Strategic Acquisition

PERTH, Australia, June 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Real-time software company Vection Technologies Ltd (ASX:VR1) has signed a binding agreement to acquire European technology company and DELL Platinum and OEM partner, JMC Group. JMC is a technology company designing, developing, and delivering high-level integrated business technology solutions for Industry 4.0, underpinned by a strong knowledge in Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality (XR), Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Information and Communication Technology (ICT). This acquisition will accelerate Vection's expansion within the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region while further integrating its XR portfolio with IoT, AI and ICT towards a 360 product suite for Industry 4.0. JMC's strong growth history is expected to provide a more robust foundation for the combined group as it grows within the EMEA region. Gianmarco Biagi, Managing Director of Vection Technologies, commented that this transaction epresents a significant step in the Company's vertical growth strategy to assist companies in their digital transformation plans via next generation integrated XR solutions.



"Vection's executive team is adhering to the stated growth strategy to establish itself as a global technology company with a strong XR foundation, deeply integrated with innovative enabling technologies (including AI) and strong vertical competences. Via this acquisition we gain a significant technological and geographical advantage and the addition of key management within the European region, unlocking significant global growth opportunities for the Company. We remain focussed on completing our 2021 M&A acquisition strategy via the expansion in the U.S. while progressing on our previously stated commercial objectives." In commenting on the acquisition, JMC's Founder & CEO, Jacopo Merli, said "we share Vection's global vision of bringing together next-gen technologies with XR to enable companies to make the leap to the fourth industrial revolution. We are truly excited to pursue this opportunity and to grow the combined business across the EMEA region and abroad in the coming months."

About Vection Technologies:

Vection Technologies Ltd (ASX:VR1) is a multinational software company that focuses on real-time technologies for industrial companies' digital transformation.

Through a combination of our 3D, Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, Industrial IoT and CAD solutions, Vection Technologies helps companies and organisations to innovate, collaborate and create value.

For more information please visit the Company's websites:

vection.com.au

mindeskvr.com

blankcanvas.studio SOURCE Vection Technologies Ltd

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[June 14, 2021] How digitalization has transformed DHL Express' operations

SINGAPORE, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Embarking on digital transformation projects has driven greater efficiencies and higher productivity for DHL Express. CEO Ken Lee and CIO Jimmy Yeoh from DHL Express Asia Pacific share more: For the full multimedia release, click here:

https://www.prnasia.com/mnr/DHL_202106.shtml Red warning lights pop up simultaneously on the dashboard of the Advanced Quality Control Center (AQCC) system at DHL Express' operations centers across the network, but the atmosphere at each facility remains calm. The data analytics prowess of the Artificial Intelligence-powered AQCC system  designed to monitor shipment movements and flag issues in real time  is in full control. Locations of the shipments stalled in transit, also known as exceptions, are quickly identified and its projected routes mapped. The team's analysts then hunker down to implement corrective actions to ensure these shipments can still arrive at their destinations on time. The seemingly effortless task was once a laborious responsibility for logistics providers like DHL Express, but digitalization is slowly turning things around. Logistics has long been known as a traditional industry associated with manual labor and repetitive tasks. Often held back by legacy processes and dated IT systems, logistics companies are increasingly aware of the need to harness technology to stay competitive in a fast-moving industry. Deutsche Post DHL Group (DPDHL Group)  in line with its Strategy 2025 goal of delivering excellence in a digital world  is investing over EUR2 billion on digital transformation projects from 2021 to 2025 to improve the experience of customers and employees, while also increasing operational excellence. In its 3,200 facilities across more than 220 countries and territories worldwide, DHL Express relies on best-in-class technology solutions to deliver close to 500 million shipments a year (according to 2020 figures). "By constantly listening to our customers' needs, we have implemented technological innovations that are relevant and sensible for our customers, employees and operations," said Ken Lee, CEO, DHL Express Asia Pacific. "We've introduced solutions to streamline vital processes, automate time-consuming repetitive tasks, and helped our teams become more productive. These include autonomous guided vehicles to enhance our operations, chatbots to complement customer service operations, and shipment sensors with track-and-trace capabilities," he shared. The Covid-19 pandemic has further proven how essential the company's digital transformation efforts and investments are to addressing the surge in cross-border e-commerce demand and driving greater efficiency and productivity. "Before the pandemic, we were cognizant that digital transformation was an imperative to maintain and elevate our service levels as a logistics provider. The pandemic accelerated our plans to allow our work force to collaborate and work virtually from any location. We also fast-tracked our adoption and rollout of technologies, such as live chat and digital assistants, which were crucial in helping us cope with an unprecedented demand surge worldwide," explained Jimmy Yeoh, Chief Information Officer, DHL Express Asia Pacific. To better understand the impact of digitalization on DHL Express, Logistics of Things takes a closer look at the notable digital transformation projects undertaken in recent years:







At a glance: Digital transformation in DHL Express



Advanced Quality Control Center (AQCC) Utilizes big data and predictive analytics to monitor shipment movements, flag issues in real-time and identify alternative flight and network routes to ensure timely deliveries

Leverages Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning to identify root causes and recommend actions for continuous improvement Automatic flyer sorting with DHLBot Sorts flyers to route level with 99 percent accuracy

Improves sorting efficiency while minimizing human interaction (for safety during Covid-19) Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) Intelligently senses the environment and ferries shipments, cargo pallets, and containers safely and efficiently

Helps to scale throughput capacity as and when needed Autonomous mobile robots Serves as an autonomous "courier" that provides on-demand deliveries

Equipped with sensors and AI-powered avoidance system to navigate to its destination Chatbots for 24/7 customer service Allows customers to receive bite-sized shipping information and track shipments on the go

Designed to instantly address commonly asked questions On-Demand Delivery (ODD) online portal Offers customers the flexibility to schedule contactless deliveries for shipments at their own convenience

Customers can choose from 6 alternative delivery options if they are unable to receive the shipment on the estimated delivery date QR code labelers for parcel returns Allows customers to manage parcel returns digitally by getting a QR code online

Reduces physical contact for ad-hoc customers by replacing physical airway bills Route optimization for faster deliveries Enables couriers to plan their routes more effectively , thus improving productivity and fuel efficiency

Shortens delivery time to customers

SOURCE DHL Express

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[June 14, 2021] Early Warning Report in Respect of Thinkific Labs Inc.

VANCOUVER, BC, June 14, 2021 /CNW/ - Rhino Ventures today announced that Rhino Co-Invest 2 Limited Partnership ("Rhino Co-Invest 2 LP"), an entity affiliated with it, agreed to make a distribution in specie (the "Distribution") of 1,839,365 subordinate voting shares ("Subordinate Voting Shares") in the capital of Thinkific Labs Inc. (the "Issuer") to its partners. The shares were originally offered pursuant to the final prospectus of the Issuer dated April 22, 2021 and were acquired at a price of $13.00 per share from the underwriters participating in the initial public offering of the Issuer on April 27, 2021. The effective date of the Distribution was June 14, 2021. Rhino Co-Invest 2 LP and its joint actors are referred to herein collectively as the "Rhino Group". Immediately prior to the Distribution, the Rhino Group was deemed to beneficially own, or have control or direction over, 20,738,112 Multiple Voting Shares in the capital of the Issuer ("Multiple Voting Shares"), which represented 36.4% of the total Multiple Voting Shares reported outstanding as of May 11, 2021 and 1,920,000 Subordinate Voting Shares, which represented approximately 9.7% of the total Subordinate Voting Shares reported outstanding as of May 11, 2021. The 1,920,000 Subordinate Voting Shares were held by Rhino Co-Invest 2 LP. The Rhino Group's aggregate ownership, control and direction of Multiple Voting Shares and Subordinate Voting Shares immediately prior to the Distribution represented an approximate 29.6% equity interest and an approximate 35.5% voting interest in the Issuer. Immediately following the Distribution, the Rhino Group was deemed to beneficially own, or have control or direction over, 20,738,112 Multiple Voting Shares, which represented 36.4% of the total Multiple Voting Shares outstandingand 584,535 Subordinate Voting Shares, which represented approximately 3.0% of the total Subordinate Voting Shares outstanding. Following the Distribution, Rhino Co-Invest 2 LP holds 1,258 Subordinate Voting Shares. The Rhino Group's aggregate ownership, control and direction of Multiple Voting Shares and Subordinate Voting Shares immediately following the Distribution represents an approximate 27.8% equity interest and an approximate 35.3% voting interest in the Issuer.



Rhino Co-Invest 2 LP is a limited partnership controlled and managed by its general partners, Braden Fraser Hall and Julian Rhind, both principals of the Rhino Group. Given its holdings of Multiple Voting Shares, the Rhino Group has significant ability to influence matters in respect of the Issuer. The Rhino Group currently has no plans or intentions that relate to, or would result in the matters listed in clauses (a) to (j) of item 5 of Form 62-103F1 ("Form 62-103F1") of National Instrument 62-103  The Early Warning System and Related Take-over Bid and Insider Reporting Issues ("NI 62-103"). The Rhino Group has a long-term view of its investment in the Issuer but intends to evaluate its investment on a continuing basis. Depending on market conditions, general economic and industry conditions, the Issuer's business and financial condition and/or other relevant factors, in the future the Rhino Group may discuss with management and/or the board of directors of the Issuer any of the transactions listed in clauses (a) to (j) of Form 62-103F1 and, subject to the provisions of an investor rights agreement dated April 27, 2021, may form plans or intentions to further acquire, hold, vote, trade or dispose of securities of the Issuer as it deems advisable to benefit from changes in market price, publicly disclosed changes in the operations of the Issuer, its business strategy or prospects or from a material transaction of the Issuer. This press release is being issued pursuant to the requirements of NI 62-103 of the Canadian Securities Administrators. An early warning report with additional information in respect of the foregoing matters will be filed under the Issuer's profile on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Review (SEDAR) at www.sedar.com, and can also be obtained upon request by contacting Candace Hobin (candace@rhinovc.com) at Rhino Ventures, 1010 Raymur Avenue, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6A 3T2.

The address and head office of the Issuer is located at Thinkific Labs Inc., 369 Terminal Avenue, Suite 400, Vancouver, British Columbia Canada V6A 4C4. ABOUT RHINO VENTURES Rhino Ventures leads early-stage financings for high-growth technology startups in Western Canada. With $90M under management, they've invested in several iconic Canadian companies including Article, Thinkific, FISPAN, and Klue, and continue to invest in top-performing teams tackling massive challenges. Rhino Ventures is led by partners Fraser Hall, Jay Rhind and David Hogarth and is based in Vancouver, BC. For more information, visit www.rhinovc.com. SOURCE Thinkific Labs Inc.

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[June 14, 2021] SHAREHOLDER ALERT: CLAIMSFILER REMINDS ARRY, CCXI, PCT, WISH INVESTORS of Lead Plaintiff Deadline in Class Action Lawsuits

NEW ORLEANS, June 14, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors of pending deadlines in the following securities class action lawsuits: ChemoCentryx, Inc. (CCXI)

Class Period: 11/26/2019 - 5/6/2021

Lead Plaintiff Motion Deadline: July 6, 2021

SECURITIES FRAUD

https://www.claimsfiler.com/cases/view-chemocentryx-inc-common-stock-ccxi-securities-litigation PureCycle Technologies, Inc. (PCT) f/k/a Roth CH Acquisition I Co. (ROCH)

Class Period: 11/16/2020 - 5/5/2021 and/or were holders of Roth securities entitled to participate in the March 16, 2021 shareholder vote on the merger with PureCycle.

Lead Plaintiff Motion Deadline: July 12, 2021

SECURITIES FRAUD, MISLEADING PROSPECTUS

To learn more, visit https://www.claimsfiler.com/cases/view-purcycle-technologies-inc-common-stock-pct-securities-litigation



Array Technologies, Inc. (ARRY)

Class Period: 10/14/2020 - 5/11/2021, or purchase of shares issued either in or after the October 2020, December 2020 or March 2021 public offerings

Lead Plaintiff Motion Deadline: July 13, 2021

SECURITIES FRAUD, MISLEADING PROSPECTUS

To learn more, visit https://www.claimsfiler.com/cases/view-array-technologies-inc-common-stock-arry-securities-litigation ContextLogic Inc. (WISH)

Class Period: 12/16/2020 - 5/12/2021, or purchase of shares issued either in or after the December 2020 Initial Public Offering

Lead Plaintiff Motion Deadline: July 16, 2021

SECURITIES FRAUD, MISLEADING PROSPECTUS

To learn more, visit https://www.claimsfiler.com/cases/view-contextlogic-inc-wish-securities-litigation

If you purchased shares of the above companies and would like to discuss your legal rights and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact us toll-free (844) 367-9658 or visit the case links above. If you wish to serve as a Lead Plaintiff in the class action, you must petition the Court on or before the Lead Plaintiff Motion deadline. About ClaimsFiler ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations. To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit www.claimsfiler.com



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[June 14, 2021] Digital Edge Expands into Indonesia with Strategic Investment in PT IndoInternet Tbk

SINGAPORE, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital Edge (Singapore) Holdings Pte. Ltd. ("Digital Edge") today announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Digital Edge (Hong Kong) Ltd., has acquired a controlling interest in one of the leading digital infrastructure service providers in Indonesia, PT Indointernet Tbk ("Indonet"). Digital Edge, which is backed by Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners, aims to transform the enterprise technology landscape by building and operating state-of-the-art, energy-efficient, connectivity-rich data centers. By virtue of its USD 165 million investment, Digital Edge will be the single largest shareholder in Indonet. Indonet is a fully licensed facilities-based carrier that owns significant self-built fiber assets in the Jakarta metro area and offers a full suite of Internet connectivity, local loop, cloud access, and co-location services. Indonet, through one of its subsidiaries, recently commissioned the EDGE1 data center with 1,500 cabs at Jalan Kuningan Barat, the most carrier dense area in Jakarta, bringing much needed capacity to this strategic location. EDGE1 is designed and built with the latest technology and can fully support customer High Power Density deployment. "This strategic partnership marks our initial entry into South East Asia. It enables Digital Edge to meet the pressing needs of new customers wanting to deploy into Indonesia, and also to offer Indonesian firms a strong regional platform to expand outside of the country," said Samuel Lee, Chief Executive Officer of Digital Edge, "Pak Toto and the Indonet team have done a fantastic job in building a diverse and innovative business. With our good standing relationship with Pak Toto and his team, Indonet is a natural fit for Digital Edge and we are extremely pleased with this partnership." "The Digital Edge team understands the culture and complexities of operating in Indonesia. I am excited about this partnership given Digital dge's unique combination of technical knowledge on data center design, relationship with regional and global customers, and access to capital. Together with Digital Edge, Indonet is best placed to capitalize on the market growth of Indonesia. In fact, we are already looking at the next round of expansion projects," said Toto Sugiri, Founder and Chairman of Indonet.



According to Structure Research, Jakarta's colocation market is expected to reach USD 625 million by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 23.7% between 2021 and 2025. The combination of Indonesia's rapidly growing digital economy, accelerating enterprise cloud adoption and the proliferation of start-up companies, is driving this demand for colocation and new data centres. "The Digital Edge team has personally witnessed the tremendous growth and transformation of Indonesia's telecom, Internet and data center industries for well over a decade. With its full suite of telecom licenses, extensive dark fiber assets, network services and central location of its EDGE1 data center, Indonet will enable Digital Edge to develop sophisticated solutions for its interconnect-focused customers, such as network, cloud, and financial service customers. Moreover, with the recent opening-up of the foreign ownership restrictions in telecommunications industry, Indonet is well positioned to become the service provider of choice for foreign telcos looking to expand their regional and global footprints into Indonesia," said Andy Rigoli, Chief Operations Officer of Digital Edge.

About Digital Edge Headquartered in Singapore, Digital Edge is a trusted and forward-looking data center platform company, established to transform digital infrastructure in Asia. Through building and operating state-of-the-art, energy-efficient data centers rich with connectivity options, Digital Edge aims to bring new colocation and interconnect options to the Asian market, making infrastructure deployment in the region easy, efficient and economical. Digital Edge was founded by a seasoned senior management team with decades of industry experience and an established track record of value creation in the data center, cloud and telecommunications industries in the Asia-Pacific region. Backed by Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners, Digital Edge has in excess of US$1 billion in committed capital to establish and drive its data center platform in Asia. About Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners Stonepeak is a leading alternative investment firm specializing in infrastructure and real assets with approximately $37 billion of assets under management. Through its investment in defensive, hard-asset businesses globally, Stonepeak aims to create value for its investors and portfolio companies, and to have a positive impact on the communities in which it operates. Stonepeak sponsors investment vehicles focused on private equity and credit. The firm provides capital, operational support, and committed partnership to sustainably grow investments in its target sectors, which include transport and logistics, communications, water, energy transition, and power and renewable energy. Stonepeak is headquartered in New York with offices in Houston, Austin and Hong Kong. For more information, please visit www.stonepeakpartners.com. About PT Indointernet Tbk Established in 1994, PT Indointernet Tbk (Indonet) is the pioneer in providing information and communication technology (ICT) total solution and has succeeded in becoming a leading role model in Indonesia's ICT sector. Throughout its journey, Indonet, the country's first commercial Internet Service Provider, has transformed into a digital infrastructure provider. Today, Indonet focuses on building a complete ecosystem for corporate clients through the provision of multi-connectivity solution, data center, and cloud services. SOURCE Digital Edge

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[June 15, 2021] CGTN: What is behind young Chinese people's lofty ambitions?

BEIJING, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Chinese people have long valued the importance of setting lofty goals and striving for them with persistence. "No ambition, no achievement," said Wang Yangming (1472-1529), a Chinese thinker in the Ming Dynasty. Chinese President Xi Jinping quoted Wang's words in May 2018 to encourage young people to carry on the tradition. "The Chinese youth should foster a striving spirit, be firm with ideals, hold fast to beliefs, be brave enough to face difficulties and forge ahead, and work hard in an unyielding manner," Xi said during an inspection tour of Peking University in the Chinese capital. He called on young people to closely link their ideals to the future of the country and strive for national rejuvenation. From methane tank to Chinese dream Xi found his career ambition at a young age when working in a small village in northwest China's Shaanxi Province. In 1969, the 15-year-old Xi arrived in Liangjiahe Village as part of a campaign that saw tens of millions of urban educated youth living and working in the countryside. He spent nearly seven years there and discovered his lifelong mission in the process  to make a difference by serving the people. Xi joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in 1974. Then, he became the Party secretary of Liangjiahe, and led the villagers to accomplish a series of projects to benefit local residents, including building a dam, methane tanks, a sewing workshop, a consignment store and a mill. >



Sichuan Province to learn about the techniques. On his return to Liangjiahe, he found out practice was harder than theory. "The digging of the first methane tank was difficult," he recalled in an interview in 2004. "The water around the tank kept rising, but there was no sign of gas. The problem turned out to be a blocked pipe. When we finally cleared the obstruction, the pipe splashed manure over my face. Immediately, gas started gushing out, so we quickly connected the pipe to the stove. An over 30-cm high flame rose up above our methane stove."

During another interview in 2003, Xi summarized how the experience in Liangjiahe had influenced him: "I saw the power of the people and the foundation of their lives. It was then that I really started to understand the people and society." Throughout his political career in different parts of China, Xi maintained and strengthened his ties with the people and strived to improve their lives. After becoming a leader at the national level, he called on the whole Party and nation to work together for a better China. "To meet the people's desire for a happy life is our mission," Xi said when meeting the press after being elected as general secretary of the CPC Central Committee in November 2012. He raised the concept of the Chinese dream two weeks later when attending an exhibition themed "The Road Toward Renewal." He said achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is the country's biggest dream in modern times. In June 2019, the Party leadership launched a nationwide educational campaign among the 90 million CPC members, urging them to stay true to the Party's original aspiration and founding mission  to seek happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. New generations join the mission Today, more and more young Chinese are joining the mission to create a better future for the country and its people. Current affairs commentator Einar Tangen said young Chinese people are waking up and want to play an active part in the country's development. "I think a lot of young people have woken up and said, 'Listen, if China is gonna go forward, it's going to need the best from our generation. And I want to be part of that,'" Tangen told CGTN in a recent interview. "A lot of the economic success has come over the last 40 years. They're proud of how far China has come," he added. "We as the young generation hold the responsibilities of the times," said Zhu Yuhuilan, a student at Peking University. "We shall accept our responsibilities and make achievements." As young generations devote themselves to ambitious goals, China can take on various challenges along its journey more confidently  whether it is poverty relief, the fight against COVID-19 or the transformation of its growth model. https://news.cgtn.com/news/2021-06-12/What-is-behind-young-Chinese-people-s-lofty-ambitions--110NIEcv2ow/index.html SOURCE CGTN

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[June 15, 2021] Novadip Biosciences reports positive data from phase I study of NVD-001 for spinal fusion

Novadip Biosciences reports positive data from phase I study of NVD-001 for spinal fusion Primary endpoint met, study validates autologous cell therapy 3M platform for bone regeneration and demonstrates manufacturing capabilities





Next generation autologous product NVD-003 to be advanced in clinical development



Mont-Saint-Guibert, June 15, 2021 - Novadip Biosciences (Novadip), a clinical stage company developing treatments to regenerate impaired tissues in patients with significant unmet medical needs, today announced positive final results from a Phase I study of its autologous cell-based product, NVD-001, in patients needing single-level spinal fusion. NVD-001 is Novadips first generation autologous cell-based osteogenic (bone healing) product derived from the Companys proprietary tissue regeneration platform. The Phase 1 trial evaluated NVD-001 safety and preliminary effectiveness for the treatment of low grade degenerative lumbar spondylolysthesis. Dr. Denis Dufrane (MD, PhD), Chief Executive Officer and Founder, said: The results of this study highlight the excellent safety profile of our autologous prototype product NVD-001 whilst demonstrating clear evidence of its bone regeneration potential. As we progress our development candidate, NVD-003, we are encouraged by these results which validate our proprietary cell therapy 3M platform. By mimicking the process of natural healing, our 3M platform technology can deliver extraordinary outcomes for patients. We are excited to further progressing NVD-003 with interim efficacy data in bone non-union expected later this year. Prof. Gunnar Anderson (MD, PhD), Professor and Chairman Emeritus of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Rush University Medical Center, Chicago and Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board of Novadip commented: "The results of this study clearly demonstrate the safety of Novadips 3-dimensional autologous adipose-derived bone product. The study was not powered to show differences between groups but is hugely encouraging with excellent bone formation. Based on this data, the development candidate, NVD-003, has the potential to become the solution for both patients undergoing spinal fusion and those with large bone defects where there is currently an unmet need. The trial is a prospective multi-center, randomized, controlled study to evaluate the safety and preliminary effectiveness of NVD-001 for the treatment of low grade degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis by interbody fusion of one vertebral segment. The study consists of a 12-month initial follow-up period post-surgery and a subsequent 12-month long term follow-up. The study included 32 patients in total, of whom 23 were NVD-001 patients with the remaining nine being standard of care patients from centers in Belgium, Poland and the Czech Republic. The key findings from the tral were as follows:



The primary endpoint of safety was met. NVD-001 demonstrated a favorable safety profile over a two-year observation period.

NVD-001 did not require additional surgical time without autologous bone harvesting and did not prolong the time spent in hospital.

NVD-001 demonstrated beneficial effects on the quality of life of patients with reduction of pain and increase of walking capacity.

NVD-001 demonstrated proof of concept of osteogenesis and osteoinduction in the intervertebral body space, which is known to be a challenging environment for bone formation.

NVD-001 was manufactured with 100% of success and delivered on time for all patients included in the trial.



Pr. Christian Raftopoulos (MD, PhD), Principal investigator of the trial, Head of Neurosurgery Department, University hospital Saint-Luc, said: "As the neurosurgeon responsible for implanting NVD-001, I was hugely impressed by the ease of use of this product. It was well integrated into the surgical procedure with favorable safety outcomes and promising demonstration of osteoinduction."?

With this further validation of its autologous platform, Novadip will now focus on its next-generation program, NVD-003. The product is currently in clinical development for bone non-union and expects to report 12 month follow up data later this year. The Company NVD-003 was granted Orphan Drug designation and Rare Paediatric Disease designation by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2021 for congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia (CPT), a rare debilitating condition which mainly affects children. Notes to editors About Novadip Biosciences Novadip Biosciences is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company leveraging its proprietary tissue regeneration technology platform 3M to generate multiple product candidates to address tissue reconstruction for patients who have limited or no treatment options. The 3M3 platform involves use of 3-dimensional extracellular matrix and adipose-derived stem cells to deliver highly specific growth factors and miRNAs to mimic the physiology of natural healing to create a range of products that address specific challenges in tissue regeneration. Novadips initial focus is on reconstruction of critical size bone defects. The company is also applying its 3M3 platform to develop truly novel off-the-shelf/allogeneic therapies addressing more prevalent tissue defects and miRNA/exosome products for broader indications. About NVD-001 NVD-001, Novadips first autologous product, is a clinical-stage investigational cell-based therapy, which represents a new paradigm in regenerative medicine. NVD-001 is an autologous cellular medicinal product obtained by the culture of adipose tissue, which leads to osteogenic cells after ex vivo isolation, expansion and differentiation of pluripotent adipose-tissue stem cells (ASC), and combination with an allogeneic fully demineralized bone matrix into a 3D bone implant. Upon implantation, the bone-forming cells protected in their self-secreted matrix from the harsh pathological environment in the bone defect continue to mature and progressively transform the putty into normal, healthy bone. About NVD-003 NVD-003 is the new generation of Novadips autologous product. For the physician, the product is in the form of a mouldable putty in quantities large enough to fill small as well as large bone defects (>20cm) using classical or minimally invasive surgery techniques without further complexities. Using its proprietary 3M technology, stem cells from the patient obtained from only a few millilitres of fatty tissue are cultured in vitro to become a biomaterial consisting of bone forming cells embedded in their self-secreted extracellular matrix together with added hydroxyapatite particles, a mineral naturally present in bone to confer initial strength. The product is, therefore, more mineralized than NVD-001 which enables a faster bone formation. NVD-003 was granted Orphan Drug designation and Rare Paediatric Disease designation by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in December 2021. For further information:



Novadip Biosciences

Denis Dufrane, Chief Executive Officer

+32 (10) 779 220

info@novadip.com For media enquiries:



Consilium Strategic Communications

Chris Gardner, Matthew Neal, Angela Gray

+44 (0) 20 3709 5700

novadip@consilium-comms.com Attachments Integration of NVD-001 in intervertebral body cage fusion

NVD-001 Product



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[June 15, 2021] Garrison Technology Demonstrates Resilience and Scale With Strong Full-year Growth

Garrison Technology, a UK scale-up delivering ultra-secure web isolation and cross domain solutions to commercial and government organisations in the UK, North America and other regions, delivered impressive growth of over 150% in sales between April 2020 and May 2021 despite a year of COVID disruption. Continued strong demand from Garrison's government customers (including the UK Government and US Federal Government) and significant expansion with key commercial accounts including UK retail bank Lloyds Banking Group contributed to revenues in excess of $10 million. With its Garrison SAVI, Garrison SACS and Garrison ULTRA technologies that make it safe to click on even the most dangerous links, Garrison is pioneering a new technological paradigm in the field of cyber security - an approach known as hardsec. It is this technology that the company is leveragin to build the world's first hardsec cloud service, delivering technology secure enough for sensitive government agencies but scalable and cost-effective enough for mainstream commercial organisations.



CEO David Garfield said of the company's success in the last 12 months: "Our customers look to us to help them operate effectively in an increasingly unsafe cyber world and I am delighted by their continued confidence in us. Our continuing technology investments will allow us to help more customers as we make our web isolation technology available through our uniquely secure cloud offering." Backed by investors Dawn Capital, IP Group, BGF and NM Capital, Garrison has raised over $50M in funding to date and expects continued strong growth in coming years in both government and commercial markets around the world given the ever-more-critical need to protect against web-borne threats such as phishing and ransomware.

"What's so distinctive and good about Garrison is that the security of its technology has been independently verified to the point where it is trusted by highly sensitive government organisations around the world. This is all too rare in cyber security" said Professor Ciaran Martin, former CEO of the UK National Cyber Security Centre and a member of Garrison's advisory board. "Garrison's real achievement however is delivering this level of security together with scalability, usability and pricing that's proving successful with mainstream commercial enterprises." ### About Garrison: Garrison was founded in 2014 by David Garfield and Henry Harrison, who set out on a mission to make the cybersecurity market more secure. With a wealth of experience from previous cyber businesses, they designed a threat elimination product that eradicates the largest cyber risk to organisations and governments worldwide, that of web-borne threats such as malware, phishing attacks and drive-by downloads. Today Garrison's hardsec technology is enabling governments and securing commercial organisations across many geographies and sectors. For more information about Garrison's unique approach and solutions, please visit www.garrison.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210614005699/en/

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[June 15, 2021] Lineage Logistics Announces Acquisition of the Cold Storage Division of Claus Srensen Group

Lineage Logistics, LLC ("Lineage" or the "Company"), a leading global temperature-controlled industrial REIT and logistics solutions provider, today announced its intention to acquire the cold storage division of Claus Srensen Group, a renowned cold storage operator in Denmark. Founded in 1926, Claus Srensen is headquartered in Esbjerg, Denmark and operates nine cold storage facilities that are strategically located in relation to major fishing ports and food production facilities. The total capacity of Claus Srensen's facility network exceeds 800,000 cubic metres, with a freezing capacity of approximately 1,800 tonnes per day. "At Lineage, we actively look for opportunities to strengthen our leading facility network and deliver strategic value to our customers by connecting more dots within their supply chains," said Greg Lehmkuhl, President and CEO of Lineage. "Our acquisition of Claus Srensen will amplify our reach in the Nordic region and will add a highly capable team to our European organization." "Lineage's dedication to both innovation and service perfectly aligns with our longstanding commitment to being a preferred partner for our customers," said Jesper Toft Mathiasen at Claus Srensen. "We are excited to join a company that shares our same values and to join forces with Lineage's team in the region to innovate for our customers and to help them grow their businesses." "Like many companies that have joined Lineage, Claus Srensen is a family owned and operated company with a long legacy and strong entrepreneurial culture," said Mike McClendon, President of International Operations & EVP of Network Optimization at Lineage. "We are very excited to partner with Jesper and the team at Claus Srensen cold storage and I am confident in our combined teams' ability to succeed on behalf of our customers." The acquisition comes on the heels of Lineage's recently announced agreement to acquire Kloosterboer Group and contributes to the strategic expansion of Lineage's facility network across Europe. Lineage's global footprint currently spans over 2.1 billion cubic feet of temperature-controlled capacity in 15 countries across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and South America.



Deloitte (News - Alert) Corporate Finance is acting as financial advisor and Gorrissen Federspiel is acting as legal advisor to Claus Srensen Group. Rabobank is acting as Lineage's financial advisor and Bech Bruun is serving as its legal counsel. About Lineage Logistics

Lineage Logistics is one of the leading temperature-controlled industrial REIT and logistics solutions providers worldwide. It has a global network of over 350 strategically located facilities totaling over 2 billion cubic feet of capacity which spans 15 countries across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and South America. Lineage's industry-leading expertise in end-to-end logistical solutions, its unrivaled real estate network, and development and deployment of innovative technology help increase distribution efficiency, advance sustainability, minimize supply chain waste, and most importantly, as a Visionary Partner of Feeding America, help feed the world. In recognition of the company's leading innovations and sustainability initiatives, Lineage was listed as No. 17 in the 2021 CNBC Disruptor 50 list, the No 1. Data Science company, and 23rd overall, on Fast Company's 2019 list of The World's Most Innovative Companies, in addition to being included on Fortune's Change The World list in 2020. (www.lineagelogistics.com) About Claus Srensen Claus Srensen was established in 1926 and operates cold and freezer storage facilities, all strategically placed in relation to the production of food products and main fishing ports across Denmark. Focused strongly on the customer, Claus Srensen aims to be the food industry's preferred partner requires advanced facilities, logistics expertise and the best IT systems in the industry. As a link in the food and beverage supply chain, Claus Srensen works to optimise processes on behalf of the customer, achieve maximum energy efficiency and protect the environment. Headquartered in Esbjerg, Claus Srensen is a well-consolidated, foundation-owned business with 220 employees that are strongly driven by our values: quality, efficiency, credibility, responsibility and development. (https://www.csgruppen.dk/) View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210614005793/en/

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[June 15, 2021] Avast and Enterprise Nation Announce Exclusive Cyber Security Partnership to Support 500,000 UK SMBs

Nationwide partnership will help the UK's small to mid-sized business owners protect their brands, employees and customers from online threats LONDON, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Avast (LSE:AVST), a global leader in digital security and privacy, today announces a new strategic partnership with Enterprise Nation , the UK's fastest growing small business network and business support provider, which will see Avast become the exclusive cyber security partner for the national network. The partnership aims to deliver key cybersecurity resources and training for more than half a million UK small businesses to help them securely operate and thrive in today's digital economy. According to the Government's Cyber Security Breaches Study 2021 , four in ten businesses (39%) and a quarter of charities (26%) reported cyberattacks in the last 12 months. The study also suggested that the threat level was potentially higher over the pandemic as businesses found it harder to administer security effectively. Marc Botham, VP Worldwide Channel & Alliances, Avast, said: "SMBs are the lifeblood of the UK economy, and they have faced unprecedented challenges in recent times, including temporary closures of their businesses, implementing remote working, and scaling e-commerce for sales and customer communication. For many, they have had to do this without dedicated, or at best minimal, IT support in the face of increased cyberattacks. The focus now must be on post-Covid business recovery and growth. We are committed to working with Enterprise Nation to support SMBs by providing them with the tools, resources, and insights they need to optimise their digital possibilities securely and effectively. "The threat landscape facing small businesses has expanded and developed over the past year. Like any major event, cybercriminals have viewed pandemic-driven shifts as an opportunity for exploitation." Emma Jones, founder and CEO of Enterprise Nation, said: "As oureconomy shifts to digital adoption, we have seen a marked increase in requests for cybersecurity support. There is high awareness of the growth in threats and a clear need for support on a range of issues from employee awareness training and securing remote working to data security and business continuity. We are delighted to be working with a global leader like Avast to provide unparalleled insight and support for our members."



The partnership will develop bespoke support via a range of e-learning modules, tailored training, and national events, including Enterprise Nation's high-profile initiatives such as: Entrepreneurial Women : training 20,000 founders on money management, digital skills and confidence

: training 20,000 founders on money management, digital skills and confidence Plan It with Purpose : helping 10,000 business owners implement sustainable practices

: helping 10,000 business owners implement sustainable practices Enterprise Local : monthly meet-ups taking place in 40+ locations, led by Local Leaders

: monthly meet-ups taking place in 40+ locations, led by Local Leaders Hello World: helping online retailers increase sales and trade in a secure way while developing a hybrid high street sales model Enterprise Nation's platform, which attracts over 60,000 engaged founders each month, will have access to Avast's expertise, content and services.

About Enterprise Nation:

Enterprise Nation (https://www.enterprisenation.com/) is the UK's leading small business network and business support provider delivering support to more than 50,000 small businesses every month. Its aim is to help people turn their good ideas into great businesses  through expert advice (including a comprehensive resources library), events, acceleration support and networking. In 2020 it launched two high profile business support initiatives: the Amazon Small Business Accelerator and the Recovery Advice for Business scheme which collectively aim to support thousands of small firms impacted by the pandemic. Enterprise Nation's small business active membership grew by 34 per cent in 2020. It now has more than 120,000 members and subscribers, ten per cent of which are professional advisers from a range of sectors offering strategic support to small firms. The adviser platform sees hundreds of connections every week with small firms reaching out for advice. About Avast:

Avast (LSE:AVST), a FTSE 100 company, is a global leader in digital security and privacy. With over 435 million users online, Avast offers products under the Avast and AVG brands that protect people from threats on the internet and the evolving IoT threat landscape. The company's threat detection network is among the most advanced in the world, using machine learning and artificial intelligence technologies to detect and stop threats in real time. Avast digital security products for Mobile, PC or Mac are top-ranked and certified by VB100, AV-Comparatives, AV-Test, SE Labs and others. Avast is a member of Coalition Against Stalkerware, No More Ransom, and the Internet Watch Foundation. Visit: www.avast.com. Keep in touch with Avast: Follow us on Twitter: @Avast_antivirus

For security and privacy insights, visit the Avast blog: https://blog.avast.com/

For handy guides, advice and tips, visit Avast Academy: https://www.avast.com/c-academy

Join our LinkedIn community: https://www.linkedin.com/avast

Visit our Facebook group: www.facebook.com/avast Media Contact

pr@avast.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1532324/Avast_And_Enterprise_Nation.jpg

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[June 15, 2021] Allegra van Hovell-Patrizi appointed CEO of Aegon the Netherlands

Today, Aegon announced that Allegra van Hovell-Patrizi (1974) will succeed Maarten Edixhoven as CEO of Aegon the Netherlands and member of the Management Board of Aegon N.V, effective immediately. Allegra joined Aegon at the end of 2015 and was appointed Chief Risk Officer and member of Aegon N.V.'s Management Board in 2016. Originally from Italy, Allegra's career in financial services began in 1996 at McKinsey & Company (News - Alert) , followed by the UK asset management company F&C Investments and Prudential plc. "We are delighted to have someone of Allegra's calibre and experience step up as the new CEO of Aegon the Netherlands," says Lard Friese, CEO of Aegon N.V. "Allegra has shown to have the right combination of leadership skills and deep understanding of our business to lead the Dutch business in the next phase of its transformation."



The selection process to identify a new Chief Risk Officer for Aegon N.V. is underway. Until a successor is appointed, CFO Matt Rider will temporarily assume the responsibility for Risk Management on the Management Board.

About Aegon Aegon's roots go back more than 175 years - to the first half of the nineteenth century. Since then, Aegon has grown into an international company, with businesses in the Americas, Europe and Asia. Today, Aegon is one of the world's leading financial services organizations, providing life insurance, pensions and asset management. Aegon's purpose is to help people achieve a lifetime of financial security. More information on aegon.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210614005848/en/

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[June 15, 2021] Notice Regarding the Completion of Payment for Disposal of Treasury Stock for Restricted Stock Compensation

Company name: Internet Initiative Japan Inc.

Company representative: Eijiro Katsu, President and Representative Director

(Stock Code Number: 3774, The First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange)

Contact: Akihisa Watai, Senior Managing Director and CFO

TEL: 81-3-5205-6500 TOKYO, June 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Internet Initiative Japan Inc. (IIJ, the Company, TSE1: 3774) announced that the payment regarding the disposal of treasury stock as the restricted stock compensation, resolved at the IIJs Board of Directors held on May 26, 2021, has been completed as described in the following table. For details, please refer to the Notice Regarding the Disposal of Treasury Stock for Restricted Stock Compensation disclosed on May 26, 2021. Overview of the Disposal (1 ) Disposal date June 15, 2021 (2 ) Class and number of shares to be disposed of 41,865 shares of common stock of the Company (3 ) Disposal price 2,894 yen per share (4 ) Total disposal price 121,157,310 yen (5 ) Allottees and number thereof, and number of stocks to be disposed of 7 Directors (excluding Part-time and Outside Directors) 22,687 shares





About Internet Initiative Japan Inc.

Founded in 1992, IIJ is one of Japan's leading Internet-access and comprehensive network solutions providers. IIJ and its group companies provide total network solutions that mainly cater to high-end corporate customers. IIJ's services include high-quality Internet connectivity services, mobile services, security services, cloud computing services, and systems integration. Moreover, IIJ operates one of the largest Internet backbone networks in Japan that is connected to the United States, the United Kingdom and Asia. IIJ listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 2006. IIJ Investor Relations

Tel: +81-3-5205-6500 E-mail: ir@iij.ad.jp URL: https://www.iij.ad.jp/en/ir







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[June 15, 2021] CloudCommerce to Benefit from $5.9 Trillion Artificial Intelligence Market Opportunity

SAN ANTONIO, June 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CloudCommerce, Inc. ( CLWD ), a technology driven provider of digital advertising solutions, today announced that SWARM, the Companys AI-driven advertising solution, is well-positioned to benefit from the total global industry sales and marketing opportunity forecast to exceed annual revenue of $5.9 trillion.

The Company is also waiting for regulatory approval to change its corporate name to AiAdvertising, Inc. to better reflect its focus on using artificial intelligence (AI) to accelerate revenue growth and reduce the cost of advertising. While the total numbers vary, every major report on artificial intelligence seemingly agrees that its annual financial impact will be in the trillions. According to Marketing AI Institute: McKinsey Global Institute estimates up to a $5.9 trillion annual impact of AI and other analytics on marketing and sales.

estimates up to a $5.9 trillion annual impact of AI and other analytics on marketing and sales. PwC sees a truly global effect from AI, with an estimated 14 percent lift in global GDP possible by 2030, a total contribution of $15.7 trillion to the world economy, thanks to both increased productivity and increased consumption.

sees a truly global effect from AI, with an estimated 14 percent lift in global GDP possible by 2030, a total contribution of $15.7 trillion to the world economy, thanks to both increased productivity and increased consumption. In 2021 alone, Gartner projects AI augmentation will create $2.9 trillion of business value, and 6.2 billion hours of worker productivity globally.

projects AI augmentation will create $2.9 trillion of business value, and 6.2 billion hours of worker productivity globally. IDC states that efficiencies driven by AI in CRM could increase global revenues by $1.1 trillion this year, and ultimately lead to more than 800,000 net-new jobs, surpassing those lost to automation.

states that efficiencies driven by AI in CRM could increase global revenues by $1.1 trillion this year, and ultimately lead to more than 800,000 net-new jobs, surpassing those lost to automation. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated AI-poweed digital transformation across businesses. Additional research from McKinsey cites that 25 percent of almost 2,400 business leaders surveyed said they increased AI adoption due to the pandemic.





Our timing couldnt be better, said Andrew Van Noy, CloudCommerce CEO. The market opportunity to apply artificial intelligence to marketing and sales is exploding worldwide. Marketers know that using artificial intelligence is the fastest way to accelerate revenue growth. Mr. Van Noy concluded, Our current SWARM solution has been well accepted by our clients. However, we are moving very rapidly to develop SWARM into a fully cloud hosted software platform that will harness the power of artificial intelligence, machine learning, natural language processing and predictive algorithms to eliminate the inefficiencies, waste and guesswork that is inherent and accepted in todays data driven digital marketing campaigns.

CloudCommerce recently announced that it will change its corporate name to AiAdvertising, Inc. For more information about AiAdvertising, please visit the Companys new website at www.AiAdvertising.com. About CloudCommerce CloudCommerce is a technology driven provider of digital advertising solutions. Our flagship solution, SWARM, analyzes a robust mix of audience data to help businesses find who to talk to, what to say to them, and how to market to them. We do this by applying advanced data science, behavioral science, artificial intelligence, and market research techniques to discover, develop and create custom audiences for highly targeted digital marketing campaigns. For more information about the Company, please visit www.CloudCommerce.com. Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Our actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements are included in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Risk Factors section of our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this release is based only on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

Press Contact: CloudCommerce, Inc. Tel: (800) 673-0927 communications@cloudcommerce.com

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[June 15, 2021] PQShield Awarded as Technology Pioneer by World Economic Forum

- The World Economic Forum announced its selection of the 100 most promising Technology Pioneers of 2021 - companies that are shaping industries from healthcare to retail and many more - This year's cohort includes representation from 26 economies on six continents with reach far beyond traditional tech hubs like Silicon Valley - PQShield, an Oxford University spinout specialising in post-quantum cryptography, made it to the selection for its contributions in the field of cybersecurity LONDON and OXFORD, England, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- PQShield, the Oxford-based cybersecurity company specialising in post-quantum cryptography, was selected among hundreds of candidates as one of the World Economic Forum's "Technology Pioneers". While quantum computers offer huge potential benefits to society, they also pose a significant risk to information security, as they will be able to easily break the public-key encryption widely relied upon today to protect sensitive data. PQShield is pioneering the development and commercial roll-out of advanced, quantum-ready cryptographic solutions for hardware, software and communications, and helping organisations across the globe prepare for the quantum threat. The World Economic Forum's Technology Pioneers are early to growth-stage companies from around the world that are involved in the use of new technologies and innovation that are poised to have a significant impact on business and society. With their selection as Technology Pioneer, CEO and Founder Dr. Ali El Kaafarani will be invited to participate at World Economic Forum activities, events and discussions throughout the year. PQShield will also contribute to Forum initiatives over the next two years, working with global leaders to help address key industry and societal issues. "We're excited to welcome PQShield to our 2021 cohort of Technology Pioneers," says Susan Nesbitt, Head of the Global Innovators Community, World Economic Forum. "PQShield and its fellow pioneers are developing technologies that can help society solve some of its most pressing issues. We look forward to their contribution to the World Economic Forum in its commitment to iproving the state of the world."



"We are thrilled to be acknowledged by the World Economic Forum as a Technology Pioneer", said Dr. Ali El Kaafarani, CEO and Founder of PQShield. "Our inclusion is testament to the huge potential impact of the quantum threat, which is truly global in scale, and to the critical need for action across industries and governments as a new cybersecurity landscape looms large. We look forward to contributing to the Forum's dialogues on this critical issue, as we continue our mission to develop and integrate post-quantum cryptographic solutions that will help society secure its sensitive information now and for years to come." For the first time in the community's history, over 30% of the cohort are led by women. The firms also come from regions all around the world, extending their community far beyond Silicon Valley. This year's cohort includes start-ups from 26 countries, with UAE, El Salvador, Ethiopia and Zimbabwe represented for the first time.

The diversity of these companies extends to their innovations as well. 2021 Tech Pioneer firms are shaping the future by advancing technologies such as AI, IoT, robotics, blockchain, biotechnology and many more. The full list of Technology Pioneers can be found here . Technology Pioneers have been selected based on the community's selection criteria, which includes innovation, impact and leadership as well as the company's relevance with the World Economic Forum's Platforms . All info on this year's Technology Pioneers can be found here: http://wef.ch/techpioneers21 More information on past winners, information on the community and the application link can be found here . About PQShield PQShield is a quantum security company that specialises in post-quantum cryptography, protecting information from today's attacks while readying organisations for the threat landscape of tomorrow. It is the only cybersecurity company that can demonstrate quantum-safe cryptography on chips, in applications and in the cloud, by providing ready-made and tailored IP for secure elements, IoT firmware, PKI and server technologies, and end-user applications. Headquartered in Oxford, with additional teams in the Netherlands and France, its quantum-secure cryptographic solutions work with companies' legacy systems to protect devices and sensitive data now and for years to come. PQShield is principally backed by Kindred Capital, Crane Venture Partners, Oxford Sciences Innovation, and Innovate UK. Its latest white papers are available to read here . www.pqshield.com About World Economic Forum The World Economic Forum, committed to improving the state of the world, is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. ( www.weforum.org ). About the Technology Pioneers The World Economic Forum believes that innovation is critical to the future well-being of society and to driving economic growth. Launched in 2000, the Technology Pioneer community is composed of early to growth-stage companies from around the world that are involved in the design, development and deployment of new technologies and innovations, and are poised to have a significant impact on business and society. The World Economic Forum provides the Technology Pioneers community with a platform to engage with the public- and private-sector leaders and to contribute new solutions to overcome the current crisis and build future resiliency. Press contact pqshield@thisisoutcast.com mhoudek@thisisoutcast.com

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[June 15, 2021] Phonexia Launches Phonexia Orbis - a Game-Changing Audio Investigation Solution for Law Enforcement Agencies

BRNO, Czech Republic, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Phonexia, a Czech company that is a leader in voice biometrics and speech analytics, announces the release of its revolutionary new product for law enforcement agencies, Phonexia Orbis, that allows investigators to perform extremely efficient audio data analyses. Phonexia's extensive experience from hundreds of public security projects from all around the world has given birth to a unique on-premise software solution that extracts sophisticated insights from considerable amounts of audio seamlessly using a precise coupling of Phonexia's innovative voice biometrics and speech analytics technologies, and displays these findings in a modern, important-information-first graphical user interface. "Every single part of the Phonexia Orbis user interface has been designed with an investigator i mind. They are now able to uncover and connect important insights from audio with just a few clicks, manage their notes and findings in one place, run further analyses, and visualize and share the results effortlessly," says Tomas Bia, Orbis Product Manager at Phonexia.



The solution has built in several specific features to make the investigator's life as easy as possible. These features include effortless case management, automatic speaker filtering, the instant generation of reports, automatic skipping of the audio parts that do not contain speech, and easy-to-grasp network map visualization, to name just a few. Besides offering an outstanding investigation-focused interface, Phonexia Orbis provides exceptionally accurate voice biometrics and speech recognition analysis due to its leveraging of Phonexia's latest generation of state-of-the-art deep neural networks. In the upcoming releases, Phonexia Orbis will also support other Phonexia technologies, such as language identification, gender recognition, and speech transcription, to help investigators solve even more investigation challenges.

More information about Phonexia Orbis can be found here: www.phonexia.com/orbis/ About Phonexia Phonexia is a Czech software company that was founded in 2006 with the vision to solve the world's everyday challenges through innovative voice biometrics and speech technologies. Cooperating closely with a renowned speech research group at the Brno University of Technology, Phonexia is transforming the latest scientific breakthroughs into the everyday reality of highly accurate speech and voice biometrics solutions powered by artificial intelligence. Phonexia's portfolio offers advanced solutions for the commercial sector, such as fast verification of clients based on their voice in contact centers, as well as solutions for the public security sector used in more than 60 countries worldwide. Media Contact: Miroslav Jirku, VP of Marketing, press@phonexia.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1530669/Phonexia_Orbis.jpg

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[June 15, 2021] Dedrone Achieves CPNI Certification for Second Year Running

U.K. Centre for Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI) approves Dedrone Technology for Drone Detection and Threat Mitigation SAN FRANCISCO, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Airspace security technology leader Dedrone has been awarded certification from the U.K. Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI) for its counter-drone technology platform DedroneTracker for the second time, following Dedrone's successful certification in 2019. DedroneTracker detects, identifies, and locates drones by using multi-sensor capability combining radio frequency, radar, and optical sensors. The CPNI counter-drone standard enables organizations deemed to be of critical national importance, including refineries, data centers, airports, and ports, to adopt drone detection technology with the assurance that it has been tested rigorously. Dedrone's continued participation and certification with CPNI reflects Dedrone's efficacy and performance in detecting, tracking, and identifying differet drone types for its customers. Dedrone technology was evaluated to detect drones within a specific launch time, consistent and reliable tracking, timely alerts, and notifications, with DedroneTracker software showing reliable information on drone heights, speeds, and ranges.



"Dedrone is pleased to report that DedroneTracker platform has successfully met CPNI's rigorous testing standards for the second time in row," shares Amit Samani, Vice President of Enterprise Sales, Americas & UK at Dedrone. "The challenge of unwanted drones at critical infrastructure sites is complex and unique and will continually evolve as more drones come to market and as drone regulations and laws advance. CPNI has set the standard for global counter-drone technology testing, and any organization protecting against drone threats can take comfort in knowing that Dedrone's technology has successfully been evaluated, tested, and proven to deliver smart airspace security." DedroneTracker 4.5 automatically synthesizes sensor data and provides immediate alerts of unauthorized drone activity, enabling security providers to safeguard their premises. Dedrone's software and radio frequency sensors provide detection, identification, and drone flightpaths. Additional, third-party sensors may be added to the Dedrone system, including Pan-Tilt-Zoom cameras and radar systems providing additional layers of drone information, enabling the user to visually verify the drone and its payload.

About Dedrone Dedrone is the market leader in smart airspace security. Dedrone's counter-drone system is trusted by hundreds of commercial, government, and military customers globally to protect against unauthorized small drones. With flexibility to host on premise, in the cloud or access via Dedrone's Airspace Security-as-a-Service (ASaaS), Dedrone customers can detect, classify, locate and, where authorized, mitigate unauthorized drone threats. Established in 2014, Dedrone is headquartered in San Francisco, with operations in the Washington, D.C.-area, Columbus, Ohio, London, and Germany. For more information about Dedrone and to reach our counter-drone subject matter experts, visit dedrone.com and follow @Dedrone on Twitter, Vimeo, and LinkedIn.? Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1533037/Dedrone_CPNI_Certification.jpg





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[June 15, 2021] EnginZyme awarded as Technology Pioneer 2021 by World Economic Forum

STOCKHOLM, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- EnginZyme, enabling the future of sustainable chemical production, announces that the World Economic Forum has selected it as one of the 2021 Technology Pioneers. This prestigious recognition highlights the company's innovations that address the challenges of the chemical industry in the 21st century. "We are extremely honoured to be acknowledged by such a globally respected organisation," says Karim Engelmark Cassimjee, CEO and co-founder of EnginZyme." Our team is committed to solving one of the fundamental challenges of our time - how to produce chemicals, foods, materials and other products that modern society relies on, in a truly sustainable way. To be acknowledged as a Technology Pioneer confirms the uniqueness of our technology and its potential to play a key role in tackling climate change. We are very excited to become a part of this community and look forward to contributing to the Forum dialogues on this challenge." The World Economic Forum recognises a limited number of companies each year as Technology Pioneers involved in new technologies and innovations that are poised to significantly impact business and society. The Forum incorporates them into its network, aiming to give next-generation innovators a voice in solving global issues and enables them to contribute their ideas in multi-stakeholder meetings. Companies selected in the past include Airbnb, Dropbox, Google and Twitter, as well as Swedish companies Spotify, Tobii Technology and iZettle. "We're excited to welcome EnginZyme to our 2021 cohort of Technology Pioneers," says Susan Nesbitt, Head of the Global Innovators Community, World Economic Forum. "EnginZyme and its fellow pioneers are developing technologies that can help society solve some of its most pressing issues. We look forward to their contribution to the World Economic Forum in its commitment to improving the state of the world." As a Technology Pioneer, EnginZyme's representative Karim Engelmark Cassimjee will be invited to participate in World Economic Forum activities, events and discussions throughout the year. EnginZyme will also contribute to Forum initiatives over the next two years, working with global leaders to help address key industry and societal issues. All info about EnginZyme being appointed Technology Pioneer

All info from World Economic Forum about Technology Pioneers

More information from World Economic Forum on past winners and information on the community About EnginZyme EnginZyme seeks to solve one of the fundamental challenges of our time - how to produce chemicals, foods, materials and other products that modern society relies on, in a truly sustainable way. Its technology platform utilises nature's catalysts, enzymes, by combining the power of biology with the efficiency of the chemical industry in a best-of-both-worlds solution. EnginZyme is backed by Sofinnova Partners, Industrifonden and SEB Greentech VC, and headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden. To learn more, visit http://www.enginzyme.com/ About World Economic Forum: The World Economic Forum, committed to improving the state of the world, is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. (www.weforum.org). About the Technology Pioneers: The World Economic Forum believes that innovation is critical to the future well-being of society and to driving economic growth. Launched in 2000, the Technology Pioneer community is composed of early to growth-stage companies from around the world that are involved in the design, development and deployment of new technologies and innovations, and are poised to have a significant impact on business and society. The World Economic Forum provides the Technology Pioneers community with a platform to engage with the public- and private-sector leaders and to contribute new solutions to overcome the current crisis and build future resiliency. For more information, please contact:

Hanna Laurentz, Director of Communications

E: hanna@enginzyme.com; T: +46 728 902657 CONTACT:

Hanna Laurentz

Director of Communications

hanna@enginzyme.com

+46 728 902657 https://news.cision.com/enginzyme-ab/r/enginzyme-awarded-as-technology-pioneer-2021-by-world-economic-forum,c3367028 The following files are available for download:







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[June 15, 2021] People with stroke, heart conditions want virtual care to continue post-pandemic

Use of technology holds promise but more to do to ensure equitable access OTTAWA, ON, June 15, 2021 /CNW/ - Virtual healthcare has potential to reduce the burden on the healthcare system and provide benefits to patients and caregivers long after COVID-19 related public health measures roll back. Heart & Stroke spoke with experts, reviewed current evidence, surveyed people living with stroke or a heart condition, and funded a telephone poll of Canadians, revealing great promise and a continued desire for virtual healthcare opportunities. Access to virtual healthcare has accelerated over the past 14 months as the pandemic disrupted the healthcare system, allowing patients to stay in touch with healthcare providers and continue progress on their recovery. While this approach to technology is not new the pandemic has accelerated its use, for example in under-utilized areas such as prevention and rehabilitation. According to a new Heart & Stroke online survey* of more than 3000 people living with stroke, heart disease or vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) and caregivers, more than half want the option for virtual appointments in the future, beyond COVID-19  an increase from a similar survey carried out a year prior. The survey also brought to light: Virtual appointments were most often the only option offered during the pandemic.

The number of people who participated in virtual appointments increased during the past year from about five in 10 people attending a virtual appointment at the beginning of the pandemic to about eight in 10 in Spring 2021.

Over half feel competent or very competent using the technology required.

Eight in 10 confirm virtual appointments are convenient and they were able to ask questions and get answers.

Nine in 10 do not have privacy concerns. "As we plan for a post-pandemic future and public health measures begin to lift, virtual healthcare will remain an effective and efficient tool for patients, providers and the healthcare system," says Dr Patrice Lindsay, Director, Health Systems Change, Heart & Stroke. "Virtual care is meant to complement, not replce, in-person visits. But virtual healthcare has enormous potential to provide quality care for people living with stroke or heart conditions as well as reduce the burden on the healthcare system from prevention to acute care, disease management, rehabilitation and end-of-life care."



Research has shown that a virtual healthcare diagnosis can be up to 91% accurate across a wide range of conditions. As well virtual healthcare can improve management for patients with heart failure, chronic coronary artery disease and other chronic conditions. Virtual healthcare has shown to reduce wait times and preliminary studies reveal patients miss fewer of these appointments. Appointments can be booked quickly, it is easier for people with mobility issues or who do not have their transportation and caregivers can conveniently join. Other benefits include decreased travel, less time taken off work and fewer childcare and other costs such as transportation and parking.

"Virtual care has been a blessing. It has allowed me to save the time and energy I would have spent on getting ready and driving or walking to my appointments. Virtual appointments mean that I have more energy for other activities during my day and they are easier to fit into my schedule because I take them from home," says Celine Bedard, a 48 year-old mother of five from Gatineau who had a stroke on March 4, 2020. Virtual care helps beat inequity "Virtual care opens up new options for accessing healthcare especially for people in underserved communities," says Dr Inderveer Mahal, a family doctor in Vancouver. "In remote and northern regions, including Indigenous communities, the growth of virtual care has the potential to redress health inequities by helping people connect to a range of health services without leaving their communities. With the help of outreach workers, people who live in shelters or tents can actually more easily attend virtual appointments  if they are provided the technology and a safe space to do so." There is still much to be done to ensure the full potential of virtual healthcare is realized and everyone across the country can access and benefit from it equally. Some groups continue to face challenges getting healthcare services, including through virtual healthcare. This includes seniors, low-income earners, northern/remote communities, newcomers, Indigenous peoples, people with disabilities, people experiencing homelessness and those with low literacy levels. And for some  including seniors and those with low digital literacy  using technology can be overwhelming. According to a recent public opinion poll** the majority of Canadians (more than seven in 10) want their provincial government to provide funding to improve access to virtual healthcare among groups who face barriers. Additionally, eight in 10 Canadians also want their provincial government to invest in training for healthcare professionals and education for patients around virtual healthcare. "As we plan how we deliver healthcare going forward, Heart & Stroke is committed to working with health systems planners, governments and other partners to ensure the momentum of virtual healthcare is maintained and it becomes embedded in the system in an equitable and person - centred way," says Dr, Lindsay. *Heart & Stroke carried out two online surveys of people living with a heart condition, stroke or vascular cognitive impairment and caregivers. The first survey took place May 8 31, 2020 with a total of 1186 respondents; the second survey took place March 23  April 26, 2021 with a total of 3016 respondents.

**Telephone poll carried out by Sentis Research of 2233 Canadians between April 6  14, 2021 About Heart & Stroke

Life. We don't want you to miss it. That's why Heart & Stroke leads the fight to beat heart disease and stroke. We must generate the next medical breakthroughs, so Canadians don't miss out on precious moments. Together, we are working to prevent disease, save lives and promote recovery through research, health promotion and public policy. SOURCE Heart and Stroke Foundation

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[June 15, 2021] ConTe.it ExtendsTransformation to Claims With Latest Guidewire Deployment

ConTe.it, a car and motorcycle insurance brand, and Italian subsidiary of Admiral Group, and Guidewire Software, Inc. (NYSE: GWRE), the platform general insurers trust to engage, innovate, and grow efficiently, today announced that ConTe.it has implemented Guidewire core applications as part of its continued modernization programme. An existing user of Guidewire's policy administration and billing systems, ConTe.it deployed Guidewire ClaimCenter as its new claims management system in seven months, initially to its Fire and Theft line of business. It also implemented Guidewire DataHub for its enterprise-wide data management in the same timeframe. "The deployment of ClaimCenter is strategic for us to complete the path we started with the adoption of Guidewire PolicyCenter, Guidewire BillingCenter, and Guidewire's digital applications, in particular for intermediaries. It was important for us to have an integrated solution from sales to claims management," said Paolo De Totero, Chief Information Technology, ConTe.it. "The quality of data that DataHub will make available will simplify life for our software engineers and data scientists, providing them with a much more modern architecture." ConTe.it can now: Provide enhanced claims management through faster claims opening, streamlined activities planning, and automated payment;

Manage integrated networks in real time for motor repairs and other outsourced service providers, and

Enable enriched operational reporting through early-stage actuarial data modelling. "Our customer service focus is a keystone for all we do. At ConTe.it we have a huge roadmap and plans for new ranges of varied products," said Paolo Rozzi, Head of Claims & Commercial Operations at ConTe.it. "Through this deployment we are actively preparing ClaimCente to manage a large volume of motor third party liability claims, including regulatory flows, anti-fraud tools, fast settlement functionalities, and many other features. We are already able to reduce risk and offer heightened service to our customers in the products we have deployed."



"ConTe.it have a strong reputation in the Italian market as an agile and innovative carrier that delivers high quality products to their growing customer base," said Laurent Fontaine, Group VP Sales - EMEA, Guidewire. "We congratulate them on their latest successful Guidewire deployment and look forward to our continued partnership." About ConTe.it

ConTe.it is the Italian brand of Admiral Group, the leading car insurance company based in UK, Spain, France and the United States, with over 7 million customers worldwide and a global staff of over 11,000 people. ConTe.it was born in 2008 in Italy and in recent years has stood out for its competitive offer of auto and motorbike insurance products and for the high quality of the customer service that listens and responds clearly and concretely to customers' needs; a strategy that led ConTe.it to overcome the threshold of 800,000 customers. In 2021 ConTe.it is in the special ranking of Great Place to Work Italy in the Large Companies category, reserved to the companies with over 500 employees, confirming itself in the TOP 10 for the eleventh consecutive year. About Guidewire Guidewire is the platform general insurers trust to engage, innovate, and grow efficiently. ?We combine digital, core, analytics, and AI to deliver our platform as a cloud service. More than 400 insurers, from new ventures to the largest and most complex in the world, run on Guidewire. As a partner to our customers, we continually evolve to enable their success. We are proud of our unparalleled implementation track record, with 1,000+ successful projects, supported by the largest R&D team and partner ecosystem in the industry. Our marketplace provides hundreds of applications that accelerate integration, localisation, and innovation. For more information, please visit www.guidewire.com and follow us on twitter: @Guidewire_PandC. NOTE: For information about Guidewire's trademarks, visit https://www.guidewire.com/legal-notices. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005516/en/

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[June 15, 2021] Redi2 and IBM Private Cloud Services Create Winning Solution for Asset Managers

BOSTON, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Redi2 Technologies, Inc., the pioneer of the Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) delivery model for financial services billing solutions, today announced a new collaboration with IBM Private Cloud Services. The Redi2/IBM combination delivers strong added value for Redi2 Revenue Manager clients  the top asset managers globally  through increased overall confidence and exceptional flexibility. IBM's private cloud infrastructure provides global coverage and unsurpassed security. It also enables exceptionally fast reaction options for clients who may need to respond to changing conditions, move data from one country to another or quickly scale their infrastructure requirements. "IBM is a world-class company with a time-tested reputation for excellence that our global clients can embrace. In an increasingly complex technology environment, Redi2's revenue management and billing software in conjunction with IBM's powerful solutions provides a scalable, proactive, high-performance solution for the global financial services industry." Seth Johnson, CEO

Redi2 "We are very excited to work with IBM, as we continue to focus on our strategic expansion efforts and platform innovations for our clients who are licensing Revenue Manager," said Redi2 Senior Vice President David Ritchie. "It has been an absolute pleasure to work with the IBM team. They are highly focused and uniquely experienced in cloud computing that spans the globe. Their engineering acumen and attention to detail ensures that our clients' data is both protected and readily available under every possible scenario." "IBM is a world-class company with a time-tested reputation for excellence that our global clients can embrace. In an increaingly complex technology environment, Redi2's revenue management and billing software in conjunction with IBM's powerful solutions provides a scalable, proactive, high-performance solution for the global financial services industry," said Redi2 Chief Executive Officer Seth Johnson.



Redi2's Revenue Manager enables investment management firms to: Increase fee efficiencies and plug fee leaks

Customize comprehensive reporting capabilities, including a 360-degree client-focused view

Easily integrate existing infrastructure across platforms

Automate custom billing scenarios and customize invoices

Simplify user interface and workflow functionality to minimize errors and increase productivity Investment management firms that would like more information about the IBM Private Cloud Services and Redi2 benefits should contact Bryan Fekety, IBM Public Cloud Sales & Strategic Partnerships, at 312-639-5057 or via email BaFekety@us.ibm.com or Redi2 Director of Business Development Greg Pringle at 781-812-5525 or via email Greg.Pringle@Redi2.com or info@Redi2.com.

About Redi2 Technologies, Inc.

Boston-based Redi2 Technologies, Inc. is hyper-focused in the niche area of financial services billing and has earned the confidence of many of the world's leading financial institutions. Over 750 financial services firms, with aggregated assets under management or administration of over $10 trillion, calculate their complex fee types with Redi2's solutions. The Redi2 team is singularly focused on making billing better for financial services firms and improving its clients' ability to become more successful at servicing their clients so they can collect their revenues faster. To learn more about Redi2's Software as a Service (SaaS) billing solutions, visit www.Redi2.com. Media Contact:

Grace Vogelzang

Impact Communications, Inc.

913-649-5009

GraceVogelzang@ImpactCommunications.org Related Images redi2-and-ibm-private-cloud.jpg

Redi2 and IBM Private Cloud Services Create Winning Solution for Asset Managers

Redi2's revenue management and billing software in conjunction with IBM's powerful solutions provides a scalable, proactive, high-performance solution for the global financial services industry. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/redi2-and-ibm-private-cloud-services-create-winning-solution-for-asset-managers-301312191.html SOURCE Redi2 Technologies

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[June 15, 2021] ZEDEDA Announces Dates for ZEDEDA Transform 2021 Industry Conference for Edge Computing and IoT Ecosystem

ZEDEDA, the leader in orchestration for the distributed edge, today announced that its annual industry conference, ZEDEDA Transform, will be held August 18-19. This marks the second year of the conference, which brings together experts from across the edge computing and IoT landscape to discuss today's trends, challenges and opportunities. The two-day online event is free for anyone to attend and includes executive keynotes plus breakout sessions with industry experts. Speakers include Christian Renaud (451 Research/S&P Global Market Intelligence), Stephanie Atkinson ( Compass (News - Alert) Intelligence), Harry Forbes and Chantal Polsonetti (ARC Advisory), Leonard Lee (neXt Curve), Laurie McCabe (SMB Group), Steve Brummer (151 Advisors), Rob Tiffany (Ericsson), Gary Mintchell (The Manufacturing Connection), Ken Forster (Momenta Partners), Don Deloach (News - Alert) (Rocket Wagon Studios) and more. "It's exciting to bring ZEDEDA Transform back for its second year," said ZEDEDA founder and CEO Said Ouissal. "The feedback we received after last year's event was that it's the only place that brings together an open ecosystem and industry experts covering all aspects of the edge computing and IoT markets." ZEDEDA Transform provides a holistic view of both the opportunities and the practical realities of developing and deploying edge computing solutions. It will feature more than 70 speakers across multiple tracks, with content for both technical and business-oriented participants. Session topics include security, edge AI, digital twin, go-to-market,business model innovation, ecosystem development and open source collaboration. Participating organizations include Advantech, the Eclipse Foundation, Google, HPE, Intel, IOTA, Juniper Networks, the Linux Foundation (News - Alert) , Microsoft, PTC, SAS, VMware and more.



Participants will hear directly from ZEDEDA customers on how they are utilizing edge computing solutions to enhance their business, as well as partners within ZEDEDA's open edge ecosystem as they detail industry-specific solutions in verticals such as oil and gas, renewable energy, manufacturing and retail. "An open edge is required to realize the ultimate potential of digital-interconnected ecosystems that drive new experiences and business models," said ZEDEDA VP of Ecosystem Jason Shepherd. "With Transform, ZEDEDA is collaborating with the industry to help customers solve business challenges today while getting on a path to scale into new revenue opportunities in the future."

New this year is a dedicated track tailored toward the developer community, featuring both panel discussions and hands-on sessions. As part of its offering, ZEDEDA hosts an application marketplace that enables users to easily and securely deploy and maintain apps at the edge, similar to cloud-native experiences. Part of the Day 2 agenda will expose developers and application providers to this unique new market for their software. The developer track will also highlight valuable open source projects that enable orchestration, security, data management and analytics for distributed edge computing solutions. Along with the online event, there will be an optional in-person networking reception at an outdoor venue in the San Francisco Bay Area on the evening of August 18. To register and get more information on the schedule and speakers, go to zededa.com/transform. About ZEDEDA ZEDEDA, the leader in orchestration for the distributed edge, delivers visibility, control and security for edge computing deployments. ZEDEDA enables customers the freedom of deploying and managing any app on any hardware? ?at scale? ?and connecting to any cloud or on-premises systems. Distributed edge solutions require a diverse mix of technologies and domain expertise, and ZEDEDA provides customers with an open, vendor-agnostic orchestration framework that breaks down silos and provides the needed agility and futureproofing as they evolve their connected operations. Customers can now seamlessly orchestrate intelligent applications at the distributed edge to gain access to critical insights, make real-time decisions and maximize operational efficiency. ZEDEDA is a venture-backed Silicon Valley company, headquartered in San Jose, CA (News - Alert) , with teams based in Bangalore and Pune, India and Berlin, Germany. For more information, contact info@zededa.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005294/en/

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[June 15, 2021] Mercato Partners Appoints James Park as Operating Partner for Savory Funds

Mercato Partners (News - Alert) , a leading private equity firm that provides capital and guidance to brands in periods of high growth, today announced that serial innovator and well-respected restaurateur, James Park, has joined the firm's Savory Fund Practice ("Savory") as an operating partner. This appointment follows the recent closing of Savory Fund II, a $100 million investment vehicle devoted to backing emerging and profitable restaurant concepts. Park will utilize his well-curated network, deep understanding of operations within the F&B industry, technology and invaluable experience to partner with the fund's investment professionals to maximize operational implementations and margins within the Savory portfolio. Park brings two decades of restaurant and retail operating experience - both as a franchisee owner/operator and in the C-suite - to Savory and has received multiple accolades for his accomplishments. Most recently, he led Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh, a leading Denver-based Mediterranean fast-casual brand, as Chief Executive Officer from 2015 through its sale to Centre Lane Partners in 2020. During his tenure at GARBANZO, Park led the company to 4 years of consecutive same store sales growth, grew the company to 26 locations across 13 states, and added topline revenue to each unit. Fast Casual magazine recognized GARBANZO as its #4 Movers & Shakers brand in 2019, while QSR Magazine named the restaurant its 40/40 List, which featured 40 brands under 40 units that are "ready to make their mark on fast casual." Park also received several personal accolades for his leadership, including being named one of Nation's Restaurant News Power 40 executives each year from 2016 through 2019, and as one of Fast Casual's Top 25 Most Influential Executives from 2017 through 2019. Denver Business Journal also named Park its Most Admired CEO in 2018. Prior to GARBANZO, Park held executive operating roles at fast-casual chains Which Wich Superior Sandwiches, Charley's Grilled Subs, and Penn Station East Coast Subs, as well as a global marketing role at 7-ELEVEN. He began his career at IBM (News - Alert) Global Services designing and implementing advanced Customer Relationship Management tools for Fortune 500 companies.



"We are fortunate to welcome to Savory one of the best operators in the restaurant industry, James Park," said Andrew K. Smith and Greg Warnock, Managing Partners of the Savory Funds. "From the beginning of our discussions, it was clear that we view the industry similarly and that our combined ideas and philosophy of unlocking maximum value in exciting new brands are completely aligned. James' track record of success will be a tremendous resource to our team as we continue to grow our current portfolio and add new and exciting brands in Fund II." "I am thrilled to be joining Savory, who is fast becoming the leading financial sponsor for early stage emerging brands in the food and beverage industry," said Park. "In just a few years, they have built an enviable track record with five incredible companies, and I am excited to support the firm's existing portfolio brands, identify new brands and help build out many more."

"The Savory team and I are strongly aligned in the execution of our strategy - everything from financing, design, operations, customer experience and most importantly, how to treat employees. Savory was able to navigate through the pandemic without laying off or furloughing a single team member, which speaks volumes to their priorities. I am a big believer in the Savory playbook for growth and operational excellence, and I look forward to hitting the ground running," added Park. In addition to his executive roles, Park is a leader in his community and wants to see others succeed in the industry and benefit from his expertise. Park is the founder of Korean American Retail Executives (K.A.R.E.), a professional organization. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from St. Louis University and is fluent in Korean and Spanish. About Savory Funds The Savory Funds, managed by Mercato Partners, focus on delivering outsized returns through strategic investments in the food and beverage industry. Savory partners with high-potential, profitable, emerging restaurant brands, to deliver financial capital, industry expertise, revenue opportunities, profitability enhancements, and new location development. The Savory team contributes directly to all aspects of growth and replication by using a proven playbook and methodology. For more Information, visit www.savoryfund.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005386/en/

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[June 15, 2021] Ault Global Holdings Announces Ault & Company, Inc. Has Agreed to Acquire 1,000,000 Shares of Its Common Stock

Ault Global Holdings, Inc. (NYSE American: DPW) a diversified holding company (the "Company"), announced that Ault & Company, Inc., a Delaware corporation, has agreed to acquire 1,000,000 shares of the Company's common stock at a price of $2.99 per share, or $0.05 higher than the closing price from Thursday, June 10, 2021. The transaction is subject to approval by the NYSE American. Milton "Todd" Ault, III, the Company's Executive Chairman, stated, "This purchase of common stock by Ault & Company demonstrates belief in the progress being achieved by the Company and its subsidiaries, the strength and value of the assets of Ault Global Holdings today, and the confidence in our ability to increase shareholder value." Ault & Company, Inc. is a private holding company controlled by Mr. Ault. For more information on Ault Global Holdings and its subsidiaries, the Company recommends that stockholders, investors and any other interested parties read the Company's public filings with the SEC (News - Alert) , available at www.sec.gov, and pressreleases available under the Investor Relations section at www.AultGlobal.com.



About Ault Global Holdings, Inc. Ault Global Holdings, Inc. is a diversified holding company pursuing growth by acquiring undervalued businesses and disruptive technologies with a global impact. Through its wholly and majority-owned subsidiaries and strategic investments, the Company provides mission-critical products that support a diverse range of industries, including defense/aerospace, industrial, automotive, telecommunications, medical/biopharma, and textiles. In addition, the Company extends credit to select entrepreneurial businesses through a licensed lending subsidiary. Ault Global Holdings' headquarters are located at 11411 Southern Highlands Parkway, Suite 240, Las Vegas, NV 89141; www.AultGlobal.com.

Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements generally include statements that are predictive in nature and depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, and include words such as "believes," "plans," "anticipates," "projects," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "strategy," "future," "opportunity," "may," "will," "should," "could," "potential," or similar expressions. Statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any of them publicly in light of new information or future events. Actual results could differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement as a result of various factors. More information, including potential risk factors, that could affect the Company's business and financial results are included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, the Company's Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K. All filings are available at www.sec.gov and on the Company's website at www.AultGlobal.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005420/en/

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[June 15, 2021] Wayfair Partners with Community Solutions, Supports Built for Zero Movement to Help End Homelessness Across North America

Wayfair Inc. (NYSE:W), one of the world's largest destinations for the home, today announced its partnership with Community Solutions, a leading non-profit organization working to achieve a lasting end to homelessness. As part of its long-term partnership, Wayfair will donate an initial $1 million by the end of the year to support the organization's Built for Zero movement, which helps communities leverage data-driven strategies to create systems that can measurably and equitably end homelessness. "At Wayfair, we believe that everyone deserves the safety, security and comfort of having a place to call home, and we are committed to making that goal a reality in partnership with Community Solutions," noted Niraj Shah, CEO, co-founder and co-chairman, Wayfair. "As a technology company, leveraging data to solve hard problems is in our DNA, and we are proud to support Built for Zero communities as they apply data-driven strategies and innovative solutions to prove that ending homelessness is possible today and for future generations." Partnering with 89 communities in the U.S. to date, the Built for Zero initiative has helped 14 communities reach functional zero, a rigorous standard for ending homelessness for a population. The initiative has also helped 46 communities drive a reduction in homelessness and helped communities house more than 137,000 people. With an initial donation of $1 million, Wayfair's support will contribute to the efforts of 89 communities to reduce homelessness and help increase the number of communities at functional zero to 20 within a year. Wayfair's commitment will also contribute to supporting 39 communities in Built for Zero Canada, an initiative driven by the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness.



"Communities are proving that homelessness is solvable, and that corporate partners have a powerful role to play in accelerating the movement to end homelessness," said Rosanne Haggerty, President of Community Solutions. "We are incredibly excited and grateful that Wayfair is supporting the Built for Zero movement and investing in an equitable future where homelessness is rare overall and brief when it occurs." Through its long-term partnership, Wayfair will launch a variety of initiatives spanning cash and in-kind donations, as well as fundraising and volunteer programs, bringing together its customers, supplier partners and employees to help create safe spaces for communities in need across North America. Beginning in August, Wayfair customers will have the opportunity to make a direct donation to Community Solutions, which supports the Built for Zero movement, at Wayfair.com or make a donation at checkout. Wayfair will also host promotional events to raise critical funds each year. In collaboration with its supplier partners, Wayfair will also provide a variety of furnishings and home essentials to residents in Built for Zero communities.

About Community Solutions Community Solutions is a nonprofit committed to creating a lasting end to homelessness that leaves no one behind. It leads Built for Zero, a movement of more than 80 communities in the United States working to measurably end homelessness. Using a data-driven methodology, these communities have changed how local systems work and the impact they can achieve. To date, 14 communities have reached a milestone known as functional zero, a milestone for ending homelessness for a population. Learn more at www.community.solutions or follow us at @CmtySolutions. About Wayfair Wayfair is the destination for all things home: helping everyone, anywhere create their feeling of home. From expert customer service, to the development of tools that make the shopping process easier, to carrying one of the widest and deepest selections of items for every space, style, and budget, Wayfair gives everyone the power to create spaces that are just right for them. The Wayfair family of sites includes: ? Wayfair - Everything home for every budget. ? Joss & Main - Stylish designs to discover daily. ? AllModern - The best of modern, priced for real life. ? Birch Lane - Classic home. Comfortable cost. ? Perigold - The widest-ever selection of luxury home furnishings. Wayfair generated $15.3 billion in net revenue for the twelve months ended March 31, 2021. Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts with operations throughout North America and Europe, Wayfair employs more than 16,200 people. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005411/en/

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[June 15, 2021] Spotlite360 Technologies, Inc. Commences Trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange

DENVER and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SPOTLITE360 TECHNOLOGIES, INC. (Spotlite360 or the Company) (CSE: LITE) is pleased to announce that as of the date hereof, the Company has satisfied all requirements for its common shares (the Common Shares) to be listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange (the CSE). As of market open today, Spotlite360s Common Shares will begin trading on the CSE under the ticker symbol LITE. In a recent press release the Company announced that on May 25, 2021 it had received conditional approval to list its Common Shares on the CSE subject to completing customary listing requirements. This development followed the Companys acquisition of supply chain innovator Captios, LLC, which is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Spotlite360.

Captios was founded by a group of supply chain and healthcare executives and is focused on the delivery of a SaaS-based supply chain execution and sustainability platform (the Spotlite360 Software) for enterprise customers in the pharmaceutical, healthcare, and agricultural industries. By leveraging IoT technologies, blockchain, machine learning, and analytics, the Spotlite360 Software is uniquely positioned to meet customer needs for supply chain execution, tracing, tracking, and sustainability. Potential benefits of the Spotlite360 Software when utilized in a companys supply chain include improved transparency, reduction in loss and theft, increased supply chain velocity, labour efficiency, improved asset utilization, and support of global sustainability initiatives. Spotlite360 is focusing on the healthcare, pharmaceutical, and agriculture industries where suppliers, manufacturers, and consumers in these industries are demanding improved visibility and information related to ESG (environmental, social, and governance) considerations. Additionally, within each of these industries there is increased pressure for companies to meet regulatory and compliance mandates. More information regarding Spotlite360s acquisition of Captios can be found in the Companys non-offering prospectus dated May 26, 2021, available on the Companys SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com . Spotlite360 President Jim Greenwell commented, Being listed on the CSE is a wonderful early-stage development for the Company as we work towards gaining visibility in the capital markets. The current resurgence of blockchain technologies reflects a much higher level of acceptance among enterprise players, especially for supply chain applications. There are many milestones we plan to hit in the year 2021, and we look forward to enabling investors to join us in our mission to set new standards in supply chains around the globe. On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company, Spotlite360 Technologies Inc. Jim Greenwell Jim Greenwell, President For more information about Spotlite360, please visit: http://spotlite360.com



Charles Lee

Investor Relations and Media Inquiries

+1 (604) 687-2038

ir@spotlite360.com THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE (CSE) HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS RELEASE, NOR HAS OR DOES THE CSES REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER.

About Spotlite360 Technologies Inc. Spotlite360 is a logistics technologies developer unlocking value, opportunities, and efficiencies for all participants in a supply chain. Building upon existing applications of IoT technologies, distributed ledgers, and machine learning, Spotlite360 endeavours to set new standards of transparency, integrity, and sustainability in the pharmaceutical, healthcare, and agriculture industries. As regulators across the globe begin to impose new tracing and accountability requirements for the protection of consumers (e.g., DSCSA and FSMA from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration), the need for reliable, cost-effective, and versatile tracking technology is expected to grow considerably. Spotlite360s flagship SaaS solution has been engineered to seamlessly track the movement of a product by integrating with systems of all major stakeholders in a supply chain ranging from the raw materials to the hands of the end consumer. With a primary objective of onboarding new clients in 2021, Spotlite360 plans to explore innovative use cases for its proprietary stack of technologies which could transform logistics workflows in some of the worlds largest industries. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation, with respect to the Company. The forward-looking information included in this news release is not based on historical facts, but rather on the expectations of the Companys management regarding the future growth of the Resulting Issuer, its results of operations, performance, business prospects, and opportunities. This news release uses words such as will, expects, anticipates, intends, plans, believes, estimates, or similar expressions to identify forward-looking information. Such forward-looking information reflects the current beliefs of the Companys management, based on information currently available to them. This forward-looking information includes, among other things, statements relating to: the intentions, plans and future actions of the Company; statements relating to the business and future activities of the Company; anticipated developments in operations of the Company; market position, ability to compete, and future financial or operating performance of the Company; the timing and amount of funding required to execute the business plans of the Company; capital expenditures of the Company; the effect on the Company, of any changes to existing or new legislation or policy or government regulation; the length of time required to obtain permits, certifications and approvals; the availability of labour; estimated budgets; currency fluctuations; requirements for additional capital; limitations on insurance coverage; the timing and possible outcome of regulatory and permitting matters; goals; strategies; future growth; the adequacy of financial resources; our expectations regarding revenues, expenses and anticipated cash needs. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, intentions, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances contain forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by the Company in light of the experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, and expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate, and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Although the Company believes that the assumptions underlying these statements are reasonable, they may prove to be incorrect, and there can be no assurance that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. Given these risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, prospective investors should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Whether actual results, performance, or achievements will conform to the expectations and predictions of the Company is subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors, including those listed in the Company's non-offering prospectus dated May 26, 2021. If any of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results might vary materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements. Information contained in forward-looking statements in this news release is provided as of the date of this news release, and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information or future events or results, except to the extent required by applicable securities laws. Accordingly, potential investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or the information contained in those statements. All of the forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by the foregoing cautionary statements. Statement Regarding Third-Party Investor Relations Firms Disclosures relating to investor relations firms retained by Spotlite360 Technologies Inc. can be found under the Company's profile on http://sedar.com .



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[June 15, 2021] DE-CIX New York Enhanced With Business-Class Connectivity to Microsoft Services

DE-CIX, the world's leading carrier and data center neutral Internet Exchange operator, announces that its global collaboration with Microsoft (News - Alert) is expanding to DE-CIX New York, which is now offering enhanced business-class connectivity to the Microsoft Azure Peering Service. The Microsoft Azure Peering Service is a solution to provide highly reliable and optimized Internet connectivity to Microsoft's SaaS (News - Alert) services, including Microsoft 365 and Dynamics 365. Furthermore, the service also provides Internet latency telemetry and route monitoring, with security alerts against hijacks, leaks and any other Border Gateway (News - Alert) Protocol (BGP) misconfigurations. DE-CIX New York offers this service through its market leading multi-service interconnection platform. Once connected, large enterprises and ISPs serving enterprises benefit from DE-CIX's (News - Alert) business class interconnection services to improve the user experience for Microsoft SaaS services. Through DE-CIX, the Microsoft Azure Peering Service provides adedicated, controlled, secured and direct connection to the Microsoft network with the benefits of high availability, low latency, and bandwidth.



"As more businesses rely on cloud-based solutions and distributed networking offered by Microsoft, it is important to DE-CIX to ensure the best access to services for its connected networks and their enterprise customers. Now DE-CIX New York can support users of Microsoft SaaS services such as Microsoft 365 and Dynamics 365 with the Microsoft Azure Peering Service. This partnership illustrates our commitment to improving the quality of the Internet and access to providers in the most direct and effective way possible. Connected customers will benefit from low latency, high bandwidth and excellent network connectivity, closer to enterprises and to the end user," comments Dr. Thomas King, Chief Technology Officer at DE-CIX. More information can be found here.

DE-CIX New York is the largest neutral Internet Exchange in the market and is one of the top five IXs in North America, with peak traffic of nearly 1 terabit per second (Tbps). Throughout the world, DE-CIX operates Internet Exchanges in close to 30 metropolitan regions. DE-CIX interconnects over 2,300 network operators (carriers), Internet service providers (ISPs), content providers, and enterprise networks from more than 100 countries, offering peering, cloud, and interconnection services. DE-CIX Frankfurt is one of the world's leading Internet Exchanges with peak traffic of more than 10 terabits per second and more than 1,000 connected networks. About DE-CIX DE-CIX (German Commercial Internet Exchange) is the world's leading operator of Internet Exchanges. In total, at its 28 locations in Europe, North America, the Middle East, and Asia, DE-CIX interconnects over 2300 network operators (carriers), Internet service providers (ISPs), content providers, and enterprise networks from more than 100 countries, offering peering, cloud, and interconnection services. The combined connected customer capacity of all DE-CIX locations worldwide exceeds 75 Terabits, making it the largest neutral interconnection ecosystem in the world. DE-CIX in Frankfurt, Germany, with a data throughput of more than 10 Terabits per second (Tbps) and over 1000 connected networks, is one of the largest Internet Exchanges in the world. Further information at www.de-cix.net. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005026/en/

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[June 15, 2021] Symphony RetailAI Named as a Representative Vendor in the 2021 Gartner Market Guide for Retail Assortment Management Applications: Long Life Cycle Products

DALLAS, June 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Symphony RetailAI, a leading global provider of integrated AI-powered marketing, merchandising and supply chain solutions for FMCG retailers and manufacturers, today announced that it was recognized as a Representative Vendor in the 2021 Gartner Market Guide for Retail Assortment Management Applications: Long Life Cycle Products [1] (Gartner subscription required). Symphony RetailAI is one of 13 vendors named in the report that offer applications for retailers seeking to improve assortment processes for long life cycle products.

In its report, Gartner recognizes that its volume of retailer inquiries on the topic of Retail Assortment Management Applications (RAMA) remains significant, estimating that basic Excel is still the most common assortment management tool, used by over 30% of Tier 1 retailers and likely boasting an even larger penetration in Tier 2 grocery and specialty retailers. Gartner says, Category management processes can no longer operate in organizational or technology silos, requiring complex orchestration across all core processes, such as category review and assortment planning, pricing, space management, allocation, replenishment, and supply chain. [1] Furthermore, according to the Market Guide, AI enablement is key to the future of RAMA solutions. It notes, AI provides the ability to quickly discern patterns from voluminous data residing in many different systems to give the retailer good customer insights on trends, better forecasting and predictive analytics. [1] Symphony RetailAIs RAMA offerings fall into three solution suites: Agile Merchandising, Floor Intelligence and Shelf Intelligence. Enhanced and differentiated by CINDE, Symphony RetailAIs Al-powered Customer INsights and Decision Engine, each application harnesses the power of AI to gain efficiencies in category planning processes. AI is used to plan and optimize the decisions of the complete category management process, recognizing physical constraints and digital opportuniies. Further, Symphony RetailAIs Shelf Intelligence solution maximizes planogram ROI and improves compliance.



Symphony RetailAIs enterprise AI platform powers Intelligent Clustering and Assortment Optimization  these solutions enable localized, consumer-centric assortments aligned with changes in consumer demand, rather than waiting for calendar-based resets. This is something Gartner notes as a Key Finding in the Market Guide: Retailers are moving from annual or semiannual category review processes to more frequent adjustments that eliminate disruptive floor resets and take advantage of market opportunities when they occur. [1] Interestingly, a recent study commissioned by Symphony RetailAI found that while grocery executives would like to double the number of category resets annually, 68% say they lack the effective systems required to plan and implement more frequent resets. Through the use of Symphony RetailAIs applications for assortment management and optimization, our retail clients are realizing millions of dollars in revenue and margin growth, with 30 times more efficient assortment revisions and a three-fold reduction in category reset cycle times, said Cheryl Sullivan, Chief Product Officer, Symphony RetailAI. We believe that our inclusion in Gartner Market Guide for Retail Assortment Management Applications: Long Life Cycle Products speaks to our category planning expertise, as well as our solutions ability to deliver collaborative workflows resulting in more intelligent assortments and category resets. This will be increasingly important with retailers supporting cross-channel assortments as we emerge from the pandemic and customer demand fluctuates.

View the Market Guide for Retail Assortment Management Applications: Long Life Cycle Products here (Gartner subscription required). Learn more about Symphony RetailAI Floor Intelligence, Agile Merchandising and Shelf Intelligence. [1] Gartner, Market Guide for Retail Assortment Management Applications: Long Life Cycle Products, Robert Hetu, 25 May 2021 Disclaimer:

Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartners research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. About Symphony RetailAI

Symphony RetailAI is a leading global provider of role-specific, AI-powered revenue growth management solutions and customer-centric insights for retailers and CPG manufacturers across the entire value chain. Our proven, industry-leading, AI-enabled software, coupled with the industrys only conversational natural-language AI interface, CINDE, provides key users with proven prescriptive and preemptive recommendations that make it easy to identify end-to-end growth opportunities, activate plans and realize measurable profit and revenue growth. Our solutions are specific to key decision-maker roles focused on profitable growth across the retail value chain from source to consumer. With our strong global partner ecosystem, we serve more than 1,200 organizations worldwide  including 15 of the top 25 global grocery retailers, 25 of the top 25 global CPG manufacturers, thousands of retail brands, and hundreds of national and regional chains  all through the Microsoft Azure Cloud. Symphony RetailAI is a SymphonyAI company. More at Symphony RetailAI. About SymphonyAI

SymphonyAI is building the leading Enterprise AI company for the digital transformation of the business enterprise, across the most important and resilient growth verticals, including life sciences, healthcare, retail, consumer packaged goods, financial services, manufacturing and media. In each of these verticals SAI businesses have many of the leading enterprises as clients. SAI is backed by a $1 billion commitment from Dr. Romesh Wadhwani, a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist. Since its founding in 2017, SymphonyAI has grown rapidly to a combined revenue run rate of more than $300 million and over 2,200 talented leaders, data scientists, and other professionals. More at SymphonyAI. Media Contact

Adrienne Newcomb

Ketner Group Communications (for Symphony RetailAI)

adrienne@ketnergroup.com





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[June 15, 2021] Renesas Extends Support for Microsoft Azure RTOS Across 32-bit MCU Families With Simple Licensing for Secure Embedded IoT Development

Renesas Electronics Corporation (TSE:6723), a premier supplier of advanced semiconductor solutions, today announced that customers designing with all mainstream Renesas 32-bit MCU families now have access to Microsoft Azure Real-Time Operating System (RTOS) embedded development suite, including its powerful Azure IoT middleware. Azure RTOS is integrated and available out-of-box in the recently released Flexible Software Package (FSP) version 3.0 for the Renesas' RA Family MCUs, and the Synergy (News - Alert) Software Package (SSP) version 2.0 for Synergy MCUs. Azure RTOS support for Renesas' RX Family is provided through the e2 studio integrated development environment. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005481/en/ Renesas extends support for Microsoft (News - Alert) Azure RTOS across 32-bit MCU families (Graphic: Business Wire) Microsoft Azure RTOS includes Azure RTOS ThreadX, an advanced real-time operating system designed specifically for deeply embedded applications. Among the multiple benefits it provides are real-time multithreading, inter-thread communication and synchronization, and memory management. Azure RTOS ThreadX offers advanced features, including picokernel architecture, preemption-threshold, event chaining, and a rich set of system services. "We have reached a critical milestone in our collaboration with Microsoft and are excited to be able to offer our customers access to this industry-leading RTOS platform across our 32-bit MCU lines," said Roger Wendelken, Senior Vice President in the IoT and Infrastructure Business Unit at Renesas. "We've worked hard to ensure this integration enables a seamless developer experience with access to pre-integrated project templates and smart configurators. This integration leverages unique capabilities of our Secure Crypto Engine, enabling a highly robust security foundation." "Empowering developers is one of the most effective ways for organizations to unlock innovation and increase time to value" said Sam George, Corporate Vice President, Azure IoT at Microsoft Corp. "This is the ambition of the integration of Azure RTOS with Renesas' FSP and SSP software packages-this step forward marries Renesas' leading development experience with the secure, scalable, and open edge-to-cloud IoT capabilities of our Azure IoT platform. There's never been a better time to build on Renesas' 32-bit family of MCUs." In addition to Azure RTOS ThreadX, designers of RA, RX and Synergy applications will have access to the following middleware stacks: Azure RTOS FileX high-performance File Allocation Table (FAT)-compatible file system

Azure RTOS GUIX embedded graphical user interface (GUI) application design envionment

Azure RTOS TraceX Windows-based analysis tool

Azure RTOS NetX Duo industrial-grade dual IPv4 and IPv6 TCP/IP network stack

Azure RTOS USBX high performance USB host and embedded stack



, Cellular, Ultra-wideband, and Wi-Fi 6/6e. These Azure Certified kits will be available through the Azure Device Catalog. A video featuring Renesas and Microsoft executives capturing the significance of the collaboration is available at https://aka.ms/MicrosoftAzureRTOS/Renesas/MCU/Release. About Renesas' Flexible Software Package

The easy-to-use Flexible Software Package (FSP), which includes a best-in-class HAL driver, supports Renesas' high-performance RA Family MCUs based on 32-bit Arm Cortex-M processors. The FSP uses a GUI to simplify and dramatically accelerate the development process, while also making it easy for customers to transition from an original 8/16-bit MCU design. A video previewing the FSP developer experience with Azure RTOS is available at https://aka.ms/MicrosoftAzureRTOS/RenesasFSP/Video. About Renesas' Synergy Software Package The Synergy Software Package (SSP) is a tightly integrated, optimized, and qualified suite of software that scales with end-product complexity and simplifies complex system-level services. SSP components are tightly integrated, optimized, tested, documented, and maintained by Renesas. A layered architecture enables developers to write their application with the Application Framework using common APIs, or by directly connecting to the device driver level as needed. About Renesas Electronics Corporation Renesas Electronics Corporation (TSE: 6723) delivers trusted embedded design innovation with complete semiconductor solutions that enable billions of connected, intelligent devices to enhance the way people work and live. A global leader in microcontrollers, analog, power, and SoC products, Renesas provides comprehensive solutions for a broad range of automotive, industrial, Infrastructure, and IoT applications that help shape a limitless future. Learn more at renesas.com. Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. (Remarks) Bluetooth is a registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG, Inc. Arm and Arm Cortex are trademarks or registered trademarks of Arm Limited in the EU and other countries. All names of products or services mentioned in this press release are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005481/en/

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[June 15, 2021] Credijusto Becomes the First Mexican Fintech to Acquire a Bank

Credijusto, the leading technology-enabled lending platform in Mexico, announced today the acquisition of Banco Finterra, a Mexico City-based bank that specializes in financing solutions for small businesses and the agriculture sector. Credijusto is the first Mexican fintech to acquire a regulated bank, becoming the only neobank in Latin America focused on serving small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The company's expansion reflects a global trend of fintech firms acquiring regulated banks to enable more diversified product offerings. The acquisition doubles the size of its business and quickly accelerates Credijusto's growth. Over the past year, Mexico has seen strong demand for technology-enabled lending solutions as COVID-19 created heightened need for credit and traditional banks have struggled to adapt to the new digital reality. With the addition of Banco Finterra, the company is positioned to become the largest financial services provider to small businesses in Mexico as well as the leader in cross-border banking solutions between the U.S. and Mexico. As the largest trading partner to the U.S., Mexico is an increasingly important economic and strategic ally. "Our acquisition of Banco Finterra creates the first truly digital banking platform for Mexican SMEs," said Allan Apoj, Co-CEO of Credijusto. "This acquisition marks a major milestone in Mexico and the region, and we are proud to be revolutionizing the future of banking in Latin America." The combined businesses have lent over $2 billion to underserved SMEs, while Credijust has raised more than $400 million in equity and debt from a leading group of global investors including Goldman Sachs, Credit Suisse, Point72 Ventures, New Residential Investment Corp., Kaszek, QED Investors and John Mack. In a market where banks are slow to innovate and focused on corporate clients, Credijusto, which was founded in 2015, has developed a multi-product offering using a combination of cutting-edge software design, innovative applications of data science, and advanced internal processes. The company's better-priced products, faster delivery and superior customer experience help to address financial inclusion and a $164 billion SME financing gap in the Mexican market.



"By combining our proprietary software and data science expertise with Finterra's banking capabilities, we are building a next generation financial services business," said David Poritz, Co-CEO of Credijusto. "Our acquisition will also enable a digital cross-border experience to the thousands of businesses engaged in commerce between the U.S. and Mexico, an opportunity that we see as a major driver of growth for Credijusto." Mark McCoy, CEO of Banco Finterra, said: "We are very excited for this next phase of the bank and the benefits to come for Mexican businesses, leveraging Credijusto's technology, agility and service."

With 6 million SMEs in Mexico, which generate over 50 percent of the country's GDP and employ over 70 percent of the active workforce, Credijusto will continue to play a crucial role in the growth of Mexico's economy. About Credijusto Founded in 2015, Credijusto is a financial technology company focused on lending to the underserved and rapidly growing small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) market in Mexico - via products that are superior in price, speed of delivery and quality of customer experience. The company uses a combination of cutting-edge software design, innovative applications of data science and advanced internal processes for decision making and product structuring. Credijusto is backed by a world-class group of institutional investors, including Goldman Sachs, Credit Suisse, Point72 Ventures, New Residential Investment Corp., Kaszek, QED Investors and John Mack. About Banco Finterra Banco Finterra is a regulated bank based in Mexico City and known for its comprehensive services for the agricultural sector and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Mexico. The bank provides high-quality credit products and flexible investment products to SMEs. Banco Finterra was established in 2016 as part of the transformation of Grupo Finterra S.A de C.V., Sociedad Financiera de Objeto Multiple. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005442/en/

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[June 15, 2021] Journera Awarded as Technology Pioneer by World Economic Forum

CHICAGO, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Journera, the real-time data exchange platform for creating more seamless travel, today announced that it has been named one of the World Economic Forum's "Technology Pioneers". The World Economic Forum's Technology Pioneers are early to growth-stage companies from around the world that are involved in the use of new technologies and innovation that are poised to have a significant impact on business and society. Previous Technology Pioneers have included: Slack (2016), Airbnb (2014), Dropbox (2012), Spotify (2011), Twitter (2010) and Google (2002). Journera's World Economic Forum honor followed their recent recognition as a 2021 'World's Most Innovative Company' by Fast Company. With their selection as a Technology Pioneer, Journera CEO Jeffrey Katz has been invited to participate at World Economic Forum activities, events and discussions throughout the year. Journera will also contribute to Forum initiatives over the next two years, working with global leaders to help address key industry and societal issues. "We're excited to welcome Journera to our 2021 cohort of Technology Pioneers," said Susan Nesbitt, Head of the Global Innovators Community, World Economic Forum. "Journera and its fellow pioneers are developing technologies that can help society solve some of its most pressing issues. We look forward to their contribution to the World Economic Forum in its commitment to improving the state of the world." "We are pleased to be recognized as a pioneering company by the World Economic Forum," said Jeffrey Katz, CEO, Journera. "It is a confirmation that our technology platform and approach to seamless travel is unique and has the potential to change the global travel experience for the better." For the first time in the communiy's history, over 30% of the cohort are led by women. The firms also come from regions all around the world, extending their community far beyond Silicon Valley. This year's cohort includes start-ups from 26 countries, with UAE, El Salvador, Ethiopia and Zimbabwe represented for the first time.



The diversity of these companies extends to their innovations as well. 2021 Tech Pioneer firms are shaping the future by advancing technologies such as AI, IoT, robotics, blockchain, biotechnology and many more. The full list of Technology Pioneers can be found here. Technology Pioneers have been selected based on the community's selection criteria, which includes innovation, impact and leadership as well as the company's relevance with the World Economic Forum's Platforms.

All info on this year's Technology Pioneers can be found here: http://wef.ch/techpioneers21 More information on past winners, information on the community and the application link can be found here. About Journera

Journera is a technology company that provides a secure, real-time data exchange for creating more seamless travel journeys. Through its platform, Journera creates a complete view of the traveler's journey in real-time, enabling travel-related companies to create better travel experiences that drive increased loyalty and direct engagement with customers. Journera was recognized as a 2021 'World's Most Innovative Company' by Fast Company. For more information, visit www.journera.com. About World Economic Forum

The World Economic Forum, committed to improving the state of the world, is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. (www.weforum.org). About the Technology Pioneers

The World Economic Forum believes that innovation is critical to the future well-being of society and to driving economic growth. Launched in 2000, the Technology Pioneer community is composed of early to growth-stage companies from around the world that are involved in the design, development and deployment of new technologies and innovations, and are poised to have a significant impact on business and society. The World Economic Forum provides the Technology Pioneers community with a platform to engage with the public- and private-sector leaders and to contribute new solutions to overcome the current crisis and build future resiliency. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/journera-awarded-as-technology-pioneer-by-world-economic-forum-301312649.html SOURCE Journera

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[June 15, 2021] Velocity Solutions Announces CIBC Bank USA Has Selected the Akouba Digital Lending Platform

Velocity Solutions, LLC announced that CIBC Bank USA will use Velocity's digital lending platform to support its small business banking division. Akouba's secure cloud-based SaaS (News - Alert) platform reduces the cost and time and risk of originating loans, while increasing the profitability of each loan. Financial institutions retain control over the decision, the pricing, the credit policy, the risk metrics, the loan dollars and the borrower experience. "We've made tremendous progress with the platform since we acquired Akouba in June 2018," said Mike Triggiano, EVP of Product Management at Velocity Solutions. "We're continually refining the platform and adding new features and functionality. It's been a thrill to enhance Akouba's industry-leading technology over the past two years, and the opportunity to add CIBC Bank USA to our growing list of clients is definitely one of the most exciting milestones in Akouba's history to date." "At CIBC, we are building an innovative, relatinship-focused bank," said Brant Ahrens, President of Retail and Digital Banking and Head of U.S. Strategy and Administration. "Akouba gives our small business clients the ability to seek financing on any device at any time in any place that is convenient for them. Combining the flexibility of Akouba with the insight and expertise of our relationship bankers positions CIBC to help our clients make their ambitions a reality."



To learn more about Akouba's digital lending platform, visit: www.myvelocity.com/akouba. About Akouba by Velocity Solutions, LLC

Akouba by Velocity Solutions is a secure, cloud-based digital lending platform for retail and commercial lending. The Akouba platform was built to reduce end-to-end time of loan origination, increase profits and give both borrowers and financial institutions a streamlined experience. Akouba is the only small business loan origination platform endorsed by the American Bankers Association (ABA).

Founded in 1995 and servicing the transaction accounts of over 30 million consumers and business owners, Velocity Solutions is the leading provider of revenue-driving solutions for community banks and credit unions. Our Velocity Intelligent Platform powers Akouba and all of Velocity's solutions, using machine-led intelligence that delivers powerful analytics and drives revenue, loans, account holder engagement and non-interest income to our client financial institutions. For more information, please visit: www.myvelocity.com/akouba. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005797/en/

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[June 15, 2021] Solar Project with City of Madison and Madison Metropolitan School District Approved

Madison Gas and Electric (MGE) has received approval from the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) for an 8-megawatt (MW) solar array to be built in Madison. Known as the Hermsdorf Solar project, it will provide locally generated solar energy to the City of Madison and the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) under MGE's innovative Renewable Energy Rider (RER). "Clean energy is important to MGE, to our partners on this project and to our community. Hermsdorf Solar will add 8 megawatts of locally generated, cost-effective, carbon-free energy to our electric grid," said MGE Chairman, President and CEO Jeff Keebler. "This partnership between MGE, the City of Madison and MMSD is another great example of how working together we can advance shared energy goals and achieve net-zero carbon electricity for all of our customers by 2050." "The Hermsdorf Solar project, in partnership with MGE and MMSD, will take the City of Madison one step closer to the goal of 100% renewable energy," said Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway. "We thank the Public Service Commission for moving this project forward and look forward to flipping the switch on 5 MW of Madison's clean energy later this year." "The groundbreaking for this project signifies a significant step towards achieving our district's renewable energy goals for the future," said Madison Metropolitan School District Superintendent, Dr. Carlton D. Jenkins. "With a focus on mitigating climate change to the benefit of our community, our studnts, staff and board of education worked collaboratively to establish goals to meet 50% of all MMSD's energy needs with renewable energy by 2030, 75% by 2035 and 100% by 2040. Through our tremendous partnership with the City of Madison, this project alone will move an estimated 16% of MMSD's traditional energy from MGE entirely over to solar-produced energy."



The City will take 5 MW of the output and MMSD will take 3 MW of the output under separate RER agreements with MGE. The electricity generated by this local source of clean energy is expected to increase renewable energy use in City operations by nearly 20% and MMSD by about 16%. Details of 8-MW solar project

The solar array will consist of about 28,000 solar panels and will cover approximately 53 acres of land north of Dane County's Rodefeld Landfill in southeast Madison. The project will be developed by NextEra Energy Resources Development, LLC. Construction is expected to begin this summer with the solar array generating electricity by the end of the year. Renewable Energy Rider grows local clean energy MGE's RER enables MGE to partner with a large energy user to tailor a renewable energy solution to meet that customer's energy needs. The City of Madison and MMSD have entered into RER agreements with MGE, which were approved by the PSCW. RER customers are responsible for costs associated with the renewable generation facility and any distribution costs to deliver energy to the customer. The RER model grows clean energy in our community. MGE's net-zero carbon electricity goal In May 2019, MGE announced its goal of net-zero carbon electricity by 2050, making it one of the first utilities in the nation to commit to net-zero carbon by mid-century. MGE's net-zero goal is consistent with the latest climate science from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) October 2018 Special Report on limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. To achieve deep decarbonization, MGE is growing its use of renewable energy, engaging customers around energy efficiency and working to electrify transportation, all of which are key strategies identified by the IPCC. About MGE MGE generates and distributes electricity to 157,000 customers in Dane County, Wis., and purchases and distributes natural gas to 166,000 customers in seven south-central and western Wisconsin counties. MGE's parent company is MGE Energy, Inc. The company's roots in the Madison area date back more than 150 years. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005799/en/

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[June 15, 2021] Insurity Summit 2021 to Announce the Launch of Insurity Analytics, Insurity's Customer Innovation Center, and Multiple New Products, Including Digital Claims Payments

Insurity, a leading provider of cloud-based software for insurance carriers, brokers, and MGAs, will kick off the first day of its annual user event, Insurity Summit 2021, today. The event is open to all Insurity customers and prospects. In addition to its lineup of keynote speakers, Insurity Summit will feature three days' worth of informative product sessions, interactive roundtable discussions, and networking opportunities for over 1,000 attendees. Chris Lafond, Chief Executive Officer at Insurity, will share in his opening keynote a strategy update and insight into how technology is transforming the insurance industry. Lafond's session will also cover how Insurity has integrated six best-in-class companies over the past year, accelerated quality, and brought to market innovative, cloud-based, and configurable software. Other highlights of Insurity Summit 2021 will include the announcement of Insurity Analytics. Insurity Analytics' solutions are revolutionizing the way data analytics platforms operate today and empowering insurers to better compete nd be in control of their data analytics strategies via an "open" data analytics ecosystem. Insurity will also announce its Customer Innovation Center to ensure that customers are quickly and continuously realizing the full potential of partnering with Insurity. The closing keynote will be hosted by Jeff Goldberg, Executive Vice President of Research and Consulting at Novarica, a leading consulting and advisory firm trusted by over 150 insurers. Goldberg will be sharing in the final Summit keynote how insurers can rapidly adapt to the emerging insurance ecosystem.



"We are very excited to kick off Insurity Summit 2021," said Chris Lafond, Chief Executive Officer of Insurity. "Our vision is to empower insurers to grow profitably by building long-term relationships with agents, brokers, and policyholders. We do this by providing them with the most trusted, cloud-based, and configurable software that is quick to implement, easy-to-use, and intuitively analytical. At Insurity Summit 2021, we are looking forward to sharing with our customers the direction Insurity is taking across our product portfolio to make this vision come to life." To learn more, please reach out to Laura Krause at Laura.Krause@Insurity.com.

About Insurity Insurity is a leading provider of cloud-based software and analytics for insurance carriers, brokers, and MGAs. Insurity is trusted by 15 of the top 25 P&C Carriers in the US and has over 200 cloud-based deployments. Through its best-in-class digital platform and with unrivaled industry experience and thought leadership, Insurity is uniquely positioned to deliver exceptional value, empowering customers to focus on their core businesses, optimize their operations, and provide superior policyholder experiences. Insurity is a portfolio company of GI Partners. For more information, visit www.insurity.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005804/en/

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[June 15, 2021] LDRA and OpenSynergy Partnership Promotes a Defense-in-Depth Strategy for Embedded Automotive Applications

LDRA, the leading provider of automated software verification, source code analysis and test tools, and OpenSynergy, specialist in high-quality embedded automotive software, today announced their partnership to support and promote a defense-in-depth strategy combining hypervisor technology with secure coding techniques. Automotive connectivity is an ongoing concern, with vulnerability to attacks from bad actors being demonstrated in models from a range of manufacturers. The inexorable rise in popularity of electric vehicles can only add to that unease because several features of connected EVs such as the batteries and their charging systems are associated with inherent safety implications. Automotive application developers are already familiar with the demands of functional safety standards, including ISO 26262's defined development, validation, and verification processes, and with the capacity of the LDRA tool suite to help achieve those aims. The benefits of virtualization in the automotive sector are also well known, and class-leading COQOS hypervisors present an opportunity for development teams to realize reduced cost; reduced device seize, weight and power (SWaP); improved CPU performance, and a NAconvenient migration path for unmodified legacy applications. It is their capacity to provide a mechanism for domain separation, however, that is critical to automotive cybersecurity. The need for inter-process communication ( IPC (News - Alert) ) between those domains is inevitable and a likely source of vulnerabilities. The role of secure application code is pivotal in that context because the code handling the data processed by IPCs has a key role to play in defending a potential weakness in a virtualized architecture. OpenSynergy focuses on the automotive virtual platform COQOS Hypervisor SDK based on VIRTIO technology. The hypervisor on this platform runs directly on the System-on-Chip (SoC) application cores and creates several virtual machines (VMs). Each VM is isolated from the others. This separation makes it possible to run functions with different real-time behavior and functional safety requirements simultaneously on a single SoC. "The wisdom of a defense-in-depth strategy is unquestionable," said Matthias Stumpf, Vice President (VP) Sales OpenSynergy. "Defenses aainst cyberattack are often envisaged as analogous to a medieval castle with moats, perimeter walls and armed soldiers all operating independently. But the combination of LDRA's secure coding and OpenSynergy's hypervisor technology goes beyond that analogy by combining defenses that are mutually supportive, ensuring a level of security that they could not provide independently."



"Automotive application software developers have a lot to contend with," added Ian Hennell, Operations Director, LDRA. "The demands of ISO 26262 are challenging enough, and the emergence of the connected car with its implications for cybersecurity only adds to those challenges. By providing a tool suite that allows security and functional safety objectives to be fulfilled concurrently and accommodates a focus on the secure coding of software associated with inter-process communications, we hope to help lighten the load." Both the LDRA tool suite and the OpenSynergy hypervisors have been certified by SGS TuV as suitable for development of safety-related software compliant with ISO 26262. In addition, the LDRA tool suite offers tool qualification support packs for the qualification of LDRA tools for high assurance applications requiring regulatory approval.

Product Availability The OpenSynergy COQOS hypervisors are available now. Contact sales@ldra.com or sales@opensynergy.com for more information or download a free 30-day trial of the LDRA tool suite. About LDRA For more than 40 years, LDRA has developed and driven the market for software that automates code analysis and software testing for safety-, mission-, security-, and business-critical markets. Working with clients to achieve early error identification and elimination, and full compliance with industry standards, LDRA traces requirements through static and dynamic analysis to unit testing and verification for a wide variety of hardware and software platforms. Boasting a worldwide presence, LDRA has headquarters in the United Kingdom, United States, Germany, and India coupled with an extensive distributor network. For more information on the LDRA tool suite, please visit www.ldra.com. About OpenSynergy OpenSynergy provides embedded software products for the next generation of vehicles. Its hypervisor and communication products pave the way for an integrated driving experience. The automotive virtual platform COQOS Hypervisor SDK integrates a mix of real-time applications and open source solutions on powerful domain controllers. It supports a large bundle of features corresponding to the virtualization standard VIRTIO, creating maximum flexibility: guest operating systems can be used and reused on different Systems on Chips. The automotive leading Bluetooth stack Blue SDK is one of OpenSynergy's communications platforms. It is the reference Bluetooth implementation for many OEMs around the world. The variant Blue SDK Fusion offers a reliable Automotive-Grade Bluetooth stack for Android (News - Alert)TM Automotive OS. OpenSynergy further provides complimentary Automotive-Grade software components tailored for the AndroidTM Open Source (News - Alert) Project (AOSP) to boost Android's adoption in the automotive domain. OpenSynergy also provides engineering services to support the customization of its products. Read more on www.opensynergy.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005808/en/

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[June 15, 2021] oneclick Prints with ezeep

BERLIN and DENVER, June 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Print management expert ThinPrint and oneclick , the EaaS platform for providing digital workplaces, are now working in cooperation. With the ezeep Blue integration, oneclick users can now work and print directly from the web browser with a convenient cloud desktop, for example using Desktop-as-a-Service (DaaS). Users can also easily print documents to physical printers directly from virtual cloud desktops and apps.

The oneclick platform enables companies to provide their employees with Microsoft Windows-based business apps and cloud desktops via an up-to-date web browser without VPN clients. This is possible via a managed all-in-one solution from oneclick or their own private cloud hosting solution. Increased requirements for workflows, automated processes, control of the entire feature set of modern printing systems and compliance requirements make advanced and high-availability printing solutions necessary. Even more so when printing from virtual workstations, which go beyond standard document printing to mostly local network or USB printers. The virtual print manager integrated with oneclick already supports many everyday office printing tasks, but ThinPrints specialized and market-leading cloud printing solution ezeep Blue takes printing to new performance levels. ezeep Blue fully supports complex networks, native printer drivers, process-dependent print tray selection, manufacturer-specific finishing options and even the control of specialized printers like those used for labels. oneclick customers can now use ezeep Blue from ThinPrint at no added cost as part of many oneclick DaaS offerings and out-of-the-box VDI packages, regardless of cloud provider or the printer manfacturer.



Were pleased to have found a simple solution even for complex printing environments through our cooperation, said Dominik Birgelen, CEO of oneclick. The oneclick and ezeep philosophies are very similar  create simple, uncomplicated yet secure solutions for satisfied customers. This is possible without expensive hardware and without the tedious installation and maintenance of printer drivers. oneclick and ezeep make for an all-around successful joint solution, said Christoph Hammer, Senior Vice President Cloud Services at ThinPrint. With our cooperation, printing from the desktop as well as complex network infrastructures is easily available from the cloud.

About ezeep: The future of printing is ezeep. With ezeep, printing is dramatically simplified, enabling any device to print to any printer  whether with the ezeep printer driver from PC or Mac, via app for smartphones and tablets or even by web-based drag & drop for the occasional user. Consumers print unlimited and  naturally  free-of-charge to their own printers and, depending on the provider, free or at a cost to external printers. This makes printing as easy as making a phone call, eliminating the need for any user support. Companies can lower the infrastructure demands on their printer setups in branch offices worldwide, thanks to ezeep, drastically simplifying their administration. With this, the total costs for deploying printers is significantly reduced. Coworking spaces, universities, exhibition grounds, train stations, airports and kiosks can not only make their printers publicly available with just a single click, but also charge for printing with ease. The same applies to private users or cafes which want to share their printers with others. Printers are thereby transformed into sources of income, not costs. Open interfaces enable integrations with existing solutions, such as for user and resource management, cost control or compliance monitoring for maximum cost savings via automation. A constantly growing ecosystem of standard integrations by development partners makes these benefits also available to non-technical users. By reducing costs and removing all technical requirements, whilst providing the ability to use third-party printers at any time, ezeep ensures that in the future people will be able to print from almost every location quickly and easily, for whatever reason they might have. ezeep is committed to minimizing the CO2 footprint of printing and ensuring that printed paper can be a meaningful, productive and responsible alternative to screen-based information consumption. For more information, please visit: www.ezeep.com . Media Contacts: North America:

Kendra Westerkamp, VisiTech PR

Phone: +1-303-752-3552, email: CT@visitechpr.com Rest of World:

Silke Kluckert, Public Relations Manager

Phone: +49 30 39493166, email: press@cortado.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/950a661f-87a8-40cc-81dd-fedeabe5875d



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[June 15, 2021] EY Announces Merav Yuravlivker of Data Society as an Entrepreneur Of The Year 2021 Mid-Atlantic Award Finalist

Data Society, the leading provider of custom Data Science Training and cutting edge AI Solutions to Government Agencies and Fortune 500 companies, announced today that CEO and co-founder Merav Yuravlivker had been named an Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) Entrepreneur Of The Year 2021 Mid-Atlantic Award finalist. The program honors unstoppable business leaders whose ambition, ingenuity, and courage in the face of adversity help catapult from the now to the next and beyond. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005289/en/ Merav Yuravlivker, Chief Executive Officer, Data Society (Photo: Business Wire) "Being recognized as an EY Entrepreneur of the Year finalist is a true testament to the talent, commitment, and passion of the Data Society team," said Merav Yuravlivker, CEO and co-founder, Data Society. "Our goal is to transform how organizations and Government Agencies operate, solve critical challenges, and value their workforce through custom training academies." A panel of independent judges selected Merav Yuravlivker. Award winners will be announced during a special virtual celebration on August 3rd and will become lifetime members of an esteemed community of Entrepreneur Of The Year alumni from around the world. A leader in Data Science Training for the past seven years, Data Society, has worked with organizations to build their data capacity and open up new opportuniies for expansion by developing customized Data Academies. These programs have led to the up-skilling of thousands of professionals, saving their employers hundreds of millions of dollars. Data Society's response to COVID-19 included critical support to Government initiatives and has doubled its team during this time.



Regional award winners are eligible for consideration for the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards, announced in November at the Strategic Growth Forum, one of the nation's most prestigious gatherings of high-growth, market-leading companies. The Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner will then compete for the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year Award in June 2022. Sponsors

Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards are nationally sponsored by SAP (News - Alert) America and the Kauffman Foundation. About Data Society Data Society specializes in providing customized signature training programs and AI/ML Solutions to executives, analysts, scientists and engineers on a variety of programming, data literacy, data analysis, data visualization, data science, machine learning and artificial intelligence topics. Since inception in 2014, Data Society has demonstrated success in training government teams across federal, state and local agencies, as well as Fortune 500 clients. datasociety.com In Mid-Atlantic, sponsors also include PNC (News - Alert) , DLA Piper LLP, the Washington Business Journal, the Baltimore Business Journal and Cooley LLP. About Entrepreneur Of The Year Entrepreneur Of The Year is the world's most prestigious business awards program for unstoppable entrepreneurs. These visionary leaders deliver innovation, growth and prosperity that transform our world. The program engages entrepreneurs with insights and experiences that foster growth. It connects them with their peers to strengthen entrepreneurship around the world. Entrepreneur Of The Year is the first and only truly global awards program of its kind. It celebrates entrepreneurs through regional and national awards programs in more than 145 cities in over 60 countries. National Overall winners go on to compete for the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year title. ey.com/us/eoy About EY EY exists to build a better working world, helping create long-term value for clients, people and society and build trust in the capital markets.

Enabled by data and technology, diverse EY teams in over 150 countries provide trust through assurance and help clients grow, transform and operate.

Working across assurance, consulting, law, strategy, tax and transactions, EY teams ask better questions to find new answers for the complex issues facing our world today.

EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. Information about how EY collects and uses personal data and a description of the rights individuals have under data protection legislation are available via ey.com/privacy. EY member firms do not practice law where prohibited by local laws. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005289/en/

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[June 15, 2021] The Digital Equity Act is bipartisan, actionable, and can help close the Digital Divide for the most vulnerable Americans

BOWLING GREEN, Ky., June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Connected Nation applauds the hard work of Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Rob Portman (R-OH), and Angus King (I-ME) to bring forth the Digital Equity Act which is squarely focused on expanding digital inclusion across the US. Connected Nation is endorsing this Act because it seeks to help our nation's most vulnerable populations. "Connected Nation is endorsing this Act because it seeks to help our nation's most vulnerable populations finally access resources that can help improve their lives," said Tom Ferree, Chairman & CEO, Connected Nation. "Our organization has worked for 20 years toward closing the Digital Divide, and we have witnessed firsthand the positive impact access to this technology can have in communities. What the pandemic has done is create a new understanding for others including our local, state, and federal leadersthat this technology is critical for all Americans." The Digital Equity Act would create two major Federal grant programs operated by the National Telecommunication and Information Administration (NTIA). It would provide $1 billion in federal grant funding over the next five years to support digital inclusinincluding the creation of statewide comprehensive digital equity plans, spurring targeted action through a competitive grant process to support digital equity projects, and supporting research and evidence-based policymaking.



"The importance of programs that advance broadband adoption for disadvantaged rural and urban populations cannot be overstated said Heather Gate, Vice President of Digital Inclusion, Connected Nation. "In additional to tackling issues related to access to infrastructure, it is imperative that we ensure that everyone can fully participate in our society democracy, and economy using digital skills and the necessary tools. We have a saying here, 'Everyone belongs in a Connected Nation,' and what we mean by that is no one should be left out of the opportunities and resources having broadband access provides no matter how they begin or where they live. The Digital Equity Act seeks to address this issue for vulnerable populations in a targeted way." Data has consistently indicated that low-income, rural and urban communities, and communities of color are disproportionately impacted by the Digital Divide. While introducing the bill, Senator Murray cited the 2019 US census data that shows about 36 million U.S. households did not subscribe to a wired broadband service. Additionally, other studies showed that 43% of low-income adults did not subscribe to home broadband and one in three Black, Latino, and Native American families did not subscribe to high-speed internet at home

The Digital Equity Act is also endorsed by more than 100 organizations including the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) which has developed a resource page. It can be found here: https://www.digitalequityact.org/. Sources:

43% low-income families data: Pew Research

One in three Black, Latino and Native American families did not subscribe to high-speed internet at home: Futureready

17.24% of rural residents do not have access to 25x3: FCC data View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-digital-equity-act-is-bipartisan-actionable-and-can-help-close-the-digital-divide-for-the-most-vulnerable-americans-301312784.html SOURCE Connected Nation

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[June 15, 2021] Panasonic Lauded by Frost & Sullivan for Logiscend, Its Turnkey Solution Offering Material Visualization and Localization Capabilities

The Panasonic Logiscend System creates smart materials by combining the readability of ePaper with the IIoT trackability of RFID SANTA CLARA, Calif., June 15, 2021 /CNW/ -- Based on its recent analysis of the North American material flow management market, Frost & Sullivan recognizes Panasonic Corporation with the 2021 North American New Product Innovation Award for the Panasonic Logiscend System offering. The solution provides manufacturers with end-to-end visibility by combining ePaper label's ability to deliver visual instruction with Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) solution's automated, RFID-based, and real-time tracking capabilities. The automated software suite includes individual modules for different applications that enable manufacturers to reduce costs and enhance operational efficiency. "Panasonic's smart material flow management solution is a direct result of its strategy to address scalability challenges arising from the growing prominence of IoT," said Ram Ravi, Industry Analyst at Frost & Sullivan. "Logiscend's unique ability to customize workflows is an important advantage as each plant and customer location is distinct, and a one-size-fits-all approach is not viable. While existing market solutions rely on software customization to perform this task, Logiscend's logic engine enables customers to create configurable workflow rules that provide flexibility and scalability." In addition to offering an end-to-end solution for material flow applications, Logiscend allows customers to change worker instructions through ePper (visual) tags dynamically. Visual tags are offered in both active and passive RFID variants and can be fully configured. Furthermore, Panasonic is integrating the location capability into its visual tags to enable real-time location feedback from assets. Using VIEW Tags, customers can reduce operational costs related to paper procurement and printing. The tags are sustainable and eco-friendly, compared to paper labels, and offer benefits such as dynamic instructions, real-time feedback, and easy reconfiguration.



Panasonic has developed and designed its Logiscend software suite to build value directly into its IIoT products and services, offering the flexibility to adapt seamlessly with the latest IoT hardware across different customer processes. The company is currently enhancing the scope of its operation to support the movement of materials between factories for complex manufacturing requirements. Moreover, the company is leveraging the workflow library to position Logiscend for a solution-as-a-service model. "Panasonic's emphasis on customer satisfaction and continuous product development has earned it a broad base of elite customers. In 2021, Siemens Energy worked with Panasonic to expand its IIoT-based material processes. By deploying Logiscend, Siemens Energy is aiming to improve its operational efficiency, visibility, and real-time location services," noted Ravi. "Its disruptive features and proven architecture seamlessly integrate into customers' existing systems and are proving pivotal in helping customers achieve several efficiencies and gain a business advantage."

Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to the company that has developed an innovative element in a product by leveraging leading-edge technologies. The award recognizes the value-added features/benefits of the product and the increased return on investment (ROI) it gives customers, thereby raising customer acquisition and overall market penetration potential. Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analyses, and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry. About Frost & Sullivan For six decades, Frost & Sullivan has been world-renowned for its role in helping investors, corporate leaders, and governments navigate economic changes and identify disruptive technologies, Mega Trends, new business models, and companies to action, resulting in a continuous flow of growth opportunities to drive future success. Contact us: Start the discussion. Contact:

Kristen Moore

P: 210.247.3823

E: kristen.moore@frost.com Contact for Panasonic Logiscend System in North America:

Melissa Mazurek

P: 585.389.1809

E: mmazurek@mower.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/panasonic-lauded-by-frost--sullivan-for-logiscend-its-turnkey-solution-offering-material-visualization-and-localization-capabilities-301312786.html SOURCE Frost & Sullivan

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[June 15, 2021] Cerberus and Highgate to Acquire Dorsett City London Hotel

Cerberus Capital Management, L.P. (together with its affiliates "Cerberus") and Highgate today announced the signing of a Sale and Purchase Agreement ("SPA") for the acquisition of Dorsett City London, located at 9-13 Aldgate High Street in London (the "Hotel"), from subsidiaries of Far East Consortium International Limited ("FEC"; SEHK: 35). Located in the heart of London's financial district with a strong reputation for luxury and service, Dorsett City London is well-positioned to capitalize on the ongoing economic recovery. This transaction further strengthens Cerberus' and Highgate's presence in the U.K. and European hospitality sector and is the latest partnership between Cerberus and Highgate, which includes the recent joint purchase of six hospitality portfolios from Colony Capital earlier this year. "We are excited to add Dorsett City London to our growing portfolio of high-quality U.K. and European hospitality assets," said Lee Millstein, President of Cerberus Global Investments and Global Head of Real Estate for Cerberus. "With Cerberus and Highgate's combined financial and operational expertise, we believe we will be able to elevate the guest experience and position the Hotel for success as the market recovers. We see significant opportunities in the U.K. and European hospitality sector that play to our strengths and disciplined approach to long-term investing." Mehdi Khimji, Co-Founder and Managing Principal of Highgate, commented, "Highgate is excited to collaborate with Cerberus to acquire this prominent London property that is poised to meet the steadily rising demand for preier hospitality experiences for business and leisure. This acquisition is emblematic of Highgate's strategy to expand further into the U.K. and European markets by acquiring and managing quality assets."



Cerberus' real estate platform manages approximately $26 billion of real estate-related assets supported by a team of more than 135 investment professionals and asset managers located in the United States, Europe, Asia, South America, and Australia. In March 2021, Cerberus closed approximately $2.8 billion of commitments for Cerberus Institutional Real Estate Partners V, L.P., its flagship global opportunistic real estate strategy. Highgate is a dominant hotel player in key gateway markets throughout the United States and across Europe, and operates more than 350 hotels and approximately 65,000 rooms around the world. Highgate's recent experience in the EU hospitality market includes the acquisition and later disposition of the pan-European K+K Portfolio, which consisted of 10 Hotels in European capitals.

About Cerberus Founded in 1992, Cerberus is a global leader in alternative investing with over $55 billion in assets across complementary credit, private equity, and real estate strategies. We invest across the capital structure where our integrated investment platforms and proprietary operating capabilities create an edge to improve performance and drive long-term value. Our tenured teams have experience working collaboratively across asset classes, sectors, and geographies to seek strong risk-adjusted returns for our investors. For more information about our people and platforms, visit us at www.cerberus.com. About Highgate Highgate is a leading real estate investment and hospitality management company with over $10 billion of hospitality assets under management. Highgate has a longstanding track record of operating assets for the industry's largest REITs, private equity firms, institutional funds and private investors. Highgate is a dominant hotel player in key gateway markets throughout the United States and abroad, and operates more than 350 hotels and approximately 65,000 rooms around the world. For more information on Highgate, visit www.highgate.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005897/en/

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[June 15, 2021] Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP, a Leading Securities Fraud Law Firm, Announces the Filing of a Securities Class Action on Behalf of RLX Technology Inc. (RLX) Investors

Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP ("GPM"), a leading national shareholder rights law firm, announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed on behalf of investors who purchased or otherwise acquired RLX Technology Inc. ("RLX" or the "Company") (NYSE: RLX) American Depositary Shares ("ADSs" or "shares") pursuant or traceable to the Registration Statement and Prospectus issued in connection with RLX's January 2021 initial public offering ("IPO"). RLX investors have until August 9, 2021 to file a lead plaintiff motion. If you suffered a loss on your RLX investments or would like to inquire about potentially pursuing claims to recover your loss under the federal securities laws, you can submit your contact information at https://www.glancylaw.com/cases/rlx-technology-inc/. You can also contact Charles H. Linehan, of GPM at 310-201-9150, Toll-Free at 888-773-9224, or via email at shareholders@glancylaw.com to learn more about your rights. RLX purports to be the "No. 1 branded e-vapor company in China," which the Compay claims is its "largest potential market."



In January 2021, RLX conducted its IPO, selling approximately 116.5 million ADSs) at $12 per ADS, raising approximately $1.4 billion in gross proceeds. On March 22, 2021, China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology posted draft regulations confirming that e-cigarettes and new tobacco products would be regulated similar to traditional tobacco offerings.

On this news, RLX's share price fell $9.31, or 48%, to close at $10.15 per share on March 22, 2021, thereby injuring investors. Then, on June 2, 2021, the Company announced its first quarter 2021 financial results, reporting only a 48% increase in net revenues quarter over quarter, and second quarter guidance suggesting that its gross margin would "remain steady." On this news, RLX's share price fell $0.97, or nearly 9%, to close at $9.90 per share on June 4, 2021, thereby damaging investors further. The Company's shares have traded as low as $7.89 per ADS, or 32% below the IPO price. The complaint alleges that Defendants overstated certain financial metrics and failed to disclose that these metrics were not indicative of future financial performance since regulators in China were already working on a national standard for e-cigarettes that would regulate them either under the same rules or in the same manner as ordinary cigarettes. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook. If you purchased or otherwise acquired RLX ADSs pursuant or traceable to the IPO, you may move the Court no later than August 9, 2021 to ask the Court to appoint you as lead plaintiff. To be a member of the Class you need not take any action at this time; you may retain counsel of your choice or take no action and remain an absent member of the Class. If you wish to learn more about this action, or if you have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Charles Linehan, Esquire, of GPM, 1925 Century Park East, Suite 2100, Los Angeles California 90067 at 310-201-9150, Toll-Free at 888-773-9224, by email to shareholders@glancylaw.com, or visit our website at www.glancylaw.com. If you inquire by email please include your mailing address, telephone number and number of shares purchased. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005196/en/

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[June 15, 2021] ADM Endeavors, Inc. (OTCQB: ADMQ) Awarded Another Government Contract For Fort Worth ISD

ADM Endeavors, Inc. (OTCQB: ADMQ), announces its wholly owned subsidiary Just Right Products, Inc. has been awarded the "Trophies Promotional & Related Items" contract for Fort Worth ISD. This contract will stay in effect until June 30th, 2025 and includes 150 campuses and departments throughout the city of Fort Worth and Tarrant County. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005335/en/ ADMQ Awarded New Government Contract (Photo: Business Wire) ADM Endeavors CEO Marc Johnson said, "Bruce Boyce is doing a great job for us securing these government contracts. He has several more bids in the works and we feel we have a very good chance his past successes will continue." About ADMQ: Since 2010, our wholly owned subsidiary, Just Right Products, Inc., has been consistently increasing sales, with sales topping $5.1 million in 2020. The Company sells "Anything With A Logo" on its website, www.JustRightProducts.com, developing products ranging from unique business cards to coffee cups, T-shirts to boots, with tens of thousands of other unique products from which to select. Just Right Products, Inc. operates a diverse vertical integrated business in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, consisting of a retail sales division, screen print production, embroidery production, digital production, import wholesale sourcing, and uniforms. www.admendeavors.com

www.fwpromo.com

www.justrightproducts.com

www.uscbdlogo.com

www.facebook.com/groups/admqshareholders

https://fortworth.academicoutfitters.com/



Forward Looking Statement: This press release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Any statements that are not historical facts contained in this press release are "forward-looking statements" that involve a number of risks and uncertainties and are made pursuant to the Safe Harbor Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "strategy," "expects," "continues," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "would," "will," "estimates," "intends," "projects," "goals," "targets" and other words of similar meaning are intended to identify forward-looking statements but are not the exclusive means of identifying these statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, involve known and unknown risks, a reliance on third parties for information, transactions that may be cancelled, and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or developments in our industry, to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from anticipated results include risks and uncertainties related to the fluctuation of global economic conditions or economic conditions with respect to the retail industry, the COVID-19 pandemic, the performance of management, actions of government regulators, vendors, and suppliers, our cash flows and ability to obtain financing, competition, general economic conditions and other factors that are detailed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We intend that all forward-looking statements be subject to the safe-harbor provisions. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005335/en/

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[June 15, 2021] The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz Announces the Filing of a Securities Class Action on Behalf of RLX Technology Inc. (RLX) Investors

The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed on behalf of persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired RLX Technology Inc. ("RLX" or the "Company") (NYSE: RLX) American Depositary Shares ("ADSs" or "shares") pursuant or traceable to the Registration Statement and Prospectus issued in connection with RLX's January 2021 initial public offering ("IPO"). RLX investors have until August 9, 2021 to file a lead plaintiff motion. If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate. RLX purports to be the "No. 1 branded e-vapor company in China," which the Company claims is its "largest potential market." In January 2021, RLX conducted its IPO, selling approximately 116.5 million ADSs) at $12 per ADS, raising approximately $1.4 bllion in gross proceeds.



On March 22, 2021, China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology posted draft regulations confirming that e-cigarettes and new tobacco products would be regulated similar to traditional tobacco offerings. On this news, RLX's share price fell $9.31, or 48%, to close at $10.15 per share on March 22, 2021, thereby injuring investors.

Then, on June 2, 2021, the Company announced its first quarter 2021 financial results, reporting only a 48% increase in net revenues quarter over quarter, and second quarter guidance suggesting that its gross margin would "remain steady." On this news, RLX's share price fell $0.97, or nearly 9%, to close at $9.90 per share on June 4, 2021, thereby damaging investors further. The Company's shares have traded as low as $7.89 per ADS, or 32% below the IPO price. The complaint alleges that Defendants overstated certain financial metrics and failed to disclose that these metrics were not indicative of future financial performance since regulators in China were already working on a national standard for e-cigarettes that would regulate them either under the same rules or in the same manner as ordinary cigarettes. Follow us for updates on Twitter (News - Alert) : twitter.com/FRC_LAW. If you purchased RLX ADSs pursuant or traceable to the IPO, you may move the Court no later than August 9, 2021 to ask the Court to appoint you as lead plaintiff. To be a member of the Class you need not take any action at this time; you may retain counsel of your choice or take no action and remain an absent member of the Class. If you purchased RLX ADSs pursuant or traceable to the IPO, have information or would like to learn more about these claims, or have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Frank R. Cruz, of The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz, 1999 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 1100, Los Angeles, California 90067 at 310-914-5007, by email to info@frankcruzlaw.com, or visit our website at www.frankcruzlaw.com. If you inquire by email please include your mailing address, telephone number, and number of shares purchased. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005493/en/

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[June 15, 2021] Ag-West Bio Launches Sask Agrisource Database, a New Resource for Saskatchewan's Agri-Value Sector

Ag-West Bio has launched Sask Agrisource (saskagrisource.ca), a website with a database listing hundreds of organizations that offer bioscience or agri-value products and services in the province. The new online resource was developed to showcase the province's growing agri-value sector. The user-friendly database is searchable by keywords and includes an interactive map showing the location of each of the organizations listed. Karen Churchill, Ag-West Bio's president and CEO, says the Sask Agrisource database was created to help promote businesses operating in the agri-value or biobusiness sector in Saskatchewan. "It's amazing how many organizations are active in this sector. This database will be a valuable tool, both for companies looking for resources and partnerships, and for other organizations like ours who are working to promote Saskatchewan's agri-value industry." Ag-West Bio's Director of Industry Relations, Bev Stangeland, led the project. She says a comprehensive list of Saskatchewan agri-value companies was peviously not available and it was apparent that this type of resource would be of great value - both to the companies listed, and to anyone interested in this sector.



"Nothing like this existed. There wasn't one place to bring together all the stakeholders in the industry. Now, if anyone asks what is happening in Saskatchewan's agri-value sector, we can direct them to this list. It is a living site and will evolve as the sector grows. We encourage all Saskatchewan organizations active in this sector to get listed on the site. It's free!" Sask Agrisource is your link to Saskatchewan's agriculture value-added sector. It helps tell the story of Saskatchewan's agriculture and value-added industry. Listings include companies selling products and services, agricultural and scientific resources, business services, funding sources, and professional services. Learn more by visiting saskagrisource.ca.

About Ag-West Bio: Ag-West Bio is Saskatchewan's bioscience industry association. A catalyst for industry growth, the company's goal is to move research to market and grow biobusiness in the province. Ag-West Bio supports commercialization of technologies in the areas of sustainable crop production, value-added food processing, health, environment and bioproducts. The company aids strategic alliances, provides support for early-stage businesses, disseminates industry information, and hosts events to create connections and build community. Ag-West Bio is a not-for-profit, member-based organization. Funding is provided by the Government of Canada and Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture through the Canadian Agriculture Partnership (CAP). View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005962/en/

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[June 15, 2021] Phigenix, Inc. Announces Issuance of U.S. Patent Covering Precision Medicine Diagnostic and Novel Therapeutic for Treating Drug-Resistant Breast Cancer

ATLANTA, June 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Phigenix, Inc. Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Research Company, a molecular oncologist-led, biopharmaceutical company focused on identifying, developing, and commercializing innovative and differentiated therapies to address significant unmet needs in diagnosing and precision treatment in oncology, today announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued U.S. Patent No. 11,033,628, which is directed to methods related to the use and administration of certain PAX2 inhibitors for treating drug-resistant breast cancer. Drug resistance of metastatic breast cancers to first-line chemotherapies, either single or a combination of drugs, occurs in 30-70% of cases.

U.S. Patent No. 11,033,628 also covers the use of a diagnostic test that assesses the expression status of PAX2 and Human Beta Defensin-1 (DEFB1) in addition to the current standard of care molecular markers to determine the best course of treatment of breast cancer. Additional issued claims pertain to methods of using anti-PAX2 compositions to treat particular resistant breast cancers. This newly issued patent is owned by Phigenix, Inc and is the latest U.S. patent issued in connection with Phigenix's PAX2 robust drug and diagnostics development program for cancer detection and treatment. "We are extremely pleased with the addition of this new patent to our portfolio to extend our cutting-edge, next-generation medical innovations. This new issuance continues to expand the breadth and depth of our PAX2 intellectual property portfolio covering methods of use for certain PAX2 inhibitors and diagnostic tests for effective breast cancer disease treatment and management. The technology covered in this patent has the potential to revolutionize how physicians determine the most effective course of treatment for breast cancer patients. Ultimately, this new technology may make treatment more affordable and save thousands of lives, said Dr. Carlton D. Donald, Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of Phigenix, Inc. About Phigenix, Inc. Phigenix, Inc. is a molecular oncologist-led biopharmaceuticalcompany committed to identifying, developing, and commercializing innovative therapies to address significant unmet needs in diagnostic and therapeutic oncology and cancer drug resistance. Phigenix possesses and is developing an impressive patent portfolio that covers compounds that suppress the expression or activity of the PAX2 cancer-causing protein, and subsequently increases DEFB1 levels, which is a component of the immune system and cancer suppressor. The technology includes diagnostic tests for precision medicine to be utilized for the determination of the best course of treatment of cancer and proprietary inhibitors of the PAX2 oncogene and the subsequent PAX2-mediated cancer cell survival and drug resistance. This portfolio includes the recently issued U.S. patent discussed above, as well as issued U.S. and foreign patents directed to methods and drugs for treating cancer by blocking the expression of PAX2 and the subsequent re-expression of DEFB1 to fight cancer. Phigenix is also developing RNA-based cancer vaccines that increase the expression of the tumor suppressor Human Beta Defensin-1 (DEFB1), a critical component of the innate immune system and regulator of the anti-tumor response. The targeted anti-PAX2 and DEFB1 therapies represent a novel and first-in-class approach to treating cancer.



Phigenix is focused on advancing cancer disease management by utilizing molecular signature-based diagnostic tests and precision medicine-driven novel therapeutics. Phigenix is based in Atlanta, GA. More information can be found by visiting the Phigenix website at www.phigenix.com. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information set forth in this presentation contains "forward-looking information", including "future-oriented financial information" and "financial outlook", under applicable securities laws (collectively referred to herein as forward-looking statements). Except for statements of historical fact, the information contained herein constitutes forward-looking statements and includes, but is not limited to, the (i) projected financial performance of the Company; (ii) completion of, and the use of proceeds from, the sale of the shares being offered hereunder; (iii) the expected development of the Company's business, projects, and joint ventures; (iv) execution of the Company's vision and growth strategy, including concerning future M&A activity and global growth; (v) sources and availability of third-party financing for the Company's projects; (vi) completion of the Company's projects that are currently underway, in development or otherwise under consideration; (vi) renewal of the Company's current customer, supplier and other material agreements; and (vii) future liquidity, working capital, and capital requirements. Forward-looking statements are provided to allow potential investors the opportunity to understand management's beliefs and opinions in respect of the future so that they may use such beliefs and opinions as one factor in evaluating an investment. These statements are not a guarantee of future performance and undue reliance should not be placed on them. Such forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual performance and financial results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future performance or result expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Phigenix Contact

Charles A. West, Ph.D.

Head of Business Development

Corporate Strategy/Investor Relations

404-946-1811

cawest@phigenix.com



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[June 15, 2021] Canada Invests to Expand Electric Vehicle Charging Network at Campuses in Waterloo

WATERLOO, ON, June 15, 2021 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada remains committed to building a clean energy future to strengthen the economy, create good, middle-class jobs and support the natural resource sectors. The Honourable Bardish Chagger, Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth and Member of Parliament for Waterloo, on behalf of the Honourable Seamus O'Regan Jr., Minister of Natural Resources, today announced a $100,000 investment for the University of Waterloo to work with Wilfrid Laurier University to install 20 electric vehicle (EV) chargers at both campuses providing employees, students and visitors with more options to charge and drive their vehicles where they live, work and learn. Fifteen of the EV chargers will be installed at the University of Waterloo, and the remaining five at Wilfrid Laurier University where these EV chargers will encourage the adoption of zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) by supporting campus fleets. The project received funding through Natural Resources Canada's Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program , which supports the government's ambitious target to have all new passenger vehicles sold in Canada be zero-emission vehicles by 2040. The University of Waterloo is also contributing $108,102 towards this project, and is joined by a $41,482 investment from Wilfrid Laurier University, bringing the total program cost to $249,584. Canada has invested over $600 million to make EVs more affordable and charging infrastructure more readily accessible. This includes establishing a coast-to-coast network of fast chargers and installing chargers in more localized areas where Canadians live, work and play. This investment supports natural gas refuelling stations along key freight corridors, hydrogen stations in metropolitan centres, the demonstration of next-generation charging technologies and the development of enabling codes and standards. The government provides incentives of up to $5,000 to increase affordability for Canadian consumers to buy EVs and full tax write-offs for businesses purchasing them. These initiatives are driven by Canada's strengthened climate plan, which accelerates ZEV adoption with an additional $150 million for infrastructureand an additional $287 million in purchasing incentives for Canadians.



The government supports green infrastructure projects that will create good, middle-class jobs, advance Canada's low-carbon future and help achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Quotes

"We are giving Canadians the greener options they want to get to where they need to go. This is how we get to net zero by 2050." The Honourable Seamus O'Regan Jr.

Minister of Natural Resources "Investments in green infrastructure will bring us closer to a zero-emission future and beyond. Today's announcements with two leading institutions in our community will help Ontarians make greener choices, improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions." The Honourable Bardish Chagger

Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth "Within Waterloo Region, nearly half of emissions are from transportation, so low-carbon options are urgently necessary and EVs play a crucial role in building a low-carbon economy for those who can't walk, bike or bus. Charging stations are key to supporting EV adoption among our employees, students, visitors and the campus fleet." Mat Thijssen

Director of Sustainability at the University of Waterloo "This funding will allow Laurier to increase our EV charging network from 6 to 11 stations, almost doubling the current network on our Waterloo campus. This network expansion will focus on two currently under-serviced areas of our campus and it is our hope that this will assist in reducing barriers to electric vehicle use by the campus community." Ulrike Gross

Assistant Vice-President of Facilities and Asset Management at Wilfrid Laurier University Related Information

Electric Vehicle and Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Deployment Initiative

Zero-Emission Vehicle Awareness Initiative

Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program

Go Green With Electric Vehicles

Electric Charging and Alternative Fuelling Stations Locator

Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Demonstration Program

Investing in Canada Plan Project Map

Green Infrastructure programs

Zero-emission vehicles: Incentives Follow us on Twitter: @NRCan ( http://twitter.com/nrcan ) SOURCE Natural Resources Canada

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[June 15, 2021] Leclanche introduces a new generation of lithium-ion battery modules for e-transport vehicles and vessels and unveils a high-volume European module production line

- The new module is compatible with the full range of Leclanche cells  LTO 34Ah, G/NMC 60Ah and G/NMC 65Ah - The modules are designed to support up to 800A in continuous current and enabling a battery system of up to 1'200V with a functionally safe battery management system (BMS) - The new modules feature a very-high cycle life of up to 20'000 cycles (LTO) or up to 8'000 cycles (G/NMC)  allowing for significant reductions in total cost of ownership - The new module production line is planned for a production capacity of up to 500 MWh per year, and further expandable, representing more than six times the production capacity of the previous module generation YVERDON-LES-BAINS, Switzerland and ANDERSON, Indiana, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Leclanche SA (SIX: LECN), one of the world's leading energy storage companies, has developed a new generation of lithium-ion battery modules for energy intensive e-transport applications, such as marine, commercial vehicle and railway, and simultaneously inaugurated a dedicated new production line for their high volume manufacture in Europe. The new modules, called M3, represent the next generation in Leclanche's module production with an increased energy and power density compared to the company's previous module generation. They feature a very-high cycle life of up to 20'000 cycles (LTO) or up to 8'000 cycles (G/NMC)  allowing for significant reductions in total cost of ownership and making them ideal for commercial applications. The modules are designed for a wide range of current and voltage outputs, going all the way up to 800A continuous current and for battery system voltages of up to 1'200V with its functionally safe BMS. The module and production line have been designed to accept a high level of flexibility in product configurations while maintaining production efficiency and traceability. The modules are designed for a range of transport vehicles requiring high cycle life in both power and energy configurations and addressing commercial vehicles, rail and marine applications. The higher density G/NMC versions are used in the majority of transport applications whereas the LTO version is typically used where fast opportunity charging is needed such as for certain bus and AGV (Automated Guided Vehicles) applications and in hybrid hydrogen fuel cell systems used in certain trucks and trains. Complete specifications are available online at the following links: M3 ENERGY MODULE (GNMC, 60Ah)

M3 ENERGY MODULE (GNMC, 65Ah)

M3 ENERGY MODULE (LTO34AH)



Leclanche Installs a New European Module Production Line Leclanche inaugurated its high-volume production line in a new facility close to its current corporate headquarters in Yverdon-Les-Bains. The company will move its corporate headquarters into the same building in Q4 of this year. The state-of-the-art highly automated production line was with the result of a simultaneous engineering process with its partner Comau Spa (Stellantis Group), a leading global provider of industrial automation and robotic systems, based in Turin, Italy.

The line includes the latest technologies in terms of quality and process control setting the foundation for the transition towards Industry 4.0 principles. It will allow Leclanche to produce up to six times its current capacity reaching an output of more than 60'000 modules per year when in full operation. The line is designed to further expand its capacity as the business grows. This positions the company amongst the first major manufacturer to produce both cells and modules at scale in Europe. "Today's twin milestone is the result of long-term planning, research and development and significant investments enabled by our employees, business partners and stakeholders," said Anil Srivastava, CEO, Leclanche. "We are especially grateful to our clients and business partners who have collaborated with us and pushed us to innovate and deliver this next generation of battery technology which will contribute to the transformation of transportation and energy efficiency, driving the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions." M3 Modules: Safety and Efficiency are Key Design Elements Each M3 module is fitted with a functionally safe slave battery management system unit which communicates with a functionally safe master battery management system unit. The BMS provides several advanced energy-saving and safety features: It is designed to meet both ASILC and SIL 2 requirements.

The slave measures cell voltages and temperatures, and runs diagnostics such as open wire detection, reverse polarity protection and self-checks.

A dual-core processor offers redundancy, and the functionally safe operating system provides reliability by providing built-in memory protection and task management.

Power management integrated circuits offer stable power.

Low power consumption during operation and further reduced during sleep mode; and

Temperature sensors are fitted on alternate cells, providing fast and accurate response to individual cell temperature variations while ensuring a high level of safety and precise monitoring of temperature distribution for an optimisation of the module lifespan. The M3 modules are designed to be fully compliant with the relevant transport certification standards for battery modules (selected configurations). For more information, visit https://www.leclanche.com/our-technologies/modules/ or contact Leclanche at info@leclanche.com. About Leclanche Headquartered in Switzerland, Leclanche SA is a leading provider of high-quality energy storage solutions designed to accelerate our progress towards a clean energy future. Leclanche's history and heritage is rooted in over 100 years of battery and energy storage innovation and the Company is a trusted provider of energy storage solutions globally. This coupled with the Company's culture of German engineering and Swiss precision and quality, continues to make Leclanche the partner of choice for both disruptors, established companies and governments who are pioneering positive changes in how energy is produced, distributed and consumed around the world. The energy transition is being driven primarily by changes in the management of our electricity networks and the electrification of transport, and these two end markets form the backbone of our strategy and business model. Leclanche is at the heart of the convergence of the electrification of transport and the changes in the distribution network. Leclanche is the only listed pure play energy storage company in the world, organised along three business units: stationary storage solutions, e-Transport solutions and specialty batteries systems. Leclanche is listed on the Swiss Stock Exchange (SIX: LECN). SIX Swiss Exchange: ticker symbol LECN | ISIN CH 011 030 311 9 Disclaimer This press release contains certain forward-looking statements relating to Leclanche's business, which can be identified by terminology such as "strategic", "proposes", "to introduce", "will", "planned", "expected", "commitment", "expects", "set", "preparing", "plans", "estimates", "aims", "would", "potential", "awaiting", "estimated", "proposal", or similar expressions, or by expressed or implied discussions regarding the ramp up of Leclanche's production capacity, potential applications for existing products, or regarding potential future revenues from any such products, or potential future sales or earnings of Leclanche or any of its business units. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements reflect the current views of Leclanche regarding future events, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. There can be no guarantee that Leclanche's products will achieve any particular revenue levels. Nor can there be any guarantee that Leclanche, or any of the business units, will achieve any particular financial results. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1532812/Overview_of_new_M3_module_manufacturing_line.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/711940/Leclanche_Logo.jpg

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[June 15, 2021] GM Financial Presenting Sponsor of Young Women's Leadership Academy Senior Signing Day

Each year, the Young Women's Leadership Academy (YWLA) of Fort Worth hosts a Senior Signing Day to celebrate its students' acceptance to college. For the first time, GM Financial was the presenting sponsor of the event that took place at Coyote Drive-In. While the event is usually held indoors, this year's drive-in movie theater setup allowed for attendees to socially distance and remain safe. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005113/en/ YWLA of Fort Worth GEMS celebrate the conclusion of the 2021 Senior Signing Day. YWLA's graduating students received backpacks from GM Financial containing laptops donated by Dell (News - Alert) Technologies. (Photo: Business Wire) GM Financial began building a relationship with YWLA four years ago, providing curriculum content from its financial wellness program, KEYS by GM Financial. Since then, the company has hosted numerous college fairs, mentorship programs and professional development trainings for the school, which serves as an important local recruiting partner for both its internship program and professional job openings. This year's senior GEMS (Girls Excelling in Math and Science) were especially meaningful to GM Financial, which has watched this group grow and mature from freshmen into accomplished high school graduates.



"Over the past four years, we've been both proud and fortunate to build a relationship with this incredible school and its even more incredible students," said Susan Sheffield, Chief Financial Officer of GM Financial. "Nearly 60% of GM Financial's workforce is women, which is why it is critical we continue supporting women in STEAM fields. Not only is YWLA of Fort Worth our downtown neighbor, but they serve as an important talent pool for our company. I have often said that the YWLA GEMS represent some of the best and brightest talent in Texas, and they continue to affirm that belief. Our investment in them is an investment in our future." This year's senior class achieved a 100% acceptance rate to a four-year college or university, and 77% will be first-generation college students. In total, the class earned more than $7.5 million in academic and merit-based scholarships.

Shunda Robinson, GM Financial's Global VP of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) spoke during the ceremony about the importance of YWLA's diversity amongst their students. She encouraged each of them to continue surrounding themselves with different people from different backgrounds and to keep DE&I at the forefront when they begin their career search during and post-college. At the end of the ceremony, YWLA graduates learned they would each receive a new laptop to help them better prepare for their college journey. This gift was made possible by a generous donation from Dell Technologies. "As a company born in Texas, we are so proud to contribute to YWLA's efforts in Fort Worth, recognizing these female leaders as they prepare for the jobs of the future, " said Jessica Anderson, Director of Strategic Giving, Dell Technologies. "We believe that technology and digital skills create enormous opportunities for our local communities, our economy and future generations." General Motors (News - Alert) Financial Company, Inc. is the wholly-owned captive finance subsidiary of General Motors Company and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. For more information, visit www.gmfinancial.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005113/en/

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[June 15, 2021] West Virginia PEIA Renews Humana as Health Insurer for Retirees

Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) has been awarded a new, four-year contract with the West Virginia Public Employee's Insurance Agency (PEIA). As part of the contract, effective Jan. 1, 2022, Humana will continue to provide health insurance coverage for the state's 54,000 Medicare-eligible retirees and their Medicare-eligible dependents. "We value the relationship we have built with the Humana team over the past 11 years," said PEIA Executive Director Ted Cheatham. "The personal approach that Humana brings will allow us to ensure the health and well-being of our retirees for years to come." PEIA has been a client of Humana's since 2010, when the company was initially selected to provide health insurance to the state's retirees. "We are honored that Humana has again been selected to provide health insurance to retirees in the PEIA plan for another four years," said Tim Snyder, Humana Senior Vice President Group Medicare. "We remain committed to providig outstanding service and value to retirees who dedicated their careers to serving West Virginia and its residents."



Humana currently serves more than 170,000 West Virginians across the state through a variety of health plans and services, including Medicare Advantage, Medicare prescription drug plans, Medicare supplement, as well as TRICARE coverage for military, military retirees, and their families. "Our Humana team in West Virginia is thrilled to serve the state's Medicare-eligible retirees and to continue to provide access to quality care from the expansive network of doctors and hospitals that we have in place," said Humana Regional Medicare President Eric Bohannon. "We remain focused on delivering exceptional levels of support through our human care approach, which drives us to go above and beyond to exceed our members' expectations and deliver a more human experience, while helping our members across the state to achieve their best health."

About Humana Humana Inc. is committed to helping our millions of medical and specialty members achieve their best health. Our successful history in care delivery and health plan administration is helping us create a new kind of integrated care with the power to improve health and well-being and lower costs. Our efforts are leading to a better quality of life for people with Medicare, families, individuals, military service personnel, and communities at large. To accomplish that, we support physicians and other health care professionals as they work to deliver the right care in the right place for their patients, our members. Our range of clinical capabilities, resources and tools - such as in-home care, behavioral health, pharmacy services, data analytics and wellness solutions - combine to produce a simplified experience that makes health care easier to navigate and more effective. More information regarding Humana is available to investors via the Investor Relations page of the company's web site at www.humana.com, including copies of: Annual reports to stockholders

Securities and Exchange Commission filings

Most recent investor conference presentations

Quarterly earnings news releases and conference calls

Calendar of events

Corporate Governance information Y0040_GCHL8Y7EN_C View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005770/en/

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[June 15, 2021] CASIC accelerates building of industrial chains

BEIJING, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2021 International Conference on Industrial Internet, themed "New Era, New Situation, New Journey: Industrial Internet Enables Industrial Chain Modernization", opened on June 15. The event consisted of a videoconference and an academicians' forum. The attendees discussed a series of issues concerning the role of industrial Internet in the development of the country's "dual circulation" economic development pattern, and reached a consensus on supporting digital governance and digitalization of businesses and promoting high-level development of the manufacturing industry. At the event, the INDICS2.0 was unveiled. INDICS 2.0 is an upgrade of INDICS, a leading industrial Internet platform in China. It is also a critical support for the "digital aerospace" strategy of China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation Limited (CASIC), and the latest practice of the "NEW PAGE" new infrastructure strategy of CASICloud, an Internet technology company invested by CASIC and its affiliates. INDICS is leading the industrial Internet sector into a new stage and playing a vital role in bolstering industrial chain modernization and high-level industrial development. INDICS 2.0 has five features: new-generation industrial operation system, new-generation platform system, new-generation systems engineering engine, new-generation cloud-based services, and new business support capacity. Itis reported that the platform has provided more than 2,000 intelligent projects and services and formed 84 digital solutions for 16 segments in the sectors of aerospace, electronics, machinery and automobiles; industrial Internet support centers have been set up in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, Yangtze River Delta, Pearl River Delta, southwestern, northeastern regions; and cooperation with Tsinghua University, Tongji University, University of Science and Technology Beijing and other higher education institutions have been carried out to build practice-based training rooms and bases; the Industrial Internet Convergence Platform for Central SOEs built and operated by CASIC and a number of central state-owned enterprises (SOEs) has gathered the resources of 15 SOEs' platforms, more than 960 industrial apps, 164 digitalization solutions and more than 7,500 science and technology innovation achievements.



At the academicians' forum in Beijing, Wei Yiyin, Sun Youxian, Li Bohu, Gui Weihua, Zheng Weimin, Su Donglin and Zhang Ping, academicians from the Chinese Academy of Engineering, discussed paths of using industrial Internet technology to drive the industrial development in the country. The academicians brainstormed ways of relying on industrial Internet to facilitate collaboration within industry chains, supporting digital governance and helping enterprises realize digitalization, and discussed issues related to integration of 5G and industrial Internet technology and industrial Internet security.

They also offered suggestions for the development of the industrial Internet industry, believing that it should revolve around the country's major strategic needs to help enhance resource concentration, promote technology application and drive improvement of the independent controllability of industrial and supply chains to greatly propel a high-level development of the country's manufacturing industry. Contact: Chen Shuo

Tel: 008610-81135810, 0086-13601110701

E-mail: chenshuo@casicloud.cn Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1533893/CASICloud.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1533894/CASICloud.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1533892/CASICloud_Logo.jpg

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[June 15, 2021] Remote-Controlled Robotics Innovator Telexistence Closes $20M Series A-2 Round

Airbus Ventures announces its latest investment in Telexistence, Inc., a leading innovator in remote-controlled robotics with artificial intelligence that has closed a $20M Series A-2 financing round led by a group company of Monoful Inc. and comprising additional funds from KDDI (News - Alert) , Deepcore, UTokyo IPC, and multiple new investors. Telexistence has raised about $41 million to date, since the company's inception in 2017. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615006037/en/ Telexistence's Model-T Robot undergoing testing in-studio. (Credit: Telexistence) "As we rethink and transform the basic meaning of 'existence,' we are actively expanding our in-house engineering team, accelerating product development, and upscaling deployment to the company's growing customer bse in offline retail and logistics," explains Jin Tomioka, Telexistence CEO and co-Founder. "This funding signals a new chapter, and we are excited to welcome new partners, still more grateful than ever for Airbus Ventures, our lead Series A investor in 2018, and their mentorship and dedication to our mission."



Materializing a vision of a more connected humanity interacting and evolving across multiple spatial and temporal scales, Telexistence releases humans from physical constraints utilizing Telexistence technology, robotics, telecommunication, VR, haptics, and AI. In July 2020, the company unveiled Telexistence's Model-T Robot. "Telexistence is accelerating its now proven capacity to bring future trends and anticipated technologies into reach, and fuse them into practical reality in the here and now. Where AI and human intelligence each on their own could not achieve practical robot operations across time and space, Telexistence makes their combination work, with the connectivity capabilities to now make important contributions to logistics applications and a host of new possibilities ahead," remarks Dr. Lewis Pinault, Airbus Ventures Partner in Tokyo. "Jin and this brilliantly creative, internationally diversified team now benefit from an even stronger collective through our co-investors, whose outstanding expertise across logistics, telecom, and AI are set to build key elements of a more fully connected and newly realized society to tackle the challenges of our planet."

In October 2021, Telexistence will join forces with FamilyMart Co., Ltd, in collaboration with Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry, to help advance operational infrastructure through robotics. About Telexistence Telexistence is powered by a development team constantly advancing and curating cutting-edge hardware, software, and automated technology in-house to foster a more connected humanity, interacting and evolving across multiple spatial and temporal scales. Interested in joining us? Learn more about our open roles here. About Airbus Ventures Headquartered in Silicon Valley, with offices in Toulouse and Tokyo, Airbus Ventures is a fast-moving, early-stage venture capital company that independently funds and supports startups impacting the aerospace industry. Airbus Ventures has helped aspiring innovators reach new dimensions of achievement since 2015. To learn more, visit: https://airbusventures.vc. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615006037/en/

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[June 15, 2021] At Home Group Inc. Announces Postponement of 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders

At Home Group Inc. ("At Home" or "the Company") (NYSE: HOME), the home decor superstore, today announced that due to the pending merger transaction with funds affiliated with Hellman & Friedman, the Company will postpone its 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The Annual Meeting, which was scheduled to be held tomorrow, will be held in the event the H&F transaction is not approved or otherwise does not occur, in which case a new date for the Annual Meeting will be announced. About At Home At Home (NYSE: HOME), the home decor superstore, offers over 50,000 on-trend home products to fit any budget or style, from furniture, mirrors, rugs, art and housewares to tabletop, patio and seasonal decor. At Home is headquartered in Plano, Texas, and currently operates 227 stores in 40 states. For more information, please visit us online at investor.athome.com. Additional Information and Where to Find It This communication may be deemed to be solicitation material in respect of the proposed acquisition of the Company by an affiliate of Hellman & Friedman LLC. In connection with the proposed Merger, the Company filed a preliminary proxy statement (the "Proxy Statement") with the Securities and Exchange Commission (" SEC (News - Alert) ") on June 2, 2021, and will file with the SEC and furnish to its stockholders a definitive proxy statement and other relevant documents. INVESTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY ARE ADVISED TO READ ALL RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC, INCLUDING THE PROXY STATEMENT AND THE DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE (INCLUDING ALL AMENDMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Investors and stockholders of the Company may obtain a free copy of the Proxy Statement, the definitive proxy statement (when it becomes available) and other relevant documents filed by the Company with the SEC at the SEC's Web site at http://www.sec.gov. The Proxy Statement, the definitive proxy statement (when it becomes available) and such other documents once filed by the Company with the SEC may also be obtained for free from the Investor Relations section of the Company's web site (http://investor.athome.com/) or by directing a request to: the Company, 1600 East Plano Parkway, Plano, Texas, 75074, Attention: Investor Relations. Copies of documents filed by the Company with the SEC may also be obtained for free at the SEC's Web site at http://www.sec.gov. Participants in the Solicitation The Company and its officers and directors may e deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of the Company in connection with the proposed Merger. Information about the Company's executive officers and directors is set forth in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, which was filed by the Company with the SEC on March 24, 2021, the proxy statement for the Company's 2021 annual meeting of stockholders, which was filed by the Company with the SEC on May 4, 2021 and the Proxy Statement, which was filed by the Company with the SEC on June 2, 2021. Investors and stockholders of the Company may obtain more detailed information regarding the direct and indirect interests of the Company and its executive officers and directors in the proposed Merger by reading the Proxy Statement and the definitive proxy statement regarding the proposed Merger when it is filed with the SEC. You may obtain free copies of these documents as described in the preceding paragraph (including the definitive proxy statement, when available).



Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information This document contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to and within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can generally identify forward-looking statements by the Company's use of forward-looking terminology such as "anticipate", "are confident", "assume", "believe", "continue", "could", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "look ahead", "look forward", "may", "might", "on track", "outlook", "plan", "potential", "predict", "reaffirm", "seek", "should", "trend", "will", or "vision", or the negative thereof or comparable terminology regarding future events or conditions. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts, and are based upon the Company's current expectations, beliefs, estimates and projections, and various assumptions, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and beyond its control. There can be no assurance that management's expectations, beliefs, estimates and projections will be achieved and actual results may differ materially from what is expressed in or indicated by the forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements are subject to significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or achievements in future periods to differ materially from those assumed, projected or contemplated in the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the following factors: the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic and related challenges, risks and uncertainties, including historical and potential future measures taken by governmental and regulatory authorities (such as requiring store closures), which have significantly disrupted the Company's business, employees, customers and global supply chain, and for a period of time, adversely impacted its financial condition (including resulting in goodwill impairment) and financial performance, and which disruption and adverse impacts may continue in the future; the recent and ongoing direct and indirect adverse impacts of the global COVID-19 pandemic to the global economy and retail industry; the eventual timing and duration of economic stabilization and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, which depends largely on future developments; general economic conditions in the United States and globally, including consumer confidence and spending, and any changes to current favorable macroeconomic trends of strong home sales, nesting and de-urbanization (which were enhanced and accelerated due to COVID-19, and may not continue upon a successful vaccine rollout in significant numbers that impacts consumer behavior); the Company's indebtedness and its ability to increase future leverage, as well as limitations on future sources of liquidity, including debt covenant compliance; the Company's ability to implement its growth strategy of opening new stores, which was suspended for fiscal 2021 (with the exception of stores that were at or near completion) and, while ramping significantly, will be limited in the near term; the Company's ability to effectively obtain, manage and allocate inventory, and satisfy changing consumer preferences; increasing freight and transportation costs (including the adverse effects of international equipment shortages) and increasing commodity prices; the Company's reliance on third-party vendors for a significant portion of its merchandise, including supply chain disruption matters and international trade regulations (including tariffs) that have, and may continue to, adversely impact many international vendors; the loss or disruption to operating the Company's distribution network; significant competition in the fragmented home decor industry, including increasing e-commerce; the implementation and execution of the Company's At Home 2.0 and omnichannel strategies and related investments; natural disasters and other adverse impacts on regions in the United States where the Company has significant operations; the Company's success in obtaining favorable lease terms and of its sale-leaseback strategy; the Company's reliance on the continuing growth and utility of its loyalty program; the Company ability to attract, develop and retain employee talent and to manage labor costs; the disproportionate impact of its seasonal sales activity to its overall results; risks related to the loss or disruption of the Company's information systems and data and its ability to prevent or mitigate breaches of its information security and the compromise of sensitive and confidential data; the Company's ability to comply with privacy and other laws and regulations, including those associated with entering new markets; and the significant volatility of the trading price of the Company's common stock; the possibility that the Company may be unable to obtain required stockholder approval or that other conditions to closing the proposed Merger may not be satisfied, such that the proposed Merger will not close or that the closing may be delayed; general economic conditions; the proposed Merger may involve unexpected costs, liabilities or delays; risks that the transaction disrupts current plans and operations of the Company; the outcome of any legal proceedings related to the proposed Merger; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Merger Agreement. For more details on these and other potential risks and uncertainties, please refer to the Proxy Statement, the definitive proxy statement (when it becomes available) and the other relevant documents that the Company files with the SEC. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements included herein, which speak only as of the date hereof or the date otherwise specified herein. Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements for any reason, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. HOME-F View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615006060/en/

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[June 15, 2021] Deep Water Point Builds an Alliance Partner Relationship with Winning Strategies Washington (WSW)

ANNAPOLIS, Md., June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Deep Water Point announced the creation of an alliance partner relationship with Winning Strategies Washington (WSW) to help inform clients of activities on Capitol Hill that may have a direct impact on their business. WSW specializes in health care, defense, transportation, education, telecommunications and energy policy and funding issues and has particular expertise in the federal budget and appropriation s processes. Deep Water Point provides enhanced value to clients through alliance relationship with Winning Strategies Washington



"We've worked with WSW over the years and find them to be outstanding. This relationship builds upon the trust and confidence our two firms have with one another. WSW will be posting legislative updates on our website for clients and others to benefit from and we will point to WSW on the occasion our clients need that kind of support. It's a win-win for everyone," said Kathleen Cowles, a Partner at Deep Water Point. For more about DWP and WSW visit: https://www.deepwaterpoint.com Media Contact:

John C. Johnson, Partner

info@deepwaterpoint.com

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/deep-water-point-builds-an-alliance-partner-relationship-with-winning-strategies-washington-wsw-301312968.html SOURCE Deep Water Point, LLC

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[June 15, 2021] AWWA 2021 American Water Scholarship Presented to University of Toledo Doctoral Student Parul Baranwal

American Water (NYSE: AWK), the largest publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility company, today announced that Parul Baranwal, a doctoral student at the University of Toledo, has been chosen as the recipient of the American Water Works Association (AWWA) 2021 American Water Scholarship. The scholarship is an annual award of $5,000 presented to a graduate level student to assist with the development of professionals interested in service to the water industry. "American Water is pleased to present this prestigious award to Parul, who was selected among 80 outstanding applicants," said Dr. Zia Bukhari, principal scientist, water & wastewater research at American Water. "By attracting scholars to the field of water research, which is vital to the future of our business, we hope to develop and tap their talent for the long-term benefit of our communities and the environment. We are honored to help Parul advance her research studies." Parul was selected for this scholarship due to her exceptional academic abilities, outstanding character, community and outreach experience and dedication to contribute to the advancement of science in the field of drinking water. She is a doctoral student in Environmental Engineering at the University of Toledo. Parul developed a passion teaching STEM education to underprivileged girls in her native India and through her success hopes to inspire more girls to follow her footsteps into engineering. As an international student, she has faced many challenges, but remains committed to her research on cyanobacteria and helping the millions of people who rely on Lake Erie for drinking water.



Parul earned her undergraduate degree in Biotechnology from Dr. MGR Educational and Research Institute in India and was accepted into a prestigious graduate program at the Indian Institute of Technology specializing in Environmental Management. Upon completion of her PhD, Parul hopes to establish a non-profit organization where she can create opportunities for environmental engineering students to travel to isolated and underprivileged communities, so they can use their knowledge and experience to help design cleaner, more efficient water and wastewater treatment facilities. Administered by AWWA, American Water's Scholarship is currently the only one offered by a water utility among the Association's 16 active scholarships. For more information about AWWA scholarships, visit http://www.awwa.org/membership/get-involved/student-center/awwa-scholarships.aspx.

About American Water With a history dating back to 1886, American Water is the largest and most geographically diverse U.S. publicly traded water and wastewater utility company. The company employs more than 7,000 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and market-based drinking water, wastewater and other related services to 15 million people in 46 states. American Water provides safe, clean, affordable and reliable water services to our customers to help make sure we keep their lives flowing. For more information, visit amwater.com and follow American Water on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005717/en/

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[June 15, 2021] New Study: Half of Parents Think Remote Learning Negatively Impacted Their Child

CHICAGO, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The COVID-19 pandemic created a tumultuous landscape in education for students and teachers who juggled the everchanging in-person, remote and hybrid learning models. These unexpected barriers led UScellular to commit $100,000 to DonorsChoose to support teachers and their students this summer to help them prepare for the next school year. DonorsChoose is a non-profit organization that connects public school teachers with interested donors who want to support classroom projects. UScellular Committing $100,000 to Support STEM Education Through DonorsChoose. In May 2021, UScellular, surveyed parents1 regarding their child(ren)'s learning during the pandemic. The results showed: Half of parents think remote learning negatively impacted their child's learning

1 in 4 parents feel their child needs tutoring over the summer

Nearly 50% of parents would be interested in extra assistance for their child "Parents and youth have experienced tremendous effects on education as a result of the pandemic," said Deirdre Drake, executive vice president and chief people officer at UScellular. "By teaming up with DonorsChoose, we're addressing gaps in STEM education and helping educators receive vital funding to prepare youth for the careers of today and the future." Teachers are able to request funding for their classroom projects by visiting DonorsChoose.org/teachers. While funds last, UScellular will provide a 1:1 funding match for classroom projects that are within the regions that UScellular serves, $1,000 or less and have a Science, Technology, Engineering or Math (STEM) focus. To provide better accessibility and equity to STEM leaning, classrooms that receive UScellular funding will be in communities where 90% or more of the students are from low-income households. The $100,000 donation from UScellular will take place this summer to help teachers prepare for the return of students to classrooms in the fall, with 10% of the funding going towards projects that directly address summer school needs. According to a recent DonorsChoose survey, technology materials are in highest demand for both in-person and remote instruction.



"Our company cares passionately about our local communities," continued Drake. "It's through organizations like DonorsChoose that we're able to build better communities and support educators who are critical to the success of youth across the country." UScellular has a longstanding commitment to supporting its local communities through donations and volunteerism. Since 2009, the company has donated more than $20.7 million along with countless experiences and technology items to nonprofit organizations across the country. For more information about UScellular's corporate social responsibility initiatives, please go to https://www.uscellular.com/get-to-know-us/community-outreach.

About UScellular

UScellular is the fourth-largest full-service wireless carrier in the United States, providing national network coverage and industry-leading innovations designed to elevate the customer experience. The Chicago-based carrier is building a stronger network with the latest 5G technology and offers a wide range of communication services that enhance consumers' lives, increase the competitiveness of local businesses and improve the efficiency of government operations. To learn more about UScellular, visit one of its retail stores or www.uscellular.com. To get the latest news, promos and videos, connect with UScellular on Facebook.com/uscellular, Twitter.com/uscellular and YouTube.com/uscellularcorp. About DonorsChoose

DonorsChoose is the leading way to give to public schools. Since 2000, 4.8 million people and partners have contributed $1 billion to support 1.9 million teacher requests for classroom resources and experiences. As the most trusted crowdfunding platform for teachers, donors, and district administrators alike, DonorsChoose vets each request, ships the funded resources directly to the classroom, and provides thank yous and reporting to donors and school leaders. Charity Navigator and GuideStar have awarded DonorsChoose, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, their highest ratings for transparency and accountability. For more information, visit www.donorschoose.org. For more information, contact:

Bridget Ballek, 331-385-2215, bridget.ballek@uscellular.com 1 April 2021 C+R Research: 150 online interviews were conducted among parents and/or guardians of children ages 4-17 who attended any form of remote learning since March 2020. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-study-half-of-parents-think-remote-learning-negatively-impacted-their-child-301313022.html SOURCE UScellular

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[June 15, 2021] New Partnership With Black Future Co-op Fund, UW Foster, and Bank of America Invests in Washington Black-Led Businesses and Nonprofits

The Black Future Co-op Fund, University of Washington Foster School of Business' Consulting and Business Development Center (CBDC), and Bank of America today announced a new partnership to build generational sustainability of Black-led businesses and nonprofits across Washington state. "Black businesses and organizations have long been vital contributors to Washington state, yet purposeful and persistent anti-Blackness has undermined their opportunity to thrive," says Angela Jones (News - Alert) , J.D., Fund architect and Washington STEM CEO. "Through this partnership, we're intentionally investing in Black well-being and building the infrastructure for generational wealth." With support from the Black Future Co-op Fund and a $500,000 grant from Bank of America, the CBDC is working with Black-led businesses and organizations across Washington to provide tailored technical assistance, leadership development training, financial management guidance, and help accessing funding. "The CBDC was founded 26 years ago by the first Black tenured faculty member at the Foster School and the first Black Dean of the Foster School," said Frank Hodge, Orin and Janet Smith Endowed Dean of the UW Foster School of Business. "This partnership with the Black Future Co-op Fund and Bank of America will enable us to take the next big step in removing systemic barriers and creating opportunities for wealth creation in Black-owned businesses. The initiative also brings crucial support to Black-led organizations that are leading powerful work to enrich Black generational prosperity and well-being." A recent listening tour conducted by the Black Future Co-op Fund identified more than 500 Black-owned business and Black-led organizations across Washington, and found at least 65 of identified businesses have closed in the last six months. The Fund interviewed Black business owners who shared they have been hard hit by the Covid-19 pandemic and resulting economic recession. Most are under-resourced and operating with little to no profit margin. Black-owned businesses also face significant hurdles accessing resources, such as small business grants, loans, or lines of credit, or culturally informed technical assistance. While Black small business owners in particular have been disproportionally impacted during the pandemic, recent research from Bank of America based on a national survey of 300 Black business owners found those still in operation remained resilient and flexible as they navigated through an evolving and uncertain business landscape. In response to the impacts from the pandemic, 48% of Black entrepreneurs reported retooling their operations - double that of the national average. However, Black business owners have overcome numerous obstacles with 82% reporting that they have worked harder to achieve success than their non-Black counterparts. In response to the Black community's feedback, this partnership is working to build the kind of support that wil bolster Black prosperity over generations.



As part of this initiative, CBDC is expanding its board fellows program. Black graduate students at the UW will be matched with Black-led nonprofits for a 9-month board placement, bringing new skills and building the next generation of Black nonprofit board leaders. Artists in Activism in Snohomish County and Takeall Foundation in Spokane are two of the Black-led organizations recently paired with graduate students. Both organizations are also working with the CBDC to strengthen their financial management and operations through the newly-formed partnership.

"Pervasive economic and social disparities only intensified during the global health crisis, and we see a clear and urgent need for intentional investment in and resources directed to Black businesses and nonprofit organizations," said Jeremey Williams, market executive, Bank of America Seattle. "This investment is a further demonstration of Bank of America's commitment to build local partnerships that help foster job creation, economic growth, and stability for Black-led Washington businesses that contribute so much to our community and economy." Bank of America's contribution is aligned to the company's $1.25-billion, five-year commitment to advance racial equality and economic opportunity. This commitment builds on steps the company has already taken, including program support for nonprofit community partners and lending assistance for small and minority-owned businesses through community development financial and minority depository institutions. Bank of America also recently increased its goal for equity investments in minority-focused funds to $350 million, including an equity investment in Portland-based Elevate Capital, which will put capital to work supporting minority and women entrepreneurs with early-stage funding across the Pacific Northwest and beyond. ABOUT THE BLACK FUTURE CO-OP FUND

Created by and for Black Washingtonians, the Black Future Co-op Fund is a new paradigm for philanthropy to ignite Black wealth, health, and well-being over generations. Through intentional investment, the Fund works to connect Black communities for collective power, promote a truthful Black narrative, and uplift Black-led solutions that foster Black generational prosperity. For more, visit: blackfuturewa.org. ABOUT UW FOSTER CONSULTING AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER

UW Foster is a world-class business school in a pioneering city perched on the Pacific Rim. The world's best and brightest leaders are here, applying ingenuity to better humanity. The Consulting and Business Development Center, now in its 26th year, advances student careers and grows businesses and jobs in communities where they're needed the most with a core focus on supporting the growth of businesses owned by people of color. For more, visit: foster.uw.edu/consult. ABOUT BANK OF AMERICA

At Bank of America, we're guided by a common purpose to help make financial lives better, through the power of every connection. We're delivering on this through responsible growth with a focus on our environmental, social and governance (ESG) leadership. ESG is embedded across our eight lines of business and reflects how we help fuel the global economy, build trust and credibility, and represent a company that people want to work for, invest in and do business with. It's demonstrated in the inclusive and supportive workplace we create for our employees, the responsible products and services we offer our clients, and the impact we make around the world in helping local economies thrive. An important part of this work is forming strong partnerships with nonprofits and advocacy groups, such as community, consumer and environmental organizations, to bring together our collective networks and expertise to achieve greater impact. Learn more at about.bankofamerica.com, and connect with us on Twitter (News - Alert) (@BofA_News). View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615006004/en/

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[June 15, 2021] GRASS Opportunity Zone Fund Now Open to Investors of All Levels Offers Many Tax Benefits

Growth Resources, Assets, Safety, & Stability ("GRASS")-a qualified opportunity zone fund focused on applying cutting-edge technology to complex compliance processes, is pleased to announce their Reg A+ funding round is now open. While most Opportunity Zone and other tax-deferred investments are reserved for the very wealthy, GRASS is open to investors of all income and experience levels, and is the first-to-market RegA+ opportunity zone fund. GRASS offers major tax benefits to investors of all levels because it is both a Qualified Opportunity Zone Fund ("QOZF") as well as an IRS designated Qualified Small Business Stock ("QSBS"). The minimum investment is $1,000. GRASS invests in two areas: blockchain-based SaaS (News - Alert) for regulatory compliance, and aviation innovations in government and the private sector. The SaaS investment is in Sierra Software Systems, which designs and customizes their blockchain-based software for implementation in many highly regulated government and business sectors, each with multi-billion-dollar potential. Aviation investments in the fund focus on innovators in government and the private sector who are replicating and scaling aviation businesses in current and additional Opportunity Zones including SAMSARG, Inc. and GA Hangars. SAMSARG secures high-tech hangar facilities that require focused specifications to service transport and cargo aircraft, including security system installation, additional maintenance and complex compliance documentation. Private aviation was on the rise before COVID-19 and is expected to continue. GA Hangers offers new construction of advanced aircraft hangars adjacent to SAMSARG military (Department of Defense compliant) facilities within the Opportunity Zone. New constructions are designed to attract government, corporate and wealthy clients. GA angars offers new construction to serve TRIC corporations' travel needs while offering a short trip between Nevada's TRIC and Silver Springs Regional Airport (as opposed to Reno International). GA Hangars also provides tailored service, maintenance, and other high-margin services.



Investor considerations for GRASS GRASS is a diversified high-growth opportunity zone fund focused on aviation and compliance-SaaS.

A Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS): every investor that holds the fund for 5 years + 1 day can receive 10 times their cost basis + their original investment back TAX-FREE every year going forward, up to a maximum of $10 million in tax-free gains through IRC 1202.

Opportunity Zone Fund Qualification allows the transfer, deferral, or elimination of capital gains taxes.

No general or limited partners-just shareholders, who are treated equally no matter how much or how little they invest.

For corporate governance purposes, each shareholder has one vote. Whether you buy one share or a thousand, you have equal say in our company.

No carried interest to pay fund managers at the expense of regular shareholders.

Profits aren't used to reward insiders-they are reinvested back into the business. GRASS's leadership team is seasoned and experienced with a network of contacts in the military, aerospace, and aviation spaces, as well as business and construction management. Leadership includes Don Harmer, Greg Johnson and Dan Shore. Don Harmer is president and CEO of GRASS. Don is also president and CEO of Corporate Services of Nevada. Greg Johnson is president and CEO of SAMSARG. A U.S. Air Force veteran, Greg boasts more than 40 years of experience in the defense aerospace industry. Dan Shore is president and CEO of RAGSS. As both a founding investor in GRASS and officer of RAGSS, Dan brings decades of experience in real estate to the GRASS mission.

For more information about GRASS including how to invest, please visit https://www.qozfusa.com/why-grass/. Securities are offered pursuant to Regulation A+ by C2M Securities, LLC, an SEC (News - Alert) registered, FINRA member broker-dealer. Investors are encouraged to read the Offering Circular and exhibits and consult with their tax, legal, or financial professional prior to investing. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005965/en/

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[June 15, 2021] Pony.ai Becomes First Company to Test Driverless Vehicles on Public Roads in Both the U.S. and China

Silicon Valley-based Pony.ai, a leading autonomous driving company, today announced that it has begun regular and daily fully driverless testing on public roads in Fremont and Milpitas, CA (News - Alert) . Along with the recent launch of fully driverless testing in Guangzhou, China, the company has become the first to get fully driverless automated vehicles on public roads in three cities across the world's two most dynamic mobility markets. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005458/en/ The successful kick-off is authorized by the previously announced driverless permit received from the California Department of Motor Vehicles for a fleet of six driverless vehicles, facilitating the total operational coverage over 100 square kilometers. Countless stealth technology iterations and numerous driverless readiness evaluations executed by a top-notch team have reinforced this significant milestone. As U.S. cities reopen in phases, Pony.ai looks forward to resuming its obotaxi service to the public in Irvine, CA this summer, and plans to roll out the fully driverless service to the public in 2022.



"Going completely driverless is key to achieving full autonomy and an indispensable catalyst to realizing our ambitious vision," said James Peng, CEO and Founder of Pony.ai. "As we continue to grow and scale, we extended our community responsibility from contactless delivery services throughout the pandemic in California last year to fight against the new COVID-19 outbreak in Guangzhou." Pony.ai has joined forces with the City of Fremont for over a year to combat COVID-19, including meal kit delivery service to vulnerable communities. Additionally, the company partnered with Yamibuy in Southern California to bring an autonomous and contactless last-mile delivery service to Irvine residents.

"In Guangzhou, a fleet of 14 driverless vehicles transports medical equipment, life supplies, and frontline medical workers to local communities day and night. Pony.ai always holds social responsibility in our hearts and puts community at the center of everything we do," Peng added. About Pony.ai Pony.ai, Inc. ("Pony.ai") is pursuing an ambitious vision for autonomous mobility. We aim to bring safe, sustainable, and accessible mobility to the entire world. We believe that autonomous technology can make our roads exponentially safer for travelers. Founded in late 2016, Pony.ai has been a pioneer in autonomous mobility technologies and services across the U.S. and China, spearheading public-facing Robotaxi pilots in both markets. The company is currently valued at $5.3B and some of its major investors include Toyota, Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, Sequoia Capital (News - Alert) China, and IDG Capital. Pony.ai has formed partnerships with leading OEMs including Toyota, Hyundai, GAC Group, FAW Group, etc. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005458/en/

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[June 15, 2021] Introducing Axiometrix Solutions

BEAVERTON, Ore., June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The measurement-focused business group established by Battery Ventures, and comprised of Audio Precision, GRAS Sound & Vibration, and imc Test & Measurement, today announced its new name and brand: Axiometrix Solutions. The name "Axiometrix Solutions" is a direct reflection of what these industry-leading brands seek, both individually and collectively, to provide customers: true (axiom) measurement (metrix) solutions. As an added graphical element, "IO" is highlighted within the Axiometrix Solutions logo to represent the Input/Output of the signals being analyzed for insight. The tagline "Sense. Measure. Insight." is a concise but descriptive view of the value delivered to the market. As a group, Axiometrix Solutions' product line brands provide the tools to help customers Sense a signal of interest by providing sensors to detect and acquire, Measure that signal by providing data acquisition HW and analysis SW to describe signal behavior, and through this process, derive Insight from the data and information acquired. As a group, the vision for Axiometrix Solutions is to deliver Insight to customers who need to Sense, Acquire, Measure and Analyze their signals. More specifically, it is the organization's mission to use application knowledge, innovative engineering, and operational expertise to enable engineers, technicians, and researchers to move from challenge to insight. The companies that comprise Axiometrix SolutionsAudio Precision, GRAS Sound & Vibration, and imc Test & Measurement GmbHpossess strong, market-leading brnds and each will maintain that brand as a product line brand rather than a company one.



"One of the benefits of bringing multiple brands together is the ability to provide a much more complete solution to the customer than individual brands can separately," stated Mike Flaherty, Axiometrix Solutions Chief Executive Officer. "Having a unifying identityin our case Axiometrix Solutionsas well as a singular vision, unites our brands in our mission to aid engineers, technicians, and researchers around the world in moving from challenge to insight." About Audio Precision

Audio Precision (AP) is a recognized world leader in electronic audio and electro-acoustic test instrumentation. Since 1984, AP's analyzers have helped engineers to design and manufacture innovative solutions ranging from semiconductor devices to consumer, automotive, and professional audio products. https://www.ap.com/

About GRAS Sound & Vibration

GRAS is a worldwide leader in the sound and vibration industry. GRAS develops and manufactures state-of-the- art measurement microphones to industries where acoustic measuring accuracy and repeatability is of utmost importance in R&D, QA, and production. This includes applications and solutions for customers within the fields of aerospace, automotive, audiology, and consumer electronics. GRAS microphones are designed to live up to the high quality, durability, and accuracy that our customers have come to expect and trust. https://www.grasacoustics.com/ About imc Test & Measurement GmbH

imc Test & Measurement GmbH is a manufacturer and solution provider of productive test and measurement systems. Together with its customers from the fields of automotive engineering, mechanical engineering, railway, aerospace, and energy, imc implements metrological solutions for research, development, service, and production. Every day, customers use imc measurement devices, software solutions and test stands to validate prototypes, optimize products, monitor processes, and gain insights from measurement data. imc consistently pursues its claim of providing services for "productive testing". The company offers its customers top technological performance throughout the entire measurement chain. https://www.imc-tm.com/ View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/introducing-axiometrix-solutions-301313043.html SOURCE Axiometrix Solutions

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[June 15, 2021] Trinity Investments Closes $520 Million Fund to Invest in Value-Add Hospitality Assets

Trinity Fund Advisors LLC, an affiliate of Trinity Real Estate Investments LLC ("Trinity"), a leading private real estate investment firm, announced today the final close of Trinity GP Fund I L.P. (the "Fund"), the firm's inaugural U.S. discretionary commingled real estate fund. The Fund was oversubscribed and raised a total of $520 million, significantly exceeding its $315 million target. The Fund's investors include a wide range of institutional investors, sovereign wealth funds, domestic and international family offices, and high-net-worth individuals. The capital commitments make the Fund one of the largest U.S. hospitality focused real estate private equity funds targeting value-added investments in upscale and luxury resorts and hotels in the U.S. "Closing our inaugural U.S. discretionary commingled fund represents an important milestone for Trinity as it continues our evolution from a deal-by-deal investor to a global fund manager," said Sean Hehir, Managing Partner, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Trinity. "We are grateful for the outsized investor demand this vehicle received, which is a testament to the compelling market opportunity and the reputation we've built over the past 25 years." Through the GP structure which invests limited partner capital alongside the Fund, the Fund brings over $2.6 billion of capital to invest in debt, preferred equity, and traditional equity positions that meet the Fund's strict underwriting criteria. In addition, based on the strength of Trinity's pipeline, the firm expects to generate significant co-investment opportunities for its strategic partners over the next three years. The Fund will leverage Trinity's longstanding industry relationships, established platform,and track record of investing across all market cycles to acquire a portfolio of hotels primarily in the top 25 U.S. markets. Trinity believes the current dislocation in the hospitality market presents unique opportunities over the coming years to acquire upscale and luxury assets at discounts to intrinsic value and produce outsized returns for its investors.



"The current environment is highly conducive to the Fund's investment strategy and the skillset our team has refined over the course of our respective careers," said Lee Neibart, Chairman and Senior Partner of Trinity. "We look forward to leveraging our competitive advantages to source and execute transactions that are capable of delivering attractive risk-adjusted returns to our investors." Daniel O'Donnell, Global Head of Citi Investment Management Alternatives, whose team selected the Fund for distribution to Citi's global private banking client base, stated, "the Fund was extremely well-received by our client base globally, exceeding our target fundraise expectations. The strong global interest levels for this offering speaks to the relevance of the strategy in today's market environment and the strength of the Trinity team."

Since its founding in 1996, Trinity has established itself as one of the world's leading hospitality investors. The firm has executed some of the industry's most recognizable trades, including the Westin Maui Resort & Spa, Grande Lakes Orlando Resort, and the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa. Trinity has served as a trusted operating partner for leading institutional investment firms such as Oaktree Capital Management, Walton Street Capital, Ares Management, and Elliott Management. About Trinity Real Estate Investments LLC Trinity is a private real estate investment firm with a 25-year history of generating value-add returns. Since its inception, Trinity has consummated more than $7 billion worth of global real estate transactions in the United States, Mexico, Europe, and Japan by leveraging its deep institutional knowledge and longstanding local relationships. With considerable expertise covering the full spectrum of property investment, development, and value-enhancing asset management, Trinity generates unique and opportunistic real estate investments in world-class markets. Based in Honolulu, Hawaii, with an office in Beverly Hills, California, Trinity's pursuits span an array of geographic locations and asset types, but share the commonality of being predicated upon best-in-class local relationships and teams of professionals for sourcing, executing, and realizing investments within each of its target markets. For additional information, please visit www.trinityinvestments.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005079/en/

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[June 15, 2021] Schulte Roth & Zabel Releases June 2021 Private Funds Market Trends Report

Schulte Roth & Zabel (SRZ), a preeminent law firm in the private investment funds industry, has released the June 2021 edition of the SRZ Private Funds Market Trends Report, the latest in a series of reports produced by SRZ on market conditions affecting private funds. The SRZ Private Funds Market Trends Reports provide the firm's extensive range of hedge, direct lending, credit, real estate and private equity manager clients with observations and insights on current and emerging trends in the private funds industry. The latest Report provides an updated, timely view of the market trends affecting private funds, drawing on SRZ's decades of experience serving the alternative investment management industry. Topics covered in the Report include trends in hedge funds, private equity funds, real estate funds and credit funds; environmental, social and governance (ESG) and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI); certain asset types, including cryptocurrency/digital assets, litigation finance and music catalogs; and GP-led secondary transactions. To receive a copy of the SRZ Private Funds Market Trends Report, you can submit a request by visiting this link at www.srz.com. "As the market-leading law firm representing many of the world's most innovative private investment funds, we are positioned to provide not just excellent legal and technical advice, but also practical and actionable market insights. We are pleased to share those inights and perspectives in this latest installment of our Market Trends Report," said David Efron, SRZ co-managing partner and co-head of the Investment Management Group.



"The momentum from the end of 2020 has continued into 2021. Managers continue to innovate in product development and fundraising, with a blurring of the lines separating open and closed-end funds particularly notable in the hedge and credit space. We continue to see increasing emphasis on the integration of ESG principles into investment programs, especially in private equity where sponsors can affect real change, as well as significant interest from both institutional and retail investors in funds investing in cryptocurrencies and other digital assets, despite significant ongoing volatility. In this report, we delve deeper into these, and other trends, offering insight on where the market is headed," commented Stephanie Breslow, SRZ partner and co-head of the Investment Management Group. "2021 is proving to be another rewarding year in the private funds industry. Our clients are among the most creative players in the alternative investment space, and helping them spot and take advantage of emerging market trends is a big part of what we do. Our report will serve as a great resource as they continue to seek new opportunities and pursue their fundraising goals," said David Nissenbaum, SRZ partner and co-head of the Investment Management Group.

A pioneer in the alternative investment management industry, SRZ has been advising private funds for more than 50 years. SRZ is ranked as a leading law firm in Chambers USA, Chambers Global, Chambers UK, Chambers Europe, Chambers FinTech, The Legal 500 US and The Legal 500 UK. SRZ has been the recipient of numerous industry awards, including "Asset Management Practice Group of the Year" by Law360; "Leading Law Firm for Fund Formation (News - Alert) " in the Preqin Global Private Equity & Venture Capital Report; "Best Onshore Law Firm" at the HFM U.S. Hedge Fund Services Awards; and "Leading Global Law Firm" at The Hedge Fund Journal Awards. About Schulte Roth & Zabel Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP (www.srz.com) is a full-service law firm with offices in New York, Washington, DC and London. As one of the leading law firms serving the financial services industry, the firm regularly advises clients on corporate and transactional matters and provides counsel on regulatory, compliance, enforcement and investigative issues. The firm's practices include: antitrust; bank regulatory; bankruptcy & creditors' rights litigation; blockchain technology & digital assets; broker-dealer regulatory & enforcement; business reorganization; complex commercial litigation; cybersecurity & data privacy; distressed debt & claims trading; distressed investing; education law; employment & employee benefits; energy; environmental; finance & derivatives; financial institutions; hedge funds; individual client services; insurance; intellectual property, sourcing & technology; investment management; litigation; litigation finance; mergers & acquisitions; PIPEs; private equity; real estate; real estate capital markets & REITs; real estate litigation; regulated funds; regulatory & compliance; securities & capital markets; securities enforcement; securities litigation; securitization; shareholder activism; tax; and white collar defense & government investigations. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615006139/en/

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[June 15, 2021] DeepSurface Security Wins Prestigious Industry Award, Fortress Cybersecurity Award for Threat Modeling

PORTLAND, Ore., June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Business Intelligence Group today announced that risk-based, predictive vulnerability management platform DeepSurface Security has won the 2021 Fortress Cybersecurity Awards in threat modeling. The prestigious industry awards program identifies and rewards the world's leading companies that are working to keep data and electronic assets safe amid a growing threat from hackers. Predictive Vulnerability Management Platform, DeepSurface Security, wins Fortress Cybersecurity Award in threat modeling DeepSurface considers over 50 different attributes of an environment, including user and system accounts, critical assets, installed oftware, user behavior, user and application permissions, network access, vulnerability scanner data (from Rapid7, Tenable Nessus, Microsoft ATP, and Qualys), and AWS attributes. With this, DeepSurface can contextualize vulnerabilities (and chains of vulnerabilities) within an organization's unique digital infrastructure. By identifying where an organization's most sensitive assets are, DeepSurface can accurately predict where an attacker could cause the most damage. DeepSurface then provides actionable intelligence for cybersecurity teams so they can meaningfully improve their organization's risk profile.





"Winning the Fortress Cybersecurity Awards in threat modeling is further validation that our risk management product is unique in the vulnerability management market, driving risk reduction through effective threat modeling for businesses of all sizes," said James Dirksen, CEO and co-founder of DeepSurface. "We're excited that we can help organizations rapidly reduce their cybersecurity risk with smart automation."

"We are proud to name DeepSurface Security as a winner in the 2021 Fortress Cyber Security Awards program," said Maria Jimenez, Chief Nominations Officer, Business Intelligence Group. "As our society continues to evolve and become more reliant on networks and data, companies like DeepSurface are critical to providing the protection and trust consumers demand." For more information about the awards, see: https://www.bintelligence.com/fortress-cyber-security-awards

About DeepSurface DeepSurface Security is a Predictive Vulnerability Management platform that helps cybersecurity teams leverage automation to efficiently and accurately prioritize vulnerabilities. Unlike other platforms, DeepSurface considers over 50 different attributes of an environment to contextualize vulnerabilities  and chains of vulnerabilities  within a company's unique digital infrastructure to predict where an attacker could cause the most damage to a business, and provide actionable intelligence so teams can be most impactful with their time and actions. Created by a veteran team, and trusted by cybersecurity teams across a variety of industries, DeepSurface is a privately held company, headquartered in Portland, Oregon. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/deepsurface-security-wins-prestigious-industry-award-fortress-cybersecurity-award-for-threat-modeling-301313092.html SOURCE DeepSurface Security

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[June 15, 2021] Assurant Appoints Alecia Bailey Global Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Assurant, Inc. (NYSE: AIZ), a leading global provider of lifestyle and housing solutions that support, protect and connect major consumer purchases, today announced the appointment of Alecia Bailey, as global head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), effective immediately. Bailey most recently served as vice president, Global Housing Operations with oversight for significant operations within its Global Housing segment. She now will be responsible for defining and executing Assurant's Global DEI strategy and programs and will report directly to Francesca Luthi, executive vice president and chief administrative officer. "Diversity, equity and inclusion has been integral to our business success and especially to our role as an industry innovator," said Assurant CEO Alan Colberg. "Alecia's extensive experience leading our business operations within Global Housing, coupled with her track record of recruiting and developing diverse talent, makes her an ideal candidate to take on this important role at Assurant." Bailey has held roles of increasing responsibility since joining Assurant in 2013. She began as a director of operations, driving quality and compliance initiatives within the company's Global Housing business. She was thn elevated to a more expansive role as vice president of Assurant's Global Housing Operations. During her tenure, she has been a fierce advocate for and promoter of talent. She led the design and implementation of the company's Upward Program, which provides unique management training to diverse talent within the business.



Bailey also has been an active participant with various charitable partners, including the Rankin Foundation, which empowers women through education and is a proponent of women's rights and social justice. She is also an active volunteer for Junior Achievement of Georgia. Since joining Assurant, Bailey received her Executive MBA from the University of Georgia's Terry College of Business, as well as her Juris Master in regulatory and financial transactions from Emory University School of Law. "I am honored and excited to be selected to lead Assurant's diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, putting a sharp focus on the importance of a diverse and inclusive work environment and its direct connection to how we innovate and deliver for clients and customers across the globe," said Bailey.

About Assurant Assurant, Inc. (NYSE: AIZ) is a leading global provider of lifestyle and housing solutions that support, protect and connect major consumer purchases. Anticipating the evolving needs of consumers, Assurant partners with the world's leading brands to develop innovative products and services and to deliver an enhanced customer experience. A Fortune 500 company with a presence in 21 countries, Assurant offers mobile device solutions; extended service contracts; vehicle protection services; pre-funded funeral insurance; renters insurance; lender-placed insurance products; and other specialty products. The Assurant Foundation strengthens communities by supporting charitable partners that help protect where people live and can thrive, connect with local resources, inspire inclusion and prepare leaders of the future. Learn more at assurant.com or on Twitter (News - Alert) @AssurantNews. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615006066/en/

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[June 15, 2021] Harris Williams Advises H.I.G. Capital on its Strategic Growth Investment in Cleo

Harris Williams, a global investment bank specializing in M&A advisory services, announces it advised an affiliate of H.I.G. Capital (H.I.G.) on its strategic growth investment in Cleo. Cleo is a next generation cloud-based ecosystem integration platform that brings together end-to-end integration visibility across API, EDI and non-EDI integrations. The transaction was led by Erik Szyndlar, Andy Leed and Priyanka Naithani of the Harris Williams Technology Group. "Cleo has established itself as a category leader in ecosystem integration software, providing unique solutions to the challenges facing enterprises competing in today's digital and highly interdependent e-commerce and software-driven world," said Priyanka Naithani, a director at Harris Williams. "The need for multi-enterprise supply chain integration is particularly urgent in industries like manufacturing, logistics, wholesale distribution and retail, among others. In these industries, some of the core ERP and transaction systems are still running on legacy applications, while a new layer of cloud-based applications are being deployed using next-generation technologies. Cleo Integration Cloud simplifies the complexity this creates." <> "The complexity of deployments, including on-premises, hybrid, private and public, also add a level of difficulty that needs to be navigated," added Erik Szyndlar, a managing director at Harris Williams. "H.I.G.'s investment will enable Cleo to continue to accelerate its technology investments, speed up the roll-out of its newest cloud products and expand into new verticals with its unique ecosystem integration platform, as well as accelerate its M&A strategy."



H.I.G. is a leading global private equity and alternative assets investment firm with $44 billion of equity capital under management (based on total capital commitments to funds managed by H.I.G. and its affiliates). Based in Miami, and with offices in New York, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Atlanta in the U.S., as well as international affiliate offices in London, Hamburg, Madrid, Milan, Paris, Bogota, Rio de Janeiro, and Sao Paulo, H.I.G. specializes in providing both debt and equity capital to small and mid-sized companies, utilizing a flexible and operationally focused/value-added approach. Technology and Software in particular is one of the key sectors on which H.I.G. is strategically focused. Since its founding in 1993, H.I.G. has invested in and managed more than 300 companies worldwide. The firm's current portfolio includes more than 100 companies with combined sales in excess of $30 billion. Cleo is an ecosystem integration software company focused on business outcomes, ensuring each customer's potential is realized by delivering solutions that make it easy to discover and create value through the movement and integration of B2B enterprise data. Cleo gives customers strategic, "outside-in" visibility into the critical end-to-end business flows happening across their ecosystems of partners and customers, marketplaces, and internal cloud and on-premise applications. The company's solutions empower teams to drive business agility, accelerate onboarding, facilitate modernization of key business processes and capture new revenue streams by reimagining and remastering their digital ecosystem through robust application, B2B and data integration technologies.

Harris Williams, an investment bank specializing in M&A advisory services, advocates for sellers and buyers of companies worldwide through critical milestones and provides thoughtful advice during the lives of their businesses. By collaborating as one firm across Industry Groups and geographies, the firm helps its clients achieve outcomes that support their objectives and strategically create value. Harris Williams is committed to execution excellence and to building enduring, valued relationships that are based on mutual trust. Harris Williams is a subsidiary of the PNC (News - Alert) Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC). The Harris Williams Technology Group advises leading private and public companies, founders, and private equity, growth equity and venture capital firms on mergers and acquisitions and capital-raising transactions worldwide. The Technology Group has deep domain expertise in software and technology-enabled services and dedicated focus areas across a variety of vertical software applications and end markets. For more information on the Technology Group and its recent transactions, visit the Technology Group's section of the Harris Williams website. Harris Williams LLC is a registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA and SIPC. Harris Williams & Co. Ltd is a private limited company incorporated under English law with its registered office at 8th Floor, 20 Farringdon Street, London EC4A 4AB, UK, registered with the Registrar of Companies for England and Wales (registration number 07078852). Harris Williams & Co. Ltd is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Harris Williams & Co. Corporate Finance Advisors GmbH is registered in the commercial register of the local court of Frankfurt am Main, Germany, under HRB 107540. The registered address is Bockenheimer Landstrasse 33-35, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany (email address: hwgermany@harriswilliams.com). Geschaftsfuhrer/Directors: Jeffery H. Perkins, Paul Poggi. (VAT No. DE321666994). Harris Williams is a trade name under which Harris Williams LLC, Harris Williams & Co. Ltd and Harris Williams & Co. Corporate Finance Advisors GmbH conduct business. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615006151/en/

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Citi Second Quarter 2021 Earnings Review

Citigroup will issue its second quarter results via press release at approximately 8:00 AM (ET) on Wednesday, July 14, 2021. At 10:00 AM (ET), results will be reviewed via live webcast and teleconference.

The press release, webcast and presentation materials will be available at www.citigroup.com/citi/investor. A replay and transcript of the webcast will be available shortly after the event.

To dial-in to the live teleconference, please call (866) 516-9582 (for U.S. and Canada callers) or (973) 409-9210 (for international callers). Conference ID: 7596727. A telephonic replay of the call will be available beginning approximately two hours after the event until Wednesday, July 21, 2021 by calling (855) 859-2056 (for U.S. and Canada callers) or (404) 537-3406 (for international callers). Conference ID: 7596727.

Citi, the leading global bank, has approximately 200 million customeraccounts and does business in more than 160 countries and jurisdictions. Citi provides consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, transaction services, and wealth management.







Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com | Twitter: @Citi | YouTube (News - Alert) : www.youtube.com/citi| Blog: http://blog.citigroup.com | Facebook (News - Alert) : www.facebook.com/citi | LinkedIn (News - Alert) :www.linkedin.com/company/citi

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005960/en/
NASHVILLE  The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) is recognizing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) by highlighting the impact the states Coordinated Community Response (CCR) has had over the last five years.

The departments Adult Protective Services (APS) program investigates allegations of the neglect (including self-neglect), abuse, and financial exploitation of vulnerable adults. In 2016, APS led the creation of the CCR with 20 other government and non-profit agencies that play a role in responding to the abuse of vulnerable adults. The goal was to improve communications, streamline investigations, and reduce the number of abusive unlicensed facilities.

The Coordinated Community Response has redefined how Tennessee supports adults who are experiencing vulnerable circumstances like the neglect of their own living conditions, said TDHS Commissioner Clarence H. Carter. This joint effort provides the mechanism for a diverse group of agencies and organizations to work in conjunction and to meet the specific needs seniors and other vulnerable adults have.

Neglect remains a concern for seniors across the state. Last year APS received more than fifteen thousand reports of neglect, including self-neglect, which occurs when the basic needs of a dependent adult arent being met.

Neglect may be the unintentional result of a caregiver's inability to provide the care an adult requires or due to the intentional failure of the caregiver to meet essential needs. Self-Neglect occurs when a dependent adult is unable to care for him/herself or obtain needed care. The impairments and in some cases deterioration can occur to the point that the adult's life may be at risk. Common signs of this problem include:

 Unusual weight loss, malnutrition, and dehydration.

 Untreated physical problems such as bed sores.

 Unsanitary living conditions, dirt, bugs, soiled bedding, and clothes.

 Being left un-bathed.

 Unsuitable clothing or covering for the weather.

 Unsafe living conditions (no heat or running water, faulty electrical wiring, and other fire hazards).

Individuals can report suspected abuse online at our secure site or by calling 1-888-APS-TENN (1-888-277-8366) toll free.

The International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization established WEAAD in 2006 to raise awareness about the problem. In recognition, the Korean Veterans Memorial Bridge in Nashville will be lit in the official color of purple on June 15.

Learn more about the Tennessee Department of Human Services at www.tn.gov/humanservices.

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Local faith leaders were disappointed by their short lived ceasefire over the weekend.



The crusade to push back against the Kansas City murder count was so great that they tried it again . . . Or at least talked about redoubling their efforts . . .



Activists call for 21-day cease fire to Kansas City violence Clergy and civil rights advocates in Kansas City are promoting a 21-day cease fire with offers of conflict resolution and on-call spiritual counseling in a city that's undergoing yet another deadly year of gun-related violence.The cease fire, which began at 12:01 a.m.

Sadly, that effort was also thwarted by deadly gunfire today.



This is the 69th homicide so far in KCMO this year. At this point last year, there were 83.

Read more . . .

KCPD investigating fatal shooting near 36th & Olive KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -- Kansas City police are investigating a fatal shooting that happened Tuesday afternoon. It happened in the area of E. 36th Street and Olive Street just before 2:45 p.m. At least one person has died from their injuries. Stay with KCTV5 News for updates.

Kansas City police investigate fatal shooting on city's east side Tuesday afternoon Kansas City police are investigating a fatal shooting Tuesday afternoon on the city's east side.Police officers were called about 2:45 p.m. to East 36th and Olive streets.Authorities said one person was killed.No other details have has been released. Refresh this page for updates.

Kansas City, Missouri, police investigate city's 69th homicide KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kansas City, Missouri, police are investigating the city's 69th homicide. Officers responded around 2:40 p.m. to East 36th and Olive streets, where a victim was located. There is no additional information at this time. - This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Here's more information . . .

This afternoon at about 2:45pm, officers were called to the 3600 block of Olive in regard to a shooting. Upon arrival, officers located the victim, an adult male, inside a residence who was suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. EMS responded to the scene and pronounced the victim deceased.



Detectives and Crime Scene Personnel have responded to the scene. They will be processing the scene for evidence and canvassing for any potential witnesses.



Detectives are asking if you have any information, please call the Homicide Unit at 816-234-5043. Or if you would like to remain anonymous you can do so by calling the Tips Hotline at 816-474-TIPS. There is a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to an arrest in this case.

Developing . . .
The old appointee supported the KCPD Chief . . . It's EXTREMELY LIKELY that replacement will also share a conservative view of local policing. In fact Guv Parson's appointment might be an even more stalwart supporter of the status quo.

Still, this news earned a great deal of hopeful blathering for reasons that are purely rhetorical.

Read more . . .

Nathan Garrett, key KCPD supporter, resigns from Board of Police Commissioners Nathan Garrett, a key Kansas City Police Department supporter, resigned from the Board of Police Commissioners, according to Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas.The move by Garrett, who is known as a staunch defender of the department and law enforcement in general, comes days after the police board filed a lawsuit

Nathan Garrett resigns from Kansas City Police Board; Mayor suggests changes to meetings KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Nathan Garrett resigned from his appointment with the Kansas City, Missouri, Board of Police Commissioners. His resignation is effective as of last Friday, according to his resignation letter. In the letter, Garrett said his residency changed and because of that needed to resign from the appointment.

Police Commissioner Nathan Garrett resigns KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -- Police Commissioner Nathan Garrett has resigned. Garrett has been one of the most vocal opponents of plans to reallocate funding from the KCPD to a community improvement fund. According to Missouri Governor Mike Parson's office, Garrett and his family have moved out of KCMO, which forces him to resign from his position.

Kansas City, Missouri, Board of Police Commissioners member Nathan Garrett resigns KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A Kansas City, Missouri, Board of Police Commissioners member, who claimed recent KCPD funding reallocation blindsided the commission, has resigned. Nathan Garrett, who was appointed by then-Gov. Eric Greitens, had most recently served as the commission's treasurer and tendered his resignation Friday. A spokesperson from Missouri Gov.

Developing . . .
It's interesting and just a bit "weird" that local news has omitted an important detail regarding a suspected serial killer who earned an important victory today.

Let's not forget that a serial killer reportedly exclaimed "kill all white people" and his alleged slaughter was, in fact, deemed racially motivated by authorities.



To be fair, the racially motivated killings were never tagged as a series of hate crimes because they did not impact a legally defined protected class.

Moreover, on the QT and very hush, hush . . . There's a lot of sordid deets about the early morning killings along an isolated trail park amongst single, older white dudes that hasn't been approved for public consumption.



And so some, but not all, local media are complicit in downplaying this crucial criminal justice detail regarding today's designation . . .



Based on the most recent evaluations by doctors for the defense and the Missouri Department of Mental Health, Scott is currently deemed incompetent.



Its important to note that he is found currently incompetent and that status could change.



He will remain at the Department of Mental Health for further evaluation and he will continue to be committed.

Read more . . .



Suspected serial killer Fredrick Scott deemed incompetent, status could later change KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -- On Monday, a scheduled competency hearing for suspected serial killer Fredrick Scott was held. Based on the most recent evaluations by doctors for the defense and the Missouri Department of Mental Health, Scott is currently deemed incompetent. It's important to note that he is found currently incompetent and that status could change.

Kansas City man accused of killing 6 found incompetent to stand trial A Kansas City man accused of killing six people on or near Indian Creek Trail has been found incompetent to stand trial.Fredrick Scott is charged in the deaths of David Lenox, Timothy Rice, Mike Darby, Steven Gibbons, John Palmer and Karen Harmeyer.The killings took place in 2016 and 2017.A court hearing Monday found Scott was not competent to stand trial based on the latest mental evaluation filed by the Department of Mental Health.Another hearing is set for Aug.

Accused Indian Creek Trail serial killer Fredrick Scott deemed incompetent for trial KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A man dubbed the Indian Creek Trail Killer has been determined incompetent to stand trial five years after he began his killing spree in Kansas City. In August 2017 and March 2018, Fredrick Scott was charged with multiple murders along Indian Creek Trail.

Developing . . .


This tragic trend deserves more coverage by local media because it's unacceptable and a sign of worsening brutality in Kansas City that should be addressed by local media and authorities.



A LOCAL WOMAN WAS RECENTLY MURDERED IN FRONT OF HER CHILDREN!!! IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS AT LEAST HALF A DOZEN WOMEN HAVE BEEN SLAUGHTERED IN KANSAS CITY!!!



Moreover . . .



The majority of the victims have been African-American females.

Sadly . . .

A clear & present danger to Black women in Kansas City has been neglected amid a political struggle betwixt police and political activists.

Some might speculate that governance structure would help address this horrific situation. However, the threat to inner city women hasn't been a priority in recent conversations about policing, the subject of protest, high-profile vigils or declarations by clergy.

Read more . . .

Man charged in Sunday deadly shooting of Kansas City woman in front of their kids KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A 33-year-old Kansas City man is facing charges in the deadly shooting of Andrea Dean inside a Kansas City residence Sunday morning. Jackson County prosecutors charged Christopher L. Spears with second-degree murder and armed criminal action. According to court records, Kansas City Police responded to a shooting around 10 a.m.

Family members heartbroken over loss of KCMO mother of 3 KANSAS CITY, Mo. - During their time of grief, family members of Andrea Latrice Ford Dean want to make sure she's remembered as much more than a victim of gun violence. The 32-year-old mother of three was shot and killed Sunday near the 4300 block of East Linwood Boulevard.

After Kansas City mother killed in front of kids, local activists say 'we have to do more' KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A 33-year-old man has been charged after allegedly killing a woman in front of their children in Kansas City. Christopher Sears is now charged with second-degree murder in the death of Andrea Dean. The shooting death happened Sunday morning near Spruce Avenue and Linwood Boulevard.

Man charged with murder after mother of his children is fatally shot KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -- A Kansas City man has been charged with murder in connection with a fatal shooting that happened on Sunday morning. According to the Jackson County Prosecutor's Office, 33-year-old Christopher L. Spears has been charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action.

Developing . . .
CNN and Dr. Fauci warn us that COVID impact could last for YEARS as freedoms that most Americans took for granted, like in-person voting, are now a thing of the past.



Accordingly, here's a peek at how the Midwest is adjusting . . .



The Kansas Guv continues pushing emergency policy to protect the most vulnerable from infection . . .



Kansas governor tries to keep COVID state of emergency alive TOPEKA, Kan. - Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly is trying to persuade deeply skeptical Republican lawmakers to extend Kansas' state of emergency for the coronavirus pandemic, arguing that it's still necessary for vaccinations and some testing for COVID-19.

More . . .

Lawmakers end COVID emergency in Kansas; Kelly wanted it extended through July by: Heidi Schmidt Posted: / Updated: TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - The COVID emergency order ends in Kansas. The state of emergency order was scheduled to expire at the end of the day Tuesday after being in place since March 2020.

A peek at the economic impact . . .

Vaccination Clinics And Food Stamps In Limbo After Kansas Republicans End Gov. Kelly's COVID Powers TOPEKA, Kansas - Kansas lawmakers abruptly decided to end the state's COVID-19 disaster declaration Tuesday. Republicans on the Legislative Coordinating Council canceled a meeting where they'd been set to consider Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly's request for another extension.

Meanwhile, Missouri Guv Parson prohibits mandatory tech health checks . . .



Governor Parson signs bill prohibiting vaccine passports by: Juan Cisneros Posted: / Updated: JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Missouri Governor Mike Parson signed House Bill 271 Tuesday which restricts local governments on health orders and prohibits the requirement of vaccine passports. The order will only allow public health orders to restrict direct or indirect access to businesses, churches, school, etc.

Developing . . .


One of the talking points in the debate over police funding has been public dissatisfaction with how police handle the mentally ill or substance abuse crisis calls . . . Here's a comprehensive glimpse at the top cop challenging many assertions . . . Read more:



KCPD Chief's Blog: Police response to those with mental illness has evolved significantly

Few people in Kansas City have as much day-to-day interaction with those experiencing mental illness or substance abuse crises as the members of KCPD. Thats why we have worked diligently for years now to prepare and equip our staff to safely interact with those in crisis, get them to the resources they need and, if possible, keep them out of the criminal justice system.



In the early 2010s, we realized how important it was, so we created a squad of Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) officers dedicated to serving and following up with members of our community with mental illness who came to the attention of law enforcement. They work hand-in-hand with community mental health liaisons (social workers from mental health treatment providers). In 2020  even among COVID restrictions - this squad responded to 675 calls for service involving those with mental illness. They conducted 464 follow-up visits in addition to that. They contacted homeless individuals 449 times to help them get treatment and housing.



They also conducted extensive mental health awareness and de-escalation training for our KCPD officers and other area law enforcement, as well as community and panel presentations.



Thanks to our CIT squad and social workers, thousands of members of our community got the help they really needed instead of being thrown into the criminal justice system or having a negative encounter with law enforcement.



This squad also was integral to the creation of the Kansas City Assessment and Triage Center (KC-ATC) in the 2600 block of E. 12th Street. It opened in 2016. Its a public-private partnership between the KCPD, City of Kansas City, Missouri Department of Mental Health and seven Kansas City hospitals. It only accepts patients from police or hospital emergency rooms, and patients must agree to go voluntarily. Before KC-ATC, emergency rooms used to be the only option for police to take those in mental health or substance abuse crisis. Patients often were sent on their way with a prescription for medication and a referral to a mental health care provider. The onus was on the patient to arrange for their own follow-up care, which many were not in the correct mental state to do. At KC-ATC, case workers ensure patients are assigned to their nearest mental health care provider, and that care provider is charged with following up with the patient.



Its not enough to have just one squad of CIT officers, though. While about 40% of our departments officers were CIT-certified, having taken the full 40-hour course, I felt every single officer needed to know the basics. Now every sworn KCPD member must take a 2.5-day Introduction to CIT course. Given their frequent encounters with those in mental health crisis, this is a benefit to both them and the community. We developed this course in collaboration with CIT International, a not-for-profit organization established in 2006 that is the leader in promoting safe and humane response to those experiencing a mental health crisis. One of our own, Major Darren Ivey, serves on its executive committee. They promote community collaboration using the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Program to assist people living with mental illness and/or addiction who are in crisis.



CIT International is governed by a Board of Directors who come from all aspects of the CIT community: law enforcement, behavioral health, family/advocates, and persons with lived experiences. Its led by an executive director.



In addition to the Intro to CIT and basic CIT courses, our 911 call-takers and dispatchers also take extensive CIT training. Many of our staff members also have taken CIT courses specific to certain populations such as veterans and youth.



Our department social service workers also have stepped in to assist. They have helped many Kansas City residents in crisis get the resources they need for housing, food, and more. As I stated in a previous blog, police working with social service workers is one of the most safe and effective ways to address ongoing issues in our community that have come to the attention of law enforcement.



Much of our work with those who are in mental illness or substance abuse crisis involves de-escalation. So many facets of our training incorporate de-escalation, and we were one of the leaders in developing it in the mid-2010s. A large portion of our annual firearms training is devoted to preventing use of force encounters. Both our recruit Academy and annual in-service training include both specific de-escalation techniques and how they can be used in a variety of situations, from domestic violence to mental health crises to serving warrants.



As policing evolves, KCPD continues to seek nontraditional responses. Public-private partnerships, social services and de-escalation are all examples of the commitment this Department has to our city.

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You decide . . .


The Mayor claiming to support the rank & file is a bit of a joke along with today's flex.



Check-it . . .


lyf continues strong growth with 12 more properties set to open across 10 cities in Asia Pacific



(TRAVPR.COM) SINGAPORE - June 15th, 2021 - CapitaLands wholly owned lodging business unit, The Ascott Limited (Ascott), will be opening lyf Tenjin Fukuoka, Ascotts first lyf-branded coliving property in Japan on 16 June 2021. lyf Tenjin Fukuoka is the first of six lyf properties that are slated to open this year in Singapore, Hangzhou, Shanghai and Xian, as Ascott gears up to meet the strong demand by customers and property owners for the unique lyf coliving product.

The 131-unit lyf Tenjin Fukuoka is strategically located in Tenjin, the major shopping and recreational centre of Fukuoka, and is near the business district as well. The coliving property is also near the trendy Daimyo and Imaizumi areas, surrounded by major malls, vintage stores, boutique outlets, local street food stalls, chic cafes and a vibrant nightlife scene. lyf Tenjin Fukuoka is close to cultural attractions such as the Kushida Shrine and Tochoji Temple. It is a five-minute walk from the Nishitetsu Fukuoka and Tenjin Minami train stations, and a 20-minute drive from the Fukuoka Airport. The property is also part of Resola Imaizumi Terrace by NTT Urban Development, a development with commercial, retail and food & beverage components.

Ascott currently has a total of 15 lyf properties with over 3,000 units in 12 cities and eight countries, comprising three properties that have opened and 12 under development. lyf Tenjin Fukuoka follows the opening of lyf Funan Singapore and lyf Sukhumvit 8 Bangkok. The five properties slated to open in 2021 are lyf Farrer Park Singapore and lyf one-north Singapore as well as lyf Midtown Hangzhou, lyf Hongqiao Shanghai and lyf Dayanta Xian in China. Between 2022 and 2024, seven more lyf properties are slated to open in Beijing, Cebu, Danang, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Melbourne and Shanghai.

Mr Tan Lai Seng, Ascott's Regional Manager for Japan & Korea, said: As a hybrid lodging solution that combines the best of serviced residences, hotels and coliving apartments, we are confident that our first lyf property in Japan will meet the demands of guests seeking flexibility, value and an enriching community experience. Designed for the next generation of guests such as digital nomads, technopreneurs, creatives and self-starters, lyf Tenjin Fukuoka enable guests to live, work and play in a dynamic environment as well as connect and collaborate as a community.

lyf Tenjin Fukuokas flexible communal spaces and curated social programmes allow us to tap on the growing interest amongst travellers to interact with locals or enjoy local culture or unique experiences . From lyf Tenjin Fukuokas central location, guests can also experience Fukuokas rich cultural and contemporary offerings. We expect strong domestic demand for lyf Tenjin Fukuoka including corporates and leisure guests from major cities such as Tokyo and Osaka as well as other cities in Kyushu. We will continue to seek suitable opportunities to expand the lyf brand in Japan, while deepening Ascotts presence in the country, added Mr Tan.

Despite COVID-19, Ascott remains resilient in Japan and its serviced residences maintained robust occupancy. Its rental housing properties achieved strong occupancy rate of over 95%. Japan remains as a highly popular travel destination with over 55% of travellers in Asia and 24% of travellers in Europe, USA and Australia citing Japan as their top travel destination .

Leveraging Ascotts award-winning in-house design expertise, lyf Tenjin Fukuoka is uniquely designed to feature Fukuokas culture and charm as a port city, as well as the flavours of the propertys locale through the creative spaces and artworks within the property.

Private spaces and digital experience

lyf Tenjin Fukuoka offers a variety of studio apartments such as One of a Kind, Side by Side, One of a Kind Plus and Side by Side Plus. The apartments are ideal for solo guests or couples and are also suitable for guests on long or short stay. Each apartment comes with a private bathroom, smart TV, work desk and complimentary high-speed WiFi. Providing a digital experience through the Discover ASR mobile app, guests can access their apartments via a mobile key. Guests can also perform mobile check-in and out, make contactless payments, interact with other guests via the in-app social wall and communicate with lyf Guards.

Flexible social spaces

The coliving property features social spaces such as the Connect zone with open coworking and lounge spaces that enable guests to build connections, collaborate, exchange and spark new ideas. Weekly activities such as talks on self-development or wellness, photography, cooking or craft workshops will be held virtually and in person. There is also a pool table for guests to interact, play and unwind. The fully equipped social kitchen, Bond allows guests to connect while whipping up a meal. At the Wash & Hang laundromat, guests can also strike up new conversations while waiting for their laundry. At the Refuel cafe and bar, guests can enjoy local delights and gather for a cup of coffee in the morning or a nightcap in the evening. The double height walls that are cladded with corrugated shipping container panels portray Fukuoka as a port city.

#lyfxart

A wide of range of artworks in lyf Tenjin Fukuokas apartments and social spaces seek to engage and excite its guests. The apartments are designed with a blend of wooden panels and patterned wallpaper for a modern yet natural and minimalistic look. The wallpaper in each apartment is unique, featuring colourful illustrations that reflect Fukuokas cultural identity by Singaporean artist, Mr Alvin Tan. The social spaces are also adorned with artworks by two local artists from Fukuoka - Kazuhiko Ifuku and Marumiyan, depicting Fukuokas rich culinary culture and community. Please see Annex for more information on the artworks and its artists.

Opening promotion starts from JPY 3,250 per night for Ascott Star Rewards members

To celebrate the opening of lyf Tenjin Fukuoka, members of Ascotts loyalty programme, Ascott Star Rewards (ASR) get to enjoy up to 45% off the Best Flexible Rates. Rates start from JPY 3,250 per night for a One of A Kind apartment. The promotion is valid till 31 December 2021. Sign up for ASR membership is complimentary. For more information on lyf Tenjin Fukuoka or to make a reservation, please visit here.

Ascotts portfolio in Japan

In Japan, Ascott has a strong portfolio of over 5,500 units across 30 serviced residences, coliving and rental housing properties as well as hotels in nine cities, including the gateway cities such as Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto. This includes five serviced residences in Tokyo  Ascott Marunouchi Tokyo, Citadines Central Shinjuku Tokyo, Citadines Shinjuku Tokyo, Somerset Ginza East Tokyo and Somerset Shinagawa Tokyo, as well as Citadines Karasuma-Gojo Kyoto in Kyoto and Citadines Namba Osaka in Osaka. In 2023, Ascott is slated to open a Citadines-branded property in Yokohoma which will be developed by NTT Urban Development and is Ascotts first property in the city.

Enhanced Ascott Cares commitment to improve guests overall wellness and safety

At Ascotts properties in Japan and other countries globally, guests can be assured that Ascott places their well-being and safety as its priority. Ascott is the first hospitality company in the world to offer its guests global access to a comprehensive suite of telehealth, telecounselling and travel security advisory services. These complimentary services are part of Ascotts enhanced Ascott Cares commitment to provide stringent hygiene and safety standards, wellness support and implement sustainable practices, offering guests a greater peace of mind when staying with Ascott.

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@IsaacAvilucea on Twitter

Isaac Avilucea is The Trentonians main municipal scribe. A two-time prior restraint winner and testicular cancer survivor, he relishes his reputation as the "Mean Girls" reporter that followed his 18-day stay at the now-defunct North Adams Transcript.
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Tonight

Partly cloudy during the evening followed by cloudy skies overnight. Slight chance of a shower throughout the evening. Low 56F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph.
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You know what? It's your trip; you get to do it however you want.

"Is it truly worth staying the night in MV, due to an extra hike, the sunset/sunrise, or something else?" YES! I find an overnight in MV very relaxing since there isn't a never-ending list of things to do and see. Usually have a over zealous list of activities to see on my road trips and Monument Valley is a little reprieve in the middle. 1 overnight is enough. The main event is viewing the landscape which you get from the rim (where the hotel and visitor center is located) and the valley (where the tours take you). Sunrise and sunset are awesome and even nicer when you can view from your rooms balcony in your PJ's. I totally understand the lodging cost concern. It is a splurge but well worth it as a once in a lifetime experience.

With that said, your itinerary in post #19 is doable. Just make sure you are not driving to or in GC during darkness. It is pitch black and there is abundant wildlife in the region, particularly along the rim. The other thought with my itinerary of 1N MV and 2N GC (post #14) was that you would tour the east portion of Grand Canyon on your way into the park. You'd have time to stop at the historic Cameron Trading Post between MV and GC and have all afternoon on Day 4 to see the sights and overlooks on Desert View Drive before arriving in Grand Canyon Village. You would not have to return the next day to stop at the viewpoints, etc. With your plan, you would be driving in with not much time for viewing and would mostly likely need to backtrack the next day. But with your original 3 nights, it's not really an issue. My travel style is to eliminate backtracking as much as possible and keep moving forward.

If you do decide to overnight in MV, recommend taking the 4:30/sunset tour. It will enhance you appreciation of the geologic features with the sun lower in the sky. To fill your time before a 4:30 tour time:

-1/2 day morning UTV rental or tour in Moab. Then drive to MV.

**or**

Depart Moab in the morning with stops along the way

-Newspaper Rock

-Edges of the Cedars SP, Blanding UT. This is a get out of the car facility (not a drive in/through) with a Puebloan Village in the back to explore and large Anasazi pottery collection. It a nice 45-60min air conditioned stop with clean restrooms.

-Goosenecks SP

-Mile Marker 13/Forest Gump point
3 Days in CPT, on to Namibia - no need for Covid test?

3 Days in CPT, on to Namibia - no need for Covid test?

Hello,

Our plan is to travel from Maun to Cape Town after getting a Covid test in Maun (on July 10th).

We would fly to CPT on July 11th.

We would depart CPT on July 15th for WDH (Namibia).

Namibia requires a negative PCR test within 7 days. Our test from Maun would be 6 days old, so they won't need a newer test.

Would the CPT airport or airline (AirLink) need a more recent test? I don't see why they would, but wanted to check on this! Thanks,

--Kyle
I just started researching a trip for either March or December 2022 and am already overwhelmed with so many resort options. Help! I've been dreaming of going to the Maldives for years but it was always so prohibitively expensive but prices right now seem low. Using the questions listed on the pinned forum post:

1. We are looking at either March 2022 or December 2022. Likely 6-7 nights at the resort.

2. Seaplane or Speed Boat are fine.

3. Not sure on size. Would prefer an AI but would like to avoid the bigger chain options like Rui or Hard Rock. Definitely looking for overwater villas with direct access to beautiful, clear water. Reefs for snorkeling are nice but not directly under the villa. Personal pools are nice if the water is rough but not necessary (who needs a pool when the water is so clear and beautiful?!) Also love the pictures of the islands that have the thin strip of white sand out into the blue water.

4. Being able to snorkel from the beach of the resort would be nice but not a requirement.

5. Not a diver.

6. Definitely All Inclusive. Ultra/Premium/Select All Inclusive would be preferred if feasible on the budget. A mix of a la carte or buffet restaurants is good. I'd at least like to have a couple of choices of restaurants to vary it up but don't need a huge selection.

7. As stated before, over-water villa with direct access to water, preferably a sandy bottom. A pool would be nice but not necessary.

8.Either or. Prefer adults only but children are fine. I don't really want a loud "party" resort. We don't hang out in bars and prefer quiet luxury.

9. Snorkeling with manta rays or whale sharks definitely. Would love to try an underwater restaurant if feasible, but understand we would likely have to travel off resort. I saw one excursion of fishing followed by a bbq of the catch which is appealing (we did something similar in Iceland and it was great!). Would love to also explore the local culture with a half day or day trip to Male or any of the towns.

10. Budget would be between $6000-$9000 USD including flights and lodging, but not counting excursions. We would be flying out of either Newark or JFK. Obviously lower is better but willing to go up to the 9k for the right resort/experience. This is for 2 adults.

I was looking at a package deal through Emirates for March 2022 that includes international flights, 6 nights in a lagoon suite at the all inclusive Cocoon Resort, and seaplane transfers for $8019. $400 deposit now, rest due in February. Is this a good deal? Would Cocoon be a good option for us? It looks gorgeous.
Army veteran Carlos Correa dreams of starting a business growing lettuce and tomatoes in greenhouses. But the traumatic injuries he suffered as a result of serving in Afghanistan prevent him from working. His wife now cares for him at home.

Correa had thought he left Afghanistan unscathed because he was alive and uninjured. But over time, survivors guilt, sadness about the problems of veterans he counseled at work, deep-seated anger at an Army superior, and uncontrollable emotions overwhelmed him. He suffers from traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder. His lowest point was the day he set out to kill someone with a gun.

It was going to end up badly, said Correa, 34, of Willimantic, a father of two children. But something inside him knew its not me. He sought help and was immediately hospitalized. He spent nearly three months in residential psychiatric programs, was diagnosed as homicidal and suicidal, and learned that his TBI resulted from trauma his brain suffered during explosive blasts.

President Joe Biden announced in April that American troops would withdraw from Afghanistan by Sept. 11, 2021, 20 years after the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon that prompted Americas longest war.

As the withdrawal nears, Correa and two other Connecticut veterans looked back on the effects their deployments had on their lives. Alyssa Kelleher, 39, director of the University of Connecticut Office of Veterans Affairs and Military Programs, spent 26 months in Afghanistan in two deployments as a combat troop leader. She witnessed the carnage and severe poverty among the Afghan people. Fausto Parra, 38, of Trumbull, who served in Afghanistan and Iraq, said his military units became family. He now works with veterans.

They were among 830,807 American troops who served in Afghanistan, according to U.S. Department of Defense statistics. Of those, 2,448 died and 20,722 were wounded, as of June 4. Twenty-five military personnel from Connecticut died in Afghanistan or from injuries sustained there, according to data compiled by the state and veterans advocates for memorials in Hartford and Middletown.

The DOD didnt provide the total number of Connecticut residents who served in Afghanistan, but released statistics of those sent from Connecticut-based units, such as the National Guard, Reserves, and the Groton Naval Base between Oct. 1, 2001, and Sept. 30, 2020, as follows: 2,082 troops, 18 deaths and 238 injured.

The war has cost the U.S. government $2.26 trillion as of April 15, according to the Costs of War project, based at Brown and Boston universities. The amount doesnt include costs for Afghanistan veterans care or future interest payments on money borrowed to fund the war.

Unique Health Challenges

Dr. Sara Rubin, a psychiatrist with the VA Connecticut Healthcare System PTSD/Anxiety Disorders Team, said Afghanistan deployments presented unique challenges to troops because of the countrys rugged terrain, the smaller military units that served there, and fewer resources than Iraq war troops had. She said the result is a sense of isolation, which exacerbates PTSD. She pointed out that TBI, often associated with PTSD, is the hallmark injury of the Afghanistan war. She explained the damage occurs in the brains frontal lobe, which controls such functions as agitation and rage.

Christina Savage, a VA social worker with the Post 9/11 Case Management Team, said other problems she sees in veterans of recent deployments include muscle pain, substance abuse, unhealthy eating, poor hygiene, destroyed families and a general struggle to live without the militarys structure.

Correa said most of his problems surfaced when he was counseling veterans. I was trying to help others. I thought I was doing a good job, he said. But at night, he lashed out at his wife in unprovoked, angry outbursts.

When he was hospitalized, he talked for the first time about long-held anger. He unsuccessfully had asked for an extension of leave from Afghanistan to help his legally blind wife, who was injured in a car accident. The situation devolved into his superior yelling at him and ordering him to do push-ups, and Correa punching the officer and being demoted, he said. I felt betrayed, he said.

Kelleher said her first deployment was extended because the unit that was supposed to replace hers was sent to Iraq instead. A lot of resources and focus were going to Iraq and not going to Afghanistan, where conditions for troops generally were remote and austere, she said. And, the harsh existence of the Afghan people, many without plumbing or reliable electricity, is something that stays with you, she said.

Now, she puts problems in perspective. Nearly everything you encounter is not going to be as bad as a bad day there, she said.

As a female leader, she encountered many Afghan men who wouldnt speak to her even though she had male Afghan interpreters.

She always knew where her troops were and had immediate access to information. But, back at home, she panicked if she couldnt reach people. It took some conscious work on my part to understand that they were likely not in danger, she said. Ironically, she recognized her anxiety when training to be a counselor in an Army resilience program and used the curriculum to help herself overcome it.

Kelleher, of Willington, has a 3-year-old daughter and, in addition to her UConn job, she is a lieutenant colonel in the Connecticut National Guard. She has ended relationships with people who expressed no interest in her deployments, which she called important parts of her life. But she maintains friendships with about 60 people from her deployments. Those are the beautiful things about the military  people who youve gone through those things with  you stay in touch for life, she said.

Parra said the people with whom he was deployed have become family to him. Parra, who left the Army after two deployments, is mourning a fellow soldier who had two additional deployments and died by suicide. Parra linked it to the multiple deployments. I can imagine, he said, that you can transform into someone completely different.

While earning associate, bachelors and masters degrees, Parra has dedicated his career to veterans, working for the VA, the state Department of Veterans Affairs, the nonprofit Workplace, and now the DOD. I found no other passion aside from serving veterans, he said.

End Of The Longest War

Correa expressed doubts about the planned troop withdrawal. The Afghan people need to be liberated from the Taliban, he said, adding, The job is not finished.

Kelleher took a similar stance. She was an Army platoon leader in her first deployment and a company commander in the Connecticut National Guard in her second. The withdrawal is hard to see because you were there and believed in what you were doing, and have a lot of personal friends who sacrificed up to their life for this cause, she said. Theres still unrest. Theres still violence. Theres still mistreatment of women and minorities. These are things we wanted to help change, she added.

Parra expressed relief about the pullout, a sentiment shared by the 25 Army veterans from his deployment with whom he keeps in touch. Some have children old enough to serve, and they are pleased their offspring wont have to go to Afghanistan. He said that since Bidens announcement, the group has reached out more than usual to check on each other.

For Correa, nonprofit veterans organizations have given him strategies for budgeting and improving marital communications, fitness programs, peer support groups, social events and gift cards for family movie nights.

Looking back at his deployments where colleagues got injured or died, Correa said, I didnt get shot at. I didnt get blown up. They did. Some people might look at that as a blessing. For me, I should have gotten hurt.

This story was reported under a partnership with the Connecticut Health I-Team (c-hit.org), a nonprofit news organization dedicated to health reporting.
Hi, my name is Scott C. Waring and I wrote a few books and am currently a ESL School Owner in Taiwan. I have had my own UFO sighting up close and personal, but that's how it works right? A non believer becomes a believer when they experience their first sighting. You witnessed it, your perceptual field changes, so now you need to share it.





I created this site to help the UFO community get a little bit organized. I noticed that there was a lot of chaos when searching for UFO sighting reports, so I hope this site helps. I wanted to support those eyewitnesses who have tried to tell others about what they have seen, yet were laughed at by even closest of friends.





More and more each day the governments of the world leak bits and pieces of UFO information to the public. They have a trickle down theory in hopes of slowly getting citizens use to the idea that we are not alone in universe and never have been. The truth is being leaked drop by drop until one day we look around and find ourselves neck high in it.





The discovery of alien species in existence is the most monumental scientific event in human history, suppression of that information is a crime against humanity.





About me:

I live in Taiwan. I OWN MY OWN ENGLISH SCHOOL, AND ONCE HAD 5 SCHOOLS.

Am Former USAF at SAC base (flight line).

Age: 42

Educ: BA in Elem ed. Masters in Counseling ed.





I had two UFO sightings, (30+bus size orbs) in military and in 2012 personally saw the UFO over Taipei 101 building on New Years Day (and recored it).
OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden Ann Linde visited the town of Krasnohorivka near the occupied Donetsk and talked to local residents.

"OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden Ann Linde has visited Krasnohorivka, probably one of our closest populated localities to the occupied Donetsk. The Minister had the opportunity to talk to local residents, management, and staff of the hospital which has repeatedly come under attacks launched by Russian armed formations," Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Vasyl Bodnar, who is accompanying the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, posted on Twitter.

The diplomat added that the representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross held a separate briefing for the OSCE delegation.

Earlier, the Deputy Minister informed that the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office had visited the entry-exit checkpoint Novotroitske and the Mariupol Sea Commercial Port, whose leadership told Linde about the problems in operation, especially after the onset of Russian aggression, restrictions on the navigation in the Kerch Strait.

In addition, according to Bodnar, the Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine and the Commander of the Mariupol Tactical Group informed the OSCE delegation led by Linde about the security situation in the Sea of Azov and measures to strengthen the coastal defense.

As reported, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden Ann Linde and the leadership of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine make a joint visit to the Joint Forces Operation area where Linde gets acquainted with the activities of the OSCE SMM to Ukraine, the consequences of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation, the peculiarities of the movement of ships in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.

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Over the past day, June 14, eight ceasefire violations by the Russian-occupation troops were recorded in the Joint Forces Operation area in eastern Ukraine.

"In particular, the enemy opened fire from under-barrel grenade launchers and small arms near Novotoshkivske (53km west of Luhansk); tripod-mounted man-portable antitank guns, grenade machine guns, hand-held antitank grenade launchers, and heavy machine guns  outside Vodiane in the Sea of Azov area; tripod-mounted man-portable antitank guns, grenade machine guns, and heavy machine guns  near Pavlopil (25km north-west of Mariupol); grenade machine guns, hand-held antitank grenade launchers, and heavy machine guns  outside Luhanske (59km north-east of Donetsk)," the press center of the JFO Headquarters informs.

In the north of Luhansk region, an enemy Orlan-10-class UAV was seen to fly crossing the line of contact. The drone was timely suppressed with radio-electronic warfare equipment.

There are no combat losses among the Ukrainian military due to enemy shelling.

Two servicemen received shrapnel wounds in an unknown explosive device blast.

As of 07:00 on June 15, one ceasefire violation was recorded.

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Russia has withdrawn only about 12,000 troops out of 100,000 from the border with Ukraine, so there is no real withdrawal.

"At the end of April, they [Russia] announced the withdrawal of troops. But during this period, only about 12,000 troops have been actually withdrawn out of more than 100,000 amassed in April. Therefore, there is no real withdrawal," Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba said in an interview with Die Welt, the translation of which was published on the Foreign Ministry's website, Ukrinform reports.

According to him, Russia's statement on the withdrawal of troops was triggered by the sharp reaction of the West. Russia respects strength and reacts aggressively when it feels weakness, the minister noted.

"Everyone sees what is really happening and sees that Russia is a party to the conflict. And when German or French politicians do not dare to talk about it out loud, it motivates Russia to act even more aggressively. Obvious things need to be said for Russia to respect this stance and behave accordingly," Kuleba stressed.

He also reminded that NATO promised in 2008 that Ukraine and Georgia would become the Alliance members one day. "We want the process promised to us 13 years ago to begin even if it lasts for years or decades," he said.

As reported, Russia amassed more than 100,000 troops on the border with Ukraine, pulled heavy weapons, and deployed military hospitals in April. The United States, the European Union, and the international community expressed concern over the situation.

Russia later announced the withdrawal of its troops from Ukraine's borders on the pretext of "successful completion of exercises."

At the same time, President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that there was only a slight decrease in the number of Russian troops in the occupied Crimea and no decrease along the borders.

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President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that further Ukraine's cooperation with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is important for economic stability and investment climate.

He said this in a joint interview for Agence France-Presse, Reuters and Associated Press, according to the presidents website.

In the context of Ukraine's cooperation with the International Monetary Fund, Zelensky said that it is unfair to make the same demands on Ukraine as on other states. After all, Ukraine has been at war for the eighth year already and has been forced to choose priority areas for reform in a different way.

"I do not think it is possible to compare the IMF's strategy of behavior with Ukraine with other countries. Our country simply cannot be put on a par with others. Because we have a complication, because there is a war. Because money is spent on priorities not in terms of economy, but in terms of security. First the military, first medicine, then everything else, he explained.

At the same time, Zelensky noted that the continuation of Ukraines cooperation with the IMF is important for economic stability and the investment climate, as other financial support programs are tied to the IMF program.

"Therefore, we will definitely do everything we promised," he summarized.

On June 9, 2020, the IMF approved an 18-month Stand-By Arrangement for Ukraine, with total access of about $5 billion. Following the immediate disbursement of the first tranche of about $2.1 billion, four program reviews were projected, and upon their completion, the IMF makes decisions on the allocation of the next tranches.

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NATO Heads of State and Government have reaffirmed the decision made at the 2008 Bucharest Summit that Ukraine will become a member of NATO, as well as strong support for Ukraine's right to decide its own future and foreign policy course free from outside interference.

This is said in paragraph 69 of a joint communique, which was issued by the Heads of State and Government participating in the meeting of the North Atlantic Alliance Council in Brussels on June 14, 2021. The full text is published on the NATO website, Ukrinform reports.

We reiterate the decision made at the 2008 Bucharest Summit that Ukraine will become a member of the Alliance with the Membership Action Plan (MAP) as an integral part of the process; we reaffirm all elements of that decision, as well as subsequent decisions, including that each partner will be judged on its own merits, the document says.

NATO leaders stressed that they stand firm in their support for Ukraines right to decide its own future and foreign policy course free from outside interference. In addition, the Annual National Programmes under the NATO-Ukraine Commission (NUC) remain the mechanism by which Ukraine takes forward the reforms pertaining to its aspiration for NATO membership.

Ukraine should make full use of all instruments available under the NUC to reach its objective of implementing NATO principles and standards. The success of wide-ranging, sustainable, and irreversible reforms, including combating corruption, promoting an inclusive political process, and decentralisation reform, based on democratic values, respect for human rights, minorities, and the rule of law, will be crucial in laying the groundwork for a prosperous and peaceful Ukraine, the document says.

It is noted that further reforms in the security sector, including the reform of the Security Services of Ukraine, are particularly important.

We welcome significant reforms already made by Ukraine and strongly encourage further progress in line with Ukraines international obligations and commitments. We will continue to provide practical support to reform in the security and defence sector, including through the Comprehensive Assistance Package. We will also continue to support Ukraines efforts to strengthen its resilience against hybrid threats, including through intensifying activities under the NATO-Ukraine Platform on Countering Hybrid Warfare, the document says.

NATO leaders also welcomed the cooperation between NATO and Ukraine with regard to security in the Black Sea region.

It was noted that the Enhanced Opportunities Partner status granted last year provides further impetus to our already ambitious cooperation and will promote greater interoperability, with the option of more joint exercises, training, and enhanced situational awareness.

Military cooperation and capacity building initiatives between Allies and Ukraine, including the Lithuanian-Polish-Ukrainian Brigade, further reinforce this effort. We highly value Ukraines significant contributions to Allied operations, the NATO Response Force, and NATO exercises, the document says.

As reported, the NATO summit was held in Brussels on June 14 to consider ways to further strengthen the transatlantic partnership and develop the Alliance by 2030.
U.S. President Joe Biden has stated that Russia's occupation of Ukrainian territories will not hamper Ukraine's NATO membership prospects but the necessary criteria must be met in order to get NATO Membership Action Plan.

The second question is [Does Russias occupation of Ukrainian territories rule out Ukraine ever entering NATO?], the answer is no. The first question [When will Ukraine get NATO Membership Action Plan?], it depends on whether they meet the criteria, Biden said at a press conference in Brussels following the NATO summit on Monday, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

He stressed that Ukraine still had to clean up corruption and meet other criteria to get into the MAP. In the meantime, we will do all that we can to put Ukraine in the position to be able to continue to resist Russian physical aggression, and it will not just depend on me whether or not we conclude that Ukraine can become part of NATO, it will depend on the alliance and how they vote. But I know for one thing, they [Ukraine] have to convince [NATO], and its not easy, the U.S. leader said.

Biden recalled that he had made a speech years ago to the Verkhovna Rada saying that Ukraine had an opportunity to do something thats never occurred in its history. Actually generate a democratically elected and not corrupt led by oligarchies in any of the regions nation. And I pointed out to them when I made that speech, that they will go down in history as the founding fathers of Ukraine, if in fact they do that, Biden noted.

To date, according to him, Ukraine still has to make a lot of efforts.

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NATO Heads of State and Government have reaffirmed their support for the territorial integrity of Ukraine, Georgia, and the Republic of Moldova, and called on Russia to withdraw its troops from the occupied territories.

This was said in paragraph 14 of the Brussels Summit Communique, the full text of which was published on the website of the North Atlantic Alliance.

"We reiterate our support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine, Georgia, and the Republic of Moldova within their internationally recognised borders. In accordance with its international commitments, we call on Russia to withdraw the forces it has stationed in all three countries without their consent," the document reads.

NATO leaders also stated that they strongly condemn and will not recognise Russias illegal and illegitimate annexation of Crimea, and denounce its temporary occupation. They stressed that the human rights abuses and violations against the Crimean Tatars and members of other local communities must end.

"Russias recent massive military build-up and destabilising activities in and around Ukraine have further escalated tensions and undermined security. We call on Russia to reverse its military build-up and stop restricting navigation in parts of the Black Sea. We also call on Russia to stop impeding access to the Sea of Azov and Ukrainian ports, the document says.

At the same time, the Allies commended Ukraines posture of restraint and diplomatic approach in this context. They seek to contribute to de-escalation.

"We are also stepping up our support to Ukraine. We call for the full implementation of the Minsk Agreements by all sides, and support the efforts of the Normandy format and the Trilateral Contact Group. Russia, as a signatory of the Minsk Agreements, bears significant responsibility in this regard. We call on Russia to stop fuelling the conflict by providing financial and military support to the armed formations it backs in eastern Ukraine," NATO leaders said.

They expressed full support for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, and stressed the importance of ensuring its safety and full and unhindered access throughout the entire territory of Ukraine, including Crimea and the Russia-Ukraine border, in accordance with its mandate.

NATO leaders also called on Russia to reverse its recognition of the Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions of Georgia as independent states; to implement the EU-mediated 2008 ceasefire agreement; to end its militarisation of these regions and attempts to forcibly separate them from the rest of Georgia through the continued construction of border-like obstacles; and to cease the human rights violations, arbitrary detentions, and harassments of Georgian citizens.

In addition, they urged Russia to engage constructively in the Transnistria Settlement Process. "We are committed to supporting the Republic of Moldovas democratic reforms and providing assistance through our Defence and Related Security Capacity Building Initiative," they summed up.

On June 14, the NATO summit was held in Brussels to consider ways to strengthen the transatlantic partnership and develop the Alliance by 2030.

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Ukraine welcomes the decision made at the NATO summit that Ukraine will become a member of the Alliance with the Membership Action Plan (MAP) as an integral part of the process, President Volodymyr Zelensky has said.

"We are grateful to NATO members for such a logical decision, which fully confirmed the decision of the 2008 Bucharest NATO Summit," said Zelensky, Ukrinform reports with reference to the presidents press service.

At the same time, Zelensky noted that the decision of this year's Summit lacks specific time frames for the next steps in Ukraines rapprochement with NATO.

In a joint communique issued following the NATO summit on Monday, NATO leaders welcomed the significant Euro-Atlantic reforms that Ukraine has already implemented and reaffirmed their willingness to continue to provide practical support to Ukraine in implementing security and defense reforms.

We will continue the course of security and defense reforms in order to meet the standards of interoperability with NATO member states even more," Zelensky said.

NATO leaders praised Ukraines significant contributions to Allied operations, the NATO Response Force, and NATO exercises. They also stressed that military cooperation and capacity building initiatives between Allies and Ukraine, including the Lithuanian-Polish-Ukrainian Brigade, further reinforce this effort.

"Ukraine, not being a member of NATO, is already making a significant contribution to Euro-Atlantic security. Confronting Russian aggression in the east, during which, unfortunately, Ukrainian soldiers continue to perish, is our invaluable contribution to the security of the entire Euro-Atlantic area," said Zelensky.

As reported, the NATO summit was held in Brussels on June 14 to consider ways to further strengthen the transatlantic partnership and develop the Alliance by 2030.

NATO leaders reaffirmed the continuation of NATOs open door policy and the Euro-Atlantic aspirations of Ukraine and Georgia, and called on both countries to continue carrying out reforms, bringing them closer to NATO.

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NATO member countries must stand united in the face of Russias aggressive and illegal actions.

This was said during a conversation between Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on June 14, according to the press service of PM Trudeau.

"The Prime Minister and the Secretary General agreed that Allies must stand united, including in the face of Russias aggressive, destabilizing, and illegal actions," the report reads.

Trudeau underscored Canadas support for Ukraines sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity.

In addition, the two leaders spoke about the importance of a coordinated approach to addressing the challenges posed by China.

On June 14, the NATO summit was held in Brussels to consider ways to strengthen the transatlantic partnership and develop the Alliance by 2030.

NATO Heads of State and Government reaffirmed their support for the territorial integrity of Ukraine, Georgia, and the Republic of Moldova, and called on Russia to withdraw its troops from the occupied territories.

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The German side is doing everything possible, including together with the American partners, to guarantee Ukraine the continuation of Russian gas transit even after Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline is launched.

We will talk to Bidens administration about how to make sure that the project, which is almost complete, does did lead to what they fear, namely its use as a means of political pressure on Ukraine, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany Heiko Maas said on the air of Welt TV channel.

At the same time, the diplomat acknowledged that at present it is not clear enough what the guarantees for Ukraine might look like if Russia still resorted to political pressure with the use of money or infrastructure measures. However, he stressed that Germany was working to prevent such developments and to ensure Ukraine's security in this matter. Everything else does not depend on us, Maas added but assured that Berlin had always made it clear to Moscow during the talks in recent years and months that transit contracts with Ukraine should continue being in force.

Ukraine will not be excluded from transit. Berlin pays great attention to this issue. We have always told the Russian side that we will jointly complete this project only if there is an alternative route for gas transit through Ukraine, Maas said, adding that this transit provides Kyiv with $2 billion in revenue annually. The foreign minister reminded that Germany was a participant in negotiations between Ukraine and Russia to extend the transit contract for five years.

Maas does not believe that the pipeline will make Germany dependent on Russia. He argued that Germany and Europe had been buying Russian gas for decades, since the Cold War and the Soviet Union times.

The German foreign minister also said that the EU and the United States should speak to Russia "in clear terms." According to him, U.S. President Joe Biden, as he himself stated, should define red lines during his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Maas said he was very concerned about current developments in Russia and on its borders. He stressed that any conflict and any war must be ended by diplomatic and political, not military means. The militarization of conflicts cannot be an alternative. What we experienced with Ukraine, when large military forces were suddenly pulled to [its] borders, cannot be our goal, the German minister said.

The first meeting between the presidents of the United States and Russia is scheduled for June 16 in Geneva.

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Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba has called on the OSCE to harshly respond to Russias blackmail and neglect when ignoring the charter obligations of a member of the Organization and groundlessly shortening the mandate of the Observer Mission at Russias Gukovo and Donetsk checkpoints.

Kuleba said this at a joint press conference with OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden Ann Linde in Kyiv on June 15, an Ukrinform correspondent reports

It is very difficult and painful for us in Kyiv to see how Russia consistently neglects the OSCE, Kuleba said.

In this context, he recalled that Moscow had refused to explain the buildup of its troops on Ukraines border, which is the responsibility of the OSCE Vienna Document participants, and also undermines confidence by withdrawing from the Treaty on Open Skies. In addition, in May Russia forced the OSCE to shorten the mandate of the Observer Mission at the Russian checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk on the border with Ukraine, and is now threatening to close these missions completely.

According to the minister, the purpose of these efforts is obvious to everyone  Russia does not want independent OSCE observers to see "any military action taken by Russia along the Ukrainian-Russian border."

Ukraine insists that this mission at Gukovo and Donetsk checkpoints continue to work after July 31. Russias blackmail and contempt for the OSCE can only be stopped by the principled position and actions of the Organization, and Ukraine will always stand by the OSCE in this struggle, Kuleba said

As Ukrinform reported, the Russian Federation prevented the standard four-month extension of the mandate of the Observer Mission at the Russian checkpoints at Gukovo and Donetsk, reducing it to two months without objective reasons.

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The leadership of the Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) held a meeting with Andriy Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Andriy Sybiha, the newly appointed Deputy Head of the Office, and Vasyl Bodnar, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

This was said in a report posted on the UWC website.

The UWC was represented by Paul Grod, UWC President, Stefan Romaniw, UWC First Vice President, Andriy Futey, UWC Vice President, Olena Koszarny, UWC Vice President and chair of the EPIC Committee, Pavlo Sadokha, UWC Regional Vice President in Western and Southern Europe, Roman Waschuk, chair of the UWC Foreign Policy Council, and representatives of the UWC offices in Toronto and in Kyiv.

The discussion focused on key issues of collaboration between Ukraine and its global diaspora, including support for Ukraines NATO membership, stopping Russias Nord Stream 2 pipeline project completion, strengthening the international coalition in support for Ukraine, countering Russian aggression, and developing a roadmap to de-occupation of Crimea.

The other topics included promotion of rule of law, judicial reform, and global recognition of Holodomor as genocide. UWCs involvement in a number of upcoming events was discussed, including Inaugural Summit of the Crimean Platform, Ukraine Reform Conference, and President Zelenskys upcoming visit to the United States, and 30th anniversary of Ukraines independence.

"Ukrainian World Congress and Ukrainian communities globally are working to support Ukraine and promote its interests worldwide. We are united in support of a democratic, prosperous and European Ukraine. With the anticipated lifting of COVID restrictions, we can begin planning for in-person meetings with President Zelensky and other senior Ukrainian government officials," Paul Grod said.
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Published June 15, 2021

Miss Louisiana 2021 contestants enjoyed a luncheon on Monday at Bayou Point at the University of Louisiana Monroe. ULM has six students and two recent graduates participating in Miss Louisiana. They are, from left, Asja Jordan, Kennedy Boston-Woods, Carmin Velasquez, Allison Newton, Monica Whitman, Laura Willis, Julia Williams, and Ambria Terrell. The new Miss Louisiana will be crowned Saturday, June 19, at the Jack Howard Theatre.

Siddharth Gaulee/ULM Photo Services

ULM hosts Miss Louisiana contestants during competition week

The University of Louisiana Monroe is well represented in the 2021 Miss Louisiana Competition. Six current students and two 2020 alumnae are vying for the title this week at the Jack Howard Theatre.

ULM students participating include Kennedy Boston-Woods, Allison Newton, Ambria Terrell, Carmin Velasquez, Monica Whitman, Laura Willis, and alumnae Asja Jordan and Julia Williams.

For the 16th year, the university is hosting the contestants, who live on campus while participating in Miss Louisiana.

"It is a longtime tradition for the Miss Louisiana contestants to stay at ULM during competition week. We missed having them last year and welcome them all," said Lisa Miller, Vice President of Enrollment and University Relations. "The Miss Louisiana Organization provides scholarships to so many contestants, which shows its commitment to education. ULM is proud to be a sponsor."

Meagan Lee Morris, ULM's Assistant Director of Student Engagement, is the Miss ULM Executive Director. She has been with the Miss Louisiana Organization for 15 years and serves as a local director. She is the liaison between ULM and MLO.

"ULM is a corporate sponsor of the competition by providing in-kind scholarships for the top five competitors, Miss Louisiana's apartment on campus during her year of service, and hosting the dozens of candidates from across our state during competition week," Morris said.

Katie Redman is the University of Louisiana Monroe's Outstanding Teen and competed in the Miss Louisiana's Outstanding Teen Competition on June 13. She placed first runner up and received the Children's Miracle Network Children's Miracle Maker Award for raising more than $7,000 for CMN hospitals.

Live stream for preliminaries and finals competitions Thursday-Saturday: https://bit.ly/3zCm9uv. The finals on Saturday, June 19 will be shown locally on KAQY TV 11.

Miss Louisiana 2021 contestants pictured with President Ron Berry and Dr. Christine Berry at a luncheon Monday, June 14 at Bayou Pointe. Eight woment from ULM are in this year's competition.

Siddharth Gaulee/ULM Photo Services

ULM student and alumnae contestants for Miss Louisiana

Kennedy Boston-Woods, Miss Monroe  Boston-Woods is a senior majoring in Marketing. She is from Monroe and is the daughter of Andrea Woods and Christopher Boston. Her Social Impact is "Perfectly Imperfect" and focuses on promoting positive body images through social media. She describes ULM as "a wonderful campus where anyone and everyone is welcome. The staff and students make attending ULM worthwhile. It truly is #theBestontheBayou." As Miss Louisiana, Boston-Woods wants "to encourage all women to embrace who they are and be confident in the skin they're in."

Asja Jordan, Miss Taste of the Twin Cities  Jordan is a May 2020 graduate of ULM with a degree in Communications Advocacy. She is from West Monroe, and her Social Impact is "Potential 2 Kinetic" or "P2K." She described P2K as "a catalyst for growth and transformation within individuals and communities through physical and mental health practices." She said ULM helped mold her into the woman she is today. "Professors, mentors, and my peers have encouraged me to go beyond my comfort zone to pursue the imaginable. I am forever grateful for my Warhawk family!" she said. As Miss Louisiana, Jordan said she would promote her platform P2K. Through these practices, I believe someone is able to creative positive changes in their lives and communities. I want to be the catalyst for that change as Miss Louisiana, she said.

Allison Renee Newton, Miss University of Louisiana Monroe  Newton graduated from ULM in December 2020 with a Bachelor of Art in Music with a concentration in Vocal Performance. She is enrolled in classes and continuing her education. She is from Monroe and the daughter of Todd and Nicole Newton. Her Social Impact is "Extend Her Life, Extend Her Legacy," promoting female reproductive health. Of her ULM experience, she said, "ULM has amazing resources that prove it is here to ensure the success of its students. Attending ULM is a personalized experience; that is what sets it apart." If chosen Miss Louisiana, Newton plans a "combination of service, leadership, performing, and working with the people of my home state.

Ambria Terrell, Miss Lagniappe  Terrell is a senior in the Kitty DeGree School of Nursing. From Shreveport, Terrell's Social Impact is "LEARN  Let's End Assault and Rape Now." She describes ULM "as a home away from home. It's filled with a beautiful bayou surrounded by diversity and creativity within its student body." Terrell said she wants to be "Miss Louisiana because I want to make a bigger impact in our community. I strive to be a leader in the present moment; however, with the title, I can elevate even further!"

Carmin A Velasquez, Miss Natchitoches City of Lights Velasquez is majoring in Political Science with a minor in Communications. From Sterlington, she is the daughter of Kimberly and Caesar Velasquez. Velasquez chose the Social Impact "Don't Worry Beat Happy" and hopes to become Miss Louisiana "to be a voice for those misdiagnosed with heart conditions. When I was in middle school, I was misdiagnosed with anxiety, and I want individuals to know they know their body best and to speak up about what is truly going on with themselves." She loves being a Warhawk and said, "ULM is a welcoming and beautiful place to call your home for the next four years of your life!"

Monica Whitman, Miss Dixie Gem Peach  Whitman is a third-year Doctor of Pharmacy student who earned her bachelor's in Pharmaceutical Sciences with a minor in chemistry. The Tioga resident is the daughter of Angie Waggener and Tim Whitman. Her Social Impact is "Full STEM Ahead" to promote STEM courses for high school students. She said, "ULM is a place where you have so many opportunities to get involved, which I love! There is something for everyone, and every single faculty member is there to help you in whatever your goals are after college. It's also the most beautiful campus I've ever seen! If crowned Miss Louisiana, Whitman wants to "redefine who Miss Louisiana is and what she can accomplish. I'm a scientist, and I'm proud to be one. I want to show everyone that Miss Louisiana can be a scientist.

Julia Williams, Miss Heart of Pilot  Williams graduated Summa Cum Laude in December 2020 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a concentration in Pre-Med and a minor in chemistry. Williams, from Kinder, is the daughter of Angela Palermo LaBuff and Jim Williams. Her Social Impact is "Find Your FREDDY: Fostering Rewarding Engagements with Disabled and Disadvantaged Youth." Describing her university experience, she said, "ULM feels like a home away from home! The best truly is on the bayou!" She said being selected "Miss Louisiana would provide me with the perfect means by which to bolster community support of disabled and disadvantaged youth while also representing our beautiful state that I so dearly love."

Laura Willis, Miss Krewe de Bon Temps Amis  Willis is a senior in Communications with a concentration in Public Relations. She is the daughter of Lawrence and Kaye Willis and is from Sikes. Her Social Impact, "Promoting Excellence in Youth," provides children the opportunities to develop creativity and talent and provide the resources to become positive contributors to society. Willis considers ULM her home. "I could not imagine these last few years without being a part of this university and its family." If chosen Miss Louisiana, she will "not only represent this state but to serve this state. This state is so uniquely beautiful, and I would love the opportunity to showcase that at Miss America."

Miss Louisiana's Outstanding Teen

Katie Redman, University of Louisiana Monroe Miss Louisiana's Outstanding Teen  Redman is from West Monroe and the daughter of Michael and Yvette Redman. She is majoring in Animal Science Pre-Veterinary Medicine. Redman describes ULM "as my home away from home. I grew up participating in events such as the Miss Louisiana's Outstanding Teen pageant and dance workshops that were held at ULM." Her platform is Rachel's Challenge: Choosing Kindness over Bullying.

#misslouisiana2021
| By Alex Likowski

You will see the word partnership repeated throughout this document, said Isiah "Ike" Leggett, JD, University System of Maryland (USM) regent and former Montgomery County executive to a room filled with leaders from government, higher education, and life science businesses. The document he held in his right hand was the reason for the June 11 meeting on the campus of the Universities at Shady Grove (USG) in Rockville. All gathered for the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) outlining a strategic alliance designed to greatly enhance opportunities for students, propel further innovation, and provide a talent pipeline for the regions burgeoning life sciences industry  the Maryland Life Sciences Education and Innovation Partnership.

This does not work without partnership. It will take time for us to fully execute this, but we have a movement, we have a plan, we have the right people in the room where it happens, he continued, making a reference to the musical Hamilton.

(clockwise from top left) UMBC's Karl Steiner provokes laughter from Bowie State University President Aminta Breaux, USM Chancellor Jay Perman makes a point to Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, UMB President Bruce Jarrell expresses a vision for Maryland's biotech future, and key stakeholders pose after signing the agreement to work collaboratively.

Those people in the room included USM Chancellor Jay A. Perman, MD, the presidents and other representatives of five USM institutions and Montgomery College, Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, and business leaders from AstraZeneca, IBM, S3, American Gene Technologies, Quality Biological, and US Pharmacopeia.

Partnership is a key thing for success, especially in Maryland with the system for us to develop linkages across the various institutions, agreed Karl V. Steiner, PhD, vice president for research at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, nodding to Bowie State University President Aminta H. Breaux, PhD, seated nearby. I think theres a power in working together, really showing the power of USM, which the chancellor has really challenged us to do.

The University of Maryland Strategic Partnership: MPowering the State, which combines the research activities of the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) and the University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP), is a great example of the power of partnership, explained UMB President Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS. As I told President Pines [UMCP President Darryll J. Pines, PhD, MS] just a few minutes ago, one of the most difficult things Ive had adjusting to being the president, is that among public universities, were ranked eighth in research. And I go, My gosh, think about that!  Jarrell exclaimed. Our combined research expenditures are over $1 billion per year, which is a large amount of money. So, there is tremendous research expertise sitting on these two campuses, as well as throughout Maryland and in the biotech community.

But the Maryland Life Sciences Education and Innovation Partnership goes a step further than MPower, bringing the educational and research aspects of Marylands public higher education institutions into a close working relationship with industry. The goals are to provide Maryland students with richer experiential learning and Maryland biotech businesses with a highly qualified pool of talent.

Key elements of the partnership are a commitment to collaborate to enhance student career path awareness and inform the development of curricula and programmatic offerings that support industrys workforce needs, and to establish postgraduate research programming that will focus on future aspects, needs, and opportunities fueled by the life sciences industry, with the goal of ensuring that Maryland remains a premier location for biotech industry advancement.

To ensure that future, industry could use some help engaging and informing students, and raising the caliber of talent, said Joe Sanchez, PhD, MBA, director of R&D science engagement at AstraZeneca. Its not enough to just teach the talent, we can expose them. We have to solve that chicken-and-egg problem: We cant get the job without the experience; you cant get experience without the job, he said. Again, making sure theres a new balance between formal education in the classroom and then doing the job.

I love the idea of the intellectual capital, added Jeff Galvin, CEO and founder of American Gene Technologies. Whats coming in the future, who knows? If you tell them what to think, or what to learn, theyre prepared for today. And thats it. If you teach them how to think and how theyre prepared for the future, and we are prepared to grab every single one of those minds that you can create."

We need academic programs created through partnerships  partnerships with Montgomery College, partnerships with USM institutions, and partnerships with industry, said Sanjay Rai, PhD, senior vice president for academic affairs at Montgomery College.

Following a group discussion, key stakeholders reconvened in the sweeping atrium of USGs Biomedical Sciences and Engineering Building to put pens to paper.

The big winners with this announcement today are the students and researchers at all these institutions, the industry leaders who are seeking to employ these students and to connect on cutting-edge research, Elrich said. This industry accounts for 40,000 life science workers, and 63,000 STEM workers in the county. With the continued growth and support from the county, these academic institutions, we are laying the foundation for us to continue to grow.

You know, this can be, if you will, Americas biotech heartbeat, Perman added. We have the federal labs agencies in our own backyard, a long track record, collectively, of winning transformational federal grants and contracts. In our students and our graduates, we have the challenge. That power is one of the countrys most productive innovation economies. Year in and year out, Maryland ranks among the top three best-educated states, among the most innovative states, the most entrepreneurial states. And if thats good, this MOU makes it better, because it brings a framework to the work to leverage our individual strengths for collective benefits.
A Rohingya refugee from Myanmar is registered by a UNHCR staff member at a refugee site in northern Aceh province, Indonesia.  UNHCR/Jiro Ose

Registering refugees is critical to ensuring they each have access to the assistance and protection they need. It allows for the early identification of those with specific needs or vulnerabilities and their referral to the appropriate services and support. Registration also helps keep families together or reunite them if they have been separated. This is particularly crucial when dealing with large numbers of displaced people, as is the case in Bangladesh, which is generously hosting some 880,000 Rohingya refugees.

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has clear policies in place to ensure the safeguarding of the data we collect when registering refugees all over the world.

When UNHCR and the Government of Bangladesh signed their Memorandum of Understanding on data sharing in January 2018, and organized their joint registration exercise of Rohingya refugees, specific measures were taken to mitigate potential risks.

These include measures to protect the personal data processed against accidental or unauthorized destruction, accidental loss, unauthorized access, use, alteration, or dissemination, and against all other unauthorized forms of processing.

During the registration of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh conducted jointly by UNHCR and the Government of Bangladesh, each refugee family was informed of the purpose of the joint registration, which was primarily aimed at providing protection, documentation, and assistance to Rohingya refugees. All were asked to consent to their data being shared with partners on the ground for the purpose of receiving assistance.

In addition, and separately, the exercise was used to establish Rohingya refugees former residence in Myanmar and right to return. For this purpose, refugees were separately and expressly asked whether they gave their consent to have their data shared with the Government of Myanmar by the Government of Bangladesh.

Throughout the registration exercise, individual counselling in their languages was carried out to ensure that the refugees fully understood the purpose of the exercise, and to assist them to make an informed decision, by responding to their questions and concerns. It was made clear to refugees that the two processes were not linked to each other, that refugees were free to refuse data-sharing and that those who refused would still access the same assistance and entitlements as all others. Each familys consent was confirmed at least twice and consent signatures were only obtained following this double-confirmation.

Prior to the registration in Bangladesh, a widespread counselling and information campaign was also organized to explain the exercise and inform refugees that they would all be able to access the same services and entitlements, regardless of their consent to share their data with the Government of Myanmar.

The refugee families who did not consent to share their data with the Government of Myanmar were still registered and able to access the same services and entitlements.

UNHCR wishes to stress that any return to Myanmar must be based on the individual and voluntary choice of refugees, if and when they feel conditions are right for them to do so.

For repatriations to take place, a distinct procedure is needed to ensure that refugees are able to make an informed decision and that conditions on the ground are conducive to safe and sustainable return. It is worth noting that many refugees have expressed their aspiration to return. UNHCR will assist refugee returns if voluntary and when conditions are conducive to safe and sustainable return, which is not currently the case.

The Rohingya outside of Myanmar are stateless refugees. The 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol guarantees the right of a stateless refugee to return to his/her former habitual residence. The right to return to Myanmar is therefore considered inherent to their identity as Rohingya and does not expire as time passes. It is, however, up to the refugees to determine when they decide to return to Myanmar to exercise their right to return.
Over 5.6 million Venezuelans have left their country, most of them for countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.  UNHCR/Ilaria Rapido Ragozzino

Ahead of the International Donors Conference on 17 June, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) call for renewed international support to address the urgent needs of refugees and migrants from Venezuela and to assist their host countries.

As the exodus of Venezuelans is prolonged over time, it risks becoming a forgotten crisis, said the Joint UNHCR-IOM Special Representative for Venezuelan Refugees and Migrants, Eduardo Stein.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to devastate the region, and the future of millions of refugees and migrants and their hosts is at stake. Solidarity and commitment are needed more than ever to ensure the continued delivery of assistance.

Prolonged lockdowns, loss of livelihoods and increased poverty are forcing many Venezuelan refugees and migrants to depend on emergency humanitarian assistance to survive. The needs are dire in the areas of health, food security, water and basic sanitation, as well as access to education and opportunities to earn an income. The pandemic has also resulted in rising rates of evictions and homelessness, as well as a dramatic increase in reported cases of gender-based violence and mental health needs.

The continued departure of refugees and migrants from Venezuela is one of the largest external displacement crises in the world. To date, over 5.6 million people have left their country. In this context, the 2021 Regional Refugee and Migrant Response Plan (RMRP) brings together 159 organizations to respond to their urgent needs and to establish longer-term resilience and integration solutions targeting close to 3.3 million Venezuelans and host community members. Yet, the US$ 1.44 billion plan remains critically underfunded.

Countries in Latin America and the Caribbean host 80 per cent of refugees and migrants from Venezuela. They have continued to show their solidarity during the global health emergency, notably through the establishment of large-scale regularization programmes. However, national capacities have been dangerously strained by the pandemic.

The burden should not fall on countries in the region alone. The international community has the responsibility to support these efforts favouring regional stability, said Stein. A shortfall in funding would leave hundreds of thousands unprotected, with few options to rebuild a life in dignity.

Canada will host the next International Donors Conference in Solidarity with Venezuelan Refugees and Migrants on 17 June 2021, in collaboration with UNHCR and IOM, who are co-leading the Regional Inter-Agency Coordination Platform for Refugees and Migrants from Venezuela (R4V). The event will bring together host and donor governments and key actors involved in the response, including the private sector, development banks and civil society.

The International Donors Conference is scheduled to run from 3:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. CEST Geneva (9:00 a.m to 12:30 p.m. in Canada; 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. GMT+5 in Panama) on 17 June. The event will be live streamed here.

Note to editors:

Media representatives who wish to participate in the closing press conference must register in advance here.

More information on the R4V Platform the 2021 response plan is available on: R4V.info.

Last year, the RMRP appealed for US$ 1.41 billion to meet the needs of the Venezuelan refugees and migrants and their host communities in 17 countries across Latin America and the Caribbean. At the end of 2020, this appeal was just 47.1% funded.

The commitments made by donors during the 2020 International Donors Conference in Solidarity with Venezuelan Refugees and Migrants in Latin America and the Caribbean, convened by the European Union (EU) and Spain, amounted to US$2.79 billion, including US$653 million in grants.

BROLL: https://media.unhcr.org/Share/77g6608r67c1fxjj22iqa428y6ag24cx

For more information, please contact:

In Panama,

In Canada,

In Geneva,
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A cake for Illinois National Guard Spec. Alan Juarez, who was naturalized as a U.S. citizen. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune/TNS)
Eugene Ferrell Roe, born in 1938 and raised in Spencer, W. Va., and resided in the Parkersburg, W. Va. area for many years and in 2005 made Milledgeville, Ga. his home with his wife of 42 years, Martha Rector Roe. Gene graduated from Marshall University in 1961 with a bachelor's in civil eng
Brussels, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Jun, 2021 ) :US President Joe Biden will seek the EU's backing on Tuesday to face the rise of China, but Brussels wants a swift end to lingering trade rows and a clean break from Donald Trump.

After the European enthusiasm that followed Biden's election, the president of the European Council Charles Michel, representing the 27 EU leaders, and the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will sound out Biden for more detail on his "America is back" pledge.

Biden's two-hour stopover at EU headquarters, tucked between a NATO summit and his sitdown with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Geneva, "is not going to settle everything but diplomacy is back", a senior EU official said on Monday.

After the crisis in the transatlantic relationship under Trump, who considered the EU a bitter economic rival, Biden wants to "defuse the disputes ... in order to focus on his priority, China", said Eric Maurice of the Schuman Foundation.

A senior US official travelling with Biden told reporters: "This speaks to President Biden's fundamental strategy of managing competition with China by coordinating closely with and developing common approaches with like-minded democratic partners and allies." The Europeans will be trying to clear the slate of trade disputes in order to enter a more friendly phase and jointly tackle other issues, which also include curbing big tech and handling Russia.

The European official said both sides had been "sweating" to find common ground on trade ahead of the meeting and give a clear sign that Trump-era battles will soon be behind them.

A row over Airbus and Boeing goes back 17 years, with each side accusing the other of illegally subsidising their domestic champions. A deal is hoped for next month.

The more difficult bone of contention is a tariff of 25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminium that Trump slapped on Europe and other close partners in 2018.

Brussels hit back with counter-tariffs on 2.8 billion Euros worth of iconic US products, including bourbon whiskey, jeans, and Harley-Davidson motorbikes.

The final statement will attempt to offer a clear timeline for resolving the dispute, but US diplomats have been reluctant to write an actual end date on paper.

Trump and Brussels also quarrelled over taxing big tech platforms after France led a group of several EU states by hitting Google, Facebook and others with a special levy.

Washington fought back with a wave of counter-tariffs that Biden has frozen, as both sides await a worldwide deal on how to better tax big tech companies.

A final statement from the meeting in Brussels will allude to these battles, with diplomats behind the scenes trying to find the right language to display good intentions, but without giving too much ground.

Washington will also express concern over the controversial agreement reached in December between the EU and China that would open the Chinese market to European companies.

The implementation of the deal, however, is currently frozen following EU sanctions over Uyghur rights violations and counter-sanctions from Beijing.

- 'Maximum pressure' - Biden and the EU chiefs will also agree to cooperate in something called a Trade and Technology Council that will attempt to write joint rules for artificial intelligence and other innovations over the coming years.

The senior US administration official described the council as an important initiative that would serve as a platform for cooperation for years ahead.

"The notion here is that the United States and Europe laid the foundation for the world economy after World War II and now have to work together to write the rules of the road for the next generation, particularly in the areas of economics and emerging technologies," the official said.

Though unnamed, China is the important backdrop for the idea, which will set the ground for "new technologies based on our shared democratic values, including respect for human rights", the draft communique says.Both sides will also set up an EU-Russia forum in order to exchange ideas on facing increasingly disruptive moves by Moscow, with a special focus on fighting disinformation and other flagrant misuses of technology.

Brussels and Washington will also set up a joint forum about Russia in order to exchange ideas on facing increasingly disruptive moves by Moscow, with a special focus on fighting disinformation and other flagrant misuses of technology.

The model is based on an existing forum on China that meets to find ways to more closely align the EU-US stance towards Beijing's growing global influence.

"Transatlantic unity is essential for maximum pressure" on Moscow, a European official acknowledged.

"This is just the beginning of a conversation -- it's the beginning of a process, a first reset of the relationship," said Ricardo Borges de Castro of the European Policy Centre.
Washington, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Jun, 2021 ) :The Chinese scientist at the center of theories that the coronavirus pandemic originated with a leak from her specialized lab in the city of Wuhan has denied her institution was to blame for the health disaster.

"How on earth can I offer up evidence for something where there is no evidence?" Dr Shi Zhengli told The New York Times in rare comments to the media.

"I don't know how the world has come to this, constantly pouring filth on an innocent scientist," she told the US daily.

US President Joe Biden last month ordered intelligence agencies to investigate the origin of the pandemic, including the lab-leak theory.

The leak hypothesis had been floated earlier during the global outbreak, including by Biden's predecessor Donald Trump, but was widely dismissed as a conspiracy theory.

But it has gained increasing traction recently, fueled by reports that three researchers from the Wuhan Institute of Virology became sick in 2019 after visiting a bat cave in the southwestern Chinese province of Yunnan.

Shi is an expert in bat coronaviruses, and some scientists have said she could have been leading so-called gain-of-function experiments, in which scientists increase the strength of a virus to better study its effects on hosts.

According to The New York Times, in 2017 Shi and her colleagues at the Wuhan laboratory published a report on an experiment "in which they created new hybrid bat coronaviruses by mixing and matching parts of several existing ones - including at least one that was nearly transmissible to humans - in order to study their ability to infect and replicate in human cells."But in an email to the paper, Shi said her experiments differed from gain-of-function experiments since they did not seek to make a virus more dangerous. Instead they were trying to understand how the virus might jump across species.

"My lab has never conducted or cooperated in conducting GOF experiments that enhance the virulence of viruses," she said.
Madrid, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Jun, 2021 ) :An international cruise ship carrying German tourists docked Tuesday in Malaga, southern Spain, the first such arrival in more than a year, officials said.

On June 7, Spain's transport ministry lifted a ban on international cruise ships that had been imposed at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020.

The ban was lifted after the virus began to ease in Europe, where most cruise passengers come from, and also owing to rising vaccination numbers.

"This is the first international cruise ship," a spokesman for Spain's port authorities told AFP after the Mein Schiff 2 docked in the southern resort.

The liner belongs to German travel giant TUI.
Versailles, France, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Jun, 2021 ) :A French court on Tuesday found the French subsidiary of Swedish furniture giant Ikea guilty of setting up an elaborate system to illegally spy on hundreds of employees and job applicants from 2009 to 2012.

The company's French unit was fined one million Euros ($1.2 million) and former CEO Jean-Louis Baillot was handed a suspended two-year prison sentence, the court said in its verdict.

The ruling was less severe than recommended by prosecutors, who accused the furniture company of illicitly carrying out "mass surveillance.

" Baillot, Ikea France's boss between 1996 and 2002, was also fined 50,000 euros after found guilty of "receiving personal data by fraudulent means." He was cleared of some other charges, including violating professional secrecy.

His lawyer, Francois Saint-Pierre, said Baillot was "shocked" by the sentence and was considering an appeal.

A union representative, Adel Amara, who was among a total of 120 plaintiffs, said he was "pleased" with the outcome of the trial, but called the punishments "a little too lenient."
(@FahadShabbir)

Presenting budget 2021-22 here on Tuesday, Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah said that for the next financial year we proposed to enhance the budget for education to Rs 277.5 billion from Rs 244.5 billion

KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Jun, 2021 ) :Presenting budget 2021-22 here on Tuesday, Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah said that for the next financial year we proposed to enhance the budget for education to Rs 277.5 billion from Rs 244.5 billion.

It will see an increase of 13.5% over allocation of current financial year, he added, claiming that thus the provincial government has allocated the highest percentage of resources towards education in the year 2021-22.

"The increase in allocation is because of the salary component, but here I will like to present that the increase in non-salary allocation of education sector is much higher and has been increasing over the years," he clarified.

For the next financial year 2021-22, the budget of School Education & Literacy Department has been increased to Rs 222.102 billion, compared with Rs 197.368 billion for financial year 2020-21, the chief minister informed.

School Education & Literacy Department has been allocated Rs 14 billion for 117 ongoing schemes and 186 new schemes compared with Rs 13.15 billion for financial year 2020-21, Murad Ali Shah told, articulating that most of schemes are for Up-grading existing government schools from Primary to Secondary levels, Rehabilitating and Improving schools, Providing Furniture, Basic and Missing Facilities, Construction & Re-construction of existing dangerous school buildings.

For the next financial year 2021-22, the budget of College Education has been increased 11.8% to Rs.22.8 billion, compared with Rs.20.446 billion for financial year 2020-21. For College Education Department, an allocation of Rs 4 billion has been proposed in ADP 2021-22 for 43 on-going and 64 new schemes, he further elaborated.

In order to implement the plans, the government has been providing monetary support to the Sindh Education Foundation. For next year we intend to provide the foundation Rs.10.75 billion, an increase of 13% over allocation of current financial year, Shah said.

In the Current Financial Year, the grant for public sector Universities was Rs 11.07 billion. For the next financial year, the volume of grant has been increased by 20% to Rs.13.314 billion, the chief minister maintained.

In FY 2020-21 the ADP allocation for Educator sector was Rs 21.1 billion. It comprised of school education, college education, universities, empowerment for persons with disabilities, and skill development. In FY 2021-22, the government had earmarked Rs 26 billion for the sector, he recounted.
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Steel cutting ceremony of fourth MILGEM Class Corvettes for Pakistan Navy was held at Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works (KS&EW), Pakistan

KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Jun, 2021 ) :Steel cutting ceremony of fourth MILGEM Class Corvettes for Pakistan Navy was held at Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works (KS&EW), Pakistan.

Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi graced the occasion as chief guest, said a news release on Tuesday.

The event marked an important milestone in the construction schedule for fourth MILGEM Corvette for PN.

PN has concluded contract with M/s ASFAT for construction of four corvettes out of which two are being constructed at Istanbul Naval Shipyard whereas the remaining two at KS&EW. These corvettes will be fitted with state-of-art Surface, Sub-Surface and Anti-Air Weapons & Sensors, integrated through an advanced Network Centric Combat Management System.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief of the Naval Staff said it is a matter of pride to witness the Steel Cutting of fourth PN MILGEM Corvettes at KS&EW.

He added that it is a historic occasion as Ministry of Defence Production, Pakistan Navy, Karachi Shipyard and M/s ASFAT of Turkey have joined hands for construction of this Corvette.

The Admiral in his address said the event is a defining moment to further cement the bond of friendship between the two strategically aligned nations with common shared values, culture and principles. Naval Chief acknowledged the commitment and dedication of KS&EW and M/s ASFAT for meeting the challenging construction schedule despite ongoing global pandemic.

Induction of MILGEM Corvettes will significantly enhance maritime defence and deterrence capabilities of Pakistan Navy. These corvettes will become a core element of PN's kinetic response to traditional and non-traditional challenges and to maintain balance of power in the Indian Ocean Region.
India's National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday has requested the public's help with the identification of two suspects in an explosion near the Israeli embassy in New Delhi this January

NEW DELHI (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th June, 2021) India's National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday has requested the public's help with the identification of two suspects in an explosion near the Israeli embassy in New Delhi this January.

"NIA_India is seeking information to help identify two suspected individuals seen in CCTV footage in connection with NIA Case RC-02/2021/NIA/DLI related to explosion near Israeli Embassy, New Delhi," the NIA posted on Twitter.

The agency noted that it will reward any information leading to the identification and arrest of the two individuals in the amount of 1 million Indian rupees ($13,600). The NIA shared the video footage and photos of the suspects on its social media accounts and the official website.

In late January, a small bomb detonated near the Israeli embassy in the Indian capital. The explosion damaged parked cars, but no injuries were reported. The incident was investigated as a terrorist act.
Single mother Lihle Magudulela spat out a mouthful of dirt as she sucked on a stone dug up from a hillside in South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal province, convinced she might have found a diamond

KwaHlathi, Afrique du Sud, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Jun, 2021 ) :Single mother Lihle Magudulela spat out a mouthful of dirt as she sucked on a stone dug up from a hillside in South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal province, convinced she might have found a diamond.

Thousands have flocked to the outskirts of KwaHlathi village, more than 300 kilometres (186 miles) southeast of Johannesburg, after a cattle herder last week unearthed a handful of unidentified crystal-like stones.

News of the finding spread fast, triggering a rush to the site despite messages of caution by the government warning the stones could be worthless.

At dawn, men and women upturned clumps of soil with shovels and picks and frantically rummaged through the earth with their bare hands.

Many found more of the mysterious stones and set them aside in small dirt-encrusted piles.

"They are real," beamed Magudulela, in her 40s and struggling to feed her three children.

"I'm going to buy a car, a house, send my kids to private school," she told AFP.

The prospect of finding a diamond sent glimmering ripples of hope to one of the poorest regions of South Africa as the coronavirus pandemic worsened decades of extremely high unemployment levels.

The country, internationally renowned for its mineral wealth, still holds a record for the world's largest ever rough diamond discovery -- the Cullinan -- found in 1905 in the small mining town by the same name.

South Africa is also the brith place of the Kimberley Process, an international certification scheme to keep conflict diamonds off the market.

"We are poor, we are unemployed. But this could change everything," said Precious, 38, who did not wish to give her full name.

She had spent the night digging, with her teenage son and baby daughter.

The boy clutched a transparent crystal the size of a ping pong ball.

"They are not tired, we are looking for money," Precious exclaimed.

- Dreaming of 'Dubai' - Rumour has it that the Cullinan, which weighed over 3,000 carats uncut, was lying only a few metres below ground and dug up with a pocketknife.

The rough stone yielded nine major diamonds used to adorn the British crown jewels, as well as almost 100 minor brilliants.

Johannesburg resident Thulani Manyathi, 36, travelled to KwaHlathi from the impoverished township of Alexandra with his four young daughters.

"We are going to live in Dubai. I want a house with double storage, this is going to change our life," Manyathi told AFP, fingering a cluster of stones in his pocket.

"No school today," he added. "We are digging for diamonds." There is talk of "foreigners" buying the stones for a few hundred rands in the nearby town of Ladysmith.

But experts say it is highly unlikely the stones will turn out to be valuable.

"These are not diamonds, people here are just wasting their time," said 18-year-old Bhekumuzi Luvuno, skeptically inspecting one of the stones he unearthed overnight.

Authorities over the weekend asked diggers to leave the area, citing coronavirus restrictions, but to no avail.

The government on Tuesday sent a team of geological and mining experts to the area, now pckmarked with holes, to collect stones for analysis.

Police cars are monitoring the area to keep the crowds in check.
(@FahadShabbir)

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th June, 2021) Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold a meeting with his Swiss counterpart, Guy Parmelin, after the US-Russia summit in Geneva, Russian presidential foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov said.

"The agenda includes [issues pertaining to] the further development and strengthening of bilateral cooperation," Ushakov told reporters.

The senior Kremlin official noted that the Russian side highly appreciated Switzerland's neutrality and is grateful for the fact that the Swiss government did not object Geneva's proposal to be the host city of the summit.

The first meeting between Putin and US President Joe Biden will take place on Wednesday.
VLADIVOSTOK (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th June, 2021) The second edition of the joint Russian-Lao joint military exercise, dubbed Laros, will be held in Russia's Far East, the Russian Eastern Military District (EMD) said on Tuesday.

The first-ever Laros drills were held in Laos in December 2019. In 2020, the exercise was called off due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The joint Russian-Lao military exercise Laros-2021 will, for the first time, take place at one of the training grounds in Primorsky Territory in August 2021," the EMD said in a statement, adding that the troops of the combined arms army would participate in the drills.

Laros is aimed at combating international terrorism. During the exercise, the military personnel of the two countries will eliminate a conditional illegal armed formation.
NASA's Mars Odyssey orbiter captured an image of seven dark holes on the north slope of a Martian volcano believed to be cave skylights.

Joining with scientists around the world and NASA researchers, the team calls for a new focus on exploration of caves on the moon, Mars and beyond.

TAMPA - USF School of Geosciences Professor Bogdan P. Onac documents millions of years of Earths natural history by exploring caves and lava tubes around the world. But now Onac along with dozens of fellow geoscientists, astronomers, astrobiologists, and robotics and artificial intelligence engineers are urging a new focus on caves on other planets as sites of untold discovery.

In a newly published letter in Nature Astronomy, the international team of researchers say caves on the moon and Mars  and eventually other planets too  are logical sources of planetary history that could give unparalleled insight into the development of the solar system, including if forms of life have existed there. The scientists and engineers noted that 2021 is the International Year of Caves and Karst and a unique moment to embrace a challenge thats become increasingly possible with technological advancements.

Given what scientists have learned about Earths history through exploring beneath the ground, allowing humans to explore more thoroughly into the caves of the moon and Mars likely will generate knowledge that goes well beyond surface exploration.

We wish to emphasize the vast potential embodied in planetary subsurfaces, wrote the researchers, who hail from 27 separate institutions around the world including the NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, and Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley. Caves are important because they provide records of a planetary body's history. On Mars, this may include evidence of past or even present microbial life. For the Moon and Mars, caves could protect human explorers from the harmful and inhospitable surface environment.

Onacs exploration of caves in Romania, on the Mediterranean Island of Mallorca, and into New Mexicos lava tubes have produced new discoveries of Earths sea levels and climate from millions of years ago. He said planetary caves are likely to yield equally valuable new knowledge and insights.

For a geologist, and especially a cave scientist, there are many open questions regarding extraterrestrial caves, he said.

One that has deep implications for future potential human exploration or settlement is the presence of water, which like on Earth, could be in the form of ice deposits preserved in deep descending lava tubes. Caves may have formed, for example, in polar ice caps or in the solid carbon dioxide on Mars. And although we have plenty of information on the stability of glacier caves on Earth, we know nothing about this issue for caves on other planetary bodies.

Another interesting question, Onac added, is what kind of minerals are present in planetary caves and whether their precipitation was mediated by microorganisms, a topic that has direct implications in the search for life on other planets?

In their letter, the researchers note that previous missions to the moon and Mars have already identified hundreds of cave entrances that allow scientists to begin developing concepts for future cave exploration missions. Researchers have cataloged 2,645 subsurface access points on eight planets other than Earth, they wrote.

On Earth, cave entrances are identified visually, by technologies capable of detecting thermal heat, and through Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), a remote sensing technology. These technologies and strategies can be used on other planets, especially if combined by with the use of orbiting spacecraft equipped with sensors capable of identifying subsurface features, they said.

The opportunity to explore caves on other planets is coming sooner than many realize. NASAs Ingenuity helicopter, which landed earlier this year on Mars, and the space agencys Dragonfly mission to Titan, Saturns largest moon (launching in 2026 and arriving in 2034), could be used to scientifically confirm subsurface access points for future cave research missions, the authors noted.

Resulting mapped cave architectures and hazards will inform mission planning and help reduce mission risk, they wrote.

In the meantime, investment is needed in robotic, artificial intelligence and autonomous vehicle research and development programs to advance the technology needed to explore within in the caves is need. Concepts for the explorer robots include limbed robots, flying robot swarms, microbot swarms and rovers.

Read the letter in Nature Astronomy.
Valdosta, GA (31601)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms in the morning becoming more widespread in the afternoon. High 86F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms likely in the evening. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms later on. Low 72F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%.
Police officers keep watch outside the Nicaragua Attorney General of the Repbulic office

Nicaraguan police arrested and jailed five prominent opponents of President Daniel Ortega over the weekend. Amonst those arrested there are one-one-time rebel allies who are denouncing the Presidents intentions to extend his mandate as an assault on democracy.

By Vatican News staff writer

The arrests beginning late on Saturday point to a deepening political crisis in the Central American nation, ahead of an election in November in which 75-year-old Ortega is seeking to extend his 14 year leftist presidency.

Over the past few weeks, a dozen opposition figures have been arrested on orders from Ortega's security apparatus, including four declared presidential rivals.

In statements, the police blamed the detainees for seeking to undermine the country's independence and sovereignty, as well as for "inciting foreign interference in internal affairs, requesting military interventions and organizing with foreign financing."

The latest raids targeted the leadership of the left-wing opposition Unamos party, including its president and a former General.

Unamos is made up of many former Ortega allies like General Hugo Torres, who fought alongside him in the late 1970s as they drove right-wing dictator Anastasio Somoza from power.

Just before he was arrested, the 73-year-old Torres uploaded a video in which he denounced Ortega for launching a "second dictatorship" and betraying the values he once championed.

A number of critical journalists have also been questioned by authorities in recent weeks.

Last week, a senior U.S. diplomat denounced what he called a "wave of repression" by Ortega and his allies, and said the United States is prepared to review trade relations with Nicaragua if the upcoming election is not free and fair.

Earlier this month, police placed opposition leader Cristiana Chamorro under house arrest shortly after she announced a presidential run, seeking to end Ortega's three consecutive terms in office.
An Introduction to Doing Business in Vietnam 2021 will provide readers with an overview of the fundamentals of investing and conducting business in Vietnam....
For years, world leaders have been scratching their heads in trying to come up with a system to fairly tax massive corporations. Photo: Shutterstock

Last week, the finance ministers from the worlds seven-richest nations reached a deal that has been described as a remarkably historic change in the international business tax regime.

The deal is slated to reform the global tax system to create a fair environment in which companies would pay the right taxes in the right places. In the proposal, a global minimum tax rate (GMTR) is set at at least 15 per cent.

According to Bui Ngoc Tuan, tax partner of Tax and Business Advisory Services at Deloitte Vietnam, this is not the first concerted effort from global leaders to minimise detrimental impacts of multinational corporations (MNC) shifting their profits to slash their tax burden.

Since 2019, in an attempt to enhance the base erosion and profit shifting actions, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has been working on and is now seeking support from its members around the world, especially developing countries, to push forward the important proposal and set a global minimum tax scheme on earnings of large MNCs in the incentivised and tax heaven countries. This aims to avoid profit shifting from low-rate tax jurisdictions in a bid to offer aggressive tax incentives to attract foreign investors.

Tuan explained, This G7 tax deal means that instead of enjoying low rates of corporate income tax (CIT), MNCs may have to additionally pay CIT at minimum rate back to the country where its global headquarters are, for example, the United States.

Ho Quoc Tuan, senior lecturer at Bristol University, noted that the agreement is envisaged to limit MNCs efforts on shifting their tax to so-called tax havens.

However, whether the deal would leave any impact on Vietnam in the long run remains a question. It is necessary to wait for this agreement to be largely ratified in multiple rounds of negotiations, especially in the upcoming G20 meeting next month in Venice, he said.

One of the major roadblocks lies in the US Congress, where large MNCs could lobby US congressmen to negotiate the elimination or adjustment of this global corporate tax threshold.

Fox News reported that some members of the US Republican Party have already been voicing opposition, with some describing the G7 minimum tax rate a fantasy and a terrible agreement.

Tuan of Deloitte assumed that when the GMTR is fully implemented by OECD member countries, the rate may not be much beneficial to Vietnam. If a subsidiary of an MNC operates and enjoys tax incentives in Vietnam, its repatriated profit (if qualified) would be subject to GMTR and its ultimate parent company would have to pay in a country other than Vietnam.

For large Vietnamese corporations with offshore investments and profit overseas, the GMTR may not be applicable, as under the current CIT regulations, income generated by offshore investment projects would be consolidated and subject to the standard CIT rate in Vietnam (currently 20 per cent), no matter if the overseas project is under incentive period, Deloittes Tuan explained. However, the company in Vietnam may get credit for CIT amounts already paid overseas and may pay the rest in Vietnam.

Elsewhere, leading global investment bank Goldman Sachs believed if a GMTR is enacted  and that is a big if, given the sizable hurdles ahead  it would have just a small impact on corporate profits.

The Wall Street bank estimated that a 15 per cent GMTR would represent a downside of just 1-2 per cent from consensus per-share earnings estimates for 2022.

Goldman Sachs found that certain low-tax industries like technology and healthcare would face a steeper haircut. However, even those sectors would suffer a downside of less than 5 per cent compared with current consensus estimates, the bank stated.

The next obstacle is getting the G20 nations to bless the GMTR  a difficult task because Ireland, which is represented in the G20 via its membership in the EU, might not support the GMTR, Fox News commented. This is because Ireland has successfully lured international companies to its shores with a corporate tax rate of just 12.5 per cent, a sizable cut compared to the current US rate of 21 per cent.

In terms of Vietnam, Tuan of Bristol University suggested that the country could mull over negotiating similar tax agreements with the US, Japan, South Korea, China, Taiwan, and Singapore, which are home to many MNCs operating here. However, it takes nearly a decade of negotiation to reach such an agreement.

Tuan also explained that the US only accepts concessions in return for a commitment to achieve a minimum tax rate. There is also the possibility that European countries will eliminate the electronic transaction tax. This means that the US government and companies receive certain benefits in accepting concessions.

Meanwhile, Vietnam is offering too many incentives to foreign investors. Why would tax havens like Singapore negotiate such an agreement with Vietnam? What can Vietnam offer in return to get a more favourable tariff agreement? These questions pose challenges for us as we have treated foreign investors favourably, which means we have very little stakes on the negotiating table, he noted.
Vietnam plans to test high-risk groups in its largest city for the coronavirus and imposed more restrictions Monday to deal with a growing COVID-19 outbreak.

People in Ho Chi Minh City are only allowed to leave home for necessary activities and public gatherings of more than 10 people are banned for the next two weeks, the government announced. Prior to the order, the city, also Vietnams economic hub, shut down non-essential business last Thursday when cases started to increase.

Vietnam News Agency said the city authority is planning to test high-risk groups in the population of 9 million with a testing capacity of 100,000 samples a day.

The newspaper also said police had filed a case Sunday against the couple who head a Protestant church mission for spreading dangerous infectious diseases, citing poor health protocols applied at the premises.

At least 145 cases of coronavirus infection have been reported with links to the Revival Ekklesia Mission, a Protestant sect, and the city district of Go Vap, where the church is based, has been locked down. Vietnam has since banned all religious events nationwide.

The newspaper said church followers gathered in small space for singing and chanting without proper distancing and mask wearing. Ho Chi Minh city police said the mission has 48 registered members.

The report said the husband and wife accused in the case were responsible for leading and organizing activities at the church. They were not identified and are not under arrest.

Since the end of April, a surge in COVID-19 has spread to 31 municipalities and provinces in Vietnam with over 4,000 cases, almost double the total number that the country reported since the beginning of the pandemic.

Some recent patients in Vietnam were infected with a hybrid of the virus variants first found in India and the U.K., the health minister said Saturday. Nguyen Thanh Long said the hybrid might spread more easily and could be responsible for Vietnams recent surge.

Viruses often develop small genetic changes as they reproduce, and new variants of the coronavirus have been seen almost since it was first detected in China in late 2019. The World Health Organization categorized the U.K. and the Indian variants, along with two others first found in South Africa and Brazil, as variants of concern because they appear to be more contagious.

Vietnam has vaccinated 1 million people with AstraZeneca shots. It has a deal with Pfizer for 30 million doses to be delivered later this year. It is also in talks with Moderna that would give it enough shots to fully vaccinate 80% of its 96 million people.
We call the book Krousar, the common Khmer word for family



Stuart Isett was a young graduate photography student at the time and from 1991 to 1994 he mingled with Cambodian youths in the area, and took the photos of them and their families.

Almost three decades later, he revisited his collection and published it as a book in collaboration with Pete Pin, a photographer based in New York City, and with Silong Chhun, a multi-media artist and founder of Red Scarf Revolution clothing brand that promotes Khmer culture and history, and a community advocate against U.S. government deportation of Cambodian-Americans.

Published by Catfish Asia books, Isetts images were sequenced by Pin and worded by Chhun. Krousar sold out soon after it was released in February 2021 and it is currently unclear if another edition is planned.

Isett, the author, explained to VOA Khmer: We call [the book] Krousar, the common [Khmer] word for family. And it's about Cambodian families. And it's also about how these young men had to form their own family in some ways, which was separate from their Cambodian families. Because they were now living in the United States, so they formed theseI don't like using the word gangbut they formed gangs.

Isett developed an interest in Cambodias humanitarian crisis and conflict after visiting the refugee camps in Thailand after finishing college in the late 1980s, spawning an interest in Southeast Asia that he has maintained in his work ever since.

The images personally resonated for Chhun and Pin as Cambodian-Americans and, as the books blurb puts it, they would have been the young boys in the back of the room in many of Isetts images.

When I first saw [the photos], I was really, really happy, because in a sense, his photos were a reflection of how my friends and I grew up, said Chhun, 41, explaining that, like many youths, he relied on his friends in the streets for acceptance and value after his family was settled in a housing project in Tacoma, WA. in 1981.

He added that the photos also capture how elements of Cambodian culture survive in the U.S.

There are celebrations and the dancing, the older folks and the younger folks doing it, he said. Cambodia has a very community and village focused-culture based on, you know, just celebrating together. And despite the hardships and challenges, we have to find some light in the dark to keep us going.

Chhun said text with the photos in the book was meant to provide context and help humanize the Cambodian experience and the struggle to find an identity and how to fit into American society. We were labeled as this community that came from nothing and had to try to find a way in the country, he explained.

150,000 Refugees Arrive



Tens of thousands of Cambodians fled to Thailand from the mid-1970s onward to escape the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime and the subsequent protracted conflict between Pol Pots forces and the Vietnamese Army occupying Cambodia.

Most stayed in Sa Kaeo and Khao I Dang camps; refugee camps; some 200,000 refugees passed through the latter camp until resettlement in the U.S., Australia and France, or until repatriation to Cambodia in 1993.

In 2016, a Learning Centre for the History of Khao I Dang opened at the former camp featuring an exhibition with photographs, videos and text, supported by the Thai government, UN Refugee Agency and International Committee of the Red Cross, which used to run the camp.

The 150,000 Cambodian refugees who came to the U.S. 35 or 40 years ago were dispersed by the government to cities and towns across the country, often in housing projects, eventually forming sizable communities in places such as Chicago, Seattle, Long Beach, CA., and Lowell, MA.

Many of them came from peasant backgrounds, said Eric Tang, Director of Center for Asian American Studies, University of Texas, Austin. And so when they came here, employment was very difficult for them to find work and as a result, many had to remain on welfare for generations.

So, what happens is they are immediately tracked into urban poverty in the United States, and that makes for a unique situation of Cambodian refugees, and [other] Southeast Asian refugees, Tang told VOA Khmer.

In addition to the struggle to lift themselves out of poverty, many of the Cambodian arrivals faced challenges associated with war trauma and mental health ailments. By 2020, the population of Cambodians in the U.S. reached 340,000 and some 13 percent continue to live under the poverty line, according to the 2020 U.S. Census.

A Need to Understand the Cambodian Refugee Experience



Isett's photography book documents the recent history of this group and appears at a time where there is a growing public attention and debate about the Asian-American immigrant experience with writers such as Vietnamese-American Viet Than Ngyun and Khmer-American Anthony Veasna So gaining critical acclaim.

Sithea San, 54, said it was uncommon for her to see a book that intimately captures the Cambodian refugee experience in America and it had helped her better understand the struggle of the tens of thousands Cambodian refugees across the U.S.

I thought my life settling into the American ways of life was hard, but seeing these photographs showed me how much harder and challenging it has been for other people, she said, noting that she arrived in Long Beach as a 14-year-old refugee in 1981.

Khemarey Khoeun said the book would also help a younger generation of Cambodian-Americans understand what their parents went through and achieved by sheer resilience, as they grappled with trauma and raising their families amid hardships.

There is a younger generation who are growing up, who dont know that history and are not as connected to the recent refugee experience because they were born here as the first generation, she said.

Chhun said, We faced many challenges and barriers, and we still do today. But we are resilient. We are people that came from nothing and now, about 40 years later, we've accomplished so much.
On LiveTalk-The Connection, host Mike Hove focuses on the impact of the latest COVID-19 restrictions in Zimbabwean on youth. We also spotlight youth led campaigns, which target encouraging their peers to register to vote. Multi Award winning Actor, Vongai Shava also joins us to discuss her latest venture, which targets spotlight-excelling Zimbabweans worldwide. Call our studio directly at +1-202-619-2077 to participate.
Joe Biden took his America is Back message to Brussels, reaffirming the United States' commitment to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, in his first NATO summit as U.S. president Monday.

I just want all of Europe to know that the United States is there. The United States is there, Biden said in his meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

Biden said that he takes Article Five, which enshrines the military alliances collective defense principle, as a sacred obligation.

I constantly remind Americans, that when America was attacked for the first time in its shores since what happened back  it began in World War II, NATO stepped up, Biden said referring to the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center in New York.

Stoltenberg said he will consult with Biden on how to address the rising threat of China and Russia, noting that there is a convergence of views among allies.

I know that we can count on America and that America can count on Europe, Stoltenberg said Monday.

Bidens visit sets a new tone on relations with the military alliance. His predecessor, former President Donald Trump once called NATO obsolete and complained that the U.S. was paying an unfair share in the organization.

So far, the meetings have been good optics, said Alice Billon-Galland, a research fellow at London-based Chatham House, and part of NATO Young Leaders selected to advise the NATO 2030 process.

What we've seen is allies recommitting to the core values, democratic values, wanting to work together, Billon-Galland said. There are still contentious issues on the table and this summit is the starting point of the reflection process that will lead to allies agreeing on renewing their strategic concept.

The strategic concept outlines NATOs purpose and fundamental security tasks, identifies current security environment elements and provides guidelines for the adaptation of its military forces.

Threats of climate change, Russia, China

While the alliance is not intended to be the main platform to discuss climate change, there is renewed focus on the security implications of climate change and how NATO should respond.

NATO forces in Iraq were suffering from extreme heat, said Dan Hamilton, director of the Global Europe Program at the Washington-based Wilson Center. Militaries must adapt to climate change and at the same time reduce their massive carbon footprints, he added.

China is part of the discussion and called out as a security threat. Stoltenberg said China's growing military presence from the Baltics to Africa meant NATO had to be prepared.

"China is coming closer to us. We see them in cyber space, we see China in Africa, but we also see China investing heavily in our own critical infrastructure," the NATO secretary general said.

European allies need to work with both the U.S. and China but ultimately want to avoid being dragged into a binary Washington vs Beijing confrontation, said Chatham Houses Billon-Galland.

European allies are quite careful in terms of how they approach this and a bit reluctant for NATO to get too involved in China-related issues or Indo-Pacific issues, she said.

A day earlier many of the same leaders now meeting in Brussels issued a statement at the conclusion of the G-7 Summit in Cornwall, U.K., calling out Chinas human rights abuses. Beijing accused the group of slandering its reputation.

As with past NATO summits, Russia will be high on the agenda. Moscow denies any wrongdoing, but allies are increasingly concerned given Moscows recent aggression on the eastern flank and its covert and cyberattacks to undermine Western states.



In a recent interview with NBC, Russian President Vladimir Putin called NATO a Cold War relic. I'm not sure why it still continues to exist, Putin said.

Biden said both Russia and China were not acting "in a way that is consistent with what we had hoped." The U.S. president was referring to the Wests decades-long efforts to bring the two countries to align closer with liberal democracies.

On the sidelines of the summit, Biden met with leaders of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania  countries that won independence from then-Soviet Union in 1991. While they are now full members of NATO and the European Union, these Baltic countries are wary of Kremlins regional ambitions.

Biden is also meeting with Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a NATO ally with problematic relations particularly after Ankaras purchase of Russian S-400 missile defense system, military offensive in Syria and support for Azerbaijan in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war with Armenia.

Biden will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Geneva on Wednesday.
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Pan African Game Changers has donated US$1,000 for the drilling of a borehole at Somnene Clinic being constructed by villagers in conjunction with some Zimbabweans living in the diaspora. The villagers made their appeal on VOA Studio 7. (Video: Tshisa Sibanda)
In South Africa, a group called Afriforum has launched self-defense training for white commercial farmers. The group says the farmers are vulnerable to attacks, which it says are driven by tensions over unequal farmland distribution more than 25 years after the end of apartheid.



South African farmer Shernice Potgieter, a young single mother, lived in a tranquil, remote rural farmhouse with her daughter, Denise, and two dogs for eight years.



That peaceful existence was shattered on a summer morning when she returned home after dropping Denise off at school.



Potgieter recalls horror when two men emerged from the cornfield, tied her up and ransacked her farmhouse.



This is the passage where they made me lay down," she said pointing an area on her farm. "I had to lay [sic] here so that I couldnt see outside. When it started, I just thought to myself, Today Im losing my life. When I saw them coming for me, the first reaction was, Today I am going to die. I was worried about my daughter and what would happen to her, say something wouldve happened to me.



While Potgieter survived the ordeal, Afrikaner rights group Afriforum says 59 white farmers were killed in 2020 alone, a 30% increase in fatalities from 2019.



Although the motive for these attacks has not always been attributed to racial tensions, Afriforum says most perpetrators are Black.



In January, the group began a self-defense program for commercial farmers, the majority of them white Afrikaners.



Afriforum legal and risk manager Marnus Kemfer described the substance and goal of the training.



The first aspect of the training will be how to use a firearm. We showed them how to use this firearm in and around the house. We then also issued them with digital radio, we actually give them training in how exactly to utilize this radio. In the end, we want all of these farmers and their neighbors to have an effective communication network, Kemfer said.

Tensions spiked in October 2020 when a white farmer was killed and his body found tied to a pole in the town of Senekal, in the eastern part of the Free State province.



The incident heightened racial tensions in the area, and politically-motivated protests followed.



Racial anger, observers say, is fueled by the fact that white farmers still own 70% of South Africas commercial farms 27 years after the end of apartheid.



Groups representing white farmers, like Transvaal Agricultural Union South Africa (TLU SA), accuse authorities of failing to protect them.



Black farmers also have been victimized by these attacks, but to a lesser degree, says the farmers union.



Chris Van Zyl, the chairman of the Transvaal union, emphasized the need for farmers to defend themselves against these criminal acts.



We cannot expect that the police will ensure 24 hours, seven days a week presence in areas which is troubled by violent criminals. The local inhabitants need to organize themselves and they must be trained to enable them to withstand a violent, criminal attack, Van Zyl said.



South Africas national police declined several requests for an interview, but police statistics show 49 white farmers were killed between April 2019 and April 2020. Thats out of more than 21,000 murders nationwide  where the majority of the victims are Black.



President Cyril Ramaphosa last year urged South Africans not to rally communities along racial lines.



In March, the far-left Economic Freedom Fighters party accused Afriforum of being racist for opposing farmland expropriation without compensation.



Afriforum says it is extending a helping hand to whomever needs guidance and assistance irrespective of race.


In the last weeks of his administration, former U.S. President Donald Trump and his aides pressured the Justice Department to investigate his unfounded voting fraud complaints and upend his election loss, newly released documents Tuesday show.

Nearly five months after leaving office, Trump still contends he was cheated out of another four-year term in the White House by voting irregularities. According to the House of Representatives Oversight and Reform Committee, before he left office, Trump, former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, and a private attorney, Kurt Olsen, all sought to enlist the Justice Department to pursue election irregularities that had already been rejected in dozens of court claims.

However, the agency, which was being run by Acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen in the last weeks of Trumps presidency, rejected the Trump-led demands.

"These documents show that President Trump tried to corrupt our nation's chief law enforcement agency in a brazen attempt to overturn an election that he lost," said Committee Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney, a New York Democrat.

Trump made the demands even after outgoing Attorney General William Barr had already concluded by December 1 that to date, we have not seen fraud on a scale that could have effected a different outcome in the election. Barr left office December 23 and was replaced by Rosen, who had been deputy attorney general.

The documents released by the committee show that Trump, through an assistant, sent Rosen an email on December 14 with documents contending there was election fraud in northern Michigan  a debunked allegation that a federal judge had already rejected.

Two weeks later, Trump also unsuccessfully sought to get Justice Department lawyers to file a draft legal brief written by Olsen with the U.S. Supreme Court contending that voting law changes made by the states of Georgia, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona, Nevada and Pennsylvania to expand mail-in voting during the COVID-19 pandemic were illegal.

The new documents showing Trump pressing his election fraud claims occurred about the same time Meadows, the White House chief of staff, was asking Rosen to examine other baseless conspiracy theories about the election.

Among them, according to The New York Times, was one that claimed people linked to an Italian defense contractor used satellite technology based in Europe to tamper with U.S. voting equipment from Europe to switch votes from Trump to Joe Biden, who won the election and was inaugurated January 20.
The Zimbabwean government claims that a farm being targeted for compulsory acquisition in Matabeleland North province belongs to the state and not human rights lawyer, Siphosami Malunga, the son of the late national hero and PF Zapu stalwart, Sydney Malunga.

In a series of tweets, Information Secretary, Nick Mangwana, clashed with Malunga on the social media platform after making these claims, adding that Malunga, businessman Charles Moyo, and Zephania Dlamini, a scientist at the National University of Science and Technology are utilizing only 30 hectares of Kershelmar Farm.

In one of the tweets, Mangwana said, In 2004 Govt acquired a farm that belonged to a Mr Swindells who left for New Zealand then. The title deeds remain in his name. One Eddie Warambwa leased the farm from Swindells until 2010 when he died. In 2017 Sipho Malunga bought a Swindells company for US$33k. Clearly the 500ha farm had already been acquired by Govt in 2004 was not part of this transaction. A stand, and not a farm is bought for US33k. To say Govt is taking a Malunga farm is incorrect.

In 2010 @RModiByoSouth bought the farm at an auction for US$250k as part of the Warambwa Estate debt but discovered it was already State land and abandoned the purchase. A purported purchase in 2017 does not dislodge Govt acquisition in 2004.

Mangwana further claimed that, In fact they are using only 30ha of this land and this land is being subdivided and being given to a number of people. They were offered 70 hectares of this and they declined maintaining it was theirs. In any case they already have 1600ha in Bubi in Mat North.

But Malunga shot back on Twitter saying, Nick you are shamelessly lying. We own the farm and hold the title deeds. It's really that simple. We know why the government has taken the farm. I came here to just say this. The rest we will say in the appropriate spaces.

In a tweet and Facebook post yesterday, Malunga said, Today we received a call from Mr. Dodzi at the Lands Office in Bulawayo to tell us that the Zim Govt has acquired our privately owned farm & tomorrow they are coming peg it & give it to people they have allocated it to. This isnt about land reform & we will fight it in every way.

The farm is wholly privately owned by 3 black individuals and we only got to see the Gazette and acquisition notice issued on 18 December for the first time today after the Lands Officer gave us the number and told us to go to government printers.

He claimed that the three farm owners had not seen the acquisition notice before Dodzi called them.

Zimbabwe has since 2000, acquired over 4,500 farms and handed them over to blacks. Indications are that some top government officials own multiple farms.

A farm audit that was conducted two years ago has not been made public.
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PORT HUENEME, Calif. (June 4, 2021) Cmdr. Ryan Carey (left) passes the battalion flag to Cmdr. Andrew Olsen during NMCB-5s change of command ceremony at Naval Base Ventura County Port Hueneme, California, June 4. During the ceremony, Cmdr. Andrew Olsen relieved Cmdr. Ryan Carey as Commanding Officer of NMCB-5. The U.S. Navy Seabees assigned to NMCB-5 support worldwide combat and contingency operations, building advanced bases and conducting humanitarian recovery missions. (U.S. Navy photo by Construction Mechanic 2nd Class Michael Schutt/Released)
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balulang cagayan de oro (89.7 km NNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 20-30 s : quite strong | One user found this interesting.

Gingoog city (130.6 km NNE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III)

89.9 km NNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 15-20 s

63.1 km S of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / single lateral shake / 15-20 s

Cagayan de Oro City (89.6 km NNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / single lateral shake / 5-10 s

94.8 km NNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III)

Kidapawan City, North Cotabato (74.6 km SSE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III)

92.5 km NNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / 30-60 s

89.7 km NNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s

Ozamiz City (134.3 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / single lateral shake : Shaky ofcourse

Cagayan De Oro City (91 km NNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / single lateral shake / 15-20 s

Cotabato City (92.7 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV)

Cotabato city (85.8 km WSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 1-2 minutes

Kibawe Bukidnon (17.6 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) : 2nd time is more stronger than the 1st quake.

Alicia, Zamboanga Sibugay (214.5 km W of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / 2-5 s

KADINGILAN, (8.7 km SSE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / complex rolling (tilting in multiple directions) / 10-15 s Scared (reported through (reported through our app / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / complex rolling (tilting in multiple directions) / 10-15 s

Cagayan de Oro City / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 30-60 s

Cagayan de Oro City (90 km NNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / complex motion difficult to describe / 15-20 s : Strong shaking, mostly vertical and rolling, some horizontal moves. The strongest we have experienced so far. 3 earthquakes, a few minutes between them. 1st one strongest, 3rd almost as strong but shorter, 2nd also strong but not as much as 1 and 3. Smaller aftershocks after all the 3 quakes, mostly after the 1st.

Iligan City / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 20-30 s : Dizzy

Davao / Weak shaking (MMI III) / single lateral shake / 1-2 s

91.4 km N of epicenter [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) : scared 4 life

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (175.1 km NNE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / single lateral shake / 5-10 s

ILIGAN CITY / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 5-10 s

poblacion naawan, misamis oriental / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : unexpected, shaking part of the world

Bobontugan, Jasaan Misamis Oriental / Light shaking (MMI IV) / vertical swinging (up and down)

Cagayan de Oro / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 15-20 s : horizontal shaking, and another horizontal shaking after 5 minutes or so

Malabang, Lanao Del Sur (87.6 km W of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating

Cagayan de Oro City / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / both vertical and horizontal swinging / 15-20 s

Lanao del Sur / Very weak shaking (MMI II) : Headache

Libona (80.7 km NNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV)

Cagayan de oro city,misamis or / Light shaking (MMI IV)

Kidapawan City / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging

ALUBIJID / Very weak shaking (MMI II)

Ozamiz City / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 30-60 s

Cagayan de Oro / Light shaking (MMI IV) / single lateral shake / 10-15 s : Heard the windows creaking and the building shaking

933.9 km WSW of epicenter [ Map ] / not felt (reported through our app / not felt

Cagayan de Oro City (90 km NNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / complex motion difficult to describe / 15-20 s : Strong shaking, mostly vertical and rolling, some horizontal moves. The strongest we have experienced so far. 3 earthquakes, a few minutes between them. 1st one strongest, 3rd almost as strong but shorter, 2nd also strong but not as much as 1 and 3. Smaller aftershocks after all the 3 quakes, mostly after the 1st.

Cagayan de Oro city / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 2-5 s

Malinao Kalilangan Bukidnon / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / both vertical and horizontal swinging / 2-5 s : Stress

Maranding, LALA LANAO DEL NORTE (89.7 km NNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 20-30 s : Afraid

Quezon, Bukidnon / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s

cagayan de oro / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : kosog

18.3 km NE of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 20-30 s : Shock and Nervous that is what I feel rn cauz' were just chilling ya'know and suddenly an earthquake comes like wth

cagayan de oro city (95.4 km NNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / vertical swinging (up and down) / 20-30 s

Cagayan de oro city (92.2 km NNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / single lateral shake

Marawi City (73.8 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s

El Salvador City Misamis Oriental Philippine (106.4 km NNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 5-10 s : Ofcourse scared.

Lumbia, Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 1-2 s

97.5 km NNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) (reported through our app / Moderate shaking (MMI V)

Tagoloan (95.8 km N of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / single lateral shake / 2-5 s

Cagayan de Oro City / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 20-30 s : It vibrated our house. It must be more than magnitude 3. It scares us. I don't think I could sleep better tonight. Ugh!

Maranding, LALA LANAO DEL NORTE (121.4 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 20-30 s (reported through our app / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 20-30 s

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s

70.7 km SSW of epicenter [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / single lateral shake / very short : A bit nervous especially when it occurs on night time, a time where everybody is sleeping.

Iligan Ciy (90.5 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / complex motion difficult to describe / 10-15 s : I feel very dizzy

Cagayan de Oro city, Nazareth / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s

Puntod, Cagayan de Oro City / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : I can hear the sound of the ground shaking. It's like a truck just passed by.

95.3 km NNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : afraid & paranoid

96.1 km NNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s

Cagayan de oro city / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : 2 light long shaking, with aftershocks

Cagayan de Oro City / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 5-10 s : SHAKEY, VIBRATION

Iligan City / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 20-30 s : Dizzy

Kabacan Cotabato (60.8 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s : shocked

House (94.7 km NNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 1-2 s : Multiple short-term eartquakes, already happened 3 times , there shou

Lumbia in upper balulang intensity 7.out of 10 / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s : Our house shook very hard Back and forth twice and we have had two s after shocks we are located in Grand Europa subdivision in Lumbia it was about a 7 .in intensity

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s

Cagayan De Oro City, Northern Mindanao Philippines / Light shaking (MMI IV) / vibration and rolling / 2-5 s : It was stronger than last year's shake.

Cagayan De oro / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s : Also an aftershock 10 mins later

Valencia City Bukidnon / Very weak shaking (MMI II)

CAGAYAN DE ORO / Light shaking (MMI IV) / single lateral shake / 30-60 s : I prayed 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary and 1 Glory be, it was not over shaking yet.

Cagayan de oro city / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s

Iligan City (92.4 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / several minutes

Cagayan de Oro / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 10-15 s : worried it might not stop and shaking might increase intensity

Ditsa-an ramain lanao del sur (67.3 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 5-10 s

Davao City (104.2 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) : Shaking enough to make things hanging on the walls move back and forth....

Opol, Misamis Oriental (96.4 km NNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging

Ozamiz City (130.1 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 15-20 s

Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating : Feared a little

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s : strong earthquake

tablon, cagayan de oro city

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 5-10 s : I feel nervous since its not just one but 3x

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging : Strong shake

Cagayan de oro / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 1-2 s

Iligan City (89.3 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 15-20 s : Oh my gosh I'm doing my modules and I thought it was just the anemic

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating

Cagayan de oro city / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 20-30 s : Our house was shaking. The first earthquake was long and everythins was shaking and even outside you can really feel it, it was very scary specially i have my 1 year old baby with me at that time and we're already getting to sleep when it happened. So we got up and the 2nd earthquake happened after 3-5mins and it was shorter and less shaky.

Cagayan de Oro / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s : I felt like it wasn't going to stop. It came back 4 more times. With 2-3 minutes of interval.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating

89.2 km NNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 15-20 s

Western Kolambog Lapasan Cagayan de Oro City / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s

cotabato city / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s

131.9 km NNE of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s : Scared

Davao city / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / very short

cagayan de oro / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : terrified

Cagayan de Oro / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s

Philippines, Cotabato City / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s

Valencia City / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 10-15 s

91.4 km N of epicenter [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) : scared 4 life

89.7 km N of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s

Chinatown Malabang Lanao del Sur : I feel it so much may be it's so strong in other places.

Opol misamis oriental / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 10-15 s

at my home / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 1-2 s : im calming

97.5 km NNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / both vertical and horizontal swinging

Tambo, Piagapo lanao del sur / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 15-20 s : Shock.

Cagayan De Oro City / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 10-15 s

Opol / Moderate shaking (MMI V)

Naawan, Misamis Oriental / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / 2-5 s

cagayan de oro city / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 10-15 s

37.7 km NNE of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s

Cagayan de oro city / Weak shaking (MMI III) : Shaking
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Karymsky, the most active volcano of Kamchatka's eastern volcanic zone, is a symmetrical stratovolcano constructed within a 5-km-wide caldera that formed during the early Holocene. The caldera cuts the south side of the Pleistocene Dvor volcano and is located outside the north margin of the large mid-Pleistocene Polovinka caldera, which contains the smaller Akademia Nauk and Odnoboky calderas. Most seismicity preceding Karymsky eruptions originated beneath Akademia Nauk caldera, which is located immediately south of Karymsky volcano. The caldera enclosing Karymsky volcano formed about 7600-7700 radiocarbon years ago; construction of the Karymsky stratovolcano began about 2000 years later. The latest eruptive period began about 500 years ago, following a 2300-year quiescence. Much of the cone is mantled by lava flows less than 200 years old. Historical eruptions have been vulcanian or vulcanian-strombolian with moderate explosive activity and occasional lava flows from the summit crater.

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Ambrym (Vanuatu) is one of the most active volcanoes in the world. Its vast caldera has an amazing moonscape and several active vents that contain boiling lava lakes, most famous Marum and Benbow.

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Photo-Illustration: Vulture; Photo by Warner Bros.

Today, its hard to imagine there was ever a time without a plethora of Nicholas Sparks movies to soothe our hearts and numb our minds, but when A Walk to Remember hit theaters in 2002, it was only the second film adaptation of the authors novels. And unlike his inaugural flick, 1999s Message in a Bottle, this was the first aimed at a younger demographic.

Starring alongside thenpop superstar Mandy Moore, Shane West was cast as resident brooding bad boy Landon Carter, a character that wasnt too far-flung from his reality at the time. After a steady run on ABCs family drama Once and Again and a few teen rom-com roles, West had built up a considerable following and steady buzz surrounding his career, but it wasnt until A Walk to Remember that hed not only finally land his breakout role but also become a lusted-after Hollywood heartthrob.

For those who need a refresher: A Walk to Remember follows the popular, rebellious Landon, who finds himself on the route to redemption as he crosses paths with Moores Jamie Sullivan, the town reverends devout and optimistic daughter. As the two enter into a star-crossed romance, due to Jamies terminal-leukemia diagnosis, she captures Landons heart and ultimately inspires him to turn his life around, while Landon teaches Jamie how to really live.

A Walk to Remember not only jump-started both West and Moores acting careers, but it has also lived on as one of the most beloved romantic dramas of a generation. In a conversation in early June with Vulture, 19 years after A Walk to Remember debuted, West discusses how his music ended up in the film, Jamies sweater, and the possibility of reuniting with Moore for a project in the future.

What drew you to the part of Landon?

Look, we were all a lot younger, and we were looking to start our careers. I dont think I was very picky at that time, but I had the luxury of being on a television show at the time called Once and Again. I had done two teen films prior to A Walk to Remember that, for studio films, just didnt do as well, monetarily. I loved the Nicholas Sparks story; I immediately loved the director, Adam Shankman. I obviously knew of Mandy Moore, but I didnt know of her as an actress.

The joke at the time was, Well, people dont really know who I am, so I guess if a movie doesnt do well, I think Ill be okay. That was another one of those things: You didnt want to do too many teen films and not have them do well. But this one was so special in story and content. Adam said something immediately at the very end of the project, Worst-case scenario, we brought the cast together. Just know that you guys all made a great movie. Whether anyone sees it or not doesnt matter. Just be proud of what you did. And thats kind of our thoughts going into it. This was a great story, and it deserved to be told. But we didnt know what was going to happen, of course.

Obviously, Landon is super-brooding for half of the movie. Did you take inspiration from any specific characters as you prepared to live in that mood?

No, that was me. That is another reason why I think I got it. At the time, I was playing a little bit of a brooding son on Once and Again. I had a band that I was trying to get off the ground. I was always into rock and roll and punk rock, so transitionally, it was kind of me. It was more or less, Did the studio want me? Did Adam want me? Did the project want me? But as far as having to draw on anything, I kind of had free rein. It was just cool because thats a bit rare. Most projects, Ive always tried to find something to draw on, but with Once and Again and A Walk to Remember, it was just extensions of myself.

Mandys music is front and center in the movie, but its not super-well-known that your band had music featured on the soundtrack too, right?

I did, with the worst scene ever. My little band at the time was called Average Joe, but we were just playing for fun. Nothing was copyrighted. By the time we wrote this song [So What Does It All Mean?] and the soundtrack accepted it, we couldnt get the rights to Average Joe, and we had no idea what to name ourselves in the 24 hours to do so. So we just threw our last names on it, [and] it looks like a law firm. So if you basically look at the soundtrack, I think it says West, Gould, Fitzgerald, or something like that, which are just our last names. Later we changed [our name] to Jonny Was. But the cool thing about that was I knew Mandy was getting music on the soundtrack. I knew that was a part of the deal  as she should. I brought up a song I had written and thought it would work for the film, depending on if they wanted that kind of style of music or not. They said, Look, we loved the demo, but you need to spend the money to produce this for real, and I cant promise you anything. Even when you do spend the money, we still may not accept it. We rolled the dice, went up to Oakland, and we recorded with Sandy Pearlman, who is famous from the Blue Oyster Cult days. [We] got it produced properly, and we got a gold record out of it, so thats pretty neat.

Is the song in the movie or just on the soundtrack?

The song is on the soundtrack, but its also in the movie for one second  a good trivia question for the fans out there. Its when I pull up in the Mustang in the beginning of the movie, when were all meeting up to haze the poor kid for jumping into the lake. Theres a moment where you can hear loud rock music before I turn the car keys off. Thats the song. Thats Adam doing that. He didnt need to do that. They could have just slapped it on the soundtrack as a song that no one heard.

What happened to your rock band?

Reality set in. We turned into Jonny Was, and I started working on ER, and around that exact time, I had done a film called What We Do Is Secret that was based on this old-school punk-rock band called the Germs. In reality, I actually joined them. They got back together, and I started singing for them for probably like five or six years. We toured around, and it was pretty wild. It was very underground, and ER was very accommodating, even though they probably didnt know half the time that I would run off and play a show. But it was such an amazing experience. Someday Ill have to write about it, but it kind of cured my pop-punk aspirations at the time.

We [Jonny Was] talked to Capitol Records at one point. We had a deal with Kung Fu Records, which was cool. But it wasnt something that we felt we should do. We really had to change a lot in writing, and I kind of discovered more of the realism of playing with the Germs. I knew [Jonny Was] had come to its end. Obviously, I focused more on acting.

With movies like A Walk to Remember, Whatever It Takes, and Get Over It, you became a true teen heartthrob. How did that change your relationship with fame?

It was a bit overwhelming at the time, but not necessarily negatively. Some of our Jonny Was shows were sellouts because of that, which was insane. We didnt have a label. We didnt play around. We were just selling out the L.A. Theatre and the Roxy. We knew a lot of it had to do with the success in acting all of a sudden. It was harder to go to Disneyland, the CityWalk in Universal Studios, and those kinds of things. I know Adam, after the premiere wrap party, pulled Mandy and I aside and said the reaction was so positive, which was awesome yet surprising for us. We just didnt know that everyone was going to be crying. He said, Prepare for everything to change. Your lives will never be the same. And that was a pretty cool moment. He was right.

Do you remember who else was up for the part of Landon?

I dont. I do know, at one point, they may have been talking to Jessica Simpson before Mandy, and I remember thinking that would be very difficult to make happen. I remember thinking Mandy, even though I didnt know her, was perfect for this. We had a sit-down audition. It was one of the nicest auditions ever, where Mandy and I got to read together, with the director, at Warner Bros. for an hour or two, almost like we had the part. You dont really do that. But I think he had always said that [Mandy] was his favorite and I was his favorite, so he wanted to put us together, work with us, and see if we could have chemistry. Apparently, we did.

Was Jamies sweater always supposed to be such a central through-line and butt of the joke in the movie?

Im 99 percent sure, yes  not realizing the film would be as successful as it was, would we know itd become kind of an iconic piece of clothing. But it was, and they spent time on it, making sure it looked the way that it did. There might have been some moments where Adam ad-libbed and said, Lets talk about the sweater more. But it was basically there in the script.

I remember talking to Mandy about this last year. Theres certain things that you remember, and theres certain things that you dont. We never really paid attention to the sweater. What we really paid attention to all the time was Mandys hair. Because she had dramatically rolled the dice to completely change her image for this movie. She was blonde, and now all of a sudden, she was brunette, and that was something that we were always talking about and staring at. That was the true, behind-the-scenes reality of, Wow, she looks great. This totally worked. So I think the sweater thing was just kind of a couple jokes here and there, but I dont know if we were truly paying attention to it on set. Adam did a great job of keeping us joking around, laughing, happy. We never really realized that we were doing something that was going to affect as many people as it did until we went to the premiere.

The butterfly-tattoo scene is one of the sexiest moments in the movie and yet its so innocent. Was that planned in the script?

The butterfly on the shoulder? We were just pulled over near the alleyway. Then [Adam] put a camera inside of the car. But thats just how shooting goes. When you look at certain things like that, its written down  its not much dialogue. Its more [that] youre reading the text and then you go and do it.

It was fun to do. Its hard to not smile when youre looking at Mandys cute, adorable face  to react to that. And it made it easy. I couldnt get that tattoo right. I was screwing it up constantly. There should be outtakes. I dont think there are  where I peel it off and its like a third of a butterfly, or half a butterfly, or it didnt work at all. Then she starts laughing and then its all worthless. So I think the combination of us joking around made the ultimate reveal more of a success.

What was it like having Daryl Hannah play your mom?

That was supercool because I had been a fan of hers growing up. I believe Andie MacDowell was up for [the role], who I was also a fan of. Daryl got it, and she should have. She was great. She changed her hair color, too. No one was talking about that, but shes mainly known for being blonde, and she wanted to change it up for that film as well. Obviously, I was a little smitten in a way. She could tell me to do whatever; I was going to listen to her. And shes very easy, very accommodating. Theyd fly Daryl in for specific scenes and fly her back out. But she was great.

Of all the Nicholas Sparks movies, A Walk to Remember and The Notebook are probably the most popular. Why do you think A Walk to Remember really resonated with people?

Thats a tough question because hes made so many. Maybe the right time period? Maybe chemistry? I havent seen all of Sparkss movies. My only guess would be the simplicity of the story, the right time, the right place, and the chemistry that we all have. I think they couldnt have cast it any better. It just all worked. And everyone was there to do their job and be supportive. Ive been on a lot of different sets, and theyre all different. This one absolutely stood out. I think having Mandy really helped, because she knocked it out of the park but also came from this music background, so she was able to do that and perform.

One of the moments that stood out for me when filming was when we were doing the play. My character didnt want to be there, didnt want to act, and didnt care. She comes out and does this amazing vocal performance, and thats exactly when Landon knew, and he falls in love with Jamie. I remember during that long, long day of shooting, sweating under those lights, that we had something special. Because I could just tell the way she was killing it in the performance, the way it was being filmed  all I had to do was sit there and react. Maybe that was lightning in a bottle right there. I was struck by her performance in reality, during the moment. I was proud of her in reality, during the moment. I was also trying to act, which was also some of what Landon was feeling. So I believe she was feeling it, I was feeling it, and the audience will know if youre lying or not. We certainly werent lying.

That leads me to my next question. There was obviously so much chemistry onscreen; was there chemistry offscreen between you or any of the other actors?

We all had chemistry offscreen, in the sense of bonding and in friendship, including [Mandy], which is the funniest thing because all the other characters had been bullying her. Everyone liked each other. It was the opposite of the movie. Everyone got along and had a great time. And yeah, there was chemistry. I think we [Mandy and I] both had a little bit of a crush, but then we were just there for each other in the most honest and purest of ways. That sounds incredibly corny but is true and rare.

Do you have any untold stories about filming that maybe people might not know?

I bought the car from the movie. It was the opening, where I pull up in the car, and I absolutely bought that car, and Adam bought the other car because it was cheap. I still have mine. Im thinking Im going to sell it next year because I just cant have it anymore. I technically ruined the car, so Im already worried about selling it because its not the same color that everyone loved. I painted it black with a red stripe, instead of orange with a white stripe, so Im sure I destroyed the value. But whatever. Its a fun thing.

One of my favorite things was at the very end of the premiere. My publicist at the time came up to me with the passes for the after-party, and she was bawling, and I didnt know what was wrong. Mandy and myself, the rest of the cast, we were just cracking jokes in the back of the theater. We had no idea that this was going to hit home. She gives [the passes] to me, and she goes, Here are the passes. I hate you. The after-party took this turn where we were all looking after each other and holding hands and going, Are you okay? We didnt know that the film would resonate so much. Wed get photos sent to us, like the line standing in two places at once and the alleyway. Certain locations where I was like, Oh man, I hate to tell you, but that alleyway I dont think was really planned out. They just found one on the spot and said, Lets shoot. Lets go.

Which locations were more planned out?

Theres one thing that did stand out that scared the hell out of us. At the beginning of that movie when we jump in that man-made lake, it was freezing and terrifying, and apparently there were giant eels in that lake. They had to send scuba divers into the water to try and clear it out before we filmed it. They never told us that they had cleared it out, and the poor guy I was rescuing, we were pretty much terrified the whole time until we wrapped that up. They had built that for some scene in Dawsons Creek, I believe. So it was man-made, but somehow stuff got into it. It was pretty gross.

Dawsons Creek had put Wilmington on the map in the film world, and when we started, I think there were four or five seasons. I stayed at Kerr Smiths house [Jack from Dawsons Creek], actually. I do not know the history of Dawsons Creek, but I do know I auditioned for it, and I didnt get [the part]. Not for Dawson and not for Pacey. I dont even know what character. It was several years down the line. It was probably for Kerr Smiths role.

The film has a very finite ending, but was there ever talk of a sequel of sorts for Landons character?

My favorite is when Ill hear about sequel possibilities, and, well, what is the sequel? She dies. I dont know if she comes back. We could turn this into a genre piece, and she comes back from the dead, and its a zombie movie. What weve thought about is potentially doing another movie down the line where its us, and maybe the surprise is I pass away. But I dont think it would continue as Landon and Jamie. I think it would continue as Shane and Mandy if a different project happened. Theres no script; Im just throwing it out there that weve always been like, Yeah, thatd be cool if we did something one day. But well see if it ever happens. That would be the sequel: a different project starring the same, familiar faces.

Where do you think Landon is now?

Remarried with six kids. No, Im just kidding. I think he continued doing what he was going to do. She was his inspiration. I think he lived his life to the fullest. Its hard to say if he would remarry, because you could really go two different ways with that. You can say that this is the love of his life, and having her near him in his heart keeps him going with his life and his career. But you could also say the same thing would set him up for happiness with someone else, just with all respect to the past. I cant imagine anyone reading the book would want to hear that. So I would say maybe he would stay single and happy, hopefully not miserable because he is staying single.

I mean, he got married at 18. So its possible he found someone else.

I know, lets be honest: They were so young, for Gods sake. I would hope that he would have another wonderful relationship later in life.

What did you think of the films religious undertones when you saw the script?

I didnt think of it. Mandy, I dont believe she did either. I do remember when we started doing press, when TRL was a thing out in New York, with Carson Daly, we started getting hit with some specific religious groups being very supportive of the movie. I dont think we ever set out to do that. Theres nothing wrong with that. Im thankful that they loved the film, but it wasnt set to do that.

Heres a little bit I forgot happened. Theres a movie called Save the Last Dance that came out with Julia Stiles. Right before we started shooting, it made a lot of money, and there was no cussing and there was no alcohol. Basically, we were told, this movie succeeded while being PG. So in the beginning, the reason why you dont see us drinking beer or wine when were hazing, smoking cigarettes, or any of that kind of stuff was because they cut it out at the last second. They were going to try and make it a little bit grittier or tougher, but they decided at the last second, thanks to the success of a different film, that we dont need to do that. [They said], Just pretend you had been drinking. Pretend you were bad kids. Maybe that also softened the film and made it safer, so to speak. Maybe that also kind of helped out with some of the religious aspects. I dont know. More power to them. Im glad they liked it.

What was the most challenging scene you filmed in A Walk to Remember?

Maybe crying on my dads shoulders. That was really tough. Because the scene went, for me, just knocking on the door and having to all of a sudden cry, which I had a hard time doing on film. That could be maybe the most challenging. Back in the day, I had a Discman. I was listening to the Cure or someone that could depress me and then when they were ready, I just sat on the street outside my [characters] dads house and then they came over and tapped me on the shoulder to let me know that they were rolling. Then I would take the Discman off and go. That was probably the most challenging: good old ugly-crying.

TV was where you got started, and it has been the main crux of your career in recent years. But you have a new film called No Running at the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival. Do you want to do more mainstream movies?

Its all about the right fit, what the project is. If they want me. Its certainly not like we dont try. Its a strange world right now. Its kind of an A24 indie film or the Marvel Universe. Its why television has taken over film. Its just been a golden age of television. Most people want to be on television now, so thats what Im continually looking to do. But film is always there. Its just harder. Its a blessing to have No Running get into Tribeca  that was something that came my way. To actually play a father in that, to play the sheriff in the town, was pretty cool. Thats a really good film, and Im glad its getting respect. I got to play some crazy military lunatic last year in some film called Escape the Field that should be coming out pretty soon. Ive got two small films Im supposed to do this summer.

You know, its hard. Id love to join the Marvel Universe, the DC Universe, the comic-book world because Im a big comic-book fan. But they have to take the chance on you. So until Im asked to be the next Batman, I dont know when thats going to happen. We continue to look for the right projects and the right series, and thankfully Ive been able to stay true to myself and do the projects that I want to do and have success with both.

What do you want for your career at this point? Would you do another romantic movie like A Walk to Remember, or is that totally outside your scope now?

I would do it. I still have the same aspirations and interests that I had when I started, which is, fortunately or unfortunately, however you look at it, pretty vague. I would love to do a love story, but now if I do, [it has to be] better than A Walk to Remember, since we happened to have success with that. I want it to be the right love story. I want it to be the right person. I want there to be chemistry there that has the right people behind it, because we did catch lightning in a bottle with that. Ive always wanted to do fantasy, Game of Thronestype stuff, space-type stuff, science fiction, and all that kind of stuff, just being the guy.

The big joke is Ive always wanted to do a Western because my last names West. Nikita was a love story. Even Salem, in all of its twisted witchcraft ways, was a love story. But those characters, even though they were love stories, were a little bit darker. Ive wanted to do something a little edgier as I got older because I knew I could go back to doing the heroic love story. It just has to be the right project. It would be cool in the final year of This Is Us to pop in as a surprise. I dont know how that would work, and I dont even know if thats even possible. I dont want to mess with the world that they set up. When it comes to those things, I want to pick and choose right. Ive been fortunate in the love-story world to make fans happy with Ray and Neela in ER, and make fans happy with Michael and Nikita on Nikita. And in a smaller, cult extent, myself and Janet in Salem. So theres been that, with obviously Jamie and Landon at the top. I want to keep batting 1,000 when it comes to [projects]. But if its there, Ill do it.

Personally, youve remained pretty private in the years since the movie. How have you managed that?

A lot of my friends and I have been talking about that recently. Were a part of that generation now: the late 30s, early 40s, where we were adults when social media started. We werent kids and teenagers; we werent old; we were pretty young adults. But we were able to know how the world worked before everyone was stuck on their phone, and I think that kind of helped us out  to stay away from a lot of chaos. It also depends on personality. I was never the type that wanted that. You need and want the fame, to a certain extent, to be able to get the jobs that you may want down the road, to further your career, and to do passion projects and special projects. Like I did with the Germs film. But you dont have to be in the public eye all the time.

So I kind of shunned it while still liking it. You want to be acknowledged for the work that youre putting in, but I was never really a TMZ person. That was not what I was striving for, not that theres anything wrong with that for anyone else. But it wasnt my thing. I wanted the work to speak for itself. I do remember, mid-20s, leaving a bar and theres a million photographers, and its just like, Im going to stop going to these places. I just try to be private about it. I dont want to throw my dating life in anyones face. I dont think anybody really needs to know about that. If I get married and have kids, Ill let the world know.
As of Saturday, 1.7 million Alabamians, close to 35%, have had at least one dose of a COVID vaccine.

That's far short of President Biden's July 4th goal, to have 70% of Americans at least partially vaccinated.

Smith receives the COVID-19 vaccine from the Lincoln County Health Department. Smith receives the COVID-19 vaccine from the Lincoln County Health Department.

WAAY-31 tells you why Alabama will not be making that deadline, now just three weeks away.

Dr. Karen Landers works with the Department of Public Health and she told us only a third of our population is vaccinated and we just can't make it to 70%.

But, she says the main thing is, they're still vaccinating people every single day.

"Some of our counties have persons at least receiving one vaccine and in a range of high 30% and some are very close to 40%," said Landers.

Dr. Karen Landers is the assistant public health officer for the Alabama Department of Public Health.

She told us it's not a bad thing Alabama won't make President Biden's vaccination plan because the goal is to keep vaccinating no matter what.

"We absolutely must continue to make the ability to receive vaccines very convenient for people. We pretty much have vaccines in every corner of Alabama, there are a lot of providers of different kinds," she said.

Right now, you can get vaccines at hospitals, drug stores, grocery stores, and even at some non-profits and churches.

Dr. Landers says they are giving out the COVID vaccine every day and the priority right now is to keep getting people to roll their sleeves up.

"We are not through this pandemic yet and we literally have the opportunity, right now, to get this behind us with more vaccines," she said.

Dr. Landers says we've come a long way and we can't let our guard down just yet.

She says if you're eligible to look into the vaccine to help in the fight.
The youngest person in Alabama to be sentenced to life in prison without parole is asking a judge to reconsider the ruling.

Evan Miller was 14 when he murdered Cole Cannon in Lawrence County in 2003. (Read more about that HERE)

In a motion for a new trial, Miller asks the court to vacate his life without parole sentence and impose a sentence of life with the possibility of parole.

He claims his current sentence violates the Constitution as well as state and federal law.

All this comes after Millers case went to the U.S. Supreme Court in 2012 when the court allowed all juveniles sentenced to life without parole to be re-sentenced.

In April, a judge upheld the original decision and re-sentenced Miller to life in prison without parole.
Residents who live near Shoal Creek in Florence are concerned about the possibility of sewage being dumped into the creek.

The Alabama Department of Environmental Management and the Lauderdale County Health Department are investigating reports that a mobile home park is dumping sewage onto the ground, which could be flowing into the nearby creek.

The creek has colorful green patches with objects floating at the surface.

The Lauderdale County Health Department has already investigated the surrounding land, but until the Alabama Department of Environmental Management tests the water, there's no one saying if it's from the sewage leak or if it's algae and debris.

"So right now we're waiting on ADEM to come and test this water and find out if that's what it is, kind of sewage or if this is something else," says Ralph Richey, a concerned citizen who lives in the area.

On Monday, the Lauderdale County Health Department investigated the area and wrote a notice saying the nearby Woodland Hills Mobile Home Park has 72 hours to fix a broken sewage pipe that neighbors say is spilling sewage onto the ground.

People who live near the creek are worried it's causing problems in the water.

"We've found dead fish, we've got a lot of color variation in the water that's floating down by the houses. So we're trying to get to the bottom of this and find out why they're pumping this on the ground and this water in Shoal Creek has changed and a lot of stuff is floating with it," says Richey.

The Woodland Hills Mobile Home Park did not want to comment on the sewage leak.

"If they can't get their pumping system to work, connect back in and not dump it on there, they need to shut the trailer park down. Because every time someone flushes a toilet, runs a sink or whatever, it's going, it's not going down the sewage line it's going down on the ground. And that is a health issue," says Richey.

The Alabama Department of Environmental Management will be investigating the area and testing the water for contamination in the next couple of days. However, the health department told WAAY31 it could be difficult to find any contamination from the mobile home park because it would be so diluted by the time any sewage made it to the creek.
Aaron Michael Brown, 19 of Decatur, killed his grandmother, Deborah Patterson, on Friday.

Brown's maternal grandmother, Linda Cockrell, filed a petition for commitment in May.

Probate Judge, Greg Cain, said theres a process after a person files a petition for commitment.

Our process is then to call Decatur Morgan West, thats who our contract is with, theyve agreed to accept court holds, said Cain.

But, Decatur Morgan West doesnt have enough space to take in court holds.

They have 10 beds available for adults, said Crain.

Morgan County Courthouse has more petition for commitment fillings than Decatur Morgan West has beds.

Usually will have several petitions that have been filled, people needing assistance and wanting help, said Cain.

If beds are available, after someone files a petition for commitment, deputies pick up the person and get them screened at Decatur Morgan Hospital.

Cain says Decatur Morgan West has to handle a lot of moving parts.

They have private patients, they also have patients theyre admitting from the ER that are presenting psychiatric symptoms, said Cain.

Once state hospitals closed, Cain said the process slowed down.

Our practice was at that point in time if we had a petition on somebody, we usually executed the petition that day, picked them up, had hearings and then they were evaluated in the hospital in 24 to 48 hours, said Cain.

Cain said theres a possibility of a crisis residential unit opening in two to three years.
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Troopers respond to report of armed pedestrian on I-55; 1 taken into custody
Rome stages summer opera season under the stars.

Rome opens its summer opera season in the Circus Maximus with Italy's president Sergio Mattarella attending the opening production of Il Trovatore by Verdi on 15 June.

The summer festival - presented by the city's opera house Teatro dell'Opera di Roma - takes place against the backdrop of the Palatine Hill over 26 evenings until 6 August.

The staging of Verdi's masterpiece will signify a "return to the excitement and pleasure of the great opera for all the citizens of Rome and for the tourists who are returning to our city," the opera house's superintendent Carlo Fuortes told news agency ANSA.

Fuortes described Mattarella's presence on opening night as an honour at this "important moment" when theatres are returning to perform in front of live audiences after extended closures and restrictions due to covid-19.

The stage is set for Rome's summer 2021 opera festival. Photo: Fabrizio Sansoni / TOR.

Fuortes also stressed that the open-air theatre will be able to "welcome the public safely, in a setting of extraordinary beauty."

The new staging of Il Trovatore is directed by Lorenzo Mariani, with Teatro dell'Opera musical director Daniele Gatti on the podium, and a prominent cast including Roberta Mantegna, Fabio Sartori and Christopher Maltman.

The 2021 open-air opera programme will include Madama Butterfly (16 July-6 August); and La boheme (30 July-5 August).

In addition to opera the summer programme includes ballet with Swan Lake (22 June-2 July); a concert by Vinicio Capossela (23 June); and Verdi's Requiem (24 July).

ll Trovatore at the Circus Maximus. Photo: Fabrizio Sansoni / TOR.

From 1937 until 2019 Rome's summer opera season took place at the Baths of Caracalla however the historic venue was ruled out for being incompatible with Italy's social distancing rules.

The new 1,500-sqm stage in Circo Massimo is designed and built in compliance with covid-19 regulations, with four separate entrances for the public.

Last year 23,000 spectators attended the summer season at the Circus Maximus, with the stage located directly opposite the workshop that makes the opera house's sets, scenery and costumes.

Ticket details for the 2021 summer season can be found on the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma website.

Cover image: Getting ready to host Il Trovatore at the Circus Maximus. Photo credit: Fabrizio Sansoni / TOR.
Mayor Bill de Blasio rebutted a report in the New York Times that said he was quietly supporting Adams for mayor. I havent made up my mind about who I am voting for, let alone who I am supporting, de Blasio, who is term-limited, said in a Tuesday briefing.De Blasio said hes had conversations with union bosses and clergy leaders who have reached out for advice, but hasnt made a decision. He called on the candidates to make their platforms more clear to voters. He said hed be closely watching Wednesdays debate for more discussion on education, income inequality, transportation and how these leaders intend to move us forward.At a televised debate earlier this month, the top candidates said that they didnt want de Blasios backing, save for Yang, who said hed accept it. And in a recent Emerson College poll, few voters said a de Blasio endorsement would make them more likely to support a candidate.
The funding comes at a pivotal time in the economic recovery. Businesses have begun to re-open to full capacity across the country as virus cases plummet, but many have struggled to hire new workers. The National Federation of Independent Businesses Small Business Optimism Index fell 0.2 to 99.6 in May after increasing each previous month this year.
State aid -- the increasingly common practice of governments doling out support to key manufacturers or industries. In 2004 the U.S. lodged a case at the World Trade Organization against the EU for its member state support to Airbus. In 2011 the WTO ruled that the EU provided Airbus with billions of dollars of illegal subsidized financing that enabled Airbus to launch its widebodied and short-haul planes. The EU opened a parallel case against the U.S. that successfully argued Boeing benefited from state subsidies as well as space and military contracts, which defrayed the cost of civilian aircraft development. The cases continued to wind their way through the WTO until 2019 -- when the trade body authorized the U.S. to retaliate with tariffs against $7.5 billion worth of EU exports annually. In October 2020 the EU won permission from the WTO to strike back with annual tariffs on $4 billion of U.S. goods.
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Texas was the last Confederate state to have slavery abolished. During the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing enslaved people living in areas that were part of the Confederacy and were still fighting on January 1, 1863. But he had no power to free those in Confederate states, which had their own president, Jefferson Davis. Enslaved people gradually became free as Union troops defeated Confederate troops in those states during the next two years. Florida has its own emancipation day, Stuckey said, but Juneteenth is special because its the last one. (Slavery did not end in all border and Union states until the 13th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified in December 1865.)
Yes, but people forget that the video of Ahmaud Arbery was just as disturbing  just not as long. You had people who were not police officers, who just bogarted their way into a position of authority and hunted this man in broad daylight and shot him with a shotgun and thought it was okay to do it, and someone videotaped it. We showed it on television. We saw him die on television. That was disturbing enough. And this was it in a nutshell. And it was 9 minutes and 29 seconds of a police officer really believing that he was God and had the absolute right to snuff the life from someone. And I think I realized that it was different for a few reasons. One, we got to see it. Two, for how long it was. Three, he was begging for his life and for his mother. Four, just the nonchalance, the apathy from the police officer was just unbelievable. Im going to do this, and f--- you. Taking his Taser out and daring the citizens who wanted to help, like, I dare you. This can be you.
They say its no coincidence that journalists from The Post, the Times and CNN were the subject of the Justice Departments actions. The three news organizations were among the most aggressive in probing Russian interference in the 2016 election and the Trump campaigns ties to Russia. (The Post and the Times won Pulitzer Prizes for their work on the topic in 2018.) Trump frequently turned to Twitter to unleash tirades against all three during his presidency, as well as against Schiff and Swalwell, members of the House Intelligence Committee who appeared often on CNN to criticize him.
Get creative. Painting, writing poetry, sewing and any other form of creative expression are terrific ways to push through the chronic stress that defines burnout, Nagoski said. Working with your hands helps you burn up all your feelings, she said, by allowing you to channel your emotions into an object or process. Her sister, who writes romance novels, described it to Nagoski this way: Shes just sitting over her keyboard sobbing, and as shes writing, she can feel the gunk leaving her body  pouring out of her and into this page, she said. It moved from inside her to outside her, somewhere its not going to hurt anybody and it's only going to be a benefit to the world.
I know a lot of people think this is just an effort to add a couple Democratic senators, but people who know Joe Lieberman remember Joe Lieberman  he was not a partisan Democrat, Carper said in an interview just before the statehood bill passed the House. I dont think he ever got up in the morning thinking, how can we pass a D.C. statehood bill and elect a couple more Democratic senators? That was just not his motivation.
When we talk about athletes, we acknowledge the strength of the stars, Cook said. We also talk about the accomplishments of the team. Thats what Its Academic does. The students that compete are there on their own merits, but they have to compete as a team. They only win as a team. We think that combination is very much in line with what we value as well.
The governor continued to urge people who have not been vaccinated to do so. He also warned them that lifting the state of emergency does not mean that this virus and the variants no longer poses any threat. If you have been vaccinated, you are safe. But those who have not gotten vaccinated will continue to be at risk.
Herring, 59, would be among the longest-serving attorneys general in the history of the state if he wins in November and serves another term. Miyares, 45, who is the son of a Cuban immigrant, would be the states first Latino to serve as its top attorney if he is elected.
In almost immediately leveling economic sanctions against Russia and ruling out a major reset in relations, Biden has become the first U.S. president since the fall of the Soviet Union to enter office without seeking a new beginning with Moscow. Biden has also disagreed with some of his own aides and influential lawmakers in the Democratic Party who want a sharper break from the Trump era and a more aggressive response to Russias military provocations in Ukraine, cyber operations and targeting of political opponents, including Russian exiles living in Western Europe.
The plan gives the White House imprimatur to a shift in counterterrorism priorities that began in recent years in response to a rise in deadly hate-fueled attacks and picked up momentum after the stunning Jan. 6 breach of the Capitol. Last week, FBI Director Christopher A. Wray told Congress that the bureau had made close to 500 arrests in connection with the Capitol attack. Wray has said that the total number of domestic terrorism investigations increased to 2,000 from 1,400 at the end of last year.
Speaking to the Norwegian media in Brussels, Solberg said that we have first and foremost said that we want to contribute with help and support on the humanitarian and development side. But we have also agreed  after we were asked about it  to extend the sanitary contribution for a transitional period.
The murder charges against Hariri and Alsuhaymi are the most serious known against dozens of Saudi citizens, many of them students, who are wanted in the United States; their alleged offenses include first-degree manslaughter, vehicular hit-and-run, rape and possession of child pornography. Many fled to their homeland with the assistance of Saudi officials, and for some, their path out of the United States was eased by the negligence of prosecutors or police who failed to consider flight risk. The Greenville police didnt ask Hariri or Alsuhaymi to stay in the country, according to the police department, apparently assuming they would be able to continue to question the Saudi men as the investigation developed.
Trump and his allies were focused on Antrim County because of an error not long after polls closed caused the county to briefly report that Biden was leading Trump in the heavily Republican area. Election officials quickly established that the issue was caused by human error, saying a clerks failure to update software just before the election was responsible for the incorrect tally, which was rapidly updated to reflect Trumps victory. Still, a local resident filed suit, and a judge in early December ordered that Allied Security Operations Group be given access to the countys voting machines to analyze on the residents behalf.
Over the course of an hour, they discussed whether the viruss furin cleavage site in its spike protein, which is key to the viruss ability to attack human cells, could have been engineered. It was not present in the viruss closest relatives, but it was present in other human coronaviruses, which to the experts suggested it was a feature that could occur naturally. The virus also has a number of other unique features that make it highly efficient at infecting humans  features those on the call thought a human could not possibly have designed.
The U.S. government is still wrestling with how to handle thousands of interpreters who worked for the U.S. military and other American agencies in Afghanistan and who now seek to flee the country. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said the State Department is considering every option to assist but has not yet detailed a plan to do so.
But as was the case in Bidens earlier stops on his first international trip as president, lingering irritants from the Trump years remained unresolved after Tuesdays E.U. meeting, a sign that elements of Trumps foreign policy may outlast him. Biden did not remove tariffs that Trump imposed on European steel, a major frustration for the E.U., nor did he announce plans to remove pandemic-era restrictions on travel from Europe to the United States, even though the E.U. has made plans to reopen to visitors from the United States. The White House has said both issues need a bit more time.
He made a national name for himself during two quixotic bids for the White House, in 2004 and 2008. In his first presidential race, he traded on his antiwar credentials to shore up celebrity endorsements and a loyal grass-roots base of support. Even though he didnt win a single state in the primary, he refused to drop out until just before the Democratic National Convention.
We can look back in a time in history where people were told to wear a gold star, and they were definitely treated like second-class citizens  so much so that they were put in trains and taken to gas chambers in Nazi Germany, and this is exactly the type of abuse that Nancy Pelosi is talking about, Greene said in an interview with the online right-wing news outlet Real Americas Voice.
January 6th was one of the darkest days in the history of our democracy, but because of the courage of the Capitol Police and other law enforcement officers, it will also be etched in history as a day of heroism, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said in a statement to The Washington Post, explaining the compromise decision to honor the patriots with the medal. Doing so is a high honor, and it is also our responsibility: to ensure that we always remember these heroes and their valor and sacrifice.
A Salvation Army EMS vehicle is set up as a cooling station as people line up to get into a splash park while trying to beat the heat in Calgary. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press/AP)

Authorities in the region are investigating the recent deaths, but have all indicated that they are due to the heat dome that has trapped hot air in the normally temperate area.
As Putin was pressed on issues including Moscows cyberattacks against the United States and whether he orders the killings of his political opponents, his tone was dismissive and, at times, nonchalant. It mirrored the Kremlin messaging at home ahead of Putins planned summit with President Biden in Geneva on Wednesday: Putin agreed to this meeting at the request of the Americans but will not be ceding anything.
Charles L. Riney, 86, of Washington, went home to be with our Lord and Savior on Sunday, June 27, 2021, at 7:25 a.m. He was born in Washington on Nov. 3, 1934, to Thomas and Ann Marie (Smith) Riney. He loved gardening and spending time with his beloved dog. He is survived by one sister, Paul
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The state government has awarded a new contract to monitor industrial emissions on 47,000-year-old rock art in Western Australias north after the first company awarded the $7 million job was dismissed for breach of contract.

Sydney-based Calibre will partner with technical experts from Curtin University, Art Care and ChemCentre, who were already involved.

On Murujugas Burrup Peninsula, rock art and industry are a little too close for comfort.

Calibre was one of two parties in the original joint venture, Puliyapang, sacked from the program after its first year. The ejected party was Tocomwall, also Sydney-based.

Tocomwall director Scott Franks said on Tuesday his lawyers were preparing a statement.
Its a short stroll from Goldman Sachs global headquarters to Citigroups, but when it comes to reopening after the pandemic, the two Manhattan towers might as well be thousands of miles apart.

Starting this week, Goldman Sachs is requiring almost all employees at its perch over the Hudson River to report to their desks, marking one of Wall Streets most ambitious returns to the workplace since Covid-19 besieged the city more than a year ago. Meanwhile, Citigroup wont recall more of its staff to its mostly empty Tribeca tower in downtown Manhattan until July. Even then, the firm has told most workers that they can adopt a so-called hybrid schedule between home and the office longer term.

Goldman Sachs workers were greeted with free food and coffee as they returned to work this week. Credit:Bloomberg

Such divergences are popping up across Manhattans mighty financial industry, creating pockets of optimism within the citys economy, but widespread anxiety inside workplaces. Bosses worry their teams will be less competitive if members are slow to come back. Parents fret about losing remote-work flexibility, but also that young, single colleagues and competitors may rush back sooner and soak up face time with executives or clients.

Women are absolutely nervous about it, said Rob Dicks, Accentures talent and organisation lead for capital markets. Im seeing the HR and business leaders at banks recognising, understanding and starting to plan around fairness in evaluations.
Ask a few people how they feel about getting their COVID-19 vaccine and, once they finish complaining about the bureaucracy  the wait times, the long times spent on hold to the hotline  and, in some cases, the side effects  one word seems to resonate: emotional.

Among them is ABC Melbourne radio host Raf Epstein, who documented his entire vaccination experience this month for the networks Facebook page. Yes, I was emotional. It is one of the biggest challenges of our lifetime, and I was starting down the path of protection, says Epstein, 50.

Celebrities who have shared vaxxies include (clockwise from left) the Duchess of Cambridge, Dolly Parton, Adam Liaw, Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein and Mariah Carey. Credit:Illustration: Jamie Brown

Epstein, like thousands of other ordinary Australians, have shared vaccine selfies, or vaxxies on social media to document their own dates with the syringe, following a trend started by international celebrities including the Duchess of Cambridge, Dolly Parton, Marc Jacobs and Mariah Carey (who posted an IGTV of her appointment).

And despite some cringe-worthy local examples  Scott Morrisons Australian flag mask, media personality Eddie McGuires nip slip (see also: Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in full bare-chested glory), and Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutweins panther tattoo reveal among them  several experts agree the vaxxie could be the most significant social media trend of 2021.
So long as Donald Trump was at the table, the G7 had an excuse. Trump was a saboteur of unity and a vandal of democracy. It was just three years ago that he walked out on a G7 summit, rejected the groups communique, derided his Canadian host, Justin Trudeau, as dishonest and weak and threatened most of the leaders present with more tariffs.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in Cornwall for the G7 summit. Credit:AP

Now hes gone, the G7 has no excuse for inaction. So what did we see at the weekends summit?

We saw the leaders of the worlds seven richest democracies awakening to the fact that they face a challenge of historic proportions from the Chinese Communist Party. This overshadowed everything. But the leaders ended up in a buggers muddle over what to do about it.

The G7  in order of economic heft the US, Japan, Germany, Britain, France, Italy and Canada invited four extras. The so-called extension partners were India, South Korea, Australia and South Africa, also in order of economic weight. While these guests participated in the meetings, theyre not members; their signatures do not appear on the G7 communique.
The next day the main engine was broken, seawater got into the engine. We used the small engine but it couldnt cope with the rough ocean. The second day that engine was broken, so we were adrift. We encountered very stormy seas the next three days. It would have been easy to capsize and for everyone to drown.

I was the watchout person. I tried to find any vessel passing by. We used flares or burnt rags for SOS and then we saw two cargo vessels. Somehow they ignored us and slowly passed by. I do believe they saw us. The people just prayed. On the fifth day we saw an airplane but we were afraid because we didnt know what country it belonged to.

At his home in Oatley, Stephen Nguyen looks at photos from the night he was rescued by the HMAS Melbourne on June 21, 1981. Credit:Kate Geraghty

It was a Grumman S-2 Tracker anti-submarine warfare aircraft attached to HMAS Melbourne with navigator Stephen Langlands in the front. We were returning to the carrier from a surveillance exercise and I spotted what appeared to be a boat on fire, he said. We circled it, reported its position to the Melbourne and they sent a Wessex helicopter out from the carrier. We were running out of fuel so we returned to the ship.

Commander James Morrice, who lives in Bowral, was second in charge on HMAS Melbourne and responsible for the rescue on June 21, 1981. He said it was late on a Saturday afternoon when the carrier and escort HMAS Torrens were messaged. There were a number of children, some others had lost limbs, they were dehydrated and some had dysentery and in general they were in a pretty sad state, he said.
One of Western Australias most high-profile developers has set its sights on the valuable Graylands Hospital site in Mount Claremont despite the shutdown of the hospital potentially four years away.

Hesperia has used the market-led proposals process run by the Department of Finance to lodge a proposal for an urban infill project on the site, which sits on about 10 hectares of prime land in the heart of the western suburbs.

Graylands Hospital will eventually close and the land redeveloped. Credit:Google Maps

Market-led proposals are unsolicited private sector business venture bids to the WA government.

The proposal and Hesperia  a merger between developers Adrian Fini and Ben Lisle  have progressed to stage two of the process where it was invited to develop a detailed business case in consultation with the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage.
The McGowan government is a step closer to reinstating former Corruption and Crime Commissioner John McKechnie but the opposition says the lengths the government has gone to return him taint his independence.

Attorney-General John Quigley announced on Tuesday the government would introduce legislation to the lower house this week that would allow Mr McKechnie to be reappointed to the role without the agreement of the parliamentary joint standing committee on the CCC.

Opposition Leader Mia Davies says Mr McKechnies reappointment would be tainted. Credit:Getty

Mr McKechnies first term as commissioner expired in April 2020 but his reappointment was blocked by the previous CCC committee because it did not have bipartisan or majority support.

The new committee is made up of two Labor members, Liberal Steve Thomas and Nationals member Shane Love and has also been unable to agree on Mr McKechnies appointment.
The federal government may be forced to make major changes to its overhaul of the $3.2 trillion superannuation sector to get it through the Senate after key crossbencher Rex Patrick raised serious concerns about workers possibly becoming under-insured if the bill goes ahead as planned.

The Your Future, Your Super package passed through the lower house earlier this month after the federal government removed powers that would have allowed the Treasurer to intervene on super funds investment decisions following opposition from Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce and others.

Superannuation Minister Jane Hume says no matter what amendments are made, the reforms will never get the super fund lobbys support. Credit:Joe Armao

Superannuation Minister Jane Hume said at the time these were last resort powers and getting rid of them didnt change the most fundamental components of the package, which the government estimates will save consumers $17.2 billion over 10 years.

The legislation is now due in the Senate on Wednesday. Senator Patrick is proposing several amendments, including exempting workers in dangerous jobs from being stapled to their funds so they dont end up with inadequate insurance, broadening the rules to include more retail funds, and scrapping regulation-making powers he is concerned still give the government too much control.
A majority of Australians want the federal government to cut greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050 but do not want a carbon price as part of the plan, as Prime Minister Scott Morrison holds out against renewed global calls to set the target.

Coalition voters are among those who back the goal, with a slim majority of 52 per cent in favour and only 12 per cent against, despite the governments internal fight over whether to do more to counter climate change.

But 61 per cent of voters want to meet the target using renewable energy and other technologies rather than putting a cost on emissions, suggesting Mr Morrison is tapping into community sentiment with his vow to use technology not taxes to reach the goal.

Mr Morrison emerged from the G7 summit of wealthy democracies on the weekend to insist Australia was moving towards net zero at some point, but Labor has accused him of being isolated on climate when other leaders are committed to the 2050 deadline or earlier goals.
London: A free trade deal which clears the way for more Australians to live and work in Britain once international borders reopen has been struck by Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Boris Johnson after the pair offered last-minute concessions over dinner at Downing Street.

The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age understand the leaders will announce the in-principle agreement - which could boost the Australian economy by up to $1.3 billion each year and offer exporters new options to pivot away from the volatile Chinese market- on Tuesday morning local-time.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson outside Downing Street. Credit:AP

Morrison and Johnson thrashed out some of the final barriers to the new economic pact during a three-hour dinner at the British Prime Ministers official London residence on Monday evening.

The in-principle agreement will now be fleshed out into legal text and then passed by parliaments in both countries.
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Highlights of the Wisconsin state budget

MADISON, Wis. (AP)  How much and what taxes to cut is one of the largest remaining questions for the Legislatures budget-writing committee to tackle this week as it nears the end of its work writing the state budget.

The Republican-controlled panel, which is hoping to complete its work on Thursday, has dramatically scaled back the two-year spending plan from what Democratic Gov. Tony Evers proposed in February.

Once passed by the committee, the Senate and Assembly will vote on the budget, perhaps as soon as the last week of June. It would then head to Evers who has broad line-item veto authority.

Here are some highlights of the budget as it currently stands:

YET TO COME:

Republicans have promised a tax cut as large as $4 billion, thanks to rosier revenue projections. The committee has also yet to decide on how much to pay for expanded broadband internet services for rural parts of the state. Both decisions are expected on Thursday.

K-12 SCHOOLS:

Wisconsin public schools would receive an additional $128 million in state funding over two years, which is less than 10% of the $1.6 billion that Evers proposed. Republicans defended the move, noting that Wisconsin schools are slated to receive $2.6 billion in federal coronavirus relief money. However, nearly all of that is in jeopardy unless the state spends nearly $400 million more on schools than is currently in the budget.

SPECIAL EDUCATION

The budget would reimburse 30% of special education costs in the second year of the budget, up from 28.2% under current law. Advocates say that is woefully inadequate. The Evers budget would increase reimbursement to 45% in the first year and 50% in the second.

UW SYSTEM:

The eight-year-old tuition freeze would end next fall under the budget. UW schools would also receive just an $8.25 million increase in funding, compared with the $192 million Evers proposed.

TRANSPORTATION:

There are no gas tax or vehicle registration fee increases. The budget authorizes the start of the oft-delayed Interstate 94 expansion project in Milwaukee County as Evers wanted. State funding for transit programs was cut in half in Milwaukee and Madison, but Republicans said that was because of hundreds of millions of dollars in federal coronavirus relief money the cities are receiving.

BUILDING PROJECTS:

State building projects would receive $1.5 billion in funding, which is roughly $810 million less than what Evers wanted. The UW System would get about $629, down from the $1 billion Evers put forward.

STEWARDSHIP:

Wisconsins land stewardship program would be extended for another four years, rather than 10, as Evers wanted. The budget also makes $32 million a year available to acquire land, the same as it is now, but down from $70 million as Evers proposed.

UNEMPLOYMENT:

The budget includes more money for vocational training for the disabled, and youth and adult apprentice programs with the goal of addressing the states worker shortage problem. However, Republicans rejected Evers call to spend $15 million to improve the system for administering unemployment payments. Republicans said Evers can use federal stimulus money for that.

BODY CAMERAS:

Funding to pay for body cameras for Wisconsin State Patrol officers and Department of Natural Resources wardens is included, but funding was rejected for state Capitol police officers.

JUVENILE PRISONS:

A mental health center in Madison will be expanded to reduce the number of inmates at the states juvenile prisons, but Republicans did not include funding to build a new juvenile prison in Milwaukee County. Instead, only money for the planning process was included, a move Democrats said would delay the closure of the troubled Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake juvenile prisons north of Wausau.

TEEN DRIVERS:

Teen drivers could opt out of taking a behind-the-wheel exam under a permanent policy that was tested during the coronavirus pandemic last year. To qualify, the driver must be applying for a non-commercial drivers license, successfully completed a driver education course that includes 30 hours of behind the wheel driving experience and not have any moving violations within six months of applying. An adult must also consent to waiving the test.

WHATS OUT:

Evers proposals to legalize recreational and medical marijuana, expand Medicaid and restore collective bargaining rights for public workers were among the first items killed by the legislative committee. Also removed in one vote striking out nearly 400 Evers proposals were $1 billion in higher taxes on manufacturers and capital gains; increasing the minimum wage to $10.15 per hour by 2024; suspending enrollment in the private school voucher program; and creating a so-called red flag law that would allow guns to be seized from people deemed to be a danger by courts.


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Weatherford, TX (76086)

Today

Scattered showers and thunderstorms. High 88F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

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Mostly cloudy in the evening then periods of showers after midnight. Low 73F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
STAMFORD  Those dropping by a ShopRite store on the citys West Side this Friday will have a chance to sample ice cream from a company that was co-founded by a man from Stamford.

Mike Weber, who grew up in the city and went to Westhill High School, is now the chief executive of Frutero. A representative of the company will be giving out samples of the fruit-flavored ice cream at the ShopRite of Commerce Street  at 1990 West Main St.  on Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Were on a mission to make the worlds best tropical fruit ice cream, Weber said in an interview, reciting whats on the side of Fruteros containers. And what we do is we search the globe to find farmers growing the best fruits.

The passion fruits they use in their ice cream are from Colombia, he said. The coconuts they use are from Thailand.

The dairy is from Pennsylvania, where Weber launched Frutero with Vedant Saboo in 2019. The name means fruit vendor in Spanish.

The ShopRite on West Main Street and two other stores in Stamford carry the ice cream. Weber, 30, said the best part about his companys product being sold in his hometown is that his mother can buy it from a store and get it home before it melts.

Shes already gone over to all the stores to make sure that were on the shelf and Frutero has a good position, said Weber, who now lives in Miami.

In 2018, Weber and Saboo were first-year MBA students in the University of Pennsylvanias Wharton School, and they were assigned to sit beside each other in a management class.

Weber took a trip to India that year. Before he left, Saboo, who is from India, urged him to try some natural fruit ice cream while he was there.

So the first day, I land in Mumbai and go to the hotel and bring a few friends right over to this ice cream shop that he recommended, and we try it, Weber said. And I just thought it was delicious, and I never had anything like it in the U.S. And when I came back from the trip, we were talking a lot about the idea, and we thought this could be an interesting thing to bring to the U.S.

He said they struggled at first to find fresh tropical fruit for the ice cream. They bought passion fruits at a market in Philadelphia  but usually the market only had three or four fruits to sell.

You really couldnt make a mistake, Weber said. So actually what we did is we had to outsource our early R&D to Vedants mother in India.

She would go to a market, buy fresh mangoes or passion fruits and experiment with different recipes, Weber said.

At some point, Weber and Saboo started to get fruits from across the world delivered to them. Every day for weeks, they were getting a different FedEx or UPS box from suppliers all over, Weber said. They then picked the farmers who, in their opinion, had the highest quality fruit.

It was a lot of fruit, but you cant complain about having to eat a lot of ice cream, Weber said.

The summer before they began their second year at Wharton, Saboo and Weber biked around Philadelphia and sold ice cream door-to-door.

Months later, in spring 2020, Whole Foods stores in the city started carrying Frutero. Weber and Saboo had gone into each store, pitching their product to the managers and offering samples.

Thats really when the business started to take off, Weber said.

Now, Frutero is available in more than a dozen states. In Stamford, the ice cream is sold at the ShopRite of Shippan Avenue, the ShopRite of Commerce Street and the Grade A Market of Hope Street. Its also at the Balduccis Food Lovers Market in Greenwich and the Kings Food Markets store in Old Greenwich.

One of the biggest challenges of the company is just keeping the product on the shelf, Weber said. I think weve been well received by Stamford.

Stamford residents can also have Frutero delivered to them through FreshDirect, Weber noted.

Their flavors include mango, passion fruit, coconut, guava and guanabana, also known as soursop.

Guanabana is the sweetest, creamiest fruit youve ever had, Weber said. Its a huge fruit. Its really a very ugly fruit. Its very difficult to make the package for it.

But the flavor transports people back to a different place and a different time, he said. Whether it was a trip to Mexico or whether they grew up in Puerto Rico, it just instantly brings back those memories.

And when many people were avoiding travel because of COVID-19, Frutero was a great way to kind of take that tropical vacation, Weber said.

Frutero fans can buy packages of six pints on the companys website. Weber said the ice cream is boxed up with dry ice and shipped to places across the country.

He noted that ice cream, unlike other frozen food products, must be stored at negative 20 degrees Fahrenheit.

You really, really taste the difference when companies are very, very focused on maintaining that temperature control  it stays just silky smooth ice cream when you eat it at home, Weber said. And for the companies that dont manage that well, you end up with this crystally ice cream.

When Weber and Saboo were starting out, their ice cream was made by a Philadelphia-based company that had a small factory. In exchange for the manufacturing, Weber said he provided business consulting to the company, which ultimately went out of business.

They eventually began working with a larger manufacturer and scaling their business, with the help of some money they won from startup challenges. Weber said he and Saboo werent taking any salary until a few weeks ago.

Frutero is now hiring, Weber noted, and is looking for brand ambassadors in particular.

While starting a company was Webers dream when he entered business school, he said he definitely did not expect to be selling ice cream.

Weber attended the University of Maryland after graduating from Westhill High School. After college, he worked at Deloitte Consulting for several years. One of his consulting projects involved a major U.S. ice cream company, he said, but that was just coincidental.

Looking for experience at a startup, Weber left Deloitte and joined WeissBeerger, an analytics company based in Israel that is now part of Anheuser-Busch InBev.

As for Frutero, Weber said he plans for the company to go beyond ice cream products.

We hear customers say, I love this fruit, and Frutero is the best way I can get it right now, he said. Its very difficult to get these fruits in the U.S.  If you start with a really delicious fruit, you can make all sorts of different products with it.
MIDDLETOWN  The community is uniting to hold a clothing and toy drive to help a family of seven whose home was destroyed by fire this weekend.

Five adults and two children were able to safely flee the house, situated in the 400 block of Higby Road, however, three of the familys five dogs died in the blaze, according to Deputy Chief Darrell Ponzio.

The two other two dogs were rescued and treated by fire personnel before being returned to the family, Ponzio said.

A few of the adults suffered minor injuries and were treated at the scene, Ponzio said, adding no one was taken to the hospital.

All seven were displaced from their residence, authorities said. The American Red Cross is providing temporary residential assistance and funds for the familys immediate needs, according to the agency.

Firefighters were called to the house, in the Westfield section of the city, just before 4:30 a.m. Saturday for a fully involved structure fire, Ponzio said.

The blaze appeared to have touched off in the garage, Assistant Chief Jason Lubee said Monday.

It got up into the attic and spread throughout the house, he said, saying it is now unlivable.

Mutual aid was provided by Middletown and Cromwell fire departments, Middlefield Volunteer Fire Co., and Middletowns South Fire District, Ponzio said.

These crews assisted fire suppression with search, roof-top ventilation, and rapid intervention team support, the news release said. While the bulk of the fire was knocked down by 6 a.m., it took longer to fully extinguish the blaze in the garage and attic areas due to the construction of the home, and the fire load created by the large amount of personal items stored there, the news release said.

The health, building and water departments provided assistance, and Eversource was on scene to isolate power to the structure, Ponzio said.

Westfield and state fire marshals are continuing their investigation.

The two children attend Moody Elementary School, where the PTA is organizing a clothing and toy drive to help them recover after losing everything, according to a post on the Westfield Fire Department Facebook page.

Donation requests include gift cards to grocery stores or restaurants, childrens games for a first- and fourth-grader, toys and clothing.

Items can be dropped off at the school, 300 Country Club Road, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.
A Mt. Vernon, Illinois man remains in Wabash County Jail after a multi-law enforcement manhunt Monday.

Wabash County Sheriff's Office said 27-year-old Ashton Harper faces charges following a police chase in Mt. Carmel.

After 4:30pm Monday night, Illinois State Police sent out a notice on Harper, stating they believed he had a stolen vehicle and a shotgun near Grayville in Edwards County.

Mt. Carmel Police observed the vehicle after 5PM. A police chase involving Mt. Carmel Police and Wabash County Sheriff's took place though several streets, and then several fields and tree lines. The car came to a stop next to a shed, with Harper taking off on foot.

Multiple law enforcement agencies looked for Harper, who was captured in Lawrence County by Illinois State Police after 9PM.

Harper had a warrant out of Wayne County for a stolen vehicle along with charges from the chase.

Wabash County Sheriff's Office continues to investigate the incident.
Indiana Legislators are rushing to make decisions on how to spend the state's portion of Federal COVID-19 relief money.

So far, Indiana officials have awarded three billion dollars to aid schools, businesses, highway construction, and unemployment.

Now, Senators are talking about a $75 million dollar idea loan program aimed at helping workers obtain training certifications to advance their careers.

They hope the new program will help unemployed Hoosiers find a stable job within high demand career fields.
Today

Clouds mixing with some sun and turning less humid; a few shower or a thunderstorm possible, but more dry than wet.

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Partly to mostly cloudy with a spotty shower.

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Mostly cloudy and cool with a few showers.
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HARTFORD, CT (WFSB) - State lawmakers kicked off a special session at the state capitol Tuesday morning to hash out the details on two critically important topics: The budget and recreational marijuana.

The discussions that will happen during the special session will have repercussions on millions of Connecticut residents for years to come.

When the legislative session ended last week, lawmakers said they already knew they still had some major work ahead of them.

State senators returned to the capitol Tuesday morning and members of the House of Representatives come back Wednesday.

The plan is to work on the state budget and legalizing recreational marijuana.

The Senate narrowly passed a proposal to greenlight the sale of recreational marijuana, but that bill went up in smoke because the House failed to come to an agreement during the regular session. Gov. Ned Lamont responded by calling for the special session, which brought lawmakers to where they were Tuesday morning.

On Tuesday evening, the Senate voted to approve recreational marijuana. it will now head to the House of Representatives for a vote that's expected on Wednesday, but Governor Ned Lamont promised to veto the bill.

An amendment was added on right before the vote and Lamont's staff said it doesn't meet the goals of what was laid out in negotiations for equity.

Following the vote, Lamont's Chief of Staff, Paul Mounds Jr., released a statement saying, The amendment approved by the Connecticut State Senate to adult use cannabis bill this afternoon, simply put, does not meet the goals laid out during negotiations when it comes to equity and ensuring the wrongs of the past are righted. To the contrary, this proposal opens the floodgates for tens of thousands of previously ineligible applicants to enter the adult-use cannabis industry. This last-minute amendment creates equity in name only by allowing these individuals expedited opportunity to obtain access to the marketplace. Governor Lamont has said from the beginning that this legislation must allow those most impacted by the war on drugs to have a fair shot in the process to enter into this new industry. This measure as amended fails to achieve the goals and the needs of our state when it comes to equity. Senate Bill 1201 now allows just about anyone with a history of cannabis crimes or a member of their family, regardless of financial means, who was once arrested on simple possession to be considered with the same weight as someone from a neighborhood who has seen many of their friends and loved ones face significant penalties and discrimination due to their past cannabis crimes. That is not equity, and Governor Lamont will veto this bill if it reaches his desk in its current form.

"What's becoming more and more abundantly clear is that this whole bill is about the money," said Senator Kevin Kelly.

The amendment allows an individual their parents or a child with a prior conviction for marijuana to get an equity license to grow and sell legal week.

Equity has been a big part of the legislations. The intent was to give people of color and those in distressed communities opportunities.

Lamont feels this amendment would give wealthy people the same opportunities.

"Well, that's certainly something that was not our intent or not what we believe was the purpose of the bill, but we did opt this language at the expressed request of a group in the House whose support was necessary to make the bill pass," said Senator Martin Looney.

The House is expected to take up marijuana on Wednesday with the amendment and they could make changes and send it back to the Senate. The Senate would then vote for a third time.

The Senate also discussed the budget on Tuesday.

Both chambers hammered out a 2-year $46 billion budget last week that does not require a tax increase or any spending cuts. Despite the agreement however, lawmakers were not able to put the finishing touches on it before a June 9 deadline, so both sides will have to sign off on an implementer bill during the special session.

Many Republicans voted for the budget but say the implementer has much more in it.

Just because you are in the majority party doesnt mean you should act this way, said Republican State Senator Craig Miner.

In the implementer is a controversial proposal to strip funding from towns with schools with Native American nicknames or mascots. Killingly made national news by reinstating Red Men as their high school mascot.

Senator Cathy Osten wrote the language. Her district is home to the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes, and she said schools would lose their share of state aid generated by the casinos.

When are we going to address this issue. Do we tell them they have to sit down and wait their turn -when does their turn come up? They were here first, and we should start recognizing that, Osten said.

The session started at 11 a.m.

Stay with Channel 3 for continuing coverage.
St. Louis police have released the names of two people killed in a high-speed collision that happened with such force that it split one of the cars in half
At least four dead in second mass shooting in Chicago in four days
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Intervals of clouds and sunshine. High 84F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph.

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Mostly clear skies. Low 56F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph.

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Saturday, June 5, was a beautiful day at St. Lukes School in New Canaan, as family, friends, faculty, and staff gathered on the Hilltop to celebrate the Class of 2021. St. Lukes Head of School Mark Davis captured the feeling of the day:

Today, we celebrate with a joy almost impossible to describe, given the year from which we have begun to emerge; a joy so different from what the St. Lukes Class of 2020 experienced; an in-person Commencement that reminds us of the joy of being...simply...together.

Davis shared a personal comment about each of the 88 graduatesa beloved tradition at St. Lukes School. At St. Lukes, where we value the individual you, not just the collective you, each one of you has mattered in distinctive and powerful ways. The faculty and I have loved watching you contribute, prosper, and grow up before our eyes here on the Hilltop. We will remember you and miss you terribly.

Valedictorian Cate Mathews of Wilton is headed to Northwestern University. A St. Lukes STEM Scholar, skilled debater, cross country runner, rock climber, and leader of the Women in STEM club, Mathews is an extraordinary student who, as one teacher noted, is so absolutely special that you earnestly look forward each day to the opportunity to teach her. I love the person Ive become at St. Lukes, and I want to remember her, says Mathews. I cant wait to look back ten years from now at these memories and remember how lucky I was to want to hold onto this moment, these people, this version of me so much. Thank you, St. Lukes, for the people we are right now.

Salutatorian Elyse Kim of Greenwich addressed the class. After a tribute to her twin sister Molly, who heads to West Point Military Academy in the fall, Kim described her classmates: Painters are Global Scholars. Chemists are stage managers. Actors are team captains. You pour yourselves into everything you do and always make time to support others. Your manifold passions have made St. Lukes a more exciting and engaging place. You dont just fly; you soar. Kim was a St. Lukes Global Scholar, editor-in-chief of St. Lukes student newspaper The Sentinel, captain of the volleyball team, and co-founder of the student-led Eye of the Storm video and podcast club. Kim is headed off to the University of Pennsylvania.

Davis concluded the ceremony with some final words for the graduates: We have great hopes and dreams for you. But this morning, we celebrate you - who you are today, and the journey through St. Lukes that has brought you to this day. Each of you gave us faith in your ability to lead, your capacity to make a difference in our world, and your readiness to see difficult tasks through. Indeed, we would have been hard-pressed to design a tougher test of your mettle and resilience than the pandemic that forced us to close the campus in March of your junior year and painted your senior year with brush strokes much different from what you had dreamed of. But you met that test. You are ready for the future. And here on the Hilltop, you leave behind a legacy of growth and accomplishment, marked by the countless memories of St. Lukes that youll cherish in the years to come.
Some experts are finding lobsterman Michael Packards whale of a tale about being chewed up and spit out by a humpback tough to swallow, per The New York Post.

In case youre not familiar, Packard claimed last week that he was almost swallowed by a humpback whale while diving for lobsters off the Cape Cod coast but suffered only a dislocated knee and soft-tissue damage after being spit out.
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New American Legion Post 86 officers in Wilton were recently elected during the Posts regular meeting on Tuesday, June 8 for 2021-22.

New Commander Paul Niche, Sr. Vice-Commander Tom Moore, Sgt. at arms Jeff Turner, Chaplain Frank Dunn, Service Officer Bob Mecozzi, and the re election of current Jr. Vice-Commander Alex Ruskewich, Adjutant & Historian Tom Moore, Finance Officer Sean McNeill, and Judge Advocate Don Hazzard are the new slate in charge of the comfy and quaint post in Wilton Center.
WILTON  Officials say a decision on the towns emergency radio system is expected in the next month.

Earlier this year, Police Chief John Lynch and other town officials mulled the decision of either replacing their emergency radio system with a new, standalone system or joining the states system.

First Selectwoman Lynne Vanderlsice has said a new, standalone system would cost roughly $2.5 million, while joining the states system would cost about $4 million. That was at least their initial estimate.

Paul Zito, owner of New England Radio Consultants, has been hired to examine the two options for the communications system.

Zito is working with the fire department, (who) want a repeated channel, Wilton Police Capt. Thomas Conlan said Monday at the latest police commission meeting.

Conlan said the fire department only has one channel. If they were to combat a large structure fire, or a multiple-car fire, it would benefit them to have a secondary channel to communicate on either of the proposed options for the emergency radio system.

Conlan suspects a final decision will be made by the next police commission meeting on July 12.

Conlan said the transition process could take about a year, pointing out it will require training.

Conlan said since this will be a bonded project, the funds will be released immediately once the decision is made and if approved by voters in September.

Once voted upon, we can start hiring vendors immediately, Conlan said. We dont have to wait until July.
Winchester, VA (22601)

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Cloudy skies early will become partly cloudy later in the day. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 77F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

A mostly clear sky. Slight chance of a shower throughout the evening. Low 57F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.


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Documents related to the firing of two scientists from the high-security laboratory in Winnipeg, and the transfer of viruses to a research facility in Wuhan are too sensitive to hand over to the special committee on Canada-China relations, Health Minister Patty Hajdu said Monday.

Minister of Health Patty Hajdu arrives for a news conference on the COVID-19 pandemic in Ottawa on December 4, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Documents related to the firing of two scientists from the high-security laboratory in Winnipeg, and the transfer of viruses to a research facility in Wuhan are too sensitive to hand over to the special committee on Canada-China relations, Health Minister Patty Hajdu said Monday.

"In this particular case, the information requested has both privacy and national security implications," Hajdu said. "Compliance with the order without proper safeguards in place would put sensitive information at the risk of public release."

Conservative MP John Williamson accused Hajdu and the Liberals of wanting to "hide" what's in those documents by not being forthcoming about what he referred to as "the government's errors  and possibly how you put our nation's security at risk."

Hajdu said the Conservative's insistence on having the documents the way they want them is what is "putting Canada's national security at risk" and "putting privacy concerns to the side."

The Conservatives have been pushing the Liberal government  and the Public Health Agency of Canada  to shed more light on why two scientists, Xiangguo Qiu and her biologist husband, Kending Cheng, were escorted out of the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg in 2019. They were officially fired in January.

Qiu had earlier been responsible for a shipment of Ebola and Henipah viruses to China's Wuhan Institute of Virology, Hajdu said Monday those events are unrelated.

"There is no connection between the transfer of viruses cited in the order and the subsequent departure of these employees," Hajdu said.

She added: "There is no link to COVID-19."

Two weeks ago, a majority of MPs passed a motion in the House of Commons demanding the Trudeau government release unredacted documents related to what happened at the National Microbiology Laboratory to the special committee.

The Liberal government instead handed over the documents to the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians, which was specifically created by the Trudeau government to allow MPs to probe classified matters.

"I have confidence in the parliamentarians on that committee," Hajdu said Monday. "All parliamentarians from all parties to do that hard work and analyze those documents and come to their conclusions and that is the appropriate place for a matter of this sensitivity."

The communique that emerged from the G7 summit in Cornwall, U.K., this weekend called for another investigation by the World Health Organization into how the pandemic began.

Once dismissed by most public health experts and government officials, the notion that COVID-19 leaked accidentally from a Chinese lab is now under a new U.S. investigation ordered by President Joe Biden, which is also exploring whether the virus jumped from animals to humans.

In the House of Commons earlier Monday, Hajdu said the federal government wants a "robust" and ongoing investigation into the origins of the novel coronavirus.

"Like many countries around the world, we have always been clear that we need to understand the origins of COVID-19 and we will work with our international partners to ensure there is a robust and continued investigation into the origins of this virus," Hajdu said in response to a question from Conservative MP Michael Chong.

"It is important not just for Canadians but indeed for the entire world so that we can prevent another epidemic of this kind."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 14, 2021.

 With files from The Associated Press.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene apologized Monday for affronting people with recent comments comparing the required wearing of safety masks in the House to the horrors of the Holocaust.

FILE - In this Wednesday, May 12, 2021, file photo, U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. Greene apologized Monday, June 14, 2021, for affronting people with recent comments comparing the required wearing of safety masks in the House to the horrors of the Holocaust. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

WASHINGTON (AP)  Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene apologized Monday for affronting people with recent comments comparing the required wearing of safety masks in the House to the horrors of the Holocaust.

I'm truly sorry for offending people with remarks about the Holocaust," the Georgia Republican told reporters outside the Capitol, saying she had visited Washington's U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum earlier in the day. There's no comparison and there never ever will be."

Greene's comments were a rare expression of regret by the conservative agitator, a freshman whose career has included the embrace of violent and offensive conspiracy theories and angry confrontations with progressive colleagues.

Her apology came more than three weeks after appearing on a conservative podcast and comparing COVID-19 safety requirements adopted by Democrats controlling the House to a time and history where people were told to wear a gold star." She said they were put in trains and taken to gas chambers in Nazi Germany. This is exactly the type of abuse that Nancy Pelosi is talking about. Pelosi, D-Calif., is House speaker.

Greene's comments were condemned by Republican leaders, including House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., who called the comparison appalling."

GOP leaders have often been reluctant to castigate Greene, a close ally of former President Donald Trump. After social media posts were unearthed in which Greene suggested support for executing some Democratic leaders, McCarthy and most Republicans stood by her when the House took the unusual step of stripping her of her committee assignments in February.

But as House members returned to the Capitol on Monday after a three-week break, Greene was contrite.

Anti-Semitism is true hate," she said. And I saw that today at the Holocaust Museum."

In 2018, two years before her election to Congress, she speculated on Facebook that California wildfires may have been caused by lasers or blue beams of light controlled by a left-wing cabal tied to a powerful Jewish family.

On Monday, she told reporters that when she was 19, she visited the site of the Auschwitz concentration camp in what during World War II was Nazi-occupied Poland. It isn't like I learned about it today," she said of the Holocaust, in which 6 million Jews and huge numbers of other people were killed. I went today because I thought it was important," she said, and wanted to talk about it as she apologized.

House leaders have recently said vaccinated people no longer must wear masks in the chamber.

Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Ill., said he would introduce a resolution in the House this week to censure Greene.

In addition, Republicans may try forcing a vote to punish Rep. Ilhan Omar. The Minnesota Democrat recently made remarks criticized by top House Democrats and Jewish lawmakers for seeming to compare the U.S. and Israel to Hamas and the Taliban. Omar said she didn't mean to draw that parallel.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The U.S. Transportation Department said Tuesday it is seeking to fine Air Canada about $25.5 million for what it termed extreme delays in giving refunds to thousands of passengers whose flights across the U.S.-Canada border were canceled or rescheduled.

FILE - This May 16, 2020 file photo shows Air Canada check screens at Ottawa International Airport in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The U.S. government is seeking to fine Air Canada more than $25 million over what it says have been slow refunds for passengers whose flights were canceled since the pandemic started. The Transportation Department said Tuesday, June 15, 2021, it has received more than 6,000 consumer complaints about Air Canada since March of last year. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)

WASHINGTON (AP)  The U.S. Transportation Department said Tuesday it is seeking to fine Air Canada about $25.5 million for what it termed extreme delays in giving refunds to thousands of passengers whose flights across the U.S.-Canada border were canceled or rescheduled.

The department said that since March 2020 it has received complaints from more than 6,000 consumers who claimed Air Canada canceled or changed their flights and then took five to 13 months to provide a refund.

Air Canada vowed to challenge the proposed fine. The airline said the Transportation Department's enforcement notice about refunds amounted to guidance, not formal and enforceable regulations that go through a period of public notice and comment.

The airline said that it has refunded more than $1.2 billion to eligible customers who bought refundable tickets and has been paying refunds to people, including Americans, with non-refundable tickets from $1.4 billion in credit provided by the Canadian government.

The potential fine is the latest fallout from thousands of flights that airlines canceled during the early months of the coronavirus pandemic as air travel plunged. The Transportation Department said it is investigating handling of refunds at other airlines, including U.S. ones.

Federal regulations require airlines to provide refunds when passengers request them if the airline cancels or significantly changes the schedule of a flight. For cross-border flights, airlines are supposed to make credit card refunds within seven days, rising to 20 days for tickets bought with cash.

The Transportation Department said that it allowed more time for refunds last year because of the surge in canceled flights if the airline was making an effort to return the money. The department said, however, that Air Canada failed to make a good-faith effort to process refunds more quickly.

The agency said that it arrived at the size of the civil penalty by considering factors including the harm to consumers and also as a deterrent to delaying refunds in the future.

In many cases, passengers who canceled their reservations on North American airlines have received vouchers instead of cash. As a result, the airlines are sitting on billions of dollars worth of tickets, some of which will likely never be used. That did not appear to be the case with the Air Canada refunds.

The Transportation Department's complaint will go to an administrative law judge.
Manitoba RCMP say a homicide suspect they're trying to locate is considered armed and dangerous and might have access to police gear.

Manitoba RCMP say a homicide suspect they're trying to locate is considered armed and dangerous and might have access to police gear.

The Mounties said in news releases Monday night they have recovered firearms, police tactical equipment, patches and other items resembling police clothing in their hunt for 34-year-old Eric Paul Wildman.

Eric Paul Wildman (THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-RCMP, Sgt. Paul Manaigre)

Wildman, of the Rural Municipality of St. Clements, is now considered a suspect in the homicide of 40-year-old Clifford Joseph.

Mounties said this weekend that they were searching for Wildman as a "person of interest" in Joseph's disappearance.

He is described as 6-2, 170 pounds with blue eyes. Police said he is known to frequent Winnipeg and the RM of St. Clements.

Police said Wildman might have access to firearms and police items and warned people not to approach him.

Wildman has been charged with unsafe transportation of a firearm and possession of a prohibited device without a licence. Police said the charges stem from his vehicle being recovered on Friday and searched on Sunday.

Police have said he was last seen on foot in the East Kildonan area of Winnipeg.

A tip line has been set up for any information relating to Wildman. Anyone with information about the case is asked to call 431-489-8551.

 The Canadian Press
NEW YORK (AP)  The Associated Press said Tuesday it will no longer run the names of people charged with minor crimes, out of concern that such stories can have a long, damaging afterlife on the internet that can make it hard for individuals to move on with their lives.

FILE - In this Feb. 23, 2021, file photo, a police car blocks a road in a suburb of Los Angeles. The Associated Press says it will no longer publish the names or photographs of people charged with minor crimes, in a recognition of how such stories can have a long, damaging afterlife on the Internet. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, File)

NEW YORK (AP)  The Associated Press said Tuesday it will no longer run the names of people charged with minor crimes, out of concern that such stories can have a long, damaging afterlife on the internet that can make it hard for individuals to move on with their lives.

In so doing, one of the world's biggest newsgathering organizations has waded into a debate over an issue that wasn't of much concern before the rise of search engines, when finding information on people often required going through yellowed newspaper clippings.

Often, the AP will publish a minor story  say, about a person arrested for stripping naked and dancing drunkenly atop a bar  that will hold some brief interest regionally or even nationally and be forgotten the next day.

But the name of the person arrested will live on forever online, even if the charges are dropped or the person is acquitted, said John Daniszewski, AP's vice president for standards. And that can hurt someone's ability to get a job, join a club or run for office years later.

The AP, in a directive sent out to its journalists across the country, said it will no longer name suspects or transmit photographs of them in brief stories about minor crimes when there is little chance the organization will cover the case beyond the initial arrest.

The person's identity is generally not newsworthy beyond local communities, Daniszewski said.

The AP said it will also not link to local newspaper or broadcast stories about such incidents where the arrested person's name or mugshot might be used. The AP will also not do stories driven mainly by particularly embarrassing mugshots.

The policy will not apply to serious crimes, such as those involving violence or abuse of the public trust, or cases of a fugitive on the run.

As a leader in the news industry, AP making this change is going to have a ripple effect and will prompt some organizations that don't have this on their radar right now to stop and take a look at these practices, said Deborah Dwyer, a doctoral student who is studying the issue and runs the website unpublishingthenews.com

Several organizations already are doing so, driven in part by requests from people whose time in the news has lived on via the internet.

The Boston Globe, for example, announced earlier this year an appeals process where it would consider, on a case-by-case basis, removing old stories from its archives. It tied its announcement to a review of policies prompted by a racial reckoning.

We are not in the business of rewriting the past, but we don't want to stand in the way of a regular person's ability to craft their future, the Globe said in announcing the effort.

In response, columnist Nicholas Goldberg of the Los Angeles Times wrote in February that news organizations shouldn't muck around with history.

Trying to rewrite the past, or even trying to hide from view what has already been reported, is almost always a mistake, he wrote.

The AP's policy change likewise triggered a vigorous debate on social media.

In a 2018 survey conducted by Dwyer, some 80 percent of news organizations had some policy about removing stories from archives, up from less than half a decade earlier. But in some cases, the policies aren't written down, aren't talked about in public or aren't even publicized in their own newsrooms, Dwyer said.

The AP has resisted efforts to get stories removed altogether. It has long had a policy of clarifying or updating even very old stories with news of an acquittal, for example, but a story that is truthful and accurate on the day we wrote it, we'd consider that sacrosanct, Daniszewski said. We're not going to rewrite history.

Dwyer said her research has found a majority of Americans believe they have the right to ask news organizations to remove stories from archives, and would expect articles to be updated if charges were dropped. Yet at the same time, many people believe that an organization's archive would be less trustworthy if it allowed stories to be scrubbed from it.
FILE - In this Saturday, May 29, 2021, file photo, people crowd the Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, Calif. California, the first state in America to put in place a coronavirus lockdown, is now turning a page on the pandemic. Most of California's coronavirus restrictions will disappear Tuesday, June 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)

SAN FRANCISCO (AP)  Welcome back, California.

San Francisco announced the return of its iconic cable cars. Disneyland threw open its doors to out-of-state tourists. And Gov. Gavin Newsom marked the day with Hollywood flair, visiting Universal Studios to celebrate the lifting of most COVID-19 restrictions and what he called the "full reopening of the Golden States economy Tuesday.

California has turned the page. Let us all celebrate this remarkable milestone, an exuberant and mask-less Newsom declared from an outdoor stage at Universal Studios Hollywood, where he hosted a game show-style selection of 10 residents to receive $1.5 million apiece, just for getting vaccinated. Today is a day to reconnect with strangers, loved ones, family members. Give people hugs.

Life-sized Minions, Avengers and other movie mascots danced and cheered during festivities to mark what Newsom called a new day for California, which was the first state in the country to order a coronavirus lockdown in March 2020 and is among the last to fully reopen. President Joe Biden on Tuesday encouraged nationwide July 4 celebrations to mark the countrys effective return to normalcy.

FILE - In this Friday, April 30, 2021, file photo, visitors walk down Main Street USA at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif. California, the first state in America to put in place a coronavirus lockdown, is now turning a page on the pandemic. Most of California's coronavirus restrictions will disappear Tuesday, June 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Jae Hong, File)

At midnight, California lifted most of is pandemic restrictions, meaning no more state rules on physical distancing or capacity limits at restaurants, bars, supermarkets, gyms, museums, amusement parks, stadiums or anywhere else. Masks are no longer mandated for vaccinated people in most settings, though businesses and counties can still require them and other restrictions.

The Democratic governor pointed to the more than 40 million doses of vaccine administered  to more than 70% of the states adults  and the resulting plunge in cases as the reason for the reopening. California currently has one of the nation's lowest infection rates, below 1%.

The reopening doesnt necessarily mean people will immediately flock to places and events they once packed or that businesses will opt to return to full capacity.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed announced that the citys landmark cable cars will start running again in August, after being halted at the start of the pandemic. Across the street from the cable car stop in Fisherman's Wharf at the Buena Vista cafe, manager Larry Silva said he wished they would restart sooner, but that's what we get."

The cafe famous for its Irish Coffee gets most of its business from tourists riding the iconic trolleys that stop outside. It reopened its bar Tuesday for the first time in 15 months. In pre-pandemic time the bar sold 2,000 Irish coffees a day, Silva said.

FILE - In this May 21, 2021, file photo, men lift weights in a fitness class at Lift Society in Studio City, Calif. California, the first state in America to put in place a coronavirus lockdown, is now turning a page on the pandemic. Most of California's coronavirus restrictions will disappear Tuesday, June 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)

Im looking forward to a really strong summer, and to seeing more outside tourists, he said.

Tourism was among the hardest-hit industries during the pandemic, and businesses want to make up for lost time.

Disneyland on Tuesday welcomed back out-of-state visitors for the first time since it closed in March 2020. It was shut down for months until opening this spring to California residents only.

The famed park is also dropping many of its other restrictions, such as temperature checks and face coverings for vaccinated guests.

Among the many mask-less at Disneyland was Dominique Vazquez, who was on Day 2 of visiting the park and liked the change.

FILE - In this June 4, 2021, file photo, California Gov. Gavin Newsom holds up a lottery ball at the California Lottery Headquarters on Friday, June 4, 2021, in Sacramento, Calif., while drawing numbers for California's new vaccine incentive program. California, the first state in America to put in place a coronavirus lockdown, is now turning a page on the pandemic. Most of California's coronavirus restrictions will disappear Tuesday, June 15, 2021. (Paul Kitagaki Jr./The Sacramento Bee via AP, File)/The Sacramento Bee via AP)

The no mask, its great. Its great," said Vazquez. It was very hard yesterday walking in the park with the mask on. Youre sweating. You cant breathe."

At a bagel shop in Huntington Beach, customers poured in and out for breakfast Tuesday  most still wearing masks  as employees doled out juice and bagels from behind a plastic divider.

I think Im going to wait it out, and see how it goes, said Anna Yam, 39, who wore a face covering while pushing her young son in a stroller. For now, she has no plans to change her routine: Shell wear masks indoors even though shes had the shot.

Gyms took a variety of approaches. In Sacramento, Midtown Fitness & Boxing dropped its mask mandate Tuesday, but the few patrons inside still held their masks or wore them around their chins.

Im just taking tippy toes, said Judy Bratman, 65, who was visiting from Los Angeles, as she watched her adult daughter train in a boxing ring. Im glad the economy is coming back. All of that is good. I am just a little cautious.

People pose for pictures on a cable car at the Hyde Street cable car turnaround in San Francisco on Tuesday, June 15, 2021. The mayor announced Tuesday that the famed cable cars would be running again in August after being halted at the start of the pandemic. (AP Photo/Olga Rodriguez)

At Urban Fitness Oakland, they're checking vaccination cards.

If you want to work out inside with no mask, that's great. We just ask to see the card," said owner Noah Kinner.

Newsom has warned that the virus is not gone completely, and enthusiasm for reopening should be tempered with vigilance.

More people tested positive for the virus in California (3.8 million and counting) and more people died (63,000 plus) than anywhere else in the country, although the nations most populous state had a lower per capita death rate than most others.

Newsom urged more people to get vaccinated, and honored a few lucky Californians who already have been vaccinated in the grand finale of the nation's largest vaccine incentive program. The 10 winners of a $15 million jackpot Tuesday were the last selected in a $116 million COVID-19 lottery that also handed out $50,000 to 30 winners and many $50 gift cards.

Before announcing the winners, Newsom called up frontline ICU nurse Helen Cordova, who was the first in California to get the vaccine in mid-December.

I am feeling so emotional, excited, hopeful, Cordova said, as the giant Universal Studios globe spun behind her. To look back now, and see where we were, its a little eerie but also encouraging and exciting to see how far weve come.

Pandemic highs and lows saw California go from being a success story to the U.S. epicenter of the virus. Californias businesses were just starting to reopen last June when cases started rising and restrictions were imposed again.

By summers end, California hurtled toward a deadly winter surge.

We saw way more death than wed ever like to see. We held way too many hands because families were not able to, Cordova said.

Associated Press writers John Antczak in Los Angeles, Amy Taxin in Orange County, Olga R. Rodriguez in San Francisco and Kathleen Ronayne in Sacramento contributed to this report.
WARSAW, Poland (AP)  The European Union's top court said Tuesday that the Czech Republic is pressing for Poland to be fined 5 million euros ($6 million) for every day it ignores the courts order last month to immediately shut a lignite mine near the two countries' border.

FILE - In this Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2019 file photo, smoke rises from chimneys of the Turow power plant located by the Turow lignite coal mine near the town of Bogatynia, Poland. The European Unions top court says the Czech Republic is pressing for Poland to be fined 5 million euros for every day it ignores the courts order last month to immediately shut a lignite mine near the two countries border. The announcement by the European Court of Justice came Tuesday, June 15, 2021 as Poland approved a strategy for the upcoming talks with the Czechs over the Turow mine. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek, file)

WARSAW, Poland (AP)  The European Union's top court said Tuesday that the Czech Republic is pressing for Poland to be fined 5 million euros ($6 million) for every day it ignores the courts order last month to immediately shut a lignite mine near the two countries' border.

The announcement by the European Court of Justice came as Poland is in talks with the Czech government to settle the years-long spat over the Turow mine out of court. A round of talks is expected Thursday in Prague and the request for the stiff fine will complicate the agenda.

Poland's leaders have been saying that the talks are going in the right direction.

The court said on Twitter that the Czechs have asked it to impose a daily 5 million penalty on Poland for not having immediately ceased lignite mining activities in the Turow mine.

Prague says the operation of the open-cast mine in the south-western tip of Poland, near the Czech and German borders, is draining water from Czech villages in the area and has sued Poland to the EU court.

On May 21, the court issued a temporary injunction telling Poland to close Turow immediately, pending the full verdict which, however, can take many months.

Poland's authorities did not cease the mine's operation, arguing it directly feeds the Turow power plant that produces some 7% of the nations energy, used by millions of households and many industries, and that Poland cannot do without it.

On Monday, Czech Environment Minister Richard Brabec said a draft of an agreement had been sent to Warsaw that includes conditions for withdrawing the case from the EU court, but he revealed no details.

Poland also argues it is not being treated fairly because the Czech Republic and Germany operate a number of lignite mines close to Polands borders without facing conflicts.

Some 48% of Polands energy comes from hard black coal and 17% from softer and more polluting lignite, or brown coal. Another 25% comes from various renewable sources and biofuels, and 10% comes from gas and other sources.
BRUSSELS (AP)  The European Commission said on Tuesday it has raised 20 billion ($24.2 billion) through a 10-year bond as part of its plans to finance the 27-nation bloc's recovery from the coronavirus crisis.

BRUSSELS (AP)  The European Commission said on Tuesday it has raised 20 billion ($24.2 billion) through a 10-year bond as part of its plans to finance the 27-nation bloc's recovery from the coronavirus crisis.

EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said the inaugural transaction of the NextGeneration EU program is the largest ever institutional bond issuance in Europe. The money will help finance the national recovery plans devised by member states to get their economies back on track.

Von der Leyen said the bond was priced at very attractive terms" and that the European Union will pay less than 0.1% interest on it.

Europe is attractive," she said. By the end of this year, we expect to have issued around 100 billion in bonds and bills."

The commissioner in charge of Budget and Administration, Johannes Hahn, said the recovery plans first borrowing operation attracted interest from investors across Europe and the rest of the world, including central banks and pension funds.

To finance the stimulus, the EU's executive arm said it will raise from capital markets up to an estimated 800 billion by the end of 2026. In total, member states have agreed on a 1.8 trillion budget and pandemic recovery package.

Money can now start flowing to help (reshape) our continent, to build a greener, more digital and more resilient Europe," said von der Leyen.

She will start visiting five countries this week  Portugal, Spain, Greece, Denmark and Luxembourg  as the EU will start giving its assessment of national recovery plans. Those recommendations will be given to the European Council  the institution representing member states  for approval at a later time.
BRUSSELS (AP)  The deal the United States and the European Union reached Tuesday to end their long-running rift over subsidies to Boeing and Airbus will suspend billions in punitive tariffs. It will ease trans-Atlantic tensions. And it will let the two sides focus on a common economic threat: China.

FILE - In this June 17, 2019, file photo, an Airbus A 350 - 1000 performs a demonstration flight at Paris Air Show in Le Bourget, east of Paris, France. The United States and the European Union on Tuesday appeared close to clinching a deal to end a damaging dispute over subsidies to Airbus and Boeing and lift billions of dollars in punitive tariffs. (AP Photo/Michel Euler, FILE)

BRUSSELS (AP)  The deal the United States and the European Union reached Tuesday to end their long-running rift over subsidies to Boeing and Airbus will suspend billions in punitive tariffs. It will ease trans-Atlantic tensions. And it will let the two sides focus on a common economic threat: China.

But the breakthrough still leaves some trade friction between the U.S. and the EU unresolved. Most prominently, President Biden kept in place import taxes that President Donald Trump imposed on European steel and aluminum, a move that infuriated some of Americas closet allies three years ago.

For now, Tuesdays truce in the Boeing-Airbus dispute goes a long way toward repairing a huge commercial relationship  $933 billion in two-way trade last year despite the pandemic  that came under enormous strain during the Trump years. Among other things, the former president angrily charged the Europeans with using unfair trade practices to sell more products to the United States than they bought and of shirking their responsibility to pay for their own national defense.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, left, speaks with U.S. President Joe Biden during arrival for the EU-US summit at the European Council building in Brussels, Tuesday, June 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

No trade dispute between the two sides has raged longer than their aviation conflict. Since 2004, the U.S. and the EU have accused each other of unfairly subsidizing their aircraft-building giants  Americas Boeing and Europes Airbus. Over the past two years, the World Trade Organization, which adjudicates such disputes, declared both sides guilty. It allowed the United States to impose up to $7.5 billion in tariffs and the EU up to $4 billion' worth.

The tit-for-tat duties victimized companies that have nothing to do with aircraft production, from French winemakers and German cookie bakers in Europe to spirits producers in the United States, among many others. Tuesday's agreement brought a measure of relief to companies on both sides of the Atlantic.

For about 20 years, we have been at each others throat, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai said. We have been too busy fighting each other.

In March, weeks after Biden took office, the two sides agreed to suspend the tariffs. That suspension, which began March 11, was to last for four months. The agreement announced Tuesday will officially take effect July 11 and will put the tariffs on hold for five years.

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during the EU-US summit at the European Council building in Brussels, Tuesday, June 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

Its obviously a good sign  they agreed to something, said William Reinsch, a former U.S. trade official who is now an analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

The truce, he said, will add an element of certainty and sanity to trans-Atlantic trade.

But Reinsch notes that the two sides kind of kicked the can down the road, by leaving unsettled some issues in the aircraft dispute, such as whether Airbus must repay the government subsidies it received over the years. Instead, the U.S. said in a fact sheet, the two sides had agreed to establish a group "to analyze and overcome any disagreements that may arise.

The deal might help solidify the duopoly of Airbus and Boeing, which together dominate the global market for airline jets. Both companies have struggled recently with declining orders and deliveries at a time when the pandemic devastated air travel and led airlines to cancel or delay purchases.

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during the EU-US summit at the European Council building in Brussels, Tuesday, June 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

Tuesdays agreement made clear that the United States and the EU recognize that Boeing and Airbus face an external threat far bigger than each other: As part of its aggressive drive to become the world's dominant industrial power, China is intent on developing its own plane-making industry with heavy government support.

It will be a classic Chinese game plan," Reinsch said. The government in Beijing will force all the Chinese airlines to buy theirs. Theyll create a market. Their planes will get better, and once theyve gotten better and cheaper, theyll start flooding the global market."

The U.S. and EU have agreed to work together to counter Beijing's efforts to obtain foreign aviation technology. They plan to take joint action against unfair trade practices that appear intended to give Chinese plane manufacturers unfair advantages.

Richard Aboulafia, an aerospace analyst with Teal Group, suggested that the agreement will help the U.S. and Europe pivot to present a united front against China. He noted that Chinese airlines delayed deliveries from Boeing and Airbus during the pandemic but continued to take deliveries from Chinas own aircraft manufacturer, COMAC.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen talks during a media conference with European Council President Charles Michel at the end of the EU-US summit at the European Council building in Brussels, Tuesday, June 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

The Chinese want to close their market and go their own way, and the biggest export market on the planet for Airbus and Boeing just goes away, Aboulafia said.

The U.S.-EU agreement wont stop China from doing that, he predicted, but at least they can prevent a scenario where China divides the West and plays the U.S. and its allies off against each other.

In another sign of a trans-Atlantic reconciliation, the Group of Seven wealthy countries, including France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom, agreed this month to a Biden administration proposal for a 15% global minimum tax on the earnings of multinational corporations.

The idea is still a long way from taking effect. But a global corporate tax could potentially resolve another dispute between Washington and Europe: Several European countries, frustrated that big tech companies are so deft at avoiding taxes, have imposed digital services taxes aimed at American companies such as Google and Apple.

Calling the taxes unfair, the U.S. has prepared tariffs in retaliation. But a global tax rate that hits a broader range of multinationals could defuse the issue by raising tax revenue without discriminating against U.S. companies.

Washington and its European trading partners remain sharply at odds over Trumps 2018 steel and aluminum tariffs. What the Europeans found especially galling was the justification for the import taxes: Trump declared the foreign metals a threat to U.S. national security, even though many of the countries hit hardest by the levies were Americas NATO allies.

What's more, the tariffs did not directly address the biggest problem that steel and aluminum manufacturers face: Vast overproduction from China keeps global metals prices lower than they would otherwise be.

Despite pledging to mend relations with Europe, Biden has so far kept the Trump tariffs in place. They are popular with American trade unions and metals manufacturers in the U.S. Midwest, a region politically crucial to Biden and his Democratic Party.

Still, in a goodwill gesture last month, the EU agreed to suspend plans to escalate tariffs against U.S. products in the metals dispute. And in a joint statement, the two sides said they would address overproduction of steel and aluminum and hold countries like China that support trade-distorting policies to account."

The answer is a global arrangement in which everybody else forces the Chinese to eat their surplus steel and aluminum, Reinsch said.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed cautious optimism that a deal on the metals tariffs could be reached by years end.

Wiseman reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Samuel Petrequin in Brussels, Jamey Keaten in Geneva and David Koenig in Dallas contributed to this report.
TEHRAN, Iran (AP)  A prominent contender in Irans presidential election appealed Tuesday for better economic and political relations with the West, his most extensive attempt yet to attract reformist voters just days ahead of the poll.

Former Iranian Central Bank chief Abdolnasser Hemmati, a candidate in Iran's upcoming presidential election, poses for a photo at his office in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, June 9, 2021. Hemmati said Wednesday he'd be willing to meet with U.S. President Joe Biden if he wins his country's election next week, though "America needs to send better and stronger signals" to the Islamic Republic. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

TEHRAN, Iran (AP)  A prominent contender in Irans presidential election appealed Tuesday for better economic and political relations with the West, his most extensive attempt yet to attract reformist voters just days ahead of the poll.

Former Iranian Central Bank chief Abdolnasser Hemmati, among the seven candidates allowed on the ballot for Fridays vote, has no official ties to any political faction but is positioning himself as the likely candidate for moderate and reform-minded voters.

Why should there be a barrier for peaceful co-existence? asked Hemmati, while emphasizing that an "improvement in global and regional peace hinged on American good will and "trust-building" with the Islamic Republic.

He repeated calls for a return to Tehran's tattered 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, saying that if he were to become president, resurrecting the agreement and securing sanctions relief would definitely be one of my priorities."

Former Iranian Central Bank chief Abdolnasser Hemmati, one of the seven candidates allowed on the ballot for Fridays presidential election, gives a press conference, in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, June 15, 2021. Hemmati appealed Tuesday for better economic and political relations with the West, his most extensive attempt yet to attract reformist voters just days ahead of the poll. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

In an interview with The Associated Press last week, he said hed even be willing to possibly meet with U.S. President Joe Biden if he wins.

Polling and analysts indicate that Hemmati lags in the race behind the countrys hard-line judiciary chief, Ebrahim Raisi, the clear front-runner cultivated by Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Nearly 600 challengers hoped to replace relatively moderate President Hassan Rouhani, who is term-limited from running again.

But the Guardian Council, a clerical vetting body, allowed just Raisi, Hemmati and five lower-profile contenders, mostly hard-liners, to run. Hemmati on Tuesday described those challengers as proxy candidates" that he expected would soon drop out of the race.

Within Iran, candidates exist on a political spectrum that broadly includes hard-liners who want to expand Irans nuclear program and confront the world, moderates who hold onto the status quo and reformists who want to change the theocracy from within.

The son of Mehdi Karroubi, once Irans most outspoken opposition leader, announced earlier this week that his father would throw his support behind Hemmati, saying he believed the moderate candidate would "defend the republic and the presidential system.

The Guardian Council's stunning disqualification of well-known reformist candidates, coupled with the coronavirus pandemic, have subdued the typical pre-election frenzy in Iran and created a mood of voter apathy. Calls for a boycott have increased in recent weeks. The state-linked Iranian Student Polling Agency most recently projected a 42% turnout from the countrys 59 million eligible voters, which would be a historic low.

With the still-raging virus halting campaign rallies and big gatherings, Hemmati spoke Tuesday at a modest press conference at the University of Tehran. Addressing some hundred reporters and supporters, he expressed hope that Iranian and American negotiators, now engaged in indirect talks in Vienna, would agree on a plan for Iran to curb its nuclear program and the U.S. to lift heavy sanctions, re-imposed when then-President Donald Trump withdrew America from the accord in 2018.

Trump's decision to pull out of the deal has, over time, seen Iran abandon almost every limitation of the agreement, enriching more uranium than allowed and to a greater purity than permitted, among other things.

Cabinet spokesman Ali Rabiei announced Tuesday that the country's low-enriched uranium stockpile had climbed to 108 kilograms (238 pounds) of 20% enriched uranium from 90 kilograms (198 pounds) in May. The stockpile of 60% enriched uranium, a short technical step to weapons-grade levels, had reached 6.5 kilograms (14.3 pounds), up from last month's 2.5 kilograms (5.5 pounds).

Rouhani's eight years in office brought steep economic decline, particularly after the collapse of the nuclear deal. Hemmati sought Tuesday to promote his successes as a top banker, although his Central Bank tenure was defined by the crash of the Iranian riyal amid America's economic pressure campaign.

I believe that an economist should take the executive responsibility of the country, he said. I hope that, with the peoples help, a government will come to power to manage the country rationally and prevent politics from running the economy.

Associated Press writer Isabel DeBre in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Justice Department will tighten its rules around obtaining records from members of Congress, Attorney General Merrick Garland said, amid revelations the department under former President Donald Trump had secretly seized records from Democrats and members of the media.

WASHINGTON (AP)  The Justice Department will tighten its rules around obtaining records from members of Congress, Attorney General Merrick Garland said, amid revelations the department under former President Donald Trump had secretly seized records from Democrats and members of the media.

Consistent with our commitment to the rule of law, Garland said Monday in a statement, we must ensure that full weight is accorded to separation-of-powers concerns moving forward.

Garlands statement came as a Justice Department official said the top national security official, John Demers, planned to leave by the end of next week. Demers, who was sworn in a few weeks after the subpoena for the Democrats records, is one of the few Trump appointees who has remained in the Biden administration.

The Justice Department is struggling to contain the fallout over revelations that it had confiscated phone data from House Democrats and reporters as part of an aggressive investigation into leaks. The disclosure is also forcing Biden administration officials to wade back into a fight with their predecessors  something they've wished to avoid.

News outlets reported last week that the Justice Department had secretly subpoenaed Cupertino, California-based Apple Inc. in 2018 for metadata from two Democratic members of the House Intelligence Committee  California Rep. Adam Schiff and California Rep. Eric Swalwell  as their committee was investigating Trumps ties to Russia. Schiff, at the time, was the top Democrat on the panel, which was led by Republicans.

Now the House Intelligence Committee Chair, Schiff said Monday that he had spoken with Garland, who had given his commitment to an independent investigation by the inspector general. Schiff said he had every confidence that Garland will also do the kind of top-to-bottom review of the degree to which the department was politicized during the previous administration and take corrective steps.

The intelligence panel initially said 12 people connected to the committee  including aides, former aides and family members  had been swept up, but more have since been uncovered, according to a person familiar with the matter who also was not authorized to discuss it publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.

Some people might not know they were targeted because the Apple notification was by email and showed up in the spam filters of some of those who were contacted, the person said.

House Judiciary Committee Chair Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., announced an investigation into the subpoenas on members of Congress and journalists. Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., demanded a copy of the subpoena and other records about the decision to obtain the order.

Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., lambasted a demand by Democrats that former attorneys general William Barr and Jeff Sessions testify before a committee on the subpoenas, saying his Democratic colleagues had given into the urge to pick at the scab of politically-motivated investigations. He defended Barr, saying the move was a witch hunt in the making.

There is no need for a partisan circus here in Congress," he said.

The subpoena, issued Feb. 6, 2018, requested information on 73 phone numbers and 36 email addresses, Apple said. It also included a nondisclosure order that prohibited the company from notifying any of the people, and it was renewed three times, the company said in a statement.

Apple said that it couldnt challenge the warrants because it had so little information available and that it would have been virtually impossible for Apple to understand the intent of the desired information without digging through users accounts.

Although Apple says it contests legal requests that it believes are unfounded, the company challenged or rejected just 7% of the U.S. demands it received during the 2018 period when it received the subpoena for the information about Schiff and Swalwell. Apple was even less combative during the first half of last year, challenging just 4% of the U.S. legal requests.

Apple has been turning over some customer data in 80% to 90% of the legal requests it has received in the U.S. in recent years, though the information often excludes the content of text, email or photos.

Like other major technology companies, Apple has been dealing with a steadily escalating torrent of legal requests for account and device information from around the world as its products and services have become more deeply ingrained in peoples lives.

During the first half of last year, for instance, U.S. law enforcement agencies sought information on 18,609 Apple accounts  nearly seven times the number of accounts requested during the same time in 2015.

The demands are becoming more broad, too. During the first half of 2018, when Apple received the subpoena affecting Schiff and Swalwell, the 2,397 U.S. legal requests that Apple received covered an average of seven accounts, according to the companys disclosures. That was up from an average of roughly three accounts per request during the first half of 2015.

The department's inspector general has launched a probe into the matter after a request from Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. Inspector General Michael Horowitz said he would examine whether the data subpoenaed by the Justice Department and turned over by Apple followed department policy and whether any such uses, or the investigations, were based upon improper considerations.

In addition, Monaco has been separately tasked with surfacing problematic matters deserving high level review, Garland said.

Garland emphasized in his statement Monday that political or other improper considerations must play no role in any investigative or prosecutorial decisions.

Demers has been in charge of the departments national security division since late February 2018, and his division has played a role in each of the leak investigations. He leaves as questions swirl over his potential involvement in the effort.

He had planned for weeks to leave the department by the end of June, a second person familiar with the matter said. The two could not discuss the matter publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity.

He will be temporarily replaced by Mark Lesko, the acting U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of New York, the official said, until President Joe Biden's official pick, Matthew Olsen, is approved by the Senate.

Olsen is an Uber executive with experience in the Justice Department. He has served as director of the National Counterterrorism Center and as general counsel for the National Security Agency. Demers had remained in place while Olsen awaits a confirmation hearing.

Liedtke reported from San Francisco. Associated Press writer Colleen Long in Washington contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Executives from CNN, The New York Times and The Washington Post met Monday with Attorney General Merrick Garland to protest the Trump-era Justice Department's efforts to seize phone and email records of journalists.

Bruce Brown, third from left, executive director of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, speaks accompanied by Washington Post Executive Editor Sally Buzbee, left, Washington Post general counsel Jay Kennedy, CNN executive vice president and general counsel David Vigilante, right, after a meeting with Attorney General Merrick Garland at the Department of Justice, Monday, June 14, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

WASHINGTON (AP)  Executives from CNN, The New York Times and The Washington Post met Monday with Attorney General Merrick Garland to protest the Trump-era Justice Department's efforts to seize phone and email records of journalists.

After the hourlong meeting in Washington, Bruce Brown, executive director of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, said the journalists explained how this represented an existential crisis for the organizations.

None of the media executives would answer questions, with Brown saying they had agreed the meeting was off the record. The meeting included the publishers of the Times and Post, A.G. Sulzberger and Fred Ryan, respectively, as well as Post executive editor Sally Buzbee and Sam Feist, CNN's Washington bureau chief.

The Justice Department said the group had a productive conversation about the need for new rules governing the ability of prosecutors to seek this material.

Records were sought for eight journalists at the news organizations, all of whom had worked on stories in 2017 involving investigations into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. In the cases of CNN and the Times, a gag order temporarily put in place prevented lawyers at the news organizations from even telling their journalists what was happening.

Bruce Brown, right, executive director of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, followed by Washington Post Executive Editor Sally Buzbee, and others come out to speak with reporters after a meeting with Attorney General Merrick Garland at the Department of Justice, Monday, June 14, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

News organizations are concerned that efforts to seek records that could reveal whom the journalists had used as sources would prevent such officials from revealing sensitive government information in the future.

The Justice Department announced earlier this month that it would no longer secretly obtain reporters records during leak investigations, marking a drastic shift in policy shift that abandons a practice decried for years by news organizations and press freedom groups. That announcement came after a pledge by President Joe Biden that he would not permit the Justice Department to continue the practice, which he called simply, simply wrong.

But while the Biden administration has ordered a halt to such efforts, news organizations worry that without laws to prevent it, a different administration could take a different approach.

This is about the flow of information to the public, Brown said. It is about keeping government accountable. And these news organizations can't effectively do their job in that way unless they can protect confidential sources, and that was made very, very clear by this group today in the meeting.

Prosecutors told the executives that reporters were never the target of the investigations, the department said. Officials said Garland had agreed with news executives that there was a need for strong, durable rules.

Democratic and Republican administrations alike have used subpoenas and court orders to obtain journalists records in an effort to identify sources who have revealed classified information. But the practice had received renewed scrutiny over the past few weeks as Justice Department officials alerted reporters at the three organizations their phone records had been obtained in the final year of the Trump administration.

In a statement, the Times' Sulzberger said the news organizations sought a full accounting of what happened and asked the Justice Department to codify that it would no longer seize journalists' records during leak investigations.

We were encouraged by Attorney General Garland's statements but we will continue to push until our concerns are addressed, he said.

Barbara Starr, a CNN reporter who covers defense issues, wrote in a column that she was genuinely horrified by what happened.

Secret Justice Department proceedings against the free press affect everyone in the country, she wrote. That's what I hope Merrick Garland takes from this whole solemn affair.

CNN said the Justice Department had sought logs that revealed who had been conversing with Starr via email, although not necessarily what the emails said.

The Times said that the Trump administration in 2020 secretly seized phone records from early 2017 for the reporters Matt Apuzzo, Adam Goldman, Eric Lichtblau and Michael S. Schmidt. All had written about how former FBI director James Comey had handled investigations during the election.

The Justice Department had also sought to retrieve email logs from Google, which operations the Times' email system, but Google resisted, the newspaper reported.

The Post said federal prosecutors had also sought telephone records for its reporters Ellen Nakashima and Greg Miller, and former reporter Adam Entous, from between April and July 2017.

Bauder reported from New York.
ALBERTVILLE, Ala. (AP)  A worker wielding a handgun fatally shot two people and wounded two others at an Alabama fire hydrant factory early Tuesday before killing himself near a cemetery where his mother is buried, police said.

A police car guards the entrance to a Mueller Co. fire hydrant plant where police said multiple people were shot to death and others were wounded in Albertville, Ala., on Tuesday, June 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Jay Reeves)

ALBERTVILLE, Ala. (AP)  A worker wielding a handgun fatally shot two people and wounded two others at an Alabama fire hydrant factory early Tuesday before killing himself near a cemetery where his mother is buried, police said.

The shooting  which happened about 2:30 a.m. at a Mueller Co. plant in Albertville  added to a slew of homicides around the country. Several hours later, gunfire in Chicago claimed four victims.

In the Alabama case, a manhunt ended when the shooter's body was found inside a Jeep in Guntersville, about 15 miles (24 kilometers) away from the factory, shortly after daybreak. Multiple weapons were found inside the vehicle, Albertville Police Chief Jamie Smith said at a news conference.

A police officer stands at the entrance to a Mueller Co. fire hydrant plant where police said multiple people were shot to death and others were wounded in Albertville, Ala., on Tuesday, June 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)

Smith said the suspect appeared to have died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. What prompted him to kill and maim his coworkers wasn't immediately clear, the chief said. He called the shooting completely unprovoked.

The chief identified the dead men as Michael Dobbins and David Horton, and the shooter as Andreas Horton, 34. He said that as far as he knew, the Hortons were not related, and had no ties other than co-workers.

Two other people  Casey Sampson and Isaac Byrd  were hospitalized. Their conditions weren't immediately known. They were taken to a nearby hospital and later transferred to a larger hospital in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the chief said.

The body of Andreas Horton, who was sometimes called Andy, was found in his vehicle, parked along a road overlooking Guntersville City Cemetery, about 10 miles (16 kilometers) from the plant. His mother, who died of cancer at age 40 in 2011, was buried just a short walk away.

Cody Windsor talks about a workplace shooting that left a friend dead at Mueller Co., a fire hydrant factory, in Albertville, Ala., on Tuesday, June 15, 2021. Windsor, who was at home when the shootings occurred, said that he knew both the shooter and one of the victims, but also didn't know what might have led him to kill and wound his co-workers. We work together and we bond together. Were here as much as we are at home, said Windsor. From now on, he said, he might be nervous that somebody is going to walk in the door and shoot you. (AP Photo/Jay Reeves)

A distant relative of Hortons, Sanchez Watkins, said he last saw Andreas a few months ago at a grocery store.

Andy was a good guy. Very quiet, easygoing. You would never expect this from him, Watkins said.

Cody Windsor, a Mueller employee who was at home at the time, told The Associated Press that he knew both Hortons, but didn't know what might have prompted the shootings.

Windsor said friends working the overnight shift told him the shooting happened in a part of the plant where fire hydrants and pipes are painted, and that an announcement about an active shooter was made over a PA system at the factory, which occupies several buildings over a large area near a railroad track, with fire hydrants stored on racks outside.

Albertville Police Chief Jamie Smith speaks during a news conference at Albertville City Hall, Tuesday, June 15, 2021, in Albertville, Ala., after a worker killed two people and wounded two more at a fire hydrant factory before killing himself. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)

The police chief said the crime scene encompasses a large area inside the sprawling plant, and victims were found in two or three different locations inside.

Windsor said he and David Horton, a foundry helper who could do most any job in the plant, were buddies at work and often hung out together during breaks. Wed sit in our cars and listen to music, he said. Andy Horton was quiet and recently went through the death of his mother, Windsor said.

We work together and we bond together. Were here as much as we are at home, he said. He added that the shooting made him nervous about going back to work for fear that somebody is going to walk in the door and shoot you."

Ann Walters told Al.com that Dobbins was her grandson, and that he had been working at the factory for nearly a year, saving up to buy a home and a car. He was a perfect gentleman, everybody will tell you. He was good to everybody and put his family first, she said.

Mueller Co., based in Cleveland, Tennessee, is a subsidiary of Atlanta-based Mueller Water Products Inc., which calls itself a leading maker of water distribution and measurement products in North America. More than 400 people work at the plant in Albertville, giving the city in northwest Alabama its nickname of Fire Hydrant Capital of the World.

In a statement read aloud by the police chief, company officials said they were shocked and deeply saddened by the horrific tragedy, and committed to providing help and support to the victims families.

The growing gun violence nationwide has police and criminal justice experts concerned. Within hours of the Alabama gunfire Tuesday, four women were killed and four other people were wounded in a pre-dawn shooting at a home in Chicago, police said. The toll from this past weekend included two people killed and at least 30 others wounded in mass shootings in Chicago, the Texas capital of Austin, and Savannah, Georgia.

Law officers had hoped that last year's spike in homicides would subside as the nation emerges from coronavirus restrictions, but they remain higher than they were in pre-pandemic times.

There was a hope this might simply be a statistical blip that would start to come down, said Chuck Wexler, executive director of the Police Executive Research Forum. That hasnt happened. And thats what really makes chiefs worry that we may be entering a new period where we will see a reversal of 20 years of declines in these crimes.

Albertville is a tightknit community, and its people will come together to support the victims' families, city spokeswoman Robin Lathan said.

Everyone is absolutely heartbroken and devastated, she said. The Mueller Company is part of the lifeblood of who we are in the city of Albertville. Its just a devastating blow.

Associated Press reporters Kim Chandler in Montgomery, Alabama, and Jeff Martin in Marietta, Georgia, contributed to this report.
MADRID (AP)  South Korean President Moon Jae-in arrived in Madrid Tuesday, in the first state visit to Spain by a foreign leader since the pandemic began, as the two countries seek to deepen economic ties.

MADRID (AP)  South Korean President Moon Jae-in arrived in Madrid Tuesday, in the first state visit to Spain by a foreign leader since the pandemic began, as the two countries seek to deepen economic ties.

Moon and First Lady Kim Jung-Sook were received with military honors at the royal palace in Madrid by Spains King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia.

They were to attend a royal banquet at the palace later in the day.

During his two-day stay, Moon was also due to meet with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and other members of the government, as well as attend a business event in Barcelona on Wednesday evening.

Moons visit to Spain is the first by a South Korean president in 14 years. The Spanish king and queen visited South Korea in 2019.
U.S. President Joe Biden takes off his protective facemask prior to speaking with the media during arrival for the EU-US summit at the European Council building in Brussels, Tuesday, June 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

The Latest on U.S. President Joe Biden's trip to Europe:

GENEVA  A few dozen supporters of jailed Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny have staged a colorful, cheeky rally in Geneva, in the hope of sending a message to Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of his summit with U.S. President Joe Biden.

The rally, on a square that Swiss police have authorized for protests during Wednesdays meeting, marked one effort to leverage public attention on some of the more hot-button issues Putin and Biden are likely to address  human rights and arms control among them.

Despite the tiny turnout  with possibly more journalists than demonstrators  Tuesdays protest was well-orchestrated, in a show of dissent that participants said might have garnered a crackdown by security forces in Russia.

Banners called for the liberation of political prisoners generally and of Navalny himself. Protesters chanted for a Free Russia!

U.S. President Joe Biden attends the EU-US summit at the European Council building in Brussels, Tuesday, June 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

BRUSSELS  The United States and the European Union have agreed to set up a high-level dialogue about Russia as part of a renewed trans-Atlantic partnership between the U.S. and the 27-nation bloc.

A summit statement released Tuesday after talks in Brussels between U.S. President Joe Biden and the heads of two of the EUs main institutions said they stand united in our principled approach towards Russia" and "are ready to respond decisively to its repeating pattern of negative behavior and harmful activities.

They also agreed to urge Russia to stop its continuous crackdown on civil society, the opposition and independent media and release all political prisoners.

The statement was issued as Biden prepares for a Wednesday summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Geneva.

The president and the EU leaders said the U.S. and EU also aim to keep channels of communication open with Russia for cooperation in areas of common interest.

They offered support for the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova in the face of Russia's attempts to expand its influence. The leaders said they also by the people of Belarus and back their demands for human rights and democracy.

President Joe Biden and Swiss President Guy Parmelin, walk to Biden's car after Biden arrived at the Geneva Airport in Geneva, Switzerland, Tuesday, June 15, 2021. Biden is scheduled to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Geneva, Wednesday, June 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

GENEVA  President Joe Biden arrived in Geneva Tuesday for a high-pressure meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Thats after a week-long series of confidence-building meetings between the U.S. leader and his European allies.

Biden held long days of meetings at summits of Group of Seven, NATO and European Union leaders, and he helped secure communiques expressing concern over Russia and China. On Tuesday, he presided over a tension-easing breakthrough in a long-running U.S.-EU trade dispute involving airplane subsidies.

But Bidens Wednesday meeting with the Russian president is his most highly anticipated.

Biden plans to confront Putin on everything from Moscows cyberattacks to its election interference efforts and human rights abuses,. He's said he also hopes to look for areas where the United States and Russia can cooperate and to normalize the historically icy relationship between the two nations.

BRUSSELS  The trade association for producers and marketers of distilled spirits sold in the United States said the five-year suspension of tariffs outlined in deal between the U.S. and the European Union to end their 17-year dispute over aircraft subsidies will be critical to helping the industry recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

The dispute over subsidies for Boeing and Airbus saw tit-for-tat duties slapped on a range of companies that have nothing to do with aircraft production. The Distilled Spirits Council said the agreement announced Tuesday will end the EU's 25% tariff on U.S. rum, brandy and vodka, as well as the 25% U.S. tariff on liqueurs and cordials from Germany, Ireland, Italy and Spain, and on certain cognacs and other grape brandies from France and Germany.

A man wearing a Vladimir Putin mask takes part in a demonstration for imprisoned Alexei Navalny, poster at left, in Geneva, Switzerland Tuesday, June 15, 2021. US President Joe Biden and Russia President Vladimir Putin will meet for talks in Geneva on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

The council said that removing the tariffs will benefit restaurants, bars and small craft distilleries that had to close during the pandemic. But it noted that the EU and the United Kingdom still have a 25% tariff on American whiskey as part of a steel and aluminum trade dispute stemming from the Trump administration.

Until steps are taken to permanently remove these tariffs on American whiskeys, the United States largest spirits export category will remain at a serious competitive disadvantage in our two most important export markets, the trade group said.

BRUSSELS  The United States and the European Union reached a deal Tuesday to end a damaging dispute over subsidies to rival plane makers Boeing and Airbus and phase out billions of dollars in punitive tariffs, the U.S. trade envoy said.

U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai said the two sides have come to terms on a five-year agreement to suspend the tariffs at the center of the dispute. She said they could be reimplemented if the U.S. companies are not able to compete fairly with those in Europe.

Todays announcement resolves a long-standing irritant in the U.S.-EU relationship, Tai said, as President Joe Biden met with EU leaders in Brussels. Instead of fighting with one of our closest allies, we are finally coming together against a common threat.

The dispute saw tit-for-tat duties slapped on a range of companies that have nothing to do with aircraft production, from French winemakers to German cookie bakers in Europe and U.S. spirits producers in the United States, among many others.

BRUSSELS  The United States and the European Union appear close to reaching a deal to end a damaging dispute over subsidies to rival plane makers Boeing and Airbus and lift billions of dollars in punitive tariffs.

A person familiar with the discussions said U.S. and EU officials have reached principles of an agreement to end their 17-year dispute over the aircraft subsidies. The person was not authorized to discuss the matter and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The trade dispute skyrocketed under the Trump administration, and saw tit-for-tat duties slapped on a range of companies that have nothing to do with aircraft production, from French winemakers to U.S. spirits producers.

The U.S. imposed $7.5 billion in tariffs on European exports in 2019 after the World Trade Organization ruled that the EU had not complied with its rulings on subsidies for Airbus, which is based in France. The EU retaliated last November with $4 billion in punitive duties after the WTO ruled that the U.S. had provided illegal subsidies to Boeing.

In March, weeks after Biden had taken office, the two sides agreed to suspend the tariffs.

 By Aamer Madhani

BRUSSELS  President Joe Biden is seeking to tamp down trade tensions with European allies as he spends one last day consulting with Western democracies ahead of his highly anticipated meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

After a pair of summits with Group of Seven world leaders in the U.K. and then NATO allies in Brussels, Biden meets Tuesday with European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

The president has sought to marshal widespread European support for his efforts to counter Russia prior to his Wednesday meeting in Geneva with Putin. But the U.S.-EU relationship is not without some tensions.

Biden will meet with the top EU officials as the continents leaders are becoming impatient that the American president has not yet addressed Donald Trumps 2018 decision to impose import taxes on foreign steel and aluminum.

Theres also a longstanding dispute over how much of a government subsidy each side unfairly provides for its aircraft manufacturing giant  Boeing in the United States and Airbus in the EU.
ORLANDO, Fla.  Disney plans to restart fireworks shows at its theme parks in Florida and California in the latest move by the company to ease up on pandemic restrictions implemented last year.

A medical worker gives a jab of the AstraZeneca vaccine for COVID-19 during a mass vaccination for retail workers at a stadium in Jakarta, Indonesia, Tuesday, June 15, 2021. The world's fourth-most populous country, with about 275 million people, has reported more coronavirus cases than any other Southeast Asian country.(AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

ORLANDO, Fla.  Disney plans to restart fireworks shows at its theme parks in Florida and California in the latest move by the company to ease up on pandemic restrictions implemented last year.

The company said Tuesday that firework shows would resume at the beginning of July at Walt Disney World in Florida and on the Fourth of July at Disneyland in California. The fireworks shows had been put on hold in order to discourage people from gathering together after the parks reopened following virus-related closures last year.

The decision was the latest move by Disney to lift restrictions implemented last summer to stop the spread of the new coronavirus.

Starting Tuesday, face masks were made optional for visitors to Disney World in Florida, provided they are vaccinated, though Disney workers werent requiring proof of vaccination.

FILE - In this Saturday, July 4, 2020, file photo, Fourth of July fireworks explode over the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol along the National Mall in Washington. President Joe Biden wants to imbue Independence Day with new meaning in 2021 by encouraging nationwide celebrations to mark the countrys effective return to normalcy after 16 months of pandemic disruption. The White House says the National Mall in Washington will host the traditional fireworks ceremony and it's encouraging other communities hold festivities as well. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen, File)

MORE ON THE PANDEMIC:

 U.S. death toll surpasses 600,000 from coronavirus

 Johnson & Johnson shots arrive in Mexico from US for 4 border cities

 Japanese companies set up vaccination sites to help with inoculation effort

 More evidence suggests COVID-19 was in US by Christmas 2019

People wearing face masks to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, line up to register for a lottery in a Grand Central residential building complex in Hong Kong, Tuesday, June 15, 2021. A property developer offered a HK$10.8 million (US$1.4 million) 449 square feet single-room flat as a prize in a lucky draw to boost Hong Kong's COVID-19 vaccination rates. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Follow more of APs pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic and https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccine

HERE'S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:

LOS ANGELES  Gov. Gavin Newsom has doled out $1.5 million each to 10 vaccinated winners at Universal Studios to mark the end of the states coronavirus restrictions.

The $15 million awarded Tuesday was the final part of Newsoms $116.5 million so-called Vax for the Win program. The effort encourages residents to get vaccinated and speed up Californias recovery amid the COVID-19 pandemic that has killed 3.8 million globally and 600,000 nationwide.

Tuesday was hailed as Californias reopening and meant the end of many coronavirus-related restrictions, including masks, social distancing and capacity limits in most settings.

A man receives a shot of the AstraZeneca vaccine for COVID-19 during a mass vaccination for retail workers at a stadium in Jakarta, Indonesia, Tuesday, June 15, 2021. The world's fourth-most populous country, with about 275 million people, has reported more coronavirus cases than any other Southeast Asian country.(AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

More than 3.6 million people tested positive for the virus in California and over 62,000 died.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  Vaccine supplies have eclipsed demand in New Mexico even as the state makes a hard push toward meeting a key vaccination goal Thursday.

Health officials have confirmed to The Associated Press that New Mexicos inventory includes nearly 493,000 doses that are being stored in freezers around the state. Expiration dates range from this week through September. The state also has donated 372,600 doses of its undelivered allocation back to the federal government.

Health Department spokesman David Morgan has said that New Mexico is adapting to shrinking demand for the vaccine in several ways. That includes ordering only a minimal number of doses as requested by providers.

New Mexico is just shy of meeting its goal of having 60% of residents 16 and older fully vaccinated. Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham wants to hit that mark this week so she can follow through with plans to fully reopen the state by July 1.

Staff members wearing face masks to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, prepare at a lottery registration counter in a Grand Central residential building complex in Hong Kong, Tuesday, June 15, 2021. A property developer offered a HK$10.8 million (US$1.4 million) 449 square feet single-room flat as a prize in a lucky draw to boost Hong Kong's COVID-19 vaccination rates. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

The latest data from the state puts the vaccination rate at 58.5%.

The state is offering cash incentives for people who get either their second shot or the one-time Johnson & Johnson shot by Thursday. Those who are vaccinated also can participate in a sweepstakes that includes a grand prize of $5 million.

NEW YORK  Gov. Andrew Cuomo says 70% of adults in New York have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine.

He says the state will celebrate by easing many of its remaining social distancing rules and by shooting off fireworks to honor essential workers. Effective immediately, the state is lifting rules that had limited the size of gatherings. Businesses will no longer have to follow social distancing rules, or limit how many people they can allow inside based on keeping people 6 feet apart.

Some rules will remain: New Yorkers will continue to wear masks in schools, subways, large venues, homeless shelters, hospitals, nursing homes, jails and prisons.

Police officers wearing face masks as a precaution against the coronavirus, stand guard during a rally in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, June 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

About half of all 20 million residents in New York are fully vaccinated. In New York City, 58% of Manhattan residents and 51% in Queens are fully vaccinated, respectively. Its 40.6% and 38% fully vaccinated in Brooklyn and Queens.

In the past week, New York has been averaging around 450 new coronavirus cases a day, the lowest level since the start of the pandemic.

New York has registered 2.1 million confirmed cases and 53,558 confirmed deaths from the coronavirus. Its considered an undercount because many had the virus before testing was widely available.

BRUSSELS  The European Commission proposed the 27-nation bloc appoint a European chief epidemiologist by the end of the year to better respond to future health crises.

The EUs executive arm presented a list of 10 lessons learned from the coronavirus pandemic, focusing on improvements for next time.

A worker sorts baskets at wholesale market in Mumbai, India, Tuesday, June 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

The Commission also proposed creating a global surveillance system to ensure faster detection, allowing the activation of an EU pandemic state of emergency. The proposals will be discussed by EU leaders during a summit next week in Brussels.

Meanwhile, the European Commission says it has raised $24.2 billion through a 10-year bond to finance the 27-nation blocs recovery from the coronavirus crisis.

EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen says the inaugural transaction of the NextGeneration EU program is the largest institutional bond issuance in Europe. The money will help finance the national recovery plans devised by member states to get their economies back on track.

ANNAPOLIS, Md.  Maryland will end a state of emergency on July 1, Gov. Larry Hogan announced Tuesday.

The governor made the announcement at a news conference one year, three months and 10 days after Maryland confirmed its first cases of the coronavirus.

The Undersecretary of Health Hugo Lopez-Gatell removes his protective face mask during his last press conference on the new coronavirus, at the National Palace in Mexico City, Friday, June 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)

Masks or face coverings will not be required in any settings anywhere, including schools, camps and childcare facilities, Hogan said. Businesses and other workplaces are obviously still able to set their own policies, and well support their ability to do so. But there will not be any legal mandate from the state for wearing masks at any location anywhere in the state.

Hogan, a Republican, also says July 1 will be the start of a 45-day grace period through Aug. 15, where certain regulations will continue to be relaxed to help people complete the transition out of the pandemic.

The governor says Maryland is granting an extension of the states moratorium on evictions related to COVID-19 through Aug. 15. Health officials will have a 45-day period to transition from emergency operations.

NEW YORK  The U.S. death toll from COVID-19 has topped 600,000 as the vaccination drive has decreased daily cases and deaths.

Thats according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. The number of lives lost is greater than the population of Baltimore or Milwaukee. It is about equal to the number of Americans who died of cancer in 2019.

FILE - In this Jan. 9, 2021 file photo, transporters Miguel Lopez, right, Noe Meza prepare to move a body of a COVID-19 victim to a morgue at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in the Mission Hills section of Los Angeles. The U.S. death toll from COVID-19 has topped 600,000, even as the vaccination drive has drastically slashed daily cases and deaths and allowed the country to emerge from the gloom. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

With the advent of the vaccines, COVID-19 deaths per day in the U.S. have plummeted to an average of 340 from a high of more than 3,400 in mid-January. Cases are running at 14,000 a day on average, down from a quarter-million per day during the winter.

Worldwide, the COVID-19 confirmed death toll stands at 3.8 million. The actual totals in the U.S. and around the globe are thought to be significantly higher, with many cases overlooked or possibly concealed by some countries.

SAN FRANCISCO  California was the first state in America to put in place a coronavirus lockdown, but it is turning a page on the pandemic.

At midnight, California lifted most of its COVID-19 restrictions and ushered whats being called a Grand Reopening. There will be no more state rules on social distancing and no more limits on capacity at restaurants, bars, supermarkets, gyms and stadiums. Masks have been one of the most symbolic and fraught symbols of the pandemic. Now they will no longer be mandated by the state in many situations.

More people tested positive for the virus in California (3.8 million and counting) and more people died (63,000 plus) than anywhere else in the country, although the nations most populous state had a lower per capita death rate than most others.

FILE - In this May 28, 2020, file photo, Tributes to lost love ones adorn a fence outside Brooklyn's Green-Wood Cemetery where many victims of COVID-19 are buried in New York. The U.S. death toll from COVID-19 has topped 600,000, even as the vaccination drive has drastically slashed daily cases and deaths and allowed the country to emerge from the gloom. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)

California now has one of the lowest rates of infection below 1%. That dramatic drop combined with an increasing number of vaccinated residents  over 70% of adults have had at least one dose  led Newsom to announce in April that most COVID-19 restrictions would be lifted June 15.

NEW YORK  Nearly 900 people received expired COVID-19 vaccine doses at a vaccination site in Times Square this month, health officials said Tuesday.

People who got the expired doses of the Pfizer vaccine at the former NFL Experience building between June 5 and June 10 were being urged by city health officials to get another dose.

ATC Vaccination Services, the company that administered the shots, apologized for the error. Officials said there is no danger from getting the expired doses or from getting a replacement shot.

SAO PAULO  Brazils government says it has documented 41 cases of COVID-19 related to the Copa America.

Dr. Rossana Gonzalez, top, talks above people attending a protest for higher salaries and better work hours for health care workers amid the COVID-19 pandemic, outside the Health Ministry in Asuncion, Paraguay, Tuesday, June 15, 2021. According to the union leader, healthcare work hours have increased but payment for workers hasn't, since the pandemic started. (AP Photo/Jorge Saenz)

It says the cases include 31 football players or staffers with teams and 10 workers who were hired for the event. Brazils health ministry also says all workers who tested positive are in Brasilia. Thats where Brazil kicked off the tournament on Sunday with a 3-0 win over Venezuela.

Brazil stepped in late as an emergency host for the tournament despite the country having the second-highest number of recorded deaths from the coronavirus in the world. Brazils health ministry says 2,927 COVID-19 tests related to Copa America have been conducted so far.

NEW YORK  A new analysis of blood samples from 24,000 Americans taken in early 2020 is the latest and largest study to suggest the coronavirus arrived in the U.S. in December 2019.

Thats weeks before cases were first recognized by health officials. The analysis is not definitive, and some experts remain skeptical. But federal health officials are increasingly accepting a timeline in which small numbers of COVID-19 infections may have occurred in the U.S. before the world became aware of a dangerous new virus erupting in China.

The study was published Tuesday online by the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Guests walk past Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Monday, May 17, 2021, after Disney Co. eased face mask requirements over the weekend. Guests are allowed to go maskless in outdoor areas of the parks. Indoor attractions, shops and Disney transportation at the resort all still require masks. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel via AP)

The studies are pretty consistent, said Natalie Thornburg of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There was probably very rare and sporadic cases here earlier than we were aware of. But it was not widespread and didnt become widespread until late February.

A CDC-led study published in December 2020 analyzed 7,000 samples from American Red Cross blood donations and suggested the virus infected some Americans as early as the middle of December 2019.

The latest study is by a team that includes researchers at the National Institutes of Health. They analyzed blood samples from more than 24,000 people across the country, collected in the first three months of 2020, as part of a long-term study.

The coronavirus emerged in late 2019 in Wuhan, China. Officially, the first U.S. infection identified was a traveler  a Washington state man who returned from Wuhan on Jan. 15 and sought medical help on Jan. 19.

HELSINKI  Estonia will ease COVID-19 restrictions on June 28 by raising the limit on participants in indoor and outdoor events.

Up to 1,000 people can participate in events and activities held indoors and up to 5,000 people in events and activities held outdoors, subject to the requirements for dispersion and 50% occupancy, the government said Tuesday.

Easing of restrictions doesnt however mean that there wouldnt be a need for caution. The virus is still spreading from person to person, and it has not disappeared from among us, said Prime Minister Kaja Kallas.

She added the Indian strain of the coronavirus has started to spread in Estonia, a nation of 1.3 million.

Estonia has recorded 130,599 confirmed infections and 1,266 confirmed deaths since the start of the pandemic.

TOPEKA, Kan.  Top Republicans are ending the Kansas state of emergency for the coronavirus pandemic.

They refused Tuesday to consider Democratic Gov. Laura Kellys arguments for an extension. Kelly chief of staff Will Lawrence says the Kansas National Guard wont be able to help distribute vaccines and the state will lose an extra $14.5 million a month in federal food aid for 63,000 households.

But top Republicans refused to consider an extension of the state of emergency that has been in place since March 2020. Their approval is required by state law for any extension, and the state of emergency will expire at the end of the day Tuesday.

Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson says it is time for Kansas to return to normal.

MEXICO CITY  Mexico received 1.35 million doses of Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccines donated by the United States on Tuesday.

The U.S. shipment will be used to vaccinate anyone over 18 in four cities along the U.S. border: Tijuana, Mexicali, Ciudad Juarez and Reynosa. Mexico has said the goal is to boost vaccination rates there to levels similar to the U.S. cities they adjoin.

Foreign Relations Secretary Marcelo Ebrard, who was meeting with U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in Mexico City, says after the vaccinations there will be no public health arguments for keeping the border closed.

The U.S. and Mexico have restricted border crossings to essential travel since early in the pandemic.

Assistant Health Secretary Hugo Lopez-Gatell says the expanded vaccinations in border cities could begin Wednesday. Mexico is seeking to acquire more of the vaccine to inoculate all border residents.
Canadas western leaders say they plan to push Prime Minister Justin Trudeau this week on a detailed plan and timeline to reopen international borders.

Premier John Horgan talks about B.C.'s plan to restart the province during a news conference at the legislature in Victoria on May 25, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Canadas western leaders say they plan to push Prime Minister Justin Trudeau this week on a detailed plan and timeline to reopen international borders.

Theres absolute consensus that we want to get back as quickly as possible to whatever normal will be, but we also expect the federal government to be leading on that question, B.C. Premier John Horgan said Tuesday.

Come Thursday we expect the federal government to have a plan, and then well work on building consensus around that.

Horgans comments came after the leaders of Canadas four western provinces and three territories wrapped up an online conference. They discussed issues of shared concern, ranging from post-COVID-19 recovery to next steps and healing around residential schools.

Trudeau has called premiers to a meeting Thursday to discuss reopening borders amid concerns Canada is lagging behind other nations on resuming travel.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said his province aims to lift its advisory against non-essential interprovincial travel in early July, but a cautious international plan is needed.

We should facilitate a safe reopening of the U.S. border as soon as we reasonably can. Id like to see that happen early in July, said Kenney.

This is massively holding back our economy. What we see in the United States is that COVID does not pose a significant public health threat.

Horgan and Kenney said the plan needs to take into account remaining international COVID-19 hot spots.

We need to have a targeted approach to this. I think we all agree that there are some parts of the world that are further advanced than others in terms of vaccinations, said Horgan.

I want to see a clear plan from the federal government on how theyre going to monitor whos coming, how theyre coming, by air, by land, by sea.

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said his province needs clarification soon for travel, particularly on quarantine rules for those returning from abroad.

It may be a phased-in approach that involves a test  I dont know, said Moe.

It is important not only for families to meet families. I have friends that are thinking about how they will be able to reunite with their family in India, for example.

Moe said its also about getting the economy back firing on all cylinders: We do deal, in Saskatchewan, with over 160 countries each and every year.

In Ottawa, Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc signalled Canadians can expect an announcement on easing travel restrictions by Monday, but warned new rules won't necessarily go into effect right away.

He stressed that restrictions will be phased out slowly, and will be tied to rising vaccination rates and falling COVID-19 caseloads.

Business leaders have also called on Ottawa for a clear path to reopen the economy and international borders.

Perrin Beatty, head of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, said Canada is a G7 outlier for not having a fleshed-out reopening plan.

The western leaders also renewed their call to the federal government to strengthen their health funding partnership with sustainable long-term funding through Canada Health Transfers.

As we find our way out of the third wave, COVID has shown us the limitations of our health-care system, said Nunavut Premier Joe Savikataaq, host of the one-day meeting.

The leaders also discussed next steps on residential schools given the recent discovery of what are believed to be the remains of 215 children at a former school site in Kamloops, B.C. They agreed that next steps on finding other remains or helping survivors heal will be done but at the direction of Indigenous leaders.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 15, 2021.
OTTAWA - Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin is asking for a judicial review of the decision to remove him as head of Canada's vaccine logistics, alleging political interference by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and two of his cabinet ministers.

General Dany Fortin looks on as Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam provides an update on the COVID-19 pandemic in Ottawa on Friday, Jan. 8, 2021. Fortin, who was removed from his post as the head of vaccine logistics last month, is alleging his dismissal involved political interference by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and two of his cabinet ministers. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

OTTAWA - Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin is asking for a judicial review of the decision to remove him as head of Canada's vaccine logistics, alleging political interference by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and two of his cabinet ministers.

Lawyers for Fortin filed an application Monday with the Federal Court, seeking an expedited judicial review of last month's decision to fire him from his posting with the Public Health Agency of Canada and to not reassign him.

It asks that the decision be quashed and that he be reinstated to his secondment at PHAC or assigned to another position "commensurate with his rank."

Fortin was removed from the vaccine rollout on May 14, just five days before the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service referred a sexual misconduct investigation to the Quebec prosecution service to determine whether criminal charges should be laid.

Through his lawyers, Fortin has denied any wrongdoing.

The court application says the decision to remove Fortin and not reassign him was unreasonable, lacked procedural fairness and involved "improper political interference in the military chain of command" by Trudeau, Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan and Health Minister Patty Hajdu.

None of the allegations has been tested in court.

The application also says the announcement of his termination breached his right to keep his personal information private and fuelled public speculation without the appropriate context, causing irreparable harm to his reputation.

The Prime Minister's Office referred a request for comment Monday to the Department of National Defence.

A spokesperson for Sajjan said only: As this is an ongoing legal matter, it would be inappropriate for us to comment at this time.

Fortin's accusation of political interference comes as the Trudeau government continues to be lambasted by opposition parties for failing to fire former chief of the defence staff Jonathan Vance when Sajjan first learned in March 2018 of an allegation of sexual misconduct against him.

In that case, Sajjan has said he referred the matter to the Privy Council Office for investigation and that it would have been inappropriate political interference for him to have done anything else. PCO officials have said they were unable to investigate the matter at the time as the complainant did not want to come forward.

Vance, who stepped down as defence chief in January, has since come under military police investigation for two separate allegations of misconduct. He has denied any wrongdoing.

The Liberal government was under fire over Vance and its handling generally of misconduct in the military when it learned of the allegation against Fortin.

According to Monday's application for judicial review, Fortin first heard about an unspecified allegation of sexual misconduct against him on March 17, when acting chief of the defence staff Lt.-Gen. Wayne Eyre informed him that military police had launched an investigation.

Later the same day, after informing the Privy Council Office about the investigation, Eyre told Fortin he would "advocate for due process, the presumption of innocence" and for allowing Fortin to continue working on the vaccine rollout.

PHAC president Iain Stewart said much the same, according to the application. But while Fortin's posting was "OK for now," Stewart also warned him that Hajdu and Trudeau "may change their minds later" and that he should prepare himself "for the moment when they determine that you need to be let go."

"Keep your bags packed," the application cites Stewart as telling Fortin.

On April 19, Fortin received a call from a military police investigator who told him he was being investigated for one instance of sexual misconduct, alleged to have occurred more than 30 years ago.

On May 13, Eyre told Fortin that Hajdu and Sajjan "wanted to remove him" from the vaccine rollout. He did not say what had prompted the decision other than to tell Fortin that "the 'political calculus' had changed and that the PCO had said he would have to be removed."

The following day, Eyre presented Fortin with a written statement regarding his departure "pending the results of a military investigation." The statement was "not negotiable" other than giving Fortin the option of saying he had chosen to leave his assignment with PHAC.

The statement was released later that day but Sajjan also released a separate statement which he prefaced by reiterating the government's commitment to building a "culture of inclusion" in the Canadian Armed Forces that "sheds toxic and outdated values, practices and policies."

That, Fortin's lawyers argue, made it clear to the public that Fortin "was under investigation for improper conduct and it could easily be surmised that ... (it) was sexual in nature."

They contend that the decision to fire Fortin appears to have been made by Hajdu, Sajjan, Trudeau and the clerk of the Privy Council. As such, they "circumvented and interfered" with Eyre's powers and effectively prevented him from reassigning Fortin to another position.

"As a result Maj.-Gen. Fortin has, de facto, been relieved from performance of his military duty."

Five days after Fortin departed, the military police issued a statement saying an allegation of sexual misconduct was being referred to Quebec's director of criminal prosecutions. Fortin only learned about that development through the media, his lawyers say.

Fortin "was not afforded fair and impartial decision-making," his lawyers argue.

"The decision was politically motivated and the outcome was pre-determined ... The decision was arbitrary, not in the public interest and made solely for the personal and political gain of the ministers of health and national defence and the prime minister."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 14, 2021.
Ontario is committing $10 million over three years to identify, investigate and commemorate burial sites on the grounds of former residential schools in the province.

Children's shoes and flowers are shown after being placed outside the Ontario legislature in Toronto on Monday, May 31, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

Ontario is committing $10 million over three years to identify, investigate and commemorate burial sites on the grounds of former residential schools in the province.

The funds will also go toward culturally appropriate supports for school survivors, their families and communities, and the entire process will be Indigenous-led.

"Indigenous communities have waited too long for action to bring justice to the little ones who didn't make it home," Indigenous Affairs Minister Greg Rickford said Tuesday from Kenora, Ont.

"Initial site identification will be the first step in what is anticipated to be a much more extensive process, and we're committed to seeing this work through to completion in collaboration with our Indigenous partners."

Residential school survivors, elders, community members and leaders will be involved and the process will be guided by the wishes of families and communities, Rickford said.

Ontario's announcement comes a few weeks after the discovery of an unmarked burial site believed to contain the remains of 215 children at a former residential school in Kamloops, B.C.

The Tk'emlups te Secwepemc First Nation said it used the services of a ground-penetrating radar specialist to confirm the preliminary findings last month. That discovery prompted calls for funding to support similar work across the country.

Ogichidaa Francis Kavanaugh of Grand Council Treaty #3 in Kenora said the news from Kamloops has affected First Nations people across the country.

"While we already knew this occurred in Canada, it is incredibly painful to relive, especially for survivors and our families who have bravely been telling us the truth for decades," he said.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford participates in a press conference remotely from Queen's Park regarding Residential School burial sites in Toronto on Tuesday, June 15, 2021. Ontario is committing $10 million to identify, investigate and commemorate burial sites on the grounds of former residential schools in the province. Ford announced the funds today with Indigenous Affairs Minister Greg Rickford and Indigenous leaders. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Tijana Martin

Kavanaugh also called for searches to extend beyond residential school grounds, based on reports from survivors who recalled children being buried off site or cremated.

"It is important that our efforts are done in a proper way to respect the spirits of the children," he said.

Rickford confirmed the investigation process, driven by survivors' knowledge, could extend beyond the 18 known residential school sites in Ontario.

"What we're providing is an opportunity ... for that information to come forward," he said.

More funding might be allocated after the immediate focus on searches and support for affected individuals, Rickford said, adding that the province is also prepared to call on the federal government for support.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said his government had felt the need to act on the issue.

"There is painful but necessary work ahead and we must confront what happened for reconciliation to be achieved," Ford said.

The National Truth and Reconciliation Commission identified 12 locations of unmarked burial sites in Ontario. The province said there are likely more.

The final report from that commission detailed mistreatment at Canada's residential schools, including emotional, physical and sexual abuse, and more than 4,000 deaths at the institutions.

It reported known deaths of 426 children who attended schools in Ontario and an unknown number of children still missing.

Ontario said its process for investigating residential school sites will involve archaeologists, forensic specialists, historians and other experts. The province's chief coroner and chief forensic pathologist will also be engaged.

The province will also fund culturally appropriate and trauma-informed mental health supports for residential school survivors, their families and communities.

Six Nations of the Grand River Elected Chief Mark Hill called for in-depth investigations into the deaths of children whose remains are found.

"Six Nations is encouraged in the hope that we will find all of our missing children and bring to light what exactly happened to each of them," said Hill, who spoke Tuesday from outside the Mohawk Institute in Brantford, Ont., accompanied by survivors of that school.

Ontario Regional Chief RoseAnne Archibald said she was grateful the province was answering the calls of leaders who wanted the work to happen.

"Our little ones need to be found, named, and where possible, returned to their families and communities," she said in a statement. "Memorial sites must go up across Ontario to remind us that we can never let this happen to our children again, ever."

Indigenous NDP legislator Sol Mamakwa said $10 million was a drop in the bucket compared to the funds required to complete exhaustive searches of at least 18 sites. Based on his own consultations with experts, he said the work would likely take closer to a decade and cost far more.

"We welcome it, but I hope its just only the beginning, Mamakwa said.

Ottawa pledged $27 million last month to support Indigenous communities in locating and memorializing children who died at residential schools.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said Tuesday that details of a "multimillion-dollar package" of support for locating burial sites at residential schools in that province would be coming in the next few days. He said Alberta will offer grants to Indigenous organizations, who can decide how to approach the work.

Premiers of Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Yukon and Northwest Territories said they would take direction from Indigenous leaders on resources needed to find unmarked burial sites.

The Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program has a hotline to help residential school survivors and their relatives suffering with trauma invoked by the recall of past abuse. The number is 1-866-925-4419.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 15, 2021.
BRUSSELS - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spent his last day in Europe on Tuesday thanking leaders and local workers for getting COVID-19 vaccines to Canada, saying there is no "silver bullet" that results in shots being available around the world.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau waits to take his seat at the EU-Canada Summit Monday June 14, 2021 in Brussels, Belgium. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

BRUSSELS - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spent his last day in Europe on Tuesday thanking leaders and local workers for getting COVID-19 vaccines to Canada, saying there is no "silver bullet" that results in shots being available around the world.

Trudeau visited the manufacturing facility in Puurs, Belgium, where Canada's supply of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was produced until the United States started shipping doses early last month.

His main message to those at the plant: "Thank you."

Trudeau repeated it multiple times to workers during a brief walking tour of the facility, as well as to Pfizer's managing director. He listened as officials showed the deep freezers where vaccines are stored, then walked up a separate production line to see where the doses are boxed and shipped.

Around 11.6 million vaccines produced at the facility made their way to Canada after being approved last December.

Canada faced bumps in its vaccination campaign earlier this year when a slowdown at the production plant in Belgium disrupted delivery plans.

Since then, the volume of vaccines flowing into Canada has steadily risen. This week alone, Canada is set to receive 2.4 million doses from Pfizer-BioNTech, which has consistently delivered large weekly shipments since mid-March.

Getting more of the world vaccinated against COVID-19 faster, especially those living in less wealthy countries than major democracies like Canada, was the main mandate of an earlier Group of Seven leaders' summit Trudeau attended in Cornwall, U.K.

There he said Canada had committed $2.5 million in international pandemic-related aid to buy 87 million doses to go to poorer countries. He also announced plans for Canada to donate almost 13 million doses through the global vaccine-sharing alliance known as COVAX.

It's a relatively small amount considering Canada, with 38 million people, has contracts to buy 251 million doses from pharmaceutical companies.

Speaking Tuesday after a separate Canada-EU summit with European leaders, Trudeau said getting everyone around the world vaccinated as quickly as possible is complex, demonstrated by the discussion around loosening the rules around COVID-19 vaccine patents.

Its not just finding a single silver bullet thats going to suddenly result in finding vaccines everywhere around the world," he said. "There are complexities that need to be worked through."

The World Trade Organization is in talks about temporarily waiving intellectual property rights around vaccines. Supporters say it would make it easier for developing countries to import the expertise, equipment and ingredients necessary to make their own COVID-19 vaccines.

European leaders have presented an alternative to the idea from Africa and India. They believe a better solution is compulsory licensing, which is when a government OKs someone else making a patent-protected product without the owner's permission.

Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, said everyone shared the same goals.

"We want that, in a crisis like in this pandemic, manufacturing possibilities and capacities rapidly can be brought to a region that is at the moment being not in the position to produce, for example, vaccines," von der Leyen said. "The question is what is the best approach.

The Canadian government has confirmed it's in on the WTO talks around waiving vaccine patents, but after being asked repeatedly, Trudeau has yet to reveal Ottawa's position.

Trudeau on Tuesday also sat down for a meeting with the Belgium's prime minister, whom he thanked for the country's work on vaccine production, and had a brief audience with the Belgian king.

The PM was set to fly back to Canada, where his office said he would begin a 14-day quarantine, first in an Ottawa hotel, until he receives a negative COVID-19 test result.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 15, 2021.
For those who are dead-set against getting vaccinated against COVID-19, there are a couple of things you should know.

For those who are dead-set against getting vaccinated against COVID-19, there are a couple of things you should know.

While it is your legal right to refuse a COVID-19 vaccine, that does not give you additional unfettered rights to go anywhere, do anything, with anyone at anytime. In fact, those who don't get vaccinated may find they are subject to prolonged social and economic restrictions that will, in all likelihood, be very legal and very enforceable.

The bigger question here is why more people don't know that and, closely related to the first, why governments are not doing more to clarify the consequences of non-vaccination.

While countries like the United States have generated volumes of information on the legal issues surrounding COVID-19 vaccines, both federal and provincial governments in this country have been eerily silent at a time when we really need clarity. That is particularly infuriating because Canada already has a legal framework that governs the limits that can be legally imposed on our guaranteed rights and freedoms.

Arthur Schafer, a bioethicist at the University of Manitoba, says a landmark 1986 Supreme Court decision established what has become known as the "Oakes Test," which lays out the conditions that must be met to justify any intrusion on individual rights or freedoms.

The Oakes Test asks whether the threat "pressing and substantial," that the goal of the intrusion cannot be accomplished by other means, that there is a strong likelihood the intrusion will achieve its goal, and that it is proportional to the gravity of the threat.

"In other words, they're asking whether the benefits outweigh the harm done by limiting someone's rights and freedoms," Schafer said.

However, where Sharma veers dangerously off course is suggesting the passport itself is discriminatory; the real issue is access to vaccines, not whether it is legal to ask for proof of vaccination.

One need only look at the social and economic consequences of the pandemic to know that COVID-19 is both pressing and substantial. Further, almost everyone except the hardcore anti-vaxxers accept that vaccines are our only realistic hope of escaping the pandemic. And finally, that there is a very real possibility of an "endless pandemic" if strong measures are not used to stamp out the novel coronavirus.

Although governments have been silent, private law firms and legal scholars have weighed in and the consensus is that since vaccines are widely available and free, an employer could make proof of vaccination a condition of employment for a new hire. And if a particular workplace requires employees to be vaccinated to ensure the safety of co-workers or others, it is not discriminatory to ask for proof of vaccination.

There are caveats. Schafer noted that "reasonable accommodations" must be made to the point of "undue hardship." These could include offering non-vaccinated people roles where they don't come in contact with other people, or are provided separate work spaces or continued opportunities to work from home. Or, employers could ask someone who cannot or will not be vaccinated to undergo regular COVID-19 testing and provide proof of the test results.

"It's important to sort out the issues here," Schafer said. "We're not talking about mandatory vaccinations. We're talking about mandatory proof of vaccination, and that is a much different thing. If you tick all the boxes (on the Oakes test), these restrictions should hold up."

There will be those who will disagree.

Last week, Karen Sharma, acting executive director of the Manitoba Human Rights Commission, warned the province and private businesses that vaccine passports would likely be classified as discriminatory under provincial law because it is not easily obtained by some people in the province. And for the most part, she is right.

Those with no fixed address, who struggle with language barriers, physical limitations or a lack of economic means have always had trouble getting government identification. We have to create a mechanism to fully recognize those people who genuinely cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons.

Left out of these statements is an acknowledgement that every time you renew your driver's licence, you are asked for an update on the quality of your eyesight. When you register children for public school, you must disclose if they have received vaccinations or provide a valid reason for an exemption. Insurance companies almost always require a medical examination in order to get a life insurance policy.

However, where Sharma veers dangerously off course is suggesting the passport itself is discriminatory; the real issue is access to vaccines, not whether it is legal to ask for proof of vaccination.

Sharma is not alone in muddying the waters on this issue. Earlier this year, federal and provincial privacy commissioners and ombuds declared vaccine passports as "an encroachment on civil liberties that should only be taken after careful consideration."

Left out of these statements is an acknowledgement that every time you renew your driver's licence, you are asked for an update on the quality of your eyesight. When you register children for public school, you must disclose if they have received vaccinations or provide a valid reason for an exemption. Insurance companies almost always require a medical examination in order to get a life insurance policy.

Two-dimensional analyses erroneously suggest there are no consequences for refusing to get vaccinated. They may be saying, "be careful," but what many Canadians hear is "vaccine passports are illegal and discriminatory."

COVID-19 represents the single greatest threat to public health and economic security in the history of this country. Given the gravity of that threat, and the nature of both the virus and the vaccines, we need to do everything we can to vaccinate every willing Canadian.

And those who choose not to be vaccinated? They will ultimately reap the benefits of the efforts made by the vaccine willing. It just may take a wee bit longer than they expected.

dan.lett@freepress.mb.ca
Health Minister Heather Stefanson has still not been given the go ahead by her doctor to return to work, a spokesman for the government said Monday.

Health Minister Heather Stefanson has still not been given the go ahead by her doctor to return to work, a spokesman for the government said Monday.

On May 21, members of the legislature press gallery were informed that Stefanson on that day was undergoing a necessary medical procedure as recommended by the MLA for Tuxedo's physician.

"As a result, she will be absent from her legislative duties for the remainder of the spring sitting while she recovers," director of media relations and issues management Blake Robert said in an email at the time.

The spring sitting of the legislature concluded on June 1. During Stefanson's absence, deputy premier Kelvin Goertzen has served as the acting minister of health and seniors care. There was no indication Monday of when she'd be able to resume her duties.

"Minister Stefanson continues to make good progress in her recovery at home," Robert said Monday. "As indicated when her medical leave was announced, the timing of her return will be based on the advice of her physician. The minister looks forward to returning to work as soon as her physician advises that she is able to do so safely."

Stefanson's official Twitter account has remained active, posting updates on the province's COVID-19 vaccine rollout and other government information almost daily.

Stefanson was sworn in as health and seniors care minister on Jan. 5 when Premier Brian Pallister overhauled the front bench of his cabinet. In the shuffle, she replaced Cameron Friesen who moved from the health portfolio to justice and attorney general, while Cliff Cullen shifted from justice to education, which Goertzen headed. Manitoba's first Black cabinet minister  Audrey Gordon  was sworn in as minister of mental health, wellness and recovery.

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca
A Winnipeg man arrested after a Saskatchewan RCMP officer was killed Saturday has a record of violence directed at justice officials, court records show.

A Winnipeg man arrested after a Saskatchewan RCMP officer was killed Saturday has a record of violence directed at justice officials, court records show.

Alphonse Stanley Traverse, 41, and co-accused Marlene Velma Louise Pagee, 42, were arrested outside Francis, Sask., just hours after RCMP Const. Shelby Patton was struck by a suspected stolen truck in Wolseley, Sask.

RCMP Const. Shelby Patton is shown in this undated handout photo, was struck and killed by a truck he pulled over in rural Saskatchewan on Saturday morning. (RCMP)

Patton, 26, died at the scene.

Traverse and Pagee appeared in Regina court Monday, charged with manslaughter and other offences in relation to Pattons death. They remain in custody.

In 2009, Traverse was sentenced to just over 4 1/2 years in prison for his involvement in a home invasion targeting a Manitoba Crown attorney.

According to court records, Traverse was one of four men who used a stolen van to get to the prosecutors Winnipeg home at around 6:45 a.m., March 31, 2007.

The lawyer, unable to sleep after receiving a death threat over the phone a day earlier, heard the group trying to force open the front entry and screamed for help from her husband, who tried to barricade the door with his shoulder.

Traverse and his three co-accused ran to the back door and forced their way inside. The lawyers husband picked up a board and began swinging at the home invaders, all of whom fled, one of them yelling: "Youre going to be shot."

Court at the time heard allegations the home invasion was tied to another accused arrested for threatening the lawyer after he was sentenced to five years in prison for robbery.

A makeshift memorial for Const. Shelby Patton is laid out beside the Indian Head RCMP detachment in Indian Head, Sask., on Sunday. (Kayle Neis / The Canadian Press)

Traverses criminal record includes multiple convictions for assault, breaking and entering, and breaching court orders  offences, court has been told, that are directly tied to an ongoing alcohol addiction.

According to a 2015 pre-sentence report, Traverse began drinking at age eight, with alcohol becoming "a problem" by the time he was 12.

"Im dealing with my addiction everyday when Im out there," Traverse told a judge sentencing him in 2017 for assaulting a movie theatre employee with a shoe.

"Its hard for me to stay on track, but I always keep in the back of my mind: stay sober, and enjoy life on the street, instead of always being in jail."

In 2015, Traverse was sentenced to 20 months in jail, after he pleaded guilty to an alcohol-fuelled break-and-enter and assault.

At the time of Patton's death, a warrant had been issued for Traverses arrest for several offences dating to October 2019, including theft, possession of stolen property, theft of an automobile, and impaired driving.

Traverse had been out of jail just one day when, on June 11, 2014, he pitched a rock through the door of Kens Restaurant on Ellice Avenue, broke inside, grabbed a "butcher-style" knife and threatened kitchen staff.

Witnesses described the man as being in a "crazed state." Traverse returned outside and knocked a passerby off his scooter, giving him a concussion, before Traverse was arrested by police.

At the time of Patton's death, a warrant had been issued for Traverses arrest for several offences dating to October 2019, including theft, possession of stolen property, theft of an automobile, and impaired driving.

Pagee, meanwhile, is set to stand trial in July on a number of charges, including possession of stolen property, drug possession, unauthorized possession of a weapon and breaching court orders.

Last month, a judge fined Pagee $298 for driving without a licence. A drug charge was stayed, after a male occupant in her vehicle claimed responsibility for the drugs, court heard.

In 2006, Pagee was fined $1,900 after she pleaded guilty to flight from police, impaired driving and possession of a stolen vehicle.

dean.pritchard@freepress.mb.ca
Two passersby, who happened to be nurses, rushed to perform CPR on a man who had been shot in the back near a girls school in West Broadway Monday afternoon.

Two passersby, who happened to be nurses, rushed to perform CPR on a man who had been shot in the back near a girls school in West Broadway Monday afternoon.

A witness who lives in the area said he heard at least four shots ring out.

"I thought it was firecrackers. Then I thought, no," he told the Free Press.

The witness saw a black vehicle peel away from the scene at Young and Balmoral streets, across from Balmoral Hall School around 3:45 p.m.

Police then arrived and began medical treatment on the victim. By 4:15 p.m., around 15 officers, including tactical officers, remained on the scene and blocked off the area to pedestrians and drivers while taking witness statements from people who had been in the area.

On Young Street, a piece of black clothing that the witness said was cut off of the victim by police remained in the street.

The witness said one of the nurses said the man wasnt breathing, and paramedics arrived around 15 minutes after that.

A man was shot in West Brodway Monday afternoon. He was taken to hospital and police wouldn't reveal his condition. Mikaela Macintosh / Winnipeg Free Press

"There was a lot of blood," he said. "It was a bad scene  he was bloody on his face and on his back, and theres still a lot of blood on the street."

He called the experience "terrifying," noting it was only the second time he had heard gunshots in the decade he has lived in the neighbourhood.

"Everybody around was so traumatized," he said. "They were trying so hard to help him."

In a tweet, police warned parents not to pick up their daughters because the school was in lockdown. Police advised that no children had been hurt in the drive-by shooting. The lockdown ended at approximately 4:30 p.m.

Police issued a news release to say no information about the identity of the victim or his condition was available. The police gave no further comment after being contacted by the Free Press.

One resident of the nearby Sheridan apartment building at 33 Balmoral St. said she heard multiple gunshots and a woman scream. Inside her apartment, she immediately ducked. By the time she looked out her window, the victim was receiving medical treatment.

She said she was shaken and wasn't accustomed to a violent event taking place so close to where she lives.

"I'm taking it in right now," she said. "It's very scary to see that so close outside."

malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca
BRANDON  The Unity Riders of Sioux Valley Dakota Nation and support riders from surrounding communities gathered Monday with their horses at Grand Valley Provincial Park.

BRANDON  The Unity Riders of Sioux Valley Dakota Nation and support riders from surrounding communities gathered Monday with their horses at Grand Valley Provincial Park.

The goal of the near-nine-kilometre ride in 28 C heat: keep the spotlight on the search for unmarked grave sites linked to the former Brandon Indian Residential School.

Sioux Valley band councillor Tony Tacan teamed up with Travis Mazawasicuna, head of the Unity Riders, to organize the trek.

"Right now, First Nations everywhere are making this awareness a goal. We need to keep that momentum going so this isnt swept under the rug or hidden or (not get) talked about. Now, every First Nation community across this country should contribute something. And in small ways everything works," Tacan said.

Last week, Sioux Valley Chief Jennifer Bone said in a statement the First Nation had identified 104 potential graves in three local cemeteries, but only 78 were accountable through historical records.

On Monday, there were more than 12 horses, riders and support teams. An elder wore a traditional headdress and clothing as he mounted his horse.

Another man wove his way around horses and riders, holding a smouldering traditional smudge in blessing.

"Everybodys coming together without being told, they want to contribute. Thats a welcome sight. Were just bringing awareness to the issue. We dont want nobody to forget," Tacan said.

"Its a very bad moment in history, and (we need) to create awareness so it never happens again.

"We have to make sure that these children arent forgotten. The descendants of these children need to know where they are."

In the Dakota culture, horses provide a sacred connection to healing.

"The horse really lifts people up," Tacan said. "They see the horse come in  and thats what our intentions are: to make people feel good, that theyre not alone.

"We know there are survivors coming in, one at a time, to look at the grounds, and theyre having hard times. Theyre remembering."

Tacan said while Mondays ride is significant, the national issue of Indigenous childrens unmarked graves must be kept on the front burner during elections for chiefs and band council members.

"Im talking about every community. Every leadership that has an election needs to remember this issue and just keep it going."

He has stepped into the boots his uncle left behind after he died, heading the Unity Riders, a group centred on First Nations advocacy.

"Today, we ride for the survivors. Theres still a lot of living through the historical trauma, and now its been passed onto the children and grandchildren," he said Monday.

Theres a spiritual connection with the horse  rider and animal become as one, he said. Mazawasicuna has travelled hundreds of kilometres on horseback, spreading awareness on issues and healing of his people.

On the hill, just up the road, overlooking a large field, sits a display of 104 orange hearts. A beacon.

At the terminus of the ride, waited a group of residential school survivors and others. The elderly sat, while the very young played under canopies of shade on the site that was once the Brandon residential school.

There were quiet conversations, recounting personal stories and the stories of others.

Children as young as three-and-a-half-years old were once brought to the school, they said. Their ways and language were taken from them.

"The people outside that dont understand, I think the history books have to be rewritten. I think when everyone sings the national anthem, is it true? Were not free. This started a long time ago. Its a deep wound for Canada," Mazawasicuna said.

 Brandon Sun
Leaders of the top industrial nations, meeting on the weekend at an English beach resort, drew political heavyweights into their coalition to push back against Chinas growing world power. This has probably strengthened Canadas hand in telling China to release the Canadian hostages now languishing in Chinese prisons.

Leaders of the top industrial nations, meeting on the weekend at an English beach resort, drew political heavyweights into their coalition to push back against Chinas growing world power. This has probably strengthened Canadas hand in telling China to release the Canadian hostages now languishing in Chinese prisons.

At the urging of U.S. President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, chairing the G7 this year, invited India, South Africa, South Korea and Australia to sit along with Canada, the European Union and the rest of the seven regular members of the group. This enlarged group produced a text they called Open Societies Statement which, though it never named China, was clearly aimed against the repressive Communist dictatorship and its growing assertiveness on the world stage.

DARRYL DYCK / CANADIAN PRESS FILES Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor have been detained in China since December, 2018.

Canada has been conducting its own diplomatic efforts to line up support for its demand that China release Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, imprisoned in China for the last two and a half years in retaliation for Canadas detention of Huawei Technologies executive Meng Wanzhou. Ms. Meng was arrested in Vancouver on Dec. 1, 2018 at the request of the U.S. government to face fraud charges in the U.S.

Canada in February issued a statement denouncing the use of arbitrary detention in state-to-state relations, signed eventually by 60 governments and clearly aimed against Chinas hostage-taking and similar conduct by other governments. The statement was supported by European democracies but lacked signatures from Third World heavy-hitters.

The Open Societies Statement from the Carbis Bay meeting, however, fills that gap. The statement spells out the values of liberal democracies including human rights, fair elections, social inclusion, freedom of expression and the rule of law. It also warns against authoritarianism, electoral interference, corruption, economic coercion, manipulation of information and a long list of other evils.

Coming to Canadas point, the statement commits the signatories to exchange information and co-ordinate effective responses to disinformation, arbitrary detention and other threats to human rights.

The general effect of this statement is to show China that it is increasingly isolated politically and diplomatically in Africa and in the Asia-Pacific region, where it has been using its financial muscle and some military displays to assemble a group of client states dependent on Chinese support.

The specific effect, of interest to Canada, is that Chinas use of arbitrary detention is part of the pattern of conduct that worries its regional neighbours and has now sparked creation of a formal coalition to uphold open-society values. This should help persuade China that hostage-taking has given it a bad reputation that weakens its position in the region and in the world at large.

If China is alert to which way the wind is blowing, it should now recognize that it has lost this round and should quit before the damage gets worse. It has not coerced Canada into disregarding its treaty obligations to the United States. It has not made Canada send Meng Wanzhou back home to China. It has, however, provoked the top industrial nations and four major powers of Africa and the Asia-Pacific region to form a stop-China coalition.

Sound like a good moment to throw in the towel. Let the two Michaels go home and make a fresh start at winning friends and influencing people without taking hostages.
Cecilia McLandress, like thousands of Manitoba students, is facing a graduation ceremony without a crowd of happy relatives, dinner or dance.

Cecilia McLandress, like thousands of Manitoba students, is facing a graduation ceremony without a crowd of happy relatives, dinner or dance.

The Grade 12 student at St. Mary's Academy said for years she and her classmates eagerly anticipated their grad  only to have COVID-19 public health restrictions limit it to, at most, a drive-in convocation at a sparse venue at the far end of the city.

Graduates appear on stage without masks in a social-media post from Spring Church.(Instagram/Twitter)

"A lot of us graduates feel its extremely unfair that (Springs College, a nine-month leadership program) got to hold their graduation while the rest of us cant, especially because they may have contributed (to) COVID-19 spread and endangered the health of others," she said Tuesday.

"It does not seem right that some people get to break the law/public health orders while the rest of us sit at home, finishing high school via Zoom."

On Tuesday, Manitoba Justice officials said Winnipeg-based Springs Church had been charged with two counts of failing to abide by public health orders: holding an indoor gathering on private property, and failing to make sure anyone not wearing a mask while indoors is told to do so as soon as practicable.

Enforcement officials have issued a summons to church officials to appear in court July 6.

Last month, Springs Church posted photos to social media showing a maskless, indoor graduation ceremony held at its college May 20. More than a dozen people could be seen on stage, along with others in the audience. Masks were not worn in the pictures.

After the photos were met with widespread criticism on social media, Leon Fontaine (a senior pastor and co-president of the affiliated college) defended the event, saying all 18 student participants were part of the same cohort from orientation to graduation. All were physically distanced on the stage and in compliance with public health orders, he said.

Fontaine said the ceremony was filmed so it could be shown later on a large outdoor screen in their parking lot.

The images were shared on Twitter and Reddit, then reportedly removed from the churchs Instagram account. (Instagram/Twitter)

During the second COVID-19 wave in Manitoba last year, Springs Church established an online donation fund to pay for potential provincial enforcement tickets and challenge a ban on drive-in worship services.

Court documents show the church received five $5,000 fines for holding drive-in services Nov. 22, Nov. 28 and Nov. 29, while pastors Leon and Zach Fontaine received six $1,296 fines.

Erik Parker, a pastor at Sherwood Park Lutheran Church, who has been vocal against the actions of Springs Church through the pandemic, said: "It's sad they chose to host events against guidelines, especially during that peak when you couldn't visit outside of your household."

"It's not only selfish  it's tone deaf."

JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Springs Church holds a drive-in religious service against Manitoba Health code-red restrictions in November.

Parker said, currently, because the government has loosened some of the restrictions, a limited number of people can now visit together outside their home.

"If it takes churches being closed to allow everyone that little bit of normalcy, I'm willing to do it. We can worship in different ways."

As for Cecilia and her classmates, she said it has been tough, as they missed out on the traditional graduation mass, grade retreat, and parent-daughter brunch.

"This is so hard for our family," she said. "It's so disappointing that I can't celebrate with my family or friends, especially since it didn't have to be this way.

"I know for a fact that a lot of people my age, including myself, are enraged by the provincial government's pandemic response."

 with files from staff, The Canadian Press

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca
Western premiers are demanding the Trudeau government present a draft plan to reopen the border with the U.S. and allow tourists to fly in from abroad.

Western premiers are demanding the Trudeau government present a draft plan to reopen the border with the U.S. and allow tourists to fly in from abroad.

"Come Thursday, we expect the federal government to have a plan, and then we'll work on building consensus around that," B.C. Premier John Horgan told reporters Tuesday, after meeting with his counterparts from the Prairies and three territories.

Throughout the pandemic, premiers have had a virtual call on Thursday evenings with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Horgan said the provinces want Ottawa to release its plan to allow tourists into the country, and for Canadians to return without needing a two-week quarantine.

Since March 2020, Canada has restricted Americans from crossing the land border for non-essential reasons. Most foreigners have been banned from entering Canada unless they have a residency permit or special permission, such as visiting a palliative care patient.

Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister said hed prefer that include benchmarks based around how much of the Canadian population is immunized.

"Any discussion around reduction of border barriers has to also recognize the reality of the vaccine as the way out of this mess," he said.

The premiers hope to get information on the possibility of a national proof-of-immunization card. Manitoba launched its own immunization card, which can be used to access services within the province.

Earlier in the day, federal Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc said Ottawa had not considered a domestic card, but will help figure out a system for those who travel abroad.

"The idea would be to find the best common secure platform for Canadians who want to have proof of vaccination in the context of international travel," he told reporters.

"Whether some provinces choose to have vaccination proof as a requirement for certain public activities or certain gatherings, that is a provincial jurisdiction."

On Tuesday, the premiers reiterated their call for more generous health-care transfer payments, to account for the mounting costs of caring for the aging population.

Trudeau said last December he would consider that after Canada emerges from the pandemic. The premiers argued that with vaccine programs underway, now is the time to have that discussion.

The Liberals have shown no desire to make health-care transfers a focus of their campaign in the next election, expected this fall.

Pallister did not speak up when a reporter asked all premiers whether they support Alberta if it asks for a revision of the federal equalization program. The province is planning a referendum on that issue.

The equalization program, which has existed since the 1950s, involves Ottawa transferring funds to provinces so that each Canadian, no matter where they live, receives comparable services at comparable taxation rates.

Saskatchewan, whose energy sector makes it a net contributor to equalization, would support Alberta, said Premier Scott Moe.

Manitoba was the only recipient province at Tuesdays meeting and Pallister did not answer. Neither did the B.C. premier.

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca
The U.S. death toll from COVID-19 topped 600,000 on Tuesday, even as the vaccination drive has drastically brought down daily cases and fatalities and allowed the country to emerge from the gloom and look forward to summer.

FILE - In this Jan. 9, 2021 file photo, transporters Miguel Lopez, right, Noe Meza prepare to move a body of a COVID-19 victim to a morgue at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in the Mission Hills section of Los Angeles. The U.S. death toll from COVID-19 has topped 600,000, even as the vaccination drive has drastically slashed daily cases and deaths and allowed the country to emerge from the gloom. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

The U.S. death toll from COVID-19 topped 600,000 on Tuesday, even as the vaccination drive has drastically brought down daily cases and fatalities and allowed the country to emerge from the gloom and look forward to summer.

The number of lives lost, as recorded by Johns Hopkins University, is greater than the population of Baltimore or Milwaukee. It is about equal to the number of Americans who died of cancer in 2019. Worldwide, the COVID-19 death toll stands at about 3.8 million.

The milestone came the same day that California and New York lifted most of their remaining restrictions, joining other states in opening the way, step by step, for what could be a fun and close to normal summer for many Americans.

Deep down I want to rejoice, said Rita Torres, a retired university administrator in Oakland, California. But she plans to take it slow: Because its kind of like, is it too soon? Will we be sorry?

With the arrival of the vaccine in mid-December, COVID-19 deaths per day in the U.S. have plummeted to an average of around 340, from a high of over 3,400 in mid-January. Cases are running at about 14,000 a day on average, down from a quarter-million per day over the winter.

FILE - In this Monday, Dec. 7, 2020, file photo, people wait in line for COVID-19 testing at a site operated by CORE in Los Angeles. Virtually every state is reporting surges in cases and deaths. The U.S. death toll from COVID-19 has topped 600,000, even as the vaccination drive has drastically slashed daily cases and deaths and allowed the country to emerge from the gloom. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

The real death tolls in the U.S. and around the globe are thought to be significantly higher, with many cases overlooked or possibly concealed by some countries.

President Joe Biden acknowledged the approaching milestone Monday during his visit to Europe, saying that while new cases and deaths are dropping dramatically in the U.S., theres still too many lives being lost, and now is not the time to let our guard down.

The most recent deaths are seen in some ways as especially tragic now that the vaccine has become available practically for the asking.

More than 50% of Americans have had at least one dose of vaccine, while over 40% are fully vaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

But demand for shots in the U.S. has dropped off dramatically, leaving many places with a surplus of doses and casting doubt on whether the country will meet Biden's target of having 70% of American adults at least partially vaccinated by July 4. The figure stands at just under 65%.

As of a week ago, the U.S. was averaging about 1 million injections per day, down from a high of about 3.3 million a day on average in mid-April, according to the CDC.

A person arrives for a COVID-19 inoculation at a mass-vaccination site at the former Citizens Bank headquarters in Cranston, R.I., Thursday, June 10, 2021. The U.S. death toll from COVID-19 has topped 600,000, even as the vaccination drive has drastically slashed daily cases and deaths and allowed the country to emerge from the gloom. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

At nearly every turn in the outbreak, the virus has exploited and worsened inequalities in the United States. CDC figures, when adjusted for age and population, show that Black, Latino and Native American people are two to three times more likely than whites to die of COVID-19.

Also, an Associated Press analysis found that Latinos are dying at much younger ages than other groups. Hispanic people between 30 and 39 have died at five times the rate of white people in the same age group.

Overall, Black and Hispanic Americans have less access to medical care and are in poorer health, with higher rates of conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure. They are also more likely to have jobs deemed essential, less able to work from home and more likely to live in crowded, multigenerational households.

With the overall picture improving rapidly, California, the most populous state and the first to impose a coronavirus lockdown, dropped state rules on social distancing and limits on capacity at restaurants, bars, supermarkets, gyms, stadiums and other places, ushering in what has been billed as its Grand Reopening just in time for summer.

Disneyland is throwing open its gates to all tourists after allowing just California residents. Fans will be able to sit elbow-to-elbow and cheer without masks at Dodgers and Giants games.

Gov. Gavin Newsom celebrated by hosting a drawing in which 10 people won $1.5 million each simply for being vaccinated.

In New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Tuesday that 70% of adults in the state have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and he announced that the immediate easing of many of the restrictions will be celebrated with fireworks.

What does 70% mean? It means that we can now return to life as we know it, he said.

He said the state is lifting rules that had limited the size of gatherings and required some types of businesses to follow cleaning protocols, take peoples temperature or screen them for COVID-19 symptoms. Businesses will no longer have to restrict how many people they can allow inside based on the 6-foot rule.

For the time being, though, New Yorkers will have to keep wearing masks in schools, subways and certain other places.

Massachusetts on Tuesday officially lifted a state of emergency that had been in effect for 462 days, though many restrictions had already been eased, including mask requirements and limits on gatherings. Republican lawmakers in Kansas decided to let a state of emergency expire Tuesday. And Maryland's governor announced that the emergency there will end on July 1, with the state no longer requiring any masks.

The first known deaths from the virus in the U.S. were in early February 2020. It took four months to reach the first 100,000 dead. During the most lethal phase of the disaster, in the winter of 2020-21, it took just over a month to go from 300,000 to 400,000 deaths.

With the crisis now easing, it took close to four months for the U.S. death toll to go from a half-million to 600,000.
Schenck, whose daughter attends the district, said he doesnt think its safe yet for all students to be in classrooms without masks. He said he wants to allow his daughter to be in person this fall but if masks arent required, he might keep her virtual.

I dont want to do that, Schenck said. I would much rather be in person with masks than some people in person without masks and some people virtual.

Thome said shes considering the Wisconsin Department of Health Services data, which still shows Sauk County as dark blue, meaning it has a high COVID-19 activity level based on the number of positive cases over the last two weeks.

It is a very hard decision, Thome said during the discussion, adding that she wasnt sure yet how she would vote. But its not clear to me that our county and our area of the state is out of this yet, and I think were all going to be really sorry if we vote to allow everyone to unmask and then we stay in that heavy blue for the rest of the summer and have to start school again with masks on.
Scott Frostmans columns in the Baraboo News Republic and sister newspapers are littered with falsehoods. Among the worst was his June 3 propaganda about gun rights. Frostman claimed that the federal governments definition of an assault rifle as a semi-automatic rifle capable of accepting a detachable magazine with a round greater than a .22 caliber. . . . would basically cover every single modern sporting rifle in America today.

Frostman could not possibly be more wrong. The definition that Frostman referred to does not cover the most popular modern sporting rifle in American history, the lever action Winchester, not a semi-automatic. Lever action Winchesters are featured in every television and movie Western that you have ever seen. Other non semi-automatic sporting rifles are bolt action, which is the choice of serious big-game hunters; slide or pump action; and break action. Frostman may be the only Wisconsin hunter who is ignorant of these basic facts, unless of course he was lying.
JUNEAU  A 32-year-old Fond du Lac man was placed on a $200,000 cash bond on Monday for multiple charges including taking a hostage while he was under 14 day quarantine after entering the Dodge County Jail.

Travis Bruemmer faces additional felony charges of second degree recklessly endangering safety, strangulation and suffocation, battery by prisoner and substantial battery. He could be sentenced to 82 years in prison if convicted of all the charges

Bruemmer appeared before Dodge County Circuit Court Commissioner Steven Seim. As a condition of his bond, he may not have any direct or indirect contact with the victim.

According to the criminal complaint, Bruemmer, who was being housed in the Dodge County Jail after being charged with felonies including robbery, was in contact with a health professional at Dodge County Jail May 19 when he attacked her. The health professional said Bruemmer had told her a day earlier that he did not feel he could make it through a 14-day quarantine in his cell alone. He also made multiple requests to be seen for medical conditions.
We get his testimony from that case and start to ask him questions, the jurors are not stupid, theyre going to know what that is, Raybin said.

Moore said there is plenty of time until the trial, adding that they may or may not actually call Stiger as a witness.

Moore added that he thinks a jury shouldn't need any expert testimony when they see video footage of the shooting. But if there are expert witnesses, Moore said, Stiger should be allowed to testify.

The back-and-forth came as the prosecution and defense made their late-game arguments about what should or shouldn't be revealed to a jury. The jurors will be picked the week before the trial starts.

After Moore said prosecutors don't think experts are needed because of the video available, Raybin argued the opposite. Raybin asked the judge to exclude all video evidence because of additional footage that the defense argued could have shown a key, unseen blip in the chase, but was not retained in the investigation. Moore countered that it's unlikely that the additional, unreviewed video would show anything new.
If theres any city where business has been done ... it has been Geneva, Legvold said of the two rival countries.

Legvold noted how Eisenhower used the 1955 meeting to launch what became known as the Open Skies agreement, which called for U.S. and Soviet militaries to exchange maps to boost transparency and defuse tensions.

That eventually led to a treaty in 1992, which let each country carry out surveillance flights over the others territory. Under Trump, the U.S. pulled out of the Open Skies Treaty, and the Biden administration announced last month that the U.S. would not rejoin it  alleging repeated Russian violations.

Putin has lamented the collapse of the Soviet Union as the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century, and has sought to rebuild Russia's Soviet-era global clout and prestige. He often has been critical of Gorbachevs legacy, saying that the U.S. and its Western allies cheated the Soviet Union by pledging not to expand NATO eastward following the reunification of Germany  and then breaking their promise.
That is what these conversations over the last few months have been about, Devine said. Since each power plant is different it is unclear if it will be five or ten years.

Columbia County officials have been upset with the lack of information from Alliant on what will happen at the current site. Columbia County Chair told the Board of Supervisors in May that Alliant has not been forthcoming with plans for the 3,000-acre site in Pacific.

Cindy Tomlinson, of Alliant Energy said, Prior to our announcement in February 2021, we had met with officials from the town of Pacific, city of Portage and Columbia County about accelerating the retirement of the Columbia Energy Center. These conversations began last summer, though we have been meeting with local officials for years, as part of our commitment to building stronger communities.

Tomlinson said they are still in the first steps of planning and arent withholding information. She said Alliant has not released any plans because the company is still in the planning phase for decommissioning the Columbia Energy Center.
Alumnus honoured for subcontractor rights advocacy

Geoffrey Jochelson awarded Medal of the Order of Australia for changing the face of construction cashflow.

Geoffrey Jochelson (BCom 1950) was awarded an Order of Australia Medal earlier this year for introducing The Security of Payment Act  legislation that allows contractors to recover disputed payments without going to court.

The 90-year-old alumnus, who is based in Kensington Sydney, wrote to the Alumni Relations Office to share the news: I was involved with the problem in South Africa from the time I graduated and joined the family-owned electrical contracting company Penman and Jochelson (Pty) started by my father in 1922. It was sold to an international company Hadens in 1978. During the period of my involvement (1952-1978) and as a member of the Electrical Contractors Association I was elected President (1968-1970) and later as a Life Member.

The award is a recognition given to Australian citizens for achievement or meritorious service and around 844 Australians received various honours and orders in January 2021.

As a boy, Jochelson witnessed his father, an electrical contractor in Johannesburg, being told that he wouldnt get paid for his work many times. At one point, his father took out an overdraft to make sure he could pay his subcontractors. This injustice stayed with him even though he enjoyed a successful career as an electrical contractor and emigrated to Australia in 1984.

I followed mainly other engineering pursuits but in 1990 joined the Electrical Contractors Association (later National Electrical and Communications Association) as contract officer to assist members with contractual problems including that of late payment or non-payment.

Jochelson lobbied the New South Wales (NSW) government for nine years through the 1990s, and persisted under three different premiers. Then in his 70s, he worked through endless proposals, meetings, government assessments, and the difficulties that go with trying to bring into existence entirely new law. He also had his full-time role as commercial manager at the National Electrical Contractors Association to juggle.

Finally, in 2000 it all paid off. The NSW government made the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act into law. It is now a statuary process where payment disputes get decided by an adjudicator in a rapid compulsory adjudication scheme.

A rapid adjudication system is the key to its success, Jochelson said.

A payment dispute can go from a claim to a decision in only six weeks. The Security of Payment system allows parties to bypass the lengthy and costly litigation route that forced many contractors to abandon the payments due to them, and to go into liquidation.

I was the principal driving force to achieve this type of legislation which later spread to the other six states and territories, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Thailand and Singapore. I retired from NECA in 2005 and continued my industry involvement for a short while undertaking adjudications whilst President of the Adjudicators Forum, Jochelson said.

Anthony Igra, the managing director of Contractors Debt Recovery, one of Australias Security of Payment specialists said: Geoffrey Jochelsons work has effectively blasted a hole through the age-old roadblock facing unpaid contractors  no time and no money. Recovering disputed payments used to take months or years and cost a fortune in court proceedings. Geoffrey changed all that.

Now a payment dispute can be decided in about five weeks at a tiny fraction of the cost. Its not an overstatement to say that he single-handedly changed the face of construction cashflow around the entire country.

This Witsie4Good is described as softly spoken and even tempered and his hard work has seen over a billion dollars of payments recovered using the Security of Payment process.

In 2018 he was awarded an Excellence Award from the NECA for outstanding service to NECA and commitment to the advancement of legislation relating to Security of Payment Laws.
Tech giants including Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google could be forced to make sweeping changes to their businesses under a series of new bills introduced Friday by House lawmakers targeting the companies' economic dominance.

The bipartisan legislation marks Congress's most significant push to date to rein in Silicon Valley, in some cases taking direct aim at tech giants' underlying business models.

If successful, the legislation could force Google to stop promoting YouTube in its search results, or prohibit Amazon from selling products on its marketplace that compete directly with third-party seller listings. Apple could be required to relax its restrictions on iOS app developers, and Facebook could be banned from acquiring nascent companies for the purpose of stifling future rivals.

The most aggressive of the five bills, which addresses concerns about tech giants using their control over multiple business lines to favor their own products or to suppress rivals, opens the door to breakups of the companies if they don't comply.

"For example, a search engine could not own a video service that it has incentives to favor in search results," according to press material provided for the proposed legislation. "In such instances the bill requires dominant platforms to divest lines of business where the platform's gatekeeper power allows it to favor its own services or disadvantage rivals."

The bills do not name specific companies. But virtually every legislative proposal seeks to respond to the findings of a 16-month investigation of the tech industry conducted by the House Judiciary Committee's antitrust panel. That investigation concluded, in a landmark report, that Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google enjoy monopoly power and have abused their position in varying ways at the expense of fair competition.

"Right now, unregulated tech monopolies have too much power over our economy," Rep. David Cicilline, the subcommittee's chairman, said in a statement. "They are in a unique position to pick winners and losers, destroy small businesses, raise prices on consumers, and put folks out of work. Our agenda will level the playing field and ensure the wealthiest, most powerful tech monopolies play by the same rules as the rest of us."

Google declined to comment on the legislation. Facebook, Apple and Amazon did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The large tech companies have previously denied engaging in anti-competitive conduct. They argue they compete fairly, and provide products and services that have greatly benefited consumers.

The proposed legislation prompted praise from Big Tech critics and smaller rivals. Roku, the streaming device maker that competes with several of the largest tech companies, said Friday that an "aggressive set of reforms is needed to prevent a future where these monopolists further abuse consumer choice and hamper access to innovative and independent products."

Tech industry advocates say the proposed bills would lead to dramatic changes for consumers. The bills would potentially outlaw practices such as the ability to see YouTube videos in Google search results, or free shipping on Amazon Prime for select products, Adam Kovacevich, founder and CEO of the Chamber of Progress, an advocacy group backed by Amazon, Facebook, Google and others, wrote ahead of the bills' introduction.

Each of the bills is being spearheaded by multiple committee Democrats and at least one Republican, according to congressional aides. The bipartisan cooperation highlights how the techlash has become one of the rare issues that can unite both sides of the aisle, though the two parties sometimes disagree about diagnosing the most pressing problems from Silicon Valley.

"There's not much Republicans and Democrats agree on these days, but we agree we need to tackle this crisis," one of the aides said.

The package does not include any provisions addressing Republican claims of perceived anti-conservative bias from online platforms, the aides said, in part because online content moderation is not within the committee's jurisdiction and because the committee's top Republican, Rep. Ken Buck, believes allegations of ideological bias stem from a broader monopoly problem in tech.

"These companies have maintained monopoly power in the online marketplace by using a variety of anticompetitive behaviors to stifle competition," Buck said in a statement. "This legislation breaks up Big Tech's monopoly power to control what Americans see and say online, and fosters an online market that encourages innovation and provides American small businesses with a fair playing field."

The legislation seeks to impose restrictions on only the nation's largest platforms. For example, a proposed ban on so-called "killer acquisitions" would apply to platform companies with a market cap of over $600 billion and at least 50 million monthly users or 100,000 business customers.

While the bills prohibit certain practices, they hand responsibility for enforcement (and greater resources) to antitrust officials at the Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission.

"America has been on the sidelines" when it comes to antitrust enforcement, one of the aides said. "We've been asleep at the switch over these many, many transactions. There's a growing consensus around the world that the status quo is not working."
COOPERSTOWN, N.Y.  Otsego County officials and community leaders gathered at the Cooperstown Distillery Monday to celebrate the completion of the $430,000 expansion project.

Through a $100,000 Community Development Block Grant from the Office of Community Renewal and an $85,000 grant from Empire State Development, the distillery was able to build a warehouse to expand production and add seven full-time jobs.

The award through our Office of Community Renewal is a concrete example of Governor Cuomos approach that a thriving small business delivers more jobs, visitors and private capital to a communitys downtown, said RuthAnne Visnauska, commissioner at New York State Homes and Community Renewal. Our $100,000 investment allowed Cooperstown Distillery to hire seven full-time employees, including veterans, and will drive business for local farmers as part of the rapidly expanding agriculture industry in the Mohawk Valley.

The warehouse is a two-story, 7,520 square foot structure which houses machinery and equipment to allow product to age and mature on site.
UTICA, N.Y.  In celebration of reaching a 70% vaccination rate in New York, firework displays will take place across the state Tuesday night  downtown Utica included.

The fireworks will begin at 9:15 p.m. at the P.J. Green lot at 100 Whitesboro St. Around 8:15 p.m., the city will close Whitesboro Street west from Genesee Street and eastbound from Seneca Street. This will include side streets along Whitesboro Street like Burchard Lane and Hotel Street. The firework safety area extends behind Kookie Q's, and police will be present to prevent crowds from gathering in that area.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Tuesday that COVID-19 restrictions like capacity limits, social distancing and health screenings are no more.

"As we celebrate lifting restrictions and resuming our reimagined normal, we also reflect on the hard work of New York State's essential workers and we remember those we lost, said Cuomo. New Yorkers have always been tough, but this last year has proven just how tough they are. Congratulations, New Yorkers, on all that your hard work has accomplished."

There are nine other firework displays scheduled statewide, including at the state fairgrounds in Syracuse and at the Empire State Plaza in Albany.

Several state buildings were also lit in blue and gold to celebrate essential workers and their hard work and dedication throughout the pandemic.
The other day I mentioned that I saw a whole flock of deer in my backyard. This proclamation was not responded to with the delight and wonder I was expecting but rather with a dismissive rejoinder that a group of deer was called a herd. Really. How imprecise of me. A flock is a group but a g
87 year old, Woodward resident passed away December 28, 2020. A memorial service will be held Wednesday, July 7, 2021 in the Elmwood Cemetery at 10:00 a.m. Remembrances may be shared online at www.billingsfuneralhomewoodward.com
Fire breaks out at Lubrizol's Chemtool facility in Illinois, US

Fire outbreak at Lubrizol Corporation's Chemtool Facility in Rockton, Illinois, US. (Image  WREX)

ROCKTON, US: At approximately 7 am, local emergency personnel responded to a fire at the Lubrizol Corporations Chemtool facility in Rockton, Ill, it said. The company confirmed all on site are safe and accounted for. As a precaution, authorities have evacuated residents in a one-mile radius of the site.

Lubrizol is working with local authorities and their own risk management team to determine what happened and identify any corrective actions.

Loud pops could be heard coming from the structure, reported WREX news.

The company is a premium manufacturer of grease, with corporate headquarters, a research laboratory and one of its production facilities is located in Rockton, Chemtool website stated.

Its products include fluids, lubricants and greases manufactured for a wide variety of purposes. Chemtool serves industries including agriculture, automotive, construction, energy, food, industrial, marine, mining, metalworking and steel industries.

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One suspect in deadly Forest Hills shooting pleads not guilty; second suspect still at large
New Adferiad (Recover) support programme launched for those suffering from long covid in Wales

Investing in services and a dedicated support programme for those recovering from the long term effects of COVID-19 is crucial as we begin the recovery from the pandemic.

That is the message from Health Minister Eluned Morgan who was speaking after meeting with clinicians and patients who have had the virus.

A 5million package of support  as part of a new patients pathway programme dubbed Adferiad (Recover) has been announced by the health minister to expand the provision of diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and care for those suffering from the long term effects of Covid-19, including long COVID in Wales.

Adferiad (Recover) is designed to stand by those who suffer from long COVID and will continue to evolve and develop as more is learnt about the long term effects of those recovering from the virus.





The programme, which will be launched later this week to coincide with new guidelines surrounding the treatment of the long term effects of those recovering from Covid-19, will be reviewed every six months and underlines the fact the Welsh Government and NHS Wales recognise long covid as a serious and potentially debilitating condition.

The aim of the approach in Wales is to minimise the number of referral points for people, providing clear sign posts for people to support themselves where possible or ensuring that they are given access to specialised services where necessary following a consultation with their GP

The package of funding and Adferiad programme will further develop primary and community services to support individuals who have specific needs as a result of the impacts of the pandemic.

Professor Peter Saul, Joint Chair of RCGP Cymru Wales said: I welcome the Ministers announcement of additional resources to support diagnosis and management of patients with Long Covid. The condition has required us all to learn and adapt quickly to support our patients.

Primary care is at the forefront of Long Covid care and this announcement will provide confidence that we will have the infrastructure, shared knowledge and data for GPs and their teams across Wales to respond to patients needs.

The Welsh Government say the money will go towards:-

Helping healthcare workers and Allied Health Professionals develop infrastructure to flexibly deliver services to help people recover from Covid-19, Long COVID and those more widely impacted by the pandemic.

Provide high quality, evidence based training and digital resources to assist in diagnosing, investigating and treating Long COVID and supporting people in their treatment and rehabilitation.

Invest in digital tools which will provide data about service demand and capacity modelling and ensure the NHS helps people make the right treatment decisions for their care and treatment.

It comes after the Health Minister Eluned Morgan met with patients and clinicians from the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board over the last week to learn about how they are tackling Long COVID.

The minister has also met patients who have been recovering from Long COVID since the start of the pandemic during a virtual meeting, to learn about their experiences of care and how they have been supported through it.

Yesterday (14 June) the Minister visited the Geraint Thomas National Velodrome of Wales to meet clinicians who have been delivering Covid Rehabilitation and Recovery services, to learn about how they have been treating patients and the challenges they have faced dealing with the long term effects following a new virus.

Later this week the All Wales guideline for the management of Long COVID will be launched, along with the Adferiad (Recover) support programme. This important guidance for health professionals will offers the latest information for managing long COVID across NHS Wales, and is supported by a package of comprehensive education and resources.

Health Minister Eluned Morgan said: It has been fascinating to learn about how we have been tackling the long term effects of Covid, including long COVID and the wider impacts of the pandemic in Wales, both from healthcare workers on the front line and those who have experienced this awful virus themselves.

In Wales we are committed to personalised treatment and rehabilitation pathways to meet peoples needs, as we believe this is the most effective way to care for those experiencing the effects of Long COVID.

We believe our Adferiad (Recover) programme will be key in ensuring we are leading the way in patient care.

By investing in the staff, infrastructure, training and tools to deliver these services, we are showing our commitment to improving the diagnosis, treatment and care of those with long COVID.
Over 800,000 vaccines carried in North Wales with more than 315,000 now fully vaccinated

Over 800,000 vaccines have now been administered across North Wales.

Figures released yesterday by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board also that 315,366 people across the region are fully vaccinated after receiving both doses of a coronavirus vaccine.

A total of 493,690 people have also received their first vaccine.

The health board, along with others across Wales, has now offered all eligible adults the chance to come forward for vaccination. This target was hit six weeks ahead of the Welsh Government target.





However there has been a fresh appeal for the more 87,000 people who have yet to be vaccinated in Wales to book an appointment as part of the no one left behind policy.

All health boards have systems in place to enable people to get an appointment if they think they have been missed of the list or if they have changed their mind.

Vaccination clinics across Wales are accelerating second doses amid growing concerns about the spread of the delta variant of the virus across the UK.

In Wrexham the numbers of people vaccinated in each cohort, include:

Residents in Older Persons Care Homes (1st / 2nd dose vaccinated or declined)  106% and 96%

Staff working in Older Persons Care Homes (1st / 2nd dose vaccinated or declined  90% and 82%

People aged 80 years and over (1st / 2nd dose vaccinated or declined)  99% and 95%

Frontline Healthcare workers (1st / 2nd dose vaccinated or declined)  97% and 90%

Frontline social care workers (1st / 2nd dose vaccinated or declined)  97% and 89%

People aged 75 to 79 years (1st / 2nd dose vaccinated or declined)  98% and 95%

People aged 70 to 74 years (1st / 2nd dose vaccinated or declined)  97% and 94%

All those aged under 16-69 yrs who are clinically extremely vulnerable (1st / 2nd dose vaccinated or declined)  95% and 89%

All those aged 65 years and over (1st / 2nd dose vaccinated or declined)  95% and 90%

Moderate risk adults under 70 years of age (1st / 2nd dose vaccinated or declined)  89% and 68%

All those aged 60  64 years (1st / 2nd dose vaccinated or declined)  89% and 66%

All those aged 55  59 years (1st / 2nd dose vaccinated or declined)  87% and 54%

All those aged 50  54 years (1st / 2nd dose vaccinated or declined)  87% and 37%

All those aged 40  49 years (1st / 2nd dose vaccinated or declined)  79% and 7%

All those aged 30  39 years (1st / 2nd dose vaccinated or declined)  63% and 3%

All those aged 18  29 years (1st / 2nd dose vaccinated or declined)  55% and 2%

Last week the health board described those aged 30-39 as being a key target group, with take up currently lowest among this age group.

Locally this figure has increased from 58% uptake in the last week. However in Flintshire just 53% of this group have been vaccinated so far.

Speaking on Sunday evening, Health Minister Eluned Morgan urged young adults in the last two groups to come forward when invited.

She said: Wales is leading the world when it comes to the percentage of our population who have been vaccinated.

Im delighted that today we have reached the milestone of offering all eligible adults their first dose  six weeks ahead of schedule.

This is a remarkable achievement and I want to thank everyone involved for their incredible efforts. However, we are not being complacent  I want to encourage younger adults to take up this offer of the vaccine and we dont want to see anyone left behind.

We are keen to see 18 to 39-year-olds vaccinated and hope to reach our milestone of 75% take-up in this age group by the end of this month.

Please take up your vaccine appointment; it offers protection to you, your loved ones and your communities and it is our best route out of the pandemic.

You can book an appointment to be vaccinated on the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board website, here.
RIPLEY, TN (WSMV) - Curtis Watson, accused of killing a prison administrator after escaping from the West Tennessee State Penitentiary in Henning, accepted a plea deal on Monday that will require him to serve life in prison without parole.

Curtis Watson indicted on 15 counts, including murder of Debra Johnson NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV) -- Curtis Watson, accused of raping and killing TN Dept. of Corrections administrator Debra Johnson, has been indicted by

The plea deal, reached in agreement with prosecutors and Debra Johnson's family, was announced during a plea hearing on Monday afternoon.

Debra Johnson Debra Johnson, Correctional Administrator, was killed near the West Tennessee State Penitentiary. (Photo: Tennessee Department of Correction)

Watson is accused of breaking out of a West Tennessee facility in 2019 and tragically raping and killing Johnson, who spent a bulk of her life working with TDOC in Nashville. He led police on a multi-day manhunt out in the woods before being captured.

Family of Debra Johnson suing state Debra Johnson's family has filed a lawsuit against the state of Tennessee and others for not protecting their mother.

The Tennessee Department of Correction has renamed the women's prison in Nashville to honor Johnson while state and Metro officials named a portion of Interstate 440 in Nashville to honor Johnson.

Johnson worked TDOC for distinguished for 38 years TDOC Commissioner Tony Parker said she impacted countless lives during her time.

Commissioner Tony Parker Statement Debra loved being a part of the Tennessee Department of Correction but more importantly she loved the staff and cared deeply about improving the lives of incarcerated people. She held the admiration and respect of her colleagues and was regarded as a knowledgeable professional who worked tirelessly to support and coach offenders in their rehabilitation. She was a devoted daughter, sister, mother, grandmother and friend. Her absence is felt each day within our agency.

TDOC said they will ensure that the orders of the court are carried out and Watson is housed according to policy and supervised appropriately.
The countdown to Nascar's official return to Nashville is in the single digits. This weekend in Wilson County at the Nashville Superspeedway, it's race weekend. As our Justin Beasley shows up, a lot had to be done to be ready for NASCAR's first return in 37 years.
Local emergency personnel responded to a massive explosion at the Chemtool Inc. plant in Rockton, Illinois north of Rockford at around 7 a.m. Monday. It was classified a four-alarm firedefined as a catastrophic firedue to its continuing explosive nature. The fire is being allowed to continue and flame out on its own and is not expected to go out for at least several days, according to Rockton Fire Chief Kirk Wilson.

A fireball explodes out from a Chemtool plant in Rockton, Illinois, as firefighters battle the blaze (screengrab)

According to witnesses, one firework-sized explosion was first heard from the direction of the plant before more, louder explosions were heard. Soon, a large pillar of smoke was visible and citizens in Rockton were told to evacuate. At the plant itself, the 70 workers on site were evacuated safely with no one wounded except one firefighter, who was mildly injured in response. The plant is closed until further notice with no estimate done on the damage caused to the building. News coverage throughout the day showed more explosions in the plant going into the afternoon as the smoke continued to consume almost the entire plant.

All those living within one mile of the plant (consisting of roughly 150 homes) were evacuated from the area, while those in the Rockford region are encouraged to wear masks and stay indoors as the fire continues. Forbes reported the smoke could be seen from Chicago as the wind continues to carry it south and southwest. On Monday afternoon, Governor JB Pritzker sent the Illinois National Guard to the plant to ensure its containment and assist local agencies in evacuating the towns residents. At least 40 agencies and 175 firefighters were on scene with approximately 60 firefighters from 18 departments in Wisconsin also being sent across the state border to assist Rockton emergency responders.

The black clouds of smoke from the explosion became so large they were visible on weather radar. The massive scale of the fire and its environmental risks bring up questions regarding the nature of the company itself.

Chemtool Incorporated is a manufacturer of grease and lubricant materials headquartered in Rockton as of 2009. In 2013, Chemtool was purchased by the Lubrizol Corporation, another provider of specialty chemicals including lubricants, transportation-related fluids, and additives for engine oils. A transnational corporation with sites in North America, Europe, Asia, and Latin America, Lubrizol employs 8,800 workers with 50 total manufacturing sites worldwide and customers in 100 countries. In 2020, the corporation had a total revenue of $6.5 billion.

The Chemtool production facilities, owned by Lubrizol, are reported to contain some of the largest grease reactors in the world and the plant in Rockton is one of its largest sites. Still, there is little information regarding the cause of the fire or what led it to spread so quickly to consume such an enormous facility. After the fire broke out and forced workers and residents to evacuate, Chemtool released a statement saying, We do not yet know what caused this incident, but we will be working with local authorities and with our own risk management team to determine what happened and identify any corrective actions. We will share more details as they are known.

This statement will come as little comfort to Chemtool and Lubrizol workers in light of the companys response to another massive fire in Rouen, France two years ago. On September 25-26 2019, an enormous fire broke out in the Rouen plant for causes that still remain unknown despite an investigation by the company. The plant contained toxic materials and chemicals that were released into the air at a rapid rate, causing numerous cases of headaches, vomiting, and eight hospitalizations. The plant already had multiple incidents in which harmful chemicals were released into the environment. Lubrizol still has yet to determine how the fire was started and has not officially acknowledged that toxic chemicals were released during the fire.

When speaking about containing the fire in Rockton, Fire Chief Kirk Wilson spoke of hoping to avoid an environmental disaster by letting the product burn off to avoid any of the plants materials from getting into the Rock River, about 300 yards west of the site. And while ground-level reports have not shown any diminished air quality as of yet, chemicals such as sulfuric acid, nitrogen, and lead could still spread through the smoke as it continues to push southward. A small town of about 7,500 residents, Rockton could face significant economic and social consequences from the destruction of the plant. Its a big employer, Rockton Village President John Peterson told ABC 7. Devastating for a lot of them.

Lubrizols response to the Rouen fire in 2019 should be a warning to all Chemtool workers and their families, especially those in Rockton. As more information is released regarding the fire and when it will eventually burn out, workers must recognize the international record of corporations like Chemtool and Lubrizol in regard to worker and human safety. As workers are put into more and more dangerous conditions at the service of these billion-dollar companies, the ruling class continues to put themand the population in generalat enormous risk to ensure its own profits. Chemtool workers in Rockton must unite with other Lubrizol workers in the US and internationally to demand a fully transparent inquiry into the cause of the fire and the safety measures being used to protect them as well as full compensation for all those affected by the disaster.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has delayed lifting Britains last remaining public health restrictions by up to four weeks.

Current restrictions on nightclubs, indoor gatherings, some large events and pub and restaurant capacity will remain until July 19, unless a review at two weeks brings that date closer. An exception was made for weddings and wakes where the 30-person limit will be lifted with social distancing rules maintained.

This is the most minimal of measures. But the fact that the Conservative government so determined to end the last lockdown on Freedom Day in a weeks time, has been forced to make even such a limited gesture points to the serious dangers posed to the working class by the resurgent pandemic. Johnson, a man who declared in October that he would rather let the bodies pile high in their thousands than enforce a lockdown, only adjusts course on the pandemic when the situation is potentially catastrophic and a backlash is threatened in the population.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson gives a press conference concerning the Covid pandemic with the Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty and the Chief Scientific Advisor, Sir Patrick Vallance. 9 Downing Street, June 14, 2021 (credit: Picture by Andrew Parsons /No 10 Downing Street)

Last week, an Opinium poll found that 54 percent of the public felt the date should be delayed, 62 percent did not want mask-wearing to end, 60 percent thought nightclubs should stay shut and 57 percent thought the 30-people limit on outdoor gatherings should be kept. This concern is in response to the mounting proof that Britain is at the beginning of a third wave of COVID-19, driven by the more dangerous Delta variant.

In the last few days, the evidence and warnings from scientists and medical professionals have been overwhelming.

The seven-day average for daily new infection in the UK is now over 7,000, up from around 1,500 at the end of the New Year lockdown. Cases are doubling roughly every week.

Public Health expert Anthony Costello, a member of Independent SAGE (Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies), told the Daily Mirror that the real number of new cases each day was likely double the official total and that In a month youll be up to 100,000 new cases a day.

SAGE member Professor Andrew Hayward appeared on BBC Ones Andrew Marr Show on Sunday to warn of a substantial chance we could have a wave of hospitalisations that would put very substantial pressure on the NHS [National Health Service] at a time that its really trying to deal with the enormous backlog of cases of people waiting for hospital care.

The increased transmissibility of the Delta variant was extremely worrying and its higher likelihood to hospitalise people also extremely concerning.

Surges in certain areas of the country like the North West are beginning to spread across the country. Over 7 million people, one in eight, are living in areas recording more than 100 cases per 100,000 population.

Once again, the pandemic is falling heaviest on the working class. A disproportionate number of the most-affected locations are in the most deprived areas in the country. These areas are more likely to have lower vaccination rates than the national average.

London is particularly at risk. By June 8, just 55 percent of adults in the capital had received their first dose of the vaccine. The next lowest was the West Midlands at 69 percent and the highest was the South West at 73 percent. The gap is even starker on second doses34 percent in London versus 51 percent in the West Midlands and 56 percent in the South West.

All regions of the country have communities with extremely low first-dose vaccination ratesaround 25 percent in Stamford Hill North in London, Hockley and Jewellery Quarter in Birmingham and Harehills South in Leeds, and around 30 percent in Northampton Town Centre, Oldham Town South and Barton Hill in Bristol.

Nationally, there are 15 million adults, 2 million of them aged over 50, who have not received a vaccination.

Cases are for the moment concentrated among school-aged children and young adults but are rising among all age groups. As SAGE member Professor Devi Sridhar told BBC Radio 4s Today programme, the worry is that this will slowly move, like it has in previous waves, into older groups.

Current levels of vaccination are not enough to prevent a surge in cases and hospitalisations. According to Public Health England, a single dose of any vaccine is only 33 percent effective at preventing symptomatic infection with the Delta variant. Two doses of AstraZeneca are 60 percent effective and two doses of Pfizer 88 percent effective. Combining these figures with the number of people still unvaccinated, 68 percent of people effectively have no protection against getting coronavirus symptoms.

Vaccines have significantly reduced the chances of an infected person ending up in hospital, but admissions have begun to increase again with the spread of the Delta variant. At the start of the year, roughly 10 percent of people recorded as infected with COVID-19 ended up in hospital. That figure was pushed down to below 5 percent by the vaccination programme, but it has risen to 5.4 percent since the Delta variant became more prominent.

A surge in cases on the scale of last January will therefore see thousands admitted to hospital every day. Rates of hospitalisation are already increasing in areas most affected by the third wave. The seven-day average for COVID-19 patients in hospitals in the North West is 246, the highest since April 24. For London, the figure is 253, the highest since May 19. Overall, COVID-19 hospital admissions in the UK have increased by 15.2 percent in the last week.

Professor Neil Ferguson, an epidemiologist at Imperial College London who advises the government, has said his teams latest modelling does not rule out a fairly disastrous third wave.

Nothing Johnson announced yesterday will avert this disaster. Delaying the final reopening leaves in place all the conditions which are currently allowing cases to explode, including open schools with no virus mitigation measures and an almost wholly reopened economy. The governments model remains learning to live with the virus, rather than suppressing it.

This murderous policy finds its most grotesque and hysterical expression in statements from the Tory backbenches which oppose even the semblance of attention being paid to the pandemic.

Sir Charles Walker, a vice chairman of the Conservative backbench 1922 Committee, said in parliament yesterday, I just have an overwhelming sense of pessimism now that, if you cant lift restrictions at the height of summer, then you are almost certainly looking at these restrictions persisting and tightening into the autumn and winter Im afraid this is one-way traffic towards further lockdowns The government made the argument that we have to live with COVID-19. Existing is not living.

Steve Baker, the deputy chairman of the anti-lockdown Coronavirus Recovery Group of Tory MPs, claimed, It is increasingly clear that the modellers are our masters now Boris Johnson will need to be extremely careful he doesnt allow them to lead us into a lockdown that lasts all winter.

A senior Tory MP told the Sunday Telegraph, I am very worried the people who want to keep us shut down now want to keep us shut down permanently and are aiming for zero Covid.

Johnson pursues fundamentally the same policy as these open advocates for suffering and death. His four-week delay now is designed to better prepare for an irreversible reopening later, even as cases continue to rise.
Deona Marie Erickson, 31, was killed and three people were injured in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Sunday night after a man drove an SUV through a group of demonstrators gathered to protest the killing of Winston Smith by sheriffs deputies working as part of a federal task force on June 3.

A young boy holds his fist up as people dance at a rally and march organized by families who were victims of police brutality for the one year anniversary of George Floyds death on Monday, May 24, 2021, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Christian Monterrosa)

In a statement, Minneapolis Police said they were monitoring a protest at the intersection of Lake Street and Girard Avenue when they observed, on camera, a vehicle driving into a group of protesters around 11:39 p.m. on Sunday. A man at the scene said in a Facebook video that people were playing games in the street when the car sped up, crashed through trash cans, and hit another car that then hit Erickson.

The driver, 35-year-old Nicholas David Kraus from neighboring St. Paul, was arrested and is being held without bail on a charge of vehicular manslaughter.

Zachery James told the New York Times, protesters had used their own cars to blockade an area of the road and that he and about 50 other people had been occupying peacefully, when he heard a vehicle driving towards the group at high speed. When the driver hit one of the parked cars, James said it hit Erickson and sent her flying several yards into a pole.

Erickson was taken to a hospital in very critical condition but was later pronounced dead as a result of her injuries. Three other people suffered non-life-threatening injuries, the police said.

Police said that protesters had pulled Kraus from the car and detained him after the collision until he was taken into custody. Video on social media shows the moment that the suspect driving the vehicle was pulled out of the car. Some protesters hit the driver as he was being removed, police said in a statement, and he also received treatment at a local hospital.

The statement did not mention a potential motive, but police believe that the use of drugs or alcohol by the driver may be a contributing factor. Public records show that Kraus has been convicted of driving while intoxicated five times since 2007, as well as driving without a license, driving without insurance and speeding.

There have been days of protests in Minneapolis over the killing of Smith, who was shot by sheriffs deputies at a parking ramp in the Uptown area of Minneapolis on June 3.

Officials said members of the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force were trying to arrest Smith on charges of felony possession of a gun. A Marshals Service statement said Smith, who was in a parked vehicle, did not comply with law enforcement and that they opened fire when he flashed a gun.

Officers from six law enforcement agencies, including Hennepin and Ramsey County sheriffs offices, were part of the task force that attempted to arrest Smith.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension stated two deputiesone from Hennepin County and one from Ramsey Countyfired their weapons, striking Smith. State investigators also claimed Smith fired his gun, saying a handgun and a spent cartridge were found inside his car.

State investigators said the names of the two officers who shot Winston will not be released because they were working undercover.

The woman who was on a lunch date with Smith at the time said through her attorneys that she never saw Smith display a gun, contradicting law enforcements narrative of the shooting.

She never saw a gun on Winston Smith, and she never saw a gun inside the vehicle at any time, Racey Rodne, an attorney for the woman, said during a Thursday news conference.

The attorneys did not release the womans name and asked for her privacy to be respected as she recovers from this profound trauma. Investigators said the woman had suffered injuries from broken glass resulting from the shooting.

State investigators said there is no video footage of the fatal shooting because the Marshals Service does not allow body cameras for officers on this particular task force. Protesters and Smiths family raised concerns over the lack of footage and have demanded transparency and accountability.

Meanwhile, Smiths family honored his memory at a funeral on Saturday. He was truly a ray of sunshinethe kindest, sweetest, most joyful person, Tieshia Floyd, Smiths sister, said at the gathering, according to Minnesota Public Radio.

Winston was energetic, full of life, always a prankster and very funny, his family noted in his obituary. He had a heart of gold, and would help anyone that was in need. Smith leaves behind two daughters and a son.

His killing came just over a year after the May 25, 2020 police murder of George Floyd sparked mass multiracial protests against police violence across the United States and internationally.

Former Minnesota Officer Derek Chauvin, the officer who held his knee into Floyds neck for more than nine minutes, was convicted of manslaughter, third-degree murder and second-degree unintentional murder in April. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 25 and faces up to 30 years in prison. The trial for the three other officers charged in Floyds murder, Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao, is set to begin March 7, 2022. All four officers will also face charges for federal civil rights violations.
The six hundred workers at the Exceldor chicken processing plant in Saint-Anselme, a town fifty kilometers south of Quebec City, have been on strike since May 23.

The workers, who have been without a contract since last July, rejected an offer from Exceldor by 88 percent at the beginning of May. At the same time, they voted 95 percent in favor of strike action. On May 23, they rejected a second company offer by 78 percent, and the strike started at 2pm the same day.

Striking Olymel workers joining their class brothers and sisters from Exceldor on their picket lines on June 2 (STOVJ Facebook page)

According to Exceldor, its last offer contained an 18 percent wage increase over six years, as opposed to the 40 percent wage increase over six years that it claims Local 1991-P of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) is seeking.

One worker told the World Socialist Web Site that the workers demands concern not just wages, but also working conditions, including vacations and group insurance. He also reported that the union did not take a position on Exceldors two contract offers, adding that workers have been kept in the dark about the progress of negotiations throughout.

Exceldor, which portrays itself as a homegrown farmer-owned coop, is one of Canadas largest poultry processors. Following a merger with Grannys in 2019, Exceldor employs close to 3,500 people in facilities in Quebec, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Ontario. The company generates approximately $1 billion in sales annually.

Like the rest of the food processing industry, Exceldor has prioritized profits over human lives during the COVID-19 pandemic, keeping its employees working in unsafe plants. This has resulted in outbreaks in Saint-Anselme in November 2020 (at least 8 reported cases) and Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, Quebec in April 2020 (at least 23 reported cases). At its Blumenort, Manitoba slaughterhouse, the largest of its kind in that province with 650 employees, at least 52 employees have contracted the virus and 2 have died.

With each outbreak, Exceldor, with the complicity of public health authorities and the unions, launched phony mass testing campaigns to keep its plants open and blamed the workers themselves by claiming, without proof, that the outbreaks were the result of community transmission, i.e., that the infected workers had contracted the virus outside the plant.

In Vallee-Jonction in Quebecs Beauce region, less than 40 km from the Exceldor plant, 1,100 workers at an Olymel hog slaughtering and processing plant are continuing the strike they launched more than six weeks ago on April 28.

The workers are demanding a wage catch-up after two rotten agreements negotiated in 2007 and 2015 by the Confederation of National Trade Unions (CNTU)-affiliated Olymel Vallee-Jonction Workers Union (STOVJ) resulted in real-terms wage cuts of 40 percent.

At a May 15 bargaining session overseen by a Quebec government-appointed conciliator, Olymel presented a contract offer that the union said contained appalling setbacks. The company, which made $234 million in profits in 2020, claims it cannot offer more if it wants to remain competitive.

In response, the STOVJ has sought to sow illusions among workers that they can advance their interests by pleading with the company and the right-wing Quebec government of Francois Legault, a multi-millionaire former CEO who routinely speaks out in favour of management in labor disputes. In fact, on May 18, Quebecs CAQ (Coalition Avenir Quebec) government gave Olymel $150 million in the form of an investment, without demanding anything in return regarding workers conditions.

On May 21, the union organized a demonstration in the streets of Vallee-Jonction in which about 250 workers took part. The route taken by the striking workers took them past the homes of some of the plants executives. On this occasion, STOVJ President Martin Maurice summed up the unions tactics by declaring: We want to have the respect of the employer and thats why were here. We want them to listen to us.

Such appeals are futile. The ruling class is intent on making the working class pay for the hundreds of billions of dollars that the state funneled to the banks, big business and wealthy investors under the guise of bailouts at the beginning of the pandemic. The struggle of the Olymel and Exceldor workers is taking place in the context of a global big business assault on jobs, wages and working conditions.

The ruling class and its political lackeys stand fully behind Olymel and Exceldor. They are aware that in the midst of an upsurge in the class struggle across Canada and internationally a seemingly local and limited conflict could help trigger a social explosion. So, they use the pro-capitalist unions to handcuff the workers and contain their struggle within the framework of pro-employer labor laws and a sham collective bargaining process.

To intensify pressure on the workers, the big business media have produced a slew of reports blaming them for the adverse consequences of the food processing strikes. There have been numerous articles, for example, that deplore a possible shortage of chickens in Quebecs newly reopened restaurants and the apparent need to euthanize thousands of chickens that currently cant be slaughtered at the strike-bound Saint-Anselme plant. This set the stage for Exceldors executives to demand the Quebec government adopt an emergency law criminalizing the strike and ordering the workers to immediately return to work.

With the full-throated support of Legault and Quebec big business, the federal Liberal government recently passed back-to-work legislation to break the Port of Montreal dockers strike, and the CAQ government has threatened to similarly outlaw job action by the provinces construction and public sector workers, whose collective agreements have expired.

To secure their just demands and prevail in the face of the threat that the CAQ government will intervene to criminalize their strikes, the Olymel and Exceldor workers must join forces and broaden their struggle. This is a necessity of which they are increasingly aware. On June 2, striking Olymel workers visited Exceldor workers on their picket lines, in an act of solidarity that one worker described as a surprise visit.

The STOVJ and UFCW, and the labour federations with which they are respectively affiliated, the CNTU and Quebec Federation of Labour (QFL), have done next to nothing to publicize this elementary act of class solidarity. This is because, even if limited, the joint action constituted a challenge to their decades-long efforts to isolate and undermine worker struggles, while pursuing social dialogue with big business and state.

The STOVJ only briefly mentioned the event on its Facebook page. Yet on the same day, June 2, the STOVJ and the CNTU organized a well-publicized demonstration of Olymel workers in Quebec City. Its purpose was not to mobilize the independent and unified force of workers against the big business assault on wages, jobs and working conditions. Rather, it was aimed at politically lulling workers into submission, with empty pleas to the Legault government that it step back from its plan to push through legislation (Bill 59) in the coming days that undermines occupational health and safety.

In opposition to the strategy of demobilization and division put forward by the pro-capitalist unions and so as to take their struggle into their own hands, Quebecs striking food processing workers must build rank-and-file committees at their respective plants.

Such fighting bodies must be entirely independent of the trade union apparatuses and the big business political parties. They will allow strikers at Olymel and Exceldor to make contact with their brothers and sisters across North America where there is a rise in militant struggles, including among the miners at Vale in Sudbury, Ontario, and Volvo workers in Dublin, Virginia. This will facilitate the exchange of information, organization of solidarity actions, and the development of a working class counter-offensive against all concessions, speed-up, the dismantling of public services, and the criminalization of working class struggles.
Israels new coalition government was sworn in on Sunday, with far-right leader and settler advocate Naftali Bennett replacing Benjamin Netanyahu, the countrys longest serving prime minister.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, seated, smiles as he waits to pose for a group photo with the ministers of the new government at the President's residence in Jerusalem, Monday, June 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

It required a razor-thin confidence vote of 60 to 59 in the 120-seat Knesset, with one legislator from the United Arab List abstaining, to install the government of changea motley crew assembled by opposition leader, Yair Lapid, a former TV news anchor, who heads the second largest party Yesh Atid.

Under a power-sharing agreement, Lapid will take over as premier in two years time, in the event the highly unstable eight-party coalition lasts that long. In the meantime, he will serve as foreign minister.

Lapid was tasked with forming a government after Netanyahu, who despite heading the largest partyLikudin the March 23 elections, the fourth in two years, failed to do so. Two key small parties, Bennetts Yamina Party and Mansour Abbas conservative Islamic Movement-affiliated United Arab List, or Raam, with seven and four seats, agreed to join forces with Lapid. While Bennett had indicated his willingness to join a coalition with Netanyahu, this was not enough to secure a majority in the Knesset, leading Bennett to switch sides to prevent a fifth election that was expected to cost him votes.

The two-year long deadlock has left Israel without a budget, amid a soaring social and economic crisis exacerbated by the pandemic, and ethnic strife in the countrys mixed population cities, whipped up by far-right vigilantes from the settlements in the occupied West Bank with the backing of Netanyahu and the security establishment.

Several thousand Israelis, many of whom have demonstrated for months against Netanyahu under the vacuous anti-corruption slogan of Anyone but Bibi (Netanyahu's nickname), took to the streets of Tel Aviv to celebrate the end of his 12 years as head of government. This ignores the reality that Bennett, a 49-year-old millionaire businessman, is an ideologue further to the right than Netanyahua fervent annexationist and implacable opponent of Palestinian statehood, who has admitted he has no problem killing lots of Arabs.

All of his senior colleagues have for years sat in government with Netanyahu and/or acted as aides to him. They include Avigdor Lieberman of the Israel is our Home Party, who served as finance and later defence minister; Yair Lapid of Yesh Atid as finance minister; Benny Gantz as Defence Minister and before that as chief of staff of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF); and Ayelet Shaked of Bennetts Yamina Party as interior minister. Gideon Saar of the New Hope Party, a more recent deserter from Likud, has held numerous portfolios, while Bennett has served as defence minister.

The only thing these political criminals agree on is the need to accelerate the assault on the living conditions of the Israeli working class, more than 20 percent of whom live in poverty, with Bennett saying his priorities would be reforms in education, health and cutting red tape, a euphemism for more privatisation and free market reforms.

While the new government will focus on economic and social issues, the coalition agreements grant Bennett executive powers as prime minister to further consolidate the occupation, thereby bolstering the settlers at the expense of the Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, as well as targeting Israels own Palestinian citizens.

Lapid, as incoming foreign minister, indicated some of the broader forces at work in engineering Netanyahus exit from powerfor the time being at least. Speaking at the swearing in ceremony, he vowed to repair ties between Israel and the Democratic Party in the US, which had become strained under Netanyahu as he bickered publicly with President Barack Obama and aligned ever more closely with the Republican Party and later, President Donald Trump. Netanyahus relations with President Joe Biden have been described as chilly at best.

Lapid said, The management of the relationship with the Democratic Party in the United States was careless and dangerous. The Republicans are important to us, their friendship is important to us, but not only the friendship of the Republican Party. We find ourselves with a Democratic White House, Senate and House and they are angry We need to change the way we work with them.

Biden called to congratulate Bennett just two hours after the confidence vote in the Knesset, saying he looked forward to strengthening the close and enduring bilateral relationship. This contrasts starkly with the two-month long, frosty silence before Biden called Netanyahu after assuming the presidency in January.

Other world leaders followed suit, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, European leaders and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Lapid stressed the importance of restoring relations with the European powers, saying, We both believe that it is possible, and imperative, to build relations based on mutual respect and better dialogue. He emphasised the importance of Israels relationship with the Jewish Diaspora, especially in the US, which has become increasingly alienated by Israels criminal oppression of the Palestinians. While Netanyahu had stressed the importance of Christian evangelicals and other groups, Lapid insisted, Jews from all streams, Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox, are our family. And family is always the most important relationship, and the one that needs to be worked on more than any other.

Lapid also appeared to step back from Netanyahus increasingly hostile attitude towards Jordans King Abdullah, amid suggestions that Israel and Saudi Arabia had sought to engineer a coup, replacing him with his half-brother Prince Hamzah. He called Abdullah an important strategic ally, promising to work with him.

Palestinian leaders had little to say to Israels Palestinian citizens, who will face the full force of a far-right, pro-settler and openly anti-Palestinian leadership, dismissing the new government as an internal Israeli affair.

The assortment of parties that include ostensibly ideologically opposed politicians from hardline Jewish religious nationalists and the Labour Party and Meretzboth of which are committed formally to opposition to annexation and settlementsand the Islamist United Arab List, ensures that this government will be no less fractious, unstable and short-lived than its predecessors.

The new government faces its first challenge on Tuesday when several right-wing Israeli groups plan a flag-waving march through Jerusalems Old City. The Netanyahu government gave the go-ahead for the march, a day after police banned the proposed route fearing it would incite violence and rekindle the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

Netanyahu has refused to go quietly, declaring, If we have to be in opposition, we will do this standing talluntil we bring down this dangerous government and return to lead the state. He said, The right will not forget Bennetts deception.

He told his allies in the Knesset, I will lead you in a daily battle against this bad and dangerous left-wing government and bring it down. And with the help of God, this will happen faster than you think.
A five-storey building in the city of Gwangju, in southwestern South Korea, collapsed on June 9, toppling onto a nearby road and crushing a bus filled with passengers. Nine people were killed and eight more were seriously injured.

The building was being demolished at the time, but the company carrying out the work, and the local government, ignored basic safety precautions, all too common in such man-made disasters.

South Korean Fire Fighters (Image credit: Flickr/expertinfantry)

While the accident is still under formal investigation, South Koreas Yonhap News agency reported that the Hyundai Development Company (HDC) and its subcontractor Hansol Corporation, ignored legal and safety procedures in the demolition process, by removing lower floors first, rather than starting at the top floor. The work was also done without regard to the strength of structural supports.

The day after the collapse, President Moon Jae-in called for a thorough probe into the accident, to give the appearance that the government would address safety concerns. In reality, nothing will be done to fundamentally change how business is done. Construction companies will continue to be allowed to sacrifice safety in order to cut costs, enforce speedups, and place profits before the lives of workers and the general population.

The local government in Gwangju itself failed to take the necessary safety measures, required by law, which include designating a safety zone around the building scheduled for demolition, as well as ensuring a safety supervisor is on scene to oversee the work. The supervisor was reportedly not at the job site when the building collapsed.

All the victims were passengers on the bus, which had stopped at a bus station next to the demolition. Gwangju mayor, Lee Yong-seop, attempted to place blame solely on HDC, saying: The company did not request our cooperation regarding the relocation of the bus stop.

The authorities are also trying to shift blame onto the workers. Our investigation will focus on whether the construction workers had been abiding by safety rules when demolishing the building, and whether the demolition was being carried out in accordance with due procedures, a police officer told the media.

Local residents, however, criticised the mayor and his government for the safety failures. In an attempt to deflect public anger, Lee declared there would be a two-week safety inspection throughout the city. These inspections are designed to do little more than paper over the root causes of fatal accidents: the drive for corporate profit, backed by the local and central governments.

Hansol Corporation, which had the subcontract from HDC, illegally subcontracted the work to another firm, Baeksol Construction. The use of subcontract workers is common in South Korea, where companies use highly-exploited labourers, in order to drive down wages and enforce the sort of speedups that led to the June 9 disaster. Workers may not receive appropriate training, and face being sacked if they raise safety concerns.

At least seven people have been charged with professional negligence resulting in death, in relation to the accident. This includes an HDC official and three site supervisors. They have been banned from leaving the country, but not detained. Even if found guilty, they will be scapegoats, while the unsafe practices will continue.

Similar accidents have occurred in recent years, including in 2019, when a building being demolished in Seouls Seocho District collapsed onto a street, killing one and injuring three others. In December 2017, a crane being used to demolish a building in Seouls Gangseo District, fell and crushed a bus waiting at a traffic light. One person was killed and another 15 were injured.

The June 9 disaster highlights the dangerous conditions that workers and the public are exposed to on a daily basis. It occurred during a three-day strike by crane operators, who walked off the job after a string of deadly accidents in recent weeks. According to the Korean Construction Workers Union (KCWU), which called the strike: Since April 24, there have been at least eight small-tower crane accidents nationally, that have led to the death of one worker, while three others have been injured.

The KCWU, which is affiliated with the militant Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, called off the strike on June 11, claiming it had concluded negotiations with the government. However, the ongoing accidents show that very little will change.

The agreement between the KCWU and the government included a promise that a union-backed expert would participate in inspections of small cranes. However, the union and the government know there are unsafe cranes. Last year, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport inspected around 10 percent of registered cranes, or 590 units, and found 4,000 defects. In other words, workers have been sent back to work on the same faulty equipment that drove them to strike in the first place.

As this record makes clear, the union called a token strike to allow workers to let off steam, before sending them back to work in unsafe environments. As a result, more workers will die, unless workers begin to take matters into their own hands.
The World Socialist Web Site (WSWS) was recently informed of the death of Jiyalalone of 13 workers at Maruti Suzukis Manesar car assembly plant who an Indian court sentenced to life imprisonment in March 2017 on frame-up murder charges.

Indian authorities are directly responsible for the death of the worker-militant Jiyalal at just 35 years of age, because they refused to provide him with proper medical care even after he was diagnosed with cancer.

Deceased frame-up victim Jiyalal

Jiyalal and the 12 others were found guilty of the death from smoke inhalation of Awanish Kumar Dev, a human resources manager who died in a mysterious fire that erupted inside the auto plant during a management-instigated altercation on July 18, 2012.

They are victims of a legal vendetta mounted by the police, courts, and Indias two principal parties, the Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), at the behest of Maruti Suzuki, Indias largest automaker. Their sole crime was to have been in the leadership of a militant struggle against a brutal work regimen, poverty wages, and precarious contract-labour jobs that became a pole of worker opposition in the giant Gurgaon-Manesar industrial belt on Delhis outskirts.

Jiyalal and the 12 others were convicted at a sham trial, at which the prosecution presented fabricated evidence, the police perjured themselves and the judge deliberately mangled the law to shift the burden of proof onto the accused. The WSWS has written extensively on the Maruti Suzuki workers struggle for the past decade and in conjunction with the International Committee of the Fourth International has mounted a worldwide campaign to secure their immediate and unconditional release.

Jiyalal was singled out and named the main accused at the trial of the 13. This is because it was his arbitrary disciplining by a Maruti Suzuki manager that sparked the July 18, 2012 sit-down protest by his fellow workers that the company ordered its security guard goons to brutally attack.

Jiyalal, his wife Sonia and 9-year-old son Vivek in happier times

The incident began when Jiyalal rightly insisted that a supervisor who had interrupted his 7-minute tea break to give him his daily feedback on meeting production targets, do so during company time. For this the supervisor hurled vile caste-abuse at Jiyalal, belittling him because he was a Dalit (descendant of untouchables), then suspended him.

Jiyalal died on the evening of June 4 from spinal cancer at his home in Dhakal, a Haryana village located about 200 km northwest of Manesar. Because of the raging COVID-19 pandemic, the authorities have temporarily released some prisoners, including the framed-up Maruti Suzuki workers.

Jiyalals illness went undetected for much of the past decade during which he was subjected to almost continuous incarceration, beginning from the third week of July 2012 when he was first rounded up by the police and thrown in jail. Along with around 150 other Maruti Suzuki workers who were caught up in the police dragnet, he was brutally beaten and tortured while in police custody.

After the March 2017 court verdict, Jiyalal was shipped off to prison to serve his life sentence along with the 12 others. He was the only one of the 13 who wasnt a member of the 12-member executive of the Maruti Suzuki Workers Union (MSWU), which the Manesar workers had established during the course of a bitter year-long struggle in 2011-12 against a government-supported, pro-company union.

Even after medical personnel in prison detected Jiyalals cancer, the prison authorities callously refused him proper treatment, merely supplying him with painkillers to relieve his back pain.

After much effort by Jiyalal, his family and his supporters, detailed tests were performed at a medical institute in the city of Rohtak. But the medical report was not provided to his family, as the institutes staff, no doubt acting under official orders, insisted it could be released only to Jiyalal, who had been returned to prison, or to the prison authorities.

Jiyalals 2-year-old son Ansh

Despite Jiyalals life-threatening illness, the high court in Haryana repeatedly denied his application for temporary release (bail) to get treatment for his illness. By the time he started receiving the necessary treatment, the cancer had progressed to the fatal stage 4.

Even during his excruciating final year at home, the police would routinely appear and threaten his parents, telling them that they could still haul Jiyalal back to prison. Jiyalals father was so worn down from all of the tragedies he had witnessed and suffered throughout his life, especially the monumental trials of his innocent, beloved eldest son, that he himself passed away several months ago.

Jiyalal leaves behind his mother, younger sister and brother, wife and two young sons aged just 2 and 9 years old.

This young worker hailed from a small village in northern Haryana comprised of around 1,500 families and about 8000 inhabitants, according to the 2011 census. Like most of his co-workers, Jiyalal was a first-generation proletarian doing his best to escape poverty and the marginal living conditions in his native village.

After finishing high school, Jiyalal enrolled in an Indian government run Industrial Training Institute (ITI), a well-known trade school. After graduation, he became a worker at the Maruti Suzuki automobile plant located in the Manesar township, which is home to numerous transnational corporations.

When he commenced work at the auto plant, he was the sole bread winner for his family. Now this burden falls entirely upon his younger brother, Sandeep. After Jiyalal was arrested in 2012, Sandeep had to cut short his own schooling to help support the family.

In a moving obituary written by his former co-worker and fellow MSWU militant Ram Niwas, Jiyalal is described as a person who was sincere, tenacious, and possessed a great sense of humour. Ram Niwas, who used to work alongside him on the assembly line, explained that Jiyalal had risen to become a workers leader, always remaining calm despite the extraordinary trials he went through.

The date of Jiyalals death on June 4 coincided with the tenth anniversary of the sit-down strike waged by the Maruti Suzuki workers at the Manesar plant in 2011 for 13 days. Jiyalal took part in this historic struggle. The workers were rebelling against brutal working conditions, including the need to assemble an automobile every 45 seconds and daily management abuse, and fighting for recognition of a new organization independent of the officially sanctioned, pro-company union.

Jiyalal is a victim of ruling class justice. The police, the courts, and the Haryana state and central Indian governmentsfirst under the Congress and then the BJP worked hand in glove with company management to impose exemplary punishment on these workers. At their trial, the state demanded the 13 MSWU leaders be sentenced to death by hanging.

This is because the Indian ruling elite wanted to reassure profit-hungry foreign corporations that they could depend upon the Indian state to quash any worker opposition to sweatshop exploitation. As state special prosecutor Anurag Hooda infamously declared at the workers March 2017 sentencing hearing, Our industrial growth has dipped, FDI (foreign direct investment) has dried up. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is calling for Make in India, but such incidents are a stain on our image.

Responsibility for Jiyalals painful, grossly premature death lies with those who railroaded him into prison through a monstrous frame-up. The prison authorities who denied him medical care are directly culpable. But it also need be underlined that the beatings he suffered, including on his back, during his first weeks under arrest could well have resulted in untreated internal back injuries and trauma that could have caused or contributed to the subsequent development of the cancer that caused his death.

Jiyalals death is the second among the 13 Maruti Suzuki frame-up victims. In February, 37-year-old Pawan Dahiya died at his farm after getting electrocuted from an apparently faulty submersible well-pump.

Thousands of other workers who were dismissed en masse by the Maruti Suzuki management in August 2012, in a government-backed purge of the Mansar workforce, are still struggling to make a living. At least two have committed suicide.

The Stalinist Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPM, the Communist Party of India (CPI) and their affiliated trade union apparatuses, the CITU and the AITUC, along with the rest of Indias trade unions have completely abandoned the Maruti Suzuki workers. Despite having a sizable presence in the Manesar industrial belt, the Stalinist-led unions have refused to mount any struggle to expose the frame-up and win the release of the Maruti Suzuki workers.

However, the growing upsurge of working class struggle in India and internationally is creating conditions to break through the isolation imposed by the unions and Stalinist parties and to renew the fight for the immediate release and exoneration of these class war prisoners. Workers, having experienced decades of capitalist austerity and a dramatic worsening of their working and living conditions due to the pandemic, are ever more openly challenging the prioritization by the ruling elite in every country of corporate profits over workers lives and livelihoods.

Recently, Toyota workers in the state of Karnataka mounted a four-month-long strike against brutal working conditions. Hyundai and Renault-Nissan auto workers in the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu took job action last month to demand a shutdown of production as COVID-19 spread widely. In the United States, 3,000 Volvo Truck workers at the New River Valley plant in Dublin, Virginia, have rebelled against the efforts of the United Auto Workers (UAW) and company management to ram through sweeping concessions and are now in the second week of a strike.

To provide a means for the working class to coordinate its struggles in different factories, industries and across state borders and continents in opposition to big business, their political hirelings in government, and the corporatist trade unions and develop a counter-offensive based on a socialist-internationalist program, the International Committee of the Fourth International has initiated the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC).

A key task of the IWA-RFC and of all genuine rank-and-file worker organizations must be to redouble the struggle to develop a worldwide movement to win the immediate freedom of the surviving 11 framed-up Maruti Suzuki workers and all other class war prisoners.
Investigative reports, published in the Age and Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) last month, have shed further light on the exploitative and dangerous conditions confronting workers, especially immigrant workers, in Australias meatworks industry.

In December last year, an industrial dispute erupted independently of the trade unions at Midfield Meats, a major abattoir in Warrnambool, regional Victoria. About 100 Chinese immigrant workers staged a protest and were then locked out, after one worker, 27-year-old Benson Wang, was allegedly assaulted by a supervisor in the plant.

Benson Wang

The Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union (AMIEU) quickly shut down the protest action, sending the workers back into the plant, accepting Wangs sacking and allowing the supervisor to get off scot free. The World Socialist Web Site defended Wang, publishing an interview with him before he returned to China.

The Age-SMH investigation highlighted the shadowy role of labour hire agencies, which reap enormous profits by funnelling Chinese workers into the meatworks, often with false promises of permanent residency in Australia.

An operator of one of these agencies, known as Melbourne Jack, posted on the Chinese language social media platform WeChat in 2017: Productivity means theres no easy job, heres not a charity Women need to see themselves like men, men need to see themselves like beasts, beasts need to see themselves as robots.

An email sent by recruiters to an Australian corporate client in 2018, included the boast: These people are properties.

Court documents filed in 2018 by the Australian Taxation Office indicated that the biggest overseas recruitment agency recorded $350 million in income, between 2009 and 2017. This involved supplying thousands of workers to 42 meatworks.

Some of this income is derived from fees paid by Chinese and Vietnamese workers, of between $20,000 and $70,000. The Age-SMH reported: Some of this is used to cover immigration agent fees and other government charges, but much of it is booked as profit by recruitment syndicates. Chinese workers reported that five years ago, they had been told by a Midfield Meats representative in China, before they signed on that, after three and a half years, the company would sponsor them as part of the process to achieve permanent residency status in Australia. Midfield now blames the federal government for delaying this procedure, but at the same time knows full well that if workers did achieve secure visa status they would look for alternative jobs.

The workers insecure immigration status creates enormous pressures on their families, with many having children who attend local schools in Warrnambool.

The Age-SMH reported that in February, a 16-year-old child of one of the Chinese Midfield Meats workers, committed suicide. One worker commented: His parents were from the group who joined Midfield the earliest and worked there for four years The insecurity of PR [permanent residency] has made the parents anxious and desperate, and that might have some impacts on the kids.

Corporate meatworks owners have reaped enormous profits from the super-exploitation of immigrant labour.

The striking Chinese workers meet at the Warrnambool Botanical Gardens [Source: ABC]

Midfield Meats is owned by Colin McKenna, who ranks in the Australian rich list, with a personal fortune of $462 million. In 2020, the Midfield Group made $30 million profit on sales of $721 million. The company employs 1,500 workers, centred around its meatworks. As well as from China, there are workers from Vietnam, East Timor and Pacific Island nations.

The conditions endured by the meatworkers are akin to those depicted in Upton Sinclairs novel, The Jungle, on the American meat industry, in the early 20th century,

The Age-SMH published a shocking photo of a Chinese meatworkers arthritic hands, with every knuckle deformed and badly swollen. The workers injuries show the damage inflicted after five years at the abattoir.

An estimated five million knife cuts per day are performed by 130 workers in the beef boning room at Midfield Meats. Its output, of around 800 cattle per day, contributes to export sales of red meat, totalling $20 billion annually.

There has been a strong response on social media to the latest revelations about conditions in the meat industry. One person wrote on Facebook: Nothing is news to me in this [Age-SMH] article. I have known these workers and their plight for years, jammed 1215 in broken down housing. It has taken way too long for this to come to light. I have had these people in my home and they are often unwell and are too tired to cook for themselves. They are fearful of losing their jobs and letting their families down back home.

Referring to the treatment of Benson Wang, another person wrote, This kind of demeaning treatment of your labour force reminds one of the early Victorian era, not the 21st Century.

In response, an ex-Midfield Meats worker posted, I couldnt agree more. I used to work there from 2018-2019, then resigned because I mentally suffered from verbal abuse, shouted by my [supervisor]. I was helpless and depressed, but I didnt know who to reach out for help We are not allowed to bring mobile phones inside the premises, so no documentations for every traumatic event.

Responsibility for the situation is shared by the Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union (AMIEU).

Appalling working conditions are the product of decades of concessions imposed by the AMIEU and the meat companies to drive up productivity and exploitation. The AMIEU has a long history of assisting meat processors cut meat workers pay and conditions.

In 2013, in what became a major test case for wage-cutting, the Teys/Cargill meatworks, in the state of Queensland, issued workers an ultimatum: take pay cuts of 20 percent across the board or the plant will shut down. The AMIEU did everything it could to isolate the Teys/Cargill workers, kept them straitjacketed within the Labor governments anti-strike Fair Work laws, and cobbled together a wretched agreement with the company to enforce the cost-cutting.

The immigrant meatworkers are among the most oppressed sections of the working class. They are subjected to intensive exploitation and also to nationalist scapegoating, being falsely blamed for the growing jobs crisis, which is the result of continuous pro-business restructuring. The corporatised unions barely feign interest in the plight of these workers.

The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) and World Socialist Web Site are committed to doing all in our power to expose the conditions facing meatworkers, and to fight for their political organisation. This can only take place through a break with the unions, and the development of genuine workers organisations, including independent rank-and-file committees. We urge workers in the sector to contact us today at sep@sep.org.au.
In her visit last week to Mexico, US Vice President Kamala Harris took time out from her anti-immigrant agenda to call upon Mexican officials and trade unionists to fight for democratic unions. While in Mexico City, she pledged $130 million in US assistance for this cause: more than the entire $116.6 million Mexican foreign aid package requested by the White House for 2022.

The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly exacerbated levels of exploitation and inequality in Mexico that had already triggered mass social unrest, including the protests against the Ayotzinapa student killings in 2014, the Gasolinazo in 2017 and the Matamoros wildcat strikes in 2019. On the other hand, the letters issued by the White House, the Pentagon and the American Chamber of Commerce demanding that Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) reopen factories during the pandemic illustrated the strategic importance for US imperialism of preventing any disruption to the lucrative and vital supply chains linking Mexico and the United States.

Striking Matamoros workers in January 2019 with banner declaring, "The union and companies kill the working class"

Washington has mounted its democratic union crusade to this end, working through the corporatist apparatus of the AFL-CIO and its state-funded Solidarity Center. Playing an indispensable role in providing a left cover for this US imperialist operation has been the Morenoite group in Mexico and its publication La Izquierda Diario.

Washington sees as the greatest danger among Mexican workers entering the class struggle the growing influence of the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI), which publishes the World Socialist Web Site. Its revolutionary program gives conscious expression to workers aspirations to mount a joint struggle across the US-Mexican border to oppose powerful transnational corporations and banks, and the trade union and state structures they control.

In its first formal complaint under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the Democratic administration of President Joe Biden demonstrated this by targeting the General Motors factory in Silao, Mexico, where a group of militant workers joined calls hosted by the WSWS with American autoworkers in anticipation of a US-wide strike at General Motors. Before and during the strike, which began in September 2019, the Silao workers bravely opposed forced overtime and speed-ups that sought to undermine the US strike. The Biden complaint opposes a fraudulent contract ratification vote at the plant by the company union affiliated to the Confederation of Mexican Workers (CTM), presumably to allow an independent union to compete for the contract.

The AFL-CIO union bureaucracy in the United States argued that the first USMCA complaint should have been over a similar conflict at the Tridonex auto parts plant in Matamoros, where the WSWS has also gained significant influence. In this city bordering Brownsville, Texas, more than 70,000 workers organized wildcat strikes, mass assemblies and rank-and-file committees in a rebellion against the CTM in 2019 and made frequent appeals through the WSWS for American workers to join their struggle.

By sponsoring so-called democratic and independent unions and lobbying for new union voting requirements under the USMCA, the US ruling class is taking a well-trodden path with the AFL-CIO.

Throughout the Cold War, the AFL and later AFL-CIO were deployed internationally with US taxpayer money to set up pro-US democratic unions and purge the existing organizations of left-leaning workers and union leaders. The AFL-CIO and its CIA-linked Latin American front, the American Institute for Free Labor Development (AIFLD), together with their local labor assets, participated in CIA-orchestrated coups in Guatemala in 1954, Brazil in 1964, Chile in 1973, El Salvador in 1979, among others. This democratic union operation helped the resulting military dictatorships consolidate their power, murdering, imprisoning, torturing and forcing into exile a generation of radicalized and socialist-minded workers and youth across the region.

US labor operations in Mexico: from the CTM to democratic unions

Within Mexico, the US union bureaucracy played a similar role in the development of the Confederation of Mexican Workers (CTM), a servile tool of US corporations, which is widely hated by Mexican workers.

The founder of the American Federation of Labor (AFL), the virulent anti-socialist Samuel Gompers, sought to rein in the unions that emerged during the Mexican Revolution (1910-1920). He established a close relationship with the right-wing founder of the Regional Confederation of Mexican Workers (CROM), Luis Morones, with the aim of consolidating the CROMs anti-communist and pro-US stance in the context of the 1917 Bolshevik revolution in Russia.

After World War II, a similar relationship was established between the AFL-CIO and the CTM. As reported in a 1998 study by Ralph Armbruster from UC Riverside, during the 1940s and 1950s, as the Mexican military was crushing strikes by railroad, electrical, mining and petroleum workers, The PRI [the ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party] and the CTM also purged leftists and communist labor leaders and installed new pro-government labor leaders, or charros, in these unions. The AFL, the CIO, and AIFLDS predecessor, the Inter-American Federation of Labor (ORIT), supported these policies and worked closely with the CTM during this period.

After decades of supporting the CTM, the American ruling class began fearing that a rebellion against it could spiral out of control. In 1998, the Bill Clinton administration organized the first visit ever to Mexico by an AFL-CIO president to meet with unions that had recently left the CTM to form the National Workers Union (UNT).

Official policy in Washington shifted to supporting so-called democratic and independent unions in Mexico to play the same role previously fulfilled by the CTM. Speaking in support of a grant for the AFL-CIOs Solidarity Center in Mexico in 2010, Susan G. Reichle of USAID explained that the US sought to promote a culture of compromise between the Mexican unions and employer organizations, even when the need for international competitiveness has a downward push on compensation [and] there is a greater likelihood that workers will contribute to broader manifestations of political unrest.

During 2020, the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), a US agency founded in 1983 to carry out the kind of US meddling in the internal affairs of other countries previously left to the CIA, disbursed $858,000 for the Solidarity Center in Mexico to build independent, representative organizations including a national coalition, for improved labor rights compliance.

However, after two decades of upholding pro-corporate policies, including the homicidal return-to-work drive during the pandemic, the AFL-CIOs independent partners in Mexico are already being rapidly discredited. As early as 2010, Reichle complained that Mexican workers have been slow to trust labor rights actors as they push for greater democracy in the workplace, referring to US-trained activists and officials.

In desperate need for a left cover for its Mexican operations, especially to draw workers away from the influence of the WSWS, the pro-imperialist AFL-CIO has found a willing partner in the Socialist Workers Movement (MTS), the Mexican supporters of the Socialist Workers Party (PTS) in Argentina, who publish La Izquierda Diario.

This tendency traces its origins to the Argentine revisionist Nahuel Moreno, who repudiated Trotskyism and left the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) to join the Pabloite United Secretariat in 1964. Moreno helped sow illusions in the bourgeois nationalist Juan Domingo Peron and the Peronist union bureaucracy during the mass uprisings between 1968 and 1975, politically disarming the radicalized working masses ahead of the 1976 US-backed military coup and subsequent execution of over 30,000 workers and youth.

The MTS intervenes at Silao GM

On May 20, a week after the Biden administrations USMCA complaint, the Morenoite MTS co-hosted a press conference specifically on the contract vote at Silao GM with the Political Organization of the People and Workers (OPT), which was founded by the Electricians Union (SME) and has a long record of collaboration with the AFL-CIO. The hosts refused to make any critical statement about Bidens labor complaint, sending the message that Washington is playing a progressive role in the struggle at GM.

On May 12, Izquierda Diario wrote that the AFL-CIOs requested complaint in Matamoros had one goal: to demobilize the working class on both sides of the border on the basis of maintaining illusions in the bourgeois transnational justice. If that is the case, then why is the MTS organizing with the AFL-CIO?

The MTS has invested a large share of its time over the last year in building the so-called National Movement against Labor Precarization and Dismissals. Its founding statement of June 24, 2020 was signed by the MTS, its youth, labor and feminist fronts along with several factions of independent unions and the AFL-CIOs Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA)the Latino arm of the American union bureaucracy. Reflecting the alignment of the right-wing politics of the MTS and the objectives of the AFL-CIO, the statement criticized the old trade union bureaucracy and directed all struggles behind the appeal to the trade union centrals that call themselves democratic to take up the demands of precarious workers and carry out effective actions to achieve them.

Another participant is the Revolutionary Popular Front (FPR), the public face of the Mexican Communist Party (Marxist-Leninist), an openly Stalinist party whose popular front politics serve to promote illusions in and unity with sectors of the ruling class which it presents as democratic or progressive.

These efforts have had devastating consequences during the pandemic. On May 18, 2020, the MTS co-hosted another press conference with the AFL-CIOs Labor Council for Latin American Advancement and the OPT. That day had been marked by the Trump administration and the Detroit Big Three to reopen auto plants in the US with the backing of the AFL-CIO. At the online event, a letter was announced calling on the Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) not to re-open factories until the authorities and corporations guarantee that the workplace is 100 percent free of infections.

Such demands only served to discourage the independent initiative of workers and sow illusions in the AMLO administration and management that ordered them back to work a few weeks later. The organizers shamelessly invited the Silao workers to this rotten event.

The MTS in Matamoros

The MTS intervened in the 2019 wildcat strikes by sending correspondents to Matamoros and working in tandem with labor lawyer Susana Prieto, to whom they had offered to make available their outlet, Izquierda Diario , as early as 2015.

Even as Prieto was asking workers not to leave the CTM and as the WSWS was exposing Prietos longstanding support for the AFL-CIO and AMLOs ruling Morena party, the MTS provided her with uncritical support.

In one episode, on February 16, two striking workers from AFX Industries who were openly in contact with the United Steelworkers (USW) of the AFL-CIO were hosted by the MTS in Mexico City to speak at the Cultural Center of the STUNAM (Union of Autonomous University of Mexico Workers). This connection to the AFL-CIO provoked so much criticism from other striking workers that even Prieto had to distance herself temporarily from the Morenoites.

The main slogan of the MTS was that strikers should appeal for the support of the trade unions that call themselves democratic, citing as an example those most closely associated to the AFL-CIO, including the National Union of Workers (UNT), New Workers Central (NCT) and the Miners Union.

On June 26, when Prieto finally announced the founding of her own independent trade union with the support of the Electricians Union (SME), which leads the NCT, she expressed special thanks to all the collectives that have participated with usof course I could not forget the MTS, including for going to Matamoros and intervening in caravans across the border organized with the SME.

In sum, the MTS helped Prieto and the unions to (1) sideline the rank-and-file committees and mass assemblies where workers were organizing democratically, (2) allow the CTM to maintain control of most contracts in the city, (3) shut down the strike wave under terms acceptable to the companies, and (4) block a fight against the 6,500 firings, blacklistings and other reprisals by the corporations. This purge of militant workers who were drawing internationalist and revolutionary conclusions under the influence of the WSWS was a textbook example of the AFL-CIOs counterrevolutionary operations.

In early April 2020, wildcat strikes again erupted across Matamoros and other border cities as COVID-19 began spreading in the plants. The MTS directed its appeals to the CTM charros to remain firm in demanding plant closures with full income compensation, and to the AFL-CIO-backed SNITIS (Sindicato Nacional Independiente de Trabajadores de Industrias y de Servicios ) to issue a call to workers to organize. The MTS wrote: The role played by the trade unions is very important for the objective of not having any layoffs during the contingency and to demand the necessary aid for the population.

Neither the CTM nor the SNITIS remained firm or posed any resistance at all once the government authorized the plant reopenings, and thousands of workers who walked out or expressed discontent were fired. Having done its job, the MTS kept quiet about the betrayals of the unions.

Over 300,000 peopleaccording to official figureshave died from COVID-19 in Mexico since mid-May 2020, including 13 at the Silao GM Complex and hundreds in Matamoros. The Morenoites bare a share of the responsibility for allowing the imposition of a policy of social murder.

For Prieto, this long process of betrayals culminated with her running and being elected as a candidate for the federal Congress in June 2021 on the ticket of the ruling Morena party.

The politics of the MTS reflect the social interests of layers of the upper middle class deeply hostile to any independent struggle of the working class that threatens their wealth and privileges. This includes especially those seeking careers in the union bureaucracy and capitalist politics. These elements are attracted to Morenoism, whether they are even aware of its history or not, because its right-wing politics harmonize with their social interests.

The open support of the MTS for the Mexican operations of the AFL-CIO is of particular and sinister importance. The Morenoites have extended their allegiances from bourgeois nationalism in Latin America to directly backing the operations of US imperialism in a region it has raped and sacked through countless invasions, wars, dictatorships and coups.

As the pandemic and deepening crisis of global capitalism make clear, no defense of the lives and livelihoods of the working class is possible within the framework of the capitalist profit system, which the trade unions unswervingly defend. Workers need new and genuinely democratic organizations of struggle.

The ICFI is fighting to assist workers in developing an International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC) and impart to it a revolutionary, internationalist and socialist perspective. We urge workers in Mexico and internationally who agree with this initiative to get involved today.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison, echoed loudly by Australias major capitalist media outlets, boasted that last weekends G7 summit in Britain was a crucial success in aligning all the major powers behind the Biden administrations increasingly aggressive offensive against China.

Obviously anxious to accommodate himself and his Liberal-National Coalition government to the shift from Trump to Biden in the White House, Morrison told reporters it was a vital gain that the G7 communique explicitly denounced China, which had not been mentioned in previous G7 statements.

Scott Morrison with Joe Biden at G7 [Source: Facebook/Scott Morrison]

G7 delivers for Morrison on China, declared the front-page headline in yesterdays Australian Financial Review. Under the banner, Allies rally to Scott Morrisons call on China, Murdochs Australian recalled World War II: Scott Morrison has won the support of the worlds biggest democracies and Australias wartime alliesthe US and Britainin pushing back against growing Chinese power and influence in the Indo-Pacific region.

In reality, the G7 gathering of the heads of the worlds seven wealthiest nations saw a bullying effort by the Biden administration to coerce the European imperialist powers into lining up behind the escalating US drive, begun under Obama, to confront Beijing economically and militarily. The American ruling elite is intent on prevent ing the Chinese capitalist class from ever challenging the regional and global supremacy obtained by the US after World War II.

Morrison was invited to the G7 event to act as a spearhead for Bidens stepped-up pressure on the European leaders, alongside the Japanese and South Korean prime ministers.

Despite his failure to secure a one-on-one meeting with Biden, which would have been his first ever, Morrison insisted that a replacement 45-minute get together with Biden and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was a significant achievement.

According to a brief joint statement, the trio discussed deepening co-operation between the three governments, across the Indo-Pacific region. In other words, they focussed on combating China.

For all the official language of peace, stability and liberal democratic principles, these discussions were accompanied by escalating military provocations against China.

One immediate result of the Biden-Johnson-Morrison meeting was an announcement that two Australian frigates will join a British naval strike group, led by the new aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, for exercises in the South China Sea within two or three weeks.

This show of force by Britain, one of the former colonial powers that once dominated China, will include much-publicised port visits, as well as war games in waters near China. This is designed to send a threatening message to the Chinese government. The Age and other Nine Media outlets noted that the move was expected to upset Beijing.

Australian warships have already conducted four transits of the South China Sea this year, intensifying the pace of previous years. This years missions have been conducted jointly with vessels from the US, Japan and France, each of which also participated in the colonial carve-up of China during the 19th and 20th centuries.

One can only imagine the furore if Chinese naval vessels conducted similar exercises off the coast of California or near Hawaii.

Thus far, Australian ships have not joined US flotillas in entering the 12-nautical-mile zones around Chinese-occupied rocky outposts in the South China Sea, but Washington has been pressing for such operations.

Morrison claimed credit for the G7 adopting the demand, originally pushed by President Donald Trump and himself last year, for officials with powers similar to those of weapons inspectors to be sent into China. Their task would be to produce evidence to supposedly verify the unsubstantiated US intelligence agency allegations that a Wuhan laboratory unleashed the COVID-19 pandemic on the world.

This demand clearly raises the spectre of the weapons inspectors operation conducted against Iraq, which provided the pretext for the US-led invasion of 2003, based on fabricated claims that Iraq had secret stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction.

Provocatively, Morrison further declared that the G7 gathering had given very strong support to Australias stand in its trade conflicts with Beijing, which he again depicted as Chinese coercion.

Morrison said he had raised Chinas list of 14 grievances, issued last November against Australia, in his private address to leaders on the final day of the G7 summit. He told journalists: [T]here is not a country who would sit around that table that would see concession on any of those 14 points as something they also would tolerate.

The 14 points actually indicate coercion by the US and its closest allies, such as Australia, against China. The list includes banning the Chinese telecommunication company Huawei from Australian 5G contracts, blocking 10 Chinese foreign investment deals, and foreign relations laws giving the Australian government power to veto state or local government agreements with China.

On the list too are raids on Chinese journalists, academic visa cancellations, foreign interference laws viewed as targeting China and thinly veiled allegations against China on cyber-attacks without any evidence. The grievances include siding with the US anti-China campaign on the pandemic, and accusing China of aggression in the South China Sea.

Over the past six months, Chinese authorities have invoked several long-running trade disputes to effectively freeze Australian imports, ranging from coal to barley, wine, timber, cotton, seafood and meatbut not iron ore, the biggest item, now worth more than $80 billion a year.

Despite Morrisons confected triumphalism, Bidens refusal of a one-on-one meeting with him was noticeable. The Australians international editor Greg Sheridan, a man with close connections in Washington, described the rebuff as perplexing. Sheridan noted that Morrison had never met Biden and Biden is a quintessential Senate Democrat wheeler and dealer for whom personal relationships are everything.

No doubt, the Biden White House is concerned about how closely Morrison identified himself with Trump personally and politically. Morrison refused to condemn Trumps fomenting of the January 6 storming of the US Congress by fascist elements intent on overturning Bidens election as president.

Bidens conduct also reflects ongoing distrust of the Australian prime ministers political capacities, especially to implement the required war build-up against China in the face of popular opposition to war and US militarism, particularly since the barbaric disasters in Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq.

There is a history of US administrations orchestrating or encouraging moves against prime ministers regarded as not dependable enough in committing Australia to join a US war against China. Kevin Rudd was ousted in 2010 by US protected sources inside the Labor Party after Rudd suggested that the US could accommodate itself to Chinas rise. In 2018, Trump publicly welcomed Morrisons replacement of Malcolm Turnbull, who had previously taken a similar line to Rudd, reflecting Australian capitalisms dependence on exports to China.

Significantly, the opposition Labor Partys shadow foreign minister, Penny Wong, described Morrisons inability to secure a personal meeting with Biden as disappointing. She suggested Morrisons stubborn refusal to commit to net zero carbon emissions by 2050 was the cause, but her jibe was in line with Labors positioning of itself as the party most committed to the US military alliance.

At Labors national conference earlier this year, Wong and party leader Anthony Albanese presented Labor as the architect of the US alliance in World War II and the best equipped party to lead the country in times of war and social unrest. Without dissent, the assembled Labor and trade union officials endorsed six resolutions regurgitating the US accusations against China.
Members of the 30-nation NATO alliance concluded their summit Monday with a communique targeting China, declaring that it poses systemic challenges to the military alliance.

The wording of the document marked a significant new stage in the efforts of the United States to, in the words of US President Biden, organize the world to take on China, as part of a massive escalation of tensions by Washington against Beijing.

US tanks are unloaded in Antwerp, Belgium to take part in the Atlantic Resolve military exercises. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

The 79-paragraph NATO communique mentions China a dozen times, in a marked contrast from previous statements. The current NATO strategy document, first published in 2010, does not reference China, and the 2019 communique mentions the country only once.

The strength of the statement shows how far relations between the West and Beijing have deteriorated in the 18 months since NATO countries last met, noted the Financial Times. Now, just a year and a half later, China has risen to become a systemic rival, commented Germanys Der Speigel.

Chinas growing influence and international policies can present challenges that we need to address together as an alliance, the NATO document states. We will engage China with a view to defending the security interests of the alliance.

The communique says that China presents systemic challenges to the rules-based international order, claiming that China is expanding its military forces and seeking to cooperate with Russia.

Bidens efforts to recruit Washingtons allies against China is the diplomatic aspect of US efforts to strangle Chinas economic development, demonize it in the eyes of the worlds population and prepare for military conflict.

On Wednesday, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin issued a directive declaring China to be the number one focus of the US military. Foreign Policy commented that the review sought to infuse the Pentagon, and indeed the entire U.S. government, with the overarching goal of bracing for long-term strategic competition with China.

As Foreign Policy noted: Thats been a constant refrain for Biden even before he took office, framing Chinas rise as the United States central challenge of the century. Unless the United States regains its competitive and technological edge, Biden warned, China is going to eat our lunch.

Last week, the US Senate passed the so-called China competitiveness bill, a massive $250 billion package of corporate subsidies and sanctions that the New York Times termed the most significant government intervention in industrial policy in decades.

The NATO summit followed the weekends G7 meeting, which, in the words of the FT, criticised China over human rights, trade and a lack of transparency over the origins of the coronavirus pandemic.

After the NATO summit, Biden was set to fly to Geneva to meet Wednesday with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Ahead of the summit, Biden declared, What Ill convey to President Putin is that Im not looking for conflict with Russia. Biden described the Russian president as bright, tough and a worthy adversary.

Ahead of the summit, Biden refused to back Ukraines admission to NATO, declaring, in a non-sequitur, Schools out on that question, it remains to be seen.  They have more to do.

Despite the USs insistence on threats against China, the NATO communique remained aggressively tilted against Russia, mentioning it 60 times.

While the USs NATO allies agreed to its demands for more belligerent language against China in its communique, there remain significant differences over Washingtons diplomatic offensive against China.

I dont think anybody around the table today wants to descend into a new Cold War with China, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel added, one must not overrate the threat posed by China, declaring, we need to find the right balance.

And NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg insisted Beijing was not an adversary but said the alliance needed to engage with China to defend our security interests.

As Germanys Der Spiegel commented: For some NATO members, whose economy is closely intertwined with that of China, however, this is extremely dangerousespecially for Germany and its export economy. They therefore wanted to prevent overly martial rhetoric against Beijing.

As Reuters pointed out:

Allies are mindful of their economic links with China. Total German trade with China in 2020 was more than 212 billion euros ($257 billion), according to German government data. Total Chinese holdings of U.S. Treasuries as of March 2021 stood at $1.1 trillion, according to U.S. data, and total U.S. trade with China in 2020 was $559 billion.

But, for all that, Der Spiegel declared: In Chinathis much has been clear since Bidens summit debutthe USA and NATO see the long-term more dangerous opponent.

Despite their differences and contradictions, the United States and its NATO allies are barreling headlong into a major escalation against China with potentially catastrophic consequences.

Despite a raging pandemic, all of the NATO members are massively expanding their militaries. Earlier this year, the UK announced a 40 percent expansion of its nuclear arsenal, while the Biden administration has requested the largest Pentagon budget in human history.

The massive military buildup currently underway, combined with US threats against China, present an immense danger to all mankind.

With a frankness entirely missing from the US press, Russias Ambassador to China Andrey Denisov spoke with Chinas Global Times about the consequences of a US war with China.

Denisov was asked by the Global Times: Competition and confrontation between China and the US are escalating. If one day an armed conflict between China and the US happens, what position would Russia take?

Denisov replied that there will be no answer to this, because such a conflict would exterminate all mankind, and then there would be no point in taking sides.
The April 3 police killing of 23-year-old Samuel Yeager by a Douglas County, Colorado sheriffs deputy has been ruled justified after an investigation by the 18th Judicial District Critical Incident Response Team.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Gary S. Dawson informed Sheriff Tony G. Spurlock in a letter dated June 4 that after reviewing the available evidence he had determined that that the shooting by Deputy Christopher Lippolis was legal and justifiable.

Samuel Yeager and Janie Bournival together at high school prom

Yeager, who was carrying an AK-47 rifle in a soft case, had been initially confronted by Deputy Brent Butler on an off-ramp just outside the city of Castle Pines after a driver had called 911 to notify them that he had dropped off on the side of the freeway an armed man who was acting erratically.

Yeager and the driver were classmates at the University of Colorado Boulder and had been on a hike together in the mountains. Douglas County is immediately to the south of the Denver metropolitan area. Yeager had brought the gun in order to go shooting afterwards.

However, after the two smoked some marijuana during the hike, Yeager began to act erratically, apparently suffering from paranoia and delusions. According to the investigation, Yeager had also been trying to overcome an opiate addiction by taking kratom, a supplement which can trigger hallucinations and delusions.

Deputy Butler confronted Yeager with his service weapon drawn and repeatedly demanded that he drop the gun, which was still in its case. Yeager refused to put it down, insisting that he had the right to carry the weapon. He moved away from the deputy and got down on the ground and apparently took the rifle out of its case.

Deputy Lippolis arrived as backup and used a scoped Colt M4 carbine to get a sight on Yeager and fired three times, hitting him in once in the left hip and twice in the head, killing him on the spot. Law enforcement weapons retailer Arms Unlimited boasts that the gun is combat proven. The M4 was initially designed for use by the US Army and has been used in every American military intervention since 1999.

According to Lippolis, he believed that Yeager was preparing shoot at Butler, making it necessary to open fire. While three bullets were fired from Yeagers gun simultaneously with Lippolis opening fire, none of the deputies present were shot or injured. Butler never opened fire during the encounter, telling investigators that he was concerned for the safety of motorists driving past on the nearby freeway and overpass.

With the conclusion of the investigation, the deputies involved in the killing will now return to the beat after having been on administrative leave since the shooting.

Lippolis was previously involved in a 2017 incident in which another deputy broke a womans arm during a welfare check. According to a March 6, 2020 lawsuit filed by Cristi Lundquist, Deputy Leory Nichols forced his way into her home, grabbed her arm and pulled it down, causing an audible snapping sound.

Lippolis helped Nichols restrain her even as she repeatedly complained that they were hurting her. The deputies had refused to heed Lundquists demands that they leave her home even though she was under no suspicion of criminal activity.

According to the Denver Post, there have been 16 people killed and 6 wounded by law enforcement so far this year across the state. Since 2015 there have been 228 police killings in Colorado, making it one of the deadliest states for police violence over the last six years both in total number and per capita. While having roughly half the population of the state of Georgia, Colorado has had more police killings in this time frame.

In the two months following Yeagers death there have been at least nine police killings in Colorado, including five fatal shootings in Denver since May 14. Among the victims are:

Paige Pierce Schmidt, 26, shot and killed by a Delta County Sheriffs deputy on April 9 during a brief traffic pursuit just outside the city Hotchkiss. Her family and friends received few answers from the police and are demanding a thorough investigation. A Facebook group, Justice for Paige!, has more than 1,500 members.



Smoky Lynn Crockett, 60, killed April 17 by police during an armed encounter at a home outside of Fort Lupton.



Richard Quintana, 37, killed outside a gas station in Colorado Springs after he failed to follow an officers orders to drop the gun he was holding.



Dalton Lee Buckholz, 28, died on May 1 after being shot by Canon City police during a traffic stop. According to family, Buckholz was unarmed and sitting in his car with his hands on the steering wheel when he was killed.



Caleb Jereme Grisenti, 22, was fatally shot in Englewood, a suburb of Denver on May 18. Police identified the car Grisenti was driving as stolen and sought to stop him. According to the police, Grisenti hit and dragged three officers with the car before they opened fire, killing him. The police have yet to release body cam footage of the shooting.



Raul Rosas-Zarose, 52, killed on May 19 after being shot five times as he moved towards officers while armed with a knife. Police claim that he was attempting to cut his own throat with a utility knife. He was shot with ten pepper balls and a taser within 33 seconds of being encountered by Denver police officers.



Shannon Wright, 29, confronted by police as a suspect in the robbery a Denver liquor store on May 30. Police claim he was armed with a shotgun which he raised at them, forcing them to open fire. Wright was pronounced dead at a hospital.



Eugene Matthews, 24, shot and killed by police on June 2 after allegedly carrying out an armed robbery and carjacking in Arvada.

Nationally, police violence continues unabated with approximately three people killed on average every day. Police are on track to kill approximately 1,000 people this year, as in previous years. As a social phenomenon, police violence impacts people of every race, ethnicity and gender, not just African Americans. The overwhelming share of victims are working class and poor, many suffering a mental health emergency at the time of their fatal encounter with the police.
For over two months, 1,100 striking coal miners in Alabama have subsisted on just over $300 weekly strike pay in their courageous struggle against the powerful Warrior Met corporation. As a result, miners have been forced to accept part-time work and hold raffles to support their families. Miners know that the harder it is to pay bills, the easier it is for the company to break the strike. For this reason, many miners have called for a substantial increase in strike pay to strengthen their position and send the company a message.

On Friday, a leader of the Alabama AFL-CIO and member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) publicly stated his opposition to these demands. North Alabama Area Labor Council Secretary Treasurer Jacob Morrison tweeted that higher strike pay would liquidate the United Mine Workers of Americas (UMWA) assets and called workers clueless for requesting the increase.

The June 11 statement reads: Imagine thinking that itd be wise for an organization representing tens of thousands of workers to liquidate all of its assets for a single strike. Clueless.

This statement is an urgent warning to Warrior Met workers that their strike is in danger. It is an open admission that the AFL-CIO and UMWA are actively working to defeat the strike and that their only goal is to protect their own assets. The AFL-CIO and UMWA are engaged in a strategy to starve workers out until they are forced to accept a sellout deal. Despite the sacrifices and courage of striking miners, if these organizations are allowed to dominate the strike it will be isolated and defeated.

The AFL-CIO officials claim that the UMWA would liquidate all of its assets for a single strike is significant for several reasons.

This single strike is, in fact, the first UMWA strike since a one-week strike of Foundation Coal in 2007, which ended with the closure of the Wabash mine in Keensburg, Illinois and the dismissal of 250 miners. Between the 2007 strike and the beginning of the present strike, the UMWA had not paid a dollar in strike pay. The only reason the UMWA called a strike at Warrior Met is because it felt it would be unable to impose a concessions contract. One week after the strike began, workers voted the UMWAs sellout contract down 1,006 to 45 and shared photos of themselves burning copies of the contract.

The UMWAs assets do not belong to the leadership like peasants land belongs to a king. The UMWA has acquired vast financial resources by taking workers dues money.

Since 2000, Labor Department reports detailing the UMWAs assets show UMWA members have paid $209,654,616 (more than $209 million) in dues.

It is easy for miners eyes to glaze over with a figure as high as this but think of it this way: If a coal miner making $30 an hour pays two hours a month in union dues, this is the equivalent a combined 3,494,243.6 hours of work. In other words, since 2000, miners in the United States have collectively worked 145,593 daysor 388 years!to build up the UMWAs massive assets.

And what do the AFL-CIO and UMWA have to lose if workers demand for increased strike pay is met? This requires a review of how the UMWA has spent miners dues money.

Since 2005, the UMWA has paid $163,668,927 for representational activities, largely salary to the UMWAs small army of well-paid officials, plus $65,189,081 on general overhead and $35,519,365 on union administration. From 2005 to present, the UMWA has also spent $22,434,723 on political activities and lobbying. Since 2000, it has doled out $6,022,546 in gifts.

At present, the UMWA national headquarters has 102 people on staff, making an average $70,000. Forty-nine of those officials make roughly $100,000 or more, equaling a total salary of $5.4 million per year. While workers on strike pay are expected to live on $325 a week, the fabulous forty-nine cash checks worth over $2,000 a week. Between 2002 and 2018, workers dues money provided President Cecil Roberts with a total of over $3 million in salary.

These lavish expenseswhich only include payments that are above boardexceed the total received in dues money because the UMWA has also gambled workers dues in the stock market. From 2000 to today, the UMWA has purchased over one billion dollars in investments and fixed assetsa total of $1,274,513,981. It has received $11,940,530 in dividend payments alone. No wonder the UMWA wants to keep strike pay lowthe strike is reducing cash available for their next purchase of mutual funds.

In response to articles by the World Socialist Web Site exposing this reality, UMWA executives redbait WSWS writers, slander them as anti-union and threaten them with violence.

In reality, it is the UMWA which has betrayed the class struggle traditions of coal miners. The UMWA membership has fallen by more than half in just 20 years, from 112,481 in 2000 to just 56,580 today. In 2016, only 2.5 percent of coal mines were unionized, compared with 40 percent in 1956, according to census data. The UMWA is not a union but a pro-business entity overseen by executives whose interests are directly hostile to those of miners. When Morrison speaks of protecting the UMWAs assets from liquidation through increased strike pay, he speaks not as a trade union official, but as a corporate representative of management.

The American ruling class has spent well over a century attempting to tame coal miners, who have been among the most courageous and militant sections of the working class. Thousands of coal miners have sacrificed their lives in bloody class battles to win the right to organize and demand the most basic health and safety precautions, from the Molly Maguires of the 19th century and the state massacres at Ludlow, Colorado and Blair Mountain, West Virginia in the early 20th century, to the 1990 scab murder of striker John McCoy in Welch, West Virginia.

Over the course of the last 50 years, the UMWA has suppressed the struggle of miners and has helped the coal operators bring strike levels down far below any time since the Civil War. This began in earnest after World War Two, when coal miners launched a series of militant strikes and won massive concessions from the operators.

In his 1971 book Death and the Mines, Brit Hume describes how a 1968 jury had found that the United Mine Workers had, since 1950, conspired with the Consolidation Coal Company and other major producers to create a monopoly in the coal industry. Hume writes:

It was the second time in three years the UMW had been found guilty of antitrust conspiracy with the major coal operators. As surprising as those unprecedented verdicts might seem, they could have come as no shock to thousands of coal miners who had been wondering for years what the leaders of their union were up to. For in the aftermath of the bitter strikes of the years that followed World War II, an era of labor peace had come to the coal industry. Gone were the inevitable strikes, the tumultuous public bargaining sessions, and the constant threats of national coal shortages during the walkouts. In their place were the closed-door negotiations between UMW chieftains and a delegation representing nearly the entire coal company. Invariably, these resulted in new contracts without a strike.

Throughout the 1960s, opposition to the UMWA leadership, which had passed from John L. Lewis to his hand-picked successor, Tony Boyle, found expression in a series of wildcat strikes throughout the country. A reform movement called the Miners for Democracy emerged, which the Boyle machine attempted to crush with violence. At the unions convention in 1964, Boyle deployed thugs in helmets to beat rank-and-file miners senseless for attempting to speak against the leaderships betrayals. On December 31, 1969, Boyle hired thugs who broke into the home of Miners for Democracy candidate for UMWA president Joseph Jock Yablonski, killing him, his wife and their 25-year-old daughter.

Federal authorities arrested Boyle, threw him in jail, and a 1972 union election brought Miners for Democracy leadership into control of the union under President Arnold Miller. Strikes in 1974, 1977-78 and 1981 showed the continued militancy of coal miners, who defied federal court injunctions and won significant victories, overcoming the UMWAs efforts to limit the strikes.

After Richard Trumka was introduced as union president in 1981, the UMW intensified this long process of betrayals, isolating workers struggles in strikes at AT Massey in 1984-85 and Pittston Coal in 1989-90. Since these strikes, the UMWA and Trumkas successor, Cecil Roberts, have effectively brought all strike activity to an end.

As a result of this process, the UMWA has amassed huge fortunes and enriched the layer of bureaucrats who are, in effect, paid to suppress the class struggle and intimidate opposition from rank-and-file miners. These managers view the Warrior Met strike as a drain on their resources and a threat to their cozy relationship with the coal companies. In their minds, the strike must be brought to a swift conclusion so that it, in Morrisons words, does not result in the liquidation of its assets!

The transformation of the UMWA into a corporate labor management syndicate is expressed in that the social types who now staff the trade union bureaucracies are about as far from the class struggle as the man on the moon. Before becoming a paid staffer for the AFL-CIO, Morrison was a college leader of the Alabama Democratic Party. The Democrats have for decades stood on the side of the coal operators, enforcing injunctions, throwing miners in jail, and greenlighting savage attacks by state troopers on strikers from the 1940s through the 1970s. In 2016, its candidate for President, Hillary Clinton, bragged about mass layoffs among miners, celebrating the poverty that dominates in many coal communities. Now that the Republican Party has dominated mining regions for a few decades, this pro-business party has made clear that its false claims to represent coal country are no truer than the Democrats.

The period in which the UMWA and AFL-CIO could isolate workers is coming to an end. The massive repudiation of the UMWAs proposed contract at Warrior Met, as well as the determination of Volvo workers in Dublin, Virginia to reject two rotten contracts put forward by the United Auto Workers (whose leadership is in federal prison for accepting bribes from the company in exchange for sellout contracts), testifies to this powerful growth of opposition from below.

The success of these struggles depends on breaking the isolation imposed by the trade unions and mobilizing the working class as a whole, in the US and internationally, in defense of striking workers.
Tens of thousands have been left in a state of limbo as the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) has seemingly ceased to function amid record-breaking unemployment numbers. As of this writing, nearly 69,000 people have yet to receive either payment or a response from the chronically-underfunded unemployment system.

The state, with a population of over 8 million, had over 200,000 unemployed residents as of April. Over 52,000 people filed continued claims for unemployment assistance in the last week of May.

People line up at a food distribution site in Chelsea, Massachusetts [Credit: AP Photo/David Goldman]

According to a report released this year by Virginias legislative body, the state was able to resolve just 2.4 percent of all claims for unemployment within 21 days. This compares to the state resolving almost 85 percent of all complaints within the first three weeks during the initial months of the pandemic last year. According to the state audit, the average wait time for a claims appeal is eight months, or 247 days.

The reason for this massive disparity in response times is, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, due to the overwhelming number of relatively uncomplicated cases the system received last year. As with other state governments at that time, the state instituted a limited shelter-in-place which furloughed hundreds of thousands and enabled them to file for unemployment and expanded federal benefits.

However, as the federal and state benefits lapsed last year, and thousands still remained unemployed, the state began issuing Benefit Year End (BYE) notices to all claimants previously laid off in March 2020. This, in combination with thousands of newly-laid off workers, has left many anxiously waiting for any word about the state of their unemployment assistance.

[T]housands of Virginians are still wondering where their benefits are after payments suddenly stopped and communication remains limited at the Virginia Employment Commission, states Richmond-based CBS affiliate WTVR.

The news channel cites Martin Wegbreit, a litigation expert at the Central Virginia Legal Aid Society. People are stuck in limbo, states Wegbreit. Theyre not getting a payment and not getting an appealable decision so that they could get any type of error corrected.

WHY would it be so hard for VEC to update their website or send out an email or text or letter or ANYTHING to let people know about the issues with filing, states a typical comment on social media about Virginias unemployment system [emphasis in original].

Wouldnt giving us notice about this be in their best interest, preventing all the phone calls theyre getting about this? Another comment merely reads: VEC is shameful and I hope they are prosecuted.

I dont know about the rest of the state, but my family needs to eat more often than once every four months, and my mortgage and power bill are due every single month, states Loudoun County resident Eric Johnson to the Times-Dispatch. Johnson has filed claims weekly since January and has received neither a payment nor word from the state.

The Times-Dispatch continues: the Virginia Employment Commission has long been underfunded and overlooked, with an antiquated information technology system and a bare-bones staff to resolve complicated cases and answer questions from unemployed Virginians suddenly thrown into a frayed safety net.

The article (A dinosaurthe pandemic exposed longstanding flaws in Virginias unemployment system) notes that the US Department of Labor has rated Virginia dead last in the country in its response to disputed claimsin which a claimant is rejected for unemployment assistance but seeks an appeal, i.e., due to the extraordinary circumstances of a lingering pandemic.

Its not just the federal governmentits been chronically underfunded by the state, said Democratic state senator Creigh Deeds of the commission. Weve gone on the cheap for unemployment for too damn long.

In response to a class action lawsuit last month, a federal judge ordered the VEC to resolve over 92,000 unemployment claims by September. Notably, the judges decision did not determine whether the plaintiffs were legally eligible for benefits, states the Times -Dispatch, only that they were entitled to a formal statement about their long-awaited benefits claims.

Toward this end, Democratic governor Ralph Northam has promised to deliver $20 million to the state agency to help sift through claims.

Despite the immense social crisis, compounded by the states lackluster response to the distress, the state has moved forward with reinstituting job search requirements in late May. Now that the economy is beginning to make some recovery and more and more Virginia employers are resuming business and reopening, the suspension of the active work search requirement is being lifted, stated the commission in an announcement last month.

As with officials at the federal level, the state is eager to move remaining residents off of unemployment benefits quickly in order to assist businesses. Business leaders are optimistic that a renewed requirement for unemployed Virginians could offer some support, states WTVR.

According to Virginiabusiness.com, citing figures from the VEC, the majority of state claimants are from low-paid sectors such as the accommodation/food service, administrative and waste services, retail trade and health care and social assistance industries.

Northam has vowed not to prematurely end Virginias participation in the Biden administrations expanded $300-weekly benefit program, part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, as have some Republican-led states in the US. However, the immense delay in distributing payments will likely work in a similarly-intended fashion, that is, to force the population back to work for meager wages before they are ready.

It is noteworthy that Virginia, a state with a Democratic Party-controlled executive branch and legislature, is as contemptuous of the states unemployed as the numerous Republican-led states that have purposely sought to slow-walk aid to their residents. In August, Floridas Republican governor Ron DeSantis admitted the states unemployment system was designed to place as many kind[s] of pointless roadblocks along the way to pay out the least number of claims to Florida residents.
A meeting of university workers, members of the Committee for Public Education (CFPE) in Australia, last week urged global support for the decision by 3,000 US Volvo Truck workers in the United States to oppose a second sell-out contract negotiated by the pro-corporate United Auto Workers (UAW) union and return to the picket lines.

The resolution stated: We extend our solidarity to the Volvo workers, striking for their just demands at Volvo Truck New River Valley plant in Dublin, Virginia, and undertake to fight for the widest support for their struggle.

We welcome their decision to reject the sell-out agreement proposed by the pro-company United Auto Workers union and to form a rank-and-file committee to lead the battle against the company-union partnership.

Although we work in a different industry on the other side of the world, we face the common need for a unified working-class fightback against the employers offensive, which is being enforced by the trade unions.

As many as 90,000 university workers in Australia have lost their jobs since the COVID-19 disaster began, on top of a decades-long assault on wages and conditions that has now left two-thirds of university staff in insecure casual or contract employment.

This has been possible only because the union covering us, the National Tertiary Education Union, has systematically stifled and suppressed the outrage and resistance of university workers over the past year, and for years before that.

The stand taken by the Volvo workers is providing a decisive lead and inspiration to workers around the globe in the fight against the attacks being mounted by the capitalist class and its trade union collaborators. We urge workers everywhere to back the Volvo strikers.

Volvo strikers on the picket line (Source: Twitter/Target solidarity)

Several educators, supporters of the CFPE, have sent statements backing the Volvo workers and endorsing the resolution.

Chris Gordon, a university lecturer, said:

I stand in support of the Volvo workers in Virginia. Their fight is not just against one companylarge as that is. What stands behind the company is the entire corporate structure, including the media, with the government, and in particular the UAW union which supposedly represents them.

The UAW, with hundreds of thousands of members, refuses to mobilise a movement in defence of workers. The reason is that the UAW does not stand in defence of the workers, but defends and carries out the program of the corporation. Financially, the UAW depends on the stock market and so supports the productivity and cost cutting measures of Volvo.

There are parallels with a strike in Sydney, Australia, with General Mills workers facing plans for a sellout by their union, the United Workers Union, who, like the UAW, are refusing to mobilise their 150,000 members, and are also not providing full strike pay. The same process of shutting down any unification of workers occurs in every union, including in the area I work in, education.

I urge auto workers from Volvo, and more broadly, to join the Volvo Workers Rank-and-File Committee, as part of establishing a broader struggle, and developing a movement that will address the root cause of the brutalisation of workers: the capitalist system itself.

Dr Ludmilla Robinson, a senior lecturer in law, stated:

It is imperative that we all express our support for the 3,000 US Volvo Truck workers who are both determined and brave enough to resist the United Auto Workers blatant and cowardly compliance with the demands of Volvo. The UAWs conduct appears to be another example of the egregious infiltration of labour organisations by those whose personal interests and sympathies lie, not with their members, but with the transnational corporations and the exploitative capitalist system.

In a country in which once strong and effective unions have become the doormats of capitalism, it is so very heartening to learn that there are still those gallant souls who, at a grass-roots level, are willing to fight and serve as an example of what true belief in the ideals of socialism should be.

Workingmen [and women] of all countries unite!

A senior lecturer in business studies said:

I would like to express my solidarity with the Volvo workers, striking at the Volvo Truck New River Valley plant in Dublin, Virginia.

I applaud their decision to reject the agreement proposed by the United Auto Workers union and perhaps more important, to form a rank-and-file committee. This brave move pits them against both the company and the union, but they should not think that they are alone. I hope that workers across the globe recognise their inspirational courage and support their fight.

I would like to state my agreement with the resolution adopted by the supporters of the Committee for Public Education.
Content from the World Socialist Web Site remains blacklisted and blocked from being shared on some of the most popular discussion forums on the social news aggregation website Reddit.

Among the Reddit forumsknown as subredditsthat have banned the posting of article links from wsws.org are r/coronavirus with 2.4 million members and r/politics with 7.6 million members.

Reddit logo

Content moderators of these subreddits have blacklisted the World Socialist Web Site without explanation and refused to respond to multiple WSWS exposures of the ban as political censorship and the demand that it be lifted.

Any attempt to post articles from the WSWS on the r/coronavirus subreddit returns the following message:

Your submission has been automatically removed because the linked source may not be reliable or may be dedicated mostly to political coverage. If possible, please re-submit with a link to a reliable or non-political source, such as a reliable news organization or an [sic] recognized institution.

In the first place, the argument that only links from a non-political source are permitted is entirely illegitimate given that links shared freely from the capitalist media such as the Washington Post, New York Times and Wall Street Journal on the forum are in fact dedicated mostly to political coverage. The real purpose of this language from Reddit moderators is McCarthyismi.e., banning of left-wing and socialist ideas from being shared and discussed on the subreddit.

Secondly the argument that the World Socialist Web Site is not a reliable source or a reliable news organization or a recognized institution is completely false. While our daily readership continues to climb internationally, the original, unique and consistently accurate reporting and analysis of the WSWSespecially on the subject of the coronavirus pandemichas become increasingly influential and is playing a direct role in shaping public views on the topic

In light of the recent campaign by the WSWS to expose the revival by the US corporate media and political establishment of the discredited Wuhan Lab theorywhich has been shared widely on Twitter and been supported by leading scientists and epidemiologiststhe continuation of the ban by Reddit moderators on r/coronavirus is a blatant attempt to stop our views and analysis from reaching the members of the forum.

For example, the WSWS article written by Andre Damon on June 1 entitled, Author of Wall Street Journal Wuhan Lab story wrote lies about Weapons of Mass Destructionwhich exposed the fact that Michael R. Gordon wrote the September 8, 2002, article in the New York Times that falsely asserted that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was seeking to build a nuclear weaponwas shared by at least 29 journalists on Twitter.

Among the publications that reporters who shared this article on Twitter write for are Nature, Forbes, Bloomberg, Rolling Stone and the Sydney Morning Herald. Yet the moderators of the r/coronavirus subreddit have refused to lift their blacklist.

This writer submitted a message through the r/coronavirus subreddit directly to the moderators pointing to the decisive role being played by the WSWS in combatting the discredited Wuhan Lab conspiracy theory, and this message resulted in the following six-word response Nope, but thanks for the feedback.

In the case of the subreddit r/politics, the World Socialist Web Site remains blacklisted while more than 1,000 other publications, including far-right organizations and open advocates of lies about the origin of COVID-19, are officially whitelisted by the moderators.

For example, Fox Newswhich has launched a spurious campaign to have NIAID Director Anthony Fauci firedand the Federalistwhich advocated early in the pandemic that infected people engage in chicken pox parties to infect othersare both permitted to have links from their sites posted on r/politics.

Efforts by WSWS editors and journalists to submit requests through the subreddit facility to add the World Socialist Web Site domain to the r/politics whitelist have gone unanswered.

As we reported last September, when the WSWS article Trump runs for Fuhrer inexplicably made it past the blacklist on r/politics on August 28, it quickly won 9,200 upvotes, received over 600 comments, and was so popular that it was elevated to Reddits front page.

At that moment the r/politics moderators censorship regime sprang into action, labeled the articleanalyzing Trumps fascistic nomination acceptance speech at the 2020 Republican National Conventionas coming from an Unacceptable Source and shut down further discussion by Reddit members of the analysis.

There is no question that Redditan estimated $6 billion corporation owned by the Newhouse media empire called Advance Publicationsand its subreddit moderators are deliberately blocking members of the platform from having access to and discussing content from the WSWS.

We are renewing our call for an end to the McCarthyite blacklisting of WSWS content from being shared on Reddit. We are also calling on Reddit members to demand that the moderators of r/coronavirus and r/politics lift the ban and allow the socialist analysis and reporting from the WSWS to be shared on these subreddits.
We, the Action Committee of WISAG Ground Workers at Frankfurt Airport, stand in solidarity with the workers at Volvo Trucks in Dublin, Virginia, USA. You have overwhelmingly rejected a contract for the second time and have resumed the strike you have been conducting since April 17 against wage theft and murderous working hours. The United Auto Workers (UAW) union wanted to force a contract on you that would have fixed these terrible conditions for six years. But the Volvo workers independent rank-and-file committee made the concrete facts known and enabled you to make your own judgement and courageously vote no.

WISAG workers after their hunger strike at Rhein-Main Airport, 3 March 2021.

We WISAG ground workers are also fighting against this double oppressionon the one hand, of the capitalist employers who have used the pandemic to enrich themselves even more unrestrainedly at our expense, and, on the other hand, of trade union officials who see themselves as the co-managers of the companies.

At WISAG, we are fighting against the illegitimate dismissal of 260 workers who had worked at the airport for decades before they were kicked out and replaced by over-exploited, low-wage workers. We, too, stood up to the union. The service union Verdi at the airport did not lift a finger in our defence, although we had paid membership dues for decades. We resigned and laid a black funeral wreath in front of the Verdi headquarters in Frankfurt.

Since then, more and more workers from other companies at the airport have joined our rank-and-file committee. They are not prepared to give up their jobs, their incomes and the future of their families without a fight, and they have the same experiences with Verdi as we have. For decades, we have seen conditions at the airport deteriorate through deregulation and privatisation, with a narrow layer enriching itself at our expense.

We learned about your struggle through the World Socialist Web Site, while the bourgeois media systematically silenced it. In the same way, they kept quiet about our demonstrations and our eight-day hunger strike in February/March. In the WSWS reports, your colleagues speak strongly in favour of international solidarity, and we totally agree with you! At the beginning of our labour struggle, we decided on the slogan: Today its ustomorrow its you. By this, we mean not only that more and more workers are affected by the attacks on jobs and wages, but also that more and more workers will join our struggle.

In this sense, we wish you the necessary strength and the solidarity of ever-wider layers of the working class, so that you can lead your struggle to success!

With solidarity greetings,

HB for the WISAG Action Committee
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature

Latin America

Buenos Aires protest demanding wages, food and vaccines hit with tear gas

A group of protesters in the city of Buenos Aires held a march and demonstration to demand decent wages, work, food assistance and vaccinations on June 11. As they attempted to cross a bridge, they were tear-gassed by Argentine Naval Prefecture (PNA) units.

The protesters consisted of members of various social organizations and leftist parties, as well as unemployed and outsourced workers. According to a press release, some of the workers had performed essential work repairing electrical systems, and were obligated to work all through the pandemic and when they demanded permanent positions they were illegally fired.

The protesters assembled in the morning at the headquarters of the Labor and Social Development Ministries and marched to the Pueyrredon Bridge that spans the Matanzas River. They were met by PNA forces, who used tear gas in an attempt to block their passage and prevent them from crossing.

Uruguayan bus drivers plan strike for higher pay

The National Transport Workers Union of Uruguay, which is affiliated with the Pit-Cnt federation, reaffirmed June 10 its intention to call out bus drivers June 17 under the slogan Against hunger and inequality, for work and wages. This will be the first general strike against the right-wing administration of National Party President Luis Lacalle Pou.

The strike had been decided on at a Pit-Cnt representative board meeting on May 13, but the vote came under fire from critics claiming that it would interfere with vaccinations for nearly 50 percent of Uruguayans. National Party members, who had previously downplayed the need for lockdowns and other preventive measures in favor of personal freedom, slammed the strike call for its insensitivity and irresponsibility.

One National Party senator claimed that at least 48,000 people would be deprived of scheduled vaccinations. At the same time, other opponents of the strike lamented that it would prevent workers from getting to their workplaces, i.e., among the main COVID-19 transmission sites.

Pit-Cnt President Fernando Pereira and other bureaucrats have said that, in accordance with a formula worked out with the Uruguayan Health Federation, there will be transportation for vaccinations, but only for vaccination sites. He added that transportation for urgent care, emergency cases and cancer patients will also be guaranteed.

Chilean hospital workers block beds to demand days off, pay

Workers at the Barros Luco Hospital in the San Miguel municipality of Santiago, Chile blocked access to 27 beds last week to press their demands regarding working conditions and better pay. The workers, members of the National Health Workers Federation, have been prohibited from taking vacations, administrative days and paid holidays since the pandemic began.

The workers have been laboring under pressure, with high numbers of patients and long hours. There are not sufficient staff for the number of patients, with three workersformerly there were sixfor every 48 beds. On June 4, workers met with management to request the use of legal holidays, vacation days and administrative leave and that no more beds be opened until there were enough personnel. These were the main requests, but there were others.

Management sent out an internal memo stating that the requests would be evaluated. Management later granted some of their requests, but left others unanswered or unclarified. Among those were the precarious nature of the work and the frequent lack of hot water for patients.

United States

Steelworkers strike Unifrax outside Buffalo, New York

Some 180 workers in Tonawanda near Buffalo, New York, members of United Steelworkers (USW) Local 4-2058 are continuing a strike they began in May at the automotive high temperature ceramic fiber insulation maker Unifrax. Rather than calling for a wider mobilization in support of the striking workers, the USW has been aiding the strikebreaking maneuvers of the company, which is attempting to replace the strikers with scabs. The main sticking points in the dispute are wages, benefits, and the two-tier wage system.

The earlier contract between Unifrax and the union had expired at the end of January. Workers voted to grant strike authorization after the company made its final offer at the end of February by 133 to 23, or 85 percent voting in favor. However, instead of calling a strike, the USW kept the workers at their posts for months afterwards.

The company is headquartered in Niagara Falls, New York, and has around 2,700 employees at 37 manufacturing facilities in 12 countries. Private equity fund Clearlake Capital Group, L.P., with $30 billion in assets, has a controlling interest in Unifrax. The company has for years reaped the benefits of publicly subsidized power provided by the New York Power Authority from the Niagara Power Project.

An indication of the conditions at Unifrax was given on the Indeed.com job search engine, where a majority of workers left unfavorable reviews. One stated, As an operator you are driven into the ground and every week they make your job more difficult. On nearly a monthly basis they add more tasks and responsibilities while actually taking away raises and benefits! The worker had no positive remarks for the company or union, adding that the company had, suspended 401k, suspended raises, more responsibility while compensated less, no HR representation, no union representation.

Workers at Corinth, Mississippi plant return to work after contract is extended in labor dispute

Over 100 workers will return to their jobs June 14 at the Mississippi Polymers plant in Corinth, Mississippi after a dispute with the United Steelworkers (USW) led the company to close its doors. The two sides exchanged accusations after the old agreement expired at midnight June 4.

Management accused the union of sending text messages and voicemails to workers with picket line assignments and preparing to initiate a strike at noon on June 5. The union denies the charge and called the companys actions a lockout.

According to USW Local 759L, workers voted down a company contract proposal that attacked job security and made significant changes to workers health care coverage. A federal mediator met with both Mississippi Polymers and the USW over a two-day period to broker an extension of the old contract while the union and the company prepare to return to the bargaining table. Mississippi Polymers operates a single plant that manufactures flexible films that are used by other manufacturers to protect and enhance surfaces.

Teachers in Flint, Michigan walk out of elementary school over excess heat

A large group of teachers walked out of Doyle Ryder Elementary School in Flint Michigan on June 7 as air conditioning broke down and temperatures inside the building soared to over 90 degrees Fahrenheit. An HVAC company repaired the air-conditioning and the following day temperatures in the building were lowered. No students were in the building as the school is continuing virtual learning.

United Teachers of Flint president Karen Christian praised the school district, claiming, The district was very quick to action to help handle the situation, and those teachers that walked out, no repercussions to them... But the conditions in Flint schools in terms of air conditioning have been so bad that the district finally agreed to put air conditioning in eight of the districts buildings. But there are two schools that will not get air conditioning under the plan.

The United Teachers union is currently in contract talks with the district and the old agreement expired back in August of 2020. In May, the union filed an unfair labor practices charge against the district, claiming Flint Community Schools was engaged in regressive bargaining.

Canada

Manitoba Nurses vote to strike

With almost a 100 percent membership turnout, about 12,000 Manitoba nurses overwhelmingly voted in support of a province-wide strike. The nurses have been without a contract for four years. Issues surrounding the recruitment and retention of nurses, intricately tied up with substandard working conditions, staffing levels and compensation, have lain unaddressed since 2017 and straight through the pandemic, which continues to impact the province.

Government negotiators have stonewalled discussions on a new contract as they have done with other public sector workers seeking new deals. In 2017, Premier Brian Pallister and his Conservatives passed Bill 28, which imposed a two-year wage freeze on all public employees with a meager 0.75 percent wage increase in year three of any new contract, followed by one percent in year four. Public sector workers throughout the province rejected the wage restraint fiat as unconstitutional.

Last June, a provincial court, calling the bill draconian, struck down the legislation as an infringement on the constitutional right to free collective bargaining. However, the government immediately appealed the decision, insisting that public sector employers must follow the wage restraint targets outlined in the original legislation in all contract negotiations.

Since then, thousands of workers have taken strike action at the provinces hydroelectric Crown Corporation and amongst Winnipeg school bus drivers. But these job actions have not been designed by the various union leaderships to unite workers throughout the province to defeat the Pallister governments dictates through militant strike action, but to dissipate worker anger. The aim is to channel workers into a byzantine legal maze designed to strangle workers demands.

A provincial law mandates that after 60 days of even minimal job actions, an individual unions dispute can be referred to the Manitoba Labour Board for binding arbitration.

Already hydro and bus drivers have ended job actions and lined up for hearings before the pro-management Board. Nurses leader Darlene Jackson has signaled her desire for a similar result should negotiations continue to stagnate. In effect, as at the recently scuttled strike at Manitoba Hydro, short and small rotating job actions targeting only nonessential activities must be continued for 60 days to qualify for an application for a Labour Board hearing. But even this dubious avenue for a compromise resolution of labour disputes is too much for the Pallister government. It is preparing a new Bill for an early autumn passage that would delete the 60-day provision for binding arbitration from the Labour Code.
A High Court ruling has further exposed the UK governments brutal anti-migrant policies. On June 3, High Court Judge Thomas Linden ruled, against the Home Office, that six asylum seekers were detained illegally in the former military Napier barracks in Folkestone, Kent.

Napier barracks has been used to accommodate hundreds of migrants since September of last year and is run by property management company Clearsprings.

The six asylum seekers had their case heard in a two-day hearing at the High Court in April. They argued that conditions at Napier barracks were in contravention of the Immigration and Asylum Act. The ruling led to calls for the Conservatives Home Secretary Priti Patel to resign.

In his ruling Mr Justice Linden stated the six men were, vulnerable victims of trafficking and/or torture, who experienced a deterioration in their mental health as a result of their accommodation at Napier Barracks.

He added, Whether on the basis of the issues of Covid or fire safety taken in isolation or looking at the cumulative effect of the decision-making about and the conditions in the barracks, I do not accept that the accommodation there ensured a standard of living which was adequate for the health of the claimants. Insofar as the defendant [Home Office] considered that the accommodation was adequate for their needs, that view was irrational.

Speaking on the detention-like conditions, Linden stated, They were supposed to live voluntarily pending a determination of their applications for asylum.

When this is considered, a decision that accommodation in a detention-like settinga site enclosed by a perimeter fence topped with barbed wire, access to which is through padlocked gates guarded by uniformed security personnelwill be adequate for their needs, begins to look questionable.

The judge found that from January 15, when an instruction was given to residents not to leave Napier barracks without permission, the asylum seekers had been unlawfully detained.

It emerged in February that Public Health England (PHE) had advised the use of such barracks in a pandemic could present a health risk and that the site was not suitable as accommodation.

Male asylum seekers were nevertheless housed in the barrack blocks, with up to 28 men in each block. It was impossible to observe COVID-19 pandemic precautions and in January and February of this year around 200 migrants (half the sites population) tested positive for the virus.

The fire breaking out at the Napier barracks (credit: Care4Calais)

On January 29, a fire broke out at the barracks. It was deemed to have been started deliberately and 14 asylum seekers were arrested. However, the real culprit was the Tory government responsible for the intolerable conditions inside the camp. Migrants, campaigners and migrant charities had been raising alarms for months about the cramped conditions and lack of access to health care and legal adviceall of which went ignored by the Home Office.

The High Court hearing revealed that the Home Office had been warned two months previously of a serious fire risk. The Crown Premises Fire Safety Inspectorate carried out an inspection on November 24 and cited as a specific concern the use of sheets and curtains draped between bunk beds to give privacy and limited protection against COVID-19 infection.

The Court also heard details of a report, still unpublished in full, by Her Majestys Inspectorate of Prisons and the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration. The Home Office was told on March 21 that there had been seven suicide attempts and another seven incidents of serious self-harm. One third of the asylum seekers held at Napier were found to be suicidal and all of them had suffered depression at some point.

Refugee support group Care4Calais posted a testimony from Ella, one of its volunteers, in response to Lindens ruling. She explained that Napiers reputation among asylum seekers means theyre afraid of the name and that many taken there are either not told where theyre going or are explicitly told they wont be going to Napier

Of course, when they arrive, theyre alarmed and scared to realise where they are. They find an austere and dilapidated building. With its eight-foot fences, cell-like rooms and barbed wire, Napier resembles the prisons in which some of the people taken there have been tortured or held while being trafficked. At worst, this can trigger serious PTSD (Post-traumatic stress disorder). At best, they feel cut off from the outside world and vulnerable.

Lara Ten Cate, speaking for human rights group Liberty, said, The government's only response can be to close it down immediately.

Satbir Singh, chief executive of the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, said the government had been reckless with peoples lives and that Abandoned, ramshackle military barracks are totally unsuitable sites to house anyone, much less victims of torture or trafficking and people fleeing atrocities.

The government have no intention of halting their assault on refugees and the right to asylum. Patel will treat the High Court ruling as more grist to the mill of her right-wing agitation against lefty lawyers. A Home Office spokesman said in response to Lindens ruling that Napier provided asylum seekers with a safe and secure place to stay and that the department was disappointed with the judgement.

After briefly emptying the barracks in early April, the Home Office has begun to fill Napier again. The site currently houses around 265 migrants, with around 12 in each block, and lawyers representing asylum seekers kept there understand the intention is to house over 300. One man at the site told the BBC conditions were remained inhumane, with no hot water or electricity and one shower for 100 people.

In an attempt to prevent this information being reported, the government are pressuring migrants not to talk to journalists, effectively threatening them with deportation. A June 6 Guardian article quoted Maddie Harris from Humans for Rights Network saying she had been told by a group of migrants at the site that, They were told by staff that there is a full list of people in the camp and that names have been circled who are known to have spoken to journalists. They were told its going to be a problem for their asylum claim.

What goes on at Napier has been kept behind a wall of censorship since its establishment. Last November, volunteers at the site were forced to sign confidentiality agreements underpinned by the Official Secrets Act. In February, journalist Andy Aitchison was arrested in his home by five police officers after taking photos of a demonstration outside the campon the absurd suspicion of criminal damage.

A Border Force vessel brings a group of people thought to be migrants into the port city of Dover, England, from small boats, Saturday Aug. 8, 2020. The British government says it will strengthen border measures as calm summer weather has prompted a record number of people to attempt the risky sea crossing in small vessels, from northern France to England. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Patel and the Tory Party intend to inscribe their routine abuse of refugees fundamental rights into law later this year with a New Plan for Immigration, described as inhumane by the UN Refugee Agency. In the autumn, the Home Office plans to open a new immigration detention centre for 80 women in Hassockfield County Durhamthe first new detention centre since 2014.

They are able to proceed with this reactionary policy in the face of popular opposition thanks to the complicity of a Labour Party serving as a constructive opposition and doing its best to burnish its own patriotic credentials. Not calling for Napier to be closed, Shadow Home Secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds, responded to the High Court ruling with a pathetic call for Tory ministers to make a statementurgentlyto explain how this injustice occurred, who will be held to account, and how they will ensure it can never happen again.

A terrible reminder of the consequences of the bipartisan anti-migrant agenda came on June 7, when the body of a 15-month-old boy washed up on the coast of Norway on New Years Day was identified as that of Artin Iran-Nejad. Artin, along with his mother, father, brother and sister, drowned while trying to cross the English Channel in a small fishing boat last October.

These horrors must be ended. Defending the rights of migrants and asylum seekers depends on building a socialist movement in the working class. Workers and young people must oppose the governments vicious system of detention and deportation on the basis of a fight for full citizenship rights and access to jobs, housing, health care, education and welfare for all.
Monday June 14 marked four years since the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire when 72 people perished in the middle of London in an act of social murder.

To this day, not a single person or organisation responsible in political and corporate circles has been brought to account for this terrible crime. Moreover, the risk of dying by fire in an unsafe building today is greater than ever. It was estimated last June that 56,000 people were still living in high rises with the same type of aluminium composite material (ACM) cladding that enveloped Grenfell. The ACM cladding was the main reason a small fourth-floor kitchen fire became an inferno in matter of minutes.

But this is only a fraction of the true number affected. According to an assessment last June by Inside Housingand based on the average household size of 2.4at least 600,000 people (equivalent to the population of Glasgow) live in unsafe tall buildings and millions more in medium rise towers. Grenfell was 24 storeys, 67 metres, tall. Inside Housing warned, There are an estimated 100,000 medium-rise buildingsbetween 11m and 18macross the UK and no work whatsoever has been done to establish the extent of dangerous cladding materials on the outside Both the Barking Riverside fire in June last year [2019] and the Bolton fire last November occurred in buildings below 18m with dangerous cladding systems, and both came very close to causing loss of life.

The burnt out Grenfell Tower tower block building nine days after the June 14, 2017 fire. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Many more buildings used by the public remain in use despite being unsafe. Since the Grenfell fire, over 70 schools have been built with the same combustible insulation used on Grenfell, as well as 25 hospitals, care homes and sheltered housing. Although combustible materials have been banned on facades greater than 18 metres, the Department of Education recently drafted fire safety proposals for school buildings allowing for flammable materials in structures below that height. In the last five years, 47 primary and secondary school buildings have been destroyed by fire in England alone.

Set up in September 2017, the governments Grenfell Tower Inquiry has heard more than 200 days of evidence from corporate and government officials, as well as firefighters and numerous technical experts.

Over the last weeks it has finally taken testimony from survivors, including residents, who had voiced concerns over their safety, worries about the Towers refurbishment, and the hostile attitude of the Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Association (KCTMO) which ran the Tower on behalf of the Conservative council. Among these was 16th-floor resident and member of the Grenfell Action Group (GAG), Edward Daffarn. Just months before the fire, GAG posted a November 2016 blog article reading: It is a truly terrifying thought but the Grenfell Action Group firmly believe that only a catastrophic event will expose the ineptitude and incompetence of our landlord, the KCTMO, and bring an end to the dangerous living conditions and neglect of health and safety legislation that they inflict upon their tenants and leaseholders.

It emerged that Daffarn was accused internally at the KCTMO of scaremongering. Rydon, one of the main builders on the refurbishment contract that ended with Grenfell being clad in flammable material described Daffarn and other residents who raised concerns as rebel residents. Daffarn presented the inquiry with a 127-page statement which included seven complaints relating to fire safety made before the fire. He denounced the authorities for treating residents with hostility, neglect and contempt, and for allowing the tower to deteriorate into a slum-like condition.

In 2010, a serious fire began on the 6th floor and spread to the 15th, injuring three people, including Sayeda Ahmed. Sayedas husband Shahid Ahmed made legal claims which revealed improper seals in the smoke ventilator system that spread smoke throughout the building rather than removing it. Nothing was done until the 2016 refurbishment and, even then, the improved system failed to work the night of the fire. According to Ahmed, who chaired the Grenfell Tower Leaseholders Association (GTLA), set up after the 2010 fire: I thought that the complaints procedure was a way for the TMO to be judge, jury and executioner.

When gas pipes in the tower were found to be improperly boxed in, GTLA Secretary Lee Chapman wrote in a March 2017 email, I am seriously concerned about how I will get out of the building alive in the event of a fire with this added risk. If we cannot get out, people will die or at best suffer serious injury. He joined other GTLA members in calling for an investigation. Their proposal was rejected just four days before the fire.

The testimony of KCTMO officials and others in the ensuing weeks substantiated claims of mistreatment and harassment. By September 2015, the growing backlist of needed repairs in KCTMO properties had reached 2,300, growing to over 5,400 by January 2017. By 2014, some 1,400 of these were fire risk assessment actions, which they failed to disclose to the London Fire Brigade (LFB) because of a fear this would result in more scrutiny from the LFB and also possible enforcement action.

KCTMO Grenfell refurbishment project manager, Claire Williams, was questioned by Richard Millett QC over her failure to fix Grenfells automatic opening vent (AOV), which failed on the night of the fire. The LFB had issued the TMO with a deficiency notice for the system in March 2016, giving them six weeks to repair it. Nothing was done and residents were unknowingly left to live under these conditions for at least a year. Former KCTMO health, safety and facilities manager Janice Wray wrote Williams, Lets hope our luck holds and there are no fires in the meantime.

In the same period, it took the organisation more than six months to fix a broken dry riserthe pipe used to connect to a pressurised water source for firefighters.

No personal emergency evacuation plans (PEERs) were made for residents with disabilities, despite 52 of the 120 flats having disabled occupants.

A few months before the blaze, the Conservative Party-run Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) decided against an inspection programme of borough fire doors despite being advised to do so by the LFB.

Amanda Johnson, RBKCs head of housing commissioning, requested the TMO check on Daffarns tenancy after he raised concerns about services. KCTMO director of assets Peter Maddison wrote colleagues in April 2015: Mr. Daffarn is continuing to agitate in Grenfell Tower. He is clearly distributing misleading information. I wonder if you could advise on the point at which his comments become libelous.

The organisation also blocked its staff from accessing the Grenfell Action Blog on their servers from 2013 onwards. Some KCTMO employees discussed not including the broken AOV system in a Freedom of Information request initiated by Daffarn.

Officials continue to shed crocodile tears at the Inquiry. Quentin Marshall, RBKCs chair of the housing scrutiny committee, felt obliged to bemoan his organisations pre-fire attitude toward the tenants: I dont think we addressed the emotional side and I think we lacked a little humanity. Marshall, a private banker, should know. At the time he dismissed the residents complaints on the refurbishment as grossly exaggerated,, describing himself as not massively sympathetic to general Its all terrible complaints and claiming Daffarn had made wild and unsubstantiated claims.

Another nauseating display came from Rock Feilding-Mellen, RBKC Deputy Leader and its Cabinet Member for Housing, Property, and Regeneration between 2013-2017. He admitted to having only skimmed LFB documents that spell out councils legal responsibilities for fire safety and did not act on an LFB recommendation to ask questions about the fire safety of council housing. The Inquiry revealed that, in 2014, Feilding-Mellen was involved in deliberations that saw plans for Grenfells new cladding switched from far more fire-resistant zinc cladding to ACM. This was done to save the council and the private developers a few hundred thousand pounds.

Feilding-Mellen told the Inquiry that he was shattered by the loss of life and would probably be haunted by whether or not he could have acted differently for the rest of my life.

This week, Nabil Choucair, who lost six members of his family in the fire, expressed the concerns and anger felt by many: Four years on I fear that those responsible for the fire are going to get away with murder. Its a shame that the public inquiry cannot be stopped and the criminal investigation is completed and prosecutions put in place immediately.

What is taking place is a systematic cover-up in which the Inquiry serves as the mechanism to protect the guilty. No-one is being prosecuted as the Metropolitan Police long ago declared that its own glacier-paced investigation would wait until the inquiry finished and produced its report before even considering doing so. The Inquiry may not even conclude next year, five years after the fire.

The corporate and governmental figures responsible for Grenfell know they can turn up at the Inquiry, parade their criminality and then walk awayafter the necessary handwringingwith no further consequences.

The public investigation was organised by the government under the terms of the 2005 Inquiries Act brought in by Tony Blairs Labour government. Under the Act, Inquiry head Sir Martin Moore-Bick has no power to determine, any persons civil or criminal liability over the Grenfell events. Last year, representatives of major corporations and other institutions demanded and were granted even more protection, as the government ruled that any individual who gives evidence to the Inquiry cannot have that evidence used in any prosecution against them in the future.

All those fighting for justice for the Grenfell victims must demand an end to this charade and the immediate arrest and prosecution of the government and corporate officials responsible for social murder.

For further information visit the Grenfell Fire Forum Facebook page
The New South Wales (NSW) government this month arrogantly dismissed widespread opposition from parents, teachers and residents to its plan to amalgamate, without any community consultation, four public primary and high schools in the northern regional town of Murwillumbah.

Education Minister Sarah Mitchell told the media that the Liberal-National government had made its decision.

Murwillumbah High School [Credit: School Facebook page]

Last October, Murwillumbah residents heard, via the media, Mitchells announcement that the Murwillumbah Primary School and Murwillumbah East Primary School, along with two public high schoolsMurwillumbah High School and Wollumbin High School would be merged into a single Kindergarten to Year 12 super school. The mega-school was planned to be operational by 2024.

The merger of the four schools represents a stepping up of the bipartisan government agenda to further erode public education in Australia. While mergers of public high schools have been carried out in both city and country areas in recent decades, the Murwillumbah merger takes this to a new level, by amalgamating both primary and secondary schools onto a single campus.

Wollumbin High School Parents & Citizens president Soenke Bierman told the local media that, while the minister had finally found the time to come up to the area, after first being invited six months ago, it was only to tell a handful of people in a closed-door meeting that the amalgamation would go ahead as planned.

So much for consultation, Bierman said. Imagine not even talking to the community before making such a radical decision, and now saying we are being consulted because we might get to pick the colour of the carpet in the new building. This was an actual example the minister used.

The WSWS spoke to parents and residents about the amalgamation.

KB, a parent, said: I think because Wollumbin High is on a hilly site, it would make a perfect new housing site. I think the amalgamation is to free up housing land.

The new school is all going to be on the same site. Has the NSW government actually purchased or leased, to extend the high school grounds so there is more green space? Unless they do something about that site, it will seriously flood, and they are looking at massive problems with drainage to make sure its safe green space for the kids.

Malcolm Clarke, a resident, commented: The belief in the community is that it is about the government saving money. Personally, I think it is likely that the government has a longer-term agenda, aimed at ensuring all education is totally in the hands of non-government operators.

All indications are that this planning has been taking place for years, despite the state government promising upgrades to Murwillumbah East and Murwillumbah Primary. I believe parents able to afford to take their children to Catholic and other private schools will do so.

The public system will be reduced to attempting to cope with children from low socioeconomic families and children rejected by the non-government schools. We are already seeing private schools expanding.

Local state and federal Labor Party and Greens politicians claim to be up in arms about the decision to effectively close three public schools. However, the move flows from the bipartisan federal and state government agenda to privatise education.

After decades of funding cuts to public schools and generous allocations to private schools, this agenda was escalated in 2008 by the federal Labor governments education revolution. Its centrepieces included the high-stakes NAPLAN testing regime and the accompanying MySchool website, which revealed the growing gap between advantaged and disadvantaged schools, now one of the widest in any OECD country.

Increasingly, what has been created is a two-tier system, with public educationapart from a few showcase schoolsbeing transformed into schools of last resort for parents unable to afford private school fees.

Since 1985 enrolments in private schools have grown at five times the rate of public schools.

A recent paper by the Gonski Institute for Education at the University of New South Wales helps explain this shift. Working from the latest 2018 MySchool data, it details the gulf in government funding for public and private schools. In Adelong, a small country town in NSW, students enrolled in the public school attract $15,951 each, in annual government recurrent funding. In the nearby private school, each student attracts $23,923.

The Murwillumbah blueprint deepens a national process. The Kennett Liberal government, in the state of Victoria, began the closure of government schools, shutting more than 350 during the 1990s. The subsequent Bracks and Brumby Labor governments closed or amalgamated over 150 Victorian public schools between 1999 and 2010.

In 2019, the current Victorian Labor government moved to merge four high schools into a Greater Shepparton Secondary school, with an enrolment of up to 3,000 students planned. In Shepparton, like Murwillumbah, the consultation process was a sham, and there is intense public opposition to amalgamation. Teachers have left the school in droves, describing its culture as toxic. Enrolments are declining, and promises for facilities have not been not kept.

In NSW, Bob Carrs state Labor government announced plans to close or amalgamate up to 10 public schools in metropolitan Sydney in 2001. A decade later, a confidential report handed to the Labor government identified savings that could flow from the amalgamation, or closure, of 80 primary and secondary schools throughout the state.

In 2019, the current Berejiklian state Liberal-National government merged two high schools in the Riverina region, Griffith High School and Wade High School, into the Murrumbidgee Regional High School. Twenty teachers walked out of the amalgamated school last December, reporting that many of their colleagues had resigned. In the first year of the new schools operations, up to 1,000 separate classes took place without a teacher.

In 2006, the South Australian state Labor government announced plans to close dozens of public schools and merge them into larger schools, a move that followed 65 school closures, carried out by the previous Liberal state government.

Teachers have been gagged from commenting on the amalgamations by Code of Conduct stipulations. However, social media groups have denounced the super-school plans. Petitions calling on governments to halt the ongoing amalgamations have been signed by thousands.

This regressive agenda has only been able to proceed because of the role of the teachers trade unions. The Australian Education Union (AEU) has worked with the Victorian Labor government on the plans to merge Shepparton schools from the start, and has assured the government it will continue to ensure the school merger is successful.

When teachers at the merged Murrumbidgee Regional High School walked out over unbearable workloads, the NSW Teachers Federation (NSWTF) refused to back their campaign. Petitioners on Facebook said the union would not support or publicise the teachers demands. Others pointed to the NSWTFs record in imposing amalgamations elsewhere, including the regional cities of Dubbo and Ballina.

When the NSW government backflipped on its promise to protect staffing entitlements for the Murwillumbah merger, the NSWTF contemptuously responded: We must brace ourselves for further school closures, cuts to staffing and increased class sizes in other regional communities.

To halt the Murwillumbah amalgamation and similar mergers, a political struggle must be developed against the corporate elite, its parliamentary servants and the teachers unions. What is required is a new socialist perspective, which rejects the dominance of the capitalist market over education and defends the right of all to a high-quality public education.

To take forward this fight, parents, teachers and students need to form rank-and-file committees, completely independent of the unions and all the official political parties. Moreover, they need to join up with other schools facing closure across the country, and with rank-and-file educators committees globally, that are fighting similar attacks on public education.

To take forward this fight, contact the Committee for Public Education below:

Email: cfpe.aus@gmail.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/commforpubliceducation
WASHINGTON (WTHI) - A new federal court filing offers details about a proposed plea agreement for a local woman charged in the January 6 Capitol violence.

The counsel for Anna Morgan-Lloyd filed a Memorandum in Support of Probationary Sentence that was uploaded to the federal court database on Tuesday. The document says she is pleading guilty to a count of Parading, Demonstration, or Picketing in a Capitol Building. According to the memorandum, the parties agree to a sentence of probation, with 40 hours of community service, and an order of restitution of $500.

"Once Mrs. Lloyd understood the destruction and lawlessness of many who entered the U.S. Capitol, she was upset, contrite, and remorseful. Though she did not defile or destroy any property, she acknowledges that her presence may have given comfort to those who committed acts of violence and acts of destruction," stated defense counsel, Heather Shaner.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE | Two Bloomfield women accused of alleged involvement in the insurrection at the US Capitol appear in court

The government filed charges again Morgan-Lloyd and Dona Sue Bissey in February. According to the initial complaint, Morgan-Lloyd was recognized after going to the Greene County Sheriff's Office on January 22nd to apply for a gun permit.

The Greene County Sheriff's Office notified federal investigators. The government says screenshots from social media confirm both women were present both outside and inside the Capitol during the insurrection.

In the filing, Shaner said Morgan-Lloyd drove to Washington, D.C. to hear the President speak at the invitation of Bissey, her hairdresser and friend. The defense counsel also said Morgan-Lloyd hopes to one day return to the U.S. Capitol in homage and reverence to the United States.

"I have had many political and ethical discussions with Anna Lloyd. I tendered a booklist to her. She has read Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, Just Mercy, and Schindler's List to educate herself about "government policy" toward Native Americans, African Americans, and European Jews. We have discussed the books and also about the responsibility of an individual when confronting "wrong," stated Shaner.

Tuesday's filings included a written statement from Morgan-Lloyd. She said when she went to Washington D.C., her intention was to show support for the President. She said as people started walking toward the Capitol Building, she didn't know anyone would be walking up the steps.

"When a 74-year-old woman, we met that day, went up, we followed to keep her safe. I made the decision to go up and Im responsible for that. No one made me go, I wasnt forced. When she entered the building, we went in to find her. Once again I could have chosen to stay outside," wrote Morgan-Lloyd.

FULL MORGAN-LLOYD STATEMENT | "We didnt know people had gotten violent, police were hurt, and unfortunately

people had died."

She wrote in the filing that she knew she was wrong for stepping into the building, but never imagined being arrested, especially after cooperating with the FBI.

"I felt ashamed that something meant to show support for the President had turned violent. This is not the way to prove any point. At first, it didnt dawn on me, but later I realized that if every person like me, who wasnt violent, was removed from that crowd, the ones who were violent may have lost the nerve to do what they did. For that, I am sorry and take responsibility. It was never my intent to help empower people to act violently," wrote Morgan-Lloyd. "I take responsibility for my actions on January 6th. I will do what the court requires of me to try to set things right. I will cooperate with my probation officer fully. In addition, I will pay restitution to the court as soon as possible."

According to the federal court database, the judge in the case set a plea and sentencing hearing for Friday morning. Bissey remains scheduled for a status conference hearing on July 19th.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE | Vincennes man arrested in connection to the January 6 U.S. Capitol riot

A man from Vincennes, Indiana also faces charges in connection to the violence at the Capitol Building on January 6. The FBI said Jonathan Ace Sanders, Sr. was arrested at his home in March.
Text filed by Knox County Prosecutor Dirk Carnahan

NOTICE OF INTENT TO SEEK HABITUAL OFFENDER STATUS

Comes now the affiant, having affirmed, and states that in Knox County in the State of Indiana on the 11th of June, 2021:

Kevin E. Hatfield is an Habitual Offender in that he has accumulated two prior unrelated felony convictions, to-wit:

On or about July 14, 2003 in the Greene Circuit Court, Greene County, Indiana, Kevin E. Hatfield was convicted of a felony in cause number 28C01-0201-FB-8, to-

wit: Dealing in a Schedule I Controlled Substance, a Class B Felony, which crime was committed on or about January 08, 2002.

Further, on or about November 28, 2011 in the Greene Superior Court I, Greene County, Indiana, Kevin E. Hatfield was convicted of a felony in cause number 28D01-1110-FD-222, to-wit: Possession of a Controlled Substance, a Class D Felony, which crime was committed on or about October 15, 2011.

Further, on or about January 21, 2015 in the Clay Superior Court I, Clay County, Indiana, Kevin E. Hatfield was convicted of a felony in cause number 11D01-1412-F6-000881, to-wit: Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated, a Level 6 Felony, which crime was committed on or about November 26, 2014.
WABASH VALLEY (WTHI) - The American Red Cross says it is facing a severe blood shortage.

The organization says the number of trauma cases, organ transplants, and elective surgeries is rising.

Donors of all blood types are needed to help fill the nation's blood inventory.

The Red Cross is urging people to sign-up to prevent possible delays in critical care.

Those who give now through June 30 will receive a $5 gift card. Learn how to register here.
VIGO COUNTY, IND. (WTHI) - The Vigo County School Corporation is hopeful for a normal school year. At Monday's meeting, Dr. Rob Haworth discussed the push toward a normal 2021-2022 academic year for all students.

The goal is to have the least restrictive environment possible for the students and staff when school resumes in August. Dr. Haworth says the plan is to resemble the start of a normal school year prior to COVID-19.

"That's our goal, and that's our hope," Dr. Haworth said. "I think you will find that true in any school corporation in the state of Indiana. We want to get back to normal."

All decisions will be made in collaboration with local health leaders. Additionally, many mandates advised by the state will be followed. Haworth says there is promising data on the low spread of COVID-19 among children. The district will continue to monitor the spread closely.

"We want normalcy to return," he said. What can we do here locally to bring a normal start to our school year? Our teachers need it. Our students need it. Our parents need it."

Dr. Haworth also discussed the board's plan of updating the school corporations' strategic plan. This will be a continuation of a 2025 plan that was adopted in February 2020, just before the pandemic began.

"We think there are some things, some lessons we've learned during COVID-19 that we want to amend our plan," he said. "It will still fall into that 2020 through 2025 timeframe."

Three of the programs to add to the strategic plan include a flex school, a FITE (fabrication, innovation, technology, and engineering) campus, and a commercial online school. The flex school is added in hopes of increasing engagement with younger students. The FITE campus will be in place to help prepare students for future careers. And, finally, the commercial online school will give students across the state the chance to enroll in Vigo County schools and take classes online. The overall goal is to increase enrollment in the district.

Dr. Haworth says special committees are continuing to meet to review every area of the strategic plan. The hope is to recommend these new changes and many others to the full board this upcoming August.
Statement by DG Okonjo-Iweala

I am delighted that the European Union and the United States have resolved their dispute over the production of large commercial aircraft. This has been one of the longest running and most taxing disputes in the history of the WTO and the two sides have shown that even the most seemingly intractable differences can be resolved. This agreement proves that with hard work and political will WTO members can achieve historic results.
WATER VALLEY, Miss. (AP)  A former Mississippi lawmaker has been found shot to death in a rural area outside the burned home where her sister-in-law was found dead after Christmas.

Ashley Henley was a Republican who served in the state House from January 2016 to January 2020 from a district in DeSoto County.



"I Was Murdered" sign posted sometime after the December 2020 death of Kristina Michelle Jones. Also the site of June 13, 2021, murder of her sister-in-law Ashley Henley. Photo Date: June 14, 2021. Source: North Mississippi Herald. "I Was Murdered" sign posted sometime after the December 2020 death of Kristina Michelle Jones. Also the site of June 13, 2021, murder of her sister-in-law Ashley Henley. Photo Date: June 14, 2021. Source: North Mississippi Herald.

The North Mississippi Herald was first to report that Henleys body was found Sunday night in rural Yalobusha County, about 70 miles south of DeSoto County.

Her body was outside the home where the body of her sister-in-law Kristina Michelle Jones was found Dec. 26.

Photos added by WTVA.
CORINTH, Miss. (WTVA) - The United Steelworkers said it and Mississippi Polymers reached an agreement to extend their current contract, which expired on June 5.

The following is from a June 12 USW release:

As part of the deal, more than 100 members of USW Local 759L will return to work Monday, June 14.

The agreement came after the union and the company spent two days meeting with a federal mediator.

USW District 9 Director Daniel Flippo called the contract extension an important step forward.

Our members remain strong and committed to reaching a fair deal, said Flippo. Theyre glad to be going back to work as we continue bargaining a new labor agreement that reflects their commitment and contributions to the companys success.

Mississippi Polymers issued the following statement:

"At this time, Mississippi Polymers' Corinth, MS plant is operating normally. The Company is happy our folks (USW employees) returned to work, and that we are back to operating normally."

Previous Article - USW condemns Mississippi Polymers; company responds
WATER VALLEY, Miss. (WTVA) - Investigators believe someone murdered former Mississippi State Representative Ashley Henley, the North Mississippi Herald reported on Monday.

She was found on Patricia Drive in the Water Valley Boat Landing community Sunday night.

Assistant District Attorney Steve Jubera said information gathered at the scene Sunday night indicated Henley was outside cutting the grass when she was murdered, the Herald reported.

On Dec. 26, 2020, Henleys sister-in-law Kristina Jones was discovered dead inside a burned trailer at the same location, the online news source reported.

Henley served in House District 40 from 2016 to 2019.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
TYBEE ISLAND, Ga. (AP)  A 15-year-old from Alabama was killed after being struck by lightning while swimming off Tybee Island in Georgia.

The Tybee Island Police Department said it received a 911 call Saturday afternoon about a young woman who had possibly been struck by lightning while swimming in the ocean.

She was pronounced dead after being taken to a hospital.

Authorities said family told investigators that the 15-year-old was visiting Tybee Island from Alabama.

According to the National Weather Service, lightning killed an average of 27 people each year between 2009 and 2018.
Why do some people get side effects after COVID-19 vaccines?

Temporary side effects including headache, fatigue and fever are signs the immune system is revving up -- a normal response to vaccines. And theyre common.

The day after getting these vaccines, I wouldnt plan anything that was strenuous physical activity, said Dr. Peter Marks, the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations vaccine chief, who experienced fatigue after his first dose.

Here's whats happening: The immune system has two main arms, and the first kicks in as soon as the body detects a foreign intruder. White blood cells swarm to the site, prompting inflammation thats responsible for chills, soreness, fatigue and other side effects.

This rapid-response step of your immune system tends to wane with age, one reason younger people report side effects more often than older adults. Also, some vaccines simply elicit more reactions than others.

That said, everyone reacts differently. If you didnt feel anything a day or two after either dose, that doesnt mean the vaccine isn't working.

Behind the scenes, the shots also set in motion the second part of your immune system, which will provide the real protection from the virus by producing antibodies.

Another nuisance side effect: As the immune system activates, it also sometimes causes temporary swelling in lymph nodes, such as those under the arm. Women are encouraged to schedule routine mammograms ahead of COVID-19 vaccination to avoid a swollen node being mistaken for cancer.

Not all side effects are routine. But after hundreds of millions of vaccine doses administered around the world  and intense safety monitoring  few serious risks have been identified. A tiny percentage of people who got vaccines made by AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson reported an unusual type of blood clot. Some countries reserved those shots for older adults but regulatory authorities say the benefits of offering them still outweigh the risks.

People also occasionally have serious allergic reactions. That's why you're asked to stick around for about 15 minutes after getting any type of COVID-19 vaccine  to ensure any reaction can be promptly treated.

Finally, authorities are trying to determine whether temporary heart inflammation that can occur with many types of infections also might be a rare side effect after the mRNA vaccines, the kind made by Pfizer and Moderna. U.S. health officials can't yet tell if there's a link but say they're monitoring a small number of reports, mostly male teens or young adults.
ALBERTVILLE, Ala. (AP)  A worker wielding a handgun fatally shot two people and wounded two others at an Alabama fire hydrant factory early Tuesday before killing himself, police said.

The shooting  which happened about 2:30 a.m. at a Mueller Co. plant in Albertville  added to a slew of homicides around the country. Several hours later, gunfire in Chicago claimed four victims.

In the Alabama case, a manhunt ended when the shooter's body was found inside a Jeep in Guntersville, about 15 miles (24 kilometers) away from the factory, shortly after daybreak. Multiple weapons were found inside the vehicle, Albertville Police Chief Jamie Smith said at a news conference.

Smith said the suspect appears to have died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. What prompted him to kill and maim his coworkers wasn't immediately clear, the chief said. He called the shooting completely unprovoked.

The chief identified the dead men as Michael Dobbins and David Horton, and the shooter as Andreas Horton, 34. He said that as far as he knew, the Hortons were not related, and had no ties other than co-workers.

Two other people  Casey Sampson and Isaac Byrd  were hospitalized. Their conditions weren't immediately known. They were taken to a nearby hospital and later transferred to a larger hospital in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the chief said.

The body of Andreas Horton, who was sometimes called Andy, was found in his vehicle, parked along a road overlooking his mothers grave in Guntersville City Cemetery. She died of cancer at age 40 in 2011. A distant relative of Hortons, Sanchez Watkins, said he last saw Andreas a few months ago at a grocery store.

Andy was a good guy. Very quiet, easygoing. You would never expect this from him, Watkins said.

Cody Windsor, a Mueller employee who was at home at the time, told The Associated Press that he knew both Hortons, but didn't know what might have prompted the shootings.

Windsor said friends working the overnight shift told him the shooting happened in a part of the plant where fire hydrants and pipes are painted, and that an announcement about an active shooter was made over a PA system at the factory, which occupies several buildings over a large area near a railroad track, with fire hydrants stored on racks outside.

The police chief said the crime scene encompasses a large area inside the sprawling plant, and victims were found in two or three different locations inside.

Windsor said he and David Horton, a foundry helper who could do most any job in the plant, were buddies at work and often hung out together during breaks. Wed sit in our cars and listen to music, he said. Andy Horton was quiet and recently went through the death of his mother, Windsor said.

We work together and we bond together. Were here as much as we are at home, he said. He added that the shooting made him nervous about going back to work for fear that somebody is going to walk in the door and shoot you."

Ann Walters told Al.com that Dobbins was her grandson, and that he had been working at the factory for nearly a year, saving up to buy a home and a car. He was a perfect gentleman, everybody will tell you. He was good to everybody and put his family first, she said.

Mueller Co., based in Cleveland, Tennessee, is a subsidiary of Atlanta-based Mueller Water Products Inc., which calls itself a leading maker of water distribution and measurement products in North America. More than 400 people work at the plant in Albertville, giving the city in northwest Alabama its nickname of Fire Hydrant Capital of the World.

In a statement read aloud by the police chief, company officials said they were shocked and deeply saddened by the horrific tragedy, and committed to providing help and support to the victims families.

The growing gun violence nationwide has police and criminal justice experts concerned. Within hours of the Alabama gunfire Tuesday, four women were killed and four other people were wounded in a pre-dawn shooting at a home in Chicago, police said. The toll from this past weekend included two people killed and at least 30 others wounded in mass shootings in Chicago, the Texas capital of Austin, and Savannah, Georgia.

Law officers had hoped that last year's spike in homicides would subside as the nation emerges from coronavirus restrictions, but they remain higher than they were in pre-pandemic times.

There was a hope this might simply be a statistical blip that would start to come down, said Chuck Wexler, executive director of the Police Executive Research Forum. That hasnt happened. And thats what really makes chiefs worry that we may be entering a new period where we will see a reversal of 20 years of declines in these crimes.

Albertville is a tightknit community, and its people will come together to support the victims' families, city spokeswoman Robin Lathan said.

Everyone is absolutely heartbroken and devastated, she said. The Mueller Company is part of the lifeblood of who we are in the city of Albertville. Its just a devastating blow.
Charleston, WV (25301)

Today

Mostly cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy in the afternoon. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 77F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

A mostly clear sky. Low near 55F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
Morgantown, WV (26505)

Today

Intervals of clouds and sunshine. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 72F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. Slight chance of a shower throughout the evening. Low 56F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
Charleston, WV (25311)

Today

Considerable clouds early. Some decrease in clouds later in the day. Slight chance of a rain shower. High near 75F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Mostly clear skies. Low 54F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
Clarksburg, WV (26301)

Today

Intervals of clouds and sunshine. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 73F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. Slight chance of a shower throughout the evening. Low around 55F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
A 4-year-old child is alive and recovering at an Ohio hospital after he was found unresponsive in a pond on Saturday by three police officers.

The incident occurred in Painesville, roughly 30 miles northeast of Cleveland. A family reported their child missing around 7:40 a.m. Over 30 minutes after the report, authorities received a call of a possible floating body in pond near the family's home, according to a post on the police department's Facebook page.

Officers arrived at a fishing pond at Painesvilles Recreation Park and initially didn't see anything but debris. Soon after, officers Daniel Thompson and Matthew Tycast saw air bubbles and the silhouette of a body. They jumped into the water while a third officer, Chad Balausky, went to get a rope to bring the child to land, according to the police department.

The child, who was not breathing at the time, was brought back on shore. One officer began to perform CPR while another attempted to clear the boy's airways. Soon after the officers noticed the child was breathing on his own.

Footage of the officer's rescue of the boy was captured by dashcam and was released by the Painesville Police Department.

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The officers stayed with the boy until the city's fire department arrived on the scene and took the child to a local hospital. The department said the boy is expected to make a full recovery.

"The Painesville Police Department is proud of the responding officers for their courageous actions and lifesaving efforts. We sincerely hope the child has a full and speedy recovery," the department said.

Authorities say the incident is still an active investigation, but believe the child went missing after leaving a family member's home through a sliding door and entered the nearby park through a closed rear exit.

Follow Jordan Mendoza on Twitter: @jord_mendoza.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ohio police rescue 4-year-old boy found floating in park pond
Police officers and soldiers are pictured during an operation one day after the murder of two men and where a tourist was injured during the shooting at Tortugas beach in Cancun, Mexico June 12, 2021. (REUTERS)

An American tourist was wounded while on vacation in Cancun after Narco hitmen on jet skis sprayed a beach with bullets in an apparent turf war with a rival drug gang. Two people were killed in the shooting.

The tourist, identified only as Kanya N, is a resident of Kentucky and was hospitalised after a stray bullet hit her in the shoulder when she was caught in the crossfire while relaxing under a palm-roofed hut, Vice reported.

Witnesses say two gunmen fired 10 to 15 shots at the beach before escaping across the water. The two victims died at the beach and were reportedly street vendors who sold craft items to tourists. Many such vendors also work as drug dealers, selling marijuana and cocaine to visitors.

The shooting took place in the afternoon of 11 June and is thought to have been a conflict over territory between rival drug gangs.

Around 150 police officers cleared unlicensed structures from the beach, called Playa Tortugas, the next day. Vendor huts were removed to discourage drug dealers from doing business there.

Shots were fired at the local office of the department of the state prosecutor that works to fight small-scale drug trafficking. It remains unclear if the events are related.

The state of Quintana Roo, which includes destinations such as Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum and Cozumel, is considered to be one of Mexicos safer places. But its also a location where drugs arrive from South America. Because of the large number of tourists who visit the area, its also considered to be a central place for drug consumption.

This leads to the violence motivated by the drug trade that plagues the country to sometimes reach tourist destinations. During the first four months of this year, there were 209 murders in Quintana Roo, which is down from 266 murders during the same period last year.

Its rare that jet skis are used to carry out assassinations like this, but it has happened before. In Acapulco on the countrys western coast, gunmen have attacked from the sea several times, similarly killing a street vendor. Authorities also think that incident was connected to low-level drug dealing.

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A street vendor was targeted by jet ski attackers in Cancun in 2018, but no one was injured during that incident.

Cancun, a city reliant on tourism, was hit hard by the pandemic, with locals now worrying that drug cartel violence could further push away would-be visitors.

Kanyas condition remains unclear.

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JACKSON, Miss. (AP)  New COVID-19 cases are declining across most of the country, even in some states with vaccine-hesitant populations. But almost all states bucking that trend have lower-than-average vaccination rates, and experts warn that relief from the pandemic could be fleeting in regions where few people get inoculated.

Case totals nationally have declined in a week from a seven-day average of nearly 21,000 on May 29 to 14,315 on Saturday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. For weeks, states and cities have been dropping virus restrictions and mask mandates, even indoors.

Experts said some states are seeing increased immunity because there were high rates of natural spread of the disease, which has so far killed nearly 600,000 Americans.

We certainly are getting some population benefit from our previous cases, but we paid for it, said Mississippi State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs. We paid for it with deaths.

More than 7,300 Mississippians have died in the pandemic, and the state has the sixth-highest per capita death rate.

Dobbs estimated that about 60% of the states residents have some underlying immunity.

So were now sort of seeing that effect, most likely, because we have a combination of natural and vaccine-induced immunity, Dobbs said.

Just eight states  Alabama, Arkansas, Hawaii, Missouri, Nevada, Texas, Utah and Wyoming  have seen their seven-day rolling averages for infection rates rise from two weeks earlier, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. All of them except Hawaii have recorded vaccination rates that are lower than the US average of 43% fully vaccinated, according to the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The 10 states with the fewest new cases per capita over that time frame all have fully vaccinated rates above the national average.

Medical experts said a host of factors is playing into the drop in case counts across the country, including vaccines, natural immunity from exposure to the virus, warmer weather and people spending less time indoors.

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But Dr. Leana Wen, a public health professor at George Washington University, said she is concerned that the natural immunity of those who have been exposed to coronavirus may soon wane. And shes worried that states with low vaccination rates could become hot spots.

Just because were lucky in June doesnt mean well continue to be lucky come the late fall and winter, said Wen, the former health commissioner for the city of Baltimore. We could well have variants here that are more transmissible, more virulent and those who do not have immunity or have waning immunity could be susceptible once again.

In Mississippi, about 835,000 people have been fully vaccinated, or 28% of the population. But despite the lagging vaccination rate, the state's rolling average of daily new cases over the past two weeks has decreased by about 18%, according to Johns Hopkins.

Dr. Albert Ko, who chairs Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases at Yale, said there is no accurate data to show what percentage of the population in high burden states such as Alabama or Texas have been exposed to the virus, but he said estimates have put it as high as 50%.

I think it doesnt deny the importance of vaccination, particularly because the levels of antibodies that you get that are induced by natural infection are lower than that of what we have for our best vaccine, Ko said.

Ko said it is important that even those exposed to the disease get vaccinated because natural immunity does not last as long as vaccine immunity and the levels of antibodies are lower.

Wen said research strongly suggests that vaccinations provide a benefit to those who already have some antibodies due to infection.

"I think it is a fallacy that many people have that recovery means they no longer need to be vaccinated, she said.

___

This story has been updated to correct the national average of fully vaccinated, 43% not 39.7%.

___

Lovan reported from Louisville, Kentucky. Pat Eaton-Robb contributed to this report from Connecticut.
THE HAGUE (Reuters) -The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court asked it on Monday for authorization to open a full investigation into drug war killings in the Philippines, saying crimes against humanity could have been committed.

According to Philippines government data, from the time President Rodrigo Duterte took office in 2016 until the end of April this year, security forces killed 6,117 drug dealers in sting operations.

Rights groups say authorities have summarily executed drug suspects, but police say drug dealers fought back violently.

"I announce that the preliminary examination into the situation in the Republic of the Philippines has concluded and that I have requested judicial authorisation to proceed with an (formal criminal) investigation," ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said in a statement.

Bensouda had said last December that there were reasonable grounds to believe crimes against humanity had been committed during Duterte's bloody anti-narcotics crackdown, whose death toll has stirred international outrage.

In an address recorded this week before the news of Bensouda's request broke, Duterte called on human rights organisations to take a closer look into his war on drugs.

"You would notice that there are really persons who die almost daily because they fought back," he said, warning drug dealers: "Do not destroy the country. I will kill you."

The Philippines Justice ministry declined to comment on the announcement from the ICC in The Hague.

Bensouda, in concluding her preliminary inquiry in December last year, said there was a "reasonable basis to believe that the crimes against humanity of murder, torture (...) and other inhumane acts were committed between 2016 and 2019.

Many people killed in Duterte's crackdown had been on a drug watch list compiled by authorities or had previously surrendered to police, while a significant number of minors were victims, Bensouda's office said in a report six months ago.

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Human rights groups accuse Duterte of inciting deadly violence and say police have murdered unarmed suspects and staged crime scenes on a massive scale. Police deny this and Duterte insists he told police to kill only in self-defence.

Under the ICC statute, the prosecutor must ask judges for permission to open an official investigation into alleged crimes. The tribunal's judges have up to four months to issue a decision on such a request.

In March 2018, Duterte cancelled the Philippines' membership of the ICC's founding treaty just weeks after Bensouda announced the preliminary examination was under way. He said the ICC was prejudiced against him.

Under the ICC's withdrawal mechanism the court keeps jurisdiction over crimes committed during the membership period of a state, in this case between 2016 and 2019 when the Philippines' pullout became official.

(Reporting by Stephanie van den Berg in The Hague, Karen Lema and Neil Jerome Morales in ManilaEditing by Mark Heinrich)
By Stephen Farrell and Rami Ayyub

JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Thousands of Israeli far-right nationalists marched in a flag-waving procession through East Jerusalem on Tuesday, an event that reignited tensions with Palestinians and posed an early challenge to Israel's new government.

Last month, Israeli-Palestinian confrontations in contested Jerusalem helped trigger 11 days of cross-border fighting between Israel and Gaza's ruling Hamas militant group.

On Tuesday, Israeli police in riot gear and on horseback cordoned off areas leading to the walled Old City's flashpoint Damascus Gate, clearing the area to Palestinians before the marchers arrived.

Dancing and singing "the people of Israel live", the crowd of mostly religious Jews, many carrying blue and white Israeli flags, filled the plaza in front of the gate, usually a popular social gathering spot for Palestinians.

"Take a good look at our flag. Live and suffer," one marcher, a megaphone in one hand and a cigar in the other, shouted in Hebrew at Palestinian merchants on the other side of police barriers erected on an East Jerusalem street.

Israel, which occupied East Jerusalem in a 1967 war and later annexed it in a move that has not won international recognition, regards the entire city as its capital. Palestinians want East Jerusalem to be the capital of a future state that would include the West Bank and Gaza.

Sitting on a bench outside the police cordon, Khalil Mitwani, a 50-year-old Palestinian, said of the marchers: "They are making a big problem in Jerusalem. All the people here want peace - why make problems here?"

Watch: Israel launches airstrike in Gaza for the first time since the May cease-fire

Hamas had warned of renewed hostilities over the march, testing the mettle of new Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's administration of right-wing, centrist, left-wing and Arab parties and prompting Israel to beef up its deployment of the Iron Dome anti-missile system.

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But as the marchers began to disperse after nightfall in Jerusalem, there was no sign of rocket fire from Gaza.

Several hours before the event started, however, Palestinians in Gaza launched incendiary balloons which the Israeli fire brigade said caused at least 20 blazes in fields in Israeli communities near the fenced border with the enclave.

Such incidents had stopped with the ceasefire that ended last month's hostilities, in which Gaza militants unleashed rocket barrages into Israel and Israel pounded the small, densely populated coastal enclave with air strikes.

Israeli media reports said Bennett's administration would order retaliation for the resumption of the balloon launches, though not necessarily immediately.

RE-ROUTING

At least 27 Palestinians were injured in clashes in East Jerusalem with Israeli police firing stun grenades, the Palestine Red Crescent ambulance service said.

But the violence was not as extensive as many had feared.

In an apparent effort to avoid friction with Palestinians during the march, a police-charted route kept participants from going through the Damascus Gate, the main entry to the Muslim Quarter of the Old City and home to shrines sacred to Judaism, Islam and Christianity.

The marchers took a more peripheral route instead to Judaism's sacred Western Wall, singing nationalist songs that echoed in alleyways where Palestinian merchants had shuttered their shops.

Yair Lapid, Bennett's foreign minister and main partner in the governing coalition that ended Benjamin Netanyahu's 12-year run as prime minister, condemned chants of "Death to the Arabs" from some of the marchers.

"That's not Judaism, and that's not being Israeli, and it is certainly not what our flag symbolises," Lapid wrote on Twitter.

Tuesday's march was originally scheduled for May 10 as part of "Jerusalem Day" festivities that celebrate Israel's capture of East Jerusalem in the 1967 Middle East war.

At the last minute, that march was diverted away from the Damascus Gate and the Muslim Quarter, but the move was not enough to dissuade Hamas from firing rockets towards Jerusalem.

(Reporting by Rami Ayyub and Stephen Farrell, Additional reporting by Dan Williams in Jerusalem and Nidal al-Mughrabi in Gaza, Editing by Jeffrey Heller, Timothy Heritage and Mark Heinrich)

Watch: Palestinian shot dead after 'car-ramming' troops
KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Ukraines president says he's concerned that this weeks US-Russia summit will not produce concrete results and will leave his country in an uncertain position.

In an interview Monday with The Associated Press and other foreign news agencies, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he was disappointed that he was not able to have a meeting with President Joe Biden before Biden's Wednesday summit in Geneva with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

I believe that this would only have been a plus in the negotiating position of the U.S. President, Zelenskyy said Monday.

Ukraine is eager for strong support from the West as it faces Russia-backed separatist rebels who have taken control of a large section of the countrys east.

The No. 1 concern is that there will be no specifics, Zelenskyy said of the Geneva summit. And the situation in Ukraine depends on this very, very much ... Everyone is afraid of solutions to the most difficult issues, final solutions.

Russia denies that it has troops in eastern Ukraine, but it sparked high anxiety this spring with exercises that placed thousands of Russian troops near the border with Ukraine's rebel-held region. Zelenskyy said although some of those forces have been pulled back, about 95,000 remain.

The likelihood of an escalation remains, he said, claiming without proof that Russia is planning offensives to take the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, the second-largest city of Kharkiv and the major Black Sea port of Odessa.

Zelenskyy also said he wants to get a clear statement from Biden about whether he supports eventual NATO membership for Ukraine.

I would really like to get specific  yes or no, Zelenskyy said. I understand that this should be the agreed position of the alliance countries. Nevertheless, we must get clear dates and the likelihood of this for Ukraine."

Russia strongly opposes NATO membership for Ukraine, which would bring the alliance close to western Russia.

Biden has invited Zelenskyy to meet with him in Washington in July and the Ukrainian president said he intends to talk there about U.S. military and economic support, which Ukraine relies on.

The United States has the opportunity to really support Ukraine economically. Its not only about money, but about investments, about the opening of various enterprises, Zelenskyy said.
Jun. 14Avista Utilities said Monday it has proposed an all-party settlement in Idaho that would lead to changes in the rate that customers pay for electricity and natural gas.

The proposal for Avista's electric and natural gas general rates has been submitted to the Idaho Public Utilities Commission for consideration.

If approved, based on accounting for the base rate change and customer tax credits, the overall changes would lead to no change in rates for electricity the first year and a decrease of 0.8% in year two.

The proposed settlement would decrease rates charged by Avista for natural gas by 4.5% the first year and increase the rate by 1.5% the second .

"We're pleased to pass the benefits of the offsetting tax credits to our customers at this time. This settlement agreement will provide new rates in Idaho that are fair and reasonable for our customers, the company, and our shareholders," Avista President and CEO Dennis Vermillion said in a news release.

If the settlement is approved, a residential electric customer using an average of 892 kilowatt hours per month would see an increase of 49 cents per month, for a monthly bill of $86.12, effective Sept. 1, 2021, and an increase of 31 cents per month for a monthly bill of $86.43, effective Sept. 1, 2022.

A residential natural gas customer using an average of 63 therms per month would see a decrease of $2.30 per month for a monthly bill of $47.19, effective Sept. 1, 2021; and an increase of 76 cents per month for a monthly bill of $47.95, effective Sept. 1, 2022.

"This outcome provides us the opportunity to continue to earn a fair return in Idaho and supports Avista's efforts to invest in and maintain our infrastructure so we can continue to provide the reliable energy our customers expect," Vermillion said.
A New York judge gave the go-ahead Tuesday for convicted sex offender and ex-movie mogul Harvey Weinstein to be extradited to Los Angeles County, likely by mid-July, to face nearly a dozen sex-crime charges there.

Erie County Judge Kenneth Case, presiding over the latest virtual hearing in the matter, once again heard arguments by Weinstein's New York lawyer, Norman Effman, and Erie County Assistant District Attorney Colleen Curtin Gable, standing in for Los Angeles prosecutors, about whether the California paperwork seeking Weinstein's transfer was complete and proper.

Gable argued that "Los Angeles County absolutely met the requirements of the statue on detainers" which governs interstate extradition, she told Case.

In this image taken from court video, Harvey Weinstein attends a hearing from Wende Correctional Facility near Buffalo, N.Y., June 15, 2021, during which a New York judge approved his extradition to Los Angeles to face additional sexual assault charges.

Extradition previously delayed: Harvey Weinstein's lawyer demands new hearing

Effman argued the opposite, citing, among other reasons, that the latest paperwork submitted by Los Angeles prosecutors did not specifically list all the charges, which began with five counts but later increased to 11.

"What the district attorney is saying to us here is that these papers are 'close enough, we almost have it right,' but they don't have it right," Effman said. "We are challenging the paperwork because its not right, its wrong. Its a legal technicality based on due process and constitutional right and what the statues and courts have ruled."

Where is Harvey Weinstein? Ex-movie mogul indicted on sexual assault charges, paperwork dispute delayed extradition

Weinstein, who listened to the hearing from the state prison near Buffalo where he is serving a 23-year sentence, sought to remain in Wende Correctional Facility to continue medical treatment for various ailments, at least until jury selection in a Los Angeles trial began.

Meanwhile, the 30-day deadline for New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to intervene in the extradition to block it has run out with no move from his office.

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The judge said he based his ruling on the arguments and briefs made and submitted over multiple hearings on the matter, and "respectfully" denied Effman's petition to block the extradition.

"If California does not pick up Mr. Weinstein in a reasonable period of time, come back to see me," he said.

As a practical matter, prosecutors told the judge, it is likely Weinstein won't be physically moved to Los Angeles before mid-July.

"The LA County DAs Office indicated to our prosecutors that they would extradite Mr. Weinstein sometime between late-June and mid-July," said Erie County District Attorney John Flynn in a statement later to USA TODAY.

Harvey Weinstein departs a Manhattan courthouse during his sex-crimes trial in New York, Feb. 5, 2020.

He also said in the statement that the judge's ruling showed that the paperwork filed by the Los Angeles prosecutors complied with the interstate law on extraditions.

Greg Risling, spokesman for the office Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon, said in a statement to USA TODAY that Weinstein is entitled to a trial within 120 days from his arrival in Los Angeles.

Weinstein's legal team, which includes Effman and Los Angeles lawyer Mark Werksman who listened to the hearing, suggested the matter is not over yet in a statement sent to USA TODAY.

"We are disappointed by the judges ruling but we are appealing his decision in New York and we have filed a Habeas Corpus petition in the Los Angeles Superior Court to prevent the Los Angeles District Attorney from transporting Mr. Weinstein to Los Angeles until he can receive the medical care he needs in New York," according to the statement issued by Weinstein spokesman Juda Engelmayer.

Weinstein, 69, faces 11 felony counts of sexual assault, including forcible rape, against five women in encounters at Beverly Hills hotels dating back to 2004.

Gloria Allred, the Los Angeles lawyer who represents two of the women accusers in the Los Angeles case, said she was gratified by Case's decision, including his ruling denying Effman's request for a 10-day stay of the decision while Weinstein appeals.

"I am looking forward to seeing Mr. Weinstein finally appear in Los Angeles to be arraigned on the many charges against him," she said in a statement to USA TODAY.

Weinstein was charged in a felony complaint by then-Los Angeles District Attorney Jackie Lacey with five felony sex crimes involving two women on the first day of his New York trial in January 2020. In October, more charges were added in Los Angeles, for a total of 11.

He has denied all the charges and continues to deny the two charges on which he was convicted in New York in 2020, including first-degree sexual assault and third-degree rape.

The Weinstein extradition matter has been delayed four times, mostly due to the coronavirus pandemic, since Weinstein entered the state prison in Erie County in March 2020.

The pandemic in Southern California has been especially punishing, leading to strict COVID-19 protocols and a backup of criminal and civil cases in the largest court system in the nation.

More: Harvey Weinstein appeals 'unconstitutional' NY sex-crime conviction, requests new trial

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Harvey Weinstein scandal: Judge approves extradition to LA
In the wake of 2020's racial reckoning over the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery, the celebration of Juneteenth spread outside the African American community.

Juneteenth, a portmanteau of June and 19th, commemorates June 19, 1865  the date when Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger issued General Order No. 3, informing the Galveston, Texas, community that President Abraham Lincolns Emancipation Proclamation freed enslaved African Americans in rebel states. Its also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day.

A year later, Juneteenth comes as Congress struggles to pass sweeping legislation that would protect the rights of voters of color and the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which bolsters police accountability.

The day also drops into a culture war, as state legislatures attempt to ban school discussions of the long-lasting effects of slavery, systemic racism and critical race theory.

A decades-long push to make the day a federal holiday has finally succeeded: On Tuesday, the Senate passed a bill to make it so. The legislation passed overwhelmingly in the House of Representatives Wednesday. President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act on Thursday.

But Juneteenth's increasing popularity coincides with a concentrated effort to limit public relearning of precisely what it asks America to remember: how the nation's early history of enslaving African Americans affects current legislation that restricts voter access and marginalizes voters of color.

Progress: Senate passes bill to make Juneteenth a federal holiday

Almost all states recognize Juneteenth

Juneteenth is recognized with some form of observance in every state plus the District of Columbia, except for South Dakota.

Lawmakers and advocates have continually pushed for Congress to enact the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act. In February, Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Ed Markey, D-Mass., and Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, reintroduced the bipartisan legislation.

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Learn more: What to know about Juneteenth

As it (Juneteenth) takes on a more national and even global perspective, the events of 1865 in Texas are not forgotten, for all our roots tie back to this fertile soil from which a national day of pride is growing. This is why we must establish the Juneteenth Independence Day, as a national holiday, Jackson Lee said in a statement at the time.

The city of Cincinnati, for the first time in its history, raised the Juneteenth Flag on June 19, 2020, at City Hall.

Opal Lee, a 94-year-old Texas native, also has spent years advocating for Congress to enact legislation making Juneteenth a federal holiday. In 2016, Lee walked the 1,400 miles from Fort Worth to Washington to push for the legislation. Each day, Lee walked 2 miles to symbolize the two-and-a-half years it took for enslaved people in Texas to be informed of Lincolns Emancipation Proclamation.

Andrew J. Torget, a historian of 19th century North America at the University of North Texas, said Juneteenths celebration is a testament to the will of the American people to honor the end of slavery.

It's important that we have a moment that is now becoming a national moment, not because of legislation, and not because anyone has decreed it. But because large swaths of the American public are embracing it, Torget said.

He grew up in Texas but wasn't taught about Juneteenth while in school. It wasn't until college that he learned more.

I think we've come a long way with just celebrating Juneteenth and having that public discussion. And I love personally that every year we're having a discussion about the end of slavery that wasn't true when I was a kid growing up, Torget said. I had to go to graduate school and study the South at the University of Virginia to understand that.

What we get wrong about Juneteenth

Contrary to popular narrative, the Emancipation Proclamation did not liberate all enslaved people in the United States at the same time. The proclamation only applied to secessionist states that were fighting against the Union during the Civil War.

Slavery was abolished in America with the passage of the 13th Amendment on Jan. 31, 1865, and its ratification on Dec. 6, 1865. But for the enslaved, the ending of slavery was far more complicated.

The timeline of ending slavery is a little awkward because it ends in different places at different times. Abraham Lincoln announces the Emancipation Proclamation January 1, 1863. It frees nobody immediately, said Torget, whose book Seeds of Empire: Cotton, Slavery, and the Transformation of the Texas Borderlands, 1800-1850 explains how slavery was central to the origins of Texas.

But as Union armies make their way to the South, freedom starts coming with the Union armies. It's really the passage, of course, of the 13th Amendment in early 1865 that brings a legal end to slavery, but that means nothing if you don't finish the war.

Civil War historian Edward T. Cotham Jr. said it would take federal forces to truly enforce the ending of slavery.

In June of 1865, there was still this one very large pocket of enslaved people in the Confederacy that had not been liberated. Because we've never had armies that really marched through Texas the way they did in the rest of the country, said Cotham.

Enslaved African Americans learned about the Emancipation Proclamation through informal communication networks before Grangers order was issued.

But it would take battlefield success and the movement of the armies and navies to finally gain control over the Confederacy and be able to enforce emancipation. Juneteenth is kind of the culmination of that process, Cotham said.

The narrative of Juneteenth heavily focuses on Granger issuing the order. But Cotham said, and wrote in his book Juneteenth: The Story Behind the Celebration, that the general actually had very little to do with the order.

It was Union Gen. Philip H. Sheridan who instructed Granger to issue it and abolitionist Maj. Frederick W. Emery, Grangers assistant adjustant general, who drafted, issued and signed the order with Grangers approval.

He wrote this section of the Juneteenth order that talks about the free people now having absolute equality. And that was kind of way ahead of his time and way ahead of even where Lincoln had been at the Emancipation Proclamation, Cotham said.

Emery's language declared "all slaves are free" and redefined the relationship between the enslaved and their owners to one of "hired labor" and employer.

A hollow celebration

Texas State NAACP President Gary L. Bledsoe did not grow up learning about Juneteenths history in Texas public schools. Its why hes adamant that the country celebrates Juneteenth.

We need to honor people that suffered in bondage all those years, and we need to continue to remind the country about the pains that we've experienced so we can try to avoid going back to them, said Bledsoe.

But he notes other state actions dilute the holiday's meaning.

Although Texas was the first state to recognize Juneteenth as a state holiday, it also commemorates Confederate Heroes Day. The holiday celebrates Confederate soldiers such as Jefferson Davis and Robert E. Lee.

And recently, House Democrats in Texas walked out of the state capitol to block passage of Senate Bill 7, which would limit certain ways of voting. Critics say the bill disproportionately affects people of color.

To be very honest we have continued to have voter suppression laws, introduced every session, even when it was a Democratic-controlled legislature, said Bledsoe.

June 19th is intended to celebrate freedom, but you don't want to give freedom to individuals when you continue to suppress vote. It's a hollow celebration, he added.

More: She was the first Black person freed by Lincoln, long before his presidency. Her grave was paved over and her story hardly known.

The debate over teaching slavery in schools

When Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and Harvard law school professor Annette Gordon-Reed was growing up in Texas, slavery wasnt a topic teachers were equipped to discuss.

When slavery in Texas was mentioned, it was presented as an unfortunate event that was to be acknowledged but quickly passed over, Gordon-Reed writes in her book On Juneteenth.

Gordon-Reed also doesnt remember learning about Juneteenth in school, but there should have been some discussion of it, she said in interview with USA TODAY.

I understand the real fears that people have that Juneteenth will go the way of Memorial Day, where people forget that this holiday has its roots in a Black community,  said Niambi Carter, associate professor of political science at Howard University.

My bigger concern with Juneteenth is that people won't want to tell the truth of what the holiday really represents, said Carter. And in this atmosphere where we have politicians not just talking about but turning it into policy that you cannot tell the truth, around the horrors of enslavement, that you cannot tell the truth around the horrors of Jim Crow.

Critical race theory, a legal theory that explores the way slavery and racism continue to impact American society, is a controversial topic of debate. State legislatures are passing laws that discourage schools from teaching on race and equity.

Florida has banned its public schools from teaching critical race theory, as well as the New York Times' "1619 Project," which reframes history through the lens of slavery.

Texas state Rep. Steve Toth introduced a bill that would limit teachers from discussing race in the classroom and block schools from receiving donations to develop programs around critical race theory. Iowa Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a new law, effective July 1, targeting critical race theory. It bans teaching that the United States or Iowa is fundamentally racist or sexist.

This month, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law the "1836 Project," which aims to promote patriotic education when it comes to Texas history. The project is named for the year that Texas seceded from Mexico.

A demonstrator waves an American flag with the words "Not Free" painted on it in front of the Washington Monument during a Juneteenth march and rally in Washington, DC, on June 19, 2020.

Critics are concerned the project will whitewash history by ignoring the legacy of slavery.

Talking about Juneteenth is a way to drive the history home that there was slavery. You had to have Juneteenth because of the way African American people were treated; at this time they were seen as chattel, said Gordon-Reed. I certainly wish these efforts were not going on, but this is a way of being adamant about the institution of slavery and the role that it played in the development of Texas and in where we are now.

For Carter, Juneteenth is about remembering enslaved African Americans' freedom and struggles to rebuild their lives amid societal hostility to Black progress.

We have to really thank the people of Texas for keeping that tradition for so long for the rest of us to become aware and really take ownership of this sort of collective date of remembering, said Carter. And it's not just a day of remembering people. Its a day of remembering peoples perseverance. People were in an incredibly, incredibly oppressive and depressed situation that they survived. It's astounding to me.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Juneteenth celebrations come amid culture war over race, voting rights
A cashier was killed and a DeKalb County retired deputy injured at a supermarket after a man opened fire over arguments about a mask (11Alive/Screengrab)

A 30-year-old man got into a heated argument about masks on Monday with a cashier at a supermarket in Georgia, Atlanta, returned with a handgun and shot her dead, police confirmed.

Victor Lee Tucker got into an argument with the cashier at the Big Bear supermarket in DeKalb County in Georgia and shot her, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) said in a statement. The incident also left a retired sheriffs deputy injured.

The cashier  whose identity wasnt revealed by the police as of Monday evening  was taken to the Grady Memorial Hospital where she died.

DeKalb County sheriff Melody M Maddox said Mr Tucker and the retired deputy were also taken to the hospital following the shooting incident.

Cynthia Williams, DeKalb sheriffs office spokesperson, told the media that the incident took place inside a supermarket at South Dekalb mall on Candler Road.

There were several people inside when Mr Tucker opened fire. Ms Maddox confirmed that the argument between Mr Tucker and the cashier started in reference to wearing a mask.

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Mr Tucker left the supermarket after the verbal duel with the cashier without making any purchase. But police say he returned immediately.

The GBI said: Tucker walked directly back to the cashier, pulled out a handgun and shot her.

The retired sheriffs deputy who was also injured in the shooting had been working a part-time security job at the store. Authorities said that Mr Tucker started shooting at the deputy who then returned fire.

The retired deputy had been with the Dekalb County police department for more than 30 years. Ms Maddox said that he was shot at twice but was wearing a bulletproof vest. The deputy was taken to the Atlanta Medical Center after the incident.

He is currently in stable condition.

A bullet also grazed a second cashier at the store, the GBI told the media.

Mr Tucker was arrested while he was trying to crawl out the front door, Ms Maddox said. He was also injured in the incident and was taken to the hospital but the police have not released more details about his current condition.

The Atlanta-Journal Constitution reported that the incident is the 41st shooting involving a law enforcement officer that the GBI has investigated this year.
Disney and Pixar fans, gather round! The movie giants once again came together to bring fans a cute animated movie, and the result is Luca, which premieres this week. In classic Disney/Pixar form, the story follows two adorable sea monsters (voiced by Jacob Tremblay and Jack Dylan Grazer) as they come out of the water and explore the idyllic wonder that is the 1950s Italian coast. In between hijinks and tons of gelato eating (because you just have to eat some when in Italy, of course), our sea monster protagonists meet a young girl who teaches them exactly ~what life is like~ beyond the sea.

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While the movie's synopsis may feel somewhat familiar to film buffs (anyone sensing those Call Me By Your Name vibes?), it turns out the movie's inspiration comes from a very personal connection by Luca director Enrico Casarosa, most famous for his 2012 animated short La Luna.

Photo credit: Kevin Winter - Getty Images

And yeah, the guy is also casually an Academy Award nominee. Talk about impressive! Before you run off to watch Luca yourself, let's dive into exactly where this movie's basis comes from. Or, as they say in Italy, andiamo!

Luca is based on Casarosa's Italian childhood.

Actually, if we want to be more specific the titular character is based on the director himself. As Casarosa told Collider in February 2021, Luca's friendship with Alberto actually mirrors his relationship with a childhood BFF, who was *also* named Alberto.

"We found each other around 11 or 12," Casarosa told the outlet about his inspiring friendship. "Right when you step [towards], I need to kind of try and separate from the family a little bit, try to look for yourself. And he had complete freedom and he was passionate and he had a new thing every day, so it really helped me kind of get out of my comfort zone."

The director told D23 that even the boys' personalities are in line with how Casarosa and Alberto behaved growing up. "I was a little sheltered, a little timid, a little shyand he was a troublemaker, the director explained about his relationship. "His family wasnt very present; he could do whatever he wanted. It was the perfect friendship to get me out of my comfort zone and help me grow up."

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Casarosa spent his summers on the Italian Riviera just like the characters in Luca.

Sure, Luca is set in the mid-20th century in Portorosso, Italy, but the idea of Luca and Alberto spending their summers on the Italian coast? That's a direct page out of Casarosa's book. The director grew up spending his summers in the coastal town of Genoa, Italy. As he told Collider, the '50s are as timeless as the days he spent just hanging out on the shore.

"There's something wonderfully nostalgic about the summer of our youth, and how much happens in the summer and the period," he said. "We even really rooted it in the '50s and '60s even though it's not entirely when I grew up, but there was something about the golden age that feels timeless."

Casarosa even traveled to Italy with Pixar to bring a version of the country to life.

Yes, the director was born and raised in Italy and still has family living there, but as he told D23, he's been living in the U.S. since his early 20s, meaning it was time for some field research for Team Pixar. The result? Many trips to Italy in order to capture the country's vibrancy.

"One time we were so busy with reels that I couldnt go, but we sent our art team with all the recommendations: 'Try this food. Go for a swim here,'" he said. "Its so important to get the feeling of the placethe light and the details. It has so much history."

You can catch Luca exclusively on Disney+ starting June 18.

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UEFA has appointed an ethics and disciplinary inspector to investigate Austria striker Marko Arnautovics reaction to his goal against North Macedonia.

The former Stoke and West Ham frontman, who is currently playing his football in China with Shanghai Port, was restrained by skipper David Alaba as he gestured angrily after scoring late in Sundays 3-1 Group C victory in Romania

A UEFA statement said: In accordance with the Article 31(4) of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations, an Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector has been appointed to conduct an investigation regarding the incident involving the player Marko Arnautovic that occurred during the 2020 European Championship group-stage match between the national teams of Austria and North Macedonia on 13 June 2021.

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Further information on this matter will be made available in due course.

The incident came in the 89th minute of the game at the National Arena in Bucharest when, after beating North Macedonia keeper Stole Dimitrievski, Arnautovic, who is of Serbian heritage, appeared to make comments towards opposition players and then turned towards spectators.

Reports have alleged his initial remarks were aimed at defender Egzon Bejtulai and Gjanni Alioski, who both have Albanian roots.

Arnautovic later apologised for his outburst, but insisted he was not a racist.

In a post on his official Instagram account, he wrote: There were some heated words yesterday in the emotions of the game for which I would like to apologise  especially to my friends from North Macedonia and Albania.

I would like to say one thing very clearly: I am not a racist. I have friends in almost every country and I stand for diversity. Everyone who knows me is aware of that.
BIG SPRING, Texas (AP)  Authorities have arrested a man in the death of a 13-year-old West Texas girl who was reported missing more than a decade ago, a police spokesman said.

Texas Rangers arrested Shawn Casey Adkins on Monday on a murder charge in the killing of Hailey Dunn, said Sgt. Fred Biddle, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Public Safety. He said Adkins was arrested in the area of Big Spring, a city nearly 300 miles (480 kilometers) west of Dallas. Biddle said he could not immediately provide more details on the case.

Adkins was booked into the Howard County jail and released on a $2 million bond Monday, jail records show. They do not list an attorney for Adkins, and Biddle said he did not know if he has one.

Hailey was reported missing in December 2010. She and her mother, Billie Dunn, lived in the small West Texas town of Colorado City at the time and Adkins, who was dating Hailey's mother, was named as a person of interest.

Hailey's body was discovered in April 2013 in a remote area near a lake about 30 miles (50 kilometers) northwest of Colorado City. Authorities have not released a cause of death.

Adkins told The Associated Press shortly after Hailey's disappearance that he was not involved and that he was praying for her safe return.

Authorities have not said what led police to arrest Adkins, and Biddle referred questions to prosecutors in the 32nd Judicial District Attorneys Office. A spokeswoman for District Attorney Richard Thompsons office declined to comment but said a statement would be issued at some point.

Adkins arrest was met with shock by some in Colorado City, a 4,500-resident town just 40 miles (65 kilometers) west of Big Spring where he was arrested.

The shock of him being arrested was my shock too because I wasnt aware of any of it, said Police Chief Charles Rice. Rice said that by the time he came to the department the case had been handed off to the Texas Rangers and the FBI.
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Southern California fire agencies are getting two large-scale helicopters that can each carry up to 3,000 gallons of water or retardant to battle wildfires. The helicopters will operate in Los Angeles, Ventura and Orange Counties.
I was checking my calendar recently and was reminded that earlier this year the Fun Club was scheduled to tour Iceland in June. Due to COVID restrictions, that obviously didn't happen.

Iceland has been lucky to have had a low rate of coronavirus. This is partly due to their isolation and also because the country set up strict travel regulations for tourists. Due to the restrictions in force early this year, our tour was rescheduled for October.

Iceland is now allowing fully vaccinated travelers to enter their country. Due to their stringent precautions, it's possibly one of the safest places in the world to travel right now. And I found out yesterday that there are several openings for the October tour!

The best time to visit Iceland

Iceland is a beautiful Nordic country and it is stunning any time of year. We originally chose to travel there in June because the temperature is a little warmer and days are longer. Iceland is the land of the midnight sun and for several months in the summer it never really gets dark. This natural phenomenon is caused by the tilt in the earth's axis at higher latitude locations such as Iceland.
At this point and time, we are fairly comfortable to meet our staffing needs next year, he said. (The resignations) have affected it some, but we have a very resilient staff here with great people up and down the line  were going to take whatever is handed to us.

An administrative team will present what staffing will look like for the 2021-22 school year at the July board of education meeting, according to Chessmores report earlier this month.

The former staff member said the reservation has lost more people to the mandate than to COVID-19. The exact number of employees who have resigned since the mandate was announced is unknown; the tribal council didnt respond to a request for comment.

I didnt want to leave, the staff member said. I just love this school and area, and the kids are the ones who are going to hurt from this. Its going to affect the kids who are losing some of those teachers.

Chessmore said hes optimistic about the upcoming school year and those who are staying.
Its horrific to see road accidents and now one such car accident has completely shocked the internet with Kia Seltos being split into two after a major accident on the Chhindwara-Nagpur highway. The photos of the accident are doing rounds on social media as people are discussing the built quality of the car. The fatal accident led to the breakage of the car into two parts, i.e. from the B pillar to the C-pillar of the driver.

According to a report, it is being said that the SUV wouldnt have been in a position like that had it not been rescued by the workers who might have used cutters to take out passengers.

The Saunsar Police Inspector RR Dubey told the media that the Kia Seltos was traveling at a very high speed on the two-lane NH-547 when the crash occurred.

A survivor informed the Police that a biker suddenly entered the main road and eventually the car collided with the bridge wall and which led to the breaking of Kia Seltos into two pieces.

However, the police revealed that rescue workers play no role in cutting the car into pieces and that the impact of the crash led to this scenario. The fuel tank is below the seat and the fuel lines run below and therefore it is out of the question that any rescue worker can cut the car. This kind of crash is very rare though.

In 2019, Kia made its debut in India as Kia Motor India and Seltos was its first product at that time. Seltos became a successful car for Kia and the company came up with the Carnival MPV. In over one-and-a-half years of sales operation in India, Kia has emerged as the fourth most sold car brand and the fastest carmaker to achieve 2,50,000 sales figures in the country.

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New Delhi: Aamir Khan, also known as Mr Perfectionist in Bollywood, reminisces about Lagaan (2001) - a film that managed to win audience love and also heap good reviews from the critics. The movie was in fact nominated for Oscars but did not bag the trophy.

Lagaan was also the first film that the actor produced. As the movie completed 20 years on June 15, Aamir spoke to a news daily about the film after which he never gave a flop as an actor.

Ashu (Lagaan director Ashutosh Gowariker) had given two films before this, which werent so successful. So, while I trusted him, his script and his ability thats why I was going ahead, par kahin par ek darr bhi lagta hai ki, yeh beeda utha kar humne kono galti toh nahi ki (laughs), shares Aamir Khan on taking the leap of faith with Lagaan both as an actor and a first-time producer to Hindustan Times.

Mr Perfectionist calls Lagaan his most unprepared performance. I think my lack of prep in Lagaan, I can honestly blame it on my work as a producer (chuckles). Itna kaam tha as a producer ki main as an actor prep nahi kar paaya. Also, it was the first film I was producing, and I was paying more attention that nothing goes wrong. So, Lagaan is probably my most unprepared performance, as a result, says the actor.

Aamir however has no reservations if anyone wants to remake his iconic film. Why not? Im not possessive about these things, says the 56 years old.

He further added, I mean, if another creative team wants to do so and bring their perspective and point of view, Id not like to stop anyone. Id rather say make a better one that what we did and maybe wed learn from them of whatever we missed. I have no problem. In fact, Id find it interesting to see how they make Lagaan in todays times, because Ashu and I wont be a part of it, so Bhuvan jo karega, kaise karega.
New Delhi: Its been 20 years since the magnum opus Lagaan released and created waves among fans and critics alike. The film by Ashutosh Gowariker, marked Aamir Khan's debut as a producer.

While walking down the memory lane, Aamir during a virtual conversation with a group of journalists to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Lagaan shared that he knew that he took up a huge challenge while making the film.

As the actor has decided to shoot the film in one go and that too with sync sound.

He also shared that his friends from the industry including Karan Johar and Aditya Chopra cautioned him numerous times and asked him to change up his mind as filming the movie on a single schedule will have a worse impact as it may delay the film and will turn out to be a huge mess.

But after proving them wrong, Aamir was happy to share that since then he has always shot his films in a similar manner and even others have started following his pattern.

Sharing one of the scenes from the movie, he told that Ashutosh and his former wife Reena were never on the same page and would always end up quarrelling over something or other and he would act as a mediator between them.

Recalling one of the incidents, he shared, So that day we had to shoot the scene where the team is practicing and people from other villages have come to watch it. Ashutosh had given a requirement of 500 people or so. In the morning, Ashutosh realised that 500 people were not enough. So he told Reena, This isnt looking enough I would need more people.

Reena was like, Now, at the last moment, how will I get more people? You asked for 500 people and I got it. Now, you shoot.

So Ashutosh came to me and said, Aamir I feel the number of people is not enough. What should we do? And Reena was like I dont want to hear anything, you all cant cancel the shoot. You have to shoot. I also found that it wasnt enough people. I said we had to cancel the shoot that day. I got shouted at so badly, but Ashutosh was right, Aamir recalled.

He also shared a piece of advice that one should listen to their instincts and should stick to their vision. He said that if he would have shot the scene with mere 500 people, it wouldnt have come such a massive hit.

He also shared his happiness and disappointment over not getting Oscars for Lagaan.

Describing his experience, he shared that Lagaan was nominated for the 2002 Academy Awards and it was a great feeling for every Indian. But fans were disappointed when the film couldnt win the award. He said he was happy that the film atleast made it till the nomination as it shows that the film was loved by a large number of people of the foreign language committee and thats why it has reached number 5 position.

The film also starred Gracy Singh, Rachel Shelley, Paul Blackthorne, Suhasini Mulay, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Rajendra Gupta, Raghubir Yadav, Rajesh Vivek, Raj Zutshi, Pradeep Rawat, Akhilendra Mishra, and Daya Shankar Pandey among others.
New Delhi: UK's Cairn Energy Plc has brought a lawsuit in the US court that potentially can lead to seizing of Air India's overseas assets such as airplanes to recover USD 1.72 billion from the Indian government which an international arbitration tribunal had awarded after overturning levy of retrospective taxes.

Cairn on May 14 filed a lawsuit in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York seeking declaration of Air India as the 'alter ego of Indian government' by virtue of control and as a state-owned company it "legally indistinct from the state itself", three sources with direct knowledge of the development said.

PTI had on March 28, 2021 reported that Cairn will bring lawsuits to pierce the corporate veil to establish that certain state-owned entities are India's alter ego under Bancec for enforcing the arbitration award.

The Bancec guidelines deal with determining when a judgment against a foreign state is enforceable against its agencies.

Sources said the May 14 lawsuit seeks to make Air India liable for discharge of the arbitration award against the Indian government.

While Cairn said it is "taking necessary legal steps to protect shareholders' interest in the absence of a resolution to the arbitral award", sources in the government said India will take all necessary steps to defend against any such "illegal enforcement action".

India, they said, will contest the move on grounds that the government has challenged the arbitration award in the appropriate court in The Hague and it is confident that the award will be set aside.

Sources said the government has also engaged a counsel team which is ready to defend against any enforcement action.

While they maintained that neither the government nor any PSU has received any such notice, sources aware of the Cairn lawsuit said the case has been brought only on Friday and notices in due course will come to the concerned authorities.

The government sources said as and when any such notice is received, the government/concerned organisation shall take all necessary steps to defend against "any such illegal enforcement action".

Cairn had first moved courts in the US, UK, Canada, France, Singapore, the Netherlands and three other countries to register the December 2020 arbitration tribunal ruling that overturned the Indian government's Rs 10,247 crore demand in back taxes and ordered New Delhi to return the value of shares it had sold, dividends seized and tax refunds withheld to recover the tax demand.

Subsequent to the courts in the US and other places giving recognition to the arbitration award, the firm has now begun bringing lawsuits to pierce the corporate veil between the Indian government and its owned companies such as in oil and gas, shipping, airline and banking sectors, to seize their overseas assets to recover the money awarded.

The lawsuit is similar to the one brought by Crystallex International Corp to attach property of Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A (PDVSA), the state-owned oil company of Venezuela, in Delaware couple of years back after the Latin American country failed to pay the firm USD 1.2 billion that an arbitration tribunal had ordered to pay in lieu of the 2011 seizing gold deposits held and developed by the firm.

Indian assets across several jurisdictions have been identified that Cairn will be seeking to seize to enforce the award, sources said.

"Cairn is taking the necessary legal steps to protect shareholders' interest in the absence of a resolution of the arbitral award," a company spokesperson said commenting on the issue. "Cairn remains open to continuing constructive dialogue with the Government of India to arrive at a satisfactory outcome to this long-running issue."

The Scottish firm invested in the oil and gas sector in India in 1994 and a decade later it made a huge oil discovery in Rajasthan. In 2006, it listed its Indian assets on the BSE. Five years after that, the government passed a retroactive tax law and billed Cairn Rs 10,247 crore plus interest and penalty for the reorganisation tied to the flotation.

The state then expropriated and liquidated Cairn's remaining shares in the Indian entity, seized dividends and withheld tax refunds to recover a part of the demand.

Cairn challenged the move before an arbitration tribunal in The Hague, which in December awarded it USD 1.2 billion (over Rs 8,800 crore) plus costs and interest, which totals USD 1.725 million (Rs 12,600 crore) as of December 2020.

The company, which previously said the ruling was binding and enforceable under international treaty law, has been since then courting Indian government officials to get the money paid.

Its officials have held three face-to-face meetings with the then Revenue Secretary Ajay Bhushan Pandey in February and at least one video call with his successor Tarun Bajaj.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had last month reiterated that international arbitration ruling on India's sovereign right to taxation sets wrong precedent, but had said that the government is looking at how best it can sort out the issue.

The government, which participated in an international arbitration brought by the Scottish firm against being taxed retrospectively, has appealed against The Hague based tribunal's ruling.

The Indian government argues that tax levied by a sovereign power should not be subject to private arbitration.

PTI had previously reported that the company had in the meetings offered to forego USD 500 million out of the USD 1.7 billion award and invest that amount in any oil and gas or renewable energy project identified by the Indian government after rejecting a government offer to get paid just one-fourth of the award.

It wants the principal of USD 1.2 billion due to be paid and the interest and cost can be re-invested in India.

The Indian government, which appointed one of the three arbitrators on The Hague panel and fully participated in the arbitration proceedings since 2015, wanted Cairn to settle the issue through its now-closed tax dispute resolution scheme, Vivad se Vishwas.

Vivad se Vishwas scheme, which closed on March 31, provided for dropping of tax case if 50 per cent of the demand was paid, which the company rejected, sources in the know of the development said.

Even if it were to have agreed to the scheme, the Indian government had to refund about Rs 2,500 crore to the British firm, they said adding the value of shares seized and sold, dividend confiscated and tax refund withheld totalled to over Rs 7,600 crore which was more than 50 per cent of the Rs 10,247 crore principal tax demand raised.

Cairn, which is of the opinion that the unanimous ruling of the tribunal was enforceable against Indian-owned assets in more than 160 countries that have signed and ratified the 1958 New York Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards, has hired asset-tracing firms to investigate the overseas assets that could be seized to recover the amount due.

Sources said the assets that can be attached could range from airplanes to ships, to oil and gas cargoes and bank accounts of state-owned entities.

Cairn had previously said the money ultimately belongs to its shareholders -- which include large investors such as BlackRock, Fidelity and Franklin Templeton, and the ramifications of India not honouring the award will "run across the international investment community more widely".

Sources said the Indian government appeal in the Dutch court does not bar Cairn from taking action in other jurisdictions to recover the full amount of the arbitral award.

The company through the US lawsuit is seeking to establish that the state-owned firm is India's alter ego under Bancec regulations, that is, to pierce the veil between the Indian government and them.

'Piercing the corporate veil' is a means of imposing liability on an underlying cause of action against a third-party which would not otherwise be liable.

By this, Cairn will seek to pierce the veil in order to shift liability for payment of an existing judgment against the Republic of India to a third-party that is not otherwise liable, that is state-owned firms or banks.
New Delhi: Shares of Adani Group of companies controlled by billionaire Gautam Adani took a massive hit on Monday over media reports that said that accounts of three foreign investor funds that own the companys stocks had been frozen.

What is Adani foreign investors' accounts freezing all about that triggered massive plunge in shares?

Shares of Adani group companies tanked massively on Monday after reports came out that the National Securities Depository Ltd (NSDL) had frozen the accounts of three Mauritius-based funds that own the port-to-energy conglomerate.

The three funds feature among the top 12 investors and owned about 2.1 percent to 8.91 percent stakes in five Adani Group companies as of March 31, 2020, annual investor presentations show. The value of their holding in the five Adani group firms was valued at USD 7.78 billion before the stocks witnessed mayhem on Monday, said a PTI report.

Adani's group refuting claims said that the accounts were not frozen and any reports suggesting the contrary were "blatantly erroneous and misleading". While Adani group said all the accounts of its top shareholder funds were active, NSDL in an email to the group also confirmed their 'active' status.

NSDL in an email to Adani group said, "the status of demat accounts mentioned in your trail email are held in 'Active' status in NSDL system".

The NSDL website, however, showed the accounts of Albula Investment Fund, Cresta Fund and APMS Investment Fund -- which are registered at the same address in Port Louis -- as being frozen without citing a reason. It listed Albula Investment Fund Ltd, APMS Investment Fund Ltd and Cresta Fund Ltd as "account level freeze".

Adani refutes claims over freezing of 3 foreign funds

Adani Group flagship Adani Enterprises in a regulatory filing on Tuesday said, We wish to inform you that the status of the Demat account of your shareholders may be verified from NSDL DPM (SHR) system available with your RTA and the beneficiary position details downloaded to your RTA. The current status of the Demat accounts of the shareholders is available in the DPM (SHR) system.

The company further added, as may be verified from the said system, the status of Demat accounts mentioned in your trail email are held in 'Active" status in NSDL system. Further, the below Demat accounts are in 'Suspended for Debit' status in terms of SEBI order no. WTM/PS/58/IVD/JUN/2016 dated June 16, 2016:

Cresta Fund Ltd: Suspended for Debit

Albula Investment Fund Ltd : Suspended for Debit

APMS Investment Fund Ltd : Suspended for Debit

On Monday, the company issued a statement saying that the news headlines published in media that NSDL has frozen the accounts of 3 foreign funds-Albula Investment Fund, Cresta Fund and APMS Investment Fund holding shares in Adani Group Companies are are blatantly erroneous.

The company in a BSE filing wrote, We regret to mention that these reports are blatantly erroneous and is done to deliberately mislead the investing community. This is causing irreparable loss of economic value to the investors at large and reputation of the group. Given the seriousness of the article and its consequential adverse impact on minority investors, we requested Registrar and Transfer Agent, with respect to the status of the Demat Account of the aforesaid funds and have their written confirmation vide its e-mail dated 14th June, 2021, clarifying that the Demat Account in which the aforesaid funds hold the shares of the Company are not frozen.

Adani Shares open higher on Tuesday after hitting lower circuit on Monday

Shares of Adani group companies --Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd opened 4.5% higher after a steep drop in the previous session. The company rejected of a media report that said accounts of three foreign investor funds that own Adani Group stocks had been frozen. Shares were last down 0.8%. Adani Power, Adani Transmission and Adani Total Gas fell 5% and were locked in their lower circuits.

Shares of Adani group companies plunged on Monday after reports that the National Securities Depository Ltd (NSDL) froze the accounts of the three foreign funds that are among the top stakeholders in the firms.

Billionaire Gautam Adani's group on Monday said accounts of three Mauritius-based funds that own the port-to-energy conglomerate's stocks were not frozen and any reports suggesting the contrary were "blatantly erroneous and misleading".

With Agency Inputs

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The Ministry of Finances senior officials will hold an interactive meeting on June 22 with Infosys on the issues and glitches creating trouble for the new income tax e-filing portal. The meeting will take place between 11 AM to 1 PM with Infosys (the vendor and its team).

The other stakeholders of the meeting would be members from ICAI, auditors, consultants and taxpayers, a statement from the Finance Ministry said.

The new portal has been fraught with several technical glitches/issues leading to taxpayer inconvenience. Written representations on the problems/difficulties faced in the portal have also been invited from the stakeholders, the ministry said.

After the launch of the new website on June 7, taxpayers have been complaining about several difficulties like being unable to access the new portal. Even after logging in, people are finding it difficult to do transactions or respond to tax notices.
New Delhi: The internet is full of fun videos, bringing a smile to our faces in times of distress. One such video on Instagram has gone viral, making netizens go LOL. A daughter bought a high-end Gucci belt and showed it to her mother, who was quick to pass it off as a 'Ranchi ki DPS ki belt'.

Her mother's hilarious reaction is leaving fans in splits. The daughter tells her mom that it's for Rs 35000 and the latter is left shocked! She is quick to add, 'Rs 150 ka bikta hai'. Watch it here:

Chabi Gupta can be heard laughing while her mother Anita Gupta is shocked and amused at this pricey purchase of her daughter.

The video is posted by Anita Gupta & Chabi Gupta on Instagram. She has 7831 followers and often posts videos on her social media handle. The posts featuring her mom are best-loved by fans and this viral video is solid proof of it.

Gucci is a high-end designer label that has classic watches, handbags, belts, clothes and shoes. Several celebrities love the brand and are often clicked flaunting their liking for it!

Enjoy the hilarious mom-daughter video!
Tumkuru: Karnatakas powerful Lingayat community seers have thrown their full weight behind Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa and warned the state BJP leaders not to create any obstacles for his government.

According to reports, nearly a dozen Lingayat seers have demanded the BJP top brass to let BSY, as Yediyurappa is popularly known, continue as the states CM for the next two years. It may be noted that the Karnataka Chief Minister himself belongs to the powerful Lingayat community of the state.

The seers from the community have warned the disgruntled state BJP leaders not to harass Yediyurappa till his term as Chief Minister gets over. The statement from the Lingayat seers came after BJP national General Secretary Arun Singh put an end to all speculation over leadership change in the state.

Following Arun Singhs remarks, Yediyurappa too asserted that he would be at the helm of affairs for the next two years. The 78-year-old Lingayat strongman also said his responsibility has increased because of the trust shown in him by the BJP high command.

Around 12 top seers, under the aegis of Shri Shadakshara Bruhanmatha, said that Yediyurappa was the main reason for the BJP to gain a foothold in Karnataka. "He is often being cornered and harassed. We condemn this as seers. People should stop troubling the Chief Minister and start cooperating with him," the seers stated. Taking serious note of a section of BJP leaders cornering Yediyurappa over his age, the seers said that associating age with performance is nothing but an insult to a leader who has been relentlessly working for the party.

"We seers feel that repeated silly remarks about his age annoy not only us but also the entire community which is upset with such meaningless remarks made by his own partymen," the seers said.

Buttressing their arguments by citing late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M Karunanidhi, the seers observed that the country had witnessed CMs performing their duties perfectly even after getting old and becoming wheelchair-bound. "We need to remember that Karunanidhi served as the CM of Tamil Nadu in a wheelchair. We (seers) support Yediyurappa and he should serve as the CM for the next two years," the seers said.

The seers contended that those who raise the issue of age forget that it was Yediyurappa who toiled day and night to ensure that the BJP crossed the 100-seat mark in Karnataka.

"But for his efforts, BJP would not cross 100 seats. He has been wholeheartedly accepted by the Lingayat community as its leader. The community will not tolerate if anyone tries to topple him citing his age as the criteria. He should not be cornered on his age anymore," the seers said.

They also said that the Lingayat community votes for the BJP only because of Yediyurappa. Before the reports of leadership change were circulated by the party`s top leaders, Yediyurappas son BY Vijayendra, who is also a BJP vice-president, had met several Lingayat seers on the pretext of a courtesy call.

Meanwhile, BJPs Karnataka in-charge Arun Singh is coming to Bengaluru for a three-day visit on June 16. He will be meeting the state cabinet members along with some party MLAs.

A section of BJP MLAs in Karnataka had been openly demanding that the party`s top brass should provide them a platform to air their grievances against the style of functioning of Yediyurappa.

These leaders are of the view that Yediyurappa had been given more prominence than he deserved, and their main grouse has been the rise of his two sons - BY Raghvendra, who is a Lok Sabha MP from Shivamogga district, and his younger brother Vijayendra, who is seen as a shadow CM in Karnataka by his own partymen.

(With Agency Inputs)

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Kolkata: West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar has written a letter to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday (June 15).

West Bengal governor has said that the Chief Minister must break silence on the deteriorating law and order situation. The state govt must take action to restore peace in the state.

Constrained to conveyed @MamataOfficial that continued silence & inaction over post poll violence, violation of human rights & dignity of women, destruction of property, perpetuation of miseries on political opponents- worst since independence, ill augurs for democracy. pic.twitter.com/zoNewdpEob  Governor West Bengal Jagdeep Dhankhar (@jdhankhar1) June 15, 2021

Governor Jagdeep Dhankar said that he has urged CM Mamata Banerjee to break silence on post-poll retributive violence, restore law and order, provide succour to the suffering people. He further added by saying that he called upon her to have interaction on these issues at the earliest.

The post-poll violence in the West Bengal Assembly elections has gathered a lot of attention in the Indian social sphere. There are horrific details emerging out of the alleged gang rape in the West Bengal Assembly elections that has ignited the controversy again.

While more and more reports have come to light about alleged rape incidents in the post-polls West Bengal, the political parties on the ground continue to lay the blame on the opposing party.

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New Delhi: The Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) on Monday (June 14, 2021) said that 850 oxygen plants are being set up across India from the PM Cares Fund to strengthen fight against COVID-19.

C Satish Reddy, Secretary DRDO, said that they are prepared to provide all kinds of support when the need arises. He added that more flying hospitals would be ready, as was provided by DRDO during the second wave of COVID-19, to help the people.

"We established temporary hospitals specific to COVID 19 in many cities. These are modular hospitals, we call it flying hospitals, and these have been made in a way that the virus does not go out of hospitals. If there is any third wave, all the hospitals will be taking the load, and the government is discussing these aspects with various stakeholders," Reddy said.

He underlined how DRDO is primarily carrying out research in advanced technology in defence and also concentrating on developing high-quality technology that will be beneficial for the people, at a lower cost to match the international level.

Meanwhile, India on Tuesday (June 15) reported the lowest daily rise in COVID-19 cases since April 1. According to the Union Health Ministry data, the country recorded 60,471 new infections, taking the total caseload to 2,95,70,881.

In the past 24 hours, the country also added 2,726 deaths and the death toll has now mounted to 3,77,031.



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New Delhi: Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions has issued new guidelines to regulate attendance in central government offices, departments and ministries.

The ministry on Monday directed all officers at the level of Under Secretary and above to attend offices on all working days from June 16 until June 30 while persons with disabilities and pregnant women employees would continue to work from home.

Regarding government officials below Under Secretary level, 50 per cent of such officials shall attend office on all working days and the remaining shall work from home, said the order issued to all central government ministries/departments.

The Personnel Ministry has come up with guidelines to regulate attendance in government offices in view of the fact that the number of COVID cases and positivity rate have reduced considerably.

All government servants at the level of Under Secretary and above to attend office on all working days, it said. All officers/staff have to ensure strict compliance with COVID-appropriate behaviour viz. frequent washing of hands/sanitisation, wearing a mask/face cover, observing social distancing at all times and any laxity in this regard shall be viewed seriously, the order said.

The officers/staff shall follow staggered timings - 9 am to 5.30 pm, 9.30 am to 6 pm, and 10 am to 6.30 pm, in order to avoid overcrowding in offices, it added. The persons with disabilities and pregnant women employees shall continue to be exempted from attending office but are required to work from home till further orders, the order said.

All officers/staff residing in the containment zone shall be exempted from coming to offices till the containment zone is denotified, according to the order.

Those officers/staff who are not attending office shall work from home and they should be available on the telephone and other electronic means of communication at all times, the order said.

Meeting, as far as possible shall be conducted on video-conferencing and personal meetings with visitors, unless absolutely necessary in the public interest, are to be avoided, it said.

These instructions shall come into force from June 16 until June 30, the order said, adding that biometric attendance shall continue to be suspended and physical attendance registers to be maintained until further orders, the notification mandated.

(With Agency Inputs)

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Chennai: Presenting their report that indicated massive underreporting of COVID-19 deaths in major Tamil Nadu Government Hospitals, NGO Arappor Iyakkam urged the State Government to take corrective steps. The recommendations urged that the Government must instruct hospitals to issue medical Certificate for the cause of death (MCCD) as per ICMR guidelines. The non-provision of such certificates denies the bereaved families their right to claim compensation from the Government, it added.

According to the NGO, their report was prepared by comparing the Jan-May death certificates data for the years 2019, 2020, 2021. The six hospitals for which they found the requisite data were spread across the state - Madurai, Coimbatore, Trichy, Vellore, Karur, Tiruppur.

Their reasoning is that the death data (when comparing April-May for three consecutive years) would only remain the same or increase slightly owing to population increase. The drastic increase they have observed can only be attributed to COVID-19, as there is no other major cause.

With regards to mortality data of April-May 2019, the figure is 4,437 and for the year 2020, it is 3,261. Whereas for the period Apri-May 2021, it is 11,699. However, as per the daily Health department bulletin quoted by the NGO, the death figures in these hospitals only comes to 863.

In its state-wide estimation based on April-May deaths, the report says, approximating the same underreporting factor for 8.4 to 8.8 times, the likely number of deaths in Tamil Nadu may be between 1.08-1.25lakh, as opposed to the reported number of 12,943.

As a corrective step, the NGO recommended that the Government put out death certificates, mortality data and its consolidation for the hospital as well as home deaths for all three years - 2019, 2020 and 2021.

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New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will on Wednesday (June 16) address the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus) virtually.

ADMM Plus is a significant platform involving 10 ASEAN member countries and eight dialogue partners - Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia and the United States.

The meeting is being hosted by the Brunei Ministry of Defence. Brunei is the chair of the ASEAN grouping this year and will host all the meetings.

The meet will see the Defence minister sharing the virtual stage with his counterparts of China, Japan, Russia and the US Defence secretary. Going by G7, Nato meetings, it will be interesting to see what other defence ministers speak even as the Chinese defence minister will be present.

ADMM-Plus was convened in Ha Noi, Vietnam, on October 12, 2010, and last year marked a decade since its inception.

On Tuesday, the 15th ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM) was convened virtually.

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New Delhi: Exactly a year ago, on the evening of June 15, there was a violent clash between the soldiers of India and China in the Galwan valley of Eastern Ladakh. 20 soldiers of the Indian Army were martyred in this bloody conflict.

Zee News Editor-in-Chief Sudhir Chaudhary on Tuesday (June 15) remembered the Galwan bravehearts who made the supreme sacrifice for their country and discussed the various steps India took to decimated Chinese pride.

The Chinese side did not admit to casualties of their soldiers immediately after the clash. But, eight months later, in February 2021, China honored five soldiers of the People's Liberation Army for gallantry in the Galwan valley, out of which four were awarded posthumously. In fact, the number of Chinese soldiers that were killed stood over 40.

Today is the day to remember the jawans who were martyred while defending the country. Out of these 20 martyred soldiers, 13 were from the Bihar regiment, 3 from the Punjab regiment, 2 from the Medium regiment, 1 from the Mountain Brigade and 1 from the Field regiment.

What happened in the Galwan valley on the evening of 15th June?

The border dispute started at patrolling point 14 of Galwan valley, where China started deploying its troops from April 2020. China also put up tents near the LAC at that time. And because the Indian army was patrolling till this place, it asked the Chinese army to retreat.

When the PLA troops did not retreat till June 15, an unarmed patrolling party of 16 Bihar regiment started talks with the Chinese side. But when China made it clear that it would not retreat, the tension between the soldiers increased after which the clashes occurred.

Due to the valor of the Indian Army, the Chinese side never succeeded.

After this conflict there several important changes were made in India's strategy towards China. Heres how India cornered China on four different fronts:

1. Economic restrictions on Chinese companies - The Indian government banned 59 Chinese mobile apps on June 29, 2020, just two weeks after this violent clash. Among them were also very popular apps like TikTok and Share It. 118 apps were banned in September 2020, 43 apps in November 2020 and 57 apps were banned in the month of January this year. This digital strike not only troubled China, but also caused heavy losses to its companies.

2. Diplomatic mobilization against China - India has increased cooperation and strengthened relations with the major democracies of the world. QUAD i.e. Quadrilateral Security Dialogue is prominent among them, which includes the US, Japan and Australia.

3. On August 29, 2020, the Indian Army dealt a major blow to China by securing its place at Kailash Heights at the southern end of Pangong Lake. The lead that China had made at Finger Four, was neutralized by this.

4. Dialogue  Despite the tension, New Delhi's contact with the Chinese did not break. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar continued talks with China. The army also continued the commander-level talks and talks between the diplomats also continued. India kept on putting pressure on China after the Galwan valley clash.

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A case of cyber fraud of Rs. 6.5 lakh was reported on Friday (June 11) by a 78-year old Udaipur resident to CyberSafe. The FRAUD TO PHONE (F2P) caller was operating from Jharkhand.

Tracking via the FCORD-run CyberSafe app revealed that the funds were directly credited to 3 SBI cards, which were used to buy 33 expensive China-made Xiaomi POCO M3 mobile phones from Flipkart. Within minutes the addresses where these were delivered in Balaghat (MP) were identified and SP Balaghat informed. MP police were most efficient in detaining the mastermind and all 33 new phones and several more were seized from him.

The F2P gang bought these phones for about Rs.10,000 each and sold them in the black market for a 5-10% discount. Jharkhand Police has arrested the F2P caller.

This F2P Gang had several hundred operatives who were running different legs of the transactions which involved OTP fraud, Credit Cards frauds, e-Commerce frauds, fake IDs, fake mobile numbers, fake addresses, black marketing, tax

evasion, money laundering and habitually dealing with stolen goods.

In all, 8 F2P Gang masterminds (MP 2, Jharkhand 4, AP-2) have been arrested and nearly 300 new mobile phones bought from stolen funds seized. Further, 900 cell phones, 1000 bank accounts and hundreds of UPI and e-commerce IDs of this gang were identified and are under investigation, while nearly 100 bank accounts and debit/credit cards were frozen.

The operation against the F2P Gang has expanded to 18 States and 350 persons now and is ongoing.

The accused are also being questioned for reasons for preference of China-made phones, especially those made by Xiaomi. CyberSafe is an app created by FCORD, operative from August 2019. It links more than 3,000 Law Enforcement Authorities (LEAs), including police stations in 19 States/UTs with 18 fintech entities online and in real-time. As soon as a victim informs the police, the information is entered on CyberSafe and in real-time, fund flows are identified and communicated.

Till now 65,000 phone frauds were reported on this app and 55,000 phone numbers and several thousand bank accounts of fraudsters identified. Soon,

NPCI will be integrating with CyberSafe, expanding the ambit of real-time prevention of cybercrime to the UPI domain, thereby amplifying its success in crime prevention, manifold.

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Kolkata: Lok Sabha MP Sunil Mondal, who joined the BJP ahead of the West Bengal elections, said on Tuesday that he was not 'feeling comfortable' in his new party as promises made to him were not kept, triggering speculations over his future political move. Mondal, who won the Bardhaman Purba seat on a Trinamool Congress ticket in the Lok Sabha elections of 2019, made the comment as his former party was making representations with Speaker Om Birla to disqualify him under the anti-defection law.

Speaking to reporters, Mondal said that though he had made every effort to ensure BJP's victory in the district, there was a trust deficit within the party on those who switched over from TMC. "BJP doesn't believe those who joined from TMC. Even my belief about the organisational strength of the BJP has been belied. I am not feeling comfortable here," he said.

He added that BP does not understand the Bengali culture and they are responsible for BJP's loss in the state. "I will let you all know my further course of action," he said.

Mondal claimed that those who came to campaign for the BJP during the West Bengal elections from outside the state had no idea about the Bengali culture. "With the majority of the people in rural areas not familiar with Hindi, their speeches failed to connect with the masses," he said.

Mondal joined the BJP along with Suvendu Adhikari at a rally of Home Minister Amit Shah in Kharagpur in December last year. "Suvendu did not keep his promise of working together. He did not keep in touch with me. I don't have any contact with him now," he claimed.

Asked if he was looking to return to his former party TMC, Mondal said he will think about it.

With these comments, Mondal joined a long list of leaders who switched over to the BJP ahead of the assembly elections and started putting out feelers to their former party TMC after the poll results were declared.

BJP's national vice-president Mukul Roy recently joined back Trinamool Congress two days ago. Reacting to Mondal's comment, state BJP president Dilip Ghosh said him leaving the party would not matter. "Our party is like a big river where few self-seekers may come and go," Ghosh said.

Senior Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Bandyopadhyay called Mondal an 'insignificant person'. "We don't comment on the statement of an insignificant person, an opportunist who has no significant public support," he said.

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New Delhi: The Haryana government on Tuesday (June 15) extended the summer holidays for all schools in the state till June 30.

The decision was announced by the state Education Minister Kanwar Pal following a cabinet meeting.

Last month, the summer vacation was extended till June 15 on the orders of the Directorate of School Education in view of the COVID-19 situation in the state. However, the teachers were allowed to go to school for work from June 1.

The minister also informed that the class 12 results would be declared within a month. He said the class 12 results will be prepared on the basis of internal assessment and other parameters laid down by the Haryana Board of School Education.

The board examinations for class 12 were cancelled due to the fear of coronavirus spread.

Pal further said that a fixed amount would be provided to the government school students up to class 8 to purchase their textbooks. The government has decided to give the money directly to students to buy their textbooks.

Senior students are also being encouraged to give their old textbooks to students studying in junior classes, he added.

Meanwhile, the state government on Sunday extended the coronavirus lockdown by another week till June 21, while easing several restrictions.

Doing away with the odd-even formula, the state government allowed all shops to open from 9 am to 8 pm.

Restaurants and bars, including in hotels and malls, are allowed to open from 10 am to 10 pm.

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New Delhi: Data from the Ministry of Earth Sciences shows that India has been witnessing increasing events of extremely heavy and very heavy rainfall since 2012.

The data shows that 185 weather stations across the nation reported extremely heavy rainfall while in 2020, this increased to 341, nearly 85 per cent jump.

2019 itself saw around 554 stations reporting extremely heavy rainfall, which was the highest since 2012.

The rainfall recorded below 15 mm is considered light, between 15 and 64.5 mm is moderate, between 64.5 mm and 115.5 mm is heavy and between 115.6 mm and 204.4 mm is very heavy.

Anything above 204.4 mm is considered as extremely heavy rainfall, according to IMD.

In India, June to September is the period for the Southwest monsoon and is considered as the main rainy season for the Indian subcontinent.

Heavy to very heavy and extremely heavy rainfall events occurred over different parts of the country during the monsoon season of 2020.

Due to such events, parts of Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Bihar and Telangana suffered massive flooding.

In 2020, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) had rescued and evacuated 19,241 people and 334 livestock.

Among the states, West Bengal reported the highest 258 deaths due to heavy rains and floods. It was followed by Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, both reporting 190 deaths each.

The Ministry also said that several scientific studies bring out the possible linkage of climate change with the sudden occurrence of rainfall and temperature extremes.

This year, monsoon arrived in Maharashtra and Goa two days in advance of its normal onset date.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) also said that the monsoon progressed very quickly over most parts of the country. It covered most of India in only 10 days mainly due to active monsoon circulation and the formation of a low-pressure area over Bay of Bengal.

Due to approaching of mid-latitude westerlies winds, the further progress of monsoon over remaining parts of northwest India is likely to be slow, the IMD said.

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Srinagar: The Indian Army's Leh-based 14 Corps, popularly known as Fire and Fury Corps, on Tuesday (June 15) paid homage to the martyrs of Galwan on the first anniversary of the violent clash.

"In the face of unprecedented Chinese aggression, 20 Indian soldiers laid down their lives defending our land and inflicted heavy casualties on the PLA," the Army said.

In a solemn ceremony, Major General Akash Kaushik, COS, Fire and Fury Corps, laid a wreath at the iconic War Memorial in Leh on the occasion.

The nation will remain eternally grateful to these gallant soldiers who fought in the most difficult high altitude terrain and made the supreme sacrifice in service of the nation, the Army said.

Chief of Army Staff Gen MM Naravane also led the force in hailing the valour of the 20 soldiers who laid down their lives.

The Army said the supreme sacrifice of the soldiers while fighting the adversary in the "most difficult" high altitude terrain will be "eternally etched" in the memory of the nation.

In the first deadly clash in the border area in nearly five decades, 20 Indian soldiers were killed on June 15 last year in the Galwan Valley in fierce hand-to-hand combat with Chinese troops, triggering a large deployment of troops and heavy weaponry by both armies at the friction points in eastern Ladakh.

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Hyderabad: Union Minister G Kishan Reddy flayed Chief Minister Kalvakuntla Chandrashekhar Rao for his family rule and said that Telangana people want to fight against them. His statemment came in the wake of the joining of former Telangana minister Eatala Rajender in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Reddy told ANI, "People want to fight against the KCR family rule. The joining of former Telangana minister Eatala Rajender in BJP is just the beginning, there will be more joining. Rajender will visit all 31 districts where new joinings will be done."

Notably, former Telangana Minister Eatala Rajender switched to the BJP from TRS. Rajender joined BJP in presence of Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and G Kishan Reddy at the party headquarters in Delhi on Monday.

The former Telangana Minister had submitted his resignation as MLA to the Speaker of Telangana Assembly Pocharam Srinivas Reddy on Saturday.

Earlier on June 4, Rajender had resigned from TRS citing differences with the party. He was removed from his post as state Health Minister over the allegations of land grabbing last month.

Meanwhile, the Telangana government came under Opposition`s fire for purchasing a fleet of luxury cars for IAS officers in the state amid the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. As many as 32 new luxury multi-utility vehicles reached Pragati Bhavan on Sunday for distribution to additional collectors posted in the state.

With the state exchequer in a bad condition due to less revenue and insufficient medical infrastructure, the allocation of the cars, estimated to cost about Rs 25 lakh each, has raised eyebrows.

Criticising the move, BJP spokesperson K Krishna Sagar Rao registered a strong opposition on his party`s behalf against the "criminal splurge of public exchequer" by Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) to "appease bureaucrats" in the state.

"How can Chief Minister KCR justify spending over Rs 11 crores to buy 32 ultra-luxury vehicles for additional collectors in Telangana State?" the BJP leader asked. Claiming that Telangana Chief Minister is indulging into a "massive wastage of public money" in the middle of a pandemic, he termed the decision to buy ultra-luxury vehicles for additional collectors as "horrendous and unthinkable" in the current public health situation.

The move also attracted criticism from Telangana Congress. AICC Spokesperson Sravan Dasoju called the Telangana government`s move a "height of irresponsible expenditure".

(With Agency Inputs)

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New Delhi: The two LJP factions headed by Chirag Paswan and Pashupati Kumar Paras moved swiftly on Tuesday to take control of the party as a national executive meeting of the organisation expelled five MPs while the Paras-led group removed Paswan as its president.

In his first reaction after his paternal uncle Paras ousted him as the leader of the party in Lok Sabha with the support of the five MPs, Paswan likened the organisation to a mother who should not be "betrayed".

He also shared on Twitter a letter he had written to him on March 29 that highlighted Paras' alleged indifference to the party's agenda and conduct against its interests, and had urged him to fulfil his responsibilities to it and their family following the death of LJP founder Ram Vilas Paswan.

With the Paswan family and the party controlled by it now split down the middle only eight months after the death of Chirag Paswan's father, the two warring groups are now rallying the members of its organisation to their cause as both factions claim to represent the Lok Janshakti Party.

While five of its six Lok Sabha MPs have sided with Paras, the group headed by Chirag Paswan called a virtual meeting of the party's national executive in which 41 of 76 members were present, its Bihar unit working president Raju Tiwari said.

It was unanimously decided to expel the five MPs from the LJP for their "anti-party" activities, he told reporters.

It was a hurriedly called meeting, Tiwari said, claiming that many other members also extended their support to the decision and expressed faith in Chirag Paswan's leadership.

The group led by his paternal uncle claimed that a decision to remove Chirag Paswan, MP from Jamui, as party president was taken in an emergency meeting of the national executive in line with the principal of "one man, one post".

It was not shared as to how many members attended the meeting.

Paras, however, termed as "laughable" the decision of the national executive meeting headed by Chirag Paswan to expel him and four other MPs from the party after the Lok Sabha speaker recognised him as its leader in the House.

He claimed that the decision at the national executive meeting headed by his faction was in accordance with the LJP's constitutional requirement of "one person, one post", and reiterated the validity of its decision to remove his nephew from the post of party president.

A meeting of the party's national council will be called in five days to elect a new president, Paras said.

Chirag Paswan is expected to address a press conference on Wednesday, with the battle for the control of the party likely to reach the Election Commission soon.

The Lok Sabha secretariat has recognised Paras' election as the leader of the party in the House.

In a tweet, Chirag Paswan said he made efforts to keep the party founded by his father and his family together but failed.

People are supreme in a democracy, he said and thanked those who have kept faith in the party.

The letter he had written to Paras, the youngest brother of his father, highlighted his uncle's unhappiness over a number of issues, including his elevation as the party president.

Chirag Paswan believes that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's JD(U) has worked to engineer the split as it wants to finish him off politically following his strident campaign against the state's ruling party in the 2020 assembly elections, sources close to him said.

By painting his uncle as "power hungry" whose conduct "hurt" his father when he was ailing, the young leader seeks to galavanise the LJP's core support of the Paswan community around him.

In his letter, he also said that Prince Raj, a party MP and his cousin who has sided with Paras, was allegedly blackmailed by a woman over the allegations of "sexual exploitation". While Paras ignored it, he asked Raj to go the police. There was no reaction from his cousin.

The BJP

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, the principal member of the NDA of which both the JD(U) and LJP are constituents, has officially maintained silence over the implosion within the party.
New Delhi: The leopard that mauled a 4-year-old girl to death was finally captured on Tuesday (June 15), eleven days after it attacked a child.

The leopard had attacked the little girl who was playing outdoors in the premises of her home.

Locals along with wildlife officials and police searched for the girl for two days and later found her mauled body near a nursery at Ompora area.

Later district administration along with the wildlife department started a massive hunt for the man-eating leopard. Searches were also launched across Kashmir in the sensitive areas for leopards who had entered the local population.



As many as 5 leopards along with this man eater leopard have been captured recently.

This man-eating Leopard was caught alive by Wildlife authorities on Tuesday at DC office complex in Central Kashmir's Budgam district.

A wildlife official said the Leopard was spotted near nursery of DC office, and the searches were intensified accordingly in the area. He also said that said that after strenuous efforts the Leopard was caught alive.

Meanwhile, locals said that they finally heaved a sigh of relief as the Leopard had created fear among the local population.

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New Delhi: In order to handle pressure from India in the Mehul Choksi extradition case, the legal team of the fugitive diamantaire is planning new strategies. As per an English news channel, Choksi is planning to delay his legal hearing in Dominica until the Indian investigation teams depart from the Caribbean island nation.

The plans prove to be useful as the Dominica Magistrate Court on Monday (June 14, 2021) adjourned till June 25 the hearing into the alleged illegal entry of Choksi into the nation.

On Monday, a Magistrate Court in Roseau was to begin hearing the case of Choksi's illegal entry into the country on May 23 but he was a no show. His lawyers informed the court that he was suffering from 'mental stress' and experienced high blood pressure. They presented a medical certificate signed by a doctor from the Dominica China Friendship Hospital where Choksi has been undergoing treatment for over 14 days.

The judge, however, ordered for the 62-year-old to be brought to court on June 17 for further remand and he will remain under police guard as a patient at the hospital until the next date of the trial.

On the other hand, the English news channel has also claimed that Choksi's lawyers have suggested an all-out media strategy to his family and their strategy also includes filing cases in the United Kingdom. The legal team of fugitive diamantaire has already approached the Metropolitan Police in London under the 'universal jurisdiction' provision to investigate the alleged kidnapping of the absconding businessman from Antigua and Barbuda to neighbouring Dominica.

Choksi's lawyer Michael Polak had earlier said that his client was unlawfully removed from Antigua and Barbuda and that as a citizen, he enjoys the right to approach the British Privy Council in case of extradition.

"In Antigua, he has the right to appeal to the Privy Council in London to determine whether the government is acting properly...against him. In Dominica, he does not have such protection. The motive behind the kidnapping could not be clearer," Polak said.

A complaint filed by Polak with the UK Metropolitan Police contended that Choksis case should be investigated by the War Crimes Unit as it involves "torture".

Meanwhile, India in an affidavit filled in Dominica Court said that Mehul Choksi is 'still' an Indian citizen. The affidavit detailed how his 'declaration of renunciation' of the Indian citizenship was not accepted by the Government of India and 'citizenship of Mehul Choksi may be decided as Indian'.

This is to be noted that Choksi had gone missing from Antigua on May 23 after going out for dinner and was soon caught in Dominica. He was charged with illegal entry by the police in Dominica after he allegedly escaped from Antigua and Barbuda in a possible attempt to evade extradition to India.

The 62-year-old fugitive is wanted in India in connection with a Rs 13,500-crore fraud in the Punjab National Bank (PNB).

(With inputs from agencies)



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Patna: LJP chief Chirag Paswan, who is facing a massive rebellion in the party, alleged that his uncle Pasupati Kumar Paras was conspiring against him since his father and LJP founder Ram Vilas Paswan was in ICU in a Delhi hospital last year. He also alleged that during Paswan senior`s last rites, his mother Reena Paswan had given Rs 25 lakh but not a single penny was expended by Paras.

He also uploaded a letter written on March 29 on Twitter where he made serious allegations against Paras. Chirag Paswan said that Lok Jan Shakti Party is like his mother but Paras is involved in cheating the party. "I wrote this letter on March 29, the day of Holi. It was my first Holi when my father was not with me. As Paras was thinking against the party, I wanted a meeting with him but he refused. Party leaders Abdul Khaliq and Suraj Bhan Singh tried their level best to sort out this problem but he did not agree," he said.

"When Nitish Kumar came to power in 2017, Paras established a mutual understanding with him on an important ministry portfolio. This was against the wish of my father, who was wanting a ministry for MLA Raju Tiwari, Raj Kumar Shah or MLC Nutan Singh. When Paras expressed his view to get a ministry for himself, Ram Vilas Paswan turned silent then," Chirag Paswan said.

"When Ram Vilas Paswan was in ICU, he learnt about the anti-party activities of Paras. He called him on phone and said that he should stop the activities that may go against the party.

"In the Bihar Assembly election 2020, my father directed us to contest the election without any coalition with other parties but Paras openly gave statements in favour of Nitish Kumar. He had not campaigned for the party in that election even once. Moreover, he has taken 5 tickets for himself," Chirag Paswan said in the letter.

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New Delhi: Even as the country is witnessing a decline in coronavirus cases, research is taking place in India, the US, and several other countries to see if booster dose will be needed for maintaining the longer efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines, according to a senior doctor at AIIMS, Delhi.

Dr Sanjeev Sinha, Professor in the Department of Medicine at AIIMS, Delhi told ANI, "It is about five months since the start of vaccination in India. Everyone is looking towards the government, doctors, and scientists if they are safe or they need a booster dose to make themselves safe."

Dr Sinha said, "This is the important question and we are having lots of research in India and abroad including US and European countries," adding "We will have other data also in two-three months. Then we will be able to decide on a booster dose. Everything will be based on research. There is some work is going on booster dose at AIIMS also."

Dr Sinha said that three vaccines - Covishield , Covaxin, and Sputnik V- have been authorised for use in the country against COVID-19, adding that the government took the decision to increase the gap between two doses of Covishield after a study was published in a leading medical journal.

Urging people to continue exercising caution against COVID-19 and not get complacent as a number of new cases have come down, Dr Sinha said, "This is a very crucial time. One has to be very careful. People should follow COVID-appropriate behavior and should only come out of their homes when absolutely necessary."

"It is preferable if people can work from home. If it is mandatory (to go to the office), then avoid taking lunch together," he added.

Meanwhile, screening of children aged 6 to 12 years for the clinical trials of indigenously developed Covid-19 vaccine, Bharat Biotech`s Covaxin is scheduled to start from Tuesday.

Citing sources, ANI report said that the recruitment for clinical trials of Covaxin among those aged 12 to 18 years is over, and they have been given a single dose of vaccine. After the recruitment of 6-12 yr old children, AIIMS Delhi will reportedly be conducting trials for the age group 2-6-year-old.

Notably, the clinical trials are taking place at 525 centers. AIIMS Patna, Mysore Medical College, and Research Institute in Karnataka have also been selected to conduct these trials on children.

"We have started recruitment for children aged 6-12 years. Recruitments for clinical trials on children aged 12-18 years is over. They will be kept under observation." Prabhat Kumar Singh, Director, AIIMS, Patna told ANI.

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New Delhi: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal was on Tuesday (June 15) detained by Punjab Police during a protest against the Captain Amarinder Singh-led Congress government in the state. According to ANI, Sukhbir Singh Badal and SAD workers were protesting outside CM Captain Amarinder Singh's residence in Siwan demanding the dismissal of Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu. They also sought a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged selling of vaccines at an exorbitant price.

Staging a demonstration, Badal alleged that the Punjab government colluded with lenders in a vaccination scam. "Instead of giving free vaccines to the people, the Congress government sold vaccines at a hefty profit to private institutions and also allowed the latter to fleece the people further. This amounts to playing with lives and is reprehensible. Balbir Sidhu is directly responsible for this corrupt act and in case he is not dismissed we will approach the Governor as well as the courts for justice," he said.

"If a storm rises, Captain won't be able to stop it, even if he uses all his force. There is a scam in vaccination, there is a scam in Fateh Kit, there is a scam in SC scholarship, farmers' land is being acquired," Badal said before he was detained by the Punjab Police.

The SAD leaders and party workers had gathered to protest against the alleged corruption in the Congress state government. The security forces use water cannons on the protesting Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leaders and workers outside the residence of Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh.

Asserting that Balbir Sidhu was indulging in one scam after another, Sukhbir Badal also took the lid off the Fateh Kit scam of the Congress government on the occasion. He said under this scam the price of the medical kits which was supplied to the people during the COVID pandemic was jacked up repeatedly by inviting one tender after another despite the fact the first tender was valid for a six-month period.

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New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the closure of criminal proceedings in India against two Italian marines, accused of killing two fishermen off the Kerala coast in February 2012.

A vacation bench of Justices Indira Banerjee and M R Shah quashed the FIR and proceedings emanating from the case against the two Italian marines.

The bench said that as per the international arbitral award accepted by India, the Republic of Italy shall resume further investigation in the case.

The top court termed the Rs 10 crore compensation paid by the Republic of Italy over and above the payment already made as 'reasonable and adequate'.

It said that out of the Rs 10 crore compensation, Rs 4 crore each shall be deposited in the name of heirs of two deceased Kerala fishermen and two crore shall be given to owner of boat. In

February 2012, India had accused the two marines on board the MV Enrica Lexie -- an Italian flagged oil tanker -- of killing two Indian fishermen who were on a fishing vessel in India's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

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New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (June 14, 2021) delivered a keynote address at the UN High-Level Dialogue on 'Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought' and stated that India considers 'sacred Earth as our mother'.

During the video conference address, Prime Minister Modi also said that India has taken the lead to highlight land degradation issues at international forums.

He stated that the country is on track to achieve its national commitment of land degradation neutrality.

Here are the key highlights from PM Modi's address:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that land is the fundamental building block for supporting all lives and livelihoods. He said that all of us understand that the web of life functions as an inter-connected system.

PM stated that land degradation affects over two-thirds of the world today and if left unchecked, it will erode the very foundations of our societies, economies, food security, health, safety and quality of life. "Therefore, we have to reduce the tremendous pressure on land and its resources. Clearly, a lot of work lies ahead of us. But we can do it. We can do it together," PM Modi expressed.

PM Modi said that India has always given importance to land and 'considered the sacred Earth as our mother'. He highlighted that the Delhi Declaration of 2019 called for better access and stewardship over land, and emphasised gender-sensitive transformative projects. "In India, over the last 10 years, around 3 million hectares of forest cover has been added. This has enhanced the combined forest cover to almost one-fourth of the country's total area," he stated.

PM Modi said that India is on track to achieve its national commitment of land degradation neutrality. He said that the country is also working towards restoring 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030. "This would contribute to India's commitment to achieve an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent," the Prime Minister added.

PM Narendra Modi said that India believes that restoration of land can start a virtuous cycle of good soil health, increased land productivity, food security and improved livelihoods.

He mentioned that some novel approaches have been taken up in several parts of India. He gave an example of the Banni region in Rann of Kutch in Gujarat and said that it suffers from highly degraded land and receives very little rainfall. "In that region, land restoration is done by developing grasslands, which helps in achieving land degradation neutrality. It also supports pastoral activities and livelihood by promoting animal husbandry. In the same spirit, we need to devise effective strategies for land restoration while promoting indigenous techniques," PM noted.

The Prime Minister said that land degradation poses a special challenge to the developing world and that a Centre of Excellence is being set up in India to promote a scientific approach towards land degradation issues.

PM said that it is mankind's collective responsibility to reverse the damage to land caused by human activity. "It is our sacred duty to leave a healthy planet for our future generations," PM Modi expressed.

Watch the full address below:

PM @narendramodi is addressing the UN High-level dialogue on desertification, land degradation and drought. https://t.co/13H12ELnZV  PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 14, 2021

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New Delhi: A year after the Galwan Valley clash in eastern Ladakh, China is still sitting at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) while India has geared up for a long grind.

Indian and Chinese military delegates have had 11 rounds of talks to resolve the border disputes at the friction points. The only thing that has happened is that both the countries have agreed to resolve the dispute peacefully.

The Indian Army has focused on being better prepared to face Chinese belligerence in Ladakh over the last year, as a final resolution seems far off. India has enhanced military infrastructure, increased troop deployment to 50,000 to 60,000 troops, and constructed better roads to improve connectivity for quick force mobilisation.

The force continues to be on high alert with its enhanced troop deployment of over 50,000 men on the ground in Ladakh for the last one year, including during the harsh winter when the temperature dips to minus 40-degree Celsius.

Last month, Indian Army chief General MM Naravane had said that the troops are on high alert along the LAC, keeping a watch on the activities of the Chinese People`s Liberation Army.

Naravane said that India wants the status quo ante of April 2020 to be restored. He also stated that India has made it clear to China that de-escalation will only be considered once disengagement is completed to the mutual satisfaction of both sides.

He said that Indian troops are on high alert and deployments have not thinned after the disengagement in Pangong River. The Army chief maintained that China has deployed around 50,000 to 60,000 troops in eastern Ladakh in immediate depth, so India has also made mirror deployment in depth.

Even after 11 rounds of military talks at the Corps Commander level to find a resolution, there is still no breakthrough despite the disengagement in Pangong. Indian and Chinese forces have met to resolve the border disputes at the other friction areas like Hot Springs, Gogra and the 900 sq km Depsang plains.

Naravane also said that Indian is currently concentrating on resolving the outstanding problems at other friction points like Hot Springs, Gogra and Depsang. He had pointed out that India`s stand during the disengagement agreement in the Pangong Lake area remained the same that the status quo ante of April 2020 must be restored.

The Army chief also stated that trust levels between the two countries are low, but pointed out that the trust deficit should not hinder the negotiation process. In the Galwan Valley, where a bloody clash between the forces of the two nations left 20 Indian four Chinese soldiers dead on June 15 last year, including Commanding Officer Col Santosh Babu, the troops had concentrated at just 1.5 km apart.

Following the clash, Patrol Point 14 became a `no patrol zone` and both sides pulled back by 1.5 km each and the area turned into a buffer zone. India had objected to China`s observation post near Patrol Point 14 that had led to the clash.

The clash had sparked a war-like situation. By the end of August last year, there was a further build-up across the border and the Pangong Lake had turned into a battle zone, as India occupied the key mountain tops at the Kailash Range overlooking the southern bank of the lake.

Currently, no patrolling is being done till Patrol Point 14. It is necessary to maintain strict vigil through various surveillance methods to keep a check on Chinese activities as they continue to be present in big numbers, not too far away from the contentious point.

Further, China has also been enhancing its surveillance capabilities. It has developed an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with plateau operation capabilities and has planned to deploy it along the Line of Actual Control with India in the Kailash mountain range, sources said.

China has also enhanced troops, artillery and armour in three sectors of the LAC -- western (Ladakh), middle (Uttarakhand, Himachal) and eastern (Sikkim, Arunachal).

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New Delhi: We often see 'Black Cat Commandos' deployed in the security of VIPs that are apart from Army personnel. These are the National Security Guard (NSG) personnel, the toughest soldiers selected through the toughest of processes. Even in the 26/11 terrorist attack, these commandos took control of the situation in the end.

Many youth would aspire to become a black cat commando. But it is a tough nut to crack.

Black Cat Commando or NSG Selection Process:

National Security Guard was formed in the year 1984 to provide protection to some of the very important people of the country, including the Prime Minister.

When it comes to selection, there is no direct recruitment process. For this, soldiers are selected from troops of army and paramilitary forces. About 53 percent of the selection is done from the Indian Army. Apart from this, 47 percent of commandos are selected from four paramilitary forces i.e. CRPF, ITBP, RAF and BSF.

NSG Training:

The commandos undergo an extremely strenuous training of 90 days. Initially one has to pass an examination for the election which is actually a week of rigorous training. It is said that 80 percent of the jawans fail in this. Only 20 per cent reach the next stage. By the last round of tests, this number comes down to 15 percent.

After the final selection the toughest round begins. This is a 90-day training session. During this both physical and mental training is given. It is said that the soldiers whose qualification is 40 percent at the beginning of training, reach 90 percent by the end of the training. Training is also provided for Battle Assault Obstruction Course and Counter Terrorist Conditioning Course. Lastly, there is a psychological test.

NSG Salary:

The salary of NSG commandos ranges from Rs 84,000 to Rs 2.5 lakh per month. The average salary is around Rs 1.5 lakh per month. Apart from this, certain allowances are also offered.

Also Read: NPCIL Recruitment 2021: 121 vacancies released for apprentice, heres how to apply

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New Delhi: Actor Arjun Kapoor's latest film Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar, which was released on Amazon Prime on March 19, has been able to strike a chord both with critics and audience.

Arjun recently completed 9 years as an actor and shares what he looks for in a script.

The material that I am doing right now is selected with an attempt to make sure that you are looking at the pan-India audience, who likes to be entertained. When I do a film with Mohit Suri, I am aware that he connects with our entire country when it comes to romance, music and action, and theres a certain way he presents actors, shares the 35 years old to Bombay Times.

However, the actor is also interested in being part of the cinema that excites him and might have a niche audience, At the same time, when I am doing a horror-comedy with Saif Ali Khan, I know it appeals to the audience with certain sensibilities, and mine as well. I have always wanted to be a part of a comedy with Saif, and things just fell into place and Bhoot Police took shape.

The actor has been part of some unconventional projects like Aurangzeb, Finding Fanny and Ki & Ka. Arjun says it has been a conscious effort to do such films and it is tough to manage commercial and a little off-beat cinema. However, he insists that the lines between the two are blurring now.

Yes, it has been a tough act to balance because over a span of two-three years, you get masked as a mainstream commercial hero, so you arent given enough offers of this kind. Therefore, you have to go and seek that unique and different film rather than it coming your way organically. However, that doesnt stop me from seeking it. Also, the lines have blurred from 2012 to 2021, where a film like Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar ( SAPF) is not looked at just as an interesting choice, or Aurangzeb and Ki & Ka arent looked at as offbeat films, says the Ishqzaade actor.

Arjun Kapoor will next be seen in Bhoot Police and Ek Villian 2.
New Delhi: Actor Kartik Aaryan took to Instagram on Tuesday to discuss with his followers the importance of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, more commonly known as CPR.

The actor has partnered with an initiative by cardiologists to spread awareness about CPR, which can help resuscitate a critical patient during sudden cardiac arrests.

In the video uploaded on the actor's Instagram account, Kartik says: "Life is fragile and precious and cardiac arrest is the leading cause of sudden deaths across all age groups. If you are trained in CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, you can save a life if someone has a cardiac arrest in front of you. Learn this life saving skill with an hour-long online workshop conducted by iCare. An initiative of cardiologists who have seen to many deaths that may have been prevented. It's time for us to step up and get active in our own communities."

He adds: "We can and we will soon be at par with countries where almost everyone over the age of 15 knows CPR. Let's do this together, register for this we workshop with iCare and become a responsible citizen."

On the work front, Kartik will be next seen in "Dhamaka" and "Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2". He is also rumoured to be part of the Hindi remake of Telugu blockbuster "Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo".
New Delhi: Bollywoods most celebrated fashion photographer Dabboo Ratnani is finally back with his annual collection for the year 2021.

This years calendar is definitely a little late but has Tara Sutaria and Vijay Devarakonda finally making their debuts.

The pictures are shared on Dabboo Ratnanis official Instagram handle and will definitely leave you awestruck.

Apart from these two, the calendar also includes Abhishek Bachchan, Vidya Balan, Vicky Kaushal, and Sunny Leone to name a few.

Check out the pictures here:

All the pictures are beautifully clicked but the one grabbing all the limelight is Sunny Leones hot photoshoot, which is captioned as, Sunshine is great for the soul, but make sure to wear a big hat! Scorching hot and stunning shot of Sunny Leone."

In the picture, Sunny can be seen holding an oversized hat which gives an impression of her outfit, and was seen leaning against the pillar. The picture has gone viral on social media as Sunny looked extremely hot in the picture.

Dabboo Ratnani's annual calendar features Bollywood's A-listers and everyone wants to be a part of his calendar at least once in a lifetime.
New Delhi: Late Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput's sea-view Bandra pad is now up for rent. Reportedly, it is the same apartment was where the actor was found dead on June 14, 2020. However, no new tenant came to stay there after the incident.

The vacant property is now up for rent once again. A report in the Times of India stated that Sushant Singh Rajput paid a whopping Rs 4.5 lakh rent per month and had shifted there in December 2019.

The report quotes a celebrity broker as saying, "A celebrity broker from Bandra said, "The apartment has been put up for lease but has yet to get a tenant." The broker added, Because of the pandemic, the property hasnt received that many enquiries. The few interested buyers who have showed up have always enquired about Sushant Singh Rajput."

The broker added, "It is a beautiful sea view apartment and is ideal for creative minds and a good home for those who migrate to Mumbai for work. Once the pandemic ends and the world opens up to India again, were expecting renewed interest from ex-pats and the corporate world, too. This house attracts people who like vibrations and the scenic view."

Also, a realty firm handling the property maintains that the place will be up for grabs soon because of its prime location. SSR's Mont Blanc apartment has over two storeys and the actor had rented it for 36 months.

On June 14 this year, fans, friends and family mourned Sushant Singh Rajput's first death anniversary and prayed for his departed soul, seeking justice for the late actor.

His actress-girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty, friend Siddharth Pithani, cook Keshav and Neeraj used to stay there with the late star.
Popular messaging platform WhatsApp has become a talking point for quite some time now. It comes with several security features, like the use of end-to-end encryption to keep messages private. Despite having such features, hackers try various ways and means to compromise the privacy of your messages and contacts.

Check out the eight ways that WhatsApp can be hacked:

1. Remote Code Execution via GIF

Security researcher Awakened had earlier revealed a vulnerability in WhatsApp that basically allows hackers to take control of the app with the help of a GIF image. It functions in a way that the hackers take advantage of the way WhatsApp processes images when the user opens the Gallery view to send a media file.

After that, the app parses the GIF to show a preview of the file. GIF files have multiple encoded frames which means that there are several codes that are hidden within the image.

If a hacker plans to send a malicious GIF to a user, they could hack the entire chat history of the user and they can also get to know who all are sending messages to the user along with the files, photos, and videos sent through WhatsApp.The vulnerability affected versions of WhatsApp up to 2.19.230 on Android 8.1 and 9.

2. The Pegasus Voice Call Attack

The Pegasus Voice Call attack was discovered in early 2019. By this attack, hackers used to get access to a device by simply doing a WhatsApp voice call and even if the user doesnt pick up the call, the attack would be successful. The user is also unaware of the fact that the malware has been installed on their device.

This attack installed an older and well-known piece of spyware called Pegasus which basically allows hackers to collect data on phone calls, messages, photos, and video. It even lets them activate devices' cameras and microphones to take recordings.

This kind of attack was used by the Israeli firm NSO Group which has been accused of spying on Amnesty International staff and other human rights activists. After news of the hack broke, WhatsApp was updated to protect it from this attack.

3. Socially Engineered Attacks

WhatsApp is vulnerable through socially engineered attacks as it exploits human psychology to steal information or spread misinformation.

Security firm CheckPoint Research revealed one such attack called FakesApp which allowed people to misuse the quote feature in the group chat and to alter the text of another person's reply. Taking advantage of that, hackers could plant fake statements that appear to be from other legitimate users.

This was possible by decrypting WhatsApp communications and it allowed them to see data sent between the mobile version and the web version of WhatsApp.

After that they could change values in group chats and further impersonate other people, sending messages which appeared to be from them. The text replies also could be changed.

4. Media File Jacking

Media File Jacking harshly affects both WhatsApp and Telegram. This attack takes advantage of the way that apps receive media files like photos or videos and write those files to a device's external storage.

The attack starts by installing malware hidden inside an app and then monitoring incoming files for Telegram or WhatsApp.

5. Facebook Could Spy on WhatsApp Chats

In a blog post, WhatsApp implied that because it uses end-to-end encryption, it is impossible for Facebook to read WhatsApp content:

"When you and the people you message are using the latest version of WhatsApp, your messages are encrypted by default, which means you're the only people who can read them. Even as we coordinate more with Facebook in the months ahead, your encrypted messages stay private and no one else can read them. Not WhatsApp, not Facebook, nor anyone else."

However, a developer called Gregorio Zanon disagreed with WhatsApp and said that not every message is private and on an operating system like iOS 8 and above, apps can access files in a "shared container."

Both the Facebook and WhatsApp apps perform the same shared container on devices. While chats are encrypted when they are sent, they are not necessarily encrypted on the originating device. This means the Facebook app could potentially copy information from the WhatsApp app.

6. Paid Third-Party Apps

Third party legal apps have increased in the market and they are being used to hack the secure systems and it could be done by big companies to work hand-in-hand with oppressive regimes to target activists and journalists; or by cybercriminals intent on getting your personal information.

Apps like Spyzie and mSPY can easily hack into your WhatsApp account by stealing your private data. A user needs to just purchase the app, install it, and activate it on the target phone.

7. Fake WhatsApp Clones

Fake websites clones can be used for installing malware and these clone sites are known as malicious websites.

This has also been adopted for breaking into Android systems. To hack into your WhatsApp account, an attacker will first try to install a clone of WhatsApp, which might look strikingly similar to the original app. The classic case is the WhatsApp Pink scam.

8. WhatsApp Web

WhatsApp Web can also be hampered by hacking into the computer that WhatsApp has been logged in.

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HYDERABAD: The Telangana government on Tuesday announced that it has decided to cancel the Class 12 exam for the academic year 2020-21. In an official notification, the state government said that Class 12 results will be declared on basis of pre-determined objective criteria.

As per the notice released, the government has asked the authorities to submit the evaluation criteria for Class 12 evaluation to the government for approval.

State Govt decides to cancel Class XII exam for academic yr 2020-21. Results to be declared on basis of pre-determined objective criteria. Secretary, Board of Intermediate Examination is directed to issue orders for promoting all Class XI students to Class XII, the government of Telangana said, according to ANI.

State Govt decides to cancel Class XII exam for academic yr 2020-21. Results to be declared on basis of pre-determined objective criteria. Secretary, Board of Intermediate Examination is directed to issue orders for promoting all Class XI students to Class XII: Govt of Telangana  ANI (@ANI) June 15, 2021

Telangana State Board of Intermediate Education, TS BIE 2nd Year Inter Exams 2021 were cancelled on June 8, 2021. The state government had decided to instead evaluate the students on the basis of predefined objective criteria. The evaluation criteria, however, have not been shared by the board as yet.

The move came after almost all the states in the country decided to take lead from CBSE and cancel the Class 12 examinations. Even the larger boards like Maharashtra and UP have cancelled their Class 12 Board Examinations.

Education Minister Sabitha Indra Reddy said that this decision was taken keeping in mind the surge in Covid-19 and the concern of the students and their parents.

She said a committee of officials would be constituted to finalise the modalities for the marks to be awarded to the students.

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KwaHlathi: More than 1,000 fortune seekers on Monday (June 14) flocked to the village of KwaHlathi in South Africa`s KwaZulu-Natal province in search of what they believed to be diamonds after the discovery of unidentified stones in the area.

The people travelled from across South Africa to join villagers who have been digging since Saturday (June 12), after a herd man who dug up the first stone on an open field, which some believe to be quartz crystals, put out the word.

The discovery was a life changer, said one digger Mendo Sabelo as he held a handful of tiny stones. "This means our lives will change because no one had a proper job, I do odd jobs. When I returned home with them, (the family was) really overjoyed," said the 27-year old father of two.

Unemployed Skhumbuzo Mbhele concurred, adding: "I hadn`t seen or touched a diamond in my life. It`s my first time touching it here."

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The mines department said on Monday (June 14) it was sending a team comprising of geological and mining experts to the site to collect samples and conduct an analysis.

A formal technical report will be issued in due course, the department said.

The lack of an analysis of the stones has not deterred the fortune seekers as long lines of parked cars on both sides of the gravel road could be seen just a few metres from the open field, where the young, old, female and male dug through the soil with picks, shovels and forks to find riches.

South Africa`s economy has long suffered from extremely high levels of unemployment, trapping millions in poverty and contributing to stark inequalities that persist nearly three decades after the end of apartheid in 1994. The coronavirus pandemic has made it worse.

Some people have started selling the stones, with the starting price ranging from 100 rands ($7.29) to 300 rands.

The provincial government has since requested all those involved to leave the site to allow authorities to conduct a proper inspection, amid fears the people digging at the site could potentially be spreading the coronavirus.

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